Author: Vanyan Gary

PanARMENIAN.Net

Online Armenian history textbook to be launched
09.03.2009 14:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian students in the United States called on the
academic councils of the universities in the U.S. to remove from
circulation the book titled `The Armenian People: From Ancient to
Modern Times’ because of the numerous mistakes it contains, the
student initiative group told PanARMENIAN.Net.

`Outrageous mistakes and falsifications in The Armenian People: From
Ancient to Modern Times are countless. Any student, who would make
such horrible mistakes during an exam, would receive an F and
fail. So, how come this anti-scholastic book and its authors have
continued to use this book since 1997, and even have republished it in
2004 without making ANY CORRECTIONS whatsoever? For many years,
Armenian scholars from Armenia have repeatedly exposed and criticized
this falsified book in their scientific publications. Yet, the chief
editor continues to insist that the critics of this unscientific
textbook are violating the freedom of academic expression,’ the
students’ letter says.

On February 23, 2009, Armenian Ministry of Diaspora sent an official
letter which stated that the efforts of creating an online Armenian
History textbook for colleges and universities are already
underway. This textbook will be in many languages (Armenian, English,
Russian etc.) and will be available online at the official site of the
Armenian National Academy of Sciences for a free download to all
students of Armenian History and Culture. Finally, the New Generation
of Diasporans will have at their disposal an Armenian History textbook
that will contain genuine Armenian Studies book, without
falsifications and distortions.

Al-Jazeera TV, Qatar
March 7 2009

Turkish envoys say Clinton’s visit to outline future ties

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to hold talks with
her Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan in Ankara today. Clinton will also
hold talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey is the final leg in Clinton’s tour which
included a number of European and Mideast countries.

Immediately afterward, Al-Jazeera interviews its correspondent in
Ankara Umar Khashram to report further on the agenda of the meetings
between Clinton and the Turkish officials.

Khashram begins by saying: "What makes this visit very important is
that it is the first by Clinton to Turkey and the first visit
following tension in the Turkish-US ties." Khashram notes that the US
withdrawal from Iraq will be one of the main items on the agenda of
the meetings, noting that "Turkey is willing to help the United States
move its troops to the United States through Turkey, but on certain
conditions." Khashram adds that the meetings will also address other
"thorny issues" like the US Congress recognition of "the Armenian
genocide" and the US position on the conflict between Turkey and the
Kurdistan Workers Party. Concluding, Khashram says "Turkish diplomats
say the visit will outline the future of the US-Turkish political
ties."

CITIZENS OF FOREIGN STATES HAVE THE RIGHT TO SERVE IN THE RUSSIAN MILITARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.03.2009 00:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Moscow newspaper "Trud" has reported that
Col. Gen. Nikolay Pankov, the deputy defense minister, had recently
pointed out that under Russian law, "the citizens of foreign states
have the right to serve in the Russian military."

The paper added that its sources in the ministry have indicated that
"there will not be any propaganda campaign" to recruit them, "but
if their numbers increase" – and the number of foreigners serving in
the Russian army now is only 308 – "this will only be welcomed"

Foreigners were given the chance to serve in the Russian military by
a series of amendments in 2004 to the country’s basic law on military
service. That law does not specify just which foreign citizens could
do so – "theoretically," the paper said, "an Australian aborigine"
could serve. But "Trud" suggested that "unofficially" military offices
have been given "an order to take for service only citizens of the
CIS and the Baltic countries."

Those now serving include citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, plus two from Latvia,
two from Germany, and one from Israel. Despite this diversity in
citizenship, two-thirds of the total are ethnic Russians, military
officials told the paper.

PETROLEUM PRICES TO DROP
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
06.03.2009 15:38

"I have no magic wand to immediately reduce the prices," Chairman of
the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition Ashot
Shahnazaryan told reporters today. He rushed to gladden the drivers,
saying there will be a 10 dram drop in petroleum prices.

Ashot Shahnazrayn informed also that they will launch a case
against the markets of oil, butter, medicines and household
appliances. Chairman of the State Commission for the Protection of
Economic Competition calls on the population not to buy things from
shops where the prices are high.

The fever was mostly caused by people, Ashot Shahnazaryan says and
urges not to go to great expenses.

PROPOSED IMF PROGRAMME WOULD SUPPORT ARMENIA’S RATINGS

ArmInfo
2009-03-05 23:11:00

ArmInfo. Fitch Ratings says today that a proposed IMF loan facility for
USD540m would support the adjustment of Armenia’s economy in the face
of a global and regional economic shock, and support the outlook for
its sovereign ratings. Armenia’s foreign and local currency Issuer
Default Ratings (IDRs) are ‘BB’ with Stable Outlooks. The Country
Ceiling is ‘BB+’ and the country’s Short-term rating is ‘B’.

Armenia’s decision to seek a precautionary IMF programme and allow a
freer float for the currency is a welcome signal of the authorities’
cautious approach to managing current difficulties," says Andrew
Colquhoun, Director in Fitch’s Sovereigns Group. "However, the
reserves loss to end-January indicates the scale of the shock, and
suggests there is little room for policy missteps which could undermine
macroeconomic stability and increase downwards pressure on the ratings.

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn has requested that the
IMF’s Board approve a USD540m, 28-month Stand-By Arrangement for
Armenia, at a planned 6 March meeting. A programme approval would
follow a 24% fall in official reserves to USD1.26bn by end-January
2009, from USD1.66bn at end-2007. The central bank (CBA) has said it
spent USD360m supporting the Armenian dram (AMD) at around 305 to 1 USD
during 2008, to support confidence in the partly-dollarised financial
system amid global financial turmoil and political tensions. The
CBA says it will now permit greater exchange-rate flexibility, and
expects the AMD to settle around 370 to the USD. However, the CBA has
held back from formally committing to an AMD target or band. The IMF
programme will include support to Armenia’s banks, enabling them to
absorb the consequences of AMD depreciation for the 38% of loans in
the system denominated in foreign currency. With bank credit to the
private sector of only 17% of GDP at end-2008, any potential problems
in the still relatively well-capitalised banking sector should be
more manageable than for most of Armenia’s regional peers.

Armenia’s GDP growth slowed to 6.8% in 2008, from 13.8% in
2007. The economy contracted by 0.2% in Q408, hit by an 11% fall in
construction. The sharp downturn in the Russian economy in Q408 is
likely to have affected remittance receipts, an important source of
foreign exchange and demand. The IMF projects that Armenia’s economy
could shrink 1.5% in 2009, although the authorities expect growth
of around 2% driven mainly by fiscal stimulus, partly funded from
official sources. In addition to the likely IMF programme, Armenia is
expected to receive a USD500m credit from Russia, and up to USD525m
from the World Bank for SME financing over four years.

Securing and successfully implementing20the IMF programme and sustained
domestic policy discipline would support the ratings. Geopolitical
risk remains a background feature in a volatile region, although
there have been signs of progress towards a resolution of Armenia’s
frozen conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan. Domestic political
risk appears to have eased after the election-related violence of
March 2008, although a downturn in the economy could spark further
unrest. The public finances remain a rating strength, with government
debt projected by Fitch at around only 14% of GDP by end-2008.

MAYOR BEGLARYAN INTRODUCED TO THE STAFF OF THE YEREVAN CITY HALL

armradio.am
05.03.2009 13:46

President Serzh Sargsyan today introduced the newly appointed Mayor
of Yerevan, Gagik Beglaryan, to the staff of the Yerevan City Hall and
the community leaders. According to the President, as Mayor of Yerevan
Yervand Zakharyan has done a huge work over the past six years and
"today’s Yerevan cannot be compared to the Yerevan of 2003."

President Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the ex-Mayor and noted that
he will still have an opportunity to demonstrate his capacities in
other spheres.

Serzh Sargsyan is assured that new Mayor Gagik Beglaryan will manage
to freshen up the activity of the City Hall and will use his experience
as Head of Kentron community for achieving common objectives.

According to Preside Sargsyan, "today we should work better than
yesterday, we should be able to have our legislation correspond to
contemporary standards, our present should differ from our past."

Former Mayor Yervand Zakharyan expressed gratitude for joint work and
the everyday attention of the top leadership of the Republic towards
issues of Yerevan.

Mayor Gagik Beglaryan assured he will do his best to ease the problems
of Yerevan and its residents.

CENTRAL BANK OF ARMENIA BOOSTS REFINANCING RATE TO 7.75% AS OF MAR 3

Interfax
March 3 2009
Russia

The Central Bank of Armenia increased the refinancing rate from 6.75%
to 7.75% on Tuesday, March 3, the bank said in a statement.

The Central Bank’s council said that its money credit policy over
the last several months for securing financial stability has produced
substantial results in stabilizing prices and reducing drastic rate
fluctuations on the currency market.

The Central Bank’s last refinancing rate decrease was held on February
10, 2009 when the rate was lowered from 7% to 6.75%. On January 13,
the rate was lowered from 7.25% to 7%.

ACCORDING TO ALEXANDER MANASIAN, AZERI SIDE RECORDS SUCCESS AND ARMENIAN SIDE DEFEAT ON AGITATION FRONT

Noyan Tapan

M arch 4, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Policy of Nagorno Karabakh problem
dampening or delaying was carried on in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement
negotiations process in the past years. However, as Alexander Manasian,
the Chairman of the Academy of Political Researches NGO, stated at the
March 4 press conference, OSCE Minsk Group undertakes nothing serious
to accelerate the problem settlement. Moreover, according to him,
the main players, RF and U.S., try to find a convenient occasion to
solve the problem in favor of themselves.

Speaking about the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ last visit
to Armenia, the political scientist said that this visit had a
number of peculiarities. In particular, according to A. Manasian,
the Co-chairs for the first time spoke about NKR’s return to the
negotiations process. The other peculiarity was that the Co-chairs
decided to have meetings with the public sector.

The political scientist noted that in the process strategy, on the
agitation front the Azeri side constantly records success and the
Armenian side defeat. According to A. Manasian, though Minsk Group
is not interested in problem’s legal side, all the same the Armenian
side should work in the direction of putting the legal arguments
on the negotiations table or appearing on the agitation front. "We
should try to change problem’s legal image, to lay new moral stresses
in our documents and demands put forward to Minsk Group and Europe,"
A. Manasian said. According to him, the issue of genocide committed
against Armenians living in Azerbaijan is among those demands. That
issue is left out of both the agitation front and Minsk Group’s
attention so far.

RA DIASPORA MINISTRY PRIORITIZES SUPPORT TO ARMENIAN EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS ABROAD

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.03.2009 12:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Minister of Diaspora Affairs Hranush
Hakobyan participated in events dedicated to 30th anniversary of
establishment of Gogolian college and Babayan kindergarten in Canada.

Stressing the importance of Armenian educational institutions
in Diaspora for maintenance of Armenian identity and language,
Mrs. Hakobyan said the RA Diaspora Ministry prioritizes support to
Armenian educational establishments abroad.

She also handed a special diploma to Gogolian college director,
reported the press office of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.

VAZGEN SARGSYAN: "WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO LINGER"

A1+
[03:05 pm] 04 March, 2009

"Chaos reigns in the country. Ð~P lamebrain can take an automatic
machine and play serious jokes on a whole nation. How can we defend
each other with a feeling of suspect and intolerance? We have got
tired of the talks over unity; we have got tired of citing Nzhdeh,
but all in vain… We have no right to linger. Do hurry up lest dark
forces make us enemies. Do hurry up as long as people trust us,"
Sparapet (Commander) Vazgen Sargsyan said in the 90s.

Today his words sound oracular, especially after the clashes of last
March. It didn’t even occur to the great Sparapet that one day Armenian
may open fire at each other in the heart of Yerevan and an Armenian
mother will mourn because of the pain caused by her compatriot.

Vazgen Sargsyan would be 50 years old on March 5. He is no longer
alive as the fortune was unfair to him: he was killed by an Armenian.

Vazgen Sargsyan felt that the public opinion about his personality
was not in line with his nature. He feared that he wouldn’t be able
to show his true colours. "People do not know me properly. Only my
friends and acquaintances know me. Others think I am a gloomy and angry
person with a beard and sweat. People don’t know me, they fear me. They
compare me with a bear; therefore they are afraid of me. Sometimes I
also fear lest I shouldn’t be able to speak to them and make myself
comprehensible. I am not God, I am a soldier, I am an Armenian…"