Month: November 2009

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY: AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT ADMIT UNESCO IN NAKHCHIVAN

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 11:20:00

ArmInfo. UNESCO management does not sends international experts
to Nakhchivan on investigation of the facts of destruction of the
monuments of cultural heritage because of the Azerbaijani party’s
objections, Head of International Relations Department of Armenia’s
Foreign Ministry Dzyunik Aghajanyan told ArmInfo. According to her,
negotiations on this matter have been holding for several years
already. ‘Armenia has advanced the initiative of creation of UNESCO
expert delegation long ago, however, Azerbaijan keeps on hindering
this process’, Aghajanyan said.

She added that negotiations with Azerbaijan resume from time to time
without any tangible results.

To recall, UNESCO spokesman Roni Amelan told ArmInfo that UNESCO
secretary general has been waiting for 2 years already for Armenia
and Azerbaijan to agree on the route and technical specifications for
the international expert delegation on investigation of the facts of
destruction of the monuments of cultural heritage in Nakhchivan.

‘There is no information on this issue. The expert delegation cannot
be sent unless Armenia and Azerbaijan agree on these issues’.

Aghajanyan said. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan touched
on this problem again during the 35th UNESCO conference on October 7.

He emphasized that Azerbaijan keeps on making efforts on elimination
of the Armenian cultural heritage traces.

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA HAS ITS STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL PERCEPTIONS OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS AND WILL ACT ACCORDING TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 16:59:00

ArmInfo. Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations does not mean a
stop to the efforts to attain the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during
a meeting of the dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The press service of the President quotes Sargsyan to pointed out that,
as a responsible player in the international politics, Armenia has
always met its obligations and is ready to move forward according
to the spirit of the signed protocols: to normalize its relations
with Turkey within reasonable time and without preconditions. The
international community supports this stance. Sargsyan said
that Armenia has its strategic and tactical perceptions of the
Armenian-Turkish normalization process and will act according to
further developments.

Sargsyan reiterated that the Armenian-Turkish normalization process
and the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks have nothing to do with one
another. Armenia is solving these two problems separately. "We must
adopt decisions that will help to ensure stable peace and development
in the region," Sargsyan said.

LEBANESE CITY OF ANTILIAS HOLDS ACTIVITIES DEDICATED TO 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN POGROMS IN ADANA

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 16:49:00

ArmInfo. On October 28-30 the Lebanese city of Antilias held activities
dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Armenian pogroms in Adana.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service reports that on October
29-30 a conference with participation of delegates and rapporteurs
from Armenia and Diaspora took place in Lebanon. Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II made a greeting speech. Director of Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan presented a report on "The
take-over of Young Turks and the pogroms in Adana in the light of
psychology". The forum also covered presentation of 4 monographs by
H.Demoyan. Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan took part
in the activities.

NALBANDIAN SAID THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH THAW AND THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS WERE ‘TWO SEPARATE PROCESSES.’

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 16:40:00

ArmInfo. Armenia’s foreign minister has rejected Turkish calls for
concessions in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in exchange for the
historic rapprochement between Yerevan and Ankara. The minister made
this statement in an interview with Reuters.

Speaking to Reuters late on Friday, Edward Nalbandian said negotiations
between Turkey and Armenia were over and both sides were obliged to
move quickly to establish diplomatic relations and open their border
under accords signed this month.

Turkish leaders say they want to see progress in negotiations between
Armenia and Turkish ally Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh before
parliament in Ankara ratifies the accords, a link Armenia rejects.

"Why did we sign two protocols if we are not going to ratify and
implement them?" Nalbandian, 53, said in an interview in the Armenian
capital, Yerevan.

"I think the whole international community is waiting for quick
ratification and implementation and respect for the agreements which
are in the protocols," he said, speaking in English.

"If one of the sides will delay and create some obstacles in the way
of ratification and implementation, I think it could bear all the
responsibility for the negative consequences."

Nalbandian said the Armenian-Turkish thaw and the Nagorno-Karabakh
negotiations were "two separate processes." There is a "positive
dynamic", he said. "But to say that tomorrow or in one month’s time
or in a very short period of time we will come to the agreement,
I don’t think this is very serious."

PETER SEMNEBY: ‘URRENT SITUATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY CANNOT LAST FOREVER

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 12:59:00

ArmInfo. The current situation between Armenia and Turkey cannot
last forever, everyone have to adapt to normalization, open borders,
and so on, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby
says in an interview with "Vremya Novostey".

"It’s necessary to consider how to protect and develop own interests in
region under new situation. The war in Georgia showed that proceeding
territorial conflicts bring great risks. This developing moved
Armenian- Turkish relations," he says.

When asked whether Russian influence in Caucasus fines down due to
normalization between Armenia and Turkey, Peter Semneby said so far
as Russia invests in Armenia’s infrastructure and builds railways it
can benefit only from open borders.

RUSSIA’S ROLE IN KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS TO BE DISCUSSED IN MOSCOW ON NOVEMBER 2

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 12:50:00

ArmInfo. Russia’s role in the Karabakh conflict resolution will be
discussed in Moscow on the initiative of the International Alert
and the Center of Strategic Research of Religions and Policy of
Modern World with participation of the Public Chamber of the Russian
Federation, International Alert’s Projects Director for the Eurasia
Program Dessislava Roussanova told ArmInfo. A Roundtable entitled
"Nagorny Karabakh conflict: creating conditions for peace building –
Russia’s role" is expected in Moscow on November 2.

Armenian and Azerbaijani experts, public representatives, and leading
experts in South Caucasus will discuss further development of peaceful
initiatives and public peacemaking dialogue regarding the Karabakh
conflict. In addition, the meeting will discuss the role which the
Russian public can play and is playing in creating conditions for
peace building in Karabakh.

International Alert’s Projects Director for the Eurasia Program
Dessislava Roussanova, Russian First Channel anchorman Maxim
Shevchenko, deputy director of the Institute of Political and Military
Analysis Sergei Markedov will be the guest speakers. Chairman of
Islamic Commiitee Heydar Jemal, director of Institute of Social
Systems Sergei Kurghinyan, director of RIA Novosti CIS and Baltic
states division Alan Kasayev, representatives of leading Russian,
Armenian and Azerbaijani media will also attend the Roundtable.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMECONOMBANK ENCOURAGES FAIR BORROWERS WITH $500 CREDIT LINE

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 12:03:00

ArmInfo. Armeconombank is launching a project on encouragement of fair
borrowers with MasterCard credit cards, opening a credit line of $500,
Head of Plastic Cards Department of Armeconombank Vardan Yeghiazaryan
told ArmInfo.

He said the bank schedules to provide new credit cards to the borrowers
having a multi- year positive credit history in Armeconombank. "I am
sure that our clients will be pleased to receive a new unsecured loan",
he emphasized and added that the annual interest rate on credits within
the frames of the action will be lower than the average market one.

According to Armeconombank’s data, the number of the bank’s plastic
cards as of October 1 made up 72056 pieces, 6818 of which are
MasterCard and 72056 – ArCa. The balance on the bank’s card accounts
as of this date made up 2.824 bln drams, and the size of credits on
cards – 1.571 bln drams. In general, Armeconombank had 51 ATM as of
October 1, 2009, 35 of which – in Yerevan and 16 – in the country’s
regions. The bank’s POS-terminals as of October 1 made up 210, 34 of
which – cashed (17 – in Yerevan, 17 – in the regions).

BRANDY PRODUCTION IN ARMENIA OVER JAN-SEP, 2009, REDUCED BY 40,4%

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 12:02:00

ArmInfo. Brandy production in Armenia over Jan-Sep, 2009, reduced by
40,4% to 6801 thsd liters, as compared to the similar period of 2008,
National Statistical Service of Armenia reports.

To note, the rates of brandy production decline started to slow down,
heaving reached the peak 50,4% over the first half year, 2009. The main
reason of drop in production has been caused by the global financial
crisis which led to reduction of consumption of the Armenian brandy in
the traditional Russian and Ukrainian markets. According to the source
data, production of liqueur and vodka over 9 months of 2009 reduced
by 1,4% to 8299,4 thsd liters. At the same time, wine production grew
by 12,7% to 2330,7 thsd liters. Production of champagne wines reduced
by 9,4 % to 144,8 thsd liters. Beer production over the reporting
period did not change and made up 26413,8 thsd liters.

VTB BANK ARMENIA OPENS RENOVATED BRANCH IN MASIS

/ARKA/
November 2, 2009
YEREVAN

Last Friday VTB Bank Armenia opened a renovated branch in the town
of Masis. Mher Grigorian, a deputy director of VTB Bank Armenia,
said the branch in Masis is a key branch of the bank in Ararat Valley
offering a wide range of universal banking services to all its clients.

He said the main goal of the bank now is to upgrade all its regional
branches to make them comply with the latest standards both in terms of
security and business running. He said the Masis branch is furnished
with state-of-the-art computers, other special equipment and all
necessary communication means

Mher Grigorian said VTB Bank Armenia started a renovation program
two years ago having so far renovated nearly half of its branches.

He said the nearest plan is to renovate branches in Gyumri,
Noyemberyan, Vardenis and Dilijan. Cost of an average branch
reconstruction is 30 million Drams, he said.

The Masis branch has currently 4,000 customers, including private
and public organizations and individuals.

The ceremony was attended by mayor of Masis, senior officials of VTB
Bank Armenia and businessmen. All 100 percent of VTB Bank Armenia are
owned by the second largest Russian bank VTB Bank. VTB Bank Armenia
has 74 regional branches across Armenia, the largest regional network
of branches.

CONGRESS OF CANADIAN ARMENIANS ASKS STEPHEN HARPER TO PERSUADE TURKEY TO OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
NOVEMBER 2, 2009
OTTAWA

The Congress of Canadian Armenians sent an open letter to Prime
Minister Stephen Harper asking the Canadian government to persuade
Turkey to respect the protocols signed on October 10 and to fulfill
the assumed commitments by establishing diplomatic relations with
Armenia and opening the Armenian-Turkish border without preconditions.

The letter read that the Congress of Canadian Armenians positively
treats the protocol signed between Armenia and Turkey that will result
in restoration of normal diplomatic contacts and opening of the border,
which will promote growth of trade circulation.

The Canadian Armenians expressed concern with Turkish Prime Minister’s
statement he made after signing of the protocols that opening the
borders is conditioned by the Nagorno Karabakh settlement. It is
inadmissible for the Congress of Canadian Armenians as the issue of
Nagorno Karabakh is not mentioned in the protocols.

Letter’s authors mention that the government of Armenia still has a
lot of hurdles to cross in the just implementation of what has been
agreed to on paper. "Turkish and Azeri threats continue with respect
to the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue. Armenians everywhere
are fast closing ranks to support the government of Armenia as it
counters these threats."

The open letter read that normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey is an important and overdue step, but true and lasting
conciliation requires the government of Turkey to come to terms
with history and recognize the Armenian Genocide. "The Congress of
Canadian Armenians and its participating organizations gratefully
acknowledge and thank you for steadfastly supporting the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, and hope that in time you can persuade
Turkey to also recognize it," the letter to S. Harper read.