Author: Andres-Papazian

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER: SERIOUS PREPARATIONS ARE BEING MADE IN OUR ARMED FORCES FOR POSSIBLE ATTACK AGAINST NAGORNO KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2010-11-01 09:38:00

ArmInfo. “Azerbaijan has undergone occupation, but the lands will
be liberated. If peace talks produce no results, Azerbaijan will
use all opportunities, including the power of the army to restore
its territorial integrity. Serious preparations are being made in
our Armed Forces for this,” he said. Defense Minister of Azerbaijan
Safar Abiyev said during the visit to the People’s Republic of China.

On the first day of the visit, Abiyev told Chief of the General Staff
of the People’s Liberation Army of China Chen Bingde about the reasons
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Expressing his gratitude to China
for recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and giving support,
Safar Abiyev said Azerbaijan supports China concerning Taiwan problem.

From: A. Papazian

ALIYEV ATTEMPTS TO MISLEAD INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Aysor.am
Monday,November 01,2010

“For those who are influenced by Aliyev’s falsifications we should
constantly remind that Armenia is a guarantor of Nagorno Karabakh
people’s security which is constantly endangered by Azerbaijani party,”
RPA member Artak Zakaryan told Aysor commenting upon Ilham Aliyev’s
statement to a Ukrainian paper that allegedly Armenian party tries
to delay the process of peaceful resolution.

“The international community which Aliyev tries to mislead should know
that historical and present facts of Nagorno Karabakh belonging have
nothing in common with the lesson Aliyev has learnt. To make sure one
should visit Nagorno Karabakh and not listen to Aliyev. As to Armenian
party’s political will, all concerned subjects know that Armenia
is ready to advance the Nagorno Karabakh resolution in line with
international norms only after Nagorno Karabakh status is determined
through exercise of NKR people’s right to self-determination,”
parliamentarian said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT MAY CONTINUE, SAYS TURKOLOGIST

Tert.am
18:52 01.11.10

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols are currently frozen, Turkologist
Ruben Melkonyan, Vice Dean of YSU Oriental Studies Department told a
press conference today, adding if Turkey demonstrates political will,
the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process may continue.

“If the Turkish authorities demonstrate a political will, the process
may continue,” Mr Melkonyan said.

At that, he noted that the documents may serve as a serious basis
for further relationship.

“I don’t rule out the possibility that the protocols may establish a
platform for signing new treaties,” he said, adding that such treaties
will provide an answer to numerous questions.

From: A. Papazian

OUTCOME OF DINK’S MURDER CASE IS HAZY, SAYS TURKOLOGIST

Tert.am
18:35 01.11.10

In a press conference today, Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan told
journalists that he possessed a report prepared by the lawyers who
investigated the circumstances of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink’s assassination.

Introducing some details of the report, he stressed the lawyers’
finding that the case has to be studied in its integrity, including
the preparation of Dink’s murder, the fact of killing his and the
subsequent developments.

“They are arriving at the conclusion that no objective findings can
be anticipated otherwise. But the Turkish judiciary is now attempting
to separate all those phases,” he said.

Besides, as a result of the investigation it turned out that Turkish
state bodies (police, prosecutor’s office and Security Service)
did not collaborate or exchange information on the matter.

“They concealed information from one another, thus preventing the case
from being disclosed,” Mr. Melkonyan added. As long as the same people
continue holding their posts, the future of the case will remain hazy.

“Dink’s murderer was recognized as a hero by the Turkish authorities.

He was granted privileges in prison and even got married,” the
expert said.

The last blow, according to him, was the decision to convict the
perpetrator as a minor, which means reducing his prison term for
minimum 5 years.

“He will not face a life sentence. Some time in future he will be
released, joining the ranks of Turkey’s national heroes,” the speaker
stressed, adding that murders committed by minors are widely practiced
in Turkey.

“Given such process of court procedures, the disclosure of Dink’s
murder is out of the question,” the expert concluded.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS SPEAK ABOUT INCIDENT WITH AZERBAIJANI COLLEAGUES IN IRANIAN EXHIBITION

Tert.am
17:52 01.11.10

A group of Armenian journalists participating in the 17th International
Media Exhibition boycotted the event because of a row with Azerbaijani
delegation over a photo symbolizing Karabakh.

The Iranian exhibition is closing today, but the Armenian participants
returned to Yerevan two days before its closure. In a press conference
today a reporter of local Armenian daily Azg (nation) Hasmik
Harutyunyan and a reporter of news agency Panarmenian.net Ekaterina
Poghosyan, as well as editors of other media outlets attending the
conference dwelled on the details of the incident.

According to the Armenian journalists, the Azeri media representatives
“attempted to provoke the Armenian delegation, asking the Armenians
were so few in number, and why only female representatives were
participating in the event.”

The Armenian representatives were able to avoid conflicts until
an Azerbaijani journalist working for Azerbaijan news agency APA
“violently broke into their pavilion and tore the maps of Armenia and
Artsakh.” What drove the Azeri representative out of patience was the
photo featuring the famous symbol of Artsakh (We Are Our Mountains)
installed on the Armenian pavilion.

After the incident, the organizers had to remove the photo for
security considerations.

Offended, the Armenian journalists expressed their complaints to the
exhibition organizers, claiming that the photo be reinstalled.

But as the they didn’t keep their promise the Armenians decided to
discontinue their participation in the event and returned to Armenia.

Azg’s Editor-in-Chief of Hakob Avetikyan praised the Armenian
journalists for their “brevity,” at the same time highlighting the
importance of being better prepared for international events next time.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY HAS CHANGED ITS STANCE ON ARMENIA, SAYS STEPAN GRIGORYAN

Tert.am
17:29 01.11.10

Turkey has launched a new policy when it comes to relations with
Armenia, politologist Stepan Grigoryan told a news conference today
as he referred to the fact that Ankara removed Armenia from the list
of countries posing threat to Turkey.

“Do you remember the story of not installing a cross on the dome of
Sourb Khach [Saint Cross Church]? But I was saying that the cross would
[definitely] be installed on the dome. Today Turkey’s policy is aimed
at normalizing relations with Armenia. That does not mean that they
have started to love the Armenians; simply the policy has changed,”
explained he, adding that unfortunately Turkey’s leadership was not
so strong as to ratify the Armenia-Turkey Protocols.

According to Mr Grigoryan, Turkey cannot build closer ties with Russia
and Iran by artificially ignoring Armenia. Turkey has changed its
attitude also towards the Armenians living in its territory, because
a Turkey that wants EU membership cannot but respect the rights of
national minorities, he added.

In his words, Turkish authorities already allow Armenian experts
visiting Turkey to visit Turkish universities, which is huge progress.

Further he reminded that Turkey is one of the countries that recognized
Kosovo’s independence and currently does help Abkhazia, while still
being considered Georgia’s strategic partner. This, according to him,
testifies to the fact that Ankara too is in favor of nations’ right
to-self determination.

“We do understand that there is the Azerbaijani issue … but overall
our interests coincide,” said he, adding that it is not through the
help of world powers but rather through their own initiative that
Armenia and Turkey should normalize their relations.

The US Congress, according to him, may raise the Genocide issue for
several times, but never recognize it, which again supportive of the
fact that world powers may use the issue to exert pressure on Turkey,
as needed.

From: A. Papazian

OPENING OF CANADA’S EMBASSY IN ARMENIA ON THE AGENDA

armradio.am
01.11.2010 18:28

The newly appointed Ambassador of Canada to Armenia, John Sloan,
presented the copies of his credentials to Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian.

Congratulating the Ambassador on appointment, Minister Nalbandian noted
that Armenian-Canadian relations had greatly progressed in the fields
of political dialogue, parliamentary and decentralized cooperation.

Minister Nalbandian voiced hope that the Ambassador would contribute
to the further reinforcement of Armenian-Canadian relations.

The interlocutors attached importance to the cooperation within
international organizations.

Edward Nalbandian and John Sloan exchanged views on the steps to be
taken toward expansion of bilateral relations. The Armenian Foreign
Minister noted that the opening of the Canadian Embassy in Armenia
was on the agenda.

From: A. Papazian

FOREX CLUB PREDICTS A 3.7% GDP GROWTH BY THE END OF THIS YEAR
Hasmik Dilanyan

“Radiolur”
01.11.2010 17:49

Armenian economy is developing but it is not open. Besides, there are
certain communication problems, Andrey Dirigin, head of analytical
department at Forex Club, told journalists today.

According to him, economy will develop faster in case land
communication between Armenia and Turkey is resumed. Presently there
is a transit turnover between Armenia and Turkey, he noted. The expert
considers that despite transport restrictions, Armenia will overcome
economic crisis faster than Georgia and Azerbaijan.

According to the analyst of the Forex Club, Michael Verdyan, a 15%
GDP drop was registered in Armenia last year. The main sectors
contributing to the slump were construction (42.3%) and trade (4%
decline), Verdyan added.

The lack of traditionally available loan funds was the main reason
for the decline in the above-mentioned sectors, Verdyan said.

According to Verdyan’s assessment, Armenia’s economy fails to register
high growth because of the fall in the field of agriculture, the
large volume of foreign debt and high inflation rate.

The Forex Club predicts a 3.7% GDP growth by the end of this year.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA HOSTS ARMNET AWARDS FIRST ARMENIAN INTERNET COMPETITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 1, 2010 – 15:27 AMT 11:27 GMT

Armenia will host the first Armenian Internet competition – Armnet
Awards. It is organized by SP Marketing Solutions, Orange Armenia
and Circle.am under the aegis of the RA Minister of Economy.

ArmNet Awards PR Coordinator Eva Vorontsova told PanARMENIAN.Net
that the goal of Armnet Awards is to identify and reward the best
Armenian websites.

Two-stage procedure of the contest involves a public voting and
international jury assessment.

All interested persons can participate in the competition, registering
their websites at the competition portal – armnetawards.am.

Besides, a conference dedicated to the development of information
technologies will be held as part of the competition with participation
of Armenian and foreign specialists.

From: A. Papazian

CONSTRUCTION WORKS AT YEREVAN-ASHTARAK SECTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA TRANSPORT CORRIDOR TO BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER 2012

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 1, 2010 – 14:01 AMT 10:01 GMT

On November 1, the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication hosted
unsealing of competition packages for bids on rehabilitation of
11.71km-long Yerevan-Ashtarak section of Iran-Armenia transport
corridor.

13 construction companies expressed willingness to participate in
the competition. However, only three companies submitted relevant
documents: Austrian STRABAG International, American Feletechnologies
and Spanish MJGRUAS, which offered USD 51.141mln, 18.944mln and
22.618mln respectively, the Ministry’s press service reported.

The tender committee will study and estimate the competition packages
to present them to the Asian Development Bank, after which they will
be submitted for the Governing Council’s approval. As the project
cost exceeds USD 1bln, a governmental decision will be adopted,
after which an agreement will be signed with a contractor.

The construction works are planned to be launched in spring 2011 and
completed on October 1, 2012, with the Asian Development Bank and RA
government to finance the works.

From: A. Papazian