Author: Kajoyan Gevork

AUSTRIAN POLITICIAN: TURKEY AND RUSSIA HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EUROPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.06.2008 13:38 GMT+04:00

Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider questioned Tuesday why
Russia and Turkey were allowed to participate in the European soccer
championships, the Euro 2008.

"What have these two countries got in common with Europe?" Haider asked
in an interview published in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

Turkey is set to play Germany in the semi-final on Wednesday and
Russia will play Spain in the other semi-final on Thursday. That
means the final in Vienna on Sunday could pitch two non-EU members
against each other, Russia versus Turkey.

Haider, who heads the Austrian far-right BZOe party, is opposed to
Turkey’s bid to join the 27-nation EU.

"The Turks could well win the final in Vienna. But Europe’s gates
must remain closed for Turkey," he said.

"I don’t think they’re in a position to accept European rules
and culture," he said, the AFP reports.

U.S. OFFICIAL: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES DEMONSTRATE WILLINGNESS TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH OPPOSITION

ARKA
June 25

Armenian authorities demonstrate willingness to have a dialogue with
the opposition, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, David Kramer
said in Yerevan on Wednesday.

He told journalists that good will has already displayed, and now
steps are needed for confirming it.

He stressed the importance of establishing a constructive dialogue
between ruling parties and other parties and civil society.

Kramer said that a dialogue is the most preferable of all possible
ways.

Earlier, at his meeting with representatives of Armenian community
in Moscow, Armenian President Serge Sargsyan reiterated willingness
to have a dialogue with any political party.

He said that the authorities have already taken certain steps to ease
the post-election tension.

In particular, the opposition activists enjoy wider room for airing
their views on TV channels and some detainees have been released.

KARABAKH MUST NOT BE UNDER AZERI JURISDICTION – YEREVAN

nterfax News Agency
June 24 2008
Russia

Armenian Foreign Ministry said that the recognition of
self-determination rights of the Karabakh people would be a fair
solution of the conflict.

"A fair and peaceful solution of the Karabakh conflict is of paramount
importance for the Armenian foreign policy. The core of this conflict
is the recognition of self-determination rights of the Karabakh
people," the ministry press office quoted Minister Edvard Nalbandian
to Interfax on Monday.

The minister said that the Karabakh settlement should be based on the
following principles: Karabakh cannot be under the jurisdiction of
Azerbaijan; Karabakh must have a land border with Armenia; that border
must be under the Armenian jurisdiction and encounter no impediments;
and the security of Karabakh people must be guaranteed.

"The legalization of these principles with an agreement will make
it possible to clean up the conflict’s aftereffects. Naturally,
the agreement must be approved by Karabakh," the minister said.

UN KEY TO SETTLING NAGORNO-KARABAKH DISPUTE

RT
June 24, 2008

Russia and Armenia will cooperate in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia and will
co-ordinate their security efforts in the Southern Caucasus. The
Russian and Armenian presidents, Dmitry Medvedev and Serzh
Sargsyan,have signed a joint statement following their meeting in
Moscow on Tuesday.

It says that Moscow and Yerevan are ready to develop "bilateral
military cooperation not targeted at third countries" and stresses
that both countries accept "the key role of the United Nations in
the prevention and peaceful settlements of conflicts".

Economic cooperation was also discussed at the meeting. Both leaders
expect trade between Armenia and Russia to reach billions of dollars
in the next two years.

"It’s in our joint interests to strengthen cooperation and, in
future, to continue increasing investment and to cooperate un the
manufacturing and technology spheres, especially when such powerful
Russian businesses as Gazprom, VympelKom and VTB are successfully
operating in Armenia. We’ve also agreed with Serzh Sagsyan to develop
more big partnership projects," Medvedev said.

Meanwhile, the Armenian President said that both countries will be
looking for new ways to increase the scale of cooperation.

"The main result of the talks is that our dialogue is based on
mutual trust, which fully reflects the high strategic level of our
relations. I am convinced that co-operation in energy, science,
atomic and hi-tech spheres are the most promising directions in our
relations," Sargsyan stated.

ABRAHAM WINS MIRANDA

A1+
[02:24 pm] 23 June, 2008

World champion Arthur Abraham again defended his IBF world middleweight
title against Columbian Edison Miranda. The latter sought revenge on
Abraham for an earlier defeat.

Abraham was rather passive during the first two rounds. In the fourth
round he knocked down his contender thus clinching the champion’s
title.

"Abraham was well-trained and well-prepared for revenge. I could do
nothing but protect. He is a real champion." Miranda confessed after
the match.

Abraham’s younger brother, Alexandre Abraham, was involved in a
scandal after the match. According to some mass media he had rushed
to the ring to congratulate Abraham on victory. Then he went up to
Miranda and began hitting him.

According to ESPN Abraham was detained shortly afterwards. He was
released on the security of $100.

Sauerland Event refutes the rumours saying that Alexandre Abraham was
detained in a casino after violating public order. He was released
after paying 100 dollars.

ARMENIA TO HAVE A MINISTRY OF DIASPORA AFFAIRS

armradio.am
23.06.2008 10:55

On June 21 RA President Serzh Sargsyan signed the Law on the structure
of the Government of the Republic of Armenia adopted by the National
Assembly.

The following Ministries are included in the Government of the Republic
of Armenia:

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Ministry of Healthcare Ministry of
Justice Ministry of Emergency Situations Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Nature Protection Ministry of Agriculture Ministry
of Economy Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Ministry of
Education and Science Ministry of Culture Ministry of Defense Ministry
of Sport and Youth Affairs Ministry of Diaspora Affairs Ministry of
Territorial Administration Ministry of Urban Development Ministry of
Finance Ministry of Transport and Communication

The law will come into force from July 1, 2008. The Ministry of
Diaspora Affairs will be included in the Government structure from
October 1, 2008.

EU APPRECIATES ENP ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION BY ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.06.2008 14:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently in Brussels on a working visit, Armenia’s
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with Ms. Benita Ferrero-Walnder,
EU Commissioner for External Relations and the European Neighborhood
Policy, the RA MFA press office reported.

The officials discussed implementation of the ENP Action Plan and
the opportunities it provides.

"Armenia is gradually approaching the European family.

And I want to thank the EU structures and member states for
contributing to the reform process," Minister Nalbandian said.

Discussing the situation in the South Caucasus, Ms. Ferrero-Walnder
requested the Armenian Minister to brief on the latest developments
in the Karabakh conflict settlement process.

PRESIDENT APPOINTS HAYK HARUTYUNIAN CHIEF OF STATE PROTECTION SERVICE

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 19

President Serzh Sarkisian decreed on June 18 to appoint Hayk
Harutyunian chief of the State Protection Service of the Republic of
Armenia. The news was reported by the presidential press office.

ARMSWISSBANK PRESENTS ISSUE PROSPECTUS OF ARMRUSGASPROM CJSC’S BONDS TO CENTRAL BANK OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2008-06-19 15:53:00

ArmSwissBank presented the issue prospectus of ArmRusgasprom CJSC’s
bonds to the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA). ArmSwissBank told ArmInfo
that the issue prospectus was submitted to the CBA for registration
on June 18.

To recall, ArmSwissBank is the underwriter of the second issue of
ArmRusgasprom CJSC’s corporate coupon bonds, the agreement with which
was signed on May 20, 2008. The volume of the second issue will make
up 1 bln AMD (20000 bonds), the nominal value of each bond being 50000
AMD, profitability – 9,5%, and circulation period – 3 years. The bond
placement will be public. Coupon redemption will be carried out twice
a year at the rate of 4,75% of the nominal value of a bond. Investors
will be able to acquire the bonds with a 10% discount of annual yield.

To note, the first issue of ArmRusgasprom’s coupon bonds was placed
on July 4, 2007. The volume of the issue made up 1 bln AMD. The issue
consisted of 100 thsd bonds, the nominal value of each bond being 10
thsd AMD. The circulation period of the first issue made up 18 months,
annual yield – 9%.

In September 2007, the bonds were listed among Abond at the Armenian
Exchange (ArmEx). To note, according to ArmInfo’s financial analysis
service, over the past few years the volume of exchange operations
with ArmRusgasprom’s bonds at ArmEx made up about 350 mln AMD.

The company worked out the program of issue of bond loans to gasify
potential subscribers. The funds attracted from the market will be
spent on connection of about 40 thsd subscribers, mostly from poor
layers of population. The conducted policy not only gives a chance
to attract additional funds for implementation of various investment
projects, but also contributes to establishment and development
of the securities market in Armenia, which is also very important,
the company’s specialists say.

LONG-TERM CONCEPT OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA REQUIRES COMBINED EFFORTS

ARKA
June 18, 2008

YEREVAN, June 18. /ARKA/. The implementation of a concept of tourism
development in Armenia for 2008-2030, which was approved by the RA
Government early this year, requires combined efforts of the Government
and the private sector.

At his press conference, Head of the Tourism Department, RA Ministry
of Economy, Mekhak Apresyan said that the proposals made by all the
concerned parties are incorporated in the concept. The Government,
the private sector as well as nongovernmental organizations need to
combine their efforts to put the concept into practice, he said.

According to him, the concept contains general ideas of developing
Armenia’s tourist industry. The first stage of the implementation is
scheduled for 2008-2012.

Apresyan pointed out that a plan of action is being elaborated. The
plan provides for the development of infrastructure and transport,
road construction, training of personnel, development of business
environment, development of tourism in Armenia’s communities.-0–