Author: Emil Lazarian

WHEN WILL ARMENIA KEEP IN LINE WITH EUROPEAN STANDARDS?
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
04/07/2006
The recent seminar held at Congress Hotel was dedicated to Armenia’s
prospects for European integration and the economic relations between
Armenia and Europe.
Tigran Jrbashian, head of the Yerevan office of the Center for the
Armenian-European Economic Policy and Legal Consultations, was the
first to hold a speech at the seminar. He represented the indicators
that Armenia has currently achieved, as well as the indicator that is
still ahead until 2008 and 2015, according to the agreement signed
between Armenia and EU. He pointed out the volume of the per capita
gross production that currently costs $600, while in 2015 it should
amount to $ 2700. He also touched upon the correlation of the export
and the gross production volumes. At present, Armenia’s export makes
19,5%, while in 2015 it should total to 36,4%. According to several
indicators, in particular, the liberation of economy and the low
inflation level, Armenia keeps in line with the European standards. As
for the economic competitiveness indicator, there is still much to do
in Armenia, as it will hardly manage to meet the European requirements
by 2015.
Vahagn Ghazarian, head of the relevant department at RA Trade and
Economic Development Ministry, represented the Armenian-European
Economic Relations, and the indicators that define the current
situation in this sphere. In particular, he said that Armenian
foreign trade turnover currently amounts to $2 billion 718 million,
while the annual trade turnover with EU makes $1 billion 33 million.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DROUGHT EFFECTS ONLY MOUNTAIN AND SUB-MOUNTAIN AREAS
Armenpress
Jul 3 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 3, ARMENPRESS: Officials from the government-affiliated
water committee and agricultural ministry have downplayed the purported
aftereffects of a long string of dry days that have affected largely
mountain and sub-mountain areas, where irrigation is not available.
Speaking to a round table discussion on the consequences of the drought
that was interrupted just few days ago, they said the overall volume
of damages suffered by farmers is being examined now by experts.
Mamikon Gasparian from the agriculture ministry said the irrigated
agriculture is immune against drought. The drought has sustained
damages only to those mountain and sub-mountain areas which have no
irrigation. Gasparian said farmers in lower areas who have access
to irrigation have overcome the panic and are now watering their
lands regularly.
Adibek Ghazarian from the water committee said lands received 15-20
percent of extra water. He said water reservoirs have enough water
for organization of due irrigation and pumping extra water out from
the lake Sevan was not discussed yet because the available resources
are enough to meet the demand.

AZERBAIJAN ‘AGAINST REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH’
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 3 2006
A senior Azerbaijani official said on Monday that Azerbaijan has
never accepted a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that would
culminate in a referendum in the disputed territory, despite Armenian
claims to the contrary.
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov was quoted by the Turan news
agency as saying that Baku believes such a vote should instead take
place on Azerbaijan’s entire internationally recognized territory.
“That is reflected in the [Azerbaijani] constitution and the country’s
leadership does not intend to revise its opinion,” he said.
In a statement last week, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said at the
heart of a peaceful settlement proposed by the American, French and
Russian mediators is the idea of enabling Karabakh’s predominantly
Armenian population to determine its status in a referendum after
the liberation of most Armenian-occupied lands in Azerbaijan proper.
The ministry asserted that Presidents Ilham Aliev and Robert
Kocharian agreed on this formula during their recent face-to-face
negotiations. “The area of disagreement between the presidents has
to do with the sequence in which the consequences of the military
conflict are removed,” it said.
A separate statement by the mediators made public two days later
likewise said that Karabakh’s status would be decided in a “referendum
or population vote.” But it did not specify where that vote would
take place and who would be eligible to participate in it.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian insisted on Thursday that
the framework peace accord put forward by the mediators makes it
clear that the decision on the status is to be made by the “population
of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Azimov was reported to have denied this, accusing Yerevan of
“distorting the content of the talks” and interpreting the referendum
idea “in a manner advantageous to them.” He also indicated Baku’s
discontent with the mediators’ statement, saying that the French,
Russian and U.S. co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group disclosed and
“took out of context” only some key points of the proposed peace deal.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMODITY TURNOVER WITH RUSSIA INCREASED BY 12.4%
Regnum, Russia
July 3 2006
Armenian commodity turnover has increased by 9.7% and totaled $1.1bn
for the first 5 months of 2006, compared with the same period of
2005. Of the total, exports amounted to $339.1mln (decrease by 4.6%)
and imports – to $768.3mln (increase by 17.4%). As REGNUM was informed
at the Armenian National Statistical Service, credit balance deficit
totaled $429.3mln and $415.4mln without humanitarian aid.
Commodity turnover with the CIS countries amounted to $318mln, or
28.7% of the total, a 22-percent increase compared to January-May,
2005. Commodity turnover with Russia amounted to $137.7mln (12.4%
increase), with the EU countries – $406.8mln (17.7% increase), with
the USA – $49.5mln (8.5% decrease). Within the accounting period,
Armenia exported to the CIS countries goods $60.3mln worth, of which
to Russia – $29.4mln worth.
$278.7mln worth produce was exported to other countries, of which
$184.2mln worth to the EU countries and $19.9% worth into the USA.
For the first 5 months of the period, goods $257.5mln worth were
imported to Armenia from the CIS countries, of which $108.3mln worth
from Russia, $222.6mln worth from the EU, and $29.6 worth from the USA.

TURKEY CONCERNED ABOUT IRAN’S ATTITUDE, ALPOGAN
Anatolian Times, Turkey
July 3 2006
AMSTERDAM – “Turkey is concerned about Iran’s position about the
nuclear weapons”, Turkish National Security Council (MGK) Secretary
General Yigit Alpogan said.
In an interview with the Dutch daily “De Volkskrant”, Alpogan stressed
that the Middle East is an unstable region, and said that Turkey is
closely monitoring the developments.
Alpogan noted that the developments in Iraq is another matter causing
concern, and stated that any negative development in the region may
cause a universal problem.
Regarding the terrorist organization PKK Alpogan said that Turkey will
never consider PKK as an interlocutor and never sit at a negotiation
table with it, and pointed out that Turkey will not follow Spanish
government’s example (concerning ETA).
Alpogan said that it is also wrong to compare the terrorist
organization PKK with ETA.
Stating that the terrorist organization PKK is trying to divide
Turkey and posing a big threat against Turkey, Alpogan said that
Turkey is carrying out a two-folded fight against this threat. “On
one side Turkey is trying to eradicate terrorism by military means,
on the other side it is trying to improve economic conditions and
living standards of the people in the Southeastern Anatolia Region”,
he emphasized.
ARMENIAN CLAIMS
Touching on Armenian claims, Alpogan said that this country should
first give up its genocide allegations, and stop lying to its own
people.
Alpogan recalled that Armenia does not recognize the agreement signed
in 1921 which draws the borders, and has territorial demands from
Turkey (in the Eastern Anatolia Region).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES $58MLN ALLOCATION TO ARMENIA AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 2007 FISCAL YEAR
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2006
YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. The U.S. Senate Committee on foreign
assignments approved Thursday allocation of $58mln to Armenia as
financial assistance for 2007 fiscal year.
Armenian Assembly of America told ARKA News Agency that this assistance
is $17mln smaller than that of 2006 fiscal tear.
Armenian Assembly of America expressed concern over the reduced
assistance and announced its intention to work with the U.S. Senate and
House of Representatives to ensure necessary resources for Armenia’s
security, prosperity and democratic development.
This assistance is very vital to Armenia, since the country is in
blockade from east and west, the Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny stressed.
Besides, the Senate’s Committee voted for $3.5-million parity
military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries will
also receive $790 thousand each under international military education
and training program.
Another $5 million was approved as humanitarian assistance for Nagorno
Karabakh. This assistance is $5mln greater than that of 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAKU BELIEVES REFERENDUM ON NK MUST BE NATIONWIDE
Today, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006
Baku believes that a referendum on the status of Nagorno Karabakh
should be nationwide, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
told journalists on Monday.
According to Itar-Tass, he pointed out that Azerbaijan’s stand was
“clear.” “The Nagorno Karabakh problem may be settled after effects
of the armed conflict are eliminated.”
“Earlier, not only Armenians, but also Azerbaijanis resided in Nagorno
Karabakh,” Azimov said.
If to speak of democratic conflict settlement, the demographic
situation in Nagorno Karabakh as it was before the conflict waged
should be re-established and the Azerbaijani Diaspora should be
returned back to their homes, he said.
As for future signing of the framework agreement on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement during the G8 summit due in St.
Petersburg, where the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents will take
part, Azimov said “such agreement should be drafted first as it does
not exist.”
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THERE IS NO COORDINATED ‘DRAFT AGREEMENT’ ON NK ON TABLE OF TALKS – AZERI DEPUTY FM
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006
There is no frame agreement on the table of talks, which could be
submitted to the signing, Trend reports quoting Araz Azimov, the
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, also special representative of
the Azerbaijani president on Nahoeno-Karabkh conflict , as stating
on 3 July.
“We should first of all design a draft document,” he underlined.
Commenting on the last statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
that the responsibility for rehabilitation of armed actions is still
laid on the sides, Azimov stated so far Azerbaijan has repeatedly
come out with calls to armed actions. “Azerbaijan does not support
war, while the territorial integrity can be restored at any way,
the diplomat underscored.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENCH FAMILIES SHELTER YOUNG MIGRANTS
by Colin Randall in Lyons
The Daily Telegraph (LONDON)
July 3, 2006 Monday
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Edi is Ecuadorian but speaks good French. He enjoys
geometry, history and art and regards 11-year-old Valentin as his
closest friend.
The two boys – “like two brothers”, according to Valentin’s mother –
will be seeing even more of each other in the coming weeks.
As one of the symbols of an emotive campaign to save the children of
illegal immigrants from being deported from France, Edi has moved in
with his friend’s family in a village outside Lyons.
Throughout France, scores of mostly middle-class parents are giving
refuge to children of the so-called sans papiers – foreigners with
no legal right to stay.
France, facing the same immigration pressures as neighbouring
countries, wants to expel 26,000 immigrants this year and has passed
a law imposing strict residency requirements.
With schools about to break up for summer, an official pause on
enforcing expulsion orders is coming to an end. But in a highly
organised operation that has been likened by some to the French
Resistance’s concealment of Jews in the Second World War, the Reseau
Education Sans Frontieres (RESF) pressure group is dispersing children
to the homes of volunteers.
Activists accuse the interior minister behind the crackdown, Nicolas
Sarkozy, of mounting a “child hunt” to court the anti-immigration
vote in next year’s presidential elections. They hope to block his
plans by exploiting a law insisting that families can be deported
only as a whole.
The campaign is gathering strength. Sympathetic Left-wing mayors
are holding symbolic “adoption” ceremonies, in which parents promise
shelter to children facing expulsion, while protest marches are staged
almost daily. Airport workers have also threatened to disrupt forced
deportations.
Edi, one of six children, has lived in France for five years. His
“protectors” are Jean Riot-Sarcey, 59, who has a senior job in
education, and his wife Sandrine, 34.
“He will spend the two months of the summer holidays with us as part
of our family,” said Mr Riot-Sarcey. “We want to force France to
respect its philosophical and humanitarian values.”
He claims that Edi and his siblings would be in danger of being
kidnapped for forced labour or the illicit human organs trade if they
were returned to Ecuador. “There are comparisons to be made between us
and the people who hid Jews during the war, even if the consequences
are not so grave,” Mr Riot-Sarcey said.
While he did not risk prosecution for harbouring a child, he knows
that he will be liable to fines or even imprisonment if he proceeds
with plans to take in an adult next month.
Mr Sarkozy has said regional administrators will act “firmly but
humanely” in examining each case for residency on merit.
Applicants must have been settled in France for at least two years.
At least one child must be attending a French school and have no link
with the country of his or her parents.
In the Lyons area alone, RESF supporters expect to be sheltering dozens
of children during the school holidays. Across France, the figure
may run into thousands. Valerie, 44, an actress who has taken in a
10-year-old boy, said her three children would be shocked and upset
if Alex, one of two sons of an illegal immigrant from Azerbaijan,
were taken from their home and expelled.
Alex’s mother, Samira, and her children would be deported to Germany,
the country from which they arrived in France and where they previously
applied for residency.
RESF says this would inevitably lead to them being sent back via
Russia to Azerbaijan where they risked persecution because of their
Armenian origins.
Valerie said: “My gesture is not intellectually or politically driven,
but a matter of instinct. What is happening is wrong. Alex is safe
while he is in my house but I worry that he might be picked up when
he is outside.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA POSTS 1.2% DEFLATION IN JUNE
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
July 3, 2006 Monday 11:24 AM MSK
Armenia had deflation of 1.2% in June but inflation of 4.3% in the
first half of 2006, the national statistics service told Interfax.
Foodstuffs fell 2.1% and services 0.2% in June, however nonfood goods
rose 0.3%.
Average monthly price growth was 0.7% in January-June, which was 0.5
percentage points higher than in the same period of last year.
Armenia had 0.2% deflation in 2005. An additional 70 goods have been
included in then consumer basket since then.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress