Author: Tamamian Anna

TRIAL OF EX-YUKOS OFFICIAL ALEKSANYAN TO RESUME ON SEP. 21

RIA Novosti
Aug 27, 2009

MOSCOW, August 27 (RIA Novosti) – The trial of terminally ill ex-Yukos
official Vasily Aleksanyan on embezzlement and money laundering charges
will resume on September 21, a court spokesperson said on Thursday.

Anna Usachyova said the hearing had been postponed over a medical
probe into the condition of Aleksanyan, who is almost blind, has
developed liver cancer, and has contracted tuberculosis.

Aleksanyan, 36, diagnosed with AIDS a few months after his detention
in April 2006, was released from custody in December after posting
bail of 50 million rubles ($1.8 million).

Legal proceedings launched against the now defunct oil company Yukos
in 2003, seen by many as politically motivated, resulted in the
conviction of many executives and shareholders, including founder
and CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Assembly of America
August 28, 2009
Contact: Michael A. Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY REMEMBERS SENATOR KENNEDY’S LEGACY

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) mourns the
loss of U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA). "Our thoughts and prayers
are with the Kennedy family," said Assembly Board President Carolyn
Mugar. "Throughout his career, Senator Kennedy embodied the principles
we hold dear — promoting democracy, championing civil rights and human
rights, and standing up for those in need. His support of the Armenian
people and contributions to reaffirm the U.S. record on the Armenian
Genocide are invaluable. We thank him for his extraordinary service to
this great nation and the cause of freedom and democracy around the
world. Senator Kennedy will be greatly missed."

For decades, Senator Kennedy led by example when it came to support for
the Armenian people. Just after the devastating 1988 earthquake, Senator
Kennedy appealed to many private companies for donations to assist
Armenia in its time of need. In early 1990, he initiated a letter urging
then Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney to authorize airlifts to
Armenia. These airlifts provided bedding, electric heaters, winter
clothing and other desperately needed items for the influx of refugees
coming from Azerbaijan and to those still suffering as a result of the
earthquake. Senator Kennedy’s leadership was instrumental and helped
save lives during a critical time.

Senator Kennedy pressed for a variety of programs to help Armenian
refugee communities across the globe, including those who fled from Iran
after the fall of the Shah and those who rebuilt their communities after
being caught in the civil war in Lebanon. He also worked to facilitate
the exit of Armenian refugees from the Soviet Union in the 1980s. His
long-standing support of the Armenian cause has earned Senator Kennedy
accolades from the Armenian-American community, including the "Friends
of the Armenians" Award from the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America.

In addition, Senator Kennedy was a staunch supporter of Karabakh’s right
to self-determination and supported Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support
Act, which restricts U.S. aid to Azerbaijan because of its hostile
actions and blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Senator Kennedy
helped champion the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act, prohibiting U.S.
assistance to any country which restricts the transport or delivery of
U.S. humanitarian aid to other countries. As an original cosponsor of
that bill, Senator Kennedy remarked, "The efforts by any nation to block
U.S. humanitarian aid are unconscionable. The Humanitarian Aid Corridor
Act is a responsible measure that is designed to ensure that individuals
in great need will receive U.S. assistance." Kennedy also cosponsored
S.1557, a bill to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment
(normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Armenia.

In regard to the Armenian Genocide, Senator Kennedy was a relentless
advocate for affirming this historical fact and the proud chapter in
U.S. humanitarianism. During the 85th Commemoration in Boston, Assembly
President Mugar had the distinct honor of introducing the senator at
Copley Square’s Trinity Church the day after Easter with two thousand in
attendance. When His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians and the first President of Armenia Levon Ter
Petrosian, both visited the U.S., Senator Kennedy hosted them together
with the New England Armenian American Community at the John F. Kennedy
Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

Throughout his tenure, he was an ardent supporter of resolutions
affirming the Armenian Genocide and vigorously defended the truth in the
face of Turkish denial. In his numerous speeches, Kennedy made it clear
that "It is time for all governments, political leaders and peoples
everywhere to recognize the Armenian Genocide. These annual
commemorations are an effective way to pay tribute to the courage and
suffering and triumph of the Armenian people, and to ensure that such
atrocities will never happen again to any people on earth."

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c) (3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR#2009-064

KARABAKH TROOPS MAY BE PUT ON ALERT AFTER MEETING OF TOP BRASS

Haykakan Zhamanak
Aug 25 2009
Armenia

"Mysterious session"

According to our sources in the defence army of the [unrecognized]
Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR], the [NKR] military council convened
yesterday [24 August] with the participation of the commanders of
all regiments of the NKR defence army, their deputies, and heads of
departments. The session ended late in the evening.

We have failed to clarify up to now, what issues were discussed during
the session, but, according to our reports, participants left the
session with a very concerned expression on their faces and all of
them headed for their regiments immediately afterwards. According to
our information, on arriving, the commanders of regimens started to
carry out combat calculations. This means that an alert or, speaking
in military terms, "number one" will be announced in the Nagornyy
Karabakh army in the coming days.

CHAIRMAN OF UNION OF ARMENIAN BANKS SAYS BANKS WILL CLOSE THE YEAR WITH PROFITS

ARKA
Aug 25, 2009

YEREVAN, August 25, /ARKA/. Emil Soghomonyan, chairman of the Union of
Armenian Banks, said today Armenian banks are set to close the year
with profits. According to him, the banks earned in the first six
months of the year 4.3 billion AMD (about $12 million) in profits,
much less from a year before.

"In 2008 Armenian banks earned 28 billion Drams. If last year’s trend
were maintained, Armenian banks should have earned in the first half
of 2009 some 14 billion AMD,’ he explained.

According to him, the main reason behind losses was the Central Bank’s
decision to revert to the floating exchange rate of Armenia’s national
currency as a result bank accounts in U.S. dollars depreciated steeply
within one day.

Armenian Central Bank reverted to the floating exchange rate on
March 3.

Central Bank experts estimate that the average weighted exchange rate
of Armenian Dram against U.S. Dollar may fluctuate between 360-380
Drams per one Dollar. Despite these developments, Soghomonyan said
he does not expect the banking sector to close the year with losses.

According to ARKA news agency, there are 22 banks in Armenia with
378 branches and with aggregate assets of 1.145 trillion Drams;
their aggregate capital stands at 256.4 billion Drams, liabilities
at 885.5 billion Drams.

The banks’ net profit after=2 0tax in 2009 Jan.-June totaled 4.356
billion AMD, down from 12.9 billion Drams year-on-year. ($1- 375.28
Drams).

ARMENIA MAY HAVE CERTAIN ROLE IN RUSSIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
24.08.2009 18:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If Moscow and Ankara continue developing relations
in energy sphere, Armenia may be involved in the process, Caucasus
Institute Director, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan told
today a news conference in Yerevan. "Today, energy produced by
Armenia exceeds a little bit the volumes consumed, therefore it can
deliver energy resources to the eastern provinces of Turkey," Armenian
expert noted. Considering that Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP)
is currently managed by a Russian company, the speaker didn’t rule out
possibility of Armenia’s being involved in Russian-Turkish relations.

AZERBAIJAN INTENDS TO ACHIEVE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S ASSESSMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Today.Az
cs/54921.html
Aug 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan intends to achieve world community’s assessment of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during the UN General Assembly, chief of
the International Affairs Department of the Azerbaijani President’s
Administration Novruz Mammadov said.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict stands on agenda
of the 64th session UN General Assembly to be held in New-York in
September.

"The world community’s assessment of the conflict is important from the
point of view of putting pressure on Armenia’s position and reminding
the world that the conflict has remained unsolved for 20 years. It is
not good at all for the UN credibility which supports international
law," Mammadov said.

Mammadov said that Armenia has demonstrated double position in solving
the conflict over the years giving unnecessary pretexts. It does not
reckon with either the international community or international law.

"It is difficult to expect any real action from a country that does
not recognize international law."

"Armenia must realize that sooner or later it will have to return
Azerbaijan’s land. It will fail to keep it for a long time,"
Mammadov said.

VIVACELL-MTS: "SUMMER INSPIRATION FOR CHILDREN"

Panorama.am
13:38 20/08/2009

VivaCell-MTS announces the opening of Summer Inspiration project
for the regional Culture Houses and Art and Craft Schools of
Armenia, company’ s press service reports. A set of internal
exhibition-contests will be held within the frames of the project
initiated by VivaCell-MTS.

The first exhibition-contest opened today in the city of Vanadzor,
center of Lori region. The exhibition hall of the esthetic education
center gathered together pupils in the mutual spirit of inspiration,
the desire to share the outcomes of own artwork and craftwork with
peers and to reach a joint victory.

Summer Inspiration project is aimed at revealing and promoting the
creativity of young children talents in the regions of Armenia. The
children’s artwork is judged on originality, clear expression, and
cultural expression in the work of art. Art is presented in a variety
of mediums including ethnic dance, singing, painting, needlework,
acting, craft and photography. The artworks should be associated with
VivaCell-MTS or display VivaCell-MTS corporate brand logo.

According to the rules of the contest, the most talented pupils
chosen by each of the Culture Houses/Arts and Crafts Schools
will participate in the exhibition-contest. The winner of the
exhibition-contest in each Culture House/Arts and Crafts School will
be chosen by the Company. However, the prize from VivaCell-MTS will
go to the educational institution and not to the individual. This is
to encourage personal contributions to the collective achievement by
letting own talents serve the native Arts Center/House of Culture.

The results and winners of the children’s art exhibition-contest
Summer Inspiration will be released.

"~SVivaCell-MTS to Children" theme that we initiated at the beginning
of the year and in all directions, is now animating our regions with
a Summer Inspiration mood, our children are talented in many ways and
it is our Responsibility to reveal and promote this talent in them,
thus awakening more purposes in their lives," stated VivaCell-MTS
General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

R. YIRIKYAN "WE SHOULD ALWAYS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE"

Aysor.am
19.08.2009, 16:17

The three operators of Armenian cell connection are satisfied with the
decisions of mutual agreements and the signed four-lateral memorandums
taken by the committee of Public services.

As Ralf Yirikyan the General Manager of "K- Telecom" informed the
journalists after the session, VivaCell MTS has always worked under
the decisions of the committee and from now on will process according
this decision.

Igor Klimko the general director of "ArmenTell" CJSC mentioned that
the decision of the committee today was very difficult as it had to
have a very reasonable position and had to take into consideration
the interests of all the operators.

"The committee showed a real skillfulness, the decision is very
reasonable and the interests of all the operators are taken into
consideration", – said I. Klimko.

As Bruno Dyutua, the general director of "Orange Armenia" which is the
Armenian representative of "France Telecom", thinks the decision taken
by the committee of Public services is perspective and it distinctly
says how the expenses should be within the upcoming years.

"This decision makes the Armenian market closer to the European
criteria and the recommendations of the European Commission", –
said B. Dyutuan.

Answering the question whether today’s decisions taken over the
payments will give an opportunity to stay apart from the future
quarrels R. Yirikyan answered, – "We should always look at the future
with a hope".

As for Klikon, he answered, – "In any case we are competitors and in
any situation we are going to meet our commercial interests"

ISSUE OF ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP OF BRAZILIAN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS TO BE DECIDED IN SEPTEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.08.2009 17:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In January 2009, the National Olympic Committee
of Armenia invited six Brazilian volleyball players, including 2
girls who were to represent Armenia at the Olympic Games and other
international competitions.

According to the president of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia
Gagik Tsarukyan, the Brazilian athletes were supposed to get Armenian
passports as early as January.

As Khachatur Asmaryan, Armenian president of the Volleyball Federation
of Armenia told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, some problems arose in
obtaining Armenian citizenship, and the issue will be finally resolved
in September.

"There have been some problems in obtaining dual citizenship. At the
moment, Brazilians are at home. We need volleyball players who can
earn scores in the Olympic Games," Mr. Asmaryan noted.

With regard to the development of volleyball in the country as a whole,
Mr. Asmaryan noted that the emphasis is on the beach volleyball,
but also for the development of that sport 9 million drams of public
funding is not enough.

"THE AZERBAIJANIS" REPLENISH "TREASURY" OF WORLD IDEOLOGIES

News.am
13:13 / 08/18/2009

Not being content with fanciful tales about the "great national leader"
of the Azerbaijani people in the person of the former "partycrat"
Heydar Aliyev, the Baku ideologists decided to coin a "new word" in
the world ideologies. The term, "the Azerbaijanis", in a collective
sense, seemed to be an umbrella for all the ethnic minorities in the
country to "feel cosy" under. It was in this vein that Farhad Mamedov
of the Political Analysis and Information Department, Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration, made a speech at his meeting with the
participants in a summer camp for young leaders.

Besides the newly coined term, "the Azerbaijanis", the young official
from Baku made a number of quite interesting statements, which are
actually disproving evidence against many postulates of official
Azerbaijani propaganda, namely, the ones that the Azerbaijani people
has ancient history. Speaking of national identity, Mamedov pointed
out that the process of identification of the Azerbaijani people
started late in the 19th century thereby disproving the numerous
theories about "the centuries-old history and cultural heritage" of
his people. In any case, it would be ridiculous even for Azerbaijanis
themselves to speak of "ancient history and cultural heritage" with
the fact of national identity lacking.

The Aliyev Administration representative expanded on a positive role of
the "ideology of the Azerbaijanis" in establishing peace and public
accord in independent Azerbaijan. Quoting the official, 1news.az
reports that the benefit of the ideology is in its being capable of
uniting everybody. "Unfortunately, early in 1990s, we witnessed the
Popular Front of Azerbaijan coming to power and setting different
sections of the population against one another. We must not forget
that. However, after the national leader Heydar Aliyev came to power,
the problem was resolved. As a matter of fact, that period saw the
formation of a new identity supposed to unite different sections of
the population," Mamedov said.

No doubt, Heydar Aliyev inherited favorable preconditions for forming
a practically monoethnic state. The rule of the Popular Front of
Azerbaijan (PFA) was marked by slaughters of Armenians in Baku,
Sumgait and Kirovabad. After the pogroms in early 1990s, not only
Armenians, but also native Russians (several hundred thousands)
left Azerbaijan. In early 1980s Azerbaijanis constituted only 47%
of the Baku population, whereas they are actually the only residents
of the Azerbaijani capital now. A similar situation can be observed
throughout Azerbaijan. So it is easy to invest a new ideology termed
"the Azerbaijanis", which is an umbrella for "all the ethnic minorities
to feel cosy" under.