US State Department preparing for Obama’s Visit to Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net

US State Department preparing for Obama’s Visit to Turkey
10.03.2009 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `US president Barack Obama’s scheduled visit to
Turkey is very important,’ Robert Wood, US State Department spokesman
reported.

As he says, at present the State Department is working out the details
for the visit. Turkey is an important ally, and we attach great
importance to president’s decision to visit Turkey.

He also added that Turkey might consider the mediating talks between
US and Iran, but it is still early to speak about it and I don’t want
to speculate as to what we might do. `A lot of it is going to depend
on Iran and its willingness to engage in the cooperation and to change
its attitude in a number of areas where we have certain concerns.’

Responding to a question on Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton’s
visit to Turkey, Wood said, "the Secretary had very good discussions
with officials of the Turkish Government.’

RA Central Bank does not change refinancing rate

PanARMENIAN.Net

RA Central Bank does not change refinancing rate
10.03.2009 21:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the meeting as of March 10, the RA Central
Bank Council made a decision not to change the refinancing rate and to
leave it on the level of 7,75%, the RA Central Bank press-service
reported to PanARMENIAN.Net.

The Central Bank Council thinks that the assessments regarding the
inflation pressures, preconditioned by the devaluation of national
currency and presented at the Council’s special meeting as of March 3,
remain realistic.

In the very case, the previous increase of the rates by 1.0 points, at
present provides a reasonable combination of deviation decrease from
the target inflation level and assistance for economic growth.

Besides, the Council did not eliminate further updating of percentage
rates in case they maintained today’s internal and external economic
developments.

`Under the threat of physical annihilation’

A1+

`Under the threat of physical annihilation’
[07:09 pm] 09 March, 2009

Albert Sukiasyan, father of Armenian MP Khachatur Sukiasyan, issued a
statement on March 9 which holds,

`Starting from September 21, 2007, the Sukiasyans have lived in a
nightmare, in a constant fear of losing their freedom and being
terrorized. The reason for this fear is that during the Presidential
election of last February the founder of the SIL Concern, Armenian
parliamentarian Khachatur Sukiasyan did not voice support for the
ruling authorities but for Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

`Starting from that day the government apparatus was put into action
with all its might and illegal measures against our family.

The organizations belonging to the Sukiasyan family as well as
different companies and people cooperating with them became a target
of assaults and were severely chased. Large-scale audits were
conducted in `Pizza di Roma’ and Bjni. The scenario resembled a
military operation against enemies.

Masked and armed people stormed into the aforesaid companies arresting
employees and seizing the property. It seemed they were squaring
accounts with their bitterest enemies.

With these actions the government wanted to show its force and
threaten all those who hold political views other than theirs. The
rough methods taken by the authorities testify that everyone who does
not back the acting regime is considered their enemy.

The requital with the Bjni mineral water plant was the culmination of
hostile treatment. The recent events around the company drew the
attention of numerous international and local organizations.

Several governmental newspapers and TV channels, including Public
Television H1, are busy with defaming the Sukaisyan family. In the
given conditions the family’s security is not guaranteed in
Armenia. That is why three of the four Sukiasyan brothers are abroad.

We are convinced that the members of our family are under the threat
of physical annihilation as the criminal regime will take every effort
to end the political vendetta. Bjni was put up for e-auction with a
rough breach of law and was sold at 13 million dollars whereas in 2008
the company had been priced 340 million by an independent
international company

Neither the international society nor the investors can overlook these
facts as tomorrow they can fall victim to this government. A country
violating civilians’ right in broad daylight cannot be called a legal
country as is the case with the Republic of Armenia.

But we are determined to champion our legal rights through different
methods such as

1. staging protest actions

2. appealing to various instances, up to the European Court of Human
Rights

3. setting an NGO in defence of the Sukiasyan family

4. handing relevant documents to different ambassadors to Armenia

P. S.

The group engaged in Sukiasyans’ annihilation is led by Armenia’s
President S. Sargsyan, Head of President’s staff M. Minasyan,
Assistant to the President G. Kostanyan, Prosecutor General
A. Hovsepyan and Head of Service for Compulsory Enforcement of
Judicial Acts M. Poghosyan.’

The letter has been sent to Human Rights Defender A. Harutyunyan, the
CoE Yerevan, ONU Armenian Office, the OSCE Armenian Office, the
Russian, embassies of the USA, Bulgaria, German, Italy, Poland,
Greece, U.K, Georgia, France, Ukraine as well as to the WB Armenian
Office, IFC Office, Human Rights Watch, EU Special Representative for
the South Caucasus Peter Semneby, PACE co-reporter John Prescott, etc.

Armenia, Turkey have concluded reln’s in their national interest

European expert: Both Armenia and Turkey have come to the conclusion
that it is in their national interest to improve relations between them

2009-03-08 13:41:00

ArmInfo. "I am confidant that soon we will see positive developments in
relations between Turkey and Armenia. This will happen for one simple
reason. Both countries have come to the conclusion that it is in their
national interest to improve the relations between them",- Executive
Director of the London Information Network on Conflicts and
State-building (LINKS) Dennis Sammut said to ArmInfo correspondent.

This development will have a huge positive impact on both the politics
and the economics of the region and will give the region a boost at
this difficult moment, he added.

"The baggage of history is not going to disappear. Armenia and Turkey,
and Armenians and Turks need to learn how to manage the baggage of
their history. This will not be easy but the process must start",-
Dennis Sammut concluded.

A Adibekian: Consequences of economic crisis will become obvious

Aharon Adibekian: Consequences of economic crisis will become visible
in Armenia in autumn

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The consequences of the global financial
and economic crisis will become visible in Armenia in the autumn, while
the spring of 2010 will be the hardest period, the director of
Sociometer center Aharon Adibekian made a forecast at the March 6 press
conference. According to him, Armenia will suffer the main loss because
of a fall in exports and construction work. The purchasing capacity of
the population will decline as a result of decreased remittanches from
abroad. Besides, due to their poor financial state, famers will have
difficulty buying seeds, fertlizers, equipment, which will affect
negatively this year’s harvest. "The 150 thousand-strong army of the
disabled will also have serious problems as the prices of medicines
will rise," the sociologist said.

He announced that the recent surveys conducted by their center show
that the notion of the society about the standard of living of Armenian
citizens differs considerably from the government’s notion. For
example, the government considers a person receiving 19.4 thousand
drams a month as poor, whereas the society considers one with an income
of 25 thousand drams as poor. By official data, those with a monthly
income of 32 thousand drams are well-off persons, whereas people
consider those with an income of 85-200 thousand drams as well-to-do.

http://www.nt.am/news.php?shownews=1012768

Diaspora Armenians May Help Armenian Hockey Teams

DIASPORA ARMENIANS MAY HELP ARMENIAN HOCKEY TEAMS

A1+_
[05:49 pm] 05 March, 2009

A large number of Diaspora Armenian players will play for hockey teams
in Armenia. Many Diaspora Armenian hockey players in the U.S., Canada
and Russia and some of them are willing to play for Armenia, told
"A1+" President of the Armenian Hockey Federation Karen Khachatryan.

"There are nearly 26-27 legions in the youth and national hockey teams
of Armenia. Many of them play in the U.S. and can benefit Armenia
with their game. There are also players who don’t know whether they
will play or not," said Karen Khachatryan.

The most well-known Armenian hockey player in the NHL is Zach Bogosyan,
who is a player of "Atlanta". Bogosyan is from Canada and Armenia
is seriously interested in having him on the team. "Atlanta" is one
of the leading teams of the NHL and not all players on the team have
the chance to help their teams.

However, the AHF is getting ready to talk with Bogosyan and discuss the
future of the famous hockey player in Armenia. There are also talented
hockey players in Russia, including 20-year old Ruben Beghunts and
19-year old Samvel Mnatsyan from the BKMA of Moscow.

The AHF is discussing the plan to hold an international hockey game and
other high-level games in Yerevan, especially after the reconstruction
of the sport/concert complex.

"We have the desire, but there are some issues. We can organize a
friendly game with the Georgian team. There are a number of issues
that need to be discussed," said Khachatryan in closing.

RA President Introduces New Yerevan Mayor

RA PRESIDENT INTRODUCES NEW YEREVAN MAYOR

Noyan Tapan

M arch 5, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 5, RA President Serzh Sargsyan
introduced newly appointed Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglarian to the top
administration of Yerevan Mayor’s Office and communities. S. Sargsyan
thanked former Mayor Yervand Zakharian and said that he will still
have a possibility to show his abilities in other spheres.

According to the RA President’s Press Office, S. Sargsyan gave
assurance that the newly appointed Mayor will be able to give a
fresh spirit to Mayor’s Office work and to use for common goals the
experience he gained when working in the Kentron community.

http://www.nt.am/news.php?shownews=1012706

Azad Azerbaijan (ATV) Broadcasting Company To Broadcast In Armenian

AZAD AZERBAIJAN (ATV) BROADCASTING COMPANY TO BROADCAST IN ARMENIAN

ArmInfo
2009-03-05 18:20:00

ArmInfo. During a meeting today National TV and Radio Broadcasting
Council of Azerbaijan addressed the Azad Azerbaijan (ATV) Broadcasting
Company’s request for license of ATV International to be aired via
satellite, APA reports.

According to articles 14.1, 29.2 of the law on TV and Radio
Broadcasting, chapters 7.3, 8.1 of Regulations on National TV and
Radio Broadcasting, the Council gave a license to ATV International
for 6-year broadcasting.

ATV International will produce news and other programs in English,
Russian, Farsi, Turkish and Armenian.

Voronezh-type radar site put on combat duty in southern Russia

Voronezh-type radar site put on combat duty in southern Russia

20:29 | 26/ 02/ 2009

MOSCOW, February 26 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s new Voronezh-type radar
site in the southern town of Armavir was put on combat duty on
Thursday, the head of the Moscow-based Military Forecast Center said.

"I confirm that a new and more powerful Voronezh-DM radar in Armavir
has been put on combat duty tracking missile routes in the south and
southeast [of Russia] in place of warning sites in Mukachevo [western
Ukraine] and Sevastopol [the Crimea]," Anatoly Tsyganok said.

Russia terminated a 1997 agreement with Ukraine on the use of both
radars in Sevastopol and Mukachevo in February 2008 on the grounds that
they had become operationally obsolete.

With an effective range of 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) the
Voronezh-type radar has capabilities similar to its predecessors, the
Dnepr and Daryal, which are currently deployed outside Russia, but uses
less energy and is more environmentally friendly.

Washington wants to place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar
station in the neighboring Czech Republic, purportedly to counter a
missile threat from Iran and other "rogue" states. Russia has fiercely
opposed the plans, saying the European shield would destroy the
strategic balance of forces and threaten Russia’s national interests.

Church & State have much to do. Pres meets Supreme Spiritual Council

Armenian Second TV Channel
Armenian Church and Armenian State have much to do. RA president meets
with the Supreme Spiritual Council
27 – February / 2009 : 20:00

February 26 afternoon, President Serge Sargsyan hosted His Holiness
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the members of the Supreme
Spiritual Council. President mentioned that the previous similar
meeting took place few days after the Holy Chrism consecration and
said he is happy to host again and ready to continue talks on
state-church cooperation and other issues of interest.
Serge Sargsyan was pleased to mention that the tight cooperation
between the state and Holy Echmiadzin is being reinforced on daily
basis and that he is happy with the fact. He also stated he believes
it should always be like that. ‘This is not connected with any
particular period of time’, president said, ‘it is the mission of the
church and the state. Both the church and the state need to supplement
each other’. In president’s words, ‘in the process of formation of a
new society – and our society is in the process of formation `
these relations are extremely important’.
Noting that in hardest moments our people’s last hope has always been
the faith for God Serge Sargsyan said it is thanks to the prayers and
great merit of our church that we have succeeded in crossing the
routes of the centuries, gaining statehood by the end of the 20th
century and going on.
President also stated his confidence that by having a statehood and
bringing our people to that haven do not diminish the church role,
and, on the contrary, under the conditions of new challenges, new
problems and in the process of solutions of those problems, if our
state and church agree in key issues we may achieve new successes.
In Serge Sargsyan’s words ‘Armenian Apostolic Church is one the
world’s most ancient institutions which has been acting continuously
for more than 1700 years. It is also our most ancient cultural and
educational institution. It is impossible to think for a more
experienced and authoritative ally for the state structures of the
Republic of Armenia.’
President highlighted the mission of the Supreme Spiritual Council in
the deed of regular development of relations between the Armenian
Apostolic and her sister churches, as well as of preservation of unity
of the Armenian Church.
According to Serge Sargsyan today’s financial and economic crisis is
not limited to the financial and economic issues and it is quite
possible that it can turn into a spiritual crisis. It is evident that
in the hour of temptation expectations for help increase. People have
seen that both state and the church help and support in the moments of
disaster. In president’s words, ‘today, the government undertaken
measures inspire hope that we will succeed in bringing the crisis
impacts to the minimum, but we should be able not only to bring them
to a minimum but in parallel with that encourage patriotism and
morale. Only through this we can move forth.’
The head of the country also noted that ‘for still more years our
state will be unable at diplomatic and other official levels to have
such representation throughout the world as our church has
today. Therefore, both in the aspect of representation of Armenia’s
issues and interests and in the initiatives of collaboration with the
Diaspora the state is going to greatly need the church’s support, and
we still have a lot to do to develop more efficient mechanisms for a
joint work in that issues’.
President ascertained once more that in the future as well the
Republic of Armenia is going to continue its support in the
preservation and development of the spiritual culture, education and
humanitarian institutions and monuments under the responsibility of
the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Noting that the Supreme Spiritual Council extended sessions take place
twice a year at the Holy See of Mother Echmiadzin His Holiness Karekin
II said that today was the first session of the year and in the agenda
of the session are included issues both concerning the church inner
life organization and relations with the Dioceses and sister churches
and separate phenomena in the national life.
in Vehapar’s words, any priest being educated in the seminary are
brought up with spirit and conscience that his service is purported by
the service to God and the Motherland for the sake of reinforcement of
the Armenian statehood and contribution of his humble mite in that
deed. His Holiness also said that the Armenian Apostolic Church
together with her diocese makes all the efforts to conduct her mission
and support fully for the sake of strengthening and prosperity of the
Homeland and for its bright future.
Afterwards the participants of the meetings discussed a wide scope of
issues interesting the high ranking priests. In particular, the
debates on the National Identity Day inclusion in the list of holidays
by the National Assembly, the issues that the Georgian Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church faces, as well as the cooperation with the
Armenian communities of other religions and changed beliefs and full
establishment of Armenian identity among them.
Holy fathers greeted republic’s president’s attention towards the
national issues and readiness to meet the church and issues
interesting the church.