Author: Ekmekjian Janet

I DOUBT CSTO MEMBER STATES WILL FAVOR ARMENIA IN CASE OF HOSTILITIES WITH AZERBAIJAN: POLITICAL EXPERT

Today.Az

Aug 6 2009
Azerbaijan

"I doubt the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states will
favor Armenia in case of outbreak of hostilities with Azerbaijan,"
Azerbaijani political expert Fikrat Sadigov said while commenting
on statement by CSTO secretary general which said that "based on
the Treaty on Collective Security fourth article of which says that
aggression against one of CSTO member-states is seen as aggression
against all."

"Azerbaijan has not waged a war against a neighboring state. Armenia
has occupied a significant part of Azerbaijani territory and continues
to support separatism in the territory of our country. Azerbaijan
patiently negotiates with Armenia for almost 20 years. But this can
not continue forever," he said.

"CSTO member states, Russian and Armenian leadership and OSCE Minsk
Group must understand it. If we resort to force, it will not at all
mean that we commit aggression against any state. These are captured
Azerbaijani territories. Karabakh is recognized as Azerbaijan’s
territory both international organizations and leading states,"
he added.

"There are big differences in CSTO as well. They first need to settle
relations between them and then think about the prospects. Relations
between Belarus and Russia are strained. Kazakhstan is unlikely
accept such actions. Other states also build their own foreign policy
priorities and they have very kind partnership with Azerbaijan,"
he said.

"I do not think that the opinion of a retired general and secretary
general of CSTO Bordyuzha is the opinion of all those leaders who
are member of this organization. They all have friendly relations
with Azerbaijan," he said.

"HISTORY OF ARMENIAN EASTERN PARTS: ARTSAKH" POPULAR SCIENCE FILM SERIES BEING SHOT

ARMENPRES
AUGUST 6, 2009
YEREVAN

Documentary, popular science film series "History of Armenian Eastern
Parts: Artsakh", being shot under high patronage of the President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, will present Artsakh’s history and culture
from ancient times till nowadays. The series consisting of 15 films
will be prepared in 5 languages – Armenian, Russian, English, French
and German. Each film will last 40 minutes.

The first film, which is a historic-geographical sketch and tells also
about Azokh cave, will be presented to the public in late September
early October.

Chief producer of the film Aida Aharonyan told Armenpress that the
first shooting was made in spring from the helicopter. The film
series will not only be shown on TV but will also be spread abroad
on DVDs, will be given to libraries. The premiere of the film will
be in Yerevan.

The scientific head of the film series, correspondent member of
Academy of Sciences Babken Harutyunian said that the goal of the film
series is to show that Armenian Eastern parts were inseparable part of
Armenia and its population – people of Artsakh – element of Armenian
people. He said that the film series will fill the information gap
existing in the world and will present the reality, facts and history
to the world at its best. B. Harutyunian said that the shooting group
has gathered notable materials.

Art director, director Ruben Grigoryan noted that the film also has
feature parts which will fill the lack of didactic materials. The
important historic written facts will be presented in feature parts.

GERMANY TO DIRECT 41.5 MLN EUR TO THE ENERGY SECTOR OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-08-06 15:05:00

ArmInfo. The government of Germany will direct 41.5 mln EUR to the
energy sector of Armenia, the head of the Armenian office of the KfW
German bank, Karapet Gevorkyan, told ArmInfo correspondent. He also
added such an arrangement was made over the Armenian-German talks
held in Bonn on 15-16 July, where the problem of financing different
programmes in Armenia in 2009-2010 was discussed. At present the
parties are drawing out an inter-governmental frame agreement which
will be signed over the next months, he said.

In particular, he said that 18 mln EUR out of 41,4 mln EUR will
be granted as a credit for fulfillment of the second stage of
the programme on the resumed energy and 1,5 mln EUR as a grant for
consultation. the total of 22 mln EUR out of this sum will be allocated
to upgrading of the three plants of the Vorotan Cascade hydro power
plant. He recalled, that in May 2008 within the frames of bilateral
cooperation a contract was signed between Germany and Armenia,
according to which Germany will give 29 mln EUR credit to Armenia
for upgrading of the Vorotan Cascade plant. But these funds were not
enough for its full upgrading and 51 mln EUR are needed for that.

"Stemming from this, the German party satisfied application of Armenia
to give additional sums", – Gevorkyan said.

To note, the Armenian-German inter-governmental financial cooperation
has started since 1995, and in totally about 220 mln EUR have been
granted to Armenia since that time.

TUAPSE TO HOST HAMSHEN ARMENIANS FESTIVAL

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.08.2009 18:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Hamshen Armenians will mark celebration of
the Armenian culture on August 28-29 in Tuapse region of Krasnodar
province, Russia. The celebration is dedicated to 145 anniversary
Goytkh settlement in Tuapse region, Yerkramas newspaper reports.

The "Hamshen" Armenian cultural organization of Tuapse will hold
workshops and concerts with the participation of best Armenian national
ensembles of Kuban. Round table discussion will be organized, focusing
on Hamshen Armenians’ issues.

Hamshen Armenians or Hamshenis are a group of Armenians who inhabit
the Black Sea coastal areas of Turkey, Russia, and Georgia. The biggest
population is still centered in Hemsin, most live in the Futuna River
valley between Pazar on the coast, and the peak of Kajkar Mountain,
in the villages of Hemsin, Torasil, Pertewan, Ayren, Tredzor (Dzimla),
Yeghiovit and Artashen at their easternmost settlement.

EX-RA DEPUTY CULTURE MINISTER PROPOSES RESTORING BRIDGE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.08.2009 20:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The president of the Armenia International Council
of Monuments and Sites, and former Deputy Culture Minister of Armenia,
Gagik Gyurjyan, has proposed restoring the millennia-old bridge at
the Ani ruins. Located on both sides of the Aras River, with one end
in Turkey and the other in Armenia, his idea was to reopen the bridge
as a peace passage between the two countries.

The joint restoration work to be carried out for the Ani Ruins could
make great contributions to Turkish-Armenian relations, Gyurjyan
said. "First of all we can restore the ruined bridge over the Araks
River. We can connect the two countries thanks to this bridge and
call it a peace passage," he said, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Currently Ani ruins are being restored as "Ottoman empire’s medieval
architecture monument", carrying no mention of Ani’s once being the
capital of Armenian Kingdom of Bagratides. Moreover, a memorial to
"Turks killed by Armenians in World War I years" is erected at the
entrance to Ani.

PARUYR MURADIAN’S "ARMENIAN CHURCHES OF ANCIENT TIFLIS" WORK PUBLISHED

Noyan Tapan
Aug 4, 2009

ETCHMIADZIN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The publishing
department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin published Paruyr
Muradian’s "Armenian Churches of Ancient Tiflis" work from the series
of "The Origins of History of Armenian Church".

Discussing the literary monuments, travelling notes, some documentary
and other materials having some evidences on ancient Tiflis the author
specifies and defines the chronology and the place of the Armenian
churches in Tiflis, the identity of the founders and servers, and
interpretes the lithographs.

The history of cult and cultural hearthes is observed in the context
of the foundation and activity of the local Armenian community. 70
historical phothos enrich the work.

According to the Information Services of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin the book was published under the patronage of Mr. and
Mrs. Armen and Nune Sargsians.

RENOWNED OPERA SINGER ELENA OBRAZTSOVA VISITING YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.08.2009 11:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Renowned opera singer Elena Obraztsova is currently
in Yerevan on invitation of director of the National Theater of Opera
and Ballet.

Obraztsova spent her first evening in the Armenian capital in Levon
Malkhasyan’s jazz club. On August 5 morning she will give a press
conference to tell about her plans for future.

Elena Obraztsova, born in Leningrad, now St Petersburg, on July 7,
1939 is a Russian mezzo-soprano.

In June 2007 Obraztsova was appointed artistic director for opera at
the Mikhaylovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. She also trains young
soloists in her own cultural center in St. Petersburg. Obraztsova
still appears regularly on stage at the Mikhailovsky in the role of
the Countess in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades.

On July 7, 2009, Obraztsova’s 70th birthday was marked with a special
program at the Mikhailovsky Theater that included ballet performances,
opera arias, excerpts from films, and jazz and piano recitals.

MONITORING IN NKR PASSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLANNED SCHEDULE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.08.2009 16:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On August 4, in accordance with the earlier achieved
agreement with the NKR authorities the OSCE mission conducted regular
monitoring of the line of contact of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani
Armed Forces near Talish settlement of Martakert region, NKR.

>From the NKR Defense Army positions, the monitoring was held by
Coordinator of the OSCE Office, Lieutenant-Colonel Imre Palatinus
(Hungary) and Field Assistant of the Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Vladimir Chuntulov (Bulgaria).

>From the opposite side, the monitoring group was headed by Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

The monitoring passed in accordance with the planned schedule. No
violation of cease-fire regime was registered.

>From the Karabakh party, the monitoring mission was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry
of Defense.

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF MALTA HOLDS FIRST EVER CONGRESS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
03.08.2009 10:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community of Malta held the first ever
congress in La Valleta’s Hilton hotel on July 31, the community’s
press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Over 40 Maltese of Armenian descent, MPs and ordinary citizens showed
interest in the event.

Congratulating addresses from Armenian Minister of Diaspora and
Armenian communities of other countries were read out. Vera Boyajian
who was elected the chairperson of the community pledged to contribute
to development of Armenian culture and traditions and Armenia-Malta
relations.

A film about Armenian written language shot by young director Hrach
Vartanian was screened during the event

Interfax, Russia
July 31 2009

Armenian budget deficit totals 4.2% of GDP in H1

YEREVAN July 31

Armenia’s budget deficit totaled roughly 47 billion dram in the first
half of 2009, or 4.2% of GDP, the National Statistics Service said.

Budget revenue amounted to 300.4 billion dram in the half, or 26.8% of
GDP, while expenditures totaled 347.4 billion dram, or 31% of GDP.

Revenue declined 12.9% in the half compared to the same period of
2008. Tax revenue to the budget fell 18.2% to 233.1 billion dram, or
20.8% of GDP. VAT declined 26% to 104.7 billion dram, profit taxes –
2.7% to 45.2 billion dram and excise taxes – 8.6% to 19 billion dram.

Revenue from income taxes rose 12.6% to 26.8 billion dram.

Expenditures increased 6% in the half. Spending on the social sphere
amounted to 10.5% of GDP, defense – 4.6% and education – 4.4%.

Armenia approved budget revenue of 905.4 billion dram in 2009,
including 727.5 billion dram from tax revenue and duties. Expenditures
are planned at 945.4 billion dram, while the budget deficit is planned
at 40 billion dram, or 0.96% of GDP.

The official exchange rate on July 31 was 369.98 dram/$1.