Month: May 2008

DASHNAKTSUTYUN MEMBER ELECTED ARMENIAN DEPUTY SPEAKER

Interfax News Agency
May 20 2008
Russia

Grair Karapetian, a member the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun was elected as deputy speaker of the Armenian
parliament.

There was only Karapetian on the ballot, and he was elected by the
majority of votes.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun, Orinats Yerkir
and Prosperous Armenia are the members of the ruling coalition.

Karapetian was born in Yerevan on August 11, 1963. He joined
Dashnaktsutyun in 1989. He was elected to the parliament in 2003 and
2007. He was a leader of the Dashnaktsutyun’s parliamentary faction.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HAS NEW PRESS SECRETARY

Interfax News Agency
May 20 2008
Russia

Samvel Farmanyan has been appointed as the Armenian president’s press
secretary on Tuesday.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan presented his new press secretary
Farmanyan to the heads of Armenian media outlets.

After Sargsyan was elected president of Armenia, Farmanyan was
appointed as the president’s referent. Earlier he was a member of the
youth wing of the Orinats Yerkir party. Currently this party makes
up part of the ruling coalition.

Former press secretary Viktor Sogomonian was appointed as head of
the office of former president Robert Kocharian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL AMENDING LAW ON RALLIES IN FIRST READING

Interfax News Agency
May 20 2008
Russia

A bill amending the Law on Assemblies, Rallies, Marches and
Demonstrations, was passed in its first reading in the Armenian
parliament on Tuesday.

The bill was approved in a 93 to 6 vote, an Interfax correspondent
reports. The opposition Heritage party faction voted against the bill.

The amendments had been drafted and submitted for debates after
proposals by experts of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission
were taken into account. The bill details the procedure of providing
information about the events planned, obliging the organizers to
notify the local authorities at least two days in advance.

The bill also has a new provision regarding spontaneous events,
which says that such events must not last longer than six hours.

Amendments to the law on rallies and marches were proposed by President
Robert Kocharian on March 18, after the tragic events in Yerevan on
March 1.

Following the presidential election on February 19, the opposition,
led by ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian, who was also running, refused
to recognize the election outcome and organized mass protest rallies
which deteriorated into clashes with police on March 1, in which ten
people were killed and over 250 sustained injuries.

IMF: IMF EXECUTIVE BOARD COMPLETES SIXTH AND FINAL REVIEW UNDER THE PRGFARRANGEMENT WITH ARMENIA AND APPROVES $5US.4 MILLION DISBURSEMENT

M2 PressWIRE
May 20, 2008 Tuesday

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today
completed the sixth and final review of Armenia’s economic performance
under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement. The
completion of the review enables the release of an amount equivalent to
SDR 3.32 million (about $5US.4 million), bringing total disbursements
to the full amount of SDR 23 million (about $37US.3 million) under
the arrangement (see Press Release No. 05/123).

Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Mr. Murilo Portugal,
Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, said:

"Armenia’s adherence to prudent macroeconomic policies and the
progress made in structural reforms have contributed significantly
to its strong performance under its third PRGF arrangement. A marked
reduction in poverty has been achieved in a high-growth and low
inflation macroeconomic environment.

Strong remittance and foreign direct investment inflows have dampened
the impact of rapidly rising imports on the balance of payments. The
medium-term outlook remains positive in view of favorable investment
prospects.

"Continued sound fiscal and monetary policies remain key to maintaining
macroeconomic stability and external competitiveness, against
the background of large-scale foreign exchange inflows and upside
inflationary risks. A tighter-than-budgeted fiscal stance is warranted
for 2008 as this would deliver welcome support to monetary policy in
keeping inflation expectations well anchored. The existing monetary
policy framework, based on a flexible exchange rate, remains the best
option for Armenia. The authorities’ timely monetary policy actions
over the past year have demonstrated the authorities’ commitment to
price stability and helped contain inflationary expectations despite
strong headwinds from higher world food and energy prices.

"Strengthening the capacity for fiscal policy analysis will be
important for improving the effectiveness of fiscal policy and
helping maintain fiscal discipline. Increasing revenue collections
in a transparent and nondiscretionary manner will also be crucial,
in view of the need to improve the country’s infrastructure, reduce
poverty, and improve the business environment.

"The authorities intend to press ahead with their structural reform
agenda to remove remaining bottlenecks to broad-based growth and to
safeguard competitiveness. Future reform efforts will appropriately
focus on deepening productivity-enhancing structural reforms, notably
by reducing the cost of doing business, boosting domestic competition,
diversifying the economy, and discouraging participation in the
shadow economy.

"The IMF welcomes Armenia’s interest in continuing its close
cooperation with the Fund after the current PRGF arrangement expires
in May 2008," Mr. Portugal said.

The PRGF is the IMF’s concessional facility for low-income
countries. PRGF-supported programs are based on country-owned poverty
reduction strategies adopted in a participatory process involving
civil society and development partners and articulated in the country’s
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.

This is intended to ensure that PRGF-supported programs are consistent
with a comprehensive framework for macroeconomic, structural, and
social policies to foster growth and reduce poverty. PRGF loans
carry an annual interest rate of 0.5 percent and are repayable over
10 years with a 5 -year grace period on principal payments.

CONTACT: Public Affairs, IMF External Relations Department Tel:
+1 202 623 7300 Fax: +1 202 623 6278 Media Relations, IMF External
Relations Department Tel: +1 202 623 7100 Fax: +1 202 623 6772

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAZPROMS DELEGATION VISITS ARMENIA

RIA Oreanda
May 20 2008
Russia

Yerevan. ">OREANDA-NEWS . May 20, 2008. Today a Gazprom delegation
headed by Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee, paid
a working visit to the Republic of Armenia and held a meeting with
Serzh Sarkisyan, Armenian President and Tigran Sarkisyan, Armenian
Prime Minister.

In the course of the meeting the parties noted that the cooperation in
the gas area was very successful and the ArmRosgazprom joint venture
was expanding its operations and was starting to prepare for the
entry into the financial market for the IPO purposes.

The parties discussed matters related to the signing of a new contract
for gas supply to Armenia and reached the accords that the contract
would be a midterm arrangement with a price formula and the switch
to European prices would be implemented just like in Russia in 2011.

At the same time, the gas price will be changed gradually given the
high level of the strategic cooperation and the reinforcement of
Gazproms positions in Armenia due to a bigger stake in ArmRosgazprom.

VIVACELL BECAME GENERAL SPONSOR OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS OF ARMENIA

RIA Oreanda
May 20 2008
Russia

Yerevan. ">OREANDA-NEWS . May 20, 2008. During a joint press conference
held in the office of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA),
VivaCell General Manager Ralph Yirikian and the FFA President Ruben
Hayrapetyan signed a bilateral agreement of cooperation. According to
the agreement, VivaCell became the general sponsor of national football
teams of Armenia. Committed to its Corporate Social Responsibility
agenda, VivaCell warmly cares for the promotion and development of
football, the top popular sport in Armenia. This is the major factor
that has driven VivaCell to extend its hand to FFA. Like in the past,
the company will continue on supporting all the events and projects
aiming at the promotion of Armenias image as a country having football
traditions. VivaCell has been an active part of the Armenian society,
and has been always responsive to calls for support from respective
public organizations and individuals, concerned about active promotion
of sports in Armenia and healthy lifestyles among Armenian youth.

EBRD BUYS EQUITY STAKE IN ARMENIAN MEAT PRODUCER

RIA Oreanda
May 21 2008
Russia

Moscow. OREANDA-NEWS . May 19, 2008. The EBRD is acquiring a 28,3
percent-stake in the Armenian meat producer NatFood CJSC for //$4
million. The funds will be used for expanding business by building new
production facilities with state-of-the-art equipment in compliance
with international quality standards, reported the press-centre
of EBRD.

The Armenian market for processed meat is growing rapidly and the
companys strategy is to become a leading player. The emergence of a
middle class who can afford and ask for products of better and safer
quality is seen as a special opportunity. The companys products,
sold under the Biella brand name, already enjoy high reputation on
the local market.

NatFood was established as a spin-off of the meat processing business
of Valletta LLC. Valletta was founded in 1999 as a trading group by
the local entrepreneur Henrik Zakharyants, who was previously the
sole owner. It has since grown into a wide-ranging business group,
including wholesale, retail and food processing.

EBRD First Vice President Varel Freeman said the Banks acquisition
of an equity stake showed our confidence in our new partner. We
have been very impressed by the strong performance of the company
over the past years and we will now support its further development
and strengthening.

Armen Khudinyan, CEO of NatFood, added: Having the EBRD on board in the
truest sense of the word – is a massive boost for our enterprise. It
does not only strengthen us financially but we will also benefit from
the Banks expertise and know-how in our country and region.

To-date, the EBRD has invested more than 170 million in 50 projects
in all sectors of the Armenian economy.

The strong growth in recent years has also resulted in higher demand
for EBRD finance.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SCENARIOS
by Aleksei Matveyev

DEFENSE and SECURITY
May 21, 2008 Wednesday
Russia

WILL NEW CIS LEADERS REMAIN LOYAL TO MOSCOW WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT
OF RUSSIA IN OFFICE?; The new president will have to rearrange the
post-Soviet zone.

Russia strengthened its positions in the post-Soviet zone in eight
years under President Putin. Military integration in the Commonwealth
was particularly energetic these last 2-3 years

What will await Russia’s military-political and military-technical
cooperation with the CIS countries?

Six countries are all Russia has in terms of allies. They are members
of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. Will their
political leaders remain loyal to Russia under its new President,
Dmitry Medvedev? Let us consider each country individually.

Belarus. This country remains Russia’s principal strategic
ally in the post-Soviet zone. Problems with the Union remain
unsolved. Rapprochement between the economies and legislatures of the
two countries takes too long, their integration actually questionable
since both countries insist on their sovereignty. The introduction
of a monetary unit of the Union is postponed. Establishment of
Russian-Belarussian joint air defense has been talked about for
six years already with little to show for it. As a matter of fact,
military integration has been accomplished. Developing a joint
defense zone with Minsk, Russia will keep subsidizing Belarussian
military needs. Two thirds of the Union budget provided by Russia,
13% of the budget is to be spent on military-technical cooperation,
law enforcement, and security.

Kazakhstan is one of Russia’s major allies. Its leadership promotes
an independent policy. Kazakh servicemen serve in the international
contingent in Iraq. The United States and other NATO countries help
Kazakhstan with rearmament. Astana doubled its military expenditures
since 2006. They remain under 1% of the GDP, but rearmament is pursued
energetically.

The new president of Russia will have to keep Astana from falling
under NATO’s influence and prevent it from advancing active
military-technical cooperation with the West in general and the United
States in particular.

Kyrgyzstan. It is one of the poorest republics of the late Soviet
Union. It lacks stability. Russia and the United States have military
bases in Kyrgyzstan. The installation of a pro-Western regime in this
country is unlikely.

Armenia. Second to Belarus alone in faithfulness to Russia. Armenia
elected its new president earlier this year. The election was won by
pro-Russian Serj Sarkisjan, former premier and defense minister. The
possibility of renewed hostilities with Azerbaijan compel Armenia
to rely on Russia. This is why even the opposition in Armenia
(Justice bloc and National Unity) and Robert Kocharjan’s followers
are pro-Moscow.

Tajikistan. One of the poorest CIS countries heavily relying on
Russian aid. This country enjoys an important geopolitical location
in the post-Soviet zone. Drugs from Afghanistan reach Russia and
Europe via Tajikistan. The liquidation of the Russian border guards
contingent in this country was a mistake. The new president of Russia
may find it necessary to make additional decisions concerning the
Tajik-Afghani border.

Uzbekistan. Political upheavals in this country remain a
possibility. Its President Islam Karimov’s pro-Moscow orientation
is quite iffy. There was a period several years ago when Uzbekistan
was in GUAM and actively pursued relations with the United States. It
is in the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization now, allegedly
advancing relations with Moscow.

Neutral Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Moldova may be listed as
potential allies. As a matter of fact, Azerbaijan and Moldova
and members of GUAM, a regional organization that is in serious
trouble. Anyway, Moldova is actively pursuing relations with Moscow
and Azerbaijan constantly emphasizes its neutral status and never
speaks about membership in NATO the way other GUAM members (Georgia
and Ukraine) do. In fact, these two countries are Russia’s principal
opponents in the post-Soviet zone.

The new president of Russia will have to drive a hard bargain in
relations with Kiev and Tbilisi. Forcing Ukraine and NATO to abandon
their plans to join NATO is Medvedev’s primary military-strategic
objective. Where the Russian-Ukrainian relations are concerned,
Medvedev will have to elicit from Kiev the permit to leave the Black
Sea Fleet in the Crimea. Moldova and Azerbaijan might get invitations
to join the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. Where
relations with Turkmenistan are concerned, Moscow had better remember
that it is a major exporter of gas and that the future of Russian
geopolitical interests depends to a considerable extent on the routes
of Turkmen gas export to Europe and China.

KARABAKH FOLLOWS IN KOSOVO’S STEPS
by Ivan Preobrazhensky, Aleksei Bausin

DEFENSE and SECURITY
May 21, 2008 Wednesday
Russia

Bringing in 500,000 Armenians, Karabakh authorities intend to get
international recognition

WILL NAGORNO-KARABAKH ARRANGE ITS OWN TALKS WITH AZERBAIJAN?; Official
Stepanakert maintains that it itself should negotiate peace settlement
with Azerbaijan.

Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Saakjan is convinced that
Nagorno-Karabakh should participate in the pace settlement talks with
Azerbaijan. "Independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is the principal
warring side. It has the priorities analogous to those of another
countries," Saakjan said. All negotiations have been conducted by
Armenia these last 14 years. Nagorno-Karabakh only participated in
the truce signing in 1994.

Gegam Bagdasarjan, the only oppositionist deputy on the Karabakh
parliament, suspects that the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities might
have been upset by rumors that Armenia was ready to give part of the
Karabakh territories to Azerbaijan to settle the matter.

Not even Armenia has established diplomatic relations with
Stepanakert. Azerbaijani settlements in Karabakh are in ruins,
Armenian thrive with help from diasporas abroad.

The army comprises approximately one sixth of the population. Economic
revival is undeniable. "Stability will culminate in a doctrine of
maximum density of the population," Karabakh Prime Minister Araik
Arutyunjan said. According to official estimates, the population of
Nagorno-Karabakh stands at under 150,000 men, density of population
amounting to one tenth of the Armenian. The government is out to
stabilize the population at 500,000. Population inflow is double
the outflow. The birth rate is about 14 births per 1,000 people. A
denser population may help with the problem of recognition "as it
did in Kosovo" (to quote Arutyunjan).

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandjan believes that status of
Nagorno-Karabakh should be determined at a referendum. "Moscow stands
for a compromise reached with help from foreign intermediaries,"
Leonid Slutsky of the International Committee of the Duma said.

LE PRECEDENT DU KOSOVO INSPIRE LES AUTORITES DU HAUT-KARABAKH (VEDOMOSTI)

RIA Novosti
19 Mai 2008
Russie

MOSCOU, 19 mai – RIA Novosti. Les autorites du Haut-Karabakh ont
l’intention d’obtenir leur independance en peuplant cette contree d’un
demi-million d’Armeniens, lit-on lundi dans le quotidien Vedomosti.

Le Haut-Karabakh doit participer aux negociations sur le règlement
pacifique du conflit avec l’Azerbaïdjan, a declare le president de
cette entite autoproclamee sur le territoire azerbaïdjanais Bako
Saakian en repondant a une question du quotidien Vedomosti. "La
Republique du Haut-Karabakh (RNK) independante ayant les memes
priorites que d’autres Etats etrangers est la partie principale
engagee dans le conflit", a explique M. Saakian. Durant 14 ans, les
negociations ont ete menees par l’Armenie. Le Karabakh n’y a participe
que lors de la conclusion de l’accord de cessez-le-feu en 1994.

Guegam Bagdassarian, l’unique depute d’opposition au parlement du
Karabakh, n’exclut pas que Stepanakert (capitale de la RNK) ait pu y
etre pousse par des rumeurs, selon lesquelles l’Armenie serait prete
a ceder une partie des territoires du Karabakh a l’Azerbaïdjan en
vue d’accelerer le règlement du conflit.

En 1988, la republique autonome du Karabakh annonca son retrait de
l’Azerbaïdjan. Le conflit militaire qui suivit fit 25.000 a 30.000
morts, et provoqua l’exode de 1 a 1,5 million de refugies. Les
negociations sur le règlement du conflit se poursuivent dans le cadre
du groupe de Minsk de l’OSCE copreside par les Etats-Unis, la Russie
et la France.

Meme l’Armenie hesite a etablir des relations diplomatiques avec
Stepanakert. Les ruines des maisons et les carcasses rouillees des
vehicules blindes temoignent de la situation "ni guerre ni paix"
en vigueur dans les anciens villages azerbaïdjanais. En revanche,
les villages armeniens se retablissent grâce a l’aide de la diaspora
etrangère. Des emigres construisent parfois dans leur village d’origine
de veritables palais avec des fontaines et des zoos.

L’armee constitue environ 1/6 de la population. Une reprise economique
est observee. L’agriculture et la production de vins prospèrent tout
particulièrement dans cette contree fertile. En outre, le complexe
minier de Drmbon assure a lui seul presque la moitie du PIB.

La doctrine fixant l’objectif de peupler au maximum le territoire du
Karabakh sera le fruit de la stabilite, a declare au quotidien Araïk
Aroutiounian, premier ministre de la republique autoproclamee. Selon
les donnees officielles, la republique compte moins de 150.000
habitants, la densite de la population y est 10 fois inferieure a
celle de l’Armenie voisine. Le gouvernement poursuit l’objectif de
faire en sorte dans de brefs delais que la republique compte 500.000
habitants. L’afflux de population depasse de deux fois le nombre de
departs. On constate egalement un accroissement du taux de natalite,
qui est actuellement a environ 14 pour 1.000. L’augmentation de la
population peut egalement aider a regler la question de l’independance:
"comme c’etait le cas au Kosovo", resume M. Aroutiounian.

Le ministre armenien des Affaires etrangères Edvard Nalbandian estime
que le statut de la republique doit etre determine par ses habitants au
cours d’un referendum. Quant a Moscou, il se prononce pour la recherche
d’un compromis avec la participation de mediateurs internationaux,
a declare Leonid Sloutski, vice-president du Comite des affaires
internationales de la Douma (chambre basse du parlement russe).

Cet article est tire de la presse et n’a rien a voir avec la redaction
de RIA Novosti.

–Boundary_(ID_Wud+fnX3A8oHz51zjlQl1Q)–