Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

RUSSIA WILL HARDLY RECOGNIZE NAGORNO-KARABAKH SOON – ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN

September 06, 2013 | 14:16

YEREVAN. – We must not expect that Russia will recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh in the near future, Secretary of the Armenian National
Security Council said.

Arthur Baghdasaryan noted that the documents signed by Russian and
Armenian leaders in Moscow condemn threats of use of force in Karabakh.

“Our relations with Russia are reaching a new stage. But, it is too
early to assume that Russia will soon recognize Nagorno-Karabakh. The
talks will show everything,” Baghdasaryan told reporters on Friday.

He stressed that negotiations will help define Karabakh’s participation
in the single customs union.

“I think the conditions offered to Armenia will be applied to
Nagorno-Karabakh, too. Such practice was in force in all the reforms
that Armenia pursued with Russia or the European Union, for example,
the reform of the judicial system with the support of the EU.

Everything that was confirmed in Armenia was proposed and confirmed in
the NKR. So, Armenia and Karabakh have been and will remain a single
economic space. A single customs union is not posing a threat to this,”
he said.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

ZHAMANAK: TRANSPORT FARE INCREASE COMMISSION NOT SET UP

Friday,
September
06

Zhamanak’ daily says Yerevan Mayor Taron Margarian-initiated commission
for examining transport fare increase problems has not been set
up. NGOs and civic activists have not yet submitted applications for
participation in the commission’s work.

The commission shall examine problems of social groups prior to the
increase in public transport fares. By the way, the transport problem
is not on the agenda of the first sitting of the Yerevan Council of
Elder on September 10. The reconstruction of Yerevan’s Closed Market
is not on the sitting’s agenda either.

TODAY, 10:40

Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian

CHANGEMENTS DE REGIME EN ARMENIE ? VERS UN SYSTEME PLEINEMENT PARLEMENTAIRE

ARMENIE

Le transfert d’un modèle presidentiel vers une gouvernance
parlementaire, qui devrait etre aborde lors des discussions a venir sur
les changements constitutionnels, est inacceptable et meme dangereux
selon certains deputes republicains.

Il y a quelques jours dans une interview a RFE / RL David Hautyunynan,
president de la commission parlementaire sur l’Etat et les affaires
juridiques, membre du conseil executif du parti republicain au pouvoir
(RPA), a declare que les autorites armeniennes et les decideurs du
parti ont commence la discussion sur les amendements constitutionnels
qui peuvent conduire a une decision sur le transfert vers un système
pleinement parlementaire de la gouvernance.

Selon lui, la Constitution adoptee en 1995 et modifiee en 2005 n’offre
pas de solutions suffisantes pour les problèmes d’aujourd’hui, il y a
donc une opinion partagee par certains qu’il est temps de reconsiderer
les principes fondamentaux de la gouvernance du pays et d’introduire
quelques changements.

Dimanche lors d’une reflexion sur cette question le president du
parlement Hovik Abrahamian a declare a la presse lors d’un briefing
a Armavir que le processus est a un stade de discussions, mais
rien n’a ete dit au sujet de l’evolution reelle vers une republique
parlementaire. Il a affirme que le système de gouvernance qui existe
aujourd’hui en Armenie ” fonctionne très bien “.

Le Chef de faction RPA Galust Sahakian a declare a la presse mardi
que ” naturellement, il est necessaire de modifier la Constitution “,
cependant, dit-il, c’est un processus assez fastidieux ” necessitant
le developpement de documents de reflexion, de discussions ouvertes
pour le rendre public. Cela ne se passera pas demain ou le lendemain,
donc il faut que que nous soyons en mesure de dire aujourd’hui ce
que nous prevoyons de faire “.

En reference a une eventuelle discussion sur le passage a un système
parlementaire, Galust Sahakian a declare que le modèle de gouvernance
en Armenie ne doit pas etre modifie, d’ailleurs, ce serait dangereux
pour l’Armenie.

” Nous sommes un pays en etat de guerre avec des voies de
communications bloquees. Pouvez-vous imaginer ce qui pourrait arriver a
une situation où des decisions urgentes doivent etre prises si chacune
des parties s’en tient a sa position respective ? Quelqu’un doit avoir
le mandat pour tous. Dans la pratique mondiale, les reformes, les
developpements economiques et les modes de vie ne sont jamais relies
au système de gouvernance ” a dit Galust Sahakian, ajoutant que le
groupe de travail en charge des changements constitutionnels tiendra
des discussions, acceptera les suggestions des forces politiques et
des citoyens d’Armenie, et en consequence, le document sera realise
avant un referendum public.

Gohar Abrahamian

ArmeniaNow

vendredi 6 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

UN VILLAGE ARMENIEN SOUFFRE D’UN SECOND EXODE

ARMENIE

” Nous ne voulons pas partir, mais nous allons devoir que cela nous
plaise ou non ” a declare Tsaghik Tsaturyan.

Tsaghik Tsaturyan, 57 ans, vit dans le village de Dzyunashogh, près
de la frontière nord de l’Armenie avec la Georgie, qui est en passe
de perdre sa population car les gens optent pour une vie plus facile
ailleurs. Seules 56 des 300 maisons sont encore occupees soit un
total de 169 personnes.

” L’ecole va fermer. Les enfants ne naissent plus et il n’y a pas
beaucoup de jeunes ici “, a declare Tsaghik Tsaturyan. ” Les routes
sont en très mauvaises etat. Le gazoduc a ete ferme donc nous devons
utiliser du fumier seche pour chauffer nos maisons en hiver. Pour
les legumes, seuls les pommes de terre, les haricots et les choux
poussent ici, et comme fruits seules les pommes “.

Tsaghik Tsaturyan doit se rendre dans un village voisin a cinq
kilomètres afin d’obtenir un traitement medical. Il n’y a pas de
transport public, et peu de gens possèdent des voitures, alors
elle doit prendre un taxi sui lui coûte 5000 drams, soit environ 12
dollars americains.

Yana Mamikonyan, chef de l’administration du village, dit que les
habitants doivent vendre leur lait pas cher, mais payer des prix
eleves pour les legumes qu’ils achètent d’autres villages, parce que
les mauvaises routes augmentent le prix du transport.

L’un des problèmes les plus graves dit Yana Mamikonyan est
le vieillissement du reseau d’approvisionnement en eau. ” Il y a
seulement quelques rues où les maisons ont l’eau courante. Je suis
a la tete de l’administration du village, mais je n’ai pas l’eau a
la maison, et je dois faire 250 mètres chaque jour. Les tuyaux n’ont
pas ete remplaces [en deux decennies] “dit-elle. ” C’est une vie très
dure ici, et c’est pourquoi les gens s’en vont “.

Elle a ajoute : ” Nous ne nous attendions pas a obtenir un soutien
de l’Etat. Je suis alle vers eux avec nos problèmes a de nombreuses
reprises. C’est seulement en periode electorale que les candidats se
tournent ici, lâchent deux kilos de sucre pour tout le monde, puis
repartent “. Au cours de la campagne pour l’election parlementaire
de mai 2012, le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a indique que le
maintient de villages comme Dzyunashogh n’etait pas une priorite.

” S’il y a un autre village dans la meme vallee qui a de l’eau potable
et de l’irrigation, du gaz et internet, et une ecole et une maternelle
en bon etat, alors je prefère que les 10 ou 12 familles … y aillent
et mettent leurs enfants dans une ecole decente jusqu’a ce que nous
puissions arriver dans leurs villages, fournir du gaz et construire
une ecole “, a-t-il dit.

L’ironie particulière dans Dzyunashogh, c’est que c’est la deuxième
fois qu’il a ete depeuple. Jusqu’en 1989, il etait habitee par des
Azerbaïdjanais qui l’ont quitte en masse alors que les tensions ont
augmente au cours du conflit du Haut-Karabagh.

Dans ce cas, le depart des villageois s’est effectue avec un echange de
gros avec Kerkenj, une colonie armenienne en Azerbaïdjan au nord-ouest,
dont les anciens habitants ont emmenage dans Dzyunashogh.

Cela faisait partie d’un exode bidirectionnelle impliquant des
centaines de milliers de personnes des deux côtes.

” J’avais dix ans quand nous avons demenage a Dzyunashogh, mais je me
souviens de Kerkenj ” declare Norayr Tsaturyan, maintenant 35 ans avec
trois enfants. ” Au debut, quand nous venions s juste d’etre deplace,
cela etait difficile pour les adultes. Mais c’est comme a la maison
pour moi. Je me souviens d’avoir amener mon chien ici de Kerkenj “.

Les relations entre l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan restent pauvres, et il
y a des tirs sporadiques a travers la frontière et autour du Karabagh.

Dans un rare exemple de cooperation, les gens des deux villages se
sont engages a maintenir les cimetières qu’ils ont laisses derrière
dans l’echange – les chretiens armeniens dans Kerkenj et les musulmans
dans Dzyunashogh. Quand l’Institute for War & Peace Reporting l’a
visite il y a quelques annees, les villageois etaient toujours en
contact les uns avec les autres.

Norayr Tsaturyan se souvient : ” Nous avons pris des photos des
tombes et les avons envoyes la-bas afin qu’ils puissent etre sûr
que nous les avions laisse intactes et non touchees. Ils ont fait
la meme chose pour nous …. Pourquoi devrions-nous detruire leurs
tombes ? Nous ne sommes pas des barbares “.

Il a ajoute que les gens de Kerkenj avaient l’habitude de visiter
Dzyunashogh en faisant un voyage sinueux a travers la Georgie, mais
ce n’est plus possible.

L’avenir de Dzyushanogh comme commune est de plus en plus incertain.

” Ceux qui quittent le village ne reviennent pas ” a declare Svetlana
Sarkisova, l’ancien directrice de l’ecole locale. ” Certaines personnes
abattent leurs maisons et les vendent comme materiau de construction,
et partent en Russie ou en Ukraine “.

La plupart des jeunes gens se marient et commencent a travailler
immediatement après l’ecole car leurs parents ne peuvent pas se
permettre de financer leurs etudes. L’ecole du village a encore 43
enfants et huit enseignants, mais ce chiffre est en baisse d’annee
en annee. Le bâtiment est en mauvais etat, avec des classes humides
et le plancher et les fenetres brisees.

Sarkisova, qui est originaire de Bakou plutôt que Kerkenj, a perdu son
emploi en tant que directrice de l’ecole parce qu’elle ne parlait assez
couramment l’armenien pour satisfaire les autorites de l’education.

” Mon problème est que je suis un specialiste de la Russie. Je n’ai
appris que le script armenien ici en Armenie, et j’ai appris a le lire
et a l’ecrire. Avec ma pauvre connaissance de l’armenien, il etait
difficile d’obtenir le certificat dont j’avais besoin pour diriger
une ecole “, dit-elle. ” J’ai enseigne les enfants refugies dans cette
ecole depuis deux decennies, tout au long des annees de froid. C’est
moi qui ai obtenu personnellement tous les livres a l’ecole … et
maintenant on a besoin de moi “. Le fils aîne de Sarkisova a demenage
avec sa famille en Ukraine il y a trois ans. Son plus jeune fils vit
toujours dans Dzyunashogh, et est un professeur d’education physique
a l’ecole.

Sarkisov dit qu’elle ne quittera jamais Dzyunashogh, advienne que
pourra.

” Savez-vous combien de fois j’ai perdu ma maison ? Je ne veux tout
simplement pas risquer de bouger “, dit-elle. ” Nous avons quitte
notre maison et tout ce que nous avions a Bakou, sans meme vendre
notre maison pour obtenir un peu d’argent. Il y a eu des moments
très difficiles. Notre seul souci etait de sortir nos enfants de la
vivants et indemnes “.

Lilit Arakelyan est une journaliste qui ecrit pour le site Medialab.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

vendredi 6 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA AWARDS TURKISH WRITER WITH ‘GRIGOR NAREKATSI’ MEDAL

Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey
September 4, 2013 Wednesday

Armenian Culture Ministry has awarded the Turkish writer Yasar Kemal
with the ‘Grigor Narekatsi’ Medal ISTANBUL (AA) – Armenian Culture
Ministry has awarded the Turkish writer Yasar Kemal with the Grigor
Narekatsi Medal. A committee, including the representative of Armenian
Culture Ministry Seyranuhi Geghamyan, an Armenian Deputy Aragats
Akhoyan and the representatives of Western Armenian Council Vahan
Melikian and Sevag Ardzruni, arrived in Turkey so as to present the
medal to the writer. The representative of Armenien Culture Ministry
Seyranuhi Geghamyan made a statement and said, “We are here to convey
Armenian people’s feelings of appreciation to Kemal showing individual
chivalry as opposing to the destruction of an Armenian church in
Akdamar Island situated on Lake Van.” On the other hand, writer Yasar
Kemal stated, “I am honored by the Grigor Narekatsi medal. Grigor
Narekatsi, whose poesy is as important as his holy personalty, is also
my countryman. I thank the Armenian Culture Ministry which builds a
friendly bridge in the name of Saint Grigor Narekatsi. Our common wish
is a world where hostility becomes friendship and anger becomes love.”

The ‘Grigor Narekatsi’ Medal receives its name from a monk, poet and
philosopher Grigor who lived between 951-1003. Saint Grigor is said
to have lived mostly in eastern province Van in Turkey.

From: Baghdasarian

PUT ARMENIA’S CHOICE OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION TO VOTE

Huffington Post
Sept 5 2013

by Simon Saradzhyan
Research fellow, Harvard’s Belfer Center

It is unfortunate that decisions of such tremendous importance for
the Armenian nation’s future, as whether this former Soviet republic
should apply for membership in the Customs Union (CU), are prepared
and made without asking the Armenian public’s opinion.

The decision — that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has announced
when hosted by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier
this week — had been prepared in such secrecy that, apparently, even
some of the senior officials in the Armenian government and parliament
had not been briefed in advance, to say less of the general public.

One would have thought that this momentous decision would have merited
a comprehensive explanation, especially, given that the Armenian
president’s hand-picked Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan (no relation
to the president) was sceptical about Armenia’s membership in CU as
recently as last year. At that time the premier’s public position was
that countries don’t participate in customs unions with which they
don’t have common borders. Rather than explain exactly what caused the
Armenian government to become more optimistic about CU membership, the
president merely stated that “it is a rational decision stemming from
the national interests of Armenia.” “This decision does not constitute
a refusal to continue our dialogue with European structures,” he added.

Continued dialogue with the European Union (EU) might indeed be what
Sargsyan has hoped for. However, that didn’t stop senior EU officials
from expressing surprise and asserting that the Association Agreement
and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) that Armenia
has planned to sign with the European Union in November — is “not
compatible” with membership in the Customs Union. Swedish Foreign
Minister Carl Bildt – who is known to have no love lost for Russia –
described Sargsyan’s decision as a “U-turn.”

We don’t know whether Sargsyan has given any of EU’s top dogs a heads
up on his decision to have Armenia join CU, but it is clear that the
Armenian leader has certainly failed to ask his own nation before
making a choice that will have a tremendous impact on the lives of
his compatriots.

Why is it that Ukraine’s Viktor Yanukovych — who is not exactly a
beacon of participatory democracy — has recently announced that the
Ukrainians would get a chance to vote to choose between DCFTA with
EU and membership in CU, but Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan has decided
that consulting his nation on the same choice is not necessary? I
don’t the exact answer to that question. But I do know a national
leader increases probability of making a fateful mistake every time
he confines process of formulating a momentous decision to a narrow
circle of confidants.

It is not that I harbor illusions that the package deal with EU
would miraculously transform Armenia into a prosperous country with
effective public administration overnight. Nor do I want to imply that
I believe that Armenia’s membership in the Customs Union would be a
mistake. Rather my point is that there is no sufficient information
on this issue available to even someone — who regularly monitors the
news out of Armenian as I do — to understand which of the two options
the best for the Armenian nation is. And I suspect that many residents
of Armenia are also in the dark because there has been no publicly
available detailed comparison of costs and benefits associated with
Armenia’s membership in CU versus DCFTA.

On a personal level, as a Russian citizen of Armenian descent, I can
only welcome a strong relationship between Russia and Armenia and I am
sure majority of Armenians living in Armenia hold the same view. But
as a scholar of government decision making, I cannot help wondering
whether the Armenian authorities have thoroughly weighed all pro’s
and con’s of Armenia’s membership in CU and association with EU, and,
if so why the results of this analysis has not been shared with the
Armenian public.

Off the top of my head I can give you half a dozen of good reasons
why Armenia should be in the Customs Union, including the fact
that Russia is Armenia’s largest trading partner among individual
countries, supplier of affordable weapons, which Armenia needs to deter
Azerbaijan, and a major source of foreign investment and remittances
sent by Armenian diaspora. One should also factor in potential
costs of alienating Russia, which is keen to see CU expand. Russia’s
potential as a spoiler vis-a-vis Armenia is unmatched, given the role
it plays as a guarantor for Armenia’s security, Armenia’s dependence
on Russian gas and other levers that Moscow has vis-a-vis Yerevan. A
Russia alienated by Armenia can also aid Armenia’s arch-foe —
Azerbaijan. (Even being Armenia’s ally, Russia has sold Azerbaijan
4 billion dollars worth of weapons, as Azeri president Ilham Aliev
revealed when hosting his Russian counterpart Putin who visited Baku
in August in what some political analysts in Armenia interpreted as
a warning to the Armenian leadership which at that time was signaling
readiness to sign the EU association agreement.)

But association with EU through DCFTA is not without merit either,
especially given that EU’s 27 member countries are collectively
Armenia’s largest trading partner and the know-how in modernization of
economy and public administration that Yerevan can glean from Brussels.

Exactly why Armenia’s government and research community had not
researched and publicly presented comparative analysis of the two
options before Sargsyan unveiled his choice on September 3rd is
unclear. (That such indigenous comparison was lacking as late as this
summer became clear to me when leadership of one of Armenia’s premier
think-tanks asked me whether I could refer them to any study on costs
and benefits of Armenia’s membership in either CU or EU, albeit there
have been external assessments on benefits of association with EU
for Armenia, such as this one) Perhaps, one reason could be that the
Armenian leadership is reluctant to admit that Russia’s importance as
a security partner trumps any economic benefits of deeper cooperation
with EU. It might be also the case that preserving the Kremlin’s
support is instrumental for Armenia’s ruling elite as it seeks to
preserve the political stability in the republic.

Whether it is security or political considerations or simple
lack of foresight that have prevented a meaningful discussion of
Armenia’s economic cooperation options, lack of such a debate is
still regretful. Encouraging a public debate of such options and then
putting these options to a vote is the least that a leader could have
done for the people who have elected him to steer their nation state
toward not only security, but also prosperity.

From: Baghdasarian

PUTIN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESS MEDIA AFTER TALKS – KREMLIN TRANSCRIPT

President of the Russian Federation website
Set 4 2013

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mr Sargsyan, ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to note that as always, my talks with the President
of Armenia were conducted in a very business-oriented, constructive
and friendly atmosphere. They reflected the nature of our strategic
partnership relations.

I will note that we had a substantive discussion of all the main issues
of the Russian-Armenian cooperation, including, first and foremost,
prospects for further developing our economic ties.

The Russian side supports Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union
and engage in the Eurasian integration process and its formalisation.

We will assist this process in every possible way. I am confident that
Yerevan’s participation in the Eurasian integration institutions will
give a big boost to mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

Russia is Armenia’s leading trade and economic partner. Last year,
our turnover grew by 22 per cent, exceeding 1.2bn dollars. We managed
to maintain the same trend this year. In January-May of this year,
we registered an additional 13 per cent growth in trade.

Moreover, we have achieved high investment figures. The volume of
accumulated Russian capital investment is over 3bn dollars. This
accounts for nearly half of all foreign investments in Armenia’s
economy.

There are approximately 1,300 Russian companies operating in Armenia,
and they make up more than 25 per cent of all joint ventures with
foreign participation. They operate in a wide range of sectors,
including gas, nuclear and hydropower, transport, telecommunications
and finance.

The major projects include Gazprom’s participation in the construction
of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Inter RAO UES’s work to renew the
Sevan-Hrazdan cascade HPP [hydroelectric power plant], and continued
cooperation in the nuclear sector. Rosatom experts reached an agreement
with Armenian specialists to focus their efforts on implementing a
project to extend the operation of the Armenian nuclear power plant
by ten years.

Anticipated investments by Russian Railways in developing the Armenian
railway network may be as high as R15bn [approximately 500m dollars].

Partners in the banking sector, including Russia’s Vneshtorgbank and
Gazprombank, are also broadening their cooperation.

Interregional ties play a key role as well. More than 70 Russian
regions are engaged in this cooperation. The third Russian-Armenian
Interregional Forum will be held in October 2013.

We intend to continue promoting cooperation in culture and encouraging
scientific contacts, student exchanges and, of course, youth exchanges
in general.

We are developing an initiative to create a Russian-language magnet
school and open a Moscow State University branch in Yerevan. We have
proven experience in the field of education and we will certainly
use it – I am referring to the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University
and branches of six Russian university that have opened in Armenia,
which are educating over two thousand students.

Naturally, we also focused on international problems. And, of course,
we also discussed the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement.

I want to once again thank Mr Sargsyan and all our Armenian friends
and partners for a productive, sincere conversation. Thank you for
accepting our invitation and coming to Moscow.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SERZH SARGSYAN: Mr Putin, ladies and gentlemen,

I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to Mr Putin for this open,
trust-based atmosphere. We just completed talks and reached agreements
aimed at further developing Armenian-Russian relations.

As you just heard, the President of the Russian Federation and
I discussed the main issues pertaining to the allied interaction
between our nations in the political, trade and economic, energy,
military technology, humanitarian and other sectors, in the typically
constructive tone of our relations.

Naturally, we discussed regional affairs and the Nagornyy Karabakh
peace settlement; I once again confirmed Armenia’s readiness to resolve
the conflict solely by peaceful means based on the integral principles
of equal rights and the peoples’ right to self-determination, non-use
of force or threat of force, and national territorial integrity.

I re-confirmed our readiness to continue looking for solutions to end
the crisis based on the settlement principles and elements reflected
in the joint statements by the presidents of Russia, the United States
and France.

One of the main topics in our talks today was the need for
infrastructure transformations in Armenia, modernization and
diversification of our economy, which features a large number of
Russia enterprises.

We had a detailed discussion on potential areas for cooperation to
broaden the horizons of our joint work, for example, in the military
technology and fuel and energy sectors, including cooperation in
nuclear energy, transport and supply lines.

We also had a substantive exchange of views on Eurasian integration
issues, and I confirmed Armenia’s desire to join the Customs Union and
get involved in the process of creating the Eurasian Economic Union.

Twenty years ago, Armenia built its military security system within
the Collective Security Treaty format, in partnership with Russia
and several other CIS nations. Over the last decades, the system has
proven its viability and efficacy.

Now, our CSTO partners are creating a new platform for economic
cooperation. I have stated on many occasions that since we share
a system of military security, it is impossible and inefficient to
isolate ourselves from the corresponding geo-economical space. This
is a rational decision; it is a decision based on Armenia’s national
interests. This decision is not a rejection of our dialogue with
European institutions.

Over the years, Armenia has undergone many serious infrastructure
reforms with support from European partners. And in this respect,
today’s Armenia is a much more productive and competitive state than
it was several years ago. We are determined to continue these reforms
into the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, the results of our talks are reflected in the
joint statements that the President of Russia and I just signed. I am
confident that implementing all our agreements will give our strategic
allied partnership new momentum.

Thank you, Mr Putin, for your warm welcome and for our agreements.

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIAN DIRECT INVESTMENTS MAKE UP 39.5% OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS INTO ARMENIA’S ECONOMY

YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. Russia’s direct investments make up
39.5% of foreign direct investments into Armenia’s economy, Evgeny
Vinokurov, the head of the Eurasian Bank’s Center for Integration
Studies, said in an interview with ARKA News Agency.

He said the direct investments of Customs Union member countries in
Armenia almost fully consist of Russian investments, which amounted
to $1.93 billion in late 2012.

Kazakhstan and Belarus’ direct investments in Armenia’s economy total
$13 million.

“The amount of Russian investments in Armenia is significant
especially given that Armenia is the country with ninth largest GDP
in the Commonwealth of Independent States plus Georgia and the fifth
country for its accumulated Russian investments in the region. Russia
is Armenia’s largest investor,” Vinokurov said in his interview.

He said Russian direct investments in Armenia are intended for
modernization of backbone sectors of the economy – railways, gas
transportation, electric energy, nonferrous metals industry, banking
and insurance as well as mobile telecommunication, Internet and data
transmission. —0—-

19:40 05.09.2013

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN FRANCOPHONE GAMES 2013

11:56, 5 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: The 7th Francophone Games 2013 will
be held in Nice, France on September 7-15, attended by the Armenian
delegation as well. This was reported to Armenpress by the Department
for Mass Media and Public Relations of the Ministry of Sport and
Youth Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian delegation
will be headed by the Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of
the Republic of Armenia Arev Samuelyan.

At the Francophone Games 2013 the Republic of Armenia will be
represented by 22 sportsmen. In 2013 our country will be represented
by 6 sportsmen in athletics, 2 table tennis players, 5 highway cyclers,
6 freestyle wrestlers and 6 judo wrestlers.

From: Baghdasarian

ORANGE CONTINUES BEING THE QUALITY-LEADING MOBILE INTERNET NETWORK IN ARMENIA ACCORDING TO AN INTERNATIONAL STUDY

Business – Thursday, 05 September 2013, 14:40

For the second time Orange Armenia has been recognized as the leading
3G+ mobile internet network in Armenia, according to the study
conducted by the independent “P3 Communications” German consulting
firm. The study, based on the use of international standards, has
evaluated several parameters, such as access to static websites,
including the YouTube homepage, video streaming, sending and receiving
emails, file upload and download, latency measurement and website
access time. All tests were conducted with commercially available USB
modems, smartphones and specific software.As a result of the study,
performed in Armenia this year, it has been concluded that Orange
Armenia provides the best speed and quality for internet services in
Armenia, for all above-mentioned services.”During 2012 and 2013 we
have increased the network capability and are providing a network with
speeds of up to 42Mbps in Yerevan, Gumri, Vanadzor and Etchmiadzine
and 21Mbps in all other cities and villages. I am happy to note that
we are continuing to be the leading quality network in Armenia and
have even improved our performance compared to the study performed by
P3 Communications in last December. We are pleased that our strategic
focus on network quality is bearing its fruits. Along with this, new
villages were covered by Orange during the last months. Some of them,
like Antaramut and Kachachkut villages of Lori region or Geghanush
and Gomaran villages of Syunik Region, are benefitting from telecom
services for the first time”, said Francis Gelibter, CEO of Orange
Armenia.In Armenia, the measurements took place from June 15 to June
29, 2013 in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, and Etchmiadzin considering
that almost 80% of the data traffic is generated in these areas
due to concentration of population. Measurements were made in city
centres, business, commercial and suburban areas, with around 19% of
measurements performed in motion, travelling within cities.The study
has been conducted on behalf of Orange Group by “P3 Communications”,
a leading international independent consulting firm. It is part of
continuing measurement campaigns focusing on the quality of selected 3G
mobile data service operators in Europe, comparing measurement results
from 26 mobile networks compared in Orange markets across Europe.

From: Baghdasarian