Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

GAGIK TSARUKYAN’S SPOKESMAN CONFIRMS GORNA BANYA DEAL
Ruzan Khachatryan

"Radiolur"
30.10.2009 16:56

President of the "Multi Group" Company Gagik Tsarukyan bought
Bulgarian water bottling company Gorna Banya in a EUR 25 M deal,
which was sealed at the end of last week.

Gagik Tsarukyan’s Spokesman Khachik Galstyan confirmed the information
disseminated by Bulgarian media yesterday. "The negotiations had been
under way for several months, and the deal was sealed last week,"
the Spokesman told "Radiolur." The Company will be run by Bulgarian
Armenian businessman Zaven Asaduryan. This is Gagik Tsarukyan’s first
investment in Bulgaria.

About EUR 20 M of the sale price will be used for covering the
company’s debts, one of the former owners Evgeni Goranov told Dnevnik
daily. The company owes EUR 12 M in long-term banking loans and another
EUR 4 M in short-term funding. It should pay a separate some EUR 3.5
M to a UK investment fund.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF BELARUS DUE IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
29.10.2009 10:51

The Foreign Minister of Belarus, Sergey Martinov, will pay a working
visit to Armenia October at the invitation of the Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian.

During the visit the Foreign Minister of Belarus is expected to meet
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The delegation headed by Sergey Martinov will visit Tsitsernakaberd
to lay a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and
plant a fir tree in the Memory Alley.

Within the framework of the visit Mr. Martinov will meet the faculty
and students of the Yerevan State University and ill visit Shiak marz.

EXTREME POVERTY REDUCES 51% IN ARMENIA BETWEEN 2004 AND 2008

ARKA
Oct 28, 2009

YEREVAN, October 28. /ARKA/. Extreme poverty rate has lowered 51%
in Armenia over the period between 2004 and 2008 to 3.1% in 2008,
Diana Martirosova, chief of Armenian National Statistical Service’s
division on households, said on Wednesday.

She said more than 100,000 of 350,000 people booked in 2004 as
extremely poor have managed to come out of poverty.

The poor constituted 23.5% of the country population in 2008, while
in 2004 they made 32.1% (32.1% reduction).

"Extreme poverty is reducing faster. It reduced 51% to 3.1% in 2008
against 6.4% in 2004," Martirosova said.

She said that in 2008 poverty became not so profound and sharp as
in 2004.

"But despite that, poverty is still a grave problem for Armenia,
since 760,000 are still live in poverty and 100,000 of them in
extreme penury."

Martirosova said that the stable economic growth recorded in recent
years has contributed a great deal to poverty reduction in Armenia.

"Stable economic development, narrowing gap between low- and
high-income people and constant inflow of money transfers from the
outside contributed to consumption growth in the country."

According to National Statistical Service, the average monthly
consumption grew 35.8% in Armenia in 2008, compared with 2004.

Penury was reducing in cities faster than in rural areas.

Remarkable is that other cities, not Yerevan, have benefited from
the economic growth between 2004 and 2008.

The gap between low- and high-income people narrowed as well.

Inequality of consumption measured by Gini coefficient grew to
0.272 in 2008 against 0.260 in 2004, while the gap between low-
and high-income people narrowed to 0.389 in 2008 against 0.395 in 2004.

STUDENTS FROM NKR, JAVAHK AND ARMENIA TO PAY EQUAL AMOUNT OF TUITION BEGINNING OCT. 1, 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.10.2009 21:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On October 28, President Serzh Sargsyan signed RA
Law on Preservation of Non-Material Cultural Heritage and Amendments
to Laws on Education Higher and Post-Graduate Education.

Under amended laws, Armenian students from NKR, Samtskhe-Javakheti
and Kwemo-Kartli will pay the same amount of tuition fee as students
residing in Armenia. The laws will enter into force on August 1,
2010, RA President’s press service reports.

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1334 G Street N.W., Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 223-4332
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

PRESS RELEASE
October 28, 2009

MEMBERS OF US CONGRESS SUPPORT ASSISTANCE TO ARTSAKH
Reiterate the Importance of Overcoming the Consequences of War

Washington, DC ` More than 30 members of the U.S. Congress co-signed a
letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees in support for a continued U.S. financial
assistance for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

The letter initiated by Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Caucus member Frank
LoBiondo (R-NJ) welcomed the House’s attention to the situation in
Artsakh and backed the allocation of $10 million to address the
humanitarian consequences of the 1991-1994 Azerbaijani aggression.

NKR Representative to U.S. Robert Avetisyan thanked the Caucus members
for their staunch support for Artsakh. `The people and authorities of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are grateful to the members of the
American Congress for their steadfast support for Karabakh’s post-war
rehabilitation. We are confident that a continued U.S. assistance will
allow Artsakh to overcome all the consequences of the devastating war
imposed by Azerbaijan, and lead to new achievements in building a free
and democratic nation’, Avetisyan said.

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

* * *

This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the
U.S. Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.

WE WILL PREVENT IMPLEMENTATION OF TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOLS’ PROVISIONS: TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN

Today
litics/56950.html
Oct 27 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with member of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly
(Parliament) and co-chair of the parliamentary faction of the
Nationalist Movement Party (NMP) Ogtay Vural.

Day.Az: How do you assess the parliamentary debates on the
Turkish-Armenian protocols?

Ogtay Vural: Since the beginning of the first Turkish-Armenian debate,
we have serious concerns about their results. The protocols do not
meet interests of the Turkish nation. They were kept in secret for
people for long. We heard primary information about them from the U.S.

president.

During the discussions in the parliament I noted that we all know
the purpose and core of Armenia. Armenia still shows Eastern Anatolia
as Western Armenia is its maps and books. During a flight to Bursa,
Sargsyan’s plane depicted Armenia’s coats of arms which included of
the Mount Agrı. Armenia still accuses Turkey of "genocide". Armenia
has occupied Azerbaijan’s territory, leaving millions of our brothers
and sisters without homes. It has committed the Khojaly massacre.

Today, we blame the other heads of state of murder of babies. Then why
we do not blame Armenians for similar crimes? The Turkish-Armenian
warming is unacceptable till the last inch of Azerbaijani lands is
liberated. The NMP will do its utmost to prevent fulfillment of the
protocols’ provisions.

The AKP government is well aware that the Armenian issue is too
serious and can lead to undesirable consequences. The Turkish people
will not tolerate this.

Q: Turkey persistently assures Azerbaijan that border with Armenia
will not open. What are your views about this?

A: We have serious concerns. These fears are based on Turkey’s dual
attitude to the protocols related with its problem neighbors. Turkey
had earlier signed a protocol on entrance of Cypriot vessels to
Turkish ports. However, the protocol was not submitted to parliament
for ratification. But the Turkish-Armenian protocols were immediately
sent to the parliament and the discussions began. We see that much
more effort is made in the Armenian issue. We think that this is no
accident. There are some points that we are unaware.

Q: Turkey announces that it always keeps the Karabakh issue on the
agenda in all negotiations, and that this position was not forgotten
during the discussion over the protocols…

A: The return of part of Azerbaijan’s territories are discussed in
the negotiation process within the OSCE Minsk Group. Armenians can
take tactical moves. For example, they may free Azerbaijan’s 5 regions.

This does not mean that they will liberate other territories as well.

In this way they can throw dust to the eyes of Turkey and international
community. Serzh Sargsyan watches military exercises in Karabakh
while the protocols are being discussed. This is a show of force. He
hints that no force can make them to withdraw. If in response to such
blatant actions by Armenia we wish to maintain a friendship with him,
it means we ignore Azerbaijan at such a time.

Q: The Azerbaijani opposition has proposed to jointly discuss the
latest developments with the Turkish opposition. How do you evaluate
this proposal?

A: We do not differentiate between authorities and opposition in
national matters. We are one nation and, naturally, we should be able
to jointly solve national problems. We are ready to meet and talk with
everyone for the sake of nation’s interests. All true Turks in Turkey
are ready to sacrifice their blood for Azerbaijan and we are among
them. Certainly, there is a need to discuss the latest developments
with the authorities and opposition in Azerbaijan and to demonstrate
a unified stance.

ANAHIT BAKHSHIAN: THE ACT OF TERRORISM WAS PERFECTLY USED BY PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN

Noyan Tapan
Oct 27, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. "On this day 10 years ago – on
October 27, one of the tragic, dark pages in the history of Armenia
was written. On that day the act of terrorism beheaded the statehood,
causing indescribable pain and grief to our people". Anahit Bakhshian
– member of "Heritage" faction, widow of the vice speaker of the
parliament Yuri Bakhshian who became a victim of the act of terrorism
committed in the hall of sittings at the parliament in 1999 – declared
this during the hour of statements at the RA National Assembly.

In her words, the statehood was shot on that day, and the aim of that
execution was also to kill the hope in our people and their will to
struggle, and to create an atmosphere of fear and servility in the
country. "The act of terrorism was perfectly used by the president
Kocharian for ruling the country by the authoritarian principles.

Since the years of his presidency, the state institutions have been
turned into an appendage and any competition or alternative has been
ruled out," she said. A. Bakhshian also expressed an opinion that
the October 27 act of terrorism has considerably weakened Armenia’s
positions in the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict settlement.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

TURKISH AMBASSADOR CITES PROTOCOLS IN RENEWED ATTACK ON ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

— Turkish Envoy Links Denial to Newly Signed Turkey- Armenia
Agreement in televised VOA segment

WASHINGTON, DC – Turkey’s Ambassador to the United States, Nabi
Sensoy, appearing today on a Voice of America television news segment
on the Senate introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, cited
the newly signed Turkey-Armenia Protocols as a new reason for his
government’s intensifying campaign to block U.S. recognition of this
crime against humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

Responding to a question on this legislation, the Turkish envoy
stressed: "I hope that there will be no progress on this issue. I
don’t think it was the right time to take this step since the
resolution was introduced immediately after the signing of the
Turkey-Armenia Protocols. It is wrong and sad. I am hopeful that it
[the resolution] will not reach the [Senate] floor."

Earlier this week, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign
(R-NV) introduced the Senate version of the Armenian Genocide
(S.Res.316). The House version, introduced earlier this year, has over
130 cosponsors. House resolution lead sponsors Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
George Radanovich (R-CA) commended their Senate colleagues in a
statement issued on October 22nd, stating "The United States has a
moral obligation to recognize the heinous acts of genocide and all
human rights abuses that have occurred – without that recognition we
are doomed to repeat the atrocities of the past."

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, who was interviewed by Voice
of America’s Aram Vanetsyan for this segment, cited the broad-based
support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution from President Barack
Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
during their years in the Senate. Responding to reports that the
Turkey- Armenia Protocols would harm international Armenian Genocide
affirmation efforts, Hamparian explained that Turkey entered into
negotiations with Armenia, not because of any charitable impulse, but,
rather, because of its desire to somehow derail the growing pressure
of Armenians worldwide in isolating Ankara’s bankrupt campaign of
denial. Armenian Americans will, Hamparian added, continue to press,
assertively, powerfully, and effectively for a truthful and just
resolution of the Armenian Genocide.

To watch the full 3-minute Voice of America – Armenian language
division segment on the Senate introduction of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (in Armenian), visit:

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: "THERE IS NO ANY CONDITION CONCERNING NAGORNO KARABAKH IN THE PROTOCOLS SIGNED WITH TURKEY"

APA
Oct 22 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. "The presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia conduct negotiations to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

I consider that we will achieve positive results", Armenian deputy
foreign minister Arman Kirakosian, who arrived in Baku to attend
21st meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Ministerial
Council, told journalists, APA reports. The deputy minister said
Turkish-Armenian relations didn’t concern the Nagorno Karabakh problem
in legal plan. "There is no any condition concerning Nagorno Karabakh
in the protocols signed with Turkey. Two protocols were signed between
Turkey and Armenia. If the protocols are ratified at the parliament,
the borders will be opened in two months, and the intergovernmental
commission will be established three months later".

VTB BANK (ARMENIA) REDUCES MORTGAGE AND AUTOCREDITS RATES

ArmInfo
2009-10-22 13:04:00

ArmInfo. VTB Bank (Armenia) has declared about significant reduction
of the mortgage and autocredits rates. It has also accelerated the
process of credit giving to debtors.

As press-service of the bank reported, in the mortgage crediting to
buy real estate the bank reduced the interest rate from 19,5% to 14%,
and autocredits – from 18% to 12%. Thanks to introduction of the
new system of retail risk-management, only 3 labor days ate needed
to discuss auto-credit applications, and 5 days – mortgage credits,
since the day of submitting the whole package of documents to the bank.

According to Ranking of commercial banks of Armenia, prepared by
ArmInfo, as of 1 July 2009 credit portfolio of the VTB Bank (Armenia)
amounted to 67.5 bln drams (3-rd position), 17% of which was the
share of the mortgage credits – 11.4 bln drams (3-rd position).