Author: Tvankchian Parkev

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$5 MILLION LOAN FROM EBRD
[03:06 pm] 01 December, 2006

Micro and small enterprises in Armenia will benefit
from a $5 million loan the EBRD is providing to CJSC
Inecobank, a growing local bank with a strong business
focus.

In addition, the EBRD will also increase Inecobank’s
limit under the Trade Finance Programme to $1 million.

The EBRD loan will be used for on-lending to local
micro and small enterprises thus addressing a major
constraint for the growth of this segment of the
economy.

Inecobank and the EBRD have been partners since 2005
when the Armenian bank received a first $1 million
loan to expand its capacity to serve micro and small
enterprises. In the same year Inecobank also joined
the EBRD’s Trade Finance Programme which supports
trade to, from and within the Bank’s countries of
operations.

AzerTag, Azerbiajan
Dec 1 2006

FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH HEAD OF OSCE OFFICE IN BAKU
[December 01, 2006, 14:40:27]

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with Maurizio
Pavesi as the latter recently completed his tenure as Head of the
OSCE Office in Baku, press service of the Ministry said.

Mr. Mammadyarov and Mr. Pavesi discussed current state of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh as well
as Azerbaijan-OSCE cooperation, and social and economic reforms in
the country.

Maurizio Pavesi said he welcomes the level of Azerbaijani
government’s cooperation with OSCE during his tenure.

The Italian diplomat also said he believes the bilateral ties between
Azerbaijan and his country will further deepen.

Elmar Mammadyarov informed Maurizio Pavesi about the outcomes of the
meetings of Presidents and foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and
Armenia, which took place recently on the sidelines of the summit
meeting of the heads of CIS member states in Minsk.

Elmar Mammadyarov stressed the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute should be
solved only in accordance with international norms and the principle
of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Public Radio, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

Namik Tan: The instructions to suspend EU-Turkey talks were hasty
01.12.2006 16:29

Press Secretary of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Namik Tan
characterized the instructions of the European Commission to suspend
the talks with Turkey as hasty and `dictated by a number of visible
and invisible reasons.’ He underlined that no decision was taken,
there were only instructions.
According to Namik Tan, `these are not objective and were adopted in
the conditions of negative conjuncture in Europe, which often hampers
the fair approaches.’ `There are hasty actions, absence of field for
diplomacy and application of means of political pressure,’ he said.
Tan noted that Turkey does not intend to involve into dispute with
the European Union. `The main purpose of Turkey are the modifications
that will correspond to the people’s interests,’ he said.

FRENCH EVENTS ON THE YEAR OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 30 2006

The Year of Armenia in France (YAF) is celebrated in France.

Press service of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia reported to ArmInfo
that a celebration will be organized in Grenoble on 25 November.

Edward Nalbandyan, Ambassador of Armenia to France, Mayor of Grenoble,
MP Michael Deston, and many other officials participated in the
event. At the closuring ceremony the Mayor of Grenoble passed a golden
medal to the Mayor’s House of Yerevan.

The YAF is set out in Montpelier on 28 November. Celebration was held
in the city’s Mayor’s House. One of the streets in Montpelier will be
named after Misak Manoushyan. Armenian Ambassador was awarded with the
title of honorable resident of Montpelier. The YAF in Montelimar was
celebrated on 27 Nov. An exhibition of Armenian ornament crafts was
held there. Over 700 activities in 150 cities of France are planned
within frames of YAF.

SPEAKING OF PASSING THE IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE TO ANY OPERATOR IS PREMATURE

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 30 2006

"Russia has its bases to raise gas prices, which are conditioned
by a number of factors," RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said
in an interview with Moscow based "Kommersant" newspaper, Mediamax
agency reports.

"At the same time out strategic partnership should be safe from the
current political and economic conjuncture and should be based on
the logic of long-term cooperation," Andranik Margaryan said.

In response to the question whether Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will
be given to "Gazprom" and when it can take place, the Prime Minister
said, "the construction of the pipeline has not been completed yet,
and speaking of giving it to any operator, including "Gazprom" is
premature. For a long time Armenia and Iran have been successfully
cooperating in the energy sphere, and the Iran-Armenia pipeline is one
of the pivotal bilateral energy programs," the Prime Minister stated.

KARABAKH NEEDS STRONG GOVERNMENT IN ARMENIA

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 30 2006

"The political situation in Armenia is highly complicated. The reason
is the collapse of the coalition, as well as the possibilities of
the Bargavach Hayastan Party and the calls of the opposition for
unification. For us, fair elections are important of all. Karabakh
needs a strong government in Armenia, and a strong government is the
one which is supported by the majority of people before and after the
election," said Gagik Petrosyan, a member of the Azat Hayrenik Party
of NKR. "Armenia is really in the mode of parliamentary election, but
this does not mean that extraordinary developments are expected. I
think the opposition is confused, and the government’s actions are
clear and determined. I think there will be no essential change in
the political life of Armenia after the parliamentary election. My
impression is that maybe a more liberal, perhaps a clearly pro-west
force will enter the parliament, but it will be opposition.

As to the possible shake-up in the political life of Armenia and the
hint at the prospect of settlement of the Karabakh conflict, I think
it is time that the Armenian public shake off the prejudiced complex
about the role of an individual or a political force in establishing
dignified peace," says Vahram Atanesyan, the leader of the Democratic
faction.

NO SWORD FIGHTING AGAINST VIOLENCE

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[05:55 pm] 29 November, 2006

more images "Where there is fight against violence, my sword is
there", said Commander Andranik. Today his sword fighting against
violence turned into a museum exhibit by the hand of Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan.

The Defense Minister, accompanied by the majority of the Republican
party, the NA deputy speaker and the heads of factions, handed the
Commander’s sword and his awards to the Museum of History today. He
mentioned that he bought them this year, "An Armenian citizen of
France turned to me and said that an Englishman wants to sell these
items. Naturally, I was quick to react. I reported the President and
received his approval bought the items immediately".

"If we didn’t do it, there would be at least 50 people who would
do it", the Defense Minister said. He added that the relics of our
great ancestors must be gathered in Armenia, AS for the question if
the sword has been examined or not, Serge Sargsyan said it is up to
the scientists to carry out an investigation.

Manager of the museum Anechka Grigoryan thanked the Defense Ministers
saying that these items made the museum even richer.

IN WORDS OF JAVAKHK COMPATRIOTIC UNION CHAIRMAN, GEORGIA CONSTANTLY USES OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 29 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The policy carried on by Georgia
towards Armenia for many centuries went and now goes under the
slogan "if you can smother do it." Shirak Torosian, Chairman of
the Javakhk Compatriotic Union, expressed such an opinion at the
November 29 press conference. He said that the evidence of his words
is the fact of Georgia’s never involving Armenia in discussion in
connection with construction of the Kars-Akhalkalak railway. So,
in Sh.Torosian’s words, "our only argument of shaking our finger at
Georgia is Javakhk." In his words, Javakhk can be either a link of
Armenian-Georgian friendship "or if there is no Javakhk, we can state
that the rope tightens on our neck."

As Sh.Torosian affirmed, the importance of Javakhk problems is
conditioned first of all by the circumstance that currently the
only way connecting Armenia with the world is Georgia. In his words,
Iran has many problems with the outer world and cannot be a bridge
between Armenia and the outer world and Armenia’s blockade by Turkey
and Azerbaijan goes on.

The Chairman of the Javakhk Compatriotic Union said that Armenia
should carry on foreign policy proceeding from its own interests
"fitting these interests into the interests of superpowers so that
Armenians have only gain." In his words, Armenia should not announce
itself as an emphasized pro-Western or pro-Russian country.

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN GROSS ASSETS FOR 3RD Q 2006 INCREASE BY 12.31%

Arka News Agency, Armenia –
Nov 29 2006

YEREVAN, November 28. /ARKA/. Foreign gross assets of the Central
Bank of Armenia (CBA) for the third quarter 2006 increased by 12.31%
or by $98,968,439.79 and totaled $902,694,828.5.

The CBA press service reported that the international reserves of
this amount totaled $902,694,098.55, 12.31% increase in the period
under report.

At the same time, the SDR at the IMF totalled 14,799,004.5 or
$21,848,870.19, 76.25% or $9,452,225.07 increase for the a quarter
at the zero reserve position at the IMF. The net foreign assets of
Armenia totaled $625,090,616.72 at the end of the period under report,
10.03% increase in the period under report , $625,135,535.29 of them –
in the freely convertible currency.

Foreign gross assets of the CBA totaled $803,726,388.71 at the
beginning of the third quarter 2006. Of this amount international
reserves totaled $803,725,656.22. The SDR share at the IMF totaled
8,379,685.80 or $$12,396,645.12 at the zero reserve position at the
IMF. Net foreign assets of Armenia at the beginning of the period
under report totaled $568,100,381.51, $568,141,232.89 of them –
in freely convertible currency.

DIALOGUE WITH ISLAM OR CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST MUSLIMS?

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Nov 29 2006

TEHRAN, Nov. 29 (MNA) — Pope Benedict XVI began his four-day visit
to Turkey on Tuesday with the eyes of the world upon him.

The Pope’s visit to Turkey is his first visit to an Islamic country
and comes after his remarks about Islam that caused an uproar in
Muslim nations.

Many analysts believe that the trip to Turkey was arranged to
rehabilitate the tarnished image of the Pope and the Vatican among
Muslims and to reinvigorate efforts to begin a dialogue between Islam
and Christianity.

Pope John Paul II visited Turkey two times to promote relations
between Turkey and the Vatican, and thus the Turkish nation got a
positive image of him.

However, the new pope does not enjoy a positive image with Islamist
or secular nationalist Turks.

Turkish Muslims expect the Pope to officially apologize for insulting
Islam. However, he still has not yet apologized for his remarks,
and this has increased the displeasure of Turkish Islamists.

In addition, Turks who support their country’s accession to the
European Union are dissatisfied with the Pope’s attitude toward Turkey.

Commenting on the possibility of Turkey joining the European Union in
August 2004, before being elected leader of the world’s Catholics,
when he was known as Cardinal Ratzinger, in an interview with the
French daily Le Figaro, he said, "Europe is a cultural continent,
not a geographical one. It is its culture that gives it a common
identity… In this sense, throughout history Turkey has always
represented another continent, in permanent contrast with Europe.

There were the wars against the Byzantine Empire, the fall of
Constantinople, the Balkan wars and the threat against Vienna and
Austria. That is why I think it would be an error to equate the two
continents. It would mean a loss of richness, the disappearance of
culture for the sake of economic benefits."

There were centuries of conflict between Turkey and Christian Europe
before World War I, and European countries used all their energy,
even the power of the Catholic Church, to bring an end to the Ottoman
Empire.

The Catholic Church exaggerated the threat posed by this Muslim empire
and its impact on European and Christian values.

In modern times, in order to pressure Ankara, the European Union, the
Vatican, and human rights organizations have perpetually brought up
the longstanding charge that the Turkish government has always imposed
limitations on the activities of Christians and churches in Turkey.

A unique point of the Pope’s visit to Turkey is his meeting with
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople,
which has attracted the attention of all the world’s Catholic and
Orthodox Christians.

The leader of the Orthodox Christians of the United States has told
Reuters that above and beyond the goal of jumpstarting the dialogue
between Muslims and Christians, the main objective of Pope Benedict’s
visit to Turkey is to bring the two churches closer together.

Although the thousand-year dispute between the Orthodox and the
Catholic churches is still alive, it is expected that the two religious
leaders will make an agreement during the landmark visit as a first
step to bridging the chasm.

According to some experts, the rise of secularism in Europe and the
rise of Islamism in the Islamic world have inspired efforts to unite
the Catholics and the Orthodox.

The Turkish Constitution has imposed certain restrictions on the
100,000 Christian inhabitants of Turkey, who are mainly Orthodox
Armenians or Greeks, but the Pope’s visit to Turkey may result in
some improvement in their conditions.

Meanwhile, the Turkish government is currently in the midst of a crisis
in its relations with the European Union and a rise in opposition to
its desire to join the EU.

Yet, Ankara is determined to make optimal use of the Pope’s visit to
introduce Turkey as a bridge between Islam and the West in order to
improve its relations with the European Union and garner the pontiff’s
approval for its accession to the EU.