Author: Karapetian Hovik

HEADQUARTER AT THE PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE WAS SET UP EARLIER

LRAGIR.AM
15:19:21 – 15/06/2009

On June 15, the Head of the NZh party Aram Karapetyan dwelt on the
current atmosphere in the parliamentary commission to study March
1 and his expectations from that commission in connection with the
revelations of March 1 case.

He stated that nothing is the way it may seem. Aram Karapetyan noted
that the same situation, which was present in the fact-finding group,
is present there too. As he noted, they try to present everything
the way they want, the TV channels show Samvel Nikoyan very often
but they do not show a second opinion. As Aram Karapetyan stated the
parliamentary commission cannot reveal the crimes completely.

Aram Karapetyan stated that if Robert Kocharyan and all the other
people, who, according to their information, were in the headquarter
at the presidential residence, did not come to the commission, it
cannot reach the aim it is formed for. Aram Karapetyan stated that
that headquarter was formed in October 2007.

According to Aram Karapetyan, the headquarter had the aim to secure
Serge Sargsyan’s presidency. The members of the headquarter were the
Head of the police, Robert Kocharyan, Serge Sargsyan, Hovik Abrahamyan,
Armen Gevorgyan. Aram Karapetyan noted that this headquarter held
its sessions at the presidential residence.

He NZh Party leader stated that by closing the fact-finding group
down and preparing for an amnesty, the government wants to close the
March 1 page. According to him, amnesty is a good step, but it is
bad that the government tries to represent it as a public demand,
while making it only proceeding from political aims.

"BRIDGE ARTSAKH"

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
June 15, 2009

On June 19-21, 2009, the economic forum "BRIDGE ARTSAKH" will take
place in Stepanakert, capital of Nagorno Karabakh Republic. It will
be conducted under the supreme patronage of the NKR President and by
the support of the Republic’s Government.

The main topic of the forum is "State and Business: from Dialogue
to Cooperation".

Businessmen, Ministers, Executive officers from Artsakh and Armenia
as well as representatives from Diaspora will gather in the office
spaces of Nagorno Karabakh Republic. There will be an opportunity
to discuss the modern problems, find possible ways of cooperation,
exchange opinions, get familiarized with the perspectives of the
region’s development and opportunities of the investment policy,
establish new business relations.

"BRIDGE ARTSAKH" is mainly aimed at getting acquainted with the
business and political circles of Armenia and foreign countries
and with the social and economic potential of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic. Because of this the forum has a densely operative schedule,
it includes sectional and plenary sessions, round tables. The main
report of the plenary session under the title "Investment Attraction
of Artsakh" will be presented by the Artsakh Investment Fund.

Round tables will be conducted on the following topics: Modern
Business: problems and perspectives Financial instruments in favour
of entrepreneurs Transportation system development as a precondition
of efficient business Potentialities of the construction sphere under
the conditions of the world crisis Modern problems of agriculture,
development tendencies Business education in modern economic conditions
Perspectives of in-tourism of Artsakh.

The forum is organized by the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
of Armenia and the Centre of International Integration Support
"MASTER".

The official partner of the forum is Artsakh Investment Fund.

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA, RUSSIA DISCUSS A NUMBER OF BILATERAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES

armradio.am
15.06.2009 15:31

On June 14 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, had
a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov.

During the conversation held in a warm and sincere atmosphere Ministers
Nalbandian and Lavrov discussed a number of issues related to the
deepening of allied relations between Armenia and Russia.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Russia dwelt on a wide range of
regional and international issues.

DAVID SUKIASSYAN: WE HAVE TO STRIKE THE CRISIS BACK

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.06.2009 17:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In crisis circumstances, bank liquidity provision,
and not the income issue, should be one of our main priorities,
Armeconombank President David Sukiassyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter at shareholders’ annual meeting. "We managed to achieve
a liquidity of 150% which exceeds stipulated standards by 2,5%, he
said. According to him, conditions for banks activities have to be
created so that no complications would arise in future. "The bank
should also attract more clients, and increase economy crediting to
promote economy improvement."

According to Bank President, the Armeconombank will continue
implementation of programs launched: offer new actions, including
plastic cards servicing to increase the number of bank clients. New
programs will be implemented within the framework of Governmental
crediting programs (Russian credit, WB funding). "Time’s come
to implement active crediting, as, acceding to our forecasts,
stabilization is soon to be expected. We have to strike the crisis
back, like many European states did." Sukiassyan noted that in 2009,
20% increase of credit portfolio is planned to comprise around AMD
30 billion.

Bank subsidiaries’ number will increase by 2, (the bank has 46
subsidiaries in RA and NKR), as the main emphasis will be put on
economy crediting.

The bank has participated in international credit programs launched by
EBRD, International Financial Corporation, WB, and German-Armenian Fund
(small and medium-sized businesses crediting). Since October 2006,
the bank has been participating in "Stable development of mortgage
market" program launched by KfW German Bank.

As of 31.03.2009 the bank has 1422 shareholders (16 of them
non-resident), with Soukiassyan family and EBRD as major shareholders,
(53,5 %) and (25 %) accordingly.

As of Mar. 31 2009, bank’s aggregate capital comprised AMD 8,412.0
million, assets – AMD 50,563.3, liabilities – AMD 42,151.3 million.

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP MEMBERS MET WITHIN THE FRAMES OF "HUMANITARIAN COMMUNICATION" PLATFORM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.06.2009 20:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 10, Eastern Partnership members had their
first meeting in Brussels to discuss "Humanitarian Communication"
platform. The meeting was attended by RA Foreign Ministry’s
delegation. Parties adopted a decision on the implementation of
cultural projects aimed at establishing dialogue among regional
organizations dealing with cultural issues.

The program will ensure "Humanitarian Communication" platform for
6 member states, as well as facilitate access to "Youth in Movement"
program. It is also planned to increase the funding of "Erazmus Mundus"
and "Tempus" programs, thus broadening the scope of scientific research
programs and reforms in the sphere of higher education.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED OUTGOING ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA MASSIMO LAVEZZO CASSINELLI

W ednesday, 10 June 2009

Thanking the Ambassador for his tenure-long fruitful efforts and
cooperation, the Prime Minister said that bilateral relations allow
our two countries to push ahead with the ongoing ties in a variety
of areas.

During the discussion that followed, the parties focused on the
boosting of bilateral trade and the fostering of a propitious economic
environment. In this context, they referred to the implementation of
new investment projects. The Italian Ambassador said to be hopeful
that economic and cultural exchanges will expand to include ever new
areas of interaction.

The Armenian Prime Minister wished the Ambassador every success in
his future activities in the hope that Mr. Cassinelli would continue
promoting closer ties between the two countries.

"MUSEUM MANAGEMENT" TRAINING LAUNCHED IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.06.2009 14:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A 4 -day "Museum management" training launched in
Yerevan. On June 11-14, over 30 Armenian and NKR museums’ directors and
curators will be improving their qualification in museum management,
based on UNESCO-developed methods.

The training was launched today at RA National Gallery. In the
days to come, the training will be held at Erebuni museum, Yerevan
History Museum and Hovhannes Tumanyan museum. For improvement and
modernization of museums’ work, training participants will discuss
issues of strategic planning, marketing, collection of funds, etc.

Experts from Armenia, Russia and USA will present reports on cultural
heritage maintenance, current issues of historical and archaeological
museums, etc.

The training is held under the aegis of RA Ministry of Culture,
UNESCO and Intergovernmental Humanitarian Collaboration Fund for CIS
member states.

RUSSIA HAS TO RECONSIDER ITS ATTITUDE TOWARDS USA’S INTERESTS IN CASPIAN REGION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.06.2009 20:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Russia has to reconsider its attitude towards USA
interests in Caspian region," an expert at Political and Military
Analysis Institute, Anatoli Tsiganok stated. "The issue should
be considered from geopolitical viewpoint. If US officials state
that Americans are interested in the region, one should understand
that their economic goals are connected with military actions which
they’re promoting to strengthen their presence in the region. The
fact that Americans agreed to use radar in Azerbaijan, is rather
demonstrative. USA might not use it against Russia, but still, the
message is evident: USA’s presence in Caucasus is highly undesirable
for Russia – one has only to remember recent events in Georgia,"
Pravda.ru cited Tsiganok as saying.

IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY TO CONSIDER POSSIBILITY OF CELEBRATING US INDEPENDENCE DAY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.06.2009 16:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran’s Foreign Ministry has announced that its
diplomats will consider the possibility of participating in US
Independence Day celebrations in case of receiving invitations,
IRNA Iranian news agency reports.

According to the news agency, Ann Dorsy, US Ambassador in Azerbaijan,
is going to invite Iranian Ambassador to Baku for celebrating
Independence Day. All American diplomatic missions were given
recommendations to send invitations to Iranian diplomats.

US celebrates its Independence Day on July 4.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PREVIOUS ONE?
JAMES HAKOBYAN

LRAGIR.AM
11:50:56 – 08/06/2009

After the regular meeting of Serge Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev, which
took place in St. Petersburg, the OSCE Minks group Co-Chairs issued
their regular statement, the interesting thing with the which is
that it runs that the presidents decided to open a new topic, which
is the main, as the Co-Chairs stated.

But, what happened to the topic, which has been discussed so far? If
they dwell on a new topic, this means that there was an old one
too. Consequently, it is interesting to know, what happened to the old
one. First of all, what was that old topic. Besides, it is interesting
to know whether the presidents ended the previous topic. If they ended
so in what state is it? Did they reach agreement over that topic? Or,
perhaps, they closed the topic as they did not want to waste time on
it, since they were sure that they would never reach any agreement. Or
maybe the Co-Chairs were annoyed of the old topic and opened a new
one to create some fresh atmosphere in the process of the negotiations.

Besides, the connection between the old and the new topics is
interesting to know, if one stemmed from the others, or the one
is the continuation of the other. The questions are numerous and
various. It is interesting to know how the negotiation is formed,
considering that the presidents decided to dwell on the main question
only now. Maybe, they needed to discuss the main question just from
the beginning. Or, for whom that topic is primary? Do Armenia and
Azerbaijan consider that topic a primary one for the both of the
sides? What does Nagorno-Karabakh think about it?

Or, do the sides and the mediators accept that the content of
the negotiation was wrong so far, which was the reason for it
ineffectiveness. Until there are no answers to these and many other
questions, the Minsk group statement is difficult to be treated
seriously. But, it is obvious that the sides and the mediators
will try to represent this statement as a very serious one. It is
obvious that there will also be serious expert observations in this
connection. They have always been and there will always be, because
the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, like any other negotiation,
always have expert sponsorship, which is conducted alongside with
the informational sponsorship.

And the reality, as usual, hides behind this sponsorships. Or these
sponsorships hide the real emptiness.