Author: Khondkarian Raffi

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
March 29 2009

Armenian servicemen in Azerbaijani captivity request to transfer them
to a third country

29 March 2009 [05:37] – Today.Az

Armenian servicemen Grant Markosyan, Artur Vartevyan and Alik
Tevosyan, who surrendered themselves to Azerbaijani side, have sent an
appeal with a request to pass them into a third country, said Shain
Sayipov, secretary of the state commission for war prisoners, missing
and hostages.

He said this appeal was sent to the UN representative office in
Azerbaijan several days ago.

"Currently, work is held to consider their appeal", noted Sayipov.

Notably, three citizens of Armenian ethnic were detained in Agdam on
February 28. These were Grant Markosyan, Artur Vartevyan and Alik
Tevosyan. They were detained at midnight, when they approached the
farms at Ergi plain and asked for food and water.

/Day.Az/

URL:

Agence France Presse
March 27, 2009 Friday 9:54 AM GMT

‘Inadequate’ ties to be boosted by Obama visit: Turkish PM

ANKARA, March 27 2009

Turkish-US ties are "inadequate" and US President Barack Obama’s
upcoming visit will pave the way for a new phase in relations, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying Friday.

"I don’t think Turkish-American relations are adequate. They should be
taken forward a great deal," Anatolia news agency quoted Erdogan as
saying in a television interview.

"Obama’s visit will prepare a very solid ground for the future" of
bilateral ties," he said.

Obama is scheduled to visit Turkey on April 6-7. He will hold
bilateral talks in Ankara and is also expected to attend an
international forum in Istanbul aimed at fostering dialogue between
the West and Muslim countries.

Erdogan said Turkey’s role in Middle East peace efforts would be high
on the agenda of the talks with Obama, adding that Ankara was ready to
revive indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria, stalled since
the Jewish state launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip in
December.

The two sides will also discuss the withdrawal of US troops from
neighbouring Iraq, Turkey’s role in efforts to stabilise Afghanistan
and Armenian pressure on Washington to recognise the mass killings of
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, he said.

NATO member Turkey has been a key Muslim ally of the United States in
a strategic region between Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East,
bordering troubled countries such as Georgia, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

Bilateral ties were strained under former US president George W. Bush
when Turkey refused to allow US troops to use its territory in the
invasion of Iraq in 2003.

During a visit to Ankara earlier this month, Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said the new Washington administration wished to undo
Bush’s legacy and buttress relations.

COURT SITTING ON CASE OF CITIZEN OF FRANCE SARGIS HATSPANIAN POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 31

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The March 26 court sitting at Yerevan
Kentron and Nork-Marash communities’ first instance court on the
case of citizen of France Sargis Hatspanian was postponed until May
31. The reason of delay was that the defendant did not appear before
the court. The court received a notification from the Vardashen
penitentiary institution that "Hatspanian feels bad and is not able
to come to the court sitting."

It should be mentioned that S. Hatspanian is accused by the article
of "false denunciation:" in his interview to the Haykakan Zhamanak
daily referring to the information he possessed he said that former
RA President Robert Kocharian prepares an attempt upon President
Serzh Sargsyan’ life.

ARONIAN TIES FOR VICTORY IN AMBER 2009 TOURNAMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.03.2009 19:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the 10th tour of Amber Chess Tournament 2009 the
Armenian grand master Levon Aronian, having beaten China’s Wang Yue,
became the sole tournament leader. Aronian drew against Wang Yue in
a blindfold game and won the rapid game, winning 1,5-0,5.

After 10 tours, the Armenian chess-player is leading with 13 points,
followed by the World Champion Viswanathan Anand, with 12 points to
his score.

In the last tour of Amber 2009 Levon Aronian will rival Bulgaria’s
Veselin Topalov.

Irrespective of other pairs’ final results, Aronian will retain his
leadership should he defeat Topalov in the 11th tour.

The total prize-fund of 18th Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament is
Euro 216,000.

Standings after 10th tour

Aronian- 13 points, Anand, Carlsen- 12 points, Kramnik – 11,5 points,
Leko-10 points, Kamsky, Topalov, Ivanchuk, Morozevich – 9,5 points,
Karjakin – 8,5 points, Radjabov -8 points, Wang Yue -7 points

11th tour pairings

Blindfold

Alexander Morozevich (Russia)-Gata Kamsky (United States) Sergey
Karjakin (Ukraine)-Vasily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) Vladimir Kramnik (Russia)
– Peter Leko (Hungary) Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria)- Levon Aronian
(Armenia) Wang Yue (China)- Viswanathan Anand (India) Teimour Radjabov
(Azerbaijan) – Magnus Carlsen (Norway)

Rapid

Kamsky- Morozevich Ivanchuk- Karjakin Leko- Kramnik Aronian- Topalov
Anand- Yue Carlsen- Radjabov

ANC OF SOUTH FLORIDA WILL TAKE PART IN GENOCIDE PREVENTION PROJECT

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2009 01:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In conjunction with Genocide Prevention Project’s
launch of Genocide Prevention Month (GPM) on April 2nd, the Armenian
National Committee (ANC) of South Florida will take part in a panel
discussion organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council and
co-sponsored by various organizations to raise awareness about the
ongoing genocide in Darfur and efforts to secure concrete U.S. action
to stop the killing.

Panelists will include: Councilman Andre Williams, Esq. City of
Miami Gardens; Reverend Patrick O’Neil, Archdiocese of Miami; Michael
Pertnoy, Activist, Filmmaker, & Genocide Intervention Network Carl
Wilkens Fellow; Joe Sachs, Holocaust Survivor; Michael Toumayan,
Descendant of Armenian Genocide Survivor; and Rositta Kenigsberg,
Holocaust Documentation & Education Center, Inc.

"The Genocide Prevention Project’s efforts to spotlight genocide
in April – the month that saw the beginnings of the horrors of the
Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and now,
Darfur – calls critical attention to the vital role each and every
one of us can play to end the cycle of genocide," said Toumayan. "The
panel discussion is an opportunity to provide a forum to examine
fundamental moral issues caught between competing interests."

Cosponsors of the event include the Armenian National Committee
of South Florida, Miami Dade College, Rabbinical Association of
Greater Miami, Students Taking Action Now Darfur, Urgent Times,
and Urgent Action.

Genocide Prevention Month was launched earlier this year by the
Genocide Prevention Project, which is working in conjunction with
several organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) to encourage renewed action in April to end the cycle
of genocide, ANCA reports.

RA NA SPEAKER RECEIVES IPA CIS SECRETARY GENERAL

National Assembly of RA
March 26 3009
Armenia

On March 25 RA NA Speaker Mr Hovik Abrahamyan received the Secretary
General of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth
Independent States (IPA CIS) Mr Mikhail Krotov.

Mr Krotov conveyed good wishes to the NA Speaker from Mr Sergey
Mironov, Chairman of IPA CIS and Chairman of CSTO IPA Mr Boris Gryzlov
and the invitation to take part at IPA CIS 32nd plenary session to
be held in Saint Petersburg on May 14-15.

During the meeting the sides touched upon the issues included on
the agenda of the IPA CIS 32nd plenary session to be held in Saint
Petersburg on May 14-15 and events to be envisaged. They discussed
issues regarding the further cooperation and issues of bilateral
interest.

NA Speaker Mr Hovik Abrahamyan ensured the participation of the NA
delegation headed by him at the works of the session.

ARMENIAN MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS SEVERELY AFFECTED GIANTS OF ARMENIAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

ArmInfo
2009-03-20 14:35:00

ArmInfo. Due to the global financial crisis, both the chemical industry
giants in Armenia Nairit Plant and Vanadzor Chemical Complex have faced
severe problems, Armenian Minister for Energy and Natural Resources
Armen Movsisyan told ArmInfo commenting on the claim by the Electric
Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC against Nairit Plant.

The minister said both the enterprises have faced sales problems
and are reluctant to suspend activity until the global tariffs are
stabilized. In the meanwhile, maintenance of engineering process at
these enterprises also requires serious energy resources. As a result,
Nairit Plant accumulated debts to the ENA. ‘This claim will not change
anything. The electric networks are first of all interested in activity
of big enterprises to extend their sales’, the minister said. He
highlighted that the leadership of ENA CJSC is constructive. The
parties agreed that Nairit will pay the current debts. As regards the
remaining, a schedule of repayment is being drafted. ‘It is a normal
process especially for such big and serious companies. In addition,
Nairit Plant is one of the largest electricity and gas consumers’,
the minister said.

To recall, Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC (ENA) claimed declaring
bankrupt the only producer of rubb er in Armenia, Nairit Plant,
ENA Press Secretary Margarita Grigoryan told ArmInfo Thursday.

She said the plant’s debt to the ENA as of March 1 2009 totaled
963 million drams ($2.6 million on current rate). ‘Nairit Plant
has never paid for electricity timely and has accumulated big debts
over the last three years, which made us lodge against the company’,
she said. The claim was submitted to the court in February 2009.

At the request of ArmInfo, Press Secretary of Nairit Plant Anush
Haroutiunyan commented on the situation and called the problem a ‘soap
bubble’. She said the plant has already launched production and the
first output is expected in the mid April. ‘We will have enough funds
to pay for the electricity used. Over 20-30 claims were submitted with
demand to declare us bankrupt but no claim has been satisfied yet’,
she said.

Anush Haroutiunyan mentioned that the plant has been idling since the
end of 2008 because of the fall of world demand for rubber due to the
global economic crisis. In 2006 a 90%pct stake in Nairit Plant was
sold to Rainoville Property Limited for $40 million, the remaining
10pct stake belongs to the government.

MARANI VODKA SPIRIT AWARDED STAR DIAMOND AWARD FOR 2009 BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF HOSPITALITY SCIENCES

Marketwire
March 18, 2009 Wednesday 11:22 AM GMT

Marani Brands, Inc. (OTCBB: MRIB) has been awarded the coveted Five
Star Diamond Award for 2009 by the members of The American Academy
of Hospitality Sciences ().

The Five Star Diamond Award is given to organizations that consistently
maintain the overall standards of high quality and superb performance
necessary to designate it as One of the Finest in its Category and
Classification. The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences is
renowned worldwide for awarding excellence in the global travel and
luxury services sector. Each year the Academy bestows its awards
exclusively on five star establishments that are deemed to be the
pinnacle of quality.

"As an organization striving for excellence, we are extremely honored
to receive this award in 2009. We would like to thank the Members
of The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences for bestowing this
award upon us by recognizing Marani Vodka Spirit as one of the best
in its class for a second year in a row. To have received this award
both in 2008 and 2009 demonstrates our commitment to providing an
ultra-premium spirit that represents quality and authenticity,"
said Marani CEO Ara Zartarian.

About Marani Brands, Inc. Marani Brands, Inc. develops, positions,
markets and distributes fine wine and spirit products in the United
States. Its signature product, "Marani Vodka," is an ultra-premium
vodka manufactured exclusively for Marani in Armenia. It is made
from late-harvest Armenian winter wheat, distilled three times,
filtered twenty-five times and then, through a proprietary process,
is aged in oak barrels lined with honey and skimmed dried milk to give
it its unique taste. Marani Vodka was awarded the Gold Medal in the
prestigious International Spirit Competition, held in San Francisco,
California, in both 2004 and 2007 and the coveted Five Star Diamond
Award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences in 2008 and
2009. Please enjoy Marani Premium Vodka Spirit responsibly and in
moderation.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release contain forward-looking
statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. This
forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions,
including, among others, presently known physical data concerning
size and character of reservoirs and economic recoverability. Some
of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that
prove to be incorrect. In addition, operations involve numerous risks
and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Marani Brands’ control,
which could result in expectations not be realized or otherwise
materially affect the financial condition, results of operation and
cash flows. Additional information regarding these and other risks
are contained in Marani Brands’ filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

For more information on Marani Brands visit:

ADMINISTRATIVE COURT OF ARMENIA INVALIDATES AUCTION OF BJNI PLANT’S COMPULSORY SALE

Noyan Tapan
March 19, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The Adminstrative Court of Armenia
presided over by Judge Artsrun Mirzoyan on March 19 invalidated
the auction of compulsory sale of "Bjni" Mineral Water Plant, NT
correspondent was informed by spokeswoman for the RA Cassation Court
Alina Yengoyan.

To recap, the complusory electronic re-auction of the property
and property rights of "Bjni" Mineral Water Plant company finished
on February 16. During 10 days of the auction, one bid was filed,
according to which the sale price of the lot amounted to 4 billion
441.5 million drams. The National Assembly deputy, businessman Ruben
Hayrapetian had purchased the plant by auction.

RESTORED ARMENIAN CEMETERY READY FOR FIRST RELIGIOUS CEREMONY SINCE 1963

Gibrahayer
17 March 2009
Nicosia

The newly restored Armenian Cemetery near the Ledra Palace will be
welcoming members of the Armenian community of Cyprus for the first
time in 46 years for a religious ceremony that will take place this
Sunday 22 March at 11:00 am.

During the service, the remains exhumed previously will be laid to
rest in accordance with the rites of the Armenian Church.

As of next year at Merelots, there will be a memorial every year,
in the Sourp Boghos chapel within the cemetery premises.