Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Around 900 customers of HSBC bank Armenia enjoying internet banking

YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. Around 900 customers of HSBC Bank
Armenia have already signed up to Personal Internet Banking service to
view their accounts, make transactions and open new accounts on-line.

The bank’s press office says that with internet banking, customers now
can effect all their non-cash transactions 365 days a year, 24 hours a
day, from anywhere in the world.

Personal Internet Banking was soft launched on 1 July 2009.

`Personal internet banking is a USD 2 million investment and provides
HSBC customers a secure internet system to access and manage their
accounts. To safeguard customers HSBC internet banking uses one of the
most advanced security technologies’, the press release says.

All individual customers are eligible to apply for internet banking and
only require an HSBC Bank Armenia ATM card and internet access.

As a result of implementing internet banking services the number of the
bank’s website visitors increased WS to average 15000 per month, making
the biggest branch that never closes.

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc was the frst international bank to open in
Armenia in 1996. The bank is a joint venture between the HSBC Group,
which has 70 percent ownership, and members of overseas Armenian
businesses. The bank offers a wide range of products and services to
individual as well as corporate customers, including personal fnancial
services, commercial banking and treasury and capital markets services.

Thanks to the HSBC network in 86 countries and territories, the bank is
uniquely positioned to provide truly international services for its
customers. HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc is one of the leading banks in the
foreign exchange market. It has 9 branches and offces in Yerevan, as
well as 46 ATMs located throughout the city.

The Bank is continuously introducing innovative technologies and
frst-on-market solutions to achieve top customer service and increase
the effciency of operations. HSBC Bank Armenia has launched telephone
and internet banking services, which will take customer service to a
new level, giving customers a choice of branch, ATM, telephone and
internet banking.

As a socially responsible organization HSBC Bank Armenia continually
invests into ustainability projects focusing on education for
underprivileged groups and environment.-0—

Aysor, Armenia
Sept 12 2009

Is Armenia satisfied with the Bologna process or not?

`We wanted it or not, but we had to follow the path of the Bologna
system,’ said Laert Hovhannisyan, Vice Rector of the State Engineering
University of Armenia (SEUA), on the meeting with journalists.

According to him, the Bologna process is a necessity as the
today-world doesn’t recognize the one-step system of education,
however, this process in Armenia is incomplete because of lack of
funds and time.

`Many states implement these changes for many years and invest huge
amounts of money. The elder generation has a poor understanding of
what is the Bologna process,’ noted Mr Hovhannisyan.

He also noted that the negative aspect of this process was the lack of
students’ opportunities to interrupt their education in Armenia for
going to study abroad and then come back and continue their studies at
home. `Our education system is concerned with the draft, the student
has to get an education within 4 years.’

Positive aspect of the process, according to Vice Rector, is the
constant analysis of educational strategy that increases the quality
of education.

`We find it difficult to answer whether we are satisfied with the
process or not,’ said Mr. Hovhannisyan.

TURKEY BIDS TO WIN SUPPORT FOR ARMENIA DEAL

Peninsula On-line
sept 12 2009
Qatar

Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu set out yesterday to
overcome opposition to the normalisation of ties with Armenia which
have been marked by decades of animosity.

Turkey and Armenia announced last month that they had agreed a
framework to establish diplomatic ties and re-open their border, in
what was internationally hailed as a major breakthrough. The talks
were mediated by Switzerland. The two countries said they would hold
internal political consultations for six weeks before submitting to
their parliaments two protocols on establishing diplomatic ties and
developing bilateral relations. "We aim to brief all political parties,
institutions and civic bodies on the protocols that will be signed,"
Davutolgu told reporters after meeting parliament speaker Mehmet
Ali Sahin.

He added that he had also asked for meetings with opposition
leaders. "We want to hold the briefings before parliament returns
from summer recess" in October."

Turkish opposition parties have expressed hostility to the plan which
they say is against Turkey’s interests.

RUBEN TOVMASYAN: CONSEQUENCES OF PROTOCOLS SIGNED BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY OBVIOUS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.09.2009 18:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Signature of protocols between Armenia and Turkey
is inadmissible and dangerous for the Armenian side, according to RA
Communist Party leader Ruben Tovmasyan.

"These protocols resemble the Treaty of Alexandropol. According
to them, Armenia will recognize the Treaty of Kars and the current
dividing line with Turkey," he told reporters today. "The consequences
of protocols are obvious. Even Azerbaijan says it might consider
opening of the border with Armenia."

Tovmasyan said Armenia is undergoing political and economic crisis and
its leadership is incapable to decide on foreign and internal policy.

He also underscored that Armenia can’t agree to hold talks unless
Turkey recognizes the Genocide.

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF ARMENIAN COMMUNIST PARTY IS AGAINST OPENING OF THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

Arminfo
2009-09-10 14:02:00

ArmInfo. Central Committee of Armenian Communist Party is against
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, the first secretary of
Central Committee the Communist Party Ruben Tovmasyan said at today’s
press-conference.

‘Let them establish diplomatic relations. We are not against it. but
opening of the border to the most blood-thirsty country of NATO, as
Turkey, is full of big danger for our country. Opening of the border
will take us far from Russia – our many-centuries ally and partner’, –
Tovmasyan said and added that the Communist Party is going to public
a message in which it will call the society of the country to raise
for protection of their national and state interests.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINA

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 10
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward
Nalbandian is leaving for Beijing today at the invitation of Foreign
Minister of China Yang Jiechi.

According to the Press and Information Department of the RA Foreign
Ministry, during his visit E. Nalbandian will meet the state and
party leadership of China, will make a speech at the International
Research Institute of China and will give interviews to the Sinhua
Chinese agency and the CCTV State Central Television.

E. Nalbandian will also visit Shanghai, where he will meet with the
municipal authorities and the organizing committee of the Shanghai
Expo 2010 World Exhibition. With the latter he will discuss issues
of Armenia’s participation in the exhibition.

RA Foreign Minister will return to Yerevan on September 14.

Georgian Foreign Minister visiting Yerevan
04.09.2009 22:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Visiting Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze
met Friday with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian.

`Armenia welcomes contacts which underlie further development of
mutually beneficial relations,’ Minister Nalbandian said.

The two men discussed Gyumri-Akhalthikhe-Bavra-Batumi highway
construction, process of delimitation of the Armenian-Georgian border
and energy cooperation. They also signed a memorandum on exchange of
land for the diplomatic outposts.

Tomorrow, Mr. Vashadze will meet with President Serzh Sargsyan, the RA
MFA press office said.

At that, Interfax news agency reported that Georgia is ready to
discuss any ideas and proposals with Armenia, including giving to the
Armenian language a status of `regional language’.

`We are willing to discuss any idea with our Armenian
counterparts. Armenians living in our country are a part of our
history and culture. The rights of Georgian citizens of Armenian
descent will be protected,’ the agency quoted the Georgian FM as
saying.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting IWPR, UK
Sept 3 2009

ARMENIAN BORDER DOUBTS

Armenian border villagers distrust moves to open up to Turkey.

By Davit Muradian in Bagaran

Armenians living along their country’s border with Turkey are deeply
distrustful of moves by politicians to build ties with the
neighbouring state, saying they fear a repeat of the massacres of
1915.

The founders of the village Bagaran were refugees from an Armenian
village of the same name in what is now Turkey, who were driven from
their homes by the campaign against them during World War One. The
Turkish government denies that the killings were genocide, and the
villagers see that as a sign that the Turks are still not to be
trusted.

`I have the writings of my grandfather, who came from western
Armenia,’ said Maria Mkrtchian, a 55-year-old resident of Bagaran,
referring to the region in what is now Turkey where Armenians once
lived.

`They lived through an unbearable nightmare. When they heard the
soldiers were coming to their village, they built a bridge in just
three days and crossed over the river Akhuryan, which had burst its
banks. When I read about this, the thought of that nation makes me
feel terror and fear, and no matter how much the politicians talk
about there being no danger, I am still scared,’ said Mkrtchian, a
teacher of Armenian language and literature in the local school.

Bagaran sits on the banks of the Akhuryan river, which forms the
border here.

The Turkish-Armenian border has been closed since 1993 when Turkey
decided to support its allies in Azerbaijan in their war with Armenia,
when Armenians seized control of the region of Nagorny-Karabakh. The
villagers would like to see a relaxation of the current tough border
controls, which are here enforced by Russian border guards sent by
under a Russian-Armenian pact, but are suspicious of any move to open
the border itself.

`The only thing that concerns me is economic aggression. They will
fill the Armenian market with the same goods, just at lower prices. We
will be ruined, we will have to sell our property and even our
land. If there is no way of earning, that’s what will happen,’ said
Sanasar Harutinian, the 52-year-old head of the village
administration, in a viewpoint that is widely held here.

`It would be better if they left things as they are. Some people say
that opening the border will benefit us; that trade will start
developing. But all the same, there are Turkish goods in our market
anyway, so what is the sense in formally opening or closing the
border?’ asked 37-year-old science teacher Arshak Melqonian.

`Whatever happens, it is the peasants who guard the border, and who
therefore receive the first blow. The state should be more concerned
about the population of the border villages.’

But it is not a universal opinion. Davit Danielian, a 58-year-old
accountant in the local administration, said that opening the border
would help develop the economy and keep young people in the
village. He said the border regime had relaxed since Soviet times,
when there was even a case of a woman in labour not being allowed to
leave the village because her papers were not in order, and it was
time to move ahead in other ways too.

`Relations will be built with the neighbouring Turkish village,
movement between us will start, and mutually beneficial trade too,’ he
said.

`The people have changed, times are not what they were. Maybe they
were ignorant in 1915, when all this happened, but what can happen
now?’

Davit Muradian is a reporter from the Ar television company in
Yerevan.

Goal.com
Sept 5 2009

Armenia 0-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Muslimovic The Hero As BiH Prevail

The visitors solidify their second place with yet another win…
Sep 5, 2009 1:36:04 PM

Photo GalleryZoomBosnia HerzegovinaArmenia 0-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Lineups/Stats

European World Cup Qualification Results, Fixtures

Bosnia took another massive step towards World Cup 2010 qualification
with a hard-fought but deserved win over Armenia in Yerevan.

Senijad Ibricic of Hajduk Split made it three goals in ten
international appearances after just six minutes, getting a second
header attempt past Gevorg Kasparov after Admir Vladavic’s cross.

Vedad Ibisevic was in bullish mood, too, but the first half ended
without further goals despite the Hoffenheim man’s best efforts.

The Armenians came out strongly for the second period, Nemanja Supic
being compelled to save well from an Arman Karamyan strike, as Bosnia
felt the pressure.

But their World Cup qualification hopes came that one step closer to
reality a quarter-hour from the end as Zlatan Muslimovic continued his
exemplary goalscoring record with a neat finish after a superb piece
of unselfish play from Edin Dzeko.

Prior to Turkey’s match at home to Estonia, the Zmajevi sit seven
points clear of the Turks on 15, three short of a Spain side who meet
Belgium on Saturday evening.

GEORGIA MAY LOSE ROLE OF TRANSIT COUNTRY FROM ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION: GEORGIAN EXPERT:

Today.Az
Sept 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenia-Turkey border opening contributes to the maintenance of peace,
meanwhile weakens Georgia’s position in the region, Georgian expert
on Caucasian issues Mamuka Areshidze said.

He said transit of first-necessity goods supply via Georgia that
gives much importance to the country.

"Georgia has a chance to use its privileged position and succeed. Now
the situation has changed and Georgia’s function is weakened. It is
not good for us," Areshidze said.

In the meantime, he did not rule out that border opening will favor
the peace process, including the Karabakh problem settlement.