Author: Andres-Papazian

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF “HURRIYYET DAILY NEWS” PORTAL: “BAKU IS THE CAPITAL NOT ONLY OF AZERBAIJAN, BUT ALSO OF THE ENTIRE REGION”

APA
June 17 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. “Baku is the capital not only of
Azerbaijan, but also of the entire region”, Director General of
“Hurriyyet Daily News” portal David Judson told journalists, APA
reports.

Director General said that it was his first visit to Azerbaijan and
that he was satisfied with held meetings and acquaintance with Baku.

He noted that views were exchanged on Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
as well as Kyrgyzstan incidents, problems of Caspian region, energy
issues, pipelines, Nabucco project and etc.

Taking stance on one writing published in “Hurriyyet Daily News”
which presented Nagorno Karabakh as a territory in dispute, Director
General called that writing as “unfortunate writing”.

“The policy of our newspaper is that Nagorno Karabakh conflict must
be solved by Minsk Group. This problem is in the focus of the world
community. I consider Nagorno Karabakh as an inseparable part of
Azerbaijan”.

From: A. Papazian

AMBASSADOR: TURKEY DISSATISFIED WITH SITUATION AROUND NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend
June 17 2010
Azerbaijan

Turkey is dissatisfied with the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Turkey’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic said.

“The current situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not
favour of anybody, so it’s necessary to sign an armistice and end the
occupation [of Azerbaijani lands] soon,” the Turkish diplomat, who
participated in the opening of the Turkish exhibition of construction
and heavy equipment told journalists.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the United
States – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.

Ankara supports the initiative of holding a tripartite meeting between
the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia in St. Petersburg,
which will be held on Thursday within the international economic forum.

“Turkey supports the initiative of holding the meeting because it
stands for peace and stability in the region, as well as an early
truce that all countries in the region, including Armenia, to be able
to fully use the economic potential of the region,” Kilic said.

According to him, the President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Turkey,
realized last week, was very successful because the long-awaited gas
agreement was signed.

Speaking about bilateral relations between the countries, Kilic
also mentioned the Turkish businessmen’s interest to invest in the
Azerbaijani market.

“Turkish investments in Azerbaijan amount to three billion dollars. We
attach particular importance and are interested in improving this
figure,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE OF CONCERN FOR WORLD

news.az
June 17 2010
Azerbaijan

Chief editor of the Hurriyet Daily News David Judson is going to
discuss regional issues in Baku.

‘During the meetings that I will hold in Baku, we will discuss the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and regional issues, including the Kyrgyz
crisis’, said editor-in-chief of Hurriyet Daily News David Judson.

According to him, energy issues, including the Nabucco project will
be discussed in Baku with his participation.

Replying to a question regarding an article published some time ago in
the Hurriyet Daily News, in which the Nagorno-Karabakh was fixed as a
disputed territory, D. Judson noted that the article was unsuccessful.

‘Do not pay attention to it. Media can voice different opinions. I
would like to note that the policy of our newspaper is to provide
various parties with the opportunity to express their views. For
example, our newspaper has repeatedly published articles of Azerbaijani
officials’, he said.

David Judson also noted that the Hurriyet Daily News has repeatedly
urged the Minsk Group and Hillary Clinton to settle the Karabakh
problem.

‘Nagorno-Karabakh is an issue that should concern the world community’,
said D. Judson.

From: A. Papazian

SYSTEM OF A DOWN FRONTMAN SERJ TANKIAN TO SING IN YEREVAN

news.am
June 17 2010
Armenia

The System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian, of Armenian descent,
will give a solo concert in Yerevan on August 12, the organizers –
Director of the Dream Communications Raffi Niziblyan and Armenian
representatives of the Fugitive Studios Armen Kubelyan – told
journalists today.

Serj Tankian will be accompanied by 6 band members and Armenian
musicians. He will perform his new and old songs and is likely to
sing in Armenian.

The System of a Down frontman will visit Armenia as part of his
“Elect the Dead Symphony” tour.

From: A. Papazian

WASHINGTON LAWMAKERS WARN TURKEY OVER ISRAEL
Hana Levi Julian

Arutz Sheva
June 17 2010
Israel

Washington lawmakers are warning they might formally recognize the
Armenian genocide to punish Turkey for its treatment of Israel.

A Congressional resolution recognizing the 1915-1923 massive slaughter
of Armenians in eastern Anatolia by the Ottoman Turks passed the
Foreign Affairs Committee by a lone vote in March.

It will soon be brought before the full House of Representatives
for a vote — and lawmakers who previously have said they would not
support the resolution are now hinting they might change their minds.

Indiana’s Republican Congressman Mike Pence told reporters on Wednesday
there would be “a cost if Turkey stays on its present heading of
growing closer to Iran and more antagonistic to the State of Israel. It
will bear upon my view, and I believe of many members of Congress.”

From: A. Papazian

NEGOTIATING PROCESS BETWEEN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AT ‘IMPASSE’

news.az
June 17 2010
Azerbaijan

Rasim Musabeyov Political analyst Rasim Musabeyov commented on
the upcoming meeting between the presidents of Russia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan in Saint Petersburg.

‘Now the negotiating process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is at an
impasse and there is a need to find a way out of this situation. At
the moment, there are only two ways out of the situation: either it
develops on an adverse script or the negotiation process continues.

Therefore the initiative of President Dmitry Medvedev to hold a
trilateral meeting in St. Petersburg can be evaluated from this
perspective as useful’, said political analyst Rasim Musabeyov,
commenting on the upcoming meeting of the presidents of Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia in Saint Petersburg.

According to the analyst, the maneuvers of Armenia to further delay
the negotiation process and the continuing occupation of Azerbaijani
lands have finally been narrowed and it must define.

When asked why Armenia is now beginning to flirt with NATO, R.

Musabeyov said: ‘All this is not serious. It is Turkey in the region
of NATO and its position on these issues is well known to all’.

The political analyst also said that the day before the St. Petersburg
meeting Azerbaijan has increased its military budget by $400m and
now it is 2 bn dollars, that equals the budget of Armenia. ‘So let
Armenia draws conclusions from all this’, he said.

From: A. Papazian

LABOR BILL: TRADE UNIONS VS. GOVERNMENT

news.am
June 17 2010
Armenia

On June 22, the RA Parliament will discuss a bill, which is expected
to worsen employees’ working conditions.

The Government-drafted amendments to the RA Labor Code run counter
to the trilateral collective agreement signed with the Confederation
of Armenian Trade Unions and Union of Employers of Armenia, Shmavon
Lazarian, Chairman of Association of Trade Unions of Sales Workers,
Public Catering Enterprises and Business Companies, told NEWS.am.

Specifically, the aforementioned agreement obliges the signors to
improve both the business environment and employees’ social conditions.

The draft amendments, however, show the Government is concerned over
the business environment rather than over workers’ social conditions.

According to Lazarian, the Government-planned amendments to the
RA Labor Code will even worsen employees’ unenviable conditions to
“please” employers.

Lazarian asked a rhetorical question: what is the country’s priority
– favorable conditions for business environment or protection of
employees? In fact, employees are defenseless “at employers’ hands.”

The scandalous point on “verbal contracts” has been removed under trade
unions’ pressure. Lazarian pointed out that at the latest discussion
of the document by the Committee of Social Affairs, RA Parliament,
trade unions managed to “convince” MPs of the inadvisability and
grave consequences of verbal contracts.

However, Lazarian is not sure that the Parliament will not discuss
the point at its next sitting. Even without this point, the amendments
the Government has been drafting since last March, in absolute secrecy
(trade unions were informed of it moths later) need serious revision.

Lazarian, as well as his colleagues, share the opinion that the
planned radical amendments to the RA Labor Code must be submitted to
public discussions and, if approved, to Parliament.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN BRANDY SALES FALL IN RUSSIA

The Messenger
June 17 2010
Georgia

The Yerevan brandy factory plans to decrease its grape purchases by 10%
in 2010 compared to last year. Director of the Ararat Yerevan brandy
factory Arra Grigorian stated recently that this decision has been
made for technical reasons as the factory does not have extra tanks
to keep spirits in. Significantly, the company purchases grapes from
Armenian farmers only.

It is known that Armenian brandy is very popular in Russia, but
in 2010 20% less is being sold than in the period before the world
economic crisis. Grigorian states that Armenian brandy sales have
fallen largely because consumers prefer cheaper products. The sales
of high price brandies have remained constant, but those who once
bought lower quality Armenian brandy have started buying cheaper
brands instead. High quality Armenian brandy still sells well, but
most Russian brandy is half the price of Armenian brandy, therefore
Russian consumers prefer it at present.

From: A. Papazian

AMBASSADOR EYNULLA MADATLI: “PAKISTAN DID NOT RECOGNIZE ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE BECAUSE OF ITS AGGRESSIVE POLICY TOWARDS AZERBAIJAN” – INTERVIEW

APA

June 17 2010
Azerbaijan

“Azerbaijan is the only country after Russia having embassy complex
in Pakistan”

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. APA’s interview with Azerbaijani ambassador
to Pakistan Eynulla Madatli.

-Official opening ceremony was held for Azerbaijani embassy in
Pakistan. How important is that the embassy building is the property
of country?

– Azerbaijani embassy in Pakistan has functioned as a tenant
in different districts of Islamabad since 1997. Construction of
a building for embassy is a very important issue. As economy is
growing and our opportunities are extending, existence of diplomatic
missions represented abroad, embassy buildings worthy for the name of
our country, its international authority is very important. It is so
important that if one country has embassy complex, if it has private
property, moreover, if this complex is situated in one of the good
places of the city, if there are held different events, if there are
realized other mass events and culture days, it talks of the authority
of that country and is one of the significant indicators. The embassy
remained since USSR today belongs to Russian Federation. Azerbaijan
is the only country having private property and embassy complex
after Russia. On the other hand, owning permanent embassy building
is an indicator of our attitude towards that country. We moved to
new building on November 17 last year and raised our flag there. But
official opening ceremony was held yesterday by the participation of
Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov. His participation has increased
Pakistan’s attitude towards this event more. Minister of State of
Pakistan, Deputy Chairman Senate came to opening ceremony too. The
complex consists of three stored administrative building, three stored
residence, four stored residential building for embassy officials
and guest homes.

-What is Pakistan’s role in foreign policy of Azerbaijan?

– Islamic Republic of Pakistan is one of the very important countries
for our state. Heydar Aliyev’s first word to me was so when he
appointed me as ambassador to Pakistan: “Be attentive, Pakistan
is important for us”. Because Pakistan was an initiator of first
and decisive resolution # 822 during discussions at UN Security
Council connected with the occupation of some part of our lands by
Armenians in 1993. At that time Pakistan was non-permanent member
of UN Security Council and at the same time it chaired UN Security
Council. That resolution draft was prepared just by Pakistan. Pakistan
supports Azerbaijan in adoption of other resolutions too. Pakistan
is the second country recognizing Azerbaijan after Turkey. There is
another feature as well, and it is very characteristic. Pakistan did
not recognize Armenian independence because of its aggressive policy
towards Azerbaijan and did not establish diplomatic relations this
country. President Ilham Aliyev gave me one more concrete task in 2004
– relations with Pakistan must be raised to the highest partnership
level, Pakistani political support for Azerbaijan, as well as
Azerbaijan’s political support for Pakistan must be continued mutually
in all issues related to the national interests of Pakistan. It was
not so difficult to do this, because our president plays a leading
role both in determination of foreign policy and in its realization.

Construction embassy building in Pakistan has a political meaning
as well. You know that, recently, serious problems connected with
security are being took place in Pakistan, Afghanistan, in that region,
terrorism, bloody incidents are committed against nations of that
regions on the basis of extremism. NATO forces continue antiterrorist
operations in Afghanistan. In such situation radicals oppressed by
armed forces in those countries, extremists, terrorists, organizations
related to Al-Qaida are taking revenge. Blasts, murders, hostage taking
happened at diplomatic missions many times. And that is why existence
of peculiar embassy building in such sensible region as Pakistan,
its technical supply, set up of security system, construction of
a building for all employees, nearness of working place and living
place are very important issue.

-Have relations with Pakistan reached the level of strategic
partnership?

– Our relations with Pakistan are above the strategic partnership. I
would like to emulate it with our relations with Turkey. Along with
strategic partnership, there is mutual love among people, common
culture, historical traditions. The territory where Pakistan is
located, was ruled for seven hundred, eight hundred years by Turkish
dynasties. The people of those places know that Azerbaijan is not a
foreign country, in Urdu “baijan” means “brother soul”.

-You also represent Azerbaijan in Afghanistan. At what level are our
ties with this country?

– Afghanistan needs not only our aid, but also all the friendly
countries. From the first days, within our opportunities we take
part in establishing and protecting peace in Afghanistan. There is a
program of non-military nature, adopted by our State in connection
with Afghanistan. This program is carried out step-by-step, last
month the delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
held very productive meetings in Afghanistan. We have already studied
all the needs of Afghanistan, and work with that country is continued
in accordance with its needs. How developed are our neighbors, so
calm for us, and there will be fewer problems, and cooperation will
be mutually beneficial. There must be development for the presence
of stability, and for development severe consequences of a 30-year
war must be eliminated. All the resources of this nation are already
on the wane, the Afghan people need only help, and we are one of
those countries that do not deny such assistance. This assistance
is carried out not only within the framework of bilateral terms,
but also within the international process.

-What can you say about our economic relations with Pakistan?

– Unfortunately, economic relations are not heartwarming. And it is
connected with objective reasons. Within recent years, some problems
occurred particularly as a result of known processes in Pakistan
and Afghanistan. In this regard, the desire of our entrepreneurs,
in particular of private sector to build work there is not at a high
level. This is related not only to us but to all the entrepreneurs of
the world who had an interest in this region. Business life has eased
in the country, the government takes measures to attract investment.

However, there are areas where our cooperation is developing very
well, and there are perspectives for further cooperation. An example
for this we can make defense industry. Conducting joint training
courses between the organs of internal affairs, intelligence agencies,
cooperation in this area is continued very successfully. Our three
professors teach at the Islamabad Institute of Technology. Today, we
have not any students studying in, on the contrary, there occurred
great interest in learning of Azerbaijan in Pakistan. The citizens
of these countries are studying at the Diplomatic Academy of Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, the University of Khazar, Baku State University.

-There a lot of Pakistani immigrants in Azerbaijan. Is the embassy
controlling this process?

– I do not know the number of Pakistani immigrants. I only know
about the people receiving a visa at the embassy to travel to
Azerbaijan, but there are Pakistani citizens who receive a visa from
third countries. However, one must take into account this reality:
as our country develops, with improved comfort and safety, with the
development of all kinds of conditions for work and business, the flow
from developing countries will always be. It is a normal and natural
process. But, on the other hand, this process must be controlled.

State Migration Service is working in connection with it. All citizens
entering the country should have a single system, within this system
by continuous monitoring can be done so that no one may violate the
rules of migration. I think the number of Pakistani immigrants in
Azerbaijan can be several hundreds of people.

From: A. Papazian

GAREGIN GABRIELYAN HONORED WITH LIEUTENANT GENERAL RANK

Aysor
June 17 2010
Armenia

On June 17, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on
honoring Commander of the Police Troops, Deputy Chief of Police,
Major General Garegin Gabrielyan with Lieutenant General rank.

According to President’s press office, by President’s another decree
of the same day, on the occasion of Police Troops Day, for bravery
when carrying out their official duties, Combat Service Medal was
awarded to Deputy Commander of Police Troops on Armament, Colonel
Vanik Manukyan and Commander of Police Troops 2nd Battalion of Military
Unit 1033 Lieutenant Colonel Vardan Julhakyan.

From: A. Papazian