MosJan

ARMENIAN TRAVEL AGENCIES DISPLAY THEIR PRODUCTS An international exhibition of tourism, entitled The Country of Talking Stones opened at Yerevan’s Moskva Cinema House on Wednesday. The exhibition, which will last another two days, is organized by the Association of Armenian Travel agencies (AATA) and trade and industry ministry. John Balian, public affairs officer from the US embassy in Armenia, unlike other speakers, said Armenian travel agencies should not pin much hope on Diaspora Armenians, as potential visitors to Armenia. He suggested that Armenian travel agencies should look for bringing to Armenia non-Armenian tourists. Balian said there are all the grounds to make Armenia an attractive country for foreign travelers. “Armenia is a secret that should be discovered. When it is opened it attracts more, whoever comes to Armenia falls in love with it ” he said. Balian repeated what he had a couple of weeks ago, after returning from the USA, that Armenia was one of the safest countries in the world. He however, added a new epithet, describing Armenia as “an oasis of calmness and peace.” The exhibition has actually brought together the potential of major Armenian travel agencies, such as Levon Travel, Elitar Travel, Delta Armenia, Armintour, Prana Tour and others. Also some leading Armenian hotels-Armenia, Yerevan, Teryan and companies specializing in providing tourist services are participating in it. Also The Syrian Airlines and the Yerevan Brandy Company, that are sponsoring the exhibition, are displaying their capacities and products. By Gayane Mukoyan © Copyright AZG

BUSH CALLS KOCHARIAN, ALIYEV During a regular White House briefing Tuesday, presidential press secretary Ari Fleischer announced that President George W. Bush held telephone conversations with his Armenian and Azeri counterparts Robert Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev Tuesday. "The president this morning spoke with President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Kocharian of Armenia. The conversations focused on their strong expressions of support for the war on terrorism, and President Bush welcomed their support. All three presidents reaffirmed their commitments to peace and stability in the Caucasus region and to advancing efforts to reach a peaceful settlement with regard to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. President Bush underscored the importance of Congress taking final action to pass authority to waive restrictions on assistance imposed by Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Once that waiver is granted to the president by the Congress, which is now pending, that will allow the president to do more with Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan, to fight terrorism and to facilitate deeper cooperation in the region," announced Fleischer. © Copyright AZG

TURKEY READY TO ENSURE SECURITY GUARANTEES TO NAKHICHEVAN Ankara’s authorities discussed the issue of rendering military support to Azerbaijan, if ‘in near future Azerbaijan really tries to liberate its territories occupied by Armenia’, the Baku-based Zerkalo daily, citing reliable military-political sources of Turkey, informed. According to the newspaper Turkish authorities back the viewpoint that ‘Ankara is obliged to support Azerbaijan- in case the latter implements anti-terrorist action in Karabagh’. Thus Turkey undertakes every step for ‘neutralizing the possible attack of Armenia on Nakhichevan’. ‘Actually Turkey is ready to ensure security guarantees to Nakhichevan, if Azerbaijan starts an anti-terrorist action in Karabagh’,- writes Zerkalo. In any case Azerbaijani authorities are the ones to say the final word about starting an anti-terrorist action in Karabagh. The latter should consider whether the armed forces of their country are ready for such scale military action or not, concludes the newspaper. © Copyright AZG

CENTER FOR DISABLED CHILDREN OPENS IN ARMENIAN DILIJAN The Children Development Center, opened recently in the Armenian resort town of Dilijan, will bring together some 100 disabled children from the town and nearby villages to help their social-psychological integration and promote their mental, physical and spiritual development. The Center was initiated by a public organization called The Bridge of Hope. Its chairwoman Sousana Tadevosian said the Center would also raise the public's awareness about the disabled children. She said the Center would hold computer, Mathematics and Art classes. © Copyright AZG

MOSCOW POLICE PUT ON HIGH ALERT About 25 people were injured and 2 died (one of them an Armenian) in the acts of violence at Moscow's markets October 30. According to the Interfax Agency, about 300 members of the Russian National Union youth association attacked the markets and used violence against Caucasian merchants. The stalls of Azerbaijani merchants were destroyed at a similar act in Moscow last year. The Moscow city Interior Department has been transferred to a high alert status in the wake of large-scale fight in the capital's southern district. The measure is aimed at averting retaliation from the victims of the pogroms. Most of those involved in the fighting are originally from the Caucasus. © Copyright AZG

osama-bin-pumpkin http://vatican.rotten.com/pumpkin/0005/osama-bin-pumpkin.jpg

HArout jan normal ashxatuma qez mot setingner@ adjust ara aper

quote:Originally posted by Paul bunyan: what good has ever come from turkey? hmmm sorry i do not know...

"Movses jan, mi zayratsir. kez khnayir. es anter u duz yerkrum poghn a khosum. inchkan el uzum es kez jghi, meka etents a. --- mi koghmits el Mos jan, etkan vor turkerenin dem es, kartsum em jisht chi. orinak, paps(astvats hogin lusavori, 4-5 amis araj mahatsav) shat er sirum turkeren lsel. yes el misht ira het dra hamar kriv ei anum. inknel asum er: "tghas, yes amboghj mankutyuns u yeritasardutyuns turkeren lselov em antskatsrel. hima inchpes chlsem. vonts vor ruserenn a ko hamar harazat dartsel, enpes el turkeren@ indz hamar a. heto" asum er "yerajhtutyun@ lezu chi hartsnum. ayn mijazgayin u sirel a bolori hamar." yes iran en jamanak chei haskanum. bayts hima kartses te "khelks ktrum a". -------------------- " Harout jan yes dem chem , yev haskanum em amen inch shat lav, mezanist shateris Paper@ tsnvel yev metsatsel Arevmtyan Hayastanum, yes sa shat lav em haskanum, sakayn chem haskanum iyn vor mek@ $250 talis e yev hamergi gnum turq yergichi, sakayn $25.00 chi tsaxsum Aybenaran arni vro ir tornikin Hayeren tarerin tsanotatsni, chi tsaxsum 10-15$ gone Video Casset arni vor ir tsornik kam balik@ hayeren sovori.. nuyn iyd sevan videon vor turqi hamerga kazmakerpum, inq@ ashxarhis amenamets video yev Audio COPY anor mardkantsits mekna, aravotist yereko HAykakan filmera copy anum kertsum tsaxum, ir grpan@ $1 avel dnelu hamar, vnas talov Hye yergichin, derasanin, yev iyd apranq@ artadrorin, isk hamergi toms@ ir turq barekami minchev $250.00 a tsaxum. Harout jan mer tan mej el mets Hayr yev Mets Mayr enq unetsel, im Mets Hayr@s ( Pap@s) vor Musalertsy er, shat lav turqeren er xosum, lsym er truq-radion yev ditum turq-tv hayastanum , sakayn yerbeq iys mard@ tuyl chi tvel vor mer ( torneri) mot inq@ turqeren xosi yev kam stipi mez iyd yerg@ kam harordum@ nayelu. misht janq e tapel yev n@pastel vro menq Hye metsananq, m@tnolort @ maqur e pahel.. ester LA mardiq kan vro iyster en metsatsel, hima irents het xosa Hayerenits lav turqeren giten, Haykakan CD internet man en galsi napsterov gtnum copy en anum isk turqakan@ $15.00-$25.00 originnnaln en arnum vor dzen@ maqur lini vor Kayf brnen.... KAm inchi hamar yes im $$$$ petqe tam??? patasxani indz . 10 taruts avel e turqyan Hayastani arach sahman@ pakel e , ardyoq sa Hayastanin jnshelu Hamar cher? Hayin jnshelu yev en vat orerin s@n@ndamterq chtornelu hamar cher ??? de iynqan jamanak minchev turqyan sahamner@ pakats k@pahi Hayastani yev Hayastantsu hamar yev turqakan tsankatsats apranqi, artadranqi, yergi yev yerashtutyan dem em Boykot em Haytararum iranq chuzen mer lav@ menq el 250.00 tanq et chuvixayi yergeri hamar. amen inch ir chapsn uni , yev amen inch ir chapsi mej e jisht... kneres mi qich qef@s terrna grelu haves unem

Urax em de yerevi baxti arjanananq yev mi angam el menq lsenq mer Hayrenaktsin, Azat jan barniqum yerqel@ targel em Tutakis vandak@ barniki dran mota aylandak@ amen inch krknuma srikan vaxenum em var@ muys or indzanits lav yergi im yerger@ MOvses

Azat jan TAriner araj Paradiz Tv n@ra masin 1 mananots harordum uner, !!! mi qani yerger tsutsadretsin, iskapes Artakarg dziyn uni... Yes el vor metsanem ira n@man em yergelu

AZERI SPECIAL SERVICE DISCLOSE CONSPIRATORS GROUP BAKU, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani national security ministry has disclosed a group that was preparing a coup d'etat, a press release, issued by the ministry said. It said former prosecutor of Baku Mamed Quliyev, who had illegally obtained Russian citizenship, was one of the heads of the group. The other head of the group was ex-prosecutor of a Baku district Makhir Javadov, who is hiding now in neighboring Iran. The Azerbaijani national security has revealed that the plot had been prepared since 1999. The press release said that the conspirators had been planning to first kill president Aliyev, which was to be followed by seizure of presidential administration, interior, defense, national security ministries, as well as airports and TV station. The national security ministry said it had revealed the date of the coup d'etat, the routes for smuggling weapons to Azerbaijan. Criminal proceedings have been launched against Quliyev, Javadov and other members of the group on charges of attempting to overthrow the power. The ministry said 16 people have already been arrested. Azerbaijani law-enforcement agencies are taking actions to have Quliyev and Javadov extradited to Azerbaijan. Meantime, former president of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutalibov, who now lives in Moscow, had lately made a statement with warnings that a provocation was being prepared against his party Civil Unity . He said his party would be accused of preparing a coup d'etat. Quliyev was prosecutor when Mutalibov was in office and is thought to be a man from his surroundings.

ADRIAN SEVERIN: "Artsax CONFLICT TO BE RESOLVED BY PEACEFUL MEANS EXCLUSIVELY" 29.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Artsax conflict should exclusively be resolved by peaceful means. As reported by "Arminfo" agency, Chairman of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Adrian Severin, who is visiting Armenia at present, stated it at a press conference yesterday. In his words, the time is not able to solve this problem and it is necessary to undertake efficient measures for peaceful settlement of the conflict. Severin stressed it was necessary to refrain from belligerent statements, hampering the settlement process. Forthcoming settlement of the Artsax conflict, according to his conviction, is possible only by means of mutual compromises. Chairman of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly also noted the importance of creation of another group, which would engage in the conflict settlement. It is planned to involve deputies of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, who, in Severin's words, will by no means hinder OSCE Minsk Group activity, but will render assistance to it. Concerning the Artsax conflict settlement Severin stated the principle of territorial integrity was very important. He noted no one in the world was going to resign it, but the principle of nations' and peoples' right for self-determination was of no less importance. These two postulates should be combined in the Artsax conflict settlement, Severin emphasized. Speaking of his visit to the Nagorno-Artsax Republic, which according to diplomatic sources has caused harsh negative response in Azerbaijan, OSCE PA Chairman noted his trip to Stepanakert was of unofficial and familiarizing nature. The visit did not mean changing the status of Nagorno-Artsax, Severin stressed. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

SENATOR SAM BROWNBACK STATES, "IRAN SENT TERRORISTS TO AZERBAIJAN" 29.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Repeal of U.S. sanctions against Azerbaijan means Washington supports those who help U.S. in the war against terrorists. The statement of Senator Sam Brownback spread by "Turan" agency says so. "I am satisfied with the Senate making a decision that lets the President to repeal sanctions against Azerbaijan," – the statement says. As the Senator maintains, Azerbaijan has given the U.S. Air Forces the right to land, refuel and fly across its territory. Besides, Baku has rendered Washington military information and its hospitals for the possible wounded among the Americans. "Section 907 does not let render aid to Azerbaijani military hospitals, which may possibly have to deal with wounded Americans in the course of the present campaign. The same item hinders modernization of the airports and improving out aviation flight control, which may be needed to support our Armed Forces," – the statement says. Brownback considers Section 907 "binds the hands" of the Administration in working with its "strategically important ally in the war against terror." The Senator is sure if U.S. does not support the young independent countries of the Central Asia and Azerbaijan, the influence of the countries supporting terrorists will increase in the region. "Thus, Iran has already sent terrorists to the region, particularly to Azerbaijan," – the Senator maintains. Brownback called on active U.S. cooperation with the countries of the Central Asia as any restrictions will serve to strengthening the position of fundamentalists. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

A GROUP ACCUSED OF ORGANIZING AN ATTEMPT ON HEYDAR ALIYEV'S LIFE ARRESTED IN BAKU 29.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ As reported by CNA agency, the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan stated Saturday it had arrested ten persons suspected of preparing an attempt on President Heydar Aliyev's life and made public some facts connected with their participation in preparing a coup d'etat. The statements of the press office of the Ministry notes one of the main organizers of the plot is 62-year-old Mamed Guliev, who had held different offices in the bodies of the Office of Public Prosecutor and is escaping from justice on the territory of Iran. It is reported that in his time he has made an abortive attempt of coup d'etat and was searched for a long time for committing a grave crime. Guliev and his accomplices are accused of carrying out activity, directed towards coercively taking power in Azerbaijan and preparing an attempt on Heydar Aliyev's life. As reported by the Ministry of National Security, especially grave crimes under preparation are prevented as a result of the measures undertaken by the Ministry and the guilty are brought to account. Ten people are placed under guard. Hunt is announced regarding Guliev and others skulking outside Azerbaijan. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

12 YEAR-OLD ARMENIAN PIANIST GIVES CONCERTS IN USA WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: A twelve year-old pianist Nare Armaghanian from the Armenian town of Vanadzor started her USA tour from Washington where she gave a concert in Armenia's embassy in the Washington. The concert was also attended by former US ambassador to Yerevan Michael Lemmon. Nare Armaghanian has left for the USA with the support of the Armenian Evangelical Society. The Armenian pianist will also give concerts in New York and Los Angeles. Nare was born in Vanadzor on January 7, 1988 just one month after a destructive earthquake that razed to ground her native Vanadzor, neighboring Spitak and Gyumri. She could read at the age of two and started composing music at the age of three. She had given her first piano concert when she was four and at the age of 6 she had become the winner of a piano contest in her native Vanadzor. She had had tours in the USA, Russia, France, Ukraine, Greece and Georgia.

GREECE REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN IRAN-GREECE-ARMENIA EXHIBITION YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Greece has refused to send its goods to an exhibition opened last Friday in Yerevan, which was supposed to display goods from Iran, Greece and Armenia. Armenian trade and industry ministry said the Greek side did not take much interests in the exhibition. Twenty-eight Iranian and 26 Armenian companies are displaying their goods in the exhibition, which encompasses goods from foodstuff up to machinery building. Part of the Iranian companies, that are displaying their goods in the exhibition, have already occupied strong positions in the Armenian market, the rest are trying to have their place in it. Mr. Tabatabai, head of economic department of the Iranian embassy in Yerevan praised the exhibition saying it was another step towards rapprochement of economic ties between Iran and Armenia. Mr. Tabatabai said Iranian-Armenian cooperation was proceeding in three directions: on intergovernmental, business and provincial levels. He said some 10 projects, worth a total of $400 million, are supposed to be implemented on the intergovernmental level. He said Armenia's president Robert Kocharian's visit to Iran, due to take place early in November, is expected to finalize these projects. He suggested that northern region of Julfa in Iran, which is a free trade zone, could be very attractive for Armenian businessmen to set up join ventures. In 2000 the trade turnover between Iran and Armenia stood at $120 million, of which $80 million fell on import of Iranian goods to Armenia.

ARMENIAN, GEORGIAN MILITARIES AGREE TO COOPERATE YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian defense minister Serzh Sarkisian, who was visiting Georgia from October 25-27, said last Saturday, upon his return to Yerevan that he was satisfied with the results of the visit. Sarkisian said Armenian and Georgian defense ministries have agreed to make their contacts permanent. He said Armenian and Georgian defense ministers decided to form a joint commission that will look into possibilities of furthering bilateral defense links, including exchange of experience and military-technical sphere. Sarkisian also met with President Edward Shevardnadze who was in Armenia on an official visit earlier this month. Sarkisian also said that he was going to travel to Moscow in early November to meet with Russian deputy prime minister Ilya Klebanov to finalize the so-called factories-for-debt Armenian-Russian economic deal, which will forgive Armenia's debt to Russia in return for part of stakes in the Armenian defense enterprises.

AZERBAIJAN RULES OUT DIRECT CONTACTS WITH KARABAGH BAKU, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani foreign minister Vilayat Quliyev said direct contacts between Baku and Nagorno Karabagh to regulate the conflict were not possible at current stage of negotiation process. Quliyev was quoted by the Baku-based Echo daily as saying that Baku does not regard Stepanakert as a conflicting side. The message of Azerbaijani foreign minister came as a response to Karabagh leader Arkady Ghukasian's announcement that Stepanakert leadership was ready to travel to Baku to negotiate with Azeri leadership over the settlement of the conflict. Quliyev said that Azerbaijan was holding negotiations with Armenia, as "the conflict erupted as a result of the latter's territorial claims to Azerbaijan." Quliyev argued that the 100,000 strong Armenian community could not occupy one fifth of Azerbaijani lands. "It is clear that Armenia backs Nagorno Karabagh and that is why Azerbaijan is holding negotiations with it, but not with Karabagh," he said. Quliyev did not rule out that Nagorno Karabagh side might join the negotiations given a tangible breakthrough in the negotiations was reached. Azerbaijani minister also criticized an idea voiced by his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian that a referendum on independence could be hold in Karabagh five years after the return of the Karabagh Azeri community. Quliyev described the idea as "baseless."

Armenia Marks Shoot-Out Anniversary Amid Fresh Tensions By Karine Kalantarian Armenia marked on Saturday the second anniversary of the bloody raid on its parliament amid renewed political tensions between the authorities and many close associates of eight senior officials assassinated on October 27, 1999. In a vivid indication of their deepening mutual antagonism, the two sides made sure they avoid any encounters while paying their respects to the most prominent of the victims, former prime minister Vazgen Sarkisian and parliament speaker Karen Demirchian. Visits to their graves by President Robert Kocharian and his opponents were timed not to coincide. The somber ceremonies came amid a dominant feeling that law-enforcement agencies have failed to solve the crime which had a profound impact on political developments of the past two years. The five gunmen, who burst into the parliament two years ago killing Demirchian, Sarkisian and six other officials, went on trial in February on charges of terrorism and an attempt to stage a coup d’etat. They insist that the decision to storm the National Assembly was entirely theirs. But friends and relatives of the murdered officials believe that the gang led by former journalist Nairi Hunanian had powerful patrons outside the parliament building. Some of them suspect that the massacre was masterminded by Kocharian who had effectively lost some of his powers since Sarkisian became prime minister in June 1999. The ex-premier’s brother, Aram, and Demirchian’s son, Stepan, are key figures in an alliance of three opposition parties campaigning for Kocharian’s ouster. The opposition parties marked the second anniversary of the shootings on Friday with a mass rally in Yerevan. They repeated their allegations that the authorities are obstructing the parliament attack investigation but again stopped short of directly implicating Kocharian in the killings. The Armenian leader has harshly criticized his opponents, rejecting their demands for his resignation. Many of them held senior government posts until their defeat in May 2000 in a bitter power struggle with Kocharian. The president and his supporters claim they are exploiting the October 27 tragedy in a bid to return to power. A senior pro-government member of the parliament, Victor Dallakian, on Saturday urged Kocharian soften is tough stance on the opposition as he visited the Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan where Vazgen Sarkisian was laid to rest. “The opposition represents a segment of the population which must not be ignored or scorned,” Dallakian told RFE/RL. But military police chief Vladimir Gasparian, one of the late Sarkisian’s comrades-in-arms who backed Kocharian in the post-assassination government infighting, admitted there is now a deep divide between the two rival camps. “Of course, it’s really bad that we are not standing together today,” he said at Yerablur.

PEOPLE IN AZERBAIJAN WERE INDIGNANT OVER FACT THAT SHEVARNADZE PLACED WREATH ON MEMORIAL OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS 27.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ People in Baku are indignant over the fact that Eduard Shevardnadze, the President of Georgia placed a wreath at the memorial of the 1915 genocide victims. "As an experienced politician, he had to realize that this action would cause negative reaction in Azerbaijan and Turkey", is written in 'Ekho" Baku newspaper. "The placement of the wreath is not just a recognition of the imaginary fact of the genocide but a clear challenge", claims the author of the article and comes to a conclusion that ' two pipeline has convinced Shevardnadze that Turkey and Azerbaijan can be ignored"… Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

MEMBERS OF BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY TO VISIT YEREVAN 27.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Members of the British Royal Family Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will arrive in Yerevan on a tree-day visit November 3. The Duke of Gloucester is first cousin of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and grandson of King George V. The visit of the members of the Royal Family is due to celebrations of the 1700-th anniversary of adoption of Christianity in Armenia. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS AND FIRST LADY INVITED SPANISH QUEEN TO YEREVAN 27.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ambassador of Armenia to Spain and Portugal Edvard Khojayan passed the Spanish Queen Sophia the invitation of Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II and the country's First Lady Bella Kocharian to visit Yerevan in a time convenient for her. In the course of the meeting questions of cooperation in cultural arena were also discussed. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

REFUSAL OF "HOLSIM" SWISS COMPANY OF ACQUISITION OF "ARARATCEMENT" MAYBE DUE TO PRESSURE FROM OUTSIDE 27.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Armenia Robert Kocharian supposed refusal of "Holsim" Swiss company of acquisition of "Araratcement" enterprise could be caused by someone's interference. "We will have to find out who put pressure on the investor, as this deal was a very profitable deal," – the President said. As reported by "Arminfo" agency, the press exaggerates the opinion that the pressure was put on the investor by the close circles of the present manager of "Araratcement" plant Aram Sargsian, who is one of the leaders of "Republic" opposition party. It is known that Sargsian was against that deal and counted on the opportunity to privatize the plant by its staff. Sargsian himself called the version not serious as it was not possible to put pressure on a company, the annual turnover of which makes six billion dollars. The manager considers the actions of the company are first of all due to introduction of Euro in Europe beginning with January 1, 2000. In his opinion, Switzerland intends to retain financial resources inside the country to increase the exchange value of the dollar with respect to that of the franc. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

ARMENIA CARD INTRODUCED Armenia became the first country in the South Caucasus to have introduced The Unified Payment System, called Armenia Card) ArCa). It was introduced on Friday and is supposed to reduce the cash turnout and bring additional assets to the banking sector. Central Bank governor Tigran Sargisian described introduction of ArCa as a “revolutionary step.” The Armenian Card is expected to be certified by Europay next year. More than 1,000 cards have been already issued, and three automatic teller machines have been installed in addition to twenty other offices where card owners can get cash. Armenia Card is also served in 22 shops and restaurants. Seven other automatic tellers machines will be soon installed and the network of shops and restaurants serving the cards will enlarge to 200. The Armenia Cards can be purchased at 2,000 Drams, (less than $2), annual service fee is also 2,000 Drams. The unified payment system will be operating in Yerevan so far, but it will involve other Armenian regions and also Nagorno Karabagh in future. The executive director of the Armenian Card Shahen Hovanisian said that creation of the Armenian Card became possible due to efforts of 11 local commercial banks, led by the Central Bank, which holds 44 percent of stakes. The rest 56 percent of stakes is equally distributed among 11 commercial banks. Hovanisian also praised the USAID for granting $1.5 million and other assistance to design and introduce the system. By Gayane Mukoyan © Copyright AZG