Author: Talalian Arpi

GEORGIAN REPORT SAYS ARMENIAN COMMUNITY MAJOR FORCE IN ABKHAZ ELECTION

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi, Georgia
Jan 16 2007

[Presenter] In the forthcoming elections, [Abkhaz separatist president
and vice president] Sergey Bagapsh and Raul Khadzhimba will be once
again sorting out their relationship. In the space of one month, the de
facto government will hold local and then parliamentary elections [on
11 February and 4 March respectively] in which the Armenian community,
the Russian Citizens’ Union and Abkhaz parties will contest seats.

Nato Makhviladze is live. Nato, is Khadzhimba strong enough to compete
with Bagapsh?

[Correspondent] Raul Khadzhimba has always been viewed as [Russian
President Vladimir] Putin’s favourite. The Russians have not lost
interest in him. This is quite a trump card because Russian special
services have always had the situation in Abkhazia under their control.

Raul Khadzhimba is quite a strong and influential figure. With the
elections approaching, he has managed to lure members of Amtsakhara
over to this side. These are veteran fighters. He also declared war
on one of the stronger communities, the Armenian communities.

[Passage omitted]

[Malkhaz Akishbaia, chair of the Tbilisi-backed Abkhaz cabinet of
ministers] They will fight for the electorate, that is to say, for the
Armenian community, the Georgian refugees who have returned to Gali and
ethnic Abkhaz. We should expect a serious conflict, with the situation
during the election potentially occasionally spiralling out of control.

[Khadzhimba, over the phone] Let no-one expect any kind of
destabilization. This won’t happen. The elections will be calm.

[Q] People say that you have tense relations with Bagapsh.

[Khadzhimba] Who has?

[Q] You, with the president.

[Khadzhimba] Perhaps this is what some want but, trust me, in reality
everything is normal.

[Correspondent] United Abkhazia and Amtsakhara have already been
registered for the elections. United Abkhazia is viewed as a party
which supports Bagapsh, while members of Amtsakhara have been lured
over by Khadzhimba. Representatives of the Armenian community too are
part of Bagapsh’s clan. They hold strong economic levers. Besides,
Armenians comprise 60 per cent of the Abkhaz population. With the
elections approaching, acts of provocation against the Armenian
community have become more frequent.

[Arno Stepanyan, chair of the Multiethnic Georgia NGO] [There have
been] explosions in Armenian schools. The circulation of propaganda
literature of anti-Armenian nature in Abkhazia is becoming more
widespread.

[Q] Who do you think is doing this?

[Stepanyan] Presumably, senior Abkhaz officials oriented towards
certain Russian forces.

[Q] Do you mean Khadzhimba?

[Stepanyan] I do not excluded that Mr Khadzhimba may be among them.

[Correspondent] The Armenian community is nevertheless planning
to take part in the parliamentary election and demands five seats
in the 35-member parliament [as said]. The chair of parliament’s
health committee, Galust Trapizonyan, has already made a statement
to this effect.

[Stepanyan] Presumably, the local Armenian community will win five
seats in the Abkhaz parliament. This effectively means that they will
control 17-per cent of the seats. [Passage omitted: ethnic Georgian
residents of Gali think their votes will be rigged, correspondent said;
local woman said she did not intend to vote]

ARMENIA MAY ESTABLISH A FREE TRADE REGIME WITH THE EU

ArmRadio.am
16.01.2007 11:35

It’s not ruled out that during German Presidency the Eastern
European states enrolled in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)
including Armenia will be proposed to sign a free trade agreement. RA
Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baybourtyan noted in an interview with
Armenpress correspondent that some of ENP countries have been proposed
a commercial-economic package called Generalised System of Preferences
(GSP+). It envisages a large list of goods, which can be exported
from these countries to the EU on privileged conditions. The Deputy
Foreign Minister clarified that the regime envisaged by the free
trade agreement can secure much greater progress in the expansion of
commercial-economic exchange and elimination of tariff and non-tariff
barriers. He noted that for its part Armenia aspires to establish
free trade regime with the European Union. Besides, the negotiations
on granting a market economy status to Armenia are underway.

Agence France Presse — English
January 13, 2007 Saturday 9:43 PM GMT

Business leaders favor opening Turkey-Armenia border

YEREVAN, Jan 13 2007

Business leaders from Armenia and Turkey meeting here Saturday came
out in favor of opening the border between the two countries which
has been closed since 1993.

At an international conference organized by the United States, the
two business communities discussed the issue that began when Turkey
shut the border over Armenia’s backing separatists in the Nagorny
Karabakh enclave in Azerbaijan. The dispute also centered on
Yerevan’s claims of genocide of Armenians in 1915-1917 during the
Ottoman empire, which Ankara denies.

"I would like the border to be open," said Alyans Kaan Soyak, the
Turkish co-leader of a Turkish-Armenian business commission, saying
it would be "advantageous" for companies in Turkey, where Armenian
imports are currently banned.

His Armenian counterpart, Arsen Kazarian, said Turkey could become
"another opening to the world" for Armenia.

"At the moment we use transportation links in Georgia and Iran which
are expensive. If the frontier is opened, we could use the
Mediterranean ports to reach international markets which would cost
us less," he said.

The conference was organized by the US embassy in Armenia and the
Armenian international policy research group.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Arman Kirakossian hailed the
spirit of the conference but said the situation between the two
countries would not change any time soon.

"Every conference of this type influences public opinion… but we
have to understand that it will not lead to a normalisation of
Armenian-Turkish relations. We currently have no relations," he told
AFP.

Azerbaijan enlists Turkish general to improve its military
By Vusal Gozelov, Cihan News Agency, Baku
Monday, January 08, 2007
zaman.com

;alt=&am p;hn=39763

Azerbaijan has launched a project to elevate its military to NATO
standards and is planning to take important steps in 2007 to
accomplish this goal.

The administration in Baku is reportedly planning to appoint a Turkish
general as its deputy defense minister. According to the news reports
that appeared in the Azeri press, a Turkish general, appointed by the
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), will assume the post in mid-2007.

A news story published by Ayna, a daily paper in Azerbaijan, wrote
that Baku will grant the Turkish general significant authority and
permit him to work with his team from Turkey. The partnership is
planned to continue until 2011, during which time a few Turkish
generals to be selected by the Turkish Armed Forces will consecutively
occupy the post.

The newspaper also wrote that Azeri and Turkish military officials
had been discussing the subject for some time and that it would be
taken up during the visit of Gen. Ilker Basbug, commander-in-chief of
the Turkish Ground Forces, to Azerbaijan in January. Ayna assumes that
the identity of the deputy defense minister will emerge within few
months following this meeting.

Azerbaijan will model this system on a project implemented by
Lithuania in 2002, when the country appointed a retired American
colonel, Ionas Kronkaytis, as chief of staff upon recommendation from
NATO and U.S. military authorities. Kronkaytis reformed the Lithuanian
army in 2003 according to NATO standards, which resulted in the
country joining the alliance.

Nagorno Karabakh Rep de-facto existence must be fixed – official

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
January 1, 2007 Monday 03:15 PM EST

YEREVAN, January 1 — In his New Year address on Sunday, Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan said "the de-facto existence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic and the right of the Karabakh people to free and
secure life must be fixed" as a result of settlement talks currently
in progress.

President Kocharyan noted that the position of the mostly Armenian
populated Azerbaijani enclave of Nagorno Karabakh was once again
demonstrated at the recent constitutional referendum.

Focusing on Armenia’s achievements in 2006, he said the year had been
"peaceful and productive for the country" which "continued a stable
development."

He said that owing to that, this year "the state budget will
sizably grow," and "salaries, pensions and benefits" will increase.
"Social programs aimed at improving the standards of living have been
outlined and will be implemented," the president stressed.

He said last year Armenia’s international integration had grown. As
for relations with Russia, last year was marked by the holding of the
Year of Armenia in Russia. The countries "had productive political
dialogue, their economic ties got a boost and a rich cultural program
was implemented".

He noted that last year a plan for Armenia’s actions within the
framework of EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy was approved. The
implementation of the Millennium Challenges program with the U.S.
government began last year.

Kocharyan said a gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia will soon be
launched. He also stressed that that Armenia and Iran have outlined
"a range of new important programs in the energy sphere".

"We are entering the new year with confidence in success and resolute
to continue reforms," Kocharyan stressed. He expressed confidence that
the parliamentary election of 2007 will be held "at a due level". "The
holding of free and fair elections must be priority for each of us,"
the president noted.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

Live television broadcast of Christmas Mass via satellite from Antelias – January 6th, 2007

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) will broadcast
LIVE via satellite the Christmas Mass presided over by His Holiness Aram I,
from St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, on Saturday 6
January 2007, beginning from 8:00 am GMT. For the Americas and Australia,
check your local LBCI program schedule for exact time.

The Noursat Broadcast will also be broadcasting LIVE via satellite the
Christmas Mass. For more details on how to receive Noursat in your area,
copy and paste the following link into your internet browser’s address
field:

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

ARME NIAN WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY SESSION ADDRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTMAS
AND THE NEW YEAR

The weekly Bible Study sessions of Armenian women organized by the Christian
Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia tackled the importance
of Christmas in the life of Churches, the dates of this holiday, the
traditions associated with it and important ecclesiastical information
relevant to this day.

The attendants prayed for peace in the world and development in the life of
people. Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan concluded the session with "Bahbanitch."

On the occasion of Christmas and the New Year, the Christian Education
Department also organized a small reception at the end of the session. Over
80 Armenian women exchanged warm wished for the holiday season and parted
with the hope of rejoining on January 9, 2007 for the first session of their
Bible Study meetings in the New Year.

##
View photo here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
jurisdiction and the Christian Education activities in both the
Catholicosate and the dioceses, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

"VIMPELCOM" "IS NOT AT ALL CONFUSED" BY THE FACT THAT "ARMENTEL" HAS LOST THE LEADERSHIP ON THE ARMENIAN MOBILE MARKET

Banks.am, Armenia
Dec 28 2006

Yerevan, December 28 /Mediamax/. Executive Vice-President of
"VimpelCom" for Business Development in the CIS states Sergey Avdeev
stated that the company is examining the situation in the "ArmenTel"
Company and is thinking over the prospect of convergence of services.

Mediamax reports that Sergey Avdeev noted that "ArmenTel" dominates on
the market of fixed communication, at that, the mobile communication
is in many respects submitted to the fixed one".

"We do not consider ourselves great specialists in that sphere and
we would not like the things go the other way round in "ArmenTel" –
for the fixed communication to be submitted to the mobile one with our
arrival here. Now, we are examining the situation, we are thinking
over synergy and convergence of services. But we are careful as to
that idea yet, as there are no bright examples of convergence in the
world: much talk, little sense", the Vice-President of "VimpelCom"
stated in an interview to the RBC Daily newspaper.

Sergey Avdeev noted that "ArmenTel" has lost the position of a leader
on the market of mobile communication.

"We should understand the account policy and the way they count
the subscribers in Armenia. However, judging from the accounting,
during 2006 VivaCell managed to leave behind the mobile division of
"ArmenTel". Today, the ration is about 600 thousand to 450 thousand.

But the given fact does not at all confuse us. This is where we know
how to work", the Vice-President of "VimpelCom" stated.

INTERIOR MINISTRY ACCEPTS DEMAND OF FRENCH HISTORIAN TO ACQUIRE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Dec 28 2006

ANKARA – Turkish Interior Ministry accepted the demand of French
historian Jean Michel Thibaux who applied to acquire Turkish
citizenship in protest of a recent French bill that criminalizes any
denial of so-called Armenian genocide.

Officials of Interior Ministry told A.A that the Ministry accepted
the application of Thibaux and then presented it to the Council
of Ministers.

After the Council of Ministers approves the application, Thibaux will
become Turkish citizen and use the name and surname "Atakan Turk".

STOCKHOLM STOCK EXCHANGE ASSISTS WITH CREATION OF MODERN SECURITIES MARKET IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 28 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. In late 2006, inflation made 5%
in Armenia compared with Decemeber of last year, while the average
annual inflation – 3% compared with the average annual inflation of
2005. The Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Tigran Sargsian
said this at the New Year reception held on December 27. During the
reception, which was attended by the RA President Robert Kocharian,
T. Sargsian stated that this year all the Armenian banks ended with
a profit, with the total profit of the banking system making 16
bln drams (about 44 mln USD). The number of credit inmstitutions
grew from 7 to 17 and they also ended this year with a profit. The
number of insurance companies declined from 23 to 17, however, this
"cleansing", in T.Sargsian’s words, was accompanied by an increase
of the total capital of the other companies. T. Sargsian said that
in 2006 the CBA purchased about 250 mln USD by intervening in the
currency market, as a result of which the gross foreign assets of the
CBA exceeded one billion dollars for the first time. This year the
monetary base grew by 40% under conditions of over 13% GDP growth. The
CBA chairman spoke about numerous tasks facing the bank in 2007,
including promotion of the activity of the securities market (in this
issue the CBA is assisted by the Stockholm Stock Exchange), adoption
of a new law on insurance, development of the CBA activities concept,
creation of a credit bureau, further restriction of cash circulation,
introduction of modern principles of corporate governance in the real
sector’s companies, etc.