Author: Chalian Meline

PanARMENIAN.Net

Former RA CB head: 2009 will be a hard year
12.03.2009 18:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Devaluation of national currency is a price to pay
for liberalization,’ Armenian National Congress Representative, CBA
ex-Chairman Bagrat Asatryan said on Thursday.

He stressed that dram exchange rate control policy required
significant funding and was advantageous to many importers. According
to official data, AMD400 million was all that remained from AMD11,605
million state budget by the end of January.

According to Asatryan’s forecasts the year 2009 will be a hard one:
public service tariffs raise, reduction of transfers, unemployment
will create a serious situation in Armenia. If no system changes are
introduced, the consequences of crisis will be strongly felt in spring
2010.

Armenian Foreign Ministry studying issue of sending Armenian
peacemakers to Afghanistan

2009-03-13 12:06:00

ArmInfo. European integration, in particular, development of relations
with NATO is one of the priorities in the Armenian foreign policy, said
Arman Israelyan, Head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Department for
NATO, speaking at the opening of the seminar ‘South-Caucasian Youth
Forum: 60th Anniversary of NATO: New Start’ Friday.

Armenia is interested in maintaining the relations with NATO as never
before. The country’s involvement into the NATO PfP project is one of
the most important elements of the country’s multiple-aspect security
system and even one of the dynamically developing dimensions of the
foreign policy, he said. A. Israelyan highlighted the importance of
Armenia-NATO cooperation in reforming the military system of Armenia
where NATO provides consultations and renders specialized assistance to
Armenia. The final goal of the reform is to bring the Armenian army in
conformity with European standards.

‘Participation of the Armenian contingent in the peacemaking mission in
Kosovo is very important to us. The Foreign ministry is currently
studying the issue of sending an Armenian contingent to Afghanistan. In
2008 the number of Armenian peacemakers to Kosovo has been doubled. The
ministry is likely to adopt a decision to send a contingent also to
Afghanistan’, he said.

RIA Oreanda, Russia
March 11 2009

Rusal Armenal Foil Mill Reaches Design Capacity

Moscow. OREANDA-NEWS . On 11 March 2009 UC RUSAL, the worlds largest
aluminium and alumina producer, is pleased to announce that ARMENAL,
the groups foil mill located in Armenia, reached its design capacity
of 25,000 tonnes.

>From December 2008, the daily output of aluminium foil at the mill
increased by half. It became possible due to a comprehensive
modernisation of the principal parts of equipment and implementation
of advanced foil production technologies. Since the beginning of 2007
when the modernisation was completed, ARMENAL has produced and sold a
total of approximately 30,000 tonnes of finished goods.

The production facility has developed and implemented a new process
policy, significantly enhanced labour discipline, created conditions
for further usage of the modernised equipment design capacity and made
every effort to improve its organisational structure and means to
motivate and deploy the personnel in brief, it has laid a foundation
for success over a long-term period, said Sergey Borovik, ARMENALs
General Director.

The fact that the metal working cash cost reduced by 42% in December
2008 vs. July 2008 indicates the increased efficiency of ARMENAL. The
KPIs increased together with salaries by almost 13% in Q2 2008
compared to Q1 2008. The changes in the salary fund and headcount
optimisation allowed demonstrating such results.

In late 2008, representatives of the largest European traders visited
ARMENAL as they wanted to learn more about the upgraded foil
production and check the quality of foil products. After the meeting
the experts noted that the products of the mill were in line with the
highest international standards.

Currently, ARMENALs foil is undergoing several tests to see whether it
complies with the specifications of European customers. So far,
positive preliminary results have been obtained.

In the near future the foil mill will expand its sales geography from
the EU countries and the USA to the Middle East and Africa.

Despite the fact that the global demand for primary aluminium is
falling, foil products still remain in demand in virtually every area
of their application. Reaching the design capacity of ARMENAL will
allow RUSALs Packaging Division to satisfy demand for rolled foil
products which is growing among other reasons because of the reduction
of foil production in North America. At the same time this year
ARMENAL plans to increase production of extra thin foil with a width
of 7-9 micron by 25% which is in a strong demand in the market.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Volume of transactions at Armenian foreign exchange market totaled
$110 mil. March 9-13
14.03.2009 11:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ $40 337 547 was purchased at weighted average price
of AMD363.20 for $1 and $38 724 318 was sold at weighted average price
of AMD367.20 for $1 at NASDAQ OMX Armenia stock exchange from March 9
to 13.

At that, transactions on March 13 were conducted by commercial banks
only.

Volume of transactions at Armenian foreign exchange market totaled
$110 221.865 during the above mentioned period.

The amount of loans issued by commercial banks totaled AMD10.1
mil. and $13.5 mil.

PanARMENIAN.Net

France rejoins NATO military command

Karine Ter-Sahakyan

France’s return is expected to be formalized with a letter to NATO
before the alliance celebrates its 60th anniversary in April with a
summit in the French city of Strasbourg.
13.03.2009 GMT+04:00

After more than 40 years France returns to the united structures of
NATO command. Though we shouldn’t hope that this return of
«prodigal son» can lead to further changes in the
alliance, the fact itself is symbolically significant. `The moment has
come to put an end to this situation because it is in the interest of
France and of Europe to do so,’ Sarkozy told an audience of military
officers, officials and international defense experts in Paris.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer hailed
Sarkozy’s decision to return France to the fold. `Its full
participation in all the civil and military decision-making and
planning processes cannot but strengthen the alliance further,’ de
Hoop Scheffer said in a statement. France is already NATO’s fourth
largest contributor of troops. France has long played a major role in
NATO operations, fielding troops under allied command in Bosnia,
Kosovo and now particularly in the dangerous Afghan
campaign. Meanwhile, Sarkozy says France will maintain control over
its nuclear arsenal. It would maintain its independent nuclear
deterrent outside NATO command structures.

Former President Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO in 1966
because he felt that U.S. power in Europe needed to be limited as it
was affecting France’s independence. However, France never left the
alliance itself. Defence Minister Herve Morin rejected claims France
would now be forced to go along with the US on issues like the war
with Iraq, which it vehemently opposed. Germany, he noted, has
remained fully integrated in NATO, yet opposed the war. Renewing
France’s relations with NATO `will benefit the alliance, benefit
Europe and benefit France’, Mr. Morin said. `It will be done without
calling into question the independence of France. Indeed, it would
allow France to take a greater role in shaping military strategy,’ he
argued, BBC reports.

President of France was right in his calculations of returning into
NATO especially at this moment. France could not rejoin NATO under
George Bush, risking the country’s image like Great Britain that fully
supported the American President and won the distrustful laurels of
«Friend Tony». With Barack Obama in power, the situation
is quite different. It would be much easier for President Sarkozy to
find a common language with a person that is going to withdraw the
troops from Iraq, meanwhile trying to somehow resolve the Afghan
conflict. France’s return is expected to be formalized with a letter
to NATO before the alliance celebrates its 60th anniversary in April
with a summit in the French city of Strasbourg.

The talks on NATO-CSTO cooperation have become more intense lately. In
the words of CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha, `NATO and its
Russian-dominated counterpart, the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO), should work together to form a new security
system in Europe. Nowadays, the system of the balance of power in
Europe is failing. The security architecture has to be re-made. I see
no reason for a collision between the CSTO and NATO. We are ready to
unite our efforts. Both organizations deal with problems of security,
such as terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal migration. The CSTO has
been pushing for the last four to five years for more cooperation with
NATO on those issues. But, unfortunately, NATO is not ready to talk
with us,’ CSTO Secretary General told journalists in Brussels. The
interesting point in this connection is that France’s decision is
positively perceived by Moscow. According to Russian media, Nikolas
Sarkozy notified the Kremlin about his intentions in due time .

In a word, everyone is content, and first of all – Sarkozy. What is
coming next? France has always been trying to play the first fiddle in
European orchestra and in NATO too. At the beginning of the current
year French Ambassador to Armenia Serge Smessov stated that `If NATO
is unable to cope with putting things in order, the joint European
forces can do it.’ And though the diplomat specified neither format of
forces, nor the country that would take the command, most likely
Smessov suggested France¦

, Turkey
March 8 2009

Babacan: US perceives Turkey’s sensitivity over Armenian issue

Turkey’s foreign minister said on Saturday that the current
U.S. administration perceived Turkey’s opinion and sensitivity
regarding the incidents of 1915.

Sunday, 08 March 2009 11:18

Speaking at a joint press conference after his meeting with Foreign
Minister Alejandro Hamed Franco of Paraguay in Ankara, Babacan said
that incidents of 1915 were also on the agenda of his talks with
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Upon a question on whether Turkey’s concerns regarding
U.S. president’s stance on such issue were expressed during the talks,
Babacan said, "I can easily say that the current U.S. administration
perceives Turkey’s opninon and sensitivity on this matter. We have no
difficulties with communication in that sense".

Babacan also said that he hoped such issue could be solved without any
problems and without overshadowing the relations between Turkey and
USA.

Replying to a question on whether Turkey expressed any demand for the
solution of the PKK problem before USA’s withdrawal from Iraq, Babacan
said the details of the withdrawal plan were not clear yet.

"However, there is no connection between the PKK issue and the
withdrawal process. Such a connection was expressed neither by us, nor
by them. There is a tripartite mechanism in Iraq and sharing of
intelligence and coordination of military units continue within such
framework," he said.

Commenting on Cyprus issue as well, Babacan said USA paid close
attention to Cyprus and such matter was discussed in a detailed way
during his meeting with Clinton.

AA

PanARMENIAN.Net

Germany opposes EU enlargement
09.03.2009 13:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Frankfurter Allgemeine: Christian Democratic Union
once again opposed Turkey’s accession to the EU.

Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) opposes further EU
enlargement.

With the number of member states reaching 27 during the past several
years, the Union needs time to consolidate, according to the CDU.

Exception can be made for Croatia only, Christian Democrats say, one
again opposing Turkey’s accession bid, Frankfurter Allgemeine reports.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Baku going to hamper Iran-Armenia oil pipeline construction
09.03.2009 15:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Official Baku and Azerbaijanis in Tabriz will try to
hamper construction of Iran-Armenia oil pipeline, said Sabit Bagirov,
head of Baku-based center of political and economic studies.

`If Iran and Armenia have really reached an agreement, its
implementation will take time but at the same time it will help reduce
the cost of Iranian oil for Armenia,’ he said, adding that official
Baku will spare no effort to hamper the project, 1 news.az reports.

Earlier, RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan
said construction of Tabriz (Iran)-Yeraskh (Armenia) oil pipeline,
which will pump oil products from a refinery in Tabriz to Armenia,
will start in 2009.

"The oil pipeline will first of all satisfy Armenia’s needs, including
strengthening of energy security of the republic, reduction of
transport expenses and establishment of competitive market prices," he
said.

The construction will presumably cost $200-240 mln. The passing-pipe
size is 250 mm and length is 300 km.

PanARMENIAN.Net

The Georgetown Boys musical by Herand Markarian to be preformed in Toronto
09.03.2009 22:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 24 children and adults of the Hamazkayin will be
performing in The Georgetown Boys musical by renowned Armenian
playwright Dr. Herand Markarian in Toronto on Mar 15.

The musical tells the true story of about 109 young boys who, after
being orphaned during the Armenian Genocide, were brought to Canada to
be trained as farmers in Georgetown, a suburb of Toronto.

Herand Markarian was born in Basra, Iraq, in 1938. He appeared on
stage at the age of 18 and directed his first play at the age of 20,
before emigrating to the U.S. in 1962. Markarian earned a Ph.D. in
chemistry, taught college briefly and worked as a senior research
scientist with Bristol Myers. Simultaneously, he pursued his interest
in theater, attending the Circle-in-the-Square School in New York, and
writing and directing plays. He founded New York’s Hamazkayin Theater
Group in 1967, staging 36 productions and four multimedia programs. As
an actor he has appeared in 40 roles. He has directed plays from the
classic Armenian repertoire as well as modern classics. His own plays
have been performed in Armenia, Canada, England, Greece, Lebanon,
Syria, and the U.S.

A1+

Data from the stock exchange
[04:28 pm] 09 March, 2009

On March 9 `NASDAK OEMEX ARMENIA’ OJSC conducted a trade of $150.000
at the rate of 364 drams for a dollar, reports the Central Bank of
Armenia. The closing rate is 364 drams.