Month: September 2013

IRAN REITERATES READINESS TO ASSIST IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

September 25, 2013 – 18:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A National Security and Foreign Policy Parliament
Commission member Javad Jahangirzadeh expressed Iran’s readiness to
assist in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, IRNA said.

As the Iranian MP noted during a Baku-hosted meeting with Azeri
parliament speaker Ogtay Asadov, “Tehran is ready to assist in the
settlement of the Kababakh conflict to provide regional security.”

As Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan said in July, “Tehran can assist
in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through improving
ties with Armenia.”

“Baku is wrong in believing that freezing of Tehran-Yerevan ties
will impair Armenian economy, thus promoting the Karabakh conflict
settlement,” Mohsen Pak Ayeen said.

“Despite friendly relations with Azerbaijan, several U.S. states
officially recognized the NKR independence. We believe to be able to
promote Karabakh settlement through improving ties with Armenia.

Moreover, good relations between Yerevan and Tehran prevented the
conflict from assuming a religious nature,” the envoy said.

In conclusion, the ambassador expressed hope for a peaceful settlement
of the issue.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN-GREEK MILITARY COOPERATION STRENGTHENED

15:59, 25 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: A military cooperation agreement
2014 was signed on September 25 in Yerevan between the Ministry
of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of National
Defense of Greece. As reported by Armenpress, highly evaluating the
Armenian-Greek bilateral military relations, the Chief of the General
Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia Yuri Khachaturov
stated that the relations have a history of many years.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Ministry of National Defense
of Greece, the general Michail Kostarakos noted that it is a great
honor for him to be in Armenia. “For me it was a great honor to be
hosted by the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan as
well. I will visit today the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay tribute
to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. My visit proves
the deep routs of the military cooperation between our countries”,
– said Michail Kostarakos.

Earlier Armenpress reported that the Defense Ministry of the Republic
of Armenia had been discussing the issue of including the Armenian
peacekeeping detachment in the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. The
negotiations on including the Armenian detachment in the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were held with the Italian Defense
Ministry and the UN on the structure of the detachment, location,
issues, technical supply and other issues. Since 2012 one officer of
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia has been included in the
UN observation mission in Lebanon.

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia have been participating
in the international peacekeeping missions since 2004. Earlier
they served under the Greek command, but when Greece withdrew its
contingent from Kosovo, a memorandum of understanding was signed
with the American party in 2012 on the re-launch of the Armenian
peacekeepers’ mission. Currently the Armenian peacekeepers serve in
Kosovo in the American unit and in Afghanistan – in the German unit.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

22ND ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATED IN MOSCOW

18:40, 25 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: In Moscow was held official
reception dedicated to 22nd anniversary of Armenia’s Independence in
which took part high-rank officials of Russian state bodies, diplomats,
public and cultural figures and representatives of Armenian community
in Moscow. “Armenpress” was informed from ministry of foreign affairs
that ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Armenia to Russia
Oleg Yesayan in his speech mentioned the importance of Independence Day
in Armenian history. “This glorious event heralded the full return of
Armenian to international political field and became the important
symbol of the unity of our nation,” mentioned the ambassador. In
his speech he also reverberated to Armenian-Russian friendship which
has a history of several centuries and prospects of development of
partnership between the countries.

Deputy foreign affairs minister of Russian federation Grigory Karasin
in his speech highlighted that two friendly nations have rich past
of cooperation and mutual support and the strategic partnership in
state level is continued with high efficiency both during first
years of independence and today about which speak the meetings
between high-rank officials of two countries. According to Karasin
the framework of cooperation between strategic partners is expanded
year by year including new spheres and mechanisms.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

RUSSIAN PM DOES NOT EXCLUDE THAT OTHER COUNTRIES WILL FOLLOW ARMENIA IN JOINING CUSTOMS UNION

20:50, 25 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Prime Minister of Russian Federation
Dmitry Medvedev does not exclude that after Armenia and Kyrgyzstan
other countries will also express wish to join Customs Union.

“You know that there is an application from Armenia. It is possible
that there will be other applications. In any case I want to say that
those decisions refer to managing bodies of Customs Union and economic
issues to leaders of governments and will be accepted in framework of
existing procedures according to existing reality and possibilities,”
mentioned Medvedev, reports “Armenpress”.

He also mentioned that other arrangements are not possible. In his
words about that had been spoken with his Belarusian and Kazakh
partners.

On September 3 in Moscow President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan announced aboutArmenia’s decision to join Customs Union
and implementation of steps necessary for that aim and in future
participating in formation of Eurasian economic union. At the same
time Armenian President mentioned that the decision to join Customs
Union is not a refusal from dialogue with European organizations.

Chief of staff of President’s office Vigen Sargsyan on September
4 announced that pre-signing of Association agreement remains in
Armenia’s agenda.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

PM TO PERSONALLY COORDINATE CUSTOMS UNION ACCESSION TALKS

September 25, 2013 – 19:36 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A committee led by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan was
formed to coordinate activities for Armenia’s accession to the Customs
Union, Haykakan Zhamanak daily said quoting Deputy Economy Minister.

“The committee will focus on the discussion of issues to be agreed
with the Customs Union members,” Karine Minasyan said.

As Zhoghovurd daily reported earlier, citing own sources, upon return
from Sochi, President Serzh Sargsyan instructed to form a group of
economy experts and businessmen to assess economic risks for Armenia
in case of accession to the CU.

The group headed by the president of the Union of Manufacturers and
Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia Arsen Ghazaryan will travel to
Moscow September 25 to discuss usage of mechanisms of the common
customs zone with the board chair of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

“Considering the urgency the group was formed with, it’s probable
that Russia is in a hurry to complete Armenia’s accession to the
Customs Union,” the daily said.

EEC: ABSENCE OF COMMON BORDER BETWEEN ARMENIA, CU NOT PROBLEM

September 25, 2013 – 17:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Absence of a common border between Armenia and the
Customs Union won’t hinder integration with the latter, Director of
the Department of Integration at the Eurasian Economic Commission
(EEC) said.

As Viktor Spassky told a news conference in Moscow, there’re enough
examples in the world with countries affiliated with the same economic
unions despite having no common borders.

According to Spassky there’s no exact date for Armenia’s accession
to the Customs Union, the decision being up to Yerevan.

“It’s hard to guess when Armenia will join the CU, with the speed of
the process depending on Yerevan,” he said.

“There’s a certain procedure to follow in joining the CU, which
includes accepting the basis of the Union as well as the Common
Economic Zone (CEZ) similar to Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.”

“In the CU framework, the country must join 78 normative documents
as well as 17 CEZ describing documents,” he said. “It’s a serious
process, with the ratification to be brought into compliance with
the Armenian legislation.”

As he further noted, in mid 2014 the draft agreement for creation
of the Eurasian Economic Union will be readied, to come into force
starting January 1, 2015.

“Should Armenia complete all internal procedures by then, it may join
EEU as the 4th member state. Also, Armenia has an advantage of being
familiarized with the normative basis in the capacity of the EurAsEc
observer,” he said.

Armenia completed technical talks on a ‘deep and comprehensive
free-trade agreement’ (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set
to be signed at a summit with the EU in late November. In addition
to a free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards the signing
of an association agreement with the EU, a framework agreement on
co-operation that is seen as a first step towards political integration
with the EU.

However, during a Sept 3 meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin, Armenian leader Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs
Union, with further plans to be involved in formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union.

Mr. Putin supported the initiative, voicing readiness to assist Armenia
in the process. He also noted that Russian Railways may invest 15
billion rubles in development of Armenia’s railway network.

The Customs Union was formed in 2010 to include of Belarus, Kazakhstan,
and Russia; Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan later expressed willingness to
join the Union.

ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN CUSTOMS UNION TO INCREASE ITS GDP BY 4-5 PERCENT A YEAR: RUSSIAN EXPERT

YEREVAN, September 26. / ARKA /. According to preliminary estimates,
two years after Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, its GDP will
be increasing by 4-4.5 % annually, according to Yevgeny Vinokurov,
who is the director of the Center for Integration Studies of the
Eurasian Development Bank.

“First of all, Russia will abolish gas export duties for Armenia that
will translate into $140 million of economic effect a year. Second,
Russia will eliminate export duties on rough diamonds – 6.5 %- for
Armenia,” he said during Moscow – Yerevan video news conference.

According to Vinokourov, the accession will also have a beneficial
impact on Armenian migrant labors in Russia as it will increase the
amount of transfers they send home as Russia would abolish quotas
and licenses for them.

Out of $1.7 billion non-commercial remittances sent t Armenia last
year, $1.4 billion came from Russia, more than 85 % of all transfers
or round 15% of Armenia’s GDP, Vinokurov said.

Viktor Spassky, director of the Department of Integration of the
Eurasian Economic Commission, claimed that as much Armenian migrant
labors took home in their pockets.

According to Central Bank of Armenia, $1.687.2 billion, or about 17 %
of Armenia’s GDP were remitted to Armenia in 2012 as non-commercial
transfers, a 9 % rise form 2011.

At the same time, Armenia’s trade with Russia increased last year by
20 %. Moreover, more than 45 % of direct investments in Armenia are
from Russia. There are also Kazakh investments in Armenian banking
sector and Belarus investments in trade.

Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product at market prices last year amounted
to almost 4 trillion drams, resulting in a 7.2 percent economic
expansion.-0-

16:36 25.09.2013

From: A. Papazian

KHOSROV HARUTYUNYAN: ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT HAD ONLY ECONOMIC PURPOSE

14:59 25/09/2013 ” Politics

Armenia chose the Eurasian vector and made a decision to join
the Customs Union taking into consideration the national security
challenges facing the country, Christian Democratic Party leader
Khosrov Harutyunyan told reporters in Yerevan.

“The Turkish-Azeri tandem is the key threat to Armenia’s national
security and the Armenian authorities made such a decision from
national security considerations,” Harutyunyan said.

Regarding the Association Agreement with the European Union, the
politician said that both that Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Agreement had only economic purpose.

“The European Union tried to force Russia out of the region with the
help of Armenia. It expected to have a diplomatic victory. But Russia
is not naïve,” Harutyunyan said.

‘WE AND OUR MOUNTAINS’ MONUMENT REOPENED AFTER RENOVATION

A scene from the reopening ceremony of the monument

STEPANAKERT-On September 25, the President of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan partook in a reopening ceremony for the
renovated “We and Our Mountains” monument – one of the most iconic
symbols of Artsakh – the press office of the Artsakh President
reported.

The President stressed the importance of maintaining national symbols,
hailing the involvement of the Diaspora in the process.

On that note, President Sahakyan expressed gratitude to philanthropist
Karen Avagyoumyan for financing the renovation of the site, considering
his work an ideal method for maintaining strong ties with one’s
historical homeland.

Artsakh’s Vice President Arkady Ghoukasyan, Armenian National
Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, First Lady of Armenia Rita
Sargsyan, Speaker of the Artsakh National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan,
Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan, member of the British House of Lords
Baroness Caroline Cox, Ashot Baghdasaryan, son of the monument’s
architect Sargis Baghdasaryan, officials from Artsakh and Armenia,
and guests from abroad partook in the spirited event.

MANASERYAN: MANY OF OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO LACK OF STATE MARKETING

15:49 25/09/2013 ” Economy

Armenia’s real estate market is overloaded, the construction continues,
the prices are paradoxically high and it is not ruled out that they
will fall abruptly, head of Alternative Research Center, economist
Tatul Manaseryan told a news conference in Yerevan, adding that under
such conditions, the market should respond to the demand.

According to Manaseryan, many of the economic problems in our country
are due to the lack of state marketing.

“But there are state institutions whose duty is to deal with such
issues, in particular the Armenian Development Agency has an obligation
to carry out such functions,” he said.

The economist also said that both export and import have decreased
and the government has much to do in this area.

“Armenia is not attractive for investments, internal investments
are not encouraged. There is no favorable environment for local
businessmen to be more interested to use their capital in Armenia
and there is outflow of capital,” Manaseryan concluded.