Asia Pulse
August 22, 2005 Monday
IRAN CABINET APPROVES PAYMENT OF US$10 MLN GRANT TO 7 COUNTRIES
TEHRAN
Iran’s Cabinet on Sunday approved payment of a US$10 million grant to
seven states upon a proposal of the Foreign Ministry.
According to Public Relations Department of Ministry of Economy and
Finance, the grant will be provided from development credit fund.
Based on the cabinet’s approval, Iran will grant US$2.5 million to
Tajikistan, US$2 million to Iraq, US $1.5 million to Niger, US$1.5
million to Guinea, US$1.5 million to Mali, US$0.5 million to Armenia
and US$0.5 million to Georgia.
The credit will be allocated to the states for completion of Anzab
tunnel in Tajikistan, Iraq’s reconstruction, renovation of gas
transfer pipeline to Georgia and implementation of development
projects in four other countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agence France Presse — English
August 23, 2005 Tuesday 1:50 PM GMT
Diplomatic efforts over Karabakh ahead of CIS summit
MOSCOW
Senior diplomats from Azerbaijan and Armenia will hold discussions
Wednesday in Moscow on the contested Nagorno Karabakh region in
preparation for the meeting of the countries’ presidents later this
week, said the Azerbijani foreign minister, Elmar Mamediarov,
Tuesday.
The diplomatic mission will come two days ahead of a summit of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) — which groups former
Soviet republics — planned for Friday in Kazan, capital of the
southern Russian republic of Tatarstan.
“We are going to discuss the nature of the meeting between the two
presidents,” said Mamediarov, who, along with his Armenian
counterpart, Varden Oskanian, is also due to meet with Russian
diplomatic head Sergey Lavrov in Moscow Wednesday.
Asked whether he believed any progress would be made on the Karabakh
dispute, Mamediarov said he did not want to commit himself to
anything. “If the Armenians are prepared to accept our proposals,
there will be a breakthrough,” he said, before praising the efforts
of mediators Russia, France and the United States.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a war over the mainly ethnic-Armenian
enclave in the early 1990s, which Armenia eventually won, wresting
control of the region from Azerbaijan.
But Nagorno Karabakh’s status has never been settled and Azerbaijan,
encouraged by an international community which still recognises the
enclave as part of President Ilham Aliyev’s country, wants to take
back control.

NEWS IN BRIEF.
Interenergo, part of Russia’s UES electricity monopoly, has bought
power distributor Electricheskiye Syet Armenia for $73m. UES’ other
electricity assets in the country include the Sevan-Razdansky
hydro-power plant and Razdansky thermal power plant. The World Bank
has complained about a lack of transparency in the sale.

CEREMONIAL CLOSING OF RETRAINING COURSES FOR ARMENIAN TEACHERS FROM
DIASPORA HELD AT HOLY ECHMIAZDIN
YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. A ceremonial closing of retraining
courses for Armenian teachers from diaspora has been held at the Holy
See of Echmiadzin. The press service of the Holy See reports that the
1-month courses were conducted at the Gevorgyan ecclesiastical
seminary under the patronage of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin
II. RA Minister of Education and Science Sergo Yeritsyan made a
congratulatory speech at the ceremony. He pointed out new programs of
retraining diasporan teachers and organizing the rest of 500
diasporan students in Armenia. Garegin II sent his blessings to the
teachers as well. He expressed confidence in a high mission of
educating Armenian children.
After the teachers’ speeches of welcome, the RA Minister of Education
and Science and the Leader of the Armenian Church issued certificates
to them. P.T. -0–

ARGENTINEAN SENATE RE-CONDEMNS TURKEY FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN 1915
YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. On July 27, 2005, the Argentinean
National Senate re-adopted a statement condemning Turkey for the
Armenian Genocide committed in 1915, the press and information
department, RA Foreign Office, reports. On April 20, 2005, the
Argentinean Senate condemned the Turkish authorities for persistent
denial of the irrefutable fact of the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish
Foreign Office sent a note of protest, regarding the Argentinean
Senate’s statement as “irresponsible.” On May 5, 2005, the country’s
Senate declined the protest as ungrounded. P.T. -0–

ARKA News Agency
Aug 22 2005
ARMENIAN PREMIER EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS ON 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF
DECLARATION ON ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE
YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan has
extended his congratulations on the occasion of the 15th anniversary
of the Declaration of Armenia’s independence. In his message, the RA
Premier pointed out that the adoption of the Declaration on August
23, 1990 inaugurated a new stage in Armenia’s modern history. The
expression of the people’s common will inaugurated the formation of
independent statehood. “A year later, in September, independent
Armenia became reality substantiated by the results of a nation-wide
referendum. For 14 years our country has confidently been moving
forward, consolidating its statehood and confirming its commitment to
panhuman values,” the message says. The message also says that after
Armenia gained independence, it has ample opportunities for
integrating into civilized world, establishing equal relations with
other nations, preserving national identity, realizing national
aspirations and handing down powerful and prosperous Armenia to
future generations.
Margaryan expressed the confidence that Armenia “will able to retain
the achievements of the past hard day way, add new ones, meet all the
challenges and continue its march of independence without hindrance.”
P.T. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BTA INVEST BANK PRESENTATION HELD IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. BTA Invest Bank presentation took place
in Yerevan on Monday. Rasul Kosanov, Chair of the BTA Invest Bank’s
Board, said at the presentation that the bank intends to make its
contribution in the development of Armenia’s financial sectors, to
introduce innovative banking products, to advance Armenian companies
and Armenia as a whole in the international investment community,
stimulating offshore investments flows into the country. In his
words, one of the most important directions in the bank’s activity in
Armenia will be mortgage lending and small- and middle-scale business
crediting. In particular, the bank is planning to create joint
co-branded and discount program implementation (offering discounts in
the best restaurants and shops of Yerevan to BTA Invest plastic cards
owners). The bank will offer its clients to make their payments for
utilities and cellular communication services through cash machines.
The bank also intends to offer one of advanced banking technologies
for regional internet-banking network development.
Yerik Sultankulov, Chairman of the Bank’s Council and Financial
Director of Bank TuranAlem, said presumed amount of BTA Invest Bank
investments for 2005 will make about $ 30mln. Mortgage lending is
planned to total $10mln.
Bank TuranAlem, one of Kazakhstan’s biggest banks, acquired 48.9%
shares in authorized capital of International Investment Bank later
renamed into BTA Invest Bank. The bank’s other shareholders are ZRL
Austrian company (31.1%) and MOBILEX Kazakh-Armenian company (20%).
According to the bank’s regular reports, BTA Invest Bank’s assets
totaled AMD 1118.9mln as of June 30, 2005, total capital made AMD
878.8mln and authorized capital AMD 1105mln. Credit investments made
AMD 181.7mln as of June 30, 2005.
TuranAlem is a system-making bank of Kazakhstan and the leader in
creating banking network in CIS member countries. The bank’s assets
reach $5.5bn and own capital exceeds $600mln. The network of the
bank’s strategic partners includes Slavinvestbank, Omsk-bank,
Agroincombank, BTA Kazan (Russia), BTA Transbank (Ukraine),
Astana-Eximbank (Belarus), BTA Silk Road Bank (Georgia) and BTA
Investbank (Armenia). M.V. -0–

CBA CHAIRMAN: THERE IS QUITE HIGH COMPETITION IN THE BANKING SYSTEM
OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. There is quite high competition in the
banking system of Armenia, as CBA Chairman Tigran Sargsyan stated at
the BTA Investbank presenting ceremony. In his words, new bank’s
entering Armenia and having quite serious ambitions testifies to even
higher competition in this sector. “It’s very important that the
rules adopted in the banking sector of Armenia proof to be stable,
and the new bank could organize in new conditions profitable
business”, he said. He emphasized that in any case strivings of CBA
to canonize banking relations has exactly this goal. “We welcome
toughening of competition, since clients will profit from it”, he
said assuring the Kazakh colleagues that strivings of CBA are to
create equal conditions for all banks in Armenia.
In May 2005 one of the largest banks of Kazakhstan – TuranAlem Bank
purchased 48,9% of shares of International Investment Bank CJSC,
lately renamed into BTA Investbank. The rest shareholders of the bank
are ZRL Austrian company (with 31,1% stock) and Kazakhstan -Armenian
MOBILEX company (20%). Currently 21 banks operate in Armenia. A.H.
-0–

A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE RA NA TO TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 29
YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. Taking into account the initiative of 46
deputies of the RA NA and guiding by Article 70 of the RA
Constitution, RA President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on
convocation of a special parliamentary session on August 29.
According to the RA NA Public Relations Department, the agenda will
include the project of amendments to the Constitution made in the
second reading.
The project of constitutional reforms offered by the ruling coalition
was adopted in the first reading on May 11, 2005. The referendum on
amendments to the Constitution should be held in Armenia in November
2005. A.H. -0-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ganguly finishes off with a win
FROM OUR CHESS CORRESPONDENT ABU DHABI, AUG 23 (PTI)
Indian Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly scored a comprehensive
victory over Russian GM Mikhail Ulibin in the ninth round to finish
13h in the Master’s section at the 15th Abu Dhabi International Chess
festival that concluded here today.
Grandmaster Ashot Anastasian of Armenia won the title after playing a
quick draw with GM Alexei Federov of Belarus. Anastasian finished
with a tally of seven points out of a possible nine and pocketed the
first prize of USD 4,000.
Grandmaster Dmitry Bocharov of Russia defeated Ukrainian GM Alexander
Goloshachapov.
Bocharov and Uzbekistan’s International Master Sergey Kayumov tied
for the second spot scoring 6.5 points each while Ganguly finished
13th with six points.
Ganguly yet again showcased his superior endgame technique to outplay
Ulibin who played the black side of a French defence game.
Playing the Winawer variation, Ganguly got an advantage in the
opening itself and nurtured it well to win a pawn.
Ulibin found some solace in an exchange sacrifice for some optical
attack but Ganguly was on his guard and timely trading of queens led
to a difficult endgame for black.
Ganguly wrapped up the issue in 55 moves after tying black pieces to
passive defence.
The final round saw another spurt from Eesha Karavade who beat
Grandmaster Vladimir Dobrov of Russia. With this victory, Karavade
secured another Woman Grandmaster norm scoring 5.5 points in the
event.
International Master D V Prasad also finished on 5.5 points after
settling for another draw. GM Sergey Grigoriants of Russia failed to
break the solid defence of the Indian and had to split the point
despite playing white. Abhijeet Gupta was on the receiving end
against third seed and former Russia champion Sergei Volkov. Playing
with black, Gupta could not produce the form that helped him amass
important points in the first seven rounds. Despite losses in the
last two rounds, the Bhilwara based youngster is expected to gain
some important ELO rating points from this tournament.
Parimarjan Negi struck some late form and grounded Mesgen Amanov of
Turkmenistan in a fine game with black pieces.
Amongst other Indians in the fray, Akshat Khamparia and Krutika Nadig
were on the receiving end going down to GM Stefan Djuric of Serbia
and Meilis Annaberdiev of Turkmenistan respectively.
M B Muralidharan drew with Sergei Simonenko of Turkmenistan while
Tania Sachdev shared the point with Elshan Moradiabadi of Iran.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress