Month: September 2009

ARMENIAN DESIGNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MOSCOW USEFUL ARTS FESTIVAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 18:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Five Armenian designers and craftsmen will take
part in Moscow Useful Arts Festival to be held from September 3 to 6.

Head of the Armenian delegation, director of ARDIN IMAGE FASHION
CENTER Angela Dalakyan said clothes and accessories till be presented.

The event was initiated by All-Russian Exhibition Center under the
patronage of Moscow government.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IS "LENIENCY PROGRAMME" APPLICABLE IN ARMENIA?

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 18:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ State Commission for Economic Competition Protection
conducts a poll on methods of competition regulation, published at
its official website, SCECP press service reported. The Commission
prepares legislative changes stipulating for "leniency programme"
implementation, offered by European experts. The programme stipulates
for extenuating responsibility in case the business entity, as a party
to anti-competition agreement, informs the Commission and provides the
facts pertaining to the agreement. Also, experts suggest increasing
the fine from 2% to 10% of last year’s income, the practice applied
in developed European states.

According to statistics, about 80% of anti-competition agreements
were discovered in states applying leniency program.

SERZH SARGSYAN EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON DECEASE OF EDWARD KENNEDY

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 19:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Senator Edward Kennedy has been a friend of
Armenian people and made an inestimable contribution to Armenia-related
initiatives, such as Genocide recognition issue, struggle for Artsakh
liberation, humanitarian assistance to earthquake and war victims, RA
President Serzh Sargsyan said in connection with US Senator’s decease.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, Armenian people will remember Edward
Kennedy as a friend, champion of liberty and justice. "I express
my deepest condolences to Kennedy’s family, US Administration and
American people," RA President emphasized.

ARMENIA CAN MAKE ITS POSITION CLEAR BY RECOGNIZING NKR INDEPENDENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 20:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia needs ideas that can unite the nation,
according to Larisa Alaverdyan, secretary of Heritage parliamentary
group.

"Heritage offers formation of legal state system in the Republic
of Armenia and recognition of independence of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic," she said. "Armenia should bet he first to recognize NKR’s
independence."

Asked by a PanARMENIAN.Net how efficient the recognition can be,
Mrs. Alaverdyan said, "Armenia can make its position clear by
recognizing NKR independence. We call on all political forces to
recognize Nagorno Karabakh as an independent state."

ARMENIA SHOULDN’T HAVE INITIATED OPENING BORDERS WITH TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 21:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The issue of opening Armenian-Turkish border
was introduced even in 2007 by Armenia, which was a mistake,"
Heritage Parliamentary Faction representative Stepan Safaryan told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

According to MP, as Turkey unilaterally closed the border,
international community had to demand Turkey to open the border
with Armenia. "RA-Turkish rapprochement should have been a result
of Turkey’s revised policy towards Armenia, and not another issue on
Turkey external policy agenda," Safaryan emphasized.

When questioned by PanARMENIAN.Net reporter on possible economic
consequences of Armenian-Turkish border opening, the MP responded that
negative consequences can’t be excluded, as RA-manufactured products
won’t hold up against competition with Turkey’s production. Â"RA is
trying to establish normal relations with Turkey, while unprepared
to counter negative consequences opening of borders could entail."

TURKEY’S CLOSED BORDERS WITH ARMENIA A GROSS VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL NORMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 21:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "At international scene, Turkey never initiates short
term programs. Turkey develops several scenarios of a single program,
to use the suitable one in case of necessity. With Kurds’, Cyprus
and Armenian Genocide issues on its agenda, Turkey still negotiates
for joining EU as a member," Heritage Parliamentary Faction Secretary
Larisa Alaverdyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

According to Larisa Alaverdyan, experienced rival like Turkey should
not be challenged without long-term plans.

When questioned by reporters whether Turkey is to blame for cessation
of RA -Turkish rapprochement attempts, Larisa Alaverdyan responded
that no rapprochement actually existed. When signing the road map,
Turkey made some non-committal statements, without assuming any
obligations as to their fulfillment, she noted.

Touching upon opening of RA-Turkish border, the MP noted that Turkey’s
closed border with Armenia is a gross violation of international
norms. "Turkey continues blockading Armenia because of unresolved
conflict with Azerbaijan, which actually has no bearing with
Turkey. This is a gross violation of international law."

INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL ENSURES ARMENIA’S MIGHT

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 21:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Minister of Education Armen Ashotyan issued
a congratulatory address to schoolchildren, students and teachers on
occasion of Knowledge Day.

"Consistent work and devotion can guarantee successful educational
reforms," the Minister said. "Intellectual potential ensures Armenia’s
might."

TURKMENISTAN TO ESTABLISH NAVAL BASE IN CASPIAN SECTION OF COUNTRY

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.08.2009 22:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Turkmenistan Gurbangulu Berdimuhamedov
tasked all the law-enforcement ministries to organize a reliable
protection of the Caspian Sea borders from attacks by the smugglers
and terrorist groups.

Berdimuhamedov decided to establish a naval base in the Caspian section
of the country by 2015, which will be supplied with modern monitoring
equipment and ships with missiles on board. Also, an order was signed
to establish a naval training institute in the town of Turkmenbashi.

"Turkmenistan, preserving constant neutrality, does not intend to
use the naval base to solve territorial issues," Interfax cited
Berdimuhamedov as saying.

Turkmenistan borders with Azerbaijan on the Caspian. Territorial
disputes around oilfields were circulating between the states. In 2009,
the issue was submitted to international justice for consideration. The
issue could impede EU’s plans for Nabucco pipeline construction,
which Turkmenistan intended to join upon cessation of gas supplies
to Russia in April 2009.

CONTENT OF PROTOCOLS SIGNED BY ARMENIA, TURKEY PROMULGATED

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.09.2009 00:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey
have agreed to start their internal political consultations on the
two protocols – the "Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic
relations" and the "Protocol on the development of bilateral relations"
– which have been initiated in the course of their efforts under
Swiss mediation.

The two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of
their bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political
consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which
the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective
Parliaments for the ratification on each side. Both sides will make
their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in
line with their constitutional and legal procedures.

The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to the
regional peace and stability. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic
of Turkey are committed are pursuing their joint efforts with the
assistance of Switzerland.

YEREVAN, ANKARA RATIFY TIMETABLE TO OPEN COMMON BORDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.09.2009 11:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia and Turkey, guided by the Protocol on the
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia
and the Republic of Turkey, agreed to open the common border within
2 months after the entry into force of this Protocol.

The two countries agreed to conduct regular political consultations
between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries;
to implement a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim
to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including
an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and
archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations;
to make the best possible use of existing transport, communications
and energy infrastructure and networks between the two countries, and
to undertake measures in this regard; to develop the bilateral legal
framework in order to foster cooperation between the two countries;
to cooperate in the fields of science and education by encouraging
relations between the appropriate institutions as well as promoting
the exchange of specialists and students, and act with the aim of
preserving the cultural heritage of both sides and launching common
cultural projects; to establish consular cooperation in accordance
with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 in order to
provide necessary assistance and protection to the citizens of the
two countries; to take concrete measures in order to develop trade,
tourism and economic cooperation between the two countries; to engage
in a dialogue and reinforce their cooperation on environmental issues.

They agreed on the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral
commission which shall comprise separate sub-commissions for the
prompt implementation of the commitments mentioned in operational
paragraph 2 above in this Protocol. To prepare the working modalities
of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions, a
working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall
be created 2 months after the day following the entry into force of
this Protocol. Within 3 months after the entry into force of this
Protocol, these modalities shall be approved at ministerial level. The
intergovernmental commission shall meet for the first time immediately
after the adoption of the said modalities. The sub-commissions shall
start their work at the latest 1 month thereafter and they shall work
continuously until the completion of their mandates. Where appropriate,
international experts shall take part in the sub-commissions. The
timetable and elements agreed by both sides for the implementation
of this Protocol arc mentioned in the annexed document, which is an
integral part of this Protocol.

This Protocol and the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic
Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey
shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the first day of the
first month following the exchange of instruments of ratification,
Armenian MFA said in a statement.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress