Author: Chakrian Hovsep

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
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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."

585,164 users connected to gas consumption system of Armenia as of
September 1

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. 585,164 users were connected to
Armenia’s gas consumption system of as September 1, 2009. The number of
gas consuming users grew by 11,209 in the first 8 months of 2009,
including 1,803 users in August, NT was informed by the PR service of
ArmRusgazprom CJSC.

According to the same source, under the decision of the Armenian
government, 21,812 safety devices were installed at apartments of gas
consumers in August of this year. As of September 1, 178,906 safety
devices were installed at apartments of users instead of 167 thousand
devices as envisaged by the timetable.

The company launched the program on the installation of safety devices
(alarms) at apartments of gas consuming users in Armenia in December
2008 and plans to finish it in 2010. It is envisaged installing 250
thousand safety devices in 2009.

Serzh Sargsayn emphasizes the importance of RF Ambassador’s diplomatic
mission in RA
04.09.2009 21:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, newly appointed RF Ambassador to Armenia
handed his credentials to RA President Serzh Sargsayn .

Congratulating the diplomat on his appointment, RA President noted
that Russia is Armenia’s strategic ally and main economic partner,
emphasizing the importance RF Ambassador’s diplomatic mission in RA.

Serzh Sargsyan assured Vyacheslav Kovalenko of multilateral support to
be rendered him on behalf of RA Government.

In his turn, the newly appointed Ambassador stressed that he’ll take
his best efforts for further development of Armenian-Russian
relations. Vyacheslav Kovalenko noted that he feels great respect for
Armenian people, history and culture.

OPPOSITION PARTY CALLS FOR REFERENDUM ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Mediamax
Sept 3 2009
Armenia

Yerevan, 3 September: The opposition Heritage party demands that the
initialled Armenian-Turkish protocols on establishing and developing
bilateral relations be submitted to a national referendum.

Mediamax reports that the head of the Heritage parliamentary faction,
Armen Martirosyan, stated today that the referendum should be held
before presenting the protocols to ratification by the Armenian
parliament. He noted that this referendum, per se, will define the
confidence of society in the Armenian president, who is in charge of
the foreign policy of the country.

The MP said that after the beginning of the autumn session, Heritage
will start collection of signatures by MPs for holding a referendum,
and if necessary, it will also turn to the government concerning
this issue.

Armen Martirosyan stated that initialled documents contain, at least,
three preconditions unacceptable for Armenia. According to him,
if there are no changes made in the protocols, "state and national
interests of the country and the Armenian people will be seriously
endangered".

The Heritage party also intends to turn to the Constitutional Court
of Armenia with the suggestion to check the compliance of protocol
provisions with the constitution of the country.

The MP expressed opinion that the Armenian authorities are not
interested in realizing large-scale public discussions as to the
issue of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations. According to him,
these discussions should have preceded the initialling of protocols.