Month: November 2009

Arakel Mirzoyan wins silver at World Weightlifting Championship
22.11.2009 18:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, in the men’s 69-kg category, Armenia’s Arakel
Mirzoyan won a silver medal, lifting 334kg in a clean and jerk at
World Weightlifting Championship in Goyang of South Korea.

The sportsman sent 154kg up before lifting 180 kg in the clean and
jerk for a total of 334 kg.

At Goyang’s World Weightlifting Championship, Armenia will be
represented by the following sportsmen:

Women’s Team

Meline Daluzyan weight category 63kg (November 25)
Nazik Avdalyan weight category 69kg (November 27)
Hripsime Khurshudyan weight category 75kg (November 28)

Men’s Team

Tigran G. Martirosyan weight category 77kg (November 24)
Tigran V. Martirosyan weight category 85kg (November 26)
Gevorik Poghosyan weight category 85kg (November 26)

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan made "important progress"
22.11.2009 23:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan made
"important progress" in talks about Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday, but
some difficulties were identified, French OSCE mediator Bernard
Fassier said.

"Some important progress has been reached," he told reporters after
more than four hours of talks in Munich. "At the same time, we
identified some difficulties."

Fassier said he and his co-mediators from the United States and Russia
would prepare the next meeting, without specifying when it would take
place, reported Reuters.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/

RPA ready to fight against oligopol system in Armenia, but in
opposition to expropriation of expropriators
Inner policy review for November 16-23
21.11.2009 GMT+04:00

The week began with continuation of discussions over the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols, flowed mainly into the criticism of the
foreign policy authorities, and conditioned by the weakness of its
internal state. As Vahan Shirkhanyan, Member of the Social-Democratic
Hunchak Party Central Board, noted on Monday at a press conference,
challenges facing Armenia are not decreasing but increasing. He
stressed that this process is not natural, but arising from the
policies pursued by the Armenian authorities.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Vahan Shirkhanian also noted that Armenian economy
will not benefit from the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border.
However, he did not press weighty arguments. Position of the Social
Democratic Hunchak Party on normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations was quite clearly laid at the press conference: `The party
opposes any restoration of relations with Turkey until the latter
recognizes the Armenian Genocide’. Shirkhanian also criticized the two
leading opposition forces of Armenia – the ARF Dashnaktsutyun and the
Armenian National Congress, declaring that the first is not opposition
as such, and the second lacks its own ideology.

Tuesday took the Armenian nation by surprise – Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan joined the Republican Party of Armenia. A day later his
opinion on the occasion expressed only Head of the Union of Political
Scientists of Armenia Hmayak Hovhannisyan, who noted that from then on
responsibility for Prime Ministers’ activities lied upon the
Republican Party of Armenia.

Mid-week again was saturated with discussions on the steps to be taken
by the Armenian Parliament towards ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols. MP of the opposition faction `Heritage’
Larisa Alaverdyan stated at a press conference that the Armenian
parliament should not depend on someone else’s decision and should
have its own approach to the issue. In her opinion, Turkey managed to
delay the Armenian Genocide recognition issue for another year. She
also criticized all the political forces of Armenia, declaring that
the situation in the country today is beneficial to all political
forces, including the opposition. Alaverdyan also stressed that
current opposition negatively differs from the one existing 20 years
ago.

On November 17, at a parliamentary session, MP Victor Dallakyan
touched upon the quality of foreign policy debates held in Armenia on
the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. According to him, they demonstrate
the imperfection of the Armenian political thought and the inability
to generate and efficiently solve our national problems.

His views on the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement expressed Director of
the Center `Sociometer’ Aharon Adibekyan, who stressed that with the
opening of the border, relations between the two nations would more
likely improve than deteriorate. `When the Armenian President said
that we should help the Turks to get to know themselves and their
history better, it applied not only to the Armenian Genocide. We must
help them to learn their roots. 30% of Turks are Armenoids,’ Adibekyan
said.

At that he emphasized that Armenian authorities act forcedly. `Anyone
who comes to power now will have to follow the same rules,’ Adibekyan
said.

In the mid-week, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan reiterated the
impossibility of Turkey’s mediation in the Karabakh conflict
settlement, when addressing the Armenian parliament sitting and
responding to a question of MP from the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
parliamentary faction Hrayr Karapetyan. RA Foreign Minister also
denied the rumours on the possible returning of refugees. `I do not
know who the President of Azerbaijan discussed with the issues of
refugees or the seven regions around Nagorno-Karabakh, since only the
status of Nagorno Karabakh is being negotiated,’ declared Nalbandyan
on November 18 during the governmental hour in the National Assembly
of Armenia, responding to a question issued by Eduard Sharmazanov,
Secretary of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of
Armenia.
The end of the week was devoted to discussions over the national
budget for 2010. ARF Dashnaktsutyun accused the Armenian Government of
assisting the oligopol system and imitating an active struggle against
oligopoly. `RA Government and the oligopoly in Armenia’s economy are a
uniform system, so there’s no need to create an artificial impression
that the executive conducts active policy against oligopoly,’ declared
ARFD faction member Ara Nranyan at a Parliament session on 2010 State
Budget. Another member of the party Artsvik Minasyan stressed that
`The Armenian government failed the anti-crisis policy as18.3%
economic downfall and high inflation can now be recorded in Armenia’.
Commenting on 2010 budget project, the MP characterized the project as
reactionary as opposed to initiatory or anti-crisis one.

A similar view was expressed by Heritage parliamentary faction
representative Armen Martirosyan. `Armenian Premier’s recent statement
on importance of anti- oligopoly struggle is commendable, yet of
purely declarative character, as practice proves,’ declared
Martirosyan at a parliamentary briefing held on November 20. In his
opinion, `The current RA government doesn’t want to struggle against
oligopol-monopolistic system, nor does it have enough will to
undertake it.’

All these attacks at the end of the week tried to parry Leader of RPA
parliamentary faction Galust Sahakyan. In his words, `The Republican
Party of Armenia fully supports Premier Tigran Sargsyan’s statement on
fighting economic oligopoly in Armenia. Armenian Government and the
ruling party share unanimous position on the country’s economic
monopolization, agreeing that it leads to regress.’ However,
responding to a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter on whether or not the ruling
party of Armenia was going to fight against its party members,
because, according to opposition MPs, many of the `brightest
representatives of oligarchy are in the Republican Party’, Galust
Sahakyan called on pro-opposition MPs to give specific names. `Give
the names of the oligarchs so that everybody will know specifically
who they are. There’s an impression that opposition is an adherent of
Leninist principles, i.e. it aims to bankrupt all macro-businesses,’
emphasized the head of RPA faction.

He also criticized the intolerant behaviour of ARF Dashnaktsutyun.
`ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s harsh criticism of 2010 Draft State Budget is a
manifestation of intolerance to Armenian leadership. Criticizing
authorities, Dashnaktsutyun always refers to their recent years’
activities, forgetting in the meantime that it formed part of
government in that period.’

Review by Mikhail Balayan

Who murdered Ruben Ayvazyan?

/20/death
November 20, 2009

An alarm went off at 00.35, November 19 that a citizen died after
falling from the 3rd floor of the "Europe" Hotel in Leningradian
Street, Yerevan.

On arriving on the scene, the task force found that Ruben Ayvazyan,
35, had died of injuries in the head.

Forensic examination is underway.

An action has been instituted under Article 104 of the RA Criminal Code.

Note that one of Armenian newspapers today wrote that Ruben Ayvazyan
had been pushed by a man well-known in business circles.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Radio Netherlands
Nov 22 2009

Progress made in Nagorno-Karabakh talks

Published on 22 November 2009 – 9:57pm

Progress has been made in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, which are currently being held in the southern German
city of München.

However, mediators from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) say the talks have not been without difficulties. On
Saturday, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev threatened to take over the
region by force, if the talks failed.

The enclave was once allocated to the mainly Muslim Azerbaijan by
Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin. When the Soviet Union
disintegrated, the mainly Christian Armenian people of the region
fought for independence. Armenia supported them.

Tensions in the region increased recently when Turkey reached
agreement with Armenia on open borders in an effort to improve
relations between the two countries. The Azerbaijanis are furious as
Turkey has said it will only sign the agreement if Armenia makes
concessions with regard to the enclave. Sixteen years ago, Turkey
closed the borders as a sign of solidarity with Azerbaijan.

Some 30,000 people died and more than one million were made homeless
before a ceasefire was declared in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1993. A deal
could mean Nagorno-Karabakh giving back a number of districts to
Azerbaijan in return for greater international recognition.

ogress-made-nagorno-karabakh-talks

Reuters, UK
Nov 22 2009

Mediators report progress in rebel Karabakh talks

Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:31pm EST

* Difficulties also identified – French envoy
* Turkey wants Armenian concessions before opening border
* Azeri leader warned of force ahead of meeting (Adds quotes, background)

By Anna Holzer

MUNICH, Germany, Nov 22 (Reuters) – Mediators reported important
progress at talks on Sunday between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but said difficulties were also identified
as the Azeri leader threatened renewed war.

Tensions over the breakaway mountain region are rising, with
oil-producing Azerbaijan angry at a deal between ally Turkey and
Armenia to open their border, 16 years after Ankara closed it in
solidarity with Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Turkey says it will only go through with the deal if Armenia makes
concessions on Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians backed by
Christian Armenia broke away from Muslim Azerbaijan as the Soviet
Union headed towards its 1991 collapse.

The rebel territory lies at the heart of the South Caucasus, a
strategic crossroads and key transit region for oil and gas, where
Russia and the West are vying for influence.

Mediators from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
gave few details after four hours of talks between Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarksyan, but reported
progress as well as difficulties.

Both presidents left the meeting at the French General Consul’s
residence in Munich without talking to reporters. It was their sixth
meeting this year.

"Some important progress has been reached," French mediator Bernard
Fassier told reporters. "At the same time we have identified some
difficulties."

Fassier said he and his co-mediators from the United States and Russia
would start preparing the next meeting, without specifying when it
might take place. "We hope for additional progress in the following
weeks and beginning of next year."

"MILITARY MEANS"

Aliyev, whose country is being courted by Europe to supply gas for the
planned Nabucco pipeline, had raised the stakes before the talks,
warning that the meeting would be "decisive" and that his army was
ready to take back the region by force.

"Azerbaijan is spending billions on buying new weapons, hardware,
strengthening its position on the line of contact," Aliyev said in
comments broadcast on Saturday. "We have the full right to liberate
our land by military means."

Fassier, in response, said: "Our governments are of the opinion that
war is not an option."

Analysts say Aliyev’s warning reflects Azeri anger over the deal
between Turkey and Armenia, which is aimed at burying a century of
hostility stemming from the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks.

The deal carries huge significance for Turkey’s diplomatic clout in
the strategic Caucasus region, for its bid to join the European Union,
and for landlocked Armenia’s struggling economy.

Azerbaijan fears it will lose leverage over Armenia. Stung by the
backlash and facing tough talks over Azeri gas supplies, Ankara says
it wants progress on Nagorno-Karabakh before it ratifies the Armenia
deal. Armenia rejects the link.

Some 30,000 people died and more than one million were made homeless
before a ceasefire was declared in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1993. The
territory wants recognition as an independent state, but without a
full peace deal sporadic exchanges of fire continue to threaten fresh
conflict.

The principles of a deal would see Nagorno-Karabakh give back most of
seven surrounding Azeri districts captured during the war, in exchange
for greater international legitimacy before a popular vote in the
future to decide its final status. (Writing by Matt Robinson; editing
by Elizabeth Fullerton) (([email protected]; +995 32
999 370))

is/idUSGEE5AL03X._CH_.2400

news.am, Armenia
Nov 22 2009

Stepanakert refutes information by Azeri mass media

21:34 / 11/22/2009In his conversation with NEWS.am, Nagorno-Karabakh
Defense Ministry Press Secretary Senor Hasratyan refuted information
on the violation of ceasefire in Karabakh conflict zone that was
earlier spread by Azerbaijani mass media.

According to Azerbaijani Trend News, Armenian troops violated
ceasefire, opening fire at Tapgaragoyunlu village in the Goranboy
region. `As a result, a resident of the village Gahramanov Saday was
wounded by sniper weapons in the area of the throat. The wounded were
sent to the district hospital, but died on the road,’ Trend News
reported, adding that `currently sporadic skirmishes erupt on the
front line.’

However, according to Hasratyan, the situation in the conflict zone is
calm. `The units of Nagorno-Karabakh defense army retain control
throughout the contact line,’ underlined Press Secretary.

The National, UAE
Nov 23 2009

Armenia and Azerbaijan hold talks

Carl Schreck, Foreign Correspondent

Last Updated: November 23. 2009 12:37AM UAE / November 22. 2009 8:37PM
GMT MOSCOW // The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met yesterday
for talks over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory, one day after
the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, threatened military action
against the Armenian-controlled region should negotiations fall
through.

Mr Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sarksyan, met at the
French consul general’s residence in Munich, Germany, to discuss the
mountainous territory, which has been the focus of a frozen 15-year
conflict between the two ex-Soviet republics. They agreed to a
ceasefire in 1994 after a six-year war that left 30,000 people dead.

Before the meeting, Mr Aliyev said a failure to reach any resolution
on Karabakh’s status could force his country to respond militarily.
`If that meeting ends without result, then our hopes in negotiations
will be exhausted and then we are left with no other option. We have
the right to liberate our land by military means.’

Analysts were not expecting the meeting to produce major results. A
statement by the Azerbaijan state news agency AzerTac yesterday said
only that the two leaders had met and discussed `the current state and
prospects of the talks to solve’ the Karabakh conflict.

The negotiations come at a time of significant changes in the region.
Turkey and Armenia have agreed to resume diplomatic relations and open
their borders, which have been closed since 1993, when Ankara sided
with Azerbaijan, whose Azeri majority is ethnically Turkic, on
Karabakh.

The normalisation of ties between Armenia and Turkey has increased the
stakes for the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to resolve the Karabakh
issue, as Azerbaijan understands it is losing leverage in the conflict
as relations warm between Ankara and Yerevan, the Armenian capital,
said Svante Cornell, the research director of the Central
Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program at Johns Hopkins
University in the United States.

rticle?AID=/20091123/FOREIGN/711229868/1013

Tehran Times
Nov 23 2009

Azerbaijan threatens Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has warned he is ready to use force to
wrest control of a disputed enclave from Armenia if last-ditch peace
talks fail.

He said talks starting on Sunday in Munich were the final hope of
settling the Nagorno Karabakh issue peacefully.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the region since it was the
scene of a brutal war between the two countries in the 1990s.

Both nations lay claim to the enclave, currently under Armenian control.

In comments broadcast on Azeri TV on Saturday, President Aliyev said
that if the Munich talks failed to reach agreement he would be `left
with no other option’.

`We have the full right to liberate our land by military means,’ he said.

Western diplomats attended the talks, the latest in a round of
internationally mediated meetings on the dispute, have said they hope
the situation will not reach that point.

Some 30,000 people died in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which
erupted after the mountainous region declared independence in 1991.

The region and seven surrounding Azeri district have been under
Armenian control since the Russian-brokered ceasefire in 1994.

Azerbaijan has never ruled out military action to take back the land
and has spent billions on dollars on building up its military.

The BBC’s Tom Esslemont, in the South Caucuses region, said Aliyev is
using stronger language than ever before because the talks come at a
critical time.

The meeting will be the first since Armenia and Turkey — an ally of
Azerbaijan — normalized diplomatic relations after a century of
hostility.

That move has left Azerbaijan feeling isolated, said our correspondent.

news.am, Armenia
Nov 22 2009

`Important progress’ made in talks: Fassier

20:59 / 11/22/2009Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents achieved
significant progress in the course of the talks in Munich on November
22, stated OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Bernard Fassier, Reuters reports.

According to the source, after the talks, Fassier said that the sides
made `important progress’ in talks. However, the Co-Chair added that
they `identified some difficulties.’ According to him, OSCE MG
Co-Chairs intend to start preparation for the nest meeting of two
Presidents but did not clarify where it would take place.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs called on Azerbaijani President to refrain
from making warlike statements. As NEWS.am reported earlier, on the
threshold of the meeting, Ilham Aliyev made a number of warlike
statements. In particular, he stated that if the hope for talks comes
to an end `country is justified in liberating its territories by
coercive methods.’