Author: Nalbandian Albert

SERZH SARGSYAN: NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC, OUR NATIVE LAND HAS NO PRICE, BARGAINING IS USELESS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 12, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. RA’s position on Nagorno
Karabakh problem is very exact – the Nagorno Karabakh people has a
self-determination right and has fulfilled it, RA President Serzh
Sargsyan stated in his greeting speech at the Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia) party’s 4th congress.

"Nagorno Karabakh cannot make part of Azerbaijan, there are neither
legal nor historic bases for that, and, most importantly, there is
no willingness by NKR citizens," the country leader added.

The RA President confirmed that Armenia considers Nagorno Karabakh
peaceful settlement a way having no alternative that will lead to
recognition of Artsakh people’s self-determination right. S. Sargsyan
considered wrong his opponents’ approach that there is no need in
recognition of Nagorno Karabakh people’s self-determination right
by Azerbaijan or the international community. "The Nagorno Karabakh
people’s self-determination right is an inviolable right, but when
our inviolable right is not recognized, the only way out is fight
for recognition of that right, the only way is negotiations. And
those trying to present these negotiations as bargainings are deeply
mistaken: the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, our native land has no price,
and if it has no price, bargaining is useless," the RA President
stated.

Serzh Sargsyan also reaffirmed Armenia’s position on dialogue with
Turkey, it will be continued, and Armenia’s goal is establishment
of relations without preconditions and lifting blockade of the RA
borders. The RA President is convinced that Armenia will be able to
establish joint, normal relations with its neighbors. "Today there
is a good possibility to normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations,
and we should use it, and it is our opinion that will be decisive in
this issue," the RA President said.

Armenia works actively to fulfill its commitments towards the
European structures and to lay the European integration process on
firm bases. Here, according to RA President’s estimation, there are
noticeable results and greater expectations. Sargsyan recorded that
Armenia is also active within the framework of CIS, especially, CSTO,
in issues of elaboration of new initiatives in country’s interests and
their fulfillment. "Meanwhile, many-sided, good-neighborly relations
will develop with our neighbors, in particular, in the spheres of
energy, communication ways, close economic cooperation, it is in the
interests of both our country and the regional countries," the RA
President assured.

The RA President considers that under the world financial-economic
crisis Armenia’s task is to mitigate the crisis impact, to protect
the people from shocks as far as possible. According to the
President, everything possible should be done to reduce the world
financial-economic crisis impact on Armenia as fas as possible, for
Armenia not to be in a worse condition that its neighbors. According
to his evaluation, the government carries our right actions in that
direction. "Direct state interventions to protect the native producer
and to promote export, stimulating factors to direct to export growth
the organization abilities of importers having rich experience of
work on foreign markets, amendments being made and envisaged to the
tax and customs legislation are aimed at giving a new spirit to our
economy," the country leader said.

"We should be able to establish and fulfill new development priorities,
which in a long-term prospect will ensure Armenia’s development,
will strengthen our country’s independence," the RA President said.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OUR ENEMY, IS IT?"

A1+
[02:32 pm] 11 February, 2009

Residents of Gyumri’s Hanesoghlyan Street live in constant fear lest
the shaky walls and roofs of their flats may fall down on them.

The walls started falling down since 2004. Today ten out of twenty
families have moved to another neighbourhood. The other ten have
nowhere to go. The houses are in bad need of repairs.

The city authorities are well aware of the problem. The city hall has
instructed to study the site thoroughly. Specialists of local seismic
service say the building should be evacuated as the conditions are
life-threatening.

"People should be moved out. You cannot put their lives at stake and
promise to tackle the issue as soon as possible," says the head of
the Department of Housing and Urban Development Hrayr Karapetyan.

Three years ago the city hall registered dilapidated buildings in
the city, all except this one. Hrayr Karapetyan is surprised why the
committee didn’t involve the homes at 8 Hanesoghlyan on the list. Then
he adds that most rundown houses are on main streets.

Karapetyan sees two solutions to the problem. First, the inhabitants
of the disputed building should be recognised as homeless and given
shelters. Then the building can be given a benefactor to start a
business and fill the city budget. Second, the ten families can write
a letter to the government, more precisely to the prime minister,
depicting their hopeless state. "The government will likely help
them. The government is not our enemy and it will realise the
inhabitants’ grave state."

Nevertheless, the families think that their voice will hardly be made
audible, and it will take the officials long to address the issue.

Tsayg TV, Gyumri

ARMENIA’S CENTRAL BANK LOWERS ANNUAL INTEREST RATE BY 0.25 PCT

ARKA
Feb 10, 2009

YEREVAN, February 10. /ARKA/. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) has
lowered the annual interest rate by 0.25pct to 6.75%, the CBA press
service reports.

During today’s meeting, the CBA Board approved that amid the harsh
economic situation, lowering domestic demand and maintaining deflation
help curb inflation.

CBA stressed the importance of an effective monetary and credit policy
in ensuring financial stability during the financial crisis.

Armenia posted 1.2% inflation in mid-December 2008, with annual
inflation reducing by 5.2% to 4%.

Armenia inflation target is 4% (±1.5%) this year.
–Boundary_(ID_U8v+GgtAbFz5J/oggzJzOQ)–

Saturday, 7 February 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met with domestic importers and
shippers who are specialized in the imports of a broad range of
high-demand products, who keep track of foreign markets, whose
competitive edge can be used for boosting domestic output. They
are expected to grow into producers and exporters, if there are
favorable conditions created to this end. This is seen as an
important anti-crisis measure amidst the ongoing global financial
and economic downturn. In view of the above, the Government stands
ready to promote output at home by offering exceptional conditions
to eventual investors. In pointing out that importers used to enjoy
quite favorable conditions in Armenia over the past few years,
Tigran Sargsyan said that the current state of affairs calls for a
behavioral change implying a closer insight into market fluctuations
and into the balance of trade and balance of payments structure.

"The global financial and economic crisis has led to a new situation
within the Government as well. We must undertake anti-crisis actions
consisting in the following: realization of such investments and
taking of such decisions as may be conducive to several new jobs in
the country, improve our foreign exchange position and boost processing
industries in Armenia. This is what we have been stating in public for
the last 6-7 months addressing the society, the Nation al Assembly,
private sector representatives. Now, I would like to listen to you with
a view to understanding your concerns and problems, tracing the ways
we can assist you so as the anti-crisis program proves in harmony with
your activities and investment policies," the Prime Minister noted.

Thanking the Prime Minister and the Government for their willingness
and proposals of support, the importers spoke about the problems
faced, outlined the eventual areas of investment and made specific
suggestions.

Summarizing the meeting, Tigran Sargsyan stressed his government’s
care for providing the business community with a clear-cut and
predictable action plan and thanked those in attendance for accepting
his invitation. In conclusion, the Prime Minister expressed hope that
this meeting will allow our importers to formulate new business plans
which the State is prepared to back as much as possible.

Hovhannes Hovhannisian: Using sanctions to Armenia would make
authorities implement real reforms

4

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian opposition’s goal was not
using sanctions to RA: just being deprived of the vote would make the
authorities implement real political and legal reforms. Hovhannes
Hovhannisian, the Chairman of the Liberal Party of Armenia (LPA),
expressed such an opinion at the February 6 press conference. According
to his observation, the ruling regime has been doing its best to make
imitations and to find "semi-solutions" to the political crisis instead
of fulfilling PACE resolutions. The LPA leader predicted that the
authorities will adopt the same policy with regard to Resolution N 1643.

Touching upon PACE decision not to deprive the Armenian delegation of
the vote and to give it time until April, H. Hovhannisian said that the
authorities should pay some price for such a mild position. "Everything
has its price, and it was not for our beautiful eyes that such a
decision was made. And as our most important problem is Karabakh, our
authorities will make concessions in the very issue," H. Hovhannisian
predicted.

The oppositionist classed as absurd the bill submitted for NA’s
discussion, according to which trials can be held without defendants.
And the law’s point being discussed, by which bailiffs are permitted to
be armed in the court, according to the LPA leader, is very dangerous.

Touching upon the Armenian-Russian relations, H. Hovhannisian said that
they are not real friendly relations, but are based on Russia’s
interests. If Russia agrees to give a credit to Armenia for overcoming
the economic crisis, it will demand something without fail. "Free
cheese can be only in a trap," he said.

ARMENIAN FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAM TO HOLD AN UNOFFICIAL MATCH WILL NATIONAL TEAM OF LATVIA IN CYPRUS

Noyan Tapan

Feb 5, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian football national team
will hold an unofficial match with the national team of Latvia on
February 11 in Cyprus. A teaching and training gathering will take
place on February 7-9 for preparing for the match. National team’s
principal coach Ian Poulsen will accompany 18 football players
to Cyprus.

ARMENIAN YOUNG BOXERS RETURN FROM GEORGIA WITH MEDALS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.02.2009 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian young boxers have returned with 4 gold,
2 silver and 4 bronze medals from the tournament held in Kutaisi,
Georgia, from January 26 to 30.

Coach Melkon Papyan said he is proud of his team.

Secretary General of the Armenian Box Federation Levon Hovhannesyan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that this tournament was a preparation
for the world championship due from May 22 to 30 in Yerevan

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I LECTURES
AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH

On Monday 2 February 2009 His Holiness Aram I delivered a lecture in
American university of Sharjah. The topic of the lecture was "From
Inter-religious dialogue to living together".

Introducing His Holiness, the President of the University Dr. Peter Heat
presented him as an internationally recognized personality in the area of
inter-religious dialogue.

Aram I first referred to the "come-back" of religion as a fact of life. He
then spoke about different perceptions of religion.

Speaking about the importance of dialogue, he said that a credible dialogue
must take into consideration the following.- 1) It must make room for
different perceptions, values and expressions. 2) It must be realistic. 3)
It must be contextual. 4) It must explore ways of transcending differences.
5) It must challenge biased attitudes, face-value judgments and provide
greater knowledge, accurate information. 6) It must avoid syncretistic
approaches, false compromises and exclusivist claims. 7) It must consider
diversity as a complementing rather than a conflicting factor.

Catholicos Aram set the following priorities as an agenda for a serious
dialogue. These are.- 1) promoting spiritual and moral values. 2)
Elaborating a global ethics. 3) Overcoming violence by developing a culture
of non-violence. 4) Combating intolerance. 5) Working for peace with
justice. 6) Acting as agents of reconciliation.

The focus of the lecture was living together as community. His Holiness
outlined the following actions as prerequisite conditions for community
building.- 1) Accepting and respecting our differences. 2) Enhancing common
values that transform co-existence into a meaningful way of living together.
3) Challenging inclusive approaches and fundamentalist tendencies and claims
that jeopardize living together, and enhancing coherence between
self-understanding and interactive understanding. 4) Promoting a quality of
life that rejects alienation and calls for mutual trust. 5) Encouraging
participation in all aspects of community life. 6) Aiming for a form of
integration that preserves specificities fosters commonalities.

In his concluding remarks, referring to the vocation of religion Catholicos
Aram I underscored the following points.- 1) The religions have a moral
responsibility to restore humanity-creation-God relationship based on
responsibility accountability. 2) Religions must emphasize the crucial
importance of the Transcendence in the life of societies. 3) Religions must
defend the sacredness of life by promoting values that protect the integrity
of life. 4) Religions must bring active participation in peace-building.
Real peace is based on justice and respect of human rights. 5) Religions are
called to play a major role in preventive approaches to conflicts, and also
in proactive defense of human rights through education and awareness
building. 6) And finally religions must remind that all mighties are
powerless before the Almighty.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos356.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

FT TO LAUNCH ARMENIAN VENTURE IN AUTUMN 2009

TeleGeography
Feb 2 2009
DC

France Telecom (Orange) aims to launch its new Armenian operation
in autumn 2009, its CEO Didier Lombard is quoted as saying in an
interview with the Armenia President, Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, on the
margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Mr Lombard announced
only scant details of the French firm’s rollout plan, but did say
that he expected the new services would be ‘in demand’.

According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, the French
heavyweight was unveiled as the winner of Armenia’s third mobile
operator licence in October 2008, after submitting the highest bid in
the ongoing tender process. The French telco was one of three groups
shortlisted in August that year to participate in an international
tender for the third mobile concession. Orange tendered roughly
EUR51.5 million (USD72 million) for the concession, roughly five times
the state’s EUR10 million minimum asking price. The other bidders,
Tele2 of Sweden and the UK-Irish group Blackrock Communications,
bid EUR45.6 million and EUR31.7 million, respectively.

North Shore Times (Wednesday) (Australia)
January 28, 2009 Wednesday
1 – MB Edition

Focus was caring for her community

FOUNDER of the Armenian Rest Home Association, Mrs MARIE PATAPANIAN of
Northbridge, was very humbled when she was first notified that she had
been awarded an OAM in the general division of the Order of Australia
for service to the Armenian community in the area of aged care.

Then, she said, she decided to accept the honour with pride.

“Ultimately, it is a collective achievement,” she said. “I share
this honour with a group of women who supported me and believed in my
vision.”

Mrs Patapanian came to Australia in 1963 with her husband and young
son.

As the years went by and older relatives became frail, she carried on
the Armenian tradition of caring for the elderly at home.

Language and cultural differences would have made it difficult for
them to spend their last years anywhere else.

This is how her idea of an Armenian Nursing Home was born.

Her daughter-in-law, Lucy Patapanian, said a group of 10 women all of
Armenian background began raising funds.

“It was years and years of fund-raising,” she said. “They were all
hard-working women with jobs and they found time to arrange functions
to raise money.

“Then they applied for a government grant and, with the help of a
benefactor, it was possible to establish the Seaview Nursing Home in
Mosman in 1981 and the Alexander Nursing Home in Brookvale in 1989,
and the adjoining Spitak Apartments.”