Author: Talalian Arpi

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER VIEWS DEALS WITH RUSSIA, TIES WITH GREECE, ARMENIA

Anadolu Agency
May 13 2010
Turkey

Ankara, 13 May 2010: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
Thursday [13 May] the visa exemption agreement between Turkey and
Russia that was signed on Wednesday was a "revolutionary step".

Speaking on Haberturk TV channel, Davutoglu said that Russian tourists
may come to Turkey without visa this summer.

Turkish businesspeople, intellectuals and tourists will be able to
travel to Russia without a need for visa, Davutoglu said.

Four high level visits took place between Turkey and Russia in a year.

Our relations were not competition but rather cooperation and economic
integration, Davutoglu said.

In the past five years, the nature of Turkey-Russia relations went
through a change. This change would make serious contributions to
stability from the Balkans to China, Davutoglu said.

The model of "High Level Strategic Cooperation Council" was one
developed by Turkey. In the event economic union is established with
countries in such councils, the Turkish economy would benefit from
such an entity, Davutoglu said.

Touching on energy agreements made with Russia, Davutoglu said that
such agreements defeated the thesis that Turkey and Russia were in
competition with each other in the field of energy.

We are establishing a model with Russia that shows how we are
progressing into cooperation and (economic) integration rather than
competition, Davutoglu said.

In regard to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit
to Greece on Friday, Davutoglu said that the Turkish government was
working to create an atmosphere of psychological change.

We are trying to change the perception that the two countries are in
competition with each other, Davutoglu said.

Our goal in bilateral relations with Greece is not merely to minimize
tensions. We have to maximize the number of areas in which cooperation
may take place so that no notion of tension remains in minds,
Davutoglu said.

We do want to reach economic integration with Greece. We plan
to develop relations in areas ranging from economy to tourism,
Davutoglu said.

In reference to Turkey’s relations with Armenia, Davutoglu stressed
that no one would benefit if the protocols signed between Turkey and
Armenia get suspended.

Turning back from the protocols is neither to the interest of Turkey
nor Armenia, Davutoglu said.

Just as in the Balkans, Turkey will help realize "psychological
revolution" in the Caucasus. We will turn the Caucasus into a region
of peace and security, Davutoglu also said.

SPEECH-SUGGESTION OF ARTSAKH REPUBLIC PRESIDENT DELIVERED AT THE …

Azat Artsakh Newspaper
14 May, 2010
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

meeting of the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund’s Board of Trustees On
14 May President of the Artsakh Republic partook at the meeting of
the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund Board of Trustees in Yerevan and
delivered a speech-suggestion there. Honorable President of the
Republic of Armenia, Your Holiness, Respected colleagues, First
of all I would like to welcome the working style of the "Hayastan"
All-Armenian Fund Board of Trustees envisaging on site introduction
with carried out programs, exchanging ideas about the work done and
discussing important issues in an immediate atmosphere.

Your traditional visits to Artsakh on the eve of the annual meeting of
the Fund’s Board of Trustees are a good evidence of that. The activity
of the Fund is of utmost importance for strengthening and flourishing
of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic, improving living conditions and
raising lining standards of our people. As during the years of the
post-war period today there are issues in Artsakh that have national
significance too. These issues can be solved only by joint efforts of
the whole Armenians. In this row the restoration of the republic’s
water supply system, which was almost completely destroyed in the
result of the military operations is of primary importance. The
authorities of Artsakh together with Armenia and the Diaspora set
about the development of this economically and politically significant
sphere. Together we managed to realize a number of complex programs
directed to improving the water supply of the country. Owing to the
active participation of the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund drinking
and irrigation water needs of dozens of settlements have fully been
satisfied, some objects in the capital Stepanakert and regional centers
have been restored. However, there are still numerous tasks to be
fulfilled. Two hundred villages out of 323 existing in Artsakh face
sharp shortage of drinking water and need urgent solutions. Serious
problems exist in Stepanakert and in the regional centers where more
than half of the republic’s population lives. This program is quite
expensive. Only in the capital the construction of new water supply
objects and restoration of the operating ones require 6,5 billion
dram. It is obvious that the problem of water supply in Artsakh
can be solved exclusively by means of our joint efforts. Taking into
consideration the significance of this strategic program, I propose
to discuss inclusion of water supply issue that has vital importance
for Artsakh into the framework of "Telethon-2010". This will provide
opportunities to realize corresponding programs improving water supply
system of the republic.

Thank you.

ZARUHI POSTANJYAN: WESTERN ARMENIAN LANGUAGE ENDANGERED DUE TO GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 14, 2010 – 17:01 AMT 12:01 GMT

Delivering a report on endangered languages during a meeting of PACE
committee on culture, science and education, Turkish parliamentarian
Ertugul Komsuoglu did not mentioned the Western Armenian language.

"I reminded that the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the
Ottoman Empire was the reason that put the language of the verge of
disappearance," member of the Armenian delegation Zaruhi Postanjyan
said. "The Turkish deputy’s reaction was fierce and discussion was
postponed for further consideration."

During her visit to Istanbul, Mrs. Postanjyan attended the
Constantinople Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church and
met with representatives of the Armenian community to discuss urgent
problems.

"BRIDGE ARTSAKH 2010" 2nd economic forum to be conducted in NKR

ARMENPRESS
MAY 13, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: "BRIDGE ARTSAKH 2010" second economic
forum will be conducted June 25-28 in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
under the patronage of NKR President Bako Sahakyan. The organizers of
the forum are the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employees)
of Armenia, "Master" Center of International Immigration Support.

Arevik Avanesova, deputy director of "Master" center, told Armenpress
that the main theme of the forum is "The State-private cooperation
as a Basis for Stable Economic Development". Representatives of NKR
official structures, businessmen representing different branches
of economy from Armenia and the NKR will partake in the forum. The
up-to-date issues of the sphere of economy will be discussed, as well
as the ways of further development will be indicated.

Within the frameworks of the forum sessions will be conducted on
the themes of "The Economic Potential of Artsakh", "The Efficiency
Increase of Appliance of High Technologies in Business", "The Role
of Up-to-date Systems in Economic Development", "The Development
Prospects of Contemporary Transport Communications", "The Innovative
Technologies in the Contemporary Construction", etc.

"ARTSAKH EXPO 2010" exhibition of commerce and industry will be
conducted June 26-27 within the frameworks of "BRIDGE ARTSAKH 2010"
economic forum.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT REJECTS LUXURY TAX BILL
Lilit Gevorgyan

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
May 12 2010

The Luxury Tax Bill proposed by Armenian parliamentarian Viktor
Dallakyan last month was rejected by the Armenian government. However,
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has announced that his cabinet should
focus more on effective tax collection from large businesses. He
attacked the so-called parliamentarian businessmen who use their
government contacts to avoid tax payment. Sargsyan pointed out that
Armenian large companies’ tax evasion is harmful for the country’s
small and medium-sized businesses. He blamed the State Revenue
Committee for failure to implement the cabinet’s decision to conduct
more audits of large companies. Sargsyan cited the tax collection
statistic, which revealed that in 2009 tax audits have increased by
82% but the revenues collected as a result of this have fallen by
25%. Moreover, audits carried out at large enterprises have increased
by 30%, a figure dwarfed by a staggering 250% increase when it comes
to small businesses.

Significance:The harsh criticism by technocrat Sargsyan reveals the
weaknesses in Armenian policy administration. The prime minister’s
attack on oligarchs effectively shows that the former is somewhat
powerless to deal with influential business clans that have entrenched
themselves in political power structures. Parliamentary mandate
is one of the favourite choices for oligarchs as it also provides
criminal immunity. The growing power of the oligarchy is risking the
economic and political stability of the country. Most of the large
businesses, especially with government ties, have practically become
untouchable for tax authorities and avoid paying even the minimum
taxes. Although their businesses are growing the oligarchs report
losses as a way of avoiding tax payment. The progressive income
tax is limited at 20%, which leaves the large businesses with a
huge profit. This in turn worsens an already heavy tax burden for
medium and small businesses, many of which are closing down, unable
to survive in the distorted market. The oligarchic structure also
subjects consumers to artificial price increases that the monopolies
conduct for sheer profiteering. Thus in the first quarter of 2010 the
consumer price index has increased by 8.4% in Armenia, while remaining
almost unchanged on the world markets. The oppressive political regime
has closed most of the channels for political change in the country,
hence Armenian citizens are increasingly choosing to vote with their
feet by leaving the country. The UN has warned the Armenian government
of another wave of mass emigration from the country, with an already
shrinking population.

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN MEETS WITH JACQUES DIOUF

Aysor
May 13 2010
Armenia

Secretary of the Armenian National Security Council Artur Baghdasarian
met Thursday with UN FAO delegation, headed by organisation’s
Director-General Dr Jacques Diouf, ANSC spokesperson said.

Artur Baghdasarian stressed the importance of the implementation
of the FAO programs in Armenia and in the region and said of the
importance of a long-term cooperation between the FAO and Armenia.

"We’ve showed our commitment to the long-term cooperation with FAO. The
National Security Council took upon itself issue of development of
the solutions, related to the food security. Our goal is to develop
Armenia’s self-sufficiency in food produces," said Artur Baghdasarian.

Jacques Diouf, in his part, presented the FAO programs which are being
implementing in Armenia. He said the FAO aims at the growth of the
levels of nutrition, improvement of the agricultural productivity,
and assistance and support to the farmers and rural economy. Jacques
Diouf welcomed the initiatives by Armenian National Security Council
to give solutions to the issues of food security, as this plays an
important role in overcoming the poverty and developing the economy.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Scholarships Handed by AGBU to 23 Students of the French University of
Armenia

On April 6, 2010, AGBU handed out scholarships to 23 outstanding
students of the French University of Armenia. The financial assistance
provided by AGBU was worth $30,000 and covered the 2009-2010 academic
year.

Rector of the University Joëlle le Morzelec stated why the scholarship
event is significant to the university. "The presence of the president
of the AGBU is of great importance for us. He honored us by coming
here and granting scholarships to our students. I consider it an
evaluation of the work of our university," she said. Le Morzelec noted
that graduates of the university are granted both an Armenian state
diploma and a French national diploma. She also emphasized that the
majority of the graduates find jobs easily. "We help our graduates
become tomorrow’s leaders," the rector stated.

AGBU president Berge Setrakian spoke about the importance of
universities such as the French University in Armenia, describing them
as the wealth of the country. "Being a graduate of a French
university, I am sure it has its important place in the educational
system of Armenia," said Setrakian. AGBU and the French University of
Armenia have been working closely together since 2004.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please
visit

EDWARD NALBANDYAN HELD MEETTING WITH OSCE CO-CHAIRPERSONS

Tert.am
11:13 13.05.10

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, currently on a working
visit in Brussels, held a meeting with the OSCE co-chairpersons Bernard
Fassier (France), Robert Bradtke (US), Igor Popov (Russia) and personal
representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office Anjei Kasprshik.

The parties discussed the renewed Madrid Principles aimed at the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as issues over
how to reach a mutually acceptable approach to conflict.

ASHOT MANUCHARYAN REQUIRES SATISFACTION OF ANKARA AND BAKU.

AllVoices
ted-news/5798920-ashot-manucharyan-requires-satisf action-of-ankara-and-baku
May 11 2010

"The Armenian authorities did not conduct a proactive policy, and
most likely involved in her real initiators of the directions of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish relations, said
today in Yerevan, former adviser to Armenian President for National
Security Affairs Ashot Manucharyan.

In his words, unequivocally, that the Armenian side is not the lead
in these matters, and it led into the process. Ashot Manucharyan
stated that the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group in reality is not
aimed at resolving the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. "Ever since
the founding of MG is used by the U.S. as a tool to influence the
processes occurring in the region," said a former adviser to the head
of the Armenian state.

Ashot Manucharyan believed in the need to review approaches to
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. "In fact, in response to the right of
self-determination of the Armenian population of Baku made racist war
for the destruction of Armenians living in Azerbaijan, just because
they are Armenians. In this regard, the liberated territories should
be seen as satisfaction to hundreds of thousands of Armenians who fled
from the Azerbaijani cities as a result of pogroms in the late 80’s
and early 90-ies, "he said. However, he expressed his firm belief that
in the late 90-ies on the negotiating table on the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem really figured so-called "Meghri option.

Turning to the issue of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations,
the former advisor to President of Armenia said that "negotiations
with Turkey should not lead the Republic of Armenia, and Armenia,
having in view the authorities of Armenia and the Diaspora."

Manucharyan remarked that the Armenian people, unlike the other
received no satisfaction from the horrors inflicted in Turkey in the
genocide. He also said that in the early 90-ies of the last century,
Turkey has made several attempts to start a war in Armenia, but its
attempts have been kept by Russia and the U.S.. "Today there are no
preconditions for Turkey’s intention to invade Armenia and solve all
problems through military means," said Manucharyan.

Ex-adviser has expressed concern over the outlined his view of the
deterioration of Armenian-Russian relations as a result of mistakes
made Moscow. Among them Manucharyan, inter alia, noted that the area
of Yerevan, where tragic events took place March 1, 2008, in the
presence of the Russian president a year later was named Russia.

NATIONAL MINORITIES IN ARMENIA WILL GATHER IN EREBUNI MUSEUM

Tert.am
16:40 11.05.10

International Committee of Museums has offered all the museums across
the world to organize a campaign titled Museums for Social Harmony.

In the framework of the Night of Museums – a campaign in Armenia to
take place on May 15, when all the museums will open up for visitors
after 6pm up to the next day – on that very day the Armenian Erebuni
Museum will host national minorities in Armenia, such as Greeks,
Assyrians, Jews, Russians, Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Georgians,
Germans, Yezidis and Kurds.

This program of the Erebuni museum will be organized under the title
"Let’s Know Each Other."

The visitors will get familiar with a temporary exhibition titled
>From Urartu to Yerevan’s Beer and with the permanent exhibition of
the museum. Further they will gather in an inward yard to listen to
pieces of music to be performed by the music ensembles of the national
minorities living in Armenia.

Further the visitors are expected to spend the night together in the
museum in an effort to come to closely know each other.