Author: Chavushian

REASONS WHY ALIYEV DID NOT MEET OBAMA’S ENVOY RISE TO THE SURFACE
by F. Mammadov

Yeni Musavat
June 13 2009
Azerbaijan

Assistant secretary of state made political mistake in Yerevan

The interruption of the visit to Baku by US Assistant Secretary of
State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon has brought up
many questions. As was reported, the high-ranking diplomat in his first
regional debut was not received by President Ilham Aliyev in Baku and
had to interrupt his visit. Neither the Presidential Administration,
nor the US embassy to Baku explained the reasons why Philip Gordon
was not received by Ilham Aliyev.

This is the first time that a high-ranking US official left Baku
without meeting the president. Actually, this shows that Gordon’s
visit was unsuccessful. Since president decides everything in countries
like Azerbaijan and the failure of Philip Gordon, who was dispatched
to Baku with a special task by President Barack Obama, to meet him
[the president] made insignificant other issues that were discussed.

Upon his arrival in Baku, Gordon told journalists that amongst issues
he was about to discuss with officials would be the resumption of
broadcast of foreign radio stations on FM frequencies and the problem
of Nagornyy Karabakh. From this point of view, it is likely that the
president of the country, who is not interested in the resumption of
foreign radio stations on FM frequencies as well as reluctant to step
back, has found a simple way out of the situation, that is to say,
refused meeting the US diplomat.

This step is a demonstrative gesture of Aliyev to the USA and its new
administration. Nevertheless, we wonder if there is only the issue of
the radio stations behind this gesture, or are there other and more
fundamental issues there? It seems there are and they are caused by
the Southern Caucasus priorities of the Obama administration.

If to pay attention, since his accession to power, Obama has made some
serious pro-Armenian steps. During his visit to Turkey, he sought to
succeed in having an agreement signed on the opening of borders between
Armenia and Turkey, trying to influence the Azerbaijani president to
this end. Obama was the first US president, who described the 1915
events as the Armenians do, using the term in the Armenian language.

Finally, the diplomat, whom he sent to the South Caucasus with a
special mission, started his visit from Yerevan and in a demonstrative
manner, like sending out a message to Azerbaijan, he stated that
this was not by chance. In Yerevan Philip Gordon said that the
US administration attaches great importance to the relations with
Armenia and it was not accidental for him to start his visit from
there [Yerevan]. The diplomat also issued statements on the Karabakh
conflict close to Armenia’s position.

It emerged that the most important country for the USA in the region
is exactly Armenia and by dispatching his envoy to Armenia first,
President Obama wanted it be interpreted by the regional countries as a
message. It also turned out that even Georgia is not the most important
regional country for the current US administration. Anticipating
real steps from the Obama administration to make Armenians to
real compromises, Azerbaijan, which is the main regional security
and energy partner of the USA, finds out that Armenia is the most
important country for Washington in this region.

Following this message of the US diplomat sounded in Yerevan and
President Aliyev’s refusal to receive him could actually be considered
a proper answer to Washington. By this reply, the Azerbaijani leader
saved himself from hearing unpleasant conversation of Obama’s envoy
on democracy, radio stations and other similar issues. If Armenia is
a more important country for the Obama administration, what is the
point of discussing issues of democracy with him?!

APA news agency reports that the president did not receive the US
diplomat for his "tight schedule"…[ellipses as published]

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER GETS ACQUAINTED WITH THE WORKS OF "VANADZOR-CHIMPROM" COMPANY

ARMENPRESS
June 23, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan paid today a working visit to Vanadzor where he visited the
"Vanadzor-Chimprom" company to get acquainted with the works conducted
here and the process of construction of a new workshop of cover-panel
production.

The Prime Minister walked round the thermo-electric station of the
company and the chemistry factory where he was presented already
implemented programs and the terms of finishing them.

During the briefing which was followed by a consultation Tigran
Sargsyan informed journalists that a number of basic agreements have
been reached during the consultation. First the Armenian Agriculture
Ministry must work out a complex program on the production of
fertilizers. He assessed that the Vanadzor chemical complex is able
to produce fertilizers which are strictly necessary for the Armenian
Agriculture. According to him, this complex project will give an
opportunity to schedule the development of the agriculture sphere
based on the local fertilizers.

The Armenian Prime Minister said that the factory has been tasked
to work out complex programs in the four main directions in which
it can develop – production of fertilizers, construction materials,
carbide and a number of other materials having great export potential.

T. Sargsyan noted that the construction materials produced here will
be used for the construction in the disaster zone and the constructed
workshop will have a great capacity.

According to T. Sargsyan an investment of 6 million USD is necessary
so that the factory has profitability.

The head of the "Vanadzor-Chimprom" thermo-electric station Edik
Hunanian said the workshops of cover-panels and fertilizers are already
ready for 90%. The other works are in a rapid and sustainable process.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER AND KALININGRAD REGION GOVERNOR DISCUSS STRENGTHENING OF BUSINESS TIES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.06.2009 19:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA prime minister Tigran Sargsyan recived
the governor of Kaliningrad region Georgy Boos, press office of
RA government reports. Tigran Sargsyan dwelled on development
of Armenian-Russian relations, and particularly emphasized the
significance of expanding economic ties with Russian regions and
Kaliningrad.

Mr.Boos spoke about main directions of economic development of the
region, current reforms in banking system, and measures taken to
intensify invetsments. According to him, Kaliningrad region attaches a
great importance to cooperation with Armenia, the country historically
and spiritually being close to Russia.

The interlocutors exchanged views on potential cooperation between
Armenia and Kaliningrad region in tourism, jewelry, agriculture
processing industry. Sides agreed to organize business meeting in
Kaliningrad region.

AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT PROTESTS U.S. CONGRESS’ AID TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH AGAIN

Trend News Agency
June 19 2009
Azerbaijan

Deputy of the Azerbaijani Parliament voiced protest against
the intention of the U.S. Congress to allocate financial aid to
Nagorno-Karabakh again.

"The United States is a strategic partner of Azerbaijan, therefore,
the parliament must protest the support to separatists," Deputy of
Parliament, Chairman of the People Front Party of Unified Azerbaijan
Party, Gudrat Hasanguliyev, told the Parliament.

As for 2009, the U.S. administration allocated $8 million financial
aid to Nagorno-Karabakh. The analogue aid was scheduled for 2010.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

According to Hasanguliyev, the United States being one of the
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and at the same time allocates financial aid to separatists
of Nagorno-Karabakh and such actions are contrary to each other.

"If the U.S. Congress continues to render financial support to
the occupation regime, then how they could achieve the settlement
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan," the deputy said.

This issue must be discussed in the adjusted parliamentary committee
and appropriated statement must be adopted, Hasanguliyev said.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER RECEIVES WRITTEN REQUEST FROM PRESIDENT ON PROCLAMATION OF AMNESTY

ArmInfo
2009-06-16 14:55:00

ArmInfo. Today, speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan
received a written petition from the republic’s president
Serzh Sargsyan on proclamation of amnesty, speaker’s spokesman
Nairi Petrosyan told journalists. He also said H. Abrahamyan met
Co-rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Commission George Colombier and
John Prescott today and told them about receipt of the indicated
letter. According to the speaker, the letter was submitted to the
Standing Parliamentary

Commission for State and Legal Issues, as well as to the government
for their conclusion. As the spokesman said, an extraordinary session
of the Parliament will be held on June 19 at 12:00 PM by the decision
of H. Abrahamyan for discussion of the amnesty proclamation issue.

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND BUILDS NEW SCHOOL IN ARTSAKH’S GISHI VILLAGE

2009/06/ 15 | 13:48
Nagorno Karabakh society

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has begun construction of a new school
in Gishi, a village in Nagorno Karabakh’s Martuni Region. The project
is sponsored by the Vardanyan Family Foundation and the government
of Artsakh.

Designed to accommodate 300 students, the future campus will have
12 classrooms, a computer room, and laboratories for the study of
chemistry, physics, and biology. The school will also feature a
sizeable gym, a first-aid room, a library, an events hall, and a
cafeteria with a 140-person capacity.

"Of the wide range of projects implemented by the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund, I would be hard-pressed to single out the most important ones,"
said Ara Vardanyan, the fund’s executive director. "I think all
of our projects are urgently needed. Still, it’s worth noting that
our school-building initiatives hold a special place in our hearts,
and continue to be carried out with particular care and a sense of
responsibility with respect to our present and future generations."

Gishi’s existing school, which is attended by 220 students, is in a
state of disrepair. Its two crumbling buildings were constructed in
1930 and 1968, respectively.

Commenting on the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund project, Gishi mayor
Gevorg Balayan expressed his strong belief that the new school will
help foster educational excellence, by improving the quality of the
pedagogical and learning processes alike.

According to Hrant Bagratian, tax package under discussion at Armenian
parliament "sheer nonsense"

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The tax package, which is being
discussed at the RA National Assembly and envisages the constant
presence of a tax inspector at big enterprses, is sheer nonsense. The
former prime minister of Armenia, representative of the Armenian
National Congress (ANC) Hrant Bagratian expressed this opinion at the
June 12 press conference. According to him, it is unclear why the
government wants to make such amendments in the tax sector as it will
open new doors for corruption. Besides, in his words, a tax inspector
can go and check work of each enterprise at any moment of the day
instead of spending the whole day at that enterprise.

He added that it is especially unacceptable that this amendment is not
related to importing organizations because imports make up the lion’s
share of GDP. H. Bagratian reminded that under the package submitted by
the government, no tax inspectors will be sent to brandy and wine
manufacturers. In his opinion, this can be explained by the fact that
about 12 NA deputies are engaged in wine and brandy production, and the
government does want to "control" them.

H. Bagratian said that it would be correct to introduce the institution
of tax inspectors in farm and ore reprocessing sectors. In his words,
grapes and tomato wastes must be sealed by the tax inspection so that a
reprocessing enterprise will not be able to present false data to the
state in the future.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION IN PACE: ARMENIA IS READY TO VOICE ITS POSITION ON ANY DOCUMENT, PRESENTED BY THE AZERBAIJANI SIDE IN THE PACE BUREAU

Today.Az
/53109.html
June 12 2009
Azerbaijan

"Armenia is ready to voice its position on any document, presented by
the Azerbaijani side in the PACE bureau", said head of the Armenian
delegation in PACE David Arutyunyan.

Stressing that the bureau will have to say the final word, Arutyunyan
added that with the exception of the adequate presentation of Armenia’s
position, the Armenian side will not take any steps.

When asked of the report regarding establishment of democratic
institutions in the country and possible application of sanctions,
Arutyunyan refused to comment on it, noting that the Armenian
delegation takes due steps which reduce possible application of
sanctions towards the country to minimum.

"I consider that no sanctions will be applied towards Armenia",
concluded he.

Notably, the summer session of PACE will be held on June 25-26 during
which the sides will hear reports on establishment of democratic
institutions in Armenia. Moreover, Azerbaijan intends to present the
issue of the occupational policy of Armenia for discussion.

ARMENIAN EXPERT DOES NOT SEE ANY LINK BETWEEN STOPPING MCC FUNDING AND RUSSIAN CREDIT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.06.2009 21:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Human Rights issues have traditionally played a
greater role for the U.S. democratic administrations, rather than for
Republicans, who have been more interested in strategic partnerships,
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter Stepan Grigoryan, head of the
Analytical Center of globalization and regional cooperation. According
to him, for the George Bush administration Armenia was really a
strategic partner, which could not be stated in regard to Barack
Obama’s administration. "I connect particularly with this situation
the decision to suspend the financing of Armenia by the Millennium
Challenge Corporation. However, I would not say that protection of
human rights dominates so much in the politics of the West. Simple
example of this is Azerbaijan, where situation of democracy is much
worse than in Armenia. Today, the energy sphere is a priority for
the Barack’s administration, which has already resulted to disparity
of military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan and seizing of MCC
financing of Armenia. In my opinion, it is not a tragedy. Of course,
although it will become an unpleasant surprise for the population,
no more," Mr.Grigoryan said.

Armenian expert stressed at the same time, that does not see any
link between suspension of MCC financing and provision of the Russian
$500-million worth credit.

Millennium Challenges Corporation announced that would not resume
funding for any further road construction and rehabilitation. That
decision was made by the board of directors under chairmanship of
the US State’s Secretary Hillary Clinton. "This hold on funding is a
result of actions by the government of Armenia that are inconsistent
with MCC principles promoting democratic governance. MCC’s Board
unanimously expressed regret that this action means that MCC will
not be able to fully fund this project during the compact term,"
U.S. Department of State reported.

EUROPEAN BANK TO INVEST 180 MILLION EUROS IN ROA

2009/06/10 | 10:42

Finances

Dow Jones reports that on Tuesday the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development said it will invest EUR 180 million in Armenia over
the next two years.

The development bank said that although the country isn’t greatly
exposed to the global financial crisis, it will suffer from a drop in
remittances from Armenians working outside the country, and declining
exports.

The EBRD said it will provide loans to Armenian banks that will be
used to finance companies operating in the country, and will make
"selective" equity investments in its leading banks.

In its review of its strategy for the country, the EBRD said reforms
have slowed in recent years and a number of issues need to be
addressed, including "promoting competition and limiting monopolies,
tackling corruption (and) strengthening the financial sector."

It is the largest single investor in Armenia, having committed EUR240
million to 64 projects in the country.