Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

RUSSIA REMAINS UNCONDITIONED LEADER IN TRADE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2010-02-17 19:19:00

ArmInfo. Russia maintains its unconditioned leadership in foreign trade
turnover with Armenia. According to the data provided to ArmInfo by
the National Statistical Service, in 2009 the share of Russia made
up 22,5% of Armenia’s commodity turnover, or $901.4 mln. At the same
time, due to the crisis, as compared with 2008, the commodity turnover
with Russia fell by 14,9% as against 15,7% growth in 2008 and 65,5%
growth in 2007. The unfavorable balance of trade with Russia by the
end of 2009 amounted to $686 mln as against $634.1 mln in 2008 (6,7%
growth). To recall, alongside with import of food commodities, products
of energy sphere, including gas, are imported to Armenia from Russia.

It is noteworthy that the second place in the commodity turnover with
Armenia is held by China, whose share increased from 0,8% to 7,6% over
the past 10 years and in absolute terms amounted to $306 ln in 2009.

Due to the crisis, it fell by 20,3% as against 89,4% growth in 2008.

At the same time, in January 2010 the volumes of commodity turnover
grew by 44,4%. According to the statistics, in 2009 the unfavorable
balance of trade of Armenia with China fell by 29% to $270.2 mln. This
was the result of 9.8 times ($17.9 mln) growth in export from Armenia
to China, while import from China to Armenia declined by 26,4%
($288 mln).

Germany holds the third place, its share being 7,3%, or $292 mln in
absolute terms. Over the crisis year 2009 the commodity turnover
between Armenia and Germany fell by 33,5%. To note, over the past
three years the share of commodity turnover with Germany was constantly
falling. If in 2007 the share of commodity turnover with Germany was
8,8% in Armenia’s foreign trade balance, with the commodity turnover
being $439.4 mln, in 2008 the share fell to 8%. By the end of 2009
the unfavorable balance of trade with Germany totalled $62.1 mln,
having annually decreased by 13,2%. Armenia exports iron, steel,
copper and various ores to Germany and imports from Germany mostly
electric appliances and products of machine building sphere.

As the economic situation was worsening in the world, and particularly,
in Ukraine, the commodity turnover of Armenia with Ukraine became
declining. According to the statistics, in 2009 the commodity turnover
between Armenia and Ukraine fell by 35,9% to $216 mln, or 5,4% of the
foreign trade turnover of the republic. In 2007 Armenia’s commodity
turnover with Ukraine increased by 61% (to $299 mln, the share being
6,7%), and in 2008 – by 11,7% (to $333 mln, the share being 6,1%). The
unfavorable balance of Armenia’s commodity turnover with Ukraine
totalled $190.5 mln by the end of 2009, having decreased by 35%.

The USA holds the fifth place, its share being 4,7%, or $188.2
mln, having annually decreased by 30,7%. The unfavorable balance of
Armenia’s commodity turnover with the USA grew 2.3 times in 2007, by
75% in 2008, and fell by 68% to $54 mln in 2009. Export from Armenia
to the USA grew by 27,3% in 2009, and import from the USA to Armenia
fell by 44,7%.

Belgium, which was in the top five trade partner countries of Armenia
for many years thanks to its lapidary production, has considerably
yielded its positions over the past few years. If in 2007 Belgium’s
share in Armenia’s foreign trade turnover was 4.9%, or $216.6 mln in
absolute terms, in 2008 it fell to 3.4% – $186.5 mln, and in 2009 – to
2.6%, or $105.3 mln. This is conditioned by the decline in productions
engaged in gem-cutting.

According to the statistics, the commodity turnover between Armenia
and Turkey in 2009 made up 4,5%, or $179 mln, having declined by
33,7%. In 2008 this index made up $269 mln (two-fold annual growth),
or 4,9% of the total commodity turnover of the republic, in 2007 –
$133.7 mln (36,7% growth), or 3% of the turnover.

Experts think that due to the forced post-crisis diversification of
Armenia’s economic structure, dynamics of further change in shares
of Armenia’s trade partners will be observed within the next few years.

OSCE MG ACTIVITY NOT TO AZERBAIJAN’S LIKING: ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT

ArmInfo
2010-02-17 13:12:00

ArmInfo. OSCE MG activity is not to Azerbaijan’s liking, that is
testified by permanent blaming by Baku for the inactivity of this
structure, Chairman of the European integration organization Karen
Bekaryan said at today’s press-conference when replying to ArmInfo’s
question.

"Azerbaijan is striving to subject the whole logic of the negotiation
process to the principle of territorial integrity. However, such
attempts face the fact that the OSCE MG has a complete grasp of the
core of the Karabakh conflict and is acquainted with every detail of
the problem. So, Baku is not able to impose its scenario complying
with the logic of the indicated principle", the expert said. According
to Bekaryan, the Azerbaijani party sometimes wonders whether it is
pleased with the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group. "This is just the
basis for Baku’s attempts to use the formats of UN, Council of Europe,
PACE and even the NATO tribune for "promotion" of its scenario for
the conflict settlement. However, all these attempts come to nothing
so far", Bekaryan resumed.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE

Armradio.am
17.02.2010 10:18

President Serzh Sargsyan received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Kazakhstan, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Kanat Saudabaev and accompanying
delegation, who arrived to Armenia in the framework of a regional
visit.

Serzh Sargsyan welcomed Kazakhstani Presidency at the OSCE and noted
with satisfaction Armenia’s cooperation with Kazakhstan and the
current level of the political dialogue. Stressing, that Armenia and
Kazakhstan are allies and as the members of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization are represented in the same security structure,
the President of Armenia expressed hope that during Kazakhstan’s
chairmanship bilateral and multilateral cooperation of the two
countries will deepen. "I am confident that this regional visit will
allow you to see the existing problems first hand and contribute to
the resolution of these problems," the President of Armenia said. In
his turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan thanked Serzh
Sargsyan for Armenia’s support for Kazakhstan in assuming the OSCE
chairmanship and informed of his priorities as the Chairman-in-Office
and of Kazakhstan’s intention to organize a Summit of the OSCE Heads
of States.

President Serzh Sargsyan informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Kazakhstan on the standpoint of the Armenian side regarding the
resolution of the NK conflict, underscoring that the Republic of
Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh are interested in the
resolution of the conflict, and stressing that its solution should
appropriately and timely address the core causes and consequences of
the conflict.

Kanat Saudabaev said that they understand that it would be difficult
to solve protracted conflicts in a short period of time, however
Kazakhstan during its presidency would try to be helpful to the
Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group in their efforts aimed at the resolution
of the NK conflict. He also said that the removal of the snipers from
the line of contact could be an important step towards the resolution
of the conflict and assured that the OSCE would use its capacities
to accomplish it.

At the meeting discussed were also issues related to regional security,
Armenian-Turkish process of normalization, and other issues stemming
from the OSCE priorities. President Sargsyan expressed readiness of our
country to continue to actively cooperate with all the OSCE structures.

EVA RIVAS TO REPRESENT ARMENIA AT EUROVISION-2010

ArmInfo
2010-02-15 10:56:00

ArmInfo. Eva Rivas will represent Armenia at Eurovision-2010 with a
song "Apricot Stone".

The singer from Rostov-on-Don could gain the hearts of not only the
audience but also the jury members during the selective round held on
February 14. The song "Apricot Stone", written by a composer Armen
Martirosyan and a songwriter Karen Kavaleryan, has actually become
the most rememberable of all those presented at the selective round.

Razmik Amyan and Emmi were among the main rivals of Eva Rivas, however,
these singers could not power past the Rostov beauty.

Hurriyet, Turkey
Feb 14 2010

Top Armenian official emphasizes Turkey role in region

Sunday, February 14, 2010
İlhan TANIR, Washington ` Hürriyet Daily News

A leading Washington think tank, the Center for Strategic and
International Studies, or CSIS, hosted Vigen Sarkisian, the deputy
chief of staff to Armenian President Serge Sarkisian for an event
entitled `The Prospects for Armenia-Turkey Normalization: The View
from Yerevan’ on Friday.

The official, after going over the steps made toward the
Turkish-Armenian normalization process at the CSIS podium, gave his
evaluation on how the process could progress in the near future.
Sarkisian emphasized the importance of moving the process along as
quickly as possible, saying the longer the present protocols remain
before the respective parliaments, the less likely they are to be
ratified.

The deputy chief of staff to the Armenian president also emphasized
Turkey’s influence in the region, arguing the process of normalization
is a chance for Turkey to gain more voice in the South Caucasus.
Sarkisian said, while Turkey has relations that are `excellent’ with
Georgia and like `brothers’ with Azerbaijan, it could not play any
role in the South Caucasus so long as it lacked diplomatic relations
with Armenia. He said if the border between Armenia and Turkey is
opened, it will give Turkey greater leverage to influence the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

When asked if Armenia might proceed with ratification prior to the
Turkish government’s submission of the protocols to the Turkish
Parliament, Sarkisian said it would be politically impossible for his
government to move forward with ratification without Turkey doing so,
either prior to or in tandem with the Armenian parliament. Sarkisian
repeated his president’s guarantee: if the Turkish Parliament ratifies
the protocols without reservations or conditions, the Armenian
parliament will do likewise. Sarkisian pointed out the Armenian
government had already taken a great risk politically in backing the
protocols, as the ruling parliamentary coalition, led by his party,
lost the Dashnak party as a partner specifically because of their
opposition to the protocols. Sarkisian repeatedly opposed linking the
protocols to any preconditions, particularly to the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute with Azerbaijan.

Responding to an official from the Turkish embassy in Washington,
Sarkisian said the Armenian Constitutional Court ruling did not alter
the content of the protocols. The court is required to decide simply
whether the treaty is in line with the constitution of the republic or
is contrary to the constitution. The court ruled there is no
contradiction, and Sarkisian added that this development was seen as a
positive step by the United States, Russia and other European
countries.

President of the Artsakh Republic on the invitation…

x.php
12-02-2010

On 12 February President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan on the
invitation of the authorities of the Republic of Abkhazia arrived in
Soukhum and partook at the inauguration ceremony of the reelected
President Sergey Baghapsh.

In his congratulatory speech the head of our republic wished fruitful
work to Sergey Baghapsh, prosperity and peace to Abkhazia and its
people.

Yerevan Report, Armenia
Feb 12 2010

Singer Sonya Out of Competition for Eurovision Contest

Feb 12th, 2010 | Category: Arts and Culture

YEREVAN (Newsarmenia.ru), February 11 ‘ A participant of the Armenian
national selection for Eurovision Song Contest 2010, the singer Sonya,
was left out of the competition.

Armenian delegation head Diana Mnatsakanyan explained that Sonya will
not take part in the contest because of health problems.

However, at various Internet forums and blogs the question whether
Sonya was disqualified because of a plagiarism is actively discussed.

Sonya was going to perform the song `Never’ at the national selection.

As a result only nine participants will compete for the right to
represent Armenia in Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Oslo, including
the rock bad Another Story with the song `This Winter,’ Eve Rivas
(‘Apricot Stone’), Nik Egibyan (‘Countdown’), Emmi and Mihran (‘Hey
Let Me Hear You Say’), David Ashotyan (‘Infected Dreams’), Maria
Kiziryan (‘Little Red Riding Hood’), Razmik Amyan (‘My Love’), Ani
Arzumanyan (‘The Mermaid Song’) and Meline Beglaryan (‘We Must
Believe’).

The winner of this selection will be defined by jury voting and SMS voting.

Armenia has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since
2006. The best result was registered in 2008 by singer Sirusho who
took fourth place.

Translated from Russian by Yerevan Report
ya-out-competition-eurovision/

ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS SUBMITTED TO ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT

Panorama.am
18:19 12/02/2010

Armenian President’s Administration has forwarded the Armenia-Turkey
protocols on establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries
to the Parliament, National Assembly PR department told Panorama.am.

NA Speaker is due to appoint a committee within two days and the
discussions will follow.

According to the adopted procedure, following the ratification by
the NA, Foreign Ministry is due to make a document on the protocols
and submit it to President’s Office for signing.

The document is prescribed by the stamp of the Republic of Armenia
and Foreign Minister’s signature. In the final stage, the documents
are exchanged, marking their entry into force.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DISCUSSED IN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL CONTEXT

http://reporter.a m/index.cfm?objectid=A01A9164-1698-11DF-A4A80003FF 3452C2&pg=2
Wednesday February 10, 2010

Experts from Ireland, Turkey, UK and US confer in Minnesota

Minneapolis – The University of St. Thomas School of Law, as part of
its "unique mission of integrating faith and reason in the search for
truth through a focus on morality and social justice," co-organized
an international conference, in partnership with the International
Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the
Zoryan Institute), to examine "The Armenian Genocide within the
Framework of National and International Law."

The conference took place on February 5th, 2010, in Minneapolis, in
conjunction with the Cafesjian Family Foundation and the Ohanessian
Endowment Fund for Justice and Peace Studies of the Minneapolis
Foundation.

John M. Sandy, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law and Public Policy
of the University of St. Thomas, stated, "When I first heard about the
Armenian Genocide from a fellow passenger on a flight to Los Angeles,
and learned the enormity of it, I was shocked that I had not come
across this major historical event in my education up to that time. I
embarked on research on this subject, and the more I learned, the
more astonished I became that this was not taught as part of American
history in WWI, and the more I felt there was a great deal still to
be researched, especially from a legal perspective. Thus, the idea
of holding a conference for the purpose of preparing a special issue
of the university’s Journal of Law and Public Policy came to be."

Prof. Robert J. Delahunty of the Law School, who served as moderator,
reaffirmed the university’s position that the conference proceeds from
the understanding that the Armenian Genocide is an established fact.

One of the reasons for this position is that the International
Association of Genocide Scholars, the world’s foremost body of
researchers in the field of genocide studies, has unanimously affirmed
that "it is indisputable that the Armenian Genocide is proven history."

Mark L. Movsesian, Professor of Contract Law at St. John’s University,
described how the reform movement (Tanzimat) intended to provide
equality for the non-Muslim minorities in the Ottoman Empire in the
19th century, failed. This was because the ruling elite and society
at large could not accept it. The resentment was twofold, a) the
reforms broke the covenant between the superior protector group,
Muslims, and the subservient, protected groups, non-Muslim; and b)
they felt the reforms were imposed by the European Powers and were
considered outside interference. This helped make the mass violence
of the Hamidian massacres possible, in which some 200,000 Armenians
were killed. It can also be seen as a precursor to the Genocide,
because the mass killings went unpunished.

Prof. Vahakn N. Dadrian, Director of Genocide Research at the Zoryan
Institute, an expert in history and international law, described
the significance of the Allied Powers’ declaration on May 24, 1915,
that they would punish those responsible for "these new crimes of
Turkey against humanity and civilization." This set a precedent in the
development of international law on crimes against humanity. He then
described how the national law of the Ottoman Empire, particularly
the Military Tribunals, dealt with the Armenian mass killings by
prosecuting those crimes immediately after WWI.

William A. Schabas, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at
the National University of Ireland, Galway, and currently President
of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, addressed
the subject of "The Retroactive Applicability of the UN Genocide
Convention to the Armenian Genocide." He affirmed that what happened
to the Armenians in 1915 can properly be termed genocide, and that the
actions of the Ottoman Government constituted the crime of genocide.

Prosecution for this crime is not likely, however, as there are no
longer individuals alive to prosecute. There is evidence that crimes
against humanity were already recognized under international law in
1915, and by logical extension this should also apply to genocide. The
Turkish State, as the inheritor of the Ottoman regime, might also be
held responsible for the atrocities perpetrated in 1915, provided a
suitable forum can be found for such litigation.

Geoffrey Robertson, QC, one of Britain’s leading human rights lawyers,
submitted a video recording of his speech, "Politics, Government, and
the Armenian Genocide in the United Kingdom." Robertson discussed in
particular his expose of how the British Foreign Office suppressed
information and misled Parliament on the truth of the Armenian
Genocide, affecting British foreign policy greatly and resulting in
Britain’s stance of not recognizing the Genocide, but merely calling it
a tragedy. This position is at odds with the position of the British
government at the time of the Armenian Genocide, when they called
it a crime against humanity and civilization. Robertson’s research
into this discrepancy shows that the current position of the British
government is driven by political and commercial interests.

Eren Keskin, an award-winning Turkish human rights attorney,
participated by telephone from Turkey. She spoke forcefully about the
Armenian Genocide and the importance of Turkey’s apologizing for it.

She explained the militaristic foundation of the Turkish Republic,
the continuity of the military mindset of 1915 and that of the Turkish
State today. This militaristic mindset causes the Turkish state to
suppress dissent and punish what it considers insults to Turkishness.

Ms. Keskin spoke movingly about the threats and abuse she has endured
personally as an advocate for human rights in Turkey.

Mark C. Fleming is a partner in the Boston office of Wilmer Cutler
Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. He prepared an amicus curiae brief on the
appeal in the Griswold v. Driscoll case, in which the Massachusetts
Board of Education was being sued, based on the First Amendment, to
allow "contra-genocide" materials on a list of suggested educational
resources for teaching the Armenian Genocide. Initially the case was
dismissed and Massachusetts was free to list the resources of its
choosing, but the case is now under appeal.

Roger W. Smith, Professor Emeritus of Government at the College of
William and Mary, spoke on the legal and philosophical aspects of laws
penalizing genocide denial. While genocide denial is dangerous and
continues the victimization of the target group, he said, preventing
free speech in such cases has its own, serious, negative consequences.

Ziya Meral, a Turkish researcher, writer, and Ph.D. candidate in
Political Science at Cambridge University, as discussant for the
conference, masterfully commented on numerous issues that were raised
by the other speakers. He spoke about the need for the people of
Turkey to accept the reality of the Armenian Genocide and said that
only Turkish society had the power to change Turkey’s policy of denial.

The papers from this conference will be published in the summer issue
of the university’s Journal of Law and Public Policy. Through this
publication, it is hoped that awareness among policymakers will be
raised to strengthen the legal framework, so that all cases of genocide
are treated with justice and that politics or economic interest do
not obstruct the application of the law nationally or internationally.

The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
(A Division of the Zoryan Institute) is dedicated to the study and
dissemination of knowledge regarding the phenomenon of genocide in
all of its aspects to create an awareness of it as an ongoing scourge
and promote the necessity of preventing it.

BORDER OPENING CRUCIAL IN TERMS OF EU INTEGRATION: YOVANOVITCH

news.am
Feb 12 2010
Armenia

U.S. backs improvement of Armenia-Turkey relations and we are hopeful
that the Protocols will be ratified by both countries’ parliaments,
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch said at the roundtable
discussion on Turkish-Armenian relations and marginal regionalism.

According to her, research of border opening consequences show that
despite possible short-term obstacles the process will positively
impact economic development of both countries.

"Some say that in case of border opening many companies will shut down
and these issues should be addressed, meanwhile not underestimating
challenges and doing utmost to overcome short-term losses. However,
generally speaking there are more positive consequences of border
opening. It will open new doors before Armenia and further country’s
wellbeing. Not a single country should depend on one corridor. Border
opening will end the blockade, reduce economic and transport
expenditures and boost the competition. The quality of Armenian goods
will increase and opening up a 70-milion market for the country,"
said Yovanovitch.

She touched upon the Armenian authorities’ consent to supply
electricity to Turkey, saying it is a good sign. "The deeper economic
cooperation is, the sooner trust between the states will be gained.

Border opening is also crucial for Armenia in terms of EU integration,"
stated U.S. Ambassador.