Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT REMAINS STALLED

news.az
Nov 25 2010
Azerbaijan

Armenia will resume the normalization of ties with Turkey only after
the Zurich protocols have been ratified, the parliamentary speaker
has said.

National Assembly Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan made the comments in the
Syrian parliament on Wednesday, ArmInfo news agency reported.

He said that Armenia had initiated the normalization of ties with
Turkey in an effort to strengthen peace and stability in the region.

“The protocols under which Armenia and Turkey agreed to open their
border and establish diplomatic relations without prerequisites
were signed in Zurich [in 2009]. However, soon after the signing,
the Turkish authorities started to set prerequisites, which were
first masked and then open,” Abrahamyan said.

Armenian leaders have criticized their Turkish counterparts for saying
that substantial progress is needed on the withdrawal of Armenian
troops from the occupied areas of Azerbaijan before the protocols
can be implemented and relations normalized.

Abrahamyan said that Ankara should demonstrate political will and
determination to continue the process and reject the language of
prerequisites.

“However, neither the process, nor the establishment of relations with
Turkey mean that Armenia doubts the fact of the Armenian genocide. We
will never allow this issue to become a bargaining chip; in addition,
we will further strive to gain international recognition of the
genocide and the restoration of historical justice, since condemnation
of a crime can avert its repetition,” the Armenian National Assembly
chairman said.

One of the protocols signed with Turkey envisages the creation of a
commission to investigate the killings of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915, something that Ankara insists was not genocide.

From: A. Papazian

NO FINE FOR INSULTING ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

news.am
Nov 25 2010
Armenia

The Berlin court returned a verdict imposing a ~@900 fine on Gabib
Abdulayev for insulting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Gabib Abdulayev, who is living in Germany, was detained on June 22
during an action of protest at the Armenian leader’s visit to Berlin.

He was crying out “Sargsyan is a terrorist and murderer”. He was
detained and charged with insulting Serzh Sargsyan. The case was
sent to the prosecutor’s office, the Azerbaijan-based Media Forum
website reports.

On November 18, the court considered the case and imposed a ~@900 fine
on Gabib Abdulayev. Otherwise he would have been under arrest for 30
days. So Abdulayev has to pay ~@30 for each day. “I am not going to pay
the fine,. I will do my best to appeal against the verdict. Armenian
Ambassador to Germany Armen Martirosyan is one of the witnesses. I
will retain a lawyer and try to get the verdict reversed,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

WORKSHOP ON RADICAL IMPROVEMENT OF BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN ARMENIA

Gov.am, Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia
Nov 25 2010

A Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan-chaired consultative meeting was
held in the Office of Government on business environment improvement
in Armenia.

Prioritizing business environment improvement efforts, the Prime
Minister said that all the agencies were directed to take steps in
order to improve Armenia’s Doing Business standing.

The head of government reminded that the President’s electoral platform
had a key focus on improvement of Armenia’s Doing Business standing
so that it could be promoted into the top ten of best performing
countries of the world. No progress has been recorded so far due to
the slow pace of reform in our country. Tax administration component
was said to be the most serious bottleneck on this way: Armenia is
the 159th in this respect. Our country is the 82nd for cross-border
trade performance indicator (21 points up). We have problems with
the protection of consumer rights with our 93rd standing on the list.

Construction licensing index is 6 points down to the 78th standing. We
are concerned about poor performance in terms of company closure,
lending accessibility and business startup. As far as ownership
registration is concerned, we are the 5th, a step down over last
year’s result.

First Deputy Minister of Economy Karine Minasyan presented a draft
action plan on improvement of business environment in Armenia after
which opinions were exchanged on ways of simplifying business startup-
and development-related procedures, boosting small and medium-size
businesses, encouraging foreign trade, improving tax and customs
administration and so on.

Wrapping up the meeting, the Prime Minister ordered to set up task
forces composed of concerned agency representatives in order to
submit by next Friday proposals on radical improvement of business
environment in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

FRESCOES BY MINAS AVETISYAN IN THE HOUSE OF GOVERNMENT

Gov.am – Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia
Nov 25 2010

Minas Avetisyan’s “Meeting” and “By the stele” frescoes were reopened
today in the second-floor conference hall of the House of Government.

In accordance with the government decree of June 17, 2010, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Minas Avetisyan Foundation
has launched a restoration campaign for these two frescoes which
used to be posted in the restaurant block of Gyumri’s electrical
engineering plant.

During the ceremony, the reinstated frescoes were blessed by Vicar
of the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese, Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan.

Congratulating those present, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan thanked
the Armenian and Italian experts who had completed the restoration
work, as well as the staff of the Ministry of Emergency Situations
for evacuation and relocation efforts.

The Prime Minister said in particular: “I think this is just the
case when history has had its own. As Minas used to give birth to
his paintings in a plain dining unit of an ordinary plant in Gyumri,
no one could suppose that a few years later these works of art might
be held for masterpieces to find themselves in the House of Government.

History is the judge of the works of Minas, and today we can enjoy
them in full.”

The government’s conference hall will shortly be open for the great
Armenian painter’s fans.

From: A. Papazian

EMIGRATION NOT DISASTROUS

news.am
Nov 25 2010
Armenia

The Hayots Ashkharh held an interview with Head of the RA Migration
Service Gagik Yeganyan. Commenting on media reports on a larger-sale
emigration from Armenia, he pointed out that the agency has no such
information.

As regards the reports that 61,000 people have emigrated from Armenia
over the recent ten months Yeganyan asked: “What does it mean ‘gone
never to return’? Who can say if an individual returns or not?”

“Yes, a 21.1% increase in the number of people leaving and returning to
Armenia has been registered this year. However, it is not an emigration
index, but unfavorable passenger traffic. The situation will change
by the end of this year, when labor migrants return home,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR MAKES REMARKS OVER NK CONFLICT IN AZERBAIJAN

Panorama
Nov 25 2010
Armenia

Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan Mohammad Bager Bahrami made his
remarks at Baku hosted news conference over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict:

“The settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is peaceful negotiations
in the framework of justice and territorial integrity of regional
countries. In this respect, officials of Iran declared they are ready
to support the resolution of NK conflict. The rivals of the region
and opponents of the stability don’t want the conflict to be settled,”
Iranian “IRNA” news agency reported.

From: A. Papazian

SPLENDORS AND MISERIES OF ARMENIAN INSURANCE BUSINESS
By Samvel Avagyan…

news.am
Nov 25 2010
Armenia

A new business is developing in Armenia, namely, compulsory car
insurance agent. Car insurance offices have been opened in nearly
every part of Yerevan – in supermarkets, bank branches, newsstands,
barber’s shops, gas-filling stations, to say nothing of numerous other
places. Public lavatories and night clubs are perhaps the only places
where car insurance has not yet been offered. But it is a matter of
time. Shops and stalls are perhaps the only rivals to the ubiquitous
insurance offices.

Thousands of Armenian citizens are engaged in insurance business. Mind
and vocation have little to do with being a car insurance agent. It
should be noted, however, that some of the insurance agents have been
certified. They had great expectations from insurance business, but
it is they who are actually sustaining the greatest losses. Agents
normally get 10% of insurance premiums – 2,000 to 2,500 AMD (U.S.

$6-7). They have to pay the monthly rent, 100,000 AMD (U.S. $275-280).

To get the lowest profit they have to insure at least 50 cars a month.

However, with severe competition, many of them sustain losses.

Some networks practice incentives. Specifically, insurance agents
working at VivaCell offices get free mobiles.

Talking to NEWS.am insurance agents said that so many networks render
their work senseless. They say they actually wasted time on training
courses.

October proved a good month for insurance agents. They hope for the
better this December, without, however, considering this business a
long-term prospect. “Only insurance companies and large networks are
in the clear,” says one of the agents, Armen.

Insurance companies are fiercely competing, which inspires hope
the sector will not be monopolized. Insurance companies launched a
large-scale advertising campaign, the second largest-scale campaign
after that of mobile services. However, the companies’ marketing policy
is far from being flexible. For example, the advertising campaign
launched by the Rosgosstrakh-Armenia agency – the largest-scale
campaign among the insurance companies – is like trying to crush a
fly upon the wheel.

From: A. Papazian

GEORGIAN AND ARMENIAN OFFICIALS RESPOND TO “PROSTITUTE SCANDAL” REPORTS
By Mzia Kupunia

Messenger

Nov 25 2010
Georgia

Georgian officials’ “fruitful diplomatic week” has been marred by
the reports of the foreign media on an alleged “prostitutes scandal”
in a Lisbon hotel, where the Georgian delegation was staying during
the Lisbon NATO Summit on November 19-20.

On November 23, Portuguese tabloid newspaper, Correio da Manha wrote
that the Georgian delegation hired 80 prostitutes and held a party in a
hotel in Lisbon on Friday. According to the newspaper, some officials
from the Armenian delegation also joined the party. Correio da Manha
reported that the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy was “so annoyed”
by the noise that he complained to the management of the hotel.

Police registered the case as an incident, according to the Portuguese
tabloid. “When the management of the hotel realised that the women
were prostitutes they expressed their discontent. The situation was
resolved with as little fuss as possible,” CM reported. The newspaper
did not name the hotel where the Georgian delegation was staying during
Lisbon Summit, however noted that it is “one of the most luxurious and
prestigious ones in Lisbon” and that it “hosted some of the leaders
of the states who attended the summit.”

The opponents of the ruling National Movement Party have criticised
the Georgian officials over the alleged “prostitutes scandal”.

Parliamentary minority group, Christian-Democratic Movement has
demanded that a probe be launched into the allegations of the
Portuguese press. MP Levan Vepkhvadze of CDM called the alleged
incident “shameful” yesterday.

“It is a fact that has been registered by the local police. It is
an absolutely embarrassing incident and it should be investigated,”
Vepkhvadze noted, adding that “it affects the country’s reputation.”

Another member of the Christian-Democratic Movement, MP Nika
Laliashvili suggested Georgia “has not achieved any success on the
international arena worth celebrating with champagne and orgies.”

Officials in Tbilisi have denied the allegations of the foreign
media outlets, calling the reports “not serious.” Vice Speaker of
the Parliament, Mikheil Machavariani linked the reports with Russia’s
attempts to “overshadow” Georgia’s recent diplomatic achievements.

“Morning Star [which also reported about the alleged scandal] was
a newspaper of British communists, funded by the Russian Central
Committee and is now funded by the Kremlin,” Machavariani said “the
aim of Moscow is to show the events to the world as this newspaper
sees them, however the international community sees what is written
in the Washington Post and the Guardian, which report about Georgia’s
progress,” he added.

A MP from the National Movement Party, Pavle Kublashvili also denied
the claims of the Portuguese media, saying that “no serious comment”
can be made on this issue. “Someone can accuse the Georgian delegation
of eating newborn babies before or after the summit as well,”
Kublashvili told journalists.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry also denied the incident in the hotel in
Lisbon, calling the claims “absurd” and “fabricated.” “This information
does not even deserve any comments,” Tigran Balayan, Press Speaker
of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Interfax news agency.

Later yesterday, news agency Interpressnews reported that the members
of the Georgian delegation were staying in hotel Tiara. The hotel
managers have denied the information disseminated by foreign media
about the alleged prostitutes incident. “The information is totally
fabricated,” Interpressnews quoted General Manager of Tiara hotel
as saying. “Nothing has happened here. I spent 24 hours a day in
this hotel and I assure you that no such incident has taken place,”
the General Manager said, according to the Georgian news agency.

From: A. Papazian

SUPERPOWERS ‘WON’T LET IRAN GET INVOLVED’ IN KARABAKH RESOLUTION

news.az
Nov 25 2010
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Vadim Mukhanov, senior researcher at the Moscow
State Institute of Foreign Relations’ (MGIMO’s) Caucasus Studies
Centre.

What are the main threats to security in the Caspian region?

The Caspian region is quite explosive and has several serious threats.

First, it is the Karabakh conflict; second, it is the related arms
race involving the opposing parties; third, it is the outstanding
issues on the division of the Caspian (the unsettled relations of
some coastline states may result in a serious conflict, especially
if we remember several situations that threaten security); fourth,
the campaign by a number of leading world players to transform Iran
into a rogue state is also dangerous and has a negative impact on
the situation in the region.

The Iranian and Russian leaders said at the Caspian summit that states
outside the region should not interfere in the affairs of the littoral
states. How likely is such interference, in particular, by the US?

I think this remark is quite fair. The summits of the Caspian states
and most bilateral meetings just prove it, since they demonstrate
great mutual understanding and trust between the senior officials.

There is no need for any mediator or arbiter in the Caspian region; the
interference of superpowers is not always useful in the resolution of
disputed regional issues, as the lobbying of interests often damages
the region.

How do you explain Russia’s current activeness on a Karabakh
resolution, compared to the passivity of the other two Minsk Group
mediators – the United States and France?

Russia was initially leading this process. It is deeply interested
in peace and tranquility in the Caucasus, since it is nearby and is
also a Caucasus state, unlike the other countries you mentioned. The
latter are engaged in the resolution of their own painful problems. For
example, France is hit by a serious internal political crisis, the
economic situation is quite unstable and there are great difficulties
inside the EU. Today the priority for the United States is the
resolution of the Afghan and Iraqi issues, as well as the domestic
economic situation. For the current administration the Caucasus is
not priority number one or two.

Russia differs from all possible mediators and represents the best
possible option. It has rich experience in the region and deep
knowledge of it. It has close ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan
and is interested in deepening and strengthening them, for which
it is necessary to raise the security level. Large Azerbaijani and
Armenian diasporas (whose number amounts to seven-digit figures)
live in Russia and most of them are citizens of Russia. Undoubtedly,
Russia, which is a leading world players and is historically situated
nearby, on the other side of the mountains, should use its influence,
experience and potential to influence the resolution and lead this
process. This can be seen in recent events.

Iran recently expressed the wish to mediate a Karabakh settlement. How
do you explain this interest and can this participation be productive?

Iran~Rs interest is extremely pragmatic and lies in distracting the
attention of the world community from the resolution of the Iranian
problem. The Karabakh conflict is the best way to do this. Iran
is hardly likely to take part in the resolution. Its proposal is
unrealistic, as none of the leading world players will allow it
there, though Iran is interested in the resolution of the conflict
and unblocking Armenia, which can become a new transit corridor for it.

Do you think the problems of the Caspian region, including conflicts,
should be settled by regional countries without external interference?

This is fair. As for the Karabakh conflict, the recent meetings with
participation of the presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia
prove that such a trilateral format without mediators from outside
the region can bring the desired result.

From: A. Papazian

“PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN WILL NEVER SIGN DOCUMENT MAKING DAMAGE TO ARTSAKH AND ARMENIA”

panorama
Nov 25 2010
Armenia

No document making any harm to Armenia will be signed in Astana,
member of NA Republican faction Hamlet Harutyunyan told at news
conference. At the same time the Deputy didn’t exclude the possibility
to sign a humanitarian deal, like the one signed in Moscow. “A document
of shocking news won’t be signed in Astana,” the Deputy said adding:
“President Serzh Sargsyan won’t be signing a document which may damage
Artsakh and Armenia.”

To the question if it’s possible President won’t be traveling to Astana
as he has rejected his Lisbon trip, Deputy said it’s not excluded:
“If we’re sure something anti-Armenian, anti-Artsakhi is waiting for
us there, he will cancel his tip. But I think that President will
leave for Astana.”

Referring to Lisbon summit and Serzh Sargsyan canceling it, Armenian
diplomat said that was a right decision and that it can’t have any
impact on Armenia-NATO cooperation. “President’s demarches are
acknowledged and have grounds, they, surely, will not abort the
negotiations,” H. Harutyunyan said.

From: A. Papazian