Month: November 2009

"5 YEARS TOGETHER: IMPROVING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH" PROJECT SUMMED UP IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.11.2009 19:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Outcomes of the "NOVA" project of the Agency for
International Development summed up in Yerevan today. In frames of
"NOVA", the project "5 Years Together: Improving Maternal and Child
Health" was implemented. During the event, held on November 12 the
outcomes and achievements of the program related to availability and
quality of services for safe reproduction in the villages, as well
as maternal and child health services have been presented.

18 training centers and 29 teams for quality assurance and training
of more than 2,5 thousand paramedics have been created in frames of
the program launched in 2004.

12 successful schools for mothers, 277 rural health clinics and 10
medical centers of regional importance have been opened. To address
the problems at the community level 129 rural health clinics has
been renovated.

"The results of the program would be so great that will be felt for
years to come," Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia Tatul Hakobyan
said.

PEACE TALKS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT INTENSIFY, AZERBAIJANI FM

Today
Nov 12 2009
Azerbaijan

The negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have intensified
again, said Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on Nov.
11.

The Minister noted Azerbaijani side’s major demand during discussions
is the soonest withdrawal of Armenia’s troops from the occupied
territories.

Mammadyarov said during the latest visit to the region, OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs were told again about Azerbaijan`s stance.

"Armenia wants the status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be defined before
the troops are pulled out."

"This non-constructive position bring already agreed matters back to
the negotiating table," he said.

"First and foremost, the status may be defined only after Armenia
leaves occupied Azerbaijani lands, IDPs return to their homes with
peace and stability restored."

According to him, Azerbaijan is ready to grant the high status to
Nagorno-Karabakh.

"However, the status will be determined within the framework of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity," the minister added.

The Minister noted that the sides are expected to meet during the
upcoming meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in Athens.

IRAN SAYS PIPELINE BLAST HALTS ITS GAS EXPORTS TO ARMENIA

NASDAQ
Nov 12 2009

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Iran’s gas exports to Armenia were temporarily
interrupted Wednesday due to an explosion on the Armenian section of
their joint pipeline, an Iranian oil ministry Web site said.

Armenian officials informed Iran on Wednesday morning that an explosion
had occurred on the pipeline, the ministry’s Shana agency said,
without specifying the reasons for the blast.

Iran will resume gas exports to Armenia as soon as the Armenians
repair the pipeline, it added.

Iran started the export of natural gas to Armenia in May.

According to a deal signed in May 2004, Armenia will pay for the gas
with electricity it produces at a Soviet-era nuclear power plant.

Based on the agreement, Iran is supposed to transfer three million
cubic meters of gas per day to Armenia and from the beginning of 2011
will raise this volume to four million cubic meters per day.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WAS PRESENT AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CENTRAL BUILDING OF "AMERIA" BANK

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 12, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: Today Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan was present at the opening ceremony of the central building of
"Ameria" bank. Press service of Armenian president told Armenpress
that the president walked around in the building, got acquainted
with the process of high-class banking services through the newest
technologies. Chairman of directorship of "Ameria" Ruben Vardanyan
briefly presented the projects on bank development to the president.

President Serzh Sargsyan wished success to the leadership of the bank
and working staff in the implementation of the indicated projects.

‘2010 BUDGET COMPLETELY WORKS IN CURRENT SITUATION’

Aysor
Nov 12 2009
Armenia

Armenia’s 2010 budget completely works in current situation, according
to head of the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs,
Vardan Ayvazyan. He also pointed that there is a range of problems
related to budget deficit. Global crisis influenced 2010 budget
making it different from 2009 one, he says. Meanwhile, main social
items didn’t really change.

"The government saved the voiced social policy," said Vardan Ayvazyan
adding that there are some reduction related to capital investments
and income.

LETTERS TO THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE

New York Times
Nov 12 2009

LinkedinDiggFacebookMixxMySpaceYahoo! BuzzPermalinkPublished: November
12, 2009 Regarding Patrick Seale’s article "The rise of Turkey"
(Views, Nov.

5): Mr. Seale is right that Turkey as a regional power can contribute
to peace and stability in the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central
Asia. Some of Ankara’s new policies, such as the rapprochement with
Armenia, are steps in that direction.

Turkey is also to be commended for its attempt last year to mediate
between Israel and Syria. Unfortunately, Turkey seems for the time
being to have disqualified itself as mediator because of its statements
on the Israeli-Gaza war.

Mr. Seale also ignores other events. For example, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister, recently met with President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad of Iran. Also, the Turkish government has extended an
invitation to Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who has been
indicted by the International Criminal Court for orchestrating the
genocide in Darfur.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE NAGORNO KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

APA
Nov 12 2009
Azerbaijan

Yerevan – APA. Armenian government refused to support the bill on
the "Recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic" offered by the
opposition.

APA reports quoting Armenia Today that the decision was passed at
the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said the adoption
of the bill in this stage is inexpedient.

"Flourishing Armenia" party defended the position of the government.

Secretary of the party’s parliamentary faction Aram Safaryan said
the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh’s independence would be failure
of the process of negotiations.

The bill on the "Recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic"
was presented to the parliament by Heritage Party. The party had
taken similar initiatives earlier, but the ruling majority opposed
the initiative.

IT POINTS TO DIRTY BACKROOM GAME BY RULING CLASS OF ARMENIA: POLITICAL EXPERT

Today
Nov 12 2009
Azerbaijan

"It is no accidental that Armenia has not yet recognized the
self-declared "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic," Azerbaijani political
expert Fikrat Sadigov said commenting on a statement by Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan who said that Armenian
government believes at present it is inappropriate to recognize the
self-declared "NKR".

"Apparently, there are reasons that do not allow Armenia to do it.

Negotiations are underway to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia also has to reckon with the OSCE
Minsk Group, super powers and international organizations. But it
does not mean Armenia does not stand behind this whole process,"
Sadigov said.

"Armenia has not recognized Karabakh as an independent republic, but it
went too far. In Soviet times, Armenian parliament adopted a certain
resolution implying that Nagorno-Karabakh is a part of Armenia. As
far as I know, it’s unlawful decision has not been canceled thus far,"
he said.

"Armenia has not recognized the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh,
not because it is unwilling to do so. It just understands that its
decision will contradict decisions made by civilized countries,
major international organizations, OSCE Minsk Group, which recognize
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and may negatively perceive
Armenia’s move," he added.

"It just points to very dirty diplomatic game behind the scenes by
the ruling class of Armenia, the political expert said.

"Armenia does not officially recognize the self-proclaimed
Nagorno-Karabakh, but it supports the separatist regime by supplying
weapons. Meantime, elite of Armenia consists of the natives of
Karabakh. In fact, separatist from Nagorno-Karabakh have united with
Armenia’s ruling class," he said.

"Therefore, the official recognition is only formal aspect of the
question, which Yerevan has left for a later time," the political
expert said.

ARMENIA & BELARUS TO CONTINUE COOPERATION: BAGHDASARYAN

news.am
Nov 12 2009
Armenia

RA National Security Council Secretary Artur Baghdasaryan and Deputy
State Secretary of Belarus Security Council Stanislav Zas discussed
CSTO as well as bilateral cooperation issues of Armenian and Belarus
Security Councils at Nov. 12 meeting.

Baghdasaryan expressed content on effective development of cooperation
within CSTO frames, outlining joint efforts that stepped up in
strengthening bilateral military collaboration, information exchange
on security issues, law-enforcement, emergency situations ministries
personnel training and retraining, as well as deepening of cooperation
between the special services and law machinery, RA National Security
Council press service informed NEWS.am.

The parties mentioned Armenia-Belarus cooperation progresses
efficiently within the framework of signed memorandum between both
Security Councils.

MP: NEXT YEAR BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FUND FOR MASS MEDIA

APA
Nov 12 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament)
continued discussion over the state budget of Azerbaijan for 2010
and heard proposals of lawmakers, APA reports.

MP Samad Seyidov said the budget bill considered funding of nearly 70
embassies and consulates and 51 million AZN were allocated for this
field as against 45 million in 2009. Seyidov called it as good case
and said there was no reduction in budget allocations.

Shamsaddin Hajiyev said successful policy of recent years secured
Azerbaijani economy.

Baba Taghiyev proposed to increase resources allocated for Public
Broadcasting Company and defense expenditure. "Armenia has military
bases and special military equipments in Gumru. From this view,
Azerbaijan should increase its defense expenditure".

Lawmaker Akram Abdullayev demanded to intensify care and attention
for youth in the country and to increase resources allocated for
this sphere.

Bakhtiyar sadigov spoke about the government care for the press and
said not enough resources were assigned for the Government Support
Fund for Mass Media. "Azerbaijani press will celebrate its 135 years
anniversary soon. If the assignment is increased, it will promote
realization of credits for the press".

Hikmet Atayev proposed to elaborate program for the development of
nut production, otherwise this sphere will end its existence, said
the lawmaker. Atayev said modern medical equipments were purchased
for the country, but the doctors couldn’t use it. He said experts
should be sent abroad to improve their skills.

Ali Huseynov said increase and reduction in the budget should be
accepted as normal. He also proposed to hold attestations in the
filed of high education in the country. He said it was not correct
to squander existing resources.

The discussions are continuing.