Author: Chavushian

OSCE HOPES FOR SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT WITHIN NEAREST FUTURE

ArmInfo
2008-11-30 13:30:00

ArmInfo. The Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) hopes
for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within a short period
of time.

Recent activation of negotiation process around settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict aroused hope to solve the conflict
within a short period of time, Goran Lennmarker, rapporteur of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
said.

Lennmarker intends to discuss new ideas with Foreign Ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Elmar Mammadyarov and Edvard Nalbandyan in
Helsinki during a meeting of the OSCE Foreign Ministers to improve
negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the rapporteur
of the PA OSCE told TrendNews via telephone from Stockholm.

The OSCE Foreign Ministers will assemble within the framework of
annual conference of the OSCE Foreign Ministers to be held in the
Finnish capital on 4 and 5 December.

"Both sides will get many positive things from solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Lennmarker believes.

According to Lennmarker, after solution of the conflict, Azerbaijan
can cut its military expenditures and internally displaced people
can repatriate.

"I have seen refugees, their difficult life condition and it is
difficult for me to realize that these people even cannot visit
cemetery of their death relatives," Lennmarker said.

"As to Armenia, it can improve relations with neighbor countries,
including Azerbaijan and Turkey, which will stimulate development of
its economy," the representative of the OSCE said.

After Helsinki, Lennmarker plans to visit the region and discuss
possible ways of solution of the conflict with leadership of Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

Interfax, Russia
Nov 28 2008

Armenia’s GDP up 9.2% in Jan-Oct

YEREVAN Nov 28

Armenia’s GDP in January-October 2008 went up 9.2% year-to-year to
3.01 trillion dram (over $9.8 billion), the National Statistics
Service said.

Foreign trade in January-October went up 31.5% year-on-year to 1.382
trillion dram ($4.52 billion). Exports edged up 0.9% to $941.2 million
while imports went up 42.8% to $3.579 billion.

Armenia’s trade deficit in January-October 2008 came to $2.638 billion
in the period, up 70% in comparison with the same period of 2007
($1.579 billion).

The average weighted rate for the dram by the Central Bank of Armenia
in January-October 2008 came to 305.86 dram/$1.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Georgia started August war, Saakashvili confesses
29.11.2008 15:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ For the first time ever, Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili has admitted that his country started hostilities against
South Ossetia in August. But the Georgian leader is adamant the action
was justified, Russia Today reports.

He said it was a response to Russia’s `intervention’ in the
region. `It was a hard decision but we had to defend our citizens,’ he
said.

Giving evidence to a parliamentary inquiry into the conflict, Mr
Saakashvili denied planning the attack months in advance. He insisted
Russia made the first move, pouring tanks and men over the border.

Mr Saakashvili said the decision to launch an assault on South Ossetia
was made after nearby Georgian villages came under "heavy bombardment"
from South Ossetia, and after "hundreds of [Russian] tanks and heavy
vehicles" started crossing the border.

"Under these conditions, if you ask me whether Georgia had to
undertake military actions against these firing positions, the answer
is yes," he said.

The Georgian President claims Russia moved tanks into South Ossetian
territory before Georgia launched its attack.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 29 2008

Greek Cypriot deputy wants another ice-breaking match

European Parliament member Marios Matsakis holds up coins during an
address at the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting in
Ankara.

Turkey should consider soccer diplomacy with Greek Cyprus as it could
help restore ties between Ankara and the Greek Cypriot government,
which it does not recognize, a European parliamentarian said
yesterday.

President Abdullah Gül broke a Turkish foreign policy taboo by
visiting Armenia to watch a soccer game in early September between the
national soccer teams of the two countries in the World Cup. The visit
paved the way for contacts between Turkey and Armenia, who have had no
formal ties since 1993.

Marios Matsakis, a Greek Cypriot member of the European Parliament
(EP) visiting Turkey to attend a meeting of members of the Turkish and
the EP in Ankara, said he conveyed his proposal to PM ErdoÄ?an
during their talks this week.

"It seems the soccer game between Turkey and Armenia worked. Perhaps
Turkey can play a game with us and everything will be fine," Matsakis
said during a session of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee
on Friday.

Although the soccer diplomacy appears to have helped ties between
Armenia and Turkey, relations with Greek Cyprus are far more
complicated. Turkey does not recognize the Greek Cypriot
administration, which is internationally recognized as representing
the whole island. Turkey, on the other hand, is the sole country that
recognizes the Turkish Cypriot state controlling the north of
Cyprus. Cyprus’ lingering division causes problems in Turkey’s EU
aspirations, with Greek Cyprus using its voting rights as an EU member
to force Turkey to make concessions on the Cyprus issue.

Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders have been holding direct talks on
reunification of the island but Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali
Talat complains the Greek Cypriot side has been taking very slow
steps, preventing any significant progress in the talks. Matsakis said
at the meeting that Turkey should stay away from the talks to let the
two sides reach an agreement.

Gül’s historic visit to Yerevan widely won praise from Europe
and liberals at home but opposition parties remain skeptical about
restoring ties with a country that still keeps a chunk of regional
ally Azerbaijan’s territory under occupation over a dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh and supports the Armenian diaspora’s efforts to win
international recognition for Armenian genocide claims.

"Future generations will see this as a naïve attempt if efforts
fail this time again," Onur Ã-ymen, a senior member of the main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said at the same
parliamentary gathering. He said Turkey had undertaken similar
initiatives in the direction of normalizing relations with Armenia in
the past but that they all failed because of a lack of response from
Yerevan.

Ã-ymen, whose party is a strong critic of the EU and many of the
reforms pushed forward by the government, also expressed skepticism
about the European involvement in the process. "Our European friends
should be moderate in their comments and praises and should refrain
from applauding every step [the government takes]," he said of the
European statements welcoming Gül’s visit and the
Turkish-Armenian rapprochement that followed.

Joost Lagendijk, a firm supporter of Turkey’s accession to the EU who
also co-chairs the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, responded
to Ã-ymen’s criticism saying it was Turkey, not the EU, that sent
Gül to Yerevan. But Ã-ymen was not convinced, saying the
process started under pressure from the EU and the United States.

Ergenekon controversy

Ties with Armenia were not the only issue of contention between
Lagendijk and Ã-ymen. On Thursday, during another gathering of the
EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, the two disagreed on the
Ergenekon case and press freedom in Turkey. Ã-ymen criticized the
European delegation for not complaining about a recent step by the
Prime Ministry to cancel the authorization of a group of journalists
to work inside the Prime Ministry building. This, he claimed, shows
freedom of the press was not at all important for the EU.

Lagendijk, on the other hand, said he did not defend the restrictions
imposed by the Prime Ministry since they resemble and in a way justify
a deep-rooted policy of the General Staff to not accredit several
newspapers and television stations which it considers anti-secularist.

The Prime Ministry recently revoked the accreditation of a group of
journalists on the grounds of false reporting. A Turkish daily said
the European parliamentarians raised the issue during a meeting with
Prime Minister ErdoÄ?an this week but both the European
delegation and the Prime Ministry denied the report.

On Ergenekon, a network of military and civilian officials and
criminal elements that is suspected of plotting against the
government, Ã-ymen was also unhappy about the European backing for
the legal action against the group. "How can you take sides so openly?
There are different views on this. ¦ Please don’t take sides
because tomorrow you may feel ashamed," he told Lagendijk, a frequent
visitor to the courthouse where the Ergenekon hearings are being held.

Lagendijk admitted that the issue was complicated, but noted that CHP
leader Deniz Baykal had declared himself an "attorney" for the
defendants long before the court proceedings began.

The meeting was the last gathering of the EU-Turkey Parliamentary
Committee in Turkey with Lagendijk participating. The Dutch
parliamentarian, married to a Turkish journalist and reportedly
planning to settle in Turkey, has announced that he will not stand in
next year’s European Parliament elections. He has been the co-chair of
the committee for the past seven years.

Lagendijk has fervently supported the current government in its reform
efforts but, like many other pro-Turkey politicians in Europe,
recently leveled serious criticism on a slowdown in the pace of
reform. He warned that Turkey’s growing influence in the Caucasus and
the Middle East will not substitute for the reforms it fails to
deliver.

29 November 2008, Saturday
TODAY’S ZAMAN ANKARA

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Nov 27 2008

Armenian Foreign Ministry: "The Moscow declaration has repeated the EU
approach in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict"

27 November 2008 [18:28] – Today.Az

"The Moscow declaration on Karabakh creates a definite opportunity for
establishment of atmosphere of trust in the South Caucasus region",
said deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Arman Kirakosyan.

"The South Caucasus has not been provided with a trilateral format as
integrated cooperation is impossible due to the policy of Azerbaijan
that does not see opportunities for the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict. Though definite changes and achievements can also be
expected in this issue", said Kirakosyan.

According to the deputy Minister, even insignificant steps in this
direction may restore regional cooperation, if there is a will and
trust.

"It is important to demonstrate good will, which will help take
definite steps on formation of the atmosphere of trust in the region",
said Kirakosyan.

According to him, the Moscow declaration repeated the EU approach in
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, which is a bright proof of
the need to ensure regional cooperation.

"Stable development in the region is indirectly related to the
economic development, modernization of democracy and cooperation and
this can become a good impulse for cooperation between Armenia and the
European Union", said Kirakosyan.

/Novosti-Armenia/

URL:

RAPA CHAIRMAN PROPOSES WORKING OUT ACTIONS PLAN IN DEFENSE OF ARMENIAN PROPERTY WORLDWIDE

Noyan Tapan

Nov 27, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The pressures upon the Armenians in
Jerusalem are not new: it has a history of years, as strong Christian
states cannot tolerate that in difference to them, the Armenians have
wide rights in Jerusalem. Haroutiun Arakelian, the Chairman of the
Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of Armenia (RAPA), stated at the November 27
press conference.

According to him, the Armenians of Jerusalem, as well as the
Patriarchate have huge estates, property of billions, but they are
unprotected, as the government of Israel does not grant citizenship
to the Armenians. According to H. Arakelian, it is time that the
RA government and Armenian organizations worldwide jointly work out
actions plan in defense of the Armenian property worldwide.

H. Arakelian said thay by that program first of all any Armenian
community of the Diaspora should have a protection by Armenia
stipulated by interstate agreements and the law. And the newly created
Ministry of Diaspora, according to him, should make an inventory of
Armenians’ property.

Touching upon the incidents to the Christians two months ago in
Iraq, in consequence of which two Armenians died, H. Arakelian said
that though Armenian press touched upon that fact, nevertheless the
Armenians of Iraq wish to once more stress that those incidents had not
been planned specially against the Armenians. "The leadership of Iraq
said during the meeting with RAPA members that they do not consider
the Armenians a minority, but full members of their state. And there
is no dislike for the Armenians in their country," H. Arakelian said.

He also said that RAPA is the only Armenian party, which has officially
received a registration in Iraq. The party representatives, according
to H. Arakelian, have established serious contacts with the local
leadership and have an important role in Iraq’s political life.

Refusing the hand of friendship
By Sarah Rainsford
BBC News, Kars, northeastern Turkey

High on a hill overlooking the city of Kars, there is a vast column of
concrete obscured by wooden scaffolding.

What is inside was meant as a 32m (100ft) peace gesture from Turkey to
Armenia.
"It’s an image of two human figures, facing one another with a hand of
friendship held out between them," explains the security guard,
emerging from the portable building at the statue’s feet.
But on the day the finished project should have been unveiled its
giant hand stands severed on the hillside.
This friendship statue has enemies, and they have forced construction
to stop.
Kars is in Turkey’s far north-east, within sight of the Armenian
border.
But that border has been closed since 1993. Turkey broke off
diplomatic ties with Armenia then, backing Azerbaijan in its conflict
with Armenia over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The relationship deteriorated further after Armenians stepped up
pressure for international recognition that the 1915 deportation and
massacre of hundreds of thousands of Ottoman Armenians was
genocide. That is something Turkey vigorously denies.
Now there are signs of a thaw in relations.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul broke the ice in September, when he
became the first Turkish head of state to visit Armenia – invited to
watch his own national side take on Armenia in a football match.
Since then, the two countries’ foreign ministers have held three
meetings in as many months. Diplomats on both sides say they
are "cautiously optimistic" for the future.
"I see no serious obstacle to the normalisation of relations very
soon," Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said this week, on
a visit to Istanbul.
So it seems the mayor of Kars was ahead of the game when he
commissioned his enormous friendship statue.
Naif Alibeyoglu had already collected 50,000 signatures in favour of
reopening the Armenian border – almost 70% support. Activists argue
increased contact between Turks and Armenians is crucial to fostering
mutual understanding and tolerance.
Most locals simply hope opening the border would pull their remote
region out of its poverty.
"We’d love to do business. Kars can develop as a result," says Mehmet,
a trader, scooping huge handfuls of stringy white cheese from a barrel
at the local market.

"I think the border should open," another stall-holder agrees. "Kars
hasn’t got much. Our farming and cattle sectors are almost
finished. If there’s demand for our cheese in Armenia we could double
our income," Soner says.

‘Delicate’ situation
Annual trade volume between Turkey and Armenia is now estimated at
around $150m. But since the border closed it is mostly firms in
Istanbul and Ankara doing the business. The lengthy detour via
Georgia adds up to 35% to costs.
Armenia’s foreign minister said again this week that his country sets
no preconditions for reopening the border.

Here in Turkey, diplomats will not disclose their terms, describing
the situation as "too delicate".
But they confirm that settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
an end to genocide allegations are among the issues under discussion.
"I think both sides are increasingly aware that normalising relations
is to their benefit," explains Istanbul politics professor Sahin
Alpay.
"There are economic issues… and of course Turkey wants to prevent
the genocide bills passed by Western parliaments. It’s not helping its
image in the world as a whole."
He means bills recognising the 1915 Armenian massacres as genocide,
already passed by many European parliaments. Turkey now fears that the
US Congress will pass such a resolution next year, and that
President-elect Barack Obama will accept it.
A historic breakthrough in relations with Armenia could help avert
that.

Discussion closed
Up in Kars, the economic benefits of increased trade and tourism are
much sought after.
But on Turkey’s closed border, people’s minds
remain firmly closed to any discussion of history.
"I don’t see any need to open the border," Gurbet says, hanging
strings of home-made spaghetti to dry in the sun.
"The Armenians keep bringing up the past, claiming there was
genocide. That only creates hatred here," she says.
"President Gul’s visit to Armenia broke Turkey’s pride and honour,"
insists Oktay Aktas, more forcefully.
He is chair of the local MHP nationalist party that is blocking
construction of the mayor’s peace statue.
"What did Armenia give us in return? They have to drop their genocide
claims, and stop demanding land and compensation. There can be no
friendship in these conditions."

There has been so much fuss about his statue that the mayor has given
up linking it to Armenia now. Now he calls it a statue for world
peace, instead. But he has vowed to finish it.
"Facing history will come together with the peace process," Naif
Alibeyoglu says.
"Neither side is ready for
that yet. How can two neighbours discuss their history and have a
dialogue
when they don’t even have an official relationship?"
Slowly – and very tentatively – that could now be changing.
Story from BBC NEWS:

e/7754218.stm

Published: 2008/11/28 12:41:27 GMT

KARABAKH PRESIDENT’S MEETINGS IN LOS ANGELES

armradio.am
26.11.2008 12:55

On 25 November NKR President Bako Sahakyan held a meeting in Los
Angeles with entrepreneur, owner of the Armenian-Russian TV Network
channel Robert Oglakchyan. Central Information Department of the
Office of the NKR President reported.

A wide range of issues related to cooperation between Artsakh
and the Diaspora in the information field were discussed during
the meeting. The Head of the State underlined the importance of
developing cooperation in this field characterizing information filed
as a strategically important sphere.

On the same day Bako Sahakyan had a meeting with American -Armenian
philanthropist couple Harry and Aida Shakaryans and discussed with
them issues related to the prospects of carrying out different projects
in Artsakh.

On 25 November President Sahakyan also visited Prelacy of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America and met
with members of the Diocese’s National council and representatives of
local Armenian community. Bako Sahakyan introduced to the participants
socioeconomic situation in the NKR and the Nagorno Karabagh conflict
settlement process. The Presidnet rated high the role of the Great
House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church in preserving
Armenian national identity in Spyurk and in strengthening ties between
the Diaspora and the Motherland.

On the same day NKR Presiden t Bako Sahakyan met president of the
United Armenian Fund, vice-president of the "Lincy" foundation Harout
Sassounyan.

A wide range of issues related to projects being carried out in
the republic and prospects for future ones were discussed during
the meeting.

YEREVAN SAYS OPENING BORDER WITH TURKEY NOT A FAVOR TO ARMENIA

Hurriyet
Nov 25 2008
Turkey

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday establishing diplomatic
relations and opening borders between Turkey and Armenia must not be
considered as a favor to be given to Armenia. (UPDATED)

Resolving the dispute between Armenia and Turkey is in the interests
of both countries, the ministry said in a statement issued after a
rare meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and
his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan in Istanbul.

"The full-scale settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations is in the
interests of the two countries and the two peoples," the statement
said.

"Dialogue between Armenia and Turkey is aimed particularly at
establishing diplomatic relations and at opening borders. This must
not be considered as a favor to be given to Armenia because this is
of no less interest to Turkey," it added.

Nalbandian was in Turkey for a one-day visit to the headquarters of
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation group, whose rotating six-month
presidency Armenia took over on Nov. 1, and talks with Babacan.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and their border has been
closed for more than a decade, as Armenia presses the international
community to admit the so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting
Turkey’s call to investigate the allegations, and Armenia’s invasion
of 20 percent territory of Azerbaijan.

A warmer period began the two countries began after Turkish President
Abdullah Gul paid a landmark visit to Yerevan in September on the
occasion of a Turkish-Armenian World Cup football qualifying match.

Turkey and Armenia aim to totally normalize bilateral relations,
Babacan told reporters Monday following his meeting with Nalbandian.

Babacan told reporters he discussed with Nalbandian bilateral
relations, the establishment of a cooperation and stability platform
in the Caucasus, and regional problems, after the meeting that lasted
more than two hours.

Monday’s meeting between the ministers was fruitful and constructive,
Babacan was quoted by the Anatolian Agency as saying, adding that the
two countries would continue their political and technical contacts
in the coming days.

Nalbandian departed from Turkey late on Monday.

TOTAL ASSETS OF ARMENIAN CB 619.5BLN AMD AT END OF Q3

ARKA
Nov 24, 2008

YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. In the 3rd quarter of 2008, the total
assets of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) increased by 40,284,896,000
AMD or by 6.96% and reached 619,468,618,000 AMD on September 30. The
CBA press service reports that foreign exchange assets constituted
77.46% of the total amount against 82.67% early in the 3rd quarter.

The CBA foreign exchange assets increased by 1,009.666,000 AMD or by
0.21% and reached 479, 816,879,000 AMD on September 30.

Foreign exchange claims to foreign banks and other financial
institutions amounted to 178,417,978,000 AMD – a quarterly decrease
of 6,544,685,000 AMD or 3.54%. Foreign exchange assets in the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) amounted to 4,228,576,000 AMD on
September 30 against 4,410,947,000 AMD early in the 3rd quarter.

The CBA’s saleable foreign exchange assets remained unchanged –
1,216,000 AMD.

The CBA’s investments in financial instruments, with revenues and
losses from their overestimation indicated in the financial reports,
amounted to 296,535,950,000 AMD against 288,507,938,000 AMD early in
the 3rd quarter.

On September 30, cash in terms of foreign exchange equaled 371,23,000
AMD against 374,230,000 AMD early this July. The CBA’s other foreign
exchange assets amounted to 261,926,000 AMD – a decrease of 52.4%.

At the end of the 3rd quarter, AMD assets amounted to 139,651,739,000
0D AMD against 100,376,510,000 AMD early in the quarter – an actual
quarterly increase of 39,275,229,000 AMD or 39.13%. According to the
balance sheet data, credit investments and reserve REPOs amounted to
37,390,352,000 AMD – a quarterly decrease of 4,764,226,000 AMD or 11%.

The CBA’s investments in saleable assets totaled 91,959,080,000
against 48,596,499,000 AMD early in the 3rd quarter – an increase of
89.23%. The CBA’s fixed and intangible assets amounted to 9,477,778,000
AMD on September 30. The CBA’s other AMD assets decreased from
897,978,000 AMD down to 824,529,000 AMD.