Month: November 2009

JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA HANDS OVER HIS CREDENTIALS TO THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

ARMENPRESS
Nov 2, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Japanese ambassador to Armenia
Masaharu Kohno (residence Moscow) handed over his credentials to the
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Presidential press office told Armenpress that congratulating the
ambassador on assuming the office, the president said that Armenia
is interested in boosting Armenian-Japanese relations. Serzh Sargsyan
thanked the Japanese government for the support to Armenia.

"The grants, technical support and the privileged credits provided by
the Japanese government are of big importance for us. I particularly
highlight the program of upgrading of the Yerevan thermo power plant
which will give Armenia’s economy an opportunity to develop and will in
some extent smooth the social tension," the head of the country said.

President Sargsyan said that in development of bilateral economic
relations there is much to be done. In this respect the president
underscored the visit of the Armenian foreign minister to Tokyo,
noting that it will give an opportunity to continue the political
dialogue and discuss opportunities of boosting the cooperation in
different spheres. The parties agreed that the two countries have
great potential for economic cooperation which must be fully used.

The ambassador said that he will do his best for the further
development of bilateral relations. The interlocutors also exchanged
thoughts over the Armenia-Turkey relations.

TURKEY REALIZES IT CAN PLAY CRUCIAL ROLE: SEMNEBY

news.am
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

The current situation in Armenia-Turkey relations as it is cannot take
forever, as everyone should adapt to the normalization prospects,
border opening and etc., EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby told Russian Vremya Novostey daily. According
to him, certain dynamics in solution to the territorial conflicts
and Armenian-Turkish relations after August 2008 war in Georgia
is registered.

As for Russia’s interest in Armenia-Turkey reconciliation, Semneby
said that "this country started to take steps demonstrating it expects
changes in the Caucasus long ago." In addition, all current investments
in Armenian infrastructure by Russia will get payback only in case
Armenia-Turkey border opens.

Asked whether present progress in relations’ normalization is the
achievement of Armenian diplomacy, Semneby replied: "The impetus to
reconciliation was given not only by Armenia." Though the interest
of Armenian side is "irrefutable," Turkey realizes that "can play
crucial role in the region only if this issue is defused". After all,
conflict with Armenia "restricted to a large extent chances of Turkey
in South Caucasus."

Semneby also touched upon Karabakh issue and endeavors to link the
two regional issues’ settlement, stating similar attempts might
reverse both processes: "It is easy get involved in the situation,
when chances to normalize relations are re-blocked." However, the
official considers that probably the developments in one of the
conflicts will affect the whole tone and "we should assist their
positive interaction as far as possible."

A CONFERENCE TO BE CONDUCTED WITH PARTICIPATION OF INTERNATIONAL AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS FUNCTIONING IN THE SPHERE OF EDUCATION

ARMENPRESS
Nov 2, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Education and Science
Ministry will conduct November 20-21 a conference with the
participation of international and public organizations functioning
in the sphere of education. The goal of the conference is to classify
the programs undertaken and implemented in educational sphere by
different organizations on purpose of increasing their efficiency,
as well as to extend the involvement of the civil society in working
out and implementing educational development policy.

Armenian Education and Science Ministry told Armenpress that in order
to participate in the conference public organizations will submit
applications till November 7, and a selection will be made on the
basis of the submitted information.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASHOT GARAMYAN JOINS TOP-SEEDED

Aysor
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

Two chess tournaments in France – Corsica Masters in Bastia and the
IX Open International Rohde in Sotron – are over. The Corsica Masters
involved 184 chess players including Armenian-born Frenchman Ashot
Davtyan who on 6 points seeded 23-33 horizontal while three players
(Bosnian Ivan Sokolov, Ukrainian Vladimir Malanyuk, and Frenchman
Gisham Gamduchi) on 7.5 points led the tournament table seeding top
on the spot.

The IX Open International Rohde involved 206 chess players.

Armenian-born France’s Ashot Garamyan is among top-seeded on 7 points.

Ukraine’s champion in women’s chess, Armenian-born Evgenia Dolukhanova,
seeded 14-30 horizontal on 6 points.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES BEGIN MILITARY EXERCISES IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN AGAIN

APA
Nov 2 2009
Azerbaijan

Aghdam. Teymour Zahidoglu – APA. Armenian armed forces began new
military exercises in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

They began shooting trainings at 12.00 on Monday in the directions
of occupied Shahbulag Daghi and Uzundere areas of Aghdam region, APA
Karabakh bureau reports. The Armenian forces used armors and artillery
in the exercises conducted in the villages of Aghdam boundary with
the Agjabedi, Barda and Terter regions.

Voices of armors and military vehicles are heard in the territories
around the contact line. A relative calmness is observed on the line
of contact while exercises are going on.

‘AZERBAIJAN SEEKING TO DERAIL TURKEY-ARMENIA DEAL’

Monday Morning
&CategoryID=6
Nov 2 2009
Lebanon

On October 16 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Turkish terms for
buying Azerbaijani gas were unacceptable and that Baku was considering
other routes for shipping its gas to Europe.

The statement came amid deep Azerbaijani anger at a thaw in
Turkish-Armenian relations and prompted Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu to reaffirm that its close support for Baku remained
unchanged.

"Azerbaijan has been selling its natural gas to Turkey at a level that
is one third of the world price. What country in the world would agree
to sell its natural resources at 30 percent of world prices?" Aliyev
told a government meeting.

"Of course under such conditions, we have to explore alternatives",
he said, adding that Azerbaijan could look to increase gas supplies
through Russia or Iran.

Analysts said Aliyev’s remarks were a shot across Turkey’s bow after
it signed an agreement with Armenia this month to establish diplomatic
ties and reopen their border following decades of hostility.

Baku is incensed that Ankara is moving forward with the agreement,
which must still be ratified by the Armenian and Turkish parliaments,
and accused Turkey of betraying its interests.

Ankara sealed its border with Armenia in 1993 in a show of solidarity
with Baku after ethnic Armenian separatists, backed by Yerevan,
seized the Nagorno Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts
from Azerbaijan in a war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.

"Azerbaijan feels personally betrayed by Turkey to some extent", said
Ana Jelenkovic, a London-based Caucasus expert with the Eurasia Group.

"They are feeling very threatened and are taking steps to make it
overtly obvious to Turkey where they stand".

Azerbaijani political analyst Rasim Musabekov said the Turkey-Armenia
thaw has brought longstanding Azerbaijani concerns over gas prices
to the surface.

"Turkey’s ignoring of Azerbaijan’s national interests in its approach
with Armenia has made Baku reconsider Turkey’s selfish approach to
gas prices", he said.

"Where previously Azerbaijan could justify the very low prices because
of brotherly relations with Turkey, now Baku is speaking solely in
the language of business", he said.

In response, Davutoglu declared that "Azeri soil is as sacred for
us as our own" and Turkey would offer unstinting support for Baku in
the Karabakh conflict.

Commenting on Aliyev’s remarks on gas, Davutoglu added: "The
negotiations are continuing (…) I believe we will reach a positive
outcome".

Azerbaijan is the starting point for a key corridor of oil and gas
pipelines from the Caspian Sea through Georgia and Turkey to Europe.

It is also seen as a key potential supplier for the European Union’s
ambitious Nabucco pipeline project, aimed at cutting Europe’s reliance
on gas supplies through Russia and Ukraine.

Jelenkovic said the threat to pursue alternative routes was also
aimed at Western countries, which have pushed hard for reconciliation
between Armenia and Turkey.

"They are making it very clear to Europe what this might mean,
because Europe would certainly prefer not to have those supplies
routed through Russia", she said.

Tentative steps have already been taken with Moscow and recently the
Azerbaijani and Russian state energy firms signed an agreement to
start gas flowing to Russia as of next year.

Azerbaijan is limited in how far it can push Turkey, as there is not
enough infrastructure for major gas supplies through other countries
like Russia. But emotions in Baku are running high. "We can say
that we are now at the lowest point in relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan", said Baku-based analyst Ilgar Mamedov.

In another development, an opinion poll released last week suggested
that most Armenians oppose the agreement to establish ties with Turkey,
but nearly half nonetheless want to see the border between the two
countries opened.

The survey of 1,000 people carried out by the Armenian Sociological
Association found that 52 percent opposed the agreement to establish
diplomatic ties. About 39 percent supported the deal. But 48 percent
of respondents also said they wanted the border to open, compared
with only 41 percent who wanted it to remain closed.

NEW POLITICAL SHOW IN AZERBAIJAN
By Ivan Gharibyan

news.am
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

A new political show, "local elections", is being put on in
Azerbaijan. The election campaign is to reach its culmination on the
New Year eve. So Ilham Aliyev, the son of "the national leader Heydar
Aliyev" will have something to celebrate. It is the right moment,
as Azerbaijan has lately been "unlucky" in the international arena:
it has even come to controversies with the "big brother", Turkey.

Now it is an excellent opportunity to show the triumph of Azerbaijani
democracy, and the ones that will take notice of the event throughout
the world will laugh heartily. This can be the only reaction to the
reports like "A concert on the occasion of the end of the elections
in the Khachmass region began at 7:00 p.m." or "More than 93% turnout
in Nakhichevan."

The ruling party New Azerbaijan has a lot of work to do. Although the
present number of municipalities is 1,764 against the previous 2,757,
the ruling partocrats have to "spare no effort." The supporters
of the Aliyev clan have to nominate one candidate in most of the
municipalities, form a bloc with unaffiliated people (10-15 per cent
of posts intended for them) and, for show, let the Opposition to have
some seats.

Active work is in progress. Azeri mass media report that over 1,000
candidates of the New Azerbaijan Party have submitted subscription
lists and got registered at election commissions. As regards the
Opposition, which is in information blockade, it has nothing to do
but put up with its role of an "appendage".

The greatest achievement of modern-day Azeri democracy is
closely following the principle of appointing the head of the Baku
administration. Mayor of Baku is appointed by the President himself,
and no one is going to grant the Baku residents the right to elect
their Mayor.

Of course, with the present alignment of political forces, or rather a
complete lack of any alternative to the Aliyev clan, a ruling party
member would in any case fill the post. With this power system,
however, the Azerbaijani President should not, time and again, claim
his country to be "matchless" in the region. It is really so, though.

Neither Armenian nor Georgian TV viewers will ever see the picture
of the ex-president and "national leader" appear in the upper corner
of the screen every holiday.

VIDEO: TURKEY – ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TODAY

EuropeNews
Nov 2 2009

>From Journeymans Youtube Channel: Journeyman apologises for any
offensive or vulgar comments left by viewers of this film – obviously
they have nothing better to do!

The eviction and slaughter of over a million Armenians in Anatolia
began in 1915. There’s little doubt Turkey was behind this massive
ethnic cleansing. Yet the Turkish government denies the historical
facts.

Almost a century later, any mention of the genocide is still taboo. A
law designed to protect ‘Turkishness’ is used to sue those who
challenge the official version. Nobel Prize winning author Orhan
Pamuk was sent to prison for speaking out about his country’s guilt.

More tragically, Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was recently murdered
for his efforts to bridge the divide between both people. The father
of his alleged killer claims that his son was only led astray "because
he loves his country and his nation."

Tens of thousands protested against nationalist violence after Dink’s
murder, but ultra-nationalism is still rife. Turkish MPs consider
any hints to the genocide ‘insulting’ and authorities turn a blind
eye to nationalist excesses.

The argument over the Armenian genocide stretches beyond Turkey’s
borders. As the country is a key ally in the Middle East, the US has
avoided taking a clear stance on the subject. For the Armenian Foreign
Minister, "the sense of tragedy is being exacerbated with every passing
day Turkey continues to deny." Although it has caused enough sorrow,
this festering hatred keeps claiming lives.

Watch video at Produced by ABC
Australia Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

See also:

Destroyed Armenian churches in occupied territories

sevag1974:

this video is dedicated to the UN and all the human race around the
glob ! for the first time you are about to see some Ancient churches
from Nakhichevan one place where any ARMENIAN can NOT put foot in
,the pictures are taken between 1965 & 1987.Today from hundreds of
Ancient churches in Nakhichevan nothing is remained all are leveled
to the ground , no journalist are allow to inter ,no EU parliament
member too .the Azeri government do all this barbaric Taliban regime
style demolition on our Ancient monument and clams the opposite that
the Armenians are destroying their monument which is NOT true.

Azerbaijan is a new formed country they do not have any Ancient
monuments in our historical occupied lands ,HOW COULD WE DEMOLISH it ?

when there is NON ??

if UN can not protect other nations historical monuments from
demolition than why continuing to exist ?

ARMENIA GOES ON WITH EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION: SEMNEBY

news.am
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

Turkey initiated reconciliation with Armenia not due to benevolence
towards the country, but because it is in Turkey’s interests, EU
Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby told in
Nov. 2 interview with Russian Vremya Novostey daily.

According to him, this step is one of the first marks of Turkish new
policy towards neighbors. Though the solution to the issue is of
vital importance to Armenia, "the completion of the process is in
Turkey’s interests." The official expressed confidence concerning
the final ratification of the Protocols, underlining impossibility
of full guarantee of the issue.

"Normalization will give new opportunities that will positively impact
on the security and regional economy," he added. Commenting on the
remark that Armenian, Azerbaijani and Karabakhi leaders nonetheless
come to Moscow after each breakthrough in Armenian-Turkish process,
Semneby replied that Russia’s interests in the South Caucasus are of
no secret and "the country wishes to protect it."

"The fact that Russia links its interests with progress in these
complicated settlement processes, is a positive factor. If Russia
plays active role in the issues’ settlement, we can do nothing but
welcome it," Semneby said, adding that Russia has significant economic
interests in Armenia and diversification of the economy as well as
increase of dynamics is also in Russia’s interests. "The major factor
for the economic growth is border opening with Turkey."

As to the further prospects on Armenia’s Euro-Atlantic integration
after the problems’ solution with Turkey, Semneby underlined that
Armenia also participates in the EU programs, such as European
neighborhood and Eastern Partnership along with other states. He
also informed that the talks on association membership with EU will
commence shortly: "It will continue regardless the border opening."

PRODUCTION OF COGNAC IN ARMENIA DECREASED BY 40%

Aysor
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

Production of cognac in Armenia decreased by 40% over this year’s
January- September and stands by 6.8 million liters; at the same time
wine production capacity was stepped up by 12,7% and stands by 2.3
million liters.

For the period January-September 2009 there has been produced 8.2
million liters vodka – which is 1.3% lower than last year’s index
and 8.7 thousand liters beer – without any changes; and production
of champagne decreased by 9.4% and now stands by 144.8 thousand liters.

Production of non-alcoholic drinks for the period January- September
2009 decreased by 17.7% and stands by 26.4 million liters.