Author: Zargarian Hambik

ANC TO NEGOTIATE WITH "HERITAGE" OVER RUNNING IN YEREVAN MAYOR ELECTIONS BY UNITED LIST

Noyan Tapan

M arch 16, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 15 joint sitting of the
political board and the head office of the Armenian National Congress
(ANC), a decision was made to empower the head office to discuss
"Heritage" party’s proposal on running in the upcoming elections of
Yerevan mayor by a united list and to start official negotiations in
this connection.

To recap, the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian, who will
lead the list of the ANC running in Yerevan mayor’s elections, took
part in this sitting. According to a press release of the ANC, the
above mentioned decision was made, "taking into account the essential
role of the city of Yerevan in the political and economic life of
the country, as well as the fact these elections should be viewed as
a key stage for restoring the constitutional order in the country".

IRNA, Iran
March 13 2009

Iranian foreign minister, Armenian president praise ties

Tehran, 14 March: Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuchehr Mottaki said
relations between Iran and Armenia, directed by the presidents of the
two countries, have been expanding.

Mottaki, at a meting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan
on Friday [13 March], said he had had good consultations with Armenian
officials about President Sargsyan’s upcoming visit to Iran and
expressed hope that new steps would be taken in bilateral relations by
signing new documents.

Expounding on potentials of both countries in cooperation and trade,
Mottaki said the existing relations are not what should be and it is
expected that new ideas could be put forward to deepen ties in
different fields.

He added: " We hope to promote the trend of development in the region
by signing a free trade agreement, building a railway, construction of
the Aras hydraulic power plant, and further use of abilities of
Iranian contractors in different projects in Armenia."

On the political situation in the Caucasus, Mottaki said that peace is
the first condition for sustainable development in the region and Iran
does what it can to help its Azeri and Armenian friends to end their
dispute over Karabakh.

President Sargsyan, for his part, expressed hope that big developments
could be created in bilateral relations.

He added: "Our ultimate goal is linking the Persian Gulf to the Black
Sea, and to materialize it, we need to implement big projects in
infrastructure among which is the railway to connect the two countries
that is an important project for Armenia."

President Sargsyan called for promoting bilateral relations in two
fields. First, giving momentum to existing cooperation and second,
planning for greater objectives.

He said he would pursue these objectives in his trip to Tehran.

On the role of Iran in resolving regional disputes, President Sargsyan
praised the role and said: " Iran as an influential country in the
region, has always had a balanced role and we welcome Iran’s efforts
to end the dispute over Karabakh."

The Iranian foreign minister has been in Yerevan since Thursday [12
March] on an invitation by his Armenian counterpart Edvard Nalbandyan.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Ombudsman’s office received 18 complaints in February
12.03.2009 19:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Financial Ombudsman’s Office was set up in
Armenia in accordance with Legislation on Financial Ombudsman and
launched its activities on Jan 24, 2009. A preliminary report for
February 2009 results was submitted by Financial Ombudsman.

According to the report, 18 complaints were filed in February. 10 of
them were not subject to Ombudsman’s consideration and other four were
not preliminarily sent to financial organizations, as stipulated by
law. The other 4 complains were submitted in the form prescribed and
were therefore accepted for ombudsman’s consideration.

Two complaints related to plastic card operations, with significant
sums withdrawn from client’s account. One complaint was filed against
the bank for violation of investment terms, and the last – against the
Insurance company for refusal to compensate damages caused. At
present the complaints are being considered by the Ombudsman in
accordance with the relevant legislation. Following Ombudsman’s
consideration, further proceedings will be controlled by the
ombudsman’s office.

Armenian government establishes railway-controlling division in
transport and communication ministry

YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. Armenian Government has established a new
division in Transport and Communication Ministry for controlling
development of railways.

Armenian Transport Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said that the division will
monitor programs on development of railways.

`Besides, the division will control the fulfillment of the concession
agreement and improvement of effectiveness of railways’, he said.

Armenian Railway is run by South-Caucasian Railways, fully owned by the
Russian Railways Company.
South-Caucasian Railway listed in its fixed assets the rolling stock of
the Armenian Railways on June 1, 2008, under a concession contract of
February 13, 2008.-0—

Armenian prime minister: Government of Armenia develops and implements
state-private business cooperation concept aimed at reconstruction of
the country’s big enterprises

2009-03-13 19:05:00

ArmInfo. The government of Armenia has developed and is implementing
the state-private business cooperation concept able to lead to
activation of the process of reconstruction of the big Armenian
enterprises, Prime Minister of Armenia told journalists when replying
to ArmInfo correspondent’s question about the destiny of the
currently-idle giants of the local industry.

As he said, the concept supposes development of long-term programmes
by the state based on the principle of cooperation with the private
economy sector. `The state should assist the owners where it is able,
and must not hinder the owners where they should assume the risks in
the process of investments’, T. Sarkisyan said. Such a mutual
cooperation is a guarantee of harmony of the investors’ programmes
with the government programmes, and the legislative field in the
future will not become an obstacle for the business development, that
makes the investors confident during attraction of serious investments
into the big enterprises of Armenia for profit earning. T. Sarkisyan
recalled that the major part of Armenia’s big enterprises, which used
to occupy the monopoly position in the whole Soviet space, were
privatized in 1990-1995. There was more romanticism that time, people
believed that the owners will appear after privatization and manage
these enterprise more efficiently. Unfortunately, this approach did
not prove itself as the new owners had no relevant knowledge and were
not acquainted with the market economy rules, that led to the negative
consequences. `We did not know how to organize the work of the
enterprises, and the agreements, signed with the owners, did not take
into account the state interests paying more attention to protection
of the interests of private owners. Very often, when the cases
appeared in the courts, it turned out that there were no points
available in the agreements aimed at protection of the state
interests, that led to defeat of the state in the courts on the own
suits’, the PM said.

As a result, T. Sarkisyan said, serious problems appeared. At the same
time, he recalled about existence of the problem of common economic
ties among the former USSR republics, while in the conditions of
independence the activity of these enterprises turned out to be
unprofitable. Investments were required to turn these enterprises into
profitable business, however, there were no investments because of
absence of private owners with an accumulated capital. `Naturally,
absence of these funds and clear ideas about the ways of development
of these enterprises led to the present situation’, the prime minister
said. Afterwards, the required experience, knowledge and funds were
gradually accumulated, which could be directed to reconstruction of
these enterprises’, T Sarkisyan emphasized.

Trend, Azerbaijan
March 13 2009

Turkey may establish relations with Armenia to gain time to settle
`genocide’ problem in future: experts
13.03.09 09:01

Azerbaijan, Baku, March 12 /Trend News, E. Tariverdiyeva/

Turkey may establish the relations with Armenia without agreement of
the ‘genocide’ problem, so that to gain time for more successful
resolution of the problem in the future, experts believe.

"Having de-facto multi polar economic relations, Turkey and Armenia
will more likely to postpone the genocide problem in order to use the
present chance and to settle challenges de jure," Azerbaijani expert
Tofig Abbasov said.

Settling the Armenian-Turkish ties can not run into doubt the fact of
"genocide" of the Armenians, said Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian delivering a speech at the International Diplomatic Academy
in France.

Turkey and Armenia is trying to normalize relations, which were
interrupted in 1993. Turkish President Abdullah Gul accepted the
proposal of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to visit Armenia to
attend the football match between Armenia and Turkey on Sept. 6 last
year. After this visit the sides are continuing diplomatic efforts to
normalize relations between the two countries.

The reasons for the diplomatic gap in 1993 were Yerevan’s anti Turkish
campaign-related to claims of the Armenians to recognise the so-called
"genocide", as well as occupation of 20 per cent territories of
Azerbaijan and territorial claims in the Turkish Anatolia.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey’s predecessor the
Ottoman Empire has committed genocide against Armenians living in
Anatolia in 1915. Armenians want this fact to be recognized and
enhancing the promotion of the so-called "genocide" in the world. Some
parliaments have already recognized the genocide. The Armenian lobby
is expected to enhance its activity in other parliaments, especially
in the U.S. Congress due to the anniversary of the "genocide".

On the eve of the U.S. President’s visit to Turkey, scheduled for
April, four congressmen sent a letter to Barack Obama. The letter
urged Obama to retain commitment to the recognition of "genocide" of
Armenians in 1915.

According to political scientists, Turkey may establish relations with
Armenia without a final agreement on the "genocide", but only in order
to gain time to successfully tackle this problem in the future.

The discussion of Armenian "genocide" in the U.S. is a subject to
blackmail and pressure on Turkey, as the recognition of this issue
will be a blow to Turkey’s foreign policy, said Turkish political
scientist Sinan Ogan.

"Turkey can improve relations with Armenia without preliminary
agreement on the "genocide" in order to solve this problem in the
future. For Turkey it will be easier to agree with a partner," Turksam
Center for Strategic Studies Director Ogan told Trend News

According to Abbasov, Turkey has advantage and is able to block the
"genocide" issue. Then, Armenia will have to agree. Yerevan does not
have an alternative, he said.

"Armenia does not posses the potential to dictate conditions to Turkey
on stage-by-stage settlement of problems, including the "genocide",
Media-Holding Lider Analytical Group expert Abbasov told Trend News.

Even if there would be favorable prerequisites for tackling of the
issue, it will be pushed shut. The "genocide" issue is too tough and
protracted and for this reason it can not find a rapid resolution,"
Abbasov added.

According to Armenian political scientist Tevan Pogosian, there are
two different issues historical truth and the problem of relations
between the two countries which are neighbours and need to improve the
relationship for the sake of future prosperity and peaceful
coexistence with each other.

"I do not think that one issue could be a problem to solve another,"
Armenian International Social Development Centre Pogosian told Trend
News.

Armenia stated repeatedly that it was ready to improve the relations
and establish diplomatic ties without any preliminary terms.

‘The improvement of relations with Turkey is a matter of the future
and the genocide problem is a matter of the past," Pogosian added.

R.Hafizoglu and D.Ibrahimov contributed in the article.

Former deputy foreign minister of Russia: In Baku and Yerevan they
understand very well that settlement of the Karabakh conflict on the
bilateral basis is impossible

2009-03-12 12:08:00

ArmInfo. In Baku and Yerevan they understand very well that settlement
of the Karabakh conflict on the bilateral basis is impossible, such is
peculiarity of the Karabakh conflict, former deputy foreign minister of
Russia Andrey Fedorov told ArmInfo correspondent.

‘It is not accidental that at present rumors are circulating that
Azerbaijan should come closer to NATO in future up to the stage of
‘active partnership’. And the USA along with the alliance should
guarantee safety of hydrocarbon delivery from the Caspian region to
Europe’, – Kommersant newspaper says.

On the other hand, as Fedorov said, the situation of the long-lasting
uncertainty is seriously affecting domestic political situation in
every country of the conflict as well stability of the region in
general. In this context Fedorov said that whole generation in
Azerbaijan and Armenia has grown up under the pressure of the Karabakh
conflict, around which the great part of the election campaigns is
built in these countries; and politicians rise their rating, he
explained.

Touching on Russia’s participation in the settlement process within the
frames of the OSCE Minsk Group, Fedorov said the process remains not so
much effective, although it resolves the problem of temporary stability.

‘It is principally important for Russia, as any military conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia would become a heavy political trial for
Russia because of the clear reasons’, – he emphasized.

10% growth in number of tourists to Armenia expected this year

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, NOYAN TAPAN. By data of the World Tourism
Organization, the average annual growth of tourism in the world made
4-4.5%, even 6.2% in 2007, but it declined to 3-3.5% in 2008. The Head
of the Tourism and Territorial Economic Development Department of RA
Ministry of Economy Mekhak Apresian said at the March 11 press
conference that if the current conditions in terms of developments in
the global economy remain, the growth of tourism will make 0-1% this
year.

In his words, the global crisis will have a negative impact on
Armenia’s tourism sector, in particular the indices of organized
(package) tourism will fall this year. Nevertheless, by his forecast,
the number of tourists to Armenia will increase by 10% this year. The
number of Diasporan Armenian tourists making up 60% of the total number
will remain the same.

M. Apresian announced that several measures were developed jointly with
the private sector, which will allow attracting more tourists to
Armenia. The bill on making amendments to the Law on State Duty has
already been submitted to the National Assembly. The bill proposes
establishing different rates of duty for an entry visa into Armenia.

At the same time M. Apresian underlined that more attention should be
paid to prices of tourist services provided by the private sector as
the state may not reduce these prices. "We should speak about
competitive rather than low prices, while our policy should be aimed at
presenting Armenia as a tourism place with high-quality services in the
international tourism market," he said. It was mentioned that in order
to achieve competitive prices, the state should create favorable
conditions and ensure an appropriate investment environment for
encouraging entrepreneurial activity in the sector.

«GLOBUS ENERGY AND REGIONAL SECURITY», ISSUE 1

"Noravank" Foundation
11 March 2009

`Noravank’ Foundation issued the first number of `Globus Energy and
Regional security’ journal for 2009, devoted to the energetic and
political developments in Armenia and the region.

The journal is published together with CJSC `ArmRosGazprom’ and is the
only printed publication in Armenia, devoted to the regional energetic
developments.

The purpose of the journal is to unify the analytical resource of
Armenia for the professional study, adequate analysis and prognosis of
the regional energetic and relating processes going on in Armenia and
in the region.

Some materials from the journal will be placed on our site.

ARMENPRESS

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN RECEIVES AMBASSADOR OF NETHERLANDS TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS: Secretary of the Armenian National
Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan received today ambassador of
Netherlands to Armenia Onno Elderenboss. Press service of the National
Security Council told Armenpress that during the meeting the sides
discussed issues on stability and security in the region,
Armenian-Turkish relations, Karabakh conflict regulation process,
Armenia-EU cooperation.
The sides also referred to the pace of implementation of events
within the framework of 2009-2011 Armenia-EU action
program. A. Baghdasaryan informed that an inter-departmental task
group has been set up which will adopt national program of Human
Rights Defense.
The interlocutors also referred to the `Security in Caucasus’
international conference which will be held in Yerevan in May.