Author: Nadirian Emma

The Messenger, Georgia
Jan 16 2009

Georgian economy will grow in 2009

By Messenger Staff
Friday, January 16

World Bank experts predict that Georgia will have the lowest level of
economic growth in the South Caucasus countries in 2009, at 4%, though
it might grow 6% in 2010. Our neighbours Armenia and Azerbaijan are
expected to perform better, Armenia’s economy growing by 6.5% and
Azerbaijan’s by 10.5%. It might make the reader more cheerful (!)to
know that Russia’s economy is predicted to grow by only 3%.

These prognoses were made by World Bank experts based on the situation
in the third quarter of 2008. Many things are changing rapidly however
and some analysts predict that growth will deviate from these
figures. Economic analyst Emzar Jgerenaia thinks that even if growth
is 5%, this figure is so low it indicates Georgia’s economy is in
recession.

RosBusinessConsulting Database, Russia
January 16, 2009 Friday 6:25 AM EST

Russia denies munitions supplies to Armenia in 2008

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denied information on
Russia supplying military equipment and munitions to Armenia in 2008,
indicating that such information was published in Armenia’s media
sources. The minister pointed out, however, that no such supplies took
place, adding that an investigation into the matter would be launched.

Lavrov also noted that he was scheduled to pay a working visit to Baku
in the near future to discuss a wide range of questions on bilateral
cooperation, including the settlement of the unresolved conflict in
Nagorny Karabakh.

The official reiterated that "Russia had never made it a secret that
it had a program for military and technical cooperation with Armenia
and Azerbaijan." He noted, however, that Armenia was a member of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, and therefore, enjoyed
somewhat more favorable terms, which had never been questioned by
Azerbaijan.

AZERBAIJAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE: TRANSFER OF WEAPONS TO ARMENIA BY RUSSIA VIOLATES UN RESOLUTIONS ON GARABAGH CONFLICT

Azerbaijan Business Center
Jan 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
has published a statement in which it expresses concern on the fact
of transfer of Russian weapons worth $800 million to Armenia.

The Ministry informs that weapons transfer will create a possibility
for Armenia for strengthening its further occupation of Azerbaijani
territories.

"Weapons transfer is direct violation of resolutions passed
on Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict by the UN Security Council and
resolution named Situation on Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan,
adopted on 14 March 2008 in the UN General Assembly.

Speech here is off first of all about breach of Russian party’s
commitments on non-assistance to further strengthening of occupation
of our country’s lands," it was reported.

The MFA expresses special concern in connection with weapons transfer
issue amid Azerbaijan’s increasing hopes for friendship and relations
of close strategic co-operation between Russia and Azerbaijan and
the role of Russia as mediator in settlement of Garabagh conflict.

The Ministry considers that Russia undertakes special responsibility
on conflict settlement situation in the future.

The Azerbaijani MFA expresses protest to such moves helping in
strengthening occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Azerbaijan tries to
do its best to remove consequences of transfer of weapons by Russia,"
it was informed.

Earlier it was informed that the Russian Ministry of Defense denied
flatly the reports of the Azerbaijan media about alleged transfer of
$800 million weapons to Armenia. Russian mass media reports citing
Aleksandr Drobishevsky, a representative of the Russian Ministry
of Defense that the latter received an inquiry from Azerbaijan’s
Ministry of Defense relating to information on weapons supplies to
Armenia. Moscow’s official response will be ready in the near future.

On 12 January, Vasily Istratov, the Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan,
was invited to the Azerbaijani MFA to clarify veracity of information
on weapons transfer.

Istratov promised that the Russian party will clarify the matter.

The MFA of Azerbaijan has not received any response from Russia on
the occasion of its inquiry.

Over the last few days the news agencies disseminated information about
alleged transfer of weapons worth $800 million from Russia’s 102nd
military base located in the city of Gumri, Armenia, to the latter.

Londonist, UK
Jan 11 2009

Londonist Live: Gorgoroth, Serj Tankian

A special two-for-one offer on gig reviews this time. Londonist saw
the slightly odd combination of Gorgoroth (old-school Norwegian black
metal) at Scala on Wednesday, and former System Of A Down frontman
Serj Tankian the next night at the Astoria. Musically they were worlds
apart, despite a shared taste for heavy riffs.

Gorgoroth are not a band for the faint-hearted. Once arrested in
Poland for a "blasphemous" stage show that included naked women on
crucifixes and gallons of blood adorning severed animals’ heads, the
band is known for its bleak worldview, its harsh and unrelenting
sound, its members’ brushes with the law (what’s a little GBH between
friends?), and its ability to protect against trains. This London show
was perhaps a final chance to see the band, as lead singer Gaahl and
bassist King Ov Hell are involved in a bitter dispute with the band’s
co-founder Infernus over who exactly has the rights to continue using
the name Gorgoroth.

The outcome of the legal battle is uncertain, but this Londonista has
to admit to a certain sense of anticlimax at the gig, due mainly to
the appalling sound mixing which made it next to impossible for any
but the most dedicated fan to tell one song from another. While for
many black metal bands, bad production is all part of the aesthetic,
Gorgoroth’s recent sound on record has been cleaner, while retaining
the evil atmosphere; to have everything turn to undifferentiated mush
was quite tiresome, to say the least. Still, Gaahl was a mesmerising
stage presence; brooding, aggressive and fully corpse-painted up (see
the ‘Norwegian black metal’ section on photographer Peter Beste’s site
for some great examples), he looked and sounded like some underworld
deity as he led the crowd in sweetly unironic chants of "Hail Satan".

Serj Tankian, the next night, had a similar taste for getting the
crowd to chant; his taste was for the equally adolescent "Fuck
Bush". But Serj has never been one to shy away from addressing
politics (albeit of the earnest and sixth-formerish kind) through
music, as his work with System Of A Down shows. But even the
hardest-hearted capitalist would have been won over by the music,
thankfully, which was a treat. Londonist went to the gig not having
heard Serj’s solo album, but if it sounds half as good on record as it
did live then we’ll be happy.

Retaining the offbeat quirkiness and Armenian/folk influence of SOAD,
the set was heavy and lighthearted at the same time, with only the
self-consciously zany Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition crossing
the line from sublime to ridiculous. Although credit should go to the
talented backing band who were technically excellent, Serj, wearing a
white circus-master suit and a top hat, was the undoubted star of the
show, in high spirits and fine voice. His unique vocal style can be a
Marmite proposition for the uninitiated, but the fans at the Astoria
swooned in awe. Songs from the album Elect the Dead were rounded out
with covers of Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys and Girl by
the Beatles, which was apparently "appropriate" for a gig in London
(er, Serj, Liverpool is thataway). A version of Elect the Dead’s title
track accompanied only by piano was the last song, a melancholy end to
an energetic and attacking performance.

On a final metal note, Akercocke and others are playing a benefit at
the Underworld on 10 December on behalf of Decapitated (RIP Vitek);
tickets available via the Underworld site

70.php

President of Armenia charges government to complete preparations
necessary for increasing governmental stake in CJSC ArmRusgasprom till
the end of the year

2008-12-28 21:20:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has charged the government
to complete preparations for increasing governmental stake in CJSC
ArmRusgasprom till the end of the year, Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan told media. He could not say how much the stake will be
increased since it requires evaluation of infrastructure assets of the
government and the self-government and completion of the negotiations
with the Russian party. He said the process will be over in the first
quarter of 2009.

Earlier in November, Minister for Energy and Natural Resources of
Armenia Armen Movsisyan said the government will make a proposal for
increase of its share in the authorized capital of the Armenian-Russian
JV by a total of $20-25 million. The government intends to further
ensure uninterrupted exploitation of internal gas pipelines and gas
supply to consumers.

The Armenian Government holds 17.32% stake in CJSC ArmRusgasprom.
Gazprom OJSC holds 78.93% stake in the company and ITERA Group – 3.85%
stake. The authorized capital of the JV is 365.622 billion drams.

PRESS RELEASE
December 28, 2008
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-642-6633
[email protected]

BIRTHRIG HT ARMENIA UNVEILS WEBSITE REDESIGN

Interested in comprehensive information on volunteer opportunities in
Armenia at the touch of a button, even better organized than before and with
ease of navigation? Visitors to are being offered
just that. Birthright Armenia is launching its newly redesigned and much
improved website just in time for the holiday break, when most young adults
interested in trips to Armenia are dedicating research to the many spring,
summer and next fall attractive volunteer opportunities available to them.
The new site equally provides services to and actively reaches out to its
program alumni to keep their post-program interests and level of engagement
high. There is something for everyone.

Return visitors will enjoy the new modern features as part of the site’s
upgrade. First time visitors will benefit from comprehensive information
about Birthright Armenia and the sponsored organizations that implement
youth-oriented programs in Armenia, including program descriptions,
eligibility criteria for a travel fellowship, applications and how it all
works. The site serves as a quick and simple one-stop shop for those
seeking possibilities for internships and volunteerism in Armenia, twelve
months of the year.

For the 350 alums whose trips to Armenia were already Birthright sponsored,
there is information on community events, a place to share information with
their fellow alums and view job postings if they are interested in returning
to Armenia to work. Alums will also be serving as advisors for prospective
volunteers, who can search and submit inquiries to alums via the website
regarding their job placements, homestay families and more.

Key documents on the site are posted in four languages, noted by
international flags, and work is already underway to have the entire site
translated into Spanish, French, and Armenian by this spring.

Another attractive feature of the site is the popular Depi Hayk Language
Tutorial, which aims to provide basic Eastern Armenian language proficiency
through 12 multi-media language courses. It was designed for those
interested in getting the basics of the Armenian language under their belt.
Getting started on the coursework via this free online program only requires
a quick and easy registration.

Sevan Kabakian, Country Director for Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk, managed
the web site upgrade. "It’s a classy site for a first-class organization.
Just like the program, the site is designed to be inspirational to those who
are pondering volunteerism in Armenia. With its volunteer testimonials,
description of program elements and colorful bulletin board, we are rolling
out a site that will clearly give our visitors an easy time understanding
what Birthright Armenia is all about, and what is has to offer our youth."

Birthright Armenia’s mission is to strengthen ties between the homeland and
diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of Armenia’s
daily life and to contribute to Armenia’s development through work, study
and volunteer experiences, while developing a renewed sense of Armenian
identity. For more information, or to make an online donation, please visit
our web site at <;.

NOVELTIES AND SURPRISES EXPECTED IN SPHERE OF ARMENIAN JAZZ IN 2009

Noyan Tapan

Dec 26, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The interesting and various jazz
events and concert programs continuing for a year were concluded
on December 26 by a brief press conference on the results of the
Armenian Jazz-70 jubilee events. Armenian Jazz-70 jubilee steering
committee’s members are convinced that though the jubilee year
finishes, interesting novelties and surprises are expected in the
sphere of Armenian jazz next year as well.

According to Ruben Jaghinian, the General Producer of Armenian Jazz-70,
DVDs of jubilee concerts will be released at the very start of 2009,
the work History of Armenian Jazz by Armen Tutunjian will be published,
where the birth and history of Armenian jazz will be presented in
detail. Besides, two jubilee films dedicated to the 70th anniversary
of jazz will be shot, one of which will present jubilee year’s events
and the other the history of Armenian jazz.

According to R. Jaghinian, next year also Armenian Jazz-70 steering
committee will organize interesting concert programs with many
surprises.

The General Producer is convinced that this jubilee year was
interesting not only for Armenians, but also for foreigners, as
people, who had never heard about the Armenian people, arrived in
Armenia within the framework of the concerts.

Pianist Levon Malkhasian added that though the jubilee year of Armenian
jazz finished, "nevertheless the things to be done in the jazz sphere
are not finished by that. It should continue developing and achieve
new heights with new names and works."

ENERGY MINISTRY: CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR UNIT IN ARMENIA TO TAKE $5 BILLION

ARKA
Dec 25, 2008

YEREVAN, December 25. /ARKA/. Construction of a new nuclear unit
in Armenia will cost $5 billion, Armenian Deputy Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Areg Galstyan said.

"The results of assessment are presented in project feasibility. The
construction is estimated to cost $5 billion. This amount includes
not only cost of the project with equipment and construction, but
also necessary expenses connected with return of the capital", he said.

He explained that the money necessary for the construction will be
taken from banks or investor’s own means.

Each of these sums will be provided on separate conditions – interests
and terms.

Galstyan said that capital investments total $2 to 2,500 for 1 kilowatt
of set capacity.

A new 1,000-megawatt unit is planned to be built in Armenian Nuclear
Power Plant.

To attract outside investments Armenian lawmakers abolished monopoly
on new nuclear units in 2006.

Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is located in Metsamor (20 to 30
kilometers far from Yerevan).

The plant was put into exploitation in 1976. Only the second,
407.5-megawatt unit is functioning now.

Financial flows are run by INTER RAO UES belonging to Russian
state-owned Rosatom.

Specialists say the plant can function until 2016.

TIMS EVAUATES KNOWLEDGE OF ARMENIAN PUPILS

Panorama.am
17:20 24/12/2008

The International Association for the Evaluation of Education
Achievement published a report on Trends in International Mathematics
and Science Study. Armenia took part in TIMS second time, said the
head of information and public relations department of Ministry of
Education and Science Arthur Baghdasaryan to Panorama.am.

The first research was conducted in 2003, and the second in 2007. TIMS
researches the knowledge of the pupils of 4th and 8th forms and their
skills to use them.

According to Baghdasaryan it became possible to compare our educational
experience with others as 67 countries took part in TIMS. Armenian
experience was assessed positively.

ARMENIAN VENTURE INTO IRANIAN GAS IN PIPELINE

Hurriyet
Dec 24 2008
Turkey

YEREVAN – Construction is to begin next year on a pipeline to deliver
petrol and diesel from Iran to Armenia, the Armenian Energy Minister
Armen Movsisian said Monday.

The 300 kilometer pipeline will run from the Iranian city of Tabriz
to the Armenian city of Eraskh, where a terminal is to be built,
Movsisian said at a press conference. "Armenia will receive petrol
and diesel fuel from the oil refinery located in the Iranian city of
Tabriz through the pipeline, construction of which starts next spring,"
he said.

Movsisian said the pipeline would take two years to complete and each
country would pay half the $200-240 million cost. He said the project
was part of efforts by Armenia to diversify its energy supplies, in
particular after the war in neighboring Georgia in August disrupted
Russian supplies to Armenia.

"In order to guarantee the country’s energy security we are moving
toward the diversification of energy supplies," he said.

Armenia and Iran last year inaugurated a 150-kilometer pipeline
intended to deliver 36 billion cubic meters of gas from Iran to Armenia
over 20 years. It has yet to start operations. Landlocked Armenia
suffers from an economic blockade imposed by neighbors Azerbaijan and
Turkey over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region and its efforts to
gain recognition of Ottoman-era mass killings of Armenians as genocide.