Author: Chakrian Hovsep

PanARMENIAN.Net

Ankara to recall ambassador from Argentina over
Armenian Genocide recognition
17.05.2008 14:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey plans to recall its
ambassador from Argentina for "political
consultations," in reaction to Buenos Aires’
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Ambassador Hayri Hayret Yalav is expected to be
recalled to review bilateral relations with Argentina,
Today’s Zaman reports.

Argentinean Ambassador to Turkey Brugo Marco is
currently in Buenos Aires.

In April 2008, Argentina’s Senate proclaimed April 24
the Day of Reconciliation and Respect. The Turkish
Foreign Ministry announced that the move -conflicts
with historical facts and is a violation of the
international law.-

State Minister Mehmet Aydin cancelled a planned April
28-29 visit to Argentina which hosted -Alliance of
Civilizations- initiative meant to promote dialog
between the Islamic and Western publics.

FIRST MEETING OF ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS DUE ON JUNE 7

armradio.am
15.05.2008 16:12

The first meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev will take place on June 7 on the
sidelines of the non-official summit of the Heads of State of
the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States,
the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian declared at the
National Assembly today.

ARMENIAN EX-PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN ACCUSES TER-PETROSIAN OF LIES

Interfax News Agency
May 13 2008
Russia

Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharian has said that statements made
by former presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian that the clashes
between the law enforcement and the opposition on March 1 were staged
by the Armenian authorities were an "absolute lie."

"The statement by Armenian ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian that
the March 1 events in Yerevan were carefully planned by the current
authorities is an absolute lie. Only an indecent man can say that
the authorities were planning the use of force in advance," Kocharian
said in an interview with a national news agency.

On March 1 Ter-Petrosian’s supporters, who defied the results of the
presidential election on February 19, clashed with law enforcement
forces in Yerevan. As a result of the violence 10 people died and
over 250 were injured.

"You have to understand who could be interested in this. Such clashes
with human casualties first of all have a negative effect on the
authorities. This is a blow to the authorities. Obviously, the opinion
that the authorities have not done enough to avoid civilian deaths
will always prevail. Such is the reality. It is real in situations
like this one even in European countries. In such cases the use of
force is something that authorities have to do in order to prevent even
harder consequences. Especially for me, I was an outgoing president,"
Kocharian said.

He also dismissed Ter-Petrosian’s allegations that on March 1 foreign
diplomats assisted at the talks on finding ways to avoid serious
clashes between law enforcement authorities and the opposition.

Ter-Petrosian’s supporters continue to challenge the presidential
election results. They are going to lodge a complaint with the European
Court of Human Rights.

ARMENIAN SHEPHERD WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE FROM AZERI SIDE – ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

Interfax News Agency
May 12 2008
Russia

An Armenian shepherd has been wounded by gunfire coming from the Azeri
side, the Armenian Defense Ministry’s press secretary Colonel Seiran
Shakhsuvaryan told Interfax on Monday.

"On Monday morning, at 11:00 a.m. local time, Azeri army units opened
fire on Armenian troops stationed near the village of Baganis in the
Tavush region," he said.

One villager, shepherd Lorik Avagyan, born in 1957, was wounded.

Armenian soldiers carried him away from the scene of the shooting,
Shakhsuvaryan said.

The shepherd has undergone surgery. Doctors assess his condition
as serious.

ARMENIA TO BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN SILK ROAD TOURISM FESTIVAL IN DAMASCUS

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Prospects of developing tourism between
Armenia and Syria were discussed at the May 12 meeting of the Armenian
ambassador to Syria Arshak Poladian and the Syrian minister of
tourism Saadalla Agha al-Qala. In particular, the sides underlined
the necessity of signing a program of cooperation in the tourism
sector for 2008-2011. The draft program is now under discussion.

Saadalla Agha al-Qala said that a Silk Road festival of tourism will be
held in Damascus in October, and the Armenian side will soon receive
an invitation to participate in this event.

According to a press release submitted to NT by the RA MFA Press
and Information Department, on the same day A. Poladian met with
the Syrian minister of education Ali Saad. The Armenian-Syrian
cooperation in the education sector, as well as the details of the
envisaged visit of the Armenian minister of education and science to
Syria were discussed at the meeting.

Ali Saad attached special importance to the meeting with his Armenian
counterpart, saying that there has been a close and mutually beneficial
cooperation in edication between the two countries, and the Syrian
side is interested in developing this cooperation.

ARDSHININVESTBANK, BANK ‘ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE’ AND ‘HSBC BANK ARMENIA’ IN THE LEADING THREE IN THE FIRST QUARTER 2008 BY THE NET PROFIT LEVEL

arminfo
2008-05-14 12:25:00

ArmInfo. Ardshininvestbank, Bank and entered the leading three in the
first quarter 2008 by their net profit level: 1.3 bln drams (($4.2
¬Â"­), 901.5 mln drams ($2.9 mln) and 841.3 mln drams ($2.7 mln)
respectively.

occupied the forth place – 682.4 mln drams ($2.2mln) and the fifth
place – 624.3 mln drams ($2.0 mln).

According to the data of Armenian commerce banks ranking prepared by
ArmInfo, by the level of profitability of assets (share of net profit
in assets – ROA) bank is leading – 1,9%, occupies the second place
– 1,4%, the third – 1,2%, the forth – 1,1% and Unibank the fifth –
1%. Ardshininvestbank is leading by the ROE level – 7,6%, occupies
the second place – 7,5%, Unibank the third – 6,1%, the forth – 6,0%
and ARARATBANK the fifth – 5%.

Summary retained profit of the Armenian banking system amounted to
6.147 bln drams ($20 mln) by the results of the first quarter of 2008,
having grown by 28% if compared with the same period of 2007, and by
more than 9 times if compared with the same period of 2003. According
to the reports of the 22 acting banks, 19 banks finished the first
quarter of 2008 with the summary retained profit – 6.522 bln drams,
and three banks – , ProCreditBank and Byblos Bank Armenia with the
summary loss 375.8 mln drams. ProCreditBank entered the banking market
of Armenia at the beginning of February 2008.

Total capital of the banking system over the first quarter of 2008
has grown by 6,1%, and by 43,5%, if compared with the same period
of 2007 and by more than 4 times if compared with the same period
of 2003, having amounted to 183.5 bln drams ($597.1 mln) as of 31
March 2008. Annual growth of this index is chiefly ensured at the
expense of the authorized capital growth – by 46,4% up to 121.3 bln
drams ($394.9 mln), as well as at the expense of profit growing. is
leading by restoration of the authorized capital. It has grown this
indicator by more than 7 times up to 4.8 bln drams ($15.6 mln) if
compared with the same period of 2007. By the way, this bank reached
such an indicator in the third quarter of 2007 without attraction
of new shareholders. Then comes Armimpexbank, authorized capital
of which grew by more than 3 times up to 6.4 bln drams ($20.8 mln)
if compared with the same period of 2007. It found itself in the
leading five by this indicator.

Ardshininvesbank occupies the third place having grown the authorized
capital by 109,6% up to the leading level 15.5 bln drams ($50.5 mln)
if compared with the same period of 2007. International Finance
Corporation (IFC) entered this bank capital with 10% share in the
forth quarter of 2007.

Armbusinessbank occupies the firth place. Its authorized capital has
grown by more than 2 times up to 5 bln drams ($16,3 mln). In general,
9 commerce banks ensured replenishment of the authorized fund in
the first quarter of 2008 if compared with the same period of 2008,
the given indicator has not changed in the rest 12 commerce banks
(without Bank ProCredit). The authorized capital has grown only in
two banks – ARATBANK (by 12,4% up to 4.1 bln drams or $13.3 mln)
and Armimpexbank in the first quarter of 2008.

As for the rest banks, this index has not changed. Annual falling
of total capital has been fixed only in Byblos Bank Armenia
(the former ITB bank) – by 1,4%, and in four banks over the first
quarter of 2008. Much annual growth of total capital has been fixed
in Armimpexbank – by 131,7% up to 7.9 bln drams ($25.6 mln) and –
by 124,5% up to 21.4 bln drams ($69.6 mln).

Agricole is leading by the level of total capital – 22.2 bln drams
($72.1 mln).

–Boundary_(ID_qLPv1UxB1PobO/PfkzmjGA)–

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 10 2008

Three members of US Congress make statement on 85th jubilee of Heydar
Aliyev

[ 10 May 2008 15:51 ]

Washington. Husniyya Hasanova -APA. Three members of US House of
Representatives made statement in the Congress on 85th jubilee of
Heydar Aliyev.

APA US bureau reports, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina said when
political strife and economic uncertainty engulfed the region, Heydar
Aliyev emerged in 1993 as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Ms. Foxx named Heydar Aliyev as a strong person and leader. She said
late president steered his country through regional power struggles
and global changes. He negotiated a cease-fire in the war with
Armenia. He deepened Azerbaijan’s relationship with the United States,
Turkey, Israel, as well as countries in Western Europe. Focusing on
the `Contract of the Century” signed in 1994, the congresswoman
reminded that this project played irreplaceable role in
diversification of Western energy supplies.

Don Burton of Indiana said Heydar Aliyev worked tirelessly for more
than 30 years–first as part of the Soviet Union, and later as
President of a free and independent Azerbaijan– to build a strong,
vibrant, healthy and prosperous nation. He reminded that when
Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991, domestic tensions fueled
by competing forces at home and the disastrous war in Nagorno-Karabakh-
-which resulted in the military occupation of 20 percent of
Azerbaijan, and nearly one million refugees and internally displaced
people–threatened to rip the country apart. Many Azerbaijanis were
fearful that their first experience as the short-lived first Republic
in the Muslim world (1918-1920), would be repeated. `Heydar Aliyev,
however, had a vision for Azerbaijan and opened up the country to
investment from the United States, Western Europe, Russia, and Turkey
and Azerbaijan soon became a pioneer in opening the Caspian Sea to
international cooperation and oil and gas exploration’. The
congressman spoke about the importance of Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan (BTC)
oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi- Erzurum gas pipeline.

Bernice Johnson of Texas spoke about the role of Heydar Aliyev in the
regional and international development of Azerbaijan. He said
Azerbaijan became the first former Soviet Republic outside the Baltic
States with no foreign troops on its soil. Azerbaijan joined NATO’s
Partnership for Peace Program in 1994 and was one of the initiators of
GUAM. Azerbaijan has excellent relations with Israel and there is a
Jewish community in the country. Bernice Johnson said because of the
late President Aliyev’s efforts, today Azerbaijan is a developing
democracy with a growing and vibrant economy. There are no longer any
doubts regarding the viability of this Republic.

AZG Armenian Daily #089, 10/05/2008

National Interests

EDITORIAL. IRONY OF GENOCIDE MUSEUM: A SORE POINT FOR
ARMENIANS, BLISS FOR TURKS

For some months now, the Armenian Reporter weekly,
whose president and CEO is benefactor Gerard L.
Cafesjian, has printed articles which lists what is
claimed to be financial contribution of each trustee
of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial, (AGMM)
to that project, yet to be built in Washington, DC,
two blocks from the White House.

This is a method that tries to tarnish the reputation
of well-known and respected individuals in our
community who have given years of service and money to
Armenia and the diaspora. The community does not want
this any more.

What has prompted this gimmick is equally unworthy.

Mr. Cafesjian is suing the Armenian Assembly and all
AGMM trustees, except Mr. John Waters, who is employed
by him. He is trying to stop the present progress of
the museum project and to reclaim title of the four
properties adjoining the National Bank building, which
is the planned site of the Armenian Genocide Museum.
These four plots purchased by Mr. Cafesjian and
donated to AGMM, have appreciated in value since that
time and would constitute a substantial profit if sold
now.

We are sure that Mr. Cafesjian does not realize that a
lawsuit threatening the creation of the museum in our
nation’s capital memorializing the martyrs of the
Armenian Genocide is disgraceful enough and favorable
turn of event for the Turkish Government and all
denialists in the US.

The Armenian Reporter stated all these when it
published a series of articles by John Waters that
chronicled, what he says, was the history of the
controversy. Mr. Waters cited discussions and debates
among the principals and claimed in effect that Mr.
Cafesjian’s efforts were undermined by the rest of the
Trustees whofailed to share his vision of a grand
Armenian Genocide Museum in Washington. One reader
asked why the views of those being criticized were not
included in the paper’s coverage. The editors claimed
that the museum’s current trustees are planning a
project so modest in size and scope that it is
unworthy of depicting the Armenian Genocide. They then
printed a press release by AGMM with arrows and margin
notes demeaning the museum’s progress and plans.

All this prompted us to obtain a publicly available
court documents that summarized the essence of the
controversy. The Armenian Assembly presented it to the
court and AGMM and its contents were very revealing.
It showed that Mr. Cafesjian was named chairman of the
enterprise from 2003 to 2006 and his colleague John
Waters secretary and treasurer. They were given wide
latitude to plan, develop and build the Armenian
Genocide Museum and Memorial. At Mr. Cafesjian’s
request the Armenian Assembly agreed to drop its
sponsorship of the museum in favor of an independent
corporation. The Armenian Assembly’s board of
directors turned title of the National Bank building,
the core site of the museum project, to the AGMM, as
well as its subsidiary, the Armenian National
Institute, (ANI). ANI, a renowned authority on the
Armenian Genocide, was to serve as the intellectual
and programming heart of the future museum.

Mr. Cafesjian’s chairmanship was described as
unresponsive to requests for information and records
from other trustees. The claimants asserted that both
Mr. Cafesjian and Mr. Waters wasted AGMM assets and
"breached their fiduciary duties" to the AGMM. The
document listed other acts of failed management. It
sought to grant the Assembly and AGMM a series of nine
separate actions of relief to alleviate the affects of
misdeeds and other arbitrary actions. Most
importantly, it asked that AGMM be declared the "sole
and exclusive owner" of all properties over which it
has title.

There is much more in the court document…too much to
be discussed in one article.

However, what is clear is that Mr. Cafesjian had three
years as chairman during which time the museum’s
progress was very problematic. He then decided to
abandon the project and proceeded after a year to sue
his trustee colleagues and the Assembly to reclaim the
four properties he ceded to the AGMM, which by thenhad
appreciated in value…

We also know that repeated efforts were made by the
AGMM trustees to resolve the problem privately and
amicably, but Mr. Cafesjian always refused. Even His
Holiness Karekin II, during the his pontifical visit
last October to the US offered to meet with Mr.
Cafesjian and AGMM trustees to find out if a common
ground could be found to affect a resolution of the
problem, failed.

To that effect we got in contact also with Mr. John
Waters, who commented the following: "In a perfect
world, we wouldn’t be suing the Assembly or involve
the museum in the actions. The driving force to get
anything done (for the museum) was Mr. Cafesjian. He
attended every single meeting. There were a lot of
discussions. We recommended that a team be assembled
for the project board on how to get forward. AGMM sent
packages to 60 architectural firms. From that, we got
30 responses. One of the 30 was Edgar Papazian, who
made a presentation to the board in early 2006. The
person represented by the Assembly and Hovnanian
rejected his concept and all other previous proposals.
Then Mr. Cafesjian said he would resign."

Thus, it seems the matter is fated to be battled out
in the courts.

Huge legal fees, continued embarrassment for the
community, more angry rhetoric in the Armenian
Reporter and blissful Turkish disposition can be
expected.

This newspaper has been in disagreement with several
projects that the Armenian Assembly has done in the
past, and we might disagree on future projects as
well, but we are confident that the Armenian Genocide
Museum will become a noble icon memorializing the
unparalleled tragedy of our people under the direction
of the Armenian Assembly, because we have seen their
plans and anticipate their progress, especially after
their recent partnership with the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial
Complex in Yerevan, Armenia.

It deserves the full support of the Armenian Community
and we urge everybody to let them complete their
mission.

Press Committee of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator

Premier: Armenian ministries should establish efficient dialogue with
mass media

YEREVAN, May 8. /ARKA/. Armenian Premier Tigran Sargsian stressed the
importance of establishing efficient dialogue between the ministries
and mass media.

For this purpose special seminars will be held for journalists and
press services with involvement of best specialists, the Premier said
at the government sitting.

The Premier also said the press services of ministries should analyze
mass media articles and report to the minister on most important
events. The analysis will help reveal possible violations and conduct
official investigation, the Premier said.

Earlier Tigran Sargsian said he plans to ensure publicity of the work
of the executive power and give reporters an opportunity to follow the
government sittings in live broadcast from the government press center.
`0–

AZG Armenian Daily #087, 08/05/2008

Karabakh issue

MEETINGS IN STRASBOURG

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is in
Strasbourg to participate in 118th session of the
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, met with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on May 6 in
accordance with preliminary arrangement, RA MFA Press
Office reported.

The meeting was followed by another meeting with MG
Co-Chairs, Ambassadors Bernard Fassier (France),
Matthew Bryza (USA), Yuri Merzliakov (Russia) and
Personal Representative of OSCE CiO, Ambassador
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

After the meeting E. Nalbandian answered the questions
of the journalists mentioning that the meeting had a
cognitive nature. The two ministers exchanged views on
Karabakh process, presented their countries’ positions
and arranged to continue the negotiations.

The Ministers will present the results of the
discussions to the Presidents. Afterwards, the
Presidents will decide on further activities.

Translated by L.H