Author: Badalian Vardan

OCTOBER 05, ARARATBANK PLANS TO SELL USD 1M OF FOREIGN CURRENCY BONDS WITH 9% COUPON

CBonds. Info
Oct 1 2012

Today ARARATBANK ojsc announced about the 5th issue of its corporate
bonds, which unlike previous ones, are nominated in USD.

Mr. David Haruthyunyan, Deputy CEO, ARARATBANK, noted that issue of
USD bonds is conditioned by market demand for instruments, nominated
in foreign currency, and this issue includes 40,000 coupon bonds with
nominal value of USD 25, 9% annual yield and maturity period of 36
months. Placement of the bonds will take place within 10 business
days starting from October 5, 2012.

Mr. Konstantin Saroyan, CEO, NASDAQ OMX Armenia, welcomed ARARATBANK’s
initiative, stating that this issue of corporate bonds is exceptional
by being the first one, nominated in foreign currency, in Armenian
securities market.

ARARATBANK is one of the most active issuers at NASDAQ OMX Armenia.

Previous 4 issues of corporate bonds by the Company were successfully
listed at the Exchange in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011, afterwards matured
and redeemed. Currently, common nominal stocks by ARARATBANK (ARBK)
are admitted to trading at NASDAQ OMX Armenia.

To recall, ARARATBANK was also winner in 2 nominations of NASDAQ OMX
Armenia “Best Member Awards 2011”. The Company was acknowledged as
“Best Exchange Member in Government Bonds Market 2011” and won grand
prix “Best Exchange Member 2011”

SPIRITUAL LEADER OF WORLD YEZIDIS VISITS ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT

news.am
October 01, 2012 | 17:15

YEREVAN. – Armenian National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Eduard
Sharmazanov on Monday met with a delegation led by Mire-Mira Takhsin
Beg, the spiritual leader of world Yezidis.

Sharmazanov noted that the Armenian and Yezidi people have always been
friends. Just as Iraq’s Armenian community is aware of the support
by their Yezidi neighbors, the Yezidis of Armenia likewise receive a
special treatment. In NA vice chair’s words, Armenians always remember
the Yezidi people’s participation in the heroic battles that were
fought in the past century, when Genocide-surviving Armenian people
were battling for their independence, and the Yezidis likewise took
part in these fights together with Armenians. The Yezidis also actively
participated in the Karabakh War, NA press service informs.

Eduard Sharmazanov expressed confidence that the aforementioned
delegation’s visit to Armenia will greatly contribute to deepening ties
between both peoples. In addition, the NA Deputy Speaker briefed the
guests on Armenia’s policy concerning the country’s national minorities
and noted that the latter take an active part in the events taking
place in Armenia.

In his turn, Mire-Mira Takhsin Beg likewise expressed confidence
that their current visit to Armenia will give a new stimulus to the
development of ties between the Armenian and Yezidi people.

In addition, the parties underscored the need to organize more frequent
mutual visits and, in this connection, Eduard Sharmazanov highlighted
the necessity to restore the once-vibrant ties between the parliaments
of Armenia and Iraq.

The parties also reflected on other matters of bilateral interest.

CANADA EXPRESSES RENEWED INTEREST OVER NK PEACE PROCESS

ARMENPRESS
1 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS: Canada Expresses Renewed Interest in
Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process Ottawa, on wednesday, september 19,
2012, the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration
and Multiculturalism distributed a statement titled ” MP Albrecht
Expresses Canada’s Concern About the Release of Ramil Safarov”, reports
Armenpress citing Armenian National Committee of Canada. This statement
drew attention to a statement made that day in the House of Commons
by Mr. Harold Albrecht, MP for Kitchener-Conestoga and President
of the Canada Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group on behalf of
the Government of Canada. The statement, reproduced in full below,
expresses the government’s “utter contempt and complete disbelief”
at the pardon and release of convicted axe murderer Ramil Safarov
by Azerbaijani authorities. The statement also expresses Canada’s
continued support for the peace process in Nagorno-Karabakh. This
statement is only one of a number recent expressions of interest
shown by the Canadian government and politicians in advancing the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. The Honourable Jim Karygiannis,
MP for Scarborough-Agincourt acted as an official observer for the
presidential election in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and held a
town hall in Toronto on September 23, 2012, along with Mr. Robert
Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
to the United States of America and Canada, to deliver his verdict
that the presidential elections were free of any irregularities and
properly reflected the will of the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. Mr. Karygiannis also expressed his support for the
recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s independence by
the international community. Additionally, Mr. Avetisyan recently
held a meeting with Canadian parliamentarians in Ottawa where he
discussed the ongoing peace process and explained the importance
of Canada supporting international recognition of an independent
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Text of a statement circulated by the
Honourable Jason Kenney: Friends, I wanted to share this important
statement made by MP Harold Albrecht on behalf of our Conservative
Government in the House of Commons concerning the release of Ramil
Safarov. Harold Albrecht, Member for Kitchener-Conestoga: Mr.

Speaker, I rise today to express my utter contempt and complete
disbelief of recent developments in the case of Azerbaijani military
officer, Ramil Safarov. On August 31, Safarov was transferred from
Hungary to Azerbaijan to ostensibly serve out a life prison sentence
for the brutal murder of an Armenian military officer in 2004. Upon his
return, he was pardoned and released. These developments are of real
concern to Canada, and in particular to Canadians of Armenian descent
who want peace in their homeland. Murder should be condemned, not
rewarded. Canada continues to support the ongoing peace process, and we
will continue to promote regional cooperation and reconciliation. We
encourage all parties to take the necessary measures to increase
trust and constructively contribute to the peace process between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

STEPANAKERT AIRPORT OFFICIALLY PUT INTO OPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 1, 2012 – 16:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Stepanakert airport has officially been put into
operation, head of Nagorno Karabakh civil aviation department said.

As Dmitry Atbashyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the airport
received a certificate on September 28, stating it meets the
international standards, including the security ones, and is authorized
to transport armed forces.

Dwelling on the first flight, the official refrained from specifying
a date, given the internal technical, organizational and legal issues.

“In all probability, the first flight will be operated in October,”
Mr. Atbashyan said.

ARMENIANS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY EXPLOSION IN GHAMISHLI ARMENIAN DISTRICT

ARMENPRESS
1 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS: There are no Armenians among the dead
and wounded in the result of the explosion blown on September 30 in
Ghamishli Armenian District, bordering with Turkey. It was reported to
Armenpress by the Press Secretary of the National Primacy of Aleppo
Zhirayr Reyisyan, adding that the explosion caused considerable
damages to the nearby buildings, including the apartments belonging
to Armenians.

Concerning the situation in Aleppo, the Press Secretary stated that the
situation in the city was comparatively calm. Earlier Zhirayr Reyisyan
informed that 1500 kilogram-bomb had been exploded in Ghamishli.

The Facebook page of the Syrian Armenians informed that the situation
in Latakia and Kesab was quiet. Our compatriot from Latakia Avo
Garbushyan reported that the situation in Latakia city of Syria was
calm and many of the Aleppo Armenians move there. The majority of
the Armenian children attend the local national school.

There has been no information concerning the Armenians Khazhak Abelyan
and Hovak Gortmosyan lost for months. From the economical point of
view Kesab is quite safe, as the harvest of the current year was
satisfactory and the Kesab people will be able to spend the winter
safely, if the situation does not change drastically. Nevertheless,
unfortunately the forest fires continue in that area.

In Syria more than 30,000 people, including more than 20 Armenians,
died in the collisions between the opposition and government forces,
which have lasted about 18 months.

VARTAN OSKANIAN SAYS HE DID NOT EXPECT SILLY ACCUSATIONS

NEWS.AM
October 01, 2012 | 13:46

YEREVAN.- Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said he
did not expect silly accusations against him.

“I have not expected this,” he told reporters on Monday refusing to
answer the questions.

As reported earlier, the Armenian National Assembly is discussing
the formal petition of Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan to include
Oskanian as a defendant in a criminal lawsuit.

O May 25 the NSS Department of Investigation filed a criminal
lawsuit on charges of money laundering with respect to The Civilitas
Foundation.

The NSS Press Center had informed that an investigation is underway in
connection with selling the 100-percent shares of the Huntsman Building
Products Company for around $2 million, but not informing Armenia’s tax
authorities about this business deal; not using for charitable purposes
$1,135,000 of that amount envisioned for charity; transferring this
amount to the bank accounts opened under the names of the Civilitas
Foundation’s founder-former FM and currently Prosperous Armenia Party
MP-Vartan Oskanian, and of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees member
Tigran Karapetyan; and using some of this amount for private purposes.

In addition, as per the NSS Press Center, The Civilitas Foundation
had not presented a report on the $2 million allocated for charitable
purposes.

In his turn, Vartan Oskanian considers the charges are politically
motivated.

Civilitas was founded in 2008 by former foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian. After joining Prosperous Armenia Party ahead of the May 6
parliamentary elections, Oskanian gave up his post as a foundation
chairman.

Damascus to Ankara: We’ll Arm Every Kurdish Man with A Rocket
Local Editor

29-09-2012 – 12:28 Last updated 29-09-2012 – 14:29 | 888 View

The United States has called for a contact with Syria at the United
Nations, as Damascus told Ankara it was heading to arm Kurds, Nidal
Hamade wrote in his `Friday Stance’ at al-Manar Website.

The US delegation that took part in the UN General Assembly’s meeting
has asked for a contact with the Syrian delegation through Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Arab sources in France told al-Manar Website that the US wanted to
discuss the issue of Syria’s chemical weapons.
According to the sources, Syria stressed, with a Russian guarantee,
that these weapons would not be used in any mean inside Syria during
the conflict between the government and the militant opposition which
has been supported by the US and its Arab and Turkish allies.

The Arab sources said that the Syrian delegation stressed that the
chemical weapons have been secured and far from danger, and it would
not be used but in case of foreign attack against Syria. And in this
case, the countries which have been inciting and taking part in this
attack, would be a `legitimate target’ for the Syrian rockets which
are loaded with chemical warheads, including countries neighboring
Syria.

The Arab sources noted that the Zionist entity and Turkey were
definite targets for the non-traditional Syrian rockets in case of
foreign military intervention in Syria, something Qatari Emir and Arab
League Chief Nabil al-Arabi have called for in the UN.

In the same context, Kurdish sources close to the Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syria, which is
considered as the Syrian branch for the PKK, said that Syria has sent
a letter to Turkey saying that the Turkish interference in Syria,
which reached the extent of a direct military interference on the
border and Idlib, would prompt Damascus to arm every Kurdish man in
both Turkey and Syria.

The Kurdish source added that the regime in Syria is heading towards
arming the Kurdish militants with heavy and advanced weapons including
cornette rockets which the Kurds need during their fight against
Ankara, in addition to mortar bombs and many other weapons and
equipments.

Davutoglu’s statement points at Turkey’s biased approach to Karabakh
process – Armenian expert

news.am
September 29, 2012 | 20:48

YEREVAN.- Turkish FM’s statement made in UN once again reveals
Ankara’s aspiration to be engaged in the Karabakh peace process,
expert in Turkic studies Ruben Melkonyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He commented on the remark of Ahmet Davutoglu made during his speech
at the UN General Assembly. Addressing the delegates, Turkish FM said
Ankara `underlines the need for a solution to Nagorno-Karabakh in
accordance with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, yet there has
been no single step towards resolution of this problem for the last
two decade.’

`Turkey’s statement underscored biased approach and open support to
Azerbaijan,’ Melkonyan added.

The statement was also aimed to shadow the wave of discontent with
recent Azerbaijan-Hungary deal.

`The remark contains a hint – Safarov’s transfer and pardon is
Azerbaijan’s act of protest against lack of moves toward resolution of
the Karabakh conflict for last two decades,’ he noted.

Armenia to become full member of Francophonie Organization

September 29, 2012 – 19:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – In two weeks Armenia will become a full-fledged
member of International Organization of the Francophonie, French
ambassador to Yerevan Henri Reynaud said.

International Organization of the Francophonie comprises 56 member
states and governments, 3 associate members, and 19 observers.

The modern organization was created in 1970. Started as a small club
of northern French-speaking countries, the Francophonie has since
evolved into a global organization whose numerous branches cooperate
with its member states in the fields of culture, science, economy,
justice, and peace.

Armenia joined the organization in 2008.

Armenian-French joint exhibition opened in Erebuni Historical Museum

September 29, 2012 – 19:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On September 29, Erebuni Historical & Archaeological
Museum-Reserve hosted opening of Armenian-French joint exhibition
titled `Erebuni in the past and today.’

155 artifacts, mainly discovered in 1950s, were showcased at the
exhibition, with 153 of them exhibited for the first time.

`The event proves Armenia’s contribution to European and world
civilization,’ French ambassador to Yerevan Henri Reynaud said.

The exhibition will run until September 29.