Author: Vasilian Manouk

WORKSHOP ON INFORMATION SECURITY HELD IN YEREVAN

news.am
Feb 15 2010
Armenia

Threats to information security grow as Internet becomes widely
available, Mishel Davudyan Director of the Apaga (Future) Technologies
Company stated at a workshop on IT security.

"Statistical data show that only 1,000 out of 2m messages are really
letters, the rest are spam," he said. Message filtering is one of
the priority IT security tasks.

IT security risks are increasing simultaneously with Internet
development. "Internet has been rapidly developing in Armenia recently,
and the security problem is much more important – cybercriminals
look for weak zones to attack," Davudyan said. He pointed out that
cybercrime-caused damage totals several hundred million U.S. dollars.

Commercial companies and banks should pay special attention to
information security, as they transmit confidential information by
means of Internet.

Apaga Technologies Internet and information security offers solutions
tested in a number of European countries.

CATHERINE ASHTON CONGRATULATES YEREVAN ON OPENING OF DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.02.2010 20:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy Catherine Ashton issued a congratulatory message on
the occasion of the opening of the Diplomatic Academy in Yerevan.

"I congratulate Armenia on the opening of the Diplomatic Academy
in Yerevan. I trust that this institution will provide an important
contribution to the strengthening of EU-Armenia relations.

I warmly welcome the personal dedication and commitment that Foreign
Minister Nalbandian has demonstrated in support of this initiative.

I note with pleasure that each year the Diplomatic Academy will offer
up to 25 students from Armenia the possibility to improve their
knowledge of diplomacy and foreign relations. I am also delighted
that the EU, through its Advisory Group in Armenia, has been able to
contribute to the setting up of the Diplomatic Academy," Catherine
Ashton said in her address.

Les Echos, France
Jeudi 11 Février 2010

L’Arménie veut que la Turquie agisse d’abord pour normaliser leurs relations

par GABRIEL GRESILLON

Le président arménien, Serge Sarkissian, a estimé hier à Londres que
le Parlement turc devait d’abord ratifier les protocoles de
normalisation des relations turco-arméniennes pour que les
parlementaires arméniens puissent faire de même par la suite. La
Turquie et l’Arménie ont signé en octobre 2009 deux protocoles
historiques prévoyant l’établisse-ment de relations diplomatiques, qui
doivent encore être ratifiés par leurs Parlements.

ARTEXPO-2010 ARTS EXHIBIT IN YEREVAN

Tert.am
18:09 ~U 12.02.10

Yerevan’s Artists’ Union hosted today an arts exhibit called
ARTEXPO-2010. It is the second time that the RA Ministry of Culture
has taken on an initiative of organizing such an event in Yerevan.

The exhibit is aimed at presenting the modern developments in Armenian
culture, providing all those interested with a chance to cooperate
and establish business contacts with organizations active in the area
of culture.

RA President Serzh Sargsyan was present during today’s opening
ceremony. He walked around the booths, became acquainted with last
year’s works, achievements and programs of more than fifty cultural
organizations representing the various arts.

U.S. ENVOY ARGUES FOR TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER OPENING

argues-for-turkish-armenian-border-opening/
Feb 12th, 2010

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-The U.S. ambassador in Yerevan, Marie Yovanovitch,
claimed on Friday that Armenia would draw substantial economic benefits
from the possible opening of its border with Turkey and most Armenians
seem to realize that.

Reiterating Washington’s strong support for the Turkish-Armenian
normalization, Yovanovitch said Armenia’s heavy dependence on Georgian
transit routes carries an "enormous risk" that was highlighted during
Georgia’s August 2008 war with Russia. The resulting disruption
of vital cargo supplies to the landlocked country underlined the
importance of having an open border with Turkey, she said.

"The benefits [of border opening], I think, are clear to Armenia,"
Yovanovitch told a panel discussion in Yerevan on Turkish-Armenian
cross-border commerce. "An end to geographic and economic isolation;
expanded export opportunities, especially for the depressed communities
near the border; opening of the new transport routes that would reduce
transport costs; easier access to Armenia for Turkish goods; increased
competition and choice for Armenian consumers, a higher quality of
Armenian products … and new export routes for Armenian products."

The diplomat continued to make the case for opening borders, claiming
that Armenian exporters would also gain access to Turkey’s large and
highly protected market. "In addition, with Turkey and the European
Union linked by a customs union agreement for trade purposes, an open
border with Turkey would put Armenia on a border of Western Europe,"
she said.

Yovanovitch also spoke of what she called significant political and
economic benefits of border opening for Turkey. "Turkish companies
would have new export markets in Armenia, and by establishing
operations here they could take advantage of favorable export tariffs
to Russia and other CIS countries at the same time as they create
employment for Armenians," she argued.

The remarks reflect the view of not only the U.S. government but also
the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and other lending
institutions. Senior IMF and the World Bank officials believe that a
positive impact of border opening on Armenia’s recession-hit economy
would be felt as early as this year.

Armenian, economists, however, assert that-border commerce with Turkey
would actually damage the domestic economy. They say it would flood
the domestic market with cheap Turkish consumer goods and thereby
hurt many Armenian manufacturers.

Yovanovitch said she found such concerns legitimate but added that she
believes the Armenian government can minimize possible "short-term
shocks" resulting from the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations. "Opening the border between Armenia and Turkey will require
adjustments," she said. "But I’m confident that the long-term benefits
to both countries and the region far outweigh any short-term economic
impacts."

Yovanovitch also stood by her view that most Armenians support
rapprochement with Turkey, despite an unprecedented wave of opposition
against the agreements by most Armenians in Armenia and its far-flung
Diaspora.

MANUK HERGNYAN: ARMENIAN ECONOMY SUFFERED MORE THAN OTHERS FROM GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS
Nelly Danielyan

"Radiolur"
11.02.2010 18:33

Specialists of "Economy and Values" research center, which carried our
analysis of CIS, Western Europe and the Middle East countries’
economies, have come to the conclusion that Armenian economy suffered
more than others from the global economic crisis.

Chairman of the Center Manuk Hergnyan stated that the results of the
analysis showed that in countries, where the current deficit was high,
the economic indices were law.

According to Manuk Hergnyan, one of the reasons for economic decline
in Armenia was deformation of the economy structure.

The second wave of the crisis may have more serious results in
Armenia, since the economy has not only failed to rehabilitate, but
also continues to develop in the wrong direction. Even if we avoid the
second wave of the crisis, the economic predictions can hardly be
called optimistic, according to Manuk Hergnyan.

He forecasts that if there is no second stage of crisis observed in
2010, economic decline at the volume of 3% or increase of up to 3% can
be expected in Armenia, at that inflation will make 6-9%.

YEREVAN CITY HALL TO BEGIN CITY GREENING PROJECT FUNDED BY FACTORIES’ ‘POLLUTING FEE’

Tert.am
13:21 11.02.10

Yerevan City Hall will begin planting of greenery and shrubs in the
Armenian capital thanks in part to the nature preservation fees that
Yerevan factories that pollute the air are required to pay.

Head of Yerevan City Hall’s nature protection department, Avet
Martirosyan told Tert.am that "city greening" projects have been
designed for the Shengavit and Erebuni administrative districts,
including constructing the irrigation system, planting trees, and
restoring lawns.

The project also includes the creation of green spaces in Shengavit
and Erebuni in 2011.

By creating more outdoor green spaces, "it will make it possible to
ease the negative effects on the environment [caused by polluting
factories]," said Martirosyan.

Among those factories that are considered pollutants in Yerevan are
Nairit Factory, Yerevan JEK, Maqur Erkat (Pure Iron), Gajegorts,
Gaj and Armenia Molybdenum Protection.

ZORI BALAYAN AWARDED MASHTOTS MEDAL

A1Plus.am
10/02/10

On February 9 President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on bestowing
a St. Mesrop Mashtots Medal upon Zori Balayan for his long public
and political activity and on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

President Sargsyan issued a congratulatory message on the occasion
of Zori Balayan’s birthday. The message reads in part:

"Dear Mr. Balayan,

I warmly congratulate you on your 75th jubilee.

You are well known to our public as an exceptionally principled
publicist, who has always been writing about most important events for
our people and country. You have not only touched upon public issues,
but have often offered solutions to them."

The President wished health, happiness and new works to Zori Balayan.

WHY DID GORDON BACK GEORGIA, NOT AZERBAIJAN?

Azadliq (in Azeri)
Feb 4 2010
Azerbaijan

Vafa Quluzada: `Unlike Azerbaijan, Georgia has been resolute in the
course of integration into NATO

US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip H.

Gordon has come up with interesting opinions about events in the
Southern Caucasus. Focusing more on the violation of Georgia’s
territorial integrity rather than the Karabakh problem, Gordon said
that Washington does not think it should recognize independence of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In his opinion, the USA does not see eye
to eye with Russia on this issue.

Stressing that Russia’s current position does not contribute to
the regional stability, the assistant secretary of state added that
America does not need engagement in an active campaigning to thwart
the recognition [of Georgia’s breakaway regions] since almost all
the countries share the position of the USA to this effect.

In comments on another disputed regional issue, that is to say, the
Turkish-Armenian agreement [protocols], Gordon said that the current
uncertainty has revived attempts in the Congress for the approval of
a resolution on the "Armenian genocide".

Political expert Vafa Quluzada believes that it is not surprising
that P. Gordon spoke more about problems of Georgia in the Southern
Caucasus. Drawing attention to Georgia’s brave and resolute steps
to join NATO, Vafa Quluzada said that exactly for this reason the
USA is stepping up its efforts to resolve problems of this country:
"As Azerbaijan is afraid of Russia, it cannot make decisive steps with
regard to NATO membership. Azerbaijan is waiting for Russia to become
weak to raise the issue of integration into NATO. For this reason,
it is not surprising that Georgia is receiving so much attention. Why
not? Despite losing two regions, serious threats from Russia, Georgia
is resolute towards NATO membership and cooperation with the West.

Therefore, Georgia’s membership of NATO is already a matter of time."

As for Gordon’s remarks on Russia’s current aggressive regional policy,
Vafa Quluzada said that as soon as the economic crisis slowed down,
Russia began to pursue an aggressive policy in the Southern Caucasus:
"Russia is again a threat to former Soviet republics. As soon as the
crisis slackened, Russia renewed its efforts for armament.

Historically, this has always been a Russian policy both under the
tsar and in the Soviet period. Although the country was in the grip
of social problems, armament was a priority then."

Vafa Quluzada views Armenia’s attempts to put again on the agenda
the issue of the "Armenian genocide" as pressure on Turkey given the
current uncertainty in the Turkish-Armenian contacts. But the pundit
does not think the USA would recognize the "Armenian genocide",
adding that Washington would lose an ally like Turkey in the Middle
East if it made such a move. Actually, Hillary Clinton’s initiatives
to bring closer Turkey and Armenia were a step made hastily. Since it
is unreal to implement this plan at present. As for Armenia’s attempt
to step up the "genocide" claims, I do not think the USA would make a
serious mistake to bow to Yerevan’s caprice. If such a step was made,
Ankara would turn away from the USA as an ally and this would have
seriously damaged the US interest."

TURKISH FM: WASHINGTON’S "EXCESSIVE EFFORTS" HAMPER ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT

Yerkir
08.02.2010 12:56
Yerevan

Washington’s excessive efforts hamper the Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement, Turkish FM Ahmed Davutoglu has told Turkish journalists,
when commenting on a US House penal to schedule vote on the Armenian
Genocide resolution.

"They should not blackmail us with April 24. If someone wants to put
pressure on us, it will be useless. Turkey is an independent state and
it takes the decisions considering its national interests", he said.

"If Americans use such methods, we declare officially that the process
of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement will fail. This does not meet
the interests of either Washington, or Yerevan or Ankara. Therefore,
the United States should be more attentive to this issue and not hamper
this process by excessive efforts. Everyone should know that Turkey
is not a country that can be spoken with in a language of pressure,"
he added.

Davutoglu also accused the Armenian side of insincerity, because it
raises the issue of "genocide" despite the normalization of process.

"They start raising the issue of ‘genocide’ every time before April
24, like Greeks do when they raise old problems before the EU-Turkish
summits".