Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

ARMENIAN-CHINESE TRADE-ECONOMIC RELATIONS INVOLVE NEW SPHERES
By Askanaz Abrahamian

AZG Armenian Daily
17/06/2008

Armenia-China

Armenian-Chinese trade-economic relations have a history of
centuries. According to some records, in the 2nd century Armenian
merchants exported silk and sold it not only in Armenia but also in
the region.

Later on, during Mongol invasion thousands of Armenians were taken
prisoners. They were taken to China where natives highly qualifying
the Armenian’s diligence and application to work provided them with
good living and working conditions. In the 14th century an Armenian
church was built in Canton gathering around all the Armenians living
thereabout.

The Armenian teacher of the Chinese language Hovhannes Ghazarian
that is well-known in the world sinology as John Lazarus is the first
one that translated the Bible and many classics of world literature
into Chinese.

Even today Armenians that live in this wonderful country are doctors,
handicraftsmen, merchants and state employees in great demand.

Today China is one of the most powerful countries of the world
and is the first one with its growth indexes. The GDP of China was
10,21 trillion US dollars in 2007. The successes were achieved when
the president of the country Den Syaopin in the 70s of last century
declared of reforming the country’s economy into market course and
took a course of overcoming poverty under a slogan "Poverty is not
socialism".

From1979 to 1997 the GDP of the country rose by 9,8 percent on
average. And already in 1997 China was the 7th in the world with its
potential, and the first with its production of bread, cotton, meat,
coal, computer and programming techniques and TV sets.

A little after proclamation of the third Republic of Armenia
diplomatic relations were established between Armenia and China,
and the trade-economic relations run up that became deeper day by
day involving new spheres.

It’s a pity that the volume and assortment of the goods exported
from Armenia is very little. For example, if in 2006, about 112 mln
US dollars and in 2007, 197 mln US dollars of goods were exported
from China to Armenia, then in the same years Armenia exported
correspondingly 463 thousand and 7,1 mln US dollars of goods.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia does
everything to export to China as many and various goods as possible
and to multiply the Chinese investments in the Armenian economy.

The delegation of Armenian businessmen led by the Chairman of RA
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MP Martin Sargsian left for China
recently to deepen Armenian-Chinese trade-economic relations and to
find new economic partners. The same days, businessmen of Chinese
biggest state led by executives of the state’s trade circulation
visited Armenia.

During their meeting in RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry Executive
Director of the Chamber Araik Vardanian first presented his condolences
to the Chinese friends connected with the devastating earthquake
in Sichuan state. He expressed hope that Armenian-Chinese friendly
and business relations would improve involving more investors and
businessmen.

The Executive Director of RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry mentioned
that today Armenia offers exclusive conditions and the authorities
of the country do everything to spur foreign investments in Armenia
and to involve more investors.

TRAINING: "DETENTION STANDARDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING"

Panorama.am
20:36 16/06/2008

Detention standards and human rights monitoring are the focus of a
two-day training course that began today in the Gegharkunik province
of Armenia.

Participants in the course, which was organized by the OSCE Office
in Yerevan in co-operation with the Armenian Police, include heads,
deputies and inspectors from Armenia’s northern regional police
departments and police detention centers, officers from the Public
Order Department of the Armenian Police, and members of the Public
Monitoring Group.

"The training is designed to increase police officers’ knowledge
of standards of treatment of arrested and detained persons, and
to enhance the monitoring capacity of members of Public Monitoring
Group for Police Detention Centres. I hope this training will also
facilitate a dialogue between the police and the Public Monitoring
Group to help foster co-operation and trust," said Ambassador Sergey
Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Trainers leading the course include Avetik Ishkhanyan, Chairman of
the Armenian Helsinki Committee; Krassimir Kanev, Chairman of the
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and Board Member of the Association for
the Prevention of Torture; Karen Mehrabyan from the Public Order
department; and Erik Svanidze, formerly on the European Committee
for the Prevention of Torture.

A similar two-day training course will be held on 18 and 19 June in the
Vayots-Dzor province for police officers from regional departments and
police detention centres from the southern part of the country. The
newly appointed members of the Public Monitoring Group for Police
Detention Centres will also take part in the course.

300 WEDDINGS IN VANK

KarabakhOpen
13-06-2008 12:04:51

President Bako Sahakyan held a consultation on the organization of
the wedding ceremony of 300 couples in September.

The General Information Department reports that a special commission
headed by the minister of social security Narine Azatyan has been set
up to organize the ceremony. By the end of June the commission will
have worked out the program of the event and will make the list of
the couples who will get married in September.

In the consultation the Archbishop of the Artsakh Diocese Pargev
Martirosyan, Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan, the Russian benefactor
Levon Hairapetyan participated.

It is the initiative of Levon Hairapetyan to hold the ceremony of
wedding of 300 couples in the village of Vank. All the costs will
be covered by a group of benefactors led by Levon Hairapetyan. It
is possible that the sponsors will also provide assistance to young
families.

PRICE RISE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT’S FOCUS
ARKA
June 12

Government focuses on the price rise issue, according to RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

"Nowadays it is a major concern of our community," the Premier said
yesterday at a parliament meeting. "If we want to reduce poverty in
Armenia, we should realize that consumer price rise is a grave threat
for the government program."

Sargsyan has charged ministers to put forth proposals to curb price
rise.

Price fluctuations in global market show that the world has not fully
overcome inflationary pressure, according to the Prime Minister.

He pointed out the four-fold rise in fuel prices for the past four
years.

Sargsyan believes abrupt fluctuations may cause sharp fall in prices.

According to the Prime Minister, wheat and rice prices fell sharply
last month. An integrated approach to price fluctuations is necessary,
Sargsyan said.

The Government undertakes measures to solve the problem. The only
way to curb inflation is to improve the tax and budgetary policy by
collected more taxes and reducing expenditures, so that the budget
could not have an extensive influence on prices, according to the
Premier.

Another important step is to make the Central Bank raise interest
rates to curb inflation in Armenia. The Prime Minister called on the
government to promote free competition. "The State Commission for
the Protection of Economic Competition can assist us by studying the
markets that lack price flexibility," Sargsyan said.

The commission is to inform the Tax Service market study results
to help it reveal attempts to make excess profits, according to
the Premier.

He said the Government plans to implement an agricultural program
the purpose of which is to protect farm workers from sub-purchasers.

"If we want to improve tax and customs administrations, we should
refrain from subjective comments and try to be objective while
implementing mechanisms," Sargsyan said.

He expected to receive support from MPs in achieving this
goal. Sargsyan believes current tax reforms will improve the situation
and build up public confidence in government programs. -0–

RA FOREIGN MINISTER: WHEN WE ADDRESS ALL ISSUES WITH AZERBAIJAN, WE’LL BE READY TO TRADE WITH THIS COUNTRY

Arminfo
2008-06-12 10:59:00

"When we address all issues with Azerbaijan, we’ll be ready to trade
with this country", Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan said
to journalists when replying to ArmInfo correspondent’s question how
he assesses the results of the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents in St.Petersburg taking into account Azerbaijan’s statement
that Baku is not ready for trade and economic relations with Armenia.

The matter concerns serious negotiations and Armenia is ready to
continue them on the basis of the proposals made in Madrid by the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, the minister said. "Over the past few
months, Azerbaijan pretended that there are no such proposals", he
said. However, the meeting of the two countries’ Presidents Sargsyan
and Aliyev inspires hope, he stressed. The minister also pointed out
that after the meeting the presidents instructed the ministers to
continue the talks on the specified proposals. "The OSCE MG co-chairs
will visit the region in late June to discuss the opportunities for
rapprochement of the two countries’ positions on settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict", Nalbandyan said.

HAFIZ PASHAYEV: "PRO-ARMENIAN PROMISES OF THE CANDIDATES FOR US PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY"

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
June 12 2008

Day.Az blitz-interview with Hafiz Pashayev, deputy foreign minister
of Azerbaijan, rector of diplomatic academy, first ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to the United States
(1993-2006).

– Armenian national committee of the United States has declared that
candidate for the US president from democrats Barak Obama will promote
improvement of US policy towards Armenian issues. In turn, the activist
of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the United States announced that Obama,
"finished" by Armenians is the least preferable candidate for the US
President in Azerbaijan. Do you share this opinion?

– Certainly, not. The promises of the candidates for president
during the election campaign indeed can be considered in the sense
of Armenians’ influence on them, but I think it wrong to make such
conclusions, you have mentioned. I think this approach is naive,
considering the past experience of election campaigns in America.

I consider that the fundamental reality is that any US President
will be loyal to the interests of the United States, therefore, the
promises of the candidates during the election campaign should not
be taken too seriously.

– Thus, we can be confident that this time the pro-Armenian
announcements of one of the participants of the pre-election racing
in the United States, in particular, regarding the need to recognize
the so-called "Armenian genocide" by Washington are a PR campaign.

– Yes, Armenians will be active, discuss these issues, impose pressure
on official Washington, but as I have already noted that the main
issue is the interests of the United States and they are mainly
connected with strong ally relations with Turkey.

– And with Azerbaijan in this sense?

– Yes, and with us too.

– Thus, it is not important for us who wins the presidential elections:
either Republican McCain or democrat Obama?

– No, I think the victory of democrats of republicans is an internal
affair of the United States. For us the most important of the US
external policy. Any president, either republican or democrat, will
be loyal to the interests of the United States.

– Can Azerbaijan count on preservation of succession of the US policy
towards our country regarding of the results of elections?

GOVERNMENT PAYING ATTENTION TO DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHEOLOGY IN ARMENIA RECENTLY

ARKA
June 10, 2008

YEREVAN, June 10. /ARKA/. The government is paying particular attention
to development of archeology in recent years, said Pavel Avetisian,
Director of Archeology and Ethnography Institute, Armenia’s National
Academy of Sciences.

Since 2007 additional funds have been allocated for fieldwork
throughout Armenia in particular, Avetisian said.

He also said that in 2008 the government allocated 106mln drams for
research conducted by the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography
with half of it being spent on archeological works.

Avetisian reported that 29 fieldwork projects were implemented by
Armenian archeologists in 2007, including one project in Karabakh.

Fourteen of them were funded by the government, Avetisian said. Nine
projects are being implemented together with international scientific
organizations. The Institute takes also the advantage of laboratory
facilities of international scientific institutions, he said. -0–

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT FINALLY APPROVES AMENDED LAW ON RALLIES

Mediamax news agency
June 11 2008

The Armenian parliament today completely approved in the second
reading changes and amendments to the law "On processions, rallies
and assemblies".

A Mediamax correspondent reported from parliament that 84 MPs voted
for, six against and one abstained.

The changes were made to the law in line with the requirements of the
PACE [Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe] resolution on
the activity of democratic institutions in Armenia.

RESIDENTS OF NOYEMBERIAN REGION PREFER TO USE SERVICES OF GEORGIAN AIRLINES WHEN LEAVING ARMENIA AND SAVE ABOUT 30 THOUSAND DRAMS

NOYAN TAPAN
June 11, 2008

YE REVAN, JUNE 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Many residents of Noyemberian region
prefer to use services of Georgian Airlines rather than Armavia when
flying to Moscow. NT correspondent was informed from Tavush that
the distance between the city of Noyemberian and Tbilisi is 100 km,
while between Noyemberian and Yerevan is 200 km. The price of an air
ticket for Armavia’s flight from Yerevan to Moscow currently makes
86,760 drams, whereas the price of a ticket for Georgian Airways’
Tbilisi-Moscow flight makes a sum equivalent to 66,100 drams. Besides,
no "air duty" is charged at Tbilisi Airport.

According to air tickets sellers, 6 weeks ago – during a season when
many local residents go to work abroad, the difference in prices was
even greater: the price of Georgian Airlines’ ticket to Moscow made
66 thousand drams, while that of Armavia cost 119 thousand drams.
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RESIDENTS OF NOYEMBERIAN REGION PREFER TO USE SERVICES OF GEORGIAN
AIRLINES WHEN LEAVING ARMENIA AND SAVE ABOUT 30 THOUSAND DRAMS

YEREVAN, JUNE 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Many residents of Noyemberian region
prefer to use services of Georgian Airlines rather than Armavia when
flying to Moscow. NT correspondent was informed from Tavush that the
distance between the city of Noyemberian and Tbilisi is 100 km, while
between Noyemberian and Yerevan is 200 km. The price of an air ticket
for Armavia’s flight from Yerevan to Moscow currently makes 86,760
drams, whereas the price of a ticket for Georgian Airways’
Tbilisi-Moscow flight makes a sum equivalent to 66,100 drams. Besides,
no "air duty" is charged at Tbilisi Airport. According to air tickets
sellers, 6 weeks ago – during a season when many local residents go to
work abroad, the difference in prices was even greater: the price of
Georgian Airlines’ ticket to Moscow made 66 thousand drams, while that
of Armavia cost 119 thousand drams.

–Boundary_(ID_ZsM6lkrattn//WTx5YR/PQ)–

POLITICAL SCIENTIST ALEXANDR SKAKOV: "OSCE MINSK GROUP’S STRANGE OPTIMISM HAS NO GROUNDS"

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 11 2008

Baku. Tamara Grigorieva-AAP. "The negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh
conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group give nothing to the parties",
said Alexandr Skakov, head of CIS Department of Russian Strategic
Research Institute in the Yerevan-Moscow-Baku teleconference.

He said negotiations were the same in any format. "The main issue is
that the negotiations were the same within CIS, or UN and OSCE and it
was not important where the negotiations were imitated. Therefore there
is no need in self-deception about the results of the negotiations
within the OSCE Minsk Group. These negotiations give nothing to the
parties. OSCE Minsk Group’s strange optimism has no grounds and they
try to create appearance of useless work". Skakov said relying on the
factor of time was also irrelevant. "It is impossible to hope that
twenty years later Azerbaijan will become the strong country and the
problem will find its solution on its own terms, because the time is
working not only in favor of Azerbaijan, but also in favor of Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh". Skakov said it was important to establish
Baku-Yerevan and Baku-Khankendi platforms for the negotiations.