Author: Alex Jidarian

DEPUTY CHIEF OF ARMENIA POLICE SHOT DEAD

Trend News Agency
Feb 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Deputy Chief of Police, Police Colonel Gevorg Mheryan was shot dead
in front of his apartment at 65, Barbyus Street , Yerevan at 8.30
p.m. on February 3, Public Relations Department of RA Police informs.

Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan, Chief of Police Alik Abrahamyan,
Director of the National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan arrived at
the locus delict.

The emergency brigade registered that Gevorg Mheryan had died of
gunshot wounds in his head and body incompatible with life.

Investigation and search operations and urgent inquiry measures have
been taken to clarify the circumstances of the case, to identify and
catch the criminal.

AZERBAIJAN KEY TO ENERGY DIVERSITY

United Press International
Jan 14 2009

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 14 (UPI) — Azerbaijan is positioned
strategically with the necessary infrastructure to advance the
diversification of the European energy sector, officials said.

"We have already reached all major objectives in our country," said
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev. "We have diversified transportation
energy. I am confident that the relationship between Azerbaijan and
European consumers will develop further."

The president pledged to his colleagues in the oil and gas sector
that Azerbaijan would remain an important ally in the region, the
Trend Capital News agency reported.

"Our partners can be assured that Azerbaijan will continue to play
an important role in the future as a reliable partner and friend,"
he said.

He pointed to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the world’s
second longest, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline, or South
Caucasus artery, as signs Azerbaijan and Caspian suppliers changed
the dynamics of the regional energy sector.

His comments came during a meeting with Estonian President Toomas
Hendrik Ilves on the Azeri conflict over the disputed Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh territories.

Ilves assured his counterpart the countries were important partners
in the political and economic realm.

TURKEY DEVELOPS SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH AZERBAIJAN
By Saban Kardas

Eurasia Daily Monitor
Nov 10 2008
DC

On November 5 and 6, after his reelection last month, Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliyev visited Turkey, where he discussed the
developments in the Caucasus, relations with Armenia, and deepening
cooperation between the two countries.

On November 5 he attended a dinner given by his host President Abdullah
Gul and attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other
ministers (Anadolu Ajansi, November 6). On the second day of his visit
Aliyev addressed a session of the Turkish Parliament (,
November 6). The two presidents emphasized the close friendship between
their countries and the importance of Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation for
peace and stability in the Caucasus. The leaders repeated the oft-heard
motto of "one nation, two states" and made references to historical
and cultural ties between the two countries. Aliyev remarked that
no other countries had such close relations as those between Turkey
and Azerbaijan, and this must be seen as a great asset. Aliyev also
thanked Turkey for supporting Azerbaijan in difficult times.

The main item on Aliyev’s agenda was the situation in the
Caucasus. Having commended Turkey’s constructive efforts to solve
problems in the region, Aliyev repeated Azerbaijan’s support for
the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform (CSCP), initiated
by Turkey (EDM, September 2). On the issue of Azerbaijan-Armenia
relations, Aliyev made a firm statement of the Azerbaijani position
that the current situation of the Karabakh conflict remains the main
obstacle to peace in the Caucasus. He criticized Armenia’s occupation
of 20 percent of Azeri lands and its policy of ethnic cleansing. He
reiterated that a solution to the problem rests on the restoration
of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and Armenia’s compliance with
the resolutions of international organizations including the United
Nations (ANKA, November 6).

Aliyev’s visit comes in the wake of a meeting between Aliyev and
his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian in Moscow on November 2,
sponsored by Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev. Despite their
pledge in a joint declaration to pursue a political settlement,
the two leaders failed to specify any concrete steps with regard
to confidence-building measures, which fell short of the Kremlin’s
expectations (EDM, November 4). Nonetheless, the Turkish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) welcomed this declaration and viewed it
as a successful example of multiple parties working toward a common
goal. Some Turkish observers interpreted Russia’s growing involvement
in the resolution of the Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute as a loss of
leverage for Ankara and criticized Turkey’s reactionary policy
(, ASAM Daily Brief, November 6).

A press release by the MFA emphasized that Turkey’s past efforts–such
as the proposal for the CSCP and the trilateral meeting between the
foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia sponsored by
Turkey–had paved the way for the Moscow talks (Press Release: 189,
, November 5). In his meeting with Aliyev, Gul received
first hand information about the Azeri-Armenian talks in Moscow. Gul
praised the declaration as the beginning of a new era for bringing
peace to the region (Anadolu Ajansi, November 5). It is a common
practice for the leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan to inform each other
about any meetings with Armenia not involving the other party (Star,
September 11).

The Turkish daily Zaman ran a story that maintained that Gul had
proposed another trilateral summit in Istanbul, which would bring
together Gul, Aliyev, and Sarkisian. Having received a positive
response from Aliyev, Gul was reportedly going to extend an invitation
to the Armenian side. Speaking to Zaman, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov also confirmed that such a proposal had been made
(Zaman, November 7). The Turkish MFA spokesperson, however, issued a
statement refuting the idea that it had proposed hosting a trilateral
meeting (, November 7). Zaman nonetheless insisted on
its story and criticized the confusing information over the proposal
coming out of the MFA (Zaman, November 8). The Turkish officials’
stance might have been a result of an attempt to achieve reconciliation
with Armenia through secret diplomacy and their preference for keeping
such a proposal confidential before all the details are worked out.

Another major issue on the agenda during Aliyev’s visit was the
growing volume of trade and economic cooperation between the two
countries, in particular in the energy sector. Azerbaijan and Turkey
have developed a partnership in energy transportation, which has
led to the flourishing of economic ties in other fields. Turkish
entrepreneurs have had a vibrant presence in Azerbaijan. The growing
Azerbaijani wealth created by oil revenues, however, has altered the
direction of investments. Recently, Azeri companies started investing
in Turkey, especially in privatization projects. The CEO of the State
Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (Socar) announced the company’s
plans for new investments of up to 10 billion dollars in Turkey (Yeni
Safak, January 10). SOCAR and the Palmali Group recently bought 50
percent of Tekfen Insaat, one of Turkey’s largest construction firms,
for $520 million (Ihlas News Agency, September 8). Aliyev emphasized
that such investments reflected the growing self-confidence of the
Azeri economy and gave indications that they would continue in the
future. Aliyev also emphasized the high value his administration
attaches to integrating Azerbaijan with the rest of the world. He
noted, however, the importance of achieving full independence in the
economy, which was a prerequisite for political independence (Cihan
News Agency, November 6).

President Gul is due to visit Baku on November 14 to attend the
forthcoming fourth international summit on energy, which will
bring together several heads of state from the region as well
as representatives from the European Union and the U.S. Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza (Zaman, November 7; Azeri
Press Agency, November 7). In the wake of the conflict in Georgia,
discussions on the secure flow of energy from the region, as well as
alternative pipelines carrying oil and gas, will be on the agenda of
the summit.

PRESS RELEASE
Made in Armenia Direct
137 Newbury Street, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Contact: Gail Talanian O’Reilly
Tel: 617.536.4655
Fax: 617.536.7552
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Award Preview

Made In Armenia Direct Receives 2008 Best of Boston Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., August 17, 2008 — Made In Armenia Direct has been selected
for the 2008 Best of Boston Award in the Importers category by the U.S.
Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding
local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies
companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in
their local community and business category. These are local companies that
enhance the positive image of small business through service to their
customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the
winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality,
not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both
internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About Made in Armenia Direct

Made in Armenia Direct brings the works of Armenian artisans to the rest of
the world. After its long period under communism, Armenia is emerging and
its fine craftsmanship is part of its history and its future. By sharing
ancient traditions, preserving a unique artistic legacy, supporting
families, and providing value to artisan and purchaser alike, you can help
the Armenian art community survive and thrive.

Its goal is to help the creators of these distinctive art forms become
self-sustaining, while giving our customers the pleasure and satisfaction of
owning fine works that are Made in Armenia Direct.

You can find us at or at our seasonal retail
location, Artisan Treasures, in Mashpee, MA at South Cape Village through
October 15.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based
organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small,
across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through
public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their
community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners,
trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other
business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate
for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across
America.

CONTACT:
U.S. Local Business Association
Email: [email protected]
URL:

ZHARANGUTIUN FACTION ADDRESSES QUESTIONS TO RA LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONTROL BODIES

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 22

On behalf of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction, on July 17
and 21, deputy questions were addressed to RA Prosecutor General
Aghvan Hovsepian, RA Police Head Alik Sargsian, Head of the Control
Service under the RA President Hovhannes Hovsepian, and Director
of the National Security Service under the RA government Gorik
Hakobian. According to Zharangutiun party’s report, the above mentioned
officials were proposed providing information whether publications in
press on electoral riggings, electoral bribes, and other electoral
violations in the May 12, 2007 parliamentary and February 19, 2008
presidential elections were considered as reports on criminally
punishable acts, and if yes, what measures have been undertaken in
that connection.

AZERBAIJAN SHOWS OFF MILITARY MIGHT TO FOE ARMENIA
Afet Mehtiyeva

Reuters
June 26 2008
UK

BAKU, June 26 (Reuters) – Ex-Soviet Azerbaijan staged its first
military parade in 16 years on Thursday in a show of strength
aimed partly at Armenia, its neighbour with which it is locked in a
territorial dispute.

Armenian forces took control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region,
internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, in a war in the
1990s. Azerbaijan says it reserves the right to restore its control
by force if peace talks fail.

A resumption of hostilities could disrupt oil supplies from Azerbaijan,
which exports about 700,000 barrels of oil a day to world markets,
most of it via a pipeline operated by a BP-led (BP.L: Quote, Profile,
Research, Stock Buzz) international consortium.

Troops, multiple rocket launch systems, armoured personnel carriers,
tanks and unmanned reconnaissance planes were paraded in front of
the Soviet-built government headquarters in the capital Baku, watched
over by President Ilham Aliyev.

Attack helicopters, bombers and fighter jets later flew in formation
past the building on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in a parade that
lasted over an hour.

Much of the equipment on show was Soviet-designed but there was also
Western gear and troops were fitted out in NATO-style uniforms —
part of a modernisation of the armed forces funded with a ten-fold
rise in defence spending since 2003.

"The international community is worried by our policy in this area
and places the emphasis on this," Aliyev, who succeeded his father
as president in a 2003 election, said in a speech at the parade.

"But Azerbaijan continues to live in a state of war and is trying to
resolve the Karabakh issue," he said. "We are continuing negotiations
with Armenia, but they have been going on for a very long time and
the people are tired of them. They cannot go on for ever."

The war over Nagorno-Karabakh killed about 35,000 people and forced
over a million to leave their homes. Many of them are still living
as refugees.

The region, and several Azeri districts around it, are now run by
ethnic Armenian separatists with support from Armenia. No state
recognises Nagorno-Karabakh’s split from Azerbaijan.

Though a fragile ceasefire is in force, the two sides have never signed
a peace deal to formally end the war, and their armies are locked in
a tense stand-off. Soldiers are frequently killed in skirmishes.

Talks mediated by envoys from France, Russia and the United States
have failed to produce a peace agreement.

Aliyev said at the parade Azerbaijan’s annual defence spending was
now $2 billion. He said the increase was in line with an overall
growth in state spending in Azerbaijan, which has one of the world’s
fastest-growing economies.

Zardusht Alizade, a political analyst with ties to Azerbaijan’s
opposition, said the government’s threats to use force against Armenian
forces were not credible.

"The authorities have no intention of liberating Nagorno-Karabakh,"
he told Reuters. "If they had, their current internal and domestic
policies would be different."

PREMIER: INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL OF GAS FIELDS NEED TO BE EVALUATED IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 13, 2008

YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. Industrial potential of gas fields need to
be evaluated in Armenia, the country’s Prime-Minister Serge Sargsian
said at his meeting with students.

He said experts do not leave out the possibility of oil fields in
Armenia either, Sargsian said. But maybe they are much deeper than
expected in the beginning or exploratory works are not carried out at
the required level, Sargsian said. Yet, according to him, the fields
are not that promising.

Earlier, Armenia’s Minister of Energy Armen Movsisian said that
exploratory works are being carried out to establish oil and gas
fields. He also said that Backstairs Energy Irish company is conducting
geophysical research, prospecting seismology and other preparatory
works for oil fields in the center and south of the country.

For gas fields prospecting works are carried out by Canadian Transeuro
Energy in Armavir region of the country (south).

Interfax, Russia
Russia & CIS
February 20, 2008

Armenian elections found to meet OSCE standards (Part 2)

YEREVAN Feb 20

International election monitors from OSHR have found that the
Armenian elections have met with OSCE standards.

A statement by the OSHR mission was voiced in Yerevan on Wednesday by
Vice President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly Anne-Marie Lizin, who heads a
short-term mission of OSCE PA election observers.

The statement says that Armenia’s electoral code is in need of
improvement and that the level of citizens’ trust in election
processes should be enhanced.

The Armenian presidential election, held on February 19, were
observed by the OSCE /ODIHR, a mission of the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS,) the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the CIS
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe and the European Parliament.

Government will compensate for tuition fees

16-02-2008 17:05:23 – KarabakhOpen

The NKR government will compensate for the tuition fees of students of
both state and private universities, including distance learners. The
government will compensate widows and children of killed soldiers,
parentless children, disabled people of 1 and 2 degree, people with
childhood disability, as well as the children of 1 degree disabled
people of the Karabakh war.

The minister of education Vladik Khachatryan says 347 students will get
compensation. The government has allocated 37 million drams for this
program.

The fees paid by the beneficiaries of the program in the fall term of
2007-2008 will be returned to them.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Blaming Russia for Karabakh conflict unfair
08.02.2008 17:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `I strongly object to the opinion
that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was provoked by
Russia with the purpose of exerting pressure on
Armenia and Azerbaijan,’ said Ara Abrahamyan,
President of the Union of Armenians of Russia. `We all
know that it was conflict of interests from the very
beginning. Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh always
opposed to being annexed to Azerbaijan,’ he said.

`Karabakh never belonged to Azerbaijan. It was defined
as a disputable territory by the League of Nations.
This conflict has its logic and history. It is unjust
to blame Russia for it,’ Mr Abrahamyan said, Day.az
reports.