Author: Virabian Jhanna

RA PREMIER AND IMF DELEGATION DISCUSSED RA ECONOMY’S DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2009 18:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met executive
directors of International Monetary Fund, governmental press service
reported.

RA Premier briefed IMF executive directors on current state of RA
economy and its development perspectives.

The parties focused on government-implemented programs and reforms, as
well as infrastructures’ development and regional collaboration issues.

Basis for establishment of relations between Armenia and Turkey laid

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and Turkish Foreign
Ministers Edward Nalbandyan and Ahmed Davudoglu signed October 10
protocols on establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and
Turkey. The statement provided by the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s
Media and Information Department to Armenpress says that the presence
of the top foreign officials in the signing ceremony of the protocols
shows the support of the international community and the importance
given to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
`The signing of the protocols is the logical result of the
initiative of the Armenia’s president on establishing relations
between the two countries without pre-conditions which may be useful
for the Armenian and Turkish peoples if these documents are brought to
life as they are agreed, without pre-conditions and implementation of
the registered points in reasonable timeframe. The everyday intensive
negotiations gave an opportunity to find the key which must open the
lock and enable the parties an unprecedented opportunity to step
toward the future with trust,’ the statement says.
Opening the ceremony Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey
congratulated Armenia and Turkey for this important achievement,
noting that the courage of the parties and the decisions that has been
made will promote the establishment of peace and stability in the
region.
After the ceremony Armenian foreign minister, expressing gratitude
to Switzerland, USA, Russia, France and heads of European
establishments said: `Today you are standing by us, being a
participant of signing of the protocols and truly sharing the achieved
result as well as the responsibility of the further achievements.’
Minister Nalbandyan assessed the support and assistance of the
international community as very important saying that it was vital for
taking the process forward. Speaking about the process of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relati
Edward Nalbandyan said, `Since the beginning of the process we have
been realizing that leaving this hard burden for coming generations
would have been irresponsible and unjustified.’
Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, after the signing
ceremony, told the reporters, `We are truly happy for signing of the
documents, this is not only the first step but it is also necessary to
ratify them immediately.’
The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union Javier
Solana noted that the signed documents will have an important positive
impact for the region. He expressed hope that soon the protocols will
be ratified by the parliaments of the two countries.
Before the signing ceremony Edward Nalbandyan met with US Secretary
of State Hilary Clinton who reiterated the unbiased US support to the
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

Turkish-Armenian signing delayed; Clinton mediates

AP
10 Oct 09

By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS and BRADLEY S. KLAPPER

ZURICH ‘ U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton engaged in
last-minute diplomacy on Saturday aimed at salvaging an accord to
establish diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia after a
century of enmity.

The agreement was supposed to be signed by the Turkish and Armenian
foreign ministers at a reception in the Swiss city of Zurich, with
Clinton among the world dignitaries in attendance. But a dispute over
the statements the countries would make sparked a delay, and forced her
to intervene.

"She’s involved in working out an agreeable text," said a senior U.S.
State Department official. "She’s talking with the Armenian foreign
minister, and she had a long talk with the Turkish foreign minister."

U.S. officials said Clinton and the Armenian delegation were on the way
to the signing ceremony, about 90 minutes after it was supposed to
begin. Clinton had abruptly returned to her hotel just before the
scheduled start as problems emerged.

Diplomats said the Armenians were concerned about wording in the
Turkish statement that was to be made after the signing ceremony.

The Turks and Armenians are to sign an accord establishing diplomatic
ties in hope of reopening their border and ending a century of acrimony
over their bloody past.

Their parliaments are expected to ratify it, but nationalists on both
sides are seeking to derail implementation of the agreement. Major
countries, however, expressed their support for the accord, with the
foreign ministers of the United States, Russia, France and the European
Union in the room to watch the signing.

In Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country was
showing "goodwill" to restore ties with Armenia. But he said Turkey was
keen on seeing Armenian troops withdrawn from Nagorno-Karabakh, an
Armenian-occupied enclave in Azerbaijan that has been a center of
regional tensions.

"We are trying to boost our relations with Armenia in a way that will
cause no hard feelings for Azerbaijan," Erdogan told reporters.

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian said his country was taking
"responsible decisions" in normalizing relations with Turkey, despite
what he called the unhealable wounds of genocide.

The agreement calls for a panel to discuss "the historical dimension"
of the killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during World War
I. The discussion is to include "an impartial scientific examination of
the historical records and archives to define existing problems and
formulate recommendations."

That clause is viewed as a concession to Turkey, which denies genocide,
contending the toll is inflated and that those killed were victims of
civil war.

"There is no alternative to the establishment of the relations with
Turkey without any precondition," said Sarkisian. "It is the dictate of
the time."

Clinton, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner were among the leaders who were on hand to
attend the signing, when it takes place.

Better ties between Turkey, a regional heavyweight, and poor,
landlocked Armenia are a priority for President Barack Obama. They
could help reduce tensions in the troubled Caucasus region and
facilitate its growing role as a corridor for energy supplies bound for
the West.

Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief, thanked Turkey, which is
a candidate for EU membership.

"This is an important cooperation, no doubt, of Turkey to solve one
issue that pertains to a region which is in our neighborhood," Solana
told AP Television News after arriving in Zurich.

Switzerland, which mediated six weeks of talks between Turkey and
Armenia to reach the accord, is hosting the signing.

Necati Cetinkaya, a deputy chairman of Turkey’s ruling Justice and
Development Party, defended the deal, saying "sincere steps that are
being taken will benefit Turkey." He said Turkey is aiming to form
friendly ties with all its neighbors and could benefit from trade with
Armenia.

But Yilmaz Ates of the main opposition Republican People’s Party said
Turkey should avoid any concessions.

"If Armenia wants to repair relations … then it should end occupation
of Nagorno-Karabakh. That’s it," Ates said Saturday.

About 10,000 protesters rallied Friday in Armenia’s capital to oppose
the signing, and a tour of Armenian communities by Sarkisian sparked
protests in Lebanon and France, with demonstrators in Paris shouting
"Traitor!"

On the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Turks have close cultural and linguistic
ties with Azerbaijan, which is pressing Turkey for help in recovering
its land. Turkey shut its border with Armenia to protest the Armenian
invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh in 1993.

Turkey wants Armenia to withdraw some troops from the enclave area to
show goodwill and speed the opening of their joint border, but Armenia
has yet to agree, said Omer Taspinar, Turkey project director at the
Brookings Institution in Washington.

"We may end up in a kind of awkward situation where there are
diplomatic relations, but the border is still closed," Taspinar said.

___

Associated Press Writers Matthew Lee in Zurich, Avet Demourian in
Yerevan, Armenia, and Christopher Torchia in Istanbul contributed to
this report.

ARFD SEEKS TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS THROUGH NATIONAL UNIFICATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2009 19:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Following social discussions on initialed RA-Turkish
Protocols we offered to hold constructive debates, yet were given gross
refusal by the Government, which proves the lack of reliable facts
and low level of political culture," ARF Dashnaktsutyun Parliamentary
Faction Leader Vahan Hovhannesyan said at October 9 briefing in RA NA.

To fix the situation ARDF emphasized the necessity of forming
constructive opposition and cancellation of separating lines in
internal political filed. "Our society is still alien to the idea
of constructive and civilized opposition, which is the reason for
polarization of political field and improper statements," ARFD Faction
Leader noted.

He also noted that ARFD seeks to resolve problems through national
unification.

THE OLD AND YOUNG CELEBRATE THE DAY OF ECHMIATSIN

Aysor.am
October 09

Today from the very morning the fest atmosphere was reining in
Echmiatsin. The city is celebrating its day and the 2694th anniversary
for the first time.

Since today by the initiation of the mayor of Echmiatsin Karen
Grigoryan on the 8th of October will be celebrated the day of
Echmiatsin city. It was this day that Mesrop Mashtots brought the
invented letters to Vagharshapat.

Echmiatsin was receiving its guests at the municipality since the
morning. They arrived not only from different cities of Armenia but
also from its sister cities. Then by the leadership of the mayor
Karen Grigoryan the present put flowers on the Artsakh war monument.

At the same time there was an enthusiastic atmosphere at the entrance
of the city, in the neighborhood of St. Hripsime temple, where the
gates of Vagharshapat are preserved till now. From here the solemn
march directed to the central square of Echmiatsin named after Komitas.

"It’s a wonderful, bright event. Let such fests be held in
Echmiatsin", – said to Aysor.am Mariam, a housekeeper and citizen
of city Echmiatsin, and thanked the mayor and his supporters for
giving such happiness to the citizens of Echmiatsin. She added:
"These events are fests for our children and grandsons."

The marching was staged. The participants were not only the
founder "King Vagharsh", the "queen" but also heroes of fairy
tales and cartoons; there were also dance groups, old and young
citizens. Then the fest spirit moved to the nearest park of the
Echmiatsin municipality where the songs and music, joy and happiness
were reining there.

"We are very happy as now our city has a fest day and it has blossomed
as if", – said the pupils of the eight form of the 2nd school.

The pupils congratulated the city and the 2694th anniversary of the
city of Echmiatsin.

NOT ALL PRESIDENTS IN ATTENDANCE AT CIS SUMMIT

Tert.am
13:18 08.10.09

The presidents of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and probably of
Uzbekistan are not going to attend the summit of ten Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) starting today and organized by the Moldovan
acting president. Tajik President Emomalii Rahmon’s absence at the
summit was explained by his upcoming visit to Turkmenistan, said
the president’s press office. Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedow will not attend the summit for the same reason. "There
is no political implication," Rahmon’s press office stated.

In the Kazakhstani capital of Astana yesterday, Kazakhstan President
Nursultan Nazarbayev’s absence wasn’t explained. Nazarbayev’s
boycott against the summit surprised even the Kazakhstani president’s
administration, as well as the country’s foreign ministry.

The Russian Embassy in Astana informed the Russian daily Vedomosty
that no important event is planned in Nazarbayev’s homeland. One of
the Kremlin’s officials acknowledged they were aware that Nazarbayev
would not participate in the summit, but the source didn’t state
the reason. Another official added that Kazakhstan’s absence is not
connected to the relations between Russia and Kazakhstan.

The presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Ukraine and the acting president of the hosting country, Moldova’s
Mihai Ghimpu, confirmed their participation in the summit. Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev will meet with Ghimpu and presumably future
Moldovan president Marian Lumpu seperately.

A bilateral meeting between Dmirty Medvedev and Viktor Uschenko will
not take place, though the Ukrainian president spoke about the meeting
as recently as September 30. A letter with the request for meeting
was sent through the Russian Embassy to the country’s foreign ministry
back on September 15 and the Russian foreign ministry notified Kremlin
about it, said a source from the Ukrainian foreign ministry.

However, the at Moscow did not receive a request from Kiev for a
bilateral meeting. "It is clear that Uschenko was refused a meeting
for political reasons. Official Moscow once more gives a clear
understanding that they don’t wish to deal with him, though Kiev
insists that it is better to state claims face-to-face than on TV,"
stated the Ukrainain diplomat.

PROFITS FROM URIAH HEEP CONCERT IN YEREVAN AIMED AT RESTORING EARTHQUAKE ZONE

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2009 17:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The honorarium of the upcoming concert of the
legendary British rock band Uriah Heep in Yerevan on October 16
will be paid by organizers, and the profits will be directed to
rehabilitation of the earthquake zone. This was told at the press
conference on October 8 in Yerevan. The concert will be held in the
Sport-Concert Complex after Karen Demirchyan.

The concert of Uriah Heep is dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the
Armenian Shant TV "and is included in the concert tour of the group,
dedicated to its 40th anniversary. The main sponsors of the concert
are: Vibrografus company, Arzni mineral water plant and "Shant"
TV channel.

Information sponsors of the concert are PanARMENIAN.Net and Mediamax.

The British band Uriah Heep was established in 1969 in London. World
fame came to the musicians in 1971-1973 after the album "Look at
Yourself", "Demons and Wizards" and "The Magician’s Birthday".

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF MID-EAST ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES

-tour/
2009/10/07 | 12:49

Politics

President Serzh Sargsyan’s pan-Armenian trip continues throughout
the diaspora. On October 6 the delegation headed by President
Sargsyan arrived in Beirut where he had a meeting with more than 100
representatives of the Armenian communities and organizations of the
Middle East, Egypt, Iran and the Persian Gulf.

Before the meeting, President Sargsyan had a meeting with His Holiness
Aram I, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The two leaders
talked about the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations and issues related to the pre-signed protocols.

The participants of the meeting in Beirut highly appreciated President
Sargsyan’s initiative of visiting Diaspora Armenian communities
to listen to the views Armenians on the normalization process and
the pre-signed documents, even though many had severe reservations
regarding concessions to Turkey.

"The artificial situation between Armenia and Turkey benefits neither
side. The establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of
the border will provide an opportunity for creating a platform for
furthering the dialogue and the negotiations," President Sargsyan
said in his speech.

President Sargsyan referred to the main concerns connected with the
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. "We have stated many
times that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not just an
issue of restoration of justice, but also an important factor from
the perspective of security of Armenia and the Armenian people. It
is a necessity," Serzh Sargsyan noted.

Turning to the concern that Turkey could assume a role in the
settlement of the Artsakh issue, President Sargsyan noted: "The
Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be solved only when we see that we
have what we have been striving for ever since 1988."

President Sargsyan reiterated that the settlement of the Karabakh issue
and the normalization of the Armenia-Turkey relations are separate
issues, and this has been confirmed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

PM: CRISIS GIVES ARMENIA IMPETUS FOR IMPLEMENTING REFORMS IN FISCAL POLICY

Noyan Tapan
Oct 7, 2009

YEREVAN, October 7. /ARKA/. The current crisis gives a strong impetus
for implementing ambitious reforms in fiscal policy, Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Wednesday at the 30th session of the
interstate council of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

He pointed out tax and customs administration as one of Armenia’s
biggest troubles.

"We have grave problems and a large lag here", he said. "Quality of
tax and customs administration prompts many questions at the government
and businessmen – that is why a breakthrough is needed here."

The government has worked out a program in an effort to put things
right.

This program got a high mark from international experts.

However, the premier said, the program implementation is a problem.

"We face serious problems here – the tax agency itself and businessmen
are not ready for that, since certain traditions and relations between
tax agents and businessmen have formed for the last decade, and it is a
very difficult and painful to break these relations," the premier said.

"We view this crisis as a chance giving us a strong impetus for
implementing more ambitious reforms in this area."

PRACTICAL REFORMING OF TAXATION AND CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION IN ARMENIA HINDERED BY CULTURE OF REVENUE SERVICES-BUSINESS RELATIONS

ArmInfo
2009-10-07 12:46:00

ArmInfo. Practical reforming of the taxation and customs administration
in Armenia is hindered by the existing culture of the revenue
services-business relations, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
said at the opening of the 30th session of the Interstate Council of
Antimonopoly Policy in Yerevan on Wednesday.

"Over the last 15 years our countries have chosen different ways to
change over to the market economy. These ways are different but the
experience of other states has always been very important for us
at least to avoid the mistakes of others. But one thing is clear –
any distortion of market competition leads to big problems. We must
find out the reasons of these distortions since only by fighting
the reasons of competition distortions and not the consequences will
make the activity of the government and anti- monopoly authorities
effective," Tigran Sargsyan said. He highlighted the shadow economy
as one of the most important problems of the Armenian economy. The
premier called reduction of shadow economy scales a task of government
importance. "The key problem is connected with taxation and customs
administration the poor quality of which is a source of concern for
both the government and business. We have developed a program of
administration improvement, which has been highly appraised by our
international partners. However, we should not only formulate our
problems but also settle them in practice. Unfortunately, we can see
that taxation services and business representatives are not ready
for this. The reason is the 15-year-old culture of relations between
the two parties which is not easy to change at once. In this respect,
the global financial and economic crisis gives us a chance to carry
out quite ambitious reforms," Tigran Sargsyan said.