Author: Kalashian Nyrie

ACBA LEASING PROFIT ACCUMULATION TOTALED AMD 221 MILLION IN 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.05.2009 17:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ACBA Leasing has registered gains at the close of
2008, thanks to inner financial planning. It has been working at a
profit during 3 years, ACBA Leasing deputy CEO Arsen Bazikyan said
in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"In 2008 the company has registered an income of AMD 221million and AMD
82 million in the first quarter of 2008. I can’t deny the influence of
world financial crisis on our economy, specifically, on the number of
applications filed by potential lessees," he said. "Still the influence
of world crisis upon RA economy was not that drastic as, basically,
only the real sector is being funded in Armenia, and the deals have
nothing to do with stock market where the crisis was felt most."

"Specifically, ACBA Leasing is funding small and medium sized business,
and according to our inner regulations, a rather conservative approach
is practiced, that is, diversification of risks, linked to financing
of different sectors. Thus the crisis has had a minor impact on ACBA
Leasing activities. We might have temporary difficulties, but not
debts that could pose any problems to us," Mr. Bazikyan said.

"ACBA Leasing" Closed Joint Stock Company was established on March
30, 2003. It is the first specialized leasing company acting as a
credit organization.

AKP DOESN’T SUCCEED IN TALKS WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.05.2009 20:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s ruling AKP has failed to succeed in
the issues of Cyprus and Armenia, although it has made significant
progress in foreign policy during recent years, an official from the
party said Monday.

Turkey has revived its relations with Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia in
last 6-7 years and made progress on many issues, Suat Kiniklioglu,
deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish
Parliament, said at Chatham House, London.

"But we failed on two issues. We are not at the point, which we wanted
to be, on the issues of Armenia and Cyprus," he said.

Kiniklioglu said the ongoing negotiation process in Cyprus was the last
chance to achieve peace in the island, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

STATEMENT BY THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

AZG Armenian Daily
12/05/2009

Karabakh conflict

According to the official website of the OSCE Minsk Group, the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Ambassador Yury Merzlyakov of
Russia, Ambassador Bernard Fassier of France, and Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State Matthew Bryza of the United States – yesterday
issued the following statement:

"Fifteen years ago large-scale hostilities ceased in Nagorno-Karabakh,
in what had become the most violent conflict on the territory of the
former Soviet Union. The leaders at the time made a courageous and
farsighted decision to instruct their military commanders to sign an
agreement on an immediate ceasefire with no fixed term.

Unfortunately, this ceasefire has been imperfect and tragically
every year lives are lost along the front lines. We sincerely hope
that a peace settlement, towards which the parties are now working,
will allow new generations to grow up in Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh without experiencing the horrors of war.

Until then, we call on the parties to implement the provisions of
the ceasefire, the "Proposals on strengthening the ceasefire in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict" agreed in 1995, as well as the Co-Chairs’
proposals at the 2008 Helsinki Ministerial Conference to pull back
snipers from the front lines.

We express our hope that the present leaders will be able to overcome
the complex causes and difficult consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and create an atmosphere of security, trust, cooperation and
fruitful communication between peoples in the region, allowing them
to live in peace as good neighbors. We further hope the leaders will
succeed, in cooperation with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, in finalizing
their Basic Principles for a peaceful settlement."

"FINANCES, CREDITS, INSURANCE AND AUDIT EXPO 2009" SECOND INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIZED EXHIBITION TO BE ORGANIZED IN THE "MOSCOW HOUSE"

ARMENPRESS
May 11, 20009

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS: "Finances, Credits, Insurance and
Audit EXPO 2009" second international specialized exhibition will be
organized May 16-18 in the "Moscow House" business-cultural center.

An official from the exhibition organizer "LOGOS EXPO Center" told
Armenpress that local and international financial-credit, insurance,
consulting and investment companies will take part in the event. It
will give the wide sections of the population an opportunity to get
closely acquainted with the latest achievements of banking system,
numerous financial-credit and insurance programs implemented in the
sphere, new packages of provided services, etc.

"Banking", "Banking services for natural and legal persons",
"Hypothec crediting", "Crediting of small and medium-sized business",
"Express consume services", "Auto crediting", "Leasing financing",
"Management of investments" and "Insurance" are the main thematic
divisions of the exhibition.

"Finances, Credits, Insurance and Audit EXPO 2009" are officially
sponsored by the Armenian Economy Ministry, Armenian Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen, The Central Bank, the Armenian Ministry
of Finances as well as the Union of Armenian Banks.

U.S. ADMINISTRATION CUTS AID TO ARMENIA, BREAKS MILITARY PARITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.05.2009 11:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Just two weeks after President Barack Obama failed
to uphold his campaign promise to squarely reaffirm the historical
fact of the Armenian Genocide, the president, in his Fiscal Year (FY)
2010 International Affairs budget request, broke another promise by
cutting aid to Armenia, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly). The budget request also increased aid to Azerbaijan and
overturned long-standing Congressional policy with respect to military
parity between Armenian and Azerbaijan.

"This budget is fundamentally flawed," said Bryan Ardouny, Assembly
Executive Director. "It is incomprehensible that a country which
already has billions of dollars in oil and gas revenue would receive
an increase in U.S. funding while the neighbor it blockades sees
its funding decrease. This budget request not only undercuts what
Congress has appropriated, but does not help strengthen stability in
the South Caucasus," added Ardouny. "In addition, this does not send
the right message to Armenia, an ally whose relationship with the
U.S. was described this week by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as
‘a very lasting and durable one,’" concluded Ardouny.

On the campaign trail in 2008, then-Senator Obama issued a statement
which read:

As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been
a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. I
will promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish
and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable
settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all
parties, and based upon America’s founding commitment to the principles
of democracy and self determination. And my Administration will
help foster Armenia’s growth and development through expanded trade
and targeted aid, and by strengthening the commercial, political,
military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the
U.S. and Armenian governments.

The proposed FY 2010 budget cut funding to Armenia, recommending $30
million in Economic Assistance, a decrease from FY 2009 level of $48
million. Additionally, the budget did not include funding for Nagorno
Karabakh, while in FY 2009 Congress approved $8 million.

The Administration’s FY 2010 funding proposal for Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) calls for $4 million for Azerbaijan and only $3 million
for Armenia. The proposed budget also suggests $900,000 for Azerbaijan
versus $450,000 for Armenia in International Military Education and
Training (IMET) assistance.

Ardouny stated that the Assembly will work with its friends in
Congress to reverse this proposal on all levels. In previous years,
the combined effort of the Assembly and the Armenian-American community
has resulted in continuous security aid parity.

"ORANGE" TO START PROVIDING SERVICES FROM OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

Noyan Tapan
May 5, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The second operator of the mobile
communication market of Armenia French Orange projects to invest
75 million USD in the industry, told transport and communication
minister of Armenia Gurgen Sargsian to journalists. According to
him these investments will be made irrespectively of the situation
with the world economic and financial crisis. Currently, the company
implements design works, necessary equipment is installed, said the
minister . Mr. Sargsian also noted that the second operator of the
mobile communication market of Armenia will start providing services
from October-November of this year.

500 UPPER-CLASS STUDENTS TOOK LOYALTY OATH IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.05.2009 18:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within the frames of "Let’s Swear" campaign launched
by "One Nation, One Culture " foundation, 500 upper-class students
today organized a march to Yerablur pantheon. Gathering near monument
to Vazgen Sargsyan, they took an oath of loyalty to national and
patriotic ideas.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Defense Ministry,
Mayor’s Office of Yeravan and "One Nation, One Culture" foundation.

Then participants headed towards Yerablur pantheon, where they laid
flower wreaths on Vazgen Sargsyan’s tomb and paid respect to dead
freedom fighters.

"Let’s Swear", a campaign organized in Yerevan and regions of Armenia,
was initiated by "One Nation, One Culture" foundation in April-May 2009

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
May 7, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

OBAMA SEEKS 38% CUT IN AID TO ARMENIA

— Proposes Breaking Military Aid Parity Agreement in Favor of
Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON, DC ? Despite a 9% increase in overall foreign aid
spending, President Barack Obama today called for a 38% cut in aid
to Armenia, a 20% increase in aid to Azerbaijan, and the
abandonment of the longstanding Armenia-Azerbaijan military aid
parity agreement in favor of Baku, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

These figures, released today as part of the President’s Fiscal
Year (FY) 2010 budget, represent a sharp departure from the
President’s campaign commitments to maintain U.S. assistance to
Armenia and to foster its growth and development through aid and
trade. In January of 2008 and again only days before the November
election, the President said he would "help foster Armenia’s growth
and development through expanded trade and targeted aid," adding
that he will also, "strengthen the commercial, political, military,
developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and
Armenian governments."

"President Obama, despite his promise to maintain U.S. assistance
to Armenia and his campaign commitment to help foster Armenia’s
growth and development, has called for a thirty-eight percent cut
in aid to Armenia," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA. "His proposal to sharply reduce vitally needed assistance to
Armenia, even as he is increasing overall foreign aid spending, is
all the more disappointing in light of the urgent economic
challenges facing Armenia."

President Obama’s budget calls for $30 million in U.S. aid to
Armenia, down 38% from the FY09 allocation of $48 million. Under
his proposal, funding for Azerbaijan would increase 20% from $18.5
million to $22.12 million. The complete international affairs
budget proposed by the White House is $53,872,901.

In Foreign Military Finance spending, President Obama has requested
$4 million for Azerbaijan and only $3 million for Armenia, while
funds for International Military Education and Training (IMET)
represent an even starker break in the parity agreement struck
between Congress and the White House in 2001, with $900,000 being
proposed for Azerbaijan and $450,000 for Armenia.

The Foreign Operations Subcommittees of the House and Senate
Appropriation Committees will now review the President’s budget and
each draft their own versions of the FY 2010 foreign assistance
bill.

CLINTON DISCUSSES ENERGY, SECURITY WITH ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN

Focus News
May 6 2009
Bulgaria

Washington. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met separately Tuesday
with her counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan for talks on energy
security and the disputed Nagorny-Karabakh region, AFP reports.Clinton
met with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edouard Nalbandian early Tuesday,
and held talks later in the day with Azerbaijan’s lead diplomat
Elmar Mammadiarov.

"Azerbaijan has a very strategic location, one that is important
not only to their country, but really, regionally and globally,"
Clinton said as she greeted Mammadiarov at the State Department.

"And so they’re in a position to take increasing responsibility and
leadership on these important matters."

The leaders of the two countries – Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian
and Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev – were to hold fresh talks at
a European summit this week in Prague, where the launch of an Eastern
Partnership project aimed to boost European Union ties with Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Observers have expressed hopes that recent moves to normalize
relations between Armenia and Turkey would help speed up the Karabakh
peace process.Armenia and Turkey last month announced a "roadmap"
for talks that could lead to normalizing ties and the opening of
their border.Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic links with
Armenia over its efforts to have Ottoman-era killings of Armenians
recognized as genocide.Azerbaijan has urged Turkey not to move forward
in talks with Armenia unless Yerevan agrees to withdraw its troops
from Karabakh.Backed by Armenia, ethnic Armenian separatists seized
control of Nagorny-Karabakh in the early 1990s, in a war that killed
nearly 30,000 people and forced two million to flee their homes.A
ceasefire was signed between the two former Soviet republics in 1994
but the dispute remains unresolved.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO KOMITAS’ 140TH ANNIVERSARY

AZG Armenian Daily
06/05/2009

Culture

"Renaissance" international music festival of young music performers
dedicated to Komitas’ 140th anniversary is to be held on May 6-11 in
Gyumri with the blessing of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, His Holiness Garegin II and support of the First Lady
of the Republic of Armenia Rita Sargsian.

The festival is the continuation of the tradition initiated by Gyumri
branch of Komitas State Conservatory. The first music festival under
heading "Renaissance" was held in 2007, and the second one – in 2008.

RA Culture Ministry, Gyumri branch of Komitas State Conservatory,
and "Pyunik" Human Resources Development Fund are the organizers of
the festival.

About 700 young music performers from different regions of Armenia,
Artsakh, Georgia and Javakhk, as well as Russia, Turkmenistan, Iran,
Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Switzerland applied to participate in
the contest-festival.

The participants will rival in spheres of piano, stringed and wind
instruments, national musical instruments and vocals. Well-known art
critics and artists from Armenia, Georgia, Germany and Cyprus will
serve on the jury of the festival. Awards in different nominations
will be presented at the festival.

The ceremonial opening, finish and gala concert of the festival will
be held at Gyumri Vardan Achemian State Dramatic Theatre.