Author: Babajanian Karo

OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL: “THE PROGRESS IS NOT HAPPENING ON THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT”

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 2 2011

“Turkey needs to create conditions to promote dialogue with Azerbaijan
and Armenia”

“If we cannot line up all of the conditions and solve the conflict,
then the next best thing we can do is to manage the problem so it
does not grow worse”

Baku. Habil Suleymanzadeh – APA. “Turkey could play an important role
in the decades-long conflict in the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh”,
said OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier in his interview with
“Today’s Zaman” newspaper, APA reports.

Calling Turkey as an important player of the region, Zannier said
that Ankara had a political contribution to offer. Touching on the
negotiations held under the auspices of the OSCE, he said that the
progress was not happening: “I am stating a fact – the progress is
not happening. Something is missing”.

Zannier said that Turkey’s involvement in Karabakh negotiations need
not be an official one: “I am not talking about a formal role in the
negotiations, but in real terms. Turkey is bordering both countries
involved in the conflict. Turkey needs to create conditions to promote
dialogue on both sides”.

Touching on the OSCE’s efforts for settlement of Karabakh conflict,
Zannier said that he didn’t accept some sounded critics. According
to him, the callings to nad over the settlement issues of Nagorno
Karabakh and other conflicts to the other organizations would not
settle the conflicts: “The problem is the substance of the issue. We
are trying to create the necessary conditions in the meantime. We
are trying to manage the situation on the ground, but the situation
becomes problematic in security term”.

OSCE official said that if we cannot line up all of the conditions
and solve the conflict, then the next best thing we can do is to
manage the problem so it does not grow worse.

‘THEY DON’T EVEN HIDE THEY’LL KILL ARMENIANS WHEN AT POWER’

Panorama, Armenia
Nov 2 2011

“Syrian Armenian community supports the ruling power of that country,”
said historian, journalist Gevorg Yeazchian during a panel discussion
on “modern challenges of Syrian Armenian community”.

The expert has said that Armenians feel protected and safe under the
ruling power. Gevorg Yeazchian has said that the opposition treats
negatively the Syrian Armenians.

“They even don’t hide they will kill Armenians when at power,” he said.

RA NA SPEAKER HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN SUBMITS HIS RESIGNATION ON NOVEMBER 14

National Assembly of RA, Armenia

Nov 2 2011

On November 1 a sitting of the RPA Executive Body was held, during
which the President of the Republic of Armenia, the RPA Chairman Serzh
Sargsyan suggested that the RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan coordinate
the RPA pre-election headquarters in the upcoming elections.

Mr. Abrahamyan has accepted the RA President’s offer and in his turn
has proposed to resign from the chairmanship of the National Assembly
so that he is able to get concentrated only on the pre-election
processes of the parliamentary elections.

On November 14, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the
National Assembly, the RA NA Speaker will officially tender his letter
of resignation at the upcoming sitting of the National Assembly.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER THINKS PERMANENT GROWING OF THE ARMY OF STATE FUNCTIONARIES IS INEXPEDIENT

arminfo
Wednesday, November 2, 14:15

Today we have got a great number of employees in the state bodies,
but is it expedient to permanently increase the number of the staff? –
deputy of the parliament from the Prosperous Armenia Party faction,
Vardan Bostanjan, asked today during the discussion of the draft
budget 2012.

He also added that by increasing the number of functionaries the
government creates additional problems in the context of salary raising
in the state management system in general. As a reply, Deputy Finance
Minister, Pavel Safaryan, said usually the work of the employees of
the state structures is a permanent process, and one must not say
that these functions end at a certain moment and people should be
dismissed. There is a certain reason, why the number of the staff
in the state management system has been increased by 166 this year,
he said and added that at the same time the staff was also axed,
and this figure 166 is balance.

Over the discussion parliamentarian expressed concern because of low
level of financing during their business trips in abroad. Safaryan
said that according to the president’s decree dated 6 October 2011
the government has already revised the volume of financing of the
business trips.

To note, according to the draft budget 2012, the financing volume of
activity of the state management bodies amounted to 57 bln drams which
is by 3 bln drams more than in 2011. Safaryan said that about 75%
if this sum will go to salary payment. As for the above mentioned 3
bln drams, they will be directed to the financing of 166 employees,
he said.

GERMANY WARNS GREECE OVER RESCUE

ARMENPRESS
16:31, 2 November, 2011

The eurozone plan to save Greece from bankruptcy is not up for
renegotiation, Germany has warned, ahead of emergency talks with
Greece and France.

“[What] we just agreed last week cannot be placed back on the table,”
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.

Greek PM George Papandreou is to meet France’s Nicolas Sarkozy and
Germany’s Angela Merkel later on Thursday.

The meetings come a day after Mr Papandreou said Greece would hold
a referendum on the eurozone rescue plan.

Overnight, Greece’s cabinet gave unanimous backing to Mr Papandreou’s
controverisial plan for a public vote, which could take place in
December.

He told an emergency cabinet meeting a referendum would offer “a
clear mandate” for austerity measures demanded by eurozone partners.

Earlier, stock markets recorded big drops amid shocked reactions in
eurozone capitals to the referendum announcement.

BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, in Cannes for the G20,
says the summit of global leaders has been thrown into confusion
before it even opens.

President Sarkozy had thought the priority would be presenting to
the wider world a done deal for the Eurozone rescue and asking for
active international support, particularly from China.

But instead, Mr Papandreou’s move has left Mr Sarkozy, and German
Chancellor Angela Merkel appalled by the uncertainty, and the damage
already done, our correspondent says.

Mr Papandreou is expected to say that he had no choice: a referendum
was vital to try to overcome resistance on the streets to deepening
cuts – and a possible alternative of snap elections would risk Greece
defaulting on its debt.

Furthermore, the Greek government faces a crucial confidence vote in
parliament on Friday.

One MP from the governing Pasok party has resigned, cutting Mr
Papandreou’s parliamentary majority to two – and six other leading
party members have called on him to resign.

The planned referendum threatens to unravel a deal reached at a EU
summit last week aimed at resolving the euro debt crisis.

Leaders agreed on a 100bn-euro loan (£86bn; $140bn) to Athens and a
50% debt write-off.

But in return, Greece must make deep cuts in public spending, slashing
pensions and wages and making thousands of civil servants redundant.

There have been widespread protests in Greece against the measures.

KICKBACKS IN ARMENIA

Lragir.am News

17:03:19 – 02/11/2011

Chinese and Russian companies are recognized as the most corrupt in
the world. Transparency International counted out that Chinese and
Russian businessmen offer bribes abroad most of all.

We can remember that last year several hundred of Russian companies
working abroad signed an agreement on not giving bribes and kickbacks.
Later, the same companies admitted they were not able to fulfill the
demand of the agreement and had to give bribes to get state orders
or licenses.

The Russian business in Armenia, as the leadership of the country
affirms, is prospering. This means, Russia promotes corruption in
Armenia, negating the struggle which is waged on Western grants.
Moreover, China enters the Armenian economy, which last year acquired
the iron deposits, as well as Beijing~Rs participation was expected
in the construction of highways.

Does it mean that China received these objects with the help of
traditional kickbacks? Is this the reason why the Western capital,
which has other working rules, is unable to live in Armenia?

Dwelling on the anti-corruption fight, Armenian law enforcement
bodies point out a couple of cases when a middle-class official was
caught taking the bribe. But there is no case in the history of the
anti-corruption fight, when a state official was caught for kickbacks.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION VISITS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2011 – 15:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On November 1, members of the delegation of the
European Parliament led by Milan Cabrnoch, Co-Chair of Armenia-EU
parliamentary cooperation committee, visited Tsitsernakaberd and laid
flowers at the 1915 Armenian Genocide Memorial to honor the memory
of the 1.5 million innocent victims.

The MEPs also took a tour to the Genocide Museum, where they left
a note in the Commemoration Book, saying “This is one of the most
tragic pages of the history of the Armenian people. We hope that it
will never be repeated again.”

“I am in Armenia for the first time and I am impressed to be in the
Genocide Museum. Genocide awareness is very important for prevention
of future crimes against humanity,” Mr. Cabrnoch told journalists.

“In the European Parliament, we have adopted two declarations on the
Armenian Genocide. I believe that we have no right to forget our past,
our history; otherwise we won’t have future,” added MEP Slavi Binev,
reported the press office of the Armenian National Assembly.

ARMENIAN CANNERIES PROCURE MORE THAN 60,000 TONS OF VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

ARKA
Nov 2, 2011

YEREVAN, November 2. / ARKA /. Armenian canneries have so far procured
more than 60,000 tons of vegetables and fruits, a deputy agriculture
minister, Robert Makarian, said today.

He specified that 39 processing plants have purchased 48,342 tons of
vegetables, including 42,594 tons of tomatoes, as well as 12,333 tons
of fruits, including 2,800 tons of apricot.

He said president Serzh Sargsyan had instructed earlier to organize
the procurements at due level. He said a task group was set up to
collect information and propose solutions. He said also compared to
last year, the purchases of vegetables and fruits grew by 18,660 and
8,706 tons respectively.

According to a study, conducted by the ministry, the demand for
vegetables this year is 68,700 tons, including 57,700 of tomatoes,
the demand for fruits is 21,200 tons and the demand for grape is
140,000 tons. The demand for the fruits has doubled over the past
two years and that for grapes has grown by 10,000 tons.

The deputy minister said that on November 1, 2011 some 40 processing
enterprises purchased 128,504 tons of grapes. According to him, at
the recommendation of president Sargsyan, the minimum purchase price
for grape was 130 drams, up from 124. 4 drams in 2010.

VAN QUAKE HIGHLIGHTS RIFTS, SPURS GLOBAL RELIEF EFFORT
By: Nanore Barsoumian

Tue, Nov 1 2011

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that shook Van and its surroundings
in eastern Turkey left at least 600 dead and 4,150 injured, by the
latest count. A week after the Oct. 23 disaster, focus has shifted
from rescue to relief efforts, with dozens of countries offering,
among them Armenia.

Firefighters from Istanbul and soldiers search for Tahir Ormanoglu,
a teacher, 27, believed to be trapped beneath, as hopes of finding
more survivors were dimming in Ercis, Van, Turkey, Oct. 29,. (AP /
Burhan Ozbilici) Reportedly to test its own ability to respond to such
disasters, Turkey was initially unwilling to accept aid, except from
neighbors Azerbaijan and Iran. Two days into rescue efforts, however,
Turkey said it would allow in goods and relief workers from countries
near and far, including Israel and Armenia. Now, tents, prefabricated
homes, and containers are high on the list of necessities. On Oct. 27,
Turkey sent an official aid request to Armenia, which had offered to
send rescue workers to Van within hours of the quake.

While on official visit to Moscow, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian
expressed his condolences to Turkish President Abdullah Gul, adding
that “a specialized group of the Armenian rescuers stands ready to
arrive at the epicenter and instantly to proceed with the rescue
works.”

In the meantime, hopes to find survivors have almost entirely
diminished. The last survivor was a teenage boy rescued from a pile of
rubble early on Fri., Oct. 28, after 108 hours of being trapped. Tens
of thousands have been left homeless, and sheltering the survivors
is of prime concern, especially with the brutal Caucasus winter at
the country’s doorstep.

Forty tons of supplies aboard an II-76 plane flew in from Yerevan
on Oct. 28. A member of the Armenian rescue team, Gagik Kostandyan,
told reporters gathered at the Erzurum airport that the cargo included
111 tents, 4,345 blankets, 36 beds, and 474 sleeping bags. “We are
ready to offer every kind of support if needed. We would like the
two countries to enjoy good relations. This is a humanitarian aid. We
are two neighboring countries,” Kostandyan was quoted as saying.

The Turkish Red Crescent says it has distributed over 7,500 tents,
22,000 blankets, and food and water. Meanwhile, Israel dropped off
prefabricated housing units and, most recently, the U.S. pledged to
send in shelters.

The earthquake affected Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish-populated
region, where days before Kurdish rebels had targeted Turkish troops,
killing 24. The government responded by sending 10,000 troops and
air reinforcements into the south and over the border into Iraq,
reportedly killing over 270 militants.

The earthquake caused the worst harm in the town of Ercis, some 56
miles north of Van. Thousands of buildings were damaged. Observers
say the situation could have been much worse if the quake had hit
midweek, when students were in classes, or after-hours when most
people stay indoors.

The area is home to neglected Armenian ruins, which are in dire need
of maintenance and repair. Measuring the harm to those historical
sites may never come. Perhaps the exception is Akhtamar island’s
10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, which suffered a
cracked dome. Experts were waiting for the aftershocks to end before
conducting an overall assessment of the damage to the recently
renovated church, which serves as a museum.

Soon after news of the earthquake hit, government officials were quick
to accuse the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) of failing
to respond to the crisis. The pro-government newspaper, Today’s Zaman,
also ran stories alleging that the BDP used discriminatory methods
in distributing aid.

On-air and online racist remarks towards those affected by the quake
have angered many. The comments criticize the predominantly Kurdish
survivors for expecting aid from the very authorities the PKK is
waging a battle against. Reports emerged of “aid” packages being sent
containing sticks, stones, and Turkish flags.

All this came while a wave of arrests swept Istanbul on Oct. 28.

Authorities raided BDP offices and arrested dozens of Kurdish and
human rights activist.

Perhaps unaware of these reports, Gul highlighted the “unshakable
fraternity” of the nation during the “golden jubilee” of Hurriyet Daily
News. “Our citizens in the province of Van hit by the earthquake will
see that they are not lonely. We are a nation that binds together in
rainy days. We are friends in foul weather. This demonstrates that
the fraternity among our nation is unshakable!” Gul said, as reported
on the presidential website.

MINISTER OHANYAN MEETS THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE RUSSIAN LAND FORCES OF RUSSIA

armradio.am
03.11.2011 15:10

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Chief of the General Staff
of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, Colonel General Yuri
Khachaturov had a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian
Land Forces, Colonel General Aleaxnder Postnikov.

The delegation headed by Colonel General Aleaxnder Postnikov visited
Armenia November 1-3. The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land
Forces visited the divisions of the Russian Military Base 102 to help
the commandership prepare for the new academic year.