Author: Tashjian Arbi

A GRANT AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN ARMENIAN CULTURE MINISTRY AND JAPANESE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY

ARMENPRESS
Dec 22, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS: A grant agreement has been signed
today between Armenian Culture Ministry and Japanese International
Cooperation Agency with which the Japanese government will provide
Armenian National Gallery equipment amounting to 27 million 900
Japanese YEN (about 310,000 USD).

The contract has been signed by the Armenian Culture Minister Hasmik
Poghosyan and general representative of the Japanese agency Yukihiko
Ejiri.

Y. Ejiri said that the contract intends provision of equipment to the
gallery which will give an opportunity to solve issues connected with
the restoration works of the samples of the gallery. According to
him, since Armenia’s independence Japan has been supporting Armenia
in implementation of development programs in different spheres.

Currently two loan programs are being carried out with the support
of the JICA, during the recent 17 years more than 300 people
participated in different training classes of JICA. "We are proud to
assist Armenia’s development which promotes the closing of the ties
between the two countries. I would like that this cultural grant too
promote the further boosting of relations between the two peoples,"
the Japanese representative said.

Armenian Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan said that the agreement will
give an opportunity to solve two important issues of the gallery –
restoration of canvases and achievement of equipment for restoration
of wood samples.

"We will be able to preserve our cultural values in an appropriate
way," the minister said. According to her, cooperation with JICA is
very effective and the implementation of joint programs must go on.

Director of the Armenian National Gallery Paravon Mirzoyan said that
finally the gallery will have the equipment it waited for a long
time. "Only employees of the museum can understand what step it is
and what it means for the museum," he said.

RA PRESIDENT APPOINTS AMBASSADORS TO AFGHANISTAN, TAJIKISTAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2009 12:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree
on appointment of RA ambassador to Kazakhstan Vasily Ghazaryan
as RA ambassador to Afghanistan (residence in Astana). By another
presidential decree, RA ambassador to Turkmenistan Vladimir Badalyan
will also serve as RA ambassador to Tajikistan (residence in Ashgabat),
RA leader’s press office said.

RAFAEL MEHRABYAN: WE HAVE TO WIN MORE MEDALS IN 2010

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.12.2009 18:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Head Coach of Armenian Boxing Team Rafael Mehrabyan
summed up 2009’s results.

In a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, he expressed his
satisfaction over the performance of Armenian boxers.

"Andranik Hakobyan showed good results at World Boxing Championship,
though winning a silver medal instead of a gold one expected of him. I
believe, Hovhannes Danielyan and Azat Hovhannesyan, who made it to
quarterfinals, yet failed to win medals, will show better results."

As the head coach noted, Europe Championship 2010 is due in Moscow. "I
believe, the year 2010 will bring us more medals," he stressed.

N. ZOHRABYAN: "THE TWO PROCESSES WILL SUCCEED"

Aysor
Dec 21 2009
Armenia

"2009 was a year of overcoming the results of the crises", – Prosperous
Armenia Party MP Naira Zohrabyan said during the press conference,
summarizing the ending year.

One of the important events she mentioned the signing of the Armenian
– Turkish protocols and the processes connected with it. According to
the MP this year was significant for the possibility of establishing
normal Armenian – Turkish relations, and in case of the Karabkh
conflict settlement she mentioned the principle of active talks.

"I hope that those two processes will have a good ending, nevertheless
the tendency is noticed", – she said.

In the internal policy N. Zohrabyan noted the close and fruitless
work of the forces that form the acting coalition. She also mentioned
that during the year they have managed to overcome the effects of
the crisis of March 1, 2008 through their hard work.

"Due to the joint forces of the coalition we could definitely establish
an atmosphere of trust in Armenia. Of course we still have a lot of
problems, but the important thing is that the way chosen is correct",
– N. Zohrabyan said insuring that 2010 will be more stable year
politically and economically.

Interfax, Russia
Dec 18 2009

ARMENIA DECIDES TO ALLOT $100,000 AS PRIMARY CONTRIBUTION EurAsEC

The Armenian government has decided to allocate $100,000 as a primary
contribution to the Eurasian Economic Community’s (EurAsEC) Anti-
Crisis Fund, the Armenian government press service reported.

The press service cited Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan as saying that
all the EurAsEC member states are required to make contributions to
the fund, and it is only then that the finance ministers can meet to
determine the strategy of the fund’s spending.

It was reported earlier that Armenia had filed an application with the
Eurasian Development Bank for loans amounting in aggregate to $500
million from the Anti-Crisis Fund.

The prime ministers of the EurAsEC members, i.e. Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, with Armenia’s participation,
signed a treaty on establishing the Anti-Crisis Fund on June 9, 2009.

The Fund’s authorized capital is $10 billion, with Russia’s share the
biggest ($7.5 billion). The other founders have committed themselves
to making the following primary contributions: Belarus $10 million,
Kazakhstan $1 billion, Kyrgyzstan $1 million, Tajikistan $1 million,
and Armenia $1 million.

The Eurasian Development Bank will manage the fund’s assets.

The fund’s resources can be used for issuing sovereign loans to
overcome the crisis, stabilization loans to EurAsEC member states who
have low incomes and to finance intergovernmental investment projects.

The treaty allows for funds that are not tied up to be used for investment.

news.az, Azerbaijan
Dec 19 2009

We cannot make the US love us but we can put a choice before them
Sat 19 December 2009 | 06:46 GMT Text size:

Rasim Musabeyov News.Az interviews Rasim Musabeyov, Azerbaijani
political scientist.

Baku has made a note of protest in connection with a decision of the
US Congress about the allocation of $8 mln to the separatist regime of
Nagorno Karabakh in 2010 financial year. What is behind this protest?

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the decision to
allocate these funds was adopted without a prior request of the
Armenian side. This was a sort of an initiative of the congressmen. By
its protest, Azerbaijan creates an opportunity for the administration
to return to this issue once again. It is clear that $8 mln allocated
to Nagorno Karabakh are insignificant against the multi-billion budget
of the United States. The Congress is mostly composed of democrats who
do not have special grounds for debates Nevertheless, if after the
interference of the administration there appears a need to negotiate
on the budget, the Azerbaijani protest may play its role and
contribute to some corrections at least in spending these expenses
only for humanitarian means or their controlled spending.

Do you think it possible that either the Congress will change its
decision or President Obama will pose veto on assistance to
separatists?

This is highly unlikely. But there is an opposite side in this matter.
The United States also has requests to Azerbaijan. They may require
from the Azerbaijani parliament to ratify some other issues. For
example, they may ask to raise Azerbaijani contingent in Afghanistan.
This decision is subject to ratification by the parliament. In fact,
by its decision to assist to `NKR’, the Congress has reduced the
changes of support to US in the Azerbaijani parliament. The United
States has other requests, for example, the use of Azerbaijani lands
for military and reconnaissance jet planes that allegedly fly to
Afghanistan though in the reality they have an intention to fly along
the Iranian border.

What implications may the US aid to Nagorno Karabakh separatists and
the stiff reaction of official Baku have for the US-Azerbaijani
relations?

I do not think this will worsen the US-Azerbaijani relations. But our
protest is another sign for the United States that Azerbaijan does not
intend to reconcile with the neglect of its interests. The relations
between our countries will not worsen. Have we severed ties with
Russia when we learned that it supplied Armenia with arms estimated at
$1 bn?

Do you think the current reaction of Azerbaijan will prevent the US
Congress from provision of assistance to separatist regime at least in
2011?

It will depend on what the United States will need from Azerbaijan at
that moment. It is clear that we cannot put pressure on the United
States, but we can react on the US requests and appeals. Unlike
Armenia, Azerbaijan does not have a special need for financial tips.

Does the assistance of the US Congress to `NKR’ challenge the
impartiality of the United States as a mediator in the Karabakh
conflict settlement?

Does anyone doubt that Armenian interests are closer to the heart of
the US political elite? No one has doubts about it. Azerbaijan also
has no doubts about the "impartiality’ of Russia and France. But today
these countries are really the powers that can put pressure on Armenia
and force it withdraw its troops from the occupied lands at least for
their interests in Azerbaijan.

Can we break this tradition of Armenia’s closeness to the American heart?

We cannot make the United States love us. But we can put a choice
before them: either an emotional love or national interests.

Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az

US Fed News
December 10, 2009 Thursday 3:12 PM EST

Publication No. WO/2009/146470 Published on Dec. 10, Armenian Inventor
Develops Building Brick Manufacturing Method

GENEVA

GENEVA, Dec. 10 — Mikayel Hamamchyan, Armenia, has developed the
method of manufacturing building brick. According to an abstract
posted by the World Intellectual Property Organization: "Dry compound
from clay, quartz sand, starch as binding addition agent is prepared,
20% of water solution of sodium hydroxide is added to it, the obtained
mixture is formed and exposed to bake for 1,5 hour under 960-1050
deg.C, at that, the ratio of quartz sand and clay is 2,33:1, and the
ratio of dry compound and solution of sodium hydroxide is 6,25: 1.
Thus, the method is simplified, the obtained bricks have low heat
transfer and low gravity, but are solid, cold, heat and
chemical-resistant." The invention carries International Patent
Publication No. WO/2009/146470 on Dec. 10. The original patent was
filed in Armenia under application No. PCT/AM2009/000001 on May 6,
2009. It is available at:

/000001 For more
information about US Fed News contract awards please contact: Sarabjit
Jagirdar, US Fed News, Email:- [email protected]

NKR PEOPLE CONSIDER THEMSELVES ARMENIANS OF KARABAKH, NOT JUST ARMENIANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2009 16:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turin University Professor Luca Guiduzzi introduced
the results of his studies in Nagorno Karabakh during a round
table discussion hosted Friday by Armenian Center for National and
International Studies (ACNIS).

"During the 45 days I spent in Karabakh, I tried to understand
the mentality of the people living there," he said, stressing the
importance of realizing a country’s past before conducting studies
into its present.

"Karabakh war has strongly affected the people’s character. That was
the war of Armenians struggling for their independence," Guiduzzi said.

According to the Italian Professor, NKR people consider themselves
Armenians of Karabakh, not just Armenians.

INITIATIVE TOURISM

Lragir.am
18/12/09

"Turkey is going to be our friend neither today nor tomorrow. We are
just making use of the formed situation", stated the RP deputy head
Galust Sahakyan. Armenia is found out not to have formed the situation
in the Caucasus initiating the Armenian and Turkish process. Armenia
is just making use of the already-formed situation. Sahakyan with
the sincerity proper to him, revealed that the Armenian and Turkish
process is not a thorough planned action but just resourcefulness
to seize the opportunity. In other words, Armenia is just making
use of circumstances. What is going to happen after when the same
circumstances will play against Armenia is perhaps left to the mercy
of fate.

Galust Sahakyan’s revelation contradicts a little the official position
of the Armenian governmental propaganda which affirms that the Armenian
initiatively and active foreign policy enhanced Armenia’s role in the
world. No such a thing. Armenia is just seizing the opportunity. Of
course, resourcefulness is needed for it. But the problem is that
you cannot go far with the help of only wits. And the current state
of Armenia proves this. Evidently, Armenia does not know what to
do. Waiting for Turkey seems to be a strategical calculation.

In reality, apparently, Armenia just does not know what kind of
situation we have now and what to do under the current conditions.

Maybe waiting is necessary and Armenia is waiting. It is waiting to see
what Obama and Erdogan will decide, it is waiting for Hillary Clinton
to call, it is waiting for Vladimir Putin to arrive in Armenia, it is
waiting for a new loan to be allocated, for the co-chairs to arrive
in Armenia, it is waiting for Karabakh to become a negotiating party.

Armenia’s current foreign policy reminds rather a waiting policy than
initiative. The fact that the Armenian president leaves for Hungary or
the Latvian president arrives in Armenia which is even confused with
the Russian president here, or the fact that the Armenian president
leaves for Japan and then for the other end of the world to take part
in the meeting of Francophonie countries does not stand for initiative
at all. Mutual visits have never been and will never be an expression
of initiative. Initiative is the circulation of new political ideas,
new projects.

Armenia, besides the Armenian and Turkish invitation, has never put
in circulation other initiatives in the geopolitical or regional
processes. Armenia is just following the tracks of those processes,
imagining approximately that they are not bringing to anything bad. As
soon as this imagination breaks a little or becomes hazy, Armenia gives
up and starts waiting. This may really be a smart and reasonable step
that Armenia can do in such a case. But just imagine the conditions
of the country, of its current resources and possibilities if the
smartest thing to do in case of a dynamic development of geopolitical
process is waiting.

In addition, if the point was only about the foreign policy, it would
be an optimal decision. But the problem is that the Armenian government
is waiting inside the country, in connection with the home issues,
connection of business and the government, monopole economic clans,
legal willfulness. While, not waiting in relation to these issues and
carrying out reforms, the government could at least justify its waiting
policy in the foreign policy sphere because in case of a solution of
home issues, Armenia could enhance its positions and when the time
for Armenia to act came, it could be braver and would not set hopes
on seizing the opportunity but it would create situation itself.

But the government is waiting both inside and outside the country. And
it is waiting with the opposite logic- not to firm its positions
outside on account of the inside, but to survive inside on account
of the outside world.

ARMENIA 100TH IN FIFA RANKINGS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.12.2009 11:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is the 100th in the latest FIFA rankings,
dropping a step as compared to last month’s index. Azerbaijan ranks
the 114th with 236 points; Georgia is the 124th with 202 points.

The top three is unchangeable: Spain (1627), Brazil (1568) and
Netherlands (1288).