Author: Tumanian Talar

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 25 2006

INTERVIEW

FINANCIAL COMMUNITY SHOULD BE INFORMED OF ARMENIAN BANKS’ ADVANCED
EXPERIENCE

Below is an exclusive interview of Chairman of the Union of Banks of
Armenia (UBA) Stepan Gishyan to the ARKA News Agency

– Mr. Gishyan, Your appointment as Chairman of the Union of Banks of
Armenia implies certain innovations and specific steps in this
direction

– True, this appointment imposes a high responsibility. First of all,
it is the responsibility for all 14 members of the association. These
are rather stable banks, and we all have to closely cooperate. I
would like to note that a number of amendments to the UBA Regulations
have been made. It particularly concerns the rotation principle of
electing the UBA Chairman and Board members. A decision has also been
made to increase the number of the Board members from six to nine,
who will yearly be elected by the rotation principle, which will
allow the banks to intensify their work as UBA members and afford an
opportunity for considering all the members’ opinions in the
decision-making process. In fact, we have always had an unwritten
law, namely, making collective decisions. Now this unwritten law will
become an official one. All the banks are willing for active work.
The UBA’s concept is in ensuring the involvement of all banks in the
Board. Our idea is that not only the Board Chairman, but also the
Board members work more actively. In principle, the Chairman is
supposed to perform the representative functions to a greater extent,
and all the most important issues are to be dealt with by the UBA
members.

-Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Tigran Sargsyan
recently mentioned 2-3 problematic banks. As far as we know, these
problems resulted from disagreements over corporate management.

– I think that all Armenian banks accept the principle of corporate
management. As regards the UBA members, I can state with confidence
that all of them accept this principle. By the way, it has always
been in effect in Armenia. The CBA’s concept just made it more
specific, which is normal. After all, it is a law, and we must
observe it. Banks were actively involved in discussing this law with
the CBA. Agreements were reached on almost all points. Another
question is the existence of different opinions on individual aspects
of this principle, which need attention. And this is a subject of
discussions. We will take an active part in discussions in future as
well, promptly responding to the CBA’s decisions and initiatives.
This is, in fact, our role.

– What is Your appraisal of Armenian banks’ activities?

– I think everybody will share my opinion that we have never had such
a healthy banking system as now. Banking indicators are indisputable
evidence of positive trends in all directions, positive dynamics. All
the banks record increase in their advances portfolios,
simultaneously recording a very small amount of overdue credits,
which is evidence of higher quality of banks’ advances portfolios.
Increasing healthy competition plays a great role as well, which is
certainly a positive fact.

– What is Your assessment of the UBA’s policy of international
contacts?

– We are a member of the International Banking Federation and intend
to intensify our ties both with this structure and with other
international organizations. We have all preconditions for this. I
think that Armenia’s banking system may set an example to many
countries, particularly to the CIS member-countries. We have left the
banks of many countries, even Russia, behind as to quality,
organization and transparency. We have serious achievements in this
field – both by the CBA and by commercial banks. All this taken
together, as well as some geopolitical developments, gives us a
chance to become a regional financial center. Therefore, we should
take certain steps in this direction, and I see a field of activities
for the UBA jointly with the CBA.

– What specific steps are in question?

– One of them is making ourselves better known, informing the
financial community of our experience. We do have achievements.
Although relatively small, our banking system is an advanced one, our
Central Bank is a member of the Basel Committee, and the CBA Chairman
has been Chairman of this structure. We are ahead of our neighbors,
and they admit this fact. We also have to increase the capitalization
of Armenia’s banking system, involving foreign banks as well. In this
context, I can only welcome the EBRD’s intensified activities in
Armenia. The appearance of any international structure is of great
benefit to our country, though some fear competition. But this is a
necessity, and we must be ready for that. P.T. -0–

Armenian soldier wounded as truce violated by Azerbaijan – TV

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
25 Mar 06

The truce violation was registered on the contact line between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces at 1900 [1500 gmt] on 23 March,
the press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry, Col Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan, has reported.

Armenia’s defence positions near the village of Baganis in Tavush
Region came under fire from a military unit in Azerbaijan’s Qazax
District. A 24-year old private of the Armenian armed forces, Voskan
Ovannesyan, was wounded and taken to hospital.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES PROGRAM OF MAIN EVENTS DEDICATED TO 15TH
ANNIVERSARY OF RA INDEPENDENCE

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Government approved the program
of main events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the independence
of the Republic of Armenia on March 23. As Noyan Tapan was informed by
the RA Government’s Information and Public Relations Department, Vigen
Sargsian, the RA President’s Advisor made a statement concerning the
program at the sitting. The program that includes about 8 dozens of
events of festive-ceremonial, sceintific-educational, cultural, sports
and other character will be implemented in the capital of the
republic, marzes and communities starting from April till the end of
the year. In the RA and Nagorno Karabakh all-Armenian events as well
will take place, including the “One Nation, One Culture” second
festival, the forth all-Armenian-youth and second educational
conferences, the “Golden Apricot” (Voske Tsiran) third international
film festival. During the week of the 15th anniversary of the
Independence, from September 17 to 24, the Armenia-Diaspora third
conference, the second all-Armenian economic forum, different
conferences will be held, poster and photo exhibitions dedicated to
the independence anniversary, show of films shot during the 15 years
of independence will be organized. The start of the jubilee week will
be marked with the Surb Liturgy celebrated in Etchmiadzin and all the
Armenian churches of the world.

The main ceremonies of the program will take place on September 21.
On the Independence Day, events will start with a visit to Yerablur,
then a military parad will be held on the Republic square, people’s
celebrations will take place in the capital and in marzes, a great
festive concert will be organized in the republican sports ground
after V.Sargsian. Illumination will take place in Yerevan, Gyumri and
Vanadzor in the evening. It is instructed to present the programs of
events in marzes to be included in the program of main events to the
RA Prime Minister till April 20, 2006. A number of instructions were
given to heads of corresponding state bodies and organizations as
well.

A1+

THE PARLIAMENTARY WEEK IS THE MONOLOGUE OF THE NA SPEAKER?

06:07 pm 24 March, 2006

It turns out that not only the head of the Public TV Radio Company
Council Alexan Haroutyunyan, but also the coalition colleagues of the
Orinats Yerkir party are displeased with the program «Parliamentary
Week». «The society can see that the program is one-sided: it has
turned into a monologue», the head of the Republican Party fraction
Galoust Sahakyan said during the NA briefings, answering the questions
of the journalists.

He brought an example, «In particular, during the hearings about
energy security the speeches of neither the Minister nor the deputies
were shown: it was a monologue». He referred tot eh speech of the NA
Speaker. «And the people have the impression that some people are
interested in the closure of the nuclear power station».

The secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Hrayr
Karapetyan too expressed his negative attitude towards the
«Parliamentary Week». He noted that although they discuss the content
of the program every Friday, «it has improved but a little. »

«We are active in the Parliament, and they show us during the
activity», the head of the Orinats Yerkir fraction Samvel Balasanyan
tried to explain away. He and Mher Shahgeldyan noted that the program
refers to the activity of the Committees, and gives the deputies and
fraction the right to express their points of view.

Secretary of the Justice bloc fraction Viktor Dallakyan announced that
these discussions are an attempt to deprive the opposition of the
right of voice. `This is the continuation of the closure of `A1+’,
deputy of Justice bloc Grigor Haroutyunyan said.

But the other members of the opposition underlined that the
conversations about the program simply confirm the problems within the
coalition.

DISPLAY OF ONE OF “HERMITAGE’S” MASTERPIECES PLANNED TO ORGANIZED AT
ARMENIAN NATIONAL GALLERY THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of Year of
Armenia in Russia, exhibitions of Armenian painters will be organized
at the “Hermitage” and at the Russian Museum and one of the
masterpieces kept in the “Hermitage” will be displayed at the Armenian
National Gallery. An agreement about is was reached at the March 24
meeting of RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Gevorg Gevorgian
and “Hermitage” state museum Director, corresponding member of the
Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Piotrovski. As Noyan Tapan was
informed from the Press Service of RA Ministry of Culture and Youth
Affairs, the “Hermitage” Director proposed holding joint conferences
in Yerevan and St Petersburg on the occasion of the 100th anniversary
of oriental scientist, archaeologist, “Hermitage” Director of many
years Boris Piotrovski.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 23 2006

Azerbaijan’s Culture and Tourism Ministry: `Mikhail Piotrovski’s
`love’ for Armenian culture comes from his Armenian mother’

[ 23 Mar. 2006 16:53 ]

Associate Member of the Russian Academy of Science, director of the
State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovski, in his interview to journalists
in Armenia, denounced the alleged destruction of Armenian graveyards
in Julfa region of Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. He considered this alleged
act as destruction of historic and cultural monuments in all
circumstances.

Azerbaijan’s Culture and Tourism Minister issued a statement
regarding the Piotrovski’s expressions. The Ministry said that
Piotrovski distorted historical truths and demonstrated his
unawareness on the abovementioned issue.
The Ministry informed APA that after the appeal of Armenian Catalicos
to the former USSR leaders in the 60s of last century a lot of graves
in Nagorno Garabagh and Julfa cemetery were taken to Armenia. In
addition, graves belonging to Caucasian Albans were stolen from
Azerbaijan’s regions of Gazakh, Tovuz, Gadabey, Gubadli and Lachin
and taken to Armenian.
`The Russian scientist expressed the historical facts that were
politicized and distorted by Armenian historians. It is surprising
that, the prominent scientist commented on unreal and unconfirmed
event without referring to facts. We want to tell Mr.Piotrovski that
Armenia’s aggression to Azerbaijan’s territories since 1988 led to
destruction of world-important 13, country-important 192 and 330
locally-important historical and cultural monuments, which reflected
ancient history and glorious past of Azerbaijani people. In addition,
during Armenian invasion, 808 club-houses, 927 libraries, 22 museums
with their exhibits and their branches, 85 musical schools and their
branches, 4 theatre buildings, 4 art galleries with their 100
thousand rare exhibits, 2 concert halls, 1892 cultural and art
establishments were destroyed by Armenians. Armenians also vandalized
the world-important archeological monument, Azikh cave dating to
Paleolithic period, Khantapa, Kultapa and Shomutapa monuments dating
to Neolithic period, B.C. VI-VII, which are very important sources to
research human civilization, Ganjabasar temple dating to Caucasian
Albanian Christianity, Aghoghlan temple in Lachin region, Asgaran
castle in Khojali region, Amaras temple, unique exhibits of Kelbajar
ethnographic museum, ethnographic museum in Lachin dating to 3000
years ago, which is rich in golden and silver things, its ancient
coin collection, the unique Aghdam Bread Museum and Stone Monumental
Museum in Zangilan region, Shusha Ethnographic Museum with 5 thousand
exhibits, the State Lachin Ethnographic Museum, which is rich in
carpets, the State Carpet Museum branch in Shusha, popular applied
art museum and the Garabagh State-Ethnographic Museum with thousand
exhibits.
Though these monuments were to be preserved in compliance with the
International Conventions `On preserve of material values during
armed conflicts’ and `On illegal import and export of material
values’, Armenian barbarians ignoring UNESCO and other international
organizations, are pursuing their aggressive policy now.
The Culture and Tourism Ministry expresses its assurance that what
Piotrovski said does not represent Russian prominent, objective
historians’, scientists’ stances on the issue. Bearing in mind that
Mikhail Piotrovski’s `love’ for Armenian culture comes from his
Armenian mother Ripsime Janpoladyan and his father, academician of
Armenian Academy of Science, archeologist, orientalist, Boris
Piotrovski’s love for Armenian culture, Azerbaijani society would
better not to be surprised his approach to historical truths.
We reassure you that `researchers’ who attempt to distort history,
approach truths from chauvinism aspect will never be considered as
objective scientist and intellectuals. History does not accept
distortion,’ the Ministry concluded./APA/

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE CATHOLIC PONTIFICAL
MISSION OF THE UNITED STATES

His Holiness Aram I received the deputy president of the Catholic Pontifical
Mission of the United States, Bishop Jean Fares in his office in the Veharan
on March 17. Established in the United States, the Mission also carries out
projects in the Middle East, helping tortured people.

The general manager of the Mission’s regional office for Lebanon, Syria and
Jordan also accompanied the Bishop. The deputy president informed His
Holiness of the organization’s projects both in the United States and the
Middle East.

His Holiness praised the work carried out by the Mission, stressing the
importance of helping Christian communities. He highlighted the important
contribution of the organization in strengthening Christianity in the
region.

The Pontiff also talked about the situation in the Middle East and the
Christian-Muslim dialogue initiatives.

The Mission had organized a special banquet last year in honor of His
Holiness Aram I during the latter’s Pontifical visit to the Eastern diocese
of the United States. A large number of spiritual leaders and
representatives of different churches had attended the banquet.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ISOLATE ARMENIA FROM REGIONAL ECONOMIC PROJECTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.03.2006 00:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Resumption of Abkhaz part of the railway
beneficial not only to Armenia, but also to the region on the whole,
expert economist Eduard Aghajanov stated in a conversation with a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In Aghajanov’s words, the route through
Abkhazia is shorter, cheaper and more secure that the alternative
railway Russia is going to build via Iran and Azerbaijan. Russia-Iran
road is part of the North-South program, however, it is hard to
say to which extent it is economically profitable than the already
available Abkhazian one. One thing is out of question – it is another
attempt to isolate Armenia from regional economic projects. I will
add that access to Europe is also very profitable via Abkhazia. A
purely political consideration underlies all these projects – either
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku or Russia-Iran-Azerbaijan,” he emphasized.

The matter of resumption of operation of the Abkhaz part of
the railway was discussed at a session of the Armenian-Russian
Interparliamentary Commission in Moscow. In the words of Armenian
Co-Chair, NA Vice-Speaker Vahan Hovhannisyan, Russia’s intention to
build an alternative Russia-Iran road through Azerbaijan will reduce
interest to the opening of rail communication through Abkhazia. He
remarked that a consortium is formed with participation of four
parties interested in running the Abkhaz part of the railway. However,
Russia, in his words, has not presented its representative yet, thus
hampering consortium’s activities. Vahan Hovhannisyan said that a
meeting of the consortium will be held in Yerevan in the coming days
with participation of all four parties.

LITHUANIAN VIOLONCELLIST CONSIDERS ARMENIANS ONE OF PEOPLES OF EUROPE HAVING RICHEST CULTURE

Noyan Tapan
Mar 21 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Lithuanian cellist and conductor David
Geringas’ concert takes place in Yerevan on March 21 and 23. The Music
Information Center of Armenia initiated the concert of the cellist
arrived in Armenia and his wife, pianist Tatyana Geringas, within
the framework of the “Perspectives of 21st.” As Stepan Rostomian, the
artistic head of the center informed at the March 20 press-conference,
David Geringas’ visit to Armenia must be considered as a great event
as he is one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. According
to S.Rostomian, Geringas is considered one of the best cellist
teachers as well, and Armenian cellist Alexander Chavushian and
Vahe Rostomian are among his students. According to David Geringas,
he is acquainted with the Armenian culture and history and considers
Komitas’ “Krunk” (crane) to be one of the world masterpieces. “Works
of not only Komitas but of a number of other Armenian composers must
enter the international field as those are such works which deserve
world recognition. Armenians are supposed one of the peoples of Europe
having the richest culture,” the cellist mentioned. Geringas is going
to include some of Edvard Mirzoyan’s and Tigran Masurian’s works in
his programme. He also mentioned that Stepan Rostomian writes music for
him. S.Rostomian informed that it’s already the 7th year that concerts
of famous musicians are organized in Armenia within the framework
of the “Perspectives of 21st” festival, and the festival became one
of the most representative cultural events in Armenia and the CIS
territory. But, according to the composer, the RA Ministry of Culture
and Youth Issues has never assisted in organizing the concerts. “There
is no cultural policy in Armenia, and our culture suffers of periodical
change of Ministers” I think not the Minister but the way of action
of that institute must be changed,” the composer emphasized.

WHAT SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI NEEDS

Lragir/am
21 March 06

The results of the poll on the problems of Samtskhe-Javakheti among
the readers of Lragir.am show that opinions on the ways of settlement
of the problems of Samtskhe-Javakheti are quite different.

The majority voted for sovereignty. 48 per cent of readers think that
Samtskhe-Javakheti must become sovereign. 22 per cent think that
the improvement of the social and economic state in the country is
urgent. 14 per cent think Samtskhe-Javakheti needs greater integration
into the Georgian society, and 13 per cent think that it is urgent
to eliminate discrimination in this region. 3 per cent think that
Samtskhe-Javakheti wants an official status for the Armenian language.