Month: November 2009

NO CLASHES AT ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER, JUST "WORKING DISPUTE" – AGENCY

Interfax
Nov 5 2009
Russia

The Armenian National Security Service has dismissed the media
reports about clashes on the Georgian- Armenian border between the
two countries’ border guards, involving Georgian troops.

"The small issue that arose in relation to the current demarcation at
the Armenian-Georgian border, more fits into the notion of ‘a working
dispute’," NSS spokesman Artsvin Bagramian told Interfax.

Georgian troops were not called to the border and neither the Armenian,
nor Georgian border chiefs traveled to the scene, he said.

There was no incident on the Georgian-Armenian border, said the
Georgian border authority.

"There were no flare-ups at the Georgian-Armenian border, and
the reports about some incident between the Georgian and Armenian
border guards are untrue," the Georgian border police told Interfax
on Thursday.

"The situation on the border is absolutely calm," the agency said.

At this stage a commission set up by the two countries is carrying
out a border delimitation that will be followed by its demarcation,
the border police said.

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION CALLS UPON THE UK GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNISE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
07.11.2009 12:22

Internationally-recognised human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson
QC released a legal opinion slamming the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (FCO) for having deliberately misled the British Ministers,
Parliament and People about the Armenian Genocide.

Taking ground on the declarative value of the 1948 Convention, Mr
Robertson categorically rejects the foundations of the official British
position which are deceitfully supported by the FCO and especially
the allegation according to which there is no written document
giving evidence of any governmental decision to exterminate the
Armenians. With the help of the jurisprudence from the International
Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia, Mr.

Robertson recalls that such documents are absolutely not required in
establishing the genocidal intent and that it is generally impossible
to provide these kinds of documents, even for the Holocaust.

On this point, the lawyer blasts the FCO’s manipulation which would
require "sufficiently unequivocal evidences", as a "meaningless"
concept forged to be never complied with and which encroaches the
clear principles of both the civil and criminal standard of proof.

Examining the FCO’s internal documents, Mr Robertson shows that by
appeasing the Turkish State’s campaign of denial, the genuine concern
of British diplomacy is "to evade truthful answers because the Truth
would discomfort" Turkey where UK has economical interests, Turkey
being "neuralgic" to the whole genocide issue.

Mr. Robertson ends his analysis by recommending the UK to end this
denial policy and by clearly calling upon it to recognise the Armenian
Genocide. Mr Robertson concludes "if these same events occurred today,
in a country with a history similar to Turkey’s in 1915, there can
be no doubt that prosecutions for genocide would be warranted and
indeed required by the Genocide Convention".

The legal opinion shows that in giving priority to economical
considerations, the FCO departed from its mission and severely warped
its objectives.

"If true, the United Kingdom must seriously discipline this
administration" stated Laurent Leylekian. "This is the international
credibility of UK as a State of Law which is challenged by this legal
opinion" he added.

Furthermore, this study is an outstanding disavowal of the official
British position about the Armenian Genocide.

"We call upon the British government to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and to clearly state that this recognition by Ankara is a condition
for the continuation of the negotiations between Turkey and the EU"
concluded Leylekian.

ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANK FORECASTS INFLATION AT 5.4% IN 2009

Interfax
Nov 5 2009
Russia

Armenia’s Central Bank forecasts that inflation will total 5.4%
in 2009, according to figures contained in the bank’s fiscal policy
program for the fourth quarter of 2009.

The report points to risks that inflation could be higher or lower
than forecast, stemming from the pace of economic recovery and from
current low domestic prices due to declining prices for food and
commodities brought on by the global financial crisis.

On that basis, the Central Bank plans to hold the refinancing rate
steady at 5% annually, which will facilitate the fastest possible
economic recovery without upsetting price stability.

Armenia had 3.2% inflation in January-October, including 0.5% in
October, according to the report.

The Finance Ministry forecasts inflation this year at 3%-4% and the
World Bank – 6%. Armenia’s budget assumes inflation at 4% plus or
minus 1.5%.

Armenia had 5.2% inflation in 2008.

AZERBAIJAN IS GOING TO RESPOND TO ARMENIA IN UN: AZERBAIJANI FM OFFICIAL

Trend
Nov 5 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is going to respond to Armenia in the UN, Azerbaijani
Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov told Trend News in Washington.

He said that Armenian side is tricking international community with
information that is not true.

"Our diplomats are currently working on a report which will be a
response to Armenia. It will be distributed shortly," said Azimov.

According to the diplomat, the Armenian said is using disinformation
in order to break the negotiations.

During his visit to Washington, the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister, besides his official meetings, will hold a meeting with
prominent research organizations and non-profits of US capital in
order to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Speaking about the negotiation process, Azimov pointed out that
Azerbaijan is ready to compromise in resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict only within its principled position.

"The situation is difficult to be resolved. There is no 100-percent
unilateral solution to the conflict. There is only a compromise
solution, and Azerbaijan has already outlined a list of its
compromises. Standing on its principled stance, Azerbaijan is ready
to compromise," he added.

According to the deputy minister, Baku is ready to provide a high
status of self-government to the Nagorno-Karabakh region and supports
the resolution of the conflict on the basis of three principles taken
as a base for by the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group.

UN MULLS SITUATION IN AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Trend
Nov 5 2009
Azerbaijan

The situation in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories was discussed at
a round-table in New York at the UN headquarters.

The discussions were organized by the Azerbaijani Permanent Mission to
the U.N. They were attended by about 50 representatives of U.N. member
states and representatives of the organization’s secretariat and
structures, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported with reference
to the country’s permanent representation to the U.N.

Azerbaijani Permanent Representative to the U.N. Agshin Mehdiyev
informed the participants of the round-table on the issue’s history
and legal aspects.

Azerbaijan’s Legal Adviser Professor Malcolm Shaw made a report on
the current legal situation.

Representatives of U.N. member states noted the need to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict while respecting the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan and international law, and lauded the country’s efforts
in this respect.

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.

PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN AID UNION (AAU)

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
November 05, 2009

Today, NKR Prime Minister received the representatives of Armenian
Aid Union, among them Vicki Marashlyan, Zhirayr Pechekyan and
Margarita Taranyan. During the meeting various issues concerning the
charitable programmes being implemented in the spheres of education
and healthcare by AAU, as well as those concerning the arrangements
envisaged towards the 100 th anniversary of the organization were
discussed. The Chairman of the AAU Executive Commission Mrs Marashlyan
noted that the organization tries to continue its programmes in spite
of the existent difficulties caused by the world international crisis,
because the implementation of charitable projects in NKR is one of
the most important issues of the organization. Zhirayr Pechekyan
presented some information about the plans of the forthcoming year,
particularly, the organization is intended to pay for the education
of one student from the Republic in Lebanon since 2010.

During the meeting the Prime Minister informed the guests about the
Government’s intention to open several modern infant schools, as well
as to take measures towards improving the state in the sphere. The
Prime Minister added that the Government is ready to support the fund
in overcoming the difficulties arising during the implementation of
its programmes.

NKR Minister of Education and Science V.Khachatryan and representative
of the ARF Central Committee of Artsakh D.Ishkhanyan partook in
the meeting.

TURKISH OPPOSITION MPS INVITED TO AZERBAIJAN

Trend
Nov 5 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkish opposition MPs have been invited to Azerbaijan.

"While staying in Turkey, we invited a group of opposition MPs from
Nationalistic Movement and People’s-Republican parties to Azerbaijan,"
Ana Veten party chairman, MP Fazail Agamali, told Trend News today.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the protocols on restoration of diplomatic relations
between Ankara and Yerevan in Zurich on October 10.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due
to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been broken since 1993.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in
December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha,
Khojali and seven districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. — are currently holding
peace negotiations.

Agamali said that MPs promised to arrive in Azerbaijan.

"I think that this visit can be held on the eve of discussion of the
protocols, signed between Ankara and Yerevan, in the Grand National
Assembly (Parliament)," MP said.

He said that the Turkish opposition parties oppose approval of these
protocols in the parliament. So, it is very important to discuss
this issue with parliamentarians of the fraternal country again. "I
would like to stress I am cautious with the promises made by Turkish
officials that the protocols will not be approved without solving
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Our ties with the opposition parties
in Turkish parliament must be more intensive," Agamali said.

A delegation of 11 people, led by the Milli Majlis Committee for
Foreign and Inter-Parliamentary Relations chairman, visited Turkey
in October.

A delegation headed by the Turkish Parliament Commission for Foreign
Relations, Murad Marjan arrived in Azerbaijan in late October.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRANCE TELECOM’S ARMENIAN UNIT LAUNCHES GSM MOBILE OPERATIONS

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
November 5, 2009 Thursday 5:40 PM EET
Russia

France Telecom’s Armenian subsidiary Orange Armenia has launched
commercial operations of its GSM mobile network, representatives of
the operator told reporters Thursday.

The operator received a 15-year license for mobile services in
November 2008.

Orange Armenia plans also in 2010 to launch a third generation (3G)
mobile network in Armenia.

France Telecom plans to invest in total 150 million euros in Armenia
in 2009-2011.

Armenia’s two other GSM operators, ArmenTel and K-Telecom, are
subsidiaries of Russia’s VimpelCom and MTS, respectively.

LEBANON GOVERNMENT ACCORD REACHED

BBC NEWS
iddle_east/8347965.stm
2009/11/07 08:15:56 GMT

Lebanon’s political opposition has agreed to join a unity government
under Prime Minister designate, Saad Hariri.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement says its alliance of opposition groups
agreed to the move after talks on Friday.

Hezbollah is expected to officially inform the Western-backed prime
minister of its decision on Saturday.

Relations between Saudi Arabia, which supports Mr Hariri, and
Hezbollah’s backer Syria have improved – leading to the breakthrough,
correspondents say.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri – who is backed by the United
States and Saudi Arabia – led what many described as an anti-Syrian
coalition to victory in parliamentary elections in June.

He has spent the time since then trying to broker a deal with the
opposition to join a unity cabinet, but faced a number of disputes
over details, specifically the division of ministerial portfolios.

Syria was a significant political player in neighbouring Lebanon
for nearly 30 years, until the death of Saad Hariri’s father, Rafiq,
in 2005.

There had been growing concern among Western countries and the United
Nations over the political deadlock, and its impact on regional
security and the Lebanese economy.

BRITAIN – GOVERNMENTS ‘MISLED MPS FOR TURKEY’

Morning Star
November 5, 2009 Thursday
UK

Successive British governments have deliberately misled Parliament
over the 1915 Armenian genocide, a top lawyer has charged.

Geoffrey Robinson QC said that evidence recently released under the
Freedom of Information Act revealed that unwillingness to antagonise
Turkey’s "neuralgic" – or mentally unstable – attitude towards genocide
was behind Britain’s failure to acknowledge the atrocity.

The documents state: "Her Majesty’s government is open to criticism
in terms of the ethical dimension. But given the importance of our
relations with Turkey, the current line is the only feasible option."

The government had insisted that historians were divided on the issue,
but Mr Robinson found that no genocide experts – including historians –
had ever been consulted by a British government.

Within four weeks of the documents’ release, the policy had changed and
references to historians being divided on the issue had been discarded.