Author: Basmajian Ani

AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR TO BELGIUM: RESOLVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT MEETS EU’S INTERESTS

Today
Dec 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az: How do you assess level of bilateral relations between
Azerbaijan and Belgium?

Emin Eyubov: Belgium is a member of the UN, EU, NATO, OSCE and
the Council of Europe since inception of these international
organizations. Belgium hosts headquarters of the EU, NATO, World
Customs Organization and the Energy Charter. Brussels is considered
"capital of Europe". Brussels confidently takes second place in
the world after Washington for number of journalists, lobbyists and
non-governmental organizations.

Belgian representatives have twice held the post of the NATO Secretary
General. Belgium performed the duties of the OSCE chairman in
2006. In August 2008, that is, during the crisis in Georgia, Belgium
was chairing the UN Security Council. In the second half of 2010,
Belgium will preside over the Council of the European Union.

The fact that Belgium Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy was elected to
the post of the EU Council president set up this year once again shows
the high credibility the country enjoys in the international arena.

These facts indicate a need to set up constructive relations with
Belgium. I am pleased to emphasize that the Azerbaijani-Belgian
relations have been developing consistently and rapidly for the
benefit of peoples of our two countries.

These relations are not confined to political and international
issues. Belgium is a country with a developed economy with a
diversified economy type. The country has great potential in industry,
agriculture, high technology, scientific and technological research
and higher and special education.

Belgium has traditionally been strong in research in the field of
medicine, especially in regard to organ transplantation and other
areas, extremely difficult and knowledge intensive.

All these areas are of special interest for Azerbaijan in terms of
developing cooperation, exchanging experience and training future
professionals.

We also try to develop ties in the humanitarian sphere. Exhibitions of
Azerbaijani artists and craftsmen are regularly organized in Belgium.

Concerts of Mugam performers and performances of dance ensembles
are of great interest here. I note with great pleasure that leading
representatives of a unique musical direction – Azerbaijani Mugam-Jazz
– have become the regular guests of Belgium.

Representatives of Azerbaijani art play an important role in promoting
culture and history of Azerbaijan in Europe, in destroying many unfair
stereotypes that were created by our opponents in the late 1980s and
1990s. Genuine talent, excellent skill of Azerbaijani musicians,
dancers, painters, sculptors and other people in the arts help
Europeans to see the truth.

Azerbaijan-Belgium business forum was held in Baku recently. Tell us
more about purpose and outcomes of the event.

Historically, Belgium became the first country in continental Europe (
second only to Britain), which has successfully passed the Industrial
Revolution in the early 19th century. Belgium has advanced and highly
diversified economy. It includes the traditionally strong steel
industry, which produces the most diverse products, including weapons.

Plants of the largest automobile corporations in the world are located
in Belgium.

Belgians have made great advances in development of efficient
agriculture while the country has no warm climate or excess land.

Belgium also is a leader in areas such as nuclear energy, textiles,
pharmaceuticals and jewelry. The Belgian city of Antwerp hosts the
second sea port in Europe for its cargo turnover.

So, it is natural that Azerbaijan and Belgium are simply doomed to
develop economic relations. The current level of trade turnover totals
60 million euros which does not reflect our joint potential. The
business community in Azerbaijan and Belgium have a strong interest
in accessing markets of both countries, which, in turn, requires
establishment of business links between companies, the study of
economic conditions and prospects for long-term investments and trade.

Azerbaijan, due to successful socio-economic policies carried out by
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, is experiencing strong economic
growth that opens opportunities for foreign partners. Belgian
businessmen known for their pragmatism and business acumen are not
going to miss a new, promising market for themselves. Their intentions
are particularly relevant in light of the economic crisis that has
engulfed the whole world.

In the context of development of economic ties with Belgium, one needs
to take into account peculiarities of its federal structure. Many of
the powers in sphere of economy, including implementation of foreign
economic relations are delegated among the three regions of which
Belgium actually consists – Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels.

Therefore, development of direct contacts with these regions is more
appropriate and effective.

In this connection, on Nov. 21-26, a delegation of businessmen,
representing the business community in Flanders paid an official visit
to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan-Belgian business forum organized by the
Ministry of Economic Development of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Export
Promotion Fund and Investment (AZPROMO) jointly with the Agency of
Flanders Investment and Trade was held as part of the visit. The forum
involved representatives of 15 Belgian and 40 Azerbaijani business
structures. I am confident that practices to organize direct business
meetings with support of public authorities will give a serious
impetus to strengthening the Azerbaijani-Belgian economic relations.

Our future plans include development of economic ties with Flanders
and other constituent regions of Belgium, including Wallonia and
Brussels – Capital Region.

You represent Azerbaijan also in the European Union. What is
Azerbaijan’s approach to the Eastern Partnership?

Continuing policy of integration into European and Euro-Atlantic
structures is one of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy priorities.

Azerbaijan has consistently called for deepening partnership with
the European Union, promoting EU assistance for the reform process,
development of cooperation in economy, trade and finance, facilitating
visa regime and implementing a full dialogue on political and security
issues. From this perspective, we always welcome initiatives of our
European partners which are designed to promote closer relations
between Azerbaijan and the EU.

The Eastern Partnership consists of two main components respectively
envisaging cooperation in a bilateral format ( between the EU and
partner country) and in a multilateral format (between the EU and all
the six partner countries). As a sovereign state, Azerbaijan considers
choice of formats of cooperation through prism of its national
interests. Of course, no cooperation with Armenia is impossible as long
as this country continues to keep Azerbaijani territory under military
occupation and prevents return of the expelled Azerbaijani population
to their homes. From this standpoint, Azerbaijan prefers cooperation
with the EU, especially in the bilateral format. At the same time,
we do not refuse from participation in the multilateral format of
"Eastern Partnership", and official representatives of Azerbaijan
took part in all meetings of platforms held in 2009

In September 2009, the foreign ministers of EU member states adopted a
principal decision on the negotiations on conclusion of the Agreement
on Association with Azerbaijan. This Agreement is intended to replace
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed between Azerbaijan
and the EU in 1996 and that entered into force in 1999, which is
the cornerstone of our bilateral relations. Under instructions of
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission has already
drafted a policy document to be submitted to the Council of the EU in
near future. Council must approve the mandate on which representatives
of the EU will begin negotiations with Azerbaijan on the draft of
the new Agreement. The Association Agreement will reflect the new
realities of our relations and give a powerful impetus to further
development of a qualitatively different level.

EU, above all, is common standards and common rules and regulations
in all sectors for the participants. Therefore, the main goal that
Azerbaijan has set for itself in terms of development of bilateral
relations with the EU, including the format of "Eastern Partnership",
is an approximation to the standards adopted in the European Union
and reflected in the so-called acquis communautaire – the collection
of basic legal acts on which European integration is based. Gradual
harmonization with EU standards is part of a modernization process
carried out in Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham
Aliyev. This includes reforms in legislation, education, border,
customs, phytosanitary and other controls and many other industries.

The importance of this process is difficult to overstate. Suffice
it to note that without a transition to the EU standards, it will
be very difficult for Azerbaijan-produced products to enter common
European market with has 500 million potential consumers.

What role the EU can play in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

The EU’s role in conflict resolution should primarily be supporting
fundamental principles of the settlement, namely, respect for
sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally
recognized borders of Azerbaijan. These fundamentals of conflict
resolution are based on the norms and principles of international
law. They were also often reflected in the relevant UN Security
Council resolutions, documents of the OSCE and the CoE. Any other
position would mean justifying the aggressive policy of Armenia and
ongoing military occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

The EU is also able to provide necessary support for return of
Azerbaijan lands, which should be liberated from Armenian occupation,
mine clearance, rehabilitation of infrastructure and communications.

Along with this, the EU can also assist in the reintegration
of the Nagorno-Karabakh region to Azerbaijan and restoration of
peaceful coexistence of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

Resolving the conflict meets the EU interests because it would
promote peace, stability and security, as well as process of regional
cooperation and development of the South Caucasus and bring them
closer to European standards.

HACK WRITER’S DESTINY: POOPING AS EVALUATION OF HIS "TALENTS"

news.az
Dec 28 2009
Azerbaijan

Matthew Collin There are journalistic articles after reading which
you get a lot of new information for yourself.

There are articles that form a new outlook on some events thanks to
the brilliant analytical conclusions of journalists. Unfortunately,
there are also attempts to set up something false for analytics or
a new article. The absence of analytical skills and fresh news are
compensated with a false information that has nothing to do with
analytics or a new article.

Such a material was presented to Moscow times readers. An article
"A Year of President for Life and Bird Poop" has been written
by a certain Matthew Collin. This was not an opinion but the use
of banal phrases without an attempt to go deeper into each of the
situations described by the journalist. The first truism from Collin
lies in his saying that 2009 was not remembered for a new senseless
war. The phrase about senselessness of war is not quite correct when
one implies the attempt of any country to restore its territorial
integrity and release the occupied lands. The journalist’s phrase
sounds especially absurd when attributed to the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict. In 2009 Armenian continued ignoring numerous documents and
resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and General Assembly,
OSCE, PACE and other international organizations that demand withdrawal
of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani lands and return of
refugees to their homeland.

In conditions when there is an obvious ignoring of the demands of the
world community about the ways of the peace settlement of the Karabakh
conflict by one of the parties, the phrase about senselessness of war
at least sounds odd and absurd. I want to know how Matthew Collin would
have acted if the fifth part of his flat was occupied by neighbors
backed by more influential forces and these neighbors do not obey
numerous decisions of the courts that fix that this flat is fully
Matthew’s and that the neighbors occupying it must leave? In other
words, we see it clearly that this journalist fails in finding the
necessary phrase. I would like to inform him that a war can be either
successful or unsuccessful, it can be quick or protracted, bloody or
with minimal number of victims, but it is by no way senseless. At
least there is a sense in return of Azerbaijani lands occupied by
Armenians. There is also a sense in the triumph of international
law over separatism. Unfortunately, Matthew Collin’s article has
earlier been filled with a thesis that sound ridiculous. For example,
he voiced the truism that the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian
protocols is a positive event of the passing year.

Meanwhile, Matthew Collin again demonstrated incompetence in the
issue by not saying that during his visit to the United States
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said it would be difficult for
Turkey to settle issues with Armenians without progress in Karabakh
settlement. Thus, the Turkish Premier disavowed numerous statements
of several representatives of official Yerevan who said there is no
link between normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations and the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict. But this was not mentioned in
Matthew Collin’s article. What is it – a purposeful selection of facts,
dilettantism or an open bias? This is for you to judge. Meanwhile,
I come to a conclusion that in any case this is unfavorable not only
for the journalist but also for the edition he works for. After reading
Matthew Collin’s article, you come to understand that all his attempts
to judge the internal political situation in Azerbaijan is the next
voicing of hackneyed criticism of our country that has nothing to do
with the attempt to go deeper into each point of this criticism. With
this "bunch of talents" one can claim for a position of a trainee
in a third-rate edition rather than for the role of an impartial,
thinking and strong journalist. This fact can be the main conclusion
of Moscow times about Matthew Collin in 2009 and the result of these
conclusions may be a pooping for him.

Xinhua, China
Dec 26 2009

No stability in Caucasus unless occupation over Azeri territory ended: FM

2009-12-26 06:14:41 Print

ANKARA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) — Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said Friday that prospects of stability and security in
the Caucasus looked dim unless Armenian occupation over part of Azeri
soil ended.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish counterpart
Ahmet Davutoglu in the Turkish capital of Ankara, Mammadyarov said,
"The biggest problem for Azerbaijan in the region is the Upper
Karabakh, which is under Armenian invasion and the situation of the
displaced people."

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu(R) meets with visiting Azeri
Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov in Ankara, Dec. 25,
2009.(Xinhua/Anatolia News Agency)
Photo Gallery>>>

"We cannot speak of stability and security in a setting where 20
percent of Azeri territory is under occupation," said Mammadyarov who
is visiting in Ankara.

The Upper Karabakh region has been under Armenian occupation since
a 1994 ceasefire which followed a six-year war between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. The region is internationally recognized as part of
Azerbaijan.

Mammadyarov said Friday’s talks with Davutoglu discussed in detail
efforts to maintain stability in the region, adding that Azerbaijan
attached great importance to peace in the Caucasus.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu(R) speaks to media with
visiting Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov in Ankara, Dec. 25,
2009.(Xinhua/Anatolia News Agency)
Photo Gallery>>>

For his part, Davutoglu said that they considered Caucasus would
reach peace soon, and everyone should fulfill his task not to miss the
opportunity.

"We fully support the steps which have been taken for a solution
to Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict," he said.

"We think that normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations as
well as Turkish-Armenian relations will constitute an important ground
for regional prosperity and stability," Davutoglu said.

In regard to Caucasus, Davutoglu said, "we think that peace will
be secured in Caucasus soon. Everyone should do what is required for
solution of problems."

There is a full cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan
regarding the matter, he said.

Davutoglu said, "we will not let anyone ruin relations between the
two countries and we will not let anyone set our countries against
each other."

In October this year, Turkey and Armenia agreed to open borders
two months after the protocols entered into force. The protocols are
yet to be ratified by the two countries’ parliaments.

The two sides have no diplomatic or economic ties since Armenia
declared its independence in 1991. Turkey closed its border with
Armenia in 1993 to support Azerbaijan during its conflict with Armenia
over the Upper Karabakh region.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There cannot be any misunderstanding between Turkey
and Azerbaijan, Turkey’s top diplomat said.

`Like members of a family chatting with each other, we have never
broken off our contacts. We will not let any incitement come between
Turkey and Azerbaijan,’ Ahmet Davutoglu said in response to a question
in which a journalist referred to a straining of relations between
Azerbaijan and Turkey over the protocols signed between Armenia and
Turkey on Oct. 10 to normalize relations and establish diplomatic
ties.

At that, he emphasized that the government will not urge the
parliament to ratify the protocols. `The will of parliament is above
all,’ Davutoglu said.

`We are sincere in our desire to normalize our relations with
Armenia,’ he also said, reiterating his call for dealing with the
issue with a `visionary approach instead of enacting arbitrary
deadlines’, Today’s Zaman reported.

Microsoft Innovation Center to be established in Armenia
26.12.2009 17:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA)
will hold a ceremony of signing an agreement on the establishment of
the Microsoft Innovation Center between the Enterprise Incubator
Foundation, the "Microsoft Armenia" company and the State Engineering
University of Armenia. The Center will be equipped with all necessary
equipment.

The project is aimed at the development of information technology and
promotion of start-ups in Armenia, training of university teachers, as
well as students and professionals working in this sphere, organizing
Microsoft certification seminars, press office of SEUA reported

AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY DID NOT SIGN VISA REGIME AGREEMENT

news.am
Dec 25 2009
Armenia

Azerbaijan and Turkey did not sign an agreement on visa regime lifting,
Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu stated at the Dec.25 joint briefing.

The FMs said that signing of the agreement was not happen for technical
reasons, however the negotiations will progress, Hurriyet reports.

According to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, the signing was scheduled
however it failed due to bureaucratic issues. "Turkish side has
everything ready for it, but certain procedures should be implemented
in Azerbaijan. Afterwards, protocol on lifting of visa regime will
be signed."

Earlier, Turkish mass media reported about both states’ intension to
sign a document on visa restrictions in the course of Mammadyarov’s
two-day visit to Turkey.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister also intends to meet Turkish President
Abdullah Gul, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker
Mehmet Ali Sahin.

GOLD CONCENTRATE OUTPUT UP 1.5% IN ARMENIA IN 2009

Interfax
Dec 22 2009
Russia

Total volume of gold concentrate produced in Armenia has risen 1.5%
to 133 tonnes this year from 131 tonnes in 2008, Energy and Natural
Resources Minster Armen Movsisyan said at a Tuesday press conference.

Almost all companies in Armenia’s mineral resources sector were idle
at the start of this year because of the world economic crisis, but
starting in May they were operating so as to even exceed the previous
year’s indicators on the main kinds of products, Movsisyan said.

Copper concentrate output topped 90,000 tonnes in 2009 versus 72,000
tonnes in 2008, molybdenum concentrate output came to 8,862 tonnes
versus 8,300 tonnes the year before.

But zinc concentrate dropped to 6,200 tonnes from 7,400 tonnes.

"The overall volume of production in the mineral resources sector in
2009 is nearly even with the previous year’s indicators. That is a
very good result in crisis conditions," Movsisyan said.

Armenia needs to focus on more thoroughly refining concentrates
and metals to increase added value. "We need to export not copper
concentrate, but pure copper or products from pure copper," he sid.

THE AZERBAIJANI MASS MEDIA CONTINUE PRACTICING FORGERIES

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2009-12-24 17:37
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Azerbaijani mass media have once again lost their way in broad
daylight, trying to depict the Karabakh party in an unfavourable
light. During a day, the woman, who was killed on December 20, 2009
on the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces’ contact-line first by an
"Armenian" serviceman, then, as it was found out, by an Azerbaijani
soldier, turned from an "Armenian woman" into an Azerbaijani one.

Moreover, a photo of a Georgian woman made in August 2008 during the
war in South Ossetia was attached to the information.

The Azerbaijani mass media have practiced forgeries in their
anti-Armenian propaganda for a long time. This was fixed not only
by the Karabakh party. The Moscow edition New Region notes that the
Azerbaijani mass media have, at least, three times used forgeries for
the last three months, applying photomaterials of various countries
for "proving the facts of the Armenian aggression". Besides the
abovementioned forgery of the Azerbaijani Agency Vesti.az related to
the killed woman, the edition notes as an example the distribution
of a photo of a Georgian soldier killed in August 2008 "to confirm"
the Karabakh party’s losses allegedly taken place as a result of the
NKR Defense Army units’ attacking the Azerbaijani positions. In fact,
everything was exactly the contrary.

Besides, the Russian edition unmasked Trend Azerbaijani information
agency, which had informed of the completion of a documentary about
the Karabakh conflict, attaching a photo of alleged "victims of the
Armenian aggression", which, in fact, turned out to be a photo of
deceased citizens of Kosovo taken from a Canadian francophone website.

This forgery related to the tragic events in Khojaly and placed at some
Azerbaijani websites, including the one of the basic anti-Armenian
misinformation center of the Heydar Aliyev Fund (),
the leader of which is the Azerbaijani President’s wife, was earlier
diclosed by the NKR Foreign Ministry.

We have to state once more that against the background of the
proceeding meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents and
the optimistic statements of the international mediators on certain
progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement process, official Baku
and its improvised mass media continue their aggressive information
war against the RA and NKR, using all the means for introducing the
Armenian parties as the misdeeds’ actors and for injecting a new
portion of Armenian-hatred poison into the international community’s
and their own people’s mind.

Unfortunately, this destructive policy of official Baku isn’t properly
assessed by corresponding international structures, which is fraught
with nullifying the multiyear peacemaking efforts.

"Democratic" Azerbaijan "integrating" into the West and its
"independent" mass media should finally realize that freedom of speech
is not freedom of misinformation.

We hope that in the coming year, the international community will
take the counterproductive actions of the Azerbaijani authorities
more seriously.

TURKEY TO OPEN ARMENIAN CHURCH TO WORSHIP IN EASTERN CITY, GOVERNOR SAYS

Today’s Zaman
Dec 24 2009
Turkey

A regional governor said on Thursday that Turkey would open an Armenian
church in an eastern city to worship in 2010.

Munir Karaloglu, the governor of the eastern province of Van, said
they would open the Akdamar Church to worship in September 2010.

“We expect all Armenian citizens to a prayer at the Akdamar Church
on September 12, 2010,” Karaloglu told the Anatolia news agency.

The Akdamar Church on Akdamar Island on Lake Van was opened in 2007
as a museum after it was restored by the Turkish government between
May 2005 and October 2006. The restoration costed 1.7 million USD
(2.6 million Turkish liras).

Karaloglu said he had contacted the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for
opening of the church to worship, and they would invite all Armenians
to the prayer in 2010.

Then Turkish Culture & Tourism Minister Atilla Koc, then Armenian
Deputy Minister of Culture Gagik Gyurjan, and Mesrob II, the patriarch
of Turkish Armenians, participated in the inauguration ceremony on
March 29, 2007.

The Akdamar Church was constructed by architect bishop Manuel between
915 and 921 A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I.

Among the important pieces of Armenian architecture, the church draws
attraction with its stone workmanship and the relieves on its walls.

ZHARANGUTIUN’S ALL BILLS IMPLYING POLITICAL REFORMS WERE REJECTED, FACTION HEAD DECLARES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 22, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2009 the RA National Assembly
Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction presented more than twenty legislative
initiatives. As faction head Stepan Safarian mentioned at a December
22 press conference, the initiatives regarded various spheres,
national, socio-economic, etc. "All our bills implying political
reforms were rejected," S. Safarian declared adding that in 2009 the RA
authorities delayed the recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
by one more year, refused to adopt a respective law on the right for
the homeland. According to S. Safarian, Zharangutiun’s members had
worked at each bill for weeks and even months but everything went to
pot with a button pressing by deputies making majority.

Faction member Anahit Bakhshian reminded RA President’s statement
that one should always listen to another and if he says a clever thing
should use his proposals. "However, this thought of the President is
not fulfilled, they are purely words," A. Bakhshian said stressing
that the authorities do not accept Zharangutiun’s proposals.

Faction member Zaruhi Postanjian touched upon PACE’s last report on
Armenia estimating it as "purely an informational, strange document."

In her words, every time PACE records that though the death
circumstances of the 2008 March 1 victims have not been disclosed,
there are positive shifts in the respect of strengthening democracy.

Z. Postanjian declared that the March 1 page will not be closed
until it is cleared up why the army was brought against peaceful
demonstrants. "Mrs Bakhshian said "RA President" in her speech but
RA has no President. If it had, no Armenian-Turkish protocols of the
kind would be signed."