Russia ranking third in CIS rated on inflation
RBC, 09.08.2005, Moscow 19:44:51.
In the 1st half-year of 2005, Russia ranked third rated on its
inflation rate (13.4 percent) in the CIS compared to the 1st half-year
of 2004, the CIS statistics committee has reported.
According to the committee, in the 1st half-year of 2005,the
highest inflation rate in the CIS was reported from Ukraine (14.1
percent), while Armenia boasted of the lowest inflation rate (2.3
percent). In Azerbaijan, inflation stood at 13.5 percent, in Moldova
at 13.3 percent, in Belarus at 11.5 percent, in Georgia at 9.4
percent, in Kazakhstan at 7.3 percent, in Tajikistan at 7.1 percent,
and in Kyrgyzstan at 4.5 percent. The average CIS inflation rate
amounted to 13 percent.
This said, in June 2005, Russia shared the first place with
Ukraine for inflation (0.6 percent from May 2005), while in most CIS
states, except for Kazakhstan (0.4 percent), Tajikistan (0.3 percent)
and Belarus (0.2 percent), deflation was registered in June 2005
compared with May 2005. No data are available for inflation in
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

CIS statistics committee issues GDP growth rating
RBC, 09.08.2005, Moscow 19:33:37.
In the 1st half-year of 2005, Russia ranked sixth rated on the GDP
growth (5.1 percent) in the CIS, the CIS statistics committee has
reported. As of the end of 2004, Russia shared the ninth position with
Kyrgyzstan in a similar rating.
According to the committee, in the 1st half-year of 2005,the
highest GDP growth rates in the CIS were reported from Azerbaijan
(16.5 percent) and Armenia (10.2 percent). Belarus posted 8.9-percent
growth, followed by Tajikistan (8.1 percent), Georgia (6.8 percent),
Ukraine (4 percent), and Kyrgyzstan (2.4 percent). No data are
available for the GDP growth in Moldova, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan. On average, the CIS GDP rose by 5 percent.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website;
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CYMA Participants in the Republic of ARTSAKH
It is with immense spiritual joy that we inform our faithful that CYMA
2005 participants are doing well in Armenia and continuing their
mission, rebuilding a ruined Church in the village of Atarbekian, in
the vicinity of Etchmiadzin. The ruined Saint Asdvadzadzin -Holy
Mother of God- was built in 1876. CYMA 2005 participants organize
daily camp for about 60 children from the village of Aratashen. From
August 29 through September 2, 2005 CYMA participants visited the
Republic of ARTSAKH. On their way to Nakorno-Karabagh they visited
Khor Virap, Jermuk and Noravank.
His Eminence Archbishop Bargev Martirossian, Primate of the Diocese pf
Artsakh greeted and welcomed the youth in karabagh. Our primate, His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian thanked Abp Martirossian for
receiving and encouraging the youth. The CYMA participants also had
the chance to visit the parliament building and meet His Excellency
Ashot Ghulyan, the President of the Parliament. In Gantsasar Serpazan
Galstanian officiated over the baptismal service of Raffi Numan, one
of the CYMA 2005 participants from Calgary. The youth also visited
Shoushi, Stepanakert, Askeran, Ghochalou and Akhtam. On their way back
to Armenia the visited the Shake Falls.
Next week, they will pay tribute to the victims of the war od Nakorno
Karabagh 1991-1994 visiting Yerablour. On Monday morning, they will
visit the Madenataran and the Nork Hayortats Doun.
* * *
High-ranking Canadian Clergy Accept Invitation for Talks with
Catholicos of All Armenians in Armenia
For the first time ever, a delegation of four Canadian ecumenical
leaders, led by the Primate of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Orthodox Church, will discuss challenges facing Christian
churches in Canada with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in
Armenia this month.
By invitation of His Holiness Karekin II,
His Eminence Archbishop Andrew Hutchison,
Primate of the Anglican National Church of Canada
His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios,
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Canada
His Eminence Archbishop Brendan O’Brien,
President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Prof. Dr. Richard Schneider,
President of the Canadian Council of Churches
will travel to Armenia Aug. 24 with His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian, Primate of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Orthodox Church, where for one week, they will discuss future
prospects of the role and mission of Christian churches and
cooperation between the Eastern and Western churches with the Armenian
Catholicos. They will also have the opportunity to visit with
government officials of Armenia. The unprecedented initiative to bring
Canadian church leaders to Armenia was undertaken by His Eminence
Bishop Galstanian and his assistant Deacon Hagop Arslanian.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the pre-eminent center of
authority in the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church.
Located near Yerevan, the capital city of the Republic of Armenia, it
includes The Mother Cathedral of the entire Armenian Church, the
residence of the Catholicos, a monastery, the Gevorgian Theological
Seminary and a museum that houses the religious artifacts and
treasures of the Armenian Church.
The Cathedral dates to the 4th century, and is considered to be the
oldest Christian cathedral in the world. In its capacity as the
residence of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
the Pontiff of the Armenian Church, Holy Etchmiadzin is known as the
“Catholicate of All Armenians.” Holy Etchmiadzin became the seat of
the Catholicate of the entire Armenian nation in the 4th century,
following the conversion of King Tiridates III to Christianity by
St. Gregory the Illuminator in AD 301.
This historic pilgrimage date was chosen to coincide with celebrations
commemorating the 1600th anniversary of the invention of the Armenian
alphabet, which takes place Aug. 24 to Sept. 1, 2005. The trip will
provide an opportunity to the delegation to participate in the
anniversary. The delegation returns to Canada Sept. 1.
In preparation for this noteworthy visit to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, Canadian church leaders have been meeting since September
2004.
* * *
Join the Diocesan Summer Camp “An Experience to Remember”
We are pleased to offer this wonderful overnight camp, August 8 – 13,
2005 at Echo Lake, Frontenac County (approximately 50 km NW of
Kingston, Ontario.) This is a Christian-based facility consisting of
several acres of wooded property, together with sandy beach for
relaxing and swimming, a fireside area overlooking the lake and sports
fields.
Come enjoy our overnight summer youth program (open to children 8 to
14 years old), consisting of land and water sports activities, arts
and crafts, music and religious education, and wonderful snacks and
home cooked meals prepared by our In-house Chef. Our new Counsellor in
Training (CIT) program provides an opportunity for young adults (15-17
years old) to develop leadership skills and friendships in the context
of Christian camping. Our capable, trained staff of counsellors and
staff are sure to make the children’s experience a safe, fun and
memorable one.
Here are some stats about 2005 Campers & CIT’s as of today. We have 9
CIT’s and 86 campers registered. The following numbers are Campers &
CIT’s combined: from Ontario (excluding Ottawa) – 69, Quebec & Ottawa
– 23, Vancouver, B.C. – 3 (so far) There are 54 boys & 41girls, 8 to
10 yrs old – 36 campers, 11 to 14 yrs olds – 50 campers, 15 to 18 yr
olds – 9 CIT’s
Campers come from the following cities – Ajax, Markham, Mississauga,
Scarborough/Toronto/North York, Ottawa. Laval, Montreal, Pickering,
Richmond Hill, Thornhill, St Catherines, Whitby, Woodbridge,
Vancouver, Oakville.

OSCE Slams Violent Attacks on Opposition in Azerbaijan
10/08/2005 01:59
BAKU, Aug 9 (AFP) – Europe’s top election-monitoring body, the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, on Tuesday
condemned the violent attacks directed at the opposition in
Azerbaijan.
“We strongly condemn these acts of violence. It is unacceptable that
groups of private citizens decided to take justice into their own
hands,” the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, Maurizio Pavesi said.
Violent protests have erupted around the offices of the opposition
National Front of Azerbaijan party over the past two days after the
authorities announced the arrest of an opposition figure with alleged
ties to Armenian secret police.
Demonstrators on Monday exchanged volleys of stones and bottles, in
which no one was injured, and bizarrely beat each other with flowers
in another demonstration on Tuesday.
Tensions flared after Ruslan Bashirli, leader of the Yeni Fikir (New
Thought) youth opposition group, was arrested for allegedly accepting
money from enemy Armenian agents to fund a revolution in Azerbaijan.
The group shares an office with the National Front party.
Anti-government parties have dismissed those allegations as part of a
state-sponsored smear campaign meant to damage the opposition ahead of
parliamentary elections in November.
Pavesi called on the authorities to prevent “violent and unauthorized
public meetings,” or risk the electoral campaign’s “deterioration.”
The last national vote, the 2003 presidential elections in which Ilham
Aliyev took over from his father Heydar Aliyev, ended in two days of
rioting and hundreds of arrests.
Azerbaijan lost a war against Armenia in the early 1990s in which
about 25,000 people on the two sides died. No peace deal has been
signed and an armed standoff continues.

MOSCOW
August 9 2005
RIA Novosti
CIS representatives to discuss radar identification system
10:11|09/ 08/ 2005
The CIS military cooperation coordination officials said they will gather
Tuesday to discuss a single system for radar identification of air-, sea-
and land-based facilities.
“The conference will be convened due to the need to discuss the use of the
single radar identification system to prevent accidental strikes at our
air-, sea- and land-based facilities with our own weapons,” the officials
said.
Radar identification provides air safety for the planes of states party to
the agreement on radar identification, flying over the CIS territory, and
prevents any violation of CIS air space and the accidental hitting of CIS
planes with CIS weapons.
“The problem is also important in view of aviation terrorism today,” the
officials said.
The conference agenda will also feature issues that require a single
approach in terms of interstate agreement implementation. The conference
will bring together officials from ministries, departments, organizations
and defense ministries of the countries party to the agreement, i.e.,
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.
The agreement on radar identification of air-, sea- and land-based
facilities equipped with aircraft identification transponders of the Parol
system was signed in June of 1992. The agreement establishes the system as
the only radar identification system for multi-based facilities.
The conference will last four days.

REPORT: NO BIG GAINS TO ARMENIA IF TURKEY LIFTS BLOCKADE
Haroutiun Khachatrian 8/09/05
August 9, 2005
Eurasianet
A controversial report by an Armenian research and consulting group
claims that reopening the Armenian-Turkish border would have a much
smaller impact on Armenias economy than commonly believed.
The report was presented July 13 by the Armenian-European Political
Legal Advice Center (AEPLAC), a prominent think tank sponsored by the
European Union. It contended that Armenia would see its economy expand
by only $20-23 million annually, or just 0.67 percent of its current
Gross Domestic Product, if Turkey decided to lift its 12-year blockade
of the Armenian border. Over the next five years, Armenias GDP would
see an additional 2.7 percent increase over the countrys level in
2004.
The gain, the report maintained, would be almost exclusively the
result of lower cargo transportation costs associated with the
reopening of the Kars-Gyumri railroad that connects the two
countries. Currently, Armenian goods can only reach trade partners via
Georgia, which charges relatively high cargo tariffs. Transportation
costs account for some 25-30 percent of Armenias trade costs,
according to the report.
The reports findings caught many Armenian academics and journalists by
surprise. A widely cited 2000 World Bank study predicted that Armenia
would see a 30-percent increase in GDP if both Turkey and Azerbaijan
lifted their economic embargos. Since then, the Armenian economy has
experienced impressive growth. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive]. Many observers and economists believed that lifting the
blockade would boost those numbers still higher.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in an act of solidarity
with Azerbaijan. At the time, Armenian and Azerbaijani forces were
battling for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The blockade cause substantial
economic hardship in Armenia for much of the 1990s. In early 2004,
Turkey reportedly considered re-opening the border, but eventually
decided against it. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Turkish goods — worth an estimated $40 million per year, according to
the National Statistical Service of Armenia — manage to enter Armenia
via third countries. A general belief exists that if the border were
re-opened, Armenia would be able to export a comparable amount of
goods and services, namely electricity to its western neighbor.
Many economists have challenged the reports findings. They note that
the analysis contained in the report, which was written by a
seven-member team, largely concurs with recent statements made by
various government officials, who have downplayed the need for an open
Turkish-Armenian border. The daily Azg, for instance, commented on
July 7 that the reports argument provided strong support for Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanians position that Armenia will not make any
political concessions to Turkey in return for the lifting of the
border blockade. “If the economic impact of lifting the blockade is
negligible, then there is no reason to open the border,” said a recent
editorial published by the Russian-language Delovoi Ekspress. “And
this is pure politics.”
Others take issue with the reports statistical analysis. Economist
Eduard Agajanov, who served as minister of statistics under former
President Levon Ter-Petrosian (1991-1998), charged that the report
underestimated the economic impact of reopening the Turkish-Armenian
border in order to provide political support for President Robert
Kocharians administration. “Its purpose is to preserve the current
oligarchic economic system in Armenia, which cannot survive if the
borders are opened and competition with Turkish goods becomes
tougher,” Agajanov said. If Armenia regains access to markets of the
Middle East via Turkey, Agajanov argued, it would stimulate a whole
range of industries that were active during the Soviet era, when the
Middle East and India were major markets.
The AEPLAC authors said they took various factors into account,
including the 2000 World Bank study and the potential re-entry of
Armenian companies into Middle Eastern markets. Ultimately, however,
they decided that Armenian producers do not presently have the
resources to meet demand in Turkey and the Middle East for goods, such
as electricity and cement. At the same time, the report suggested that
reopening the Turkish-Armenian border might stimulate economic growth
in eastern regions of Turkey, where GDP per capita is even lower than
in Armenia.
Although the authors of the AEPLAC report state that it was
commissioned by the Armenian government, Trade and Economic
Development Minister Karen Chshmaritian has denied that the government
had anything to do with the preparation of the document.
At a July 27 press conference, Chshmairtian criticized the AEPLAC
estimates as too conservative. “They have not taken into account the
effect of mutual penetration of capital from the two countries. Turkey
obviously hinders its businessmen from investing in Armenia, and when
this ban is eliminated, growth may be highly accelerated,” he
stated. To prove the point, Chshmaritian told reporters, the
government is conducting its own research into the economic impact of
Turkey lifting its border blockade. A report is due out later this
year, he said.
Editors Note: Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer
specializing in economic and political affairs.
Posted August 9, 2005 © Eurasianet

Positions of Washington and Baku on Democratic Development Concide
Completely – Azeri Official
Trend
10/08/2005 00:06
Positions of Washington and Baku on democratic institutions
development in Azerbaijan coincide completely, says spokesman of the
Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry.
Such a statement was made on 9 August by the head of the information
and press department of the Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry (FM) Tair
Tagizade at the news conference on the results of the visit to
Washington of the Azerbaijan’s FM head Elmar Mammedyarov, Trend
reports.
“Washington fully supports the policy of the Azerbaijan’s leadership
in the field of the country’s democracy development, in holding open
and fair elections,” the FM spokesman noted.
??gizade reported, during Mamedyarov’s visit to Washington the key
attention was focused on the discussion of the issues of the strategic
partnership between Azerbaijan and Washington. Exchange of opinions
also took place in regard of Azerbaijan’s integration into the
European structures, settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, terrorism fighting,
democratic transformations in the county.
Touching upon the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement
Tagizade noted, the US leadership, the State Secretary Condoleezza
Rice particularly, spoke for the continuation of peaceful talks on the
conflict settlement.
“The White House attaches an important significance to top level
talks, in particular, to the forthcoming meeting of the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia in Kazan,” head of the FM department noted.
Tagizade also underlined, during the visit stationing of the US
military bases in Azerbaijan was not discussed too.
In conclusion Tagizade touched upon the preparation of Ilham
Aliyev’s visit to the USA. He noted, the issue was not discussed
during Mamedyarov’s visit to Washington.
“The Embassy of Azerbaijan carries out an active work on preparation
the visit. However, the date is not specified yet,” the FM’ spokesman
noted, indicating the issue will be coordinated with the American
side.

Azeri, Armenian foreign ministers to meet in Moscow

Baku, August 8, AssA-Irada
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and
Vardan Oskanian are scheduled to meet in Moscow on August 23 for the
next round oftalks on the Upper Garabagh conflict settlement.
Mammadyarov has told journalists that some details will be discussed
and the issues to be agreed upon will be raised at the upcoming
meeting of the two countries’ presidents in Kazan.
The ministers will report to their heads of state after the Moscow
meeting, he added.*

CBA REDUCES ANNUAL BANKING INTEREST RATE TO 17%
YEREVAN, August 9. /ARKA/. The Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA) decided to reduce the annual banking interest rate by one per
cent to 17% on August 18, 2005, the CBA reports. The last change in
the banking interest rate was on June 28, 2005, when it was raised
from 17% to 18%. A.A. -0–

SPIRITUAL INSPECTOR OF “NORAVANK” MONASTERY COMPLEX DIES IN TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, August 9. /ARKA/. Spiritual inspector of the “Noravank”
monastery complex, priest Zaven Hakobyan died in a traffic accident in
Armenia, the Press-Chancellery of the Holy See of Echmiadzin
reports. Hakobyan was born in Echmiadzin in 1977. He graduated from
the Gevorgyan theological seminary in 2000; in 2000-2001 he
participated in the management courses at the American University of
Armenia. He had been studying at the Department of Law, Yerevan State
University. He was consecrated into deacon in 2002 and into priest in
2004. Hakobyan was appointed spiritual inspector of “Noravank”
monastery complex on February 1, 2005 by the decision of the
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. “The Catholicos of All
Armenians and the Congregation of the Holy See of Echmiadzin mournes
about the untimely death of the young, faithful and devoted priest”,
the press-release says. A.A. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress