Author: Madatian Greg

ARMENIA IS IN DIFFICULT GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION: RUSSIAN EXPERT

Today.az
/54424.html
Aug 6 2009
Azerbaijan

Russia-based Center for Political Technologies First Vice President
Aleksey Makarkin spoke in an interview with Day.Az.

Day.Az: How do you assess negotiations on resolution of the Karabakh
conflict?

Aleksey Makarkin: Such conflicts are not solved quickly. In this case,
the positions of the parties are directly opposite and the situation
is very similar to the conflict in Northern Cyprus. This conflict
has lasted for decades. There is unrecognized republic and a country
patronizing this republic.

Referring to the Karabakh conflict, I should note that as a student in
199s I read books on the history of the conflict from both sides and
remember that they differed for completely opposite interpretations
and incompatibility of positions.

In the case of Northern Cyprus, both sides have a common goal – the
desire to join the EU, but they can not agree with this regard. But
in the case of Nagorno-Karabakh, there is no such status. So I think
that this conflict will remain status quo. Of course, it does not
suit both parties, but in this situation other options are either
unrealistic or even worse.

Q: How would you describe Russia’s policy in the Caucasus?

A: It is complicated. On the one hand, Russia has cut off relations
with Georgia. But the war with Georgia was perceived as fair and
positively evaluated in the Russian society. The relationship can be
resumed only after Saakashvili steps down. This is a politician who
does not accept the entire political establishment in Russia.

With regard to Armenia, there is opinion in Russian elite that this
is outpost of Russian influence in the region. Armenia is very unhappy
with this because no country wants to be someone’s outpost. Therefore,
Armenia began to diversify its foreign policy. So, it began to build
relations with Turkey and made a demonstrative step of awarding the
Order of Honor to the Georgian president which was negatively accepted
by Russia. But the Armenians deliberately did it to demonstrate
independence and to show Moscow that Armenia is not outpost.

Relations with Azerbaijan is stable and from time to time this
stability is broken by disputes over broadcast channels and cooperation
with Georgia in the gas sphere. But in general Azerbaijan is not
dependent on Russia in the energy context. On the other hand, Russia
in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is trying to behave like a
"honest broker", intermediary equidistant from both sides rather than
a party involved in the conflict.

At one time Russia was discontent with Azerbaijan’s participation
GUAM, but this discontent has passed, as time showed incapacity of
the organization. Thus, I believe that our relations are stable. There
is no conflict.

Q: What impact will Russia-Azerbaijan relations have on Baku’s
participation in the EU Eastern Partnership program and Nabucco energy
project in future?

A: I think that Nabucco is a greater irritant for Russia than
Eastern Partnership. The point is that the Eastern Partnership
besides Azerbaijan includes a variety of countries such as Belarus,
Moldova, etc. Therefore, Russia does not perceive it as an imminent
threat. There are just some jealousy in the implementation of such
projects, but nothing more. Russia is worried about the military
expansion of Europe. But now Europe does not want to grow in the
military context.

Nabucco is seen as a threat to Russia’s energy interests. Previously,
Russia did not react sharply to Nabucco, as it did not believe in
its implementation. Now following the signing of the agreement,
prospects for the project in terms of implementation have improved
and therefore Russia’s attitude to the project could become more
sharp which, in turn, could affect Russia’s relations with Azerbaijan.

Q: Is intention of the Armenian authorities to improve relations with
Turkey also demonstrative step or a strategy?

A: This is a strategy that gives show off against Russia. The
normalization is possible as Armenia is in a very difficult
geopolitical situation and it has to change some of its early policy
approaches.

Now the normalization is unlikely, but in future it will be possible.

RECONSTRUCTION OF KHASHTARAK SCHOOL WILL SOON CONCLUDE WITH PROVISION OF FURNITURE AND COMPUTER LAB

2009/08/06 | 11:57

Society

The complete reconstruction of the community school of Khashtarak,
a village in Armenia’s Tavush Region, will soon conclude with the
provision of furniture and the establishment of a fully equipped
computer lab on campus.

The school’s renovation, which continues to proceed on schedule,
is financed by the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s French, German, and
Swiss affiliates as well as the Germany-based Armenian Merchants’
Union. The school-furniture and computer-lab components of the
initiative are made possible by the fund’s Australian affiliate.

Currently the school’s classrooms and offices are being decorated,
and the final phase of the project will include the landscaping of
the structure’s surroundings.

"We’re very hopeful that the rehabilitated school, with its
wonderful new environment, will help deepen the students’ interest
in learning",- said Ara Vardanyan, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s
executive director.

On his part, school principal Gerasim Tirabyan stated his belief that
the renovated campus is a key requisite in terms of preparing a cadre
of highly educated youths who will contribute to the development
of Khashtarak. "Our school had not seen any upgrades since 1973",
Tirabyan said. "It was in dire need of the current improvements".

"Thanks to the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Khashtarak was provided
with a gas pipeline and distribution network as well as a health
clinic", the principal continued. "Moreover, I’m extremely happy
to report that in the coming months the fund will continue its
community-development effort in the village, this time by completely
rebuilding our water-irrigation network".

Hayastan All Armenian Fund

S. OSSETIA TO CLOSE BORDER WITH GEORGIA

Panorama.am
15:51 05/08/2009

Leader of Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity,
announced the closure of the administrative border with Georgia from
Tuesday midnight, forbidding any vehicles or passengers to cross over.

A statement published on the website of South Ossetia’s news department
said the closure was aimed at "guarding against further provocations
from the Georgian side."

However, Russian news agencies say the closure was due to the threat
of the A/H1N1 flu, as 12 Georgians were reported to have been infected.

KOKOITY TO ANNOUNCE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

Panorama.am
16:30 04/08/2009

The Government structure of Southern Ossetia will be announced
soon. President of the country Eduard Kokoity announced that there
are going to be serious changes, foreign media outlets report.

"We are going to announce the government structure in two days. There
are several worth to become head of the government," president said.

Note that the Prime Minister of Southern Ossetia has resigned and
the president announced that the PM’s resignation is conditioned by
his bad health conditions only.

‘SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY’ FINANCES TREATMENT OF 9-YEARS OLD GIRL IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-08-05 13:21:00

ArmInfo. Within the frames of a charitable programme ‘Live Proudly’,
being implemented by the Yerevan Center of Limb Lengthening and
Reconstruction under aegis of the First Lady of Armenia Rita Sargsyan,
the management of ‘South Caucasus Railway’ CJSC has made a decision
to finance the surgery of 9- years old Liana Hovakimyan suffering
from congenital dislocation of the hip, SCR’s message says.

According to surgeon Arshak Mirzoyan, "Chants-Ilizarov" surgery on
creation of an additional bearing point in the pelvis was successfully
performed on July 29. ‘The surgery was successful and the girl will
soon walk’, A. Mirzoyan said. Currently, Liana is in the Yerevan
Center of Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction (YCLLR) where she
undergoes the relevant treatment.

To note, ‘Live Proudly’ programme aims at assisting the patients from
the poor families. SCR CJSC is currently selecting new patients who
need assistance.

AGENCY PUBLISHES NEWSLETTER INDICATORS OF ACTIVITIES OF ARMENIAN INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR 2ND Q OF 2009

ARKA
August 3, 2009

YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. ARKA News Agency published a regular
quarterly newsletter "Indicators of the activities of insurance
companies of Armenia" for the second quarter of 2009.

The newsletter reflects the financial activities of insurance companies
based on their officially published materials.

The "Indicators of the activities of insurance companies of Armenia"
newsletter contains approximately 40 pages of tabular material
for the various indicators of insurance companies and consists
of 11 main sections: 1. General characteristics of insurance
organizations. 2. Assets. 3.

Obligations. 4. Capital. 5. The financial results of operations. 6. The
structure and formation of technical reserves. 7. Financial cash
flows. 8.

Indicators of profitability. 9. Indicators of overall capital
adequacy. 10.

The indicators of solvency and liquidity. 11. Indicators characterizing
the insurance activities.

The information contained in the bulletin gives the opportunity to
present an overall picture of the financial standing of insurance
companies of Armenia and make a comparative analysis of their
activities.

ARKA News Agency has operated since May 1 of 1996 and specializes in
financial, economic and political information.

The agency has issued its quarterly bulletin "Indicators of the
activities of Armenian banks" since 199 9 and "Crediting organizations
of Armenia" quarterly bulleting since March 2005.

Since May 2006 ARKA News Agency has issued "Financial indicators of
banks" per the data of annual independent audits.

Starting from July 2008, the agency has issued "Indicators of the
activities of insurance companies of Armenia" quarterly bulletin.

ORINATS YERKIR PARTY SUBMITTED LARGE NUMBER OF BILLS TO RA NA IN 2008

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
03.08.2009 14:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some omissions in organization of campaign prevented
Orinats Yerkir party from overcoming the 5% barrier during the May 31
mayoral election, according to Hovhannes Margaryan, member of Orinats
Yerkir parliamentary group.

"Orinats Yerkir party was among most active political forces in 2008
and submitted a large number of bills to the parliament," he told
reporters on Monday.

Asked to comment on the party’s passivity in Karabakh issue, Margaryan
said OY participated in debates and pressed for including of NKR MPs
in the Armenia-EU group.

ARMENIAN VOCALIST MARIAM MATOSSIAN PERFORMS WITH FREE PLANET RADIO
Alli Marshall

Asbarez Staff
st-mariam-matossian-performs-with-free-planet-radi o/
Jul 31st, 2009

When vocalist and composer Mariam Matossian made the move from her
hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia to Greenville, S.C., she
didn’t figure on meeting any fellow Armenian musicians. In fact, for
her first year in Greenville, when Matossian performed it was mostly
at venues thousands of miles away with her Canadian backing band.

Vocalist Mariam Matossian blends Armenian stories and songs with world
music savvy."Just last summer, someone suggested I get in touch with
River Guerguerian through MySpace," she tells Xpress. Surprised to
learn that a Middle-Eastern influenced percussionist was living just
an hour away in the mountains, Matossian checked out Guerguerian’s
tracks – and was blown away. "I was like, ‘No way,’" she remembers.

At the same time, Gene Berger of Horizon Records in Greenville passed
a disc on to Matossian’s husband (and promoter), Haro Setian.

It was Free Planet Radio’s album, with Guerguerian on drums. Two
recommendations seemed like more of a sign than a coincidence, so
Matossian contacted Guerguerian to see if he could suggest a local
band to back her East coast performances. The percussionist suggested
Free Planet Radio. Matossian describes her first meeting with the
world-jazz trio (including multi-instrumentalist Chris Rosser and
bassist Eliot Wadopian) as "probably one of the most amazing rehearsals
I’ve ever had."

But finding a band who could relate to and riff off of Matossian’s
exotic sound was only half of the challenge. The other side of the coin
was finding an audience in her new home. Three years ago, the singer
relocated after marrying Setian, a Greenville-based realtor. The two
met when Setian purchased one of Matossian’s CDs on Web retailer CD
Baby, which tracks the e-mail addresses of its customers. "Because
I was raised to be a polite Canadian, I wrote people thank-yous,"
Matossian explains. That sparked an e-mail exchange and subsequent
courtship. The two share not just a love of music but their Armenian
heritage and a desire to do good for their ancestral homeland (neither
were born there, but both have traveled to Armenia and volunteered
in its orphanages).

A former republic of the Soviet Union, Armenia is sandwiched
between the oft-tumultuous territories of Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan
and Georgia. It’s an area rich in history (its patriarch the
great-great-grandson of Noah of arc fame) but rarely registers on
the American radar the way other ethnic music hotbeds (Africa, India,
Brazil) do. So, when Matossian booked her first Greenville gig this
past February, she billed it as "A Night of World Music" because
"I didn’t want to be too specific and scare people away."

Far from alienating her audience, she sold out the Warehouse Theatre
and drew crowds from across the region. Setian reports that his
wife’s upcoming White Horse performance (with Free Planet Radio)
has attracted fans from as far as Nashville.

>From the White Horse Web site: "Last time these folks were at
White Horse we were sold out and the audience was transported to
ecstasy." Last time was actually a Free Planet Radio concert with
Matossian sitting in for three songs. This time it’s Matossian’s show.

So what does Armenian music sound like? Filtered through Matossian’s
world-view, it’s delicate yet rhythmic, mystical yet earthy, melodic
yet invitingly groovy. "It’s totally a fusion," the vocalist says
of her style. Raised in Vancouver (which, she points out, has a
smaller Armenian population than Toronto, New York or Boston), she
was classically trained on piano; her vocal coaching in opera.

"I grew up listening to Latin, jazz and Middle Eastern music," she
notes. "I’m not a purist; that’s not how I grew up." The end result,
instead of an Armenian cultural program, is more of a jaunt through
world cultures with an emphasis on the songs Matossian has collected
from her mother and from the Armenian orphans she met. At a radio
performance, a Chinese musician told Matossian how much her music
sounded like traditional Chinese tunes; Setian points out that Irish
listeners recognize a commonality to Celtic songs.

Matossian is passionate about her culture, and about introducing it
to others. "I don’t just sing on stage," she says. "I tell stories. I
tell my grandmother’s stories. I’m singing in a foreign language,
so I like to talk about the songs."

KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD WORKS ON ARMENIAN RELATIONSHIP

KTKA.com
09/jul/31/kansas_national_guard_works_armenian_rel ationship/
July 31 2009

The Kansas National Guard is working on building a relationship
with Armenia.

Major General Tod Bunting just finished touring Armenia. The Adjutant
General recently returned and talked about his trip and working with
the country.

He also displayed several artifacts from the trip.

While there, members of the National Guard worked with Armenian police,
talked about agricultural issues, and how Kansas and Armenia handle
emergencies.

"The biggest amount of training we’ve done on the civilian side
has been in emergency management, because Armenians had one of
the worst disasters in a long time in 1988 with the earthquake,"
says Bunting. "That’s why they’re the only country besides the United
States to have an expeditiary medical system, so they have a portable
means to take medical to the scene."

The partnership between the Kansas National Guard and Armenia dates
back to 2006.

LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE KURDISH BECOMES OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

Today’s Zaman
July 30 2009
Turkey

According to a study by the Turkish Parliament’s research center,
some changes should be made in the Constitution and in 18 relevant
articles of law to enable the government to allow the use of an
official language other than Turkish. The prospects of such changes,
however, appear far away at the time being.

In Turkey there are many laws stating that the official language of
the country is Turkish. In the case of allowing languages other than
Turkish to be used, laws regulating political parties, elections
and associations would need to be amended as they contain strong
prohibitions on the use of any other language.

Parliament decided to conduct a study of official languages used in
the world’s parliaments after a controversy was sparked by a speech
delivered by Democratic Society Party co-chairman Ahmet Turk, partly
in Kurdish, during a parliamentary group meeting on Feb. 24, 2009.

The report was based on research into countries such as the US,
France, Armenia, Algeria, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia
and Latvia. In many countries, only one official language is used,
and this is stipulated by law. In some countries, such as Algeria,
even computer hardware and equipment which does not allow printing
in the Arabic typeface are forbidden from being imported. In India,
Canada, Ireland and Finland two official languages are used. But even
in such countries, there are still some strict rules about using two
official languages. It seems the country most comfortable about its
official languages is Canada.

No regulations exist in either the constitution or law about
the official language in Germany but diverse German dialects are
used. Belgium, whose official languages are Dutch, German and French
because of its three-region state structure, and Switzerland, whose
official languages are German, French, Italian and Romansch, were
not in the scope of the research.

Here is the Parliament research center’s summary regarding the
countries’ official languages and their usage:

US: Although the English Language Unity Act has been drafted, this
law is still being debated in Congress. No language other than English
is used in official correspondence.

GERMANY: There is no definition of Germany’s official language. No
laws about official language exist as it is accepted that language
should maintain its own development. There is a custom of using
regional languages in the federal parliament.

ALGERIA: There is a special law to extend the use of Arabic. It is
obligatory to use Arabic in all public corporations and associations
and in the names of media organizations and in international
agreements.

ARMENIA: According to its official language law, Armenia’s official
language is Armenian. Minorities living on the border of Armenia
are free to use their mother tongue. The language used in education
is Armenian, but minorities taking compulsory Armenian lessons are
authorized to learn their mother language. For representatives of the
country, knowing Armenian and using it in international meetings is
obligatory, and public agencies are forbidden from communicating in
any other language.

ESTONIA: According to the Republic of Estonia’s language law, the
official language is Estonian. All languages except Estonian are
given the status of foreign languages. Public enterprises, local
authorities and associations with an autonomous status are obliged
to use Estonian. During the EU process, minorities were granted the
right to use their mother tongue.

FINLAND: According to its language law, Finland’s official languages
are Finnish and Swedish. Law courts, government agencies, local
authorities and autonomous organizations use both Finnish and
Swedish. The choice of how and which of the official languages will
be used is determined by population density. Finnish is used in
publishing and in legislation.

FRENCH: On the basis of the constitution and in accordance with the act
concerning the use of the French language, French is used in official
corporations and associations. It is obligatory to use French when a
product is produced, named and exhibited and it is forbidden to use
any other language in audio-visual advertisements. It is imperative to
use French in meetings held in public areas and in public corporations
and associations as well as public transportation vehicles. French
translations of all kinds of magazines and news published in different
languages are compulsory. French is the language of education and
examinations. In addition to this, using a language other than French
is restricted in the judicial sphere.

INDIA: According to the Official Languages Law, English and Hindi
are the official languages. English is used in official acts and
parliamentary activities. Correspondence between federated states which
do not have Hindi as an official language and the central states which
do are written in English. Hindi is used both in correspondence with
countries which accept Hindi as an official language and with countries
which do not, although translations are made in this case. In public
associations and in parliament, both languages are used.

IRELAND: According to the official language law, while Irish or Gaelic
is the priority language, English is accepted as a second official
language. Official language authorities appointed by the president
officiate over the use of Irish in public institutions to guarantee
the use of the language.

CANADA: In Canada, the official languages are English and French. In
parliamentary business, both languages are used, as they are in
international correspondence and court procedures.

LATVIA: The official languages act states that Latvian is the official
language. In respect of this act, in which there are some regulations
about the protection of the language, minorities are not prohibited
from using their mother tongue although it is compulsory for them to
learn Latvian. It is obligatory to use Latvian in public enterprises
but not in unofficial correspondence, communication and services
which are religion-based.

LITHUANIA: According to the language laws of the Republic of Lithuania,
the official language is Lithuanian. To use this official language is
obligatory in official corporations and associations, courts and local
governments. Those who do not know enough Lithuanian cannot work in
public corporations. Within the scope of the Lithuanian Parliament,
there is a Language Commission which checks public bodies to determine
whether or not they are using Lithuanian.

POLAND: According to the Polish language act, the official language
is Polish. Special laws exist to protect the Polish language, and it
is obligatory to use Polish in public corporations and associations.

SLOVAKIA: According to an act of the Republic of Slovakia, the
country’s official language is Slovak. In religious ceremonies and
rituals the language determined by the church or other religious
associations is used. The government is obliged to teach Slovak to
all citizens. The codification of the official language is the task
of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.