Author: Kafian Jirair

ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS DEVELOP ACTIVELY

Noyan Tapan
Jun 29 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Foreign Minister, Vardan Oskanian
met with the Head of the European Commission’s delegation to Armenia
and Georgia, Per Eklund on June 29. At the meeting, it was mentioned
that Armenia-EU relations develop actively and require additional
efforts for the implementation of the Actions Plan. Noyan Tapan was
informed about it by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information
Department.

V. Oskanian, touching upon the current stage of Armenia-EU cooperation,
said that it has a large agenda, for implementation of which the RA
Foreign Ministry is ready to closely cooperate with the delegation.

P. Eklund informed the Minister about European Commission’s decision
on raising the level of the European Commission’s representation in
Armenia during the year.

They also exchanged thoughts about regional issues at the meeting.

RUDOLF PERINA SUPPORTS CREATIVE APPROACH TO RESOLVE MOST COMPLICATED PROBLEMS OF KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.06.2007 14:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "It looks that the delicate situation of choosing
and appointing the successor of U.S. Ambassador John Marshall
Evans impelled the Department of State to temporarily engage highly
experienced diplomat Rudolf Perina, who is well aware of the problems
in Karabakh settlement since he has served as OSCE MG U.S. Co-Chair
in 2001-2004," OSCE MG former Russian Co-Chair Vladimir Kazimirov
stated to the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist. He said, R. Perina is being
engaged despite the fact that he is in retirement for about two years
and another American diplomat occupies the post of U.S. Co-Chair in
the OSCE Minsk Group.

"I did not have a chance to work with Rudolf Perina, but we
have met on his initiative and talked about Karabakh issues. I
have an impression that he is not only a professional with high
qualification, but also supporter of creative approach to resolve
the most complicated problems of Karabakh. As far as I remember, he
was one of the initiators of a significantly important turning point
in the settlement of this conflict. The current OSCE MG Co-Chairs
continue to work on including in the process the ideas, in which he
was directly involved," V. Kazimirov said.

The Russian diplomat also noted that not all things depend on this
or that personality. "Instructions are very important, which they
receive from their capitals, though creative personalities do not
limit themselves to functions of implementing received orders. In this
case it is not quite clear how long R. Perina will have to perform
his role waiting for the successor of Ambassador Evans. But if works
of US Embassy in Armenia were OK, Washington would hardly go to such
a non-typical appointment for a few months.

Naturally, this is not more than my personal opinion," Vladimir
Kazimirov underscored.

OSCE Minsk Group former U.S. Co-Chair Rudolf Perina is appointed
as U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Armenia. He will take up his duties on
July 10.

FINANCIAL MEDIATION INDEX TO BE INCREASED FROM CURRENT 10% TO 40-60% IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jun 25 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The index of financial mediation
should be increased from the current 10% to 40-60% (as in developed
countries), for which the 20-30% growth, which was registered with
respect to the main indices of the banking system in recent years,
should be increased to at least 40%. The Chairman of the Central
Bank of Armenia (CBA) Tigran Sargsian said this at the June 25 annual
meeting of the Union of Armenian Banks.

According to him, out of 763 thousand customers of 21 Armenian banks,
only 39 thousand are legal entities, while 54 thousand legal entities
and 48 thousand private businessmen are now regsitered in Armenia. He
said that only 30-35% of registered enyerprises really operate. In
his opinion, these indices show that a lot of enterprises operate in
the shadow sector.

Out of the problems facing the Armenian banking system, the CBA
chairman pointed out the reduction of 10-13% difference (which is
the highest in the world) of the interest rates of credits provided
by Armenian banks and deposits attracted by them. With this aim,
the standards of corporate governance, as well as the requirement of
having a minimum capital of 5 billion drams (about 14.5 million USD)
were introduced in banks. Besides, steps were taken to attract foreign
banks in order to increase the competitiveness in the RA banking
system. As a result, PostBank (the Netherlands), GasPromBank (Russia),
Raiffaizenbank (Austria), ByblosBank (Lebanon) and ProKreditBank
(Germany) have expressed an intention to operate in Armenia.

The CBA will also take steps to raise the portfolio of mortgage credits
provided by Armenian banks from the current 30 billion drams to 350
billion drams within the next three years.

The CBA chairman appreciated the fact that Armenian banks and
enterprises issue bonds. In his opinion, the entrance of the
Swedish-Finnish company OMX AB into Armenia will be conducive to the
issue of other securities: OMX is expected to purchase the Armenian
Stock Exchange by late 2007.

T. Sargsian said that the mitigation of normatives helped develop
the Armenian banking system in recent years. It is envisaged that the
regulation of banking activities will pass from the CBA to the Union of
Armenian Banks when the latter works out the norms of self-regulation.

ALROSA DIAMONDS TO BE MANUFACTURED IN ARMENIAN JOINT VENTURE

Tacy, Israel
June 24 2007

Armenia’s diamond manufacturing industry will soon benefit from
Alrosa’s rough diamonds. Russian mining company Alrosa is expecting
to establish a diamond manufacturing joint venture in Armenia with
local diamond manufacturer DCA. According to Russian media sources,
the Russian rough, the first shipment of which is planned for as early
as this autumn, will be cut and polished at the Alrosa-DCA joint
venture, but other Armenian companies under DCA patronage may also
receive some of the diamonds for further processing. The diamonds
will then be sold in the Russian market.

Alrosa President Sergey Vybornov is expected to sign the joint venture
agreement during his upcoming visit to Yerevan. Sources say that a
final agreement concerning the joint venture was already reached in
Moscow. In addition to talks of the venture, DCA Chairman and Chair
of the International Association of Armenian Jewelers Gagik Abramyan,
Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan and Alrosa delegations
also discussed the jewelry industry in Armenia and ways to develop it.

Cooperation between Russia and Armenia will benefit both countries,
sources say, as processing of Russia’s diamonds, especially small
ones less than one carat, is more profitable in Armenia than in
Russia. Moreover, with manufacturing prices increasing in India and
China, where Alrosa currently sells its diamonds to and then buys
the finished products from, Armenia is a good alternative.

US CONGRESS ASSERTS DRAFT TO ALLOCATE $3.5 MILLION FOR MILITARY AID TO AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 25 2007

The US House of Representatives asserted draft on allocating $3.5
million for military assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2008,
APA’s US bureau reports.

$500 thousand of this amount have been allotted for financing military
education and training programs. The rest $3 million will be rendered
in a form of foreign military aid.

Moreover, the US Congress Lower Chamber asserted the draft on
allocating $68 million to Armenia in 2008, $10 million to the
separatist regime (NKR), which is controlling occupied Azerbaijani
regions, for humanitarian aid.

PACE SESSION STARTING OPENING IN STRASBOURG

ArmRadio.am
25.06.2007 10:36

The summer session of the Parlaimentary Assembly of teh Council of
Europe is starting in Strasbourg today. The first day Leo Platvoet will
present the report on the monitoring of the parliamentary elections
in Armenia.

In the framework of the session Dick Marty will present the second
report on secret prisons and transfer of prisoners. Discussion on
intercultural and interreligious dialogue is expected as well.

Hermine Naghdalyan and Armen Rustamyan participate in the session. This
time the Armenian delegation is not headed by Tigran Torosyan.

NKR LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT MAY PARTICIPATE IN NKR NEGOTIATIONS

A1+
[03:49 pm] 19 June, 2007

"If presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabakh are conducted
in constructive atmosphere and the standards of democracy are
preserved, the international community will believe that democratic
processes are taking place in Karabakh", stated politician Stepan
Grigoryan. According to him, the democratic processes are more vivid
in NKR than in Azerbaijan. "We should use this, pointing out that the
unit which is not recognized by the international community yet is on
its way to democracy". The politician considers that besides its impact
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the democratic elections
would promote political and economic development in Karabakh. Mr
Grogoryan doubted to say as to what extend the pre-election activities
in the NKR corresponded to the international standards and noted:
"Arkady Gukasyan was not nominated for the third time and it is a
progress. Another progress will be the participation of the NKR in the
negotiation process". An important pre-condition for that will be the
circumstances under which the presidential elections will be conducted.

The politician does not trust the survey results released by Aharon
Adibekyan on the presidential candidates. "People carrying out polling
should not be involved in political activities, while Aharon Adibekyan
is a political figure". Stepan Grigoryan is confirmed that the Prague
Process commenced between Kocharyan and Aliev 3 years ago failed during
the last meeting. "The only news of the meeting was that Azerbaijan
finally rejected the proposal on the referendum. The negotiating
process is in crisis. I fear that it will be terminated for uncertain
period and the format of the OSCE Minsk Group may be altered or the
settlement issue may be tasked to another organization. Unfortunately,
the RA authorities, including the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation
– Dashnaktsutyun" do not understand that the problem should not be
viewed from the historical point since the process is becoming a
debate on territories. I suppose that Kocharyan understood that the
NKR should return to the negotiating process and should not ignore the
principle of self-determination". As to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’
statements, Mr Grigoryan mentioned: "Their countries have not finally
orientated in the Karabakh issue. The world has not decided how to
settle the conflict".

ASHOT BLEYAN: PROBLEMS FACED BY JAVAKHK SHOULD BE SOLVED WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF ARMENIA-GEORGIA INTERSTATE RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 18 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Rather sad situation has been formed
currently in Javakhk in educational-cultural, socio-economic and
political respect. RA MP Shirak Torosian, Chairman of Javakhk
Compatriotic Union, said in his June 18 dispute with Ashot Bleyan,
Director of Mkhitar Sebastatsi educational complex. In his words,
currently the 150-thousand Armenian community of Javakhk is faced by a
number of problems contributing to the process of Armenians’ migration.

A. Torosian said that the problems accumulated there require immediate
solution. Particularly, in S. Torosian’s words, Javakhk is faced by the
educational problem: school buildings are destroyed, the educational
system is collapsed and the steps undertaken by RA government in this
direction are insufficient.

In A. Bleyan’s opinion, the problems of Javakhk should be solved only
within the framework of Armenia-Georgia interstate, intergovernmental
relations. In his words, Javakhk is one of the colonies of Armenian
Diaspora, where the state of Armenia has the right to promote only
activity promoting educational and cultural development. "Armenia has
no right to intervene into Georgia’s political affairs," A. Bleyan
noted.

In his words, everything possible should be done for Armenian citizens
of Georgia to start feeling themselves as citizens of that state,
to try living full-value life and to take part in overcoming of
difficulties in Javakhk.

For this, as A. Bleyan affirmed, the Armenians living in Georgia
should learn Georgian as soon as possible. "No state will tolerate
its country’s citizens’ not knowing the state language."

RA PARLIAMENT SPEAKER, IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED BILATERAL RELATIONS

ArmRadio.am
18.06.2007 17:30

June 18 Speaker of RA National Assembly Tigran Torosyan received the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic
of Iran to Armenia Alireza Haqiqyan.

Greeting the Ambassador, NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan expressed hope
that the relations of the Iranian Parliament with the 4th National
Assembly will remain warm and friendly. It was noted that the National
Assembly is ready to propose cooperation programs.

The Ambassador conveyed the congratulations of Iranian Parliament
Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel’s congratulations on the occasion of
Tirran Torosyan’s reelection as Parliament Speaker and an invitation
to pay an official visit, expressing confidence that the Speaker’s
official visit will enhance the deepening of interparliamentary ties.

Mr. Haqiqyan attached importance to the development of bilateral
relations n all directions, noting that in June the seventh sitting
of the Intergovernmental Commission is expected in Yerevan. Excising
programs will be discussed during the sitting; suggestions will be
worked out for deepening cooperation in the economic, agricultural,
cultural, energy and other spheres.

Tigran Torosyan thanked for the congratulations and invitation and
asked to convey his greetings to his Iranian counterpart.

Le Monde, France
17 juin 2007 dimanche

20:40 ARTE;
Le Génocide arménien

1915 : l’Empire ottoman finissant a déjà perdu ses provinces
balkaniques. Il s’engage aux côtés de l’Allemagne dans la première
guerre mondiale. Spéculant sur sa chute, les différentes puissances
européennes rivalisent pour occuper des positions économiques et
politiques à Constantinople. Les Russes, alliés à la France et à
l’Angleterre, ouvrent un front dans le Caucase. Les populations
arméniennes se retrouvent de fait au coeur du champ de bataille.
Victimes d’un pouvoir qui prône l’" homogénéité ethnique ", elles
vont subir massacres, déportations et assassinats. Le génocide de
1915 a fait entre un million et un million et demi de morts. Quelque
600 000 Arméniens ont survécu – rescapés des déportations ou réfugiés
à travers le Caucase, l’Iran, les Balkans ou les provinces arabes.

Le film de Laurence Jourdan retrace le contexte international de ce
génocide, en puisant largement dans les rapports des chancelleries
européennes alors en poste à travers l’Empire ottoman. A l’aide de
centaines de photos et de films d’une grande qualité, le documentaire
expose les origines, les méthodes et les conséquences de la politique
d’extermination conçue et organisée par l’aile militaire des Jeunes
Turcs, le mouvement réformateur au pouvoir au côté du sultan Mehmet
V.

La défaite de l’armée ottomane contre les Russes, en janvier 1915,
sert de prétexte pour lancer les persécutions contre les Arméniens,
accusés – à tort – de trahison au profit de l’armée du tsar. Le 24
avril, 650 notables et intellectuels arméniens sont arrêtés à
Constantinople. C’est le début des déportations et des exécutions.
L’ambassadeur allemand approuve cette " répression d’émeutes ",
tandis qu’en mai, la France, l’Angleterre et la Russie envoient une
déclaration commune dénonçant " ces crimes de la Turquie contre
l’humanité ". Un consul américain prévient son ambassade : il s’agit
d’une " déportation ", " tous les Arméniens sont expulsés ", ils
risquent la mort au cours des déportations organisées vers les
déserts de la Syrie. En octobre 1915, Berlin, craignant d’être
associé aux massacres, élève la voix.

Le nouvel ambassadeur allemand constate, un an plus tard, que ses
admonestations, pas plus que celles de l’ambassadeur américain et du
nonce apostolique, n’ont pu empêcher " l’extermination de la race
arménienne ".