Month: November 2009

news.az, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2009

The status quo in the Karabakh conflict is suitable for most
countries, German expert
Sun 08 November 2009 | 11:08 GMT Text size:

Interview News.Az with Alexander Rahr, Program Director (Russia /
Eurasia), The German Council on Foreign Relations.

Is the soonest settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh possible?

I do not think that the solution to this conflict will happen soon.
The main problem lies in the unwillingness of the superpowers to
settle the conflict. I do not see any country declaring the conflict
resolution a top priority for them. Each of them considers other
problems to be a priority.

But it’s no secret that the Karabakh problem is already being
discussed at the highest level. For the first time this year the G-8
leaders adopted a special statement on Nagorno Karabakh, the issue was
discussed at the meetings of not only the leaders of Armenia and
Azerbaijan during their visits abroad, but also between the leaders of
Turkey, Russia and the United States. Does it mean that the statements
of leaders of foreign states about their extreme interest in the
conflict settlement are insincere?

I think, in fact, this issue is not so important for superpowers. The
status quo is suitable for most countries. No solution to the problem
is seen. There are solutions offered by Azerbaijan, there is a
solution, which is suitable for Armenia. And we all know that Armenia
has its supporters in the West, like Azerbaijan has them in the West,
Asia and Turkey.

A lot of developments have lately been observed around Karabakh that
affects the solution of the conflict either directly or indirectly. Is
there any among them that can prevent the escalation of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Indeed, there are such events and new developments that really affect
the current situation. One of them is last year’s war in Georgia,
which scared most people, especially in the West. The war showed that
the so-called â??frozenâ?? conflicts can be easily escalated and led to
military action anytime. The fear of the European Union about what
they saw in Georgia is obvious. This is a real feeling, therefore,
there is some interest in studying possibilities of solving the
problem of Nagorno-Karabakh once again.

And how do processes around the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation
affect Karabakh?

The processes of opening the Turkish-Armenian border are the second
factors influencing Karabakh conflict, and it is also directly
connected with EUâ??s Eastern Partnership policy, aimed at the Western
CIS and South Caucasus countries.

Do you believe the border between Turkey and Armenia will open?

This issue is unclear and it is unknown whether it will happen at all,
because there are so many questions. In any case, this is an
achievement of European policy, which aims to persuade Turkey to play
a stabilizing role between the EU and the Caucasus.

I would call energy policy another factor influencing the Karabakh
settlement. The Nabucco gas pipeline is likely to be built though few
believed in it a couple of months ago. It is necessary to create
conditions for this purpose. Nabucco is now said to be likely built
not from Central Asia but from Iraq. That is, the pipeline will pump
an Iraqi or later Iranian gas via Azerbaijan and Turkey and to the
West. In this case, the problem of â??frozen conflictsâ?? in this region,
including Kurdish, Nagorno Karabakh and Abkhazian and South Osetian
conflicts will again become important for the countries that are
willing to ensure energy security of Europe in the coming 20-30 years.

As for the beginning of our conversation, I agree that the Karabakh
problem is perceived, and discussed, but frankly speaking I do not
believe in the prospects of its early settlement. I know that this
issue is somehow mentioned at the diplomatic level or even by G-8. But
the fact is that this conflict has not been settled yet.

Edi Black
News.Az

Arab News, Saudi Arabia
Nov 8 2009

Turkey: Davutoglu’s doctrine

M.J. Akbar

WHEN Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul visits India early next year he
will be representing a nation that has reinvented its geostrategic
role through an independent foreign policy in barely eight years. I
hope he brings along Ahmet Davutoglu, who shaped the theory and then
structured the practicals, first as principal adviser to Prime
Minister Recip Tayyab Erdogan, and now as foreign minister. He must be
one of the few academics fortunate enough to get a chance to make
ideas work.

The starting point was 2002, when the Justice and Development Party
(AKP) won the elections and ended the monopoly on power exercised by a
military-bureaucratic-civilian Istanbul-centric elite that claimed the
inheritance of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his European-style
secularism, which still prohibits a Turkish woman from wearing a head
scarf to university. This elite protected Ataturk’s secular vision,
but, somewhere along the way lost sight of Ataturk’s independence.

The wives of Erdogan and Gul wear head scarves, but that is not the
point: The wives of many Cabinet ministers and high officials do not,
and are not required to. What is relevant is that AKP subtly shifted a
policy that had become synonymous with America’s, without the angry
rhetoric that has become a regrettable hallmark of so many who strut
as lead actors on the anti-American stage. AKP proved that change was
possible without compromising an amicable and mutually beneficial
relationship with Washington. Their predecessors had America’s
friendship. AKP has America’s respect as well.

Turkey has played a pivotal role in two of the three great wars of the
20th century. It was an ally of Germany and the Central Powers in
World War I, but refused to declare war on the United States even when
the latter joined the Anglo-French alliance. Even though it lost its
empire in the fighting, Turkey did not permit a single enemy soldier
on its territory during wartime. Istanbul was occupied only after
truce. Ataturk, victor of Gallipoli, was the great hero of this
conflict; but took his true place in his nation’s history after 1918,
when the vainglorious trio of Lloyd George, Winston Churchill and
Clemenceau, leavening their intent with anti-Muslim Crusader
sentiment, armed and financed a Greek invasion of Turkey. Their aim
was to partition the country and leave Turkey as a rump Anatolian
state. Ataturk mobilized a proud army and people, and shocked the
victors of World War I by destroying the Greeks after they reached the
outskirts of Ankara.

Ataturk, protecting his nation’s independence, kept Turkey neutral in
World War II. Historic fears of next-door Russia, now the Soviet
Union, drove Istanbul into Washington’s embrace in the Cold War. But
when in the 1980s flexibility became an option, and in the 1990s a
necessity, Turkey remained rigid. When it looked south it could only
see Israel; when it looked east it could see nothing more than
Pakistan. Both were American allies. Turkey did not have a policy or a
vision for the 21st century.

Davutoglu selected the moment of departure with uncanny vision: George
W. Bush’s war on Iraq in 2003. It gave an early sign of change, when
it refused to let American troops pass through Turkey on their way to
Iraq. It also realized, fairly early, that America would be weakened
by Bush’s Iraq folly, creating space for new players, since the Soviet
Union was too weak to play any role at all.

Israel and Iran have sufficient muscle to fill a regional vacuum, but
both were inherently belligerent. They would be able to intervene, but
as destabilizers rather than stabilizers. Iran had a natural advantage
in Shiite-majority Iraq, but it simultaneously provoked deep
suspicions in the Arab world.

Turkey set itself up as the region’s center of stability. Ironically,
this was its role during the days of the Ottoman Empire; but this time
around, it could create an arc of influence only through diplomacy and
harmony, not imposition.

Turkey set about strengthening its relations with Arab nations. It
distanced itself from warriors in Israel, without breaking ties of
trade and cooperation. It criticized Israel’s Gaza war unambiguously.
But it realized that a critical key to peace lay in the amelioration
of its own antagonisms with its neighbors. This was, given the
emotionalism that is attached to the past, difficult.

But Turkey has now signed historic protocols with Armenia, warmed icy
relations with Syria to the point where visa has been abolished,
lifted ties with Iran and become a vital partner of Iraq in the
reconstruction of the country. In October Erdogan signed 48 MoUs
covering energy, commerce and security (among other things) with
Baghdad. Davutoglu paid a visit to the Kurdish Regional Government in
northern Iraq, which is equivalent to an Indian foreign minister
dropping in on Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Not too long
ago, Turkey’s air force was bombing this Kurdish region as punishment
for being a base for terrorism. Turkey, America and Iraq are working
together to bring the long and bitter Kurdish war against Turkey to an
end ‘ another sign of Washington’s new respect for Istanbul.

Pakistan has recognized the change as well, but done so in its
India-centric manner. It has asked Turkey to help solve the Kashmir
problem. Istanbul is not so green as to try and do so; and certainly
Delhi will be frosty toward any such misguided initiative. But Turkey
has found its role on the world stage. A stem in the Cold War
greenhouse has flowered in the fresh air of an open mind.

;section =0&article=128202&d=8&m=11&y09

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 8 2009

Non-Muslim communities hope for concrete steps from gov’t

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an’s meeting with representatives of
non-Muslim communities in Turkey in August raised hopes that
minorities would eventually obtain the same rights and freedoms as the
population at large, but the government’s failure to take concrete
steps on this issue has led to disappointment among minority groups.

On Aug. 15 ErdoÄ?an, accompanied by a delegation of five ministers
along with senior officials, paid a visit to the Ä°stanbul island of
Büyükada — which has a high minority population — to meet with
representatives of non-Muslim communities. During the meeting, the
prime minister promised them increased democratic rights and discussed
the problems they faced, which caused people to expect the government
to begin working to solve their problems. The visit to Büyükada came
after the announcement that the government had started its democratic
initiative, which aims to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the
country’s Kurdish problem by granting more rights and freedoms to
Turkey’s Kurdish citizens.
`The purpose of organizing these kinds of meetings is to prepare the
public psychologically for a major change. The government knows the
problems faced by minority groups well and has the authority and the
political power to undertake reforms which will offer more freedom to
minorities. That the government has good intentions was the message
they tried to send with this meeting,’ said Etyen Mahçupyan, director
of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation’s (TESEV)
democratization program, speaking to Sunday’s Zaman. Mahçupyan also
stated that holding a meeting on its own means nothing, mutual
confidence should first be established and later concrete steps ought
to be taken to solve the problems discussed.

Noting the most important problems of minority groups in Turkey,
Mahçupyan, who is a member of Turkey’s Armenian community, underlined
that the controversy over assets belonging to Turkey’s non-Muslim
foundations constitutes these communities’ main issue of concern. He
believes consensus must be reached between the foundations and the
state with regards to compensating them or returning assets to their
original owners.

>From 1921 to 1974, foundations founded by non-Muslim communities were
allowed to have assets in Turkey; however, after a new law was passed
in 1974, minority groups were no longer permitted to own immovable
property.

Complaining about growing anti-Semitism in Turkey, particularly in the
media, which is becoming more apparent, Ä°vo Molinas, editor-in-chief
of the Å?alom newspaper, a daily published by Turkey’s Jewish
community, strongly suggested a change in the law to enable the
punishment of anti-Semitism. `We need anti-discrimination laws
regarding this issue,’ Molinas said, drawing attention to laws against
racial discrimination in the West. He also said: `Today, anti-Semitic
acts and articles that would certainly be penalized in the West cannot
be investigated or punished under the Turkish Penal Code [TCK]. This
is our affliction,’ he said. He expressed concerns that anti-Semitic
movements have gained more ground in recent years.

Sevan Balcı, a member of Turkey’s Armenian community, praised the
efforts of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
government to create better conditions for non-Muslim communities and
compared the AK Party period with the previous eras. `The Armenians in
Turkey are currently living the best period of the past 100 years. At
least the issue of the Armenian genocide can now find a platform for
discussion in Turkey. We can fix our churches; in the past, we were
not even allowed to drive a nail into their walls. The land-seizing
incidents decreased in last decade. These are all very good
developments,’ he said.

Touching upon the problems they have faced, Balcı pointed to the lack
of political representation for the Armenian community, saying: `For
example, in Germany Cem Ã-zdemir can be a politician and the co-chair
of the Green Party. In contrast, a Turkish citizen of Armenian ethnic
origin cannot experience such a progression in his political career.’
He also underlined the obstacles a member of a religious minority
faces when trying to find a job in a state institution, noting that if
Turkey’s Armenian were to be treated as equal citizens of the Turkish
Republic, it would greatly help them in overcoming the depressing
situation that has prevailed in Turkey mainly due to the discussion
over the genocide claims.

08 November 2009, Sunday
MÄ°NHAÃ? Ã?ELÄ°K Ä°STANBUL

The Australian
Nov 9 2009

‘Mick Many Names’ casts many spells

by Rebecca Urban
The Australian November 09, 2009 12:00AM

IN Perth mining circles, particularly at the very speculative end of
the market, the name Mick Shemesian is synonymous with deep pockets.

With links to at least two dozen Australian Securities Exchange-listed
mining tiddlers, Shemesian – full name Michael Mihran Shemesian,
according to a note announcing his arrival on the register of Cape
Lambert Iron Ore last year – is purportedly a billionaire.

As is Mick Shmazian, as he was to later appear when the sale of his
Cape Lambert stake was announced.

There’s also the "Mr Shamazian" identified in a court judgment as the
bloke who offered $20 million to help out a company part-owned by
another Perth mining identity, Greg Barnes. And let’s not forget about
"Mihran Chammassian", who, according to the Australian Securities &
Investments Commission, is the sole director of Clara Resources. Or
"Mihran Shemessian", who was charged with possessing drugs and
implicated in a money laundering scandal in the mid-1990s. He was
acquitted on both matters.

However one spells Mick Many Names – the moniker coined by Terry
McLernon, a former Perth cop and private investigator – one thing is
not in dispute: Shemesian is one powerful bloke.

Yet in spite of his wealth and influence, the businessman is near
impossible to keep tabs on.

Born in Perth in 1969 to Armenian immigrants, Shemesian followed his
father into the prospecting business and has made most of his fortune
pegging tenements in the far-flung corners of the world before selling
them on to listed companies, including Fox Resources, Aztec Resources
and Paladin Energy, to name just a few. Deals typically follow the
same mode of operation: Shemesian, or one of his associated ventures,
vends one of his mining projects into a listed vehicle in return for
cash and a swag of shares and options. He’ll offer the acquiring
company his ongoing services as a corporate adviser and then there’s
the royalty rights he often secures.

Shemesian declined to be interviewed about his business affairs.
However, he did answer some questions through his public relations
adviser, First Person’s John McGlue.

He describes himself as an investor and trader, with an emphasis on
early-stage opportunities.

"As you will understand, I make my living through my investments and
trading and would not care to share with everyone specific detail
around the successful investment strategies I employ," he says.

"This is no different to the position many brokers, hedge funds and
other successful investors would take."

One former associate, who asked not to be identified, says he’s never
encountered a smarter operator than Shemesian.

"Sometimes I felt he was just too intelligent for the other people
sitting around the table," the associate says. "And I think that has a
lot to do with his upbringing, following his father into the bush.
Wally (Shemesian) was known in the industry for being quite cunning."

Despite his substantial investments, Shemesian does not take board
roles, preferring to nominate one of his trusted advisers as was
evidenced in a recent London court case between shareholders of
Westrip, a joint-venture partner of the ASX-listed Greenland Minerals
& Energy. According to court documents, Shemesian’s Exchange Minerals
once offered $20m to Westrip, which was struggling financially. While
the deal never proceeded, one condition of the loan was that Exchange
Minerals could nominate three boardmembers, including the chairman.

Vince Fayad, the head of PKF’s corporate advisory business in Sydney,
has acted as power of attorney for Shemesian. He is also the managing
director of Greenvale Mining, which is 31 per cent owned by Boss
Energy, where Shemesian is one of the biggest investors. While
accountant Robert Grover, who has represented Shemesian on past
business transactions, is a director at both companies.

Sydney lawyer Sevag Chalabian is on the board of one of Shemesian’s
private companies, as well as several companies with past and present
links to the businessman.

Chalabian also a current director of Australian Royalties Corporation,
which famously secured almost $20m worth of shares from Aztec
Resources after threatening to exercise an option to buy back its
mining tenements for $1.

Although ARC’s sole director and shareholder at the time was a Sydney
cafe owner called Sarkis Gabrielian, it was widely speculated that
Shemesian had a stake in the deal. That was only fuelled by
Gabrielian’s swift exit from ARC on October 25, 2006 – the day after
the deal was announced. He was replaced by Chalabian and ARC is now
registered to the office of PKF in Sydney. Greenhill Capital Partners,
an outfit that has also advised several ASX-listed companies with
links to Shemesian, is based at the same address.

Shemesian’s long-time friend Brett Matich – the pair escaped a drugs
conviction together in the mid-1990s – has also been at the helm of
companies that have done business with Shemesian.

Matich is a former managing director of Fox and Aztec. His father,
Paul Matich, was a director of Range Resources at the time it acquired
a gold project with links to Shemesian.

Both were directors at Fox in 2004 when it acquired a mining royalty
from Clara Resources, which was billed as an "unrelated party".
However, ASIC records show that Clara Resources was, and still is,
owned by "Mihran Chamassian". While Shemesian was not on the board of
Fox, his partner Wanda Lee Clarke was one of the company’s largest
investors through her Australian Pensioners Fund, a private company
that conducts its business out of PKF’s offices also.

Shemesian’s Cape Lambert iron ore project, which was sold to what was
then known as International Goldfields for $20m plus 140 million
options in 2005, had initially been bound for Fox Resources.

The two friends, however, fell out last year, after Matich obtained a
court injunction to prevent Shemesian selling his shares in Cape
Lambert. The dispute was resolved after Melbourne underworld mediator
Mick Gatto helped to broker a peace deal.

These days Shemesian is based in Belgium, and he commutes via train to
his London office.

His Exchange Minerals Limited is either incorporated in the United
Arab Emirates – if a recent prospectus for the ASX-listed East Coast
Minerals is to go by – or the Channel Islands – according to Britain’s
Companies House. An Australian arm of the business, which was stung by
the collapse of Opes Prime, counts another of PKF’s Sydney partners as
its sole director and shareholder.

The group provides corporate advice and fundraising services to a
range of local mining outfits and appears – or has appeared – on the
top 20 investor lists of ASX and AIM-listed companies. It has a
website but details are scarce. The Australian used the global
database of information provider Dun & Bradstreet to attempt to find
out more about the firm.

However, a search failed to recognise the company as "credit active",
meaning that it has never applied the type of credit that warrants
another entity running a credit check. Even most small businesses have
credit reports.

Other firms with proven, or alleged, links to Shemesian are similarly
elusive. A search of Power United also drew blanks.

As did Gravner, another corporate adviser registered in Dubai, which
was previously reported to be linked to Shemesian. He has since denied
any involvement with the company.

Gravner’s website is equally mysterious, advising that it meets
clients via email or in person only. "We do not advertise or post our
address or contact details to the public," it says.

It’s a formula that obviously works. In December 2007, Boss Energy
appointed Gravner to be its corporate adviser for three years. In
return for its counsel, Gravner received a monthly retainer of $20,000
during the first year – rising to $40,000 by the third year – as well
as shares that could see it own 49 per cent of the company.

But it is Shemesian’s relationship with Greenland Minerals and Energy,
which last month moved out of the London office it shared with
Exchange Minerals, that has caused the most concern among investors.

Shemesian is Greenland’s largest investor through GCM Nominees, a
company registered to the Isle of Man that owns close to 16 per cent
of the stock following the 2007 sale of its 21 per cent interest in
the Kvanefjeld exploration project to Greenland.

The mysterious Gravner is also on the register – at one stage holding
a 15 per cent stake. Its failure to lodge a substantial shareholder
notice – despite Greenland’s repeated requests – has added to
suspicions that Shemesian is linked to the outfit and therefore owns
more than 20 per cent of the stock.

A spokesman for Greenland confirmed last week that the company had
written to both GCM and Gravner and had been advised that the two
parties were unrelated. Curiously, however, it is understood that
correspondence from Gravner has come via PKF in Sydney.

Gravner was appointed corporate adviser to Greenland at the time the
Kvanefjeld project was acquired. It was issued 30 million shares, 100
million options plus a $20,000-a-month retainer. Rumours are
circulating that the company has been offloading shares in recent
weeks.

Businessman Greg Barnes, who has known Shemesian for almost 30 years,
is currently involved in a stoush with Greenland Mining and Energy,
also known as GGG, over its refusal to provide Westrip with access to
financial and geological data. Clearly, he believes that Shemesian has
played a role.

"I am sad and disappointed that a long-standing family relationship
has been put at risk by the inability to compromise," he says. "It’s a
real shame that Mick has lost his perspective because, properly
managed, GGG has great potential, which he could help realise."

However, Shemesian argues that his links to GGG are limited to that of
a shareholder, through GCM Nominees. He also denies Exchange Minerals
has a direct business relationship with GGG, instead havingcontractual
arrangements with Westrip associated with the Kvanefjeld transaction.
"This role is similar to many others that Exchange Minerals has
performed over the past five years where it has acted as an
intermediary in enabling resources sector transactions and collected
fees," Shemesian says.

Not surprisingly, many in the mining sector are keenly awaiting his next move.

ames-casts-many-spells/story-e6frg8zx-122579556212 0

Amid harsh rhetoric, Bahçeli re-elected as MHP chairman

Sunday, November 8, 2009
GÃ-KSEL BOZKURT
ANKARA Hürriyet Daily News

Describing the ruling government’s Kurdish move to end the terror
problem a ‘collapse plan,’ Turkey’s nationalist opposition leader
criticized the government’s Islamic discourse and likened its Kurdish
initiative to the Crusades

Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, leader Devlet Bahçeli harshly
criticized the ruling government in a general assembly meeting, where
he was re-elected head of the party for a sixth term.

The MHP’s ninth general assembly was held Sunday in Ankara. Bahçeli
was elected leader for a sixth term with 1,171 delegate votes. The
assembly was marked by Bahçeli’s harsh criticism of the ruling Justice
and Development, or AKP’s, `democratic move.’

Bahçeli described the AKP’s Kurdish initiative as a `collapsed plan,’
criticized the AKP’s Islamic discourse, and likened the Kurdish
initiative to a crusade.

The assembly began eventfully on Sunday morning when a group of MHP
members entered the assembly hall and were mistakenly thought to be
colleagues of Bahçeli’s rival Ahmet Reiz Yılmaz upon entrance. Upon
entry, the group was hissed at by MHP delegates in the hall. The chaos
eased when an announcement revealed that the group was from the MHP’s
Istanbul provincial headquarters.

AKP attempt artificial

Bahçeli was the sole candidate for party leadership. A change was made
in the party constitution that allowed Bahçeli to be elected for a
sixth term. The former constitution limited leadership to five terms
in office.

In his two-hour speech, Bahçeli highlighted the dangers concerning the
country’s safety: safety, division, dissociation in the country’s
political and social texture, the global financial crisis, poverty,
developments that threaten the country’s perpetuity, and the
government’s surrender to these international powers. Bahçeli said
Turkey was threatened by the AKP’s management.

`Those who have hidden plans for Turkey, including the Greeks,
Armenians, Peshmerga, those who possessed the mentality of the
Crusaders, murderers of the Muslims and enemies of Turks, all wait in
line for the AKP to fulfill their dreams. They all wait their turn ¦
to take revenge on our nation and geography,’ Bahçeli said.

Addressing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, Bahçeli said: `Turkey
is our homeland. We have nowhere else to go. Nobody can make us leave
this country.’ He emphasized they would not make concessions on the
principles of a single flag, nation, country and language.

Bahçeli also criticized the AKP for its Islamic discourse and declared
the AKP’s efforts to protect the Palestinians an artificial attempt.

"We understand that it is the AKP’s mission to assume the
co-presidency of the Great Middle East Project, which is based on the
massacre of Muslims,’ Bahçeli said. `The AKP truly turned into the
Trojan horse, which assumed the role of preparing Islamic countries
against the impositions of the new type of imperialism,’ Bahçeli said.

gov.am, Armenia
Nov 8 2009

The Armenian high-tech industry congress started in San Jose (USA)as
attended by a Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan-headed delegation from
Armenia

The Prime Minister addressed the congress during the opening ceremony:
`High technologies continue to be an important part of economic
competition. In our capacity of a leader in the field of information
technologies, we wish to push ahead with the development of
bio-technologies, fundamental research, nuclear physics, green energy
and information services. Innovation, aspiration and active efforts
are pre-requisites to success.’ The Prime Minister referred to last
forum’s outcome, spoke about the efforts made so far to address the
tasks set previously, touched upon his government’s anti-crisis action
highlighting the infrastructure-focused projects, inclusive of the
North-South transport corridor, the new NPP, internet and computer
accessibility, pension reform and the activities of the National
Competitiveness Council. The head of government also spoke about the
establishment of Luys Foundation and All-Armenian Bank: `The
All-Armenian Bank has already been established in line with Armenia’s
legislation. A specialized company has been invited to assist us with
the design of a business plan.’ To begin with, the Bank will act as an
investment fund raising funds for national competitiveness-oriented
projects: `Though we cherish a more ambitious vision, namely to make
of it an institution serving pan-Armenian goals as the financial
dimension of the Armenian world,’ the Prime Minister noted.

Then Tigran Sargsyan headed to San Francisco to attend an event hosted
by the World Trade Council.

Next, the head of government traveled to Santa Clara where he met with
vice-president of Intel John Davies. Mr. Davies briefed Tigran
Sargsyan on his company’s four main development areas: accessibility,
development of communication facilities, education and training,
content of information services. Tigran Sargsyan said his government’s
programs are in harmony with Intel’s visions and went on to stress the
importance of joint educational endeavors covering the training of
computer literacy specialists and the furnishing of schools with
computers and internet accessibility. The parties evoked the
activities of the national council on information technology
development, as well as the government-operated changes to domestic
legislation aimed at ensuring rapid and continued expansion of the
sphere.

With reference to internet services, Tigran Sargsyan said that the
ongoing projects will ensure a breakthrough in this area. To provide
for continuity in the implementation of educational programs and the
agreements reached during the meeting, RA Minister of Economy Nerces
Yeritsyan was told to keep on negotiating with the Company on the
matters discussed.

The Armenian delegation discussed a broad range of issues with CEO of
Cisco John Chambers ` internet accessibility, providing Gyunri town
with a status of town of technologies, development of Armenia’s postal
system etc. The new cooperation areas were said to be able to open up
new possibilities for effective interaction.

Later on, the Prime Minister took part in a gala evening to celebrate
Craig Barrett, holder of a presidential award for significant global
contribution to the development of information technologies. In
conclusion, Tigran Sargsyan received the representatives of the
Armenian communities of San Francisco and answered numerous questions
asked by them.

Interfax, Russia
Nov 7 2009

Azeri, Armenian presidents to hold talks on Karabakh until end of November

BAKU Nov 7

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
accepted a proposal by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on
holding the sixth round of negotiations on the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict until the end of November, the co-chairs
said in a joint statement summing up outcomes of their visit to the
region on November 4-6.

The time and venue of the meeting will be announced later.

Aliyev and Sargsyan confirmed their determination to continue
discussing ways to achieve progress in coordinating the key principles
for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
statement says.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 7 2009

Azerbaijani, Armenian presidents to continue discussions on
Nagorno-Karabakh: OSCE MG

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 7 / Trend News E.Tariverdiyeva /

In Baku and Yerevan, both presidents reiterated their commitment to
continue their discussions, with the objective to make further
progress toward reaching an agreement on the basic principles for the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, statement of the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group says.

"They accepted the proposal of the Co-Chairs to organize their next
bilateral meeting, the sixth such meeting this year, before the end of
November at a time and place to be confirmed," the statement says.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, the
Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier, France; Ambassador
Robert Bradtke, United States) visited Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nov.
4-6.

They met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev November 5 in Baku before
traveling to
Yerevan November 6 to meet Armenian President Serzh Sargsian.

They returned to Baku November 6 for a second meeting with President
Aliyev, the statement says.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Nov 7 2009

Iran to connect its power grid to Russia, Persian Gulf states minister

Tehran, 7 November: Iran plans to connect its national power grid with
Russia and the Persian Gulf states, energy ministry caretaker said
here on Saturday [7 November].

ILNA News Agency quoted Hamid Chitchian as saying that, currently
Iran’s national power grid is connected to Iraq, Turkey, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

We plan to connect our power grids to Russia via Azerbaijan as well as
linking to the Persian Gulf states via sub-sea cabling, he added.

We are planning to connect the national power grid to new countries
within the next two years, he noted.

According to Chitchian, Iran currently exports electricity to
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Turkey.

Iran’s electricity export faced 123 per cent increase in the current
Iranian calendar year (started March 20, 2009).

Iran is among the top ten manufacturers of gas turbines with a
capacity of 160 megawatts. Iran has acquired self-sufficiency of over
80 per cent in constructing hydraulic turbines and over 90 per cent in
producing gas turbines.

Within the next few years, Iran can join the list of countries that
produce power plant technology. Iran has achieved the technical
expertise to set up hydroelectric, gas and combined cycle power
plants.

Iran is not only self-sufficient in power plant construction but has
also concluded a number of contracts on implementing projects in
neighbouring states. A research by the Ministry of Energy indicated
that between 15,000-20,000 megawatts of capacity should be added in
Iran’s electricity production in the next 20 years.

Iran ranks 19th largest producer and 20th largest consumer of
electricity in the world.

Public Television, Armenia
Nov 6 2009

Armenian presidential office removes 1,300 "anti-Armenian" videos from
YouTube

The PR and information centre of the Armenian presidential
administration has removed about 1,300 anti-Armenian video records
from the Youtube website in the past two months, the head of the
centre, Ara Saghatelyan, has told a news conference in Yerevan, the
state-owned Armenian Public TV reported on 6 November (at 1700 gmt).
The centre has developed conceptual methods aimed at neutralizing
information wars in the virtual world, the TV said.

"We are monitoring measures initiated in particular by Armenia’s known
neighbouring country [probably Azerbaijan] aimed against Armenia’s
information interests. We provide assistance in issues of
counteraction to such measures", the Novosti-Armenia news agency
quoted Saghatelyan as saying in its 6 November (1256 gmt) report.

Saghatelyan said that CIS and Baltic states are going to establish a
joint information platform, which will discuss issues linked to
information security, Armenian Public TV reported. Saghatelyan said
that a forum with participation of the media from the aforementioned
countries is scheduled for December of this year in Moscow, the TV
reported. Saghatelyan said that the new technical system has made it
possible to protect Armenian government’s websites from hacker
attacks. The head of the centre said Armenia relied on intellectual
capacity in the information war, whereas Azerbaijan relied on hired
workforce, the TV reported.

"Tentatively speaking, there is no website that cannot be hacked. It
is continuously reported that even databases of major banks are
hacked, and so on. … However, any government or any private party
strives to set up a system that would protect its network resources
from external interventions", Armenian Public TV quoted Saghatelyan as
saying at a news conference.