Author: Jidarian Alex

ARMENIA GDP TO CONTRACT 15 PCT IN ’09-IMF
Hasmik Lazarian

Forbes
Sept 16 2009

YEREVAN, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Armenia’s gross domestic product will
likely shrink 15 percent in 2009, the International Monetary Fund said
on Wednesday, citing a dramatic decline in the construction sector.

IMF mission chief to Armenia Mark Lewis said a large drop in tax
revenues meant the public deficit could reach up to around 7.5 percent
of GDP. He forecast annual inflation of 3 percent.

Wednesday’s GDP forecast was sharply down on a June estimate by the
IMF of a 9.5 percent contraction in the landlocked country of 3.2
million people.

The former Soviet republic has seen a sharp fall in remittances and
exports and a steep contraction in the construction sector as it
struggles with the fallout of recession in close economic ally Russia.

‘2009 has been a very challenging year for Armenia with real GDP now
expected to decline by about 15 percent,’ Lewis told a news conference.

JOURNALISTS GORMUS AND HAAS RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL DINK AWARD

Today’s Zaman
Sept 17 2009
Turkey

Journalists Alper Gormus (2nd from left) and Amira Haas (C) were
the first recipients of the International Hrant Dink Award, given to
journalists who have shown outstanding bravery to uncover the truth.

Turkish journalist Alper Gormus_ and Israeli journalist Amira Haas
became the first recipients of the Hrant Dink International Award on
Tuesday evening, given in the name of Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian
journalist who was murdered in 2007 by an ultranationalist youth
allegedly for insulting Turkishness.

Ali Bayramoglu, the head of the award committee of the International
Hrant Dink Foundation established by the Dink family, said at the
ceremony that "what we are looking for is what Hrant symbolizes," in
reference to his ideals, which were "purified out of discrimination,"
and people who follow those ideals taking risks for a more just world.

GörmuÅ~_, a columnist for the Taraf newspaper and a faculty member
at Bilgi University, said after receiving the award that he carries a
great responsibility because he has fears that he could do something
improper to undermine the meaning of the award.

"I saw Hrant Dink right after the Supreme Court of Appeals upheld
a lower court’s decision to convict him. I had gone to Agos for an
interview with him. During the whole interview, he spent all his energy
explaining why it was impossible for him to ‘insult Turkishness’,"
GörmuÅ~_ said.

The award committee recalled that GörmuÅ~_, the former editor-in-chief
of the now-defunct Nokta weekly, was acquitted last year in April
of charges of libel for running a story that featured excerpts from
a diary, allegedly penned by a former naval commander, revealing
plans by some generals to stage a military intervention. GörmuÅ~_
said yesterday that he was not satisfied with the court’s decision,
even though he was acquitted of all charges. Although GörmuÅ~_
was acquitted, he had said that his acquittal was not satisfactory
because he was not given a chance to prove his publication’s claims.

Haas, a correspondent for Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, expressed
her regret over Dink’s death and that the award was named "after a
murdered man." Born in Jerusalem, she is the daughter of Holocaust
survivors. Reporting on the Palestinians since 1991 when Haaretz
sent her to Gaza, she became the first and only Israeli journalist
to settle in Ramallah in the West Bank to live among Palestinians.

Dink’s murder trial has been continuing, and the Dink family lawyers
frequently refer to the series of mistakes made by the police in
handling the case and official attempts to protect those who plotted
the crime as previously reported by the press. Dink was shot dead
outside the offices of the Agos newspaper, of which he was the
editor-in-chief.

Dink’s wife, Rakel, said in her emotional speech that Dink would
have been 55 on Sept. 15 if his life had not been "usurped." She
said establishing the foundation was a result of efforts from many
"friends" and that it was difficult to heal the wound.

"The wound was deep in 1915; how is it going to be dressed?" she said,
referring to the killings of Anatolian Armenians perpetrated by the
Ottoman Empire during World War I, which Armenians claim constituted
genocide. Among the attendees of the award ceremony were State
Minister Egemen BagıÅ~_, Parliament’s Human Rights Committee head
Zafer Uskul, independent deputy Ufuk Uras, British Consul General
in Ä°stanbul Jessica Hand, journalists Nadire Mater and Leyla Umar,
author Adalet Agaoglu, conductor Cem Mansur and actress Lale Mansur.

KardeÅ~_ Turkuler, a well-known folk music ensemble praised for its
wide repertoire of ethnic music from Anatolia, and Arto Tuncboyacıyan,
an internationally acclaimed Turkish-Armenian avant-garde folk
musician, gave a short concert at the ceremony.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN ATTENDED THE GATHERING OF RPA YOUTH ORGANIZATION

president.am
Sept 15 2009
Armenia

The President of Armenia, Chairman of the Republican Party Council,
Serzh Sargsyan visited the participants of the RPA Youth Organization
regular gathering in Tsakhkadzor.

The three-day "Future in our hands" conference drew together one
hundred fifty delegates of the party’s regional youth organizations.

Serzh Sargsyan has been present at the implementation of the RPA youth
related programs and discussions pertaining to the cooperation with
regional organizations.

Along with the internal administrative issues, in the presence of the
President of Armenia lively and comprehensive discussions were held on
the currently debated issues such as the Armenian-Turkish relations,
NK peace process, state-society dialogue, information security,
education and science, state youth policy, and Diaspora related issues.

Serzh Sargsyan urged the young people to frankly express their concerns
and ideas regarding the contentious issues and answered many questions
raised by them.

Speaking about the Armenian-Turkish relations, which top the agenda
of the gathering, President Sargsyan said that Armenia has entered a
difficult but necessary process in which we are led by the principle
of carefully weighing our steps. "The easiest thing to do is to do
nothing. The difficult thing is to propose a solution for the problem
and to achieve success," the President of Armenia said.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that he was happy to see that the participants
of the gathering were concerned not only with the youth related
issues. The President stressed the importance of the youth in becoming
a moving force behind the reforms and of their ability not only to
signal the problems but also to find solutions. "You should scrutinize
any problem not on just "black-and-white" level but try to examine it
meticulously, and understand its very essence. Only then it will be
possible to find durable solutions. Gatherings such as this one are
a good opportunity to juxtapose different viewpoints and approaches
and reach sound conclusions," President Sargsyan noted.

Young republicans thanked the President of Armenia for the candid
discussion and assured that they were ready to bring their best to
the resolution of the problems facing the state and society.

U.S. WELCOMES ARMENIAN-TURKISH RECONCILIATION

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 15 2009
Armenia

17:38 / 09/15/2009U.S. Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey expressed
content with Armenian-Turkish negotiation process.

Jeffrey visited Grand National Assembly of Turkey to congratulate
Mehmet Ali Sahin with his appointment as Parliament speaker, Turkish
Cumhuriyet daily reports. The closed meeting lasted for 30 minutes.

Later, answering the journalists’ questions, Jeffrey stated: "We
assist the Armenian-Turkish dialogue, and God willing the process
will progress. We are bent on peace establishment and stability
in the Caucasus. You are the ones to make decision on relations’
normalization between the two countries."

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN MET WITH THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE CIS COUNTRIES FARID MUKHAMETSHIN

President.am
Sept 14 2009
Armenia

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan met with the Special Representative
of the President of the Russian Federation in the CIS countries, Head
of the Federal Agency for CIS issues Farid Mukhametshin. He arrived to
Armenia to participate in the Days of the Russian Language in Armenia
which is being organized under the high patronage of the Presidents
of Armenia and Russia.

The President of Armenia noted with satisfaction that the Days of
the Russian Language in our country were becoming a good tradition
and unalienable part of humanitarian cooperation of the two countries.

The parties stressed the important role of the Russian language as
a means of intercultural contacts. Serzh Sargsyan said that Russian
was a mandatory course in all secondary schools in Armenia and that
steps were being taken to upgrade the level of teaching Russian in
the colleges and universities.

The two sides spoke also about the Armenian-Russian Slavic University,
joint cultural and educational programs, and new possibilities for
cooperation in the humanitarian area.

President Sargsyan underscored the importance of cooperation in the
humanitarian area and noted that it brings the two nations closer
and strengthens friendship of the two states.

PILIBOS KICKS OFF 40TH YEAR, WELCOMES NEW PRINCIPAL

Asbarez
14/pilibos-kicks-off-40th-year-welcomes-new-princi pal/
Sep 14, 2009

LITTLE ARMENIA-The Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School students
returned to the classroom on Sept. 3 to two new turning points-the
school’s 40th anniversary and a new principal, Nazo Apanian.

At a special ceremony, attended by the student body, school-affiliated
entities, religious and community leaders, all speakers highlighted the
important role Alex Pilibos has played in the education of Armenians
in the United States and advancements it has achieved to become a
unique academic and educational environment.

In his remarks, Principal Apanian highlighted the achievements and
said he was honored and humbled to be appointed to lead the school
and continue the successes it has registered in the past 40 years.

This summer, the Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian Schools
appointed Apanian as principal after Dr. Viken Yacoubian announced
that he would be ending his successful 16-year tenure at the school.

"It is an immense responsibility," said Apanian who expressed
confidence that the community and entities who have constantly
supported the school would continue to be an integral part of life
at Pilibos.

The ceremony began with prayers offered by St. Garabed Armenian Church
pastor Rev. Viken Vassilian.

Student Council representatives Lory Tashdjian and Donna Abdo presented
welcoming remarks in Armenian and English respectively.

Dean of Students Charles Lousararian highlighted the many achievements
of the schools, as well as its contributions to the community. He
enumerated the successes of graduates and expressed confidence that the
school will continue its academic mission and will produce exemplary
individuals and Armenians.

In his remarks, Education Committee chairman Sako Berberian recounted
the successes of the school and attributed each principal and staff
who have played an integral role in nurturing it into an outstanding
educational institution. He also welcomed Apanian, saying that as
a former teacher at the school he has now returned to apply his
experience to and confront the challenges with a new vigor and
commitment.

In his blessing, Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
commended the teachers, students and parents who have always been a
strong pillar for the school and after welcoming the new principal,
prayed for future successes.

RACE FOR LEADERSHIP IN THE REGION GAINS STRENGTH

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.09.2009 GMT+04:00

Russia, in the view of Ankara, cannot yet be taken seriously: judging
by experts’ statements Moscow will not have a policy for the Caucasus
or the Middle East for several more years.

The past week proved to be quieter than usual in the region. But for
minor demarches by Iran on the Caspian, one might get the impression
that almost nothing is going on in the region. But it’s only an
illusion. To the best of their power and opportunities Turkey and
Iran are trying to grab the initiative from each other’s hands and
gain dominance in the region. The chances of the two countries are
roughly equal, if we close our eyes to the fact that Iran has oil,
gas and a nuclear program.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Against all this Turkey can only set off her flexible
diplomacy, the second largest army in NATO and the dictates of the
General Staff, despite the attempts of the Islamists to limit the
influence of the army on decision-making. However, after the failure
of the Israeli-Syrian negotiations, the mediator of which was the
Turkish Foreign Ministry, a kind of lull come over the region,
later to be broken by the promulgation of the Protocols on the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. But presently the main
concern of Turkey is how to solve the "Kurdish problem" with minimal
losses. To achieve this goal Ankara is ready to almost everything,
including invasion into Northern Iraq. According to the report of the
RAND Corporation, Turkey could occupy Kirkuk and Mosul, not paying
much attention to the USA, especially since the U.S. withdraws her
troops from Iraq next year. Ankara will try to annex Kurdistan and
make semblance of the Kurdish autonomy, instantly solving the nearly
century-old problem. The question only is whether the neighboring
countries will allow Turkey to take such a step. Kirkuk and Mosul
are a road leading to oil reserves, which, largely, will not bring
prosperity to Turkey, but will help to fortify her position. However,
first Ankara would have to face the implacable standpoint of Iran,
which would not tolerate anyone superior to her in the region. And
here, as a constraint to Ankara will serve the nuclear program. Tehran
could also finally decide her relations with Armenia and Russia, thus
setting her axis against Turkey, which looks quite weak without the
U.S. and Israeli assistance. In this regard, both the normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations and the regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict seem no closer than 5 years ago.

On the other hand, Turkey should not now set hopes on the United
States; the country is not yet able to combat crisis. Russia, too,
in the view of Ankara cannot yet be taken seriously; judging by
experts’ statements Moscow will not have a policy for the Caucasus
or the Middle East for several more years. The RF is still thinking
in terms of the collapsed USSR, failing to notice the realities of
the new world in which, alas, she occupies no position yet. At least,
so believe the Russian experts and now Moscow needs a clear, if not
an open policy on regional matters.

The unipolar world has come to an end, but a multi-polar world
does not mean an equal game between Russia and Turkey, or say,
China. The regional players of growing power now refuse the dictates
of superpowers and, in fact, there repeats itself the story of the
economic boom of the Asian tigers of the 80s. In the light of still
backstage changes, map of the region may radically change in the
near future. The South Caucasus countries would be given to someone
in return for hegemony or as compensation. However, who will be that
someone is still unknown. In all probability, Georgia and Azerbaijan
will go split, while Armenia icult situation. Ratification or rejection
of ratification of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols will not change
anything: Armenia will have to follow the rules accepted throughout
the world – the strong are the ones to dictate.

Against this background, the position of the "offended Iran", which
had not been invited to the meeting of Caspian states, seems somewhat
frivolous. Moreover, the President of Russia stressed that no decision
on the Caspian Sea would be made without participation of Iran. The
reluctance to Baku to see Iran at the table of negotiations on the
Caspian Sea is quite justified. Baku wants to unilaterally dispose
of all wealth, though knowing that no one will let her do it. Key
events in the region will, most likely, begin close to the beginning of
October, when the date fixed by the Protocols expires. And much depends
on how the entire history of the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations will end.

DID TURKEY RENOUNCE?

ahos15152.html
11/09/2009

Before dwelling on the Armenian and Turkish relations, we have to ask
why it became so urgent now and whether this process is expedient for
Armenia and where this initiative started, says the political
scientist Manvel Sargsyan during today’s discussion at the Armenian
People’s Party office.

The Armenian and Turkish relations are determined by serious changes
in the international relations. Everything changed in 2008 when Russia
started a war against Georgia. Several days after this event, the
Turkish prime minister Erdoghan left for Russia and presented his
proposals.

Turkey proposed us border opening and diplomatic relations. We have to
answer their proposals but we have no proposals yet and we have
nothing to discuss in the genocide and Karabakh issues. If relations
are established without preconditions this means at least secret
arrangements or repression on Turkey, said Manvel Sargsyan.

According to him, Karabakh question cannot be in the Armenian-Turkish
protocols because if it were alongside with it another 10 questions
maybe included in them. The government may use this factor in home
issues but the society does not trust the government whatever it does.

Here the Russian-Turkish factor comes. The question occurs whether
Turkey renounced the Karabakh issue. Now in the Turkish press the
question that Azerbaijan has to forget Karabakh is actively
discussed. It cannot be accidental.

According to Manvel Sargsyan, it is useless to speak about the
Armenian and Turkish protocols because they do not contain
anything. Just like the Madrid documents, they are an ordinary
diplomatic document which the superpowers may use the way they would
like.

New deputy minister

rubik-harutiunian
04:24 pm | September 11, 2009 | Official

By a September 11 decree of Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,
Rubik Harutiunian was appointed as Deputy Minister of Emergency
Situations, reports RA Government’s press service.

LEVON ARONIAN – LEADER

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: In the fourth round of the chess
"Big Helmet" tournament ongoing in the Spanish Bilbao town grand master
Levon Aronian with white figures beat Russian Alexander Grishchuk
and after the fourth round heads the tournament list with 9 points.

In the first round of the tournament L. Aronian was defeated by
A. Grishchuk and now he was able to give revenge.

A. Grishchuk is in the second place with 6 points, Sergey Karyakin
from Russia in this round playing a draw with Spanish Alexey Shirov,
earned 5 points. A. Shirov is in the fourth place with 2 points.