Author: Nanijanian Alex

QUARTER FINALISTS OF PAN-ARMENIAN BASKETBALL GAMES WERE SELECTED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.08.2009 21:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As a result of group basketball male tournament
organized within the frames of pan-Armenian games, the following
teams were qualified for quarter final: Los Angeles, Aleppo, Cairo,
Tehran, Istanbul, Gyumri and Yerevan.

Tabriz team which did not arrive in Yerevan will register technical
defeat in all competitions, both male and female.

Female tournament organized in round-robin system involves 5 teams
representing Tehran, Sisian, Stpeanakert, Yerevan and Gyumri. Leading
female team is that from Yerevan, which held victory in all 3
games. Tehran team also played successfully, holding 2 victories in
2 games.

Quarter final matches of male teams are due on August 14 in "Dinamo"
stadium, Yerevan.

7% POPULATION LOSS IN ARMENIA BY 2050

News.am
12:55 / 08/13/2009

Population Reference Bureau (PRB) reports natural population loss
to make 7% in Armenia by 2050. In Georgia and Ukraine the loss will
make 28%, whereas in Azerbaijan – 34%, Swaziland and Bulgaria – 33%
and 35% respectively.

Japan is rated 6th, Moldova – 7th with decrease in population by 25%
and 23% correspondingly. In Belarus, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina
the population loss is estimated at 20%, in Serbia – 21%.

Population size in Russia by 2050 will decrease to 110.1
million. According to PRB, population size in Russia by mid 2008
totaled 141.9 million.

ANDREY ARSHEV: APPOINTMENT OF TINA KAIDANOW NEGATIVELY IMPACT KARABAKH AND RUSSIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.08.2009 21:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The decision of the U.S. to replace Matthew Bryza
by the former Ambassador in Kosovo Tina Kaidanow, who is one of
"architects" of Kosovo’s independence, is a signal to Baku and says
a lot, Russian expert believes, Andey Areshev Deputy Director General
for the Strategic culture foundation told a PanARMENIAN.Net.

According to him, if Tina Kaidanow assumes the post of the American
co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, "it can negatively affect both Karabakh
and Russia, since the U.S. policy could acquire become a very negative
momentum for them".

"In regard to Stepanakert, it is an attempt to sacrifice its interests
to Azerbaijan’s benefit and in regard to Moscow – to give the second
breath to the politicized ethnicity in the North Caucasus with the
possibility of having some shots of the" Kosovo scenario ", the
Russian expert said, noting that the same applies to Iran.

"Emergence of independent Kosovo have been largely conditioned by
the geopolitical and energy interests of the U.S.," Andrew Areshev
said. According to him, the existing realities in the Caucasus,
including existence of three de facto states, two of which are
officially recognized by Russia, still create plenty of opportunities
to build different combinations, which would ultimately result in a
long-term military and political consolidation of the United States
in the region.

OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Matthew Bryza declared on August 10 in
Tbilisi, that U.S. diplomat Tina S. Kaidanow, will assume the office of
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs,
replacing him.

Successor of Bryza, Tina S. Kaidanow has worked for U.S. diplomatic
mission in Kosovo for two years, then she assumed the office of
the US ambassador in Kosovo. Earlier she worked as Deputy Chief of
U.S. mission in Sarajevo for three years.

"MUSICIANS FOR PEACE" FESTIVAL TO BE LAUNCHED IN SEVAN

Panorama.am
13:42 12/08/2009

"Musicians for peace" international musical first festival will
be launched in Sevan, Armenia, on 28 August. The organizer of the
festival is "Forsh and friends" company with the support of Ministries
of Economy, Transport and Communication, Diaspora.

Mekhak Apresyan of the Ministry of Economy told the reporters that
they hope the festival would become traditional contributing to the
development of tourism in Armenia. Besides, it was mentioned that
the mission of the festival is to contribute to the development of
cultural values.

Forsh, the founder of the company, said that about 75 bands and singers
from Armenia, Georgia, England are going to attend the festival. He
said that the mission of the festival is to improve the cooperation
between local and international organizations and bands.

70 000 ILLEGAL ARMENIANS WORK FOR TURKEY

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
14:04 / 08/11/2009

"Today Azeris, Turkmen, Uzbeks, Georgians, Sudanese and Armenians work
illegally in Turkey. You are not mistaken-Armenians too. Turkey is
a poor country but still feeds the neighbors," the newspaper reads,
underlining there are about sixty-seventy thousand illegal workers
in Turkey.

"A year ago Turkish Prime-Minister stated there were 50 000 illegal
Armenians working in the country, the head of Internal Affairs Ministry
said 53 000, while former Foreign Minister Yashar Yakish mentioned
70 000," the article reads.

Begun appeals to RA President: "Armenia’s population is 2.5-3 mln,
of which 70 000 earn their living in Turkey. If we assume one worker
feeding 3-4 people, this number comes to 210 000. This is a huge
number for Armenia. How many Armenians get work permit in France,
Belgium, Canada or Netherlands? Illegally working Armenians would be
deported immediately from those countries."

The newspaper underlines in short accents that RA President pushes away
Turkey’s lent friendly hand, refusing to come "to football match that
is a symbol of friendship." You may come or not. "However, learning
of 200-300 thousands illegal workers making their living in Turkey,
you should come and apologize," the author concludes.

Under Swiss auspices, on April 22 the Armenian and Turkish
governments have agreed on a framework, signing a roadmap of relations’
normalization and border gate unblocking with no preconditions. Thus,
Armenian Presidents statement on complying with the clause cannot
be viewed as precondition, as it is already agreed with Turkish
authorities. The matter is different, if the Turkish officials are
not ready to meet political agreements and obligations, trying to
elude from fulfilling their commitments calling them preconditions
of Armenia.

THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

Aysor.am
TODAY, 10:46

Today young people of different nations and civilizations are united
by the International Youth Day. By the decision of the UNO General
Assembly on December 17, 1999 August 12 was announced the International
Youth Day.

The International Youth Day comes to stress that the future of the
society is in the hands of the young people and they should be informed
and maximally integrated into the society for future developments.

On August 8-12, 1998, a resolution proclaiming 12 August as
International Youth Day was adopted by the first session of the World
Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, which was hosted by the
Government of Portugal in cooperation with the United Nations (Lisbon,
8-12 August 1998). International Youth Day aims to promote awareness,
especially among youth, of the World Program of Action for Youth.

It was on August, 2000 when for the first time the International
Youth Day was celebrated.

Armenia is not only celebrating the International Youth Day
but also is keeping the youth in the center of the Government’s
attention. Periodically different and substantial events are being
organized.

One of the vivid examples of youth events is "Baze" pan-Armenian
gathering, the pan-Armenian youth conferences as well as pan-Armenian
games. All these events are realized by the initiation and support
of the government and are intended to unite first of the youth of
Armenia, Diaspora and Artsakh.

Within the frameworks of these events is worth mentioning also the
program "Ari Toun" ("Come Home"), which gives an opportunity to the
Armenian young people to get acquainted with Armenia and make friends
with the youth living here.

The problems of the youth, the questions of making their future
more prosperous are put in front of any state who wants a strong and
undefeatable society and statehood. The youth is the motivating power
of any society.

VIVACELL-MTS’ SERVICE CENTERS OPEN DOORS TO HANDICAPPED ARTWORK EXHIBITION

Panorama.am
17:00 10/08/2009

VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (NYSE: MBT),
announces that starting from today in the Company’s Service Centers
located at Amiryan, Saryan and Tigran Medz streets as well as Nothern
Avenue, handicapped artwork is being displayed.

We all share the same right to have our job well acknowledged. Thus
VivaCell-MTS aims at providing the handicapped people who have
skills in such traditional crafts as pottery, painting, embroidery,
wood carving, stone carving, etc., means to share the outcome of
their efforts and creativity with everyone. For that VivaCell-MTS
joined hands with two organizations for the handicapped – Pyunik and
Prkutyun NGOs.

A contribution box is placed in each of the Service Centers for
receipt of charitable contributions. Later on these contributions
will be used by NGOs to carry out their charitable purposes.

"Belief, equal treatment and sense of responsibility towards the
Armenian society always guides VivaCell-MTS in such and other
activities. Integration of handicapped people into society is our
responsibility. Corporate responsibility is not about one-time
actions. It’s about creating conditions for harmonious cooperation
between private and public sectors", said VivaCell-MTS General Manager
Ralph Yirikian. He made the first contribution by choosing one of
the items.

In 2007 VivaCell-MTS sponsored creation of arts and crafts centers for
the handicapped in Gyumri and Yerevan, where under the supervision of
professional trainers disabled people are making their own artwork
and handicrafts to sell at different events and distributed to
retail souvenir shops throughout Armenia. The centers also provide
an alternative way of organizing leisure of the disabled, develop
their problem solving skills, discover relaxation techniques, and
build self-confidence. The Centers give an opportunity to children,
who would otherwise have no other way of stimulating their development,
to try their skills in arts and crafts.

Mirror
Aug 9 2009

Armenian camp offers kids history lessons in native dance and art

By Steve Kowalski ¢ ECCENTRIC STAFF WRITER ¢ August 9, 2009

SOUTHFIELD ‘ A 2007 trip to Armenia with the choir of St. John’s
Armenian Church in Southfield struck a chord with Rubik Mailian, the
church’s deacon and choir director.

The itinerary included a visit to the Nork Children’s Center, which
featured children presenting art, dance and music in forms true to the
Armenian heritage, according to Mailian.
`When I saw the program I said we needed to bring some of the teachers
back and teach our children,’ Mailian said.
His hopes were fulfilled.
The church at 22001 Northwestern Highway just finished a pair of
two-week sessions of Arts of Armenia summer camp for children 8-16,
featuring professional instructors, Arman Julhakian and Ella Pepanyan,
imported from Armenia.
Julhakian, a dancer, and Pepanyan, an artist, made instant
impressions, even with the boys, who were a tougher sell, according to
Mailian.
`Usually children complain about getting up early, `I have to go to
another camp again,” Mailian said. `But these children were
enthusiastic about getting up in the early morning, and wanted to come
back. It’s the kind of art (dance and painting) you see in Armenia.’
Bob Kachadourian, a senior and native Armenian now living in
Bloomfield Hills, said the opportunity was rare for second and third
generation American born children of Armenian immigrants.
Kachadourian said he has a 35-year-old son whom he taught Armenian
customs to when he was a young boy. Once second and third generation
Armenians get ingrained in American customs, they tend to take their
customs from the native land for granted, Kachadourian said.
That’s why getting professional instruction from native Armenians was
such a good opportunity, he said.
`As another generation passes, or two generations pass, assimilation
takes place, and it’s more difficult to retain your heritage,’
Kachadourian said. `Here, you had native Armenians who are pretty darn
good in their field, and this kind of thing sticks with kids
forever. This is a marvelous opportunity to identify with your
heritage.’

le/20090809/NEWS20/908090330

DAY OF CONSTRUCTOR MARKED IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
Aug 7, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS: Day of Constructor was marked today in
Yerevan. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, representatives of government,
specialists of the sphere attended the event organized for marking
the holiday.

The prime minister said that Armenian people have special attitude
towards a constructor, he enjoys special respect and it is not
accidental as constructors have a special place in the biography
of Armenian people. "Constructors passed a great way. We have many
innovations in this sphere. I am sure that together with you we will
overcome all the temporary difficulties and we will be proud for the
implemented work," Tigran Sargsyan said.

Urban Minister Vardan Vardanyan, congratulating the constructors on
their holiday, said that the construction sphere during the recent
years seriously developed, new technology, new construction materials
are being used, new architectural approaches displayed. During the past
several years, taking the leading position in the country’s economy,
the sphere had a serious role in filling the budget and development
of infrastructures.

"Unfortunately today the situation is not so favorable. World
financial-economic crisis gave a serious blow to our work. The
lack of investments, unavailability of credits, decline of demand
brought many construction organizations to a difficult situation,
" V. Vardanyan said, adding that the government and president with
their assignments sought the implementation of anti-crisis events
the results of which are already notable.

"Of course the crisis has not been overcome yet and difficult time will
come but the positive tendencies are already seen," V. Vardanyan said.

Chairman of the Union of Armenian Constructors Gagik Galstyan said that
Armenian constructor is competitive and is periodically improving in
his specialization by studying the international experience, applying
of new technology.

With the decision of the prime minister on the Day of Constructor a
number of people of the sphere received diplomas of gratitude for their
contribution to the construction and architectural sphere, for active
participation in the development and consolidation of the sphere.

A number of constructors were awarded with gold medals of the Armenian
Urban Ministry for their contribution to the urban sphere.

DEFLATION 2.7% IN ARMENIA IN JULY AGAINST JUNE

ARKA
Aug 3, 2009

YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. A 2.7% deflation was recorded in Armenia
by June 2009.

Armenia’s National Statistical Service reported that deflation was 2.7%
in July against June.

Foodstuff (including alcoholic drinks and tobacco products) prices
fell by 5.2% in July against June; nonfoods and service prices went
up by 0.5% and 0.1% respectively.

Consumer price index was 102.4% in July against December 2008.

In January-July, prices for foodstuffs (including alcoholic drinks
and tobacco products) went 2.3% down; nonfoods and service prices
reduced 9.6% and 7.4% respectively.

Monthly average rise in consumer prices was 0.3% in January-July – a
reduction of 0.3% as compared with the same period of last year (0.6%).

Consumer price index was 103.1% in July this year against July 2008:
index of prices was 99% for foodstuffs (including alcoholic drinks and
tobacco products), 104.6% for nonfoods and 109.7% for services. In
January-July against the same period of last year, these indicators
were 102.7%, 99.2%, 101.8% and 110% respectively.

According to the Statistical Service, consumer price index was 120.9%
in July against 2005: price rise was 17.2% for foodstuffs (including
alcoholic drinks and tobacco products), 15.3% for nonfoods and 30.7%
for services.

The statistics show that consumer prices fell by 3.9-2.0% in all
cities under review in July against June with20the highest inflation
level recorded in the city of Vanadzor. Consumer prices fell by 2.4%
in the capital.

According to the state budget, inflation is expected to be at 4%
(±1.5%) in Armenia by the end of 2009.