Author: Nalbandian Eduard

WAS PACE RESOLUTION 1643 ON ARMENIA A VICTORY OR A DEFEAT?
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
30.01.2009 17:12

Republican Karen Avagyan and member of the "Heritage" faction Vardan
Khachatryan today discussed Resolution 1643 that came to substitute
Resolutions 1609 and 1620. According to the latter, we cannot sigh
with relief, sine the last resolution is still dangerous for Armenia.

Instead of discussing whether Armenia’s voting right will be suspended
or not, people in Armenia are now arguing whether it was a victory
or defeat.

"Sure, it was a victory over those who do their best to deprive our
delegation of the voting right," Republican Karen Avagyan says.

However, opinions differ. To correctly comment on the Resolution,
one should look at its requirements and understand which points are
favorable for Armenia, which are not. Here also everyone sees what
he wants to see.

According to Karen Avagyan, the primary thing in Resolution 1643 is
the requirement to amend Articles 225 and 300 of the Criminal Code
of Armenia.

Was the new Resolution adopted by PACE a simple change of numbers or
a document posing serious requirements?

In response to the question, member of the "Heritage" faction Vardan
Khachatryan stated: "The new Resolution is as dangerous as the previous
two. Let’s not resemble a dug addict, who takes the drug and thinks
that the disease=2 0has passed."

After the adoption of Resolution 1643 the opposition was insisting
that the situation in Armenia had been presented unilaterally, the
co-rapporteurs had not listened to the opinion of the opposition. Since
the founder of the "Heritage" Partyu Raffi Hovhannistayn is the only
representative of the opposition in the Armenian delegation to PACE,
the pointer of dissatisfaction turned towards him.

Why didn’t Raffi Hovhannisyan participatre in the PACE session? Vardan
Khachatryan responded: I consider such talks are extremely biased
and are beneath criticism, because the European structures are
well-informed. Raffi Hovhannisyan does not participate in plenary
sittings, and the reason is the application of double standards
towards Armenia and Azerbaijan. Boycotts take different forms and
to see whether they turn useful or not, it is necessaruy to consider
concrete cases."

With regard to this statement, Republican Karen Avagyan noted:
"In this concrete case you are the only opposition and you had to
contribute to the lessening of polarization."

STATE COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC COMPETITION TO CONDUCT MONITORING

Panorama.am
16:31 30/01/2009

The State Committee for Economic Competition conducted a monitoring
in January to fix the price dynamics of food products in the local
market. The Committee fixed that the prices of butter, bread, oil,
cheese, rice, flour, coffee, meat and eggs has been stable in 16
shops in Yerevan, in some trade centers the prices were decreased.

TOTAL LIABILITIES OF ARMENIAN CREDIT ORGANIZATIONS OVER 2008 GREW BY 54,4% TO $1.6 BLN

ArmInfo
2009-01-29 11:53:00

ArmInfo. Total liabilities of the Armenian credit organizations
over 2008 grew by 54,4%, over IV quarter – by 6,4% to 47.8 bln drams
($1.6 bln) by December 31, press service of Armenia’s Central Bank
told ArmInfo.

According to the provided data, in the structure of the credit
organizations’ total liabilities 71,3% growth has been fixed on
liabilities to the banks and other financial organizations over 2008,
by 12,7% over IV quarter to 32.5 bln drams ($106 mln). The paid
interest grew over 2008 by 165,1%, over IV reduced by 10,4% to 625
mln drams ($2 mln). Other liabilities increased over 2008 by 202,9%,
over IV quarter – by 119,8% to 3.7 bln drams ($12 mln). Accrued
liabilities of individual persons over the reporting period grew by
38,5% to 2 bln drams ($6.4 mln), those of legal persons reduced by
0,6% to 8.9 bln drams ($29.3 mln). Accrued liabilities of individual
persons over IV quarter reduced by 0,4%, those of legal persons – by
22,9%. According to CB data, 24 credit organizations and 48 branches
functioned in Armenia as of December 31, 2008.

NKR PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES NEWLY-ELECTED PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

Noyan Tapan

Jan 29, 2009

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The President of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakian sent a message of congratulation
to the newly-elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kiril. The
text of the message was submitted to NT by the Central Information
Department of the Office of the NKR President. The message reads:

"On behalf of the authorities and people of the NKR, I cordially
congratulate you on election as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Your personal qualities and experience, knowledge and firm faith form
a reliable basis for successfully implementing the hard and important
mission of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

I am convinced that under your direction the links between the Russian
Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church will deepen even
more, which will have a positive effect on the further strengthening
of Russian-Armenian relations.

I congratulate you once again and wish you peace, happiness, good
health and success in all your undertakings".

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH SELECTS METROPOLITAN KIRILL AS ITS NEW PATRIARCH

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2009 13:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Russian Orthodox Church has selected 62-year-old
Metropolitan Kirill as its new patriarch to succeed Patriarch Aleksy
II, who died on December 5 after guiding the world’s largest Orthodox
Church through nearly two decades of reconstruction and revival in
the post-Soviet era.

A seasoned operator after long service as head of the church’s foreign
relations section, Kirill was elected on Tuesday by an overwhelming
majority in a ballot of church leaders in Moscow’s ornate cathedral
of Christ the Saviour.

Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, received 508 votes
in a secret ballot of the Church Council in Moscow while his challenger
Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk won 169 votes.

"I accept and thank the Church Council for my election as Patriarch
of Moscow and All Russia," Kirill said solemnly after the results
were announced, before leading the congregation in an Orthodox liturgy.

Addressing the incense-filled gathering earlier, Kirill had
made a strident call for church unity and urged the faithful to
resist Protestant and Catholic proselytizing, dampening hopes of a
transformation in poisonous ties with Rome, the AFP reports.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY WILL FIX 5.5 PERCENT GROWTH IN 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2009 19:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD) reduced its 2009 economic growth forecasts, reflecting the
prospects of a deepening recession in the developed world, and
faster-than-expected slowing in economic activity in its region in
the final months of 2008.

In its latest forecast for economic growth, the Bank still expected
the EBRD region to avoid a blanket recession of its own. However,
average growth predictions marked some stark variations.

The EBRD now expects average 2009 growth of 0.1 percent in the 30
countries where it has investments, compared with a prediction of
2.5 percent based on country forecasts made in November last year. It
estimates that the region expanded by 4.8 percent in 2008, compared
with the prediction of 6.3 percent made last November.

Chief Economist Erik Berglof said, "The EBRD region is feeling the
full impact of the global slowdown, mainly because of the region’s
increased integration within the global economy."

He added, "The ability of these countries to withstand such a major
external shock over the longer term will depend largely on the
speed of the recovery of the global economy, the combined efforts
of individual governments and International Financial Institutions,
including the EBRD, to safeguard financial systems in the region,
and the support of foreign banks to their eastern subsidiaries."

Despite the lower short-term growth prospects, the mid to long-term
expectations call for a rebound, possibly as early as next
year. Mr. Berglof noted that economic fundamentals throughout the
region had strengthened over the last decade, paving the way for
the revival of economic momentum once the global economic downturn
had abated.

The EBRD expects economic growth of one percent in Russia this year,
down from the three percent predicted last November.

South Eastern Europe was expected to show growth of 1.5 percent this
year, down sharply from the 7.3 percent estimated for 2008.

Positive growth in these countries reflects still strong domestic
demand, and in some cases lower levels of financial integration, but
the risk of an even sharper slowdown is high, according to Mr. Berglof.

Growth in the Central Europe and the Baltics is seen at 0.4 percent
this year after 3.9 percent last year.

Central Asia was seen growing most robustly this year, showing growth
of 2.3 percent, compared with 4.9 percent expansion in 2008.

The Armenian economy will fix 5.5 percent growth instead of forecast
8.3 percent.

Despite predicting close to flat growth for the whole of its region,
the EBRD expects economic contractions this year in Ukraine, Hungary
and the three Baltic states. The Ukrainian economy is expected to
shrink by five percent in 2009, Hungary by two percent, with declines
of 3.5 percent, five percent and 2.5 percent seen in Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania, respectively.

SEYRAN OHANIAN: AZERBAIJAN OBSTINATELY DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THAT KARABAKH PROBLEM HAS ONLY ONE WAY OF SOLUTION – POLITICAL DIALOG

Noyan Tapan

Jan 27, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. In contrast to political speculation
and various domestic and external pressures, the consistent efforts
of the political leadership of the Republic of Armenia confirm the
correctness of the negotiation process within the framework of the
OSCE Minsk Group and the Tripartite Agreement that Russia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan signed on November 2, 2008. The Armenian defence minister
Seyran Ohanian stated this at the January 27 ceremony dedicated to
the 17th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian army.

Nevertheless, in his words, "the enemy continues making threats to
achieve a considerbale military advantage over the Armenian army by
means of petrodollars and to solve the Artsakh problem in a military
way, and these threats sometimes turn into armed incidents that
have received a fitting rebuff of the Armenian side". The minister
mentioned the Azerbaijani troops’ attack on the defence positions
in the village of Leonarkh in Martakert region on March 3, 2008, the
strained situation near the village of Chinar in June when Azerbaijan
shelled both military positions and civilians, and the subversive
actions in Hadrut region on November 16. According to the minister,
all these acions had a shameful outcome for the Azerbaijani side.

He said that Azerbaijan obstinately does not want to admit that the
Karabakh problem has only one way of solution – political dialog.

S. Ohanian said that last year special attention was paid to
solution of social and housing problems of servicemen, perished
and disabled freedom fighters and their families: in 2008, 734
modern apartments were provided to servicemen in various regions of
the country, compensation of 3 billion drams for the purchase of
apartments was allocated to families of perished military as well
as disabled servicemen of 1st and 2nd group, 10 detached houses
were built. "Despite the global economic crisis, the leaders of the
country say that the socially oriented programs on the army will be
of continuous nature," the minister declared.

RUSSIAN MFA LIES DENYING ARMAMENT DELIVERY TO ARMENIA, BAKU INSISTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.01.2009 13:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan keeps insisting that Russia supplies
Armenia with arms, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.

The investigation carried out gives reason to suppose that the
information is true, says the statement issued Wednesday by the Azeri
Foreign Ministry.

The statement says that the incident helps "occupation of the
Azerbaijani territory." "Full responsibility for the consequences of
this action rests on Russia."

Baku’s accusation campaign started after publication of some media
reports about delivery of Russian armament to the amount of $800
million to Armenia.

Although, Defense Ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan refuted the
fact, Azerbaijan still insists on further investigation.

Ali Hasanov, head of the political department at the Azeri President’s
administration said this incident will damage Russia’s image and
warned to henceforth eye Russia as unreliable partner.

The Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday once again denied delivery of
armament to Armenia and stated that "the issue is settled."

PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA MAY MEET IN DAVOS – MEDIATOR

Interfax
Jan 19 2009
Russia

There is the possibility of a speedy understanding between Azerbaijan
and Armenia on key principles of settling the conflict in Karabakh,
Co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk group for Russia Yury Merzlyakov said.

"I believe that if the sides demonstrate political will, an
understanding can be reached on basic principles and work on the
agreement launched," he told Azerbaijan’s Lider TV channel.

The main purpose of the current visit of mediators to the region is
to promote the speedy adoption of the settlement principles proposed
in Madrid and to continue talks Merzlyakov said.

In turn, U.S. cochairman Matthew Bryza said that during the current
visit of mediators the organization of the next meeting of the
presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia will be discussed. The meeting
may take place during the Davos Economic Forum due on January 29 –
February 1.

"The meeting of the presidents is going to depend on our talks in Baku
and Yerevan. There is an excellent chance for talks this month. We
believe and hope that the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia will take place," Bryza said.

After meeting the leadership of Azerbaijan the cochairmen will travel
to Yerevan.

The cochairmen are expected to issue a statement after visiting
the region.

TIGRAN KOTANJIAN AND ANNA HAYRAPETIAN IN LEAD IN POINTS TABLES AT ARMENIA’S CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS OF HIGHEST LEAGUE

Noyan Tapan

Jan 19, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Tigran Kotanjian with 5.5 points is
in first place after the 7th round of Armenian Men’s Chess Championship
(the Highest League). Arthur Chibukhchian with 5 points is in 2nd
place, while Avetik Grigorian and Ashot Anastasian with 4.5 points
each share 3rd-4th places. The game between Ashot Anastasian and
Samvel Ter-Sahakian was postponed.

Armenian Women’s Chess Championship with the participation of 10
players also started at Tigran Petrosian Chess House on January
16. Anna Hayrapetian with 3 points is in lead in points table after
the 3rd round. She is followed by Lilit Galoyan and Ani Khanamirian
who earned 2 points each.