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S. SARGSYAN. "ISSUE OF ALL OF US IS TO CONFRONT EXISTING CHALLENGES BY COOPERATION OF THE STATE AND PRIVATE SECTOR"

ARMENPRESS
Dec 22, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS: On the occasion of New Year and
Christmas Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan called today a reception in
his residence for more than 100 representatives of business community.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that congratulating the
present on the coming New Year and Christmas, the president of the
country said, "We all realize well that the 2009 will be year of hard
work. The issue of all of us is to confront the existing challenges
in close cooperation of the state and private sector and seize the
examination of the time. The success of each of us in his/her field,
in all, is success of all of us."

Remembering old saying "It is hard to be rich in poor country",
Serzh Sargsyan said that "in such cases there is only one solution –
enrich and strengthen the country".

Armenian president wished the businessmen success, high mood and
effective work in the coming year.

FREDERICK STARR: "IT IS OBVIOUS THAT RUSSIA ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE THE MINSK PROCESS WITH THE MOSCOW PROCESS"

Today.Az
olitics/49731.html
Dec 22 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Frederick Starr, head of the Institute of
Central Asia and Caucasus of John Hopkins University.

– What is the reason of the intensification of Russia’s role in the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict, which led to signing of the
Moscow declaration?

– It is quite obvious that despite official statements, Moscow tries to
replace the Minsk process with the Moscow process. But such a conduct
remained in the past and I think that Russia has more urgent problems
on which it should focus its attention.

– How serious can changes in the relations between Russia and the
United States be following the events in Georgia?

– Most expect profound changes in the relations between Moscow and
the United States. I consider these expectations to be mistaken. The
relations will develop in the evolutionary manner. No doubts that the
United States have ground to support good relations with Moscow. It
will not be conducted to damage the interests of our friends in the
Caucasus. I think ignoring these interests in relations with Moscow
would become the worst mistake for Washington. This is what Europeans
do, who use the Caucasus states as a trading object in the relations
with Moscow. I hope that in the future the United States will still
treat Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia as legal objects not as a token
money in the geopolitical game.

– Can the differences between Russia and the United States, as the
OSCE MG states, influence on the Karabakh resolution?

– I was initially confident about the ineffectiveness of the Minsk
process, as Russia on many aspects was the conflict participant and
now it offers mediation services. I do not know which progress it will
lead to, but it is clear to me that the Minsk Group has previously
failed. All parties are aware that it will lead to nothing. Certainly,
Russia has an opportunity to settle the Karabakh problem, but if it
illegally supplies Armenia with arms for $1 bln it creates problems.

Moscow is interested in preservation of the quo status. Russia must
realize that the careless policy towards neighbors and the world
community will lead to nothing and it must behave as a responsible
modern force. Other imprtant members of the world community do not
intend to build a Great Chinese Wall between the Russian actions in
the Caucasus and their readiness to cooperate with Russia.

But until Russia changes its policy in the Caucasus, there will be
suspicion and distrust in the relations with this country. I imply
not only the United States and Europe, but also China, which is also
resented over Russia’s behavior in Georgia. Moreover, all the Central
Asian States are quite strong to show their resentment which will be
possible under Beijing’s support.

– What do you think about Ankara’s actions in the resolution of
problems in the Caucasus and its Initiative of the Caucasus Stability
and Security Platform?

– I took a particular interest in Turkey’s initiative in this
direction. At the same time, I am anxious that Ankara may have the
intention of settling the "Armenian genocide" issue at the cost of
Karabakh. I sincerely believe that I am mistaken. I hope Turkey will
soon make a clear statement on this issue. Otherwise, there may appear
grounds for concern.

ARMENIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH – 7,2 PERCENT
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
23/12/2008

Rate of growth decreased

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the Armenian
economic growth in January-November of this year was 7,2 percent
compared with the same period of last year.

GDP was AMD 3 trillion 290 billion. It’s worth to mention that almost
all the indexes of November decreased (compared with October). It’s not
a secret that it is conditioned by the impact of the world economic
crisis on the main economy branches of Armenia (mining industry,
construction, etc.).

Mainly, 1,6 percent of growth in construction is recorded. The growth
rate in the sphere of services remained high – 13,3 percent.

Industry increased by 2,9 percent (1,6 percent without energy). Here
we should mention about the forced truancies in 3 big mining industry
plants (Alaverdi, Agarak and Kapan conglomerates).

Electric energy production increased by 5 percent.

Gross agriculture output had a little growth in January-November –
0,1 percent, the retail trade turnover – 6,2 percent.

External trade turnover increased by 27,6 percent to approximately
USD 4 billion 992 million.

Export volumes decreased by 4,5 percent to USD 1 billion 7 million.

Import increased by 39,5 percent to USD 3 billion 985 million. It’s
worth to mention that the growth rate of import decreased by 10
percent in November (compared with October).

The negative balance of export-import was USD 3 billion 978 million.

The average monthly nominal wage in Armenia was USD 89 thousand (in
the private sector- about AMD 111 thousand, in the public sector –
about AMD 63 thousand).

The average growth in wages is recorded 18,8 percent compared with
the same period of last year.

DIRECTOR OF POLITICAL ECONOMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE: NO REAL PROGRESS IN TURKEY’S RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EXPECTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE

ArmInfo
2008-12-22 18:18:00

To all appearances, the Armenian Genocide will not be recognized
by Turkey in the near future due to the powerful oil lobby there at
least, Director of the Political Economy Research Institute Andranik
Tevanyan told ArmInfo corespondent when commenting on the apology
campaign initiated by Turkey.

"The official stance of Ankara stressed for several times is that it
will not open the border with Armenia until the Karabakh conflict is
settled in Azerbaijan’s favor. So, no real progress is most likely
expected in this issue in the near future",- the expert said.

He added that real discussion is currently being held in Turkey on the
issue that Turkey’s past should be "edited". "At the moment, there are
two conceptions in Turkey: liberal and fundamental. I think that only
liberal Turkey may recognize the Genocide, establish normal relations
with its neighbors and integrate into Europe. But on the other hand,
if Turkey becomes a liberal state, this may shake its foundations as
independent Kurdistan will be created, the Armenian Issue and many
other issues will arise. One can draw an analogy with the Soviet
Union as Turkey, like the Soviet Union, is a kind of empire. If
"their Gorbachyov" comes to power in Turkey and catalyzes all these
processes, Turkey may simply disappear. And if someone like Andropov
comes to power and the conception of the "steady hand" is established,
which doesn’t accept its past, Turkey will have to fight with the whole
West and may simply fail to stand this fight",- Tevanyan concluded.

"PISCES" COMMEMORATIVE GOLDEN COIN INTRODUCED IN ARMENIA

ARKA
Dec 22, 2008
YEREVAN

The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) put into circulation "Pisces"
commemorative golden coins, the CBA press-service told ARKA News
Agency on Monday. The coin has been issued in the scope of Zodiacal
Signs international numismatic program.

According to the press release, the CBA issued 10,000 coins with
10,000AMD nominal value each.

The coin made of pure gold weighs 8.6 grams and is 22mm in diameter.

The national emblem of Armenia is on the obverse of the coin with
the value underneath both in Armenian and English. The year of issue
("2008") is specified above the Emblem.

All 12 zodiacal signs are represented in the middle circle.

Zodiacal "Pisces" are at the coin reverse against the background of
sky of stars.

The coin has been minted by the Polish Mint. The coin outlines are
made by designer Ursula Valezhak.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Secular Turks facing discrimination
20.12.2008 12:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A report in Turkey has highlighted "very worrying"
evidence of increased discrimination against secular Turks. The study,
called "Being Different in Turkey", links this directly to the
presence of the religious conservative AK Party in government. It
details widespread social pressure on non-devout Muslims to attend
Friday prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan or wear a
headscarf. It was conducted by the Open Society Institute and
Bosphorus University.

It suggests that a government policy of making appointments to local
administrations on the basis of political and religious beliefs,
rather than competence, is forcing non-devout Turks to change their
habits in order to protect their business or their jobs.

The AK Party has its roots in Political Islam, but has always insisted
its views have changed.

Last year, the party survived an attempt to close it down, as a threat
to Turkey’s strict secular system.

The study documents what many secular Turks have complained about in
the years since the AK Party came to power. Based on interviews with
almost 5,000 secular Turks, Alevites and Christians in 12 cities, it
concludes that religious conservatism is flourishing, breeding
increasing intolerance of those outside the Sunni Muslim majority. It
claims that the appointment of AK Party devotees to local
administrations, schools and hospitals is changing the social
atmosphere in Turkey in what it calls a very worrying way.

The report cites page upon page of examples: non-religious nurses put
on permanent night shift; landlords refusing to take female student
tenants unless they wear a headscarf; secular civil servants bypassed
for promotion. It talks of increased social pressure to attend Friday
prayers and fast during Ramadan, and documents the difficulty in many
cities of obtaining licenses to sell alcohol.

The report’s authors accept that much of the Turkish heartland has
always been socially conservative. But they blame the AK Party for
failing to promote tolerance for other groups’ rights and freedoms
while in government. Instead, the government’s practices have had
quite the opposite effect, BBC reports.

President of Armenia attended the unofficial summit of Heads of State
in Kazakhstan

armradio.am
20.12.2008 12:33

At the invitation of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev,
the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan visited Kazakhstan to
participate in the unofficial summit of the Heads of State of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The summit, attended by the Presidents of Armenia, the Russian
Federation, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, was held at the
Shuchini-Borovi winter resort near Kokchetau town.

Prior to the opening of the unofficial summit, President Serzh Sargsyan
had a short meeting with the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan
Nazarbaev. At the meeting the two sides hailed the current high level
of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with the level of the
political dialogue. The Presidents of the two states underscored the
role of the Armenian-Kazakh Diaspora in strengthening the bilateral
relations.

Serzh Sargsyan and Nursultan Nazarbaev stressed the importance of
further developing the economic relations, noting that the envisaged
new railroads would promote and foster the growth of the trade
turnover.

The unofficial summit of the Heads of state started shortly after the
meeting.

The agenda of the summit comprised issues related to the cooperation in
the framework of the CSTO and the prospects of the organization, global
financial crisis, as well as issues related to the integration
processes in the CIS area.

The President of Armenia, Chairman of the CSTO Council of the Heads of
State, Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the idea to convene the unofficial
summit and noted that the agenda includes issues which were significant
for Armenia. The participants to the summit concurred that interaction
in this format provides a good opportunity to look at the agenda issues
from different points of view and to discuss a wide range of topics.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION FIGURES ON TRIAL OVER "COUP ATTEMPT"

Dec 19 2008
Turkey

A former Armenian foreign minister and six other opposition figures
went on trial in Yerevan on Friday on charges of seeking to overthrow
the government during protests in March.

Ten people died when protests against the results of presidential
elections in the former Soviet republic turned violent.

The opposition says the trial of former foreign minister Alexander
Arzumanyan and his co-accused is politically motivated, and complain
the government has done little to investigate allegations of police
culpability.

Rights groups and the Council of Europe voiced concern after the
government imposed a state of emergency and arrested over 100 people
after the protests. The opposition said the vote, won by Serzh
Sarksyan, was rigged.

Arzumanyan, a foreign minister in the late 1990s, was campaign chief
for opposition presidential challenger Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Arzumanyan
was detained in March and charged with "usurpation of state power"
and organising the unrest.

"The case is sufficiently proven by the evidence of 500 witnesses,
civilians as well as police officers," chief investigator Vahagn
Harutyunyan told Reuters.

"We have records of telephone conversations, private video
recordings and television footage, and public speeches by opposition
representatives."

Ter-Petrosyan has not been officially charged with any connection to
the unrest.

Arzumanyan’s lawyer said the case was "false".

"No one among those charged did anything to violate public order,"
Hovik Arsenyan told Reuters.

More than 100 opposition supporters gathered outside the court on
Friday as the trial got under Way, chanting "We are with you" and
"We’ll free you".

Of 140 people charged over the violence, 101 have been convicted,
of which 52 received jail sentences.

ARONYAN DEFEATED HIS UKRAINIAN RIVAL

Panorama.am
19:00 18/12/2008

The Super GM Tournament in Nanjing, China continues. In the seventh
round Armenian chess player Levon Aronyan met with Ukrainian Vassily
Ivanchuk. In the 39th step Aronyan defeated his rival. One of the
leaders of the tournament Bu Xiantszin met with Vesselin Topalov
and their game ended in draw. Armenian Sergey Movsisyan who presents
Slovakia was defeated by Peter Svidler.

Still Aronyan needs to gain half point to recover his status of leader
of the tournament.

In FIDE "Grand Prix" Armenian chess player Vladimir Hakobyan again
ended his game in draw. This time Hakobyan’s rival was Azeri Vugar
Gashimov.

E. SHARMAZANOV: "ARMENIA NOT WORTHY OF BEING SUSPENDED OF VOTING RIGHT"

Panorama.am
16:22 18/12/2008

Edward Sharmazanov, a member of Republican Fraction of National
Assembly, said that it was "unfavorable" for Armenia. "I don’t think
that Armenia is one of the members of Council of Europe where human
rights are in extremely bad situation. To compare we can see that
in these recent months some positive changes have been made. And the
Monitoring Committee has also notified it," said E. Sharmazanov.

"Our European colleagues should be aware of the fact that putting
sanctions country is not democratized," he said. E. Sharmazanov hopes
that when in January the co-rapporteurs arrive in Armenia, they will
see that "problems have become less in Armenia".

To Panorama.am question whether the arrested of "March 1" would be
set free, as according to the PACE report "persons could be charged
and deprived of their liberty for political motivation in Armenia",
E. Sharmazanov did not give a definite answer. "Problems are not
solved in one day. After March 1 the atmosphere of trust has been
increased and not reduced," he said.