Author: Nahapetian Boris

Trade turnover amounts to 4.7 billion dollars in Armenia in
January-November 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Trade turnover made 1 trillion 443
billion 352 million drams (more than 4 bln 719.9 million USD) in
current prices in Armenia in January-November 2008, growing by 8.7% as
compared with the index of the same period of 2007.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, retail trade amounted
to 889 bln 628.7 mln drams in current prices in January-November 2008,
growing by 6.2% on the same period of the previous year.

The services made 656 bln 714.9 mln drams in current prices in
January-November 2008, exceeding by 13.3% the index of the same period
of 2007.

SOLUTION OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT PRESUMES A CLOSE AND CONTINUOUS INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION, SAYS ESTONIAN PRESIDENT

Trend News Agency
Jan 8 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 8 /Trend News, E.Tariverdiyeva/ The solution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict presumes a close and continuous
international co-operation and patience from all involved parties,
as well as the skill and the resolution to find compromises, Estonian
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves told Trend News on the threshold of
his visit to Azerbaijan scheduled for Jan. 12.

"Both Estonia and Azerbaijan understand that a conflict of this
nature is always a threat to the security and stability of the whole
region. Estonia is firmly convinced that the solution of this kind
of conflicts – a future-oriented solution that would stand the wear
of time – must be found by diplomats and politicians in the form
of negotiations, and not by the military in a theatre of war. I am
truly pleased to see that the current administration of Azerbaijan
says the same," said the President.

According to Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Estonia supports the work of the
Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group – the US, France and Russia –
and welcome the declaration for the peaceful solution of the conflict
signed by the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia on 2 November 2008.

" Estonia is active here also through the EU, as the Neighbourhood
Policy Action Plans of both Azerbaijan and Armenia include in them
assistance in the conflict," he said.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the U.S.) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

World Begins to Ring In New Year By VOA News
31 December 2008

Pope Benedict is calling for greater sobriety and solidarity in 2009
as the world struggles with economic and social problems.

Speaking Wednesday in Vatican City, Benedict described the current
times as being marked by uncertainty and worry for the future; but he
urged the faithful to work together and to not be afraid.

The pope is also expected to celebrate a Mass on New Year’s Day, which
the Roman Catholic Church celebrates as its World Day of Peace. Church
officials said the pontiff will talk about poverty as a contributing
factor in armed and other conflicts and discuss globalization as well.

Meanwhile, many parts of the world are celebrating the start of the
new year with fireworks and other festivities. Sydney, Australia was
the world’s first major city to ring in 2009, showering its simmering
harbor with fireworks that drew cheers from more than a million
people.

Fireworks were also set off from Seoul to Hong Kong as television
presenters counted down to welcome in the new year. In Japan, temple
bells rang out as worshippers threw coins as offerings and prayed.

In Moscow, fireworks lit up the night sky over Red Square after the
national anthem was played. Russia has been celebrating the start of
2009 over 11 time zones. As the clock struck midnight in each zone, a
pre-recorded message from President Dmitri Medvedev was broadcast,
beginning in Russia’s eastern corner.

Many people around the world are eager to say goodbye to 2008, which
has been tarnished by the global economic meltdown. Celebrations in
some cities were more subdued, while in other places, they did not
take place at all.

Festivities were muted in China, which rings in the Lunar New Year
later in January. The Associated Press reported that Malaysia, mindful
of its shaky economy, opted not to sponsor celebrations at all.

Elsewhere, Indian authorities threw a security blanket around the
financial capital, Mumbai, following November’s terrorist attacks that
left more than 170 people dead.

Later, revelers in New York City’s Times Square will watch the annual
dropping of the ball and countdown to the new year [which begins at
0500 UTC on the U.S. East coast].

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

China Post, Taiwan
Dec 28 2008

Singer Aznavour granted Armenian citizenship

YEREVAN — The renowned French singer of Armenian origin Charles
Aznavour has been granted Armenian citizenship by presidential decree,
the presidency of the ex-Soviet republic said Friday. `Armenian
President Serzh Sarkisian has signed a decree granting Armenian
citizenship to the prominent singer and public figure, a hero of the
Armenian people, Charles Aznavour,’ the presidency said in a
statement. Born Shahnur Aznavourian, the 84-year-old singer is among
the best-known figures of France’s 400,000-strong Armenian
diaspora. He was born in Paris to Armenian parents. After the 1988
earthquake in Armenia which killed 25,000 people, Aznavour set up a
foundation and organised a series of charity concerts to help quake
victims. He also serves as Armenia’s permanent delegate to the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The author of over 1,000 songs, Aznavour is one of France’s most
popular singers and is the first French performer to have a recording
that went platinum in Europe. He sold over over 100 million records
worldwide. In 1998 he was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and
Time Online.

COURAGEOUS CHANGE IN TURKEY

Edmonton Journal
December 23, 2008 Tuesday
Alberta

The online petition by a group of Turkish intellectuals, apologizing
for the Ottoman massacres of Armenians in 1915, shows just how far
Turkey has come in the last few years — and how far it has yet to go.

Writers have paid with their careers and their lives for talking openly
about history. Journalist Hrant Drink was prosecuted for "insulting
Turkishness" and then shot to death by a Turkish nationalist in January
2007. Writer Orhan Pamuk was also prosecuted, only three years ago,
simply for saying that a million Armenians had died.

So this new petition is a remarkably brave act on the part of its
authors. What’s even more remarkable is that thousands of members of
the public have also signed the petition. This might be a sign that
there is a willingness to break the old taboos ….

All the same, its authors were careful not to use the word
"genocide." They call it, instead, the "great catastrophe"… There is
already a nationalist backlash building against the petition. Imagine
what the reaction would have been if the authors had dared to use
the word many parliaments … have used in their condemnations.

TABRIZ (IRAN)-YERASKH (ARMENIA) OIL PIPELINE PRELIMINARILY ESTIMATED AT $240 MLN

ArmInfo
2008-12-22 14:25:00

The oil pipeline from Tabriz (Iran) to Yeraskh (Ararat region,
Armenia) will preliminarily be estimated at $240 mln, Armenian
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan said at
today’s press-conference in Yerevan.

Movsisyan said the project was estimated before the global economic
crisis and may be re-estimated in the future. He also added that
construction of the oil pipeline will be launched in spring 2009 and
last 2 years. To implement this project, Armenia and Iran have agreed
to set up a joint venture on parity basis (fifty- fifty). At present
the parties are seeking for funds for the pipeline construction.

The minister added that the pipe will be 250 mm in diameter, which
will make it possible to completely satisfy Armenia’s demand for
fuel. Gasoline and diesel fuel will be delivered to Armenia from
the oil refinery in Tabriz. It is envisaged to build a terminal to
store the fuel in Yeraskh, Movsisyan said. He added that the pipeline
laying route will possibly coincide with that of the already built
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Transportation of the finished oil products
via the pipeline is several times cheaper than their delivery by car,
he said. Construction of Tabriz-Yeraskh oil pipeline will become
the first step towards construction of an oil refinery in Armenia,
he concluded.

T. SARGSIAN STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION WITH RUSSIAN "SITRONICS" COMPANY

ARMENPRESS
Dec 19, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsian received today the head of Russian "Sitronics" company
Sergey Aslanian, deputy head Sergey Urezchenko and the authorized
representative of the company in Armenia Armen Khachatrian.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that the sides discussed
issues connected with the further development of the cooperation
in the IT sphere. Head of the "Sitronics" company Sergey Aslanian
presented the activity of the largest IT company, its participation
in the Russian federal purposed programs, the international relations
and representativeness in CIS, Central and Eastern European and in
a number of other countries as well as the upcoming initiatives and
programs in the Armenian IT sphere.

The head "Sitronics" particularly spoke about the opportunity to
establish a free economic zone of scientific-research type within
the territory of "Mars" company which was passed to Russia according
to "Property for Debt" agreement. The initiative is one of the
recommendations voiced at the tenth session of the Armenian-Russian
inter-governmental economic cooperation commission.

Sergey Aslanian also referred to the establishment of a venture
investment fund in Armenia with the participation of "Sitronics"
company, and noted that the company is ready to present its program
of cooperation in that issue within a short period of time.

The prime minister stressed the importance of cooperation with
"Sitronics" company and expressed confidence that the cooperation in
the Armenian IT sphere will be mutually beneficial and effective.

FORMER AMBASSADORS PROTEST THE APOLOGIZING CAMPAIGN TO ARMENIANS IN TURKEY

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 16 2008
Azerbaijan

Ankara – APA. An apologizing campaign to Armenians for 1915 events
started on Internet by a group of scientists, writers, journalists,
artists and representatives of the non-governmental organizations in
Turkey caused serious protest throughout the country.

Nearly 60 former ambassadors issued statement against the signature
campaign, APA quotes the Turkish newspapers. The diplomats, including
leaders of main oppositional party – Republican People’s Party (CHP)
Onur Oymen and Shukru Elekdagh, estimated the apologizing campaign as
a misplaced, wrong and anti-historical and anti-national action. "This
wrong and unilateral step is disrespect to our history and betrayal of
our people killed in massacres committed by the Armenian terrorist
organizations in the last period of Ottoman Empire. It is true
that Armenian migration caused some painful results under the war
conditions in 1915, but Turkish people suffered not less Armenians
as a result of Armenian rebel and terror. Armenians have taken the
side of our enemies since the second half of 19th century, then in
the World War I and early years of the Salvation War and committed
savageries against our people in Anatolia, which were described in
the local and foreign archive materials".

It was reminded in the statement that Armenians restarted their
terrorist activities in 1973, killed Turkish diplomats and then
occupied Azerbaijani lands expelling one million people from their
homelands. "It is interesting, are those people, who made so stupid
step like apologizing campaign, thinking about apologizing for
the victims of Armenian terror and oppression? They must achieve
apologizing from Armenians for killing of Turkish diplomats and
their families in the near past before initiating the apologizing
to Armenians and justifying their claims. These killers are still
alive and remain unpunished because they found refuge in Armenia or
other countries".

NEW ORDER OF EGHISHE PRIZE DELIVERY WAS AFFIRMED

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
December 15, 2008

According to the decree of the NKR Government a new order of annual
Eghishe Prize delivery and the commission membership were affirmed. In
compliance with the affirmed order the prize delivery will be
carried out in four nominations: literature, art, the humanities,
cinematography and television films. Prizes are awarded to the
authors for those creative and scientific works which present a
certain artistic and scientific value and contribute to the further
development of culture and science in Artsakh.

The winners are awarded with a NKR Government Diploma and a monetary
award (250.000 drams for each nomination).

The literary-artistic and scientific works can be presented to
prize delivery only after having been printed in press, published in
separate books or after having found application in corresponding
sphere, and the works of art and cinematography-after having been
presented in personal and collective exhibitions, concerts, press,
performed in the theatre and on television.

The creative and scientific works are accepted by the prize delivery
commission each year till October 1.

WORKING DAY ON JANUARY 5, 2009 MOVED TO JANUARY 10

Noyan Tapan

Dec 15, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. In accordance with the RA Law
on Holidays and Memorial Days and in connection with the New Year
holidays, at the December 11 sitting the Armenian government made
a decision to move the working day on Monday, January 5, 2009, to
Saturday, January 10, Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government
Information and PR Department.