Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MAINLY SATISFIED WITH PACE RESOLUTION

Noyan Tapan
June 29, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The last PACE Resolution on activity
of democratic institutions in Armenia has more positive than negative
provisions. Armenian National Congress (ANC) representative Levon
Zurabian expressed such an opinion at the June 25 press conference. In
his words, the words of praise addressed to the Armenian authorities
in the Resolution was the price to be paid for release of the most
part of the political prisoners. He attached importance to the
fact that the Assembly also calls the authorities for releasing
the political prisoners, to which the amnesty was not extended. By
the way, according to L. Zurabian, Armenian delegation’s member,
Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues David
Haroutiunian struggled to remove these provisions from the Resolution
text, therefore he is personally responsible for NA deputy Sasun
Mikayelian’s and other political prisoners’ remaining in prison.

L. Zurabian also attached importance to the circumstance that in spite
of the authorities’ efforts, the necessity of returning on air the A1+
TV company is mentioned in the document.

Meanwhile L. Zurabian said that but for Congress’ efforts and people’s
struggle, the European structures would not have made these demands
to the Armenian authorities.

SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTER ESTABLISHED IN KAPAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.06.2009 20:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended
the opening ceremony of small and medium business support center in
Kapan, reported the government’s press office.

"Assistance to small and medium sized businesses is a priority of
the government’s economic program," he said.

The center will assist unpracticed businessmen and promote
implementation of programs.

MATTHEW BRYZA: THERE IS HOPE FOR REACHING AGREEMENT ON BASIC PRINCIPLES

ArmInfo
2009-06-24 11:30:00

ArmInfo-TURAN. There is a hope that until the end of the year
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s Presidents will agree on basic principles
of settlement the Karabakh conflict, American co-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group Matthew Bryza told in interview to Azerbaijan’s Service
of Voice of America.

‘Presidents Aliyev and Sarkisian agreed on some 10 or 12 principles,
and we hope on continuation of development in this direction,’ Bryza
said. He considers that process of settlement and normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations should not be connected. He confirmed that
USA understands Azerbaijan’s concern in this question. ‘However,
if the Armenian-Turkish relations are normalized, Armenia will be
on a more constructive position in the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict,’ he said.

ARMENIAN "GRANT THORNTON AMYOT" TO CONDUCT AUDIT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ARKA
June 22, 2009

YEREVAN, June 22. /ARKA/. Armenian audit and consulting company "Grant
Thornton Amyot" will carry out the audit of financial statements of
the year 2009 of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic.

As ARKA was told by the press-service of the company, the Parliament
of the Kyrgyz Republic has approved the decision on June 11.

"We are very happy to be announced as the winner of this tender
and to have the opportunity to provide high quality service to the
National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic," said Armen Hovhannisyan,
Partner and Director of Financial Institutions Audit Department at
Grant Thornton Amyot.

He also said that in November 2008 the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan made
amendments in the law lifting the requirement of license for conducting
audit activity on the territory of Kyrgyzstan.

According to Hovhannisyan due to this amendment Grant Thornton Amyot
became eligible for this assignment.

"As Grant Thornton Amyot also has experience with the audit of the
Central Bank of Armenia, we fully satisfied all requirements of the
tender," he noted.

Hovhannisyan also stated all efforts of Grant Thornton Amyot are
invested into geographic expansion of the company’s activity as part
of their development strategy.

Grant Thornton launched its activities in Armenia in 1991. In 1994,
Grant Thornto n France established a branch in Armenia. Later the
branch was transformed to Grant Thornton Amyot.

Grant Thornton Amyot is a full member of Grant Thornton International
(GTI), one of the world’s largest auditing and consulting organizations
uniting 521 companies in 113 countries.

For over a decade Grant Thornton Amyot has been providing audit and
professional advisory services to a vast number of organizations,
including financial institutions in Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan and
other countries, among which are 25 banks and over a dozen credit
organizations, funds, insurance and brokerage companies.

BOOK ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY BRYCE AND TOYNBEE TO BE RELEASED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN LONDON AND ANKARA

Noyan Tapan
June 19, 2009

LONDON, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The English translation
of the uncensored edition of the book "The Treatment of Armenians
in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916. Documents Presented to Viscount
Grey of Fallodon by Viscount Bryce" by James Bryce and Arnold Toynbee
will be released next week in London and Ankara, Azg daily reported,
referring to a report of Gomidas Institute (London).

Ara Sarafian is the editor of the 654-page book. Interestingly,
in 2005, considering the book a "propaganda publication", Turkish
parliamentarians filed a petition to British MPs, probably requesting
not to publish an English translation. However, after some discussions
British MPs rejected the petition in 2006, inviting their Turkish
colleagues to consult with them. The members of Turkish parliament
refused to meet with them.

ARMENIAN PREMIER TO TAKE PART IN BRIDGE ARTSAKH FORUM

ARKA
June 19, 2009

YEREVAN, June 19. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan will be
on a visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) to take part in
the Bridge Artsakh forum to be held in Stepanakert.

The RA Government’s press service reports that the Premier-headed
Armenian delegation is to hold a meeting with NKR Government members.

The Armenian delegation includes Head of the RA Government staff David
Sargsyan, RA Minister of Finance Tigran Davtyan, Minister of Economy
Nerses Yeritsyan, Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan, Minister
of Urban Development Vardan Vardanyan and Minister of Transport and
Communications Gurgen Sargsyan.

The Bridge Artsakh forum will be held in the NKR on June 19-21, 2009.

Organized by the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers)
of Armenia (UMB(E)A), the forum will be held under the auspices of
the NKR President and under the sponsorship of the NKR Government.

The Artsakh Investment Fund is official partner of the forum. The
forum participants will get acquainted with the political and business
circles of Armenia and other countries, as well as with the NKR’s
socio-economic potential. A keynote address entitled "Investment
attractiveness of Artsakh" will be presented by the Artakh Investment
Fund.

DIASPORA MINISTER RECEIVES STUDENTS FROM ALEPPO

Noyan Tapan
June 18, 2009

Yerevan, June 18, Noyan Tapan – Armenians Today: RA Diaspora minister
Hranush Hakobyan receives the of 36 10-grade students from Aleppo-based
"Qaren Eppe" Armenian lyceum.

As the public relation department of the Diaspora ministry reports,
Ms.Hakobyan presented Diaspora ministry’s functions and programs. The
minister stressed, that true Armenian must be necessarily literate
and good person, law-abiding citizen of the country he lives, which
is of utter importance , be healthy, which means everyone should
refrain from bad habits.

Ms Hakobyan dwelled on the "Come Home" program, told about the official
web site of the ministry and recently established "Armenians Today"
electronic web periodical, mentioning that Armenians from around the
world are invited to post their stories on these web-sites.

Students touched upon the problem of the status of Armenian diplomas
abroad.

The minister promised to address this issue to the RA president,
since Armenians diplomas of higher education are still not recognized
in many countries, which prevents Diasporan Armenians from studying
in their homeland.

Currently 1200 students are enrolled in the "Qaren Eppe" Armenian
lyceum eestablished in Aleppo in 1947.

NATION’S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION – DECISIVE MOMENT IN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.06.2009 19:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ We take pride in Syrian-Armenians who play invaluable
role in the country’s life, especially in art, music, medicine, crafts
and other spheres, Syrian Presdient Bashar al-Asad said during solemn
supper with his Armenian colleague Serzh Sargsyan. According to Syrian
official, such inseparable intersection of cultures is a response to
the thoughts, ideologies and racist movements that led to the splitting
of civilizations, cultures, religions and nations. And that in turn,
caused destabilization in different parts of world, in particular,
in Near East, Caucasus and Asia.

Such unilateral and irresponsible policy led to wars and
conflicts unacceptable by people after long struggle for justice,
equality and nations’ right to self-determination, Syrian president
said. Armenian-Syrian relations, according to al-Asad, are based on
century-old traditions. "The talks conducted today have confirmed that
bilateral relations will develop further, considering the interests
of both nations and two regions. We hope for joint work aimed at
establishing peace, security and stability in Near East, Caucasus
and Central Asia, since situation in those regions affects global
security and stability. We are sure that respect for people’s right
to self-determination, as well as international laws and legal will
based on mutual understanding will create the background required
for settling all kinds of conflicts and crises," he noted. Bashar
al-Asad also welcomed the positive steps aimed at Armenian-Turkish
ties normalization and expressed willingness to assist in the process.

WORLD BANK’S REPORT ON OBSERVANCE OF STANDARDS AND CODES, ACCOUNTING AND AUDIT PRESENTED IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
June 17, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The presentation of the World Bank’s
Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes, Accounting and Audit
took place in Yerevan on June 17. The report contains information on
the requirements and practice of accounting and audit in the sphere
of entrepreneurial and financial activities.

Head of the WB Yerevan Office Aristomene Varudakis expressed a hope
that the report will enable to improve corporate accounting and
audit in Armenia as they represent an essential precondition for
developing the country’s economy. In his words, corporate financial
transparency is also of importance to the private sector because it
provides investors with an opportunity to properly assess the corporate
prospects of companies, raise investors’ trust in private companies and
to increase accessibility of credits to small and medium enterprises.

RA Minister of Finance Tigran Davtian underlined that accounting
and audit are one of the most important sectors of the financial and
economic system.

He said that thanks to cooperation with the World Bank and other
international organizations, reforms aimed at bringing the sector into
line with international standards are being carried out in Armenia.

TATUL MANASERIAN: ARMENIA IS ABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY OVERCOME ECONOMIC CRISIS

Noyan Tapan
June 17, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s economy is able and should
develop by its own regularities and independently overcome the
financial-economic crisis. Economist, Adviser to RA NA Speaker
Tatul Manaserian expressed such an opinion at the June 16 press
conference. According to his prediction, the worst period of the crisis
will be in mid-2010 or in late 2010, and Armenia should be ready for
it. T. Manaserian gave a positive answer to the question of whether
Armenia’s economic system is able to develop without assistance from
the outer world mentioning that everything depends on those working
out and implementing economic programs.

According to the economist, a team of specialists should be formed
in the country that should be able to realize what burden it assumes,
will have an idea about Armenia’s and world economic processes. "The
current government is very far from the government I imagine," he said.

T. Manaserian also touched upon the tax package submitted for
discussion at NA several days ago. According to him, today big
entrepreneurs do not provide necessary documents to proper state
structures, which, in its turn, contributes to development of shadow
economy, and we should fight it in some way. "Any bill should just
have a grounding. The grounding the government presented on the tax
package is abstract," T. Manaserian said.