Author: Tashjian Arbi

POLITICAL ANALYST: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO TURKEY TO TAKE PLACE

ARKA
Aug 24, 2009

Yerevan, August 24. /ARKA/. The Armenian President’s visit to Turkey
will take place, the director of the Caucasus Institute Alexander
Iskandaryan said.

"The Armenian-Turkish process is not stalled. I do not think that
we can expect dramatic breakthroughs, although some progress is
possible. This is why Serj Sargsyan’s visit to Turkey should take
place" the political scientist went on during the press conference
on Monday.

At the invitation of Turkish President Gul, President of Armenia,
Serj Sargsyan, may visit Turkey in October 2009.

The reason for the invitation is the return football game, which will
be held in Bursa, between Armenia and Turkey in the World Cup 2010
qualifying round.

President Gul has already visited Armenia on September 6, 2008, when
he attended a football match between Armenia and Turkey in Yerevan
with his Armenian counterpart.

As the Armenian political analyst thinks, as of the moment there are
different possibilities of the development of the Armenian-Turkish
relations and the door for the continuation of the process more open.

The process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will
develop further.

The situation over the past year and a half in the Armenian-Turkish
process is a major achievement itself, since the parties had moved
on to discuss specific issues.

According to the analyst, if 4-5 years ago all the discussions about
Turkey amounted to the stories and issues not related to politics and
the economy in Armenia, the current debate is concerning the opening
of the borders, albeit with a historical emphasis.

"The same thing is happening in Turkey. In both countries there are
both supporters and opponents of this step. What is happening now is
a major shift – discussions are taking place, the Turkish President
visited Armenia and there is an opportunity for the next meeting,"
Iskandaryan said.

Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations and the
Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 on the initiative
of the official Ankara.

The complex relationship between the two countries is caused by
several factors related to, with Ankara’s support of Azerbaijan in the
Karabakh issue, as well as the acute reaction to Turkey’s process of
the international recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the
Ottoman Empire.

Average monthly wages 98,583 drams in Armenia in January-July ` 12.1%
increase

YEREVAN, August 21. /ARKA/. Average monthly nominal wages was 98,583
drams in Armenia in January-July this year ` a 12.1% increase as
compared with the same period of last year, the RA National Statistical
Service reported.

According to the preliminary information, salary in budgetary
organizations was 82,172 drams in the period ` an 18.1% increase
against the level of January-July 2008. Increase in the salary was 5%
in July as compared with the previous month.

Monthly average salary in non-budgetary organizations was 122,324 drams
` a 6.9% rise against the level of January-July last year. In July
against June the salary grew by 3.2%.

Overall monthly average salary level went 4.1% up in July against June.
($1=373.95 drams). N.V. `0′

SENSATIONAL REVELATIONS SOON

y&pid=14971
16:38:27 – 21/08/2009

The chief of the police Alik Sargsyan promised revelation of two
scandalous cases. However, these revelations will not include the
murder of the deputy chief of the police Gevorg Mheryan. Alik Sargsyan
said it is necessary to wait, and the revelation of that case is a
matter of honor.

ALEKSEJ TAKES FINAL ROUND TO WIN ABU DHABI CHESS FEST
By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter

GulfNews
August 21, 2009, 22:51

Chess

Abu Dhabi: GM Aleksander Aleksej, from Belarus beat fellow GM Rakhmanov
Aleksander from Russia in the 9th and final round to win the Masters
competition of the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival.

Aleksej’s win increased his tally to 7.5 points, edging Aleksander,
the previous leader, who remained with 7 points to finish second.

Armenian GM Anastasian Ashot beat GM Dorozdovskij to take third place
with 7 points, the same tally of GM Andriasian Zaven, from Armenia,
GM Savechenko Stanislav, from Ukraine and GM Melkumyan Hrant, from
Armenia, who took 4th, 5th and 6th places respectively after applying
the Swiss tie-breaking system to decide the top five places behind
the champion.

FIDE Master Saeed Ishaq of the UAE led the local players after
achieving a surprise victory in the final round defeating GM Agamaleiv
Gamil from Azerbaijan to increase his tally to 6.5 points taking the
11th place while his compatriot GM Salem Mohammad Saleh lost to Indian
IM Laxman R.R. to finish 28th with 5.5 points the same tally of Jasim
Al Huwar who defeated his compatriot Khalifa Khamis and finished 37th.

"It was a brilliant performance from Ishaq." Hussain Khory, the former
UAE international player and the financial director of the Abu Dhabi
Chess and Culture Club, told Gulf News.

"Ishaq showed great capabilities and tactics and beating a GM of
Gamil experience is not an easy feat. The festival was organised to
[enable] our young players to gain experience and play against some
of the world’s best. Beating Gamil is but one of the early gains
of the event and we hope that more players have benefitted from the
festival." he said.

SEVERAL ARMENIAN NGOS ACT IN SUPPORT OF MARIAM SUHKUDYAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.08.2009 17:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Several non-governmental organizations have acted in
support of green youth movement activist Mariam Sukhudyan. In release
signed by Armenian NGOs affiliating with South Caucasus Network of
Human Rights Defenders, authors state that Armenian authorities
"continue violence and intimidation policy against citizens they
dislike".

Reiterating that persecution against environment movement leader
Mariam Sukhudyan is another evidence of intolerance policy, 9 human
rights and journalist NGOs demanded that criminal case against her
be immediately dismissed.

In their recent release, NGOs also call on international organizations
to support their demands and exert pressure upon Armenian authorities.

Around 50 proponents of green youth movement are currently
conducting a rally near Erebuni Police Office’s Investigative
Department where movement activist Mariam Sukhudyan is now being
interrogated. Protesters waiting for activist are holding posters
reading "We are all Mariam Sukhdyans".

On August 13, Mariam Sukhudyan received summons for interrogation
as an accused under Section 1, Article 135 of RA Criminal Code
(libel). However, on August 15, she was informed of being accused
of a crime prescribed by Section 2 Article 333 of RA Criminal Code
(providing false information accompanied by artificial creation of
evidence) Let’s note, that the latter article envisages a graver
punishment which may be imprisonment for up to 5 years.

Summons dated August 15 contained new charges against Sukhudyan,
inviting her to interrogation on August 19.

Criminal case was filed after the November 13, 2008 regular broadcast
of Haylur on Public TV channel. There, a school-girl from Nubarashen
boarding school No. 11 complained about being sexually harassed by
a teacher, "Ecolur" NGO says in a press release. Sukhudyan herself
finds she is being persecuted for participating in "SOS-Teghut"
function aimed the protection of Teghut forest.

EUROVISION ORGANIZER PROBES AZERI WITCH HUNT

Asbarez
rovision-organizer-probes-azeri-witch-hunt/
Aug 19th, 2009

YEREVAN/BAKU (Combined Sources)-The organizer of the Eurovision song
contest said on Wednesday that it is investigating reports that
security bodies in Azerbaijan have tracked down and interrogated
local residents who voted for Armenia during this year’s competition,
reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Security forces in Azerbaijan have launched a campaign against dozens
of citizens for voting for the wrong entry in this year’s Eurovision
Song Contest, during which 43 Azeris voted for the Armenian duo Inga
and Anush and their song "Jan-Jan" in the finale of one of Europe’s
most popular television shows held in Moscow on May 16.

"They said it was a matter of national security," one of them, Rovshan
Nasirli, told RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani service last week. "They were
trying to put psychological pressure on me, saying things like, ‘You
have no sense of ethnic pride. How come you voted for Armenia?’ They
made me write out an explanation, and then they let me go."

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an association of European
television companies that organizes the annual contest, appears to have
been alarmed by the extraordinary development. The EBU’s executive
supervisor, Svante Stockselius, told the Azerbaijani APA news agency
on Wednesday that it launched an inquiry last week, reported RFE/RL.

"Our technical partners will also take part in the inquiry,"
Stockselius was quoted as saying. "The inquiry will also enable local
broadcasters to bring clarity to the matter."

Under the EBU’s existing rules, Eurovision winners are decided by a
jury of music industry specialists formed in each of the participating
nations and millions of TV viewers voting by phone or by SMS. They
are free to vote for any country other than their own.

Some 1,065 Armenians voted for Azerbaijan’s "Always" entry that
featured a Swedish-Iranian singer and finished third in the
competition. Armenia’s Inga and Anush came in tenth.

According to the BBC, Azeri authorities confirmed that Nasirli and
other people were questioned over their Eurovision votes but denied
intimidating or putting pressure on them.

"If Azerbaijani parliament members can go to Armenia, then what’s wrong
with voting for the Armenian song in the contest?" asked Nasirli. "I
told them, ‘If you don’t want people to vote for Armenia, then why
are you in the same contest with them?’"

Chief Azeri presidential foreign policy advisor Novruz Mammadov,
in an interview with the APA news agency, blamed Azeri officials’
inexperience "given that Azerbaijan is a fairly young republic,"
as well as the opposition in his country on the state of affairs.

He also went on to blame Armenia for what he called "fueling the
matter to score dividends with Western countrie."

The case has also set off alarm bells in Azerbaijan’s rights
community. Activist Avaz Hasanov called the move "unbelievable" and
warned that Azerbaijan, which has already seen a steady clampdown
on civil rights under President Ilham Aliyev, is moving toward a
police state.

"Limiting people’s choices in such an obvious manner won’t do any good
for the country," Hasanov told RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani service. "If all
SMS and phone conversations are being screened, then this country
is nothing more than a police state, with people being watched all
the time."

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN INDIA CELEBRATES VIRGIN ASSUMPTION DAY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.08.2009 18:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On August 16, Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated
Virgin Assumption Day. In India, Armenian community representatives
made their traditional pilgrimage to St. Mary church in Saidabad
to participate in festive liturgy conducted by clegyman Ter Avetis
Hambardzumyan.

Liturgy was followed by vine consecration ceremony. At the end, the
clergyman preached a sermon, and thereafter consecrated vines were
distributed among visitors.

EXPERT: RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS

News.am
13:50 / 08/17/2009

Russian-Turkish negotiations were followed by rumors that Turkey
can provide its territory to Russia for replenish the supplies of
its Military Base #102 in Gyumri, Armenia, in the future. However,
the Turkish authorities are refuting the rumors.

Azerbaijani media report that Turkey did not allow Russia to use its
territory for replenishing the supplies of the military base when
it was impossible to do through Georgia and Azerbaijan, with Iran
being the only way. The Azerbaijani military expert Ildrim Mamedov
even advised the United States to resume the Caspian guard program
"to find out the amount of arms Russia transports through the Caspian
Sea to Iran."

Talking to NEW.am, Ruben Mehrabyan, expert for the Armenian Center
of National and International Studies, made the following comment on
the situation: "The Russian military base in Armenia is a military
unit that remained here ‘through inertia’ after the cold war. Its
military purpose is most dubious in the context of Armenia’s defense
from Turkey. Turkey is a NATO member-state, and any platoon can move
only after the actions have been coordinated with Brussels. That is,
from the military point of view, the presence of this base is not
so well-grounded the more so that the 3rd field army of Turkey is
confronting it." Another matter is, the expert said, the political
component of the presence of the base. "This is one of the key factors
of Russian presence in the South Caucasus," Mhrabyan said. He pointed
out that the talks about the termination of arms supplies the Gyumri
base constitute serious danger. "Politically, it becomes dangerous
for Armenia: under the pretext of a ban on supplies to the base, any
supplies from Russia to Armenia can be terminated. Armenia and Russia
are strategic partners and military allies now, and it is Armenia,
not Russia, that is in danger," the expert said.

Mehrabyan also addressed the Caspian guard program. "The program is
intended to protect the future pipelines from terrorists and makes
it possible to control Russian-Iranian ties. Finally, Russia-Iranian
military cooperation programs are in conformity with international
law. I do not think Russia will allow any third party to control its
supplies to Iran and further to other countries. Russia will offer
resolute resistance. Will it succeed or not – it depends on the
sides interested in the Caspian guard program, particularly on the
USA. Armenia should just think about its foreign-policy priorities
once again," Mehrabyan said.

STEPAN ASLANYAN: ARMENIA SHOULD THINK ABOUT PROTECTING ITS SITES

armradio.am
14.08.2009 17:14

Armenia should think about protecting its sites first rather then
inflict retaliatory strikes, Stepan Aslanyan, director of the
Smart Systems Armenian company told a press conference devoted to
"Information war and massive attacks on Armenian sites by Azeri
hackers" today.

According to him, out of about 500 sites serviced by Smart Systems
60 came under attack. Stepan Aslanyan reminded, that there are no
fully secure sites either in Armenia, or elsewhere, there are cases
of hacking, even the Pentagon’s website.

Stepan Aslanyan also noted, that the time necessary to restore the
hacked sites is also an important indicator. Some sites of Armenian
ministries, hacked on August 7, has not yet been restored. In this
regard, the Mr. Aslanyan noted that bring up an example of how some
hacked government sites were restored after several minutes, while
the site of Pentagon was restored after a few seconds.

EUROPE WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

GET
13 August 2009KPMG

Graduate jobs provider KPMG Europe LLP (ELLP) has welcomed its two
latest members, KPMG Turkey and KPMG CIS.

The European division of the Big Four auditor already featured the
UK, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands and has
now more than doubled the number of countries it represents, with
the CIS consisting of Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan
and Kyrgyzstan.

Between them, the organisations operate more than 100 offices and
have over 30,000 partners. In 2008, they generated combined revenues
of 4.6 bn Euro (3.94 bn Euro) A statement from ELLP’s Joint Chairmen
Rolf Nonnenmacher and John Griffith-Jones said: ‘We are convinced that
this is a significant and vital move towards creating an integrated
firm with the strength and resources necessary to compete effectively
in the changing global economic environment.’ The merger was decided
after the vast majority of partners at KPMG Turkey and KPMG CIS voted
in favour of the move.

ELLP was set up in October 2007 and is based in Frankfurt, Germany.