Month: October 2008

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN MET WITH A DELEGATION LED BY GREG HINKLEY, PRESIDENT OF MENTOR GRAPHICS, A WORLDWIDE LEADER THE SPHERE OF AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC DESIGN

ntre_8/official_news_en.php?&date=1224788400
F riday, 24th of October, 2008

Greg Hinkley briefed the head of the Armenian government on the
past record, the ongoing activities and the Armenian commitment of
his hardware and software producing company, which was founded in
the United States as early as in 1981 and currently has a USD 880
million-worth turnover. Mentor Graphics offers the clients its own
soft products to help them achieve enhanced efficiency through higher
quality, quicker-made and efficacious products.

The Prime Minister made a point of Mentor Graphics’ commitment to
our country by stressing that the Government is interested in the
Company’s successful involvement. Tigran Sargsyan assured of his
government’s sustained support eventually available through quick
responsiveness in case of threats and favorable business conditions
offered to Mentor Graphics as it has been the case with other such
companies operational in Armenia.

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN LEADERS TO MEET IN MOSCOW FOR CONFLICT TALKS

AFP
29 oct 08

MOSCOW (AFP) — The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet
in Moscow this weekend to discuss the Nagorny Karabakh conflict in
talks mediated by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the Kremlin
said Wednesday.

"On November 2, 2008, in Moscow… a meeting will take place between
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisian with the participation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
on the regulation of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict," the Kremlin said
in a statement.

Armenia and Azerbaijan confirmed that the meeting would take place, but
presidential officials in both countries declined to comment further.

Medvedev visited Armenia last week in a fresh push to end the
long-simmering conflict over Nagorny Karabakh, an enclave of Azerbaijan
with a largely ethnic Armenian population that broke free of Baku’s
control in the early 1990s.

Sarkisian said at the meeting that he was ready for talks with Baku
on the basis of principles worked out at negotiations in Madrid last
year, meaning that the people of Nagorny Karabakh gain the right
to self-determination.

The enclave has been the subject of heightened international diplomacy
in recent weeks, with US and Turkish officials visiting Armenia to
push for a negotiated solution.

Analysts say Moscow is keen to maintain influence in Armenia, its
main ally in the Caucasus, after Russia’s brief war with US-allied
Georgia in August raised tensions throughout the region.

The August war, which began when Georgia attacked its own breakaway
enclave of South Ossetia, raised fears of similar violence in Nagorny
Karabakh.

Nearly 30,000 were killed in the 1990s war over the enclave and
soldiers on both sides continue to exchange sporadic fire, claiming
lives.

CRIMINAL CASE INITIATED ON MASS INFECTION IN LORI OF ARMENIA

ARKA
Oct 29, 2008

YEREVAN, October 29. /ARKA/. Criminal proceedings have been instituted
on the fact of mass infection among residents of Lori region, Armenia,
the press service of the country’s Prosecutor General Office reported.

In the period from October 18 to October 28, 341 residents of Lori
region consulted a doctor with signs of gastrointestinal diseases,
says the report.

On October 28, after studying the infection cases over the average,
the regional prosecutor initiated a criminal case.

The charge is the violation of the sanitary and epidemiological
rules, which, due to carelessness, caused mass infection among
people, the press service reported. The criminal case is directed
to the investigation department of the Police of Lori region for
prejudicial inquiry.

Examination is to be made to find out the infection source. The
prejudicial inquiry department is instructed to detect and make
answerable all officials whose actions or failure to act resulted
in mass infection in Vanadzor and Alaverdy cities, the press service
reported.

No fatal cases are recorded as a result of the infection; all the
patients are under medical surveillance. By October 28 about 100
patients in satisfactory health condition had been discharged from
hospital, says the report.

RUSSIAN RAILWAYS NOT READY TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY

ARKA
Oct 29, 2008

YEREVAN, October 29. /ARKA/. Russian Railways can take part in the
construction of Armenia-Iran railway, but is not ready to finance it
either under its investment program or from the means being invested
in Armenian Railway under concession agreement.

"Armenia finds it necessary to build a new railway to create
transportation link with Iran. This construction will be implemented
not at the cost of concession money, Russian Railways’ investments, but
from other sources", Vladimir Yakunin, the president of the monopoly,
told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

He thinks Armenia is unlikely to invest alone.

"I don’t rule out that there can be relevant intergovernmental
agreements. Iran expresses interest in that. That is why I think
there will be financial consortium", Yakunin said.

Armenia has no railway transportation link with neighboring Iran,
Turkey and Azerbaijan. Only the railway connecting Armenia with
Georgia functions, but transit is possible only to Georgian Black Sea
ports. Armenia has no direct transportation link with Russia through
Georgia’s territory.

Armenia considers the construction of the railway as an alternative
way for transporting commodities and partial solution of the problem
of railway blockade.

Russian Railways runs Armenian Railway through South-Caucasian
Railways, Russian Railways’ subsidiary.

In February 2008, South Caucasus Railways has officially started
business operations under a concession agreement to run 750-km
Armenian Railways. The agreement is intended for 30 years with a
right of prolongation for another 20 years after the first 20 years
of operation.

Under the agreement, Russian Railway ought to invest $570 million in
Armenian Railway for 30 years. Of this amount, 230 million must be
invested in the first five years.

ANC AND AYF TEAM UP TO HELP VOTERS GET TO THE POLLS ON NOVEMBER 4TH

armradio.am
29.10.2008 11:25

The Armenian National Committee of the West San Fernando Valley
(ANC-WSFV) and the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Sardarabad
Chapter are working together to urge all registered Armenians to
vote in the upcoming general election. Dozens of young activists in
the San Fernando Valley are working together through the ANC and AYF
to contact thousands of Armenian Americans, by phone, flyers and by
going door to door urging them to head to the polls on November 4th.

"This election cycle presents tremendous opportunities for Armenian
Americans to express themselves through voting," said Nichan Kulukian,
chairman of the ANC-WSFV. "Whether it is on the foreign or domestic
policy front, we cannot allow ourselves to remain on the sidelines
this election."

As part of the "get out the vote" campaign and in order to better
serve the elderly or disabled community, the ANC-WSFV and the AYF
Sardarabad Chapter is providing transportation to polling sites for
residents of the San Fernando Valley on November 4th. Individuals or
those who know of individuals who need a ride to and from the polls
are encouraged to call the ANC office at 818-500-1918 by November 3rd.

"We just want to do our part to help ensure that everyone has the
opportunity to vote in this crucial election," said Sam Bebekian,
chairman of the AYF Sardarabad Chapter. "For many of our members, this
is their first election in which they can vote so they are inspired
to help others also participate in this fundamental civic privilege."

THE ILLUSION SURROUNDING OBAMA’S PRESIDENCY
By Balkan Devlen

Today’s Zaman
Oct 28 2008
Turkey

There is global euphoria about US Sen. Barack Obama nowadays. Many
think he will bring change and a new direction to America’s foreign
policy. Turkey is no exception.

Several people, from journalists to politicians, expressed the
opinion that an Obama presidency will be the start of a new era in
Turkish-American relations. They are wrong, however, and this is
why: The new US president, whether Sen. John McCain or Sen. Obama,
will face the same problems when he moves into the White House come
January 2009. Among these problems, three concern Turkey. The first
is the resurgence of Russia. The Russian Federation is making a
geopolitical comeback, fueled by oil and natural gas revenues. In
the last year or so it reached its zenith, for now, with the war
in Georgia (Balkan Devlen, Today’s Zaman, Oct. 20, 2008). Turkey is
naturally not happy with Russia aggressively playing hardball just
outside its borders. However, Turkey is also not keen on directly
confronting Russia, given its extensive trade relations as well as
dependence on Russian natural gas. For the US, on the other hand,
Turkey is in a position to block Russian ambitions further in the
Caucasus (via its links with Georgia and Azerbaijan) and even create
problems, if necessary, by virtue of being able to control the Turkish
straits. Therefore, the next president of the United States will be
pushing hard to force Turkey to take a clear stand against Russia. A
position Turkey is not willing to be in right now.

The second and third problems concern Iraq and Iran, two interrelated
problems of American foreign policy. The next president has to find a
way to stabilize Iraq while avoiding the creation of a Shiite-dominated
regime under the spell of Iran. At the same time, he has to deal
with the emerging reality that Iran might be on the road to acquire
technology to eventually develop nuclear weapons. The stabilization
of Iraq requires the cooperation of Shiite militias, over which Iran
holds significant influence, and the Iranians are using the nuclear
card to get a better deal in the post-American Iraq. Americans need
the rest of Iraq to be relatively calm to be able to bargain with
the Iranians from a position of strength. Turkey also wants a stable
Iraq as well as a non-nuclear Iran. However, it has its own concerns
regarding Kurdish ambitions in northern Iraq. This is and will be a
point of contention between the US and Turkey, regardless of who the
next American president turns out to be.

As for Iran, Turkey would like to pass the buck to the Americans and
the Israelis. In other words, let them sort out the problem while
Turkey watches safely from the sidelines. Turkey prefers a non-nuclear
Iran as anything to the contrary will seriously upset the regional
balance of power. However, it is also not willing to be drawn into
a military conflict with Iran. The US will push Turkey to put more
pressure on Iran as the Russians and the Chinese are clearly against
any economic sanctions and the Europeans are not very willing, to
say the least. This will put Turkey in a position similar to the one
it finds itself in vis-a-vis Russia, not willing to see a resurgent
regional power right on its borders but also not willing to take a
strong stand.

One cannot help but remember Leon Trotsky’s argument (with regards
to Soviet expansion to the lands of former tsarist Russia after
the 1920s) that "revolution does not change geography." The problems
facing Turkish-American relations will not change with the election of
Sen. Obama. The long-term interests of Turkey and the United States are
aligned. Neither country wants to see a resurgent Russia or a nuclear
Iran. Both want to see a stable and democratic Iraq. However, in the
short to medium term the means of achieving these ends will create
friction between the two allies. In fact, if Sen. Obama is elected on
Nov. 4, this might even have a negative effect on Turkish-American
relations in the short term. He is a closed box with regards to his
attitude toward Turkey. The Armenian and Greek lobbies are supporting
Mr. Obama; his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, is no friend of Turkey, to
say the least. Those hoping the above-mentioned problems will magically
disappear if Mr. Obama is elected will be sorely disappointed. My
hope is that those at the helm of Turkish foreign policy do not have
the same illusions.

ARMENIAN, BULGARIAN MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOLD CONSULTATIONS

armradio.am
30.10.2008 16:52

On October 30 consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs
of Armenia and Bulgaria took place at the Armenian MFA. The Armenian
delegation was headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia,
Arman Kirakosyan.

Greeting the guests, Deputy Foreign Minister Kirakosyan appreciates
the Armenian-Bulgarian friendly relations and emphasized the importance
of their further development and deepening.

During the meeting the parties touched upon a broad range of issues
related to the development of bilateral cooperation.

The interlocutors noted that a rich contractual-legal field exists
between Armenia and Bulgaria, which the parties said to be willing
to enlarge.

During the consultations the parties discussed the opportunities of
Armenian-Bulgarian cooperation within international organizations. They
attached importance to Armenia-Bulgaria cooperation within the
framework of the Armenia-EU relations.

DM SEYRAN OHANYAN LEAVING FOR KOSOVO

armradio.am
29.10.2008 10:32

The delegation headed by the Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan
is leaving for Kosovo today for a two-day working visit. Within the
framework of the visit Minister Ohanyan will meet Armenian servicemen,
who are carrying out a peacekeeping mission within the Greek division
of the coalition forces.

Press Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Seyran Shahsuvaryan
informed that the Minister will have a meeting with the command of
the Greek division and the Commander of the International Kosovo
Force Giuseppe Gay.

TOP ADVISER: TURKEY MANAGED TO HAVE ZERO PROBLEM-FOREIGN POLICY

Anadolu Agency
Oct 29 2008

Davutoglu said that all frozen clashes were occurring in the geography
where Turkey was situated, and the real problem was how a new world
order could be established.

A Turkish adviser said on Tuesday that Turkish-U.S. relations would
be a success story.

Ahmet Davutoglu, the chief foreign policy adviser to Turkey’s Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that the new era with the United
States would be a success story whoever was elected the new president
of that country.

"The new president of the United States will be Turkey’s best friend,"
Davutoglu said during a meeting on "Turkey, the region and U.S.-Turkey
relations: Assessing the challenges and prospects" at the Brookings
Institution in Washington D.C.

On Turkey’s relations with Armenia, Davutoglu said that Turkey was
ready to discuss negative problems and two countries should seize
recent opportunities in their relations.

Davutoglu expressed his expectation that the Armenian diaspora should
support the process between Turkey and Armenia, and said this new
process had not caused concerns in Azerbaijan and relations among
Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan would go on synchronously.

The adviser said that there was need for courage and creativity to
solve the Upper Karabakh dispute, and no one could wait for 20-30
years more to resolve the issue.

Davutoglu said that all frozen clashes were occurring in the geography
where Turkey was situated, and said the real problem was how a new
world order could be established.

The Turkish adviser said that a new economic order should be
established and the world needed a new global order.

"Nobody should perceive different cultures as a threat. This is the
wealth of the entire world and humanity," he said.

Davutoglu said the main principle of Turkish foreign policy was
to establish a balance between security and freedom, and told the
gathering that one should not be sacrificed for the other.

"Security means NATO for Turkey, and freedom means the democratization
process in the EU," the adviser also said.

Talking about Turkey’s relations with its neighbors, Davutoglu said
Turkey had managed to have zero problems with its neighbors and told
the participants of the meeting that Turkey had good relations with
Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia and Syria.

Davutoglu said that Turkey had established a strong relationship with
Iran, and also said that Turkey had made progress in its relations
with Armenia and in settlement of the Cyprus issue.

The Brookings Institution and SETA Foundation for Political, Economic
and Social Research will host a conference to examine Turkey’s domestic
and foreign policy challenges and prospects.

After the keynote address by Ahmet Davutoglu, Ibrahim Kalin,
founding director of SETA; Nonresident Fellow Omer Taspinar,
director of the Turkey Project at Brookings; Visiting Fellow Mark
Parris, former U.S. ambassador to Turkey; and Talha Kose of George
Mason University are expected to moderate a series of discussions
featuring a distinguished group of Turkish and American experts,
officials and scholars.

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization
based in Washington D.C. Its mission is to conduct high-quality,
independent research and, based on that research, to provide
innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad
goals:Strengthen American democracy; foster the economic and social
welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and secure a more
open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO IMPORT 415 COWS

ARKA
Oct 28, 2008

YEREVAN, October 28. /ARKA/. The RA Government will assign 500mln
AMD to buy 415 cows under the program on importing pedigree cattle
to Armenia, said the RA Minister of Agriculture Aramayis Grigoryan
at Parliament Committees’ discussions of the state budget project
for 2009.

According to him, â~B¬2,450 will be assigned to purchase one cow in
its 4-5 months of pregnancy from Austria.

"The program is definitely justified as we had an experience, and 417
heads of cattle were provided to large private agricultural entities
in 2008," he said.

The Minister noted 133 cows were imported in 2008.

The cattle are provided to farmers under a lease agreement with a
four-year term without interest.

Grigoryan believes the program will enable to increase the heads and
gene pool of pedigree cattle.

According to preliminary data of the Ministry of Agriculture, the
number of cattle heads will reach 20,000-22,000 in four years if
5,000 heads are imported to Armenia.

The exchange rate of Armenian dram is built into next year’s budget
plan at 302.4 AMD for US $1 next year.

–Boundary_(ID_W/B3rMj4RkMwn5HNNREotg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress