Author: Andres-Papazian

AZERBAIJAN’S REPRESENTATIVE ADDRESSES UN SECRETARY-GENERAL

news.az
Nov 1 2010
Azerbaijan

Agshin Mehdiyev Permanent representative of Azerbaijan to UN addresses
UN Secretary-General concerning Armenian president’s remarks.

The Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations
Agshin Mehdiyev addressed a letter to the Secretary-General concerning
the remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan at his recent meeting with
journalists from Armenian Diaspora, UN News Service representative
said.

“These remarks are illustrative of Armenia’s unconcealed racist
ideology and religious prejudices. Thus, referring to the results
of some “genetic” study, the President of the Republic of Armenia
stated that “as a nation, Armenia has been around for the last
8,000 years”. These words of the President of the Republic of
Armenia, apart from being based on this country’s confused history,
were in the direct context of his vision of superiority of the
Armenians over other nations, including the Azerbaijanis, who were
characterized by the head of the Armenian State as a “Turkic Muslim
nomadic tribe”. It seems the President of the Republic of Armenia
forgot what dire consequences the world suffered as a result of such
“genetic studies” in the past”, Mr. Mehdiyev said in the letter.

The Azerbaijani representative notices that, it is not the first time
that Armenian high-ranking officials make statements that openly
promote the outrageous ideas of ethnic differentiation, which are
contrary to the fundamental principles of international law as well
as to the moral and ethical principles of humanity.

“Thus, the public comments made by the previous President
of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, about “ethnic
incompatibility between Armenians and Azerbaijanis” have produced
justifiable indignation within the international community. The
then Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer
said that “Kocharian’s comment was tantamount to warmongering”
and manifestation of “bellicose and hate rhetoric”, while the then
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peter
Schieder stated that “since its creation the Council of Europe has
never heard the phrase ‘ethnic incompatibility'”. Accordingly, the
recent remarks by Serzh Sargsyan have become yet another solid piece
of evidence testifying to the consistency of the official Yerevan line
in conveying the odious ideas of racial superiority and hatred laid
down in the State policy of the Republic of Armenia”, – he mentioned.

Ambassador Mehdiyev also added: “The Republic of Azerbaijan is
confident that, for the purposes of lasting peace, security and
stability in the South Caucasus, there is no alternative other than,
by concerted efforts of the international community, to convince the
Republic of Armenia to cease its racially and religiously motivated
policy and practice, to put an end to the illegal occupation of the
territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to denounce its territorial
claims towards neighboring nations and to establish civilized relations
with all regional countries”.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN’S ACCUSATIONS OF SARIBEKYAN’S DEATH UNFOUNDED, AZERBAIJAN’S PROSECUTOR

news.az
Nov 1 2010
Azerbaijan

Khanlar Veliyev Representatives of International Committee of Red Cross
have been invited to medical expertise of body of Armenian serviceman,
who committed suicide.

Trend reports that the statement came Saturday from Azerbaijan’s
military prosecutor Khanlar Veliyev.

“As soon as the military prosecutor’s office received the information
about the suicide of the serviceman, the Baku office of the ICRC was
informed about the incident and the representatives of the structure
were invited to the expertise”, the military prosecutor said.

Manvel Saribekyan, detained by the armed forces of Azerbaijan,
committed suicide in early October.

The Armenian leadership and Armenian press accused the Azerbaijani
side of Saribekyan’s death.

Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian announced that the serviceman was
allegedly killed, according to Novosti-Armenia.

Azerbaijan’s military prosecutor called the accusations of the opposite
side unfounded.

“If we had something to hide, we would not have invited the ICRC
representatives for the expertise. They asked for the official evidence
of the death and we have presented it”, Veliyev said.

As for the military prosecutor, Saribekyan hanged himself in the
temporary isolation ward.

According to the prosecutor, no traces of violence were revealed on
the body. The investigation is currently underway.

From: A. Papazian

GENOCIDE ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED AT GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL, ALEXEI VENEDIKTOV SAYS

news.am
Nov 1 2010
Armenia

I do not think the genocide issues, including the Armenian Genocide
should be discussed at a governmental or parliamentary level,
editor-in-chief and host on the Echo of Moscow radiostation Alexei
Venediktov stated. According to him, such issues should be solved in
other formats.

In 1995, State Duma of Russian Federation recognized and denounced
Armenian Genocide under Ottoman Empire in1915.

From: A. Papazian

WELCOMING REMARKS BY PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN AT THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY OF HANDING RA PRESIDENTIAL AWARD IN THE AREA OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

President.am
Nov 1 2010
Armenia

Dear Students and Schoolchildren, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I cordially welcome you to the Presidential Palace. Our meeting is
taking place on the occasion of handing educational Awards of the
President of the Republic of Armenia in the area of information
technologies which has become a good tradition.

The role of information technologies in contemporary life is great
indeed. It’s not by chance that development and implementation of
information technologies in business and every day life for many
are comparable to the revolution made by the invention and spread
of printing.

It is also no chance that I have given that particular example. Very
soon, we will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Armenian
book printing. It is an interesting fact that after German Johannes
Guttenberg invented the printing machine, we, the Armenians started
to use it almost instantly. Moreover, the Armenian people were the
first in this region to start printing books. Yielding to our close
and distant neighbors in terms of population size, territory and
resources we never yielded our progressive nature and literacy. It
means that we have legacy enforced by our history, which must be
followed and handed to the next generations with our heads held high.

Dear Friends,

For many years, we have been carrying out works in our country aimed
at the computerization of our schools. In 2004-2009, 1153 schools in
Armenia were equipped with computers. Currently, the pupil/computer
ratio in our secondary schools is 1 to 30, compared to 1 to 400 in
2003. Nevertheless, the number of computers in our schools is not
sufficient yet. For comparison, it would suffice to say that in the
developed countries that ratio is 1 to 5. When we achieve the ratio of
1 to 2 or 1 to 1, only then we can truly state that we are a highly
competitive nation and that by the level of our competitiveness we
are second to none.

Obviously that such level of computerization of our schools can not be
viewed as adequate. Based on that understanding, we launch a priority
program for the enhanced computerization of the secondary schools. It
is largely aimed at the modernization of our educational system as
well as amplification of the communication opportunities and open
contacts among the teachers, pupils and parents. Furthermore, these
improvements will not be limited to the capital of the Republic but
will become available for even the remotest communities.

The program is to be implemented in November-December 2010 and the
schools will be furnished with the up to date computer equipment. Our
short-term goal is raise by the end of the year the pupil/computer
medium ratio up to 1 to 25 instead of 1 to 30, while the long-term
objective is to get closer to the ratio that exists in the developed
countries. I am confident that the present and all future efforts
will constantly augment the new army of gifted children like you.

Generally, we should realize that nowadays organization of public life
itself requires a wider application of information technologies. I
trust you are well familiar with the expressions “e-society” and
“e-governance”. We have already come up with a number of initiatives
which are aimed at the providing state services electronically, i.e.

much faster, less expensive, more efficient and most importantly, free
of bureaucratic red tape. This approach toward providing services
can be very inclusive – from tax collection to the registration
of enterprises or licensing, from providing health care to the
organization of elections. There is no alternative; we have no right to
lack behind global developments and we will not. And all the steps that
are being taken by the Government on this direction will be raising
the importance of the young boys and girls like you in our society.

Dear Awardees,

I cordially congratulate you on winning this award. Accepting this
award today you assume also an important mission. Today, you are called
to play the role that once was played by Hakop Meghapart and Voskan
Erevantsi. Furthermore, taking into consideration rapid development
of information technologies and their immediate spread all over the
world, you can play that role not only for your own nation but for
the humankind.

I sincerely wish, dear friends, that this award, which is your first
significant accomplishment in this area, becomes the starting point
of your future growth.

We will find ways and means to encourage your studies and work in
this area. Today, in your person, I once again appeal to our young
people to build their future based on knowledge and creativity.

I would like to stress once again that we are a nation of independent,
brilliant and entrepreneurial individuals and due to these qualities we
possess the most essential capital wanted in the area of information
technologies – inspiration and talent. Money, state borders, huge
armies are powerless against inspiration and talent. Hence, in the
area of information technologies we have a boundless potential for
development.

Dear Friends,

I thank the Armenian branch of Synopsis Company. This award is our
joint project. I also thank all those individuals who have brought
their contribution to the realization of this program.

However, my most profound words of gratitude I address to you,
dear awardees, to your parents and families who share the joy of
your success. This is your first step, and I am confident that new
achievements are already on their way.

I congratulate and thank you all.

From: A. Papazian

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY PRESIDENTS ALIYEV, MEDVEDEV AND SARGSYAN – STATEMENT BY THE FOREIGN AND EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MINISTRY SPOKESMAN

Embassy of France in Washington

Oct 31 2010

France welcomes the adoption, on the initiative of President
Medvedev, of the joint communique issued on 27 October in Astrakhan
by Presidents Ilham Aliyev, Serzh Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev,
whose personal commitment to resolving this conflict we applaud. In
this communique, the parties to the conflict recognize the need for
a peaceful, negotiated settlement and to strengthen the ceasefire
through confidence-building measures. As a first step, the parties
pledge to move forward rapidly with an exchange of prisoners and of
the bodies of those killed. The measures decided by the parties in
Astrakhan may help reduce tension and ceasefire violations, which
have increased in recent months.

This is why France expects them to be implemented without delay. It
is through dialogue and openness that it will be possible to resolve
this conflict to ensure a future of peace, stability and prosperity
for Armenia and Azerbaijan, and for the region as a whole.

Our country, which together with the United States and Russia co-chairs
the OSCE Minsk Group, is sparing no effort to mediate between Armenia
and Azerbaijan and help them achieve a peaceful, fair and lasting
settlement to their conflict over the province of Nagorno-Karabakh.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE GLOBAL MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MCKINSEY COMPANY DOMINIC BARTON

President.am
Nov 1 2010
Armenia

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received the Global Managing Director
of McKinsey Company Dominic Barton who has arrived to Armenia to
participate at the Second Forum organized by Armenia’s National
Competitiveness Fund.

The President of Armenia expressed hope that participation in the
Forum of the representative of the company, which has international
acclaim in the area of its expertise, would be extremely useful not
only for the Members of the Fund of Trustees of the Fund but also for
Armenia’s business community. Serzh Sargsyan stressed that from the
viewpoint of the country’s development and implementation of long-term
programs it is critical to study international advanced experience
and use the example of successful companies for instructive purposes.

The Global Managing Director of McKinsey Company Dominic Barton noted
that he was glad to cooperate with Armenia’s National Competitiveness
Fund and pointed the Funds’ practical and efficient work.

The parties discussed also global economic tendencies in the wake of
the financial and economic crisis as well as Armenia’s competitive
advantages and prospects of development in different areas.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS AT CHIGORIN MEMORIAL

Panorama
Nov 1 2010
Armenia

GM Zaven Andriasian has scored 3 points out of 3 and is leading with
nine other participants in the Chigorin memorial which is being held
in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. GM Davit G. Petrosian is behind the
leaders with half a point.

Several other Armenian chess players, including GM Hrant Melkumyan,
IM Gor Airapetian, IM Gevorg Ajrapetian, WIM Karina Ambartsumova have
got 2 points each, armchess.am reported.

From: A. Papazian

FOREX CLUB: INFLATION RATE IN ARMENIA’S 2011 GOVERNMENT BUDGET GIVES ROOM FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY

ARKA
November 1, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. The inflation rate projected in Armenia’s
2011 government budget is a comfortable corridor giving the country
room for recovering and developing its economy, Mikael Verdyan, analyst
at FOREX CLUB Group, said Monday in Novosti International Press Center.

In the 2011 draft budget, inflation is projected at 4% (±1.5%).

“The level we have now and the projected range are goals of our
regulator,” Verdyan said answering the question ARKA News Agency put
to him.

Nikolay Ivchenko, head of FOREX CLUB Group’s information and analysis
center, who spoke at the same press conference, said that national
currencies of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Moldova strengthened a
great deal against the U.S. dollar, and this has some adverse impact
on Armenia’s export.

He said pointed out that inflation in Armenia is rising quite rapidly.

That is why, he said, the country should choose between enlargement of
its export and curbing inflation o support ordinary people’s welfare.

“I think Armenia is moving toward export enlargement so far,” he said.

“I don’t rule out that the dram may keep revaluating also throughout
the next year, but the upward movement of inflation is expected to
slow down instead.”

Ivchenko also said that many CIS and East Europe countries will
vigorously strengthen their currencies against the dollar.

Armenia faced 7.9% year-on-year inflation in Jan-Oct 2010.

In the country’s 2010 government budget, annual inflation is projected
at 4% (±1.5%).

Ivchenko said he finds it wrong to deter national currencies from
devaluation artificially.

He predicted that many CIS and Asian countries would stop doing it
and would embark on more liberal monetary policy.

The economic analyst thinks that some countries, such as Armenia,
Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Moldova and Azerbaijan, and especially Central
Asia, should pursue more flexible monetary policy to enhance
effectiveness of their economies.

From: A. Papazian

IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER ARMENIA PRODUCED 245.6 MILLION LITERS OF MILK

ARKA
November 1, 2010
YEREVAN

In January-September Armenia produced 245.6 million liters of milk
versus 253.6 million in the same period of 2009 (decline of 3.2%),
Armenian National Statistic Service informs.

In January-September Armenia produced 13449.5 tons of cheese, 174.9
tons of kefir (decline of 7%), 548.4 tons of cottage-cheese (decline
of 2.4%), 1991 tons of matsoun (increase by 8.3%), 2229.6 tons of
sour-cream (increase by 6.9%), 221.2 tons of yogurt (increase by
33.5%), 49.3 tons of mayonnaise (decline of 20.6%), 32.1 thousand
liters of cream (increase of 95%) and 3214.5 thousand liters of
ice-cream (increase of 13.6%) which is by 2.8% less than the indicator
of January-September 2009.

From: A. Papazian

TWO ARMENIANS DETAINED FOR SPYING FOR RUSSIA – REPORT

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 1, 2010
TBILISI

Two owners of Batumi-based small marine companies of Armenian ethnicity
have been reportedly detained on suspicion of spying for Russia.

Gruziya.online reports referring to blogger Gela Vasadze that “a huge
sum of money, received from a Russian guest for specific purposes,
figures in the case”.

Reuters earlier reported that 20 persons were detained in Georgia on
suspicion of spying for Russia. The Georgian MIA abstained from comment
promising to give details on November 5, reported CAUCASUS PRESS.

From: A. Papazian