Author: Karakhanian Suren

Mediamax , Armenia
Aug 14 2008

Banks in Karabakh disconnected from money transfer companies

Yerevan, 14 August: The branches of the Armenian commercial banks
functioning in Stepanakert are disconnected from Western Union and
MoneyGram, the systems of the money transfer companies, Artsakhbank
and branches of Unibank and Armeconombank in Stepanakert told Mediamax
today.

On 13 August the Azerbaijani media informed that the authorities of
the country decided to resume the work of Western Union and Moneygram
in Azerbaijan after these companies "stopped their illegal activities
in the occupied territories".

RA MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION CONTINUES ORGANIZATION OF PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Au g 14, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA ministry of transport and
communication jointly with several passenger transportation companies
has organized transportation of more than 1,600 people in taxes,
minibuses and buses in recent days. NT was informed by spokeswoman
for the RA minister of transport and communication Susanna Tonoyan
that people were transported free of charge from the Bavra crossing
point to Yerevan and Gyumri.

On August 9, 208 people were transported from Kobuleti to Armenia
in 13 taxis, and 160 people were brought from Bavra to Yerevan in 7
PAZ buses.

On August 10, 224 people were moved from Kobuleti in 14 minibuses,
115 ones were brought from Bavra to Yerevan in 5 buses.

On August 11, 224 people were moved from Ureki to Armenia in 14
minibuses, 240 were transported from Bavra in 2 buses and 6 minibuses.

On August 12, 192 passengers were transported in 12 minibuses, 46
ones were moved from Bavra to Yerevan in 2 buses, 46 were moved from
Bavra to Gyumri, and 16 passengers were transported in a minibus.

On August 13, 192 people were transported from Kobuleti in 12
minibuses.

On August 14 the ministry was in constant touch with the Armenian
embassy in Georgia and the Armenian consulate in Batumi. The ministry
is ready to provide, in case of necessity, vehicles for transporting
people to Armenia.

330 passengers left and 286 arrived by using services of South
Caucasian Railways company (Yerevan-Tbilisi route) on August 6-13. 446
people left and 1,000 ones arrived by Yerevan-Batumi railway in the
indicated period.

JONATHAN DAVIS TALKS SOLO LP, FUTURE OF KORN: "I’M WAVING THE FLAG FOR MUSICIANSHIP"
Chris Steffen

Rolling Stone
8/13/08, 2:26 pm EST

With Korn on ice for the time being — save for a rendition of
"Kidnap the Sandy Claws" on yet another reissue of the Nightmare
Before Christmas soundtrack — frontman Jonathan Davis has turned his
focus towards solo touring and a forthcoming record, which he says
won’t just be Korn-style ragers with a different staff. "I always
compare it to when Steve Perry went and did ‘Oh Sherrie,’ which is
a fucking Journey song," he says. "It sounded exactly like Journey,
and that’s fucked up. I don’t want to do that."

"I feel like I’m waving the flag for musicianship, trying to bring
back bands that can play," Davis said after his main stage set at
this weekend’s Ozzfest. "It seems like a lot of music today is so
churned out and simple. I like playing these festivals, because it’s
one thing all day, and then here I come on, and everyone’s like,
‘Whoa,’ then back to the grind."

With a lineup of virtuosos called the Simply Fuckin’ Amazings,
Davis says he’s been picking up instrument after instrument on
the road from his new bandmates, including violin, didgeridoo,
the glass armonica (an instrument designed by Benjamin Franklin),
an Armenian wind instrument called the duduk, and his favorite, the
biwa, a Japanese lute. "It sounds like a banjo, but they sing with
it, and it’s the most fucking passionate, emotional music I’ve ever
heard in my life," Davis said. "I want to include that in my album,
because it’s so passionate. Like when you hear a Korn song and it’s
really going crazy, these guys do it with a stringy banjo. I want to
bring that to kids here who are like, ‘What the fuck is this?’ and
open their minds up to something different."

After Ozzfest, Davis headed home to begin writing his first solo
record, which he hopes will be released by the end of November,
and will follow it up with another solo tour. As far as the future
of Korn (now down to three original members), Davis says it’s more a
matter of ‘when’ than ‘if.’ He also is leaving the door open for the
two departed members to return down the line ("I never say never"),
but with former guitarist Brian "Head" Welch releasing a solo album
in September and sometimes drummer David Silvera managing restaurants
and raising a family, that will happen later rather than sooner, if
at all. "When I’m done with this, I’ll go to my other gig, but right
now, I’m having fun," he said. "I’m not planning that far ahead. This
is where I’m at, and I’m really enjoying it."

GOOGLE EXPLAINS GEORGIA MAP BLANK

Web User

August 13, 2008
UK

Anyone looking on Google Maps at Georgia in recent days for further
information about the conflict with Russia in the past few days will
have drawn a blank.

Google Maps doesn’t currently display cities or roads in Georgia or
its neighbours Azerbaijan and Armenia, for the simple reason that
the data Google has isn’t good enough, the company explained.

"We never launched coverage in those countries because we simply
weren’t satisfied with the map data we had available," said Dave
Barth of Google.

"We’re constantly searching for the best map data we can find, and
sometimes will delay launching coverage in a country if we think we
can get more comprehensive data," Barth continued.

However, feedback the company has received about the blank maps has
caused Google to have a rethink.

"We’re hearing from our users that they would rather see even very
basic coverage of a country than see nothing at all. That certainly
makes sense, and so we have started preparing data for the handful
of countries that are still blank on Google Maps," said Barth.

Georgia has recently committed itself to a truce in its hostilities
with Russia over the disputed South Ossetia region.

However, Georgia said that it had suffered attacks on its web
infrastructure, meaning key websites were inaccessible to surfers
for several days.

FINNISH AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS IN TALKS WITH GEORGIAN PRESIDENT

YLE News
Aug 11, 2008
Finland

Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and his French colleague
Bernard Kouchner are in Georgia where they have held talks with
Georgian President Mihail Saakashvili on an EU peace plan to end
fighting between Georgia and Russia.

The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of forces to
positions held before Aug. 6 plus some form of international presence,
political negotiations and respect for Georgian territorial integrity.

Later during the day on Monday, Stubb, who also holds the revolving
post of Chairman of the OSCE, the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe, and Kouchner will travel to Moscow to meet
with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.

Estonian foreign ministry evacuates Finns

The Embassy of Estonia in Georgia has evacuated both Estonian and
Finnish citizens from Georgia to Armenia. According to the Estonian
Foreign Ministry, on Monday morning there were 40 Estonians and 4
Finns in the Armenian capital Yerevan awaiting transport home.

The Finnish Foreign Ministry is uncertain how many Finns still remain
in Georgia. It issued a travel advisory on Saturday warning of the
dangers of travel in the country.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF IRAN

His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Mohammed Rida Shibani, in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia on August 5. The Ambassador and his three advisers met with His
Holiness for about two hours before his departures to Iran.

Ambassador Shibani presented to the Pontiff his evaluation of the internal
situation in Lebanon and his country’s approach towards various issues in
this respect. He positively evaluated the current political developments,
underlining the contribution of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the
negotiations between various Lebanese political groups in Qatar. Ambassador
Shibani also briefed His Holiness on the developments between Iran and the
United States on the issue of uranium enrichment.

His Holiness stressed the contribution of the Armenian community of Iran to
the development of the country and expressed his satisfaction for the
inclusion of three Armenian monasteries in Iran (including the Monastery of
Saint Tate) in UNESCO’s list of international heritage sites. He praised the
position of the Iranian government and the Ministry of Culture in particular
towards Armenian sanctuaries.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos297.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

ARIF YUNUSOV: TALKS ON KARABAKH WILL LAST LONG BUT THERE WILL BE NO WAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.08.2008 17:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Talks on Karabakh will last for many years without
any result but there will be no war, said Arif Yunusov, head of the
Department of Conflictology at the Institute for Peace and Democracy.

"The problem is that each side drags out time, although the talks in
the Prague process framework are more favorable for Armenians. The
process envisages that Armenia returns three regions, then two
more regions. Kelbajar and Lachin will be returned at the end,
simultaneously with the return of refugees to Karabakh. In exchange,
Azerbaijan is supposed to give consent to conduction of a referendum
on Karabakh’s status in 10-15 years," he said.

Agreeing to these principles in 2004, the Azeri side made a mistake,
according to Yunusov. "It was erroneous to think that things can
change in 10-15 years," he said. "A huge gap between positions of
the sides hampers the process."

"The Armenian position is as follows: in some 10 or 15 years the
West’s investments in the Azeri oil will be compensated and the Kosovo
model will be applied to Karabakh while Azerbaijan will yield to
the West’s pressure and relinquish the territory. The Azeri position
implies exhausting armament race that will bring to collapse of poor
Armenian economy," Yunusov said, adding that the Azeri authorities
will not agree to the Prague principles while western investments
in the Azeri economy will prevent any possibility of war, Novosti
Azerbaijan reports.

"LE FOND DU PROBLEME ENTRE AKP ET KEMALISTES N’EST PAS TRANCHE"
par Caroline Stevan

Le Temps
Samedi 02 Août 2008
Suisse

TURQUIE. Le parti au pouvoir sanctionne par la Cour constitutionnelle.

Dorothee Schmid, directrice de recherche a l’Institut francais des
relations internationales (IFRI), analyse la situation en Turquie
apres la decision mercredi de la Cour constitutionnelle de ne
pas dissoudre le Parti de la justice et du developpement (AKP, au
pouvoir depuis 2002) accuse d’activites anti-laïques. La formation
du premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a cependant ecope de
sanctions financieres. Un avertissement qui risque d’influer sur la
vie politique du pays.

Le Temps: A quels genres de compromis sera pousse l’AKP apres la
decision de la Cour constitutionnelle?

Dorothee Schmid: Le president de la Cour constitutionnelle a souligne
que l’objectif des juges etait d’envoyer un message clair a l’AKP,
qu’il esperait que les acteurs politiques en tiendraient compte et
regleraient a l’avenir leurs problemes entre eux. Les kemalistes sont
d’assez mauvaise foi en affirmant que la crise politique n’est ainsi
pas resolue mais confirmee. Ce genre de declaration montre qu’ils ne
sont pas prets au compromis. La question aujourd’hui est donc: "Qui
doit donner du mou?" L’AKP a certes provoque la crise en autorisant
le foulard islamique a l’universite, mais ce sont les autres qui
l’ont nourrie. La decision des juges implique cependant pour le
parti au pouvoir d’aller plus doucement sur les sujets lies a la
laecite. Personne ne dispose d’elements precis concernant un agenda
islamiste de l’AKP, mais ce qui est ser, c’est que le gouvernement
ne doit pas revenir en fanfare avec la question du voile.

– Laïcite et paix sociale sont-elles preservees pour un moment?

– C’est difficile a dire. La crise a polarise la societe, entre
ceux qui soutiennent l’AKP et les autres. La reponse de la Cour
constitutionnelle n’est pas motivee, mais seulement destinee a calmer
le jeu. Six juges sur 11 se sont prononces pour la dissolution, mais
10 etaient pour des sanctions. Tout cela n’est pas très clair. Le
fond du probleme, des lors, n’est pas tranche.

– On a l’impression d’un debat pris en otage entre ceux qui se veulent
garants de la Constitution, et donc de la laïcite, et les religieux
de l’AKP. Qu’en est-il de la population?

– Les derniers sondages affirment que, en cas d’elections anticipees,
plus de 40% des votants se prononceraient pour l’AKP. Cela dit,
c’est aussi parce qu’il n’y a pas d’opposition credible pour l’instant.

– L’autorisation du foulard islamique a l’universite avait ete l’une
des causes de la crise. Quelle est la ligne rouge a ne pas franchir?

– Le voile est une ligne symbolique très importante. L’AKP devra y
aller prudemment sur ce sujet. Les autres lignes rouges sont plutôt
liees aux exigences europeennes. La Turquie doit faire des efforts
concernant la liberte d’expression et les "atteintes a l’interet
national". Chypre est egalement une question sensible. D’une maniere
generale, le pays est plutet mieux au niveau diplomatique; il y a la
mediation Syrie-Israel, les efforts avec l’Armenie, le positionnement
face a l’Iran. Tout semble en meilleure voie, sauf les dossiers sur
lesquels l’armee conserve la main, comme l’Irak.

– Le kemalisme est-il vraiment menace a court terme?

– Juste apres la decision de la Cour, Recep Tayyip Erdogan a affirme
que l’AKP suivait la voie de la modernisation d’Ataturk et que cette
voie menait a l’Europe. Il a compris que le moment n’etait pas a
deboulonner les symboles, et essaie plutôt de ne pas laisser ce
patrimoine aux seules mains des kemalistes.

–Boundary_(ID_RIr4dEPFGUwehznRDt5STQ )–

NATIONAL CONGRESS "WAS BORN"

A1+
[10:07 pm] 01 August, 2008

Minutes ago the member parties of the All Armenian Movement signed
the Declaration of the Armenian National Congress and announced about
their joining it. Sixteen parties joined the Congress. Deputy Chairman
of the "Democratic Way" Party Vardan Grigorian expressed hope that
many other parties would announce about their integration into the
Congress in future. At the moment member of the All Armenian Movement
Levon Zourabian is presenting their future activities.

The scheduled march will soon begin.

ARMENTEL IS FINED

AZG Armenian Daily
01/08/2008

Economy

The State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition
(SCPEC) fined ArmenTel for the abuse of monopoly on the
infrastructure. ArmenTel has been fined already for three times
over the past four years. The SCPEC finds that ArmenTel misuses its
dominant position and violates the law on the protection of economic
competition. July 31 ArmenTel was fined 2 percent of its last year’s
income – not more than 300 million drams. The decision was made
on the applications submitted by "Web," "Arminco" and "CrossNet"
Companies. The companies state that the High Line Internet service
offered by ArmenTel should provide equal basis to Internet providers
in light of high-quality and cheap Internet. According to the SCPEC
ArmenTel did not allow other providers to enter the market, which
causes or may cause unequal opportunities for the competition. ArmenTel
was given 30 days to eliminate the breach and meet the SCPEC demands,
reports the SCPEC press service.