Author: nina hovnanian

CARREFOUR MUST BE REPRESENTED ON ARMENIAN MARKET – PM

TERT.AM
20:28 ~U 06.02.13

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Wednesday that the government is
committed to do everything possible to enable the French Hypermarket
chain Carrefour to launch its business in Armenia.

“The Armenian government is strongly interested to see Carrefour
represented on the Armenian market. The products it delivers around
the world are important in terms of promoting competitiveness in any
economy,” he told reporters.

The Carrefour center was expected to open in Yerevan’s Dalma Garden
Mall, but later media reports said the company declined the deal
after meeting obstacles.

As for the earlier agreement between the companies (Carrefour and
Dalma Garden Mall), Sargsyan said the deal concerned only the relations
between two private entities. “They have to work in the legal domain,
trying to find mutual solutions,” he answered. “What we learned of
the Carrefour representative was they did not have an agreement,
but just a memorandum about plans and work in accordance with that
memorandum. The two private companies may come to terms upon having
an agreement or solve the issue in court.”

Sargsyan denied the reports that the French company met obstacles
in Armenia. “They are very thankful that we offer our assistance as
a government. The only problem was between two sides of the private
sector. So it is not correct of the government to start making comments
to back either of the parties,” the premier added.

NEITHER NKR NOR ARMENIA HAVE EVER POLITICIZED OPENING OF STEPANAKERT AIRPORT. EDWARD NALBANDIAN

20:22, 6 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: Neither Nagorno-Karabakh Republic nor
Armenian Republic have ever politicized and are not politicizing the
opening of Stepanakert airport. Armenpress reports this was declared
by Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian referring to the
observation of news.am as if recently several European deputies had
expressed their concern over the opening of Stepanakert airport which
might undermine negotiation process.

“If those two-three deputies are really concerned about negotiation
process they should at least be interested in the process, be aware
of the approaches of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. And what about,
Co-Chairs they have numerously urged to refrain from using force or
threat of force against civil aircrafts and that the issue of the
airport should not be politicized. Who is threatening? Azerbaijan. Who
is politicizing? Azerbaijan and those who are making statements with
its support. If those deputies are really concerned about regional
security and stability than why they have never been concerned about
bellicose rhetoric and policy of Azerbaijan? What were those deputies
saying at the time of notorious deal over Safarov? They either kept
silence or justified Azerbaijan while the whole world was condemning
Baku. Why do those deputies behave this way? I guess the answer is
obvious for all of us. Our position over this issue is firm- neither
NKR nor Armenia have ever politicized opening of Stepanakert airport.

This airport is only for humanitarian and civil purpose,” Minister
said.

TURKEY MAY BE DIVIDED BY 2030, A KURDISH STATE COULD BECOME A REALITY: U.S. INTELLIGENCE REPORT 11.12.2012

Map: Ekurd.net ~U See Related Articles December 11, 2012

WASHINGTON,- A new report from the U.S. National Intelligence council
claims the possible formation of Kurdistan state by 2030.

The report by the National Intelligence Council said that greater
pressures on Turkish territorial integrity could be the main impetus
behind the emergence of a Kurdish state, together with greater
fragmentation of Iraq and Syria.

“In event of a more fragmented Iraq or Syria, a Kurdistan would not
be inconceivable,” said the report, released Tuesday.

One of six scenarios presented in the report consisted of a rising
Kurdistan, which in turn affects Turkey’s territorial unity by carrying
a risk of separation.

Turkey will also play an increasing role in the international arena
and will have a wider influence in global affairs, the report said.

The report suggested that European countries should keep the
possibility of Turkey’s accession going, as well as the negotiations.

The National Intelligence Council’s Office of the Director of National
Intelligence report called “Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds”
said the division may happen until 2030.

Currently, Kurds in Turkey fighting for a separate homeland are in
the offensive since July led by the separatist Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK).

The predicted Kurdistan may include Kurdish regions in Iraq, Syria
and Iran, according to the report.

Since it was established in 1984, the PKK has been fighting the
Turkish state, which still denies the constitutional existence of
Kurds, to establish a Kurdish state in the south east of the country.

By 2012, more than 45,000 people have since been killed.

But now its aim is the creation an autonomous region and more cultural
rights for ethnic Kurds who constitute the greatest minority in
Turkey. A large Turkey’s Kurdish community, numbering to 25 million,
openly sympathise with PKK rebels.

The PKK wants constitutional recognition for the Kurds, regional
self-governance and Kurdish-language education in schools.

Turkey refuses to recognize its Kurdish population as a distinct
minority. It has allowed some cultural rights such as limited
broadcasts in the Kurdish language and private Kurdish language courses
with the prodding of the European Union, but Kurdish politicians say
the measures fall short of their expectations.

The PKK is considered as ‘terrorist’ organization by Ankara, U.S. Also
the PKK continues to be on the blacklist list in EU despite court
ruling which overturned a decision to place the Kurdish rebel group
PKK and its political wing on the European Union’s terror list.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VOWS TO CUT POVERTY RATE BY 5 PERCENT THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, February 6. / ARKA /. An Armenian presidential candidate,
former prime minister Hrant Bagratyan, promised to reduce the poverty
rate by 5 percent in 2013 by introducing progressive taxation scale.

According to his election program, this and some other measures will
cut poverty rate by 15-35% by 2017, while extreme poverty rate will
slash to below 2%.

According to official numbers of the National Statistical Service
(ArmStat), the poverty rate in Armenia in 2011 stood at 35%. Money
remittances from labor migrants made a significant part of households’
income, although they accounted for a small proportion of GDP.

However, if no remittances are sent the poverty rate would rise to
53.2%, and the consumption deficit relative to the poverty line would
increase from an average 7.9% to 21.2%.

Bagratyan argues that at the beginning of 2012, some 52% of Armenia’s
economy was controlled by 44 families, 26% were owned by 220,000
rural households and 65,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, 19%
by Russia and 3% by other countries. Bagratyan says more than half
of the Armenian economy is monopolized.

Bagratyan calls also for revision of antitrust laws which he says is
instrumental for eliminating monopolies and oligarchies. He says 50-90%
of the profits of monopoly must go to the state budget.

Mr. Bagratyan is also convinced that it is necessary to publish the
lists of privatized companies which fail to fulfil their contractual
obligations – the law must provide for mechanisms to levy additional
taxes form such enterprises.

In order to stimulate the development of small and medium business
Bagratyan offers to set up in 2013-2017 in Armenia and NKR at least
two dozens innovation centers, technology parks and laboratories.

Hrant Bagratyan served as prime minister of Armenia in 1993-1995. He
promoted the first generation of market reforms in the country and
oversaw price liberalization, privatization of land, trade and service
facilities, most of the food and light industries, reform of the tax,
customs and banking sectors. -0-

ARMENIA’S JUSTICE MINISTER: THERE ARE NO LEGAL GROUNDS FOR LEASING PASTURES IN SYUNIK REGION TO IRANIANS

ARMINFO
Wednesday, February 6, 17:38

The memorandum of mutual understanding between the Iranian province of
East Azerbaijan and the Armenian Syunik region saying that pastures in
Syunik can be leased to Iranians for five years has no legal basis,
Armenia’s Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan said in the parliament on
Wednesday.

He said that the lands can be committed to trust but only on a
competitive basis. “Here we are dealing with inter-state relations,
so, we need an inter-state agreement – something we don’t have. So,
there is no legal basis for this memorandum,” Tovmasyan said.

His words did not convince the MP from the ARFD Aghvan Vardanyan
though. “Couldn’t you call that governor and ask him, who do you think
you are to sign such documents on behalf of the government?” he said.

According to Armenia’s Territorial Administration Ministry, no
specific decision has been passed so far. “We do not even know if the
lands will be communal or governmental,” the Ministry says.

To note, the World Bank’s $250mln CARMAC project ~V a facility aimed at
fostering the most competitive and stable mechanisms to develop
pastures and cattle breeding ~V includes the above-mentioned lands in
Syunik.

ARMENIA READY TO CREATE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR EVERY INVESTOR, PRESIDENT SAYS

YEREVAN, February 6. /ARKA/. Armenia is ready to create favorable
conditions for each investor, presidential candidate, current president
Serzh Sargsyan said.

“We have stated and I am saying right now again that we are ready to
pass laws for each particular investor so that his investments are
protected and that people have no concerns. We are ready to create
additional conditions, if required, for each investor,” Sargsyan said
at his meeting with voters in Malatia-Sebastia district.

The president also said that a law has been passed about free trade
zone, which means that best conditions are provided to investors.

Sargsyan stressed that even if Armenia has problems in attracting
investments, they have nothing to do with business conditions as
the country climbed 18 point to the 32nd place in World Banks’ Doing
Business – 2013 rating.

The problems are, first of all, connected with small size of the
Armenian market, according to the president. The next important problem
is limited infrastructures and only two overland roads available to
connect Armenia with the outer world available, Sargsyan said. -0-

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT SARGSYAN PROMISES SOME FREE HEALTH AND EDUCATION SERVICES IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. Armenian presidential candidate Serzh
Sargsyan promised to provide state-paid higher education for the poor
during his meeting with voters in Artashat.

“We will ensure free higher education for socially insecure population
groups. Every first-form schoolboy will get a free computer”,
Sargsyan said.

The candidate added that full and high-quality Internet access will
be provided to schools.

At his meeting with voters in another Armenian town, Ararat, the
current president said that the state budget may start paying for
urgent heart surgeries in Armenia very soon.

Armenia’s presidential elections are scheduled for February 18. Eight
nominees are running for presidency: current president Serzh Sargsyan,
former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan,
former foreign minister and head of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisyan,
famous Soviet dissident and leader of National Self-Determination party
Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan,
political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan,
philologist Vardan Sedrakyan and leader of National Consent party
Aram Harutinyan. -0-

SPAIN INTERESTED IN OPENING MIDDLE-CLASS HOTELS IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, February 6. /ARKA/. Spain is interested in opening
middle-class hotels in Armenia, Armenian deputy minister of economy
Ara Petrosyan told a press conference in briefing reporters on his
official visit to Spain on January 30 – February 1.

He said representatives of Spanish hotel networks will visit Armenia
in April for a familiarization tour to see the potential and the
investment climate in the country.

Armenian delegation met with representatives of hotel chains and
tourist offices and discussed cooperation prospects during their
visit to Spain. A memorandum about cooperation in tourism has been
signed between Armenian ministry of economy and tourism secretariat
of Spanish ministry of energy and tourism.

In order to enhance bilateral tourism ties, advertising campaigns
about Armenia, days of Armenian culture and a tourist festival in
particular, will be held in Madrid and other Spanish cities in autumn.

According to Armenian ministry of economy, about 3,000 tourists from
Spain visited Armenia in 2012. -0-

ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE TO ASSIST UNIDO IN AGRO-PROCESSING PROJECT

YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. Armenian ministry of agriculture is
ready to provide substantial support to UN Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) in a technical assistance project aimed at
strengthening various value chains in agro-processing, the press
service of the ministry of agriculture reported.

Armenian minister of agriculture Sergo Karapetyan voiced their
willingness to support at the meeting with UNIDO representatives
Frank Hartwink and Maria Schloss who are in Armenia to familiarize
with the situation.

The sides stressed the importance of involving the young, women and
vulnerable groups, particularly from remote regions (specifically
Siunik and Lori) in implementation of the project on development of
fruit-processing value chain.

Hartwink presented the outcome of meetings with state officials
engaged in agro-processing policies and with private fruit-processing
enterprises.

A separate department is opened in UNIDO Yerevan office for
implementation of the project.

The project will help establish stable business ties between producers,
processing industry and consumers. -0–

Report: Azerbaijan and Georgia Cooperated with the CIA’s
Secret-Detention Program
February 6, 2013 – 7:20am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

Azerbaijan was an important stopover point for secret detainees of the
Central Intelligence Agency in the US war on terror, claims a new
report that offers the first comprehensive look into human rights
abuses under the US practice of secret detentions and extraordinary
renditions of terror suspects.

Reminiscent of a global spy conspiracy novel, the report, “Globalizing
Torture,” [5] details how, post-9/11, the US relied on countries
around the world to “kick the [expletive] out of” various terror
suspects wanted by the CIA.

Azerbaijan and Georgia were among 54 countries that cooperated with
these operations, according to the report, which was compiled by the
New-York-City-based Open Society Foundation’s Open Justice Initiative.
[EurasiaNet.org is financed under the separate auspices of the
Foundation’s Central Eurasia Project.]

`Aircraft linked to the CIA landed in Azerbaijan 76 times between the
end of 2001 and the end of 2005,’ the report reads. `The Azerbaijani
capital, Baku, is reported to have been used as a common `staging
point’ for extraordinary rendition operations, meaning that planes and
crews would often meet and prepare there.’

Azerbaijani officials allegedly did some detaining of their own;
namely, a Saudi man, Ahmed Muhammad Haza al-Darbi, who allegedly was
arrested in Azerbaijan in 2002 and handed over to the CIA, which then
transferred him to the formerly US-run Bagram prison in Afghanistan,
where he was kept for two weeks, and subjected to various forms of
abuse.

Before Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili took office in 2004,
Georgia, the most eager US partner in the Caucasus, also allegedly
captured and handed over to the CIA several terror suspects,
apparently linked to Chechen rebel training in the Pankisi Gorge.

After a stint at Guantanamo or other locations, these detainees were
`extraordinarily rendered’ to prisons in Jordan, Egypt and
Afghanistan. Not just the Georgian authorities, but even the country’s
notorious thieves-in-law seem to have played a role; namely, with the
alleged kidnapping and dispatch of an Algerian man from Pankisi.

Neither Georgia, nor Azerbaijan is known to have investigated their
cooperation with the CIA program of secret detention and extraordinary
rendition. The report does not mention if the detainees were tortured
in Georgia [6] or Azerbaijan; [7]both countries have an established
reputation for prison torture, human-rights activists say.