Month: November 2009

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIEV’S GUILTY LOOK

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

I was one of the journalists invited to cover the Munich talks on
November 22. Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan seemed to be a little
late while OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and Azerbaijan’s President
Ilham Aliev were standing in the hall, just close to the meeting-room.

President Aliev was standing pensive and silent. It was something I
do know very well – just in a sudden I realized; it was a one of my
9-year-old son’s face when he is going to do something contrary to
the canons of our family rules. That was a real face and look of a
guilty student.

I thought it was unusual, but at the same time, actually, it looks like
he knows that international community has its own rules. And something
suitable to Baku ‘life-style’ will be sort ill with international
lay-out. Well, that certainly didn’t take long to wait, besides…

I am a journalist, not expert on negotiations or a metoposcopist. But
President Ilham Aliev’s guilty look certainly meant the negotiations
would be again of no effect as he himself questions whether he took
a right step.

VICTORY OR DEFEAT: ANALYSTS DIVIDED OVER MUNICH MEETING

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Despite the world leading mass media’s reports that at their meeting in
Munich the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents discussed a framework
agreement on the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the territories
controlled by the Armenian side in exchange for a referendum on the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh, Eduard Sharmazanov, Secretary of the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), told NEWS.am.

Nevertheless, he expressed the confidence that the two Presidents
discussed the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

To substantiate his confidence, he referred to the First Russian
TV Channel. Mass media reports on the determination of a status by
means of referendum are evidence of their admitting the principle
of nations’ self-determination, Sharmazanov said. He stressed that
after the problem has been resolved, others can be discussed, as
a comprehensive agreements is needed to rule out the resumption
of the conflict. In this context, Sharmazanov pointed out that the
Azerbaijani President’s bellicose statements are the result "nervous
tics" and affect the country’s international reputation. He reminded
the "war-monger Azerbaijan" of the end of the war unleashed against
Nagorno-Karabakh in 1990s.

Giro Manoyan, Head of the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) office, stated that
Aliyev’s recent statements cannot be regarded as "usual." Rather,
they are open threats. Manoyan believes that it is high time for
the Armenian side to give an adequate response to the Azeri leader’s
statements. "I would be happy if, during the first two hours of the
four-hour-long talk, the Armenian President had raised the issue
of advisability of further negotiations in the context of the Azeri
President’s bellicose statements on the threshold of the meeting,"
he said.

Commenting on the reports on a framework agreement allegedly discussed
at the Munich meeting, Larisa Alaverdyan, member of the Heritage
Party, stressed that the "Armenian diplomatic thought stalemated the
Karabakh problem long ago, and now they have to lie on the bed made
by themselves." "The very discussion of a document on the return of
the territories under the Armenian side’s control to Azerbaijan in
exchange for a referendum on Nagorno-Karabakh’s status is the result
of the Yerevan-stated readiness for a compromise. And now Yerevan is
making vain attempts to disown it, and we get framework agreements like
this while the Armenian side is holding all the aces," Alaverdyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE ANNOUNCES PROGRESS IN AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS’ MUNICH TALKS

Azerbaijan Business Center
Nov 23 2009

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Munich negotiations of Ilham Aliyev and Serzh
Sargsyan, the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia respectively, have
caused cheerful comments of the OSCE Minsk Group established for
settlement of Nagorno Garabagh conflict between the two countries.

"Almost four-hour negotiations were constructive and progress has
been reached on some issues. At the same time some matters still
remain open," the Minsk Group co-chairs’ statement says.

According to the statement, the Azerbaijan and Armenian presidents
conducted detailed discussion of most important issues presented by
the OSCE co-chairs.

Both leaders commissioned their countries’ foreign ministers to
continue work with the co-chairs on the being-covered matters.

Organization of two countries’ FMs working session is mapped out as
the next move on the threshold of OSCE Council of Ministers’ Athens
meeting scheduled for 1-2 December.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHAT DID ALIYEV AND SARGSYAN DISCUSS IN MUNICH?

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev Reports say a renewed version of
the Madrid principles for a Karabakh settlement was discussed at the
presidents’ meeting in Munich on Sunday.

A joint declaration of the presidents of the countries co-chairing
the OSCE Minsk Group was adopted at the G8 summit in L’Aquila in
Italy on 10 July 2009. They consider that the reconciliation between
Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders should be reached on the basis of
principles fixed in the 2007 Madrid agreement. The main principles
of the Karabakh conflict settlement, including the return of regions
around Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan and granting a temporary status
which envisions guarantees of security and autonomy to the region,
were made public.

The document also stipulates the creation of a corridor between
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the further definition of the final
legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a referendum, the right
of all refugees and IDPs to return home and international security
guarantees including a peacekeeping operation.

HOVIK ABRAMYAN: ARMENIA HAS ALWAYS FELT RUSSIA’S SUPPORT

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Armenia has always felt Russia’s support and appreciates it, Speaker
of the RA Parliament Hovik Abramyan stated at his meeting with his
Russian counterpart Boris Gryzlov. The meeting was held within the
framework of the 34th conference of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organization (BSEC).

In this context Speaker Abramyan stressed the importance of the Russian
soft loan to Armenia, which has been great aid to the economy amid
the global economic crisis. The sides made a high appraisal of the
Parliaments’ cooperation within international organizations, as well
as the Russian-Armenian presidential dialogue.

The sides also exchanged views on regional cooperation,
Armenian-Turkish relations without any preconditions and the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. The Speakers of the Armenian and
Russian Parliaments reached an agreement on Gryzlov’s visit to Armenia
in the near future.

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN, TURKISH PARLIAMENTS ESTABLISH CONTACTS

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Speaker of the RA Parliament Hovik Abramyan held a meeting on Moscow
with his Turkish counterpart Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin. The meeting was held
within the framework of the 34th conference of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization (BSEC).

The press service of the RA Parliament told NEWS.am that the sides
exchanged views on the Armenia-Turkey normalization process without any
preconditions. Speaker Abramyan stressed the Armenia side considers
it necessary that the Armenian-Turkish protocols be signed within a
reasonable timeframe. Hovik Abramyan and Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin welcomed
the Armenian and Turkish Presidents’ resolution and joint work, which
has laid the foundations for natural relations between the two nations.

In this context the sides shared the opinion that direct human contacts
should first of all be promoted and that the two Parliaments have to
establish relations. The sides made a high appraisal of their meeting
and expressed hope for further ones.

RUSSIA, AZERI LEADERS TO DISCUSS NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

At their meeting in Ulyanovks, Russia, on November 24, Russian and
Azerbaijani Presidents, Dmitry Medvedev and Ilham Aliyev will discuss
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and bilateral energy cooperation,
RIA Novosti reported, referring to A Kremlin source.

Among other international and regional problems, the sides will
discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, as Russia is involved it
in as OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair.

The agenda also includes an issue of expanding the Russian-Azerbaijani
energy cooperation. On October 14, a medium-term contract on the
supply of Azerbaijani gas to Russia was signed in Baku.

SAMVEL FARMANYAN: AZERI "RELIABLE SOURCES" PROVIDE MISINFORMATION

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Although the Azerbaijani President’s warlike statements are mostly
intended for his compatriots, they affect the negotiation process
and are one more proof of Azerbaijan’s non-constructive position,
Samvel Famanyan, RA Presidential Spokesman told reporters, commenting
on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent statement.

He stressed that escalating the situation will affect not only
Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, but also the entire region. "But Armenia
cannot be indifferent to Nagorno-Karabakh’s fate. Therefore, both the
Armenian President and other officials have repeatedly stated their
responsibility for the Karabakh people. In case of such developments,
many options are available, and one of them is the recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia with all the ensuing consequences. Or
Armenia may sign a mutual assistance agreement with Nagorno-Karabakh.

Numerous options are available, and I am sure that Armenia will take
one or several of them," Farmanyan said. He stressed that Armenia has
not yet recognized the NKR’s independence for the only reason that
it might affect the negotiation process. Farmanyan said that nothing
will prevent Armenia from recognizing the NKR in case the negotiations
break down and hostilities resume. "But the negotiations are going
on, and Armenian has repeatedly stated it sees no alternative to a
peaceful settlement of the conflict. Official Yerevan is sure that
a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the problem is possible by
means of negotiations," Farmanyan said.

As regards Azeri mass media’s reports that at their Munich meeting
the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders discussed the return to
the Kelbajar region to Azerbaijan before the end of this year,
which would facilitate the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols by Turkey and prompt Azerbaijan to take a softer line on the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem. "We are accustomed to Azeri media reports
‘from most reliable sources’ on what never really takes place, which
follow each Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting. It is mere
misinformation. This issue was not at all discussed, so there may be
no agreement. It has been repeatedly stressed that Nagorno-Karabakh’s
status is a central issue, with other proceeding from it," Farmanyan
said.

VISIT OF NKR DELEGATION TO U.S. GOES ON

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

The visit of NKR delegation headed by Ara Harutyunyan in the framework
of annual pan-Armenian telethon is in progress.

Nov. 22 Harutyunyan had an official meeting with benefactors Levon
and Ashkhen Arsenyans, Gevorg Voskanyan and Rafik Khachatryan,
Information and PR Department of NKR Government informs.

In the course of the meeting the officials discussed issues on
implementation of different programs. Harutyunyan thanked the
benefactors for their assistance pointing out that their patriotism
inspires Karabakhi people.

The Executive Director of "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund Ara Vardanyan,
Head of Information Department of NKR Presidential Staff David
Babayan and Permanent Representative of NKR in U.S. Robert Avetisyan
also attended the meeting. The same day NKR delegation took part in
solemn reception dedicated to Telethon – 2009, organized by "Hayastan"
All-Armenian Fund. About 350 representatives of social and business
circles of Armenian Community were also present. The Prime Minister
Ara Harutyunyan and Leader of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church Archbishop Parkev Martirosyan made a point of all
Armenian solidarity reinforcement, resolution of national issues by
joint efforts, necessity to restore and enlivening Shoushi.

KING ARTHUR SUPPORTS ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Former IBF Middleweight World German boxer of Armenian origin Arthur
Abraham expressed his support to the normalization of Armenia-Turkish
relations, Turkish Zaman daily reports.

Abraham visited Turkey at the invitation of a Turkish hotel. Visiting
Turkey for the first time, Arthur outlined that he felt the warmth
and hospitality of Turkish society. Arthur Abraham expressed content
with the recent developments of Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress