The cooperation between the "Ars Lunga" duo and VivaCell-MTS helped the new Anthology of Armenian Chamber Music collection - a unique project in form and content - come to life. The initiative belonged to the "Ars Lunga" duo (Aram Talalyan and Julietta Vardanyan). The project was implemented with VivaCell-MTS general sponsorship and the support of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia. The collection was presented during the opening ceremony of the 4th annual international festival after the Talalyan brothers, VivaCell- MTS reported.

The collection includes pieces of the Armenian academic musical thought from the beginning of the 20th century to our days and works by the representatives of the younger generation of musicians. The "Ars Lunga" duo has gathered together pieces for piano and cello by 60 Armenian composers of the 20th-21st centuries. The recordings fully meet the modern day requirements for sound footage. The 12 compact discs in the collection are also provided with composers' biographies complied in booklets.

"The spiritual heritage is not an open book and can't be presented to the world's attention in a short time. Clever is the nation, which manages to find wise ways for that and conserve the achievements of centuries. Therefore initiatives like this one are important. They tell us about our past and create our future," said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

The recordings are not for sale. They will be donated to the libraries of the largest universities of the world, music festivals, colleges and educational institutions of music, composers' unions, and radio stations playing classical music.

The "Anthology of Armenian Chamber Music" project is comprised of several parts. The "Ars Lunga" duo plans to continue the series of recordings and to include chamber pieces for piano trios, quartets, quintets and other as well in the collection.

The ceremony concluded with the premiere of one of Aram Khachaturian's pieces performed by the "Ars Lunga" duo.

Tbilisi to host a conference titled "New Opportunities for Security and Cooperation in Caucasus" on June 28, says Alexander Rusetskiy, Director of the Caucasus Institue for Regional Security, News-Georgia reports.

Rusetskiy says the keynote speakers at the event are candidate for president of Georgia Nino Burjanadze, Secretary of the Social-Democratic Party Beka Natsvilishvili, an OSCE expert for terrorism (2008-2009) Vakhtang Maisaya and others. Guests from Armenia and Azerbaijan will attend the event.  Expert groups will be set up after the conference to develop a package of recommendations for the OSCE on the security and cooperation in the Caucasus.

 Political speculations are going around in Armenia about the offshore matter; all types of tales are invented in an attempt to discredit, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said during Thursday's Cabinet meeting. 

He also added that all information about the well-known offshore scandal will be available to the media. "If the investigative journalists are impartial, they can distinguish between a truth and a lie," Sargsyan stated.

To note, Hetq.am News Agency had written that PM Tigran Sargsyan, Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan - the Vicar General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and "jeweler" Ashot Sukiasyan are shareholders in an offshore company called Wlispera Holdings Limited, which is registered in Cyprus.

Sargsyan also touched on other cases, in particular, blaming the government for non-effective using of the grant within the frames of the programme of the "Millennium Challenges" fund and for directing  $14 mln to lectures. Premier said that press-service of the government has already submitted full information to mass media in this context. He also added that the American party held audit on the matter and was satisfied with its results, for this reason the current criticism is not clear to him.

The premier also touched on the report of the Audit Chamber about non-effective waste of funds by the state departments. He charged the head of the government's administration, Vache Gabrielyan, to make a schedule according to which the heads of the departments must make a report and present their viewpoint regarding the report of the Audit Chamber.

Middle-rank officials intentionally or involuntarily instigate protest actions in front of the government building, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan told the government, Thursday.

This happens, the premier said, because officials fail to fulfill their responsibilities and recommend citizens to apply to the government for settlement of their problems. The prime minister believes that officials are either incompetent or they intentionally instigate people to revolt.

It is noteworthy that nearly every Thursday, the day of the government meetings, ordinary citizens and representatives of NGOs picket the government building demanding solution to their problems.

 In late September early October 2013 the parliamentary delegation of Poland led by Lukas Abgarovic, the head of Armenia-Poland deputy friendship group, will visit Armenia in line with an agreement reached in the course of the visit of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's delegation to Poland, Hovhanness Sahakyan, Secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia told ArmInfo .  Sahakyan said that the goal of the visit is to familiarize with the
preparations ahead of the centennial of the Genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey.

"Poland recognized the Genocide of Armenians yet in 2005. Now, Polish MPs intend to visit Armenia to get first hand view of the preparations ahead of the centennial of the Genocide of Armenians and to decide how they can boost the process of the international recognition of that fact. My colleague Lukas Abgarovic and his group are ready to do their best to boost that process," Sahakyan said.  He said that Polish parliamentarians are going to get first hand view also of the Karabakh issue.

The delegation headed by President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan with official visit to Poland on June 24-26.

There is no military settlement of Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, CSTO Secretary General, Nikolai Bordyuzha, said at today's press-conference in Yerevan when commenting on the statement by President of Azerbaijan at the military parade. 

"I think that only peaceful negotiations and reaching consensus will make it possible to settle this long-lasting conflict, and there is no other option for settlement of this problem. The events that happened in the South Caucasus for the last period of time, have again proved that it is very much easy to unleash conflicts, but it is very much difficult to return everything to peace", - he said.

"I reiterate once again that there is only peaceful way for Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement", - he concluded. When commenting on possibility of Nagornyy Karabakh involving in the negotiating process, Bordyuzha said that naturally the CSTO has been watching the process. However, the OSCE
Minsk Group has been dealing with settlement of the Karabakh conflict. "As for me, I am against somebody's interference in the process", - he said.

He thinks it is not expedient to give assessment or to comment on the negotiating process, leaving that to the leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The CSTO is just trying to assist Minsk Group in peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Nikolai Bordyuzha said.

Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran's Majlis Alaeddin Boroujerdi  meets with Armenian Ambassador to Tehran Grigor Arakelian, Tehran, June 26, 2013.  Armenian Ambassador  said his country's government and parliament are determined to expand the friendly ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also called on both countries to tap into their potentialities to enhance ties in various sectors, Press TV reported.

For his part, the Iranian lawmaker said the friendly historical bonds between the two nations can lay the groundwork for closer cooperation, calling for the development of the friendly ties on all fronts. Underlining the significance of economic and trade transactions between the two countries, Boroujerdi said Iran and Armenia need to use their potential to shore up economic, trade, industrial and commercial cooperation. He also highlighted the role of parliamentary cooperation in exploring areas for closer economic ties.

 Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 409 drams for 1 dollar, 531,5drams for 1 EUR and 12,4 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 410,5 drams for 1 dollar, 536 drams for 1 EUR and 12,5 drams for 1 Russian ruble .

Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations have met after the summer plenary session of the PACE. The 2-hour-long meeting between was attended also by President of the PACE Jean- Claude Mignon. The president appreciated the meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian sides as a goodwill event, APA reports.

"This was a meeting between friends, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, parliamentarians and was attended by the president of the PACE. We have decided to meet as friends here, in the home of democracy and to discuss how we can build our work together. I must say that I felt a presence of sincere desire, political will for joint activities on both parties. We decided to continue such meetings. We will meet at the next sessions," said Jean-Claude Mignon. 

After the activity of a special PACE Subcommittee on Nagorno-Karabakh was suspended, the new President Jean-Claude Mignon did not agree to reopen the Subcommittee, but initiated informal meetings between the delegations of the two countries. Such meetings were held nearly at all the session of PACE, but until now it was meetings of the heads of delegations. During this session, all members of the Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations for the first time attended the meeting. No other details of the meeting are reported so far.

 Ameria CJSC has finished its program to monitor Armenia's judiciary system.

While presenting the results in Tsaghkadzor on Wednesday the company's representative David Sargsyan said that the objective of the program was to create a single judicial monitoring system, which will allow concerned parties - both governmental and private - to see how effective the local courts are, what deficiencies they have and what reforms they need.

Sargsyan explained that the results of the surveys regularly conducted in the field cannot be compared as each survey applies its own method.  "Single methodology will help us to see how efficient, transparent and easy to access our courts are and will give us the best picture of the system as a whole," Sargsyan said.

Senior specialists of Ameria Tigran Grigoryan said that the program consisted of six stages. "We first studied the international experience, then we organized a workshop and exchanged views, then we developed a new methodology, familiarized our lawyers with it and put it into practice. And at the final stage we held a workshop to sum up the results," Grigoryan said.

The program was launched in 2012. It was ordered by the Judicial Program Office of the Justice Ministry of Armenia and financed by the World Bank.

  Report of the Supervisory Chamber of Armenia is another show ahead of the inevitable price hike in the country after July 7, Armen Martirosyan, Vice Chairman of Heritage Party Board told media, Wednesday.

He thinks that the authorities would take steps to avoid price hike if they really cared for the people and wanted changes. If head of the Supervisory Chamber were an oppositionist, he would expose more embezzlements.

Martirosyan admits that there maybe internal redistribution of influence on the resources that have seriously decreased in the country. Armenia as a country is at a low level and unable to fight corruption, he said.  He is sure that the latest exposures of embezzlements of the government funds are just the beginning of what is happening in the domestic policy now. For instance, he recalled Prosperous Armenia's ousting from the coalition. He said that in the government system everyone has compromising information against others and is ready to use it if necessary.

Commenting on mass media reports regarding possible dismissal of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Martirosyan said: "In the power structure I don't know any other one able to introduce western course of Armenia's development competently on the threshold of the Association Agreement to be signed with the EU in autumn. In addition, Serzh Sargsyan is satisfied with activity of the prime minister. Therefore, I think, no changes are expected," he said.

 Irrespective of Baku's desires and expectations, independence of Nagorno Karabakh is a fact that has no alternative, Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, told ArmInfo when commenting on Azerbaijani president's statement regarding an intention to 'restore territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including Nagorno Karabakh and even Armenia.'

"The soone Azerbaijan admits the fact of NKR's independence, the sooner Baku will get adjusted to the existing realities," Sharmazanov said.

In response of Aliyev's another statement saying that "Armenia is part of historical Azerbaijan," Sharmazanov recommended the president of Azerbaijan to familiarize himself with the historical works of Strobe, Plutarch, and Ptolemy "to avoid such disappointing historical inaccuracies not pertaining a president."

To recall, earlier today, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said speaking at the military parade in Baku that international legal norms, political factors, economic and military power of Azerbaijan will be crucial for settlement of the Karabakh conflict. "Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity," he said adding that "Azerbaijani flag will be raised in Stepabnakert, Shushi and other occupied territories."

 Despite the strategic relations with Russia, Armenia should have gas alternative, secretary of the ARFD parliamentary faction, Agvan Vardanyan, said at today's press-conference. When commenting on possible sale of 20% share of the Armenian government in "ArmRusgasprom" to the Russian "Gasprom", Vardanyan said actually the community is not aware of what has been happening. "Public Services Regulatory Commission has already revised the application of "ArmRusgasprom", new gas tariffs are already functioning, the government has already expressed readiness to subsidize 30% of growth of gas tariffs, but the machinery of subsidizing is not clear yet", - he said.  He also added that the gas relations between Armenia and Iran are misty. "They told us that the share of Armenia in "ArmRusgasprom" gave nothing to us. But what shall be do next time, taking into account that the contract was signed for a year? ", - he asked.

To recall, Armenia and Gazprom OJSC are negotiating on the sale of Armenian Government's 20% of ArmRusgasprom's shares to Gazprom, Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan said. Movsisyan said the talks also cover possible achievement of mutual arrangements on a number of other important issues for the republic.  Earlier the Armenian mass media reported that the Armenian authorities were ready to sell the 20% of Government's shares in ArmRusgasprom's capital to curb the gas price. On 1 April 2013 Gazprom raised the gas price for Armenia from 180 USD to 270 USD per 1 thsd cu m. The Armenian Government is trying to attract a grant from Russia to compensate for the gas price by 30%. 

The talks on the sale of Armenia's shares in ArmRusgasprom CJSC to Gazprom OJSC are still going on, Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan told journalists on June 19.  "The talks are still going on, there is no agreement on the price of the shares yet, however, Armenia has received alternative offers from other buyers", he said. The minister added that the sale of the shares is an economic issue and it should not be connected with Armenia's possible joining the Customs Union.  When asked what the funds from the sale will be spent on, the minister stressed that they will be transferred to the state budget and then will be spent as needed. 

To note, Chairman of the Board of Gazprom Alexey Miller and Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan held a working meeting in Moscow on June 17.  The meeting covered the ain issues of development of the Russian-Armenian cooperation in the sphere of gas supply, including Gazprom's participation in the energy projects of Armenia. The sides considered the price formation for the Russian gas for Armenia's consumers. The sides also discussed the possibility of increasing Gazprom's share in ArmRusgasprom CJSC to 100%.

 The decisions adopted at the CSTO Collective Security Council in December 2012 will make it possible to adequately react at all the challenges and threats to the national security of the CSTO member-states, Armenia's Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan said at the opening ceremony of the political
forum "Political and Security Landmarks for Formation of the CSTO military component", in Yerevan, 26 June.

"The year of 2012 became a period of the constructive and fruitful work in many directions of the CSTO activity which are still relevant today. In particular, heads of the CSTO member-states adopted several key decisions at the December session, which foreshadowed the main landmarks for development of the collective security system. I am absolutely confident this will make it possible to adequately react at all the challenges and threats to the national security of the CSTO member-states", - Ohanyan said.

The Second Strategic Political Forum "Political and Security Landmarks for Formation of CSTO's Military Component" kicked off in Yerevan on June 26. Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, Secretary of the NAtional Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan, CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bodyuzha welcomed the participants in the event.

The keynote speakers at the forum are Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bodyuzha, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan. The forum will over on June 27. The event organizers are the Institute of National and International Studies of the Armenian Defense Ministry, CSTO Secretariat, and CSTO Institute autonomous non-commercial organization.

 Azerbaijani flag may be raised in Stepanakert only if NKR and Azerbaijan establish diplomatic relations, says Shavarsh Kocharyan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia when commenting on the statement of Azerbaijani president saying that "Azerbaijani flag will be raised in Stepanakert soon."

As regards Aliyev's another statement saying that 'the territory of today's Armenia is part of historical Azerbaijan,' Kocharyan said: "It is not news that Aliyev perceives historical and geographic facts inadequately. I have repeatedly said that to raise the Azerbaijani flag in Stepanakert, Baku is to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and establish diplomatic relations admitting the legitimate authorities of NKR, hence realizing its dream," Kocharyan said. He said that one can judge how efficient are the current negotiations by Aliyev's destructive statements. 

To recall, earlier today, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said speaking at the military parade in Baku that international legal norms, political factors, economic and military power of Azerbaijan will be crucial for settlement of the Karabakh conflict. "Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity," he said adding that "Azerbaijani flag will be raised in Stepabnakert, Shushi and other occupied territories."

 Systematic development and improvement of the CSTO's military component will, undoubtedly, help ensuring stability and security in the area of the Organization's responsibility and upgrading its authority in the international security system, says the welcoming speech of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan addressed at the participants in the Second Strategic Political Forum "Political and Security Landmarks for Formation of CSTO's Military Component." 

"Systematic and complex implementation of the decisions of the CSTO Collective Security Council will allow improving mechanisms of timely detention and prevention new challenges and threats of the 21st century. The given decisions rely on the system analysis of relevant problems of security and sustainable development of the commonwealth of the CSTO member-states and predetermines the major landmarks of the development of our collective security. In this light, I am sure that the Second Strategic Political Forum of leading specialists of the CSTO member-states and our respectful partners will allow realizing the practical importance of implementing the above decisions and developing scientific approaches to their implementation," the president says in his address.

The president welcomes the fact that Armenia along with its CSTO allies has become an acknowledged academic space for exchange of creative ideas regarding modernization of the Organization in line with the logic of its purposeful transformation into an up-to-date multi-functional international system of collective security of a new quality.

"Combined work of highly-qualified scientists of our countries reflects CSTO's aspiration to be the first in the search for the most effective ways of peace and security guarantees in the Eurasian space. We think that a military development strategy is an opportunity to achieve security and stability in the entire area of the CSTO's responsibility," the president's address reads.

The Second Strategic Political Forum "Political and Security Landmarks for Formation of CSTO's Military Component" kicked off in Yerevan on June 26. Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, Secretary of the NAtional Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan, CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bodyuzha welcomed the participants in the event.

The keynote speakers at the forum are Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bodyuzha, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan. The forum will over on June 27. The event organizers are the Institute of National and International Studies of the Armenian Defense Ministry, CSTO Secretariat, and CSTO Institute autonomous non-commercial organization.

Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 409,5 drams for 1 dollar, 535drams for 1 EUR and 12,4 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 410,7 drams for 1 dollar, 537 drams for 1 EUR and 12,6 drams for 1 Russian ruble .

 Free Democrats Party is concerned over Russia's decision to sell $1bln worth of arms to Azerbaijan.

In a press statement released on Wednesday the party says that this is not the first time Russia is selling arms to Azerbaijan though declaring itself to be Armenia's strategic partner. "By doing this the Russians are encouraging the Azeris' bellicose moods and their wish to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through war," says the party.

"In fact, being a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Russia is provoking an aggression against another member of the same organization, Armenia. Meanwhile, the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance agreement signed by Russia and Armenia in 1997 says that the parties should do all they can to prevent possible threats. As part of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia keeps urging Armenia and Azerbaijan to stop arming themselves, but in practice it is actively arming the Azeris. The presence of so much weaponry in the region is a big obstacle to the peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict. Russia is acting contrary to its strategic commitments to Armenia, so, we must give an adequate response to this," says the party.

Tbilisi. Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has turned down the European People's Party (EPP) request for holding debates on "Aggravated situation in Georgia" - Georgian MP from the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, Tinatin Khidasheli, briefed journalists on Monday, June 24.

Tbilisi. U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Richard Norland, believes that the Head of Georgian Government, Bidzina Ivanishvili, will abandon his post only upon ensuring maximum political stability in the country.