Author: Hambardsumian Paul

RA NA: ARMENIA AND NKR TO INTRODUCE COORDINATED POSITIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.09.2009 19:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On September 16, Nayira Zohrabyan, Chair of NA
Standing Committee on European Integration, met with NKR Foreign
Minister Georgy Petrosyan. Discussion focused on Karabakh conflict
and Armenian delegation’s relevant activities in PACE.

Parties stressed the importance of joining efforts and introducing
coordinated positions in international tribunals. "We should
introduce to international community current changes in NKR and argue
people’s right to live on their land in compliance with international
standards. Such steps should not be imposed by situation; they should
be goal-oriented and consistent," RA NA press service reports.

ARMENIAN POLITICAL FORCES ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 15 2009
Armenia

17:22 / 09/15/2009The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) has
presented draft amendments to the Armenian-Turkish Protocols to the
Armenian political forces.

The ARF mainly objects to the points on a commission to study
historical facts and on the mutual recognition of borders. Talking
to NEWS.am, Eduard Sharmazanov, Secretary of the Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA) faction, pointed out that some of the ARF-drafted
amendments are acceptable. "Specifically, the party proposes a
provision on a dialogue without any preconditions. On the other hand,
why should the text be amended if it is clear as it is?" Sharmazanov
said.

As regards the ARF;s objections to the point on mutual recognition of
borders, which, the party believes, means Armenia’s renouncing any
territorial claims on Turkey, he said: "During the whole history of
the Third Republic, no government, including the one with ARF as part
thereof, has stated Armenia has any territorial claims on Turkey." Of
course, the RPA expresses its all-out support for the Armenian-Turkish
Protocol and is not going to propose any modifications. "They are
unprecedented protocols, which do not contain a point challenging the
Armenian Genocide or one on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Both
President Serzh Sargsyan and international representatives made
relevant statements. We should trust our leaders after all,"
Sharmazanov said.

As regards he Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), it has not yet had time
to examine the ARF’s proposals. However, Aram Safaryan, Secretary of
the PAP faction, told NEWS.am that the party has prepared a number of
proposals. He did not provide any further information as the faction
decided to wait until the RA President’s meeting with the Armenian
political forces.

The Heritage Party has not decided on whether it will take part
in the meeting. Board Chairman Armen Martirosyan pointed out that
the party prepared ten proposals that are mostly similar to the
ARF-prepared ones.

On September 17, the Armenian President and Armenian political forces
are to discuss Armenian-Turkish relations. The Armenian National
Congress led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan refuses to take part in the
meeting.

ARMENIAN ATHLETES SEEDED NINTH AT EUROPEAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Aysor
Sept 14 2009
Armenia

Judo European Youth Championship’2009 that took place in Yerevan
has finished.

Armenian national team took 3 medals in three weight categories. Artem
Baghdasaryan (73 kg) took gold, David Lazarian (55 kg) and Tigran
Varosyan (60 kg) seeded third and took bronze.

In the team event Armenia’s judoka seeded ninth, Ukraine seeded the
first, French – the second, Hungary – the third, Russia – the fourth,
Belgium – the fifth, Italy – the sixth, Azerbaijan – the seventh,
Georgia – the eighth, Albania – the tenth.

European Youth Championship took place in Yerevan’s Sport and Concert
Complex named after Karen Demirchyan on September 11-13.

WITHDRAWAL FROM LIBERATED TERRITORIES WILL LEAD TO WAR, SAYS KARABAKH MP

Asbarez
drawal-from-liberated-territories-will-lead-to-war -says-karabakh-mp/
Sep 14, 2009

STEPANAKERT-Azerbaijan will eventually invade and occupy
Nagorno-Karabakh if the Karabakh Defense Forces are forced to withdraw
from the liberated territories surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation serving
as a deputy in Karabakh’s National Assembly warned on Monday.

War will break out if If Karabakh loses the territories and is forced
to only maintain a narrow corridor to Armenia, Armen Sargsyan told
reporters Monday. "Azerbaijan will sooner or later attack it to divide
this part from Armenia," he warned.

"We should preserve these territories, he underscored, stressing that
there are serious historic and security precedents for Karabakh to
remain in the territories.

The independence of Karabakh’s is also in danger, he warned, noting
Turkey’s growing involvement in the process and its efforts to link
the normalization of its relations with Armenia on a resolution to
the Karabakh conflict favoring its ally Azerbaijan.

"The Turkish factor must not become decisive in the peace process,"
he stated, adding that a new stage has begun in the peace process
and new principles for peace should be presented, which are rooted
in the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to self determination.

IT BUSINESSMEN CONCERNED ABOUT YOUNG SPECIALISTS EDUCATION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.09.2009 10:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Head of IT department at RA Economy Ministry Vache
Kirakosyan voiced concerns over indifference of students about their
future career.

"Students show no interest in training in relevant companies to gain
experience and improve knowledge," he said during a meeting of IT
companies’ leaders this weekend.

The initiative of Synopsys Armenia to resolve the problem was hailed
as efficient. The students trained in the company get a special
scholarship.

For his part, Yerevan State University rector Alexander Grigoryan
offered to establish ties between higher education institutions
and schools.

Aysor, Armenia
Sept 12 2009

China to get ready to assist for Armenian-Turkish ties

Armenia’s FM Edward Nalbandyan on an official visit to China met with
China’s FM Yang Jiechi on September, 11, press-office of Armenia’s
Foreign Ministry reports.

Armenia’s FM stressed the importance of developing and strengthening
of friendly relations with China. Mr Nalbandyan expressed satisfaction
with the dynamic development of bilateral relations in various fields,
noting that there are not any dissents between Armenia and Chine,
conversely there is number of combining the two countries factors.

Mr Nalbandyan and Mr Jiechi have thoroughly discussed the issues of
intensifying of consultations between the foreign bodies of China and
Armenia, their cooperation in international organizations as well as
exchanged views on international and regional aspects.

Armenia’s FM thanked his Chinese colleague for the ongoing balanced
policy in the region. Mr Nalbandyan briefed Mr Jiechi with the process
of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, as well as with
efforts to resolve the Karabakh issue. China’s FM said his country was
ready to assist for the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict
as well as Armneian-Turkish settlement.

The sides also discussed current international issues, in particular,
UN Security Council reforms, Middle East’s settlements, eliminating
the effects of global financial crisis and climate changes. There was
a detailed discussion on economic stimulation and the steps of
realization of agreements in this field.

It was decided in talks to hold next Armenian-Chinese
intergovernmental commission in Beijing in this year’s December.

3-hour-long talks also touched upon issues of cooperation in
education, science and culture.

The need to increase the number of Armenian and Chinese students in
Armenia’s and China’s universities was also stressed as well as the
necessity of agreement on mutual recognition of education
certificates. The sides welcomed the Days of Chinese culture to be
held in Armenia in November, this year, and discussed the possibility
of organizing and carrying out of Days of Armenian culture in China.

WHO ARE THEY?

5154.html
11/09/2009

The members of the fact-finding group addressed a letter to the head
of the NA temporary commission to study March Samvel Nikoyan which
runs:

`We are sending you a video and one photo which show armed people in
military uniforms on March 1, 2008 at about 16:00-17:00 on the Melik
Adamyan street. Before the release of the final report of the
commission we expect the commission to find out:

-whether the people in the camion are soldiers. If yes, from what
structure and what department.

– whether the masked people in the second ground of the photo are
soldiers or police officials, if yes, from what department.

We inform you that the documents the fact-finding group sent you in
this connection contain valuable information.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED A DELEGATION LED BY SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND TRADE AMER HOSNI LUTFI.

Monda y, 7 September 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received a delegation led by Syrian
Arab Republic Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Hosni Lutfi.

In greeting the guest, the Prime Minister said that historical
affinities and centuries-old friendship provide a solid groundwork
for those warm relations maintained between the peoples of Armenia
and Syria.

The head of the Armenian government noted that the development of
economic ties is especially important amid the global financial and
economic crisis.

He reminded that during the Syrian President’s recent visit to Armenia,
the two heads of State specified those areas where joint programs
could be realized. Tigran Sargsyan assured of his government’s
readiness to give effect to all of the arrangements made at the
presidential meeting.

Mr. Amer Hosni Lutfi conveyed to the Prime Minister of Armenia best
regards on behalf of his Syrian counterpart and an invitation to
visit the Syrian Arab Republic.

The parties then took the opportunity to speak about the activities
of the Armenian-Syrian intergovernmental commission which has just
called its 5th session in Yerevan.

Both sides have stressed the need for activating bilateral contacts
in an effort to boost trade turnover, implementing regional projects,

promoting exchange of know-how in the banking sector, encouraging
mutual investments and fostering direct ties between the respective
business circles.

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN: APPOINTMENT OF U.S. OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR

US Department of State
28680.htm
Sept 7 2009

Ian Kelly
Department SpokesmanWashington
September 7, 2009

The Secretary is pleased to announce the appointment of Ambassador
Robert Bradtke as the next U.S. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair. Ambassador
Bradtke brings to this position more than thirty-six years of Foreign
Service experience and extensive expertise in European security
policy. In July of this year, he completed a three year assignment as
Chief of Mission at American Embassy Zagreb, Croatia. Prior to that,
he served from 2001 to 2004 as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs, with responsibility for NATO and
the OSCE.

The United States understands the critical importance of achieving
a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We welcome
recent positive dialogues between President Sargsian of Armenia and
President Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Secretary Clinton has indicated to
the two presidents her strong interest in the Minsk Group’s ongoing
efforts to bring the process to a fruitful conclusion, and the Obama
Administration is committed to doing everything possible to support
this goal.

We have informed the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan of
Ambassador Bradtke’s appointment. Ambassador Bradtke looks forward
to his first trip to the region in the coming weeks.

UNIBANK IMPROVES CAR LOAN PROGRAMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2009 15:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Unibank improves car loan programs and offers
services for borrowers with different income and demands, the bank’s
press office said.

The programs are available both for new and used cars. The loan
is granted for a 5-year term, with 17% interest rate. The initial
installment is 20%. The maximal amount is AMD 50 million.

As of September 1, 2009 the car loan portfolio totaled AMD 8.5 billion.