Author: Chakrian Hovsep

SARKISIAN STEPS UP CRITICISM OF TURKEY, WARNS OF REPRISALS

Asbarez Staff
-up-criticism-of-turkey-for-visiting-diasporans/
J ul 31st, 2009

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-President Serzh Sarkisian has stepped up his criticism
of Turkey’s preconditions for normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations,
saying that they run counter to agreements reached by Ankara and
Yerevan during their year-long negotiations.

The criticism was echoed by more than 80 U.S. lawmakers who accused
Ankara of backpedaling on a U.S.-brokered "roadmap" to establishing
diplomatic relations between the two neighboring nations and reopening
their border.

"For one year, Armenia and Turkey held negotiations and agreed on
two documents," Sarkisian said in televised remarks aired late on
Thursday. "But since that some political forces in Turkey have been
trying to set conditions and link the establishment of diplomatic
relations with Armenia with the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and Armenia’s relations with Azerbaijan."

"We do accept that Turkey is a big country, we do accept its role both
in the region and the entire world," he said. "But at the same time,
we Armenians are an independent nation, and it is inadmissible to
talk to us in the language of preconditions. Any tough step brings
about counter-steps." He did not elaborate on the warning.

Sarkisian spoke during a visit to Lake Sevan where he attended a summer
festival organized by his government for visiting young people from
the worldwide Armenian Diaspora. Many in the Diaspora have followed
with unease Armenia’s rapprochement with Turkey that began shortly
after Sarkisian took office in April last year. Sarkisian has been
criticized by Armenia’s opposition and the Diaspora for allowing
Western-backed process to develop in Turkey’s favor without earning
Armenia any tangible benefits.

The process thus far has allowed Turkey to couple its talks with
Armenia to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hamper efforts for US
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Sarkisian’s remarks came just two days after he again made clear that
he will not travel to Turkey to watch the October 14 return match
of the two countries’ national football teams unless Ankara takes
"real steps" to reopen the Turkish-Armenian border. The two teams
played their first game in Yerevan last September in the presence of
Sarkisian and Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Gul’s visit to Armenia was followed by more Turkish-Armenian talks,
with the Turks reportedly agreeing to drop their long-standing linkage
between the normalization of bilateral ties and a Karabakh settlement
acceptable to Azerbaijan. However, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and other Turkish leaders have repeatedly said in recent months that
the Turkish-Armenian border will remain closed as long as the Karabakh
conflict remains unresolved. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
reaffirmed this precondition on Wednesday.

Despite these statements, Sarkisian until recently sounded cautiously
optimistic about the success of the Turkish-Armenian dialogue. It
was not until July 6 that he first publicly expressed his frustration
with Ankara’s stance.

Highlighting that frustration, 82 members of the U.S. House of
Representatives on Thursday sent a joint letter to President Barack
Obama expressing concern about "Turkish backpedaling" on the still
unpublicized "roadmap" deal that was announced on April 22. "Turkey’s
public statements and actions since April 24th stand in sharp contrast
to this agreement and undermine U.S. policy that normalization take
place without preconditions," the letter said.

"It would appear that Turkey, in an effort to block U.S. recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, agreed to a roadmap it did not intend
to uphold," the legislators charged. "Therefore, we urge your
Administration to separate the issues of normalization and genocide
recognition."

In an April 24 statement, Obama refrained from properly recognizing
the Genocide, implicitly citing the need not to undermine the
Turkish-Armenian rapprochement.

NEW PLUNDER

LRAGIR.AM
12:00:30 – 01/07/2009

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) issued a statement, which runs
that due to the policy of the Armenian criminal regime the Armenian
economy keeps declining. According to the data of January-May,
the Armenian GDP has decreased by 15, 7 percent, construction by
50, industry-10, export- 50 percent and so on. The decline of the
Armenian economy, according to the HAK, is 5, 5 percent more than
the decline caused by the global economic crisis and twice bigger
that the index of the CIS countries. The indexes of the Armenian
economic decrease surpasses even the predictions of the IMF, which
predicted a decline of 9-9, 5% for Armenia. As the Armenian National
Congress states the crisis in Armenia is little determined by the
global economic crisis, but with the policy of Armenia in the past
ten years, with the violation of the constitutional right for free
economy, free competition and property, with the establishment of
illegal oligarchic monopoly etc.

The HAK states that the regime is not worried by lessening the
impact of the economic crisis, but by the opportunity to rob the
country again.

PRESIDENT MEETS YOUNG ARMENIANS FROM DIASPORA: "WE SHOULD CHERISH OUR LAND"

Panorama.am
12:45 31/07/2009

President Serzh Sargsyan went to Sevan yesterday to meet Armenian youth
from Diaspora who traveled to Armenia in the frames of "Come home"
project of Diaspora Ministry. President said welcome to young Armenians
and a friendly discussion started round the fire. The youth has got
many questions addressed to the President which were kindly answered.

President signified the visit of young people to Armenia. It was
mentioned during the discussion that currently Armenia has got problems
but the most difficult days are left in the history. The President
has also said that though Armenia has got various problems including
reforms, prosperity and democratic issues, we should assess facts in
comparison. He encouraged the young Armenians living in Diaspora to
travel to Armenia more often in order to assess things.

"We must love and cherish this small-sized land keeping without losses,
and to gift it to our sons, new generations. In order to do that we
should get power from our land, from our people, our state and each
other. This is the most important thing," President said.

DIASPORA IS ARMENIA’S RICHEST RESOURCE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.07.2009 22:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sarsgyan met Thursday
with participants of Come Home program implemented by the RA Ministry
of Diaspora.

He hailed the young people’s decision to visit their historic homeland.

"Diaspora is a bridge and Armenia’s richest resource. It’s Armenia’s
mouthpiece in other countries. Now we use only a part of the existing
potential but I am confident that our homeland will be stronger one
day and you will see it," the President said.

The program participants shared their impressions about Armenia. Most
of them said they wish to acquire Armenian citizenship.

ACTUAL REDUCTION OF ADDED VALUE IN CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIA TOWARDS END OF 2009 TO BE 40-50% – CENTRAL BANK

ARKA
July 30, 2009

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. The Central Bank of Armenia has revised
the forecast for such industries as construction and services,
which constitute a substantial share of the GDP, and lowered its
expectations.

Consequently, the actual reduction of added value in construction in
Armenia by the end of 2009 will be 40-50%.

As it was reported in the Program of the Monetary Policy of the CBA
in the 3rd quarter of 2009, this was going to happen despite the
gradual reduction in the rate of decline in construction conditioned
by financial support from the government.

In the first half of 2010, the downturn in the construction will
continue.

However, by the end of half-year there will be a positive growth
indicator.

The revision of the forecast is due to the expected reduction in
capital flows and incomes, as well as a significant decline in
residential construction.

According to CBA’s forecast, a zero real growth of added value is
expected in 2009.

However, in the first half of 2010, it is expected to restore the
services, with a real growth of 1-4%.

The CBA states that such predictions depend on specifying the
forecasted indicators of private and public consumption, which
affect both the volume of turnover and other volumes of the services
provided.

CIS COUNTRIES DEVELOP DRAFT CONCEPT OF COOPERATION IN CULTURE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.07.2009 19:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ CIS member states develop a draft concept of
cooperation in the sphere of culture. The document was reviewed by
an expert group at the meeting of July 28-29 in the CIS Executive
Committee in Minsk.

Representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan took part in
a meeting.

The Russian side mentioned that there is a need to finalize the
document, including the activities of the Council for Humanitarian
Cooperation, the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation
of CIS countries and the annual forum of creative and scientific
intelligentsia, expressing readiness to cooperate with Azerbaijani
counterparts. The finalized draft concept must be submitted to the
Board of the Commonwealth by November 20 this year, press service of
the CIS Executive Committee reports.

563 ORGANIZATIONS AND 605 INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING TAXI SERVICES OPERATE IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
July 29, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. There are currently 563 licensed
organizations with a total of 6,792 vehicles and 605 individuals
providing taxi services in Armenia. Spokeswoman for the RA Ministry of
Transport and Communication Susanna Tonoyan told NT correspondent that
in the period of November 2008 to July 2009, the ministry’s licensing
unit granted licences to 151 taxi service providing organizations with
2,309 vehicles. 605 private taxi service providers received licences
in the indicated period.

S. Tonoyan said that the number of applications filed by taxi service
organizations and individuals has considerably declined in recent
period.

According to her, in November 2008 the Ministry in cooperation with the
RA Police tightened control to prevent the illegal transportation of
passengers and regulate the licensing of taxi services. This process
is continuing.

It should be mentioned that under the amendments to the RA Law on
State Duty, the individuals providing taxi services must be obliged
to pay the full amount of taxes. They shall pay 25 thousand drams
(about 67 dollars) a year instead of the previous 200 thousand drams.

NEW STAMPS: ARMENIA – DOUBLE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD

armradio.am
29.07.2009 15:45

On the 29th of July, two new stamps dedicated to the theme "Armenia –
Double Champion of the World Chess Olympiad" were cancelled and put
into circulation in the House of Chess, Yerevan.

The official cancellation was made by Mr. Gurgen Sargsyan, Minister
of Transport and Communication of Armenia, Hovik Musayelyan, the
President of Armenian Philatelists’ Union and Mr. Arman Khachaturyan,
Acting General Director of Haypost CJSC.

Philatelic booklets, issued by Haypost and dedicated to Armenia’s
victories were also presented during the ceremony.

World Chess Olympiads have been taking place since 1927. Having entered
the Olympic contest in 1992, the Armenian team won bronze medals at the
very first attempt and repeated this success in 2002. In 2006 Turin and
2008 Drezden World Chess Olympiads the Armenian team won golden medals.

One of the stamps portrays 2008 Dresden Olympic Champion Armenian
Chess team and their coach, on the other one there are several chess
figures and the symbol of Drezden Olympic Games against the Armenian
flag. The stamps, designed by Albert Kechyan and Lusine Harutyunyan,
have nominal value of 70 and 280 AMD and 50 000 print run each.

RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN AND TURKISH YOUTH

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.07.2009 12:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On July 27, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakosyan, met representatives of Armenian and Turkish youth,
"Tolerance through cultural and educational dialogues" program
participants. The program is implemented by "The future is yours"
social organization with the assistance of US Embassy in RA and OSCE
Office in Yerevan.

The program aims at establishment of dialogue between Armenian and
Turkish youth, based on tolerance and democratic values.

Arman Kirakosyan briefed program participants on priorities of RA
external policy as well as Armenia’s relations with regional states. RA
Deputy Foreign Minister touched upon normalization of Armenian -Turkish
relations, as well as recent developments in NKR conflict settlement
process, RA Foreign Policy Department Press Service reported.

AZERBAIJANI-AMERICAN COUNCIL RELEASES STATEMENT ON ONGOING KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

Today.Az
s/54104.html
july 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani-American Council has released a statement on ongoing
Karabakh Peace Process.

"On July 17-18, 2009, within the framework of OSCE Minsk Group, the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held another round of meetings
in Moscow aimed at a peaceful resolution of the long-standing
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. On this occasion, the two main
Armenian-American organizations isssued statements expressing their
concern about the ongoing progress in the internationally-monitored
peace process between the two countries," the statement said.

"In a letter addressed on July 14, 2009 to President Obama, the
Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
Mr. Kenneth Khachikian, complained about the allegedly "undue and
unreasonable pressure being applied in a heavily-handed manner
upon Armenia by the [OSCE] Minsk Group Co-Chair countries to force
unilateral and dangerous concessions". Interpreting the 2008 campaign
pledge by President Obama, ANCA Chairman calls for the inclusion of the
so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the process of negotiations."

"Furthermore, on July 22, 2009, the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA)
issued a statement also calling for the inclusion of the so-called
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the negotiations, again reciting the
same campaign comments by President Obama, while indicating that
"the Assembly strongly supports the fundamental rights of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh".

"Back in January, 2008, speaking on the importance of U.S.-Armenia
relations, then-presidential candidate Barack Obama pledged to work
"for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict
that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America’s founding
commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination",
As Azerbaijani-Americans, we can’t agree more with these words of
President Obama that the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should
be acceptable to both the "principal" parties, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
as well as the "interested" parties, the Armenian and the Azerbaijani
communities of Nagorno-Karabakh. In fact, these definitions of
conflicting parties as well as the conditions for their engagement in
the peace process were already outlined in the "Baker Rules" proposed
in 1992 by the mission of the Commission for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (CSCE, OSCE Minsk group predecessor), led by then U.S.

Secretary of State, James Baker III, and were accepted by all parties."

"It is concerning, however, that while both Armenian-American
organizations claim to support "the fundamental rights of the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh", they deliberately omit the ethnic Azerbaijani
community, which prior to the conflict in 1988 comprised the third
of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and 99% of the population of
7 other surrounding regions of Azerbaijan, currently occupied by
Armenia as a "buffer zone". From 1991 till 1994, up to 800,000 ethnic
Azerbaijanis were subjected to a brutal ethnic cleansing campaign by
Armenian forces and a complete exodus from all of the above mentioned
regions. Hence claiming the rights of only one ethnic group of a
disputed region, third of the population of which is forced into exile
for over 16 years, is actually contrary to the very core American
founding values, quoted by ANCA and AAA in President Obama’s campaign
pledge. Self-determination is not an internationally accepted term
for justifying an ethnic cleansing and a denial of existence. In this
light, "the just cause of the Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh",
claimed to be pursued by the Armenian Assembly of America, cannot come
at the expense of infringing upon the human rights and the livelihood
of another ethnicity – Azerbaijanis."

"For the same reason, the calls by ANCA and AAA for the
participation of the "duly elected representatives" of the so-called
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the negotiation process, on equal
terms with the principal sides, are counter productive. Reputable
international institutions, such as the United Nations, the Council of
Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE, not to mention the
ethnic Azerbaijani constituents of Nagorno-Karabakh, unequivocally
called the "elections" orchestrated in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh
as well as "the elected officials" thereof as illegitimate, for a
simple reason – no elections can be recognized legitimate when the
third of constituents is stripped of their right to vote and live in
exile solely due to their ethnicity. Thus, no government can engage
in a dialog with an illegitimate "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", and the
only party with whom the leaders of Karabakh’s Armenian community
can and should speak on an equal basis are the leaders of region’s
exiled Azerbaijani community."

Azerbaijani-American Council continues to monitor the progress in
the ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh
and hopes for a final and lasting peace to be achieved in the nearest
future.