Author: Tashjian Arbi

CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND TURKEY

armradio.am
14.04.2010 11:50

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Turkey Edward Nalbandian and Ahmet
Davutoglu had a conversation during a working lunch, hosted by the US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the honor of Foreign Ministers
attending the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

The conversation focused on the continuation of yesterday’s discussions
of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Turkish Prime-Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.

ARA PAPIAN: THE NEW WINE AND THE OLD WINESKINS

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 14, 2010 – 00:26 AMT 19:26 GMT

After Sarkisian’s and Erdogan’s visits to Washington (April 12-13,
2010) it is conclusively clear that the Turkish-Armenian protocols
are dead. We – Armenians – have a lovely saying: Õ~DÕ¥Õ¼Õ¡Õ ® Õ¡,
Õ©Õ¡Õ² Õ¡Õ® Õ¹Õ" (Dead but not buried). This is the situation that we
have with the infamous protocols currently. Nevertheless, if anyone
will say that the protocols were abortive since the beginning of so
called "normalization process," I will not argue, told PanARMENIAN.Net
Head of the Modus Vivendi Center Ara Papian.

"So what to do? I think that we need not only drastic modification of
our foreign policy but there is a vital necessity for the revaluation
of the basics – instead of action oriented policy we have to pursue
result oriented policy. What does this mean in the real politics? This
means creation of sufficient parameters for the security and prosperity
of the Republic of Armenia. All in all – rectification all wrongs
done to Armenia and Armenians. Simply there is no other choice.

This is the only way that we’ll gain a chance to survive in the
hastily changing world. We do not have the luxury of half-measures.

The first step towards the right direction is taken. There is a huge
symbolism in President Sarkisian’s visit to US President Woodrow
Wilson’s tomb. At this time there are number of uncertainties but one
thing is crystal clear – it is impossible to have the same oblivion
situation in Turkish-Armenian relations as were before the protocols.

By now we have significantly new situation and new challenges, so
we have to act accordingly. We need new foreign policy. As it said:
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins.([Mark, 2:22). The
resolution of the Armenian Question is a singular opportunity for
the consolidation of Armenian statehood and the only path to the
endurance of the Armenian people", said Ara Papian.

ARMENIAN, TURKISH LEADERS MEETING IN WASHINGTON

mediamax
April 12 2010
Armenia

Yerevan, 12 April: A meeting has started between Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and Turkish Prime Minister Recep [Tayyip] Erdogan as
part of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

A special correspondent of Mediamax reports from Washington that the
Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers, Edvard Nalbandyan and Ahmet
Davutoglu, are also attending the meeting.

THE PRIME MINISTER MADE A RECORD IN THE BOOK OF MOURNING OF THE POLISH EMBASSY

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 13, 2010

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called at the Polish embassy in
Yerevan to express condolences to the people of Poland on behalf of RA
Government and himself in connection with the crash of the airplane
with President Lech Kaczynski and his delegation onboard. In the
book of mourning of the embassy Tigran Sargsyan wrote as follows:
"On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and myself,
I express deep condolences in connection with the tragic demise of
President of Poland Lech Kaczynski, his spouse and the members of
his delegation.

It was a deep shock to me, and I share in the grief of the people
of Poland. I wish you fortitude and strength in the face of this
disastrous crash."

SECRETARY OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: ARMENIA SHOULD FULLY FULFILL ITS POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

ArmInfo
2010-04-13 13:49:00

ArmInfo. The sitting of the inter-department commission on coordination
of problems of development of the military and industrial complex of
Armenia took place in Yerevan. The sitting was conducted by Secretary
of ANSC Artur Bagdasaryan.

As press-service of the ANSC reported, the commission has two tasks
– to draw out conception of development of the local military and
industrial complex and to take specific steps for showing aid to
enterprises of the military and industrial complex.

Bagdasaryan said that the relations between enterprises of Armenia
and the former USSR should be strengthened so that to rise defence
capacity of the country and provide its armed forces with the needed
equipment. He thinks development of the military and industrial
complex will create additional job places.

NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT OPENS IN WASHINGTON

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 12, 2010 – 11:46 AMT 06:46 GMT

U.S. President Barack Obama will open Monday an unprecedented Nuclear
Security Summit of 47 nations to focus on global action to secure
nuclear materials and keep them out of the hands of terrorists.

The White House says the final communique to be issued on Tuesday
will formally recognize the serious threat posed by nuclear terrorism,
endorse efforts to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials over a four
year period and speak about what countries will do on the national
and international level.

Iran and North Korea were not invited whereas British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown will not be attending because of election campaign.

DELEGATION TO CZECH REPUBLIC WITH AGHVAN HOVSEPIAN ON HEAD

Aysor
April 12 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s delegation, headed by country’s Prosecutor General Aghvan
Hovsepian, has left Armenia for a paying a working visit to Czech
Republic at Czech Prosecutor General’s invitation.

A spokesperson for Armenian Prosecutor’s Office said that within the
framework of the visit, Prosecutors are expected to discuss items of
cooperation, in particular, related to the directions, prescribed in
Armenia-Czech Republic Memorandum of 2009.

IMF resident representative forecast 6.2% inflation rate for Armenia this year

YEREVAN, April 9. /ARKA/. IMF Resident Representative to Armenia, Mr.
Guillermo Tolosa, predicted a 6.2% inflation rate for Armenia this
year.

`The index will be conditioned by lag effect caused by the
appreciation of currency and world prices, specifically the rise in
gas prices,’ he told a news conference in Yerevan. `Nevertheless, we
suppose it to be a once-only up,’ he said.

Head of IMF mission in Armenia, Mark Lewis, predicted earlier a 6%
full year inflation rate for Armenia this year. According to the
National Statistical Service, inflation rate was up to 8.8% in 2010
March from the same period of time last year. The Armenian government
projects a 4 ±1.5% inflation rate for 2010.

Mr. Guillermo Tolosa forecasted also a 1.8% GDP growth for 2010,
saying the index may be revised in May, given the positive tendencies
in global economy recovery.

`I believe that some sectors of the Armenian economy will develop more
rapidly and ensure GDP growth, effected by Russia’s economic growth,’
he said, adding that the sectors that have no direct linkage to the
global economy, will show slow growth. `The construction industry, for
example, will not drive the GDP growth,’ Mr. Tolosa said.

Mark Lewis predicted earlier a 2% full year GDP growth for Armenia ,
while the government projects a 1.2% economic growth. -0-

NKR INDEPENDENCE IS OFF QUESTION: ILHAM ALIYEV

news.am
April 9 2010
Armenia

Independence of Nagorno-Karabakh is not even the point of issue
and mediators’ proposals do not contain clause providing for it,
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev speaking at the Estonian Foreign
Ministry.

"In many cases Armenians refer to principle of self-determination. It
is definitely important principle of international law, however
Armenians are already self-determined, as have an independent Armenian
state. According to this logic, Armenians can self-determine anywhere
they live? How many Armenian states we will have then?" Aliyev stated.

According to him, Azerbaijan will always oppose this. "The sooner
Armenian side realizes it, the better for them and for us. Thus,
the issue will be settled shortly and peace can be established in
the South Caucasus."

"Those presently residing in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijanis who
will definitely return there should live together based on security
guarantees within sovereign Azerbaijani state with a high status of
autonomy it has. This stance fully conforms to norms of international
law, meanwhile reflecting mediators’ efforts and their proposals
presented to each side," Azerbaijani President noted.

He expressed hope that mediators’ activities will yield tangible
results in the near future. "In particular, now it is Armenia’s
turn to accept mediators’ last proposal or not. If they do, I think
that negotiation process should be reconsidered and new stage to be
started," he noted.

SERIOUS STEPS TAKEN AGAINST TURNOVER OF FAKE DRUGS IN ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 9, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. By unofficial data, the turnover of
fake drugs makes 10-12% in Armenia, Director of the Drugs Center of
the RA Ministry of Healthcare Emil Gabrielian said at the April 7
press conference.

He called the turnover of fake drugs a "serious business", underlining
that efficient work should be done to fight it, and serious steps are
now being taken in Armenia in this direction. "The checks on expiry
dates of drugs are controlled and regulated in the country. A drug is
not an ordinary product, the matter concerns human life and health,
so we take all the possible measures," he noted. E. Gabrielian
underlined the necessity for regular checks at Armenian drugstores
without a preliminary warning.

It was mentioned that fake drugs are imported into Armenia in a devious
way. Those drugs which pass through "control channels" of the Center
are subjected to analysis and examination. "We examine the quality,
safety, effectiveness of the drug and only after receiving our positive
conclusion, a drug can enter Armenian market," E. Gabrielian said.

According to him, a new bill on drugs has been submitted to the
National Assembly. The bill envisages regulating the whole process
of drug turnover.

Imported drugs of -70 million are sold in Armenia annually.

Domestically produced drugs make up 5-7% of the market.