Arminfo: News

Political expert: Russia is an umbrella for security of Armenia

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:30:00 GMT

The parliamentary election in Armenia passed rather actively. The strong inter-party competition caused special interest. Nevertheless, domestic political changes will hardly affect the relations with Russia, director of the Caucasus Institute, political expert Aleksandr Iskandanyan said at Yerevan-Moscow televised bridge, 17 May.

"They often say that the century long traditions and common cultural heritage link our two countries. But if we really watch the situation, we shall see that mutual interest is priority in the bilateral relations, as Russia is an umbrella of security for Armenia", - he said.

Touching on inter-regional issues and global political changes, Iskandaryan said that Armenia has formed a habit to live in the conditions of turbulence, and Russia is the necessary factor which helps Armenia in this matter. "Armenia is not going to put the equality mark between the pro-Russian and anti-western orientation like our many neighbours do. As for availability of the opposition in the parliament, it is a very much important factor for Armenia on the way of democracy establishment, as the problems which 7% of citizens are concerned about, will be discussed not in the street but in the parliament", - the expert said.

US House Foreign Aid Panel proposes increase aid to Nagorno Karabakh from $2 to $5 million for 2013 FY

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:18:00 GMT

The U.S. House panel responsible for foreign aid this week adopted a number of provisions promoting U.S. interests and American values in the Caucasus, proposing sharply increasing aid to Nagorno Karabakh from $2 to $5 million and rejecting the Obama Administration's proposed $7.2 million cut in aid
to Armenia, reports the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, led by Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (D-NY), also maintained military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and called upon the Administration to formulate a strategy for targeted aid to the Armenian-populated Javakhk region of Georgia. In addition, the panel called on the Secretary of State to continue support for Armenians and other Christian populations at risk due to recent unrest in the Middle East. These provisions were included in the Committee's Fiscal Year 2013 version of the foreign aid bill, which is set to be voted on tomorrow by the full House Appropriations Committee.

Newspaper: Gagik Tsarukyan offers president to appoint Vardan Oskanyan speaker of parliament

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:11:00 GMT

The leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan has offered the president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, to appoint ex-foreign minister, a members of the PAP, Vardan Oskanyan, to the position of the speaker of the parliament for the latter not to leave the PAP, "168 Zham" daily says referring to its own sources.

Oskanyan as well as other leaders of the PAP are against the PAP joining the ruling coalition of the Republican Party of Armenia and warned they will leave the future PAP parliamentary faction, but not to refuse their deputy mandates. Tsarukyan made such a proposal to the president in order to avoid the PAP split. Oskanyan is not against his appointment to the position of the speaker.

As for the prospects of setting up the coalition, another daily Haykakan Zhamanak says that the PAP and RPA will sing not a coalition memorandum but cooperation agreement. The issue will be resolved over today's sitting of the RPA executive body, which will be conducted by President Serzh Sargsyan. The prime minister and the speaker of the parliament will be also appointed at today's sitting of the RPA.

Moscow continues to play complicated balancing game on Karabakh

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:09:00 GMT

The Russian government continues to play a complicated balancing act with regards to the Karabakh issue, and in its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, commonspace.eu experts say.

A summit meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) held in Moscow this week, which was attended by Armenia which is a member, but not by Azerbaijan, which is not, has called for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and stressed the principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity and people's right for self-determination as the basis on which this settlement could be achieved.

On the other hand Russia continues to supply both sides in the Karabakh conflict with vast supplies of arms. Military equipment to Baku is sold at commercial prices, whilst Armenia, which is a member of CSTO gets most of its arms supplies at reduced prices.

Many observers see a contradiction between Moscow's appeals for a peaceful settlement of the conflict, and its military arming of the sides. It stems from Russia's concern that it remains the predominant power in the region, which requires the goodwill of both governments. Providing military supplies is one of the strategies in this direction. On the other hand Russia's diplomatic initiatives around the Karabakh conflict paused over recent months during the
Putin-Medvedev job swaps. It is not yet clear how they will be resumed, if at all.

Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:07:00 GMT

Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 396,5 drams for 1 dollar, 504,5drams for 1 EUR and 12,8 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 398 drams for 1 dollar, 508,5 drams for 1 EUR and 12,9 drams for 1 Russian ruble .