Author: Tambiyan Samvel

THE FINANCIAL WEEK

901.html
16:58:02 – 19/02/2010

In the period from February 15 to 19, 50,780,009 were purchased by
banks at the rate of 380.61 dollars per dram and sold 72,165,683
dollars at the rate of AMD 381.72 per U.S. dollar.

At NASDAQ OMX Armenia, transactions in amount of 7,015,000 dollars at
the average exchange rate of AMD 381.89 per U.S. dollar were
committed.

In the period from February 8 to 14, the volume of loans granted by
banks of Armenia totaled 17.7 billion drams, and 26.4 million dollars.
It is reported by management of Public Relations of the Central Bank.

Murder case forwarded to Court of Appeals

/tigran-ohanjanyan
05:14 pm | February 19, 2010 | Social

Rustam Asatryan and Karen Tovmasyan acquitted a week ago today appear
in the dock again.

Military Prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan contested the decision of a
Gegharkunik court on the murder case of serviceman Tigran Ohanjanyan
in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Tigran Ohanjanyan reportedly died of electrocution. The procurator’s
office found Rustam Asatryan and Karen Tovmasyan, employees of the
military unit guilty of the death.

On January 13 the Court of General Jurisdiction of Gegharkunik Marz
forwarded the case to further investigation because of lack of
evidence.
The court decision was acceptable by Ohanjanyan’s relatives who want
the real murderers to be disclosed and consider the accused innocent.

"The Military Prosecution tries to conceal everything and I still do
not know who is guilty of my son’s death," Tigran’s mother Gohar
Sargsyan told A1+.

Public Defender Vazgen Nikoyan is sure that the defendants are
innocent, which will be proved in the Appellate Court.

The next court sitting is scheduled for March 4.

news.am, Armenia
Feb 20 2010

Turkish National Security Council failed to discuss Protocols

13:47 / 02/20/2010Turkish National Security Council failed to discuss
the Protocols on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between
Armenia and Turkey at its Feb. 19 sitting.

The Council discussed the policy of struggling against Kurdish rebels,
as well as Cyprus and Greece issues.

The meeting lasted for 4 hours and a half, whereupon the participants
arrived at Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s residence and
had a short meeting with him.

Turkish media report that the Council was to discuss the
Armenian-Turkish protocols at its Feb. 19 sitting.

L.A.

WORLD BANK EMBARKS ON ELABORATION OF NEW STRATEGY OF SUPPORT FOR ARMENIA

ARKA
Feb 19, 2010

YEREVAN, February 19. /ARKA/. The World Bank is embarking on
elaboration of a new strategy of support for Armenia, WB Regional
Director on South Caucasus Asad Alam said Thursday at his meeting
with Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan.

The press office of Armenian National Assembly quoted Alam as saying
that the World Bank is interested in cooperation with Armenian
parliament and the speaker.

The WB regional director also voiced satisfaction at the fact that
Armenia is reckoned among the best performers of WB programs in last
10-15 years.

He thanked the speaker for cooperation with the World Bank and stressed
the necessity to deepen this cooperation.

Abrahamyan said he was pleased that the cooperation between the World
Bank and the National Assembly had intensified expressed gratitude
for support provided by the WB to the National Assembly.

The speaker also expressed appreciation of WB programs in Armenia
and stressed their effectiveness.

He said the World Bank has contributed a great deal to Armenia’s
efforts to come out of the financial crisis, recover the economy,
combat corruption and develop education and public health sectors.

Abrahamyan also pointed out the WB’s contribution to recovery of
roads and irrigation infrastructure.

Armenia’s future steps were discussed at the meeting as well.

Under its 2009/2010 strategic partnership program, the World Bank
earmarked $550 million for Armenia.

Some 100 million dollars of this amount will be sent to the budget
and the remaining $450 million will be targeted for investment
programs.

PLOTTERS SENT DEATH LIST TO AGOS

Today’s Zaman
Feb 19 2010
Turkey

Plotters behind a plan to kill non-Muslim community figures
sent a list of individuals they hoped to assassinate to the
Turkish-Armenian language Agos daily, whose editor-in-chief was
killed by an ultranationalist teenager two years ago, according to
new evidence included in the indictment prepared in the Poyrazköy
hidden weapons probe.

According to evidence included in the indictment, a letter was sent
to the Agos daily one month after Dink’s assassination. Although it
was not clear who wrote the letter, a copy of it was found during the
Poyrazköy investigation in one of the suspects’ homes. The prosecutors
believe that these were the first steps of the Ergenekon-linked Cage
Action Plan to assassinate non-Muslim community figures and thus create
chaos in the country. Ergenekon is a gang charged with plotting to
overthrow the government by masterminding a military intervention.

The copy of the letter included in the indictment says: "If Etyen
Mahcupyan does not violate Article 301 [of the Turkish Penal Code,
which criminalizes insulting Turkishness] like Hrant Dink, he will
not be touched. … Mahcupyan, Emin ClaÅ~_an, those who are selling
our land to our enemies have passed an oil law as the separatist
traitors now want to sell our oil. The list of those who will be
killed in relation with this are: [Diyarbakır Mayor] Osman Baydemir,
[businessman] Omer Sabancı, Bulent Kar [Manisa mayor, because he
wants a federal state structure and two flags], [EU negotiator] Ali
Babacan, [former Finance Minister] Kemal Unakıtan and Orhan Pamuk
[that traitor of a writer].

These are only seven of all the traitors."

UNITED REGIONAL AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM
by Alexander Alexandrov

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
February 17, 2010 Wednesday
Russia

INTERACTION IN THE FIELD OF AIR DEFENSE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
LINES OF COOPERATION OF CIS MEMBER STATES; Since the beginning of 2010,
Russia and Belarus started implementation of the agreement on joint
guarding of the air border of the Union State and establishment of
the united regional air defense system. In the last 15 years, the air
defense system of the CIS member states has remained the first and
the only really existing collective security system in the framework
of the CIS. Establishment of similar regional air defense systems in
the Caucasian and Central Asian collective security regions is the
next in turn.

Since the beginning of 2010, Russia and Belarus started implementation
of the agreement on joint guarding of the air border of the Union
State and establishment of the united regional air defense system.

In the last 15 years, the air defense system of the CIS member states
has remained the first and the only really existing collective security
system in the framework of the CIS. Establishment of similar regional
air defense systems in the Caucasian and Central Asian collective
security regions is the next in turn.

More than 3.7 billion rubles was allocated for improvement of the
national air defense systems, joint events, general and targeted
programs in the framework of the united air defense system of the
CIS from budgets of the CIS member states. Member countries organized
eight joint exercises with firing practice and more than 20 command
staff war games.

According to the Russian Air Force Commander, broadening of the zone
of responsibility of the coalition forces and means of the air defense
in the common airspace of the collective security regions will allow
not only increasing of capabilities of the forces on duty but will
also provide for serious saving of financial and material resources.

Establishment of similar regional air defense structures in the
framework of the united air defense system of the CIS is planned
not only in the East European region but also in the Caucasian
and Central Asian collective security regions. Draft agreements of
Russia with Armenia and Kazakhstan on establishment of the relevant
regional air defense systems have been worked out already and are
passing coordination. All of them will be included into the united
air defense system of the CIS member states.

At present, the structure of the united air defense system of the
CIS is represented by the air defense forces of Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

The group of force of the united air defense system consists of
seven air defense brigades, approximately 50 air defense missile
units armed with air defense missile systems S-125, S-75, S-200
and S-300 of various modifications, more than 20 units of fighter
aviation armed with MiG-29, MiG-31 and Su-27 airplanes, more than
20 units and formations of radio technical troops and two electronic
countermeasures units.

Air defense duty is organized on the permanent basis in cooperation
with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, February 13, 2010, p. 2

ARMENIAN-FRENCH AGREEMENT IN DEFENSE THREATENING TO AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Feb 18 2010
Azerbaijan

Ziyafet Asgarov "I think this is a danger.

The agreement in the sphere of defense concluded between Yerevan
and Paris threatens to Azerbaijan and undermines influence of France
as an impartial mediator in the Karabakh conflict settlement", said
first vice speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Ziyafet Asgarov.

"I think this is a danger. My argument is that Armenia and Azerbaijan
are in a state of war and provision of military assistance to Armenia
is certainly a threat to our security", Asgarov told TV channel.

"We cannot accept it. This will in turn make us take steps for the
sake of our national interests", he added.

Asgarov reminded that in 1997 Armenia concluded a document on military
cooperation with another Minsk Group co-chair-Russia.

"Now I ask a question: if two of the three OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing
countries sign a military agreement with Armenia, cooperate in military
sphere, in other words, provide arms to Armenia, how can we believe
the sincerity of the co-chairing mission of these countries?", the
first vice speaker asked.

ARZAS VOSKANYAN: EUROVISION MISREPRESENTS CULTURES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.02.2010 14:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Honored Art Worker, composer Arzas
Voskanyan believes that Eurovision Song Contest shouldn’t be taken
seriously, as it’s a way to misrepresent national culture.

"I think it’s high time to stop exaggerating the importance of the
contest for Armenia," he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

While talking about Eva Rivas’ song to be presented at Eurovision
Song Contest, maestro Voskanyan emphasized that Turkey is in habit to
‘privatize’ the cultural heritage of other nations.

"It’s not surprising that after hearing oriental motives, Turkey
started to talk about stolen music. Actually, the fact that Turks
haven’t yet laid claims to medieval Armenian music, means that they
are not aware of its existence," he said.

CONSEQUENCES OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE RESOLVED WITH ITS CAUSES: NALBANDIAN

Tert.am
12:21 ~U 17.02.10

It’s not important who and how one views the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, but who decides how it should be resolved,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said, commenting
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s statement the
other day.

A couple of days ago, Mammadyarov had said that "our position is
clear. We see the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan,
with the condition of Azerbaijani and Armenian communities living
together. We must solve the problem of the occupied lands and the
return of refugees to their homes."

"It is also clearly mentioned in some details of the Madrid document
[Principles] immediately publicized after the statement made by
the presidents of Russia, US and France in L’Aquila [Italy]. If
Azerbaijan is against this fundamental approach, then, in fact, it
hampers the normalization process. It also hampers the normalization
[process] by being against Karabakh’s participation in the talks,
as without Karabakh’s direct participation, it is impossible to push
the normalization [process] forward," said Nalbandian.

Referring to the issue of eliminating the consequences of the conflict,
Nalbandian stressed the necessity in solving the issues of Martakert,
Martuni and Shahumyan – regions currently occupied by Azerbaijan,
as well as the return of refugees to those regions.

"Of course the issue of eliminating the consequences of the conflict
must be resolved together with the causes of the conflict. All these
issues must be solved through negotiation, on the basis of compromise,
and in a peaceful manner," concluded Nalbandian.

"ISRAEL MULLING A SPRING OR SUMMER WAR BUT ITS DECISION NOT FINAL YET"

Details.aspx?id=124813&language=en
16/02/2010

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that Iran’s arch-foe
Israel was mulling starting a war "next spring or summer" but has
yet to make a final decision.

Without specifying whom would be targeted, Ahmadinejad said: "According
to information we have they (Israel) are seeking to start a war next
spring or summer, although their decision is not final yet."

"But the resistance and regional states will finish them if this
fake regime does anything again," the Iranian President said at a
press conference when asked about ongoing efforts to reconcile ties
between Arabs and Israel.

Ahmadinejad also warned on Tuesday that world powers would regret
any moves to slap new sanctions on Iran, while stressing Tehran was
still ready for a UN-brokered nuclear fuel exchange deal.

Ahmadinejad’s latest salvo at world powers came as US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton toured the Gulf to earn backing for possible
sanctions against Iran for defiantly pursuing its nuclear program. "If
anybody seeks to create problems for Iran, our response will not be
like before," the Iranian president told a packed news conference in
the capital Tehran.

"Something in response will be done which will make them (the world
powers) regret" their move, he said.

Ahmadinejad said negotiations over a UN-drafted nuclear fuel exchange
were "not closed yet," and expressed readiness to buy the material
even from Iran’s arch-foe the United States.

Last year the International Atomic Energy Agency proposed sending
Iranian low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad for further enrichment,
denying Tehran refining capacity powers fear could be used to help
build an atomic bomb.

The offer would have seen the uranium returned to Iran in a high grade
form for use in a Tehran medical research reactor, but the plan has
been rejected by the Islamic republic.

Ahmadinejad insisted on Tuesday that the exchange had to be
"simultaneous," a stance repeated by several other Iranian officials
and which has led to a deadlock over the deal. "The proposal for
the fuel exchange is not closed yet. We have announced that we will
exchange within a just framework," Ahmadinejad said.

"We are ready for an exchange even with the United States. The US can
come and give us their 20 percent fuel and we will pay them if they
want, or we can give them 3.5 percent fuel. But the swap should take
place simultaneously and we will put our fuel under the supervision of
the (UN atomic) agency in Iran," he added without clarifying whether
the exchange must take place inside the country as insisted by other
Iranian officials.

Ahmadinejad also indicated Tehran could suspend enriching uranium to
the 20 percent level if world powers supplied it the required fuel
for Tehran reactor. "We are not insisting on doing this (20 percent
enrichment) although we have the capability. If they supplied the
(uranium enriched to) 20 percent, the situation may change," he said
in answer to a question if Iran would stop the enrichment started
last week.

Iran announced on February 9 that it had begun work on enriching the
uranium to 20 percent level.

Ahmadinejad’s comments came after Russia, an ally of Iran, said Tehran
should improve its cooperation with the IAEA and that new sanctions
were not excluded if it fails to fulfill its obligations.

"On the subject of sanctions… Russia still believes that Iran should
more actively and broadly cooperate with the IAEA and other countries,"
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s spokeswoman said.

"If these obligations are not fulfilled no one can exclude the
application of sanctions," the spokeswoman Natalia Timakova told
reporters in Moscow.

IRAN WANTS TO PROVIDE POWER PLANTS TO ITS NEIGHBORS Meanwhile, a
senior Iranian official said on Tuesday that Iran wants to build up
its nuclear energy program and provide power plants and nuclear fuel
to its neighbors.

Mohammad Javad Larijani, secretary general of Iran’s High Council for
Human Rights, said Iran wanted to break through Western reluctance to
supply the Middle East with a much-needed energy source for when oil
supplies dwindle. "We are going to help other nations in the region,
we are going to help anyone who wants," Larijani told journalists.

"And this is an area where we want to invest, we want to be the one who
provides nuclear power plants and fuel for other countries," he added.

Larijani said that an Iranian nuclear capability would be "an asset
for the region" and allow it to break a western "monopoly" over nuclear
energy. If countries were not allowed to sell the required fuel to Iran
"we will make it ourselves," he added.

"We are ready to help Turkey, Saudis, the Emirates, Kuwait if they
need. I am sure the western countries are not going to give to these
states. Egypt is dying for this electricity," said Larijani. "We
can even collectively build fuel for our reactors – this is a need,
this is a must for our nations in the region."

"If we don’t move today, 20 years from now we will beg on our knees
in front of the western countries to sell to us," Larijani added.

The Iranian official said such a trade would be placed under the
supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog.