Author: Kalantarian Kevo

CBA RE-RATES 7 ENTERPRISES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
has re-rated 7 enterprises. NT was informed by the CBA press service
that Ashtarak Kat CJSC received B+ rating, Tigran the Great Publishing
House CJSC – B-, Jermuk Plant CJSC – C+, Proshian Brandy Plant LLC –
C, Onix CJSC – C, Electrasark OJSC – C-, and Yerevan Jewelry Plant-1
OJSC – D+ rating.

The CBA assigns rating to enterprises by assessing and summarizing
the qualitative scores of their credit history, financial state
and activities by a 5-point system. The maxium rating is "A+",
while the minimum one is "F". The enterprises to have received 4.9
points and higher are assigned "A+" rating, 4.75-4.9 – "A" rating,
4.6-4.75 – "A-", 4.45-4.6 – "B+", 4.25-4.45 – "B", 4.1-4.25 – "B-"
rating. Enterprises to have received 2 points and lower are assigned
"F" rating.

The CBA is ready to accept as pledge bonds issued by enterprises with
"A", "B" and "C" ratings, when signing repo agreements with banks. The
CBA has established a privileged scale for weighing of bank assets’
risks – for credits given by commercial banks to enterprises with high
rating and for purchase of high rating enterprises’ bonds by commercial
banks; thanks to it, banks are interested in crediting enterprises
with high rating and in acquiring bonds issued by these enterprises.

34 Armenian companies have received ratings (from "B+" to "D") of
the CBA.

TURKEY: SEEKING AN OUTLET FOR EXPANSION

Stratfor
Dec 12 2007

Summary

Turkey is flexing its muscles as it seeks an avenue to expand.

Analysis

Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in Kazakhstan on Dec. 12
for a three-day visit primarily aimed at furthering Turkish business
interests in the region. The visit is symptomatic of a country seeking
an outlet for its rising power and ambition.

Turkey is a rising power economically, militarily and politically,
with an economy worth some $400 billion and the second-largest military
in NATO. Yet it is also a country rather conflicted about its place
in the world. Since the end of World War I the Turks have existed in
a sort of cultural limbo, shunning their Islamic and imperial past,
yet being denied full membership in the West in general, and the
European Union in specific.

Over the past decade, the Turks have come to terms with the idea
that they have made it as far into Europe as Europe will allow:
They enjoy a customs union with the European Union, an agreement
functionally equivalent to the U.S.-Mexico relationship via NAFTA. But
EU membership is out of the question. Now, they are casting about
for a new national goal.

The lands surrounding modern Turkey echo with the voices of Turkey’s
imperial past. All provide certain opportunities for the expansion of
Turkish influence, yet none of the options leap out as being obvious —
and none will be easy.

In Central Asia, cultural links to the region’s Turkic peoples may give
the Turks access — but the Russians have deeper and more recent ties,
while the Chinese are splashing around more money. The Balkans provide
Turkey a chance to leverage NATO links and cultural connections and
force the Europeans to treat them with respect, but ultimately it is
Brussels and Washington who most reliably shape events in Southeastern
Europe. Working in the Caucasus helps buffer Turkey against a resurging
Russia, but there is strong competition from not only Russia, but
also Iran and Armenia. The only reason Iraqi Kurdistan has proven
so hot-button in recent months is because the Turks perceive Kurdish
autonomy across their southern border as a direct threat to the unity
of Turkey itself. Like in its other spheres of potential interest,
Turkey has no particular advantage in operating to its south either.

Yet Turkish power continues to rise, and it is only a matter of
time before it seeks an outlet. Its economy has stabilized after
a 2001 crash, and has grown strongly ever since. The government is
consolidated under a single party to a degree absent since the time
of Kemal Ataturk. The military is strong, flexible and deployable.

This broad-spectrum strength allows Turkey to have its fingers in a lot
of different pots. The only thing lacking is a strategic decision by
the Turks about which direction is most important to Turkey. Once that
decision is made, there are no internal barriers to Turkish movement.

m/read_article.php?id=299886&selected=Analyses

HRANT DINK POSTHUMOUSLY GIVEN TITLE OF HERO OF FREEDOM OF PRESS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11, 2007

ANKARA, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Hrant Dink, the
murdered editor-in-chief of the Agos weekly, has been given the title
of Hero of Freedom of Press by the International Press Institute.

According to Turkish press, the prize of the murdered editor-in-chief
was given to his widow, Rachel Dink, at the event held in Vienna on
December 10, on the occasion of the International Day of Human Rights.

"This prize is given to Dink not only for his courage shown in his
speciality, but also for his contribution made in the sphere of
freedom of press in Turkey," Johann P. Friz, the Director of the
International Press Institute, stated.

MINISTRY OPENS INQUIRY INTO MALATYA POLICE OFFICERS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 10 2007

The Interior Ministry has finally opened an investigation into
allegations of obstruction of justice and destruction of evidence
by police to protect suspects charged with killing three Christians
earlier this year at a publishing house that produces Bibles, a
ministry official announced on Saturday.

Two senior police inspectors will be assigned to investigate whether
any officers provided assistance to the suspects, Interior Ministry
officials said. "Depending on the results of the investigation, the
necessary legal actions will be taken against any police personnel
involved," officials were quoted as saying by daily Radikal.

The three Christians — a German and two Turks — were killed in the
southern city of Malatya on April 18. The killings — in which the
victims were tied up and had their throats slit — drew international
condemnation.

Five people were arrested and charged with murder. The trial started
last month but was quickly adjourned until Jan. 14 because defense
attorneys requested more time to prepare their arguments.

The Interior Ministry decided to launch an investigation after several
newspapers published stories Saturday alleging cooperation between
police and at least one of the suspects.

Reports in newspapers quoted two of the suspects, Abuzer Yýldýrým
and Salih Guler, as saying in their testimony that a third suspect,
Emre Gunaydýn, told them that he had met with police officials and
learned about the locations of Christian churches in the city.

"I asked him, ‘Who are the police chiefs you were talking to?’ He said,
‘Don’t ask, take it easy’," newspapers quoted Yýldýrým as saying.

Similar allegations emerged after the January killing of an ethnic
Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, who was detested by hard-line
nationalists because he described the mass killings of Armenians
in the early 20th century as genocide, a charge that Turkey denies,
insisting those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

Critics have accused authorities of failing to act on reports of
a plot to kill Dink, but there has been no evidence that directly
implicates any police or government officials in the slaying of Dink
outside his office.

Many Turks are convinced that a phenomenon called the "deep state"
— a network of state agents or ex-officials, possibly with links to
organized crime — periodically targets reformists and what they deem
perceived enemies of the state in the name of nationalism.

Christian leaders have said they are worried that nationalists are
stoking hostility against non-Turks and non-Muslims by exploiting
uncertainty over Turkey’s place in the world. Many analysts believe
some of the recent killings targeting non-Muslims, including the
killing of an Italian priest in Trabzon last year, were attempts
directed at derailing Turkey’s EU membership process.

–Boundary_(ID_zBDxuw6lUQ0dKdHBtUmNVg)–

ADVOCACY WEEK 106 HELD IN WASHINGTON

Yerkir
10.12.2007 13:00

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Human rights advocates from all over the western
United States traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in "Advocacy
Week 106" from Monday, December 3 through Friday, December 7, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR).

"We have seen scores of constituents expressing deep concerns over
the inaccurate, misrepresented and distorted nature of media coverage
on the resolution in October," stated ANCA-WR Executive Director
Andrew Kzirian.

"These human rights activists traveled to Washington, DC to help
set the record straight and remind Members what the resolution is
really all about – ending the cycle of genocide and not succumbing
to Turkey’s denial," he added.

Convening at the ANCA’s Washington headquarters, constituents from
Idaho, Arizona, Texas and California conducted over 150 meetings
on Capitol Hill with Members of the House and Senate. Although
not usually in session at this time of year, Congress will likely
convene well into December to address various pieces of appropriation
legislation. Constituents viewed this extra time in session as an
opportunity to help raise awareness of recent developments regarding
the resolution and the Turkish government’s denialist activities.

Introduced by Representative Adam Schiff, the Armenian Genocide
resolution (H. Res. 106) passed through the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs on October 10, 2007 by a vote of 27-21 despite unprecedented
opposition by President Bush and other facets of the administration,
including current and former high-ranking cabinet officials from the
Departments of State and Defense.

PROGRAM WILL BE CARRIED OUT WITH JOINT EFFORT

KarabakhOpen
10-12-2007 12:16:32

Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan met with Vahe Aghabekyans, CEO of
Armenia Foundation, on Saturday and discussed the programs of the
foundation in Artsakh, namely the program for the region of Martuni,
for the reconstruction of which the telethon was held in November. The
program includes drinking and irrigation water supply, health and
education.

The NKR prime minister emphasized that the government will give both
in-kind and financial support to Armenia Foundation, the department
of information and public relations of NKR government reports.

VOTE FOR AREVIK TOMORROW!

armradio.am
07.12.2007 12:54

The fifth Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Rotterdam,
Netherlands on December 8th. The destination was chosen by the European
Broadcasting Union on July 13, 2006. 17 countries will participate in
the Junior Eurovision-2007 inclusive of Armenia, Belarus, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Macedonia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Malta,
the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain and Ukraine.

The song "A Dream" (Erazank) of a very childish and very professional
"Arevik" ensemble continues winning the affection of children and
grown-ups from different countries of the world. A good proof of this
is the fact that representatives of 17 countries were singing the
song with Arevik during yesterday’s rehearsal, said the Executive
Director of the Public Radio of Armenia Armen Amiryn who heads the
Armenian delegation in Rotterdam.

"Yesterday our children held two dress rehearsals in the bright and
technically equipped hall where they will shine on December 8th.

"Yesterday the children met with representatives of the Armenian
community of Hague. They visited Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and Van
Gogh’s Museum. The impressions are ineffable," Armen Amiryan tells.

According to him, one of the dreams of our children has already come
true – they have met the Santa Claus. Of course, children combine
the entertainment with work.

Certainly there is some fear and a feeling of responsibility. Armen
Amiryan calls on all TV viewers, especially our compatriots living
in Europe to vote for our children.

The Armenian participants are in the centre of attention of leading TV.

Thus, the BBC was initially planning to shoot a film about the
representatives of Cyprus, Greece and Belgium, but their plans changed
after they heard the Armenian song and saw the performance. They
decided to include the "Arevik" ensemble in the film.

According to latest Internet polls and charts, Armenia is leading or
is at least included in the top three. Only a day is left before the
delight of victory.

Panorama.am

18:25 06/12/2007

ZHARANGUTIUN STILL HAS QUESTIONS TO POLITICAL FORCES

”Zharangutiun” party board decided in an enlarged session not to
propose a candidate at the presidential elections. Hovsep Khurshudyan,
press secretary of the party told Panorama.am that the board also
decided to negotiate with the political forces in order to ”take a
decision.” Asked will they support the opposition or the authorities,
Khurshudyan said, ”there is no focus on the wing – with everybody.”
”The questions are not clarified yet. These two days will decide
everything,” he added.

It must be mentioned that Zharagutiun leader Raffi Hovannisian could
not nominate his candidature at the presidential elections because of
lack of citizenship for 10 years in the Republic of Armenia.

Source: Panorama.am

PanARMENIAN.Net

ICG: Karabakh war may resume in 2012
05.12.2007 16:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The International Crisis Group (ICG) organized a
discussion of Nagorno Karabakh: Risking war report with the presence
of experts.

ICG Senior Analyst on the Caucasus, Claire Delessard, in the part of
the discussion open for reporters, expressed regret on behalf of the
organization that Azerbaijani and Armenian governments do not agree to
the proposals of Minsk Group, mediating in the settlement of the
conflict, and do not prepare people for peace.

`Both sides think that time works for them. Armenia hopes that de
facto condition of Nagorno Karabakh will be substituted by de jure and
Azerbaijan hopes that it will solve the problem as a result of its
economic growth,’ she said.

Analyst said that arming of sides may make the war real. `War may
restart in 2012 – when Azerbaijan’s energy resources reduce,’ she
said.

Ms. Delessard stressed that publics of the two countries will play
great role in preventing this war.

The debates carried out with the participation of Azerbaijani senior
officials and chiefs of NGOs continued behind closed doors, APA
reports.

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, CA
Dec 6 2007

Anything but a silent night

The medium is always a message for outspoken rocker Serj Tankian

BY FRED SHUSTER, MUSIC WRITER
Article Created: 12/05/2007 03:48:05 PM PST

Serj Tankian has something on his mind.
A few years ago, the lead vocalist of metal giants System of a Down
and his Rage Against the Machine pal Tom Morello started Axis of
Justice, a grass-roots activist organization designed to fund and
donate to various causes, including labor issues, co-op farming, the
homeless and official recognition of the Armenian genocide.

The organization’s Web site () is a remarkable
source of political information as well as updates on Tankian’s
various musical projects.

"The humanitarian things always pop up on me," Tankian said. "It’s
not something I plan, to be honest. Something will come up and I’ll
just kind of get involved."

For Tankian and other Armenians around the world, the Armenian
genocide in Turkey almost 100 years ago remains a highly personal and
emotional issue. A congressional resolution recognizing the genocide
has stalled because Turkey is an important ally of the U.S. in a part
of the world where America has few friends.

"If we want to call ourselves a democracy, then we can’t deny a
well-known genocide in our archives," Tankian said. "To me, the
victory is already done, because of the fact that the president spoke
against it and it passed the committee and it garnered international
attention. All of this interest, awakening and awareness will make it
impossible for the hypocrisy to continue."

Tankian can be seen and heard Saturday when he opens the first night
of this weekend’s KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas concerts at the
Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk. He’ll perform songs from
his solo "Elect the Dead" disc, about which Entertainment Weekly
raved: "Factor in politics, social commentary and highly
individualistic posey, and `Elect’ gets our vote for the liveliest
mixed-bag marvel of the season."
The San Antonio Express-News, meanwhile, described the disc as having
"more than enough crash, bang and strangeness to keep everyone happy"
until System reconvenes.

But with or without the multimillion-selling System at his side,
Tankian has an army of supporters.

"There’s a great deal of urgency in his music," said KROQ programmer
Kevin Weatherly. "A lot of thought goes into his music and it’s
something our audience believes in. We’re all looking forward to
seeing him Saturday."

Formed in 1995 in Glendale, System’s four members are of Armenian
descent, grandsons of Armenian genocide survivors, and are known for
the outspoken views found in many of their songs. The band’s five
albums were among metal’s biggest sellers worldwide.

As for their return, the band’s singer is noncommittal.

"We’ve taken an indefinite hiatus," said Tankian, 40, who lives in
Malibu. "We’re friends still. The door is open. But we’re kind of
just getting out and doing our own things. So definitely not now, but
possibly sometime in the future. I mean, one thing with System you’ve
got to understand is that, unlike a lot of bands, we’re not a
cookie-cutter organization. We’re not a corporation that wants to put
out Oreos every year, a new brand, new and improved kind of thing.
That’s not us. We speak when we have something to say together."

Instead, Tankian is focusing on his own material, which boasts arty
arrangements, dynamic vocals and the titanium riffs System fans
appreciate.

"It’s a whole different thing to me," Tankian sums up. "It’s a lot
more classical-music oriented, operatic, there are a lot of piano and
strings. And there’s still a lot of progressive dynamics."

Along with a range of styles covered, each new song has its own
message, Tankian says, pointing out one track called "The Unthinking
Majority" as representative.

"It’s a very blatant critique of a number of things, and it’s open to
interpretation," Tankian said. "It could be this administration,
other administrations, other governments, hijacking a democracy and
creating a failed democracy, and it speaks to the masses that are
numb to being taken for granted in that way.

"There are songs with humor and plenty of other topics, but one of
the underlying themes is civilization and what it means to us."

Staff writer Naush Boghossian contributed to this article.