Author: Khoyetsian Rose

STATE MINISTER BABACAN ON TURKEY’S E.U. ACCESSION
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Nov 2 2006
DUBLIN – “Turkey has always worked to achieve its goal of being
integrated into modern world,” Turkish State Minister & Chief
Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan said on Thursday.
Addressing the National Forum on Europe comprised of parliamentarians
and representatives of nongovernmental organizations in Dublin, Babacan
stressed, “there are deep-rooted relations between Turkey and EU.”
Babacan indicated that the integration process of Turkey which has
been continued for more than 50 years was based on freedom, democracy,
basic rights and supremacy of law.
“The start of membership talks between Turkey and the EU was also a
historical step for the Union. Turkey’s membership negotiations will
be long, difficult and challenging,” he underlined.
Stating that Turkey’s EU accession would strengthen the EU which
played a significant role in global world, Babacan noted, “Turkey
will also assist the EU in regard to settlement of stability in the
Middle East and improvement of prosperity in Central Asia, Middle
East and Caucasus.”
“Turkey’s full membership will also assist EU in regard to its foreign
policy and security,” he noted.
Babacan said, “Turkey which acts as a bridge between Europe and Asia
will serve as a natural line between Europe and regional countries.”
Stating that Turkey contributed to the EU with its young population,
he indicated, “Turkey will work hard for its EU accession process.”
“We fulfilled reforms to upgrade living standards of Turkish people.
There has been a great progress in Turkish economy as well,”
he underlined.
Noting that there has been increase in the trade volume between Turkey
and the EU countries, Babacan stated that foreign investors attached
great attention to Turkish economy.
“Turkey will catch Maastricht criteria before it becomes a full member
of the EU as a result of sound budgetary and monetary policies in
the country,” he noted.
Upon questions about the Cyprus issue, Babacan said, “the Cyprus issue
has been continuing for nearly 40 years. Several attempts to find
a solution to the Cyprus issue failed to yield results. The latest
attempt was made by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in
2004. Consequently, Turkish Cypriot people supported the plan in
the referenda while Greek Cypriots rejected it. On the other hand,
the EU failed to fulfil its promises to lift embargoes and isolation
imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).”
When asked whether Turkey would open its ports and airports to the
Greek Cypriot traffic, Babacan said, “this is an practice envisaged in
the Customs Union. Some EU-member countries such as Belgium, Austria
and Italy apply the same practice against Turkish trucks on the
pretext that their quotas were full. The issue of opening of Turkish
ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot traffic should be brought onto
agenda at the same time with lifting of embargoes imposed on the TRNC.”
Referring to the reform process in Turkey, Babacan said, “Turkish
parliament has displayed an extraordinary performance since the
beginning of the process, and adopted a number of legal amendments.
On the other hand, we need a mentality change to put those reforms
into practice. This mentality change takes time. We may not be perfect,
but we have taken quite important steps.”
Upon a question about the Article 301 of the Penal Code on freedom
of expression, Babacan said, “Turkish government cannot intervene
in jurisdiction. But the article can be changed in the course of
the time.”
Replying to another question about honor killings, Babacan said,
“those events have nothing to do with religious beliefs. They stem
from traditions.”
Upon a question on problems faced in southeastern part of Turkey,
Babacan said, “Turkish state has never made a discrimination among
its citizens as Turkish or Kurdish. Also our state has made great
investments in the region. However, private sector’s investment is
essential for economic development of the region. The private sector
refrains from investing in the region due to instability and security
problems stemming from PKK terrorism.”
Referring to recent developments in Iraq, Babacan said, “we have beer
advocating Iraq’s territorial integrity and political unity from the
very beginning. Also, we believe that Iraq’s natural resources should
be shared equally by all segments of Iraqi people.”
Upon another question about role of radical Islam in Turkey, Babacan
said, “our understanding of secularism envisages separation of state
and religious affairs and enable our people to live their religious
beliefs freely. There is not much support to radicalism in Turkey.”
“The Justice & Development Party (AKP) is not an Islamic political
party. It is rather a conservative party which protects its values
and traditions,” he said.
Replying to another question about so-called Armenian genocide,
Babacan said, “only historians should deal with the past events.
Prime Minister Erdogan sent a letter to the Armenian prime minister
and proposed him to set up a joint commission to carry out research.
However, Armenia did not respond to our proposal in the affirmative.
Also, Turkey is ready to open its archives. But Armenians prefer to
carry out lobby activities instead of conducting scientific works.”

NEW VTB GROUP BRAND OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA
SKRIN Market & Corporate News
October 31, 2006 Tuesday 2:44 PM GMT
On October 27, within the framework of a visit of VTB Management
to Armenia, a press conference was held to mark the launch of a new
brand of the Bank Group – VTB.
Through developing its activities in Armenia, the VTB Group will
enhance the efficiency of servicing Russian customers business in
Armenia, effecting foreign trade settlement, and implementing foreign
trade cooperation programmes between Armenia and Russia.
To expand operations of the VTB Group in Armenia, VTB acquired in
2004 a 70% + one share interest in Armsberbank, which is currently
operating under the VTB Bank (Armenia) name. This financial institution
has gained solid positions in corporate business. As of 01.07.2006,
it is ranked 1st in the national banking system in terms of lending
volumes with a 14% share.
In the retail market, VTB Armenia is the second largest bank of the
country in terms of household deposits raised, with about a 10%
market share. The regional network of VTB Armenia is the largest
in the country; it consists of 100 branches and covers actually the
whole of the country territory.
Business development of VTB Armenia implies more finance to be
channelled into the national economy. The Bank plans to gain a
20% market share in lending to corporate customers and 15% – in
attracting new corporate customers. Moreover, a product line for
retail customers will also continue to develop, with simultaneous
efforts in SME servicing.
Citing Vassily Titov, Senior Vice President, Member of the Board,
transit of bank-members of the VTB Group in Russia, Europe, Asia,
Africa and the CIS to operating under a single brand is an important
step within the framework of further integration of VTB activities,
an instrument designed to strengthen competitive edge of the VTB
Group in national banking markets, including that of Armenia.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
31-10-2006
Armen Liloyan Appointed Consul General in Los Angeles
Armen Liloyan has been appointed by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
to serve as Consul General in Los Angeles.
Armen Liloyan was born in Yerevan in 1971. He graduated from the
Faculty of Oriental Studies of Yerevan State University, and received
his Master’s degree from the London Diplomatic Academy.
The newly-appointed Consul General joined the Ministry in 1995. He
worked in the European Department. From 1998 to 2002, he served
at the Armenian Embassy in Great Britain. Since 2002, he had been
head of the European Union Division of the European Department and
was instrumental in the process of developing Armenia’s Action Plan
within the European Neighborhood Policy.

RF IS IN SHAMEFUL THIRD PLACE IN ARMENIAN ECONOMY ON LINE OF INVESTMENTS, V.PUTIN DECLARES
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
MOSCOW, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian who
is in RF on a working visit had a tete-a-tete talk with RF President
Vladimir Putin on October 30 in the Kremlin. According to the report
submitted to NT from RA President’s Press Office, V.Putin greeting RA
President’s visit to Russia expressed satisfaction with the fact that
the bilateral relations periodically continue at the highest level
and depth. He touched upon extension of Armenian-Russian economic
cooperation in the recent period emphasizing that only in the eight
months of this year the volume of mutual trade amounted to 278 mln
dollars, which exceeds the index of the same period of the previous
year by 60%.
Nevertheless, he considered as “shameful” fact that Russia takes the
third place in Armenian economy by the volume of investments. “We
are in the shameful third place, as it is strange that Russia does
not take the first place in the economy of its strategic partner on
the line of investments,” RF President said. Meanwhile, he attached
importance to the circumstance that the Russian investments in
Armenia have a tendency of growing. Robert Kocharian, in his turn,
said that all agreements with Gazprom on energy projects start
to be implemented. “So, the investment component will essentially
change next year,” he said. As an excellent example of bilateral
cooperation RA President mentioned launching of ArmenAl that has
been modernized lately and has increased the production volumes
for several times. At the meeting V.Putin also touched upon Year of
Armenia in Russia mentioning that it proceeds very well and is the
natural continuation of Year of Russia in Armenia. RA President also
mentioned that all events scheduled within the framework of Year of
Armenia in Russia have been implemented. He considered it interesting
that proposals of holding joint events were received from RF regions
during the year, which enriched the scheduled program. R.Kocharian
attached importance to further continuation of cooperation in the
humanitarian sphere and preservation of mechanisms already worked out
in this direction. Opinions on international and regional problems were
exchanged at the meeting. They touched upon perfection of cooperation
within the framework of CIS, Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Cooperation. RA and RF Presidents also
discussed issues relating to combining the two countries’ efforts
in the direction of rehabilitation of the situation in the region,
revelation of the potential of bilateral cooperation, prevention of
new conflicts, in particular, the unsolved Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT STILL BELIEVES FRENCH GOVERNMENT WILL NOT LEGALIZE DOCUMENT ON SO-CALLED ‘ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’
Author: P. Kesamanski
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated in his interview
with the foreign media accredited in Russia that Azerbaijan’s
official position on the adoption of the legislation penalizing
for denial of the so-called ‘Armenian genocide’ was commented in an
official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this
respect. Azerbaijan is very much concerned on the initiatives on the
consideration of the issue and voting.
The President noted that Azerbaijan is satisfied with the statement
by French officials urging that the government will never support
this law. The position has been recently sounded in a meeting of the
Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and France in Paris, as well as the
French embassy in Baku.
“We are cooperating with the MPs, and the government of France on
this matter. We are satisfied with the standpoints by this country’s
officials. We believe that France will never allow the legalization of
such anti-democratic document, based on unfair shuffling of historic
facts, because ideas sounded at the French parliament violate the
democracy and its major principles. It would be very difficult for MPs,
who voted for this legislation, to speak about democracy and teach
democracy representatives of different countries,” the Azerbaijani
Present assured.
“We negatively estimate the legislation and state that it does not
meet the truth. The so-called ‘Armenian genocide’ is an illusion of
the Armenian lobby. To justify their belligerent policy in respect
to Azerbaijan they introduce themselves as victims and consider they
are right in taking similar steps in respect to Azerbaijanis. The
Armenian committed genocide in Khojaly, where the Armenian armed forces
killed over 600 people, including children, women and elderly ones,”
Mr Aliyev said.
The Azerbaijani President also backed Turkey’s imitative in the
commencement of the talks with Armenian on the issue and publication
of the archive material.

AZERBAIJAN, PAKISTAN TIES STRENGTHEN
The Pakistan Newswire
October 28, 2006 Saturday
“Friendly Pakistan occupies a special place” in Azerbaijan’s foreign
policy, Novruz Mammadov, Head of Presidential AdministrationIs Foreign
Relations Department said.”Pakistan was one of the first to recognize
independence of our republic, and it did not establish diplomatic
relations with Armenia occupying Azerbaijani territories,” he noted.
Novruzov said visit by national leader Heydar Aliyev to Pakistan,
and that by Pakistani President Pervez Masharraf to Azerbaijan,
fostered strengthening ties, and created legal and contractual basis
for bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev’s successful visit to Pakistan has created new
opportunities to enhance in all fields and cooperation between two
countries demonstrating common stance on regional and global issues,
he said.

ITB ARMENIA OFFERS NEW “MULTICURRENCY” DEPOSIT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. The International Trade Bank (ITB)
offers its clients new “Multicurrency” deposit from October 1, 2006,
the bank’s press service reported that this type of deposits will allow
clients to make deposits in one or three currencies at the same time:
AMD, USD and EUR.
“The advantage of the multicurrency deposit consists in the fact
that over the entire period of validity of the contract, a client
has an opportunity to convert the funds on the deposit account from
one currency into another, and this decreases the risk connected
with exchange rate fluctuation,” Executive Director of the bank
Ara Kitbalyan.
At the same time, there are other, very essential advantages besides
this one. Firstly, this is the opportunity of saving deposit funds,
secondly, the opportunity of partial withdrawal, and thirdly, even
the opportunity to fully withdraw the funds by canceling the contract,
without losing added interest.
“The bank provides three types of multicurrency deposits – ordinary,
accumulation and accumulation deposits with the right of partial
return.
In all the three cases, 90 days later, after placing money on the
deposit account, a client can withdraw all the money with added
interests and cancel the contract.
The minimal amount of deposit totals AMD 200,000 or USD/EUR 500 for
the ordinary and accumulation deposit, and AMD 400 AMD or USD/EUR
1000 for the accumulation deposit with the right of partial return.
International Trade Bank – ITB(Armenia) was founded on the basis of
“Bank-Menatep-Armenia” in 1992 as the Yerevan branch of the Russian
bank Menatep. In April 2000, the bank’s share were purchased by
foreign companies, later joined in the Makarios (MG) Holdings GMBH,
and bank itself was renamed to ITB – International Trade Bank. In 2005,
the bank’s 99.91% shares were purchased by Makarios (MG) Holdings GMBH.
ITB’s total assets made up AMD 5.1bln as of 30 June, 2006, the credit
portfolio totaled AMD 2.98bln. The bank currently operates four
branches The Makarious Group Holdings GMBH joins about 60 companies
that are registered in Austria, Great Britain, Ireland, Switzerland,
Cyprus, and in a number of CIS countries. The group consists of banks,
leasing, investment and consulting organizations, the activity of
which is aim at implementing large-scale investment programs in the
spheres of construction, metal mining, timber, woodworking and textile
industries, and also trade and high technologies.
The economic interests of the Makarios group are not limited in Armenia
only by the banking sphere. The group has made large investments for
$22.5mln in the program of construction of the Northern Avenue of
Yerevan.

NATIONAL FINAL FOR ARMENIA
esctoday.com, Netherlands
Oct 25 2006
Officials at ARMTV, the national broadcaster of Armenia, have told
esctoday.com that they plan to hold a national final to select their
Eurovision Song Contest entry for 2007. The process will consist
of two semifinals and a national final. They are now in the final
process of deciding the rules and the format, and an announcement
will be made next week.
Armenia will be competing at the Eurovision Song Contest for the second
time in 2007 after a successful debut this year. They finished sixth
in the semifinal and eighth in the final in Athens with Without your
love sung by Andre.
Speaking to esctoday.com this morning, ARMTV said “We hope to hold
a national final this time. We are finalising the plans now and we
will announce the details next week. We hope to have a three phase
selection, with two semifinals and a final. This is our second time
at the competition and interest will be higher now. We really want
to make a national final with information about the lives of the
participants. We want to do this for the viewers, to get them involved
in selecting their song”.
If the plans go ahead, the selection will take place in December. It
is likely that this year’s first Eurovision Song Contest entry to be
selected will be from Armenia, and not as expected, from Albania.
The shows will not be broadcast on the Internet due to technological
issues. We were told “We want all shows to be broadcast live, but
they will not be available on the Internet. We hope that maybe for
2008 it will be possible”.
Under current rules, Armenia are assured of a place in the final of
the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 after finishing in sixth place
in Athens.

SENATE GROUP HEAD: “WE WILL NOT APPROVE IT”
Sabah, Turkey
Oct 25 2006
The dominant name of French senate guaranteed: “Armenian bill is a
mistake, we will prevent it.”
Senate Group Head of the ruling party UMP Josselin Rohan said:
“If the Armenian bill comes to the senate, we will reject it.”
Our relationship of ages can not and should not be taken in pawn
Senate Group Head of the ruling party UMP Josselin Rohan said: “If
the Armenian bill comes to the senate, we will object to it with all
our might. Our relationship with Turkey can not be taken in pawn.”
New reactions against the denial bill are growing from all Europe
including France. Senate Group Head of the ruling party UMP Josselin
Rohan said: “The bill has not come to the Senate yet. However, if it
happens, we will do our best to reject it as a group. Considering our
a hundred year friendship with Turkey, this draft is a diplomatic
mistake. It is really depressing and sad. It does not have any use
to anybody, but it is harmful in many aspects.”

DISCUSSION OF FRESH IDEAS
Aravot, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The imagination of the OSCE MG cochairmen, which was expired a few
months ago, nowadays freshly operates. RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian told “Azatutiun” b/s after his meeting with Elmar Mamedyarov
in Paris, yesterday that they had discussed “fresh ideas” sounded in
the previous meeting in Moscow. In Oskanian’s words the dialogue will
be continued in Brussels on November 14, after which the MG cochairmen
will arrive the region.