Month: September 2013

ARMENIA IMPROVES ITS POSITION IN GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS INDEX BY THREE NOTCHES

YEREVAN, September 5. / ARKA /. Armenia’s ranking in the World Economic
Forum’s global competitiveness index in 2013 has edged up three notches
to the 79th position among 148 surveyed nations, according to Manuk
Yergnyan, head of Yerevan-based Economy and Values research center.

The previous report included 144 nations. The Index is based on
measures of 12 basic pillars such as institutions, infrastructure,
and the macroeconomic environment.

According to Yergnyan, in 2013 Armenia has returned to where it
was back in 2005, when it was first surveyed. Yerganyan said the
report notes that Armenia is in the transition from a resource-based
development stage to productivity increase stage.

In terms of macro-economic environment, efficiency of goods market,
technological training, improvement of entrepreneurship Armenia
registered improvement from one to 20 points.

Yergnyan said in terms of inflation Armenia has improved its position
by 104 points due to the fact that in 2011 the average inflation rate
was 7.7 %, securing the country the 105th position among 142 countries,
and in 2012 the figure was 2.5 %, which allowed Armenia to move to
the first group of countries with the rate of inflation up to 2.9 %.

Armenia has worsened its position in terms of such indicators as
productivity of the labor market, dropping 20 points to 50th position
and the availability of credits (a decline of 19 points).

“With regard to the labor market, the deterioration index was mainly
due to the improvement of the position of other countries. In assessing
the credit availability the report considered the process of granting
loans to enterprises on the basis of a survey of company managers,”,
Yergnayn said.

Armenia’s position deteriorated in health and primary education, higher
education and training, market size, salary payment flexibility,
intensity of personnel training, misuse of government funds,
availability of research and service for retraining.

The list of the most competitive countries has not changed. It is
topped by Switzerland, followed by Singapore, Finland, Germany and
the USA.

In he CIS, Armenia is ahead of only Moldova (89th) and Kyrgyzstan
(121st). Azerbaijan is on the 39th position, Kazakhstan is 50th,
Russia is 64th, Ukraine is 84th and Georgia is 72nd.

The Global Competitiveness Report is compiled on the basis of
statistical data and surveys among businesses. This year’s survey
involved senior executives of some 100 Armenian small and medium
businesses. —0—

HOVER CHAMBER CHOIR TO PERFORM IN BELGIUM

10:58, 5 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Hover Chamber Choir, which has
recently returned from Taiwan International Festival, is preparing
to win the hearts of the Belgians. Besides, the Armenian fans will
be provided with the opportunity to enjoy numerous premieres and
surprises by the end of the year of 2013, about which Armenpress was
informed by the Artistic Director of the Choir Sona Hovhannisyan.

– Hover Chamber Choir has recently participated in the Artsvaberd
opera premiere held in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. What do you
and the members of the Choir feel after the performance in Shushi?

– We returned from Artsakh two days ago. It was a perfect initiative.

You can watch the results on September 20 by the Public Television.

Such events in Shushi are being held quite seldom, unfortunately. The
people were very enthusiastic and happy.

– In August the Choir performed in Taiwan…

– In the beginning of August we took part in the Taiwan International
Festival. It was very well organized event. We have very good memories
connected with Taiwan. Our 9-members choir performed four concerts
there. We tried to introduce our modern music to the foreign audience.

During the Festival it was noted that our music is unique and differs
from the ones of the other cultures. We got stormy and warm reception,
as well as we got new invitations to participate in other events.

– What concerts are you preparing for now? Dou you have tours in the
nearest future?

– On September 17 we will perform spiritual music in the framework of
the “100 concerts commemorating victims of the Armenian Genocide”. On
September 26 we are leaving for Belgium to participate in a festival,
where we will present only Armenian spiritual music. By the end of
the current year we will have several concerts in Armenia. On December
12-19 we will leave for France and will hold three concerts there.

(THE FULL INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Interviewed by Roza Grigoryan

Photos by Felix Arustamyan

The Armenian word Hover (wind) frequently occurs in beautiful folk
songs by Komitas, a revered name in Armenian sacred and folk music,
which is part of the choir’s core repertoire. Wind is a primordial
element of nature and a life force – it is part of the ‘ecology of
the soul’, a spirit sweeping through time and, like an epic, legend
or tale.

This youthful, musically progressive chamber choir is proud to be
able to present Armenian music to the wider world. Both old and new
music from the Armenian nation has been a very well-kept secret. Hover
has been privileged to be able to be one of the most active Chamber
choirs in promoting Armenian music and the wealth of treasure with
which this beholds.

The internationally acclaimed, award-winning Hover: Chamber Choir of
Armenia was established in Yerevan, Armenia in 1992 as a performing
arts group, consisting of 26 singers many of whom are students,
or graduates, of the Komitas National Conservatory in Yerevan, Armenia.

The choir is supported by donations and honoraria. The tale of Hover
began over ten years ago, and continues to evolve.

Hover is a musical ambassador for Armenia and Armenian music, winning
diplomas at the International Polyphonic Music Festival in Arezzo,
Italy in 1997 and the International Competition in Tours, France as
well as the gold medal at the International Choir Olympiad in Linz,
Austria in 2000. In September 2003 Hover toured Great Britain,
presenting concerts in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cambridge and London.

Among the major works it has performed in the past five years
are Bach’s St John and St. Matthew Passions, Britten’s Cantata
Misericordia, Buxtehude’s Magnificat, Ludwig Basil’s setting of St.

Gregory of Narek’s Book of Lamentations, Requiems by Mozart and
Cherubini, Avet Terteryan’s Sixth Symphony, as well as numerous
collections of Armenian sacred and folk music.

2003, Hover present Armenian music to the general public of the
United Kingdom, singing in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cambridge and London
to critical acclaim.

In 2003 Hover performed “Six Fables,” a choral performance of Armenian
fabulist Vardan Aigektsi’s Fables composed by Stepan Babatorosyan,
which has been characterized as a new genre in music culture.

2002, Hover performed with the renowned London Sinfonietta, singing
in the world premiere of Stephan Rostomyan’s ‘Entrance’, conducted
by Diego Masson.

2001, the male staff of Hover were recorded for the soundtrack of
the eminent Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s movie, “Ararat”.

Music critics in Armenia, Russia, France, Italy, Austria and the
United Kingdom have praised Hover for its timbre, precision and
sophisticated handling of close harmonies and complex rhythms of
Armenian, classical and especially modern works. The choir has a rich
and varied repertoire of Armenia and Western sacred and classical
works, folk songs and popular music. Hover’s youthful energy and new
genres make an immediate connection with the larger listening public.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN FRANCOPHONE GAMES 2013

11:56, 5 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: The 7th Francophone Games 2013 will
be held in Nice, France on September 7-15, attended by the Armenian
delegation as well. This was reported to Armenpress by the Department
for Mass Media and Public Relations of the Ministry of Sport and
Youth Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian delegation
will be headed by the Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of
the Republic of Armenia Arev Samuelyan.

At the Francophone Games 2013 the Republic of Armenia will be
represented by 22 sportsmen. In 2013 our country will be represented
by 6 sportsmen in athletics, 2 table tennis players, 5 highway cyclers,
6 freestyle wrestlers and 6 judo wrestlers.

From: Baghdasarian

17-CENTURY BIBLE TO BE EXHIBITED IN DIYARBEKIR ST. GIRAGOS CHURCH

– September 4, 2013

ARMENPRESS: The 17-century Bible will be exhibited in the Armenian
Saint Giragos Church of Diyarbekir, donated by the famous Turkish
writer of Armenian decent Mkrtich Markosyan. As reported by Armenpress,
the writer stated to the Agos Newspaper that he found the Bible 12
years ago in a stack of papers at the toilet of the abandoned Saint
Giragos Church.

According to Mkrtich Markosyan, the Bible was published in 1960
at the Venice’s San Lazzaro Temple. “I kept it very carefully. And
now, when I found out that an Armenian Museum is being opened at the
Saint Giragos Church of Diyarbekir, I decided to donate the Bible to
the museum. The most important thing is that it has survived and is
returning home”, – said the Armenian writer.

A section of the Armenian Saint Giragos Church in Turkey’s Diyarbekir
will be turned into a museum, where items belonging to Armenians will
be displayed.

MARTIROSIAN: ARMENIA HAS JOINED UNION OF AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES

“A process – in which neither political forces nor the public
participated so as to legitimize it – has taken place,” the deputy
chairman of Heritage Party Armen Martirosian said at a meeting with
reporters today, when commenting on Armenia’s decision to join the
Customs Union.

“If Armenia was pressurized and forced to join the Customs Union,
it means that in the future we will be nothing,” Martirosian said.

According to him, there was a similar situation in Armenia at the
beginning of the 20th century when Turkey and Russia reached an
agreement and the Armenians lost Western Armenia and Nakhijevan and
managed to keep Syunik thanks to the struggle led by Garegin Nzhdeh.

“In terms of the system of government, we have joined a union of
authoritarian regimes,” Martirosian noted.

In his words, Russia is one of the most corrupt states in the world
and the strengthening of oligarchy and monopolies will continue in
Armenia – the same processes that happen in Russia.

Armen Martirosian stressed that Armenia has for several years conducted
negotiations with the European Union and Europeans immediately reacted
to Armenia’s latest decision, noting that it is not a game.

Martirosian expressed an opinion that Armenia will turn from a
semi-independent country into a fully dependent territory and half
of its population will emigrate to the metropolitan country – Russia,
while youths will move to Western Europe.

ARZUMANIAN: AFTER MANY YEARS OF TALKS, SUCH TURN OF EVENTS INEXPLICABLE

“We really need explanations since following the talks held in the
past 3.5 years, such a turn of events is inexplicable,” parliamentary
deputy, former Foreign Minister of Armenia Alexander Arzumanain told
reporters today.

According to him, the statement made by Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan in Moscow has brought the principle of ‘and-and’ to naught.

Arzumanian said the European Union has not yet made a decision,
whereas the first reaction came from the countries which were the
initiators of Eastern Partnership Program.

“These are Poland, Baltic and Scandinavian states. It is no accident
that foreign ministers of those countries have issued a statement
that rules out the signing of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
Agreement with Armenia in case our country joins the Customs Union,”
the deputy said.

In the opinion of Arzumanian, if prior to the Eastern Partnership
summit to be held in Vilnius, Armenia signs any document about joining
the Customs Union , the initialing of the Association Agreement with
the EU will come under threat.

Alexander Arzumanian said that the European Union’s statements show
that the EU has been perplexed, while Russia is exerting similar
pressure on Ukraine and Moldova, although Ukraine has made statements
to the effect that it will never sign an agreement on joining the
Customs Union, and Ukraine is much more important to the EU than
Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA, GEORGIA AND THE CUSTOMS UNION

18:54 05.09.2013
Armenia, Customs Union, Georgia

Gita Elibekyan
“Radiolur”

Armenia could have problems with Georgia after joining the Russia-led
Customs Union, taking into consideration the free trade agreement
between the two countries, some Georgian politicians say. At the same
time, they consider that Armenia and Georgia are able to find a rapid
solution to all merging problems.

As for the perspectives of Georgia’s membership in the Customs Union,
experts say its hardly possible and consider that yesterday’s statement
of PM Bidzina Ivanishvili was a gesture to Russia.

One day after Armenia said it will join Russia’s Eurasian Union,
Georgia’s PM said it might, in due course, do the same. The remark
puzzle d the Georgian politicians and analysts. The issue of joining
the Customs Union had never been considered in Georgia before.

However, some politicians, mostly from the opposition, consider that
the PM’s statement puts the issue on the agenda.

Representative of President Mikhail Saakashvili’s United National
Movement Party David Darchiashvili says there could be two explanations
to Ivanishvili’s statement. “First, it may be the result of lack of
experience. Second, there could be a force behind these words trying
to change the political course of the country.”

Members of the Prime Minister’s Georgian Dream bloc view the statement
as a step targeted at improving the relations with Russia. One of the
leaders of the Republican Party Levan Berdenishvili noted that “PM
Ivanishvili says we can discuss all unions, but that does not mean
we’re going to join them.” “Besides, the Prime Minister is leaving
politics,” he added.

“As member of the Georgian Parliament, I declare that Georgia does
not have the intention to join the Customs Union or the Eurasian Union.

Georgia opts for the EU and NATO,” he told Public Radio of Armenia. He
added that the situation with Armenia is unique, and this should be
taken into consideration.

Both MPs consider that Armenia could have certain problems with
Georgia by joining the Customs Union. The two neighboring countries
have a free trade agreement and a number of other agreements providing
for favorable conditions for the development of economic ties. They
believe, however, that all problems will be solved after some changes
are implemented.

“I’m sure there should be no problems between Armenia and Georgia.

We’ll solve them thanks to our friendship. Irrespective of the fact
which unions our countries join, we’ll remain friends and will do our
best to maintain good economic relations,” Levan Berdenishvili said.

Director of the Center for EU Studies Kakha Gogolashvili says the free
trade between Armenia and Georgia may continue if the Customs Union
allows Armenia to maintain free trade regime with certain countries.

“Whatever, all this will have no impact on the process of shipment
of Armenian cargoes through Georgia,” he said.

RUSSIAN DIRECT INVESTMENTS MAKE UP 39.5% OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS INTO ARMENIA’S ECONOMY

YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. Russia’s direct investments make up
39.5% of foreign direct investments into Armenia’s economy, Evgeny
Vinokurov, the head of the Eurasian Bank’s Center for Integration
Studies, said in an interview with ARKA News Agency.

He said the direct investments of Customs Union member countries in
Armenia almost fully consist of Russian investments, which amounted
to $1.93 billion in late 2012.

Kazakhstan and Belarus’ direct investments in Armenia’s economy total
$13 million.

“The amount of Russian investments in Armenia is significant
especially given that Armenia is the country with ninth largest GDP
in the Commonwealth of Independent States plus Georgia and the fifth
country for its accumulated Russian investments in the region. Russia
is Armenia’s largest investor,” Vinokurov said in his interview.

He said Russian direct investments in Armenia are intended for
modernization of backbone sectors of the economy – railways, gas
transportation, electric energy, nonferrous metals industry, banking
and insurance as well as mobile telecommunication, Internet and data
transmission. —0—-

19:40 05.09.2013

From: Baghdasarian

ANDREY KOKOSHIN: “EURASIAN INTEGRATION IS NECESSARY”

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 5 2013

The statement announced during the Russian-Armenian summit on Yerevan’s
decision to join the Customs Union and take part in establishing
the Eurasian integration process caused discussion on importance of
integration projects. Ahead of the G20 summit in St.

Petersburg the dean of the World Politics Department of MSU, Andrey
Kokoshin, told Vestnik Kavkaza about prospects of G20 and the Eurasian
project.

RUSSIAN PRESSURE UPON ARMENIA WILL DRAW EU RESPONSE – LITHUANIAN MEPS

Baltic News Service / – BNS
September 4, 2013 Wednesday 11:04 AM EET

VILNIUS, Sep 04, BNS – The European Parliament (EP) may adopt a
resolution on Russian pressure upon post-Soviet countries involved
in the European Union’s (EP) Eastern Partnership program, Lithuanian
members of the EP told BNS.

“During a meeting in Strasbourg next week, we should adopt a resolution
on Russian pressure upon Eastern Partnership countries,” said
Lithuanian MEP Laima Andrikiene of the European People’s Party group.

She attended meetings between MEPs and representatives of EU
delegations and special representatives on Tuesday.

In her words, the meetings addressed the Armenian decision to join
the Russian-led Customs Union, thus thwarting its hopes of signing
the Free Trade Agreement with the EU.

“Of course, there will be response from the EU, however, if this is
followed through, it will have very serious consequences for Armenia,”
said the MEP.

In Andrikiene’s words, the Russian actions can be viewed as pressure
upon the EU.

“By pressing Armenia into joining the Customs Union, Russia does not
act against the Eastern Partners countries but against the whole
EU, as the Eastern Partnership policies are among the EU’s most
active policies and one of the banners of EU’s foreign policies,”
she told BNS.

Social Democrat MEP Zigmantas Balcytis, a member of the EP Socialist
group, maintains that Armenia’s decision on the Customs Union and
possible pressure on Russia’s side will not go unanswered by the EU.

“I believe the issue will be included into the EP Strasbourg plenary
session,” he added.

“The event, which brings major changes to preliminary agreements and,
in the end, the essence of Eastern Partnership – extensive efforts
may be made, however, things can change overnight,” Balcytis told BNS.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsian announced the plans of joining
the Customs Union on Tuesday after meeting with Russian President
Vladimir Putin. Putin emphasized Russia will provide “full support
to the process.”

Armenia was initially expected to initial the Association and Free
Trade Agreement with the EU during the Eastern Partnership summit in
Vilnius in the end of November.

From: A. Papazian