Author: Chalian Meline

BRANDY PRODUCTION IN ARMENIA-INCREASED, VODKA-DECREASED

news.am
April 2 2010
Armenia

Brandy production in Armenia this Jan.-Feb. compared with same period
in 2009 increased by 3.1%.

Within first 2 months of 2010 the country produced 1.702.600 liters of
brandy, whereas 673.300 liters of vodka, less by 60.5% than in 2009,
RA National Statistical Service informs.

In addition, for the reporting period the wine production increased
by 33.6% making 574.900 liters, beer – 956.100 liters against 544.800
in Jan.-Feb. 2009.

Production of champagne totaled 29.400 liters, which is 94.7% less
compared with the same period last year.

PREMIER: ARMENIA’S JAN-FEB GDP 2.5 TIMES GREATER THAN EXPECTED

ARKA
Apr 1, 2010

YEREVAN, April 1. /ARKA/. Armenia’s GDP in January and February 2010
was 2.5 times greater than expected, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan said Thursday at a governmental meeting.

He said that the steps taken by the government had a favorable impact
on the national economy.

The premier said that the greater-than-expected tax flow into the
state budget gives ground for thinking that Armenia will record quite
high economic growth this quarter.

Sargsyan said that the current inflow of social pays is also plentiful.

It was expected that the state budget would receive AMD 117 billion
taxes over this quarter, but in fact, AMD 126.733 billion have been
sent to the state budget since the beginning of this year.

Besides, AMD 22 billion has been sent to the state budget as social
pays, instead of the planned AMD 26 billion.

"Very important is that wages in Armenia have risen 5.8% over the first
quarter," the premier said adding that not only state-run agencies,
but also private companies raised salaries.

According to National Statistical Service of Armenia, the country’s
economy enjoyed 3.1% growth in January and February 2010, compared
with the same months a year before.

GDP in current prices amounted to AMD 321650 million, and the
year-on-year GDP deflator index was recorded at 110.6% in January
and February 2009.

GDP growth is planned at 1.2% in the 2010 state budget. ($1 = AMD
400.50).

TURKISH THEATRE PLAY GETS ARMENIAN READERS THANKS TO TRANSLATION

Tert.am
11:01 â~@¢ 01.04.10

Turkey and Armenia have initiated a common project. A theater play
by Turkish writer Hasan Erkek has been translated into Armenian by
the Armenian Publishers Union with the help of Turkey’s Ministry of
Culture and Tourism.

"EÅ~_ik" (Cradle) is the first book that breaks the trend of
translations only touching on historical problems between the
neighboring countries, reports Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

The Armenian Publishers Union and the Turkish Ministry of Culture
and Tourism have collaborated on a special project. Armenian readers
will now be able to read a book on art rather than ones that examine
historical problems between the two countries.

The book will be promoted at a ceremony in May at the Armenian
Publishers Union. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism participated
through subsidizing the translation through the Opening Turkish
Literature to the World, or TEDA, a project, which works to publish
Turkish cultural, artistic and literary works in foreign languages.

Erkek, a member of the Anadolu University State Conservatory and
chair of the Playwrights and Interpreters Association, said his book
was published in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"I hope this coincidence will make a contribution to peace among these
three countries. I believe that we will progress more by developing a
culture of empathy through art rather than harsh political statements,"
he said.

Speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review, the Armenian
translator of the book, Meline Anumyan, who is a member of the Hracya
Acharyan University Turkish literature department and the Armenian
Society Radio Turkish broadcast editor, said, "I am very pleased to
translate a book on art rather than history and politics."

TURKISH LAWYER FILES A LAWSUIT, DEMANDING TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
31.03.2010 15:09

Turkish lawyer Bendal Jelil Ezman has submitted a lawsuit to Ankara’s
arbitration court demanding to recognize the Armenian genocide, accuse
Taleat Pasha and his confederates and strike out his name from streets
and parks, Turkish Haberturk reported.

Ezman, who had joined internet campaign on apologizing for their crimes
and had signed under that list, declared: "It’s first time ever such
claim is submitted. Turkey should take into account its history."

Turkish lawyer demands an investigation based on Turkey’s criminal
code article on "Crime and praising the criminal and committing a
crime against humanity."

CALL FOR ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’ RECOGNITION
By Amanda Cavill

Special Broadcasting Service
March 31 2010
Australia

A federal MP is urging Australia to formally use the term "genocide"
to describe the deaths and forced deportations of Armenians almost
a century ago.

The only federal politician of Armenian background is urging Australia
to formally use the term "genocide" to describe the deaths and forced
deportations of Armenians almost a century ago.

Such a move would be vehemently opposed by Turkey.

orld-view/episode/77862/Call-for-Armenian-genocide -recognition

NOTICE

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
March 29, 2010

On March 31, at 12 o’clock, a regular Government session will take
place. The agenda includes issues concerning spheres of education,
economic, healthcare and tourism. Issue related to the preparation
activities for the NKR NA’s forthcoming elections will also be
discussed.

Amendments will be proposed to the laws "On Policy", "On Weapon",
and in some previously adopted government decisions.

We invite the representatives of mass media to elucidate the work of
the Government.

ENVOY RETURN DISCUSSED IN TURKEY-US PHONE TALK

WorldBulletin.Net
March 30 2010
Turkey

Ambassador Namik Tan was recalled to Ankara after the Foreign Relations
Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution
on the incidents of 1915 on March 4, 2010.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 10:27 Spokesman for the United States
Department of State, Philip Crowley, said Monday that during the
phone conversation of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and
his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton "the issue of Turkish Ambassador
Namik Tan and the possibility of his return back to Washington,
D.C. were discussed".

Speaking at a daily press conference, Crowley said that Turkey would
decide on when to send back Ambassador Tan to Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Namik Tan was recalled to Ankara after the Foreign Relations
Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution
on the incidents of 1915 on March 4, 2010. The resolution supported
Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915.

Davutoglu and Clinton also discussed the issues of Minsk Group process
and Upper Karabakh, Turkey-Armenia relations, Clinton’s recent visit
to Russia and the most recent developments in the Middle East.

Davutoglu and Clinton had a "warm and constructive" conversation. The
two leaders underlined the importance of strategic partnership between

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg also said Monday they
wanted to see Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan in Washington, D.C. again.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Steinberg
said that Tan was a highly respectable ambassador whom the United
States waited impatiently to work with.

In reference to the phone conversation of Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu and his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton on Monday,
Steinberg said that, among the allies of the United States, the
dialogue with Turkey was the most closest and warmest.

Davutoglu’s phone conversation with Clinton facilitated an important
opportunity for the continuation of close dialogue between Turkey
and the U.S., Steinberg said.

Agence France Presse — English
March 26, 2010 Friday 2:30 PM GMT

Head of Turkey’s Armenians urges an end to ‘genocide’ row

ankara, March 26 2010

The head of Turkey’s tiny Armenian community called Friday for an end
to the "useless" dispute over whether Armenians were victims of
genocide under the Ottoman Empire.

"It is useless to perpetuate this (row) with a grudge after one
hundred years," Bedros Sirinoglu told reporters after a meeting with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"There is no use in dwelling on this too much… Many such incidents
happened throughout the world… but they were closed. I cannot
understand why this one is not being closed," he added.

The dispute was rekindled earlier this month when the US House Foreign
Affairs Committee approved a non-binding resolution branding the
killings a genocide, with Sweden’s parliament following suit shortly,
prompting a furious Ankara to recall its ambassadors from both
countries.

The tensions added further uncertainty to an already fragile deal
between Turkey and Armenia signed in October to end decades of
hostility, establish diplomatic ties and open their border.

Sirinoglu said he remained optimistic that Ankara and Yerevan would
press ahead with the deal, which needs parliamentary ratification in
both countries to take effect.

"I am hopeful that Turkey and Armenia will both learn a lesson from
the past and will not repeat the same mistakes and that the job will
be rapidly finished," he said.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin perished in mass killings
and deportations in 1915-1917 in what was an organised extermination
campaign.

Turkey rejects the genocide label, arguing that 300,000 to 500,000
Armenians and at least as many Turks perished in civil strife when
Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with Russian
forces invading the crumbling empire.

news.am, Armenia
March 27 2010

Araz Azimov: Azerbaijan agrees to Madrid principles

14:03 / 03/27/2010 `The Armenian President should be careful about his
statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as Azerbaijan has
repeatedly made proposals. Our initiatives are contained in the Madrid
Principles,’ Azerbaijani Deputy FM Araz Azimov said in his interview
with the ANS TV Channel.

`The Armenian President should consider the proposals with all
seriousness if it thinks about his own people, who want to live in
long-lasting peace and cooperation with Azerbaijanis. Time is running
out. I think the Armenian side is applying inadvisable methods to gain
time. I do not think they will succeed. On the one hand, they have to
observe international law and, on the other hand, appreciate
Azerbaijan’s seeking a compromise in the true sense of the word. If
they do not, Azerbaijan will have to restore its territorial integrity
Azerbaijan will, of course, ensure the security of its Armenian
citizens,’ Azimov said.

NEWS.am reminds readers that at his meeting with representatives of
the Armenian community in Syria, RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated
Armenia is not ready for unilateral concessions on Nagorno-Karabakh,
but it is expecting Azerbaijan’s proposals.

T.P.

Armenian banking sector shows activation tendency

26.03.2010 16:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian banking sector shows gradual activation
tendency, based on January-February results.

As HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc Chief Executive Officer Astrid Clifford told
a news conference in Yerevan, `data for January-February 2010 proves
the rising demand for crediting; still, we’ll continue to practice
caution.’

`There are no fundamental problems in Armenian foreign currency
exchange market,’ Ms. Clifford said, commenting on fluctuations in
exchange rate.

On March 17, AMD/USD exchange rate amounted to AMD 400,10/ USD 1, thus
exceeding the `psychological’ mark.

HSBC Bank Armenia was established as a closed joint stock company
under the name Midland Armenia Bank J.S.C. on 1996 and has been
renamed into HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc on 1999. The bank is a joint
venture between the HSBC Group, which has a 70% ownership, and members
of overseas Armenian businesses with 30% ownership. It is one of the
leading banks in the foreign exchange market.

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc offers a wide range of products and services to
individual as well as corporate customers in Armenia and abroad.

The bank is the member of SWIFT and Bankmail payment