Author: Nadirian Emma

0.6% PRICE RISE ON ARMENIA’S FOOD MARKET IN APR 2008

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. A 0.6% rise in foodstuff prices was recorded
in Armenia in April as compared with March. The RA Statistical Service
reports that 15.4% annual inflation (April 2008 against April 2007)
was recorded on the foodstuff market, with 7.8% inflation recorded
since the beginning of the year.

In April 0.2%-5.6% inflation was recorded in 6 out of 13 product
groups.

The highest, 6%, rise in the prices for bread, flour and vegetable
oil was recorded, with their impact on inflation being 0.8pct and
their share in the consumer basket 13.91%.

Bakery goods prices rose by 5.6% in April, with the annual rise being
41.3%, mainly due to a 5.9% rise in the price for first-grade flour
and a 9.2% rise in the price for extra quality flour. As a result,
a 5.6% rise in the price for first class bread and 7.3% rise in price
for pasta were recorded in April.

In all 11 cities under review prices for bakery goods rose by 3.6-7.9%
with maximum rise recorded in Talin. A 6.0% rise was recorded in
Yerevan this April.

A 38.5% annual rise in the prices for animal and vegetable fats was
recorded this April, with a 4.6% rise recorded in April as compared
with March 2008.

In April butter and vegetable oil prices rose by 6.3% and 5.7%
respectively.

A 0.8%-6.9% rise in the prices for animal and vegetable fats was
recorded in all the cities involved in the survey, with maximum rise
recorded in Artashat. A 5.3% rise was recorded in Yerevan.

The prices for coffee, tea and cacao showed a 4.6% rise, mainly due
to a rise in the price for black ground coffee. A 1.1-11% rise was
recorded in all the cities, with maximum rise recorded in Vagharshapat
and a 3.4% rise in Yerevan.

Meat products showed a 2% price rise in April as compared with March,
mainly due to a 9.1% rise in the price for pork and a 3.7% rise in
price for beef.

Prices for mutton fell by 4.2%.

This product group showed a 0.2-3.1% average price rise in eight
cities, with maximum price rise recorded in Armenia’s capital. A
1.1-0.1% rise in the prices for meat products was recorded in the
rest three cities.

A 1.3% rise in the average prices for eggs was recorded in April,
with a 1.9-5.3% rise recorded in Yerevan, Vanadzor and Artashat. An
8.3-0.3% rise in the prices for eggs was recorded in four cities,
with no price changes recorded in the other four cities as compared
to March.

A 0.1% and 0.2% rise in the price for alcoholic drinks, tobacco and
soft drinks was recorded in April as compared with March.

A 9.6% fall in the price for fish products was recorded in Armenia
this April as compared with February, mainly due to 14.9% and 10.3%
fall in the price for smoked and fresh whitefish respectively. Fish
prices fell by 17.4-1.8% in nine cities under review with maximum fall
recorded in Vanadzor. On the other hand, a 1.7% rise in the price for
fish products was recorded in Talin, with no price changes recorded
in Yeghegnadzor.

A 7.2% fall in the price for vegetables and potatoes was recorded
this April as compared with last April, with a 14% fall recorded as
compared with this March. The prices for the following products fell:
31% for greens, 28.9% for spring onions, 21.2% for cucumbers, 12.9%
for potatoes, 12.7% for cabbage, 11.7% for tomatoes, 9.4% for beet,
4.4% for carrots and 3.1% for garlic.

This group showed 21-2.9% fall in the price, with maximum fall recorded
in Artashat. Prices for vegetables and potatoes fell by 15% in Yerevan.

A 2.3% rise in the fruit prices was recorded in Armenia this April
as compared with last April.

Prices for apples, grapes and pears fell by 11.4-0.4%.

A 3.9-7.9% rise was recorded in prices for tangerine, lemons, bananas
and oranges.

Fruit prices fell by 5.6-1.1% in five cities of Armenia with maximum
fall recorded in Martuni. Fruit prices rose by 0.2-5.4% in the rest
five cities of the country; with no price changes in Vanadzor.

A 0.1% fall in the prices for sugar, diary products and confectionery
was recorded this April.

BY THE END OF THIS YEAR UNIBANK WILL REDOUBLE ITS MORTGAGE CREDIT PORTFOLIO TO $60MLN

arminfo
2008-04-30 19:41:00

ArmInfo. By the end of this year Unibank is planning to redouble
its mortgage credit portfolio to $60mln, says the press service
of Unibank. As of Apr 1 2008 the mortgage credit portfolio of the
bank totaled 8.9bln AMD (over $29mln). Unibank was the first bank in
Armenia to offer mortgage credit without prepayment. As of Apr 1 2008
the portfolio of car credits totaled 1.7bln AMD ($5.5mln) – 3 times
more than a year before. Earlier the director for mortgage crediting
of Unibank Tigran Gevorgyan told ArmInfo that the bank issued mortrage
credits in both Yerevan and the regions. In late 2006 the share of the
regions in the total portfolio was just %12, in 2007 it was 22%, by the
end of this year it will be even bigger. According to the ranking of
commercial banks of Armenia prepared by the Agency of Rating marketing
Information (ArmInfo), as of Jan 1 2008 Unibank had the second biggest
mortgage credit portfolio in Armenia – 9.1bln AMD ($29.9mln).

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUMS OF AMERICA AND ARMENIA SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.04.2008 14:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Genocide Museum of America (AGMA) and
the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) at the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial Complex in Yerevan, Armenia, announced the signing in Yerevan
of a permanent agreement based upon their common goals. The agreement
anticipates the sharing of resources and expertise, the integration
of museum activities, and the promotion of each other’s programs
and projects.

The agreement reached between Dr. Hayk Demoyan, AGMI Director, Hirair
Hovnanian, AGMA Board of Trustees chairman, and Van Z. Krikorian,
AGMA Trustee and Building and Operations Committee chairman, envisions
a permanent association to allow both museums to coordinate plans
and to learn from each other’s experience in developing exhibits and
other presentations on the Armenian Genocide.

Since AGMI’s opening in 1995, the museum and the adjoining institute
at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex in Armenia have emerged
as the principal repository of resources and information about the
Armenian Genocide. The memorial is of international significance as
the site visited by foreign dignitaries who come to pay tribute to
the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The laying of a wreath at the
memorial and a tour of the museum are a customary part of official
visits to Armenia. Many heads of state and their delegations have
walked through the memorial complex and have taken occasion to speak
about the importance of remembrance and the commitment to tolerance.

Part of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia,
AGMI, which functions as a research center, is also dedicated to
the objective of collecting the visual, textual, and artifactual
evidence on the life of the Armenian people once living in the Ottoman
Empire. In addition to managing the museum facility and maintaining
the memorial complex in the heart of Yerevan, AGMI also organizes
international conferences, publishes documentation and studies on
the Armenian Genocide, and runs a major Website that posts news on
developments in the international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
announces publications in the field of genocide studies, and releases
newly uncovered documentation through its research programs. The
Websites of the two museums will be linked, as well as oral history
projects and resources.

The Armenian Genocide Museum of America is an outgrowth of the
Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Institute
(ANI), catalyzed by a foundational grant from Anoush Mathevosian
for the purpose of establishing an Armenian Genocide museum in
Washington, D.C. The Armenian Assembly has championed the cause of
affirmation with legislative and executive branches of the American
government, while ANI has served as a research facility documenting
the Armenian Genocide on the basis of the United States archives and
other records. ANI is presently also providing coordination for AGMA
planning and exhibit designing.

The cooperative agreement was reached in the framework of the AGMI’s
mission, which is shared by the Armenian Genocide Museum of America,
to educate a wider public about the extent of the crimes committed
against the Armenian people during the First World War and the
long-lasting effects and consequences of the gross human rights
violations of that era. The agreement was finalized after months
of discussions and informal cooperation and assistance from AGMI to
AGMA as it progresses toward opening. AGMA publicly thanks AGMI and
Dr. Hayk Demoyan for the help he has provided these past months.

As the first major institution in the Armenian diaspora dedicated
to preserving and honoring the memory of the victims and survivors
of the Armenian Genocide, AGMA will offer interactive exhibits
and educational programs incorporating the latest scholarship with
state-of-the art technology. AGMA will be a place for reflection,
where memories and emotions can be confronted in an environment filled
with hope, inspiration and a commitment to eradicate the scourge of
genocide and stopping other atrocities against humankind.

The museum in Washington has already been granted project approval
and planners have completed the schematic design phase of the
exhibits. The endorsement by a District of Columbia preservation
review board of restoration plans for the historically-designated
building, which will house the museum, and the completion of exhibit
schematic designs, concluded the second phase of the museum planning,
which was inaugurated in November 2007.

Phase one planning began in August 2007. AGMA is now entering the
third phase of development and the museum is scheduled to open in 2010.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 26 2008

Ankara condemns disrespect for its flag in Armenia commemoration

The Turkish capital has harshly reacted against a Turkish flag being
trod upon during an official demonstration in Yerevan on Thursday
commemorating tragic World War I-era events that Armenians claim
amount to genocide.

News reports showed pictures of the demonstration during which a
Turkish flag was laid on the ground and participants of the
commemoration stamped on it, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday in a
written statement. There were also reports that a Turkish flag was
burned during an earlier demonstration on Wednesday, also in Yerevan,
the statement said, stressing that the same reports noted the acts of
disrespect were also committed by Armenian officials.

"With the meaning that it carries, the Turkish flag symbolizes freedom
and all the fundamental values and beliefs of the lofty Turkish
nation, which have come from, the history to date. In regards to this
aspect, it is in a way accepted as synonymous with our nation’s
existence. The importance attributed by the Turkish nation to these
values and its flag, which reflects them is closely known by
everybody. In this regard, the related news reports led to great
sadness, reaction and indignation in our society," the Foreign
Ministry spokesperson said in the statement. "We harshly condemn those
manners and actions," the statement concluded.

Turkey categorically rejects the Armenian claims of genocide and says
equal numbers of Turks were killed when the Armenians took up arms
against the Ottoman Empire in collaboration with the invading Russian
army.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2008
Contact: Michael Zachariades
Email: [email protected]

THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT BUSH’S APRIL 24
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE STATEMENT

Washington, DC – In 2000, then presidential candidate Governor George W.
Bush stated that if elected President, he would properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide. In his pledge, Bush stated that "the Armenians were
subjected to a genocidal campaign that defies comprehension and commands
all decent people to remember and acknowledge the facts and lessons of
an awful crime in a century of bloody crimes against humanity."

Eight years later, his 2008 Presidential statement again provides a
dictionary definition of genocide, but the resistance in using the term
genocide not only fails to complete George W. Bush’s promise, but more
importantly fails to promote the professed goal of preventing genocide.
This year’s statement actually represents a subtle step back from prior
April 24 statements.

April 24 is a day of mourning and rededication for Armenians, their
friends and for all people concerned with eliminating the scourge of
genocide. This is what April 24 signifies.

In his final April 24 statement, President Bush missed the mark, which
may account for the ongoing nature and escalation of threats of genocide
around the world. Today’s statement backtracks from his prior indirect
acknowledgements of the Armenian Genocide. For example, in 2005 and
2006, Bush recognized the Armenian Genocide indirectly by his reference
to the findings of the International Center for Transitional Justice
(ICTJ).

In the face of Turkish demands again this year, President Bush omitted
the findings by the ICTJ. This year’s statement also continues to ignore
President Reagan’s 1981 proclamation that affirms the Armenian Genocide,
which still stands as U.S. recognition and was confirmed by the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. These two missteps by
this Administration discount the United States’ proud and dignified
record during the time of the Armenian Genocide, as well as most
Americans and a majority of States today.

In addition, Turkish pressure was brought to bear on House Resolution
106, which called on the President to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Turkey’s ongoing denial has also created an atmosphere of intolerance,
which led to the tragic assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, by a Turkish nationalist. Turkey’s long term interests would
be better served by coming to grips with its genocidal past, rather than
fining and jailing those who speak the truth about the Armenian
Genocide. Hrant Dink was recently inducted into the Journalists Memorial
in the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The event was attended by his widow,
Rakel Dink, along with representatives of the Armenian Assembly.

Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of
Greater Boston Nancy K. Kaufman said in a recent commemoration speech on
April 18, that "as a way of not letting the Armenian Genocide be
forgotten, I would like to bear witness – to testify, if you will – to
that history," adding that "it is particularly important for us, as
Jews, to speak out in support of your community’s efforts to fight
denial."
Ironically, this year’s statement comes against the backdrop of rapid
progress and development since May 2007, of the Armenian Genocide Museum
of America. The museum is located steps away from the White House and
will stand as a permanent memorial and testament for all who lost their
lives in the Armenian Genocide. It will also serve as a learning center
to prevent future genocides.

While Bush’s statement also notes the Nagorno Karabakh peace process, it
does not address the failure to achieve a just peace, nor does it
address the ongoing military escalation by Azerbaijan against the
Armenians there, who also faced a campaign of ethnic cleansing. This
too stands as a stark reminder that the lessons of the Armenian Genocide
cannot be forgotten.

No one questions President Bush’s sincerity in mourning the tremendous
loss Armenians and the world suffered as a result of the Armenian
Genocide, and his use of the dictionary definition is better than
ignoring it; nevertheless, it is profoundly disappointing that he failed
to keep his word, of which the consequences are real.

As Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian stated today, there is no room
for denial of the Armenian Genocide and that Armenian Statehood is of
exceptional importance. No Armenian or person of goodwill should
disagree with these fundamental principles. Unfortunately, today’s
White House statement fell short.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###

NR#2008-045

Editor’s Note: President Bush’s 2008 statement is reproduced below and
this, as well as his prior statements, can be found on the Armenian
National Institute’s Website ()

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________ ___________________
For Immediate Release April 24, 2008
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Armenian Remembrance Day

On this day of remembrance, we honor the memory of the victims of one of
the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the mass killings and forced
exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the Ottoman
Empire. I join the Armenian community in America and around the world in
commemorating this tragedy and mourning the loss of so many innocent
lives.
As we reflect on this epic human tragedy, we must resolve to redouble
our efforts to promote peace, tolerance, and respect for the dignity of
human life. The Armenian people’s unalterable determination to triumph
over tragedy and flourish is a testament to their strength of character
and spirit. We are grateful for the many contributions Americans of
Armenian heritage have made to our Nation.
We welcome the efforts by individuals in Armenia and Turkey to foster
reconciliation and peace, and support joint efforts for an open
examination of the past in search of a shared understanding of these
tragic events. We look forward to the realization of a fully normalized
Armenia-Turkey relationship.
The United States is committed to a strong relationship with Armenia
based on shared values. We call on the Government of Armenia to take
decisive steps to promote democracy, and will continue our support for
Armenia to this end. We remain committed to serving as an honest broker
in pursuit of a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest
condolences to Armenian people around the world.

TURKISH MEDIA ESTIMATES TRAMPLING OF TURKISH FLAG IN COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS IN YEREVAN AS INFAMY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 25 2008

Ankara-APA. People trampled a Turkish flag during a so-called
commemoration ceremony on the occasion of the incidents of 1915. The
ceremony was held in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, APA reports.

There were ugly scenes in a rally in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan
to protest incidents of 1915. The Turkish flag was laid on the road
towards the monument. Thousands of people trampled the Turkish flag. In
an earlier rally in Yerevan, the demonstrators set a Turkish flag
ablaze. Turkish community and media protested photo taken by Reuters.

Tercuman and Gunesh newspapers used Infamy in the headline of
articles. Other press agencies estimated Armenians’ action as
illiterateness and hate against Turks.

AHARON CHILINGARIAN APPOINTED STS DEPUTY HEAD

A1+
[08:23 pm] 25 April, 2008

Under an April 25 decree of Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian Aharon
Chilingarian was appointed First Deputy Head of the State Tax Services
at the RoA Government.

EVE OF APRIL 24 TRANQUIL ON THE ARMENIAN FRONT

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 24 2008

The influential Armenian diaspora is preparing to mark April 24, the
day they claim marks the anniversary of the beginning of a systematic
genocide campaign against Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman
Empire.

Last year, pressure on the US administration was considerably high,
with the expectation of having the word "genocide" included in the
text of a commemoration message which is traditionally delivered by
the US president on April 24.

The Armenian diaspora continues to deal with the disappointment
over the fact that a resolution which called the 1915 killings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks a genocide has not yet been adopted by
the US Congress even though it was passed by a US congressional
committee in October of 2007. In his message for April 24 of last
year, US President George W. Bush adhered to the administration’s
policy of not referring to the incidents as genocide.

"Each year on this day we pause to remember the victims of one of the
greatest tragedies of the 20th century, when as many as 1.5 million
Armenians lost their lives in the final years of the Ottoman Empire,
many of them victims of mass killings and forced exile," Bush said.

Turkey categorically rejects the claims of genocide and says as many
Turks were killed when the Armenians took up arms against the Ottoman
Empire in collaboration with the invading Russian army.

Bush, in his message, also called for the normalization of ties
between Turkey and Armenia. "Today, we remember the past and also look
forward to a brighter future. We commend the individuals in Armenia
and Turkey who are working to normalize the relationship between their
two countries. A sincere and open examination of the historic events
of the late-Ottoman period is an essential part of this process. The
United States supports and encourages those in both countries who are
working to build a shared understanding of history as a basis for
a more hopeful future," he said. Turkey mounted a massive lobbying
campaign last year to defeat the resolution supporting Armenian claims
of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Though the resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
many of its co-sponsors withdrew their support after meeting with
Turkey’s lobbyists. That, along with pressure from Republicans and
the Bush administration, forced House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to postpone
a floor vote on the resolution last year.

US administration policy on the issue remains the same, a US diplomat
based in Ankara told Today’s Zaman yesterday, on the eve of the
anniversary. "I haven’t yet seen any draft text. However, taking
into consideration the fact that our administration’s policy remains
the same, I assume that this year’s text will look similar to last
year’s text," US Embassy Press Attaché Kathryn Schalow said when
asked about Bush’s message, which is expected to be released today.

In the last few months, more than the content of Bush’s message, the
Armenian diaspora based in the US has been focused on presidential
candidates and their stances on the very same issue. The Washington
based-Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) already announced
earlier this year that US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack
Obama had gained their support.

The support for Obama came days after he pledged in January to
officially recognize the controversial World War I-era killings of
Anatolian Armenians as genocide if he becomes president.

ANCA, meanwhile, has been pushing a fierce campaign for adoption
of the related resolution at the US Congress with an aggressive
campaign targeting Turkey. "Who decides when America speaks on human
rights?" is the leading slogan of the campaign. "You should… Not
a foreign government," it answers.

On ANCA’s Web page, a picture showing the mouth of the Statute of
Liberty gagged with the Turkish flag is shown.

–Boundary_(ID_JfwpE48xOfmkPH+2M5PaWA)–

RA PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN’S MESSAGE ON THE DAY OF COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

armradio.am
24.04.2008 11:57

Dear compatriots,

This day is one of those symbolic days when all the Armenians pay
tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. The objective
behind the crime, which was planned and carried out by the authorities
of the Ottoman Empire, was the extermination of the Armenian people:
over one and a half million Armenians perished as a result of that
dreadful crime, hundreds of thousands old men, women and children
underwent violent deportation.

Today we grieve, and by paying homage to the memory of those innocent
victims of the Great Genocide, we reinterpret in own way the most
important lessons of the past: we cannot be in safety and security,
if we are divided and separated, we cannot prevent major disasters
from recurring if we fail to have a strong statehood: as a nation,
we cannot and should not forget our history.

Dear compatriots,

We should move forward, we must rally round our national goals and
aspirations to build a strong and democratic state, to do our utmost
and the impossible for Armenia’s safety, well-being and development –
for tomorrow’s day of our country.

TO OPEN THE BORDER

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 23, 2008
Armenia

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament passed the
report on Turkey, made by Polish Christian-Democratic MP Raya Owmen
Ruijten, where he appeals to Ankara to open its borders with Armenia.

The draft report appeals to Ankara to lift Armenia’s blockade,
to reopen the borders and to allow Turkish government, start
a reconciliation process, by means of the discussions between
Turkish and Armenian governments regarding the issues linked with
the past. Meanwhile he recommended the EU Committee to "mitigate"
the process.