Month: November 2009

SARGSYAN-ALIYEV MEETING TAKES PLACE. OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CALL ON ALIYEV TO GIVE UP BELLIGERENT RHETORIC

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
YEREVAN

A meeting of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev took place in Munich late November 22. The
tete-a-tete talk of the two presidents was followed by negotiations
with the participation of the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Following the meeting, the OSCE Minsk Group mediators made a statement
for reporters, saying that the dicussion of the problem passed in
a constructive atmosphere. According to them, for the first time,
the discussion involved issues that have never been touched upon
previously. The meeting lasted four hours.

On the eve of the negotiations the Azerbaijani president had made
a strange statement, according to experts. "This meeting must play
a decisive role in the negotiation process," Aliyev had declared,
stressing: "If the meeting produces no results, our hopes related
to negotiations will be exhausted and we will have no option but to
prepare for war".

After the meeting, the Co-Chairs called on the Azerbaijani president to
give up his belligerent rhetoric. In particular, the French Co-Chair
Bernard Fassier said that they in Paris, Moscow and Washington see no
alternative to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem and they
are convinced that a military solution to the problem does not exist.

Bernard Fassier said: "We have informed the sides about the definite
position of our countries: at this sensitive stage, it is necessary
to refrain from any statements that may hinder the negotiations. We
clearly underlined that a war can by no means be an alternative to
the problem’s solution".

Radio Liberty reported that the mediators also said that Presidents
Sargsyan and Aliyev had commissioned them to continue their work on
the resolution of the problem. According to the Co-Chairs, the next
meeting of the negotiation process will be held between the foreign
ministers of the two countries in early December, prior to the annual
meeting of the Council of OSCE Ministers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH ORGANIZATION LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO OPPOSE TO ARMENIAN LOBBYING

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
WASHINGTON

The ASIMED Turkish organization (Turkish Association for Fight Against
Unfounded Genocide Allegations) has launched a campaign to oppose to
the Armenian lobbying of America.

According to armenews.com, organization’s head Savash Egilmez declared
that within 28 days they are going to send 450 DVDs on the events of
1915 to the U.S. House of Representatives, President and media. A
letter will be also sent to President Obama with an appeal "Do not
let Armenians lead you into error."

It should be mentioned that before Turkish Prime Minister’s visit to
Washington to take place in December ANCA launched a month’s campaign
to persuade the Congress, White House and media that additional
pressure should be exerted upon Turkey to achieve recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS ESTIMATE CONSTRUCTIVE MUNICH NEGOTIATIONS

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
MUNICH

MUNICH, NOVEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan met
with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on November 22 in Munich. The
meeting started in an enlarged format, with the participation of two
countries’ Foreign Ministers Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadiarov,
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Yuri Merzliakov (RF), Bernard Fassier
(France), Robert Bradtke (U.S.), and Personal Representative of OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Then S. Sargsyan and I. Aliyev continued the conversation tete-a-tete,
after which the negotiations again proceeded in an enlarged format.

Discussion of issues related to peaceful and comprehensive settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict continued during the meeting
lasting over four hours that took place in the building of the French
Consulate. The two countries’ Foreign Ministers were instructed with
the assistance of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs to continue working
in the direction of conflict’s peaceful settlement on the basis of
Madrid Principles.

According to RA President’s Press Office, during the press briefing
held after the meeting the Co-chairs estimated constructive the
negotiations and reiterated that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has
no military solution and the negotiations process has no alternative.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER EDWARD NALBANDIAN LEAVES FOR ROME ON SHORT WORKING VISIT

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
ROME

ROME, NOVEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
arrived in Italy on a short working visit on November 23.

According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
in Rome E. Nalbandian will meet with his counterpart Franco Frattini
and Chairman of Senate Commission on Foreign Relations, former Prime
Minister of Italy Lamberto Dini. E. Nalbandian will also give a speech
on RA foreign policy at Italian Senate.

AWARD GIVING CEREMONY STARTS AT FRUITFUL ARMENIA 2009 EVENT

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. An award-giving ceremony entitled
"Knowledge of the Future-Building Youth" started within the framework
of the Fruitful Armenia 2009 conference on November 23. The main
organizers are the famous Armenian Argentinian businessman Eduardo
Eurnekian and his spouse Ana Kristina Shirinian.

The award-giving ceremony was attended by Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan, members of the government, and representatives of
state bodies and international organizations.

T. Sargsyan pointed out the importance of such events in the sense
that they allow identifying talented youth with fresh ideas and a new,
innovative way of thinking.

During the Fruitful Armenia Talent 2009, a number of discussions
on financial and agricultural problems were conducted, as well as
all the young participants of the contest were introduced to those
present, with diplomas being handed to them. It was mentioned that
among the most successful works are those on the following 4 themes:
Agriculture and Agricultural Industry, Trade and Marketing, Finances,
and Infrastructure. The winners of the contest will be announced on
November 24.

5TH CONFERENCE "FRUITFUL ARMENIA" HELD IN YEREVAN ON NOVEMBER 23-24

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The 5th conference "Fruitful
Armenia" is being held in Yerevan on November 23-24. According to the
Information and PR Department of the RA Government, Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan made a speech at the November 23 sitting of
the conference.

Welcoming the participants and calling the conference a significant
and symbolic event, he said:

"Out fifth jubilee meeting bears evidence of the fact that the Fruitful
Armenia conferences are successful. The fifth meeting is dedicated
to talented youth who have much to say. We attach great importance to
the idea of recent innovations in the agricultural sector, which will
help promote our gifted youth – based on international experience. We
are prepared to assist with your work as we need fresh ideas".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF 3.75 MILLION DOLLARS CARRIED OUT AT NASDAQ OEMEX ARMENIA OJSC ON NOVEMBER 23

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Purchase and sale transactions of
3.75 million dollars at the weighted average exchange rate of 386.33
drams per dollar were carried out at Nasdaq Oemex Armenia OJSC on
November 23. According to the press service of the Central Bank of
Armenia, the closing price made 385.75 drams.

POTI PORT CLOSURE WON’T AFFECT IMPORTS TO ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 13:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With weather conditions expected to worsen on
November 24, the port of Poti, Georgia, was closed, probably for a
couple of days, Railvneshtrans freight forwarding company reported.

"Weather permitting, the port will open in a day or two. The
closure for such a short period won’t affect imports to Armenia,"
Railvneshtrans transportation manager Ashot Merakyan a told
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Founded in 2004, Railvneshtrans freight forwarding company provides
railway, sea, air and truck cargo transportation services.

RA PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO INTENSIFY ACTIVITIES IN NATO PA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 14:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian delegation will henceforth give reports
on key issues discussed by NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said Karen
Avagyan, the chairman of RA parliamentary delegation to NATO PA.

"NATO PA 55th session focused on the Alliance’s new strategy to
be presented to member states. If approved, the strategy will be
implemented in 2010. The Armenian delegation will also put forward
suggestions on the recently developed strategy."

For his part, Armenian delegation member Artak Zakaryan noted that
a report on Russia-NATO relations, covering democracy and terrorism
issues, was presented during the previous NATO session. Dwelling
on Georgia’s membership in NATO, Zakaryan remarked that pursuing
"open doors policy", Alliance, advised the Georgian government to
continue reforms for human rights protection and strengthening of
democratic institutions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL INAUGURATED IN TWIN FALLS, US

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 14:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Liyah Babayan envisioned an Armenian Genocide
memorial in Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States, to serve as a
permanent tribute to those who died in what has become known as the
Armenian Holocaust and to honor Armenian refugees who now contribute
to the community, Twin Falls Times-News reported.

"The 26-year-old Babayan, who spent much of this year lobbying and
raising money for the granite memorial that was placed at Twin Falls
City Park on Saturday. Armenian refugees planted a flowering pear
tree beside the granite stone.

The memorial is a permanent reminder that the Turks killed between
one-million and 1 1/2-million Armenians between 1915 and 1918 that
were living in what was then the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey).

"It really means a lot to my parents and my grandparents," said
Babayan, now a U.S. citizen who witnessed the fall of the Soviet
Union as a child in Armenia, then a part of the Communist union of
16 nation states.

"The Armenian American community in Twin Falls donated the tree and
plaque," she said.

Babayan approached Twin Falls Mayor Lance Clow early this year with
a petition requesting the memorial.

"He let me know that it might be an obstacle to place this type of
plaque and memorial on city property," Babayan said, explaining that
the city wants plaques to commemorate events that have direct historic
ties to the Twin Falls community. "The memorial commemorates a historic
event that happened overseas." She explained that the memorial brings
awareness to why Armenian refugees are in Twin Falls.

The Twin Falls City Council approved the memorial in September by a
4-3 vote after considerable debate," the article says.