Author: Kajoyan Gevork

EXPERT SAYS AZERI RALLIES IMITATION OF PUBLIC DISCONTENT

January 14, 2013 – 14:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Rallies in Azerbaijan are a mere imitation of
public discontent, meant to suggest presence of a civil society in
the country, an expert said.

As Sargis Asatryan told a news conference, commenting on recent
rallies, protesting killing of an Azeri serviceman, “in reality,
even public discontent is controlled by the country’s leadership.”

The expert further referred to Georgian authorities’ regional policy
line, characterizing it as a well balanced.

A Georgian studies expert Alik Eroyan, in turn, spoke of new Prime
Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s remark to boost ties with Russia,
also noting that the latter’s visit to Armenia will help him get a
better idea of Yerevan-Tbilisi ties.

GEORGIAN LAWMAKERS DEMAND FM’S EXPLANATIONS OVER KARABAKH REMARKS

news.am
January 15, 2013 | 16:09

Georgian parliamentary minority demanded explanations from Foreign
Minister Maia Panjikidze regarding her recent remarks on Karabakh.

MP Akakiy Minashvili said foreign minister is incompetent to do her
job and her remarks are embarrassing Georgia.

“The statement on Karabakh made in Lithuania raised questions about the
prime minister’s visit to Yerevan. We also remember the hasty statement
before premier’s visit to Baku,” Gruziya Online quotes Minashvili.

In his turn, Prime Minister Ivanishvili refused to comment on
Azerbaijani reports regarding Panjikidze’s remarks on Karabakh. The
reports mentioned Panjikidze allegedly said “resolution of
Karabakh conflict is possible only based on territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan.”

Ivanishvili said foreign minister will return to Georgian on Thursday
and will comment on the situation.

Meanwhile, Georgian and Armenian media reported that during the
meeting in Lithuania, Panjikidze noted “she respects territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan” but did not mention Karabakh.

FREEDOM HOUSE: NKR IMPROVED ITS STATUS FROM NOT FREE TO PARTLY FREE

Freedom House has published the annual report about the freedom of
the world countries.

“Among other Eurasian countries, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and
Ukraine were evaluated as less free than in the previous year, while
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Belarus remained some of
the world~Rs most repressive states. This dismal record was partially
offset by peaceful, competitive elections in Armenia and Georgia. Yet
even Georgia, which experienced its first orderly transfer of power
to the opposition through democratic elections, finished the year on
a less than satisfying note after the new government quickly arrested
some 30 officials of the previous government, raising concerns about
politically motivated prosecutions”, the report writes.

Reffering to the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) the FH says:
“Nagorno-Karabakh~Rs political rights rating improved from 6 to 5,
and its status improved from Not Free to Partly Free, due to the
participation of a genuine opposition in the July presidential
election”.

15.01.13, 15:40

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT THE REGION AFTER THE MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS

16:32 15.01.2013

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are planning to visit the region again
after the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in
Paris later January, OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Jacques Faure (France)
told APA.

“We are likely to visit the region in order to continue discussions on
the settlement of the conflict after the foreign ministers’ meeting
in Paris,” he said.

As regards the format of the meeting, the co-chair said the ministers
will likely have a joint meeting with the mediators. “It must be
decided by the ministers,” he added.

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are scheduled to meet
in Paris on January 28.

GEORGIAN STUDIES EXPERT: ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS CANNOT BE DESCRIBED AS HIGH LEVEL

14:29 15/01/2013 ” REGION

Armenian-Georgian relations cannot be described as high level because
there are many unsolved issues in economic and cultural areas, besides,
Georgia develops strategic relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan,
Georgian studies expert Haykazun Alvrtsyan told a news conference
in Yerevan.

According to him, such policy of Georgia even poses danger for Armenia
because any isolation of our country connected with construction of
oil pipeline and railways are implemented with the consent of Tbilisi.

Anti-Armenian propaganda of Georgia also casts a shadow on good
neighborly relations between Armenia and Georgia, said the expert.

As for Javakhk, according to Mr Alvrtsyan, “the Armenian authorities
have been taking no action in Javakhk for 22 years, while the Georgian
authorities take advantage of this fact and continue disregarding
the international commitments.”

Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s visit to Armenia cannot
have a significant impact on the bilateral relations, the Georgian
studies expert concluded.

Source: Panorama.am

GEORGIAN SPECIALIST ALVRTSYAN: ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT FAILING IN ITS JAVAKHK OBLIGATIONS
Kristine Aghalaryan

13:58, January 15, 2013

At a Yerevan press conference today, Georgian specialist Haykazoun
Alvrtsyan took the Armenian government to task for not doing enough
to assist the Armenians of Javakhk, both culturally and politically.

“I don’t see the Armenian authorities carrying out their obligations
in this respect at all,” noted Alvrtsyan.

He said that while the Armenian president and prime minister have
spoken out about the issues faced by Javakhk Armenians, their
pronouncements have remained mere words.

Alvrtsyan argued that such passivity only encourages Georgian
authorities to implement their anti-Armenian policies that seek to
ethnically cleanse the region of Armenians.

He called for greater Armenian investment and civic action in Javakhk
in order to improve the socio-economic situation and to lend morel
support to local Armenians.

IMF PROJECTS 4% ANNUAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ARMENIA IN 2013-2015

YEREVAN, January 15. /ARKA/. Armenia’s economic growth may hit 4%
and remain unchanged in 2014-2015, says the report on stability of
Armenian financial system published on IMF’s website Friday.

Armenia’s economic growth will be 3.8% as of the end of 2012, according
to the report.

Earlier, Armenian minister of finance Vache Gabrielyan said that
Armenia’s GDP growth is expected to be 7-7.1% by the end of 2012,
as compared to the projected 4.2%. Under the government budget a 6.2%
GDP growth is planned for 2013.

According to the report, Armenia’s exports will total $2.5bln in 2012
and imports will amount to $4.9bln. The IMF projects exports worth
a total of $2.7bln and imports worth a total of $5.1bln for 2013.

Exports and imports are expected to amount to $2.8bln and $5.2bln in
2014 and to $3bln and $5.4bln in 2015 respectively, according to the
report. The country’s trade red ink will reach $2.8bln by 2015.

According to the most recent data of Armenia’s National Statistical
Service, exports were $1,292.2mln in 11 months of 2012, which is an
increase of 6.7% compared to the same period of the year before.

Imports grew by 2.5% to $3,838.5mln in the period, according to the
same source.

Direct foreign investments were $498mln in 2012 and are expected to
grow gradually and reach $624mln by 2015, says the report.

According to the most recent data of Armenia’s National Statistical
Service, direct foreign investments in the real economy were about
$221.3mln in Armenia in the 9 months of 2012, as compared to $479.4mln
in the same period of 2011.

The IMF is projecting that Armenia’s foreign debt will constitute 67.6%
of GDP by the end of 2012 and will decrease to 61% in 2015

The ministry of finance says Armenia’s national debt was $4bln 374.9mln
at the end of 2012 and $3bln 159mln. Foreign debt totaled $3bln 159mln
against $2bln 950mln in 2011, according to the same source.

Earlier, head of WB Armenia country manager Jean-Michelle Happi told
ARKA Agency that, according to debt sustainability analysis (DSA)
by the WB and the IMF, Armenia is assessed as facing low risk of debt
distress. ($1=408.54drams).-0-

SOUNDS OF BOMBS HEARD IN ALEPPO ARMENIAN DISTRICTS ON JANUARY 15: JIRAYR REISYAN

13:00, 15 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: Sounds of bombs heard at January 15
night with interruptions were kept in the morning too. Unfortunately
they were heard in Armenian districts of Aleppo. Berio National
Primacy press secretary Jirayr Reisyan stated in the briefing with
Armenpress, there is no particular news where shellings have been
orchestrated. In the words of the interlocutor there are no changes
of situation in Armenian New Village district, yet the population
has become more alert and careful after the latest accident of our
compatriot suffered from the bullet of a sniper.

According to Reisyan Armenian wounded two days before is in a recovery
state. To remember, the bullet seriously injured our compatriot on the
foot, fortunately the suffered part of the body was not ambulated. The
press secretary stated the weather has relatively softened in Aleppo
during the last two days.

According to UN data approximately 60 thousand people were killed in
Syria during 22 months ongoing clashes. Over four dozens of Armenians
also became victims.

ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: $1 MILLION IN THE BANK AND COUNTING
Grisha Balasanyan

$1-million-in-the-bank-and-counting.html
00:22, January 15, 2013

Mourad Mouradyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to Iraq since 2010, maybe
carrying out his diplomatic mission in an unstable country but his
financial holdings are more than stable.

The 51 year-old ambassador founded the BAMO construction company in
1992 and ran the firm until his diplomatic posting eighteen years
later.

In 2005 the Armenian government sold the Karen Demirchyan
Sports/Complex to BAMO.

Perhaps such business holdings are the source of the $1.120 million
he declared in his 2011 financial disclosure. He also had 12.2 million
Russian rubles ($403,120) and 25.4 million AMD in the bank.

Another amazing facet of his 2011 financial disclosure is that
Ambassador Mouradyan declared no salary at all.

Maybe he agreed to serve in Iraq on a voluntary basis? Probably not…

Maybe he just doesn’t need the salary of a diplomat. In addition to
his cash holdings, Ambassador Mouradyan declared 6 million AMD and
500,000 Russian rubles as stock dividends for 2011.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER INVITES CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS CHIEF FROM US – NEWSPAPER

news.am
January 15, 2013 | 06:45

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi
Hovannisian, who usually spends New Year in the United States,
did not go this year due to the forthcoming presidential elections,
Hraparak daily reports.

“Before the holidays he telephoned the US, his son Garin’s friend,
US Congress analyst Levon Baghramian, asking him to come to Armenia
and head his campaign headquarters. Incidentally, the latter [that
is, Baghramian] took part in Obama’s election campaign, he is thirty
years old, [and] a relative of Marshall Hovhannes Baghramian.

He asked a few days time to respond to the offer, and, as our sources
inform, he agreed. He will arrive in Armenia this week.

[But] Heritage is not yet announcing the name of the headquarters
chief,” Hraparak writes.