Author: Kanayan Tamar

GDP TO REDUCE 5% IN ARMENIA IN 2009

/ARKA/
April 23, 2009
YEREVAN

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is to reduce by 5% in Armenia this
year, says the report of the International Monetary Fund on prospects
of world economic development in April 2009.

0% economic growth is expected in the country in 2010, the IMF
experts say.

According to the report, a 3.4% reduction in GDP is expected in
Moldova. The IMF forecasts GDP growth in some CIS countries –
Uzbekistan (7%), Tajikistan (2%), Georgia (1%) and Kyrgyzstan (0.9%).

Consumer prices are to grow by 3.6% in Armenia in 2009 and by 7.2%
in 2010.

The lowest growth of consumer prices among CIS countries is to be
recorded in Moldova – 2.6% in 2009 and 4.7% in 2010.

Highest growth of consumer prices is expected in Uzbekistan – 12.5%
in 2009 and 9.5% in 2010.

The report also says that the global economy is in deep recession
due to a large-scale financial crisis and dramatic decline in
confidence. Yet, economic decline rates are expected to slow down as
from the second quarter.

Global production output is to reduce by 1.3% in 2009 and to then
gradually grow by 1.9% throughout 2010.

According to the revised program of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
on monetary and credit policy for the first quarter 2009, the GDP
is to decline by 3% in real terms in Armenia in 2009. Inflation is
expected to be 5.9% in Armenia by the end of 2009.

According to the state budget of Armenia, 9.2% GDP growth is expected
in 2009.

YEREVAN LAUNCHED AN EXHIBITION IN MEMORY OF ADANA MASSACRES

PanArmenian
April 21 2009
Armenia

RA National Archive hosted an exhibition in memory of Adana massacres.

The exhibition featured over 100 documents and photos, testifying to
tragic events in Cilicia in the beginning of 20th century.

According to Amatuni Virabyan, RA National Archive Director, such
events have gained special importance now that intensive negotiations
over Armenian- Turkish border opening are in process. "We have to be
very careful, and every step we take towards normalization of ties with
Turkey should be well considered and carefully weighed," he stated.

In his turn, Yerevan’s Armenian Genocide Museum Director, Hayk Demoyan
stressed that Armenian population in Cilicia witnessed 3 massacres: in
1909, during Genocide of 1915 and in 1918 when massacres were initiated
by Turkish leaders who became the founders of present-day Turkey.

Dwelling on assertions about restricted number of Genocide documents
in Armenian archives, preventing the Armenian part from countering
Turkish negation policy, Hayk Demoyan stated, "Today’s exhibition
proved the opposite."

Coutry profile: Armenia
Facts and statistics on Armenia including history, population,
politics, geography, economy, religion and climate

The Guardian,
Saturday 18 April 2009

Map of Armenia. Source: Graphic

Potted history of the country: In AD301 Armenia became the first
country to adopt Christianity. In the middle ages it was absorbed into
powerful empires: Byzantine, Seljuk and Mongol. Under Ottoman rule
Armenians were persecuted: Armenia claims up to 1.5 million people died
in the mass killings of 1915-17, often referred to in the west as the
Armenian genocide. Turkey blames inter-ethnic clashes and disputes the
toll. From 1922 to independence in 1991 Armenia was part of the USSR.

At a glance Location: West Asia Neighbours: Georgia, Iran, Turkey Size:
11,484 square miles Population: 2,967,004 (137) Density: 258.4 people
per square mile Capital city: Yerevan (population 1,249,202) Head of
state: President Serge Sarkissian
Head of government: Prime minister Tigran Sarkissian
Currency: Dram Time zone: Armenia standard time (+4 hours)
International dialling code: +374 Website: gov.am/en Data correct on
Saturday 18 April 2009 Political pressure points: Ten people died in
riots following the election of the prime minister, Serge Sarkisian, in
2008, after claims of vote-rigging. There are no diplomatic ties with
Turkey over Ankara’s refusal to recognise the 1915 killings as
genocide. Relations are also antagonistic with neighbouring Azerbaijan =0
D
over status of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Population mix: Armenian 97.89%, Yazidi 1.26%, unspecified 0.84%

Religious makeup: Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi
(monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Main languages: Armenian, Russian, Yezidi

Living national icons: Hakob Meliq-Hakobian (Raffi) (writer, deceased),
Vakhtang Darchinyan (boxing) Levon Aronian (chess)

Armenia on a map. Source: Graphic Landscape and climate: Armenia is a
landlocked, highland country with peaks rising to 4,000 metres, swift
rivers and little forest. At about 1,900 metres above sea level, Lake
Sevan is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. Climate
is continental with hot, dry summers, cold winters and overall low
humidity.

Highest point: Mount Aragats 4,090 metres

Area covered by water: 498 square miles

Healthcare and disease: Maternal and child healthcare have improved,
but general mortality rates have risen alarmingly since the fall of the
Soviet Union. TB is a scourge and tobacco consumption is increasing,
with nearly 70% of men in the 24-65 age group smoking. Unofficial
payments, including bribes, account for almost two-thirds of health
funding.

Average life expectancy (m/f): 68/75

Average number of children per mother: 1.3

Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births: 76

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 24

Adults HIV/Aids rate: 0.1%

Doctors per 1,000 head of population: 3.7

Adult literacy rate: 99.5% (m 99.7%/f 99.3%)

Economic outlook: Remittances from Armenia’s large worldwide diaspora
have shrunk in the global economic downturn. The country will be
relying heavily on its close ties with Russia, which invested £1.3bn
last year.

Main industries: Diamond-processing, machinery, car components,
fabrics, chemical, food processing, brandy

Key crops/livestock: Fruit, primarily grapes, potatoes, vegetables,
cereals

Key exports: Pearls, precious stones and metals, prepared foodstuffs,
beverages, tobacco, mineral products, textiles

GDP: £3,262m (117th)

GDP per head: £1,084

Unemployment rate: 8.2%

Proportion of global carbon emissions: 0.04%

Most popular tourist attractions: Unesco world heritage listed Haghpat
and Sanahin monasteries, lake Sevan

Local recommendation: Tatev monastery, situated on a rock bluff on the
edge of Vorotan canyon near Armenia’s border with Iran. Its churches
date to the 9th century and were once home to 600 monks

Traditional dish: Harissa (chicken and wheat porridge) and Lavash (flat
bread)

Foreign tourist visitors per year: 318,563

Media freedom index (ranked out of 173): 102

Did you know … Armenia claims to be "motherland of the apricot", and
its apricots are considered to be the best in the world.

National anthem:
Death is everywhere the same
Man is born just once to die
But blest is he who gives his life
To defend his nation’s freedom
But blest is he who gives his life
To defend his nation’s freedom

Information correct on date of first publication, Saturday 18 April 2009.

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER PROCLAIMS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMBERANCE WEEK

armradio.am
17.04.2009 11:52

California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed April 19-26,
2009, as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide," the Armenian
Council of America reports.

In part, the proclamation reads: "This week, we honor that commitment
as we stand with our Armenian friends and neighbors here and across
the world in remembering and acknowledging the genocide, the families
it destroyed and the history it changed. We do not like to recall
such sorrows, but we must, so that we can learn from history and
renew our efforts to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

Since being elected Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has
issued a proclamation every year. "The Armenian American community
appreciates Governor Schwarzenegger for his continuous leadership
and commitment on the remembrance and recognition of the Armenian
Genocide", said Peter Darakjian Armenian Council of America Board
Member. In addition to an annual proclamation, Governor Schwarzenegger
was the first in the nation to sign a bill four years ago that
permanently recognized the "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide".

As home to the largest Armenian community in the United States,
the State of California has been at the forefront on the Armenian
Genocide issue. For over four decades, California has issued official
gubernatorial and legislative proclamations. President Obama’s home
state of Hawaii this month recognized the Armenian Genocide, making
it the 43 state that has taken an affirmative position on recognition.

The full text of the proclamation is presented below.

"On the night of April 24, 1915, more than 200 leaders in the Armenian
community, in the city known today as Istanbul, were arrested. Sent
to prison, most were executed, beginning a horrible, systemic killing
and forced relocation of the Armenian people that would last until
1923. During these years, the government of the Ottoman Empire
claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians and forced 500,000 more
from their homeland.

Those who escaped death had to flee, and many of them settled right
here in California. They and their descendants have become leaders
in all walks of life and have made extraordinary contributions to
our state. While their presence has been and continues to be a great
blessing to California, it also reminds us of the incredible evils
that brought them far from their ancestral homes.

Four years ago I signed a bill that permanently recognized the Days
of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. This week, we honor that
commitment as we stand with our Armenian friends and neighbors here and
across the world in remembering and acknowledging the genocide, the
families it destroyed and the history it changed. We do20not like to
recall such sorrows, but we must, so that we can learn from history and
renew our efforts to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State
of California, do hereby proclaim April 19-26, 2009, as "Days of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA TO FLUSH POPULATION INCOME

PanArmenian, Armenia
April 16 2009

World economic crisis has affected tourism development in Armenia,
said Mekhak Apresyan, Head of Tourism and Regional Development Division
at Ministry of Economy. According to international statistical data,
recession in 2009 will be 0%-1%. "Tourism development in Armenia will
flush population income, create new job opportunities and contribute
to economy in general," Apresyan said adding that 60-70 thousand
out of 580 thousand visitors in 2008 were not ethnic Armenians. The
Armenian government approved an AMD200 million tourism development
program for 2009. 510 thousand tourists visited Armenia in 2007,
558.4 thousand in 2008. "Thanks to the current program, the figure
is expected to reach 650 thousand," Apresyan said.

SARKISIAN HOPES FOR OPENING OF BORDER WITH TURKEY BY OCT.

AzerNews Weekly
April 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has expressed hope that the
Turkey-Armenia border would be re-opened by the time a soccer match
is played between the two countries` national teams, scheduled for
October 7.

He was replying to a question of the Russian RTR TV channel`s Vesti
(News) program concerning the possibility that the border would
be re-opened.

Sarkisian recalled that he had invited Turkish President Abdullah
Gul to Yerevan last year and that Ankara had accepted the invitation.

"We have covered a challenging but, I think, useful path of
negotiations and we are already drawing to their conclusion. And I hope
that when I go to watch the return match of the Turkish and Armenian
teams, the border might be already open. That, if I am not mistaken,
will happen on October 7."

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to its occupation of
Azerbaijani territories and its claims regarding the alleged World
War I-era genocide. Yerevan has also leveled territorial claims
against Turkey. However, there have been signs of normalization
in Ankara-Yerevan ties in recent years. The two countries` leaders
attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan
in September 2008 when Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish president
to visit Armenia. At that time Gul invited his Armenian counterpart
to Istanbul for a return game.

Sarkisian also delved into history in his interview, claiming that
Armenians and Turks share a common historical past. He also went on
to assert the claims concerning the alleged genocide in the Ottoman
Empire.

"There is not a single Armenian in the world who would question the
fact of genocide," Sarkisian maintained. "Everyone is convinced of
that. But the Turks and the Turkish state deny this. But despite this,
we have offered the Turks to establish diplomatic ties without any
preconditions, open up the roads and then set up an inter-governmental
commission that would be able to discuss various issues."

Yerevan has remained cold to Ankara`s repeated proposals to establish
a joint commission of historians to study the events of 1915.

Meanwhile, Baku commented on the possible opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border. Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov said the measure would, in fact, harm the process of settling
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.

"We believe that since Turkey shut the border with Armenia due to the
occupation of Azerbaijani territories [by Armenian armed forces], this
factor should play a key role in the opening of the border, i.e. the
border could open up only after the previously-made conditions are
met," Azimov told journalists.

The media has maintained that the Turkish-Armenian border would be
re-opened soon. The news has sparked an outcry in Azerbaijan, which
has endured the occupation by Armenia.

The deputy minister noted that the border opening issue could be
considered only in the context of reaching a permanent solution to
the Garabagh conflict.

"We would be ready to discuss this issue at a certain stage of
negotiations. But discussing the border opening out of context
contradicts Azerbaijan`s interests," Azimov said.

He emphasized that even if the Turkish-Armenian border opens,
Azerbaijan would not turn into an isolated country in the
region. "Azerbaijan can never become an abandoned state, as all
projects in the region stem from Azerbaijan."

Azimov said the process of resolving the Garabagh problem would be
carried out in stages. The country`s ultimate goal is to fully ensure
its territorial integrity.

"Azerbaijanis and Armenians in Upper Garabagh should live as good
neighbors. This aim cannot be reached overnight, therefore, we have
to move forward step by step to accomplish that."

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing
of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh
and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international
law. Peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the conflict.

Azimov said the liberation of the occupied districts is to be carried
out stage by stage as well, given that this is an extremely complicated
process both from the technical and military standpoints.

The deputy minister said peace talks are currently underway as part
of separate meetings in Azerbaijan and Armenia being held with the
mediation of the Russian, US and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group.

"So to speak, a visit diplomacy is being pursued by the co-chairs. The
mediators are currently trying to foster agreement regarding basic
principles of the conflict resolution. After this agreement is
reached, the process of drafting a more comprehensive peace accord
will be started."

Further, Azimov said an agreement on holding the next meeting of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in May has not yet been reached,
adding that these meetings are being arranged at the urging of the
two presidents.

The diplomat stressed that the principles on stationing peacekeepers
in the Azerbaijani territories to be freed from Armenian occupation
had been agreed upon beforehand. Additionally, the countries agreed
that the armed forces of the Minsk Group co-chairing countries would
not be involved in peacekeeping operations.

Azimov said that immediately enforcing all of Azerbaijan`s rights in
the territories to be liberated would not be possible. The conflict
zone will have to undergo certain demilitarization. After Armenian
troops withdraw from the area, only forces in charge of ensuring
security will be stationed there, as it will be necessary to provide
for the safety of those Azerbaijanis displaced during the war in the
early 1990s and now returning to their homes.

WHAT DO EUROPEANS THINK?

A1+
07:40 pm | April 14, 2009

Politics

Turkey and Armenia should seize their best opportunity yet to normalise
relations, work on a new approach to shared history and open a European
border that for nearly a century has been hostage to conflict.

Turkey and Armenia: Opening Minds, Opening Borders,* the latest
report from the International Crisis Group, examines how a decade
of academic and civil society outreach laid the foundations for what
is now intense official engagement between the governments. The two
sides are now close to agreement on a package deal that will establish
diplomatic relations, open the border and set up bilateral commissions
to address a range of issues.

These commissions will include one on joint historical dimension
of the Armenian-Turkish relationship, which will work to broaden
understanding of the Ottoman-era forced relocations and massacres of
Armenians, widely recognised as the Armenian genocide. Turkey contests
the term genocide, disputing its legal applicability and pointing to
mitigating circumstances as the Ottoman Empire fought on three fronts
in the First World War. But many Turks, including officials, now
publicly express regret over the tragic and high loss of Armenian life.

" Turks’ and Armenians’ once uncompromising views of history are
significantly converging, showing that the deep traumas can be
healed", says Hugh Pope, director of Crisis Group’s Turkey/Cyprus
Project. "At this sensitive time, third parties should avoid statements
or resolutions in the politicised debate over genocide recognition
or denial that could inflame opinion on either side".

A separate but related issue, the stalemated Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, still risks undermining final agreement
on the Turkey and Armenia normalisation package. Azerbaijan opposes any
border opening until Armenia withdraws from its occupied territory. But
Turkey should not sacrifice this chance to move forward, and should
persuade its ally that detente which makes Armenia feel secure will
do more for a settlement than continuing a fifteen-year impasse. For
long-term normalisation with Turkey to be sustainable, Armenia,
together with Azerbaijan, should ultimately adopt the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group basic principles
for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict of the OSCE, and
Armenia should withdraw from Azerbaijani territories that it occupies.

"Turkey and Armenia should finalise their agreement and thus create
new momentum for peace and cooperation in the South Caucasus", says
Sabine Freizer, Crisis Group’s Europe Program Director. "They should
not wait until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is settled. But outside
powers such as the U.S., EU, Russia and others should build on their
rare common interest to move both Turkish-Armenian normalisation and
the Nagorno-Karabakh process forward".

TURKEY ATTEMPTED TO STIFLE GENOCIDE RECOGNITION BY SOUTH AUSTRALIA

41414_4/13/2009_1
Monday, April 13, 2009

ADELAIDE, Australia–Turkey’s Ambassador to Australia has attempted
to prevent Australian lawmakers from recognizing as genocide the
organized annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians and 350,000 Greeks
during World War I, the Weekend Australian revealed on Saturday.

The newspaper on Saturday reported of the attempts made by the Turkish
Ambassador, Murat Ersavci, to block the government of South Australia
from passing a motion recognizing the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek
Genocides.

The measure also acknowledged the role of the Armenian Relief Fund
of Australia, which provided immediate humanitarian relief to the
victims and survivors of the genocide.

On March 25th, South Australia became the second Australian state
(after New South Wales in 1997) to recognize the Armenian Genocide
when its Parliament’s Legislative Council passed a motion recognizing
the Armenian Genocide as "one of the greatest crimes against humanity".

The report revealed that upon Ersavci’s request, the Australian
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Stephen Smith, "had written to
South Australian Premier Mike Rann outlining the federal Government’s
position ‘on these historical events’ in Turkey at the time the
remnants of the once mighty Ottoman Empire gave way to the new
republic".

"It is completely undemocratic that the ambassador of a foreign nation
forces our Foreign Affairs Minister to lobby the Premier of South
Australia," commented Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC
Australia) President, Varant Meguerditchian. "Mr. Ersavci’s actions
are a direct attempt to gag our politicians from speaking truthfully
about our proud history."

ANC Australia has called upon the Australian Government to review
its official position, in light of eyewitness testimony from ANZAC
soldiers held captive in Turkey during WWI, and the overwhelming body
of evidence which demonstrates Australia’s involvement in providing
aid to the orphaned survivors of the Armenian Genocide,

"Australia can no longer avoid or stay silent on this issue when
it is so closely intertwined with Australia’s proud history,"
Meguerditchian said.

"We call on the Federal Government of Australia to remain resilient
in the face of foreign pressure and independently acknowledge the
common history of the Armenian and Australian nations," he said.

During the last days of the Ottoman Empire, the Government implemented
a policy of Genocide upon its Christian Armenian population. As a
result, up to 1.5million Armenian men, women and children lost their
lives between 1915 and 1922.

Adding weight to the importance of recognizing the Armenian Genocide is
the research conducted by the Australian Institute for Holocaust and
Genocide Studies that discovered records of Australia’s humanitarian
assistance to Armenians following the genocide and testimonies by
ANZAC soldiers to atrocities against the Armenians as they occurred.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDES AS A MEANS OF PREVENTION

armradio.am
14.04.2009 17:22

"Areg" Scientific-Cultural Youth Association with the support of
the UN Department of Public Information organized a round-table
discussion entitled "The International Recognition of Genocides as
a Means of Prevention".

The massacre of Armenians carried out by the Ottoman Turks became
a signal for the international community to prevent people from
such crimes; the term "genocide" was coined and circulated within
historical, political and legal framework, while on 9 December,
1948 the United Nations Organization adopted the "Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide" being convinced
that international cooperation for liberating humanity from that
terrible tragedy is an utmost necessity.

A little after the 60th anniversary of the Convention, throwing a
glance on the series of genocides we get persuaded that unpunished
crimes have the habit of being repeated. Thus, the Armenian Genocide
became a precedent for the Jewish Holocaust, the Rwanda Genocide and
other similar crimes, while its international recognition would have
probably put an end to this hideous crime against humanity.

The round-table speakers were the Head of the International
Organizations Department of MFA, Dziunik Aghajanyan, the Deputy
Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Suren Manukyan,
and the Officer-in-Charge of UN Department of Public Information
Armine Halajyan. They referred to the efforts of the Republic of
Armenia to get international recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
touched upon the struggle against denial, and the role of the UN in
preventing genocide.

During the discussion that followed the participants – representatives
of NGOs, mass media and students among them, expressed their
righteous resentment towards crimes against humanity and expressed
their solidarity with the victims of genocide. Indifference and
unwillingness to prevent give way to new crimes culminating in
genocides. Events should be named accordingly and the perpetrators
should be punished. The participants also mentioned that to accomplish
the above-mentioned cooperation of all nations is required. That is
the means to get away with genocide.

In these days the 15th Anniversary of Genocide in Rwanda is being
commemorated all around the world. On this occasion the UN Secretary
General said in his message: "… The United Nations continues
its vital work to avert future tragedies. We have intensified
our focus on conflict prevention, and built up our mediation
capacity. … Preventing genocide is a collective responsibility. Only
by meeting this challenge can we match the resolve of the survivors
and truly honour the memory of those who died in Rwanda 15 years ago."

Having in mind the above mentioned, and on the thresh old of the
upcoming Armenian Genocide anniversary it is quite appropriate to once
again bring the attention of the international community and especially
of youth on the inhuman phenomenon of genocide to UNDERSTAND, RECOGNIZE
and PREVENT it.

TRANSFERS FROM RUSSIA TO ARMENIA COMPRISED $ 919 MILLION IN 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2009 16:39 GMT+04:00

Volume of transfers from Russia via payment systems comprised $13, 7
billion in 2008, major part of which was transferred by gastarbeiters
from CIS countries. Recently demand for their services has been
decreasing, along with their profits and transfer volumes. Still
payment systems providers promise not to raise transfer tariffs.

Work migrants provide a major part of money traffic from Russia to CIS
countries. "From the beginning of 2000 the market of money transfers
was developing at high rates, showing annual increase of 25-30 35%. The
dynamics was explained by increasing difference in life standards and
economic growth between different CIS countries, forming 80% demand
in transfer segment. Main generators of work migrants outflow were
Moldova, Ukraine, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Uzbekistan,"
UNIStream director Suren Hayiryan stated.

Money outflow from Russia contributed to many CIS countries
economy. According to WB data, migrants’ transfers comprise 45%
of Tajikistan GDP and 38% of Moldavia GDP.

According to WB data, Russia is ranked 5th in the list of leading
countries from where money transfers are effected, preceded by US,
Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Germany. In migrant inflow ranking
Russia yields to USA only.

According to Bank of Russia, transfers from Russia to Armenia
comprised $ 919 million in 2008. "2008 was a record-breaking year
for transfers from Russia to Eastern Europe and CIS," Western Union
Regional Vice-President for Eastern Europe and CIS countries Jonathan
Knaus stated.

Over 90 % of total sums were transferred from CIS countries: Uzbekistan
– $2,9 billion, Tajikistan – $2,5 billion, Ukraine – $1,6 billion,
Azerbaijan – $825 million, Georgia – $804 million, Turkmenia –
$40 million

Foreign countries transfers from Russia comprised: China – $400
million, Turkey – 80 million.