Author: Kamalian Hagop

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| 15:45:06 | 08-06-2005 | Economy |

UNIVERSAL CREDITOR

Today the official opening of the `Izmirlyan-Eurasia Universal Credit
Company’ LTD took place, although the Credit Company has been working since
2004 August.

According to the executive director of the Company Zaqar Boyajyan the two
companies have united `to make their investment in the improvement of the
economy and living level in Armenia’. Up to now the `Izmirlyan-Eurasia
Universal Credit Company’ has certified 41 credits of a total sum of 2.3
million with 275 working places. The credits are mainly given to
food-producing, service and agricultural companies.

The longest term of the credits is 48 months, the largest sum is 125 000 UA
dollars, and the yearly interest is15%. Asked if the interest is not high
for Armenia deputy head of the Izmirlyan fund Gregory Jerejyan said that
they have taken into consideration the interest rate in the market.
Moreover, according to him it is an attractive figure. Besides, as Mr.
Jerejyan said, the money from the payment of the interests is again
circulated in Armenia in the form of credits.

By the way, up to now only 3% of those who have received credits have not
paid it off on time. According to Boyajyan, different law sanctions are
imposed upon them.

Los Angeles Daily News
June 7 2005

AN HONORED GUEST

John McCoy/Staff Photographer Kristine Torssian, left, and Lianna
Khasayan, students from Glendale High School, offer bread to Armenian
Pontiff Karekin II as he arrives at the school on Monday. It is his
second visit to the U.S. since his appointment in 1999. John
McCoy/Staff Photographer Members of the A Cappella Choir from
Glendale High School, left, perform during the school rally on
Monday. Above, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, applauds their performance.

US PHILANTHROPIST TO SPONSOR CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES FOR
REFUGEES IN KARABAKH

YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. Tufenkian Foundation has announced the
start of new sponsorship in Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

US philanthropist of Armenian origin Alber Karamanoukian will donate
$20,000 for each house to be built for the 6 refugee families (25
people) living in Arajamough village. The foundation is also planning
to build facilities for cattle breeding and agriculture.

Tufenkian Foundation was established in 1999 by New York based
businessman James Tufenkian. It is presently implementing a number of
large-scale projects in Armenia and Karabakh and sponsors Forests of
Armenia ecological NGO.

BABKEN ARARKTSIAN: UNLESS POLITICAL FORCES CAN STIR UP SOCIETY NO OUTER FORCE CAN CHANGE ANYTHING IN COUNTRY

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. “The current authorities formed an
atmosphere in Armenia when the opposition can’t present its views to
the public. Even in 1988, in spite of the persecutions, it was possible
to organize rallies and now a rude force has command everywhere,”
Babken Ararktsian, Chairman of the Armat (Root) Center for Development
of Democracy and Civil Society, Speaker of Armenian Parliament
in 1992-98, declared at the June 2 meeting at the National Press
Club. According to him, Armenia was left out of all regional projects
and stopped being a factor in the region. At the same time, Ararktsian
didn’t exclude that processes taking place in the post-Soviet area
can involve Armenia, too. Nevertheless, according to him, one should
realize that in spite of the possibility of a strong pressure on the
processes in the country outer interference can’t play a decisive
role. “Unless the political forces are able to stir up the society,
no outer force can change anything in the country,” Babken Ararktsian
declared. In his estimation, today Armenia is a police state when no
member of the opposition can speak by any TV channel. “But I hope that
even in conditions of this police state some resources will be found
and the opposition will be able to organize meetings with people,”
he mentioned. The former speaker expressed anxiety in connection
with the draft constitutional amendments: “These amendments give the
President such authorities, about which leaders of other countries
can’t even dream.” In particular, he paid attention to a number of
articles fixing President’s right to personally bring in a state of
emergency. Besides, in his affirmation, no terms are mentioned in
these articles. “We should do our best in order that these amendments,
and, in essence, this is a new Constitution, shouldn’t be adopted,”
Ararktsian declared. As for Karabakh conflict’s settlement, Babken
Ararktsian declared that this issue is solved and asked not to create
illusions. He grounded his position in this issue by both Istanbul
Charter and speeches of heads of leading states.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: ARMENIA DOES ITS BEST TO MAKE STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION MORE EFFICIENT

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia takes all possible steps
to make struggle against corruption more efficient. RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian declared this on June 3, receiving the
delegation of Assessment Commission of Group of States against
Corruption (GRECO) headed by Mr. Carlo Chiaramonte, member of GRECO
Secretariate. According to RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, Vartan Oskanian highly estimated the commission’s
work. During the previous 5 days GRECO delegation met with heads of
structures and specialists responsible for making struggle against
corruption more operative. They must be able to suspend corruption
risks in the country by means of legislative reforms and other concrete
steps. Within 6 months after this visit, during GRECO’s close sitting,
the commission will submit a document containing its conclusions on
the results of assessment carried out in Armenia. Guarantees will be
given on the basis of this document.

TURKEY BANS MACEDONIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM FROM FLYING TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, June 3. /ARKA/. On Thursday evening, the Turkish authorities
prohibited an airplane carrying the Macedonian national football team
from flying to Armenia over Turkey. The team was going to Yerevan
to take part in a match of the 2006 World Championship scheduled for
Saturday. RIA Novostry reports that the plane, which was in Turkey’s
airspace a few dozen kilometers from Armenia’s border about half an
hour, had to fly back to Skopje. The Macedonia newspaper Utrenski
Vesnik reported that Ankara accounted for the incident by the fact
that the crew had no necessary documents for flying over Turkey.
Other Macedonian mass media suppose that the reason is the tension
between Armenia and Turkey. The Macedonian football association is
currently seeking an opportunity for transporting its national team
to Armenia in another way. P.T. -0–

NEW CRIMINAL CODE FUNCTIONS IN TURKEY

AZG Armenian Daily #101, 03/06/2005

Turkey

The new criminal code came into force in Turkey on June 1. BBC informed that
though there are many amendments in the new criminal code made by the demand
of the EU, it still envisages punishment measures. Particularly, the
accusations against the state structures, as well as publication of the
materials that “contradict the national interests” should be punished
according to the law.

The old criminal code considered the publications including the issues of
withdrawal of Turkish forces from Cyprus and the statements about the
Armenian Genocide in 1915 were considered as contradicting the national
interests. Though, the Armenian Genocide is not mentioned in the new
criminal code, it is obvious that the statements on the Armenian Genocide
can be characterized as “contradicting the national interests.”

SESSION OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COMMISSION ON BOARDER DEMARCATION TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER

YEREVAN, June 2. /ARKA/. Session of Armenian-Georgian Commission on
Boarder Demarcation is to be held in November. According to Armenian
Government’s Press and Public Relations Department, the arrangement
was made during a meeting between Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan and
his Georgian counterpart Zurab Nogaideli in Tbilisi. At the meeting,
the head of the two republic’s Governments discussed issues related
to Armenian-Georgian border demarcation and said matters related to
separating lines would be discussed at the November session. Speaking
about transport issues, the sides expressed mutual interest in
launching Abkhazian section of Georgian railway as soon as possible
thinking this will be beneficial to both republics. M.V -0–

US SENATOR: TRANSFER OF RUSSIAN ARMS TO ARMENIA WILL FORM TENSION IN REGION

Pan Armenian News
02.06.2005 02:38

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The transfer of the arms of Russian military bases
from Georgia to Armenia will form tension in the region, US Senator
Charles Hagel supposes. “It is pleasant that Russia agreed to withdraw
its troops from Georgia. However in case the arms and ammunition
are transferred to Armenia, tension will undoubtedly appear in the
region,” he said at a press conference in Baku. “Being independent
states Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia should avoid stationing of
foreign bases in their territories, as it will result in tension in
the region,” said Charles Hagel, reported Interfax.

VENICE COMMISSION MEMBERS ARRIVING IN ARMENIA TODAY

Pan Armenian News
02.06.2005 02:47

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On occasion of constitutional amendments to be
introduced to the RA Constitution the representatives of the PACE
Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio, Aivars Endzins and Simona
Granata-Menghini are arriving in Armenia, RA NA press service
reported. During the visit the guests will meet with Parliament
Speaker Artur Baghdasarian and Vice Speaker, head of the Armenian
delegation in the PACE Tigran Torosian. Discussions with the ruling
coalition on the further cooperation on constitutional reforms will
be held. Armenian President Robert Kocharian is as well expected to
meet with the Commission members.