Month: December 2008

2008 FIXED PROGRESS IN KARABAKH PROCESS, TALVITIE SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2008 17:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The year of 2008 proved useful for resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the OSCE CiO’s special representative said.

"We would like the talks continue in the framework of Madrid principles
much depends on the sides," Heikki Talvitie said. "I am hopeful that
Greece, which will assume the OSCE presidency next year and which
is not well-informed of the Karabakh conflict, will not dent the
settlement process," he said, the Azeri Press Agency reports.

LAVROV: PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2008 18:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed
the necessity to coordinate base principles on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.

"We call on the sides jointly with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
to arrive at an agreement on the base principles and then start
preparations for a comprehensive peace deal," he said, Russian media
reports.

Mr. Lavrov noted the positive role of the recent meeting of the
Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia in Moscow, where the
leaders put their signature to a document on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROTEST ACTION AGAINST PARTICIPATION OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION IN TRACECA CONFERENCE PREVENTED IN BAKU

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2008 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) made
an attempt to foil participation of Armenian delegation including
representatives of the RA Transport and Communications Ministry and
Foreign Ministry in TRACECA conference in Baku.

KLO leader Akif Naghi said that the protesters entered the Gyulistan
palace where the meeting was taking place but the police prohibited
them from speaking.

KLO deputy chairman Ilgar Aliyev waxed indignant over the police’s
behavior, Day.az reports.

TURKEY CONTINUES TO SET CONDITIONS FOR NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2008 19:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish-Armenian border can be opened only after
Armenia "restores Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity," Turkish Trade
Minister said.

"We are open to developing relations with Armenia, to open borders,
and to develop trade," Kursad Tuzmen said during an Azeri-Turkish
business forum in Baku on Thursday.

"We do not oppose developing trade relations, which will have a
positive influence on the development of the whole region. However,
prior to this Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity should be restored,"
he added, Hurriyet reports.

OSCE MG CO-CHAIR COUNTRIES SIGNED A DECLARATION

AZG Armenian Daily
05/12/2008

Karabakh conflict

Foreign Ministers of France, Russia, and the United States – the
Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group – signed a joint declaration
on Nagorno Karabakh conflict, RA MFA press office reported.

The declaration runs as following, "We, the Foreign Ministers of
the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries – France, Russia, and the
United States – call on the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
to build on the positive momentum established during the meeting of
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow on November 2,
2008. The Moscow Declaration signed that same day opened a new and
promising phase in our shared endeavor to expand peace in the South
Caucasus. In that declaration, the Presidents reaffirm their commitment
to advancing a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
in the framework of the Basic Principles developed by the Minsk Group
Co-Chairs in collaboration with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan
on the basis of their proposals advanced last year in Madrid.

We call on the parties to work with the Co-Chairs to finalize the Basic
Principles in coming months, and then begin drafting a comprehensive
peace settlement as outlined by those agreed principles. In keeping
with the Moscow Declaration, we call on the parties to work with
the Co-Chairs to develop confidence-building measures, beginning
with pulling back snipers from the Line of Contact to save lives of
innocent civilians and soldiers as our mediators already proposed to
the sides at the highest level during the last visit mid November. It
is urgent for the parties to work with each other, the Co-Chairs,
and the Personal Representative of the Chairman in Office to stabilize
the ceasefire through this and other measures. We reiterate our firm
view that there is no military solution to the conflict and call on
the parties to recommit to a peaceful resolution."We reiterate our
firm view that there is no military solution to the conflict and call
on the parties to recommit to a peaceful resolution."

ARMENIANS OF FRANCE TO STAGE A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE SENATE

AZG Armenian Daily
05/12/2008

Armenian Genocide

Vice-mayor of Alfortville (near Paris) Rene Rouquet called on the
French Senate to pass the bill penalizing denial of the Armenian
Genocide, independent journalist Jan Eskiyan told "Azg" daily.

In his turn, French Minister of Internal Affairs Allen Marleix
answering the questions of the MP mentioned that the French
government’s position is clear and comprehensive – the bill (penalizing
denial of the Armenian Genocide) won’t be discussed.

According to the French Minister of Justice, in this way they want
to stimulate the Armenian-Turkish dialogue.

It is announced that Armenians of France are going to stage a
demonstration in front of the Senate on December 10.

E. NALBANDIAN AND E. MAMEDIAROV STRESS IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION OF POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN THE TWO PRESIDENTS

ARMENPRESS
Dec 4, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: The working visit of Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian to Helsinki kicked off December 3.

Press service of Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenpress that the
first meeting of the Minister in Helsinki was with OSCE Secretary
General, Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut. The sides discussed
issues concerning different aspects of OSCE activity and exchanged
thoughts on the reforms of the organization.

In this context Edward Nalbandian noted that Armenia signifies the OSCE
role in the issue of ensuring security and cooperation in Europe and
finds that the organization needs reformations to react the current
issues more efficiently.

The Foreign Minister and ambassador Brichambaut also referred to the
existing system of security in Europe. E. Nalbandian also pointed
out that the system of European security needs improvement and the
member states of the organization must exert joint efforts to make
it more functioning and efficient.

The Armenian Foreign Minister and OSCE Secretary General also discussed
issues connected with the activity of OSCE Yerevan office and increase
of its efficiency.

The OSCE Secretary General informed about his intention to visit
Armenia.

On the same day E. Nalbandian met with the rapporteur on Karabakh issue
of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Goran Lenmarker. During the meeting
the latest developments in negotiation process of Karabakh conflict
regulation were discussed. The Armenian Foreign Minister stressed
the importance of declaration signed in Moscow between Armenian,
Azerbaijani and Russian presidents on December 2 and noted that the
Azerbaijan’s distorted comments on the declaration and the attempts
to disregard the points reflected in it harm the efficiency of the
negotiation process and registration of the progress.

E. Nalbandian noted that Armenia underscores the parliamentary
diplomacy as a functioning format of discussion of the issues.

Goran Lenmarker said that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly always was
and remains a supporter to the regulation of the Karabakh issue only
through negotiations.

The meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Edward
Nalbandian and Elmar Mamediarov with OSCE Minsk group co-chairs
Yuri Merzlyakov, Bernard Fassier and Matthew Bryza and the personal
representative of OSCE acting chairman Andrzej Kasprzyk also took
place.

During the negotiations issues concerning Karabakh conflict regulation
were discussed.

15th SESSION OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION TO KICK OFF DECEMBER 5 IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
Dec 4, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: The 15th session of the
Armenian-Russian inter-parliamentary commission will kick off in
Armenian National Assembly December 5.

NA public relations department told Armenpress that the agenda of
the session includes the issue of participation of the members of
the parliaments of the two countries in the events dedicated to the
20th anniversary of Spitak earthquake. Armenian National Assembly
Speaker Hovik Abrahamian, co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian
inter-parliamentary cooperation commission Nikolay Rizhkov and deputy
chairman of Russian State Duma Lyubov Sliska will deliver speeches
at the event.

On the same day the meeting of the members of the Russian side of the
commission with the Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharian and
meeting in the Russian embassy is expected to take place.

On December 6 co-chairman of the commission Nikolay Rizhkov and
members of the commission will meet with the President of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan and His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

On December 7 the members of the commission will leave for Gyumri to
participate in the events dedicated to the memory of the victims of
the 1988 earthquake.

On December 8 the delegation will leave for Moscow.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"PEACE AND SPORT IMAGE OF THE YEAR 2008" PRIZE AWARDED TO SERZH SARGSYAN TO BE HANDED TODAY

ARMENPRESS
Dec 4, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Monaco’s "Peace and Sport"
organization awarded Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan "Peace and
Sport Image of the Year 2008" prize for the best display of friendship
through sport.

Prince of Monaco Albert II will pass today the prize to the Armenian
Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Armen Grigorian at the "Peace and
Sport 2008" international forum.

A. Grigorian told Armenpress that the chairman of the International
Olympic Committee and heads of different sport federations will
participate in the event.

The chairman and founder of the organization Joel Buzu in the letter
addressed to the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan noted that the
chief jury has unanimously decided to grant the prize to the President
of Armenia for symbolizing hand shaking image with Turkish President
Abdullah Gul.

The forum is held under the auspices of Prince of Monaco Albert II.

ISSUES ON EXPANSION COOPERATION WITH EBRD DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
Dec 4, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan received today delegation of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development which consisted of the head of the
Yerevan office of EBRD Michael Weinstein, directors of offices of
the bank in other countries, representatives of European community.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that greeting the guest,
the prime minister expressed assurance that the visit of the EBRD
delegation will give new impetus to the further consolidation and
boosting of cooperation between the bank and Armenia.

Referring to the priorities of the cooperation with EBRD, Tigran
Sargsyan pointed out the expansion of support to small and medium-sized
enterprises, development of infrastructures, formation of free trade
zones development of capital market.

Armenian prime minister presented to the delegation the current state
of the Armenian economy, 2009 programs, negative impact of global
financial crisis on Armenia.

The members of the delegation presented their viewpoints and opinions
over the raised issues, referred to the activity of the bank in the
conditions of world financial and economic crisis.

During the meeting the interlocutors also referred to the relations of
Armenia with neighboring countries. Armenian prime minister said that
Armenia is interested in having stable and predictable neighbors and
greets Turkey’s strive to become member of EU. According to him,
reforms taking place in Turkey will make the country stable and
predictable.