Author: Andres-Papazian

Aysor, Armenia
Sept 18 2010

Levitov:`The spirit of the Armenian Grandmasters is developed

‘Ilya Levitov speaking about the forthcoming chess Olympiad has
stressed that the Armenians are usually very strong in team
tournaments.

`It is true that the spirit of the Armenian grandmasters team is
developed in particular,’ sport express has cited Levitov, `But I have
never shared the opinion that the Russian team has no team spirit and
consists of individuals only. Simply for winning in that kind of
tournament when the competition is too high we should approach the by
systemic work process.’

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Sept 18 2010

GDP growth to make 3-4% in Armenia, RA Finance Ministry says

September 18, 2010 | 14:59

This year GDP growth in Armenia will make 3-4%, Armen Hayrapetyan, the
head of the macroeconomic department under RA Ministry of Finance and
Economy, told a press conference on Saturday.

According to him, the economic growth has slowed down as a result of a
downslide in the agricultural sector. During January-July period, 23%
decline was registered due to unfavorable climate conditions.

Inflation will exceed the index of 4±1.5%, Hayrapetyan said.

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
Sept 18 2010

`If you don’t want to participate in the event we have organized, holy
liturgy in Sourb Khach you are unwanted guests for us.’

The President of Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardyan met reporters in
Yerevan today after he is back from Turkey. He commented on the
incident in Istanbul airport as Armenian journalists and citizens
underwent examination by Turkish immigration service workers.

Navasardyan said during the seminar he demanded official explanations
from the Turkish leadership over the incident, however, no comments
have followed by now.

Following his statements a number of Turkish journalists tried to find
out what had happened in Istanbul airport and why the
Armenian passengers were examined, however, they didn’t manage to get
any information either, Navasardyan said.

Why did the Armenians deserve such attitude? According to B.
Navasardyan, thus, Turkish leadership tried to show: `if you don’t
want to participate in the event we have organized, holy liturgy in
Sourb Khach (St. Cross) Church of Akhtamar, you are unwanted guests
for us.’

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Sept 18 2010

Armenian commercial banks’ forecasts prove false

September 18, 2010 | 15:26

The AMD exchange rate has been relatively stable, ranging within
360-370 AMD/U.S. $1, with the AMD revaluating rather than devaluating.
With the present trends considered, the AMD exchange rate is more
likely to appreciate than depreciate – that is it is more likely to be
lower than 360 AMD/U.S. $1 than higher than 370 AMD/U.S. $1. But only
a few months ago, most Armenian commercial banks involved in a
CBA-conducted survey forecast an exchange rate of higher than 370
AMD/U.S. $1 for this September.

The main reason for AMD revaluation is the USD surplus in the Armenian
banking system. According to our estimates, the Armenian banking
system has liquid funds totaling U.S. $400 at its disposal. The funds
are the result of the CBA interventions early last year, when it tried
to fix the AMD/USD exchange rate at 305 AMD/U.S. $1 to no avail.

The forecasts that the Armenian economy would `digest’ the USD surplus
within few months proved false. Moreover, Armenia has received about
U.S. $2bn from abroad over the last 18 months, with part of the funds
can in any way be found in the Armenian financial system, increasing
the banks’ liquid funds.

De-dollarization of deposits has lately been in progress in the
Armenian banking system – but the process is very slow. By July 2010,
foreign currency deposits had constituted 72.8% of all the bank
deposits against 73.3% lat December. If the de-dollarization gains in
scope, the AMD/USD exchange rate may even be 300 AMD/U.S. $1. We are
lucky that no serious de-dollarization process is taking place in
Armenia, as it is fraught with financial shocks.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
sept 18 2010

Azerbaijan ignores rules of international law, Armenian Defense Ministry says

September 18, 2010 | 15:54

The information by a number of Azerbaijani mass media on the Armenian
prisoner M. Saribekyan’s statement and video in Youtube is untrue, the
Armenian Defense Ministry informed NEWS.am.

According to the statement, Saribekyan completed his army service in
June 2010. He was demobilized and does not have any connection with
the Armenian Special Forces.

`To present a lost sheep herder as a saboteur is another primitivism
of Azerbaijan’s propaganda. The examination of the video proves
Saribekyan was under moral and physical pressure,’ the ministry said
in a statement. According to the Defense Ministry, the Azerbaijani
video is an attempt to destabilize the situation in the line of
contact, deceive the nation and the world community. For these
purposes, Azerbaijan blatantly violated the international rules on
human rights. The ministry urged the world community, particularly,
OSCE, the International Committee of the Red Cross to focus their
attention on to the Azerbaijani provocations and restrain them if
possible.

Amid the letter by Saribekyan’s parents to the International Committee
of the Red Cross, the Azerbaijani authorities’ actions prove once
again that Azerbaijan ignores rules of the international law and
international organizations,’ the statement reads.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Sept 18 2010

Human Rights Watch urges Turkey to redouble efforts on Dink case

September 18, 2010 | 09:41

The Human Rights Watch international non-governmental organization
urged the Turkish authorities to increase their efforts to bring to
justice those involved in the Hrant Dink assassination.

According to Emma Sinclair-Webb, a Human Rights Watch expert to
Turkey, European Court’s verdict does not mean Turkey should stop
efforts to administer justice on Hrant Dink murder. She stressed
Ankara must re-launch the investigation on Dink case.

The European Court of Human Rights found the Turkish state guilty of
Hrant Dink’s murder.

The court found the Turkish state guilty on two charges, sentencing
the state to pay 133,595 euros to Dink’s family in compensation and an
extra payment of 28,595 euros to the court for expenditures.

Turkish-Armenian journalist, chief editor of Agos newspaper Hrant Dink
was assassinated in Istanbul in January 2007, by a Turkish
nationalist. He was critical of Turkey’s denial of the Armenian
Genocide in his columns in Agos. Dink was prosecuted three times for
denigrating Turkishness, while receiving numerous death threats from
Turkish nationalists.

From: A. Papazian

news.az, Azerbaijan
Sept 18 2010

Azerbaijan averts attempt to admit NKR general prosecutor to Int’l organization
Sat 18 September 2010 10:22 GMT | 6:22 Local Time

Azerbaijan prevented so-called Nagorno Karabakh Republic from being
admitted to International Association of Prosecutors.
The issue on admitting prosecutor general of the so-called Nagorno
Karabakh Republic to the International Association of Prosecutors was
excluded from the agenda of the association’s meeting in the Hague,
the Netherlands.

Official website of the Justice Ministry reports that Azerbaijan’s
objection caused this.

As a result of the objection of the Azerbaijani representation, issue
on admission of prosecutor general of the so-called Nagorno Karabakh
Republic was excluded from the agenda of the Executive Committee,
collection of the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe and European Union
resolutions and other official documents on Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno Karabakh were distributed among the members of
the committee.

Head of the delegation Fikrat Mammadov gave information about
Azerbaijan’s just position and as a result of the discussions decision
was made in accordance with our national interests.

APA

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
Sept 18 2010

Turkish official don’t mind demonstration of `Skylark’s farm’

How could Turkey speak about cultural dialogue between Turkey and
Armenia, when `Skylark’s farm’ by Taviani brothers is banned in
Turkey, and Egoyan told `Ararat’ was performed after some deep
movements?

Assistant of the Culture and tourism minister of Turkey Ismet Elmaz
was asked on 17 September by a group of Armenian reporters. Turkish
official said he had never watched that film but he could imagine its
concept – `it’s about Armenians’ exile in 1915.’
Turkish official said `similar films may never do any good to the
improvement of the bilateral ties.’
`When I hear history of Armenian people, I think of that very period.
I would never protest its demonstration. And some different films
demonstrating the exaggeration of those would be welcomed as well,’
Turkish official said.

Talking about the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, Turkish
diplomat said: `The day will come and the border will be opened. I
wish the ties come developed and the border will be opened.’

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
Sept 18 2010

Rostov-on-Don to host Armenian jazzmen

Rostov-on-Don marks City Day and jazz festival will be held in these
days, Russian Itar-Tass reported.
According to the source the city will be turned into world jazz
capital. Famous jazz bands are supposed to arrive in Rostov-on-Don.

Two-day jazz festival will host 35 musicians from USA, Armenia,
France, Great Britain, Netherlands, Ukraine, Israel, Czech Republic,
Indonesia and Germany.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
sept 18 2010

Resumption of Russian gas supply to Armenia delayed for 2 days

September 18, 2010 | 10:03

The resumption of Russian gas supplies to Armenia via Georgia is
delayed for another two days for technical reasons, Spokeswoman for
“ArmRosGazprom” company Shushan Sardarian told NEWS.am.

The gas supply to Armenia was completely suspended on September 15 due
to the maintenance works on the main gas pipeline `Northern
Caucasus-Transcaucasia.’ The company had earlier reported the gas
supply to the country will resume on September 17. Armenian consumers
are supplied with gas from the underground gas storage facility
without restrictions.

From: A. Papazian