Author: Babajanian Karo

Sharmazanov responds to Turkey

14:35 23/11/2013 » TOPIC OF THE DAY

Among other issues, yesterday’s meeting of the RPA Executive Body
addressed the latest meeting between the Armenian and Azeri
Presidents, RPA spokesman Edward Sharmazanov has told Panorama.am.

`The Armenian side thinks the meeting was positive because the
negotiations have resumed,’ he said.

Responding to recent messages of Turkey regarding Armenian-Turkish
relations, Sharmazanov said that Turkey should first of all lift
Armenia’s blockade and give up its one-sided position on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to
Armenia, the RPA spokesman said that Russia is Armenia’s number one
strategic ally and the RPA as Armenia’s ruling party will do its
utmost to boost Armenian-Russian allied relations in humanitarian,
economic, political, military and cultural fields. He added that both
Armenia and Russia are interested in boosting bilateral ties.

Source: Panorama.am

Armenian activists to dispute pension bill in Constitutional Court

13:53 – 23.11.13

The Armenian civic activists protesting against the controversial bill
on the compulsory pension accumulation system are going to apply to
the Constitutional Court to dispute the measure.

The campaigners claim that several provisions in the bill conflict
with the country’s basic law.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, one of the protesters, Harutyun
Adamyan, addressed some of the provisions, which they deem
unconstitutional.

`The Constitution says that any law has to be targeted at social
well-being. But this [draft] law affects the minimal salary too. So
that already conflicts with the Constitution. The Constitution says
that a citizen is free to control his or her means, but the law makes
the [social] payments compulsory. Yes, the government says it is
transferred to individual accounts, but [a citizen] cannot control it
at any moment, unless he or she is terminally ill and there is no
option,’ he complained.

Relations between Armenia, Kuwait developing dynamically

15:07 23.11.2013
Armenia, Kuwait

President Serzh Sargsyan received today delegation of Al Kuwait
district of the State of Kuwait headed by the Governor of the district
Sheikh Ali Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabahi, President’s Press Office
reports.

The President welcomed the guests and noted with satisfaction that the
Armenian-Kuwaiti relations are developing dynamically and reciprocal
visits of different levels between the two countries have become a
good tradition.

President Sargsyan underscored that friendship between the Armenian
and Arab peoples dates back centuries and the interstate relations
between Armenia and Arab states, including the State of Kuwait, are
developing successfully in different areas. The President of Armenia
expressed confidence that the visit of the Governor of Al Kuwait
district will become a serious impetus for the development and
expansion of the agenda of the Armenian-Kuwaiti relations.

At the meeting, the parties expressed their satisfaction particularly
with the dynamics present in the relations in recent years in
different areas, in which, according to the interlocutors, a great
role is played by the Embassies opened in the two countries and the
two Ambassadors.

Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the friendly people of Kuwait
and the government for their generous attitude towards the Armenian
community and for the creation in the country of favorable conditions
for the preservation of their national identity, religion, and
cultural values and opportunities to create. The President also
thanked them for the assistance provided to Armenia in the framework
of different programs.

At the meeting discussed were opportunities of expanding and
developing cooperation in perspective areas, deepening of the mutually
beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Form 8-K for GLOBAL GOLD CORP

________________________________

21-Nov-2013
Other Events

Item 8.01 Other Events

On November 21, 2013, the Company received from its attorneys the
“without prejudice” ruling of the Judge J. Paul Oetken of United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York which
vacated the $37.5 million default judgment which the Company had
obtained against former Armenian Minister of Environment Vartan
Ayvazian solely on jurisdictional grounds. The ruling is expressly
“without prejudice” to Global Gold’s right to re-file or continue to
pursue the case, and the Company is currently reviewing its legal
options. The court did not rule on the corruption charges or damage
amount caused by Ayvazian’s actions, basing its findings on Ayvazian’s
general insufficient contacts with New York. One of the shareholders
of the Armenian party to the agreement under which the Company brought
suit against Ayvazian identified him as the undisclosed principal who
controlled the transaction and divided the funds paid by Global Gold.
The November 21, 2013 court ruling also did not address those facts.
This ruling has no effect on the Company’s financial statements as
this judgment was never recorded on the Company’s books.

As previously reported, in 2006, GGH, which was the license holder for
the Hankavan and Marjan properties, was the subject of corrupt and
improper demands and threats from the now former Minister of the
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Armenia, Vardan
Ayvazian. Specifically, the Company was asked to pay a $3 million
bribe which it refused to pay. The Company reported this situation to
the appropriate authorities in Armenia and in the United States. On
November 7, 2006, the Company initiated the thirty-day good faith
negotiating period (which is a prerequisite to filing for
international arbitration under the 2003 SHA, LLC Share Purchase
Agreement) with the three named shareholders and one previously
undisclosed principal, Mr. Ayvazian. The Company filed for arbitration
under the rules under the International Chamber of Commerce,
headquartered in Paris, France (“ICC”), on December 29, 2006. On
September 25, 2008, the Federal District Court for the Southern
District of New York ruled that Mr. Ayvazian was required to appear as
a respondent in the ICC arbitration. On September 5, 2008, the ICC
International Court of Arbitration ruled that Mr. Ayvazian shall be a
party in accordance with the decision rendered on September 25, 2008
by the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Subsequently, in December 2011 the ICC Tribunal decided to proceed
only with the three named shareholders; in March 2012, GGM filed an
action in Federal District Court pursuant to that Court’s decisions
for damages against Ayvazian and/or to conform the ICC Tribunal to the
precedents, and on July 11, 2012 the Federal Court entered judgment in
favor of the Company, which was not appealed and became final. Based
on the evidence of the damages suffered as a result of Ayvazyan’s
actions, the final $37,537,978.02 federal court judgment in favor of
GGM was comprised of $27,152,244.50 in compensatory damages plus
$10,385,734.52 of interest at 9% from 2008. The Company notified the
ICC that the pending arbitration against the other three shareholders
should be terminated as moot, considering the judgment against
Ayvazian. The ICC complied with the Company’s request and terminated
that proceeding.

Separately, and based on the US Armenia Bilateral Investment Treaty,
Global Gold filed a request for arbitration against the Republic of
Armenia for the actions of then Minister of Environment and Natural
Resources Ayvazian with the International Centre for Settlement of
Investment Disputes, which is a component agency of the World Bank in
Washington, D.C. (“ICSID”), on January 29, 2007. On August 31, 2007,
the Government of Armenia and GGM jointly issued the following
statement, “[they] jointly announce that they have suspended the ICSID
arbitration pending conclusion of a detailed settlement agreement. The
parties have reached a confidential agreement in principle, and
anticipate that the final settlement agreement will be reached within
10 days of this announcement.” GGM entered into a conditional,
confidential settlement agreement with the Government of the Republic
of Armenia to discontinue the ICSID arbitration proceedings, which
were discontinued as of May 2, 2008. The November 21, 2013 “without
prejudice” ruling does not affect the ICSID settlement.

—
GLOBAL GOLD MINING LLC, ARMENIAN BRANCH
Yerevan 0009 Armenia, Str. Zaroubian 1/1

E-mail: [email protected]

VASKEN KALTAKJIAN AWARDED ARTSAKH GOVERNMENT MEDAL

By MassisPost
Updated: November 19, 2013

STEPANAKERT – On November 15, 2013, Artsakh Republic President
Bako Sahakyan signed a decree awarding the “Appreciation” medal to
several individuals who defended the self-determination rights of
the people of Artsakh and for promoting international recognition
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh. Included among the awardees
is Mr. Vasken Kaltakjian, Chairman of the Louisiana chapter of the
Armenian Council of America, and member of the Central Committee of
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party.

On May 30 of this year, the Louisiana State Senate passed a Resolution
recognizing the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, expressing support for its
development as a free and independent nation in order to guarantee
its citizens those rights inherent in a free and independent society.

The Resolution also urges the President of the United States and
the House of Representatives to support the self-determination
and democratic independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and
its constructive involvement with the international community’s
efforts to reach a just and lasting solution to security issues in
that strategically important region. The Louisiana State Legislature
became the fourth state legislative body to recognize the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, previous States to do so are Massachusetts, Rhode
Island and Maine.

The Resolution was spearheaded by Louisiana State Senator Edwin R.

Murray (D-New Orleans), who worked closely with Mr. Kaltakdjian.

Others who have been awarded the medal are; Jim Kaloustyan, manager
of the “Rx.Ante.Inc” company (USA), dealing with Boston health
issues; Jonathan Hecht, member of the USA Massachusetts state House
of Representatives; Ani Haroyan, member of the ARF-US East Coast;
and Anna Astvatsaturyan-Turcotte, lawyer and writer.

EU WELCOMES MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2013

[ 20 November 2013 15:39 ]

Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. “The European Union welcomes
the meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and
continuation of dialogue,” said Charge d’Affaires of the EU Delegation
to Azerbaijan Toralf Pilz, APA reports.

He said that the EU can’t say anything about the content of the
meeting as it is not involved in the negotiation process.

ARMENIAN AND AUSTRIAN PRESIDENTS MEET

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 20 2013

20 November 2013 – 11:23am

Armenian and Austrian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Heinz Fischer
met in Vienna yesterday, Trend reports.

They discussed cooperation, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Sargsyan’s meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
earlier that day, as well as regional and international affairs.

Fischer confirmed the invitation for Sargsyan to visit Austria again
in 2014. The Armenian president accepted the invitation.

Armenian and Austrian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Heinz Fischer
met in Vienna yesterday, Trend reports.

They discussed cooperation, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Sargsyan’s meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
earlier that day, as well as regional and international affairs.

Fischer confirmed the invitation for Sargsyan to visit Austria again
in 2014. The Armenian president accepted the invitation.

ARMENIAN, AZERI LEADERS ADDRESS NAGORNO-KARABAKH

United Press International
Nov 20 2013

Nov. 20, 2013 at 11:10 AM |

VIENNA, Nov. 20 (UPI) — Negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan
may be “a warranty for peace” in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement, the OSCE representative said.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Tuesday in Vienna with Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev to discuss the simmering conflict over the
disputed territories.

“We believe that such negotiations serve as a warranty for peace,
stability and opening new opportunities for regional co-operation,”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, a regional chairman for
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said in a
statement Tuesday.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought repeatedly over the disputed
territory. Both sides exchanged fire over Nagorno-Karabakh last year.

“I trust that the highest-level dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan
will contribute to strengthening confidence and mutual understanding
between the parties and will provide a positive incentive for the
negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,”
the Ukrainian minister said.

The Minsk Group of the OSCE chaired the meeting in Vienna. It issued no
statement about the outcome of the talks but said the two presidents
met in private to discuss a “broad range of issues” related to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Both sides, the OSCE said in a statement, agreed to future talks
about a peaceful settlement.

INITIATIVE “AGAINST 5% OBLIGATORY PENSION PAYMENTS” DEMANDS HOLDING OF REFERENDUM

by Nana Martirosyan
Monday, November 18, 16:33

The initiative “Against 5% obligatory pension payments” demands
holding of referendum regarding transition of the republic to the
obligatory accumulative pension system, a member of the initiative,
Hayk Avetisyan, said at today’s press-conference.

He thinks that 99% of Armenian citizens will be against the pension
reform, as the experience of other countries in this matter shows that
at the initial stage the accumulative pension system should be based
on the voluntary but not obligatory basis, otherwise problems should
occur. “The introduction of this system means decrease of salary,
and the prospect of getting higher pension seems to be rather clouded,
especially when taking into consideration a sad experience of savings
during the Soviet time, when it suddenly became clear that there was
no money and nobody was responsible for that”, – he emphasized.

For his part, another member of the initiative, Harutyun Aglamazyan,
added that the law does not meet the points of the Constitution,
in particular, it does not allow a man to freely manage his won
funds. He said that the pension reform will result in much losses,
for this reason, we need fighting it by all means.

On November 15, the special session of Armenian parliament convened
for the discussion of the postponement for a year of the introduction
of compulsory accumulative pension system did not take place due to
no quorum. The ruling Republican Party of Armenia did not appear for
the session.

The Law on the Accumulative Pension System enters into force on January
1, 2014. The law stipulates that Armenian citizens born after 1974
must transfer from 6.6% to 13% of their salary to the pension fund.

LAXMAN STUNS GM BABUJIAN, SHARES LEAD

UNI (United News of India)
November 17, 2013 Sunday

DATELINE: c AI

c AI, Nov. 17 — Former Commonwealth Champion, Grand Master R R Laxman
of India scalped a second GM in succession as he stunned Babujian Levon
of Armenia in the third round of the Chennai Grand Master International
Open tournament being held as part of the chess festival in tandem
with the FIDE World Chess Championship 2013m, here today.

Laxman, who upset top seed GM Popov in the previous round, scored an
exciting 46 move victory over Armenian Grandmaster Babujian Levon,
taking his tally to 3.0 points from as many rounds.

Sharing the lead at 3.0 points with Laxman were GMs Lalith Babu, Vishnu
Prasanna (both India) and Ter Sahakyan Samvel (Armenia), among others.

In another upset FIDE Master Aravindh Chithambaram defeated GM Drazic
Sinisa of Serbia.

The Results (Round 3) : (Indians unless specified) :

Swapnil S Dhopade (2.5) drew with Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (2.5)

M R Lalith Babu (3) bt Gagare Shardul (2)

Udeshi Aditya (2) lost to Ter-Sahakyan Samvel (Arm) 3

Babujian Levon (2) lost to R R Laxman (3),

B S Shivananda (2.5) drew with Mozharov Mikhail (Rus) 2.5,

V Vishnu Prasanna (3) bt S Ravi Teja (2)

Aravindh Chithambaram V R (3) bt Drazic Sinisa (Srb) 2,

N R Vignesh (2.5) drew with Rzayev Bahruz (Aze) 2.5,

Mirzoev Azer (Aze) 2.5 bt Ravichandran Siddharth (1.5),

Papin Vasily (Rus) 2 drew with Sardana Rishi (2). UNI XR VV RSS1742
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