Author: Maghakian Mike

STRENGTHENING OF DOLLAR IN ARMENIA DURING LAST TWO MONTHS RELATES TO ACTIVITY OF ECONOMIC ENTITIES

ARKA
Sep 3, 2009

YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. Dollar appreciation in Armenia is due
to the increase in economic activity of economic entities the past
two months.

This opinion was expressed to ARKA by the main dealer of Cascade Bank
Arsen Sargsyan.

"The supply exceeded the demand for the dollar, and as a result of
this the dollar in the country gradually rose to the level that we
have now," he said.

Sargsyan considers that it is not necessary to perceive an increase
in the rate of 3% as painful.

To the question whether the dollar will go beyond the planned corridor
of the Central Bank of Armenia of 360-380 drams per $ 1, Sargsyan
said that it depends on how the stabilizing factors will work.

In his opinion, the economic activity in Armenia in September will
increase, in regards with the Armenian exporters, particularly in
the mining sector.

The cash flow is going to increase, resulting in an increase in
selling currency by these companies.

At last, according to Sargsyan, this may help to stabilize the
exchange market.

The second stabilizing factor is the possibility of the Central Bank
of Armenia to use such tools as direct intervention.

"This is a subjective opinion, since it is difficult to suggest what
steps the Central Bank would make", he said, having foreseen that
the dollar will remain in that corridor CB.

According to ARKA News Agency, the average market exchange rate of
the Armenian dram to the dollar, which was formed in the foreign
exchange market amounted to 376.03 drams for $ 1 on September 1 2009,
down to the first of July of this year by 16.05 points (as of July
1 the rate was 359.98 drams per $ 1, on August 3 is was 370.53 drams).

After March 3rd, 2009 Armenia’s Central Bank announced a return to
a floating exchange rate policy.

The market average rate of drama to the U.S. dollar fell to 66.36
points compared to March 2nd and amounted to 372.11 drams for $ 1.

According to specialists of the CBA, the weighted average rate in
2009 will fluctuate in the corridor 360 – 380 drams for $ 1. ($ 1 –
376.06 dram).

GIANT HAIL IN VAYOTS DZOR

1 2:34 pm | September 02, 2009

Society

A giant hail fell in the village of Herher, Vayots Dzor Marz, on
August 31 leaving a 10cm layer on the ground.

The extent of damage is being specified.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN: NEW PROCESS IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS UNDER WAY

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 2 2009
Armenia

"The Armenian President’s policy initiated a process of new quality in
the Armenian-Turkish relations. As a result, a step was made welcomed
by the entire international community," RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan told today’s news conference on the Protocols initialed by
Armenia and Turkey. Nalbandyan said that the international community
urges Armenia and Turkey to honor agreements and sign the Protocols
as soon as possible, which will establish peace and stability in the
region. The Armenian Foreign Minister said that Armenia initiated the
process, wishing to open a new page in its relations with Turkey. He
expressed hope that Ankara has a similar wish. Nalbandyan stated
Armenia is ready to continue the process, and "we will see Turkey’s
behavior." As to whether Turkey may frustrate the process, Nalbandyan
stated that nothing can be ruled out. "The whole world is inclined
to follow one way, and if one of the sides follows a different way,
it opposes itself to the rest of the world," Nalbandyan said.

On August 31, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and
Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey issued a press release, which
says: "The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed
to start their internal political consultations on two protocols –
the ‘Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations’ and the
‘Protocol on the development of bilateral relations’ – which have
been initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.

NKR PRESIDENT: "AN INDEPENDENT KARABAKH WILL BE BASED ON OTHER THAN OLD SOVIET BORDERS"
Anahit Danielyan

Nago rno Karabakh important politics
2009/09/02 | 13:50

A "Hetq" reporter asked President Sahakyan whether Karabakh settlement
negotiations based on the Madrid Principles would in fact lead to
territorial concessions. "Such questions often arise and are directed
at me regarding how Artsakh pictures its future independence; whether
within the territories of the old Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region
or outside its borders. We see the future independence of the NKR
as being outside those borders and it cannot be otherwise," stated
the president.

We should remind readers that President Sahakyan has adopted a fairly
clear policy on the issue which has been mainly expressed in the
liberated territories. On various occasions he has stated that "the
independence and security of the Republic of Mountainous Karabakh is
not subject to negotiation".

At the same time, President Sahakyan has stressed that these
territories were liberated in the early 1990’s and have been officially
recognized in the NKR Constitution as constituting NKR territory,
being classified as a "security zone".

In his remarks, President Sahakyan noted that alongside the many losses
and hardships during the past 18 years, the country has registered
numerous achievements that have primarily come at the cost of those
who gave their lives for the benefit of Artsakh. "The people of
Artsakh understand this full well and today are directed by this
understanding," he noted.

President Sahakyan also touched upon the recent normalization protocols
signed by Armenia and Turkey, saying that the process would show the
international community which nation, in fact, sincerely wishes to
realize such constructive relations.

"Sadly, we are dealing with a country, Turkey, which still employs
deceit as part of its political policy. We see how various Turkish
officials are interpreting the protocols after having been signed. Of
course, this isn’t an encouraging sign and that we shouldn’t expect
the establishment of sincere and open relations. However, I believe,
that the Armenian people will come out the winner in this process
since Armenia’s intentions are sincere," commented President Sahakyan.

TUMANIAN’S TALE DAY FESTIVAL TO KICK OFF DSEKH VILLAGE SEPT. 5

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.09.2009 17:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Fifth Tumanian’s Tale Day festival will kick
off in Dsekh, the writer’s native village on September 5 on the
initiative UNIMA-Armenia, the Armenian Center of International Union
of Puppeteers.

"New theaters are formed and old one are reanimated thanks to our
festival," creative director Armen Safaryan said.

Puppeteers from Armenia, Artsakh, Georgia, Lithuania, Slovenia and
Hungary will take part in the festival.

WORLD PERCEIVES ARMENIA AS RELIABLE PARTNER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.09.2009 19:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s foreign policy is that of an initiator
seeking to develop ties in bilateral and multilateral formats,
RA Foreign Minister Edward Balbandyan told a press conference in
Yerevan, answering a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent’s question. "In
annual terms, RA President, Parliament Speaker and Premier carried
out 86 visits abroad. In the period, 8 Presidents and 15 Foreign
Ministers from different states visited our country. Such data speak
for themselves," RA FM stated, adding that world currently perceives
Armenia as a reliable partner.

JOKING TIME OR SERIOUS JOKES
Hakob Badalyan

mments&pid=15028
11:48:12 – 01/09/2009

When Robert Kocharyan, after leaving his office, was speaking about
politics in his interviews, a statement of his remained known: he
said that in case he was the president, Abdullah Gul would not come
to Armenia. This statement is worth remembering because it was made
on the days when Serge Sargsyan had just invited Gul to watch football
and everyone was waiting to see what Gul was going to answer.

On August 31, 2009, Robert Kocharyan celebrated the 55 anniversary of
his birthday. Serge Sargsyan has even called him. He did not visit
him but only called, the reason of which became known later. The
point is that the present, which Serge Sargsyan had prepared for
Robert Kocharyan, was not ready yet. The "present" was ready later
and appeared on the web site of the Armenian Foreign Ministry later in
the night on august 31. Those were two protocols on the Armenian and
Turkish relations; one was on the development of bilateral relations
and the second one on the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Are these two protocols, which are going to be fulfilled after six
weeks, not a present for Robert Kocharyan, who was against Gul’s visit
to Armenia? It is a present, and if Robert Kocharyan does not "thank"
for it now, later it will be impossible for him to say anything in
this connection. The point is that Robert Kocharyan’s phrase that
in case of his tenure, Gul’s visit to Armenia would be impossible is
won by Serge Sargsyan’s "work", who not only invited Gul, but now he
shows with the help of the very protocols that he managed to force
to open the border and to establish diplomatic relations.

Who is more right from the point of the country’s interests? Of
course, Serge Sargsyan, who invited Gul, or maybe Robert Kocharyan
who is against these events foreseeing some conspiracy? The far
quarrel of the second and the third presidents assumes an interesting
intrigue. But we should not forget about the first president, who is
the leader of the opposition. The point is that with the help of his
steps and speeches he is able to attach some legitimacy to the second
or the third presidents. What the first president is going to do is
difficult to say. His birthday is in January. Much will change by
that time. So, we do not have to expect the first president to hurry,
because the "present" was not given to him. His present had been given
before, when Serge Sargsyan appropriated the approaches of the first
president in the foreign policy. Interestingly, a particular situation
is shaped in the Armenian political field thanks to the developments
in the Armenian and Turkish relations. This is the first time, when
Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan do not need each other’s help
in struggling against Levon Ter-Petrosyan, but each of them would
be glad for the other to struggle against him alone. This situation
changes the whole logic of the home political developments, forcing
the participants to change their behavior as well.

>>From this point of view, one of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s press
conferences a couple of months ago is interesting, when I asked him,
whether he considers Robert Kocharyan a political rival for him. Levon
Ter-Petrosyan answered that until Robert Kocharyan is not in politics
and no one knows where he is, he cannot be a rival for him. This was
Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s answer which he continued saying that when he
is in politics they may be not rivals but colleagues, as everything
is possible in politics. A political figure of his range would hardly
joke during press conferences without thinking. Moreover, the political
figures often joke about the ideas, which are hard to be perceived
at that certain moment. Time will show. And in the present situation
it is very difficult to say whether the time is joking or rendering
the others’ jokes serious.

In any case, the situation forces the politics in Armenia to be
realistic and not mythological. And this is a essential process.

SERZH SARGSYAN’S INTERVIEW WITH BBC

-sargsyan
03:01 pm | August 31, 2009

Politics

BBC: Mr. Serzh Sargsyan will you attend the return match in Turkey?

Serzh Sargsyan: The question has two answers. The fist answer is as
follows. It’s not important whether I’ll visit Turkey or not. I’d like
to say that my visit to Turley should not be linked to the relations
between the two countries. Do you understand me? Imagine at least two
options. Let’s assume that Armenia freezes the negotiation process with
Turkey and I leave for that country to watch the football match. The
second option is as follows: the two countries continue negotiating,
but I don’t attend the match. Which is more important? This is my
answer if you ask the question in the context of our talks with Turkey.

BBC: What signals is Armenia expecting from Turkey in order to defreeze
the talks?

Serzh Sargsyan: I have already announced and say once again that I
shall leave for Turkey only in case of opening of the border or at
the threshold of the event. We have an agreement with Turkey. I think
it’s normal and correct for the parties to commit to the agreement
reached earlier. Unfortunately, so far I have not seen a great desire
and aspiration to implement those agreements. Our wish remains the
same – to establish relations without preconditions

BBC: Is Armenia ready to make concessions as regards the events of
1915 and do you believe Turkey will call them genocide?

Serzh Sargsyan: "Of course, it’s very important for our people, for
Turkey and the whole world. It’s important that historical justice
be restored. It’s important for our nations to be able to establish
normal relations. At last, it’s important that it never reoccurs
in the future. But we do not see the recognition of genocide as a
precondition for the establishment of relations.

BBC: Do you mean to say that there is an opportunity of compromise?

Serzh Sargsyan: "It cannot be called compromise. This is not the
case to speak about compromises. We say, yes, there was genocide,
and irrespective of the fact whether Turkey recognizes it or not,
there is a fact established by all genocide scholars in the world
and recognized by many countries of the world. However, today we do
not view it as a precondition for normalization of relations.

BBC: Anyway, that problem is an obstacle to regulate ties with
Turkey. A man, with whom I have had a talk earlier in Yerevan,
recommended another solution: when you drive you should follow your
back side and look at the mirror showing the back of you but the
important thing is the way in front you. How well does this example
describe the current situation?

Serzh Sargsyan – Right, I can see quite well what the man wanted to
say. He wants to say that we should look into future, but we do not
have the right to forget the past.

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
Aug 25 2009

Armenia blamed for shrugging off CE feedback

25-08-2009 23:26:10

The Armenian government is failing to meet Council of Europe
recommendations, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation at the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has said.
Samad Seyidov told reporters that issues on Armenia are discussed at
the assembly and during each session of the organization.
“At first glance, the CE is substantially dealing with the situation
in Armenia and is issuing various recommendations. However, Yerevan
then ignores these recommendations. It turns out that, overall,
Armenia is not interested in resolving the problems it is facing.“
Tensions escalated in the South Caucasus republic after its February
19 presidential election. The opposition had refused to recognize the
outcome of the election won by former Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian,
taking to the streets. Scores of people were killed, hundreds of
others injured and arrested during the cruel putdown of the mass
protests on March 1-2. PACE has passed two resolutions demanding that
Armenia improve its democratic situation, warning that the country
might be deprived of its voting right in PACE.
Seyidov noted, further, that the Armenia issue might be raised during
the next PACE session. “This, however, does not mean that Yerevan
will take substantial steps after some resolution is adopted.“
The assembly`s fall session will be held from September 28 to October 2.
Seyidov also said an issue on Azerbaijan may be put on discussion at
PACE in late 2009 or early 2010.
“Some believe this is an extraordinary discussion. But this is not
the case, because any country under monitoring is to be substantially
discussed once or twice a year. It is time for discussions on
Azerbaijan as well,“ Seyidov concluded.

SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY DIED AT AGE 77

AZG DAILY #153
28-08-2009

International

U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic
Party who took the helm of one of America’s most fabled political
families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77,
his family said.

Kennedy had brain cancer, which was diagnosed in May 2008. After a
funeral Mass in Boston on Saturday, he will be buried later that day
at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, near the graves
of his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy.

He was one of the most influential and longest-serving senators in
U.S. history, a liberal standard-bearer who recovered politically
from a string of personal scandals to become known as a consummate
congressional dealmaker.

Kennedy’s death marked the twilight of a political dynasty and dealt
a blow to Democrats who lost their chief champion of President Barack
Obama’s call for an overhaul of the healthcare system.

"Edward M. Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and
uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis
Port (Massachusetts)," the Kennedy family said in a statement early
on Wednesday.

Kennedy was a longtime advocate of healthcare reform, a signature issue
of Obama’s presidency. Obama said on Wednesday he was heartbroken to
hear of the death of Kennedy, a crucial supporter of his presidential
candidacy.

"I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the
presidency," Obama said. "And even as he waged a valiant struggle with
a mortal illness, I’ve profited as president from his encouragement
and wisdom."

Kennedy’s endorsement last year was seen as pivotal in Obama’s winning
of the Democratic presidential nomination. Many saw it as the passing
of the political torch to a new generation. A year to the day before
his death, Kennedy made an electrifying speech to the Democratic
convention that nominated Obama for president.

Kennedy had recently urged Massachusetts lawmakers to change state
law so the Democratic governor, if necessary, could quickly fill a
Senate vacancy.

Known as "Teddy," he was the brother of John Kennedy, assassinated
in 1963, Robert Kennedy, fatally shot while campaigning for the 1968
Democratic presidential nomination, and Joe Kennedy, a pilot killed
in World War Two, Reuters reports.