Author: Jalatian Sonya

3.7% INFLATION EXPECTED IN ARMENIA IN 2007

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Nov 13 2007

YEREVAN, November 13. /ARKA/. The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
forecasts 3.7% inflation in Armenia in 2007, with 8.6% average
inflation forecast in the countries of Middle East and Central Asia,
says the IMF Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East and Central
Asia issued in October. Armenia is one from the bottom among the
low-income countries – 3.7% inflation, with the average inflation in
the ten-country group being 9.2%.

The maximum price rise in expected in Yemen (12.5%), followed by
Uzbekistan (12.2%), Tajikistan (9.9%), Georgia (8.5%), Kyrgyzstan
(7%). Djibouti ranks last (3.5%).

In Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, which are oil-exporting countries,
inflation is to reach 16.6% and 8.6% respectively. The average
inflation in this group of countries is 9.8% for 2007.

The IMF outlook contains inflation forecasts for 2008. According
to the forecasts, 4.9% inflation is expected in Armenia, with 7.9%
average inflation expected in the Middle East and Central Asia, and 8%
inflation expected in low-income countries.

The lowest inflation in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
was recorded in Armenia in January-September 2007.

3% inflation was recorded in Armenia in October 2007 compared to
December 2006. 4% (±1.5%) is budgeted in Armenia for this year.

–Boundary_(ID_fFlOzR0X0XrFCi4Bw9oA3g)–

IRANIAN DEFENCE CHIEF VISITS EX-SOVIET ARMENIA

Agence France Presse — English
November 6, 2007 Tuesday 2:41 PM GMT

Iranian Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar arrived in Yerevan on
Tuesday for a three-day visit to neighbouring Armenia, the ex-Soviet
republic’s defence ministry said.

According to ministry spokesman Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, Najjar met with
his Armenian counterpart Mikael Artyunyan and on Thursday was to hold
talks with Armenian President Robert Kocharian.

The two sides’ defence chiefs are to sign agreements on military
cooperation on Thursday and hold a joint press conference, the
ministry said.

ARMENIAN VERSION OF THE TREATIES ESTABLISHING THE EU AND EUROPEAN COMMUNITY TO BE PRESENTED IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
13.11.2007 11:19

The Armenian version of the Treaties establishing the European Union
and European Community that was published by the Centre for European
Law and Integration in collaboration with the Commercial Law and
Economic Regulation Project (USAID) will be presented at the Centre
of European Law and Integration on the 16th of November.

The Centre was created in 2006 at the Yerevan State University under
the auspices of the EU-funded project on the Establishment of a Chair
for European and International Law and Centre for European Law and
Integration at Yerevan State University and Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement Promotion (ECEILAW). The total funding of the project is
1.000,000 EUR. The primary objective of the project is to ensure the
availability of qualified professionals and stimulate research in
the areas of European law, European economy and EU Integration policy.

Currently the Centre is involved in various educational and legal
policy projects. It also acts as a legal expertise Centre for the
National Assembly in providing expert opinion on the compatibility
of draft legislation to EU standards. The Centre published the
first issue of the "Europe Today" quarterly periodical, presenting
information on EU to the general public. Research on European economic
integration, regulatory impact assessment and other important issues
is being carried out by the Centre experts. YSU European Law and other
students are participating in the Centre’s projects as interns and
this ensures their participation in practical work and contributes
to capacity building. The Centre has been setting cooperation links
with local and international organisations.

Conveniently located in the premises of the Yerevan State University,
the Centre plans to have a Resource Centre with a library (700 books
and electronic databases) to facilitate information access to various
resources on European Law, European Economic and Political Integration
issues. The library provides information and publishing services to
researchers, teachers, students and others interested.

SILVER COIN "CAPRICORN" PUT INTO CIRCULATION IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Nov 12 2007

YEREVAN, November 12. /ARKA/. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) has
put into circulation the commemorative silver coin "Capricorn". The
CBA press service reports that the coin has been issued under the
international numismatic program "Signs of the Zodiac". A total of
12,000 coins have been issued, the nominal value being 100 AMD.

Armenia’s National Emblem is embossed on the coin, with the inscription
"100 DRAM" embossed in Armenian and English under it. The issue date,
"2007", is above the National Emblem. The expression "REPUBLIC OF
ARMENIA" in Armenian and English is embossed along the circumference
of the coin.

The sign of Capricorn is embossed on the center of the reverse.

The coin has been minted by the Mint of Poland. The outlines were
designed by Ursula Valenazh.

THE MATCHES WITH PORTUGAL AND KAZAKHSTAN GOING TO BE HARD

armradio.am
12.11.2007 13:57

November 13 the national football team of Armenia will start
preparing for the Euro-2008 qualifiers with Portugal on November 17
and Kazakhstan on November 21.

Coach of the Armenian national football team Vardan Minasyan told
Armenpress that both matches are going to be difficult. As for the
Portuguese, they rally deserve the title of "European Brazilians:"
This is a strong and technically prepared team, one of the best
national teams in Europe.

Playing a 1:1 draw with Portugal in the match in Yerevan the Armenian
footballers proved that they are able to play with teams of that
rank. Their recent successful matches evidence that our players are
capable of competing with any team. The victories over Poland and
Kazakhstan, and the draw with the team of Serbia are also an evidence
of this," the trainer said.

Vardan Minasyan informed that Aram Hakobyan was not included in
the team.

Edgar Manucharyan has been invited from "Ajaks." A number of players
have yellow cards and must be cautious.

According to the coach, Armenia-Kazakhstan is going to be a hard
one because it is the last one in the tournament and both teams will
aspire to achieve best results.

According to Vardan Minasyan, the decision of the UEFA to cancel
the matches between Armenia and Azerbaijan deprived us of at least
three points.

Nevertheless, the Armenian team managed to improve its standing and
will now try to maintain the high level.

Armenian cinema days kick off in Turkmen capital

TURKMENISTAN.RU
10.11.07 13:05

Days of Armenian Cinema are currently under way at the Turkmen National
Music and Drama Theater named after Makhtumkuli in Ashgabat. The event
is dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between Armenia and Turkmenistan.

As the Ashgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru reports, the cultural
event was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in
Turkmenistan and the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of
culture, TV and Radio broadcasting of Turkmenistan.

The programme of the three-day film demonstrations includes such famous
feature films as non-aging comedy "The Bride from the North", drama
"Triangle", modern drama "Yarhushta" as well as "Slap in the face" on
the basis of novels by famous classic of Armenian literature
V.Totovents, and "Comrade Panjui" on the basis of a short story
carrying the same name by E.Oganyan.

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
01-349230/1

Haigazian University: Professor Marc Nichanian lectures on "From
Constantinople to Venice in the days of Lord Byron."

Beirut, November 9, 2007- Renowned Professor Marc Nichanian, delivered
his first public lecture entitled, "From Constantinople to Venice in the
days of Lord Byron", on October 31, in Haigazian University Auditorium,
among a capacity audience of Armenian intellectuals, writers, faculty,
staff and students.

Dr. Nichanian, who is currently a visiting professor in the Armenian
Studies Department, explored the events of the second decade of the
nineteenth century, i.e. the period when Armenian national philology was
invented.

Nichanian noted that that this philology was established through a
strange play of gazes and sub-stitutions between Europeans, Greeks, and
Armenians, or between the raging Phil-hellenism of the time and a
nascent "Philarmenism" that the Mekhitarist fathers wanted to foster.

Nichanian highlighted on the fact that Lord Byron was one of the main
representatives of this Phil-hellen-ism in Europe, and was soon
converted into a propagator of "Philarmenism".

Nichanian shared with the audience the mysterious aspect of Lord Byron’s
desire of learning Armenian, immediately upon his arrival to Ven-ice in
November 1816.

During the course of the lecture, based on the heeds of a recent article
by Giancarlo Bolognesi, Marc Nichanian expounded the historical and
contextual reas-ons behind this desire, presenting the colorful
personality of Ludovico Arborio di Breme, who played a crucial role as
the intermediary between Lord Byron and the Mekhitarist Fathers.

CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION REGISTERS ARMEN MELIKIAN, MEMBER OF BH, AS NA MP

Noyan Tapan
Nov 9, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Central Electoral Commission
of the Republic of Armenia unanimously registered Armen Melikian, a
member of the Batgavatch Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia) party and the
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the "Malatia" medical center,
as an MP of the National Assembly from the electoral list of the
above-mentioned party by the proportional system in the November 9
sitting. The mandate was vacant on account of the fact that Ishkhan
Zakarian has been appointed Chairman of the Control Chamber by
the list of the party, as well as because of stopping the latter’s
parliamentarian competences ahead of schedule.

AMK SHARES ITS CONCERN

A1+
[07:48 pm] 07 November, 2007

The recent events in the Republic of Armenia and Georgia, Turkey’s
Prime Minister Erdogan’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, the tense
relations between Armenia and Iran, Council of Europe Secretary General
Terry Devis’s indecent assessments on the recent NKR elections call
for Armenian authorities’ soberness and prudence.

The National Unity Party (AMK) calls for frequent meetings of
progovernment and oppositional forces to combat the current
destabilization.

We rule out appliance of any financial, human or other levers against
people’s will-power.

We condemn any action aimed at splitting the nation at this decisive
moment.

AMK Presidium

MOSCOW MAYOR URGES THE KREMLIN TO RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA’S INDEPENDENCE

ARMENPRESS
Nov 8, 2007

MOSCOW, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, has
suggested today that Russia recognizes the independence of Georgia’s
breakaway Abkhazia.

"We believe that Abkhazia and its people have the right to build a
sovereign state, because Abkhazia is a sovereign nation…. Russia
should make this crucial decision to recognize Abkhazia’s
independence," Luzhkov said when addressing a Russian-Abkhazian
conference organized to look into prospects for economic and political
integration of the breakaway republic with Russia.

Luzhkov claimed that a policy of double standards is being applied
when it comes to Abkhazia.

"When the point in question is Kosovo, its right to achieve sovereignty
is highlighted (by Western states), but when it comes to Abkhazia
they say no sovereignty is possible for it," Luzhkov said.