Author: Kharatian Ani

ARDSHININVESTBANK ANNOUNCES FIRST ISSUE OF NONDOCUMENTARY BONDS

ARKA
Dec 22, 2008
YEREVAN

Ardshininvestbank has announced its first 1.5bln AMD issue of
nondocumentary bonds. The bank’s press service reports that 154
investors (121 individuals, 33 legal entities, with 152 of them being
residents and two nonresidents) have made investments in the bonds.

Quarterly coupon payments (250 AMD for each coupon) are to be effected
during next year, with the first coupon payment scheduled for March 5,
2009, second for June 5, third for September 5 and fourth for December
5, which day is also the maturity date. During the circulation,
the bank may redeem bonds at a pre-fixed price.

"Considering the successful first issue of the bonds, Ardshininvestbank
plans a second issue during 2009," the report says.

The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) issued Banking License #83 to the
Ardshininvestbank CJSC on February 27, 2003. The Ardshininvestbank
principal stockholders are the Region investment corporation (86.82%)
and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which purchased 10%
late last year.

The bank is an affiliate member of the MasterCard/Euriopay system
and a share holder of the Armenian Card CJSC.

As of December 30, 2008, Ardshininvestbank’s capital totaled 22.7bln
AMD, assets 119.2bln AMD, liabilities 94.5bln AMD, credit assets
79.8bln AMD and retained earnings 4.1bln AMD.

The bank has 55 branches, with six of them in the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR). The bank also has a representative office in Paris,
France.

According to the information at ARKA’s disposal, the bank is
among the leaders as to key performance indicators. From January
through September 2008, the bank had the second largest assets and
liabilities, being leader in crediting, amount of deposits attracted
from clients and net profits. The bank also had the third largest
total capital.

UNION YERKIR

[email protected]

Nouvelles Persécutions au Djavakhk

20 décembre 2008.

Le procès des militants du mouvement pour les droits civiques des
arméniens du Djavakhk, à savoir de Vahagn Chakhalyan (leader de
l’Alliance Démocratique Djavakhk Uni), de son père Rupen et de son
frère mineur Armen ainsi que le procès de Gourguen Shirinyan, de son
père Harutyun et de sa tante Karine, doivent reprendre le mercredi 24
décembre.

Les autorités géorgiennes continuent à faire pression sur les témoins,
les amis et les familles Chakhalyan et Shirinyan ainsi que sur les
membres et sympathisants de l’Alliance Démocratique Djavakhk Uni.

· Arthur Nahapetyan, cousin de Gourguen Shirinyan, a pris en charge
les frais de l’avocat défendant ses parents. Une procédure judiciaire a
été ouverte contre lui pour escroquerie et fraude fiscale (la police a
fait pression sur son créancier afin qu’il dépose plainte contre lui).
Le procès doit avoir lieu prochainement.

· Le cousin de Vahagn Chakhalyan, Varsham Chakhalyan a été condamné
à une peine de cinq ans de prison pour non remboursement d’une dette,
ce dernier ayant été libéré sous caution d’un montant de 10 000 Lari (4
200 ?¬).

· L’atlier de fabrication de portes et de fenêtres du père de Vahag
Chakhalyan, Rupen a été fermé par l’administration fiscale géorgienne.

· Après 5 mois d’emprisonnement, de procédures et le début des
procès le 6 novembre 2008, la police d’Akhalkalak et de Borjomi a
ajouté, dernièrement, de nouvelles charges contre Vahagn Chakhalyan,
charges basées sur des faits datant du printemps 2006.

· Pour trouver de nouvelles charges, la police maintient sa
politique d’intimidation en convoquant régulièrement les membres et
sympathisants de l’Alliance Démocratique Djavakhk Uni ainsi que les
parents et les amis de Vahagn Chakhalyan pour les contraindre à des
témoignages contre lui.

Les objectifs des autorités géorgiennes sont :

· D’affaiblir les soutiens et les familles Chakhalyan et Shirinyan
par une politique de pression judiciaire, administrative et fiscale
pour les détruire économiquement.

· De terroriser les témoins de la défense pour les inciter à ne pas
témoigner.

· D’établir un climat de peur dans la population arménienne
d’Akhalkalak.

En conséquence, l’Union YERKIR demande à l’Ombudsman (défendeur public)
de Géorgie, M. Sozar Subari, à l’OSCE, aux structures et organisations
internationales présentes en Géorgie de se pencher sur ces événements
et faire pression sur les autorités géorgiennes, en particulier sur les
ministères de l’intérieur et de la justice, pour que cessent
définitivement leur politique de répressions contre les arméniens de
Samtskhe-Djavakhetie et qu’elles libèrent rapidement tous les
prisonniers politiques.

UNION YERKIR

CONGRESSMAN MARK KIRK TO BE INCOMING CO-CHAIR OF CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES

De Facto
Dec 18, 2008

YEREVAN, 18.12.08. DE FACTO. Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) has been
elected the incoming Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues.

Congressman Kirk succeeds Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), who will
be retiring at the end of the 110th Congress, the Armenian Assembly
of America (Assembly) reports.

"After 20 years of working with the Armenian-American community
to advance U.S.-Armenia issues, I am honored and excited to serve
alongside Congressman Pallone as co-chair of the Caucus on Armenia
Issues," Kirk said. "The Caucus on Armenian Issues is well-known for
its work to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia relationship and recognize
the Armenian Genocide. I look forward to working with Congressman
Pallone and all members of the Caucus to advance the U.S.-Armenia
relationship in the 111th Congress."

To note, first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000,
Congressman Kirk succeeded John Porter (R-IL), who served as the
first Republican Co-Chair of the Caucus. Rep. Kirk represents the
10th district of Illinois, which is located north of Chicago, along
Lake Michigan and is home to St.

George Armenian Apostolic Church. Congressman Kirk serves on the
Appropriations Committee and sits on the State, Foreign Operations,
and Related Programs Subcommittee, responsible for determining crucial
funding to Armenia, and Financial Services.

During his tenure in Congress, Rep. Kirk has co-sponsored numerous
Armenian Genocide resolutions and made several statements in support
of reaffirmation. In addition, he has supported resolutions calling
for Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Armenia, and was a cosponsor
of H.Res. 3361, which prevented tax-payer funding of a rail bypass
of Armenia.

Jim Keledjian, ARAMAC Illinois State Chair said, "We are extremely
happy to have Rep. Kirk Co-Chair the Armenian Caucus. He has been a
strong advocate of Armenian interests throughout his tenure in the
House of Representatives and even prior as staff of former Caucus
Co-chair, Rep. Porter."

"The Assembly congratulates Congressman Kirk on this new role
and extends its sincere appreciation to outgoing Caucus Co-Chair
Knollenberg," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Nearly
90 percent of the Caucus is returning in the 111th Congress and we look
forward to working with Representative Kirk and the entire Caucus. The
Assembly’s 2009 Advocacy Conference and Banquet in Washington, DC
next March will help ensure continued success in the 111th Congress."

An Illinois native, Representative Kirk attended the Universidad
Nacional Autonoma de Mexico before graduating cum laude in
History from Cornell. He holds a Masters Degree from the
London School of Economics and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown

TURKISH INTELLECTUALS APOLOGISE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

EurActiv
Dec 18 2008
Belgium

An initiative by Turkish intellectuals to close a painful chapter
of the region’s history by apologising for the mass killings of
Armenians by the Turkish army in 1915 has irked the authorities in
Ankara. The apology, made through an online petition, triggered a
wave of counter-initiatives on the Facebook social website.

More than 13,000 people, mostly Turks, have signed an online petition
initiated by a group of Turkish intellectuals, who issued an apology
on the Internet for the World War I massacres of Armenians by the
Ottoman army.

Hundreds of thousands of Armenians died during forced removals from
what is now Eastern Turkey, but Turkey denies this was "genocide".

Stopping short of using the word "genocide", the petition, entitled
‘I apologise’, reads:

"My conscience does not accept the insensitivity showed to and the
denial of the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were
subjected to in 1915. I reject this injustice and for my share,
I empathise with the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers. I
apologise to them."

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the initiative made
no sense.

"They [the intellectuals] must have committed genocide because they are
apologising. The Turkish Republic has no such problem," Erdogan stated.

Several Turkish diplomats and lawmakers condemned the apology and
hundreds of Turks joined groups that popped up on Facebook with titles
such as "I am not apologising". A foreign ministry spokesperson denied
that the counterstatements were organised by the authorities.

President Abdullah Gul refrained from directly criticising the
petition, saying the initiative was proof that everything could be
openly discussed in Turkey.

Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink was killed last year after
openly saying that the events of 1915 were genocide. Before that,
Dink was tried for "insulting Turkishness" under controversial
legislation condemned by the EU. Orhan Pamuk, the novelist and 2006
winner of the Nobel prize for literature, was tried under similar
circumstances. Pamuk said in 2005 that a million Armenians were killed
in 1915, but nobody in Turkey dared to talk about it.

ARMENIA’S REACTION TO PARIS DISCUSSIONS

armradio.am
18.12.2008 11:33

Session of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) took place in Paris during which the
draft report on the implementation of PACE Resolutions 1609 and 1620
resolutions by Armenia was presented by co-rapporteurs John Prescott
and Georges Colombier.

In its draft resolution, adopted yesterday in Paris, the Monitoring
Committee welcomed the Armenian President’s creation of a fact-finding
group of experts to look into the March events as an important
step towards meeting the Assembly’s demands, but cautioned that
its credibility would depend on how it conducts its work. They also
expressed satisfaction at efforts to initiate reforms in the media,
electoral legislation and the judiciary.

However, the parliamentarians said that "notwithstanding positive
developments in some areas" the limited progress with regard to the
release of the above mentioned persons meant the Armenian delegation
should be deprived of its vote, if no further progress is reached in
this request before the January 2009 PACE plenary session.

The Assembly is due to decide on the matter on Thursday 29 January
during its forthcoming Winter plenary Session (26 – 30 January 2009).

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian told a short press
conference that some unfavorable suggestions on Armenia comprise part
of a working process.

"Only 15 of 80 members of the Committee where present 10 of which
voted for the voiced suggestions. The very issue on Armenia will
be put for voting at the January session of the PACE I think there
will be such developments in January that will give an opportunity
to review today’s suggestion and confirm that Armenia has implemented
most part of the 1609 and 1620 resolutions. Our position and approach
is that we must continue the process of reforms as it corresponds to
the interests of our people. This is our choice and not the advice
of anyone. Of course, we respect all those establishments which we
are member to and the commitments we have assumed.

We implement them and will continue doing it," Edward Nalbandian said.

GEORGY PETROSIAN: OFFICIAL BAKU’S POLICY AIMED AT ENDANGERING REGIONAL PEACE BECOMES SERIOUS THREAT FOR WHOLE REGION’S SECURITY

Noyan Tapan

Dec 17, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Azeri side’s attempts aimed
at thrusting upon the mediators and international community their
own views of both Nagorno Karabakh problem and its settlement ways
through various international forums is not news for us. NKR Foreign
Minister Georgy Petrosian stated this in response to journalists’
questions. According to him, within the framework of this policy
official Baku makes various tricks, in particular, presents itself
as a victim in the aggression it started against the NKR people and
veils its goals with slogans of European values and democracy. While
Azeri leadership’s latest statements, according to G. Petrosian, in
particular, Ilham Aliyev’s unique commentary upon Moscow Declaration’s
points, that is, denial of conflict settlement in a peaceful way,
as well as Azeri settlement principles show the whole hypocricy of
Azeri democracy and reduce to zero international community’s all
attempts to look for problem settlement ways.

As the NKR Foreign Minister affirmed, at all stages of Nagorno Karabakh
problem development the Azeri side has always been the main bearer of
force solution. The calculation on force resulted in ethnic slaughters
and deportation of Armenians from Sumgayit, Baku, Kirovabad, and other
former Azeri SSR populated areas, which was followed by the Koltso
(Circle) operation aimed at forcible deportation of Armenian villages
of Nagorno Karabakh’s Shahumian, Hadrut, and Shoushi regions. According
to G. Petrosian, during the conflict military stage Baku repeatedly
avoided to limit and to stop military operations, failed ceasefire
agreements, was the first and repeated violator of UN Security Council
four resolutions, did not completely and in time fulfill their demand
and appeal. After concluding a truce the Azeri leadership actively
purchased a great number of attacking ammunition by strengthening the
arms race and continued threatening to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
to resume military operations. Official Baku’s policy to endanger
regional peace being the main precondition for implementation of
international investment programs and socio-economic development
becomes a serious threat for stability and security of not only NKR,
but also the whole region.

The NKR Foreign Minister affirmed that the current status quo is the
result of Azerbaijan’s aggression against NKR and its people and its
further military operations and as the war initiator Azerbaijan bears
the whole responsibility for its consequences. The created status
quo is the minimum that permitted to ensure NKR and its people’s
security and independence under the circumstance of Azerbaijan’s
aggression. "The change of that status quo, in our opinion, inevitably
will result in situation’s destabilization, strengthening of tension
with possible resumption of military operations. In the years of Soviet
power Azeri SSR’s leadership, including with "national leader" Heydar
Aliyev’s hands, tried to make Nagorno Karabakh not self-sufficient
and dependent on Baku first of all trying to change population’s
demographic staff. It was also expressed during the determination of
the borders of the Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh. Now they
try to return Nagorno Karabakh to the past. However, all attempts
are doomed to failure," the NKR Foreign Minister said.

The Minister also said that the NKR authorities have received no
document (he meant the "technical document" that according to OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chairman Bernard Fassier’s information, was given to the
conflict sides within the framework of Ministers’ meeting in Helsinki)
yet. However, according to the Foreign Minister, as a conflict side,
which has been recognized as such according to OSCE basic documents
on Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the NKR authorities expect to receive
that document from Minsk Group Co-chairs in the near future.

"ARMAVIA" AIRLINE PLANS TO ORGANIZE DIRECT FLIGHTS TO LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK

Noyan Tapan

Dec 17, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Armavia airline is carrying
out work for organization of direct flights to Los Angeles and New
York. The deputy director general for production and technical issues
of the airline Aram Yeghoyan said at the December 17 press conference
that this issue will be solved in the near future. According to him,
the airline employs 51 pilots.

It has 4 Airbus planes and will purchase another one in March.

The head of Armavia’s aviation security service Rafael Avetikian said
that based on the ICAO requirements, security problems-related audits
have been conducted at the company for about a year. He announced
that Armavia has successfully passed the first stage of the audit:
according to experts, more than 900 criteria of the airline’s security
are in line with international standards.

R. Avetikian noted that the number of undisciplined passengers grows
year by year, which gives cause for concern as some of them try to
smoke or take alcoholic drinks aboard.

TURKEY’S LEADING OPPOSITION PARTY CONDEMNS PARDON CAMPAIGN FOR ARMENIA

Trend News Agency
Dec 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 17/TrendNews, B.Hasanov/ Turkish leading
opposition party condemns the pardon campaign for Armenia.

"Not Turks but Armenians should ask pardon for the atrocity they
committed in Turkey and Azerbaijan," MP Mehmet Shandir, deputy chairman
of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (NMP), told TrendNews in a
telephone conversation from Ankara on Dec. 17.

A Turkish website, created several days ago, states that the Ottoman
Empire committed crimes against Armenians in 1915, and conducts a
pardon campaign for Armenia. A total of 5,000 people have passed
registration on the website and have asked pardon from Armenians,
says Turkish media.

Armenia and Armenian lobby worldwide state that in 1915 the Ottoman
Empire, Turkey’s predecessor, committed genocide against Armenians
living in Anatolia. Armenians striving to make their statements
recognized worldwide have strengthened their propaganda of the
so-called genocide in several countries and have achieved recognition
of the "Armenian genocide" at several Parliaments.

Shandir says there is no reason for the Turkish nation to
beg pardon. "From whose behalf and for what reason do they ask
pardon?" he asked, adding that those asking pardon make treason and
are psychologically diseased. "Not Turks but those who betrayed the
Ottoman Empire, those who committed the Khojali genocide, and those
who shut their eyes to these atrocities should beg pardon from all
Turks," he said.

FOOD PRICES ARE GETTING HIGHER

Panorama.am
17:08 16/12/2008

"During holidays the food prices are getting higher every year. People
call us and complain that things are getting expensive. I can add that
they will get even more expensive," said the President of "Protection
of Customers’ Rights" NGO Abgar Eghoyan to Panorama.am. He said that
the customers mainly complain that sweets, dairy products, eggs and
legume prices are getting higher.

To the question whether the NGO has applied to the State Committee
for Economic Competition, Mr. Eghoyan said that not yet. Generally
speaking the NGO applies to the Committee every year but their claims
are being shortened. Hence they don’t receive the result they want to.

The press secretary of State Committee for Economic Competition Armine
Udumyan said that they have organized monitoring in food markets
and have found out that sale system is working well enough. She has
just mentioned that the prices of egg and diary products have been
increased, as the firms buy milk with higher prices.

GABRIEL SARGSYAN NAMED BEST SPORTSMAN OF ARMENIA OF 2008

armradio.am
16.12.2008 16:16

As a result of survey among 43 sport reporters, double Olympic
Champion, best chess player of the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden,
Grand Master Gabriel Sargsyan was named the best sportsman of the
year with 313 points.

The Armenian sport journalists chose the ten best sportsmen of 2008
from the list of 33 candidates.

1. Gabriel Sargsyan – chess, 313 points
2. Tigran V. Martirosyan – weightlifting, 289 points
3. Tigran G. Martirosyan – weightlifting, 276 points
4. Levon Aronyan – chess, 245 points
5. Yuri Patrikeev – Greco-Roman wrestling, 241
6. Vladimir Hakobyan – chess, 208 points
7. Roman Amoyan – Greco-Roman wrestling, 195 points
8. Gevorg Davtyan – weightlifting, 164 points
9. Hrachya Javakhyan – boxing, 117 points
10. Tigran L. Petrosyan – chess, 116 points.