Author: Badalian Vardan

UNIFICATION OF PARTIES NOT A MECHANICAL PROCESS
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on Aug 01, 2008
Armenia

Interview with the Leader of Armenian National Progressive Party
Edward Antinyan.

"Mr. Antinyan at what stage is the process of the unification of your
party with "Ramkavar" party?"

"We don’t have disagreement regarding the issue of the unification with
"Ramkavar" Party on ideological bases. Moreover bilateral readiness
is evident. But the process of the clarification of the principle
clauses of the future party’s program and the adoption of the agreed
version is still in process. Until this happens we can’t even speak
about coming to a final decision by means of a joint congress."

"Armenian Pan National Movement sharply criticizes all those who look
for alternative solutions in the pro-oppositional domain. Why do they
hate the idea of forming a third force or a new political pole?"

"We shouldn’t forget that after the pan-state elections in 2003, some
part of the people and some political figures met the deadlock and
tried to find ways out. They were proposing certain formats capable of
wining, but the opposition of that time announced that those who look
for other option or those who leave "Ardarutyun" union are traitors.

There was no sense in the activity of that union. They did not
manage to meet the expectations of the society. Later the leader of
"Ardarutyun" union announced that he would run for the coming elections
without the party. Which means he himself betrayed his own party.

If the leaders of the parties feared the blackmail of the "single"
opposition of that time and ceded their position, today we shouldn’t
make the same mistake. And it will be better for those who consider
themselves real opposition to struggle against the ruling power
instead of struggling against those pro-oppositional parties that
have different ideologies."

"Do you think the radicals will manage to form Armenian National
Congress?"

"It is not a secret that the first President overestimates the picture
of his team-members and the social support. He usually states that
400 thousand people participate in the demonstration and he never
accepts that the number of the parties supporting him becomes lesser
and lesser. During the demonstration on July 20 Levon Ter-Petrosyan
announced that 23 parties support him. But you can see the list of
the parties supporting him in his official site, in the section "Team
-2008". As of July 20, 17 parties were mentioned there, including
"Alternative" social-political initiative and "National Renaissance"
that simply doesn’t exist.

The thing is Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s "Blitz Dan ce" operation has been
torpedoed long ago. Not only the number of the participants of the
demonstration but also those gathered on the stage becomes lesser and
lesser. Even blackmail doesn’t help the first President at the moment.

He is well conscious of all this, that’s why he is trying to put
all the blame on Robert Kocharyan, even to hand the latter over to
Hague Court.

Let’s consider he managed to gather enough signatures and those who
gave their signatures will wait for good results. But later they
learn that there is not result. This means it was a regular attempt
to inspire their supporters as usual to disappoint them later.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN ARRESTED FOR COUP ATTEMPT HOSPITALIZED

Interfax News Service
July 30 2008
Russia

An Armenian parliamentarian arrested on suspicion of organizing riots
and a coup attempt in Yerevan on March 5 was hospitalized on Wednesday,
an official with the Armenian Justice Ministry told Interfax.

The parliamentarian, Myasnik Malkhasyan, and his colleagues Akop
Akopyan and Sasun Mikayelyan, were arrested following the events that
occurred in Yerevan on March 5, when ten people were killed and over
250 were injured in clashes between the opposition and police.

Malkhasyan and Akopyan have been charged with "mass riots" and
"usurpation of the state power." Mikayelyan has also been charged with
"illegal purchase, storage and possession of weapons."

YULIA TYMOSHENKO IS UKRAINE’S PRIME MINISTER
By Beth Shaw

Right Pundits
July 30 2008
CA

History has shown us repeatedly that politics in the Ukraine is not
for the faint of heart. At first glance, one might be excused for
thinking that Yulia Tymoshenko is a lamb among the wolves, but that
is hardly the case. Her beauty and demure appearance are just that,
appearance. She is a ruthless businesswoman who came from humble
beginnings to become a wealthy woman and a savvy politician who has
survived numerous attempts to oust her from power. She holds her own
in the world of Russian and Ukrainian politics and is considered one
of the most powerful women in the world.

Tymoshenko recently survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament
brought about by former Prime Minister and leader of the Party of
Religions, Viktor Yanukovych. She was accused of not dealing with
the government’s economic problems. She is also at the center of a
political battle between herself and her former ally, Ukraine President
Viktor Yushchenko over the price of gas that is piped from Russia to
the rest of Europe through the Ukraine. The outcome of this battle
will affect how much the rest of Europe pays for gas. The argument
is over Tymoshenko’s insistence on eliminating the middle-man company
that regulates the gas prices bought from Russia. She is insisting on
buying gas directly from Russia without the middle-man. Her enemies
believe that once the gas prices are unregulated, she will install
her own allies to manage the gas prices. Meanwhile, the rest of Europe
will see skyrocketing prices.

Tymoshenko, of course, denies she has ulterior motives in what
she calls the ‘change of concept’ in how gas is delivered through
Ukraine. However, both she and her key adviser, Vitaly Gayduk, have
amassed fortunes in gas deals. Her argument is that these changes will
take away Russia’s ability to dictate gas prices. However, both she
and Gayduk have contacts in the Russian government and have a great
deal of influence in the gas markets in both countries.

Yulia Tymoshenko Biography

Yulia Tymoshenko was born on November 27, 1960 in Dnipropetrovs’k,
Ukrainian SSR. She is 48 years old. Her parents are Vladimir Abramovich
Grigean and Ludmila Nikolaevna Telegina. Her father left the family
when she was about 3-years-old. There is a dispute over whether
her maiden name is Grigean or Telegina. Her enemies claim that her
maiden name is Grigean and that she is half Armenian on her father’s
side. Her supports disregard her father’s name and claim her maiden
name is Telegina.

Tymoshenko’s political career started with her 1979 marriage to
Oleksandr Tymoshenko, whose father was a mid-level Soviet Communist
Party bureaucrat. She began to rise through positions under the Soviet
Communist Youth Organization (Komsomol). In 1984 she received a degree
in economics from Dnipropetrovsk State University and went on to get
the equivalent of a Ph.D. in economics.

She started a video rental company under the Komsomol, which she later
privatized and made successful. As the Soviet system fell apart, she
began amassing a significant fortune in gas companies, privatization
of formerly Soviet held corporations and exporting metals. She became
one of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the Ukraine during
the 1990s.

She rose to political power as part of the ‘Orange Revolution’. She
has been dubbed the ‘Joan of Arc of the Revolution’ and ‘the Orange
Princess’. She was a stanch ally of President Viktor Yushchenko during
that period. However, they have since been at odds and engaged in
power struggles from time to time.

She became the first female Prime Minister of the Ukraine on January
24, 2005. She served until September 8, 2005 when she was dismissed
by Yushchenko’s administration. She was elected again on December 18,
2007. So she has served as the 13th and now the 16th Prime Minister
of Ukraine. She is the leader of the Bat’kivshchyna (Motherland)
party and the Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc. It is generally expected that
she will be a candidate for President of Ukraine in 2010.

About her hair …. everyone asks. During the revolution, she started
wearing her hair in the traditional style of Ukrainian peasant women
as a symbolic gesture. Traditionally, a Ukrainian woman’s beauty was
judged by the thickness and golden hue of her braid. It should look
‘like wheat’, she has said. She has continued to wear the braid
and discusses it at length on her website. She has been accused of
wearing a wig instead of it being her real hair. She has been known
to respond to those accusations by taking her hair down in meetings
to prove that it is her hair.

In 2001, The Globe and Mail wrote that she was one of the most
beautiful women to ever enter politics. She has graced the cover
of Elle Ukraine magazine and is noted to have stated that she would
prefer to have been on the cover of Playboy. She notably said that
Playboy would be "the best choice for any real woman".

The Tymoshenkos have one daughter, Yevhenia, who was born in 1980. She
graduated from a university in Britain and is married to British rock
musician, Sean Carr.

MOODY’S ASSIGNS ARDSHININVESTBANK GLC DEPOSIT RATING AND BFSR

arminfo
2008-07-30 14:37:00

ArmInfo. Moody’s Investors Service on 25 July, 2008 assigned Ba1
long-term and Not Prime short-term global local currency deposit
ratings to Armenia’s Ardshininvestbank ("ASHIB"), as well as Ba3
long-term and Not Prime short-term foreign currency deposit ratings
and a bank financial strength rating ("BFSR") of "D-". The outlook
on all ratings is stable.

Ardshininvestbank press-service told ArmInfo ASHIB’s "D-" BFSR —
which maps to a Baseline Credit Assessment of Ba3 – derives from its
good franchise as one of Armenia’s largest banks (ranking second in
terms of assets with a 12.2% market share as at YE2007 — reportedly
moving up to first place by March 2008 – 12.8% of aggregate assets
in the market) and good financial metrics, particularly, buoyant
profitability, solid capitalisation and above-average efficiency
ratios, within the Armenian context.

ASHIB’s long-term local currency deposit rating of Ba1 is based on
Moody’s assessment that the probability of systemic support for the
bank (using Armenia’s local currency deposit ceiling of Baa1) in the
event of need is high. Hence, this rating enjoys a two-notch uplift
from the bank’s Ba3 Baseline Credit Assessment.

ASHIB’s Ba3/Not Prime foreign currency deposit ratings are constrained
by Armenia’s foreign currency deposit ceilings and would move up in
tandem with any upgrades of this ceiling — up to the level of the
bank’s global local currency deposit ratings, currently Ba1/Not Prime.

Aram Andreasyan, Chairman of Ardshininvestbank’s Management Board,
said: "Acquiring ratings from Moody’s Investors Service is an important
event for our bank and a necessary step in our development.

This will help us attract funds from international capital markets
and will give us an opportunity to further develop our relationship
with existing and new investors/customers, both abroad and in Armenia".

Founded in 2003, Ardshininvestbank is one of the largest and most
successful banks in Armenia. Based on the financial report as of
June 30, 2008, Ardshininvestbank is the leading bank in the country
in terms of loan portfolio and profitability (with a net profit of
over $8 million YTD). Its total assets reached nearly $360 million,
and its equity reached about $70 million. The bank is universal and
has one of the country’s largest branch networks, with 55 branches
and an office in Paris. It offers a wide range of financial products
to its clients, and it is very active in corporate finance and trade
finance operations.

KARABAKH PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE LOGICAL AND DIPLOMATIC SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.07.2008 19:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said the
Karabakh issue should have a logical and diplomatic settlement.

"The bellicose campaign was launched in Azerbaijan in 1980-ies. This
country has once tried to resolve the conflict by use of force. Now,
the problem is awaiting a diplomatic settlement," the Minister said.

"Armenian people show unity in danger but don’t use peaceful time
efficient enough to prepare for future challenges. The menace is
growing. Turkey has an army at the border with Armenia. Azerbaijan
doesn’t stop its warlike rhetoric and distorts historical facts,"
he said, Novosti Armenia reports.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Summer Fashion Show in Montreal Raises $10,000 for Nor Jraberd
Repopulation Project

On June 8, 2008, the pan-Canadian AGBU committee for the Nor Jraberd
Repopulation Project (NJRP) hosted a fashion show fundraiser in Montreal
for over 200 guests.

Nor Jraberd, a village in Karabakh, is in need of reconstruction and
economic rebirth even twelve years after the devastating war that
ravaged the region. Mego Malkhassian has taken the lead in forming a
qualified team of AGBU volunteers from across Canada to raise funds for
this special village project.

Called "Then and Now," the June 8 program for the NJRP kicked off with
entertainment from Bulgarian, Hungarian and Armenian dance groups. A
fashion show followed, featuring styles by various Montreal wholesalers
and stores, including Donna Bella, Urban Rags, Miss Mak, the Accessory
Store and Aquaskye. Other individuals and companies also provided
complimentary services to ensure the success of the evening, including
hair stylist Anny Kamajian, makeup artist Mary-Ann Keverian and Hera
Bell Photo Studio.

Photos of the devastated southeast region of Karabakh, where Nor Jraberd
is located, were displayed at the event to show guests the potential
difference donations can make. Over $10,000 was raised for the Nor
Jraberd Repopulation Project.

"Everyone was cooperating, everybody was motivated, and everybody put
their hearts into this occasion," said Arda Kouyoumjian, the event
coordinator. "It was a miraculous afternoon enjoyed by everyone."

NJRP’s regional director, Mego Malkhassian, agrees that the event was
overwhelmingly successful: "The most heartwarming part of the afternoon
was the fact that the youth from our community indicated their interest
and readiness to participate in our difficult task of reconstruction.
The unity, the modesty, and the motivation has inspired and encouraged
us all to give our best to make this miracle happen."

AGBU’s Montreal and Toronto chapters, along with other Armenian
communities across Canada, are joining forces through the Nor Jraberd
Repopulation Project (NJRP) to rebuild homes and other facilities in the
Nor Jraberd village. For more information, please visit

Established in 1906, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the
world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New
York City, AGBU() preserves and promotes the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

LEVON’S SUPPORTERS MUST FIRSTLY ORIENT THEMSELVES
Naira Khachatryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 29, 2008
Armenia

Touching upon the internal political situation during his meeting
with the journalists in "Urbat" club yesterday Edward Sharmazanov said
those pro-oppositional forces that make up part of the "pan-national"
movement and give up the post-election developments are trying to
strengthen their place and role in the political domain.

"As for the question regarding what will August 1 demonstration change
in terms of the post-election developments, in my view – nothing. It
can change certain moods. But I don’t think this demonstration, or,
as Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters state, their demand for the President’s
resignation, will change anything. We have overcome the post-election
developments and as the President and the Prime Minister underscored
it is high time to work hard," the speaker underscored.

He considers natural the announcements regarding the final stage of
the elections.

Have you ever seen any pro-opposition force to say: "We are going to
retreat." or "Our actions are not firm."

Edward Sharmazanov says the demonstration-based logic adopted by
Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters is not effective at this stage: "It would
have been more effective for them to be involved in constructive
activities, particul arly in "March 1" committee, instead of adopting
denial policy. As for the parliamentary opposition, "Heritage" party,
they should have been both involved in the works of the committee and
accepted the proposal made by the coalition to hold the position of
the chairman of one of the committees.

Edward Sharmazanov says the formation of "Armenian National Congress"
is a regular process of the parties’ extension. "I consider it normal
and I accept the formation of Armenian National Congress.

But I see certain contradictions. The first President mentioned that
their final goal is to form a pro-central political force but the
forces that have placed a claim to become members of the congress
are far not pro-central by their ideology.

Recently Musinyan underscored that their actions are aimed at the
formation of a new movement. Thus it would have been better for
them to firstly orient themselves and then to decide whether their
intention is to form a pro-central or a new movement.

"ARFD announced that in case Turkish President visits Armenia they
would organize protests. What is your opinion? Do you think any RPA
member will join Dashnaktsutyun party in this issue?"

In response to this question Edward Sharmazanov said: "Whenever
the Republican party initiates something we declare about it. It is
not like the Chairman of the Party declared something and everyon e
agreed. And the country’s President who is also the chairman of the
party will never do something, which is not in the interest of the
party’s ideology.

Some years back touching upon Armenian-Turkish relations during one
of his interviews Andranik Margaryan underscored that RPA supports
the idea of establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey without
any pre-conditions and, moreover, RPA and the authorities are very
interested in Turkey’s membership to the European Union, because thus
we will have a more predictable neighbor.

Serge Sargsyan’s announcement derives from RPA’s previous actions
and there is no contradiction in this term. And it has been
already declared that the issue of Genocide is not a matter of
discussion. Dashnaktsutyun has got 118 years’ history, they have got
their own approaches and they decide their actions. I respect any
civilized stance of any political party."

TERMINOLOGY OF THE ARMENIAN VERSION WINDOWS VISTA TO PROMOTE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN LANGUAGE

ArmInfo
2008-07-28 16:23:00

Terminology of the Armenian version Windows Vista should promote
further development of Armenian language, the working group on
localization of the operative systems of Microsoft in Armenia
was guided by this principle, the leader of the programme of
Armenian localization of Windows, implemented by Bi Line company,
Ruben Tarumyan, said and added that translation of the computer
terminology for the Armenian version Windows Vista will be finished
soon and tested.

He also added that over localization they had certain problems of
disparity between the tools and principles of translation, suggested
by Microsoft and peculiarities of the Armenian language which required
to change translation methods a little. This extended the terms of
translation. Moreover, he added that it would be better to draw out
and use more readable Armenian founts.

As for translation itself, the main problem was translation of
foreign language terms on Armenian, Tarumyan said. At the same time he
added that several years ago translation of such terms as "computer",
"web-site", "internet" on Armenian seemed to be unusual, but at present
they almost cut out the initial transliteration. Just for this reason
the commission that consists of representatives of the technical
as well as linguistic professions, including from State Language
Inspection, decided to involve the most successful translations in
the Armenian Vista, he said.

‘Nevertheless, it was decided to use transliteration for several terms,
which were not translated well, such as: ‘dial-up’, ‘macro’, ‘proxy’,
‘media’,’ etc’, – Tarumyan said.

PanARMENIAN.Net

CSTO planning response to U.S. missile shield in Czechia and Poland
26.07.2008 16:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The member countries of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) intend to create a new military structure
on their borders in response to the deployment of U.S. missile shield
elements on the territory of the Czech Republic and Poland, CSTO
General Secretary Nikolay Bordyuzha said.

He pointed out that all CSTO member states were concerned over the
creation of military facilities and such complicated defense
structures as the U.S. missile shield.

`The U.S. defense system can be transformed in different ways, which
may affect the security of CSTO countries greatly,’ Bordyuzha said,
adding the CSTO plans to expand cooperation with the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO), particularly regarding the security
issue.

For his part, RF Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Denisov said that the
plan of expansion will be presented in a joint communiqué of
CSTO member countries. `We coordinate our strategic positions on
global and regional security,’ he said.

The CSTO unites Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and
Tajikistan. The SCO brings together Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Hrant Dink applied to police for permission to carry a gun but was rejected
26.07.2008 16:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hrant Dink, the prominent Turkish-Armenian
journalist who was shot to death in 2007, had applied for permission
to carry a gun after receiving threats. However, officials turned down
his request, said a police informant with an Armenian name, according
to a report issued by the parliamentary subcommission examining Dink’s
murder.

An important detail, not previously mentioned, was revealed in the
report by the parliamentary subcommission, daily Hürriyet
wrote. An individual, who was believed to be from the close circle
Dink traveled in, is thought to have Armenian roots because of his
name and is believed to have been following Dink. He has now been
identified in the report as a police informer. This information was
obtained from a report by inspectors Sukru Yildiz and Mehmet Ali
Ozkilinc, who had investigated possible official negligence in Dink’s
murder. The informer was referred to as H.A.

Dink had sought a licensed gun but did not receive permission, the
informer, H.A., said, according to the report. The informer also said
he did not know to which authority Dink complained about not receiving
permission. Erdal Dogan, the lawyer representing Dink’s family, said
it was also revealed that Dink was aware that he was being
pursued. `An individual who was saying that he is under threat applied
for a gun and he was rejected, this violates human rights,’ Dogan
said.

Orhan Dink, brother of Hrant Dink, said of the informer, `This person
could be Armenian, or he could be a person with an Armenian name.’
Orhan Dink also said that the information about his brother requesting
a gun was accurate. However, inspectors Yildiz and Ozkilinc, in their
report, stated no application from Dink for a gun had been received.

An official, whose name was not identified, said the word `informer’
might mean supporting intelligence personnel and also said during
administrative inquiries inspectors talk to officials and not
civilians, Hurriyet reports.