Author: Kajoyan Gevork

GITIS may establish branch in Armenia
11.09.2009 23:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Members of the Association of the Russian-Armenian
cooperation met with RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan to
discuss prospects of further collaboration.

`Establishment of a branch of the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts
(GITIS) in Armenia was one of projects discussed,’ head of Russian
federal agency on CIS affairs Farit Mukhametshin told a news
conference in Yerevan today.

`Talented young people will have a possibility to receive education in
line with GITIS standards,’ he said.

Aysor, Armenia
Sept 12 2009

No danger of earthquake in Armenia

In the last few days earthquakes have been recorded in Georgia and
Turkey. On September 8 in the northern area of Armenia 3-4 magnitude
quakes have been recorded, the epicenter of which has been in
Georgia. The shakings have been recorded in Gyumri, Vanadzor,
Noyemberyan, and in Ayrum, on the Armenian ` Georgian boarder. The
inhabitants of Ayrum around 3:38 have felt shakes on September 8.

`The seismic situation of Armenia is normal. The seismic regime is
being checked all the time, the stations work all day long. There is
no direct danger for us’, – Hrachya Petrosyan the deputy of the head
of the Armenian National Seismic Defense Service (ANSDS) said.

H. Petrosyan mentioned that in the northern part of Armenia the
observatories have recorded anomalies. That is to say before the
Georgian earthquake occurred the northern observatory of Armenia had
already informed about the earthquake.

`The earthquakes that are of 5-6 magnitude can be felt. They have
symptoms. But there are also some difficulties too, otherwise the
problem of prevision of the earthquakes as a scientific issues would
be solved long before’, – said H. Petrosyan.

LEADERS OF ANTI-DRUG STRUCTURES OF THE CSTO SIGN COOPERATION MEMORANDUM

Arminfo
2009-09-10 15:47:00

ArmInfo. The leaders of the anti-drug structures of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization [CSTO]member-states signed Memorandum on
Cooperation in fighting narcotraffic, legalizing of criminal incomes
and financing terrorism, CSTO press-secretary Vitaliy Strugovets
told ArmInfo.

The Council has ratified Memorandum on Understanding with the Committee
of Heads of law-enforcement agencies of the Leaders’ Council of the
CIS customs services. The leaders of the CSTO anti-drug departments
also arranged on creation of the basic training centre for training
of the staff taking part in fighting tarcotraffic.

AMERIA CJSC DEVELOPS A STRATEGY FOR ARMENIA’S CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM IN COOPERATION WITH BRECKENHILL INC., CANADA

Arminfo
2009-09-10 15:58:00

ArmInfo. In June 2009, Ameria CJSC, the RA Civil Service Council
and Foreign Financing Projects Management Center of the RA Ministry
of Finance signed a three-sided agreement on implementation of the
project "Designing a Development Strategy for the Civil Service
System of the Republic of Armenia", including training. The project
will be implemented by the Consultant represented by Ameria CJSC in
association with Breckenhill Inc.

The project for the most part is funded by the World Bank, with
co-financing by the RA Government, America press-service told ArmInfo.

The project aims to develop Armenia’s civil service system through
ensuring availability of in- depth and thorough analysis, comprehensive
strategic development directions and mechanisms for achievement of
strategic objectives. The strategy is designed to develop and enhance
the systems and mechanisms for accomplishment, attestation and training
of the civil service system.

The project activities are arranged into 4 stages, with overall
duration of 1 year.

1. Review and analysis of the civil service system Accomplishment
procedures 2. Review and analysis of the civil service system
Attestation procedures 3.

Review and analysis of the civil service system Training procedures 4.

Strategy development, including for Training of the civil service
system

Ameria CJSC and Breckenhill Inc. have completed the initial stage of
the project and developed the draft of inception report.

Ameria is a group of professional services companies registered
in Armenia with the objective to provide a comprehensive package
of professional advisory, assurance and consulting services in the
areas of public administration, public sector reforms, government and
corporate securities, restructuring, M&A, legal due diligence, direct
and portfolio investments, business planning and financial management,
project management, project and company audits, etc. Within a short
period of time the Group gained the reputation of a reliable partner,
working towards creating a sound future for its clients.

Founded in, 2002 Breckenhill Inc. is a boutique consulting firm
offering a range of investigative and research services, privacy audit,
privacy impact assessment, as well as internal audit, performance
audit and IT security and audit. We offer related strategic and
training products in these areas to an international clientele drawn
from the public and private sectors through a network of equity-based
partners and professional associates in Canada, the United States,
Norway, Asia and Australia.

ANALYSIS: ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES PRO ET CONTRA

Aysor
Sept 8 2009
Armenia

Armenian-Turkish ties and published Protocols in particular are in
the spotlight of political debates for a long time.

By the way the sounding assessments do not seem to be very defensible
or exclusive. And the problem, meanwhile, boils down to some basic
questions:

– How sincere and truthful is Turkey’s position in the initiated
dialogue.

– Whether Armenia has its own interest in ties or is under pressure
of superpowers.

– Starting the dialogue Turkey may stretch it in order to get an
assignment from Armenia associated to Karabakh issue.

– Having negotiations with Turkey through the mutual recognition of
borders and sovereignty, Armenia, in fact, is recognizing Turkey in
its current borders and is reaffirming the provisions of the Treaty
of Kars.

– Within the historians commission framework created during the
normalization of relations there may arise a dispute on Armenian
Genocide.

Basically these are the questions that concern Armenian society, its
population, politicians and political parties. Some politicians try to
make higher PR around such important and topical issues, well-getting
that relations with Turkey are traditionally the emotional topic. The
political hysteria, which they call patriotism, shows the immaturity
of some segments of the culture of Armenia’s political field. That
comes into being at the very important to people and country periods.

By refraining from these political strains and realizing the importance
of the problem for our nation and state, we try to understand gradually
what’s the matter and what possible risks may arise in the process
of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Thus, in the list of problems the top one is how sincere is
Ankara. First lets get that no sincere is applicable in policy and
in international ties in particular. Interest is instead.

Meanwhile, Ankara has rethought its role in region and realized that
Azerbaijani ‘ballast" keeps out the opportunities for Turkey’s more
effective partnership to Europe, a partnership of a new quality to
U.S., as a regional and possibly macro-regional superpower.

Principle of "One nation – two states", which has traditionally been
guided by Turkey, is now rather obstacle than a subsidiary phenomenon,
so one needs to engage in dialogue not only with the official Yerevan,
but also with another major player in region – Moscow. And not only
engage in dialogue but find a common key to regional problems.

This does not mean the easy compromises of Ankara, it contrary will
choose the way of stretched negotiations, and will try to solve
some additional problems, will also try to correct some mistakes of
its own. Many things will depend on Yerevan, tightening positions
on various issues time after time (such as Serzh Sargsyan’s famous
statement addressed to Turkey) and related information services may
lead to the situation Ankara will not be happy with, and the process
will be critiqued by international community.

Another factor of risk is the concern that Armenia’s national
interests can be dissolved in the interests of the superpowers
involved in the process. For a long time, Armenia is the bearer of
the initiative foreign policy. This includes activity and integration
in all processes we interested in. One can hardly recall a single
case when countries of region and the superpowers with their own
interests came to agreement. The normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations has led to almost common interests and goals of Brussels,
Moscow and Washington. The interests of Armenia today are clearly
defined and clearly manifested even when the approaches of any of
poles do not coincide with ours.

It has become a tradition, when Ankara in order to calm his
"Jr. Brother" reminds that Armenian-Turkish relations and Karabakh
negotiation processes are related to each other. Today, when the
documents are announced, we can see how interrelated they are. No
single word, and Armenian side always spoke about it.

Ankara will not change its style of negotiations but it realizes that
Azerbaijan’s mark will become sharp. That is why Turkey tries now to
include Karabakh issue in the agenda of the UN Security Council.

Another concern is associated with Armenian-Turkish intergovernmental
commission and the historians subcommittee aimed "to realize the
historical perspective of the dialogue between the two peoples,
aiming at the restoration of mutual confidence, including through an
impartial scientific study of historical documents and archives in
order to clarify the existing problems and formulate proposals."

This can be commented in different ways. However before all the
Armenian side has repeatedly told the issue of Genocide could not
be debated, another case that bilateral consultation on Genocide,
Turkish General Staff MD archives opening can. Besides these bilateral
consultation on Genocide and archives opening will be filled by topics
of current Armenian heritage in Turkey.

Experts and political leaders notice the main concern: that is the
borders recognition. Lets try to understand what is the problem. First,
note, Armenia has long recognized borders of Turkey, and Treaty of
Kars is out of discussions, as FM noted a day before. One can make
sure by reading the published protocols.

Summarizing, we note that it is necessary to understand an
important and simple truth: today, when the region is experiencing
transformation, one should not show the formal patriotism all around
the world. One can engage in constructive discussions instead, which
clearly bring a great favor to country.

UNSAFE CHIMNEYS OF IDLE BOILER HOUSES IN YEREVAN TO BE DISMANTLED

Noyan Tapan
September 7, 2009
Yerevan

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The dismantling of the idle boiler
houses’ unsafe chimneys posing a danger to the residents of nearby
houses is under way in Yerevan since early September. According to
the press service of Yerevan Municipality, over two dozen chimneys
will be dismantled in various administrative regions of the city.

Aharon Chilingarian appointed member of CBA Board

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. By a September 3 decree of Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan, Karine Minasian was relieved of her post as
member of the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA).

By another decree signed by S. Sargsyan on the same day, Aharon
Chilingarian was appointed member of the Board of the CBA for a term of
service until August 4, 2012, the RA presidential press service
reported.

Philippine Star, The Philippines
Sept 7 2009

One man left standing
By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) Updated September 07, 2009 12:00 AM

Tañamor is flanked by assistant coach Ronald Chavez (left) and
Tipon.
MILAN ` Lightflyweight Harry Tañamor and bantamweight Joan
Tipon unceremoniously crashed out of the party in the second round of
eliminations at the 15th AIBA World Championships in the 11,000-seat
Mediolanum Forum here Saturday, leaving the Philippines with only
featherweight Charly Suarez still in contention.

It was a dark day for the five-man national squad that got off to a
hot start, winning three of its first four outings, before tumbling to
lose three in a row.

Suarez, the country’s last hope for a medal, faced lanky Korean Joo
Min Jae yesterday. The result was not available at presstime.

Tañamor, 31, was a disappointment against fifth-seeded
Hovhannes Danielyan of Armenia as he appeared lost in the ring, unable
to score a single point in the third and last round. Danielyan, 22,
led all the way in cruising to a trouble-free 11-3 decision.

Tañamor’s vaunted in-and-out southpaw attack was never a threat
to Danielyan who was more aggressive. The Armenian had the better of
the exchanges from both close and long range. Tañamor
desperately tried to land a big punch down the stretch but Danielyan,
who reached the second round in the Beijing Olympics, proved too smart
to be caught.

The loss ended Tañamor’s dream of adding a gold medal to his
World Championships collection of a silver and two bronzes.

National coach Pat Gaspi conceded defeat but Tañamor insisted
he was robbed of points by the five judges, one of whom Frank
Scharmach of Germany scored it 7-1 for the Armenian.

`I hurt him with body shots and I heard him grunt,’ said
Tañamor in Pilipino. `I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t
scoring points. I wanted to bring him down in the last round with one
shot but I ran out of time.’

Tañamor later admitted his timing was off.

`I think I could’ve been in better physical condition if I had more
exposure,’ said Tañamor. `Even while training in Cuba, I felt
my body wasn’t in top shape.’

Tañamor hadn’t seen action in a tournament since winning the
gold medal at the World Cup in Moscow last December. In that
competition, Tañamor whipped Poland’s Lukasz Masczczyk, 12-4,
in the semifinals before mowing down Cuba’s Yampier Hernandez, 15-7,
for the gold.

Because of lack of international exposure, Tañamor lost his
world ranking and wasn’t among the eight seeds in the 48-kilogram
division here. Surprisingly, Masczczyk was seeded first.

`The seeding was critical because if Harry was in the top eight, he
would’ve started out fighting the low contenders,’ said Gaspi. `I
thought that if Harry could beat Danielyan, he would go to the
finals.’

Danielyan came with impressive credentials as a 2006 European
Championships semifinalist and gold medalist at the European Elite
Championships in Liverpool last year. His advantage over
Tañamor was he kept busy this year. Another edge was his age `
he is nine years younger.

`If Harry was 100 percent, he would’ve beaten Danielyan for sure,’
said Gaspi. `But he was only 70 to 75 percent. It’s difficult if your
body isn’t active. We missed out on at least four tournaments this
year. It’s different training in the gym and fighting in the
ring. Harry was beaten to the punch inside and outside. I’m
disappointed in his showing because he was our best bet for a medal.’

As for Tipon, he was almost in tears after dropping a 2-0 verdict to
second-seeded Abdelhalim Ouradi of Algeria in a fight that the 2006
Asian Games gold medalist could’ve easily won.

Tipon and Ouradi were scoreless at the end of two rounds. The
flat-footed Algerian was an open target for the quick-stepping Tipon
but the Bacolod City contender never came close to scoring with his
jab-straight combinations. Tipon threw punches in the air, like he was
shadow-boxing, and cautiously stayed away from getting hit.

In the third round, Ouradi repeatedly rushed Tipon and picked up two
points down the stretch to eke out the victory.

`I lost my power,’ said Tipon in Pilipino. `I don’t know what
happened. I got tired throwing punches because I kept missing. I just
couldn’t connect. In the second round, I hurt my right arm when we
both missed and our arms locked. I’m so down because I could’ve beaten
him if only my body was in good condition.’

Gaspi said if Tipon fought like the way he did in beating Sri Lanka’s
Kamal Gamaethiralalage in the first round of eliminations last
Wednesday, Ouradi would’ve lost.

`I don’t know what happened,’ said Gaspi. `He complained that his body
wasn’t reacting to what he wanted to do. I just know Tipon is capable
of doing much more.’

While there is no doubt that both Tañamor and Tipon are skilled
fighters, the question mark is their mental toughness. They lost to
more aggressive fighters who took the risk of engaging. Tañamor
and Tipon fought too cautiously, too defensively that they forgot it’s
offense, not defense, that scores points.

Armenian Inecobank offers new service to clients

YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. Armenian Inecobank offers a new service
to clients, Periodic Payments, the press office of the bank reports.

According to the report, the new service enables clients to pay bills
and operate other payments from their current and card accounts.

Thanks to the new service, clients will be able to pay utility bills,
repay loans, including credit instalments, as well as to replenish
their deposits and transfer money from their accounts.

Inecobank offers the new service to individuals and legal entities
having current or card accounts here.

To get this service c client can apply to any branch of Inecobank,
submit his/her passport, social card and fill the application form.

The service is free.

Clients can decide the size and periodicity of payments and can change
them by filling a new form.

The service-getters will enjoy the chance not to spend their time in
queues.

The information about the amount taken from accounts will be sent to
clients on the e-mails mentioned in their applications.

Inecobank closed joint stock company was registered on February 7,
1996. Currently it provides the whole range of banking services through
its headoffice and branches in Yerevan and in four regions of Armenia.

The biggest stockholders of Inecobank are member of KfW group DEG
company (Deutsche Investititions-und Entwicklunsgesellschaft mbH) with
13.5% and the International Financial Corporation with 10%.

In February 2009 Inecobank became a member of NASDAQ OMX Armenia Stock
Exchange.

The bank cooperates with European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, USAID, KfW, Black Sea Trade & Development Bank and other
international.

The bank has nine branches. M.V.-0—

VAHAN HOVHANISYAN: "THIS IS CALLED SURRENDER"

p?id=country&pid=15061
12:41:49 – 03/09/2009

In the evening of September 2, the rally of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
took place on the square Aznavour in Yerevan dedicated to the 18th
anniversary of Karabakh independence and was held under the slogan
"Yes to Karabakh independence and no to Turkey’s preconditions". The
head of the ARF faction Vahan Hovhannisyan addressed the meeting.

He recalled that Turkey originally imposed three main preconditions
for establishing relations with Armenia – renounce from demands on
the Genocide recognition, recognition of the territorial integrity of
borders in accordance with the agreement signed through the Bolshevik
conspiracy in 1920 and the third condition – concessions in the
Karabakh issue.

Vahan Hovhannisyan noted that due to confidentiality of
negotiations started years ago the Armenian side managed to defend
its interests. With the advent of the new president and foreign
minister, the situation changed. ARF evaluates the desire of the
current government to achieve quick results in the Armenian-Turkish
relations through public talks as catastrophic carelessness, says
Vahan Hovhannisyan. As evidence, he cited the pluses and minuses of
the "football diplomacy".

Among the losses, Vahan Hovhannisyan mentioned that the process of
recognition of the Genocide has been frozen. Many regret for having
admitted this fact. Second, the prestige of Turkey increased in the
international sphere as a loyal state. Turkey became a member of
the UN Security Council, expanded ties with Russia and now mediates
in the Syrian-Iraqi relations. The chances of Turkey to join the EU
also increased.

What did Armenia get? The U.S. president Obama did not say in his
speech on April 24 the word "Genocide", the U.S. Court of Appeals
overturned the decision on compensation to descendants of victims
of genocide, in politics, Russia increasingly shows a tendency to
disregard the interests of Armenia (Russia has forgotten that Turkey
is a NATO member, while Armenia is its "strategic partner"). The
alienation of the Diaspora keeps deepening. No coincidence that
at this very moment, Georgia again decided to take a part of the
northern border areas with Armenia. For the first time, Turkish
diplomats permitted themselves to insult the president of Armenia,
advising him to fly to Turkey by plane.

Vahan Hovhannisyan thinks that the current protocols have been adopted
not only for Serge Sargsyan not to refuse to leave for Turkey. Do not
forget that the resolution on recognition of the Genocide is in the
U.S. Congress until now, recalled Hovhannisyan. And in order to prevent
its adoption the protocols have been released. He does not understand
why Armenia for the second time played against its own interests.

Vahan Hovhannisyan considers dangerous the provision present
in the protocols on the recognition of territorial integrity and
inviolability of borders. Vahan Hovhannisyan wonders if the point is
not about the treaty signed by Lenin and Ataturk. Armenians did not
sign the treaties of Kars and Moscow, in contrast to that of Sevres
which the Turks do not want to mention. We are proposed to recognize
the borders within the Kars agreement, putting an end to our national
rights, said Hovhannisyan. And so Turkey will solve the first of its
preconditions. The establishment of diplomatic relations does not
necessarily suppose for mutual recognition of borders, he says.

As to the point on the establishment of a subcommittee on historical
issues, Vahan Hovhannisyan thinks that the events in 1915 may
indirectly become the subject of its discussion. This is a retreat from
the struggle of many generations of Armenians demanding justice. This
is called surrender. Thus, we will eject ourselves to the dustbin of
history, said Vahan Hovhannisyan. The issue of genocide must not be
turned into a matter of academic debate. This was the second condition
of Turkey.

Regarding the third condition – concessions in the Karabakh conflict,
although this issue is not mentioned in the document itself, however
in the past 14 months, the Turkish politicians have repeatedly
assured that the border will not be open until the Karabakh issue is
not settled. So we will either be forced to make concessions or the
border will not open, says Vahan Hovhannisyan.

Vahan Hovhannisyan reminded that apart from governmental commitments,
the leaders of the country have also national obligations.