Month: December 2008

ARMENIA, IRAN TO BUILD FUEL PIPELINE: MINISTER

Agence France Presse — English
December 22, 2008 Monday 4:32 PM GMT

Construction will begin next year on a pipeline to deliver petrol
and diesel fuel from Iran to Armenia, Armenian Energy Minister Armen
Movsisian said Monday.

The 300-kilometre (185-mile) pipeline will run from the Iranian city
of Tabriz to the Armenian city of Eraskh, where a terminal is to be
built, Movsisian said at a press conference.

"Armenia will receive petrol and diesel fuel from the oil refinery
located in the Iranian city of Tabriz through the pipeline,
construction of which starts next spring," he said.

Movsisian said the pipeline would take two years to complete and each
country would pay half the 200-240 million dollar (145-170 million
euro) cost.

He said the project was part of efforts by Armenia to diversify its
energy supplies, in particular after the war in neighbouring Georgia
in August disrupted Russian supplies to Armenia.

"In order to guarantee the country’s energy security we are moving
toward the diversification of energy supplies," he said.

Armenia and Iran last year inaugurated a 150-kilometre (95-mile)
pipeline intended to deliver 36 billion cubic metres (1.27 trillion
cubic feet) of gas from Iran to Armenia over 20 years. It has yet to
start operations.

Landlocked Armenia has sought closer links with Iran in recent years.

It suffers from an economic blockade imposed by neighbours Azerbaijan
and Turkey over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region and its efforts to
gain recognition of Ottoman-era mass killings of Armenians as genocide.

JOEY VARTANIAN: VARTANIAN ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY TO BRING FRESH THINKING TO CONGRESS

Science Letter
December 23, 2008

Local businessman Joey Vartanian launches his campaign for Illinois’
5th Congressional District to replace Congressman Rahm Emanuel in
the upcoming special election. "My strength, thinking and experience
as a small businessman who has lived in the district all his life
are what we need to represent change in Congress," Vartanian says
(see also Joey Vartanian).

A self-made first-generation Armenian American, Vartanian is an
independent Democrat who understands today’s overwhelming and
unprecedented challenges. He has lived and survived many of the
hardships and struggles we all face today. "To instill real change,
we need to elect a true outsider … someone with a fresh untainted
perspective, with new ideas, and the forethought and know-how to
ensure we all succeed; someone who is not a part of what is currently
a broken-down and bankrupt system. I am that person," Vartanian says.

Vartanian is committed to solving the economic crisis defined by
fiscal carelessness, unregulated lending, corporate greed and loyalty
to special interests. As a pro-business centrist, he plans to place
the power back in the people’s hands by employing policies that
promote job creation, protection for Main Street and reducing excess
spending. "Change must begin on a local level," Vartanian says. He
is an advocate of programs that improve schools, transportation and
utility systems. He also supports retraining for green initiatives
and the jobs the initiatives will create.

Vartanian has served on several community boards within the
5th District and has been involved in solving issues between
residents of the community and the hospitality industry for over
20 years. He is a father and currently runs D3 Events, Crobar and
Maxbar. For more information on Vartanian and how to get involved:

COURAGEOUS CHANGE IN TURKEY

Edmonton Journal
December 23, 2008 Tuesday
Alberta

The online petition by a group of Turkish intellectuals, apologizing
for the Ottoman massacres of Armenians in 1915, shows just how far
Turkey has come in the last few years — and how far it has yet to go.

Writers have paid with their careers and their lives for talking openly
about history. Journalist Hrant Drink was prosecuted for "insulting
Turkishness" and then shot to death by a Turkish nationalist in January
2007. Writer Orhan Pamuk was also prosecuted, only three years ago,
simply for saying that a million Armenians had died.

So this new petition is a remarkably brave act on the part of its
authors. What’s even more remarkable is that thousands of members of
the public have also signed the petition. This might be a sign that
there is a willingness to break the old taboos ….

All the same, its authors were careful not to use the word
"genocide." They call it, instead, the "great catastrophe"… There is
already a nationalist backlash building against the petition. Imagine
what the reaction would have been if the authors had dared to use
the word many parliaments … have used in their condemnations.

RA MINISTRY OF ECONOMY HELD FORUM IN DILIJAN

RIA Oreanda
Dec 23 2008
Russia

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS . On 23 December 2008 was announced, that the
regular Meeting Forum of Information and Telecommunication Technologies
leaders without ties took place in Dilijan on December 6-7. These
Forums are organized by RA Ministry of Economy and Information
Technologies Association.

The main objective of the Forum was the discussion of three topical
for Armenian economy issues:

competitiveness of Armenian technological sphere during the
international financial crisis,

principles for building of electronic governance infrastructure
systems in Armenia,

tax and customs difficulties in the field of Information and
Telecommunication Technologies.

RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan, the representatives from
RA Revenue Committee and Central Bank of Armenia, Sweden delegation
of the company Ericsson, Head of IT department of Georgian Ministry
of Finance Davit Tsekvava, representatives of Business environment
improvement USAID Georgian project and private companies, as well
as representatives from Armenian trade banks, appropriate state
institutions, NGOs and information and telecommunication sphere
participated at the meeting.

The participants discussed possible ways of overcoming the
international financial crisis and problems emerged during the
crisis. The company Ericsson presented its program on the e-governance
infrastructure system building. The exchange of experience on the
achievements of Electronic Trade of Georgias system and its development
in our country, as well as tax and customs difficulties in the field
and suggested arrangements for overcoming these difficulties were
among the topics discussed.

ARMENIAN, IRANIAN OFFICIALS DISCUSS TIES

Public Television of Armenia
Dec 23 2008

[Armenian] National Security Council Secretary Artur Baghdasaryan
met a delegation led by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council
Deputy Head in charge of International Affairs Ali Baqeri today. A
wide range of developing relations between Armenia and Iran were
discussed. The sides emphasized the need for considering relations from
the regional and international standpoints. The construction of the
Armenia-Iran railway, [presumably the Tabriz-Yeraskh]oil pipeline and
the Yerevan-Batumi highway with Tehran’s participation were discussed
as well. The sides stressed the need for raising Armenian-Iranian
relations to a strategic level. Baghdasaryan invited his Iranian
counterpart to come to Armenia with an official visit.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOVHANNES HOVHANNISIAN: YEAR 2008 WILL BE WRITTEN IN ARMENIA’S HISTORY AS A BLACK YEAR

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 23, 2008
YEREVAN

Hard and tragic events happened in 2008, and year 2008 will be written
as a black year in Armenia’s history.

Hovhannes Hovhannisian, the leader of the Liberal Progressive Party
of Armenia, stated at the December 23 press conference dedicated to
summing up the 2008 political year.

According to him, 2008 started with a great people’s awakening, which
however finished with the March 1 and 2 terrible slaughter. "It was
an unprecedented crime against their own people. As far as I know,
no country member of Council of Europe has experienced such events,"
H. Hovhannisian stated.

He said that a new political category, political prisoners, appeared
in Armenia after the March 1 events, which make Armenia similar with
Chile in the 70-s. Meanwhile, according to him, all efforts of the
authorities aimed at exterminating people’s struggle were in vain:
the Armenian National Congress uniting 16 political parties, dozens of
NGOs, thousands of people became really a mighty political institution,
which will be a serious guarantee for establishment of democracy.

ENTRANCE TO COURT PROHIBITED TO MAJORITY OF DEFENDANTS’ RELATIVES AT OPEN-DOOR COURT SITTING ON "CASE OF SEVEN"

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 23, 2008
YEREVAN

Over thirty policemen and sixty police special forces in red berets
some hours before the start of the December 23 court sitting on the
"case of the seven" had surrounded the building of Shengavit general
jurisdiction court. At the fixed court sitting hour hundreds of
opposition activists and defendants’ relatives had gathered in the
court yard and tried to enter the building. However the policemen
prohibited them even to come up to the court stating that the
court hall is already crowded. The sister of one of the defendants,
former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian said in her interview to
journalists that nearly 90% people sitting in the hall are policemen or
national security representatives in civil clothes. While, according
to her, defendants’ relatives are not permitted to be present at the
sitting announced open-door in advance.

After an argument between the policemen and those gathered lasting
nearly half an hour RA Ombudsman Armen Haroutiunian left the court
building, and with his mediation the policemen permitted some relatives
of defendants to enter the court building.

Those gathered waited in the court yard until the sitting
finished. They were constantly voicing "Struggle, struggle till the
end!," "Freedom to political prisoners!," "Release our heroes." When
the defendants were brought out from the court back entrance by cars
the demonstrants greeted and saw them off with applause.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EDUARD SHARMAZANOV: IT IS NO USE SPEAKING ABOUT AMNESTY UNTIL TRIAL ON "CASE OF SEVEN" FINISHES

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 23, 2008
YEREVAN

PACE Monitoring Committee’s proposal to deprive Armenia’s delegation
of the vote, naturally, is not favorable, but such proposals often
fail to be fulfilled in PACE. Eduard Sharmazanov, the Spokesperson
of the Republican Party of Armenia, expressed such an opinion at
the December 22 press conference. According to him, the prospect
that Armenia will be finally deprived of the vote is very vague. "If
European structures indeed wish to assist us in building democracy,
they should not use sanctions," E. Sharmazanov said.

Touching upon the issue of releasing the political prisoners, the
RPA Spokesperson said that it is no use speaking about amnesty until
the trial on the "case of the seven" finishes. "It is a fact that
there are problems regarding human rights and democracy in Armenia,
but problems emerge in any state after an attempt of a coup,"
E. Sharmazanov stated. He reminded President Serzh Sargsyan’s words
that there should not be people persecuted for their political views
in Armenia. Meanwhile E. Sharmazanov stated that if the activists
imprisoned on the March 1 case are released at present, the authorities
cannot have guarantees that the defeated side will not try to achieve
a result by inciting clashes in the next elections.

Commenting upon RPA Vice-Chairman Galust Sahakian’s statement that
if Europe pushes away Armenia, the Armenians will start to cooperate
with "Muslim structures," E. Sharmazanov said that it is a private
opinion. According to him, RPA’s official position is that Armenia
should continue its European integration way.

FIGHTING ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION N 106 IN CONGRESS SHOULD BE TURKEY’S PRIMARY TASK NEXT YEAR

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 23, 2008
YEREVAN

International community’s pressure upon Turkey in the issue
of recognition of Armenian Genocide becomes stronger and
stronger. Turkologist Ruben Safrastian, the Director of the RA
NAS Institute of Oriental Studies, said at the December 22 press
conference. According to him, if 7-8 years ago someone spoke in
the U.S. about the Armenian Genocide committed in Turkey, he would
be considered bribed by Armenians. And currently those denying the
Genocide are considered bribed by Turks. The probability of adoption
of Resolution N 106 on recognition of Armenian Genocide in Congress
grows more and more, and next year fighting its adoption should be
Turkey’s primary task.

According to R. Safrastian, the current Turkish authorities consider
themselves Ottoman Turkey’s descendants, therefore they fail to
get rid of the policy of denying the Armenian Genocide. As to the
participants of the signature collection on the website I Apologize,
they are Turkish intellectuals making a small part of society.

Expressing readiness to establish relations with Turkey without
preconditions, Armenia showed a europeanized approach, which in R.

Safrastian’s opinion, is a very positive step. Armenia’s "football
diplomacy" was the continuation of that approach, to which Turkey
responded to some extent.

In R. Safrastian’s opinion, putting forward the idea of "Caucasian
platform" by Turkey was its attempt to oppose to strengthening of
Russia’s positions in the South Caucasus. After the August events
the geopolitical situation in the region changed in favor of Russia,
which dislocated its forces in Georgia’s formal territories. By
putting forward the idea of "Caucasian platform," Turkey tried to
show an initiative in the political sphere. And Russia welcomed that
initiative after Turkey renounced its initial plan to involve the U.S.

For Turkey, it was very important how the South Caucasian countries
will treat its initiative. Georgia abstained because of Russia and
increased Armenia’s role by doing so. According to the Turkologist,
for the first time in history Armenia received a serious diplomatic
value for Turkey, and an exclusive situation was formed, from which
Armenia should be able to derive benefit.

R. Safrastian said that Turkey’s activity in the Nagorno Karabakh issue
was also due to Russia’s factor, which strengthening its geopolitical
positions, decided to show political activity by initiating signing of
Maindorf Declaration. According to the Turkologist, Turkey will hardly
believe that Armenia will ever agree to Turkey’s being a mediator in
the Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

According to R. Safrastian, Russia-Turkey possible rapprochement is
much spoken about in the past 2-3 years. However indeed it is of
purely economic nature. These two countries’ geopolitical visions
in the Caucasian region are mutually exclusive: both Turkey and
Russia wish to involve the South Caucasus in the sphere of their
influence. Therefore these countries’ political rapprochement at the
state level is improbable, and no real danger threatens Armenia in
that respect.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: NO AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED WITHOUT ARTSAKH PARTY’S FULL PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATIONS

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 23, 2008
YEREVAN

The latest developments in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement
were discussed at the meeting of RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian and NKR President Bako Sahakian held on December 19 in
Stepanakert. E. Nalbandian presented the Artsakh President with the
results of the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ Council held in Helsinki and
the details of OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ meeting with Azeri Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadiarov in the capital city of Finland.

The interlocutors highly estimated the statements of OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairing countries’ Foreign Ministers and OSCE Foreign Ministers’
Council on Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

On December 20, E. Nalbandian visited Artsakh State University, where
he spoke before students and lecturers. The Minister presented the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations process and prospects.

Touching upon the issue of Artsakh authorities’ participation in the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement process, E. Nalbandian stressed that no
agreement can be reached without Artsakh party’s full participation
in the negotiations.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, E. Nalbandian also had
meetings with NKR National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulian and NKR
Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosian.