Month: November 2009

PROSPECTS OF KAZAKHSTAN’S PRESIDENCY IN OSCE DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 14:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The prospects of Kazakhstan’s presidency in
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe were
discussed in Yerevan on Wednesday. Kazakhstan’s charge d’affaires
in Armenia Nurbolat Alimbayev, members of OSCE mission to RA, head
of Armenia-Kazakhstan parliamentary friendship group Aram Safaryan,
representatives of international organizations and experts participated
in the debate.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NIKOLOZ VACHEISHVILI: URGENT WORKS FOR ST. GEVORG OF MUGHNI CHURCH REINFORCEMENT LAUNCHED

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 15:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Culture Ministry restoration architect
will depart Thursday for Tbilisi to participate in reconstruction of
broken-down St. Gevorg of Mughni Church is Tbilisi, the Ministry’s
press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

An invitation followed RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan’s
address to her Georgian counterpart.

As Nikoloz Vacheishvili, Georgia’s cultural heritage preservation
agency director, informed RA Deputy Culture Minister Arev Samuelyan,
urgent works for St. Gevorg of Mughni Church reinforcement were
launched on November 25.

After the break-down of St. Gevorg of Mughni, Armenian Apostolic
Church accused Georgian authorities of indifference to preservation
of Armenian relics.

ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS’ MEETINGS CAN’T BE VIEWED AS NEGOTIATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 15:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Meetings between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents
cannot be viewed as negotiations. They are rather meetings aimed to
resume negotiations over the Karabakh conflict settlement, Alexander
Manasyan, Doctor of Philosophy and political scientist told a news
conference in Yerevan on Wednesday.

Commenting on the recent 4-hour presidential meeting, he said that only
Sargsyan and Aliyev can tell what was discussed. He did not rule out,
however, that a framework agreement on Karabakh and NKR’s engagement
in negotiations were in focus.

"The final decision on the problem cannot be taken without NKR,"
the expert said, adding that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs seek a
simple solution to the Karabakh conflict, not requiring any effort.

KAZAKHSTAN ASSUMES OSCE PRESIDENCY IN KARABAKH TALKS INTENSIFICATION PERIOD

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 15:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Kazakhstan assumes OSCE presidency in the period
of intensification of Karabakh talks, said Aram Safaryan, Armenian
MP and head of the RA delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

"Besides, a hot debate on new European security architecture is
expected," he said.

Safaryan also informed that Kazakh Foreign Minister will visit Karabakh
conflict zone twice in 2010.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATO AND CSTO COOPERATION REPLENISH EACH OTHER

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 15:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Armenia does not oppose CSTO with NATO," Hrayr
Karapetyan, Head of NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, told a news conference in Yerevan.

At that he noted that during the meeting with Robert Simons, NATO
Secretary General’s Special Representative in South Caucasus and
Central Asia, they CSTO and NATO "replenished each other" in terms
of allying with Armenia.

According to Karapetyan, Armenia closely cooperates with CSTO member
states and since 2002, it has been collaborating with NATO within
the frames of Armenia-NATO Individual-Partnership Program (IPAP).

ARFD faction member also pointed out to existing fears in terms of
cooperation with both organizations. "As much as cooperation with
NATO is concerned, certain members of that political-military bloc,
particularly Turkey and Romania, are actively assisting in Turkey’s
armament program," he noted.

With regard to cooperation with CSTO, he particularly focused on
Russia which has started an active military-political cooperation
with Azerbaijan, something that contradicts the spirit and letter
of CSTO Treaty. "At this point a very natural question arises as to
whether Russia sees any difference between Armenia and Azerbaijan."

Karapetyan stressed the importance of Armenia’s extending cooperation
within CSTO frameworks while maintaining close ties with NATO. "To
maintain effective cooperation with Armenia, CSTO and NATO member
states should not assist in Azerbaijan’s armament program," he said.

KAZAKHSTAN’S POSITION ON KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION NEUTRAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 15:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Holding presidency in the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe, Kazakhstan will not interfere in settlement
of conflicts in the South Caucasus, a Kazakh diplomat said.

"Our position on the Karabakh issue is unprejudiced. We will create
all essential conditions for efficient work of the OSCE Minsk Group,"
said Nurbolat Alimbayev, Kazakhstan’s charge d’affaires in Armenia.

As to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s warlike statements,
Alimbayev refused to comment.

MELINE DALUZYAN TOOK THE 6TH PLACE AT WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 15:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 25, 2007 and 2008 Europe champion,
bronze medalist at 2006 World Championship, Armenia’s Meline Daluzyan
performed at World Weightlifting Championship in Goyang of South Korea.

Meline Daluzyan took the 6th place, lifting 235 kg in a clean and jerk.

Kazakh weightlifter became a championship winner (246 kg in a clean
and jerk).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOLDING OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP, KAZAKHSTAN WON’T UNDERTAKE IMPRACTICABLE TASKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in OSCE has both symbolic
and historic significance. This is the first time OSCE chairmanship is
entrusted to a Central Asian country which is a CIS and CSTO member
state, Kazakhstan’s Charge d’Affaires in Armenia Nurbolat Alimbaev
said in Yerevan during "Kazakhstan’s upcoming chairmanship in OSCE:
Opportunities and Prospects" seminar.

"2010 marks the 35th anniversary of Helsinki Final Act and Paris
Charter. Such dates bring us face to face with serious tasks, and
Kazakhstan is doing its utmost to bring its priorities in compliance
with the OSCE’s," the Kazakh diplomat said, adding that his country
eyes the OSCE as the only organization efficiently dealing with
security issues. "Holding the OSCE chairmanship, Kazakhstan won’t
undertake impracticable tasks. We will seek solutions to urgent
problems," Alimbaev said.

He also emphasized that his country will continue focusing on the
three basic aspects of OSCE’s activities – political and military,
economic and environmental, humanitarian.

HRAYR KARAPETYAN: RUSSIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT CONTRADICTS ARMENIA’S INTERESTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 16:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "After August 2008 war, Russia and Turkey were
showing signs for deepening cooperation, something that may affect
CSTO and NATO programs," ARFD faction member Hrayr Karapetyan, Chair
of NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal
Affairs, told a news conference in Yerevan.

When asked by a PanANRMENIAN.Net reporter whether possible opening
of Armenian-Turkish border would contribute to stability in South
Caucasus, he characterized Turkey as an unpredictable country guided
by pan-Turkism ideology which poses regional threat to Armenia.

"Otherwise, Turkish side wouldn’t link Armenian-Turkish border opening
with Karabakh conflict settlement," politician stressed.

Unless Turkey repents for crimes against humanity, particularly
Armenian Genocide, it will pose a national security threat to Armenia,
ARFD parliamentarian finds.

ARMENIA LAUNCHED 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2009 16:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In every country, women and girls continue to be
plagued by violence, causing tremendous suffering. Such violence
undermines development, genereates instabiity , and makes peace that
much harder to achieve, We must demand accountability for violations
and take concrete steps to end impunity, UN Secreatry General Ban Ki
Moon said on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women.

A campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence" aiming to
increase public awareness of gender-based violence was launched
Wednesday in Yerevan. On that occasion, UN House hosted a news
conference. Ms. Lala Ghazaryan, Head of Family, Women and Children
Issues Department at Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs presented
the current challenges and results achieved by the government in the
field of combating gender based violence.

Ms. Jina Sargzova, UNFPA coordinator of "Combating Gender Based
Violence in the South Caucasus" project and "16 Days" campaign in
Armenia talked about various activities, such as press conferences,
public hearings, public service announcements broadcasting, film
screenings, round table discussions with participation of refugees,
rural women and local government representatives,

The planned activities focused on cultural and national aspects of
violence against women, including domestic violence, trafficking and
HIV/AIDS, men’s participation in combating gender-based violence and
the importance of the youth involvement.

The program which will last till December 10 envisages psycological
consultations for violence victims, meetings with refugee women,
as well as radio broadcasts on other topics.

The 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including
December 1, World AIDS Day and December 2, the International Day for
the Abolition of Slavery.