Month: December 2008

AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN 2008-2009 SIGNED BETWEEN RA AND RF SECURITY COUNCILS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. RA and RF National Security Councils
Secretaries Artur Baghdasarian and Nikolay Patrushev, on December 9,
signed an Agreement on 2008-2009 Cooperation Plan between the two
countries’ Security Councils.

According to A. Baghdasarian, the document includes the list of
the events to be implemented, including holding of Russian-Armenian
consultations on regional security issues, discussion of the main
directions of cooperation, elaboration of implementation mechanisms
of decisions made. Joint events are envisaged, which are aimed at
economic security and providing transport corridors for Armenia
for export and import of goods. The Agreement also includes issues
regarding military and military-technical cooperation.

N. Patrushev, in his turn, said that Russia and Armenia are strategic
partners and need to coordinate many issues. The RF Security Council
Secretary attached importance to elaboration of joint approaches at
international organizations, which should be preceded by experts’
joint work to analyse the current information.
From: Baghdasarian

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HOLDS CONFERENCE ON FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. As U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to RA Marie Yovanovitch affirmed, when society’s
confidence to the law enforcement system is low, society does not
fight corruption, but solves the problem by corruption means. The
Ambassador said that at the conference on the subject Efficient Means
of Corruption Crimes Investigation and Criminal Prosecution on Them
organized on December 9 by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In her interview to journalists the Ambassador said that high-ranking
American officials have been prosecuted and punished lately: it
requires great work and political will. "We have managed to record
progress in this sphere in the United States and it inspires me
with the hope that everybody in all countries is able to have such
progress," she said. The example of Chicago in 1920 shows that even one
person is able to change the situation, and it can also be in Armenia:
there was only one prosecutor in Chicago in 1920, who finally changed
the whole situation as he did his business consistently.

According to Armen Ashrafian, the Head of the Department on Corruption
and Cases of Organized Crime of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office,
active participation of society and NGOs is needed to efficiently
fight corruption.

In response to a journalist’s question of why there is no agreement on
mutual legal assistance with the U.S. so far, A. Ashrafian said that
Armenia’s law enforcement bodies, in particular, Prosecutor’s Office
cooperate very closely with the U.S., but it is done by a good will:
"such work is already being done on our initiative, and the problem
can be settled if not by interstate agreements, at least by memoranda,"
he said.

Two prosecutors and three high-ranking Police officials from the
U.S. took part in the conference. Prosecutors, investigators from
the Special Investigation Service, RA State Revenues Committee of RA
Police represented the Armenian side.

U.S. EMBASSY TO ASSIST IN INVITING EXPERTS FOR MARCH 1 CASES INVESTIGATION IF NECESSARY

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to RA Marie Yovanovitch affirmed that if a request is
addressed to the Embassy of U.S. to assist in the issue of the body
carrying out investigation on the March 1 events and in inviting an
expert by the fact-finding group, the Embassy will study it without
fail. In her interview to journalists the Ambassador reminded that
experts from the commission on the terrorist case of September 11 in
the U.S. had arrived in Armenia in October: they had shared their
experience with the members of the Committee on Events Occurred on
1-2 March in Yerevan.

GEVORG PERKUPERKIAN ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF SDHP SARGIS TKHRUNI UNION

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Gevorg Perkuperkian was elected the
new Chairman of the SDHP Sargis Tkhruni student-youth union at the
union’s December 8 general meeting. He is 28 years old and currently
heads the student council of K. Abovian Armenian State Pedagogic
University’s Culture Department.

According to SDHP Board’s report, Narek Galstian resigning the post
of Chairman has been instructed to temporarily head SDHP Press Service
until the next congress.

ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS CALL ABDULLAH GUL FOR RECOGNIZING FACT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Over thirty Armenian intellectuals
have sent an open letter to Turkish President Abdullah Gul calling him
for admitting the fact of Armenian Genocide. "Our two peoples’ historic
memory is very deep and disturbed, there are no easy solutions. Your
generation of Turkey’s leadership should admit the irrefutable truth
and recognize the fact of Armenian Genocide," the letter read. Giving
assurance that it is the Turkish people that first of all needs the
recognition of the Genocide, the letter authors mention: "Thus it
(the Turkish people) will be get free of the burden of history and
will stand near the other states open-faced."

At the end of the letter Armenian intellectuals stated that A. Gul’s
visit and Turkey’s initiative aimed at strengthening the general
stability in the South Caucasus are reassuring. "However these efforts
can go to ruin easily unless the state takes resolute steps," the
letter read. USSR People’s Artist Sos Sargsian, composers Robert
Amirkhanian and Edward Mirzoyan, solo singer Hasmik Hatsagortsian,
Aravot daily’s editor Aram Abrahamian, and others have signed under
the letter.

CONCESSIONS IN NKR ISSUE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE AND SIMULTANEOUS, ARFD REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. If Turkey wishes to raise its role
in the region, it should improve its relations with Armenia. Kiro
Manoyan, the Responsible Person of the ARFD Hay Dat (Armenian
Cause) and Political Affairs Office, stated at the December 9 press
conference. According to him, after Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s
visit to Yerevan the dialogue between the two countries that seemed
to have started was interrupted, as Turkey continued to insist on
its preconditions for opening the Armenian-Turkish border. Besides,
the Turks continue casting doubt on the fact of the Armenian Genocide
as before.

Touching upon Armenian lobbyist activity, K. Manoyan said that thanks
to it the Armenian Genocide is already an accepted fact for the
international community today. According to him, currently the task
of Armenian diplomats is not to permit replacing the term "genocide"
by other words in international media. K. Manoyan added that the
finish of the lobbyist process is achieving Turkey’s admitting the
fact of the genocide.

Rendering more clear ARFD’s position in the Nagorno Karabakh
problem, K. Manoyan said that "any concession should be adequate
and simultaneous," at that, the issue of Artsakh status should be
determined at the very start.

Besides, according to him, the issues of return of Armenian territories
beyond NKR borders and of Armenian refugees should be raised. "And
lastly, Karabakh should be a negotiations side enjoying full rights,"
K. Manoyan stated.

ARMENIA HAS ALMOST FULFILLED ALL PACE DEMANDS, RAFIK PETROSIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. There are no political prisoners
in Armenia, as criminal cases are examined on people imprisoned
on the case of the March 1 events, and the court passes sentences
for committing an aciton liable for criminal prosecution towards
them. Rafik Petrosian, a member of the RA NA RPA faction, expressed
such an opinion at the December 9 press conference. At the same time
he said that if it is disclosed in the process of trial of these cases
that the prosecution is only based on self-confession or policemen’s
evidence, the court has no right to pass accusatory sentences.

R. Petrosian considers that we should liquidate the strained situation
in the country. And for that purpose the deputy proposes freeing
people of criminal liability or grant an amnesty to them. R. Petrosian
also stated that Armenia has fulfilled almost all demands of PACE
Resolutions N 1609 and 1620: only the "case of the seven" remains,
which has been already sent to the court.

However, Lyudmila Sargsian, the Chairwoman of the Social-Democratic
Hnchakian Party, considers that hardly a fair sentence will be
passed on that case, as a result of which Armenia will be faced by
great problems.

According to her, unless these and other cases contain facts proving
people’s guilt, it means that the imprisoned people are political
prisoners.

RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR BULGARIA ON TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT ON DECEMBER 10

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan will
leave for Sofia on a two-day official visit on December 10 at the
invitation of President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov. The same day
S. Sargsyan will meet with his Bulgarian counterpart. The meeting
will be followed by Armenian-Bulgarian negotiations with an enlarged
staff. Then a ceremony of documents’ signing and the two countries’
Presidents’ press conference will take place.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, S. Sargsyan and G. Parvanov will adopt a joint Statement
on the visit results. It is also envisaged to sign a protocol of
intentions of organization and holding of days of Bulgarian culture
in 2009 in Armenia and days of Armenian culture in 2010 in Bulgaria,
2009-2014 working plan of cooperation in the state government sphere,
agreement of cooperation in the sphere of archives work, as well as
a protocol on making amendments to the agreement on excluding double
taxation of revenues and property between the two countries.

The opening of the Armenian-Bulgarian business forum will be also
held with the participation of the two countries’ Presidents.

During the two-day official visit S. Sargsyan will have a working
dinner with Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, will meet with
Chairman of National Assembly of Bulgaria Georgi Pirinski, will lay
a wreath to the memorial of the Unknown Soldier.

S. Sargsyan and G. Parvanov will be present at the opening of Sergey
Parajanov’s collages exhibition at the National Gallery of Foreign Art.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROPERTY OF BJNI PLANT TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The property and property rights of
"Bjni" Mineral Water Plant CJSC will be sold by auction on December 19,
NT was informed by the Service for Compulsory Execution of Court Acts.

NERSES YERITSIAN: GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS OPENS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Dec 9, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The global economic crisis opens
some opportunities for Armenia’s economic development not only because
the country is not integrated deeply into the global economy but also
because Armenia has accumulated a serious resource of macroeconomic
policy in the past ten years. The RA minister of economy Nerses
Yeritsian said this during the round table on the subject "The Global
Financial Crisis. The Strategy of Behaviour in the Crisis Situation"
at the "without-tie" meeting-forum of ICT leaders in Dilijan on
December 6-7.

In his words, Armenia can increase the budget deficit threefold or by
several billion dollars without considerable inflationary pressures as
the current ratio of Armenia’s foreign state debt to GDP is one of the
lowest in the world and makes 15%. To recap, by the IMF methodology,
a 45% ratio of foreign debt to GDP is considered dangerous, and,
according to the minister, many countries have no opportunities to
increase their debts.

Addressing the questions and proposals of the meeting participants,
N. Yeritsian said that some structural changes have been launched to
speed up the implementation of the concept of developing the Armenian
IT sector.

According to him, one of the short-term solutions for development of
economic zones with special status is to ensure the use of the Law
on Free Economic Zones at the technopark founded in Gyumri and to
operate enterprises there. Some steps in this sphere are envisaged
by decisions of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission
on economic cooperation: in particular, it is envisaged signing
agreements with such Russian state companies as Rosnanotechnologies
and Rosventure, under which the programs of Sitronix company (Russia)
with the Research Institute of Mathematical Machines after Mergelian
and Mars company will be financed, and in 2009 it will become possible
to create free economic zones on the basis of these subjects.

The minister also announced that the proposal to establish a
representative office of Armenia in Silicon Valley (the proposal was
made at the 2nd ArmTech high-technology congress in Yerevan in early
October) is being implemented.

As regards state assistance to technological small and medium
companies, he said that this problem may be solved by using such
mechanisms as state participation in the capital of companies,
provision of state guarantees and crediting. N. Yeritsian reminded that
in particular, during the investment of state share of 45 million drams
(about 300 thousand USD) in Instigate company by Grant Thornton Amyot
consulting and audit company, the nonfinancial assets of Instigate were
also assessed, and this experience of money attraction may be used
by other companies as well. The minister informed those present that
the concepts of attracting venture financing are also being developed
in cooperation with USAID Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS)
Project. The state is ready to finance up to 20% of venture projects,
and such proposals were made by Lincy Foundation and other financial
structures.

As for diversification of the Internet access in Armenia, the minister
said that after ArmTech congress, the president and prime minister of
Armenia have raised the issue of building an Internet link through
the territory of Turkey for connecting Armenia with the outside
world at all their meetings with officials of the European Union and
EU countries.

It was mentioned that the functions of the Armenian Development
Agency (ADA) are being reviewed with the aim of developing Armenia’s
technological sector, the work of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation
has been put on a more solid basis, with resources of the World Bank
being used. The minister noted that the state will invest money for
promoting the products of the sector’s companies so businessmen should
have long-term initiatives. He attached importance to the business
community’s capacities to formulate and present their problems also
in terms of establishing simplified procedures of technological
equipment’s export, underlining that in case of adopting such a
practice, the issue may be solved in a short period based on only
one decision of the Armenian government.

M. Yeritsian also underlined the necessity to start discussions of tax
legislation-related reforms, adding that the RA ministry of economy
has made an analysis of these reforms.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress