Author: Zakarian Garnik

TURKEY "REMOVED THE BRACKETS" AT ISTANBUL CONFERENCE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 26-27 Istanbul hosted a conference
on Armenian-Turkish relations on the initiative of SETA Research
Center. As conference participant, turkologist Artak Shakaryan reported
to PanARMENIAN.Net, the conference was conducted in accordance with
Chatham House principles. Conference participants were obligated to
remain silent on some issues.

"On the whole, the conference was held in good neighborly
atmosphere. As no media representatives attended the conference,
participants were free to express their thoughts and even to
"removed the brackets" in some cases," Shakaryan noted. According to
turkologist, at the conference Turkish part repeatedly emphasized the
idea that Azerbaijan and Turkey are "one nation, two states". "Turkish
participants repeatedly stated that no progress will be registered in
Armenian-Turkish relations, unless there’s any progress in NKR conflict
settlement. Armenia representatives made it clear that if Ankara keeps
setting NKR issue as a precondition, the dialogue between Armenia
and Turkey will be frustrated. This was the most critical moment in
the course of the conference," the turkologist emphasized. According
to Artak Shakaryan, the fact that SETA Center, conference organizer,
acts as a mouthpiece of Turkey, should be taken into consideration.

ARMENIA’S CONSUL GENERAL PRESENTED PASSPORT TO THE FIRST DUAL-CITIZEN IN LA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
03.06.2009

/PanARMENIAN.Net / Zoya Baghramyan realized her life-long dream by
receiving her Armenian citizenship and her official Armenian passport
at a ceremony at the Armenian Consulate General of Los Angeles,
Asbarez.com reports.

Baghramyan completed her dual-citizenship application in March of last
year and in May, in Yerevan she received her Armenian citizenship,
becoming the first Angeleno to receive that status.

During the ceremony, Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Grigor
Hovhannisyan presented the passport again and a memento on this
occasion.

The Consul-General also announced that this year, the Consulate has
received double the number of dual-citizenship applications than
last year.

Baghramyan was born in Azerbaijan and fled the country in 1989
after the Azeri pogroms against Armenians in various parts of the
country. She first went to Moscow and in 1996 she moved to the United
States and became a citizen.

CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION PUBLISHED THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Lragir.Am
10:58:38 – 01/06/2009

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia published the preliminary
results of the Yerevan Elders’ Council election. According to the
results, 412 464 voters participated in the election.

The results are:

Republican Party 190 171 votes Bargavach Hayastan Party
91 141votes Armenian National Congress 69 871 votes ARF
Dashnaktsutyun 18 648 votes Orinast Yerkir Party 20 959 votes Labor
Socialistic Party of Armenia 1951 votes People’s Party 8569 votes

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN: AZERBAIJANI MEDIA DISSEMINATED MISINFORMATION, BLAZER

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 12:43:00

ArmInfo. ‘Azerbaijani media disseminated misinformation saying that
I have allegedly ‘recognized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
and Nagorny Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan’. It is a blazer’, Vardan
Khachatryan, parliamentarian representing Heritage opposition party
faction, told ArmInfo when commenting on the ‘article’ by AzerTaj
correspondent Vugar Seidov.

‘The conclusions of the given ‘journalist’ are probably a desperate
attempt to respond to my speech at the meeting of the Assembly of
Western European Union in Saint Petersburg on May 14 in the presence
of CIS representatives’, V. Khachatryan said.

He said that certain Turkish-subject Chaush-oghlu that somehow occurred
in the unharmonious Azerbaijani delegation declared a hot speech
by tradition accusing Armenia ‘of occupation, crimes, violation of
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan’ and other trash. In response, the
Armenian parliamentarian called on Azeris ‘for opening the eyes to the
truth on Karabakh’ and highlighted that the conflict in early 90s was
between Azerbaijan and Nagorny Karabakh and not Azerbaijan and Armenia.

‘I emphasized that the conflict originated as a result of Azerbaijan’s
aggression against the peaceful population of Karabakh. Azerbaijani
militaries continuously annihilated the Karabakh people. Thanks to
heroic efforts of Karabakh fighters, the people could unite around the
idea of independence and win the war unleashed by Azerbaijan. After
my speech, which the Azerbaijani delegations failed to give any
reasonable response to, it had nothing to do but leave the sitting
hall. Evidently, the article by the Azerbaijani ‘journalist’ is the
very response to my speech’, Khachatryan said for conclusion.

No comment.

DEPT MARKET IN ARMENIA SHOWS 4-FOLD GROWTH FOR MAY 2009

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 15:29:00

ArmInfo. Since the national dram devaluation shock in March, the debt
market of Armenia has gradually recovered. Over May 2009, corporate
bonds transactions grew almost 4 times to 1.1 billion drams. Last
month the market suffered 5-fold decline.

By data of NASDAQ OMX Armenia, 62 transactions involving the bonds
of 10 issuers were registered in May. IMEX GROUP was the leader both
by the volume and quantity of operations: 17 transactions for 193.4
million drams. ELITE GROUP bonds transactions proved in the last
position: 1 transaction for 599.7 thousand drams.

Tim Slater, HSBC Bank Armenia CEO, told ArmInfo the upward trends
in the dept market in Armenia were connected with certain growth of
interest rates.

T. Slater brought another important factor i.e. reduction of interest
rate on REPO-agreements by 1% by the Central Bank of Armenia. This
factor may boost trading and lead to growth of corporate bonds
transactions, he said.

Nevertheless, he said, new issues were the key factor defining the
activity in the market. T. Slater said HSBC Bank Armenia is not
planning a second issue of bonds for the nearest future. He said
the Bank will study this issue as the population trust in national
currency is regained.

By the latest data of NASDAQ OMX Armenia, corporate bonds of
11 emitters are quoted at the exchange at present : ARARATBANK
(second-issue bonds), Converse Bank, HSBC Bank Armenia, INECOBANK,
ELITE GROUP (first- and second-issue bonds), IMEX GROUP, ArmRusgasprom,
SHEN CONCERN (fourth-issue bonds), Tornton, Valletta (second- and
third-issue bonds), Ardshininvestbank.

South Ossetia holds parliamentary elections
31.05.2009 12:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ South Ossetia holds parliamentary elections
today. Four political parties – Communist Party, Unity Republic Party,
Fydybasta (Fatherland) party and People’s Party – run for 34-seat
parliament.
The Central Electoral Committee has registered 53 436 voters.
The election will be declared valid in case of 50 percent
turnout. Some 70 observers are watching the process, according to
Russian media reports.

ALL THE 439 POLLING STATIONS OPENED AT 08:00 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: All the 439 polling stations of 13
Yerevan Electoral Constituencies opened at 08:00 o’clock in the
morning in which 771 477 voters of the capital will have an
opportunity to take part in the elections of Council of Yerevan
Elders. The elections will last by 20:00.
Nearly 6000 international and local observers follow the electoral
process including the observing mission of CoE Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities, diplomats accredited in Armenia and nearly 29
local organizations.
The Central Electoral Commission will in three-hour periodicity
present information on the number of voters as well as got
application-complains.
According to the Electoral Code the initial results of the
Elections will be summarized not later than 24 hours after the end of
elections.

Gagik Beglaryan: My expectations are great

armradio.am
31.05.2009 14:06

`This election is very important to every resident of Yerevan, and my
expectations are very great. Tomorrow’s Yerevan must have a new body
and we have to elect it though free and fair elections,’ The Mayor of
Yerevan said after casting his vote at polling station #9/5.

According to Gagik Beglaryan, the elections have been proceeding very
calmly up until now, the turnout is satisfactory.

Delegates of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the
Council of Europe, who were carrying out monitoring at the polling
station, told the candidate they were unbiased in their work.

As of 12:00, 700 out of 1,948 electors had voted at 9/5 polling station
located at secondary school #39.

WILL AZERBAIJAN AMBASSADOR TO RF PASS THROUGH ARMENIA TO VISIT NKR?

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.05.2009 18:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbul Ogly
and RA Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan plan to visit Armenia on
their way to NKR in the middle of July.

As PanARMENIAN.Net learnt from reliable sources, the diplomats will
pass through Armenia to visit NKR, having received official permission
from NKR authorities.

The ambassadors have scheduled a meeting with NKR President Bako
Sahakyan, a visit to Amaras and Shushi. Most probably, Smbatyan
and Bulbul Ogly will cross NKR border by car and will proceed their
way to Baku On June 28, 2007, representatives of Armenian and Azeri
intelligentsia paid a visit to Stepanakert, Yerevan and Baku on the
initiative of Azeri and Armenian Ambassadors to RF, Armen Smbatyan
and Polad Bulbul Ogly.

ARMENIA WILL RECEIVE EURO 98,4 MILL. FOR EASTERN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN 2010-2013

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.05.2009 20:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Eurocommittee allocated Euro 600 million to EP
Member states for Eastern Partnership projects implementation in
2010-2013. Whoever offers better ideas within shortest terms will be
credited for greater sum out of total, BelaPAN Byelorussian website
noted. Newly made "eastern partners" who’ve earlier overcame a number
of obstacles to strengthen their ties with EU, received significantly
greater funding for 2010-2013: Azerbaijan – Euro 92 million, Armenia –
Euro 98,4 million, Georgia – Euro120,4 million, Moldova – Euro 209,7
million, Ukraine – Euro 494 million. Experts from Eastern partnership
member states believe that the program has received insufficient
funding. Brussels is proud to offer financial support which was
increased to Euro 600 million for 2010-2013.