Author: Badalian Vardan

RAFFI HOVHANNISIAN’S RATING 22 PERCENT

AZG Armenian Daily
25/12/2007

"Jarangutyun" (Heritage) party office informs that according to
"Gallup" statistics Raffi Hovhannisian’s rating is 22 percent in spite
of the fact that he is not nominated as a candidate of presidency.

The statement mainly says that 12 percent of the questioned first of
all mentioned Raffi Hovhannissian as a preferable candidate. His rating
even increased as compared of the index of November. To this 12 percent
they add also 10 percent of the people that are ready to vote for Raffi
Hovhannissian in case of their candidates’ impossible participation.

"Jarangutyun" party mentions that on the whole Raffi Hovhannisian’s
and his party’s rating has increased recently.

RUSSIA WILL WORK FOR SOONEST RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.12.2007 17:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia will do everything in its power for soonest
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, said Andrey Denisov,
First Deputy to Russia’s Foreign Minister.

"Russia does everything possible to reconcile Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict depends on the
sides. There will no easy or forcible solutions but we all know that
existence of unsettled conflicts in the CIS hampers cooperation. No
important events are held in the Armenia and Azerbaijani capitals in
order to avoid problems," the Russian official said, ITAR-TASS reports.

DASHNAKTSUTIUN DOES NOT AGREE TO CHANGE OF ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY TO TURKEY

Noyan Tapan
Dec 20 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Dashnaktsutiun does not agree to
the change made in Armenia’s foreign policy to Turkey lately. Armen
Rustamian, the Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations, a representative of the ARFD Armenian Supreme Body, said
in his interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent.

It should be mentioned that formerly the Armenian side considered
Turkey’s recognizing the Armenian Genocide as a precondition for
Turkey’s membership to EU, while at present official Yerevan considers
its relations with Ankara from point of view of preference of Turkey’s
membership to EU.

"We think that if Turkey joins EU in this condition, it will mean that
not Turkey was europeanized, but Europe became Turkish. We do not wish
a Europe, which will become Turkish, we wish a europeanized Turkey,"
A. Rustamian said.

In his words, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide has been turned
into an independent international process, which cannot be suspended
by any side.

"This is an issue, which is in an exclusively legal field, the last
instance of solution of which is the international court: if Turkey
does not recognize the Genocide, it does not mean that the process
should be stopped," A. Rustamian said. As for receiving a compensation
from Turkey, according to A. Rustamian, the very international court
should decide the issue of compensation.

He regretted to say that the Turkish party with different motivations
refused to take part in the parliamentary hearings on Armenian-Turkish
relations, during which the view of the Armenian public was presented
in an unbiassed way. According to A. Rustamian, today one should
speak not about relations not existing between the two countries, but
about Turkey’s position in this issue. He affirmed that the formed
situation should be considered a non-announced conflict and Turkey
should be recognized as a negotiations party of the conflict.

A. Rustamian also said that the two countries’ executive powers are
marking time and the best way to come out of the formed situation is
parliamentary diplomacy, which is more free, can give a new spirit
to the issue and find new solutions.

ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANK FORECASTS 11% GDP GROWTH IN 2008

Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
December 18, 2007 Tuesday 10:44 AM MSK

Armenia’s Central Bank is forecasting GDP growth of 11% in 2008,
while the state budget for next year assumes growth of 10%.

The Central Bank’s monetary policy plan for next year projects that
economic growth will be driven primarily by industry and agriculture.

Industrial production is expected to grow 6-8% with an end to the
decline in the jewelry and diamond cutting industry.

The Central Bank is also forecasting growth in the chemicals industry,
electricity sector, food industry and production of construction
materials.

Growth in the construction sector is expected to accelerate slightly
to 16%.

The service sector is expected to grow 13-14%, while agricultural
production is projected to increase 2-3%.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS

YERKIR
19.12.2007 17:50

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The parliamentary hearings on the Armenian-Turkish
relations are aimed at discussing the current crisis in the relations
and the parliament’s possibilities to normalize the relations,
National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Committee chairman Armen
Rustamian has said.

Foreign ambassadors, Armenian politicians as well as EU special
representative Peter Semneby were participating in the hearings. "This
issue was long due. The significance of the Armenian-Turkish relations
can’t be overestimated, and there has been no issue that has had
such significance in the history of our nation, for its past and the
present and the future. It has to do with our most vital issues. It is
clear that our parliament had to engage in such process and clarify its
goals. I am expecting comprehensive, deep and interested discussions,"
Rustamian said.

National Assembly speaker Tigran Torosian presented the Republican
Party of Armenia views, said that he regretted that Turks are not
present to participate in the discussions. He voiced his concern that
their stance would not contribute to dialogue. He said Armenia is for
Turkey’s admission in the EU because having a predictable neighbor
is important for Armenia.

Armenia Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian deplored Turkey’s position
to put forward preconditions for establishing relations.

ARF Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian said that the Armenian-Turkish
relations have entered a dead end. "There has never been cooperation
between a dictatorship and a democracy. We are not saying Armenia is a
classic democracy but Turkey is a classical example of a totalitarian
and dictatorship regime," he said. He added that as long as Taleat
Pasha, Enver and Jamal are seen as national heroes in Turkey,
"nothing will work."

Hovhannisian said that reforms in Turkey are going in a distorted
way and that country’s admission in the EU will be the EU’s defeat
because it will mean that not Turkey is adopting European values but
Europe is to adopt completely alien values.

DEVELOPMENT OF LINKS BETWEEN KAZAKHSTAN AND ARMENIA

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Dec 19 2007

Almaty, Dec 19, (IRNA-Khabar) – Armenian Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisyan has said, at a meeting with CIS journalists in Yerevan,
that his country should learn from Kazakhstan. Representatives of
leading television channels and newspapers from the Commonwealth
visited Armenia at the invitation of an international confederation
of journalist unions called "Eurasia Media Centre".

The history of the small country situated at the foot of the Ararat
mountain is thousands of years old. Armenian hospitality is legendary.

However, historically, it hasn’t settled relations with its 4
neighbours and communicating with the world mainly through aviation,
which is why the Armenian economy is going through tough times.

The government hopes for CIS assistance in finding a proper solution
to the problem and pins special hopes on Kazakhstan.

Serzh Sarkisyan, Prime Minister of Armenia says cooperation is now
at a very good level.

The heads are paying regular visits to each other. We have both
presidential and ministerial meetings.

However, economic relations are not brisk due to transport problems,
but we have always considered Kazakhstan partner under the security
treaty.

Fate has willed that the nation is scattered all round the globe,
which is why Armenia not only applauds the Kazakh repatriate programme
but also wants to make use of it in the homeland.

Ashot Dzhazoyan, writer, script writer says Kazakhs are a great and
tolerant nation.

Kazakhstan is a wonderful role-model for the whole world.

He congratulated Kazakhstanis on Independence Day and want you to
consolidate tolerance and be open to the entire world, to become part
of world civilization.

Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians says they offer up a prayer
to the people of Kazakhstan and wish you prosperity.

Kazakhstan had many good changes in the past 16 years and the Armenians
congratulate Kazakhstanis on Independence Day.

ONLY REPRESENTATIVE OF AGOS NEWSPAPER FROM TURKEY TO TAKE PART IN PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 19, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The two-day expanded hearings on
the "Armenian-Turkish relations: Problems and perspectives" subject
will be launched in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
on December 19.

Reports are envisaged to be delivered by Vardan Oskanian, the RA
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vahan Hovhannisian, the Vice Speaker of
the National Assembly, Haik Demoyan, the Head of the Museum-Institute
of the Armenian Genocide, and Ruben Safrastian, the Head of the
Institute of Oriental Studies, and speeches are envisaged to be made
by the invited experts, analysts, and political figures.

The participation of Peter Semnebi, the European Union Special
Representative for South Caucasus, is also expected in the hearings and
his speech is envisaged to be made on the first day of the hearings.

According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by the commission, about twenty representatives of Turkey, who were
invited beforehand, have not arrived in Armenia, except for the
journalist of the Agos newspaper.

VAZGEN MANUKYAN HAS NO LARGE POLITICAL TEAM YET

2007-12-18 17:15:00

ArmInfo. "We have no large political team yet. Parties’ representatives
constantly speak to each other, however not the contacts themselves,
but their result is important,. There are still grounds for hope",
Leader of the National-Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan said to
journalists at the Mirror club, Tuesday.

According to him, in general, the political landscape of the republic
has not a single strong team capable to change the situation in the
country. But the political parties have a path to pass. "The trouble
is whether the opposition will manage to gain momentum and win. As
regards Serzh Sargsyan’s votes, they are formed under administrative
pressure", V.Manukyan said.

Asked about contacts with ARF Dashnaksutyun, the NDU leader stressed
that "anyone would like to be with the most organized political force",
however, it is too early to speak of the consultations’ results.

CENTRAL BANK FORECASTS 11% ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR NEXT YEAR

Panorama.am
16:05 18/12/2007

In accordance with the forecasts of the Central Bank (CB), the
high pace of economic growth is expected in the year 2008 bringing
11% annual economic growth. The CB grounds this suggestion on the
development of economic sectors in the course of this year as well
as the expectations for the fourth quarter. This is announced in CB
2008 monetary policy program.

In the course of 2008, 6-8% recovery of value added growth pace is
expected. It is conditioned by the fact that the declining trends
of diamond industry in 2007 will vanish. According to the program,
industry volume will rise in other branches of industry with special
high rates in chemical industry, metal industry, energy, food industry
and construction material production. Considerable rise is expected
in fertilizer and food industry. It is expected that in the course
of 2008 the local production of fertilizers will completely meet the
demand of the local agriculture.

OXYGEN FOUND FOR THE BREATHLESS

Panorama.am
18:08 17/12/2007

The political field is gradually turning into one of the most
non-competitive sectors. It is totally void of ideas and there is a
crisis of ideas. It is lacking air, Samvel Farmanyan, general secretary
of United Liberal National Party (ULNP), told a news conference today
saying their party is going to serve as oxygen for the field that is
losing its breath.

To come out of the situation, the party has developed a program of
change and connects hopes with the prime minister nominated for the
president for its implementation. They have ten provisions supporting
their suggestion. One of them has been announced at the 2n assembly
UNLP on December 1 in Gyumri.