Author: Chilingarian Babken

AZERBAIJAN FOR RF CONTINUE ITS ROLE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

ITAR-TASS
Sept 16 2008
Russia

MAIENDORF CASTLE, Moscow region, September 16 (Itar-Tass) —
Azerbaijan counts on Russia continuing its role in the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement.

"We count on Russia’s continuing its active role in the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev
said on Tuesday after the talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

"Despite all difficulties we believe there exist now preconditions
for settlement that would meet the interests of alt the countries
and would be based on norms of international law," he said.

"It is necessary to look for and find mechanisms of effective
cooperation," Aliyev is convinced. He said, if solutions are found
in near future, this will open broad opportunities for cooperation.

As an example of optimum neighbour relations, Aliyev pointed to ties
with Russia, describing them as "exemplary." "We highly appreciate
the level of relations with Russia and are striving to increase them
and, on our part, will be doing the utmost to achieve this aim,"
the Azerbaijani president said.

At the press conference following the meeting, Medvedev remarked that
Russia "supports continuation of direct talks between the presidents
of Azerbaijan and Armenia." "Russia’s stand remains the same: we
will continue in future to give the maximum of assistance to the
quest of mutually acceptable solution of this complicated question,"
the Russian president stressed. "We will continue contacts on this
matter in the near future," Medvedev said.

KARABAKH PROBLEM SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY AND RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.09.2008 16:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The fate of a Caucasus alliance is in the hands of
leading regional powers – Russia and Turkey, a Russian expert said.

"All understand that conflicts damage not only political but also
economic relations. Armenia is surrounded by Turkey and Azerbaijan,
what hampers it economic development," said Alexander Sotnichenko,
senior lecturer at St. Petersburg State University.

At the same time he remarked that routing its oil via
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Baku suffers huge losses. "The pipe
goes around Armenia, thus becoming one of the most expensive and
unprofitable," he said.

"The problems should be resolved consistently, without interference of
countries which don’t know anything about the situation in Caucasus,"
the expert emphasized.

As to absence of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh in
the Stability and Cooperation Platform, Sotnichenko said, it’s
not an obstacle for economic and political ties. "Russia and Japan
hasn’t signed a peaceful agreement yet, but it doesn’t hamper normal
relations. Turkey has the problem of Cyprus. The EU views Turkey as
occupant but enjoys good relations with it. So, such problems are
solvable," he said.

Touching on the Karabakh problem, the expert said, "If we recognize
Karabakh, we will damage relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The
problem should be resolved through talks, with participation of
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia," Nakanune.ru reports.

ARMENIA COMMEMORATES VICTIMS OF SOUTH OSSETIAN TRAGEDY

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.09.2008 12:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Russian Embassy in Armenia organized a number
of events to mark 40 days of the South Ossetian tragedy.

A service for the dead was held in St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of
God) Church. The Russian Ambassador to Armenia, Nikolay Pavlov and
the Embassy staff will light candles to commemorate the victims,
the Embassy’s press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Commemoration events will be held throughout Russia today.

WHAT TURKEY SHOULD BE DOING

Panorama.am
15:56 16/09/2008

After the visit of the President of Turkey Abdullah Gul to Armenia
the leader of Armenian Cause Office of ARF Kiro Manoyan expressed
his attitude that the policy of Turkey towards Armenia will be changed.

"The reality is that their policy adopted before the President’s
visit is being continued," announced Kiro Manoyan. According to him,
Armenia side urges the negotiations to be continued in the frames of
Minsk Group, whereas the Turkish side states that the mission of the
current group is not effective. "What Turkey should do is to urge
Azerbaijan not to delay the negotiations. Current issue should be
solved out through peaceful negotiations," says Mr. Minoyan.

AZG Armenian Daily #167, 13/09/2008

Armenia-Russia

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION IN THE SPHERE OF ELECTRONIC INDUSTRY

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian received "Rostechnology" state
corporation General Director Sergey Chemezov and the Chairman of the
Union of Armenians in Russia Ara Abrahamian, RA governmental press
service reported.

During the meeting Sergey Chemezov mentioned that they are interested
in making investments in the sphere of electronic industry. According
to him, the analyses of the Armenian enterprises may find out other
spheres of mutually beneficial cooperation as well.

According to the Prime Minister, the cooperation will be long-range in
the sphere of electronic industry.

It was decided to include the issue in the agenda of the coming
session of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission.

Translated by L.H.

VivaCell keeps on implementing social projects

2008-09-13 12:04:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS extended hands to the border village of Khachik
and allocated AMD 44.5 million to support the village with construction
of 1,400 meters long drinking water pipeline and its 2,500 meters long
internal water network.

Moreover, the Company told ArmInfo, another AMD 12 million was provided
for building 4 houses with Fuller Center for Housing/Habitat Armenia.
VivaCell-MTS aims as always at supporting vital projects and resolving
pending issues and building infrastructure in border villages. Khachik
is one of Vayots Dzor villages sharing 27 km of common frontier with
Azerbaijan.

In addition to building a 1,400 meters long drinking water pipeline and
its 2,400 meters long internal distribution network with respective 28
distribution centers, the village was provided with an off-highway
ambulance to serve the rural ambulatory/health center. Along with the
above – mentioned, the leading mobile operator of Armenia made a nice
present for the village children – provided funds for building a
playing ground and a swimming pool with an area of 1,000 squre meters.

VivaCell-MTS the Armenian corporate citizen that is committed to its
corporate social responsibility made sure that less peopel are homeless
thus contributed to the building of 4 houses in Khatchik village with
Fuller Center for Housing/Habitat Armenia. On September 12, the General
Manager of VivaCell-MTS Ralph Yirikian and marzpet of Vayots Dzor marz
Vardges Matevosyan visited the village of Khachik to observe the
activities accomplished.

"We are more than service providers, we are Armenian citizen committed
to supporting Armenian border’s all vital veins and border villages are
of utmost importance to our nation because besides serving as the
fundament of the nation as any other village, border village acts as
the guard of the nations protecting its living space’, said
VivaCell-MTS General Manager. "We help the village to improve its
infrastructure to help it keep its inhabitants in the village. As the
sons and daughters of Armenia, our Company gives back a part of its
revenues to those people who are living here and ensure our frontiers
are strong and well-protected", he added.

VivaCell – MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is the leading Armenian mobile
operator, providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its
launch on 1st July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell – MTS has
managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base.
VivaCell – MTS drives the development and offering of innovative mobile
communications products, services and features in the Armenian mobile
communications market.

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator in
Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company
services over 91 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well as
Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in which MTS
and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed.

Armenia’s Minister of Health to Visit Tbilisi September 15-18

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Health Harutyun Kushkyan
will be on a visit to Tbilisi, on September 15-18, to take part in the
58th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee
for Europe.

The delegates will discuss the proposed program budget 2010`2011
stewardship/governance of health systems in the European Region;
behavioural change strategies and health: the role of health systems.

The participants in the session will also discuss maternal and child
health care, prevention of non-infectious diseases’0–

US co-chairman of OSCE Minsk Group admits `a deal’ between parties to
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

2008-09-13 12:39:00

ArmInfo. US Co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza paid a
visit to Stepanakert, Karabakh, on September 12. After a meeting with
Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan, Bryza gave a press-conference
for local and accredited journalists.

When asked how the current process of recognition of the newly-formed
states may reflect on the Karabakh peace process, Bryza replied that
the principle of territorial integrity really exists, but if a deal
between the parties to the conflict is held, everybody should accept
such a deal including other principles of international law and
diplomacy as well. The deal should be admissible for all the parties.

He said that the US Secretary of State considers such a deal to be
possible and asked him to visit Karabakh. As regards South Ossetia and
Abkhazia, their independence has only been recognized by Russia and
Nicaragua, and what is going on is illegal in respect of the
international law, he noted. Moscow is mistaken to think that the
conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are settled, he added. As for
Kosovo, the US diplomat pointed out that the UN took a decision that
the situation in Kosovo differs from all the other situations in the
world.

At the same time, Bryza is confident that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
has no military solution. He expressed hope that all conflicts will be
settled by means of diplomacy.

NUMBER OF TOURISTS TO ARMENIA GROWS YEAR BY YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Se p 12, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. 207,489 tourists visited Armenia
in the first half of 2008, which was by 13.3% more than in the
same period of 2007, the head of the Tourism Department of the RA
Ministry of Economy Mekhak Apresian said at the September 11 press
conference. The number of domestic tourists and those who travelled
abroad also grew by 13% and 12.8% respectively.

According to M. Apresian, this growth is conditioned by the state
policy in the sector. He pointed out that but for the March 1 events,
the number of tourists to Armenia would have been greater this year.

The chairman of the Association of Armenian Tour Operators Robert
Minasian described 2008 as a year of survival: a lot of tourists
declined to come to Armenia because of the March 1 events and
the war in Georgia. "They take a look at a map, see that Armenia
is situated next to Georgia and think that it is not safe here,"
he explained. Besides, in his words, the respective departments of
some countries, including Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, do not
guarantee security of their citizens who intend to visit Armenia.

M. Apresian said that the majority of tourists to Armenia are from
Russia, Georgia, EU countries, Iran and the U.S. This year tourists
from Thailand and Costa Rica have visited our country for the first
time.

It was mentioned that a tourist spends 700-800 USD during a visit
to Armenia. In the first six months of 2008, 160-165 million USD was
spent by tourists in Armenia, which exceeds by about 20 million USD
the index of the same period of last year.

‘IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL IN GEORGIA’
By Shakir Husain

Gulf News
Sept 12 2008
United Arab Emirates

Dubai: Venkatesh Govinda is chief executive officer (CEO) of the Saqr
Port Authority (SPA) that manages Ras Al Khaimah’s 30-year-old Saqr
Port, a leading bulk cargo handling facility in the region. He also
advises Ras Al Khaimah on the logistics and maritime businesses.

In April this year, SPA acquired the majority stake in the Georgian
port of Poti. Despite Russian military activities in Georgia, the
agency has no plan to abandon its business there. Govinda, who also
serves as director of the port, said "it is business as usual" in Poti.

Govinda was born in 1956 in the southern Indian city of Chennai. He
is married, and has two children. He holds a bachelor’s degree in
science and a master’s degree in English literature. He has been in
the maritime business since 1982. In the UAE, he is also chairman and
chief executive of Global Cargo System and Direct Shipping Services
Group. He also heads RAK Global logistics group, a joint venture
between RAK Ceramics PJSC and Global Cargo System.

Saqr Port is looking at its second phase of expansion to build 13 new
deep water berths to receive new generation large vessels. Other than
operational and financial oversight, Govinda’s responsibilities at
the port authority also include exploring new business opportunities
overseas by bidding for management concessions.

In an exclusive interview, Govinda also shares with Gulf News details
of the port’s expansion plans and how Ras Al Khaimah wants to benefit
from its location in attracting more maritime business.

Gulf News: What investments is Ras Al Khaimah making in expanding
infrastructure at Saqr Port?

Venkatesh Govinda: Saqr Port will break all records and will handle 30
million tonnes of bulk and assorted cargo during 2008. Our volume was
22 million tonnes in 2007. We have purchased three new mobile harbour
cranes and two new shiploaders, bringing the total to 15 loading and
unloading equipment.

To meet the growing demand, Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown
Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, has issued directives
to construct the second phase of Saqr Port with an investment of
$900 million.

The second phase will have a total of 13 berths with a water depth of
15.5 to 18 metres. At present we are doing geo-technical works. The
expansion project will be completed in 2011.

Apart from that, the construction of Hulaylah Industrial Park is
under way near Saqr Port.

The project cost is Dh400 million and it will be ready in 2010. It
will offer quay walls to logistics companies. It suits companies that
do activities like oil blending. It is a dead-end channel and will
provide 2.5 to four kilometers of quay walls. Investment in basic
infrastructure is $100 million.

The concept is new and shall be made public next year. RAK shipping
line is a JV company with a vision to hold on to niche markets. It will

How do you aim to position Saqr Port in relation to other major hub
ports such as Jebel Ali and Khor Fakkan in the UAE?

Saqr Port is naturally the biggest bulk and general cargo port in
the Middle East. Its location is strategic because of its proximity
with quarries and cement factories in Ras Al Khaimah. Experienced
professionals and advanced loading unloading equipment will always
keep Saqr Port ahead.

The second phase expansion will add substantial value to oil, bulk
and container terminals. The port will be linked to a railway line to
two major locations and free zones, substantially reducing the road
congestion and transport cost. It is an excellent transshipment hub
for neighbouring countries.

What kind of growth have you witnessed in the logistics sector in
Ras Al Khaimah in the last few years and what are your projections?

Ras Al Khaimah is going through an industrial boom, which automatically
generates additional logistics infrastructure. The yearly growth
henceforth shall be tremendous. All the current warehouses in the
emirate are full. During the next two years we will see an additional
1.5 million square metres of warehousing space. We are developing a
land area of 200,000 square metres ourselves. It will provide 100,000
square metres of warehousing space.

With huge growth in imports and exports, UAE ports are facing berthing
shortages. Is Saqr port in a position to attract new business?

The Saqr Port expansion plan is based on local demand. The
government is also planning for the future. It will attract new
business. Currently we have 12 berths and a water draft of 12
metres. Of the 13 berths in the new phase, two will have a draft
between 18 metres and 20 metres.

United Arab Shipping Company has started calling at the container
terminal, which is managed by Kuwaiti company KGL Ports. They have
three container berths. We are getting three to four container vessels
per week.

Ras Al Khaimah has in the past vied for foreign ports, including the
Georgian port of Poti. Are you still interested in having a presence
in Georgia considering that the current political situation is not
seen conducive for foreign investment?

The Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority’s decision to take over 51
per cent of the Poti seaport along with management rights and the
free industrial zone is based on our long-term business plan. The
volumes have increased since we took over in April.

It is business as usual as far as cargo operations at the port are
concerned. We expect volumes to increase because of Western aid
coming into Georgia. Poti is the only major port in that region
and serves countries like Kazakhstan and Armenia. Poti seaport
and industrial zone’s policies are driven by business formulas not
political situations.

Are there any other foreign port assets that you are bidding for?

We are looking at three ports. These are major ports used mostly for
bulk and multi-purpose cargo. I cannot give details at this stage.

How do you wish to compete with other established players in the port
operation business?

We specialise in bulk and multipurpose port projects so our focus
is different. We are not competing with big players specialising in
container handling and we are not interested in managing container
ports.