Month: December 2008

Tehran Times, Iran
Dec 3 2008

Iran-Armenia gas pipeline inaugurated

Armenia officially completed on Monday the construction of a natural
gas pipeline from neighboring Iran which could reduce its heavy
dependence on Russian energy resources and significantly boost its
electricity exports.

It remained unclear, however, when Iranian gas could start flowing
into the country.

The pipeline’s second and final Armenian section was inaugurated in
the presence of President Serzh Sarkisian and Alexei Miller, chairman
of Russia’s Gazprom giant. The two men, joined by other Armenian,
Russian and Iranian officials, watched as workers welded together its
last pipes.

Miller’s presence at the high-profile ceremony underscored the fact
that the pipeline will be controlled by the ArmRosGazprom (ARG)
national gas distribution company in which Gazprom holds a controlling
stake. ARG has financed and carried out work on the 197-kilometer
stretch running through the country’s mountainous Syunik region.

In a speech during the ceremony, Miller welcomed the completion of the
`very important project.’ He said its implementation testifies to a
`high level of political cooperation between Russia and Armenia.’

Former President Robert Kocharian was also in attendance. Kocharian
had inaugurated the pipeline’s first, 41-kilometer section together
with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in March 2007.

Speaking to the journalists, Energy Minister Armen Movsisian said the
pipeline will undergo technical testing and be ready to pump Iranian
gas within weeks. But he again avoided setting any dates for the start
of Iranian gas supplies.

The new pipeline’s operational capacity of approximately 2.3 billion
cubic meters of gas per annum essentially matches the annual volume of
Armenian gas imports from Russia that are carried out via
Georgia. With Russian supplies meeting Armenia’s needs, the bulk of
Iranian gas is expected to be converted into electricity that will
then be exported to the Islamic Republic.

As Movsisian pointed out, the pipeline would be vital for Armenia’s
energy security in case of `force majeure situations.’ The minister
clearly referred to a possible disruption or termination of Russian
gas deliveries to Georgia that would almost certainly affect Armenia
as well.

The prospect of a cut-off in Russian supplies has become even more
real since the August war between Georgia and Russia. A senior
Georgian official predicted last month that the Russians will at least
cut back on those supplies this winter.

PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria
Dec 3 2008

Trans-Atlantic security group debates conflicts

2008-12-03 22:31:55 –

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) – Some 50 foreign ministers from a leading
trans-Atlantic security group are meeting to discuss ways of avoiding
conflicts, like the one in Georgia, Finnish officials said Wednesday.
Apart from the Caucasus, new security proposals by Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev will be discussed by the foreign ministers at the
two-day meeting that
opens Thursday, said Alexander Stubb, chairman of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Stubb, who is the Finnish foreign minister and currently holds the
rotating chair of the OSCE, gave few details, but said the proposals
contain «lots of elements that are already in the OSCE, or in NATO or
the European Union,» and would be presented by Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov.
«They include the mention of regional integrity, refraining from the
use of violence, democracy and human rights,» Stubb said. «People will
be listening very carefully to Lavrov on Thursday.
Stubb said the United States was also «cautiously open» to the Russian
proposals.
«In other words, … we should listen with open ears and interest to
what sort of security proposals the Russian are suggesting,» Stubb
said. He met U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday
before flying to Helsinki.
Rice canceled her scheduled Thursday attendance at the OSCE meeting to
travel to India.

In Helsinki, the ministers will also discuss Nagorno-Karabakh, the
disputed enclave in Azerbaijani territory but occupied by Armenia,
Stubb said.
Stubb said he was optimistic the talks would improve ties between the
56 member states in a region that stretches from Vancouver in Canada
to Vladivostok, Russia.
«It’s already a success that … for the first in the history of the
OSCE we have 50 foreign ministers sitting and discussing regional
issues,» Stubb said.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 3 2008

Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers meet in Helsinki – UPDATED

[ 03 Dec 2008 23:05 ]

Helsinki. Tamara Grigoryeva – APA. Azerbaijani and Armenia Foreign
Ministers Elmar Mamedyarov and Edward Nalbandian have met Helsinki,
Finland today.

As APA’s correspondent in Helsinki reports, the meeting was attended
by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Matthew Bryza (U.S.), Yuri
Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France).

The co-chairs first met with Armenian minister and they were later
joined by Azeri minister.

No information was released for media after the meeting that lasted
several hours.

This format of talks will be joined by the Foreign Ministers of the
co-chair states tomorrow.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 3 2008

Alexander Stubb: `I hope for a regional declaration on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in Helsinki summit’`

[ 03 Dec 2008 20:09 ]

Baku. Tamara Grigorieva ` APA. `In early period of my presidency in
the OSCE I thought that it will be an ordinary presidency like an
ordinary diplomatic job.

But now I think that our presidency was very important’, said Finnish
Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-In-Office Alexander Stubb at the
press conference dedicated to the results of Finland’s presidency in
the OSCE, APA correspondent reports from Helsinki. Stubb said foreign
ministers of 50 countries would join the OSCE Foreign Ministers
Council meeting in Helsinki on Thursday. `For the first time such
number of foreign ministers join the OSCE summit. 67 delegation were
accredited at the event and 1200 delegates expected to attend the
summit. There are two main issues on the summit’s agenda. First we
will hold discussion over the situation in the South Caucasus,
particularly in Georgia. We saw in early period of our presidency that
Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts are not frozen and
Transdniestrian and Nagorno Karabakh conflicts are also developing. I
think it is good idea to discuss this issue within the OSCE. I believe
that the OSCE will focus on its priorities ` economy, security and
democracy for a long time’.

Alexander Stubb said the OSCE foreign ministers would adopt the
political declaration. `For the first over the past 60 years The OSCE
Foreign Ministers Council will adopt the political declaration. On the
other hand we will adopt two regional declarations on the
Transdniestrian and Nagorno karabakh conflicts. 10-15 documents more
expected to be adopted at the summit’.

The OSCE Chairman told APA correspondent that Azerbaijan and Armenia
have made progress in resolving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. `The
OSCE hopes for a regional declaration on the issue at the Helsinki
summit. Things are looking quite good on Nagorno-Karabakh. I think
that we are moving away from a frozen conflict towards a permanent
solution, but of course we are not there yet, and it is very important
that the Minsk Group works on this’, said Stubb.

Responding the question about situation in Georgia Alexander Stubb
said results of discussions over this issue would be described in the
political declaration. `We had four targets during the conflict, first
to achieve ceasefire and we reached this goal. The second was sending
of military observers to Georgia, third withdrawal of troops from
Georgia and last target was start of long-term negotiations. This
dialogue is continued within the framework of Geneva Group and I hope
that the talks will be finished successfully’.

Interfax-Religion, Russia
Dec 3 2008

Yerevan students’ rally protests treatment of Armenian churches in Georgia

Yerevan, December 3, Interfax – More than 2,000 students of Armenian
universities held a rally on Wednesday protesting against a recent
series of events involving Armenian churches in Georgia, including the
November 16 desecration of two tombstones on the graves of known
Armenians outside Tbilisi’s St. Norashen church at the initiative of
Georgian Priest Tariel Sikinchelashvili.

The students gathered outside the headquarters of the UN office in
Yerevan. They then walked toward the building of the Georgian embassy
in Armenia and handed over a letter to Georgian Ambassador Revaz
Gachechiladze, demanding that "this illegal conduct of Georgian
clergymen be stopped and an appropriate assessment be given to what
has happened."

Several years ago, Priest Sikinchelashvili tried to install tombstones
with inscriptions in the Georgian language on the premises of the
St. Norashen Armenian church. In August 2008, he coordinated efforts
to build a fence around the church with symbols allegedly pointing to
its belonging to the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Armenian Minister for Diaspora Affairs Granush Akopian told a news
conference on Wednesday that "not a single priest has any right to
ruin the century-long friendship of the Armenian and Georgian
peoples."

Akopian said that the fate of Armenian historical and cultural
monuments in Georgia is high on his ministry’s agenda.

oikotimes.com, Greece
Dec 3 2008

System Of A Down really interested or is this a promo stunt?

It all started with the NME.com report last summer that the Armenian
originated group of SYSTEM OF A DOWN was said to be approached by the
Armenian national television for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. The
issue though seems to be more promotional than true. In recent
interviews the group keeps saying that they are not going to be
reunited especially for the contest.

During their summer statements SOAD said that if they represented
Armenia they would like to do it so with a political song, something
that weirdly ARMTV haven’t denied and something that EBU itself would
have not allowed. The weird story will come to an end in about a month
when the Armenian state television will open its cards for the Moscow
2009 bidding.

It will be interesting to see if the broadcaster will actually come to
negotiations with the band making them reunite but in that case, the
image of the national entry might be damaged, despite the group’s
popularity. The songs with political lyrics in Eurovision averagely
fail in the contest and we would like to remind to ARMTV that SOAD are
very popular in the US and not in Europe where the TV station aims to
get points for!

rticles&id=4482

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2008

Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan: "Turkey has always been with
Azerbaijan in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict"

04 December 2008 [14:18] – Today.Az

Ankara is interested in the soonest improvement of the situation in
the Caucasus and development of all countries of the region, including
Armenia, said Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic, according
to Interfax-Azerbaijan.

"Establishment of stability and development in the Caucasus meets
Armenia’s interests. Turkey is interested in good situation in its
neighbor states, including Armenia", noted the ambassador, speaking at
the eighth economic, scientific and cultural forum of the Turkic
states on "The Great Silk Road in the 21st century" in Baku.

Kilic announced that Turkey is always by Azerbaijan’s side in the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

In his speech, the diplomat also stressed the importance to continue
integration among the Turkic states.

"The Turkic Union is not targeting anyone, it is natural and has
formed historically", noted he.

The ambassador said that the Turkish companies through the period of
their activity in Azerbaijan have invested a total of $6 bln of
investments in country’s economy.

URL:

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2008

Armenian Culture Minister: "Armenia did not undertake to participate
in the conference of the CE Culture Ministers in Baku"

04 December 2008 [12:45] – Today.Az

"Armenia has not undertaken to participate in the conference of the
Culture Ministers of the CE member-states in Baku", said Armenian
Culture Minister Asmik Pogosyan.

"Armenia has not undertaken to participate in this meeting, we have
not agreed or rejected participation in it", she told Wednesday
during a governmental hour in the parliament of the country.

The conference of the Culture Ministers of the CE member-states
"Intercultural dialogue as a basis of sustainable development and
peace in Europe and its neighbor regions" was held in Baku on December
2-3.

The Minister said Armenia always participated in such events and
learning about the upcoming conference expected to receive the
invitation.

The Minister explained that the invitation was received but it
contained "impolite expressions".

Moreover, a document, on which Armenia could not agree, was adopted in
the threshold of the event, the Minister of Culture said.

Commenting on the anti-Armenian expressions, fixed during the
conference, Pogosyan noted that Armenian side expected such a
conduct. "As the meeting was held in Baku, we did not expect anything
different", said she.

/Novosti-Armenia/

URL:

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2008

Azerbaijan, Armenia’s Foreign Ministers Plan to Continue Talks in Helsinki
04.12.08 12:31

Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 Dec/ Trend News corr E. Tanriverdiyeva/ Foreign
ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia plan to continue talks on the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Helsinki today.

The talks between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia
Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandyan attended by the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs began in the capital city of Finland within the frames
of the meeting of the Council of OSCE Foreign Ministers.

Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory ` Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven surrounding regions. The occupation began in
1988. Azerbaijan lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and
Khojali, in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied
Shusha, Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful, but
fruitless negotiations.

`Subject of yesterday’s meeting was re-examining Basic Principles of
the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh and once they are ready, we
will begin to negotiate formally,’ Matthew Bryza, U.S. co-chair of the
Minsk Group, told Trend News by telephone from Helsinki.

It has been negotiated to prepare next meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents, Bryza said. `We hope that leaders of Azerbaijan
and Armenia will meet in a couple of weeks,’ diplomat said.

Last time Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers met in early Nov
within the trilateral meeting of Presidents Ilham Aliyev, Dmitri
Medvedev and Serzh Sarkisyan in Moscow which ended with Moscow
Declaration.

The leaders of each country emphasize different elements of the Basic
Principles. `The President of Armenia emphasizes the concept of
self-determination. The President of Azerbaijan emphasizes the concept
of territorial integrity. Our job as mediators is to help both sides
negotiate an agreement that takes all of these concepts into account
in a mutually agreed way,’ he said.

AME Info, United Arab Emirates
Dec 4 2008

Post modern vision takes top prize at Index Dubai 2008

A post-modernist vision of a hotel room has won two talented students
for their university and the opportunity to work with one of the
region’s leading interior design companies.

‘We set out to create something out of the ordinary,’ said Shant
Krichelian, one of the two final year students of the School of
Architecture and Design at the American University of Sharjah whose
entry won the top prize in Al Habtoor Interior’s Young Designers
Award. The awards were presented today at Index, the region’s biggest
interior event at Dubai International Exhibition and Convention
Centre.

Index is hosting the winners of Al Habtoor Interiors’ Young Designers
Award on a specially designed stand featuring a mock up of the hotel
room and artists’ impressions of work by the winners and runners
up. ‘Their work shows much hope for the future,’ said Guy Roukaerts, a
design journalist and one of the judges for the awards. ‘The quality
of presentations was striking,’ he added.

Shant, from Armenia but born and brought up in Sharjah, co-operated on
the winning hotel room design with fellow interior design student
Nazaneed Azarbaijani, from Iran. ‘Our design is post modern and all
about function and comfort,’ said Shant. On plans for an interior
design career on graduation, Shant said: ‘I haven’t decided yet but I
will go wherever the flow takes me.’

Second placed in the awards were a team from Ajman University made up
of interior design students Tarek Karaly, Ahmed Hamdy and Mohammed
Ziddan. Third placed was a team from MAHE Manipal University that
included Gurpreet Kaur, Sabrina Kenssous and Sherin Samuel.

Sponsored and organised by Al Habtoor Interiors, a pioneer in interior
design solutions, the awards are aimed at encouraging creative talent
within UAE universities. Paul Watson, General Manager of Al Habtoor
Leighton Group Associated Business, congratulated the winners and
wished them the best for their future careers.

Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of dmg media Dubai organisers of
Index, said:

‘It is the responsibility of everybody involved in the industry to
encourage young talent and we are delighted to be able to help open
doors that may lead to a big break.’

The world’s major suppliers of furniture, fixtures and fittings are
taking part in Index. Nearly 1800 companies from 60 countries are
exhibiting in this year’s event, which runs until Sunday 7 December
2008. Index is open each day to professionals and trade visitors. The
show is open to the general public after 5 pm. There is a special
evening opening from 5-10 pm on Friday 5 December.