Author: Dabaghian Diana

OPENING OF BORDER ALSO IN TURKEY’S INTERESTS: PETER SEMNEBY

Tert
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

In establishing relations with Turkey, Armenia’s leadership encounters
numerous challenges at the same time, said EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby in his interview to the Russian
daily Vremya Novostey.

That opposition which is present in the process of establishing
relations with Turkey, according to Semneby, is not from inside
Armenia but comes from Armenians leaving abroad. "That is the reason
why I don’t expect the possibility of an explosion inside Armenia.

However, that is a very serious problem for the leadership, since
the Diaspora, which is of much importance for Armenia, doesn’t have
an unequivocal attitude towards the establishment of Armenian-Turkish
relations. It is necessary to ensure the Diaspora’s consent, [while]
also not ignoring the opinions of Armenians living in Armenia. The
latter have their demands, which are mainly socio-economic in nature."

Stating that one cannot ensure the border will open 100 percent,
Semneby expressed confidence that it will take place anyway.

"That is an issue of life importance for Armenia. It is also in
Turkey’s interests. Turkey started the process not because of good
neighbourly disposition towards Armenia but because it’s acting in
its own interests. Naturally, not ignoring Azerbaijan’s interests is
also important for Turkey. But, after all, bringing the process to
its end is in Turkey’s interests," Semneby stated.

PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN PRESENTED THE COUNTRY’S FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE NA

ARMENPRESS
Nov 30, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS: The discussion on "RA 2010 State
Budget" draft kicked off today in the standing committees of the
Armenian National Assembly. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
before passing to chief discussions, presented the country’s financial,
economic situation, the anti-crisis programs of the government and
its results, the budget implementation of this year, expenditures.

According to him, the basis of this year’s activity where anti-crisis
events having the main target the ensuring of macroeconomic and
financial stability which were presented to the NA in November of
the past year.

Steps have been undertaken for the development of important
infrastructures in respect of ensuring activity of regional importance.

The prime minister said that in conditions of crisis the most justified
investments are considered the sums invested in the development of
infrastructures.

>From Armenian infrastructures the prime minister singled out the
construction of the new energy unit. With the results of the tender,
"Warley parsons" company has won and must head the construction works
for the organization of which about 400,000 USD have been spent. The
NA has recently approved the law on construction of new energy unit.

Tigran Sargsyan said this year road of 365 km total length will be
exploited. With their volume these works exceed the volume of the
road construction of the past year: in 2008 163 km of roads were
reconstructed. About 14 billion AMD work have been carried out in
the water supply system, about 300 km of inner network has been
reconstructed.

The projecting works of North-South transport corridor are in
process. The Asian Development Bank has already approved the decision
of providing 500 million USD to Armenia with that aim, 60 million
out of which has been provided.

Concrete steps have been undertaken toward the construction of
Armenia-Iran railway. T. Sargsyan said that a responsible company for
implementing control over the construction works has been created,
budget provisions were made so that the company start working.

During the running year All-Armenian Bank has been established which
will start working from the next year and in near future its head
must be elected. The business program of the bank has already been
developed.

The prime minister also said that in spite of the situation created
in the country as a result of the global crisis and the 18.5 economic
decline, in the "Doing Business" rating Armenia has improved its
position with seven points being ranked the 43d from the past 50th
place.

HEALTHCARE EXPO 2010 TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.11.2009 16:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan will host the 9th Healthcare and Pharmacy
EXPO 2010 exhibition from March 5 to 7, 2010 initiated by LOGOS EXPO
Center and RA Ministry of Healthcare.

The exhibition will be held for heads of health centers, scientists,
doctors and businessmen. It appears as a wonderful opportunity to
hear views and recommendations of leading specialists, to find new
partners and establish links.

The purpose of the exhibition is familiarization with the professional
achievements of foreign companies.

Tert, Armenia
Oct 31 2009

Simultaneous Protest Actions Planned in Georgia
12:56 ¢ 31.10.09

Yesterday Georgia’s opposition submitted official notice to Tbilisi’s
city hall about its intention to hold a mass protest on November 7.

As opposition movement representative Jaba Jishkariani told
journalists, the opposition intends to hold simultaneous
demonstrations at different places in Tbilisi.

Georgia’s opposition rallies will take place on Rustaveli Ave., at the
Ministry of Internal Affairs building, in front of TV broadcaster
Imedi building and at Rike Square, reports Russian news agency
INTERFAX.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS PACKAGE OF TAX AMENDMENTS IN SECOND READING AND COMPLETELY

Noyan Tapan
Oct 29, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on October
29 adopted in the second reading and completely the legislative
package of amendments and additions to the Law on Excise Tax, the
Law on Taxes, the Law on Value Added Tax, the Law on Profit Tax,
and the RA Code of Administrative Infractions. The package envisages
introduction of the institution of the tax body’s representative at
organizations considered as big tax payers.

The parliament also ratified the following international agreements
discussed the day before:

– the Agreement on Some Aspects of Air Communication between the
Republic of Armenia and the European Community signed in Brussels on
December 9, 2008,

– the Agreement on Air Communication between the RA government and the
government of the Republic of Greece signed in Yerevan on July 3, 2009,

– the Convention and the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation
and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income
and Property signed between the governments of Armenia and Luxemburg
in Luxemburg on June 23, 2009,

– the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention
of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income signed between
Armenia and Croatia in Yerevan on May 22, 2009,

– the Credit Agreement on Additional Financing of the Lifeline Roads
Improvement Project signed between the RA and the International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development on September 4, 2009, under
which additional financing of 36.6 million USD will be provided for
rehabilitation of roads in Armenia,

– the Agreement on the Establishment of the Anticrisis Fund of
the Eurasian Economic Community and the Agreement on Management of
Resources of the Anticrisis Fund of the Eurasian Economic Cimmunity.

Under the agreement, Armenia’s share in the authorized capital worth 10
billion dollars of the Anticrisis Fund established jointly by Russia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan will amount to one
million dollars.

EU TRIES TO PLAY BALANCING GAME WITH AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA: ZAMAN

news.am
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

EU has assured Turkey that will open the border with Armenia for
many years. It is not surprising that the Armenia-Turkey Protocols
are welcomed by EU, Turkish Zaman daily reads. NEWS.am posts some
extracts from the article.

The daily underlines that the Protocols "represent the first step
on a somewhat rocky road to hopefully bigger things. After all the
efforts of the last two years, it would be a huge disappointment if
this process were to grind to a halt; therefore, it is clear that both
Yerevan and Ankara are going to come under considerable pressure to
ratify the protocols as soon as possible, even though both countries
face considerable challenges in doing so. And while Turkey’s good
intentions are welcomed by the international community, they are
still viewed with apprehension in Azerbaijan even though Turkey’s
elites continue to promise Baku they will not do anything to hurt
their friendship. While an outsider can look at the bigger picture
and see the potential short-, medium- and long-term benefits for the
region, from an Azerbaijani perspective it must be understandably
hard. Seeing the president of the country that ‘occupies’ around 17
percent of your territory sitting and laughing with the president of
the country you believe to be your best friend is tough for ordinary
folks to comprehend."

"And at the same time, what sort of best friend tries to screw you
over gas prices and transit rates? Whether Turkey will be able to
hold on to the promises it has made to Baku (no border opening without
something happening on Nagorno-Karabakh) remains to be seen as Turkey
may find itself caught between saving its own credibility and Baku.

And defining what is meant by progress is not easy either. We may
believe it to mean liberation — reaching an agreement for a phased
withdrawal of Armenian forces from the ‘occupied’ territories —
but in reality it could be something far less.

Moreover there seems to be little sympathy in the West for Azerbaijan’s
position in all of this. Indeed many people believe that Turkey would
be making a mistake if the normalization process stopped or was held
in limbo because of Azerbaijani concerns. In the EU, for example,
a common view is that the opening of the border may make it easier
to bring about a quicker resolution of the Karabakh conflict — not
a view shared by Azerbaijan, which would see it as Armenia getting
the candies and Baku being left with the empty bag.

The EU has always tried to play a very careful balancing game in its
relationship with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Both are part of the EU’s
European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and the new Eastern Partnership
(EaP), but there are ambiguities. While in Azerbaijan’s ENP Action
Plan, when talking about Karabakh the EU refers to Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity; in Armenia’s it talks about the right
of self-determination. The EU virtually never asks Yerevan to
respect Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, rather preferring not
to take a position but to sit on the fence. Because of Azerbaijan’s
&’autocratic’ image — having questionable respect for democracy —
there seems to be little compassion for Baku even though the country
is of increasing geo-strategic importance not least because of its
hydrocarbon reserves. Azerbaijan is a crucial partner for the EU.

Tapping into Caspian gas is seen as the best remedy to bring an end
to Russian control over Europe’s energy market.

Even speculation of Caspian energy resources to the West being put at
risk has not really helped Azerbaijan gain more sympathy. Rather the
EU seems assured that Baku will not want to shoot itself in the foot
by tying itself solely to Russian and Iranian markets. Aliyev wants
the solid and reliable EU market without having to give Moscow a cut.

In his anger with Turkey, he has talked about other routes that would
cut Ankara out, but these would be extremely tricky and expensive.

Therefore, there is a strong belief that this current &’hiccup’ with
Turkey will sort itself out one way or another, so we should keep our
fingers crossed. But there can be no doubt a good start would be for
Turkey to stop expecting Baku to give it bargain basement prices for
top quality goods and make Azerbaijan a decent deal. This would at
least be a strong gesture of friendship and honesty."

ANTI-PROTOCOLS RALLY IN YEREVAN

Aysor
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

About 20 people including deputy of Armenian Parliament, oppositional
Heritage Party member, Zaruhi Postanjyan, have gathered in front of
the Government of Armenia protesting against the Armenian-Turkish
protocols and its ratification.

Zaruhi Postanjyan told journalists that initiated by Armenian President
process of reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey is not really
interest of Armenian people.

Protesters are also planning to march towards Presidential residency.

TURKEY WILL KEEP ALL PROMISES TO AZERBAIJAN: AMBASSADOR

Trend
Oct 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is important for Turkey, so Turkey
will continue to keep all the promises given to Azerbaijan, said
Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic during the celebration in
Baku on 86th anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is also a problem for Turkey, the
ambassador said. – We believe that the conflict should be resolved
through negotiations. " Kilich also said that Turkey has been
supporting Azerbaijan since its independence and will support in
future. "For us it is important that Azerbaijan would continue to
count on us," he said.

According to the Vice Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Abid Sharifov,
the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan will always be warm.

ARMENIA INTERESTED IN STRENGTHENING RELATIONS WITH LITHUANIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.10.2009 19:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian
met with the deputy minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania
Evaldas Ignatavichus. Welcoming the guest, the Armenian foreign
minister expressed his satisfaction with the dynamic development of
Armenia-Lithuania relations and stressed that Armenia is interested
in deepening and strengthening its ties with Lithuania.

Evaldas Ignatavichus praised the friendly relations between Armenia
and Lithuania, and said that Lithuania intends to take active steps
to intensify cooperation with Armenia in various spheres.

During the meeting the officials discussed in detail the issues of
Armenia-EU and the Eastern Partnership Initiative, press office of
the RA foreign ministry reports.

1,5% POVERTY RATE DECREASE REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.10.2009 20:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan hosted Armenian National Statistic Service
"Social picture in Armenia and poverty" report presentation. The
report is based on Armenian households living standards 2008 research.

According to research results, 1,5% poverty rate decrease was
registered in Armenia in 2008 to comprise 23,5% (760 thousand people).

"Which means 23,5% of Armenia population are living below poverty
line, so poverty is still a crucial issue with the country," Armenian
National Statistic Service Chairman Stepan Mnatsakanyan noted, adding
that the research will allow RA government to develop corresponding
strategy along the lines specified.

Monthly expenditure of below AMD 25188 and ration level below AMD 17
232 per family member are considered as poverty standards.