Author: Nanijanian Alex

EU INSISTS THAT TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER OPENING TO PROMOTE REGION’S SAFETY

Azerbaijan Business Center
May 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Azerbaijan-based European Union representative
office has disseminated statement following the Baku visit of Peter
Semneby, the EU special representative for the South Caucasus, on
19-20 May 2009.

It was reported that as part of his regular consultations with the
Azerbaijani authorities, Mr. Semneby met with several officials of
the government, including President Ilham Aliyev and foreign minister
Elmar Mammadiyarov.

He also discussed with the Azerbaijani authorities the Eastern
Partnership programme signed by the EU and six countries of its
Eastern European Neighbourhood last 7 May in Prague.

The Eastern Partnership will create opportunities for a stronger
bilateral relationship between the EU and with the participating
countries, in particular through the planned negotiation of association
agreements. It will also create opportunities for developing regional
cooperation through regional platforms for governance issues, economic
cooperation, energy issues, and people-to-people contacts.

Mr. Semneby also covered the Turkish-Armenian normalisation process
and its implications for Azerbaijan. He outlined the EU’s vision of the
South Caucasus, where the opening of all borders would enhance regional
security and permit the region to develop its full economic potential.

The issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement was also
touched upon by the EU special representative during the visit. The EU
supports the work now being conducted by the three co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk group. Mr. Semneby shares the hope of the mediators that
the forthcoming Saint Petersburg meeting between the Presidents will
be a new opportunity for the sides to bring their positions closer.

The EU special representative welcomed the signing by Azerbaijan
of the Prague Southern Corridor Summit Declaration. In particular,
the Declaration will create opportunities to move forward the
energy cooperation between the European Union and its Eastern
neighbours. Azerbaijan is playing a fundamental role in the EU’s energy
relations, not least for its efforts to diversify energy sources and
transport routes.

RA IS INTERESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-NORWEGIAN RELATIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.05.2009 20:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today newly appointed Norwegian Ambassador
to Armenia, Knut Hug (residence in Moscow), presented copies
of credentials to RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. Edward
Nalbandian noted that Armenia is interested in the development of
Armenian-Norwegian relations. The parties emphasized the importance of
political dialogue development between the countries, intensification
of trade and economic relations, collaboration between international
organizations. The parties exchanged views on a number of regional
and international issues, RA MFA Press Service reported.

ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANK REVISES GDP FORECAST DOWNWARD

Interfax
May 19 2009
Russia

The Central Bank of Armenia said in a new forecast that the nation’s
GDP will decline 5.8% in 2009, according to the bank’s fiscal policy
program for the second quarter of 2009.

The Central Bank previously forecast GDP to decline 3% in 2009.

The forecast includes a 3% contraction in the agricultural sector,
4.5%-7% in industry, and 15%-19% in construction, while the service
sector will expand 2.5%.

Inflation will amount to 4% plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.

That is down from the earlier inflation forecast of 5.9%.

Economic trends at the end of 2009 and early 2010 will depend on
developments in the global economy as well as the pace and scope of
government anti-crisis measures, the document says.

It was reported earlier that Armenian GDP fell 6.1% in the first
quarter of 2009 compared with growth of 8.8% in the same period
of 2008.

The 2009 budget assumes the economy will grow 9.2% in 2009 and
inflation will equal 4% plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. So far
the government has not announced plans to revise those parameters.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts Armenian GDP to contract 5%
in 2009, the largest drop among the Trans-Caucasus and Central Asian
nations (previously the IMF forecast GDP to decline 1.5% in 2009).

Growth will be nil in 2010 and positive in 2011, the IMF said.

PETER SEMNEBY: "EUROPEAN UNION HOPES IMPROVEMENT WILL BE MADE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SETTLEMENT OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

APA
May 19 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Viktoria Dementieva – APA. Special representative of the European
Union for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby met with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
APA reports.

Peter Semneby told journalists that they had discussed the relations
between Azerbaijan and the European Union, particularly Eastern
Partnership declaration, South corridor agreement signed in Prague,
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Turkey’s role in the region,
visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baku.

"Eastern Partnership declaration and South corridor agreement
signed on May 7-8 are very important documents, these documents
form splendid basis for future relations between Azerbaijan and the
European Union. Eastern Partnership offers new opportunities for
the participating countries in bilateral relations with the European
Union," he said.

Taking a stance on the simplification of visa regime and free trade
opportunities with the European Union envisaged in the Eastern
Partnership program, Semneby said any country wishing to establish
free trade relations with Europe should be the member of the World
Trade Organization.

"I hope Azerbaijan will soon become the member of this organization.

We hope the negotiations will be ended successfully". Peter Semneby
said the easing of visa regime was described in the Eastern Partnership
Program and it would be discussed soon.

The EU Representative said he hoped for progress in the negotiation
process over the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. "We support
the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and hope that the progress will
be achieved in the negotiation process. This is important phase for
the European Union. EU can contribute to this process. We will do
that as soon as possible. Our contribution will be in the capacity
of support to the Minsk Group, OSCE efforts. We will not do anything
independently. It is very important to coordinate the efforts of the
international community. We have more opportunities like the creation
of atmosphere of confidence. There is unused potential".

Semneby said normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations and the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict were two different processes,
which have an effect on each other. "It needs to provide their positive
effect on each other".

NKR PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN PAYS A WORKING VISIT TO YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.05.2009 17:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On 17 April NKR President Bako Sahakyan left for
Yerevan with a working visit. Within the frameworks of the visit the
Head of the State will take part in the meeting of the "Hayastan" All
Armenian Fund board, Central Information Department at NKR President
Office reported.

REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA EMBASSY TO SYRIA MOVED TO NEW BUILDING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.05.2009 21:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On April 16, Syrian Government provided
Armenian Embassy with a new four-storey building situated
in a Western quarter of Damascus. Embassy staff moved to the
new building back on May 15, RA Ministry Press Service reports

UKRAINE TO INVESTIGATE CRIMEAN TATAR DEPORTATION
By Peter Fedynsky

Voice of America
May 18 2009

The State Security Service of Ukraine is establishing a special unit
to investigate Stalin-era crimes against Crimean Tatars, who are
commemorating the 65th anniversary of their mass deportation from
Crimea. The investigation will also look into the forced deportation
of other ethnic groups from the peninsula during World War II.

The head of the Ukrainian State Security Service, Valentyn
Nalyvaichenko, announced the creation of the special investigative
unit in the Crimean capital, Simferopol. Nalyvaichenko said Ukrainian
President Viktor Yushchenko ordered the creation of the unit to
investigate crimes involving the repression and destruction of Crimean
Tatars under the Soviet Union.

Stalin-era deportation kills tens of thousands of Tatars, Soviets
deny charges

Deportation of as many as 200,000 Crimean Tatar men, women and children
began on May 18, 1944. They were accused of Nazi collaboration, placed
in train cattle cars and sent to Central Asia. Tens of thousands
perished along the way, and others died of malnutrition or disease
soon after arriving. In 1967, the Soviet government said the charges
were false.

The investigation will cover the deportation era and the years
that preceded it. The Ukrainian State Security Service has also
declassified Soviet documents related to the execution of Crimean Tatar
intelligentsia members. Nalyvaichenko says the forced deportation of
innocent Armenians, Bulgarians, Germans and others from Crimea will
also be investigated.

Mustafa Dzhemilev, Crimean Tatar leader Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa
Dzhemilev told VOA he welcomes the Ukrainian decision, but notes the
purpose of the investigation is not to capture or punish anyone.

Dzhemilev says those directly responsible for the deportation are no
longer alive. But he says it is important to see the full picture of
the crime, and for society to know it was in fact a crime, because
that will help in the overall recovery of society.

Leader says Crimean Tatars should have education in their native
language

Crimean Tatars were allowed to return to their homeland in the
late 1980s and about a quarter-million have done so. There are now
about 300,000 Tatars in Crimea, about 12 percent of the peninsula’s
population.

But Mustafa Dzhemilev says no laws have been passed to reinstate the
social and legal rights of Crimean Tatars. He also warns the culture
and language of his people can disappear within decades if nothing
is done to revive education in the native language.

Tens of thousands participated in a rally Monday in Simferopol marking
the 65th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar deportation.

THE RA GOVERNMENT COMMISSION ON COORDINATION OF RELIEF PROGRAMS MET, CHAIRED BY HEAD OF COMMISSION SIMON TER-SIMONYAN

Friday, 15 May 2009

The commission discussed 19, including: Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund-financed programs for water supply system reconstruction in
Dzoramut village of Lori marz, furnishing of the Nernadzor village
school in Syunik marz, air conditioning system installation for
a covered swimming pool in Gyumri, furnishing of schools in the
Republic of Armenia and the NKR, import of pipes for construction
of water pipelines in Metz Taghlar, Azokh and Drakhtik villages of
Hadrut region of the NKR and copyright control programs.

The meeting further discussed a number of projects sponsored by
the Holy See of St Echmiadzin: installation and repair of heating
systems in the Patriarchal apartments, administrative premises and the
Vazgenian school of Sevan, as well as site improvement and installation
of external and internal electric supply systems.

Also, there have been approved: an Armavir Diocese of the Holy
Apostolic Church of Armenia-implemented project for construction
of a church in Kesaria village of Armavir marz, a World Vision
International-financed program for heating system installation in
preschool establishment No. 20 in Gyumri, organization of farming-
and business-related training courses for the inhabitants of Talin
region communities, drinking water-main construction in Suser=2
0and New Artik communities of Aragatsotni marz., the Armenia Jewish
community’s relief program for 2009-2010.

The purpose of the Karavan-88 charitable organization-funded
Strengthening of 6 communities program is to activate youth in
Dprabak, Aigut, Kalavan, Brepat, Zoravank and Antaramej communities of
Gegharkunik marz through seminars, training courses and dissemination
of craft knowledge. The "Technology commercialization and licensing"
program, carried out by the National Research and Advanced Technology
Foundation seeks to familiarize Armenian researchers and teachers
with commercialization and licensing processes.

The meeting has also discussed and approved several sub-programs
under the standing ones, as well as projects on import of charitable
freight destined to various organizations operational in Armenia.

ARMENIA’S CENTRAL BANK DEFINED 7.25 PER CENT REFINANCING INTEREST RATE

ARKA
May 15, 2009

Yerevan, May 15, Noyan Tapan. Armenia’s Central Bank Council reduced
the refinancing interest rate by 0.25 percentage point to 7.25
per cent.

As the CB public relation department reported, the council of the
central bank stated 3.2 per cent of price growth was recorded in April
of 2009 against March, the price growth within 12 month reached 3.1
per cent.

The Council of the CB stated that current inflationary developments
are mainly relevant to the directions for the forecasted period.

According to the CB PR department, since the second quarter of 2009
the inflation pace, as expected, began to accelerate. However, the
inflation pace will not surpass the upper target within forecasted
period.

Concurrently, further inflation tendency will be conditioned by
indirect impact of the rate increase for main utility services within
this April. In addition to it, the inflation growth will be affected
by continuing process of price adjustment for imported goods, which
started due to dram devaluation in the beginning of this March.

GDP rate, lower than balanced level for the forecasted period, and
outer deflation environment soften the influence of the mentioned
factors on the regular level of prices.

USD SHARE PRICE TOTALS 374,5 AMD/$1 USD ON MAY 15

ArmInfo
2009-05-15 18:13:00

ArmInfo. 12 lots worth a total of $1,100 mln (411,950 mln AMD) were
sold at today’s currency auctions at the Armenian Exchange (NASDAQ OMX)
at the average exchange rate of 374,5 AMD/$1 USD.

Demand totaled $700 thsd with supply being $500 thsd. The best demand
price was 374,25 AMD/$1 USD (the average price – 373,65 AMD/$1 USD),
the best price of an offer was 374,5 AMD/$1 USD (average price –
374,73 AMD/$1 USD).

The opening, closing, minimal and maximal prices for USD totaled
374,5 AMD/$1 USD.

In General, from January 8 up to May 15, 2009 inclusive, $566,885
million were sold at ArmEx, with the average exchange rate of the
transactions for this period of time growing from 305 AMD/$1 to 374,5
AMD/$1 USD. The maximal transactions were registered on January 8 –
146 lots worth a total of $33.822 million (10.315 billion AMD) at
the exchange rate of 305 AMD/$1 USD.

The minimal transactions were registered on March 30 – 1 lot worth
a total of $ 100 thsd (37.100 million AMD) at the exchange rate of
371 AMD/$1 USD.