Author: Tavakalian Edgar

RAZMIK ABRAHAMYAN: 25-28 DEATHS PER 100 000 NEWBORN IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.12.2009 16:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Over the past 20 years fertility decline
was observed among the population, while in recent years growth
tendency outlined. The number of births in Armenia reached 41 000
between 2007 and 2008, and 43 000 in 2009, " Razmik Abrahamyan ,
director of Institute of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology,
corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences, chief
obstetrician-gynecologist of Armenia, told a conference "Population
and development, achievements and challenges, ICPD – 15 years later".

Such diseases among women of reproductive age, as anemia, hypertension,
diseases of genitourinary organs, as well as sexually transmitted
diseases cause general anxiety, he said. Maternal mortality in Armenia
is lower than in the CIS countries, but higher than in European
countries. According to him, it mainly refers to 20-30 year-old women,
living in villages with no access to quality health care. With regard
to infant mortality, he noted that 25-28 deaths per 100 000 newborn in
Armenia. The number of abortions has significantly reduced: to date,
one abortion is made per every 4 children born in Armenia.

The conference was attended by UN Resident Coordinator and UNICEF
Representative program Leila Moshiri, Deputy Minister of Health of
Armenia Tatul Hakobyan, Chairman of the RA National Assembly Standing
Committee on Health Ara Babloyan. They stressed, tangible progress
has been made over the past 15 years in Armenia, but we still have
many unsolved problems.

The conference was dedicated to 15th Anniversary "Population and
Development" conference held for the first time in Cairo in 1994. The
conference participants adopted the program of activities for 20 years,
aimed at improving the social status of people, gender equality,
combating HIV and AIDS and other actions.

THE EUROPEAN TIMES SHOWCASES TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES IN ARMENIA

ARKA
DECEMBER 4, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. The European Times, one of Western
Europe’s major investment journals, has come to Armenia. After Hungary,
Serbia, Romania, Bosnia, Argentina, etc, the report, which reaches
410,000 high-level readers ranging from top enterprises in Europe to
International Funding Institutions, is making its debut in Armenia. By
highlighting the major investment opportunities and the advantages
of doing business in Armenia, European investors and political policy
makers will have the true story of Armenia at their doorstep.

"The goal is to connect Armenia with the international community, to
reinforce the opportunities of investment by highlighting Armenia’s
key strengths, most notably by taking advantage of its resources in
human capital and improved regulatory framework for investors", Sarah
Scotch and Aga Brzycka, Country Directors, explain. Subscribers of The
European Times have shown greater interest in this region due to it
being a proximity market that can offer safer investment opportunities
and potential for long term, stable return on investment. "With the
international financial crisis affecting Western Europe, business
leaders want to diversify their investments, and our readers have
requested more information on the climate of investment in this
country."

The report on Armenia will highlight the major reforms of the
government, but will put a key focus on business-to-business matching
between Armenian-based companies and European enterprises. The European
Times is working together with the government of Armenia to highlight
various economic sectors, such as energy, trade and industry, transport
and logistics, construction, tourism, telecom and financial services.

As an independent quality magazine, The European Times creates the
bridge to Western Europe for Armenian businesses, ones that otherwise
don’t have the opportunity, or for international investors already
present in Armenia that want to show their commitment to growth in
this country. With in-depth interviews and fascinating articles, The

EVERYONE IS AGAINST NKR RECOGNITION

Lragir.am
04/12/09

Today, the NA commission on foreign relations discussed the
question on giving or not a positive answer to the draft on the NKR
recognition. 7 members of the Heritage party introduced the draft
before the parliament on October 14.

Safaryan noted that the main disagreements regard the fact whether
the current period is opportune to adopt the draft. In particular,
the RA government gave such kind of assessment to the draft on
19.11.2009 without any grounds only noting that the current period
is not opportune for the adoption of that draft.

Safaryan also recalled the statement of the RA president’s press
speaker that in case Azerbaijan retakes military steps against Artsakh,
Armenia will immediately recognize Karabakh.

The RP member of the commission Hamlet Harutunyan tried to learn
from Safaryan whether the adoption of the draft will not be a reason
for Azerbaijan to restart a war. Safaryan answered that regardless
Armenia has never included this question into its official agenda,
Azerbaijan is getting ready for a war and voices about it which means
that the recognition or its threat are not the reasons for Azerbaijan
to start a war. Safaryan reminded that when presenting the draft,
they appealed to many organizations and independent parliamentarians
to join but they were refused.

The head of the commission Armen Rustamyan from the ARF considered
inexpedient the discussion and the adoption of the draft saying
that the foreign ministry is to direct the NA in its action in this
connection. The deputy foreign minister Shavarsh Kocharyan noted
that the opinion of the government is known and presented three main
reasons, saying that all the other questions are to be decided by
the National Assembly. He recalled that in 1991-92, NKR appealed to
the Armenian government to recognize it, while several countries of
the Latin America were ready to make this step.

Dwelling on the period when Raffi Hovhannisyan was the RA foreign
minister and Shavarsh Kocharyan was opposition, Safaryan said that
Hovhannisyan was appealing to come to agreement on whether to recognize
Karabakh or not and to leave to the Armenian president the period of
making that step. Safaryan said that the first RA foreign minister
worked out official information on NKR in Armenia and English and
spread all over the world, because of which there appeared countries
ready to recognize Karabakh. But the Armenian president has never
made that step.

Safaryan noted that the Heritage make a similar proposal now. While,
now first of all the international recognition is important.

ASSETS OF ARMENIAN BANKING SYSTEM UP 22.2% OVER 9 MONTHS OF 2009

ArmInfo
2009-12-03 13:53:00

ArmInfo. Assets of the Armenian banking system were up 22.2% over
9 months of 2009 totaling 1.266 trillion drams ($3.3 billion) as of
Sept 30. Analysis and Ranking of Armenian Commercial Banks prepared
by Agency of Rating marketing Information (ArmInfo) says assets grew
10.6% for Q3 2009 and 31% per year.

Assets grew per year as lending grew 15.7%, funds on nostro-accounts
grew 92.8%, cash grew significantly and investments in government bonds
were up 7.6% per year. The growth of assets for Q3 was the result
of 10.1% growth of credit portfolio, 51.5% growth of investments in
government bonds, 5% growth of cash, despite 19.6% quarterly decline
of funds on nostro-accounts (exclusive of correspondent accounts
with Central Bank of Armenia). In the structure of assets, the share
of lending was 57% (versus 57.3% for Q2 and 59.2% for Q1 2009) and
the share of investments in government bonds was 6.4% (versus 5.3%
for Q2 and 5.6% for Q1 2009) and versus 64.6% and 7.8% growth for
9 months of 2008, respectively. ArmInfo experts explain the annual
decline of the share of investments in government bonds and lending
with the global crisis that made Armenian banks sell trade portfolios
of government bonds, funds on nostro- accounts and cash to maintain
lending focusing on economy sector and cutting retail lending. Top
three leaders by assets as of Sept 30 2009 were ACBA-Credit Agricole
Bank, HSBC Bank Armenia and Ardshininvestbank.

Their share in total assets was almost 33%.

Real lending as of Sept 30 2009 totaled 722.4 billion drams ($1.9
billion) or 57% of assets. The share of loans to economy sector was 64%
of total lending or 461.8 billion drams ($1.2 billion). This indicator
grew 43.7% per year and 23.4% for Q3, whereas comparing to 9 months
of 2005 it grew almost four times. Total personal loans fell 20.8%
per year, 11.1% for Q3 and grew almost thrice versus the same period
of 2005 totaling 231.6 billion drams or $0.6 billion on Sept 30 (32%
of total lending). Unlike previous years, in 2008-2009 growth rates
of lending to individuals yielded to growth rates of lending to the
economy sector affected by the global financial crisis that made
banks restrict consumer, mortgage and auto loans. Instead, banks have
started actively lending to SME, trade and agricultural sectors. It is
noteworthy that starting from Q1 2009 only few banks has been providing
retail lending and only subject to refinancing (loans are provided
only to bonafide clients). Lending to the transport and communication
sectors grew 36.6% for 9 months of 2009. Lending to construction sector
grew 18.8%, to industrial sector – 17.2%, services sector – 17.2%,
and trade sector – 15.4%. Portfolio of retail loans of commercial banks
suffered 1,4% decline for 9 months of 2009 as auto loans fell 31.1%.

Top three of leaders by lending to economy sector were ACBA-Credit
Agricole Bank – 63.1 billion drams or $164.3 million (73.3% of total),
Armbusinessbank – 47.3 billion or $123 million (83.35 of total) and
VTB Bank (Armenia) – 43.6 billion drams or $113.4 million (62.7% of
total). ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank provides agricultural loans as part
of lending to economy sector. ProCredit Bank that entered the market
in early February 2008 has already ensured the largest share in total
lending to economy sector by late Sept 2009 – 91.1% or 9.4 billion
drams (up from 14th to 13th position for Q3). The share of Mellat Bank
in total lending to economy sector was the smallest – 28.7% or 1.3
billion drams. HSBC Bank Armenia was the leader by personal loans –
29.4 billion drams or $76.6 million (34.2% of total lending). Unibank
was ranked the second by 26.5 billion drams or $69.1 million (46.7%).

VTB Bank (Armenia) was ranked the third by 23.8 billion drams or
$61.8 million (34.2%).

Mellat Bank was leader by the share of personal loans in total – 71.3%
or 3.3 billion drams (18th position in banking system). Areximbank -GPB
Group was in the third position by the share of personal loans in total
lending – 52% or 9.7 billion drams, due to its leading positions in the
market of auto loans (third position for 9 months of 2009 despite the
32% decline). The share of auto loans in the bank’s credit portfolio
is 22% or 4.1 billion drams, which is almost 12% of total portfolio
of auto loans in the banking system of Armenia. Alongside with this,
the bank increased mortgage lending for 9 months of 2009 24%. The
highest growth was recorded in the Q2. Mortgage lending by Areximbank
– GPB Group suffered 4.8% decline for Q3. ProCredit Bank ensured the
lowest share of personal loans in total lending (8.9% or 0.9 billion
drams). This bank has been traditionally avoiding consumer lending.

OSCE: USE OF FORCE NOT AN OPTION IN SETTLING DISPUTES

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2009 10:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign ministers from the 56 OSCE participating
states charted the way ahead for the OSCE-anchored debate on the
future of European security known as the Corfu Process in a decision
and a Ministerial Declaration adopted today at the Ministerial Council
in Athens.

The ministers said they remained seriously concerned that the
principles of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and subsequent OSCE
commitments are not fully respected and implemented.

"Our highest priority remains to re-establish our trust and confidence,
as well as to recapture the sense of common purpose that brought
together our predecessors in Helsinki almost 35 years ago," the
statement said.

In the declaration, the ministers said they were concerned "that
the use of force has not ceased to be considered as an option in
settling disputes; that the danger of conflicts between states has
not been eliminated, and armed conflicts have occurred even in the
last decades".

They also adopted a statement urging the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries
to sustain the positive dynamic of negotiations of the negotiations
and aiming to finalize the Basic Principles on the peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We are convinced there is today a real opportunity to build a
future of peace, stability and prosperity for the entire region,"
the statement said.

AAHPO FUNDRAISER AT NY STOCK EXCHANGE BENEFITS EYECARE PROJECT, VOSKEVAN CLINIC
By Florence Avakian

aahpo-fundraiser-at-ny-stock-exchange-benefits-eye care-project-voskevan-clinic/
December 2, 2009

It was at a world famous location, the New York Stock Exchange, that
the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) of New
York, New Jersey, and Connecticut held a well-attended, successful
fundraiser on Nov. 6. Two worthy and important projects were the
recipients of the proceeds-AAHPO’s Voskevan Clinic in Armenia and
the Armenian Eye Care Project, which has already provided free eye
care to 20 percent of Armenia’s poorest people.

The enthusiastic crowd of more than 150, which weaved in and out of
America’s capitalistic center, was warmly welcomed by AAHPO Board vice
president Dr. Arthur Kubikian, standing on a platform high above the
famous hall. Tireless AAHPO Board president Dr. Lawrence Najarian, in
striking a "symbolic bell" rather than the stock exchange’s opening
bell, declared that "we stand ready to help provide the basic human
right to good health for our brothers and sisters."

Impressive Accomplishments

Giving just a few examples of the impact the donations make, he
revealed that $1,000 buys insulin for 100 diabetics for one year
in Armenia; $1,000 also services an entire Armenian village with
a dental-mobile with two dentists and two staff for 30 days. In
the Voskevan village, very close to Azerbaijan, he announced that a
seven-room clinic will replace the decaying, bombed-out kindergarten
currently used to provide medical and dental services to 4,000
poverty-stricken people.

In this country, he pointed out that in three New Jersey counties,
in collaboration with the North Hudson Community Action Corporation,
AAHPO has provided free medical care to any Armenian adult and child
with no insurance and unable to pay. Donations have also been earmarked
for AAHPO’s public education programs, including the Diabetes Awareness
Day on in New Jersey and the medical alerts on the AAHPO.org website.

Another recipient of the contributions is the tele-medicine initiative
in collaboration with Armenia Fund USA which uses the internet "to
collaborate with and train medical professionals in the most remote
areas of Armenia," Najarian noted.

A congratulatory message from Armenia’s ambassador to the United
Nations, Garen Nazarian, and read by deputy permanent representative,
Lilit Toutkhalian, related that "programs in Armenia and for Armenia
are of special importance since improved and modern medical services in
Armenia require a cohort of well-educated, dedicated professionals who
can put Armenia on the map of the world’s advanced medical societies
and contribute to the wellbeing of the Armenian people."

Monumental Accomplishments

Dr. Roger Ohanesian, the dedicated head of the Eye Care Project in
Armenia, detailed the monumental accomplishments of the program. "More
than 50 ophthalmologists who have supported us have taught and
performed surgeries in Armenia. In addition, Armenian doctors have been
trained in the U.S. on a year-long fellowship. When they’ve returned,
we’ve made sure they had all the needed equipment, and they established
specialty clinics," Ohanesian said with obvious pride.

"The goal was also to make the ophthalmology departments in Armenia
self-sufficient."

One of the greatest achievements of the Eye Care Project has been the
Mobile Eye Hospital, which is equipped with a full operating room and
two examination rooms, and has made four rotations throughout Armenia,
servicing almost 350,000 patients.

Twenty percent of Armenia’s population has been examined, Ohanesian
announced proudly. "Now other Armenians have built eye clinics in
regions outside Yerevan-in Gyumri, Osterak, Garagunik, and Karabagh-and
are seeing patients in a similar model to what we have done. Now we
don’t have to go to these areas. They are becoming self-sustaining,"
he said, adding, "the Eye Care Project has been so successful that
other countries and the U.S. send medical residents to Armenia for
pathological training."

During the festive evening, guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres
and a silent auction, which was held under the direction of Dr. Aram
Cazazian and featured donated gifts.

The hardworking volunteers whose work brought the event to a successful
fruition included Drs. Armand Asarian, Garbis Baydar, Aram Cazazian,
Knarig Khatchadurian, Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, Arthur Kubikian, and
Louiza Puskulian Kubikian. Also in the dedicated group were Suzy
Davidkhanian, Kathy Feredjian, Saro Hartounian, Lucy Hayrabedian,
Lory Karakashian, Nadine Koobatian, Judith Lee, Lori McCann, Christina
Najarian, and Magda Najarian.

A. ARZUMANYAN: "THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN A NEW SUGGESTION"

Aysor
Dec 1 2009
Armenia

"The authorities have suggested to cooperate thousands of times,
from the very first moment", – stated the former Minister of the
RA Foreign Ministry, representative of ANC Alexsander Arzumanyan,
referring to the comments made by some political forces saying that
"The RA first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan in his last speech has
called the authorities to cooperate with each other."

A. Arzumanyan informed that from the very first moment the opposition
was ready to have a dialogue with the authorities only after having
his activists set free.

According to the speaker it has been "the only condition, the needed
moral norm that was required to be realized".

The former foreign minister also mentioned that L. Ter-Petrosyan in
his last speech has applied to the authorities to solve the problems
connected with the legitimacy issues.

"It was a persuasion for the authorities to try to solve their problems
with their people and not to bag their legitimacy form the foreign
countries", -said A. Arzumanyan and mentioned that "there have never
been a new suggestion."

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM TAKES PART IN EPC-HELD CONFERENCE

news.am
Nov 30 2009
Armenia

The European Policy Center held an international congress on stability
and security in the EU Eastern Partnership in Brussels, on November
27. RA Deputy Foreign Affairs Arman Kirakosyan made a speech at
the congress.

The press service of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported
that Kirakosyan spoke of Armenia’s European policy and dwelt on
the opportunities afforded by the European Partnership policy. He
welcomed the discussion of a mandate for negotiations over Armenia’s
associate membership in the EU Council. Arman Kirakosyan pointed out
that Armenia is preparing to start negotiations for simplified visa
regulations and free trade.

The RA Deputy Foreign Minister also presented the Nagorno-Karabakh
and the Armenia-Turkey normalization processes.

United Russia party delegation participating in RPA congress
28.11.2009 12:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A delegation of United Russia party arrived in
Yerevan to attend the congress of the Republican Party of Armenia.

`My presence at today’s RPA congress is quite natural. The Republican
Party of Armenia and United Russia party have established friendly
relations,’ UR member Arthur Chilingarov told reporters on November
28. `There is also an agreement on cooperation between the parties.’

AZERBAIJAN WANTS FULL AGREEMENT ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

news.az
Nov 26 2009
Azerbaijan

Elkhan Polukhov Azerbaijan maintains its position on the need to
reach complete agreement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conlict settlement,
Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov has said.

"Our position on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
based on the principle ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed’,"
Polukhov told APA news agency.

He was commenting on Turkish press reports on the outcome of Sunday’s
meeting in Munich of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents. Some
reports said that agreement had been reached on the withdrawal of
Armenian forces from five occupied districts.

Polukhov restated Azerbaijan’s position on the settlement process. He
said that first the districts adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh must be
freed from occupation, infrastructure must be restored, IDPs must
return to their homes, temporary status must be granted to Nagorno
Karabakh and then final status must be determined.

The Turkish press reported that the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders
could not reach agreement and had struggled to make progress within
the framework of the Madrid principles and Helsinki Human Rights
Declaration which were proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group to help
resolve the problem.

These are the points on which the two leaders made progress:

â~@¢They exchanged ideas on a fundamental agreement that will form
a basis for the final agreement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

â~@¢They agreed on the withdrawal of Armenian forces from five of the
seven occupied districts of Azerbaijan (Kalbajar, Lachin, Gubadli,
Agdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan).

â~@¢The names of the five districts that will be returned to Azerbaijan
have not been specified yet â~@¢Yerevan said that Armenia opposes
putting on the agenda the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from
the Lachin corridor connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.

â~@¢The leaders agreed in principle that the final status of
Nagorno-Karabakh may be determined through a referendum.

Elkhan Polukhov, like Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan,
said that progress had been made at the Munich meeting.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu telephoned his Azerbaijani
counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, to ask about the meeting.