Author: Chaltikian Arsine

ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY OPPORTUNITY FOR ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN SYSTEM OF GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURES IN FUTURE: YSU PROFESSOR

ArmInfo
2009-05-21 13:07:00

ArmInfo. Construction of Armenia-Iran railway will make it possible
for Armenia to participate in the System of Global Infrastructures in
future, David Hovhannissyan, Professor of Yerevan State University,
Specialist in Oriental Studies, ex-Ambassador of Armenia to Syria,
told ArmInfo.

‘The construction of the railway cost 1.5 billion dollars linking
Armenia and Iran whose annual commodity turnover does not exceed 227
million dollars seems to have no prospects. However, this project
implies longer-term prospects’, he said.

The professor highlighted the possible place Armenia may have in the
System of Global Infrastructures in case the railway linking it with
Iran is built.

‘Since Kazakhstan already has a railway to Iran via Turkmenistan,
a similar railway linking Armenia with the Middle Asia via Iran will
significantly change the geopolitical component in the region and
bring Armenia an access to the system of ‘three seas’bordering the
South Caucasus and West Asia’, the professor said.

There are three versions of Iran-Armenia railway construction. The
first implies start from Yeraskh station, the second from Vardenis and
the third from the border up to Gagarin station. The three projects
have different lengths: 443 km, 447km, and 397 km, respectively.

Their costs are also different. The project starting from the border
leading to Jermuk and then via Selim Pass to Martuni, then to Gagarin
station and farther to Javakhq is the best for Armenia. It is the
longest way of 447 km.

The project implies parallel railway and motorway. The project is
estimated at $1.5-2 billion.

EMEAFINANCE ANNOUNCES TROIKA DIALOG RUSSIA’S BEST INVESTMENT BANK

ARKA
May 19, 2009

YEREVAN, May 19. /ARKA/. The emeafinance magazine has announced Troika
Dialog the best local investment bank in Russia as part of the CEE &
CIS Banking Awards 2008, Ameriabank’s press service reports.

The magazine annually awards the best banks of the Central Asia,
Eastern Europe and CIS.

The CEE & CIS Banking Awards recognise some of the leading banks hat
stand out among their peers, demonstrate leadership in their home
markets, the ones that top the performance and deal making tables
are being honoured.

In the article Courage, mon brave published in the May issue, the
journal cites Standard Bank procuring 30% of Troika’s shares. The
authors of the article believe the bank’s principal shareholder Ruben
Vardanyan can still freely manage his bank.

The emeafinance, the complete information source for the finance
industry in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region, is
the only periodical dedicated exclusively to report financial events,
happenings and triumphs initiated and influenced by the international
financial industry.

The key financial personalities who make things happen are regularly
profiled, creating a platform for our audience to gain a more complete
and thorough understanding of their peers and industry news.

PRIMATE CELEBRATES THE DIVINE LITURGY AT ST. JAMES, SACRAMENTO

e-celebrates-the-divine-liturgy-at-st-james-sacram ento/?utm_source=newsletterBeta&utm_medium=ema il&utm_content=Title&utm_campaign=News
May 20, 2009

On Sunday, May 17, 2009, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at
St. James Armenian Church in Sacramento. Rev. Fr. Asoghig Jamgochian,
Parish Priest, and Deacons assisted the Primate at the holy altar.

The Primate’s sermon at St. James, Sacramento, was centered on the
following verse from the Gospel of John: "…I came that they may
have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Following the church
service a Q&A session was held with the participation of the Sunday
School students during which the Primate answered the questions of
the students.

During a reception held at the church hall, Dn. James Tashjian
received the "Hye Spirit" Award from His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian for his many years of dedicated service in the Church. The
Primate also made special acknowledgment of three distinguished senior
parishioners: Mrs. Sylvia Jorjorian, 97; Mrs. Mary Garabedian, 98;
Mrs. Alice Spengler, 86.

RA JUDO FEDERATION YOUTH CUP WINNERS ANNOUNCED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 18:40 GMT+04:00

RA Judo Federation Youth Cup 2009 winners have been announced. Women’s
tournament winner is Ani Avagyan, Men’s Tournament leaders are:
Grigor Ivanyan (weigh class: 55kg), Tigran Varosyan (weigh class:
60 kg), Arthur Yeranosyan (weigh class: 66 kg), Andranik Chaparyan
(weigh class: 73 kg), Avet Ghazaryan (weigh class: 81 kg), Karen
Janoyan (weigh class: 90 kg), Gor Khorodyan (weigh class: 100 kg),
Smbat Kalechyan (weigh class: +100 kg).

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BOOK IN TURKISH

Panorama.am
17:27 19/05/2009

"Armenian Genocide and Turkish war trials" by famous Armenia historian
and genocide professor Vahagn Dadryan has been translated into Turkish
by the efforts of the printing-house director of Turkish University of
America, the writer told the students of the Yerevan State University.

"This is an important and great event. The book is published in Turkish
and is being spread in different Turkish cities. This is unbelievable
for me that the Turkish governments trying to refuse the Armenian
Genocide suddenly publish the book by the initiative of the Turkish
University," the writer said.

The book will be translated into English as well. Note that Vahagn
Dadryan has been honored President’s Prize for his investment in
making the Armenian Genocide recognized and condemned in the world.

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR: RUSSIA FEELS THE DIFFICULTY AND PAIN OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT MORE THAN OTHER INTERMEDIARIES

Today.Az
politics/52412.html
May 19 2009
Azerbaijan

"Russia feels the difficulty and pain of the Karabakh conflict more
than other intermediaries and for this purpose is engaged in mediation
at the highest level – the presidential level", said the Ambassador
of Russia in Baku Vladimir Dorokhin, according to Interfax-Azerbaijan.

This is a fact that Russia is aware of the Karabakh problem more than
others. And not just because we are neighbors, but also because we
were parts of a big state and we know the genesis of this problem
better than anyone else", said V. Dorokhin in an interview.

The Ambassador noted that Russia has been involved in conflict
resolution from the very beginning, and that Moscow has a primary
credit for the achievement of a cease-fire, the 15th anniversary of
which was marked the other day.

"Probably, we are afeel the pain and danger of the conflict more than
others. Therefore, the President of Russia assumes a high mediation
mission", underlined the Russian diplomat.

CENTRAL BANK: 5.8% ECONOMIC DECLINE EXPECTED IN ARMENIA IN 2009

ARKA
May 19, 2009

YEREVAN, May 19. /ARKA/. A 5.8% economic decline is expected in Armenia
in 2009, says the monetary-credit policy program of the Central Bank
of Armenia for the second quarter 2009.

According to the program, previous projections included in the program
of the first quarter were reviewed to reflect actual indicators
recorded in Q1 2009.

Added value is to reduce by 3% in agriculture in Armenia in Q2 2009
due to decline in crops because of unfavorable climate conditions in
the first four months of this year.

A 15-19% compression is expected in added value in construction
field due to expected reduction in capital inflow and pessimistic
expectations of construction companies.

Real growth of added value is to constitute 2.5% in the services
sector though: in this field retail turnover projections were somehow
reviewed due to the fact that actual retail trade turnover was lower
than the expected level in the first quarter of this year, as well
as because of the reviewed projections of domestic demand.

According to the Central Bank, risks connected with reduction of
projected economic and GDP indicators may go down depending on amount
and speed of anti-crisis programs announced by Armenian government.

Growth risks may be connected with implementation of large-scale
regional transport and energy programs.

At the end of this year and in the first quarter of 2010, Armenian
economic development trends will be mainly depending on developments
in the global economy, as well as on the scope and the pace of the
government programs.

REPRESENTATIVES OF ICRC DELEGATION TO ARMENIA MEET RELATIVES OF SARDARAPAT RESIDENTS MISSING IN ACTION IN THE KARABAKH WAR

ArmInfo
2009-05-19 15:11:00

Arminfo. Today in the secondary school of Sardarapat Armavir region
of Armenia representatives of ICRC delegation to Armenia met relatives
of Sardarapat residents missing in action in the Karabakh war.

An event was held in the school dedicated to the history of ICRC
movement creation.

The organizers of the event expressed gratitude to the relatives of
the missings in action for their tolerance.

ANOTHER QUARREL BETWEEN ‘COALITION FRIENDS’ HAPPENS IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 13:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday, at about 08:00 p.m a fight took place
between representatives of "Prosperous Armenia" party and Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) near the headquarters of "Prosperous Armenia"
located in the Silikyan district of Yerevan. Incident began after
Ajapnyak community head Ruben Hovsepyan visited the headquarters
of RPA.

According to some information, police and prosecutor’s officers
arrived at the place of incident to call to proper order.

NA deputy from "Prosperous Armenia" fraction Naira Zohrabyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, that their party conducts fair play. "These
elections cause serious anxiety of some community heads of Yerevan,
which made them to take uncontrolled actions," she said.

Naira Zohrabyan stressed, that "Prosperous Armenia" never "crosses
the boundary of a fair play and never violates rules". "Ringleaders
must be aware, that they will be replied without fail, therefore I
call on everybody to act civilly, not to violate any rules," Naira
Zohrabyan said.

Ms. Zohrabyan called on everybody to perceive forthcoming elections
as usual administrative procedure and not to turn them into process,
which is unacceptable for "Prosperous Armenia".

REMOVAL OF FIRE-DAMAGED SECTIONS OF NAIRIT PLANT ESTIMATED AT 20MLN AMD

Noyan Tapan
May 18, 2009

YEREVAN, May 18. /ARKA/. The removal of the fire-damaged sections of
the Nairit plant in Yerevan is estimated at 20mln AMD (US $53,500).

The press service of the Nairit Plant CJSC reported that the relevant
work is under way.

The removal of the sections in question is necessary to prevent
new blasts and fires are the chloroprene production shop, render
harmless the chemical substances contained in the equipment and
create conditions for experts and investigators working at the scene
of action.

The director, deputy directors and the heads of the relevant services
of the plant are immediately involved in the work.

Full information on the damage caused to the plant will be available
after the restoration work has been completed.

The other production lines are working, and the special regime will
be in effect after the experts and investigators have completed
their work.

At 6:40 p.m. on May 14, a blast occurred at the Nairit plant. The
subsequent fire claimed four lives.

Criminal proceedings were initiated.