Lydian International Announces Appointment of Dr. Armen Sarkissian to Board

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 25, 2013) - Lydian International Ltd. (TSX:LYD) ("Lydian" or "the Company"), a gold-focused mineral exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that Dr. Armen Sarkissian has been appointed as a director of the Company.

Dr. Sarkissian was Prime Minister of Armenia from 1996-1997. Prior to that, he was the Armenian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Senior Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Europe (Deputy Foreign Minister) and concurrently represented Armenia as Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and The Vatican. Following his term as Prime Minister of Armenia from 1996 to 1997, he was reappointed Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1998.

Dr. Sarkissian has served as Special Advisor to the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and as a Governor of the EBRD from 1999-2000. In 2000, Dr. Sarkissian established the Eurasia Research Programme at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Under his directorship, the Programme has implemented a series of successful projects in both England and the Eurasia region. He is founding President of Eurasia House International in London, which fosters critical dialogue and cooperation among political and business leaders and is involved in bridge building between the West and the vast geographic space extending from Eastern Europe to Russia, the CIS and to China.

Dr. Sarkissian has been Senior Executive Advisor to the Board of Directors and Chairman of a host of global companies, including BP, Alcatel, Telefonica, Finmeccanica and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Dr. Sarkissian holds executive and honorary positions in numerous international organisations. In 1997, he was awarded the "St. Gregory the Great Medal" by His Holiness Pope John Paul II at The Vatican and, in 2008, "The St Gregory the Illuminator Medal" by His Holiness Catholicos Garegin II of All Armenians in Holy Etchmiadzin.

Dr Sarkissian is a Member of the Euro-Atlantic Security Initiative (EASI) Commission; he is Chairman of the Global Council on Energy Security, World Economic Forum; a Board Member of the International Economic Alliance; an Honourable Professor of the Armenian Academy of Science; an Advisory Board Member of the EU-Ukraine Business Council and an Advisory Board Member of the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Gordon Wylie, Chairman, stated "Lydian is delighted to have Dr. Sarkissian join its team. Dr. Sarkissian has a wealth of experience and is of high standing both in Armenia and internationally. His wisdom and knowledge will be extremely useful as we develop the Amulsar project into a world class gold producer."

About Lydian International

Lydian is a gold-focused mineral exploration and development company with expertise employing "first mover" strategies in emerging exploration environments. Currently Lydian is focused on Eastern Europe and, in particular, developing its flagship Amulsar gold project in Armenia. Lydian also has a pipeline of promising early-stage gold and base metal exploration projects in the Caucasus regions.

Lydian's management team has a track record of success in grassroots discovery, in acquiring and developing undervalued assets, and in building companies. Lydian has a strong social agenda and a unique understanding of the complex social and political issues that characterise emerging environments. The Company's significant shareholders include the International Finance Corporation which is a member of the World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

More information can be found on Lydian's web site at www.lydianinternational.co.uk.