Author: Jagharian Tania

RECESSION CUTS ARMENIAN PROPERTY PRICES
By Lilit Harutiunian

report/en/2009/03/DF115C2C-8834-4037-A5BA-F6688898 CF2F.ASP
Tuesday 31, March 2009

Real estate prices in Armenia have plummeted by at least 30 percent
this year because of a worsening economic situation and decreased
cash inflows from abroad, private realtors said on Tuesday.

The Armenian government reported a far more modest drop,
however. According to the State Real Property Cadastre, the average
home prices in the country last month were only about 6 percent below
the February 2008 level.

Ashot Muradian, a senior official there, told RFE/RL that they even
rose by up to 14 percent in some areas outside Yerevan. He said the
nationwide number of property transactions was down by 20 percent
year on year in February.

Private real estate agencies in the capital painted a different
picture in separate interviews with RFE/RL, estimating the price fall
at between 30 and 40 percent. Vahan Danielian, director of the Kentron
agency, suggested that it was even more drastic in downtown Yerevan,
the by far the most expensive part of the country.

"A one-room apartment in the city center was valuated at between
$80,000 and $100,000 last fall. We’ve just sold it for $40,000,"
said Danielian. In his words, a two-bedroom apartment in the city’s
northern Nor Nork suburb was worth at least $70,000 a few months ago
but would now sell for no more than $50,000.

According to Vartan Ayvazian of Cascade Realty, the prices of office
and other commercial space in the capital have also gone down by up
to 40 percent. "Quite a lot of commercial space is now vacant in the
city center," said Ayvazian.

Armenian property prices skyrocketed in the years preceding the
economic crisis, fueling a construction boom that helped the Armenian
economy expand at double-digit rates from 2002 through 2007. The local
construction sector contracted by 1.5 percent in January-February 2009.

Torgom Hovannisian, deputy director of another real estate firm, AS,
linked the price collapse with decreased cash inflows from Diaspora
Armenians and Armenian nationals working abroad that have financed a
large part of apartment purchases in the country. "Because there is a
crisis abroad … few people from the Diaspora buy homes in Armenia,"
he said.

"Another factor is that [real estate] prices were inflated. They
would fall sooner or later," added Hovannisian.

Andranik Tevanian, an economist running the Politeconomia private
think-tank, said the fact that Armenian banks have substantially
cut back on mortgage lending since October has also played a
role. "Commercial banks understand that until the mortgage market
is stabilized they can’t make quick decisions and take risks,"
he said. "So their lending policy will be quite cautious in the
coming year."

Vahe Avetisian, head of the Shen property valuation agency, said
apartment sales are further curtailed by potential buyers expecting
real estate to become even cheaper in the coming months. "When they
start making transactions the prices will go up again," he said.

Realtors disagreed just when that could happen. Cascade Realty’s
Ayvazian said that the prices will likely stay unchanged at least until
this fall, while Kentron’s Danielian predicted their further decline.

ARMENIAN CANDIDATES ELECTED TO SOME MUNICIPALITIES IN TURKEY

APA
March 31 2009
Azerbaijan

Ankara-APA. Most of Armenian candidates were elected to the city and
town municipalities in Turkey, APA reports quoting Vesti.az. For the
first time in Turkey, so many Armenians were elected to the municipal
assemblies and the observers related it to the warm relations of
current government of Turkey with Armenia and its plans to open the
borders. The Armenians were active in the leftist parties so far,
but now they are extending their activity in the rightist parties
too. On Mrch 29, Vazgen Bar was elected to Shishsli, Araks Adalar,
Ohanes Garabetyan, Yervant Ozuzun and Bedros Avedikyan – Bakirkoy,
Verkin Arioba – Beyoglu municipality of Istanbul.

The political analysts said the Armenians had chance to be elected to
the parliament in future. The rightist parties said that Rakel Dink,
wife of killed Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, could run for the
parliament in oncoming election.

RAMIL SAFAROV PHONES TO MEMBER OF AZERBAIJANI MILLI MAJLIS

APA
March 30 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev-APA. Ramil Safarov phoned to the member
of Azerbaijani Milli Majlis, Zahid Oruj, member of Milli Majlis
and Coordination Council for Protection of Ramil Safarov’s Rights,
told APA. Zahid Oruj said Ramil Safarov, who is undergoing sentence
in Hungary, called him and they asked after each other’s health.

Oruj said the defense and justice ministries needed to strengthen
their activity toward the Ramil Safarov’s handover to Azerbaijan. "We
should intensify our efforts toward this and achieve his handover
to Azerbaijan".

Senior Lieutenant of the Azerbaijani Army Ramil Safarov was sentenced
for life for killing of Armenian officer Gurgen Markarian in Hungary.

WILL TURKEY OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA AFTER U.S. PRESIDENT’S VISIT?

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2009 10:49 GMT+04:00

Turkey pledged to open the border with Armenia within a month,
Hurriyet quoted a European Commission representative as saying.

"Ankara is awaiting U.S. President Barack Obama to arrive. The
Turkish-Armenian border will be opened in April. We are hopeful
for normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan as
well. Establishment of peace in the region is in the interests of
Europe," the source said on condition of anonymity.
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Pan ARMENIAN.Net

Will Turkey open border with Armenia after U.S. Presidentâ??s visit?
30.03.2009 10:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey pledged to open the border with Armenia within a month, Hurriyet quoted a European Commission representative as saying.

â??Ankara is awaiting U.S. President Barack Obama to arrive. The Turkish-Armenian border will be opened in April. We are hopeful for normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan as well. Establishment of peace in the region is in the interests of Europe,â?? the source said on condition of anonymity.

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Medvedev turns down US trade-off on Iran

press tv
Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:23:00 GMT

A trade-off of nuclear cooperation with Iran and missile defense plans
is not taken seriously by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and
officials in the Kremlin. The Kremlin has ruled out the possibility of
a trade-off between nuclear cooperation with Iran and a controversial
US missile defense system.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC to be aired on Sunday, Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev suggested that he does not think his
American counterpart Barack Obama would agree to such an exchange.

Obama’s drive to reset relations with Moscow took a huge stride last
month when reports claimed that the White House might forgo the
defense shield in Eastern Europe if Moscow uses its relations with
Iran and address US concerns about Tehran’s nuclear efforts.

"As for Iran, we have full relations with that country but our
position is based on well-known UN resolutions and on the approach set
out by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), namely that
Iran’s nuclear program should be peaceful. That’s our position and we
have always told Iran that," Medvedev said.

"I don’t think you can just trade one thing for another, this is not
serious talk, but I have no doubt that we’ll discuss both issues,
missile defense and Iran’s nuclear program. I believe that President
Obama thinks the same way."

"I don’t think you can just trade one thing for another, this is not
serious talk. I believe that President Obama thinks the same way,"
Medvedev said.

For years, Washington has accused Iran, a signatory to the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of developing nuclear weapons — a
charge roundly dismissed by the UN nuclear watchdog.

The Russia president’s remarks mark the second time the Kremlin turns
down back-channel offer by the new US administration.

"If we are talking about any "swap" [Iran for missile defense], this
is not how the question is being put. This would not be productive,"
Medvedev had said on March 3. "No one ing these issues to some kind of
trade-offs, particularly on the Iranian issue."

The US, under the rule of former President George W. Bush, devised
plans to station 10 silo-based missiles in Poland and missile-tracking
radar in the Czech Republic, to defend against a ‘threat’ allegedly
originated from Iran.

Russia, however, contends that such a system would encroach on its
national interests and undermine its nuclear deterrent.

The missile shield was the subject of fierce debate in the final
months of the Bush administration, pushing Washington-Moscow relations
to the lowest ebb since the Cold War.

ARARAT STRATEGIC CENTER HOLDS SURVEY ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH CONFLICT

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Ararat strategic center holds a
series of interviews on the latest inter-state developments between
Armenia and Turkey. The series of interviews is entitled Current
Problems of Armenian-Turkish Conflict.

The survey touches upon three subjects, Turkey’s policy in the issue
of Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s position on the Nagorno Karabakh
problem, and RA government’s invitation to Turkey to take part in
the construction of the new Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.

Representatives of wide circles of society, including state officials,
political, public, and cultural figures, analysts were included in
the list of survey participants.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IS MEANT TO BE DIFFERENT
by Shahan Kandaharian

Aztag Daily
March 23 3009
Lebanon

A lot of topics, interpretations, analyses and predictions are
circulating in the Armenian, American and Turkish media, concerning
the April 24 traditional presidential address by the newly elected
president of the United States.

The core of the issue is the use of the term "genocide" by president
Obama. All the interpretations are around whether the president is
going to keep his pre-election promise or not. The positive indications
are naturally generalized or spread by the Armenian side. And if the
Armenian side is exerting moral pressure on the issue of keeping a
promise, the Turkish side is constantly referring to the military
cooperation and the common political interests of Turkey and the
United States.

If we are to consider the survey of the ‘Vivaro’ Armenian organization
as an objective one, then we will conclude that the Armenian
organizations and the Armenian public don’t share the same viewpoint
on the subject. The results of the survey confirm that the public,
at least those included in the survey, don’t believe that the US
president is going to use the term.

The American prominent media representatives with flashy indications
and examples are inclined towards the Turkish stance. According to
them, in this and other related issues, it’s an imperative to prefer
the preservation of the US-Turkish relationship, considering the
interests lying in it, both for the state and the whole nation. In
political theories of course this kind of a reception is neither
shocking nor out of the ordinary.

Let us shift our attention from the US media field to the political
and governmental establishments in an attempt to look for certain
indications. First of all, the announcement made by the Democratic
Speaker of Congress Nancy Pelosi is necessarily noteworthy; in
it she didn’t resort to any maneuvers to convey the message that
the recognition of the Genocide is a necessity. It’s not the first
time that Pelosi is being this clear in expressing her stance on the
matter. The consideration of the time interval is important and gives
an opportunity to make some analysis concerning the restatement of
the viewpoint.

We are now on the threshold of April; we are in the aftermath of
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Turkey and days
before US president Obama’s visit to Ankara. And in a sensitive time
period like this they would have either avoided such announcements or
made maneuvers around it or bluntly restate it. Taking up the third
choice could be considered an indication by the Speaker of Congress,
specially considering the time period in which it occurred. And
although an official date or schedule haven’t been assigned yet, a
new resolution has been presented to Congress the contents of which
are almost similar to the previous one.

Certain predictions indicate the possibility of a unique middle-ground
statement by president Obama. There’s talk about a none-negating
none-recognizing statement that would cause the same amount of
assurance and unrest to both sides; a statement that’s to be different
from the previous ones. After all the president seems to have adopted
a style of being different on all levels.

We wonder what kind of manifestations will this style of
change-restore-be different have on the Armenian matters with
respect to the stances that are to be taken and the announcements
that are to be made. That is the question that has been tormenting
or poking the political mind which is following today’s on-going
processes. This style of being different is having manifestations on
other portfolios as well, albeit on a level of mere announcements. It’s
very obvious that the new administration has adopted a new style in the
announcements made in the fields of Russian-American, Russian-Iranian
as well as US-Middle East relationships.

The visit of president Obama to Ankara is days away. It’s nearer
than his April 24 announcement. In political rationale it’s obvious
of course that the use or the avoidance of the term ‘genocide’
is going to be decided according to the present indications of the
Armenian-Turkish-US relationships and not by the ethical imperative
of affirming a historical fact. At the same time, however, it’s going
to emerge from the president’s style of being different as well as
from the president’s public commitments and approaches concerning
creating new triggers in the US foreign policy. Hence, also from
today’s US interests.

Considering the chosen time intervals, president Obama’s visit to
Ankara, in addition to other matters, will set the stage for his
April 24 announcement. The announcement that is meant to be different.

NUMBER OF MY OPERA USERS IN ARMENIA GREATER THAN IN OTHER CIS STATES

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.03.2009 20:50 GMT+04:00

Armenia is ranked 1st in CIS for use of Opera Mini mobile web browser,
Opera Software detailed in its monthly report.

According to the report, more than 20,5 million people in the world
now use Opera Mini every month, up 160% from the year before. Users
surf more with Opera Mini -over 7,3 pages in January, registering 290%
increase from 2008. To top it off, Armenia, had the most growth –
up 389.4% from the year before.

Armenia is the only country in CIS where Sony Ericsson brand mark
enjoys the most popularity. Nokia is leading in other CIS states,
Opera Software reported to PanARMENIAN.Net.

COURT ACCEDES 56 MORE SUSPECTS TO ERGENEKON CASE

BIA
March 25 2009
Turkey

Retired generals Tolon and Eruygur are accused of conspiring against
the government in the 1909 page-long indictment. Journalist Dink’s
murder as well as a former generals diaries explaining coup plans
and journalist Balbay’s diaries are featured in the indictment.

Bia news center -Istanbul 25-03-2009

An Istanbul court accedes a second indictment to Ergenekon case
today, where 56 more suspects are accused of conspiring against
the government. The first hearing of the case will be held on July
20. Until then, interrogations of the suspects will be completed. The
court is expected to decide to annex this indictment to the ongoing
case or to proceed with a separate case in the first hearing. 19 of
the suspects are under arrest as of now. The court rejected requests
of release for those suspects.

In the 1909 page-long indictment, retired generals HurÅ~_it Tolon
and Å~^ener Eruygur are accused of leading the alleged organization
and planning a coup. Public prosecutor’s office demanded a thousand
and 47 years of prison sentences as well as life imprisonment on 14
incidents for the two generals.

The indictment involves two coup plans dubbed as "Yakamoz" and
"Eldiven". Former navy commander Ozden Ornek’s alleged diaries,
which contain coup plans in 2003 and 2004 are quoted in the
indictment. Despite allegations of involvement in those plans, Ornek
and other army commanders Aytac Yalman and Ä°brahim Fırtına aren’t
among the suspects.

Furthermore, journalist Mustafa Balbay’s alleged diaries are also
featured in the indictment. Already under arrest, Balbay denied any
involvement in coup plans and claimed that his "notes" were distorted
in the press. Published "notes" reveal conversations on coup plans
between Balbay and several army commanders.

More over, depending on a confession by Alaatin Kanat, Turkish Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink’s murder in 2007 was initiated by former general
Veli Kucuk and the illegal gendarmerie intelligence unit, JÄ°TEM.

Another allegation involves Ergenekon organization’s efforts to
influence the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and
the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The organization
supposedly tried to seize the direction of those parties.

Full list of the accused are as follows:

Levent Temiz, Hakan Å~^anlı, Adnan Turkkan, Suleyman Solmaz,
Hatice Bahtiyar, Emcet Olcaytu, Adil Serdar Sacan, Hamza Demir,
Fatma Sibel Yuksek, Erol Mutercimler, Mahir Akkar, Mesut Ozcan,
Sinan Aydın Aygun, Mustafa Ali Balbay, Emin Å~^irin, Osman Gurbuz,
Ufuk Mehmet Buyukcelebi, Ercument Ovalı, Muhammed Murat Avar, Ahmet
Tuncay Ozkan, Birol BaÅ~_aran, Adnan Bulut, Selim Utku Gumrukcu,
Ertac Giray, Mehmet Ali Celebi, Merdan Yanardag, Ä°lker Guven,
Siyami Yalcın, Halis Yavuz IÅ~_ıklar, Kemal Aydın, Murat Agırel,
Tunc Akkoc, Arif Dogan, Gurbuz Capan, Neriman Aydın, Hasan Atilla
Ugur, Barbaros Hayrettin AltıntaÅ~_, Ahmet HurÅ~_it Tolon, Mehmet
Å~^ener Eruygur, DurmuÅ~_ Ali Ozoglu, Ä°brahim Ozcan, Levent Ersöz,
Turhan Cömez, Dogukan Yorulmaz, Muzaffer Ozturk, Tanju Guvendiren,
Eren Mumcu, Hasan Huseyin Ucar, Noyan CalıkuÅ~_u, YaÅ~_ar Tozkoparan,
Evrim Baykara, Onder Koc, Huseyin Nazlıkul, Yuksel Dilsiz, Huseyin
Keskin, Ferda Paksut.(TK/AGU)

South Australia Passes Armenian Genocide Motion
outh-australia-passes-armenian-genocide-motion/
Ma rch 25, 2009

ADELAIDE, Australia – An ANC of Australia delegation was present this
week as the South Australian Parliament’s Legislative Council passed a
motion recognizing the Armenian Genocide as `one of the greatest
crimes against humanity.’

The motion, introduced by David Ridgway MLC, the leader of the Liberal
Opposition in the Legislative Council, and seconded by the
Hon. Bernard Finnigan, a member of the Labor Government in the
Legislative Council, went through unopposed, and sees the Upper House
join the New South Wales Parliament in condemning `the genocide of the
Armenians and all other acts of genocide.’

This motion is the first to include recognition of recently uncovered
material detailing the significant humanitarian effort by South
Australians, who aided the victims and survivors of the genocide
almost a century ago.

The people of South Australia, as part of the global Near East Relief
effort, answered calls for aid by donating clothing, money, and
infrastructure, such as an orphanage in Lebanon that housed child
survivors.

When introducing the motion earlier this month, a proud Ridgway said,
`I would like to recognize South Australia’s role in the first major
international humanitarian relief effort. As was the case for the
genocide itself, that effort was not broadly publicized.’

`It goes without saying that such acts as the Armenian Genocide
epitomize prejudices against race, religion, and culture,’ he
said. `For most Australians, those attitudes are difficult to
comprehend, but unfortunately they remain commonplace in many
societies today.’

Finnigan also addressed the House in seconding the motion, saying, `In
light of growing international awareness of the Armenian Genocide, and
given the horrific nature of the genocide itself, it is time for we
South Australians to do our part.’

ANC Australia political relations officer Vache Kahramanian commended
Ridgway, Finnigan and their Legislative Council colleagues for
recognizing what he described a `proud intertwining of histories for
Armenian Australians.’

`It is fitting that South Australia is the first to honor this
significant moment in Australian history – the first time this great
nation came to the aid of a needy people a whole world away,’
Kahramanian said. `It is important for nations like Australia to
recognize and condemn all acts of genocide, as some, like the Armenian
Genocide, remain unpunished.’

Ridgway commended the Armenian Australian community and the ANC of
Australia for their excellent leadership.

`I am grateful to be in an ongoing working relationship with the
Armenian community,’ he said. `The Armenian National Committee is
dedicated to a campaign which advocates recognition of the genocide,
and today’s motion is also a tribute to its tireless efforts on behalf
of the Armenian community.’