Author: Badalian Vardan

TAX AND FISCAL SECTOR PROBLEMS HAMPER INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA’S CAPITAL MARKET

YEREVAN, April 22. / ARKA /. Robert von Rekowski, an independent
member of Ameriabank’s Board of Directors, says a number of technical
problems in the tax and financial sectors still prevent an increase
in foreign investments n Armenia’s capital market.

Robert von Rekowski with over 23 years of experience in managing
international assets is vice president for emerging markets strategy
of Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Investments is one of the largest
companies in the financial services market managing $1.4 trillion
worth assets.

“If we talk about the obstacles hampering the development of the
capital market in Armenia from the point of view of a foreign investor,
although I do not know all the details, I know that clearer rules
of the game should be set up and some technical problems be solved,”
he said to journalists.

He said despite progress achieved in the last decade and the work done
by the Central Bank there are still obstacles to investors related
to tax regulations, specification of functions of depositaries and
establishment of cash-payment system.

Robert von Rekowski arrived in Armenia on April 19 to share his
experience and knowledge with Armenian businessmen at a discussion
organized by Ameriabank on global economic prospects and the role of
emerging markets.

Ameriabank is a universal bank providing investment, corporate and
retail banking services. It is the first investment bank in Armenia
providing since 2007 a wide range of innovative banking services. ($
1 – 416.02 drams).-0-

AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION HEAD REMINDS PACE ABOUT HAYRIKYAN

08:11 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Azerbaijani delegates were the last to address the opening of the
Spring Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE). All the registered delegates who did not have an opportunity
to address the Strasbourg-based PACE session can submit their speeches
in written form.

PACE delegates today debated the Election Observation Report on the
presidential election in Armenia authored by the Ad hoc Committee of
the Bureau.

Semid Seyidov, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE,
announced that they are well aware of the events taking place in
the neighboring country (Armenia) and advised PACE delegates to open
their eyes.

“It is written in the report that “Election day was calm and peaceful
overall.” Have you forgotten about the assassination attempt upon
one of the presidential candidates?” he said meaning Paruyr Hairikyan.

In her report, Karin Woldseth (Norway, EDG), head of the mission which
observed the election, welcomes in particular that the candidates were
able to campaign without hindrance, that the public media provided
balanced coverage and that election day was calm and peaceful.

The report approved today by the Assembly does point out, however,
that “a number of shortcomings” were observed, in particular “abuse of
administrative resources” and “interference in the election process by
candidate proxies and supporters”. In addition, the Assembly regretted
that voters saw their possible choices narrowed by the decision of
major political parties not to present candidates.

PACE urged the Armenian authorities to address these shortcomings,
which undermine public trust in the electoral process, in order to
ensure that they do not resurface in future elections, whether at
national, local or regional level. It also asked the authorities to
investigate all allegations of electoral fraud and misconduct and to
punish any perpetrators.

The full report is available here

PRESS RELEASE
Policy Forum Armenia
1250 I (Eye) Street N.W., Suite 710,
Washington, DC, 20005
Email: [email protected]

Roundtable Discussion on Election Fraud, Civil Society Awakening, and
the Diaspora’s Role On April 8, 2013, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)
organized a roundtable discussion on `Election Fraud, Civil Society
Awakening, and the Diaspora’s Role’, which took place at the George
Washington University Law School in Washington, DC. Speakers included
PFA Executive Board Member, Dr. Zaven Kalayjian, Chairman of Armenian
Bar Association, Garo Ghazarian, Esq., and Civil Society Activist,
Alex Sardar. Dr. Hrach Gregorian, President of Institute of World
Affairs, moderated the discussion.

In his presentation PFA’s Dr. Kalayjian presented PFA’s analysis of
February 2013 presidential election in Armenian that shed light on the
mechanics of the election fraud and supplemented it by findings of
other independent analysts. ABA Chairman Garo Ghazarian talked about
violations that he observed during the election campaign, like illegal
use of public buildings for campaign posters and abuse of
administrative power by the ruling party. Civil Society Activist Alex
Sardar talked about fraud and intimidation at the polling stations
during the election, as well as the role of activists and the Diaspora
in the future of Armenia. A lively question-and-answer session
followed.

About PFA
Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) is an independent professional non-profit
organization aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia’s economic
development and national security and through that helping to shape
public policy in Armenia. Its main objective is to offer alternative
views and professional analysis containing innovative and practical
recommendations for public policy design and implementation. Through
its activities, PFA aims to contribute to the creation of an informed
public and more effective and accountable government. PFA’s main asset
is its worldwide network of professionals and leaders in their
respective fields, with dedication to Armenia.
Watch the full video recording of the discussion.

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
395 Concord Ave.
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel.: 617-489-1610
Email: [email protected]

SETA DADOYAN TO SPEAK AT NAASR ON ARMENIANS IN THE MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC WORLD

Prof. Seta B. Dadoyan will give a lecture entitled `Armenian History
Beyond the Pillars of Hercules: Plus Ultra,’ on Thursday, May 9, 2013,
at 7:30 p.m. at the National Association for Armenian Studies and
Research (NAASR), 395 Concord Avenue, Belmont, MA.

Plus Ultra, or `further beyond’, is the reversal of the
motto Non Plus Ultra or `nothing further beyond,’ which was a warning
to all those who dared to go beyond the Pillars of Hercules or the two
rocks on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar, the exit into the
Atlantic Ocean.

In its methodology, philosophy of history, and thematic
structure Seta Dadoyan’s trilogy The Armenians in the Medieval Islamic
World marks a radical revaluation of mainstream narratives,
ideological and institutional limitations, and an exit into a broader
world in search of new paradigms and images. Based on two decades of
research and new sources, the book is written as an argument for a
different reading of not only the historical experience with Islam,
but a deeper understanding of the multidimensional nature of the
Armenian experience/condition on the crossroads of civilizations in
the vast and rich Near/Middle Eastern world.

Dadoyan has taught at the American University of Beirut,
Haigazian University, Columbia University, St. Nersess Seminary, and
the University of Chicago. The focus of her research and publications
is the critical revaluation of the Armenian experience in its broader
and interactive aspects. She is the author of numerous articles in
scholarly journals and seven books, including Pages of West Armenian
Philosophical Thought (1987), The Fatimid Armenians: Cultural and
Political Interaction in the Near East (1997), and The Armenian
Catholicosate from Cilicia to Antelias: An Introduction to the
Political History (2003). Her magnum opus is the trilogy The
Armenians in the Medieval Islamic World: Paradigms of Interaction,
Seventh to Fourteenth Centuries (2011-2013).

More information about this program may be had by calling
617-489-1610, faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing
to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.

Belmont, MA
April 22, 2013

POLAND’S GOVERNMENT MAKES EFFORTS TO RESTORE WARSZAWA-YEREVAN DIRECT FLIGHT

13:15, 22 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian-Polish economic cooperation
has always been on a high level, notwithstanding despite that the
cooperation between the two countries in that direction is not yet on
a sufficient level. The Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic
of Armenia Ara Petrosyan emphasized that the development of a new
investment program is of a certain importance. He stated this at the
opening of the Armenian-Polish business conference, which was held
on April 22. As reports “Armenpress” the Deputy Minister stressed:
“We are very glad for holding such conferences, because they create
new ways for economic cooperation.”

The Deputy Minister of Economy of Poland Tomasz Tomczykiewicz stated
that there is a wonderful investment environment in Poland and
they are willing to cooperate with any country in that respect,
including Armenia. Tomasz Tomczykiewicz highlighted: “We enjoy
our participation in this conference, as due to such meetings we
have opportunity to expand economic cooperation with the friendly
countries.” The Government of Poland makes efforts for restoration
of Warszawa-Yerevan direct flights, because it’s difficult to talk
about serious economic ties without direct connection.

ARMENIAN BILLBOARDS PUT TOUCHY TOPIC ON THE ROAD – SUN SENTINEL

14:10 ~U 22.04.13

By Diane C. Lade

Four striking billboards, crowded in among beer and cosmetic surgery
ads along two South Florida highways, contain one sentence starkly
lettered in white on a black background: “Thank you for officially
recognizing the Armenian Genocide – April 24, 1915.”

It’s a bold move to bring public attention to an almost century-old
tragedy that Armenian Americans say takes a back seat to other
large-scale human rights violations: the killing of 1.5 million of
their ancestors during World War I in what is now Turkey.

But until now, the identity of those behind the signs was a mystery.

Small wording at the bottom of the 672-square-foot billboards states
only that they were “paid for by individuals concerned about the
plight of Armenians.” They list no names.

That’s because it’s not about publicity, it’s about bringing larger
awareness to the issue, said George Pagoumian, 70, a Fort Lauderdale
businessman and philanthropist who came forward only after the Sun
Sentinel began researching the signs.

The four billboards are located at Florida’s Turnpike-Interstate 595
interchange; and on Interstate 95 at Southern Boulevard in West Palm
Beach, at Atlantic Boulevard inPompano Beach and at Northwest 79th
Avenue in Miami. And the campaign was organized and financed through
Armenian community members, said Pagoumian, declining to list the
other contributors or how much was donated.

“We don’t want money to dictate this,” said Pagoumian, whose parents
were Armenian and who lost his grandmother and other relatives to
the killings. “Our grandmothers, our family who died are paying. They
are sending checks from heaven.”

Twenty countries have officially recognized the killings as genocide,
and those nations’ flags are on the South Florida billboard, under
the words “thank you.” The United States is not among them – something
Armenian Americans have fought passionately to change for years. They
are pressuring President Obama to make an executive declaration.

But calling what happened in Armenia almost 100 years ago a “genocide”
is a very touchy subject – especially in South Florida. About 4,000
people of Armenian descent live in Broward and Palm Beach counties,
according to the Census, alongside about 5,000 of Turkish descent.

Turkey denies that Armenians were targeted because of race or
ethnicity.

Fuat Ornarli, past president of the Florida Turkish American
Association, has not seen the billboards but dislikes what he considers
a politicization of the issue.

“I would like to express my deep sorrow to see such billboards around
us, since this subject is so politicized, and so biased,” said Ornarli,
of Miami.

Genocide declarations should be made by scholars, not politicians,
Ornarli said, adding that not all historians agree the Armenian deaths
should be labeled genocide. Like the leaders of his native country,
he said the deaths were casualties of war, exacerbated when the
Armenians aligned themselves with Russia, Turkey’s enemy.

Rosanna Gatens, director for the Center for Holocaust and Human Rights
Education at Florida Atlantic University, said the removal and killing
of Armenians by the Turks is taught along with the Holocaust and other
modern genocides in the state-mandated human rights education program.

Each year, a few teachers get complaints from upset Turkish parents
“who think their children are being taught that Turkey is a terrible
place,” she said.

“It’s really important for people in our area to understand what
happened in Armenia. All scholarly definitions say it was a genocide
and we need to quit playing politics,” she said.

Marta Batmasian, a Boca Raton real estate investor and Armenian
community leader, agreed.

“This is a human rights issue, not an Armenian issue. We are not going
to let history be buried,” said Batmasian, a former educator who sits
on the state task force for Holocaust and human rights education.

The South Florida signs are very similar to an effort run by Peace
of Art Inc., a nonprofit founded by Armenian American artist Daniel
Varoujan Hejinian. Since 1996, Hejinian has created and installed
dramatic billboards each April in suburban Boston, his hometown,
calling on the United States to recognize the killings as genocide.

Rosario Teixeira, Peace of Art’s executive director, said the
organization was not involved in South Florida’s efforts. “I am sure
their efforts are well intended and we wish them good luck,” she said.

Armenian churches and peace activists in South Florida every year
host prayer or commemoration services on April 24, the day when the
Ottoman government arrested 250 Armenian intellectuals and leaders,
and began deporting them.

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Hollywood will have a public
service and commemoration Wednesday; St. Mary and St. David Armenian
Apostolic Orthodox Church in Boca Raton trade off hosting the event
annually

This year, the billboards created a buzz when the signs appeared but
no one claimed the credit. Speculation ran wild among South Florida’s
Armenians for weeks. “The emails I’m getting! They are saying something
like this has never happened,” Batmasian said.

The Rev. Vartan Joulfayan said his St. Mary’s parishioners last week
were peppering him with questions about who the anonymous billboard
contributors might be. The pastor told them it didn’t matter – that
he assumed the donors wanted to stay out of the spotlight.

“So their message can come through,” he said. “A message that is
strong and true.”

NAIRA ZOHRABYAN ALSO AGREES. PAP MUST PROCLAIM ITSELF AN OPPOSITION

2013-04-22 14:03:07

A little earlier PAP MP Vardan Oskanian posted a record on his Facebook
page, which says:

“Taking into account the situation in the country and the possible
political developments in the coming years, and especially the fact
that the PAP without proclaiming itself an opposition took over
that role, I think that (that’s my opinion) “Prosperous Armenia”
at the beginning of September session of Parliament should change
its political status and declare itself an opposition party.

I am confident that the country, country’s political system and,
eventually, a citizen will benefit from it.”

Lurer.com talked about it with the secretary of PAP parliamentary
faction Naira Zohrabyan, who did not want to comment on Oskanyan’s
personal opinions, only said: “Without going into details, at this
moment I can only say that I agree with Oskanyan’s position.”

DOESN’T SERZH SARGSYAN WISH TO MAKE CHANGES?

April 20 2013

Vahe Hovhannisyan, a Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP, would not like
“Tigran Sargsyan to gain experience at the expense of the wellbeing
of Armenia and our people.” * Mr. Hovhannisyan, what do you think
of Tigran Sargsyan’s reappointment as Prime Minister? * The main
demand made by social and political forces and citizens these days is
changes. This is about visible changes in all spheres, all fields. The
mechanism of making changes is very simple: the policy should be
changed; the programs and the people who carry out those programs
should be changed. Tigran Sargsyan’s reappointment testified to the
fact that none of these three changes is made; maybe, there is no
wish or resource to make changes. * What message does Serzh Sargsyan
send to political forces, particularly the PAP, which aspired to the
prime ministership, by Tigran Sargsyan’s reappointment? * I think that
Serzh Sargsayn sends no message whatsoever to political forces. He
just reappoints Tigran Sargsyan as Prime Minister, and since all
important decisions are made single-handedly in Armenia, there is
almost nothing to discuss. As for the Prosperous Armenia Party, you
will not find any official statement, any opinion expressed publicly
by the party’s leader or pivotal figures that the PAP aspired to
the prime ministership. The Prosperous Armenia Party participated
in the 2012 parliamentary election with a new program, with a new
political team and was ready to take on any amount of responsible to
carry out its programs. The PAP won roughly half a million votes, but
it turned out that it was not sufficient in modern Armenia to make
changes constitutionally. * How will you comment on the reason for
Tigran Sargsyan’s reappointment put forward by the Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA) press secretary yesterday? “We basically agree that
Tigran Sargsyan’s Cabinet was able to perform tasks required of it,
and we hope that its work will improve. Despite all the problems,
Tigran Sargsyan’s Cabinet undertook a task in 2012 to ensure 7%
growth, and that task was performed. Tigran Sargsyan has gained much
experience in the past few years, and the team is ready to meet the
challenges that exist today, along with him.” * Here the opinions of
the RPA and Armenia substantially differ. What task did Tigran Sargsyan
perform? Did he avoid 14% economic decline? Did he transform Dilijan
into a financial center? Or did he transform Gyumri into a cultural
center or a technology park? He urged the people to keep their savings
in drams, and the dram devaluated by 20%-25% in just one day.

Did Tigran Sargsyan successfully struggle against corruption? You tell
me! Did the emigration rate decline? Did the external debt reduce? The
poverty rate of the population has reached 35%? The list is long. As
for experience, I wouldn’t like Tigran Sargsyan to gain experience
at the expense of the wellbeing of Armenia and our people.

The price is too high. By the way, in the not so distant past, Serzh
Sargsyan said and I quote, “…Tigran, I assess the work of the Cabinet
very negatively, very negatively. We have been talking with you about
these issues for four years, four years, but these processes continue;
it will be fine in six months, in one year….”

You can draw your own conclusions. * If the PAP had been trusted
with the prime ministership, would the PAP have been able to take on
this economic burden? * It is a thankless thing to talk with ifs in
real politics. Let me just say that the PAP can shoulder any burden
in the field of government. There is a political team, elaborated
program and most importantly political will to solve the problems not
single-handedly, but based on the principle of broad consolidation
with other political forces. * And what do you think of the PAP’s
chances in the Yerevan City Council election? * I think they are
very good, and the meetings with the residents of Yerevan are also
grounds for that. I think that if we are able to stop the machine of
electoral fraud at least by half, the PAP will win this election. *
Since the opposition has failed to unite in the pre-election period
yet another time, do you think there can be some post-election union
and what results will it yield? * As far as I know, no one has made
too much effort to unite the opposition forces. I myself didn’t
attach too much importance to that union before the Yerevan City
Council election. Unfortunately, on the Armenian political stage,
the institution of backroom deals efficiently operates next to public
politics. I am against the principle of taking the same path all
the time. However, at least three forces – the PAP, the Armenian
National Congress (ANC), and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) – have put forward a formula, which is the optimal one for the
moment, and its principles – not to struggle against each other and to
jointly struggle against electoral fraud – are followed. Let me repeat
that this is quite a functional formula and much more efficient,
than useless political consultations and attempts to satisfy the
exaggerated aspirations of certain people. NELLY GRIGORYAN 

Read more at:  

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

“AGHET” MOVIE DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DISPLAYED IN VARNA

11:30, 22 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. “Aghet” movie dedicated to the
Armenian Genocide was displayed in the conference hall of the
Municipality of Varna, Bulgaria, on April 19. The movie is the result
of continuous work of German documentary film maker Eric Friedler and
Barbara Siebert. “Kantegh Araratyan” information website informed
“Armenpress” that pastor Fr. Bartholomew Hakobyan, the Armenian
community representatives, Bulgarian friends and representatives of
the Varna city council attended the event.

Before the movie was displayed, representative of the commission
coordinating the events dedicated to the 98th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide in Varna Nerses Ketikyan welcomed the guests. In
his speech he expressed gratitude to all the attendees, for their
presence and briefly introduced the history of the movie. Ketikyan
also represented the program of events scheduled to be held on April
24. In accordance with the program pastor, Fr. Bartholomew Hakobyan
will serve Devine Liturgy in St. Sarkis Armenian church in Varna. At
17.00 the Requiem service will be held in front of the monument erected
in memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. This will be followed by
the creative program authored by the Armenian youth of Varna.

JOHN EVANS ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: FAILURE OF THE WORLD TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUING DELETERIOUS CONSEQUENCES

12:00, 22 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS: The 98th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide will be remembered this week in Fresno with a series of
events, including a visit by a former U.S. ambassador to Armenia who
spoke out about the genocide.

Nearly a century after 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the
Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, the U.S. government still fails to
label the ethnic cleansing as a “genocide.”

The G-word was the “inappropriate” term and the event’s history was
so taboo it couldn’t even be discussed, said former U.S. ambassador
to Armenia John Marshall Evans, who held the post from 2004 to 2006.

Evans challenged that taboo in a 2005 speaking tour in California
where he first described the Ottoman Empire’s assault as a genocide —
an act that thrust him into an uncomfortable position with his bosses.

“After I leveled with California audiences about the Armenian genocide
in February 2005 … I returned to Armenia as ambassador, but was
required to issue a statement to the effect that what I had said was
‘inappropriate,’ ” Evans said. “The fact that the subject was treated
as taboo meant that it could not even be discussed,” he said. “That
had to change, even if it cost me my job.”

Evans, a career foreign service officer, was recalled from his
ambassador’s posting in Armenia before the end of his planned
three-year assignment. He retired from the foreign service 18 months
after his genocide remarks.

Evans continues to speak out about the genocide and calls for everyone
to face the hard issues of history and be understanding. “I believe the
failure of the world to deal with the issue has continuing deleterious
consequences,” he said.

Evans will be the keynote speaker for Tuesday’s memorial commemorating
the 98th anniversary of the Armenian genocide at the Pilgrim Armenian
Congressional Church.