Author: Navasardian Karapet

TO NAME DIVERSANTS 4 ARMENIANS DISCOVERED IN NAKHICHEVAN IS ABSURD, DEFENCE MINISTER STATES

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Azeri side’s statement that allegedly
4 citizens of Armenia taken prisoners in April are members of a
diversion-intelligence service group is absurd. RA Defence Minister
Seyran Ohanian stated at the June 9 press conference. According
to him, with the same success we can name "diversants" Azeris,
who found themselves on the Armenian side. "As the Chairman of the
Commission for Prisoners, Hostages, and Missing People I have met with
the head of the Yerevan Center of the International Committee of Red
Cross lately and have conveyed the latter Armenian side’s concern and
asked him to assist Armenia in the issue of returning the prisoners,"
the Minister said.

According to him, at first the Azeri side expressed readiness to return
the Armenian prisoners, but changed its mind later. S. Ohanian called
relatives of prisoners for not worrying about their fate expressing
a confidence that finally they will be returned or will be exchanged
with Azeri prisoners.

It should be mentioned that Vanik Zmboyan, Artem Zohrabian, Karen
Torosian, and Aghasi Yenokian, who visited their friend doing military
service in the the military unit near the village of Khachik,
Yeghegnadzor region, lost their way and passed to the territory
of Nakhichevan. On May 3, the Azeri side violated the agreement on
returning citizens of Armenia the same day reached beforehand.

ARMENIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN: "AS SOON AS AZERBAIJAN IS AWARE THAT IT SURPASSES US IN THE MILITARY SENSE, IT WILL NOT HESITATE A SECOND"

Today.Az
litics/45555.html
June 9 2008
Azerbaijan

"Nagorno Karabakh problem can only be settled by use of force",
said political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan.

"The issue of Nagorno Karabakh conflict can only be settled by use
of force, which neither party will be allowed to do until economic
importance of Azerbaijan gas and oil is preserved", said he on Monday.

He considers that such situation may last until 2023-2025, when
Azerbaijani oil reserves are exhausted.

"Only after that the issue can be settled though not by a desired
way. Until that there will be imitation of talks-the issue, which
everyone knows can not be settled by way of negotiations will be
debated at the table", said Melik-Shahnazaryan.

Expert considers that the stronger Armenia is in military sense,
the better it will be ensured from the start of war.

He is confident that currently the military potential of Armenia is
equal and in some issues even surpasses Azerbaijan’s.

"Yet, Azerbaijan is actively developing at the cost of oil and
we should not be idle and we should actively develop", said the
political scientist.

"As soon as Azerbaijan is aware that it surpasses us in military sense,
I am sure it will not hesitate a second", concluded he.

Tehran Times, Iran
June 7 2008

Russian Gazprom to invest 200m dollars in Iran-Armenia gas pipeline

Armenia’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan has
said that by the end of 2009, the Russian gas giant Gazprom will
invest more than 200m US dollars in the construction of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, the Armenian news agency Arminfo reported.

After the completion of construction work, Armenia will have access to
another alternative gas pipeline along with the current one from
Russia and based on the prices that are offered, will decide which of
them it should use.

Currently, Armenia pays Russian Gazprom 110 US dollars per 1,000
cu.m. of gas, however, the price will change from 1 January 2009, the
agency quoted Movsisyan as saying.

During his press conference, Armen Movsisyan also touched on the
construction of an oil refinery outside Yerevan which will cost two or
three billion US dollars.

The plant, which will be able to process 7.5m tons of Iranian crude
oil per year, will produce petrol and diesel, the agency said.

Speaking about energy projects with Iran, the minister mentioned that
a joint hydroelectric power station will be constructed on the border
river Araz. The construction of the station with a capacity of about
140 MW will be financed by Iran and will cost 240-250m US dollars. The
construction work may commence in 2008, the minister said.

The minister went on to say that the USA and the EU have allocated
10-12m US dollars to update the security of the Armenian nuclear power
plant, Arminfo said. Up to now, technical assistance worth 90m US
dollars has been allocated to update the security of the plant, the
agency quoted the minister as saying.

Armen Movsisyan added that it is planned to build a new nuclear block
in Armenia in 2016 when the existing energy block of the nuclear plant
expires. Even though Armenian legislation allows foreign investors to
own 100 per cent of stocks, the government intends to control half of
the project stocks, the minister said. `If the government does not
take part in the project, then this project has no real significance
for us,’ Arminfo quoted Movsisyan as saying.

However, the operation of the current nuclear block will not be
suspended until the new one is built, the minister said. He noted that
the technical feasibility of the new plant will be completed by
September, the agency said.

code=170176

Detroit
Kerkorian’s Increased Stake Could Dent Fords’ Control
By MATTHEW DOLAN
June 7, 2008; Page A2
wsj

Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian is expected to have an increased stake
in _Ford Motor_ ( mp;symbol=F) Co.
on Monday, when his tender for 20 million shares expires.
The additional shares would give his Tracinda Corp. a holding of 5.5%, up
from 4.7%. The closing of the offer — at $8.50 a share, a 40% premium —
potentially puts the famously forceful shareholder at odds with the Ford family.
The family owns a smaller stake, just 3%, but has 40% of the voting rights,
a situation Mr. Kerkorian may tolerate only as long as Ford’s turnaround
continues to show clear progress.
Mr. Kerkorian and trusted lieutenant Jerome B. York want Chief Executive
Alan Mulally to take tough steps, such as killing the ailing Mercury brand —
a move some Ford family members have fought in the past.
The family could even come under pressure to give up some of their votes, if
Ford’s already precarious position worsens.
Reeling from a steep decline in truck sales, Ford now is unsure of when it
will return to profitability. If its finances buckle, it may have to seek a
capital injection.
Mr. Kerkorian would be one possible benefactor, but any help would probably
come with a price, such as a change in the voting structure.
So far, Mr. Kerkorian and his team have had only praise for Mr. Mulally and
his turnaround plan, despite the company’s retreat from promised pro
fitability by 2009.
Mr. Mulally’s stewardship at Ford has come at a wrenching time for the
industry, as sales volumes have fallen, and, more recently, consumers have
turned away from gas-guzzling trucks and sport-utility vehicles. As a result,
the Dearborn, Mich., company has cut its work force by more than 40,000,
borrowed heavily and shed noncore brands such as Land Rover and Jaguar to
raise needed cash that could bring more popular car models to market.
Last week, Ford began what could be seen as the third phase of its Way
Forward turnaround plan, based on only breaking even in 2009. To do so, the
auto maker says it would need to trim another 15% of the budget for its
salaried work force by Aug. 1, leading to the likely layoff of more than
2,000 workers.
Other cost-saving measures — shift reductions, plant closures and selected
buyouts of union workers — remain on the table.
Despite strong headwinds in the auto sector, including gasoline at more than
$4 a gallon, Tracinda continues in the near term to back Ford’s strategy.
The original tender included a clause saying it reserved the right to pull the
offer if Ford’s stock price declined by 10% or more from its May 8 closing
price of $8.20. But the Beverly Hills, Calif., company, which is wholly
controlled by Mr. Kerkorian, declared it would not employ that escape route
— in a sign of confidence in the future value of the company.
Still, Mr. Kerkorian struck a similarly conciliatory tone with _General
Motors_ ( mp;symbol=gm) Corp. and
Chrysler LLC before he grew dissatisfied with the direction of those auto
makers and insistent about more change.
The next few weeks and months could show how well the team of the activist
investor and the company’s management co-exist. According to regulatory
filings, company Chairman William C. Ford Jr. and Mr. Kerkorian’s lawyer, Terry
Christensen, plan to meet for the first time soon after the tender offer
expires.
Write to Matthew Dolan at [email protected]_
(mailto:matthew.dolan@wsj. com)

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 6 2008

Goal of Historians is to Write Truth, Of Azerbaijanis and Turks – to
Inform the International Community about It: American Expert 06.06.08
14:17

Azerbaijan, Baku, 6 June / corr. TrendNews M. Aliyev/ The development
of false propaganda on the so-called Armenian genocide by the Ottoman
Empire pursues the political aims, the American historian Justin
McCarthy said.

`They want to win in politics, therefore they are using history,’ the
American expert said to media in Baku on 6 June.

`On other hand, the Armenians always had negative and tense relations
with Turks during the entire history. The Armenians have a very strong
Diaspora which has been established for long years, the fact which
plays its role. It is very difficult to change this situation right
now,’ McCarthy said.

According to expert, the goal of the historians is to write a truth
and the goal of Azerbaijanis and Turks is to inform the international
community about this truth.

As to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, McCarthy said that `if Armenians
believe that a part of Nagorno-Karabakh should be Armenia’s territory,
then it is necessary to take into consideration that a large
proportion of the Armenian territory is the historical lands of
Azerbaijan and thus they should be returned’.

Justine McCarthy is author of 11 books dedicated to Turk-Armenian
problem. His works have been translated into Arab, Turkish, Russian
and other languages.

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN DEBT UP 27% YEAR-ON-YEAR TO $1.6BLN ON APRIL 1

RIA Novosti
June 2 2008
Russia

YEREVAN, June 2 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia’s foreign debt grew 26.9%
year-on-year to $1.55 billion as of April 1, 2008, the South Caucasus
country’s national statistics body said on Monday.

The Armenian government’s foreign debt stood at $1.37 billion,
while the liabilities of the Central Bank totaled $172 million,
the statistics service said.

The government’s foreign debt comprised liabilities to international
financial institutions, including the World Bank ($1.05 billion),
the International Monetary Fund ($161 million), the International
Fund for Agricultural Development ($58 million), and the OPEC Fund
for International Development ($13 million).

Armenia’s debt to creditor nations stood at $270 million, of which
$124 million was owed to Germany, $103 million to Japan and $38
million to the United States, the statistics service said.

SABINE FREIZER: "SITUATION AROUND THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS TOO SENSITIVE AT PRESENT"

Azeri Press Agency
June 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. "The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents is of great importance.

I hope that the presidents will agree to review the proposals of OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs", Sabine Freizer, Europe Programme Director of
the International Crisis Group told APA exclusively. She said that
the situation around the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
was too sensitive.

"The presidential elections in both countries caused this. The
presidential elections have already been held in Armenia,
this process was accompanied by hard developments, rallies and
discontents. Elections will be held in Azerbaijan. I think the
situation is sensitive, as both countries are engaged in the
elections", she said.

Assessing the change of the government in Armenia, Sabine Freizer
expressed her hope that this factor would have a positive influence
on the process of negotiations.

"New president – means new spirit, new enthusiasm. I hope Serzh
Sarkisian will have a constructive position and this factor will give
an impetus to the process of negotiations", she said.

Asked about the arsons committed in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan, Sabine Freizer said such cases were repeated every year.

"These fires occur every year and this is a serious problem. OSCE
fact-finding mission led by Bernard Snoy visited the region and gave
some recommendations to the conflict parties last year. It would be
better if they follow these recommendations", she said.

Israel Diamond Portal, Israel
June 1 2008

Customs Dispute Hampers Russian-Armenian Diamond Deal

01.06.08, 10:21 / World

AWDC reports that Russian rough diamond supplies to Armenia have been
discontinued since December, when the latter received a $1 million
consignment from giant diamond miner Alrosa. Armenian Finance Minister
Nerses Yeritsyan stated that polishing of the rough from that shipment
was completed in Armenian polishing plants by February.

Minister Yeritsyan noted that the shipments had stopped due to a
customs dispute and expressed the hope that Russia would resume rough
diamond exports by this summer.

The countries’ prime ministers reortedly met in February and discussed
the problem, and the Russian finance minister was instructed to
resolve it. However, according to Yeritsyan, elections in both
countries have caused further postponement.

During the years 2002 to 2004, through Alrosa and Almazyuvelirexport,
Russia annually exported 400,000 carats of rough to Armenia, and in
2005 and 2006 it exported 450,000 carats of diamonds annually.
Subsequently it ceased exporting diamonds to its southern neighbor.

According to an agreement signed in December 2007, Alrosa was to
annually supply $28 million to $30 million worth of rough diamonds to
four Armenian polishing companies.

By: Rachel Lieberman, Israel Diamond Industry Portal

x?boneId=918&objid=3618

NKR PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEET WELL-KNOWN FRENCH HISTORIAN

arminfo
2008-05-29 14:56:00

ArmInfo. NKR Parliament speaker Ashot Gulyan received a well- known
French historian, author of a number of researches on the Armenian
Genocide Yves Ternon and his wife Michel Ternon

As NKR NA press service told ArmInfo, A. Gulyan congratulated the
French historian on recent award with prizes of RA president upon
results of 2007.

‘This prize is, undoubtedly, the whole Armenian people’s assessment of
your multi-year work, dedicated to study of the tragic events of the
Genocide’, A. Gulyan said. The speaker marked the efforts of OSCE
MG co-chairs, including the French mediator, in Nagorno Karabakh
confliбft settlement process. Having highly evaluated the French
historian’s contribution in protection of interests of the Artsakh
people, the speaker awarded Yves Ternon with a jubilee medal devoted
to 20th anniversary of Karabakh movement.

–Boundary_(ID_0IhPRWfFPOlXWYaZNEj6dg)- –

Panorama.am

19:20 29/05/2008

-AND THOSE WHO REMAINED IN TURKEY AFTER 1915-

We should understand those who stayed in Turkey after
1915 and live their till under -under the veil of
Moslem.- Today the presentation of -And those who
remained to live in Turkey after 1915- book took place
the author of which is Rubina Pirumyan, Professor of
California University.

-In the book which is more anticipated for the foreign
audience tells about those Armenia who still live in
Turkey, it is about their psychological problems, as
we don’t know anything about it. It is easy to think
that their lives are well planned,- she said. The
author has been working for 25 years on the current
topic.

Hayk Demoyan the director of Armenian Genocide Museum
said that such books are aimed to defend all Armenia
in the world to remember that they are Armenians.
-Genocide has been much spoken about but even today
there are such points which should be covered by the
authors. We just can not ignore the facts taking place
in Turkey today,- he said.

Note that the book is published in English as
according to the author it is anticipated for the
foreign reader but the summary is written in Armenian.

Source: Panorama.am