Author: Chilingarian Babken

Armenia Solidarity/Nor Serount Cultural Association
c/o The Temple of Peace, King Edward Vii Ave, Cathays Park,Cardiff
Tel 07718982732
[email protected]

New Motion in the UK Parliament on the return of our Churches

We are pleased that Andrew Dismore , the hard-working Labour MP for
Hendon has put this motion in the House of Commons, London, at our
request. This is the first time that a motion has been put suggesting
that some Restitution for the Genocide, including the return of the
remains of the confiscated Churches and Monasteries, is in order
We urge Armenians in the UK to lobby their MPs to sign. It has
gatheres 20 signatures amongst British MPs during its first week.

EDM 1588

HISTORIC TREATMENT OF MINORITIES IN TURKEY
03.06.2009

Dismore, Andrew
That this House notes the statement by the Turkish Prime Minister
recognising that Turkey’s minorities have been ethnically cleansed;
calls on the Government also to recognise this fact; suggests that a
measure of restitution which could be made by the government of Turkey
to demonstrate its good intentions would be the return to the
jurisdiction of the respective Patriarchates the 2,000 Armenian,
Assyrian and Syriac churches and religious monuments which were
expropriated in 1923 by the Turkish State under the law of abandoned
properties following the events of the 1915 Genocide; and urges the
Government to make representations to Turkey to this effect.

LEAN YEAR LEAVES BANANTS HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS
by Khachik Chakhoyan from Yerevan

UEFA.com
June 17 2009

Having snatched a UEFA Europa League place from a poor campaign last
year, Armenia’s FC Banants want to make amends, with captain Arthur
Voskanyan aiming "to improve our international standing and cheer up
the fans".

‘Radical changes’

A 10-0 aggregate defeat by FC Salzburg in the UEFA Cup first qualifying
round and a fifth-place finish in the eight-team Armenian league
represented a poor return for the Yerevan side, who had registered
top-three finishes in the preceding six campaigns. As the 2008 season
closed, club president Sargis Israelyan concluded: "Undoubtedly this
campaign hasn’t been good enough, so we have to make radical changes."

Cup final The first such adjustment came last October when 42-year-old
Armen Gyulbudaghyants replaced Danish coach Kim Splidsboel. His
subsequent success in leading Banants to the Armenian Cup final
earned his charges a spot in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying
round. The final itself was lost 1-0 to national champions FC Pyunik
on 9 May.

Mentoring process Third in the top flight, or Bardzraguyn khumb, after
eleven games of the new, 2009 season, Gyulbudaghyants has already
revived the club with an increased emphasis on young talent. "We
have to work with and improve our own local players," he said. "It
won’t be easy, but with experienced team-mates around them, these 18
to 20-year-olds will find their feet. We have to be good enough for
the Europa League as well as the Armenian league."

Significant signing The arrival of Armenian international Hamlet
Mkhitaryan, back home after a spell in Iran with Rah Ahan FC, should
help in that respect. "The squad has its own style and character,
giving us hope that we will be good enough on the international stage,"
said the 35-year-old. "His team-mates can learn a lot from him,
but he isn’t going to be only our signing," added Gyulbudaghyants.

European target "We have players from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast,
Russia and Belarus on trial, so I hope some of them can help us
towards our main goal – getting as far as we can in the Europa League,"
continued the coach. Banants have fallen at the first hurdle in six
of their seven UEFA Cup seasons, but captain Voskanyan insisted:
"We are aiming to qualify for the next round."

JAPAN TOBACCO INTERNATIONAL TO EXPAND ITS PRESENCE IN THE ARMENIAN TOBACCO MARKET

ARKA
17/06/2009 15:04

Market USD exchange rates Market EUR exchange rates

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is the international division of
Japan Tobacco Inc. – third largest tobacco products manufacturer with
the market share of 11 per cent and market value of around $32 bn. The
sales volume of Japan Tobacco International in 2008 amounted to 452 bn
cigarettes, while the company’s net revenue reached $10.6 bn. Martin
Braddock, JTI’s Regional President, CIS, Romania and Adriatics,
told ARKA agency about the company’s operations on the Armenian market.

ARKA – Mr Braddock, how successful are JTI operations in the Armenian
market? What accomplishments has the company reached in Armenia in
the course of its operations?

M.Braddock – Our parent company Japan Tobacco Inc. is the world’s
third largest tobacco company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In
the long term Japan Tobacco Inc. intends to become the largest tobacco
company in the world.

The sales of JTI products in Armenia started in the year 2000,
and since then we have been able to build a strong business in the
country based on the four leading brands – Sobranie, Winston, Camel
and Monte Carlo. At present, the share of JTI products in the market
is estimated at 12-13%, whilst the sales volume growth in the past
year was in double digits. We have 43 employees in the country.

JTI operations in Armenia have generated significant tax revenues: in
2008 JTI’s importer Arsoil paid about USD 11 million in excise taxes.

Our presence in the Armenian market is quite substantial, and we are
interested in strengthening our positions further. Besides that, in
Armenia we also work with regulatory authorities to solve the issues
related to taxation, and, in particular, with excise. We understand
that the excise tax will continue growing, but we would like to see
the growth dynamics in the long run over the next three years.

The most important issue for us now is the existence of
different excise tax rates for domestic and imported products in
Armenia. According to WTO principles, there should not be such a
difference, and the reduction of this difference in Armenia should
be carried out gradually in the long term, so that towards January 1,
2011 these rates would become equal.

ARKA – What is your estimate of the tobacco products market in Armenia,
and what is its growth dynamics? How swiftly does JTI’s market share
grow in Armenia, and who are your main competitors on the market?

M.Braddock – We estimate the Armenian market at 4.4 bn cigarettes
with annual profitability of $45 mn. The market is quite stable, and
the changes are mainly within the market shares between the companies
operating in the market.

0A In comparison with the other countries of the region, it should
be noted that neither Georgian, nor Azeri markets are large in
terms of volume. For instance, the Georgian tobacco market stands
at 7 bln. cigarettes, while the Azeri market is estimated at 10
bln. cigarettes. The Armenian tobacco market is the smallest among
the Caucasus nations, which is in the first place due to the number
of residents.

The share of our company in the Armenian market currently stands
between 12-13% and is growing steadily. In Q1 2009 it has grown by 2.7%
year-on-year. It’s worth noting that JTI has imported over 530 mln.

cigarettes into Armenia in 2008.

All key international players are present in the Armenian market –
Phillip Morris, British American Tobacco, Imperial and Karelia. Our
main competitor among the international companies in Armenia is
Phillip Morris.

ARKA – Which of your cigarette brands is selling best on the Armenian
market, and how does this reflect the global demand?

M.Braddock – The best selling and fastest growing brand in Armenia
is Winston which is the second best selling brand in the World.

ARKA – What kind of difficulties does your company face on the
Armenian market?

M.Braddock – The key issue in Armenia is the difference in taxation
rates between imported and domestic products, which prevents us from
full-fledged competition with domestic products. Owing to thi s, we
are not represented in the lower price segments, and have to content
ourselves with operating in the mid and high price segments.

Surely, we perfectly understand that the issue can only be solved by
the Armenian government. In order to solve this issue we’d like to see
a roadmap covering a span of 2-3 years that outlines the realignment
of Armenian legislation with WTO requirements, to which Armenia has
been a party since 2003.

ARKA – Is it possible to talk about JTI entrance to lower price
segments? What are JTI perspectives in the Armenian market?

M.Braddock: As I said currently we import Sobranie, Winston, Camel and
Monte-Carlo to Armenia, which are premium and mid-price segments. Due
to existing tax system it would be not profitable for us to import
cigarettes in lower segments. In the near future we will continue
investing behind our brands presented in the Armenian market and in
the near future they lines will be extended.

Our strategy is that we want to become the largest tobacco company
in the World some time and we also will continue investing in our
employees, in their training and development. We will continue
working with authorities to ensure JTI positions are heard when it
comes to industry regulation, when it comes to taxation. All in all
we plan to continue our growth and increase our market share in the
Armenian market.

ARKA – How the World fin ancial crisis has affected the company
business?

M. Braddock – For sure due to the crisis all international companies’
sales decreased specifically in rural areas. To some extent sales
has decreased in Yerevan as well. In rural areas sales have decreased
by 60% comparing to 2008, while in Yerevan less than 10%. Crisis has
impacted both international and local companies.

ARKA – Does JTI plan to start local production in any of the Caucasus
countries?

M.Braddock – Currently we have factories in more than 25 locations
worldwide. We have recently announced consolidation of our production
facilities in the UK, Austria, Japan, Ukraine and the trend is for
less, not more.

We do not have manufacturing facilities in Armenia, and there are no
plans to start production in Armenia, Georgia or Azerbaijan. It would
be economically not viable to have local production for such a big
company as ours. The choice of a factory location is determined by
the size of the market, tax and investment regimes in a given country
and existence of international agreements.

A factory in Ukraine manufactures cigarettes for Armenia. This
operational mode has been in part motivated by existence of the Free
Trade Agreement between Armenia and Ukraine.

ARKA – Do you plan any programs related to smoking prevention?

M.Braddock – We do have plans to engage in dialogue with
non-governmental organisations to wor k out activities aimed at
reducing smoking among youth as well as to participate in retail
access prevention programs.

GAS SUPPLIES TO ARMENIA TO BE SUSPENDED

ArmInfo
2009-06-15 12:16:00

ArmInfo. Natural gas supplies to Armenia will be suspended from June
16 to 21 because of the works on the gas main by Georgia, the press
service of "ArmRusgazprom" CJSC reports.

According to the message, the gas transmission company of Georgia has
officially notified "ArmRusgazprom" about suspension of gas supply to
Armenia. The Georgian company schedules performance of the work on
connection of the new Kazakh-Saguramo section of the gas main with
diameter of 1000 m and length of 3,6 km from June 16 to 21. Natural
gas in this period will be supplied to Armenia without limitations
from the reserves of Abovyan underground gas storage.

To note, the natural gas is supplied to Armenia by the gas main from
Russia through the territory of Georgia.

TURKISH JOURNALISTS DIDN’T ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

A1+
01:05 pm | June 10, 2009

Sports

No Turkish journalist arrived in Armenia to cover yesterday’s
Armenia-Turkey match. Nor were Turkish fans present at the match.

"Most likely our fans were unable to arrive in Armenia. With regard to
our journalists I must say they made a great mistake as they missed a
wonderful football meeting," says the chief coach of the Turkish team,
Hami Mandiraly.

The former renowned footballer thanked the Armenian Football Federation
for the warm reception. He was also pleased with Armenian football fans
with some reservations. "They had better not whistle while Turkey’s
anthem was being sung. Besides, they had better support their team
and not the rival team."

The Turkish specialist thinks Armenian footballers yielded to Turks
in technics.

"During the second match Armenians pressed us physically but they
couldn’t show better results because of the technical drawbacks."

FOR EFFICIENT HARVESTING

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
June 10, 2009

On June 9, the President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Bako Sahakyan
convoked a meeting of the NKR Security Council. Issues related to
organization of harvesting in the republic were discussed.

The NKR Minister of Agriculture Armo Tsatouryan and the Director of
the rescue Service Arsen Sargsyan delivered reports. Heads of regional
administrations informed about activities carried out in the regions.

The President Sahakyan charged the Government with a task to form an
operative headquarters with the Minister of Agriculture at the head
by June 15, 2009, for secure and effective harvesting organization
and fight against fires.

The Chief Informational Department of the NKR President’s Staff
informs about this.

ITALIAN AMBASSADOR COMPLETES MISSION IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
10.06.2009 15:22

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Armenia, Massimo Lavezzo Cassinnelli,
who is completing his mission in our country.

The President expressed gratitude to Ambassador Cassinnelli for his
efforts towards reinforcement of Armenian-Italian relations.

The parties emphasized the dynamically developing cooperation between
the two countries and the effective cooperation in the field of
culture.

President Sargsyan appreciated the fact that the Italian capital was
gradually increasing in the Armenian economy parallel to economic
exchange.

Ambassador Lavezzo Cassinnelli said the Italian capital felt
comfortable in Armenia, and underlined that the open and liberal
legislation was a great privilege for investors.

The Italian diplomat noted he would always stay a friend of Armenia.

NINA ANANIASHVILI QUITS AMERICAN BALLET THEATER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.06.2009 21:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nina Ananiashvili will give her final performance
with American Ballet Theater as part of its spring 2009 program at the
Metropolitan Opera House. She will play the role of Odette-Odile in
"Swan Lake", a ballet by Tchaykovsky (choreographed by Kewin McQuain).

For 17 years, the ballet dancer acted with ABT troupe. But she is not
going to quit Georgian State Ballet troupe which she has been heading
since 2004. Ananiashvili will also receive invitations from abroad.

Nina Ananiashvili was born in Tblisi, Georgia, in 1964. In 1985, she
won Gold Medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition. In 1993,
she started playing in American Ballet Theatre. By the initiation
of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Ananiashvili returned to
Georgia where she has been heading the Ballet Troupe of Tbilisi Opera
and Ballet Theatre after Zakharia Paliashvili since 2004.

RA CEC REGISTERS VACHAGAN KHURSHUDIAN AS MP

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.06.2009 18:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Central Electoral Committee has registered
Vachagan Khurshudian as member of parliament from Prosperous Armenia
party. The position has been vacant since appointment of Prosperous
Armenia party member Avet Adonts as RA Ambassador to Belgium and
Gagik Atanjian’s refusal to accept the office.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sunday’s Zaman
June 7 2009

Parallel universes and elites

I am sometimes unable to prevent myself from thinking that this
beautiful country and its sovereign political cultures (yes, cultures)
are like a science fiction movie: There are parallel universes in it
which never cross one another but exist simultaneously. Each one of
these parallel universes has its own values, perceptions and `others.’
Each of them is secretly or openly at war with another — or at least
fearing, humiliating, extraditing or ignoring the `other.’ There are a
few humanists who are able to travel between these universes, but they
are not sincerely welcomed.
In the parallel universes of the republicans, the democrats, the
Islamists, the Kurds and the Turkish nationalists, the borders are
almost very clear; they don’t like each other, they don’t try to
understand each other and they are hostile to one another.

An interesting, but not surprising, survey done by Professor
Füsün Ã`stel and Associate Professor Birol Caymaz
strengthen these pessimistic views of mine. The survey, supported by
the Open Society Foundation, underlines that the `elites’ of this
country have their own universe, which is not very open at all toward
`others’ — namely, minorities, Kurds and conservatives.

The `Elites and Social Distance’ survey was completed by conducting
in-depth interviews with members of the upper middle class who have
graduated from Turkey’s `prestigious’ schools, such as Galatasaray
High School, St. Joseph’s, Ankara College and the like. All the
interviewees have good professional positions and perceive themselves
as devoted to republican secular values. For me, this is exactly the
point at which the tragedy begins; on the one hand, these prestigious
schools claim that they are teaching `Western’ values and established
for the `modernization’ of the country, but at the end are under heavy
influence of Turkey’s nationalistic education system. The sovereign
culture of these schools (and I mean sovereign) teaches the students
that just being a student there is extremely important; although
acting according to `universal’ values, the survey openly shows that
even graduates of the country’s French-built schools are
unable to absorb Voltaire’s idea `I do not agree with what you say
but I will defend to the death your right to say it’ into their
subconscious.

The survey points out that it is a matter of prestige for elites to
have friends from among members of Turkey’s non-Muslim
minorities. Most of them are very proud of having them as classmates
and as `best friends,’ but their sympathies end there. Most of them
say they did not talk to `their best friends’ about groups’ rights nor
about the state’s unfair acts toward them. According to the survey,
most of the interviewees suggested that `minorities can have their own
school, but these schools should be run by Turks’ or `maybe in the
past they were subject to discrimination, but they aren’t paying any
taxes now.’ Some of the elites were also very critical and unable to
understand the slogan `We are all Armenians, we are all Hrant’ which
began to be used after the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink.

When it comes to the subject of the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AK Party), the elites’ attitudes are again not
surprising. According to them, the closure of the AK Party is
acceptable. The survey points out that the elites think the AK Party
and its supporters are making the elites a `minority’ and threatening
their position; in short, they are not willingly to share their
`privileges’ with any newcomers. Well, since the basic idea of the
elites is this, they have a tendency to think that Ergenekon is a sort
of settling of accounts between the new AK Party elites and the former
republican elites.

When it comes to Kurds, the position of the elites is also not
hopeful. Most of them think the Democratic Society Party (DTP) should
be closed down. They say the Kurds are lazy and are not subject to
discrimination because they can be seen on Ä°stanbul’s upscale
BaÄ?dat Avenue. Some of the elites think that if there is a
Kurdish problem in Turkey, it is simply because of `foreign powers.’

In any case, thinking that people who hold diplomas from this
country’s prestigious schools can be diplomats between Turkey’s
parallel universes is wrong because at the end of the day they are
concurrently the products and producers of these parallel universes.