Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIA’S INSURANCE PREMIUMS TOTAL 2,027.8 BLN DRAMS IN Q2

ARKA
July 23

Armenia’s insurance premiums of 11 Armenian insurance companies
totaled 2,027.8bln drams in Q2 against 1,383.4bln drams in Q1 and
1.331bln drams earlier year, the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) reports.

Total insurance premiums were worth 4.5bln drams in Q2 against
1.4bln drams in Q1. Out of this sum, 2.5bln drams were transferred
to re-insurers.

Insurance payments totaled 560.1mln drams in the reporting period. The
reinsurance share in total insurance payments reached 229.1mln drams.

Insurance finds amounted to 2,118.8bln drams as of end-June against
1,957.8bln earlier this year.

CBA has been supervising local insurance market since January 1,
2006. As of June 30, 2008, Armenia had 11 licensed insurance
companies. ($1 – 301.41) Z. Sh.

ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, BRITISH AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TIES

Mediamax
July 21 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 21 July: Armenian Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan received
today the Ambassador of Great Britain Charles Lonsdale.

As Mediamax was told in the press service of the Defence Ministry,
Armenian Defence Minister expressed readiness to develop military
and military-political cooperation with EU states, in particular,
with Great Britain – in the view of the start of an active stage of
the country’s Armed Forces reform.

Seyran Ohanyan stated that Armenia is for the development of relations
in the peacekeeping sphere and is ready to as long a possible assist
the operation in Afghanistan.

Seyran Ohanyan welcomed the active participation of British military
in the NATO Cooperative Longbow/Lancer Exercise in Armenia, planned
for the fall.

The interlocutors discussed the present state of Armenian-British
relations in the military sphere and the prospects for their further
consolidation.

ARMENIA TO CHAIR EX-SOVIET MILITARY BLOC

Assa-Irada
July 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Chairmanship in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),
a bloc of former Soviet republics, will be transferred to Armenia,
its head said. We plan to tackle major problems during Armenias
chairmanship, the groups secretary-general Nikolay Bordyuzha said
while heading to the South Caucasus republic. Bordyuzha said he
would hold discussions during his visit on the issues that need to be
addressed. He is due to meet with the countrys president, ministers of
foreign and internal affairs, and emergencies, as well as the National
Security Council secretary and parliament speaker. The CSTO, which
comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
and Tajikistan, is considered the military arm of the Commonwealth of
Independent States. Despite Russias aspirations, Azerbaijan has not
entered the organization. The group was established in October 2002 to
ensure peace, preserve the territorial integrity of member countries,
coordinate activities in the fight against international terror, drug
trafficking, and organized crime, and to provide immediate military
aid to a CSTO member in the event of a military threat.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL

ARMENPRESS
JULY 21

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian received today CSTO Secretary
General Nikolay Bordyuzha. At the regular session of the Council
of CSTO which will take place in September Armenia will assume the
chairmanship of the organization.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that during the meeting
the interlocutors discussed the prior directions of CSTO, the issues
the organization is facing and the ways of their solution.

They also referred to the work of the legislative bodies of CSTO and
noted that soon the sessions of the CSTO defense ministers’ council
and security secretaries’ council will be held in Armenia.

They also spoke about "Rubezh 2008" military exercises that will kick
off tomorrow.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, July 21, 2008

East Coast Young Professionals Kick Off Summer at 3rd Annual YPGNY Camp
Nubar Retreat

Fifty young professionals from the greater New York area, Boston,
Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and, for the first time, from as far
afield as Los Angeles, ventured to upstate New York the weekend of June
20-22 to attend the third annual Young Professionals (YP) Retreat at
Camp Nubar. Hosted by the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York
(YPGNY), the retreat took place in the state’s scenic Catskill Mountains
and offered an opportunity for participants to relax and network amongst
newfound peers.

After the group settled into their semi-private cabins and unpacked
their bags, everyone gathered on the basketball courts for a pizza party
and a mini "Color War," a traditional Camp Nubar game that combines
performing arts and sports.

"The first night’s activity always brings everyone together and sets the
tone for the weekend. Whether you were a Camp alum or not, everyone had
a fabulous time and laughter continued throughout the night," said
Alexis Halejian, retreat Co-Chair.

The next day, YP campers took advantage of the great outdoors with a
vast menu of activities. The morning began with a professionally taught
yoga class on the edge of the spring-fed Lake Arax. Then, throughout the
day, participants were able to enjoy a variety of water activities,
including rowing, canoeing and swimming, under the watchful eye of a
certified lifeguard. Other activities included tennis tournaments,
basketball and a backgammon mini-tournament, which continued well into
the afternoon.

Saturday evening began with a wine-tasting activity organized by Vadim
Krisyan, who, informed by his wine expertise, offered a crash course in
wine-food pairings and explored everything from gourmet cheeses and
olives to hummus and lahmajoon (Armenian pizza). The evening ended with
a bonfire sing-along.

In the end, the YP Retreat proved to be an unique bonding experience for
all. "Camp Nubar has been a home away from home to me since my first
summer as a camper in 1986. Now, as a member of YPGNY, it brings me
great joy to organize these weekend trips so that others can share the
experiences unique to Camp Nubar," stated Harout Gebian, alumnus of Camp
Nubar and a member of YPGNY.

Event co-chairman and Camp Nubar alumnus, James Ishkanian, agreed. "The
retreat weekend exemplified the true character and spirit of Camp
Nubar–a great place for Armenians to come together, relax and enjoy the
outdoors."

YPGNY intends to donate any funds raised during the weekend to Camp
Nubar as a symbol of their appreciation for a facility that has offered
a summer haven for youth of Armenian descent since 1963.

AGBU Camp Nubar is a modern facility that has been highly ranked by the
American Camp Association, American Red Cross, and American Academy of
Pediatrics. For more information about AGBU Camp Nubar, please visit
, email [email protected], or call 212-319-6383.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit

PUBLIC PALACE CAN’T BE "POCKET"
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 18, 2008
Armenia

Interview with the Chairman of Armenian Sociologists’ Association
Gevorg Poghosyan

"Mr. Poghosyan is there any necessity to form a Public Palace in
Armenia?"

"We are even late we need this Public Palace for a long time. Two
years back in the book, co-authored by me, a separate section was
devoted to the creation of similar public structure.

But in our view the structure was different from the one they speak
about.

Our state aims to be democratic. By classical approach, there should be
state, private and social sectors in democratic countries. The social
sector or the civil society is very weak in our country. The same is
in all the post-soviet countries. Everyone knows this. The creation
of the Public Palace is very important for making this sector stronger.

We have more than four thousand working Social Organizations, but
they failed to create strong unions. There are independent Mass Media,
but they play no public role, they are not influential.

We need strong institutes for the formation of civil society and
to make the citizens active. The Public Palace is the embodiment
of that strong structure. It is one step to make the social sector
stronger. And it is very good that we finally took this step."

"Why is th e creation of the Public Palace considered the consequence
of the post-election developments?"

"Now when they speak about the Public Palace they mix three different
things. The version that I have introduced is the classical and
theoretical form of making the social sector stronger. But because
at the moment we are facing post-election conflict, and there is a
necessity for government-opposition dialogue, some people think that
Public Palace can implement this function. The settlement of similar
issues is not in the competencies of the Public Palace.

After all each high-ranking official: the President, the Prime
Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly can form consultative
bodies. But they are not Public Palaces. Of Course it would be good if
the President had similar consultative body, to have real and complete
information. It is well known all over the world that by the help of
the Ministers, Assistants and the Advisers the leader of the country
gets information. They say there are certain things, which is better
to hide from the "boss". The President can include his preferable
people in this body. Those with whom he considers appropriate to work.

The Public Palace that we have proposed to create can’t be "pocket". It
must be really public. It should not be attached to the President. It
should be an independent political institute. I believe it is possible
to have similar institute only by the force of law. There should be
a law about the Public Palace, which will emphasize the competencies
of this body and will clarify the restrictions.

The Public Palace can’t replace the Parliament. But some people say,
because not all the layers of society are represented in the National
Assembly, we must create the Public Palace. It is impossible to
replace the legislative body by the public one. The Public Palace
can’t be a place for dispute and rivalry between the ruling power
and the opposition.

Everything is mixed because we have a wrong picture about the Public
Palace."

"It is understandable that the Public Palace won’t pass laws and
won’t take mandatory regulations. What is the result of the activity
of this body?"

"Despite the quality of the activity of the Human Rights Defender it
is wonderful that this institute is finally formed in our country. The
civilians have got one more body to defend them. The Public Palace
is going to be a social ombudsman to defend the interests of the
society. It must be the collective conscience of the nation.

The public, the people can raise any issue by means of the Public
Palace. It is the voice of the conscience and no one can ignore it. But
we need a law to make the voice of the Public Palace heard. Otherwise
this body will also turn into a regular overlooked structure.

I wo uld love to see the representatives of the Public Palace in the
National Assembly, in the government, to have the right to participate
in the discussions without the right to vote. Thus we could ensure the
contact of the society with the legislative and executive bodies. In
my view it is very important for the representatives of different
provinces to be represented in the Public Palace, including Karabakh
and Diaspora: at least some big communities. This way it is possible
to create a wonderful civil palace.

This structure must be financed by the budget, by a separate line. Not
for the salaries of the members (because they must be volunteers) but
for investigations, discussions, analysis, etc. The Public TV must
allocate certain airtime to the Public Palace envisaged by the law,
without any interference or willfulness."

RUSSIAN PARATROOPERS IN MILITARY DRILL

PRESS TV
July 17 2008
Iran

Russian paratroopers arrive in North Ossetia to take part in the
active stage of a large-scale military exercise in the North Caucasus.

The paratroopers are from Russia’s 76th Airborne Division and the
exercise has been called "Caucasus 2008". It involves units from the
North Caucasus Military District, mainly the 58th Army, the 4th Air
Force Army, Interior Ministry troops, and border guards.

This is while a spokesperson for Russia’s Ground Forces said on
Wednesday that the personnel, the equipment and ammunition are being
unloaded at the town of "Mozdok" in North Ossetia. He continued
that the paratroopers are scheduled to carry out a forced march
to the allocated zone of operation in the mountains, and they will
then proceed to carry out a series of tactical exercises, including
live-fire drills, RIA Novosti reported.

Meanwhile, an aide to the commander of the North Caucasus Military
District, Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Bobrun for his part said that
the exercise involved about 8,000 military personnel, 700 combat
vehicles and more than 30 aircraft. It will take place on the
territory of Chechnya, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria,
and Karachayevo-Circassia.

Russian paratroopers

The Russian military said that the whole aim of the exercise was to
work on interoperability between federal troops, Interior Ministry
troops, border guards, and the Air Force in special operations against
militants. He added that the aim was also to work on the defense of
Russia’s state borders, and to practice support of Russian peacekeepers
in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

However, Georgia for its part protested on Wednesday against the
Russian military exercise near its borders. It said that it was
another sign of hostility against Tbilisi.

This is while on Tuesday, Georgia along with the US also began a
large-scale military exercise dubbed "Immediate Response 2008", near
its capital of Tbilisi. About 1,650 personnel, including troops from
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine, are to take part in the $8 million
drills, which was planned by the US Armed Forces European Command
and financed by the US Defense Department.

Relations between Russia and Georgia fell to an all time low during
the recent violence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which broke away
from Tbilisi in the early 1990s.

ARMROSGASPROM ISSUES BONDS OF 1BLN AMD TOTAL WORTH

ARKA
July 15

ArmRosgasprom has announced an issue of registered coupon
non-documentary bonds of 1bln AMD total worth.

The company’s Deputy Financial Director Vahagn Arakelyan said this
issue pursues both commercial and social goals.

"Seventy thousand new customers are supposed to join our subscriber
base due to this issue," he said.

A total of 20,000 bonds at a nominal of 50,000 AMD, interest rate
at 9.5% and 36-month maturity were issued. Payments are to be made
every six months.

The first issue of ArmRosgasprom 18-month coupon bonds was completed
July 04, 2007. Corporate bonds with 1bln AMD total worth and 9%
annual interest rate were issued.

"Due to the first issue we managed to attract 34,000 people to our
subscriber base mostly representing the vulnerable sections of the
population. In fact, the total number of our subscribers was 76,000
in 2007," Arakelyan said.

Vice Chairman of Armenian Central Bank Vache Gabrielyan stressed that
ArmRosgasprom is the largest corporate bond issuer in Armenia whose
bonds provide 16% of all the securities transactions on the stock
exchange and 23% of all he corporate securities transactions.

In September, 2007, the ArmRosgasprom Board of Directors approved
the program about an issue of bonds of 5bln AMD worth to finance the
gas supply activity in Armenia. As part of the f irst issue 10,000
mid-term coupon bond with a nominal price of 10,000 AMD were issued.

Both legal entities and individuals are eligible to acquire coupon
non-documentary coupons.

A discount will be available in public offering to ensure 10% annual
investment income for investors.

ArmRosgasprom has a monopoly right to deliver and distribute Russian
natural gas on Armenian market. The company was founded in 1997. Its
total capital according to April data was 900mln. USD, the shareholders
are Gasprom (72,16%), the Ministry of Energy of Armenia (22.78%)
and the Itera oil and gas company (5.06%). ($1 – 302.64 AMD).

LEBANON’S NEW CABINET INCLUDED TWO ARMENIANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.07.2008 15:11 GMT+04:00

Lebanon’s President Michel Suleiman decreed formation of a national
unity cabinet, which includes two Armenians in its lineup of ministers,
Shahan Kandakharyan, editor-in-chief of Azdak Beirut-based newspaper,
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The unity cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Fouad Saniorai, consists
of 30 ministers from the six major sects in a nation made up of 18
religious communities. Alain Tabourian will serve as Minister of
Energy and Water, while Jean Ogassapian will serve as one of five
Ministers of State.

The cabinet was announced after Suleiman, a Maronite Christian, met
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, a Sunni Muslim, and Parliament Speaker
Nabih Berri, a Shi’ite Muslim.

The new team also has one Hezbollah minister in addition to 10
ministers from its Shi’ite, Druze and Christian allies.

RA MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

DeFacto Agency
July 15 2008
Armenia

STEPANAKERT, 14.07.08. DE FACTO. A delegation of RA Ministry of
Health headed by Minister Harutyun Kushkian held meetings with heads
of Stepanakert medical centers.

According to DE FACTO own correspondent in Stepanakert, in the course
of the meeting RA Minister of Health Harutyun Kushkian noted both
parties sought development of health care system, high-quality and
at the same time available medical service. "This meeting will be
followed by practical steps", the Minister stated.

In his words, RA and NKR health care systems face similar problems. "We
held discussions on the subject with local authorities, we have already
outlined the ways that will let us overcome, eliminate shortcomings
and omissions step by step", Harutyun Kushkian said.

Upon conclusion of the meeting NKR Minister of Health A. Khachatrian
said that a delegation of RA Ministry of Health had presented medical
equipment to NKR to be given to NKR medical institutions.