Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIA REACTS TO A REQUEST OF ASSISTANCE BY LEBANON

Panorama.am
15:57 26/07/06

The Armenian government held a meeting today to discuss possibilities
of rendering humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Hovik Abrahamyan, Armenian
territorial administration minister, chaired the meeting.

Government press office told Panorama.am that the meeting discussed
coordination of assistance to be rendered to Lebanon upon her request
addressed to world states and the United Nations. The public officials
decided to provide Lebanon with medicine, equipment and tents. The
ministry of finance and economy will draft a decision to submit for
the approval of government session tomorrow. The humanitarian aid may
be transported to Aleppo as soon as late tomorrow on a special flight
if the government approves the draft decision tomorrow./Panorama.am/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Presidential Advisor Calls on MP

Fars News Agency, Iran
June 26 2006

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Armenian President’s Security Advisor met
with the member of the presiding board of Iran’s Islamic Consultative
Assembly here on Tuesday.

During the meeting the Iranian MP censured international bodies and
circles, the UN Security Council in particular, for their inaction
in the face of the Zionist regime’s invasion of Lebanon and stressed
that the UNSC has lost its status among the world nations.

"Recent conflicts proved that Israel is no longer the invincible
power of the region, while passage of time is detrimental to the
Zionist regime," he said.

The parliament deputy reminded that Hezbollah’s resistance against the
Israeli regime is in fact defending all regional countries, because it
discourages the Zionist regime and the US from invading other states.

Elsewhere, Haji Baba’ee criticized United States’ unilateralism
policy, stressing that turning the globe into a unilateral world is
the greatest threat to the international community.

Noting the deployment of foreign troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, he
reminded that whenever alien forces have been deployed in the region,
they have endangered the security of regional nations.

The MP underlined that regional nations inherit ancient and rich
cultures and they are, thus, able to solve their problems.

In another part, he expressed pleasure with the developing trend of
the two countries’ relations and said that despite the expansion and
development of the existing ties, there are still abundant untouched
possibilities and potentials, specially in economic grounds, which
should be utilized for the sake of the promotion of the existing ties.

The member of the parliament’s presiding board viewed North-South
axis as significant for the regional countries and, noting Armenia’s
important role in the reinvigoration of the said axis, he stressed
that more attention should be paid to this issue.

Referring to Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities and programs, he said,
"As the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretary-General
has confirmed, there exists no diversion in Iran’s peaceful nuclear
plans and Tehran has complied with all the rules and regulations
stipulated in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)."

The legislative official underscored that the United Nations Security
Council cannot force Iran to ignore its national interests.

For his part, Armenian President’s Security Advisor Ghoulian stressed
his country’s enthusiasm for developing all-out ties with the Islamic
Republic of Iran and stated that Armenia is delighted to see a

NKR PRESIDENT GREETS ARFD GREEK YOUTH UNION’S DECISION TO INCLUDE ARTSAKH IN ITS ANNUAL TRAVELS

STEPANAKERT, JULY 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 26,
NKR President Arkady Ghukasian received the delegation of ARF
Dashnaktsutiun Greek Youth Union that had arrived in Artsakh on a
cognitive visit.

Arkady Ghukasian greeted the Union’s decision to include Artsakh in
its annual travels and said that such visits if paid frequently will
continue the goo d traditions among Diasporan youth and will strengthen
the contacts of the inhabitants of Artsakh with the Greek community.

As NT was informed by NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson, at the
request of those present, the head of the country touched upon the
sources of the Nagorno Karabakh movement and answered a number of
questions regarding the past and the future.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS DISCUSS ROLE OF ARMENIAN
CHURCH IN STRENGTHENING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POSITIONS OF ARTSAKH

STEPANAKERT, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 22,
NKR President Arkady Ghukasian met with Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II who had arrived in Artsakh the day before for taking part
in the ceremony of solemn laying of the first stone in the foundation
of cathedral church of Saint Blessed Virgin.

Greeting His Holiness the Patriarch, Arkady Ghukasian said that
the Stepanakert inhabitants are inspired by the construction of
the cathedral church in the NKR capital and the presence of the
Catholicos of All Armenians in this connection is a great event for
Artsakh residents.

The Supreme Patriarch emphasized in his speech that the current sound
moral atmosphere should strengthen the people’s souls and the Nagorno
Karabakh statehood should be built on these firm bases.

The interlocutors touched upon the role of the Armenian Apostolic
Church in the issue of strengthening political and economic positions
of NKR.

Servants of the Armenian apostolic church and representatives of NKR
high leadership also took part in the meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS’ FOURTH SHIFT LEAVES FOR IRAQ

YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The fourth shift
of Armenian peacekeepers left Yerevan for Iraq on July 23. Like the
previous shifts, there are doctors, sappers and drivers among the 46
servicemen of the fourth shift.

As Captain Vasak Avetisian, Commander of the military unit, said in
his interview to NT correspondent, only 10% of the unit members has
previously taken part in the peacekeeping actions in Iraq. There are
some servicemen who have been in Kosovo but the main part, as well
as the Commander himself are leaving for Iraq for the first time.

The fourth shift of peacekeepers like the previous one left for Iraq
for 6 months. The previous shift will return 5 days after the arrival
of the next shift, after sharing its experience and information about
its obligations with the latter.

As Deputy Defence Minister Artur Aghabekian said, the Armenian
peacekeepers will continue to carry out their mission in Kosovo for
one more year. As for Iraq, the Armenian peacekeepers’ mission will
last longer there. In Aghabekian’s words, in late 2006 the Defence
Ministry will apply to the National Assembly with a proposal to
prolong the peacekeeping mission in Iraq for one more year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ONE LIVES NOT ONLY CONSTITUTIONALLY BUT ALSO VIA GORIS-LACHIN-STEPANAKERT AND BACK

Lragir.am
26 July 06

The Armenian opposition, especially its leading part has always
surprised and will undoubtedly go on to surprise the society.

Formerly, however, the opposition used to surprise by the steps it
failed to take, whereas now it surprises by the steps it takes. It
would occur to hardly anyone to set out for Karabakh in such an
internal political, although relatively hot summer in Armenia.

However, the peculiarity of an idea is that it occurs to very few
people. And it is natural that at some moment Stepan Demirchyan would
decide to travel to Karabakh. One of the ancient races must have had
the custom that in order to know your rival you must know his place
of birth. There must be such a custom, but even if there is no such
custom, one day it should have been born for the first time. After
all, failures make a man stronger and wiser, and after all a man
understands in some year of his biography that one lives not only
constitutionally but also via Goris-Lachin-Stepanakert and back. And
after all, if they come from Karabakh to Armenia and become president,
why shouldn’t they go from Armenia and become president in Karabakh? In
brief, Stepan had a number of reasons to go to Stepanakert, even if
we do not take into account the magic factor of "the first time".

In Nagorno Karabakh he was met adequately, on a president level. It
is true that the press service of Arkady Ghukasyan denied that
Stepan Demirchyan was invited by the NKR president, but at any rate,
Arkady Ghukasyan met with the leader of Ardarutiun Alliance kindly
and willingly. From the point of view of subordination this does
not fit into any logic, because Demirchyan’s visit is not official,
but let the one who will point to a step in the Armenian reality that
fits into subordination and logic be the first to banish Demirchyan
from Stepanakert. Let us leave alone logic, however, not to cut this
essential episode of the Armenian reality from the reality. And the
reality is that recently there has been a tendency of moving towards
Karabakh. Probably, Stepan Demirchyan followed Serge Sargsyan’s words
attentively that we must account for everything to Stepanakert.

Serge Sargsyan went there to given an account for Torino, Stepan
Demirchyan probably will give an account for Great Britain, where
he spent a holiday with his family several days ago. Of course,
it is surprising that a man who considers him president elect of
Armenia goes to give an account to the president of NKR. But Serge
Sargsyan said another thing too. He said one must know how to obey
in order to make obey. In other words, one must be obedient because
they will get the throne, and the powerful will be dethroned. Serge
did not say this, it is written in the Bible, but God is already on
the lips of the Republican Party. They even say the name of God is
mentioned twice in the program of the Republican Party. And several
days before receiving Stepan Demirchyan Arkady Ghukasyan had met with
the Catholicos and spoken about the importance of belief, although it
is not clear belief in who and in what. Probably God sent Demirchyan
to Karabakh, or he was rather sent by the one about the belief in
who Ghukasyan and the Catholicos had talked about. In this case,
the question occurs – why? Say Demirchyan went to Karabakh and saw,
say he understood what was all this about, say he felt reassured,
say he understood the secret of coming from Karabakh and becoming a
president. Let us suppose that it is unattainable for him. What next?

Say he accounted for Great Britain and got back. Well, the secret
is in the return. Demirchyan must return. Otherwise, the "sanctuary"
remains vacant, and anyone may take it.

HAKOB BADALYAN

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JUSTICE MINISTER OF ARMENIA WILL NOT CREATE A PARTY OF HIS OWN

Yerevan, July 25. ArmInfo. Justice Minister of Armenia David
Harutiunian stated on a today press conference that he does not
intend to create his own party. The Minister added that there are
to many political parties in Armenia and establishment of a new one
would be senseless. He said that he would rather join one of the
major parties of Armenia. He did not say which party he is more
likely to join and promised to inform the public as soon as he
has decided. Mr. Harutiunian also stated that he will not put his
candidature on the presidential elections of 2008.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE STOCK EXCHANGE DOLLAR RATE MADE UP 417 AMD/$1

Yerevan. July 25. ArmInfo. During tender at the Armenian Stock
Exchange ArmEx 5 board lots were sold at the amount of AMD 148,
0 million ($355 thousand). The dollar rate made up AMD 417,0/$1,
0,03% less than on July 24.

Demand volume equaled $100 thousand and the supply volume – $600
thousand. The best demand price was marked on the level of AMD
416,25/$1 (average – AMD 416,25/$1), and the best supply price –
AMD 417,00/$1 (average – AMD 417,56/$1).

The opening price was fixed at the level of AMD 417,01/$1, closing
price – AMD 417,00/$1, minimal price – AMD 417,00/$1 and maximal
price – AMD 417,01/$1.

Totally, in January 4 – July 25, $84,978 million was sold at ArmEx;
the average rate decreased from AMD 453,1 to 417,00/$1, AMD. The
maximal deal volume was detected on July 11 – 38 board lots at
the amount of $3,050 million and at the rate of AMD 417,83/$1, the
minimal volume – July 12 – 1 board lot at the amount of $50 thousand
(AMD 20,893 million) at the rate of AMD 417,85/$1. Since January 4
only 2 EURO exchange deals were driven – on April 6 (EUR 5 thousand,
AMD 554/EUR1) and on June 22 (EUR 1 thousand, AMD 532/EUR 1).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MOODY’S RATING COMPANY CONFERRED CURRENCY EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL RATING Ba 2 TO ARMENIA

Yerevan, July 25. ArmInfo. The Moody’s Rating Company (USA) conferred
a currency external and internal rating Ba 2 to Armenia, the Chairman
of the RA Central Bank Tigran Sarkissyan said at the press-conference.

According to him, the rating, conferred to Armenia, is a good indicator
enough for the country. He added that Armenia stands at one level with
Azerbaijan by its rating, it passes ahead of Georgia by two points
and Turkey – by one point. Sarkissyan added that the conferred rating
will allow Armenia to take its place on the "financial map of the
world" and will enable the foreign investors to properly assess the
financial risks and to develop a strategy of work in RA. Moreover,
the rating enables the country’s Government to issue bonds and to
distribute them in the international market.

Sarkissyan noted that according to the new method of Moody’s, the
management subjects and commercial banks of Armenia are given an
opportunity to receive an individual rating which can be higher than
the country’s rating. Thus, this method allows the local companies
to independently enter the international currency market and to
establish business contacts with international organizations. T.
Sarkissyan said that 5 Armenian companies, including the commercial
banks, have already addressed to receive the individual rating, the
process of conferring of which will be finished in September- October.

To be noted, the Fitch Rating Agency had conferred a sovereign credit
rating (Issuer Default ratings, IDR) "BB" to Armenia in the beginning
of June, 2006, with a stable forecast.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Crew blamed for Armenian airbus crash in southern Russia

Centre TV, Moscow
26 Jul 06

Text of "Sobytiya" news report by Russian Centre TV on 26 July

The crash of the A-320 airbus over the Black Sea was caused by a crew
mistake, according to the results of an investigation by an interstate
aviation committee published today. The technical commission, which
included French experts, has established that while operating the
plane manually the crew failed to control the bank angle and height
in time while landing. The airbus fell, with control having been
lost. The commission determined that failure of the engine or other
systems of the plane had not been registered.

The A-320 airbus of the Armenian Armavia company crashed on 3 May
near Sochi. All 113 people aboard were killed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress