Author: Khondkarian Raffi

CBA CONTINUES TO RAISE REFINANCING INTEREST RATES UNDER CONDITIONS OF GROWTH IN FOOD PRICES

Noyan Tapan

Se p 10, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Inflation made 6.6% in Armenia
in late 2007, while the average inflation made 4.4%, exceeding by
about one percentage point the permissible level of the envisaged
annual fluctuation, the Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA) Arthur Javadian stated at the RA National Assembly on September
9. According to him, the reason was the impact of a considerable rise
in food prices in international market. In particular, the growth in
prices of bread products, as well as butter and vegetable oil made
24% and 29.2% respectively, contributing to overall inflation by 3.6%
and 1.2%. 9.7% inflation was recorded with respect to domestic food
prices in 2007 due to the developments in international market. The
prices of the two other components of the consumer basket – nonfood
commodities and services grew by 2.5% and 3.2% respectively.

The inflation in international market affected the markets of other
countries as well: it made 19.5% in Azerbaijan, 12.1% in Belarus, 11%
in Georgia, 18.8% in Kazakhstan, 14.1% in Latvia, and 9.6% in Estonia.

9.6% inflation was recorded in Armenia in the first quarter of
2008 against the same quarter of 2007. The 12-month inflation in the
commodity groups of bread products and butter-vegetable oil made 33.3%
and 32.3% as of late March 2008, contributing by 5% and 1.5% to the
overall inflation. The growth in food prices in its turn affected
the inflation concerning non-food commodities and services.

A. Javadian said that in the first quarter of this year CBA continued
to tighten its monetary and credit policy by raising the refinancing
interest rates.

MHER KEROBIAN TAKEN TO OPERATING DEPARTMENT

A1+
[04:09 pm] 08 September, 2008

"The state of 32-year-old Mher Kerobian stabbed during yesterday’s
skirmish in Arabkir district is satisfactory," says Dr. Gor Melikian.

Today Kerobian was taken from the Resuscitation to the Operating
Department.

"We cannot say for sure when Mher will be discharged from hospital. We
can not make such predictions if a patient is brought to hospital in
a grave state," said the doctor.

According to the RA Police, a clamour was raised on 7 Tbilisian
highway at 09.20 on September 7. Later in the day, at about 09.40,
Mher Kerobian was reported to have been taken to Kanaker-Zeitun Medical
Centre with wounds in the stomach, cerebrum and ribs. Kerobian was
then taken to Erebuni Medical Centre.

The skirmish took place near Precinct 4/02. Mher Kerobian supports the
incumbent candidate Hovhannes Shahinian. Eye-witnesses say Kerobian
was stabbed by Albert Yeritsian’s proponents.

An action has been instituted under Article 113 of the Criminal Code.

Preliminary investigation is underway.

According to the Central Election Commission Albert Yeritsian was
elected district head of Arabkir commune.

VISIT OF TURKISH PRESIDENT TO ARMENIA ENDS PEACEFULLY
Grace Annan

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
September 8, 2008

The visit of the Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia ended on a
good note (see Turkey – Armenia: 4 September 2008: ). Although no major
deals were struck, Gul and his counterpart, Armenian President Serge
Sarkissian, agreed to hold another meeting at the fringes of the UN
General Assembly meeting in late September. Gul stated that the visit
had given hope for the future, according to Agence-France-Presse (AFP),
while Turkish media stressed that his visit had not been overshadowed
by protests in Armenia.

Significance:Gul’s visit is nothing short of a minor sensation;
the two countries did not have official diplomatic relations
until very recently, and have remained at odds over a number of
political issues. This was only a first visit and should be treated
carefully. The two countries are still not on good terms with
each other; indeed, winning over the nationalists in both Turkey
and Armenia will be a long and difficult road, testing the strength
and perseverance of both administrations. At this stage, Gul’s visit
should be treated as nothing more than a tentative attempt to improve
ties with no guarantees for the future.

RA CEC REGISTERS RPA MEMBERS HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN AND ARAYIK HOVHANNISIAN AS DEPUTIES OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Noyan Tapan

Se p 8, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. During the September 5 sitting, the
RA Central Electoral Commission (CEC) registered the former chief of
the RA presidential staff, member of the ruling body of the Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) Hovik Abrahamian as a deputy of the RA National
Assembly by the majoritarian electoral system. The RA CEC took as a
basis the decision of district electoral commission No 17 based on the
results of the August 24 by-election of a NA deputy by the majoritarian
electoral system in electoral district No 17 in Ararat marz.

The RA CEC also registered the chairman of Armenia’s Association of
Aldermen Arayik Hovhannisian as deputy of the RA National Assembly
by the proportional electoral system from the electoral list of the
RPA. The decision was based on the NA’s report on terminating the
deputy powers of Vladimir Balayan who was appointed the Armenian
ambassador to Turkmenistan.

Thus henceforth the National Assembly "RPA" faction will have 65
members.

TURKISH PRESIDENT COMES TO AZERBAIJAN TO DISCUSS RESULTS OF HIS VISIT TO ARMENIA: AZERBAIJANI POLITICIANS

TREND News Agency
Sept 8 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 8 September /Trend News, corr. I.Alizade / The
Azerbaijani politicians consider that the Turkish President Abdulla Gul
comes to Azerbaijan to discuss the results obtained during his visit
to Yerevan. "Important moments have appeared in the Turkish-Russian
and Turkish-Armenian talks and it needs to discuss them with the
leadership of Azerbaijan at high level," independent politician,
Rasim Musabeyov, told TrendNews on 8 September.

The President of turkey, Abdulla Gul visited to Armenia on 6 September
and held talks with Armenian President Serj Sarkisyan. Gul will come
to Azerbaijan on 10 September.

"Abdulla Gul’s visit to Azerbaijan after Armenia and Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov’s inviting his Azerbaijani counterpart to
Moscow on 7 September indicate that significant moments appeared in
Ankara-Yerevan and Ankara-Moscow talks. Therefore, Gul’s visit is
not ordinary," he said.

Musabeyov said that it is not excluded that the obtained results
are linked with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Up to now, the talks
within the Minsk Group of the OSCE have not yielded any results up to
now. Therefore, Russia makes certain initiatives in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem in order to demonstrate itself as a
positive force to the world. It is not excluded that progresses can
be achieved as a result of joint initiative of Turkey and Russia,"
he said.

The member of Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE, MP Aydin Mirzazade,
said that Azerbaijan and Turkey has already transformed jointly acting
in many issues into daily norm in the foreign policy.

"Abdulla Gul’s visit to Azerbaijan after his visit to Armenia to
watch football match draws special attention. The visit reflects many
issues. This include further developing Turkish-Azerbaijani relations,
discussing processes in South Caucasus and the results of Gul’s visit
to Armenia," Mirzazade said.

Independent politician Vafa Guluzade considers that the talks on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement within the Minsk Group of the
OSCE can transfer to the ranges of the idea ‘Caucasus Union’. "Abdulla
Gul comes to Azerbaijan to discuss these issues. But there will not
be any changes in the conflict settlement," he said.

Sunday’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 7 2008

Armenian visit, Ergenekon and the Ottoman Ergenekon

by IHSAN YILMAZ

President Abdullah Gül’s visit to Armenia has generally been applauded
by the various strata of society. The two exceptions are our
nationalist opposition parties: the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
and the Republican People’s Party (CHP). As these parties hope to gain
from nationalist sentiments, it seems that any solution to the
Armenian issue will not make them happy. This is a simple summary of
modern Turkish history. Turkey is surrounded by enemies, and thus we
need strong nationalist authoritarian guardians that will protect
us. Now as the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party)
zero-problem-with-neighbors policy has shown, we can enter into
dialogue with our neighbors and even talk about our differences. I
hope we can succeed at this with Armenia as well.

As far as I can see, the overwhelming majority of people do not have
any problem with entering into dialogue with Armenia. Even the
terrible incidents that took place around 1915 and later the Armenian
Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) terrorist
organization’s assassinations of our diplomats did not change Turks’
positive feelings toward Armenians. Generally speaking, the remaining
Armenians did not face any hostility from Turks. Yet, the state’s
position is a completely different story.

Even by law they have not been treated as first-class citizens. The
Turkish state’s definition of a citizen has somehow — unofficially
and in practice — been limited to Muslims. Non-Muslim Turkish
citizens could never get sensitive bureaucratic positions. This is in
full contrast with the Ottoman experience. In terms of diversity and
tolerance, the Republic of Turkey is light years behind the Ottomans.

The state has always denied that there was any Armenian massacre
ordered by the state. I am not a historian and have not studied the
1915 incidents in detail, but whenever I — as an ordinary Turk —
think about the issue, the Turkish state’s treatment of its other
citizens instantly comes to my mind and my mind starts drawing
parallels. I know very well that this is not a scientific technique or
instrument utilized by historians, but not every Turk has to be a
historian and they can still have feelings, ideas and opinions on
certain matters.

Yes, whenever I start thinking about the Armenian issue and the 1915
incidents, the state’s treatment of Kurds in southeastern Turkey comes
to my mind. Banning their mother tongue is a prime example. Could
there be any bigger torture than that? Then I remember the thousands
of young people — leftists, rightists, Kurds — who were continuously
tortured in Turkish prisons just after the 1980 coup. Then I remember
how Turkey had to pay many thousands of dollars in compensation on
many occasions to our citizens of Kurdish ethnicity just because some
of our soldiers made them eat cow manure. Then I think that if some of
our administrators and bureaucrats could do all this to our citizens
in this day and age, then similar-minded Ottoman politicians,
administrators and bureaucrats would find it suitable to react to
Armenian hostilities — encouraged by the great powers and Russia —
by simply deciding to exile them to Syria without taking enough
precautions about health and safety issues.

Moreover, some "Ottoman Ergenekonians" could easily target these
civilians. My conscience and my reading of modern Turkey, including
the Ergenekon case, convince me that the Ergenekonian-like
ultra-patriots who think the country is in danger — and it was indeed
in danger — could easily massacre Armenian civilians and they would
not really need any legislation or document signed by a minister to do
that. I find it funny when our nationalist historians try to prove
that there are no documents signed by Ottoman authorities to order the
Armenian massacre. Did today’s Ergenekonians need such a document to
make Kurdish villagers eat cow manure or to kill many people?

ARF ACTIVISTS ORGANIZE TORCHLIT PROCESSION DURING ARMENIA-TURKEY
FOOTBALL MATCH

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. About 50 activists of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun lit torches at Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex to
Armenian Genocide Victims at 9 pm of August 6 – the start of the
qualifying match between the national football teams of Armenia and
Turkey – and held these torches until the end of the match. ARF member
Hayk Hovhannisian told NT correspondent that the purpose of this move
was to present once again the demand for the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide to Turkish President Abdullah Gul who had arrived in
Armenia to attend the match. "A. Gul is a guest but in general, guests
do no come barehanded. Prior to Gul’s visit, they (NT: Turks) should
have thought that they are coming to a country where they committed
genocide, besides, they are continuing Armenia’s blockade today," the
ARF representative said, adding that the aim of ARF activists’ move was
to remind Turkish president about the genocide – throughout his visit.

In connection with A. Gul’s visit, the ARF also staged protests at the
airport and outside the Armenian president’s residence in Baghramian
Avenue.

Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: [email protected]
web:

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Turkey expressed their determination on
comprehensive normalisation of bilateral relations
At midnight from September 6 to September 7 the meeting between Foreign
Ministers of Armenia and Turkey Edward Nalbandian and Ali Babajan started
off, which lasted two hours and a half.
Welcoming the guest, Minister Nalbandian mentioned that Armenia attaches
great importance the visit of high-ranking delegation, headed by the
President of Turkey, which creates good possibility for a dialogue between
the leadership of two countries. As Minister Nalbandian defined, it’s a good
beginning, which will have positive continuation.
Armenian Foreign Minister reaffirmed the principal position of the Armenian
side on to establish relations without preconditions. He also stressed, that
Armenia considers President Gul’s visit as a serious stimulus in that
direction.
Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers expressed their determination on
comprehensive normalization of bilateral relations. The two mentioned, that
consistent steps in that direction will be taken.
Ministers Nalbandian and Babajan agreed to meet later this month on the
sidelines UN General Assembly session in New-York.
Edward Nalbandian and Ali Babajan discussed in details Turkey’s initiative
to establish a Caucasus stability and cooperation platform. In this context
Minister Nalbandian welcomed that idea, which is aimed at establishment of
confidence, stability, security and cooperation in the region.
The two also touched upon recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process.
In the course of the meeting several international and regional issues were
also discussed.

Voice of America
Sept 6 2008

Turkish President in Armenia on Historic Trip

By Dorian Jones
Istanbul
06 September 2008

The Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in the Armenian capital
Yerevan, the first time a Turkish head of state has visited the
country. Mr. Gul was there to attend a soccer match he said could help
end almost a century of mutual hostility and aid security in the
broader Caucasus region. For VOA, Dorian Jones has this report from
Istanbul.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul (L) and Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisyan shake hands during their meeting in Yerevan, 06 Sep 2008

Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s jet arrived in Armenia on this
historical visit escorted by attack helicopters. Police and
demonstrators lined the traffic-free streets as his motorcade sped
through downtown Yerevan.

Ankara and Yerevan have no diplomatic ties but a relationship haunted
by the question of whether ethnic Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks
during World War One were victims of systematic genocide.

The director of Armenia’s National Genocide Museum, Hayk Demoyan,
hailed Mr. Gul’s visit, saying this could be a positive step in
talking about the issue of genocide.

"Armenians fighting for genocide recognition and for restoring the
rights of the survivors and descendants of the survivors is just part
of the global movement of prevention. So this is not anti-Turkish or
something against Turkish people," said Demoyan. "We also realize that
there a lot of problems in public memory and national memory of Turkey
and Turkish people. That’s why this is a matter of two people. We have
to talk, we have to agree, we have to negotiate."

But the controversy continues to fuel nationalist anger in both
countries.

President Gul was strongly criticized for agreeing to visit Armenia by
both the main Turkish opposition parties, who accused him of betraying
Turkey and its close ally Azerbaijan. Armenia is occupying a region of
Azerbaijani territory, which has resulted in Turkey enforcing a trade
embargo against Armenia since 1993, crippling the Armenian economy.

In Yerevan, reaction to Mr. Gul’s visit is mixed.

This man says Mr. Gul’s visit is of no importance. He says his team
will win in any case. He says he would like Mr. Gul to leave Armenia
in a bad mood, but only because his team has lost the game.

Another man has a more positive view.

He says he thinks that the meeting of the two presidents will discuss
problems which may help to normalize the Armenian-Turkish
relationship.

Turkish diplomatic sources have played down any expectations of a
breakthrough in bilateral relations. But experts say if Mr. Gul’s
visit passes off smoothly, it’s real success can be that it will open
the door to future dialogue.

L’Express, France
4 Septembre 2008

Le président turc à Erevan: l’opposition critique, la presse salue une
visite "historique"

AFP

La décision du président turc Abdullah Gül de se rendre samedi en
Arménie pour assister à un match de football a été saluée jeudi comme
une visite "historique" par les médias turcs tandis que l’opposition
parlementaire l’a critiquée avec force.

M. Gül se rendra à Erevan à l’invitation de son homologue arménien
Serge Sarkissian pour assister au match Arménie-Turquie de
qualification pour le Mondial 2010 de football, a annoncé mercredi
soir la présidence turque.

M. Gül sera le premier chef d’Etat turc à se rendre en Arménie, depuis
l’indépendance de ce pays en 1991, alors qu’un profond différend
oppose les deux nations sur la question du génocide arménien et
qu’elles n’ont pas de relations diplomatiques.

"Une visite effectuée dans le cadre de ce match est considérée comme
susceptible de créer un nouveau climat d’amitié dans la région. C’est
dans cette optique que notre président a accepté l’invitation", a
souligné la présidence.

Des diplomates turcs se sont rendus sur place mercredi pour préparer
la visite qui devrait éviter les questions litigieuses et se
concentrer surtout sur l’initiative turque de "plateforme de stabilité
et de coopération pour le Caucase" qui est censé réunir au vu du
conflit géorgien la Turquie, la Russie, la Géorgie, l’Arménie et
l’Azerbaïdjan, précise-t-on de source diplomatique.

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a qualifié la visite de
"positive", affirmant qu’un rejet de l’invitation arménienne aurait eu
pour effet de sacrifier le sport à la politique.

"La Turquie n’a rien à craindre de telles rencontres" car elle est
convaincue que sa position sur la question arménienne est solide, a
souligné M. Erdogan depuis Damas où il était en visite.

M. Erdogan a en outre rejeté les spéculations selon lesquelles le
voyage de Gül vexerait l’Azerbaïdjan turcophone et musulman avec
lequel la Turquie a d’étroites relations. Ankara a fermé sa frontière
avec l’Arménie en 1993 après le conflit entre Bakou et Erevan sur le
Haut-Karabagh.

La présidence française de l’Union européenne a salué jeudi la visite,
en espérant qu’elle "créera un climat favorable à la normalisation des
relations" des deux pays.

"Ce déplacement historique constitue un geste fort et encourageant
pour les relations entre l’Arménie et la Turquie", a déclaré le
porte-parole du ministère français des Affaires étrangères, Eric
Chevallier.

Alors que la presse turque a salué le caractère "historique" du voyage
qui ne devrait durer que quelques heures avec un tête-à-tête
Gül-Sarkissian, l’opposition turque a multiplié les critiques.

"Cette visite est totalement injustifiée alors que le peuple turc est
injustement accusé de manière mensongère d’avoir commis un génocide et
que l’Arménie ne montre aucun signe de renoncer à sa politique à cet
égard", a estimé le vice-président du parti nationaliste MHP, Tunca
Toskay.

"C’est un déplacement qui n’a pas lieu d’être. L’Arménie ne reconnaît
pas les frontières turques et accuse la Turquie d’avoir perpétré un
génocide", a souligné un responsable du CHP, la principale force
d’opposition au Parlement, Mustafa Özyürek.

Mais des commentateurs de presse ont vu dans cette "diplomatie du
football" l’occasion d’une certaine normalisation des liens
bilatéraux.

"La diplomatie du foot rappelle la +diplomatie du ping-pong+ en 1972
entre les Etats-Unis et la Chine", a souligné Cengiz Candar dans le
quotidien Radikal.

Erevan estime que les massacres d’Arméniens commis sous l’empire
Ottoman de 1915 à 1917 ont fait jusqu’à 1,5 million de morts et sont
un génocide, une position adoptée par plusieurs pays.

La Turquie rejette catégoriquement ce qualificatif tout en
reconnaissant des massacres après que les Arméniens eurent pris les
armes pour créer leur Etat indépendant.