Month: October 2008

AMERICA IN HURRY OVER IRAN ISSUE
by Cavid Turan

Yeni Musavat
October 6, 2008 Monday
Azerbaijan

The USA has visibly increased its efforts to resolve the Karabakh
conflict following Russian aggression against Georgia. After the visit
to Yerevan and Baku by the US co-chairman of the [OSCE] Minsk Group,
Matthew Bryza, on instructions from Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice last month, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte made
a statement saying that Washington has boosted its efforts in the
Karabakh settlement.

Statements made by American officials from time to time about the
White House being interested in the speedy settlement of the Karabakh
conflict cause questions. One may wonder why the USA is interested
in the Karabakh issue while just a few months ago it voted against
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity at a UN vote.

Conflict expert Arif Yunus has said that in general, the USA has been
in a hurry to resolve the Karabakh issue as soon as possible since
2005 and that there are serious reasons for that.

"The USA is still in a hurry to resolve the Karabakh issue," Yunus
said. "America is mainly interested in Iran here. If you remember,
Turkey did not allow America to use its territory against Iraq. There
is no guarantee that the same situation will not arise in connection
with Iran. In this context, there are several obstacles to the USA
using Azerbaijani territory. The Karabakh issue and the Baku-Ceyhan oil
pipeline are the major obstacles. On the other hand, the Armenians may
start war any minute prompted by Russia. In view of this, America does
not care about whether Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan or Armenia. It
just wants the two countries to resolve the problem and stability
to be established in the region. After this, the USA can launch a
wide-scale action against Russia."

Yunus said that Russia, however, had a different position. "For Russia
as well, it does not matter who Karabakh belongs to. Moscow is trying
to use Karabakh as a baton to beat Armenia and Azerbaijan on their
head. Different opinions have been voiced in Russia regarding Karabakh
recently. In this way Russia wants to hamper Azerbaijan’s integration
into the West."

The expert does not believe that America’s increased efforts to
settle Karabakh will yield results. "These efforts do not mean that
America will achieve something. Russia will not let it achieve any
results in this issue. I witnessed this during my visit to Russia last
week. Representatives of the governing elite openly told me that we
are not the same Russia, we have power and we will demonstrate this
power. Therefore, I am pessimistic about Karabakh."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY NEEDS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND CHANGE OF MENTALITY FOR JOINING EU

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2008 15:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
backed Turkey’s EU bid on Tuesday (14 October), speaking at the opening
of the Frankfurt book fair together with Turkish Nobel literature
laureate Orhan Pamuk and Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

"Turkey may still have a little way to go here, but we should support
Turkey on this way," the German minister said, German media reports,
with Mr Steinmeier stressing that Turkey’s "integration with the EU"
is important for the integration of the Turkish community in Germany.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier – has a different view on Turkey than
chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he will run against in next year’s
elections.

Some 2.3 million German residents have Turkish origins.

The minister underlined that a critical criterion for joining the
EU is freedom of expression, however, adding that Turkey needs a
"change of mentality" in this area on top of passing new laws.

Mr Steinmeier’s position seems to be at odds with that of German
chancellor Angela Merkel, with the socialist foreign minister set to
run against the conservative leader in next year’s general elections.

Mrs Merkel and the CDU party has consistently advocated a "privileged
partnership" with Turkey instead of full EU membership.

The Turkish president and writer – as well as dozens of other Turkish
authors – were invited to the Frankfurt fair as guests of honor,
EUobserver.com.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER OHRAN PAMUK ATTACKS TURKISH GOVERNMENT

A1+
[12:28 pm] 15 October, 2008

Turkish writer Ohran Pamuk, Nobel Prize holder in Literature, accused
Turkey on Tuesday of restricting freedom of expression, and of the
inaugural ceremony of the Frankfurt’s Fair of the Book assisted by
Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul.

"Turkey’s Government unfortunately continues to punish writers and
prohibit books," he said, adding that "the censure has always been
in force in the country on the basis of article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code, with which one tries to intimidate writers like me, of the
hundreds of authors and journalists trailed in justice and condemned,"
noted the Nobel Prize Holder 2006.

"Some were even killed. Me, I am alive here and I am ready to make
the opening speech," he said to journalists.

"The access to Youtube and other Turkish websites are forbidden in
Turkey for political reasons," he still denounced, ensuring however
that "the authors and editors did not yield to intimidations."

To remind, the author of the "Snow" had been worried by Turkish
justice and stance in 2005 to denounce the Armenian Genocide.

However, at the end of the inaugural speech, President Gul
diplomatically applauded the writer.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ACTIVIST BLAMES PRESIDENT FOR COMPROMISES OVER KARABAKH

Aravot
Oct 3 2008
Armenia

Karabakh war veteran Zhirayr Seyfilyan has blamed Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan for plans to yield Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

The coordinator of the For Protection of Liberated Territories civil
initiative, Zhirayr Seyfilyan, believes Sargsyan tries to stay in
power by handing Karabakh over to Azerbaijan, the paper reported.

He believes that "secret" Armenian-Turkish talks were held in Europe
before Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in Yerevan, adding
that the Armenian government agreed to withdraw its troops from the
Azerbaijani territories it currently controls, according to the piece.

Seyfilyan believes that otherwise, Gul would not agree to visit
Armenia. As for Sargsyan’s statement that Azerbaijan may invest in
Nagornyy Karabakh, Seyfilyan describes it laughable. He said that
"there can be no word about concessions" in Karabakh conflict,
adding that the Armenian people should not forget about Turkey’s
pan-Turkish plans.

He believes that although Sargsyan tries to stay in power at the
cost of Karabakh, the international community will soon understand
that holding talks with the Armenian government is senseless since
it does not represent the Armenian people. Seyfilyan believes that
compromises discussed at the cost of liberating territories will
inevitably damage security of Karabakh and Armenia, the paper said.

TEAM IS READY

A1+
[01:27 pm] 15 October, 2008

Press Spokesman of the Armenian Football Federation (FFA) Georgy
Matevossian says all footballers of the Armenian team (with the
exception of Karen Alexanian) are ready for the Bosnia-Armenia match
within the framework of the World Cup 2010 Qualifiers. The Armenian
footballers are staying in "Zenica Hotel". They arrived in Bosnia on
October 13. The Bosnia-Armenia match will be held in "Bilino Polje"
stadium where the Armenians have already held two trainings.

Karen Alexanian is disqualified from the match after getting two
yellow cards at the last two matches.

To remind, the match is due at 11:15p.m. (Yerevan time).

GEORGIAN POLITICIAN SLAMS GOVERNMENT OVER FORGING CLOSE TIES WITH ARMENIA

AssA-Irada
October 6, 2008 Monday
Azerbaijan

The leader of Georgian laborists, Shalva Natelashvili, has pounded
a wave of criticism on the countrys government over forging close
relations with Armenia. At a news conference in Tbilisi, the opposition
leader came out against the project on building a road between the
two countries stretching from the Armenian capital, Yerevan, to the
Georgian port of Batumi through the countrys Ajaria region.

He compared the road with the Rox tunnel in Georgias rebel region of
South Ossetia. Building such a road could pave the way for another
outbreak of separatism, Natelashvili said. Further, he said that
at a time the country was fighting a war with Russia, Georgian
media repeatedly cited facts proving that Russian warplanes bombing
targets in Georgia were taking off from Armenian territory. However,
Tbilisi has never responded to these allegations. Natelashvili said
the position taken by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian during the
August developments should be condemned. At a time dead Georgian
soldiers were lined up along the road near Tskhinvali [the capital
of South Ossetia], Serzh Sarkisian was raising toasts with Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev, Natelashvili said. It is indicative that
following a brief war between Russia and Georgia, Sarkisian visited
Tbilisi and was awarded by the Order of Honor by President Mikheil
Saakashvili. Georgia launched large-scale military operations on
August 8 in South Ossetia to restore its territorial integrity. Moscow
responded by sending troops to the pro- Russian region which struck
at the Georgian armed forces using overwhelming force. Georgian
forces initially gained control over Tskhinvali, but had to retreat
a day later after a Russian attack. A ceasefire was, subsequently,
reached on August 17 to end a brief war, with the mediation of French
President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" WILL NOT BE FORCED OFF

A1+
[02:08 pm] 15 October, 2008

What is to become of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily if the latter is forced
to vacate the premises at 37 Israyelyan? In reply to A1+’s concern,
Head of the "Dareskizb" Ltd Anna Hakobian said: "We shall not be
appear in the street as soon as the final decision is rendered. Gagik
Beglarian /head of Kentron’s municipal council/ will not achieve his
aim no matter how hard he tries to evict the premises."

Note, on October 17 the RoA Administrative Court will make a decision
on upholding or dismissing the claim of "Dareskizb" against Kentron’s
municipal council according to which the staff of "Haykakan Zhamanak"
is to vacate the premises. The disputed belongs to the municipal
council and will henceforth serve to promote children’s aesthetic
upbringing.

Anna Hakobian doesn’t have great expectations from the Administrative
Court. "We shall attend the court sitting to learn their decision
and then we shall act on our own," she said. Then she reminded that
the municipal council had bought its decision still on March 28. "The
decision followed the state of emergency in the country and Beglarian
believed it would be a crushing blow to our newspaper."

The organisation is going to appeal to the European Court of Human
Rights in case Armenian courts do not uphold their claim.

"They will have to recoup for all losses and inconveniences inflicted
on us," added Anna Hakobian.

BAKE PLAYS DOWN RUSSIAN FM’S STATEMENT ON GARABAGH

AssA-Irada
October 6, 2008 Monday
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Armenia have not yet succeeded in agreeing issues of
principle regarding a settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict, a senior Azerbaijani official said while commenting on
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovs recent statement. Novruz
Mammadov, the head of the Presidents Office international relations
department, said differences of opinion remain between Baku and Yerevan
on key issues of the peace process. The statement comes after Lavrov
said a number of issues of principle regarding the Garabagh conflict
settlement have been agreed. He emphasized that no agreement has been
reached on such key issues as the status of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh,
an Azeri region under Armenian occupation, and Lachin corridor, and
the stationing of peacekeepers in the conflict zone. Mammadov deemed
disclosing the agreed issues as unnecessary, saying this could damage
the negotiating process. The Lachin corridor is a road connecting the
occupied Upper Garabagh region with the Armenian territory. Azerbaijan
and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a
cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh
and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international
law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless so far.

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Panorama.am
19:33 14/10/2008

>From time to time "Yerevan Water" CSJC or as people use to say
"water seller" makes different communities in Yerevan to remember of
him. "Yerevan water warns, warns and warns…".

A few days before it was revealed out that the quality of water in
Silikian and Lukashin regions does not correspond to the general
standards. The company warns people not to use water.

Currently Panorama.am has been informed that people of those regions
still are warned to use the water. Panorama.am reporter called
to the company to find out how they are planning to regulate the
situation. Murad Sargsyan, who said that he is a press officer in
the company, assured that the quality of the water has been fixed a
few days before.

To the question that people still have some warnings and they don’t
use water, and they have to buy it, the representative of the company
said that it is in vain. To another question whether the company plans
to compensate people for those inconveniences, Mr. Sargsyan said that
"It would be better to write an official request to our director".

DM SEYRAN OHANYAN LEAVING FOR SAINT PETERSBURG

armradio.am
14.10.2008 11:53

The delegation headed by the Defense Minister of the Republic of
Armenia, Mr. Seyran Ohanyan is leaving for Saint Petersburg today for
a two-day official visit to participate in the recurrent sitting of
the Defense Ministers of CIS member states on October 15.

During the sitting the CIS Defense Ministers will sum up the results
of activity of CIS statutory bodies in 2008 and will sign the 2009
plan of the Council of CIS Defense Ministers.