Month: December 2008

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL EVENTS MAY LEAD TO ARISING OF THE OVERLAND ROUTE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND BULGARIA

Trend News Agency
Dec 11 2008
Azerbaijan

Recent development of political events may lead to arising of the
overland route between Armenia and Bulgaria, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said today at the opening ceremony Armenian-Bulgarian
business-forum in Sophia, reported ArmInfo.

‘Taking into account that the overland distance between Armenia and
Bulgaria is not so big, about 2 thsd km, it will be easy to pass
this distance. This will become the main stimulus for cooperation
development between the two countries’, – Armenian president said.

He also added Armenia thinks the relations with the European Union are
very much important, and has been implementing the work on signing of
Free Trade Treaty, further liberalizing of economy and gradual holding
of the democratic reforms in the republic. ‘We are going to continue
this line in future, and we are sure to succeed’, – Sargsyan said.

The president hopes Armenians of Bulgaria will become a unique bridge
between their historical and new motherland. ‘Our joint plans may be
expressed in two words – we have to work’, – the president concluded.

ARMENIA ABLE TO CREATE MORE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR BULGARIAN BUSINESS – PRESIDENT

Trend News Agency
Dec 11 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenia is able to create more favorable conditions for Bulgarian
business, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said at the opening
ceremony of the Armenian-Bulgarian Business Forum in Sophia, reported
ArmInfo.

‘I think that our proposals will be interesting to Bulgarian
businessmen since the Armenian legislation is one of the most
liberal in the world. Government of Armenia does its best to promote
investments in the country. We are ready to support any programme
that involves foreign investors. I’d like to emphasize that Armenia
is rather an attractive country’, Serzh Sargsyan said.

The president highlighted that natural gas and electricity tariffs in
Armenia are among the lowest ones in the world and the construction
of a new power unit for the Armenian nuclear power plant greatly
contributes to this.

Fifteen Armenian companies participate in the business forum: Union
of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia, Armenian Development
Agency, Apaven Company, Europrofile, Metex, Elit-Group, Shen-

Concern, Great Valley, Jermuk May Gortsaran, Artsakh Fruit, as well
as ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank.

EU SIGNED AVIATION AGREEMENT WITH ARMENIA

Avionews
p?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1097614& pagina_chiamante=index.php
Dec 11 2008
Italy

Brussels, Belgium – It will allow all European airlines to fly between
Armenia and any EU Member State

(WAPA) – "The European Union and the Republic of Armenia signed
an aviation agreement which will allow all European airlines to
fly between Armenia and any EU Member State. After three years of
negotiation, the agreement was signed by Commissioner Ms Benita Ferrero
Waldner, responsible for external relations, Mr Jean-Pierre Jouyet,
Secretary of State for European Affairs for the French Presidency,
and Mr Eduard Nalbandyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia in
the framework of the EU-Armenia Cooperation Council.

Most importantly, the agreement allows any EU airline to operate
flights between any EU Member State where it is established and
Armenia. It acknowledges the existence of the single market for air
transport between the EU and Armenia and demonstrates the external
dimension of this market.

The EU has negotiated 35 such horizontal agreements with partner
countries and thereby brought more than 600 bilateral air services
agreements in compliance with Community law.

Passenger numbers between the EU and Armenia increased from almost
166,000 in 2006 to 204,000 in 2007 the main markets being France,
Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. The agreement will contribute
to the further development of EU-Armenia aviation relations".

BENEVOLENT CAFETERIA IS CLOSED

A1+
[08:42 pm] 11 December, 2008

One of the two benevolent cafeterias in Alaverdi closed its doors on
December 1. It is funded by "Mission Armenia" benevolent organization
and has been feeding more than a hundred needy people for five years,
most of them being pensioners and handicapped.

Now, the dry food has substituted the hot food. On December 10,
each of the 105 needy eating at the cafeteria received 1 kilogram of
macaroni, 1 liter of vegetable oil, half a kilogram of sugar and a
box of nourishing food. The needy will keep receiving food on December
22 too, but this time they will get six eggs, a pack of sausages and
a box of nourishing food.

Manager of the benevolent cafeteria Aytsemnik Mkrtumyan says that
this has nothing to do with the global crisis. It was the decision of
the government according to which the needy must get along with this
food until springtime. According to Aytsemnik Mkrtumyan, the cafeteria
will open its doors to the needy starting from March, but until then,
three of the seven cafeteria workers will be on a compulsory vacation.

GEORGY VANYAN: "OFFICIAL YEREVAN DID NOT ENTER THE OPEN DOOR AND APPRECIATE AZERBAIJAN’S STEP ONCE AGAIN"

Today.Az
itics/49504.html
Dec 11 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Georgy Vanyan, chairman of the Caucasus Center
of Peacekeeping Initiatives.

– What can you say about Armenia’s non-participation in the
international conference of the Culture Ministers of the CE states on
"Intercultural dialogue as a basis of sustainable development and peace
in Europe and neighbor regions", despite the invitation of Azerbaijan?

– It is a pity that Armenia was not represented in this conference in
Baku. Unfortunately, official Yerevan did not enter the open door and
did not appreciate this step of Azerbaijan once again. The opening and
immediately closing doors are the symbol of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
dialogue. I think, the decision not to visit Baku is not a personal
intention of the Armenian Minister of Culture. This proves the absence
of the political will of the senior leadership of the country. I regret
that the political leadership of Armenia still yields to the recently
growing speculative hysteria about the "cessassion of territories"
or "trading around Karabakh".

– What do you think about the statement of ISESCO director Abdulaziz
bin Osman al-Tuveyrji that ISESCO supports the idea of sending
a mission to Nagorno Karabakh for the purpose of monitoring of
historical monuments?

– Armenian party must not only allow but create all conditions to
hold a monitoring even if the results of this mission will be the
documenting of facts, disgraceful for us.

But here let me express my own point of view regarding the monitoring
of historical monuments, issue of compensations to refugees and
IDP and overall humanitarian problems, in the context of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Unfortunately, through many years the attention of our communities
and the world community has been concentrating on the problems, after
the settlement of which we must finish the conflict resolution. We
are trying to do it from the end.

Do our countries and our societies have the healthy political climate
and freedom of speech, free press and civil institutions, which may
analyze the cause-effect ties of the facts of barbarism and inhumanity,
subjugating them to their idea of reconciliation and prevention of
such barbarism? Or perhaps, such studies, motivated by general values,
will further promote the deepening of confrontation? Until there
is no political solution, no mutually profitable plan of solution,
the results of monitoring, studies, investigations and conclusions
become just a part of war between our peoples and countries.

I have spoken many times about the social order for peace, that it
is necessary to join efforts to gain a status of a civil party of
the conflict and not remain in a state of war, that we must turn
the conflict resolution into a priority, see our national interest
in resolution. Perhaps, only in this issue, we, both Armenia and
Azerbaijan, will be able to speak the same language and equally with
the world community, get rid of the complex of the "made used of"
and "offended". How is it possible? Such a review of approaches is
possible only if there is a will of the leadership of our countries,
the will, which is probably seeking for support within the communities,
and here the role of each of us, claiming for being peacekeepers,
is significant here.

– Do you consider that intensification of the visits of the Armenian
delegations to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani to Armenia will help
establish trustful resolutions between the representatives of our
peoples and will promote the resolution of the Karabakh conflict?

– As I have already said we are now at war and not settling the
conflict. Therefore, we live in the kingdom of stereotypes, myths
and legends, which revive the image of an enemy and strengthen our
own bellicose image in our conscience. What do we have for today
Periodical visits of several Azerbaijanis, who attend international
projects in Yerevan, more seldom in other cities of Armenia and
almost never in Nagorno Karabakh. At the same time, while visiting
Armenia, Azerbaijanis are obliged to adhere to the previously
announced programs and are completely deprived of the right for free
movement and communication. Such visits are either not covered inm
the press, or become a cause for the next campaign of "tolerance"
in Armenia and as a result, set the campaign "down with betrayers"
in Azerbaijan. Though, there are some exceptions, when in some "lucky"
cases, Azerbaijanis manage to become "national heroes".

In any case, the law of war turns out to be stronger and the small
seeds of peacekeeping planted owing to the civil courage and real
patriotism of our Azerbaijani counterparts, are growing in the souls of
separate people, without changing the overall background. Azerbaijan
has been closed for Armenians for already many years. If Armenian
delegations start visiting Baku this is a great breakthrough and a
ground to get rid of the stereotypes, though there is no guarantee
that the same mechanism of information war will not work here.

The issue is why we visit each others? I want to visit Baku, want
to visit the whole Azerbaijan, want to see and feel your country
and get rid of the humiliation of a person, who is unable to break
the wall in front of him. I also want an Azerbaijani, who arrives
in Armenia, to be free of the humiliating weight of distrust and
senseless enmity. We need to visit each others freely in order to
get rid of mutual humiliation and regain the dignity, which we lost
at war and without which we are unable to settle the conflict.

– Which obstacles hinder Armenia and Azerbaijan to build the dialogue
and take steps towards each other?

– I want to visit my home, the home of my grandfather in Karachinar
village, where, if I am not mistaken, a family from Khojaly, the
village, which we, Armenians, have ruined, live. They revive the house
of my grandfather. I want to see this house, the garden, to sit there
and have a talk. I want to look into their eyes and answer all their
questions. There are thousands of people like me. I want to believe
that the place of my birth – Azerbaijan- is not closed forever for
me. There is no Fizuli and no my paternal house. I want to go there
and sit on the ruins… There are no obstacles. But tomorrow, in the
future, when we are not alive, there will be obstacles.

– Beyond Azerbaijan and Armenia, the representatives of our peoples
are not only friends, but also create families. Doesn’t it prove that
the enmity between Azerbaijanis and Armenians is created artificially
by Russia, which does it to meet its imperialistic and geopolitical
interests?

– I have already spoke much about Russia. It was spoken of not only by
me. It is senseless of question the very existence of imperialistic
and geopolitical interests, but it is also senseless to subdue to
them. The way out of this slavery lies in our direct dialogue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE VISIT IS OVER

A1+
[08:54 pm] 11 December, 2008

In the framework of his visit to Bulgaria Presidents Serzh Sargsyan
and Georgi Prvanov participated in the festive concert that took
place in the "Bulgaria" concert hall of Sofia with the participation
of renowned Bulgarian and Armenian artists. Later in the evening, an
official dinner was served in the presidential residency of Bulgarian
President Georgi Prvanov in honor of the first-ever official visit
of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Bulgaria.

This morning the Armenian-Bulgarian Business Forum took place in Sofia,
at which the Presidents of the two countries called on businessmen,
as well as the Bulgarian Armenians to actively participate in the
establishment of economic ties.

CZECHIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER KAREL SCHWARZENBERG: "AZERBAIJAN IS A STRATEGIC PARTNER OF CZECHIA"

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 11 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov paid an official visit to Czechia at the invitation of
his Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg. Foreign Ministry’s press
service told APA that on the first day of the visit the minister met
with chairman of Czech Senate PÅ~Yemysl Sobotka. They underlined
strategic importance of Azerbaijan-Czechia relations and noted
the necessity of deepening the relations. PÅ~Yemysl Sobotka said
Czechia would contribute to Azerbaijan-EU relations during its
chairmanship of the European Union in the first half of 2009 and
welcomed the development of political, economic, energy cooperation
and interparliamentary relations.

Elmar Mammadyarov expressed his satisfaction with the level of
current cooperation and noted the importance of parliamentarians’
visits within the framework of interparliamentary cooperation. The
minister informed PÅ~Yemysl Sobotka of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
and said the conflict could be solved only within the framework of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Afterwards, Elmar Mammadyarov met with Czech Foreign Minister Karl
Schwarzenberg. The meeting highly assessed the position of Czechia
on the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the framework of
internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The Czech Minister named Azerbaijan as a strategic partner of Czechia
and stressed the importance of development of economic cooperation
along with political relations, improvement of contract-legal
framework, establishment of intergovernmental economic commission. The
Minister underlined that Czechia intended to open embassy in our
country and stressed that this step would contribute to further
development of bilateral relations. The meeting covered issues of
international and regional importance and mutual cooperation within
the framework of international organizations. After the meeting,
joint press conference was held.

Elmar Mammadyarov also met Chairman of the House of Deputies of Czechia
Miloslav Vilchek on the same day. The meeting envisaged necessary of
economic, business and energy cooperation between the two countries,
activity of interparliamentary friendship groups and increase of
mutual visits and relations.

–Boundary_(ID_/nZiawBT30RiHxvQ1TsIpA) —

KHANLAR HAJIYEV: "EUROPEAN COURT IS EXPECTED TO PASS JUDGMENT CONCERNING 40 APPEALS ON AZERBAIJAN"

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 11 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. "European Court of Human Rights has
received over 1000 appeals on Azerbaijan," judge of the European Court
of Human Rights from Azerbaijan Khanlar Hajiyev said, APA reports.

He said that half of the appeals had been made by Armenians with
Azerbaijani citizenship. Khanlar Hajiyev said the appeals sent from
Azerbaijan were different.

"Most of them are about the mistakes made in trials. There are
appeals concerning non-execution of court decisions, violations in
parliamentary elections and property," he said.

Khanlar Hajiyev said the European Court had passed 16 judgments
on Azerbaijan.

"As the number of the lawyers receiving appeals on Azerbaijan has
been increased, more cases will be considered. The court is expected
to pass judgment in connection with 40 appeals on Azerbaijan," he said.

Khanlar Hajiyev said the European Court had several appeals in
connection with IDPs from Nagorno Karabakh.

"One of them is connected with 6 Azerbaijanis from Lachin
region. Two of them are complaints concerning Armenians. The
process will continue. It requires time. It is difficult to say
what judgment the court will pass. Such decisions of the court are
called pilot judgments. Such judgments may be followed by a number of
complaints. That’s why they are careful in passing such judgments. On
the other hand the problem has a political side. Therefore there is
no position on this issue yet," he said.

Khanlar Hajiyev noted that the European Court was not a political
organization and could not solve Karabakh problem.

"The court can consider the issues concerning the property and other
rights of the people displaced from Nagorno Karabakh. But such appeals
must be made individually," he said.

SMALL AND AVERAGE BUSINESS TO BE SUPPORTED BY STATE

Panorama.am
18:06 11/12/2008

The Government has confirmed the program of 2009 to support Small
and Average Business, reported the information and public relations
department of the Government.

It was mentioned that the state support to SAB is adopted by the
economic policy of the country, and they contribute to the development
of economy in the farthest regions of the country.

The Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan mentioned that in 2009 current
aspect of economy will be in the center of state attention and the
development of SAB will be targeted to meet the crisis.

BULGARIAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS POSSIBLE COOPERATION IN ENERGY SECTOR

BSANNA NEWS
Dec 11 2008
Ukraine

SOFIA, December 11. (BTA). President Georgi Purvanov and his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sargsyan discussed possibilities for cooperation
in the energy sector. This emerged at a joint news conference after
their one-to-one meeting and talks between theofficial delegations.

Sargsyan started his official two-day visit to Bulgaria at Purvanov’s
invitation on Wednesday.

This is the third visit here by an Armenian state leader since 1995.

Purvanov stressed that "trust" and "pragmatism" are the key words
in the active political dialogue between all institutions of the
two countries. Purvanov confirmed that Bulgaria is ready to support
Armenia’s efforts for more active dialogue with the EU in the context
of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The two countries have good traditions in the energy sector and
have serious intentions to develop nuclear power engineering,
Purvanov said. Sargsyan added that the two countries’ power plants
are of the same type. They want to build new capacity and have good
opportunities for cooperation in the exchange of experience and in
the plants’ operation.

Purvanov and Sargsyan stressed that bilateral economic relations are
lagging behind and should be invigorated.

The two Presidents discussed ways to solve the transport problem,
which would make it possible to promote economic ties and to step
up contacts between businesses. Economic contacts have been hindered
since 1993 when the border between Armenia and Turkey was closed due
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Armenian President informed
Purvanov about the progress of his country’s negotiations with
Turkey. Sargsyan also talked about the process of regulation of the
conflict. He expressed satisfaction with Purvanov’s statement that
Bulgaria sticks to the EU position on the matter and is in favour of
a fair peaceful solution to the conflict.

The return of Bulgarian goods which used to be available on the
Armenian market is another area of cooperation highlighted by Sargsyan.

He presented a letter to Purvanov expressing the gratitude of the
Armenian people and State for Bulgaria’s help in the aftermath of
the devastating Spitak earthquake in 1988.

The two Presidents attended the signing of four bilateral documents:
a protocol amending the agreement on double taxation; a protocol
of intent between the two culture ministries on organizing Days of
Bulgarian Culture in Armenia in 2009 and Days of Armenian Culture
in Bulgaria in 2010; a working programme for 2009-2014 implementing
the memorandum of understanding between the Civil Service Council
of Armenia and the Bulgarian Ministry of State Administration and
Administrative Reform; and a cooperation agreement between the Armenian
National Archive and Bulgaria’s Archives State Agency.

Purvanov and Sargsyan launched into circulation a Bulgarian-Armenian
postal issue commemorating Peyo Yavorov and Andranik Ozanian, who
participated in the two countries’ national liberation movements.

Later on Wednesday the Armenian guest conferred with National Assembly
Chairman Georgi Pirinski, Parliament said in a press release. The
meeting was also attended by Chairman of the Bulgaria-Armenia
Friendship Group Roupen Krikoryan.

The participants in the meeting expressed satisfaction with the
development of two-way relations and the active dialogue between the
institutions, noting that a board base is available for ever more
active cooperation in all spheres.

Pirinski focused on the development of infrastructure and
communications in the region saying that they need to be built at
a European level. Pirinski said that this common goal of the two
countries needs committed effort for security and stability.

The relations between Bulgaria and Armenia are excellent and have deep
historical and civilizational roots, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev
and Sargsyan noted at their meeting, quoted by the government’s
information service.

The two officials discussed the opportunities to expand two-way
economic ties where cooperation in energy and in transport and
communications projects were singled out as priority areas. The two
also discussed the opening of a regular air service between Sofia
and Yerevan.

Stanishev and Sargsyan spoke about the global financial crisis and the
measures of the two governments in mitigating the negative effects from
it. Special attention was paid to the situation in Caucasus region.