Author: Chilingarian Babken

OSKANYAN WILL HELP THE NEXT PRESIDENT

Lragir.am
29-06-2007 16:27:54

The foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan told news reporters on
June 29 he is ready to help the next president of NKR to participate in
the negotiations on resettlement. `I am sure the next president of NKR
can get acquainted with the state of the talks and participate in the
discussions if necessity occurs,’ Vardan Oskanyan said.

With regard to the problem of Kosovo, the minister said Armenia does
not view it as a precedent for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. The minister said the developments regarding Kosovo cannot be
forecast. According to him, if Kosovo’s independence is recognized,
this precedent may be the last for the international community.
Afterwards, the international community may state it will disagree to
help the other sides of the issue of independence. If Kosovo’s
independence is not recognized, the international community may say it
did not make this move despite the wish of some countries, the minister
said. According to him, neither of the two is favorable for
Nagorno-Karabakh, which moves towards progress. Karabakh has de facto
independence, recognition remains, Oskanyan said.

RECTOR OF BAKU SLAVONIC UNIVERSITY CONSIDERS MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN INTELLIGENTSIA TO BE NEW FORMAT FOR NEGOTIATIONS

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
s2.pl?newsId=949183&lang=EN
June 29 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / A meeting and joint visit
of the representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian intelligentsia
was an attempt to establish peace and there is a hope that this
format will provide good results, the Rector of the Baku Slavonic
University, Professor Kamal Abdullah, said on 29 June. He was one of
the intellectuals who paid a visit to Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.

On 28 June, by the initiative of Azerbaijani and Armenian Ambassadors
in Russia, a group of intelligentsia from the two countries, with
the assistance of OSCE, visited the Khankandi and Shusha regions of
Nagorno-Karabakh, and afterwards visited Armenia where they met with
the Armenian President Robert Kocharian. Then in Baku, the delegation
was received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

According to Abdullah, there are coinciding viewpoints on several
issues between the Azerbaijani and Armenian intelligentsia, who
were communicating without mediators. The sides agreed upon the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. "They now already admit that
Azerbaijanis and Armenians must again live together. Now or in the
future they will face the necessity of restoring the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. But that requires political will on the
Armenian side. The Azerbaijani President noted during the meeting
with the delegation that Azerbaijanis could not give anything more
to Armenians. Armenia should vacate Azerbaijan’s seven regions that
are under senseless occupation," he added.

Abdullah said that the representatives of the Armenian delegation
were alarmed at the possibility of war in the case that a peaceful
settlement to the conflict is not achieved.

"Ours and their wish is to resolve the conflict in a peaceful way.

For this purpose we tried to make the format produce some results,
in case peaceful opportunities are exhausted. The opportunities of the
format, however, depend on the Armenian side," the professor summed up.

–Boundary_(ID_pLQNQM4giht12Z3CkltV7Q)–

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

ARCHBISHOP SEBOUH MEETS FORMER IRANIAN PRESIDENT KHATEMI
ON BEHALF OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

The Primate of the Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, met
the former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency
Mohammed Khatemi, on behalf of His Holiness Aram I. The Primate passed a
written message from the Armenian Catholicos to President Khatemi.

The Pontiff’s delegate informed the former president of his proposals
regarding inter-faith dialogue. The Archbishop consulted President Khatemi
on plans for a new inter-faith project.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT VOWS TO STRENGTHEN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Arminfo
26 Jun 07

Yerevan, 26 June: Overcoming corruption and shadow economy in Armenia
presumes also overcoming a psychological barrier, Armenian Prime
Minister Serzh Sargsyan thinks. He presented to Armenian MPs today
the government’s programme for the next five years.

Sargsyan said that avoiding to pay taxes and bribing will be
approached as a dishonourable occurrence condemned by society. "There
must not be all forgiving approaches within us, and we should begin
from ourselves. We should not take into account family or friendly
ties, we should not think co-partisans the people who avoid paying
taxes. We must understand that this is the most serious illness for
the government," Sargsyan stressed.

He added that the government will demand from law enforcement agencies
to activate the fight against corruption and make revealing of crime
worthy of being voiced. In this connection, the activities of the
Prosecutor’s Office, the Police, and tax and customs bodies should
become more transparent, Sargsyan said.

ARARATBANK AND IZMIRLYAN FOUNDATION SIGN $4 MILLION CONTRACT UNDER PROGRAMME OF BUSINESS CREDIT CO- FINANCING IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2007-06-26 16:25:00

Araratbank and Izmirlyan Foundation signed a $4 million contract
under the programme of business credits co-financing in Armenia,
Tuesday. Chairman of Araratbank Board Ashot Osipyan said at a press
conference that the signatories will give $2 million each under
the contract.

He said that a single customer credit limit is $250,000-1 million,
the repayment term being 5 years. The annual interest is 14% and
lower. Business credits will be issued in terms of Armenian dram and
US dollar. The programme is aimed at creating new jobs, which implies
crediting of the organisations and enterprises that are potential
future VAT payers, Osipyan said.

For his part, Jacques Sarkissian, Senior Vice President of Izmirlyan
Foundation said that despite the success of the programme with Black
Sea Development Bank, the Foundation adopted a decision to stop it as
the bank will issue larger infrastructure credits. In this connection,
the Foundation is searching for a financial partner to create new
jobs. The Foundation has singled out Araratbank as an active and
dynamically developing bank that has a great potential. He did not
rule out the possible continuation of the programme and increase in
the funding.

Araratbank is among top ten banks in Armenia by authorized capital
(3.440 bln AMD on April 30 2007). It is one of the 6 participants
in the programme of German KfW bank and effects transactions on cash
service of the Treasury of the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The
bank has launched activity in ensuring plastic card services. Since
June 18 2007, Araratbank is a government agent for state debt
management. On May 31 2007, the bank’s assets totaled 13.7 bln AMD,
liabilities – 9.5 bln AMD, total capital – 4.2 bln AMD. Among the
bank’s clients are 5,000 natural persons and 500 legal entities. It
has 4 affiliated banks.

Izmirlyan Foundation is an investment organisation founded in 1994. In
Armenia it contributed to implementing programmes in the spheres of
education and health. Since 1999, Izmirlyan Foundation implements a
programme of small and middle-size enterprise crediting. The experts
of the Foundation say that some 5,000 new jobs were created in the
country due to the programmes implemented by the Foundation.

PRIME MINISTER REVEALS SPIRITUAL BASIS OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

Lragir.am
26-06-2007 18:37:33

By overcoming the ideological controversies we start a new life. On
June 26 the Armenian prime minister Serge Sargsyan addressed the
meeting of the National Assembly with these words, who presented the
government program to the parliament. "Life is getting better. At
the same time, we understand that we have a long way to go to bring
into being our vision of future. A future with a safe, dignified
life and possibility for self-expression for every citizen. The main
precondition for the development of our country is the spiritual
integrity of our people, the establishment of mutual confidence,
cooperation and an atmosphere of confidence," Serge Sargsyan stated.

According to him, it is a highly important pre-condition for the
effectiveness of the government. "Nerses Shnorhali stated this approach
best: Integrity in the primary, freedom in the secondary and love in
everything. In fact, it is the spiritual basis underlying a democratic
and civil society," Serge Sargsyan says.

Proceeding from the philosophical part to the government program,
Serge Sargsyan stated that in making the government program they took
into consideration the challenges of the fast-changing world and
proposed solutions which include the world experience. Along with
the challenges the world that is changing dynamically opens up new
opportunities for Armenia, the prime minister of Armenia thinks. "Our
government must use these opportunities," Serge Sargsyan says.

According to him, for Armenia, there is no alternative to an open
economic system based on competition, and the economic, financial
and cultural cooperation of countries is based on universal and
internationally recognized rules. According to the prime minister,
the force that moves the society of the 21st century is the creative
individual. "It must be our advantage in competition." According to
him, modern technologies of information and communication enable the
Armenians worldwide to make joint efforts, which may multiply the
competitive advantages of Armenia.

"Our region is at the intersection of interests of different
geopolitical forces, and controversies are inevitable. The best
strategy of sustainable and secure development is to build a
democratic society under liberal principles and in accordance with
the international experience. The government sets an ambitious
goal – to get international recognition as a country providing
the best environment for business and investments in the regional
competition. This is the track for becoming a regional center," Serge
Sargsyan says. According to him, Armenia must become competitive in
mining, chemical industry, building industry, agriculture and science.

"Moreover, we need to create competitive advantages in such spheres
as education, health, IT, tourism, financial services. High level
services in these spheres must not only be available to the citizens
of Armenia but also be attractive by their competitive advantages
in the region. Why not, also across the world. In all the enumerated
spheres the major companies need to be reshaped into companies which
bear social responsibility," the prime minister says. According to him,
the government is ready to create favorable conditions to enable both
the Armenian citizens and foreign investors to participate in the
establishment and management of these enterprises. The government
thereby sets forward the necessity to establish and promote the
system of corporative management in Armenia. In the final part of
his speech the prime minister provided figures which are reflected in
the government program as objectives. "The Armenian government will
make efforts to provide an 8-10 percent annual growth of the GDP, an
annual 10 percent growth of investments. A growth of tax collection by
0.3-0.4 percent of the GDP, poverty reduction to 12 percent. An annual
rise in pensions, beginning with a 60 percent rise from January 1,
2008," the prime minister announced.

The government declared the priorities: national security, effective
governance, development of education and science, anti-corruption
efforts.

"We must be aware that it is a disease that causes the decay of the
state. We will demand a crackdown on corruption by the law enforcement
agencies, and revealed crimes will be offered for public debate. In
this sense, the activities of the police, the office of the prosecutor
general, the tax and customs agencies must be more transparent. Thanks
to transparency strictness will be more fair," Serge Sargsyan says.

The prime minister says the government has a renewed approach towards
the implementation of these programs, and every new project will
be discussed publicly and be based on government-private sector
cooperation. "In the end, I would like to add that analysts usually
use quantitative measurements for the activities of the government,
the growth of the GDP, the GDP per capita, the average salary, the
rise in pensions, tax collections, etc.

Certainly, these are important benchmarks. However, for me
another benchmark is important which is not liable to quantitative
measurement. It is the trust of people in tomorrow and the future of
our country. Our main purpose will be to unite our society with the
slogan For You, Armenia," stated Serge Sargsyan, certainly without
a pre-election pathos.

THERE ARE ALL OBJECTIVE PREREQUISITES FOR MAKING ARMENIA A REGIONAL FINANCIAL CENTER, PRIME MINISTER OF RA SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 25 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian banking system is rapidly
integrating into the global banking association and introducing the
best international banking standards, the Armenian prime minister
Serge Sargsian stated during the June 25 annual meeting of the Union
of Armenian Banks.

In his words, today the Armenian banking system is stable, with
confidence in it growing day by day. This is evident from the growth
of the banking system’s indices with respect to GDP as a result of
the introduction of corporate governance mechanisms and the creation
of the following infrastructuires and institutes strengthening
the reliability of banks: the Credit Bureau, the Deposit Return
Guaranteeing Fund and the united payment system.

According to Serge Sargsian, there is still much to be done in the
Armenian banking system in terms of increasing international mediation
indices, particularly, the current ratio of credits to GDP (10%).

The prime minister said that the new program of the government
envisages some programs to be implemented jointly with the Union of
Armenian Banks and the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA). In particular,
these programs aim to make educational and mortgage loans accessible
to young people.

The speaker noted that Armenia should become a regional financial
center, for which there are all objective prerequisites. In the words
of the prime minister, one evidence of it is the fact that foreign
banks are interested in operating in Armenia’s banking system.

S. Sargsian said that the Armenian banking system may participate
in the government-initiated program on the proportional territorial
development of the country. "I think that it is time for the Union
of Armenian Banks and the CBA to think about making one of Armenia’s
small or medium-size cities a financial center. I am sure that this
initiative shall come from the CBA," he noted, adding that Dilijan,
for example, may become such a city.

The prime minister expressed an opinion that there is also work to
be done in the Armenian banking system in terms of promoting the
real sector of the economy through securitization of assets, leasing
and other financial instruments, as well as introduction of modern
mechanisms of management.

Besides, banks should assume certain social responsibility and take
an active part in social programs.

LEADERS DISCUSS RELATIONS WITH EU, ENERGY AT BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION SUMMIT

AP Worldstream
Published: Jun 25, 2007

Leaders and officials from 12 Black Sea countries discussed closer
cooperation with the European Union and new energy routes through
their oil-rich region during a summit Monday in Istanbul.

The Black Sea Economic Cooperation organization, or BSEC, founded 15
years ago, is aiming to boost its energy sector, particularly as the
EU seeks to diversify its energy routes and supplies.

With combined oil and gas reserves second only to those of Persian
Gulf countries, BSEC members have launched several pipeline projects in
hopes of becoming an energy corridor for Caspian and Black sea energy
supplies to the West. The plans, however, face financial questions
and rivalry from Russia, which has assumed a central role in energy
supply to Europe.

"Securing energy resources is one of the main sources of development,"
said Russian President Vladimir Putin, who attended the summit. In
a closing statement, member countries said they would increase
coordination in the energy industry as well as cooperation with the
European Union.

This year’s summit was the first attended by a representative of
the European Union, in which three BSEC countries _ Greece, Romania
and Bulgaria _ are members. Others such as Turkey are negotiating
membership. Also attending were ministers and leaders from Turkey,
Greece, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Serbia, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria,
Georgia, Moldavia and Romania. The U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Ross
Wilson, came as an observer.

On Tuesday, BSEC energy ministers open a three-day energy conference.

"Common projects with the European Union and the reforms by the
organization are the two most significant successes of this summit,"
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said, without giving details
of the reforms.

The EU is encouraging the BSEC members’ pipeline projects, as well
as a plan to build a highway around the Black Sea to connect member
nations and boost regional trade.

The 2,000-kilometer-long (1,240-mile-long) ring road project was
launched at a BSEC summit in April, but funding was yet to be
determined. It also was unclear when construction might begin.

Turkey, a founding BSEC member, has initiated several pipeline
projects to supply energy-hungry Western markets. Last year an oil
pipeline opened from Baku, Azerbaijan, through Georgia to Ceyhan,
Turkey’s Mediterranean oil hub.

Construction of another, to carry Kazakh and Russian oil from the Black
Sea coast to Ceyhan, started in April. That pipeline was expected to
open in 2009.

However, Turkey faces tough competition from Russia, which has
launched rival projects or studies for linking energy sources from
the Black Sea and Caspian Sea to the EU through Bulgaria, Serbia,
Macedonia and Hungary.

The EU imports more than 40 percent of its natural gas, almost half of
which comes from Russia. Some central and eastern European countries
depend almost entirely on Russian gas.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that the
"dialogue with the European Union is encouraging." Erdogan’s comment,
made at a closed-door meeting, was provided to journalists by BSEC
officials.

The EU in April launched the "Black Sea Synergy" initiative to promote
peace, energy projects and transportation, saying that since Romania
and Bulgaria became EU members in January, it has a bigger stake in
the region’s stability and prosperity.

Several BSEC countries are still struggling to overcome
disputes. Armenia and Azerbaijan were embroiled in a six-year conflict
over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is inside Azerbaijan but
controlled by ethnic Armenian forces. Some 30,000 people were killed
before a 1994 cease-fire ended hostilities.

Turkey and Armenia also have no formal ties because of a dispute over
the World War I killings of ethnic Armenians in the last days of the
Ottoman Empire. Armenia calls the killings a genocide; Turkey says
they were a result of civil conflict.

UEFA CANCEL ARMENIA V AZERBAIJAN EURO QUALIFIERS

Radio New Zealand, New Zealand
June 24 2007

Two Euro 2008 Group A matches between Armenia and Azerbaijan have
been cancelled, with both countries losing the six qualifying points
available.

The neighbouring countries have been involved in a long-running
dispute over land.

Armenia wanted the games played on a normal home and away basis
but Azerbaijan refused to play host to the Armenians and proposed a
neutral ground for both encounters.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA said in a statement as no
suitable compromise could be found between the two associations it
was decided to cancel the two matches.

Azerbaijan are bottom of the group with five points from eight matches,
while Armenia have seven points from seven outings.

Poland lead the group with 19 points from nine games.

ARMENIA TO TURKEY OPEN OUR BORDER AND LET’S TALK

Reuters
Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
June 25 2007

ISTANBUL – Armenia appealed to Turkey on Monday to open their shared
border, saying this was the essential first step for making any
progress on historical disputes that divide the two countries.

Turkey closed the border in 1993 to protest against Armenia’s
occupation of territory inside Azerbaijan, Ankara’s close Turkic ally.

Ties between Ankara and Yerevan have also been strained by Armenia’s
claim — backed by many other countries — that its people suffered
a systematic genocide at Ottoman Turkish hands in 1915. Turkey denies
any genocide took place.

‘First and foremost, to address the problematic issues between us,
we need as a bare minimum an open border between our two countries,’
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told a news conference
in Istanbul.

‘This is how civilised countries operate … The only closed border
on the European continent today is that between Turkey and Armenia.’

But Oskanyan, in Istanbul for a meeting of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organisation (BSEC), said his talks with Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul on Monday gave little ground for hope.

‘There is no change in the Turkish position,’ he said, adding that
Armenia hoped that after July 22 elections in Turkey a new government
might be ready to review the border policy.

Ankara says Armenia must first reach a peace settlement with Azerbaijan
over the disputed province of Karabakh, an enclave populated by ethnic
Armenians inside Azeri territory.

On the genocide issue, Turkey has proposed forming a joint commission
of Turkish, Armenian and other historians to investigate the events
of 1915 and to determine whether they constituted genocide.

Ankara acknowledges that large numbers of Armenians living in
Turkey were killed or deported during that period, but not in
a systematic genocide. It says many Muslim Turks also perished in
fierce inter-ethnic conflict as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.

Oskanyan said Armenia would consider taking part in such a commission
if the border were opened and normal diplomatic ties established
between the two countries.

But he also criticised the Turkish commission proposal, saying it was
an attempt to discourage parliaments around the world from recognising
the Armenian massacres as genocide.

Turkey fears the US Congress may in the coming months approve a
resolution recognising the killings as genocide, following the lead
of the European Parliament and legislatures in France, Russia, Greece,
Canada and many other countries.

In Turkey, asserting that there was an Armenian genocide is a crime.