Author: Jagharian Tania

AZERBAIJAN MISINFORMING EUROPE ABOUT ARMENIA

news.am
Feb 11 2010
Armenia

Azerbaijan is misinforming the European agencies that Armenia is
against the concept of Euronest, Naira Zohrabyan, Chairwoman of the
Standing Committee on European Integration, RA Parliament, stated at
her meeting with EU Advisor Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa.

The Information and Public Relations Department, RA Parliament, told
NEWS.am that Ms. Zohrabyan presented the RA Parliament’s work under
the parliamentary Eastern Partnership program to the EU Advisor. The
sides also discussed the final stage of Euronest’s work.

Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa told Ms. Zohrayan that information on Armenia
allegedly being against Euronest is circulating. Zohrabyan expressed
the opinion that the misinformation is likely being spread by
Azerbaijan, as the Armenian side clearly pointed out the tasks that
are acceptable to it and should be discussed by Euronest. Armenia
also pointed out the reservations unacceptable to it, particularly the
fact that the Nagorno-Karabakh problem cannot be discussed by Euronest.

The EU Advisor informed the Armenian MP that the Euronest delegations
are to hold the first meeting in Brussels on March 23-24.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 5-11, 2010

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ARMENIA AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

MEO CONCLUSION ON THE APPEAL OF THE CHIEF EDITOR OF "DELOVOY EXPRESS"

NCTR WORKS OUT CRITERIA TO ARTICLE 24 OF BROADCAST LAW

INVESTIGATION ON THE ATTACK OF NVER MNATSAKANIAN WITHHELD

RA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REVOKED THE COMPLAINT OF FOI CENTER

"MEDIA AND ADVOCACY" BOOK ISSUED

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ARMENIA AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

On February 9, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media"
TV company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project,
supported by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC
President Boris Navasardian were Larisa Alaverdian, deputy of RA National
Assembly, Secretary of "Heritage" faction, and Artashes Shahbazian, deputy
of RA National Assembly from "Dashnaktsutiun" faction. The discussion
centered on the cooperation of Armenia with international organizations in
frames of the composition of the PACE Armenian delegation, regarding the
exclusion of representative of "Heritage" opposition party.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on February 16,
at 21.15.

MEO CONCLUSION ON THE APPEAL OF THE CHIEF EDITOR OF "DELOVOY EXPRESS"

On February 4 the session of Media Ethics Observatory was held at Yerevan
Press Club. As it has been reported, MEO was formed on March 10, 2007 by the
heads of Armenian media who supported the YPC self-regulation initiative
(see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 9-15, 2007). Its mission consists in
considering the complaints-appeals regarding the violation of the Code of
Conduct of Media Representatives and giving its opinion on them. Currently
the Code of Conduct and its addendum, the Declaration on Election and
Referendum Coverage Principles, are signed by 41 entities, representing 44
media. The initiative is also supported by 8 journalistic associations.

At the session MEO considered the appeal of Eduard Naghdalian, Chief Editor
of "Delovoy Express" business weekly. On February 1, 2010 Eduard Naghdalian
addressed a request to MEO to render an expert judgment on the complaint of
Mr. Vardanian, Director of "D.E.L.V" LLC, submitted to the weekly. According
to Mr. Vardanian, the advertising article, titled "Sophia-Yerevan-Beijing"
and published in "Delovoy Express" on December 8, 2009, contains a number of
untrue expressions, discrediting his company. The head of "D.E.L.V" LLC
demanded to remove the abovementioned article from the weekly website and to
publish a corrective advertisement.

The MEO expert judgment notes that according to Article 23 of RA Law "On
Advertisement", the advertising medium is not responsible for the
advertising content, consequently the demands of the "D.E.L.V" Director to "
Delovoy Express" are groundless. At the same time, MEO emphasized that these
demands can be addressed not to the weekly, but to the advertiser. Besides,
the dispute is subject to adjudication in front of the court, thus the
advertiser must appear as defendant in line with Article 19 of RA Civil
Code. Moreover, the complainant is entitled to publish an advertisement in
"Delovoy Express" (based on the principle of granting equal opportunities to
advertisers, implied by the Code of Conduct of Media Representatives). The
complainant has the right to require to publish the advertisement in the
same volume, in the same place, on the same terms, and to put in the
weekly’s website, as the piece – subject of the dispute, the MEO judgment
notes.

NCTR WORKS OUT CRITERIA TO ARTICLE 24 OF BROADCAST LAW

The expert commission, established under the National Commission on
Television and Radio, has released a draft of criteria for erotic TV and
radio programs, films, containing horror and violence scenes, as well as
programs which could have negative influence on the health, mental, physical
growth and education of minors. The document is developed in compliance with
the requirements of Article 24 of RA Law "On Television and Radio",
authorizing the broadcast of such programs only at night (from 24.00 till
6.00).

The draft of the bylaw was placed on the NCTR website, as well as discussed
by the heads of Armenian TV companies on February 4. According to the
information of the website of the broadcast regulatory body, all the
interested persons could present their proposals to the document until
February 8.

As regards the content of the draft, if the criteria, defining erotic,
violence, horror and cruelty, are overall in accordance with the
conventional standards, then some descriptions of what could negatively
affect the minors, cast on doubts. For instance, what are the indications to
determine "a distorted, inadequate coverage of historical events and
present-day life", or "humiliation and discredit of spiritual, cultural
values, and prominent representatives of the nation"? And what should one
mean by the restriction on "imitation of drug-addicts and alcoholics"?

These concerns gain more actuality, as the regulatory body has so far failed
to followup adequately the evident violations of the broadcast legislation
in such spheres, like coverage of electoral campaigns, advertisement,
broadcast language, etc. So how NCTR (or another authorized body) is going
to apply the abovementioned blurred restrictions, which assume a broad and
subjective interpretation?!

INVESTIGATION ON THE ATTACK OF NVER MNATSAKANIAN WITHHELD

The investigation on the case of attack on Nver Mnatsakanian, the author and
the host of "Perspective" program cycle of "Shant" TV company, is withheld,
as informed the Head of RA Police Alik Sargsian at a press conference on
February 10. As it has been reported, on May 6, 2009 about midnight two
strangers, who were waiting for Nver Mnatsakanian to come back from work,
attacked him at the entrance of his house. Giving blows to the journalist
and knocking him off his feet, the assaulters escaped. Criminal proceedings
were instituted by Mashtots Department of Yerevan Police on Point 3 of Part
2 of Article 113 of RA Criminal Code ("Intentional Average Health
Injuries"). In the course of investigation the police had arrested two young
men, but the version about their involvement in the crime was not affirmed
(see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 3-10, 2009).

As the Press Service of RA Police told YPC, the withdrawal of the case is
conditioned by the absence of identification of assaulters.

RA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REVOKED THE COMPLAINT OF FOI CENTER

On February 5 RA Constitutional Court released the ruling on the compliance
of Articles 151 ("The Order of Examination of Cases on Bringing to Justice")
and 152 ("Requirements to Applications for Bringing to Justice") of the RA
Administrative Procedure Code with the Main Law. As it has been reported, on
September 9, 2009 the respective complaint was submitted by the Freedom of
Information Center. The reason for filing the Constitutional Court became
the inconsistent application of Articles by the judges while examining cases
on violations of information right (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September
3-10, 2009).

According to the decision of Constitutional Court, Articles 151 and 152 of
Administrative Procedure Code are in compliance with the Main Law. At the
same time, the Court noted that the issue raised by FOI Center deals with
the imperfection of the legislation and can be overcome by amending the
Administrative Procedure Code.

"MEDIA AND ADVOCACY" BOOK ISSUED

A book, titled "Media and Advocacy", was issued. The book is published by
Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression within a project supported by
Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia and Government of
Netherlands. The brochure includes a report on situation with regional
media, analysis of the expert survey data on freedom of local and national
media, the Committee annual report on violations of rights of journalists
and media in Armenia in 2009. The book is issued in Armenian, English and
Russian under one cover.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

RA PREMIER RECEIVED IMF DELEGATION

news.am
Feb 10 2010
Armenia

On February 10, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received the
delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headed by Mission
Cheif to Armenia Mark Lewis.

Sargsyan informed the IMF delegation of the economic situation in
Armenia, as well as prospects of short- and long-term development,
RA Government press service informed NEWS.am.

The sides also discussed further cooperation between Armenia and IMF,
as well as other issues of mutual interest.

HAMRA HOTELS CHECKS IN TO ALTERNATIVE GROWTH MARKETS
By Sean Davidson

Emirates Business 24/7
Feb 10 2010
UAE

With an eye on driving business in and from emerging markets that few
have dared to explore, Ras Al Khaimah’s Hamra Hotels & Resorts remains
bullish on growth. It hopes to add more charters into the emirate and
is confident the addition of more rooms to its portfolio will not
dilute profits. Nikolaos Chatzipetros, Vice- President Operations,
Hamra Hotels & Resorts, speaks to Emirates Business.

What occupancy levels are you experiencing at the moment? How did it
fare last year?

Within our group, the occupancy is between 60 and 70 per cent. On the
weekends it’s much higher. Our convention centres drive a lot of
business on the weekends and Dubai contributes a significant amount of
this. Typically, we experience an influx from Thursday afternoon to
Saturday afternoon. We did extremely well last year. Of course, the
crisis affected us, especially in the last quarter. But we see
rebounding of the business right now.

Have you moved away from your traditional strategies to drive business?

Yes. We are seeking alternative markets to fill the room nights we
have. Business for the past 10 years was coming mainly from specific
areas locally and specific countries from Europe. Now we are looking
at other countries to not only tackle the crisis but also have a nice
and healthy mix of market segments. These are existing markets that
have not been accessed by many others. They are new, opening markets
that have visa restrictions in other areas such as Europe and at the
same time they have disposable income. We’re talking about countries
such as Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Turkmenistan and those that
belong to the Commonwealth of Independent States. And of course, we
are also focusing on specific segments coming from well-known markets
such as Germany.

Has it been tough bringing people to your properties in Ras Al Khaimah?

Not really. The distance from Dubai is only 45 minutes and that has
worked to our benefit. We have pristine beaches, a safe environment
and all the facilities and activities that travellers would like to
have. At the same time, we also have the Um Al Quwain airport so if
somebody would like to experience skydiving or have pilot licenses, he
can do that too. We have water sports and slides going live in two
months. So we have the right mix.

That’s all well, but other emirates offer the same mix. Did this mean
competing on price?

We are definitely competing on price. As operators, we are trying to
be very flexible and competitive. It would not be realistic to
maintain the prices we had a few years ago. But we didn’t drop our
rates considerably because that is against our philosophy. We added a
lot more value instead.

What projects do you have in the pipeline?

We are looking at projects locally and internationally. Through our
sister company Rakeen, we are active overseas. We own these projects
and have international companies as operators. We are increasing our
portfolio and you will see more development in 2010. Our subsidiaries
have projects in Georgia. We own the Sheraton there. We have another
project planned in Georgia outside Tbilisi. In Congo, we are operating
a hotel under the Radisson hotels name. We have a residential and
hotel mix-use project in Kyrgystan. And we are constantly looking for
other opportunities. As a land bank, Rakeen has more than a dozen
locations in order to have it master planned. At the moment, we have a
huge shopping mall under construction in Yerevan, Armenia, and another
mall in Georgia. We are looking for potential sites to build shopping
malls because at the end of the day it’s a matter of characteristics.

In some countries, it’s too cold in the winter and too hot in summer
so a shopping mall is a perfect opportunity for an area that has a
stable and growing economy and opportunities we can capitalise on.

These are the areas we are looking to invest in.

How crucial will a fully functional airport and airline in RAK be to your plans?

It would be very beneficial and that is something that is being looked
at. Soon we will have solutions and announcements. Everything is
moving in the right direction. The best scenario is to have an airline
that brings an influx of clients. At the moment, the airport is
functional for charters who we have deals with. We hope to have more
frequency with the charters.

What are your projections for this year?

We expect growth this year. Not only in the occupancy but also with
the properties themselves. The room nights will increase because of
the number of hotels we are opening. So our room count will definitely
grow. It’s hard to put a figure to it because we are constantly
discussing several deals and projects.

PROFILE: Nikolaos Chatzipetros Vice-President Operations, Hamra Hotels & Resorts

Before he was appointed to this present post, Chatzipetros was general
manager of Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resorts. And prior to moving to
the UAE, he worked in different capacities for various hotels in the
US, Italy, Greece, Caribbean and Switzerland as well as for luxury
cruise liners.

ADB IS VERY PLEASED WITH THE COLLABORATION WITH ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2010-02-10 12:29:00

Armenia became a member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in
September 2005. Armenia holds 10,557 shares or 0.30% of the capital.

Arminfo News Agency interview with Areg Barseghyan, the ADB Senior
Country Coordination Officer for Armenia

We would like to know how the ADB Management assesses its collaboration
with the Armenian Government. What is the overall amount of loans
extended and how are ADB programs being implemented?

ADB is very pleased with the collaboration with Armenia. All our
programs are working well and we are impressed by the professionalism
shown at all times by the project agencies and the people working
in them.

Our existing loan portfolio has reached USD $164 million, but we have
approved close to $500 million for future investments, particularly
in the area of transport infrastructure.

What will be ADB’s largest loan program in 2010?

We will work with the Government on the rehabilitation of the
North-South Road Corridor Investment Program. We have already made
available $500 million towards it. This is a very important program.

It improves connectivity between cities and towns in Armenia, but
also with neighboring countries. It is part of a transport corridor
that connects Armenia to Georgia and its two ports of Poti and
Batumi. It gives Armenia access to the Black Sea. Other international
organizations such as JICA, World Bank, EBRD, and the European
Investment Bank have expressed interest in helping with the program.

We are very proud to partner with Armenia on such important investment.

The Government has announced that some sections of this road will be
tolled. Why is this needed, and is this an ADB condition?

The Government wants to engage private investors in as many projects
as possible. ADB supports this approach, although we never made it a
precondition for our finance. There are various options for engaging
private investors, one of which is tolling. . Many countries around
the world follow this approach, several with considerable success.

Can we expect that 2010 will be the peak of ADB’s investment in
Armenia?

ADB is in Armenia for the long-term. This means we will remain engaged
as and when we are needed. In some years we will be called upon to
provide more finance than in others. Our approach is basically to be
responsive and responsible. In general, we expect our portfolio to
grow in years to come.

What are ADB projections of the macroeconomic situation in Armenia
in 2010?

We agree broadly with the Government’s projections. These are also in
line with those shared by other agencies, in particular the IMF. There
is clearly a turnaround and this is good.

ADB has also given a grant to support the preparation of the railway
project. The Armenian authorities are hopeful that ADB will be able to
co-fund it. Has this possibility been considered by ADB headquarters?

We will help prepare a feasibility study for the project and if
this shows the proposed investment to be sound, we will consider
co-financing it with the Government and possibly other agencies. It is
a major investment and we will need to partner with others. In general,
ADB likes railway projects. They complement other transport modes
and can be quite effective in terms of the impact on the environment.

ARMENIA NEEDS A NEW DIPLOMACY

Aysor
Feb 8 2010
Armenia

Armenia should speak with Turkey with a new diplomatic tactics;
today said Director of Institute of Oriental Studies at Armenian
National Academy of Sciences and Professor of International Relations
at Acharyan University in Yerevan, Armenia.

According to the speaker before passing to the football diplomacy
the Turkish side was continuously speaking with the language of
preconditions, but the reconciliation process undertaken by the
present authorities has changed the strategy of Ankara.

Safrastyan thinks that while establishing relations with Ankara
Yerevan should use a better diplomacy.

"Armenia needs a new diplomacy, more distinct and reasonable which will
better present the interests of the nation", – R. Safrastyan mentioned.

According to the speaker the initiator of the new diplomacy in the
Armenian – Turkish reconciliation should again be Armenia.

news.am, Armenia
Feb 6 2010

Voronezh airport officers burn Armenian products

13:48 / 02/06/2010 Voronezh airport officers burn all products from
unsafe countries hazardous for animal and bird disease ` Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Turkey and Germany.

These measures are entailed by high probability of communicating
hazardous and quarantine diseases to Russia, moe-online.ru informs.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor data, the products are brought basically
from Armenia and Azerbaijan, namely sheep cheese, prefabricated meat
and other products.

After drawing up of seizure certificate the prohibited goods are
burned in a special oven.

Within last year, the Rosselkhoznadzor officers confiscated and
destroyed over 300kg of dairy and meat products in Voronezh airport.

S.T.

Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts
47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472
Contact: Ara Nazarian
Phone: 617.650.1224
Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release

MASSACHUSETTS HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION LAUNCHES ONLINE CAMPAIGN FOR
U.S. RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

congress_to_recognize_the_armenian_genocide

— Armenian and Jewish Community Leaders Team up with Anti-Genocide
Groups to Urge President Obama and Congress to End U.S. Complicity in
Turkey’s Genocide Denial

— Coalition Describes "Historical Commission" as a Turkish "Ploy" to
Advance Ankara’s Denial

BOSTON, MA – A broad coalition of Boston-area Jewish and Armenian
groups and community members launched a campaign this week urging
U.S. officials to
stand up to Turkey’s multi-million dollar campaign of genocide denial,
specifically calling on Congress and President Obama to officially
recognize the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of Massachusetts (ANC-MA).

The Coalition to Recognize the Armenian Genocide’s online petition
declares, "We believe universal human rights and historical truth must
guide American foreign policy."

"This initiative is important because it demonstrates how on a
grassroots level, in both the Jewish and Armenian communities, there
is a demand for justice for the Armenian Genocide," said ANC member
and coalition co-chair Laura Boghosian. "It is vital that the powerful
in Washington, whether they are in the State Department or in lobbying
organizations, realize that they
will be called to task when they sacrifice principle and historical
truth for political expediency."

The online petition, hosted on change.org<; – a
prominent activism portal created following the election of President
Obama – provides a simple form to take action, as well as a link to
resources and background on the Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s denial of
that crime against humanity, and why denial of the Armenian Genocide
endangers everyone.

The petition’s letter to members of Congress and President Obama
states, "As we confront the specter of genocide and its denial in the
21st century, our government has a duty to ensure that the lessons of
the past are not forgotten. The time is long overdue for the United
States to stand up to Turkish pressure and join the 43 individual
U.S. states and numerous countries
and international bodies that have affirmed the Armenian Genocide."

The campaign calls special attention to international condemnation of
Turkey’s calls for a "historical commission" regarding the Armenian
Genocide – most recently incorporated in the Turkey-Armenia Protocols.
Genocide scholars have long expressed skepticism about any initiative
calling for a "historical commission."

"Because Turkey has denied the Armenian Genocide for the past nine
decades, and currently under Article 301 of the Turkish penal code,
public affirmation of the genocide is a crime, it would seem
impossible for Turkey to be part of a process that would assess
whether or not Turkey committed a genocide against the Armenians in
1915. Outside of your government, there is no
doubt about the facts of the Armenian Genocide, therefore our concern
is that your demand for a historical commission is a political sleight
of hand designed to deny those facts," noted a November 2009 letter
signed by seven
former presidents of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars (Helen Fein, Roger W. Smith, Frank Chalk, Joyce Apsel, Robert
Melson, Israel W. Charny, and Gregory Stanton).

The coalition is an outgrowth of a dialogue between members of the
Boston-area Jewish and Armenian communities that was initiated by
Rabbi Howard L. Jaffe of Temple Isaiah, Lexington, Massachusetts, in
reaction to the Anti-Defamation League’s lobbying for the Turkish
government against affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Rabbi Jaffe
first advocated recognition of the Armenian Genocide in October 2007,
when he told the New York Times that he must do what is "right and
righteous." In 2008, he co-authored an article with Boghosian that
condemned the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) lobbying and called upon
the Jewish community to join in efforts to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. He also invited the local Armenian community to participate
in a joint Genocide-Holocaust commemoration at the temple, inviting
Dr. Richard Hovannisian to speak on the parallels between the Armenian
Genocide and the Holocaust.

Joining Rabbi Jaffe and Ms. Boghosian on the steering committee of the
dialogue group were Rabbis Ronne Friedman and Elaine Zecher of Temple
Israel in Boston, ANC member Dikran Kaligian, and Temple Isaiah
members Howard Cohen and Alan Millner.

Individuals and activists representing a impressive collection of
Boston-area anti-genocide and community organizations signed on and
participated in
dialogue meetings over the past year.

The effort was supported by the Armenian National Committee of
Massachusetts (ANC-MA), the Armenian American Action Committee of
Massachusetts (ARAMAC-MA) and Investors Against Genocide, a
broad-based coalition formed as a result of the grassroots "No Place
for Denial" campaign spotlighting the ADL’s denial of the Armenian
Genocide. Although the ADL has stated that the death of 1.5 million
Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government was "tantamount to
genocide," it continues to aggressively lobby against U.S. affirmation
of that crime against humanity. Complete details of the campaign can
be viewed a ;http://www.noplaceford enial.org/>

To sign the petition, visit:
gress_to_recognize_the_armenian_genocide

To learn more about the initiative and the Armenian Genocide, visit:
;;

THE DRAFT SECOND NATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF ARMENIA TO THE UNFCCC DISCUSSED WITH NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS

armradio.am
05.02.2010 14:59

Today the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia and the UN
Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia presented Armenia’s draft
Second National Communication to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) to national stakeholders.

The Communication was developed by the Armenia’s Ministry of Nature
Protection with support of UNDP in the framework of "Enabling
activities for the preparation of Armenia’s Second National
Communication to the UNFCCC" UNDP/GEF project. The document was
prepared with the goal to assist Armenia in meeting her commitments
under the UNFCCC.

Welcome speeches at the event were delivered by Mr. Aram Harutyunyan,
the RA Minister of Nature Protection, Ms. Dafina Gercheva, UN Resident
Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, and Ambassador
Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Addressing the participants of the discussion, the Minister noted that
the Government of Armenia recognized the serious threat of climate
change and envisages certain measures in national strategic programs
and policy documents, such as "Sustainable Development Program" (2008)
and "Second National Environmental Action Program" (2008) to tackle
the matter. Mr. Harutyunyan underlined that due to multi-sectoral
impact of climate change in Armenia, the active participation of
national stakeholders in today’s discussion of the results of Second
National Communication on Climate Change is of high importance.

In her welcome speech Ms. Dafina Gercheva said, "Global climate change
is one of the serious contemporary challenges faced by the mankind. It
is not anymore an environmental, but also a development issue that can
potentially affect all aspects of human activity. In recent years, it
has been considered as one of the biggest challenges to development,
and can further seriously threaten international peace and security."

She further noted that adverse impacts of climate change are felt
globally, however, developing countries, including Armenia, which is
a landlocked country with vulnerable mountainous ecosystems, are the
most vulnerable, since they have limited financial, technological
and human resources to address the negative impacts of climate change.

The main policy recommendations of the Communication are in line with
the current developments under Convention and Copenhagen conference
outcomes. The Communication has been developed based on national data
provided by the RA Ministries and the RA National Statistical Service.

Analytical assessments were conducted by more than 40 national experts,
as well as by the "Scientific Research Institute of Energy" CJSC and
"Armenian State Hydro-meteorological and Monitoring Service" state
non-commercial organization.

GLOBAL FINANCE NAMES VTB BEST RUSSIAN BANK 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.02.2010 10:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Global Finance has named VTB the 2009 Best Emerging
Market Bank in Russia, the bank’s press office said.

VTB is remarkable for contributing to bilateral trade between Russia
and CIS countries. It was also honored for efficient activities in
foreign exchange market and commercial financing.

Global Finance – a monthly magazine founded in 1987 – has a long
tradition in recognizing the best financial institutions in the
world and its awards have become a recognized and trusted standard
of excellence in finance. In selecting the winners, Global Finance’s
editorial team considers objective and subjective factors. Objective
criteria included growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach,
strategic relationships, new business development and product
innovation. Subjective criteria included the opinions of equity
and credit-rating analysts, banking consultants and others in the
industry, as well as corporate financial executives. The winners are
not always the biggest banks but, rather, the best banks – those with
the qualities that corporations should look for when choosing a bank.