Author: Andres-Papazian

AIDE TO ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SAYS THERE IS NO POLICY TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE

/ARKA/
September 23, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 23, /ARKA/. Tatul Manaserian, an aide to Armenian
parliament speaker, denounced today the government for failing to
develop a clear-cut policy to support the country’s agriculture
sector. According to the latest government data, the economy growth
has slowed down to 3.1% in the first eight months, substantially
down from 8.8% reported for the first five months of the year. The
dramatic decline was blamed on agriculture that dropped by 25% in
the first seven months slowing down to 18% for the first eight months.

Speaking at a news conference Tatul Manaserian said the country’s
agriculture is vulnerable; like its food security.

“Of course, one can blame it on unfavorable climatic conditions, which
is true. But it does not justify the policy designed for agricultural
sector. To be frank, I think there is no policy at all,’ he said.

Tatul Manaserian said the government should have used a set of
privileges that were available right after Armenia t joined the World
Trade Organization (WTO) seven years to boost the agricultural sector.

He specified that in the first six years after joining WTO Armenia
was exempted from VAT for export of agricultural products.

“We could use the privileges to make our agriculture competitive and
to offset the effects of the 20% VAT for exports,’ he said. In his
opinion, only a good manager can understand what should be done to
improve the situation and particularly, to reduce Armenia’s dependence
on imports of some basic foods, like wheat.

In the first eight months of 2010 Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) expanded by 3.1% from a year before, the country’s National
Statistical Service reported Wednesday. According to its preliminary
figures, the GDP grew, in terms of money, to 2.042.8 trillion Drams.

The economy in August grew by 79% from n July, Armstat said. Armenia’s
economy experienced a dramatic 18.4% decline in the first eight months
of last year. The GDP growth, projected by 2010 budget is 1.2 percent.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA OPENS EMBASSIES IN JAPAN AND THE NETHERLANDS

armradio.am
23.09.2010 15:55

President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing Armenia’s
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia
to the Republic of Greece as Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Serbia (seat in Athens).

According to another presidential decree, Armenian Embassies have
been opened in Japan and the Netherlands (seats in Tokyo and Hague).

From: A. Papazian

PORTUGAL SUPPORTS THE MINSK GROUP EFFORTS

armradio.am
23.09.2010 15:47

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Portugal to Armenia, Pedro Nuno Bartol (seat
in Moscow).

The President congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office and
wished him success in his diplomatic mission.

According to Ambassador Bartol, Portugal feels great respect for
Armenia – the cradle of civilization, and considers it to be a
friendly country. He conveyed to President Sargsyan the greetings
of his country’s President, noting that they are looking forward to
Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Lisbon for the NATO summit in November.

The parties noted that the current level of the Armenian-Portuguese
relations does not correspond to the existing potential to develop
active collaboration in different spheres, particularly tourism,
trade, alternative energy, e-governance and others.

During the meeting the interlocutors touched upon the activity of
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. President Sargsyan noted that it is
a unique bridge between Armenia and Portugal, and Armenia honors the
humanitarian and cultural activity of the Foundation.

The parties exchanged views on the process of settlement of the
Karabakh issue and Armenia-Turkey relations. Portugal’s Ambassador
underlined that his country supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk
Group and the negotiations under way under its aegis.

From: A. Papazian

SEN. MENENDEZ JOINS BOXER AND PLACES HOLD ON BRYZA’S NOMINATION

Tert.am
23.09.10

Senator Robert Menendez (D-N) also announced Tuesday evening that he
has placed a “hold” on US Ambassador to Azerbaijan nominee Matthew
Bryza, reported the Armenian National Committee of America, reports
Asbarez.com.

Earlier on the same Barbara Boxer (D-CA) had said she placed a “hold”
on Bryza’s nomination as US Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

The senators’ decision followed a Senate Foreign Relations Committee
vote earlier today to approve his nomination by voice vote, despite
serious concerns regarding the Ambassador-designate’s unusually close
ties to Azerbaijani government officials, his troubling track record
as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus, and persistent conflict
of interest issues related to the Caspian energy industry.

Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Boxer both spoke and voted against
the Bryza nomination.

“Thanks to senators Boxer and Menendez, US diplomacy dodged a bullet
today,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “It would
have been a serious mistake – both for US strategic interests and for
hopes of lasting peace in the Caucasus – to have sent Matt Bryza to
Baku amid escalating threats of renewed war by Azerbaijan’s leaders.

Given his track record, he clearly would have been the wrong diplomat,
at the wrong time, in exactly the wrong post. We are deeply grateful
to both senators for preventing this grave diplomatic misstep.”

Hamparian added, “Our nation’s important diplomatic work in Azerbaijan
can now get off to a fresh start, one without the bias and baggage that
Matt Bryza would have brought to this pivotal position. Our hope now
is that the President will nominate a new candidate who will openly
stand up to Azerbaijan’s aggression and forcefully deter its march
toward renewed war against Nagorno Karabakh.”

The hold prevents fast-tracked Senate consideration of the
Bryza nomination, effectively blocking his confirmation for this
ambassadorial post. Menendez took a similar action in 2006, preventing
the appointment of US Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland,
who denied the Armenian Genocide during his Senate confirmation
process.

From: A. Papazian

COINCIDENCE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT PLAN AND ‘100 STEPS’: VARDAN AIVAZYAN

Tert.am
23.09.10

Some of the provisions found in “100 Steps” – an economic program
prepared by opposition movement Armenian National Congress aimed at
improving Armenia’s economic situation – are being implemented today
by Armenia’s Government.

In a press conference today Vardan Aivazyan, Chairperson of the
Standing Committee of Economic Affairs of Armenia’s National Assembly,
said that he had himself read that program thoroughly.

“I ~E have looked through it and I am saying: some of the provisions of
that program and the Government’s activities coincide,” said he, adding
that some of the provisions in “100 Steps” contain elements of utopia.

“I would greatly welcome, if our honorable colleagues representing the
‘100 Steps’ would get familiar with the Government’s plan in advance.”

From: A. Papazian

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN ARMENIA GIVE CONCERN: TATUL MANASERYAN

Tert.am
23.09.10

The indicators recently recorded in Armenia’s economy are mutually
exclusive, economist Tatul Manaseryan told a news conference today,
calling for restraint to all those who go into extremes and “are in
a hurry to present the achievements very colorfully.”

According to him, it is concerning that Armenia has during the first
five months in 2010 seen 8.8 per cent economic growth which has
further decreased making a total of 3.1 during January-August.

“A serious regress has been recorded which is an alarm for us,”
said he, adding that the economic growth in Armenia has mainly been
accounted for by the increase in demand and prices of metals in the
world market, as well as by high indicators in the energy production
sector.

Alarming is also the fact, according to him, that agriculture has
seen a significant downfall.

“The agro-food situation in Armenia is rather vulnerable. We are
vulnerable in terms of food security too. Objective causes could also
be enumerated to say that weather conditions are unfavorable either.

But to my opinion the economic policy pursued in agriculture is equal
to zero,” he underlined.

Further Mr Manaseryan said that the indicators recorded
during January-August boil down to the existence of extremely
mutually-exclusive trends.

“This is the very situation when without drumming about the successes
we should look soberly at what is happening.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT CYPRUS EARLY NEXT YEAR

/ARKA/
September 23, 2010
YEREVAN

Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan will pay an official visit to Cyprus
early next year, the foreign ministry of Armenia said referring to a
meeting of Armenian and Cyprus foreign ministers, Edward Nalbandian
and Markos Kimprianu in New York.

The Armenian foreign ministry said they discussed some details related
to president Serzh Sargsyan’s upcoming visit to Cyprus.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA AND CHINA’S SICHUAN REGION INTEND TO DEEPEN ECONOMIC TIES

/ARKA/
September 23, 2010
CHENDU

Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian left Wednesday Shanghai to
travel to Chendu in the province of Sichuan.

Sarkisian was in Shanghai to attend celebration of Armenia’s National
Pavilion Day on Tuesday at Shanghai Expo 2010.

The event came on the 19th anniversary of Armenia’s independence from
the Soviet Union and featured a special performance titled “Armenia:
The Art of Creation.’

In Chendu Sarkisian was received by provincial governor Zian Zu Fen.

An aide to Sarkisian told Armenian reporters accompanying the prime
minister that they discussed chances of starting Armenian-Chinese
cooperation in construction, agriculture and high technology.

The governor was said to also thank Armenia for helping his province to
overcome the consequences of a powerful earthquake. Tigran Sarkisian
visited then Sichuan Aerospace Tuoksin Basalt Industrial Co LTD,
the Southwest Airport Economic Development Zone) as well as the New
Energy Company Tian Way manufacturing solar batteries.

From: A. Papazian

NALBANDIAN, DAVUTOGLU NOT SCHEDULED TO MEET IN NEW YORK

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 23, 2010 – 13:56 AMT 08:56 GMT

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will not meet with his
Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the 65th session of the UN
General Assembly in New York.

“If a simple nod can be called a meeting, so they will meet,” a
diplomatic source told PanARMENIAN.Net

Minister Nalbandian attended a meeting of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation member states but did not stay for a dinner that followed.

From: A. Papazian

NALBANDIAN THINKS ARMENIA-TUNISIA AIR COMMUNICATION ESSENTIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 23, 2010 – 13:06 AMT 08:06 GMT

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with his Tunisian
counterpart Kamel Morjane on the sidelines of the 65th UN General
Assembly in New York.

The two men discussed development of bilateral relations as well as
collaboration within international organizations.

Minister Nalbandian emphasized that establishment of direct air
communication between the two countries is essential to expand
cooperation, RA MFA press office reported.

From: A. Papazian