Author: Nalbandian Albert

DESPITE NBA’S BAN, MONEY TRANSFERS VIA MONEYGRAM SYSTEM CONTINUED IN AZERBAIJAN

Today.Az
16 August 2008
Azerbaijan

Despite the ban of the National Bank of Azerbaijan, local post offices
still conducted monetary transfers via MoneyGram system.

The newspaper had on hand the cheques, issued by a post office, about
conduction of monetary transfers by this system, dated August 11 and
12, when the ban of the head bank of the country was still in power.

It means that the communication enterprises ignored the prohibition
of the National Bank of Azerbaijan and carried operations by the
system of transfers, which challenged the sovereignty of Azerbaijan,
against the interests of the Azerbaijani statehood.

At the same time, according to an official of the post office, the
operations via MoneyGram did not stop.

According to spokesman for the National Bank of Azerbaijan Kamran
Nazarli, the National Bank has officially expressed its attitude
to these events, posting the decision passed on its website. In
particular, the National Bank of Azerbaijan resumed operations with
WesternUnion and MoneyGram systems from August 14 of 2008. According
to the internationa, posted on the website of the head bank of
the country, on July 30 of 2008, the National Bank prohibited
the Azerbaijani banks to hold operations in the framework of these
monetary transfers system. As is known, the prohibition was applied
due to the information about the cooperation of these monetary systems
with Khankendi (Nagorno Karabakh).

Western Union website has previously showed that four Armenian banks
received and sent monetary transfers in "Stepanakert". At the same
time, the website fixes that this city is the so-called "capital"
of the unrecognized "Nagorno Karabakh Republic".

As is noted, vice president of Western Union Johnathan Knaus who
visited Baku on August 7, recognized that on the whole, the operations
on monetary transfers in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan are illegal
during the meeting with his Azerbaijani colleagues. At the same time,
he undertook responsibility for averting such cases in the future. The
same responsibility was also taken by MoneyGram. Therefore, the
National bank of Azerbaijan lifted the ban on conducting operations.

In turn, according to deputy Panah Huseyn, the MoneyGram system was
allowed to hold operations in Azerbaijan earlier than Western Union
as this company guaranteed correction of the mistake. "Anyway, if
the National Bank of Azerbaijan had banned conduction of operations
via this system of transfers, non-observance of this requirement is
odd. If operations were carried during the ban, the official circles
should clarify the issue".

earlier, as head of the postal department of Ministry of Communication
and Information Technologies Novruz Mamedov noted, "we have not
concluded a contract on monetary transfers directly with Western
Union. The monetary transfers by this system were conducted by the
line of Parabank (which is an official distributor of the monetary
transfer system in Azerbaijan)". As for MoneyGram, Mamedov said
the postal system in Azerbaijan in fact does not operate with this
transfer system. "We have conducted the e-transfers in the framework
of the international transfers system of the World Postal Union,
called Stefi. We have contracts with 7 countries in the framework of
this system and we plan to expand this net of cooperation.

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies was unable
to explain the origin of the cheques.

As was repeatedly noted, "operation" of some companies, dealing with
monetary transfers in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, contradicts to
international law and is, therefore, illegal. Therefore, after the
reaction of the Azerbaijani side, these companies have suspended their
activity in the territory of Nagorno Karabakh. But nongovernmental
circles are concerned that this step can be taken temporarily to
calm down the Azerbaijani side. These companies may resume such
illegal activity after Azerbaijan calms down. In order to fully
avert such illegal activity, Azerbaijan should develop a single
concept. Specialists consider it necessary to carry out a coordinated
work between the state structures, in particular, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and on the level of a parliament. The importance of
allocating funds for financing mechanism of reveal, filing a claim
against the companied, operating in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan
and challenging the country’s territorial integrity, was stressed.

LEVON ARONIAN TAKES LEAD AT GRAND PRIX TOURNAMENT IN SOCHI

ARMENPRESS
Aug 13, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS; Armenia’s Levon Aronian upset Boris
Gelfand of Israel to take the lead of the Grand Prix tournament in
Sochi, Russia. The tournament is the second in a series to select a
challenger for the world championship in 2010.

After 11 rounds Aronian has 7 points. Wang Yue of China, Teimour
Radjabov of Azerbaijan and Sergey Koryakin of Ukraine each have
6.5 points.

LITURGY TO BE CELEBRATED ON OCCASION OF THE ASSUMPTION IN SURB SARGIS CHURCH OF DAMASCUS ON AUGUST 17

Noyan Tapan

Au g 13, 2008

DAMASCUS, AUGUST 13, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. A Holy Liturgy
will be celebrated and the head of the Armenian diocese of Damascus
Bishop Armash Nalbandian will preach a sermon in Surb Sargis Church
of Damascus on August 17 on the occasion of the Assumption. At the
conclusion of the liturgy, a ritual Blessing of the Grapes ceremony
will be held.

According to the rules of the Armenian Church, no requiem service
is conducted on the day of the Assumption. A service for the repose
of the dead will be conducted at the National cemetery with the
participation of priests on August 18.

TWO MORE BRONZE MEDALS: LOOKING FORWARD FOR TODAY

Panorama.am
14:47 13/08/2008

In the 29th Summer Olympic Games Armenian boxer Hovhannes Danielian
(48kg rate) had a victory over a boxer from Cameroon and passed to
the next stage. Armenian wrestler Arman Adikian has been defeated in
a meeting with Hungarian Tamash Lorints. Arsen Djulfalakian is to have
a meeting with Ukrainian Vladimir Shatckikhi. Today two other Armenian
sportsmen Ara Khachatryan and Gevorg Davtian will have their turns.

Note that Armenian sportsmen Roman Amoian and Tigran Gevorgi
Martirosian have won two bronze medals.

China is the leader by its 14 golden medals. By today Turkey has
one silver, Azerbaijan one golden, two silver and Georgia one bronze
medals. Russian sportsmen received two golden, five silver and three
bronze medals.

Czech Happenings, Czech Republic
Aug 10 2008

Georgian events coincide with invasion anniversary – Czech ForMin

Prague/Tbilisi- Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, who has
cut his holiday short over the conflict in Georgia, today said Prague
supports Georgia where by a sad coincidence fights broke out shortly
before the 40th anniversary of the Soviet-led invasion of
Czechoslovakia, spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova said.

She told CTK that Schwarzenberg, who is returning to the office now
instead of August 18, as originally planned, is in contact with his
Georgian counterpart Eka Tkeshelashvili and also with Bernard
Kouchner, the foreign minister of France that presides over the EU
now.

Czech Ambassador in Tbilisi Ivan Jestrab today said that some 30
Czechs have left Georgia along with a convoy bound for the Armenian
capital Jerevan, from where most of them are to leave by a Polish
plane for Warsaw later today.

Further Czechs will leave Armenia in the same way on Monday, Jestrab
told CTK.

Another four Czechs, who find themselves in western Georgia and cannot
use their air-tickets to depart from Batumi by plane, will go to
Istanbul by car. The Czech consulate in Istanbul will help them reach
the Czech Republic, Jestrab said.

About 15 other Czechs want to remain in Georgia. The embassy knows
their identity, their whereabouts and it has connection with them.

Another 15 Czechs, however, reportedly stay in Georgia’s mountainous
areas, according to the embassy’s unconfirmed information. The embassy
does not know their names nor is it in contact with
them. Nevertheless, according to available information, all Czechs in
Georgia are in order, unharmed and face no problems, Jestrab said.

He said the situation in Tbilisi is calm, but local residents are
naturally nervous.

The Czech carrier CSA’s regular flights from Prague to Tbilisi and
vice versa on Saturday was cancelled over the security situation in
Georgia.

Another CSA plane is to depart for Tbilisi on August 12. "It will
depend on the general situation whether the flight will depart," CSA
spokeswoman Daniela Hupakova told CTK.

On Friday, the Georgian military used force to gain control of the
country’s separatist and pro-Russian province South Ossetia. It met
with armed resistance of the Russian military that sent in troops to
reinforce the Russian members of the South Ossetian peace corps.

Tens, hundreds and even thousands of victims have been reported by
various sources from the South Ossetian centre Tskhinvali.

view.php?id=327400

RussiaToday, Russia
Aug 10 2008

Abkhazia starts war with Georgia

Abkhazia’s army has launched a military operation to try to force
Georgian troops out of the upper part of the Kodori Gorge. It started
with the use of artillery and air strikes against Georgian forces.

Abkhazia has announced that it has moved its troops into the Gali
district which borders Georgia.

The breakaway republic has provided a humanitarian corridor for
residents of the disputed Kodori Gorge. However the breakaway
republic’s officials say they don’t know whether people will use this
passageway to safety.

Earlier, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported that Russian ships
prevented Georgian military vessels from nearing Abkhazia.

Thousands of Russians are on holiday in the picturesque republic with
a long coastline. They fear a conflict could result in innocent blood
being spilled.

But RT correspondent Aleksandr Luchaninov says Russians are not ready
to leave the area just yet.

"Those I spoke to said they are very concerned, and in case of trouble
they are prepared to leave the region immediately," he said.

For several days Georgian troops have been massing on the
border. Abkhasia’s president, Sergey Bagapsh, said the breakaway
republic’s troops are in contact with peacekeeping forces in the
region.

The atmosphere in the capital Sukhumi is tense, and officials are
anticipating Georgian aggression.

"Today it’s South Ossetia, tomorrow it might be Abkhasia," said
Bagapsh, explaining his decision to move the troops.

Meanwhile, the situation in South Ossetia is affecting neighbouring
countries, according to reports from the Armenian-Georgian border
(WATCH THE VIDEO).

SALZBURG HONOURS SWISS COMPOSER HUBER

AUSTRIA TODAY
August 8, 2008 Friday 3:56 PM

Swiss composer Klaus Huber has been awarded the renowned "Musikpreis
Salzburg 2009". It was announced on Thursday that Huber would
receive 80,000 Euros, while Armenian-French composer Franck Christian
Yeznikian, as recommended by Huber, has been awarded the "Prize of
Appraisal" worth 20,000 Euros. Huber said that he had recommended
39-year-old Yeznikian because "he is, like me, no careerist and
has no interest in making a market for himself. But he is a serious
composer who is not only interested in the product but also in its
background." The jury justified their decision saying: "Klaus Huber is
a middleman for existential and political messages shaped by a belief
in a better world. Huber´s work is complex and comprehensive. Huber
has created poetic worlds of sound in which Arabic music merges with
Christian and also Communist elements." Huber said that the award
was the greatest honour he had ever received. The 83-year-old joked
around, saying: "The reason might be that [the very common German name]
Huber isn’t a good name with which to have a big career as a composer."

–Boundary_(ID_j7kdf3nueHY9N3rKWq ogug)–

CORRELATION OF FORCES IN THE GEORGIAN-OSSETIAN CONFLICT AREA; Georgian-Ossetian conflict: correlation of forces.
by Pavel Felgengauer, Valentin Zvegintsev

WPS Agency, Russia
What the Papers Say
August 8, 2008 Friday
Russia

Initiative in the conflict area is the Ossetians’. It is the Ossetians
who provoke the conflict by all means available. Georgia does not
need a war this year. It knows that it will be much stronger next
year. Moreover, Tbilisi must convince the international community
that it is not Georgia that started it all. Even Russian peacekeepers
say that the Ossetians are lying, that there is no fighting under
way there…

Meanwhile, there are trigger-happy hotheads in Georgia too, so that
a conflict is actually possible. Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia is
probably correct to regard late September and early October as the
extremely dangerous period, a period when the hostilities may begin.

It should be remembered, however, that Saakashvili’s regular army
is one of the best in all of the post-Soviet zone. It consists
of 6 brigades. Four of them are autonomous formations, each 3,300
men strong. Every brigade includes 3 infantry battalions 591 man
each, an armored battalion, artillery battalion, and some companies
(communications, rear services, military engineers). A great deal of
Georgian infantrymen saw combat in Iraq.

Also importantly, Georgian infantry is well-trained in mountainous
warfare.

Special task brigade includes all special forces of the Georgian
army. The Air Force includes six squadrons of MI-8s, UH-1Hs, SU-25s,
MI-17s, MI-24s, L-39s, and drones.

The Georgian Defense Ministry assumed command of the Internal Troops as
well. These latter number 15,000 men plus several special battalions
deployed in Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflict areas where units
of the regular army are forbidden by cease-fire agreements.

Along with everything else, Georgia has a combat ready army of
volunteers numbering 30,000. Reservists (100,000 men) are arranged
in the manner of the US National Guard…

By and large, the Georgians can muster 80,000 men this year. Even
100,000 men, actually, if the conflict becomes protracted.

The situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia is different. When
they received Russian passports and citizenship, people there
began immigrating to Russia and Turkey in search of jobs and
safety. According to OSCE and UN observers, there are less than 30,000
Ossetians in South Ossetia nowadays. In Abkhazia, the Abkhazians
themselves number only about 30% of the whole population estimated at
140,000. The largest ethnic community there is Armenian. There are
also Russians, and so others. Plus 50,000 Georgians who returned to
the Gali district.

In time of peace, the Abkhazian army numbers up to 4,500
men. Mobilization of 10,000 more is expected. As for the Ossetians,
their army is 3,000 men strong.

South Ossetian Deputy Premier Boris Chochiyev: When the Georgians
invade us, all Ossetians will leave for Russia

Question: What if the Georgians pierce the defense and enter South
Ossetia?

Boris Chochiyev: All Ossetians will leave for Russia because they
will be imprisoned otherwise.

Question: How will Russia and the West react to it?

Boris Chochiyev: Well, Russia is supposed to protect and defend it
citizens, isn’t it? Moreover, Russia is the principal guarantor of
peace and stability, and this particular document bears signature of
Georgia. Documents are to be signed and honored, right? As for the
West, it is clear I believe that the West has been arming Georgia in
order to use it as a bridgehead in its own wars on Russia afterwards.

Question: The government of South Ossetia claims that Tbilisi is
putting its military plans into motion…

Boris Chochiyev: It does indeed. Georgia turned down all our
suggestions made over the last eight months. Not a single one was
accepted. Tbilisi turned down everything including a non-aggression
pact.

Question: The widespread opinion is that this action on the part of
Georgia may facilitate official recognition of the Republic of South
Ossetia by Russia. What do you think?

Boris Chochiyev: I think that it is what should be done. Russia should
have recognized South Ossetia already. The Ossetians mutter that they
want to know how many victims more are needed for Russia to recognize
South Ossetia…

ARMENIA: 15,590 NEWBORNS IN H1 2008

ESMERK
News Armenia
August 6, 2008 Wednesday

In the first half of 2008, 15,590 infants were born in Armenia
including 7,300 girls according to the National Statistical Service
of the Republic of Armenia.

Armenia: population exceeds 3mn people

According to the National Statistical Service of the Republic of
Armenia, population amounted to about 3.23mn people in the first half
of 2008 (up 8,000 people year-on-year). Urban population amounted
to 2.7mn people. Natality totalled 4,120 people against 3,600 people
year-on-year.

ONLY REFERENDUMS CAN RESOLVE TERRITORIAL CONFLICTS – ABKHAZ FOREIGN MINISTRY

Interfax News Agency
Aug 4 2008
Russia

The Abkhaz Foreign Ministry has called on the world community to
recognize the results of the referendums conducted in the unrecognized
republics on the post-Soviet space.

The Abkhaz Foreign Ministry published a statement made by U.S.

Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza in which he has proposed
to make a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh for the local residents to
resolve the issue of independence themselves.

The Abkhaz Foreign Ministry said this proposal was "most constructive
and rational."

"Only such a proposal will make it possible to find a way out of the
blind alley that has persisted for many years and take this region
out of the economic stagnation and isolation offering hope for lengthy
peace and development to the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh," it said.

However, the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry regrets that the world community
and mediators in the Georgian-Abkhaz negotiating process ignored the
results of the referendum and are still insisting on Abkhazia’s return
to Georgia as an autonomy.

The Abkhaz authorities have declared that Abkhazia shall not return to
Georgia and have refused to discuss the issue of Abkhaz’s political
status with anybody. The status was determined by the people of
Abkhazia at a referendum in October 1999. At that time, 97% of the
population voted for Abkhaz independence.