Month: May 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net

Nestle fails to resist Azeri pressure
05.05.2008 17:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Swiss-based multinational food
company, Nestle, has apologized to Azerbaijan after a
gift attached to a breakfast cereal backfired.

The CD-ROM featured information about countries around
the world but the data on Azerbaijan caused outrage
there.

It said that `after gaining independence, Azerbaijan
had started a war against neighboring Armenia.’

Azerbaijan claims that Nagorno Karabakh was also
mentioned. However, judging by the screenshot posted
on Day.az website, Nagorno Karabakh was not mentioned
at all.

Nestle PR Officer Anastasia Shestakova also confirmed
to a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that the CDs did not
contain any information about Karabakh.

Nestle has withdrawn the cereal and promised to seize
the CDs, which were released by DK Multimedia company
and later purchased by Nestle as a finished product.

The Azeri government vowed to take action, and there
has been widespread talk of a public boycott.

Despite the formal apology, Azeris are still not
happy. They accuse Nestle of playing Armenia’s hand,
and are demanding more than just an apology to chew
on.
From: Baghdasarian

PanARMENIAN.Net

EU: Turkey faces lingering political crisis
05.05.2008 18:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey is facing a political crisis.
The struggle between different political parties
involves Turkey into a lingering political crisis,
said Olli Rehn, the European Union’s Commissioner for
Enlargement.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also
warned against negative consequences of banning his
AKP. `Our economy will be damaged. We already witness
outflow of foreign capital. We are accused on
intention to impose the Shariath on secular Turkey.
But we are a party of ordinary Turks. Faithful Turks
are defenders of secular state. Turkey managed to
maintain balance between Islam and democracy, RFE/RL
reports.

In March 2008, the Turkish Constitutional Court said
it will consider a request to ban the ruling political
party of PM Erdogan.

Earlier, the CC banned two parties for using religion
for political purposes.

PanARMENIAN.Net

France to continue contributing to Karabakh conflict resolution
05.05.2008 21:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian met in Paris with his French counterpart
Bernard Kouchner to discuss bilateral relations as
well as regional and international issues.

Minister Nalbandian briefed on priorities of the
coalition formed in the republic after the
presidential election, the government’s position on
regional security and development of regional
cooperation.

The Nagorno Karabakh conflict was also in focus. Mr
Nalbandian confirmed Armenia’s willingness to continue
talks basing on the OSCE Minks Group’s proposals.
`Armenia appreciates the intermediary efforts aimed at
resolution of the conflict,’ he said.

For his part, Mr Kouchner assured that as OSCE MG
Co-chair, France will continue contributing to
Karabakh conflict settlement.

The Ministers also discussed cooperation in the
framework of the European Neighborhood Policy.

ARMENPRESS

EU REMAINS ARMENIA’S BIGGEST TRADE PARTNER

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS: The European Union was
Armenia’s largest trade partner in 2007 and the
previous five years, Tigran Jrbashian, head of the
Armenian European Policy and Legal Advice Center
(AEPLAC), said today. He added that 38.4 percent of
Armenia’s foreign trade in 2007 was with 27 members of
the European Union.
Speaking at a news conference he said Armenian
exports to EU last year rose 19.6 percent against
2006, while imports grew 40 percent. For comparison he
said 28 percent of Georgia’s foreign trade and 59
percent of Azerbaijan foreign trade were with the
European Union.
He said Armenian exports to EU mainly comprise
precious metals and mining products, while Georgia
exports food and 90 percent of Azerbaijan’s trade with
EU falls on crude oil.
Tigran Jrbashian said all three South Caucasian
nations import equipment, which he said evidences that
all three are technically reequipping which he said
inspires hope. He said the upgrading in Armenia was
quick and effective.
He said the EU was also the largest investor in
Armenia until 2006, due largely to Greece’s ownership
of ArmenTel phone company. Last year the EU
investments slashed to 18 percent against 50 percent
of Russian investments, which remains the biggest
investor in Armenian economy.
According to him, foreign investments last year
amounted to $845 million, including $582 million of
direct investments. The biggest EU member investors
were Germany ($55.3. million), Cyprus ($16.5 million),
France ($18.8 million) and Great Britain ($13.5
million).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENPRESS

YEREVAN TO HAVE CHARLES AZNAVOUR MUSEUM

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS Before this year wraps
up a museum dedicated to acclaimed French-Armenian
singer Charles Aznavour will open in Yerevan. Narek
Sarkisian, the architect who designed the museum, told
Armenpress that in 2006 Aznavour visited the site of
the future museum and liked it.
Last year the government released 110 million Drams
from its reserve funds for construction of the museum.
Narek Sarkisian said the museum will be on a site
overlooking the city and Mount Ararat. It will have a
simple design but with spacious gates and when passing
through the gates the visitors will be looking on
Mount Ararat.
He said the design was approved by Aznavour. The
museum will comprise a residential wing for Aznavour
and his family members when they arrive in Armenia, an
exhibition hall, a reception hall, a conference hail
for 180 people, an open-air amphitheater, a caf? and
the administrative wing.
According to Narek Sarkisian, the museum will
become ` a very serious cultural center,’ as it will
host youth competitions, fairs and exhibitions.
`It will become a French-Armenian cultural center
to reflect simultaneously French and Armenian arts, as
Aznavour does,’ he said.
The design, according to the architect, will be a
mixture of and a dialogue between old Armenian temple
of Garni, built in Hellenic style and European
architecture.
Aznavour will himself choose all items for display.
Narek Sarkisian said Aznavour instructed his aides to
begin selecting the items which he would like to
transport to Armenia. Sarkisian said a dress that
belonged to Aznavour’s grandmother was obtained and
will be donated to the singer when he arrives for the
museum’s inauguration.
The museum will be on Antarayin street, close to
Cafesjian Museum.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES DIASPORA ARMENIAN
BUSINESSMAN AND PHILANTHROPIST VACHE MANUKIAN

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian received today Diaspora Armenian
businessman and philanthropist Vache Manukian and
member of the Board of Directors of HSBC bank David
Badd.
Presidential press service told Armenpress that
during the meeting the sides discussed issues on
improvement of Armenia’s investment environment, full
usage of Diaspora’s potential.
The sides noted that Armenia has a great potential
the right usage of which may greatly promote the
development of economy, including tourism.
During the meeting the interlocutors also referred
to the prospect of expansion of the activity of HSBC
bank in Armenia.

ARMENPRESS

GAGIK SAHAKIAN ELECTED MAYOR OF SPITAK

SPITAK, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS: According to preliminary
results, Gagik Sahakian from the governing Republican
Party, has been elected mayor of the town of Spitak in
May 4 mayoral polls.
He has received 2,154 votes of 8,254 eligible
voters. The Central Election Commission (CEC) in
Yerevan said the acting mayor Vanik Asatrian was
second with 1,657 votes, non-partisans Ashot Danielian
received 1,265 votes, Samvel Gabrielian -881 votes,
Mihran Sisakian -613 votes, Artyom Makarian from the
Prosperous Armenia received 1,440 votes. The voter
turnout was 70 percent.

AZG Armenian Daily #085, 06/05/2008

Karabakh Issue

MAMEDYAROV ADDRESSED THE WEST TO CONVINCE ARMENIA ON
KARABAKH CONFLICT

On May 4 Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mamedyarov once again explained the stall in the peace
process on Karabakh with the aggressive stance of
Armenia. According to the Public Television of Turkey,
he accused Armenia for prolonging the settlement of
the conflict. He said that Armenia should be
interested in settling the Karabakh conflict as soon
as possible and called upon the Western states to
convince Armenia to be more constructive.

The inconsistence of the Azerbaijani foreign policy is
well known. Now and then official Baku demands the
Minsk Group to be disbanded and threatens to restart
the war in Karabakh. Although this time Mamedyarov
avoided warlike statements, his anxiety about
Armenia’s interests sounded rather challenging.

However challenging Mamedyarov’s statements be, the
Western statements are not likely to swallow the bait.
In case Azerbaijan fulfills its warlike threats and
unleashes a new war against Armenia and Karabakh, the
West shall consider it not only as an attempt to ruin
the fragile stability of the region, but also as an
attempt to take over the initiative in Karabakh
process.

It is obvious that in case of a new war in South
Caucasus the prospects of the greater states of the
world shall be ruined, and Azerbaijan shall be
punished for that. If the West leaves unattended the
warlike statements of Azerbaijani officials, it means
they prefer to neglect them and not to emphasize them,
preserving the stability in South Caucasus, where each
of the greater states pursues vital interests.

By the way, Mamedyarov with his accusations against
Armenia tried to answer the April 30statement of
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, which read as
follows, "I think we made a long way in the settlement
process of the Karabakh conflict. There is a project
and there are the proposals suggested by the OSCE
Minsk Group. They are the result of a long work and we
are ready to continue the process basing upon the
suggestions. But our readiness is not enough, we still
need the willingness of the Azerbaijani side".

By h. Chaqrian, translated by A.M

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #085, 06/05/2008

Armenian Genocide

MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN CYPRUS

On May 1, according to Cyprian "Philiephteros" newspaper, a monument
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide was erected in Larnaca (Cyprus).

The opening ceremony will be held in June, Turkish press
reported. Armenian delegation led by RA President Serge Sargsian will
participate in the opening ceremony.

The decision on raising a monument to the Armenian Genocide was made
by Larnaca Municipality. Cyprus Parliament and Government members
affirmed the decision unanimously.

Apparently, the monument is created in Armenia, and according to the
supposition of Turkish press on April 1 it was in port Larnaca.

To recall, the foundation of the monument was laid by former President
of Armenia Robert Kocharian.

By Hakob Chakrian, translated by L.H.

AZG Armenian Daily #085, 06/05/2008

Statistics

DANGEROUS COUNTRIES FOR JOURNALISTS

In 13 countries of the world journalists’ murders
remain unrevealed.

Since 1998, the Committee to Protect Journalists
(center in New York) has carried out researches and
published the list of the countries according to
"impunity index", "Azatutyun" radio-station reported.

The Committee list involves countries, where more than
5 unrevealed murders remain from 1998 to 2007.

The list includes also Russia, where murders of 14
journalists are not revealed yet.

Iraq has the most unrevealed murders – 79.

The list involves also Sierra Leone, Somalia,
Columbia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Afghanistan, Nepal.
Mexico, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

The report mentions that though there are no war
operations and conflicts in most of the
above-mentioned countries, journalists periodically
become targets for murderers here and no one takes
responsibility for it.

Translated by L.H.