Export potential of Mixed reactions to organic agricultural production is used Nagorno-Karabakh incompletely in Arme- poll PAGE 4 nia Page 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Weekly Digest of the Government of Armenia

31 May - 6 June, 2010 THEMA

“Quote of the week”

“Upcoming negotiations for www.president.am the future Association Agree- ment will create additional lev- erage for internal reform and make available EU financial and technical support”

Herman Van Rompuy President of the European Council

Serzh Sargsyan: current situation is result of failed attempt to annihilate NKR people Upcoming Events

rmenian President Serzh Sarg- to the Armenian-Turkish normalization. May 31: RA Territorial Adminis- Asyan said that his visit to Brus- “Armenia would be glad, if Turkey man- tration Minister Armen Gevorgyan sels is important for him, as it is the ages to comply with the EU standards, as in leaves for Qatar first one after the enactment of Lisbon such case we will deal with another, more Treaty, which is of keen significance predictable and stable country. We agreed June 1: International Children pro- for the European Union and world. that there should not be demarcation lines tection day After his meeting with European Un- and closed borders in Europe. We also re- ionPresident Herman Van Rompuy, Mr. ferred to the Karabakh conflict, noting that June 2: The members of the Broth- Sargsyan said that Armenia- EU relations it, like other conflicts, can be solved only erhood of the Mother See of Holy are at the stage of dynamic development. peacefully, without application of force or Etchmiadzin will convene in the “The EU is of great importance for Ar- threat of its use. Some provisions of the Mother See menia not only as a key actor at the inter- European Parliament’s Resolution on the national arena, but also as a side, which South Caucasus are strange for us. A mem- June 26 - July 6: International provides diverse assistance to reforms in ber of the parliament, who has never been Open Chess Tournament in Jermuk Armenia. During the meeting, we dis- to Karabakh and has not consulted with cussed a range of issues: conclusion of an experts, calls to take some step, without USEFUL LINKS association agreement, as well as signing taking into consideration the negotiations of an agreement to deepen cooperation in details and current situation. I don’t think • www.president.am free trade,” the Armenian President said. this is a right way. The Karabakh war was • www.gov.am As a PanARMENIAN.Net correspond- imposed on us and the current situation • www.parliament.am ent reported from Brussels, the Arme- is a result of failed attempt to annihilate • www.mfa.am nian President told Mr. Van Rompuy the Karabakh people,” Mr. Sargsyan said. • www.panarmenian.net that he is pleased with the EU’s support www.panarmenian.net • www.matenadaran.am ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS CHRONICA Export potential of organic agricultural production is Headlines of used incompletely in Armenia the week rmenian Prime Minister Tigran ASargsyan said that the current annual export potential in the field of organic ag- • MAY 24: Cross to be fixed on ricultural production totals over $250mln Holy Cross Church in Akhtamar in Armenia. Currently, the signed agree- • AH ments on purchase of organic products • MAY 25: Karine Minasyan appointed exceed the country’s opportunities by Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy AH two times, Sargsyan told journalists in • MAY 26: Armenia’s teams par- Enokavan village of Tavush region, Ar- ticipate successfully at World menia. “We have 100,000 young fruit Team Table Tennis Championships plants to provide them to farming enter- AH prises, which are ready to plant them at a organizational issues related to signing • MAY 26: Trade and economic territory of over 3ha,” the Prime Minister of agreements between companies and relations development empha- said.During his visit to the region, Sarg- farming enterprises,” the Prime Minister sized by Armenia and Ukraine syan also visited Tamara Fruit CJSC to said.Sargsyan also promised that the cul- AH familiarize himself with the company’s tivation of organic gardens will have a • MAY 26: 28 hail suppression sys- activity.“Tamara Fruit guarantees that continuous nature, as this field is among tems set in Armenia’s regions AH it will purchase the entire production of priorities for the development of agricul- • MAY 27: Armenia placed 118th farming enterprises. It means that the ture in the country. He added that similar and 80th in world ranking for field of organic production starts develop- gardens will be cultivated also in other re- download and upload speed ing actively: there are not problems with gions of Armenia. AH funds and young plants. There are only www.panarmenian.net • MAY 27: “Your Time to Read” campaign launched Underground parking opens in center in Armenia and France AH rmenian President Serzh Sargsyan rov Squares,” Mayor Gagik Begla- • MAY 28: Lincy Foundation con- Aand Yerevan Mayor Gagik Begla- ryan said. As to the parking price, he tinues assisting Armenia in schools ryan attended the opening ceremony said it hasn’t been determined yet but construction in earthquake zone of three-level underground parking in will presumably make from AMD100 AH Liberty Square. “Construction of park- to 500. The mayor also informed • MAY 28: Armenia, Singa- ing lots should continue, as the center that construction of a cycle park will pore to develop relations of the city is overloaded with traffic in be launched nearby Admiral Isakov AH the evenings. Similar parking lots will Square in the near future. • MAY 28: Armenian delega- tion participates in World Con- be soon built in Aznavour and Sakha- www.panarmenian.net gress on IT in Amsterdam AH Borodin Quartet awarded Gold Medal of RA Polish Foreign Minister Ministry of Culture to visit Armenia rmenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Culture - Gold Medal - with respect to the rmenia attaches importance to con- APoghosyan said that on May 26 the anniversary, as well as congratulating the Aclusion of Association Agreement Borodin Quartet will again perform in Ar- birthday of our compatriot, violin player with the EU, free trade zone creation and menia after a six-year break. Ruben Aharonyan. This medal symbolizes relaxation of visa regime, RA Deputy The concert is organized in the framework the Armenian people’s attitude towards Foreign Minister said. “All this will have of Prospects of the 21st Century festival, the Borodin Quartet,” she said. a good impact on the Armenian society,” Minister Poghosyan told a press confer- “The medal obliges us not to disappoint Karine Kazinian said during Eastern Part- ence. “It is very important that the Quartet the Ministry with our performance,” Ru- nership Foreign Minister Informal Meet- observes its traditions. Besides, the quartet ben Aharonyan said, adding that the Quar- ing on Sopot. Ms. Kazinian also met with celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. I tet will perform its most famous composi- would like to award the musicians with the tions during the concert. representatives of the Polish Ministry highest award of the Armenian Ministry of www.panarmenian.net of Foreign Affairs to discuss Armenian- Polish cooperation as well as the impend- ing visit of Polish Foreign Minister Ra- Armenia moved to 100th place in FIFA Rankings doslaw Sikorki to Armenia. She also met arch 2010 FIFA World Rankings jan ranks the 109th with 259 points; Georgia with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Mwere announced on May 26, show- is the 120th with 217 points.Next FIFA rank- and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule, ing Armenia to have dropped 1 point, mov- ings will be published upon completion of RA MFA press office reported. ing to 100th place with 311 points. Azerbai- World Championship on July 14. www.panarmenian.net www.panarmenian.net 2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS RES PUBLICA Eastern Partnership is effective means to stimulate RA government to cooperation revise macroeconomic n May 27, Armenian President an effective means to stimulate coop- OSerzh Sargsyan met with EU High eration among the Caucasian countries. forecast for 2010 Representative for Foreign Affairs and They also discussed conclusion of an Security Policy, Vice-President of the Eu- association and free trade agreement be- ropean Commission Catherine Ashton. tween the EU and Armenia, as well as visa Mr. Sargsyan noted that the inte- regime relaxation for Armenian citizens. gration into Europe remains among The Armenian-Turkish relations and priorities of Armenia’s foreign Nagorno Karabakh conflict also were policy. The parties referred to new op- in the focus of the meeting, the press portunities provided by the Eastern service of the RA President reported. Partnership, noting that its format is www.panarmenian.net he United Nations mandate Tdoesn’t envisage participation Armenian government to organize Rock against in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Genocide rock festival settlement process but the Organiza- have already agreed to participate in it. tion is hopeful that the conflicting The Armenian government decided to sides will register progress, a repre- allocate AMD 10mln to restore music sentative of the UN Secretariat said. school N6 in Gyumri. According to the The official also told PanARMENIAN. Prime Minister, this project is a result Net that UN Secretary-General Ban of friendly relations among rock stars ki-Moon did not send any letter to the and their Armenian fans, who pro- Azerbaijani representation to the UN. vided assistance under Rock Aid Ar- Earlier, Azeri media spread reports menia project. Sargsyan also stressed that Mr. Ban sent a letter, saying rmenian Prime Minister Tigran the great contribution of Deep Purple that “he is pleased with intensifi- ASargsyan said that the govern- vocalist Ian Gillan, who transferred the cation of the negotiation process.” ment is going to organize Rock against entire proceeds – AMD 18.3mln - of www.panarmenian.net Genocide festival, which will bring a charitable concert in Yerevan for the together numerous world stars, who rehabilitation of the school. Armenian government www.panarmenian.net approves program on Gyumri industrial park Schiff submits Survival Stories activity in 2010 into Congressional Record n May 27, the Armenian govern- al record,” Rep. Schiff said. “Through Oment approved a program on Gy- the Armenian Genocide Congressional umri industrial park activity in 2010. Record Project, I hope to document the Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy harrowing stories of the survivors in an Ara Petrosyan said that that program in- effort to preserve their accounts and to cludes three basic components: introduc- help educate the Members of Congress tion of innovations and modern technolo- now and in the future on the necessity of gies, the industrial park’s management recognizing the Armenian Genocide.” by the economic development fund of The Armenian Genocide Congression- Gyumri, as well as establishment of edu- al Record Project, pioneered by Rep. cational, scientific and research labora- Schiff, is part of an ongoing effort to tory in mechanics and electronics jointly .S. Congressman Adam Schiff (D- parallel H. Res. 252, the Congressional with local and international companies. UCA) submitted four stories from resolution he sponsored to recognize Besides, the program foresees development survivors of the Armenian Genocide to and commemorate the genocide car- of a business model for creation of a free be included in the Congressional Record ried out against Armenians by the Ot- trade zone at the industrial park’s territory. – the first four of many submissions the toman Empire from 1915 to 1923. Rep. According to preliminary calculations, in- Congressman has received as part of the Schiff continues to encourage survivors vestments at the amount of AMD 200mln new Armenian Genocide Congressional of the genocide and their families from will be required for the program implemen- Record Project. throughout the country to participate in tation. Meanwhile, the program will be fi- “It is difficult if not impossible to find the project by sending in the stories of nanced through both budgetary and other an Armenian family not touched by the what happened to their family during the funds permitted by the RA legislation. genocide, and this is an opportunity to genocide. www.panarmenian.net make their experiences part of the nation- www.panarmenian.net

2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS PRO PATRIA Mixed reactions to Nagorno-Karabakh poll Armenia celebrates National Day Friday, May 28 conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an area of dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh, which declared in- dependence in 1991, lies inside Az- erbaijan but has a population that is predominantly ethnic Armenian. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nal- n May 28, Armenia celebrates its Nation- bandian told the state-run news service that the vote meant that “the citizens of the Oal Day. On this date in 1918, the Armenian fficial government reactions to Nagorno-Karabakh republic once again National Council declared the independence Othe parliamentary contest in the have proved their resolve to express their of Armenia, proclaiming itself the new repub- breakaway republic of Nagorno-Kara- will to live freely and independently.” lic’s temporary government. The holiday is bakh were mixed, election groups said. Elections officials in the region said the also known as First Republic Day. Armenians The Azeri central election commission Free Fatherland slate of self-appointed take pride in this first breath of life of an in- characterized the weekend parliamentary Prime Minister Ara Harutiunian was lead- dependent Armenian state. Republic Day was contest as a “farce,” the Armenia bureau of ing with about 47 percent of the vote. not celebrated during Soviet times, but after the Radio Free Liberty/Radio Europe reports. Moscow, for its part, said it didn’t believe collapse of the Soviet Union it gained impor- More than half of the nearly 100,000 the peace process “could depend on the hold- tance in Armenia’s annual celebrations. On this eligible voters in the region took part ing of elections,” said the RFE/RL report. in the poll, the Azeri election commis- The United States, Russia and France have day, the President and other government offi- sion said. Four parties were competing been trying to mediate the territorial dispute cials raise the Armenian flag at the Presiden- for seats in the 33-member Parliament. between Azerbaijan and Armenia that has re- tial Palace in Yerevan, capital of Armenia. The Azerbaijan and Armenia have complained sulted in the deaths of some 30,000 people. country’s streets are decorated with the national of violations to a 1994 cease-fire related to www.upi.com colors of red, blue, and orange. In most of Ar- menia, it is a day spent with family and friends. Van Rompuy: EU-Armenia relations strengthening Politics is kept to a minimum during friendly rapidly conversations over khash, a typical Armenian he Eastern Partnership is a powerful and Comprehensive Free Trade Area dish made with the hooves, the shin bone, and Tvehicle for bringing the countries in- (DCFTA). The European Council Presi- the stomach of a cow. Armenia is a mountain- volved closer to the EU and to each an- dent said “upcoming negotiations for the ous, landlocked country on the southeastern other, President of the European Coun- future Association Agreement will create edge of Europe, and at the gateway to the Mid- cil Herman Van Rompuy has said after additional leverage for internal reform dle East and all of Asia. his meeting in Brussels with Armenia’s and make available EU financial and Full storywww.mb.com.ph President Serzh Sargsyan. technical support.” He expressed hope A Council statement quoted Van that progress would be made soon on '70s Rockers Deep Purple Rompuy as saying EU-Armenia relations visa facilitation and readmission issues, Return to "Spiritual Home" were strengthening rapidly. He said the and reiterated the EU's continued com- egendary '70s rock band Deep Purple re- EU had adopted negotiation directives mitment to peace and security in the Cau- Lturned after 20 years to the Armenian capi- for an ambitious Association Agreement casus, including through contributing to tal of Yerevan to play a charity concert to help and looked forward to starting negotia- the resolution of the protracted conflicts. build a music school in the country. Fronted by tions shortly, including talks on a Deep Full story www.enpi-info.eu vocalist Ian Gillan, the band first held a benefit concert in 1990 to help victims of the Spitak earthquake, which struck northern Armenia two Armenia, NATO see progress in relations – Armenian years earlier. president Fans, including several hundred who traveled rmenian President Serzh Sargsyan sen in Brussels on Tuesday. The parties from Iran and Georgia, packed the 10,000-seat Aand NATO Secretary General Anders also discussed the settlement of the conflict concert hall in Yerevan to once again cheer on Fogh Rasmussen share the view that Ar- over Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian- the band performing some of its biggest hits. menia and NATO have made significant Turkish relations. "By dictating precondi- Gillan calls Armenia his “spiritual home,” progress in bi-lateral relations."Yerevan tions and violating the agreed-upon time- where “the spirit of adventure is always in the intends to consistently continue coopera- frames, Turkey has exhausted the limit of air” and where Armenian Prime Minister Tigran tion with NATO members and allies in confidence as a negotiating partner," the Sarkisian is a big fan of rock music and the band combating terrorism, protecting borders, Armenian presidential press service quoted as well. and carrying out peacekeeping missions," Sargsyan as saying. www.eurasianet.org Sargsyan said at a meeting with Rasmus- www.interfax.com "Armenia Highlights" is compiled in association with DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in "Armenia Highlights" do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Armenia.

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