Author: Virabian Jhanna

ARMENIA’S GDP GROWS BY 7.2% IN APRIL 2010 ON SAME MONTH OF 2009

NOYAN TAPAN
20 MAY, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s GDP grew by 7.2% in April
2010 compared to the same month of 2009 and amounted to 777 billion
558.4 million drams. The index-deflator of GDP made 10.2%.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, industrial output
grew by 10.2% in Armenia in April 2010 on April 2009 and made 242bn
590.3m drams.

Gross agricultural output declined by 0.1% to 63bn 908m drams,
construction grew by 8.8% to 66bn 534.1m drams.

Retail trade increased by 2.3% to 289bn 303m drams, services grew by
6.4% to 231bn 336m drams.

Armenia’s foreign trade grew by 30.9% in April 2010 as compared to
April of last year and amounted to bn 408.7m, with exports growing
by 64.3% to 9.8m and imports increasing by 24.4% to bn 118.9m.

Consumer prices rose by 8%, industrial production prices – by 37%
in April 2010 on April 2009.

The number of officially registered unemployed grew by 4.9% in April
2010 compared to April 2009 and made 85.2 thousand.

The average monthly nominal salary made 104,058 drams in April 2010
(7.5% growth on last year), including the average salary of 83.695
drams (3.9% growth) in the state sector and the average salary of
133,568 drams (10.8% growth) in the non-state sector.

The average exchange rate of one US dollar made 386.69 drams in
April 2010.

TURKS BEARING GIFTS

Helsinki Times
onal-news/11122-turks-bearing-gifts-.html
May 20 2010
Finland

First visit to Greece in six years by Turkish prime minister widely
hailed as a historical rapprochement after long period of mutual
bitterness.

The two countries were on the brink of war in 1996 and relations
came under strain again in 2006 when a Greek pilot lost his life in
a collision with a Turkish plane during a mock dogfight.

In contrast, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s Friday 14 May-Saturday 15
May visit, leading a group of 10 ministers and about a 100 businessmen,
produced a slew of co-operation agreements and accords around energy,
environment, diplomatic missions, finance and commerce.

Topping the list was an agreement on irregular migration which provides
for the reactivation of a return protocol. A port on the outskirts of
Izmir will, in the next three months, be designated as a return zone
through which at least 1,000 irregulars will be returned every year.

Erdogan invited Greek investors to get involved in Turkey’s economy
and move trade between the two countries beyond the 2.4 billion euros
annually that it is now worth.

But Erdogan’s visit also had to do with Turkey’s ambitions in the
geopolitical arena. In an interview with the Greek national daily
‘TA NEA’ Erdogan stated openly that he wished to "see Turkey amongst
the ten biggest economic powers in the next 10 to 15 years". He added
that this should not be misunderstood by neighbours as belligerence.

Ioannis Grigoriadis, professor at the Bilkent University in Turkey
and an associate of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign
Policy Studies (ELIAMEP), circulated an analytical report days before
Erdogan’s visit arguing that Turkey’s return as a strategic regional
force would have enormous impact on the geopolitical balance.

Grigoriadis is one of many analysts who see Turkey’s return as a
regional power rooted in Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s
strategic doctrine that envisages the country as a core economic
regional power and a transit point between East and West in future. It
is a sophisticated foreign policy strategy that promotes the country’s
economic interests while also attempting to heal Turkey’s old wounds.

"Davutoglu’s doctrine talks about "zero problems with neighbours. It
remains to be seen whether any substance will be put to this in the
following months", Grigoriadis told IPS.

"More attention has been given to Turkish relations with Armenia,
Syria, and Iraq rather than with Greece. Joint Greek-Turkish
initiatives in the Balkans could not be precluded, yet where work is
mostly needed is in the Aegean question, as well as Cyprus," he said.

Offering to mediate between the West and Iran over its nuclear
ambitions, and taking on Israel for its aggression against Lebanon
and Palestine, have also been spectacular foreign policy decisions
that attracted attention internationally.

But Turkey’s silent return in the Balkans has been equally effective.

During the last decade it has established itself, politically
and economically, as a key factor in Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania,
successfully playing on cultural proximity.

Turkey’s new philosophy has led it to improve relations and acquire
strategic assets beyond traditional boundaries. Two weeks ago Turkish
investors declared interest in purchasing the Serbian national
carrier JAT.

Turkey’s growth rate from 2002 to 2007 averaged 7.4 per cent making it
one of the fastest expanding economies in the world. It slowed down
to 4.5 per cent in 2008, and in early 2009 the Turkish economy was
affected by the financial crisis with the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) forecasting an overall downturn of 5.1 per cent for the year.

Nevertheless Turkish economy is still regarded as amongst those with
the best growth potential.

Indeed Turkey’s demographic potential and expanding domestic
free market is the best growth cocktail in the region. The driving
force behind Turkey’s attempt to grasp this momentum is its growing,
educated middle class that supports Erdogan against the once powerful
militaristic, Kemalist establishment.

At a time when traditionally strong economic competitors like Greece
are spinning into long-term recession Turkey sees an opportunity to
rise as a regional force. And Erdogan’s assertiveness in Athens is
the best proof.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MAY 14-20, 2010

HIGHLIGHTS:

AMENDMENTS TO BROADCAST LAW DO NOT SOLVE KEY ISSUES OF TV MARKET

DRAFT LAW PACKAGE, PRESCRIBING DECRIMINALIZATION FOR LIBEL AND INSULT,
PASSED

"A+1" TV COMPANY STARTS ONLINE BROADCASTING

AMENDMENTS TO BROADCAST LAW DO NOT SOLVE KEY ISSUES OF TV MARKET

On May 14 at AUA Business Center a conference "Media Legislation and
Self-Regulation Initiatives" was held. The conference was organized by
Partnership for Open Society initiative. At the event the issues of media
self-regulation were discussed. Specifically, the Charter of Ethical
Principles of TV and Radio Broadcasters of the Republic of Armenia, proposed
by the Public Council at the RA President (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, April
16-22, 2010), as well as the draft law "On Introducing Amendments and
Supplements to RA Law ‘On Television and Radio’", endorsed by RA Government
on May 13 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, May 7-13, 2010), were considered. The
assessments of professional associations, made at the conference, were
summarized in the statement of Yerevan Press Club, Internews Media Support
NGO and Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, released on May 17.

In the statement three journalistic organizations, particularly, expressed a
concern as to the haste with which the draft was developed by RA Ministry of
Economy. The document does not show distinctly which provisions of the
acting Law "On Television and Radio" are amended, removed or expanded – with
regard to switching from analog to digital broadcasting. This impedes the
conductance of effective discussion by the public, and further by RA
National Assembly deputies.

By noting that in September, 2008 a two year moratorium on holding broadcast
licensing competitions was introduced on the plea of digitalization, the
signatories emphasized that the study of draft law only reaffirms that this
delay was unjustified. The moratorium damaged greatly the diversity and
freedom of competition at the Armenian TV market. This draft law, which does
not show any crucial and new approaches, could have been adopted two years
ago. Meanwhile, the suspension of broadcast licensing competitions became an
obstacle for the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of
Human Rights of June 17, 2008 on the case of "A1+" TV company, as well as a
number of PACE resolutions, the statement stresses.

The statement mentions that draft law does offer several new notions, it
still does not provide mechanisms for regulating the relations between the
entities involved in digital broadcasting and the process of digitalization.
Besides, both the draft law and the Concept Paper on Digitalization of
Television Broadcasting, adopted in November 12, 2009, do not include the
principles for the envisaged social package, the types of licenses to be
provided to TV companies as determined by these principles and grounds for
their provision. The draft law does not dwell on the structure of
investments required from the broadcasters, as well as on a number of other
important issues.

The concern of journalistic organizations is raised by the specific number
of TV broadcasters (18), prescribed by the draft law. Meanwhile, an
objective and transparent audit of the TV frequencies has not been
administered in Armenia, which was recommended by international experts. The
limited number of licenses means in essence that some of the TV companies
operating now would lose their licenses, and increased barriers to entry for
new TV companies, even those that are ready for digitalization. The
signatories also emphasized that the assignment of necessary profiles for TV
companies to be licensed, as it is done in the draft, is impossible without
a serious study of public demand.

The statement of YPC, Internews and Committee to Protect Freedom of
Expression also criticizes the inclusion of provisions in the draft that are
not in any way related to digitalization. At the same time, the draft does
not solve crucial issues, such as: satellite broadcasting, the fate of
acting regional TV companies, including the public "Shirak" channel, and
their participation in licensing competitions, no distinction is made with
regard to terms and procedures of broadcast licensing competitions.

It should be noted that on May 18 the OSCE Office in Yerevan presented the
expert analysis of the aforesaid Concept Paper on Digitalization of
Television Broadcasting. The analysis was made by Andrei Richter, Professor
at Moscow State University, and Dr. Katrin Nyman-Metcalf, Professor at
Tallinn University of Technology, on behalf of Office of OSCE Representative
on Freedom of Media. The Concept Paper was assessed in frames of the
commitments of Armenia towards OSCE, international standards and
digitalization practices. The experts stated a number of observations and
recommendations, which were not reflected in the draft law on the amendments
to Broadcast Law.

At the presentation of May 18 Dunja Mijatovic, the newly appointed OSCE
Representative on Freedom of Media, who was in Armenia for the first time,
spoke rather critical about the amendments to the RA Law "On Television and
Radio". During the visits of OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media (which
took place on the same day) with RA President Serzh Sargsian, heads of RA
Foreign Affairs Ministry, RA Ministry of Economy and Chairman of National
Commission on Television and Radio, Grigor Amalian, the issues dealing with
digitalization were discussed. Dunja Mijatovic expressed willingness to
provide an expert assistance in the process of amending the broadcast
legislation.

On May 20 at the session of RA National Assembly the draft "On Introducing
Amendments and Supplements to RA Law ‘On Television and Radio’" was passed
in first hearing. Since the draft has many shortcomings, the deputies
decided to postpone the second hearing, and to hold parliamentary
discussions on the issue on May 26.

DRAFT LAW PACKAGE, PRESCRIBING DECRIMINALIZATION FOR LIBEL AND INSULT,
PASSED

On May 18 RA National Assembly adopted in second hearing and finally the
draft law package "On Introducing Amendments and Supplements to RA Civil
Code", "On Introducing Amendments to RA Criminal Code", "On Introducing an
Amendment to RA Criminal Procedure Code". As it has been reported, draft
laws, decriminalizing libel and insult, as well as introducing the institute
of moral loss compensation, were adopted in first hearing on March 18, 2010.
On April 9 parliamentary hearings, on which the representatives of
journalistic community voiced a number of key observations, were held. For
implementing the recommendations a working group, staffed by representatives
of journalistic associations, including YPC, was formed under the NA
Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
April 9-15, 2010).

Eventhough within the first and second hearings some changes, proposed by
the working group, were introduced to the draft regarding RA Civil Code, it
still has a number of important shortcomings. In particular, the size of
moral compensation is considered unjustified. The draft prescribes that
while defining the size of the compensation the courts have to take into
account the form of libel and insult, their extension, as well as the
material status of the person, disseminating libel and insult. Nevertheless,
in the absence of judicial precedents, such a vague formulation is fraught
with arbitrary court decisions regarding the compensation size. Besides, as
before the definitions of "libel" and "false denunciation" in Civil and
Criminal Codes are not clearly distinguished. This can become ground for
confusion in future, as it has been many times in the judicial and
investigative practice of Armenia. In its turn, this fact does not permit to
talk about the full decriminalization of libel.

"A+1" TV COMPANY STARTS ONLINE BROADCASTING

Since May 15 "A1+" TV company started online broadcasting ().
So far he broadcast is in test mode.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School
1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tel: 323-461-4377
Fax: 323-323-461-4247
Contact: [email protected]

TCA Arshag Dickranian School Junior Basketball Team
Wins 1st Place In AGBU Tournament

Los Angeles, May 20, 2010 – On May 2, the junior high basketball team of
TCA Arshag Dickranian School won 1st place in the AGBU – AYA Glendale –
Pasadena Chapter Tournament, which was held at the AGBU High School in
Pasadena, CA. This year’s tournament started on April 10 and the games
were held over the weekends until May 2.

`It was a highly competitive series of games,’ said Mr. Rudolph Rameh,
the Athletic Director of the school, `We really enjoyed participating in
this tournament because it gives our students the chance to compete
against other Armenian teams.’

This year seven parties other than TCA ADS participated in the tournament,
including the AGBU High School – Pasadena, the AGBU High School – Canoga
Park, Hovsepian School, the UACC Church Club, the HMM Glendale Club, The
Bulls HMM Club and the Armenian Sisters Academy. The Dickranians trained
hard for this tournament, and once again, they proved to be a highly
challenging team to play against.

Located at 1200 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, the TCA Arshag
Dickranian Armenian School is a federally tax exempt, Pre-K to 12th grade
private educational institution. For more information visit

THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL AND THE NEW PREMIER LEAGUE OF GLOBAL POWERS
Simon Tisdall

guardian.co.uk
Wednesday 19 May 2010 16.59 BST

Brazil and Turkey are determined to pursue diplomacy and compromise –
even if it means upsetting Washington

The UN’s proposed sanctions on Iran are nothing like the ‘crippling’
package promised by Hillary Clinton. Photograph: Astrid Riecken/EPA

The furious row between the Obama administration and the leaders of
Brazil and Turkey over how best to handle Iran’s nuclear ambitions,
following this week’s controversial "uranium swap" deal in Tehran,
reflects a more fundamental and widening disagreement over how the
world should be run in the 21st century.

On Iran, as on other issues that it regards as critical to its security
and national interest, Washington expects to have its own way –
and is accustomed to getting it. If necessary, it stands ready to
impose its will. This is what secretary of the state, Hillary Clinton,
tried to do this week by whipping the UN security council into line.

Brazil and Turkey, two leading members of a new premier league of
emerging global powers, have a quite different approach. They stress
persuasion and compromise. In the case of Iran, instead of ultimatums,
deadlines and sanctions, they prefer dialogue. It helps that neither
country feels threatened by Tehran.

Lula da Silva, Brazil’s popular president, typifies this outlook. He
gave Clinton fair warning earlier this year that it was "not prudent
to push Iran against a wall". More broadly, Lula has championed the
cause of emerging countries, challenged the rich world’s assumptions
at the Copenhagen climate summit, and bearded the US over Cuba and
Hugo Chavez.

Lula speaks for a world that was formed in the west’s image but is
increasingly rejecting its tutelage and its ideas. China and India
are the foremost members of this pack. But their leaders’ overriding
priority is to build up their countries’ economic strengths. For
most part, Beijing avoids open fights with the Americans and their
west-European allies. The time will come when that will change –
but not yet.

Reacting angrily to Clinton’s implied suggestion that somehow they
had been suckered into the uranium deal by the crafty Iranians, Maria
Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Brazil’s ambassador to the UN, said Brazil
would not co-operate with US-initiated security council discussions
on a new resolution. Without unanimity in the council, new sanctions
are even less likely to be honoured or effectively implemented than
is already the case now.

Brazil’s foreign minister, Celso Amorim, also warned Washington to
think again. "We have a chance to achieve a peaceful, negotiated
solution [with Iran]. Those who turn down that possibility, or who
think that sanctions or other measures would get us closer, they’ll
have to take responsibility for that." Such robust language is an
eloquent expression of the changing power dynamic between the old
superpower and its new rivals.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister and, like Lula, the
leader of an emerging regional power, has a more direct interest in
what happens in Iran. The two countries have a common border and a
common belief that the Middle East has seen too much interference by
foreign powers. Ankara does not want a nuclear-armed Iran any more
than it wants a nuclear-armed Israel. In fact, it seeks to empty the
region of all weapons of mass destruction.

But Erdogan is increasingly resistant to the US way of doing things,
whether it is turning a blind eye to Israel’s Gaza depredations,
lecturing Turkey on Armenian history, or maintaining double standards
on nuclear weapons. Like most Turks, Erdogan opposed the invasion
of Iraq. He has led a rapprochement with Syria, another American
bete noire. And he suggested this week that Washington was behaving
arrogantly in dismissing the Iran deal.

"This is the time to discuss whether we believe in the supremacy of law
or the law of the supremes and superiors," he said. "While they [the
US] still have nuclear weapons, where do they get the credibility to
ask other countries not to have them?" Yet despite his obvious anger,
Erdogan still answered Clinton’s criticism that the timeline for the
uranium swap was "amorphous". Iran was expected to fulfil its part of
the deal within one month, otherwise it would "be on its own", he said.

Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister, made clear Ankara’s
opposition to further sanctions – and that he was not worried about
upsetting the Americans. "We don’t want any new sanctions in our
region because it affects our economy, it affects our energy policies,
it affects our relations in our neighbourhood," he said. Without
Turkish co-operation, any new measures will struggle to have an impact.

That may prove to be the case anyway. Overlooked in the furore is the
consideration that, thanks to stiff Chinese and Russian opposition,
the proposed new sanctions, even if agreed as drafted, are fairly
weak. This is nothing like the "crippling" package promised by Clinton,
is largely voluntary or non-binding in nature, and will have no effect
on Iran’s oil and gas sales – its main source of income.

Supplementary, tougher measures are expected from the EU at a later
date while individual countries, such as the US and Britain, may take
additional, unilateral steps. So what the US would like to portray as
the international community’s united front against Iran is likely to
boil down, in reality, to a narrowly-based coalition of the willing
involving Washington and a handful of west-European states.

This week’s symbolically significant attempt by Brazil and Turkey to
do things differently, and the divisions the subsequent row exposed,
suggests this already rickety traditional international security
architecture, maintained and policed by a few self-appointed countries,
cannot hold much longer. Power is shifting away from the west. You
can almost feel it go.

U.S. ALLIES: WE WANT SPACE
John Feffer

Huffington Post
allies-we-want-space_b_580514.html
May 18 2010

"I need a little space."

When lovers utter these words, it’s usually a bad sign for the
relationship. They feel suffocated. They’re reexamining their
commitment. They’re checking out other options. But they don’t have
the courage to make a clean break.

Britain is the latest country to question its "special relationship"
with the United States. The recent elections have brought in the new
team of David Cameron (Conservative Party) and Nicholas Clegg (Liberal
Democrats). Both leaders have complained of how unquestioningly close
Britain became to the United States during the Bush-Blair and then
Brown-Obama years. The new British Foreign Minister Walter Hogue has
called for trans-Atlantic relations to be "solid but not slavish."

Meanwhile, a couple months ago, a British parliamentary committee
recommended that the very phrase "special relationship" be retired
altogether. "The UK needs to be less deferential and more willing to
say no to the United States on those issues where the two countries’
interests and values diverge," the committee’s report said.

Sounds to me like the Brits are very clearly saying: This whole
shacking up thing isn’t working out. Let’s just be friends. Do you
mind spending the night on the sofa?

The British aren’t the only ones trying to figure out how to say no.

Our closest ally in Asia, Japan, has made similar noises. Back in
September, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama called for greater equality
in relations with the United States. "I also feel that as a result
of the failure of the Iraq war and the financial crisis, the era of
U.S.-led globalism is coming to an end and that we are moving toward
an era of multipolarity," he wrote in The New York Times. Japan has
a wandering eye. Lately China has been sending a lot of roses and
chocolate, and the wooing has done much to lower Japan’s resistance.

The problem, however, is that the United States doesn’t want to be
just friends with Japan. It doesn’t want to sleep on the sofa or hand
over the front door key to China. Consequently, Washington has demanded
signs of affection. "You signed an agreement in 2006 about the military
base relocation in Okinawa," Washington is now saying to Tokyo,
"and we expect you to live up to that agreement." It’s practically an
ultimatum, which is what lovers do when they’re worried about fidelity.

Another vital ally that has put critical distance between itself
and Washington is Turkey. Back in 2003, Ankara refused to open up a
second front in the Iraq War. Turkey has also worked hard to arrange
a deal on Iran’s nuclear program — most recently winning agreement
from Tehran to ship 1,200 kilos of uranium to Turkey in exchange for
higher-enriched fuel for a medical reactor — while Washington has
been more focused on sanctions and other punitive actions. Turkey
hasn’t turned its back on the United States. Its ambassador has even
returned to Washington after his recent decampment over the Armenian
genocide resolution. But Ankara has been having second thoughts for
some time about being too close to the United States. It’s playing
the field, establishing closer relations with Syria and Russia,
and even flirting with some former adversaries like Greece and Armenia.

This sudden standoffishness among our close allies comes at a strange
time: after U.S. voters rejected the alpha-male politics of the
Bush team and welcomed Mr. Sensitive into the White House. Global
perceptions of the United States have risen sharply over the last
two years. In a survey of 28 countries, the BBC World Service and the
Project on International Policy Attitudes found that public opinion
has rebounded from a low point in 2007, when only 28 percent of those
surveyed believed that U.S. influence in the world was positive,
to 40 percent in this year’s poll. President Obama pledged to clean
up his act, check out Warmongers Anonymous, and sweet-talk his way
into the good graces of the international community. Just give me
another chance, he has said to the world. And the world, at the level
of public opinion at least, seems to have responded.

So, where’s the love from the leadership of our closest allies? The
ambivalence of the ruling parties in the United Kingdom, Japan,
and Turkey can be explained in several ways. First, there’s the
inevitable pendulum effect, as politicians react to public perceptions
of poodle-like behavior toward Washington by offering a more sober
alternative. Second, a certain wariness has no doubt crept into the
minds of foreign leaders as they see Obama employ the same strong-arm
tactics as Bush — toward Europe over Afghanistan, toward Japan over
Okinawa, toward Turkey over Iran. Third, the United States has lost a
considerable amount of relative power as other countries have surged
economically (China has become the leading trade partner for East
Asian countries, Russia is now Turkey’s major trade partner).

Or perhaps the problem is more endemic. Niall Ferguson, the British
economic historian, recently wrote about the fragility of U.S. global
power. In The Los Angeles Times, Ferguson uses the science of
complexity to argue that the U.S. empire is a house of cards that
could topple rather quickly in a strong breeze.

"One day, a seemingly random piece of bad news — perhaps a negative
report by a rating agency — will make the headlines during an
otherwise quiet news cycle," he writes. "Suddenly, it will be not just
a few policy wonks who worry about the sustainability of U.S. fiscal
policy but the public at large, not to mention investors abroad. It
is this shift that is crucial: A complex adaptive system is in big
trouble when its component parts lose faith in its viability."

As an economic historian, Ferguson is understandably focused on
fiscal matters. But his point about the sudden loss of faith can
apply to other realms, such as the political relationships between
Washington and its allies. London, Tokyo, and Ankara are losing faith,
and others might follow. But the what of this argument is perhaps less
important than the who. Ferguson was once a cheerleader for empire —
and the Bush-led U.S. empire in particular. His ardor has cooled. He’s
hedging his bets. He’s really writing about his own loss of faith.

When red-meat intellectuals like Niall Ferguson begin to say,
"I need a little space," Washington had best start putting its
affairs in order. Several of our allies are realizing that they’ve
been in an abusive relationship. Washington has been jealous, bossy,
and violent: the classic warning signs. The new team has promised to
go into therapy, but there continue to be relapses around surges and
drones and arm-twisting.

As any good therapist will tell you, sometimes you just have to
walk away.

SAMVEL BABAYAN DISPROVES RUMOURS ABOUT HIS POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT TO THE POST DEFENCE MINISTER OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2010-05-18 13:03:00

Arminfo. Samvel Babayan has disproved the rumours about his possible
appointment to the post defence minister of Armenia. Such rumours and
the relevant publications on mass media are referring to As Babayan’s
press-service reported, ‘if Samvel Babayan decides to start political
activity, he will do it publicly not linking it with the relations and
programmes of other persons’. It also added that has never striving
to occupy any post and was appointed to his former positions because
of extraordinary conditions and urgent necessity.

"AMERICAN METHODS AND SCHEMES SIMPLY DON’T WORK IN SOUTH CAUCASUS"

Today
itics/68146.html
May 18 2010
Azerbaijan

Interview with Director-General of the Information and Analytical
Center for Study of the Social and Political Processes in post-Soviet
area at the Moscow State University (MSU) named after Lomonosov,
vice-dean of the History faculty of the MSU, editor-in-chief of
information-analytical portal "Bulletin of the Caucasus" Alexei Vlasov.

What are the key points of change of the geopolitical agenda in the
South Caucasus after the failure of Turkish-Armenian process and
establishing close partnerships between Russia and Turkey?

Failure of the Armenian-Turkish negotiations is not a deadlock in
the Armenian-Turkish relations, it is the failure of American policy
to impose a certain unreasonable scenario for region without taking
into account the interests of direct participants. Sooner or later
the Armenian-Turkish dialogue will be resumed, as well as the problem
of Nagorno-Karabakh will be resolved. And Americans will no longer
act as the sole moderator of this process, since it is obvious that
those methods and schemes that they use in their policy in the South
Caucasus don’t work. And that means we need different moderators and
players which can contribute to processes.

Against this background, Russia has an excellent opportunity to offer
its agenda, and, as a result of the meeting of Turkish and Russian
leadership, it will not single-handedly formed agenda, and attempt to
make a certain consensus of interest taking into account Ankara. This
means that the axis of Russia-Turkey in the near future will be a
important factor determining the position of external forces in the
South Caucasus.

How such kind of interaction can help in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict?

Of course, the key to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is Baku
and Yerevan. But if foreign arbitrators have a strong will to act as
honest broker in resolving this conflict, if there is a guarantee that
nobody will play a double game, then there is hope that sooner or later
the sides will clearly understand that the solution is possible only
through taking into account the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
and compromises from both sides.

How do you consider the prospect of cooperation between Georgian
opposition leaders and the Kremlin, given the constant interaction
of Georgian several opposition leaders with Russia?

Nogaideli and Nino Burjanadze act like politicians, trying to diversify
foreign policy.

If Nogaideli is not the most serious pretender for future leadership,
but Burjanadze is known as a strong politician for a long time who
has the support on Capitol Hill and strong political background. Now
she decided to enlist the support of the Kremlin by getting bonuses
and positioning herself as the leader of the moderate opposition.

It is impossible to reproach her in sale of national interests. So
Burjanadze thinks that when the constitutional term of President
Saakashvili will be over, there will be no worthy pretender
for the leadership in his entourage. Here the mechanisms which
she systematically accumulates will work. She will be perceived
sufficiently in the Kremlin and Washington.

However, she ignores the fact that Saakashvili, as a person who can
not exist without power, will not leave his post. When charismatic
politician Saakashvili resists Burjanadze’s intelligent policy, the
crowd will choose Saakashvili. So, Saakashvili has all the chances,
with the support of people, to change the constitution, looking for
ways to stay in power and keep all the levers in his hands.

How do you consider the prospect of developments in Kyrgyzstan,
given the continuing riots and confrontation between the north and
south of the country?

Judging by Russian Special Representative in Kyrgyzstan Vladimir
Rushailo’s visit to Kyrgyzstan, external forces, including the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, as an instrument for
maintaining order and stability, will be involved to stabilize the
situation in the republic.

The current leadership of the country is unable to overcome the split
within the Kyrgyz Republic between north and south. Each week the
possibility of civil war and a split of the state is increasing. It
is impossible to restore stability before holding elections without
the support of Russia and Kazakhstan. The best institute for this is
the CSTO. The United States understand that the alternative to CSTO’s
intervention is chaos and civil war, but given the fact that there
is U.S military base in Kyrgyzstan, Washington does not want to risk
the safety of its people on its territory. So, perhaps participation
of Russia and Kazakhstan will be welcomed by the U.S.

THOSE WHO SERVED IN ARMY WILL HAVE BETTER ADTVANGES FOR HOUSING

Tert.am
17.05.10

Accesible Flats for Young Scientists – a project aimed at securing
cheaper flats for young Armenian scientists and implemented under the
auspices of Armenia’s Prseident Serzh Sargsyan – has been enlarged,
Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Policy of the Republic of Armenia
Arsen Karamyan said at a press conference today.

According to Karamyam besides young Armenian scientists, now
representatives of culture, including writers, can participate in
the project and have their own flats.

The construction of a building in Kanaker-Zeitun administrative
districts in Yerevan comprising of 300 flats will start from August 1.

One square meter of these flats will cost about 180,000 AMD (or $463
USD), which is 2.1-fold cheaper than the current market price.

"What we want is that young scientists and representatives of culture
be able to pay off the price of the flat during 25 years, by a 20%
prepayment and with a 8.5-9 annual rate," said Karamyan, adding that
the monthly payment will be 63,000 AMD.

Speaking about those citizens who have returned to scientific work
after their military service in the army, Karamyan said that they have
some advantages while participating in this project. Particularly,
according to him that state may possibly pay the 20% prepayment
instead of them.

The delegation headed by Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer to visit
Armenia on May 17-18

YEREVAN, 15 MAY, NOYAN TAPAN: The delegation headed by Prime Minister
of the Czech Republic Jan Fischer will pay a two-day working visit to
Armenia on May 17-18. During the visit, the Czech Prime Minister will
participate in the Armenian-Czech business forum and will have
meetings with RA President Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II, Chairman of the RA National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan and
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. According to a press release by the
department of information and public relations of the RA Government,
Jan Fischer will also visit Tsitsernakaberd and lay a wreath at the
Armenian Genocide memorial.