Author: Toneyan Mark

ARKA News Agency
Aug 22 2005
A PRESENTATION OF THE TURANALEM BANK’S REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE TAKES
PLACE IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. A presentation of the TuranAlem Bank’s
representative office took place in Yerevan on August 22, 2005. The
goal of opening of an official representative office of the bank is
to ensure high quality bank services, contribute to development of
business relations between the countries, monitor the development of
the national market of financial services of Armenia and look for the
ways to enlarge business of TuranAlem Bank in Armenia.
According to the financial Director of TuranAlem Erick Sultankulov,
“the representative office of BTA in Armenia is a part of the
strategy of the bank “One bank, one account, all the CIS “, implying
establishment of a network of banks- strategic partners of BTA for
servicing economic interests of neighbor countries”. The
representative office of TuranAlem Bank in Yerevan has already
established some long-term contacts with leading companies of
Armenia”.
According to the press release, RA President Robert Kocharyan showed
interest in opening of the representative office of the bank in
Armenia. In particular, during reception of the Ambassador of
Kazakhstan to Armenia in June 2005 Kocharyan mentioned that Armenia
strived for closer cooperation with Kazakhstan and would welcome
joint economic projects and coming of large Kazakh banks to
attractive branches of the economy of the country.
The chief strategic partner of BTA in Armenia is BTA Investbank, the
priority directions of which are medium-term and commercial funding,
hypothec crediting of the population and subjects of small business
aimed at medium-term and long-term funding of acquiring property in
the country.
TuranAlem Bank is a Kazakh bank, leader in creation of a bank network
in the CIS. The assets of BTA amount to $5,5 bln., aggregate capital
of the bank exceeds $600 mln.. Among the shareholders of the bank are
EBRD, RZB, FMO, IFC.
The group of banks – strategic partners, in the capital of which BTA
has its share, are also Slavinvestbank (Moscow), Omsk -bank (Omsk),
Astanaeximbank (Minsk), Agroincombank (Astrakhan), BTA -Kazan
(Kazan), ÁÒÀ Silk Road Bank (Georgia). A.H. –0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 23 2005

PACE President Cites `Favorable Conditions’ for Conflict Settlement
Favorable conditions have been created to settle the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, president of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van Der
Linden has said.
`We should take advantage of this and find a way to resolve the
conflict,’ the PACE president, who arrived in Baku on Monday as part
of his tour of the South Caucasus region, told journalists upon
arrival. The visit is aimed at getting familiar with the situation in
the region.
Linden said he held broad discussions on the Karabakh conflict during
his visit to Armenia.
The PACE president said that Azerbaijan’s November parliament
elections will be discussed. Asked whether the Council of Europe will
reconsider the mandate of the Azerbaijani delegation if it is not
satisfied with the results of the forthcoming poll, Linden said he
will reply to the question in conclusion of his visit.
Linden met with President Ilham Aliyev, Chief-of-Staff of the
President’s Office Ramiz Mehdiyev, representatives of the Azadlig and
New Policy election blocs as well as media and NGO representatives on
the same day. On Tuesday, he is to meet Parliament Speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov and Interior Minister Ramil Usubov.

Charleston Gazette (West Virginia)
August 18, 2005, Thursday
MUSIC Political System Early exposure to real-life evil still fuels
band
Evelyn McDonnell Knight Ridder Newspapers
Among the myriad norm deviations that make System of a Down one of
the millennium’s strangest musical acts is the fact that a holocaust
indirectly spawned the group.
>>From 1915-23, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the
Turkish government in a horrific campaign of massacres, deportation,
starvation and torture. For System, this brutal history is something
more than prime heavy metal song fodder: It’s personal.
“Because of the genocide, Armenians scattered,” System bassist Shavo
Odadjian explains over the phone from his Los Angeles home. A number of
the displaced, including 4-year-old Odadjian and his future bandmates,
eventually made their way to America’s 20th-century promised land:
Hollywood. System of a Down is probably the first group whose members
all attended an Armenian-American academy.
Odadjian, guitarist/singer Daron Malakian, singer Serj Tankian and
drummer John Dolmayan all speak Armenian. And while their music
isn’t filled with Armenian instruments, their shared ethnic history
undoubtedly unites them – and shapes their distinct worldview.
They’re a thrash band that throws in operatic trills. Progressive in
their musical tastes and politics, they’ve shot a video with Michael
Moore. On “Mesmerize,” their recently released fourth album, they
mostly seem to be channeling the goofy, artsy ghost of Frank Zappa,
if he were in Metallica.
The band members’ experiences as progeny of the Armenian diaspora
provided the fuel for “Mesmerize” and “Hypnotize,” its companion CD
to be released in late fall. Malakian’s family fled from Armenia to
Iraq before winding up in California. (Malakian was born in Hollywood,
Odadjian in Armenia, Tankian and Dolmayan in Lebanon.)
His personal and politicized fear, anger and sorrow drive “Mesmerize,”
from the opening “Soldier Side,” through the fierce anti-war
“B.Y.O.B.” to the melancholy “Sad Statue,” in which the Statue of
Liberty – the beacon of immigrants – weeps over her torn domicile.
“He sees it totally differently,” says Odadjian of Malakian’s view
of the war in Iraq. “It’s not because he’s from there, but because
it’s family. He doesn’t know when he’s going to get that call saying
something’s happened to somebody.”
Malakian’s need to express his feelings on global politics changed
the very dynamic of the band. For the first time, on “Mesmerize,” the
guitarist wrote the majority of lyrics and sings leads, while Tankian,
the traditional front man, plays such instruments as acoustic guitars,
piano and synthesizers (and co-writes and sings). It’s as if Keith
Richards and Mick Jagger traded roles in the Rolling Stones.
System built a reputation by gigging before releasing their self-titled
debut, on Rick Rubin’s American label. Rubin produced the band’s
four records to date, including ’01’s “Toxicity,” which became an
unlikely multiplatinum global hit with such singles as “Aerials” and
“Chop Suey!”
System’s intense, sometimes grandiose music has also earned the
group its share of detractors. For the haters, the best thing about
“Mesmerize” is the fact it’s mercifully short, just 36 minutes.
Odadjian says the group chose to release the two CDs separately,
rather than as a double album, because they thought songs would get
lost to modern listeners’ short attention spans.
“The youth of today has ADD, or at least they like to say they do.
The school we came from, albums were 11, 12, 13 songs, and every song
meant something.”
With his videos and the CD art, Odadjian says he tries to supplement
the songs, not duplicate or explicate them. Like the band’s odd name,
or such lyrics as “Gorgonzola gonorrhea,” some things are better
left unprobed.
“We don’t like to explain what we mean. It takes away the mystery.
It’s good to leave it to the person that’s seeing it or experiencing
it. I think our band is like an abstract painting.”

15.000 Tourists Visit Ani City
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Aug 19 2005
KARS (JTW) – When Turkish government opened Ani region to civilian
activities, the 5.000-years-old historical town lured thousands of
tourists. More than 15,000 tourists visit Ani in a year. Ani is one
of the oldest Turkish towns and home of the first Seljuki Mosque Ebul
Menucehr Camii (1071).
Ministry of Culture expects more than 20.000 visitors to Ani in 2005.
Ani is an important town for the Armenians as well. There are 10
historical churches in Ani region.
Ani is very close to Turkey-Armenia border.

Armenian Night Set
South Bay News, NY
Aug 17 2005
Nassau County Parks’ very popular International Music Nights Summer
Concert Series at Eisenhower Park’s Lakeside Theatre will host
Armenian American Night on Sunday, August 21st, announced Nassau
County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.
Armenian American Nights Summer Concert Series is presented by
the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums in
recognition of a unique ethnic diversity enjoyed by Nassau County.
Through a generous grant from Canon USA Inc., seventeen International
Music Nights will be presented this summer free of charge.
The Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre is located near parking fields
6 and 6A in Eisenhower Park. Special accommodations are available
for disabled patrons, including reserved parking, easily accessible
restrooms, and a convenient reserved location on the hill. Assistive
hearing devices are available for the hearing impaired. There is no
formal seating at Lakeside Theater, so concertgoers are urged to bring
folding chairs. If weather conditions are doubtful, call 516-572-0355
after 7 pm for updated performance information.
Eisenhower Park is located in East Meadow with entrances on Hempstead
Turnpike at East Meadow Avenue and at the intersection of Stewart and
Merrick Avenues. For further information, call the Public Information
Office at 516-572-0200 weekdays during business hours, the Special
Events Line, a recorded message updated weekly at 516-572-0223,
or visit our website at

RA STATE COMMISSION ON PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC COMPETITION RECEIVES NO
COMPLAINTS IN CONNECTION WITH MINIBUS FARE RISE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 12, NOYAN TAPAN. In order to intiate proceedings in
connection with the fact of the 30% increase of the fare of Yerevan
minibuses, the RA State Commission on Protection of Economic
Competition must conduct studies based on written complaints. Yet, as
the Commission Chairman Ashot Shahnazarian told reporters on August
12, the Commission has received no such complaints. In the opinion of
A. Shajnazarian, if the fare rise was substantiated and necessary, it
would be more correct to increase it by 50% to 150 drams, since the
current fare of 130 drams causes problems when passengers give to and
get back small change from the driver.

California’s congressional clout increases
Friday, August 12, 2005 – 9:38:18 PM PST
news.com
By 1:By Lisa Friedman, Staff Writer
WASHINGTON – From the Iraq War to tensions in the Mid east to the
extradition of criminals hiding in Mexico, California’s influ ence on
U.S. foreign policy is intensi fying. About 25 percent of the House
com mittee overseeing international af fairs hails from the Golden
State, leading some aides to jokingly refer to the panel’s “California
cabal” even as Congress’ foreign policy de mands increasingly reflect
the state’s diversity and global economic ties.
Twelve of the panel’s 50 members represent California, including the
leading Democrat, Tom Lantos of San Mateo, one other Northern Cali
fornian, one from the Central Valley, and nine representing various
parts of the Southland. Three Californians chair subcommittees on
issues rang ing from Europe to State Department oversight to
international terrorism.
“California members are very active in international relations because
the state is an economic powerhouse,” said Matthew Reynolds, acting
assis tant secretary of state for legislative affairs, a liaison
between Congress and the State Department.
Reynolds said California “is on the threshold of a lot of things. Its
inter ests are political, human rights, there’s interest in security
issues, and I think you’ve probably got every group covered in
California.”
With the largest delegation in Con gress, California might be expected
to be represented in large numbers everywhere — but isn’t.
Californians make up fewer than 10 percent of nearly every other panel
in Congress — just five members serve on Transportation, six on Armed
Ser vices and five on Appropriations. Only the Resources Committee,
which oversees federal land and wa ter policy, comes close with nine
Californians making up about 18 per cent of the panel.
Lawmakers say the state’s relation ship as a trade partner with more
than 220 countries, and the fact that Cali fornians trace their roots
from more than 100 nations, primarily account for the Golden State’s
disproportion ate involvement in foreign affairs.
“There’s a natural interest in interna tional affairs, perhaps even
greater than other parts of the country,” said Rep. Howard Berman,
D-Van Nuys. “California’s economy, its interna tional dimension, plays
a huge factor, as well as the part that so many Californians come from
other coun tries.”
But California interests are, of course, anything but
homogenous. Orange County’s Vietnamese com munity, for example, may
press for human rights in Vietnam while Los Angeles’ Armenian
community urg es an end to Turkey’s blockade of Armenia.
Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs, uses her position to encour
age better relations between the Unit ed States and Latin America,
while Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Hunting ton Beach, wields his influence
to highlight long-standing human rights concerns in China. Rep. Adam
Schiff, D-Pasadena, meanwhile, fo cuses his committee efforts on curb
ing nuclear proliferation.
“Foreign policy issues are now inter twined with national security is
sues,” he said.
Israel and the Palestinian territories also are frequent points of
conten tion, even within the California dele gation.
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, for example, recently worked
language into a bill calling for an end to U.S. aid to the Palestinian
Authori ty as long as its government-spon sored textbooks deny the
existence of Israel. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, in a counteramendment,
softened the provision so that only aid to Palestin ian education
programs would be affected.
Overall, though, lawmakers say the foreign policy bills emerging from
Congress tend to have an overarch ing California theme: active engage
ment in global affairs.
“Mostly it reflects a recognition of an internationalist approach
rather than an isolationist approach,” Ber man said. “What goes on
around the world has an impact on us, and we need to be engaged.”
And engaged they are. For example, two laws about to go into effect —
one authorizing the U.S. State Depart ment for another two years and
an other approving international U.S. assistance — are filled with
provi sions authored by Californians.
Among them:
— One by Sherman blocking World Bank loans to Iran until the country
abandons its nuclear program.
— About $4.5 million in scholarship funds for students in Muslim coun
tries to attend U.S. schools as part of a program championed by
Berman to expose more students to American ideas and values.
— Demands from Reps. Elton Gal legly, R-Thousand Oaks, and Darrell
Issa, R-Vista, for the State Depart ment to submit detailed
statistical reports regarding Mexico extradition requests.
Meanwhile, the panel will vote next month on whether the killing of Ar
menians in Turkey during the Otto man Empire should be declared
“genocide.” That’s a direct result of Schiff, whose district is home
to many of California’s estimated 400,000 Armenians.
Armen Carapetian, spokesman for the Armenian National Committee of
America’s western region in Glen dale, said that for Armenians, having
a lawmaker on the International Re lations Committee is as important
as having one on a bread-and-butter panel like Appropriations.
“It certainly helps to have your local congressman represent you in
places where it matters,” Carapetian said.
Added former Los Angeles Rep. Mel Levine, now head of community re
lations for the Los Angeles Jewish Federation, “It’s very important,
and there’s no doubt that the pro-Israel community pays a lot of
attention to this committee.”
Levine, who served on International Relations himself when in
Congress, also noted that with more than 15 lawmakers representing a
portion of Los Angeles County, no one law maker bears the sole burden
of bring ing home federal money. That, he said, frees up politicians
who want to exercise their own intellectual inter ests in world
affairs.
“Our constituents tolerate it, even encourage it,” Sherman agreed. “A
Nebraska congressman might go home (after joining the foreign af fairs
panel) and his constituents would say “You gave up the Agricul ture
Committee for that?’ ”
Gallegly said he also thinks Califor nia constituents want their
represen tatives in Washington to be tuned in to the world.
“Let’s face it,” he said. “We live in a global society. People are a
lot more interested in what’s going on around the world and how it
affects us at home.”
Lisa Friedman can be reached by e-mail at lisa.friedman@lang news.com
or by phone at (202) 662-8731.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA urges government condemnation of attacks on Azeri opposition party
Assa-Irada
11 Aug 05
BAKU
The USA expects a fair investigation into the case of Ruslan Basirli,
chairman of the Yeni Fikir (New Thought) youth movement [believed to
be close to the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party], charged with
cooperating with Armenian secret service agencies.
“In accord with the rule of law, we expect that the government of
Azerbaijan will conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the
recent allegations raised by the Prosecutor-General’s Office against
the head of the Yeni Fikir organization. Serious allegations should be
addressed in the courts, and not in the media,” the US embassy in Baku
has said.
It also indicated that it expects a fair parliamentary election this
autumn. “We expect that the government of Azerbaijan will pursue fair
and transparent elections in November, according to the principles
laid out in the Azerbaijani election laws and in the presidential
decree of 11 May. This includes condemning unwarranted attacks on
individual parties or political figures and allowing all political
parties to pursue their election campaigns without harassment or
unsubstantiated allegations.”

Global Gold Corporation Acquires Tukhmanuk Mine in Armenia and Closes
Private Placement
BISNIS Mining and Metallurgy Update
10 August 2005
New Info on Product Certification Available!
The majority of U.S. companies exporting products to Eurasian countries
are likely to encounter product certification issues in one form or
another. Even for seasoned U.S. exporters, Eurasia-style product
certification procedures may seem intimidating. BISNIS now has general
overviews of certification processes in eight Eurasian countries
available to help you understand and navigate these issues, see
The other good news is that
several U.S.-based certification companies provide professional services
and advise on these procedures, for a non-exhaustive listing see the
BISNIS website at
For
additional information regarding product certification in Eurasia,
please visit BISNIS website at
************************************************************* ********
Press Release: Global Gold Corporation Acquires Tukhmanuk Mine in
Armenia and Closes Private Placement
Greenwich, CT — August 1, 2005 — Global Gold Corporation (OTCBB-GBGD)
() today acquired the Tukhmanuk gold mine, plant,
and surrounding exploration sites in Armenia and, on July 29, closed a
private placement raising three million dollars. Global Gold will use
the proceeds to fund the Tukhmanuk acquisition and expansion as well as
to further its mining and exploration projects and for working capital.
The transaction involved the issuance of four million shares of common
stock at $0.75 per share. Each new share issued carries a warrant to
purchase one half of one additional share at $1.50 per share. The
warrants are exercisable on or before July 31, 2007. Lead investors
include current shareholders Firebird Global Master Fund, Ltd., Firebird
Republics Fund, Ltd, and Firebird Avrora Fund, Ltd () and
new shareholders East Capital (), Falcon QPLP, and
Dover Industries.
The Tukhmanuk property is adjacent to Global Gold’s Hankavan property in
central Armenia, between the Aragatsotn and Kotayk provinces. In
addition to the central property the acquisition includes a 200,000
tonne per year capacity plant and the Damlik, Mirak, Grebnevaya,
Ozyornaya, Emin Yourt, Voskedzor, and Dalma exploration sites. The
property is held by the Armenian company Mego-Gold, LLC, for which
Global Gold’s subsidiary Global Gold Mining, LLC (“GGM”) agreed to pay
$3,500,000. GGM is initially paying $1,500,000 for 51% of Mego-Gold and
paying the balance of the purchase price for the remaining 49% within
two years.
Global Gold Corporation is an international gold mining, development and
exploration company with mining properties in Chile and Armenia. Global
Gold Corporation is located at 104 Field Point Road, Greenwich, CT
06830. The main phone number is 203-422-2300. More information can be
found at
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly
historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business
strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions,
goals, future financial conditions, future collaboration agreements, the
success of the Company’s development, events conditioned on stockholder
or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are
forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the statements made.

Contact: Global Gold Corporation, Drury J. Gallagher, 203-422-2300,
[email protected]

Source: Global Gold Corporation
********** Forwarded by: *****************************
Ellen S. House, BISNIS Trade Specialist for Mining and Metallurgy
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/482-2284, Fax: 202/482-2293
Additional information on this sector in Russia and Eurasia is available
via BISNIS Online at

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED DECREASES IN GYUMRI THANKS TO GOVERNMENTAL
PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED THERE
GYUMRI, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: After the devastating earthquake in
1988 Gyumri had the highest index of unemployment then any other town
of Armenia and for its decrease the government developed a set of
programs securing temporary jobs for the Gyumri population.
In particular with the help of one of the programs “Paid Public Labor”
which is implemented for already 5 years some 1,000-1,300 unemployed
got temporary jobs. This year 1,200 citizens got jobs. Unlike past
years, this year not only those who have the status of unemployed can
participate in the program but also unemployed members of the families
who are getting poverty allowance and also the students.
The programs which launched from July 1, 2005 include reconstruction
of roads, restoration of territories and greening. During this year
mostly the programs which have community importance have been adopted
for the implementation of which the government released 55 million
drams. Besides Gyumri the program also includes Akhurian, Ashotsk and
Maralik.