Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Global Insight
May 25, 2011

Armenian Economic Growth Picks Up, Exports Remain Strong in April

BYLINE: Venla Sipila

According to the index of economic activity, estimating economic
growth with the help of supply-side data, and published by the
Armenian National Statistical Service, the economy expanded by 7.7%
year-on-year (y/y) in April, ARKA News reports. This result is a
marked improvement compared with the March gain of just 0.3% y/y.
Further, it was reported that industrial output in April surged by 11%
y/y, whereas construction activity soared by nearly 17%y/y, and
agricultural production only edged up by 0.6% y/y. Compared with
March, the economic activity index increased by 4% in April, mainly
boosted by soaring agricultural output. In addition, ARKA News also
reports on the latest foreign trade results published by the National
Statistical Service. Exports increased by 21% y/y, while imports rose
by 16.6% y/y, producing a trade deficit of about USD228 million.
Monthly comparison shows export growth of 13.5% whereas imports
remained virtually stable from March.

Significance:Following fairly weak performance in the first quarter,
the Armenian economy is again gathering some strengthening recovery
momentum. Expecting support from the industrial and agricultural
sectors, we have been projecting some renewed strength. The relatively
strong industrial performance likely draws from mining sector
performance, which also is a key factor in boosting exports. Together
with the still muted domestic demand, which has suppressed growth of
imports, the persistently vigorous export growth has aided in guiding
the trade deficit to a moderating path. While for the most part the
result of support from global commodity prices to the mining sector,
this development is very welcome, given that Armenia’s current-account
deficit has recently served a as a key cause of some concern. However,
external finances still pose a source of external vulnerability,
especially given Armenia’s dependence on imports, including that of
food.

Interfax, Russia
May 25 2011

Armenian parliament did not bring vote of no confidence in the government

The Armenian parliament has declined the initiative of the
Dashnaktsutyun party to bring a vote of no confidence in the
government.

Ten members of parliament voted for the relevant resolution and 13 against.

The leadership of Dashnaktsutyun has blamed the government for the
failure of economic reform and accused it of conducting an ineffective
policy.

Head of the party faction Vaan Ovannisian said that pursuant to the
regulations of parliament, they will come up with the same initiative
in four months.

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Hometownlife.com
May 29 2011

Armenian essay contest winners named

The Armenian Genocide Committee of Greater Detroit announced the
winners of the fourth annual essay competition. Awards were presented
to the winning students at the Hagopian showroom in Birmingham before
a crowd of students, educators, family and friends.

The presentations were made prior to a lecture that same evening to be
presented by historian and author Raymond Kevorkian.

The competition funded by the Hagopian Family Foundation and conceived
and initiated by the late Edgar Hagopian, recognizes and awards
Michigan high school students who have written a successful essay on
the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century, often
called `the forgotten genocide.’

This is the fourth year that the statewide competition has been
offered to students with the hope that it will stimulate study of the
many aspects surrounding the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey,
1915-23. David Terzibashian, committee member, and Angela Hagopian
Snow representing the Hagopian Family Foundation, presented the awards
as follows:

Winners are first place, $500; Julia Palaian, 10th grade, Farmington
High School; second place, $250; Allie Lisner, 10th grade, Andover
High School; third place, $150; Tim Zobel, 11th grade, Andover High
School.

In addition, each teacher of the student submitting a winning essay
was given a $100 appreciation award.

Contest planners said there were so many excellent submissions that
honorable mentions of $50 were awarded to five additional students.
They are: Olivia Ann Kurajian, Seaholm High School, Raha Richardson,
AGBU Manoogian School, Ari Sagherian, AGBU Manoogian School, Brianna
Schwarcz, International Academy, and Siddartha Jean, International
Academy.

Winning essays can be read on the website at

The Armenian Genocide Committee of Greater Detroit, a group committed
to bringing awareness of the Armenian Genocide, is made up of members
of the Detroit metro Armenian community including educators, former
educators and business leaders; founder is the late Edgar Hagopian,
members are Ray Boujoulian, Corinne Khederian, Paul Kulhanjian,
Richard Norsigian, Shirley Sarkisian David Terzibashian and Madeline
Thomasian.

ARMENIE-IRAN Le président iranien en Arménie du 6 au 8 juin

Le président iranien Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sera en Arménie pour une
visite officielle du 6 au 8 juin. Information communiquée par l’agence
de presse iranienne Fars. Lors de cette visite en Arménie le président
iranien rencontrera son homologue arménien Serge Sarkissian ainsi que
des personnalités politiques. Les relations entre Erévan et Téhéran
restent très étroites depuis l’indépendance de l’Arménie en 1991.
L’Iran étant l’un des premiers partenaires économiques de l’Arménie.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 29 mai 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

COMMUNAUTE
La ville Bouc-Bel-Air se souvient du génocide arménien

L’Association culturelle arménienne de Bouc Bel Air (Bouches du Rhône)
présidée par Edmond Eutedjian reste très active. Pour la quatrième
année l’association a obtenu le déploiement sur la façade de l’Hôtel
de Ville d’une banderole portant l’inscription « 24 Avril 1915,
génocide des Arméniens perpétré par le gouvernement Jeune-turc dans
l’Empire ottoman. 1 500 000 victimes. La ville de Bouc-Bel-Air se
souvient ». L’inauguration s’est déroulée courant avril en présence du
Maire Jean Claude Perrrin, Edmond Eutedjian, président de
l’Association culturelle arménienne de Bouc-Bel-Air, ainsi que de
nombreux élus et amis de l’association. La banderole est restée
déployée tout le mois d’avril.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 29 mai 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENTS OF U.S., FRANCE AND RUSSIA AIMS TO LIBERATE AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES FROM ARMENIAN OCCUPATION

Trend
May 27 2011
Azerbaijan

The statement by the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair
countries – U.S., France and Russia – on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is directed at liberating the territories of Azerbaijan from the
Armenian occupation, the deputy executive secretary of the ruling
New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), MP Mubariz Gurbanli, told party’s website.

He said this statement again indicates that Azerbaijan is right.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, U.S President Barack Obama and
French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on the Armenian and Azerbaijani
leaders to demonstrate the political will and to finalize the work
over the basic principles of [the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict] during the upcoming Armenian-Azerbaijani summit in June He
said the fact that Armenia is aggressor is known around the world,
and the aggressor country should withdraw from the occupied territory.

Gurbanli said it is important to intensify negotiations for the
peaceful settlement of the conflict.

“If today the Armenian side is willing to resolve the issue, it
should accept the principles put forward by Azerbaijan. In fact,
these principles contain international norms and principles and
are fully fair. But we see that the Armenian side demonstrates a
non-constructive position. The problem must be solved within the
territorial integrity and sovereignty. This is a principled position
of our country,” he added.

WE WILL EASILY DEFEAT RUSSIA – ARMENIAN FOOTBALL PLAYER

news.am
May 27 2011
Armenia

Forward of Armenian national team and FC Krasnodar Yura Movsisyan
commented on forthcoming qualifying match with Russia.

“How can we gain victory over Russia? We’ll do it easily!” he said in
an interview with Sportbox.ru. “No, of course, it will be a difficult
match. But I am sure I will have a good game. I know how Armenia
can succeed.”

Armenia vs. Russia EURO 2012 qualifying match will take place in
Saint Petersburg on June 4.

CHIEFTAIN OF ASSOCIATION OF AZERBAIJANI COSSACKS: REGULAR COSSACK TROOPS HAVE NEVER FOUGHT IN NK

Trend
May 27 2011
Azerbaijan

Regular Cossack troops have never fought in Nagorno-Karabakh, said
the chieftain of Association of Azerbaijani Cossacks Victor Mereshkin.

“No representative of the regular Cossack troops has fought in
Nagorno-Karabakh,” Mereshkin told Trend, commenting on the Armenian
media reports that a monument will be established to the Kuban
Cossacks, who died in battle, in the occupied territories of Nagorno
Karabakh.

Mereshkin said the Armenians have established six monuments to the
Cossacks in Armenia at different times, but no representative of the
regular Cossack troops participated in their opening. “All of these
are an Armenian lie,” said Mereshkin.

Mereshkin said a so-called “Armenian-Russian Cossack Association”, led
by Mais Mirzoyan functions in Armenia, but no member of this structure
has Slavic surnames. “What are these Cossacks?” said the chieftain.

The chieftain of the Kuban Cossack troops Vladimir Gromov already
in 1993, appealing to the leadership of Azerbaijan, officially
announced that the Cossacks were not fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh,
said Mereshkin.

“At one time, Armenians have written that in Sochi will be a monument
to Andronicus, and when I called on this issue to local chieftain,
they replied that they have their enough heroes, and they are not
going to establish a monument to an Armenian,” said Mereshkin.

“All the Cossack troops of Russia and Ukraine unequivocally support
Azerbaijan,” said Mereshkin.

Association of Azerbaijani Cossacks was registered by the Ministry
of Justice on Nov. 16, 1994. It combines about 1,500 people, whose
ancestors were Cossacks roots, and those who accept the charter and
tradition of the Cossacks.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.

AZERBAIJAN IGNORES INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS – ARMENIAN MP

news.am
May 27 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan neglected OSCE Minsk co-chairs’ call to agree
on Madrid protocols, stated Armenian ruling Republican Party MP
Edward Sharmazanov.

Armenia gave a clear answer to the co-chairs offer, while Azerbaijan
escapes from responsibility and tries to deadlock the process with
destructive steps, stated Sharmazanov.

Besides, Azerbaijan tries to break the arranged meeting of the
presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia.

“I think that co-chairs and international society will come to proper
conclusion in connection to the irresponsible behavior of Azerbaijan,”
noted Sharmazanov.

‘IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY THERE IS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN ARMENIA’

APA
May 27 2011
Azerbaijan

“Azerbaijan should demonstrate the international community that it
is an open country in terms of national and religious tolerance.

It is impossible to say the same about Armenia. Social situation
is tense in Armenia. It is impossible to say there is religious
tolerance,” head of Belgium-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship
group Philippe Blanchard told journalists, APA reports. He said
Azerbaijan should launch wide campaign concerning the resolution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Speaking about the relations between Azerbaijani and Belgian
parliaments Philippe Blanchard noted that the friendship group plans
to meet in September. The ways of interparliamentary cooperation
will be discussed, the parliamentarians will share their experience
during the meeting. Philippe Blanchard said it had not been decided
where the meeting would be held.

“The Azerbaijani parliamentarians have enough information about
Belgium. One can not say the same about the Belgians. We want the
Belgian parliamentarians to pay visits to Azerbaijan and get acquainted
with the development of Azerbaijan,” he said.