Month: October 2008

RUSSIAN FM: PERSISTENCE IN SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT IS KEY OF STABILITY AND COOPERATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

ArmInfo
2008-10-03 14:35:00

ArmInfo. Persistent movement towards settlement of Karabakh conflict is
the key of success in all these efforts including Turkey’s initiative
of Stability and Cooperation Platform in the Caucasus, Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference in Yerevan Friday.

He said there are many results in the process. The parties agreed on
a series of very principal provisions that were registered in the
document the OSCE MG Co-chairs deposited to OSCE. ‘There are also
uncoordinated issues, indeed. But there are a number of alternatives
that allow settling these issues. I hope the contacts planed for
future within the frames of Karabakh conflict settlement will help
to progress’. S. Lavrov said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIGRAN TOROSYAN DID HIS BEST TO BUILD THE STATE AND REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA, AN RPA MEMBER SAYS

ArmInfo
2008-10-03 18:03:00

ArmInfo. Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan
managed to get accustomed to the post of the parliament’s speaker
during the latest four-day session, this inspires joy and confidence,
Vazgen Karakhanyan, a representative of the faction of the Republican
Party of Armenia, told ArmInfo correspondent.

Karakhanyan said that it is difficult to talk about the results of
the activity of Abrahamyan as Speaker: "A man is assessed by his
work, so it remains to be seen", the MP said. Touching upon Tigran
Torosyan’s recent resignation as Speaker, Karakhanyan stressed that
Tigran Torosyan did his best to build the state and the Republican
Party of Armenia and added that he maintains friendly relations with
Torosyan. "It’s a pity that Torosyan left the ranks of the party. I
had been persuading him for a long time not to do this as a political
party is not a structure of personalities but a unity of ideological
thoughts", Karakhanyan stressed. "I don’t think that all members of
the RPA carry the party’s high ideology. But if there are come-and-go
people in the RPA they may have reflection on our party", he said.

ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT: BY STARTING WAR AGAINST SOUTH OSSETIA MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI COMMITTED STRATEGIC SUICIDE

ArmInfo
2008-10-03 17:17:00

ArmInfo. By starting war against South Ossetia Georgian President
Mikhail Saakashvili committed strategic suicide, says political expert
Richard Kirakossyan.

His actions have resulted in the strengthening of Russia’s role in
the region and Turkey’s Caucasian Platform initiative.

The Aug events have drastically changed the situation in the region.

Caucasian Platform implies that Turkey has revised its foreign
political priorities and is seeking to overcome its dependence on the
transit of energy resuorces via Georgia by diversifying electricity
supply routes.

Besides, Turkey no longer wants to depend on the United States and
is defending exclusively its own interests rather than Turkish-US or
Turkish-EU interests as it did before.

‘GREAT CONSTRUCTIVISM’ APPEARS IN AZERBAIJAN REGARDING ARMENIA AND NAGORNYY KARABAKH, ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT THINKS

ArmInfo
2008-10-03 16:50:00

Arminfo. The ‘great constructivism’ has appeared in Azerbaijan
regarding Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh, Armenian political expert,
director of "Kavkaz" institute Aleksandr Iskandaryan told journalist
today.

‘Azerbaijani mass media and the analytical community and the
authorities of the country, which is the most important, have radically
changed their attitude towards the Karabakh problem. I think such
changing in Azerbaijani mentality is explained by the changing taken
place in the region over the last period of time’, – he said.

The political expert means the five-day war in Georgia, changing of
Russia’s role in th region after that war as well as changing of the
role of Turkey in the context of suggestion to create Stability and
Security Caucasus Platform. ‘Moreover, principally new cooperation
is staring between Russia and Turkey, and against the Ankara-Moscow
background Baku is feeling itself not so much confident. It is no
secret that military doctrine project of Azerbaijan was based on
military cooperation with Turkey. I am aware that at present they are
radically revising the doctrine, in particular the points connected
with Turkey are being removed from the doctrine’, – Iskandaryan
concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPPOSITIONIST ADMITS POSSIBLE APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA BY PACE

ArmInfo
2008-10-03 15:56:00

ArmInfo. "The recent statement of the PACE Monitoring Committee
distinctly fixes serious problems with implementation of Resolutions
N1609 and N1620, and I estimate this positively", Souren Sourenyants,
a member of the Political Council of the oppositional "Republic"
party, a representative of the Armenian National Congress, said to
journalists at Tesaket club, Friday.

According to him, oppositionists and politicians in general are freer
in the choice of formulations when publishing relevant assessments
while international organizations speak a diplomatic language. "After
the recent sitting of the PACE Monitoring Committee, the Armenian
authorities should realize that nobody ids going to play games with
them, and very little time remains to implement the assumed obligations
and requirements", Sourenyants said.

He also stressed that the Armenian oppposition is forming its political
agenda without looking at international organizations. "PACE itself
should be interested in maintenance of its image. It is not for
us to worry about it. The Armenian opposition doesn’t ignore the
international factors’ certain influence on the situation in the
country, but our actions focus on their relevant reception by the
republic’s public", Sourenyants said in conclusion.

RETURN OF CONQUERED LANDS IS NONSENSE IN WORLD POLICY: DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER

ArmInfo
2008-10-03 14:59:00

ArmInfo. ‘Return of the conquered lands is a nonsense in the world
policy.

I do not remember a case in the history for the conquered lands to
be ever returned, especially as the war was launched by Azerbaijan
which has just got this result’, leader of the Democratic party of
Armenia Aram Sarkisyan said to today’s press-conference.

He also said that Armenia had to precisely formulate its position on
Nagorno Karabakh far ago. ‘If Azerbaijan wants to solve this problem,
let it formulate its position which would serve Armenia’s turn. The
parties have to clearly formulate their positions and negotiate under
participation of the Karabakh war’, A. Sarkisyan emphasized. Touching
on the Armenian-Russian relations, A. Sarkisyan said they are at a
very high level, ‘however one should not think that we shall be able
to solve any problems if we keep good relations with Russia. So, it is
necessary to carry out a balanced policy and Armenia tries to do that’.

As for RF FM Sergey Lavrov’s visit, A. Sarkisyan thinks that it is
rather connected with his intentions to hold consultations with the
Armenian party, after Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Georgia. ‘It is also
quite possible that Russia will try to preserve any relations with
Georgia under mediation of the third country, taking into account
the fact that it has currently no diplomatic relations with Georgia,
A. Sarkisyan resumed.

SERZH SARGSYAN’S YESTERDAY’S MESSAGE WAS OF AN IMITATION NATURE, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARMENIAN OPPOSITION SAYS

ArmInfo
2008-10-03 14:59:00

ArmInfo. ‘Serzh Sargsyan’s yesterday’s message to the parliament and
people was of an imitation nature>,- member of the opposition Republic
party Political Board, representative of the Armenian National Congress
Suren Surenyants told journalists today.

He also added he got an impression from Sargsyan’s speech that there
is no domestic political crisis in Armenia, no political prisoners
and 1 March tragic events in Yerevan. ‘If one goes to the street and
holds public opinion poll regarding the expectations of the people
from the message of the head of state, he would immediately hear the
reply about the necessity of declaring amnesty, as a result of which
all the political prisoners should be discharged’, – Surenyants said.

ARMENIA EXHIBITS QAJAR ARTWORKS

press tv
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:01:58 GMT

The National Gallery of Armenia is displaying Qajar artworks from
Iran in a two-week exhibition held in the capital city of Yerevan.

The event exhibits painting, calligraphies, carpets, outfits and
dishes dating back to the Qajar era (1781-1925).

Held in collaboration with the Iranian cultural office in Armenia, the
exhibition aims to introduce Iran’s rich arts and culture to Armenians.

Qajar art is best known for its distinctive style of portraiture,
which features the dynasty’s kings and members of the royal family.

Iran’s Contemporary Arts Museum and the National Gallery of Armenia
have cooperated on numerous cultural projects in the two countries.

LAVROV: RUSSIA WELCOMES TURKEY’S CAUCASUS PLATFORM

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2008 13:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia welcomes Turkey’s initiative on formation of
a Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform as well as all other
moves meant for regional stability and security, Russia’s Foreign
Minister said.

"Advancing the idea, Turkey did not have exact plans but just offered
the countries in the region to make common cause," Sergei Lavrov said
during a joint news conference with his Armenian counterpart Edward
Nalbadnian in Yerevan.

For his part, the Armenian Minister said official Yerevan welcomes
efforts for ensuring regional security. "Consultations are in
the initial stage and Armenia is ready to continue them," Edward
Nalbandian said.

RA PRESIDENT: KARABAKH WAR NOT FINISHED YET

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2008 13:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recent events in South Ossetia had sobering
effect, the Armenian President said.

"We should not only give a pragmatic assessment of these events but
also secure stability in the country and seek for new approaches and
solutions," Serzh Sarsgyan said in his address to the nation.

"As to the Karabakh war, it will not be over as long as the armament
drive is going on. It will be over when we congratulate the Presidents
of Karabakh and Azerbaijan on peaceful resolution of the conflict,"
the Armenian President said.