Author: Kafian Jirair

LE ROYAL HOTEL RECEPTION MARKS LAUNCH OF 2009-10 ROTARY YEAR

Daily Star
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Lebanon

Roger Kerbaj, Michel Jallad, Najad El Atassi, Jamila El Atassi, Georges Azar, Gaberiel Khoury, Kamal Katra
Carlos and Jess Mouawad

Georges Antaki, Christine Yaacoub
Sally Chamra, Lina Sukar, Stephany Arnaout

DBAYYEH: The launch of the official Rotary year 2009-2010 was marked
with a glittering reception at Dbayyeh’s Le Royal Hotel on July 1. The
Rotary Clubs of Lebanon gathered together with their slightly more
youthful Rotaract counterparts (aged between 18-30) to wish each other
a happy Rotarian new year and to celebrate the accession of Lebanese
District Representative Christine Arzoumian as leader of District
2450, consisting of Armenia, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan,
Lebanon, Sudan and the UAE). Among the prominent guests were Interior
Minister Ziad Baroud, members of Parliament Michel Pharaon and Chant
Chinchinian, as well as Loris Dahdah and Rita Katra.

BERNARD FASSIER: DISCUSSIONS HELD IN ARMENIA WERE VERY CONSTRUCTIVE

ArmInfo
2009-07-08 19:35:00

The discussions held in Armenia were very constructive, French Co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier said at a press-conference,
Wednesday. He expressed hope that the Minsk Group’s meetings in Baku
will also pass in this spirit.

He pointed out that they held 2 meetings with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edvard Nalbandian and a meeting with Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, and their main goal was to prepare the meeting of Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents in Moscow on July 17. Another meeting
with Nalbandian will be held today. "We are here after the meetings
of the two countries’ presidents in Paris to prepare the meeting of
presidents in Moscow. And we received Serzh Sargsyan’s consent for
this",- Fassier said and added that this will be the sixth meeting over
the . He thinks this shows that the presidents have some things to
discuss. According to the French co-chair, one shouldn’t assess each
meeting of the presidents separately, but consider this process as
an entire process. The talks are currently at a very important stage.

During the meeting in Prague, the OSCE co-chairs and the presidents
identified several provisions of Madrid proposals to move
forward. These opportunities were specified early in St.Petersburg
in June. Fassier expressed hope that this process will be specified
in Moscow in a week. He pointed out that the Madrid principles are
a list of about 15 main issues.

Discussions on 2-3 issues were held in Prague and St.Petersburg,
and the co-chairs hope to complete the discussions on these issues
in Moscow and start discussions on new items.

Fassier also pointed out that they were planning to visit Karabakh
as well, but they failed to do this due to the unfavorable weather
conditions.

Nevertheless, the co-chairs had a conversation with Nagorno-Karabakh
President Bako Sahakyan. "Next time we’ll try to go to Karabakh by
land",- Fassier concluded.

ACCORDING TO IGOR MURADIAN, ARMENIAN-TURKISH BILATERAL RELATIONS WORSEN FOR EVEN MORE

NOYAN TAPAN
JULY 8, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian-Turkish relations
worsened for even more in consequence of the negotiations process
of their normalization, that process did not give any results in the
respect of regional security, mutual understanding and establishment
of relations. Analyst Igor Muradian expressed such an opinion at a
press conference on July 8. According to him, Turkey, which considers
Armenia as a factor of exerting pressure upon it by great powers,
occupied a very convenient position: it will not open the border with
Armenia till the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

I. Muradian, who has been at the sources of Karabakh movement since
1988, thinks that there is no Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
as such at present, everything that happens is only an imitation,
and no one is interested in the solution of the problem. According to
the analyst, the Nagorno Karabakh settlement becomes less and less
significant and that is why no pressure is exerted on Armenia for
making any concessions.

INJECTIONS IN RA ECONOMY WILL ALLOW STOPPING THE ECONOMIC SLUMP

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.07.2009 16:24 GMT+04:00

An economic slump registered in the first half-year of 2009 will
be stopped through injections in RA economy, RA Economy Minister
Nerses Yeritsyan told a news conference, summing up results of
international conference entitled " Impact of the Global Financial
Crisis on Armenia: Short- and Long-run Perspectives". According to
him, the fastest growth rates will be registered in 2010. " We can
only expect a small growth, still, we have to reverse current economic
situation in 2010". Commenting on development scenarios for financial
situation in Armenia, voiced the day before by RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, Yeritsyan said that during the 2 summer months risks will
be linked to the slump in construction sphere. In this connection,
he added that the conference discussed the possibility of not viewing
one economy sphere as separate from others.

On Tuesday, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan voiced 3 possible
scenarios for economic situation development: possible economy slumps
of 9,5%,16% and 20%. According to statistical data, a 15,7% economic
slump was registered in Armenia in January -May 2009. On June 7-8,
Yerevan hosted " Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Armenia:
Short- and Long-run Perspectives" international scientific conference,
organized by Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG).

N. YERITSIAN SAYS THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS IS NOT A REASON FOR SUSPENSION OF LONG-TERM PROJECTS

ARMENPRESS
JULY 8, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS: The world economic crisis is not a reason
for the suspension of long-ranging projects, said the Armenian Economy
Minister Nerses Yeritsian during today’s briefing with journalists
after the conference on "The impact of the world crisis on Armenia:
short-term and long-term prospects". According to him the state must
make use of the opportunities provided by the economic crisis and
ensure a development in its economy.

According to N. Yeritsian in the conditions of the economic crisis
steps should be undertaken in three main directions; first one is the
implementation of a flexible macroeconomic policy aimed at providing
of a normal diversified growth tempos. The second important direction
is the implementation of a right and efficient social policy.

"We must be sure that after the crisis our state’s social structure
is not shifted and the successes reached during the latest years in
the poverty reduction are preserved. These successes will be very
important in the post-crisis period," N. Yeritsian said.

The Minister noted that not all the predicted worse scenarios are to
be realized. The Government injects great resources into the economy
with which the fall is intended to be suspended. It will contribute
to ensuring of the growth tendencies for 2010.

The Minister once more assured that the social projects
will not be reduced and the anti-crisis expenditures
will notably increase. These are expenditures made on the
infrastructures which deal with the creation of new job places

"All nations have lived in harmony in Azerbaijan at all times."

Today.Az
07 July 2009 [10:50] – Today.Az

"Azerbaijan is an independent state and will further do its best to
maintain the best traditions in our country," Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev said at opening ceremony of the Tezepir mosque after
major overhaul in Baku.

"Religion is separated from the state in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
is a secular state. But at the same time we are very committed to
our national and religious traditions and values. We share common
values. But the main value for us are the national values of
Azerbaijan," the president said.

"At all times, all people in Azerbaijan lived in harmony. Azerbaijan
state, the independent Azerbaijani state and will continue to do
everything possible to maintain this wonderful tradition in our
country. I would also like to say that while religion in Azerbaijan
is separated from the state, however, the state has allocated funds
for the overhaul of the Tezepir mosque," President Aliyev said.

"Islam is a great religion. It is a religion of friendship,
brotherhood, solidarity. Unfortunately, sometimes false information
about Islam is deliberately spread in som places and islamophobia
has become a policy. Today, much has been said about inter-religious
dialogue. There is a great need for this. However, in some cases,
these words are overlooked by trends of religious discrimination. We
reject this. We reject the campaign against Islam."

As to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the President said 20 percent
of Azerbaijan’s historical lands have been occupied.

"One million of our citizens who suffer from policy of ethnic cleansing
live as refugees and displaced persons. Armenian armed forces have
destroyed everything in the occupied lands. All buildings, homes,
schools, hospitals and mosques have been destroyed. This must
stop and the conflict can be resolved only through international
law. These rules are known to all. The first international peace
organization – the United Nations and its Security Council has adopted
4 resolutions on the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani
lands. Unfortunately, Armenia ignores them. The OSCE, the Organization
of Islamic Conference and other influential international organizations
take a fair stance on the issue. It is that the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan must be restored, all the occupying forces must withdraw
from our land then peace agreement must be signed," he said.

"I am absolutely convinced that if the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
is resolved in near future, we can see a positive impact on the
entire Caucasus. I want to say one again that Caucasus is a single
organism. Azerbaijan is both Caspian and Caucasus state. Russia is
also Caspian and Caucasus state. We have guests from Russia. They
are well aware that a very important agreement was recently signed
between Russia and Azerbaijan. The development of Russian-Azerbaijani
relations has played and will play vital role in ensuring peace and
security in the entire Caucasus. Our relations with other neighbors
are also based on mutual respect, principles of non-interference in
each other’s affairs and mutual trust. Inter-state relations should
continue only in this framework in future," President Aliyev said.

UNIVERSAL CONDEMNATION OF GENOCIDE IS REQUIRED
By Victor Dominello MP

Armenia Online

Australia

Arme nia Online, launched in 2009, is the internet version of its parent
weekly newspaper. It will deliver real-time news from Australia,
Armenia and the greater Diaspora every day. It serves to cover
community news and events.

The Armenian genocide is a heart-felt issue for the many residents of
Ryde who are of Armenian heritage. But in my mind it is also a most
important topic for all people who live in a civilised society. In
a world that is becoming smaller and where the lines on maps are
becoming less and less relevant, the concept of deliberately killing
one’s neighbours, friends, brothers, sisters, sons or daughters on
the grounds of their nationality, their race, or their political or
cultural persuasion is beyond abhorrent–it is inconceivable. However,
genocide is not inconceivable, it is not unthinkable and it is not
unbelievable, because it has already happened. It happened in 1915,
when about 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Government
on the grounds that they were Armenians.

Universal condemnation of genocide is required. A failure to condemn
and punish the perpetrators of genocide will simply encourage evil
to flourish.

History has shown us that it takes very little for evil to
surface. Evil is like a virulent weed: it needs only a modicum of soil
to grow,20and it will grow anywhere and in most conditions. One must
remain vigilant to ensure that, when evil surfaces, the conditions for
its growth are stunted or removed. To the extent that we can measure
the progress of our civilisation, it can only be by reference to
the steps that we have put in place to ensure that the dark side of
our history is never repeated. The very first step in moving forward
is to acknowledge the past. This was done in a very powerful way on
Sunday 19 April 2009, and in the week that followed.

On that Sunday I attended a considered address by Dr Paul Bartrop
on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration evening held
at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuring-gai campus. On the
evening of 24 April 2009 I, together with a number of Ryde-based
Australian Armenians, caught a chartered bus to Parliament House to
attend a wreath-laying ceremony and lecture. On Sunday 26 April 2009
I attended the ninety-fourth commemoration of the Armenian genocide,
organised by Ryde City Council, at Meadowbank. For me that week was
powerful for a number of reasons. The Sunday address was held in a
sombre setting, with photos displayed of some of the deplorable acts
that took place during the genocide. The photos were in black and
white and, whilst they captured only an instant in time, they will
remain etched in my memory forever.

The week was also powerful as I witnessed the strength o f the
descendents of the survivors of the genocide, who gather together to
pay respect to those lost, and to ensure that the flame of justice
remains alight. What I have said should not be read as a criticism
of the Turkish people. Such a construction would be offensive to me
and to the tenor of the issue that I raise in this House. Indeed,
to this day there are many heroic Turkish people who are also urging
the recognition of the Armenian genocide.

The relationship between Australia and Turkey is a very special one. It
is forged in history and in blood on the shores of Gallipoli. The way
in which Turkey and Australia come together each year to commemorate
Anzac Day is a model expression of how, with leadership, people can
unite notwithstanding past conflict.

The Armenian community in New South Wales, and in Ryde, is in good
hands. It is fortunate to have the spiritual leadership of Aghan
Baliozan, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Australia and
New Zealand. The community has natural leaders amongst its numbers in
Gladys Berejiklian, the member for Willoughby, and, at a local level,
in Deputy Mayor Councillor Sarkis Yedellian and Councillor Artin
Ekmekjian. It also has wonderful organisations such as the Armenian
Chamber of Commerce, the Armenian Senior Citizens Support Group,
the Ararat Scouts, Mission Armenia, the Armenian National Committee
and the Armenian Youth Federation of Australia.

It is important to the many Australian Armenians in Ryde that I speak
out about this issue so that they know where I stand. The world needs
leaders who will take a stance on issues of principle, despite the
diplomatic difficulties that may arise. For this, I applaud members of
this Parliament who showed leadership on 17 April 1997 by unanimously
resolving to commemorate and condemn the Armenian genocide. I endorse
this resolution and call on the Federal Government to follow suit. The
world needs people who believe that words matter. I ask the Australian
Armenian community of Ryde to listen to these words: I will stand
shoulder to shoulder with you in your goals to obtain recognition
and justice arising from the Armenian genocide.

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN MEETS WITH OSCE CHAIRPERSON-IN-OFFICE DORA BAKOYANNIS

Noyan Tapan
July 6, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 3, first RA President Levon
Ter-Petrosian met with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister
of Greece Dora Bakoyannis, who was accompanied by head of OSCE
Yerevan Office Sergey Kapinos, OSCE Chairperson’s Representative in
Nagorno Karabakh Andrzej Kasprzyk, and Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Greece to RA Ioanis Konrintios.

According to the ANC report, during the meeting they touched upon
the investigation of the 2008 March 1 events and and disclosure
of death circumstances of the 10 victims, as well as the issue of
fact-finding committee’s activity in this connection. Issues of
restoration of democratic freedoms in Armenia, release of political
prisoners, rallies and freedom of expression, as well as prospects
of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and Nagorno Karabakh
settlement were also discussed. Armenian National Congress’ position
on those issues was presented during the discussion.

Webnewswire

Armenia: World Bank Supports Reforms to Mitigate the Economic Crisis
and Promote Medium-Term Growth

Submitted by Business Desk on July 3, 2009 – 14:00 The World Bank’s
Board of Executive Directors today approved the First Development
Policy Operation (DPO-1) for Armenia in the amount of US$60 million.
In the context of the global economic crisis, the proposed series of
three annual Operations supports Armenia’s strategic objectives of
addressing vulnerability to the current shocks by protecting the poor
and supporting greater human capital development and improving
competitiveness by encouraging better governance and fostering a more
favorable investment climate. The latter is a key requirement for
post-crisis recovery and growth over the medium term.
`This Operation supports the implementation of the Government’s
program to help mitigate the social impact of the externally-driven
crisis and attract private investment for strong post-crisis growth,’
saidAsad Alam, World Bank Regional Director for the South
Caucasus. `It provides for maintaining essential social services,
particularly for the poor and the vulnerable, who are hurting from the
loss in jobs and incomes.’
`The proposed program supports a prioritized and coherent package of
reforms needed to diversify the economy, make Armenia more
competitive, continue modernization of the public sector, and promote
growth and poverty reduction over the medium term,’ added Robert
Taliercio, Task Team Leader for the program. `This is particularly
important since the restoration of high growth rates has to be the
engine for increases in jobs and incomes for the people of Armenia.’
The DPO aims to help Armenia mitigate vulnerability by supporting
measures such as increased funding for social safety net programs,
including Family Benefits (FB), pensions, and unemployment insurance,
and by making sure that the programs are reaching those who need them
the most. The DPO will also help by restoring funding for selected
priority health programs for the poor and vulnerable in with service
delivery reforms. Finally it will mitigate vulnerability by supporting
improvements to tertiary and preschool education, as well as by
strengthening sustainable use of energy and natural resources with
more robust environmental impact assessment.
For strengthening competitiveness for recovery and growth, the
Operation supports intensified banking sector surveillance and
liquidity provision; reduced costs of business registration; priority
reforms of the State Revenue Committee and preparation and publishing
of a Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment
to serve as a baseline for future reforms.
The IDA Credit will be made to Armenia on terms including a 20 year
maturity and 10 year grace period.
Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, commitments to
Armenia total approximately US$1,247 million.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN ATTENDED A SIGNING CEREMONY FOR A MEDIUM-TERM LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT AND ELITE GROUP COMPANY AT THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL GALLERY FRESCOS HALL

Wednesd ay, 1 July 2009

The agreement was signed by Elite Group Director Armen Mkoyan and
EBRD Armenia Office Head Valeri Razlog.

As a leading developer in Armenia, Elite Group will get USD 5.5
million in loan and Euro 130.000 in grant resources to push ahead
with its energy saving-oriented innovational policy.

In his address, the head of the Armenian government said, in
particular: "This agreement is of top importance in a sense that it
is the second time for the past few months Armenia has received
a credit on the part of the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development. The latest loan to Armenia’s energy sector was
unprecedented in volume, and today the Bank is providing a loan of
USD 5.5 million to Armenia’s best developer.

Recently the RA government decided to provide Elite Group with a
State guarantee for borrowing needs.

As you may know, construction has experienced a sharp fall over the
past five months, which seriously affected other sectors, too. The
government of Armenia seeks to help domestic developers find extra
resources so badly needed for recovery. On the one hand, government
support is needed to e nsure availability of borrowed funds and, on
the other hand, the existing stock of confidence should be extended
to the private sector so as it can further carry out investments.

This agreement is particular in that it has a grant component
considering that Elite Group has been applying modern technologies,
with the aforementioned component being pivotal in the loan package.

Please accept my compliments on the signing of the agreement. Also,
I wish to thank our partners from London, EBRD Regional Director Paul
Henri Forcetiery considering that this agreement will go a long way
towards challenging the global crisis."