Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

HASMIK POGHOSYAN: "GOLDEN APRICOT" FILM FESTIVAL BECAME ARMENIA’S VISITING CARD

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.07.2009 17:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Over the past 5 years, "Golden Apricot" 6th
International Film Festival, has passed a long way, gaining wide
recognition.

"Every year we look forward to "Golden Apricot" festival, in
anticipation of seeing organizers’ successive surprise. My colleagues
abroad many times expressed interest in the festival. So I can say for
sure that "Golden Apricot" has become our successive visiting card,"
RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan said.

"If we are known in countries like Laos and Honduras, we can say that
‘Golden Apricot’ has become one of the best known film festivals,"
Creative director Susanna Harutyunyan said.

"Festival carries out its activities in close cooperation with Culture
Ministry. And we are happy to announce that every year we receive
more and more claims, with more and more notable cinematographers
expressing desire to attend the festival," Harutyun Khachatryan said.

RA GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE A BUDGET GUARANTEE ALREADY TO THE 5TH CONSTRUCTING COMPANY

ARMENPRESS
JULY 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 9, ARMENPRESS: During today’s session Armenian government
decided to provide a budget guarantee to "Vahe Harutyunyan" Company to
enable it to accomplish the constructional works in Yerevan "Center –
Administrative Unit", on Republican Street 51-53 address.

RA Finance Minister Tigran Davtyan noted that it is being implemented
according to a relevant decision of the Armenian government under
the decision of providing budget guarantees to the construction
implementers having unfinished constructions in order to enable them
to bring the construction to an end.

According to T. Davtian this is already the 5th company that gets such
a guarantee. On his viewpoint positive shifts are already notable in
this field.

Referring to this decision RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that
quite strict requirements are set up for providing budget guarantees,
and in case of providing them the government pays the 30 % of the
mortgage. By the way, money is provided only for the accomplishment
of buildings having high construction level.

By the Prime Minister’s words the Central Bank has already promised to
ensure the Hypothec Fund operate already this month, and the citizens
will have the opportunity of acquiring new apartments.

According to him the positive influence of this decision will gradually
become prominent, and at the end of the year it will have its impact
on the GDP. T. Sargsyan attached importance to the regaining of public
trust towards the construction implementers emphasizing the necessity
of serious oversight in what results the anti-crisis projects have,
in what way the state means are spent so that an opinion is not formed
that they don’t serve to their goals.

ALIYEV KEEPS THREATENING WITH WAR EVEN IF HE SPEAKS OF PEACE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.07.2009 22:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Upon inheriting Azerbaijan, Aliyev started to
pretend he doesn’t see, hear and remember much of what’s happening
around him," ex-NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan stated, commenting on
recent declaration of Azeri president Ilham Aliyev on impossibility
of NKR secession from Azerbaijan.

Ghukasyan criticizes Azeri President, accusing Aliyev of refusing to
hear appeals of international community to cease military rhetoric
and withdraw snipers from contact line. "He only hears himself while
trying to speak on behalf of mediators, Armenia, and, what’s the most
cynical, on behalf of NKR. Aliyev keeps threatening with war even if
he speaks of peace," Ghukasyan noted.

"Statements of Azeri leaders prove their unreadiness to
compromise. Aliyev is virtually sabotaging negotiation process,"
ex-NKR President stated.

REAL SALT LAKE: MOVSISYAN TALKS ABOUT NEW SIGNING
Dan Rasmussen

Deseret News
Thursday, July 9, 2009 1:08 a.m. MDT

SANDY – European soccer beckoned for RSL striker Yura Movsisyan, and
when it did, the 21-year-old of Armenian heritage didn’t hesitate to
accept the opportunity.

Movsisyan, who has scored four goals for RSL this season, flew to
Europe last weekend and signed a pre-contract to play with Randers
FC of Denmark when his contract with MLS expires after this season.

Following a press conference Wednesday at Rio Tinto Stadium to announce
that RSL is extending its front jersey-sponsorship deal with XanGo
through the 2013 season, Movsisyan spoke publicly for the first time.

According to Movsisyan, moving on to Randers FC, a team that will
be participating in the UEFA Europa League in 2009-10, will benefit
himself personally and professionally.

"I had to make a decision for myself and my family, and I think this
is a good move for me, a good move for me to go get a foot into the
door in Europe," said Movsisyan. "I think Denmark is a great option,
and it was one of the places that I wanted to go. Randers is a team
that I heard a lot of good things about, and I talked to the coach
and everything worked out really well."

Asked about what enticed him to Randers FC, Movsisyan spoke of being
able to play on the stage of European soccer.

ARMENIAN TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION MINISTER: INTERNET-PROVIDERS SHOULD HOLD MORE ACTIVE MARKETING ESPECIALLY IN REGIONS

ArmInfo
2009-07-06 14:56:00

The Internet-providers should hold mote active marketing especially in
regions, Armenian Transport and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan
said over the forum "Communication Technologies Leaders without Ties",
dedicated to communication problems and held in Dilijan on 4-5 July.

‘The Internet services price much depends on the number of users. Today
their number is small in Armenia. Moreover, the point is that we
still do not have a strict statistics about the number of users,
different sources give different data which do not meet each other. At
present we want to clarify the more or less exact number of users’,
– the minister said and added the Internet-providers should hold
more active marketing policy. ‘It is also necessary to fix the market
regulating laws, which would stimulate providers to work more actively
when attracting clients. The region residents often do not know who
to apply to so that to get Internet at home. Provider should go to
the regions and offer services on a free of charge basis for some
period of time. I am sure in that case nine out of ten clients will
continue using Internet on the basis of payment’ the minister said.

‘Our task is to have Internet-communication which has wide coverage
in all over the country. It is not so much important if it will be
ArmenTel or some other company, if they will act alone or together. One
can complain on the conditions of the market, machinery of its
regulation or something else, but he should first of all work and
create the infra-structure. The more infra-structures the better for
the user and operator’, – Sargsyan said.

Bianet

05 July 2009, Sunday

A Chain of Conscience for Hrant Dink

On Saturday, 4 July people will form a chain of conscience to draw
attention to the next hearing in the Dink murder case.

Istanbul – BÝA News Center03 July 2009, Friday People will gather in
front of the Galatasaray Highschool in Beyoðlu, central Istanbul, at
6.30 pm on Saturday, 4 July, in order to draw attention to the next
hearing of the Dink murder case.
Hrant Dink, the editor of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos newspaper,
was shot down and killed in front of his office in Istanbul on 19
January 2007.
"Come together again"
The call for the "chain of conscience" reads:
"19 January was an important day to bring together this country’s
conscience and minds. After a great loss, we managed to come
together. We want to come together again, for our friend Hrant Dink,
and for this country’s future, and with him, we want our voices to be
heard loudly and clearly.
There will be another gathering in Beþiktaþ, the district where the
court case takes place, on Monday, at 10 am. (BÇ/AG)

UKRAINE VACATION: GO WEST
Alexandra Matoshko

Kyiv Post
Jul 3, 2009, 19:06

Captivating beauty of the Carpathian landscapes and clear mountain
air create perfect atmosphere for a recreational holiday. Western
Ukraine is rich in culture, diversity and history. This is partly
due to a history of being ruled in the past by different countries,
including Poland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It offers numerous
opportunities for a perfect summer holiday.

You can explore its cities, blessed with a rich mix of architecture
and monuments, or go hiking and rock climbing in the very green
Carpathian Mountains. Mineral water spas and their hotel complexes at
the foothills of the Carpathians offer a good option for vacationers
looking to be pampered and improve their health via traditional
methods.

Lion City Lviv, the largest and most famous city in western Ukraine,
was founded in the mid-13th century. Legend has it that Ukraine’s
only King, Danylo, founded and named the city in honor of his son,
Lev, which means a lion in Ukrainian.

Occupied for centuries thereafter by Poles and Austro-Hungarians,
the city is just 70 kilometers from the Polish border, making Lviv a
perfect stopover for any trip planned to Poland. Due to its history,
the city’s architecture resembles medieval European towns, such as
Poland’s Krakow and the Czech Republic’s Prague, more than any other
place in Ukraine.

It’s a great town for walking. The ‘old city,’ located in downtown
Lviv, is dominated by cobble-stone streets, each with its own unique
mix of three-story buildings and churches of various styles and
from various centuries. Baroque, renaissance and classical styles,
as well as Vienna Secession, Art Nouveau and Art Deco, all blend and
beautifully coexist in this city center, which has been included into
the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Starting in the 15th century, monks of different orders flocked to
Lviv, a busy trading town between east and west. They built churches
of various denominations leaving a lasting impression on the city’s
picturesque skyline.

The oldest church in town, dating back to the Kyiv Rus empire days, is
St. Mykola’s. But the crown jewel of all Lviv churches is the Armenian
Cathedral, built in 1363. Other must see sites, all just blocks apart,
include the Market Square (16th-19th centuries), Kornyakta Tower
and the citadel. Don’t miss the opportunity to see Lviv from above,
by venturing up to the High Castle Park, all the way to the top of
Vysoky Zamok tower. It offers an eye-opening panoramic view of this
magnificent city.

If you’re into the art, Lviv has much to offer from opera and ballet at
its famous Opera Theater, to dingy drama theatres scattered throughout
the city. If you want to enjoy Lviv like the locals do, just wander
all day from one cafe to another and sit for hours chatting with
friends. Lviv is famous for its coffee-shops, confectionaries and
restaurants.

Recommended venues include Kumpel (6 Vinnichenka, ),
designed in Polish style with a touch of retro; exotic Masoch-cafe
(7 Serbska, ), named and themed after the
famous Lviv-born writer Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, and Kryivka
(14 Ploshcha Rynok, ) that bears a partisan
theme. To enjoy the best of Lviv coffee, go to Pid Synyoyu Plyashkoyu
(4 Ruska), a remake of the first Vienna coffee house, Zolotiy Ducat
(20 Ivana Fedorova), Italiyskiy Dvoryk (6 Ploshcha Rynok) and Cafe
No. 1 (5 Kafedralna). Some of the best desserts in Lviv are found in
Tsukernya (3 Staroyevreyska) and Veronica (21 Prospekt Shevchenka,
). Lviv’s popular art cafes include Pid Klepsydroyu
(35 Virmenska) and festival-restaurant Livy Bereh inside the Opera
House (45 Prospekt Svobody).

Truskavets, located 100 km from Lviv along the foothills of the
Carpathian Mountains, is a breath of fresh air mixed with 14 natural
mineral water springs believed to have healing qualities.

Along with Lviv, Chernivtsi is considered a cultural center of Western
Ukraine. Its architecture is a blend of Byzantine, baroque and gothic
styles. There are also remnants of Romanian and Turkish presence
in Chernivtsi, which winding streets and buildings are literally
built upon a hill. About an hour drive northeast, travelers can
get a glimpse of two of Ukraine’s best preserved castles, in Khotyn
and Kamyanetsk-Podilsk. Also in the area, in Podvirne, you’ll find
Zolushka cave, which has three levels and about 90 kilometers of
underground labyrinths.

Ivano-Frankivsk region If you wish to spend your holidays climbing
mountains, breathing fresh air, picking mushrooms and berries,
Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattya regions have everything you need. The
highest mountain of Ukraine, Hoverla (2,061 meters high) stands tall
bordering both regions and other scenic peaks in this mountainous
home to the Hutsul people, a proud and ancient ethnos.

A popular tourist center where you can start off your trip is Yaremche,
located just 60 kilometers from Ivano-Frankivsk. It has both budget and
upscale accommodation, traditional Kolyba-styled mountain restaurants,
souvenir markets and a picturesque water fall. From there, you can
hitch a ride on the Carpathian Tram, a diesel train running between
Ivano-Frankivsk and Rakhiv, near the Romanian border. On the way
you can stop at Vorokhta, a lovely village spread out on various
mountain slopes. It has one of the oldest bridges in Ukraine –
a railway bridge built under the Austro-Hungarian rule. Further
down the road is Yablunytsya village, located high up on a plain
with a spectacular view of Ukraine’s highest peaks. Not far away
is the famous town of Verkhovyna, where the Hutsul culture has been
strongly preserved. Surrounded by high peaks, the village seems to
have escaped the invasion of modern civilization. Ancient customs,
legends and fairy tales still flourish here. If you decide to venture
up the mountain from Verkhovyna region, Pop-Ivan peak, home to an
old Polish observatory, is a good choice.

Picturesque Kryvorivnya village, which also stretches along the
Cheremosh River, was a popular resting place and a source of
inspiration for Ukrainian writers and historians, including Ivan
Franko, Mykhailo Kotsyubynskiy, Mykhailo Hrushevskiy and Lesya
Ukrayinka. It was also the setting for the cult movie "Shadows of
Forgotten Ancestors," made by the legendary Soviet film director Sergei
Parajanov in 1964. Local Hutsuls played extras in the movie. You can
visit a small museum dedicated to the movie with artifacts preserved
by the local enthusiasts.

Further towards Romania one finds the secluded Burkut and Zelene
villages, famous for their mineral water springs. Not far from Zelene
there is one the most beautiful Carpathian lakes, Maricheyka.

Zakarpattya Zakarpattya borders Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia,
and was influenced by each in some way. Locals also claim that one
of its towns, Rakhiv, is the geographical center of Europe. Engulfed
by mountain peaks, a stone sign with a description in Latin dating
back to 1887 stands in downtown Rakhiv as proof of the city’s claim
to fame. The beauty of this town situated along the Tisa River,
can’t be questioned.

Uzhgorod, located along the border with Hungary and Slovakia, is a
capital of the Zakarpattya region. Uzhgorod Castle stands prominently
downtown and above much of this city, which was the residence of an
ancient Slavic prince called Laborets.

In nearby Hust you can climb up Zamkova Mountain for an amazing
view of the Tisa River, much of the Transylvania region, even into
Romania. "Daffodil Valley," the only reserve of daffodils in Europe,
is located five kilometers from Hust.

Tyachiv, founded in 13th century on the right bank of Tisa River
is a small, quiet town with four different churches – Reformatory,
Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic and Orthodox.

Vynohradiv, founded in the 9th century by the Hungarians, who still
live in the region and speak little Russian or Ukrainian, has many
wineries. Isabella and Leanka vines are cultivated here. Visit the
ruins of Kanko Castle (13th century) and Franciscan Church of the
15th century.

A popular tourism center deep in Zakarpattya region’s Carpathian
Mountains is Mizhhirya, from where you can get a tour to Sinevyr Lake,
known as the "pearl of the Carpathians." Close to town is Shepit
waterfall and Verkhovyna sanatorium in Soimy village, where mineral
water of Yessentuki type is believed to cure many ills. The town is
surrounded by mountains with beautiful panoramic views opening from
two passes.

If you plan on doing a lot of hiking and mountain climbing,
Yasinya village, with its several tourist bases, cafes and kolybas
is a perfect place. Touristic routs spread from the village towards
mountains Hoverla, Petros and Bliznitsa. Zakarpattya region also has
a popular mineral water resort that can be reached by train, Svalyava.

AREXIMBANK – GAZPROMBANK GROUP OFFERS NEW DEPOSIT AREXIM – CHILD

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.07.2009 11:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Areximbank, Gazprombank group offers new deposit
Arexim – Child, with the possibility of increasing the initial amount
and charging the interest every 6 months, press office of the bank
reports.

Deposit Term vary from 2 to 18 years. Interest rate: USD – 9 per cent,
EURO – 7 per cent, AMD – 11 per cent.

LOWER REFINANCING RATE TO HELP BANKS INTENSIFY CREDITING IN ARMENIA

ARKA
July 2, 2009

YEREVAN, July 2. /ARKA/. The lower refinancing rates will allow
Armenian banks to intensify crediting, said Chairman of the Central
Bank of Armenia (CBA) Artur Javadyan.

"We have reduced REPO rates by 1.75 per cent over the last three
months, created new market mechanisms and enabled banks to intensify
their activities on the credit market," Javadyan told reporters.

On June 9, 2009, the CBA decided to reduce the annual refinancing rate
by 0.25% – down to 6%. It was the 4th reduction of the refinancing
rate since March 3, when the CBA returned to a floating exchange rate
and raised the annual refinancing rate by 1% – up to 7.75%.

On April 7, the annual refinancing rate was reduced to 7.5%, and on
May 12 down to 7.25%. The annual refinancing rate was last reduced
on May 22 – by 1%, down to 6.25%.

Javadyan pointed out that the steps inspire hope that the interest
rate situation at the end of this year will be similar to that early
last year.

SCRW ARE ACTIVELY PREPARED FOR SUMMER SEASON OPENING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.07.2009 13:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ SCRW Deputy General Director Marat Khakov presented
the company’s projects and work accomplished in anticipation of summer
season opening. On July 10, Armavir-Yerevan passenger electric train
will be launched. Transportation by the train will take about 50
minutes. Affordable transportation price at 300 AMD per two -way
Armavir-Yerevan ticket was established.

The next project presented by Khakov was organization of passenger
movement on Yerevan-Tbilisi route. Duration of a trip from Yerevan
to Tbilisi will be reduced to 30 minutes from July 10, as a result
of infrastructure development. From July 10 – September 15, SCRW will
be operating on Yerevan-Batumi route. Cost of tickets for this route
will be as follows: comfort wagon: AMD 21500, compartment wagon:
AMD 10600, second-class sleeping carriage: 6659. The train consists
of deluxe carriages, special services will be offered.