Author: Nalchajian Markos

ARMENIA IS DEAD-END IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
By Ali Mammadov

Today.Az
cs/57996.html
07 December 2009 [15:44]

Armenia will remain a dead-end in the region without resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia in the person of its President Serzh Sargsyan tries to freeze
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh
for a while. This tactical move is primarily aimed at preserving
political stability in the country. Sargsyan keeps a simple logic
– he is well aware that Bolivar will not be able to stand the two
under current difficult political situation. That is, Sargsyan will
hardly be able to stay in power in event of a parallel solution to
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations.

That is why Sargsyan is trying to gain time as it is impossible to
achieve a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh which will fully suit the
Armenian community. Any other settlement options will be used by his
opponents including his former allies, the Dashnaks and ex-President
Robert Kocharian to replace the regime.

However, the problem is that except for certain foreign dividends in
terms of national interests attempts to normalize the Armenian-Turkish
relations without resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will fail.

In this case, Armenia will remain a deadlock country in the South
Caucasus. One can change nothing about it.

So, lets suppose that Ankara, despite the promises made by top
officials, ratifies the Armenian-Turkish protocols to normalize
relations without resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Optimists
argue that normalization of relations with Turkey will enable Armenia
to break communication blockade and improve socio-economic situation
in the country to a great extend. But an in-depth analysis into the
situation after normalization of relations between the two countries
makes it clear that all these claims are no more than a bluff.

First, lets start with border trade which is much more debated. This
immediately arises a question – what the parties will trade? Armenia
has nothing to offer Turkey with its current economy. Purchasing power
of population of Armenia’s border regions is so low that Turkey is
less likely to have serious interests about this market.

Second, the optimists argue that Turkish investments and goods will
flow in Armenia. Once Azerbaijan also thought the same. However,
as Azerbaijan’s experience shows, Turkey’s investment opportunities
are limited and usually designed for quick recompense. As a rule,
Turkey does not implement long-term investment projects overseas,
with the exception of regional communications and energy projects. In
the meanwhile, Turkey usually holds minimal share in regional
communications and energy projects.

We will talk about regional communication and energy projects below.

Now it is worth paying attention to the following circumstances.

1. Nothing has prevented Turkish businessmen to invest their capital
in Armenia’s economy so far even in absence of diplomatic relations
and border closures. There were no statutory prohibitions in this
respect. But, they did not invest. This means that Armenia’s economy
is not of particular interest to Turkish capital.

2. Spheres of the Armenian economy favorable for investment have
already been taken over by Russian companies in exchange for the
debts. So, today Armenia offers nothing to invest in.

3. The trade between the two countries is less likely to increase.

Today, trade between the two countries amounts nearly $500 million. To
be precise, it is Turkey that supplies consumer goods of this amount
to Armenia via Georgia. The opening of borders will lead to some
reduction in cost of these goods in the best case as they will go
from Turkey directly to Armenia bypassing Georgia. In other words,
Armenia will not benefit from it because consumer market of this
country is unlikely to "digest" more goods. Georgia, which earned
from transit of Turkish goods to Armenia, will lose in this case.

Thirdly, Turkey is less likely to become a haven for Armenian labor
migrants.

1. Turkey has quite large number of unemployed people. They themselves
have nothing to eat especially after the crisis. Currently, there is
a flow of labor migrants from Turkey to Azerbaijan.

2. In case the Armenian-Turkish protocols are ratified without a
breakthrough in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkey
will certainly try either to slow down their actual implementation
or to implement them in full. One of such measures will be visa
restrictions. Moreover, in case they are applied against Armenian
citizens, no one can accuse Turkey of violating the agreements as
Turkey has not yet announced a visa-free regime even with Azerbaijan.

Fourthly, the Kars-Gumri is the only communication project which can
be effectively implemented. But the point is that implementing this
project has no prospects on a regional scale without resolving the
Armenian-Azerbaijani and Georgian-Russian conflicts. Because, there is
nowhere to further transport goods via this railroad. In other words,
Armenia will never become a regional transport hub without resolving
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Armenia needs to be actually interested in resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in order to participate in all communication
and energy projects. Even in absence of diplomatic relations with
Armenia, Turkey has never officially opposed Armenia’s involvement
in regional communications and transport projects. Azerbaijan will
further block Armenia’s participation in these projects at least till
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved.

Fifthly, supply of cheap electricity from Armenia to Turkey is the
only real and mutually beneficial project that can be implemented.

However, the project will require to synchronize energy systems of
the two countries and to build new power lines that will take time.

Finally, the sixth, one should not expect an increase in foreign
investment from other sources as the opening of borders with Turkey
will not impact the extent of Armenia’s regional integration. Because,
Armenia’s investment attractiveness depends on extent of a regional
integration which will remain at zero without resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

UKRAINIAN-ARMENIANS APPRECIATE INTER TV’S UNBIASED REPORT ON KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2009 20:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Armenian National Congress of Ukraine
Ashot Avanesyan has send a letter of acknowledgement to Inter TV
company, appreciating the latter’s unbiased attitude to Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh.

"We closely follow your broadcasts and are pleased to see your
channel transmit all developments concerning Armenia and Armenians,"
Analitika.at.ua quotes Avanesyan as saying.

Earlier, Azerbaijani Embassy sent a note to the country’s Foreign
Ministry in connection with Inter TV channel’s documentary on Karabakh,
said Azeri Ambassador to Ukraine Talat Aliyev.

Inter TV’s recent documentary right after Euronews report caused
Azerbaijan’s paranoid reaction.

In the meantime, the TV company shot the second unbiased report
about Karabakh.

DUNDEE PRECIOUS METALS COMPANY: IF COMPANY STOPS OPERATING, SITUATION IN KAPAN TO BECOME HARD

ArmInfo
2009-12-07 11:53:00

ArmInfo. The biggest social achievement of Deno Gold Mining Company
is that the company continues its activity. If the company stops
operating, the social situation in Kapan will become harder, said
Adrian Goldstone, Vice President of Environment and Sustainable
Development of Dundee Precious Metals Company at the EBRD workshop
held in London.

According to EcoLur, Adrian Goldstone made this announcement in reply
to EcoLur’s question, what kind of responsibility Deno Gold Mining
Company bears in Kapan for three communities, Syunik, Shahumyan and
Geghanush that have found themselves on the verge of environmental
and social disaster.

Under Adrian Goldstone, the situation in Kapan is a difficult
inheritance received from the Soviet Union. "It’s very hard to work in
Armenia. Deno Gold Mining puts much effort to change the situation,"
Goldstone noted. He said that the company intends to start open-cast
development (Shahumyan Mine) where newest technologies will be applied.

Dundee Precious Metals Company is nearly related with Deno Gold Mining
Company through Vatrin Company registered in the offshore zone of the
British Virgin Islands. This financial chain is tracked by EBRD loan
the bank allotted for the construction of Geghanush tailing developed
by Deno Gold Mining Company.

The workshop in London was devoted to the issue of environmental
and social responsibility in mining sphere. Besides EBRD, it
was participated by the representatives of mining and consulting
companies, as well as CEE Bankwatch Net Work (Bankwatch network is
an international non-governmental organization that has members in
the countries of Western Europe and CIS, and deals with monitoring
of international financial institutions, including EBRD).

In the course of this event CEE Bankwatch Net Work which EcoLur
Informational NGO has joined to, held a separate meeting with Dariusz
Prasek, Head of Operational Support at EBRD’s Environment Department,
Michael Green, Senior Banker at Department of Natural Resources,
and Biljana Radonjic Ker-Lindsay, NGO Relations Advisor at EBRD
Communications Department. The discussions were held in the frames
of the round table.

In the course of the discussions the outcomes of the public monitoring
over Deno Gold Mining Company’s activity in Kapan were presented,
the issue on compliance of the company’s activity with EBRD’s social
and environmental policy in regard to the allotted loan of 4 million
USD, Ás well as issues on the company’s negotiations with the bank
in regard to future probable loans were raised.

An opinion was expressed that Deno Gold Mining Company’s activity
doesn’t comply with international standards, the national environmental
legislation and violates right to health and healthy environment.

In particular, the following facts were submitted as evidence:

1. Right to public participation in decision-making is violated in
Geghanush Village where the residents collected 134 signatures against
the construction of 2 tailings.

2. The right of residents in Syunik Community is violated, as their
land areas are contaminated by the dumps from Kapan Combine emissions.

3. There are risks for life in Shahumyan Region located above the
galleries where underground ore development is carried out. The
residents have sued to get protection.

4. The Company’s Environmental Actions Plan doesn’t comply with any
standard, either international or national.

Dr. Dariusz Prasek noted:

* Dundee Precious Metals has a good image and works at high standards,

* the bank directs its funds to, first of all, solve the problem of
working places in the countries in transition period even though with
use of old technology,

* in the frames of small loans it’s impossible to solve global
environmental issues,

* on EBRD’s loan, a certain issue such as prevention of river pollution
and the company’s drainage outlet in the new tailing in Geghanush
was solved.

He also assured that in the frames of the bank loan the bank was
submitted both the social program and environmental actions plan
different from the one presented. In his turn Michael Green announced
that the negotiations with the company on allotting a new medium-term
loan of 25 million USD were broken off and won’t be resumed at
official level.

The participants of the public monitoring expressed an opinion that
social responsibility means not just employing. Just the opposite,
such notion for responsibility puts the people employed by such a
town-forming enterprise as Deno Gold Mining Company in dependable
situation and these employees have to agree with any conditions set
by the company, only let the company not close down. A wish is also
expressed that the bank would pursue the social and environmental
policy it declared and didn’t allot any loans in case of any
incompliance to this policy.

Coordinator of CEE Bankwatch Net Work in Balkans Fidanka McGrath
commented the London Wotkshop and outlined, that EBRD"s portfolio
of mining projects gives the bank little to be proud of. "EBRD chose
Dundee Precious Metals as the only mining company from its countries
of operation that could show good practice from Chelopech. But in
fact Dundee"s projects in Bulgaria have been delayed for years,
and even now when they obtained the permits, Bulgarian environmental
organisations are appealing in Bulgarian court and at the European
Commission. The Bulgarian court canceled the EIA, and we hope that the
EC will start an infringement procedure on the IPPC permit (Intergated
Pollution and Prevention Control), because these proposals were not
consulted properly with communities living downstream from the mine,"
said Fidanka McGrath.

news.az, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2009

Euronews to make report on Azerbaijani refugees
Sat 05 December 2009 | 07:19 GMT Text size:

Euronews Euronews is to make a report on Azerbaijani refugees from the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, following a storm of protest over its
report from Karabakh.

"We have started discussions on making a similar report on the
Azerbaijani side as we want to make a film about the Azerbaijani
population residing in the conflict area. We especially want to make a
film about Azerbaijani refugees who left the region due to the
conflict," Euronews editor-in-chief Peter Barabas has said, according
to Trend.

Barabas said that Euronews has made an officially approach to
Azerbaijan, sending a letter to the Azerbaijani embassy in Brussels,
but has yet to receive a response.

According to Barabas, the TV channel hopes that the Azerbaijani
government will permit Euronews to visit the region to make a film as
"we want to be more transparent on this issue. As in the Armenian
report, we are going to feature the life of the population on the
Azerbaijani side."

When Euronews received Armenia’s permission to go to Nagorno-Karabakh,
the intention was to show how the people involved in the Karabakh
conflict live, he said.

"We have never intended to interfere in the political aspect of the
issue, because we know that this issue is very sensitive. We just
wanted to show the life of the Karabakh people in our report. This is
what our report shows," Barabas said.

He said that Euronews had not yet received a protest from the Azerbaijani side.

"I cannot comment on it, as we have not received anything of this
kind. We are waiting for the letter and we will respond as soon as we
get it. Though we know that this letter exists, no-one in Euronews has
seen it yet. Therefore, I cannot say anything until we see the
letter."

Euronews broadcast a one-sided report on the conflict, Winds of Change
in Nagorno-Karabakh, which prompted an official note of protest from
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry.

1 news.az

MSU: AZERBAIJAN GIVES A FALSE COLOR TO HISTORY; ARMENIA DOESN’T

Aysor
Dec 3 2009
Armenia

To determine how impartial text-books are in use at the colleges
of the former soviet republics, the specialists of the Moscow State
University have conducted a survey. An investigation showed that only
Armenia and Belarus have unbiased view on history while others give
a false color to it.

Results of the survey of the text-books were released by the New
Region – Moscow edition.

It was found out that almost all the latter-day historians set down
an ancient origin to their peoples as well as some extra mission.

"It sometimes sounds like a joke, or an anecdote. The Balts,
for example, are studying the ethnicity of the ancient man while
Azerbaijani scientists say have common origin with the Sumerians,"
said in paper.

Besides, this ‘new history’ says whom the certain territories belong
to. "Azerbaijani text-books say Armenia was founded on Georgian land.

Georgian text-books, in its turn, say some Russian, Turkish and
Azerbaijani territories are Georgian in origin.

The Ukrainian text-books cover no less interesting "facts’. They say,
the Ukrainians have founded Rome and Troy, and all world languages have
its origin in grand-Ukrainian. Among other things is the view on the
reasons and all of the World War II. Text-books of Georgia, Ukraine,
Moldova, and the Baltic states say that exactly Molotov-Ribbentrop
Pact caused the war while both USSR and Germany are to blame for this.

The enemy image has been added to everything else: Russia in
these books is a centuries-old oppressor, colonialist, robber,
freedom-killer, and so on.

"We have been surprised when studied these text-books," said Assistant
Professor of National History Department of the Moscow State
University, Andrey Shadrin. "We knew the books had nationalistic
handling but the surprise was that this only was a covering party
for the real ideology of the ruling elites of these states. The
books contain the readings on the ‘sovereignty and independence –
the most important and sacred values’ while the idea is that these
states’ ideology is to find a patron in exchange for independence
and national dignity."

EURONEWS’ ONE-SIDED REPORTING "BACKED BY ARMENIAN DIASPORA"

news.az
Dec 3 2009
Azerbaijan

Rashad Rzakuliyev The Euronews report on Karabakh is part of the
information war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, political scientist
Rashad Rzakuliyev has said.

The report presents the history and culture of the region solely in
terms of Armenian myth and bears no relation to the true situation,
Rzaguliyev told 1news.az.

He said that there was no need to get too excited about this.

"We should look at the methods used by our enemies who have occupied
20% of our land, take them into account and do the same. Azerbaijan
should intensify its efforts to advocate our principles, our ideas,
our understanding of the situation and work with Euronews, CNN,
the BBC and other TV channels on this issue. This requires money and
contacts. If we treat this issue seriously, all doors will open for
us," Rzakuliyev said,

He said that the Armenian diaspora is backing the film. "I am sure
that this is one of the elements of the information war in an attempt
to legitimize Nagorno Karabakh as a ‘state formation’," he said.

The analyst believes that the religious factor does not play any
role here.

"On the contrary, it is Armenians that stress the religious factor
in an attempt to appeal to Christian solidarity, but in reality
Europe treats this issue more coldly than the Armenians would like,"
Rzakuliyev said.

PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF 1.9 MILLION DOLLARS CARRIED OUT AT NASDAQ OMX ARMENIA OJSC ON DECEMBER 2

Noyan Tapan
Dec 2, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Purchase and sale transactions of 1.9
million dollars at the weighted average exchange rate of 385.3 drams
per dollar were carried out at Nasdaq OMX Armenia OJSC on December
2. According to the press service of the Central Bank of Armenia,
the closing price made 385.3 drams.

ARMENIA’S DIAMOND INDUSTRY EXPERIENCES SHORTAGE OF RAW MATERIALS

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.12.2009 15:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In conditions of global crisis, the diamond
processing industry of Armenia maintains its pace, but there is a
problem with the availability of raw materials.

As RA Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan told journalists in Nor
Hajn-based Lori LLC on Tuesday, "major suppliers of raw materials
prefer not to sell rough diamonds at low prices, but rather keep them".

According to him, many international companies indicate that the
diamond industry has started to recover, and Armenia should seize
this opportunity.

ARMENIA RECORDS 6.8% UNEMPLOYMENT IN JAN-OCT 2009

/ARKA/
November 30, 2009
YEREVAN

Armenia recorded 6.8% unemployment in Jan-Oct 2009 against 6.3%
in the same period a year earlier, National Statistical Service of
Armenia reports.

According to the statistical report, in October 2009, the country
had 99,500 jobseekers booked by the state employment agency.

Of them, 84,900 were completely jobless.

The report says 83,000 enjoyed the status of unemployed.

Of total number of the registered unemployed, 71% were women (58,900)
by late October.

In Jan-Oct 2009, the country had 1,184,900 people able to work. Of
them, 1,103,900 had jobs.

According to the statistical report, 26,600 of the unemployed enjoyed
state benefits by late October 2009 against 16,800 of the previous
year’s October.

The monthly benefit averaged AMD 17,014 (AMD 14,004 a year before).

Official labor demand was 1,344 by late October 2009 (63 unemployed
people for one vacancy). ($1 = AMD 385.76).

RECITATION CHILDREN-YOUTH REPUBLICAN FIRST CONTEST-FESTIVAL UNDER THE NA SPEAKER PATRONAGE ENDS

National Assembly of RA
Nov 30 2009
Armenia

In the framework of the programme of Open Doors of the National
Assembly under the patronage of Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, Speaker of
the National Assembly, RA Ministry of Culture, Metaksya Simonyan and
New Cultural Policy funds Recitation Children-Youth Republican First
Contest-Festival was held, which was dedicated to the Armenian National
Poetry. 6000 students of 11-17 ages from all provinces of Armenia,
Yerevan, Javakhk and Nagorno Karabakh have already participated in the
school and provincial stages of the festival. RA NA Speaker Mr. Hovik
Abrahamyan also attended the provincial phases.

On November 26 in Yerevan, at Gabriel Sundukian State National
Academic Theatre the final phase of the festival was held. RA NA
Speaker Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, RA First Lady Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, NA Vice
Speakers Arevik Petrosyan and Samvel Nikoyan, Head Ararat Patriarchal
Diocese Navasard Archbishop Kchoyan, NA deputies, cultural figures
and others attended that event. Chairman of NA Standing Committee
on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Mr. Artak Dvatyan,
RA Deputy Minister of Culture Mr. Davit Muradyan, RA Honoured Actress
Silva Yuzbashyan, RA People’s Artist Vladimir Abajyan. As a result
of unbiased assessment of the jury, from 80 participants, who passed
to the final phase, 17 participants had opportunity to take part in
the gala concert and received diplomas and many prizes.

RA NA Speaker Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan handed over awards to the winners.

3 participants of 11-13 ages and 14-17 ages received first, second
and third prizes. The participants, who won the third place, received
a music center, the second place – a television, and those had the
first place – a computer. The participant, who won the NA Speaker’s
special prize, also received a computer.

Congratulating the young reciters, RA NA Speaker Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
highlighted the conduct of the festival, once again ensuring that
the festival gave its positive result: "Some people were approaching
the conduct of this festival with distrust, thinking that it won’t
have public sounding. However, for everybody’s joy, many actively
participated in this festival, for which I am excited." He reminded
that last time a recital festival was held in 1973, and this festival
would become a tradition and have continuation. "I am sure that a
big number of schoolchildren will take part in these festivals,
the sisters and brothers, classmates of these participants. All
this is done for promoting a love of poetry, literature for future
generation." Mr. Abrahamyan in his speech thanked all the organizers
of the festival, the unbiased jury, urging the teachers to choose
kinder, brighter and lighter literary works.