Author: Jagharian Tania

MAXIM KHOROSHENKOV: WE’RE INTERESTED IN RA MARKET PERSPECTIVES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.09.2009 21:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan hosted an annual conference for TNK
Lubricants Company distributors. According to company Directory
General Maxim Khoroshenkov, the regular event covers current issues
of the company.

"This year, we decided to hold a conference in Armenia, as we’re
interested in RA market perspectives. In 2008, TNK production was
ranked first in Armenian market of industrial lubricants," Maxim
Khoroshenkov stated.

TNK-BP is a leading Russian oil company, specializing in the production
and marketing of lubricants and special liquids for cars, commercial
vehicles, and a broad spectrum of industrial equipment. It is among
the top ten privately-owned oil companies in the world in terms of
crude oil production. The company was formed in 2003 as a result of
the merger of BP’s Russian oil and gas assets and the oil and gas
assets of Alfa, Access/Renova group (AAR).

SERGE SARGSYAN IS LAUGHING

os15359.html
14:58:52 – 30/09/2009

"When I am alone, sometimes I am laughing because in many cases
the situation seems absurd", stated Serge Sargsyan on September 30
during his meeting with the members of the Public Council when they
discussed the Armenian and Turkish relations. Serge Sargsyan touched
upon his laughing in the contest of the Karabakh issue dwelling on
the question whether the Karabakh issue is a precondition in the
process of the normalization of the Armenian and Turkish relations.

"When I am alone, sometimes I am laughing because in many cases
the situation seems absurd. People who have never been to Karabakh,
neither in Armenia, they did not go out because maybe someone from
the military commissariat could come and ask them what they were
doing there, accuse me of making compromises in Karabakh issue. Isn’t
it absurd? Do they want to defend Karabakh from me?" wonders Serge
Sargsyan and continues, "So what? Do I have go on compromises in this
question? To have what? To become the king of Armenia? What else may
excite me?" asks Serge Sargsyan rhetorically.

He notes that if we assume that there are some hints in connection
with the Kars agreement and historical questions, so there is no hint
relating to the Karabakh issue. He also notes that the Armenian society
is inclined to believing foreigners, when Erdoghan says Karabakh is
a precondition and when they say it is not, people believe Erdoghan.

Serge Sargsyan says that even the international society states about
the lack of preconditions and no link to the Karabakh issue. According
to Serge Sargsyan, the Minsk group co-chairs are likely to underline
this circumstance in the nearly future. According to him, the Karabakh
issue of course has to be settled when they reach a variant expressing
all the aims and approaches of Armenians, so separate discussions
will be held in this connection.

THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE AT TAGLYAN HALL

ary-of-the-armenian-independence-at-taglyan-hall/
Sep 28 2009

On Monday, September 21, 2009 Taglyan hall in Hollywood was the
venue for celebrating the 18th anniversary of the Independence Day
of the Republic of Armenia. Clergy members who had attended the
ceremony were His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, His Eminence
Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian,
Very Rev. Fr. Bared Dz. V. Yeretsian, Archpriest Fr. Arshag
Khatchadourian, Archpriest Fr. Manoog Markarian, Rev. Fr. Mampre
Kesabyan, Rev. Fr. Mikael Kyureghyan and Rev. Fr. Avedis Abovian.

On behalf of the Western Diocese, the Diocesan Council and the Diocesan
faithful, the Primate congratulated the Armenian Consul General Grigor
Hovhannissian and wished him well in his endeavors.

DIASPORA IS READY

15311.html
11:36:15 – 28/09/2009

In order to learn the opinions of the Diaspora on the Armenian and
Turkish protocols, from October 1, Serge Sargsyan will be visiting
New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Beirut and Doni Rostov. It is called
a pan-Armenian trip. But the question occurs what percent of all the
Armenians lives in those cities. For example, which is the reason why
Serge Sargsyan does not visit the Armenians living in Tehran. And why
not those living in Athens. There are numerous communities in these
cities too in addition they seem to be politically and socially active
communities. Are all the Armenians which are 10 million situated in
those four-five cities only? Is it possible to learn the opinions
of ten million Armenians in only 7 days? Whereas, Serge Sargsyan
stated on an occasion that 10 million Armenians means 10 million
ambassadors all over the world, so he has to learn each opinion of
these "ambassadors". If ten million is important in one case, how it
can be unimportant in another case and only the Armenians living in
those four-five cities become important.

It is of course comprehensible that it is physically impossible to meet
the majority of the Armenian Diaspora until the term of singing the
Armenian and Turkish protocols. But the question is that in this case
they do not need to meet anyone at all and present is as discussions or
communication with the Diaspora. Another format is better to be found
in which not the president but his delegates would participate. Let
them go and meet Armenians in decades of cities on behalf of the
president. If it was needed, let them take Serge Sargsyan’s letter
of attorney with them. Perhaps, in this case it would be possible
to dwell on some communication with the Diaspora. But only 10 cities
seem very few for 10 million Diaspora and the real aim does not seem
to be the Diaspora’s opinion but the Diaspora regularly becomes means.

By the way, the Diaspora is preparing to receive Serge Sargsyan with
a protest. See photo report.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PAYS A WORKING VISIT TO ARARAT AND ARMAVIR PROVINCE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
paid a working visit to the `Massis Tobacco’ factory, got acquainted
with the production powers, walked in the factory, spoke with the
leadership and employees. During the working visit the president was
accompanied by vice prime minister, territorial administration
minister Armen Gevorgyan, agriculture minister Gerasim Alaverdyan,
Ararat governor Vardges Hovakimyan. In the factory they were
accompanied by the president of the company Hrant Vardanyan.
This year in January-September the company exported 30,968 boxes of
cigarette production costing 3 million 408,632 USD. A ready product is
being exported to USA, Russia, Sweden, Georgia, Abkhazia, Iraq,
Turkmenistan, China, Afghanistan, Zambia, Israel. The raw cigarette is
being exported to Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Georgia, Egypt,
Belgium.
Hrant Vardanyan said that the global financial-economic crisis will
not impede very much the development of such small companies as
Armenia if all the businessmen, collectives continue their natural
activity. `Who works will not be effected by the crisis,’ H. Vardanyan
said, expressing assurance that the crisis had a very small impact on
the food industry.
H. Vardanyan said the opening of the border with Turkey will create
new market and concerns that products will be imported from Turkey and
create troubles for producers.
`Massis Tobacco’ ensures 900 people with jobs some of them work for
a season and 520 are permanent employees.
Armenian president also visited in Ararat province the Aygavan
branch of the Yerevan Brandy Factory, then Armavir’s `MAP’ company.

GABRIEL SARKISYAN LOSES THE 6TH ROUND

Aysor
Thursday, September 24

Armenia’s Grand Master Gabriel Sarkisyan lost Antwerp’s International
Chess’2009 6th round to India’s Krishnan Sashikira. Currently he
seeds places of 5-6 together with Anna Muzichuk.

The tournament’s leaders Emil Sutovsky and Etienne Bacrot again won:
Emil Sutovsky won over Bart Michels and Etienne Bacrot won over
Anna Muzichuk.

Sutovsky leads the Tournament Table with 5 points, followed by Bacrot
with 4.5 points.

Sashikira who won over Armenian chess player took 3.5 points sharing
with Antoinette Stefanova places of 3-4. By the way, Stefanova won
over David Houel

Jan Timan, in his turn, won over Bartosz Socko and seeded 7-8 with
2.5 points.

Bart Michels took 2 points; David Houel added 0.5 to his portfolio.

ARMENIA STARTS PRIVATIZING COMPANIES THROUGH AUCTIONS ON STOCK EXCHANGE

ARKA
September 23, 2009
Yerevan

YEREVAN, September 24. /ARKA/. On Wednesday, Armenian government
permitted to privatize six companies by selling their stocks through
auctions on NASDAQ OMX Armenia Stock Exchange.

Karine Kirakosyan, chief of the state property agency, named these
companies – the Urban Planning Institute, Atomservice Company,
Nedrolog, Yerevan Section of Water Supply System, as well as Kaputak
and Narek rest house.

"These companies have been selected as a result of discussions with
the stock exchange. Companies and their stocks were evaluated on the
stock exchange for selection. The privatization process will give
the great number of people room for participation", Kirakosyan said.

She said that all the companies to be put up for sale function and
bring profit.

However, she didn’t indicate areas of their activities and the size
of the state participation.

In her words, the government approves the list of companies selected
by the agency and the stock exchange for privatization.

Kirakosyan said that before undergoing privatization process, companies
are transformed into open joint stock companies.

Under the government’s decision, the privatization will be completed
within six months.

NASDAQ OMX Armenia (Armenian Stock Exchange OJSC until January 27,2009)
was founded in 2001 as a self-regulating organization, a voluntary
association of 21 b rokerage firms.

Early in November 2007, the stock exchange was transformed to an
OJSC. On January 7, 2008, OMX (at present NASDAQ OMX) became sole
owner of NASDAQ OMX Armenia and of the Central Depository of Armenia.

As of June 23, 2009, 11 shares and 12 corporate bonds were listed on
NASDAQ OMX Armenia.

The capitalization of the stock exchange was 50.3bln AMD. ($1 =
AMD 382.05).

HEADS OF ALL DEPARTMENTS TO SUBMIT PROGRAMS AND PRIORITIES FOR 2010 TO ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT BY OCTOBER 15

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. By the instruction of the Armenian
prime minister, the heads of all the departments must submit the 2010
programs and priorities of their departments to the government by
October 15. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the September 23
sitting that the department heads will be given the order and format
of developing these measures.

SPAIN INTERESTED IN STABILITY IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.09.2009 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s National Security Council Secretary
Artur Baghdasaryan received the newly appointed Ambassador of Spain
in Armenia (residence in Moscow), Juan Antonio Marc Pujol.

The officials discussed the development of Armenian-Spanish relations,
as well as issues related to the South Caucasus.

As Artur Baghdasaryan mentioned, Armenia supports cooperation with
all countries in the region. The two sides also discussed issues
related to normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Artur Baghdasaryan presented the position of the Armenian side in
the process of normalization of relations between the countries,
stressing that Armenia advocates for establishment of relations with
Turkey without preconditions, press office of the National Security
Council reports.

NORMALIZING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS PROCESS WILL CONTINUE, SAYS TURKOLOGIST

Tert
Sept 21 2009
Armenia

"Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Turkey must not be conditional on the
process of the Protocols. Simply, Sargsyan invited Turkey’s president,
who came, and Sargsyan’s visit will be simply a response visit;
particularly, if the visit on the occasion of the football match is
not bound to any issue. I think, however, that the president will
go, and the process of normalization will continue," Turkologist
Hakob Chakrian told Tert.am, in response to the question on upcoming
developments in the process of establishing Armenian-Turkish relations.

In the issue of establishing Armenian-Turkish relations, Chakrian views
the possible developments in this way: "In this matter, the Turkish
side also doesn’t have the possiblility of maneuvering much. Finally,
international powers initiated this process and is it their position
which will be decisive."

The Turkologist doesn’t exclude the interruption of the process
either. "Turkey’s authorities express changing views: on one hand, they
are for the normalization [of Armenian-Turkish relations]; on the other
hand, they connect the issue with the settlement of Nagorno-Karbakh,
which is unacceptable in the international arena. Even if the process
is interrupted let it be Turkey’s fault that it’s interrupted, so
that Armenia doesn’t become a target of international pressures. The
process failing is not excluded, since Erdogan’s leadership has a
serious opposition," Chakrian commented.

Continuing, the expert expressed his surprise at Armenia’s opposition,
which, according to him, doesn’t believe their independent country’s
president’s statements and prefers to believe its own assumptions,
according to which there are preconditions in the Armenian Turkish
Protocols.

"There is not a single precondition in the documents. There are tenets,
on which diverse comments can be made. Generally speaking, those from
the opposition who in previous years were expressing another opinion on
Armenian-Turkish relations are now saying the diametrically opposite,
which is concerning because [it shows that] governing bodies are unable
to express their own point of view and they are condemned to having
incessant opinions and changing points of view," stated Chakrian.