Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIA SETS CONDITIONS FOR HIS VISITING TURKEY

Interfax
July 29 2009
Russia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on Tuesday that he would accept
an invitation from his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, to attend a
soccer match in Turkey in October "only on condition of open borders
[between Armenia and Turkey] or if we are on the threshold of lifting
the blockade of Armenia."

Sargsyan was speaking at a news conference in Yerevan.

In September last year, Gul visited Armenia at Sargsyan’s invitation
to attend a soccer match between the Armenian and Turkish national
teams. The two teams are due to meet again in October, this time in
Turkey. Gul has invited Sargsyan to the match.

"Under the current circumstances, the Armenian side expects
constructive moves to provide an appropriate atmosphere for the visit,"
Sargsyan told Tuesday’s news conference.

Sargsyan also insisted that any conflict must be settled by diplomatic
means.

"We are sure that there are no universal methods of conflict
settlement. Every conflict has its own history and its own process. It
is impossible to find a just and stable solution without taking this
into account," he said.
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Assembly of America
July 30,2009
Contact: Michael A. Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

LAWMAKERS ADDRESS TURKISH BACKPEDALING

82 Members of Congress Send Letter to President Obama

Washington, DC – Earlier today, under the leadership of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs, Representatives
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), along with Congressmen
Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), a bipartisan group of
legislators sent a letter to President Barack Obama highlighting
Turkey’s failure to live up to its commitments regarding normalizing
of relations with Armenia without preconditions, reported the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly).

The letter read in part "We write to you [Mr. President] with our
concerns about Turkish backpedaling on the agreed upon roadmap to
normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia." Recalling stated
U.S. policy "that normalization should take place without
preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe," the letter pointed
out Armenia’s constructive approach and raised concerns about Turkey’s
counterproductive actions: "While the Government of Armenia remains
committed to this roadmap and has long offered to establish ties with
Turkey without preconditions, Turkey’s public statements and actions
since April 24th stand in sharp contrast to this agreement and
undermine U.S. policy that normalization take place without
preconditions."

Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny commended this bipartisan
initiative stating that "Armenia has repeatedly offered to normalize
relations with Turkey without preconditions only to be rebuffed by
Turkey. We also support the position espoused by the Members that the
Administration should separate the issues of normalization and
Genocide affirmation. U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide should
not be held hostage to normalization of relations."

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c) (3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#2009-062

Editor’s Note:

Letter Signatories – Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Mark Steven Kirk
(R-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Gary Ackerman
(D-NY), Joe Baca (D-CA), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Shelley Berkley
(D-NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Bruce Braley,
(D-IA), John Campbell, (R-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano
(D-MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello
(D-IL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Peter DeFazio
(D-OR), Steve Driehaus (D-OH), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA),
Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Scott
Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rush
Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Patrick
Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), James
Langevin (D-RI) Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), Daniel
Lipinski (D-IL), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) Daniel Lungren (R-CA). Stephen
Lynch (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Betty
McCollum (D-MN), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James McGovern (D-MA) Jerry
McNerney (D-CA), Candice Miller (R-MI), Walt Minnick (D-ID), Grace
Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), John Olver
(D-MA) Payne, Donald (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Collin Peterson
(D-MN), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Peter Roskam (R-IL), Steven Rothman
(D-NJ), Edward Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL) Paul Ryan (R-WI),
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD) James Sensenbrenner
(R-WI), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Mark Souder (R-IN),
Zack Space (D-OH), Jackie Speier (D-CA), John Tierney (D-MA), Dina
Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen
(D-MD), Tim Walz (D-MN) Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY),
Frank Wolf (R-VA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
From: Baghdasarian

THE MADRID PRINCIPLES WITH THE BAKISH ACCENT
Leonid Martirosyan

Azat Artsakh Daily
July 29, 2009
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

Last week was marked by the intensive discussions in the societies of
Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan by the so-called updated
Madrid principles, on the basis of which the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict is provided. And if in Armenia and Azerbaijan
were found supporters as well as opponents of the last proposals
of the co-chairmanship of the OCSE Minsk Group, then in NK their
frank aversion was observed practically at all levels. Perhaps,
there is nothing surprising in this, since any proposed version of
the solution of the problem in the case of its realization will be
directly concern to the fate of the people of the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh. And from that, how much this decision will be objective,
depends on the very prospect of the existence of the Karabakh people
on the ancient land of their ancestors. From this viewpoint, the
last proposal of the mediators does not differ from the objectivity.
As is well known, among the Madrid principles – determination of the
status of Karabakh via free will, the guarantee of a land relation
between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, pledging of security blanket,
withdrawal of troops from the controlled territories. In the process
of discussion of these principles, many copies were broken. Especially
heated discussions were developed concerning to the withdrawal of the
troops, which is completely explainable and understandable-in case of
fulfilling this position of the Madrid principles, under the serious
threat will be the fundamental human rights-the right to life. Since
the coercion of the Defense Army of the NKR to the withdrawal from
the controlled historical Armenian lands, librated during the war,
will be nothing but promote the aggression in initiating a new war,
the promotion of new attempts of Azerbaijan to implement its goals,
which could not be reached during military campaign, which was
completed infamous for Azerbaijan. The present development of the
process of the settlement of the Azerbaijani- Karabakh conflict
testifies that the international intermediaries search political,
instead of the legal decision. In other words, they proceed from the
notorious political expedience, ignoring obvious legal aspects, and
as consequence -the legal arguments, which are more than convincing
by the Karabakhian part. Such relation to the problem is nothing else
but a deformed idea about the essence of the conflict and the methods
of its permission. Meanwhile as soon as mediators speak about the base
principles of the settlement, thus operating with legal concepts and
terms, then I would like to remind the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group and to all who try to have an influence on the process of
the settlement, that the problem lies not in t erritorial plane, as
Azerbaijan tries to present it, but in the plane of legal. It seems
that many have forgotten or would like to forget that the current
stage of the Karabakh movement started as a desperate reaction of
autochthonous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan’s
blatant discriminatory policies, which was aimed at full destruction
of the land. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, this policy has
found its continuation in a bloody war, the aim of which was the total
destruction of the Armenian population. In countries, by right ranking
themselves to the civilized world, they like to talk and discuss
about the fundamental rights and freedom of the person. However, in
practice, at least in the case of Nagorno-Karabakh, occurs completely
different. It seems that they deny the right to life to the people of
NK and NK has to make excuses for what it has managed to stand in an
unequal struggle and has defend its right to a secure future. Whether
is the world community would be more comfortable if Azerbaijan was
able to realize its openly racist and expansionist goals? It is hard
to believe in it. So why do the present mediators continue to carry
out into life the precisely Azerbaijani concept of the solution of
the conflict, which will not bring to peace and stability, without
being considered with the reality which has developed for the last
twenty years, without being considered with common sense. The present
scenario of the solution of the problem, there is no doubt, will
untie the hands of a ruling authoritative mode of Azerbaijan and give
it carte blanche on initiation of a new turn of war but from already
more convenient and primary positions that will inevitably create an
explosive situation in region. And no international guarantees and the
peace-keeping forces, which are also described in the notorious Madrid
principles, will not be able to prevent it from doing so. Nevertheless,
we are better than Western mediators and we know our neighbor.

Intermediaries should remember that whatever schemes of settlement
they build, their realization and viability depend on one main
condition – the proposed projects should be accepted by all the
conflicting parties.

Let’s again repeat. Any attempts to take any decision behind the back
of Nagorno Karabakh, contrary to its interests and the most important,
threatening the right of its people to life-are doomed to failure. The
people of Artsakh has defended this right at the cost of their blood
and they do not allow to trample it.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN REMITTANCES SLUMP IN 2009
Emil Danielyan

Armenialiberty.org
http://www.azatutyun .am/content/article/1787471.html
July 28 2009

Cash remittances wired home by scores of Armenians working abroad
fell by 36 percent to just under $600 million in the first half of
this year, adding to the country’s worst economic downturn since the
early 1990s.

The sharp drop reported by the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) on
Tuesday is one of the reasons why the Armenian economy contracted
by 16.3 percent during this period. It resulted from the ongoing
recession in Russia and other countries with large numbers of Armenian
migrant workers.

The total amount of cash inflows processed by Armenian commercial
banks and wire transfer systems was equivalent to 18.4 percent of
first-half Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reflecting their significance
the economy.

The remittances had risen rapidly until the outbreak of the global
financial crisis last fall that put an end to a decade of robust
economic growth in Armenia. They were up by as much as 57.5 percent
year on year in the first half of 2008 when GDP was on track to
increase at a double digit rate for a seventh consecutive year.

Worsening economic conditions around the world and Russia in particular
have since slashed migrant workers’ financial assistance to their
families. Also, many Armenians, most of them living in rural areas,
could not travel to Russia for seasonal work this year for the
same reason.

The CBA data, made available to RFE/RL, also show that the shortfall in
remittances was mitigated by an even more drastic slump in first-half
outflows of cash from Armenia. They tumbled by 53 percent year on year
to $259 million. The resulting net hard-currency inflow was down by
only 11.8 percent.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN ARARATBANK SIGNS INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WITH CANADIAN CRC SOGEMA

ARKA
July 28, 2009

YEREVAN, July 28. /ARKA/. Araratbank of Armenia and Canadian CRC
Sogema consulting company entered into a program of institutional
development of the bank. The respective document was signed by Chairman
of Araratbank Directors’ Board Ashot Osipyan and CRC Sogema Financial
Director Paul Doucet.

Under the program, CRC Sogema is to implement institutional development
works in Araratbank particularly in bank corporate management, human
resources management, risk management and development of internal
systems and bank strategy, Araratbank reported.

Training of Araratbank employees in the National Bank of Canada is
an important component of the program, says the report.

A consulting expert group will be permanently working in the bank
under the program. EBRD-financed institutional development program
is a part of the agreement about EBRD’s share in Araratbank signed
back in December 2008.

CRC Sogema cooperating with the National Bank of Canada won the tender
for implementing the project.

Araratbank open joint stock company (assignee of "Haykap Bank")
was founded on 02.09.1991. On October 31 1996 the bank received a
banking license N4. Among the bank stockholders is the EBRD holding
25%. 74.1% of the authorized stock belongs to principle stockholder
and owner of Flash company Barsegh Beglaryan.

CRC Sogema consulting company established in 1984 is the leader
among Canadian companies in analysis of international development
program management and in international cooperation. The company
has been cooperating with developing countries for 25 years now. It
provides specialized consulting and technical services in development,
introduction and management of large-scale projects in economic,
social and environmental sectors. CRC Sogema successfully implemented
over 400 projects in developing countries.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA TO HOST ANTI-TRAFFICKING SEMINAR

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.07.2009 16:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On July 27-30, Yerevan will host a 4-day seminar,
entitled " Role of the Youth in trafficking prevention". 40
representatives of regional youth organizations will participate in
the seminar. According to Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs,
Arsen Karamyan, the event aims at increasing trafficking awareness
among youth, comprising the high risk group.

Seminar participants will be briefed on international anti-trafficking
legislation, as well as given a possibility to familiarize themselves
with international experience during meetings with representatives
of international social organizations.
From: Baghdasarian

ASTROPHYSICS: RESEARCH ON ASTROPHYSICS DESCRIBED BY A.G. YEGHIKYAN AND COLLEAGUES

Science Letter
July 21, 2009

According to a study from Armenia, "The radiation fluxes inside
molecular clouds owing to a neighboring class A star or to isotropic
interstellar irradiation are calculated."

"Radiation within the interval 912 angstrom < lambda < 2067 angstrom is
found to penetrate deeply enough to ensure a radiation dose for water
ice on the order of 100 eV/amu or more over the lifetime of the clouds,
whether a star formation region is present or not. The possibility is
discussed of using these results for an astrophysical interpretation
of published data from laboratory experiments on irradiation of ices
of the type H2O:CH3OH:NH3:CO," wrote A.G. Yeghikyan and colleagues
(see also Astrophysics).

The researchers concluded: "The resulting radiation-chemical
transformation of complex organic materials may play an important
role in the prebiological evolution of the dust component of molecular
clouds."

Yeghikyan and colleagues published their study in Astrophysics
(Irradiation of dust in molecular clouds. I. UV doses. Astrophysics,
2009;52(2):288-299).

For more information, contact A.G. Yeghikyan, VA Ambartsumyan Byurakan
Astrophysics Observ, Byurakan, Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Astrophysics is:
Springer, Plenum Publishers, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013, USA.
From: Baghdasarian

"ERGENEKON" – A TRIAL THAT WILL DEFINE TURKEY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.07.2009 12:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The trials of the alleged coup plotters in Turkey
could well prove a defining moment in the Turkey’s modern history,
the Independent says in an editorial article.

The 142 defendants in the two cases – the second of which started
yesterday – include retired generals, journalists and academics. All
are said to be members of the shadowy Ergenekonn etwork of
ultra-nationalists widely believed to have been behind a series of
assassinations and disappearances in the last decade and now accused of
planning to overthrow the elected government of the Islamist AK Party.

To many, a successful prosecution of these figures would be a triumph
of the democratic state against the power of the military. To others
– including some pro-Western liberals – the military, for all their
faults, have been the guarantors of the secular constitution.

"It’s a fight that the rest of the world can only look on from
the outside, with the hope that the AK Party proves to be far less
determined in its religious designs than its opponents believe. For
one thing is certain. Turkey has suffered too long from military
intervention in its political affairs. If it is to be truly modern,
it has to make the division clear and absolute," the article says.
From: Baghdasarian

ISTANBUL ARMENIAN SCHOOL-LEAVERS PASS ENTRANCE EXAMS OF HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Noyan Tapan
July 22, 2009

This year all 45 school-leavers of Armenian Central School of
Istanbul have passed the entrance exams of higher educational
institutions. According to the Marmara daily, four pupils were included
in the 1000 bests of Turkey, one in exact sciences and three in the
sphere of language.
From: Baghdasarian

FORMER HEAD OF IFC YEREVAN OFFICE OF APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF ARDSHININVESTBANK’S BOARD

ARKA
July 21, 2009

YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. On Monday, Nerses Karamanukyan, former
head of Yerevan Office of International Financial Corporation, was
appointed the chairman of Ardshininvestbank’s board, the press office
of the bank reports.

Karen Safaryan, chairman of the bank’s council, introducing the newly
appointed chairman, said that Karamanukyan will continue the best
traditions of the bank.

Karamanukyan, in his turn, said he would use his experience and
knowledge for maintaining and developing the bank’s achievements.

"Skilled professionals work here. They will implement very important
programs. In our activity, we will take into account global financial
difficulties and our country’s economic peculiarities. We will keep
offering the best services to all our clients", he said.

Nerses Karamanukyan was born in 1959.

He is economist. He has worked in the staff of Armenian Government, run
financial affairs at St. Echniadzin, Armenian Apostolic Church Seat.

Eight years before his present appointment, Karamanukyan run Yerevan
Office of International Financial Corporation.

He knows Armenian, Russian and English languages.

Married, father of two.

On February 27, 2003, Ardshininvestbank CJSC got license (N83) from
the Central Bank of Armenia.

His key shareholders are Business Investment Center (86.82%) and
Inter national Financial Corporation (10%).
From: Baghdasarian