Author: Khondkarian Raffi

UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ARRIVES IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 10:38
Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees arrived in
Armenia on August 20 to pay a two-day visit. Within the framework of
the six-day regional visit started in Baku on August 16, Guterres
intends to meet with Azerbaijani, Georgian and Armenian officials
and displaced people and refugees. The UN at present makes efforts to
activize the role of the Refugee Agency in the political negotiations
proceeding on settlement of regional conflicts.
The peaceful settlement will allow refugees to return their former
settlements and to re-integrate. The UN, in its turn, will be able to
reduce one of expensive programs: the main worry of the UN Refugee
Agency in Europe is the South Caucasus, and the UN spends about 9.7
mln dollars annually to cover needs of refugees of the region, Noyan
Tapan reported.
On August 20, a UN delegation has arrived to South Ossetia headed
by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. As REGNUM is
told at South Ossetia’s Press and Information Committee, during the
visit the delegation called on to a center for refugees and IDPs,
where the UN delegation had a discussion with refugees and IDPs from
Georgia’s internal areas. Then South Ossetia’s President Eduard Kokoity
received Antonio Guterres. The UNHCR and the South Ossetian president
expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and
noted they hoped for future cooperation, they stress in the committee.
It is worth mentioning that in the first years of the Georgian-Ossetian
conflict the whole number of refugees and IDPs totaled over
14,000. With time, through the mediation of the UNHCR construction
of houses started in the places of their previous living and
rendering assistance to them. As a result people started returning
back home. In Tskhinvali and Znauri districts over 70% refugees
returned. In first years after the conflict people stayed in hotels
or at their relatives’. At present time, there are four collective
centers left where 200 families live. These are three dormitories
and Ossetia Tourist Camp, a REGNUM correspondent is told at Refugees
and IDPs Department at the South Ossetian Office of the Joint Control
Commission.

TODAY’S RISE IN USD EXCHANGE RATE ON ARMEX LOGICAL END OF ITS MONTHLY FALL
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 17, 2006
YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. Today’s rise in the USD exchange rate
on the Armenian Stock Exchange (ARMEX) is a logical end of its fall
during the last month, bank dealers told ARKA.
According to them, this is a normal process accounted for by bank
clients’ resumed demand for the USD.
On August 16, 2006, the average weighted USD exchange rate on
ARMEX rose by 7.83 points after a month-long fall and reached AMD
406.91/$1. During the last eight days, the exchange rate was below
AMD 400/$1.
According to experts, the Central Bank of Armenia played its role
in the exchange rate stabilization by purchasing US dollars on ARMEX
and thus maintaining the exchange rate at AMD 3999/$1.
According to the dealers, during 4-5 days the CBA purchased about
$10mln, which prevented further fall in the USD exchange rate. Still
earlier, experts forecast that the USD exchange rate would fall down
to AMD 350/$1 without the CBA’s intervention.
Experts point out that a rise in the USD market exchange rate may be
expected judging from today’s exchange rate on ARMEX.
A 9.79% USD depreciation against the AMD has been recorded in Armenia
this year.
The current exchange rate is near the one recorded 11 years ago. Ion
2005, the USD exchange rate ranged from AMD 402/$1 to AMD 406/$1,
and the average annual exchange rate in 1995 was AMD 405.8/$1.
During 13-year history of the Armenian dram, the highest exchange
rate was recorded in March 2003 – AMD 591.76/$1 (the CBA-set nominal
exchange rate). In fact, 45.76% revaluation of the Armenian national
currency has been recorded since that date. In turn, 31.39% (AMD
185.83) USD devaluation against the AMD has been recorded ($1 –
AMD 398.07).

SYRIA AND ARMENIA TO COOPERATE IN SCIENTIFIC FIELD
Tuesday, August 08, 2006 – 07:10 PM
ALEPPO, (SANA) – Syria and Armenia discussed Tuesday ways of enhancing
and developing the bilateral relations between the two friendly
countries particularly in scientific field.
For his part, Armenian Charge’d Affair Ashor Mana Sirian pointed out at
aspects of joint cooperation between Aleppo University and Armenia’s
universities particularly in the cultural domains, underlining the
necessity of deepening the scientific and cultural relations between
the two countries.
A.Zeitoun / S.Younes

Middle East War Favorable to Turkey
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.08.2006 18:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish economic empire center of Istanbul will
only gain from Beirut stopping its existence as a financial center,
writes the Frankfurter Rundschau German newspaper. In the opinion
of the author of Oil dollars seek asylum in Bosporus article of Herd
Haler, though Lebanon has become a favorite place for Arab investors,
they now prefer investing capitals in markets, which are more stable.
These include first of all Turkey. “It is still hard to assess the
volume of those transfers. A proof of inflow of that capital into
Turkish economy can be the Turkish lira rate increasing 6% since
mid-July.
Meanwhile, secrecy atmosphere is sustained not to form an impression
that Arab investors leave Lebanon to the mercy of fate. Turkey
will only profit from the Middle East crisis. In 2005 Turk Telekom
bought 55% of Oger Saudi Arabian company at $6.6 billion. The firm
is controlled by the family of Lebanese PM Rafik al-Hariri, killed
in 2005,” the article says.
Heler underscored that Turkey attracts investors by growth rate of its
economy, developed financial markets and relative stability. “Arab
investors feel comfortable in Turkey, as the state is headed by
pro-Islamic government. Since the beginning of its tenure in 2002
economic exchange between Turkey and Arab countries increased from 7$
to $17 billion.
Turkish PM Erdogan, an Islamic fundamentalist, stands up for
investments in his country. Observers assess his expressed anti-Israeli
posture and critical rhetoric regarding the US during the latest
Middle East conflict as part of the common strategy. Erdogan will
try to make use of the visit of Saudi King to Turkey to demonstrate
solidarity with the Arab world.
King Abdullah lately pledged assistance of $1.5 billion to Lebanon. A
third part of those means should be spent to restore the country. Part
of those means can flow into the Turkish economy: Turkish construction
companies, who have already concluded building contracts in the Middle
East for $30 billion, hope to take part in rehabilitation of Lebanon,”
Frankfurter Rundschau considers.

July 20, 2006
Press contact
Stefanie Koperniak
617/300-5317
[email protected]

Images of the Armenian Spirit Explores the Rich Cultural History of the
Armenian People
Thursday, August 24 at 8:30pm on WGBH 2
Also airs on Sunday, August 27 at 5:30pm on WGBH 2
New England Native Barbara Ghazarian Visits WGBH to Present This Program

Images of the Armenian Spirit celebrates more than 3,000 years of the
art, culture and survival of the Armenian people. The compelling
one-hour documentary was written, directed, and produced by Muffie
Dunn and Emmy Award-winning producer Andrew Goldberg, both of Two Cats
Productions.
Author and speaker Barbara Ghazarian visits the WGBH studio to present
this program, airing on Thursday, August 24 at 8:30pm on WGBH
2. Ghazarian is author of the book Descendants of Noah: Christian
Stories from the Armenian Heart . Her cookbook, Simply Armenian:
Healthy Ethnic Cooking Made Easy, won Honorable Mention in the
Writer’s Digest 12th International Self-Published Book Awards. Today,
she splits her time between Monterey, Californi a, and Newport, Rhode
Island, and is working on a novel also inspired by her ancestry.
Images of the Armenian Spirit transports the viewer to today’s
Republic of Armenia and, through this journey, explores the spirit of
what it means to be Armenian. This is the third PBS special on Armenia
produced by Two Cats Productions and, as in The Armenian Americans and
The Armenians: A Story of Survival, it continues the celeb ration of
this culture’s spirit as well as its legacy of inspiration,
achievement and perseverance.
`The rich visuals we were able to achieve in Images of the Armenian
Spirit highlight the epic accomplishments in Armenian history,
architecture and religion and detail the devastation of the Genocide
of 1915,’ said Goldberg. `As a Christian country wedged between the
Middle East, Russia, and Turkey, Armenia’s story has tremendous
significance in understanding today’s current events.’
The film begins with an overview of Armenian lore, which traces
Armenia’s origin to Mt. Ararat’the heart of Armenia’s spiritual
soul’and to Noah’s Ark. It is punctuated with stories of heroism, such
as the legend of Haig and Pel’Armenia’s David and Goliath; and
enlightened leadership, including that of the great King Dikran, who
successfully protected Armenia from her violent neighbors’the Romans
and Persians. As the first nation to adopt Christianity, Armenia set
herself on a course that significantly differentiated and at times
alienated her from neighbors.
An Armenian Diaspora began in the 11th century and continued through
the 20th. The Armenians who remained in their traditional lands, ruled
by the crumbling Ottoman Empire, suffered a major massacre in the late
1800s. Then, during the first World War came the 1915 Genocide’with
1.5 million Armenians, along with their thriving communities,
annihilated.
Included in this documentary are rarely seen photographs of the
rescue, by the French, of the Armenian residents of Musa Dagh during
the 1915 Genocide, as well as footage shot undercover in Eastern
Turkey showing the devastated areas that were once historic Armenia.
Still, Armenia was not destroyed. And, as the film shows, throughout
the city of Yerevan, and surrounding countryside, are reminders of
Armenia’s ancient heritage and natural beauty: monasteries, churches,
memorials, forests, lakes and mountains’all of which resonate with the
Armenian spirit. This spirit extends beyond Armenia’s borders into the
Diaspora communities, such as Iran, Jerusalem and G eorgia, to name a
few.
Images of the Armenian Spirit, presented with video, film, still
photos, music, and narration is ultimately a celebration of the human
spirit and a people that refused to surrender to history.
About WGBH
WGBH informs, inspires, and entertains millions of people throughout
New England. Boston’s last remaining independent TV station, WGBH is
the leading producer of PBS prime-time programs and online content, a
major producer for public radio, and a pioneer in educational
multimedia and services that make media accessible for people with
disabilities. For more information, visit
###

Permanent exhibition of conventional arms to be established in Moscow
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
August 4, 2006 Friday 5:21 PM MSK
The International Defense Exhibition of Land Forces, IDELF-2006,
has great growth potential, deputy director of the Federal Military
and Technical Cooperation Service Vladimir Polischuk said.
“We will do our best to establish a basic exhibition of conventional
arms in Russia, and not only for land forces,” he said at a news
conference in Moscow region’s Krasnoarmeisk, where the second stage
of the IDELF-2006 has begun and where arms and equipment will be
demonstrated in action.
“IDELF-2006 is one of the best exhibitions in Russia as far as the
implementation of plans and ideas is concerned,” he said.
A protocol on military and technical cooperation between Russia and
Armenia was signed during the exhibition, Polischuk said. The protocol
stipulates prospects for such cooperation as well as issues linked
to the improvement of the legal base and arms deliveries.
Another exhibition, a “security means salon,” is planned to be held
in Krasnoarmeisk from 2007, Polischuk said.

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS PROPOSE AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN PRAGUE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
On August 2, 2006, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador
Yuriy Merzlyakov (Russia), Ambassador Bernard Fassier (France) and
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza (USA) met at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris to assess the current stage in
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The French Embassy told the APA the co-chairs discussed as well
the results of Matthew Bryza’s introductory visit to the region,
in his capacity as a co-chair. Proceeding from the St Petersburg G8
Chairman’s statement on Nagorno Karabakh, the co-chairs considered
different options to achieve its objectives, which will be proposed to
the parties, and await them for their thoughts. Diplomatic sources
told the APA the co-chairs proposed Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan to meet in the
Czech capital, Prague in autumn this year. The Ministers are due
to discuss the options proposed by the co-chairs as well as issues
concerning ending the clash of opinions and agree on organizing
meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents as a result of
these discussions. /APA/

Minsk Group Co-Chairs to Discuss Peace Process in Paris
ArmRadio.am
02.08.2006 11:19
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will assess the recent visit by US
Co-chairman Matthew Bryza to the region during a two-day meeting,
which was scheduled to begin today in Paris, reported Armenpress.
Bryza is going to present the results of his regional visit to
his French and Russian counterparts, Trend news agency reported.
Meanwhile, President Ilham Aliyev again rejected any resolution to
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that would not put Karabakh under Azeri
control ahead of talks with a visiting top US negotiator on Tuesday,
reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
“Azerbaijan will never- neither today, nor tomorrow and under no
circumstances – agree to Nagorno-Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan,”
Aliyev told his cabinet in remarks reported by Azeri newspapers on
Tuesday. “The issue of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity can not be
a subject of negotiations.”
Aliyev and his Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov were meeting
later in the day with Bryza. “I do not have much to tell you at the
moment,” the Azeri ANS television quoted Bryza as telling reporters in
Baku. “Actually, there is nothing [new] to speak about.” Aliyev has
repeatedly demanded restoration of Azeri control over Karabakh in
recent months amid fading hopes for an Armenian-Azeri agreement which
international mediators hoped will be signed this year.
However, a framework peace accord proposed by a team of American,
French and Russian mediators seems to allow for the possibility of
Karabakh’s independence or reunification with Armenia. The three
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group favor a gradual resolution of the
dispute that would culminate in a referendum of self-determination in
Karabakh.Bryza confirmed over the weekend that under the terms of the
proposed deal, the disputed region’s status would be decided by the
“people of Karabakh.” He indicated that this includes the region’s
former Azeri residents that were forced to flee their homes during
the 1991-1994 war.
Bryza spoke with RFE/RL in Yerevan after holding talks with President
Robert Kocharian and before proceeding to Stepanakert where he met
with the leadership of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic president Arkady Ghoukassian told reporters after the meeting
that he briefed Bryza on the Stepanakert government’s position on
the conflict which he said is “somewhat different from the approaches
favored by the co-chairs.” “I think Mr. Bryza understands that it is
impossible to settle the conflict without Karabakh’s participation,”
he said. “Not only he but all the co-chairs realize that.” However,
Bryza made it clear in his RFE/RL interview that it is the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan that must have the final say in the peace
process. He downplayed in that regard the fact that he is apparently
the most high-ranking US government official to ever visit Karabakh.
“There is no statement of any sort that should be read from my visit
to Stepanakert other than that I am going there in my sole capacity
as a co-chair so I can understand better what the situation and what
the views are of the people that are living in Karabakh,” Bryza said.

RETAINED PROFIT OF ARMENIA’S BANKING SECTOR TOTALS $53.9 MLN JULY 30
Yerevan, August 1. ArmInfo. The retained profit of Armenia’s banking
system grew by 3.5% in Jan-June 2006 and by 39.9% as against Jan-June
2005 to 22.6 bln AMD ($53.9 mln). The share of retained profit in
the total capital was 22.1%.
According to ArmInfo’s ranking of commercial banks of Armenia, the
leader in retained profit are Converse Bank – 4.9 bln AMD or $11.7 mln
(12.9% growth in Jan-June 20065 and 45.2% growth as against Jan-June
2005), HSBC Bank Armenia 4.6 bln AMD or $10.9 mln (+27.2% and +34.6%
respectively), Anelik Bank 3.8 bln AMD or $9 mln (+9.1% and +35.3%)
and INECO 2.2 bln AMD or $5.3 mln (+4.7% and +34.7%).
12 of 21 banks shown growth in the index in Jan-June 2006 and 14 banks
as against Jan-June 2005. Unibank showed 153.8% growth and Prometey
391.6% respectively.
Of 7 banks who retained profit dropped, the leader is ITB Bank 104.2%
to loss of 2.5 mln AMD.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
July 27, 2006
Armenian Government Takes On Gold Company
An American mining group accuses the Armenian government of trying to
expropriate its assets.
By Susanna Petrosian in Yerevan
Armenia’s environment ministry is trying to revoke the license of an
American gold company in a dispute that puts investors’ rights under
the spotlight.
Connecticut-based Global Gold Corporation, GGC,is contracted along
with the Australian company Iberian Resources to mine gold, silver
and zinc in the Marjan district of southern Armenia until the end of
2007.
Now the ministry is claiming it has lost its right to do so – though
GGC continues its exploratory work, saying it has the law on its
side.
Some say Armenia wants to take back the mine in order to then sell it
off to a Russian group. Russia is by far the biggest investor in
Armenia with investments worth 400 million US dollars.
The government, however, insists GGC has lost its license because it
has failed to meet its obligations.
`The ministry gave the license and it can take it away,’ said Grant
Avetisian, who heads the department for protecting underground
resources at the environment ministry. He declined to say whether the
ministry was planning to go to court to enforce its claim against
GGC.
`GGC carried out only five per cent of the work,’ added environment
minister Vardan Aivazian. `They did not fulfil their duties as
investors. As they cannot work legally, they should go and someone
else should replace them.’
But GGC’s regional director Ashot Boghosian told IWPR that the
company had only just begun work in the mines and there was no legal
basis for stopping them continuing.
Boghosian says that by law his company’s right to do exploratory work
can be suspended only by a court, and that the company must be
informed of the allegations levelled against it 90 days before the
court hearing.
Gagik Adibekian, head of the department that deals with agreements
and contracts at Armenia’s trade ministry, confirmed that a court
order was needed for a company to lose its license.
`We did not receive any warning, and we don’t know what infringement
we have committed,’ said Boghosian.
`If the ministry tries to deprive us of our licenses and to give them
to another organisation, the best definition of this action will be
expropriation,’ said Boghosian. `I don’t think this is the situation,
and I hope that GGC’s investments will not be expropriated, as that
is a serious responsibility.’
Van Krikorian, president and chief adviser to the company, said that
the Armenian government risked counter-measures from the United
States government if it tried to force GGC to shut down its
operations, and that the company might seek international
arbitration. `The decision to strip us of our license is illegal,’ he
told IWPR.
GGC has a number of projects throughout Armenia and says it will
invest almost 10 million dollars in the country by the end of this
year. It says it is spending 1.2 million dollars on its exploratory
work in the Marjan mine, which contains an estimated 17.8 tonnes of
precious metals.
Around 400 people are employed on the project. Ashot Saakian, head of
administration of the nearby village of Arevis, told IWPR that locals
are pinning their hopes on the mining project and on GGC restoring
outdated infrastructure.
The company has won the support of economist and opposition
parliamentary deputy Tatul Manaserian, who said revoking the
company’s license without proper justification could hurt
Armenian-American relations.
`Statements like this made against GGC will make the investment
climate unpredictable in the future, and this lack of clarity is the
most serious threat for business in terms of instability,’ said
Manaserian.
However, the ministry is not backing down. It says not only has GGC
has lost its license, but that it may soon announce the name of the
new company contracted to work in the mines.
A source in government told IWPR on condition of anonymity that a
Russian investor was interested in acquiring the Marjan mine.
Under a `debt-for-assets’ deal, Russian companies now control almost
the entire energy network of Armenia and have expressed an interest
in acquiring the telephone network.
Some experts see this is an economic takeover that undermines
Armenia’s sovereignty, although trade minister Karen Chshmaritian
says there is nothing to be worried about.
`All of these processes, including the energy sector, are under our
full control,’ said the minister.
Critics are not convinced, seeing the travails of GGC as a symptom of
a wider phenomenon.
`Today Armenia’s attitude to investors is defined by its foreign
policy, which is basically focused on Russia,’ said Stepan Grigorian,
head of the Analytical Centre on Globalisation and Regional
Cooperation in Yerevan.
`Russia thinks it is not enough to keep its influence over Armenia
through the military sector alone, and is now using economics as
well.’
Susanna Petrosian is a journalist with the Noyan Tapan news agency in
Yerevan.