Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LA BANQUE MONDIALE NOTE UNE NETTE AMELIORATION DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT ECONOMIQUE ARMENIEN
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 24 octobre 2012

Dans une enquete annuelle mondiale publiee mardi 23 octobre 2012,
la Banque mondiale fait etat d’une amelioration significative de
l’environnement des affaires en Armenie. La banque ” Doing Business
2013 ” a examine 11 aspects de la reglementation du gouvernement au
sujet des petites et moyennes entreprises, de la fiscalite, de la
facilite d’ouverture et de fermeture des entreprises. L’Armenie est
32ème dans le dernier classement. Elle occupait la 50e place lors
de l’enquete precedente et est en avance sur la plupart des autres
anciennes republiques sovietiques. La Banque mondiale a constate
uneforte amelioration de la protection des investisseurs prives : ”
L’Armenie a renforce la protection des investisseurs en introduisant
l’obligation pour des actionnaires d’approuver les transactions entre
parties liees, exigeant une plus grande divulgation de ces operations
dans le rapport annuel, et de la rendre plus transparente lorsque
ces transactions sont prejudiciables “, a explique le rapport.

Les auteurs de l’etude ont egalement observe des progrès serieux
concernant les efforts des autorites armeniennes en cours pour rendre
la fiscalite moins lourde et arbitraire. Leur rapport detaille affirme
que les autorites ont reduit de plus de moitie, a 13, le nombre de
paiements annuels pour les benefices des societes, la propriete et les
impôts fonciers ainsi que des contributions de securite sociale. Les
entreprises locales ont generalement effectue 50 paiements en 2010.

Pourtant, l’Armenie est classee 108e en termes de qualite de
l’administration fiscale, meme si la Banque mondiale observe une
nette amelioration. La corruption et le favoritisme parmi les
agents du fisc est un autre problème serieux au sein du monde de
l’entreprise. La simplification des procedures fiscales a ete une
priorite du gouvernement armenien et du Premier ministre Tigran
Sarkissian en particulier. La mise en place en janvier 2011 du depôt
electronique obligatoire et du paiement des principaux impôts a ete
parmi les reformes fiscales mises en place par le gouvernement ces
dernières annees.

L’Armenie se distingue par ses procedures simples et rapides pour
creer une entreprise. Selon la Banque mondiale,le pays reste parmi
les meilleurs du monde concernant cette formalite. Le Premier ministre
Sarkissian, qui a maintes fois souligne l’importance des conclusions
de l’enquete, n’a pas tarde a saluer le ” progrès sans precedent ”
de l’Armenie. ” Nous devons encore progresser et nos efforts devraient
se concentrer sur l’amelioration de cette situation. ”

Les autorites d’Erevan ont ete pendant des annees sous la pression de
la Banque mondiale et le Fonds monetaire international afin d’ameliorer
l’environnement des affaires. Les etablissements de credit estiment
que ces reformes sont vitales pour le developpement durable du
developpement economique du pays.

Les declarations de la Banque mondiale ont ete minimisees par
l’opposition armenienne. Vahagn Khachatrian, un membre du Congrès
National Armenien (HAK), a insiste mardi 23 octobre 2012 sur le fait
que le climat de l’investissement interieur ne s’est ameliore que ”
sur le papier “.

Albert Babayan, un haut fonctionnaire du Ministère de l’Economie,
n’etait pas d’accord. Babayan a fait valoir que l’enquete est fondee,
dans une large mesure, sur les opinions et les evaluations de gens
d’affaires armeniens. Les resultats de l’enquete temoignent donc que
l’Armenie a fait un bond en avant au sujet des reformes economiques,
a-t-il dit.

mercredi 24 octobre 2012, Laetitia ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

MEDIAMAX’S JOURNALIST AWARDED A PRIZE FOR REPORTING UN ACTIVITY

Mediamax
Oct 23 2012
Armenia

Mediamax’s journalist Eleonora Araratyan was awarded the third prize
at the annual award for professional reporting of the UN activity today

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Mediamax’s journalist Eleonora Araratyan was awarded
the third prize at the annual award for professional reporting of
the UN activity today.

Eleonora Araratyan was awarded the prize for her “What is the processed
plastic waste used for in Armenia?” article.

The awards ceremony as held within the events devoted to the 67th
anniversary of the UN and the 20th anniversary of its activities
in Armenia.

The prize was awarded to the Mediamax’s journalist by UN Permanent
Coordinator Dafina Gercheva who is completing her mission in Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA IMPROVES ITS RANKING BY 18 POINTS IN DOING BUSINESS REPORT, OCCUPYING THE 32D POSITION

Mediamax
Oct 23 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenia has significantly improved its position
by 18 points in Doing Business 2013 report published today by the
World Bank, reaching the 32d position among 185 countries.

Armenia has moved up by 4 points on 10 criteria defining the final
ranking: dealing for construction permits- 3 points (46th position);
getting electricity – 42 points (101st position) protecting investors –
73 points (25th position); paying taxes- 44 points (108th position).

Regress is registered in 3 areas: starting a business – 1 point
(11th position); getting credits – 2 points (40th position) and
trading across borders – 1 point (107th position).

The rest of criteria remain unchanged against last year: registering
property – 4th position; enforcing contracts – 91st position and
resolving insolvency – 63d position.

Despite the progress, paying taxes and trading across borders remain
Armenia’s weak sides (108th and 107th places correspondingly).

In Doing Business 2013, Armenia is ranked between Belgium and
Netherlands. Neighboring Georgia is in the top ten of leaders this
year occupying the 9th position, whereas Azerbaijan is the 67th.

The three leaders in the ranking are Singapore, Hong Kong and New
Zealand.

The report on Armenia is available here:

From: Baghdasarian

MP CALLS ON ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SHUT DOWN ‘KGB BASEMENT’

tert.am
23.10.12

Speaking in Parliament, Zaruhi Postanjyan, a Heritage parliamentary
group member, called on Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to shut
down the Yerevan-Center penitentiary.

It is perceived as a “KGB basement” by society, she added.

According to Mrs Postanjyan, Armenia’s president, who was Chief of
Armenia’s National Security Service, can easily order the shutdown of
“the fear-inspiring premises.”

“I am calling on Armenia’s leader to rid Armenia of this structure,
which is reminiscent of a tyrannical state, and open a history museum
in the premises, which would tell about the crimes committed by the
KGB and Armenia’s National Security Service, as well as about the
victims that spend their days there,” Postanjyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST ARMENIA AT ECHR – OPPOSITION REP

tert.am
23.10.12

Speaking in Armenia’s Parliament on Tuesday, Gagik Jhangiryan, an MP
of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary group, touched
on the verdicts against Armenia returned by the European Court of
Human Rights (ECHR).

The verdicts are evidence of violations of Armenian citizens’
fundamental rights and freedoms and force Armenia into paying
compensations amounting to tens of thousands of Euros, Jhangiryan said.

“Hundreds of new complaints lodged by Armenian citizens are waiting
for their turn at the ECHR,” he added.

“It is common knowledge that a large number of complaints concern
the cases that involve political orders and coercion,” Jhangiryan said.

Although of importance, the financial aspect does not play the key
role when Armenia’s international reputation is at stake.

In this context, Jhangiryan touched on the complaints lodged by the
persons illegally convicted in the March 1 case. European official
refused to view them as political prisoners before PACE approved
Resolution #1900. In their turn, Armenia’s authorities considered
them criminals.

“In the resolution, PACE invites all the CE member-states to revise
the cases of all the likely political prisoners,” Jhangiryan said.

According to him, Armenia’s ruling coalition still has a chance to
“atone its sins” against four MPs by voting for a bill on setting up
an ad hoc committee on March 1 murders submitted by the ANC group.

From: Baghdasarian

67TH ANNIVERSARY OF UN AND 20 YEARS OF COOPERATION CELEBRATED IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 23, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS: The 67th anniversary of UN founding
and 20 years of cooperation with Armenia have been celebrated in
Armenia. Secretary-General of UN Ban Ki-moon noted in the message
issued on this occasion that the poverty has decreased for almost 50
percent from 2000.

“We shall prepare a certain and practical agenda of development for
the period after 2015. We must continue to fight against intolerance,
save the people engaged in the conflicts and establish lasting peace”
was noted in the statement.

Davina Gercheva United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP
Resident Representative in Armenia highlighted on October 23 that the
strategic cooperation with the privet sector, educational sector, and
civil society was aimed to show the role of impartial and promoting
supporter on the way to the practical democracy and to market economy
for Armenia during the breakthrough.

“We have promoted the development of the goals during these 20
years through legislative reforms and strengthening of social ties”
noted Gercheva.

According to the Deputy Minister of MFA Ashot Hovakimyan the activity
of UN is reaching all the nooks of Armenia and promotes the prosperity
of our country.

A photography exhibition was launched during the event, which aimed
to raise public awareness about the UN values.

From: Baghdasarian

PREVENTIVE MEASURES: ARMENIA RESPONDS TO AZERBAIJAN’S MILITARY RHETORIC BY SHOWING AIRSTRIKE CAPABILITY
By Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow
22.10.12 | 11:03

Photo: MOD Press Department

Last week Armenia marked the Day of Armenian Missile and Artillery
Troops. But that wasn’t the main factor that generated interest in
the missile forces. The main interest was fueled by the unprecedented
statement made by Armenia’s deputy defense minister about Armenia’s
being ready to carry out strike against the oil and gas infrastructure
of the “conventional enemy” in the event of the latter’s aggression.

Enlarge Photo

Major-General Artak Davtyan, commenting on the recent exercises of the
armed forces of Armenia and Karabakh during which launches of missiles
with a range of 300 km were simulated, stated that the missiles are
aimed specifically to target [Azerbaijan’s] industrial infrastructure.

He noted that the missile strikes would be of preventive nature and
would be directed against specific sites: the oil, gas and energy
infrastructure that supports the [Azerbaijani] economy.

In August 2010 Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, talking
about the modernization of weapons, stated that in the future focus
would be on the acquisition of long-range and high-precision weapons,
as well as their domestic production. At a military parade in 2012
such weapons were shown.

The statements about the possibility of launching precision strikes
were taken in Azerbaijan with anxiety. On the one hand, the fact that
the great powers did not react to that was perceived in Baku as a
message about the inadmissibility of renewed hostilities in Karabakh.

“Along with the exploitation of its oil and gas fields Azerbaijan
has all the capabilities to ensure their security,” said head of the
press service of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan Eldar Sabiroglu
in a statement.

“As for the oil and gas infrastructure, it is shared by Azerbaijan
with the major powers of the world and their companies. Besides,
there are all the necessary forces and means of air defenses to
protect that infrastructure. At the same time, the opponent must
be reminded that the new missile system in Azerbaijan can reach any
strategic facility in the territory of Armenia,” he added.

Azerbaijani expert Rauf Mirkadirov says that, in fact, “the matter
concerns the destruction of the main elements of the Southern Energy
Corridor, which should become a major factor in ensuring Europe’s
energy security by reducing its dependence on Russia in this field.”

Furthermore, in the expert’s view, it would be tantamount to a
declaration of war by Armenia to Georgia. At the same time, he
says, such missile strikes may be carried out only in the event of
Azerbaijan’s aggression, which means that the blame for the destruction
of the Southern Energy Corridor will be laid on Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, in 2013 Azerbaijan has earmarked $3.7 billion for military
spending. Experts point out that Azerbaijan is buying up submarines
and boats, thus showing that the purpose of its armament is not only
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, but rather Iran and Turkmenistan.

The Armenian side says that its missiles, warnings, and large-scale
exercises are intended to maintain stability in the region and prevent
“adventures”.

“Exercises are an activity aimed at reinforcing peace and stability
and our army is capable of enforcing peace,” says Armenian military
expert David Jamalyan.

“The new military equipment of our army – anti-tank weapons,
missiles, air defense facilities, armored vehicles – all this can
deter aggression of the enemy,” says Jamalyan. He added that special
equipment had been installed to allow aircraft to enter the airspace
of Karabakh from Azerbaijan.

Recently, the US-based Center for Military Analysis, IMINT, also
published information and made a satellite photograph showing that
in the Syunik province of Armenia there are two units of S300 air
defense systems. Thus, the Armenian Armed Forces have taken under
their protection the entire airspace of Nagorno-Karabakh.

From: Baghdasarian

POLITICAL LIFE OF ARMENIA AROUND INTRIGUES

Vestnik Kavkaza
Oct 22 2012
Russia

Author: Interview by Susanna Petrosyan, exclusive to VK

A former senior advisor to the Armenian president on national security,
Ashot Manucharyan, answers the questions of VK about the situation
in Armenian internal policy on the eve of elections.

VK: The presidential electoral campaign is approaching. How would
you describe the political landscape of Armenia?

AM: If politics mean a certain understanding of society’s structure
and the ways that lead to it, politics do not exist in Armenia.

Instead of parties we have structures that pursue their personal or
group interests. The victory or defeat of any of these powers does not
change the life of the society. Armenian political life is centered
around intrigues and not ideas.

VK: What in your opinion are the reasons for the lack of unity in the
opposition? How plausible is the appearance of a united opposition
candidate in the upcoming elections?

AM: In no country does the opposition unite, opposition forces
are always different. The problem is that there are no ideas. The
opposition has absolutely no ideology, like the ruling groups, and
like them has nothing to offer the country. The lack of unity is
connected to the lack of a unifying idea, unlike in 2008 when there
was an idea of constitutional order. This was the aim that united 18
opposition parties that supported one candidate – Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

But the previous ideas have been worked through. The division of
powers, market economy and the development of democracy does not sound
persuasive to the people and simply does not work today. And there are
no new milestones. It is necessary to note that the lack of a unifying
idea transformed the opposition, it became worse than it was 4-5 years
ago. Today every opposition force wants to get into power by itself
and to get its piece of the cake. Thus, in 2008 the ANC did not get
into power but it later used the atmosphere of the protests to get
seats in the National Assembly. Ordinary people, however, felt that
the opposition had made a compromise and solved the problem of deputy
mandates because of the protests. So to say, the ANC solved its own
problems instead of solving the problems of the people. In addition,
the structure of opposition does not correspond to our reality,
does not express the interests of particular social groups. Armenian
society is not as fragmented as the Armenian opposition.

VK: How would you describe the situation inside the ruling group? Four
months before the presidential elections, some representatives of
the ruling Republican party are confident that the current president
will win the elections. How would you estimate the chances of Serzh
Sargsyan?

AM: The apparent strength of the ruling power is based on the
weakness outside the power structures and the absence of severe social
challenges. In these respects Armenia is not very different from the
other post-Soviet countries. It is close to us and it is easier to
see this weakness. As for the chances of Serzh Sargsyan, they are
good, taking into account that there are no challenges. I do not,
however, exclude that in a community like ours these challenges might
appear,both from inside or from outside. The weakness of the government
and civil society make the country a polygon for different powers,
including those from abroad. At any moment that external power can
provoke any process, including direct mass action.

VK: Does this mean that at the coming presidential elections Armenia
can be influenced from abroad?

AM: Indeed, even more so, the external factor will dominate. Armenia,
as most countries of the post-Soviet space, is under a serious
external influence, or basically under foreign rule. The UK and
the US reached particular results in this field and increase their
influence in Armenia to imperatives. They are opposed by Russia,
which is acting way less effectively, and keeps losing its influence:
there are basically no more pro-Russian forces in Armenia. The West,
that as I said acts more successfully than Russia, uses very cunning
means – for instance, the political power X seems to be pro-Russian,
but in fact is pro-Western. Some political powers give oaths of loyalty
to Russia but in fact look to the West. This scheme works in Armenia
very well.

But the West is afraid of direct confrontation with Russia and tries
to show that Russian interests are kept. They are very cunning in
this respect. In Georgia the West works directly, in Armenia it is
a more sophisticated work. Because Russia sees Armenia as its sphere
of interest, and any rude action can provoke a touchy reaction from
Russia, and the West does not want that.

VK: You said that the external factor will dominate the elections.

What will be the role of the masses in the political processes?

AM: If the popular masses rise, it will be a problem for both the
internal and external players. Then the external powers will have
to consider it and make the controlled forces work to answer the
interests of the people. If the people rise, they alone will decide.

VK: You mentioned the degradation of the political field. What will
be the next stage? Can we expect this after the presidential elections?

AM: The next stage will be the formation of a new, real political
field. Now we are at the stage of the “merging” of the existing
political field. In fact, as I said, it is not even political, because
the parties work like corporations. This form is coming to an end. It
is not connected to the elections. It is important to note that the
entire process, including the decrease of the authority of the current
political powers, their degradation, is very rapid. This process is
based on value changes in the political structures and society. The
basic aim of the degrading system is a “golden calf. The people are
waiting for a power that will lead them beyond this life organization.

Public initiatives could become such a power, for instance the
initiative of Sardarapat, that is acquiring the character of a
political force, because there are more ideas behind it than behind
the political parties.

From: Baghdasarian

SYRIAN ARMENIANS TO GET 10% OF HAYASTAN FUND TELETHONE PROCEEDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 22, 2012 – 21:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Hayastan All Armenian Fund has announced that 10%
of the sum raised in the November 15-18 annual telethon will be
allocated for the outreach of Syrian Armenians who’ve found refuge
in their homeland.

The statement came from the Fund’s French branch.

Earlier, as suggested by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, the Fund’s
board of trustees resolved to open bank accounts to collect sums to
be spent in assistance to Syrian Armenians.

From: Baghdasarian

SWISS POLITICIAN: VISIT OF SWISS DELEGATION TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH WILL HAVE NO POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS

aminfo
Monday, October 22, 18:54

The visit to be paid by the Swiss delegation to Nagorno-Karabakh on
Tuesday will be personal and will have no political implications,
Swiss MP Luc Barthassat told ArmInfo on Monday.

He said that he was not afraid of finding himself on the “black list”
of the Azeri Foreign Ministry.

The Swiss MP believes that as a free man he can visit any place he
likes. He said that it would be a fact-finding visit.

Concerning the possibility of Switzerland’s further mediation for
the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement process, Barthassat said that his
country would continue the efforts as well as the attempts to resume
Armenian-Hungarian diplomatic relations suspended by the Armenian
President following the release of Ramil Safarov. However, Barthassat
is not aware of the results of this work.

From: Baghdasarian