Author: Chatinian Lara

SINGER REFUTES RUMORS OF "SUGAR DADDY" SPONSOR
Arman Gharibyan

socie ty culture
2009/08/25 | 17:05

"It’s a shame that they are trying to link me with certain famous
people. They are spreading information that has no basis in reality,"
said well-known singer Lilou, in an attempt to refute allegations
regarding the financing of her participation in various competitions.

"I participated in the Slavyanski Bazar competition with the financial
assistance of my mother and the singer Sergey Grigoryan took care on
the production work. The entire cost was around $3,000-$4,000. My
mother works in the U.S. and sent me the money. I had no sponsor,"
said the singer who visited the "Hetq" offices today.

When asked if show business personalities shouldn’t expect to be the
focus of such unflattering rumor and conjecture, the singer replied,
"If a reporter writes that I am a terrible singer I can deal with
that. It’s a subjective opinion. I will continue to perform for my
fans. I would advise people to stop spreading lies against me. Even
the most peaceful of individuals can turn into a roaring animal if
subjected to such negative publicity."

Commenting on her last place showing in the Slavyanski competition,
the singer argued that, "No matter who represented Armenia this year,
they would have come in last. It was all politics."

"I found it very insulting that many of the participants had no idea
that Armenia even existed. We have entered the Council of Europe and
the citizens of those countries have no concept of Armenia," she said.

PUBLIC SERVICES REGULATORY COMMISSION ESTABLISHES SMS TERMINATION TARIFFS FOR ARMENTEL, K- TELECOM AND ORANGE ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-08-26 16:33:00

ArmInfo. Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia has
established SMS termination tariffs for ArmenTel, K-Telecom and Orange
Armenia mobile operators, Starting Jan 1 to Jul 1 2010 termination
of one SMS will cost 9 drams. Starting Jul 1 2010 to Jan 1 2011 this
tariff will total 7 drams.

Starting Jan 1 to Jul 1 2011, the tariff will total 5 drams and
starting from Jul 1 2011 – 3 drams.

ArmenTel (Beeline brand, subsidiary of VimpelCom OJSC) and K-Telecom
(VivaCell-MTS brand, subsidiary of MTS OJSC) are the mobile operators
in Armenia. The third operator Orange Armenia (France Telecom) is
likely to launch provision of service in the country till the end
of 2009.

TURKEY AND ITS WESTERN ALLIES WANT TO SOLVE KARABAKH PROBLEM TO THE DETRIMENT OF NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.08.2009 18:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey and its Western allies want to solve the
Nagorno Karabakh issue to the detriment of Nagorno Karabakh’s people,
Vladimir Zakharov , deputy director of the Center for Caucasian
Studies at Moscow State Institute of International Relations told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, commenting on the statement by the Ambassador
of Turkey to Azerbaijan and the British ambassador to Turkey, that
advancement in Armenian-Turkish relations depends on the progress in
the Karabakh conflict settlement.

"In fact these two processes are linked. However, Western officials
and the U.S. State Department have repeatedly stated that the Karabakh
problem and normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations are very
different processes and they can not be connected. It turns out that
the West now resorted to a policy of double standards," the Russian
expert said.

He recalled the fact that the Azerbaijani foreign ministry is actively
cooperating with both Turkey and the United States and European
countries. "Baku consider Karabakh as a territory taken from him, and
the international community does not want to delve into the essence
of documents, which clearly represent the essence of the conflict,"
Vladimir Zakharov said.

Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulisi Kilij in an interview to local
television station said that along with advances between Azerbaijan and
Armenia in the Nagorno Karabakh issue the Turkish-Armenian relations
will move forward.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES’ (WCC) CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE
ARMENIAN CHURCH, CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA LEAVE FOR SWITZERLAND

Tuesday 25 September 2009, His Grace Bishop Nareg Alemezian and Dr. Nora
Bayrakdarian-Kabakian left for Geneva this morning to attend the Central
Committee meeting of the WCC, which will be held 26 August to 2 September at
the Ecumenical Centre (Geneva). In addition to reviewing and supervising the
activities and finances of the Council, the Central Committee will elect a
new General Secretary to replace Rev. Samuel Kobia and decide upon the venue
of the next Assembly.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

THE VISIT OF SERZH SARGSYAN TO TURKEY IS TO TAKE PLACE.

Aysor
Aug 24 2009
Armenia

"The Armenian – Turkish relations are not settled down, they are in
progress, and I do not think that any abrupt changes can take place,
though I think that the visit of RA President Serzh Sargsyan is to
take place",- today at a conference informed the political scientist
Aleksander Iskandaryan, the Director of the Caucasus Institute.

The Armenian- Turkish relations can be developed in different ways,
as to the speaker. Hence A. Iskandaryan outlined that "Turkey is more
important for Armenia, than Armenia for Turkey".

At the same time, according to A. Iskandaryan, whatever has happened
in the relations with Turkey lately is very serious, and there is a
political path to be directed by.

"So, the Armenian issue is being discussed in Turkey: it is a topic
of internal political discussions in Turkey. The Turkish issue is
being discussed in Armenia, and if before, these discussions were
about history, now certain political and economic matters are being
discussed, suchlike: Whether to open the border or not? Is it good
or bad?", – explained A. Iskandaryan.

Referring to the improvement of the Armenian -Turkish relations and
opening of the border, A. Iskandaryan stated that the attitudes of
the Armenian side and those of the Turkish one are quite different.

As to him, whereas in Armenia "people, some political bodies,
individuals" are against but the "governmental system" is for
the opening of the border, in Turkey not only people but also the
government and leading parties are against.

A. Iskandaryan considers Serzh Sargsyan’s announcement, on visiting
Turkey if the border is open, "a good diplomatic trick". According
to the political scientist, "this is a step that requires another
step from Turkey".

A. Iskandaryan also outlines the process. He thinks that the process
is "profitable for Turkey, because country which quits the process
will face the negative results".

PAN-ARMENIAN WINTER GAMES TO BE HELD

Noyan Tapan
Aug 24, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Minister of
Diaspora Hranush Hakobian received Deputy Chairman of Pan-Armenian
Games’ Committee, Canadian Armenian businessman Hrant Bardakchian
on August 21. The latter said that during the meeting with
Mrs. H. Hakobian he learnt about the activity and programs of the
Ministry, about the results of the Minister’s visits to Spain and
Poland, as well as about the RA Ministry of Diaspora’s Hayern Aysor
electronic newspaper and website.

Touching upon the programs of Pan-Armenian Games H. Bardakchian
attached importance to the fact that young people from different
communities of Diaspora visit their Homeland. He pointed out with
pleasure that the community teams of Diaspora won 2009 Pan-Armenian
Games. Thus, the team of Tehran Armenians won the final of the football
tournament, and the team of Sochi won the Los Angeles-Sochi final
game of the basketball man championship. H. Bardakchian also said
that a meeting of Pan-Armenian Games World Committee will be held
in May 2010 in Yerevan and the problems connected with organization
of the next Pan-Armenian Games of 2011 will be discussed during that
meeting. Pan-Armenian Winter Games are also planned to be held.

Regnum news agency, Russia
Aug 18 2009

Armenian politician says talk of military bases sign of Azeri-Russian tension

An Armenian politician has named dispute over energy resources between
Azerbaijan and Russia as the likely reason for the emergence of
reports about the possibility of Yerevan deploying military bases in
Russia.

It is possible that military bases will indeed be deployed if
Azerbaijan continues its current policy, Stepan Safaryan, Armenian MP
from the opposition Heritage Party, told Russia’s Regnum news agency
in an interview on 18 August.

"The latest developments in relations between Azerbaijan and Russia,
and in particular Azerbaijan’s refusal to sell all of its gas to
Russia and the noise made over the possible decision of Turkey to
grant transit for supplies to the Russian military base in Armenia,
gave grounds to Moscow to ‘bring Azerbaijan into submission’," the
agency quoted Safaryan as saying.

Regnum news agency on 17 August quoted an anonymous source in the
joint headquarters of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty
Organization as saying that the military circles in Yerevan and Moscow
are discussing the possibility of setting up two Armenian military
bases in the North Caucasus: in Krasnodar Territory and
Dagestan. "They are discussing deployment of a limited contingent to
ensure security of the transport infrastructure," the source said
according to Regnum.

Meanwhile, the Armenian news website Lragir.am dismissed reports on
the possibility of Yerevan having bases in the North Caucasus as
"provocation". On 19 August the website said Russia might attempt this
to channel the energy of the North Caucasus rebels against Armenia.

"One of our well-known political analysts noted that Armenia is
fortunate that Ankara does not allow anyone to use Armenia against
it. This is a painfully correct statement. Yerevan is unlucky with
Russia, however, as it uses Armenia to the full," Lragir’s report
said.

Interfax, Russia
Aug 21 2009

SuperJet International and Armavia agree to terms for aftersale
service of SSK-100

MOSCOW Aug 21

Russo-Italian company SuperJet International (SJI) announced that has
signed an agreement with Armenian carrier Armavia regarding the
aftersale servicing for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100).

The signing took place at the MAKS-2009 airshow, SJI said in a
statement.

According to the statement, the companies confirmed their plans to
reach an agreement at the end of November 2009, which would be binding
for five years with an extension option. The provision of services to
the SSJ-100 aircraft is part of the SuperCare plan.

The SuperCare Plan is an all-encompassing program, based on an hourly
rate developed by SJI especially for the SSJ100. For example, Armavia
will receive access to such services as spare parts and a single
servicing interface, as well as of maintenance of on-board equipment.

SuperJet International, which is based in Venice, is a joint venture
founded by Alenia Aeronautica, which is part of the Finmeccanica Group
with 51% and OJSC Sukhoi with 49%. The joint venture engages in the
marketing, sales, customization and supply of SSJ-100 aircraft to
foreign markets. In addition, SuperJet International is responsible
for the aircraft’s after-sales service, as well as the design and
development of VIP and cargo versions of the SSJ-100.

UKRAINE, AZERBAIJAN, BELARUS BOYCOTTED ABKHAZIA AND S. OSSETIA

News.am
15:30 / 08/20/2009

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry suggests Ukrainians to retain from visiting
Abkhazia and South Ossetia and entering Georgia through Adler and
Nizhny Zaramag check points of Georgian-Russian boundary.

Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Poland and Germany
called their citizens to abstain from breaking Georgian law,
particularly entering Abkhazia and South Ossetia through Russian check
points. However, currently crossing Georgian border is impossible
and unsafe, as its border with S. Ossetia and Abkhazia is closed.

One can enter the Caucasian countries only Russian territory.

Armenian authorities have never banned or called its citizens not to
go to either of the mentioned countries.

However, RA Foreign Ministry informs that Abkhazian or Ossetian
entry visa, stamped on Russian check point mechanically encourages
prosecution in Georgia.

MFA Spokesman Tigran Balayan said previously such cases were frequent,
however deceased dramatically within last year.

DASHNAKTSUTYUN TO HOLD A RALLY

News.am
14:21 / 08/20/2009

On September 2, 2009, ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction intends to hold rally
dedicated to Nagorno-Karabakh Independence Day, Artsvik Minasyan,
ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction MP told NEWS.am. According to him, ARFD is
preparing a platform on political forces cooperation to be presented
that day.

"It [platform] will enable you to get acquainted with our esteems
on all foreign and domestic policy issues," MP said, underlining
that possible collaboration with protesting parties depends on ARFD
Supreme Council’s decision and oppositions’ opinion on the matter.