Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Friday Times
October 11, 2013 Friday

A piece of Multan in Baku

KARACHI

It is an unsettling feeling I have – a feeling of embarking on a new
mental journey, a feeling of re-understanding history. But I cannot
find the right vehicle that will take me where I want to go. Where do
the roots of this feeling lie? In Baku.

See, Baku was supposed to be just another historical city I would
visit. A place to put down my backpack for a few days, discover ways
to reach points of interest, find places to eat, visit a few
historical sites and then move on to the next destination. Even though
I did leave Baku after staying there for three days, Baku refuses to
leave my imagination.

Azerbaijan does not make it easy for the tourists to visit her.
Besides the exorbitant visa fees, the bureaucratic hurdles you need to
overcome to get a tourist visa include confirming your hotel stay in
Azerbaijan, with particular hotels the Azerbaijani bureaucracy likes.
Facing these challenges, many tourists just give up the idea of
travelling to the only Muslim country of Caucasus. Yet, how can your
trip to Caucasus be complete without visiting Azerbaijan, the largest
country of the region?

Our trip of Caucasus had started out in Turkey. After visiting Armenia
we were in Tbilisi; we decided to apply for the Azerbaijani visas.
When you visit that region and you are travelling overland you have to
understand who is not getting along with whom.

Armenia has a long border with Turkey but the border is sealed – going
from Turkey to Armenia, you have to first go to Georgia that gets
along well with the other two neighbours. Armenian genocide in Ottoman
Turkey is fresh in the minds of Armenians, but Turkey refuses to call
Armenian mass killings in the Ottoman period genocide. Acrimonious
relations exist between Azerbaijan and Armenia as well; once again
Georgia (or Iran in south) is the neutral country to go through in
order to travel between the other two.

To us visiting Caucasus was important in many ways: people associating
themselves with that geographical region – calling themselves
Caucasians – have defined the concept of races.

Caucasus is important for northern South Asia because our folklore has
many references to Koh-e-Qaf, the legendary place of `beautiful’ women
and tall men. Those stories came to South Asia, along with invaders
from the north – story-tellers of Iran had made Caucasus such a
mythological region.

After giving our passports to the Azerbaijan embassy in Tbilisi, we
travelled to Kazbegi (also known as Stepantsminda), a town near the
Georgia-Russia border. Kazbegi with its small population is trying to
redefine itself from a small pastoral town to now a tourist attraction
where foreigners come to climb mountains, and visit glaciers and
waterfalls. Kazbegi is laid back, with regular shows of farmers
herding their cows through the town – a gentle smell of cow manure
permeates the air.

A visit to the museum in Kazbegi makes one realise how strongly people
in the Old World associate themselves with the region they live in;
even a small country modernly defined in the nation-state narrative
can be teeming with ethnically diverse people.

Kazbegi Museum featured historical documents, and arts and crafts of
the Kazbegi area, as the area existed fairly independent of its
surroundings for hundreds of years.

By the time we came back to Tbilisi, our passports were ready with
Azerbaijani visas. Hooray! We already had the Iranian visas. Now with
the Azerbaijani visas in our passports we could take a circuitous
route to Istanbul travelling south in Azerbaijan and then entering
Iran.

Next day we left for Azerbaijan.

At the border our passports were checked to see which countries we had
visited earlier and on spotting the Armenian stamp, the Azerbaijani
immigration office said out loud with disappointment, `Ar-me-nia!!’ as
in, `Why the hell did you go to Armenia?’ He then showed the Armenian
stamps in our passports to his colleague who just happened to stop by
his desk.

We did not say a word and kept forced smiles on our faces. We stood
there with patience till we got our passports back with Azerbaijani
entry stamps in them. On reaching Zaqatala, the van driver stopped in
the city centre, pointed to the bus station and said `Sheki’ – that’s
where we needed to go to catch a bus to Sheki.

Our stay at the historical Karvansarayi Hotel in Sheki was a time to
relax. The highlight of our visit was enjoying Sheki’s famous halva
that very much lived up to its fame. Sheki halva is a scrumptious
dessert made of flour, milk, nuts, eggs, and sugary syrup, with
saffron lines on top.

Our travel guidebook said Azerbaijan cannot be firmly placed either in
Europe or Asia. We did not see it that way. Azerbaijan was very much a
Middle Eastern country to us. If you go by the faces you see on the
streets in Azerbaijan, you may think you are in Jordan or Syria. Every
prayer time, the atmosphere is filled with azans. And people eat
roasted seeds like they do in all Middle Eastern countries.

Azerbaijani language was once written in Arabic letters. After
Azerbaijan joined the Soviet Union, the script became Cyrillic. And
now, after the collapse of the Union, Azerbaijani is written in the
same letters used in modern Turkish.

A couple of days later we were in Baku. When in Tbilisi we had met a
German woman who had been to Azerbaijan. She thought Azerbaijan was
putting all its wealth in its capital – she was pointing to the
phenomenon of uneven development in the country.

Travelling from Sheki to Baku, we found that assertion to be true.
Baku not only had better infrastructure, it appeared more modern than
other parts of the country we had visited. Uneven development in a
country sets off internal migration from lesser developed areas to
more privileged places. No wonder Baku is home to more than 20 per
cent of the Azerbaijani population.

The continuing influx also means that Baku is an expensive city to
visit. To find a place that would fit our budget we had to settle for
a hotel some distance away from the Old City; we would take the metro
to reach the tourist attractions.

It was another such day of exploration in the Azerbaijani capital. The
hot afternoon in Baku was relenting to a mild evening. Soft lights
from lampposts had started covering the cobblestoned streets and
affluent tourists were taking seats in pimped-up outdoor restaurants.
I was looking at the curious shape of the Maiden Tower when I came
across a sign that pointed to the `Multani Caravanserai’.

Caravanserais – temporary abodes of ancient trade caravans – there
were many in Azerbaijan, but why Multani? What did it have to do with
our Multan? I followed the signs and after passing through a narrow
passageway reached two stone buildings that had restored exteriors:
one was Bukhara Caravanserai, the other one was Multani Caravanserai.
I was told the Multani Caravanserai was built in the 15th century and
was the resting place for traders coming from Multan. Presently, a
restaurant by the name of `Karvansarayi’ occupies both buildings that
face each other.

We were allowed to go down in the Multani Caravanserai to soak in the
history of the place. Multani Caravanserai’s basement with its vaulted
ceilings appeared to be the original construction.

This is where businessmen from Multan stayed during their stay in
Baku. One of the basement walls was adorned with photos of eminent
visitors of the historical building. A photo of Pervez Musharraf with
his entourage was one of them. Also present in a glass display case
were artifacts given as gift by the Pakistani Embassy in Baku.

A floodgate of thoughts opened up in my mind. The trade caravans in
the ancient times must have had to travel around 2,000 miles going
from Multan to Baku. With a maximum speed of 20 miles a day it would
take 100 days to cover that distance. Did the trade caravans leaving
Multan – with stopovers in between – reach Baku in six months? From
Multan did they first travel north to Kabul, then East to Mashhad and
finally reaching the southern point of Caspian; and from there they
just went along the coast to Lankaran and then onwards to Baku?

Trade caravans were the main connections between towns of antiquity.
That is how students reached the centres of learning they wanted to go
to. All the holy men landing in Multan too must have come with those
trade caravans. Ideas and technologies too must have travelled that
way.

Maritime activity over long hauls being a dangerous proposition till
around the 17th century, the ancient trade routes were mostly
overland. South Asia was connected to Central Asia and Eurasia through
these trade routes. The British came to our region through the sea;
their domination of South Asia changed the trade patterns of this
area. Even after the end of the colonial era, our region could not
re-establish its vibrant historic trade connection with the landmass
north of it.

I also nurtured thoughts about the power of ancient trade centres. Why
was Multan so important? Its location by the Chenab River is vital,
but did the Suraj Mandir with its awe-inspiring idols too elevate
Multan’s status?

How were the ancient trade routes formed? Little trade connections
must have merged together to form routes that were thousands of miles
long. And who decided when would a trade caravan leave a place? Who
were those caravan leaders and what were their skillsets? How large
were the caravans? What merchandise would they carry with them? Were
there armed men with each caravan? Coming out of the Multani
Caravanserai I could see silk, spices, grains, and perfumes, all
loaded up on mules present outside the caravanserai.

But my questions needed good, authentic answers.

I searched for books describing the ancient trade routes of our area.
One that would take me on a trade caravan, going from Multan to Baku;
another one that would describe in great detail things that were
traded in those days; a third one about a Multani’s observations along
the way and in Baku. But such books do not exist.

More than sixty years after coming out of the colonial rule, our
historians still look at the West for researching topics that are and
should be of great interest to us.

A New Armenian Holiday: Khachadoor Apovian Mountains Day

Celebrating with Apovian’s book Verk Hayasadanee and Armenian cognac
in the San Gabriel Mountains

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

Most people know Khachadoor Apovian primarily as the pioneer in using
vernacular Armenian as a written language (for our eastern dialect).
But he also climbed Mount Ararat, first on October 9, 1829 (September
27 on the Julian calendar), then two more times, which fewer people
are conscious of. He was also first to summit Mt. Arakadz in July of
1843.

In recognition of this feat, henceforth, the Sunday closest to October
9 will be recognized as Khachadoor Apovian Mountains Day. All
Armenians will be encouraged to be in the mountains to celebrate
Apovian’s accomplishment and honor the mountains of our homeland.

Robert Assarian (driving force of the Armenian Hikers Association –
AHA!) consulted leaders of the three LA-area groups of Armenian
hikers, and Khachadoor Apovian Mountains Day was born. This idea first
arose in an August discussion between Robert (then on his way to
climbing Ararat as part of a six-man team) and the leadership of the
Armenian Mountaineering and Hiking Federation. The latter is applying
to the Republic of Armenia’s sports authorities to formalize the
holiday there.

You might be thinking `With so many people, Armenians and others,
summiting Ararat, what’s the big deal?’ At the time, Ararat was among
the highest peaks reached by humans, exceeded only in the Andes. Its
tempests can also be quite dangerous. The Himalaya and Tien Shan
(central Asia) ranges were barely even known. Everest was discovered
only in 1847, and not officially recognized as the highest peak on the
planet until 1856. Thus, seen in the proper context, the 1829 climbing
team achieved quite a feat. The team consisted of Apovian, Hovhannes
Aivazian and Moorad Boghossian from the nearby village of Agoree
acting as guides, three Russian soldiers, and Fridrikh Parrot – a
University of Dorpat (now Tartu, Estonia) professor.

Even this year, hikes were organized on Sunday October 6, though on
very short notice. Hamlet Kamsar reports from England that a group of
Armenians climbed a summit in Yorkshire. AHA and ASLA-Armenian Hiking
Society in the LA basin hiked to Twin Peaks (San Gabriel Mountains)
and celebrated with a copy of Apovian’s book Verk Hayasadanee and
Armenian cognac on the peak! In Armenia, a group summitted Ararat –
talk about a fitting tribute!

Mark your calendars. Next year, 2014, Sunday October 12, you must head
up to the mountains, wherever you may be! And, the best part is, just
about EVERYONE can find a peak that’s accessible, whether that’s from
a geographical or physical ability perspective

Fresno hosts Armenian Studies Program’s 2013 Fall Lecture Series

October 12, 2013 – 12:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A Fresno State lecture series is putting Armenian
culture front and center, Fresno Bee reports.

The Armenian Studies Program’s 2013 Fall Lecture Series kicked off
Sept 5 and already has covered the Armenians of Bitlis, the seizure of
Armenian property in Aintab, the state of Armenia today, American
Armenian contributions across the nation and the land mine-free
Artsakh campaign.

The lecture series is presented by Fresno State’s Armenian Studies
Program and the Armenian Students Organization. The Armenian Studies
Program began in 1977.

The lectures are designed to provide an opportunity for students and
faculty members to interact with each other and the community over
topics that promote Armenian cultural awareness.

“It’s been a forum to bring people together,” says Barlow Der
Mugrdechian, coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program and director
of the Center for Armenian Studies. “There are a variety of topics –
history, art, film festivals. We do so many things to draw people in.
The topics are ways of approaching things that we can’t always do in
the classroom.”

As part of the series, a new book, “David of Sassoun: Critical Studies
on the Armenian Epic,” is being released this month. Der Mugrdechian
co-edited the book, which was printed through the Armenian Series of
The Press at Fresno State. The Armenian Series is a cooperative effort
between the Armenian Studies Program and the College of Arts and
Humanities.

Der Mugrdechian created the book jacket, which comes from a photo of
the David of Sassoun statue at Courthouse Park in downtown Fresno. He
plans to talk about the book as part of the lecture series in late
November. He is also working on a series talk in early November. On
Sept 27, he talked about a recent visit to Armenia.

The lecture series received a boost last year through a $10,000 grant
by the Leon S. Peters Foundation. The Armenian Studies Program has a
fundraising drive planned in the fall, with this year’s goal $50,000.

The lectures and other activities have received strong community
support over the years, Der Mugrdechian says. Between 50,000 and
60,000 Armenians live in the central San Joaquin Valley. Arnold
Gazarian, who supports Armenian programs at Fresno State as well as
other university departments, says the lecture series has an important
role.

“Historically, the Armenian community has played a great part in the
greater Fresno community, yet its culture is not really well-known by
so many of the citizens of Fresno,” he says. “We’ve had so many new
people move into the area in the last couple of decades. So the
culture has been diluted. This is one way of bringing it to the
forefront again. It has been successful; it is flowing at the
university. The success also has proven with non-Armenian students in
the studies. This program would not have been successful had it not
had the backing of the community and people putting in the time and
effort and throwing money into it.”

Armenian student leaders at Fresno State say they are gaining a better
understanding of Armenian culture by attending the lectures.

Vartush Mesropyan, a senior who is majoring in psychology and serving
as president of the Armenian Students Organization, says she felt a
sense of pride at Stepan Partamian’s lecture Oct. 3 on “American
Armenian Contributions to Humanity After the Armenian Genocide and the
Armenian World: A Photographic Journey.”

Partamian, author of the book, “Yes, We Have,” and a founder of the
Armenian Art Fund in Los Angeles, included a photo presentation
showing how American Armenians have left their marks in many regions
of the United States.

“It can be a tree, a building, a church, anything, and a lot of people
don’t know that Armenians are there,” Mesropyan says, according to
Fresno Bee. “I was actually getting butterflies. I thought, ‘This is
wonderful.’ It just felt great, wonderful to be there.”

On Oct 8, Galinda Danilova talked on “Landmine Free Artsakh Awareness
Campaign,” focusing on how the war in 1992-94 between the Armenians of
Karabakh and Azerbaijan left behind hundreds of mine fields. Danilova
works for the Halo Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian land mine
clearance organization.

Marine Vardanyan, a junior majoring in public health and serving as
vice president of the Armenian Students Organization, says she was
emotionally touched at the lecture as she learned how lives have been
altered through the de-mining process in Karabakh.

“We saw images of those who have been injured – and it was emotional,”
Vardanyan says. “I love the lecture series so much because it involves
not only the students, but also the community. Everyone comes out. We
would not have an opportunity to hear these speakers if it weren’t for
the program. As long as it brings Armenians together, there will be
Armenians there. We are very supportive of each other. We value our
attempts to preserve the Armenian culture.”

Officials from capitals of the CE member states discuss urban issues in Yerevan

17:08, 11 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The International Conference of
capital cities of the Council of Europe member states launched its
activity in Yerevan. This year’s conference is dedicated to the issue
of challenges the capitals have to face with and the activity of
public authorities.

The Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan welcomed the guests and laid a heavy
emphasis on the importance of holding the conference in Yerevan. As
reports “Armenpress” among other things the Yerevan Mayor Taron
Margaryan stated: “This is the first time Armenia hosts this
pan-European initiative after joining the Council of Europe. It’s of a
certain importance for us that local democracy is among the priorities
of the Armenian Chairmanship, which served as a basis for us to
initiate this conference dedicated to the issues our capital has to
face with. Each year the cities’ authorities have to face with new
challenges due to the ongoing developments in the world. That’s why
the authorities must be flexible. I am hopeful we shall find solution
of a row of issues at the course of this conference.”

The members of 31 delegations from 17 countries of the world visited
Armenia to participate in “Erebuni-Yerevan 2795” celebrations and
attend the International Conference of capital cities of the Council
of Europe member states.

On 11 October 2013 an International Conference of capital cities of
the Council of Europe member states is held in Yerevan, Armenia.
Co-organised by the Armenian Chairmanship of the Committee of
Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities, it will address the issues related to the
particular role of capital cities and metropolises in the overall
development of local democracy and in political, economic, social and
cultural life. John WarmishamVice-President of the Congress
(United-Kingdom, SOC), Armen Gevorgyan, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Territorial Administration of Armenia, and Taron
Margaryan, Mayor of Yerevan, opened the conference. Conclusions of the
sessions will be presented at the end of the conference which will be
closed by John Warmisham and Kamo Areyan, the First Deputy Mayor of
Yerevan.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

Aliyev claims for Gaddafi’s laurels: Armenia should take the chance

October 11 2013

`Azerbaijan again made the mistake that Iraq, Egypt, and Libya made.
The international community always uses the issue of `lifelong
president’, and takes an opportune moment to strike,’ said the human
rights defender Arbak Khachatryan in the interview with `Aravot’,
speaking about the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, as a result
of Ilham Aliyev’s re-elected to a third term and by the votes of 85
percent. Our interlocutor, however, believes that it might be a good
playing card in the hands of Armenia to come out of current economic
and political severe situation. `Armenia has a trump card in its hand,
and it is necessary to work in that different with various mechanisms
and political instruments to bring the reality of the world that
Azerbaijan is guided by one family,’ says Arbak Khachatryan, citing
Gaddafi who had good relations with Europe, and Mubarak who had
pro-American relations, but they did not help them, in any way, to
avoid violent death. To recall that the West definitely did not
respond to the elections held in Azerbaijan. Rather, it responded
quite mutually exclusive. The OSCE and CIS observers are satisfied
with the Azerbaijan’s elections, while the OSCEODIHR observers
expressed exactly the opposite opinion.

Nelly GRIGORYAN
Read more at:

Armenian director producing anti-suicide film

15:58 – 12.10.13
Photo by Aravot.am

With sums collected from ordinary people, the film director Arshak
Zakaryan has started working on a new film aimed at preventing
suicides.

`One can hear every day that someone has thrown himself or herself
down from a balcony or bridge. This is an undesirable phenomenon for a
small republic as this,’ he told reporters on Saturday, expressing
concerns over the increasing rate of suicides.

The director said that the idea to produce the film entitled `The
Useless’ is not absolutely motivated by a personal bias to earn money
or gain recognition.

`If at least one person watching the film backs away from such an
intention, we’ll consider that we have done our job because the life
of an Armenian is priceless for us. This film has been produced
entirely thanks to contributions by ordinary people. The poorest
people even have given a little money for the film. A provincial
teacher asked us to wait till the salary day, then took a transport
and brought some money. For me, it is more pricy than the sum an
oligarch might give,’ he added.

Speaking of the film’s plot, Zakaryan said their purpose is to explain
the audience that there is absolutely no useless person around the
globe.

`If God has given you life, then you have something to do. Anyone can
turn into a hero from a useless creature. Our nation is the size of a
town, so we must reduce this phenomenon,’ he noted.

The director added that he will complete the movie after selling his
car and having the necessary amount.
Armenian director producing anti-suicide film

Armenian News – Tert.am

LES ARMENIENS DE RUSSIE DEFENDENT LA DECISION DE SERGE SARKISSIAN SUR L’ADHESION A L’UNION DOUANIERE

ARMENIE

Les Armeniens de Russie se sont felicites de la decision du President
armenien Serge Sarkissian d’adherer a l’union douanière dirigee par
la Russie a declare le president de l’Union des Armeniens de Russie
Ara Abrahamian.

” Cette decision est soutenue par une serie de facteurs tels que la
politique, l’education et la science. L’absence de barrière de la
langue a aussi de l’importance. L’Armenie est le partenaire economique
traditionnel de la Russie. Selon moi, l’adhesion sera benefique pour
l’Armenie et la Russie. Le President armenien a fait un pas très
important et rentable ” a-t-il declare lors d’une conference de presse
a Moscou.

La Russie possède la plus grande communaute armenienne dans le monde
– plus de 2,5 millions de personnes. ” Cette decision profitera a
la collectivite en tenant compte du fait que les autorites russes
prevoient d’introduire un regime des visas avec les pays membres de
l’Union douanières a partir de 2015 ” a declare Ara Abrahamian.

vendredi 11 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

UN MEMBRE DE L’OPPOSITION EMPRISONNE REJECTE L’AMNISTIE

ARMENIE

Tigran Arakelian, un chef de file de l’aile de la jeunesse du Congrès
National Armenien (HAK), a declare qu’il ne beneficiera pas de la loi
d’amnistie generale après qu’une cour d’appel a Erevan a de nouveau
refuse de considerer sa requete pour une liberation sous caution.

Tigran Arakelian, qui a deja fait plus d’un tiers de sa peine
d’emprisonnement de six ans, continue a protester de son innocence
et pretendre etre un prisonnier politique tandis que son appel etait
entendu par la juridiction superieure.

Avec trois autres militants du HAK Tigran Arakelian a ete arrete en
août 2011 pour soi-disant avoir agresse des policiers a Erevan. Les
opposants ont fermement dementi l’accusation, affirmant qu’ils
avaient eux-memes ete battus par des policiers après avoir tente de
les empecher de chercher arbitrairement un autre homme. Toutes les
militants sauf Tigran Arakelian ont ete liberes peu après.

Un tribunal de district a Erevan a condamne quatre membres
de l’opposition en Juillet 2012 dont Arakelian a une peine
d’emprisonnement. Les trois autres militants sont restes libres alors
que leur cas etait entendu par la cour d’appel.

Le mois dernier, plus d’une centaine de notables armeniens, dont une
dizaine de deputes au parlement, a exhorte la Cour d’appel a libere
Arakelian au moins jusqu’au verdict final, en promettant de verser
une caution et garantissant que l’opposant ne rentrerait pas dans la
clandestinite. Un panel de trois juges charges de l’affaire a rejete
cet appel, sans aucune explication.

Mushegh Shushanyan avocat de Arakelian a presente une petition pour
que son client soit libere lors de la session de la cour lundi, quatre
jours après que l’Assemblee nationale armenienne ait adopte une loi
d’amnistie generale qui, selon les experts, s’applique aux quatre
opposants. La Juge Eva Darbinian a cependant refuse d’examiner la
petition lundi et mercredi en disant que l’avocat de la defense peut
presenter une petition seulement au stade de l’allocution de clôture.

En entendant cette explication, l’avocat de la defense a affirme que
cela est une restriction illegale des droits de la defense et Tigran
Arakelian a crie avec colère qu’il n’avait pas besoin d’une amnistie
qui n’est ” pas respecte meme par le tribunal “.

” Je l’ai officiellement rejete. Je ne veux pas que cette loi
d’amnistie s’applique a moi ” a declare l’opposant.

Les partisans d’Arakelian dans la salle d’audience ont commence a
siffler et crier ” honte,honte ” après quoi la cour se retira sans
explications et Arakelian a ete sorti de la salle.

Le tribunal a ajourne le procès a vendredi.

vendredi 11 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

SOME 16,000 REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN AUGUST 2013

YEREVAN, October 10. /ARKA/. Some 16,100 real estate transactions
were registered in Armenia in August 2013 – it is 6.5% less than in
July 2013, but 1.5% more than in August 2012, the Armenian State Real
Estate Cadastre reports.

Yerevan accounted for the largest number of immovable property deals,
which made up 40.9% of the total number of real estate transactions
registered in the country in August 2013, and Vayots Dzor province
for the smallest number, which constituted 1.6% of the total number.

According to the report 13.2% of the total number were registered in
Kotayk province, 5.6% in Lori, 4.6% in Gegharkunik, 6.6% in Armavir,
5% in Shirak, 6.9% in Aragatsotn, 8.3% in Ararat, 3.3% in Tavush and 4%
in Syunik.

Property alienation transactions made up 28.3% of the total number
of real estate deals registered in August 2013, primary registration
transactions 11.4%, heritage-related transactions 11.3%, mortgage
deals 4.3%, leasing 4.3% and other state registrations 31.7%.

Remarkable is that no immovable property privatization transactions
have been registered in Armenia since the beginning of this year.

—0—

18:51 10.10.2013

ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION WOULD BE A SUCCESS IF IT SECURED A 9-9.5 % ECONOMIC GROWTH, POLISH AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN, October 10. / ARKA /. Armenia’s membership in the Russia-led
Customs Union would be a success if it secured a 9-9.5 % annual
economic growth, Poland’s ambassador to Armenia, Zdzislaw Raczynski,
told a news conference today.

He reminded that last year Armenia’s GDP saw a 7% growth. ‘Armenia’s
membership in the Customs union would be effective if it enables an
additional 2-2.5 % economic expansion,’ he said.

The diplomat presented the calculations of Polish experts, which say
Armenia would have earned $150 million additionally if it had signed
the association agreement with the European Union.

Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan announced September 3 after talks
with Russia’s Putin in Moscow that his country would join the Customs
Union. Before that Armenia was expected to initial an association
agreement with the European Union in late November. .-0-

17:42 10.10.2013