Author: Kanayan Tamar

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 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 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.

"LE PREMIER CERCLE" WILL OPEN GOLDEN APRICOT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
22.06.2009 16:58

"Le Premier Cercle" ("The first circle"), the film by French director
Laurent Tuel will open "Golden Apricot" international film festival
on July 12, Press Secretary of the Golden Apricot 2009 informed.

The producer of the film is the famous French Armenian film distributor
Alain Terzian. This 95 minute thriller is about the Malakian clan
which controls in the Southern France.

The head of the clan is Milo Malakian, who is famous for his
violence. For him "Le Premier Cercle" ("The first circle") is his
family, his roots, something that cannot be betrayed. Milo is ready
to pass his power to his heir, his only remaining son Anton. But the
latter longs for another life. In order to reach his love, he has
escape from this circle.

Jean Reno plays the role of Limw Malakian. The film was released in
March 2009.

NKR PRESIDENT: NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC CREATING FAVORABLE BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

ARKA
June 22, 2009

STEPANAKERT, June 22. /ARKA/. Karabakhi President Bako Sahakyan,
speaking at the "Bridge Artsakh" economic forum launched Saturday
in Stepanakert, said Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is creating favorable
business and investment environment.

He said the country is rich in natural resources and singled out
agriculture, mining industry, energy and tourism as most promising
areas.

"But our country’s greatest treasure is human resources, intellectual
capacity, people’s working ability, respect for the law and
self-improvement efforts", the president said. He thinks it is
difficult to outline development prospects amid the financial and
economic crisis.

"Difficult, but not impossible. More than that – development has no
alternative. We must solve old problems under new circumstances, but
a new estimation of capacity and specification of strategic focuses
is needed for that" Sahakyan said.

The head of state said that the economic forum gives an opportunity
for comprehensive discussion of a wide range of issues.

He expressed hope that new ideas and proposals would be voiced during
discussion at the forum.

"Your views on entrepreneurship are especially precious under current
circumstances. We attach especially great importance also to Artsakh
entrepreneurs and officials’ specialization in econom y sector",
he said.

The Karabakhi president expressed hope that this forum would become
another reliable bridge between Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its
friends all over the world.

NowLebanon, Lebanon
June 21 2009

Nasrallah meets Tashnaq officials

June 21, 2009

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah met with a Tashnaq
party delegation that included its Secretary-General Hovig Mekhitarian
and MP-elect Hagop Pakradounian, NNA reported on Sunday. Hezbollah
political bureau member Ghaleb Abu Zeinab also attended the meeting.

The leaders discussed important issues arising from the domestic
political situation.

The parties also emphasized the importance of the positive atmosphere
that the opposition has fostered through its openness toward other
parties and its insistence on national partnership.

`NOW Staff

s.aspx?ID=99667

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2009
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-WR and GenEd volunteer leads seminar at high school Peace Day event

Los Angeles, CA — On Friday, May 29th, the Armenian National
Committee-Western Region (ANC-WR) joined students at Valley Alternative
Magnet School (VAMS) for its 2009 Peace Day Program. The event, organized
by students for students, faculty, and parents covered several humanitarian
and social justice topics. Shant Hagopian, a recent graduate of UC Berkeley
and an ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern alumnus conducted a seminar about the
Armenian Genocide.

"Teaching the next generation about these often neglected parts of history
is extremely important,’ explained Shant Hagopian who has been an active
volunteer with the Genocide Education Project over the past two years. `In
the case of the Armenian Genocide, education is the most effective means of
countering genocide denial and turning a historic injustice into a catalyst
for social change.’

The one hour seminar for the 7th-11th grade students included a lively
question and answer session. The students, many of whom were already
familiar with the Armenian Genocide, discussed the dangers of genocide
denial as well as the importance of acknowledging and addressing all human
rights issues.

Hagopian noted that his work with the Armenian National Committee in the San
Francisco Bay Area while a student at UC Berkeley and with the Genocide
Education Project prepared him for the opportunity to work with the students
at VAMS.

The ANC-Western Region has worked with the VAMS Peace Day organizers over
the past few years to provide educational speakers for the event.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest Armenian
American grassroots community organization in the Western United States.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the
country, the ANC-WR works to promote understanding regarding issues of
concern to the Armenian American community.

ECHR RECEIVED FIVE APPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE MURDER OF DINK

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.06.2009 00:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has
received five applications related to the murder of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink, the editor of the weekly Agos newspaper,
in January 2007.

Lawyer Deniz Tuna of the International Hrant Dink Foundation told,
that the applications were related to parts of the European Convention
on Human Rights concerned with the violation of the right to life, the
right to an effective application to court, the right to a fair trial,
the right to freedom of expression and the ban on discrimination,
bianet reports.

Hrant Dink had appealed to the ECHR two weeks before he was killed
in relation to a six-month deferred prison sentence he had received
under Article 159 of the Turkish Penal Code for a series of articles
entitled "Armenian Identity".

Following his murder, lawyers for his family had appealed to the ECHR
when the Trabzon police and gendarmerie and the Istanbul police were
not taken to court although they were accused of having been negligent
in evaluating intelligence on murder plans.

Another application relates to the lack of punishment for Samsun
police officers who took "souvenir shots" with the suspected gunman
Ogun Samast after catching him at the Samsun bus station a day after
the murder.

The Prime Ministerial Review Committee had pointed to a "serious
lack of coordination" in the sharing of intelligence between security
institutes prior to the murder. Nevertheless, no public official is
being tried in the main murder case heard at the Istanbul 14th Heavy
Penal Court.

Police Intelligence Head Ramazan Akyurek, Istanbul Chief of Police
Celalettin Cerrah and Ahmet Ýlhan Guler from the Istanbul Intelligence
Unit, as well as other officials, were never brought to court.

Rather, 18 young men, most from the Pelitli town in Trabzon province,
are on trial for the murder, as well as Coþkun Ýðci, a gendarmerie
informant who claims that he notified the officials of murder plans,
and Osman Hayal, brother of suspect Yasin Hayal. Osman Hayal has been
found to have been in Istanbul on the day of the murder, a fact which
he denied for a long time.

The tenth hearing of the main murder trial is on 6 July.

Eight gendarmerie officers are on trial for negligence in not having
evaluated the intelligence. However, they only face up to two years
imprisonment. Their trial continues on 24 July.

Lawyers for the Dink family have long called for the cases to be
merged, as it was the neglect of the officers which led to the death
of Hrant Dink.

EU ENVOY SAYS TURKEY TAKES "TACTICAL STEP BACKWARDS" ON ARMENIA THAW

Hurriyet
June 18 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – Turkey has taken a "tactical step backwards" on normalizing
relations with Armenia because of fierce domestic reaction to the move,
the EU’s envoy to the region told Reuters in an interview published
on Wednesday.

"A step back was taken by the Turkish side … but this is not a
U-turn," EU South Caucasus envoy Peter Semneby said in the interview
conducted at the end of a visit to Moscow last week.

"We expect the conversations will continue," Semneby said.

Ankara and Yerevan agreed in April on a "road map" deal for U.S.-backed
talks that could lead to the normalizing of ties and the opening of
their border, which Turkey closed in a show of support to Azerbaijan
in 1993 after Armenian occupation of Azeri territories in the disputed
Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Turkish officials, however, have said Turkey will not open its border
with Armenia before the neighboring country ends its occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh, reassuring Azeri leaders that Ankara’s efforts to
reconcile with Yerevan would not undermine the country’s interests.

Reconciliation talks with Yerevan, conducted before the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, also faced fierce criticism from the
opposition parties and a number of political analysts in the country.

Semneby said it was important the "pause" in the peace process between
Turkey and Armenia did not last too long because of the risk that
impetus would be lost.

"The normalization (with Armenia) became the subject of quite
widespread and heated discussion in Turkey," he added in earlier
remarks to a small group of reporters. "It seems to me, this discussion
became more heated than was expected," Reuters quoted him as saying.

"I see this as a Turkish tactical step backwards," Semneby said. "But
fundamentally, the new foreign policy that has been pursued by
the Erdogan government, I don’t see that this policy is changing,"
he added.

AZERI-ARMENIAN TALKS The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began
in 1988 on Armenian territorial claims over Azerbaijan. Since 1992,
Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts —
a frozen conflict legacy of the Soviet Union.

Both countries continue with fruitless peace negotiations. The OSCE
Minsk Group, set up in 1992 and co-chaired by the United States,
Russia, and France, is engaged in efforts to resolve the conflict
peacefully.

Semneby, however, believes real progress is being made.

"It is clear that if you look at the negotiating process, it is
intensifying," he told Reuters. "We had in a month two meetings and
there will be another relatively soon between the presidents."

Armed clashes still occur regularly along the lines separating Azeri
and Armenian troops. Asked about the risk of conflict, Semneby said
it would be foolish to neglect it but he felt both sides understood
the enormous costs which would be involved in any large-scale military
engagement.

"Even with this very dangerous posturing that we see sometimes and the
fact that the forces are not separated and there are incidents all the
time, the two sides are by now used to managing incidents," he said.

"If anything, the Georgia war (last year with Russia), demonstrated
the risks of military engagement … it was also a wake-up call to
both countries how vulnerable they are."

EVENTS "FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO PARTNERSHIP" START IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.06.2009 18:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the initiative of Eurasia foundation on June
17 a series of events "From neigborhood to partnership" launched in
Yerevan. Events are dedicated to Armenia’s participation in the Eastern
partnership program. In the framework of the "Conflict settlement
in South Caucasus and Eastern Partnership" discussion participants
exchanged views on ways of restoring the atmosphere of confidence
in the South Caucasus, Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement. "This is a unique opportunity uniting
some 10 non-governmental organizations and will help to discuss
Armenia-Europe relationships at a new level," Eurasia foundation
director Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan said during discussion.