Month: November 2009

ARMENIAN CENTER DONATES BED SHEETS
By Zain Shauk

Glendale News Press
Nov 23 2009
CA

Crescenta Valley group gives items to the Red Cross for use in future
evacuations.

SOUTH GLENDALE — The Armenian Community Center of Crescenta Valley
followed through on a Station fire-inspired pledge Saturday when
it donated more than 300 bed sheets to the American Red Cross
Glendale-Crescenta Valley chapter for use at future emergency shelters.

The contribution may have been late, but it will help create
a stockpile for something relief officials realized was necessary
during fire seasons, said Ron Farina, chief executive of the chapter.

That was evident when Station fire evacuees filed into an emergency
shelter at Crescenta Valley High School in August, with many finding
that its cots and wool blankets weren’t the most comfortable escape
from triple-digit temperatures outdoors, Farina said.

"We got some people that were having a hard time sleeping," he said.

The organization previously didn’t have a stockpile of lighter bedding
and, despite an air-conditioning system in the school’s cafeteria,
visitors were uncomfortable, he said.

So when the Armenian Community Center offered to collect donations
for evacuees, Red Cross officials, who had already collected enough
food and water, asked for sheets that could be used for relief efforts
during periods of high heat, Farina said.

The organization delivered more than 40 sheets while the shelter was
still running, but continued its collection efforts in order to help
contribute to a Red Cross stockpile Saturday, said Mike Kalachian,
a member of the board of directors of the Armenian Community Center.

"We thought Thanksgiving was a perfect opportunity to come and donate
these," Kalachian said.

The Red Cross has replenished most of its resources used during
Station fire relief efforts, Farina said.

But bed sheets were not previously an emphasis for the organization,
he said.

Now it expects to have enough of the lighter bedding for future
emergency shelters, he said.

"It just adds a little comfort for [evacuees]," he said.

Chris Havatian, chairman of the Armenian Community Center, hoped the
extended collection drive would ensure that residents didn’t forget
about the contributions that emergency responders and volunteers made
to help evacuees, he said.

"This drive was to create awareness and make people realize that
these brave [firefighters] and the Red Cross were here to help them,"
he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRUITFULL ARMENIA FORUM GETS UNDERWAY IN YEREVAN

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

The fifth Fruitfull Armenia Forum launched today in Armenian capital
city of Yerevan. Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan alongside
with Executive Director of Fruitfull Armenia Company, Anna Shirinyan,
representative of the Public Information Department of the UN Office
in Armenia, Maria Dotsenko, representative of the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) Gayane Nasoyan, Armenia’s Minister of Agriculture,
Gerasim Alaverdyan, welcomed the participants and guests.

"This jubilee meeting makes clear that Fruitfull Armenia forums
are effective and that the ongoing works are very important for the
development of agriculture in Armenia. We are closely watching all
discussions as its results are very useful for government," said
Prime Minister Sargsyan adding that dedication to youth makes this
forum a symbolic.

Agricultural reforming in Armenia was implemented effectively, said
Tigran Sargsyan citing FAO assessment. "However, this doesn’t matter
we should not see the existing problems," he added.

The Fruitfull Armenia Forum has a clear objective to stimulate
innovative proposals and to find talented young adults among Armenians
worldwide to expand agricultural sector and those of marketing,
trade, finance, etc. Forum has its money prize fund as well as gifts
for winners. Thus, gold winner will be awarded by 3 million drams,
while the second-seeded will receive 750 thousand drams and the
third-seeded will get 300 thousand drams.

The forum involves some thematic discussions about finance, financial
programs in Armenia, small and middle business, key agricultural
matters and so on. The participants were awarded by certificates,
and the ceremony of awarding will be hold tomorrow.

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER: "ARMENIA INTENTIONALLY DELAYS THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS TO PREVENT PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

APA
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Safar
Abiyev met with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia,
Ukraine and Eurasia Celeste Wallander and member of the parliament
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Anderson
Waverly on November 23.

Both meetings focused on the issues of bilateral relations, current
situation in the South Caucasus and Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno Karabakh.

Abiyev told the guests that Armenia intentionally delays the
negotiation process to prevent peaceful solution to Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.

Both guests stressed the importance of the solution of Nagorno Karabakh
problem within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SAMVEL NIKOYAN: NO LAW ON GENOCIDE DENIAL NEEDED IN ARMENIA

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) will show determination
in getting the RA Parliament to consider a bill that provides for
punishment for denying the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, Hrair
Gasparyan, the member of the ARF Executive Council and Chairman of
the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, told NEWS.am.

According to him, the bill is of not only criminal and moral
importance, but also political importance. "Many European countries
where relevant laws are in effect cannot understand why Armenia itself
has not such a law," Karapetyan said. He pointed out that the ARF
agreed to the postponement of consideration to come to terms with
the Government, as the Parliament’s rejecting the bill will have
extremely negative consequences for the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. "But, I say again, the ARF will show
determination," Karapetyan said.

Samvel Nikoyan, the Vice-Speaker of the RA Parliament and member of the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said that laws are normally adopted
then necessary. "Are there any people denying the Armenian Genocide in
our society? If not, we do not need such a law. If we adopt such a law,
they abroad may think that there is a tendency toward Genocide denial
in Armenia. Also, imagine the bill is on the agenda, and heated debate
over it takes place, what will be the comments by the international
community, Turkey and Azerbaijan. So I do not think it is necessary
to put such documents on the agenda and discuss them," Nikoyan said.

The Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, RA Parliament,
postponed the consideration of the ARF-submitted bill for 90 days.

ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS MUST BE NORMALIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN TROOPS FROM TERRITORIES AROUND NAGORNO-KARABAKH: U.S. EXPERT

Today
700.html
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with U.S. analyst, Jamestown University (the U.S.)
expert Vladimir Socor.

Day.Az: The Azerbaijani participants to the conference on security in
the Caucasus held in Baku unanimously criticized the West and the EU
for passive attitude to the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. What
are reasons for the absence of such an interest in Europe?

Vladimir Socor: "Europe" refers to the European Union. The European
Union still has no common foreign policy. EU tries to develop such
a policy, but it still does not work. France does not represent the
European Union in the "troika" of the Minsk Group co-chairs. France
acts for itself, not on behalf of the EU. Energy interests of the
influential European nations do not coincide. There are a number of
European countries that have no particular interest in energy supplies
from Azerbaijan or the entire Caspian basin. Other European countries
have such interest. But the situation is that those European countries
which have vital interests in the Caspian energy resources are not
the most influential actors within the European Union. That is the
situation within the EU.

There is one more thing that I would like to say in this regard.

Governments and forces that decide foreign policy in Europe do not
connect analysis of energy security with analysis of foreign policy
in general and foreign policy towards the South Caucasus as a whole.

These two analysis are conducted in parallel, but not together.

Q: Are Armenian troops likely to withdraw at least at the first stage
from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan soon?

A: It is unpredictable. A lot can happen in the interim period from
today until April. April is a key term for obvious reasons. A lot can
happen in Turkey and South Caucasus during this period, especially
in the domestic politics of Turkey, in estimations of Washington and,
of course, in estimations of the Azerbaijani government. Developments
are very unpredictable. "Key" is not in Washington, not in Moscow,
not in Baku, but the Turkish public opinion.

If Azerbaijan continues to work successfully with the Turkish public
opinion, it could significantly impact these processes.

Q: Does everything depend on Turkey?

A: A lot depends on Turkey. Following the August events that happened
last year, Turkey initiated the Stability and Cooperation Platform
in the Caucasus excluding EU and the U.S., who also have interests
in the region, from this mechanism. However, the Turkish leadership
has made inconsistent statements so far.

As I mentioned at a conference in Baku, President Barack Obama drove
himself into a trap, promising Armenians a program to recognize the
so-called "Armenian genocide" if elected president. Now he cannot do
it for fear of spoiling relations with its strategic ally of Turkey.

It is impossible to predict how Obama will act in April.

Progress can be achieved in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in case normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia
and opening of border will take place in parallel with withdrawal of
Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories. But these plans can be
undermined by possible decision in April.

Therefore, I believe that normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
should be conducted in parallel with withdrawal of Armenian troops
from areas around Karabakh. But the very parallelism is not enough. In
my opinion, we need a synchronization of these two processes so that
they occasionally overlap with each other.

Quick solution to the conflict is impossible. It is obvious. Progress
is possible if the U.S. will be faithful to the game in the region. I
believe that Washington should not sacrifice Turkey’s interests.

Finally, U.S. needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the United States.

Efforts should be made to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and
Turkey which recently experienced a blow. Let us hope that we will see
that after Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan forthcoming visit to the U.S.

WAR IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE: FASSIER

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

After Nov. 22 meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Munich,
OSCE Co-Chairs met the journalists, where they esteemed the recent
statement by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, that there will be use of
force unless progress in talks is noted.

According to the RFE/RL, French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated:
"War is not an alternative in any case. We have repeatedly told the
presidents baldly and clearly that our governments in Moscow, Paris
and Washington hold the view that the war is not an alternative,
as it does not provide for solution to the problem."

Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov also commented on the issue, saying
that any statement can be conditioned by internal political situation.

"We informed the presidents that at the current critical stage of
negotiations it is better to avoid voicing accusations, particularly
those on the solution by military means," Merzlyakov underlined,
expressing hope that the sides will take into account the view of
co-chairing states.

In the course of the sixth meeting this year, the Presidents discussed
the most topical unsettled issues. The progress on certain matters
was achieved as a result of 4-hour meeting, meanwhile having a set
unresolved. The Presidents instructed foreign ministers to continue
cooperation with Co-Chairs on the matters. The next step is a meeting
of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers scheduled for December
1-2. For the first time the Foreign Ministers will meet after the
Presidents’ meeting.

ICRC VISITS ARMENIAN SOLDIERS

Trend
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives
visited six Armenian soldiers held in Azerbaijan.

"The ICRC has monitored the detention conditions of the soldiers and
met with them in person," ICRC Azerbaijani Office Spokesman Gulnaz
Guliyeva told Trend News today.

The details of the meeting have not been released.

Three Armenian soldiers – Qrant Markosyan, Arthur Sarkisian and Alik
Tevosyan – voluntarily surrendered to the Azerbaijani army in the
Minakhorlu village of the Agjabadi region in late February.

Ohan Harutunyan Vadinagiyevich and Gevorq Tomosyan Serzhikovich
crossed the border on the contact line in the Goranboy region May 31
and Karen Norigovich Harutunyan in the Gadabay region July 15.

The soldiers complained of unbearable conditions and tortures in the
Armenian army and crossed over to Azerbaijan for this reason.

BAKU TO MAKE CONCESSIONS TO TURKEY IN GAS ISSUE

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Rovnag Abdullayev The next round of Turkish-Azerbaijan gas negotiations
has started in Baku today, SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev said in
his interview.

Notably, the issue of Azeri gas supplies to the European market via
Turkey is at a complex stage of negotiations. Now this issue depends
on parties’ mutual compromises. Turkey wants to buy Azerbaijani gas
at a lower price. Official Baku treats this as natural and does not
rule out possible concessions. SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev
noted that commercially Azerbaijan has always wanted to sell its gas
at higher prices yet strategic and fraternal relations are taken into
account in the relations with Turkey.

"We have always made discounts. We have never said we want to sell
our gas to Turkey at world prices. We have always drawn attention to
the fact that the price on gas supplied to Turkey is lower than the
global prices", Abdullayev said. It is not known whether Turkey will
make concessions in the issue of transit tariffs.

This issue may be clarified after negotiations. "The talks are held
in a package version. All issues are presented in a single package
because if there is no agreement on one issue, it is impossible to
reach it on other issues", Abdullayev added. The details of all these
issues will be discussed at today’s meeting of the experts.

SOCAR president says Azerbaijan will, anyway, supply gas to the
European market by transit ways. The transportation of compressed
gas on special tankers via the Black Sea is viewed as an option.

Notably, the gas problem between Turkey and Azerbaijan emerged after
protocols on the opening of the Armenian-Turkish borders were signed.

NKR INDEPENDENCE RECOGNITION TO BECOME NATIONWIDE ISSUE

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

It is necessary to clarify the programs and solutions to the current
problems in NKR domestic policy and withstand the challenges to
its foreign policy, NKR NA Speaker and NKR Democratic Party leader
Ashot Ghulyan stated in the course of the regional visit of ARF
Dashnaktsutyun to Artsakh.

According to him, both ARF Dashnaktsutyun and other NKR political
forces face the mentioned issues.

The recent years’ experience and atmosphere of political accord
provides for an opportunity for joint problems’ solving, he outlined.

Social-economic programs will be in focus of 2010 parliamentary race,
Chairman of Free Homeland Party Arthur Tovmasyan said. Referring
to foreign policy objectives, he offered to leave the talks on
Karabakh conflict resolution up to the executive branch and make NKR
independence recognition a nationwide issue.

Chairman of ARFD Central Committee in Artsakh Davit Ishkhanyan
presented committee’s stance on vital domestic and foreign policy
issues and prospects.

WE HAVE YET TO AGREE ON THE THE STATUS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH: POLITICAL SCIENTIST

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Rasim Musabeyov Rasim Musabeyov is upbeat on the results of the Munich
meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Political scientist Rasim Musabeyov is upbeat on the results of the
Munich meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia and
the agreement of the Armenian side to withdraw its troops from the
occupied lands and postpone the issue of Karabakh status.

The political scientist said the following: "The issue of the
corridor width that Azerbaijan will open for Armenia for the
temporary communication with Nagorno Karabakh is still discussed and
consultations in this regard will continue on a high level. The issue
of terms of defining Nagorno Karabakh’s status will also be discussed".

"Azerbaijan’s stiff military rhetoric and definite signals from
Russia seem to have influenced Armenia’s position which earlier
hoped to protract the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The United
States also contributed as the Armenian Diaspora complained that the
superpowers were putting too much pressure on Yerevan. But I think
Azerbaijan’s stiff position was the main component that intensified
international mediators, Musabeyov noted.

"I would like to note that no one has a right to order Azerbaijan
whether to start war or not and Armenia seems to have realized it.

Azerbaijan kept silence when during the next meetings of the presidents
Armenian troops held trainings in Nagorno Karabakh and when after the
high level talks President Sargsyan returned to Nagorno Karabakh and
blatantly took part in the armed trainings", Musabeyov said.