Author: Chakrian Hovsep

UPCOMING YEREVAN TRADE FAIRS FEATURE PRODUCTS FROM SYRIA AND INDIA

Tert
Sept 18 2009
Armenia

Two trade fairs will be taking place in Yerevan in October this year,
informed the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Department
of Entrepreneurship Promotion Masis Sargsyan to Tert.am.

According to Sargsyan, from October 1-4, over 40 companies from the
Syrian cities of Damascus and Haleb/Aleppo will be displaying their
wares, which include leather goods, textiles, medicinal products,
as well as many other items.

The second trade fair will take place from October 7-15 and will
feature products from India, including handmade items and products
made from wood, Indian jewellery, leather goods, textiles, rugs,
food items and tea.

The organizers of the exhibitions are Armenia’s and Allepo’s Chambers
of Commerce and Industry and the Embassy of India in Armenia.

WILL SERZH SARGSYAN VISIT TURKEY IN ANY CASE?

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.09.2009 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA -Turkish protocols will be signed by Foreign
Ministers on October 13. According to Turkish MFA spokesman Burak
Ozugergin, protocols may actually be signed before football match
due on October 14 in Bursa, AFP reported.

As RA MFA press secretary Tigran Balayan told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter,
"RA Foreign Ministry will in due time inform about RA-Turkish
protocol-related particulars."

Meanwhile, informed circles reported that RA President Serzh Sargsyan
will in any case attend World Cup qualification game between RA and
Turkish football teams. Earlier RA Leader stated that he won’t visit
Turkey unless the border is opened or any progress in negotiations
registered.

SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN: NECESSITY TO RECONSIDER NEGOTIATIONS’ CONCEPTION CAN EMERGE

Noyan Tapan
Sep 17, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh
Kocharian considers that if Azerbaijan continues its destructive line,
a necessity to reconsider Nagorno Karabakh negotiations’ conception
can emerge.

"Madrid Principles can be a good basis for achieving settlement on
the basis of compromises. However, the negotiations process, in my
estimation, reaches a deadlock because of Azerbaijan’s destructive
position. Baku does not admit compromises and proceeds from the
principle "everything or nothing," more exactly, "everything or war,"
Mr Kocharian said. At that, in his words, official Baku constantly
takes steps increasing tension in the region.

In Deputy Minister’s opinion, such policy of Azerbaijan leads the
affair to a deadlock, and changing the conception of the negotiations
process can be a way out of it, which will result in changing its
format. "For more than a year Azerbaijan had been denying even
existence of Madrid Principles though it had accepted them as a
basis for negotiations. If Azerbaijan continues its destructive line,
the window of current conception’s possibilities can be closed."

S. Kocharian considers that the current format of negotiations,
from which the main conflict side, Nagorno Karabakh Republic has
been excluded, is consequence of harsh position of Azerbaijan, which
in no way agrees to such participation though for years it had been
conducting negotiations with the very Karabakh and concluded truce
directly. Continuation of Baku’s destructive policy will lead the
negotiations process to a deadlock, and a necessity of changing
the negotiations process’ conception will emerge, which proceeds
from the facts that Nagorno Karabakh people’s realized right of
self-determination is the basis of the problem and policy of massacres
and ethnic cleansings of Armenian population and aggression against
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic carried out by Azerbaijan is the basis
of the conflict and its escalation.

"Under such a conception of the negotiations process Nagorno Karabakh’s
non-participation in it will look already absolutely unnatural,"
Mr Kocharian mentioned.

While, S. Kocharian admitted that parts of Madrid Principles
"disclosed" in July create a possibility for NKR to become a subject
of the process and for its participation in the negotiations. However,
official Baku continues denying such a possibility and by doing so
distorts problem’s essence.

If Azerbaijan with its statements does not try to predetermine
the course and result of the negotiations process by the principle
"everything or nothing," Madrid Principles can lead to a compromise
admissible for all three conflict sides, Shavarsh Kocharian concluded.

AGBU Press Office
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Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE

Monday, September 14, 2009

AGBU High Schoolers from Los Angeles and Buenos Aires Visit Armenia

A total of 92 students, comprised of 50 from the junior class of AGBU
Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga Park, CA, 34 seniors of the AGBU
Marie Manoogian School in Buenos Aires, Argentina and 8 juniors from
AGBU High School-Pasadena, made two-week pilgrimages to Armenia this
summer. The California schools’ trips began in the latter part of June
and ended in early July, while the Argentinean school’s occurred in late
July and early August.

All three groups visited major historic and cultural landmarks
throughout the country, including the reconstructed temple of Garni, the
medieval monastery of Geghard, the Sardarabad monument, the ancient Khor
Virab monastery, Lake Sevan and Holy Etchmiadzin. Other sites taken in
by students from one or two of the groups were the Dzidzernagapert
(Fortress of the Swallows) Armenian Genocide Monument and Museum; the
military cemetery Yerablur; the house-museums of literary greats
Yeghishe Charents and Hovhannes Toumanian; the Matenadaran Manuscript
Repository in Yerevan; the fort of Amberd; the monastery of Sanahin; St.
Hripsime and St. Gayane churches, as well as the ruins of Zvartnotz near
Etchmiadzin.

The juniors from the two AGBU high schools in California also visited
the AGBU Children’s Center in Nork, a district of Yerevan, where they
were treated to an impressive performance of song, dance and acrobatics
by its students. The juniors from Manoogian-Demirdjian High School met
with the Georgian president and were interviewed by a local radio
station. In addition, they visited the Orran Center for impoverished
children in Yerevan. Seniors of Marie Manoogian High School visited the
AGBU Armenian Representation offices, met the local staff and became
acquainted with AGBU activities in Armenia. While there, students met
AGBU scouts from Beirut and Iraq, who had arrived in Armenia to attend
AGBU Camp Antranik. The two groups spent the whole afternoon together,
sharing their thoughts and impressions, and forming bonds that were
based on their common cultural identity.

The trip for the graduating seniors of Marie Manoogian was made possible
through a number of fundraising events organized by the school, students
and their parents at the AGBU Center in Buenos Aires throughout the
year. These include the renowned Friday-evening, and the more recently
instituted Saturday-evening, Armenian dinners, which are prepared by the
school’s parents and served by the senior class. These events are widely
attended by Buenos Aires’ Armenian and non-Armenian communities and have
become an entrenched tradition in the city, ensuring that Marie
Manoogian students, regardless of their financial conditions, will be
able to experience firsthand the sights and sounds of the Armenian
homeland.

Established in 1906, 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 program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

EU ELABORATES NEW STRATEGY FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.NET
11.09.2009 20:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a meeting on September 14, EU Foreign
Ministers are expected to launch a debate on how to bring the bloc’s
outreach to the South Caucasus up to date. The EU recognizes that
the South Caucasus is gaining in importance in terms of regional
stability, energy, and trade. All three countries (Armenia, Georgia
and Azerbaijan) are being offered association agreements which could
lead to free trade and visa liberalization. EU membership, as before,
is not on offer.

Every country interested in cooperation will be given the chance,
since no one can hold anyone else back.

EU officials familiar with recent debates within the bloc say its
current Swedish presidency has been asked to draw up a guidance
document for an in-depth review of the aims of EU cooperation with
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The goals of EU outreach and the offer it makes must be the same
for all three countries, officials say. This spells a quiet end
to Georgia’s ambitions to elevate itself to a status on par with
Ukraine. Instead, it’s placed firmly in the same bracket with Armenia
and Azerbaijan, radio Svoboda reports.

ORINATS YERKIR SUPPORTS ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS NORMALIZATION PROCESS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.09.2009 17:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Orinats Yerkir Party supports the process of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, head of OY parliamentary
group Heghine Bisharyan said.

"We are glad that coalition political parties are unanimous about the
protocols and the ongoing political process," she told journalists
today.

Asked about concerns or objectives, Ms. Bisharyan said the party
hasn’t any. "The most important task is to normalize relations and
open the border.

"With the help of sub-committee on examination of historical facts,
the two countries can clarify the issues they are concerned about. As
to consideration of the Armenian Genocide issue, it’s an irrefutable
historical fact and is not subject to any discussion," she said.

VARDAN AYVAZYAN: BOTH ARMENIA AND TURKEY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE OPENING OF THE SHARED BORDER
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
09.09.2009 15:39

In case the Armenian-Turkish border is opened, Armenia’s GDP will
grow 4%, the exports will increase 17.7%, Chairman of the National
Assembly’s Standing Committee on Economic Issues Vardan Ayvazyan told
a press conference today. According to him, Turkey will benefit even
more from the opening of the border.

The Deputy says it’s incorrect to consider that Armenia’s economy is
uncompetitive and fear from the opening of the border. The opening
of the border may be dictated by economic rather than political
reasons, according to him. The MP adds, however, that Armenia will
have considerable problems with entering the Turkish market.

Speaking about the legislative field, Vardan Ayvazyan informed that
the parliament and the government have finally reached an accord on
the draft "Tax Package." The Tax Package will put on the agenda of
the first sitting of the National Assembly’s fall session.

CBA BOARD REDUCES REFINANCING RATE BY 0.25 PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 5%

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. At the September 8 sitting, the
Board of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) made a decision to reduce
the refinancing rate by 0.25 percentage points to 5%. According to
the CBA PR Service, a deflation of 0.4% was recorded in August on July
2009, as a result of which the 12-month inflation amounted to 3.5%. The
CBA Board said that there have been signs of some improvement in the
global economy, combined with a gradual rise in international prices
of raw materials and some foodstuffs.

Under these conditions, despite the continuous trends to a decine in
gross demand, there have been no inflationary pressures in domestic
markets.

Taking into account the continuing trends towards GDP decline
and the opinions about remaining inflation in the target period,
the CBA Board considers it expedient to reduce the interest rates,
which is in line with the current trends in financial markets and
contributes to activation of the economy, while not posing a danger
to price stability.
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From: [email protected]
Subject: CBA Board reduces refinancing rate by 0.25 percentage points to 5%

CBA Board reduces refinancing rate by 0.25 percentage points to 5%

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. At the September 8 sitting, the
Board of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) made a decision to reduce
the refinancing rate by 0.25 percentage points to 5%. According to the
CBA PR Service, a deflation of 0.4% was recorded in August on July
2009, as a result of which the 12-month inflation amounted to 3.5%. The
CBA Board said that there have been signs of some improvement in the
global economy, combined with a gradual rise in international prices of
raw materials and some foodstuffs. Under these conditions, despite the
continuous trends to a decine in gross demand, there have been no
inflationary pressures in domestic markets. Taking into account the
continuing trends towards GDP decline and the opinions about remaining
inflation in the target period, the CBA Board considers it expedient to
reduce the interest rates, which is in line with the current trends in
financial markets and contributes to activation of the economy, while
not posing a danger to price stability.

ARMENIAN SCIENTISTS PROVE COMPETITIVE

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 9 2009
Armenia

00:34 / 09/09/2009RA Physics Institute invented device to measure
and examine cosmic particles. The instrument (named "Sevan") is
presently located in Zagreb observatory (Croatia). "This apparatus is
a discovery and bares ultimate importance for fundamental science,"
RA Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan told NEWS.am in Zagreb.

"This is another proof that Armenian scientists are competitive and
master up-to-date theory and laboratory facilities. They can make
a contribution into development of physics worldwide," underlined
Yeritsyan.

According to him, "Sevan" was set in Croatia due to geographic location
of the country which provides sufficient conditions to examine the
cosmic particles. Croatian side has first proposed to place the device
on their territory. The second was set in Bulgaria. Negotiations on
providing other countries with the instrument are also in progress. "
It should be placed in all continents," Yeritsyan assured.

ARMENIAN CHOICE PARTY: AUTHORITIES DO NOT SECURE ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2009 17:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Choice party’s apprehensions were fulfilled
after signature of agreement on ‘road map’ and the Protocols between
Armenia and Turkey, party member Alexander Kananyan said.

"The authorities’ main responsibility is to provide security of the
country. Failing to perform this function, the leadership becomes
illegal. So, signature of any losing document on relations with Turkey
or Nagorno Karabakh will make the incumbent authorities illegitimate,"
he told a news conference today.

He also noted that ratification of Protocols and opening of the
border mean nothing, since all agreements will be reconsidered "after
restoration of the Armenian national state."