Month: November 2009

ARMENIA THREATENS AZERBAIJAN WITH KARABAKH RECOGNITION

Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 24 2009
Turkey

Armenia threatened to recognize the Azerbaijani enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state if Baku takes military action
to reclaim the territory.

"Armenia so far has not recognized the independence of Karabakh
for only one reason – so that it does not become an obstacle in the
process of peace negotiations," Armenian Presidential Spokesman Samvel
Farmanian said in a statement. "If peace talks fail and military
actions begin, nothing will prevent Armenia from recognizing the
independence of Karabakh," he said.

Tensions over the disputed region have risen after Armenia and close
Azerbaijani ally Turkey signed an historic deal to establish diplomatic
ties and re-open their border.

On Saturday, Azerbaijani news agencies quoted President Ilham Aliyev
as saying that Baku has the right to retake Nagorno-Karabakh by force
if ongoing peace talks fail to produce any results.

Aliyev met with his Armenian counterpart Serge Sarkisian in Germany
on Sunday for the sixth round of talks this year on resolving the
conflict.

International mediators said in a statement after the talks that
"progress was made" but that "some issues still remain open."

Backed by Yerevan, ethnic Armenian forces seized control of
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in
the early 1990s, in a war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.

Armenian and Azerbaijani forces are spread across a cease-fire line in
and around Nagorno-Karabakh, often facing each other at close range,
and shootings are common.

Azerbaijani media reported Monday that an Azerbaijani civilian
had been shot dead by Armenian forces near the de facto border with
Nagorno-Karabakh over the weekend, but the rebel region’s armed forces
denied the reports.

E. NALBANDIAN MET DOMINIC MAMBERTTI IN VATICAN

Aysor
Nov 24 2009
Armenia

Yesterday in Italy during his working visit the Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian met Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for
Relations with States of the Vatican State Secretariat of the Holy See,
informs the press and information department of the Foreign Ministry
of the Armenian Republic.

The head of the foreign affairs of Armenia and the Secretary for
Relations with States of the Vatican State Secretariat appreciating
the relations established between the Armenia and Vatican as well as
Armenian Apostolic and Rome’s Catholic churches. They assured that
they will become stronger due to the mutual efforts.

Minister Nalbandian and Archbishop Mamberti had a through talk about
the issues concerning the agenda of the international relations, as
well as issues concerning the South Caucasus region and the issues
to be discussed at the OSCE Minister’s Council which will be held on
December in the Athens.

In the frameworks of the visit the Armenian Foreign Minister invited
his counterpart to visit Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN IDAHO

news.am
Nov 24 2009
Armenia

Armenian Genocide memorial is put up in Twin Falls (Idaho), Times-News
reports. The memorial was erected on Liyah Babayan’s initative,
who came to Twin Falls from Armenia with her family at the age of 11.

"She spent much of this year lobbying and raising money for the granite
memorial that was placed at Twin Falls City Park on Saturday," the
source says.

"It really means a lot to my parents and my grandparents," said
Babayan. Now expecting a baby, she knows her child will not experience
atrocities as an American.

The memorial is a reminder of the massacres of Armenians in Ottoman
Empire.

"We have rooted ourselves in this community. I grew up here. We own
a business in Twin Falls," Babayan said, adding that many Armenians
who came in Twin Falls as refugees, are presently U.S. citizens.
From: Baghdasarian

BORIS GRYZLOV TO VISIT ARMENIA

Aysor
Nov 24 2009
Armenia

Russia’s State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov will visit Armenia soon in
accordance with agreement reached at meeting with Speaker of Armenia’s
Parliament Hovhannes Abrahamyan.

Hovhannes Abrahamyan said is grateful for the support from Russia and
stressed the importance of provided by Russia loan which supported
Armenia’s economy during the global crisis.

The parties also discussed items of regional strategy and cooperation,
process of reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey, and Karabakh
settlement.

RUSSIAN GAS FOR ARMENIA FOR USD 180

The Messenger
Nov 24 2009
Georgia

>From April 1, 2010 Russia will supply Armenia with natural gas at USD
180 per 1,000 cubic metres, Armenian Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Armen Movsisian has stated. Initially a price of USD 200
was being suggested but due to the efforts of Armenian side the price
was brought down.

Meanwhile Russia is offering to build Armenia a nuclear power station.

Russian state corporation Rostat has made this offer, suggesting it
build a facility like the one it constructed in Belen, Bulgaria. The
Armenian side denies the rumour that Russia has reduced the gas price
because a secret deal has been done to let it build the power station,
but we’ll see.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THERE IS REASON TO TALK ABOUT NOT AN IMAGINARY, BUT TANGIBLE BREAKTHROUGH IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH TALKS: POLITICAL EXPERT

Today
730.html
Nov 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with expert at Azerbaijan-based Lider TV Tofiq
Abbasov.

Day.Az: What are your views about the Munich meeting between
Azerbaijani and Armenian president?

Tofiq Abbasov: Western press widely highlighted the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict prior to the Munich meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents. Some articles and comments even discussed likelihood of
Azerbaijan’s conducting operation to compel Armenia to peace.

It is not accidenal at all. Most recently, at a meeting with a group of
refugees and internally displaced persons Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev said that the negotiations to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh must have not a formal, but specific
nature. The Azerbaijani president once again demonstrated commitment
to assertion the just position of his country which implies that the
conflict can be settled only within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

On the other hand, the Azerbaijani leader made it clear that he aims
to secure tangible steps towards resolving the problem. Apparently,
Munich meeting is seen as effective as a result of the unambiguous
and clear position. Because there is every reason to speak not about
an imaginary, but tangible breakthrough.

Q: What concrete steps can be taken in order to turn this breakthrough
into actual steps for a just settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict?

A: The peace process has been delayed by Armenia which has always
demonstrated a commitment to outright obstruction. Suffice it to
recall how Armenian negotiators made a fuss, protracted discussions
on agenda of negotiations and repeatedly returned to the previously
negotiated issues under various pretexts. Of course, such an imitation
of the talks can not last forever. It is high time for the Armenian
side to decide on fundamental matters.

The solution of the conflict should begin with withdrawal of Armenian
armed forces from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories. Only after this,
follow-up questions, including the status can be decided.

Q: Is the Armenian leadership able to explain to citizens that it is no
longer possible to protract negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

A: I think that not only the Armenia leadership, but also Armenian
society understands that the negotiations have been overly protracted.

Maybe, Armenia has certain hopes and illusions that Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement will postpone the Karabakh issue for long term or
powerful countries will maintain their incompliance constantly. But
this will not happen.

Diplomatic pressure by Azerbaijan undermines fundamental basis
of Armenia’s platform. Arguments of the Armenian diplomacy is no
longer tenable. This was possible due to the fact that Azerbaijan’s
leadership took a wise stance in negotiations and succeeded to
combine the Karabakh problems and Turkish-Armenian reconciliation in
a single context.

President Ilham Aliyev at a recent meeting with the displaced persons
noted Azerbaijan’s obvious superiority in defense and economic spheres
and country’s demographic potential, which meant at the right moment
that Azerbaijan is able to tip the scales in its favor not only in
the negotiating table. I believe not only Yerevan appreciated this
imperative in a duly manner…

This also shows that Azerbaijan is not just ready for a forceful
solution to the conflict, but also to a long war, which is the not
the same case with Armenia. Therefore, if we exclude possibility
of repetition of 1999 events which saw shooting in the Armenian
parliament, one can expect that the Armenian leadership simply have
to accept conditions referred to by the Azerbaijani leader. The reason
is realities, that is lack of alternative which Armenia faces today.

ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS DISCUSSED IN RA CC

news.am
Nov 24 2009
Armenia

RA President Serzh Sargsyan introduced Armenia-Turkey Protocols
signed October 10 in Zurich on establishment of bilateral relations
with Turkey to RA Constitutional Court.

The Protocols were submitted on November 19, Constitutional Court
press secretary Hovhannes Papikyan informed NEWS.am. Presently,
they are being studied by CC Judge Vladimir Hovhannisyan, who will
introduce the Protocols and his conclusions to CC President Gagik
Harutyunyan within 15 days. "The latter will call a session to set
a date of Constitutional Court sitting, the Protocols discussion
procedure and the respondent," said Papikyan.

AGENCY TO PROBE POLICE OFFENSES

Kathimerini
4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100008_24/11/2009_11272 9
Nov 24 2009
Greece

Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis yesterday heralded
the creation of an agency to investigate alleged cases of abusive or
violent treatment of citizens by police after sacking two officers
for allegedly mistreating a 35-year-old immigrant in front of her
child in central Athens.

"Those two gentlemen are to leave the police force immediately
and will never return," Chrysochoidis said, referring to the two
officers alleged to have handcuffed an Armenian woman in front of
her 2-year-old child before bringing them both to the police precinct
in Kypseli. According to sources, the officers said they had reacted
after the woman called them "animals" – a claim the woman has rejected.

Chrysochoidis said that a new agency would be set up to probe similar
claims of misconduct by officers of the regular police force and the
riot police unit (MAT). The agency would comprise ministry officials as
well as former prosecutors and legal experts but no active members of
the police force, to ensure that it remains independent, the minister
said. Chrysochoidis also heralded a review of the disciplinary process
currently employed for police officers accused of alleged offenses
with the aim of getting through a backlog of claims.

"The problem up until now has been that the system for dispensing
justice in such cases has been hampered by bureaucracy, a lack of
meritocracy and the absence of a serious examination of complaints
lodged by citizens," he said. The minister noted that he could not
guarantee that such instances of alleged police misconduct would
not occur in the future. "What I am saying is that from now on,
those who are guilty will be punished… we will crack down on
lawlessness and safeguard human rights so that the minority that
behaves unacceptably does not tarnish the image of the majority of
officers," Chrysochoidis said.

The minister added that officers will be expected to display their
police ID numbers on their uniforms to ensure accountability.

GABRIEL SARKISYAN LEAVES THE WORLD CUP

Aysor
Nov 24 2009
Armenia

As we have already reported, the first losses among the favorites
of the World Cup happened after round one. Sergey Movsesyan from
Slovakia lost in the first round (classical games) to less known chess
player from China Yu Yangyi. Armenia’s Tigran Petrosyan also lost;
Gabriel Sarkisyan, unfortunately, lost 3:5 to China’s Chao Li in the
tie-break game.

So two Armenia’s chess players, Gabriel Sarkisyan and Tigran Petrosyan
leave the World Cup.

Representing the United States Varuzhan Hakobyan continues
participating in chess contest. He won 9:7 over Russian Pavel Tregubov
in the tie-break game.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS MAKE A STATEMENT ON AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS’ MEETING

AzerTag
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yury Merzlyakov of
Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United
States, released the following statement today.

"President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsian met November 22, 2009 at the residence of the French Consul
General in Munich at the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov (Russian Federation), Ambassador Bernard
Fassier (France), Ambassador Robert Bradtke (United States).

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian also participated in the talks, as well as
the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During this meeting, the sixth such meeting this year, the two
presidents engaged in a detailed and in-depth discussion of the most
important unresolved points in the Co-Chairs’ proposals. The talks,
which lasted almost four hours, were constructive. In some areas,
progress was made. At the same time, some issues still remain open.

The Presidents instructed their foreign ministers to continue working
with the Co-Chairs on these matters. As a next step, the Co-Chairs are
organizing a working session with the two ministers in advance of the
OSCE Ministerial Council, which will take place December 1-2 in Athens.