RA government to John Sarbanes: “Why I solve social - economic Support Recognition problems of refugee of the Armenian Geno- families. Page 2 cide?” Page 5 HIGHLIGHTS Weekly Digest of the

26 April - 2 May, 2010 THEMA

"Quote of the week"

Economic indices for the first months of this year have already been higher than we expect- ed. It means that the economic growth will translate into new jobs and a higher standard of living.

Serzh Sargsyan Improved Tax Collection Cuts Armenian Budget Deficit

he Armenian Finance Ministry says balance since then.The Finance Ministry Tgovernment tax revenues jumped reported today that the State Revenue Upcoming Events nearly 20 percent in the first quarter this Committee (SRC) collected 127.1 billion year and have slashed the state budget def- drams in various taxes in the first quarter icit, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reports. of 2010, up 19 percent year-on-year and May 6 - 7: PM Tigran Sarg- Today’s data seems a further sign that is about 10 billion drams more than was syan to attend EPP Group Bu- Armenia is emerging from its first major projected. Increased proceeds from val- reau in Karlovy Vary economic downturn since the early 1990s. ue-added tax - the single largest source Renewed economic growth in the country of the country’s budgetary revenue - May 9: President Serzh Sarg- accelerated from January through March, were primarily responsible for the gain. syan participate in the celebra- resulting in a first-quarter GDP increase The latest tax data comes on the heels of tion of the 65th anniversary of of 5.5 percent.A budget deficit of 6 billion strong criticism of the tax authority by the Victory over Nazism drams ($15.6 million) recorded during this Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian, who period was well below almost 35 billion complained earlier this month that tax May 25 - 26: Concert of drams projected by the government late evasion among large companies remains "Deep Purple" in Yerevan last year.The government’s budgetary rev- widespread and that the SRC has failed enues plummeted in 2009 amid a double- to seriously tackle the problem. SRC May 28: Armenia marks Re- digit decline in economic activity resulting data shows that the national gas distribu- public day from the global economic crisis. The gov- tion company ARG is still the country’s ernment needed hundreds of millions of top corporate taxpayer, having paid 5.24 June 26 - July 6: International dollars in emergency loans from abroad to billion drams in various taxes in the first Open Chess Tournament in avoid significant cuts in public spending. quarter of 2010. Armenia’s leading tax- Jermuk The deficit-to-GDP ratio exceeded 5 per- payers also include fuel-importing, tel- cent as a result. But improved tax collec- ecommunication and energy firms. AH tion has significantly eased the fiscal im- www.rferl.org. ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS NOVITAS President met with the President of China Hu Jintao

n the framework of his visit to the development. The President of Armenia IPeople’s Republic of China, on stressed that the high-level political dia- May 2 President Serzh Sargsyan logue, active cooperation in social, polit- met with the President of the Peo- ical, economic, cultural, and educational ple’s Republic of China Hu Jintao. areas, reciprocal support in multilateral The President of Armenia expressed formats increase mutual understanding his gratitude to President Hu Jin- and trust between Armenia and China. tao for the invitation to participate at The two sides noted with satisfaction the opening of the Shanghai Expo- that multiple joint projects in energy, relations on a qualitatively new level. 2010 and congratulated his Chi- chemical industry, agriculture, sci- The Presidents discussed issues related nese counterpart on the successful ence and technology, defense, culture to China’s participation in the con- commencement of the Exhibition. and education spheres are being im- struction of the Armenia-Iran railroad. President Sargsyan said that the en- plemented with great success. Serzh They underscored that the launch of the hancement of the relations with China is Sargsyan and Hu Jintao concurred operations of the Armenian-Chinese a priority of the Armenian foreign poli- that the accumulated vast Armenian- Shanxi-Nairit joint venture in Shanxi cy and noted that bilateral relations have Chinese experience would serve an province of China proves that bilateral already shown excellent dynamics of excellent base for raising the bilateral relations were developing dynamically. www.president.am AH

PM attended the opening of EDB Armenia office

signed by RA Minister of Energy and Republic of Armenia’s National As- Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan sembly, and we have a stake in its capi- and EDB Board Chairman Igor Finog- tal. I am hopeful that the signing of this enov. The agreement provides for the instrument will give a new momen- opening of a permanent office of the tum to bilateral relations. A number EDB in Armenia. Memorandums of of projects are out for EDB manage- cooperation were signed between the ment consideration. The CIS heads of Eurasian Development Bank on the government and finance ministers are one hand, and the RA Ministry of currently discussing ways of boosting Energy and Natural Resources, Hay- the activities of the Bank. Also, you rusgasprom CJSC, South Caucasian are well aware that the EDB has been Railway CJSC, International Power entrusted with the operations of the Engineering Corporation CJSC and Anti-crisis Fund as established in the Haybusinessbank CJSC, on the other CIS frameworks which means hat the rime Minister Tigran Sargsyan at- hand. Congratulating those present Bank may engage in multifaceted and Ptended the official signing of the on this occasion, the Prime Minister multifunctional activities. This is why agreement between the Government of stated in part: “We have become a full we make a point of today’s event. Once the Republic of Armenia and the Eura- member of the Eurasian Development again, I felicitate you all on the signing sian Development Bank on EDB terms Bank. You may remember that the of the agreement.” of stay in Armenia. The agreement was agreement has been approved by www.gov.am AH

Armenia to struggle RA government to solve social - economic against smoking problems of refugee families

he Armenian government adopt- uring the April 29 session, the Armenian government adopted a decision on Ted a state program on struggle Dprivatization of residential spaces occupied by persons, who were forced to against smoking in the Republic of migrate from the Azerbaijani Republic from 1988-1992 and obtained citizenship of Armenia for 2010-2015, as well as a the Republic of Armenia.The decision aims to provide legal guarantees to and solve list of immediate measures securing housing, social and economic problems of numerous refugee families, which tem- its implementation. porarily reside in dormitories in Yerevan and Abovian. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran The government has approved the list of persons, who will be provided with apart- Sargsyan called on government ments purchased in an apartment building constructed in Yerevan. The Government members to fight against smoking, instructed the Armenian Ministry of Urban Development to implement the apart- a pernicious habit, through personal ments’ distribution through a drawing and, based on its results, to sign deeds of gift example. (unpaid privatization) with these persons on behalf of the Republic of Armenia. www.panarmenian.net www.panarmenian.net

2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS NOVITAS

Armenia Church Leader Meets Azerbaijani President

meeting on April 26 took place in the medieval hymns there. It added that the presence of Azerbaijan's top Shi'ite Mus- Armenian pontiff expressed hope that the lim cleric, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur church will eventually "reopen its doors Pashazade. Aliyev's office said the two to believers." Built in 1887, the church "stressed the importance of the Baku was the main site of worship for Baku's [religion] summit...for strengthening in- sizable Armenian community until its terreligious dialogue and expanding con- forced exodus from the Azerbaijani capi- tacts among religious leaders." tal in 1988-1990. he leader of Armenia's Apostolic A separate statement issued by the Ar- An arson attack seriously damaged the TChurch, Catholicos Garegin II, met menian Apostolic Church today said the building in 1990. The church reportedly with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev one-hour meeting took place "in an un- underwent renovation in 2004 and is and prayed in an abandoned Armenian constrained and sincere atmosphere" and currently used as a library. church in Baku at the end of his landmark touched upon the unresolved Armenian- Garegin is the first Armenian Church visit to Azerbaijan, RFE/RL's Armenian Azerbaijani dispute over Nagorno-Ka- leader to visit Azerbaijan in decades. His Service reports. rabakh. Garegin and other high-ranking office said two Armenian bishops who Garegin and Aliyev reportedly discussed Armenian clerics visited the 19th century accompanied him stayed in Baku to par- the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and a Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator' ticipate in the second and final day of the two-day summit of world religious lead- in Baku. The Armenian Church's state- religious forum. ers currently taking place in Baku. They ment said the delegation prayed and sang www.rferl.org

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ICRO to hold joint literary festival of Iran and Armenia

he Islamic Culture and Rela- activities in both countries, adding, Ttions Organization (ICRO) Mehdi “The activities of the Center for Ar- Mostafavi announced that the organi- menian Writers can encourage our zation is ready to hold a joint literary young writers toward increased mutual festival of Iran and Armenia in a border cooperation.”Mostafavi also talked city in September. about the religious freedom of the Mostafavi met with the Center for Ar- Armenian nationals in Iran and said, menian Writers Director Leon Ananian “Freedom in holding religious ceremo- here on Saturday and they discussed nies and their good relations with Ira- iar with the rich culture of Iran. several issues.He pointed to the good nians indicate that Armenian nationals He expressed his gratitude to Iran’s relationships between the two nations, enjoy the freedom to pursue their spe- cultural office in Armenia, and said, “I saying, “We make our best efforts to cific interests within Iran.” visited a few cities in Iran and became develop our cultural relations with oth- Leon Ananian expressed his interest in acquainted with several Iranian cultur- er countries.” visiting the country and said that they al dignitaries. I am planning to write a He also stressed that Tehran Interna- are willing to increase the number of book on Iranian cultural figures in the tional Book Fair opening next week Armenian cultural centers in Iran help- future.” can help boost cultural and literary ing their nationals become more famil- www.tehrantimes.com

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Armenia can now produce excess electricity

rmenian-Russian joint company Armenia to produce cheap electrical en- AArmrosGazprom plans to relaunch ergy and export it. the 5th block of the Razdan electric pow- At present ArmrosGazprom does not er station, which runs on Russian natural export any electricity but some time ago gas which enters Armenia via Georgia. it exported it to Georgia. The Razdan Director General of the company Karen block is the most powerful in Armenia Karapetian has stated that the 300 meg- and its reconstruction cost USD 393.5 awatt energy block has been completely million. reconstructed and modernised, enabling www.messenger.com.ge

3 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS RES PUBLICA U.S., France Praise Armenia’s Statement On Turkey

he United States and France Tpraised Armenia for not annulling the agreements to normalize relations with Turkey despite Ankara's refusal to implement them at this juncture, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports. The U.S. State Department insisted that the Armenian-Turkish normaliza- tion process had not collapsed and that the Turkish-Armenian protocols might still be put into effect "over the long term." "We note President [Serzh] Sarkisian's announcement that Armenia will sus- pend the discussion of the protocols in its National Assembly," Philip Gordon, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, said in a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan."President Sarkisian's an- nouncement makes clear that Arme- nia has not ended the process, but has suspended it until the Turkish side is ready to move forward," he said. "We applaud President Sarkisian's decision to continue to work towards a vision of peace, stability, and reconciliation." "We continue to urge both sides to keep the door open to pursuing efforts at reconciliation and normalization," Gordon added. U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley likewise told a daily news briefing late on April

NICOLA SARKOZY: “President Sarkisian’s announcement makes clear, that Armenia has not ended the process.” 22 that Washington was satisfied with ing at the request of the United States, cision was echoed by French President Sarkisian's decision not to rescind Yer- Russia, and other foreign powers. He Nicolas Sarkozy. "President Sarkozy evan's signature from the agreements. mentioned in that context his recent welcomes the Armenian president's "We are actually encouraged that, both talks with the U.S., French, and Rus- readiness to adhere to the process of in the case of Armenia and Turkey, sian presidents. normalizing Turkish-Armenian rela- both sides have taken pains to make Sarkisian and Turkish Prime Minister tions, despite difficulties which the two sure the process doesn't collapse," Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.S. sides have encountered in the process Crowley said. "That gives us some President Barack Obama in Wash- of ratifying the protocols signed in Zu- reason for optimism that over the long ington early last month. According to rich on October 10," the French Em- term we can find ways to come back to Crowley, Obama conveyed the fol- bassy in Yerevan said in a statement it and try to push forward the protocols lowing message to the Armenian and today.The statement said France is urg- again." Turkish leaders: "Keep the process go- ing Armenia and Turkey to "maintain In a televised address to the nation on ing; if you don't think that this is the the dialogue" and "multiply efforts" to April 22, Sarkisian said he and his right time, that's fine, we'll step back implement the protocols. governing coalition had chosen not and reevaluate how to move forward." to scrap the protocols for the time be- The U.S. reaction to the Armenian de- www.rferl.org

4 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS PRO PATRIA “Why I support recognition of the Armenian genocide”?

By John Sarbanes pril 24th marked the 95th commemo- Aration of the Armenian Genocide, the systematic annihilation of more than 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman-era Turk- ish authorities. On March 4, 2010, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs vot- ed in favor of Resolution 252 to recognize the Genocide. The next step is to achieve recognition in the full House of Represent- atives. The Armenian Genocide, the first of the 20th Century, included massacres, deportations, and death marches where hundreds of thousands were herded into the Syrian Desert to die of thirst and star- vation. Without final rites, the remains of In Congress, there is significant support these victims lay strewn across the desert in testament to a horrific demise.Modern- day Turkish authorities sadly have chosen for recognizing the Armenian Genocide. to deny this chapter of Turkish history and have sought every opportunity to discredit not comply with a rigid definition of relationship with each of these countries the findings of legitimate genocide schol- "Turkishness." For years, Turkey has has only grown since their Genocide rec- ars. Notable scholars and historians who discriminated against its largest eth- ognition.By speaking candidly to our ally, recognize the Armenian Genocide include nic minority by outlawing the Kurd- we can encourage Turkey to face the dark the International Association of Genocide ish language, suppressing the Kurd- chapters of its past and abandon the de- Scholars and the Elie Wiesel Foundation ish culture, and officially classifying structive ventures of its present, such as for Humanity whose opinion is supported Kurds as Mountain Turks, or Eastern the ongoing state-sanctioned discrimina- by 53 Nobel Laureates. Yet, in the face of Turks. Even the religious liberties of tion against the Ecumenical Patriarchate, all the evidence, Turkey presses on, export- Turkey's Muslim majority are subject- the continued occupation of the Republic ing a legacy of Genocide denial - a legacy ed to discriminatory state controls.In of Cyprus and the disenfranchisement of ruthlessly enforced within its own borders. Congress, there is significant support the Kurdish minority. Recognition of the In Turkey, anyone who uses the word for recognizing the Armenian Geno- Armenian Genocide can serve as a cata- "genocide" to describe the massacre of cide, but sponsors of a resolution to do lyst in securing Turkey's status as a Euro- the Armenians is subject to criminal pun- just that have been thwarted by Tur- pean democracy worthy of full European ishment under Article 301 of the Turkish key's relentless lobbying campaign. Union membership. I have heard the com- Penal Code. The late journalist Hrant Dink Threatening all manner of retaliation mon refrain: "It's just not a good time." was prosecuted under this article, and after should the resolution pass, Turkey That excuse - and it is only an excuse - being marked as an "enemy of the state," has convinced some members that can always be trotted out based on one was slain in 2007 by a 17-year old Turk- such action would imperil Turkish- or another issue that may be pending be- ish nationalist. In 2005, Orhan Pamuk, American relations. The United States tween the United States and Turkey. But Turkey's first Nobel Laureate, was charged should be confident enough about that excuse ignores the moral imperative with the crime of insulting Turkishness, the mutual stake both parties have in to recognize the Genocide and misunder- because he too made mere reference to the their relationship to know otherwise. stands that such recognition will actually Armenian Genocide during an interview. Furthermore, the experience of other enhance Turkish-American relations and Thankfully, an international outcry spared nations suggests there is every reason advance America's strategic interests.For him from full prosecution.Affirmative de- to believe that America's recogni- the sake of its core values and in true fur- nial of the Armenian Genocide - as well as tion of the Armenian Genocide will therance of its strategic interests, the Unit- denial of similar aggression directed in the ultimately enhance, not damage, its ed States must take a deep breath, look its past at millions of Greeks, Assyrians and relations with Turkey. The European ally Turkey in the eye, and recognize the other religious minorities -- compromises Parliament and the legislatures of tragedy of the Armenian Genocide to be Turkey's ability to tell the positive story of more than twenty countries includ- an unambiguous fact of history. AH its economic and political progress in re- ing Canada, France, Italy, and Russia, www.thehill.com cent years. It also reinforces international have officially recognized the Arme- perceptions that Turkey is still governed by nian Genocide. Turkey has not halted John Peter Spyros Sarbanes-Congressman- a repressive impulse - one that continues to its attempts to join the European Un- Democrat/Maryland. be directed at those of its peoples who do ion, and its political and economic

"Armenia Highlights" is compiled in association with DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in "Armenia Highlights" do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Armenia. 5 AH