Author: Felekian Ara

WHAT DOES TURKEY HAVE TO DO WITH OUR NUCLEAR POWER STATION?

Aravot
April 18 2009
Armenia

Out of the 200 people interviewed 92 per cent were against the idea
of selling stocks of the new Armenian nuclear power station to Turkish
companies. Only 1.5 per cent supported the idea.

On 12 March 2009 the Ararat strategic centre conducted a series of
interviews regarding the recent intergovernmental developments between
Armenia and Turkey. Around 200 people were interviewed, including
government officials, politicians, public and cultural figures,
analysts and students. One of the interview topics was Turkey’s
probable participation in the construction of a new Armenian nuclear
power station. Let us present some responses, particularly to the
question "What kind of national security problems could be encountered
if Turkey participated in the construction of the atomic station? Do
you agree with the idea of selling stocks of a new Armenian nuclear
power station to Turkish companies?"

Haroutyun Arakelyan, chairperson of the Armenian Democratic Liberal
Party’s board says: "There is no sense even to discuss what kind
of national security issues could arise. We make ourselves energy
dependent upon a government with whom we have problems at different
levels. What if they sell their stocks, e.g. to Azerbaijan? How are
we going to stop it? What international standards are we going to
use to stipulate our disagreement? Does the Armenian prime minister
have replies to those questions? If anything of the kind happens I
will be one of those who will struggle against it and shall involve
my friends and the mass media from the diaspora."

Head of the Psychological Studies Centre Albert Nalchadjyan said:
"No matter how much I respect our Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
(competent, good specialist in finances, works effectively) it seems to
me that he made a thoughtless step. Turkey has nothing to do with the
Armenian nuclear power system. Turkey, in general, should be isolated
from the most important and strategic issues of Armenia." He added:
"We should not sign such strategic and long term agreements with
Turkey, even if the deal is profitable for us. We should not depend
upon Turkey in order to be able to tackle our national problems. It
will be good if the prime minister makes statement and takes back
his previous announcement. It is not good to play with Turkey. Its
long-term goal is to get rid of Armenia and join Azerbaijan in creating
a great Pan-Turkish state. I am against not only Turkey’s participation
on the nuclear station issue but also against the opening of borders
since our economy is weak. The opening of borders should be delayed
as long as possible or otherwise our economy will sink."

Doctor of Economic Sciences Tatul Manaseryan said: "It is unacceptable
and unreasonable to involve into the structure of a strategic
importance institution a county that has no basic diplomatic relations
with us; a country which is currently considered our potential
enemy and a threat to us." We also asked him why on March 12, 20 days
after his first statement, the prime minister of the Armenian Republic
changed his position and announced that Turkey is expected to make only
financial contribution through selling part of the Armenian nuclear
power station stocks to Turkish companies. Tatul Manasaeryan, who is
currently adviser to the speaker of the National Assembly, replied:
"Inconsistency is the prime minister’s nature. Several years ago he
rejected our proposal to create free economic zones in Armenia. But
once he heard a similar advice from the Russian Federation,
in particular from [Russian Transport Minister] Igor Levitin, he
portrayed the creation of such zones in Armenia as his own initiative."

National Artist of the USSR Sos Sargsyan said: "We should not let
Turks poke their noses into Armenia. It is full of unpredictable
consequences. We should be vigilant. We have history and we should not
forget it. We know how the genocide happened… Besides, why should
they come? What have they to do with our atomic station? Since when
are the Turks constructors? Their priority is destruction. What are
they going to build for us? We do not want their construction. They
will do something treacherous here as well."

Karine Danielyan, doctor of geographical sciences and head of the
association For Sustainable Human Development said: "No need to blow
up the atomic station (though I do not exclude that as well). It
is quite enough t o arrange a radioactive substance leakage to the
water reservoir of the Ararat valley which is located right under
the station."

Journalist and expert on the Caucasus issues Tatul Hakobyan said:
"Our officials know quite well which direction the wind blows. If
during Kocharyan’s tenure for some officials, political forces
and journalist-analysts it was gainful to condemn Turkey and the
Turks, nowadays it is not. The same officials, politicians and
journalist-analysts see how [Armenian Foreign Minister] Edvard
Nalbandyan meets [Turkish President] Abdulla Gul at the airport,
see how wide Serzh Sargsyan smiles and shakes hands with Gyul at the
stadium. And this is enough for Turkey to become a neighbourly state
for them. Now to be specific to your question, I should say that the
prime minister’s invitation is a gesture to the international community
as well. He wants to show that the incumbent Armenian authorities
are ready to collaborate with Turkey even on this sensitive issue."

ARMENIAN PROCREDIT BANK INTRODUCES SPECIAL SUMMER OFFER FOR BUSINESS CREDITS

/ARKA/
June 15, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. Armenian ProCredit Bank introduces a special
summer offer for June 12 – August 31 on business credits aimed at
developing small and medium businesses, the bank’s press-service
told ARKA.

In the summer time the interest rate for credits over $10,000 will be
decreased by 4% and that for credits under 45mln AMD will be decreased
by 2%.

The bank hopes the special offer will contribute to stabilization of
activities of a number of enterprises providing them with resources
for overcoming the difficult situation as well as for their further
development.

"ProCredit Bank" CJSC officially started its activities in Armenia
since February 5, 2008.

The bank is mainly aimed at crediting small and medium businesses in
Armenia through offering such services as opening and serving accounts,
different types of deposits, and means for savings.

The shareholders of ProCredit Bank are "ProCredit Holding" AG (67,49%),
KfW (15,84%) and EBRD (16,67%).

According to preliminary data of ARKA News Agency, by this March 31 the
bank’s assets had reached 12,2bln AMD, with liabilities being 6,6bln
AMD, total capital 5,64bln AMD and net profit for January-March 2009
reaching 148,2mln AMD.

The bank’s headquarters is located in Yerevan. The bank has four
branches in Yerevan and one in Vanadzo.

NEW TIMES PARTY LEADER SPEAK OUT ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MARCH 1ST FACT-FINDING GROUP
Shushan Stepanyan

2/
2009/06/15 | 15:33

New Times Party leader Aram Karapetyan stated at a press conference
earlier today that the March 1st Committee hasn’t accomplished its
mission of exposing what actually transpired on March 1, 2008.

"If Robert Kocharyan hasn’t appeared before the committee and the
proper questions haven’t been asked, then the committee hasn’t
accomplished its stated mission," Mr. Karapetyan said.

According to Mr. Karapetyan, members of the secret command headquarters
created in 2007 included the police chief, the chief of the National
Security Service, Robert Kocharyan, Hovik Abrahamyan and Armen
Gevorgyan. "Over time, they were joined by Aghvan Hovsepyan, Vardan
Oskanian and Tigran Torosyan. Periodic working meetings were held at
the presidential office."

He said that by dissolving the Fact Finding Group and declaring a
general amnesty that those responsible for the March 1st tragedy
wished to close the case.

Turning to foreign affairs, Mr. Karapetyan said that none of the
departments responsible for crafting Armenian foreign policy was able
to understand that "we are being drawn into a Azeri-Turkish game".

He believes that Armenia is being drawn into such a game in which
it is alleged that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are on
the outs and thus we must try to separate the Artsakh conflict from
general Armenian-Turkish relations.

Mr. Karapetyan claimed that at the end of 2008 the head of the
Azerbaijani presidential staff issued a directive to all the regional
leaders in Azerbaijan to display a contemptuous attitude towards
Turkey.

He asked what had changed over the years for President Sargsyan to
assume that Turkey would not close the border again in the future
after opening it now. He argued that Armenia had an open border with
Turkey before the start of the Karabakh conflict. Turkey closed the
border due to it and that nothing has dramatically changed in the
past twenty years.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: COLLECTIVE RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE IS EMBODIMENT OF IDEAS LAID AS BASIS OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY

ArmInfo
2009-06-15 10:22:00

ArmInfo. Collective Rapid Deployment Force is embodiment of the ideas
laid as a basis of the Collective Security Treaty, Preside of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan said at a press-conference after CSTO Council session
in Moscow.

‘I am sure we have brought a specific content in many decisions
made, over the last year. Even a year ago, Armenia accepted the
chairmanship. I used to say that both Armenia and CSTO states will
work over the decisions made and the new ideas, and will introduce new
aspects to the Treaty. In this context, during Armenia’s chairmanship,
I would like to point out two moments: creation of CRDF and closer
coordination of the member- states’ foreign political activity’,
the president said.

S. Sargsyan attached importance to the fact that CSTO member-states
have gathered before the sessions of UN General Assembly and OSCE
Foreign Ministerial Council for the first time, and specific approaches
to specific issues were elaborated during these consultations.

To note, In view of refusal of Belarus to take part in Moscow summit
of the Collective Security Treat Organization, Armenia has handed
over the temporary chairmanship in CSTO to Russia. To note, the
chairmanship in CSTO passed from Kyrgyzstan to Armenia in 2008. CSTO
members are seven states – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

IRAN-ARMENIA RAILROAD WORKING GROUP TO HOLD MEETING

Moj News Agency
June 14, 2009 Sunday
Iran

The working group consisting of Armenian, Russian and Iranian
specialists will focus on project financing and possible participation
of interested parties, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said
during talks with Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin. "The
group will discuss various financial affairs as well as the
interested companies from the two countries," he said. He added that
construction of Iran-Armenia railroad is a matter of importance for
his country. Sargsyan and Yakunin appreciated the role of transport for
strengthening of strategic relations between the two states and agreed
to keep development of Armenian Railways in the spotlight.

*WHO WERE THE MAIN PLAYERS IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS?

AZG Armenian Daily
13/06/2009

The politics and the players

A coalition of pro-Western factions competed against an alliance
linking the Iranian-backed, pro-Syria Hizbollah (Party of God) and
a Christian faction led by the former army chief Michel Aoun. Sunni
Muslims strongly supported the pro-Western grouping, which is led
by Saad Hariri, the son of the murdered former prime minister Rafiq
Hariri, while Shia Muslims supported the Hizbollah-led alliance.

WB PREDICTS 1.5-2% GROWTH IN ARMENIA’S ECONOMY FOR 2010

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.06.2009 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "GDP growth in 2010 is expected to be within the
range of 1.5-2%," Aristomene Vardukis, Head of World Bank’s Yerevan
office, told journalists on Friday. "Based on 2009 results, downfall
in Armenia’s economy will fluctuate between 9-9.5%. Situation will
stabilize during the second half of the year, and by the end of 2010,
we expect GDP growth within the range of 1.5-2%," he said.

World Bank predicts acceleration of economic growth in 2011-12,
however, more precise economic indices will depend upon world economic
situation, Varudikis added.

In January-April 2009, Armenia’s economy recorded 9.7% downfall in
comparison with the same period of the last year.

YEREVAN WOMAN PROVIDES FOR 16 HOMELESS CHILDREN
By Tom Vartabedian

6/08/yerevan-woman-provides-for-16-homeless-childr en/
June 8, 2009

YEREVAN-Unlike the fairy tale about the old woman who lived in a
shoe with so many children she didn’t know what to do, Larissa offers
quite the contrary perspective.

In her case, she’s picked up 16 children off the streets of Yerevan
and given them a loving home.

It may not be the Ritz but it offers comfort and security. All have
been adopted and regardless of her age (68), there’s always the urge
to provide more.

What’s more, this is no fly-by-night operation or whimsy. She’s been
a surrogate mom for 27 years and has no intentions of ever stopping.

"They are the children I never had and all are very near and dear
to me," she confessed. "Some of them came to me from birth. Others
were a bit older. When I see a child who’s alone, I want to bring
that youth home."

Since 1983, Larissa (no last name given) has provided for 33
children. She’s touched the gamut in age from 10-38. At the moment,
there are 10 inside her residence, including three grandchildren.

"They come from the streets of Yerevan and different orphanages,"
she noted. "I live in a modest home. What little I have is passed on
to others."

I heard about Larissa from a couple different sources who make regular
runs at the Artbridge Coffee Shop. People come here and exchange
small talk. I was looking for "the ultimate story" and Larissa’s name
came up.

"She’s the one who deserves some credit," said Araz Artinian,
a prize-winning videographer whose films "The Genocide in Me" and
"Twenty Voices" have received universal acclaim.

"Larissa is one amazing woman," added Artinian. "Everyone in Yerevan
knows the good heart she has with children, but nobody else. She’s
somewhat of a quiet heroine."

We met at the Ani Hotel by Abovian Street and she was accompanied by
a 12-year-old named Gourken. The child added further corroboration
to the interview. He’s one of those who arrived very early in life.

Like Larissa, he has an aptitude for math and loves to draw.

"People think she’s my grandmother but that’s wrong," said
Gourken. "She’s my mother and will always be my mother, no matter
how old she is. I don’t look at age. I look at love."

Many children have a variety of issues, whether it’s poverty, illness,
or abuse. Some of them are at wit’s end before they arrive at Larissa’s
safe haven. Others came to her from the earthquake of 1988.

She adopted her fist child in 1982. A two-year-old arrived in 1984
and on and on it went. During the Soviet regime, she began receiving a
subsidy from the government, which felt homeless children were better
off inside a home than wandering the streets of Armenia.

Since independence in 1991, she’s gotten some assistance but more from
concerned citizens around town. Once older, the children have provided
a helping hand for their "brothers and sisters." Also assisting her
cause is Rev. Aram Stepanian of Whitinsville, Mass., whose congregation
has made a habit of supporting indigent children in Armenia.

Larissa is hardly a nonentity, despite the absence of a surname. She’s
attended two universities and holds degrees in physics and
cinematography.

Her husband died at age 32 with a stomach disorder six months after
their wedding, leaving her childless. She worked the factories of
Russia for three years before returning to her native Yerevan and
working 25 years inside the cinema studios for $10 a week.

"They were not easy years," she admitted. "All along, I wanted to
raise children of my own as a widow and decided the best way to fill
that role was to reach out to the deprived. When I see a child who’s
alone, I want to provide my home. I will care for the children of
Armenia until the day I die."

An outside group sat around the hotel bar enjoying a cocktail when
Larissa turned to them and proudly proclaimed, "I have 16 children."

They looked at the gray-haired woman in amazement and someone replied,
"Sixteen children? You are a very rich person indeed."

ARMENIAN PM ON GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

The Messenger
June 9 2009
Georgia

Armenian PM Tigran Sarkisian highlighted Armenia’s dependence on the
Georgian transport infrastructure. As is known 2/3rds of Armenia’s
trade turnover is generated by transporting goods through Georgia.

Sarkisian suggested that the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border
would provide an alternative connection with European countries. He
also stressed that in Georgia monopolist tendencies have appeared as
transit costs here are rather high. For example, transporting goods
to Poti and Batumi from any other place is only half the price of
transporting things from these ports to Armenia.

Alternative routes will improve the level and quality of Armenia’s
trade independence and will also force transit costs down. This will
mean cheaper products will be available in Armenia and its economy
will be compatible with those of neighbouring states, something not
possible now due to the high transportation costs.

SYNOPSYS AND MIET REACH AGREEMENT TO EXTEND OPERATION OF JOINT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

NOYAN TAPAN
JUNE 8, 2009
MOSCOW

Synopsys company, a world leader in electronic design automation
software for semiconductor design, and Moscow Institute of Electronic
Technique (MIET) have reached an agreement to extend the cooperation
agreement signed in 2006, under which a joint educational program is
being implemented at MIET, for another 5 years.

According to information provided by Synopsys Armenia CJSC – a
subsidiary of Synopsys, highly-qualified experts in design of giant
scale integration circuits are being prepared under this program with
the use of Synopsys’ electronic design automation software.

This year 18 students of MIET have successfully completed a Master’s
program and together with last year’s 20 graduates are prepared to
start a career in engineering.

At the 2009 diploma giving ceremony, Synopsys Vice President for
Strategic Market Development Rich Goldman will hand certificates of
Synopsys to the graduates, while MIET Rector, Corresponding Member
of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Chapligin will give then
MIET diplomas.

The educational program was developed by the Educational Department of
Synopsys Armenia for the speciality "Giant Scale Integration Circuit
Design". It forms the basis of the joint Master’s program.