Author: Maghakian Mike

ARMENIA, TURKEY NOT READY TO ESTABLISH DEEP RELATIONS
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
11.09.2009 17:32

"It’s quite possible that neither Turkey nor Armenia wanted or were
ready to establish deep relations," expert of the Armenian Center of
National and International Studies (ACNIS) Manvel Sargsyan said at a
round-table discussion today. According to him, the improvement of
the Armenian-Turkish relations was dictated by the serious changes
in international relations.

"The Armenian-Turkish relations should be possibly views as some local
project of the Russian-Turkish or Turkish-American relations. Even
today it is obvious that Turkey has no wish to get involved in
an immediate dialogue with Armenia. It seems that all questions
are being discussed and all decisions are being taken jointly with
superpowers, and Armenia is imposed to accept this or that decision,"
Manvel Sargsyan said.

According to the expert, Armenia does not come forth with proposals,
while it has to make its own suggestions if it wants to improve
relations.

"Turkey suggests establishing diplomatic relations and opening of
the border. But it’s not clear what Armenia suggests. It has just
said there are no preconditions."

The expert considers that Turkey’s willingness to establish relations
with Armenia may mean two things: either there are unwritten agreements
or it has been dictated by superpowers, and Turkey has no other
way out.

Vardan Khachatryan said the Armenian people face a great danger,
since agreements are concluded behind Armenia’s back: Russia and the
West are trying to solve the issues of their energy carriers.

HOVHANNES IGITYAN: TURKEY LINKS ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS TO KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.09.2009 13:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey does link Armenian-Turkish relations to
Karabakh issue, according to Hovhannes Igityan, Armenian National
Movement board member and former chairman of parliamentary external
relations committee.

"The protocols mention of regional stability. Furthermore, Turkish
Foreign Ministry said that it ‘welcomes normalization of bilateral
relations’ and that ‘Armenia will finally resolve the Karabakh
problem’," Igityan said.

"Armenian Foreign Ministry should make a statement that normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations has no connection with regional stability
and Karabakh process," he added.

ACCORDING TO IMF FORECASTS, ECONOMIC RECESSION IN ARMENIA TO MAKE 10-15% THIS YEAR

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. By forecasts of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), the economic recession will make 10-15% in Armenia
this year, IMF Resident Representative in Armenia Nienke Oomes said
during a meeting with reporters on September 9.

(By the way, 10-15% recession in 2009 was also forecast by the Armenian
minister of finance).

She said that the review of Armenia’s economic indices is still under
way, but nevertheless, they agree to the government’s opinion that a
slight economic growth may be recorded in the country next year. The
IMF forecasts that the level of inflation will also be quite low – 3%.

N. Oomes said some positive tendencies have already been observed
in Armenia’s economy, in particular real estate prices are going
up. "This is important because the decline of the economy by two
thirds was due to the reduction of construction volumes," she noted.
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From: [email protected]
Subject: According to IMF forecasts, economic recession in Armenia to make 10-15%
this year

According to IMF forecasts, economic recession in Armenia to make
10-15% this year

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. By forecasts of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), the economic recession will make 10-15% in Armenia
this year, IMF Resident Representative in Armenia Nienke Oomes said
during a meeting with reporters on September 9.

(By the way, 10-15% recession in 2009 was also forecast by the Armenian
minister of finance).

She said that the review of Armenia’s economic indices is still under
way, but nevertheless, they agree to the government’s opinion that a
slight economic growth may be recorded in the country next year. The
IMF forecasts that the level of inflation will also be quite low – 3%.

N. Oomes said some positive tendencies have already been observed in
Armenia’s economy, in particular real estate prices are going up. "This
is important because the decline of the economy by two thirds was due
to the reduction of construction volumes," she noted.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN YEREVAN AND ANKARA SHOULD CONTAIN ELEMENTS ELIMINATING CONSEQUENCES OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2009 19:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Any agreement signed between Yerevan and Ankara
should contain elements eliminating consequences of Armenian
Genocide, said Hayk Demoyan, Director of Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute. "Currently, there are minimum two elements of
that kind. First, Turkey should not create obstacles for clarifying
relationship ties. There are many examples when people tried to find
one another through blood relations. That’s one of reasons causing
anxiety to Turkish side which perfectly realizes that generation
change eventually leading to elimination of relationship ties is
still in process," the speaker said.

The second element which will hold Turkey accountable and eliminate
consequences of Armenian Genocide is compliance with clauses prescribed
by Lausanne agreement, Demoyan finds. "That’s to say, elimination of
Armenian cultural heritage on Turkish territory. That’s a violation
of existing agreements, including Lausanne Treaty. In that connection,
it is necessary to set up a fact-finding group with the involvement of
a third party which will register all Armenian monuments situated in
Turkey. Under Lausanne Treaty, Turkey committed itself to restoring
Christians church complexes and returning them to their owners If we
are able to submit to any committee, including International Court,
concrete examples and facts demanding liability, Turkey will be obliged
not only to restore those monument but also return them to community,"
Hayk Demoyan noted.

At this point, a question arises as to whether those monuments should
be returned to Constantinople community or the Armenians who can
return to Turkey and create communities there. "Under European law,
Turkey’s resistance to return Armenians to their native land is a
serious violation that may create serious problems for the country,"
Director of Genocide Museum-Institute stated.

ARMENIA FOR FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 7 2009
Armenia

Armenia-Turkey negotiations aim to establish bilateral relations,
RA President Serzh Sargsyan said at the joint press conference with
his Croatian counterpart Stjepan Mesic.

Sargsyan stated that the two countries initiated a new phase of
internal consultations over the issued Protocols (the ‘Protocol on
the establishment of diplomatic relations’ and the ‘Protocol on the
development of bilateral relations’).

According to him, "Extended discussions should be held to get the
whole picture" before the actual ratification. "I am confident that
presently everything depends on the foresight and will of political
forces and first of all the leaders. Either we lay a road in the new
South Caucasus or contradictions, distrust and enmity will aggravate in
the region. I hope we will choose the right way," emphasized Sargsyan.

RA President is on a 2-day official visit to Croatia.

PACE PRESIDENT COMMANDED

olitics&pid=15062
12:51:24 – 03/09/2009

The PACE president Luis Maria de Puig commanded the Armenian-Turkish
protocols released on August 31.

"This is a step for which the PACE has waited for long and has worked
around it. The PACE where the Armenian and Turkish parliamentarians
work is ready to help with any issue which will promote the progress
between both countries. I am looking forward to the ratification of
the protocols by the parliaments of both countries which will testify
a new, bright day in the relations of the two CoE member countries",
says Puig

SERZH SARGSYAN APPOINTED ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO KOREA AND VIETNAM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.09.2009 13:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On September 3, RA President Serzh Sargsyan signed
a decree on appointing Armen Sargsyan as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary in People’s Republic of China (PRC) and part-time
Ambassador in South Korea and Vietnam. Residence of Ambassador to
the three republics is situated in Beijing.

ARMENIA SAYS INGA AND ANUSH WILL NOT GIVE CONCERT IN TURKEY

APA
Sept 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. "Inga and Anush Arshakyan will not give a concert in
Turkey", said their producer, associate director of Charm Company
Natalya Kazanchyan, APA reports. PR manager of the singers Anna
Ovannisyan said they didn’t receive official invitation for the
concert. She said they didn’t receive even online invitation.

Turkish participant of Eurovision 2009 Hadise acikgoz said that she
invited Armeian singers to Turkey and they would sing a song before
the football match between Turkey and Armenia in Bursa Ataturk stadium
on October 14.

ELDAR SABIROGLU: "IF POLITICAL TALKS FAIL, OUR ARMY WILL FULFILL ITS DUTIES"

APA
Sept 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Hafiz Heydarov – APA. "Armenian Armed Forces violated ceasefire
199 times in the past two months," spokesman for Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry Eldar Sabiroglu said at the press conference,
APA reports. He said Azerbaijani Army is the strongest army in the
Caucasus, large-scale exercises proved it.

"Our army is improving. Our target is to liberate our occupied
territories. Political talks are being held at present, and we are
hopeful concerning the results. Otherwise, our army will fulfill
its duties. Provision of the military units with modern weapons and
military equipment, battle readiness of our soldiers give reason to
say this," he said.

STRENGTHENING OF DOLLAR IN ARMENIA DURING LAST TWO MONTHS RELATES TO ACTIVITY OF ECONOMIC ENTITIES

ARKA
Sep 3, 2009

YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. Dollar appreciation in Armenia is due
to the increase in economic activity of economic entities the past
two months.

This opinion was expressed to ARKA by the main dealer of Cascade Bank
Arsen Sargsyan.

"The supply exceeded the demand for the dollar, and as a result of
this the dollar in the country gradually rose to the level that we
have now," he said.

Sargsyan considers that it is not necessary to perceive an increase
in the rate of 3% as painful.

To the question whether the dollar will go beyond the planned corridor
of the Central Bank of Armenia of 360-380 drams per $ 1, Sargsyan
said that it depends on how the stabilizing factors will work.

In his opinion, the economic activity in Armenia in September will
increase, in regards with the Armenian exporters, particularly in
the mining sector.

The cash flow is going to increase, resulting in an increase in
selling currency by these companies.

At last, according to Sargsyan, this may help to stabilize the
exchange market.

The second stabilizing factor is the possibility of the Central Bank
of Armenia to use such tools as direct intervention.

"This is a subjective opinion, since it is difficult to suggest what
steps the Central Bank would make", he said, having foreseen that
the dollar will remain in that corridor CB.

According to ARKA News Agency, the average market exchange rate of
the Armenian dram to the dollar, which was formed in the foreign
exchange market amounted to 376.03 drams for $ 1 on September 1 2009,
down to the first of July of this year by 16.05 points (as of July
1 the rate was 359.98 drams per $ 1, on August 3 is was 370.53 drams).

After March 3rd, 2009 Armenia’s Central Bank announced a return to
a floating exchange rate policy.

The market average rate of drama to the U.S. dollar fell to 66.36
points compared to March 2nd and amounted to 372.11 drams for $ 1.

According to specialists of the CBA, the weighted average rate in
2009 will fluctuate in the corridor 360 – 380 drams for $ 1. ($ 1 –
376.06 dram).