Author: Chmshkian Vicken

KYRGYZ ENVOY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO ARMENIAN LEADER

AKIpress news agency
Nov 10 2008

Bishkek, 10 November: A ceremony to present Kyrgyz Ambassador [to
Russia] Raimkul Attakurov’s credentials to Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan was held in Yerevan today.

During the talks held after the completion of the official part of the
ceremony, the sides discussed Kyrgyz-Armenian cooperation and noted
a need for expanding and boosting both bilateral and multilateral
relations, the press service of the Kyrgyz embassy in Russia said
today.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the ambassador on his
new appointment and expressed hope that as an ambassador Attakurov
would direct his efforts on stepping up Kyrgyz-Armenian relations.

UZBEKISTAN SUSPENDS EURASEC MEMBERSHIP, MOSCOW UNRUFFLED

RIA Novosti
12:49 | 12/ 11/ 2008

MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) – Uzbekistan has officially announced
it is temporarily withdrawing from the Eurasian Economic Community
(Eurasec), the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Eurasec, established in 2000, is an international economic
organization comprising Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and
Tajikistan. Three other former Soviet republics, Armenia, Moldova,
and Ukraine have observer status.

"This is the sovereign right of any member state," the ministry said.

A Russian business daily said earlier on Wednesday that the reasons
for the move were still unknown. However, the announcement came
days after the EU lifted sanctions imposed on the republic in 2005,
following the violent suppression of an uprising in the country that
came to be known as the Andizhan massacre.

"Tashkent announced in mid-October that it was putting its membership
on hold. They did not explain the reasons to us, but the Uzbek
leadership has of late been often critical of Eurasec’s performance,
considering it an ineffective organization," Kommersant quoted an
unidentified Russian Foreign Ministry official as saying.

He added that Uzbekistan was "extremely envious" of a customs union
created by Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus within the Eurasec framework.

"HERITAGE" PROMISES TO GO OUT ON A MARCH

A1+
[07:26 pm] 11 November, 2008

"Heritage" party is not going to give attributive evaluations to the
steps of the RA authorities concerning the Karabakh conflict and at the
moment is only demands the "Madrid principles" to be revealed. "The
Madrid principles, of which we are aware from non-official sources,
are not acceptable for "Heritage", and the authorities of the country
must not accept them are basis for negotiations".

Head of the administration of the party Anahit Bakhshyan also said,
"Our party considers the one-sided giveaway of territories, the
one-sided return of refugees and the delay in deciding upon the status
of Nagorno Karabakh". By saying "compromise" Mrs. Bakhshyan means
‘territories for territories’, for instance, Aghdam in return for
Shahumian, and by saying return of refugees, she means repatriation
of Armenians of Azerbaijan not in the liberated areas, but where they
used to live…

"…in Baku, Sumgayit, etc. Let them go and live in their houses,
or sell them and come back," she said.

Press speaker of "Heritage" Hovsep Khurshudyan also said, "The
issue of the refugees needs a complex solution. We want people
to return to their houses, but people cannot be divided into two
classes: Azerbaijani refugees as first-class, and Armenians from
Nakhijevan, Shahumian and Baku as second-class. We do not understand
why international forces are located in order to provide security of
the Azeri refugees while none are allotted to provide security for
Armenian refugees from Nakhijevan."

"Heritage" warns the authorities that their style of action can lead
to irreparable processes which are unacceptable from the point of
view of the interests of Armenia and NKR. Mrs. Bakhshyan claimed that
everyone is aware of the fact that the fragile peace in the region
since 1994 is result of the three-party agreement which was signed by
RA, Azerbaijan and NKR through the mediation of Russia. "Heritage"
party calls on the RA authorities to realize all the dangers and to
put the issue to public discussion.

Otherwise, "Heritage" promises to join with the other forces concerned
in the Karabakh conflict, and the people, and to get out on a march.

"We agree with the style of the opposition: of external challenges
threaten us, internal problems can be put aside for a while. If the
authorities cannot use the opportunity given by the opposition and face
external challenges, they put the interests of RA and NKR in danger. In
the latter, case, "Heritage" will take steps", Hovsep Khurshudyan
said. Mrs. Bakhshyan clarified that there will be no terror, "Do not
forget that the October 27 terrorist act followed the crisis in the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, but that is no solution."

"Heritage" also informed that they have on their agenda the draft
about the settlement of the Karabakh conflict which was not included
in the NA agenda in 2007.

AZERI RULING PARTY SET TO CHANGE CONSTITUTION TO REMOVE BAN FOR PRESIDENT

Regnum
Nov 7 2008
Russia

The article in the Azerbaijani constitution banning Ilham Aliyev to
stand for a third term will be removed

The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) is proposing to hold a referendum
on removing the article of the constitution banning the election of
a person to the post of president more than two terms. "The article
of the constitution, banning a person to be elected a president more
than two terms, does not correspond to democratic principles and
restricts democracy," the deputy executive secretary of the NAP,
MP Siyavus Novruzov, told Trend news on Thursday.

In line with Point 5 of Article 101 of the Azerbaijani constitution,
no-one can be elected to the post of president more than two terms. The
term in office of the president is five years. Yesterday, in his
address to the Federal Council, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev
proposed to extend the term in office of the president from four to
six years and the parliament from four to five years.

Some experts assume that there is a need for extension of the term
in office of the president in Azerbaijan and eliminating a ban on a
person to be elected more than two terms. A representative of the NAP
considers that the constitution should not contain such a restriction.

"The constitution allows an individual to be elected a parliamentarian
for several times. However, a ban is in place for the president
to this end. We believe that this [ban] should not be in the
constitution. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce changes to
the constitution and we shall come up with such an initiative,"
Novruzov said.

There is no need for extending the term in office of the president
in Azerbaijan, considers Novruzov. The chairman of the parliamentary
standing commission on agrarian policy, MP Eldar Ibrahimov, of the
ruling party, told Trend news on Thursday that there is a need in
Azerbaijan for extending the terms in office of both the parliament
and the president.

"Azerbaijan is in a state of war with Armenia. Therefore, the longer
be the term in office of the president, the greater amount of work
can be performed. I am a member of parliament for 20 years and can
say that the five-year term is a very short period," the chairman of
the commission said.

One cannot restrict election of a person to the presidency for two
terms, Ibrahimov believes. "How can it be that I can become an MP for
four times, however, the president, who copes with his obligations,
justifies confidence of the people in him and is healthy physically,
cannot be a president more than two terms?

This ban tramples upon human rights and the right of the
president. Paying heed to requirements of the time, we have to again
review such issues," said Ibrahimov.

The NAP was set up in 1992 by [former president] Heydar Aliyev. At
present the chairman of the ruling for over 15-year party is President
Ilham Aliyev.

SHOUSHI FOUNDATION CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE KARABAKH AS SIDE IN TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2008 15:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Shoushi Foundation calls on the Armenian authorities,
OSCE Minsk Group, United Nations, European Parliament and other
international structures to restore the rights of Nagorno Karabakh
people and to acknowledge NKR as side in talks.

Movement for Justice was established for the purpose, said Bakur
Karapetyan, director of the Foundation, told a news conference today.

"In 1998, Azerbaijan levied war upon Karabakh. Once a party to talks,
Karabakh is now represented by Armenia, what makes the international
community eye the RA as an aggressor. Armenian political elite is in
a diplomatic trap set by Azerbaijan and Turkey," he said.

"The right of nations to self-determination is a vital principle of
the Helsinki Final Act. Knowing this, Baku and Ankara purposefully
removed Karabakh from talks. Moreover, Moscow declaration affirmed
this position," Karapetyan said.

HEAD OF "SHUSHI" FOUNDATION: "THE MOSCOW DECLARATION MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE KARABAKH PARTY IS EXCLUDED FROM THE SETTLEMENT PROCESS"

Today.Az
olitics/48872.html
Nov 10 2008
Azerbaijan

The "Shushi" foundation (Shushi-the name for the Azerbaijani city of
Shusha occupied by Armenians) calls on the world community to recognize
"Nagorno Karabakh" as a party for negotiations.

The "Shushi" charity foundation calls on the powers of Armenia and
"NKR", as well as the OSCE Minsk group, UN, European parliament and
other international structures to promote restoration of the violated
right of the "Nagorno karabakh people" and recognize "NKR" as a
party to the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict settlement,
said head of the "Shushi" foundation Bakur Karapetyan.

He said the "Movement for Justice" has been created by initiative of
the "Shushi" foundation for the purpose.

"In 1988 Azerbaijan declared war to "Nagorno Karabakh" and it turns
out that after the war Karabakh is a party for the conflict. At the
initial stage, this was like that but now Nagorno karabakh is not
involved into the negotiation process and Armenia is a party.

It all creates an impression of the world community that Armenia is an
aggressor and it occupied the Azerbaijani lands", said Karapetyan and
added that considering this situation, official Baku is setting itself
up for a victim and demands from Yerevan to restore the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.

According to the head of the "Shushi" foundation, the Armenian
political elite, speaking as a party in the conflict, is now in a
diplomatic trap, set by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

"Article 8 of the Helsinki final act, adopted in 1975, says that
"the right of people for self-determination is a vitally important
principle".

In fact, the right of people for self-determination is a common
international law. Taking this into account, Baku and Ankara have
deliberately excluded Karabakh from the negotiation process and
replaced it with Armenia. In fact, Armenia must speak only as a
mediator and guarantor of security of its people", noted Karapetyan
and added that today they do not demand from official Yerevan to
recognize independence of "NKR" as it will cause new problems.

"We just want "Nagorno Karabakh" to restore its right and take part
in the talks on the conflict settlement, but the Moscow declaration
made it clear that the Karabakh side has been completely excluded
from this process", noted Karapetyan.

SIMULTANEOUS DIALOG WITH MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON EXTREMELY HARD FOR ANKARA

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2008 12:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia and Turkey’s activities in the Caucasus are
interdependent, a Russian expert said.

"Aspiration to realize strategic goals avoiding armed conflicts
underlies the approach of both countries," Andrey Areshev, expert at
Strategic Initiative Foundation, wrote in a piece of opinion titled
"Stability in the Caucasus after five-day war: the role of Russia,
Iran and Turkey."

At that, Turkey will remain a member of NATO, a military bloc used by
the United States as a tool to restrain Russia in the Caucasus and
Black Sea regions. Under the circumstances it’s extremely hard for
Ankara to hold a dialog simultaneously with Moscow and Washington,
according to him.

"Turkey partakes in a plenty of regional peace initiatives. The
five-day war proved insufficiency of force-oriented projects. Besides,
the role of Georgia as a key transit element in the Caspian-Caucasus
has been questioned, what in profound interest of Turkey which poses as
a key transit link for energy transportation to Europe," Areshev said.

A321 Airbus joins Armavia’s fleet

YEREVAN, November 7. /ARKA/. Armenia’s national air carrier Armavia
will soon replenish its fleet by an A321 Airbus reported Mikhail
Baghdasarov, president of the company.

`We will show you the new airbus with 178 seats,’ he said, adding
Armvia almost approaches transatlantic carriers.
The company is currently negotiating with Airbus on the procurement of
the plane.

President of MIKA Armenia Trading became Armavia’s absolute shareholder
in June 2005.

The air carrier has the largest flight network in Armenia, flying 30
routes in the CIS and Russia, Middle East and Europe.

Armavia’s fleet consists of two A319 airbuses, two A320 airbuses, one
Boeing-737-300, one Yak-42, one Tu-134 and one IL-86. `0–

TURKEY’S TOP GENERAL MEETS AZERBAIJANI OFFICIALS

Nov 7 2008
Turkey

Turkey’s top general Basbug said that Turkey favored settlement of
the dispute within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
and international law.

Turkey’s top general met on Thursday Azerbaijani minister of defense
and parliament speaker in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, where he
is paying a formal visit.

Gen. Ilker Basbug, the chief of General Staff of Turkey, had talks
with Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev and Parliament
Speaker Oktay Asadov.

During their meeting, Abiyev said that recent development in the
region made improving bilateral relations and security endeavors
more necessary.

Abiyev also said that Azerbaijan would make use of all opportunities
to ensure its own territorial integrity if peace talks regarding
Upper Karabakh dispute failed.

Basbug said that Turkey favored settlement of the dispute within the
framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and international law.

Turkey would always be beside Azerbaijan, Basbug also said.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED BARACK OBAMA ON ELECTION AS U. S. PRESIDENT

De Facto
Nov 6, 2008

YEREVAN, 06.11.08. DE FACTO. On November 6 the Nagorno-Karabagh
Republic President Bako Sahakian sent a congratulatory letter to
President-elect of the United States of America Barack Obama.

According to the Central Information Department of the Office of
the NKR President, the letter reads as follows: "On behalf of the
people and authorities of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic I cordially
congratulate you on the occasion of being elected as the 44th President
of the United States of America. Your victory is an epoch-making
event both in American history and world democracy.

Artsakh rates highly the role of the United States in peaceful
settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict and the annual
financial assistance provided by the USA to the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic.

I am confident that with your interest and support in solving issues
the Armenian people face, under the new Administration the ties
between our countries will become much stronger and more diversified.

I congratulate you once again and wish peace, happiness, robust health
and prosperity to you and all your relatives and friends".