Author: Jilavian Emma

ARMENIAN ARMAVIA AIR CARRIER INTRODUCES ITS NEW AIRBUS-319

ARKA
March 19, 2009

YEREVAN, March 19. /ARKA/. National air carrier of Armenia Armavia
introduced its new Airbus A-319 on Wednesday. The aircraft is named
after great Armenian astrophysicist Viktor Hambardzumyan whose 100th
anniversary was celebrated last year.

"The aircraft is absolutely new and was shipped to Armenia right from
Airbus factory in Hamburg," General Director of the air company Norayr
Belluyan told reporters.

He said the purchase of the new aircraft is a continuation of the
company’s policy of upgrading the flying stock with new airliners.

Belluyan said the airplane was bought by a lease contract. He also
stated they managed to buy it by a rather low price thanks to decrease
of prices amid the world crisis.

RA Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, owner of Armavia Mikhail
Baghdasarov, Chief of the Head Civil Aviation Department of Armenia
Artem Movsisyan and well-known cultural workers were present at the
introduction.

Airbus A-319 is a passenger liner for flights of medium length with
a range of 6,800km.

A-319 was designed in 1990, first flight was carried out on August
25, 1995.

Airbus A-319 competes with Boeing 737-300 and 737-500, as well as
with McDonnell Douglas MD-87.

Armavia Air Carrier is the leader at Armenia’s aviation market. The
company was established in 1996 by Aviafin Ltd and Mika Armenia
Trading Ltd.20In June 2005, Mikhail Baghdasarov, President of Mika
Armenia Trading Ltd, became the full owner of the company.

The company operates over 70 regular flights a week to countries of
the CIS, Middle East and Europe.

The aircraft fleet of the company contains nine aircrafts, namely
three A319, two A320, a Tu-134, and an Il-86.

AZERBAIJAN HOLDING REFERENDUM TO GRANT ALIYEV THE RIGHT TO RUN FOR UNLIMITED TERMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2009 12:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan is holding a referendum on Wednesday
that is likely to give President Ilham Aliyev the chance to rule the
country for life despite opposition calls for a boycott.

In all, voters will decide on 41 amendments to 29 articles of
Azerbaijan’s constitution, touching on issues ranging from the right
to privacy to freedom of media. Amendments with a majority "yes"
vote will be adopted, provided that 25 percent of Azerbaijan’s more
than 4.9 million voters take part in the referendum.

Preliminary results will be known in 48 hours.

The Aliyev family has dominated the tightly controlled former Soviet
republic for decades, first under the late Heydar Aliyev as Communist
leader and president, then his son Ilham since 2003.

The ruling Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party wants to lift the country’s
two-term presidential limit so 47-year-old Aliyev can keep running
for election after his second term ends in 2013.

EX-PRESIDENT OF NKR HAS BEEN CONFERRED DIPLOMATIC RANK

ArmInfo
2009-03-17 12:07:00

ArmInfo. Yesterday, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree
on appointment of Arkady Ghukasyan Ambassador for Special Assignments
and conferment of a diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Armenia, the Armenian presidential press service
reports.

To recall, A. Ghukasyan was President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic
till 2007.

ARMENIA SEEKS WAYS TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH IRAN

Tehran Times
March 16 2009
Iran

YEREVAN – Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian met Iranian Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Yerevan on Friday and reviewed ways
to broaden relations between the two countries.

According to the Mehr News Agency, Mottaki said that both sides have
plans to boost bilateral relations, and called for the construction
of a joint railroad and implementation of joint power plant projects.

He stated that the sides have so far inked agreements in the fields
of banking, power plant construction, energy, and trade, adding that
the two countries’ annual trade value stands at $250 million that
could be promoted.

Sargsian noted that Armenia is reviewing every possible way to promote
relations with Iran, adding that the construction of the Iran-Armenia
railway could boost trade in the region.

He also pointed to the importance of Aras hydro power plant which
could supply power for the two countries

Obama may recognize the Armenian Genocide towards the end of his tenure

13.03.2009 16:40

Nvard Davtyan
"Radiolur"

Political scientist Sergey Shakaryants told a pres conference today
that the forthcoming visit of the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ali
Babacan, to Armenia is a recurrent step the parties make, taking into
consideration the overlapping of their current interests. It also
demonstrates that Armenia creates no obstacles to the establishment of
normal bilateral relations.

According to the political scientist, official Yerevan does not make a
step back and does not refuse from the approach that the relations
should be established without preconditions. As for US President Barack
Obama’s expected visit to Turkey and the increased pressures to
accelerate the fulfillment of his promises, Shakatyants said: `We
expect it to take place this April. However, in my opinion, it won’t
event happen in the current year. If Obama recognizes the Armenian
Genocide, it will take place towards the end of his tenure in office.
Moreover, I expect that a number of representatives of the Obama
Administration will start bargaining with the Armenian community of the
US and the Armenian authorities.’

Trend, Azerbaijan
March 13 2009

Foreign minister invites his French Counterpart to Armenia
12.03.09 12:00

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and France Edward Nalbandian and
Berbard Kouchner had a meeting in Paris, reported Public Radio.

Ranking high the friendly and exemplary relations established between
Armenia and France, the parties attached importance to taking steps
for further development of multifaceted cooperation.

In the context of discussion of the issue of ensuring security in the
South Caucasus, the Armenian Foreign Minister welcomed the efforts of
President Sarkozy and the French diplomacy in the direction of
establishing peace and security in the Caucasus during the French
Presidency of the European Union.

The interlocutors discussed the process of settlement of the Artsakh
issue. They stressed that there is no alternative to the peaceful and
negotiated resolution f the issue. Edward Nalbandian hailed France’s
constructive involvement in the settlement process as an OSCE Minsk
Group country.

Edward Nalbandian invited Bernard Kouchner to Armenia.

U.S dollar to fluctuate from amd 400 to amd 850 in Armenia: Armenian
ex-premier

YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. Fluctuation of the U.S. dollar exchange rate
is going to range from AMD 400 to AMD 850, Armenia’s ex-prime minister
Hrant Bagratyan said.

`I believe the U.S. dollar/Armenian dram exchange rate is going to
range from AMD 400 and AMD 850 per $1. I do not want anyone to focus on
AMD 850,’ he said, adding everything depends on how much Russian
remittances to Armenia will reduce this year.
Criticizing the authorities, Bagratyan said: `To overcome the global
crisis, the authorities should undertake emergency measures instead of
remaining inactive.’

To soften the negative impact of the global financial crisis on
Armenia’s economy, the RA Government set up on December 11, 2008 an
anti-crisis task force to discuss programs for the private sector. The
Government also agreed on the 2009 state budget redistribution and
suspension of the mid-term expenditures program for 2010-2012. The
budget redistribution will not affect social expenditures, including
benefits, pensions and salaries. The government will keep backing key
economic and military programs.

Bagratyan also urged the government against allowing the Central Bank
to influence the foreign currency exchange rate. He also called on the
Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) to extend national currency loans.
On March 3, the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) officially returned to
the floating national currency exchange rate.

According to CBA experts, the Armenian dram /U.S. dollar exchange rate
is expected to range from AMD 360 to AMD 380 per $1. On March 3, the
U.S. dollar surged from around AMD 308 to AMD 400 per $1, with prices
of butter, vegetable oil, flour, sugar and petrol rising at once.

According to Aramyan, the margin between the past days’
foreign-exchange deals shows that the Armenian dram exchange rate has
stabilized. `0–

PAP: As the heart of Armenia, Yerevan needs a good cardiologist
11.03.2009 14:43

Lena Badeyan
`Radiolur’

Press Secretary of the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party Khachik
Galstyan told a press conference today that the party has decided to
nominate Health Minister Harutyun Kushkyan as the Mayor of Yerevan. The
whole proportional list will be released in a few days, Khachik
Galstyan promised.

The Spokesman assessed the chances of the party in the forthcoming
elections as very high. Accoridng to him, the prosperous Armenia party
will get 50% + one vote or 40% + one vote.

Asked why the party has decided to nominate Harutyun Kushkyan, who has
not been very active in politics, Khachik Galstyan said: `As the heart
of Armenia Yerevan needs a good cardiologist.’

A1+

Case of seven: Proceedings discontinued
[03:42 pm] 09 March, 2009

Judge Mnatskan Martirosyan today decided to discontinue the case
against defendant Shant Harutyunyan by the time the court gets the
results of medical examination.

The hearing on the case against prominent opposition figures will
continue without detainee Shant Harutyunyan. The Judge’s decision made
the other six defendants furious. In particular, Armenia’s ex FM
Alexander Arzumanyan announced: `Judge Martirosyan has taken on new
responsibilities and makes a diagnosis.’ The defendants say Shant
Harutyunyan is simply denied access to the court sitting.

Today’s trial got off to a tense start, with Voskerchyan’s lawyer,
Stepan Voskanyan, demanding the resignation of the presiding judge,
Mnatsakan Martirosyan. The lawyer says Judge Martirosyan ignores the
fact that his client, Grigor Voskerchyan, was beaten up in Yerevan’s
Nubarashen prison shortly before the hearing in the controversial
trial. The motion was supported by other advocates. Only the trial
prosecutor, Koryun Piloyan, spoke against the motion. A recess was
announced shortly afterwards.

Remind that the seven oppositionists are accused of attempting to
bring down the government following the February 19 presidential
elections.

Armenian Students Speak Out
Against Falsification of Armenian History

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian students in the United States called on the
academic councils of the universities in the U.S. to remove from
circulation the book titled "The Armenian People: From Ancient to
Modern Times" because of the numerous mistakes it contains, the
student initiative group told PanARMENIAN.Net

"Outrageous mistakes and falsifications in The Armenian People: From
Ancient to Modern Times are countless. Any student, who would make
such horrible mistakes during an exam, would receive an F and
fail. So, how come this anti-scholastic book and its authors have
continued to use this book since 1997, and even have republished it in
2004 without making ANY CORRECTIONS whatsoever? For many years,
Armenian scholars from Armenia have repeatedly exposed and criticized
this falsified book in their scientific publications. Yet, the chief
editor continues to insist that the critics of this unscientific
textbook are violating the freedom of academic expression," the
students’ letter says.

On February 23, 2009, Armenian Ministry of Diaspora sent an official
letter which stated that the efforts of creating an online Armenian
History textbook for colleges and universities are already
underway. This textbook will be in many languages (Armenian, English,
Russian etc.) and will be available online at the official site of the
Armenian National Academy of Sciences for a free download to all
students of Armenian History and Culture. Finally, the New Generation
of Diasporans will have at their disposal an Armenian History textbook
that will contain genuine Armenian Studies book, without
falsifications and distortions.

The link: