Author: Chilingarian Babken

ARMENIA’S FINANCIAL SYSTEM STABLE, ARMENIAN CB CHAIRMAN STATES

ARKA
Jan 20, 2009

YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. Referring to local and international
experts, Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Artur Javadyan
said that the Armenian financial system is stable.

"It would be too much to say that our financial system is a very
good state, but it is in a satisfactory state," Javadyan told a press
conference at the Novosti press center.

The CBA Chairman said that the global financial crisis cannot be
ignored, and, being part of the global financial system, Armenia
should oftener talk about its influence on the country.

Javadyan stressed that the Armenian banking system closed last year
with quite good indicators. Specifically the banking system’s assets
increased by over 30%, and capitalization by about 40%.

"Many rumors about decreased crediting are circulating now. During
the last three months of last year, when the global crisis produced an
apparent effect on many countries, 150,000 individual credits and over
2,000 credits to legal entities were issued in Armenia," Javadyan said.

According to the CBA’s preliminary data, the assets of the Armenian
banking system reached 1,020bln AMD in 2008 – an increase of 33%. The
net profit of the Armenian banks reached 27bln AMD, an increase of
7bln AMD.

As of September 30, 2008, twenty-two commercial banks and 367 branches
were operating in Armenia.

ARMENIAN FILM SPECIALISTS TO TAKE PART IN THE "MEDIA INTERNATIONAL 2008 PREPARATORY ACTION" PROGRAM OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION

ARMENPRESS
Jan 20, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS: Within the frameworks of "Media
Mundus" project, the European Commission started "Media International
2008 Preparatory Action" program which is being implemented with an
aim to consolidate the cooperation between EU and third countries in
the sphere of audio-vision industry.

Public relations department of the Armenian Culture Ministry told
Armenpress that the first round of the participation in the program
ended in June last year. The next round of reception of applications
will kick off in March this year, in which Armenian film specialists
may also take part.

"Media International 2008 Preparatory Action" program has three
spheres of activity – training of specialists of cinematography,
spread of cinematographic works and creation of cinema networks.

THERE IS NO MORE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE BETWEEN ANKARA AND TEL-AVIV

"Noravank" Foundation
19 January 2009

G.Harutyunayan’s interview with IA REGNUM

Turkey and Israel are not strategic partners any more. This kind
of partnership supposes the coincidence of strategic interests and
there is no such thing at present. This was said by the Director of
"Noravank" Foundation Gagik Harutyunyan in an interview with IA REGNUM,
when he commented on the recent developments in relations between
Ankara and Tel-Aviv, i.e. the demand of Turkish prime-minister Recep
Erdogan to bar Israel from the UN.

"The strategic alliance also supposes the similarity of strategic
interests, but today there are vast sectors of national interests of
Turkey and Israel which do not identify. Though, this probably will
not be reflected in the collaboration in the sphere of defense between
special services of two countries, but it’s needless to say that
there is no more old level of partnership". – mentioned Harutyunyan.

The expert reminded that the frost in the relations between Turkey
and Israel begun several years ago, when some problems in the issues
of defense collaboration aroused and Turkish General Staff complained
of "double standards" applied by Tel-Aviv. Harutyunyan explained that
Turkish-Israeli contradictions are provoked both by regional and global
factors, and first and foremost, by the war in Ira q and slackening
of the US presence in the region. "The strengthening of Kurdish factor
in Iraq was negative phenomenon for Turkey, while at the same time it
served Israel’s purpose, because they used that factor against Arabs
of Iraq, both Sunnis and Shiahs. That issue caused serious conflict of
interests between Ankara and Tel-Aviv", – said the political scientist.

He also mentioned that alongside with the slackening of influence of
Washington in the region and the consolidation of "polypolar" world
every state in that region should act in its own interest. "Raising
the question of barring Israel from the UN, Erdogan tries to become a
leader of Islamic world, especially if we remember that the spiritual
leader of Iran banned the citizens of his country to take part in
war in Gaza", – told the analyst.

He also mentioned that there are serious domestic policy problems
in Turkey, such as the problems with national minorities, army, the
confrontation of kemalists and islamists. The desire of Turkey to shift
domestic policy problems to foreign-policy field sometimes brings to
"extravagant" actions such as the recent statements of Erdogan and
the dialogue with Armenia", – says the expert.

Harutyunyan underlined that this situation is not likely to give a
rise to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Knesset. "In its
approach to the Armenian Genoc ide Israel takes into account not only
the position of Turkey but also its own interest of being the only
nation which falls under the definition of "victim of genocide". But
on the other hand, in Harutyunyan’s opinion the current situation in
relations between Ankara and Tel-Aviv may become a positive signal
to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Washington. "From
this point of view Armenia should not only head for improvement
of relations with Turkey but at the same time look for new ally in
Israel", – concluded the analyst.

A1+

POLITICAL CHAMOMILE: WILL THEY SUSPEND ARMENIA’S RIGHT OR NOT?
[07:19 pm] 16 January, 2009

Co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee John Prescott and Georges Colombier left Armenia today morning without telling a press conference.

The parliamentary opposition, the Heritage Party, maintains that Armenia has not implemented PACE Resolutions.

`It is not accidental that the Monitoring Committee has passed such a draft resolution. Generally, draft resolutions are confirmed and ratified in sessions but for exceptional cases. We all know that we cannot work miracles,’ Heritage MP Zaruhy Postanjyan said to A1+.

Mrs. Postanjyan says today people are kept in isolation wards without a legal reasoning. A thorough inquiry into the death of ten victims has failed. It is already a year since the tragic events of March 1 but no one has been brought to justice yet. The trial of seven opposition figures is real farce as innocent people are incited for an alleged crime.

Both Zaruhy Postanjyan and Armen Khachatryan, Coordinator of the Center for the legal support of political prisoners, think the adjournment of the trial by January 30 has political grounds: Armenian authorities are waiting for the upcoming PACE session.

`With regard to the implementation of the disputed resolutions I must say that Armenia has made a backward step since the country hasn’t met the PACE demands. Moreover, it has increased violations of judicial rules. `They roughly breach legal norms. They want to illegally extort pardon from the detainees which is inadmissible. A person serving a probation period shouldn’t be treated in such a way,’ said Mr. Khachatryan.

`The Co-rapporteurs visited Armenia to make sure whether the PACE recommendations had been implemented or not. That’s all. I think they are well informed of the political scene in Armenia,’ added Mr. Khachatryan. He thinks this time the authorities didn’t tell a lie and straightforwardly confessed their idleness.

Unlike the opposition, Republican MP Edward Sharmazanov is sure that the Monitoring Committee will not suspend Armenia’s right to vote. `Armenia still has much to do in view of human rights and democracy. Yet, a lot has been done to surmount the political crisis in the country and to meet the PACE requirements. I find the prospect of suspending Armenia’s right unpromising as there are not grounds for it.’ Regardless of the PACE January session, Sharmazanov thinks Armenia should continue democratic reforms.

Court sitting on "case of the seven" postponed until January 30

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The January 16 court sitting on "the
case of the seven" lasted only a few minutes and was postponed until
January 30. As at the previous sittings, the accused persons did not
stand up when the judge entered the courtroom, which was considered by
the court as disrespectful attitude. Postponing the sitting for 14
days, the presiding judge Mnatsakan Martirosian stated that this period
will not be included in their punishment term. He said that the
previous sittings were postponed for the same reason. There were
neither incidents nor attempts to file petitions at the court sitting.

The NA deputy, member of "Heritage" faction Zaruhi Postanjian said
during a talk with reporters that the court has reached a deadlock and
is trying to break it by delaying the trial.

In response to the question about whether the postponement of court
sittings has any relation to the discission of Armenia’s issue at the
upcoming session of the PACE, she replied that regardless of the
process of this trial, those in the PACE are well informed about what
is going on in Armenia, and the development of the draft resolution on
depriving the Armenian delegation of voting rights is conditioned by
this fact. As regards the visit of the PACE Monitoring Committee’s
co-rapporteurs, according to Z. Postanjian, their purpose was to
discuss this issue once again with the country’s authorities.

In the words of Melania Arustamian, defence lawyer of the accused Hakob
Hakobian, the removal of the accused persons from the courtroom for 14
days because of not standing up before the judge is not an adequate
measure. She said that the judge might use another punishment and
continue the sitting.

She said that H. Hakobian is in poor health and bringing him to court
hearings is an inhuman attitude and a means of torture. H. Hakobian has
repeatedly asked to be taken to hospital, but to no avail. The defence
lawyer added that the RA ombudsman has dealt with this issue, and his
appplication to the Council of Justice has remained unanswered.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner to come on working visit to Armenia on January 19

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by the
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy
Benita Ferrero-Waldner will come on a working visit to Armenia on
January 19.

According to a press release of the RA MFA Press and Information
Department, during the visit the delegation will meet with the Armenian
president Serzh Sargsyan and the foreign minister Edward Nalbandian.

GOVERNMENT LACKS PROJECT MANAGERS

Panorama.am
13:49 15/01/2009

One of the Prime Minister’s assignments is partially implemented – 70
applications of business project have been presented to him. Previous
year the Prime Minister assigned Governmental administrations to
cooperate with scientific institutes and to present business plans on
how to ease the tension of world financial-economic crisis on Armenia.

The Prime Minister said that the majority of the applications have
been sent back to be redrafted as they did not correspond to their
demands, a part of the applications have been rejected and another
part is being discussed in the second round. "The State should support
the soonest implementation of those projects," said Tigran Sargsyan.

T. Sargsyan added that the Government lacks project managers, bodies
who are competent enough to implement those projects. He said that
certain employees of the ministers should be trained and prepared
for that mission.

RUSSIA RESPONDS TO AZERI QUERY OVER ALLEGED MILITARY AID TO ARMENIA

Azad Azarbaycan TV
January 14, 2009, Wednesday

Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasiliy Istratov and a delegation
of high-ranking officials of the [Russian] embassy once again visited
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon.

The press service of the Russian embassy in Azerbaijan has told
"Son Xabar" [ATV’s news bulletin] that today Istratov passed the
reply to the ministry in response to Azerbaijan’s official question
over Russia’s military contribution to Armenia, which was addressed
to Moscow two days ago.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan is concerned about the granting
by Russia to Armenia of 69 items of weapons and ammunitions worth
800m dollars at the end of the past year. The Baku government has
said that in the event this is confirmed, it would take the necessary
measures to protect Azerbaijan’s interests.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: ARMENIA NEEDS PROJECT MANAGERS
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
15.01.2009 17:33

Still at the end of the past year our senior officials were thinking
of how to resist the second phase of the world crisis. Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan declared during one of the recurrent government
sittings that in order to overcome the financial crisis it is necessary
to present business development programs. A special commission chaired
by the Prime Minister has been formed to coordinate the work.

"The private sector should also present business development programs,
especially considering that 2009 is going to be a hard year and will
demand serious work from all of us. All the Ministers will work,"
Tigran Sargsyan promised.

The Prime Minister informed today that 70 applications have already
been submitted, some of which are in the stage of discussion. "The
main emphasis will be laid on import, therefore the Ministry of
Agriculture will have more to do," he said.

The issue of Armenia’s industrial policy is again on the agenda.

Discussions on issues of development of chemical, light and food
industry will start next week. According to the Prime Minister, "this
can create favorable conditions for attracting private investments,
on one hand, and clarifying the state policy in those areas, on the
other hand."

The Head of Government noted also that our country n eeds project
managers. The ministries will start retraining of the personnel to
fill the gap, and by the end of the year we will have 22 project
managers. The Ministries should actively work in this direction.

A TURKISH CITIZEN GIVES AWAY FAMILY LAND AS GENOCIDE REPARATION

Blogian.net
09 Jan 2009

Encouraged by the recent apology to Armenians by thousands of
Turkish intellectuals and dissidents, a Turkish citizen has done the
unprecedented: Berzan Boti (not his real name) of Siirt is giving
all the land he inherited to an Assyrian organisation. Along with
Armenians, indigenous Assyrians were also victims of the WWI genocide
at the hands of Ottoman Empire’s government during WWI: Boti’s letter
to Sabri Atman, founder and director of the Assyrian Seyfo Center in
Europe who will now be responsible for the returned land (south of the
Lake Van), states: "When I found out that the properties that I and my
brothers inherited from our father wasn’t our own, but properties taken
from the murdered Assyrians in 1915 I felt an indescribable feeling of
guilt and shame. I’ve been thinking long and hard before I have come
to this decision. I tried to put myself in their position. I have
personally apologised to every Assyrian and Armenian I’ve meet. But
this does not get rid of the crime our ancestors committed. Even if I
am personally not responsible for what happened in 1915, I felt as I
had to do more than just to apologise. Finally, I came to the decision
to give back all properties that I inherited from my forefathers to
Seyfo Center, who struggles for a confession of the Seyfo genocide
in 1915".