Author: Albert Nalbandian

CHURCH RUINS DISCOVERED IN STEPANAKERT DISTRICT
Anahit Danielyan

7/
2009/07/29 | 16:35
Nagorno Karabakh

The staff of the NKR Department of Tourism had an unexpected gift for
the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Artsakh on the occasion of the
20th anniversary of the reestablishment of the church.

Two weeks ago, the staff discovered the remains of an Armenian Church
in the Krkzhan neighborhood of Stepanakert, the NKR capital. The
find was reported to "Hetq" today by Sergei Shahverdyan who runs
the department.

He states that based on source materials the remains belong to the
Holy Savior Church built in the 19th century. The department staff
also uncovered stone crosses dating back to the 13th century on
the site. This would imply that a church existed on the same site
centuries ago.

Mr. Shahverdyan confessed that even after the liberation of Krkzhan,
no one in Karabakh was aware of the church since the former Azeri
residents had converted it into a stable and destroyed it.

An examination of the site is now underway.

Former MGM Mirage President Heads Up Tropicana Las Vegas

Hospitality Design
July 6, 2009

Onex Corp., a Canadian-based private equity firm, and Alex Yemenidjian
have acquired a majority stake in the Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and
Casino following its emergence following bankruptcy. Yemenidjian, the
former president of MGM Mirage, was named chairman and CEO of
Tropicana. Onex plans to invest $75 million to renovate the 1,850-room
property; updates will begin this year with a targeted completion date
of 2010.

tent_display/industry-news/e3if52b9a5b28d70b338dc2 c66b3ea90cd5?imw=Y

NORVIK COMPLETES LIST OF SHOPS CONNECTED TO CREDIT ON THE SPOT SYSTEM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.05.2009 15:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Considering the role of modern technologies in
the financial sphere important and appreciating its’ clients time,
Norvik universal credit organization continues expanding the list of
stores connected to the system "Credit on the spot", press office
of the Norvik company reports Reportedly, with the help of Norvik
the customers will be able to buy cell phones from the store chain
Hyrapetian Eghbayrner CJSC, which is a sole official representative
of Nokia in armenia.

Credit is assured in the store, the application is considered within
5 to 10 minutes, and the payment can be made at any time anywhere
without visiting the Norvic Universal Company’s office, by just using
TelCell and Tandem Terminals, as well as through bank transfers,
or even via Internet using Arca system.

Universal Credit Organization Norvik established in February by the
Icelandic Latvian Norvik Bank, has operated in Armenian market for
two years providing high and stable profitability.

TEGHUT LOAN PROJECT IS NOT STOPPED

LRAGIR.AM
17:38:01 – 29/04/2009

Today, the Chairman of "VTB Bank (Armenia)" Board of Directors Valeri
Ovsyannikov stated that the loan project of the Teghut mine is not
stopped. According to the loan agreement signed by the Armenian
government and the VTB Bank, the latter is going to allocate 249,
5 million dollars for the construction of mining industrial complex
and for the exploitation of the copper-molybdenum factory.

Ovsyannikov said that the decline in prices of the copper and
molybdenum in the world make them revise the project and the VTB
Armenia Bank is already finishing the recalculation of the project.

LETTER TO FRESNO BEE

Fresno Bee
l#none
April 22 2009

It was genocide

Turkey’s immoral response, Armenian genocide denial, draconian
influence is unparalleled. We shouldn’t let idle threats from foreign
sources drag down our national discourse.

It’s a disservice to our democracy, to the world, by letting Turkey
frame — with full force, leverage as a military and economic power.

America’s stand against genocide should not be treated as a political
bargaining chip, rather, it needs to build a core moral value, one
to be advanced regardless of the political cost.

Letting foreign countries deplete our moral standing surrenders us on
the world stage, shows the world that our country can be threatened
with results that no one can be proud of.

We should be the type of nation that understands the willingness
to confront genocide, cannot be bartered away for basing rights,
overflights and energy pipelines.

This is a matter of national security. Let’s show the Western world
and despots alike that a superpower cannot be easily influenced,
threatened or bought off.

We should be committed to showing nations our moral compass, earning
the respect of all countries through just examples and defense of
our values.

I hope this year the president and Congress do the right thing —
recognize the Armenian genocide as genocide.

ARMENIA, IRAN SIGN DEAL TO BUILD STRATEGIC RAIL LINK

RIA Novosti
20:59 | 15/ 04/ 2009

YEREVAN, April 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Armenian and Iranian transport
ministers signed on Wednesday an agreement to build a railway linking
Armenia with Iran’s Persian Gulf ports, the Armenian TV5 channel
reported.

The construction of the 470-kilometer long railway, with 410 kilometers
passing through Armenian territory, is expected to last for at least
five years and to cost $1.5-$1.8 billion.

"It is difficult to estimate the cost as the length of the tunnel has
not been determined and the construction of a tunnel is relatively
expensive," Armenian Transport Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said.

Landlocked Armenia, currently under economic blockade by neighboring
Turkey and Azerbaijan, has railway links with other countries only
through Georgia.

A memorandum of understanding on the strategic route was signed by
Sargsyan and his Iranian counterpart, Hamid Behbahani, on April 3. A
working group will take about three months to do a feasibility study,
Sargsyan said on Wednesday.

The railway connecting the northern Armenian city of Sevan to the
southern city of Meghri, bordering Iran, will ensure the transportation
of energy supplies and other goods, and increase trade between the
countries.

ARMENIA: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA ARMAN KIAKOSSIAN MEETS DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF BULGARIA MILEN KEREMEDCHIEV

Foreign Ministry
March 17 2009
Armenia

On March 16, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Arman Kirakossian
met Deputy Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Milen Keremedchiev who is in
Armenia with a working visit.

In the course of the meeting, the two discussed wide range of issues
concerning the deepening of Armenian-Bulgarian relations in different
areas.

Deputy Foreign Ministers Kirakossian and Keremedchiev mentioned that
friendly relations have been established between the two countries:
political dialogue is on the high level, economic partnership
is active, concrete steps have been taken to intensify cultural
relations. Within that context, they mentioned with satisfaction that
the Bulgarian Cultural Days would be held in Armenia from May 29 to
June 6.

The two also touched upon the global financial crisis and the steps
aimed at the softening of its results. Deputy Minister Keremedchiev
presented the situation in Bulgaria caused by the crisis and the
steps to be undertaken to overcome it.

On the guest’s request Deputy Foreign Minister Kirakossian presented
the perspectives of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

NIKOLAY PAVLOV: ARMENIA ENTERING RUBLE ZONE RUMORS

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2009 14:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia never leaves friends in trouble, the Russian
Ambassador to Armenia said, when commenting on Russia’s decision to
accommodate Armenia with a $500 million loan.

"Nevertheless, the Russian embassy is unaware of Armenia’s intention to
join the ruble zone," Ambassador Nikolay Pavlov told a news conference
in Yerevan. "There was an idea to expand the ruble area throughout
the CIS but it oppressed by the global financial crisis."

For his part, Russia’s trade commissioner in Armenia Alexander Zaytsev
informed that new projects will not be developed yet. "Under the
global crisis, we should support the existing projects, specifically
construction of a new power-generating unit and modernization of
the railways.

Earlier, head of the RA NA standing committee on economic affairs
Vardan Ayvazyan said that Armenia can enter the ruble zone in exchange
for a stabilization loan. He did not rule out that the two countries
consider not only financial but also economic projects. "Anyway, the
Armenian citizens will decide whether to join the ruble zone or not,"
Ayvazyan said.

RUGS WILL NOT RAISE ROLE OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Lragir.am
15:53:08 – 11/12/2008

There is one way of raising the role of the National Assembly – free
and fair elections, stated Member of Parliament Victor Dallakyan at
the National Press Club on December 11 in answer to the question of
reporters if the speaker of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan
has managed to raise the role and importance of the National Assembly
by which reason his becoming speaker was explained.

Victor Dallakyan said by replacing the old rugs of the National
Assembly or appointing one of the deputy speakers of the National
Assembly responsible of New Year celebrations the role of the
parliament will not rise. According to Dallakyan, the role of the
parliament will rise through free and fair elections, and the present
parliament does not reflect the wishes of the Armenian people and
the real political palette.

OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT ARMENIA

De Facto
Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, 04.12.08. DE FACTO. In the nearest time the OSCE Secretary
General, Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut is to visit Armenia. The
Ambassador stated it in Helsinki on December 3, at a meeting with RA
FM Edward Nalbandian.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the RA MFA Press
Office, during the meeting the parties discussed a number of issues,
including activity of OSCE Yerevan office.