Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

Beijing 2008, China
Aug 9 2008

Judo Day 2 Preview: Kedelashvili and Carrascosa Zardgoza ones to watch
Updated: 2008-08-09 23:27:43

(BEIJING, August 9) — The Judo competition of the Games moves into
its second day on Sunday, August 10, with judoka in the Men’s 60-66kg
and Women’s 48-52kg weigh classes vying for Olympic glory. Here are
eight athletes to look out for:

Men’s 60-66kg

Zaza Kedelashvili of Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the world by the
European Judo Union (EJU). Gold medal winner at the European Judo
Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and a three-time World Cup gold
medalist, Kedelashvili hopes to add Olympic gold to his burgeoning
Judo career

Challenging Kedelashvili for first place in Beijing will be EJU World
No. 2 Miklós Ungvár of Hungary who won bronze at the 2007 and 2008
World Judo Championships won gold once and silver twice at the
European Judo Championships.

High expectations are also on Cuban judoka Yordanis Arencibia, the
bronze medalist in Athens in 2004 and the silver medalist at the 2007
World Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

Armen Nazaryan the 26-year-old judoka from Armenia, also hopes to be
in the medal mix. Though he finished in a disappointing seventh place
at the 2008 European Judo Championships, the EJU World No. 4 is a
favorite to reach the podium each time he competes. From 2003 to 2006
he earned two bronze, one gold and one silver at the European
Championships and a gold medal finish at the 2008 Super World Cup in
Moscow indicates he still has what it takes to compete for the top
spot.

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EBRD TO MAKE LOAN OF $20MLN TO D&H GROUP LLC TO SUPPORT COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION IN YEREVAN

ARKA
Aug 6, 2008

YEREVAN, August 6. /ARKA/. The EBRD is considering making a loan of
$20 million to private Armenian company D&H GROUP LLC to support the
financing of a multi purpose complex construction of 79,330 square
meters in the city of Yerevan, Armenia.

The complex will include 315 residential units targeting the middle
class market and 19,000 square metres of international standard
office space, available for rent or sale. The totals cost of the
project is $56mln of which $20mln is to be appropriated by the EBRD
as senior loan.

This is the first real estate development project in Armenia being
considered by the EBRD. The final decision on financing is expected
in September.

This is the second project on which the EBRD will finally decide
in autumn.

The first one is about providing EUR 50mln to Electric Networks
of Armenia to be used for the renovation and modernization of 17
substations in Yerevan.

D&H GROUP LLC is a limited liability special purpose company registered
in Armenia, 90% owned by an Armenian businessman, Davit Varagyan
and his relatives, and 10% by an Armenian company, Karven Yerevan
LLC, which is 50/50% owned by Mr Viktor Kryltsov and Mr Balyan,
both existing EBRD clients with real estate development projects in
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I RECEIVES AMBASSADOR OF IRAN

Noyan Tapan

Au g 6, 2008

ANTELIAS, AUGUST 6, NOYAN TAPAN. On August 5 Catholicos of the Great
Cilician House Aram I received the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon
Mohammad R. Shipan in Antelias. During the meeting the interlocutors
spoke about the close relations and the prospect of future cooperation
between the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and Iran.

His Holiness touched upon the contrubution that Armenians of Iran made
to the development of the country and its daily life. He also expressed
his satisfaction with the fact that three Armenian monasteries in
the territory of Iran were included in the list of monuments under
the patronage of UNESCO. In this connection His Holiness expressed
his appreciation of Iranian authorities for their care of Armenian
sanctuaries.

The ambassador of Iran reaffirmed his country’s readiness to continue
cooperation in different spheres with the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

OSCE MG: NAGORNO KARABAKH RESIDENTS SHOULD PLAY KEY ROLE IN DETERMINING THEIR REGION’S STATUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.08.2008 14:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The August 1 meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign Ministers in Moscow was positive, according to OSCE Minsk
Group U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza.

"Both Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian told a news conference
that their tete-a-tete discussion was held in a positive vein,"
Amb. Bryza said.

He said the Foreign Ministers agreed to continue negotiations under
the aegis of the Minsk Group to bring positions of their countries’
closer, as outlined in the Co-chairs’ November 2007 Madrid Document,
up to a final resolution.

When commenting on his Moscow statement, Bryza said the Co-chairs
proceed from a starting position of recognizing Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. "To reach a political settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, Armenia and Azerbaijan will eventually have to reach
a compromise on NK’s status. We cannot predict what that compromise
will look like, or when it will emerge. But, the Co-chairs recommend
that the residents of Nagorno Karabakh play a key role in determining
their region’s status through some type of vote in the future,"
he said.

The U.S. mediator supposes that the nature of referendum must be
negotiated by the sides.

"Such a process can only be launched after the return of internally
displaced persons and refugees and can take quite some period of time,"
he said, the Azeri Press Agency reports.

TURKEY CAN BRIDGE THE US-IRAN DIVIDE
By Manik Mehta

Gulf News
/10234111.html
Aug 4 2008
United Arab Emirates

Turkey’s relations with the US went through a rollercoaster,
last October, when the US Congress passed a resolution on Armenia,
describing the killings of Armenians during the First World War in
the Ottoman empire as "genocide". This had angered Istanbul which
was already riled by the war in Iraq from where the Kurdish Workers’
Party (PKK) launched attacks on Turkey.

However, US-Turkish relations considerably improved, particularly after
the warm welcome to Turkish President Abdullah Gul during his visit
to Washington earlier this year. The ensuing strategic cooperation
between the two sides is a manifestation of what Gul called a "new
chapter" in bilateral relations.

Although Turkish public opinion is unfavourable against the US, the
strategic cooperation has, meanwhile, resuscitated the relationship
between the two Nato partners. Kurdish nationalism is Ankara’s
Achilles’ heel; it has brought Turkey closer to Iran which has its own
Kurdish problem and has found a common cause with Turkey. Additionally,
both sides have a vibrant trading and economic relationship.

While critics fear that closer Turkish-Iranian ties will
have ramifications for US-Turkish relations, others see an
opportunity. Turkey’s close ties with Iran should be used to persuade
the latter to renounce its nuclear programme which is causing a lot of
concern to the US and, particularly, Israel which has been the target
of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s belligerent outbursts.

US-Turkish contacts have recently intensified on Iran’s nuclear
programme. President George W. Bush’s National Security Adviser,
Stephen Hadley, met Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan in July
in Ankara – just before Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
arrived in Turkey – to send, apparently, a carrot-and-stick message on
Iran’s nuclear programme. Subsequently, US and Iranian representatives
met, for the first time in three decades, at the six-nation meeting
in Geneva to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme.

Indeed, Mottaki sounded unusually conciliatory, even calling
the presence of Undersecretary of State William Burns, the third
senior-most American diplomat, at the talks as "a new positive
approach". Turkey has apparently played a quiet role in Mottaki’s
moderate reaction which was a far cry from Ahmadinejad’s fiery
rhetoric. Though glaring fundamental differences between the two
will persist, an atmospheric improvement, with some help from Turkey,
could bring both sides on "talking terms".

Iran’s testing of two separate rounds of long-range ballistic missiles
in early July has also unnerved not only the United States and Israel,
but also the Gulf Arab states. The missile firing was intended to send
different messages to different audiences. The missile tests warn the
West that Iran, which has strengthened its presence in the Strait of
Hormuz, could target oil shipments from the Arabian Gulf ports and deal
a crippling blow to the Western and also the oil-driven Arab economies.

They were also aimed to silence Iran’s domestic critics, frustrated
with the regime’s ruinous economic policies, by whipping up nationalist
fervour and take the wind out of the critics’ sail.

Rapprochement

According to some American strategists, Turkey would be willing
to bring about the rapprochement between the US and Iran, and thus
prevent a military conflict. On the other hand, the hardcore Iranian
leadership would prefer making concessions on the nuclear issue to
Muslim Turkey rather than directly to the US.

Indeed, some Americans argue that by allowing it a face-saving
withdrawal, Iran could be persuaded to eventually abandon its
nuclear programme. The Iranian people desperately want an end to the
West-backed sanctions against their country which is treated like a
pariah at every international venue because of their unpopular regime.

Indeed, the regime knows this and also the fact that it will not
be able to stop for long the tide of public disenchantment with its
dogmatic attitude. This is a good time for the US to take more Turkish
help and resolve the stalemate with Iran.

MISSION OF NEWLY-CREATED ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS IS TO ORGANIZE SELF-GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIAN PEOPLE, LEVON TER-PETROSIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Au g 2, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The declaration on creation of the
Armenian National Congress (ANC) was ratified at the August 1 rally of
People’s Movement. The declaration bears signatures of first Armenian
president Levon Ter-Petrosian, leader of People’s Party of Armenia
Stepan Demirchian, head of "Republic" party Aram Sargsian, chairman
of "Freedom" party Hrant Bagratian, vice chairman of "Democratic Way"
party Vardan Grigorian, representative of "Democratic Homeland" party
Karlen Alexanian, representative of "Alternative" social-political
initiative Norayr Norikian, leader of Liberal Party of Armenia
Hovhannes Hovhannisian, chairman of the Social-Ecological Party
of Greens of Armenia Armen Dovlatian, head of the Marxist Party of
Armenia Davit Hakobian, chairwoman of the Social-Democratic Hunchak
Party of Armenia Lyudmila Sargsian, head of "Armenian Homeland" party
Anahit Yeghoyan, representative of "Armenian National Movement" party
Andrey Baghamian, chairman of "Human Rights-96" party Ruben Torosian,
deputy chairman of the Conservative Party of Armenia Zaven Vardanian,
and head of "Christian People’s Rebirth" party Sos Gimishian.

As L. Ter-Petrosian stated in his speech, the ANC currently has
several major demands. The first one, according to him, is release
of the political prisoners, while the other demand is an independent
inquiry into the March 1 events. In general, according to the first
Armenian president, the main mission of the Congress is to organize
self-government of the Armenian people.

TRANSPORT NODE NEAR AIRARAT CINEMA IN YEREVAN PUT INTO OPERATION

Noyan Tapan

Au gust 1, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, NOYAN TAPAN. On August 1 the Armenian president
Serge Sargsian participated in the opening ceremony of the transport
subway near the Airarat Cinema, at the crossroads of Yerevan’s Tigran
the Great, Khanjian and Agatangeghos Streets. The transport node
starts from Khorenatsi Street and ends in Khanjian Street in front
of the Pegagogical Academy. It ensures an interrupted movement from
Agatangeghos Street to Khanjian Street and in the opposite direction,
and a pedestrian crossing is regulated by traffic lights. Griar
company began the construction of the transport node by design of
Yerevanproject Institute in June 2007, the program cost made 1 billion
845 million drams which was allocated from the RA state budget. The
total length of the node is 360 meters, the length of the underground
part is 80 meters, its width – 15 meters.

During the opening ceremony Yerevan’s mayor Yervand Zakharian stated
that this structure is one of the junction points of the complex road
construction program that will ensure tranport flows along a freeway
with a large capacity which is being built in Saralanj, bypassing the
Small Center of the city and considerably reducing the time of movement
from the southern to north-eastern parts of Yerevan. "Today the rapid
and large-scale construction of Saralanj highway, Getar freeway,
and work done in Heratsi, Charents, Koryun, Alek Manukian, Nalbandian
and Khanjian Streets is in the junction phase and will be completed
in late September," the mayor said, adding that in order to deal with
traffic congestion in the city’s center, it is envisaged to build soon
underground parking lots at Opera Square, Sharles Aznavour Square,
Shahumian Square and Sakharov Square and near Yerevan Cycle Track.

RA PRIME MINISTER AWARED JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ARMENIA SOCIETY

RIA Oreanda
Economic News
July 31, 2008 Thursday
Russia

Yerevan. ">OREANDA-NEWS . July 31, 2008. For significant contribution
to the cause of strengthening and developing Armenian-Jewish relations,
under a decree signed by RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, "Jewish
Community of Armenia" civil society organization chairwoman Rima
Varzhapetyan has been awarded RA Prime Minister’s commemorative medal.

Today at the Office of Government, the Prime Minister handed in
the medal to Mrs. Varzhapetyan and expressed appreciation of those
active efforts exerted towards organizing and consolidating the
local Jewish community which is a minority group in our country, as
well as for the activities aimed at addressing community concerns,
upholding cooperation with Armenian authorities and strengthening
the Armenian-Jewish relationship.

"We can see very well and welcome your dedication to this noble
cause," Tigran Sargsyan said and asked about the problems faced by
the community and the future plans of the organization.

The chairwoman of "Jewish Community of Armenia" CSO thanked the
Prime Minister for his thoughtfulness of her endeavors and the
attention given to Armenia’s Jewish community. She said this is an
occasion to shape a better image of Armenia worldwide and speak of
the Armenian-Jewish friendship: "What has been done is the outcome
of sincere devotion, and I am prepared to redouble my efforts to
this end. Armenia is well placed to become a powerful and prosperous
country. I am confident that our joint efforts will help achieve
this target," Rima Varzhapetyan said and thanked the Government for
the allocation of AMD 21 million in 2007 to rehabilitate a Jewish
historical monument dating back to XIV-XVII B.C., as situated in
Yeghegis village of Vayots Dzor marz of Armenia.

PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND UKRAINE DISCUSSED KERCH-POTI-BATUMI PROJECT

Panorama.am
20:21 29/07/2008

Today the Presidents of Armenia Ukrain, Serzh Sargsyan and Viktor
Ushenko had a meeting in the Crimea and discussed the implementation of
Kerch-Poti-Batumi project. The Presidents expressed high satisfaction
of dynamic of the bilateral trade transfers.

Another issue discussed by the Presidents was the cultural cooperation
between two countries and implementing the demands of both nations. The
Presidents has also discussed the details of the official visit of
RA President to Ukraine.

HRANT DINK MURDER ORGANIZED BY "ERGENEKON"
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
31/07/2008

Recently became known about the murder attempt plotted by the Turkish
"Ergenekon" extremist terror group against Archbishop Mesrop II
Moutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. On July 28 "Sabah"
newspaper declared that the scandalous murder of Hrant Dink was
organized by the same "Ergenekon" organization.

"Sabah" assures that the terror organization stands behind the
murder of catholic priest Santoro in Trabzon, of four members of
the "Zirve" publishing house in Malatia and, as it was mentioned,
of Hrant Dink. Due to the extreme secrecy applied by "Ergenekon"
and the cellular type of administrative organization, those facts
were not proved and the investigations did not go beyond capturing
the murderers and people immediately involved.

The Turkish newspaper also points out that most of the murderers
were unaware whose interests they serve to and who ordered their
actions. "Nevertheless the aims and the results of the realized
murders clearly display that they were organized from the same center
in order to spread anarchy, chaos and terror in the country as well
as to harm the international reputation of Turkey"