Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

MEMBERSHIP OF TURKEY WITH CU IS UNLIKELY: RUBEN SAFRASTYAN

19:22, 25 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The membership of Turkey with the
Customs Union is unlikely, as the county is a member of NATO and seeks
the integration with the European Union. Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan
underscored it at a conversation with Armenpress News Agency.

According to Ruben Safrastyan, the policy of Turkey is not expected
to change drastically and the country has not made any official
announcements upon the wish to join the Customs Union. Ruben Safrastyan
pointed out that being a member of NATO, the latter will not wish
Turkey to be a member of the Customs Union within the frameworks of
an agreement with Russia.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev on 24 October suggested that
Turkey should be part of the Customs Union. The Kazakhstan President
made the relevant statement at the session of the Supreme Eurasian
Economic Council

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S IT SECTOR MISTRUSTS GOVERNMENT

16:28 ~U 25.10.13

In 20, 30 or 40 years, people are most unlikely to get back the
money they are paying now even if a new pension system is launched,
Preparliament member Garegin Chukaszyan told Tert.am.

“I do not think the sums will be returned when Armenia’s administration
has put the country up for sale and they do not know what union’s
citizens they are going to be. We are dealing with a new colonial
regime in Armenia,” Mr Chukaszyan said.

The new pension system to be launched in Armenia from January 1, 2014,
envisages a levy on high salaries in the IT sector. The levied amount
is expected to be up to 10% of the salary.

Armenia’s IT community has lodged complaints about the new system.

After the new system is launched, many IT companies may shut down.

“Information technologies are in the highlight in throughout the
world. Turkey is creating special areas where IT companies exempted
from taxes. All the Armenian IT companies will move to Izmir,”
Chukszyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

INVESTORS INTERESTED IN ARMENIAN DEBT SECURITIES, COUNTRY MAY ATTRACT $2-3BLN: EXPERT

YEREVAN, October 25. /ARKA/. The first issue of Armenia’s Eurobonds
showed investors are interested in the country’s debt securities and
Armenia may attract another $2-3 billion fr om this market, head of
investment and banking operations at Ameriabank Arno Mosikyan said.

On September 19 Armenia issued its first Eurobonds worth $700
million with redemption period of 7 years and yield of 6%. The main
underwriters of the issue were Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, HSBC
Bank plc and J.P.Morgan Securities plc. According to the country’s
ministry of finance, the demand for the first dollar bonds exceeded
$3 billion threshold the first days after the placement.

The decision to step on the Eurobond market was right and may help
increase efficiency of state finance management, Mosikyan said in
his interview to ARKA.

Yet, the yield may be affected by some factors, such as geopolitical
developments that were not properly planned in informational terms,
he said.

Mosikyan said quite many basic points could be saved in case of a
better media planning and more transparent selection of underwriters
and leadmanagers for the issue.

Anyway, the fact that Armenia appeared on the international loan
capital market may increase global financial community’s awareness
of the country and increase the chances of investors considering the
country for other investments as well, he said.

Yet, the bonds will have a tangible effect on the financial sector,
Mosikyan said. Having placed the Eurobonds, the government set a lower
limit for corporate issuers, including banks and credit organizations
that attract securities from global loan capital market, he said
adding the lower will be the yield of Armenia’s sovereign bonds,
the lower will be interest rates the banks attract funds and lend at.

Mosikyan stressed the funds attracted by the government should be
used efficiently, i.e. in the projects with its return higher that
the interest rate of the loan.

“But if we trap this money in projects like asphalt works on the city
streets, then we will drive ourselves into such a debtor’s prison wh
ere there will be only one way out – default and loss of sovereignty”,
the expert said. -0–

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

CHILDISH THEORIES SHOULD NOT BE CIRCULATED – PROSPEROUS ARMENIA

October 25, 2013 | 12:55

YEREVAN. – The bill on raising the salaries of state officials
is introduced by a government which has failed in conducting the
country’s economic policy.

Non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party National Assembly (PAP
NA) Faction MP Vahe Hovhannisyan stated the above-said at Friday’s
NA briefing with news reporters.

He noted that, under today’s difficult conditions, it is unethical
to introduce a bill which is aimed at sharply increasing the salaries
of a group of senior officials in Armenia.

“There is an impression that the ruling elite does not know what is
going on in this country,” the MP added.

On her part, PAP Faction Secretary Naira Zohrabyan stressed that their
faction is against this bill and that childish theories should not be
circulated, according to which we should not give fish to the citizens,
but rather give the fishhook so they can catch fish.

“There are no jobs. We cannot look into the eyes of our citizens,
and this is not populism. The senior officials’ salaries should not be
raised at this phase; they should use that money to raise the salaries
of teachers, doctors. When there are no jobs, this is blatant populism
and demagogy,” Zohrabyan argued.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN MINISTER HAS TO MAKE DIFFICULT PERSONAL DECISION

October 25, 2013 | 12:06

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party National
Assembly (NA) Faction Secretary Aghvan Vardanyan did not wish to
give an assessment on the recent arrest of Sport and Youth Affairs
Minister Yuri Vardanyan’s son.

The ARF MP stated the aforesaid at Friday’s NA briefing with news
reporters.

“In this case, every one decides what to do on his own; this is
an episode on the ethical, psychological dimension,” he said,
in particular.

Aghvan Vardanyan also stressed that, “This is simply a matter of
a difficult personal decision [to be made] by the minister, [and]
purely at the ethical dimension; [and] the society can judge on his
decision [as to whether or not he should resign from office due to
his son’s arrest].

To note, Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Yuri Vardanyan’s eldest son,
Davit Vardanyan, 29, was arrested on the Iran-Armenia border recently.

Davit Vardanyan was detained while attempting to carry drugs at the
border. Subsequently, he was arrested and sent to the detention center
of capital city Yerevan’s investigation department. A criminal case is
opened against Davit Vardanyan, and on charges of illegal circulation
of narcotic drugs.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

DRAFT DECISION ON ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION APPROVED IN MINSK

YEREVAN, October 25. /ARKA/. The draft decision about Armenia’s
accession to the Customs Union and the joint economic area was
approved at a sitting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in
Minsk Thursday.

The meeting was attended by Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan,
the presidential press office reported.

The council considered and approved Armenia’s application on
participation in the Eurasian integration and the memorandum about
expanding cooperation between Armenia and the Eurasian economic
commission.

The meeting in the narrow format was attended by presidents of
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

After their negotiations on September 3, Armenian and Russian
presidents made a statement about Armenia’s intention to join the
Russia-led Customs Union and then to participate in the Eurasian
Economic Union. According to earlier plans, Yerevan was expected to
sign an association agreement with the EU at Eastern Partnership
summit in Vilnius. European officials say these two formats are
incompatible. -0–

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

EXPERT: UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN GEORGIA WILL CHANGE LITTLE

by David Stepanyan

ARMINFO
Friday, October 25, 12:28

October 27 presidential election in Georgia will change little.

Georgian Dream Party will, probably, win. United National Movement
and Nino Burjanadze’s party will come the second and the third. Koba
Turmanidze, Director of the Caucasus Research Resources Center
(CRRC-Tbilisi) made such forecasts in an online interview with ArmInfo.

“The upcoming election is special for Georgia, at least, because of
two factors. First, Georgian Dream has no exclusive access to funds
and media outlets. Second, the political programs and ideologies matter
more than personality. These two factors are much more important than
the fight for the second place. Actually, the fight is going on for
the second place rather than for the victory, because the candidate
of the Georgian Dream Party will sure take the first place.

However, he may win in a second round,” the expert said.

He said the given factor may change the balance between the political
forces in Georgia after upcoming resignation of Bidzina Ivanishvili.

If the prime minister leaves politics this year as he promised to do,
Georgian Dream will face difficulties with keeping the coalition and
stability in the country, Turmanidze said. According to the results of
public opinion polls, United National Movement has nearly no chances
for victory, while the nationals can claim the second place. At the
same time, he said, Nino Burjanadze’s election program calls for snap
elections and she will strive for that irrespective of the outcome
of the presidential election.

“I think that in this case, her second place is less probable. She
will be using the total number of the votes in her favor, especially
those of Tbilisi voters. If her votes are enough to turn her threats
of street protest into reality, Burjanadze will be more consistent
in her demands for snap elections,” the Georgian expert said.

Joint online press conference of experts from various countries for
Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian mass media on the relevant problems
are organized within the project “Expansion of knowledge of Armenians
and Azerbaijanis about each other and confidence building through
first-hand information”. The project of the “Region” Research Center
(Armenia) and Peace and Democracy Institute (Azerbaijan) is supported
by the British Embassies in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

HAYATSK: ARKADI GHUKASYAN WILL BE NEXT PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA?

10:20 25/10/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

Hayatsk: Arkadi Ghukasyan will be next President of Armenia?

The Armenian authorities have instructed the commission on
constitutional amendments to amend Article 50 of the Constitution,
reducing 10 years of permanent residence in Armenia, which is required
for running for president, to 5 years, Hayatsk newspaper reports,
citing its sources.

According to the paper’s sources, the authorities have decided to
“match” the Constitution to the next presidential candidate and
they intend to make former NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan the next
President of Armenia in 2018. He has permanently resided in Armenia
for 2-3 years and will not have 10 years residence in 2018, so it is
necessary to reduce the threshold, the paper notes.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

LA TURQUIE POURRAIT DEVENIR MEMBRE DE L’UNION DOUANIERE DIRIGEE PAR LA RUSSIE

GEOPOLITIQUE

Noursoultan Nazarbaïev, president du Kazakhstan aurait laisse entendre
jeudi que la Turquie puisse devenir membre de l’alliance dirigee par
la Russie des anciennes republiques sovietiques que l’Armenie prevoit
de rejoindre .

Le gouvernement turc a exprime un tel desir, a declare Nazarbaïev lors
de la reunion du sommet de Minsk de l’Union douanière de la Russie,
de la Bielorussie et du Kazakhstan. Le president Serge Sarkissian a
egalement assiste a la reunion pour reaffirmer sa recente decision
controversee que l’Armenie rejoigne le bloc commercial qui devrait
se transformer en une Union eurasienne en 2015.

” Le premier ministre de la Turquie [ Recep Tayyip ] Erdogan m’a
contacte pour demander si la Turquie pourrait faire partie de l’union
douanière “, a declare M. Nazarbaïev , selon l’agence de presse
bielorusse BelTA .

” La Turquie est un grand pays, nous avons une frontière commune “,
a-t-il commente. ” Les critiques pourraient etre reduites au silence si
nous allions dans ce sens. A chaque fois que je me rends en Occident,
on me demande si nous creons une nouvelle Union sovietique ou quelque
chose pour la Russie. Et je dois expliquer que nous ne faisons rien de
la sorte. Donc, si nous admettons la Turquie peut-etre ces questions
s’arreteront-elles ? ” .

Il n’y a pas eu de reaction immediate aux remarques-surprises du
leader kazakh sur Ankara. L’adhesion de la Turquie a l’Union douanière
est problematique en raison des priorites geopolitiques differentes
qu’elle a choisies jusqu’ici. En outre, Ankara pourrait etre oblige
d’ouvrir inconditionnellement la frontière turco-armenienne si elle
decidait d’adherer a cette structure.

Lors de l’ouverture du sommet de Minsk, le president bielorusse
Alexandre Loukachenko a salue l’adhesion de principe de l’Armenie a ce
bloc , selon l’agence de presse Regnum. Mais il a souligne qu’Erevan
devrait en passer par toutes les procedures d’adhesion et assumer
les obligations de l’adhesion ” sans aucune exception “.

Loukachenko avait explique plus tôt dans la semaine que l’entree
de l’Armenie dans le bloc n’etait pas encore une ineluctable et
que Sarkissian n’a accompli qu’ ” un demi-pas ” dans ce sens le
mois dernier. ” Il y a trop d’incertitudes dans ce processus”,
a-t-il declare.

vendredi 25 octobre 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

RECONNAISSANCE ET RISQUES : LES DEPUTES PESENT MERITES / RISQUES DU PROJET DE LOI SUR LE KARABAGH

ARMENIE

La secretaire de la faction Heritage Zarouhi Postanjyan a tente
d’apporter une fois de plus l’attention active du parlement sur
le projet de loi sur ” la reconnaissance de l’independance du
Haut-Karabagh “, presente par son parti et rejete a plusieurs reprises
par la majorite, le considerant comme particulièrement important dans
le cadre de la decision du 3 septembre d’adherer a l’Union douanière.

” La reconnaissance de l’independance de la Republique du Haut-Karabagh
est de l’interet national des deux etats armeniens et de la nation
armenienne. Nous devons avoir un domaine juridique avec l’Artsakh,
avant d’entrer dans l’Union douanière, nous devons tout d’abord
avoir notre unite avec l’Artsakh ” a dit Zaruhi Postanjyan ddevant
la commission des affaires etrangères de l’Assemblee nationale. ”
De cette facon, nous pourrions donner la possibilite a d’autres pays
de le reconnaître aussi. Si nous reconnaissons le Karabagh, alors
ses representants pourront faire partie du processus de negociation “.

Des deputes armeniens ont souligne que la Republique d’Armenie a
de facto reconnu l’independance du Haut-Karabagh, mais qu’elle ne
peut pas faire de jure, base sur la conviction que, en faisant cela,
ils pourraient entraver le processus de negociation et risquer une
reprise de la guerre.

” Si nous devions reconnaître le Karabagh par l’Armenie, nous aurions
a prendre toutes les mesures pour assurer la securite de notre pays.

Ce n’est pas un projet de loi sur la creation d’une commission
anti-corruption, Mme Postanjyan, je suis intrigue par le fait que la
question est discutee aujourd’hui ” a repondu un depute independant,
l’avocat Edmon Marukyan.

Le chef de la faction Federation Revolutionnaire Armenienne Armen
Rustamyan a meme dit que si le projet de loi entre a l’ordre du jour
des discussions de la session plenière du parlement, la majorite
voterait contre elle, et le debat sur la question serait de nouveau
terminee.

” La reconnaissance par l’Armenie du Karabagh aurait certes avoir des
consequences, neanmoins la FRA la soutient, a vote pour le projet de
loi, il ne pouvait pas en etre autrement ” a-t-il dit.

Le vice-ministre des Affaires etrangères Shavarsh Kotcharian affirme
que le gouvernement armenien trouve que la reconnaissance de la
Republique du Haut Karabagh et l’examen de la question inopportunes
pour le moment, que reconnaître l’independance du Haut-Karabagh
l’Armenie ne serait pas favorable a un règlement de la question
alors que l’objectif de l’Armenie est d’obtenir la reconnaissance
internationale de la Republique du Haut Karabagh.

Nikol Pashinyan depute du Congrès National Armenien a dit que
la discussion au sein de la commission des affaires etrangères ne
pouvait pas se faire sans la participation des autorites du Karabagh
et a suggere que la discussion soit reportee afin de s’assurer de
leur presence.

” Sur quelle base juridique les autorites armeniennes negocient pour
le Karabagh ? ” a demande Pashinyan.

La Commission a ensuite donne une conclusion negative, desapprouvant
le projet de loi.

Le president Serge Sarkissian a parle contre ce projet lors d’une
reunion avec des journalistes, au cours de laquelle il a dit que ces
appels peuvent etre faits par ceux qui sont responsables de rien.

” Certains Armeniens vivant a Toronto pourraient l’aimer si l’Armenie
reconnaissait l’independance de la Republique du Haut Karabagh, mais
est-ce la peine de mettre en danger la vie de milliers de personnes ?

Est-il utile de reduire a neant deux decennies de longues negociations
a la suite de laquelle notre adversaire Azerbaïdjan rejette un document
sur la table, et nous dire ce qui est plus ou moins satisfaisant pour
nous ? Par une decision insensee devons-nous rendre sans valeur ce
qui nous a coûte des milliers de vies ? Il faut comprendre ce qu’est
la guerre “, a declare le president. ” Nous allons reconnaître le
Karabagh independant si l’Azerbaïdjan commence des hostilites actives
ou cree une situation inextricable ne nous laissant pas le choix “.

Par Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow

vendredi 25 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian