Armenian press review (March 25-31)

By Vestnik Kavkaza

The Armenian media is focused on the state visit by President Serge Sargsyan to China. The newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak thinks that the most important agreement which has been signed during the visit is the framework agreement between the governments of Armenia and China on a concessional loan to Armenia. “It is unknown what the sum of the loan is, what the key rate of the loan is, when it should be paid, and how it will be spent. Why is the document important? The Armenian government hasn’t developed any solution for prevention of the economic crisis and encouragement of economic intensification, except for attraction of major finances. According to some calculations, at least $1 billion should be spent to reach the goal in two years. The situation in the Russian economy doesn’t allow Armenia to hope to attract such sums from the country. International financial organizations and Western countries are ready to give unlimited loans and with low interest, but they demand certain programs and significant reforms. Under these conditions, it seems the Chinese option of attracting major finances has no alternatives,” the newspaper reports.

In the context of Sargsyan’s state visit to China, Zhamanak reports: “The role of China in the world is growing. At the same time, China is able to maintain good relations both with Russia and the West. Thus, Armenian-Chinese relations won’t cause jealousy. Of course the point is in direct jealousy. If only the economic part of the joint Armenian-Chinese declaration is fulfilled, it will significantly help Armenia to eliminate economic super-dependence from Russia, and political super-dependence as well.”

Aravot reports: “The Armenian government decided to allocate the regiment church in Gyumri, which has architectural value and which was built in the tsarist period in the district called Kazakhsy Post, and the nearby territory (1.5 ha) to the Russian government for free. The goal is to build a spiritual center.

It is a shame that the territory was given to the Russian side without consideration of views of residents of Gyumri. All in all, about 40 ha of lands are being given to the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri; and the budget of the city’s administration doesn’t get anything from this. A minimal rent of 1 square meter in Gyumri costs 5 drams; so, we can count losses of the local budget in the situation,” the author thinks.

“Russian Infinity After European Week” is an article in 168 Zham: “It seems Russia hasn’t addressed ‘the European Week’ which has been held in Armenia and abroad. It decided to compensate for this and sent real ‘Russian troops’ to Yerevan. Last weekend a large delegation of the Russian State Duma Committee for CIS Affairs visited Armenia. Its members visited Gyumri and made another statement which undermined the sovereignty of Armenia on holding court over Permyakov at the Russian military base. Yesterday a delegation headed by the chairman of the Russian State Duma, Sergei Naryshkin, arrived in Armenia. The Russian side is trying to respond to the European games or the semi-games of Armenia by such top visits. Armenia is not forgiven even for its statements on maintenance of relations with Europe.”

This week MPs of the Armenian parliament got pamphlets headlined “The Concept of Constitutional Reforms in the Republic of Armenia.” It presents the main directions of the upcoming reforms. Thus, it can be said that the second stage of the constitutional reform has been started, Zhokhovurd reports.

“Of course everybody understands that Serge Sargsyan will present such a draft to the parliament, which will meet his political interests. But the current formal stage is necessary to state in the end that the text of constitutional amendments has been developed, considering the views of all interested political forces. And it doesn’t matter that the majority of the Armenian society is not interested in the text of the document, as people have been witnessing violation of the current Constitution of Armenia for a long time,” Zhokhovurd notes.

As the leader of Prosperous Armenia, Gagik Tsarukyan, has rejected the principles of the so-called ‘political scientific analysis’ by Levon Ter-Petrosyan and left the opposition camp and politics in general, the Armenian National Congress was left without financial support. There is information on the difficulties which the ANC has with renting territories and financing offices of its local structures, Zhamanak reports.

“The Armenian National Congress is seeking new sources of financing. This is clear, as any party needs money to work. There are no independent businessmen in Armenia, the only possible source of financing are the authorities. But why should they finance the ANC? MPs from the Armenian National Congress monitor various layers of the power to find out their reaction. The main target is Premier Ovik Abramyan, who supervises Prosperous Armenia. The ANC has the following approach: if Abramyan is ready to finance PA, why wouldn’t he agree to support the ANC?” the newspaper reports.

The next session of the National Assembly will discuss a report on studying the activities of the gas distribution system of Armenia by the provisional commission, Zhokhovurd reports.

According to the newspaper, the report contains data which proves a poor situation in the management spheres. Zhokhovurd states that the provisional commission notes the opportunity of transporting gas from Turkmenistan through Iran.

“In case of investments, Armenia could transport 70 billion cubic meters of Iranian and Turkmen gas to third countries annually. Moreover, in case of transit, the exporter pays 5% of gas prices. 5% of 70 billion cubic meters is 3.5 billion cubic meters. Last year Armenia consumed 2.45 billion cubic meters. In other words, our country could get gas for free,” the newspaper concludes.

According to Aykakan Zhamanak, Russian gas imported by Armenia will become cheaper from April 1st. “According to preliminary information, the price for 1 cubic meter of gas will decrease from $180 to $165. However, the decrease in the wholesale price won’t influence rates of internal consumption. The population and major consumers will pay the same price for gas.

The agreement on the decrease of gas prices was achieved as a result of long negotiations. It has one goal - to prevent an increase of gas rates as a result of the devaluation of the dram. If the Russian side didn’t agree to decrease the wholesale price, internal gas rates would be increased by 10-12%.”