Author: Frangulian Shushan

"OFFICIAL" ARMENIAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STANDS AT 7%
Natasha Harutyunyan

t/
2009/08/20 | 14:41

Society

Sona Harutyunyan, Director of the RoA State Employment Agency,
reported today that as of August 1 the unemployment figure for
Armenia stands at 7%, a 0.7 % rise from the start of the year. There
are 101,000 registered individuals now seeking work in the country,
of which more than 84,000 are officially registered as unemployed.

Women make up 71% of the unemployed and men 29%. 14% of those
registered as unemployed have a higher education degree.

Director Harutyunyan confessed that her agency’s unemployment figure
doesn’t correspond to the real figure which, in 2006, was pegged
at 26.6%. This was the figure arrived at with the assistance of the
World Bank, using United Nations methodology.

She stated that her agency had started a number of professional
training courses for those interested at that 700 individuals had
applied to date.

Director Harutyunyan stated that many young professionals remain
unemployed since they lack proper work experience and that this
poses a real risk to the Armenian economy. Many employers are wary
of employing those with little or no work experience.

RARE ARMENIAN COIN TURNS UP AT VERMONT ESTATE SALE

2009/08/19 | 10:45

Culture

A rare Armenian coin, dating back to the 10th or 11th century, has
shown up in a box of old coins purchased for $28.25 at an estate sale
in Vermont, U.S.

The prize coin was an Armenian bronze follis of "Kiurike the
Kouropalates". Modeled after contemporary coins of the Byzantine
Empire, it belongs to the first coinage with Armenian inscriptions.

The precise attribution of the coin is debated since it contains
no indication of date or mint. NGC says that authorities generally
agree that it is from Lori, a region in northeastern Greater Armenia,
and that it likely was struck in the city of Tashir.

The inscription, which is the earliest appearance of Armenian language
on a coin, translates to "May God aid Kiurike the Kouropalates," and
shows that the issuer claimed the title Kouropalates ("charge of the
palace"), a rank awarded by Byzantine emperors to vassal rulers of
Armenia. However, scholars are divided over which Kiurike issued the
coin, some preferring the dynast Kiurike I (c. 979-989) and others
his grandson Kiurike II (c. 1048-1100).

It was Richard Martineit’s good fortune to be at that auction in
October 2007, where more than 1,500 lots were sold over two days. One
that caught his eye was a group of 13 coins in a box labeled "Roman &
Ancient pieces."

It contained a variety of silver and base metal coins issued from
the 3rd century B.C.E. to the 11th century C.E. Highlights included
a Roman silver denarius of 41 B.C.E. with the portraits of warlords
Marc Antony and Octavian, and three coins struck by Greek and Roman
rulers of Egypt.

Without proper identification, the Armenian coin might have remained
unknown until it entered the marketplace as an ordinary Byzantine
coin, valued at perhaps $50, according to Numismatic Guaranty
Corporation. the firm that appraised the coins.

HAKOB CHAKRYAN: THE PROCESS OF ARMENIAN -TURKISH RELATIONS IS FAILED

armradio.am
20.08.2009 15:56

During the meeting in Switzerland between the Armenian and Turkish
sides, Turkey has pledged to make a step towards normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations, in particular, open borders, lifting the
blockade of Armenia, but to date it has not fulfilled its promises.

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated that he will go Turkey
to visit a football match between national teams of Armenia and Turkey
only if the Armenian-Turkish border would open, or if parties will
be on the threshold of deblocking Armenia. This was stated by the
specialist in Turkic philology Hakob Chakryan at the press conference
in Yerevan.

According to him, regardless of the Turkey’s position and whether the
border is opened or not, Mr. Sargsyan should go to a football match
and indicate to the President of Turkey to his mistakes.

"If the Armenian-Turkish dialogue fails, it will be difficult then
to start it from the beginning, since there are no relations between
countries. It would be difficult to create a new reason to renew the
dialogue. We ourselves will not be able to do it, "Hakob Chakryan said.

President Serzh Sargsyan during his joint meeting with the President
of Serbia in Yerevan said that he will visit Turkey to watch the
match between national teams of Armenia and Turkey only if the
Armenian-Turkish b order would be open, or if parties will be on the
threshold of deblocking of Armenia.

ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN AGRICULTURE EXHIBITION IN NOVEMBER IN ISRAEL

ARMENPRESS
Aug 18, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Agriculture Minister Gerasim
Alaverdyan has received Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Shemi Tsur.

Public relations department of the Ministry told Armenpress that the
meeting is aimed at the specification of further ways of cooperation
between the two countries. G. Alaverdyan noted that kind traditions
have developed between Armenia and Israel going on up to now. They
are of great importance especially in the spheres of scientific
researches, selection works, genetic recourses, life technology,
breeding work, forest-economy, animal husbandry, veterinary, as well
as in the spheres of implementation of joint programs on fish-breeding.

"Agriculture is one of the most important spheres of Israel. It is
directly connected with water resources, as Israel is a country with
little water. It is delightful that in Armenia water resources and
precipitation are incomparably much. We are ready to present our
experience to our friend Armenia in that sphere as well for keeping
and using them efficiently", Shemi Tsur said.

At the meeting issues on establishing joint procession enterprises
and investing new technologies, as well as on establishing business
relations and experience exchange in agricultural sphere have been
discussed. The Israeli side has undertaken to support Armenia in the
issue of the training of hydro-specialists within the frames of the
"Marshav" project, too.

"In November an exhibition will take place in Israel dedicated
to the management of water resources and presentation of modern
technologies. The participation of Armenian businessmen is desirable
as well", the Ambassador said.

AOUN’S PORTFOLIO DEMANDS COMPLICATE CABINET FORMATION
By Elias Sakr

Daily Star
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Lebanon

FPM leader insists on Interior ministry, bassil reappointment

BEIRUT: Efforts to form a national-unity cabinet stumbled on Monday
after Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun set controversial
conditions with regard to the distribution of ministerial portfolios
and the nomination of candidates. In a swift response, Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s press office issued a statement which
underscored that the formation of a cabinet was, "according to the
Constitution, the premier-designate’s responsibility in cooperation
with President Michel Sleiman."

Several March 14 officials had repeatedly said over the week­end that
Hariri was "not a mail box," a reference to Aoun’s demands from the
premier-designate.

Aoun demanded on Monday that his Reform and Change bloc be allotted
the Interior Ministry and that caretaker minister, his son-in-law
Gebran Bassil, keeps the Telecommunication Ministry for another term.

The statement issued by Hariri’s press office Monday said the
premier-designate would pursue his efforts to form a national-unity
cabinet based on the outcome of the June 7 polls and away from media
spotlights.

"The premier-designate is conducting deliberations based on the outcome
of the June 7 polls which resulted in a parliamentary majority that,
in turn, along with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s bloc and [the
Armenian] Tashnag Party nominated Hariri to form a government,"
the statement said.

As for the distribution of portfolios, the statement highlighted the
right of political parties to come forward with their demands while
underscoring that the formation process according to the constitution
was the responsibility of the premier-designate in cooperation with
the president.

Hariri also expressed his determination to maintain the country’s
calm atmosphere in order to preserve the successful touristic season
which benefits Lebanon’s economy and the citizens’ interests.

"No one has the right to obstruct Lebanon’s touristic success with
controversial political rhetoric only aimed to poison the country’s
atmosphere and the Lebanese people interests," Hariri said.

Part of his deliberations on the distributions of portfolios, Hariri
is expected to meet Hizbullah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah
later this week, parliamentary sources told the Central News Agency
(CNA) on Monday.

The CNA also reported a possible meeting between Free Patriotic
Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Hariri following an invitation by
the Latter on Monday.

Meanwhile, Aoun, who said he had not decided on whether to meet Hariri
yet, tied the formation of a new cabinet to two conditions, including
the reassignment of Bassil at the head of the Telecommunications
Ministry, and granting the FPM a "sovereign" portfolio.

Portfolios considered as directly linked to the country’s sovereignty
include the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Defense
Ministry and the Finance Ministry.

Tackling the delay in the cabinet’s formation, Aoun told reporters
at his residence in Rabieh that the process was hindered by foreign
intervention rather than the appointment of Bassil.

"The government crisis was not due to [the nomination of] Jebran but
[the problem is] foreign," Aoun said.

He praised Bassil’s performance at the Telecomunication Ministry,
saying the latter raised the ministry’s income to $500 million and
dismantled illegitimate communication cells.

The March 14 Forces had repeatedly rejected to allot Bassil a
ministerial portfolio since he lost the race to parliament during
the June 7 parliamentary elections.

Bassil ran for one of two seats in his northern home town of Batroun
when he lost the race to independent MP Boutros Harb and Lebanese
Forces MP Antoine Zahra.

Aoun who refrained from criticizing caretaker Interior Minister Ziyad
Baroud, demanded that his bloc be allotted the Interior Ministry to
"to enhance its performance and free it of corruption." "Baroud is
like Bassil but I do not want him targeted," he said.

Aoun also called for awarding the president more constitutional rights
rather than granting him a share in the government.

He also announced that the March 14 coalition lost the parliamentary
majority following Progressive Socialist Party head Walid Jumblatt’s
withdrawal from the alliance.

"Jumblatt blew the 15-10-5 formula, no one holds a majority and now
we moved to the 12-10-5-3 make-up," a reference to Jumblatt’s share
of three seats, Aoun said.

The 15-10-5 formula grants the majority 15, the opposition 10 and
the president five seats.

Nevertheless, Jumblatt on Monday reiterated support for the 15-10-5
structure, adding that it guaranteed political consensus and
represented the voters will.

IVANCHUK, LEKO LEAD 5TH GRAND PRIX
By Dylan Loeb McClain

New York Times
August 14, 2009, 4:09 pm

After five rounds, Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Peter Leko of
Hungary lead the 5th World Chess Federation Grand Prix, with 3.5 points
each. Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, Boris Gelfand of Israel and
Levon Aronian of Armenia are a half point behind while another four
players are sitting at 50 percent with 2.5 points each.

As co-leaders, Ivanchuk are Leko are stylistically like Neil Simon’s
Odd Couple. Leko is the Felix Unger of the two – steady and risk
averse. Ivanchuk is Oscar Madison – mercurial and unpredictable.

The tournament is being held in Jermuk, Armenia, a small resort city
known for its hot springs and mineral waters. The Grand Prix is a
series of six tournaments to select two challengers for the world
championship cycle. Currently, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan and
Alexander Grischuk of Russia are the points leaders, with Aronian
just behind them in third. However, since the final standings will be
based on the three best results, Aronian is an excellent position to
advance in the cycle, as he won the 2nd Grand Prix in Sochi, Russia,
and the 4th in Nalchik, Russia.

Unlike the four previous Grand Prix tournaments, the current one
is also named for someone – in this case, Tigran Petrosian, the
former world champion from Armenia, who was born 80 years ago. Often
underestimated, even today, he was perhaps the best defensive player
in history.

Given the stakes in the Grand Prix, the previous tournaments have
all been hard-fought, with a surprising number of wins and losses,
at least when so many elite players are involved. The current Grand
Prix is no exception. In Round 5 on Thursday, five of the seven games
were decisive. Ivanchuk was the only one to win with Black, beating
Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria in a wild and imaginative game. It was
Ivanchuk’s second consecutive win, having dispatched Evgeny Alekseev
of Russia in Round 4 with an otherworldly and brilliant mating attack.

Leko’s path to the front was less spectacular. In Round 1, he beat
Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia, who is badly out of form, having secured
only two draws so far. It was a typical Leko victory in which he
outmaneuvered his opponent and took advantage of his mistakes to
arrive at an endgame where Inarkiev was completely tied down. In his
desperation to save himself, Inarkiev walked into a nice combination
in which he faced either the loss of a rook or checkmate.

Leko’s other victory was in Round 4 when he beat Sergey Karjakin of
Ukraine in a well-known variation of the Queen’s Indian Defense. In
that game, Karjakin overlooked a simple tactical trick and Leko won
a pawn. The game simplified into an ending and Karjakin, facing a
discouraging position, threw in the towel, though there was still
some play left.

Round 6 is on Saturday.

VAHAN SHIRKHANYAN: ARMENIA CAN DEFEAT AZERBAIJAN

News.am
12:26 / 08/15/2009

"Armenian governance would be more efficient if manages simultaneously
spiritual, state and economic fields," Vahan Shirkanyan, Former Deputy
Defense Minister stated at "Justice as military security guarantee"
round-table conference. According to him these three spheres joined
and formed state-corporation in Armenia.

"From the very beginning, Armenian diplomacy and authorities should
have linked the conflict settlement with liberation struggle and its
results. Armenia is yet to recall the conflict cause and progress
the negotiations. Any confrontation can be resolved if you consider
its reasons and consequences. In case if negotiations are given clear
direction, the outcome is evident," Shirkhanyan said. He is confident
Armenians should unite, activate Genocide recognition process and
revive Armenian-Russian trust relationship.

He hopes if Armenian-Azerbaijani war breaks out, Russia will support
Armenia. "I am confident Armenia can struggle against Azerbaijan and
win," Shirkhanyan concluded.

MARCELLE PETROSYAN: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS UNABLE TO FULLY GUARANTEE NKR PEOPLE’S SECURITY

armradio.am
14.08.2009 17:15

"By his statement, US Co-Chair Matthew Bryza actually recognized that
international community is unable to fully guarantee NKR people’s
security, as peacekeeping forces are one of international conflict
management tools in international community’s arsenal of supporting
peace in conflict regions," Head of NKR Foreign Ministry’s Information
Department Marcelle Petrosyan said, commenting upon Matthew Bryza’s
statement that peacekeepers in Karabakh conflict zone were not armed
and could not have forced peace, since they acted as observers.

"However, US Co-Chair proposes that Azerbaijani-Kharabakh conflict be
resolved through appeasing the aggressor, i.e. Azerbaijan. History
shows that such policy never contributes to peace. On the contrary,
it leads to escalated tension and war," NKR official added.

"THE AIM OF GAZAZ IS TO TURN YEREVAN AND GYUMRI INTO FLORENCE

Aysor.am
13.08.2009, 18:24

"The aim of Gazaz is to turn Yerevan and Gyumri into Florence,
museum under the open sky. We have met with RA Minister of culture,
the Mayor of Gyumri, we lead talks. He wishes to rebuild one of the
old houses of Gyumri and to establish his museum house. He wants to
see the collection of his works in Yerevan and Gyumri", – said Mane
Hayryan the producer and wife of the famous artist Emil Gazaz during
the press conference.

He informed that the house of Gazaz’s father who was from Gyumri has
been destroyed during the earthquake. It was in 1986 when last time
Gazaz was in Armenia. Gazaz will not be present on the opening of
his exhibition tomorrow; he will come to Armenia next year.

Gazaz has presented to the municipality of Gyumri the canvas "The
golden child of Gyumri" which has won the prize of graphical works
in Biennale of Florence and the canvas that has won the prize of
Medici called "San Pedro’s table" is in a museum, several works will
be presented in Yerevan Art Gallery for permanent presentation.

"He has decided to get double citizenship and to present the Armenian
art in the world", – stressed M. Hayryan.

Emil Gazaz (Manvel Ghazaryan) was born in 1953 in Gyumri. He started
to study sculpturing when he was 7, he has attended the school of
art of Mercurov, has been a student at Terlemezyan art college, at
the art and theatre institute. He has settled down in Los Angeles
since 1980. He has had exhibitions in Europe, Asia, Russia, Northern
and Southern Americas. In 2003 in Biennale Gazaz took the medal of
Lorenzo Medici and the highest prize of Lorenzo Magnifico.

MEMORIAL EVENING FOR LATE ARCHBISHOP NERSES BOZABALIAN HELD AT WESTERN DIOCESE

evening-for-late-archbishop-nerses-bozabalian-held -at-western-diocese/
Aug 07 2009

On August 7, 2009 an event commemorating the legacy of His Eminence
Archbishop Nerses Bozablian will be held in Nazareth and Sima
Kalaydjian Hall of Arshag and Eleanor Dickranian Diocesan Complex
in Burbank, California. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate, will preside over the event. On the morning of June 27, His
Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian entered his eternal rest. He
was one of the senior members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin
and a devoted servant of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church. He was 72.

Archbishop Nerses was seriously injured as a result of a robbery attack
committed by an acquaintance on February 18, 2009. The attack occurred
in his home on the grounds of the Mother See. He was hospitalized
in a coma at the Nairi Medical Center. The Archbishop had remained
under the compassionate care of the Medical Center until the time
of his death. The death of the Archbishop was a great loss for the
Armenian Church and her faithful.