Author: Nahapetian Samvel

WB SAYS POVERTY RATE IN ARMENIA ALMOST DOUBLES

news.az
Nov 18 2009
Azerbaijan

Poverty rate in Armenia has risen 2.8% in the second quarter of 2009
over the same period of 2008 from 25.6% to 28.4%, WB’s chief economist
in the sphere of social maintenance Liri Ersado told a presentation of
WB’s preliminary research: "Armenia: poverty and social implications
of the world economic crisis".

According to him, the crisis has temporarily hampered the stable
development of Armenia of the recent nine years and the processes of
preventing poverty. According to the expert, the concerns are not
about the growth in poverty but also about the missed opportunity
of preventing poverty from influencing a fourth part of the Armenian
population.

According to Ersado, the misery level in Armenia has almost doubled
from 3.6% in the second quarter of 2008 to 6.9% in the second quarter
of 2009.

SCPEC FIXED TENDENCIES OF INCREASING PRICES ON CONSUMER MARKET

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.11.2009 13:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As a result of recent research conducted on consumer
market, State Committee for the Protection of Economic Competition
has observed tendencies of increasing prices on products of social
importance, particularly on petroleum, diesel fuel, vegetable oil,
egg and sugar.

"We are certainly concerned by increased prices on consumer market. It
is planned to start administrative proceedings against those markets,"
chairman of Committee David Harutyunyan said.

To find out and prevent unreasonable increase of prices on
above-mentioned products, especially ahead of New Year holidays,
Committee recommended entrepreneurs to submit relevant justifications
between November 20 and December 31, 2009.

TURKEY STRIVES FOR RAPPROCHEMENT WITH ARMENIA: DAVUTOGLU

news.am
Nov 16 2009
Armenia

16:48 / 11/16/2009Turkey strives for normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu restated in the
course of his official visit to Spain. He delivered a speech at the
conference on international security issues and expressed confidence
that European history was made due to the disclosure of Ottoman Empire
archives, Turkish Zaman daily reports.

Referring to the Iranian uranium enrichment on the territory of
Turkey, Turkish FM outlined the country is against nuclear weapons
in general, however considers the Iran’s nuke program for the sake
of peace maintenance.

Spanish Secretary of State for EU affairs Diego Lopez Garrido also
made a speech at the conference saying Spain supports Turkey’s full
membership to EU.

BOOKS ON BRONZE AGE ARMENIAN MILITARY ART PUBLISHED IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 16:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the afternoon of November 17, RA Defense
Ministry’s administrative complex will host Armenian Genocide Museum
Director Hayk Demoyan’s "Bronze Age military art in Armenia" and
"Military art and wars in Armenia" two-volume edition presentation.

The event will be attended by RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, RA
Armed Forces’ senior officials and scientific circles’ representatives,
RA Defense Ministry press service reported.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION PROCESS INTENSIFIED IN ISRAEL

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 11:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A large number of political observers suppose that
tensions between Israel and Turkey can lead to recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by Tel Aviv.

"The issue has acquired quite a different coloring lately. I formed
and headed Israel-Armenia parliamentary friendship group in 1999.

Knesset members Yuri Stern and Zeev Elkin have also done much to
advance the process," Alexander Tsinker, director of East European
States & CIS. Institute, member of the Knesset in 1999-2003, told
PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Unfortunately, the RA leadership disregards the Armenian community in
Israel. Meanwhile, positive results can be achieved through formation
of correct public opinion. As an optimist, I am hopeful that I will
see Israel pass a law on recognition of the Armenian Genocide one day,"
he said.

Independent: Armenia emerging from troubled times
15.11.2009 17:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Independent has published an article titled
"Armenia’s latest struggle – the battle for tourists."

"This country is emerging from troubled times. The ceasefire is
holding with Azerbaijan and the border with Turkey is due to reopen.
Now it’s welcoming new visitors," Mark Leftly writes in his article,
which goes on:

"Armenia and its easterly neighbor, Azerbaijan, are technically still
at war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Most importantly, Armenia’s
old enemy to the west, Turkey, supported Azerbaijan and closed its
330km (205 mile) long border with the land-locked country. Finally, in
October, some real progress was made on economic and diplomatic
co-operation between the countries, with the signing of protocols that
will soon open up a common border.

A result of cultural and religious tension, the genocide is generally
said to have started in 1915 in the wake of divided Armenian loyalties
in the First World War. The museum’s fluent English-speaking guide
shows me exhibits related to Armenians who had won Olympic medals for
the Ottomans in 1912, and then a gruesome photograph of their
countrymen being hanged by that empire in Aleppo four years later.
There are proclamations condemning genocide from international
leaders, including a recent letter from California governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger.

Turkey denies Armenia’s version of events, and it is this that divides
Yerevan today. Unless Turkey acknowledges the genocide, many Armenians
do not want to sign any agreement with their old enemy. Interestingly,
the museum’s guide does not take this view. "It is natural for
neighbors to have good relations in a global world," it says."

RA NA DELEGATION ALSO TO TAKE PART IN PROCEEDINGS OF NATO PA ANNUAL SESSION TO BE HELD IN EDINBURGH

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The 55th annual session of NATO
Parliamentary Assembly will be convened between November 13 to 17 in
Edinburgh (Scotland). In addition to 14 countries having the status
of associated member, RA NA’s delegation will also take part in
the session.

According to Noyan Tapan correspondent’s information, RPA faction
members Karen Avagian and Artak Zakarian, Zharangutiun (Heritage)
faction head Styopa Safarian are included in the delegation.

It should be mentioned that Artak Zakarian receiving a deputy mandate
last month replaced ARFD faction representative Artur Aghabekian in the
delegation. A. Aghabekian was also the head of the Armenian delegation.

AMBASSADOR OF RA TO ITALY MEETS ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF MILAN

Noyan Tapan
Nov 12, 2009

MILAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ambassador of
Armenia to Italy Rouben Karapetian visited Milan lately and met the
Armenian community. The Ambassador spoke about the new policy of the
Republic of Armenia during the meeting held at the Armenian House,
in the center of the city. As Pietro Kuciukian informed Hayern Aysor,
the Ambassador met another time the community at the Armenian church.

COMPETITION OF YOUNG RAILROADERS HELD IN SCR

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.11.2009 18:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Competition, attended by about 35 employees of
railway , who won local contests in all regions of Armenia, was
organized November 12 in the head office of the South Caucasus
Railways.

The competition was held in quiz format, and questions relating to
railroaders’ daily work had been submitted to participants.

The winners were awarded valuable gifts. Jury highly appreciated
the participants’ knowledge and expressed the hope that similar
competitions will be held regularly.

MEETING IN THE NA STANDING COMMITTEE

National Assembly
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

On November 11 Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations Mr. Armen Rustamyan received Ambassador of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Mr. Charles Lonsdale.

Welcoming the Ambassador Mr. Armen Rustamyan highlighted the necessity
of activating and developing the relations between such committees of
the parliaments of the two countries, partnership of parliamentary
friendship groups and cooperation in international structures. The
guest was interested in the further procedure of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols, which was signed in Zurich. In this context Mr. Armen
Rustamyan gave information on the procedure of the ratification
of the agreements in the Armenian parliament. Mr. Rustamyan said
that the committee led by him organized parliamentary hearings on
Armenian-Turkish relations and initiated protocols. He expressed his
concern on some wordings in the signed document, noting that Armenia,
in general, is for the opening of the borders without preconditions.

During the meeting the sides discussed issues concerning the NK
problem, Armenian-Georgian relations and other issues too.