Month: August 2008

ASSUMPTION CELEBRATED IN ARMENIAN DIOCESE OF TEHRAN

Noyan Tapan

Au g 19, 2008

TEHRAN, AUGUST 19, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Liturgies were
celebrated in all Armenian churches of Tehran on August 17 on the
occasion of the Assumption of Virgin Mary.

According to "Aliq" daily, a liturgy presided over by the head of
Tehran’s Armenian diocese Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian was celebrated
in Surb Astvatsatsin Church of Tehran. The church choir led by
E. Injirghulian was singing during the liturgy. The members of Tehran’s
Armenian Diocesan Council were present.

A ritual Blessing of the Grapes ceremony was held at the conclusion
of the liturgy, prior to which the head of the diocese explained the
meaning of this ceremony.

ARMENIA: RATM TO ACQUIRE PLANT MIKA-CEMENT

ESMERK
Vedomosti Sibir
August 19, 2008 Tuesday

The Novosibirsk holding RATM (Siberia) plans to acquire the cement
plant Mika-Cement in Armenia. The holding is expected to buy from 75%
plus one share to 100%. The sum of the deal is not disclosed. According
to analysts, 100% of the plant cost from US$ 60mn (EUR 38.48mn) to US$
120mn. RATM intends to invest US$ 15-17mn to modernize the new asset
till summer 2009. The second production line, idle for ten years,
is to be launched at the plant. This will allow the enterprise to
reach the designed capacity of 1.2mn tons.

Acquisition of the Armenian plant is in line with the strategy of
RATM development envisaging increase in the total production of
cement by the enterprises of the holding to 10mn tons per year by
2014. The program also provides for construction of new enterprises,
US$ 2bn to be allotted by RATM for these goals.

YEREVAN TO HOST MEETING OF CSTO DEFENCE MINISTERS

UzReport.com
August 19, 2008 Tuesday

A session of the Council of Defence Ministers of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will be held in Yerevan, Armenia,
on 21-22 August, Kazakhstan Today reported quoting press service
of the Kazakh Defence Ministry. The agenda of the session includes
over 20 issues, mainly issues on military construction, the report
said. Besides, Armenia hosts the third and fourth stages of joint
drill of the CSTO member states Rubej-2008 on 18-22 August. This
year, the drill is held in four stages and in three levels:
strategic, operative and tactical. It also covers all regions of
the organization, the report said. The CSTO founded in 1992 and its
members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

NATIONAL YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM OF ARMENIA TO PLAY AGAINST TURKISH TEAM IN YEREVAN ON AUGUST 20

Noyan Tapan

Au g 19, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The national youth football team
of Armenia will play against the Turkish team at Yerevan’s "Hrazdan"
Stadium on August 20 (start at 9 pm) by the group tournement program
of the European Championship Qualifying Stage.

To recap, the Armenian team was included in 2nd group, it played 6
matches and in the 5 teams’ struggle took 4th place with 7 points.

The return match with the Turkish team is scheduled for September 10.

IRAN, ARMENIA DISCUSSED BILATERAL TIES

Moj News Agency
August 19, 2008 Tuesday
Iran

At the meeting the two sides reviewed bilateral ties, as well as the
Caucasus region`s recent developments. Referring to the depth and
wide span of the bilateral ties, Sheikh Attar emphasized that the two
countries` relations are still in need of further development. The
Armenian side, for his part, announced of Yerevan`s determination to
expand the level of its cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran
in various fields. "Iran`s role in the region is quite significant and
your country enjoys a unique geographical status," he added. 2008/08/19

ARMENIAN MINISTER OF ECONOMY MET WITH CEO OF SMOLENSK KRISTALL

RIA Oreanda
Aug 19 2008
Russia

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS . On 19 August 2008 was announced, that RA
Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan met with Maxim Shkadov, the Chief
Executive of "Kristall" OJSC of Smolensk and other representatives of
the company. Gagik Abrahamyan, the President of the company "D-C-A"
was also present at the meeting.

At the meeting M. Shkadov presented to Minister the activities of
the company, pointing that it is one of the largest diamond producing
companies in Russia and Europe in this field.

Possibilities of further Russian Armenian cooperation in diamond
and jewellery business, particularly questions regarding cooperation
between "Kristall" and "D-C-A" companies were discussed during the
meeting.

Mr. Shkadov informed that, the first part delivery of Russian gemstone
to Armenia is expected in near future. The issues of rough diamond
delivery on a large scale were discussed also. Mr. Shkadov mentioned
that, they are planning to open representation office and develop
large programs here in Armenia. In case of necessity, the Russian
party is ready to provide equipment and technical assistance.

Nerses Yeritsyan thanked for visit and for full information about
their plans concerning Armenia. He also emphasizes that Armenia
is interested in import and processing of Russian rough diamonds,
and expressed hope, that the reached accords on cooperation between
Armenian, "Kristall" and "AlRosa" companies will be materialized
successfully, overcoming existing obstacles and issues.

Mr. Minister also said that there is a possibility for some Armenian
companies to buy rough diamonds from "AlRosa", the discussion on
implementation of log-term investment programs took place as well.

It is significant to mention that, these accords were reached during
the Minister’s working visit to Moscow on June 20-23 of current
year. In Moscow he met and held discussions with RF Minister of
Finance Aleksey Kudrin, RF Minister of Transportation Igor Levitin
and the President of "AlRosa" LC Alexander Vibornov.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY DRAFTS THIRD NATIONAL EU PROGRAMME

Anatolia news agency
Aug 18 2008
Turkey

Ankara, 18 August: Turkish Government Spokesman and State Minister
Cemil Cicek said on Monday [18 August] that draft of Turkey’s third
national programme for European Union (EU) was concluded.

Speaking to reporters after Council of Ministers meeting, Cicek said
the national programme would be hammered out after Turkey’s foreign
minister and chief negotiator for the EU talks, Ali Babacan, meets
with representatives of political parties and NGOs.

"Within the scope of cooperation between its institutions, Turkey
continued its works for the 400-page national document that would
be submitted to EU public. The programme consists of four parts. In
the programme, Turkey expresses its commitments for the next four
years. The programme requires 131 legal arrangements. All of them
are about adjustment," Cicek said.

Cicek also said Council of Ministers also debated 2008-13 Irrigation
Action Plan. "It is necessary to prepare an action plan to use water
sources in the best way. Turkish government prepared an action plan
comprising of 1,543 projects."

Speaking on Stability and Cooperation Platform in Caucasus, which
covered Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, that would
solve disagreements through peaceful ways, Cicek said, "A step should
be made to resolve problems not through military methods by through
peaceful ways."

He said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited
Russia and Georgia immediately after the incident (clashes in Caucasus)
and held meetings with officials. Cicek said that Erdogan would also
visit Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

"Turkey, being a neighbouring country, submits a project for a peaceful
solution instead of watching incidents as a spectator. I hope related
countries will extend necessary support," he said.

TURKEY MAKING EFFORTS FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN CAUCASUS – MINISTER

Anatolia news agency
Aug 18 2008
Turkey

Ankara, 18 August: Turkish Government Spokesman and State Minister
Cemil Cicek said on Monday [18 August] that Turkey was closely
following the recent developments in Caucasus.

He added that Turkey was exerting efforts for a peaceful solution to
the issue.

Speaking after the Council of Ministers meeting, Cicek said that
unfortunately Turkey was surrounded by "instabilities".

He said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited
Russia and Georgia immediately after the incident (clashes in Caucasus)
and held meetings with officials. Cicek said that Erdogan would also
visit Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

Cicek said that Erdogan, during his meetings, shared a project as
Stability and Cooperation Platform in Caucasus, which covered Russia,
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, that would solve disagreements
through peaceful ways.

Regarding resignation of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Cicek
said that Pakistan was a very important country for Turkey. Cicek
expressed hope that the recent developments in Pakistan would bring
peace and stability to that country.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA LOSES "STRATEGIC WAR" AGAINST GEORGIA

Yeni Musavat
Aug 17 2008
Azerbaijan

The West, especially the USA, is gradually boosting political and
moral support for Georgia. We especially stressed one moment when
the known tragic events first started in the neighbouring county that
although the democratic world’s mechanism of patronage of Georgia is
put into operation late, it will be comprehensive and permanent. The
process has started and it is gaining momentum. It is covering not
only the humanitarian field, but also political and diplomatic,
and military fields.

It is noteworthy that the democratic world showed a unanimous position
which is rarely the case. This has reasons. Observations show that the
latest developments have caused serious disappointment and concern in
the West and at the same time made a fairly sobering impact on it. The
point is not only about Russia’s deeds which do not meet international
norms. The point is also about threats created by political regimes
imitating democracy in the region (or not doing it at all), the
fact that they distanced themselves from the current force majeure
situations and the fact that they actually left Georgia alone. This
was clearly seen in the person of the Azerbaijani authorities. Imagine
that almost 10 days have passed since Russian aggression, but the
Baku government has not even paid tribute to the Georgian people,
whereas Moscow’s satellite Armenia did so.

Thus, "gaps" and "disorders" of democracy showed themselves vividly
in the region. Those in the capital of democracy have understood
that expectations regarding Russia’s civil image have been extremely
exaggerated and the policy of tender "critical dialogue" should be
consigned into the dustbin of history. That is, the levers matching
the Kremlin’s behaviour should be put into operation and it should
be talked to in its own language if need be. It seems this is the case.

Let’s start from the fact that Russia has already begun to reap
"bitter fruits" of its military aggression against the neighbouring
country in the geopolitical and diplomatic fields. Although Moscow
seems unperturbed and does not hurry to pull out its troops from
Georgia, the reality shows that our northern neighbour has lost the
strategic war against Georgia.

As far as the "fruits" are concerned, let’s note that the latest
developments will absolutely accelerate Ukraine’s and Georgia’s NATO
membership. The West is openly declaring this. At a news conference
after her meeting with Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev on 16 August,
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, standing just next to him,
that the two countries would soon become the alliance’s members. The
capitals of democracies have so far shown a cautious position in
order not to irritate the Kremlin.

No trace of that caution has already remained. On the contrary, the
leading Western states seem to regret about the delay [in the two
countries’ membership issue]. Georgia’s and Ukraine’s NATO membership
means that Russia will have to deal not with Georgia, but directly
with NATO in the South Caucasus. Although, Moscow behaves in the
neighbouring country as a winner and does not hurry to pull out its
unbridled troops from there, it is clear that this is its "Pyrrhic
victory". Because time does not work for the Kremlin. Russia cannot
stand against NATO. The US military budget is 10 times larger than
Russia’s overall budget. We do not even speak about the alliance’s
modern army building.

Another bitter "fruit" for Moscow is that the GUAM [Georgia, Ukraine,
Moldova and Azerbaijan] countries have started leaving the CIS. It
is known that Tbilisi has made its own decision. Ukraine will most
probably take the same step. Ukraine is not an ordinary country, but
an influential state. After that no democratic state will remain in
the CIS. The Azerbaijani leadership, which claims that it has taken a
pro-Western line, will have to think about this. Otherwise, it will
follow Russia’s policy and this will cause the West’s appropriate
reaction.

The third "fruit" is that the West will never recognize the
independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in any case. This is stated
unequivocally. The reason for this is presumably the fact that the
separatist bodies have become puppets (more precisely, into hostages)
in Russia’s hands and discredited themselves.

The fourth bitter "fruit" for Russia is the acceleration of talks on
the missile defence shields in Poland and the Czech Republic.

AMERICA’S POSITIONS CHANGING
by Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkharh
Aug 5 2008
Armenia

[Correspondent] Finally Marie Yovanovitch has been approved to the
office of US ambassador to Armenia. How would you comment on this?

[Manoyan] The fact of the approval of the new ambassador in the
[US] Senate is interesting, as it is the consequence of an important
event. The matter is that there were senators until the last moment
who were ready to thwart or delay the approval of this candidacy as
well. Their behaviour changed after the Department of State forwarded
two statements to the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. Turkey is speaking about it [these statements] only now,
as it did not grasp their meaning at the moment.

According to one of the statements, the USA believes that the
Ottoman Empire was responsible for the events in Ottoman Turkey in
the beginning of the previous century [the killing of Armenians in
1915]. Until now it was said in all cases that the slaughter was
carried out on the territory of the Ottoman Empire, but it was not
specified who was responsible. Now it is stated that soldiers and
officials of the empire carried out everything.

The second statement of the Department of State clarified that
the initiative to establish a commission of Armenian and Turkish
archival scientists did not in any way question the facts that took
place, but ensured the best guarantee of preserving all the existing
archives. These two changes in the behaviour of the USA, in particular
of the Department of State, were the reason for the senators’ consent
to approve Marie Yovanovitch’s candidacy.

[Correspondent] How can this change in the USA’s positions influence
the issue of recognizing the Armenian genocide?

[Manoyan] I believe that the USA’s behaviour has changed
significantly. If the former candidate [for ambassador to Armenia
Richard] Hoagland implied that the sides should reconcile with their
past and have a dialogue, by saying reconciliation, Marie Yovanovitch
clearly states that Turkey should reconcile with its past.

It is clear that these changes are not a consequence of individual
approaches, but a consequence of the change in the behaviour of the
Department of State. From this point of view, I believe the recognition
of the Armenian genocide by the US president is not very far.

[Correspondent] Do you think [Turkish President] Abdullah Gul can
accept [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation and they
will watch the football match between the [Armenian and Turkish]
national teams on 6 September [in Yerevan]?

[Manoyan] It is important to state once again that the invitation
does not imply any changes in Armenia’s foreign policy regarding
the recognition of the Armenian genocide. Both the [Armenian]
president’s statement and the talks held between the Armenian and
Turkish delegations in Bern [Switzerland] are an attempt to achieve
progress in relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the invitation and the offer to establish an
Armenian-Turkish commission have created an impression that the fact
of the genocide is being questioned. This was denied both in Serzh
Sargsyan’s article published in the Wall Street Journal, and in
the statements of top officials. It became clear that the president
offered to establish a commission to discuss any issue after opening
the Armenian-Turkish border and establishing diplomatic relations. The
commission of historians will discuss not the fact of the genocide
but will restore the details of the genocide.

These positions are much more in tune with the policy that Armenia
has adopted and with the content of the letter of [former President]
Robert Kocharyan addressed to President [in fact, Turkish Prime
Minister] Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The issue of establishing an
intergovernmental commission was discussed in the letter. And
establishing an intergovernmental commission first of all implies
mutual recognition of the governments.

The Dashnaktsutyun has also said in its statement that no Armenian
president can doubt the fact of the Armenian genocide. At the same
time, it voiced concern over accepting any of Turkey’s preconditions
set in exchange for opening the borders, removing the blockade and
establishing diplomatic conditions. If there are preconditions,
then Armenia has much more grounds for setting both political, moral
and legal preconditions for Turkey. Finally, Armenia and Turkey will
not be the only states which will have both diplomatic relations and
territorial disputes. In this situation the Turkish government will
to some extent boost its foreign policy efforts.

This is an assumption, and I do not rule out that Gul may accept
Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation and will watch the game of the national
football teams at the Hrazdan stadium.