Time to raise the level of political culture in Armenia

Time to raise the level of political culture in Armenia
28.11.2009 17:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ‘We managed to prevent deepening of destructive
separation,’ Serzh Sargsyan , president of Armenia, Chairman of the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) said addressing the 12th congress of
the ruling RPA.

According to him, inadequate freedoms of electoral system, civil
society institutions, press, lead to socio-political crisis, whci is
the main challenge of the country.

According to him, it’s time to raise the level of political culture in
Armenia.

"In order to have a stable system in the country, first and foremost,
you need to have a stable inner-party system. The ruling party must
serve as an example for others in this regard, " the president said.

Coop with Poland to help apply Polish experience in many areas

Cooperation with Poland to help Armenia to apply Polish experience in
many areas
28.11.2009 17:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Existing legal framework between Armenia and Poland,
enables to expand the Armenian-Polish military cooperation, Poland’s
Defense Minister Bogdan Klich told a news conference jointly held with
the Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan in Yerevan.

"We asked to develop and submit proposals for developing cooperation
in the spheres of military education, international peacekeeping,
military medicine," Polish Defense Minister said. During the visit,
the Polish minister also discussed prospects of cooperation in
military-industrial sphere.

Seiran Ohanyan expressed confidence that cooperation with Poland will
help Armenia to apply the Polish experience in many areas.

Surb Khach Monastery to become Crimean ethnographic museum dept.?

Surb Khach Monastery to become Crimean ethnographic museum department?
28.11.2009 17:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Starting December 1, 2009, Surb Khach Monastery will
be registered as Crimean ethnographic museum department,
Analitika.at.ua reported, citing the head of the National Security and
Defense Committee of Ukraine’s Supreme Rada, Anatoliy Hrytsenko.

Armenian clergymen hope for Ukrainian Eparchy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church not to be deprived of Surb Khach Monastery.

Surb Khach Monastery, a medieval Armenian monastery located on the
Crimean peninsula, has for centuries been an Armenian spiritual center
and a place of pilgrimage.

Russia & Azerbaijan build bridges

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 27, 2009 Friday

RUSSIA AND AZERBAIJAN BUILT BRIDGES;
Dmitry Medvedev conducted negotiations with Ilkham Aliyev

by Vyacheslav Leonov

MOSCOW TRIES TO PERSUADE BAKU THAT MILITARY SOLUTION FOR
NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM HAS NO PROSPECTS; President of Russia Dmitry
Medvedev met with Azerbaijani leader Ilkham Aliyev in Ulyanovsk. The
presidents had to discuss results of another round of
Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. Previously, Aliyev stirred up the
international community having announced that Baku did not rule out
"liberation of its lands by military way." So, according to experts,
it was necessary to "sooth him down."

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev met with Azerbaijani leader Ilkham
Aliyev in Ulyanovsk. The presidents had to discuss results of another
round of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. Previously, Aliyev stirred
up the international community having announced that Baku did not rule
out "liberation of its lands by military way." So, according to
experts, it was necessary to "sooth him down."

Another round of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations ended in Munich.
Moscow started taking more active diplomatic efforts aimed at
reconciliation of Yerevan and Baku claiming the laurels of the main
peacekeeper in Nagorno-Karabakh. In any case, so far rhetoric of
conflict participants has been getting only more belligerent.

On the eve of the Munich round of negotiations Aliyev hinted that
Azerbaijan might solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem by a military
operation. Aliyev announced, "We reinforce our army because we have
never ruled out such option. We have a full right to liberate our
lands by the military way."

Alexander Krylov, expert of the institute of international policy and
international relations of the Russian academy of sciences, says, "The
words of Aliyev seriously scared the intermediaries of the regulation.
I presumed that Medvedev tried to sooth Aliyev down and to persuade
him that the military way had no prospects." According to Krylov, such
a course of events would be extremely not beneficial for Russia
because according to the Madrid principles of regulation it would be
possible to deploy foreign peacekeepers including those from NATO
countries in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Igor Korotchenko, member of the supervisory council of the Defense
Ministry, says that the two countries have good prospects in military
technological cooperation. For example, Azerbaijani navy may buy
Russian combat boats. In any case, Moscow has any kinds of military
cooperation with Azerbaijan in a way not to spoil relations with
Armenia.

Source: RBC daily, November 25, 2009, p. 3

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Poland does not treat Russia as hostile state

Poland does not treat Russia as hostile state
28.11.2009 18:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Poland does not regard Russia as a hostile country,
Poland’s Defense Minister Bogdan Klich told a news conference jointly
organized with the RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan in Yerevan.
Neither me nor any Polish politician points to Russia as a potential
aggressor," Poland’s Defense Minister said.

According to him, Poland as a NATO member has a plan of defense. "This
plan is one of the tools used by the North Atlantic Alliance," Bogdan
Klich said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Young boxers to participate in last boxing tournament of 2009

Armenia: Young boxers to participate in last boxing tournament of 2009
28.11.2009 18:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 27, Yerevan State Olympic Reserve
College launched an open youth boxing championship in celebration of
its 30th anniversary.

As the head coach of Armenian youth boxing team, Edik Kostanyan told
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the championship will host 150 boxers aged
14-15, from RA and NKR regions. Based on championship results, best
boxers will join the team to participate in 2010 boxing championships
and Olympic Games in Singapore.

Open youth boxing championship winners will be announced on December 1.

2nd stage of 5th Children’s and Youth Film Fest launches in Alaverdi

Second stage of 5th Children’s and Youth Film Festival launches in Alaverdi
28.11.2009 18:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The second stage of Children’s and Youth Film
Festival launched on November 27 in Alaverdi, Armenia.

Emphasizing the importance of the festival, Nune Manukyan, Head of
Rolan Bykov foundation for Development of Cinema and Television for
Children and Youth, noted: `After 5 years of its existence, the
festival has became a tradition. The festival aims to develop
children’s interest cinema, offering a chance at viewing best youth
movies of the last years. It’s also important for children outside
Yerevan to be given a chance to participate in international
festivals.’

Starting November 27, Alaverdi cultural center will host the screening
of short and animation movies presented within October 15-19 5th
Children’s and Youth Film Festival frameworks in Yerevan. Movies’
screening is scheduled in all Armenian regions till the yearend.

Poland closely monitors Armenia-Turkey dialogue

Poland closely monitors Armenia-Turkey dialogue
28.11.2009 18:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Poland closely monitors the Armenia-Turkey dialogue,
Poland’s Defense Minister Bogdan Klich told a news conference jointly
organized with the RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan in Yerevan. "We
believe that ratification of the Protocols will facilitate the
settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus, `the Polish minister
said.

According to him, the process of normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations will also facilitate Armenia-NATO dialogue. "I am deeply
believe the consultations taking place between Armenia and NATO
proceed from the interests of both parties. The North Atlantic
Alliance is not an aggressive alliance. This is a defense pact, "
Bogdan Klich said.

Resolution on Iran adopted, Tehran wins

/PanARMENIAN.Net/

Resolution on Iran adopted, Tehran wins

With rather a large number of enemies, Tehran is simply forced to have
a deterrent at least not to share the fate of Iraq.
27.11.2009 GMT+04:00

The IAEA Governors passed a new resolution condemning Iran for the
construction of a second uranium enrichment plant "Fordow", near the
Iranian City of Qom (a hundred kilometers south of Tehran), and urged
Iran to confirm, as requested by the Agency, that " Iran has not taken
a decision to construct, or authorize construction of, any other
nuclear facility which has as yet not been declared to the Agency’.
The resolution was passed early on Friday by a 25-3 margin, opposed by
Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As the world media reports, the IAEA urges Iran to
`engage with the Agency on the resolution of all outstanding issues
concerning Iran’s nuclear programme and, to this end, to cooperate
fully with the IAEA by providing such access and information that the
Agency requests to resolve these issues’.

Iran is also urged to comply `fully and without qualification’ with
its safeguards obligations, and implement and ratify promptly the
Additional Protocol.

U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of developing nuclear
weapons under the guise of peaceful nuclear energy program. The UN
Security Council adopted five resolutions and imposed sanctions on
Iran, demanding it renounce the uranium enrichment. Tehran denies all
the charges, claiming its nuclear program is aimed solely at meeting
the country’s electricity needs.

In fact, by hand of IAEA, U.S. resigned Tehran’s right to hold a
nuclear program at a time when all her neighbors, with the exception
of Afghanistan, have an atomic bomb and nuclear power plants. Since
2006, the IAEA has unsuccessfully sought to call Tehran "to order",
without resolutions, but it all in vain. Strictly speaking, it could
never succeed, as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not one of those presidents
who can be made to do what, in his opinion, does not meet the national
interests of his country. Nuclear capability increases the safety of a
country, especially such as Iran. With rather a large number of
enemies, Tehran is simply forced to have a deterrent at least not to
share the fate of Iraq. And it is beyond doubt that such a scenario is
not yet laid on the shelf. It is one thing to attack a country which
has no atomic bomb, and quite another to do the same, knowing that
Tehran would not think long before making a preemptive move. Threats
to Israel so far remain threats. What would happen if it occurred to
someone in the Pentagon or in Tel Aviv to attack Iran? The region
would turn into an abyss of uncontrollable chaos. That is why it still
comes down to resolutions and admonitions. Western hopes of the
government change in Iran did not come true, although hardly is it
possible that a different president, expected to replace Ahmadinejad,
might go against the will of Ali Khamenei and renounce the nuclear
program. Even reformer Moussaoui firmly held to the issue of nuclear
program.

Attacks on Iran are, alas, the sad legacy of George W. Bush, and what
is happening now can be defined as "inertia". United States, and all
other countries, would be glad to put a brake on the whole Iranian
story; they have enough concerns.

But in all this story there is one incomprehensible point: the
behavior of Russia, which is allegedly considered to be an ally of the
Islamic Republic, but which, for some reason, votes for the
resolution. The same is true about Turkey. However, the position of
Turkey is more or less clear: she has to keep herself on two chairs
simultaneously, a position very few countries can maintain long. As
for Russia, she needs to finally bury the Nabucco project, and, to
achieve her goal, she is practically ready to do anything, even voting
against her partner. As usual, every country is trying to derive
maximum benefit from the current situation. However, one thing is
clear: no matter how hard the West opposes, Iran has so far stood her
ground. It is not the country to implement resolutions of purely
advisory character…

Karine Ter-Sahakyan

CIS security chief against resumption of hostilities in Karabakh

Armenian Second TV Channel
Nov 24 2009

Armenia: CIS security chief against resumption of hostilities in Karabakh

Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha said he treats negatively statements on
possible resumption of the hostilities in Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
Armenian Second TV Channel reported on 24 November.

Speaking at a session "Collective Security Treaty Organization as
factor of stability and security in the Caucasus Region" in Armenian
capital Yerevan on 24 November, Bordyuzha said: "How can I treat
statements on the possible start of a war – of course, negatively",
while commenting on the latest statement by the Azerbaijani president
that Azerbaijan may withdraw from the Karabakh talks if this stage of
the talks does not yield results, the TV reported.

The CIS security chief added in this regard: "The initiative of the
Russian president on the necessity of signing a legally binding
agreement on European security is very timely. It is an absolute truth
at present that we should have such an agreement that rules out any
solutions of any issues of political nature by force," Armenian Second
TV Channel reported.

Bordyuzha said he hopes very much that the Azerbaijani president’s
statement "was nothing but a statement targeted at boosting agreement
with Armenia on Karabakh", the TV reported. Bordyuzha told the session
that "intensity" of meetings between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
sides demonstrates "drive of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leadership
to reaching a mutually acceptable solution on this very complicated
issue. This process is going on and this is the most important thing",
Novosti-Armenia website reported on 24 November.

Bordyuzha told the session that drills of CSTO collective rapid
reaction force (KSOR) will be held in 2010 and that KSOR drills in
Russia will include the military component of the KSOR and also
antiterrorist subdivisions of security entities, ministry of emergency
situations and agencies of internal affairs, Novosti-Armenia website
reported on 24 November. The CSTO plans to hold complex drills in 2011
with all of the above components, the website quoted Bordyuzha as
saying in the same report.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received Bordyuzha on the same day,
Armenian Second TV added in the same report. The sides discussed
cooperation between CSTO and Armenia; Sargsyan said he is content with
the rate of Armenia’s cooperation with the CSTO and praised the
activities of the organization – especially establishment of the KSOR
at the meeting, Armenian Second TV Channel reported.