Author: Andres-Papazian

MINASIAN: GOVERNMENT AND CBA DON’T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN ECONOMY

Monday,June 10

“We can have a strong financial structure capable of preventing risks,
but we are losing our economy”, ARFD parliamentary faction member
Artsvik Minasian said during the discussion of the monetary and credit
program of Central Bank of Armeia (CBA) in the parliament today.

In his words, the government and CBA do not know what is going on in
the economy. “They often speak about a stable banking system. A tank
is also a strong armored vehicle, but it cannot be used to plough a
field,” Minasian said.

“The banking system has stifled other sectors of the financial system,
as a result, we have neither a capital market nor an insurance market,”
the deputy noted. According to him, it is impossible to integrate
two systems which are at different levels.

“What does the government do as a tax and budgetary body whose goal is
to ensure simultaneous economic development? The government declares
that it agrees with CBA, while CBA reduces money supply, saying that
the population should be short of cash so that inflation could be low,”
Minasian said.

From: A. Papazian

WAR VETERAN: I DON’T HAVE GREAT HOPES OF MEETING WITH PM

Monday,
June 10

The Karabakh war veteran, member of “Arabo” detachment Hakob Hakobian
said at a meeting with reporters today that he does not have great
hopes of the recent meeting of Karabakh war veterans with Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

“I was not present at that meeting, but I know that 15-point demands
were submitted. I would like to say that I have my own demands,
the most important of which are free medical care and discounts on
education fees and utility bills,” Hakobian stated.

In his words, Karabakh war veterans today have to remind the
authorities about themselves.

“At the time people selflessly served their country, but they
are ignored now, whereas people like Suren Khachatrian hold high
positions,” Hakob Hakobian noted.

TODAY, 19:11

Aysor.am

From: A. Papazian

700 ARMENIANS LEAVE COUNTRY ON JUNE 9; MOST SAY THEY WON’T RETURN
Larisa Paremuzyan

On June 9, some 700 Armenian citizens from around the country boarded
buses and left for Russia.

I witnessed this mass exodus at the customs house at Armenian-Georgian
border crossing at Bagratashen.

Eleven large Mercedes buses lined up at the check point from 11 am
to 11pm.

The buses were headed to Moscow, Donetsk, Rostov, Krasnodar and points
further afield in Russia.

Those leaving hailed from Yerevan, Hoktemperyan, Etchmiadzin, Vanadzor
and Alaverdi.

One of the passengers Baregham Nikoghosyan, told this reporter that
there were thirty residents of Etchmiadzin in the bus he was in.

Some of the reasons given by those leaving Armenia were the recent
presidential elections, unemployment, low wages, and heavy debt
burdens.

Some of them were farmers hit hard by recent hailstorms and didn’t
see any way of getting back on their feet.

Many confessed that there was little chance of them returning to
Armenia any time soon, if at all.

In fact, a majority argued that the Armenian government was doing
everything to force them to leave.

They said that the money gambled away by certain government officials
in a day at some casino could, if properly spent, resolve the problems
of any given village in Armenia.

;-most-say-they-won%E2%80%99t-return.html

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN ATTEMPTING TO POSE AS A BEACON OF CONSTRUCTIVE AND CIVILIZED BEHAVIOR – EXPERT

16:58 ~U 10.06.13

Anti-Armenian sentiments in Azerbaijan are not only the Azerbaijani
authorities’ policy. Rather, they are a wide social trend the
authorities are keeping pace with, REGNUM reports, referring to
Konstantin Zarulin, Director of the Institute of the CIS.

Even a power change in Azerbaijan will hardly moderate the sentiments.

The expert is sure that Baku is attempting to reduce tension it has
been building up for years. In question is a statement by Rovnag
Abdullayev, President of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan
Republic (SOCAR), that Azerbaijan might supply gas to Armenia on
certain terms.

“Azerbaijan has been building up tension in the context of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, going back on agreements, attempting
high-handed actions. But it has failed. Official Baku sees different
persons involved in the process and a shift in accents. The support
that once seemed sufficient has actually proved to be weak,”
Zatulin says. So the only way out for Baku now is to pose a beacon
of constructive and civilized behavior.

“Azerbaijan is waiting for elections. Ilham Aliyev is apprehensive. I
can feel it. I cannot be there as, for certain reasons, I am a persona
non grata in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani president’s apprehension
has its reasons as the opposition goes on making demands and accusing
the authorities of being undemocratic.”

With respect to Russia, the expert said: “Moscow is not going to
consider the Aliyev regime any better than any other regime. Baku
once believed that Russia would in any case support the incumbent
authorities to avert possible threats (Islamists, nationalists,
etc..), whereas it is not so sure now…”

Russia itself is not interested in Azerbaijan being sure of its
complete support.

One of Aliyev’s major blunders was that “Azerbaijan’s authorities
believed they had the economic, political and diplomatic potential
to resolve the [Nagorno-Karabakh] problem in their favor within the
shortest period possible. One of the components of their strategy
was permanently building up tension in the conflict zone, attempts
to incite the OSCE Minsk Group to intensify pressure on Armenia,
impose its will on Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, etc..

Azerbaijan’s successful attempt to torpedo Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement added to its confidence. That misled Azerbaijan into the
wrong conclusion that it had full control of the situation. However,
Azerbaijan’s actions have not produced any results, and Aliyev has
to maneuver now.

“Baku increasing its military budget from year to year has made it the
largest in the region, equal to Armenia’s state budget. Following this
logic, Azerbaijan might resume hostilities, but Baku is both unwilling
and unable to do so. There are many reasons for ‘unwillingness’. For
example, it will result in capital outflow. The incumbent Azerbaijani
president’s father came to power due to unrest. He was well aware
that instability was pregnant with unpredictable consequences. Aliyev
Junior is not so experienced. So he went beyond the limits in his
rhetoric and official statements.

As to ‘unable’ – no one is going to approve of, support or allow it.”

“But Baku still can get over the situation due to the economic factor.

Azerbaijan may take a constructive course provided it implements a
competent policy. But it requires will,” Zatulin says.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

“HISTORICAL-CULTURAL HERITAGE OF AKHTAMAR” BOOK PUBLISHED

16:02, 10 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. By the blessing of His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the publishing
department of the Mother See Holy Ejmiatzin published the book
by Dr. Karen Matevosyan titled “The Historical-Cultural Heritage
of Akhtamar”. The Information System of the Mother See informed
“Armenpress” that the book introduces the Akhtamar Island on the
Lake Van along with the significant chapters of its history and rich
cultural heritage. One of its samples is St. Cross Monastery with
its exquisite ornaments built by King Gagik Artzruni.

The other churches and structures, more than 100 manuscripts from
Akhtamar, and other cultural values have also beenintroduced in the
aforesaid book.

Dr. Karen Matevosyan’s “The Historical-Cultural Heritage of Akhtamar”
is addressed to experts engaged in the studies of the Armenian history
and culture and wide circle of the readers as well.

The book has been published under the auspices of GabrielChemperchyan,
benefactor of the Mother See Holy Ejmiadzin.

From: A. Papazian

VILLAGERS IN HAIL-STRICKEN ARMAVIR COMPLAIN OF BANKS’ LOAN POLICIES

14:05 ~U 10.06.13

The villagers in the southwestern region of Armavir complain that
the heavy damages to their crop caused by recent hailstorms have left
trading banks’ loan policies unchanged in relation to the sums which
they had borrowed for cultivating lands.

Yeghiazar Amasyan, a resident of the Armavir village who suffered
big losses in the heavy hailstorms, told Tert.am that the commercial
banks keep demanding their interest rates despite an earlier government
decision on freezing the payoff timeframes for a definite period.

“The prime minister says the banks are freezing [the loans] for
three years, but the bank owners come to our places and say there is
nothing of the kind,” he said, wondering how villagers will manage
to pay the sum back if most do not have jobs or grow enough crop to
earn the money.

Addressing the government decision on proposing 50,000 Drams ($119)
to the disadvantaged families, he said it isn’t a significant sum to
solve any problem.

A deputy minister of agriculture, Garnik Petrosyan, had earlier told
Tert.am that they are now conducting negotiations with commercial
banks.

From: A. Papazian

TSARUKYAN ON LISKA

The head of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary group Gagik Tsarukyan
went to the National Assembly today.

Tsarukyan didn’t answer all the questions of reporters, and refused to
comment on the murder in front of the house of the governor of Syunik.

Asked whether he has instructed his party members, especially Naira
Zohrabyan, not to make any critical statement and not to communicate
with journalists, Tsarukyan said they had just had a meeting on this
issue underlining that party heads leaders cannot forbid anything
but they should respect and listen to their colleagues. As to Naira
Zohrabyan, Tsarukyan recalled her activities in the European Parliament
and her devotion to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Gagik Tsarukyan
would like to see more members like Naira Zohrabyan in the National
Assembly of Armenia.

Asked the reason why Prosperous Armenia is not active, Tsarukyan said
that no political party has the right to go on holiday because they
have commitments to the citizens. Calling the question inappropriate,
he said that they are working. Gagik Tsarukyan said that he always
urges his party members to communicate with people and try to help
them.

Gagik Tsarukyan also said that a working group has been set up in
his party to deal with structural and program changes.

Nevertheless, Gagik Tsarukyan came back to the Goris events. In answer
to a question on the murder committed in front of the house of Syunik
governor, Gagik Tsarukyan said that it is a tragedy for the country
and for all parties to the incident. He said that those guilty must
be punished to rule out recurrence of similar crimes. We should wait
patiently: there are victims, there are witnesses, we should wait
for the end of the investigation by law enforcement bodies.

12:46 10/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: A. Papazian

POPE PLANS TO ATTEND 2015 CEREMONY IN ARMENIA AMID ANKARA’S GENOCIDE PROTEST

13:42 10.06.20130Armenian Genocide, Pope Francis

Leader of the world’s Roman Catholics Pope Francis has stated that
he wants to make a visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, to mark
the 100th anniversary of the 1915 events, despite criticisms from
Turkey after the pope had earlier labeled the events as “genocide”
last week, Today’s Zaman reports.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement on Saturday reacting
to the statement by the Pope calling the mass killing of Armenians
at the hands of the Ottoman Empire the “first genocide of the 20th
century.”

“What is required from the papacy is to contribute to world peace
under the responsibility of the spiritual post it assumes instead of
picking out hostilities from history,” the statement said, expressing
disappointment over the “one-sided” comments by the pope about an
event in the past.

The statement also mentioned that Antonio Lucibello, the Vatican
ambassador in Ankara, had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry on
Friday during which the Turkish side expressed its displeasure over
the statement, calling the pope’s remarks last week “unacceptable.”

“The importance of the Vatican avoiding taking steps that could
irreparably affect our bilateral relations was emphasized,” the
statement also said, mentioning the foreign ministry’s message to
Lucibello.

“The first genocide of the 20th century was that of the Armenians,”
Pope Francis was quoted as saying during his meeting with meeting with
Nerses Bedros XIX, Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian
Catholics, who visited him at Vatican on June 3.

Meanwhile, during an official opening ceremony of the Armenian embassy
in the Vatican last week, Pope Francis also stated that he wants
to hold a religious ceremony in Yerevan during the 2015 ceremony,
which would mark the 100th anniversary of the genocide, according to
Today’s Zaman.

From: A. Papazian

EXPERT SAYS GAS PRICE HIKE UNLINED TO EURASIAN INTEGRATION

June 10, 2013 – 13:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Supporters of Armenia’s EU integration deem Russian
gas price hike as pressure fostering the country’s inclusion in the
Eurasian Union.

Meanwhile, political expert Sergey Minasyan links the delay in gas
price rise to political and economic issues.

“The upsurge in gas prices can hardly be viewed as political pressure.

Armenia still remains the second country in the post-Soviet area
to buy discounted gas,” the expert told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter,
citing Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s call to speed up signing of
an agreement with the Eurasian institutions.

“In view of the existing strategic relations with Russia, Armenia hopes
to gain economic benefit from cooperation with those institutions,”
Mr. Minasyan said, adding that Yerevan will still continue the
contemplation over the Eurasian Union and the EU.

From: A. Papazian

ISTANBUL’S GEZI PARK IS NOT ARMENIANS’ STRUGGLE – TURKOLOGIST

June 09, 2013 | 00:04

YEREVAN. – The Istanbul Armenians’ participation in the ongoing
resistance in the city’s Gezi Park is not a fight for national
identity.

Turkologist Andranik Ispiryan stated the abovementioned during a pres
conference on Saturday.

According to him, there is no problem when Istanbul Armenians, as
the citizens of Turkey, raise their voices in favor of preserving
the park. But putting an emphasis on national identity is perilous
during these protests.

“Such phenomenon may be dangerous from the point of view that the
Turkish nationalist circles could make Armenians a target and accuse
them of instigation,” the turkologist noted, and added that Gezi Park
is not a struggle of the Armenians.

Reflecting on the “[Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev, it’s your
turn!” slogans that were made in Istanbul, Ispiryan stated that such
slogans cannot have a significant impact on Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations, since there are no representatives of the authorities
among the demonstrators.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian