Author: Frangulian Shushan

QUEEN ELIZABETH II SENDS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO SERZH SARGSYAN ON OCCASION OF 17th ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE

Noyan Tapan

Se p 19, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Her Britannic Majesty’s Embassy
presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia and has the honour to forward the following message
from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to His Excellency Serzh Sargsyan,
President of the Republic of Armenia.

The message reads:

"It gives me much pleasure to send Your Excellency my congratulations
on the celebration of your National Day, together with my best wishes
for the happiness and prosperity of the Government and people of
Armenia in the coming year."

STRUGGLE AGAINST "THE STATE OF CHIEFTAINS" ONE YEAR OLD
Kima Yeghiazaryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
17 Sep 2008
Armenia

Alas The Conversation Is About Anniversary

The revolutionary year came to a close by the meeting near Matenadaran
that took place the day before yesterday.

The next demonstration announced by the "Pan National Movement" which
is to take place on September 26, passes round the "historical" day of
September 21. It was a year ago, the very day when Levon Ter-Petrosyan
broke the oath of silence and the status of self-isolation and decided
to return to public politics and recited his "famous" speech in
"Armenia-Marriott" hotel.

On September 21, 2007, the "wise" leader tried to manifest discretion
in his speech and avoided foul estimations. During his hotel-meetings
with his companions-in-arm, the activists of Armenian Pan National
Movement, he "modestly" recorded that the ruling power is nothing
more than a "criminal administration" and he promised not to spare
his efforts in his struggle against the ruling power.

It was later when the leader of Armenian Pan National Movement
started to attract the revolutionary crowd with his eloquent
speeches. Beginning from October 26, 2007 he showered threats and
abuses, with an exclusive skill of an inventor he put into circulation
expressions like "state of chieftains", "Tatar Mongolian khans"
and many other similar word combinations.

Later he entered the year 2008, pushing the protestant electorate with
him and during the presidential elections with the self-confidence of
the "winner candidate" held his campaign in almost all the provinces.

Where he was trying to convince the people that the mission of
"dismantling" the state is exclusively reserved for himself.

There were people who really believed that no one could overthrow
the ruling administration except LTP. The fans of the latter really
believed that finally the embodiment of the savior came to Armenian
world.

The most ridiculous thing is – even after the crush of their candidate
during the presidential elections the activists of the movement and
the "peaceful demonstrators" continued to believe that their idol
will very soon overthrow the ruling power and they will take LTP to
Baghramyan 26, on their hands and will coronate him as a President
in the Presidential palace.

The wild fanatics, victims of psychological diversion, who have
gathered in the square during the last ten days of February, refused
to comprehend that elections are over and the election returns are
published.

It is not less noteworthy that during the post-election spring
and summer the analysts belonging to Armenian Pan National
Movement completely forgot about LTP’s primary go al to uproot the
"state of chieftains" and used to speak exclusively about their
"achievements", underscoring that due to the long-term struggle of the
revolutionaries at the moment we have "free citizens" in our country
and that we managed to overcome the "atmosphere of fear", that the
authorities don’t "dare" to ban their demonstrations, and so on and
so forth. Whereas everyone knows which is the famous "achievement"
of the movement. The revolutionaries really managed to organize and
realize "March-1".

This is the only achievement of the movement – the instigation of
mass disorders in the center of the city with tens of victims.

Thus the fighters for freedom reached the culmination of their
struggle on the very first day of March. And the "decisive"
summer demonstrations following it, the "political walks" on the
Northern Avenue, simply tend to guarantee the continuation of the
struggle. Because the culmination of the struggle was followed by the
deterioration of the process. And at present it is really ridiculous
to hear about the fiery autumn. The last meeting proves this. The
leaders were evidently unaware of their future programs.

Most probably they rely on the elections of the governor of Kentron
Community, which they hope to use for livening up their revolutionary
struggle. Empty hopes.

The revolutionaries have one more chance, but it is difficult to say
whether or not they will manage to take the "people" to the streets in
the spring of 2009. Anyway during the last meeting LTP inspired hope
saying: "taking into account the criminal economic policy pursued by
the authorities a very difficult winter is in store for our people
and crises in the beginning of spring."

We should notice that this announcement is made in the 21st century but
it seems as if it was heard from the mouth of the opposition leaders
of 1992-93. We have heard lots of similar ominous predictions but we
have always managed to overcome such winters.

No! Our country will never see proper opposition.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
September 17, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: [email protected]

20th ANNIVERSARY OF NAGORNO KARABAGH MOVEMENT
MARKED AT CAPITOL HILL PROGRAM

— Special Guest Mark Geragos Joined by More than Ten Members of
Congress; Community Leadership; Armenia and NKR Diplomatic Corps

— Geragos Challenges Congress to Provide at least $100 Million
to Artsakh

WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Congress joined together on a
bipartisan basis this evening to mark the 20th anniversary of the
Nagorno Karabagh Republic (Artsakh) freedom movement, at a Capitol
Hill program headlined by prominent lawyer and humanitarian Mark
Geragos, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

The evening, titled "Nagorno Karabakh Republic/Artsakh: 20 Years of
Freedom, Democracy and Progress," was hosted by the Congressional
Caucus of Armenian Issues in cooperation with the Embassy of the
Republic of Armenia, the Nagorno Karabagh Representation in the
U.S., and Armenian American organizations.

"As a community deeply devoted to Artsakh’s security, we are
pleased to be joined by our Congressional friends at today’s
Capitol Hill celebration of Nagorno Karabagh’s hard-won freedom,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We take from this
event an added measure of devotion to standing up against
Azerbaijani and Caspian energy interests, increasing developmental
aid to Nagorno Karabagh, zeroing-out military aid to Azerbaijan,
and breaking down the artificial barriers to U.S.-Artsakh
dialogue."

Throughout the evening, Members of Congress offered remarks
congratulating Nagorno Karabagh — praising its commitment to
democracy, peace and stability, and citing it as an example for
other countries in the region. Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-
Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), who served
as Masters of Ceremony for the evening, offered moving remarks
along with Reps. Shelly Berkley (D-NV), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jim
Costa (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), George
Radanovich (R-CA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and
Tim Walz (D-MN).

The event invocation was offered by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
the Eastern U.S., while a special presentation on the Nagorno
Karabagh liberation movement was made by His Eminence Archbishop
Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Eastern U.S.
In recognition of Congressional support for Artsakh, the
Congressional Caucus Co-Chairs were given a special book of letters
and drawing prepared by the children of Artsakh, presented by Ms.
Nelly Martirosyan, who had recently spent over two months working
with youth there.

In his keynote address, Geragos challenged Members of Congress to
increase their support for Nagorno Karabagh, calling the $30
million in U.S. assistance allocated to date to Nagorno Karabagh
insufficient, and asserting that this aid package, to a democratic
nation in a troubled region, should be at least at the $100 million
level.

Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian and NKR
Representative in the U.S. Vardan Barseghian provided insight on
the current peace talks over Nagorno Karabagh and the ongoing
commitment of both countries to a peaceful resolution of the
conflict. A special video marking the 20th anniversary of the
Artsakh movement, prepared by film-maker and documentary producer
Peter Musurlian, highlighted the economic progress and
strengthening of democracy in the Republic. The evening concluded
with moving remarks by human rights activist Kathryn Porter, a
frequent visitor to Artsakh who has shared trying and triumphant
moments with the women of Artsakh during and after the conflict in
the region.

Photos and video coverage of Congressional remarks from the event
will be posted on the ANCA website () and YouTube
channel –

#####

Note to the Editor: Photos Available Upon request. Please email:
[email protected]

IRAN URGES NEW SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS IN CAUCASIA

Tehran Times
Sept 17 2008
Iran

TEHRAN – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Tuesday that the Caucasus
region needs "new security arrangements" and called for adopting new
measures to prevent armed conflicts in the region.

Russian tanks, troops and warplanes repelled the Georgian attack on
its South Ossetian allies and drove deep into Georgia in a five-day
war that killed hundreds of people and displaced nearly 200,000.

Georgia has emerged as a major focus of a struggle for influence,
pitting Russia against the United States and the EU amid relations
that have become increasingly frayed over the past decade.

Some analysts are of the opinion that the Georgian attack on South
Ossetia took place with a green light from the White House.

"The events and recent developments in the Caucasus region indicate
that the era of unilateralism has come to an end," Larijani told
visiting Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard Nalbandian

Larijani said signing agreements with regional countries on
establishing security in the region can be very effective in allaying
security concerns.

The speaker stated that the Iranian parliament is ready to develop
cooperation with regional countries especially Armenia to help set
up regional alliances.

The Armenian chief diplomat described Iran as an important and great
neighbor.

Nalbandian insisted that regional countries should resolve tension
in the region without the interference of outsiders.

No need for NATO involvement in Caucasia

President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said there is no need for the intervention
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the Caucasus tension.

"To settle differences among regional countries there is no need
for the NATO interference," the president said in a separate meeting
with Nalbandian.

Experience has shown that the Western countries’ intervention in
regional conflicts will make the situation worse, he stated.

Ahmadinejad said expansion of relations between regional countries
will help promote security and peace in the region.

He also said the unipolar system has almost collapsed and its
repercussions are seen in different parts of the world.

Georgia has angered Russia with its drive to join NATO. The alliance
in April declined to take a key step toward membership for Georgia
but assured the nation that it will eventually join.

The NATO leader also condemned Russia’s use of ""disproportional
force"" and emphasized NATO’s demand that Moscow withdraw to positions
its forces held before the fighting erupted, complying with a
cease-fire deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The unresolved status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has always given
alliance members pause about accepting Georgia.

Russia has adamantly opposed NATO membership for Georgia, whose
location straddling a key westward energy route for Caspian and Central
Asian oil and gas supplies gives it outsize geopolitical importance.

RUSSIA LURES AZERBAIJAN WITH NEW PEACE AND ENERGY INITIATIVES
by Natalia Leshchenko

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
September 16, 2008

The president of Azerbaijan is visiting his Russian counterpart
Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow today at the latter’s invitation. The
conversation will focus on two principal subjects: a peace settlement
in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan’s energy policy.

Significance:Russia is keen to play a peacemaker role in the
protracted conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
pro-Armenian separatist republic on Azerbaijani territory. Azerbaijan
has been building up its military muscle recently, and calls for a
military solution of the conflict are heard increasingly. Russia,
a traditional ally of Armenia, is keen to avoid another military
confrontation in the Caucasus, and the situation where it may be
forced to support its ally Armenia in the framework of Collective
Security Treaty Organisation. Hence, Medvedev is initiating talks
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders, which he has offered
to mediate, to broker an eventual peace deal. Russia is equally keen
to preclude Azerbaijan’s military, political and energy gravitation
towards NATO and the Western organisations, and to counterbalance the
obvious efforts taken by the U.S. administration recently, including
a visit by vice-president Dick Cheney, to draw Azerbaijan into its
sphere of influence. Medvedev will be proposing a treaty banning
deployment of military forces from outside the region and will also
be lobbying Russia’s purchases of Azerbaijani gas from the second
stage of Shah-Deniz field. The Azerbaijani president faces some
rather tough–if ultimately luxury–choices between the wooings of
the Western and Russian leadership. Known for his diplomatic skills,
Aliyev is likely to seek to navigate the situation without making a
clear alliance with either of the contending sides.

REASONS BEHIND CHENEY’S VISITS
By Beril Dedeoglu

Turkish Press
Sept 14 2008

STAR- Certain foreign visits are very high-profile, like President
Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia or his French counterpart Nicholas
Sarkozy’s visit to Moscow, while others keep to the sidelines
or shadows. US Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent trip to nearby
countries fits in the latter category. Cheney visited Azerbaijan not
even a month after the South Ossetia conflict, even as Russia hasn’t
implemented the cease-fire. Considering Cheney’s itinerary, which
continued with Georgia and Ukraine, it’s clear that these visits were
designed to disturb Russia. The US sent its vice president to places
Russia considers vital in order to show that the US also sees them
as vital. The US thus showed the entire world who it considers allies.

Actually, nobody knows if the Azeris and Ukrainians really welcomed
the visits, because being a close US ally in the Caucasus or
Ukraine – that is, near Russia – carries a price. Russia can punish
governments seeking a strategic relationship with the US, as it did to
Georgia. Countries that the US shows a close interest in are likely
to become Russian targets. Cheney’s visits might actually endanger
the soft Westernization policies of Azerbaijan and Ukraine, which
stem mostly from their desire to get closer to the European Union.

Even in explaining the reason for his visits, Cheney showed the
nature of his expectations by stressing energy issues, and he more or
less said that the US will do whatever is needed to keep Russia from
being an energy monopoly. As his last stop Cheney met with Italian
Prime Minister Silvia Berlusconi, as the issue of energy dependence
on Russia worries the EU. Meanwhile, I guess by coincidence US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also visited Libya in a bid to
normalize relations. Even if Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi signaled
that he didn’t trust the US, there was an impression that energy
issues might encourage the two countries to get closer. So two top
US officials pursued energy issues to Turkey’s north and south, and
thus showed the EU what Washington is pursuing in the Mediterranean
and Black Sea regions. Meanwhile, Cheney stressed the importance of
Turkey, located between these two regions and their energy routes,
in terms of energy transportation lines, its strategic importance,
and the usefulness of its possible EU membership.

But Cheney talking about Turkey’s importance might not be such good
news. Actually everybody is saying that Turkey is important. In
addition, when our conservative government thinks about it, there are
many reasons to doubt that Turkish-US ties will develop in line with
Turkey’s interests. So the US is expected to toe Turkey’s line on the
Montreux Treaty, the future of northern Iraq, NATO enlargement, and
how duties are divided in international peacekeeping forces. As part
of this, Turkey might have to take measures to head off pressure in
such areas as Cyprus, the so-called Armenian genocide issue, and the
Kurdish issue as soon as possible, at least before Cheney comes here."

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT GIVES INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTINUE MEASURES ON CATTLE
IMPORT AND PROVIDING FARMERS WITH HIGH QUALITY SEEDS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. During the September 13 working
meeting, the RA Minister of Agriculture Aramais Grigorian informed
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan about the current state of the
agricultural sector. According to him, there has been a 6.9% economic
growth in agriculture, a 9.8% growth in plant growing and 4.4% growth
in cattle breeding.

A. Grigorian presented the harvest process. In this connection the
president told him to continue paying attention to the harvest as well
as to the work of processing plants so that farmers will be paid on
time for their production.

According to the RA presidential press service, S. Sargsyan gave
instructions to continue measures on the import of cattle and providing
farmers with a sufficient amount of high quality seeds.

TRANSEURO ENERGY
500 ` 900 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1E5

Ukraine Well to be Sidetracked

September 11, 2008 TSX-V/ Oslo Axess: TSU Vancouver, Canada: –
Transeuro Energy Corp. (`Transeuro’, or the `Company’) announces an
update on its drilling operations.

Further to the Company’s news release of August 8, 2008 in regards to
the Karlavoskoye 101 well, theCompany is reporting that fishing
operations have terminated. It has been determined that the most
appropriate course of action is to sidetrack the well bore at a
predetermined depth of 2,875 meters and continue drilling the well to
a targeted depth of 3,500 meters. All of the required equipment has
now been procured for the sidetrack and subsequent drilling
operations. Once the operations and drilling commence, the Company
will continue to update the shareholders and public as
appropriate. Sidetrack operations are expected to begin the week of
September 15, 2008 and are expected to take approximately eight weeks
as the Company has further upgraded the drilling rig in the last month
and expect new efficiencies from these improvements.

Harold Hemmerich, President of Transeuro Energy Corp, commented, `In
spite of the lost time and the obvious financial costs associated with
the challenges we have encountered while drilling this well, the gas
flows and log results are very positive and we have seen nothing that
curbs our enthusiasm for the potential of the well and the field we
are targeting. We continue to work with our Ukraine partners to
improve operational performance.’

In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that all matters put
to the Company’s shareholders atthe Company’s Annual General Meeting
held on September 9, 2008 passed with near unanimous approval. The
Company’s board of directors for the following year will be comprised
of: Harold Hemmerich, David Parry, Mark Sarssam, Aage Thoen and Pedro
Paulo.

Transeuro Energy Corp. is involved in the acquisition of petroleum and
natural gas rights, the exploration for, and development and
production of crude oil, condensate and natural gas. The Company’s
properties are located in Canada, Armenia, Ukraine and, through
majority ownership in Eaglewood Energy Inc, in Papua New Guinea.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
`Harold Hemmerich’ President and CEO

For further information contact:
David Parry – Vancouver, Canada Karen O. Jenssen ` Oslo, Norway
+1 (604) 681 3939 Phone + 47 917 29 787
[email protected]

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed, and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this
news release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell
or solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the
United States.

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the targeted
results. The Company relies upon litigation protection for forward
looking statements.

Barrel of oil equivalent (`boe’) amounts may be misleading,
particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio has been
calculated using a conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of
natural gas to one barrel and is based on an energy equivalent
conversion method application at the burner tip and does not
necessarily represent an economic value equivalent at the wellhead.

CONTRACT SIGNED ON EXPORTING ELECTRICITY FROM ARMENIA TO TURKEY

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Yerevan – APA. Armenia will start selling electricity to Turkey as
from 2009, Armenia’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen
Movsisyan said, APA reports quoting Novosti-Armenia agency.

He said that representatives of UNIT Company engaged in importation
and distribution of high-voltage electricity in Turkey also attended
the visit of President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan.

"Contract was signed during the visit on exporting electricity from
Armenia to Turkey through Kars. According to the contract, Turkey
will restore all the necessary infrastructures in its territory in
four or five months and begin receiving electricity," he said.

The minister said the volume of electricity to be exported to Turkey
will be 1.5 billion Kwh, later it is planned to reach 3.5 billion Kwh.

"The price for a kilowatt depends on the price of heating energy and
gas. But the price will be economically effective. If the electricity
would have been exported now, the price would have been 5.7 cents
per kilowatt-hour. The contract is successful enough. This is a new
market for Armenia, the agreement will make it available to use our
energy potential maximally," he said.

Armen Movsisyan underlined that the agreement had been reached on
the highest level and did not believe that there would be political
obstacles.

TOTAL ASSETS OF VTB BANK (ARMENIA) AMD 113.15 BILLION IN 1ST HALF OF 2008

ARKA
Sep 10, 2008

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Assets of VTB Bank (Armenia) totaled AMD
113.15 billion in the first half of 2008, while at the same period of
the previous year they amounted to AMD 69.136, Valery Ovsyannikov,
director general of the bank, said at a press conference held in
Novosti International Press Center on Monday.

He said the bank’s total assets reached AMD 84.85 billion by the
beginning of the second quarter 2008.

Ovsyannikov said that thanks to that growth, the bank progressed
from the fourth to first position in Armenian banking system and won
convincing leadership on this indicator.

He said that VTB Bank (Armenia) is also among top three banks on
important indicators such as total liabilities – AMD 91.7 billion
(the second position) and attracted financial means – AMD 38.5 billion
(the third position).

The bank’s liabilities totaled AMD 48.4 billon by late June 2007,
while in the first quarter of this year they reached 63.5 billion.

VTB Bank (Armenia) (Armenian Savings Bank before June 20, 2006)
became a participant of VTB Group in April 2004.

VTB Bank holds 100% of stocks of VTB Bank (Armenia).

Authorized capital of VTB Bank (Armenia) is AMD 13.9 billion and own
capital reached AMD 22.8 billion by early September.

The bank is reckoned among three largest banks of Armenia on key
indicators.

VTB Bank (Armenia) is the biggest asset owner among banks in Armenia.

The bank has 80 offices all over the country.

In July 2008, the bank received "B" short-term and "BB+" long-term
issuer ratings from Fitch Ratings international rating agency. Forecast
on the long-term rating is "Stable". ($1 – AMD 301.11)