Month: November 2009

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NOW BEARS HRANT DINK’S NAME

Tert
Nov 3 2009
Armenia

A monument at California State University Sonoma honoring the survivors
and victims of genocides and hate crimes now bears the name of Hrant
Dink, alongside the names of peace activists and visionaries such
as Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Albert Einstein, Vaclav Havel and
Pete Seeger, reports the Hrant Dink Foundation.

Hrant Dink’s name was added in March thanks to the sponsorship of
Armenian organizations in California, which financed a memorial
"brick" in Dink’s honour.

Dink’s widow, Rakel Dink, visited the monument during a September 28 –
October 6 trip to the U.S., where she was hosted by Mgrditch Melkonyan,
pastor of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church of Fresno, California.

UNESCO DANCING TO BAKU’S PIPE?

ArmInfo
2009-11-03 16:20:00

ArmInfo. The Azerbaijani foreign ministry is once again delivered of
its sonnet in response to ArmInfo publication with reference to the
Armenian foreign ministry that UNESCO does not send international
experts for investigation of the facts of destruction of Armenian
cultural heritage monuments in Azerbaijan’s territory because of
Baku’s objection. The official representative of the Azerbaijani
foreign ministry, Elhan Polukhov, states that "the Azerbaijani party
has received no statement from UNESCO concerning a visit to inspect
the historical monuments in the territory of Azerbaijan".

For his part, Representative of the UNESCO Information and Public
Relations Department Roni Amelan told ArmInfo correspondent that the
Azeri foreign ministry’s statements should be clarified by the Azeri
foreign ministry itself. Amelan said that he can’t comment on what is
said in Azerbaijan. UNESCO has no news on the issue of sending UNESCO
mission. This topic is being discussed in a closed regime and UNESCO
will publish the news in case of any changes in the issue, he said.

Earlier Amelan reported that the UNESCO director-general was still
waiting, as he had done for the past two years, for Armenia and
Azerbaijan to agree on the terms of reference and itinerary of
the visit of a delegation of UNESCO international experts for
investigation of the facts of destruction of cultural heritage
monuments in Nakhijevan.

Obvious signs of Baku’s amnesia regarding the procedure of UNESCO
actions are quite selective if one takes into account the regular
shuffling of versions on the issue of establishing the historical
identity of Azeri people. The claims for archaism of the their own
ethnos, which sometimes sound like nonsense, naturally do not imply
"maintenance" of memory about historical and cultural heritage of
Armenians.

All fine and dandy, but Baku started getting impudent and throwing
the switch to UNESCO. Eventually, the official representative of the
Azerbaijani foreign ministry does not realize that this does not meet
Baku’s interests as all the same UNESCO does its best to stifle and
forget everything connected with this problem. In this context, Roni
Amelan’s correspondence with his colleagues is noteworthy. Amelan’s
letter was forwarded to ArmInfo correspondent by mistake. "A dreadful
Armenian journalist who keeps cropping up despite our very discouraging
responses has written to enquire, for the 10,000th time in a couple
of years, about a UNESCO mission to Armenia and Azerbaijan",- the
letter says.

Remaining loyal to the proverb "He laughs best who laughs last", we
want to point out that we perfectly realize that we are unethical to
publish other people’s correspondence, nevertheless, our historical
memory doesn’t glitch, and we are sad for the obvious politically
motivated deal and the specific role of UNESCO which turned out
to be incompetent in practical protection of the cultural heritage
of Armenians.

ALL CRIMES ARE NOW REGISTERED, SAYS ARMENIA’S POLICE CHIEF

Tert
Nov 3 2009
Armenia

Today, Armenian Police Chief Alik Sargsyan met with teaching staff
and students of the Law Faculty of Yerevan State University. Sargsyan
stated that this meeting was not an end in and of itself, but rather
a presentation of the assignments issued by the Armenian president
to Armenia’s police force.

Sargsyan said today the main aspects of Armenia’s police officers’ work
are the fight against crime, protection of public order, protection
of citizens’ rights, strengthening of the legal system and perhaps
the most important, recovering people’s trust towards the police.

The police chief stated that 7,960 crimes were registered as of
November 2009 compared to 5,600 crimes over a 9-month period last
year. The increase in crimes, according to the police chief, is
not alarming, since it has social roots: it can be attributed to an
increase in registering crimes since local police now register all
crimes, putting an end to the flawed system of not registering all
crimes. "Today, all crimes are registered," said the police chief.

Sargsyan said that in the near future, changes in the police activity
are expected also in relation to registering means of transport.

U.S. SENATE LEADER WRITES TO CLINTON ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Tert
Nov 3 2009
Armenia

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has formally shared the
reservations of the Silver State’s Armenian community regarding the
dangers of the recently signed Turkey-Armenia Protocols with Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).

In an October 30, 2009 letter to ANCA-Nevada activist Razmig Libarian,
the Senate leader reported that he had recently written to Secretary
Clinton to pass along the concerns of his state’s citizens of Armenian
heritage, and to encourage her to meet directly with the national
leadership of the Armenian American community regarding the state of
Turkey-Armenia relations.

In his letter to Secretary Clinton, dated October 30, 2009, Senator
Reid wrote: "I am sure you are aware that this agreement has raised
concerns in the Armenian community inside the United States. I have
received many letters from Nevadans who do not support the creation
of an international commission to examine the historical record
on the genocide and who believe that the agreements are unfair to
Armenia. (I have included a sample letter below). Given the serious
nature of the community’s concerns, I felt it was important to raise
them directly with you. The commission is particularly sensitive to
the Armenian-American community since the Armenian genocide has never
been recognized by Turkey."

Despite the high profile of Armenia-Turkey ties in the Obama-Biden
Administration’s foreign policy agenda, neither President Obama
nor Secretary Clinton has met with the Armenian-American community
leadership.

PR ASSOCIATION OF ARMENIA AND USAID LAUNCH ‘LET’S GET CORRUPTION OUT OF OUR LIFE’ PROGRAM IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-11-03 17:43:00

ArmInfo. PR Association of Armenia and USAID Mobilizing Action Against
Corruption (MAAC) program have launched a project "Let’s Get Corruption
Out of Our Life", Vice President of PR Association Arman Saghatelyan
told journalists, Tuesday. According to him, it is envisaged to draw
the public attention to the problems of mutual relations between
the state machinery and representatives of small and medium business
which is more vulnerable to corruption than big companies. "No matter
what they say about regional or international integration of Armenia,
a question arises: is our country ready to it at the level of people’s
thinking? Most of our specialists give a negative answer. For instance,
applying to court today is perceived as "burning of bridges", and not
a common method of protecting one’s own rights. When our understanding
of both this and many other issues is changed, it will be much easier
to protect the interests of both citizens and key social institutes,
including small and medium business",- Saghatelyan said.

In this context, the experience of those Diaspora Armenians who
come to Armenia to take up entrepreneurship may be quite valuable,
Saghatelyan said. Being carriers of other culture, these people have
no idea of the ways of settling problems that have been accepted in
Armenia where much depends on the search of an influential relative,
he said. "We want to tell about people that are ready to live and
work in their own country, but want their rights to be protected the
state machinery which is financed by their taxes",- Saghatelyan said.

Executive Director of PR Association of Armenia Tatevik Panosyan said
that under the program, which will last 6 months, media representatives
will visit lawsuits with participation of economic entities, as well
as take part in hearings together with economic experts from Armenia
and international organizations working in the country.

ARMENTEL MAKES CALLS TO OTHER MOBILE OPERATORS’ NETWORKS MORE COMFORTABLE

ArmInfo
2009-11-03 15:32:00

ArmInfo. ArmenTel (Beeline brand) has reduced the cost of the calls
to the numbers of Armenia’s other mobile operators, having launched a
new prepaid tariff plan ‘For You – Exclusive’. Henceforth, the calls
to the networks of Armenia’s mobile operators will cost 29,99 AMD per
minute for Beeline subscribers. To recall, the minimum price of such a
call earlier made up 39 AMD per minute. ‘The new tariff plan ‘For You –
Exclusive’ makes communication more comfortable and available not only
inside of our country but also for the calls to other mobile networks
of Armenia and NKR’, ArmenTel Director General Igor Klimko said. The
clients of all the tariff plans of Beeline can easily transfer to
the tariff plan ‘For You – Exclusive’ with retention of their number.

The cost of transfer from Beeline’s other tariff plans to ‘For You –
Exclusive’ makes up 299 drams. During transfer from the tariff plans
‘For You’, ‘Republic’, ‘Talk’ and ‘Free Communication’, no subscriber
fee is charged for the number retention, while a subscriber fee at
the rate of 29.99 drams per day is charged from subscribers of other
tariff plans during transfer to ‘For You – Exclusive’ TP.

A minute of an outgoing call for subscribers of ‘For You – Exclusive’
TP inside the Beeline network costs 19 drams, and to the numbers of
other mobile operators or to the numbers of fixed communication –
29.99 drams. SMS-messages inside the Beeline network may be sent at
9 drams and MMS-messages – at 19 drams. SMS- messages to the numbers
of other operators, including the international ones, cost 20 drams,
and MMS – 50 drams. The cost of 1 MB of the data sent/received by
mobile Internet makes up 29 drams. More information about ‘For You –
Exclusive’ TP is available at

EMPLOYEES OF ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT OF VIVACELL-MTS HAVE RAISED 1,207,000 DRAMS TO SUPPORT THE CHOIR OF THE REPUBLICAN INSTITUTION OF THE BLIND OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-11-03 15:29:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC
(NYSE: MBT), announces that yesterday evening, the Choir of the
Republican Institution of the Blind of Armenia gave a concert in the
Chamber Music Hall. The concert was organized thanks to the generous
support of the employees of VivaCell-MTS’ Administration Services
Department, who have raised 1,207,000 drams to support the Choir of
the Republican Institution of the Blind of Armenia. The Choir of the
Republican Institution of the Blinds of Armenia" during the years of
its existence has had sponsors from various organizations, including
VivaCell-MTS. The Ensemble consists of 32 professional singers and
17 people play the national traditional instruments.

"VivaCell-MTS family needed no push from the management of the Company
to realize this activity. It is 100% the Administrative Department
initiative, all because each and every employee in the Company grew
this belief. We invited the media today to draw the attention of
everyone to the fact that those people need every support they can
get to move on and be a productive part of the society" Stated Ralph
Yirikian, VivaCell-MTS General Manager.

AMERIABANK STRIVES TO SATISFY DEMAND FOR INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR

ArmInfo
2009-11-03 18:03:00

ArmInfo. Only one third of demand for investments in the renewable
energy sector is satisfied in Armenia, Tigran Jrbashyan, Ameriabank
Development Director, told media on Tuesday. Renewable energy,
he said, is considered as the most attractive and reliable sector
as compared to other economy sectors for investing, risk management
and acquisition of income. The regulation of this sector, sustainable
demand and comparative predictability is not less important, either,
he said. These are the very prerequisites, Tigran Jrbashayn said, that
became an impetus for Ameriabank to actively finance the renewable
energy sector.

Asked if it is reasonable implementing a new program in conditions of
the global financial crisis, Ameriabank expert said that Armenia is
deep in the crisis now. The specific terms of overcoming the crisis
depend on many factors, in particular, on the situation in the global
markets and efficiency of programs implemented by the Government
of Armenia.

As regards parameters of crediting, the expert said conditions
of lending to potential borrowers are unique and the bank gets an
opportunity to choose the best projects since demand in this sector is
high. T. Jrbashyan said maturity of the credits provided under this
program will be 8 years and at low annual interest rates – starting
from 11%. In addition, the bank will charge only interests during
3 years of grace period for credits. He said in case the project is
profitable, Ameriabank may participate also in the capital stock of
newly-created small HPPs.

ARMENIAN WEDGE ALWAYS HINDERED PAN-TURANIAN PROGRAM: ALVARD PETROSYAN

Tert
Nov 3 2009
Armenia

"Why did they forget so soon today that the Armenian wedge has always
come between the realization of a pan-Turanian plan?" said Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, or ARF-D) MP and publicist
Alvard Petrosyan at a press conference today. She didn’t agree with
those who say that Turkish officials’ statements are directed to an
internal audience. "Absolute cynism [and] absolute aggression have
been Turkey’s policy over centuries, which is very characteristic of
imperial states," the publicist noted.

Petrosyan emphasized that today Armenian-Turkish relations have become
the most harmless topic and all the nation, leaving internal problems
aside, has focused their attention on this one issue. The publicist
thinks today the nation is again split because of this topic, and one
sees no possibilities of the nation arriving at a common denominator
on the Armenian-Turkish issue.

According to the MP, "hysterical patriots" who say "no" to the
Protocols came out, and on the other side, there are those who
say "yes." According to Petrosyan, however, the naysayers and the
yes-sayers must sit down and discuss and find the right direction,
since "we have laid the foundation for the most terrifying events
and we’ll doubt whatever decision we make."

Petrosyan also explained who are the these "hysterical patriots"
who are against Armenian-Turkish relations. They, according to the
MP, are in no way members of the Dashnaktsutyun Party, for whom the
Armenian-Turkish topic has always beeen an issue, but they are those
who have just come out of the woodwork and who speak out against the
establishment process of Armenian-Turkish relations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATE REVENUE COMMITTEE PREPARED FOR FLOW OF TURKISH GOODS

Tert
Nov 3 2009
Armenia

In economic terms, Turkey is the same as Russia, Georgia and a few
other countries in terms of a trade partner for Armenia, State Revenue
Committee Deputy Chair Armen Alaverdyan said at a press conference
today, adding that goods imported from Turkey to Armenia are liable
to the same tax rates as goods imported from other countries.

>From the point of view of preparing for the Armenian-Turkish border
opening, Alaverdyan sees work to be done at customs, where preparations
are already underway.

"There won’t be a flood of Turkish goods, though we are ready for
their flow," Alaverdayn said, adding that Armenia has always received
goods from Turkey.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress