"You needn’t be proud of stable currency"

A1+

`YOU NEEDN’T BE PROUD OF STABLE CURRENCY’
[02:48 pm] 13 February, 2009

`Provided that the government carries out a right policy with the
Central Bank we shall be able to surmount the economic crisis with
fewer losses,’ says ex-Minister of Finance and Economy Edward
Sandoyan.

The exchange rate must go down. They are wrong to maintain the
currency rate as it doesn’t help develop the country. In this respect,
we face problems and will still face if they don’t review their
policy,’ he said.

The economist says the current exchange policy doesn’t boost
efficiency of foreign branches. We have to review and better the
fiscal policy as well The Armenian dram remains the most stable
currency in the regions. I don’t think we must be proud of it as it
considerably weakens our economic potential.

Mr. Sandoyan thinks that the government should carry out a policy of
floating currency in the given circumstances.

Armenian Central Bank Lowers Refinancing Rate To 6.75% From 7%

ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANK LOWERS REFINANCING RATE TO 6.75% FROM 7%

Interfax
Feb 11 2009
Russia

The Central Bank of Armenia has decided to lower its refinancing rate
by 0.25 percentage points to 6.75% from 7% starting from February 10,
the bank’s press service said.

The Central Bank said that the slowdown in growth in domestic demand
as well as the continuing deflationary environment would contribute
to a low level of inflation during the global economic crisis.

According to the Central Bank, Armenia saw inflation of 1.2% in
January 2009 and 4% over the last twelve months.

Kadima Wins Knesset Elections

KADIMA WINS KNESSET ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.02.2009 17:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tzipi Livni has won the largest number of seats for
the centrist Kadima party in Israel’s general election, but doubts
remain about her ability to build a ruling coalition.

With almost all the votes counted, Kadima had taken 28 seats compared
with 27 for Benjamin Netanyahu’s Right-wing Likud party.

Miss Livni has achieved a genuine electoral upset and overturned a
once solid lead for Mr. Netanyahu. But she may still be denied the
chance to become Israel’s first female Prime Minister since Golda
Meir in the 1970s.

Together, the Right-wing parties have won a clear majority of about 64
seats in the 120-member parliament, or Knesset, reflecting a crucial
shift in Israeli public opinion. While Mr Netanyahu did not perform
nearly as well as expected, Likud has doubled the number of seats it
won in the last election in 2006.

All this means that Mr Netanyahu may still emerge as prime
minister. The choice will probably rest with Avigdor Lieberman, the
leader of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party. He has taken
15 seats, coming a close third behind Kadima and Likud and giving
him the ability to play the kingmaker.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s Labor Party gained 13 seats, The
Telegraph reports.

BAKU: Ogtay Asadov: "Azerbaijan Is Holding Negotiations On Reports A

OGTAY ASADOV: "AZERBAIJAN IS HOLDING NEGOTIATIONS ON REPORTS ABOUT RUSSIA’S SELLING WEAPONS TO ARMENIA"

APA
Feb 10 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. Parliamentarians put forward a number
of proposals in today’s sitting of the parliament, APA reports. MP
Fazail Agamali said official language of Azerbaijan was not obeyed
in the central streets of the city.

"Purchase and sale is in Russian in Nizami, Samad Vurgun, Khagani
and other streets. Advertisements in the streets are in Russian. It
should be prevented," he said.

The parliamentarian said Guba mass burial cemetery was decaying. Fazail
Agamali offered the speaker to appeal to president in connection
with it.

"Guba cemetery should be turned to museum," he said.

MP Arzu Samadbayli said price cut was observed in the world due to
the financial crisis, but it did not happen in Azerbaijan. He said
parliamentarians from Musavat had offered to reduce energy carriers.

Speaker Ogtay Asadov said the world financial crisis would not affect
Azerbaijan.

MP Vahid Ahmadov said Russia’s selling weapons to Armenia should be
taken seriously.

"Azerbaijan should react strictly and express its position. Russia
has recently sold over $2 billion weapons to Armenia," he said.

Speaker said the reports that Russia sold weapons to Armenia were
being analyzed, negotiations were being held.

"Necessary decision will be made in the end," he said.

MP Fazil Mustafa said lotteries were shown much on TV channels,
while speeches of parliamentarians were not shown. He said network
games were widely spread in Baku.

"There were such games before. Remember "Munjug"
operation. Law-enforcement should express their opinion on it,"
he said.

MP Ehed Abiyev said the business of the network was mainly spread in
the southern regions of Azerbaijan.

"A group of famous businessmen swindle people of gold,
diamonds. Law-enforcement bodies should take measures about it. Those
engaged in network business should be held accountable. It may cause
anxiety in public on the eve of the referendum," he said.

MP Jamil Hasanli said the 17rg anniversary of Khojaly genocide was
approaching. He offered to discuss the issue in one the sitting of
the parliament and inform the parliament about the investigation of
the criminal case.

"Though we demand others to give legal assessment to it, we do not
yet know what the matter is," he said.

MP Panah Huseyn said the time allotted for the registration of
initiative groups on referendum will expire today, but the opposition
groups have not been registered yet.

He proposed the Parliament to appeal CEC to consider the issue
positively. MP stated that criminal cases launched by Military Court
on Khojaly massacre did not cover names of Robert Kocharyan and Serzh
Sargsyan, who committed terrorist attack in Azerbaijan.

"Why does not the list cover their names? Their names should be in
the list as well," he said.

MP Siyavush Novruzov noted that initiative groups on referendum were
not registered at the request of anybody, this issue was considered
legally.

"Their registration will be considered," he added.

Novruzov mentioned that a criminal case on Khojaly massacre had been
launched and the Parliament could ask reference from Military Court
as it was last year.

MP Elmira Akhundova stated that media did not cover speeches of MPs
objectively. She proposed to open a TV Channel to air speeches of MPs.

Asadov protested the proposal. "Whom can we say to allocate special
Channel for MPs? TV Channels are independent," he said.

Vice-Speaker Bahar Muradova added that the media covered activity of
the Parliament sufficiently.

"The issue can be debated how the media covers it," she added.

Muradova underlined that there was divergence of opinion in opposition
on the referendum. She stressed that a group of them demanded to stop
it and the rest want creation of condition for them to function in
this sphere.

Muradova did not agree to opinions of those, who protested decisions
on dubbing of Turkish films in Azerbaijan and underlined that National
Television and Radio Council passed a correct decision to discontinue
local radio broadcasts of international media as well as it.

The Vice-Speaker added that there was no need for concern about world
economic crisis.

"Azerbaijan is able to prevent itself from the crisis," she said.

Where Are MiG29 Fighters Of The Russian Air Force Based

WHERE ARE MIG-29 FIGHTERS OF THE RUSSIAN AIR FORCE BASED

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
February 9, 2009 Monday
Russia

The 14th guards Leningrad fighter aviation regiment – Khalino
(Kursk-Vostochny); the 19th guards fighter aviation regiment –
Millerovo (Rostov Region); the 28th guards Leningrad fighter aviation
regiment – Andreapol (Tver Region); the 31st Nikopol fighter aviation
regiment – Zernograd (Rostov Region); the 120th guards Brest fighter
aviation regiment – Domna (Chita Region); the 3624th air base – Erebuni
(Armenia): the 237th guards Proskurovo center of aircraft demonstration
– Kubinka (Moscow Region); the 968th Sevastopol instructor-research
mixed aviation regiment – Lipetsk; the 116th training center –
Privolzhsky (Astrakhan); the 783rd training aviation center –
Armavir (Krasnodar Territory); the 4020th base of airplanes reserve
(in storage) – Lipetsk.

Arman Musinyan: "Rally Will Be Held Anyway"

ARMAN MUSINYAN: "RALLY WILL BE HELD ANYWAY"

A1+
[06:29 pm] 09 February, 2009

Today morning the Armenian National Congress notified the City Hall
of a March 1 rally in central Yerevan. The City Hall is to give an
answer within 72 hours.

"The rally will be held in any weather," ANC Spokesman Arman Musinyan
said to A1+. The opposition intends to hold the rally either near
the Matenadaran or in Northern Avenue. The rally will be followed by
a march to the city downtown. Near the City Hall the marchers will
lay a wreath to commemorate the victims of March 1 unrest.

The Armenian National Congress is already preparing for the upcoming
rally.

VivaCell-MTS subscribers can manage their accounts while in Russia

VivaCell-MTS subscribers can recharge their prepaid accounts or settle
their invoices while in Russia

2009-02-07 12:41:00

ArmInfo.VivaCell-MTS a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (NYSE:
MBT), announces that starting from today, the Company’s postpaid and
prepaid subscribers can recharge their account or settle invoices
electronically while in Russian Federation through Intercoopbank’s
network of electronic payment terminals and ATMs, the company told
ArmInfo.

From now on payments could be realized via 451 electronic payment
terminals and ATMs located in different parts inside and near Moscow
city. VivaCell-MTS subscribers are provided with greater flexibility
and convenience to recharge their accounts or settle their invoice at
any time day and night, as well as to recharge any other prepaid
account by paying any amount of cash ranging from RUB 10 to 5000 per
single recharge (maximum amount that can be accepted by the machine is
RUB 30000). The commission fee is 5%.

This is the first time that Armenian roamers are offered such a
customer-friendly service; VivaCell-MTS plans to enlarge this network
of service very soon to include other CIS countries as well.

Always at the forefront of the any technology, VivaCell-MTS, Armenia’s
leading mobile operator, saves no efforts to avail in the palm of its
subscribers all the convenience of all available technologies for a
better lifestyle. Be ready for more! VivaCell-MTS… More than operator!

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is the leading Armenian mobile operator,
providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its launch on
1st July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to
build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base.
VivaCell-MTS drives the development and offering of innovative mobile
communications products, services and features in the Armenian mobile
communications market. For more information, visit

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator in
Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company
services over 91.33 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well
as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in which
MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM
services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since June
2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about MTS can be found at

www.vivacell.am
www.mts.ru

AGMI to host international conference of Adana massacre

PanARMENIAN.Net

AGMI to host international conference of Adana massacre
07.02.2009 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In an effort to reveal the unknown pages of Armenian
Genocide and its consequences Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute
(AGMI) is hosting an international conference with a broad scope of
issues related to genocide and its consequences. In the frames of the
two-day conference held in Yerevan, Armenia from April 20th to 21st,
2009, the AGMI press office reports.

The speakers will have the opportunity to present their papers and
share their knowledge about the massacre in Adana province and in the
city of Adana itself in spring 1909.

In 1908, the Young Turkish revolution brought some hope for change for
the Empire’s Christian minorities. However, the initial euphoria and
hopes for equal rights for Muslims and Christians were dashed in
brutal slaughtering of Armenian population in Cilicia and its center
Adana. This massacre revived the fear of the same approach of Ottoman
leaders towards ethnic minorities, particularly Armenians.

The Adana massacres of April 1909 became a symbolic prelude for the
state orchestrated and executed genocide policy against the Armenian
population of the Ottoman Empire. Marginal cleansings were carried out
even earlier, during the Hamidian massacres in 1894-1896. This
resulted in the killing of 300.000 Armenians, annihilation and
eviction of the Armenian population from their native lands.

The study of Adana pogroms reveals several interesting issues,
particularly in terms of crime investigation, reparation and
involvement of Turkish regular army in the massacre. These tragic
events resonated with the events of the earlier attacks on the
Armenians and brought back the feeling of the coming catastrophe.

The massacre in Adana and nearby regions left indelibly painful
memoirs among Armenians. Armenian intellectuals and public
organizations involved in humanitarian assistance to all those who
suffered brutalities and lost property were affected by these
atrocities.

The Adana massacres heralded a large-scale extermination policy, which
was implemented shortly after the breakout of the WWI. This resulted
in the genocide of Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during
1915-1922.

BAKU: Azerbaijan Gives Dead Soldier To Armenia

AZERBAIJAN GIVES DEAD SOLDIER TO ARMENIA

Trend
Feb 6 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan gave Armenia a dead soldier on the contact line in the
Agdam region on Feb. 6.

Representatives of the International Red Cross Committee attended
this process in the Tazakand village of the Agdam region, Trend News
regional correspondent reported.

The Armenian armed forces moved toward the Javahirli village in Agdam
to seize the Azerbaijani army’s positions at 19:00 on Jan. 26. During
the one-hour battle, three Armenian soldiers were killed and several
wounded. The Armenians lost their position. Their military took the
bodies of the wounded and killed soldiers except for one which lay
on the contact line.

Armenia did not hand over Azerbaijani POW Rafig Hasanov instead of
the soldier’s body.

Azerbaijani Soldier Hasanov was taken prisoner in October 2008 under
unknown conditions.

Former French Culture Minister Can’t Decide On Armenian Genocide

FORMER FRENCH CULTURE MINISTER CAN’T DECIDE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.02.2009 13:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community of France urged former
French Culture Minister to explain his position on the Armenian
Genocide issue.

Jack Lang, a Socialist politician and a staunch supporter of the
Armenian genocide bill that was passed by the French Parliament in
2001, retreated from his position when appearing in a Web-broadcasted
video record of an October 11, 2008 debate with the Liberte pour
l’histoire (Freedom for History) association, a group led by historian
Pierre Nora.

"I passed the first resolution of the National Assembly on the
recognition, in quotes, can we say, because it is also necessary that
historians do their work, the Armenian genocide. I voted because
I thought it was an act of moral and repair history, and given the
absolute refusal of the Turkish government to accept any discussion,
any debate on this subject, it seemed to me the French National
Assembly could perform this act. I do not know if I react the same way
today, but in any case I have voted. And at the time, I was chairman
of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, so I am
doubly guilty, if I may say, MP and chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Committee. However, I am prepared with force against the second law
on Armenia, already at that time I committed a crime, vis a vis the
instructions of my own group, I refused to vote as a text monstrous,"
he said.

Lang claimed that the parliamentarians voted for the law not because
of their allegiance to a nation or a history, but in order to garner
votes and labeled the 2001 bill that recognized the Armenian genocide
denial as a horrible mistake.

Moved by these remarks, Alexis Govciyan, president of the Federation
of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), addressed an open letter
to the parliamentarian, requesting him for an explanation.

As a response to the stormy reaction of the Armenian community, Lang,
who is currently on a visit to Japan, said he is "saddened by the
dishonest campaign orchestrated against him."

"I do not have to get into argument with anyone. I do not need to be
taught a lesson," he told AFP.

"I will work for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
specifically by Turkey," he said.