Author: Chakrian Hovsep

ARMENIA NOT PLANNING TO JOIN NATO: FM

Xinhua General News Service
July 6, 2008 Sunday 10:10 PM EST

Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandian said the south Caucasus
state is not seeking to join NATO, but will enhance cooperation with
the alliance, reports reaching here said on Sunday.

"NATO membership does not rank among Armenia’s foreign-policy goals,
but Armenia is cooperating intensively with the alliance," Interfax
quoted Nalbandian as saying at a joint news conference with his Czech
counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg in the Armenian capital of Yerevan.

NATO and Armenia have recently completed a "positive" two-year
cooperation program, he said, noting a new two-year cooperation
program is underway.

Russia has repeatedly warned against NATO’s eastward expansion,
expressing concerns over the bid for the alliance’s membership by
former Soviet republics, such as Georgia and Ukraine.

ARMENIA GETS HIGHER RATING

ARKA
July 3

The international rating agency Fitch has raised Armenia’s
international rating from BB- to BB.

"It is of paramount importance now, as it contributes to the creation
of favorable conditions for economic growth and investments in the
country," RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated at the Government’s
sitting.

He pointed out that besides the main reasons for a higher rating
assigned to Armenia the Fitch report indicates a positive effect of
the new Government’s initiatives to implement reforms, which will
form a competitive economy in Armenia.

"The report also indicates a consistent macroeconomic policy, which
creates favorable conditions for investments," Sargsyan said.

The RA Prime Minister said that the rating assigned to Armenia
by one of the world’s leading rating agencies contributes to the
Government-implemented reforms. "This is an impartial and serious
signal for all the organizations working on the international financial
market," he said.

On June 5, 2006, Fitch Ratings assigned the issuer default rating in
national and foreign currency (BB-, prospect Stable) to Armenia. The
agency also assigned a short-term rating (B), and a BB- country
ceiling rating to the country.

ARMENIA, GREECE INTERESTED IN DEEPENING MILITARY COOPERATION

armradio.am
04.07.2008 17:22

On July 4 RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received the Military
Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Greece in Armenia, Brigade
General Atanasios Khandzivieris, who is completing his mission in
our country.

At the beginning of the meeting Seyran Ohanyan expressed gratitude
to Mr.

Khandzivieris for expanding the bilateral military cooperation during
his tenure in office and wished him success in his future diplomatic
mission.

For his part, Atanasios Khandzivieris expressed his appreciation
for the high professional preparedness of the Armenian peacekeepers
carrying out mission in Kosovo within the Greek division.

Turning to the current state of military, military-technical and
military-educational cooperation in the framework of bilateral
relations, the parties stressed the necessity to deepen the cooperation
especially in the fields of military education and peacekeeping.

Speaking about the settlement of the Karabakh issue, the parties
attached importance to the peaceful resolution of the issue. Issues
of regional security and stability were also discussed.

At the end of the meeting the parties exchanged views on the reforms
implemented in the Armed Forces of our country.

–Boundary_(ID_lG1RGm1xxT+S9QZDakMH9A)–

GOLD ISSUE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 04, 2008
Armenia

Vice President of the Central Bank Vache Gabrielyan made clarifications
regarding the circulated misinformation about selling Armenia’s
gold resources.

He underscored that the decision on not keeping gold in the stores
of Armenia’s Central Bank has been made still in 1994 and that is
why in the years to come all the gold has been withdrawn from Armenia.

Based on the logic of market, in 2003, a decision was made to change
the prices expressed in gold into pound.

"If we look for the assessment of press and authorized structures
of those times, you will see that none of them has previewed
similar growth of gold prices. At that time the income expressed
by gold fluctuated between 0,1-0,25% and pound – 3,5%. This deal
was very profitable. It brought 2 billion 300 million dram’s
profit." V. Gabrielyan underscored.

He said that the government is accused of not performing this deal in
2008, because in that case the profit would have been more. The Vice
President of the Central Bank offers to make judgments regarding
the gold trade based on the information of the certain period of
time, to understand whether or not it was rational. "It was really
rational. Had you known that the price of the house you sold in
1997 was going to raise 10 times, would you sell your house by that
price." V. Gabrielyan asked.

HIKMET HAJIZADE: "GUAM IS A "BELT OF SECURITY" USED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAFEGUARD ITSELF FROM RUSSIA"

Today.Az
03 July 2008

Day.Az interview with famous political scientist Hikmet Hajizade.

– How do you assess results of the GUAM summit in Batumi?

– The results prove the continuing expansion of cooperation between
the GUAM states, the formed single outlook on international state in
the region. On the whole, we should be pleased with the activity of
this organization.

– Can we hope for GUAM expansion, particularly, by means of Poland?

– Yes, this idea is being discussed, but it all is abstract. The
thing is that Poland, being the EU member-state, has not completely
found its place in this organization and is constantly arguing with
the main EU states and in such conditions it would be difficult for
Poland to spare energy on a new organization.

– Russia has recently staked on the Crimea card with Ukraine. Don’t
you think it is connected with GUAM’s consolidation?

– I think this is primarily connected with the external
political course of Ukraine striving to reduce its dependence from
Russia. Ukraine wants the withdrawal of the Russian Black Sea fleet
by 2017 and it already states it in open, though 9 years are left
till the deadline, therefore Russia is concerned. Certainly, GUAM is
a tool, Ukraine uses to reduce its dependence on Russia.

– Is GUAM a kind of Europe’s guard from Russia’s gas blackmail?

– In general GUAM is a kind of a security belt, used by the European
Union in an attempt to isolate from Russia. GUAM’s help in the issue
of energy (and gas) security is important for Europe.

– Then, is the first official visit of Russian President Dmitri
Medvedev to our country connected with an attempt to prevent GUAM’s
growing influence on the whole and Azerbaijan’s, in particular,
on the Kremlin’s plans for further speculation with Europe in gas
supplies issue?

– Yes, I think it is true. One of the issues at these talks will be
Russia’s offer to buy Azerbaijani gas to become the gas monopolist and
put pressure on Europe. This issue is more urgent for Russia today,
as compared to GUAM, which is not so active so far.

– Can GUAM promote the resolution of territorial conflicts in the
territory of countries, involved in this organization?

– Today, we get only diplomatic support in this issue, for example
during voting on Karabakh issue in UN. Perhaps, we will also be able
to buy weapon from Ukraine. But it all proves that comprehensive
cooperation in the GUAM framework will expand. I think Azerbaijan
should get involved in GUAM as it is a stair to integration with
democratic Europe.

– Well which are the economic and political advantages of GUAM
membership for Azerbaijan?

– Though today GUAM membership gives us less than bilateral ties with
the GUAM states, with development of our countries and changes in the
geopolitical situation in our region, GUAM will become an important
instrument for attaining our goals. Today, we already see how GUAM
states are voting for US resolutions in support of the interests of
their partners in the organization. Thus, this is a promising start.

– I will broaden my question. Don’t you think Azerbaijan has less
from GUAM membership than Georgia, which gets our gas by privilege
prices and benefits from the transit of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project
through its territory?

– Yes, we help Georgia and I often told this help is excessive. This
is not true. It should be reminded that we help Georgia mainly for
our own interests, as Georgia is our only gate to the world ocean,
and if these gates close, we will suffer from it. We must keep these
gates open.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN-UKRAINIAN RELATIONS HELD IN LVOV

armradio.am
03.07.2008 11:55

The international conference on Armenian-Ukrainian relations, sponsored
jointly by the Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor; the Peter Jacyk Centre for Ukrainian Historical Research
of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University
of Alberta, Canada; the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lvov; and
the Institute of Ukrainian Archeography of the Ukrainian Academy
of Sciences, Lvov Branch, was held in Lvov, Ukraine, from 28 to 31
May, 2008. The conference was made possible with academic planning
and contribution as well as financial support by the sponsoring
organizations.

Twenty papers were read by scholars from Armenia, Canada, Germany,
Hungary, Poland and Ukraine on various aspects of Armenian-Ukrainian
relations over the past five hundred years. The papers covered such
aspects as the administrative structure and privileges of Armenian
communities in Ukraine, social realities, cultural influences, church
and religion, identity and literature, and art and architecture. Many
of the papers were based on archival materials or took a fresh look
at the field, at once reflecting an on-going lively interest, and
one of the major goals of the conference: to shed new light on the
Armenian-Ukrainian relations.

Originally conceived by Kevork B. Bardakjian of the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor and Frank Sysyn of the Peter Jacyk Centre for
Ukrainian Historical Research, both of whom chaired sessions and acted
as discussants, the conference was an important step towards realizing
one of the fundamental and long-standing elements of the mission of
the Armenian Studies Program at Michigan to act as a catalyst for
promoting and fostering Armenian Studies in various parts of the
world. It is hoped that the precedent set in Lvov will evolve into
a pattern of periodically held conferences.

Armenian National Committee – West San Fernando Valley
Nishan Bostanian, Chairman
361 PO Box 17673
Encino, CA 91416
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
July 3, 2008

Armenian Americans Convincingly Elected To Encino Neighborhood Council

Encino, CA – On Saturday, June 28, 2008 the Encino Neighborhood
Council (ENC) held its elections to fill eight council positions. With
the leadership of the West San Fernando Valley Armenian National
Committee (WSFV ANC), four Armenian American community members were
elected to the ENC for two-year terms.

The community members who were overwhelmingly elected are: Arshavir
Kitsinian (Religious Organizations representative), Harout Keosian,
Esq. (Education representative), Tanya Barseghian (Public Safety
representative) and Nareg S. Kitsinian, Esq. (Planning and Land Use
representative).

Neighborhood councils were the centerpiece of the new City Charter
that was approved by the voters of Los Angeles in June of 1999. The
mission of the Neighborhood councils, whether in Encino or elsewhere
across the city, is to "to promote public participation in government
and make government more responsive to local needs by creating,
nurturing, and supporting a citywide system of grass-roots,
independent, and participatory neighborhood councils."

WSFV ANC Chairman Nishan Bostanian issued the following statement
following the June 28th election. "We celebrate the election of these
dynamic and energetic young community members, who will represent the
best interests of all members of the Encino community. We look forward
to the leadership, guidance and vision they will provide in the months
and years ahead," Bostanian added.

One of the winning candidates, Tanya Barseghian stated, "on behalf of
all four candidates, we would like to thank all members of our
community who supported us in this landmark election. We look forward
to working with everyone to make Encino a destination city."

With an unprecedented eight Neighborhood council seats up for election
in Encino this year, the Armenian American candidates set out to
secure adequate representation in the ENC. The winning candidates are
all active members of the Armenian American community whose background
and professions include law and business. The election was
significant because it is a clear demonstration of young community
members getting involved in grass-roots community service, where their
activism will pave the way towards greater involvement in the
democratic process.

The West San Fernando Valley Armenian National Committee is part of
the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
our chapter advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

FORUM HELD TO DISCUSS ARMENIA’S ANTI-CORRUPTION OBLIGATIONS

armradio.am
02.07.2008 11:40

Representatives of civil society organizations, state agencies,
international organizations, the private sector, and the media
discussed Armenia’s international obligations to fight corruption
during Armenia’s first Anti-Corruption Forum held today in the Armenia
Marriott Hotel in Yerevan.

The forum, organized by the USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption
Activity (MAAC), in cooperation with UNDP, served as an arena
for discussions between interested parties and the Anti-Corruption
Strategy Monitoring Commission on the current state of international
obligations, especially as they relate to the new Anti-Corruption
Strategy being developed by the Government.

Among the topics discussed in this first of a series of forums
planned on corruption-related matters that MAAC will organize
in Yerevan and the regions were Armenia’s obligations within the
framework of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the OECD
Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Istanbul
Anti-Corruption Action Plan), and the Council of Europe Group of States
Against Corruption (GRECO). Also discussed was the role of the new
Anti-Corruption Strategy in assuring compliance with these obligations.

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan; the U.S. Embassy
Chargé d’Affaires, Joseph Pennington; the UN Resident Coordinator
in Armenia, Consuelo Vidal; the Head of OSCE Yerevan Office, Sergey
Kapinos; and the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring
Commission and Assistant to the President of Armenia, Gevorg Mheryan,
delivered opening remarks.

In his opening remarks, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires stated:
"The U.S. Government recognizes the important steps the Armenian
Government has already taken by becoming signature to several key
international obligations. Today’s forum provides an important arena
for government, the private sector, and civil society to come together
in a joint fight against corruption."

–Boundary_(ID_yjx0kKvsVpzLAR69 cXoudA)–

FORMULA FOR A DIALOGUE
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 02, 2008
Armenia

A Dialogue without Preconditions

In response to our questions, RPA representative HERMINE NAGHDALYAN,
member of the PACE Armenian Delegation, presents her assessments on
Resolution # 1620 which came to replace Resolution 1609 as a result
of the PACE discussions "devoted to" Armenia.

"The proponents of Mr. Ter-Petrosyan insist that our delegation managed
to misguide the Europeans and get a ‘feeble’ resolution passed by the
Council of Europe, thus mitigating the tough positions enshrined in
Resolution # 1609. Do you share this viewpoint?"

"It doesn’t matter what the delegation managed to do; the important
thing is what our state and people gained as a result. The PACE
Resolution and the Council of Europe in general do, anyway, have
a certain mission. And that mission does not consist in praising
someone and condemning the other.

The task of the Council of Europe is to help us and propose mechanisms
enabling our country to continue its path towards democracy and be
able to resolve the challenges it faces.

This is how I personally imagine and estimate both resolutions, and
I do really see our cooperation and the activities of our delegation
in the Parliamentary Assembly.

For me, it doesn’t much matter to what extent the assessments on
Resolution 1620 were mild or balanced. Much more essential is the
contents.

In my opinion, the first thing enshrined in the document is the
political will of the Armenian authorities to resolve the existing
situation and move forward towards democracy, even though such will
is still estimated as unsatisfactory."

"Will we manage to establish ‘perfect democracy’ in our country
by January?"

"To my mind, the essential thing is to make right decisions and move
along the path. As regards the time limits, these are, after all,
conventionalities. We should realize that democracy is not a static
condition; it is a process, and if we are ready for it and willing
to pass through that path, it should make itself visible. And our
state and people should be the first to see it."

"Despite being more balanced than the preceding document, the
Resolution seems to be mostly focusing on the authorities, and it
says almost nothing about the tasks of the opposition. Moreover,
there is an impression that the opposition possesses only rights,
without any obligations."

"By saying balanced, we mean that certain assessments have been
made with regard to the behavior, attitude and manifestations of
both parties.

It’s a different matter that more assessments were made with regard
to the authorities, and they are required to do more. I consider this
approach logical.

But there is such a saying: tango is a dance for two people, and
sometimes one of them has to take a step backwards. I repeat that
we, both the authorities and the opposition, are going to solve the
problems faced by our country and people together."

"The authorities seem to have already taken that backward step. In
particular, they have mitigated their attitude towards holding the
organizers and perpetrators of the March 1-2 events accountable with
the strict enforcement of the law. Many of them were subjected to
conditional sentence, and the precautionary measure against others
was changed. Some people have been acquitted. Whereas the opposition
continues to set preconditions through ultimatums."

"I believe after the adoption of this Resolution there will be a
backward step inside the opposition camp as well. As regards the
preconditions, there can be only one precondition for all kinds of
dialogues; that is, a dialogue without preconditions."

ARMENIA – THE BEST COUNTRY FOR BUSINESS IN CIS

AZG Armenian Daily
01/07/2008

Statistics

Armenia is the best country for business in CIS, according to Forbes
data, "Azatutyun" radio-station reported.

Armenia ranks 63 among 121 countries in the Forbes ranking of Best
Countries for Business, leaving behind all other CIS countries. The
ranking is based on the reports of the Transparency International,
the Freedom House and other international organizations. GDP growth,
inflation and unemployment rates, the state of tax and customs
systems, and publications on human freedoms. "Over the past years
the Armenian authorities have taken certain steps to improve the tax
and customs systems. However, although high paces of economic growth
were registered, the unemployment rate in the country remains high,
the fight against corruption is not enough and human freedoms are
restricted," the Forbes states. Georgia is the next CIS country that
is favorable for business. It ranks 68th, the main obstacle here is
unemployment. Azerbaijan is 82nd and Russia is 86th.