Month: September 2008

EARTHQUAKE RECORDED IN ARMENIA

A1+
[12:59 pm] 03 September, 2008

A seven-magnitude earthquake was recorded near the Nakhidzevan-Iran
frontier at about 1:00 a.m. According to the Armenian National Centre
for Seismic Protection the earthquake also shook Armenia. It was
especially felt in Goris /four magnitudes/, Sisian /four magnitudes/,
Kapan /four magnitudes/, Eghegnadzor /three magnitudes/ and Dzermuk
/three magnitudes/.

Another earthquake was recorded at 7.22 today morning in Turkey,
about 36 km south-east from the city of Adiamane. The force of the
epicenter was six magnitudes.

CAN ARMENIANS AND TURKS BE ON FRIENDLY TERMS?

A1+
[01:43 pm] 03 September, 2008

Today the main theme of discussions in Armenia’s political circles
is Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul’s upcoming visit to Armenia. A1+
tried to know our fellow-citizens opinion on Gul’s arrival.

"Turks have always been our enemies. They always hated us and felt
disgust towards Armenians. What is the use of inviting them to
Armenia today? Do we really need them?" said 69-year-old Knarik. Her
grandfather was murdered by Turks in 1915.

In the main, old-age people agree with Grandma Knarik saying that
Turkey will never be on good terms with Armenia.

"Turks are fraudulent people. No matter how much our president tries
to reconcile the sides his efforts will surely fail doing harm to
Armenia," said 62-year-old Vardan.

Unlike elderly people youth welcome the authorities’ step. "They simply
want to better the tense bilateral relations," said 24-year-old Hasmik
who wants to live in peace.

"Surely we should forget neither the Genocide nor its perpetrators. And
yet, we shouldn’t allow our countries to speculate the matter for
their good. Armenia and Turkey had better solve their problems with
joint efforts," said 20-year-old Hayk.

18-year-old Alina says her friends from Iran write to her every day
and scold for the invitation. "They say they don’t live in Armenia
because of the Turks."

37-year-old Vigen doubts that Armenia and Turkey can ever reconcile.

"They instill hatred in Turkish children towards Armenians still in
cradles. How can Turks love us?" wondered 37-year-old Vigen.

"The youth of the 21st century are against wars. We are ready to
conciliate with Turks. We do believe that Turkish youth will agree
with us," said 19-year-old Laura.

GUL’S SPECIAL ENVOY IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
13:45 03/09/2008

Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan has received special envoy of the
Turkish president, Ambassador Unal Cevikoz.

They discussed the details of the visit of the Turkish president
Abdullah Gul to Yerevan on the invitation of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan to watch Armenia-Turkey football match on September 6,
Foreign Ministry reports.

During the meeting the Minister and the Ambassador discussed Turkey’s
initiative to establish the Stability and Security Platform in
Caucasus.

"Armenia is in favor of every effort of promoting confidence,
stability, security and cooperation in the region. The idea of the
Platform of Stability and Security in the Caucasus offered for this
purpose would be welcomed," Nalbandyan said.

"Armenia has continuously advocated the establishment of friendly
relations with all the countries of the region and lasting solidarity
in the Caucasus," Foreign Minister added.

Eduard Nalbandyan and Unal Cevikoz discussed not only mutual
relationships’ problems but several issues concerning international
and regional relations as well.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SARGSYAN-GUL: THE EXCEPTIONAL MEETING OF THE BEGINNING OF 21ST CENTURY

Panorama.am
15:29 03/09/2008

The director of Museum Institute of Armenian Genocide Hayk Demoyan
calls Abdula Gul’s visit to Armenia a significant breakthrough in
Armenia-Turkey relations.

"This would be an exceptional meeting not only in political view but
in "breaking the ice of cold relations" as well. Turkish President
is making a visit to a country with which they had no diplomatic
relations for long 16 years," H. Demoyan says.

According to Demoyan, the problem concerns not only Armenia-Turkey
relations but the whole region as well: these relations progress
may include Azerbaijan and world leaders too. Hence Armenia-Turkey
relations will give rise to new developments in the region.

Questioned whether Sargsyan’s decision to invite Gul to visit Yerevan
for watching Armenia-Turkey football match was right, Demoyan said
the President’s initiative was correct, because after this invitation
Turkey had experienced a real diplomatic stun.

"We’ll be witnesses of new developments of our relations. Of course,
nothing can be done in a hurry, don’t expect too much from this
meeting. However, there will be new formats for further talks and
the establishment of Armenia-Turkey relations," Demoyan said.

ARMENIA ALMOST IN THE LAST PLACE OF THE LIST OF US ARMS IMPORTERS

Panorama.am
16:05 03/09/2008

The State Department of the USA has recently published the report
of US military export for the last year. According to the document,
total sum of the export was 24.5 milliard dollars.

It turns out that all former Soviet states bought arms from the USA
except for Belarus and Moldova. Armenia’s import of US arms cost
487.200 dollars: this index surpasses only those of Turkmenistan
(0.1 million $) and Uzbekistan (0.079 mill.$).

According to the report last year Russia bought the US arms,
electronics, missiles, aviation technologies, explosives and other
military equipment for total sum of 40.7 million dollars.

Georgia’s military import from the USA cost 25 million dollars,
Kyrgyzstan’s 20, Tajikistan’s 7. Latvia bought the US arms for 4.4
millions, Ukraine 3.4, Lithuania 2.6, Azerbaijan 2.5, Estonia 2 and
Kazakhstan 0.8616.

MP: "CAUCASIAN ALLIANCE" IMPORTANT TO ARMENIA

ARKA
Sep 3, 2008

YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. Development of a regional cooperation
platform is very important to Armenia, member of Armenian Parliament
from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Chairman of Parliament
Commission on Financial Issues Gagik Minasyan said.

The alliance is first of all an economic initiative enabling
direct settlement of the regional political issues, he told a press
conference.

On August 11, Turkish Premier Erdogan proposed creating a Caucasian
Alliance to stabilize the regional situation and involve the countries
of the region, as well as Russia, the USA and Turkey. Turkish Foreign
Minister Ali Babajan is expected to negotiate with his Russian
counterpart Sergey Lavrov on format of dialogue with Armenia.

According to Minasyan, Azerbaijan may oppose formation of the platform
as it is trying to hold Turkey "captive" in Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict.

According to the MP, substantial changes cannot be achieved in the
region without economic development. Minasyan also pointed out that
implementation of the initiative will unblock Armenia and will help
prevent possible humanitarian catastrophes in the region.

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS IN SOCHI

ARKA
Sep 3, 2008

YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. Armenian and Russian presidents Serzh
Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev discussed the Karabakh peace process in
Sochi, the Press Service of Armenian President reported.

Russian President confirmed that the conflict should be solved through
peaceful negotiations and supported the peace process within the OSCE
Minsk Group format, the press service reported.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when Nagorno-Karabakh
with prevailingly Armenian population declared its withdrawal from
Azerbaijan.

On December 10 1991, a referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh in the
presence of international observers where 99.89% of the population
voted for full independence from Azerbaijan.

In response, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale war against
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Active operations were ceased on May 12 1994 by signing a cease-fire
agreement that has been maintained since then.

Since 1992 negotiations have been held on peaceful settlement of the
conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by
the USA, Russia and France.

ARMENIAN PREMIER: KARABAKH PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED ONLY THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS

ARKA
Sep 3, 2008

STEPANAKERT, September 3. /ARKA/. Fair settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict can be achieved through negotiations, Armenian Premier
Tigran Sargsyan said during the celebration of the 17th anniversary
of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

It is not that important when NKR’s independence will be recognized,
he said adding that if people live on their own land independently
and proudly, everybody will accept it sooner or later.

According to the Premier, not only Karabakhi population, but every
Armenian in the world can be proud of the achievements made by the NKR.

Armenian foreign policy should remain flexible, Sargsyan said. We live
in rapidly changing world and follow the course of events happening
not only in the region, but also in the world on the whole, and,
certainly, we are obliged to show flexibility," Sargsyan said.

THE 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLIC’S PROCLAMATION CELEBRATED IN THE NKR

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
2008-09-03 13:07

On September 2, on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of proclamation
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic festive events were held in the
regions and the capital of the NKR.

The republic’s leadership, headed by president Bako Sahakian, and
governmental delegation from Armenia, led by prime minister Tigran
Sargssian, visited the Memorial complex where wreath-laying ceremony
took place.

On the occasion of the holiday NKR president gave a ceremonial
reception.

The head of the state signed decrees on awarding titles of honors to
a number of prominent figures in different spheres. In his address
to people Bako Sahakian noted: "17 years ago the people of Artsakh
took the road of realization of their ancient dream on building free,
independent, democratic and social state. We have managed to overcome
this thorny path due to firm will, unity and solidarity. Artsakh has
become a symbol of revival of unconquerable spirit of the Armenian
nation."

At that, the president emphasized that "the NKR authorities adhere
to the principles of peaceful settlement of the existing conflicts".

"The existing differences are to be resolved via a direct dialogue.

Everyone must realize once and for all that independence of Artsakh has
no alternat ive and is not to be speculated", – Bako Sahakian noted.

"The success of Nagorno Karabakh is a subject-matter of pride not only
for the NKR population but for every Armenian as well. The Artsakhian
has proved that he stands firmly in his native land and struggles for
the right to live there freely", – prime minister of the Republic of
Armenia Tigran Sargssian said.

The head of the RA government expressed confidence that the Nagorno
Karabakh problem will be fairly resolved via peace negotiations.

Concert and sport events, as well as street festivities took place
in Stepanakert and the NKR regions. The festivities ended with the
firework in the central Square of Revival.

KNOWLEDGE MUST MOTIVATE THE NATION TO STAND FOR THEIR COUNTRY

p;p=0&id=647&y=2008&m=09&d=03
01.0 9.08

On September 1, 2008 a Press Conference took place in the RA Public
TV and Radio Company Press hall. The undertakers are the RA defense
Minister Seyran Ohanyan, "Serund" group and historian Artak Movsisyan.

Seyran Ohanyan greeted the journalists then he briefly presented the
purpose of the meeting. He said: "I congratulate all of us on the day
of education. I must note that knowledge is one of the significant
things; it is a mean to make the nation to save their country.

With the command and cooperation of RA Defense Ministry, "Serund"
group and historian Artak Movsisyan we prepared a book titled "World
domination of the Armenian history", "Tigran Mets. Patriot ruler"
and "Nemrut The great holly place of King Sun" films which will be
dedicated to the all RA, NKR and Dzhavakhq schools. This will help
to raise the level of patriotism in the future generations.

At the end of the Press Conference RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan
added that it was important not only present the history right but
to keep that we already have and to pass it to generations. Answered
the journalists’ questions referring to the school-army cooperation
RA Defense Minister stressed that there is still much to do about
this question .