Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

GREAT PART OF ARMENIANS APPROVE IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS WITH TURKEY, POLLS

Focus News
Sept 14 2009
Bulgaria

Yerevan/Ankara. Great part of Armenian citizens back the establishment
of relations with Turkey and expect for the border between the two
countries to be opened soon, a public opinion survey executed among
Armenian citizens in Yerevan shows, CNNTurk reports.

In reference to the protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia,
Armenia’s ruling Republican Party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov said
the party counts on its parliamentary majority to ratify the papers
and remarked that Armenian government expects the same positive
political will on behalf of Turkish Justice and Development Party. In
interview to CNNTurk, Sharmazanov said that speaking in details the
protocols have certain paragraphs that each of the countries could
interpret according to its own potions. He added that in contrast
to the general expectations of the Armenian and Turkish society, the
commission on history that is to be established will not examine the
Armenian genocide. In his words, the Armenian genocide is a reality
which cannot be denied.

The Armenian politician added that the Turkish-Armenian relations
cannot be bound to a third country and Armenia accepts the position
of the Minsk Group about Nagorno-Karabakh.

While the ruling power backs the protocols, the opposition in Armenia
is restless in its criticism, saying such a move undermines Armenia’s
authority.

ArmenTel launched service improvement program
12.09.2009 14:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ArmenTel has launched a service improvement program
for its employees, the company’s PR officer said.

`Monitoring groups consisting of representatives of public
organizations, journalists and company members will be formed to hold
express surveys in the streets and near Beeline offices. The results
will be available through media reports and service centers. The
program will last 3 months,’ Anush Begloyan told reporters today.

It’s the second round of service improvement program. The first round
included monitoring of sales offices.

Armenia expects to get $16.5 million from MCC before the end of the year

YEREVAN, September 12, /ARKA/. Armenia will ask the next meeting of the
Board of Directors of the U.S. Millennium Challenges Corporation (MCC)
to release about $16,5 million in Q4 from the main segment of the aid
package, approved by MCC for Armenia in 2006, Ara Hovsepian, head of
MCC Armenia said today.

In response to a question from ARKA, he said the allocation is due to
be spent on rebuilding and expanding Armenia’s irrigation networks, to
launch in Q4. According to him, the MCC has so far released a total of
$39 million to Armenia.

In a reference to the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation’s decision
not to release the $67 million component for reconstruction and repair
of about 1,000 kilometers of Armenian rural roads, Ara Hovsepian said
following that decision the Armenian government in July 2008 decided to
allocate about $17 million of its own funds to rural road construction
envisaged by Armenia’s MCA compact.

He said unfinished projects are being now, in accordance with a
government decision, handed to the ministry of transport.

The United States effectively cut nearly one third of a $235.6 million
air package for rural road rehabilitation, citing Armenian government’s
deteriorated human rights record and calling into question its
commitment to democracy and good governance.

The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a multimillion-dollar scheme
designed to reward economic and political reforms in the developing
world, was started in 2006.

Armenia was to receive $236.65 million in 2006-2011. Most of the MCA
funds were to be spent on rebuilding and expanding the country’s
battered irrigation networks and refurbishing about 1,000 kilometers of
rural roads. -0-

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.