Author: Chavushian

ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS UNCOORDINATED POINTS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN

2007-11-29 17:35:00

ArmInfo. Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vardan
Oskanyan and Elmar Mamedyarov, discussed the uncoordinated points
on the negotiation process with OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen, Press
Secretary of Armenian Foreign Minister Vladimir Karapetyan told
ArmInfo’s special correspondent.

He said the meeting took place late in the evening at supper. The
parties discussed the issues connected with the documents
submitted to the Council of Ministers and the points regarding the
settlement of conflicts within the frames of the Council of Ministers
Declaration. Moreover, the parties discussed the uncoordinated points
in the negotiations for settlement of Karabakh conflict.

OSCE URGES AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA TO FULFIL PEACEFUL AGREEMENT WITHOUT DELAY

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 30 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. K.Ramazanova / The OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs regulating the Nagorno-Krabakh conflict called on Azerbaijan
and Armenia to fulfil the peace agreement without delay.

It was noted in the joint statement of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs
during the meeting in Madrid with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia
and Azerebaijan.

During the meeting of the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov and the Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary of United
State Matthew Bryza, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and
the United States State Secretary Assistant on International Issues
Nicolas Bern submitted the written proposals on the regulation of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to Azerbaijan and Armenia. The document
includes 10 proposals, which have been discussed by both countries
during the last three years.

Both parties were strongly urged to bring to a close the current
stage of negotiations by endorsing the proposed Basic Principles and
to draft, as soon as possible, a comprehensive Peace Agreement."

It was noted that over the last three years of talks that both
countries had significantly narrowed their differences through the
mediation of the Co-Chairs and that only a few discrepancies remained
to be settled. As noted by the representatives of the three Co-Chair
countries, the joint proposal that was passed on to the parties
included fair and constructive solutions to these last remaining
differences.

ARMENIA ALLOCATE RUSSIAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND CANNOT BLAME AZERBAIJAN IN VIOLATION OF DOVSE – AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION’S DEPARTMENT HEAD

TREND Information
Nov 30 2007
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. S.Agayeva / The official Baku called
fiction and lie the statements by Armenian officials about Azerbaijan
exceeds the armament limit.

"Armenia allocates the Russian military equipment in its territory,
but cannot blame Azerbaijan in violation of the DOVSE agreement,"
Novruz Mammadov, the head of the Department on International Relations
of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, said to the Trend
agency on 30 November.

During the annual meeting of the OSCE Council of Ministers in Madrid,
the Armenian Defense Minister Vardan Oskanian accused Azerbaijan
of exceeding armament limits. The Azerbaijani Defense Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov replied that the statements made by Oskanian were
unfounded.

The DOVSE agreement was signed in Paris on19 November 1990 and came
into force from 9 November 1992. Azerbaijan joined the agreement
after gaining independence after collapse of the Soviet Union.

DOVSE is directed to provide security and stability in military forces
of Europe, abolish inequality, which cause damage to stability and
security, as well as prevent attack or launch of large-scale attacks
to Europe

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

Armenia allocated armaments in Nagorno-Karabakh as many as in the
territory of the country.

"Azerbaijan did not undertake steps which violate the DOVSE agreement,
and international organizations did not submitted the claims on
the issue," Eldar Sabiroglu, the head of the Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry’s press-service reported to Trend agency. Ratifying the
agreement Azerbaijan and Armenia assumed obligations that the quantity
of armaments of the both countries to be one the same level.

However, the population of Azerbaijan exceeds the number of
Armenians. We fulfill our obligations featly," Sabiroglu said. "
Armenia purchases armament from Russia and China for recent years.

Armenia charges Azerbaijan in order to draw the attention of
international communities away Armenia," Useir Jafarov, an independent
expert of Azerbaijan, said.

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Nov 30 2007

THE NEW OPTION

The new option of the issues not agreed upon, in the document on
the regulation of Karabakh conflict, represented to the negotiating
parties, by OSCE Co- Chairs, is noteworthy with its concrete
formulation. This is the evaluation given by Vardan Oskanyan, after
his meeting with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister with the
participation of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs – Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kushner, and
the US Undersecretary of State Nicolas Burns.
`The meeting with that staff was an important event, but we
shouldn’t exaggerate its meaning. NKR negotiations are in an
interesting stage. And it is noteworthy that the Co-Chairs have
handed over a new version of the issues not agreed upon in the
document on NKR negotiation table to the Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign Ministers.’ V. Oskanyan said.

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 30 2007

MINISTERS OF JUSTICE OF ARMENIA AND NKR SIGNED MEMORANDUM

Today the ministries of Armenia and NKR signed a memorandum in
Stepanakert which the ministers say will mark the beginning of
cooperation. In the meeting of the representatives of both ministries
the NKR minister of justice Arthur Mosiyan said during the two-day
working visit of the Armenian ministry of justice they will be
discussing cooperation.

The Armenian minister of justice Gevorg Danielyan emphasized the
points of the memorandum that refer to the legislation. `This is
going to be the first step, and naturally cooperation will not be
confined to this because we also focus on training and improvement of
qualification of specialists,’ Gevorg Danielyan said in a briefing,
adding that during the training of specialists the legislative
differences will be taken into account, which will help improve
collaboration.

According to the Armenian minister of justice, the memorandum signed
by the two ministries also refers to annual cooperation, as well as
involves short-term projects for the solution of urgent problems.
According to him, they will first of all get down to the solution of
urgent issues relating to the improvement of legislation.

According to the NKR minister of justice, the problems are many, `and
it takes will to solve them in a short period.’

OSCE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS CALLED THE PARTIES

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Dec 1 2007
Armenia

OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers called Armenia and Azerbaijan to
approve the conception of the regulation of Karabakh conflict and
to set about the elaboration of a universal peace-agreement. They
mentioned this in the announcement of the Council regarding Nagorno
Karabakh that has been adopted by Madrid Session.

It is also mentioned in the announcement that OSCE Council of Foreign
Ministers protects the mediating efforts of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
and the elaboration of the peaceful regulation of the conflict together
with the negotiating parties.

"We resolutely challenge the two parties to overcome the remaining
disagreements, thus approving the general conception of the regulation
and based on all this to set about the elaboration of a universal
peace-agreement," the announcement ran.

"BRIDGE" FIFTH INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON FEB 15-18 2008

ARKA News Agency
Nov 15 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, November 15. /ARKA/. "Bridge" fifth international economic
forum is to be held in Armenian resort town Tsakhkadzor on February
15-18 2008.

Delegations from Europe and Asia with both businessmen and officials
are to arrive in Armenia to participate in the forum, the Center
of International Integration "Master" reported. Armenia will be
represented by over 200 businessmen and state officials.

The main topic to be discussed at the plenary session is "International
economic cooperation: priorities, trends and opportunities". Apart
from the following reports will be made by: "Banks and credit
organizations. Improving competitiveness of enterprises" – by Central
Bank of Armenia, "Small and medium business. Preconditions required
for development" – by Armenia’s Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
(Employers), "Construction industry.

Characteristics of processes and methods. Development outlooks" –
by Union of Constructors of Armenia, "IT society: present and future.

Strategy of development of information-communication technologies" –
by Association of IT Companies and "Transport and logistics. Problems
and Prospects" – by Association of Armenian Freight Forwarders.

During the forum conferences are to be held on investment
attractiveness of the region and the trade-industrial and investment
potential of Moscow and cooperation opportunities.

"The main objective of the forum is to familiarize business and
political circles of the West and Middle East with the economic
potential of Armenia, as well as to discuss most important political
and economic problems in non-formal atmosphere and develop a joint
action tactics to achieve economic and social progress," the "Master"
Center said.

The fifth International economic forum "Bridge 2008" is organized by
the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia
and the Center of Support to International Integration "Master"
with official assistance of Armenia’s Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central Bank of Armenia
and Armenian Development Agency.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

AGBU Toronto Stages "The Hired Killer" by Aramazd Stepanian

On October 18-21, 2007, AGBU Toronto hosted "The Hired Killer," a play
in two acts, which was directed by Varazh Stephen and performed for a
combined audience of 150 individuals at the AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural
Center in Toronto, Canada.

Originally a short play by Gagik-Sarkis Karapetian, this expanded
version of "The Hired Killer" was written in English by Aramazd
Stepanian, a prominent figure in the Armenian theatre scene in Los
Angeles, CA. The story, which is set in the newly independent Armenia
during the 1990’s, is about a professional assassin engaging in an
intense and, at times, humorous diatribe with his victim. Serious themes
are examined, roles reversed, and assumptions challenged. The
production’s director, Varazh Stephen, has studied acting and directing
in England and Armenia, and this is the latest in a long string of plays
he has produced for AGBU Toronto.

The cast and crew for the production included actors Matius Adamian,
Ninet Alexandrian, Kevork Arslanian, and Varazh Stephen, music and
lighting designer Armo Grigorian, stage manager Goharik Mirzaian and
duduk performer Jivan Stepanian.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide chapters, please visit

KIA INCREASES THE SALES IN ARMENIA

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Nov 13 2007

Yerevan, November 13 /Mediamax/. The sales of the KIA cars increase
in Armenia.

As Mediamax was told in the EMC Company, the sales of KIA in Armenia
have positive dynamics in 2007.

The company started the supply of KIA to Armenia in August of 2006,
and in the course of 10 months of the current year, sold over 120 cars,
70% of which on credit.

As the Deputy Director of EMC Ararat Mardoyan informed, the interest
for the KIA trademark in Armenia is steadily growing, since the
consumers are getting more interest in cars, which win in the
price-quality ratio.

KIA Sportage model is the most popular in Armenia among the KIA car
models. 25% of the whole volume of sales falls on the share of this
model. Sorento model also preserves stable popularity as it also has
winning positions in the price-quality ratio.

Taking into consideration the heavy traffic of Yerevan, very popular
is the midget Picanto model among the corporative customers.

In 2008, the EMC will present in the Armenian market the renovated
Picanto and Sorento models. The company also plans to surprise the
consumers for New Year Holidays.

EMC Company provides a guarantee of 50.000 km ride or two years of
operation for all the models of KIA in Armenia.

A THOUGHT-PROVOKING LOVE STORY WITH DARKER ISSUES
Zena Hawley

Derby Evening Telegraph
November 7, 2007 Wednesday

This production of Beast on the Moon was given the nod of approval
by no less a person than its writer last night.

American playwright Richard Kalinoski, along with most of the
audience, appeared to thoroughly enjoy this intriguing look at a
couple’s relationship.

Set against the dispersal and genocide of Armenians by the Turks in the
early 20th century, the story follows the fortunes of Seta and Aram.

We first meet the couple when Aram takes Seta to his home in the USA
as a child bride of 15.

The strong feeling of family continuation is a major theme in the
play and, as it becomes increasingly obvious that the couple will
bear no children, the tensions grow.

In a style reminiscent of Harold Pinter, the couple, played beautifully
by Karine Bedrossian and Youssef Kerkour, command the stage throughout.

The long pauses and inaction serve to heighten the tension that
gradually mounts throughout the first half.

This starts to break when a young boy, Vincent, played by adult Paul
Greenwood for reasons that become obvious, enters their lives.

Despite Aram’s reluctance to acknowledge his presence, the boy
acts as a catalyst that helps bring the play to a conclusion and an
acknowledgement of the truth by Aram.

Aram wants to create the picture-perfect family – in line with his
job as a photographer – and symbolically he has cut the heads of
members of his family in an old photograph.

He wants to replace these with his own family but life is never
that easy.

Kalinoski, who has won several prizes for the play, written more than
10 years ago, has created wonderfully life-like characters that you
really care about.

Karine Bedrossian’s portrayal of Seta is delightful, comic at times,
and also very moving.

Aram’s bluff old-style ways appear as a complete antithesis of her,
but in the final analysis are they so very far apart?

Speaking before the performance, Kalinoski said that he wanted the
audience to appreciate the compromise in this relationship, and
perhaps others in the process.

Certainly this worked and although the Beast on the Moon can be
classed as a love story, it also contains much darker issues.

It is a thought-provoking piece that has much to say and even more
on which to ponder long after the final curtain.