Author: Andres-Papazian

SETA: 73,9% OF TURKEY’S POPULATION NEGATIVE TOWARDS ARMENIANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 – 13:48 AMT

According to a poll conducted by the Foundation for Political,
Economic and Social Research (SETA), 73,9% of Turkey’s population
are negatively disposed towards Armenians.

33,2% of those polled expressed their dislike for Arabs, 39% spoke
in their favor. 64,8% of Turks dislike Americans. 40% of the younger
generation were positive towards the Europeans, while those aged
above 61 spoke negatively of them.

57,1% of those polled favor Azerbaijanis, 37% – Chinese, 31% –
Iranians. 71.5%, 67% and 51,7% of those polled are negatively disposed
towards the Jews, Greeks and Russians respectively.

From: A. Papazian

110 THOUSAND TO BOOST THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERATURE
Sona Hakobyan

“Radiolur”
03.05.2011 17:31

The third “I’m a friend of the book” telethon was held on April 30.

Such telethons take place once in four years. This year the main
emphasizes was put on issues of publishing.

President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan says that
the telethon was a unique survey that helped find out the current
level of reading.

According to preliminary results, about 400 people participated in
the event. Although the figures are not final, the donations are
estimated at the level of $110 thousand. Large donations have been
made by some schools and a number of officials.

From: A. Papazian

14.5 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:23:38 – 03/05/2011

The leader of the People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan today criticized
the Armenian National Congress (HAK) for reneging on its principles
and fundamental demands. He says the HAK has reached agreement with
the government on sharing parliament seats, namely HAK will get not
more than 15 seats. Tigran Karapetyan says there will be 14.5 members
of the All-Armenian Movement, and the half member of parliament is,
according to him, Stepan Demirchyan.

Tigran Karapetyan says the HAK and the government fear losing control
over the situation, therefore the HAK does not take decisive steps.

Tigran Karapetyan says in Armenia a huge mass of people supports
neither Serzh Sargsyan nor Levon Ter-Petrosyan. These people will vote
for him, the forces which neither lied nor falsified, he says. As
to the declining number of people attending his rallies, Karapetyan
says the former deputy prosecutor general Gagik Jhangiryan, member of
the HAK, spreads rumors that Karapetyan received 50,000 dollars from
Serzh Sargsyan, bewildering people. He denies receiving any money,
retorting that the Congress received money from the government.

From: A. Papazian

ARKA NEWS AGENCY’ ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-CLASS INTERNET-BASED MODERN BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC MEDIA IN ARMENIA HARD TO OVERESTIMATE

/ARKA/
May 2, 2011
YEREVAN

In his congratulatory message on the occasion of the 15-th anniversary
of ARKA news agency, Viva-Cell MTS CEO, Ralph Yirikian, said it is
hard to overestimate the role of ARKA news agency in the development
of high-class internet-based modern business and economic media
in Armenia.

‘Media nowadays is one of the main social driver and trend setter and
has an essential role to influence decision-making at all levels,’
his message reads.

‘A huge responsibility lies upon media organizations which should
strive to keep one main value which is the credibility . That is only
feasible if the organization is acting within the norms of ethics and
responsibly. In that respect ARKA is a reliable source of information
to the business community of Armenia, and a widely-cited primary
source of information for Armenian print and electronic media,’ Mr.
Yirikian’s message says.

According to him, one can get from ARKA news agency unbiased
information on the recent economic and business events, different
spheres of the market, state and business initiatives, and analysis.

‘What is remarkable about ARKA is the professional coverage of
economic and business events as well as competent reliance on
facts and arguments. Equally important is the constant pursuit of
innovations aimed at enabling different channels of information for
different publics – just to mention the launch of Mediagid portal
and ARKA Telecom. We wish ARKA every success in all pursuits aimed
at providing Armenian business community and the general public with
quality information.’

ARKA news agency was established on May 1, 1996 May to provide
financial ,economic and political news. The professional credo of
the agency is credibility, reliability and quick response. In 2000
it was recognized by the Central Bank of Armenia as the best economic
news agency. In 2002 and 2003 ARKA was awarded by Business Initiative
Directions the International Star Award for Quality in category Gold.

From: A. Papazian

ARMSEFF TO ASSIST 12 COMPANIES OPERATING IN VARIOUS SECTORS OF ECONOMY

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 – 14:26 AMT

International Energy Expert Myroslav Buryy said that the Armenian
Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (ArmSEFF), which started its
activity half a year ago, studies the possibility of financing 12
Armenian companies operating in various sectors of economy.

“Energy audit was conducted at six enterprises, during which free of
charge technical assistance was provided. Besides, preliminary analysis
is carried out in the rest companies,” Buryy told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.

According to him, there are great opportunities for energy saving
in the food industry, field of services, processing industry, small
hydro power plants, biogas projects and private hospitals.

Anelik Bank is the first Armenian bank, with which the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched the Armenian
Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (ArmSEFF) to help Armenia
develop competitive private businesses.

$3mln was allocated to the bank for on-lending the energy saving
field. $20mln will be allocated within ArmSEFF, while $5mln will be
provided for the renewable energy sector.

Buryy added that another 2-3 Armenian banks will become partners of
ArmSEFF in 2011.

From: A. Papazian

SARDARAPAT MOVEMENT TAKES SWIPE AT TER-PETROSYAN’S HAK

hetq
15:19, May 3, 2011

The Sardarapat Movement, in a not so veiled swipe at the
opposition-based HAK (Armenian National Congress), declared in a
statement released today that, “The only demand of the Armenian people
is to bring down the current dictatorial regime by non-electoral
means.”

The statement went on to say that any deviation from this process by
the opposition would lead them to the political fringe and ultimate
marginalization.

The HAK has recently been criticized by some political opposition
circles for softening its stance regarding regime change and has been
taken to task for attempting to seek an amenable platform for dialog
with the government.

In response, today’s Sardarapat Movement statement argues that such
“harmony” is only necessary amongst all sectors of the people, those
groups resisting the regime and opposition political and social units.

It states that this realm of resistance must be created outside the
existing stagnated political arena.

In another direct reference to what Sardarapat sees as backpedalling
on the part of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s HAK, the statement points to
“the beginning of a new reality in light of April 28”.

On April 28, HAK held a rally in which Ter-Petrosyan said the regime
had fully complied with two of its three demand and partially with
the third; giving the government till the end of May to release all
political prisoners.

Sardarapat concluded by stating that it is convinced that the Armenian
people have the resources to free themselves from any exploitative
regime.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIANS OF FRANCE AWAITING SENATE DISCUSSION OF GENOCIDE BILL

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 – 11:57 AMT

On May 4, French Senate will discuss a draft law envisaging
criminalization of the Armenian Genocide denial.

According to Nouvelle d~RArmenie, the Coordination Council of Armenian
Organizations of France calls on Armenian community representatives
to gather in front of the Senate during the discussion of the bill
to be presented by Serge Lagauche at 2:30 pm Paris time.

On October 12, 2006, the National Assembly of France adopted a bill on
criminalization of the Armenian Genocide denial, yet Senate blocked
its adoption. Socialist Party, who submitted the draft law in the
lower chamber of the parliament in 2006, intends to submit it to
Senate discussion to be further ratified by the current higher chamber.

From: A. Papazian

EBRD TO HELP ARMENIAN COMPANIES SAVE ENERGY
Hasmik Dilanyan

“Radiolur”
03.05.2011 16:37

“Armenian consumers have been saving more electricity over the past
years,” member of the Public Services Regulatory Council Nikolay
Grigoryan told “Radiolur.” Instead, factories in our country use more
electricity because of only equipment, he said.

Henceforth business programs targeted at electricity saving will be
credited to have an opportunity to acquire modern equipment.

The credits will be provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development. Ten applications are already under consideration. The
creditors can get $2.5 mln credit with a maturity period of 5 years.

From: A. Papazian

THE POLITICIAN ARMEN AGHAYAN THINKS THAT THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE AUTHORITY AND THE ANC IS ONLY A POLITICAL GAME

Noyan Tapan

03.05.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 03.05.2011) Accordin to the politician Armen Aghayan
the dialogue between authority and the Armenian National Congress is
only a political game as there were no political dialogue over any
important question.

Armen Aghayan is sure that the leader of ANC Levon Ter-Petrosyan
doesn’t seek power otherwise he won’t eject the opposition forces.

Armen Aghayan is sure that there has never been any change of
authorities in Armenia. This is merely a change between individuals.

He also mentioned that the aggressiveness of Azerbaijan is growing
continually, the reason of which is that Armenia doesn’t give any
appropriate answer to this problem.

From: A. Papazian

CENTER OF GRAVITY CHANGES
NAIRA HAYRUMYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:59:55 – 03/05/2011

Tina Kaidanaw, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary visiting Armenia
made some significant statements. She mentioned the necessity of
equal opportunities of economic competition for all enterprises,
including the Armenian companies.

Her visit was followed by news about the upcoming visit of the CEO of
the Millennium Challenge Corporation which implemented vast programs
in Armenia but Armenia is no longer eligible due to lack of democracy,
and the programs were suspended. Is it possible that after the visit
of the head of MCC the previous decision will be reviewed? If so, what
has changed in the economic policy of Armenia in the past few weeks?

At first sight, nothing has changed because the Armenian government
announced about intentions under external pressure which may be
viewed as change of policy. First of all, it is the decision on tax
declaration of 500 high-ranking officials. It is the tax amnesty,
as well as the meeting of Serzh Sargsyan with the representatives of
the mining industries in an effort to address their tax debts. The
head of the State Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan announced about
fundamental tax and customs reforms.

Most probably, the Armenian government has been pointed the right way,
and at least it had to declare about its intention to take that track.

The main role, however, was that of the dialogue between the opposition
and the government towards internal political transformations,
including change of government. In the process of these transformations
the center of gravity may shift from the pro-Russian vector to a
more independent vector. And the fact that the U.S. Deputy Assistant
Secretary speaks about the flow of the American capital to Armenia
is evidence to this movement.

So far, the Russian capital has been dominant in the Armenian economy.

It occupies not only the main military sectors and infrastructures
but also blocks the way for western companies. The only exception is
the sector of mobile communication which showed that the entry of
the French Orange to the sector dominated by Russian companies has
improved the competition and led to the development of the sector.

The political sphere of Armenia has taken a time-out till the end
of May, the next rally of the Armenian National Congress. However,
the political consultations do not stop, and obviously the government
has run out of its political resource, both regarding the economy
and imitation and propaganda. Now the government has two options,
to accept the necessity for real reforms, sacrificing the oligarchs,
or to wait for resignation. In any case, it is obvious that the
government will not depend on Russia to the extent it used to.

From: A. Papazian