Author: Tamamian Anna

ARMENIA: YOUNG OPPOSITIONIST WANTS TO START TERMLESS HUNGER STRIKE IN CUSTODY

081
02 2009, 21:00

Has made a decision to extend by two months, that is, till November
5, the custody term of the young activist of the opposition Tigran
Arakelyan, who has become half-blind while behind bars. The latter
has promised to go on a termless protest hunger strike.

Vardui Elbakyan, Arakelyan’s advocate, told journalists that the court
had rejected the petition of the defence on releasing the young man
on bail. Tigran Arakelyan is accused under part 3, Articles 250 of
the Criminal Code "Hooligan actions by a group of persons."

According to the advocate, since the suffered policeman Eric Pogosyan
had received a slight bodily injury, Arakelyan’s actions be qualified
under part 2, Article 316 of the Criminal Code "Use of violence to
a power representative", assuming imprisonment for 5-10 years.

Ms Elbakyan told about poor state of health of her client. Arakelyan
told her that one of his eyes had practically gone blind as a result
of a blow with a pistol handle received from a policeman. According
to Elbakyan, according to the medical expert’s conclusion, Arakelyan’s
bodily injuries had appeared two days prior to the medical examination.

OFFICIAL BAKU SAYS AGREEMENT CONCERNS TWO STATES ONLY

Panorama.am
17:47 01/09/2009

Azerbaijan is attentive to the recent developments between Armenia
and Turkey. "CNN Turk" reports that Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has
already officially commented on those developments.

Official message of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry states: "We are
not concerned about that protocol. The agreement made between Armenia
and Turkey concerns only the two states."

THE BEATEN SOLDIER DIES

armradio.am
02.09.2009 15:37

Serviceman of the Vayk military unit Aram Lazarian was taken to the
central military hospital of the Ministry of Defense on August 28. The
same day the soldier was operated on and taken to the reanimation
department of the hospital. Aram Lazarian died on September 1,
at 08:05 p.m., Press Service of the Ministry of Defense reports.

According to the Ministry of Defense, a criminal case has been launched
against Captain Andok Galstyan. The latter is accused of beating Aram
Lazarian. Captain Andok Galstyan was arrested on August 29.

The results of the forensic medical examination of the body will be
publicized later. The preliminary investigation is underway.

ARMENIA SHUTS DOWN WEBMONEY FOR ILLEGAL GAMBLING

Ecommerce Journal
Sept 1 2009

State investigators in Armenia reported that they detected underground
casinos that acted under the guise of internet clubs. According
to the official sources owners of the clubs were at the same time
representatives and providers of electronic payment system WebMoney
in Armenia.

In the course of their activity in the country swindlers managed to
earn through WebMoney an amount of about $300 thousand.

Last week the national police blocked the site of Armenian version
of WebMoney. According to some sources the site was shut down for an
indefinite period of time.

AZERBAIJAN CONCERNED ABOUT TURKISH-ARMENIAN RAPPROACHMENT

Today’s Zaman
Sept 2 2009
Turkey

There is an increasing concern in Azerbaijan with respect to
the attempt to establish diplomatic relations between Turkey and
Armenia. Experts believe anti-Turkish sentiments in Azerbaijan
may grow.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry made a statement yesterday on its Web
site saying, "In principle, it is Turkey’s sovereign right to establish
relations with Armenia." However, the statement also emphasized that
the issue has a direct relation to Azerbaijan’s national interests
and "the opening of the border is in direct opposition to Azerbaijani
national interests."

Recalling Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech before
Azerbaijani deputies at the parliament in mid-May, the statement
reads: "The prime minister reassured Azerbaijan that the borders were
closed due to Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories. In
this respect, Turkey will open the borders only if Armenia withdraws
from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories." While the statement did not
ensure that Turkey’s attempt to normalize relations with Armenia was
on track, it clearly stated Turkey’s promise not to open the borders.

Elkhan Pokhulov, head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s media
department, told Today’s Zaman, "Azerbaijan considers the relations
between Turkey and Armenia as relations between two sovereign states,
yet Azerbaijan’s national interests should be considered." Pokhulov
also added that Turkey has declared many times that there cannot
be an opening of borders. "If it opens," Pokhulov stressed, "it is
in opposition to Azerbaijan’s national interests." Addressing the
question of whether Turkey consulted with Azerbaijan with respect to
the issue, Pokhulov said: "Turkey and Azerbaijan constantly inform
each other of developments. However, we have no information about
whether Turkey informed us of this particular policy."

"The situation in Azerbaijan will be even worse," said RövÅ~_en
Ä°brahimov, a professor at Baku Qafqaz University. "It was too sudden,"
he said. Two weeks ago Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan vowed that
he would not attend the soccer match between Armenia and Turkey
in October. Noting the troubling trend with Armenia, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry has decided to restart negotiations with Armenia to
establish close diplomatic ties. "I believe this is the true success
of [Serzh] Sarksyan. Who can now claim that there is a single reason
why Turkey should keep the borders closed? The next step is to
institute diplomatic relations and then open the borders. Turkey
de facto recognizes Armenia and now will de jure recognize it,"
he said. He also argued that the Azerbaijani public believes that
it once put pressure on Turkey and succeeded and it may do the same
again. Questioning the future of the Nabucco project, Ä°brahimov said:
"This fact may also put Nabucco in jeopardy. Azerbaijan may think of
selling all its gas to Russia."

Vefa Guluzade, a prominent expert and former national security advisor
to late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, said Turkey is playing
a dangerous game. Speaking to Today’s Zaman, Guluzade said, "Turkey
could not stand up to pressure from Russia and the US and thereby has
decided to start the negotiations again." Recalling Hillary Clinton’s
telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,
Guluzade claimed that instead of behaving on the basis of Clinton’s
promises, the Turkish government should instead act following the
fulfillment of Clinton’s promises. Clinton had previously said the
American administration would help resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Guluzade said her promises are not real and that during Bill
Clinton’s tenure, the American administration was too fragile for
a strong Armenian lobby in the US. Guluzade also concluded that the
Azerbaijani public will explicitly respond to the recent agreement
between Turkey and Armenia and that there will be huge disappointment
among the Azerbaijani public. The government, in contrast, may keep
silent due to international conjecture.

RA MFA ISSUES ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs issued two protocols signed by Armenia and Turkey under
Swiss mediation.

Noyan Tapan releases the full text of the protocols.

Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the
Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey.

"The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey. Desiring
to establish good neighbourly relations and to develop bilateral
cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and other fields
for the benefit of their peoples, as envisaged in the Protocol on
the development of relations signed on the same day.

Referring to their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations,
the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe,

Reconfirming their commitment, in their bilateral and international
relations, to respect and ensure respect for the principles of
equality, sovereignty, non-intervention in internal affairs of other
states, territorial integrity and inviolability of frontiers,

Bearing in mind the importance of the creation and maintenance of an
atmosphere of trust and confidence between the two countries that will
contribute to the strengthening of peace, security and stability of the
whole region, as well as being determined to refrain from the threat
of the use of force, to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes,
and to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Confirming the mutual recognition of the existing border between the
two countries as defined relevant treaties of international law,

Emphasizing their decisions to open the common border,

Reiterating their commitment to refrain from pursuing any policy
incompatible with the spirit of good neighbourly relations,

Condemning all forms of terrorism, violence and extremism irrespective
of their cause, pledging to refrain from encouraging and tolerating
such acts and to cooperate against them,

Affirming their willingness to chart a new pattern and course for
their relations on the basis of common interests, goodwill and in
pursuit of peace, mutual understanding and harmony,

Agree to establish diplomatic relations as of the date of the entry
into force of this Protocol accordance with the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and to exchange Diplomatic Missions.

This Protocol and the Protocol on the Development of Bilateral
Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey
shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the first day of the
first month following of instruments of ratification.

Signed in (place) on (date) in Armenian, Turkish and English languages
authentic copies in duplicate. In case of divergence of interpretation,
the English text shall prevail.

For the Republic of Armenia

For the Republic of Turkey"

Protocol on Development of Relations between the Republic of Armenia
and the Republic of Turkey

"The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey.

Guided by the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations
between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey signed on
the same day,

Considering the perspectives of developing their bilateral relations,
based on confidence and respect to their mutual interests,

Determining to develop and enhance their bilateral relations, in the
political, economic, energy, transport, scientific, technical, cultural
issues and other fields, based on common interest of both countries,

Supporting the promotion of the cooperation between the two countries,
in the international and regional organizations, especially within the
framework of the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council and the BSEC,

Taking into account the common purpose of both States to cooperate for
enchancimg regional stability and security for ensuring the democratic
and sustainable development of the region,

Reiterating their commitment to the peaceful settlement of regional
and international disputes and the conflicts on the basis of the
norms and principles of law,

Reaffirming their readiness to actively support the actions of eth
international community in addressing common security threats to
the region and world security and stability, such as terrorism,
transnational organized crimes, illicit trafficking of drugs and arms,

1. Agree to open the common border within 2 months after the entry
into force of this Protocol,

2. Agree to

conduct regular political consultations between the Ministries of
Foreign Affairs of the two countries;

implement a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim
to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including
an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and
archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations;

make the best possible use of existing transport, communications
and energy infrastructure and networks between the two countries,
and to undertake measures in this regard;

develop the bilateral legal framework in order to foster cooperation
between the two countries;

cooperate in the fields of science and education by encouraging
relations between the appropriate institutions as well as promoting
the exchange of specialists and students, and act with the aim of
preserving the cultural heritage of both sides and launching common
cultural projects; establish consular cooperation in accordance
with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 in order to
provide necessary assistance and protection to the citizens of the
two countries;

take concrete measures in order to develop trade, tourism and economic
cooperation between the two countries;

engage in a dialogue and reinforce their cooperation on environmental
issues.

3. Agree on the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral
commission which shall comprise separate sub-commissions for the
prompt implementation of the commitments mentioned in operational
paragraph 2 above in this Protocol. To prepare the working modalities
of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions, a
working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall
be created 2 months after the day following the entry into force of
this Protocol. Within 3 months after the entry into force of this
Protocol, these modalities shall be approved at ministerial level. The
intergovernmental commission shall meet for the first time immediately
after the adoption of the said modalities. The sub-commissions shall
start their work at the latest 1 month thereafter and they shall work
continuously until the completion of their mandates. The timetable
and elements agreed by both sides for the implementation of this
Protocol are mentioned in the annexed document, which is integral
part of this Protocol.

This Protocol and the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic
Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey
shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the first day of the
first month following the exchange of instruments of ratification.

Signed in (place) on (date) in Armenian, Turkish and English authentic
copies in duplicate. In case of divergence of interpretation, the
English text shall prevail.

For the Republic of Armenia For the Republic of Turkey

Annexed document: Timetable and elements for the implementation of
the Protocol on development of relations between the Republic of
Armenia and the Republic of Turkey.

Timetable and elements for the implementation of the Protocol on
development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the
Republic of Turkey

Steps to be undertaken and Timing.

1. to open the common border- within 2 months after the entry into
force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the
Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

2. to establish a working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign
Affairs to prepare the working modalities of the intergovernmental
commission and its sub-commission – 2 months after the day following
the entry into force of the Protocol on the development of relations
between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

3. to approve the working modalities of the intergovernmental
commission and its sub-commissions at ministerial level – within 3
months after the entry into force of the Protocol on the development
of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

4. to organize the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission
– immediately after the adoption of the working modalities of the
intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions at ministerial
level

5. to operate the following sub-commissions:

– the sub-commission on political consultations;

– the sub-commission on transport, communications and energy
infrastructure and networks;

– the sub-commission on legal matters;

– the sub-commission on science and education;

– the sub-commission on trade, tourism and economic cooperation;

– the sub-commission on environmental issues: and

– the sub-commission on the historical dimension to implement a
dialogue with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the
two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the
historical records and archive to define existing problems and
formulate recommendations, in which Armenian, Turkish as well as
Swiss and other international experts shall take part."

HEAD OF ARMENIAN TRAFFIC POLICE: WE ARE READY TO PROVIDE SAFE TRAFFIC IN VIEW OF NEW EDUCATION YEAR

ArmInfo
2009-08-31 11:27:00

ArmInfo. Traffic Police of Armenia will make its best to provide safe
traffic in view of the new educational year, Head of the Traffic
Police, Police Colonel Margar Ohanyan told media on Monday. He
highlighted that Traffic Police will conduct a safe traffic action
"Attention! Children!" on September 1-10.

"Police Head Alik Sargsyan has already charged regional police
departments on the above action. Our goal is to bring to naught the
probability of accidents," M. Ohanyan said. The results of the action
will be available in mid September.

ARMENTEL OFFERS LOWERED PRICES FOR USB MODEMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 12:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia telecommunication service provider
ArmenTel CJSC (trade mark: Beeline) offers lowered tarriffs for
USB modems. Mobile Internet prices will hereafter range between AMD
18-22 thousand (depending on the model) instead of AMD 35 thousand
offered formerly.

Early in August, the company reduced tariffs for mobile Internet to
make service more accessible for users.

PR-Inside.com
Aug 29 2009

Sistema Announces Results of Its AGM

© Business Wire 2009

2009-08-29 09:11:04 –

Sistema (LSE:SSA), the largest diversified public financial
corporation in Russia and the CIS, which manages large companies
operating in different industries, today announced the decisions made
at the Annual General Meeting of its shareholders (the `AGM’) on June
27, 2009.

The Board of Directors was expanded from 10 to 13 members. The AGM
approved the election of three new members to

the Board of Directors.

Leonid Melamed, President and CEO of Sistema, Rajiv Mehrotra, member
of the Board of Directors of Sistema Shyam Teleservices, Robert
Kocharyan, an independent director. The Board of Directors, therefore,
comprises 4 independent non-executive directors and consists of 13
members.

The shareholders approved the election of the members of the Board of
Directors as follows.

– Alexander Goncharuk
– Alexander Gorbatovsky
– Vladimir Evtushenkov
– Ron Sommer
– Dmitry Zubov
– Vyacheslav Kopiev
– Robert Kocharyan
– Leonid Melamed
– Rajiv Mehrotra
– Evgeny Novitsky
– Stephan Newhouse
– Robert Skidelsky
– Sergey Cheremin

At the statutory Board meeting following the AGM, the Board of
Directors appointed Vladimir Evtushenkov as Chairman.

The AGM approved the Company’s Annual Report and annual financial
statements for 2008. The AGM also made a decision not to pay dividends
for 2008.

Gorislavtsev and K. Audit was appointed as Sistema’s Russian
Accounting Standards auditor for 2009, and Deloitte & Touche CIS was
appointed as Sistema’s US GAAP auditor for 2009. The AGM also elected
the Audit Committee.

Robert Kocharyan was born in 1954 in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Oblast. From 1998 to 2008, Mr. Kocharyan was the President
of Armenia. Prior, from 1997 to 1998, he served as Prime Minister of
Armenia. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Kocharyan was President of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. From 1992 to 1994, he served as Chairman of
the State Defense Committee and Prime Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. In 1991, he was elected a deputy of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic’s Supreme Soviet of the first convocation. In 1989 and in
1990, Mr. Kocharyan was a deputy of Armenia’s Supreme Soviet and
member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. Prior to that, he
worked in Stepanakert’s electro-technical plant and occupied various
posts in Nagorno Karabakh’s youth communist and party
organisations. In 1982, Robert Kocharyan graduated from Yerevan
Polytechnic Institute.

Rajiv Mehrotra was born in 1954. Mr. Mehrota is a founder of Shyam
Group of India, where he serves as Chairman and Managing Director. He
was also instrumental in establishing Shyam Telecom, one of the
leading providers of mobile communications solutions. Mr. Mehrota is
also one of the founders of Shyam Telelink (now Sistema Shyam
Teleservices), one of the first CDMA 2000 mobile network operators in
India. He actively cooperates with the Association of Basic Telecom
Operators, and is a member of the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce & Industry (FICCI) Telecom Committee. Mr. Mehrota is a member
of the Board of Directors of Sistema Shyam Teleservices.

For further information, please visit :

Sistema is the largest public diversified financial corporation in
Russia and the CIS, which manages companies serving over 100 million
customers in the sectors of telecommunications, high-tech, oil and
energy, radio and aerospace, banking, real estate, retail, mass-media,
tourism and healthcare services. Founded in 1993, the company reported
revenues of US$ 16.7 billion and US$ 2.8 billion for the full year
2008 and the first quarter of 2009 respectively, and total assets of
US$ 27.1 billion as at March 31, 2009. Sistema’s shares are listed
under the symbol `SSA’ on the London Stock Exchange, under the symbol
`AFKS’ on the Russian Trading System (RTS), under the symbol `AFKC’ on
the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX), and under the symbol
`SIST’ on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MSE).

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections
or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the
future financial performance of Sistema. You can identify forward
looking statements by terms such as `expect,’ `believe,’ `anticipate,’
`estimate,’ `intend,’ `will,’ `could,’ `may’ or `might’ the negative
of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you
that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or
results may differ materially. In addition, there is no assurance that
the new contracts entered into by our subsidiaries referenced above
will be completed on the terms contained therein or at all. We do not
intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances
occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to
differ materially from those contained in
our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among
others, general economic conditions, our competitive environment,
risks associated with operating in Russia, rapid technological and
market change in our industries, as well as many other risks
specifically related to Sistema and its operations.

Sistema Investor RelationsPavel KimTel: +7 495 692 22

88 [email protected] : mailto:[email protected] orShared

Value LimitedLarisa Kogut-MillingsTel: +44 (0) 20 7321
5010 [email protected] : mailto:[email protected]

de.com/sistema-announces-results-of-its-agm-r14576 51.htm

ANCA CITES PRESIDENT OBAMBA RESPONSIBILITY FOR COURT RULING AGAINST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE-ERA CLAIMS

Yerkir
27.08.2009 13:17

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Chairman Ken Hachikian today called on President Barack Obama to reject
a misguided federal appeals court decision striking down a California
law to allow for the return of Armenian Genocide-era assets, and
encouraged him to immediately and publicly affirm that it is not the
"express federal policy" of the United States, as the court argued, to
prohibit the recognition of this crime by the Congress or the states.

The letter follows a August 20th flawed ruling of a three judge panel
of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the case of
Movsesian v.

Versicherung A.G. (No. 07-56722), that struck down a California law
providing remedies for Armenian Genocide-era wrongs. The ruling
contended that state level recognition of this crime contradicts
"express federal policy" and is therefore unconstitutional.

"You bear direct responsibility, Mr. President, by virtue of your
failure to keep your repeated, crystal clear pledges to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, for the Court’s judgment that it is the official
policy of the Executive Branch of the United States government to
actively oppose proper recognition of this crime and, upon this basis,
to thus prohibit states from passing laws to help Armenian Genocide-era
victims seek to rec laim lost or stolen property," said Hachikian in
an August 25th letter to President Obama.

Hachikian’s letter to President Obama also noted that the ANCA’s and
Armenian American community’s frustration is not limited solely to
his broken promise related to Armenian Genocide recognition, but also
extends to " your White House’s use of Turkey’s cynically-inspired
‘roadmap’ to defer U.S. recognition, and your State Department’s
shameless pressure on Armenia to accept the artificial ‘historical
commission’ that Ankara has long advanced to prevent the proper
recognition of thisvcrime."

The California Legislature passed a law in 2000 giving heirs of
those who died or fled to avoid Armenian Genocide-era persecution
until the end of 2010 to file claims for old bank accounts and life
insurance policies.

European banks and insurers are said to have retained assets valued
in 1915 at about $15 million, a sum worth substantially more in
today’s dollars.

Class-action lawsuits brought by Armenian descendants in California
and other states led to a $20 million settlement with New York Life
Insurance Co. in 2005 and a $17 million settlement the same year with
French life insurer AXA.

As a candidate, President Obama issued a series of statements
pledging to recognize the Armenian Genocide. In an early campaign
statement, issued on January 19, 2008, then-Senator Obama stated
"America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about th e Armenian
Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be
that President." Just three days prior to his election, his campaign
issued yet another statement noting "Barack Obama strongly supports
passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106)
and will recognize the Armenian Genocide."