PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN SIGNED A DECREE…
Azat Artsakh Daily
21 Oct 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
On 21 October President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree appointing Police
colonel Andranik Hakobyan first deputy head of the NKR Police. Andranik
Hakobyan was released from the post of deputy head of the NKR Police.
RUSSIA HAS TO RETURN KARABAKH TO AZERBAIJAN
James Hakobyan
Lragir
12:52:27 – 21/10/2008
There was worry on the faces of the Russian president Dmitry Medvedev
who landed at the Zvartnots Airport and Serge Sargsyan who met him
rather than joy of the visit or cheer of hosting. At least, the two
presidents were serious, there was a seriousness on their faces that
was about to grow into somberness. The reason may be that Medvedev and
Sargsyan have managed to meet for several times already, and meetings
have become something casual for them, which explains the casual
seriousness on their faces. Also it should not be ruled out that the
recurrent meeting takes place in a serious situation, which determined
the mood of the presidents, which was expressed on their cold faces.
The situation is really serious. The struggle for influence in the
Caucasus is escalating. Mostly the struggle is between the United
States and Russia.
Considering the logic of this struggle, the United States and Russia
are separately trying to involve ambitious allies in struggle. For
instance, Russia expects to neutralize, prevent or reduce the influence
of the United States through Turkey. For that reason the Russians
want to become a mediator of improvement of the Turkish-Armenian
relations, thereby removing Georgia from the Caucasian axis, which
would mean the weakening of the influence of the United States which
has great influence on Georgia in the Caucasus. In order to improve
the Armenian-Turkish relation, the Russians must resolve the issue
of Karabakh, more exactly, the issue of the return of the liberated
territories because for Turkey it is not favorable to improve relations
with Armenia with its current geopolitical position.
The point is that the return of the territories to Azerbaijan weakens
both Armenia and Iran. In other words, two important problems of
Turkey are solved at once.
The Russians realize that the last chance to remain in the Caucasus is
to solve that problem. On the other hand, it does not promise a clear
sky because the behavior of Turkey afterwards is unpredictable. The
point is that with Armenia and Iran weakened by the return of
territories, with the reduced role of the United States, after
solving these problems through Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan may
start successfully to neutralize the position of Russia, and all the
Russians could do to hold on to the Caucasus would be a war, which
is practically impossible, and may at best lead to a draw. In other
words, the Caucasus would turn into a gigantic crater where the war
would last forever, and everyone would fight against one another,
and would not understand who they are fighting against.
The Russian president has reason to worry, and the expression on
his face is quite clear. The point is that even after imposing the
return of territories on Armenia the problem20will not solve for
Russia. The Kremlin pays an expensive price for the recognition of the
independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and is actually facing the
fact of recognizing the "independence". However, Serge Sargsyan also
has reason for a serious and worried expression on his face. And the
reason is not the hasty visit of the U.S. assistant secretary Daniel
Fried to Armenia before the visit of Medvedev. Moreover, Fried’s visit
could have been encouraging for Serge Sargsyan if Sargsyan had not gone
that far in the foreign policy of "initiation". Now even Condoleezza
Rice, let alone Fried, is already unable to bring back Armenia. And
the Russians also made it clear: several hours before the visit of
Medvedev the recurrent repair on the gas pipeline to Armenia began,
and Levitin stated in Yerevan that the oil refinery trumpeted as
almost the "project of the century" economically is not feasible. Now,
Armenia, try to stop half the way you have "initiated". Maybe it is
difficult to go forward because now the trap of the Armenian-Turkish
relation is obvious, in which Serge Sargsyan got caught, stating in
Moscow that he is going to invite Gul to watch football and is ready
to accept the idea of the commission of historians. It turns out that
Armenia pays for the air ticket of Gul, and pays with the liberated
territories and the recognition of the genocide.
Now the question occurs which Armenia is going to pay for Medvedev’s
"ticket".
WERE THE OTHER PRESIDENTS UNABLE TO SET UP RELATIONS WITH TURKEY?
Nano Arghutyan
Lragir.am
13:47:27 – 22/10/2008
The summer of 2008 introduced new, actually revolutionary shades
into the political life of Armenia. After relieving a little
the oppositionist moods in the country, Serge Sargsyan who had
become president set to sweeping changes in the region. There were
intentions for those changes before the events in South Ossetia but
on the wave of the Russian-Georgian clash those intentions acquired
a revolutionary shade.
In fact, they involved the reshaping of the entire Caucasus by entering
Central Asia. It only took a statement on changing the trajectory of
the Moon.
Every time when the Armenian government announced about one
"revolutionary" move or another -invitation of Gul to Armenia,
participation in the security platform proposed by Turkey, opening of
the railway to Turkey – the people of Armenia asked themselves the
question: were the predecessors of Armenia unable to understand the
prospects that would open up for Armenia in case relations were set
up with Turkey? Were Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan that
short-sighted to fail to notice the country with a population of 80
million on the other side of Ararat?
Presumably, the global centers long and steadily tried to persuade the
presidents who preceded Serge Sargsyan to make that move. However,
for whatever reasons, th ey preferred to keep the status quo and
temporize. Most probably, they had every reason for that, the price
for the bright prospect was too high. The centers sometimes succeeded
having the situation reach the point when it was necessary to make
a decision. It was not easy to avoid the "international hypnosis":
every time the hypnosis ended by either the resignation of the
president or the tragedy in the parliament, or other methods which
were equally severe. When it was already the time to make a decision,
something terrible happened, and everything returned to its normal
course. It is true that the basis for the hypnosis remained but 5,
10 years were the benefit. And over that time people lived.
Currently, judging by everything, it is time to make a decision. And
mystical though it may appear, the feeling is that something must
happen.
Serge Sargsyan has two ways out. Either he has to make a decision and
oppose to its own people who have no reason to tolerate the violation
of their rights, or to make a "fire" in the flame of which all the
previous arrangements will burn down. Especially that it is easier to
save from the flame than the punishment of their own people and the
lords of the world to whom a promise was made. Unlike normal life,
in interstate mafia, like in the world of criminals, the word is a
material thing. They pay a high price for it.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
SERGE SARGSYAN AND VARDAN GHUKASYAN HAVE A SKELETON IN THE CUPBOARD
Lragir
12:33:01 – 22/10/2008
Interesting events occur in the pre-election city of Gyumri. The
incumbent candidate for mayor Vardan Ghukasyan addressed people on
the local television and threatened everyone. He said Serge Sargsyan
supports him, and from now on everything will be the way he will
say. Similarly, if anyone wants to be elected to parliament, it must
be by his will. He mentioned Samvel Babayan and Gagik Tsarukyan,
referring to the latter by his nick.
Vardan Ghukasyan threatened those who acted against him to cut their
fingers and put it in the corresponding place. And he unintentionally
explained his sincerity: he and Serge Sargsyan have a secret which
nobody knows.
It is interesting to know what a secret it is that made Vardan
Ghukasyan so self-confident and bold. The political experts in Gyumri
do not rule our that the secret is related to the famous conference
of the Republicans, where the nomination of the prime minister was
going to be discussed, and the attack on the motorcade of Vardan
Ghukasyan when he was returning to Gyumri after the conference. There
were deaths, Vardan Ghukasyan was wounded severely.
THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WAS POLITICAL, AND THERE IS NO LINE ABOUT THE RAILWAY
Lragir
14:57:24 – 22/10/2008
The reporters asked the economist Andranik Tevanyan hosted at the
Pastark press club on October 22 to evaluate the economic part of the
Russian president Medvedev’s official visit to Armenia. He said during
the visit of Medvedev the economic component was that of a protocol,
and the main component was political, namely the Karabakh issue.
As to statements about economic projects, namely the Armenian-Iranian
railway, the economist thinks that if the railway is built, in case of
Russia’s participation Russia must finance the construction. However,
Andranik Tevanyan notes, there is not a line about financing the
construction of the railway in the 2009 budget bill of Russia.
UN WELCOMES ARMENIA’S RESOLUTENESS TO DEVELOP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND TELECOMMUNICATION
armradio.am
22.10.2008 17:48
President Serzh Sargsyan today received Cheick Sidi Diarra,
Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed
Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing
States.
The president appreciated the assistance the UN structures provide
to Armenia. Noting that ever since joining the UN Armenia has been
actively participating in the organization’s activity, Serzh Sargsyan
said without the direct assistance of corresponding UN bodies it would
be extremely difficult to work out and implement effective programs
in a number of spheres.
"Our objective is to create a stably developing society," the leader of
the country said, noting that the Government has declared information
technologies as a priority direction. On the way of creation of an
information society, the state especially encourages the activeness
and involvement of youth.
Welcoming Armenia’s resoluteness to develop information technologies
and telecommunication, the high UN official said it will allow
investing the knowledge in the potential of the country’s development,
which is especially important for landlocked countries like Armenia.
The parties agreed that the economy based on knowledge provides an
opportunity to the country to be much more competitive.
The interlocutors spoke about the alte rnative routes of communication
and emphasized their necessity.
According to President Sargsyan, the growth of communication
opportunities can considerably facilitate the development of
information technologies.
THE PACE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ARMENIA IS SUFFICIENT
armradio.am
22.10.2008 17:52
The pace of economic growth in Armenia is satisfactory, and if it
is maintained during the coming seven years, the GDP of the country
can double, Cheick Sidi Diarra, UN Under-Secretary-General and High
Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing
Countries and Small Island Developing States said during today’s
press conference with the Minister of Economy of Armenia Nerses
Yeritsyan. He welcomed the 10% economic growth and noted that few
countries register similar indices. 100% of Armenian children attend
school, the level of literacy reaches 97-98%.
According to the UN Under-Secretary-General, those are brilliant
indices.
The social indices are also sufficient: the average life expectancy
is high (77-78), mother and infant mortality has decreased. Armenia
has a Diaspora, which makes great efforts for the development of the
country. To be competitive, it is necessary to build a state based
on knowledge. According to his assessment, Armenia’s aspiration to
be in the field of contemporary leading technologies will help the
country to rapidly develop the economy. Having a rich human capital
and technologies, the country can find solutions for overcoming the
factor of no access to the sea, thus serving as a good example for
similar countries.
RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan assured that Armenia is
committed=2 0to the UN development goals. By developing the field
of information telecommunication, the country will try to become
progressive and exemplary in the sphere. The Minister noted that
innovation should become the property of every Armenian citizen. The
way to that lies through knowledge and freedom of speech, which the
government has consolidated in its programs and strategies.
RUSSIAN, AZERI PRESIDENTS DISCUSS THE PREPARATION OF A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON KARABAKH
armradio.am
22.10.2008 18:10
The Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan Dmitry Medvedev and Ilham
Aliyev discussed the preparation of the high level meeting dedicated
to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, Kremlin’s Press Service
reports.
The two Presidents referred to the issues during today’s phone
conversation.
"The heads of state discussed practical issues of preparation of
a high-level meeting dedicated to the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict, which is planned to be held in the near future with
participation of the President of Russia," the press release states.
£1.6 MILLION-A-YEAR CITYTRADER IS SUING HIS EMPLOYER FOR £92,000 AFTER CLAIMING HE DID NOT GET A BIG ENOUGH BONUS, IT IS REVEALED TODAY
cle-23575810-details/%C2%A31.6m+trader+sues+for+%C 2%A392%2C000+extra/article.do
21.10.08
Alexandre Mouradian, head of the exchange-traded options desk at
Tradition Securities & Futures, took the brokers to an employment
tribunal over the alleged shortfall in his 2006 performance payment.
Mr Mouradian, 38, won the original tribunal case and an appeal,
but French-owned Tradition has now taken it to the Court of Appeal.
The case comes at a time of unprecedented criticism of the
"irresponsible" bonus culture in the City, which many critics claim
was a major factor in the banking crisis.
Court papers reveal that Mr Mouradian, who earns a basic salary of
£300,000, was given responsibility for dividing up the twice-yearly
bonus pool among himself and his team of seven employees and one
consultant.
For the second half of 2006, he awarded himself £1.32 million –
or 92 per cent of the pool – while three colleagues got much smaller
amounts of £60,000, £47,000 and £2,000. Four others got nothing. Mr
Mouradian is disputing the way in which company costs were allocated,
reducing the size of the bonus pool. He claims he is entitled to
another £92,571.60 .
The trader, who has worked for the inter-dealer broking arm of
France’s Compagnie Financière Tradition since 1997, lives in a £3
million end-of-terrace house in Knightsbridge. A stream of builders
arrived at the house this morning and said that £50,000 worth of
refurbishment had recently been done.
The case is a rare insight into the shadowy world of City bonus
calculation.
Many including Gordon Brown have said that bonuses have to be curbed
to stop traders taking excessive risks.
Last year City workers got almost £8 billion but the payout is
expected to fall this year after banks’ huge losses.
Mr Mouradian has brought his case under the Employment Rights
Act, which prohibits the unlawful deduction of an employee’s
wages. Tradition confirmed the proceedings but did not comment further
and Mr Mouradian refused to comment.
–Boundary_(ID_45qCgl0f5F+nYgnJ3hOmGw)–
GERMANY HOPES FOR CONTINUATION OF PEACEFUL TALKS ON KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.10.2008 14:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Germany is hopeful that talks between the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan for peaceful resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict will be continued.
"The South Ossetian events proved that conflicts can’t be resolved by
use of force," said Stephen Reich, head of the Germany-South Caucasus
working group on interparliamentary cooperation.
"Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier instructed us to report on
the post-election situation in Azerbaijan," he said, Trend Azeri news
agency reports.