Author: Chavushian

"THE ROAD HOME" BOOK BY PRESIDENT OF CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK VARTAN GREGORIAN TRANSLATED INTO RUSSIAN

Noyan Tapan

Nov 24, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The presentation of the Russian
translation of the autobiographic book "The Road Home" of the President
of Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian took place at the
RA National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on November 21. In the words of
the NAS President Radik Martirosian, the book is a story of the life
of a man who created his fate on his own, and V. Gregorian’s life is
a striking example of the realization of an American dream. "Everyone
in the U.S. can reach a great deal in case of hard work". The book is
written in the form of a personal diary and presents a 60-year period
in the author’s life from his poor childhood in Tabriz to appointment
to the post of President of Brown University.

V. Gregorian is the 12th President of Carnegie Corporation of New
York (founded in 1911) and the first non-American president of
it. The corporation finances numerous scientific and educational
programs. In 1981-1989 he was the President of the New York Public
Library. He saved the library from bankruptcy by raising more than
300 million dollars. V. Gregorian has received a number of awards
for his significant contribution to science and art.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER’S CONGRATULATION ON WORLD TELEVISION DAY

armradio.am
21.11.2008 12:30

The President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Hovik Abrahamyan,
issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of the World Television
Day. The Public Relations Department of the National Assembly informs
that the message states:

"Eighty years ago television came into the life of people, becoming
a unique means of communication.

After the first test program of November 29, 1956, the Armenian
television gradually penetrated into the lives of all of us, changing
our views of time and space. Today it is impossible to imagine our life
without television, which has become a means of shaping the public
opinion and an indispensable means for peace, security, economic and
social development, cultural exchange. Appreciating the merits of TV,
the UN General Assembly announced November 21 as International Day
of Television.

I warmly congratulate all employees of TV. Let the capacity of being
in the centre of events, at the right moment in the right place,
always accompany you, helping you remain a source of information about
the important events in the socio-political, scientific-educational,
historical-cultural life and simply a friend, without which it’s hard
to imagine our life today."

ARMENIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH – 9,2 PERCENT
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
22/11/2008

Economy

Decrease in growth of services and construction spheres

According to the operative data of the National Statistical Service
of Armenia, Armenian economic growth was 9,2 percent in January –
October of this year compared with the same period of last year.

GDP exceeded AMD 3 trillion.

It’s worth to mention that the economic growth was within the limits
of 10 percent during the whole year besides spring months.

The rate of growth has been decreased in the spheres of construction
and services during the last years, though they recorded the highest
indexes of growth before.

Growth in construction was 6,9 percent, services – 13,3 percent.

The volume of construction decreased by about 41 percent in October
compared with September.

Fortunately, the rate of growth in industry has increased. 4 percent
of growth has been recorded here in January – October of this year.

Volume of industrial output increased by 2,5 percent (without electric
energy production). The latter increased by 5,8 percent.

Gross agricultural output increased by 1,8 percent in January-October,
retail trade turnover – 7,9 percent.

Foreign trade turnover increased by 31,5 percent to USD 4 billion 520
million. Export volume rose a little (0,9 percent) to USD 941 million.

Import increased by 42,8 percent to USD 3 billion 579 million.

The negative balance of export-import was USD 2 billion 638
million. Cars, equipments continue to remain dominant in import.

Medium monthly wage was AMD 89 thousand in August; in the private
sector – AMD 110 thousand, in the public sector – AMD 63 thousand.

The average growth in the wages was 19,8 percent compared with the
same period of last year.

ARMENIA: EXPERTS SAY GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMIC CRISIS-PREVENTION PLAN LACKS SPECIFICS
Haroutiun Khachatrian

EurasiaNet
Nov 21 2008
NY

The Armenian government has unveiled a plan to mitigate the effects
of the global economic slowdown. Experts in Yerevan say a lack of
specifics makes the plan difficult to evaluate.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan outlined the government’s intentions
during a speech in parliament on November 12. Two of the central
elements in Sargsyan’s strategy to maintain growth are a public
works initiative and a stimulus package for small- and medium-sized
businesses. Sargsyan also indicated that Yerevan would pursue loans
from international financial institutions, including the World Bank
and the Asian Development Bank.

On November 20, the government undertook its first concrete
crisis-prevention measure, allocating $50 million for a fund
designed to support small-scale entrepreneurs and keep employment
levels steady. In the sphere of infrastructure projects, Yerevan’s
attention is focusing on the construction of a rail link connecting
Armenia and Iran.

So far, the global credit crunch has not punished Armenia too
severely. The GDP growth rate for the January-October period this
year stood at 9.2 percent.

But there are several causes for concern on the horizon. First,
officials are closely monitoring prices for Armenian export
commodities, such as copper. The price of copper hit a three-year low,
$3,375 per ton, before recovering slightly on November 21. A continued
decline could seriously dent Armenia’s export earnings.

Far more worrying is an anticipated dip in remittances sent home
by labor migrants and relatives abroad. Russia has attracted labor
migrants from all over the former Soviet Union. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive]. But with Russia now experiencing profound
economic difficulties, many jobs normally filled by labor migrants,
especially in the construction sector, are rapidly drying up. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Remittances in recent
years have totaled about $2 billion annually, providing a vital source
of income for many Armenians.

Expert reaction to Sargsyan’s November 12 speech differed. But all
economic analysts contacted said the government needed to provide
more details.

Some applauded the government for trying to anticipate trouble. "It
is very good that the government has presented its general policy
and the measures listed are, in general, correct. It remains to be
seen how theses measures will be implemented," Heghine Manasian,
a Yerevan economist, told EurasiaNet.

Others expressed skepticism about the government’s intentions. Bagrat
Asatrian, a former chairman of the Central Bank and now a professor at
the Yerevan State University, said it was impossible to evaluate the
plan presented by the prime minister, as it lacked a clear outline
of practical measures. "The 2009 budget presented by Sargsyan at
the same session of the National Assembly contains no funds for the
so-called anti-crisis measures listed by him," Asatrian noted.

Sargsyan has said that the government would amend the budget to
include funding for specific stabilization measures, once the
scope of the challenge facing Armenia becomes clearer. Meanwhile,
Finance Minister Tigran Davtian has said the government would fund
crisis-prevention measures with money in a state stabilization fund,
along with international loans.

But Asatrian said that even if the government succeeds in amending
the budget, policy questions would remain.

"The prime minister said the government could provide subsidies,
or take a stake in the companies that ‘meet the criteria of
the government.’ But what are these criteria? And, what is more
important, will the government be able to counter the current practice
of protectionism and monopoly in the Armenian economy?" Asatrian
asked. "I am afraid that these subsidies would go to those who are
"friends of the administration" rather than companies that are
beneficial for the Armenian economy and really need support."

In addition to outlining a crisis-prevention strategy, Sargsyan
expressed a desire to implement measures to improve corporate
governance. To that end, he proposed that large companies, defined as
having annual sales in excess of 500 million drams ($1.5 million),
be required to carry out external audits. Manasian, a member of the
Central Bank’s independent Experts Panel, praised the proposal, but
noted that previous efforts to promote corporate transparency had
fallen flat. "Maybe under crisis conditions the government will be
more successful in imposing new regulations," she said.

Editor’s Note: Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer
specializing in economic and political affairs.

ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH IN LEADING POSITIONS: AEPLAC

ARKA
Nov 19, 2008

YEREVAN, November 19. /ARKA/. Armenia’s economic growth has leading
positions in the world, Gagik Gabrielyan, head of the economic group
of AEPLAC (Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Centre), said
today, quoting the Armenian Economic Trends: 2007 Annual Report.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), last year Armenia
ranked sixth among 181 countries in terms of a two-digit growth in GDP.

Armenia recorded 13.8% economic growth in 2007 – a double increase
compared to 2001, Gabrielyan said, adding Armenia ranked 82nd (sixth
in the CIS) in terms of the purchasing power parity (PPP) of $5,711
worth GDP per capita.

The nominal value of Armenia’s GDP totalled $9,204mln (â~B¬6,731mln)
between January and September 2008, with GDP per capita amounting to
$2,853 (â~B¬2,086).

Armenia saw 10.3% year-on-year economic growth between January and
August 2008, with $2,187 (â~B¬1,427) GDP per capita. The country
expects 9.2% economic growth in 2009.

The structure and content of AEPLAC’s annual economic reports are in
line with the requirements of traditional macroeconomic reports. They
provide an in-depth analysis of the annual macroeconomic developments
of Armenia.

–Boundary_(ID_knelkwYau/2ExohMahZzEA)–

Pyunik deny Ararat to make it eight straight

Wednesday 19 November 2008
by Khachik Chakhoyan from YerevenFC

Pyunik have won their eighth consecutive Armenian title after
defeating FC Ararat Yerevan 2-1 following extra time in the
championship play-off match.

One-off decider
Ararat had beaten Pyunik on the last day of the regular season to
force the one-off title decider but could not repeat the feat to pick
up the crown.
While it was the holders’ eleventh gold medal success overall, Ararat
finished in the top three for the first time in eight years.

Champions on top
Pyunik dominated the first half, creating several great chances and
Edgar Malakyan came closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit the
post. Ararat
could only muster a couple of Markos Pizzelli long-range efforts in
the first 45 minutes, but were a different team after the break with
Sargis Hovsepyan nearly putting through his own net just before the
hour mark.

Tadevosyan intervention
It was the champions, though, that took the lead when 18-year-old
substitute striker Albert Tadevosyan headed in Norayr Sahakyan’s cross
midway through the second period. Ararat’s response was almost
immediate, Vahagn Minasyan meeting Pizzeli’s corner to nod in. With
eight minutes of normal time remaining, Pyunik squandered a golden
opportunity to wrap up the game and the
title. Tadevosyan was fouled in the area, but Hovsepyan hit the
crossbar from the penalty spot.

"Toughest title"
Ararat were reduced to ten men shortly after the missed penalty and,
as the match entered extra time, Pyunik’s unrelenting pressure
eventually told as Tadevosyan scored another header in the 109th
minute. There was still time, however, for the match-winner and Ararat
defender Juliano Gimenez to collect red cards. "We were deserved
winners," said victorious captain Hovsepyan. "We have a very young
team and that is why this triumph is even more important for us. It
was my toughest title." Pyunik defender Karen Dokhoyan, 32, added:
"Ararat proved to be decent rivals. It has been a long time since
winning the Armenian league was that tough."

CAUCASUS PLATFORM IS TURKEY’S ATTEMPT TO ASSERT ITSELF AS REGIONAL POWER

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2008 14:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Caucasus stability and cooperation platform
is Turkey’s attempt to assert itself as a regional power, Konstantin
Zatulin, State Duma member, director of the institute of CIS studies,
told a news conference today.

"Turkey wants to give its western partners to understand that regional
problems should be resolved by regional powers. Ankara did not conceal
its negative attitude to U.S. navy presence in the Black Sea. Turkey
doesn’t want to be West’s outpost, as it was during the cold war,"
he said, adding that any regional initiative without Iran is doomed
to failure.

PRIME MINISTER VISITED THE HOSPITAL

A1+
[08:15 pm] 18 November, 2008

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited today head of "Investigative
Journalists" NGO and chief editor of "Hetq" online Edik Baghdasaryan,
who was attacked yesterday and transferred to the "St. Grigor
Lusavorich" hospital.

According to the government’s press service, the Prime Minister
asked about the journalist’s condition, talked about the incident
and answered journalists’ questions. The Prime Minister expressed
confidence that the guilty will be revealed in a short matter of
time. He expressed concern about the incident and stressed importance
on tolerance in society and the creation of an environment of mutual
respect. According to Sargsyan, the dialogue between mass media/society
and the government is the right solution.

SERZH SARGSYAN: SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO PASS

Noyan Tapan

Nov 17, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The settlement of the Karabakh
conflict still has a long way to pass, the Armenian president
Serzh Sargsyan said during an interview with the Public Television
Company of Armenia. "We must be able to reach such a decision through
negotiations that will allow me to be at least convinced that this
decision proceeds from the interests of our people, after which we
should bring it up for national discussion. Then it will be necessary
to sign a treaty, then an agreement, and so on," the president said,
adding: "When I say that we will not delay the problem, it does not
mean that the problem will be solved tomorrow, in a month, three or
four months". In the opinion of S. Sargsyan, "we should not delay
artificially the problem’s solition but me should reach a decision,
an agreement to be followed by a long process. This is not a problem
to be solved by a person, two, three and even 1,300 people, this is
one of the most vital problems of our people, and our people must
say whether it agrees with the version that we will reach through
negotiations," the Armenian president stated.

According to him, making daily inquiries about the details of the
negotiations is the task of political figures, but the task of the
negotiators is to be able to keep the society informed, in a general
way, about the principles of the problem’s solution but not to give
the negotiations’ details as negotiations are a complex and delicate
process, during which one should be careful and purposeful. "Our
political forces will necessarily participate in discussions, perhaps
it is not the time to bring up the issue for discussion now, but
in order to calm the storm in a teacup, I will probably invite the
chairmen of the political parties and try to hear their questions
and find out what they are concerned about," S. Sargsyan noted.

The president underlined that he is in favor of the NKR’s and its
president’s being involved in the negotiation process. He said that
perhaps "this is the most efficient way, and it will be so, there is
no other direct road".

In connection with the Maindorf Declaration, which was signed
by the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia and has been
criticized, S. Sargsyan said that in fact, it is the only document,
in which Azerbaijan has accepted the political way of solving the
Nagorno Karabakh problem. The Armenian president pointed out that the
conflict’s settlement must be implemented based on the fundamental
international documents: "It is the Azerbaijanis who should speculate,
why do you speculate about it? You should realize that it is not the
problem of Serzh Sargsyan here but that of Karabakh," the president
said.

He denied that Armenia is making unilateral concessions. "I have
always said and I repeat now that the Nagorno Karabakh problem can
be solved if Azerbaijan accepts the possibility of exercising the
Nagorno Karabakh people’s right of self-determination, if Nagorno
Karabakh and Armenia have a land border, and if the population of
Nagorno Karabakh receives strong guarantees of security. It is a
simple problem, and only a crazy person can find only concessions
in these wordings. Over 17-18 years, when speaking about the Nagorno
Karabakh problem, I have never used the phrase "unilateral concession"
or the word "concession", maybe "compromise", but not "concession".

SEIRAN OHANYAN THANKED CO-CHAIRS

A1+
[06:23 pm] 17 November, 2008

Armenia’s Defense Minister Seyeran Ohanyan today received the
delegation headed by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State,
US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza. U.S. Ambassador
Extrordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, Mrs. Marie Yovanovitch
was present at the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting the Minister expressed gratitude
to Matthew Bryza for his and his Russian and French counterparts’
efforts targeted at finding a mutually acceptable solution to the
Karabakh conflict.

Mr. Ohanyan informed the guests that in the process of defense reforms,
Armenia prioritises the preservation and modernisation of the existing
military capacity, the review of the defense strategy, military
education, organiSation of trainings for special civil servants,
cooperation with divisions of other countries when carrying out
peacekeeping activity.