Month: December 2008

TURKISH PRESIDENT’S EU ADVISER REACTS TO LATEST EU PROGRESS REPORT ON TURKEY

Vatan
Nov 30 2008
Turkey

On 30 November 2008 Istanbul Vatan Online in Turkish publishes a
3-500 word interview with Damla Gurel, President Abdullah Gul’s
EU adviser and former Republican People’s Party, CHP, deputy. In
the interview entitled "I Do Not Know Why Gul Has Chosen Me" and
conducted by Sanem Altan, Gurel comments on her duties, her career,
the recent EU Progress Report, the implementation of the EU reforms,
and the accession negotiations.

Noting that she is much honoured to be working with President Gul,
Gurel also mentions that she has a very professional relationship
with Hayrunnisa Gul [President Abdullah Gul’s spouse]. Gurel also
refers to her disagreements with CHP Chairman Deniz Baykal.

Asserting that she disagrees that the latest EU Progress Report
criticizes the government and praises President Gul, Gurel says:
"The report has merely stated facts. The economic cooperation in
the Caucasus for the sake of regional peace as well as the visits to
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been viewed positively."

Asked whether a person other than the foreign minister should be
appointed chief negotiator, Gurel draws attention to the fact that the
person who will serve as chief negotiator should have communication
abilities, should be technically equipped, and should be politically
influential. Given these facts, there is no doubt that Ali Babacan
is the right person for the job, but there are two basic problems,
says Gurel, adding: "The ties between Turkey and the EU should no
longer be viewed as a foreign policy issue. As of now this should be
viewed as our goal. Secondly, Turkey’s foreign policy agenda is very
busy. It is very broad. It is very difficult and tiresome to be in
charge of both fields. Therefore I believe that it is appropriate to
separate these two posts."

Asserting that the latest Progress Report puts emphasis on the slow
down in the reforms, Gurel explains that Turkey has recently focused
on its domestic affairs, while the EU has been trying to resolve its
problems stemming from expansion. Noting that it is impossible to open
certain chapters due to certain problems, Gurel explains that Turkey
should primarily adapt its laws to the EU acquis. The trade law and the
union law are waiting, Gurel says and adds: "You cannot open chapters
if the relevant laws are not enacted. You cannot enact these laws at
one because it is necessary to ensure the agreement of sectors that
will be affected by the enactment of these laws. It is necessary to
do this together with the society. The road map is clear. There are
27 laws that have been or that will be taken to the National Assembly."

Noting that she does not expect any progress in the reforms due
to the local elections that will be held in March, Gurel stresses
if appropriate action is not taken, the EU process may take many
years. It is true that change also has a price, but we will be able
to make a leap only by preparing a national programme and by calming
domestic politics, says Gurel and adds: "If we want, we are able to
enact laws without any delay. Let us reach tough decisions. We have
focused on domestic politics. We are a democratic, secular, Muslim, and
social state. This is not an easy country. I understand the problems,
but do I accept them? No I do not. Let us put forth our will and our
demands. We are already at the table and therefore we can do whatever
we want. We should not be offended by everything. We should ignore what
the EU says. Do we want certain reforms? This is what really counts."

CSTO SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARIES TO ADDRESS FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IN ARMENIA

AKIpress News Agency
December 9, 2008 Tuesday
Kyrgyzstan

Security Council Secretaries of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization member countries will meet on December 9-10 in Armenia,
CSTO Under-Secretary General Toktasyn Buzubaev said.During this
meeting CSTO Security Council Secretaries will discuss fight against
terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking."The Security Council
Secretaries will discuss the joint efforts in fight against terrorism
and extremism, intensification of efforts to counter drug trafficking,
illegal migration, building capacity for prevention and liquidation
of consequences of man-induced and natural emergency situations,"
Buzubaev said.National Security Council Secretary Arthur Bagdasaryan
will preside during this meeting.The Collective Security Treaty
Organization includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

ARMENIA-BULGARIA ECONOMIC COOPERATION FALLS BEHIND POLITICAL DIALOGUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 12:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, who arrived to
Sofia by the invitation of the President of Bulgaria, Georgi Prvanov,
has started today his two-day official visit. The Armenian delegation
headed by the President comprises the Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Culture, Economy, Transport and Communications, other officials, as
well as the renowned journalist Svetana Paskaleva, the RA leader’s
press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

After the official welcoming ceremony in Sofia, the President
of Armenia laid a wreath at the Memorial of the Unknown
Soldier. Afterwards, the two Presidents held a private meeting followed
by the negotiations in the extended format. Serzh Sargsyan and Georgi
Prvanov hailed the current level of political dialogue between the
two countries. The Presidents of Armenia and Bulgaria noted also
that economic cooperation and the trade turnover in particular, which
approaches 150 million USD, are lagging behind the political relations
and that necessary steps should be taken toward the reconstruction
of the trade structure as well as for the further development of
economic cooperation. Presidents Sargsyan and Prvanov highly praised
the bilateral as well as the multilateral cooperation of Armenia and
Bulgaria. President Sargsyan thanked the President of Bulgaria and
said that in some difficult historical junctures the Bulgarian people
were congenial to and embraced kindly our people who later integrated
entirely in the Bulgarian society. The President of Bulgaria also
highly praised the Armenian-Bulgarian relations and noted that the
high level of trust, which exists between the two peoples, allows to
develop new comprehensive programs.

The Presidents of Armenia and Bulgaria also mentioned that the two
peoples have many common features, share common problems, and on many
instances have faced together arising challenges. The President of
Armenia underscored that the two countries have a common future and
that the future is built on the values shared by the two peoples,
which are the Christian values, a democratic system, and liberties –
all of which allow to look toward the future.

The leaders of the two countries mentioned with satisfaction the
existing adequate legal field – there are almost fifty agreements
between Bulgaria and Armenia which today have been augmented by another
four. One of them pertains to the organization and conduct of the Days
of Bulgaria in Armenia in 2009 and the Days of Armenia in Bulgaria in
2010. The other three agreements are related to the cooperation in
the areas of civil service and state governance, amendments to the
agreement on avoidance of double taxation of income and property,
as well as to the cooperation in the area of archives administration.

The Presidents of Armenia and Bulgaria highlighted the importance
of fostering cooperation between the executive agencies and business
circles and noted that the tomorrow’s Armenian-Bulgarian Business Forum
in Sofia provides an excellent opportunity for the businesses to get
acquainted, to examine the possibilities, and develop joint programs.

Presidents Sargsyan and Prvanov stressed also the importance of
cooperation in the area of transportation. The President of Bulgaria
hailed and welcomed the Armenian-Turkish dialogue and expressed hope
that the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border would be beneficial
for Bulgaria as well. The two Presidents concurred on that issue and
noted that the open borders would provide a direct transportation
and automobile connection between Armenia and Bulgaria. President
Sargsyan spoke also about Armenia’s intention on constructing the
Armenia-Iran railway. The sides also stressed the importance of the
establishment the air transportation link between the two countries.

President Georgi Prvanov invited President Serzh Sargsyan to attend
the energy forum to be held in Bulgaria next year.

The President of Bulgaria expressed readiness to assist Armenia with
experience and expert assistance in the framework of the Eastern
Partnership Program.

The President of Armenia handed to the President of Bulgaria a letter
of gratitude from the people of Armenia to the people of Bulgaria
and the Bulgarian authorities for their assistance provided after the
devastating earthquake of December 7, 1988 in Spitak. The President of
Armenia sent over a hundred thank you letters to the world leaders,
with the words of gratitude on behalf of the people of Armenia for
their assistance to Armenia after the earthquake.

The Presidents of the two countries came up with a Joint Declaration
and answered the questions of the journalists.

GEORGIA LAYS CLAIMS TO ARMENIAN CHURCHES SITUATED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 14:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Christian Democratic Movement of Georgia decided
to hold a rally in front of the Armenian on December 11 to demand
‘return’ of Georgian churches in Armenia.

"A dozen of Georgian monasteries are situated in the territory of
Armenia, in Lore-Tashir. Unfortunately, they have been robbed, what
proves that they belong to the Georgian Orthodox Church," said Giorgi
Andriadze, the head of the movement.

The Georgian Patriarchate did not deliberately raise the issue to
avoid tensions and maintain the status quo. However, the Armenian
side aggravates contradictions. So, we can nothing but demand return
of our churches," he said, Kavkaz press reports.

ORGAN AS PART OF THE ORGANIST’S PLAN

A1+
[02:31 pm] 11 December, 2008

Out of the former Soviet countries only Armenia and Russia have
organs and one of the unique organs of Armenia is in the St. Yot
Verk (Seven Wounds) Church of Giumri. Paris-based organist Narine
Simonyan, who is from Giumri, has planned to order a new organ for
Giumri to be installed in the St. Nshan church. Until then, Simonyan
will give a concert in Giumri on December 13 in memory of the victims
of the earthquake.

Narine’s performances will be accompanied by the duduk. The concert
includes the mundane songs of Komitas, Arno Babajanyan and classic
French pieces.

"This is the first time that the organ and duduk will be heard
together. I had been hearing this in my head for years. The organ is
a precise way of thinking, while the duduk is eloquent. One of them
is about freedom, while the other is clarity," says Narine.

The organist wants innovations by installing an auxiliary equipment
to hear the sound of the duduk. Before coming to GIumri, Narine knew
about the situation of organs in Armenia and has noticed that Armenian
churches have architectural solutions that secure an ideal sound.

In regard to the organ foreseen for the St. Nshan Church of Giumri,
Narine Simonyan said that she is currently trying to find sums and
has already come to an agreement with constructor of the organ Daniel
Kern from France.

The new organ will be prepared with Narine’s plan and will also sound
like the duduk.

SITE DETERMINES SITUATION?

A1+
[02:51 pm] 11 December, 2008

Drivers in Yerevan start to worry when it starts to get cloudy in
the city.

They are more worried over the situation in the tunnel of the road
junction on Tigran Mets street after the rain.

"The bridge in front of the Pedagogical Institute leaks from both
sides. It is impossible to pass through there after the snow melts
in the spring," said one of the drivers.

"The junction on Baghramian-Orbeli intersection is also dangerous,"
said driver Arthur Baloyan.

Drivers are also worried that they won’t be able to stop and may come
into a collision if the tunnel roads are icy.

"A1+" talked to first deputy head of the office for construction plans
of Yerevan Felix Afyan to get a clear picture. Afyan said that the
construction standars allow the construction of passages with up to
8% slant.

As far as the Khanjyan-Tigran Mets road junction is concerned, Felix
Afyan said that there haven’t been any cases registered, but did not
exclude that the rains in the tunnel may accumulate.

Let us recall that constructors came across water tubes while
constructing the sewer.

"There hasn’t been any violation of norms and if water is accumulated,
we will clear things up and get everything back to normal," said
Felix Afyan.

According to Afyan, the water leaks in the tunnel are due to the
application of new technique of hydro-isolation. The hydro-isolation
was supposed to be done with the "hydroisol" type of cement, but
instead the constructors used the "hydrofob" cement.

"We have agreed with the "Griar" CJSC that the company will pay for
the flaws," cleared up Afyan.

"A1+" also talked to director o "Griar" Arthur Yordanyan. According to
him, the construction firm grants a one-year guarantee and if studies
in the Khanjyan-Tigran Mets road junction show that the flaws are
due to the constructors, construction will end. Chief engineer of
"Griar" Armen Martirosyan said that the reason for the accumulation
of rainwater is that the road for water tubes is long and the slant
is small.

"The road is long and that is why the water is collected. But that
takes a maximum of 10-15 minutes and only in the case of downpours. The
site determines the situation."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEMONSTRATORS ARE DISAPPOINTED

A1+
[03:17 pm] 11 December, 2008

The mothers and wives of the detainees of March 1 gathered today on
one side of the Government building today, while the residents of
the alienation zones on the other. RA Premier Tigran Sargsyan had
promised to meet with them and discuss their issues. As to when that
meeting would take place, the demonstrators don’t know because every
time the government says that the prime minister is out of the country.

Among demonstrators were five refugee families living on Aghbyur Serob
street whom the Yerevan city council refuses to grant certificates
of ownership, despite the fact that the residents of the neighboring
homes have already received them. "We are refugees and they refuse
to help us in our homeland. Our neighbors were able to solve their
issue through bribes. How can we?" told "A1+" one of the women who
comes to the government building every Thursday.

Demonstrators were screaming "Shame on the mayor", "Thieves". According
to them, they no longer hope for any meeting with the a government
official because they have realized and are disappointed that no
government official will try to help them. The wives of political
prisoners were calling for "liberty" an ddemanding the release of
their husbands. Among participants was Karine Asaturovna, who is
the mother of March 1 detainee, former police officer and national
movement follower Kristapor Elazyan. Karine told us how her three
sons were arrested for no reason and how two of her children were
sentenced to four years in jail.

"They sentenced him when it is cleary seen in the discs that my son
was not beating a police officer, but rather saving his life. That
same police officer gave a false testimony in court," said Karine.

Then the wives and relatives of the political prisoners made some
turns in the small section that the police had given them and then
left with the plan to return next Thursday.

"WE DON’T AGREE WITH COURT OF APPEAL"

Panorama.am
20:32 10/12/2008

"Bi-line" company has already applied to the European Court of Human
Rights by three claims, where all the three have been received and
registered, said Hayk Khandjyan the director of the company to the
reporters. According to him their right to be defended has been broken
by the court system of Armenia.

Remind that when "Wimpelcom" company applied to the Agency of
Intellectual Property to register "Beeline" brand they have been
rejected as the brand looked similar with another existing brand
"Be-line".

"Brand is an intellectual property and administrative body is not
authorized to deprive that brand, but in fact they did it. Opposite
to it the Constitution of Republic of Armenia defines that only court
is eligible to deprive intellectual property," said the director of
"Be-line" company.

EXHIBITION FOR WOMEN

Panorama.am
20:33 10/12/2008

"EXPO BEAUTY 2008" fifth international exhibition is devoted to
women. It is a sort of habit to organize the exhibition on the
threshold of New Year holidays for every woman to be beautiful and
unique, says Suren Nazinyan, the chief director of LOGOS EXPO Center
during the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

More than 40 participants have applied to present their talent and
products to our women. Note that every year LOGOS EXPO Center conducts
10-12 exhibition, in particular "Armenia Expo", "Education and Career",
"Health and pharmacy", etc.

FOUR MORE CONTRACTS WITH BULGARIA

Panorama.am
20:33 10/12/2008

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan left for Bulgaria accepting
the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Prvanov. The
Presidential delegation includes the Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Culture, Economy, Transport and Communication, other officials and
famous Bulgarian reporter Svetlana Paskaleva, reported the press
service of the President’s Administration.

According to the source, the Presidents have had a separate meeting
which was followed by open format discussions. The Presidents have
highly evaluated the political dialogue between Armenia and Bulgaria,
and mentioned that irrespective of that the economic cooperation and
trade circulation have to be improved. They notified that serious
measures should be taken to fill the gaps.

The Presidents agreed upon the point that the two nations have much
in common, including historic developments, and that most of the time
they have managed to meet the challenges together. The President of
Armenia added that Armenians and Bulgarians have common future and
they should build this future on common values.

There are fifty contacts signed between Armenia and Bulgaria which have
been completed by four other contracts. One of them is on organizing
Days of Bulgarian Culture in Armenia in 2009 and Days of Armenian
Culture in Bulgaria in 2010. The other three are on civil service,
cooperation in state governing system and in revenues system.