Author: Nalchajian Markos

ACCORDING TO BAGRAT ASATRIAN, BECAUSE OF LOANS ARMENIA HAS AILING ECONOMY, WHICH IT TRIES TO TREAT WITH NEW LOANS

Noyan Tapan
Aug 19, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. There has been a 16.3% economic
downturn in Armenia in 2009 due to a decline in construction (53%)
and industry (11.3%), RA Deputy Minister of Finance Vardan Aramian
announced on August 19. In his words, there is the same situation
in the world economy which means that the developments in Armenia’s
economy are in line with the global developments.

He forecast a 12-15% downturn in late 2009.

According to V. Aramian, the government is conducting an expansionary
policy: instead of the private sector which is in poor condition now,
it injects money into the economy, and the sooner the economy absorbs
that money, the sooner a growth will begin.

The member of the RA National Assembly "Prosperous Armenia" faction,
Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Issues Vardan
Bostanjian expressed an opinion that one of the causes of the current
hard economic conditions is the incomprehensible forecasts made by
non-experts. "We continue requesting money from outside to inject it
into the economy. We don’t see anything good in this," he noted. At
the same time he stated that there would be a positive result in 2010.

In the opinion of the former Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA) Bagrat Asatrian, 16.3% economic dowturn recorded in Armenia
in 2009 is conditioned by the poor work done in the last quarter of
2008. In his words, the economy contracted by almost 20% at the time
when the authorities forecast an economic growth. B. Asatrian said
there is now a growth in trade and service sectors due to the existence
of a shadow economy. However, this resource will be exhausted soon.

B. Asatrian said that a growth may be recorded in agriculture and
industry in 2010, but these are optimistic forecasts.

In his estimation, Russia’s economy will have a decisive impact on the
Armenian economy. If Russia ensures a growth of at least 3% in 2010,
only in this case our economy will begin to stabilize.

He expressed an opinion that no anti-crisis program exists at the
present time, while the government’s expansionary policy is beyond
understanding.

According to the speaker, the reason for the current situation is
that at one time a double-digit ecomomic growth was recorded on the
basis of private remittances and loans received from international
organizations. "As a result we have an ailing economy. Today we again
take loans from outside to overcome the crisis. It turns out that
we want to treat the illness with the resources that caused it,"
B. Asatrian said.

MOZART, L’OPERA ROCK TO OPEN IN PARIS

AZG Armenian Daily
20/08/2009

Culture

A rock opera based on the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart goes on stage
in Paris next month, in what the producer says will be a tribute to
"the first rock star.

The opera will chart the highs, lows and romantic pursuits of the
composer’s life from early days in his birth town, Salzburg, to
international fame in Vienna. The $11-million musical will feature
60 actors, singers and musicians in period dress, with violinists
in 18th-century style accompanying a live rock band amid swirling
spotlights.

The show will intersperse Mozart’s original works, performed by
classical musicians, with rock songs. Mozart, L’Opera Rock will
premiere in Paris’s Palais des Sports on Sept. 22 before touring,
Reuters reports.

VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN’S LAWYER NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT HIS CLIENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.08.2009 15:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On August 17, Georgian-Armenian activist Vahagn
Chakhalyan’s defense lawyer Stepan Voskanyan was not allowed to visit
his client who is kept in detention in Rustavi prison No. 2. Prison
authorities accounted for such decision by invalidity of documents
authorizing Armenian lawyer to meet with Chakhalyan.

The same day, Stepan Voskanyan applied to Georgian Ombudsman’s office
which found prison authorities’ decision groundless, Yerkir Union of
Union of NGOs eported to PanARMENIAN.Net.

Along with several other documents, Voskanyan also submitted his
written appeal addressed to Georgian Onbudsman Suzar Sobari and
prison administration.

Yerkir union estimates the decision as successful violation of
activist’s right, which aims to prevent defendant from preparing for
court hearing due on September 18, 2009. Besides, by making such step,
Georgian authorities also try to block Chakhalyan’s access to Armenian
media reports, to which his lawyer had previously introduced him.

Considering the above-mentioned, Yerkir union calls on Georgian
Ombudsman Sozar Subari, international human rights organizations and
diplomatic representations accredited to Georgia to make relevant
assessment on Georgian authorities’ disgraceful infringements in
relation to political activist Vahagn Chakhalyan and eliminate the
consequences of such step, ensuring his lawyer’s unimpeded access to
the defendant.

ARMENIAN SIDE CAN TALK ABOUT HALF MILLION REFUGEES

Aysor.am
14.08.2009, 17:25

The Constitutional Rights Union suggests changing the status of the
committee dealing with the matters of refugees, about this declared
Hayk Babukhanyan at the press conference today.

"The head of the committee of the refugees should be given the status
of a vice prime minister to show our attitude to the problems of
refugees",-he said, adding that the head of one committee cannot
manage these problems with his present status especially that the
Armenian side started to give in the Azerbaijani side in this matter.

"In Azerbaijan they always show their "refugees" who do not exist
in reality. According to the international norms those leaving
Armenia have got compensation and are no longer refugees", -he said,
mentioning that the problem is different concerning those who left
Nagorno Karabakh and liberated territories.

"If Azerbaijan considers Nagorno Karabakh and liberated territories
independent country, so these people are refugees, if they consider
it their land, so the person who moves from one territory to another
is called "person transferred". In this case Azerbaijan cannot speak
about refugees",-said Hayk Babukhanyan, mentioning that Armenian side
can speak about half million refugees.

SCR: INTERSTATE PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION PLAN WAS OVERFULFILLED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.08.2009 18:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 2009 Interstate passenger transportation plan was
fulfilled by 14.6%, South-Caucasian Railways (SCR) CJSC’s directorate
says in a report concerning data on passenger transportation rate.

Thus, passenger transportation in Yerevan-Batumi and Yerevan-Tbilisi
directions made up 155.1% (tickets sold: 5 894 instead of the planned
3 800) and 126.3% (tickets sold: 2021 instead of the planned 1600)
respectively.

Total number of tickets for interstate trips was 7 915, instead of
the planned 5 400.

In the same period, passenger circulation plan was fulfilled by 166.4%
(4 127,0 pass./km, instead of the planned 2 479,6 pass./km.), SCR
press service reports.

GOLDEN APRICOT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL LEAVE FOR JAVAKHK

PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.08.2009 16:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The International Film Festival Golden Apricot will
visit Javakhk for the second time. 6 movies participated in the Golden
Apricot 6-th International Film Festival will be presented again in the
framework of the "Golden Apricot on wheels" in Akhalkalaki. Dwellers of
Akhalkalaki will watch the work of the Georgian film director Georgi
Ovashvili, main prize- winner of this year, the film "The other bank"
and "Boundary" documentary by Harutyun Khachatryan.

"Such cultural programs are certainly to bridge the gap between
Armenia and Georgia," Ashot Melkonyan, director of the Institute of
Armenian History, told a press conference today in Yerevan. "We must
remember that Javakhk shouldn’t become a bone of contention between
our countries, on the contrary, it is a binding part of the fraternal
peoples," he said "Golden Apricot on wheels" will be opened at the
House of Culture of Akhalkalak with screening of the masterpiece of
Sergei Paradjanov "Color of pomegranate", which celebrated its 40th
anniversary this year.

According to festival director Harutyun Khachatryan, "Golden Apricot
on wheels" to be organized next year in other regions of Georgia
populated by Armenians.

Demonstrations will be free of charge. "Golden Apricot on Wheels"
is implemented through cooperation with the Tbilisi International
Film Festival and the National Cinema Center of Georgia.

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE SOUTH OF ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.08.2009 18:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is planned to construct an international airport
in the south of Armenia, not far from the town of Goris, Armenia’s
chief architect Narek Sargsyan told journalists in the resort town of
Jermuk. Refusing to mention any time-limits concerning construction
work, the architect said that project elaboration will start after
conducting some research into the plan.

Answering the question on constructing the airport in Jernuk, Sargsyan
ruled out such possibility, considering North-South project. A small
town like Jermuk needs only a small airport and a heliport, he noted.

Turkish National Assembly Blocks Distribution of Genocide Book to
Members

ish-national-assembly-blocks-distribution-of-genoc ide-book-to-members/
By Contributor on Aug 7th, 2009

BY AYSE GUNAYSU

Armenian Weekly columnist Ayse Gunaysu reports from Istanbul on yet
another effort by the Turkish Grand National Assembly to stifle
discussion about the Blue Book.

The delivery of the Blue Book to the members of the Turkish Grand
National Assembly (TGNA) has been rejected by the Speaker of the
TGNA. The 550 copies of the new authorized Turkish translation of `The
Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-1916,’ a 1916
publication of the British Parliament known as the Blue Book, had been
individually packed and addressed to each member of the TGNA after the
launch of the book in Ankara by Lord Avebury, vice-chair of the
Parliamentary Human Rights Group and Ara Sarafian, director of the
Gomidas Institute, on June 26, 2009. The 550 copies were returned to
the printing house. Delivery through a cargo company in Ankara was
later arranged.

The Turkish edition of Blue Book released in Ankara was published by
the Gomidas Institute (London), which had also published the
uncensored editions of the original 1916 publication, edited and with
an introduction by Ara Sarafian, in 2000 and 2005 respectively.

A report published in the August 5 issue of the daily Hurriyet
revealed the truth behind the TGNA’s refusal of the books. In a news
item by Hurriyet correspondent Sefa Kaplan, Sukru Elekdag is quoted to
have said that it was he who called Speaker Koksal Toptan (the deputy
of the ruling AKP) and told him not to give permission for the
distribution of the books. Here is how Sukru Elekdag justified his
action: `Toynbee had himself confessed that the book was a collection
of lies. I consider it my duty to stop the delivery of the books. I
don’t think that this is censorship. It is inappropriate to let a book
which is nothing but a propaganda tool distributed and promoted.’

Sukru Elekdag said he hadn’t received any invitation from Sarafian but
he is ready to discuss the Blue Book issue with Sarafian either in
England or in Turkey.

Ragip Zarakolu, the owner of the Belge Publishing House and the
Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Association in Turkey, organized the
delivery of the books through a cargo company. He said the ban on the
book by the Speaker of TGNA was a scandal and a usurpation of the
right of MP’s to exercise their free will. Zarakolu said they will
send the copies to the home addresses of the TGNA members.

Contacted by phone, Ara Sarafian commented, `Elekdag is concerned
about his own legacy. He has misled and compromised the TGNA on the
Blue Book issue for many years. Now he wants to stop his colleagues
from finding out what he has done. We will invite Elekdag to a public
meeting and hold him accountable for his views.’

Sukru Elekdag is a retired ambassador and the architect of Turkey’s
domestic and international strategy against the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. He was the one behind the well-known TGNA letter to
the British Parliament, signed by 550 members, demanding the
withdrawal of the Blue Book and acknowledgement of the fact that it is
nothing but a war-time propaganda tool, a `fabrication.’

For more information about the blue book issue, including copies of
the invitations sent to Elekdag and his colleagues for a dialogue
regarding the Blue Book see

Matthew Bryza: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey have an historical chance
to improve relations

armradio.am
08.08.2009 16:36

Within the frameworks of `Euro forum’ program OSCE Minsk Group American
Co-Chair Matthew Bryza met with Armenian and European students in
Tsakhkadzor. During the meeting he spoke about regional and bilateral
issues, and then he replied the questions of participants and
journalists.

For the first he informed that he is ending his mission as the
assistant of U.S. Deputy Secretary of State. Then Bryza said that on
September he will pay another visit to the region. Speaking about the
criticism and mistrustfulness towards the USA and Minsk Group as if
they are trying to exert pressure on the sides to do concessions,
American Co-Chair said he is surprised.

`OSCE Minsk Group dealing with NKR conflict settlement cannot exert
pressures on Armenia or Azerbaijan,’ OSCE MG American Co-Chair Matthew
Bryza announced. `As mediators, we can only propose several variants
for conflict settlement. Decisions are taken by conflicting parties.
What mediators want is peace, which cannot be achieved without any
concessions by either of the parties. It is now important to find a
balance between the two basic principles, i.e. territorial integrity
and nation’s right to self-determination. Nagorno Karabakh should
certainly have its status which will be determined through referendum.
Such requirement is included in Madrid Principles,’ American diplomat
said.

`To avoid military operations, we also insist that thunder runs be
withdrawn. To discuss possibilities of concluding peace agreement, we
have to wait several months till negotiations are over,’ Bryza
stressed. ‘Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey have an historical chance to
improve relations,’ Bryza concluded.

OPEN CINEMA FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO SERGEY PARAJANOV DUE IN ST. PETERSBURG ON AUGUST 7

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
06.08.2009 20:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The fifth international Open Cinema Festival of short
films and animations dedicated to renowned director Sergey Parajanov’s
85th birth anniversary is due in St. Petersburg on August 7. "Visitors
will be introduced to the most significant short films created over
the past 2 years. The style of motion pictures will vary from live
action films to animations and experimental videos," organizers note.

More than 500 candidates from 23 countries have submitted applications
for participation. The non-competition part will introduce participants
to 16 international festival programs, as well as Russian cinema
schools and cinema film studios. European film distributors’
retrospective shows and best short film collections will be screened
as well.

Festival opening was preceded by the exhibition titled "Sergey
Parajanov’s World – Art without Frontiers". It opened Thursday in the
Engineers’ House of Petropavlovsk Castle. The exhibition which lasted
several days introduced visitors to 50 photos from the collection of
Parajanov Museum in Yerevan.

The original version of Parajanov’s "Color of Pomegranate" will be
screened on August 7 in the town’s Cinema House, marking the official
start of the festival program. Film presentation will be followed by
contest and festival shows, as well as retrospective shows featuring
international festivals organized worldwide.

Festival program includes Anton Adasinsky’s master-class and the
conference on "Sergei Parajanov’s Form Plastics: Pro et Pro". Attended
by leading cinematographers and art critics, the conference will
focus on the great director’s creative art. Festival closing will
take place on the beach near Petropavlovsk Castle.

On Friday, August 14, the best motion pictures included in the
non-competition part of festival program will be screened. Winner
award ceremony, the first over the entire course of the festival’s
history, will be organized in the open air, NEWSru.ua. reports.