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ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF KLIN CITY LOCATED NEAR MOSCOW ACHIEVES INITIATION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN CONNECTION WITH EXTREMIST ARTICLES

Noyan Tapan
Aug 27, 2009

KLIN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Criminal proceedings
were initiated in connection with the publication of extremist articles
in a local newspaper in the city of Klin near Moscow, Yerkramas paper
of Armenians in Russia reported.

In response to complaints filed by representatives of the Armenian
community in Klin, the city prosecutor’s office conducted checks
in relation to some expressions in Soglasie I Pravda daily, which
aimed to stir up hatred and enmity and to degrade dignity of people
because of their nationality, language, origin, religion, that is,
their belonging to a certain social group.

The checks confirmed the facts indicated in the complaints. For
example, some issues of Solglasie I Pravda, which were published in
Klin’s mayoral circles and distributed to city residents in the period
of November 6 to December 11 2008, had articles entitled "Dangerous
Neighborhood", "We are Killed", "Illegal Residents in Klin", and
"Who Sells Heroin in Klin". By conclusion of experts in linguistics,
the above mentioned articles contained expressions that aimed to
stir up hatred or enmity and to degrade dignity of people because
of their race, nationality, language, origin, religion, that is,
their belonging to a social group.

On August 21, 2009, the investigation unit of Klin initiated criminal
proceedings under the RF Criminal Code’s Article 282 Part 1 (incitement
of hatred or enmity, that is, humiliation of human diginity). Besides,
the city prosecutor sent a report to the federal court with the request
to recognize the above mentioned articles of Soglasie I Pravda as
extremist ones and to seize them, Yerkramas wrote.

AZERBAIJAN SLAMS ARMENIA’S BELLIGERENT RHETORIC

Milaz.info
?id=3988
Aug 27 2009

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has responded to Armenian Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan’s threat of war Eldar Sabiroglu, the spokesman for
the ministry, told APA that it was not the first statement of this
kind by Ohanyan.

"It is unreasonable, because the international community exerts
influence on Armenia to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within
the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The leadership
of Armenian army makes this kind of statements to mislead the people
and hide people’s distrust to the army. Azerbaijan has a very strong
army and is ready to prevent any aggression," he said.

Sabiroglu said there are two ways of solving the conflict and did
not rule out war, in case the occupied territories are not freed
peacefully.

"There are two ways of solution, peace or war. Azerbaijan does not
want bloodshed. We support peaceful settlement of the problem. But if
it is impossible, Azerbaijan is capable of liberating its lands. This
aggression can not last for ever," he said. MILAZ

WILL OSCE MG ACCEPT THE RATIONALISM OF YEREVAN PRINCIPLES?

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.08.2009 17:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) has developed a
new package of proposals on the Karabakh settlement, to be submitted
to the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, DPA leader Aram Sargsyan
said a press conference today.

According to him, the party proposes to abandon Madrid principles and
substitute them with Yerevan principles, which present new approaches
to conflict settlement.

Aram Sargsyan considers unacceptable to conduct further negotiations
over the Karabakh conflict on the basis of agreements reached between
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which contain dangerous
concessions for Armenia.

The DPA leader presented new approaches of the proposed instrument,
comprised of 3 parts. The new instrument implies that conflict
parties sign reconciliation agreement before the end of the talks,
implement special programs to build confidence between both countries
and implement economic programs, involving Nagorno Karabakh.

ALMOST 20% OF THE RUSSIAN $500MLN CREDIT HAS ALREADY BEEN LENT TO ARMENIAN LEGAL ENTITIES

ArmInfo
2009-08-28 17:08:00

ArmInfo. Almost 20% of the Russian $500mln credit has already been
lent to Armenian legal entities. Minister of Finance of Armenia Tigran
Davtyan said during a press-conference today.

Big part of the money will be given to the real sector. 38.6bln AMD
has already been lent to beneficiaries.

The distribution process may take some time as it requires decisions by
the government, the central bank, commercial banks. "These procedures
must be conducted very effectively so we can be sure that the money
will be paid back," Davtyan said.

The credit agreement with Russia has been signed for 15 years at
Lbor+3 terms. This year the Government has allocated almost $50mln
for development of SME and $50mln more will be lent in the framework
of the WB’s SME support program.

AZERBAIJANI MINISTERS GO TO YEREVAN

Azerbaijan Business Center
Aug 28 2009

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Azerbaijani ministers go to Yerevan for the
first time after 20% of Azerbaijani lands were occupied by Armenia.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sports reports that youth
and sports minister Azad Rahimov and minister of labor and social
protection and president of the Azerbaijani Judo Federation Fizuli
Alakparov go to Yerevan. The visit aims at providing of participation
of Azerbaijani delegation in the championship of Europe on judo,
to be held in Armenian capital in September.

Within the frames of visit of ministers new agreement is planned
to be concluded between the sports departments of two countries,
in accordance of which receiving party obliges to solve all issues,
connected with safety and organizational moments. So, in the case of
victory of the Azerbaijani sportsman the flag of the republic should
be raised, the hymn of the republic should sound, and at this moment
all people in the hall should rise. In addition, all issues of the
information support of the Azerbaijani delegation should be solved.

In 2007, similar agreement was concluded by the parties to provide
participation of Armenian delegation in the World Championship
Wrestling which passed in Baku. The European Judo Union, the European
Olympic Committee and the Armenian authorized bodies are guarantors
of new agreement.

TURKEY DEVELOPS NOT SERIOUS APPROACH

Panorama.am
13:06 28/08/2009

Turkish side seems to have formed not a serious approach towards
Armenian-Turkish negotiations, Arpi Vardanyan, the director of Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh offices of Armenian Assembly of America told at
news conference.

According to her, after the Armenian President’s statement (I will
go to Turkey if the border is open or if we are on the threshold of
Armenia’s deblockading) Turkey should have taken the initiative to
make correspondent steps but nothing of a kind.

"First you think they are serious, but then you hear Turkish diplomats
making such statements on Armenian-Turkish negotiations and Armenian
President’s visit to Turkey that no diplomat should have made such
announcements," Mrs. Vardanyan said.

Arpi Vardanyan stated that their disposition towards the opening
of the Armenian-Turkish border is unchanged: neighbor states should
not have blocked borders in the 21st century; opening of the border
should not be linked with another problem – recognition of Genocide,
settlement of Karabakh conflict.

THE NUMBER OF THE PUPILS REDUCED IN LORI REGION

Aysor, Armenia
Aug 26 2009

The schools of Lori region of 2009-10 will receive 3000 pupils less
than they had received in the previous educational year.

The head of the Educational department of Lori region Minas Sayadyan
mentioned that they have 34 838 pupils, the number of the classrooms
have also been reduced.

"In general the education is on a low level. The reason is not the
difficulty of the tests but the qualification of the teachers. Almost
all the teachers teach not the subject but train the children in
solving the problems", he said.

The Minister of education and science Armen Ashotyan in his turn said
that they get many applications on that concern and assured that the
whims pass all the limits.

"The schools shouldn’t serve as a battlefield of the claims of the
authorities. For example the directors not to get rid of the teachers
they do not like", – the minister said.

The governor of Lori Aram Qocharyan noted that the financial economic
crises have a definite but not vital influence on the educational
system; no serious problems have been noticed at schools till now.

The governor hoped that during the time the stuff of the schools will
be added and will progress.

SPEAKER OF UAE PARLIAMENT INTERESTED TO DEVELOP MULTILATERAL RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.08.2009 12:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On August 25, the Armenian Ambassador to the United
Arab Emirates Vahagn Melikyan met with the chairman of the Federal
National Council (Parliament) of the United Arab Emirates Abdul Aziz
Al Ghurair , press service of the foreign ministry of Armenia reports.

Vahagn Melikyan conveyed Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair an invitation of the
Speaker of Armenia’s parliament Hovik Abrahamyan to visit Armenia,
which was by the head of the National Council of UAE.

During the meeting the sides discussed prospects of cooperation
between the parliaments of two countries. The officials touched upon
formation of parliamentary friendship groups, as well as deepening
the bilateral relations. Armenian diplomat presented Abdul Aziz Al
Ghurair the main directions of foreign and regional policy of Armenia.

Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair stressed the interest of UAE in the development
of multilateral relations with Armenia and the need to take effective
steps in this direction.

THE FIRST STAGE OF BASELINE SURVEY OF OPINION LEADERS TO BE OVER IN AUGUST

ARKA
Aug 25, 2009

YEREVAN, August 25. Within the framework of the European Neighborhood
Policy (ENP) initiative, a consortium led by MWH Global with TNS
Opinion and Mostra Communication implements a project "Opinion Polling
and Research" (OPPOL) in 15 ENP countries including Armenia from March
2009 to March 2011. The America Bank told ARKA that the first stage
of the project is a Baseline Survey of Opinion Leaders from May to
August 2009.

Owning to the operational expertise in similar projects, Ameria
was entrusted by the Consortium to implement the baseline studies
in Armenia.

The general objective of the OPPOL project is to generate better
information about the sources of information of different target groups
in the ENPI (European Neighborhood Policy Instruments) countries, as
well as about their awareness, understanding and perception of the EU
and the role it plays in their respective countries; to test messages
aiming at getting the overall EU policies and actions across or shift
opinion; to provide a reliable research basis for the EU-related
communication and information activities in beneficiary countries.

Currently Ameria implements the Baseline Studies. Seven categories of
Opinion leaders (top experts and leaders in certain areas whose opinion
is of public importance) have been identified. Within these categories
100 respondents are chose n, including well known politicians, high
level state officials, top managers from the private sector, media
professionals, religious leaders, NGO representatives and scientists.

The activities of this stage include sampling, participation in
development of survey instruments, testing of questionnaires, training
of interviewers, field work, quality control and reporting. All the
interviews were conducted using face-to-face method. Chosen methodology
of research, thorough preparatory activities, professionalism of
interviewers and management staff, as well as extensive experience in
conduction of such assignments ensure the most effective implementation
process and achievement of the highest quality results within the
limited time frame.

The scope of the OPPOL project activities cover opinion polls and
opinion research, expert group research (through focus groups)
and summative evaluations of the ENP awareness activities will be
implemented through the EU initiatives. Based on the evaluations
the Project will provide strategic, analytical support to the
communication activities of the European Commission, its Delegations
in ENPI countries including Armenia, ENPI regional projects and
other communication partners. This should serve to better inform
target audiences in beneficiary countries by improving the EU-related
communication and information activities on the basis of reliable
research.

Ameria is a leading full-service advisory firm in Armenia with
significant activi ty in the areas of corporate restructuring,
mergers, acquisitions, legal advice, direct and portfolio investments,
government and corporate securities markets, business and strategic
planning, financial advisory and tax planning, foreign-trade
facilitations, project and company assurance, etc. As part of Ameria
Group, Ameria renders independent, confidential, and objective counsel
through a uniquely harmonious and efficient system of five advisory
units: Management Advisory Services, Financial Advisory Services,
Assurance and Taxation, Legal Practice and Investment Banking.

TRANSPORT MINISTER OF ARMENIA: DESPITE THE CONFLICT OF INTERESTS, THREE MOBILE OPERATORS HAVE MANAGED TO COME TO A COMMON DENOMINATOR

ArmInfo
2009-08-25 20:46:00

ArmInfo. Despite the conflict in interests, three mobile operators
have managed to come to a common denominator, Armenian Minister of
Transport and Communication Gourgen Sargsyan said when commenting
on publishing the interconnect tariffs among the phone operators of
Armenia. "The negotiations lasted 2-3 months, having been complicated
by conflict in interests.

However, as a result, they managed to come to a mutually admissible
decision. The memorandum envisages a clear schedule, according to
which the tariffs for most of interconnect services provided by the
operators to one another will be declining",- the minister said.

To recall, on August 20 the Public Services Regulatory Commission
of Armenia approved the tariffs for interconnect services between
the networks of three phone operators of Armenia with the schedule
of changes from Jan 1, 2010 till July 1, 2011. To recall, 2 mobile
operators are currently working in Armenia – ArmenTel (Beeline brand,
the branch of VimpelCom OJSC) and K-Telecom (VivaCell-MTS brand,
the branch of MTS OJSC), as well as a fixed communication operator
– ArmenTel. The third cellular communication operator of Armenia –
Orange Armenia (the branch of France Telecom) will most likely start
providing its services by the end of 2009.

Starting 1 Jan 2010 the termination of a call from cellular network to
fixed network of Yerevan will cost for operator 9,72 AMD per minute,
starting 1 July 2011 – 9 AMD. The tariff for termination of a call
from cellular network to fixed one outside Yerevan in peak hours will
be 17,8 AMD per minute (since 1 July 2011 – 11,4 AMD per minute),
not in peak hours – 13,38 AMD per minute (since July 2011 – 11,4 AMD
per minute). The termination of a call from fixed network to mobile
one in peak hours will cost 19,83 AMD per minute (since 1 July 2011 –
11,4 AMD per minute), not in peak hours – 14,74 AMD per minute (since 1
July 2011 – 11,4 AMD per minute). The tariff for termination of a call
between 2 mobile networks in peak hours will be 24,93 AMD per minute
(since 1 July 2011 – 11,4 AMD per minute), not in peak hours – 18,14
AMD per minute (since 1 July 2011 – 11,4 AMD per minute. The tariff
for termination of an international incoming call in mobile network
will be 11 cents per minute (since 1 July 2011 – 12 cents per minute).