RFE/RL Armenian Report – 09/27/2017

                                        Wednesday, 

Government Sees Potential For Faster IT Growth In Armenia


Armenia - Prime Minister Karen Karapetian speaks at the ArmTech 2017
forum in Yerevan, 27Sep2017.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetian said on Wednesday that his government
is ready to take "revolutionary" measures to help speed up the already
rapid growth of Armenia's information technology (IT) sector.

"We will consistently carry on with our policy of supporting the
development of information technology and will deepen and expand our
cooperation with local and transnational companies involved in this
area," he told an annual international conference held in Yerevan.

The Armenia tech industry has expanded by an average of over 20
percent annually in the past decade, making it the fastest-growing
sector of the domestic economy. Its annual turnover is now equivalent
to roughly 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product.

"Right now we have serious competitive advantages both in the region
and in comparison to other countries," declared Karapetian. He
insisted that growth in the sector employing around 15,000 people
could be even faster.

In particular, he said, major tax breaks introduced by the previous
Armenian cabinet two years ago should further accelerate the emergence
of IT startups. In his words, 100 such firms were already set up last
year.


Armenia - Employees of the Yerevan office of the Zangi instant
messaging operator, 4Aug2017.

Although there are currently some 500 IT firms operating in Armenia,
the sector is still dominated by the Armenian branches of U.S. tech
giants like as Synopsys, National Instruments, Mentor Graphics and
VMware. But its steady expansion is also increasingly driven by
homegrown Armenian companies.

Karapetian noted with satisfaction that more of them are switching
from outsourcing to development of their own products and innovative
solutions. "I want our local firms to be much more active and
audacious seeing as we have declared that the government is prepared
for any logical and, if necessary, even revolutionary solutions," he
said in a speech at the ArmTech 2017 forum organized by the
government.

The premier added that the government is specifically ready to
authorize the IT sector to manage computer science programs in
Armenia's schools and universities.

Industry executives have long complained about the inadequate
professional level of many graduates of IT departments of Armenia
universities. According to their estimates, there are now thousands of
vacancies in the sector because of that. They say the continuing
shortage of skilled personnel is the key challenge facing their
companies.

Earlier this year Karapetian met with a team of government officials
and tech executives that proposed a wide-ranging reform of engineering
education in Armenia. One of those executives said only half of 1,300
IT students graduating from Armenian universities each year are
qualified enough to work in the sector without undergoing further
training.



Karabakh Armenians Hail Kurdish Independence Vote


 . Ruzanna Stepanian


IRAQ -- Kurds celebrate during their independence referendum in
Kirkuk, September 25, 2017

Nagorno-Karabakh's leadership on Wednesday welcomed the holding of a
controversial referendum on independence in Iraq's Kurdistan region.

By contrast, Armenia's government reacted cautiously to Monday's vote
condemned by the Iraqi government as well as Turkey and Iran. A
spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry said only that Yerevan is
"monitoring developments."

The results of the referendum have not yet been announced. However, an
overwhelming "yes" vote is widely expected.

"We welcome the conduct of the referendum on independence in Iraqi
Kurdistan an act of exercising peoples' right to self-determination #
upheld by the UN Charter and other fundamental international
documents," read a statement released by the Karabakh foreign
ministry.

"We hope that the situation that has emerged as a result of the
referendum will be settled peacefully, based on the need for stability
and security in the region," it added.

Karabakh's predominantly ethnic Armenian population similarly voted to
secede from Azerbaijan in a referendum held in 1991. The vote, which
was followed by a bloody war, was not formally recognized by any
country. Still, the United States, Russia and France seem to have
recognized the Karabakh Armenians' right to self-determination in
their peace proposals jointly made over the past decade.


Armenia - Knyaz Hasanov, the leader of Armenia's Kurdish community
speaks to RFE/RL in Yerevan, 27Sep2017.

The referendum in Kurdistan was also hailed on Wednesday by Knyaz
Hasanov, the leader of Armenia's small Kurdish community. Hasanov, who
was elected to the Armenian parliament in April, made clear at the
same time that he will not press the authorities in Yerevan to
recognize the vote and its outcome.

"Every state has its own interests and Armenia too has its own
interests," he told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). "Armenia
has a good rapport with Iran, which opposes Kurdistan's independence."

"I'm not going to raise the issue of recognizing Kurdistan," Hasanov
said. "It's up to the Armenian authorities, not me, to decide."

Yerevan also maintains cordial relations with both the Iraqi central
government and the Kurdish regional administration in northern
Iraq. It formally decided in March to open an Armenian consulate
general in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. In February, Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian held fresh talks with Massoud Barzani, the
Iraqi Kurdish leader, on the sidelines of an international security
conference in Germany.


Germany - Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian (R) meets with
Iraqi Kurdistan's President Massoud Barzani (L) in Munich, 17Feb2017.

Armenia's trade with the Kurdish region and other parts of Iraq has
grown considerably in recent years. Armenian exports to the Middle
Eastern nation account for the bulk of bilateral trade which stood at
$138 million last year.

Incidentally, Iraq's Agriculture Minister Falah Hassan Zeidan
Al-Lahibi visited Armenia this week to explore ways of deepening
commercial ties between the two countries. He reportedly told Prime
Minister Karen Karapetian on Wednesday that Bagdad would like to
increase imports from Armenia. He singled out Armenian agricultural
products and electricity



Poland Offers More Defense Technology To Armenia


 . Sargis Harutyunyan


Armenia - Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Bartosz Cichocki speaks to
reporters in Yerevan, 27Sep2017.

Poland is ready to significantly expand joint manufacturing of
Polish-designed military equipment in Armenia, a senior Polish
official said at the start of a visit to Yerevan on Wednesday.

"I expect that defense cooperation will be one of the topics of our
consultations today and tomorrow in Yerevan. We are ready to present
our products and technologies," Deputy Foreign Minister Bartosz
Cichocki told reporters ahead of his talks with Armenian officials. He
indicated that the Polish government has already made corresponding
proposals to Yerevan.

Cichocki said Armenia could make greater use of Poland's "booming"
defense industry for its own security needs. "We believe that
development of the defense sector should not be based purely on import
of Western or other technology and products but want to develop
industries at home," he said.

"We are ready to provide Armenia with technologies and [create] jobs
here in Armenia and to share the same model of defense industry with
Armenia, which is an important pillar of your economic development and
security. I'm very much looking forward to discussing this," added the
official.


Armenia - A Polish defense industry official speaks at the
inauguration of a Polish-Armenian joint venture in Charentsavan,
16Oct2014.

A Polish defense company, Lubawa SA, and the Armenian Defense Ministry
already set up a joint venture in 2013. Their plant located in the
Armenian town of Charentsavan manufactures a range of protective gear
such as army helmets, flak jackets, big and inflatable tents,
camouflage netting and decoys for the Armenian military.

Cichocki said Lubawa is ready to offer Armenia more defense
"technologies and know-how." Asked what specific types of other
military equipment this and other Polish firms could produce in
Armenia, he said: "I believe that the government of Armenia is very
well aware of our offer, and we expect to hear answers to the
questions we have posed long ago."

Cichocki and Polish diplomats accompanying him met with Defense
Minister Vigen Sargsian later in the day. Sargsian was cited by his
press office as telling them that he sees "no obstacles" to deepening
relations between the Polish and Armenian defense ministries. No other
details were reported.



Parliament Panel Opposes Probe On Eurasian Union


 . Tatevik Lazarian


Armenia - The parliament committee on foreign relations meets in
Yerevan, 27Sep2017.

A standing committee of the Armenian parliament rejected on Wednesday
the opposition Yelk alliance's calls for a parliamentary inquiry into
consequences of Armenia's membership in the Russian-led Eurasian
Economic Union (EEU).

Representatives of the pro-Western bloc proposed earlier this month
the creation of the ad hoc commission after the pro-government
majority in the National Assembly objected to its draft parliamentary
declaration saying that the Armenian authorities must embark on a
"process" of invalidating their accession treaty with the EEU.

The proposed declaration says that EEU membership, effective from
January 2015, has hurt the country's economy and security. Yelk's
leaders decided to postpone parliamentary discussions on the document
for now and focus instead on the idea of setting up the commission.

One of them, Nikol Pashinian, made a case for an EEU-related inquiry
at a meeting of the parliament committee on foreign relations. All but
one members of the committee voted for a formal negative assessment of
the Yelk proposal after a heated debate with Pashinian. They are
affiliated with the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), its
junior coalition partner, Dashnaktsutyun, and Gagik Tsarukian's bloc,
which claims to be in opposition to the government.

"We should be a bit more careful in dealing with this issue," said
Ararat Zurabian, a deputy from the Tsarukian Bloc.

Dashnaktsutyun's parliamentary leader, Armen Rustamian, objected to
both the essence and timing of Yelk's initiative. He claimed that it
could endanger the upcoming signing of a landmark agreement between
Armenia and the European Union.

Artashes Geghamian, a pro-Russian lawmaker representing the ruling
HHK, claimed that Armenia would have endured the kind of armed
conflicts and turmoil that are continuing in Ukraine had President
Serzh Sarkisian not decided to join the EEU in September
2013. Sarkisian's decision scuttled an Association Agreement
negotiated by Armenian and EU officials earlier in 2013.

Pashinian seized upon to Geghamian's remarks as further proof that
Armenia's membership in the EEU is the result of Russian "blackmail."

Despite the negative verdict of the committee, Yelk is allowed by the
National Assembly statutes to initiate a 90-minute debate on the issue
on the parliament floor. Edmon Marukian, another Yelk leader, told
RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) that the bloc will force such
a debate.

Yelk holds 9 seats in the 105-member parliament. The three other
political groups represented in the legislature oppose Armenia's exit
from the EEU.



Press Review



"Zhamanak" reports that the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) will hold large-scale military exercises in
Armenia next month. "It is hard to tell whether or not those exercises
were planned [beforehand,]" the paper says. "But they seem to be
announced for the first time." Also in October, the prime ministers of
another Russian-led bloc, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), will meet
in Yerevan. The paper notes that Armenia will host these "Eurasian
military and economic activities" ahead of the planned signing of its
landmark agreement with the European Union. It speculates that Russia
might use them to scuttle the deal at the last minute.

"Zhoghovurd" says that starting next year many products imported to
Armenia will no longer be exempt from the EEU's higher customs
duties. "This means that a new wave of price hikes is expected in
Armenia," writes the paper. "In particular, a number of basic goods
will become more expensive: butter, sugar, coffee, meat and so on." It
claims that the Armenian government has already pushed up the cost of
these products to make the price hikes gradual and less noticeable.

"Armenia's foreign debt has passed the $5 billion mark," writes
"Hayots Ashkhar." "Although this is not the highest level of debt seen
as permissible, possibilities of attracting new [financial] resources
are dwindling amid current economic developments. This is the reason
why steps have been taken of late to ease the foreign debt burden. In
particular, the government is going to give up state guarantees for
the implementation of some spending programs."

"Haykakan Zhamanak" reports that a clinic in the southeastern Armenian
town of Meghri, which was inaugurated last year, has stopped
functioning due to a lack of medical personnel."Medics do not want to
work in the remote town," explains the paper.

(Tigran Avetisian)


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Our goal is to have 4 million population by 2040 – President Sargsyan

Category
Politics

Our steps over the coming years will seek to bolster the population’s natural growth in Armenia and achieve a significant change in the emigration and immigration ratio, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during the 6th Armenia-Diaspora conference.

“Summing up the achievements and shortcomings of the twenty-fifth years of independence, at the first session of the National Assembly of 6th convocation, we put on record our perceptions of the main priorities for the next 25 years. Improving the demographic situation in Armenia was a key focus over there. We are stating that the demographic trends are extremely worrying in our country: they are caused by several objective and subjective factors. Our steps over the coming years will seek to bolster the population’s natural growth in Armenia and achieve a significant change in the emigration and immigration ratio”,  Sargsyan said.

In the words of the President, it has been announced that the goal of the authorities is to ensure at least 4 million population in Armenia by 2040. “Obviously, we will hardly achieve that goal by merely increasing the birth rate, life expectancy or by improving the demographic pattern. Nevertheless, we will be steadfastly moving forward in the aforementioned areas. Therefore, this goal implies achieving serious indicators in immigration over the next 25 years”, he said, adding that this will be the main topic of the discussions of the coming Armenia-Diaspora conferences.

“The next Armenia-Diaspora Forum will come as a pan-Armenian discussion of the “4 million Armenia” program and the real start of its implementation. This is what we should agree upon here and right now”, President Sargsyan said.

Student Organizations Issue Statement on Termination of DACA

From left the emblems of AYF, ARF “Shant” and All-ASA

GLENDALE – The ARF Shant Student Association, Armenian Youth Federation-Western United States (AYF-WUS), and All-Armenian Student Association would like to express their dismay and disapproval of the Trump administration’s recent announcement that the federal government will effectively end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This regressive move is a broken promise to youths who rightfully call America home. The Armenian youth organizations stand in solidarity with students who face fear and uncertainty in light of the President’s misguided decision.

The DACA program offers young undocumented immigrants, typically brought to the United States as children, a two-year renewable reprieve from deportation and a work permit. Since the DACA program was established in 2012, more than three-quarters of a million young immigrants have pursued a college education.  These students have enriched our university communities and our society as a whole. Unless Congress acts to keep the program intact, DACA beneficiaries will begin to lose protection on March 6, 2018, losing their eligibility for employment and rendering them deportable.

We urge Congress to act quickly to pass bipartisan legislation that would protect undocumented students and secure their future in the United States. Our legislature must work to chart a secure pathway toward citizenship and allow Dreamers to continue to live, work, and serve the only country that most of them know as home. We encourage our community to reach out to their elected representatives to add their voice to those calling for legislation that will allow DACA beneficiaries to live and work without fear of deportation from the United States.

At this trying time, we look to our education institutions to provide resources for undocumented students as well as support for various programs that aid these communities. Further, we urge the administrators and officials at our colleges and university campuses to use their influences and agencies to advocate for affected students. We commend the university officials who have already issued strong statements against the current decision on DACA and encourage others to follow suit.

Our organizations, which are comprised in large part by descendants of victims of crimes against humanity, civil wars, and economic hardship, firmly believe in the American values of equality and opportunity. This decision is fundamentally incongruent with those ideals.

We believe that our nation must be a vibrant and diverse setting fostering all human progress. The individual must have the broadest set of opportunities for intellectual and moral development, interaction and personal growth. DACA has brought countless young people out of the shadows, allowing them to live without fear, obtain an education, and contribute to the prosperity of our society.

Although this decision is deeply disappointing, it provides an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to the struggle for diversity and inclusion in the United States of America.

Turkish press: Impediment to Germany’s Lebensraum

MEHMET BARLAS
Published16 hours ago

As the Sept. 24 federal elections in Germany approach, it seems that the candidates will increasingly slam not only Turkey, but the entire Middle East and the Islamic world. I wonder whether this is imbued by the fact that Kaiser Wilhelm and Hitler respectively riveted their eyes on the Middle East as a potential "Lebensraum" (living space).

Dominating the Balkans and Greece with its economic force, does Germany regard Turkey as the sole impediment to its Lebensraum ambitions and expansionism? Meanwhile, it must be noted that German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has disgraced himself due to his obsession with Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He alleged that his wife Anke Gabriel, a dentist, was threatened following a strong interaction he had with Erdoğan. Gabriel said that Erdoğan "had apparently led some to feel motivated to try to threaten and harass my wife. Of course, this is a terrible outcome."

However, it turned out the one threatening Gabriel's wife was a German citizen tired of the country's politics. It was revealed that the threatening person, whose name was not released, expressed his unrest and displeasure with the policies of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Not having issued an apology for his baseless claims, Gabriel persisted in his rhetoric against Erdoğan in an interview with the Bild newspaper on the deterioration of Turkish-German relations. Stating that Germany's problem is with Erdoğan, Gabriel added that Turkey's EU membership would be impossible under the current circumstances. However, we are so familiar with such news from Germany that even itemizing the news is not a big deal any longer.

According to a report issued by the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) Directorate of Publicity and Media, relations first turned sour when former German President Joachim Gauck invited journalist Can Dündar to the Bellevue Palace after a warrant was issued for Dündar as part of the controversial National Intelligence Organization (MİT) trucks case.

Here are some other recent instances portraying Germany's hostility to Turkey: German parliament recognized the so-called Armenian genocide last year. Also last year, following the atrocious July 15 coup attempt, a German court decision prevented Erdoğan from addressing a rally in Cologne via videoconference while the country protected the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) operatives who fled to Germany after the failed coup attempt.

Germany also did not allow the rallies and meetings of Turkish ministers scheduled in Germany throughout the April 16 referendum campaign, although opposition campaign events run by the outlawed PKK were permitted. In the context of the referendum, Germany ran an official opposition campaign through state television by releasing content in Turkish.

Chess: Armenia’s Levon Aronian solely wins St. Louis Rapid 2017

Panorama, Armenia

Aug 17 2017

The Rapid event of the Rapid and Blitz competition, the fourth stop on the Grand Chess Tour 2017 taking place at Saint Louis, U.S is over, with Armenian GM Levon Aronian becoming the sole winner of the event.

In the final three rounds of the tournament held yesterday, Aronian outplayed Karjakin and Dominguez, drawing with Nakamura, Chess.am reports.

Collecting a total of 12 points, the Armenian GM became the sole winner of the event. Nakamura and Caruana shared 2-3 spots with 11 points apiece. 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov lost his two games and drew one, sharing 8-10 positions with 7 points.

The Blitz chess will kick off on Thursday. The event will run two days, with 9 rounds to be played each day. 

HAARETZ – Israeli Suicide-drone Maker Carried Out Live Demo on Armenian Army Targets, Complaint Says

Israeli
Suicide-drone Maker Carried Out Live Demo on Armenian Army Targets, Complaint
Says

 

Israeli Defense Ministry probes allegation that Azerbaijan asked
Aeronautics Defense Systems to demonstrate drone on military target. When the
drone operators refused, managers attempted to carry out the test. The company
denies the allegation

 

Gili Cohen

13.08.2017 | 14:05



Israel's new kamikaze drone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYKmVEWzkxo

 

The Defense Ministry is examining whether the Israeli firm Aeronautics
Defense Systems was asked to actually demonstrate the use of an armed unmanned
aircraft in the Central Asian republic of Azerbaijan against a military
position of the neighboring country of Armenia, with which Azerbaijan has a border dispute. The Israeli company denies
the allegation.

The Defense Ministry recently received a complaint alleging that after a
team from Aeronautics Defense Systems came to Azerbaijan seeking to finalize a
contract for the sale of company's Orbiter 1K unmanned aircraft, they were
asked to deploy the aircraft, armed with explosives, on a military position of
the Armenian army.

The existence of the complaint was reported Sunday by the Israeli daily
paper Maariv. For its part however, Aeronautics Defense Systems strongly denied
that its staff carried out such a mission, saying that it was carried out by
the purchaser of the aircraft, and the company "never carries out
demonstrations [of the operations of the drone] on live targets, and that was
true in this case as well."

According to Maariv, the two Israeli operators of the craft refused to
hit the Armenian position, and after remaining firm in their refusal even after
threats directed against them, senior representatives of the company armed and
operated the unmanned aircraft themselves. Ultimately the drones are said to
have missed their targets, and no damage was caused, but according to the
complaint, one of them struck at a distance of about 100 meters (330 feet) from
the position.

The company's website states that the Orbiter 1k in
is capable of carrying a special 1 to 2 kilogram (2.2 to 4.4 pound) special
explosive payload. 

 

The complaint against the company was filed with the ministry's Defense
Export Controls Agency, which is responsible for overseeing the activities of
the country's defense contractors, certainly when it is demonstrating the use
of such equipment.

 

The dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which has resulted in
fighting over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, has resulted in the
loss of life. In the past, it had been reported that an unmanned aircraft,
including aircraft of the type that crash into their targets, was seen on the attack in Nagorno-Karabakh. In
that case, the aircraft was a Harop model produced by Israel Aerospace
Industries. In 2016, it was reported that a Harop hit a bus and killed seven
Armenians.

 

Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, recently said that his country had
purchased nearly $5 billion worth of military equipment from Israel. On a visit
by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Azerbaijan late last year, the Azeri
president made note of the military cooperation between the two countries over
many years. According to foreign reports, Israel has sold Azerbaijan radar and
unmanned aircraft systems as well as Israeli Tavor rifles.

 

The Defense Ministry said in response: "As a rule, the Defense
Ministry does not make it a practice to comment on issues involving military
exports. The claim is being examined by the relevant parties at the
ministry."

 

Aeronautics Defense Systems stated: "Aeronautics markets its
products to customers in about 50 different countries,[and] only in accordance
with approval from the Defense Export Controls Agency. The operational action
was carried out by the purchaser alone and on its responsibility. Aeronautics
has never carried out demonstrations on live targets, and that was true in this
case as well."

 

In case of any compromise we put lives of Artsakh people under threat

Aravot, Armenia

Aug 11 2017

Leaders of Second Armenian Republic should perform as negotiators

‘If we enter into a race of buying weapons, we will hardly be able to win Azerbaijani oil, therefore, we should develop our own military industry and economy’, “Yelq” bloc MP Gevorg Gorgisyan expresses his opinion.

He is convinced: “We should be in a scientific race, we can and should win that race. In that case we can solve Artsakh issue in favor of Armenia. Otherwise we will have to go for a compromise which is not acceptable to our society.”

According to the MP’s characterization, speaking of the return of some territories, we should put the question of Artsakh people’s security in the first place: “We have Nakhichevan completely emptied of Armenians. In this case we should make it clear who we work with. In case of any compromise we put the lives of Artsakh people under threat. Then we weaken the existing grounds. We have liberated Artsakh as a historical Armenian land with Armenian people and with the aim of providing the security of the latter, is it not so? Artsakh is not solely Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region.”

The leader of “Heritage” party Raffi Hovhannisian notes – it is necessary that the leaders of the Second Armenian Republic perform as a negotiator party: “Armenian diplomacy will win if even late but it recognizes Artsakh by Constitution and borders.”

The politician emphasizes that the policy of attacking operations of Azerbaijan is active: “Demanding targeted announcements from the Co-Chairs is not enough. From military and diplomatic perspectives we should be united so much as not to have a need of asking anything from the Co-Chairs. Asking a favor speaks of a diplomatic gap.”

Let us mention that pursuant to expert evaluations, an initiative aimed at the recommencement of negotiations over Artsakh conflict resolution is expected by OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the Autumn.  

Luiza SUKIASYAN


BAKU: Armenia preventing revolution of socket – will Moscow pay?

Trend, Azerbaijan

Aug 10 2017
21:06 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva – Trend:

Soon after obvious signs from Washington regarding the desire to enter the Armenian energy market, the country’s government revealed plans to freeze electricity tariffs until 2036.

The concept of Armenia’s energy development until 2035 will be submitted for consideration of the government in September, and it will indicate that electricity tariffs in Armenia will remain unchanged until 2036, the country’s Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Ashot Manukyan said Aug. 10 at a government meeting.

He noted that the concept was submitted to the Armenian government three times, but was returned with remarks.

“Currently, there seem to be no problems, except the fact that the issue regarding a stabilization fund, which will make it possible to keep energy prices at the current level, has not yet been agreed upon,” Manukyan said. “This is an ambitious program. To this end, we are seeking funds, and the stabilization fund will allow in the early years to level at least external influence on the tariffs.”

Everyone saw how increasing of electricity tariffs affected the population of Armenia in the summer of 2015, when an attempt to raise electricity prices led to long rallies dubbed “Electromaidan” by media outlets. There were already calls to overthrow the power in Armenia during these protests and a revolution would start if the authorities didn’t sneak back.

Now Yerevan wants to protect itself from this scenario by freezing energy tariffs for 18 years. This is an ambitious plan for a totally sick economy, if one doesn’t know that help may come from the north.

The case is that currently, 82 percent of Armenian energy sphere belongs to Russia. This includes the leading enterprises of the industry – Gazprom Armenia CJSC, Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant, Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC, Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade of hydroelectric power plants. One should especially note the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, one of the main sites of the Armenian-Russian cooperation. The EU and the US dream to close this plant, which ensures about 30 percent of Armenia’s electricity generation.

And it is clear that Western countries wouldn’t want Russia to continue possessing such a powerful lever of influence on Armenia. The US and Western countries realize that they have missed a lot of opportunities in the energy market of Armenia, and this fact makes Armenia politically and economically even more loyal to Russia, so the US and Western countries are now trying to make Yerevan an offer Armenia won’t be able to refuse from.

The US offensive on Armenia’s energy market began in 2015, when the US company ContourGlobal bought the Vorotan Cascade of hydroelectric power plants for $180 million. In February 2017, US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills promised that in the coming years the company will invest another $70 million in the Vorotan Cascade, and more than 150 jobs will be created.

In May 2017, seven US companies present at the Renewable Energy Conference in Yerevan said they are ready to invest up to $8 billion in Armenian energy sphere.

There have even been rumors that US companies may outbid assets in Armenia’s energy sector from Russia, since, apparently, RusHydro company will soon put up for sale the Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade, consisting of seven hydroelectric power plants, because RusHydro allegedly decided to get rid of assets in Armenia after the “Electromaidan” in 2015.

However, one has a feeling that somebody wants to protect Armenia from the shocks like “Electromaidan” by excluding the possibility of increase in energy prices. This is someone who benefits from the current situation and who doesn’t want to change anything in Armenia’s energy market.

This will cost a lot – even if one assumes that the Armenian national currency, the dram, will no longer be affected by inflation, which is impossible, energy generating equipment will become obsolete, and depreciation expenses should still affect the energy tariffs.

Moreover, the US company that manages the Vorotan Cascade may also raise tariffs for its products, and it turns out that Russia, which is likely to help create the stabilization fund, is even ready to pay Americans only to prevent them from entering the Armenian energy market.

ՀՀ սփյուռքի նախարարությունում տեղի ունեցավ «Արի տուն» ծրագրի 7-րդ փուլի բացման հանդիսավոր արարողությունը

Please find the attached press release of the Ministry of Diaspora.

Sincerely,
Media and PR Department
(+374 10) 585601, internal 805

----------------------
Հարգանքով`
Մամուլի և հասարակայնության հետ կապերի վարչություն

(+374 10) 585601, ներքին 805


317. Տեղի ունեցավ «Արի Տուն» 7-րդ փուլի ��ացման արար��ղությունը.docx

application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document


IMG_5485.JPG

JPEG image



JPEG image


IMG_5511.JPG

JPEG image


IMG_5519.JPG

JPEG image


IMG_5526.JPG

JPEG image


IMG_5565.JPG

JPEG image


IMG_5624.JPG

JPEG image

Free trade zone on Iranian border to boost bilateral trade – Armenian expert

Tert, Armenia

14:05 • 24.07.17

The plan to launch a free trade zone on the Armenian-Iranian border with Iran border will be a mutually advantageous project potentially increasing trade turnover, an expert in Iranian studies said today, sharing his positive expectations of the idea.


Speaking at a news conference, Armen Israelyan also highlighted the economic benefits of the Meghri-Norduz joint customs checkpoint plan which he said is aimed at boosting longer-term partnerships, particularly for the operation of a road corridor connecting the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea. He added that they intend to attract also investors through the project.

“The bill has been several times debated in the Iranian parliament, and was approved just a few days ago. The agreement applies to both transit transportation of flight and the increase in bilateral trade turnover, as well as the transit delivery of energy resources,” Israelyan said.  

To speed up the customs procedures, the expert proposed creating a joint working group to deal with the existing problems.

He added that the two countries have also expressed committment to facilitate information exchange in dealing with smuggling cases.