Month: July 2007

MILITARY-POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN USA AND AZERBAIJAN TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON ON 9-10 JULY

Yerkir
04.07.2007 11:46

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – On July 9-10 military-political consultations will be
held in Washington between Azerbaijan and the United States, Azeri Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov told journalists.

He said, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov will head the Azeri delegation.

And Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Matthew Bryza will head the U.S. delegation. E. Mamedyarov did not clarify
what issues will be discussed at the meeting, Day.az reports.

Earlier military-political consultations were scheduled for April 23.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH PREMIER CRITICIZES USA FOR ABSENCE OF SUPPORT "IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST KURDISH TERRORISTS"

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2007 16:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The words by our friends that Workers’ Party
of Kurdistan (PKK) is a terrorist organization, is not enough for
Turkey. We want an implementation of these words," Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Erdogan stated. He focused on the issue of terrorism
in the 5th World Chambers Congress hosted by Turkey. Around 600
businessmen attended the congress.

The former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright was also among
the participants.

The Turkish Premier also underlined that the human conscience should
adopt a common attitude towards damage to the environment, terrorism,
violence and legal wars in crisis regions in the world.

"Civilization is not only the global free circulation of the products
that we produce. The extent of civilization is the extent to which
human values are embraced and applied. We are carrying out a fight
against international terrorism. And we expect the same thing from
the seemingly friend countries. An international joint fight against
terrorism is a must.

The rationale that the terrorists in your territory are bad, the
terrorists in my territory are good, especially should be abandoned,"
Recep Erdogan said, Sabah newspaper reports.

SERZH SARGSYAN: CONSTITUTION IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF EVERY COUNTRY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2007 17:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a
congratulatory message upon the Constitution Day, the RA Government
Press Office reports. S. Sargsyan’s message, in particular, reads as
follows, "Dear compatriots, I congratulate you on the Constituion
Day. The meaning of Constitution as the Organic Law of the state
is vitally important for the formation and development of every
state. The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia is that very
basic legal, political, ideological document of Armenian independent
statehood, which became the base of regulating all legal relations,
predetermining the way of development of our country. The constitution
that was amended in the result of a national referendum provides
large opportunities for realizing the national goals, formation,
strengthening and development of the Armenian statehood on the bases of
democratic values. In the result of constitutional reforms significant
changes are on the way in Armenia’s legislation, which are directed not
only at formation of new legal institutes, but also implementing the
reforms of second generation and new quality of life. I congratulate
you once again on the Constitution Day and wish you success."

IT IS NECESSARY TO SPEAK ABOUT LIBERATED TERRITORIES NOT FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT EVERY DAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2007 16:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "It is necessary to speak about liberated territories
not from time to time, but every day. The existence of the Department
on issues concerning migration, refugees and displaced persons under
the NKR government comes to prove that the problem is in the center
of attention of authorities.

All other questions, which may occur must become subjects of all-round
discussions," presidential candidate of NKR Bako Sahakian stated. He
said, today it is inexpedient to make statements in this regard.

"It is an issue of strategic importance, and talks around it cannot be
useful. Not a single country in the world turns its strategic secrets
into subjects of populist discussions. And we are not an exception. But
unfortunately part of materials on that subject, which recently were
publish in press may work against our country and the whole Armenian
nation in general," B. Sahakian underscored, KarabakhOpen reports.

NKR CAN PLAY MUCH GREATER ROLE IN SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT THAN IT IS TODAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2007 17:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The fact that NKR’s isolation from international
diplomatic and political processes does not weaken anyway, is a
troubling symptom, presidential candidate of NKR Masis Mailyan stated
to "Mitk" Analytical Center. He said, NKR can play much greater role
in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict than it is today.

"Times are changing, and conditions in our region also are undergoing
radical changes. New challenges and opportunities are emerging,
which need to be interpreted. I think it is the time to carry out
a pushing policy. NKR is capable and must take to the international
level his own political initiatives.

Waiting policy is not only harmful, but also dangerous. The only
hope to increase the fighting efficiency of our army is not enough
for providing our security and rapid development. Now the current
pace of development of NKR is not enough," he underlined.

M. Mailyan also stressed that NKR’s direct ties with international
instances must grow on all levels. "Not only one arena of international
diplomacy of settlement must be the place to search happiness for
NKR. There are a lot of other opportunities to present the real
potential of our country. We can actively work with all interested
countries. Armenia’s factor must not be underlined as the cause of
NKR’s isolation from key political processes in the world," he thinks.

RA GOVERNMENT SHOULD START REDUCING GAS SUBSIDIES AS SOONAS POSSIBLE, IMF
OFFICIAL SAYS

Noyan tapan
Jul 3, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Marta Castello-Branco, the head of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, which is in Armenia from
July 26, at the July 2 press conference, said that the RA government
should start reducing gas subsidies as soon as possible to soften
the consequences of growth in gas prices for vulnerable strata.

It should be mentioned that in 2006, the RA government, handing over
Hrazdan TPP’s 5th energy unit to Russia, received the possibility to
keep the price for 1 cubic meter of gas imported from Russia at the
level of 55 dollars for final consumers through subsidizing.

In her words, the operation term of the current gas subsidy will
expire in late 2008. From the begninning of 2009 prices for gas could
grow abruptly and make more than 200 USD, and in order to soften
the consequences of the latter, gas subsidies should be gradually
reduced. M. Castello-Branco said that the steady appreciation of the
dram should help smooth this process by making gas import cheaper in
dram terms.

CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE WORKING OUT COMMON STANCE ON KOSOVO

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2007 17:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Central European countries want to work out a common
stance on the status of Kosovo. This decision was made at the meeting
between foreign ministers of "Regional Partnership" member-states. The
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Slovenia are
members of the organization.

Earlier Slovakia used to refrain from statements concerning the status
of Kosovo. At the meeting Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubish stated
that as an EU member-state henceforth his country will adhere to the
common policy of the European Union on the issue, MIGnews.com reports.

All member-states of the European Union support the idea of granting
to Kosovo independence. Russia in his turn supports Serbia, which
refuses to grant independence to that region.

TURKEY HAS NOT TAKEN A SINGLE KURUº FROM USA

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2007 18:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey has not taken a single kuruº from the USA,
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stated responding to allegations
from main opposition leader Deniz Baykal, who claimed the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) government made a deal with the
U.S. to assure it that Turkey will not make a cross-border operation
into northern Iraq. "The United States gave money to countries
negatively influenced by the first gulf War as compensation. However,
Turkey was not paid such money. There are no secret documents about
such a deal, either," A. Gul underlined, Bugun newspaper reports.

Earlier the Turkish Foreign Ministry had spread a special statement
in connection with the financial agreement signed between Turkey and
the United States in September 22, 2003. The Turkish MFA confirmed
the fact that there exists an agreement with the USA on assigning to
Ankara $1 billion to refuse from invading Northern Iraq. The statement
underlines that the United States has assigned $8.5 billion as a
privileged loan aimed at supporting economic reforms, as well as $1
billion as compensation for the damage from the war in Iraq. "According
to the agreement, the $1-billion compensation would be paid to Ankara
part by part. The document particularly underlines that in case of
a military operation by Turkey in Northern Iraq the United States
will refuse from giving the remaining part of compensation. But after
signing the agreement Turkey willingly refused from economic aid thus
stopping the effect of the corresponding article of the document. From
this viewpoint this agreement does not mean that Turkey has taken any
commitments in front of the USA. At that time the Treasury of the
country declared about refusing from the $1-billion compensation,"
says the statement of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

–Boundary_(ID_URLusdq75GFqK8G5vBAUjg)- –

ARMENIAN CB BOARD ESTABLISHED THE REFINANCING RATE AT THE LEVEL OF 4.75%

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
July 4 2007

Yerevan, July 4 /Mediamax/. The Board of the Central Bank of Armenia
increased the CB refinancing rate for 0.25 percent-points, establishing
it at the level of 4.75%.

As Mediamax was told in the press service of the Armenian Central
Bank, the corresponding decision was made by the CB Board during its
session on July 3.

In June 2007, as compared to May, there was 0.3% deflation
registered. The index of inflation in the course of one year made
4.8% – 0.8 percent-points higher than the level, planned for the
second quarter.

The CB Board noted that the inner inflation pressures were mild,
despite the possible increase of inflation pressure in the second
quarter as a result of large-scale budget expenditures.

The external inflation pressures on the whole were characterized
by the growth of international prices for grain, the expectations
concerning the further trends of which are not clear.

"In the given situation, the aim of the money-credit policy is to
soften the inflation expectations and to preserve the inflation at
the planned level", the CB press service noted.

CENTRAL BANK GAVE PRELIMINARY CONSENT TO GRANT A LICENSE TO "PROCREDIT ARMENIA" BANK

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
July 4 2007

Yerevan, July 4 /Mediamax/. The Board of the Central Bank of Armenia
gave preliminary consent to grant a license for banking activities to
"ProCredit Armenia" bank.

As Mediamax was told in CB press service, the given decision was
made after the consideration of the application, submitted by three
founders of "ProCredit Armenia": ProCredit Holding AG, The German KfW
Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Mediamax recalls that in April of 2007, the EBRD announced that it
would become the 20% shareholder of the "ProCredit Armenia" bank,
which would start functioning in Armenia in September of 2007.

The participation of EBRD in the capital of ProCredit Armenia Bank
will make 1.2bln AMD, or $3.2mln.

The EBRD statement read that the ProCredit Armenia Bank will be
specializing in financing of micro and small enterprises outside the
Armenian capital, and the European Bank will allocate a credit at
the sum of $7mln with maturity of up to five years financing micro
and small enterprises.

Mediamax notes that the ProCredit Group consists of 19 banks,
functioning in Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America, whose
operations are overseen and guided by ProCredit Holding AG, located
in Frankfurt.