Author: Andres-Papazian

‘BLACK SEA WILL BENEFIT IF TURKISH BORDER WITH ARMENIA REOPENED’

Today’s Zaman
Dec 3 2012
Turkey

Businesses and people in the Black Sea region will only stand to
benefit if Ankara and Yerevan agree to re-open their long-closed
border, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) General Manager
Andrey Kondakov said in an interview with Today’s Zaman.

Kondakov was recently in Ä°stanbul to participate in the Southeast
Europe Business Forum, and he met with Today’s Zaman to evaluate the
latest developments in the region as well as his bank’s aspirations
for the future. The Thessaloniki-based bank was established in 1997
to promote economic development and regional cooperation among Black
Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) members.

“As a development bank we promote regional cooperation and
trade. … We will welcome any initiative leading to increased business
interaction among members and among businesses and peoples in the
Black Sea region, and the reopening of the border with Yerevan is
definitely one such move,” he explained. Kondakov stressed more open
borders will help to develop regional infrastructure, which brings
more business opportunities and supports growth and prosperity in
the BSEC member countries.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity
with Azerbaijan after Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent
of Azerbaijan in 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a
territorial conflict that has remained unresolved between Armenia and
Azerbaijan since then. Certain NGOs and civil society organizations
have separately attempted to coax both countries’ governments into
normalizing ties; however, no progress at a desired level has been
made so far. Both Turkey and Armenia are members of the BSEC.

Kondakov argued that as a regional economic powerhouse Turkey could
lead initiatives to lead to better integration between member states’
economies.

“With respect to Black Sea regional trade, Turkey has, in many
respects, been the biggest ‘champion’ over the course of the last
decade. Between 2000 and 2010, Turkey’s trade within the BSEC grew
422 percent (versus 256 percent for its overall external trade over
the same period), with the growth spread out to all BSEC countries,”
he noted. Kondakov said BSEC members should consider measures to
mitigate the impact of problems in global markets on each of the
region’s countries. “In this context, governments might provide
incentives for increased regional trade and investment. For its part,
the BSTDB provides a number of incentives and is willing to increase in
the coming years both the number and the volume of these operations,”
he explained.

Characterizing Turkey’s rebound from the 2008 global financial crisis
as impressive, he said a tight fiscal policy also helped to sharply
decrease the budget deficit and push the public debt to gross domestic
product (GDP) ratio to reasonable levels. “However, two worrying trends
to the otherwise favorable picture are that consumption is growing
more rapidly than investment and that Turkey’s current account deficit
has risen very rapidly to around minus 10 percent of GDP for 2011.”

As regards the bank’s plans for the coming months, he said the
bank would be “more flexible than ever” in its approach to adapt to
changing circumstances in global financial markets to either seize
opportunities or protect itself from external shocks. He underlined
the importance of “controlled growth in portfolios amid uncertainties.”

From: A. Papazian

WB PRESENTS TO THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT MAIN CHALLENGES OF ARMENIA’S DEVELOPMENT

Mediamax
Dec 4 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. “Armenia. Reviews on Politics for Government”
report worked out for the World Bank (WB) was discussed in the Armenian
government today.

Regional Director of World Bank Henry Kerali noted that the reviews
outline the main challenges of Armenia’s development, Mediamax was
informed in the Armenian governmental press service.

Head of the Yerevan Office of the World Bank Jean-Michel Happi said
that the documents touch upon a broad scope of issues related to
overall prosperity, governmental reforms and combating poverty.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that the government is
ready to discuss the document of reviews on politics presented by
the WB.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA AND EU SIMPLIFY VISA REGULATIONS

Interfax
Dec 4 2012
Russia

Talks between Armenia and the EU on free trade should end in a year,
in November 2013, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian has said.

“We confirm our readiness to deepen and develop Armenia’s cooperation
with the EU. It is our objective to complete talks on the association
agreement and the free trade zone before the Vilnius summit of the
Eastern Partnership in November 2013,” he said at a joint briefing
with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Yerevan
on Saturday.

He also said that Armenia and the EU would sign an agreement on
simplifying visa regulations in a few days. “We expect that the
agreement will come into force before the first half of 2013. After
that, we will be ready to proceed to the next, more complex stage
of talks – the full cancellation of visas in travels between Armenia
and the European Union,” Sargsian said.

The Armenian president also raised the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement.

“There is full understanding on the process between Armenia and the
European Union. Armenia has noted many times that Nagorno Karabakh
is part of the European family sharing the same values. And we attach
significance to direct contacts and visits of representatives of the
EU to Nagorno Karabakh,” Sargsian said.

He also spoke of the need to deepen the partnership of countries in
the framework of the Eastern Partnership program and said that borders
between countries in Europe should not be used as dividing lines.

ml jv

From: A. Papazian

KERMANSHAH PROVINCE, ARMENIA HOLD TRADE TIES

Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA
Dec 3 2012
Iran

Head of Kermanshah province Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mine
Keyvan Kashefi said on Sunday that Kermanshah province is willing
to develop trade with the Republic of Armenia in light of excellent
political ties between Tehran and Yerevan.

He made the remarks in meeting of Kermanshah province manufactures
and exporters with Armenian Ambassador to Tehran Gregor Araklyan.

He expressed interest of the province’s chamber of commerce, industry
and mine to exchange trade delegation with Armenia.

Kashefi said Kermanshah can also actively participate in any exhibition
in Yerevan to show its economic potentials to Armenians.

Pointing to the inauguration of Iranian Free Trade Center in Yerevan,
the official said the center can help expand Iranian trade ties with
Armenia and with Europe and Russia as well.

Iranian traders and manufacturers participating the meeting introduced
their products.

Accompanying with Armenian Trade Attache’ Arthur Hoospian, Araklyan
made a visit to some manufacturing units such as Kermanshah Cement
Factory and a Petrochemical complex in the province.

From: A. Papazian

CHAIRMAN OF GEORGIAN WRITERS UNION DECLARED PERSONA NON-GRATA IN AZERBAIJAN

News.Az

Tue 04 December 2012 16:40 GMT | 16:40 Local Time

Our position related to the visit of foreign citizens to Nagorno
Karabakh is clear.

The statement came from spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
Elman Abdullayev at a briefing on Tuesday.

“Nagorno Karabakh is ruled by a separatist and criminal regime.

Nagorno Karabakh is occupied by Armenia and any foreigner who visits
the occupied lands of Azerbaijan without coordination with the Foreign
Ministry of Azerbaijan will be barred from our country”, he said.

According to Heorgian agency Iveroni, the chairman of the Georgian
Writers Union Makval Gonashvili is declared persona non-grata in
Azerbaijan for the visit to Nagorno Karabakh on 16-18 November.

According to Gonashvili, she went to Karabakh for the night of
poetry, which had no attitude to policy, however, due to Azerbaijan’s
annoyance, this trip received political shade.

“I did not do it to offend anyone. I did it for the young people who
were waiting for me in Karabakh for the night of poetry. As soon as
I came to Georgia, I was contacted from the Georgian Foreign Ministry
and told me to abstain from travelling to Azerbaijan. As it has become
clear, the information about my visit was presented by the Georgian
embassy to Azerbaijan”, Gonashvili said.

It has to be noted that on the same day Makvala Gonashvili wrote a
letter in which she apologized for visiting Nagorno Karabakh.

“I have always been, remain and will be the true fan and admirer of
Azerbaijani culture and will always love the people of Azerbaijan.

Probably, my step will close the Azerbaijani border for me, which is
extremely frustrating but it is even more frustrating, if the hearts
of my Azerbaijani friends will close for me. I ask them to forgive
me for offending you without any malice intent”, Gonashvili said.

From: A. Papazian

GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA IS READY TO SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION OF A COPPER PLANT IN ARMENIA

arminfo
Tuesday, December 4, 18:06

The construction of a copper plant in Armenia amid the current copper
concentrate extraction is inexpedient, Armenian Finance Minister
Vache Gabrielyan said in Parliament on Tuesday.

“It will be reasonable to speak of construction of a copper plant when
sufficient output is ensured in Teghut”, said the minister. He added
that the Government is ready to discuss and support this project if
such proposals are received from economic entities.

Earlier President of Vallex Group Valery Mejlumyan told journalists
that Armenian Copper Programme CJSC will attract $350 mln for the
project of construction of a mining and refining plant in Teghut
and development of the Teghut copper-molybdenum deposit. The company
has already invested over $100 mln in the construction and the other
250 mln USD will be used within the next two years. Afterwards the
copper production from copper concentrate will be launched, and the
output will be more than $200 mln per annum. In 2014 it is planned to
produce 11.3 thsd tons of copper-in-concentrate, and in 2015 Ð~H®¤г
– 37.2 thsd tons.

From: A. Papazian

LE CHEF DU SERVICE RUSSE DE PROTECTION DES FRONTIÈRE EN VISITE EN ARMENIE
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 3 decembre 2012

Le chef de l’Agence Federale russe pour le Developpement des Frontières
de l’Etat (Rosgranitsa) Dmitry Bezdelov a visite Erevan du 27 au
29 novembre a l’invitation du Secretaire du Conseil national de
Securite d’Armenie, Artur Baghdasaryan, qui est aussi le president
d’une commission de mediation sur la securite des frontières.

À Erevan M.Bezdelova a eu des reunions avec le President armenien
Serge Sarkissian, le Premier ministre Tigran Sarkissian et Artur
Baghdasaryan.

Les deux parties ont signe un protocole.

Le Departement russe des Frontières en Armenie protège la frontière
externe de l’Armenie avec l’Iran et la Turquie conformement a un accord
signe en 1992. Des gardes-frontières russes sont deployes a Gyumri,
Armavir, Artashat et Meghri.

mardi 4 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA: MAJOR PLAYERS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 4 2012
Russia

Susanna Petrosyan in Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

On the eve of the presidential elections, the political field
of Armenia is gradually getting rid of insignificant players. The
process of crystallization is continuing, while major players appear
on the political scene more visibly. However, there are not many
major political groups or figures in Armenia.

Current President Serzh Sargsyan has the greatest resources,
controlling 90-95% of the media, parliament, the government, the
judicial system and all power structures. He is supported by external
players, particularly by Washington and Brussels. In addition,
Sargsyan controls the central electoral commission, in particular
regional electoral commissions.

In certain circumstances, he might receive the support of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Thet have already intervened in central politics at
the request of Yerevan and assisted the Armenian government. Despite
almost total control over the myriad of leverages, the socio-economic
situation is extremely unfavorable to the current president.

During Sargsyan’s term there have been no reforms. His presidential
term can be characterized by the Soviet term “stagnation”, which
was often associated with Brezhnev’s years. As is already known,
stagnation can always lead to certain movements in society. In this
regard, it is difficult not to agree with the ex-foreign minister,
a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Vardan Oskanyan: “Today,
Armenia’s political field is divided into two poles. One pole consists
of the authorities, which, of course, wants to perpetuate itself,
which means maintaining the status quo. Another pole, which consists
of a large number of political parties, expresses its position to
conduct immediate systematic changes in the country. If there are
two poles in the political field, there is only one in society –
society wants to see dramatic changes.”

In order to improve the president’s popularity, the propaganda machine
he controls is trying to convince the public that Robert Kocharyan
is even more unwanted than Sargsyan. In the current situation, when
the leader of the PAP Gagik Tsarukyan will become the main rival of
the ruling party at the presidential elections, Kocharyan’s case is
being used in direct relation to the PAP and Tsarukyan. In particular,
Tsarukyan is presented as a puppet of Robert Kocharyan. A great number
of newspapers, TV and radio channels are trying to persuade Armenians
that Tsarukyan is Kocharyan’s puppet.

In order not to get lost in the flow of speculations and expert
opinions, one has to analyze the role Kocharyan has in the public
consciousness. In essence, Kocharyan has been rejected by Armenian
society due to his attitude towards his opponents and the carnage which
took place on March 1, 2008, which is blamed entirely on Kocharyan,
then the head of state. For that reason, any politician willing to
win over the electorate in Armenia has to stay away from Kocharyan.

Most probably, Tsarukyan understands this obvious truth. The desire
to distance himself from the former president is evident, not only
from the actions of the PAP and statements of its leaders claiming
that the PAP is independent from Korcharyan. Another former coalition
party, the ARF, demonstrates the same approach.

Kocharyan himself, of course, tries to influence the political
process, but it is unlikely that he will have the support of political
forces. His figure is present on the political field, but that does
not mean that it has any significant impact.

In one way or another, Tsarukyan remains the main opponent of Sargsyan,
while his party, the PAP, remains a resourceful party. The PAP, similar
to the ruling party, lacks an ideology. However, compared with the
authorities it has a great advantage, since it is propagating the
changes so desired in society. PAP representatives have repeatedly
expressed the need to create a favorable environment for the
development of small and medium-sized enterprises, which could
contribute to finding a solution to the dire socio-economic situation.

Deputies from this party – recently only a coalition party – were
highly critical of the budget for 2013. Most recently, the PAP
faction supported the initiative of a radical opposition party,
the Armenian National Congress (ANC), to amend the Electoral Code,
the Criminal Code and the law “On the State Register” before the
presidential election. In this regard, in the eyes of the public,
the PAP has a much more favorable image than the authorities.

In addition to considerable financial and human resources, with the
“Kentron” TV channel under its control and several websites, the PAP
also has a problem: a part of the society does not believe that the
PAP is a rival to the ruling Republican Party (RPA) and Serzh Sargsyan.

Today, there is an interesting situation on Armenia’s political scene.

The PAP seems to have a larger electorate than the ANC. In the last
parliamentary elections it was given 450,000 votes, while only about
100,000 people voted for the ANC. However, the PAP can expect to win
only in alliance with the ANC, since state propaganda has made some
members of the Armenian society distrustful of the PAP and its leader.

In case the PAP becomes an ally of the ANC, people will start
perceiving it as more trustworthy party – only a few people in Armenia
would expect the ANC to cooperate with the authorities. Despite all
criticisms, nobody in the country has doubts regarding the opposition
nature of the ANC.

Such a political alliance might result in more votes than simply in
450,000 votes + 100,000 votes. The Armenian people trust associations
more than single candidates or parties. The presidential elections
of 1996, 2003 and 2008 serve as proof of that.

The ARF remains a significant political power. On the eve of elections,
the PAP, the ANC and the ARF are conducting frequent political
consultations. The head of the central office of the ANC, deputy Levon
Zurabyan, does not rule out that the ANC and the PAP may nominate a
single candidate. In turn, a representative of the ARF Supreme Body,
deputy Armen Rustamyan, stated that the party has still to take a
decision regarding its participation in the presidential elections.

Other remaining political forces are unlikely to have an impact on
the political processes in Armenia. Presidential candidates Raffi
Hovannisian from the Heritage party, Aram Karapetyan from New Times
and Paruyr Hayrikyan of National Self-determination do not have the
number of potential votes required to compete for power. The upcoming
presidential elections also differ from previous ones because this
time the authorities have failed to find a suitable pseudo-candidate.

From: A. Papazian

CONSTRUCTION OF GYUMRI N6 MUSIC SCHOOL IN FULL SWING

Mediamax
Dec 3 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The construction of N6 music school in Gyumri is
in full swing.

The history of the joint project of Mediamax, the Fund for Armenian
Relief and Australian “Do Something” organization is available here.

The ceremony of laying of a memorable capsule in the school foundation
was held on September 25, 2012.

Last week, Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi transferred another portion of
the funds in the amount of $15 000 for the construction of the school.

The school building will be put into operation in Summer 2013

From: A. Papazian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: ARMENIA AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SPEAK IN ONE LANGUAGE

03.12.12

Republican party member Samvel Farmanyan, head of Armenia’s delegation
to the EU-Armenia parliamentary cooperation commission, says the
document adopted at the commission’s sitting testifies that Armenia’s
and EU’s viewpoints over Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement coincide.

“The bilateral document comes to prove that Armenia and international
community speak in one language and have one approach while Azerbaijan
is heading to isolation,” he said.

The members of the delegation stressed their united work in Brussels
gave a positive result.

Farmanyn thanked the opposition members of the delegation for
their constructive and effective work. Referring to the document’s
provisions relating to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,
Farmanyan said with the document the EU once again confirmed that
the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict has no alternative,
it also condemns the decision of Azerbaijani president to pardon
murderer Ramil Safarov.

Farmanyan said the EU is also dissatisfied with the Armenian-Turkish
protocols being not ratified, mentions the 1987 Council of Europe
Resolution on recognizing the Armenian Genocide, noting that during
the recent years the issue is being discussed in Turkey which is
quite welcoming.

Member of the commission Tigran Urikhanyan, from the Prosperous
Armenia party, said the works may be considered succeeded as the
document has been adopted with consensus.

Alexander Arzumanyan, member of Free Democrats, said they managed to
act as a united team being guided with Armenia’s interests.

Nikol Pashinyan, MP from the Armenian National Congress (ANC), said
they have brought “a quite normal document.”

From: A. Papazian