Author: Chakrian Hovsep

EXPERTS SAY KARABAKH TALKS CALMED DOWN AZERBAIJAN AND UPPED RUSSIA’S PRESTIGE
by Anastasia Kirilenko

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 7, 2008 Friday
Russia

RUSSIA PLAYED PEACEKEEPER IN THE MATTER OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT; Russia
brokered Azerbaijani-Armenian negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Aleksei Malashenko of the Moscow Carnegie Center said there were
two ways of looking at the talks between three presidents. To begin
with, the negotiations marked Russia’s undeniable success. "Seeing
Medvedev between Sargsjan and Aliyev was something without precedent,"
Malashenko said.

As for the settlement itself, the involved parties worked out five
clauses. "Practically all of them are vague," Malashenko said. "Clause
Four is particularly interesting, the one on non-use of weapons. It
is the fact of the talks that counts here. This is the first time
after the war with Georgia that Russia played a peacekeeper. Along
with everything else, Russia confirmed that the OSCE Minsk Group
exists and that Russia does not aspire to the right to make any
single-handed decisions because there is also France, United States,
and so on. It is a success of Russian diplomacy, particularly from
the standpoint of what we’ve been seeing since August."

As for the promises made by the first president of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosjan who said that the Karabakh conflict would be settled
inside of 2-3 months, Malashenko commented that no impending settlement
of the conflict should be counted on.

Aleksei Vlasov, Director of the Center for Studies of Sociopolitical
Processes in the post-Soviet zone, said it would be possible to
gauge efficiency of the talks when "preliminary agreements evolve
into something more fundamental and serious." "Matter of fact, nobody
expected from the first meeting any documents that would have become
a practical solution to the problem," Vlasov said.

The expert said that activization of Russia in the region stemmed from
several reasons: firstly, "Karabakh conflict settlement with Russian
involvement in whatever capacity will show the Russian leadership
capable of using diplomacy of words as effectively as it used strength
during the South Ossetian conflict."

The second factor comes down to Moscow’s reluctance to permit other
players to strengthen their positions in the region. "Russia’s
withdrawal from Karabakh conflict settlement might have persuaded
Azerbaijan to try and settle the matter by force. Or else, it
might have strengthened United States’ position as an arbiter and
broker of the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia," Vlasov
added. "Moreover, even Armenia that is known as Russia’s traditional
ally in the region is ready to advance cooperation with the United
States."

Last but not least comes understanding that latent conflicts are
dangerous. "The example of Abkhazia and South Ossetia plainly shows
that these conflicts stop being latent sooner or later," Vlasov
said. "The situation we have in the northern part of the Caucasus
would have affected its southern part, and the nature of this effect
would have been hard to predict."

LEADERS DISCUSS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

United Press International UPI
November 7, 2008 Friday 7:22 PM EST

The Minsk Group says recent talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan have
produced positive signs of progress over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
region.

The Minsk Group, created by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, says it now has cautious optimism after a recent
meeting in Moscow between officials from Armenia and Azerbaijan that
addressed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in full-scale war over the
semiautonomous Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan during the early
1990s. Despite a cease-fire agreement reached in 1994, the situation
over Nagorno-Karabakh remains tense.

Azerbaijan’s growing wealth from oil profits and a growing
investment in the country’s defense sector have prompted concerns
from the International Crisis Group about renewed violence. However,
Russia’s recent conflict with Georgia has given caution to Armenia
and Azerbaijan over trade and supply routes that run through Georgia.

Officials say the meeting in Moscow with top officials from Russia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan built up optimism about the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process.

"There are personal factors and objective factors in the
region that give reasons for some cautious optimism or realistic
optimism," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said
in a statement.

PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS INAUGURATES NEWLY BUILT LIMASSOL NAREG SCHOOL

Noyan Tapan

Nov 7, 2008

LIMASSOL, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. On November,
the newly built Armenian Nareg school was solemnly opened in the city
of Limassol, Cyprus. According to Gibrahayer e-magazine, Nareg school
was inaugurated by President of the Republic Demetris Christofias.

ABOUT 60 PACKAGES OF PROPOSALS DEVELOPED AS RESULT OF PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS OF 2009 DRAFT STATE BUDGAT AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO BE SUBMITTED TO GOVERNMENT

Noyan Tapan

Nov 7, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. By November 6, the RA National
Assembly standing committees, factions and deputies presented about
60 packages of written proposals developed as a result of preliminary
discussions of the 2009 draft state budget of the RA. The National
Assembly staff will submit these packages to the government on November
7. It is envisaged putting the draft state budget on the agenda of the
NA plenary sittings on November 10-13, NT correspondent was informed
by Tatul Soghomonian, the head of the NA department for legislative
activity – the chief of the staff.

As in the previous years, the majority of deputies’ proposals are
related to changes envisaging additional financing for the budgetary
items of expenditure. In particular, at its November 4 sitting, the NA
Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public Issues decided
to propose that the government should increase the budget-envisaged
expenditures on maintenance of the Ombudsman staff by 50%. The Standing
Committee on Health Care Issues proposed allocating additional 549 mln
drams to the child’s health care sector, about 41 mln drams to the
School of Endoscopic Surgery, 42 mln drams – for repairs of "Grace"
International Rehabilitation Center of the Armenian Red Cross Company,
and 18 mln drams to the Hematologic Center after Professor Yolian.

MOSCOW SUMMIT ON KARABAKH FALLS SHORT OF KREMLIN’S GOALS
By Vladimir Socor

Eurasia Daily Monitor
Nov 4 2008
DC

Presidents Dmitry Medvedev of Russia, Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan,
and Serge Sarkisian of Armenia met on November 2 near Moscow to
discuss the current state of negotiations on the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict. With those negotiations moving slowly forward at several
levels and on their own momentum, Medvedev initiated this summit
hoping to lift Russia into the driver’s seat of the process.

The Kremlin hoped to capitalize on the political effects of its
recent invasion of Georgia and seizure of that country’s territories
through military occupation and diplomatic "recognition." The Georgia
crisis served to demonstrate that Russia can and does act decisively,
brutally, and with impunity in the South Caucasus, while the United
States was drifting toward strategic disengagement and the European
Union failed to fill the vacuum. The moment seemed ripe for Russia to
display "regional leadership" by taking the initiative in negotiations
to settle the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Moscow also hoped to display a capacity for conflict resolution
through diplomacy, not just through force. One major goal of this
exercise in diplomacy, however, is to deploy Russian troops in this
conflict theater as "peacekeepers" or "guarantors" at some stage of
the settlement.

The summit’s only apparent result, however, was a joint declaration
that fell clearly short of Moscow’s goals (, Arminfo,
, November 3, 4). The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
first held a two-hour, face-to-face session and were then joined
by Medvedev for finalizing the declaration. Signed by the three
presidents in front of TV cameras, then read out to the media by
Medvedev, the five-point declaration does not commit the signatory
parties to any specific approaches or actions within the continuing
negotiating process. If the Kremlin wished to show "forward movement"
after hosting this summit, its hopes were in vain.

The declaration’s preamble underscores the continuity of direct
dialogue between the two countries with the mediation of the three
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs (Russia, the United States, and France).

Point 1 envisages a "political settlement of the conflict based on
the principles and norms of international law." This, however, neither
resolves nor circumvents the dilemma between territorial integrity of
states and the inviolability of internationally recognized borders
on one hand and national self-determination on the other hand. This
dilemma has been created and maintained artificially on the Armenian
side as a means to freeze the post-1994 situation, with Azerbaijani
territories occupied and the Azeri population forced out.

Point 2 reaffirms support for the ongoing and future mediation by
the OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chairs, "taking into consideration their
meeting with the parties on November 29, 2007." The reference is to
the three co-chairs’ joint proposals presented during the OSCE’s
2007 year-end ministerial conference in Madrid. The Armenian side
interprets that document as elevating the national self-determination
principle to the same level as territorial integrity and inviolability
of borders. Yerevan therefore prefers to cite "the Madrid principles"
as a point of departure for further negotiations. Azerbaijan, however,
argues for the primacy of the territorial integrity principle in OSCE
and other international documents of normative character. The Moscow
declaration downgrades the significance of Madrid to a mere "meeting,"
not principles and not even a document for further reference. This
undoubtedly comes as a disappointment for Yerevan.

Point 3 stipulates that the "peaceful resolution should be accompanied
by legally binding international guarantees in all aspects and stages
of settlement." Russia and Armenia insist on such guarantees: Yerevan
refers to the security of the Armenian population of Upper Karabakh
while Moscow needs an excuse for deploying Russian "peacekeeping"
or "guarantor" troops. For its part, Azerbaijan does not oppose
international guarantees but does insist that any such guarantees be
in line with Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Point 4 records Azerbaijan’s and Armenia’s intention to continue
their efforts for a political settlement of the conflict, at the
level of the presidents and ministries of foreign affairs, and through
cooperation with the OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chairs.

Point 5 "emphasize[s] the importance of creating conditions that will
contribute to the consolidation of trust, within the framework of
efforts aimed at settling the conflict." However vague, this point
clearly does not imply that Azerbaijan ought to agree to Armenia’s
inclusion in regional energy and transport projects in order to
facilitate the resolution of the conflict.

During the last few years, the European Union and even the United
States have attempted to persuade Azerbaijan to include Armenia
in regional projects before the Armenian forces withdraw from
occupied territories, presumably in order to advance efforts
for peace. Ideologically, this argument is a late legacy of the
classical liberal belief that trade in and of itself promotes
peace ("pipelines for peace" is a latter-day incarnation of that
belief). On a more mundane level, that argument reflects the influence
of political lobbies in Brussels and Washington, which has resulted in
withholding funds from projects of Western interest in Western-oriented
Azerbaijan. For its part, Azerbaijan is open to such cooperation with
Armenia after the Armenian forces vacate the occupied territories
and the refugees are free to return home.

REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA AND PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES OF FURTHER COOPERATION

ArmInfo
2008-11-04 17:03:00

ArmInfo. At the invitation of Li Changchun, a member of the Standing
Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) Central Committee, Leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PA)
Gagik Tsarukyan has paid a visit to China.

As Naira Zohrabyan, an MP from the PA parliamentary faction, told
ArmInfo correspondent, during a meeting Tsarukyan and Changchun
discussed the possibilities of cooperation between PA and CPC. "In
addition, the meting covered economical issues", Zohrabyan said. For
his part, Tsarukyan invited Changchun to Armenia. Tsarukyan will
return to Yerevan on November 7.

WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 29, 2008 Wednesday

TACTICAL EXERCISE WITH SHOOTING PRACTICE ELEMENTS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

"Nagorno-Karabakh has always stood for a peaceful settlement, as long
as its independence and security are ensured," Karabakh President Bako
Saakjan said when the tactical exercise with shooting practice
elements ended.

"We are ready for negotiations with Azerbaijan without any preliminary
conditions. All delays are attributed to denial of the status of a
fully-fledged concerned party to Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian people
paid a dear price for this freedom and independence. We cannot be
expected to compromise our independence and security," Saakjan said.

Saakjan was pleased by the performance of the military.

"The Karabakh Armed Forces once again demonstrated their combat
readiness and prowess. We were shown once again that what actions we
saw today will be applied whenever Azerbaijan turned aggressive," the
president said.

Saakjan said that of the necessity arose, the Karabakh army would take
the war to Azerbaijan itself.

Source: News – Armenia (Yerevan), October 27, 2008

Panorama.am

18:42 31/10/2008

RUSSIAN FEDERATION-NATO RELATIONSHIP DISCUSSIONS IN BRUSSELS

On October 28 Samvel Lazarian, the head of NATO Mission to Armenia
took part in round table discussion on Russia and NATO relationship
organized by EastWest Institute in Brussels.

The speaker of the discussion was Radoslova Stefanova the deputy
director of NATO Russian and Ukraine relations department. Diplomats,
representatives of analytical centers and mass media were present at
the discussion.

The participants discussed Russian Federation and NATO relationship,
its present stage, Russian-Georgian conflict and its aftermath. They
mentioned that appropriate steps should be taken to regulate the
situation.

Source: Panorama.am

AMD 37.6 million support from VivaCell-MTS for installation of local
heating system in a secondary school of Mrgashat village of Armavir
marz

2008-11-01 11:14:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (NYSE:
MBT), announces the completion of the heating system installation works
in the secondary school No. 1 of Mrgashat illage, Armavir region
(marz), for which the company provided AMD 37.6 million. The
schoolchildren of Mrgashat village now will be able to attend school
even in wintertime and will overcome unpleasant experience from cold
classrooms. In 1885 in Mrgashat village, then called Gechrlu, parish
school was founded. It had only 4 classrooms, 6 teachers and 150
schoolchildren. Today the school No. 1 after Vardges Apoyan has 339
schoolchildren. The 123-year old school has brought up many famous
figures in sports and science

The school with rich educational and teaching traditions did not have a
heating system resulting in long-lasting breaks in the studying process
during wintertime. And that triggered VivaCell-MTS sense of
responsibility as a corporate citizen paying huge attention to
education, the Company decided to stretch out hand of help to the
biggest school of Mrgashat village by donating AMD 37.6 million to
install a local heating system including a boiling-house and a gas
pipeline. "We are a corporate citizen and we think about our future for
the years ahead. And the priorities are the education o f young
generations. If today there are no proper conditions to provide quality
education for children, tomorrow we will hardly have scientists,
constructors, and art workers or other professionals in their
respective spheres", – VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian
noted during the opening.

A new stage is starting today for the 123-years old school, which today
is experiencing a new beginning. And it is warmer and more comfortable
as a result of a responsible attitude toward the younger generation.

More and more, another important event took place in the village of
Shenik, Armavir region (marz). The village is situated in a zone
vulnerable to the threat of hail and crops are under the threat of
amage. As an outcome of VivaCell-MTS contribution of amount AMD 36 mln
were equal to Zenit anti-hail acoustic remote controlled 3 systems.
There are other technical solutions to fight against this natural
factor in Armavir marz but this anti-hail system is the only to work
with 3 chains, making it possible to protect villages located 10 km far
from the location. From now on, Shenik and close villages, being high
frequency of hails, have nothing to worry for harvest.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is the leading Armenian mobile operator,
providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its launch on
1st July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS
has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer
base. VivaCell – MTS drives the development and offering of innovative
mobile communications products, services and features in the Armenian
mobile communications market. For more information, visit

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator in
Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company
services over 85.68 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well
as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in which
MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM
services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since June
2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(ticker symbol MBT).

WIDE RANGE OF ARMENIAN-BRITISH, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
Oct 28, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian kicked off his visit to the United Kingdom on October 27.

Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that during the meeting
with the Foreign Secretary of Great Britain and State Cooperation
Secretary David Miliband they discussed a wide range of bilateral,
regional and international issues.

Armenian foreign minister said that Armenia greatly underscores the
development of cooperation with Great Britain and expressed readiness
of Armenia in doing it.

E. Nalbandian noted that Armenian-British dialogue and trade-economic
relations have a serious potential for development and one of the
important issues of cooperation between the two countries is the
activation of Armenian-British relations.

E. Nalbandian and D. Miliband discussed also the issues on regulation
of regional conflicts. In this pre-context Nalbandian presented
Armenia’s position in Karabakh conflict regulation issue and expressed
hope that in case of displaying relevant political will it will be
possible to reach regulation of the issue.

With the request of Miliband, Nalbandian presented the opportunities
of regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations, pointing out that the
goal of the process started by Armenia is the complete regulation of
relations between the two countries.

During the meeting with the British Minister on European Affairs
Caroline Flint, the sides discussed Armenia-EU cooperation, and
particularly the pace of implementation of EU’s Neighborhood Policy’s
Action program, bilateral cooperation between Armenia and Great
Britain within the framework of EU Neighborhood policy.

The two ministers also referred to the regional issues and prospects
of regulation of regional conflicts.

On the same day Armenian foreign minister visited House of Lords
where he met with the members of Armenian friendship group.

Nalbandian is also expected to deliver speech in Royal Institute
of International Relations, give interview to "BBC" radio station,
meet with the representatives of British Armenian community as well
as with the special representative of the United Kingdom’s government
in South Caucasus Bryan Foll.