Author: Frangulian Shushan

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA EXTENDS HIS CONDOLENCES TO RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF VICTIMS OF TU-154 CRASH

ArmInfo
2009-07-15 18:30:00

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has extended his condolences to
the relatives and friends of victims of Tu-154 crash.

The press service of the President quotes Sargsyan as saying: "A few
hours ago Tu-154 flying from Tehran to Yerevan crashed with both the
crew and the passengers killed. Among them were our compatriots. This
is an irretrievable loss and we express our support for the relatives
and friends. The Armenian authorities are doing their best to help
them at this hard moment. I cannot find words to comfort the people
who have lost their relatives."

To note, President Sargsyan stopped his visit to Shirak region and
came back to Yerevan when informed about the air crash. 153 passengers
and 15 crew members were onboard. According to preliminary reports,
all of them have died.

AMERIABANK OFFICIAL PAGE CREATED IN BLOOMBERG SYSTEM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.07.2009 12:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ameriabank CJSC official page is created in
Bloomberg system with AMRB ID, where online are recorded RA government
and corporate bonds, including IMEX Group bonds, the Bank spot and
forward currency exchange rates in relation to AMD, interbank deposits
interest rates and loans, as well as interest rates’ repo and reverse
repo. Ameriabank is one of the only banks in Armenia, which has its
own page in this popular information system, which is known throughout
the world by providing correct and accurate financial information,
the bank’s press service reported.

Bloomberg news agency serves customers from nearly 100 countries and
includes a few thousand of windows, and special sections of Bloomberg
News, which allows clients to find any information on currencies,
stocks, commodities, futures and options, as well as all prices
displayed in real time.

Ameriabank CJSC plans to expand the list of services in the Bloomberg
provided by the Bank over the next three months.

In the Bloomberg System, the Ameriabank page provides an opportunity
to foreign investors to see information about the Bank services at
any time.

A COMMISSION FROM ARMENIA TO LEAVE FOR IRAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE CRASH OF THE AIRPLANE IMPLEMENTING TEHRAN-YEREVAN FLIGHT

ARMENPRESS
JULY 15, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS: In connection with the crash of the
airplane implementing Tehran-Yerevan flight a commission will leave
for Iran.

Press secretary of the head of the Armenian Rescue Service of Emergency
Situations Ministry Nikolay Grigorian told Armenpress that it is not
yet clear when the commission will leave and in what staff.

An official from the Armenian office of "Caspian Airlines" informed
that at present the details of the accident and the list of passengers
are clarified. On the preliminary data 153 passengers have died.

In connection with the crash a hotline operates in the Armenian Foreign
Ministry. To get information Please call +37410562543, +37410566811 ,
+37410544041 (inner 202 or 217).

ARMAVIA OPENS NEW YEREVAN-BATUMI FLIGHT

ArmInfo
2009-07-13 13:18:00

ArmInfo. Armavia Company has opened a new Yerevan-Batumi flight. As
Armavia President Mikhail Baghdasarov told ArmInfo, the primary goal
of the new flight is assurance of comfortable delivery of those wishing
to have a rest in the resort town of Batumi. ‘In summer, many Armenians
wish to have a rest in atumi and the adjacent surroundings. The number
of the Armenians wishing to rest in Batumi has been growing over the
last two years. Since the road is very long and it takes 8-12 hours, we
decided to open this flight to improve the delivery of our passengers
to Batumi’, M. Baghdasarov emphasized. According to him, when Armavia
opened Yerevan-Tbilisi flight, many said that was unprofitable,
however, today, Armavia takes the third place by the number of
passengers being carried to Tbilisi airport. ‘I think Batumi will not
become an exception either>, the company president said. He emphasized
that the first flight may be not so profitable, however, Armavia has
an agreement reached with Batumi airport regarding implementation of
certain discounts. ‘We should make the flight available for a great
number of the people wishing to rest in Batumi’, M. Baghdasarov said.

For his part, Director General of Armavia Norayr Belluyan said
responding to journalists’ questions, that Yerevan-Batumi flight will
be carried out once a week on Sundays. According to him, Yerevan-Batumi
flight is very profitable as regards funds and time saving. He added
that it is scheduled to carry out Yerevan-Batumi flights till the
end of the rest season, however, the fight will become regular if
it is profitable. N. Belluyan also said that Armavia will open new
Yerevan-Rome flight on July 15. Moreover, he expressed hope that the
company will keep its promise and open new Yerevan-Los Angeles flight
till late, 2009.

To note, the first Yerevan-Batumi flight was carried out by Airbus
A 319.

The flight lasts 40 minutes and the ticket "to and from" makes up
71,000 drams.

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 9 2009

Time to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: deputy chairman of
Azerbaijani ruling party

Azerbaijan, Baku, July 9 / Trend News, A.Huseynbala /

It is time to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said deputy
chairman of ruling party of Azerbaijan.

"The intensification of the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement is a positive fact. Meetings are held in order to
achieve a result. And the result, as we understand, is that
Azerbaijani territories should be freed from the occupation and the
refugees should return to their native land," said deputy chairman of
ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), Ali Ahmedov.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding
districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

According to Ahmedov, if the negotiation process is accelerated and
meetings at the presidential level are held often, it is worthy to
expect results from the negotiations. "We hope that at the next
meeting, concrete steps will be taken for a positive solution to the
conflict. Ensuring stability in the South Caucasus depends on a fair
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as it is the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. Another solution to the conflict does not
exist," said deputy chairman.

According to Ahmedov, work of Russia, co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk
Group to resolve the conflict even more intensified. "Russia has an
opportunity to influence the resolution of the conflict, and the
growth of initiatives of this State is a cause for optimism," said
Ahmedov.

"If the mutual visits of intellectuals of Azerbaijan and Armenia help
resolve the conflict, it is necessary to encourage them," Ahmedov
said, touching upon the visits of Azerbaijani and Armenian
intellectuals.

The NAP was founded by Heydar Aliyev in 1992. The present chair of the
party is Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has held the position
for 14 years.

Turkish artist of Armenian origin won the new Jameel Prize
12.07.2009 01:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iranian born Afruz Amighi has won the new Jameel
Prize for her art titled "1001 Pages," with Sevan Býcakcý, a Turkish
artist of Armenian origin, named as one of nine finalists, Hurriyet
reports.
Hundreds of artists were competing for the Jameel Prize. The prize,
named after the late Saudi businessman Abdul Latif Jameel, is a new
international art award that was launched by the Victoria & Albert
Museum, or V&A, in London.
The award aims to raise awareness of the thriving interaction between
contemporary practices and the rich artistic heritage of Islam, and to
contribute to a broader debate about Islamic culture, in order to
provide an exchange between contemporary art and Islamic culture. The
prize, which will be awarded every two years, was presented at a
ceremony at the museum.
The ceremony was attended by artists from various countries. Mark
Jones, director of the V&A, presented Afruz Amighi with her prize,
worth 25,000 pounds.
Býcakcý, who is known as the "Lord of the Rings" for his jewelry
designs, was listed as a candidate for the Jameel Prize by the British
Council in Istanbul in August. He was the only non-Muslim member among
the finalists. Býcakcý said he received a special invitation from the
museum and became one of nine finalists among 100 candidates.
"Sculptors and graphic designers reflecting the art of Islam in the
best way were among the finalists. They chose me in the field of
jewelry. This process started a few months ago. I chose the five most
special rings that I have never thought of selling for the
competition. The rings will be exhibited in Jameel Gallery for two to
three months and later on they will be on display for one year in
various museums in the Middle East, such as in northern Jerusalem,
Jordan and Egypt," Býcakcý said.
Býcakcý, who is one of the few well-known names in Turkey in jewelry
design, is known around the world. He won the American Jewelry Design
"Couture Design Award," which is regarded as the design Oscar, for
three successive years.

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ARMENTEL: BEFORE CLAIMING SOMETHING FROM ARMENTEL INTERNET PROVIDERS MUST SPEND AT LEAST SOMETHING ON INFRASTRUCTURE

ArmInfo
2009-07-10 20:03:00

ArmInfo. Before claiming something from ArmenTel internet providers
must spend at least something on infrastructure, Director GEneral of
ArmenTel Igor Klimko said during a press-conference today,

A year ago ArmenTel substantially reduced the wholesale internet
price for providers but the latter did not change their consumer
tariffs. As a result, the providers profited while consumers did not
Now they ask ArmenTel to reduce the price once again. "But we are
not sure that the situation will change," Klimko said.

"Now the providers want access to the last mile. We buy wholesale
internet and build and reserve channels and now some small operator
is going to take our internet and sell it to its consumers. We will
have no developed internet in Armenia unless our small providers
start spending money on infrastructure," Klimko said.

RA MINISTER OF DIASPORA COMPLETES HER VISIT TO USA

Noyan Tapan
July 10, 2009

LOS ANGELES, JULY 10, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. As was previously
reported, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian participated in the
International Forum of Armenian Doctors in the U.S. on July 1-4 and
delivered an extensive speech there. She asked the Armenian doctors
to pay special attention to the following problems:

1. To dedicate the future training and retraining programs of
specialists to the creation of modern centers in Armenia in line with
the latest achievements in health sector. It is necessary to introduce
all innovations in Armenia and help with solution of the problem of
having a healthy society and nation. The dynamics of the growth in
sickness statistics should be taken into account when opening new
centers and clinics.

2. Many head a medical institution: it will be quite useful and
efficient if, based on the example of siter cities, links are
established among hospitals in cities and villages of Armenia and
Artsakh and the indicated hospitals, following the principle of mutual
help and exchange of experience – "Hospital to Hospital" movement is
an important initial point of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.

3. The existing huge potential should be used to bring the quality of
medical education into line with international standards, especially
as the reforms in this direction have already begun at Yerevan State
Medical University.

4. The Ministry of Diaspora proposes assisting the AMIC and creating,
by joint efforts, AMIC units in those Diasporan communities where
they are absent.

The UK Minister of Health Ara Darzi, Armenian Minister of Health
Harutyun Kushkian, NKR Minister of Health Armen Khachatrian, other
doctors participating in the forum showed great interest in the
problems discussed in H. Hakobian’s speech.

According to the Press and PR Department of the RA Ministry of
Diaspora, the schedule of the minister’s working meetings was quite
busy.

Hranush Hakobian visited the Permanent Mission of the Republic of
Armenia to the UN and met with representatives of the ARF, Hay Dat
and Hamazkayin. She went to St. Vardan Church where she met with the
head of the Eastern Armenian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Khazhak Parsamian and members of the diocesan council.

The next meeting of Ms. Hakobian was at the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU). She went to the primacy of the Eastern diocese of
the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and had a meeting with the
diocesan head Archbishop Oshakan Choloyan. The Armenian ambassador
to the U.S. Tatul Margarian and the Representative of Armenia to the
UN Armen Martirosian took part in the meeting.

During their meeting with Ms. Hakobian, the members of the Fund for
Armenian Relief (FAR) Board informed her about the work done so far
in such spheres of Armenia as education, culture, social security,
children’s rights protection, etc. The minister handed RA Ministry of
Diaspora diplomas to a number of famous Diasporan Armenian scientists
and benefactors for their contribution to the Armenian health care
system.

Issues related to the implementation of the programs developed by RA
Ministry of Diaspora for the purpose of establishing closer relations
between Armenia and the Diaspora and solving the problems of importance
to all the Armenians were discussed during the meetings of Hranish
Hakobian with Diasporan Armenian benefactors Annette Joulfakian,
Rita Palian, Edgar Hovsepian and Aram Choubanian.

"ARMAVIA" AIR COMPANY PLANS TO AWARD ITS 1 MILLIONTH PASSENGER BY THE END OF 2009

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.07.2009 18:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Pursuant to its kind tradition developed over the
recent 2 years, Armavia air company awarded its 300.000th passenger
flying from Yerevan to Tbilisi. The lucky passenger was Nugzar
Samadashvili who was in Armenia on a business visit.

The company awarded Georgian citizen with a TV set and replaced his
ticket for business class. "I am very happy to be in Armenia. It’s
a nice country with nice people," he said.

Armavia plans to award its 1000 000th passenger by the end of the
current year, company’s Vice Director Rafael Avetikyan said.

Armavia air company is a member of the International Air Transport
Association. Every month it carries out 250 flights in over 30
directions, including CIS countries, Europe and Near East. In 2008,
the company transported over 647000 passengers.

Company’s air park consist of A-319 (3), A-320 (2), Il-86, Tu-134
air planes.

Armavia will be the first company to acquire Sukhoi Superjet S-100
airplane by the end of 2009.

MOVSES HAKOBYAN: KARABAKH SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE TALKS

AZG Armenian Daily
11/07/2009

The Karabakh conflict is far from being resolved today, because the
people of Karabakh do not participate in the process, NKR Defense
Minister, Lieutenant-General Movses Hakobyan said. He insists that
the government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has worked out its
official position on the ways of settlement and it constantly presents
it to the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, when they visit Stepanakert.

Armenia expresses its stance on the Karabakh settlement during
negotiations. Karabakh will express its opinion when it gets involved
in the talks, the Defense Minister declared, adding that the two
positions do not contradict each other.

"It’s obvious that if the fate of our people is being decided,
it should be done by our people. In this stage, when the people of
NKR are not involved in the process, the conflict is far from being
solved," Movses Hakobyan stressed.

Which concessions is Karabakh ready for today? The Minister considers
that speaking about it is too early. First, Karabakh is not a party
to the talks. Secondly, they do not what to hear about any concessions
today.

As for the threats of the Azerbaijani side to solve the conflict by use
of force, NKR Defense Minister does not take them seriously. He simply
notes that the threats of the past 15 years have remained threats only.

Recently international organizations have been paying special attention
to the issue of snipers. The planned OSCE monitoring of the line of
contact has been disturbed a few times. Movses Hakobyan assures that
the monitoring has always been disturbed by Azeri snipers.

According to the Minister, NKR agreed to the requirement to withdraw
the snipers from the contact line at the very beginning.