Author: Chavushian

NKR PAID HOMAGE TO VICTIMS OF SPITAK EARTHQUAKE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2008-12-08 13:15
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The 20th anniversary of Spitak earthquake was observed in the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.

The NKR authorities, at the head of President Bako Sahakyan, the
National Assembly deputies, the republic’s government members,
representatives of the NKR Defense Army command, as well as the
staffs of establishments, departments, organizations and educational
institutions visited the Stepanakert Memorial Complex to lay flowers
and wreathes on the memorial to the victims of the earthquake.

A church service for the dead was held in St. Ghazanchetsots church
of Shushi by the spiritual servants of the Artsakh Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church.

"Today not only Artsakh shares the bitterness of the tragedy,
happened 20 years ago. The whole civilized world shared that sorrow
with us. The tragedy happened in the hottest period of the Nagorno
Karabakh liberation movement. Due to our unbending will and unity we
managed to some extent overcome the tragedy. The only way to hold
the victims in remembrance is to strengthen our homeland – Artsakh
and Armenia", NKR President Bako Sahakyan noted.

WON’T WORK WITHOUT KARABAKH

Azat Artsakh Daily
06 Dec 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

"I don’t think Karabakh conflict will soon be settled. The Ministers
also didn’t mention this in Helsinki," MP of RF State Duma, political
scientist Konstantin Zatulin announced yesterday.

He expressed surprise regarding the announcement made recently
by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev saying that the military
settlement of the conflict is not excluded: "We are not naïve, we do
understand that peace is much more serious than simply signing under
the agreement. But anyway Azerbaijan has shouldered the obligation
of solving the issue peacefully. The same is about Armenia. And this
is very important.

Zatulin is sure that: "without Nagorno Karabakh, without the will
of the people of Karabakh, no one can decide the fate of Nagorno
Karabakh."

–Boundary_(ID_r350l83Ik6 Zvoj37e7cing)–

Le plan de relance de Sarkozy, toujours très critiqué
LeMonde.fr avec Reuters | 06.12.08 | 18h25 . Mis à jour le 06.12.08 | 18h26

rticle/2008/12/06/le-plan-de-relance-de-sarkozy-to ujours-tres-critique_1127912_1101386.html

Deux jours après l’annonce à Douai par Nicolas Sarkozy d’un plan de relance de
26 milliards d’euros, les critiques ne faiblissent pas. Alors que le plan est
centré sur l’investissement, membres de l’opposition et économistes soulignent
l’absence de mesures fortes de soutien à la consommation, moteur de la
croissance française et nombreux sont ceux qui jugent les sommes débloquées
trop faibles pour relancer l’économie.

Martine Aubry, premier secrétaire du Parti socialiste, a fustigé samedi un
"recyclage de crédits maintes fois annoncés" et des "veilles recettes éculées".

"Ce plan n’a rien d’un plan de relance à la hauteur de la crise, alors que 40
milliards d’euros ont été donnés aux banques", a dit l’ancienne ministre de
l’Emploi à la tribune du Conseil national du PS.

Le président du Mouvement démocrate, François Bayrou, juge lui aussi que le
plan placé sous la responsabilité de Patrick Devedjian n’est pas à la
hauteur de la situation. "Quand j’analyse le plan, je ne vois que 4
milliards d’euros d’investissements publics véritablement nouveaux", dit-il
dans un entretien publié samedi dans La Tribune. "On est loin du seuil
critique d’une action publique. Cela ne suffira donc pas à faire repartir
une machine économique profondément encalminée", explique l’ex-candidat
centriste à l’élection présidentielle. "Je n’envisage pas aujourd’hui de
l’approuver", a déclaré M. Bayrou à l’issue d’un conseil national du MoDem,
alors que le texte doit être examiné en janvier à l’Assemblée.

"IL FAUT ESPÉRER UN DEUXIÈME PLAN"
Selon un sondage OpinionWay pour Le Figaro, les Français ont pourtant bien
accueilli les mesures de relance, 61 % estimant qu’elles "sont de nature à
limiter les effets de la crise en France", 38 % jugeant le contraire. Mais
pour le directeur du département analyse et prévision de l’OFCE, Xavier
Timbaud, "le plan est insuffisant pour ramener la confiance : il manque des
éléments forts pour encourager la demande". "Il faut espérer un deuxième
plan, concerté et mis en oeuvre cette fois avec nos partenaires européens",
déclare-t-il dans les colonnes du Figaro.

Economiste chez Barclays Capital, Laurence Boone salue un plan "nécessaire"
mais "doute qu’il soit à la hauteur de la récession qui se dessine". "Les
mesures annoncées ne sont pas mauvaises en soi", déclare-t-elle dans un
entretien à La Tribune. "Mais leur impact sera limité à court terme et il
n’est pas sûr qu’elles redonnent confiance aux ménages ou qu’elles fassent
repartir l’investissement".

DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON REFERENDUM POSTPONED UNTIL NA SESSION TO BE CONVENED BY LATE 2008

Noyan Tapan

Dec 4, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian parliament on December 4
finished the work of the autumn sessions, not completing the discussion
of the bill on provision of tax privileges to land tax payers from
land plots of agricultural importance. A number of urgent issues on
the agenda, including the bill on making amendments and additions to
the Law on Referendum in second reading, were not discussed because
of lack of time.

According to National Assembly deputies, these issues will be discussed
at a special session to be convened by late 2008.

FMS OF ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AGREE TO CONTINUE TALKS WITH MEDIATION OF THE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

armradio.am
04.12.2008 10:43

The 16th sitting of the OSCE Ministerial Council is starting in
Helsinki today. 1 200 Foreign Ministers and delegates from 50 countries
will participate in the sitting.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of today’s start of the Ministerial
Council, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Stubb said
the 2008 Finnish OSCE Chairmanship and the Helsinki meeting were not
"business as usual."

"For the first time in the history of the OSCE we have 50 ministers
present here," he said, adding that the importance of the meeting
was also evidenced by the 67 delegations, more than 1,200 delegates
and 300 accredited journalists who are scheduled to attend. "I am
looking forward to an eventful, exciting foreign ministers’ meeting
here in Helsinki."

Chairmanship will seek agreement on two regional declarations,
on Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdniestria, as well as on a dozen OSCE
decisions on a range of topics. Stubb said he was hopeful for progress
on a declaration on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Issues related to eth settlement of the Artsakh issue were discussed
during yesterday’s meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia
and Azerbaijan Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov in presence
of the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Offic e. According to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, the parties stressed the
importance of maintaining the positive atmosphere established as a
result of the meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in
Saint Petersburg on June 6 and the constructive talks in Moscow on
November 2, as well as continuing the negotiations with the support
of the mediators to bring the positions of the parties closer and
resolve the issue in a peaceful way.

EARTHQUAKE NOT PREDICTED

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
02 Dec 08
Armenia

The rumors circulated recently according to which earthquake awaits
Armenia, don’t coincide with the reality.

This panic, according to the Chief of the National Service of Seismic
Protection Alvaro Antonyan, was spread after the speech delivered
by the specialist of the National Academy of Sciences, who said that
according to the data of their radiometers, the volume of radon gas
exceeded the norm on the earth’s crust, which is considered a symptom
of seismic events.

"Almost every year this time they spread similar rumors. It is
natural because the day of Spitak earthquake is near and people start
discussing that topic. Over again they remember those days and make
different commentaries.

We have more than 20 radiometer stations according to which no
anomalies are expected, we assess the situation based on those
radiometers," A. Antonyan added.

COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN CULTURE MINISTRIES OF ARMENIA AND UKRAINE

Noyan Tapan

Dec 3, 2008

ODESSA, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the solemn
events of opening an Armenian Culture Center in Odessa, on November
30, RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosian and Minister of Culture
and Tourism of the Ukraine Vasily Vovkun signed an Agreement On
2008-2012 Cooperation between the RA Ministry of Culture and the
Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, the agreement will ensure
proper legal field for further many-sided cultural cooperation between
the two countries.

HRANUSH HAKOBIAN: MONK HAS NO BUSINESS TO JEOPARDIZE ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2008 13:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian state structures should interfere to decide
the fate of Armenian churches in Georgia. This is a common case,
the RA Minister of Diaspora Affairs said.

"We should understand that the Armenian-Georgian friendly relations are
very important for us. We do understand that this problem can damage
our relations. But all should remember that a monk has no business
to jeopardize them," Hranush Hakobian told a news conference today.

Condemning acts of vandalism, she emphasized that Armenia should to
protest encroachment on the Armenian cultural heritage and interact
with international structures dealing with the problem.

On November 16, Georgian monk Tariel Sikinchelashvili instructed
workers to raze to the ground the graves of Mikhail and Lidia
Tamamshevs.

This barbarian act outraged Armenians, who demanded to let the graves
in their place. However, Father Tariel responded with harsh statements.

Upon arrival of representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church and
parliament member Van Bayburt, the Georgian monk said he just wanted
to replace the gravestones to "clean under them."

NORMALIZATION OF TURKISH-ARMENIA RELATIONS TO HELP NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Hurriyet
Dec 1 2008
Turkey

The normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations would help to resolve
the longstanding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said during a visit to
Baku. (UPDATED)

"The normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations would have a positive
impact on the Azerbaijan-Armenia talks over Nagorno-Karabakh," he
was quoted by AFP as saying at a press conference following his talks
with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.

The Turkish foreign minister said problems should be solved through
diplomacy and peaceful means.

"Some of the territories of Azerbaijan are under the occupation of
Armenia, which is an important problem that needs to be solved,"
the Anatolian Agency quoted him as saying.

"Our goal is not to leave a problem to future generations, but to
leave a better and more prosperous Caucasus that lives in peace and
order," he said.

Babacan said that it was difficult to ensure real peace and stability
in the Caucasus as long as problems were not solved. "A real welfare
can be ensured after real peace and stability are assured," he said.

He added Turkey would always stand by Azerbaijan in the region.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and their border has
been closed for more than a decade over Armenia’s aggression over
Azerbaijan.

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began in 1988 on Armenian
territorial claims over Azerbaijan. Since 1992 Armenian Armed Forces
have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts.

Some 10 percent of the Azeri population was displaced due to a
series of bloody clashes both between and within the two neighboring
countries.

In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group are currently holding peaceful negotiations.

Mammadyarov told the conference that Babacan and he agreed to continue
talks on Turkey’s proposal to set up a platform on stability and
cooperation in the Caucasus.

Babacan also met Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Oktay Esadov and
President Ilham Aliyev. He is scheduled to also have a meeting with
Prime Minister Artur Rasizade.

Babacan’s visit came amid a push by Turkey for more influence in the
volatile Caucasus region after a bloody conflict between Russia and
Georgia in August.

After the conflict, Ankara proposed creating a new forum for
cooperation in the region, which Babacan called for regional
governments to support.

"All the countries of the region must sit at the bargaining table,"
he said.

But Azerbaijani media and some officials have raised concerns that
Ankara’s recent overtures to Yerevan could see it re-open the border
and lift its embargo, easing international pressure on Armenia to give
up control of Karabakh and other territories seized from Azerbaijan,
AFP reported.

HELSINKI MEETINGS Babacan said that he would meet Azerbaijani and
Armenian foreign ministers in Helsinki at a meeting of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) this week.

Before his departure for Azerbaijan late Sunday, Babacan told reporters
in Ankara that he would hold talks in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku and
then proceed to Brussels for a NATO ministerial meeting.

The Turkish foreign minister said he would later travel to Finland’s
capital Helsinki for a meeting of the OSCE from Brussels.

"There is an ongoing process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. And also
there is a parallel process between Turkey and Armenia," Babacan was
quoted by Anatolian Agency as saying.

"Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers will come together on the
sidelines of an OSCE meeting together with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,"
he added.

"Following this meeting, I will have separate meetings with the two
ministers," he also said.

Babacan is expected to discuss crucial issues, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the normalization of relations between
Turkey and Armenia with his Azeri and Armenian counterparts.

The Turkish foreign minister also said there was no date set for a
tripartite meeting of the ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

TURKEY’S POWERPLAY: BRIDGING THE WEST AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Washington Post
/needtoknow/2008/12/turkeys_powerplay_bridging_eur .html
Dec 1 2008

One of the most dramatic celebrations of Barack Obama’s election as
president took place neither in Obama’s ancestral village Nyangoma
Kogelo, Kenya nor in Chicago, Illinois but in the Turkish village of
Cavustepe near the Turkish-Iranian border. The villagers sacrificed
44 sheep in honor of Mr. Obama as the 44th president of the United
States. One villager said Obama represents hope not for only for
Americans but for all people around the world. He was giving voice
to a sentiment shared by millions outside the US.

One of the most dramatic celebrations of Barack Obama’s election as
president took place neither in Obama’s ancestral village Nyangoma
Kogelo, Kenya nor in Chicago, Illinois but in the Turkish village of
Cavustepe near the Turkish-Iranian border. The villagers sacrificed
44 sheep in honor of Mr. Obama as the 44th president of the United
States. One villager said Obama represents hope not for only for
Americans but for all people around the world. He was giving voice
to a sentiment shared by millions outside the US.

Such an enthusiastic interest in global politics is a rare scene
in any Turkish village. Compared to the global political adventures
of the Ottoman Empire, the modern Turkish Republic has followed the
consistent policy line of a small nation-state caught between tradition
and modernity, between Europe and the Muslim world, and between an
imperial past and a secular-nationalist present. The geo-political
realities of Turkey’s environment today, however, induce it to a new
activism in the most volatile region of the world.

When the Cold War ended, Turkish policy circles were concerned that
Turkey’s strategic importance for the Western bloc would diminish. The
international politics dynamics of the post-Cold War era proved to be
the opposite. From the independence of the Turkic Republics of Central
Asia to the first Gulf War, Turkey as a NATO member maintained and even
increased its strategic value. With the American misadventures in the
Middle East and Central Asia after 9/11, Turkey has found itself again
in the middle of global power plays, regional rivalries and domestic
concerns for stability. Renewing its bid to join the European Union,
Turkey is willing to take risks in its region in a way that we haven’t
seen in a long time.

Turkey is seeking to optimize its policy options with neighboring
countries on the one hand and the big power players on the
other. Acting with a mix of cautious idealism and shrewd pragmatism,
Turkey is diversifying its foreign policy and becoming more active in
regional issues. Border security and integrity, energy dependence on
Russia and Iran, the future course of events in Iraq and Afghanistan
force it to invest more in the Middle East. Other immediate concerns
include Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Syria’s gradual acceptance into
the political process, the Palestine issue and relations with Israel.

Currently, Turkey is facilitating Syrian-Israeli talks, which were
initially opposed fiercely by some Washingtonians, and waiting
for an opportunity to take a part in the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations. Before coming to the recent G-20 meeting, The Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to facilitate talks between
Iran and the US – his first open message to President-elect Barack
Obama. Turkey made similar gestures towards Russia in its ill-advised
adventure in the south Caucasus. There might be a breakthrough in the
Turkish-Armenian relations after the visit of President Abdullah Gul
to Yerevan back in September. More is coming: Turkey is opening ten
new embassies in Africa to raise its profile in the continent.

Much of the current foreign policy is dictated by geo-political and
economic imperatives, not by the so-called Islamic credentials
or Islamist agenda of the AK Party. Turkey is capitalizing
on opportunities presented by a globalized world of multiple and
shifting centers of power. In all of these engagements, Turkey seems
to be trying to balance its position as a traditional ally of the
West with its rising profile in the Middle East, Caucasus and Africa
While. Turkey’s bid for full membership in the EU is partly tuned to
overcoming the military-bureaucratic establishment of the Turkish
state rather than charting a new foreign policy. Yet the domestic
impetus provided by the EU process increases AK Party Government’s
capacity to take risks beyond the traditional nation-state borders
of the Turkish Republic. The EU process, fully energized until a few
years ago, has stalled because of the deadlock over Cyprus and the
"membership fatigue" of the ruling AK Party. Nevertheless, Turkey
is structurally and economically moving closer to the status of an
EU country. With a young and dynamic population of 70 million and
a relatively strong economy (the 17th largest in the world and the
6th in Europe), Turkey is poised to assert itself as a new player in
the region. A sign of this is Turkey’s recent election into the UN
Security Council as a non-permanent member, a position Turkey held
more than fifty years ago.

As the Obama administration takes over, this new Turkish profile
is to be taken seriously. From Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle
East peace process to energy security and international terrorism,
Turkish-American relations are only to gain further significance in
the years to come. Turkey’s increasing profile in its region could
prove vital to diffuse tensions between the West and the Muslim world
and the US-Islamic world relations in particular. But this requires
one essential rule of engagement: listening attentively and giving
more breathing space to the key players in the region.

Dr. Ibrahim Kalin is an Assistant Professor at the Prince Alwaleed
Center for Christian-Muslim Understanding at Georgetown University’s
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. Dr. Kalin has published
widely on Islamic philosophy and the relations between Islam and
the West.