Author: Maghakian Mike

Mediamax, Armenia
July 30 2009

Armenia to give "proper response" if war threats become reality –
leader

Yerevan, 30 July: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated in Yerevan
today that if the authors of military menaces addressed to Armenia
decide to realize them, they will receive a proper response.

Mediamax reports that Serzh Sargsyan said this, speaking at the parade
of graduates of military educational establishments today, devoted to
the 15th anniversary of establishment of the Ministry of Defence’s
Military Institute [named] after [late Prime Minister] Vazgen
Sargsyan.

The president stated that "the Armenian Army will continue its holy
mission with pride, remaining the reliable defender of our state’s and
the people’s security, an irreplaceable and basic component of
regional security and stability".

"Today we are strong, stronger than ever, our Army is solid, modern
and capable of fulfilling any task. It has passed with honour the exam
of not only war, but peace as well, symbolizing the victorious spirit
of all Armenians," Serzh Sargsyan stated.

The president reminded those threatening Armenia with a war words from
the Bible: "For all they that take the sword shall perish with the
sword".

"The best sons of our nation, the generation of our fathers, my
generation prove the truth of these words. Let no one doubt that if
necessary, the same will happen today as well. From today on, each of
you is the sword of justice and retribution and the unbreakable shield
of Armenia and Artsakh [breakaway Azeri region of Nagornyy Karabakh],
facing which, any claims of the enemy will be smashed", Serzh Sargsyan
stated, addressing the graduates.

GERMANY TO GRANT ARMENIA 4MLN EUR FOR CREATION OF A BIO-SPHERE RESERVE ON THE BASIS OF SHIKAHOGH PRESERVE

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 18:33:00

ArmInfo. Germany will grant Armenia 4mln EUR for creation of a
bio-sphere reserve on the basis of Shikahogh preserve, says the head
of the Armenian Office of KfW bank Karapet Gevorgyan.

Additional 1mln EUR will be granted for research, development of
programs in the field of environment protection and organization of
regional conferences.

This may seem a small sum but this is the biggest money ever provided
for an ecological project. The grant will be provided in the coming
months.

The Armenian-German inter-governmental financial cooperation was
started in 1995.

MAIN THING IS THAT U.S. AND RUSSIA DO NOT HARM BAKU-YEREVAN DIALOGUE BY RECKLESS MOVES: EXPERT

Today.Az

July 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Associate professor at International Relations and Foreign Policy
Department of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations
at the Russian Foreign Ministry and candidate of political science
Artem Malgin spoke in an exclusive interview with Day.Az.

Day.Az: Will Russian and U.S. leaders be able to improve or reset
bilateral ties which is expected by many around the world?

Artem Malgin: I think that, in principle, the reset will take place. It
is now necessary both for America and Russia. The recent visit of
U.S. President to Moscow revived all the directions of bilateral
cooperation including the dialogue on disarmament issues for the
first time in the last 7 to 8 years.

A mechanism for informal dialogue has also been set up. This is not
just talking of the so-called wise men but a group, which has been
tasked to formulate proposals to develop Russia-U.S. relations. Now
everything is updated and let us hope that the dialogue will be
developed. Despite the fact that the turnover of Russia with the
United States is less than 16 times than with the EU, the economic
crisis has shown that we are dependent on each other as we are part
of the global financial system.

I think that some old problems of Americanism in Russian public opinion
that have existed since the time of Kosovo have been overcome which is
also important. This is already a kind of a restart of Russia-United
States ties.

An agreement on strategic offensive arms can be described as a
preliminary result. Let’s hope that a new dialogue will be launched by
the end of the year. We know that when there is a sustained dialogue
on the START, he penetrates to other spheres as well. Unfortunately,
we do not have a central element of joint action with the United
States such economy or energy. Therefore, this role is performed by
START in relations with the United States.

Q: Do you think Obama, unlike his predecessor, will be more receptive
to the idea of joint use of Gabala radar?

A: I think that now the prospects of this idea are better. The point
is that this idea was not seriously discussed at a time of the Bush
administration. Now the idea is that you really need some common, not
even the Russian-American, but a Russian-Western system of warning
of something fantastic moves in the sphere of reality. Even if this
idea will not be realized, then some negotiation on this matter will
be held. It is clear that the elections in Iran will maintain for
another few years current tense relations of Tehran with international
community. North Korean problem also "contributes" to preservation
of the tension. A more flexible approach by the Obama administration
gives hopes for a progress in resolving existing problems.

Q: Do you think the degree of global understanding between Russia
and the United States and the Karabakh settlement is independent?

A: To be honest, I think that the Karabakh settlement already lives
its life and Russia and the United States do not play a serious
role here. Yes, once it was important for the co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group to organize a dialogue and to make parties to seat
at the negotiating table. Now the ratio has changed including the
Azerbaijani-Armenian influence within the U.S. and Russia is now
conducting a balanced policy towards Baku and Yerevan. Now the main
thing is that the United States and Russia will not harm the process
by reckless moves. The process is underway and they (Russia and the
United States) should be close, not to interfere and cut off any
unwanted third-force attempts to intervene.

ARMENIAN CARITAS BENEVOLENT NGO ANNOUNCES MEDIA CONTEST ON SENIOR CITIZENS’ RIGHTS PROTECTION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.07.2009 19:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Caritas benevolent non-governmental
organization announced media contest on senior citizens’ rights
protection.

Applications are registered till August 31. The materials should be
broadcast or published till the end of the current year.

ARMENIAN CABINET TO CONTINUE EXPANSIONARY POLICY IN 2010

/ARKA/
July 27, 2009
YEREVAN

Armenian Government will continue its expansionary policy in 2010,
the country’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at a government
meeting Thursday. It will allow the country remaining acyclic and
promoting economic growth, he said.

The government followed a restrictive monetary-credit and budget policy
over the last five years to prevent overheating of the economy under
the two-digit economic growth conditions, Sargsyan said.

Under the economic decline (16.3% in the first half) an expansionary
policy is required, which means that government expenditures should
be increased.

"Even if the government do not have own means for this, it should
attract additional resources from internal and external markets,
and we are doing it together. This year we are implementing an
unprecedented expansionary fiscal policy," Sargsyan said.

Similar policy has been implemented by the Central Bank of
Armenia (CBA) after the return to a free float for the exchange
rate. Consequently, the CBA had to raise the refinancing rate by 1%.

"We have recorded that we entered a stage of lower inflationary
pressure; the CBA started reducing refinancing rate and turned to an
expansionary policy," Sargsyan said.

In early March 2009 the Central Bank of Armenia returned to a free
float policy. According to CBA experts, average weighted exchange
rat e is expected to range between 360 drams and 380 drams for $1 in
2009. The CBA has reduced the refinancing rate five times since March;
currently it is 5.5% p.a.

The Prime Minister said that the level of expenditures should be
maintained to prevent economic decline. All WB and IMF experts agree
with this, he said.

The government has already re-distributed on-budget expenditures
and received the approval of Armenian Parliament for bringing the
deficit down to 7.5% of the Gross Domestic Product. This means that
the parliament allowed the cabinet increasing the national debt and
receiving an additional of $300 million from the IMF for 2009-2010,
$60million from the WB and $80 million from the Asian Development Bank.

"These prestigious international organizations considered our policy
to be justified," Sargsyan said.

Russia, Armenia sign cooperation pact on transnational crime

July 24, 2009 Friday
RIA Novosti

The work of the Joint Panel of the Russian Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Armenian Police has been accomplished and Russian Minister
of Internal Affairs Rashid Nurgaliyev and Chief of Armenian Police
Alik Sargsyan have signed an agreement on cooperation between the
entities in 2010, a RIA Novosti news agency correspondent reports down
the line.

The agreement was signed aboard a Russian "Imperiya" ship.

Nurgaliyev expressed his content with outcomes of the panel board.

"The panel was held constructively. I am very much content with
results, and also decisions, taken during discussion of issues. The
decisions made will allow us to perfect joint work in fighting
transnational crime in future", the Russian minister said.

At the session of the joint panel, Nurgaliyev and Sargsyan discussed
issues of countering interregional crime, including search and
detention of criminals, who had fled, and issues of cooperation
between the two agencies aimed at fighting illegal circulation of
narcotic substances and their precursors.

It is planned that issues of fighting economic and tax crime, illegal
financial operations and other legal violations of economic
orientation will be raised at the panel’s session.

Sargsyan, who had arrived on Wednesday [23 July] from Armenia, took an
interest in experience of Russian colleagues in setting up the Centre
for Traffic Monitoring and Operational Administration in Krasnodar
Territory, which is one of the elements of Bezopasnyy Gorod [Secure
City] institutional-programme complex introduced in the Russian
Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The chief of Armenian police, in particular, took interest in the
system of control over traffic flows on roads. He believes this system
has good a perspective of strengthening traffic security. Sargsyan did
not rule out that the experience of Russian colleagues will be
introduced in Armenia in the near future.

Source: RIA Novosti news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0646 gmt 23 Jul 09

CHAPEL TO BE BUILT FOR ARMENIAN JEWELLERS IN GUYUMCUKENT COMPLEX OF ISTANBUL

Noyan Tapan
July 23, 2009

ISTANBUL, JULY 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Two chapels have
been decided to be built for Armenian and Assyrian jewellers in
Guyumcukent complex, where jewellers of the former Closed Market
work and which was built near Istanbul Eni Bosna district. They make
the 30 percent of the whole population, the Assyrians are the first
in the field of gold, and Armenians in the field of jewellery, the
Marmara daily reported. These two chapels are also envisaged for the
Christians visiting the Guyumcukent.

There is a Moslem praying room on the each floor of this complex.

Complex Board Chairman Said Erdal Metiner noted that Armenians and
Assyrians have worked at their small workshops for a long time and
have a great number of buyers, today many of them have moved to the
complex. He also noted that the inner repairs of the chapels has been
entrusted to the participant of Van’s Akhtamar church renovation,
Armenian architect Zakaria Mildanoglu. The expenses of building the
chapels should be covered by Assyrian, Armenian and Greek sellers.

ASTROPHYSICS: STUDY RESULTS FROM A.T. KALLOGHLIAN AND COLLEAGUES UPDATE UNDERSTANDING OF ASTROPHYSICS

Science Letter
July 21, 2009

According to recent research from Armenia, "This article is intended
to remind us of the history of the origins of one of the fundamental
discoveries of the twentieth century, stellar associations, which are
connected with the name of V. A. Ambartsumyan. It is not a complete
discussion of all the published work, for this is, of course,
impossible."

"Research on stellar associations began immediately after their
discovery and continues to this day. Observations are now also carried
out by automatic satellites and a vast amount of observational data
has been obtained. Many stellar associations have been discovered,
both in our galaxy and in other galaxies," wrote A.T. Kalloghlian
and colleagues (see also Astrophysics).

The researchers concluded: "Catalogs of stellar associations have
been compiled and many problems relating to stellar associations have
been solved."

Kalloghlian and colleagues published their study in Astrophysics
(Stellar associations. Astrophysics, 2009;52(2):157-167).

For additional information, contact A.T. Kalloghlian, Byurakan
Astrophysics Observ, Byurakan, Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Astrophysics is:
Springer, Plenum Publishers, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013, USA.

FORMER ARMENIAN SENIOR OFFICIAL WANTS KOCHARIAN TRIED FOR MADRID PRINCIPLES OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Interfax
July 20 2009
Russia

Former Armenian deputy defense minister Vagan Shirkhanian believes
that former Armenian President Robert Kocharian and former Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian must face trial in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Kocharian and Oskanian must face trial in Karabakh for the current
Madrid principles of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,"
Shirkhanian, currently a member of the opposition Social Democratic
Party, said at a Monday press conference.

"The Kocharian regime drew Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh to the
threshold of disaster. I will tell any demagogue that the Madrid
principles are a bad thing. These are anti-Armenian and anti-Karabakh
principles. Kocharian and Oskanian must be held responsible for that,"
he said.

In his opinion, today Nagorno-Karabakh should hold talks on conflict
settlement with Azerbaijan itself.

NEARLY 40 PERCENT OF YOUNG AK PARTY VOTERS ARE ‘KEMALIST’

Today’s Zaman
July 22 2009
Turkey

Thirty-eight out of every 100 young persons who voted for the Justice
and Development Party (AK Party), a conservative political party,
define themselves as "Ataturkist-Kemalist," a survey conducted by
Selcuk Sirin, a professor at New York University and Bahcesehir
University, has reported.

The results of the "Young Identities Research" were announced yesterday
at the Besiktas campus of Bahcesehir University. The surprising
results pointed to widespread diversity among the voters of the AK
Party. Fourteen percent of those surveyed who voted for the staunchly
secularist Republican People’s Party (CHP) identified themselves as
members of the "Islamic segment" of society.

The survey was conducted among 1,403 young people between the ages
of 18 and 25, 60 percent of whom are university students across 52
provinces, 253 smaller districts and some villages. According to the
"multi-faceted political belongingness analysis," 78 out of every 100
young persons who voted for the AK Party said they were part of the
"Islamic segment," while 65 percent said they were conservative and
38 percent said they were "Ataturkist-Kemalist."

Eighty-nine percent of CHP voters surveyed defined themselves as
"Kemalist-Ataturkist," 60 percent as "leftist or social democrat"
and 14 percent identified themselves as a member of the Islamic
segment. Five percent of respondents said they were of Armenian
descent.

Sirin interpreted the results as an indicator that young people today
are free to express their political identities, noting that today’s
youth was not raised with the fears of the previous generation. Sirin
said he believed Turkey’s future looks promising, based on the survey’s
results. He also said in Turkey, politics was involved in daily life
much more than was necessary, stating that people tended to treat
one’s political identity as part of one’s personality.