ARMENIA’S ECONOMY POSTS 13% GROWTH IN JAN.-OCT. 2006
RIA Novosti, Russia
November 20, 2006
YEREVAN, November 20 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia posted a 13% GDP growth
rate in January-October of 2006, as compared with 12.2% a year ago,
the country’s national statistics service said Monday.
Consumer prices rose over the period by 2.4%, year-on-year, while
industrial prices dropped 3.1%.
Foreign trade turnover reached $2.5 billion – a 14.3% increase on
last year.
The 2006 budget projects this year’s economic growth at 7.5% and
inflation at 3%.

ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RUSSIA PROVOKES GROWTH IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
Source: Biznes, November 15, 2006
Agency WPS
The Russian Business Monitor (Russia)
November 20, 2006 Monday
The CIS became a world’s leader according to the speed of GDP growth
among the economic alliances. According to the EBRD, in 2006, GDP
growth of the CIS countries will amount to 6.9% and will remain on
such level in the next few years. The main locomotives of the CIS
are Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan whose growth is based on raw
materials export, consumption and growing investments. In its report
the EBRD remarks that growth in such countries as Armenia, Georgia and
Ukraine is provided by “strong money transfer flows.” Experts are not
surprised by such conclusions and say that economic growth in Russia
inevitable provokes growth in neighboring countries through capital
of private individuals who earn money in Russia but spend it in the
CIS countries.
In its report the EBRD says that economic growth of the countries
located between Central Europe and Central Asia is getting increasingly
provided by growing domestic demand. In general, economic growth in
this region in full year 2006, will amount to 6.2%. Along with this,
according to the EBRD, the CIS became the international regional
organization with the highest speed of economic developing approaching
7% closely. For example, growth of economies of the Southeastern
Europe is forecasted at a level of 5.9%, for Eastern Europe and
Baltic republics the growth is forecasted at 5.3. According to the
speed of growth the CIS outran also NAFTA countries (US, Canada and
Mexico). Eric Berglof, senior analyst of the EBRD, remarks, “We have
not expected such rapid growth of economies of the CIS countries.”
The EBRD expects that in 2006, Russia’s economy will grow 6.5%. All
records are broken by Azerbaijan. Its GDP growth is estimated at 26%.
Analyst Olga Belenkaya of investment company Finam comments, “Such
growth happens primarily on account of the low base effect.” Agvan
Mikaelyan, Deputy General Director of FinExpertiza, remarks, “The
higher the GDP the smaller the influence of the change. For example,
construction of even one plant in an industrially undeveloped country
can lead to a noticeable growth of its economic parameters.”
Peter Westin, senior economist of MDM-bank, adds, “East European
countries already demonstrated economic growth at the beginning of the
1990s. They were also going to become members of the European Union
and NATO from the very start.” Westin added that at the beginning
of reforms the CIS countries were in much worse position and the
initial economic decline was more dramatic than decline in the East
and Central European countries. He also says, “This partially explains
rapid growth of the CIS countries now.”
According to experts, it would be more correct qualitative parameters
like GDP per capita. Westin explains, “In the East and Central European
countries it amounts to $10,000, whereas for CIS countries it amounts
to $1,684.”
In its report the EBRD remarks that growth of Russia’s economy
is conditioned by consumer boom, as well as by growing foreign
investments. The EBRD insists that the nearest task of Russia is
diversification of economy enabling the country to reduce dependence
on raw material export. As to the other CIS countries not rich with
energy resources (Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine), the EBRD sees sources
of their current economic growth in growth of private consumption and
in cash transfer flows. Mikaelyan comments, “Almost all able-bodied
population of these countries works in Russia. These are not only
workers but also businessmen. Russian growth automatically turns
into money that those who have earned it transfer to their countries
and spend it there.” He continues that, for example, Georgia consumes
$2-4 billion brought from Russia, Moldova consumes $1.-1.5 billion and
Armenia and Ukraine consumer $1-2 billion each. The expert concludes,
“Hence there is growth of consumption in these countries.
Our economies are integrated through workers and economic growth of
a number of the CIS countries is provided by growth of the Russian
economy.”

ARMENIAN PREMIER RELUCTANT TO BACK DEFENCE MINISTER’S BID FOR PRESIDENCY – PAPER
Iravunk, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
The head of the political board of the Republican Party of Armenia
and the defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, has big ambitions to take
the post of the Armenian president in 2008, the Armenian opposition
Iravunk has reported.
The paper reports that it would be logical for the party leader and
the prime minister, Andranik Markaryan, to help his fellow party
member to realize his desire.
However, a source close to the party said that Markaryan did not lift
a finger to do this and even said the following in a narrow circle:
“Serzh Sarkisyan’s legitimacy as president will be even lower than
that of incumbent President Robert Kocharyan”. This means that the
prime minister has indirectly said that Sarkisyan will become the
president only if the election is rigged. Markaryan also said that
Sarkisyan “should be clever enough to tell me – let us work together
for your candidacy”.
From: Baghdasarian

LA MEMOIRE DES ARMENIENS SE DONNE A VOIR
par Pierre Barbancey
L’Humanite, France
20 novembre 2006
Manifeste . À La Villette a Paris, parcours entre documents et tableaux
dans l’histoire d’un peuple marquee par le terrible genocide de 1915,
l’immigration mais aussi une soif d’avenir.
On ne sait ce qui prevaut exactement aux declinaisons instaurees ”
L’annee de… ” mais il faut bien admettre que celle qui demarre,
consacree a l’Armenie, ne saurait mieux tomber. Il y a, bien sûr,
l’actualite, le vote francais d’une loi punissant le negationnisme
du genocide armemien. Il y a les mesures de retorsions militaires
du pouvoir turc. Mais il y a aussi la volonte de la communaute
armenienne en France d’aller au-dela du folklore pour donner a voir et
a entendre leurs vies, leur vecu, dont le martyre du groupe Manouchian,
l’Affiche rouge, est un des episodes glorieux. Georges Bensoussan
est par exemple venu dire, a l’occasion d’un debat, le lien entre
tous les genocides et leur particularite.
Installation, expo, films, tables rondes C’est a La Villette que les
” Memoires armeniennes ” (1) se sont installees, sur le parquet de
bal comme cela est joliment precise.
Installation audiovisuelle, exposition, films et tables rondes balisent
le parcours qui s’ouvre sur une carte de l’empire ottoman.
Quinze fenetres videos aident a s’inscrire dans le plateau armenien.
” Nous avons voulu montrer avec ces films, dont certains ont ete
realises il y a vingt ans, montrer comment ces Armeniens sont arrives
en France, a Marseille, Nice, Valence ou ailleurs “, explique Jacques
Kebadian, une des chevilles ouvrières de cet evenement, qui risque
fort d’etre le seul où sera evoque le genocide de 1915. Ils sont partis
comme ils ont pu, emportant avec eux ce qu’ils pouvaient. Un des films
de Kebadian, intitule, au singulier, Memoire armenienne, restitue
les temoignages mais le temps a amene le realisateur a apposer des
” s ” aux memoires multiples. C’est aussi ce que restitue le Centre
de recherches sur la diaspora armenienne (2), dirige par Jean-Claude
Kebabdjian. L’exposition presentee ” est un element de reflexion
et de dignite. Il aurait ete paradoxal de ne pas rendre hommage a
nos ancetres qui ne sont pas venus ici en vacances “, dit-il, en se
souvenant du travail inlassable du depute communiste Guy Ducolone
pour la reconnaissance du genocide armenien et d’accompagnement de
la communaute.
Parcourir les allees de l’exposition, entre documents et peintures,
revèle bien des surprises. Comme ce vieil Armenien, ne en 1925, qui ne
souhaite pas voir son nom cite, qui raconte comment ses grands-parents
ont ete deportes, qui parle des orphelinats où ont echoue beaucoup
d’enfants, armeniens. Il dit simplement se sentir francais ” mais
mes origines sont la-bas “. La comedienne Ariane Ascaride, qui campe
le personnage principal du Voyage en Armenie de Robert Guediguian,
explique aussi comment elle est ” tombee amoureuse de ce pays “, parce
qu’il y a ” dans la culture armenienne des choses qui me correspondent,
de la beaute, ce qui n’est plus pratique en Europe occidentale. Parce
que j’ai vu les degâts que les Sovietiques avaient faits. Ils sont
partis, mais ils les ont laisses dans la merde. Il faut voir comment
ces gens sont impregnes par un liberalisme demoniaque. Qu’est-ce qui
se passe dans la tete des gens ? ” L’actrice ajoute : ” Il y a le
genocide, mais l’Armenie a un avenir. C’est ca qui m’interpelle, qui
m’interesse. ” souvenirs douloureux et exigence de vie Impossible,
evidemment, d’esquiver la question de la memoire. La Villette n’y
echappe pas. Pourtant, les formats empruntes permettent d’arpenter
d’autres chemins. Il y a les peintures d’Aïda Kebadian, qui parlent
de l’enfance, de l’exil, du genocide et de la religion.
Mais ces toiles, certaines realisees au Mexique, temoignent de
l’âprete de l’affrontement entre souvenirs douloureux et exigence de
vie, ici et maintenant comme on dit. Isabelle Ouzonnian ne dit pas
autre chose en presentant l’entretien avec son père, le dramaturge
Jean-Jacques Varoujean, aujourd’hui disparu. ” C’etait très penible,
mais j’avais une très grande envie de ce temoignage, meme si je n’ai
fait que poser la camera “, assure-t-elle.
(1) Jusqu’au 23 novembre , accès libre de 14 heures a 19 heures, Parc
de La Villette, metro porte de La Villette (2) Centre de recherches
sur la diaspora armenienne.
Tel . : 01 42 46 05 58
–Boundary_(ID_WB6I1DXygZeOOMLXuA/cUg)–

RA PRESIDENT TO DEPART FOR CYPRUS ON FIRST-EVER STATE VISIT NOVEMBER 22
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.11.2006 15:56 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian will depart for
Cyprus on a first-ever state visit November 22, Victor Soghomonian told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. The President will meet with the Cypriot
leadership to discuss the Armenian-Cypriot relations, specifically
establishment and expansion of the trade and economic relations
between the two states.

AMERICAN ARMENIANS TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO NAGORNO KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.11.2006 16:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “There is no Armenia without Artsakh and there is
no Artsakh without Armenia. We should do out utmost for sustainable
development of Artsakh,” this was the slogan of the reception organized
by the Armenian Diaspora in honor of NKR President Arkady Ghukasian
in Santa Anna (California) last Saturday, reports the NKR MFA press
office. For his part the NKR President expressed gratitude to the
American compatriots for lasting multisided support rendered to
Artsakh. He underscored that Karabakh owes many of its achievement
to this support. The meeting participants voiced readiness to go
on assisting the republic via various development programs. The
importance of the TV marathon to be held on November 23 was also
marked out. Well known philanthropists Kosti and Merian Shirvanian,
Ralf and Savi Tufenkian, Hakob and Mina Shirvanian, Vartkes and Mary
Najarian, Vahe and Veronic Karapetian, Roger and Elen Ohanissian,
Hakob Baghdassarian and others as well as RA Consul General in Los
Angeles Armen Liloian were present at the event.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION SETS DECEMBER 6 AS DEADLINE FOR TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.11.2006 17:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Finland, the holder of the rotating EU presidency,
has given Turkey a respite until December 6 to resolve the Cyprus
deadlock. In his speech to members of parliamentary EU affairs
committees in Helsinki, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen stated
that the European Commission would take a recommendatory decision
about the Cyprus issue in the first week of December, adding that
the decision will be discussed at the General Affairs and External
Relations Council meeting to be held on December 11.
The deadline for Turkey as Vanhannen stated is before the decision on
advice. On one hand European commission is demanding opening the sea
and airports to Greek Cypriots and on the other Turkey is demanding
the lifting of the isolations on The Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus. “Time is running out”, the Finnish premier remarked. “If
Turkey does not honor its commitments, the EU will need to reconsider
the implications for the accession process,” Mr. Vanhanen noted,
reports Cihan News Agency.

IRANIAN TV CHANNEL CALLS TO COUP D’ETAT IN AZERBAIJAN, BAKU SAYS
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.11.2006 18:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Compass everyday program broadcast by Iranian
satellite television contained calls for forcible change of
Constitution of Azerbaijan, which does not ‘correspond to Islamic
traditions’. The publication of Rafik Taghi in Sanat Azeri newspaper,
which insulted Prophet Mohammed, was used as a ground for such calls.
The program presenters persuaded the Azeri citizens to perform fetva
(the verdict of religious leaders) against publicist Rafik Taghi. The
Iranian TV Channel said that the Muslim population of Azerbaijan
should perform the orders of their religious leaders but not obey
the government.
Almost the whole Sunday program that lasted for an hour consisted of
open calls to the Azerbaijani population, reports Mediaforum.

OSCE MG ARRIVING IN YEREVAN NOVEMBER 21
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.11.2006 18:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement will arrive in Yerevan November 21, RA MFA
Acting Spokesman Vladimir Karapetian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
The mediators will meet with RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and
President Robert Kocharian.
“The further steps for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement will
be discussed during the visit, which is held upon the outcomes of
the Brussels meeting of the FMs,” Karapetian said.
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SERGE SARGSYAN TO PARTICIPATE IN SITTINGS OF CIS AND CSTO COUNCILS OF DEFENSE MINISTERS
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.11.2006 18:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ November 22 the Armenian delegation led by Secretary
of the Security Council at the RA President, Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan will depart for Brest to take part in the sittings of the
CIS and CSTO Councils of Defense Ministers scheduled for November
23, Defense Minister’s Spokesman, colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told
PanARMENIAN.Net. November 24-25 the Armenian delegation will take
part in the sitting of the Council of the CSTO Secretaries of Security
Councils. Signing of programs on military cooperation is also expected.