Author: Basmajian Ani

IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS OF EXCEPTIONALLY PEACEFUL CHARACTER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.10.2009 13:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran keeps insisting on exceptionally peaceful
character of its nuclear program, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali
Larijani stated. "Iran is a state, governed in accordance with
religious values. Iranian Supreme National Security Council published a
fetwah (written decision by religious authorities) banning possession
of mass destruction weapon, including that of chemical and biological
nature," Euro News cited Ali Larijani as saying.

ARMENIAN NA SPEAKER HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVED TODAY CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT COMMISSION OF THE PARLIAMENT OF NETHERLANDS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 20, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian NA speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
received today chairman of the foreign affairs permanent commission
of the parliament of Netherlands, deputy head of NATO Parliamentary
Assembly Henk Yan Ormel and members of his entourage.

NA public relations department told Armenpress that greeting
the guests the speaker highly assessed the Armenian-Dutch
inter-parliamentary cooperation. He particularly underscored the
West-East inter-parliamentary cooperation program within the framework
of which the visit of the Armenian NA delegation to Netherlands
took place.

The interlocutors agreed that it is necessary to consolidate the
cooperation between the two parliaments for the sake of Armenia’s
Euro-integration and long-lasting peace and security in the South
Caucasus.

Afterwards Abrahamyan presented Armenia’s approaches toward
regulation of Karabakh conflict as well as process of normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations.

AVERAGE SALARY IN RA TOTALED AMD 98 369 IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2009 15:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Average salary in Armenia totaled AMD 98 369 in
January-September 2009, thus increasing by 12% against the last
year’s index.

According to the National Statistical Service, the salary in
government-financed organizations increased by 16.9% and made AMD
81 788 per month. In private enterprises the salary grew by 8.3%
and totaled AMD 122 177.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN COMMUNISTS TO MEET

APA
Oct 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elnur Mammadli – APA. The leadership of Azerbaijan Communist
Party will meet with Armenian communists. The party’s press service
told APA that the meeting will be held at the 34th congress of the
Soviet Union Communist Party in Moscow on October 24. The delegation
of Azerbaijan Communist Party will discuss the restoration of
Turkey-Armenia diplomatic relations.

Press service said chairman of the Central Committee Rauf Gurbanov
will lead the delegation of Azerbaijan Communist Party.

ALIYEV SAYS KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE NOT DISCUSSED IN TALKS

Asbarez
liyev-says-karabakh-independence-not-discussed-in- talks/
Oct 19th, 2009

BAKU (APA)-Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday, in addressing his
government, unequivocally rejected granting independence to Karabakh
as he outlined key points to which, he alleged, both sides have agreed.

"The issue of granting independence to Nagorno Karabakh at whatever
time-even in a 100 years-is not discussed in negotiations and it never
will," said Aliyev adding, "Azeri lands must be liberated from the
invaders. Citizens of Azerbaijan, internally displaced persons should
return to their native lands, including to Nagorno-Karabakh. This
issue is also reflected in the negotiating process."

"Nagorno-Karabakh may be granted temporary status. But this does not
mean independence, and the two parties-Armenia and Azerbaijan-will
continue to discuss the future status of Nagorno Karabakh in
further negotiations. Here are the basic principles around which the
negotiations are continuing. I hope that the Armenian side will soon
take the steps necessary to solve the problem by showing a constructive
approach," said Aliyev.

After the recent meeting in Moldova with his Armenian counterpart,
Serzh Sarkisian, Aliyev announced that talks had not yielded any
results, countering Armenian and OSCE statements that proclaimed
optimism about the continuing negotiations.

In his Saturday remarks, Aliyev pointed the finger at Armenia saying
that his observed impasse was a result of the "unconstructive position
of Armenia," which he said was employing "delaying tactics." He accused
Armenia of bringing up issued that he claimed have been agreed to
back to the negotiation table.

On several occasions during his presentation Saturday, the Azeri
president reiterated his belief that Armenia must "withdraw" from
the liberated territories surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,
adding that continuing the talks based on the principle of territorial
integrity has been agreed upon by all parties.

"Most of all, Azerbaijan wants the status quo in the region to change.

This status quo has kept our territories under occupation for 20
years. But this status quo should change positively. If the status
quo changes at the expense of Azerbaijan’s interests, we will not
allow it," proclaimed Aliyev.

"The Azeri army is the strongest in the region with the largest
military capabilities. We need to continue to expand this capacity
because, as I said, we are living [in a state of] war. The war is not
over yet, and the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenian-Azeri
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, unfortunately, have not yielded any
results yet," declared Aliyev.

PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF 1 MILLION 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS CARRIED OUT AT NASDAQ OEMEX ARMENIA OJSC ON OCTOBER 19

Noyan Tapan
Oct 19, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Purchase and sale transactions of
1 million 50 thousand dollars at the weighted average exchange rate
of 388.63 drams per dollar were carried at Nasdaq Oemex Armenia OJSC
on October 19. The closing price made 388.75 drams, the press service
of the Central Bank of Armenia reported.

TURKEY MAY RECONSIDER ITS GAS PIPELINE POLICY: SENIOR EXPERT AT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION

Today.Az
tics/56672.html
Oct 19 2009
Azerbaijan

Renowned American expert on Eurasia, an expert on foreign policy,
security and international relations and head of Russian-Eurasian
programs at the Heritage Foundation, Ariel Cohen, spoke to Day.Az in
an interview.

Day.Az: How could you comment on the fact that Azerbaijan, tired of
waiting for Turkey’s constructive approach in negotiations on gas
exports, began to consider alternative oil transportation routes?

Ariel Cohen: It is a clear signal that Azerbaijan will be prepared
to develop relations with Russia’s Gazprom. I admit possibility of
Azerbaijan’s participation in the "South Stream" project which could
lead the Nabucco project to wither away. This, of course, will be
negatively perceived in the United States which relies on Nabucco.

Another possibility is Azerbaijan’s participation in the "White
Stream" project which will run via Georgia, Black Sea and onwards to
the Eastern Europe. But there will be a great discontent by Russia.

Q: What are your views about this process?

A: This is a strong signal to Ankara which needs to be interpreted on
the backdrop of the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement and Turkey’s policy
to move away from cooperation with Western powers, including Israel.

I think the Turkish leadership moves away from domestic and foreign
policy, which were founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and which were
a basis for the secular Turkish Republic. If this policy does not
meet a rebuff within Turkey, such a dangerous policy from circles
with secular and pro-Western orientation could lead to instability
and tension in the South Caucasus and across the area ranging from
the Iranian-Turkish border to the eastern Mediterranean.

Q: How do you see Turkey’s future policy?

A: If Turkey is seriously keen to continue and develop fraternal
relations with Azerbaijan, it may reconsider its gas pipeline policy
and take a serious return to the negotiating table. If, on the other
hand, Turkey continues to focus on Russian and Iranian gas, it cannot
only lead to a deterioration of Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, but
also to a deterioration of U.S.-Turkish relations, because the United
States still considers Turkey a reliable ally, and relies on Iraqi,
Azerbaijani and Turkmen gas and the Nabucco project. Evolution of
Turkey as U.S. ally – both geopolitical and valuable – causes serious
questions both in Baku and in Washington.

ARMENIA DOES NOT RULE OUT AN OPPORTUNITY OF PROLONGATION OF THE EXPLOITING TERMS OF THE FUNCTIONING NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ‘NPP’

ArmInfo
2009-10-16 15:21:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian party does not rule out an opportunity of
prolongation of the exploiting terms of the functioning Nuclear Power
Plant [NPP], Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen
Movsisyan said at today’s briefing.

He also added that Armenia reiterated many times that the functioning
NPP will be shut down after building of the new nuclear power block in
the republic. But ‘it is not ruled out that for some period of time
two reactors will function in the republic. We should use potential
of the functioning energy block as much as possible’, -the minister
said and added that he has recently met the leaders of the Ukrainian
holding on turbine production ‘Turbatom’, which is ready to invest
$200 mln for upgrading of Armenian NPP to extend the terms of its
exploitation. Movsisyan said that the Armenian party is discussing
this suggestion. At the same time he assured that international expert
commission should permit prolongation of the terms for exploitation
of the NPP. ‘It is still early to speak about it as the resource of
the energy block was fixed till 2016. Time will come and we shall
specifically think about it’, – the minister said.

OCTOBER 16 ARMENIAN PRESS DAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 16:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is marking Armenian Press Day on October 16.

Azdarar, the first Armenian magazine was published in Madras (India)
on October 16, 1794. In all, 18 monthly editions were issued. The
magazine covered trade, economic and political events.

On April 22, 2004 the government announced October 16 the Armenian
Press Day

FRENCH MINISTER SEEKS COOPERATION WITHOUT EU BID

Hurriyet Daily News
Friday, October 16, 2009

Attending a conference in Istanbul, the French minister responsible
for European Union affairs says relations between France and Turkey
cannot be viewed only from the vantage point of accession talks. The
minister believes Europe needs to diversify its energy sources,
an endeavor in which Turkey plays an important role

Although Pierre Lellouche is France’s minister responsible for
European Union affairs, the internal matters of the 27-member club
were the only aspect of full-fledged cooperation he did not address
in a speech delivered Friday in Istanbul.

Speaking to an audience at Galatasaray University, Lellouche said
relations between France and Turkey cannot be viewed only from the
vantage point of accession talks. "We cannot [reduce] the whole
economic, political and geo-strategic relationship between the
two countries to the issue of accession," he said. "There can be
differences of view. But even if we have differences, we need to
capitalize on the existing relationship."

Lellouche continued by touching on the "Season of Turkey in France"
currently taking place in the European country, which features some
400 activities, mostly cultural in nature, promoting Turkey. He also
described the recent visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Paris
within the framework of the event as a great moment.

Yet Lellouche was unable to hide his frustration when he saw the
faces of disapproval, since even the French press had reported the
limited hospitality shown to Gul on his visit. "I have not changed;
I am a friend of Turkey," he said, raising his voice.

While he is known to have been supportive of Turkey’s accession to
the European Union, Lellouche is criticized for changing his mind
after becoming a cabinet minister for President Nicolas Sarkozy,
who opposes Turkey’s membership bid.

"We can block everything. But what purpose would it serve y. I have a
lot of respect for Turkey," he said to the Galatasaray audience, which
included former ministers and ambassadors, as well as academics. "Let’s
continue to work. Let’s stop quarrelling. I am not here to quarrel. I
brought here not a message of [tension] but a message of friendship
and hope. Is that clear?"

Arrogance as a common characteristic

In the introduction to his speech, Lellouche recalled that he had come
to Turkey last year to teach at Galatasaray University, the country’s
only university where the curriculum is taught in French. He said
that France and Turkey resemble each other and share similarities
in their national pride, patriotism and ambitions – and in their
arrogance. "We are both a bit arrogant," he said.

The French minister also spoke about the historic deal signed
between Turkey and Armenia last week in an effort to normalize
relations, saying the French government supports the reconciliation
process. He added that France is engaged in the process to resolve
the long-standing territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh that is
the main point of contention between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a close
Turkish ally.

When asked whether the French government is trying to change the
stance of an Armenian diaspora that is known to oppose the recently
signed deal, Lellouche noted that he had people of Armenian ancestry in
his constituency. Yet, he said, despite the demonstrations that took
place in France, the members of the Armenian community are generally
supportive of the process. "I have not felt a radicalization among
the members of the Armenian community," he said. "The representatives
were rather moderate."

During his speech, Lellouche also spoke of the need to diversify
Europe’s energy sources and how important Turkey is in this
endeavor. He did not, however, draw a parallel between the
reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia and one between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The minister further highlighted the importance of realizing the
Nabucco project, at will transport Caspian natural gas to Europe via
Turkey. Due to its irritation at the rapprochement between Turkey
and Armenia, Azerbaijan, which is set to be the main supplier of the
pipeline, is mulling the option of selling its gas to Russia rather
than Europe.

"Peace is a must in Nagorno-Karabakh, and we can not disregard
the interests of Azerbaijan, which is a friend of France," was all
Lellouche had to say when asked about the position of Azerbaijan in
the energy and political equation of the Caucasus.