BAKU: Azerbaijani Parliament Issues Protest Against US Congress Hous

AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT ISSUES PROTEST AGAINST US CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Trend
June 30 2009
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani Parliamentary Committee on International Relations
and Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Committee on Economic Policy
issued protest against the House of Representatives of the US Congress.

The Azerbaijani parliament expressed its anxiety and protest against
the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and relevant programs
of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress which decided to
allocate $10 million financial aid to the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
regime as part of the 2010 budget of the Department of State.

The parliament believes that in reality, this is a decision in favor
of separatism runs counter the system of international relations
of the United States and does not contribute to the development of
relations of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the United
States at a time when cooperation between the two countries in the
fields of energy, regional security, combating international terrorism
and weapons of mass destruction military operations in Afghanistan,
the dialogue with the Islamic world reached a level of strategic
partnership, the process of negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict entered a very important stage, as well as at a time when
the U.S.’s mediation is necessary as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Such assistance is contrary to the whole essence of the U.S.’s
activities as one of the mediators in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and calls into question their objectivity
and impartiality, the Azerbaijani parliament said.

Any humanitarian assistance that the U.S. can render to
Nagorno-Karabakh must be coordinated with the Azerbaijani government
and the United States should give priority to activities highlighting
the fact that the Nagorno Karabakh is a territory of Azerbaijan,
the parliament said.

The parliamentarians also urged their American counterparts to cancel
the 907th amendment.

Lebanon Honors Aznavour

LEBANON HONORS AZNAVOUR

Naharnet
09 Jul 09, 10:59
Beirut

French crooner and 60’s- 70’s heart-throb Charles Aznavour, one of
France’s most popular and enduring singers was rightfully honored
by President Michel Suleiman on Wednesday with the Lebanese Golden
Order of Merit in first class.

Aznavour born in Paris in 1924 is the son of Armenian immigrants. He
is often described as the Frank Sinatra of France. He has written
musicals, countless songs and acted in cinema.

Aznavour speaks and sings in many languages and has collaborated with
various leading artists.

The Beiteddine Music Festival will host Aznavour’s rich voice on
Thursday evening and dream again of yesterday…Non, Je n’ai rein
oublie.

Armenian Anelik Bank Intends To End This Year With Profit

ARMENIAN ANELIK BANK INTENDS TO END THIS YEAR WITH PROFIT

/ARKA/
July 8, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, July 8. /ARKA/. Armenian Anelik Bank intends to end this
year with profit, Samvel Chzmachyan, chairman of the bank’s board,
said at a press conference on Monday.

In his words, the bank is going to take money from the Russian bailout
loan for Armenia.

Anelik Bank CJSC built up its capital by AMD 15 billion thanks to
strategic alliance with Lebanese Credit Bank, whose investments in
the bank’s capital will total AMD 9 billion.

Tarek Khalife, chairman of Credit Bank’s directorial board, said that
profit is a short-term goal, while the bank is focused on long-term
goals.

Anelik Bank was established on July 9, 1990 and registered on
October 1991.

In October 1996, the bank received a general license from Central
Bank of Armenia.

Four individuals held the bank’s shares.

The bank’s assets totaled AMD 38.2 billion, liabilities AMD 32.5
billion, credit investments AMD 20.4 billion and liabilities to
clients AMD 12.4 billion by March 31, 2009.

Now, 51% of Anelik Bank’s shares belong to Lebanese Credit Bank and
four individuals hold 12.25% each. They held 25% before.

Credit Bank is one of the leading banks of Lebanon. The bank’s assets
total $1 billion.

The bank is a member of Union of Arab Banks.

Credit Bank’s appearance in Armenia was due to development of Arme
nian-Lebanese relations and the Arab world’s interest in Armenian,
Russian and CIS markets. ($1 = AMD 361.27).

Armenia’s money supply 654.9bln AMD by end of may 2009

Armenia’s money supply 654.9bln AMD by end of may 2009

YEREVAN, July 4. /ARKA/. As of the end of May, Armenia’s money supply
totaled 654.9bln AMD ` an increase of 12.3bln AMD or 1.9% as compared
with the previous month.

Referring to the preliminary data reported by the Central Bank of
Armenia (CBA), the RA Statistical Service reports that cash in
circulation outside the Armenian banking system totaled 226.7bln AMD at
the end of May against 217.5bln AMD early that month. Call deposits
totaled 82.2bln AMD against 77.3bln AMD late in April.

As of the end of this May, AMD fixed deposits totaled 60.6bln AMD
against 66.6bln AMD at the end of this April. Foreign-exchange deposits
totaled 285.5bln AMD against 281.2bln AMD late this April. The share of
foreign-exchange deposits in Armenia’s money supply decreased by 0.16%
down to 43.59% against 23.99% early this year.

Early this year Armenia’s money supply was 707.8bln AMD and has since
decreased by 52.9bln AMD or 7.5%. As of the end of this May, the money
multiplier reached 1.64 ` a decrease of 0.03 points as compared with
this April. P.T. `0–

Delegation Headed By Armenian Parliament Speaker To Leave For Paris

DELEGATION HEADED BY ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TO LEAVE FOR PARIS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.07.2009 18:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian delegation headed by speaker of the
RA National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan on July 3 will depart for
Paris to attend the 35th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of
Francophonie. Gegham Gharibjanyan, Chief of Staff of the National
Assembly of Armenia, Armen Rustamyan, chairman of the NA standing
committee on foreign relations and head of the NA delegation to the
Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie, as well as a member of the
delegation Armen Melikyan are in the Armenian delegation.

In the framework of the visit meetings with the speaker of the French
Parliament Bernard Accoyer, chairman of the Senate Gerard Larcher,
representatives of the Armenian community are scheduled.

NKR President Meets EU Special Envoy For The South Caucasus

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS EU SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

armradio.am
02.07.2009 11:18

On July 1st President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
held a meeting with the EU Special Envoy for the South Caucasus,
Peter Semneby.

During the meeting, which took place at the Permanent Representation
of the NKR in the Republic of Armenia, the parties discussed a wide
range of issues related to the current stage and prospects of the
Karabakh conflict settlement.

Bako Sahakyan noted that it is impossible to achieve a comprehensive
solution without direct participation of the Karabakh side.

The Head of the State underlined Artsakh’s interest in developing a
much wider cooperation with the European Union in different spheres,
especially taking into consideration that there are appropriate
preconditions for such cooperation. Among them Artsakh’s adherence
to democratic path is of special importance.

VTB Group Optimizes Expenditures, Fires Employees

VTB GROUP OPTIMIZES EXPENDITURES, FIRES EMPLOYEES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.06.2009 19:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Thousands of VTB Group employees were transferred
to another position or fired in the framework of optimization of
expenditures program, VTB Bank financial director Nikolai Tsekhomsky
said.

"Besides, recruiting of personnel to VTB Capital subdivision was
suspended," he said.

For his part, President of the Bank Andrey Kostin said the Bank is
likely to finish the fiscal year with losses, pleading deterioration
of macroeconomic situation. He also said that the bank destines the
income to create provisions.

GDP Down 15,7% For Jan-May Of 2009

GDP DOWN 15,7% FOR JAN-MAY OF 2009

ArmInfo
2009-06-30 14:19:00

ArmInfo. GDP in Armenia was down 15.7% over Jan-May 2009. In May versus
April, GDP was up 15.6% to 839.4 bln AMD ($2.4 bln) in market prices,
the National Statistical Service of Armenia reported. In basic prices,
GDP was down 14.3% for Jan-May 2009 versus the same period of 2008
and totaled 726.4 billion drams ($2.1 billion). GDP index deflator
grew 1.4% per year.

The country experienced economic decline in Jan-May 2009 as
construction scales fell 56.1% to 73 billion dram or $212 million (in
May versus April construction grew 88%) and industrial produce fell
10.5% to 227 billion dram or $659 million (7.3% growth for May). The
share of the industry in GDP for Jan-May 2009 as compared to the same
period of 2008 was up 27% (ArmInfo).

Retail trade turnover for Jan-May 2009 versus the same period of 2008
was up 0.2% (35% growth in May versus April) to 335.5 billion drams
($974.4 million). Services provided to the population (exclusive of
trade) were down 1.7% for Jan-May 2009 and 2.3% in May versus April to
274.7 billion drams ($798 million). Electricity generation was down
12.2% for Jan-May 2009 and up 1.1% for May versus April and totaled
2,319.4 mln kWh.

Average nominal salary was up 13.4% for Jan-May 2009 and down 2.2% for
May versus April and totaled 97.527 drams ($283). Foreign turnover was
down 33.7% over Jan-May 2009 as compared to Jan-May 2008 and up 15.9%
in May as against April, making up $1,312.1 mln or 451.2 bln drams. In
the structure of foreign turnover, export fell 15% for May and 47.83%
per year to 76.4 billion drams ($220.1 million). Import was down
16.2% for May and down 29.9% in Jan-May 2009 to 374.8 billion drams
($1,092 million).

The official exchange rate of the Armenian dram and US dollar averaged
344.31AMD/$1USD for Jan-May 2009.

Is A Problem Of Samtskhe-Javakheti Armenians Factor Or Headache For

IS A PROBLEM OF SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI ARMENIANS FACTOR OR HEADACHE FOR ARMENIA?

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.06.2009 19:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian authorities must clear up one question for
themselves: is the problem of Armenians of Samtskhe-Javakheti a factor
to stabilize the Armenian-Georgian relations or just a headache, Ervand
Bozoyan, a political scientist told journalists on June 26. "In the
first case Armenia can considerably reduce its dependency on Georgia as
a transit country. In the second case, when we approach this problem as
a headache and not voice the that timely issue during talks, after some
time we will face unpredictable consequences," Ervand Bozoyan said.

Noting at the same time, that making political claims by the Armenian
leadership would not be right, Ervan Bozoyan stressed, that certain
steps should be necessarily undertaken. "The best way to eliminate
current disagreement in the Armenian-Georgian relations is to solve
existing problems. We cannot yield in problems related to the status of
the Armenian language and opening of the Armenian-Georgian university
for Armenian students of the region", concluded Mr. Bozoyan.

Georgian Parliament Approves Candidature Of New Ambassador To Armeni

GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES CANDIDATURE OF NEW AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-06-27 11:50:00

ArmInfo. Parliament of Georgia met extraordinarily on Friday and
approved the candidature of Grigol Tabatadze for new Ambassador of
Georgia to Armenia, Georgian media reported.

The spring session of the Georgian Parliament was officially closed
on the last Friday of June as stipulated by the Constitution of that
country. G.

Tabatadze has been occupying the position of the Extraordinary
Ambassador to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE
since 2007.

At present Charge d’Affairs ad interim of Georgia to Armenia Gocha
Targamadze represents Georgia in Yerevan.