FITCH RATINGS’ RISE OF ARMENIAN’S COUNTRY THRESHOLD EVIDENCE OF CURRENCY CONVERSION RISK REDUCTION
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 18, 2006
YEREVAN, August 18. /ARKA/. The rise of Armenia’s country threshold
from “BB-” to “BB” by the Fitch Ratings agency is evidence of reduction
of currency conversion risks in Armenia, Chairman of the Central Bank
of Armenia (CBA) Tigran Sargsyan stated in his exclusive interview
to ARKA.
According to him, Armenia’s private companies must take advantage of
this positive impulse and work at getting their own ratings that may
be higher than Armenia’s country rating.
Sargsyan pointed out that Fitch Ratings agency also announced the
rise in the country thresholds of 40 countries, including Russia
and Kazakhstan.
“The rise reflects considerable liberalization on capital markets and
currency control, as well as the countries’ further integration into
global economy,” Sargsyan said.
On June 5, 2006, Fitch Ratings assigned Armenia Issuer Default Ratings
in foreign and national currencies “BB-” with “Stable” forecast. The
Agency also assigned the country a short-term rating “B” and “country
threshold” rating “BB-” On July 24, 2006, the international rating
agency Moody’s Investors Service assigned the Armenian Government
sovereign ratings in foreign and national currency “Ba2”. P.T. -0–

Thursday, August 17, 2006
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Armenians may be perennial losers, Saroyan says somewhere, but they are inextinguishable. After which he challenges the world to exterminate us, clearly implying that it can’t be done.
*
What is it that makes of us perennial losers and why would anyone want to exterminate us? If Saroyan had the answers to these questions he kept them to himself, probably because he didn’t want to risk his popularity among his fellow Armenians, who idolized him together with Mikoyan and Gulbenkian.
*
Since Saroyan could not read Armenian, he was probably unaware of the fact that our status as perennial losers has been a central theme of our literature from Khorenatsi and Yeghishe in the 5th Century to Zarian, Shahnour, and Massikian in the 20th.
*
Had Saroyan known that only 7% of Gulbenkian’s money is earmarked for Armenians and Mikoyan played a key role in the Stalinist purges in Armenia during which our ablest men were systematically and ruthlessly exterminated, he could have said to the world, “No need to go out of your way to exterminate Armenians. Left to their own devices they will be glad to do it themselves.”
#
Friday, August 18, 2006
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ZEN MOMENTS
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D.T. Suzuki, the author of a best-selling INTRODUCTION TO ZEN BUDDHISM, was having lunch in a restaurant when he was approached by another patron who interrupted his own lunch to ask for an explanation in layman’s terms of what exactly was Zen. After a brief moment of reflection, Suzuki replied, “Eat.”
*
To the question by a journalist as to why he had devoted decades of his life writing his STUDY OF HISTORY in twelve thick volumes, Toynbee replied, “Curiosity.”
*
When a factory owner once said to Karl Marx, “If I understand your economic theories correctly, all you want is our money.” Marx replied, “That’s right.”
*
In addition to being one of the greatest composers of all time, J.S. Bach was also a celebrated virtuoso organist. Once when asked by an admirer what it takes to master such a demanding instrument, Bach replied, “You just press the keys.”
*
These laconic replies leave a great deal unsaid (reminiscent of “Shut up! he explained”) but to the perceptive mind they speak volumes. Consider Suzuki’s “Eat,” as a case in point. In reality we never just eat. We also think, reminisce, plan, worry, imagine… Zen consists in doing what you are doing at any given moment and nothing else. This may sound easy but it is not. It is, as a matter of fact, as difficult as understanding, let alone, loving the enemy. And understanding the enemy is difficult because by understanding him we may begin to perceive the evil within us.
#
Saturday, August 19, 2006
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OF TRIBES, NATIONS, AND EMPIRES
***************************************************
Once upon a time there were 42 (or is it 56) tribes in the Caucasus. If most of them have not survived it’s because, unlike us, they didn’t have what it takes, or so I was told as a child. Which meant that we were, if not the master race of the Caucasus, then something in that neighborhood. Now that I am no longer a child I know that these 42 or 56 tribes did not perish. They survive in us.
*
Tribes, nations, and empires share this in common: they need constant foreign transfusions to survive because if left on their own they would end by moronizing themselves.
*
Armenians come in all sizes and shapes. In the ghetto where I was born and raised there were Armenians who looked like Mongols, Tartars, Negroes, Germans, and so on, but they all spoke Armenian and identified themselves as Armenian because in a tribal or ethnic environment most people tend to identify themselves with the dominant minority, the way we did in the Byzantine Empire, and after that in the Ottoman and Soviet Empires, and the way we do today in America.
*
In the Byzantine Empire, for example, some of the most powerful imperial dynasties and their military leaders were Armenian or part Armenian, but their foreign policy was consistently anti-Armenian.
Smart Armenians know that the only way to get ahead in the kind of world we live in is to serve the interests of those in power even if they happen to be our mortal enemies. Grub first, then ethics.
*
One of our elder statesmen once told me that some of the key players in our organizations are not Armenians but Turks. I didn’t believe him. All I can say today is that after six centuries of cohabitation it’s not easy to tell a Turk from an Armenian.
*
Race, color, creed – these are poorly defined terms that according to scientists and historians are nothing but figments of our imagination.
*
What could be more Russian than Russian literature? And yet, if you take a closer look, you may discover that some of the greatest and most influential Russian writers were not Russians. Pushkin was a Negro, Dostoevsky and Solzhenitsyn Ukrainians, Pasternak and Brodsky (two Nobel Prize winners) Jews. Something similar could be said of all literatures. Most French writers are not French but Jews (Montaigne, Barthes), Italian (Zola), Irish (Beckett), Rumanian (Ionesco), Armenian (Adamov).
*
How many Armenian writers are Armenian? I don’t know and I don’t care to know because what I admire in a writer is not his race, color, or creed, but his work, his ideas, his worldview, his style, his humanity, none of which recognizes any man-made boundaries.
#

Azeri media watchdog wants “urgent measures” to end violence against
reporters
Turan news agency
17 Aug 06
Baku, 17 August: The chairman of the Press Council, Aflatun Amasov,
had a meeting today with the head of the public-political department
of the presidential administration, Ali Hasanov.
The meeting discussed the situation surrounding the media in the recent
period, the press service of the Press Council reported. Specifically,
they discussed the abduction of the editor-in-chief of Bizim Yol
newspaper [and deputy chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan
Party], Bahaddin Haziyev, as well as other cases of violence against
journalists and the increase in the number of lawsuits against the
mass media. Amasov said that it is necessary to take urgent measures
to prevent such incidents.
On the other hand, Hasanov said that every person has the right to
go to court. He sees the way out of the situation in journalists’
respect for people’s honour and dignity.
Amasov also had a meeting with the interior minister [Ramil Usubov]
today.
They agreed to hold a round table to discuss relations between the
police and the mass media on 19 August.
The round table will be attended by high-ranking officials of the
Interior Ministry, including the minister himself, members of the
Press Council and heads of several media outlets.

ARF Delegation Visits Southern Lebanon After Cease-Fire
18.08.2006 16:18
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – A delegation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Lebanon Central Committee visited southern Lebanon Tuesday to assess the damage
following the 30-day old Israeli attack on the country, Beirut based Aztag
Armenian Daily reported.
Accompanying the delegation were members of parliament Hagop Pakradouni and
Sebouh Hovnanian, who was a former Lebanese minister, as well as members of
the local Armenian media.
The delegation was greeted by the local leadership who led a tour of the
devastated areas.
Also touring the region was Lebanese minister Mohamad Fenaysh, who joined
the delegation in assessing the devastating conditions. Local leaders expressed
their gratitude to the Lebanese-Armenian community–especially the ARF–for
its efforts in assisting the refugees displaced from the attacks. The
Armenian community also was praised by leaders.
Following a press conference with the Armenian, Lebanese and international
media representatives, the delegation continued to meet with the displaced who
were returning to their homes following the cease-fire.

INFORMATION OF AZERBAIJAN MASS MEDIA ABOUT CONDUCTING OF EXERCISES
BY ARMENIAN AF IN AGHDAM REGION IS FICTITIOUS
Yerevan, August 18. ArmInfo. Information of APA Azerbaijan Agency
about conducting of military exercises in Aghdam region does not
represent the facts, ArmInfo was told in NKR Defense Ministry,
commenting on the information of the above-mentioned Agency about
the beginning of the alleged large-scale exercises . Allegedly,
“the enemy uses heavy artillery and armored equipment”.
Since the matter in APA information concerned the exercises “of
Armenian Armed Forces’ subdivisions “, ArmInfo correspondent addressed
Seiran Shahsuvaryan , the RA DM press-secretary, for comments and
received a laconic answer: “It is lie”.

AZERBAIJAN ELABORATED A PROGRAM OF INFORMATION WAR
Yerevan, August 17. ArmInfo. A meeting of Azeri reporters, working
aborad, will take place in Baku, informed Trend news agency Nazim
Ibrahimov.
According to N. Ibrahimov the official Baku considers that in a number
of states, particularly France and the USA, Azerbaijan is losing
the information war with Armenia. By the order of the Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliev lobbyist and propagandist organizations will be
established in certain countries. The National Television of Armenia
in connection with this statement noted that the Europeans’ sympathy
towards Armenia are based upon the will to protect the justice and
the historical truth. It was said that Azerbaijan’s new project of
information war will seemingly have the same results as the military
campaign against Karabakh.

KARS GOVERNOR HEADS PRO-ARMENIAN FORCES IN TURKEY: AZERBAIJANI CONSUL
Yerevan, August 18. ArmInfo. Governor of Kars Naif Ali Bey-oghlu
heads pro- Armenian forces in Turkey, Azerbaijani Consul in Kars
Hasan Zeynalov told Trend.
Kars Governor still calls those against the opening of Armenian-Turkish
border nationalists, the Consul said.
To note, earlier Kars Governor proposed official Ankara to lift the
blockade of Armenia. He said economic problems in Kars, mass emigration
are connected mainly with the blockade of Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenians staging military exercises in occupied Azeri district – agency
Azerbaijani news agency APA
18 Aug 06
Baku, 18 August: The Armenian armed forces have started large-scale
military exercises in the occupied Agdam District. The enemy is using
heavy artillery and armoured hardware in the military exercises,
the Karabakh bureau of APA reports.
It is not known when the exercises will end. The military exercises
of the Armenian armed forces can be observed from villages close to
the contact line.

US-Azeri relations discussed at Washington meeting – TV
ANS TV, Baku
17 Aug 06
[Presenter] UN ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse has highlighted
the main aspects of bilateral economic relations during a meeting at
the US-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce in Washington.
Derse recalled that during his visit to Washington Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev had said that Azerbaijan was developing as a
modern and democratic country with a market economy. She added that
both president and his team had said during this visit that Azerbaijan
aimed to use oil revenues as a major source to develop the non-oil
sector and expand trade relations with the USA.
ANS’s special correspondent Ali Ahmadov has the details.
[Ali Ahmadov, ANS’s special correspondent, captioned, speaking over
phone over his still picture and video of meeting] The key speaker
at the presentation ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Business Centre
in Washington was US ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse. She gave
an update on US-Azerbaijani economic relations. She said that the
two countries cooperate in different areas such as energy security,
the fight against terrorism and democracy. Generally, the USA views
Azerbaijan as its major partner in the economic area, as well as in
other areas. The main challenge is to further develop economic ties
and provide mutual assistance. Naturally, one of the main issues was
to increase the volume of US investments in Azerbaijan.
Derse said that the Azerbaijani government intended to develop the
non-oil sector. Being situated at the crossing of Asia and Europe,
Azerbaijan is a vital transport corridor. Derse mentioned the newly
commissioned Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline [designed to carry
Caspian oil to world markets] and the [Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum] gas
pipeline which is under construction. She said that these pipelines
would increase Azerbaijan’s role in the region. Touching on the
economic situation in Azerbaijan and US investment in the country,
Derse mentioned the non-oil sector. She said that the Azerbaijani
government wanted to develop the non-oil sector, including
telecommunications, agriculture and energy.
The business environment in Azerbaijan was immediately mentioned. It
was noted that there were certain problems in Azerbaijan such as
corruption and problems related to transparency. But the government
is already stepping up the fight against corruption and plans to
improve the situation in this area in accordance with international
standards. Corruption must also be tackled so that it does not prevent
Azerbaijan from spending its huge oil revenues in a very efficient way.
Investors who attended the meeting were interested in the situation
in Azerbaijan. They asked about how the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
affected the investment climate in Azerbaijan. The ambassador said that
the conflict did not create problems for the investment climate in
Azerbaijan on the whole. There were other questions, too. It emerged
at the end of the meeting that a group of US businessmen and experts
from the US administration were expected to visit Azerbaijan soon to
hold talks with the government to resolve the problems of US companies
in Azerbaijan.
Ali Ahmadov, ANS, Washington.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 18, 2006
Lake Sevan Hosts Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin
For the first time in more than a century, the ranks of the Brotherhood
of Holy Etchmiadzin have swelled to more than 90 members. In order
to increase their fraternal ties to one another and reinforce their
oath of service to God, the Armenian Church and the Mother See of
All Armenians, regular clergy conferences have been convened in Holy
Etchmiadzin for the past decade.
The second day of the 2006 conference, gathering the members of the
Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, continued its activities on August
17. The two sessions of the day took place at the Vaskenian Theological
Seminary of Lake Sevan. Nearly 70 young monks and archimandrites
(vardapets) from throughout the world have gathered in Holy Etchmiadzin
on this occasion.
During the sessions, the priests participated in the lectures of
Very Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian, Dean of the Vaskenian Theological
Seminary, and Very Rev. Fr. Komitas Hovnanian, (Marseille,
France). Fr. Proshian’s lecture was entitled “The Priest as Teacher
of the Faith”, and Fr. Hovnanian’s was entitled “The Priest as
Preacher”. Discussion sessions, as well as question and answer periods,
followed both lectures.
At the conclusion of the two sessions, the clergymen participated in
Evening Services at the historic monastery of Sevan, in the Church of
the Holy Apostles. The conference continues on Friday and Saturday,
concluding with Divine Liturgy in Holy Etchmiadzin on Sunday,
August 20.
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