BABACAN GOING TO BAKU TO DISCUSS KARABAKH PROBLEM
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2008 18:43 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be in focus of
the talks Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will hold in Baku.
The Turkish Foreign Minister is scheduled to be in Azerbaijan on
November 30 and December 1 to meet with a number of Azeri high-ranking
officials, Trend Azeri news agency reports.
TURKISH AIRLINES PREPARING FOR CHARTER FLIGHTS TO YEREVAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.11.2008 13:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a move likely to contribute to the recent thaw in
bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey, which gained momentum
when President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan in September, Turkey’s
national airlines has been preparing to launch charter flights to
the Armenian capital, Today’s Zaman reports.
Turkish Airlines (THY) has recently sent unofficial letters to both the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) and the Foreign Ministry,
asking for information regarding charter flights by Armenian national
carrier Armavia from Yerevan to Istanbul and the Mediterranean coastal
city of Antalya.
THY asked about the arrangements and agreements involving these
flights. In its response, the SHGM said the flights have been taking
place with the Foreign Ministry’s approval and that permission for
Armavia’s charter flights to Turkey is renewed every two or three
weeks. In the coming days, THY is expected to send another letter
to the Foreign Ministry asking whether launching charter flights to
Yerevan would "comply with the national interests" of the country. The
final decision will be made after receiving the Foreign Ministry’s
response outlining Ankara’s stance on the issue.
Currently, Atlasjet, a private Turkish airline company, has been
conducting charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan.
Turkey severed its ties and closed its border with Armenia in 1993 as
a sign of solidarity with Azerbaijan in the Nagorno Karabakh problem.
As part of intensifying contacts between Armenia and Turkey, Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian is scheduled to arrive in Istanbul
today for a meeting of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC). The Istanbul BSEC meeting will also offer an
opportunity for a bilateral meeting between Nalbandian and his Turkish
counterpart, Ali Babacan.
A senior Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity,
said THY has been assuming an important role in Turkish foreign
policy. Describing THY as "an important tool of Turkey’s policy of
strategic initiatives." He said the company always requests the Foreign
Ministry’s view when it prepares to launch a new flight route abroad.
ARMENIA TO AVOID DIRECT INFLUENCE OF GLOBAL FINANCIAL RECESSION
ARKA
Nov 24, 2008
YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. The global financial crisis is unlikely
to have a direct influence on Armenia, RA Minister of Finance Tigran
Davtyan told the Capital.
The main external threat for next year’s budget process will be
the global economic recession, according to the minister. "However,
the isolated Armenian financial market can avoid the crisis bites,"
he said.
The global recession may weaken demand for Armenian goods and hit
private transfers to Armenia, as well as reduce foreign investments
in the country.
"These are all risk factors, but the government has financial resources
necessary to boost domestic demand and carry out the budget programs,"
Davtyan was quoted saying.
Taking into account the low inflation in the global market, Armenia
has adopted a neutral (from the viewpoint of influencing inflation with
the help of demand) budgetary policy for 2009, with the budget deficit
expected to be less than 1% of GDP, the minister said, adding the
government is ready to respond quickly to inflationary pressure.
IDENTITY OF ONE PARTICIPANT IN INCIDENT WITH JOURNALIST EDIK BAGHDASARIAN ESTABLISHED
Noyan Tapan
Nov 24, 2008
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The Kentron investigation unit of
the RA police continues the investigation into the criminal case opened
by the fact of beating the chairman of Investigative Journalists NGO,
journalist Edik Baghdasarian. Several witnesses, including residents
of the buildings in the area adjacent to the scene of the incident,
and employees of nearby kiosks and public facilities have been
questioned. An inspector of the educational center of RA police,
who had witnessed the violence committed against the journalist, has
submitted a written report about the incident. Thanks to the measures
taken by investigators, the description of one of the participants
in the crime was made and his identity was established. Measures are
being taken to find this person, the other participants in the crime,
and eyewitnesses.
According to a press release of the press service of the office of
the RA prosecutor general, during the investigation E. Baghdasarian
was recognized as victim. The forensic expert said that it will be
possible to determine the degree of severity of the injuries that
E. Baghdasarian suffered only in 21 days after the incident, that is,
on December 8, 2008.
Enhanced activity of Armenian banks on inter-bank crediting market
indicates growing need for effective liquidity control
2008-11-22 14:24:00
ArmInfo. The enhanced activity of Armenian commercial banks on the
inter-bank crediting market shows that they realize the need to control
liquidity now that economy crediting is declining in the face of the
global financial crisis, says the vice chairman of the Central Bank of
Armenia Vache Gabriyelyan.
Since recently most of the local banks have shown enhanced prudence in
their credit policies. They have begun to place their free funds in
REPO deals on the inter-bank crediting market so as to help their
partner-banks to keep their current liquidity high. Today, the banks
are showing maximum activity on the inter-bank market with a view to
ensure effective and equal placement of their funds. There has always
een certain liquidity polarization and uneven distribution of resources
in Armenia’s banking sector. That’s why the Central Bank is not going
to interfere in this process, says Gabriyelyan.
The CB can interfere only in case of shortage of liquidity. On
Thursdays the CB provides bonds for REPO deals and their amount has
already exceeded 30bln AMD. This means that Armenian banks have
sufficient liquidity: those who had big securities portfolios are
pledging them in exchange of short-term inter-bank loans. If banks were
actually short of liquidity they would stopped crediting the economy
but they have not. Simply, some processes are slowing down due to
enhanced risk control. Short-term inter-bank loans are not a rival to
real credit crediting but just an optimal solution for the moment.
The raise in deposit rates has led to a raise in loan interests. As a
result, the banks are working at profit and have no problems with
obligations. Our banking system is sufficiently capitalized for meeting
its obligations to its customers. Today, our minimum capital
sufficiency ratio is 12% but banks keep it within 19%-20% with the
lowest level being no less than 14%. The same is for liquidity, says
Gabriyelyan. Presently, the cash liquidity-call deposit ratio in
Armenia exceeds 100% with the minimum level being 60%.
Presently, investors from different foreign countries, particularly,
Cyprus, are showing high interest in Armenia’s banking system. The CB
has given preliminary consent to the entry of Cedrus bank from
Lebanon. We may also expect big merger and acquisition deals. Shortly,
big investment resources will enter Armenia’s economy through the
banking sector, says Gabriyelyan.
PanARMENIAN.Net
CSTO discusses illegal arms traffic problem
22.11.2008 13:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Collective Security Treaty Organization working
group on combating terrorism held Thursday a meeting under presidency
of Artur Baghdassaryan, the secretary of the RA national security
council, to discuss ways to counteract illegal arms traffic.
`According to the data provided by the UN Security Council, the number
of small arms reaches 640 million throughout the globe. At that, 377
million are owned by private persons and 1 million by
non-governmental, rebel or illegal armed units,’ said Toktasyn
Buzubayev, attending CSTO deputy secretary-general.
He also informed that in the framework of Channel operation, 3 697
firearms and 112 872 ammunition articles were confiscated during the
past five years, the CSTO press office reported.
ARMENIA IS GOING TO COOPERATE WITH CIS COUNTRIES IN CONTROL OVER RADIATION, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SITUATION
WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 17, 2008 Monday
Russia
The government of Armenia approved signing the agreement "On
cooperation with defense ministries of CIS countries in control
over radiation, chemical and biological situation," reported Defense
Minister of Armenia, Seiran Oganyan.
According to Oganyan, the agreement makes provisions for cooperation
of the parties through granting of information about a threat of
dissemination of radioactive substances, toxic chemicals and biological
substances on the territories of these countries.
Oganyan stressed, "The unified system is aimed at the provision of
permanent joint control over radiation, chemical and biological
situation at objects of defense ministries of the CIS countries,
exchange of information about changes of this situation and about
threat of dissemination of radioactive substances, toxic chemicals and
biological substances on the territories of these countries, as well as
coordination of actions during planning, organization and taking joint
measures for the relevant informing of troops in these countries."
ARMENIA IN THE LEAD AFTER BEATING AZERBAIJAN 2.5:1.5 IN THE CHESS OLYMPIAD
armradio.am
20.11.2008 14:14
In the 6th round of the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden the Armenian
team defeated Azerbaijan 2.5:0.5 due to Vladimir Hakobyan’s victory
over Shahriyar Mammadyarov. The other three games ended in a
draw. Armenia is currently in the lead with 11 points.
Round 7 of the Chess Olympiad is considered the most interesting,
since the leaders of the tournaments, Armenia and Russia are going
to meet tonight.
The winning team will become the most probable winner of the Olympiad.
MATTHEW BRYZA AGAIN REFUTES WORDS OF … AZERBAIJANI JOURNALISTS
Today.Az
itics/49027.html
Nov 17 2008
Azerbaijan
US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza again announced
that Azerbaijani journalists distort his words.
In particular, during his visit to the so-called "NKR" after the
meeting with head of separatist regime Bako Saakyan, he refuted his
announcement that "Nagorno Karabakh must be returned to Azerbaijan".
"Journalists in Azerbaijan are too "creative", someone wants to use
my words in favor of any party. I said that if there is a contract,
it must be balanced and reflect interests of both Azerbaijan and
Armenia. Yes, we hope that forces will be withdrawn, but there must
be a corridor…
All international principles and norms, reflected in the declaration,
must be included into the agreement. These implies most elements. Thus,
you can ask Azerbaijani journalists, why they refer only to one or
two principles", said the US diplomat.
The US co-chair of the Minsk Group noted that there can not be an
agreement without the agreement of Nagorno Karabakh people. "We arrive
here to hear the opinion of the Karabakh leaders. It is necessary to
strengthen trust step by step. This is a serious work and it would
be an important direction for us. People must not die because of
tensions", said Matthew Bryza, noting that the level of trust between
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan has grown seriously.
"And this is the first step to solving the differences. It does not
mean that there will be a great progress tomorrow, but we must be
patient and work", said Matthew Bryza.
It should be reminded that on Saturday, OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
Matthew Bryza (USA), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier
(France) visited the self-declared "Nagorno Karabakh". Earlier they
had visited Yerevan.
ERDOGAN ADVISES OBAMA "TO REFRAIN" FROM ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.11.2008 14:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to support Turkey in its fight
against terrorism and to refrain from backing the Armenian Genocide
recognition campaign once he takes over the post from George W. Bush.
"I sincerely congratulate Barack Obama and his team who won the
elections. Turkey and the United States, as two allies that have very
strong relations, have been supporting each other for more than half
a century," the Turkish PM said in his speech at Columbia University
in New York. "Turkey is determined to continue the close cooperation
with Obama’s administration. Naturally, we expect it to take into
consideration our sensitivities on issues that are of vital importance
to us."
Erdogan said U.S. sensitivity over these issues is important for the
future of Turkey-U.S. relations, Today’s Zaman reports.