Author: Chatinian Lara

LAWYERS REVEAL

16923.html
13:31:51 – 23/02/2010

Today, the lawyers of the head of the ArmEconomBank Saribek Sukiasyan
Lusine Sahakyan and Yervand Varosyan stated that the police affirmation
that Gor Davtyan was kept in SIL concern by force is not true. The
lawyers presented a video where the Police are seen to arrest Gor
Davtayn in the yard and not inside SIL Concern.

They also stated that Gor Davtyan has been kept in the Police
department illegally for ten hours and was not let meet with his
lawyers. More, people who had no right to be in the Police department,
accompanied him there apparently with the purpose to make repression
on Davtyan.

Recall the Police detained Saribek Sukiasyan informed by Gor Davtyan as
if he was kept in SIL Concern. Saribek Sukiasyan asked his lawyers to
convey to journalists that the head of Yerevan Police Nerses Nazarayn
is not a friend of him like the latter stated days ago.

ARMENIA ENTERS STAGE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH 2,4% GDP GROWTH IN JANUARY

ArmInfo
2010-02-22 09:48:00

ArmInfo. January growth of Armenia’s GDP gives solid grounds to
suppose that our country has entered a stage of the economy recovery
and development, Finance Minister of Armenia Tigran Davtyan said
during the opening of the 7th annual International Economic Forum
BRIDGE 2010. He added that the macroeconomic situation in the country
is currently forecasting, stable and controllable.

T. Davtyan listed the most vulnerable sides of the country’s economy,
as well as the programmes, implementation of which is an important
component in building of a healthy and stable economy.

Among such programmes, T. Davtyan indicated the necessity to balance
and diversify the economy sectors and, primarily, to stabilize the
financial system. The minister thinks that Armenia is entering the
stage of economic development with elimination of the disbalances
which appeared as a result of accelerated economic growth of the
global economy in general, and the Armenian one, in particular.

When speaking about diversification of Armenia’s economy, the minister
emphasized that despite its low level against the background of
other countries and with account of the Armenian economic realities,
the economy of Armenia has a sufficient level of diversification,
that allowed to compensate the difficulties in 2009, which appeared
because of essential recession of the most "vital" sphere for the
national economy – the construction. In particular, T. Davtyan said,
the rates of fall in agriculture, industry, services and trade were
comparatively low and posed no serious threats for further development
of the economy, and even growth was fixed in 2009 in some economy
spheres.

According to T. Davtyan, stability of the financial system, in
particular, stability of the banking sector and activation of state
financing is the most important component of development of the
national economy. In this context, the minister shares the opinion
of many representatives of the economic power saying the banking
system of Armenia remained, perhaps, the most resistant to the crisis
phenomena. Moreover, the public trust to this system has increased,
that is indicated by considerable growth of the bank deposits.

To note, Armenia has started receiving WB funds since the midst of
2009 within the frames of credit support, as well as the Russian
stabilization credit, part of which has been envisaged for crediting
of small and medium entrepreneurship through commercial banks.

According to T. Davtyan, quick response by international structures
was mainly conditioned by formation of the country’s good image in
the international markets.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS PUT INTO OFFICIAL CIRCULATION AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON FEBRUARY 15

NOYAN TAPAN
FEBRUARY 17, 2010
YEREVAN

The Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the
Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, and the Protocol on
the Development of Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the
Republic of Turkey (both were signed in Zurich on 10 October 2009)
were put into official circulation at the RA National Assembly
on February 15. The NA Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs (its
chairman is Armen Rustamian, member of the ARF Armenian Supreme Body)
was designated as the head committee.

NT correspondent was informed by the indicated committee that the
protocols have not been included in the agenda of the committee’s
sitting to be held until the NA’s regular four-day session to start
on February 22. The term of the protocols’ discussion is not known yet.

The Armenian president sent the Armenian-Turkish protocols to the
National Assembly on February 12. Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
was appointed the main speaker on the protocols at the NA.

EURASIAN UNION OF DAVUTOGLU DOOMED TO FAILURE AND RATHER REFERS TO SPHERE OF ROMANTICISM

ArmInfo
2010-02-17 10:35:00

ArmInfo. The Eurasian Union of Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu is doomed to failure and rather refers to the sphere of
romanticism, Director of the Civilized and Cultural Research Center
of Yerevan State University, Orientalist, ex-Ambassador of Armenia
to Syria, Professor David Hovhannisian told ArmInfo.

"In general, the maneuvers of the Turkish diplomacy are quite clear,
especially in a situation when strong pressure is exerted on Turkey by
the USA, and not only because of the Armenian-Turkish process. There
is also pressure by the European Union in view of noncompliance of
Turkey with the European criteria and legislation. In view of this,
Turkey quite naturally advances its alternative plan in form of a
Eurasian Union, saying the European Union is not the only pebble
on the beach, and the strategic relations with the USA may quite be
disputed by Ankara", he said.

The professor does not consider all these impulses serious, since,
despite everything, the membership in NATO for Turkey keeps on being
paramount. In this context, the initiative of the Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on EU creation seems not very serious,
since Turkey’s relations with both Iran and a number of Arab and
Islamic countries have always been of dubious nature, first of all,
for Turkey, i.e. there was no confidence, stability and opportunities
in them for creation of a mutually beneficial partnership. "However,
it is not unimportant that Turkey has been considered one of the
most anti-American disposed countries over the last 15 years, that
tells on the latest impulses in the region. Along with it, it is very
important for the modern Turks to feel like part of Europe. Against
this background, the Eurasian project of Davutoglu is doomed to
failure and rather refers to the sphere of romanticism", he resumed.

On February 4, during the meeting with Turkish ambassadors to Eurasian
countries, Ahmet Davutoglu offered to create nothing less than an
equivalent of the European Union in form of a so-called urasian Union.

Davutoglu thought that EU countries have to cooperate more closely and
create railway, overland and maritime traffic networks. Noteworthy,
he called the future railway branch Baku-Tbilis-Kars as the brightest
example of cooperation. This branch will be "the shortest route"
to connect Central and South-Eastern Asia with the European Union.

CATHERINE ASHTON CONGRATULATES ARMENIA ON OPENING OF THE DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY

armradio.am
15.02.2010 18:49

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Catherine Ashton issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of
opening of the Diplomatic Academy in Yerevan. The message reads:

"I congratulate Armenia on the opening of the Diplomatic Academy
in Yerevan. I trust that this institution will provide an important
contribution to the strengthening of EU-Armenia relations.

I warmly welcome the personal dedication and commitment that Foreign
Minister Nalbandian has demonstrated in support of this initiative.

I note with pleasure that each year the Diplomatic Academy will offer
up to 25 students from Armenia the possibility to improve their
knowledge of diplomacy and foreign relations. I am also delighted
that the EU, through its Advisory Group in Armenia, has been able to
contribute to the setting up of the Diplomatic Academy.

I wish the first students of the Diplomatic Academy, starting their
studies today, a challenging and successful experience."

OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE KANAT SAUDABAYEV TO VISIT ARMENIA BETWEEN FEBRUARY 15 TO 16

Noyan Tapan
Feb 15, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Kazakhstan’s State Secretary-Foreign
Minister, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Kanat Saudabayev will visit Armenia
between February 15 to 16. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office will meet RA
President Serzh Sargsyan, NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian, and Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian during the visit.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, E. Nalbandian’s and K. Saudabayev’s meeting
will take place on February 16. Foreign Ministers’ joint press
conference will take place at the Foreign Ministry press conference
hall after the meeting.

‘STOP MAKING WAR AND GET TO WORK’: THE DAILY STAR EDITORIAL

Tert.am
15:14 ~U 15.02.10

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan submitted to the Armenian parliament
Friday two protocols which would open bilateral diplomatic relations
and open the Armenia-Turkey border, reports The Daily Star, an
English-language paper published in Lebanon.

According to The Daily Star, Sargsyan will need all the help he can
get for this initiative. He is going against the prevailing tide in
his own country and among much of the Armenian Diaspora. In a bow
to this resistance, Sargsyan’s government added text to the accords
which should make it easier for Yerevan to walk away from the deal
if Turkey dawdles.

The rest of The Daily Star’s editorial is as follows:

"This surprising and welcoming break from the past should be seen
only through the perspective of the Armenian Genocide; we do not for a
moment deny its horrors, but the massacre has become a mascot for many
other phenomena plaguing Armenia, a club that can be readily brandished
to cast blame or distract attention from a spectrum of problems:
high unemployment, a stagnant economy and a lack of foreign investment.

"Nevertheless, the Armenian president has taken a bold and necessary
step. It is time to move forward; instead of living in the past
and playing the game of blame and victimhood, this region needs
understanding and reconciliation.

"For its part, Armenia has a well of untapped potential, whether
as a passageway for a natural gas pipeline or in its historically
talented populace – Armenians can boast a wealth of chess champions,
world-class musicians and accomplished engineers. And yet the country
lacks stability; it still has a smoldering conflict with neighbouring
Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Certainly, Turkey also stands to benefit from the agreement; yes, we
could also say the Turks are trudging into this deal only to complete
part of their homework for their largely receding hopes for European
Union membership.

"That, however, is a story for another day. The Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation should be acknowledged as an example of the way forward,
of a better alternative to the seething tensions that have bedeviled
this region for almost all of living memory. We need more leaders
willing to stick their necks out to end tensions and conflicts. Amid
the vortex of myriad wars and major shifts in geopolitics and the
world economy, the recipe for a nation’s success in recent decades
remains valid: stop making war and get to work.

"Sargsyan’s brave move might not succeed – the deal still has to be
approved by both countries’ legislatures – but no matter how this
episode ends, the president deserves recognition for helping escape
the cell of the past and moving toward peace and reconciliation."

Anthonie Holslag’s Recently Published `In the Rock of Ararat’

Tert.am
12:41 – 13.02.10

In his recently published book, `In the Rock of Ararat,’ Anthonie
Holslag describes the quest for the meaning of the Armenian Genocide
and how subsequent generations are handling its effects.

According to the author’s official blog (in Dutch):

‘This book is about collective violence. And not just violence, but
the violence of the worst kind, that which some scientists call the
`disease’ of the twentieth century. This book is about genocide. On
one of the bloodiest and most forgotten chapters in human history.
Younger generations have rarely heard of the Armenian Genocide, while
genocide has played a role in the establishment of the Holocaust.’

The book also includes details of Arshile Gorky’s life and his works,
as well Armenian identity and understanding collective memory. Book
presentations have already taken place in Amsterdam, most recently in
the University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam) on February
11 and Brasserie Kilikia on January 30, which included music by Jaap
Kraak and Ilda Simonian, and a display of paintings by Nerses
Djaladian.

Aysor, Armenia
Feb 13 2010

Arthur Baghdasaryan leaving for France

On February 15 the delegation headed by the Secretary of RA National
Security Council Arthur Baghdasarian will leave for France, informs
the press office of the Secretary of RA National Security Council.

A. Baghdasarian will meet with the General Secretary of French
National Security Francis Delon, diplomatic adviser to French
President Jean Davit Leviti, Secretary of State in European Affairs of
the Foreign Affairs Ministry of France Pierre Lelush, French diplomat
and the current coordinator of intelligence for President Nicolas
Sarkozy, Bernard Bajolet and others.

They will also visit the crisis management center of France.

APS PRESENTS GREEN SYMPOSIUM FEATURING LISA KALUSTIAN
By Alex DerAlexanian on

APS
Feb 11th

GLENDALE-The Armenian Professional Society (APS) will present a
Green Symposium featuring a special presentation on California’s
Green Initiative by Lisa Kalustian, Chief Deputy Director of the Los
Angeles Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The presentation
will be held at the monthly APS dinner meeting on Friday, February 26,
at 7:30 pm at the Brandview Collection in Glendale.

Kalustian will provide an update on how Governor Schwarzenegger’s
environmental and energy policies have launched California’s developing
Green-Tech Economy, and what that means for the future.

Over the past several years, Governor Schwarzenegger has taken action
to implement far-reaching, landmark environmental measures that are
expected to produce economic benefits and to help to fuel the state’s
recovery from a severe recession.

As a member of the Schwarzenegger administration, Kalustian’s
responsibilities include communicating the Governor’s policy agenda,
representing the Governor at events, local issues management,
and identifying qualified individuals as candidates for positions
within the Administration. Previously, she served as vice president
of public affairs for the Western Region of Health Net, Inc., one of
the nation’s largest health insurance companies. She also served as
deputy cabinet secretary and deputy press secretary in the office of
California Governor Pete Wilson, overseeing health and human services,
education, environment, immigration, and legal issues. Active in
community affairs, Kalustian serves on the boards of directors of the
Armenian Assembly of America and the Endowment Fund for the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church.

Additional speakers will discuss related topics, including Green
Building Design and Operation, Green Tax Incentives, and Job
Opportunities in the Green-Tech Sector.

The Armenian Professional Society is an independent, non-partisan
organization founded in 1958 to promote fellowship among Armenian
professionals and to encourage and foster higher education in young
Armenians. APS activities include annual grants and scholarships
to universities in Armenia, and to graduate students in the United
States; conducting regularly scheduled meetings that cover a range of
professional, cultural, and other topics of interest to its membership;
sponsoring social events; and holding an annual banquet to honor a
Professional of the Year who has provided outstanding service to the
Armenian community.

Admission to the event is $35 for APS members and $40 for non-members.

Additional information about The Armenian Professional Society and
upcoming events is available at (818) 685-9946, [email protected],
, or by writing to APS, P. O. Box 10306, Glendale,
CA 91209.

Caption for accompanying photo: Lisa Kalustian