Month: April 2010

ARTAK SHAKARYAN: ANKARA SEEKS TO KEEP ARMENIA-TURKEY PROCESS HALF ALIVE

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Should Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process fail,
recommencing it will be possible in 5-6 years only, according to
expert Artak Shakaryan.

As he told a news conference in Yerevan, failure of the process will
deteriorate bilateral relations, making the situation even worse that
it was before the signing of Protocols.

Ankara will undertake further steps to drag out the dialogue, being
more interested in the process than in the result. "Ankara seeks to
keep the Armenia-Turkey process half alive. Still, ratifying at least
one of the protocols would be a smart move. Turkey could do so if
only to demonstrate its intention to continue the process," he said,
adding that, obviously, Turkey participates in rapprochement process
while under pressure.

"The outcome of the process mostly depends on the oncoming visit of
Armenian President to Washington in April, where he’ll participate
in global nuclear security summit," the expert noted.

At the same time, Mr. Shakaryan stated that the failure of
Armenia-Turkey reconciliation will not affect Turkey’s bid for EU
membership. "Ankara has too many problems for a closed Armenia-Turkey
border to affect its image," he said.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation. On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional
Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to
the country’s Organic Law.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE ANTI-RACISM COMMISSION VISITS ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 17:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A delegation of the European Commission against
Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) visited Armenia from March 23 to 26,
2010. During its visit, ECRI’s delegation gathered information on the
implementation of the recommendations it made to the authorities in
its 2006 report and discussed new issues that have emerged since.

The delegation held meetings in Yerevan with representatives of all
relevant ministries, public officials and human rights NGOs. It also
visited accommodation centers for asylum-seekers and refugees as well
as neighborhoods and villages with minority population.

Following this visit, ECRI will adopt a report in which it will make a
fresh set of recommendations on measures to be taken by the authorities
to address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, antisemitism
and intolerance in the country. Among these, three will be revisited
in two years’ time as part of an interim follow-up procedure.

In its 2006 report ECRI had deplored the lack of comprehensive civil
and administrative anti-discrimination legislation. ECRI had also
found that the Yezidi minority continued to face problems. Moreover,
ECRI had recommended changes to the law on alternative service,
the CoE communications unit reported.

RADIOLOGICAL CENTER OPENS IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 16:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A radiological center built with the assistance
of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and Yerevan State Medical
University opened in Yerevan on March 31.

In her opening remarks, University rector Gohar Kalyan said that the
center is unique in the South Caucasus. "Three major problems have
been resolved for the past 3 years: a building was built, modern
equipment purchased and specialists trained in the best clinics of
Europe and United States," she said.

The construction cost $4.5 million, of which $1.7 million was provided
by philanthropists Nazar and Artemis Nazarian. At their request,
the center was named after their son, well-known American radiologist
Levon Nazarian. An AMD 2.8 million loan was also made to accomplish
construction and purchase the essential equipment.

After the opening ceremony, attending Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, Minister of Healthcare Harutyun Kushkyan and Minister of
Education and Science Armen Ashotyan saw round the building.

DIAMOND CUTTING INCREASED BY 35% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 17:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Due to the global financial crisis, a significant
recession was recorded in diamond cutting of Armenia. Head of the
Department of Trade and Effective Markets of the RA Ministry of Economy
said that 600 people were employed in this field at the end of 2008,
while their number decreased to 380 people by the end of 2009.

"Taking into consideration the fact that from December 2008 to August
2009 Alros company, from which we are purchasing huge volume of raw
material, suspended the sales and left the market, like many other
raw material supplying companies, the recession becomes explainable,"
Gagik Kocharyan told journalists in Yerevan on March 31. He added
that after the sales restoration from September to December 2009,
21% average monthly increase was recorded.

Mr. Kocharyan also informed that the growth in the field totaled 35%
in January-February 2010, the number of jobs increasing to 735. "60
thousand carats of diamond were imported to Armenia against 10 thousand
carats during the same period of last year," he said.

PROGRESS IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS UNLIKELY

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 16:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Member of the Armenian National Movement board,
RA ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Arzumanian said that if
someone expects progress in Armenian-Turkish relations during the
visit of RA President Serzh Sargsyan to Washington, these expectations
are baseless.

He reiterated that Turkey links the ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols with the Karabakh conflict settlement. "The
Washington meeting will hardly end up by any agreement. Sooner,
a declaration like the Meindorf one, offering nothing, can be signed.

The US can certainly exert pressure on Turkey, but Washington will
never sacrifice its national interests," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANM CONSIDERS EXCHANGE OF TERRITORIES FOR NKR STATUS ACCEPTABLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 17:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Member of the Armenian National Movement board
and former RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Arzumanyan
characterized Madrid Principles as absolutely unsuitable for Armenia;
yet the country’s leadership has already shouldered the responsibility
for the Karabakh conflict resolution and agreed to these principles,
he said. "We consider exchange of some territories, constituting NKR
security zone, for NKR status to be acceptable," Arzumanyan told a
news conference in Yerevan.

TIGRAN DAVTYAN: ARMENIAN ECONOMY IS IN THE STAGE OF STABILIZATION
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
31.03.2010 18:28

According to the decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia,
the social allowances and pensions will increase 3 500 and 2 650 AMD
respectively. Most economists and common citizens say the increase
cannot be sufficient, taking into consideration that the gas price
is going to rise from April 1st.

"The government makes its calculations within the limits of its
capacity, and the financial capacities of the state are reflected
in the state budget," Finance Minister Tigran Davtyan told a press
conference today.

"This year’s macroeconomic indices were a little better, than we
had foreseen in the budget. The budget envisaged a 1.3% GDP growth,
while what we have today is a little higher,’" the Minister said.

According to Tigran Davtyan, the Armenian economy is in the stage of
stabilization and revival today. He predicts that 1-1.5 years will
be needed for full recovery.

ERDOGAN WILL ATTEND NUCLEAR ENERGY SUMMIT IN THE UNITED STATES

armradio.am
31.03.2010 18:44

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend nuclear energy
conference in the United States on April 12-13, APA reports quoting
Sky Turk.

The conference will be hosted by US President Barack Obama. Turkish
ambassador to the United States Namik Tan will return to Washington
a day before the Prime Minister’s visit.

Turkey recalled its ambassador after the approval of the draft
resolution on the Armenian genocide at the US House Committee on
Foreign Affairs. Erdogan said earlier that he wouldn’t attend the
nuclear conference he was invited to.

SARGSYAN-OBAMA-ERDOGAN MEETING MAY TAKE PLACE IN WASHINGTON

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 17:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan will
be in Washington on April 12 and 13 to take part in the international
nuclear security summit, which will also be attended by Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan

According to Sky Turk news agency, Erdogan will arrive in Washington
a day prior to the summit opening. Turkish Ambassador to the US Namik
Tan, who was recalled from Washington on March 4, will accompany the
Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Internethaber news agency reported that Erdogan is expected
to meet US President Obama to discuss the Armenian-Turkish Protocols
on the threshold of April 24.

"In case of a trilateral meeting between Sargsyan, Obama and Erdogan,
the US President will get another opportunity to say that a progress is
fixed in the Armenian-Turkish process and therefore to avoid using
the Genocide term in annual address to the Armenian community,"
the report said.

TIGRAN URIKHANYAN: ARMENIA’S INTERNAL POLICY NEEDS CHANGES

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 17:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s internal policy needs changes, according
to Progressive Party chairman Tigran Urikhanyan.

As he told a news conference in Yerevan, foreign policy is seriously
affecting internal policy in Armenia, which undergoes changes
every day.

Tigran Urikhanyan slammed Armenian government’s activities, noting
that Armenian Prime Minister has to resign.

Dwelling on Armenia-turkey Rapprochement, Urikhanyan said that the
process is linked to Karabakh conflict settlement, though the fact
is not mentioned in Protocols. At the same time he acknowledged to
seeing no pressure on Turkey on behalf of international community.