Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Resource Investor, VA
Aug 4 2005
Monumental Opportunity in Azerbaijani Gold & Copper
By Stephen Clayson
03 Aug 2005 at 11:28 PM EDT
LONDON (ResourceInvestor.com) — One of the most intriguing new issues
of the year so far is Anglo Asian Mining [AIM: AAZ], which made its
market debut last Friday after raising an impressive £20m to fund
the exploration and development of its gold and copper concessions
in Central Asian petrostate Azerbaijan.
The company is the result of several years’ effort on the part of John
H. Sununu, formerly US President George H.W. Bush’s Chief of Staff,
and Reza Vaziri, formerly a Minister at the Imperial Court of the Shah
of Iran, both of whom worked to secure the mineral exploration rights
to substantial amounts of Azerbaijan before forming AAM in order to try
and develop them. Sununu and Vaziri now sit on the company’s board,
the latter as Chairman. Among others, the board also includes ex-UK
Energy Minister Tim Eggar.
AAM’s Chief Executive Charles Hancock, a corporate financier
by background, reports that the company’s flotation was twice
oversubscribed, even at its comparatively large value of £20m. To have
raised such an amount is indicative of a company with something of a
buzz about it, given the softness arguably afflicting the market for
junior resource stocks in London, though this condition is probably
better characterised as retrenchment after overexcitement.
So far since their flotation, AAM shares have more than held their
own in trading, rising from an initial price of 77p each to just under
90p. This reflects interest in the company’s very large portfolio of
assets, which purportedly contains all in around 15.6moz of Soviet
classified gold equivalent resources with potential according to
the company for up to 78moz more – a hefty figure indeed if it can
be verified.
But how does Azerbaijan stack up as a viable location for
realising these resources? The country’s recent past is a chequered
one. After gaining independence from the Soviet Union by dint of its
disintegration in 1991, Azerbaijan entered a period of dire political
instability. By the mid 1990s the situation had simmered down under
the yoke of the now deceased President Heydar Aliyev. Aliyev has
now been succeeded as President by his son Ilham, who rules in an
essentially absolutist fashion and has maintained ostensive stability
in the country for some time. Nonetheless, the country carries a high
degree of political risk to foreign investors.
Of concern too is a lingering conflict with neighbouring
Armenia over the majority ethnic Armenian province of Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh. While this conflict has been in abeyance for some
time and the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the affected area is
expected during the next few years, a flare up is still a possibility.
AAM actually claims substantial mineral licences within
Nagorno-Karabakh, some parts of which are presently being mined on an
ad hoc basis by opportunistic parties, but the company is currently
unable to gain access. It hopes that this situation will eventually be
rectified if and when a lasting settlement regarding the area between
Armenia and Azerbaijan is reached and a withdrawal of Armenian troops
is agreed, but for now the licences cannot effectively be touched
and the company itself ascribes them no significant value.
In Azerbaijan’s favour as a location for mining investment, Hancock
avers that it in fact belies its reputation for turbulence, and is a
reasonable place to work. The country undeniably has its benefits as
far as the industry is concerned, these being most notably extremely
cheap energy and an abundance of cheap labour that includes experienced
geologists and mine workers.
The presence of British Petroleum as the largest extractor of
Azerbaijan’s extensive hydrocarbon reserves is also a stabilising
factor, given that the company is rumoured to have the ear of the
government in a significant way, and trickle-down revenue from this
sector of the economy, particularly with energy prices as they are,
goes some way towards promoting relative social order.
However overall, investment in Azerbaijan still carries a considerable
degree of risk in terms of the potential for political instability,
administrative difficulties or open conflict, either internecine or
with Armenia. In partial palliation though, the steering of AAM through
any troubles that may emerge in Azerbaijan is where the heavyweight
political content of the company’s board may come into its own.
The legal substrate of AAM’s involvement in Azerbaijan is a 30 year
Production Sharing Agreement with the country’s government, a bargain
which is expected to attribute approximately 55% of any resulting
cash flow to AAM. The agreement covers ground amounting to 1062sqkm,
not including the acreage claimed in the unruly Nagorno-Karabakh
region in which the PSA in theory also applies. Within the currently
accessible ground twenty two mineral prospects can be identified,
of which eight have been reviewed by the company to date.
Of these eight, AAM has selected one prospect that it hopes to bring
rapidly to production at a rate of around 250,000oz gold per year.
Other priorities for the company over the coming two years, the period
for which its initial tranche of funding is planned to last, will be
the reclassification to Western standards various Soviet reserves and
resources and the undertaking across its property portfolio of other
developmental tasks, including the completion of two pre-feasibility
and two full blown feasibility studies.
AAM believes that several practical factors will in time conspire to
make it a low cost producer of copper and gold. These are namely: the
fact that 7 of its 8 prospects would, if proven amenable to production,
be open pit mines of higher than average grade material; that all its
sites are relatively accessible by road and rail and comparatively
well supplied with water and power; and that no issues are anticipated
with disturbance of either the environment or the local populace.
The potential of AAM is clearly almost Brobdingnagian, and hence so are
the possible returns for its shareholders. Nevertheless, the company
must beware the distracting complexity of being a small outfit juggling
a large portfolio of properties in a region of a world that can have
its problems. To its advantage though, AAM can boast an impressive
board of directors of wide ranging experience and connections, and
some very interesting mineral assets. As such, it merits attention.
–Boundary_(ID_Ae0dl7wxhUGqVrhiTOv77Q)–

SMALL ELECTRIC POWER STATIONS TO BE BUILT IN ARMENIA
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 3 2005
03.08.2005 03:35
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within next few years small electric power stations
with a capacity of 70 megawatt will be built in Armenia, RA Deputy
Energy Minister Areg Galstian stated. In his words, investments
totaling in $70 million will be made. At that the investments will
be private. Various funds will be formed for the creation renewable
energy sources. The World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development, KfW Bank and Kafeschian Foundation showed interest in
the project. To remind, June 4 during a press conference in Yerevan
World Bank Regional Vice President for Europe and Central Asia,
Shigeo Katsu stated that till end 2005 a $10-million credit program
for renewable energy sources will be launched in Armenia jointly
with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, UN Ecology
Foundation and a number of local financial institutes. The funds will
be also spent on the investigation of the possibility of using wing
energy for electric power processing. The cost of the program can go
up to $15 million, Express agency reports.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
4 August 2005
INVITATION TO ARMENIANS AROUND THE GLOBE TO JOIN IN THE 170TH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN SINGAPORE
Where Armenians settle, an Armenian Church is first to sprout. So it
was for the Armenian Community of Singapore in the early 19th century
when it built the very first Christian sanctuary in Singapore in 1835,
the Armenian Apostolic Church of St Gregory the Illuminator located
at 60 Hill Street, Singapore.
With fewer than 830 Armenians ever having lived in Singapore and
Malaysia, it is said that Armenians impacted the social, civic
and economic life of the early British trading settlements in both
countries. Author Nadia H. Wright explores the significant contribution
of Armenians in her book entitled “Respected Citizens: the History
of Armenians in Singapore and Malaysia” and traces the existence
of four Singaporean icons to Armenians: the Church of St Gregory,
the Raffles Hotel, the Straits Times newspaper and the “Vanda Miss
Joaquim” orchid ~ popularly known as the Singapore orchid that is
the national flower of Singapore.
To mark the 170th anniversary of Singapore’s Armenian Apostolic
Church of St Gregory the Illuminator, the Trustees of the Church and
Armenians living in Asia have planned a weekend of celebration from
11-13 November and extend an invitation to Armenians around the globe
to partake in this very special event.
With the fatherly blessing of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, the celebrations will be presided
by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand & Pontifical Legate
of India and the Far East.
A special website has been created to serve as a guide to the
celebrations in Singapore with information on the history of the
Church, program of planned events, recommended accommodation and
tours/excursions of Singapore and the surrounding region. The website
address is <; and it is highly recommended the site be frequently visited for updates and latest information on the celebratory events. This will be an unsurpassable opportunity for Armenians all over the world to gather and honour an international Armenian treasure, a landmark of Singapore that is connected to our ancestral heritage and to share a spirit of unity in Christian faith that has kept Armenians bonded for more than 1700 years. Questions and expressions of interest may be directed to [email protected]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Friday, July 29, 2005
Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
OVER $200,000 RAISED AT ANCA-WR PRE-BANQUET KICK-OFF EVENT
— Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian and Mr. & Mrs. Khatchig Mouradian Top
Donor List
GLENDALE, CA – Community leaders, organizational representatives,
activists and benefactors were among over 100 people in attendance
at the 2005 Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) pre-Banquet kick-off event held at the home of Ara and Sandy
Bedrosian on Friday, July 22nd. The kick-off event nearly sold out
the banquet, with close to 500 tickets sold and over $200,000 raised
prior to the actual banquet to be held on September 18th.
Mr. and Mrs. Bedrosian, who graciously hosted the kick-off event,
began the evening’s program by welcoming guests to their home and
thanking those in attendance. They shared with the attendees many
of the ANCA-WR’s accomplishments and initiated the fundraising
event by pledging a $5,000 table on behalf of their family and an
additional $5,000 table on behalf of Sandy Bedrosian’s parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Antranik Kassabian.
Mr. and Mrs. Khatchig Mouradian made a dramatic announcement at the
kick-off event, sharing that they will underwrite the entire cost of
the banquet by pledging an amount of $40,000. This set a new precedent
by allowing for all the banquet proceeds to support the ANCA-WR’s
programs and activities. The generous offer led ANCA-WR Chairman
Steve Dadaian to remark, that “the Mouradians’ generosity is matched
only by their unparalleled patriotism and dedication to the Armenian
Cause. I salute their leadership and solidarity with the ANCA.”
Also among the top donors at the banquet kick-off event was
philanthropist and long-time ANCA-WR supporter Mrs. Ashkhen
Pilavjian. She made a generous pledge of $20,000, which is among the
largest donations ever received by the ANCA-WR. This was followed by
longtime ANCA-WR sponsor, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Melkonian who pledged
to donate $15,000, Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis Sepetjian who pledged $10,000
and Mr. Berdj Shahbazian who pledged $5,000.
“The ANCA-WR has for decades earned the trust of the community,”
commented ANCA-WR Chairman Steve Dadaian. “Our organization’s
track-record of achievements over the past year speaks for
itself. Whether we are educating Members of Congress in Washington,
legislators in Sacramento, or working with our 17 local ANC chapters
to expand awareness of the Armenian Genocide, the ANCA-WR is always
there for our community,” added Dadaian.
Banquet Committee Chairwoman Aida Dimejian updated the attendees at the
kick-off event on the details of the annual gala, which will be held at
the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood on September 18, 2005. The banquet,
Dimejian explained, has become a marquee event, drawing the attendance
of prominent national, state and local public officials and activists.
Over 600 people are expected to attend this year’s ANCA-WR Annual
Banquet. Unfortunately, due to limited space, the event is expected
to sell-out in a matter of days. Those interested in attending the
banquet may contact the ANCA-WR office at (818) 500-1918 to reserve a
table. A press release will be issued shortly announcing this year’s
honorees at the 2005 ANCA-WR banquet.
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad
range of issues.
Editor’s Note: Photos attached. Photo 1 caption: From left to right –
Sandy Bedrosian, Asdghik Bedrosian, Antranik Kassabian, John Bedrosian,
Houri Kassabian, and Mina Shirvanian. Photo 2 caption: From left to
right – ANCA-WR Chairman Steve Dadaian, Khatchig Mouradian, Board
Members Ara Bedrosian and Zanku Armenian. Photo 3 caption: From left
to right – Banquet Kick-off hosts Sandy Bedrosian and Ara Bedrosian
with Banquet Committee Chairwoman Aida Dimejian.
#####

Alcatel wins multimillion Euro contract to develop a new mobile network in Armenia
Alcatel

Aug 3 2005
Paris, August 3, 2005 – Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA)
today announced the signing of a multimillion contract to deploy
a GSM/GPRS mobile network for VivaCell, the second mobile operator
in Armenia. Alcatel partnered in this project with Intracom company,
a Greek telecommunications integrator. Implementation of this project
will enable VivaCell to anticipate the growing demand for a reliable
mobile communication network in the country and to provide advanced
high-quality services to the Armenian end-users.
Under the terms of this contract, Alcatel will deploy a complete
GSM network based on its industry-proven multi-standard Evolium~Y
solution. Alcatel’s solution will cover the whole territory of
Armenia and will include Mobile Switching Centers (NSS) for 400
000 subscribers, more than 200 Base Stations Sub-Systems (BSS) with
natively embedded GPRS capabilities, as well as a backbone solution
based on Alcatel’s next-generation SDH Optical Multi-Service Node
(OMSN) systems and access network.
Alcatel will also deliver its Open Services Platform (OSP) solutions,
an IT-based system which will enable VivaCell to rapidly develop
and deploy new high-value mobile services such as mobile VPN and
convergent payment. These new services are expected to help building
customer loyalty and support the operator’s efforts to increase its
market share in the country.
Commercial launch of the network was announced on July 1st, 2005.
Mr. Ralph Yirikian, General Manager of VivaCell said: “VivaCell’s
vision is to be the Leading Provider of Mobile Communications in
Armenia and to achieve this vision we have partnered with leading
worldwide suppliers to provide brand new state of the art technology,
partners like Intracom – for the network system integration, Alcatel –
for the radio, transmission, switching and IN (Intelligent Network)
platform and some others”.
Johan Vanderplaetse, vice-president of Alcatel in the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) added: “This contract not only gives Alcatel a
good footprint in the mobile market in Armenia but it also reinforces
our presence in the overall CIS market. We are committed to enable
VivaCell to become a stronger competitive operator in Armenia and
to help them provide the Armenian end-users with the most advanced
mobile services”.
Alcatel is one of the leading suppliers in providing advanced mobile
communication solutions in Russia and in the CIS, a position the
company established as early as 1994 when it introduced the first
Russian GSM network in the city of Nizhniy Novgorod. To date Alcatel
Evolium~Y solutions have already been installed in several markets
of the CIS and in more than 35 cities in Russia.
Alcatel’s Evolium~Y multi-standard platform natively integrates all
GSM-based mobile technologies, from GSM/GPRS to EDGE and UMTS, and
allows all solutions in one, for a smooth upgrade of existing networks.
About K Telecom (VivaCell) K Telecom CJSC was granted a license to
operate the second mobile communication network in the Republic of
Armenia in November 2004 and in seven months K Telecom announced
the commercial launch of its network as of July 1st, 2005 under the
VivaCell brand name.
About Alcatel Alcatel provides communications solutions to
telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises
for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers
or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile
broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners
and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of
EURO 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in
more than 130 countries

IranMania News, Iran
July 29 2005
Iranian climber dies on Mount Ararat in Turkey
Friday, July 29, 2005 – ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, July 29 (IranMania) – A 67-year-old Iranian mountain climber
has died on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey and his fellow climbers
are facing prosecution for entering a banned military zone, the
Anatolia news agency reported Friday.
“There will be legal action against the Iranian mountaineers for
climbing in a banned area of Agri (Ararat) Mountain,” Turhan Turunc,
the chief prosecutor in the nearby town of Dogubayazit told Anatolia.
Mount Ararat, or Agri in Turkish, is located in eastern Turkey where
the borders of Iran, Armenia and the Azerbaijani exclave of
Nakhchivan meet.
Most of it is a banned military zone and climbers need special
permission from Turkish authorities for expeditions on the mountain.
The body of the dead climber, named as Ashker Baravan, was brought
down to Dogubayazit late Thursday by a local search-and-rescue team,
which launched an operation on the mountain after his 24 fellow
climbers alerted the authorities about the incident.
The man died at a height of some 5,000 meters, close to the mountain
summit, due to a yet unknown reason, Turunc said.

“When I’m 64,” “Sevigne” “Guys & Balls,” and “Girl Play” Take Philadelphia
Gay Fest Accolades
Indiewire
July 28, 2005
by Brian Brooks
A scene from Sherry Horman’s “Guys & Balls,” which won the audience award
for best feature (gay male) at the recently concluded Philadelphia
International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Image courtesy of the
Philadelphia Film Society.
The Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival concluded its
two-week run last week, with a screening of Craig Lucas’ “The Dying Gaul,”
preceded by the announcement of jury and audience competition winners.
British director Jon Jones’ “When I’m 64” won the jury prize for best
feature (gay male), while Spanish director Marta Balletbo-Coll’s “Sevigne”
won the best feature prize in the ‘lesbian’ category.
BBC-produced “64” is the story of a retiring Latin teacher, who meets a
similar aged former football (soccer) yob, and embarks on an intense
friendship that later morphs into more. “Sevigne,” meanwhile, is the story
of a screenwriter who attempts to get her story on French socialite Madame
de Sevigne off the ground with the help of a former actress turned theater
director. The festival’s jury prize for best documentary went to American
director Nicole Conn’s “little man,” the story of a lesbian couple’s
determination to see their surrogate newborn son’s survival, despite a
0.00004% chance of living.
In other jury awards, Canadian director Armen Kazazian’s “Gold” won best
short (gay male) and Jennie Livingston’s (“Paris is Burning”) “Who’s the
Top” took best short (lesbian), and American Eric Smith’s “Irene Williams:
Queen of Lincoln Road” took best short documentary.
German director Sherry Horman’s “Guys & Balls” took the fest’s audience
award for best feature (gay male). The film, which also took an audience
prize at Outfest, is the story of a closeted gay man who gets kicked off of
his homophobic soccer team and vows revenge by assembling a motley crew of
fellow gays determined to exact a sporting revenge on the field. “Girl
Play,” by Lee Friedlander (U.S.) won the audience award for lesbian film.
The feature, based on the original play “Real Girls,” revolves around two
actresses with opposite personalities, who are cast in an L.A. play.
Initially, their love scenes are difficult, but as the rehearsals continue
and the pressure increases, the acting becomes real. Finally, the audience
nod for best documentary went to Daniel Peddle’s “The Aggressives.” The film
follows six lesbians around New York City. The women each fall into a
category ranging from “bull dyke” to “pretty tomboys,” but their style is
not a temporary drag persona, rather its a lifestyle.
PIGLFF featured 59 features, 23 documentaries, 75 shorts and two special
screenings from 26 countries, with eight world premieres screening in the
line up. The festival, produced by the Philadelphia Film Society, which also
hosts the annual Philadelphia International Film Festival, took place July
7-19. Next year’s dates are slated for July 13-25.

Azeri official points at economic disadvantage of Armenians in Karabakh
Trend news agency
18 Jul 05
Baku, 18 July, Correspondent R. Abdullayev: The Armenian community
of Nagornyy Karabakh has lost more than it gained in the ongoing
conflict with the Azerbaijani side, the deputy foreign minister of
Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, said on 18 July at a news briefing dedicated
to the outcome of the visit of the OSCE co-chairmen to Baku.
Azimov stressed that the pseudo-formation called the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic is not in a position to meet social needs of its population.
“The Armenians living in Karabakh, like all other citizens of
our republic, could have taken advantage of the economic growth in
Azerbaijan [if Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan],” he said, stressing
that Baku would not maintain its current stand on the matter should
any other form of settlement be proposed. [Passage omitted: comment
on advantages of the Agdam-Sahbuz road]

POSITIVE CHANGES FELT IN NEGOTIATIONS: ARKADY GHUKASYAN
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 15 2005
STEPANAKERT, July 15. /ARKA/. Positive change can be felt in the
negotiating process, and the most important thing is that a softer tone
is used in Azerbaijan when the negotiations and the two conflicting
parties are mentioned, President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) Arkady Ghukasyan told a press conference. According to him,
aggressive attitude reigned in Azerbaijan a few years ago, whereas
attempts are being made to assume a more constructive position. “It
is a good thing that Azerbaijan is trying to alienate itself from
this aggressive position and talks of a peace process, that is a
political settlement, can be heard there,” Ghukasyan said.
According to him, this all is evidence of positive changes and of the
fact that the international community has exerted serious influence
on the Azerbaijani authorities’ position.
As regards specific discussions, Ghukasyan said that positive changes
are obvious. The main change is that the sides do not avoid discussing
issues raised by the opposite side. “The priority task for us is the
NKR’s status, and Azerbaijan’s authorities are discussing this problem
with the mediators and with Armenia’s authorities. As regards the
position of Nagorny Karabakh, we have never avoided any discussions and
are always open for considering any issues,” Ghykasyan said. P.T. -0–

ANNIVERSARY IN “A1+”
A1+
15-07-2005
The number 365 gives the TV Company “A1+” a reason for being
proud. Today the graduates of the “A1+” higher courses received their
diplomas. They were there 25th group of the course organized by the
“Meltex” LTD.
The coursed organized for the workers of Television were founded 9
years ago, and this year the number of the graduates reached 265.
Among them there are not only journalists, but also operators,
managers, directors, editors, and sound directors.
At the initial stage of its existence, “A1+” was technically staffed
with the first graduates of this course. The other graduates work in
almost all the TV Companies of the Republic.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress