Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINSTER THINKS THAT BSEC FAILS TO PROVE ITS WORTH

ArmInfo
2007-06-26 21:54:00

If over the past 15 years, we could have ascribed our occasional
hesitation to certain of our own quarrels and interests and alliances,
today we see that by allowing ourselves to be led by our differences,
we limit this organization’s capacity to make itself felt in world
politics, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said in his speech
during the summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization
(BSEC).

The press-service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told ArmInfo
that in his speech V.Oskanian also touched upon the BSEC-EU
relations. "Broadening interaction between BSEC and the EU is a
measure of our maturity and one of our significant outputs. As the
EU considers the benefits of a Black Sea Dimension for economic,
social, environmental and energy cooperation, and as BSEC works
to enhance its interaction with the EU, we around the Black Sea,
have much to learn from those around the Mediterranean, Adriatic,
Baltic and North seas. Our need for deeper relations is not limited
to the structural, technical and institutional expertise in the EU
space. Rather we stand to benefit from the European ability to create
a bond between human beings that transcends older boundaries and
makes out of these new institutional forms something that really is a
community. We also have much to learn from Europe in trying to find
new solutions to old problems. BSEC could have, should have, aided
in creating an environment conducive to resolving conflicts in our
region. Resolutions are only possible through compromise, compromise
requires reciprocal trust between peoples, and cooperation is the
obvious and proven way to inculcate such trust. Rejecting cooperation
is a symptom of a misplaced desire to find one-sided solutions; this
is unrealistic. The era of one-sided solutions is over," V.Oskanian
noted. BSEC members are 11 countries of the Black Sea region: Albania,
Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Moldavia, Russia, Romania, Turkey,
Ukraine and Azerbaijan. BSEC focuses on closer economic cooperation of
the member states, free movement of commodities, capitals, services,
labor force and integration of these countries’ economies into the
international economic system. The Organization was founded in 1992,
its headquarters is in Istanbul.

VOLUME OF HYPOTHEC MARKET OF ARMENIA TO GROW FROM 30 BLN DRAMS TO 350 BLN DRAMS WITHIN THE NEXT 5 YEARS

ArmInfo
2007-06-26 10:27:00

The volume of the hypothec market of Armenia will grow from 30 bln
drams to 350 bln drams within the next 5 years, Head of RA CB Tigran
Sargsyan said.

He recalled that a programme of development of stable housing financing
market is carried out in Armenia jointly with the German KfW Bank in
order to form a market of hypothec crediting. Moreover, for creation
of the primary market, a number of legislative reforms was carried out,
aimed at implementation of the practice of extrajudicial realization of
deposit and solution of other important tasks. T. Sargsyan said that
the private sector also intends to implement large-scale programmes
in the hypothec market.

According to the data of Ranking of Armenia’s commercial banks,
prepared by the Agency of Rating Marketing Information (ArmInfo),
the portfolio of hypothec credits of RA commercial banks as of
March 31, 2007, made up about $74 mln or about 10% of the total
credit investments, having increased by 83,4% in annual section,
and by 16% – within the first quarter. Nineteen banks operate in
this market. Moreover, the hypothec credits are given to the "First
Hypothec Company" Universal Credit Organization, the portfolio of
hypothec credits of which as of March 31, 2007, made up about $2 mln.

Presently, there are banks which give hypothec credits for 15-20 years
on terms of prepayment of 20% of the acquired housing’s cost. The
minimum interest rate per hypothec credits is equal to 12%.

PM MIFFED ABOUT LACK OF SUPPORT ON FOREIGN POLICY

The Daily Herald-Tribune (Grande Prairie, Alberta)
Fort McMurray Today (Alberta)
Peterborough Examiner (Ontario)
June 25 2007
Toronto

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he’s being undermined by public
servants in the foreign service.

The Toronto Star obtained a recording of comments he made at a June
15 closed-door roundtable with Toronto-based ethnic media.

Harper complained at length about the reluctance of bureaucrats and
diplomats to defend his government’s hardline foreign policy stance.

His comments were a response to questions about his 2006 decision to
recognize the deaths of about 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey in 1915
as genocide.

The move – a departure from the position held by previous governments
– angered Turkey to the point it briefly recalled its ambassador
to Canada.

The head of the union representing Canada’s foreign service says
he’s "shocked" after hearing Harper’s comments, and says no formal
complaints have been filed against its members.

US CONGRESS’S SUBCOMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS APPROVED THE DRAFT LAW THAT FORBIDS FINANCING THE PROJECT ON A RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION BY-PASSING ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2007-06-25 13:18:00

The Armenian Assembly of America today commended a Subcommittee on
Foreign Affairs for ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not spent on
funding a rail from Azerbaijan to Turkey bypass of Armenia.

As ArmInfo was informed from the Armenian Assembly of America,
the document says that draft project on the new rail construction
sponsored by the Turkish and Azerbaijani governments is aimed
at excluding Armenia from economic and regional transportation
opportunities. Congressman Breed Sherman told the Assembly that the
strict language of the document will ultimately help ensure that
taxpayer dollars will not be spent on efforts that would isolate
Armenia – which is already facing dual blockades by Turkey and
Azerbaijan. "The United States should look for opportunities to
improve, not hinder regional integration and economic cooperation in
the South Caucasus", – the Congressman said.

MEETING AT NKR REPRESENTATION

Azat Artsakh Daily Newspaper, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
NKR Permanent Representation To Armenia
22-06-2007

The permanent representative of NKR to Armenia Carlen Avetisian met
with the fact-finding mission of the Caucasian Caspian Commission at
the NKR representation to Armenia. The head of the delegation George
Reed said in presenting the purpose of the civil initiative that the
commission is going to make a report on the problems of resolution
of the South Caucasian conflicts and the involvement of the European
Union in the regional processes. At the request of the guests, Carlen
Avetisian presented the stance of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on the
recent developments related to the Karabakh issue. He said the EU
will hopefully contribute to the settlement of the conflicts in the
region and reconciliation of peoples.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO USE OF GERMANEXPERIENCE OF DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL AND MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM

Noyan Tapan
Jun 22 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, NOYAN TAPAN. RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian, receiving
the Ambassador of Germany to Armenia Heike Peitsch, who is completing
her diplomatic mission in Armenia, said that during the three years
of her tenure the Ambassador took considerable steps in the respect
of deepening relations between the two countries.

During the meeting they discussed issues related to the development
of a political and multi-party system in Armenia. Mentioning that
some steps will be taken in this direction in the coming years,
T. Torosian attached importance to the use of the rich experience of
Germany in this sphere. In this context the NA Speaker touched upon the
necessity of equal work of German funds with all representatives of the
political sphere, as the authorities and the opposition are parts of
the same multi-party system and have the same problems. T. Torosian
also attached importance to the establishment of cooperation with
German political scientific structures.

AZERI MEDIA: LITHUANIA SERIOUSLY CONSIDERS POSSIBILITY TO JOIN GUAM

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.06.2007 15:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Lithuania seriously considers the issue of becoming
GUAM member-state, Day.az reports citing sources in the Lithuanian
government. According to the source, currently economic and political
aspects of this issue are under examination.

President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus is an active participant of all
GUAM summits, which in itself speaks about Lithuania’s high interest
towards that organization. Most probably issues concerning Lithuania’s
close cooperation with GUAM will be discussed during Azeri President
Ilham Aliev’s official visit to Lithuania this autumn. Currently
Azerbaijan holds the presidency in this organization.

NATO EXPERTS WILL RENDER SUPPORT TO ARMENIA IN WORKING OUT THE MILITARY DOCTRINE

ArmRadio.am
20.06.2007 17:25

NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia
Robert Simmons declared during the joint press conference with RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian that experts of the Treaty will
render practical support to Armenia in working out the Military
Doctrine and the Strategic Defense Review.

The NATO representative underlined that the elaboration of the Military
Doctrine and the Strategic Defense Review are components of Armenia’s
Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO.

The NATO Special Representative recalled that in spring of the current
year the Treaty gave a positive evaluation to the process of the
IPAP execution.

According to Robert Simmons, during the meetings with representatives
of RA Ministry of Defense issues related to the increase of civil
servants in military structures, military expenses and improvement
of budgetary porcesses.

ACCORDING TO ROBERT SIMMONS, NATO DOES NOT WELCOME RHETORICAL STATEMENTS ON WAR RESUMPTION

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Although NATO is concerned about
Iran’s nuclear program and the possible use of sanctions by the UN
Security Council in this connection, this cannot become an obstacle
to the development of economic relations between many countries and
Iran. The Special Representative of the NATO Secretary-General in the
South Caucasus, Ambassador Robert Simmons stated this at the June 20
press conference. "We understand Armenia’s state and the necessity to
seek new sources for the import of power bearing substances," he noted.

According to R. Simmons, NATO has good relations with all the
three South Caucasian states. At the same time he noted that the
security-related situation is different in these countries, and in its
relations NATO takes into account the interests of the given country,
including Armenia. R. Simmons reminded that Georgia intends to join
NATO, and the relations with Georgia are a bit different.

Speaking about the Karabakh problem, R. Simmons stated that NATO
does not want to be directly involved in the conflict settlement. "We
follow these developments but we have no intention to take an active
part in the negotiation process," he noted.

In his words, NATO welcomes the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs and hopes that negotiations will give a result. "We do
not welcome any rhetorical statements on war resumption: NATO is in
favor of resumption of the negotiations and their successful end,"
the ambassador said.

VARDAN OSKANIAN: "THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH AMERICA WITH RESPECT TO ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS"

Noyan Tapan
Jun 19 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN. There is no problem with America with
respect to Armenian-Iranian relations. This statement was made on
June 19 by Vardan Oskanian, the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs. At
the request of journalists the RA Foreign Minister commented on the
statement of Anthony Godfrey, the US Charge d’Affaires to the republic
of Armenia, saying that "the USA is troubled with Armenian-Iranian
relations." The RA Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned: "We have
dialogues with the USA concerning all kinds of questions: within
economic, political, and security frameworks, we discuss all kinds
of issues."