Author: Vasilian Manouk

BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS AND ID CARDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN 2011
Liana Yeghiazaryan

"Radiolur"
08.02.2010 18:08

The current passports will not be valid in Armenia in 2011. They
will be replaced by biometric passports and ID cards. Most probably,
the social security cards will not be necessary, either.

The biometric passports and ID cards will contain more information
about the citizens than the current documents. They will include a
photo, the name, the surname, the middle name, the date of birth, the
address, the prints of four fingers and the signature of the citizen.

The ID cards will be used inside Armenia, while the passports will be
provided only when leaving the country, Head of the Passport and Visa
Department of RA Police Norayr Muradkhanyan said. The new documents
will be valid for ten years.

The changes are required by international organizations, particularly
the Council of Europe.

Interfax, Russia
Feb 4 2010

Armenia: Azerbaijan taking destructive approach to Nagorno-Karabakh issue

YEREVAN Feb 4

Armenia’s foreign minister has slammed Azerbaijan for allegedly going
back on one of the principles for the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict discussed at a Russian- brokered
Armenian-Azeri summit last week, namely a postulate that the disputed
enclave’s participation in settlement talks is essential.

"This is evidence of one more instance of the destructive approach on
the part of Azerbaijan," Edward Nalbandian told Armenia’s parliament.

"We have asserted repeatedly that the settlement of the Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict is impossible without the participation of Nagorno-
Karabakh. Such is our position, which the co-chairmen of the Minsk
Group of the OSCE understand," he said.

The Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe is a body mediating in the conflict.

Earlier, a source close to Nagorno-Karabakh talks had told Interfax
that the disputed region’s participation in settlement talks was among
settlement principles discussed by the Armenian, Azeri and Russian
presidents at a meeting in Sochi, Russia, on January 25.

Interfax, Russia
Feb 4 2010

U.S. will work with Armenia on regional issues – Deputy Secretary of State

YEREVAN Feb 4

The U.S. is ready to cooperate with the Armenian authorities to solve
regional problems, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said
at a meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Steinberg told Sargsyan that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
sent her regards and reaffirmed the U.S. willingness to work on both
multilateral and regional issues, the Armenian president’s press
office told Interfax.

"The U.S. and Armenia have traditionally warm and friendly relations,
and such visits are very important in terms of continuing the dialog
between our countries," the Armenian president said.

There has been certain progress in economic cooperation, he said.

"The U.S. has become Armenia’s fifth biggest trade partner and third
in terms of export, which is very important for us. We passed several
legal changes, which should also facilitate the deepening of bilateral
relations," Sargsian said.

The parties also noted that there has been some developing dynamics in
U.S.-Armenian cooperation on security, education, culture and other
areas, the press office said.

The meeting was also attended by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
Phillip Gordon and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Jovanovich, the
president’s press office said.

Steinberg met Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian earlier on Thursday.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN POLICE SAYS ABOUT UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH OF CRIMINALITY IN THE COUNTRY

ArmInfo
2010-02-05 14:46:00

Arminfo. Sharp growth of criminality was registered in Armenia in
2009, Head of Armenian Police Alik Sargsyan said at today’s sitting
of Police Collegium.

He also added that as against 2008 criminality grew by 54,7% in Armenia
in 2009 (9271 – 14339). The number of the collective crimes has also
sharply grown in 2009 (739 – 1464). The head of the police especially
worries about the fact that 40% cases of the collective crimes were
committed by foreigners. This is by 5,7 times more than in 2008.

But Sargsyan thinks that sharp growth of criminality in 2009 is
evidence of the fact that new practice of the crimes listing was
applied, though earlier many people used to refuse initiating of a
criminal case. The total of 3129 such crimes ‘accumulated’ in 2009.

They were registered and became the reason of rising the indicator in
general in 2009. Moreover 3027 crimes committed over the last years
were also disclosed and registered in 2009. The number of such crimes
was 1505 in 2008.

Sargsyan also said that in 2009 the indicator of the crime detection
rate in some directions was also improved. At the same time, the
crimes detection rate connected with illegal drug circulation,
residential burglary, etc, fell.

A SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT IS RIGHT TO START

Lragir.am
05/02/10

Haji Nazenie Garibyan. Doctor of Art History at the Sorbonne,
publicist, YSU teacher, deputy director of the Armenian comparative
analysis Center for Egyptology

How would you assess Armenia’s current situation? Which is the biggest
problem of the Armenian nation? Which are the solutions?

Today, we have the same problems that we used to have several years
ago. We have the Karabakh conflict and the problem of freeing ourselves
from the Soviet Union, in other words, the problem of building a
national liberating and free and independent country. But the most
important is the change of conscience of the Armenian nation.

Until we did not solve this issue, we will be unable to fulfill any
initiative. In other words, after twenty years, we again face the
need of revolution. Public relations have not been changed, and much
remained the same or even worsened. Armenia has harder issues today
than it had twenty years ago. Then, we won the Karabakh war and now
we lose independence and are about to cede the lands.

You noted about the need of change of conscience. But in 2008, you
noticed that change.

In 2008 a strong explosion took place which we compare to the movement
in 1988. Then, it was the Karabakh movement which ended in revolution.

During 20 years, we did not manage to solve the issue on internal
consolidation. After 20 years, people gathered in streets to defend
their vote. This question was not to be the reason of people’s union.

In 2008 people gathered in the Freedom Square to restore justice, but
the potential of the people gathered there was more. It is another
question that the leaders of the movement were content of only this
demand. We have not used that potential and we have not even realized
it. There seems to be some disagreement between the potential of
people and their demands. Each time when elections are rigged after
2008, they bring about the limitation of that energy and in the end
it will just exhaust.

Nevertheless, lately, all have been complaining of the Congress.

Parallel to this, different initiatives are formed, and everyone
dwells on a new force, new opposition. Do you feel this need?

Let us treat this question from philosophical point of view. New force
is always needed for the development of a society, for progress. It
is a global issue, if there was no new force, people would still live
in caves.

The birth of this new force today is needed for the latter to solve
other issues in the future. During twenty years, our society did not
develop; today’s new force has to return to ’80, ’90 to bring the
society back. I do not exclude the emergence of a new force, but my
position is somewhat restrained due, rather, to the perception of this
force in the Armenian reality. We have the traditional proposition
that the new should emerge from the ruins of the old, and to build
a new, you must destroy the old. That is, you need to throw out what
exists, to place new. In my circle of adherents, many throw stones on
the Armenian National Congress. The point is not whether this holds
true. And that those who want to build a new one can do so in a new
place, and if it is a healthy new, the old will come down by itself
or will remain standing. In the end, there is no harm from it.

And no matter if we like it or not, HAK is a valuable achievement.

Regarding the new force, there are two parallel streams – Sardarapat
and other groups working in the same direction. No matter where this
force will be, above all is the new idea. It is not necessary to
destroy the old order, we need a complementary, complementing idea.

These two groups have not yet put forward new ideas, they are both
trends of purely socialist persuasion. I am personally opposed to
socialism, not its basic ideology, which is based on social justice,
but on the classical definition of socialism – as an ideology and
forms of struggle to achieve the goal.

New model for me can become a force that focuses not on material
wealth, but human and humane values. The best model of socialism to
me is the teaching of Christ.

But do you see this new force?

No, because force is a collective term, but I see the carriers of
these ideas. Will these people be consolidated and become a force?

Interview With Siranuysh Papyan

ARMENIAN BRANDY PRODUCTION DOWN 38% IN 2009

Interfax
Feb 1 2010
Russia

Armenia reduced brandy production 38.4% to 9.869 million liters,
the National Statistics Service reported.

The Agriculture Ministry told Interfax that demand declined due to
the global financial crisis. Demand was at its lowest level in the
first half of the year.

Armenian brandy is sold mainly in the CIS, primarily in Russia.

Sales increased noticeably toward the end of the year in advance of
the New Year’s holiday.

Liquor production rose 7.7% to 13.146 million liters last year, wine
production was up 30.8% to 4.372 million liters, sparkling wine –
down 1.7% to 0.456 million liters, and beer – up 2.8% to 10.825
million liters.

TURKEY CAN MAKE OBAMA ANGRY

Aysor
Feb 4 2010
Armenia

"The interesting thing what will happen in Washington in April is that
Turkey’s delays and games make the U.S. angry. And the U.S. Congress
can again appeal to discussions on recognition of the Genocide not for
the importance of the issue, but to punish Turkey. Turkey’s fastening
down the process of ratification of Armenia-Turkey protocols may lead
to recognition by Congress the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in
Turkey as Genocide," said Director of Armenian Center for National
and Strategic Studies Richard Girakosian.

According to Richard Girakosian, Deputy Secretary of State James B.

Steinberg’s visit to Armenia and Georgia has nothing to do with the
settlement to the Karabakh problem. Actually, this is a message related
to Turkey as it fastens down the process of ratification of protocols.

"President Obama may decide to solve this issue to demonstrate that
he is a strong leader and is standing for principles. In other words,
Turkey’s strategy may bring actually strong reaction against Turkey."

CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT NKR PARTICIPATION: RA FM

news.am
Feb 3 2010
Armenia

Armenia reckons that conflict settlement without Nagorno-Karabakh
participation is impossible and this approach is acknowledged by OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated
on Wednesday in the RA National Assembly.

"We repeatedly stated that conflict settlement is impossible
without involvement of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is Armenia’s approach
acknowledged by OSCE MG Co-Chairs," Nalbandian replied, asked to
comment on information spread after Armenian-Azerbaijani Presidents’
meeting in Sochi that preamble to Madrid principles stipulates the
necessity of NKR’s mandatory participation in the talks.

Commenting on the remark that Azerbaijan refuted this information,
Nalbandian underlined, "It is a regular demonstration of Azerbaijan’s
unconstructive stance."

GEOPROMINING WILL MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN ACMC CJSC

ArmInfo
2010-02-04 12:10:00

ArmInfo. GeoProMining Company is planning to invest in modernization
of ACMC CJSC additional resources. The volume of investments is not
specified yet and the final sum will become known after reconstruction
of the processing plant, which, according to plans will finish within
a two year period, GeoProMining Company press-service told ArmInfo.

Recently global prices for copper and molybdenum have started to
increase, which have increased the income of the company, as well as
its attractiveness for investments. Investments include also the RA
Government loan of 14 million USD, lent in 2009. Let’s remind that
on June 26 the RA Government made a decision to grant a budget loan
to ACMC CJSC of 14 million USD, for 4 year period. The Government
loan was granted to ACMC for investment project, which include
procurement of machinery and reconstruction of the plant. Part of the
loan amounts was used for purchase of mining machinery, which have
already been delivered and set in operation. Specifically, 5 BelAz
mine dump-trucks of 55 ton carrying capacity. At the end of 2009 the
company obtained BelAz wheel-loaders, two TK wheel-tractors and one
tractor with bulldozer and ripper. Purchase of mining machinery and
reconstruction of the processing plant constitutes the component part
of the Company’s anti- crisis program, directed on increase of mining
volumes and competetiveness of the Company’s production.

Other part of the loan amount was used for purchasing of flotation
equipment ,,Metso Minerals,, , delivered at the beginning of 2010. The
machinery operated at ACMC for many years were morally and physically
outdated, because since the establishment of the Company no major
investments have been made, and for that reason the costs for mining
activities have been constantly growing. The new mining machinery
provides an opportunity to increase the mining volumes and raise
the effectiveness of mine operation. Total loan amount, received in
September of the last year will be used in 2010. Since December 2009
the Company started payment of interests.

Taking into account the large-scale program goals, GeoProMining plans
completion of reconstruction process by the end of 2011.

Reconstruction shall be carried out without stopping of production
activities. Further replacement of equipments, which have already been
purchased and currently undergoing customs clearance shall continue.

For 6 monts of 2009 "ACMC" CJSC processed around 1.3 million ton ore,
which is more for 5% as compared to the 6 monts of 2008 results.

As anticipated, during this year mining and processing olumes will
increase up to 3-3,5 million ton.

GeoProMining Group obtained the shares of Agarak Copper Molybdenum
Combine in December of 2007. GeoPromining specializes in mining and
processing of metaliferous ores (copper, molybdenum, antimony) and
precious metals (gold, silver). The Group has a diversified production
structure and markets. Deposits and processing plants of the Group
are in Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Vietnam.

EU ADVISORY GROUP TO ARMENIA ACCEPTING RECENT GRADUATES FOR INTERNSHIPS

Tert.am
11:14 ~U 03.02.10

Beginning this year, new graduates from Armenian universities will have
an opportunity to gain direct experience in EU policies and practices.

RA Secretary of Armenian National Security Council, Artur Baghdasaryan;
Head of EU delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Raul de Lucenberg; and UN
Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Dafina Gercheva, signed an agreement
yesterday in admitting interns to the European Union Advisory Group
to the Republic of Armenia.

The program will enable young Armenian graduates to work closely
with EU advisors in such sectors as trade, customs, reforms in public
administration, state debt and human rights.

The young interns will have an exceptional opportunity to get
acquainted with European and international standards which will be
implemented in Armenia; thus becoming skilled, experienced interns,
highly in demand in the Armenian labour market.

An independent selection committee will be launched to conduct
interviews and select interns. The competition will be announced
once a year. Selected interns will be offered a placement and will
receive remuneration.

For additional information, an email can be sent to EU Advisory Group
Communication Officer Karina Kostrzheva at [email protected].