Author: Zargarian Hambik

INTEREST RATES IN ARMENIA TO CONTINUE FALLING, AN EXPERT SAYS

ArmInfo
2009-07-23 16:15:00

ArmInfo. Interest rates in Armenia will continue falling, Development
Director of Ameriabank Tigran Jrbashyan said, Wednesday.

He thinks the policy of changing the refinance rate from the viewpoint
of changing rates in the market under the crisis conditions is not so
effective. The market rates are much more effectively affected by the
programs on refinancing and providing resources to commercial banks
implemented by the Central Bank of Armenia and Armenian Government,
he said.

He added that in II qt 2009 the reduction of the total credit portfolio
of Armenian commercial banks from 651 bln AMD as of March 31 to
618.6 bln AMD as of 1 July is mostly connected with the clients’
unpreparedness to assume new obligations. "Today the clients are
not ready to assume risks with respect to banking institutions,
which, in their turn, are not ready to assume risks under uncertain
conditions in economy, though there is no problem with liquidity",-
Jrbashyan stressed.

At the same time, he said that Ameriabank is not geared to maximal
indices in case of increasing or decreasing rates in the market. "As
a rule, we meet the interests of our clients and offer such mechanisms
which are admissible for them",- he said.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION HAD FINAL MEETING WITH GEORGIAN ECONOMY MINISTER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.07.2009 15:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During its visit Batumi, Armenian government’s
delegation had a final meeting with Georgian Economic Development
Minister Lasha Zhvania.

Armenia is Georgia’s strategic partner and friend country, Georgian
official said.

According to him, parties touched upon important questions,
particularly Ninotsminda-Batumi highway construction and the issue
of providing extra-funding to Asian Development Bank.

"An open and speedy road is one of the serious factors promoting good
circulation and tourism development. Trade circulation and Georgian
export to Armenia is as important for Georgia as having a sea border
for Armenia," Zhvania said, adding that Ninotsminda-Batumi highway
is a very big and ambitious project.

Besides, a special group was set up for increasing work effectiveness
on border checkpoints.

Ninotsminda-Batumi highway is constructed within the frames of
"Millennium Fund" program. Rehabilitation of Akhaltskhe highway, a
project reviewed yesterday by Armenian and Georgian Economy Ministers,
is currently in process.

As noted by Georgian Economy Minister, construction work will probably
continue in 2010, as there remains a 85-km. section with a very
complicated relief.

"ESCALATION OF TENSION" IN SEPARATIST ABKHAZIA

Channel 1
July 19 2009
Tbilisi Georgia

The situation has escalated in the villages of Gali District [ethnic
Georgian-populated district of Abkhazia adjacent to Georgian-controlled
territory]. The so-called Abkhaz border guards have been stationed
in three villages of Gali District, and they have no intention to
leave the villages of the lower zone. The separatists were firing
randomly all night. Traffic has been blocked in the direction
of Gali and Zugdidi [near Abkhazia]. The so-called Abkhaz border
guards are demanding that a curfew be imposed from 2000 hours [1600
gmt]. Video footage obtained by "Moambe" [news programme] shows how
the Russian occupiers force the Abkhaz separatists to leave the entire
perimeter of the Inguri [river which divides Abkhazia from the rest
of Georgia]. The Russian occupiers brought gunmen of North Caucasian
and Armenian origin to Abkhazia. The only place where the so-called
Abkhaz border guards still remain is the checkpoint erected on the
Inguri central bridge in the village of Chuburkhinji of Gali District.

MOSCOW MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS IS OVER

ArmInfo
2009-07-17 20:30:00

ArmInfo. Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan and
Ilham Aliyev have finished their meeting in Moscow.

ArmInfo’s correspondent in Moscow reports that Aliyev and Azeri
Foreign Minister Mammadyarov have left the venue without commenting
on the results of the meeting. The Armenian President and Foreign
Minister have not yet met with the journalists.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES – NOT PREPARED FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.07.2009 20:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Weak authorities like ours can succumb to
internal pressures and take improper steps impeding conflict
settlement process," member of Republic party’s political council
Suren Surenyants told a news conference in Yerevan. Ex-Ppresident
Levon Ter-Petrosyan held a firm stance on Karabakh conflict but the
same doesn’t apply to incumbent President whose views contradict one
another, the speaker finds.

Armenian authorities, according to Surenyants, are not prepared
for Karabakh conflict settlement and the consequences deriving
thereof. "Authorities implementing open border policy should not
build barricades within their boundaries," he said

ARMENAIN FOREIGN MINISTER EDWARD NALBANDIAN MEETS NKR PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKIAN IN STEPANAKERT

ARMENPRESS
July 16, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian visited today Stepanakert. In Stepanakert he was received
by the President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakian.

Media Relations Department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry
told Armenpress that issues related to the current stage of the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement process were discussed at
the meeting.

After the meeting the RA Foreign Affairs Minister returned to Yerevan.

Prior to that Edward Nalbandian had a briefing with journalists during
which he answered a number of questions.

Question: What would you comment on the statement of the Presidents
Medvedev, Sarkozi and Obama on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
during the G8 summit in Italy?

Answer: We assess the wish of Russian, USA and French Presidents and
their consistent efforts as OSCE Minsk Group chairing states to assist
the sides in bringing the approaches together and going through the
issue settlement.

As to the certain details of the Madrid document posted in the
official websites of OSCE and Minsk Group chairing states, they are
proposals for negotiations, round some aspects negotiations are held,
the others are not discussed at all.

I would like to invite your attention on a circumstance that all the
three principals numerous times stated by Armenia as basic principals
for conflict troubleshooting are involved in it. They run as follows –
the legal status of Karabakh should be determined by the express of
will of Karabakh people which must have a compulsory legal force, a
steady land ties between Armenia and Artsakh as well as international
security guarantees.

And if Azerbaijan by now speaks only about the territorial integrity
contrary to that Armenia has numerous times stated about the conflict
settlement based on three basic principals – self-determination of
nations, territorial integrity and non use of force or threat for it;
it means that the issued details confirm what Armenia was speaking
about.

Question: Mr. Minister the principals issued in the OSCE website
also include the aspect of return of the expatriated people and
refugees. What does it presuppose?

Answer: I have once expressed my opinion on that and can once
more say that no discussion is held on the return of the refugees
to Karabakh. That issue can be referred to only after the final
settlement of the Karabakh issue in a wider context, also taking into
consideration the issue of nearly 400 000 Armenian refugees.

Question: During his latest interview the NKR President has stated
that the present negotiation format does not satisfy Artsakh. There
is an impression that NKR authorities have other approaches on the
process of conflict regulation. What can you say in this connection?

Answer: Armenia considers the full participation of NKR in the
negotiations as necessity and a warrant of efficiency of the peaceful
process.

It is natural that Karabakh may have other approaches in some issues,
but I would like to underscore that the opinion of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic is of great importance for us and Armenia can not only ignore
it but also cannot make any agreements without the approval of the
Artsakh people and authorities and my presence here today is a proof
for that.

NKR CONFLICT IS FAR FROM SETTLED BETWEEN YEREVAN AND BAKU

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.07.2009 19:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently, NKR conflict is far from settled between
Yerevan and Baku. RA FM Edward Nalbandian’s statement on the principles
which remain undiscussed by conflicting parties, is a proof of it,
politologist Suren Zolyan told a news conference in Yerevan. "Much
as NKR conflict settlement principles are discussed, one thing is
clear: there still are many countries with uncoordinated positions,"
Armenian politologist noted.

Suren Zolyan characterized the statement of MG OSCE Co-Chairs as
unprecedented.

"If earlier NKR-related Presidential statements used to carry a more
formal character, the recent statement by Obama, Medvedev and Sarkozy
is a firm instruction to RA and Azeri Presidents," the politologist
stressed. "Still, no territorial issued can be discussed until NKR
status is determined," Zolyan emphasized.

TURKEY-ARMENIA AND ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN DISCUSSIONS IMPACT EACH OTHER: TURKISH PRESIDENT

Today.Az
ics/53789.html
July 14 2009
Azerbaijan

"We are close to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."

Star newspaper quoted OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Matthew Bryza as
saying at a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Turkey-Armenia ties and Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict was discussed at
the meeting.

Abdullah Gul noted that the continuing Turkey-Armenia and
Armenia-Azerbaijan discussions are not interrelated while both
processes impact each other. President of Turkey expressed his wish
to accelerate the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group in this regard.

CHANGES IN PERCEPTION OF ARMENIANS OF NAGORNYY KARABAKH RESOLUTION

Mediamax
July 11 2009
Armenia

The Armenian International Centre for Human Development (ICHD) has
implemented Town Hall Meetings (THM) on principles, processes and
developments on settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict in 2006,
2007 and 2009 in 14 communities of Armenia and six communities in the
[Azerbaijan’s breakaway] Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR]. We asked
Tevan Poghosyan, the executive director of the ICHD, to comment on
the changes of the attitude of the people revealed during the recent
Town Hall Meetings. Below you will find his comments.

The THMs were based on various scenarios of the resolution of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Those included the non-resolution
status quo, as well as four resolution scenarios ranging from
Azerbaijani-sponsored "Nagornyy Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan" to
compromise-based solutions. A number of key issues were discussed
through the scenarios, including reconciliation and resettlement
of refugees, stationing of peacekeeping forces in the borderline,
territorial deals, corridors, and most importantly the issue of
security and the status of the NKR. The scenarios were formulated
based on negotiation principles ever reflected in media.

The preliminary analysis of the dynamics of the THM results reveals
a number of qualitative and quantitative findings and observations.

First, it is clear that the position of people on conflict regulation
has toughened significantly throughout 2006-2009. Thus, the status
quo in the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has been supported by only
a third of the THM participants in 2006, however, over half of the
THM participants (58.5 per cent) consider the status quo a proper
development of the conflict in 2009.

Second, the position on regulation of the conflict has toughened
severely among NKR residents.

Specifically, the number of supporters of the status quo has increased
threefold among NKR people in 2006-2009: currently two-thirds of
the THM participants in NKR support the status quo. Interestingly,
the status quo gained more support in Armenia (28 per cent) rather
than in the NKR (37 per cent) in 2006, while currently 44 per cent
of Armenians support the status quo against 77 per cent status quo
supporters in NKR communities.

Third, it is remarkable, that the attitude of the people has changed
drastically throughout 2009. Thus, though the status quo has been
supported by around 40 per cent of the participants of THMs in five
communities of Armenia in January-April 2009, nevertheless the status
quo supporters were 49 per cent of the participants of the THMs in
other five communities of Armenia in May-June 2009.

Moreover, the attitude of the NKR people toughened even more
severely. It is also noteworthy, that the number of the THM
participants in the communities of Armenia who were dissatisfied by
all of the conflict regulation scenarios, as well as the status quo
increased threefold (30 per cent in May-June against 11 per cent
in January-May 2009). This qualitative observation requires minute
interpretation.

The conclusion is quite straightforward: the post-April developments of
Armenian-Turkish negotiations, particularly, well-known public speeches
and messages emanated by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, have changed
the attitude of Armenian and NKR people related to compromise solutions
of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict dramatically. Specifically, despite
expectations that Turkey will respect the commitments on regulating
Armenian-Turkish relations with no preconditions, the following
controversial messages voiced by Erdogan of Turkey several times since
May 2009, that once again linked the improvement of Armenian-Turkish
relations with the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
led to a sound disappointment among Armenians and NKR people.

Such a disappointment has in turn backfired on the perception of
compromise solutions of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and reaching a
trustworthy agreement with Azerbaijan. As a result, the public is far
less perceptive to considering compromise solutions to the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict than it was a few months ago.

AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENTARY VICE-SPEAKER EXPECTS ADVANCE IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT AFTER PRESIDENTS’ MOSCOW MEETING

Today.Az
s/53746.html
July 13 2009
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani parliamentary first vice-speaker hopes for advance
in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement after the Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents’ Moscow meeting.

"I expect advance from the presidents’ Moscow meeting," the first
vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, Ziyafat Asgarov told
journalists on July 13.

He said the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, Ilham
Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan will continue in future, as well. "I have
got familiarization with the last principles of the Madrid Declaration
only in media. I have not seen the paper. I am familiar with the
declaration signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian presidents
in Moscow. The paper notes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is not
a topic for discussions. I have no doubts that the conflict will be
solved as part of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," the first
vice-speaker said.

Asgarov believes peaceful resolution of the conflict meets the both
countries’ interests. "But if the problem is not solved as part of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, start of military operations can
be included in an agenda," he said.