Month: November 2006

WHY ISN’T VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN’S CASE QUASHED?
A1+
[07:41 pm] 16 November, 2006
The representatives of “United Javakhq” Democratic Alliance are
indignant at the fact that RA remedial forces haven’t quashed Vahagn
Chakhalyan’s case.
Reminder: Vahagn Chakhalyan was arrested on October 11 and was accused
of “illegal breech” of the Armenian-Georgian borderline.
Only the restraint was shifted under public pressure and Vahagn
Chakhalyan is deprived of the opportunity to return to Armenia.
The members of the alliance voice hope that RA remedial forces will
finally realize that the accusation is a mere nonsense and will turn
it down within a few days, thus preventing further mass protests
initiated by the Javakhq residents.
As for the Armenian-Javakhq borderline, they claim that “it must be
transparent and conditional”.

MANOYAN SAID KARS-AKHALKALAK-TBILISI RAILWAY IS POLITICAL
Panorama.am
17:02 16/11/06
Kiro Manoyan, responsible of Armenian Cause Office of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun), thinks there are two option
for Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisy railway: first, to go for preconditions
of Turkey and operate Kars-Gyumri railway and second, to do the same
without preconditions.
The first option is not acceptable for any political force in
Armenia. Armenia has taken steps towards the second option, saying
the railway may be used one-sided, i.e., Armenia will not use it and
others can. Turkey has not agreed to the proposal which shows that
their disposition is not economic but political.

“NOBODY SPEAKS ABOUT THE REAL REASONS BEHIND THE SANCTIONS”
The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 17 2006
At this time of impending winter woes and a continued deadlock in
Georgia-Russia relations, The Messenger’s Keti Sikharulidze asked
Vladimer Papava, senior fellow at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic
and International Studies and deputy chair of the parliamentary
Committee for Finance and Budget, to give his unique insight into
the crisis, and the wider economic outlook for the country.
How do you make sense of Russia’s actions towards Georgia?
Russia will do everything it can to use the levers available to
achieve its interests, the price hike on natural gas is one example
of those levers.
It is not just the embargo, but it is a range of serious economic
sanctions that Russia has used against Georgia, however, nobody speaks
about the real reasons behind the sanctions-behind wine and mineral
water stood something quite different. Falsification is a worldwide
problem, not only a Georgian problem.
Everything began much earlier, when the Georgian government announced
early this year that it might sell its main gas pipeline to Gazprom,
which connects Russia to Armenia via Georgia. Gazprom, of course, was
ready to buy it to maintain its economic influence in the region as
the main pipeline is extremely important for Gazprom. At that time,
the Georgian government did not object to them buying it at all,
because they could get a large sum of money for it. But the deal
didn’t go through because of the Americans. The American side not
only disrupted negotiations, but demanded that Georgia stop talks
altogether on the issue.
Right after the deal fell through, Russia announced the embargo on
wine and mineral water.
Russia’s anger towards Georgia grew even greater after Georgia’s
declaration that it wanted to join NATO and the final blow was the
arrest of the GRU officers. The Kremlin could simply not stomach
Georgians daring to blame GRU officers of espionage and in response
they used the harshest measures they could: deportation of Georgians,
even those ethnic Georgians with Russian citizenship.
How is the embargo and deportations influencing the Georgian economy?
Deportation of Georgians, if we discuss it from the economical
standpoint, means stopping money transfers. I do not mean bank
transfers, but those transfers that were delivered by people personally
who travelled between these two countries.
Some think that the Russian embargo would be a big economic blow
for Georgia
In the long-term, it might be good for our entrepreneurs. It might
somehow wake them up, make them start finding alternative markets apart
from Russia, though it is not easy to do and I don’t think they’ve
succeeded so far. It speaks to those problems that our businesses
are having in general, struggling to follow those market economic
principles accepted in the West. However, I do not rule out that some
companies will overcome these barriers and succeed in their business.
But if we speak about the short-term impact, closure of the
Russian market of course is a great blow to the Georgian economy
and businesses, but however strong the hit is, we should endure it,
in order to maintain our sovereignty and independence, which is so
important for building a normal state.
How successful are Georgian businesses in searching for new markets?
The main buyer of Georgian wine and mineral water is no surprise
for anybody. The Russian market and its closure to Georgian wine and
water companies was a great blow.
Each product has its market. Business owners should study the markets
and determine where it is relevant to sell their product.
I think our businesses are not ready to conquer developed markets.
The faster they research other markets and learn how to enter these
markets, the better it is for our economy, especially when our country
has such positive economic indicators. It can be said that Russian
embargo was a good advertisement for us.
What do you think about the Statistics Department being moved into
the Ministry of Economic Development?
Georgia has no Statistics Department now that it has become one of
the departments of the Ministry of Economic Development, which was
the greatest institutional mistake.
But there is a hidden conflict of interests. As we know, the government
works out a plan for governing the country, which should be tracked
using concrete data researched and published by the Statistics
Department. This enables the government to show its failures and
successes in figures to society.
If the department is under the government’s control, it is much easier
to control it institutionally and report figures that are favourable
for the government. I personally cannot trust the information reported
by this department.
What should be done to solve this problem?
The only way to avoid state influence on the statistics department is
to put it under the presidential administration again, as it was during
Shevardnadze’s administration. Such changes are vitally important for
the country, and especially for the president, in order to evaluate
the government’s activities and get a real picture of what is going
on. In short, the government should not have the right to poke its
head into the Statistic Department’s activities.
Rising inflation has been worrying many in Georgia, what are the
major causes of the inflation we have seen recently?
There are number of reasons. One version is the price on energy
products on world markets caused the inflation we have seen in
Georgia. While this might be one reason, we should also find reasons
look for answers elsewhere.
I suppose the main problem was the government expenses allotted
for public works. It does not mean that government should not build
roads, fountains or decorate schools or buildings, but money dumped
into the economy for these kinds of activities harms the economy and
causes inflation.
For instance, the president’s three month employment programme to
employ 50 000 people is one of the main causes of the inflation.
Governmental bodies dealing with the economic sector should have
informed the president of the possible risks this programme could
have created for the economy.

NOW MONEY TRANSFERS FROM RUSSIA TO ARMENIA CAN BE MADE IN NATIONAL CURRENCY
Regnum, Russia
Nov 18 2006
For the first time, it has become possible to transfer money from
Russia to Armenia in the Armenian national currency – dram (AMD),
the chairman of the Council of the Unibank, the president of the
Uniastrum bank (Moscow) Gagik Zakaryan said during a press-conference
in Yerevan Nov 17.
A REGNUM correspondent reports Zakaryan to say that, from now on,
people in Russia will be able to transfer money to Armenia in AMD
via the UNIStream system – with 0% commission. “We are planning to
get profit not from commission but from the conversion of foreign
currency and RUR into AMD,” Zakaryan said. He noted that this project
is a novelty for Russia too. It will make it much easier for people
to transfer money, while the recipients will know beforehand how much
they will get in AMD. “We are planning to start transferring money
to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, but this time we will already
charge commission because the money will be transferred to partner
banks who have their own interests,” Zakaryan said.
The chairman of the Board of the Unibank Vardan Atayan said that the
system was introduced quite recently and has transferred 6.5mln AMD
($17,500), so far. The system can transfer not only AMD, but also
RUR, USD and some other currencies. According to the forecasts, the
UNIStream system will transfer a total of $400mln-$420mln to Armenia,
including $100mln-$120mln in Nov-Dec.
The president of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said that
the introduction of the system of AMD transfers will allow people to
reduce their losses as presently they have to convert their transfers
twice: first, in Russia from RUR into USD and, then, in Armenia from
USD into AMD. The system of AMD transfers will also allow to make
the Armenian economy less dollarized.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MONEY TRANSFERS FROM RUSSIA TO GEORGIA SUSPENDED
Regnum, Russia
Nov 18 2006
The money transfers from Russia to Georgia via the UNIStream system
were suspended because of a sharp decline in their volume, the chairman
of the council of the Unibank, the president of the Uniastrum bank
(Moscow) Gagik Zakaryan said during a press-conference in Yerevan
today, Nov 17.
He said that the volume of money transfers from Russia to Georgia has
decreased by 3-4 times because of “the measures taken with regard to
Georgian gastarbeiters” and the technical problems of the Georgian
banks.
Asked why UNIStream has stopped remitting money from Armenia to
Georgia, the chairman of the Board of the Unibank Vardan Atayan said
that the system is located in Moscow and all money transfers are
made via Moscow. “The transfer of money from Armenia to Georgia is
carried out via Moscow and, if the system stops transferring money
from Russia to Georgia, we can’t do it from Armenia,” Atayan said.

AMERICANS PRESENT CARS TO BORDER GUARDS
Panorama.am
12:30 16/11/06
U.S. government is distinctive in its generous gifts to the Armenian
military. After making gifts to customs and police, the Americans
will make another gift to border guards.
U.S. embassy press serivces say, tomorrow the embassy will present
4 Chevrole and 9 Niva type cars to the security guard forces of the
Armeian National Security Services. Anthony Godfry, U.S. embassy
charge de’affairs, Romik Harutunyan, RA National Security Service
deputy director and Armen Abrahamyan, commander of Security Guard
Forces of RA National Security Services will be present at the
ceremony.

RIGHTS OF MILITARY SERVANTS NOT STIPULATED IN LAW
Panorama.am
14:55 16/11/06
“Military service and human rights are contradicting at
the first glance but there is an option under which they are
compatible.” Vaga Amirkhanyan, head of “Hakastver” NGO (Against
shadow), said. Amirkhanyan talks about contract service. Harutiun
Mukhsi -Hoveyan, personnel department head at the ministry of defense,
said there are a lot of contract military servants in the army but
he declined to unveil their number.
Speaking about prospects of contract service, Mukhsi-Hoveyan said,
“Time will show.” He also said contract service will run together
with compulsory military service.
“Contract service is a base for democracy in the army which will
respect the right of military servants,” Vladimir Priakhin, OSCE
Yerevan Office head, said.
“After constitutional changes, there is a need to make amendments in
a number of laws, including relating to military,” Serjik Avetisyan,
judge of military and criminal affairs appeal court, said. He said
there are laws in Russia will enable a military servant to complain
against the orders of his commanders as well as defense minister and
chief headquarter commander which are not available in Armenia. He
said Armenian laws enable to complain against higher rank orders only
through supervisors.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A FUSION OF EAST AND WEST
By Rania Habib, Staff Reporter
Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
Nov 18 2006
Abu Dhabi: I took a walk through the opulence of ancient Turkey,
the mysticism of the orientalists, and the lavishness of Istanbul’s
Dolmabahce Palace … all in the comfort of the Cultural Foundation’s
halls, temporarily converted into a testament to the fusion of Eastern
and Western civilisations.
‘From the Ottoman Court Collection’, a historical exhibition running
until November 24 and comprising more than 200 unique items of work
from the collections of the Dolmabahce Palace, is a sneak peek at
19th century Turkey, a country that symbolises the East’s gateway to
the West, and the West’s answer to the search for exoticism.
Wandering through the intricate carpets, the colours and vivid
portrayals of orientalist artists, and the designs of Turkish Sultans,
I stepped into a reverie guided by the exhibition’s curator, Hoda
Kanoo, founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF).
“The orientalist period was at its peak during the 19th century,”
said Kanoo. “European artists came to Turkey, and while some
orientalists are known to paint from their imagination, others relate
to reality. Most of what is here is rooted in the reality of what
Turkey was like back then.”
A painting of the Dolm-abahce Palace bears witness to the structure’s
East-meets-West design.
Located at the edge of the Bosphorus, the palace was designed by
Armenian architect Nikogos Balyan, and built upon the order of the
31st Sultan Abdul Mecid between 1843 and 1856. It became the most
important symbol of Ottoman modernisation, during a time of artistic,
economic and social reform.
“The style of the Dolmabahce Palace is more baroque and rococo,
more like a European Palace,” says Hoda.
“The style is Westernised even in the landscaping of the gardens.
“In Islamic designs, there would be a fountain in the middle and
gardens around, but at this palace, there are several separated
gardens, like at the Palais de Versailles in France.”
Sutlans moved into the Dolmabahce Palace and never went back to Topkapi
Palace, which housed all the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries.
The samples of furniture from the Dolmabahce Palace on display at the
Cultural Foundation are embellished with trademark mother of pearl,
blended with baroque, rococo and sometimes neogothic art.
The cutlery of the time is luxurious – gold-plated plates, spoons
and forks replaced the more humble ceramics. Silk fabrics (damas)
remain colourful and threaded with silver, but are used to make
European-style clothing.
“Islamic art was still flourishing at the time,” says Hoda. “But both
movements, European and Islamic, were moving at the same time.”
The sultans themselves delved into the arts, and the arts subsequently
became a must. It was taught at home, members of the army were
encouraged to get creative, and artists were given titles like
‘efendi’.
The exhibition includes an ornate chair designed by Sultan Abdul Hamid,
who was a skilled carpenter and a mother of pearl master, as well as
a stunning work of gold calligraphy on black wood made by him.
The 19th century is also exemplified by a telephone specially designed
for the sultan that stands on four legs in the form of a lion’s paw
and bears the ruler’s signature engraved on metal plates attached to
both sides of the wooden case.
Artists such as Fausto Zonaro, Abdul Mecid Efendi, Jean Baptiste
Leprince, Osman Hamdi and Peter von Hess bring to life the time of
the great merge between East and West.
Profile: Dolmabahce Palace
– Six sultans (Sultan Abdul Mecid, Sultan Abdul Aziz, Sultan Abdul
Hamid II, Sultan Mehmed Resad V, Sultan Mehmed Vahiddein VI) and the
last Caliph, Abdul Mecid Efendi, lived in the Dolmabahce Palace from
1856 until 1924.
– During the time of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern
Turkish Republic, the palace was used as the Presidential Office in
Istanbul. Ataturk spent his last days here.
– When Ataturk died on the morning of November 10, 1933, every clock
in the palace was stopped at exactly 9:05, the moment of his death.
To this day, not a clock in the palace shows any time but 9:05.
– The palace has 285 rooms, 43 large halls and six Turkish baths.
d_Culture/10083484.html

PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES HIGHER SALARY FOR TOP PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Panorama.am
15:07 16/11/06
The Armenian parliament discussed draft law which envisages 40%
higher salary for top public officials starting from July 1, 2007.
Pavel Safaryan, deputy minister of finance and economy, said the bill
is connected with draft budget 2007 and is its component part. He
said the salary of top public officials have not been raised since
2003 whereas the salary of ordinary public employees has risen up to
70%. “As a result, low rank public employees may get higher salary
that top officials,” he said also saying similar situation is not
observed in any other country.
In the words of the deputy minister, the draft will cost 710 million
Armenian drams also saying the salary of public officials will depend
on minimum salary which is 20,000 drams in 2007.

450 THOUSAND EUROS DONATED ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE EUROPEAN PHONETON
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
According to the results of the first day of the Phoneton of the
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund that started in France yesterday the total
sum of donations and donation promises comprised 450 thousand Euros.
Money was allocated by Armenian communities of Paris, Lion, Marseilles,
Nice and Toulouse.
“Armenpress” was told at the PR Department of the Hayastan Fund that
compared with the data of the first day of the European Phoneton
2005 the donations have increased. Last year 380 thousand Euros were
collected in the result of the first day.