Month: November 2009

AT LEAST IT WON’T GET ANY WORSE THAN THIS: GAGIK MINASYAN ON ECONOMIC CRISIS

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

The current global economic crisis is unprecedented, said the chair of
the National Assembly Standing Committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary
and Economic Affairs, Gagik Minasyan, at a press conference today.

The economic crisis has left a serious mark on different countries and
Armenia, in Minasyan’s words, is no exception. He based his opinion
on the following: "We had predicted a 9.2% economic increase for 2009,
but we anticipate that this year will end with a 15% decline."

This, in the committee chair’s view, proves how deep and immune to
forecasts the crisis really is. Minasyan recalled various authoritative
international bodies who for the past 6 months have changed their
forecasts a few times.

"However, according to economic analysts, we find ourselves at the
base of the economic crisis; that is, any more of a decline is not
expected," believes Minasyan.

There are issues, according to Minasyan, for which there are no
answers, that interfere with making sound predictions for the coming
year. For one thing, it’s not clear for how long we will remain at
the minimum indicator level, and secondly, it’s difficult to say how
the economy will rise.

"One thing is for certain: the decline was more drastic than we
expected," concluded Minasyan.

ONE COULD SAY THERE IS NO BUDGET: ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION REPRESENTATIVE

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, or ARF-D)
parliamentary faction intends to present its own proposals on the
Republic of Armenia 2010 State Budget, member of Standing Committee
on Economic Issues MP Ara Nranyan stated. The discussion of the state
budget is already on the agenda. A number of ministries have presented
their sections of the state financing program.

"We aren’t optimistic. Unfortunately, we see positive inclinations
neither in the budget under discussion nor in the economic policy"
Nranyan stated.

According to the member of parliament, according to law, if the 2010
budget isn’t approved, the budget of the current year will be adopted,
which is "in a better state."

Nranyan said that the government isn’t solving the problems and isn’t
able to overcome the consequences of the crisis. ARF-D’s position on
the issue hasn’t changed: the government is simply playing with time,
until the consequences of the crisis mitigate a little all over the
world, while in developed countries a economic rise is recorded,
which will naturally reflect upon Armenia.

"It turns out that the government, basically closes the year
2009 at the expense of external funds and also pins hope on the
so-called preferential loans coming from abroad, but they are not so
preferential, in fact," Nranyan said.

The analyst also added that the political majority doesn’t approve
the 2010 state budget. But that very majority, according to the MP,
doesn’t vote against it either. "That would mean that the entire
economic policy failed," said Nranyan.

But in Amrenia, according to Nranyan, they don’t admit their own
mistakes. ARF-D representative defined the draft budget in this way:
"One could say, there is no budget."

ARMENIA PREPARED TO FIGHT SWINE FLU, SAYS HEALTHCARE MINSTER

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

Referring to the H1N1 flu virus, Armenian Healthcare Minister
Harutyun Kushkyan, at a press conference today, stated that Armenia
is prepared to combat the virus. The minister stated that Armenia is
provided with pharmaceuticals: At the moment we have 7,500 doses of
the necessary 30,000 dosage Tamiflu vaccine, while 20,000 more doses
will be acquired.

As reported by Tert.am yesterday, the first possible case of swine
flu was recorded a few days ago. The patient was an Iranian citizen
who received treatment and returned to Iran. The minister, in answer
to a question by Tert.am, said that the other two diagnosed cases
were two Armenian citizens who had arrived from Russia two days ago:
they received treatment at the Republican Hospital and their health
condition is stable.

Minister Kushkyan said the cases mentioned above were examined and
diagnosed, but according to the World Health Organization’s procedure,
the organization’s regional centres must also provide their own
diagnosis for suspected cases. The examination results of personal
samples from suspected patients were sent to London and will be ready
in a month.

Kushkyan stated that the Tamiflu vaccine was to be sent to Armenia
at the end of January, but since there are already suspected cases
in the country, they are negotiating with various international
organizations in order to receive the vaccine earlier, so that they
may begin distributing vaccinations.

The healthcare minister once again appealed to the population not
to panic but show vigilance and be careful. Swine flu, according
to Kushkyan, doesn’t differ from other flu viruses and has the same
symptoms as a simple flu. The minister asked the population to go to
their family doctor as soon as symptoms appear.

"Each epidemic has a beginning and an end, and I hope this will end
too and soon we will forget about all this," Kushkyan said.

‘ARMENIA’S ECONOMY ON BRINK OF COLLAPSE,’ SAYS OPPOSITION

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

"Armenia’s economy is standing on the brink of collapse," said Armenian
National Congress (ANC) coordinator Levon Zurabyan at today’s press
conference, adding that an increase in prices is conditioned by an
economic collapse.

Also participating in the press conference were representatives from
ANC’s committee on economic issues, Vahagn Khachatryan and Bagrat
Asatryan, who shared with journalists their opinions on the country’s
current economic situation.

Zurabyan considered the 18% economic decline registered in the country
alarming and unprecedented, adding that the current situation is a
result of the flawed system created in Armenia over the last 11 years.

According to Zurabyan, "thanks to" that system, the business elite
have retreated from the country, competition has all but ceased, and
the only movement in the economy is connected with money transfers
(from those outside the country), which, because of the global economic
slowdown, have drastically declined.

For his part, Asatryan, the former chair of Armenia’s Central Bank,
noted that it’s possible there won’t be any positive developments
in the economy till the end of this year. According to Asatryan,
if there was hope that there would be positive developments in the
fourth quarter, such forecasts, such as the country’s economic decline
will be around 15% by the end of this year, wouldn’t be announced.

In Khachatryan’s opinion, the government’s plan to combat the economic
crisis is ill-conceived, and that perhaps the government doesn’t
understand what situation it has created. He explained it this way:
"The crisis has not affected their personal lives, and perhaps that is
why they don’t understand what situation it [the crisis] has created."

Zurabyan noted that, in order to correct the situation, a "democratic
people’s force" has to confront the country’s governing authorities.

But until then, the Armenian National Congress will prepare and,
in the near future, present to the public an alternative list of
measures in dealing with the global economic crisis.

NO GRADUATES FROM ARMENIAN SCHOOLS IN 2011

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

After signing on to the Bologna Process, serious changes have taken
place in Armenia’s education system.

Armenia has moved on to a 12-month education system, while those
students who enrolled prior to this new system being implemented will
receive their education over a period of 11 months.

The outcome of all of these changes is that in 2011, there won’t be
any graduating students in Armenia. Notably, this issue has become
a hot topic for discussion among parents.

During today’s press conference, Minister of Education and Science
Armen Ashotyan, commenting on this news, noted that "no school,
neither private nor state, will have graduates in 2011."

According to the International Association of Universities (and as
posted on UNESCO’s site), "The Bologna Process is currently the most
important initiative for the reform of higher education in Europe.

Above all, it seeks to provide for an area of enhanced mobility for
students and teachers in an atmosphere of increased transparency and
mutual recognition of qualifications among universities.

"Participants in the Bologna Process seek to forge this transparency
through a common framework based on three distinct levels of study:
Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral. In this way it aims to construct
standard paths towards the achievement of each of these levels so that
national diplomas obtained at each stage of academic progression will
translate directly into a fellow participating country’s structure
of higher education programs."

CHORRORD ISHKHANUTYUN CHECKMATES EVERYONE: MESROP HARUTYUNYAN

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

Committee for the protection of freedom of speech member Mesrop
Harutyunyan circulated a statement "on the ruling of the judge on
Chorrord Ishkhanutyun [a local Armenian paper; "Fourth Authority"
in English] newspaper and its developments." Stating a number of
facts, according to which the judge who made a ruling on Chorrord
Ishkhanutyun case violated the Republic of Armenia Constitution,
Harutyunyan concluded that "by making the above-mentioned ruling,
the judge violated the right to circulate information and the right to
freedom of the press as prescribed by Article 27 of the RA Constitution
and Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as requirement of Article 4
of RA Law on Mass Media, since prohibiting publication of a newspaper
is not foreseen by law, it is not necessary for a democratic public
and doesn’t serve the aims of the RA Constitution and the European
Convention mentioned."

In the postscript of the statement, Harutyunyan states:

"The advantage and progressiveness of RA Law on Mass Media is such that
it renders meaningless suspending or prohibiting the publishing of
any newspaper." Stating that the ‘Media is published and distributed
without preliminary or ongoing state registration, licensing,
state or other body declaration, or any other type of notification’
(Article 4 of the RA Law on Mass Media), the law protects media from
such political persecutions (and no one doubts that the persecution
of Chorrord Ishkhanutyun is political). Since if you prohibit "A"
newspaper from being published, it will immediately be published in
the name of "A+B"; if you prohibit this, on the next day it will
be published in the name of "A+B+C" and so on. This is the simple
democratic right attained by our analysts’ three-month struggle.

"Fortunately, the media knows the law better and Chorrord Ishkhanutyun
editorial staff exercised its legislative right in the best way and
correctly, checkmating both the Gind [another local Armenian paper],
and the judge and those who do his bidding."

US AND RUSSIA WORKING TOGETHER ON ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS: CLINTON

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

US State Secretary Hillary Clinton is satisfied with the course of
Russian-American relations over the last few months. Commenting on
the relations of Moscow and Washington in her interview to NBC’s
Tom Brokaw, Clinton said that she is very satisfied with the results
noticed recently.

"I’m very pleased at what we’ve seen thus far. As we have famously
said, we wanted to reset the relationship, and we wanted to work with
the Russians wherever we could, narrow the areas of disagreement,
stand up where we must against some of what we thought were their
excessive behavior.

"But I think that when it comes to nuclear disarmament, we’re in
the midst of complex, important negotiations over reduction of our
nuclear arsenals. We work together on everything from North Korea to
Armenia and Turkey. I think that they fully appreciate that we’re not
always going to agree, but that at least the Obama Administration,
and certainly the President and myself, are showing them the respect
that they deserve to have and are looking for ways that we can work
together," said the US Secretary of State.

ARMENIA AND HUNGARY SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENTS

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s official visit to Hungary began
today at the invitation of Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom. Since
Armenia’s independence, this is the first state visit to this Central
European country at the presidential level.

The official meeting ceremony between the presidents took place at
Hungary’s presidential palace. Then Sargsyan and Solyom had a private
talk followed by negotiations with other delegates and dignitaries.

President Solyom stated that his country looks to Armenia as an
important partner with whom it’s ready to strengthen bilateral
and multilateral cooperation in the areas of political dialogue,
trade-economic cooperation, humanitarian and other sectors.

The heads of the two countries expressed confidence that the signed
documents and the Armenian-Hungarian business conference opening in
Budapest will trigger a new spark in establishing business contacts
while simultaneously promoting an increase in trade turnover between
Armenia and Hungary.

During the high-level negotiations, Sargsyan informed his Hungarian
colleague about the establishment process of Armenia-Turkey relations
and the present stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process.

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

November 25 till December 10 has been announced as 16 days of activism
to end violence against women and girls. This initiative is organized
by Yerevan’s Women’s Resource Center (WRC), who has a number of events
planned in order to raise awareness on this important issue.

The organizers have planned a march on the day of November 25, on the
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (also
referred to as Gender Violence) designated by the United Nations. The
march will begin at 4:30 pm from Zarubyan 34 and go toward Charles
Aznavour Square (in front of Moscow Cinema) where a candle lighting
ceremony will take place.

According to the event’s Facebook page, created by the WRC: "This
year, we are marching again on the streets of Yerevan and breaking
the silence around violence against women by raising our voice and
concerns on the issue. We will also hold a candle lighting ceremony
in the middle of the city in memory and in support of all the women
and girls violated, battered or harassed in their own homes, in our
institutions or on the streets."

Other events planned leading up to and after the day of the march
include:

November 11-14 and November 20-22: Two 3-day workshops on violence
against women (open to all, places are limited, please call to
register) at the Women’s Resource Center, phone: 010 51 91 68

November 25, 2009: 11 am – 2 pm: Awareness groups stationed in
different parts of the city talking about violence against women 4:30
pm: March towards Charles Aznavour Square and candle lighting ceremony

December 5-8, 2009: Collective Art Exhibition on Violence Against
Women at Moscow Cinema

December 5-6, 2009: Film screening at Moscow Cinema on Violence
Against Women

For more information, please contact the WRC at +374 10 51 91 68.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NOT TORN BETWEEN EAST AND WEST: PRESIDENT GUL ON TURKEY’S FOREIGN POLICY

Tert
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

President Abdullah Gul made it clear on Monday that Turkey’s foreign
policy in the West and in the East are complementary to each other,
not contradictory, reports Turkish news agency Today’s Zaman.

Gul’s remarks came in a speech delivered at an economic summit during
the 25th session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial
Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) in Istanbul.

The speech to a large extent focused on the main aspects of Turkish
foreign policy. Gul apparently used his speech at the summit as an
opportunity to respond to arguments suggesting the presence of a shift
in Turkey’s foreign policy. Some international commentators have argued
that Ankara may be slowly turning its back on its Western allies and
seeking to regain its status as a regional power in the Middle East.

"As a concrete indication showing the evaluation of global developments
and geographical needs together, Turkey is in intense commercial
and economical relations with both the Western world and Islamic
countries. The European Union membership process pursued by our
country and its efforts within COMCEC are complementary elements of
our foreign policy, but are not elements which exclude each other,"
Gul told the gathering in his opening speech.