Author: Khoyetsian Rose

PanARMENIAN.Net

Bordyuzha: NATO is not ready to talk with CSTO
12.03.2009 01:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO and its Russian-dominated counterpart, the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), should work together
to form a new security system in Europe, the head of the CSTO said in
Brussels on Wednesday. "Nowadays, the system of the balance of power
in Europe is failing. The security architecture has to be re-made,"
CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told journalists in Brussels,
The Earth Times reports.

"We think that the situation demands that (the CSTO and NATO) work
together," he said after talks with the ambassadors of CSTO member
states at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels.

Bordyuzha’s statement implies that both alliances could be part of any
future deal, in what is likely to be taken as a positive sign by NATO
members.

"We are ready to unite our efforts" with NATO, he said.

The CSTO is a group of seven countries – Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Uzbekistan – who have pledged to
jointly defend one another’s security.

Bordyuzha said that he saw no reason for a collision between the CSTO
– sometimes referred to as the "Russian NATO" – and NATO.

"They are all dealing with the same problems of security," such as
terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal migration. The CSTO has been
pushing for the last four to five years for more cooperation with NATO
on those issues, he said.

"Unfortunately, NATO is not ready to talk with us," he said.

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN GET ACQUAINTED WITH METHODS OF MAKING USE OF `GSP+’ SYSTEM

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: With the support of the Armenian
Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen the `Grigorian and Partners’
consulting company today acquainted the Armenian businessmen,
particularly those who export products from Armenian to EU markets,
with the methods of making use of `GSP+’ system. With this aim a
practical course on `Generalized System of EU Privileges: GSP+’ has
been organized.
`GSP+’ is a regime of making use of trade privileges in European
market. According to it, nearly 6 000 types of products which are
exported to the European community become free of the customs
tax. Armenia got opportunity of making use of this regime for three
years from October 1, this year.
According to the head of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
Arsen Ghazarian, if the results are pleasing the term will be
prolonged for another three years.
`If we are able to export 100-150 types of goods on this regime, it
will be a great potential for our country’,- he said.
A. Ghazarian noted that companies which deal with re-procession of
food, production of drinks, plastic goods, aluminum foil have a real
opportunity to make use of this regime.
In the future reprocessed copper and molybdenum are intended to
export to European countries on this regime. According to
A. Ghazarian, Armenia must restore its role as a transit bridge.
`Today when we speak about the membership of Armenia in `GSP+’
system which gives an opportunity to make use of trade privileges, our
country acquires a very important function: by producing a joint
product with the neighboring countries it exports them to the European
market.
We consider Armenia a transiting country of business management and
coordination and must do our best to make a full use of this
opportunity’,- he explained.
A. Ghazarian also informed that already cooperation has been
conducted with the Turkish partners. They are particularly interested
in Armenian enterprises which deal with textile production.
`This is a result of years of activity that we have conducted with
the Turkish businessmen and we hope that during the upcoming one-two
years many Armenian enterprises of the sphere will work in a more
refurnished and saturated order, like years ago. The visit of Turkish
specialists to Armenia is intended for the upcoming month’,- he said.
According to deputy Armenian Economy Minister Vahe Danielian,
Armenia was involved in `GSP’ system during the previous three years,
but due to the efforts of the President of the republic it was seeking
to `GSP+’ system.
`It’s important because the `GSP’ system allowed our economy to
develop, but it was useful for the first round of development of our
country, when Armenia was a country which produced row materials and
exported them. `GSP+’ is a very attractive suggestion for us. We must
listen to your suggestions to know what kind of issues there exist
which must be overcome to make use of the system more efficiently’,-
the deputy minister applied to the businessmen.

The Messenger, Georgia
March 9 2009

Russia-Armenia import-export problems

By Messenger Staff
Monday, March 9

Russian company Black Sea Ferry Investment, which runs rail ferry
transport between the Russian port of Kavkaz and Poti, has declared a
price cut of USD 400 for every transported carriage. The reason for
such a decrease is the serious slowing down of carriage transport
between the two countries.

Senior management of the company states that every month in 2008 four
journeys from Kavkaz to Poti were undertaken. The ferry boat was
loaded to full capacity but from 2009 Russian export to Armenia
decreased, and as is known mostly Armenian cargo was transported via
this route.

Export from Armenia to Russia has always been much less than export
from Russia to Armenia. The ferry boat connection between Kavkaz and
Poti was opened in 2004. The ferry was owned by Swiss-registered
company Preserve Capital Enterprises and mostly transported cargo to
and from Armenia. Before 2004 the connection with Poti was conducted
through the Ukrainian port of Ilichevsk, but in both cases the cargo
from Poti to Armenia was transported onward by rail. After Kavkaz port
opened the price of the transportation decreased by 25% and the time
from 50 hours to 31 hours.

In 2008 Armenia exported construction materials, mineral water, fruit
and vegetables to Russia whereas Russia exported to Armenia cars and
other machinery, tractors and different types of grain. The dramatic
decrease in traffic however has now made the continued profitability
of the ferry boat problematic. Hacked By Fdt

PanARMENIAN.Net

IMF expects sharp reduction in Caucasus and Central Asia countries’
growth rate 09.03.2009 22:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At a conference held in Bishkek yesterday, organized
by the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic and the IMF, senior
officials from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz
Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, and from international
financial institutions discussed the impact and policy implications of
the global economic crisis.

Prime Minister Igor Chudinov of the Kyrgyz Republic noted in his
opening remarks that the subject of the conference is important and
timely. After the external price shocks, the Kyrgyz Republic, like
other countries in the region, was confronted with the impact of the
global financial crisis. Last year, it managed to maintain sustainable
macroeconomic performance, but the outlook is getting more difficult,
he said.

IMF Middle East and Central Asia Director Masood Ahmed also stressed
that the international financial crisis and global economic slowdown
would impact economic prospects for the countries of the Caucasus and
Central Asia. The IMF expects a sharp reduction in the region’s growth
rate from 6 percent in 2008 to less than 2 percent in 2009, he added.

Conference participants agreed that the countries in the Caucasus and
Central Asia region are increasingly being swept up by the spreading
global crisis, with countries that are very reliant on Russia or have
large external financing needs being hit hardest. Russia remains a key
trading partner and a major source of remittances for most of the
region, and the slowdown there is hurting growth via trade and
remittance channels, spilling over to domestic demand. Returning
migrant workers may create an additional burden. Commodity exporters
in the region are suffering from the decline in global demand and the
sharp drop in commodity prices, while those countries more closely
integrated with international financial markets are experiencing
serious financing constraints.

The external dimension of the crisis is clearly reflected in the
region’s balance of payments. The average current account balance of
the region will shift from a large surplus in 2008 to a small deficit
in 2009. Government finances are similarly affected. With lower growth
and commodity prices, the region’s average fiscal position is moving
from a surplus to a deficit.

Pressures on financial sectors in the region have intensified,
National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic Governor Marat Alapaev noted,
especially in those countries where banks face large external rollover
needs, but also in other countries not directly exposed to the global
financial difficulties. With the deterioration in economic and
financial conditions, credit growth has come to a halt in many
countries, and loan losses have started to rise. The large
depreciation of the Russian ruble has put pressure on regional
currencies, and participants noted that countries are faced with the
challenge of maintaining competitiveness while ensuring stability in
financial sectors with large external liabilities and foreign currency
loans to unhedged borrowers.

Country authorities in the region have been proactive in addressing
the consequences of the crisis, but participants agreed that further
policy actions would be needed to support growth and the poor, and
safeguard financial systems. Actions already taken include liquidity
provision, capital injections, disposal of problem assets, and the
provision of deposit guarantees. Exchange rate adjustment is also
helping a number of countries to absorb the large external shocks and
stem the decline in reserves. The appropriate exchange rate response,
however, participants noted, depends on country circumstances.

Some countries have room for a fiscal stimulus to bolster
demand. Commodity exporters in the region plan to draw on the assets
they have accumulated in recent years of high commodity prices to
support activity through public spending and to assist the financial
sector. The smaller economies in the region, however, do not have such
resources to support growth and the poor. Participants agreed that
cushioning the impact of the crisis in these countries would therefore
depend critically on the availability of increased aid flows from
donors, said a press release issued by the IMF external relations
department.

US Department of State
, USA
March 7 2009

Joint Statement by Turkey and the United States of America on the
Occasion of the Visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton Upon the Invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
Ali Babacan

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
Ankara, Turkey
March 7, 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
today reaffirmed the strong bonds of alliance, solidarity and
strategic partnership between the Republic of Turkey and the United
States, as well as the commitment of both countries to the principles
of peace, democracy, freedom, and prosperity enshrined in the Shared
Vision and Structured Dialogue document agreed to in July 2006.

Turkey and the United States reiterated their determination to
continue close cooperation and consultation on all issues of common
concern. They pledge to contribute to peace and stability in the
Middle East and in this context, to support a permanent settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict, including alleviating the humanitarian
crisis in Gaza and resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the
basis of a two-state solution; to enhance energy security and to
expand the Southern corridor of natural gas and oil infrastructure to
enable Caspian basin and Iraqi energy producers to reach European and
world markets; to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the
south Caucasus, including through U.S. support for the efforts of
Turkey and Armenia to normalize relations and joint support for the
efforts of the Minsk Group to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict;
to continue to cooperate in the Balkans; to support strongly a
comprehensive and mutually-acceptable settlement of the Cyprus
question under the auspices of the UN and in this context ending the
isolation of the Turkish Cypriots; and to enhance their cooperation in
the fight against terrorism, particularly against their common
enemies, the PKK and al-Qaeda. The United States will continue its
intelligence support for Turkish operations against the PKK and is
reviewing ways to be more supportive. As members of the G-20, Turkey
and the United States pledge continued cooperation to deal with the
global economic crisis and efforts to increase and diversify bilateral
economic relations with particular emphasis on trade, investment,
scientific and technological cooperation.

Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Babacan discussed Turkey’s
accession to the European Union as a member, a goal the United States
continues to strongly support, as well as the Government of Turkey’s
continued emphasis on reform process. With their commitment to
Transatlantic relations and as Allies in a strong NATO, they pledge
continued cooperation in Afghanistan, including through continued
Turkish contributions to Afghanistan. They reiterated their commitment
to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq as well as
reiterated their support for a democratic, pluralistic, unified and
federal Iraq. They also welcome Turkey’s deepening relations with the
Government of Iraq as evidenced by high level visits as well as
trilateral meetings to discuss cooperation against the PKK. Turkey and
the United States will strongly back the United Nations Security
Council in its work to maintain global peace and security for the
prevention and removal of threats to the international community and
in this context will cooperate in dealing with issues including
terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime and the threat of the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of
delivery in the region and beyond.

Finally, they reaffirmed their determination to diversify the broad
based bilateral relations particularly between the Turkish and
American people. In that context, the Secretary and Minister announced
the establishment of `Young Turkey/Young America: A New Relationship
for a New Age.’ This initiative will enable emerging young leaders in
Turkey and the United States to develop initiatives that will
positively impact people’s lives and invest in future ties between the
leadership of our two countries.

a/03/120113.htm

GDP WENT DOWN BY 7%

A1+
[08:16 pm] 05 March, 2009

Fitch: Proposed IMF Programme Would Support Armenia’s Ratings

Fitch Ratings-London- 5 March 2009: Fitch Ratings says today that a
proposed IMF loan facility for USD540m would support the adjustment
of Armenia’s economy in the face of a global and regional economic
shock, and support the outlook for its sovereign ratings. Armenia’s
foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) are ‘BB’
with Stable Outlooks. The Country Ceiling is ‘BB+’ and the country’s
Short-term rating is ‘B’.

"Armenia’s decision to seek a precautionary IMF programme and
allow a freer float for the currency is a welcome signal of the
authorities’ cautious approach to managing current difficulties,"
says Andrew Colquhoun, Director in Fitch’s Sovereigns Group. "However,
the reserves loss to end-January indicates the scale of the shock,
and suggests there is little room for policy missteps which could
undermine macroeconomic stability and increase downwards pressure on
the ratings."

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn has requested that the
IMF’s Board approve a USD540m, 28-month Stand-By Arrangement for
Armenia, at a planned 6 March meeting. A programme approval would
follow a 24% fall in official reserves to USD1.26bn by end-January
2009, from USD1.66bn at end-2007. The central bank (CBA) has said it
spent USD360m supporting the Armenian dram (AMD) at around 305 to 1

USD during 2008, to support confidence in the partly-dollarised
financial system amid global financial turmoil and political
tensions. The CBA says it will now permit greater exchange-rate
flexibility, and expects the AMD to settle around 370 to the
USD. However, the CBA has held back from formally committing to an AMD
target or band. The IMF programme will include support to Armenia’s
banks, enabling them to absorb the consequences of AMD depreciation
for the 38% of loans in the system denominated in foreign currency.

With bank credit to the private sector of only 17% of GDP at end-2008,
any potential problems in the still relatively well-capitalised
banking sector should be more manageable than for most of Armenia’s
regional peers.

Armenia’s GDP growth slowed to 6.8% in 2008, from 13.8% in
2007. The economy contracted by 0.2% in Q408, hit by an 11% fall in
construction. The sharp downturn in the Russian economy in Q408 is
likely to have affected remittance receipts, an important source of
foreign exchange and demand. The IMF projects that Armenia’s economy
could shrink 1.5% in 2009, although the authorities expect growth
of around 2% driven mainly by fiscal stimulus, partly funded from
official sources. In addition to the likely IMF programme, Armenia is
expected to receive a USD500m credit from Russia, and up to USD525m
from the World Bank for SME financing over four years.

Securing and successfully implementing the IMF programme and sustained
domestic policy discipline would support the ratings. Geopolitical
risk remains a background feature in a volatile region, although
there have been signs of progress towards a resolution of Armenia’s
frozen conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan. Domestic political
risk appears to have eased after the election-related violence of
March 2008, although a downturn in the economy could spark further
unrest. The public finances remain a rating strength, with government
debt projected by Fitch at around only 14% of GDP by end-2008.

NORWEGIAN MP: "WE SUPPORT THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN"

Today.Az
s/politics/50898.html
March 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Sweden, Norway and Finland Rafael Ibrahimov
held a meeting with members of Norwegian Parliament Jean Petersen,
Chairman of the Norwegian Defense Committee, Morten Hoglund, Head
of the Norwegian Delegation in OSCE and Marita Naybakk, member of
the delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The meeting was held
on March 3 at the Norwegian Parliament. Describing political and
economical situation in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Ambassador underscored
that realization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum
oil and gas projects, as well as the Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway
project in partnership with Georgia and Turkey is the evidence to
friendship and cooperation between the countries of the region.

The Nagorno Karabakh and seven surrounding regions were occupied by
Armenia and over one million ethnic Azerbaijanis were ousted from
Karabakh, besides, Azerbaijani historical and cultural monuments,
towns and villages in Karabakh were destroyed, Mr. Ibrahimov
stressed. Touching upon the status of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations
on Nagorno Karabakh, the Ambassador said that the settlement of
the conflict could only be achieved on the basis of restoration of
Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity.

Members of Norwegian Parliament said that it is necessary for both
sides of the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh to reach a peaceful
settlement based on the principles of international law. The MPs also
underscored that they support territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador and Norwegian MPs also discussed foundation
of Norway-Azerbaijan friendship body attached to the Parliament
of Norway.

Within the frames of his visit to Norway, Mr. Ibrahimov is expected
to meet other Norwegian officials and parliamentarians.

UP TO 50,000 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN OPPOSITION RALLY IN YEREVAN

Interfax
March 1 2009
Russia

A rally organized by the opposition Armenian National Congress has
ended with a march in downtown Yerevan.

Participants of the action led by ex-Armenian President Levon Ter-
Petrosian laid flowed on the square where ten people were killed and
over 250 were injured during last year clashes between opposition
and police.

>From 40,000 to 50,000 people according to various estimates took
part in the march. This was the most large-scale opposition action,
Arman Musian of the Armenian National Congress told Interfax.

Reinforced units of police and special troops escorted the marchers.

COFFEE CUPS NOT IMMUNE TO RECESSION
By Carlin Romano

Philadelphia Inquirer
March 3 2009

Is the latte the last thing to go?

Or is gourmet coffee not so crucial after all?

The recession, to be sure, is trickling down. Are java warriors
rapidly economizing?

An unscientific but dogged survey of cafe habitues throughout the
Philadelphia region suggests that change is in the air.

"I pretty much avoid Starbucks because I think it’s too expensive,"
explains recent Temple grad Helen Hale, 24, tapping away on her laptop
in the Green Line Cafe at 45th and Locust in University City.

"Usually I go to Satellite Cafe, at 51st and Baltimore, which is
even cheaper than here. I actually thought of that as I bought my
cup today – that this is a little bit more expensive than theirs."

Over at the register, Ketch Wehr, 24, barista-in-chief for the
afternoon, reported that tips were lower and "traffic’s down by half
since the summer," though he cautioned that some of that was seasonal.

"We get daylong refillers," he noted. "A lot of people are coming
here and looking for jobs, and free wireless." In line with the
economic falloff, Green Line has "cut back on things we order from
other businesses," such as pastries.

Out at MilkBoy Acoustic Cafe, 824 W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr,
Bob Carlton, 27, the manager, sounds a similar theme, saying that
"sales are definitely down from a year ago, maybe about 100 bucks a
day, but we’re still doing OK. We’re still turning a profit."

Carlton says MilkBoy absorbed two price increases from its coffee
wholesaler before raising retail prices slightly. Reminders of the
weak economy’s impact occur frequently, he says.

A couple of weeks ago, he confides, the cafe hired as a barista a
25-year-old architectural apprentice "whose firm laid off 75 percent
of its employees."

Just a minute later, at the MilkBoy counter, Patty La Barbara, who
lives in Devon and works down the street as a market researcher,
says the recession has affected her habits, too.

"I hate to tell you this in front of him," she says, nodding toward
Carlton as she splurges on a cup of regular, "but I buy cups with lids
at the Acme or Pathmark. I brew coffee at home and actually take it
to work and heat it up."

Other cost-saving coffee practices appear to be on the upswing –
a populist parallel to new corporate strategies such as Starbucks’
coming addition of instant coffee.

One is the dirty little secret of image-conscious coffee types’
sneaking off to Dunkin’ Donuts for cheaper joe with greater jolt.

Sangeeta Jaiswal, manager of the Dunkin’ Donuts at 16th and Sansom –
it’s all takeout, with no seating area – says, "Some customers come
with Starbucks mugs, but they want our coffee. They say that if they
don’t drink Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, they are not happy."

Cafe denizens across the area also report seeing more peers bringing
personal travel mugs to coffee shops, which gets you anywhere from a 10
percent discount at Starbucks to huge savings – coffeewise – elsewhere.

"I think it may have more to do with the environment than saving
money," reflects Diana Downs, 30, relaxing over a cup of regular
at tony La Colombe on 19th Street off Rittenhouse Square, "but some
places, like my local coffee shop, Mugshots, in Fairmount, offer a
really nice discount – 50 cents off your cup of coffee – if you bring
your own travel mug. I’m sure they save money on paper."

And yet, for all the saving going on, there’s another side of the
story. You can also find that at La Colombe.

"I’m a coffee snob," acknowledges Yadira Torres, 30, a waitress at
National Mechanics restaurant, enjoying an afternoon break. Even
though she has cut down to one cup a day, that cup is at La Colombe
for just $1.50.

Like Downs, who has sworn off lattes ("too expensive" at $3 to $4.50),
Torres also feeds off the "social thing" at La Colombe, a handsome
venue that’s packed much of the time and that has a line out the door
on weekday mornings.

Marvin Sherman, 70, a retired schoolteacher who visits frequently,
provides a testimonial: "I don’t go to Dunkin’ Donuts. First of all,
their coffee is not as good. Secondly, they charge almost the same
amount. And they’re nowhere as classy as this place. It’s probably
the best in the city as far as quality, atmosphere."

That kind of loyalty – rather than a recent Swedish study suggesting
that midlife coffee-drinking can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s
disease and dementia – might explain why hope and confidence spring
eternal for folks who want to run cafes, even in a recession.

In October, just as the recession sped up, Ahavni Terzian, 65,
reopened Cafe Clave, a Cuban-themed spot, at 4305 Locust, the same
site where she ran a cafe in 2003.

"Business is not the greatest, but it’s OK. It pays the bills," she
says, unfolding the tale of how she, an Armenian born in Romania,
and her husband, an Armenian from Cuba, came to Philadelphia and
raised four sons here.

It helps that Terzian owns the building.

One of her baristas, Joy Payton, a 12-year veteran of multiple
noncorporate cafes who dislikes Starbucks (but who agrees that
"people love Dunkin’ Donuts coffee"), waxes philosophical in sizing
up the scene.

"People want what they want, and they want what they’re used to."

"Sometimes I think," she says, "what would the United States be
without coffee? It wouldn’t work, it just wouldn’t. So many people
are addicted to coffee. It’s really, really hard to keep up the pace
of American life if you’re not caffeinated."

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Feb 28 2009

Three Armenians in combat uniform detained in Aghdam region of
Azerbaijan – UPDATED

28 February 2009 [13:50] – Today.Az

Three Armenians in a combat uniform have been detained in the Aghdam
region, according to ANS Press.

13:28

"The State Commission on issues of captives, missing people and
hostages confirms the fact of capturing of three Armenians by
Azerbaijani side", reports the secretary of the state commission Shain
Sailov.

He said the captured Armenians were in a combat uniform. They were
taken captives by civilians and transferred to Azerbaijani servicemen.

He did not name the Armenians noting that currently the state
commission holds inspection.

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry noted that they still have no such
information.

—————
12:47

Witnesse s say Armenians were detained at about 1.00 pm, when they
approached the farms on the Ergi plain and asked for food and water.

Local residents understood that these were Armenians and informed the
military unit, locating nearby, about it. Later the detained were
delivered to Azerbaijani servicemen.

Armenians were in a combat uniform. The causes of their transfer to
the lands, controlled by the national army of Azerbaijan are unclear.

/Day.Az/

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