Month: December 2008

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA AWARDS AN ORDER OF HONOR TO THE CHAIRMAN OF GAZPROM BOARD

armradio.am
01.12.2008 18:18

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, received the Chairman of
the Board of "Gazprom" Company Alexey Miller. During the meeting the
interlocutors discussed a broad framework of issues related to the
cooperation in the field of energy. Reference was made to current
programs.

The parties appreciated the cooperation launched between the Republic
of Armenia and "Gazprom" Company, assessing it as effective and
promising. The Head of State and the Chairman of "Gazprom" Board
discussed the process of investment programs into the 5th energy unit
of Hrazdan Thermoelectric Unit of Hrazdan.

Serzh Sargsyan awarded Alexey Miller with an Order of Honor for his
remarkable contribution to the expansion of economic cooperation
between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation and the
development and deepening of the Armenian-Russian friendly ties.

Alexey Miller expressed gratitude to President Sargsyan for this great
honor and highly appreciated the current level and perspectives of
the Armenian-Russian energy cooperation.

AMERICAN ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS WECOME HILLARY CLINTON’S APPOINTMENT AS SECRETARY OF STATE

armradio.am
02.12.2008 10:46

US President-elect Barack Obama has nominated his former rival,
Hillary Clinton, as his Secretary of State.

American Armenian organizations welcomed the selection of Hilary
Clinton as Secretary of State.

"During her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Senator Clinton has consistently
supported affirmation of the Armenian Genocide," stated Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Never before have we had such
an alignment whereby the incoming President, Vice-President and
Secretary of State have a clear and demonstrated record of support for
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, as well as genocide prevention,"
continued Ardouny.

"We extend our thanks to President-elect Obama for this choice
and our congratulations to Senator Clinton on her appointment to
our nation’s top diplomatic post," said Aram Hamparian, Executive
Director of the ANCA. "We are certainly pleased to see that, for
the first time in recent memory, an individual with a strong record
in support of Armenian Genocide recognition will serve as America’s
Secretary of State."

First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, Senator Clinton consistently
supported efforts to reaffirm the historical truth of the Armenian
Genocide.

In addition to co-sponsoring resolutions affirming the Armenian
Genocide, Senator Clinton also repeatedly urged President George
W. Bush to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide in his annual April 24th
statements.. In 2006, for example, Clinton signed a letter to President
Bush stating: "The memory of the Armenian Genocide underscores our
responsibility to speak forcefully about our respect for fundamental
human rights and opposition to mass slaughters. It is in the best
interests of our nation and the entire global community to remember
the past and learn from these crimes against humanity to ensure that
they are never repeated. We respectfully request that you refer to
the mass slaughter of Armenians as genocide in your commemorative
statement." Senator Clinton also supports expanding and improving
U..S.-Armenia relations and "a fair and democratic resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict."

Throughout the 2008 presidential election, President-elect Obama
repeatedly pledged to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide
and with the nomination of Hillary Clinton, President-elect Obama
has an ally in Genocide affirmation and prevention. In making the
announcement today, President-elect Obama said, "The time has come
for a new beginning, a new dawn of American leadership to overcome
the challenges of the 21st century."

During the campaign trail, Senator Clinton stated: "I believe the
horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians
constitute a clear case of genocide. Our common morality and our
nation’s credibility as a voice for human rights challenge us to e
nsure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and remembered by the
Congress and the President of the United States."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA TO MEET HIS TURKISH, AZERI COUNTERPARTS IN HELSINKI

armradio.am
02.12.2008 10:53

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, will leave for
Helsinki on December 3 to participate in the sitting of the OSCE
Foreign Ministers.

In Helsinki Minister Nalbandian will meet with OSCE Secretary General
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

Minister Nalbandian is expected to meet his Azerbaijani counterpart
Elmar Mammayarov in presence of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,
Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza
(USA) and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During the meeting Minister Nalbandian will have meetings with the
Foreign Minister of Luxemburg Jean Asselborn, the Foreign Minister of
Ireland Michael Martin and UN Deputy Seceratry General for Political
Issues Lynn Pascoe.

As the Foreign Minister of the country presiding over the Collective
Security Treaty organization (CSTO), Edward Nalbandian will organize
the meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers.

Minister Nalbandian is also expected to meet his Turkish coounterpart
Ali Babacan.

"RESCUE WORKS DURING EARTHQUAKE" EXERCISES HELD IN GYUMRI

armradio.am
02.12.2008 12:09

On December 1-2 international educational exercises on "Rescue works
during earthquake" were held in Gyumri with participation of member
countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Press
Service of the Armenian Rescue Service reported.

All scenarios possible during earthquakes were performed by
international rescuers and experts.

On November 3 an international conference on "Lessons of the Spitak
Earthquake" will take place in Yerevan.

TURKEY GRANTS RELIGIOUS VACATION TO JEWISH AND ARMENIAN STUDENTS

armradio.am
02.12.2008 12:10

The president of Higher Education Board (YOK) of Turkey, Yusuf Ziya
Ozcan, requested in the mandate sent to the offices of university
rectors that Jewish and Armenian students in Turkey be allowed to take
a vacation during their religious holidays, Hurriyet daily reported.

The mandate also extends to Jewish and Armenian academic staff being
able to benefit from the same right, Hurriyet wrote.

Therefore the religious festivals of Jewish and Armenian students
were recognized at an institutional level for the first time.

The YOK also sent the mandate to the chief rabbi’s office and the
Armenian Patriarchal Presidency to inform of the decision.

ADOLPH BIRKHOFEN: ARMENIA ANPP HAS A HIGH SECURITY LEVEL

armradio.am
02.12.2008 14:58

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, received today the President
of the Nuclear Energy Safety Council Adolph Birkhofen (Germany).

The President highly appreciated Mr. Birkhofen’s efforts targeted
at the safe exploitation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP)
and noted that he has been doing an important work for 12 years.

Noting that issues of energy security, in general, and nuclear energy
security, in particular, are of special importance, Serzh Sargsyan
said those have always been in the focus of attention of the President
and the Government of Armenia. He emphasized Armenia’s willingness
to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, modernize the existing
nuclear power, build new hydroelectric plants and presented the work
done in this direction.

Speaking about the security of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, Adolph
Birkhofen said: "You can be proud of the work done over the past years
in the direction of secure exploitation of the power plant. Due to the
efforts and knowledge of your government, you executed management,
as a result of which the ANPP has been fully renovated, has a high
level of security and has been best preserved as compared to other
similar plants in the world.

The parties discussed issues connected with the further exploitation
of the ANPP and construction of a new energy un it.

BTA BANK GETS NEW CEO

ARKA
Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. Nur Bakbergenov, a Board member, BTA
Bank CJSC, has been registered as BTA Bank Chief Executive Officer
and Board Chairman.

The revision took effect on November 21, 2008, under a resolution of
the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA).

The Public Relations Department, BTA Bank, reports that Nur Murat
Bakbergenov is a citizen of Kazakhstan and has 10-year experience
of managerial work in the banking system He is advisor to the Board
Chairman, BTA Bank (Kazakhstan).

His priority task is to "found a full-service bank of the BTA Group in
Armenia". For Armenian clients it is an opportunity "to feel at ease"
anywhere in the CIS the BTA Bank carries out its activities.

The BTA Bank CJSC is a strategic partner of the largest Kazakh bank,
BTA Bank Corporation, which owns 48.8% of the authorized capital of
the BTA Bank (Armenia). As of November 25, 2008, the total capital of
the BTA Bank CJSC reached 4,346,434,000 AMD, assets 13,042,112,000 AMD,
liabilities 8,695,678,000 AMD.

The BTA Bank Corporation is a system-forming bank of Kazakhstan and
leader in forming a banking network in the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS).

It has partner banks in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia,
Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, as well as representative offices in Russia,
Ukraine, China and United Arab Emirates. The BTA Bank Corporation
was recognized a20Bank of the Year in the CIS in 2006 and 2007.

At the end of the first half of 2008, the consolidated assets of the
BTA Bank Corporation amounted to $27.8bln, and capital $3.9bln.

ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN TRADE TURNOVER GROWS 3.8% IN JAN/OCT 2008 TO $106.9 MILLION

ARKA
Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. Armenia’s trade turnover with Georgia
grew 3.8% in Jan/Oct 2008 to $106.9 million, National Statistical
Service of Armenia reports.

Exports from Armenia to Georgia totaled $70.9 million (7.5% of
Armenia’s total export) after having reduced 2.2%, compared with the
same period of the previous year.

Georgia imports in Armenia grew 18% to $36.1 million. As a whole,
imports from Georgia totaled $141.2 million (42.8% growth) or 3.9%
of total import.

According to the statistical report, trade turnover with Georgia made
2.4% of Armenia’s foreign turnover and that with Ukraine made 6.2%
of total turnover.

Armenia’s trade turnover with CIS member countries made 29.9% of its
foreign turnover (33.1% at the same period of 2007) or $1,350.2 million
(18.6% growth).

Armenia’s foreign turnover grew 31.5% in Jan/Oct 2008, compared with
the same period of the previous year, and reached $4,520.1 million.

Exports totaled $941.2 million and imports $3,579.2 million.

CASCADE BANK OPENS KOMITAS BRANCH

ARKA
Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. Armenian Cascade Bank opens its second
Komitas branch tomorrow, the bank’s press-service told ARKA News
Agency. The branch will offer full banking services and will be open
seven days a week.

A third branch is scheduled to open at the turn of the year.

Cascade Bank opened its first Yervand Kochar branch in Yerevan on
November 6.

According to Aharon Levonyan, the Executive Director of Cascade Bank,
the second branch is an evidence of succeeded implementation of a
stage of the bank’s affirmed strategy.

"Increasing its market popularity Cascade Bank strengthens its
positions, offering its customers high-quality and affordable
services," said Levonyan.

Cascade Bank Board Chairman Jonathan Stark stated Komitas branch
demonstrates the bank’s commitment to expansion.

"Our core customer service ethic, competitive products, and improved
access, will both enhance quality for existing customers, and attract
new clients to Cascade Bank and our sister companies, Cascade Insurance
and Cascade Investments," he said.

Cascade Bank was established on May 26, 2005, when Cascade Capital
Holdings became the sole owner of Emporiki Bank (Armenia) CJSC. By
September 30, the bank’s total capital had reached 5.1bln AMD, assets
14.2bln AMD, liabilities 9.1bln AMD.

ARMENIAN CASCADE BANK TO ATTRACT DEPOSITS IN BRANCHES

ARKA
Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. Armenian Cascade Bank intends to attract
deposits in its branches, the bank’s press-service told ARKA News
Agency.

It increases the current interest rates for all attracted deposits
by 0.5% until December 31.

The maximum interest rate of the bank’s deposits is 11% annually.

Currently Cascade Bank has Yervand Kochar branch opened this November
6. The second Komitas branch will open tomorrow, December 3.

Cascade Bank was established on May 26, 2005, when Cascade Capital
Holdings became the sole owner of Emporiki Bank (Armenia) CJSC. By
September 30, the bank’s total capital had reached 5.1bln AMD, assets
14.2bln AMD, liabilities 9.1bln AMD.

The bank’s fixed deposits reached 699.5mln AMD this September 30.