Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIA POSTS 13.6 PERCENT GDP GROWTH IN
JANUARY-AUGUST

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s
economic growth in January-August grew 13.6 percent
amounting, in terms of money, to 1.6 trillion Drams,
according the chief of the National Statistical
Service Stepan Mnatsakanian.
He said today this was an unprecedented GDP growth
in just eight months. Armenia’s industrial output rose
to 446.4 billion Drams, a 1.7 percent growth from a
year ago. Power production not counted the growth was
369 billion Drams.
Armenia’s power plants produced in the reported
time 4.03 billion kilowatt/hours electricity, 1.6
percent down from a year ago. Despite late spring and
early summer flooding agricultural GDP grew 7.6
percent to 329 billion Drams.
Construction accounted for the biggest growth-19.6
percent. A total of 328 billion Drams were invested in
this sector.
Retail trade grew 11 percent to 510 billion Drams.
Services to population rose 20 percent to 335 billion
Drams. Population income rose to 1.2 trillion Drams
and expenditures to 1.6 billion Drams. The inflation
rate was 3.9 percent.
By the end of August there were 82,000 officially
registered unemployed people, down 8 percent from a
year ago.
Average wages rose 21.5 percent to 73.630 Drams (
$216). Wages in public salary rose to 54,000 Drams and
to 92,000 in public sector.
Armenia’s foreign trade rose nearly 40 percent to
$2.660 billion. Exports rose 23 percent to $734
million and imports rose 47 percent to $1.926 billion.

AZG Armenian Daily #172, 21/09/2007

Social

HAKOB AVEDIKIAN: A JOURNALIST SHOULD HAVE PERSONAL IMMUNITY

"A journalist should have personal immunity like a policeman who
preserves the state order," Hakob Avedikian, Editor-in-chief of "Azg"
Daily Newspaper, said at the press conference at "Friday" club,
touching upon the cases of the pressure over the
journalists. Mr. Avedikian added that the journalists should be
consistent in this issue. As the relevant bodies take advantage of the
journalists’ passiveness. "Certainly, there have always been cases of
pressure against the journalists in the world, but in a developed
country all cases of violence against the journalists are revealed and
the guilty are punished. We are a professional caste, and, as the
rules of a jungle are applied in our country, we should also defend
our professional rights and protect ourselves, until the relevant
bodies begin implementing their duties," he emphasized.

He stated that any power should fear of the word of a orphan-like
country. Mr. Avedikian stated that the activities of the clubs should
become more civilized.

By Nana Petrosian, Translated by K.A.

SAME IDEAS DIFFERENT STYLES

Lragir.am
19-09-2007 15:11:26

Armen Rustamyan, representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s Supreme
Body, explained the decision of the party to name two candidates in
a news conference on September 19. According to him, by nominating
him and Vahan Hovanisyan to the presidential election Dashnaktsutyun
did not invent the bicycle but practiced the experience of developed
political systems of the world. "If we are considering a party’s
commitment to democracy, the party should display democracy inside
it first. It is one of the simplest and most important expressions
of democracy," Armen Rustamyan says.

Armen Rustamyan gave a positive answer to the question whether it
means that Armen Rustamyan and Vahan Hovanisyan will be competing
to win over the ranks of the party and even said it is going to be
a transparent competition. "It is going to be open, we will have
meetings with our ranks, in the regions, inviting supporters, we will
present our approaches, our points of views, certainly. The logic of
Dashnaktsutyun is: no matter who is selected, people will eventually
support Dashnaktsutyun," Armen Rustamyan says.

According to him, the difference is that of persons. "I may put the
stresses in my way, and Vahan in his way. We share ideas, nevertheless
there is difference in style," Armen Rustamyan says.

IN CASE OF DOLLAR DEVALUATION, BUDGET MAY BECOME 3 MILLIARD

A1+
[07:58 pm] 18 September, 2007

"The exchange rate of a dollar has reduced to its historical minimum,
while in Armenia it has increased in 2 percent", said economist Edward
Aghajanov to "A1+" . To remind, two days ago the exchange rate of a
dollar was 334 darms, today it is 341 drams.

"The price of a dollar in Armenia is out of logical boundaries. There
is no economic motivation for it. It is a game in favor of this or
that individual, where everything is irrational", said the economist.

Edward Aghajanov describes the situation in Armenia this way:
"Whenever the exchange rate of a dollar decreases in 2 percent,
our society gets bewildered, since according to the Central Bank,
it means that the economic growth stops, tourists diminish and all
our relatives that transfer money to us from abroad become insolvent".

"When the value of a dram decreases, they imagine the opposite
picture", continued Mr Aghajanov noting that it was impossible to
give any reasonable explanation to this. "We have no relations with
the world market and it is impossible to explain, though some factors
may influence on dram-dollar relations".

There are some predictions that the exchange rate of a dollar will
reduce to 320 drams, while until 2010 – to 200 drams. Mr Aghajanov
refused to comment on this: "It is impossible to do any predictions
in Armenia, since nobody knows what the authorities yearn for".

"Our budget may be 3 milliard dollars as the shady economy in our
country prevails. If the exchange rate of a dram increases, dollar will
decrease, thus the budget in dollars seems more", said Mr Aghajanov.

COMMITTEE FINISHES DISCUSSION OF DRAFT BILL ON YEREVAN

Panorama.am
15:35 18/09/2007

Interagency committee established to discuss and develop "Bill
on Yerevan" has finished the discussions and submitted the bill
to respective structures for "a grounded opinion." Vache Terteryan,
deputy minister of territorial administration, told a press conference
today that they have submitted the "Bill on Yerevan" to the Council
of Europe (CoE) as well for expert opinion.

In the words of the deputy minister, the bill stipulates that Yerevan
mayor will be elected in indirect elections, i.e., the elders of the
city must elect a mayor from among themselves. Another provision
dictates that village like areas and small neighborhoods within
the city will be excluded from Yerevan. "There will be no reduction
in communities.

We have rural communities within Yerevan which will be modified and
excluded from Yerevan," Vache Terteryan said. In his words, soon
the bill will be submitted for public discussions and only then will
enjoy the approval of the government.

ARMENIAN AMERICAN ISSUES PROMOTED AT CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY SUMMER CONVENTION

armradio.am
14.09.2007 12:00

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region (ANC-WR) and the
Foundation for Economic Development (FED) participated in the
semi-annual California Republican Party convention in Palm Springs.

ANC-WR Community Relations Director, Haig Hovsepian was joined by
community activists William Bairamian, Marie Ghanime, and Savada
Simounian-Khygani to help raise awareness about Armenian American
issues ï~^- particularly ANC efforts to raise awareness about the
Armenian Genocide and promote Armenian American civic engagement.

Johnny Nalbandian, Executive Director of the Foundation for Economic
Development, attended the convention and discussed the growing economic
relationship between California and Armenia.

The convention was abuzz with promotional efforts by several 2008
presidential candidates. Teams representing former New York City Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani, former MA Governor Mitt Romney, US Representative
Ron Paul, and recently announced candidate, former US Senator Fred
Thompson all worked the convention crowd. Presidential candidate
and US Senator, John McCain also addressed the convention during a
Saturday afternoon luncheon. Bairamian, Ghanime, Simounian-Khygani,
and Nalbandian attended the luncheon to urge Senator McCain to heed
California Armenian community concerns ï~^- particularly with regard
to the current Armenian Genocide resolution in the US Senate and
growing US-Armenia relations.

ï~^"It was great to be at the convention this weekend with our
friends from the ANC-WR and educate the Republican faithful about
untapped potential of California-Armenia trade relations,ï~^" said
Nalbandian. ï~^"It was particularly heartening to hear McCain refer
to Armenians as his ï~^’favorite merchantsï~^’ when we met. US- as
well as California-Armenia relations should be a priority for all
presidential candidates.ï~^"

The event also featured appearances by CA Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger as well as several state legislators including
CA Assembly Member Mimi Walters, with whom the ANC of Orange
County met earlier this month. The convention was the first major
ANC-related activity that Bairamian, Ghanime, and Simounian-Khygani
attended. The three recently started the 2007 Autumn Session of the
ANC-WR Internship-Externship Program.

ï~^"As always, the ANC-WR looks forward to this opportunity to
reach out to California Republicans,ï~^" said Hovsepian. ï~^"With
the California presidential primaries moved up, candidates would
do well to come out strongly in support of issues important to the
large Armenian American community in the state. With the ANC-WR at
the convention, we help ensure they have the chance to become better
acquainted with these issues.ï~^"

–Boundary_(ID_nh9GV7XLh9RI qwiwdgcgAw)–

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT FAILS TO KEEP HIS PROMISE

ArmInfo
2007-09-12 20:07:00

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen will visit the region to meet the
Presidents of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh at the end of this week,
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan said in the National Assembly.

S.Sargsyan expressed hope that today Nagorno-Karabakh’s security is not
seriously threatened, even if one takes into account the development
of Azeri economy due to oil resources. "But if we are more attentive
and try to analyze the statements of the Azeri leadership, we’ll see
that they failed to attain the goal," the Prime Minister said. He
recalled Ilham Aliyev’s promise to equalize the military budget of
Azerbaijan with the whole budget of Armenia in 2007. "They failed
to do it. Armenia’s budget of 2008 will total 2,5 bln USD, and the
funds budgeted for military needs will be equal to Armenia’s budget
of 1998. I know that Azerbaijan’s budget of 2008 will total 6-6,5
bln USD, 1 bln USD of which are to cover military expenses.

Armenia’s leadership, particularly, the Armenian President takes all
measures to ensure a balance of forces in the region," S.Sargsyan
noted.

MEETINGS WITH THE CANDIDATE OF THE NKR PRIME MINISTER

AzatArtsakh
13-09-2007

On September 12th, the meeting of "Democracy" deputy group of the
NKR NA with Arayik Haroutyunian, nominated a candidate of the NKR
Prime Minister by the NKR President took place. The Speaker of NA,
member of the group Ashot Ghoulian held the meeting. Congratulating
the colleague in connection with high confidence, the Speaker of NA
assured, that in forthcoming the legilative-executive traditional
collaboration will get more building character. A.Haroutyunian in
his turn, attached importance also the necessaty of deepening the
collaboration of NA and the Government, pointing at the same time, that
in the case of appointing in that post, he hoped for the Parliament’s
assistance. Answering the various questions of the members of the
group, the candidate presented in brief his considerations. The same
day, the candidate of the Prime Minister met also with "Homeland"
deputy group of NA. (press service of the NKR NA reported).

ARMENIAN TRADE MINISTER INTRODUCES NEW DIRECTOR OF ARMENIAN DEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO STAFF OF AGENCY

ARKA
13/09/2007 10:34

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. Armenian Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Nerses Yeritsian introduced the newly appointed Director
of the Armenian Development Agency (ADA) Tigran Davtian to the staff
of the Agency.

"Davtian is a competent leader and, I believe, he will give a renewed
impetus to the activities of ADA and will manage to meet the new
challenges expanding the geography of foreign investments in Armenia
and trade links with foreign states," Yeritsian said.

According to him, the Trade Ministry will be always supporting the
Armenian Development Agency, including in elaboration of economic
development policy to unite Armenian businessmen.

Yeritsian also pointed out that the huge work done by the previous
Director of ADA Vahagn Movsisian in terms of formation and development
of the Agency’s structure.

Chief Advisor of President on economic issues Vahram Nersisiants
pointed out that the new Director of ADA gained long-year experience
in the Ministry of Trade.

"It is necessary to develop ADA that is an important structure meant
to facilitate the growth of international trade and investments in
Armenia," the Advisor said.

Tigran Davtian, in his turn, thanked the political leadership of the
country and the Council of ADA for the trust. He also expressed his
gratitude to the previous Director of the Agency for the work done.

"The Agency currently is an accomplished structure and we will be
able to solve the tasks on economic development of the country set
by the Government of Armenia on a new level," Davtian said.

On September 10 Armenian Prime-Minister Serge Sargsian relieved
Tigran Davtian from his post of Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic
Development and appointed him as Executive Director of Armenian
Development Agency CJSC. The previous head of the Agency was appointed
as Armenian Ambassador to China.

AMBASSADOR: REPORTS ON IRANIANS’ SERVING IN OCCUPIED AZERI TERRITORIES ARE INVESTIGATED

Azeri Press Agency
[ 12 Sep 2007 11:58 ]

"Iranian officials refute the reports about Iranians’ serving in
Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories," Azerbaijani ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Iran Abbasali Hasanov told
APA exclusively.

The ambassador said he was in Iranian Foreign Ministry and wanted
the case to be investigated. Abbasali Hasanov said investigations
are being carried out, Isfahan Armenian, about 27-29-year old Mikhak
Teymurian will be identified.

APA reported quoting diplomatic sources that Armenian religious
organizations operating in Iran deceive Iranian citizens of Armenian
origin and send them to serve in "Nagorno Karabakh Republic"
armed forces in the territories under the control of separatist
regime. According to the information, Iranian servicemen detained
two Armenian trespassers in the region bordering on the occupied
Azerbaijani territories. They were defined to be Iranian citizens,
Isfahan Armenians. One of the detainees Mikhak Teymurian said he
went to Nagorno Karabakh by propaganda of religious center of Iranian
Armenians Khalifagari-ye-Erameni.