Month: November 2009

IMF: SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE ARMENIA
By Meena Thiruvengadam

Wall Street Journal
Nov 2 2009

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)–The International Monetary Fund has reworked
details of a loan agreement with Armenia to speed aid to the country
as it battles a deeper-than-expected downturn.

The changes allow for Armenia to immediately receive an additional
$60 million from its $822.7 million loan facility. The country,
among the hardest hit by the financial crisis in Central Europe,
already has drawn more than $400 million from the facility since it
was approved in March.

"The fall in remittances and the collapse in the construction sector
have caused a more severe economic contraction and lower fiscal revenue
than anticipated," said Takatoshi Kato, IMF deputy managing director
and acting chair.

Armenia is among the central European countries that have come to
rely on an influx of remittances, particularly those from Russia,
to sustain its economy in recent years.

The IMF is expecting Armenia’s economic output could contract by as
much as 15.6% this year.

"The short-term outlook remains challenging," Kato said. "Growth is
expected to resume gradually in 2010, although risks remain."

-By Meena Thiruvengadam, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6629;
[email protected]

TEHRAN READY FOR NEW TALKS WITH IAEA

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2009 22:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran announced its readiness for new talks with IAEA
on the nuclear program, Ali Ashgar Soltani, permanent representative
of Iran to IAEA said. According to him, Tehran demands "fundamental
changes" in the draft agreement on beneficiation of Iran’s uranium
abroad.

He added that the time for talks should be determined by the leadership
of the atomic agency. Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov proposed to convene a meeting of the "six international
mediators" on Iran, Russia media report.

MEDVEDEV & ALIYEV TALKED ON PHONE

news.am
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

November 2, 2009 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had a phone
conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

"The Presidents discussed the prospects of bilateral relations,
as well as Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation issues," Kremlin Press
Service reports.

As NEWS.am reported previously, next day after the Protocols’ signing,
Azerbaijan and Russia eventually signed gas contract, under which
Azerbaijan has to supply 500 million q.m gas a year to Russia.

According to experts, Russia taking advantage of Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations’ tension tries to buy Azerbaijan over. Instead, Russia is
likely to impact Armenia to make concessions in Karabakh issue.

LILIT MKRTCHYAN JOINS TOP-20 WOMEN CHESS PLAYERS

Aysor
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

Neither member of Armenian women’s chess team ranked in the list of
top-10 players that are rated by FIDE by November. Lilit Lazarian
has reached the best result: she seeded 16 on 2492 points. The team’s
leader Elina Danielyan is number 18 on 2487 points. Lilit Galoyan
with her quite successful playing at 2366 points is number 94.

Polgar Judit from Hungary is number one followed by Koneru Humpy from
India and Hou Yifan from China.

PETER SEMNEBY, "REGULATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT ARE DIFFERENT PROCESSES"

ARMENPRESS
Nov 2, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: The regulation of Armenian-Turkish
relations and of Karabakh conflict are two different processes, and
one should not connect them with each other, Special Representative of
European Union to South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated in the interview
to "Vremya Novostey" newspaper.

He noted that the ratification of Armenian-Turkish relations will take
place, as it stems from the benefits of the two countries, "Turkey
has started that process not because it has a kind attitude toward
Armenia, but because it stems from its own interests. This became one
of the examples of Turkey’s policy toward its neighbors. Of course,
for Turkey it is also important to have in the center of its attention
Azerbaijan’s interests, to hear how Azerbaijani people respond and
what they speak, but in the end, the end of the process stems from
the interests of Turkey", the European official said.

According to him, the regulation of relations between Armenia and
Turkey will open new opportunities and will have a favorable impact
in regard of the security of the region, as well as will influence
on economy positively.

Underscoring that one should not connect Armenia-Turkish relations
and Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation with each other, Semneby
said, "these are two different issues; one should not connect them
with each other. Otherwise it is possible to easily appear in such a
situation, when the opportunities of normalizing the relations will
close again. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the development of one
of the mentioned issues affects the general atmosphere. It is necessary
to do so that they influence on each other as positively as possible."

DIARIO ARMENIA: SECOND PROTOCOL DISGRACEFULLY ABSURD

news.am
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

It is difficult to understand some individuals that decided to
consign to oblivion the Armenia people’s greatest tragedy, the
analyst Juan Gabriel Tokatlian says in an article published by Diario
Armenia. What is going on is not a usual thing, and the Armenian
Government’s position on the Genocide committed by Turks from 1915
to 1923 deserves a special analysis.

In this context he singles out negatives and positive premises. Among
the negative ones are the intellectual decline of the ancient people,
opportunistic policy and a potential new traumatic experience. Among
positive premises is the normal wish to get over the tragedy and
reach a true reconciliation of the nations. All the aforementioned
arguments are conducive to the historical facts passing into oblivion.

This unusual situation teaches lessons. Two-year "tactful"
negotiations through Swiss mediation were followed by the signing
of two Armenian-Turkish protocols. The first of them, which deals
with the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, can be
improved and pit into practice. No doubt, the two nations have to
improve their relations sooner or later. The second protocol, which
provides for a scientific study of historical facts and archives by
means of an intergovernmental commission, is unacceptable. The only
historical aspect is the undeniable fact of the Armenian Genocide,
which is common knowledge. It would be tantamount to calling the Jewish
Holocaust into question. This is great regress for the Armenian Cause.

This step does not heal the wounds. We can ask: do we have to prove the
events foreign diplomats, doctors, clergymen, and observers have proved
by having collected numerous facts, pictures, and documentaries? They
are ubiquitous, but the West never properly responded.

The Armenian Diaspora has always been supportive of the Armenian
Government in this matter. The Armenian Genocide has always been of
social, rather than state, nature for the Armenians It has always
been obvious that defending the fact of the Armenian Genocide is
immediately connected with Armenia’s destiny. In this respect, the
second Armenian-Turkish protocol is disgracefully absurd. Not only
does Turkey refuse to admit the Armenian Genocide, but the Armenian
Government is calling the fact into question by its actions, writes
Gabriel Tokatlian.

UIA INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: A NEW BUSINESS CENTER FOR YEREVAN

Constructalia.com
http://www.constructali a.com/en_EN/news/actualidad_detalle.jsp?idDoc=4651 469&idCat=250663&desc=UIA%20international% 20competition:%20a%20new%20business%20center%20for %20Yerevan
Nov 2 2009

The International Union of Architects announces the launch of
an international competition for the design of a prestigious
multifonctional complex in the center of the city Yerevan in Armenia.

Strategically situated in the heart of the capital on a site of over
4 hectares, the complex will include notably an Intercontinental hotel.

This single stage competition is organized by Avangard Motors LLC
in collaboration with the Municipality of Yerevan and the Union of
Architects of Belarus and with the participation of the Armenian
Ministeries of Urban Development and of Diaspora.

In conformity with the UNESCO-UIA regulations, the competition has
been approved by the International Union of Architects.

Jury The international jury is composed of Edward Avetisyan (Russia)
President of Avangard Motors LLc, and Gagik Beglaryan Mayor of Yerevan,
and the following architects: Mkrtich Minasyan, President of the
Union of Architects of the Republic of Armenia, Michael Rotondi (USA),
Kakoto Watanabe (Japan), Enrique Sobejano (Spain), Alexander Korbut,
President of the Union of Architects of the Republic of Belarus.

Prizes: – First place prize – $70 000 USD, as well as, upon the mutual
consent, further cooperation on the development of the project.

– Second place prize – $30 000 USD.

– Third place prize – $15 000 USD.

After the announcement of the competition results, all projects will
be displayed in the exhibition of the "House of Moscow" in Yerevan,
Armenia. Attendance is open to everyone.

Timetable: Deadline for registration – 9 November 2009 (No registration
fee is required).

Deadline for submitting projects – 15 January 2010.

Jury meeting – 22-24 January 2010.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN SAYS ARMENIA UNDERSCORES THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS WITH JAPAN

ARMENPRESS
Nov 2, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan received today newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to
Armenia (residence Moscow) Masaharu Kohno on the occasion of handing
the copies of credentials.

Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Media and Information Department told
Armenpress that congratulating the ambassador on his appointment,
Nalbandyan pointed out that Armenia underscores the development
of relations with Japan, expressing hope that he will have his
contribution to the consolidation of relations between the two
countries and promotion of bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting the sides referred to the activation of political
dialogue, trade-economic and cultural cooperation and opportunities
of implementation of joint investment programs.

Minister Nalbandyan thanked Japan for the support provided to Armenia
since its independence. The interlocutors also exchanged ideas about
Armenian-Turkish relations and Karabakh conflict regulation process.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL-ARMENIANS KAREKIN II AWARDED WITH ST. MESROP MASHTOTS ORDER

ARMENPRESS
Nov 2, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
signed October 30 a decree on awarding Catholicos of All-Armenian
Karekin II with St. Mesrop Mashtots Order for his exclusive
contribution to the preservation and development of spiritual merits,
Armenian presidential press service told Armenpress.

ARMENIA TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON TURKEY

news.am
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

Turkey has never been so active in Karabakh issue before, Hrayr
Karapetyan, Head of RA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, ARF Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD) party member, said
at Nov. 2 press conference in Yerevan.

According to him, Turkish activation is a consequence of the signed
Protocols (Oct. 10 in Zurich). Karapetyan pointed out that RA MFA
should not oppose ARFD stance, on the contrary, it has to clearly state
that under international practice it is unacceptable to condition
normalization of the two states’ relations by the interests of the
third one.

He maintains that all terms set for the normalization process have
expired, and today it is high time to raise a question on employing
sanctions against Turkey as a country having Armenia blockaded.

Karapetyan informed that ARFD keeps on signature-collection against
the Protocols to bring into the Constitutional Court and promised
that the ratification in the Parliament will not be as smooth as some
politicians reckon.