Author: Chatinian Lara

‘ALCOHOL FACTION’ DEFEATED: ANDRANIK TEVANYAN MONITORS POLITICIANS IN ARMENIA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Tert
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

Passing the draft law in the National Assembly on making amendments
to the Republic of Armenia Law on Excise Tax became a subject for
observation by analysts who were monitoring the legislative activity
of National Assembly politicians.

Today the monitoring results were presented at the American University
of Armenia Business Center; an analyst among the group, head of
Politeconomia Centre Andranik Tevanyan, presented the contradictory
approaches of parliamentarians over two draft laws in the area
of economy.

Tevanyan said there is a faction in the parliament which he calls
the "alcohol faction" (as it includes major local manufacturers
of alcoholic beverages). During the first discussion on the Law
on Excise Tax, according to the analyst, the "alcohol faction"
of the parliament spoke against it, but a little later it changed
its position and "was defeated" by the faction of non-parliamentary
importers. "The faction of non-parliamentary importers was stronger
than the parliamentary "alcohol faction," Tevanyan said, presenting
examples of how parliamentarians’ legislative activities differs from
their pre-election programs and promises.

The analyst also observed the "parliamentary circulation" of the Tax
Package, registering, that in this issue, the National Assembly’s
"money-bags faction" was found to be stronger and pushed forth the
government’s approach, which declared that tax inspectors should be
involved in large businesses.

SALE AND PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS OF 4.32 MILLION DOLLARS CARRIED OUT AT NASDAQ OEMEX ARMENIA OJSC ON OCTOBER 23

Noyan Tapan
Oct 23, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Sale and purchase transactions of
4.32 million dollars at the weighted average exchange rate of 384.87
drams per dollar were carried out at Nasdaq Oemex Armenia OJSC on
October 23. According to the press service of the Central Bank of
Armenia, the closing price was 384.98 drams.

MOODY’S DOWNGRADES TWO ARMENIAN BANKS’ RATINGS

Financial Mirror
Oct 22 2009
Cyprus

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Thursday the long-term global
local currency (GLC) deposit ratings of two Armenian banks —
ACBA-Credit Agricole and Ardshininvestbank — to Ba2 from Ba1. The
outlook on all ratings of both banks is now stable.

Like most governments, the Armenian authorities are at least as (if not
more) likely to support their banking system as they are to service
their own debt, a view that has traditionally led to bank ratings
benefiting from significant uplift. However, Moody’s believes it is
more appropriate to use the government’s debt rating as a reference
rating to measure its ability to provide public support to banks,
instead of the local currency deposit ceiling, as previously.

Consequently, Armenia’s systemic support indicator is Ba1, one notch
above the government’s Ba2 local currency bond rating. As a result,
their GLC deposit ratings now receive a one-notch uplift from their
respective Ba3 baseline credit assessments, the measure of their
intrinsic or standalone financial strength.

The bank financial strength ratings (BFSRs) of ACBA-Credit Agricole
and Ardshininvestbank are unaffected as Moody’s believes that their
adequate capitalisation enables them to absorb a level of stress in
line with current loss assumptions.

Headquartered in Yerevan, ACBA-Credit Agricole and Ardshininvestbank
had total assets of AMD 140 bln (USD 391 mln) and AMD 115 bln (USD
320 mln), respectively, as at the end of June 2009.

ABDULLAH GUL AND ILHAM ALIYEV REMOVED MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN TURKEY -AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.10.2009 13:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish and Azerbaijani Presidents, Abdullah
Gul and Ilham Aliyev held a telephone conversation and removed
misunderstandings resulting from some emotional reactions which
emerged during a tough period.

President Gul informed President Aliyev on his talks with U.S.

President Barack Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia on
efforts to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus.

The two leaders agreed that any image of weakness in Turkey-Azerbaijan
relations was totally wrongful. As a result of the phone call
between President Gul and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Aliyev,
"misunderstandings and misperceptions which stemmed from some emotional
reactions that have emerged while passing through a difficult process,
have been overcome," sources at Gul’s office said.

The strain in Ankara -Baku relations occurred against the background
of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process, with Azerbaijan threatening
Turkey with gas tariffs increase and expressing intention to refuse
form participating in Nabucco project.

HILL CLIMBERS: LOVING THE COMMITTEES
By Kristin Coyner

Roll Call
/39700-1.html
Oct 21 2009

Loving the Committees. Reputation can go a long way on the Hill, but
so can a Member’s committee assignments. Two staffers in the office
of Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) said it was those things — reputation
and committee assignments — that attracted them to work for Matsui.

In September, Rob Mosher, 35, was hired as legislative director.

Mosher is a veteran of the Hill and the policy world, and he comes
with a firm grasp on how Congress works.

"The Congresswoman and her office have a stellar reputation," Mosher
said. "The combination of her unique position as a member of the
California delegation, and her committee assignments — Energy and
Commerce and Rules — also spurred my interest in the office."

A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., Mosher came to Matsui’s office from
a job as a legislative director for Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wis.). But
Mosher’s experience on the Hill precedes his time in Kagen’s office.

A 1996 graduate of Miami University with a degree in political
science, Mosher began working on the Hill before finishing up
graduate school. While working toward a master’s in public policy and
administration at Baylor University, Mosher jumped at the opportunity
to intern with then-Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio). After earning a master’s
from Baylor, Mosher was hired as Glenn’s legislative correspondent.

Although Mosher only worked for Glenn for a year, his time with the
Senator still stands out as memorable.

Tom Williams/Roll Call

Legislative Director Rob Mosher (left) and Staff Assistant Ryan McCabe
have joined the office of Rep. Doris Matsui.

"Sen. Glenn met with my mother for more than half an hour," Mosher
said. "It said a lot about him as a person and a public official."

After Glenn left Capitol Hill, Mosher transitioned to the House side.

In 1999, Mosher began a yearlong stint as a legislative assistant with
then-Rep. Bob Wise (D-W.Va.). In 2000, Mosher moved to then-Rep. Max
Sandlin’s (D-Texas) office for another year as a legislative assistant.

But Mosher was not done moving yet. From 2001 to 2003, he worked for
Rep. James Langevin (D-R.I.) in a legislative capacity.

But after five years of shuffling from office to office, Mosher decided
to make a career change. In 2003, Mosher began work as the director
of government affairs for the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee,
an advocacy organization. Mosher spent four years working for the
Armenian-American community there, an experience that he called
"very rewarding" because he is of Armenian descent.

When the Democrats retook the majority in 2007, Mosher decided he
wanted to get back into the political action, which he was able to
do in becoming Kagen’s legislative director.

Mosher’s inability to stay away from politics makes sense when you
understand his family. His mother, Natalie Mosher, is currently
running for Congress in Michigan’s 11th district.

"My mom is a former county commissioner and has always been very
interested in public policy," Mosher said. "I think the thing that
really made up her mind to run was working as an Obama volunteer
last year."

Also new to the Matsui office is Ryan McCabe, who was hired in
July as a staff assistant. Before taking on the job, McCabe, 24,
simultaneously worked two internships on the Hill this spring and
summer — one with Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) and the other with Matsui.

He attributes his working as an intern to landing a job with Matsui:
"I wouldn’t have gotten the position had I not been offered the
internship first."

Like Mosher, McCabe also said Matsui’s committee assignments were
part of the reason that he wanted to work for the Golden State Member.

"Working for a Member who puts in so much time and cares so much about
the important issues is incredibly motivating," McCabe said. "A lot of
the domestic and environmental legislation I find myself interested
in comes before Energy and Commerce, so it is exciting to be around
people who work so closely on these issues."

McCabe brings political experience from outside of the Hill to the
Matsui office. In the 2008 election cycle, he served as a political
assistant at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

And immediately after graduating from Princeton University in 2007,
McCabe tried his hand at presidential politics, working in several
different positions with the presidential campaign of ex-Sen. John
Edwards (D-N.C.).

Now, as much as McCabe finds being in the policy mix rewarding, he
gave the honor of his most memorable experience on the Hill to an
anonymous Member.

"Shortly after I was hired as staff assistant, I shadowed one of our
interns [as she gave] her first tour," McCabe said. "At the same time
we entered the Old Senate Chamber, a Member with a very large tour
came in. The Member proceeded to yell at my intern to quiet down."

A native of Silver Spring, Md., McCabe said he has wanted to work on
the Hill because "it’s home." For the past 20 years, McCabe has lived
on and off in the Washington area. It should come as no surprise that
his favorite teams include the Redskins, the Nationals and the Wizards.

What does come as a surprise is McCabe’s love for another Washington
institution: the Metro.

"I think it’s very intuitive," he said. "I know what it’s like having
to drive in the area. I enjoy not having a car." Off the Hill,
McCabe is a dedicated swimmer and works out every morning in the
pool. A former Princeton swimmer, McCabe said he is looking forward
to expanding his swimming repertoire.

"My roommate and I just signed up for a Chesapeake Bay open-water
swim," McCabe said. "I am really out of shape right now so I won’t
be swimming across the whole bay, though."

ARARAT ZURABYAN: ARF’S ACTIVITIES A SHAM

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 21 2009
Armenia

NEWS.am: Mr. Zurabyan, the trial of the case of Nikol Pahsinyan,
Editor-in-Chief of the Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper, has begun. What
verdict can be expected?

Zurabyan: I do not expect anything from the trial. I have expectations
in connection with Nikol Pahsinyan. I think he will take advantage
and inform the public of the actual events on March 1, 2008. It is
obvious from his very first steps, as his petition challenging the
judge shows he is right, and it will be the right trial. Legally,
the case has no prospects – it has always been a political rather
than legal case. The authorities have constantly been trying to
turn it into a legal one and get the public to make at least slight
concessions. I do not think it is possible. In any case, our people
will gain victory, Nikol will gain victory. I hope that we will soon
witness Nikol going out of the courtroom.

News.am: Besides Pahsinyan, about twenty active oppositionists are
behind bars. What is their fate?

Zurabyan: First, I would like to mention a fact not much talked about.

Of course, every person wants to be released as soon as possible. On
the other hand, I think our society should be proud of the people that
struggled and did not take any steps to the authorities’ advantage.

Their position and behavior are those of heroes. I am sure they will
be released if possible. It also depends on our everyday struggle –
the better it is organized the sooner they will be released.

News.am: You have mentioned everyday struggle. The ANC, however,
has taken a timeout. Even Armenia’s first president pointed out that
the ANC is unable to change power by itself. In your opinion, is the
timeout policy justifiable?

Zurabyan: First, I do not share the opinion on a timeout to say
whether it is right or wrong. There is no timeout. The fact is that a
considerable part of our society, so to say, was asleep while we were
predicting further processes in Armenia. We were organizing rallies,
warning and struggling. And we go on struggling and warning our
public that even worse processes will take place, processes involving
Nagorno-Karabakh – and they have almost taken place. Stating that
the ANC’s potential is not sufficient to change power, we urge the
public to unite and join us in the struggle for justice, restoration
of constitutional order – for changing power. And this process is
developing. We were, are and will be engaged in politics, however long
it may continue. I do not think the problem is holding or not holding
rallies. The problem is when the best results can be achieved, which,
however, requires a little more potential that our society has.

I point out with regret that the day after the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols were signed, a considerable part of our public celebrated
the Erebuni-Yerevan festival if as nothing had happened in Armenia. It
will be most difficult for us to achieve any results until our public
"comes to its senses." We are doing our best to explain to the public
what should be done. We are trying to enlarge our ranks, get stronger
and achieve this aim.

It is consistent work, and neither I nor others wishing to see the
results a little earlier are satisfied with its rates.

News.am: In this context, do you consider it possible to use the
potential of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun
(ARFD) and of the Heritage Party? How "sincere" are their actions?

Zurabyan: As regards the Heritage Party, I cannot make any comments –
time will settle the matters straight. As regards the ARF, I have made
my appraisal. I think they are launching sham activities coordinated
with the authorities. I do not think they will ever have a wish to
get rid of these authorities.

ARAZ AZIMOV: "IF THE OPENING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDERS IS CARRIED OUT IN UNILATERAL FORMAT, THE LIBERATION OF LANDS FROM OCCUPATION WILL BE DELAYED"

APA
Oct 20 2009
Azerbaijan

"We propose the opening of Turkish-Armenian borders as an element
in the solution to the conflict, liberation of the lands from the
occupation, and joint implementation of use of roads, particularly
the Lachin corridor"

Baku – APA. Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov answered
the questions about the principles of solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. According to APA, the deputy minister said three principles
of the international law, territorial integrity, non-use of force
and self-determination are reviewed and the territorial integrity of
the countries and inviolability of the borders without permission of
the countries stay as a background of those principles as a common
denominator. "The self-determination shouldn’t lead to the division
of the country or separation of the borders without the country’s
permission. The self-determination is not independence and it doesn’t
give any right. This right can be provided only within the territorial
integrity and can be reviewed as a domestic self-determination and
valued as a norm in the international experience".

In the talks with Armenia, Azerbaijan is ready to pass the
determination of the status of self-administration of the population
of Karabakh region within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
as a common denominator, from the position of vertical administration
according to its position. We are expecting from Armenia the same
attitude, to leave its demands for independence of Nagorno Karabakh,
which violates the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and to agree
with the common denominator proposed by Azerbaijan (self-determination
within the territorial integrity). It is a compromise option and
can be valued constructively. It is impossible to change territories
and borders of Azerbaijan without its permission. So Armenia has two
options: it agrees with the continuation of current situation or agrees
with the solution to the conflict on the basis of above-mentioned
common denominator. We don’t see clearness from Armenia on this issue.

Particularly, regarding the issue of status, we have to notice
that changing of status should be objective and carried out in
the objective conditions. What the objective condition includes:
lifting of the occupation factor and return of all territories,
restoration of relevant infrastructure and return of population,
particularly the Azerbaijanis of Nagorno Karabakh. The issue is
not solved without return of Azerbaijanis to the occupied regions
and the status of Nagornmo Karabakh can be determined only with the
participation of whole population of the region. The population should
live together in this region again, work peacefully and together,
and establish peaceful neighborhood relations without enmity. The
issue of status can be reviewed only in this condition. I would like
to emphasize again that the factor of occupation must be lifted,
the roads must be restored and cooperation should replace the enmity
for the determination of the status.

The liberation of the territories, return of population, restoration of
cooperation are in the focus for solution of the problems ahead until
that period and Azerbaijani side would cooperate with the Nagorno
Karabakh Armenians to solve these issues. After the liberation of
the occupied lands

Azerbaijanis must be provided with necessary conditions, when they
return to Nagorno Karabakh. And there should be an opportunity for
them to establish relations with their Armenian neighbors. At the same
time, there should be opportunities for Armenia to cooperate with
Azerbaijani side in Nagorno Karabakh. Moreover, different programs
will be implemented in Nagorno Karabakh by various international
organizations. In order to establish cooperation and provide the
population there to live with equal rights, application of temporary
agreements (temporary status) is proposed unless the final status is
determined. And it will ensure the protection and equal rights of both
(Azerbaijani and Armenian) communities of the region. In certain stage
of discussions, representatives of both communities of Nagorno Karabakh
will join the processes in order to have an opportunity to part take
in discussions and solutions of the issues they are concerned about.

If it is accepted as one of the principles of recognition of IDPs’
rights to return to their homelands within the framework of the
conflict, we must specify some issues again. So, both sides have
populations who were obliged to change their places during the
20-year history of the conflict. However, except those, who have
become refugees from the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan, there
is a group, which has suffered most, the group of 700 thousand IDPs
only in Azerbaijan (as it is the side undergone ethnic cleansing and
occupation). The problems of refuges from both sides will be solved
in the next stages on mutual basis. Occupied territories must be
released, IDPS must return to their homelands and it’s not enough to
recognize only the returning right in this situation. Their return
must be ensured by Armenia as a commitment. If we approach this
issue from legal and political point of view, first and foremost
Azerbaijanis forcedly driven out from Nagorno Karabakh region must
return to their homelands, because only their return will create
objective condition for elimination of results of ethnic cleansing
and determination of status. Such approach is imperative in terms of
international legal norms and principles. One of the factors in the
solution to the conflict will be the opening of roads and borders
– the first principle – all roads and borders must be opened at
the same time, second principle – their opening is possible only
after the release of the occupied territories. If the opening of
Turkish-Armenian borders is carried out in unilateral format, the
liberation of lands from occupation will be delayed and it will
create obstacles for Azerbaijanis to return to Nagorno Karabakh
and surrounding regions. We propose the opening of Turkish-Armenian
borders as an element in the solution to the conflict, liberation
of the lands from the occupation, and joint implementation of use
of roads, particularly the Lachin corridor. Such principle must be
accepted and confirmed in this stage. Otherwise, the solution process
of the conflict will delay without it".

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT STATES

s15601.html
17:33:49 – 19/10/2009

The Department of State announces the opening of the registration
period for the DV-2011 Diversity Visa lottery. Entries for the DV-2011
Diversity Visa lottery must be submitted electronically between noon,
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Friday, October 2, 2009, and noon,
Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), Monday, November 30, 2009.

Applicants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form (E-DV)
at during the registration period. Paper
entries will not be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged not to
wait until the last week of the registration period to enter. Heavy
demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted
after noon EST on November 30, 2009.

The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is
administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and
conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of
1990 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 and provides for a class of
immigrants known as "diversity immigrants." Section 203(c) of the
INA provides a maximum of 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) each fiscal
year to be made available to persons from countries with low rates
of immigration to the United States.

The annual DV program makes visas available to persons meeting simple,
but strict, eligibility requirements. A computer-generated, random
lottery drawing chooses selectees for DVs. The visas are distributed
among six geographic regions, with a greater number of visas going
to regions with lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going
to nationals of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to
the United States over the period of the past five years. Within
each region, no single country may receive more than seven percent
of the available DVs in any one year. No countries have been added
or removed from the list of eligible countries. The list of eligible
countries remains the same as for DV-2010.

It is important to note that winning the lottery is not a guarantee
that you will receive a visa – winners must be interviewed and qualify
for a visa.

The Department of State implemented the electronic registration
system beginning with DV-2005 in order to make the DV process more
efficient and secure. The Department utilizes special technology and
other means to identify those who commit fraud for the purposes of
illegal immigration or those who submit multiple entries.

For detailed information about entry requirements, along
with frequently asked questions about the DV lottery, please
see the instructions for the DV-2011 DV lottery available at
.

"NOR ZHAMANAKNER" PARTY DEMANDS PUBLICATION OF PROTOCOL DOCUMENT

r/
2009/10/19 | 13:22

Politics

The "Nor Zhamanakner" (New Times) Party of Armenia has sent a public
letter to RoA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian asking if rumours
circulating regarding a new version of the protocol document signed
on October 10 in Zurich are true.

The statement call on the foreign ministry to publish the final draft
of the protocol document signed by the Armenian delegation based
on the fact that the document touches on the essential interests of
every Armenian whether in the RoA or the diaspora.

WAR DECLARED ON TURKISH FLAGS AND TURKISH COMPANIES IN AZERBAIJAN

Tert
Oct 19 2009
Armenia

It’s already been three days since they began to remove Turkish flags
in Azerbaijan’s cities and regions. As reported by Azerbaijani paper
Azadliq, the campaign began immediately after the signing of the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols. The local leadership explains that a new
law on flags has been implemented.

First, they removed not only the Turkish flags but also the metal
flagstaffs at the memorial to those Turkish people who fell victim
during the years of establishing Soviet authority. Then, last Friday,
authorities made a decision to remove all the flags from in front
of all offices and buildings belonging to Turkish companies in the
country.

Azadliq reports that local governments were given these orders from
higher-up administrative bodies. On the same day, checks began in
Turkish companies in Azerbaijan.

But Azerbaijan’s anti-Turkey campaign isn’t limited to simply removing
flags: as reported by Azadliq, the country’s leadership aims to cut
off all its links with Turkey. It’s possible that those checks might
lead to the termination of Turkish companies operating in Azerbaijan.