Author: Kanayan Tamar

THE ARMENIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS RECEIVED THE PARIS MAYOR

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Oct 26 2011

On October 26th Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs received
Bertrand Delanoe, the Mayor of Paris.

Welcoming the guest, the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned
that the recent month was a month of Armenian-French friendship, which
started with the RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s state visit to Paris and
the state visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Armenia, and is
going to end by the annual meeting of the Francophone International
Organization being held in Yerevan that is also accompanied by the
first visit of the Paris Mayor to our country.

Minister Nalbandian thanked Mr. Delanoe for the joint projects
implemented during the last decade, in particular stressing the
importance of the opening of Komitas Monument and the Yerevan Park
at the heart of France, near the Champs-Elysees, as well as the
traditional holding of annual reception in the Paris City Hall to
commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and the active
participation of Paris in the events dedicated to the Armenia’s year
in France. “All these have been implemented under your governance
and it is remembered in Yerevan,” underlined the Armenian Minister
of Foreign Affairs.

Expressing gratitude for the reception and the warm words, Bertrand
Delanoe said that he is visiting the friendly Armenia with great
pleasure and is confident that the agreements reached in the course
of his visit would further deepen the ties between the two mayors’
offices, countries and people.

The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Paris Mayor stressed
the importance of holding of the annual meeting of the Francophone
International Organization in Yerevan, expressing confidence that it
also would greatly strengthen the positions of Armenia in the family
of the Francophone countries.

Numerous issues of regional and international agenda were discussed
during the meeting, as well.

BAKU’S VAGABOND SHOES TAKE IT TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
by Giorgi Lomsadze

EurasiaNet.org, NY
Oct 26 2011

And if Baku can make it there, it can make it anywhere . . . that’s
the tune Azerbaijani media are playing in an unabashed celebration of
the country’s becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations
Security Council this week.

Azerbaijan’s debut on the council is “a victory for the Azerbaijani
people,” declared Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. But
more than a symbolic victory, the membership placed Baku in a better
position to shape the international debate about its long-running
conflict with Armenia and separatists over breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ali Hasanov, a senior presidential administration official, indicated
that Baku will use its new position to bring Nagorno-Karabakh-related
issues to the UN floor. “Capitalizing on the [two]-year-long membership
of the UN Security Council, Azerbaijan will demand restoring norms
of international law,” he said, without elaboration, Regnum reported.

Mammadyarov said that Baku will seek support for such initiatives
from the main international negotiators in the conflict — the US,
France and Russia, all permanent members of the Security Council.

Some Azerbaijani politicians could not help but gloat at sour faces in
Armenia, Baku’s arch-rival in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. “Armenia
is seriously upset,” asserted independent parliament member Rasim
Musambekov.

It probably is, but the Armenians are trying not to show it. Yerevan
did not make an official statement about Azerbaijan’s promotion, but
one official claimed that the Security Council would not be swayed by
Azerbaijan. The country’s membership, he reasoned, will only damage
the council’s reputation.

Note: Rasim Musambekov previously served as a board member of the
Open Society Assistance Foundation-Azerbaijan, part of the Soros
Foundations network. EurasiaNet.org operates under the auspices of
the Open Society Institute, a separate part of that network.

AZERBAIJAN TO RAISE NAGORNY KARABAKH ISSUE IN UN SECURITY COUNCIL

RIA Novosti, Russia
Oct 26 2011

Azerbaijan plans to bring up the issue of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict
settlement at the United Nations, following its election to the UN
Security Council as a non-permanent member, Azerbaijan’s Minister of
Foreign Affairs Elmar Mamedyarov said on Wednesday.

Azerbaijan was elected to the U.N. Security Council on Monday for
the period 2012-2013. There are ten temporary member states and five
veto-holding permanent members in the council – Russia, the United
States, China, the UK and France.

“To introduce any initiative it is important to have the preliminary
support of five permanent members of the council. Three of them are
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group. We have not discussed this issue
with the permanent members yet, but we will,” Mamedyarov said.

Negotiations on the Nagorny Karabakh conflict settlement continue,
he added, but “nobody thinks that it will be settled within a night.”

Baku has previously called for the withdrawal of the Armenian armed
forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories as a first step towards
the settlement of the dispute.

The conflict began in 1988 when the enclave of Nagorny Karabakh, which
had a majority Armenian population but was surrounded by Azerbaijani
territory, claimed independence from Azerbaijan. Local ethnic Armenian
forces succeeded in expelling the Azerbaijani forces in 1994, driving
out virtually all of the non-Armenian speaking population and also
occupying large swathes of territory in Azerbaijan outside Karabakh.

ARMENIAN PM: FREE TRADE ZONE CREATES EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Vestnik Kavkaza
Oct 26 2011

Armenia’s accession to the CIS Free Trade Zone will not impede
Armenia’s efforts in the field of European integration, Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan told the National Assembly of Armenia. The agreement
on the FTA was signed on October 18 in St. Petersburg by 8 out of
11 CIS countries (except Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan),
News.am reports.

Negotiations on the agreement began in 1992. The agreement was
concluded in 1993 – 94 but, in the absence of ratification by Russia,
it did not enter into force. Two years ago the talks were resumed at
the initiative of the Russian side.

Sargsyan added the agreement will in no way impede the development
of deep and comprehensive free trade between Armenia and the EU.

STUDENTS OF THE “EURASIA” COLLEGE TAKE PART IN THE “OPEN LESSON”

National Assembly of RA, Armenia

Oct 26 2011

On October 25 the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly met the
students of the “Eurasia” college, who visited the parliament within
the framework of the “Open Lesson” programme.

At the meeting Samvel Nikoyan touched upon the activity of the National
Assembly, presented its working procedure, noted, particularly,
the supervising functions of the parliament.

The NA Deputy Speaker also answered the college students’ questions,
which included different spheres.

IRAN TO BOOST POWER SWAP WITH MORE REGIONAL STATES

FNA
16:26 | 2011-10-26

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iranian energy official described increase
in export of power supplies as a key goal of Iran’s power industry,
and announced that the country has worked out energy swap plans with
not just Persian Gulf but African nations.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 11th International Power
Industry Exhibition here in Tehran on Wednesday, Deputy Energy Minister
Mohammad Behzad pointed to Iran’s special geographical position and
the country’s plan to link its national grid to the regional nations,
and stated that Iran is currently swapping electricity with all its
surrounding countries.

“Once the country’s power grid is linked with Lebanon and North Africa
and with the Persian Gulf littoral states through an underwater line
in future, energy swaps will start with these countries,” he stated.

In August, Iran’s energy minister announced that the country has hiked
exports of power supplies to the neighboring countries by over 21.67%
since the beginning of the new Iranian year (started March 21).

According to the report, Iran exported over 2,701 gw/h of electricity
to the neighboring countries since the start of the current Iranian
year.

With the implementation of subsidy reforms law, not only domestic
electricity consumption has reduced but also annual growth in
electricity demand has been checked, thus paving the way for further
export of electricity to the neighboring countries.

Iran has power swap deals with Armenia, Pakistan, Turkmenistan,
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Afghanistan and the autonomous region of
Nakhichevan. The rate of exchanges hit 1,332 megawatts on August 2.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN VISITS WESTERN ARMENIA

Lragir.am News

18:41:44 – 26/10/2011

October 26, Karin (Erzurum)–The leader of the Heritage Party, Raffi
Hovannisian, is on a one-week visit in Western Armenia. On October 22,
he joined thousands of Armenians who flocked Tigranakert (Diyarbakir)
from around the world to participate in the reopening and consecration
of the Surp Giragos Church.

A group of Western Armenians, raised as Sunni Mulsims, were baptized
that day at this historic Armenian Apostolic church.

“It is exceedingly important for the two peoples to engage in dialogue,
but without forgetting that great, dark disaster of history, like
genocide,” Raffi Hovannisian told the Hurriyet Daily News.

().

Mustafa, a Kharberd resident, and Hovannisian exchanged cards.

Pilgrims from Armenia, Istanbul and Armenian communities from around
the globe were joined by Kurdicized Armenians from Turkish provinces
trying to regain their identity.

Hovannisian then paid visits to Bitlis and Mush, Sulukh and Khnus
where he stopped by the Sanasarian Academy. He also traveled to Van
for a couple of hours (before the quake) and then arrived in Karin
where he visited the building that used to house the Haraj newspaper.

Following visits to several more Western Armenian towns, Hovannisian
is to return to Armenia

PARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA RATIFIED CREDIT AGREEMENT WITH IBRD IN THE AMOUNT OF $39 MILLION IN ENERGY SECTOR

ARKA
Oct 26, 2011

YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. The National Assembly of Armenia ratified
on Wednesday credit agreement between Armenia and International Bank
of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) regarding the “Program of
reliability of energy delivery in the amount of $39 million signed
on June 1, 2011.

“With the purpose of funding of the mentioned program, IBRD will
allocate credit in the amount of $39 million at 3.33%” interest rate,’
said Armenian Energy and Natural Resource Minister Armen Movsisyan.

Repayment of the loan is planned to start in November 2021 and finish
in May 2036.

“Getting a loan has nothing to do with winter preparation works or the
problems of energy sector”, said Movsisyan adding that today energy
sector of Armenia has already been established and is developing
successfully.

FRANCOPHONE MAYORS MEET IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 25, 2011 – 20:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The International Association of Francophone Mayors
(AIMF) met October 25 in Yerevan for the 31st General Assembly.

As the representative of Yerevan Municipality, the capital’s chief
architect Narek Sargsyan stated during the assembly, Yerevan greatly
values its AIMF membership allowing for discussion of challenges and
exchange of experience.

The Yerevan-hosted assembly aims at summarizing the results of previous
events, also focusing on increase of productivity and cooperation
between governmental and local authorities.

ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH TO GET CERTAIN TAX PRIVILEGES

arminfo
Tuesday, October 25, 17:42

Parliament of Armenia passed the first reading of alterations and
amendments to a package of laws to regulate the property problems of
the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Tuesday.

Vache Terteryan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration of
Armenia, says the Government suggests exempting the churches of the
AAC that are not considered cultural monuments from the property tax.

For that purpose, the Government offers amendments to the Laws On
property Tax, On Land Tax and the Land Code. The list of the facilities
subject to tax privileges is determined by the government.

A total of 256 buildings, lands, churches, dining halls, libraries,
tractor station and others are transferred to the balance of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The given facilities are in the permanent
process of property inventory. AT the same time, the government
will regulate the process of fulfillment of tax privileges by the
AAC. “Production of candles for church service and production of
luxurious wedding churches for sale are quite different things,”
Terteryan said.

The bill aroused hot debates in the parliament. Thus, parliamentarian
Stepan Safaryan recalled that all the churches are equal before the
law and tax privileges must apply to all them. Artsvik Minasyan,
a parliamentarian from ARFD agreed with Safaryan and said that if
passed the bill will reduce the budgets of the local self-government
authorities that are formed at the expense of the land and property
taxes.

For his part, Hovik Abrahamyan suggested verifying the list of the
facilities transferred to AAC. “We have communities with some 2 mln
drams budget and reduction of such small budgets is inadmissible,” the
speaker said. For his part, Vardan Bostanjyan, parliamentarian from
Prosperous Armenia party alarmed that there is no specific list of
facilities and lands, which may make the entire territory of Armenia
the property of the Armenian Apostolic Church.