Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIA HONORS BIRTH OF ‘7TH BILLION CHILD’
Satenik Vantsian

Armenialiberty.org
Oct 31 2011

Armenia has joined in the largely symbolic celebration of the birth
of the world’s seventh billion person expected by the United Nations
on Monday.

A baby boy born into the Voskanian family in the northern Armenian
town of Artik 20 minutes past midnight on Monday was declared by
the Armenia office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
to be the seven billionth living person on Earth.

Thousands of babies are born around the world every hour, and it
is hardly possible to precisely tell which of the newborns gets the
honor of taking the human race to that landmark. Therefore, the United
Nations has apparently decided to go without officially naming anyone
to be that child, with every country picking its own honoree.

Talking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am), UNFPA Armenia
Country Office Executive Representative Garik Hayrapetian said
the estimation of the world population is based on “a very serious
scientific approach”. Still, he added: “Five children are born every
second, and I don’t think it is possible to tell exactly which child
is born to be the seventh billion.”

The baby in Artik, who was named Vahram, was born two weeks
prematurely. He weighs 2.9 kilograms (or about 6 pounds and 6 ounces)
and is now under the supervision of local doctors. Vahram’s parents
are residents of the nearby village of Pemzashen.

His father, Garik Voskanian, was not in town to celebrate the occasion
with his family. Like many in this economically depressed area he had
gone to Russia as a migrant worker. His close relatives say, however,
he will come back soon to see his son.

The UN office undertook to provide Vahram with all essential items in
the postnatal period, while the maternity hospital in Artik issued a
special certificate to the little one and the town’s mayor gave him
a letter of gratitude.

The maternal hospital in Artik was chosen for the symbolic celebration
as an establishment that by its level of equipment and the number of
recorded births yields to other similar centers in Armenia. The UN
office on Monday donated a mobile echoscope to the center.

The UN estimates that the number of living persons on the planet will
reach eight billion in 2025, while the world population is expected
to hit the 10-billion mark in 2083.

“BRAIN DRAIN” IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS: A DEADLY CYCLE

HETQ
13:44, October 31, 2011

According to an article in today’s The Financial regarding emigration
trends in the South Caucasus, 64% of Armenians would leave Armenia
for a certain period, while fewer Azerbaijanis – 52%, and Georgians –
47%, would do the same.

The article focuses on the phenomenon called the “Brain Drain” –
when the more skilled people emigrate — i.e., leave their country
of residence and citizenship heading to a more advanced country.

Muhammad Asali, ISET Professor, Ph.D., Columbia University, 2008,
believes that it really does hurt local economies.

“Not only is this a harmful phenomenon, but it is also self-sustained;
the vicious circle goes as follows: skilled workers emigrate because
there are no good opportunities for them in the country of origin:
no job offers, low wages, high unemployment, job possibilities not
matching their skills and abilities. Once they leave, however, all
these problems become worse — because the potential driving force
of development (skilled and educated workers) are not there anymore,
infrastructure and opportunities deteriorate — rendering additional
waves of out migration,” added Asali.

The data, compiled by the Caucasus Barometer (compiled by The Caucasus
Research Resource Centers) CRRC also shows that Armenians are more
willing to permanently leave their country – 29%, than the Azerbaijanis
– 17%, and Georgians – 7%.

Ethnic Armenians within Georgia alone are also more likely to
permanently emigrate from the country than the other internal ethnic
groups. 42% of the ethnic Armenian population in Georgia reported
desire to leave Georgia forever compared to 7% of ethnic Azerbaijanis
and 6% of ethnic Georgians within the country.

Additionally, there is a pattern in which people who have travelled
abroad are more inclined to emigrate in all three countries. Nearly
eight-in-ten Azerbaijanis, 78% who have once travelled abroad, would
temporarily leave the country followed by 71% who travelled abroad
twice or more, and 48% for those who have never travelled abroad.

Similarly, 71% Armenians who have been abroad at least once are more
interested in temporary migration than their compatriots who have
never travelled, 48%, outside Armenia.

NKR PRESIDENT: TOGH LIBERATION WAS HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 31, 2011 – 12:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On October 30, President of the Artsakh Republic Bako
Sahakyan visited the village of Togh in the Hadrout region to attend an
event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the settlement’s liberation.

In his speech, the President noted that the liberation of Togh
was “among the first victories of our national movement that was
historically important and was a prelude to the subsequent victories.”

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan, other
officials, guests from Armenia and abroad also took part in the event.

ARMENIA TO PRESENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AT RIO+20 CONFERENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 31, 2011 – 13:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – To resist the emerging challenges, Armenia will
present a strategy of sustainable development at Rio+20, United
Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

As the chairman of the Union of Manufacturers of Armenia, Vazgen
Safaryan, told a news conference in Yerevan, each country should
develop basing on its resources.

Among prospects to ensure Armenia’s sustainable development, Safaryan
named Iran-Armenia railway, where Russia may have role of investor,
Iran-Armenia highway and the project of modernization of Nairit
plant, which, according to him, may have a place in international
rubber market.

DIRECTOR OF ACNIS: PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE WAS ADDRESSED NOT SO MUCH TO POLITICAL PARTIES AS TO THE WHOLE SOCIETY

arminfo
Monday, October 31, 18:36

The Prime Minister’s message was addressed not so much to political
parties as to the whole society, Director of the Armenian Center
for National and International Studies Manvel Sargsyan said during
a press-conference on Monday.

He said that any backdoor agreements would be anti-national and anti-
constitutional.

“Nobody in Armenia believes any more that the country may have a
legitimate government elected through a fair ballot. Therefore,
political parties try to come to terms with the regime. In this
context, the Premier’s words mean the following: ‘Unless you are with
us, you will end up with nothing,'” Sargsyan said.

He said that in any normal country a premier would be dismissed
after saying such things. But in Armenia this is normal. Each second
believes that it is necessary to consolidate. But what he means is
consolidation around personalities who have offered the same lists
for the last 20 years.

Political expert Alexander Margarov said that the Premier’s statement
was not addressed to the Prosperous Armenia party. “Should he wish to
address that party, he would do it directly. The Premier’s words were
addressed to non-constructive parties, seeking to undermine Armenia’s
stability,” the expert said.

To remind, during a press-conference on Wednesday Prime Minister of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said: “The Republican Party of Armenia is
the core of a new political format. Those parties who will join us
will gain, while those refusing to cooperate will end up with nothing.”

PRICE RISE IN ARMENIA’S CONSUMER MARKET

Tert.am
31.10.11

A 0.3% price rise was registered in Armenia’s consumer market this
October as compared with this September.

The Statistical Service of Armenia reports a 0.3% rise in food
prices (including prices for alcoholic drink and tobacco), a 0.9%
rise in nonfood prices and a 0.1% rise in prices for services. This
January-October, consumer prices showed an average monthly rise of 0.1%
– a 0.5% decrease as compared with last year’s correspondent index
(0.6%).

This October, the consumer price index was 105.7% as compared with last
October. In the case of food products (including alcoholic beverages
and tobacco) the consumer price index was 108.5%, and in the case of
nonfood products 103.9%. In the case of services, the consumer price
index was 102%. This Jan-Oct, the consumer price index was 108.3%,
112.3%, 103.2% and 103.8% respectively as compared with last Jan-Oct.

This October, the consumer price index reached 105.1%. In the case
of food products, it was 104.3% and in the case of services 103.9%.

This Oct. the US dollar showed appreciation. This Oct 1 to 28, the
AMD exchange rate against the USD showed a 1.1% rise. This October,
consumer prices and the AMD exchange rate against the USD showed a
respective rise of 0.9% and 4.4% rise as compared with last December.

Consumer prices showed a 5.8% rise, and the AMD showed 5.3%
depreciation against the USD as compared with the corresponding period
last year. This October, the AMD/USD exchange rate was AMD 376.45/$1
against AMD 360.28/$1 last October.

YEREVAN VICE-MAYOR FOR REMOVAL OF STREET STANDS IN ARMENIA’S CAPITAL

Tert.am
31.10.11

Acting Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan talked to journalists after
an economic conference of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

He noted that he is for removal of street stands in Yerevan. Yerevan
ex-mayor Karen Karapetyan launched the program.

As regards Mr. Karapetyan’s resignation, Margaryan expressed the
confidence that he had no personal reasons. The RPA Council, together
with President Serzh Sargsyan, will appoint the next mayor. He has
not seen the lists of candidates.

“Anyone may see himself as mayor. I say again, I am a RPA member and
it is up to the RPA to decide which of the candidates will hold the
post,” Margaryan said.

As to whether he will accept the party’s proposal to fill the post
Margaryan said: “If the party decides, everything will be clear.”

As regards the rumors that Mr. Karapetyan’s decision on removal of
street stands was the reason for his resignation, Margaryan said: “Mr.

Karapetyan explained the reason for his resignation. Other talks are
ungrounded. As vice-mayor I am for removal of street stands. We must
implement this program.”

INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA RAILWAYS IN 2012 TOTALED 13.5 BILLION DRAMS

/ARKA/
October 31, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 31. / ARKA /. The state-owned Russian Railways Company
will invest 13.5 billion drams next year in its Armenian subsidiary
South Caucasus Railways, Shevket Shaydulin,the chief executive officer
of the South Caucasus Railways, operating Armenian railroads, said
to reporters Saturday.

He said 90 percent of 16 billion drams earmarked as investments for
2011, have been channelled into upgrading the system. According to
Shaydulin, over the last three years the company has invested by 5%
more than planned.

President of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin, said the decision to
transfer the “Armenian Railways” under the concessional management of
Russian Railways was political, and now the parties need to implement
the political decision on the basis of mutually beneficial economic
principles.

“In terms of professional and financial interests, relations between
the two railroads are a priority for us,” he stressed.

The South Caucasus Railways is run by Russian Railways. The
concessional agreement was concluded in 2008 for 30 years, with a
right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of
operation.

ARF WON’T JOIN CONGRESS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:25:33 – 31/10/2011

On October 31, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau member, Head of ARFD
parliamentary faction Vahan Hovhannisyan ruled out any possibility
of joining the Armenian National Congress. Hovhannisyan says one year
ago the ANC excluded any but snap elections asserting they will lead
people and change the power, while now they are getting ready for
next elections.

At the same time, Hovhannisyan stated that in case of right work the
opposition is possible to get more than 50% of parliamentary seats.

Dwelling on possible cooperation with the Republican Party and
particularly the statement of the Premier about remaining with nothing,
Vahan Hovhannisyan said that when dwelling on cooperation, RPA means
obedience and it accepts any kind of criticism as hostility.

“The coalition does not accept the truth. The last coalition memorandum
in which the sides affirm they are not going to fight to change the
correlation of forces in the parliament, means other forces were
forced to be obedient”, says Vahan Hovhannisyan.

SARGSYAN NOT UPSET AT SAAKASHVILI, INSISTS GEORGIA MFA

epress.am
10.31.2011

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically denied reports
that Armenia’s president is upset at Georgia’s president, which is
why he postponed his trip to Tbilisi.

“I want to assure you that this information is untrue,” said Georgia’s
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nino Kalandadze, reports Georgia
Online.

According to her, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit wasn’t
postponed – it’s simply that the final date was not decided and the
matter currently is being addressed.

Earlier, Armenian media reported that Sargsyan was offended by Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili’s statement regarding recent landslides
on the Armenia-Georgia road in which he noted the slowness of Armenian
rescue services in cleaning up the area and rescuing victims.