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LAST MEETING BETWEEN AZERI, ARMENIAN LEADERS DID NOT ADVANCE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – BAKU

Interfax
May 9 2009
Russia

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
did not achieve significant progress in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict at a meeting in Prague on May 7, Azeri Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists on Saturday.

"Complex issues were discussed at the meeting in Prague.

Unfortunately, the Armenian side did not display a constructive
approach," Mammadyarov said.

Azerbaijan insists on the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Mammadyarov said. "The negotiations
are continuing in line with these principles, but I cannot say that
some great progress has been made," he said.

The next meeting between the two leaders is planned during an
international economic forum in St. Petersburg in June, Mammadyarov
said. Before the meeting, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will visit
the region, and the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers might meet
as well.

"The next meeting between the presidents will depend on the co-chairs’
visit to the region," he said.

IMF: BANKING SECTOR OF ARMENIA IS ABLE TO RESIST THE IMPACT OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

ArmInfo
2009-05-11 17:12:00

ArmInfo. The banking sector of Armenia is capitalized enough to resist
the negative impact of the global financial crisis, International
Monetary Fund Mission Chief in Armenia Mark Lewis said in Yerevan when
presenting a report on "Regional Economic Outlook. Armenia Outlook",
Monday.

According to him, the global crisis mainly affected the real sector
of Armenia’s economy as the financial system of the republic was
not involved in the world economy. At the same time, he pointed
out that the crisis may affect the quality of credit portfolios in
commercial banks.

Deputy Director of IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department Ratna
Sahay said that due to the balanced policy of Armenian Government
and Central Bank, Armenian commercial banks didn’t accrue big foreign
borrowings, while this was the reason of the crisis in many countries.

TURKEY COULD OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA

Southeast European Times
May 11 2009

ANKARA, Turkey — Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey
could open its border with Armenia if Yerevan withdraws its troops
from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. The two
neighbours have had no diplomatic relations for more than a decade,
since Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan. Last month, however, Turkey and Armenia agreed on a road
map to normalise ties and open their border. Erdogan also announced
on Friday (May 8th) that he will travel to Baku this week to meet
with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and discuss the conflict
with Armenia. Azerbaijan has warned that opening the border before
the withdrawal of Armenian troops from those territories would harm
its national interests. (TRT, Anadolu news agency, Hurriyet – 09/05/09)

YURI MERZLYAKOV: CO-CHAIRS HOPE ON PROGRESS IN 4 MAIN PRINCIPLES FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

ArmInfo
2009-05-11 11:19:00

Arminfo. ‘Co-chairs hope on progress in coordination of the problems
which still remain mismatched. These are the 4 main principles for
settlement. We have already reached mutual understanding on many of
them and we hope that breakthrough will happen in St.Petersbourg or
agreement of major part of the remaining problems’, – Russian co-chair
of the OSCE MG Yuriy Merzlyakov said in an interview with Ekho Moskvi.

When commenting on the Praque meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents on 7 May, he recalled that was the forth meeting of the two
presidents. He said, as presidents themselves assessed, the meeting
was constructive and made it possible to make closer positions on
the remaining mismatched basic principles for Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict settlement.

He also added Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents will probably meet
in St. Petersbourg at the beginning of June.

When commenting on normalizing of the Armenian-Turkish relations
Merzlyakov said it is in parallel developing with the process
of Karabakh conflict settlement. It is important the process of
the Karabakh conflict settlement not to become the hostage for
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, he concluded.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MET FRENCH PRIME MINISTER

13:16 08/05/2009
Source: Panorama.am

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had bilateral meetings in the
frames of `Eastern Partnership’ summit in Prague with the Prime
Minister of France Francois Fillon, the Chancellor of Germany Angela
Merkel, European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and the head of
British Foreign Office David Miliband, the President’s Cabinet
reports.

The highlights of the meeting between the Armenian President and
French Prime Minister have been the Armenian-French relations and
cooperation, in particular the investment made by the French `Orange’
company. The parties have also discussed the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, the world financial crisis, etc.

‘CONVERSE BANK’ IS NOT GOING TO ISSUE SECOND BONDS IN THE NEAR FUTURE

ArmInfo
2009-05-08 15:16:00

ArmInfo. "Converse Bank" is not going to implement issue of second
bonds in the near future, Director General of "Converse Bank" Ararat
Gukasyan told ArmInfo correspondent.

He also added the same situation is noticed at the money market like at
the market of other Armenian currency investment instruments including
the Armenian currency deposits. "We still need time for the people to
"recover" after the March devaluation", – he said.

To recall, the bonds of "Converse bank" were included in the list of
Bond of NASDAQ OMX Armenia, according to which in April of the current
year the volume of transactions with these bonds lagged behind the
March volume by more than 26 times, having amounted to 10.6 mln AMD.

ARTSAKH WEB PAGE LAUNCHED AT THE ITB WEBSITE

Noyan Tapan
May 8, 2009

STEPANAKERT, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. An Artsakh web page is launched at
the website of the Berlin International Tourism Exhibition (ITB),
(). It provides corresponding
information on the places of interest, historical-architectural
monuments, and spiritual values of Nagorno Karabakh.

According to the NKR MFA Press Service, at the March 2009 international
tourism exhibition in Berlin, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was
introduced in a separate exhibition hall, attracting greatly the
attendees’ attention.

MEMBER OF RPA FACTION: RPA IS PREPARED TO USE ALL ITS RESOURCES FOR HOLDING FAIR ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 8, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The elections of Yerevan Council of
Elders are undoubtedly political ones as they are being held only
by the proportional electoral system, and the parties running in
these elections present their pre-election programs on development of
Yerevan. Karen Avagian, a member of the National Assembly "Republican
Party of Armenia" (RPA) faction, said this at the May 8 discussion "The
Role of Parties in the Organization and Control of Elections of Yerevan
Council of Elders" organized at the National Press Club. At the same
time he noted that there will be a team struggle in these elections,
and not the mayor but his political team will bear responsibility
for solution of Yerevan problems. K. Avagian assured those present
that the RPA is in favor of transparent and fair elections and it is
going to use all its resources with this aim.

With the assistance of the National Democracy Institute of the US,
the National Press Club (NPC) intends to hold a number of discussions
on elections of the Yerevan Council of Elders. Representatives of
all the political forces running in the elections of the Council of
Elders will be invited to discussions.

In the words of the NPC Chairwoman Narine Mkrtchian, all 7
political forces have received an invitation to take part in the
given discussion, but only 5 have accepted it. Representative of
the Armenian National Congress Vahagn Khachatrian was not present
for unknown reasons, while "Prosperous Armenia" Party (PAP) refused
to participate in advance. According to PAP, during the election
propaganda campaign, representatives of their party will not make
speeches at any press club.

OBAMA SEEKS 38 PERCENT CUT IN ARMENIA AID, BREAKS MILITARY PARITY

Asbarez
seeks-38-percent-cut-in-armenia-aid-breaks-militar y-parity/
May 7th, 2009

WASHINGTON-Despite a 9% increase in overall foreign aid spending,
President Barack Obama on Thursday called for a38% cut in aid to
Armenia, a 20% increase in aid to Azerbaijan, and the abandonment of
the longstanding Armenia-Azerbaijan military aid parity agreement in
favor of Baku, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

These figures, released today as part of the President’s Fiscal Year
(FY) 2010 budget, represent a sharp departure from the President’s
campaign commitments to maintain U.S. assistance to Armenia and
to foster its growth and development through aid and trade. In
January of 2008 and again only days before the November election, the
President said he would "help foster Armenia’s growth and development
through expanded trade and targeted aid," adding that he will also,
"strengthen the commercial, political, military, developmental,
and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments."

"President Obama, despite his promise to maintain U.S. assistance to
Armenia and his campaign commitment to help foster Armenia’s growth
and development, has called for a thirty-eight percent cut in aid to
Armenia," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "His
proposal to sharply reduce vitally needed assistance to Armenia,
even as he is increasing overall foreign aid spending, is all the
more disappointing in light of the urgent economic challenges facing
Armenia."

President Obama’s budget calls for $30 million in U.S. aid to Armenia,
down 38% from the FY09 allocation of $48 million. Under his proposal,
funding for Azerbaijan would increase 20% from $18.5 million to $22.12
million. The complete international affairs budget proposed by the
White House is $53,872,901.

In Foreign Military Finance spending, President Obama has requested
$4 million for Azerbaijan and only $3 million for Armenia, while funds
for International Military Education and Training (IMET) represent an
even starker break in the parity agreement struck between Congress and
the White House in 2001, with $900,000 being proposed for Azerbaijan
and $450,000 for Armenia.

The Foreign Operations Subcommittees of the House and Senate
Appropriation Committees will now review the President’s budget and
each draft their own versions of the FY 2010 foreign assistance bill.

OPENING OF ARMENIAN TURKISH BORDER CAN THREATEN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 20:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ARF Dashnaktsutyun is by no means accusing RA
authorities of treason, ARF Dashnaktsutyun MP Artsvik Minasyan told
a news conference.

"Still, official Yerevan might undertake risky steps leading to
negative consequences," RA MP stressed.

"Opening of Armenian Turkish border can threaten Armenian Genocide
recognition," Artsvik Minasyan emphasized, adding that aspects of
Armenian-Turkish relations haven’t yet been studied fully.