Author: admin

TURKISH DAILY ON ARMENIAN VACATIONERS

news.am
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

Armenian travel agents offer tours to Georgia, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy
and Jordan among other countries, but 70 percent of Armenians that
fly out of their country seem to prefer Turkey, especially Antalya,
writes the Turkish Today’s Zaman.

"Armenians coming to Turkey may be a sign of normalization and
accepting facts of life like swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Any
citizen of a landlocked country would feel the same — living in
Ankara and dreaming of the Mediterranean all year long. This longing
is evident in the posters of Antalya’s attractive sun-drenched beaches
hanging on the walls of buildings in Yerevan," the source writes.

"While it is a dream destination for some, it is a provocation
for others… It did not take too long for a youth group from the
nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Dashnaktsutyun, to
rally for the removal of those posters. They went to the Yerevan
mayor’s office and demanded that the Antalya posters be brought down
and not hung up again. The mayor’s office has not yet acted on the
request. If the borders are opened soon, they will never be brought
down," the source writes.

"The nationalists’ logic against traveling and vacationing in Turkey
in general and in Antalya in particular is just like the Turkish
leftists’ logic: Every penny that goes to the ‘enemy’ will return
to us as arms and aggression or exploitation. This must be the
universal language of all nationalists and chauvinists… Another
slogan shared by the nationalists on both sides of the border says:
‘Turkey shouldn’t have won us over.’ Turkish nationalists said the
same thing when nearly three dozen militants belonging to the notorious
terrorist organization, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), came from
Iraq and surrendered to Turkish authorities. As promised, they were
interrogated but due to a lack of criminal records they were released.

They returned to their hometowns with joy and were greeted with
public demonstrations. This was enough to forget why they came back:
to surrender and end hostilities. The government was accused of
giving the impression that the mighty Turkish army was defeated by
the terrorists and all that nonsense," Today’s Zaman writes.

"Government employees are not officially warned against vacationing
in Turkey…The Armenian Ministry of the Economy is encouraging
competitive domestic tours to destinations like Lake Sevan, the
mountain resort of Tsakhkadzor, the mineral water spa of Jermuk and
the historical Nagorno-Karabakh region. Presently vacation packages
to these sights start at about $700 while Antalya offers a week of
good service, sea and sun for only $450," writes the newspaper.

"Well, you may be a patriot, but there is nothing better than a good
warm vacation after a whole year’s hard work, especially when your
old foe is serving you with a friendly smile," the source writes.

AZERBAIJAN DISMISSES ARMENIAN PLAN FOR AIRPORT IN KARABAKH

news.az
Nov 11 2009
Azerbaijan

Arif Mammadov International organizations will not recognize the
airport that Armenians are planning to build in Shusha, Arif Mammadov,
head of Azerbaijan’s State Civil Aviation Administration, has said.

Shusha lies in the occupied Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"If any aircraft lands in that airport, the Azerbaijani side will
take appropriate legal action against the airline. I don’t think
this airport will be recognized by international airlines either,"
Mammadov said.

He said that there is a similar situation in Cyprus, where
international organizations and airlines do not recognize the airport
in Northern Cyprus as an international airport.

Mammadov said that the State Civil Aviation Administration and
Ministry of Defence regularly bring to the attention of international
organizations the fact that Armenia violates international conventions
and rules in using Azerbaijani airspace.

WHAT IF…

news.am
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

Our counterparts in the Azerbaijani 1news.az website, and the member
of the Azerbaijani Parliament Aidiyn Mirzazade, who had an article
entitled "If Armenia had not seized Azerbaijan’s territories…" put on
the website, have "persuaded" us into giving some thought to history
in the Subjunctive. It is not a thing to be done, but the idea of
presenting the situation in the region "but for the Karabakh conflict"
appears to be quite a thrilling one.

Well, if ifs and ans…

Although the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was "an integral part" of the
disintegration processes in the post-Soviet area, and the exacerbation,
no doubt, played into the hands of both internal and external forces
seeking to cause a collapse of the USSR, decades of history actually
lay at the root of the confrontation.

Permanent violations of the native Armenians’ rights in the
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region were getting graver, taking various
forms. Although Armenians formed the region’s authorities, official
Baku’s "threatening hand" had always been over their heads. After the
1953 "thaw", and after Heydar Aliyev, who has been declared "national
leader", came to power, Azerbaijan launched a consistent policy of
settling the Nagorno-Karabakh region with ethnic Azerbaijanis, which
was stepping up tension in the region. In one of his interviews with
Azerbaijani mass media (at a meeting with editors-in-chief of local
newspapers) Heydar Aliyev was clearly speaking of the measures to
increase the share of Azerbaijanis in the Nagorno-Karabakh population
by opening enterprises that had nothing in common with the region’s
economic set-up and supplying labor force from the other regions
of Azerbaijan.

The Armenian authorities, without informing — or with the tacit
consent of — the USSR Government, had to protect the Armenian
population in Nagorno-Karabakh. Particularly, in early 1970, on the
initiative of Karen Demirchyan, the then leader of Soviet Armenia,
the written-off equipment of the Yerevan TV center was delivered to
Stepanakert. That was the only opportunity for the Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenians to watch programs of the Armenian television. The Armenian
population was encouraged to send their children to Armenian schools,
while Shushi was turned into "a bulwark" of increasing Azeri population
in the region – Heydar Aliyev proved unable to "shoulder the burden"
of settling Stepanakert with Azerbaijanis. The causes of the full-scale
confrontation of 1988 can be listed without end… As an exception
to the rule, let us think about history in the Subjunctive.

What would have happened if the USSR had promptly responded to
the developments, and the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s legal right to
self-determination had evoked an adequate response in Azerbaijan?

– No Armenian pogroms in Sumgait on February 27-28 would have taken
place. For the first time in the Soviet Union’s history the madding
crowd was killing people because of their nationality;

– Armenian public would not have responded by flooding the streets
and demanding the protection of Armenians in the neighboring republic;

– The relations between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in
Nagorno-Karabakh would not have worsened;

– The uncontrollable confrontation between the two nations would not
have caused an explosive situation in Armenia and Azerbaijan;

– Larger-scale Armenian pogroms in Baku on January 13-19, 1990,
would not have taken place;

– Hundreds of thousands of Armenians would not have left their homes
to become refugees;

– Armenian volunteers would not have responded to Azerbaijan’s open
military aggression;

– In response to fierce shelling of the borderline settlements of
Armenia, as well as towns and villages of Nagorno-Karabakh, the
Armenian troops would not have established control over the seven
regions neighboring on Nagorno-Karabakh;

– Heydar Aliyev and his successor Ilham would not have to tell
Azerbaijanis tales about Armenians’ being "inhuman monsters", taking
advantage of the anti-Armenian propaganda to support the personality
cult of "Heydar-baba" and his son Ilham, which has been carried to
the point of sheer idiocy;

– In its "struggle" against the Armenian people’s ancient history,
the Azerbaijanis would not have developed an inferiority complex in
their search of "national identity…"

This list could be continued, but our sincere desire is that
the Azerbaijani authorities finally find a fair solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

IPHONE VS. BLACKBERRY: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN ARMENIA’S TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET

Tert
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

The competition between telecommunications operators in Armenia in
providing mobile and internet services might expand into the cell
phone product market beginning as early as next year.

The level of permeability in Armenia’s mobile communications market
is 80%, forcing telecommunications operators to come up with new
solutions in retaining and attracting customers.

For instance, Armenia’s newest telecommunications operator, Orange
Armenia, announced that it will be the official supplier of the iPhone
in Armenia. This means that after some time, those phones will become
available for customers for a cheaper price in the marketplace,
of course on the condition that those individuals buying the phone
become their customer by signing onto their plans.

Already Orange Armenia has begun to sell mobile phones that are cheaper
than the market price to its customers. The company, it turns out,
has exclusive contracts with a number of mobile phone manufacturers.

It’s no surprise then that iPhone’s competitor, Blackberry, will be
represented by VivaCell-MTS in the Armenian market. MTS has already
begun to sell these smartphones to individual customers in the
Russian marketplace.

In Russia, for instance, MTS sells the Blackberry Curve 8520 smartphone
for around $440 USD — about $100 USD cheaper than the price offered by
(other) retailers. Customers who purchase the Blackberry Curve 8520
receive other free services provided by MTS.

Russia’s VimpelCom (ArmenTel’s sole proprietor) sells Blackberry
phones in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and it’s not entirely unlikely
that those will be offered in Armenia as well.

Thus, the competition in the telecommunications market in Armenia
could, quite soon, move to the retail sector. As for what effect this
will have on importers of these products, only time will tell.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
Nov 11, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan received today newly appointed German ambassador to
Armenia Hans-Yochen Schmidt.

NA public relations department told Armenpress that the NA speaker
congratulated the ambassador on assuming the office and expressed hope
that ambassador Schmidt will exert efforts to develop Armenian-German
cooperation. Abrahamyan said that bilateral relations are on a firm
basis and highly assessed the trade-economic, political and cultural
contacts as well as programs carried out by German Development Agency
(GTZ).

During the meeting the interlocutors agreed that it is necessary
to develop more inter-parliamentary cooperation and use all the
opportunities provided by parliamentary diplomacy. Hovik Abrahamyan
said that Armenian side is ready to host German parliament chairman
in Yerevan.

During the conversation the interlocutors also referred to the process
of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

"THE CHILDREN FOR CHILDREN" FESTIVE EVENT HELD AT ANANIA SHIRAKATSI LYCEE

Noyan Tapan
Nov 10, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The junior school of Anania
Shirakatsi Lycee in cooperation with the Children of Armenia Fund
organized a festive event entitled "The Children for Children".

Children from the villages of Lernagog and Dalarik, Armavir Marz,
were invited to the event.

The pupils of the Shirakatsi Lycee presented "We are the World, we
are the Children" show in English. Then a discussion on the subject
"The Peace through our Eyes" took place with their participation.

Shoghine Kamoyan, Head of the English Methodology Unit of the
junior school, said that the purpose of the event was to promote the
city-village cooperation. "Such events allow the children to become
acquainted with each other, and I hope that this initiative will be
of a continuous nature and involve more mutual visits," she said.

ANCA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AIMED AT CONGRESS AND WHILE HOUSE IN CONNECTION WITH ERDOGAN’S VISIT TO U.S.

Noyan Tapan
Nov 10, 2009

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. ANCA has
launched a one-month campaign in connection with Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington to take place on December
7. Campaign’s goal is to persuade the Congress, the media and the
White House that additional pressure should be exerted upon Erdogan
to achieve recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

According to Asbarez, the campaign will concentrate on the Senate in
the first week and on the House of Representatives in the second week.

Third and fourth weeks’ work should be aimed at the media and the
White House, respectively.

ANCA calls the Armenians of America for visiting the
website every day and sending Internet copies
to proper officials. It is envisaged to apply to Senators over the
phone on November 12.

RA NA PRESIDENT RECEIVES UN PERMANENT COORDINATOR FOR THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

National Assembly
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

On November 10 President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
received Permanent Resident of the United Nations (UN) for Armenia
Ms. Consuelo Vidal on the occasion of the completion of her diplomatic
mission in Yerevan.

During the talk the Head of the Armenian Parliament thanked Ms. Vidal
for her close cooperation of the past years. Mr. H. Abrahamyan highly
assessed her work and noted that the Armenian authorities are grateful
for the support shown by different UN structures.

Summing up Mr. H. Abrahamyan wished successes to Ms. Vidal in her
endeavors and expressed hope that she would continue the friendly
relations with our country after the completion of her diplomatic
mission.

DISCUSSION ON LAND MANAGEMENT TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 19:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Branch of the Regional Environmental Center
of the Caucasus and Green Lane Agricultural Assistance NGO will held
November 18 a round-table session at the Aarhus Center to discuss
the "Sustainable Land Management for Mitigating Land Degradation and
Reducing Poverty in the South Caucasus Region" project. The project is
funded by EC and implemented by REC Caucasus in partnership with CENN.

At the first stage of the project, a group of experts investigated and
analyzed land degradation trends in the basin of Debed River. Based on
the study results, specific recommendations have been developed. In
Armenia, soil composition, flora, current situation in economy and
its agricultural sector, dynamics of natural disasters (landslides,
torrents, floods) in the Debed River Basin were analyzed. During
the round-table meeting, the experts will present the work done to
inspire wider public discussion on the project.

Representatives of the Ministries of Nature Protection and Agriculture
will present their views on the project and its current outcomes

ARMENIA: HOTEL PRICES MUST BE REVIEWED

Aysor
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

Armenian citizens will prefer local recreation centers instead of
foreign ones, said head of the Tourism and Territorial Development
of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, Mekhak Apresyan.

"The state powers must focus on pricing to provide increase in demand,"
he said pointing that there were held some meetings and discussions on
this issue. According to Mr. Apresyan, the point is not in high prices
only but in poor informational support between travel companies and
hotels. "There are hotels with acceptable prices but thin as people
have no information," he said.