PRESENTATION OF AFCENTER COMPANY AND INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF EXCHANGE TRADE FOREX CLUB
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5. ARMINFO. Today AFCenter company and International
Academy of Exchange Trade Forex Club were presented in Yerevan.
For beginner traders the companies offer education on the basis
course “Analysis of the financial market and trading in financial
assets.” Within a year period of time Forex Club represented by AFCener
prepared 123 specialists-traders in Armenia from 300 participants
of the seminar. The participants receive the necessary spectrum of
knowledge in the course of the education on fundamental and technical
analysis of financial markets, currency rates forecast and capital
management. The course is paid – $50-$260. At present the number of
Forex Club’s clients in Russia and CIS reaches 20,000 people. The
network of branches and representations of Forex Club embraces 16
towns in Russia, Armenia and Ukraine. –

FORMER HANRAPETUTYUN MEMBERS WANT TO CREATE NEW PARTY
Armenpress
Sept 6, 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Albert Bazeyan, a former senior
member of Armenia’s most radical opposition Hanrapetutyun (Republic)
party, who abandoned the party together with six other senior members
of its ruling board last week, questioned today the party leader,
Aram Sarkisian’s ‘constant’ promises to force president Kocharian
and his administration to step down through a revolution.
Speaking to a news conference Bazeyan argued that no political force is
able to carry out a revolution all alone. “If you want to carry out a
revolution you must have a clearly-designed plan of actions,” he said.
Bazeyan cited Aram Sarkisian’s increasingly pro-Western orientation
and uncompromising stance against the authorities as the main reasons
of why they left the party. “The Hanrapetutyun party has turned away
from Vazgen Sarkisian’s (Aram Sarkisian’s elder brother, a former prime
minister killed in 1999 parliament attack) ideology,’ Bazeyan argued.
Bazeyan also admitted to having plans to establish a new party,
but added that lack of money is a problem. Vagharshak Harutunian, a
former defense minister, who also left the party, said 75 percent of
Hanrapetutyun’s regional chapters said they would leave the party too.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH LEADER UNCERTAIN ABOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS
Armenpress
Sept 6, 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Nagorno-Karabakh leader, Arkady
Ghukasian, sounded today uncertain about progress in talks over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, but singled out some elements,
which he described as ‘positive,’ such as talk in Azerbaijan about
holding a referendum in Karabakh on its future political status.
Nevertheless, speaking to reporters in Yerevan after talks with
Dimitrij Ruupel, Slovenia’s foreign minister, holding now the rotating
position of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Ghukasian praised Azerbaijani
authorities for shifting to ‘ constructive framework.”
“The negotiations have not yet produced any tangible outcome so far
and this is due to a set of un-reconciled issues and I do not believe
that a resolution is possible this year,” Ghukasian said, expressing
concern over contradicting assessments of talks coming from Armenian
and Azerbaijani authorities .
” I just can not imagine any status for Karabakh that would be
lower of independence,” he said. Ghukasian did not likewise sound
optimistic about the efforts of the OSCE Minsk group, saying their
are reduced to regular visits to the region, but welcomed any contact
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, adding, however, the conflict could
be resolved only with direct involvement of Stepanakert into the
negotiation process. Dimitrij Ruupel in turn assured of his readiness
to speak to anyone, including also Karabakh authorities, ‘if it would
help end the conflict.”

OSCE NOT IN HURRY TO SOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT
A1+
| 13:53:30 | 06-09-2005 | Politics |
“We are friends both to Armenia and Azerbaijan”, OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel upon
completion of the meeting with NKR President Arkady Ghkasyan in
Yerevan Hotel yesterday.
According to A. Ghukasyan, the meeting was longer than it was
scheduled. Is there a possibility for Nagorno Karabakh to take part
in the negotiations? “There are several formats, these being the
dialogue between the Presidents, the Minsk Group, the talks held by the
Foreign ministers. I am ready to negotiate with all the conflicting
parties including the NKR,” Mr. Ripel said. The ongoing negotiation
process D. Rupel characterized as a “good idea”. “We still have time”,
he added.

STUDENTS DOING LESSONS IN BOOKSTORES
A1+
| 15:02:56 | 06-09-2005 | Social |
“We have a very small number of professional literature in the Armenian
language”, director of Noyan Tapan bookstore Hayk Lazarian noted
when commenting on one of the most serious problems our students face
at present. “And the ones we have are too expensive, so the students
have to make notes in the bookstore”, he added.
The Russian translation of juridical, economic or medical textbooks
poses problems to the Armenian school leavers.
“I have to go to the bookstore because there are no textbooks in
the Armenian language in the library”, first year student of the
medical university Samvel Karapetyan says. He spends much time in
the bookstore, where students are allowed to use books, the price of
which starts with 3000 AMD.

OSCE CHAIR OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SOLUTION TO NAGORNYY KARABAKH
STA news agency, Ljubljana
6 Sep 05
Yerevan, 6 September: There is a window of opportunity for Nagornyy
Karabakh, so it would be good if talks continue with a view to a
solution “in the not so distant future”, OSCE chairman Dimitrij Rupel
said as he came out of a meeting with the leader of unrecognized
Nagornyy Karabakh Arkadiy Gukasyan in Yerevan late on Monday
[5 September].
Slovene Foreign Minister Rupel, who began a two-day tour of Azerbaijan
and Armenia to discuss Nagornyy Karabakh on Monday, considers
it feasible for a solution to take into account both territorial
integrity of a country and self-determination of the nations.
“I can see no contradiction here,” said Rupel, who did not rule out
the possibility of finding a solution this year. Yet this would take
“a lot of good will”, especially since Azerbaijan is gearing up for
a general election, he added.
Asked whether Nagornyy Karabakh could be included in the talks, Rupel
said “there is a solid format for debates”. He referred to the Minsk
Group, which is a mediator between the sides in dispute, as well as
talks between the presidents and FMs of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“Personally, I’m willing to talk to everyone in order to achieve some
result,” Rupel told the press last evening.
In a separate statement to the press, Gukasyan urged for a format
of talks involving all three sides, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagornyy Karabakh. “As far as I know, the OSCE wishes the same,
but the situation is deadlocked because of Azerbaijan’s opposition.”
Regardless of what solution comes out of the negotiating process,
the political leader of the unrecognized enclave located in the
southwest of Azerbaijan, stressed that the security of Nagornyy
Karabakh, mainly populated by ethnic Armenians, was the first priority.
After visiting Azerbaijan yesterday, Rupel is continuing his visit in
Armenia on Tuesday, when he is scheduled to meet Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan, FM Vardan Oskanyan, PM Andranik Markaryan and
representatives of NGOs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI EXPERT ON NK: ALIYEV DEPENDS ON WEST OPINION
Pan Armenian News
06.09.2005 04:52
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I do not consider that the current “Prague
process” will result in a specific outcome, head of the Department of
Conflictology and Migration of the Institute of Peace and Democracy
Arif Yunusov stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. “Our peoples
were suggested various options. And they now propose a recurrent one
that can be summed up as follows: try to unite two latest options –
the package one with the stepwise one,” he added. “On the one hand,
Armenia returns 5 occupied regions around Nagorno Karabakh (Lachin and
Kelbajar regions will still remain under Armenians’ control). Refugees
return to these regions, communication resumes between the parties to
conflict. The most important issue – the NK status – will be decided
in 10-15 years via a referendum. Now discussion between the parties
concerns technical matters: when to hold the referendum (in 10, 15,
25 or 50 years), who will take part in it, etc. However, a general
agreement is available,” A. Yunusov remarked. “Why I am pessimistically
predisposed? The point is that both the Presidents and our peoples
are hostages of the sentiments and views already available, as well as
the geopolitical situation in the region. People in Armenia are fully
convinced that the Karabakh issue is in fact solved, one merely has to
wait for the time when both the international community and the Azeri
people themselves “ripen” to understand that fact. I.e. the fact that
NK should be part of Armenia or become an independent state. Being
part of Azerbaijan in any form is out of question. Thus, expecting
compromises from Kocharian is not serious,” the political scientist
stated. As of Azerbaijan, to the contrary, A. Yunusov added, “the
discontent over the talks and the number of war advocates to liberate
Karabakh increase.” However, Azeri authorities depend on the West and
first of all Americans very much. The large money invested in Caspian
oil prevents the West from considering the settlement of the Karabakh
issue by force. I.e. Ilham Aliyev depends on the opinion of the West,
the Azeri expert emphasized. “Besides, Azeri authorities consider that
in a year huge oil dollars will flow to Azerbaijan and the Armenian
economy will be in a deplorable condition in a few years. Thus, one
even does not have to fight – Armenia will fall to your feet itself,”
Yunusov stated. In his words, strong discontent with the Minsk Group
is available in the Azeri society, as well as the hard political and
economic situation in the country (Azerbaijan – editor’s note). Thus
Aliyev has to maneuver.” “Like Kocharian he does not want to resort
to serious talks, as these demand considerable concessions. This is
pregnant with losing popularity among one’s own people. Both the
authorities and the peoples are not ready to compromise today yet,”
Yunusov summed up.

GHUKASYAN: PARTIES SHOULD RUN CERTAIN RISK TO SOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT
Pan Armenian News
06.09.2005 03:12
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Nagorno Karabakh Arkady Ghukasyan
does not consider forecasts on the prospect of solution of the NK
conflict within 2005 realistic. “There are many issues that are
not arranged yet,” the NK leader told journalists in Yerevan after
a meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel September
5. At the same time the NKR leader positively evaluated the fact
that official Baku “speaks of referendum on the NK status.” In
Mr. Ghukasyan’s words, earlier Azerbaijan did not touch upon these
issues at all. “Today Azerbaijan works in a more constructive field,
than earlier, however is it hard to imagine a material progress yet,”
he noted. The NK President considers that the meetings at the level
of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as FM of the two
countries cannot substitute for the OSCE MG format, which provides
for participation of Stepanakert representatives in the talks. Having
given a positive evaluation to any contacts between leaders of Armenia
and Azerbaijan, Ghukasyan considers that “it is hard to solve the NK
problem without participation of Nagorno Karabakh.” The fact that the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office meets with NK leaders means we make part of
that format,” he underscored. As A. Ghukasyan told journalists, he
has drawn the attention of the OSCE leader to “militarist statements
of the Azeri President.” “I think Aliyev this way fulfills domestic
political tasks, however on the other hand this hampers overall
process, as by solving domestic issues Aliyev becomes entrapped by his
own statements,” Ghukasyan noted. “To solve the conflict the parties
have to run a certain risk – give something to get something. Today
Azerbaijan is not ready to such risks. It seems to them that they can
get everything, however it is impossible. We realize that unpopular
decisions may be made. However, these unpopular decisions should refer
to everyone – not only us. We are ready to pass our part of the way,
if Azerbaijan does the same,” Ghukasyan stated. Answering a question
what can be an unpopular decision for Karabakh people, Ghukasyan
stated, ” There is a category of people in Nagorno Karabakh today,
for whom even talks with Azerbaijan are not popular.” Touching upon
the supposition that the NK status can be a step beyond independence,
A. Ghukasyan said, “I cannot imagine that option – it is the same as
being a bit pregnant,” reported IA Regnum.

KARABAKH INTRODUCES CURRENCY
Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005, “PanARMENIAN Network” analytical department
The NKR dram will be considered a means of payment in Armenia too.
During the opening ceremony of “The history of Armenian dram”
exhibition held in Stepanakert, the chairman of the Central Bank
of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan confirmed that in the nearest future
the national currency of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will be put into
circulation. According to Tigran Sargsyan, Karabakh dram will probably
be considered as a means of payment in Armenia too.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Initially the introduction of Karabakh dram was
aimed at the propaganda of Karabakh state system. Banknotes produced
by unrecognized countries are greatly valued by numismatists all over
the world. Money is an attribute of sovereignty. NKR is an established
country and the existence of own currency will become another symbol of
sovereignty. However it is fairly obvious that in terms of economy the
issue of Karabakh dram does not have special importance. The economy
of Karabakh is fully integrated to the economy of Armenia and the
introduction of Karabakh dram is not aimed at making any economical
changes. This is why it looks like the unexpected announcement of
Tigran Sargsyan simply means that Karabakh dram will serve as some
sort of a substitute to Armenian dram. Being equated to “AMD” “NKD”
will only replace “AMD” in the operations in the home market. It
should be noted that by its design the Karabakh dram is very much
alike Armenian dram.
The decision on the issue of Karabakh currency was made last year. The
banknotes were printed last winter but have not been officially
put into circulation. However, 2 and 10 dram Karabakh coins can be
bought on numismatic auctions through internet shops. For example
the “eBay” internet shop sells 2 dram coins for 0.99 pounds. Thus,
for the government of Nagorno-Karabakh the introduction of NKD is not
only a way to propagandize national state system but also an income
source for the state budget.
Azerbaijan’s reaction to the issue of Karabakh currency was very
painful and was about to provoke diplomatic scandal. Official Baku
applied with protest to the US Department of State and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Austria. (The banknotes were printed by the
American “Education Coin Company” and “Austrian State Printing Works”)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan demanded to pass all the
printed banknotes to the Embassy of Azerbaijan. The US Department of
State promised to support in fulfilling the demand. However, it is
known that NKD banknotes are already at the disposal of the Central
Bank of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and not the special services of
Azerbaijan.
>>From unrecognized countries the Prednestrovian Moldavian Republic
is still the only one that has issued its own currency. (Abkhazia
and Osetia use Russian roubles). Tiraspol recently celebrated the
10th anniversary of their currency which is by the way called rouble
and is printed in Poland. At present there are 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100,
200 and 500 rouble banknotes and change coins in the circulation. The
exchange rate is 8 roubles for 1 US dollar. The Prednestrovian case
shows that the currency of an unrecognized country can be established
and Karabakh will soon prove that once again.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SAXONIA-ANHALT TERRITORY AND ARMENIA TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION
Pan Armenian News
05.09.2005 08:37
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met
with Minister of Culture of the German Saxonia-Anhalt Territory Yan
Heinrich Olberz, who arrived in Armenia with an official delegation,
RA MFA press service reported. During the meeting the parties
expressed satisfaction with the bilateral cooperation. The RA FM
highly appreciated the programs of exchange of students, teachers,
scientists and schoolchildren. Within the framework of the Cultural
Days held in Yerevan September 3-7 German romance evenings and a week
of German movies will be organized in Yerevan Moscow cinema. Besides,
Magdenburg puppet show will give performance in puppet show after
H. Tumanian. The members of the German delegation will meet with
the Armenian Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Hovik Hoveyan and
Minister of Education Sergo Yeritsyan. At the end of the events the
sides are expected to sign an agreement on cooperation in cultural,
scientific and education sphere.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress