Month: November 2009

PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN MET IN MUNICH

armradio.am
23.11.2009 13:16

The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham
Aliyev met in Munich on November 22. The Munich meeting was the six
this year within the framework of the process of negotiations on the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia),
Bernard Fassier (France) and Robert Bradtke (USA), the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, as
well as the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, Edward Nalbandian
and Elmar Mammadyarov participated in the meeting. The talks later
continued face-to face.

During the meeting at the French Consulate that lasted about four
hours the parties continued the discussion of issues related to the
peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

The Presidents instructed their foreign ministers to continue working
with the Co-Chairs on these matters. As a next step, the Co-Chairs are
organizing a working session with the two ministers in advance of the
OSCE Ministerial Council, which will take place December 1-2 in Athens.

The Co-Chairs assessed the meeting as constructive and emphasized
that there was no military solution to the Karabakh issue and there
was no alternative to the negotiations.

NATO’S ROSE ROTH SEMINAR TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN IN MARCH
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
23.11.2009 17:17

Over the past year members of the Armenian delegation to the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly has been working to bring the Rose Roth seminar
to Armenia.

Armenia has succeeded on the issue, Head of the Armenian delegation
to the NATO PA, Keraen Avagyan told a press conference today. During
the talks with NATO an agreement has been reached on holding the NATO
seminar in Armenia from March 11 through 13.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS REGISTER PROGRESS SOME AREAS WAS MADE

armradio.am
23.11.2009 10:55

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yury Merzlyakov of
Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United
States, released the following statement today:

"President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsian met November 22, 2009 at the residence of the French Consul
General in Munich at the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov (Russian Federation), Ambassador Bernard
Fassier (France), Ambassador Robert Bradtke (United States).

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian also participated in the talks, as well as
the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During this meeting, the sixth such meeting this year, the two
presidents engaged in a detailed and in-depth discussion of the most
important unresolved points in the Co-Chairs’ proposals. The talks,
which lasted almost four hours, were constructive. In some areas,
progress was made. At the same time, some issues still remain open.

The Presidents instructed their foreign ministers to continue working
with the Co-Chairs on these matters. As a next step, the Co-Chairs
are organizing a working session with the two ministers in advance
of the OSCE Ministerial Council, which will take place December 1-2
in Athens."

CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS REGISTERED

armradio.am
23.11.2009 18:38

Violations of cease-fire regime in different directions have been
registered on November 21 and 22, reports the Press Service of the
NKR Ministry of Defense.

The rival opened fire on the Karabakhi positions located in the
directions of Horadiz, Chakhrl, Ashagh Abdurahmanli, Lyala-Ilagli,
Shkhlar, Bash Karvend, Leonaris, Talish and Tap-Karakoyunlu.

"As usual, the Azerbaijani propaganda machine has disseminated
information today that the Armenian snipers shot an Azerbaijani citizen
near the village of Tap-Karakoyunlu. It is the recurrent misinformation
invented by the official propaganda of Baku, which does not correspond
to reality," the NKR Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

GUL TOLD "LA STAMPA" ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER WILL SOON BE OPENED

Panorama.am
17:34 23/11/2009

Politics

When the citizens of Armenia and Turkey will be able to pass the
border, Italian "La Stampa" requested Turkish President Abdulah Gul.

"That obstacle will be soon resolved. Of course we’ll need some
"technical" period as the document should pass a discussion stage in
the parliaments of the both countries. Then we are going to appoint
Ambassadors and the land border will be opened. It’s long since the
air border is open," Gul told Italian paper. Gul declared his country
is serious to continue its strategy of having no problems with the
neighbors. "If status of democracy rises in the country all taboos
disappear," said Gul in view of Armenian and Kurdish conflicts.

Regarding the ties with Armenia Abdulah Gul said: "If we speak
generally, the world is changing and Turkey is changing also."

INDIA SIGNIFIES INTENSIFICATION OF TIES WITH ARMENIA, PRESIDENT SAYS

Panorama.am
17:35 23/11/2009

Politics

Armenian Ambassador to India Ara Hakobyan conveyed the greetings
of the Armenian President to the President of India, Mrs. Pratibha
Devisingh Patil and noted that Armenia prioritizes the development
of comprehensive cooperation with India.

Touching upon the current state of bilateral relations and the
perspectives, Ambassador Hakobyan noted that the reciprocal visits
of high-level delegations would contribute to further development of
political, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

For her part, President Pratibha Patil noted that India attaches
great importance to the intensification of relations with Armenia. She
voiced hope that the newly appointed Ambassador would contribute to
the development of the Armenian-Indian cooperation.

Ambassador Hakobyan presented his credentials to the President of India
November 20. The ceremony was followed by the talk as metioned above.

ARMENIAN, TURKISH SPEAKERS DUE TO HAVE FIRST BILATERAL MEETING IN MOSCOW

Panorama.am
17:21 23/11/2009

Politics

The Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan is in
Moscow now to attend the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

"Like during all plenary sessions, the Armenian Speaker may have
bilateral meetings, including meeting with the Turkish Parliament
Speaker," NA press secretary Nairi Petrosyan told Panorama.am.

Referring to the frame of issues to be discussed at the meeting of
the Armenian and Turkish Speakers, N. Patrosyan said: "Taking into
consideration this is to be their first bilateral meeting, a wide
frame of issues is due to be discussed."

Hovik Abrahamyan is due to return to Armenia November 26.

THE RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN-LED DELEGATION IS IN YALTA ON A WORKING VISIT

Friday , 20 November 2009

The RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan-led delegation is in Yalta on a
working visit. Set to attend the recurring session of CIS Council of
Heads of Government, the delegation which is is composed of Chief of
Government Staff David Sargsyan, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Shavarsh Kocharyan, Armenia’s permanent representative to CIS statutory
and other bodies, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
the Republic of Belarus Oleg Yesayan, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Armen Khachatryan, other dignitaries.

Livadia Palace in Yalta town of Ukraine hosted today the regular
meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.

According to tradition, the heads of government were welcomed by
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshencko. Then a narrow-format
meeting was held, followed by an extended panel of 1+5 format.

The Council has discussed over two dozen documents aimed activating
and furthering cooperation in the economic and humanitarian spheres,
bettering migration and security-related policies.

On the sidelines of the one-day meeting, the heads of government
discussed a draft resolution on joint action to undertake in the
aftermath of the global financial and economic crisis. The 2009 to
2010 action plan is drafted on the basis of the proposals submitted
by member States, covering such measures as are aimed at removing
barriers in mutual trade, coordinating efforts to protect the
domestic markets of the CIS states. It was suggested to enhance
transparency in financial and economic activities through exchange
of information on price control and competition on the socially
important and infrastructure-related commodity markets. The document
provides for measures aimed at supporting low-income countries from
the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The agenda featured a draft concept on energy cooperation and a
corresponding priority action plan as prepared on the basis of the
first-stage measures of the economic development strategy of up till
2020, namely the first-leg action designed for the period 2009-2011.

The concept bears on the objectives, tasks, general mechanisms and
principles underlying the cooperation in the energy sector.

Next, the heads of government discussed the draft agreements on joint
endeavors toward the commissioning and maintenance of interstate
power lines and concerted action for the development of transport
corridors in the CIS area.

They also decided to establish a cooperation and coordination entity
in the sphere of innovations, promote scientific-technical cooperation
and develop national frameworks for copyright protection, as well as
to combat HIV and AIDS.

The meeting passed a decision on the next year’s budget of activities
under the 2006-2010 improved living standards program for war veterans,
peacekeepers and local conflict participants. The Council further
discussed priority measures aimed at implementing the principles laid
down in the CIS Declaration on agreed migration policy, collaborating
in the air accident- and financial audit-related probes, strengthening
anti-air defense systems.

It was decided to hold the next CIS Heads of Government Council
meeting in Moscow on May 21, 2010.

Then, the guests attended an official dinner and a reception hosted
by the Ukrainian Prime Minister.

Later today, the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan-led government
delegation will be back to Yerevan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARFD ARTSAKH STRUCTURE: CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS CONTRADICT INTERESTS OF ARMENIA, NAGORNO KARABAKH AND ARMENIANS WORLDWIDE

Noyan Tapan
Nov 23, 2009

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The ARFD Artsakh
organization’s 16th regional assembly discussing the current process
of Armenian-Turkish relations adopted a statement on November 22,
which, in particular, read:

"The current developments in the Armenian-Turkish relations contradict
the interests of the Republic of Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh Republic
and Armenians worldwide. The humiliating and dangerous preconditions
existing in the signed protocols, as well as new statements constantly
voiced by Turkish ruling circles are evidence that this country’s goal
is to weaken Armenia and the Armenians and to force new concessions.

It is also obvious that an attempt is made to split the
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora united front.

On the other hand, the activization noticed over the so-called Madrid
Principles is evidence of the increasing pressures upon the Armenian
side. However, no compulsion or bellicose threat can make the Armenians
renounce their national interests.

We stress that the struggle of the Armenian Cause is not a struggle
of Armenian people’s separate parts but a struggle for independent
statehood’s fate and the whole Armenian people’s existence. The
dignified victory achieved with the efforts of all Armenians on the
Artsakh front is not a subject of bargaining.

The ARFD Artsakh structure will continue struggling resolutely for
the rights of all Armenians."

TURKEY’S CONDUCT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVEMENT OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS, ARFD HAY DAT MOSCOW OFFICE EXECUTIVE SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 23, 2009

MOSCOW, NOVEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. An international conference under
the title The Prospects of New Security Structure in Europe: Russia’s
and NATO’s role was held on November 19 in Moscow. It was organized by
the Just World Institute and Friedrich Ebert Foundation. ARFD Hay Dat
(Armenian Cause) Moscow Office Executive Yuri Navoyan participated
in the conference and gave a speech.

Making a report on Caucasian security problems he touched upon
the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement. Y. Navoyan, in particular, stressed that a
number of provisions existing in the Armenian-Turkish protocols and
Turkey’s conduct of conditioning the ratification of the protocols by
Armenian side’s concessions in the Nagorno Karabakh issue not only
fail to lead to improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relations but
also complicate one more regional process by making unpredictable
the further developments in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

The ARFD Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Moscow Office Executive emphasized
that the above mentioned is also to certain extent caused by the
circumstance that at the current stage of international relations,
within the framework of Russia-West "reloading," a temptation to
as soon as possible show a joint result in any complicated region,
including Caucasus, is noticed. According to Y. Navoyan, it can result
in incomplete solutions and compulsions, which instead of contributing
to security in the region, can cause new problems.