Month: November 2009

3RD ANNUAL ARMENIAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN
Lilit Muradyan

"Radiolur"
24.11.2009 15:00

The 3rd Annual Armenian Information Technology (IT) Conference kicked
off in Yerevan today. In light of the latest political and economic
developments, the conference aims to analyze the current opportunities
and challenges and define IT industry priorities for the future.

The conference will raise and seek solutions to Armenia’s
telecommunication sector development, will highlight how academic
partnerships can result in competitive educational curricula, and
how the creation of venture capital funds can support the development
and expansion of high tech businesses.

"Our IT sphere is in the stage of formation. The experience of the
countries in crisis has showed that the service sector is the most
steadfast. The fields of tourism and Information Technologies managed
to resist the crisis better than others. I hope no decline will be
registered in the IT sphere. The most challenging in the sphere is the
issue of preparing high-quality specialists," said Nerses Yeritsyan,
Armenian minister of Economy.

RUSSIA, AZERBAIJAN LEADERS MEET TO TALK TRADE, CONFLICT ZONE

RIA Novosti
November 24, 2009
Ulyanovsk

The Russian and Azerbaijani presidents met in the Volga city of
Ulyanovsk on Tuesday for talks expected to focus on bilateral trade
and the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

Dmitry Medvedev and Ilham Aliyev laid flowers at a memorial to the
Azerbaijani leader’s late father, Geidar Aliyev, who oversaw rescue
efforts in the city after a steamship accident on the Volga in 1983,
when he was the Soviet Union’s deputy prime minister.

They also attended a ceremony to rename the square hosting the memorial
after Aliyev, a longtime leader of Azerbaijan whom his son succeeded
in the 2003 election, after his death.

Aliyev’s visit to Russia comes following talks in Munich on Sunday
on Azerbaijan’s simmering conflict with Armenia over the disputed
Nagorny Karabakh region.

Russia, a mediator in the conflict, has stepped up efforts to spur
the peace process between the two ex-Soviet Caucasus states. Media
reports said the Kremlin fears a failure in the negotiations could
hamper arms and other trade contracts with Azerbaijan.

Medvedev and Aliyev also attended the opening of a bridge across the
river in Ulyanovsk, 893 kilometers (555 miles) east of Moscow. The
Russian leader hailed Geidar Aliyev’s contribution to the city’s
development, saying the bridge, designed in the 1980s, was "a monument
of kinds" to him.

"I am happy that our countries continue their successful cooperation
today," Aliyev said at the bridge ceremony. "We have maintained very
close contacts as presidents, regarding our relations as strategic
and as those of friends and neighbors."

After the Munich talks on Sunday, French mediator Bernard Fassier
said "some important progress" had been reached but outlined certain
"difficulties."

Aliyev warned ahead of the talks that Baku does not rule out the use of
force to tackle the Karabakh conflict if no progress is made in Munich.

It was the first meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders
after Armenia and Turkey, Azerbaijan’s Muslim ally, signed in October
accords to restore diplomatic ties and reopen borders.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CSTO ROUND-TABLE MEETING TO DISCUSS MILITARY-POLITICAL STATUS OF REGION

Panorama.am
16:04 24/11/2009

Politics

"CSTO as component to stability and security in Caucasus region"
round table meeting is underway in Yerevan. The CSTO Secretary
General Nikolay Borduzha stated the vision of the meeting is to give
assessments and foresights to the military-political status of the
region. "The first session took place in Yerevan but it’s not because
Armenia chairs CSTO – Armenia is one of the most active members to
the organization. During Armenia’s presidency various projects have
been drafted and many committed," CSTO Secretary General said.

"PYUNIK" HALL OF "AZTAG" DAILY OPENED IN LEBANON

Noyan Tapan
24.11.2009

BEIRUT: The opening of the "Pyunik" hall of the "Aztag" daily was
held in Lebanon on Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. Participating
in the opening were representatives of political parties, unions and
clergymen of the Lebanese Armenian community.

As reported by "Aztag", opening remarks were made by Nare Janan
from the editorial staff, followed by Director of "Aztag", Shahan
Gantaharian, Armenia’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Ashot Kocharyan,
president of the Board of Trustees of the "Pyunik" Fund, Levon
Sargsian, leader of the Armenian Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Gegham
Khacherian, representative of the ARF Central Committee in Lebanon,
Hovik Mkhitarian and ARF Bureau representative, Hrant Margarian.

NOT JUST HITLER’S FOOL; HISTORY OF ITALIAN FASCISM

The Economist
November 21, 2009

Rome, History of Italian fascism

A mistress’s diary shows Benito Mussolini was a rabid anti-Semite

"THESE disgusting Jews, I must destroy them all." Adolf Hitler’s
dinnertime conversation? No. This is one of several anti-Semitic rants
ascribed to Italy’s fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, by his mistress,
Clara Petacci. Both were executed by partisans at the end of the second
world war. The diaries of "Claretta", published as a book ("Mussolini
segreto") on November 18th, after more than 50 years in the state
archives, challenge the comforting view that many Italians have of the
Duce as a leader misled by Hitler, his ally. Mussolini’s reputation
still matters in a country which, for most of the past eight years,
has been led by governments incorporating his "post-fascist" heirs.

In 2004 his son, Romano, published a memoir, "My Father, Il Duce",
which presented Mussolini as a caring family man, largely ignoring
the dark side of the leader who had occupied Ethiopia in 1935-36 and,
during his final years as Hitler’s puppet, sent thousands of Jews to
Nazi death camps. In 2007 Marcello Dell’Utri, a close aide to Silvio
Berlusconi, the prime minister, claimed to have found Mussolini’s
diaries. Most historians said they were fakes, but not before Italians
were told of contents which, in the words of Romano’s daughter,
Alessandra Mussolini, showed "all the efforts made by grandfather to
avoid the war".

Italian television documentaries generally go easy on the Duce too,
often reflecting the view that his government’s anti-Jewish "racial
laws", passed in 1938, were an aberration. Mr Berlusconi’s own opinion,
given in a 2003 interview, is that Mussolini "never killed anyone".

So for many Italians, it comes as a jolt to read of Il Duce boasting
that "I’ve been a racist since ’21." His mistress even recorded a
remark by Mussolini in 1938 that foreshadowed the Final Solution:
"I shall carry out a massacre, like the Turks did"–an apparent
allusion to the mass killing of Armenians in 1915.

"People have always assumed the racial laws were a political
instrument; not part of a policy in which he sincerely believed. This
would suggest quite the opposite," says Paul Corner, professor of
European history at the University of Siena. As a lover’s account,
the diaries should be treated with due caution, says Sergio Luzzatto,
an historian from the University of Turin. "But they are a kind of
wake-up call. They reveal Mussolini’s true gravity and wickedness."

ALIYEV IN RUSSIA TO SEEK FOR MEDVEDEV’S SUPPORT, AZERBAIJANI MEDIA SAY

Panorama.am
18:44 24/11/2009

Politics

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has left for Russia immediately
after his meeting with the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Munich.

The mission of Aliyev-Junior’s visit is officially reported to be
the official opening ceremony of H. Aliyev’s square in Ulianovsk.

Nevertheless, even the Azerbaijani media are convinced that Ilham
Aliyev has left for Russia seeking for Medvedev’s support over
Karabakh settlement.

"Two leaders will probably discuss the Karabakh conflict regulation
plan in Ulianovsk. Aliyev is supposed to ask for Russia’s support
over some issues, like the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Instead, Azerbaijan can offer Russia a
number of gas privileges," Vesti.az says.

This sounds quite intriguing. The reporter evidently wanted to make
an impression as if Azerbaijan is intent to make Russia a kind of
suggestion which the latter will find hard to refuse. Moscow may not
resist the gas offer temptation. Anyway, we will refer to this as
Moscow shows certain steps over its reaction to Azerbaijan’s offer.

What comes to be most capturing here is another issue. The Azerbaijani
website reveals that Ilham Aliyev has left for Russia to ask for
something he is eager to have, which, however, he has neither had by
now, nor hopes to have in the future. It goes about the "withdrawal
of the Armenian troops." Yesterday all the Azerbaijani media spread
information as if the Armenian troops will withdraw from Kelbajar
by yearend.

Of course, President’s spokesman commented on this and assured this
was a mere disinformation. Greater the amazement came to be as those
spreading the disinformation confessed it themselves a day after.

INVESTMENTS OF EBRD IN 2009 IN ARMENIA WILL BE $150 MILLION

ARKA
Nov 24, 2009

YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. "Investments of European Bank of
Reconstruction and Development in Armenia will make $150 million in
2009 versus $75 million in 2008", said Olivier Descamps, Director
of Business-group of EBRD for the countries of South-East Europe,
Caucasus and Central Asia.

In 2009 EBRD continued to remain the partner of Armenia and undertook
serious risks by implementing record-breaking investments in 2009
in Armenia. "We made investments in the amount of $150 million and
today we are the largest investors in Armenia.

We work by partnership and credit programs with 11 banks, as well as
implement the largest corporate operations", said Descamps. About 65%
of the given amount is already invested; particularly the largest
transaction is provision of credit in the amount of $60 million to
the company "Electrical networks of Armenia". Till the end of 2009 it
is planned to sign another large agreement on share participation in
the program of funding the second phase of reconstruction of Armenian
airport "Zvartnots" in the amount of $40 million.

"The remaining amounts will be provided for smaller transactions
– from $1 million to $5 million, each for 12 operations which are
planned to implement in real sector of economy till the end of 2009",
said Descamps. EBRD is one of the largest investors in Armenia. Till
now EBRD had invested more than 335 million EURO in the implementation
of more than 70 programs in different sectors of economy of Armenia.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL

armradio.am
24.11.2009 15:43

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Secretary General of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, Nikolay Bordyuzha.

Greeting the guest, President Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the
effective joint work and said: "I’d like to appreciate the pace of
cooperation within the framework of the CSTO and underline that a
serious work has been done over the recent period. It’s quite possible
that this was the first good precedent when an oral decision grew
into a document in a short period of time: collective rapid reaction
forces were established, and military exercises were conducted. I
do believe that in the near future we’ll complete the development of
normative acts, and our organization will become a stronger security
guarantee for its members."

President Sargsyan awarded Nikolay Bordyuzha with a Medal of Honor
of the Republic of Armenia. Expressing gratitude for the state award,
the CSTO Secretary General said he views it as an advance and he will
do his best for the Organization’s work to get more active and for
all problems to be solved more efficiently.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN AWARDS NIKOLAY BORDYUZHA WITH A MEDAL OF HONOR

Panorama.am
15:57 24/11/2009

Politics

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Secretary General of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Nikolay Bordyuzha,
President’s press office reported.

Greeting the guest, President Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the
effective joint work and said:

"I’d like to appreciate the pace of cooperation within the framework
of the CSTO and underline that a serious work has been done over
the recent period. It’s quite possible that this was the first
good precedent when an oral decision grew into a document in a short
period of time: collective rapid reaction forces were established, and
military exercises were conducted. I do believe that in the near future
we’ll complete the development of normative acts, and our organization
will become a stronger security guarantee for its members."

President Sargsyan awarded Nikolay Bordyuzha with a Medal of Honor
of the Republic of Armenia.

Expressing gratitude for the state award, the CSTO Secretary General
said he views it as an advance and he will do his best for the
Organization’s work to get more active and for all problems to be
solved more efficiently.

SARGSYAN SHOULDN’T HAVE LEFT FOR MUNICH

4/vahanhovhannisian
24/11/09

"The Armenian side had to refuse to meet in Munich after Aliyev’s
bellicose statements and that would be the right step to take," head of
the ARF faction Vahan Hovhannisyan told "A1+" and mentioned that unlike
previous statements, Aliyev’s current statement recalled an ultimatum.

"It is totally wrong to negotiate under the pressure of an ultimatum.

After that statement, the Armenian side had to address the
intermediaries, telling them to either pull the Azeri president
back or that Armenia no longer sees the need to negotiate in these
conditions. Since they haven’t done that, there are contradicting
statements, including "EuroNews", the denial of the Armenian side
and releases on Azeri websites."

Vahan Hovhannisyan is certain that everything is being done to
make Armenia compromise and facilitate the ratification of the
Turkey-Armenia Protocols in the Turkish parliament.

"Armenia is currently in a trap and it had to get out of that trap
a year ago, but it is still possible now. It will be more difficult,
but possible," he said.

Vahan Hovhannisyan also remarked that by participating in the meeting
in Munich after Aliyev’s statements, the Armenian side apparently
underestimated the Meindorf declaration in which the sides had excluded
the military solution and which served as the best opportunity to
pull back from the negotiations, at least from that meeting.

As far as the counter-attack by the president’s press speaker Samvel
Farmanyan is concerned, according to which "Armenia may recognize
Karabakh’s independence", Vahan Hovhannisyan said: "That is only one
of the components of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. The
more important components are international recognition, that is,
recognition or partial recognition by different international
organizations, or at least other countries. The other component,
which is more important, is to bring Karabakh back to the negotiating
table and that is the most important way of recognition. The easiest
is Armenia’s recognition of Karabakh’s independence."

"No matter when Karabakh is recognized, it can’t contribute to
Artsakh’s full integration in the negotiations. If Azerbaijan
attacks Artsakh, I believe that the first objective must be to
completely eliminate the Azeri aggressors on the battlefield, and
not recognition."

Vahan Hovhannisyan doesn’t believe in the Minsk Group Co-Chairs or
the Armenian side that claims that the issue of return of territories
has not been discussed. "I don’t believe that they have talked about
Karabakh’s status for four hours and the Azeri side has not raised
the issue of the return of territories."

Hovhannisyan added that there was a time when the Armenian side made a
tactical step that later turned into a strategic mistake. This refers
to the possible return of territories, which had to be discussed by
the consent of the Armenian side after determining the status. But
thanks to the consistent efforts of the Azeri, today the talks are
about the return of territories and then the prolonged referendum,
which is undetermined as to where and when it will be held and in
which format.