Author: Chmshkian Vicken

A1+

MARATHON GATHERED ABOUT 14 MILLION USD
[03:35 pm] 24 November, 2006

The annual TV marathon organized by Pan-Armenian fund
`Armenia’ titled `I Love Armenia’ and `I Love Artsakh’
which lasted 12 hours gathered 13.7 million USD. The
money will be used for the development of the NKR
Hadrout region. Over 12 thousand people reside in the
region.

By the way, the sum gathered this year is twice as
much as that of last year. The 7 million gathered last
year was allotted to NKR Martakert region.

EXPERT FLIES INTO A ROW OVER DEATHS
Michael Blackley

The Scotsman, UK
Nov 23 2006

A TURKISH professor has made a 3500-mile round-trip to Edinburgh
to criticise the city council for getting involved in a historical
argument concerning his home country.

Last year, the city council passed a motion regarding the deaths
of up to 1.5 million Armenians during the First World War that said
"it was indeed genocide".

But the topic has been the subject of international debate and the
Turkish prime minister recently called for an impartial inquiry into
the deaths.

Now Turkkaya Ataov, a professor of international relations at the
University of Ankara in Turkey, has travelled to Edinburgh for a
10-minute appearance at the City Chambers to tell councillors they
were wrong to pass the motion.

Professor Ataov, a recipient of the golden honorary medal from
Austria-based peace group the International Progress Organization last
year, said: "If a representative political body passes judgements on
the basis of one-sided and perpetrated Armenian arguments, not only is
such a pursuit beyond its expertise, but also such prejudiced arguments
may well be unsustainable in the light of objective scholarship.

"The only appropriate alternative is to leave the matter to the free
discussion of academics, who possess adequate expertise in related
disciplines."

Last August, the council passed a motion put forward by then city
leader Donald Anderson recognising that the Turkish campaign against
the Armenians in 1915 "was indeed genocide".

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA TO RUSSIAN FEDERATION

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Nov 23 2006

At the invitation of the President of the Council of Federation of
the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Mr. Sergey Mironov on
November 23-24 a delegation headed by the President of the National
Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan will leave for Moscow with an official
visit. Chairwoman of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education,
Culture and Youth Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan, member of the same Committee
Mr. Ararat Malkhasyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on
Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment, Mr. Mnatsakan Petrosyan,
member of the same Committee Mr. Gagik Mkheyan, members of the NA
Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs
Mr. Spartak Seyranyan, and Mr. Grigory Margaryan, member of the NA
Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Mr. Vardan Lazarian
are in the delegation.

During the visit it is envisaged to have meetings with the Chairman of
Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Mr. Sergey Mironov, with the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian
Federation Mr. Boris Grizlov. There will be meetings also in the
Standing Committees of State Duma.

Within the framework of the visit Days of Armenian Parliament will
be held in the Council of Federation.

RA PRESIDENT TO BE ON STATE VISIT TO CYPRUS ON NOVEMBER 22-25 ATTENTION, MATERIAL ADDED

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian will
be on a state visit in Cyprus on November 22-25 by the invitation of
Tassos Papadopoulos, the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

The main goal of the visit is to strengthen the interstate ties,
plan primary tasks and directions of the Armenian-Cypriot economic
cooperation, exchange opinions concerning political problems
interesting for one another as well as to give new quality and content
to the two peoples’ traditional friendship through stimulating mutual
cooperation.

A private conversation of the Presidents of Armenia and Cyprus will
take place within the framework of the state visit. The two countries’
heads will participate in the Armenian-Cypriot negotiations in
enlarged staff.

According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA
President’s Press Office, R.Kocharian will have meetings in Cyprus
with Demetris Christofias, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
All Cyprus Archbishop Chrisostomos II and Nicosia Mayor.

The RA President will visit the Nicosia Saint Virgin church,
will lay flowers to the monument to Armenian Genocide victims,
will have a meeting with members of the diocesan and administrative
council of the Armenian community of Cyprus. At the "Narek" Armenian
Academy R.Kocharian will be present at a short ceremony with pupils’
participation.

The delegation headed by the RA President will visit Larnaca as well
where it will take part in the ceremony of putting the foundation stone
of the monument dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims’ memory.

REFERENCE: Cyprus recognized Armenia’s independence in December 1991.

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established
in March 1992.

Armenia appreciates the current level of the Armenian-Cyprian relations
and intends to deepen the bilateral cooperation.

>>From the viewpoint of ensuring the continuity of the political dialog
between the two countries and encouraging the economic relations,
the current state visit of President Robert Kocharian is of special
significance, as this is the first presidential visit in the mutial
relations of Armenia and Cyprus.

Armenia and Cyprus have not only historical similiarities connected
with the past, but also a similar vision of the future – to integrate
fully into the European family. In this respect the European
Neighborhood Policy opens new prospects of cooperation, and Armenia
expects Cyprus to provide effective assistance during the cooperation
under this program.

Our country is also interested in developing the trade and economic
relations with Cyprus. Cyprus is an international banking and business
center. 30 foreign banks and more than a thousand foreign companies
operate in this country. It has also become an importance center of
navigation and its navy currently ranks sixth in the world.

Over 30 thousand offshore companies operate in Cyprus. The country’s
tourism is developing rapidly, becoming the main source of foreign
currency inflow. Today tourism provides about 76.2% of the country’s
GDP, employing about 69% of the working population of Cyprus. About
2.5 million tourists visit Cyprus every year.

The Cyprian government encourages the creation of the high technologies
industry by establishing research and technological development
centers in the country.

There is favorable legal field for developing the economic cooperation
between Armenia and Cyprus. Given the large experience of Cyprian
companies in tourism and services, as well as the investment
opportunities of the Cyprian side, the Armenian side attaches
importance to development of the cooperation with Cyprus in torism,
services, and the banking sector.

Holding business forums and establishing a mutuallly beneficial
cooperation among chambers of commerce and industry and development
agencies may become an important component in developing the trade
and economic relations and increasing the trade turnover.

Armenia also attaches special importance to the development of
interparliamentary links, which will be of great use for further
strengthening of the relations between the two countries.

As a result of the parliamentary elections in Cyprus on May 21,
2006, two Armenians were elected, one of them – as a full member,
another as representative of the Armenian community. Mario Karoyan
was elected from the Democratic Party: it was for the first time that
an Armenian was elected a full member of the Cyprian parliament.

During a regular congress of Cyprus’ ruling party Diko (Democratic
Party) in October 2006, Mario Karoyan was elected as the new Chairman
of the Diko Party.

Vardges Mahtesian represents the Cyprian Armenian community in the
parliament. He was elected in the community elections.

In 1982 the Cyprian parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Thanks to the mediation of the Cyprus-Armenia Friendship Group, the
Cyprian government made a decision to build a monument to Armenian
emigrants in Larnaca – in the city’s part near the sea where some
Armenian emigrants first appeared in 1915.

POLITICIAN ANGRY AT THE VISIT OF RUSSIAN TATU

Panorama.am
16:00 21/11/06

Hmaiak Hovhanisyan, independent deputy of parliament, told a press
conference today that an anti-political situation is created in
the country saying parties are busy with benevolence or take up
the functions of social ministry, ministry of agriculture or water
services. He even said some parties act as producers for bands.

The deputy was also angry that Russian famous "Tatu" is invited to
sports complex hall to stage a concert.

Famous for their lesbian motives, "Tatu" has raised the discontent
of the politician. Hovhanisyan also said when they asked an Armenian
Republican Party (HHK) member why they invited the lesbians to Yerevan,
he answered, "We invited to show our people what they should not be
like." Hovhanisyan said that "Tatu" was invited to university just
like Vladimir Putin but the group refused to go because of tough
schedule. "Should we laugh or cry?" the politician asks. "Most
probably, cry," he says.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN WAS ONCE AN OPPOSITION REPRESENTATIVE

A1+
[04:46 pm] 21 November, 2006

Today Tigran Sargsyan, head of the Central Bank, recalled a few
episodes from 1993 when the Armenian currency-the dram, was introduced.

"At that time I was an Opposition representative and was the head
of Financial-Budgeting Committee of the Supreme Council. It was the
coldest and the hardest year in the history of Armenia. The authorities
gave us the Reception hall of the RA Government but there was no light.

We turned to Levon Ter-Petrosyan and soon were moved to the president’s
residence. Both Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Interior Minister Vano
Siradeghyan rendered us great assistance", remembers Mr. Sargsyan.

Today Tigran Sargsyan was among the guests of "Urbat" club who were
to comment on the thirteen years of the dram introduction.

Isahak Isahakyan, former director of CB and Levon Barkhudaryan,
ex minister of Finance were also invited to the club.

The inflation obvious in the first stage of the dram introduction was
determined by a number of objective reasons in the guests’ words. "The
external reserves of the country were vacant. The Government had
700 thousand USD 500 thousand of which they gave to us", recalls
Mr. Sargsyan.

Isahak Isahakyan underlined the fact that "Russia lulled Armenia by
saying that we should soon enter the ruble zone. But soon Armenia
realised that there was no point in trusting Russia".

At the end of the discussion the guests recalled the time when Armenia
became independent and the first struggle for freedom.

NATO DEFENSE AND SECURITY COMMITTEE CONFIRMS FACT OF OCCUPATION BY ARMENIA OF AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIES

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 16 2006

As reported, since November 11, the first vice-speaker of Milli Majlis,
the head of delegation of Azerbaijan in NATO Parliamentary Assembly
(NATO PA) Ziyafet Askarov and a member of the safety and defense
standing committee of the Parliament, Siyavush Novruzov have been
on a visit in the Canadian city of Quebec for participation in 52nd
annual session NATO PA.

One of the major questions of the agenda of session was the
prepared report on the countries of Southern Caucasus, and the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This question has been
discussed at the session of Defense and Safety Committee of NATO PA
taken place on November 14 and corresponding decision was accepted.

As stated by Mr. Suyavush Novruzov, the session considered the
question of integration of the countries of Southern Caucasus in
the Euro-Atlantic space, including reports on Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia.

Prepared earlier in subcommittee of NATO PA, the report on Azerbaijan
did not satisfy us, he said. "We repeatedly expressed our opinion on
the documents. After the meetings, held during stay of representatives
of Committee in Baku, the report was radically changed. I shall note,
that the document in this time reflected the fact of occupation
of 20 percent of the Azerbaijan territories, heavy life of more
than 1 million refugees and IDPs, and also driving of 200 thousand
Azerbaijanis from their native lands in the territory of Armenia, 4
Resolutions of UN Security Council on aggression of Armenia against
Azerbaijan. Along with that, the document also specifies the arsons
committed by Armenians in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. This
is an only document where the concrete figures contain all the moments
connected to the conflict.

>From 26 states-participants possessing the vote, 25 have voted at
session for acceptance of the given document".

The document especially notes the role of Azerbaijan in energy
safety of Europe. Though the Armenian party lifted the far-fetched
"genocide" question again, it has been completely excluded from the
text of the document.

ARMENIAN PEOPLE’S PARTY INTENDS TO WIN THE ELECTIONS

Panorama.am
15:22 13/11/06

Stepan Demirchyan, chairman of Armenian People’s party (APP) and leader
of Justice Block, is sure that APP is ready and can participate in
upcoming elections alone.

However, the party has not clarified its strategy yet because
it has postponed its general assembly slated for November. Most
probably, the assembly will be held in January-February. Demirchyan
underscored the parliamentary elections in a newly opened Friday Club
today. He does not share the optimism of authorities in power that
the elections will comply with democratic norms. "People themselves do
not believe that the elections may be free and fair in our country,"
he said.

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV OF AZERBAIJAN VISITS MOSCOW

Source: RBC Daily, November 9, 2006
Agency WPS
The Russian Business Monitor (Russia)
November 13, 2006 Monday

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan started a working visit to Moscow
on Noember 8, arriving there from Brussels.

In contrast to Aliyev’s Brussels visit, his Moscow visit has been
downplayed in Azerbaijan – to avoid stirring up the pro-Western
opposition. Announcements in Russia have also been very brief. But
everyone knows the issues of concern to both sides: Baku is trying
to win Moscow’s support on Nagorno-Karabakh, while Moscow is trying
to prevent Azerbaijan from joining NATO.

Moscow does not have much economic leverage with Azerbaijan. All
Azeri oil is exported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline,
bypassing Russia; gas deliveries account for the lion’s share
of trade turnover, but even this source of dependence will be
eliminated once the Shah-Deniz field starts production. However,
given its influence on Armenia, Russia is still an important mediator
in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This mediation is also vital for
Azerbaijan’s biggest investor – the United States. Shareholders in
the BTC pipeline and the new Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline require
transit security. Moscow cannot side with Azerbaijan, at the risk
of losing Armenia – a member of the CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization and Russia’s sole ally in the Trans-Caucasus.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said on November 7 that
Russia is prepared to act as a conflict regulation guarantor if Baku
and Yerevan can reach a compromise themselves. But this is unlikely:
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian has already made it clear
that his meeting with his Azeri counterpart on November 14 in Brussels
will not be successful. Oskanian also said recently that if "Russia
recognizes one or more of the unrecognized republics, the Armenian
Foreign Ministry will make an appropriate statement." It is a sticky
situation.

In the meantime, Western countries are trying to draw Azerbaijan
further into their orbit. Citing diplomatic sources, the "Zerkalo"
newspaper (Baku) reports that "Azerbaijan is expected to make an
official application for NATO membership within days." However,
judging by Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamediarov’s statement about
Russia’s "important role" in the region, Baku is not prepared to take
that step as yet. Sergei Markedonov from the Political and Military
Analysis Institute says: "Azerbaijan understands that joining NATO
would exacerbate tension in relations with Russia, and draw Azerbaijan
into the Iran campaign. So Aliyev has to keep maneuvering."

All the same, according to Azeri political analyst Zafar Guliyev,
Baku’s policies could tilt towards the West in the near future. And the
invitation for Aliyev to visit Moscow after Brussels may be regarded
as the Kremlin’s attempt to prevent such developments.

The Moscow Times
Monday, November 13, 2006
Melikyan Vows to Close Banks
By Gleb Bryanski
Reuters

The Central Bank will press on with its cleanup of the banking system
despite the murder of reformist banking supervisor Andrei Kozlov, the man
who took over his role said in an interview Friday.
"We will withdraw licenses from any banks that don’t have a real banking
business and only deal in dirty money – and we will do it without mercy,"
Central Bank Deputy Chairman Gennady Melikyan said.
Melikyan said, however, that the regulator did not aim to destroy as many
banks as possible and did not set any targets. He said the Central Bank was
prepared to help solid banks fix breaches.
"If a bank has a real business, we would try to mend its ways," Melikyan
said. "We would give them a couple of months to sort things out and report.
If that does not happen, we will take tougher action. I have to say, many
understand and accept our policy."
Melikyan also said the country’s banking system must grow as quickly as
sound risk management will allow to fund investment and economic
development.
Melikyan, 58, was appointed head of the Central Bank’s banking supervision
committee one week after Kozlov was gunned down in September.
Melikyan has yet to become the bank’s first deputy chairman, a promotion
needed to assume all Kozlov’s powers.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the murder, which
investigators and politicians believe was a contract killing related to his
work.
A former labor minister in the early post-Soviet years, Melikyan joined the
Central Bank in 2003 from state-owned Sberbank, where he was deputy
chairman.
Melikyan has kept a low public profile and his bureaucratic background
dating back to the Soviet era has led some to question whether he would
press ahead with Kozlov’s policy of weeding out suspicious banks.
The Central Bank has stripped nearly 90 of the country’s 1,200 banks of
their licenses in the last two years. Nine licenses have been withdrawn
since Kozlov’s murder.
"Have a look at the organizations we take away licenses from. Can you regard
these organizations as banks? I can say – only with great reservations,"
Melikyan said.
He said one of the banks that had recently lost its license was housed in a
basement where one person performed illegal money transfers on a single
computer connected to the Internet.
"There is a number of marginal banks which do not do real banking, they are
all involved in money laundering and conversion of large sums of money into
cash," he said.
Melikyan said that although cash issuance was not an illegal operation in
itself, the volume of it was often a signal that a bank was involved in
illegal operations.
"When there is a little bank with five employees that issues 15 billion
rubles [$560 million] in cash, I smell a rat right away," said Melikyan, who
also heads the Central Bank’s unit running field checks on banks.
Melikyan said suspect banks run complex schemes involving chains of shell
firms and purchases of fictitious shares or goods. He said the main purpose
of the schemes was tax evasion.
Melikyan said the deposit insurance system created after a 2004 mini-banking
crisis raised banks’ transparency and improved internal control and risk
management. About 950 banks have so far been accepted into the scheme.
"I think the number of banks in Russia would shrink further but I cannot say
how many banks there should be," he said, pointing out that, of Russia’s
1,200 banks, the top 20 controlled 90 percent of the banking system’s
assets.
Melikyan said he was worried about a growing share of bad loans in the
banking sector but dismissed analysts’ fears that a liquidity crunch caused
by a fall in oil prices would deliver a blow to the banking sector.
"When the effective rate on a loan is 40 percent, even if some loans turn
bad, the bank is still living in clover," Melikyan said, referring to steep
interest rates some banks charge for consumer credit.
Melikyan said many banks were cheating their customers and charging them
hidden fees that raise the effective interest rate. "In many cases people
don’t pay because they think they are being ripped off," he said.
Melikyan also said he was concerned about many banks financing their retail
growth through foreign borrowing but said there was no question about
imposing restrictions.
"I am seriously worried about external borrowing, especially by state-owned
firms. But to ban borrowing without offering an alternative is not
suitable," he said.