Author: Harutyunian Christine

ASHOT MELKONYAN: ARMENIANS OF BAKU GREATLY CONTRIBUTED THE TOWN’S DEVELOPMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.01.2010 17:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenians of Baku greatly contributed to the
town’s development, but what they got in return was genocide and ethnic
cleansing, RA NAS History Institute Director Ashot Melkonyan says.

"Following our victory in Artsakh war, we somehow forgot about
propaganda struggle whereas Baku resorted to wide information campaign
to give rebuff to its defeat," he told Tuesday a scientific conference
dedicated to January 1990 Armenian pogroms in Baku.

At that, he noted that despite falling behind Azerbaijan in propaganda
war, Armenian seeks to disclose to the world the true history of
1905, 1918 and 1990 ethnic cleansing and genocides that took place
in Azerbaijan.

"We must raise the issue on state level, calling for proper assessment
on the events," Mr. Melkonyan said.

In January 1990, Azerbaijani authorities instigated the Armenian
pogroms in Baku. Some 400 Armenians were killed and 200 thousand
were exiled in the period of January 13-19, 1990. The exact number
of those killed was never determined, as no investigation was carried
out into the crimes.

On January 13, a crowd numbering 50 thousand people divided into
groups and started "cleaning" the city of Armenians. On January 17,
the European Parliament called on EU Council of Foreign Ministers
and European Council to protect Armenians and render assistance to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. On January 18, a group of U.S. Senators
sent a letter to Mikhail Gorbachev to express concerns over the
violence against the Armenian population in Azerbaijan and called
for unification of Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia.

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS EXHIBITION OPENED IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2010-01-20 18:41:00

ArmInfo. Rock, Paper, Scissors exhibition of prints by sculptors in
the British Council Collection was opened in Yerevan today.

For over 60 years already the British Council has collected the best
works by modern artists. Today, it has over 8,000 works reflecting
the development of the British art in XX and XXI.

The exhibition displays over 30 works by 17 artists: Henry Moore,
Eduardo Paolozzi, Anish Kapoor, Tracey Emin. Barry Flanagan, David
Shringley, Mike Nelson, Damien Hirst.

Rector of Yerevan Academy of Fine Arts Aram Isabekyan said that it
is a very interesting exhibition. He hopes that in the future we will
be able to see even more works by modern artists.

In the next few days the British artists will give a press-conference
for the students of the Academy.

The exhibition will last for 7 days and then will move to Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

EREVAN CHORAL SOCIETY CHRISTMAS CONCERT DEDICATED TO GOMIDAS

Armenian Weekly
January 19, 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-"Let It Snow" wasn’t one of the songs featured in
the Erevan Choral Society’s annual Christmas Holiday Concert held on
Sun., Jan. 3, but snow it did. In the 24 hours before the concert,
Cambridge saw an additional two inches blanket the area following one
of the snowiest Decembers on record. But despite the wintry weather,
the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church saw a
capacity audience for a concert that has become a holiday tradition
in the greater Boston Armenian and musical communities.

Erevan Choral Society during it’s performance on Jan. 3 The
second Christmas concert without the guiding hand of founder and
director Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Minassian began with the traditional
candlelight procession to the strains of "O Come All Ye Faithful,"
opening a program of mixed traditional Armenian, light classical,
and Western Christmas music, under the able direction of renowned
Armenian composer Konstantin Petrossian.

Petrossian’s conducting was crisp and lively, coaxing from the ensemble
of mostly professional instrumentalists and mostly amateur choristers
a sound ranging from the energy and verve of Jerry Herman’s "We Need
a Little Christmas" from the musical "Mame," to the prayerful lyricism
of Vahan Bedelian’s "Yegheghetsin Haygagan" dedicated to Fr.

Minassian’s memory, and Gomidas Vartabed’s "Orhnerk Hayrabedagan,"
one of three pieces commemorating the 140th anniversary of the
celebrated Armenian composer’s birth. The program also included
five arrangements by the multitalented Petrossian, four of which
premiered at the concert. Particular high points included the solo
offerings of operatic tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan and mezzo-soprano
Victoria Avetisyan. Significantly impressive were Manucharyan’s
vibrant rendering of Gomidas’s "Hayastan" and Avetisyan’s soaring
interpretation of the traditional "Aysor Don eh Soorp Dzununtyan,"
both in premier arrangements by Petrossian.

In a year of economic hardship and the conspicuous absence of the
guiding hand and indomitable energy of Fr. Minassian, many had feared
that the holiday concert might not go forward. Thanks to the gentle
but insistent efforts of Fr. Vazken Kouzouian, the pastor of Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, the dedication of Petrossian
and the members of the Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra, and the
generous financial support of the Armenian community of Greater Boston,
the annual Christmas Holiday Concert may be judged to have been an
unqualified success, and all concerned may feel at least cautious
optimism that with continued faith and dedication the tradition will
go forward in the years to come-snow or no snow.

CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN FOREIGN MINISTRIES OF ARMENIA, BULGARIA HELD IN SOFIA

armradio.am
19.01.2010 13:35

Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
and Bulgaria were held in Sofia on January 18.

The parties discussed international and regional developments,
implementation of the Action Plan of the European Neighborhood
Policy, the cooperation between the two countries within international
organizations, as well as the development of cooperation in the Black
Sea region.

Touching upon the collaboration between Armenia and Bulgaria in
the political, trade-economic and scientific-cultural spheres, the
parties noted that progress had been registered especially in the
scientific-cultural field. The Armenian Culture Year Festival will
kick off in Bulgaria later in January.

The parties exchanged views on the reforms implemented in the two
countries, the relations with neighbors, the negotiations on the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, and the normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations.

The same day Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Karine Ghazinyan
delivered a lecture on Armenia’s foreign policy and regional
cooperation at the Institute of Diplomacy adjunct to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.

The Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister gave an interview to the Bulgarian
"GROSS" information agency.

HRANT BAGRATYAN IS SURPRISED

Lragir.am
18/01/10

The Armenian former foreign minister, the member of the Armenian
National Congress, the leader of the "Freedom" party Hrant Bagratyan
on January 18 dwelt on the current prices of gas, energy and drinking
water in Armenia saying that he surprises at the current situation.

For example, Hrant Bagratyan is surprised at how one cubic meter
of water costs 182 dram while in Kiev it costs 83 dram and in Baku
even less. In case the 8 billion of the whole 21 billion water of
the region is in Armenia.

Hrant Bagratyan is surprised also at how the energy in Armenia costs
more than in Kiev in case Ukraine buys the gas from Russia at a doubly
higher price. Hrant Bagratyan is also surprised at the fact that the
ArmRusGasArd Company wants to increase the gas prices in Armenia.

Hrant Bagratyan wonders why the ArmRusGasArd is not ordered to buy
the Iranian gas which is cheaper than the Russian.

Hrant Bagratyan surprises also at the fact that the government
allocates to the ArmRusGasArd 40 million from the Russian 500
million loan.

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 16 2010

Moscow reportedly hosts US, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia talks
Sat 16 January 2010 | 07:32 GMT Text size:

Sabah newspaper Consultations among the USA, Turkey, Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been held in Moscow, Turkey’s Sabah
newspaper reports.

US Under Secretary of State William Burns, Armenian Defence Minister
Seyran Ohanyan and Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
were visiting Moscow at the same time as Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan this week.

"Moscow really hosted consultations between the USA, Turkey, Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is not chance that Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu hurried to leave London for Moscow," the newspaper says.

It also states that the head of the Turkish parliament’s committee on
foreign relations, Murat Mercan, said that if Armenia did not withdraw
from five of the seven occupied districts of Azerbaijan, the
Armenian-Turkish protocols would not be ratified.

Sources in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry say they have no
information about Deputy Minister Araz Azimov’s visit to Moscow.

1news.az

DEMOYAN SAYS AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENT-IN-OFFICE A TERRORIST

Panorama.am
15:36 13/01/2010

Azerbaijan is a vivid example of "State terrorism", the director of
the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan told Panorama.am
reporter.

He highlighted the most wide-spread ways of terrorism – individual,
group, international – and said "this one is uncommon since here we
deal with a state terrorist that not only terrorizes the national
minorities but its own nation as well."

As a brilliant example to the above-said, Demoyan highlighted
Azerbaijani President’s bellicose statements.

"Azerbaijan’s President-in-Office is a terrorist since he terrorizes
his own nation. It goes about a psychological terrorism. That is,
if a country’s president every now and then raises statements over
launching a war, this doesn’t necessarily mean that people support
this. Any reasonable man is against wars. Hence, Ilham Aliyev
terrorizes his own nation by provoking war," Demoyan said.

ARMENIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS RUSSIA

armradio.am
13.01.2010 12:40

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan has left for Moscow on a working
visit, Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry
of Defense informs.

Within the framework of the visit Seyran Ohanyan is expected to meet
his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov and other officials.

During the meetings reference will be made to issues related to
Armenian-Russian military cooperation.

AMERIABANK TO RECEIVE $30 MILLION LOAN FROM DUTCH FMO AND DEG

ARKA
Jan 13, 2010

YEREVAN, January 13, /ARKA/. Armenia-based Ameriabank is set
to receive $30 million worth loans from two large Dutch lending
organizations- Dutch FMO (Nederlandse financierings-maatschappij
voor ontwikkelingslanden n.v.) and DEG (Deutsche investitiÑ… ons –
und entwicklungsgesellschaft MBH).

A press release by Ameriabank said it has completed talks with both
organizations and will direct $20 million at boosting businesses
and $10 million will be spent to finance small-scale renewable
energy projects, particularly, to help construct hydropower plants
and windmills.

According to the press release, the loans will be allocated for a
longer term. Only companies with annual turnover of 5 million to 5
billion Drams and with a staff no more than 250 people will qualify
for credits.

The amount of credits will vary from $1.5 million to $5 million.

Ameriabank was established on the basis Armenian Import-Export Bank.

In April of 1995, the majority of shares of the bank were taken up by
a foreign investor, who doubled the capital. In August of 2007 96%
of the bank was obtained by "TDA Holdings Limited", an investment
company affiliated to the leading Russian investment bank – Troika
Dialog. In June of 2008 the bank changed its name to Ameriabank
CJSC. ($1 – 378.08 Drams).

RUSSIA SAYS TURKEY BACKS ALL ITS ENERGY PROJECTS
By Gleb Bryanski

Reuters
Jan 13 2010

Putin says expects Turkey to clear S.Stream in 2010

MOSCOW, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Russia said on Wednesday it has won Turkish
support for all its major oil, gas and nuclear projects while carefully
avoiding its usual harsh criticism of the rival trans-Turkish EU-backed
Nabucco gas pipeline.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told a news conference after
talks with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan Ankara had pledged to
fully clear Russian gas pipeline project South Stream before November
2010, when building is due to begin.

"We have an agreement that before November 10, 2010 … the Turkish
government will make all the necessary judgements and issue a
construction permit. In the course of today’s talks Mr Erdogan
confirmed these intentions," Putin said.

"I very much hope this work will be finished as planned," he said,
adding that the work on South Stream was going according to plan with
environmental, geological and seismic studies near completion.

Putin also said the project, which apart from Russia’s gas export
monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) involves Italy’s ENI (ENI.MI), may benefit
from an inter-governmental agreement between Russia, Turkey and Italy.

Russia designed South Stream to deliver gas to southern Europe under
the Black Sea to rival Nabucco and bypass Ukraine.

But the need to bypass Ukraine may decrease if Kiev elects a more
pro-Russian president at an election this month and save indebted
Gazprom (GAZP.MM) billions of euros it needs to spend on South Stream.

Some analysts have suggested Gazprom may even one day join Nabucco,
which is so far lacking volumes to make the project profitable.

Turkey aspires to become a key transit hub for Europe, but is facing
a tough balancing game between rival projects supported by Moscow
and the European Union. [ID:nLDE60A13N]

Once Cold War foes, NATO member Turkey and Russia have in recent years
deepened their ties by signing a raft of agreements from gas and oil
pipelines to nuclear power plants, and have sought closer security
cooperation in the Caucasus region.

Turkey, which is using the energy card to promote its membership of
the EU, has insisted that South Stream and Nabucco are not rivals,
but complementary.

Putin said the governments of Italy, Turkey and Russia should also
consider signing a deal to support an oil link between Turkey’s Black
Sea coast and the Mediterranean. [ID:nLJ71240]

He said cooperation between the two states should involve asset swaps
between major firms and added Russian firms were ready to take part
in privatisation of Turkey’s state assets.

Both Putin and Erdogan pledged to increase the use of national
currencies in bilateral trade, currently at $15.3 billion, which the
leaders want to boost to $100 billion within the next five years.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and Russian Deputy Prime Minister
Igor Sechin also signed a memorandum on building nuclear power plants
in Turkey in a sign Russian firms would be given a second chance to
build Ankara’s first plant.

Turkey cancelled a previous tender to build a nuclear power station,
after a court earlier ruled the tender, won by Russian Inter RAO
IRAO.MM and Atomstroiexport and Turkey’s Park Teknik, invalid due to
problems it cited with the pricing of electricity from the plant.

[ID:nLK400328]

KARABAKH

Putin told Erdogan that Turkey should not link the problem of
Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan populated by ethnic Armenians
who are now in control of the area, to its bilateral relations with
Armenia.

"Both the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and the Turkish-Armenian problem
are very complicated by nature. I do not think it is a right thing
to tie them into one package," Putin said.

"It is unwise from both tactical and strategic point of view to
package these problems," he added.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in protest over Yerevan’s
backing for Karabakh separatists. The two countries signed accords
last October to establish diplomatic relations and open their border.

The accords are still pending parliamentary approval.

Turkey says it will go through with its deal with Armenia only if
the latter makes concessions to Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh but
Armenia says attempts to link a thaw in relations with the Karabakh
issue would not work. For a factbox on Russian gas pipeline projects
[ID:nL5035511] For a factbox on Nabucco [ID:nLE022229] For a factbox
on Turkish-Armenian ties. [ID:nLE357596] (Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov;
editing by Sue Thomas)