Author: Nalbandian Eduard

EX-PRIME MINISTER OF UKRAINE VIKTOR YANUKOVICH TO VISIT ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Ex-Prime Minister of the Ukraine
Viktor Yanukovich will visit Armenia on December 5. He will take part
in events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Spitak earthquake.

It should be mentioned that the Spitak authorities have decided to
name one of the town streets in honor of the leader of the Ukrainian
Party of Regions V. Yanukovich. Thus, the Armenian side will express
gratitude to V. Yanukovich for his participation in town’s restoration
after the earthquake.

In 1988 V. Yanukovich headed the Donbasstransremont industrial complex.

According to the information of the Party of Regions, a letter had
been received from Spitak residents mentioning that V. Yanukovich
"from the very start took an active part in providing assistance to
those suffered from the earthquake, headed replenishment of rescue
detachments and construction subdivisions."

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA AWARDS AN ORDER OF HONOR TO THE CHAIRMAN OF GAZPROM BOARD

armradio.am
01.12.2008 18:18

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, received the Chairman of
the Board of "Gazprom" Company Alexey Miller. During the meeting the
interlocutors discussed a broad framework of issues related to the
cooperation in the field of energy. Reference was made to current
programs.

The parties appreciated the cooperation launched between the Republic
of Armenia and "Gazprom" Company, assessing it as effective and
promising. The Head of State and the Chairman of "Gazprom" Board
discussed the process of investment programs into the 5th energy unit
of Hrazdan Thermoelectric Unit of Hrazdan.

Serzh Sargsyan awarded Alexey Miller with an Order of Honor for his
remarkable contribution to the expansion of economic cooperation
between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation and the
development and deepening of the Armenian-Russian friendly ties.

Alexey Miller expressed gratitude to President Sargsyan for this great
honor and highly appreciated the current level and perspectives of
the Armenian-Russian energy cooperation.

BAKO SAHAKYAN MET ARMENIAN BENEFACTOR IN USA

Panorama.am
18:05 29/11/2008

On November 28, the President of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakyan had
a meeting with American-Armenian benefactor Gerry Trpantchian. During
the meeting projects which are being implemented in the social-economic
field of the country have been discussed, reported the press service
of the President Administration of NKR.

According to the source, the President highly evaluated the
implementation of "Trpantchian rural communities’ development project"
by the American University of Armenia in Artsakh.

Tacy, Israel
Nov 30 2008

ARMENIA POLISHED EXPORTS UP OVER 8%

30 November 2008

Armenia’s cut diamond exports in the first ten months of 2008, worth
over US$35 million, increased by over 8 percent from the country’s cut
diamond exports in January to October 2007, says Aik Mirzoian, Head of
Regional and Industrial Development at the Armenian Economics
Ministry.

Mirzoian says that local cutting plants Daimotek and Lori have
received some major orders, thus assisting the industry to emerge from
its lengthy decline.

Armenia’s cut diamond production rose by over 12 percent during this
period, while sales of finished goods rose 8.5 percent.

Forex Pros, British Virgin Islands
Nov 27 2008

Armenia adopts 2009 budget targeting 9.2 pct growth

2008-11-27 20:37:13 GMT (Reuters)

YEREVAN, Nov 27 (Reuters) – The Armenian parliament on Thursday
approved a state budget for 2009 forecasting robust economic growth of
9.2 percent despite fears of a slowdown from the global financial
crisis.

Projected growth in the landlocked ex-Soviet republic for 2008 is 10
percent.

The budget calls for spending of 945.4 billion drams ($3.1 billion)
and revenues of 905.4 billion drams. The budget deficit is projected
at 1.0 percent of GDP, lower than the 2.16 percent of 2008.

The document forecasts annual inflation in 2009 in the range of 4.0
percent, unchanged from 2008. The bulk of spending is to be
concentrated on the social sector.

Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan told parliament that 2009 would be
challenging because of the global financial crisis, but added:
"Macro-economic stability will support the country’s immunity in case
of economic crisis. We will continue to provide financial stability in
order to attract investment."

Per capita GDP in the country of 3.2 million people is expected to
rise to $4,200 from $4,000 in 2008. (Reporting by Hasmik Lazarian;
editing by Dan Grebler)

/armenia-adopts-2009-budget-targeting-9.2-pct-grow th-9357

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 27 2008

Abulfas Garayev: `Armenia was also invited to Baku meeting of European
culture ministers’

[ 27 Nov 2008 14:02 ]
Baku. Ulkar Gasimova`APA. Armenian representative is expected to
attend the meeting of ministers of culture of European countries on
December 2-3 in Baku, said Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas
Garayev, APA reports.

The Minister said the Council of Europe invited Armenia to this
meeting. `The Council of Europe invited Armenia to the meeting, but
their participation has not been confirmed yet. Maybe Armenian
representative will attend this meeting on the level of other
participants’.

Garayev said for the first time ministers of neighboring regions,
Islamic and Arab countries would attend the conference. `We consider
that the cultural program we prepared will prove Azerbaijan as
European and great Islamic country. We hope that Baku Declaration to
be signed at the end of the conference will be guiding document for
the ministers and ministries of culture’.

The Minister said cultural events would be organized within the
conference.

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California)
November 26, 2008 Wednesday

7 arrested after street melee

ALTADENA – Seven people, including a 71-year-old man, were facing
charges Wednesday stemming from a melee along Atchison Street that
left one man injured.

Those fighting used bats, chains and anything else they could get
their hands on, deputies said.

Deputies arrested seven people Tuesday night, including two
juveniles. Officials identified the adult suspects as Alek Bronsozian,
23; Raffie Khajarian, 23; Andreas Akopyan, 24; Manouk Satamian, 60,
and Levon Arakelyan, 71. All were booked on suspicion of burglary,
authorities said. The two minors were booked on suspicion of burglary
and disturbing the peace, officials said.

A witness to the Tuesday night brawl said it appeared to be racially
motivated. The witness, who did not want to be identified for fear of
retaliation, said three Latino men who live in a back house in an
alley off Atchison were talking on a sidewalk when they were
confronted by a group of Armenian men. She said only one of the
Armenian men lived in the neighborhood.

"One was saying that this was their street," the witness said. "They
threatened them that they’re not going to let them live on this
street. I think it was an Armenian-Mexican kind of problem."

She said the fighting took place primarily in a driveway and an
alley. She also said she heard three gunshots.

"As soon as I heard the gunshots, I had my family run inside and close
the doors," she said.

Deputy Richard Lewis of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s
Altadena Station said officials began receiving multiple reports of a
fight in the 1700 block of Atchison Street about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Callers told deputies that 10 to 20 people were fighting in the
street, using "bats, chains, anything at hand," said Lewis. He
described the scene Tuesday night as "a full mutual combat melee,
which kind of spread out through the entire block."

Deputies found no evidence of a shooting, Lewis said.

The witness said a group of men broke windows and stole a television
from the house where the three Latino men live. She said police found
the men huddled behind trash cans near the house.

However, Khajarian, after posting bail, said reports surrounding the
situation got out of hand. He referred to the arrests of him and his
friends as "unfair."

A1+

DID HAYRAPETYAN BEAT SIMONOV?
[02:35 pm] 28 November, 2008

`Ararat’ is going to bring a suit against the President of the
Armenian Football Federation (FFA), Armenian MP Ruben
Hayrapetyan. According to the club administration the FFA President
gave a good hiding to Ararat’s General Manager Varujan Simonov on
November 15.

During today’s press conference Simonov announced that the incident
had happened on November 15, after the Pyunik-Ararat (0:1) game within
the framework of the Armenian Football Championship.

`I was very delighted with the team’s victory and I announced looking
at the tribunes that we would become a champion. I said nothing
offensive against Ruben Hayrapetyan. Immediately after the match
Hayrapetyan wiped off scores with me. He was outraged at the defeat.’
said Simonov.

`A club representative saw me to the car after the game. When we were
going to drive away one of Hayrapetyan’s bodyguards approached us and
took me to an unknown place which was under repair. Hayrapetyan’s
bodyguards were already there. Minutes later Hayrapetyan showed up and
began railing at me. Then he rained 2-3 blows on me. Fortunately, one
of my friends dropped in and took me away.’

Note that A1+ possessed information about the incident still on
November 17 and tried to learn more details from Varujan Simonov but
he refuted everything saying it was a mere misunderstanding.

`Yes, I didn’t say anything as I was preoccupied with the forthcoming
golden meeting. Besides, I didn’t want to flare up the tense the
atmosphere,’ said the General Manager.

Ararat’s President Hrach Kapiryan says the FFA President should be
brought to justice. `We have circumstantial evidence and we are going
to sue him. Ruben Hayrapetyan must be punished for his misdeed,’ he
said.

POLICEMEN FORCE FREEDOM-FIGHTERS ON HUNGER-STRIKE OUT OF YERABLUR

YEREV AN, NOVEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. At about 10:00, November 28,
policemen again attacked a group of Artsakh war freedom-fighters, who
had gone on hunger-strike from November 26, took them to the street by
force and do not permit them to return to Yerablur.

It should be mentioned that the previous day, on November 27, the
policemen of Malatia police station came to Yerablur and advised the
action participants to go away otherwise they threatened to bring them
to the police station by force. At about 10:00 they took two
participants of the hunger-strike to the police station.

Freedom-fighters on hunger-strike Meruzhan Haroutiunian (Vanadzor),
Hrach Aloyan (Aparan), Vardan Yeritsian (Yerevan), Suren Martirosian
(Echmiadzin), Levon Margarian (Armavir), Vardan Malkhasian (Ijevan),
Armen Manukian (Baghramian region), Garik Begjanian (Alaverdi), and
Armen Badoyan (Yerevan) demand that the RA authorities not yield an
inch of land, recognize Artsakh as integral part of Armenia,
immediately release the political prisoners, and stop the political
persecutions.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS AT BSEC MEETING IN ISTANBUL

Hurriyet
Nov 24 2008
Turkey

Here are some remarks from the speech of Armenian Foreign Minister
Eduard Nalbandian at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization
(BSEC) meeting in Istanbul. (UPDATED)

BSEC

— I am confident of the organization having a special responsibility
to develop economic development in the wider Black Sea area.

— I think that when we created this organization we were twice
less presence, not only member states, but also observers and other
participants. Now we have more than 25 countries present for this
meeting. This is another proof that the organization is functioning.

— All countries understand that they have to join efforts to respond
to this global crisis, this challenge; we as the BSEC could join
efforts not only as an organization, and as member states.

— Cooperation could more effective. At the same time the economic
cooperation could be boosted to resolve all problems between countries.

RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

— I am in Istanbul as chairman of BSEC. It is a pleasure for me to
respond invitation of my colleagues. We will continue negotiations
concerning normalizations of our bilateral relations. Active dialogue
started early September when Gul came to watch the soccer match
to Armenia.

— We will continue this negotiations started early September,
I don’t see any serious obstacle in normalizing the relations.

— Normalizing relations and opening of the common border without any
preconditions, Armenia is ready to do that and we wait for Turkey to
do the same.

— It is interest of Armenia to establish diplomatic relations
with Turkey. There are many countries in war. They have diplomatic
relations; they are open to each other.

— I don’t see any major obstacles that could go to the
normalization. All establishment of diplomatic relations must be
prepared properly. This is not a problem, this is the question of
our relations.

— Our position is very clear. My optimism coming from the negotiations
with the Turkish side; we started negotiations immediately after
the (visit of the) president of Turkey in September. We had very
constructive, very interesting, very sincere and frank discussions.

— For the direct flights. I came directly from Yerevan. So if THY
will decide to have own direct flights to Armenia, why not? It would
be very good in boosting business and tourism between two countries.

— We must do it by our own decisions. The U.S. is very supportive
for the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations and we hope this
road would continue.

— Yes President Gul invited our president. Our president accepted
this invitation and I hope he will be here in October 2009 for
Turkey-Armenia match.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH

— Meeting held in the beginning of November in Moscow is not the
first meeting between the presidents. The first one was in June
in St. Petersburg. This November meeting was very constructive and
positive. Not from the talks but in the point of view of declaration
signed. First time there was a document signed by president of
Azerbaijan and Armenia saying Nagorno-Karabakh must be solved
peacefully and diplomatic way.

— The settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh should be guaranteed
by international communities. This is not a peace agreement but
principles are important. First time these countries signed in the
level of presidents.

— After that meeting three co-chairs visited the region. The basis of
the negotiations are the proposals made by the three co-chairs of Minsk
Group. We hope the Moscow meeting would accelerate the negotiations
between the parties through solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.