Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIA PLANS TO BUILD 115 SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS

/ARKA/
September 4, 2009
YEREVAN

A senior official of the Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural
Resources told ARKA that some 115 small hydropower plants will be
built in Armenia.

Daniel Stepanian, head of the renewable energy division of the
ministry, said 70 small hydropower plants are already operating and
besides 64 licenses have been granted for construction of new plants.

According to him, apart from that three bigger hydropower plants
will be constructed- the Shnokh plant with 75 megawatt capacity, the
Lori-Berd plant-66 megawatt and the Meghri plant -133 megawatt. He
noted that the government is negotiating a privileged credit from
World Bank for Lori-Berd hydropower plant.

Construction of the Shnokh plant is expected to kick off in 2015. As
for the Meghri power plant it is a joint Armenian-Iranian project to
be built on the border River of Arax. He said the technical-economic
study of the project was over and now the turn is for designers.

He declined to say how much the Meghri power plant may cost saying
it will be possible only after the design is over.

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has to study and approve
several projects submitted this year calling for construction of 5
small hydropower plants on Vardenis, Ayrk, Avazan and Getik rivers
in Gegharkunik province, as well as plants on Debed, Arpa Rivers and
on Ger-Ger water reservoir in Vayots Dzor province.

According to official figures, at the beginning of 2009 there were
70 small operating hydropower plants in Armenia with the aggregate
capacity of 89 megawatt; generating annually 300 mln KWH a year. The
bulk of small hydropower plants are in Syunik and Lori provinces.

RUSSIAN SITRONICS OPENS SUBSIDIARY IN ARMENIA, SITRONICS AM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.09.2009 19:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A new joint venture fund will be established by the
Armenian government and the Russian Sitronics company. The latter
is engaged in product and solution development in the sphere of
Information Technology, telecommunications, microelectronics. The
venture capital of USD 40 million is likely to be established by
the end of this year or early next year, Vache Kirakosyan , head of
the Department for High-Tech and IT of the RA ministry of economy,
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

According to Vache Kirakosyan, Sitronics is going to create the
subsidiary Sitronics AM, which will be registered within a few days. As
he said, in case of favorable operation of Sitronics in Armenia,
the size of the fund within two years could reach USD 80-90 million.

Sitronics projects to deploy the Mars plant and Scientific & Research
Institute of Mathematical Machines after Mergelyan, and to turn them
into free economic zones.

THE MUNICIPALITY OF YEREVAN AUTHORIZED THE OPPOSITION RALLY

Aysor
Sept 4 2009
Armenia

The municipality of Yerevan authorized opposition rally of Armenian
National Congress. The rally will take place on September, 18, at
the Matenadaran.

Ararat Zurabyan, the chairman of Armenian National Movement, notified
the municipality about their intention to hold a rally on september,
18.

Moreover, the reliable sources say the municipality also authorized the
holding of the procession – the opposition’s rallies usually end with.

KARABAKH ISSUE – ALWAYS A PRIORITY TASK ON ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2009 21:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armen Smbatyan: Kharabakh conflict settlement
has always been and will always remain a priority task on Armenia’s
foreign policy agenda, RA Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter in Stepanakert.

"Karabakh issue will be never pushed to the background; it will always
be in the spotlight," Armenian diplomat stressed.

Touching upon American and Russian Co-Chairs’ replacement in OSCE Minsk
Group, Smbatyan characterized it as a normal process. "Diplomats are
replaced after 5-6 years of service, so there’s nothing extraordinary
there. Today, Yerevan and Baku are on the way of achieving a
breakthrough. As to when and how conflict will be resolved is a matter
of time," Ambassador stated.

SUKIASIAN IS IN NSS ISOLATION CELL

atur-sukiasian
05:20 pm | September 02, 2009

Politics

"Armenian fugitive businessman and opposition parliamentarian Khachatur
Sukiasian gave himself up at 3:50 September 2. He was accompanied by
his advocates," Vahagn Harutyunyan, head of the special investigation
group, told A1+.

Khachatur Sukiasian has been on the list of wanteds since last
March. He is charged with organization of mass riots on March 1, 2008
(Article 225 of the Armenian Criminal Code).

Khachatur Sukiasian was taken under detention and taken to an isolation
cell of the National Security Service Tomorrow the investigation
group will announce the preventive punishment.

Remind that PACE’s resolution demands Armenian leadership to use
other restraint than detention against fugitives giving themselves
up by July 31.

Supposedly, Kachatur Sukiasian will not be amnestied as he surrendered
on September 2.

None of Sukiasian’s acquaintances could comment on the businessman’s
sudden decision.

HELSINKI COMMISSION WELCOMES PROGRESS IN TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Targeted News Service
September 1, 2009 Tuesday 6:03 AM EST

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe issued the
following news release:

Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and
Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) issued the following
statements today regarding diplomatic advances announced between
Turkey and Armenia.

"I welcome the decision of the Turkish and Armenian governments to move
towards normalization of relations. I hope these countries with close
ties to the U.S. will maintain this positive momentum through open
and constructive dialogue. The Swiss intermediaries deserve credit
for helping Ankara and Yerevan address their common challenges,"
Chairman Cardin said.

"The recent developments in ongoing negotiations between Turkey and
Armenia are very encouraging," Congressman Hastings said. "The opening
of borders will benefit the people of these OSCE participating States
and have a positive impact on regional stability and security."

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: ON AUGUST 31 RA -TURKISH RELATIONS REACHED AN IMPORTANT PHASE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.09.2009 19:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On August 31 RA -Turkish relations reached
an important phase. The year started with a new stage of
relations. Despite difficulties, Yerevan and Ankara managed to
demonstrate political will to move forward, RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian told a news conference in Yerevan. "The world approves
of RA-Turkish rapprochement. Superpowers urged Turkey and Armenia to
move on and fulfill agreements entered within shortest terms. I hope,
we’ll make progress, as the rapprochement is supported by the whole
world," RA FM noted.

Edward Nalbandian also noted that though Yerevan and Ankara reached
an important phase, the process requires serious efforts. "Armenia
wants to normalize ties with Turkey. We’re ready to fulfill agreements
entered. Time will show if both parties will be able to fulfill them,"
RA FM stated.

Armenian government repeatedly stated that in case agreements are
reached between Armenia and Turkey, the agreements will be submitted
to public discussion. "Armenian people understand that eternal enmity
with Turkey is against our interests," RA FM emphasized.

MONEY TRANSFERS CARRIED OUT TO AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED LANDS FROM MORE COUNTRIES

Today.Az
ics/55152.html
Aug 31 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az has reported on numerous occasions that express money transfers
are carried out to Azerbaijan’s occupied lands despite clear violation
of international norms and regulations.

Very recently Day.Az reported that the LIDER money transfer system and
Sberbank, largest bank in Russia and CIS area, carry out remittances
to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Day.Az continues to expose financial institutions cooperating with
separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh.

New facts emerge more and more.

Thus, one can transfer money to 90 countries worldwide and also to
Nagorno-Karabakh, which is Azerbaijan land under Armenian occupation,
with help of ‘Anelik’ money transfer system. Through this remittance
system one can transfer money to Armenia-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh
from 90 countries.

‘Anelik’ official Web site says one needs to contact the head office
of Bank Anelik RU LLC to transfer money. But besides this, the money
transfer system ‘Anelik’ has many partners over 500 of which is located
just in Moscow. These partners include offices and branches of such
banks as Bank Uralsib, VTB 24, Globex, AKB Promsvyazbank, Master-Bank,
Rus-Bank, Petrocommerce, etc. Money transfer can be performed from 63,
000 points.

The Web site also says one can receive remittance in six Artsakhbank
branches in Nagorno-Karabakh.

‘Anelik’ money transfer system and Anelik RU apparently have links with
Armenian separatists. The fact that former Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian is a board member of the bank testifies to it. It
is therefore not surprising that it carries out money transfers to
the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and sponsors Armenian separatists. The
surprising is that dozens of Russian banks are cooperating with this
system of money transfers.

Letter sent to Nikola Sarkozy

sargis-hatspanyan
03:35 pm | August 28, 2009 | Politics

Members of the Union of Young Conservatives today gathered in front of
the French Embassy of Armenia.

In their letter addressed to France’s President Nikola Sarkozy they
voiced concern over the arrest of French Armenian Sargis Hatspanyan
and sounded surprised at France’s indifference towards the arrest.

The presentees stated that Hatspanyan’s arrest was politically
motivated.

Let’s remind that a Yerevan court has sentenced Sargis Hatspanyan to
3.5 years’ imprisonment for false denunciation. Some documents
certifying that Hatspanyan was a Karabakh war veteran were to be
submitted for defendant Hatspanyan to be freed under the amnesty
bill. But the amnesty wasn’t applied to Sargis Hatspanyan as the
aforesaid documents were missing.

The Union urges the French side for definite actions, announcements
and interference in the case hearing.

The Embassy promised to forward the letter to President Sarkozy after
it was translated.

AZERBAIJAN SLAMS ARMENIA’S BELLIGERENT RHETORIC

Milaz.info
?id=3988
Aug 27 2009

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has responded to Armenian Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan’s threat of war Eldar Sabiroglu, the spokesman for
the ministry, told APA that it was not the first statement of this
kind by Ohanyan.

"It is unreasonable, because the international community exerts
influence on Armenia to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within
the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The leadership
of Armenian army makes this kind of statements to mislead the people
and hide people’s distrust to the army. Azerbaijan has a very strong
army and is ready to prevent any aggression," he said.

Sabiroglu said there are two ways of solving the conflict and did
not rule out war, in case the occupied territories are not freed
peacefully.

"There are two ways of solution, peace or war. Azerbaijan does not
want bloodshed. We support peaceful settlement of the problem. But if
it is impossible, Azerbaijan is capable of liberating its lands. This
aggression can not last for ever," he said. MILAZ