Author: Badalian Vardan

UNEMPLOYMENT ARMENIA’S MAIN PROBLEM NEXT YEAR

ARKA
Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Unemployment will be problem number
one for Armenia next year, said Bagrat Asatryan, the ex-chairman of
the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA).

The RA Statistical Service reports that 90,800 jobseekers are
officially registered in Armenia, with 76,000 of them having
unemployment status.

"About 400,000 people left Armenia for Russian as seasonal workers
every year. The global crisis may cause them to return to Armenia,
but the authorities will not be able to create same-wage jobs for
them. So unemployment will be Armenia’s main problem next year,"
Asatryan told a press conference.

Sona Harutyunyan, Head of the RA State Employment Agency stated
earlier that the negative impact of the world economic crisis could
cause unemployment to rise by 1% at most in Armenia.

Asatryan said that most of the seasonal workers leaving for Russia
are employed in the construction, trade and services sectors, which
are the most vulnerable sectors. Referring to official statistical
data, he pointed out a decrease of 41% in the construction sector in
Armenia this October as compared with September.

According to Asatryan, resisting the global economic crisis and forming
a realistic picture of the impact the crisis has had on the national
economy will be the Armenian authorities’ priority task.

Vardan Bostanjyan, the Vice-Chairman of the Ec onomic Commission, RA
Parliament, member of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction,
said that the resolution of prospective returnees’ employment problem
will require at least two or three years.

OPPOSITION FIGURE RELEASED IN ARMENIA

Interfax
Dec 11 2008
Russia

Vardan Malkhasian, a member of the Unity of Armenian Volunteers NGO
and a prominent figure in the Fatherland and Honor opposition party,
was released on Wednesday after two years of confinement.

The Armenian media report that after release Malkhasian said addressing
his supporters: "We will soon defeat the criminal regime and will give
long-awaited freedom to our political prisoners and our entire nation."

Malkhasian was arrested on December 9, 2006 on charges of public
calls for overthrowing the government.

His arrest was prompted by his speech at a congress of the Unity of
Armenian Volunteers several days earlier.

MIXED FEELINGS FOR "GENOCIDE" PETITION

Hurriyet
Dec 12 2008
Turkey

ISTANBUL – Over 300 Armenian professionals, including representatives
from the media, nongovernmental organizations, academia and the
artistic community, have sent a message to President Abdullah Gul
calling on him to recognize the events of 1915 as an act of genocide.

The message said the painful events of 1915 were keeping the people of
the two countries apart and that acceptance of the events as genocide
was not just a request of the Armenian people but of the whole global
community. The message also said relations between Armenia and Turkey
would only be normalized by such a recognition.

Turkish intellectuals A group of Turkish intellectuals have also
recently started a similar campaign. "We reject ignoring the disaster
the Ottoman Armenians faced in 1915 and share in the emotion and pain
of our Armenian brothers," the petition states. Already a target of
debate and attack, the petition will collect signatures online from
New Year’s Day.

"More important than Gul’s response is that this letter shows the
Armenian people’s attitude towards the issue. This has become an entire
social movement," the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaksutyun
Bureau’s International Secretariat Director Giro Manoian, told the
Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review. He said relations between Turks
and Armenians would only normalize with the acceptance of the events
as genocide.

Brave but insufficient Stating the Turkish intellectual’s campaign was
"brave but insufficient," he said: "I say insufficient because any
imposition of genocide acceptance must be made directly by the state."

The oriental studies director from the Republic of Armenia National
Academy of Sciences Institute, Professor Ruben Safrastian, said Gul’s
response was important. "I hope that President Gul, known for his
intellectual leanings, will offer a different answer from those of
Turkey’s official statements."

Regarding the Turkish campaign, Safrastian said: "The Turkish people
want to know about their past and the genocide matter is a leading
issue. Turkish intellectuals, on their way to the European Union,
are able to approach these problems objectively."

OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER WILL BE ALSO USEFUL FOR BULGARIA, GEORGI PARVANOV SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 11, 2008

SOFIA, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. On the first day of RA President
Serzh Sargsyan’s two-day official visit to Bulgaria, on December
10, he had a tete-a-tete talk with President of Bulgaria Georgi
Parvanov. The interlocutors highly evaluated the level of the current
political dialogue between the two countries. They said that economic
cooperation and commodity circulation, which amounts to over 150m USD,
are inferior to political dialogue’s level, and proper steps need to
be taken both to change the commodity circulation structure and to
further develop economic partnership.

S. Sargsyan and Georgi Parvanov were pleased to record the good
legal-contractual sphere between the two countries.

G. Parvanov welcomed the Armenian-Turkish dialogue expressing the
hope that the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will be also
very useful for the Bulgarian side. The interlocutors held the
same opinion that if the border is opened, a possibility of direct
transport, motorway communication will be created between Armenia and
Bulgaria. S. Sargsyan also presented Armenia’s intention to build a
railway with Iran. Both sides mentioned the necessity to carry out
air communication, as well.

The President of Bulgaria expressed readiness to assist Armenia in
the respect of exchanging experience and providing expert assistance
within the framework of EU Eastern Partnership programs.

Four documents have been signed with the two countries’ Presidents’
participation: a protocol of intentions of organization and holding
of days of Bulgarian culture in 2009 in Armenia and days of Armenian
culture in 2010 in Bulgaria, 2009-2014 working plan of cooperation in
the state government sphere, agreement of cooperation in the sphere
of archives work, as well as a protocol on making amendments to
the agreement on excluding double taxation of revenues and property
between the two countries.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, the same day S. Sargsyan had a working dinner with
Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, during which many problems
regarding cooperation prospects in the economic sphere were discussed.

Then S. Sargsyan met with Chairman of National Assembly of Bulgaria
Georgi Pirinski. Issues regarding Armenian-Bulgarian partnership
were discussed, in particular, importance was attached to further
deepening of interparliamentary cooperation’s positive traditions,
which is of considerable importance for keeping the political dialogue
between the two countries at the proper level.

MUSIC ENSEMBLES OF ISTANBUL TO HAVE CONCERTS IN YEREVAN AND VANADZOR

Noyan Tapan

Dec 11, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The Kardes Turkuler (Brother
Songs) music ensemble and the Sayat Nova Armenian choir of Istanbul
will have a joint concert program on December 12-13 in Yerevan
and Vanadzor. As Gayush Calikma-Gavrilov, a member of the Sayat
Nova ensemble, reported at the December 10 press conference, Kardes
Turkuler’s reportoire mainly includes Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish
folk songs. The ensemble will perform the Msho Akhchik, Kani Vur Janim,
and other Armenian songs.

It was also mentioned that Kardes Turkuler was created 15 years ago
with the mission to contribute to improval of friendly, brotherly
relations between the peoples of the countries being at war with
each other.

TRANSPORT MINISTER MOUTAFCHIEV PROPOSES INCREASE OF ROAD HAULAGE PERMITS TO ARMENIAN COUNTERPART SARGISIAN

BSANNA NEWS
Dec 10 2008
Ukraine

SOFIA, Dec 9. (BTA). Bulgarian Transport Minister Peter Moutafchiev
received Armenian Transport and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargisian
on Tuesday, the Transport Ministry said. Moutafchiev proposed an
increase of the number of universal permits for haulage by road up
to 500.

On his turn, the guest voiced hope for the launching of a direct
air service between Sofia and Yerevan. The Armenian national carrier
is ready to service this line, said Sargisian. Moutafchiev pledged
full support to the Armenian side noting that such a service would
be highly efficient.

During the talks the two ministers discussed the problem of the
inadequate capacity of the ferry lines. They were unanimous that
possibilities should be sought to intensify haulage in the Black
Sea region.

At a meeting with State Agency for ITC President Plamen Vachkov later
in the day, the guest showed interest in the Bulgarian experience
in the drafting of statutory instruments regarding the shift towards
digital television and the management of the radio frequency sector.

Vachkov familiarized the guest with one of the Agency’s priority
projects – on the establishment of an electronic communication
network. The project has promoted communication among parallel
departmental telecommunication networks and has made possible the
functioning of the 112 single emergency call system.

WIKIPEDIA POSTS NAGORNO KARABAKH AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku-APA. Wikipedia free encyclopedia posted misinformation
about the Nagorno Karabakh, an internationally
recognized and inalienable territory of Azerbaijan
( f_Nagorno-Karabakh).

According to disinformation posted on the link above, Nagorno Karabakh
purportedly held a referendum on December 10, 1991 and proclaimed
independence from Azerbaijan.

The misleading information reads that as though the official language
of the "state" was Armenian, area was 11,458.382 km2, international
dialing code was 374 47, "currency" was Armenian dram, "president"
was Bako Sahakyan, prime minister was Arayik Harutyunyan and other
fake info.

Besides, there is misinformation about Nagorno Karabakh’s economy
($114 million GDP), industry, finance, banks and foreign trade.

Thus, Nagorno Karabakh allegedly exports and imports goods and
materials to the CIS countries, Western and Eastern Europe, the United
States, and Canada.

In reality, Nagorno Karabakh is an internationally recognized part
of Azerbaijan. The territory was illegally occupied by Armenian
armed forces.

Wikipedia is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit
charitable organization dedicated to encouraging the growth,
development and distribution of free, multilingual content, and to
providing the full content of these wiki-based projects to the public
free of charge.

NAGORNO KARABAKH CELEBRATES CONSTITUTION DAY

armradio.am
10.12.2008 11:23

NKR President Bako Sahakyan issued a congratulatory address to the
citizens of the republic in connection with the anniversary of the
NKR State Independence Referendum and the Constitution Day, Central
Information Department of the Office of the NKR President reported. The
address reads as follows:

"Respected citizens of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Dear compatriots,

The 10th of December is one of the most memorable days for our
people. On that very day in 1991 our people officially sealed their
will to form a free, independent and sovereign state. And it was not a
coincident that 15 years later on this very day of 2006 the people of
Artsakh once again expressed their resoluteness to further strengthen
and develop independent statehood and on a nation-wide referendum
adopted the basic of the country – the NKR Constitution. It has marked
the irreversibility of our state policy to build democratic country,
our commitment to the follow international norms and integrate with
the civilized world.

The basic law of the country is among the attributes of independent
statehood. It guarantees rights and freedoms of people and citizens,
regulates internal life of the state and its relations with the
world. It is a specific bridge between the past, the present and the
future of the country and its people. The Constitution clearly states
that independence and secure existence of Artsakh have no alternatives.

Dear friends, I congratulate all our people once again on this
very important holiday and cordially wish you peace, good health
and happiness.

All the best to you."

TOKTASIN BUZUBAYEV: ILLEGAL MIGRATION NOT A THREAT TO ARMENIA’S SECURITY
Gita Elibekyan

"Radiolur"
08.12.2008 16:47

The main topics on the agenda of the meeting of the Security Council
Secretaries of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) will include fighting terrorism and drugs
trafficking.

CSTO Deputy Secretary General Toktasin Buzubayev told a press
conference today that Armenia’s indices of drugs trafficking are
not bad. If 12 kg of drugs was found last year, this year the figure
reduced to 1 kg.

As for illegal migration, according to Buzubayev, this year 2
000 people were deported from his country – Kazakhstan, and 1 600
from Armenia. One can say that illegal migration does not threaten
Armenia’s security.

Speaking about Armenia’s cooperation with NATO, Toktasin Buzubayev
said that although the issue is not on the agenda of the Armenian
authorities, the organization sees no problem here. "Like any other
CSTO member state, Armenia can work in any international or regional
program. The most important is that the commitments the member states
assumed when joining the organization are not violated."

Toktasin Buzubayev said that following the sitting of the National
Security Council Secretaries the Heads of CSTO member states will
meet in Astana. The President of Kazakhstan, Nursulltan Nazarbayev,
has already come forth with a correspo nding suggestion.

ARMENIA STILL REBUILDING 20 YEARS AFTER EARTHQUAKE
By Hasmik Lazarian

Reuters
Sat Dec 6, 2008 7:07am EST

GYUMRI, Armenia (Reuters) – Zhora Azizyan felt lucky when he was
granted temporary housing made of concrete blocks rather than the
railway cars given to others after the earthquake that devastated
northwestern Armenia.

But that was 1988.

Now he struggles to paper over the cracks in the walls, and the
single gas stove is no match for winter temperatures of minus 30
degrees Celsius.

"After the earthquake, the Soviet Central Bank donated temporary
accommodation for two years, made of concrete blocks 10 centimeters
thick," he said. "We were very happy at the time. But then two years
became 20."

Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake that
flattened towns and villages across swathes of then Soviet Armenia,
killing 25,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

For many in Gyumri, Spitak and other towns shattered by the magnitude
6.9 quake, the memory has faded. But for others it remains as real
today as it was when it struck at 11.41 a.m. (0741 GMT).

An estimated 7,000 families are still in the woeful temporary
accommodation given to them in the weeks after the quake. For them,
it has been 20 years of empty promises.

At the time, Soviet officials said the recovery would be quick. But
they struggled to cope with the scale of the disaster. Then the Soviet
Union collapsed.

War that followed with neighboring Azerbaijan over the breakaway
region of Nagorno-Karabakh is still proving costly and is slowing
recovery efforts in this mountainous and poor corner of the Caucasus.

Successive governments have promised to finish the recovery job. And
the current administration of President Serzh Sarksyan is no different,
pledging $250 million to finish rehousing the homeless and rebuilding
the region by 2012.

"The situation is not as we would like," said Albert Margaryan,
a senior official at the regional administration, overseeing
construction work. "But every day we can feel improvement, we can
feel the activation of local investment."

"We hope that by 2012 we will solve this problem thanks to the
government program to rehabilitate the disaster area."

Local officials say unemployment in the region stands at 60
percent. They promise to build an industrial park in the former
textile hub of Gyumri, invest in small and medium-sized enterprises
and create 5,000 jobs.

The homeless are given vouchers to buy property anywhere in Armenia,
but they complain only those with money to add can actually make use
of them because of high property prices.

Azizyan, 75, lost 12 relatives in the earthquake. Reports at the time
spoke of unimaginable destruction, coffins stacked in the streets.

Azizyan and his wife together receive 55,000 drams ($180) monthly
pension, plus 24,000 drams in government aid. The family of six lives
within 30 square meters.

"I haven’t lost hope," said Azizyan. "I’m sure that everything will
be good.

Without hope, life is not worth living."

His wife Zina shares his optimism. "I feel we’ll get an apartment
next year," she said. "We have to think about our grandchildren."