Month: October 2008

KARABAKH SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS PARTY TO CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2008 17:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Format of the negotiation process is an important
constituent of resolution of any conflict, since it reflects
the balance of forces in the given region, said a Karabakhs-based
political scientist.

"The OSCE Minsk Group has evolved during the years of its
existence. However, some permanent MG member states do not have tools
of influence in the region. Meanwhile, a country like Iran is not
represented. The main gap in the Minsk format is that participation
of Nagorno Karabakh has been frozen for over 10 years already," David
Babayan wrote in "Perspectives of the Nagorno Karabakh process in
the light of recent geopolitical transformations" article obtained
by PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Nevertheless, the MG format has not been exhausted yet. Peace in
the conflict zone is maintained by the Minsk Group," he wrote.

Global developments will affect the Karabakh process and its format,
according to Babayan.

"There will be new initiatives, like the Iranian one. However,
Karabakh should be recognized as a party to conflict," he wrote.

TURKEY’S CAUCASUS PLATFORM TO CAUSE A CRACK IN TRADITIONAL BAKU-ANKARA RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2008 17:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Caucasus Stability and Cooperation
Platform will cause a crack in traditional Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations. Actually, any Turkey’s step toward Armenia is a step
against Azerbaijan, Richard Giragosian, a contributing analyst at
Jane’s Information Group, said during a round table discussion today.

"During my recent visit to Turkey I concluded that that Turkish
officials view opening of the border with Armenia as a possibility
to stabile the economy in eastern regions," he said.

"Besides, they think that opening of the border will alleviate tensions
over the Armenian Genocide recognition. This initiative will allow
Ankara to deeply engage in resolution of regional problems," the
expert said.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: TRILATERAL MINISTERIAL MEETING IS A POSITIVE STEP

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2008 18:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Trilateral meeting involving the Foreign Ministers
of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia is certainly a positive step,
said Sean McCormack, spokesman for the U.S. Department of State.

"This meeting will help in looking for solutions to some issues that
have caused quite a bit of difficulties in the Caucasus and bringing
wider stability to that region," he said, the spokesman’s office
told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Edward Nalbandian, Ali Babacan and Elmar Mammadyarov met in New York
Sept. 26 to discuss regional developments and the Caucasus Stability
and Cooperation Pact.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN TO TAKE PART IN "CONTACT STOCK: SOCHI 2008" CONFERENCE IN SOCHI

ARMENPRESS
Oct 3, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian businessmen will take part
in the "Contact Stock: Sochi 2008" conference which will take place
in Sochi October 20.

Head of "Support to Business Women" center Lilia Gevorgian told
Armenpress that nearly 50 businessmen including 20 women will leave
for Sochi to participate in the conference.

Within the framework of the event exhibitions are expected to be
organized in Sochi in which companies exporting building materials
will present their services.

Besides the exhibition meetings will be organized for the
representatives of different companies during which issues of future
cooperation will be discussed.

"This forum creates big opportunities for each businessman. During
different meetings and discussions they establish new ties, get
acquainted with new programs, services. In connection with Winter
Olympic Games a big market has been formed in Sochi. Companies
representing Armenia will try to get an opportunity to present their
services and products during the pre-Olympic period, as well as
sell different products during the games, for instance souvenirs,"
L. Gevorgian said.

The forum will last for three days during which Yerevan "Support to
Business Women" center will meet with Moscow "Association of Business
Women" to discuss issues of future cooperation.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES KAREKIN II AND ARCHBISHOP CLASS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 3, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received today Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, archbishop
class of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that the president greeted
the guests saying that he was happy to receive them few days later
after chrism blessing ceremony. According to the president, this
ceremony most rightly symbolizes the idea of unity and collectiveness
of our people.

The president said that not having statehood for thousands of
years, the church always supported our people and guided until 21st
century. "We as a state must return the debt to the church so that
it will become stronger and lead our people," Serzh Sargsyan said,
adding that the state is always ready to support the church.

Catholicos on his part welcomed the permanent attention of the state
to the issues of the church. Noting that the church supports all
the programs of the head of the country which are aimed at ensuring
progress and development, Karekin II said that they are already
notable.

The president also answered to the questions of the present and gave
some explanations over the recent events.

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA GREET ANY STEP TOWARDS SECURITY AND STABILITY IN CAUCASIAN REGION

ARMENPRESS
Oct 3, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenia and Russia greet any step
towards ensuring security and stability in the Caucasian region,
Armenian and Russian foreign ministers Edward Nalbandian and
Sergey Lavrov stated about it during the extended meeting of the
delegations and at the joint press conference followed the face to
face conversation.

According to Armenian foreign minister, the basis of Caucasian platform
is the establishment of atmosphere of security, stability, trust and
cooperation and neither of the countries may be against this idea,
including Armenia. Though the issues of its functions, mechanisms,
format of the participants are to be discussed.

Sergey Lavrov said Russia is also for the steps which are aimed at
providing peaceful, stable and convenient situation for the cooperation
in the humanitarian, economic and security spheres.

Turkey’s initiative brought the countries of the region to dialogue on
how these issues can be solved with combined efforts. Russian Foreign
Minister noted that bilateral meetings took place between Caucasian
countries which will continue in future in more extended formats.

Referring to the trilateral meeting between foreign ministers of
Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan in New York September 26, Armenian
Foreign Minister E. Nalbandian noted that the fact that it took place
is already positive, but it was difficult to expect certain results
from the first meeting. He said during the meeting they discussed
the issue on Caucasian platform and expressed readiness to continue
the meetings in this and other formats.

KARABAKH HAS RESOURCES TO BECOME A SELF-CONTAINED STATE
By Kim Gabrielian

AZG Armenian Daily
03/10/2008

Nagorno Karabakh

On Monday, NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutiunian held a press conference
to present the government’s works carried out in one year

According to him, personnel and structural changes are considered
normal, as the substantial changes are acceptable because the
government is a dynamic organism.

Appraising the executive body’s one-year activity, The Prime Minister
attached importance to the long-term programs that are finally
worked out and are in the stage of application. They refer mainly the
agricultural sphere and systems of energy and irrigation. Being an
agrarian country and having necessary resources Karabakh can become
self-contained in the sense of agricultural products. In this way,
during the Soviet period the autonomous region of Nagorno Karabakh
was feeding the whole Azerbaijan. And now the government of NKR does
everything to grow this branch of economy to the level of 1988.

About half of the republic’s population lives in the provinces and the
development of agriculture will also solve the problem of unemployment,
underlined the Prime Minister.

According to the irrigation system development program, it is
anticipated to make irrigable more than 15.000 ha area in 2-3 years.

What about power system independence that becomes urgent in conditions
of growing prices of the power-generating substances, according to
Ara Haroutiunian, in 2012 the new hydroelectric power stations will
be able to produce 300 mln kw/h electricity that will totally satisfy
NKR demand for it.

Moreover, NKR will be able even to sell electricity to neighboring
countries.

Positive results are noticeable in the sphere of education. Being
integrated into the educational system of Armenia, serious amendments
are being carried out in this sphere, mainly in the sense of
three-degree education system.

In the sense of both reforms and management, the situation was not
satisfactory in the sphere of health care, mentioned Ara Haroutiunian
adding that serious steps are being taken to improve the situation.

Commenting on RA President’s statement on proposal to Azerbaijan to
make investments in NKR, Ara Haroutiunian considered it as a joke
mentioning that the neighboring countries cannot make investments in
NKR until the conflict is settled.

Independent of the ways and mechanisms of the conflict solution, we
are obliged to solve all the social-economic issues in the country,
to have reliable, efficient army and self-contained economy, said
NKR Prime Minister.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANC ACTIVISTS AND CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

AZG Armenian Daily
03/10/2008

Armenian-American community

ANC activists Gegham Manukyan, Robert Khachikyan, Armen Donigian and
Razmik Khachikyan recently met with Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) at
the Raytheon office in Pasadena, CA to thank him for his continuous
support of the Armenian American Community, specifically regarding
House Resolution 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution introduced
to Congress in 2007."We realize the importance of communicating
our concerns on behalf of our community to our Congressional
leadership, and we are appreciative of the response," stated Razmik
Khachikyan. "The efforts for recognition of the Armenian Genocide
continue in order to preserve historical integrity and protect human
rights issues worldwide," added Gegham Manukyan.Robert Khachikyan
spoke with the Congressman regarding the status of H. Res. 106. The
adoption of the resolution by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on
October 10, 2007 sparked a firestorm of media coverage over the Turkish
government’s threats to retaliate against America if the measure
were approved by the full House of Representatives. Congressman
Schiff reiterated his support for the Armenian American community
and reassured that he will once again support the Armenian Genocide
Resolution when it is introduced in Congress.Armen Donigian thanked
the Congressman for his support and participation during the Days
of Advocacy earlier this year when hundreds of members from the
Genocide Intervention Network and ANC chapters across the nation met
in Washington, DC to advocate human rights issues pertaining to Darfur
and the Armenian Genocide.

DON’T THEY TRUST CO-RAPPORTEURS?
Karine Asatryan

A1+
[01:55 pm] 03 October, 2008

Head of the Albanian delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE), Aleksander Biberaj, has proposed that "the Monitoring
Commission Co-Rapporteurs be regularly changed," Armenian delegate
to the PACE Raffi Hovannisian informed A1+.

Raffi Hovannisian also expressed support for the draft proposal. He
says the project is already a must as many of the delegates have
voiced concern that the structure applies double standards.

During the current PACE session Raffi Hovannisian also suggested
controlling and averting the possible clash of Co-Rapporteurs’
interests, especially in the Monitoring Commission.

The Armenian delegate states that before each monitoring the
Co-Rapporteurs should assert that they "pursue neither financial nor
personal or national interests."

SERZH SARKISSIAN: "MURON IS A MIGHTY WEAPON"

A1+
[02:06 pm] 03 October, 2008

On October 3 Serzh Sakissian hosted the Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II, members of the Episcopate of the Armenian Apostolic Church
and secular members of the Supreme Religious Council.

Addressing senior clergymen, Serzh Sarkissian said: "I’m glad to
welcome you at the President’s Office just a few days after the
blessing of the Holy Muron." According to the President, Muron is a
mighty weapon and the ceremony most correctly symbolised the idea
of unity and collectiveness, the defending role of the church for
people. According to the Armenian President, having been deprived of
statehood for a thousand years, the church has always supported our
people and has guided us to the 21st century. "As a state, we have a
duty to return to the church for it to strengthen and lead our people
forward," said Serzh Sarkissian and noted that the state is always
ready to support the church.

The Catholicos welcomed the constant attention of the state towards
the church. He assessed as encouraging and inspiring the attitude
the Armenian Church and the Dioceses get during every visit of the
President. His Holiness Karekin II noted that the church backs all
the programmes of the President, which are targeted at the progress
and development of the country.

The interlocutors attached importance to the establishment of the
Ministry of Diaspora, which will provide an opportunity to address
the Diaspora issues more seriously.

President Sarkissian gave clarifications regarding the recent events,
particularly the Georgian-Ossetian and Armenian-Turkish relations.