Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

‘DEAR LEADER’ HAS PAK CHOOSING GOLD

Gulf Times
13 August, 2008, 01:28 AM Doha Time
Qatar

Pak Hyon Suk of DPR Korea holds up 135 kg in the clean and jerk portion
of the women’s 63 kg class in Beijing yesterday. Pak won the gold
medal. (UPI BEIJING: Pak Hyon-Suk overcame certain elimination to win
North Korea’s first weightlifting gold medal at the Beijing Olympics
yesterday, as Liao Hui hoisted China to their fifth lifting title here.

Fearful of losing and driven by a desire to please North Korea’s "Dear
Leader", the 23-year-old Pak delivered the goods in a heart-stopping
finish.

After two missed attempts, she had faced either elimination or victory
as she walked up to the bar for the last time to attempt 135kg in
the clean and jerk.

She needed to get the bar up to overhaul Irina Nekrassova of
Kazakhstan, who had finished with a 240kg total and eventually ended
with the silver.

Taiwan’s Lu Ying-Chi won the bronze. After failing at the same weight
twice, the North Korean was finally successful with her do-or-die
final lift to eclipse Nekrassova by just one kilogram.

"I just kept it in my head that my Dear General’s eyes would be
watching over me, and that encouraged me to lift this weight," she
said, referring to North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Il who is invariably
called "Dear Leader" or "Dear General" by his people.

The pressure was on her to produce after North Korean lifters had
all failed in the first three days of competition, including world
champion Cha Kum-Chol in the men’s 56kg.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Liao won China’s fifth weightlifting gold in
an equally dramatic finish that also saw former Chinese world champion
Shi Zhiyong withdraw from the clean and jerk portion of the contest.

Warned by his parents he would become a dwarf if he pursued the sport,
Liao hoisted 158kg in the snatch and 190kg in the clean and jerk for
a total of 348kg and reflected on what could have been had he followed
his parents’ advice instead of that of his coach.

"Because they had traditional ideas that I would not grow tall and
become very short and fat, they tried to discourage me from lifting
weights," Liao said.

In the end the persistent provincial coach prevailed on the parents
and Liao shot from obscurity in Hubei province over three years to
make the national team.

However, he was made to sweat after completing his lifts as Vencelas
Dabaya-Tientcheu of France, who was running in second place with an
interim total of 338kg, made an audacious play for the gold with two
chances for clean and jerk lift of 197kg.

"I saw how he lifted 187kg (the Frenchman’s first clean and jerk
lift) easily and realised that he was a very strong opponent. I was
worried," Liao said. "I was in a bad position because my second lift
was inferior. I was really nervous and was waiting for something
to happen."

The Frenchman failed in the first attempt, however, and decided not
to try again, having already assured himself of the silver medal.

"Today I had no choice but to go for 197kg," Dabaya-Tientcheu said.

"I had never lifted that much but I believe I got closer to that
today."

Junior world champion Tigran Martirosyan of Armenia won the bronze,
also with a total of 338kg but he had a slightly higher body weight
than the Frenchman.

Martirosyan said he was weakened by having to lose 8kg of his body
weight to make the 69kg cut.

RUSSIAN TELCO ALTIMO’S PAST TO HAUNT INDIA PLANS

TMCnet
August 12, 2008

(Ecomonic Times, The (India) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
Aug. 12–NEW DELHI — In a development that could jeopardise Russian
telco Altimo’s plans of entering India, the home ministry (MHA) has
said the company is embroiled in lawsuits and faces allegations of
fraud, corruption and bribery.

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It has also said its parent company, the Alpha Group, is under
investigation by European anti-money laundering agencies, in
addition to being named in the Volcker Report in connection with the
oil-for-food scandal. These observations were made by the ministry
while rejecting the foreign investment proposal of a company with
which the Alpha Group jointly owns a bank.

Altimo owns a 44 percent stake in VimpelCom and 25 percent in
Megafon, which together control more than 80 percent of the Russian
communications market. It has been looking to establish a toehold
in India for the past two years, and is reported to have been in
talks with realty major Unitech to pick up a 26 percent stake in its
telecom arm.

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The telecom firm, in the past, has been linked to several other
companies which were awarded telecom licences recently. Last year,
Altimo was among the five bidders to acquire a controlling stake
in Hutchison Essar, but the deal eventually went to British giant
Vodafone. Following its failure, Altimo, in a statement, had said
it had borrowed $1.5 billion from Deutsche Bank to expand in a
fast-growing market like India.

However, the home ministry’s observations that Altimo and its parent
company, Alpha, have a "tainted background" could become a stumbling
block for their India plans.

The Alpha Group, controlled by Russian oligarch Mikhail Friedman,
is one of the largest conglomerates in the world with interests in
oil and gas, commercial and investment banking, asset management,
insurance, retail trade, telecommunications, technology and media.

The consortium has been entangled in a series of controversies, the
latest being the fight with British Petroleum over control of TNK-BP,
one of Russia’s largest oil and gas companies.

Altimo’s valuation is pegged at over $30 billion and has a customer
base, through all its subsidiaries, of over 150 million. For the
past three years, Altimo has been locked in a legal dispute with
Norwegian telecom major Telenor over VimpelCom in which Telenor
has about 30 percent. VimpelCom, through its different arms, has
operations in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
Georgia and Armenia.

The government’s strong views on Altimo came to light when Meta
Telecom, which has been issued national and international licences by
the Department of Telecom, sought the Foreign Investment Promotion
Board’s (FIPB) nod to permit Cyprus-based Daltotrade to raise its
foreign holding in the company to 74 percent from the current 40
percent.

The home ministry, in its report to FIPB, pointed out that Daltotrade
owned 42.7 percent in Belarus-based Mezhtorgbank, adding that the
Alpha Group also held a 40 percent stake in the bank. The report
added that according to the US Centre for Public Integrity, Alpha
Group president Mikhail Friedman and his colleague Pyotr Aven were
involved in drug trafficking on a global scale.

Another possible reason for FIPB to reject the proposal could be based
on the department of revenue’s report. It said Meta Telecom has only
provided skeletal information about Daltotrade and key details like
the company’s financial credibility and sources of funds had not
been furnished.

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go to

Copyright (c) 2008, The Economic Times, India Distributed by
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THE CITIZENS OF ARMENIA DIDN’T SUFFER FROM THE BUSTLE IN GEORGIA

armradio.am
12.08.2008 16:47

The RA Embassy in Georgia and the RA General Consulate in Batumy go
on helping the RA citizens to return to their Motherland. About 8, 5
thousand citizens have already been moved. By the support of Armenia
about 850 foreigners (diplomats and their families) have been moved
from Georgia to Yerevan. On the eve early in the morning about 45 buses
left for Ajaria to return Armenians to their Motherland. According
to the Press and Information department of RA FAM, Armenians didn’t
suffer during the events in Georgia. Many citizens phoned to the RA
FAM with the hot lines to be informed about the developing of the
events and about the transportation of Armenian citizens.

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME IN PROGRESS

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
August 11, 2008

According to an agreement concludied between the NKR Government and
"Karabakh Telecom" CJSC, in 2008 "KT" will render 500 mln drams
assistance for realization of different programmes in the health
sphere of the NKR.

On August 9, the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan accompanied by
the General Manager of the "KT" company Ralph Yierikyan has visited
those medical establishments of Stepanakert, where works at the expence
of means rendered by the company are envesiged to be carried out. At
first they have visited the first aid station, where they have got
acquainted with the recently bought reanimation car the first in
Artsakh, which will afford an opportunity to securely transport
patients to Yerevan in case of urgency.

Then they have visited the sanitary epidemiologic station and
dermatovenerologic dispensary and the republican children’s hospital
("Arevik" medical establishment). Repair and overhaul works are
foreseen in the mentioned establishments for which modern equipment
will be obtained.

WATER SUPPLY OF ARABKIR COMMUNITY TO BE CUT OFF ON AUGUST 13

Noyan Tapan

Au g 11, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The water supply of the following
streets in Yerevan’s Arabkir community: Papasian, Vagharshian,
Sundukian, Avetisian, Gaydar, Gulakian, Kyulbenkian, Aghbyur Serob,
Sose, Orbeli, Kievian, Proshian, Yerznkian, Baghramian, Hrachia
Kochar, as well as Aygedzor district and the adjacent areas will be
cut off from 10 am to 9 pm on August 13 due to construction work,
NT was informed by Yerevan Water CJSC.

Agence France Presse
Aug 9 2008

Iran offers ‘any help’ in S.Ossetia crisis

TEHRAN (AFP) ‘ Iran, watching conflict in the Caucasus unfold
virtually on its doorstep, said Saturday it was "ready to offer any
help" to end the crisis in South Ossetia.

"The Islamic republic voices concern over the military conflicts in
South Ossetia that have led to the killing of defenceless people and
calls for an immediate halt to the clashes," foreign ministry
spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said.

"Iran is ready to offer any help … under its principal policies of
contributing to the establishment of peace and stability in the
region," added Ghashghavi, quoted by the Iranian student news agency
ISNA.

"A worsening of the crisis could affect the whole region with its
negative consequences," he said, urging the two sides to negotiate.

Iran borders on two of Georgia’s neighbours in the Caucasus — Armenia
and Azerbaijan — and historically maintains a close geopolitical
interest in the volatile region.

Its capital Tehran lies 880 kilometres (550 miles), as the crow flies,
from Georgia’s capital Tbilisi — about the same distance as Paris and
Berlin.

APPOINTMENT OF SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN AS DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA WAS A RIGHT DECISION: ARFD MEMBER

arminfo
2008-08-09 14:43:00

ArmInfo. The appointment of Shavarsh Kocharyan as Deputy Foreign
Minister of Armenia was a right decision, the leader of the
parliamentary group of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsoutyun Vahan Hovhannissyan said during a press-conference
today. "I am sure that he will work well in his new office. I have
seen his work in the parliament and in PACE and can say that,
irrespective of his political views and preferences, he did all
he could for protecting the interests of Armenia and the Armenian
people," Hovhannissyan said. To remind, on Aug 2 President of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan appointed the leader of the National Democratic Party
Shavarsh Kocharyan as Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia.

RA CIVIL APPEAL COURT STARTS EXAMINING APPEAL AGAINST DECISION TO DEPORT VAHAGN CHAKHALIAN FROM ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Au g 8, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Civil Appeal Court presided over
by Judge Astghik Kharatian on August 7 started examining the appeal
against the police decision on deportation of Vahagn Chakhalian, a
Georgian citizen, by administrative order. The appeal had been filed
by V. Chakhalian’s representative – Tigran Hayrapetian. Earlier the
court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities (presided over
by Judge Gayane Karakhanian) dismissed the application of activist of
"United Javakhk" democratic alliance V. Chakhalian to invalidate the
police decision on his deportation by administrative order.

Representative of V. Chakhalian said that the conclusion of a
commission rather than of the RA police head (as envisaged by law)
formed the ground for V. Chakhalian’s deportation. Even if there is
such a decision of the police head, they are not familiar with it. The
deportation was done before the court decision took force: to recap,
the court of first instance of Shirak marz found Chakhalian guilty
of illegally crossing the border and gave him one-year suspended
sentence with 18 months’ probation. In the words of V. Chakhalian’s
representative, the impression is it was not a deportation by
administrative order but an act of extradition with the aim of
handing V. Chakhalian over to the Georgian authorities. The Georgian
authorities arrested V. Chakhalian who is now in custody. According
to T. Hayrapetain, the principle of presumption of innocence was
violated with respect to V. Chakhalian who was illegally deprived of
freedom for 11 hours.

The representative of the respondent did not attend the court hearing
examining the appeal, so the plaintiff requested to be given some
time so that at the next sitting V. Chakhalian or his representative
could present Chakhalian’s activities and the judge could make sure
that these activities do not pose any danger to Armenia. It will be
announced later about the day of the next siiting to be held in about
2 months.

To recap, activist of "United Javakhk" alliance Vahagn Chakhalian was
arrested in 2006, then he was convicted and deported to Armenia. After
the expolsion at the house of Akhalkalaki police head Samvel Petrosian
on July 17, 2008, over ten members of "United Kavakhk" were taken to
police by force and violence. The father and brother of alliance member
Gurgen Shirinian were arrested, while V. Chakhalian, his father and
under-age brother were arrested on July 21. Mmebers of the board of
"United Javakhk" claim that this attitude of Georgain law enforcers
is the result of V. Chakhalian’s deportation from Armenia.

ARMENIAN STATE BUDGET TO RELEASE 138 MILLION DRAMS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF CHARLES AZNAVOUR HOUSE-MUSEUM

ARMENPRESS
Aug 7, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS: Deputy Yerevan mayor Kamo Areyan
said today at the government’s session that 138 million drams
will be provided from the government’s reserve fund to the Yerevan
municipality. K. Areyan said that the provided funds will be directed
towards the implementation of construction works of the Charles
Aznavour house-museum which have already started. The house-museum
is situated in the territory near Cascade.

10.3% ECONOMIC GROWTH RECORDED IN ARMENIA IN H1 2008

ARKA
Aug 6, 2008

YEREVAN, August 6. /ARKA/. A 10.3% economic growth was recorded in
Armenia in the first half of this year against the same period of 2007.

The RA National Statistical Service reports that the volume of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) was 1,322,732.6mln Drams (in market prices)
in the period under review.

GDP deflator index was 108% in the period as compared with January-June
2007.

According to the statistical data, 7.7% growth of gross added value
provided a 6.9 pct increase in the actual volume of GDP (9.2pct in
January-June 2007). 29.9% growth of taxes, the subsidies exclusive,
provided 3.4pct of the actual growth of GDP (2.4pct in January-June
2007).

In the period, 16.8% construction growth raised the GDP by 3.4pct
(against 3.8pct in the first half of 2007). Industry (including energy
sector) provided 0.1pct of economic growth (0.5pct in January-June
2007).

8.3% growth of agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing provided
0.9pct of the economic growth in the period.

22.8% growth recorded in financial sector and real estate transactions
provided 1.8% of the GDP growth (2pct in January-June 2007).

The share of added value was 86.5% in the GDP structure against 88.6%
in the first half of 2007.

The share of industrial production was 39.6% against 39.8% in January-
June 2007. The share of agriculture was 9.4% and that of construction
was 22.7% in the period. Trade, public catering, transport and
communication provided 18.6%, the services sector – 12%.

Taxes, the subsidies exclusive, constituted 13.5% of the GDP.

GDP per capita was 410,353Drams or $1,334 (871 Euros) at the end of
June this year.

11.6% economic growth was recorded in the first half of 2007.

Under the state budget, 10% growth of GDP is expected in Armenia
in 2008. ($1=301.03Drams).