Author: Andres-Papazian

ECOLOGISTS INTEND TO RAISE ISSUE OF A NEW NUCLEAR WASTE REPOSITORY AT THE LEVEL OF THREE MINISTRIES

ArmInfo
2010-06-07 18:14:00

ArmInfo. Ecologists are going to raise the issue of a new repository
for nuclear and other chemical waste at the level of three ministries.

To recall, the exploration near the villages of Zangakatun and
Urtsalanj to choose the place for the repository has raised a real
wave of protest among the local residents. The drilling operations in
the administrative lands of Zangakatun were launched in April without
warning the residents and the rural administration. As a result,
the villagers cordoned off the road and drove the drillers out of
their territory.

The Yerevan Sate University’s Prospecting Center, which carries out
the exploration, states that the repository will be situated in the
areas inapplicable for agricultural work and cattle grazing, while
the villagers say that the chosen place is in the center of plough
lands of the community. Moreover, the water pipelines of irrigation
system of three villages – Paruyr Sevak, Tigranashen and Yerakhas
are only 200 meters away from the exploration place.

Head of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan said at today’s debates at the Aarhus
Center that the work for choice of the place for the new repository
is being carried out in accordance with the governmental decision
dated 23 July 2009. At the same time, not a single document points
out precisely what waste and from what enterprises is to be buried
in the repository. It is noteworthy that according to the standards
of the International Atomic Energy Agency, these data are to be
known at the stage of choice of the territories applicable for the
waste repository. However, neither the Yerevan State University’s
Prospecting Center, which is carrying out the exploration, nor
the Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, which is
the contractor, possesses precise information about the waste the
repository is meant for.

Zarafyan doubts that the decision implies medical, laboratory or
chemical waste. “One thing is clear – we are dealing with a vicious
cycle of governmental decisions. Still, it remains unclear why the
Government has decided to create this repository and what is supposed
to be buried there,” Zarafyan said noting that no public hearings
have been held in the village of Zangakatun, which is contrary to
Aarhus Convention.

“We are going to demand that the ministries of energy and natural
resources, health care and environment protection specify the
grounds of this decision and explain what this site is designed for,”
Zarafyan said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN 9 PUPILS WILL BE AWARDED BY THE GERMAN LANGUAGE DIPLOMA

Aysor
June 7 2010
Armenia

On June 8, 2010 in the residence of the ambassador of the German
Federative Republic in Armenia 9 pupils will be awarded with the
German language diploma for the excellent results of the exams. 10
more pupils will get certificates for participating in German classes,
informs the information department of the Armenian embassy of Germany.

The language diploma of German language is a proof of high quality
of German language that the Armenian pupils have and will facilitate
the entrance process to German higher educational institutions.

This program is held in Armenia since 2004.

The pupils that have received language diploma can also apply for a
stipend program for getting education in Germany.

From: A. Papazian

WORRIED BY AFGHAN WAR, U.S. SEEKS TO EASE STRAINS WITH BAKU

DefenseNews.com

June 7 2010

Agence France-Presse

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT – U.S. President Barack Obama has
promised Azerbaijan that Washington will treat its dispute with
Armenia as a top priority, in a letter that officials released Monday.

Seeking to shore up ties with a crucial ally in the Afghan war,
Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Sunday hand-delivered the letter
to President Ilham Aliyev.

Obama wrote that a peaceful resolution to Baku’s dispute with Armenia
over the Nagorny Karabakh region was vital for the stability of the
South Caucasus region.

“Support for this outcome will remain a priority for the United
States,” the letter said, according to a copy provided to reporters.

Obama acknowledged some strain in U.S. relations with Azerbaijan,
which has complained that the administration had neglected Baku’s
concerns despite its key link in supply lines for Afghanistan.

“I am aware of the fact that there are serious issues in our
relationship, but I am confident that we can address them,” wrote
Obama, who also promised more high level US visits in the future.

After his talks with Aliyev, Gates expressed gratitude for Baku’s
help with the NATO-led war effort by allowing tens of thousands of
aircraft to pass through the country’s airspace since 2001.

But Azerbaijan’s overarching focus was on its long-running disagreement
with Armenia, Gates told reporters aboard his aircraft bound for
London.

“They’re obviously very concerned about the lack of progress on”
Nagorny Karabakh, he said.

“I said I would carry that message back to Secretary (of State Hillary)
Clinton.”

Human rights groups have accused the US administration of overlooking
abuses in strategic countries across the Caucasus region – including
Azerbaijan – in its drive to secure supply routes for the NATO-led
mission in Afghanistan.

The United States, along with France and Russia, is a co-chair of
the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE)
Minsk Group, which has been heading international efforts to reach
a permanent resolution to the conflict over Karabakh.

Backed by Yerevan, ethnic Armenian forces seized control of Nagorny
Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in the early
1990s, in a war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH ARMENIAN CONVERGENCE IN ART

Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 7 2010

Renowned Turkish author Nedim Gursel, who lives in France, attended a
French book fair together with Charles Aznavour, famous French singer
of Armenian descent.

Gursel signed his book “Yedi Dervisler” (Sept Derviches), recently
translated into French, for his readers at the fair in Saint-Louis
where readers showed great interest to Aznavour.

Gursel presented his recent book to Aznavour, and Aznavour signed
his latest book “A Voix Basse” for Gursel.

“For our joint future in friendship whatever our past may be,”
85-year-old Aznavour wrote for Gursel.

From: A. Papazian

AZERI POLITICIAN: US PLANS TO DEPLOY FORCES AT ARMENIAN BORDERS WITH IRAN

Fars News Agency
June 7 2010
Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- The US plans to deploy its military forces near Iranian
borders in Armenia under the cover of the UN peace-keeping troops,
an Azeri politician stated on Monday.

“Some parts of the territories occupied by Armenia lie in Iran’s
neighborhood and the US wants to deploy its forces in the region under
the cover of the UN peace-keeping troops,” Head of the Islamic Party
of Azerbaijan Mohsen Samadov told FNA.

Noting that Washington’s measure is aimed at putting pressure on Iran,
he reiterated that actually the US wants to endanger Iran and put
the country under a military siege.

Samadov further pointed out that all Azerbaijan’s religious parties
have condemned the US plot after it was uncovered and announced in
his country, and said the Islamic Party has protested strongly against
the plan.

The US accuses Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, while it has never
presented any corroborative document to substantiate its allegations.

Washington possesses advanced weapons of mass destruction, including
nuclear warheads.

Iran vehemently denies the charges, insisting that its nuclear program
is for peaceful purposes only. Tehran stresses that the country has
always pursued a civilian path to provide power to the growing number
of Iranian population, whose fossil fuel would eventually run dry.

Meantime, a 2008 study by the Institute for Science and International
Security (ISIS), a prestigious American think tank, found that a
military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities “is unlikely” to delay
the country’s program.

The ISIS study also cautioned that an attack against Iran would
backfire by compelling the country to acquire nuclear weaponry.

From: A. Papazian

BUDGET OF PROGRAM ON CREATION OF GNISHIK REGIONAL RESERVE TO TOTAL $500,000

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 7, 2010 – 14:25 AMT 09:25 GMT

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Territorial
Administration Armen Gevorgyan visited Vayots Dzor region of the
country.

During a meeting with participation of region’s Governor Vardgez
Matevosyan and Deputy Minister of Culture Arev Samuelyan, the Armenian
office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) submitted a program on creation
of Gnishik regional reserve. Its implementation will provide with the
opportunity to preserve the territory’s natural biological diversity,
develop ecotourism and improve the social and economic situation of
the communities.

According to the program, the reserve will occupy a territory of
10,000ha. Development of tourism may become an alternative source of
income for the local population. The program budget will total around
$500,000 to be allocated by the WWF and UNDP.

Armen Gevorgyan also visited Noravank complex. A museum will be opened
here in the framework of events dedicated to the 750th anniversary
of medieval architect Momik. The Deputy Prime Minister inspected the
implemented works.

Besides, Gevorgyan met with heads of communities to discuss social
and economic problems.

From: A. Papazian

IFC SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 7, 2010 – 17:01 AMT 12:01 GMT

With International Financial Corporation’s (IFC) funding, ACBA Leasing
will finance the leasing of transportation vehicles and manufacturing
and agricultural equipment to small and medium Armenian businesses
across the country through ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank’s existing
branch network.

“This timely support from IFC will help ACBA Leasing diversify
our funding base and deepen institutional capacity to meet clients’
needs,” said Stepan Gishyan, General Manager of ACBA Leasing. “It also
will allow us to continue our policy of financing local businesses to
obtain new equipment under leasing, thus helping the Armenian economy
recover after the global financial crisis.”

Thomas Lubeck, IFC Regional Head, Caucasus, said, “Leasing is an
excellent financial product for small and midsize companies, and IFC
has been supporting the development of leasing in Armenia since 2002.

We are happy to build on our investment relationship with such a
strong company as ACBA Leasing.”

IFC was a founder of ACBA Leasing, Armenia’s first leasing company
and a subsidiary of ACBA Credit Agricole Bank. IFC invested equity
and provided a long-term senior loan to the company in 2003, the IFC
press service said to PanARMENIAN.Net

IFC has been investing in Armenia since 2000, supporting financial
institutions, small retailers, and the hotel and other industries. IFC
also has implemented advisory projects to strengthen the financial
sector, establish a sustainable market for energy efficiency and
renewable energy investments, and improve the country’s business
environment.

From: A. Papazian

MOODY’S ASSIGN E+ BANK FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATING TO UNIBANK

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 7, 2010 – 17:19 AMT 12:19 GMT

On 3 June, 2010Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a bank financial
strength rating (BFSR) of E+ to Armenia’s Unibank CJSC, as well as
Ba3 long-term and Not-Prime short-term global local currency deposit
ratings and Ba3 long-term and Not-Prime short-term foreign currency
deposit ratings.

The outlook on all ratings is stable. “The ratings take into account
the bank’s good franchise strength, which is enhanced by the exclusive
right to operate the Unistream money transfer system, representing
a 50% stake of the lucrative money transfer business in Armenia,”
says Stathis Kyriakides, AVP-Analyst and lead analyst for Armenian
banks at Moody’s office in Limassol.

The system is the proprietorship of the Russian Unistream bank,
majority owned by Unibank’s ultimate beneficial owners. Given that
remittances constitute 20% of Armenia’s GDP, Moody’s believes that the
success of the Unistream system in penetrating the Armenian market
enhances Unibank’s franchise value and brand awareness. The bank’s
dominant presence in the money transfer business affords it good access
to primary deposits and offers cross-selling opportunities. The
bank exhibits good capitalisation ratios following successive
capital injections (the most recent in March 2010) which enables
it to withstand some deterioration in asset quality, Unibank press
service reported.

From: A. Papazian

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: ARMENIA INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING TOURISM BY APPLYING ITALIAN EXPERIENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 7, 2010 – 18:29 AMT 13:29 GMT

On June 7, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met Italian delegation
led by the head of Milan regional council Bruno Dapei.

Armenian Prime Minister gave high asessment to bilateral collaboration
in economic and cultural spheres, emphasizing the importance of
realizing the full collaboration potential.

Tigran Sargsyan specifically noted expansion of Italian investments
in Armenia, financial center construction in Dilijan, and Gyumri
projects. “Armenia is interested in developing tourism by applying
Italian experience,” the Prime Minister noted.

Head of Milan regional council emphasized the importance of Diaspora’s
contribution to developemnt of Armenia-Italy relations.

From: A. Papazian

UZI DAYAN: ISRAEL WOULD NOT TRY TO TAKE OVER TURKISH SHIP, BUT WOULD SINK IT

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 7, 2010 – 17:23 AMT 12:23 GMT

Israel must send Turkey a clear message that if Turkish warships are
sent to accompany the next flotilla trying to break the embargo on
Gaza, these will be considered acts of war by Israel , Uzi Dayan,
former deputy Chief of General Staff, told Army Radio Monday morning.

“If the Turkish prime minister joins such a flotilla,” Dayan said,
“we should make clear beforehand this would be an act of war, and we
would not try to take over the ship he was on, but would sink it.”

“If Israel doesn’t make this clear beforehand, the Turks will grow
increasingly self-assured, and we may indeed find ourselves facing
such a scenario, which could have been averted.”

Uzi Dayan attacked a letter sent by Navy veterans calling for a
commission of inquiry as confused and irresponsible, The Jerusalem
Post reported.

From: A. Papazian