Author: Zakarian Garnik

U.S. CO-CHAIR’S STANDPOINT CONSONANT WITH ARMENIAN

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 8 2009
Armenia

Definitely excluding interrelation of Balkan developments resulting
in declaration and recognition of Kosovo independence with situation
in South Caucasian crisis spots, U.S. nonetheless assigns experienced
diplomats to NKR conflict region from Balkans.

Today it has been known that a new U.S. OSCE MG Co-Chair on
Nagorno-Karabakh issue was appointed. Robert Bradtke, Former
U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, served from 2001 to 2004 as Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs,
with responsibility for NATO and the OSCE. It is noteworthy, that
Tina S. Kaidanow was recently appointed to this position – factually
first U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo. Presently South Caucasus is the core
position of U.S. foreign policy and undoubtedly the region will be
in full glare of Kaidanow as of her predecessor, Matthew Bryza.

Concerning the recognition of Kosovo independence, on March 4, 2008,
Robert Bradtke, the then U.S. Ambassador to Croatia said: "I think that
Kosovo’s independence can create the basis for a stable future of this
part of Southeastern Europe, with membership in the European Union
and NATO for the countries of this region. I think it is important,
however, that Serbia recognize that that is where the future is. The
future is not trying to go back to the past, the future is not trying
to live in isolation, but it is accepting the reality of Kosovo’s
independence and moving forward," Radio Liberty informed.

Apparently the citation of the U.S. diplomat, that is about
to assume the U.S. mediation mission, is fully consonant with
Armenia’s standpoint, repeatedly voiced by politicians in Yerevan and
Stepanakert. Namely, Azerbaijan has to accept the will of Karabakhi
people who gained their virtual independence and do not attempt to
reverse the march of history, that might lead to a severe tragedy.

CBA REDUCES ANNUAL REFINANCING RATE

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 8 2009
Armenia

At its sitting today, the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
decided to reduce the annual refinancing rate by 0.25% down to 5%. The
CBA press service told NEWS.am that the decision is in harmony with
the trends on the financial market and, without threatening the price
stability, contributes to economic revival.

The world economy continued showing signs of improvement accompanied by
a gradual rise in the prices for raw materials and some other product
items. Under the circumstances, despite further downward trends in
the aggregate demand, domestic markets did not register any deflation.

The CBA reports that a deflation rate of 0.4% was registered this
August as compared with this July. As a result, an annual inflation
rate reached 3.5%.

This is the seventh reduction of the annual refinancing rate since
the CBA returned to a floating rate policy: the rte was first reduced
down to 7.5%. On May 12, the CBA reduced the annual refinancing rate
down to 7.25%, and on May 22, down to 6.25%.

AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Trend
Sept 3 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov spoke with his Turkish
counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, over the phone on September 3. At
present, Ahmet Davutoglu is in Egypt, Turkish information agency,
Anadolu, said.

The two ministers discussed the development of Turkish-Armenian
relations, including the recently reached agreement on establishing
diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey and Armenia reached the agreement to launch internal political
consultations, concluding the ‘Protocol on the Establishment
of Diplomatic Relations’ and the ‘Protocol on the Development
of Bilateral Relations’ at Monday’s talks, which were held under
mediation by Switzerland.

18th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2009-09-03 15:28
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic has celebrated its18th anniversary.

NKR and RA official delegations, headed by Presidents Bako Sahakian
and Serge Sargsian, visited the Stepanakert Memorial Complex to put
wreaths and flowers on the Eternal Flame pedestal and the monuments
to the Karabakh war deceased soldiers.

Columns of soldiers marched over the streets of the Republic’s
capital and regional centers. A reception party took place at
the NKR President, with the participation of official and public
representatives and guests. In a ceremonial atmosphere, the President
awarded some servicemen of the NKR Defense Army, war participants,
and prominent specialists with state awards.

The first lesson at the NKR educational establishments was dedicated
to the Independence Day. Members of the NKR Security Council and
Government, NA Deputies, the Karabakh Movement activists, and war
veterans attended them.

Concerts, sport events, and street festivities took place all over
the Republic. The festive events were followed by fireworks in the
central Revival Square of Stepanakert.

"On September 2, 1991, the Armenians of Artsakh opened a new page
in the ancient history of our people, taking firmly a hard and
honorable way of building a free and independent, sovereign and
democratic state. From the very first da y of its formation, our
Republic had to resolve knotty tasks, first of all, to defend the
country’s independence and ensure its citizens’ security. Together
with Armenia and the Diaspora, Artsakh could honorably fulfill
this mission, preserving its state independence and consolidating
its security still more. This was possible thanks to the collective
power and unity of the Armenian people", noted in his congratulatory
message to the Artsakh people NKR President Bako Sahakian.

RA and NKR ex-Presidents Robert Kocharian and Arkady Ghukasian,
public representatives from Armenia and other countries took part in
the festive events dedicated to the 18th anniversary of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.

GUARANTEEING INVESTMENTS PLAYS SPECIAL ROLE IN CRISIS TIME

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2009 20:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In its Thursday session, RA Government approved
bills on introducing amendments to the laws on "Guaranteeing Natural
Persons’ Bank Investments" "RA Central Bank" and "Armenia’s Budget
System". Volumes of guaranteeing citizens’ investments in national
and foreign currencies will be redoubled.

The system of guaranteeing investments plays special role in times
of crisis and financial instabilities. Its effective functioning may
play crucial role in increasing society’s trust in financial markets.

ALIYEV’S HUMANISM COSTS U.S. $3.5 MILLION

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 3 2009
Armenia

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev felt a sudden upsurge of humanism
and compassion toward his fellow citizens. He decided to grant a
little over U.S. $3.5 million of his petrodollar billions (the limit
of his generosity) from his "President’s reserve fund" to "improve
housing of refugee families and IDPs".

Under Aliyev’s decree 3 million manats are allotted for development and
construction of high-raise buildings for about 700 families. According
to it, State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan should consider the project while
planning FY 2010 budget.

The Aliyev’s decision might be considered an alert of Azeri
authorities, who reached the ceiling in "millions of refugees"
propaganda thesis potential.

As is known, within last ten years refugees in Azerbaijan had special
reservations to be showcased to foreign delegations as a proof of
"Armenian aggression". However, in Armenia (the poor and weak -Azeri
term) the refugees problem was attempted to be solved as they were
arriving during the armed conflict.

Hundreds of thousand Armenians fell victims of atrocities in Baku,
Sumgait, Kirovabad and other Azeri cities. The problem was aggravated
by earthquake in Spitak at that time (North Armenia) leaving another
hundreds of thousands bereft of home. Nevertheless, Armenian leadership
was decent enough not to speculate on their grief and keep refugees
by force in reservations. That’s another story, that the issue of
refugees in Armenia could be solved more effectively.

ARMENIANS ACCUSE OBAMA ON ‘GENOCIDE’

AzerNews Weekly
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenians have criticized US President Barack Obama for the recent
court ruling that refused to compensate descendants of the victims
of alleged World War I-era genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Kiro Manoyan,
who heads a political research center at the nationalist Dashnaksutyun
Party, claimed that Obama was to blame for the decision of the appeals
court that overruled a ruling by a California court on paying out life
insurance benefits to relatives of the alleged genocide victims. He
believes that if Obama had used the term "genocide" in his address
this April – the month Armenians commemorate a date marking the
alleged massacres – the higher court would not have invalidated the
previous decision.

The judge at the California court of appeal who handed down the
ruling said the state bears no responsibility for the developments
that took place miles away from the United States, emphasizing that
the US government has not reached a decision to recognize the alleged
genocide.

Armenians, who say Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in 1915,
a claim strenuously dismissed by Turkey, are seeking passage of a
"genocide" bill in the US Congress.

TURKEY AGREES TO OPEN ARMENIAN BORDER IN 2 MONTH AFTER PROTOCOL ON DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS COMES INTO EFFECT

ArmInfo
2009-09-01 01:11:00

ArmInfo. Turkey and Armenia have agreed on opening of the Armenian
border in 2 month after the Protocol On Development of Bilateral
Relations comes into effect, says the document "Measures of
Fulfillment" of the Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations
between Armenia and Turkey. The document says that the parties have
agreed also to conduct regular political consultations of foreign
political departments of the two states. In addition, Armenia and
Turkey have pledged to launch a dialogue to settle historical disputes
and restore mutual confidence. The parties have agreed to set up an
impartial group to study the archived documents to define the existing
problems and develop recommendations, the document says.

SYNOPSYS DECLARES INCOME FOR THIRD QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 16:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Synopsys declared income, amounted to $ 345.2
million for the third quarter of fiscal year of 2009, press service
of the Synopsys-Armenia told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

According to the data, based on the Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (GAAP), net income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009
totaled $ 47.4 million – $ 0.32 per share, against $ 57.7 million –
$ 0 39 per share over the same period in 2008. Company’s revenue for
the third quarter of last year was $ 344.1 million

According to the data, not based on the GAAP standards, net income
for the third quarter of fiscal year 2009 totaled $ 68.3 million,
or $ 0.47 per share, against $ 64.5 million, or $ 0.44 per share for
the same period of last year.

CSTO MILITARY EXERCISES ARE KICKED ON IN MOSCOW

armradio.am
27.08.2009 16:24

First round of joint complex military exercises of CSTO kicked on
in Moscow headed by the Assistant Secretary General of CSTO Valery
Semerikov. The Headquarter of the military exercises is headed by First
Assistant to the Head of the CSTO United Headquarter Oleg Latipov.

During this round military-political and strategic situation in the
CSTO region will be assessed and suggestions will be prepared for
elaboration of the operative response forces in Central Asian region
of collective security, military contingent and armed forces of CSTO
in Eastern European region as well as military and military political
support to the CSTO states.

Members of the CSTO are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.