Author: Hambardsumian Paul

Tigran Sargsyan: GDP/external foreign debt index totaled 26% by end of 2009

May 22, 2010 – 15:51 AMT 10:51 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that the Armenian
government has managed to receive credit funds from donor
organizations to implement anti-crisis programs.

Presenting the annual report on the state budget fulfillment in 2009,
the Prime Minister said that the World Bank Armenia allocated $350mln
in 2009.

Meanwhile, $500mln was invested in Armenia’s economy through the
International Monetary Fund.

Besides, $80mln was received from the Asian Development Bank as a
budgetary assistance.

An agreement was reached with the European Union on provision of a
budgetary assistance at the amount of 100mln euros.

In addition, $500mln was attracted from Russia to finance anti-crisis events.

"Thus, the GDP/foreign state debt index totaled 36% by the end of 2009
against 13.2% in 2008. Meanwhile, it provided with the opportunity to
implement business cycle policy of the Armenian government," Mr.
Sargsyan said.

GEORGIAN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA NEITHER CONFIRMS NOR REFUTES EXISTENCE OF CITIZEN MARDUN GUMASHYAN

Arminfo.
2010-05-20 14:31:00

ArmInfo. The Georgian Embassy in Armenia neither confirms nor refutes
existence of the citizen Mardun Gumashyan. In late April Azerbaijani
media reported that Mardun Gumashyan is complicit in organization
of mass murder at the Oil Academy. Although Gumashyan is a citizen
of Georgia, the Azerbaijani special services tried their best to
"reveal Armenian roots" of the tragedy.

ArmInfo’s request to the Georgian Embassy in Armenia to verify the
existence of Mardun Gumashyan (1951) residing (or registered) in
the village of Shulaver, Marneul region, Georgia. In response, the
diplomatic representation of Georgia refused to provide any data on
a private person, referring to the legislation of Georgia. In fact,
it is still questionable if the "organizer" of the bloodshed at the
Baku Oil Academy exists or not.

In addition, on April 30 the Azerbaijani media reported that Gumashyan
is on the Interpol wanted list. But, Interpol has not put Gumashyan
on the wanted list yet.

To recall, the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy shooting occurred on
April 30, 2009. A total of 12 people were killed (students and staff
members including the Deputy Principal of the institution) by an armed
assailant and several others were wounded. Responsible employees of
special task police unit, district police and prosecutor’s offices
immediately arrived at the site. Seeing he will be rendered harmless
by the police the criminal committed suicide. He was identified as
the Georgian citizen Gadirov Farda Asad, 29. The General Prosecutor’s
Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs established operational
investigative group and most of the persons contacted with Gadirov
were brought to justice: Amirov Javidan Farman Aliyev Nadir Shirkhan,
Suleymanov Najaf Novruz, Gabulov Ariz Zahid.

DR. DIKRAN KALIGIAN TO DISCUSS ARF AND OTTOMAN RELATIONS IN GLENDALE ON MAY 25

Asbarez
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
GLENDALE

Historian Dr. Dikran Kaligian will deliver a lecture entitled
"The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Under Ottoman Rule,
1908-14," on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., at the Krikor &
Mariam Karamanoukian Glendale Youth Center, 211 West Chestnut St.,
Glendale, CA, 91204. The lecture will be co-sponsored by the National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research, the Karamanoukian
Glendale Youth Center, Hamazkayin Regional Executive of Western USA,
the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, the Organization of Istanbul Armenians
Cultural Committee, and the Kessab Educational Association Cultural
Committee.

Dr. Kaligian, in his 2009 book Armenian Organization and Ideology
Under Ottoman Rule, 1908-1914 (Transaction), has provided a
comprehensive picture of Armeno-Turkish relations for the brief
period of Ottoman Constitutional rule between 1908 and 1914. Drawing
on internal documents of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
and existing research on the last years of the empire, as well as the
archives of the British, American, and German diplomatic corps, he
sets out to resolve many of the conflicting conclusions in the current
historiography-including the most central issue, Armenian Revolutionary
Federation relations with the Turkish Committee of Union and Progress.

Kaligian analyzes an ARF torn between maintaining relations with
a CUP that had failed to implement promised reforms and was doing
little to prevent increasing attacks on the Armenian population, or
breaking off relations and thus ending any realistic chance for the
constitutional system to succeed. The decisive issue was the failure
of land restitution and reform.

Kaligian’s study, the first of its kind, seeks to set the record
straight in terms of understanding Armeno-Turkish relations during
this short but pivotal period. He shows that the party’s internal
deliberations support the conclusion that it did remain loyal until
the failure of reform and contradicts the view that the party’s only
aim was to incite a rebellion against Ottoman rule.

Armenian Organization and Ideology Under Ottoman Rule, 1908-1914 will
be on sale and available for signing by the author.

Admission to the event is free (donations appreciated). The Armenian
Center is located next to Saint Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.

More information about Dr. Kaligian’s talk may be had by
contacting the Ararat-Eskijian Museum at 818-838-4862 or e-mailing
[email protected] or NAASR at 617-489-1610 or
[email protected].

ARMENIAN-UKRAINIAN FORUM TO BE HELD IN KIEV

ARMENPRESS
MAY 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian-Ukrainian business forum will
be held September 7 in Kiev, organized by the Armenian and Ukrainian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Vladimir Amiryan, head of the International Cooperation Department
of the Armenian Chamber of Trade and Industry, told Armenpress that
the Armenian businessmen will be in Kiev September 6-8.

The goal of the organization of the forum is to strengthen the
economic ties between the two countries and to look for other ways
of cooperation.

"In those days the Armenian businessmen will have a number of meetings
with local partners and interested parties. I think similar contacts
are quite efficient and give tangible results," V. Amiryan said.

Currently the delegation staff of Armenia is being specified.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry receives from Armenian businessmen
applications for participation in the meeting. V. Amiryan said that
over 10 businessmen will be involved in the Armenian delegation staff.

CAUCASUS-2009 INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
21.05.2010 17:46

A two-day "Caucasus 2009" International Scientific Conference kicked
off in Yerevan today. The conference has brought together scholars,
scientists, politicians, and reporters from Armenia, Georgia, Turkey,
Russia, and European countries.

The situation in our region was serious in 2009, Director of the
Armenian Center of National and International Studies, Richard
Giragosian said in his speech. According to him, in 2009 Armenia
tried alone to contribute to the stability and development of the
region by attempting to normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations.

"The superpowers – the European Union, the United States and Russia –
support our position of normalizing relations without preconditions.

Armenia is viewed as a fighter for maintenance of peace in the region,"
Richard Giragosian said, adding that Armenia’s position is firmer
today than it was two years ago.

ACNIS Director expressed regret over the foreign policy of Turkey.

According to his assessment, the Armenian-Turkish normalization
process has entered the stage of "freezing" as a result of this policy.

"I agree with Armenian President’s position that Armenia can no
longer wait for Turkey’s wish to normalize relations. The burden for
the failure of the process of ratification of the protocols remains
on Turkey and it’s Turkey’s turn to take the next step," Richard
Giragosian said.

According to the Head of the Political, Economic, Press and Information
Section of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia, Onno Simons,
stability and security in the region are important not only to the
countries of the region, but also to Europe and the US.

"Serious steps need to be taken for establishment of regional
stability. We try our best to contribute to the normalization of
relations in the region and establishment of peace," he said.

According to the European diplomat, every opportunity should be used
for dialogue. "Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are participants of
the EU Eastern Partnership Program. They should use the opportunities
provided by this structure to solve the existing problems. Regional
development will be impossible without it," Onno Simons said.

INSURANCE AMOUNTS OF ARMENIAN INSURANCE COMPANIES WERE 3344,96 BILLION DRAMS AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2010

/ARKA/
May 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Insurance amounts of insurance companies
were 3344.96 billion drams at the end of forth quarter of 2009, says
the report of Armenian Central Bank on the activity of insurance
companies for the first quarter of 2010.

Total volume of insurance payments was 1.9 billion drams in the first
quarter of 2010.

Volume of insurance payments was 355 million drams in the reporting
period and reinsurance payments – 114 million drams.

Volume of insurance reserves of insurance companies was 2837 million
drams as of March 31, 2010 versus 2719 million drams at the beginning
of the quarter.

12 insurance companies are operating in Armenia as of March 31, 2010.

Control over the insurance market is implemented by the Armenian
Central Bank from January 1, 2006. ($1 – 384.48 drams).

GRAND MASTER SERGEI MOVSESIAN WINS GERMAN CHESS CUP

Aysor
May 18 2010
Armenia

Armenian Grand Master Sergey Movsesian has taken the German Cup in
composition of the club OSG Baden-Baden, according to Armenia’s Chess
Federation. Signal victories of the Armenian chess player over GMs
Polzhin and Tkachiev brought victory to Baden-Baden.

FRENCH EMBASSY TO RA REFUTES REPORTS ON APPOINTMENT OF SERGE SMESSOV AS OSCE MG CO-CHAIR

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 18, 2010

The French Embassy to Armenia has refuted reports on appointment of
Serge Smessov as the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair.

"The information is untrue," the Embassy’s press office told a
PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent.

On May 17, the Azeri Press Agency circulated a report that France
will replace its current Co-chair Bernard Fassier by Ambassador to
Armenia Serge Smessov.

NEW SYSTEM OF STAFF INCENTIVE AND SOCIAL BENEFITS INTRODUCED AT AREXIMBANK-GAZPROMBANK GROUP

ArmInfo
2010-05-17 12:49:00

ArmInfo. A new system of payment for labor and staff incentive was
introduced at Areximbank-GBP Group to upgrade efficiency and retain
competitiveness of the system of labor payment and staff incentive,
the bank’s press-service told ArmInfo.

The evaluation system criteria are professional skills and
qualification of employees, the volume and importance of their
responsibilities, individual contribution to activity of branches
and the bank in general. The system aims to motivate the staff to
achieve current and long-term tasks of the bank’s development. The
new system of payment for labor applies to the regular staff and
is based on grading of jobs. The new system of salary consists of
official salary and monthly premiums, which is determined by the basic
ratio of monthly premiums approved by the Bank Council. In addition,
to encourage employees for specific month or quarter, a new type of
premiums has been introduced i.e. target premium. There are additional
incentive payments such as one-time premiums, market premiums, annual
premiums and compensations. To increase the real salary and in case
of consumer price and services growth, the new system of payment for
labor suggests salary indexation for the employees of the bank.

The bank also introduces a system of social provision of the staff
implying social guarantees and benefits. The key goals of the system
are to upgrade social protection of the staff, assignment of key
specialists, and increase confidence of the employee in the future.

The system of social provision of the bank staff suggests also the
following benefits and payments: additional paid leave, financial
aid in case of marriage and birth (adoption) of a child, to large
families (3 and more children), employees having disabled child,
in case of death of a family member, retirement, birthday anniversary.

In addition, some conditions of social payments are unique for the
banking system of Armenia. Thus, the employees on child-care leave are
provided with monthly benefits until the child becomes 3-year-old. The
higher is the position grade and income of an employee, the lower
are financial payments and benefits. The bank has also developed
a preferential system of lending for its staff. The bank staff
also has the right to use the corporate tariffs of the VTB Bank’s
partner-companies. Areximbank-GPB Group CJSC was founded in 1998. On
May 2 2010 the regulatory capital of the bank totaled 16bn drams,
total assets – 47.8bn drams. The number of branches totaled 15 and
the staff – 360 people.

Ranking of Armenian Commercial Banks prepared by Agency of Rating
Marketing Information (ArmInfo) ranked Areximbank-GPB Group 12th in
terms of the staff as of Apr 1 2010 (15.8% up per year) and the 10th
in terms of salary per employee (18.2% up per year).

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, May 17, 2010

Uruguayan President Marks 95th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide &
Dedicates New Khatchkar

The President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, on April 24 participated in a
commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide when a
khatchkar (stone-cross monument) was erected in Montevideo’s Armenia
Square. The ceremony was initiated by AGBU’s Montevideo Chapter, with
the Social Democrat Hunchak party, the Armenian National Center, and the
Commission of Armenia Square.

The head of the Uruguayan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Archbishop Hakob Glnjian, consecrated the khatchkar, which was carved by
artist Ruben Nalbandian in Armenia. Uruguay’s Education and Culture
Minister, Ricardo Ehrlich, gave a speech remembering the Genocide.
Uruguay’s Tourism Deputy Minister, Lilian Keshishian, thanked the
government on behalf of the Armenian community for supporting the
memorial.

President Mijica is the only Uruguayan president to have visited
Armenia. Speaking afterwards to a newspaper, the Consul of Armenia to
Uruguay, Ruben Aprahamian, called the presence of Uruguay’s president
"very important," and cited Uruguay as the first country to recognize
the Armenian Genocide, in 1965.

The Consul went on to say that there is a commercial bond growing
between the two countries, with a prospective trade in livestock
forthcoming, pending negotiations. "It’s been 18 years since the
Republic of Armenia became independent," he said. "The country is
already doing a lot of business with Asian countries, and we’d like to
start the same in South America."

The khatchkar was erected with the financial support of
Uruguayan-Armenian benefactor Karlos Ketsoyan.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit