Month: November 2009

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY ASKS ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO GRANT IT STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

ARKA
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, November 12, /ARKA/. The South Caucasus Railway (SCR)
company has asked the government of Armenia to grant it the status
of an international company.

The chief manager of the SCR, Shevket Shaidulin, said today the status
of an international transport company that will allow SCR to join
international transport and logistical organizations, will provide
it with an opportunity of equal cooperation with railways companies
from neighboring countries.

According to him, it will also help promote Armenia’s interests in
international organizations and become more attractive in terms of
investments attraction.

He said the unfolding developments in the South Caucasus, especially
those related to the opening of the border and plans for construction
of Iran-Armenia railway may radically change the external and internal
environment of the Armenian economy, including the role of railroads
in the country’s economic and political life.

‘This pace of developments in mind Armenia’s railroads should be
considered as a transit chain in international transport corridors
Europe-Asia and North-South. We think it is quite real for the
railroads to act as a locomotive to take other economy sectors to
foreign markets. These objectives can be achieved only in close
interaction with Armenian government,’ he said.

Shaidulin raised this issue during the recurrent meeting of
Armenian-Russian inter-parliamentary commission on cooperation in
Yerevan earlier this week. His proposal was endorsed by Russian and
Armenian parliament members.

In 2007 the Armenian government called tenders for a 30-year
concession to modernize and operate Armenian Railways. An Indian
RITES and Russian Railways qualified to bid, but the Indian company
withdrew. The Russian Railways was the only bidder and has set up
South Caucasian Railway as a subsidiary to run the Armenian Railway.

The concession agreement was concluded for 30 years, with a right of
extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of operation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS (SCR) HELPS CREATE 1,915 NEW JOBS

ARKA
Nov 12, 2009

YEREVAN, November 12, /ARKA/. The South Caucasus Railways (SCR) company
said in a statement today that since its inception 26 companies have
been founded in Armenia whose activities are related to the railroad
facilities, ranging from production of special clothes to production
of cables and sleepers.

The statement said as a result 1,915 new jobs were created, ‘which
means that the SCR is fulfilling and overfullfilling its social
commitments and guarantees.’

The statement said also thanks to a correct investment and personnel
policies, the company has managed to preserve its staff, especially
young employees and workers. It also said that unlike many other
companies affected by the global crisis, the South Caucasus Railways
did not cut its personnel, neither their wages. It even created
new jobs.

In 2007 the Armenian government called tenders for a 30-year
concession to modernize and operate Armenian Railways. An Indian
RITES and Russian Railways qualified to bid, but the Indian company
withdrew. The Russian Railways was the only bidder and has set up
South Caucasian Railway as a subsidiary to run the Armenian Railway.

The concession agreement was concluded for 30 years, with a right of
extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of operation.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: ONLY THE PROBLEM OF THE NKR STATUS IS DISCUSSED AT THE NAGORNYY KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT TALKS

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 14:23:00

ArmInfo. Only the problem of the NKR status is discussed at the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement talks, press-secretary of
Armenian Foreign Ministry, Tigran Balayan, told Arminfo correspondent.

To recall, the leadership of Armenia reiterated many times that
the talks are conducted on the basis of the Madrid principles and 3
key principles of International law, i.e. the right of nations for
self-determination, territorial integrity and not using of force.

To recall, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov have
voiced the position of official Baku, according to which they mean
Nagornyy Karabakh status within the frames of territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. Before that refugees should return (perhaps, the
minister means only returning of Azerbaijani refugees, saying to
word about half a million of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan),
communications should be restored, and the territory of security
zone around the NKR should be under the control of Azerbaijan. Thus,
Mammadyarov once again indirectly voiced aspiration of Baku to befool
the intermediaries and try to get everything losing nothing.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN PUBLICLY RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:22:00

ArmInfo. The Republican Party’s 2008 Presidential nominee, Arizona
Senator John McCain, has publicly and properly recognized the Armenian
Genocide, breaking with his longstanding silence on this human rights
issue and, in the process, dramatically underscoring the post-election
retreat by his campaign opponent, President Barack Obama, from his
high-profile pledge to properly condemn and commemorate this crime,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

"I believe that genocide was committed against the Armenian people,
and I think there is ample documentation of that," Sen. McCain told
the Voice of America Georgian language service in an interview focusing
on the Caucasus as well as Armenia-Turkey relations.

CONSUELO VIDAL IS LEAVING ARMENIA WIT PLEASANT MEMORIES

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 18:02:00

ArmInfo. Today, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received UN
Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative to Armenia Consuelo
Vidal who is completing her diplomatic mission in our country.

As the Armenian presidential pres service reports, S. Sargsyan thanked
C. Vidal for the work done in the Republic over four years and the
assistance to the development programmes in Armenia. The president
attached great importance to the programmes carried out by different
UN agencies and said: ‘The matter concerns not only the funds. The
experience, involvement and an opportunity for comparison are much
more important’.

For her part, C. Vidal expressed gratitude for Armenia’s excellent
cooperation with UNDP. According to her, she is leaving the country
with the most pleasant memories. UN Resident Coordinator added that
she will remain Armenia’s friend forever. The parties exchanged
opinions concerning proportional development of Armenia’s regions,
as well as the forthcoming population census in 2010.

PUTTING CITIZENS OF ARMENIA ON INTERPOL’S WANTED LIST BY AZERBAIJANI BUREAU OF INTERPOL NOTHING BUT SPECULATION: HEAD OF ARMENIAN CNB OF INTERPOL

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 15:14:00

ArmInfo. Putting citizens of Armenia on Interpol’s wanted list by
the Azerbaijani Bureau of Interpol is nothing but speculation says
Vardan Yeghiazaryan, Police Colonel, Head of the Armenian Central
National Bureau (CNB) of Interpol, in response to ArmInfo’s question.

Azerbaijan put nearly 50 citizens of Armenia on the wanted list 2
years ago with allegations of terrorism and other heavy crimes.

Armenia responded adequately then, he said. Colonel Yeghiazaryan
mentioned that the Interpol General Secretariat sent a special
commission to Armenia and Azerbaijan then to get first hand view of
the problem. The commission recommended the two parties to refrain
from such steps. "The commission declared that putting persons on the
wanted list is politicized and contradicts Article 3 of the Interpol
Statute. All this stopped their search by Interpol," he said.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT REJECTS HERITAGE PARTY’S INITIATIVE ON RECOGNITION OF NKR INDEPENDENCE

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 14:45:00

ArmInfo. The government of Armenia rejected the initiative of Heritage
oppositional party on recognition of the NKR independence at today’s
session. As deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan said,
this initiative is currently inexpedient. To recall, earlier, Heritage
has already advanced a similar initiative, which was also rejected.

LEVON TER-PETROSSYAN: THE POLITICAL FORCES THAT BACKED UP KOCHARYAN DURING HIS RULE ARE NOW TRYING TO ACT AS OPPOSITION AND THEREBY TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY

ArmInfo
2009-11-11 19:01:00

ArmInfo. Unlike the Armenian National Congress (ANC), which
has presented political arguments against the signing of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols, the other objecting parties (ARFD,
Ramkavar-Azatakan, Heritage) have given this problem an ideological
(Hay Dat) implication, which has nothing to do with real politics
and Armenia’s interests, the first president of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrossyan said at ANC meeting today.

The ANC objects to the terms enabling Turkey to set up a committee
of historians and to link its rapprochement with Armenia with the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. The other parties have more objections:
particularly, they mention the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by Turkey, the historical rights of the Armenian people, the material
compensation claims of western Armenians. They accuse the ANC of
passivity and lack of principles but in fact they have ignored the
key threat of the protocols: the committee of historians. By their
irrational claims they have unwillingly helped Presient Serzh Sargsyan
to raise his international image.

Even though Sargsyan faced personal humiliation during his Pan-Armenian
tour, the nationalist hysteria helped him to improve his positions on
the international arena and to appear as a pragmatic and decisive
politician, who can take courageous steps for the sake of his
principles. No coincidence that after the signing of the protocols
he was proclaimed as "European of the Week." Now he is just one step
away from the Nobel Prize and everybody knows what this step implies.

As regards ARFD’s protest against the recognition of the border,
Ter-Petrossyan stressed that this party has no right to raise
such a question as in its time ARFD itself concluded the Treaty of
Alexandropol stipulating the current state of the border. "It is unfair
to blame Serzh Sargsyan for the sins he did not commit. It was not
Sargsyan but ARFD and Bolsheviks that recognized the Armenian-Turkish
border, it was not Sargsyan but Robert Kocharyan that renounced the
territorial claims. It was not Sargsyan but Robert Kocharyan and Vartan
Oskanian that demanded recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey
and instead received a proposal to set up a commission of historians,
it was not Sargsyan but Kocharyan, Oskanian and Arkady Ghukasyan
that ousted Nagorno-Karabakh from the peace process. Sargsyan also
"inherited" the Madrid Principles from Kocharyan",- Ter-Petrossyan
said. According to him, in these issues Sargsyan is as guilty as the
rest of the forces that backed up Kocharyan during his rule and are
now trying to act as opposition thereby avoiding responsibility.

LEVON TER-PETROSSYAN: BY GIVING HIS CONSENT TO CREATION OF A COMMISSION OF HISTORIANS SERZH SARGSYAN MADE AN UNFORGIVABLE MISTAKE

ArmInfo
2009-11-11 18:56:00

ArmInfo. By giving his consent to creation of an Armenian-Turkish
commission of historians, Serzh Sargsyan made an unforgivable mistake
and it will be impossible to ever correct its consequences, the first
president of Armenia, leader of the Armenian National Congress Levon
Ter-Petrossyan said at the ANC meeting, Wednesday.

According to him, for the ANC establishment of Armenian-Turkish
relations was and is not an ideological but political task, therefore
it is necessary to consider the signed Protocols politically like the
ANC did. Ter-Petrossyan stressed that from the viewpoint of the real
policy, the only inadmissible item in the Armenian-Turkish Protocols
is creation of the Armenian-Turkish commission of historians.

Ter-Petrossyan said that ANC attaches much significance to this
item for several reasons. "First, despite the Armenian authorities’
official statements, the main topic, if not the only one, of the
given commission will be the issue of the Armenian Genocide as
otherwise Turkey wouldn’t have considered its creation as its biggest
achievement. Second, this means that the fact of the Armenian Genocide
will be doubted and the process of its international recognition will
be suspended. We do not believe that the parliaments of the countries,
which recognized the Armenian Genocide, will declare their decision
invalid, but at the same time we don’t doubt that no more country will
recognize the Armenian Genocide. Third, creation of the commission
will deliver a strong moral and psychological blow on the Armenian
Diaspora",- Ter-Petrossyan said.

The ANC leader added that if this commission aims to contribute to
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation, it will unlikely be able to serve
its goal as, to all appearances, this will turn into an endless
discussion theatrical performance and deepen the discrepancies between
the two nations. "That is to say, regardless of creation of the
commission, after the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict the
Armenian-Turkish relations would be normalized and the border would be
opened in any case",- Ter-Petrossyan said. He also pointed out that
unlike other political forces that started expressing their concern
mostly after Aug 31 publishing of the Protocols, ANC signalized this
long ago and many times. According to the first president of Armenia,
over the past 2 years he personally touched on this problem in his 7
statements, the first time was on 8 Dec 2007. "I suppose if the rest
of the political forces fixed ANC signals in their time, it would be
possible to prevent inclusion of this item in the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols",- Ter- Petrossyan concluded.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS DOES NOT INTEND TO GO INTO POLITICAL MAXIMALISM

ArmInfo
2009-11-11 18:55:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian National Congress comes out for both
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and the soonest settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but both processes should be based on
the principles of mutual concessions and balance, the first president
of Armenia, leader of the oppositional Armenian National Congress
(ANC) Levon Ter-Petrosyan said at today’s meeting of ANC.

According to Levon Ter-Petrosyan, at the same time ANC resolutely comes
against creation of an Armenian-Turkish commission of historians. He
said creation of such a commission may not only cast doubt on
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, but hinder Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation. He added that in the Karabakh peace process ANC
admits no program, which doesn’t specify the factor of dislocation
of peacekeeping forces, the status of the Lachin corridor or
conditions of holding of a referendum. According to him, the only
way to neutralize the dangerous developments in the Armenian-Turkish
process and Karabakh conflict settlement is the change of power,
which, however, is impossible until all political forces realize this
and the considerable part of the society overcomes its indifference
to problems of national significance.

He added those who demand Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation are the
opposition, and those who don’t are supporters of the authorities no
matter how much they pretend that are concerned with the negative
consequences. "In the matter of change of power in Armenia and
restoration of the constitutional order we are ready to cooperate
with all the forces, including those who are not our team-mates,
except the foreign ones",- Ter-Petrosyan said. He added that slogans
like "not an inch of land", "no concessions" or "no reconciliation"
are not a political position and are fraught with a possible national
disaster no matter how distinct they sound. "And when such slogans are
not accompanied with the demand of change of power, they are false",-
the ANC leader said.

As regards normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, the ANC
leader said, the Turkey parliament will protract ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols or will ratify them with some reservations
trying to stimulate settlement of the Karabakh conflict. The Parliament
of Armenia will be pending and will try to return to the issue of the
Protocols only after Turkey ratifies them. The international community
will try to speed up the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, which
evidently meets the interests of Turkey.

Serzh Sargsyan will ask the mediators to suspend the Karabakh
conflict’s settlement pointing at the sharp opposition of Diaspora to
the given issue. The international community will display understanding
to Sargsyan’s explanation but will reject this request not to lose the
moment and to take advantage of his weakness. Quite on the contrary,
it will increase pressure on Armenia in the Karabakh issue. "The
parties interested will, probably, call on Armenia to ratify the
Protocols first because it will be uneasy for Turkey to protract
the ratification process after Armenia ratifies the Protocols,"
Ter-Petrosyan said. He believes that developments of the coming months
will be around the Karabakh process rather than the Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation. "Because, after all, the major condition of the
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation is not recognition of the Genocide,
but the Karabakh conflict’s settlement," he said. Levon Ter-Petrosyan
called the present situation extremely delicate and said he will
further act feeling his own responsibility and avoiding short-sighted
actions, political maximalism as well as reckoning with the state
interests. Unfortunately, he said, the authorities are not likely
to do the same. Quite on the contrary, they do not want to see the
important resources of strengthening Armenia’s positions via settlement
of domestic political problems and establishment of national accord,
Ter-Petrosyan said.