Author: Andres-Papazian

KAREN BEKARYAN: THE ASTRAKHAN MEETING HELPED TO RELIEVE TENSION
Anna Nazaryan

“Radiolur”
02.11.2010 16:12

The country that speaks the language of threats restricts its own
militant rhetoric with the agreements reached in Astrakhan,” analyst
Karen Bekaryan told a press conference today.

Positively assessing the humanitarian agreements reached between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, he says the meeting was timely.

“The tension at the line of contact had increased and the meeting was
important, since it helped relieve the tension,” Karen Bekaryan said.

President of the European Integration NGO does not have great
expectations from the OSCE summit in Astana. He says, however that
the organization of the meeting by Moscow ahead of the NATO conference
and the OSCE summit was understandable.

“The Astana summit will come to reconfirm that Azerbaijan that enjoyed
great support in 2005, will obediently sign the Final Act, which
states that the conflict should be solved on the three principles
of the right of peoples to self-determination, territorial integrity
and non-use of force or the threat of force,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

CANADA’S AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT SARGSYAN

armradio.am
02.11.2010 15:44

The newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Canada to Armenia, John Sloan, presented his credentials to President
Serzh Sargsyan.

The President congratulated the Ambassador on appointment ad wished
him success in carrying out his diplomatic mission in our country.

President Sargsyan and Ambassador Sloan stressed the need to use
the potential of cooperation in trade-economic, cultural, local
self-governing and other spheres. They emphasized the role of the
Canadian Armenian community in the deepening of bilateral relations.

The Ambassador appreciated the effective Armenian-Canadian cooperation
within the framework of international organizations, especially the
UN and the OSCE.

Mr. Sloan assured he would do his best to contribute to the
reinforcement and development of Armenian-Canadian relations throughout
his tenure in office.

From: A. Papazian

LEVON SHIRINYAN: RECOGNITION OF NKR WOULD BE THE CORRECT CHOICE FOR ARMENIA
Anna Balyan

“Radiolur”
02.11.2010 14:52

Recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic would be the correct
choice for Armenia, political scientist Levon Shirinyan told a press
conference today.

“This will correct the diplomatic mistake and Artsakh will become
a party to the talks instead of Armenia,” Levon Shirinyan said,
adding that to reach this objective it is necessary to strengthen the
institutional and human resources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Nagorno Karabakh

“I think that this “no war, no peace” situation will probably
continue for another 10-15 years, because then the oil and gas
resources of Azerbaijan will start exhausting. Therefore, in this
period no one is interested in war situation,” Levon Shirinyan said.

From: A. Papazian

DAVID JAMALYAN: ARTSAKH CANNOT BE KEPT BY FORCE
Anna Balyan

“Radiolur”
02.11.2010 14:09

Radical changes are needed in the position of the Azerbaijani society:
any empire has come to understand at some point of history that the
units under its occupation gain independence sooner or later. This
is the road passed by progressive Europe, and Azerbaijan has no
alternative, either, military psychologist David Jamalyan told a
press conference today.

According to Jamalyan, with the collapse of the Soviet Union Azerbaijan
turned into a separate empire, the collapse of which is inevitable,
either, sine the national minorities of that empire have maintained
their national identity.

Azerbaijan has to accept the truth that Karabakh cannot be kept
forcefully, he said.

“Azerbaijan should accept the fact that their aggressive aspiration
can no more become real, that their country is not the same as Soviet
Azerbaijan, that it is at least 12 thousand sq. km. smaller. Besides,
Artsakh could have been larger if not the ethnic cleansings in Northern
Artsakh and if part of it was not occupied by Azerbaijan,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS MEMBER OF THE MONTREAL CITY COUNCIL HAROUT CHITILYAN

Armradio.am
02.11.2010 11:29

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received
member of the Montreal City council (Canada) Harout Chitilyan and
head of the governmental relations office under the Canadian diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church Hakob Arslanyan, Central Information
Department of the Office of the NKR President reported.

Bako Sahakyan noted the importance of the visit of our compatriots
from Diaspora to Artsakh underlining that it would help to know the
Motherland better and establish bilateral ties. According to the
President, such visits also create good opportunities for elaborating
joint programs of cooperation.

From: A. Papazian

FORMER ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER QUESTIONS ECONOMIC GROWTH PROJECTIONS

ARKA
November 2, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 2, /ARKA/. Former Armenian prime minister Hrant
Bagratian questioned today all economic growth projections made for
this year, saying the government will claim at the end of the year
that it has overfulfilled the 1.2% GDP growth, forecasted by it for
2010. Speaking at a news conference he said there will be no growth
at all.

According to government data, Armenian economy expanded 2.8%
in Jan.-Sept. year-on-year. The World Bank projects that it will
grow this year by 4-5% while IMF’s projection is 4.8%. The ex-prime
minister who served in the administration of first post-Soviet Armenian
president Levon Ter-Petrosian, questioned also the reliability of high
growth indicators posted for the first half of the year, saying those
figures should be interpreted cautiously because they were compared
with 2009 when Armenian was hit severely by crisis.

‘We have gone down back to 2007 level. The industrial outcome grew a
little this year, but only in comparison with last year, when our
economy saw an unprecedented slump. Now we are seeing a growth,
but it does mean the economy is growing,’ he said.

According to official figures, Armenian industrial output rose by
10.9% in Jan.-Sept. year-on-year to total 579.1 billion Drams. The
former prime minister projected also a 7-10% inflation rate growth
for the year, up from 4% (±1,5%), projected by the government. In
Jan.-Oct. this year it rose to 7.9%, according to official figures.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN TRADE WITH EU MEMBER STATES IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER SURGES BY 29.1%

ARKA
November 2, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 2, /ARKA/. Armenia’s foreign trade with EU member
states in January-September this year surged by 29.1% year-on-year to
$1.085.5 billion, according to the latest figures, released by the
country’s National Statistical Service (NSS). Overall, EU countries
accounted for 32.1% of Armenia’s foreign trade, it said.

Armenian exports to EU countries skyrocketed by 65.9% to $361. 4
million making more than half -51.2% – of all its exports for the
first nine months, while imports from EU member countries grew by a
17.1% to $601.5 million making 22.5% of all imports. But in terms
of country of origin, the volume of imports form EU rose by 16.2%
to $724.1 million, according to NSS.

Germany was Armenia’s largest trade partner among EU member states
accounting for 7.2% of its foreign trade that translated into some
$244.7 million. It was followed by Bulgaria – $189.7 million or 5.6%,
Belgium – $114.7 million or 3.4%, Italy – $88.5 million or 2.6%,
the Netherlands – $82.4 million or 2.4% and Romania – $62.6 million
or 1.8%.

In Jan.-Sept. Armenia’s foreign trade increased 23.6% year-on-year
to $3.383.7 billion. Exports grew by 43.9% to $705.3 million, while
imports increased by 19.2% to $2.678.4 billion. The negative trade
balance rose to $1.973.1 billion. ($1 – 357.98 Drams.

From: A. Papazian

WORLD BANK PROJECTS 4-5% FULL-YEAR ECONOMIC EXPANSION FOR ARMENIA THIS YEAR

ARKA
November 2, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 2, /ARKA/. The World Bank projects a 4-5% full-year
expansion for Armenia’s economy this year, head of World Bank Yerevan
Office, Jean-Michel Happi, told ARKA today. The projection is up
from a 1.2% GDP growth forecast by the government. The International
Monetary Fund projects that Armenian economy may grow by 4.8%. Mr.

Happi said after a 14% decline last year the WB expect the Armenian
economy to grow this year by 4-5%.

He said the World Bank is cooperating closely with Armenian ministries
of finance and economy, the Central Bank and IMF to support government
programs designed to secure sustainable growth.

‘Armenia has posted quite good results in enforcing reforms and in the
area of administration and we closely cooperate with its authorities
to maintain the current involvement level,’ he said.

Mr. Happi said also the government’s anti-crisis measures enabled the
most vulnerable segments of the population to withstand the fallout
from the 2009 global crisis. It was also instrumental to preserve the
macroeconomic situation, according to him. He added, however, that
the impact was so severe that it could not fail to affect the living
of many Armenian citizens resulting in growth of poverty. He said the
government reforms are aimed on one hand at ensuring economic growth,
supporting private sector, creation of new jobs, fostering exports
and on the other at supporting the social sector.

From: A. Papazian

WINNER OF TENDER TO RECONSTRUCT YEREVAN-ASHTARAK SECTION OF NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR TO BE ANNOUNCED IN ONE MONTH

ARKA
November 2, 2010
YEREVAN

Armenian transport and communications ministry said Monday the winner
of an international tender announced by the government to select a
company for a major reconstruct of an 18 kilometer section of the road
corridor between the capital city Yerevan, and Ashtarak to the north,
the first phase of North-South Road Corridor project, to be launched
in 2011, will be announced in one month.

The ministry opened Monday the application packages of 13 bidding
companies, saying it has shortlisted three companies, Austrian STRABAG
International that said it could do the work for $51.141 million,
U.S.-based Feletechnologies ~V ($18.944 million) and Spanish MJGRUAS –
$22.618 million. The tender commission will examine all bids and then
will present them to the Asian Development Bank that will fund the
initial loan of $60 million for this project.

Last year the Asian Development Bank (ADB) pledged a $500 million
loan to Armenia to upgrade its main corridor road as part of a broader
thrust to improve connectivity, and boost trade, growth and livelihood
opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia sub-regions. Funds will
be released periodically through a multitranche financing facility.

The transport corridor will stretch from the southern Armenian town of
Meghri, on the border with Iran, to Bavra in the north on the border
with Georgia.

The project is estimated preliminary to cost $962 million.

On January 14, 2010 the Armenian government approved the investment
program for building the North-South transport corridor and a framework
$500 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank.

The government approved also an agreement on disbursement of the
first tranche of the loan in the amount of $60 million.

From: A. Papazian

“ASTRAKHAN TRIPARTITE MEETING FORMAT INCOMPLETE”

Aysor.am
Tuesday,November 02, 2010

“We welcome the declaration signed by the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan with Russian President’s mediation envisaging exchange of
prisoners of war and dead bodies. We can consider it as a progress in
the negotiation process,” Vice Speaker of Artsakh Republic parliament
Arthur Tovmasyan told Aysor.am.

According to him, the format of tripartite meeting held in Astrakhan
is incomplete since Artsakh party did not take part in the meeting.

“We are convinced Nagorno Karabakh authorities should fully and
directly participate in the talks which is also stipulated by OSCE
Budapest Summit,” Vice Speaker said adding that talks should go on
within OSCE Minsk Group.

Speaking about OSCE Summit due in Astana Tovmasyan said it will be
a regular meeting which will hardly result in signing any document.

From: A. Papazian