Author: Eduard Nalbandian

TONINO GUERRA: "ARMENIA AND ITALY ARE RICH IN CULTURAL HERITAGE"

Noyan Tapan
Oct 17 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Tonino Guerra together with his
wife Lora Guerra, who is a translator, has arrived in Armenia on the
occasion of holding cultural days in Yerevan titled "Tonino Guerra
and his friends". The world-known scenario writer, writer and painter
was received by Serge Sargsian, the Prime Minister of the Republic of
Armenia. Welcoming the world-known artist, he thanked Tonino Guerra
for his attitude towards Armenia, the Armenian people and culture.

According to Tonino Guerra, Armenia and Italy have much in common
as they are poor in natural resources, however, rich in their past
and cultural heritage. The artist stressed that it is necessary to
introduce all this to the world in a decent way. Touching upon the
"Golden Apricot" film festival, he attached importance to the role
of such international events in making their own country and people
more known in the world.

Lora Guerra, the Head of the "Tonino Guerra" cultural fund, metioned
that it is already two years since the Armenian office of that
institution has been operating in Yerevan, the main goal of which
is to strengthen spiritual-cultural and public relations between the
two countries and peoples, as well as to create an Armenian-Italian
cultural center through joint programs. He introduced some of the
programs including the holding of cultural events, the building of a
fountain in Yerevan according to the design of Tonino Guerra, which,
in the words of the great artist, should bear the symbolic name
"A way to history and culture".

The RA Prime Minister promised to support the implementation of that
program, which, according to him, can serve a good present to the
2790th anniversary of Yerevan to be celebrated next year.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Information
and Public Relations Department of the RA Government, Hasmik Poghosian,
the RA Minister of Culture, Yervand Zakharian, the Mayor of Yerevan,
Rustam Khandamov, a film producer, scenario writer and painter,
and Armen Mazmanian, the Head of the program of the cultural days,
also took part in the meeting.

VLADIMIR KARAPETYAN’S REACTION TO E. MAMEDYAROV’S ANNOUNCEMENT

Panorama.am
20:09 14/09/2007

"The announcement made by E. Mamedyarov really amazes us, as Azerbaijan
has started to step back from agreements already made concerning the
Karabakh conflict. These agreements are documents presented by the
Minsk group presidents and are still on the table," Karapetyan said to
"Arminfo" in response to the announcement made by Azerbaijani foreign
minister E. Mamedyarov.

We remind that, according to Azerbaijani news sources, E. Mamedyarov
announced in Baku that Armenia’s agreement to documents on the table
could create a serious split in the progress of the talks.

"If Azerbaijani new sources are correct in their reporting about
the statement of their foreign minister, we welcome that approach,"
Karapetyan said.

Azerbaijani political expert considers ‘great war’ within the next

arminfo
2007-08-11 11:43:00

Until Russia does not complete withdrawal of its bases from Georgia, it
should not initiate large-scale military actions, a political expert
Rasim Musabekov told the Day.az. As for possibility of beginning of the
military actions by Armenia, this version also seems unlikely to the
political expert. Thus, he considers the `great war’ within the next
1-2 years improbable. Commenting on the statement of Daniel Fried on
inadmissibility of resumption of the military actions, the political
expert said: `Misters Bryza and Fried are big officials of the State
Department and one should not neglect their assessments and warnings.
Azerbaijan more and more arouses the growing interest of the financial
and political circles of America which set tasks to the State
Department’. As for the formulation of USA representative, saying that
Azerbaijan will face a `cloudy future’ in case of beginning of the
military actions, Musabekov said that the military actions are always
connected with great charges and
risks.

ARMENIAN NGOS WARN AGAINST "UNACCEPTABLE" PROPOSALS OVER KARABAKH

Arminfo
7 Jun 07

Yerevan, 7 June: A number of Armenian non-governmental organizations
that initiated a protest against the Minsk Group today have appealed
to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Bernard Fassier, Yuriy Merzlyakov
and Matthew Bryza.

They demand that [the co-chairs] officially reveal the contents of
the issues that have already been agreed upon during the talks but
are still disputable, as well as stop forcing the Armenian people to
make unacceptable concessions.

"The statements you have made ahead of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents’ meeting in St. Petersburg give grounds for serious
considerations. Your statements make us come to the final conclusion
that for years, the talks have been conducted in the wrong way. The
Armenian people cannot accept your proposal that Nagornyy Karabakh
be linked with Armenia through a narrow corridor. If the prepared
package includes unacceptable concessions from Armenia, and if the
Armenian president agrees with such a proposal by the OSCE Minsk Group,
it will meet with strong opposition from the Armenian people."

NKR STATE BUDGET OWN REVENUES INCREASED

DeFacto News Agency, Armenia
May 15 2007

In the first quarter of 2007 the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic state
budget own revenues made 2 milliards 721, 6 millions drams, which is
20, 8 % more than the level of the same period last year.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the NKR Ministry
of Finance and Economy, the budget revenues had been mainly ensured
at the expense of tax revenues (87, 9 % of the revenues’ total amount).

Tax revenues were exceeded by all types of taxes – the level stipulated
by the state budget was exceeded by 684, 4 millions drams.

As compared with the first quarter of 2006, the increase in
above-mentioned revenues made 40, 1%.

For January-March, 2007, the NKR social insurance state fund’s own
incomes made 602, 3 millions drams, which is 25, 7 % more than the
same period last year. For the same period the fund’s expenses made
933, 6 millions drams, which is 15, 4% more than the level of the
same period last year.

For January-March, 2007, state budget’s expenses made 5 milliards
886,7 millions drams, which is 81,2 % of what had been planned. 53,
5% of the means was directed to financing current expenditures, 46,
5% to capital expenses. As compared with the first quarter of 2006,
the state budget’s expenses increased by 35, 5%, which was mainly
caused by increase in salary and capital expenses.

MAY 18: TOWARDS A BAD TURNING POINT!
Selcuk Gultasli
Zaman, Turkey
May 10 2006
Emir Kir as the first person of Turkish origin to rise to the position
of minister in the Western Hemisphere represents a historic turning
point for those who came to Europe as “the lowest class”.
Kir, whose father came to Belgium as a mineworker, and thousands like
him, are gradually climbing the political ladder in Europe. These
people of Turkish origin in Germany and The Netherlands have made
their mark in European politics in a way that even scares leftist
politicians.
The “deep” Europe intends to stop Turkey’s membership march as
quickly as possible and obstruct people of Turkish origin from
gaining political positions. The Turks who came, as workers must
remain workers!
It is necessary to find such a formula that will halt both
developments, but in the meantime, it should be seen “politically
correct”. Giving every member 71 veto rights, taking into consideration
the European Union’s (EU) absorption capacity, inserting the privileged
partnership formula in EU documents or the fact that Turks could
permanently be deprived of the right of free movement, have failed
to calm the “deep” Europe down. A shortcut is needed.
The Armenian “genocide” formula emerges from confused European minds.
Rumors have been circulating at Brussels lobbies that France is
whispering to other members that “a confession and apology” for the
“genocide” should be made a prerequisite for Turkey’s admission into
the EU. The adoption of such a decision by the European Parliament in
fall is not quite convenient because it is not binding. The fact that
France will debate the bill to punish those who deny the “genocide”
on May 18 is perfectly logical from this viewpoint.
If the bill passes the French Parliament on May 18 and the approval
process afterwards is completed successfully, it would have two main
outcomes. Firstly, the “sustainability” of the already weak Turkey-EU
relations will become gangrenous. Secondly, European Turks, in general,
and politicians of Turkish origin blooming in Europe, in particular,
will either remain silent or get into big trouble.
In the first case, it will be a big enigma how visits by Turkish
officials to France will be realized. Let’s assume that Turkish
authorities and diplomats will benefit from the shield of “immunity.”
Then what will happen to Turkish intellectuals, journalists and
academics? Most probably, they will all of a sudden face a consequence
similar to the consequence David Irwing faced in Austria.
Belgium emboldened by France will rapidly adopt a similar law currently
pending at parliamentary commissions. It must be taken into account
that the parliaments of other countries may pass similar bills as well.
The second and more serious consequence is the possibility of
silencing the fledgling Turkish population in Europe. The furious
Armenian Diaspora will start hunting for politicians with Turkish
background and try to end their political careers with single-question
interviews. What is worse is that passing these bills will threaten
social peace. This is the very point European politicians do not
see and do not want to see. Lyon Mayor’s statement, “I was not aware
that this issue was so controversial,” when he saw Turks protesting
the Armenian “genocide” monument, is crucial because it shows how
ignorantly European politicians have been approaching the issue. What
the German government and people have accepted is not accepted by
the Turkish state and — most importantly — by the Turkish people.
Kir faces political lynching once in a month because he once used the
expression “so-called genocide” in an interview. Many politicians
of Turkish origin, even though they have not change their minds,
are very careful not to mention the Armenian issue. In an environment
where these bills are enacted, they will either risk imprisonment or
keep their mouths shut up! What is targeted is that Ankara would say,
“Enough is enough,” and would abandon the EU negotiation table. May
18 could go down in history as an extremely important date.
“What can be done?” Let’s tackle this subject next week!
May 8, 2006 Brussels

ARMENIA WILL BE STRATEGICAL PARTNER OF GREECE IN THE REGION, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF GREECE STATES
Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. A sitting of the Armenian-Greek
intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation took place in
Yerevan on March 29, during which the Greek side offered Armenia
assistance with development programs in the spheres of agriculture,
trade, small and medium business. The commission’s co-chairman,
RA Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokian noted prior to the
signing of the sitting’s protocol that the Greek side assessed
positively the Armenian-Greek cooperation and the Armenian side’s
initiatives in the communication and telecommunication sectors. It
was noted at the sitting that the Armenian-Greek company ArmenTel –
a communication operator in Armenia should be able to conduct an
exact economic policy within the Armenian legislation. In the words
of D. Lokian, the Greek side attaches importance to cooperation
in the energy sector, particularly within the framework of the
programs on introduction of new technologies in Armenia with funds
of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He
also underlined the importance of using the opportunities of both
countries for exporting the Armenian and Greek goods to the markets
of the neighoring countries. The Greek co-chairman of the commission,
Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Evripidis Stylianidis in his turn
noted that the Greek side will do everything to reduce the risks
of European investors in Armenia. “Armenia will be a strategical
partner of Greece in this region, particularly with respect to
setting up joint ventures, as well as in various sectors of economy,”
he said. According to him, in 2002-2004, Greece allocated 1.5 mln
euros for the implementation of development programs in Armenia. This
assistance will continue, in particular by providing agricultural
and agricultural processing equipment. He noted that steps will be
taken to ensure mutually beneficial relations between ArmenTel and
the RA government. The commission’s co-chairman stated that Greece is
prepared to assist with further programs on Armenia’s involvement in
European structures, particularly in the European Union. Chiarman of
the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA) Arsen
Ghazarian told reporters the Greek side agreed to assist Amenia with
the equipment and procedures to be used at agricultural production
certification laboratories, as well as with business advice provision,
staff training and infrastructure development in tourism and light
industry. In the words of A. Ghazarian, assistance will be given to
those sectors of the Armenian economy, in which there are opportunities
for the implementation of joint Armenian-Greek investment programs
and the export of Armenian goods through Greece to the European
market. Greek investments are envisaged in such spheres as stone
working, pharmaceutics, agricultural processing and agricultural
services infrastructures. According to A. Ghazarian, ArmenTel intends
to make investments of 50 mln dollars in 2006-2007.

THE EXECUTIVE OF RA MINISTRY OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEEMS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONCEIVE THAT ANY “BLACK” ECONOMY EXISTS IN MINING INDUSTRY
Yerevan, 07.03.06 ARMINFO. Mr. Arthur Ashugyan – head of the Department
for Utilization of Nature Resources and Mining Industry of RA Ministry
of Trade and Economic Development claimed during news-conference
that It is difficult to conceive that any “black” economy exists in
mining industry.
As he has stated there may not be “black” economy in that sphere
of industry because no final product is being manufacture and
nearly all production is exported. In this respect he claimed
that publications on hiding of gold by Ararat Gold Recovery Company
(AGRC) are unfaithful. Head of Department noted that Armenia does not
produce gold as final product. The final product is “DORE” which is
an alloy of gold and silver which is ensued from initial processing
of gold concentrate. “It is difficult to imagine how something may be
stolen there” – stated Arthur Ashugyan. He added that that there is
such a concept as “alluvial gold”, which practically does not exist
in Armenia.
A. Ashugyan stated, that average grade of gold in ore is 4.8 g per
ton, however during last three months AGRC is receiving ore with
low content of gold – 2 g/t – which is not processed and is being
stockpiled at the mine.
It should be noted that AGRC’s production in 2005 was 8.818 billion
drams ($19.5 mln), which, considering changes in gold price, is less
than the same for 2004 by 34%.
The matter is that until now AGRC was processing oxide ores with
recovery of up to 85%. Due to drastic changes in mineralogy of mined
ore during last months recovery did not exceed 50%. For processing
of such ores serious improvement of processing technology is required.
In order not to lose gold the ores are not processed presently,
instead they are stockpiled at the mine.
It is noteworthy to mention that AGRC is fully owned by an Indian
company Sterlite Gold Limited.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHAIRMAN OF UNION OF BUDAPEST LAWYERS TO BE INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES
RELATED TO ARMENIAN OFFICER’S MURDER TRIAL
BUDAPEST, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ashot Grigorian,
Head of the Armenian community of Slovakia, Chairman of the
Representative Office of Armenian Organizations, met with Chairman of
the Union of Budapest Lawyers Dr. Banati Janos in Budapest on March 7
– during a regular court sitting of trial on case of Armenian officer
Gurgen Margarian’s murder. Ashot Grigorian, who assumed the
coordination of the trial-related activities after participating in
the court sitting on December 5 2005, told NT correspondent that he
received dr. Janos’ consent about his involvement in the last stage of
this work. According to A. Grigorian, they can expect a fair and
desirable trial outcome as a result of this and some other important
steps.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VIGIL CORNER
Kenya Times, Kenya
March 14 2006
WONDERS never cease. Raila Odinga is supposed to have borrowed US$1.5
million from Armenian businessmen to solve the problems facing one
of his girlfriends. According to the lenders, Raila obtained the
money promising to repay it by Mid January this year. The former
minister never paid, and now his benefactors claim he has branded
them mercenaries in order to dodge paying the debt. US$1.5 million is
equivalent to Ksh 108 million! We know Raila is not a cheap man, that
the minister would want and demand the best for his girl friend. For
him to have borrowed the Sh 108 million as purported, Raila must have
wanted to buy a castle in France or upmarket London for his sweet
heart. He must be a very good suitor, and we expect a chain of girl
friends to pop up and pledge allegiance to Agwambo! Can somebody give
Kenyans a break from this nonsense and realise that we have something
between our ears. The earlier one realised this, the better.
*** Talking about mercenaries and hired goons. Who gave the two
Armenian businessmen authority to use the VIP lounge at the Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport? The lounge is exclusively set aside
for senior government officials such as PS’s, ministers, visiting
dignitaries and other high ranking officials. Not even top investors in
this country are allowed to use the VIP lounge in Kenya. Its use must
be exclusively authorised by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So who gave the Armenians the authority
to address the press at the VIP lounge? There is even talk that the
businessmen used a private jet to fly into the country. What was the
registration number of the aircraft, and who authorised its landing in
Kenya? At this rate, KAA will allow Osama Bid Laden landing rights,
and also give him an opportunity to use the VIP lounge to address a
press conference on how to conduct a successful terrorist attack.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress