Author: Chmshkian Vicken

VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV: RUSSIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

news.am
Jan 18 2010
Armenia

Any attempt to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a military
way will affect the international situation, the former Russian
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov stated during a
Yerevan-Moscow space bridge.

The development of Russian-Turkish relations is not an obstacle to
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Rather, to an extent, it even
contributes to a peaceful settlement. He pointed out that, unlike Baku,
Ankara is against a military settlement of the conflict.

Kazimirov said that the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and
Armenia-Turkey normalization are impossible to link. According to him,
Turkey should first of all normalize its relations with Armenia and
"make moral and political capital" before the international community
to use it for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

As regards the Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian presidential meeting
scheduled for next week, Kazimirov does not rule out some progress in
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. "I would not say that the meeting
will result in any breakthrough," Kazimirov said.

INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY OF ARTSAKH ARE NOT SUBJECTS TO ANY SPECULATIONS: NKR PRESIDENT

ArmInfo
2010-01-18 10:10:00

ArmInfo. On January 17, President of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakyan
received American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group Robert Bradtke and
accompanying him officials who arrived in Stepanakert on the same day.

As Central Information Department of the NKR presidential office
told ArmInfo, issues related to the current stage and prospects of
the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement were discussed at the
meeting. President Sahakyan underlined that the position of official
Stepanakert on the settlement of relations with Azerbaijan remains
unchanged. The conflict cannot be settled in the absence of a direct
dialogue between Azerbaijan and Artsakh. Within this context the Head
of the State noted that Azerbaijan should refuse from non-constructive
and aggressive approaches. At the same time the President underlined
that independence and security of Artsakh are not subjects to any
speculations and any attempt to ignore this will make impossible
comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

Robert Bradtke in his turn underlined that any scenario of military
solution of the conflict is absolutely unacceptable.

The Armenian-Turkish relations were discussed at the meeting too. It
was mentioned that the Armenian-Turkish and Azerbaijani-Karabakh
relations were separate and unrelated processes.

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS US CO-CHAIR ROBERT BRADTKE

armradio.am
18.01.2010 11:48

On 17 January President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
received American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group Robert Bradtke and
accompanying him officials who arrived in Stepanakert on the same day.

Issues related to the current stage and prospects of the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement were discussed at the meeting.

President Sahakyan underlined that the position of official Stepanakert
on the settlement of relations with Azerbaijan remains unchanged. The
conflict cannot be settled in the absence of a direct dialogue
between Azerbaijan and Artsakh. Within this context the Head of the
State noted that Azerbaijan should refuse from non-constructive and
aggressive approaches. At the same time the President underlined
that independence and security of Artsakh are not subjects to any
speculations and any attempt to ignore this will make impossible
comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

Robert Bradtke in his turn underlined that any scenario of military
solution of the conflict is absolutely unacceptable.

The Armenian-Turkish relations were discussed at the meeting too. It
was mentioned that the Armenian-Turkish and Azerbaijani-Karabakh
relations were separate and unrelated processes.

EDITORIAL: MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS IN THE CIS

Who’s Who Legal
Jan 15 2010

Our research identifies 95 outstanding lawyers in this practice area.

White & Case receives the most nominations and is particularly strong
in Moscow. Marc Polonsky is "one of the most experienced lawyers in
Russia" and has particular expertise in the natural resources sector.

Igor Ostapets has advised Russian and foreign companies in the metal
and oil industries. Eric Michailov heads the M&A practice in Moscow and
regularly represents investment funds and international companies on
their projects in Russia, particularly in the real estate, consumer
products and telecommunications sectors. The "brilliantly skilful"
Hermann Schmitt has represented major foreign investors and Russian
banks, telecommunications operators and industrial manufacturers. In
Kazakhstan, Yuriy Maltsev is "first class for M&A" and was previously
involved in the privatisation and acquisition of Shymkent refinery
by Hurricane Hydrocarbons (now Petrokazakhstan) for approximately
US$1 billion. The merged entity was the first vertically integrated
oil company in Kazakhstan.

Four lawyers at Baker & McKenzie stood out during our research. Based
in Kazakhstan, Curtis Masters is "a great lawyer" who advises
President Nazarbayev twice a year on legal issues pertaining to
foreign investment into the country. Azamat Kuatbekov practises in
this area and has recently advised an Israeli investor in connection
with the bankruptcy acquisition of the mining and chemical facilities
in Kazakhstan. In Azerbaijan, Natik Mamedov is an associate noted for
his work in telecommunications transactions, while Aykhan Asadov is
"the man for M&A".

Magisters also has four nominees in this chapter. The "marvellous" Anna
Rusetskaya heads the M&A practice in Belarus while Dennis Turovets is
a managing partner of the Minsk office and is also recommended. Marta
Khomyak in Kazakhstan has advised leading CIS-based corporations and
global investors across a broad range of sectors, as well as acting
for state authorities. Andrew Mac manages the Kiev office and is also
on our list.

Vlasova Mikhel & Partners provides four lawyers for our Belarus list.

Liliya Vlasova is "a business guru" while Konstantin Mikhel is
"a high quality and reliable" lawyer. Tatiana Emelianova is also
seen as a leading lawyer in this jurisdiction and Sveltana Dashuk
"should definitely be on anyone’s list".

We list three lawyers at Clifford Chance LLP. Marc Bartholomy is "a
real player in Moscow" while Andrei Dontsov is also highly rated. Alex
Erasmus’s "top quality" practice has also been pointed out to us.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP also has three Moscow lawyers
prominent in our research. Jacky Baudon is a "terrific guy" with a
broad corporate experience in a range of industries such as energy,
natural resources, chemicals, engineering and telecommunications.

Dmitry Surikov is "a top-tier lawyer" who advises leading Russian
metal, mining companies and Western investors on their projects
abroad while Igor Gerber also advises on major projects in the energy,
metals, mining and retail sectors.

Grata Law Firm has three representatives in our final list. The
"superior" Zafar Malikov is managing partner and director of the
Tashkent office and controls the firm’s activities in Uzbekistan
and Turkmenistan. Umid Aripdjanov heads the commercial law group
and advises international corporations in the oil and gas industry,
telecommunications and automobile manufacturing. Rashid Gaissin is
a managing partner in Kazakhstan and advised the UniCredit Group in
its US$2.3 billion acquisition of ATF Bank.

Three lawyers at Salans have proved to be prominent in our research.

Oleg Batyuk "is a true expert in this area" and is managing partner of
the Kiev office. Aigoul Kenjebayeva is managing partner of the Almaty
office with a focus on foreign investment in Kazakhstan. James Hogan is
a managing partner of the Baku office and "has profound experience in
the region". He has concentrated exclusively on corporate, commercial
and natural resource matters relating to the CIS and Eastern Europe
since 1988.

Russia has a large pool of talent in this area with 18 leading
lawyers identified by our research. Two lawyers from Egorov Puginsky
Afanasiev & Partners are in the final list. Managing partner Ilya
Nikiforov is seen as "top-notch" and in 2004 was given the diploma
"for successes in commercial law" by the council of the Russian federal
bar association. Dimitry Afanasiev is also a managing partner of the
firm and was awarded the order of "fidelity to a lawyer’s duty" by
the same association. Two lawyers at Goltsblat BLP are particularly
well regarded in this area. Managing partner Andrey Goltsblat is
"an outstanding lawyer" and "very well known in Moscow". Previously
the Chief of Staff for the constitutional commission of the Russian
parliament, he counsels boards of directors and senior management in
connection with investment projects and deal structuring in Russia
and the CIS. Anton Sitnikov "should be on anyone’s list of the best"
and works in a number of industries such as oil and gas, mining,
the food industry, services sector and banking and finance. At
Linklaters LLP Denis Uvarov is "exceptional" and was involved in the
acquisition by BP of strategic investments in TNK-BP and Slavneft,
while John Goodwin is a managing partner of the firm’s Moscow office
and has "first class" counsel. Edwin Tham from Allen & Overy LLP is
"a rising star" and has been involved in the acquisition of a drinks
producer in the Ukraine and within the oil and heavy transportation
sectors. At ALRUD Law Firm, Alexander Zharskiy has been active in
joint venture projects from Europe expanding into Asia while Vassily
Rudomino "certainly deserves to be on the list". From Cleary Gottlieb
Steen & Hamilton LLP, Scott Senecal regularly advises on merger and
acquisition transactions and joint ventures, representing foreign
investors (both private equity and corporate) and Russian entities.

At Debevoise & Plimpton LLP the "highly skilful" Dmitri Nikiforov
chairs the Moscow office and advises on complex international
transactions for the Russian government. From Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP,
the "highly distinguished" Oleg Berger co-chairs the M&A group and
represents a growing number of Russian clients. Alexei Roudiak at
Herbert Smith LLP is "incredibly smart" and advised Tata on the
transfer of Land Rover and Jaguar in Russia from Ford Motor Company.

Oxana Balayan at Lovells LLP is also well regarded by her peers and
she advises a variety of major international and Russian clients. Her
work involves a wide range of industries, including financial services,
retail, media, pharmaceuticals, automotive and real estate.

The "highly respected and business minded" Anatoly Andriash at Macleod
Dixon LLP is a managing partner and advises clients in the spheres
of natural resources and telecommunications. Ilja Ratschkov of Norrr
OOO has a "very impressive" practice and advises Russian and foreign
companies including banks and state authorities. Anton Klyachin of
Salomons is held with high regard in our research and has extensive
experience in Russia. He has previously provided legal counsel for the
corporate restructuring of the largest media holding in Russia. From
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP the "highly reputable" Alexey
Kiyashko co-heads the Moscow office and has advised major Russian
companies and investment banks in connection with international
corporate finance transactions. Maxim Sterin at Hannes Snellman LLC
is a "stellar practitioner".

Ukraine also has a strong representation in this practice area and
provides 14 leading lawyers for our list. Asters has two of its lawyers
included. Armen Khachaturyan is held in high regard for his practice
in this area. The "highly experienced" Oleksiy Didkovskiy is managing
partner of the firm and has been involved in a number of acquisitions,
including the takeover of Poltava Diamond Plant by Element Six from the
De Beers Group. Two lawyers at Sayenko Kharenko are listed. Vladimir
Sayenko is "extremely active" in the financial, energy, oil and gas,
real estate and media sectors and Michael Kharenko has advised a range
of leading investment banks, multinational financial institutions
and corporates. At Arzinger & Partners, Timur Bondaryev is seen as
"outstanding" in the field while Oleh Malskyy of Astapov Lawyers
heads the firm’s M&A practice. From Chadbourne & Parke LLP, Jaroslawa
Johnson is "a big name" and recently represented the bank of Cyprus
in its acquisition of a medium-sized Ukrainian bank. Adam Mycyk,
the managing partner at CMS Cameron McKenna, regularly advises
multinationals, foreign and domestic companies, banks, investment
banks and other financial institutions.

Margarita Karpenko from DLA Piper LLP is "highly recommended" for local
M&A. At Frishberg & Partners, Scott Brown is held in high regard for
his work in this area, while at KM Partners Alexander Minin also comes
highly recommended. At Konnov & Sozanovsky the "very distinguished"
senior partner Sergei Konnov was granted "The Badge of Honour of the
Ministry of Justice of Ukraine" by the Ukranian government. Denis
Lysenko of Vasil Kisil & Partners has wide experience in representing
interests of foreign investors in cross-border transactions involving
Ukrainian assets and companies.

Roman Kolos at Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH has also featured
strongly in our research.

In Belarus, we identify 11 prominent lawyers; Sorainen Law Offices
provides two of these. Maksim Salahub is "a world-class lawyer" and
co-manages the Minsk office while heading the M&A practice. He has
significant experience in advising on cross-border M&A transactions in
the complex Belarusian legal environment, especially in due diligence
of local enterprises and provides a full array of legal advice to
foreign investors. Kiryl Apanasevich is also highly rated and provides
legal support to clients in numerous complex M&A transactions and asset
deals. Two lawyers from Stepanovski Papakul and Partners Ltd have
also been nominated. Alexander Stepanovski is "a fantastic lawyer"
and has extensive experience in Russia and Belarus. Valery Papakul
is the managing partner and is perceived as "truly one of the best
in the region". The "exceptional" Dmitry Viltovsky from Arzinger &
Partners also makes it onto the list. Borovtsov & Salei receives
two nominations: Vassili Salei is well regarded for his expertise
in this area, and Alexander Botian is "highly knowledgeable". At
Businessconsult, Timour Sysouev is known for his "broad experience"
while Dmitry Bokhan provides "impressive" counsel. Sergei Makarchuk
is the managing partner of the Belarusian office of Cerha Hempel
Spiegelfeld Hlawati while at Law Firm Trust Eugene Lazarenkov is also
a leader in this jurisdiction.

A further six exceptional lawyers in Kazakhstan are selected in
our research. Two nominees from Aequitas have been listed. Tatyana
Suleyeva is "excellent in the field" and has been involved in
advising major European and US banks in acquiring other banks active
in Kazakhstan. The "very talented" Olga Chentsova, managing partner
of the firm, also features. At Denton Wilde Sapte Kazakhstan Limited
Joel Benjamin is "superb" and represents clients from a range of
industries such as oil and gas, mining and banking. From Dewey &
LeBoeuf LLP, Aset Shyngyssov is the managing partner of the Almaty
office and provides "fantastic counsel". At Macleod Dixon LLP Maxim
Telemtayev manages the firm’s Almaty office and is "a top M&A lawyer",
with over 10 years of legal practice in the mining, oil and gas,
uranium and telecommunications industries. Michael Wilson is the
founder of Michael Wilson & Partners and has been involved in many
of the largest projects in the region.

In Azerbaijan, Omni Law Firm has two lawyers on our list. Ismayil
Zargarli is "one of the best", while Jeyhun Bayramov is "a very fine
lawyer". At BM Law Firm, Farhad Mirzayev has an "exceptional" practice
and has represented Lukoil Europe in connection with the acquisition
of shares of a leading telecommunications company. Nariman Ramazanov,
the founder and managing partner of Fina LLP, is a "first-rate"
lawyer. MGB Law Offices’ Ismail Askerov is reported to be "the man
for Azerbaijan" and has previously advised on the acquisition of
shares in the telecommunications sector.

In Moldova, Turcan & Turcan has two lawyers in our final list.

Alexander Turcan is highly regarded for his work in the field and
Octavian Cazac has an "outstanding practice" in this jurisdiction.

Victor Burac is perceived as "very good" and is active in this practice
area while Mihail Buruiana at his own firm, Buruiana & Partners,
is seen as "great with this kind of work". Managing partner Victor
Levintsa at Levintsa & Associates is the "main competitor" and is
rated highly rated.

Three lawyers based in Armenia are featured here. At Ameria Legal
Practice David Sargsyan has "brilliant" practice in the field while
Andrew Lazarian has also received positive mention in our research.

Thomas Samuelian is a managing partner at Arlex International Ltd
and is one of the first foreign lawyers admitted to the Armenian bar.

>>From Kyrgyzstan Gulnara Kalikova is seen as "number one" and is
managing partner of Kalikova & Associates. Niyaz Aldashev from Lorenz
is "an extremely good lawyer" and his practice in the past has involved
a large M&A project in the telecommunications sector. Mirgul Smanalieva
at Partner Law Firm has also been highly recommended in our research.

Finally, Ilkhom Azizov heads Azizov & Partners in Uzbekistan and
provides "highly skilled services" in the field.

article/19727/editorial-mergers-acquisitions-cis/

MICHEL LEGRAND’S CONCERT IN KRASNODAR NOT CANCELLED

NoyanTapan
Jan 14, 2010

KRASNODAR, JANUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Michel
Legrand’s concert in Krasnodar, during which he was to perform with
Georgy Garanyan, will take place. The concert organizers made this
announcement, miasin.ru reports.

The performance of Michel Legrand and Garanyan-led Big Band of
Krasnodar has not been cancelled. However, only one concert will be
given instead of two concerts scheduled for January 15 and 16. The
organizers said the concert is likely to turn into an evening in
memory of Georgy Garanyan.

ARFD NOT RULING OUT POSSIBILITY OF PARLIAMENT’S "WASHING HANDS" OF PROTOCOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.01.2010 15:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA CC decision over Armenian-Turkish protocols has
legal effect only on Armenia; the protocols will become internationally
binding documents only after being ratified by Armenia’s parliament,
according to member of ARFD parliamentary group Vahan Hovhannisyan.

"The CC verdict allows for reservations and if parliament fails to do
that the document will lose sense." he told Thursday a news conference
in Yerevan, not ruling out possibility of parliament’s washing hands
of the process.

"But we allow that to happen because the parliament should treat
the issue with high sense of responsibility," ARFD parliamentarian
stressed.

With regard to the timeframes of Protocols’ being included in
Parliament’s agenda, Mr. Hovhannisyan said he had no information
about it.

The protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the common border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich
by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of
diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010 Armenia’s Constitutional Court passed a decision
on documents’ conformability to RA Constitution.

WORK UNDERWAY TO ACHIEVE YEREVAN’S ACCEPTANCE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS: TURKISH FM

Trend
Jan 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Work on Yerevan’s unconditional acceptance of the Turkish-Armenian
protocols is underway, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
during a speech at King’s College, the Haber Turk news agency reported.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due
to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been broken since 1993.

Ankara wants free vehicle movement from Baku through Karabakh,
Yerevan and Nakhchivan to Kars, he added.

PUTIN: KARABAKH SETTLEMENT AND ARMENIAN-TURKISH RECONCILIATION SHOULD NOT BE "TIED IN ONE PACKAGE"

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.01.2010 11:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey should not link the normalization of its
relations with Armenia to further progress in international efforts
to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, RFE/RL reported.

Putin also reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Turkey’s dramatic
rapprochement with Armenia, his country’s main regional ally, after
talks with his visiting Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"We receive with great optimism Turkish proposals on the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations," he told a joint news
conference. "We very much hope all elements of shortest approaches
[to the normalization] will be used in the negotiating process and
Armenia’s leadership is also on this positive path."

Putin made clear that Moscow believes the two issues should not
be "tied in one package." "It is difficult to solve each of these
problems separately, and if one tackles them in a single package,
then prospects for their settlement will automatically become very
remote," he said. "Packaging these problems is not quite right from
the practical and strategic standpoints."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was among foreign dignitaries
that attended the signing in Zurich last October of two protocols
envisaging the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey and the opening of their border.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) is a de facto independent republic
located in the South Caucasus, bordering by Azerbaijan to the north
and east, Iran to the south, and Armenia to the west.

After the Soviet Union established control over the area, in 1923
it formed the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) within the
Azerbaijan SSR. In the final years of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan
launched an ethnic cleansing which resulted in the Karabakh War that
was fought from 1991 to 1994.

Since the ceasefire in 1994, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several
regions of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the
control of Nagorno Karabakh defense army.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have since been holding peace talks mediated
by the OSCE Minsk Group.

TURKISH POLITICAL SCIENTIST: "INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CAN INCREASE PRESSURE ON TURKEY AFTER RATIFICATION OF THE PROTOCOLS AT THE ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT"

APA
Jan 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Istanbul. Mayis Alizadeh – APA. "We cannot say that the Armenian
Constitutional Court’s positive opinion about the protocols signed
by Turkey creates factor of pressure on Ankara. But there will be
pressure while another factors come, because Armenians announced
that they will continue the process. The international community can
increase pressure on Turkey after ratification of the protocols at the
Armenian parliament". The most important issue is the developments
around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict", chief of the international
relations department of the Istanbul-based Culture University Mansur
Akgun told APA Turkish bureau.

He urged for steps toward solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict for
accelerating the rapprochement. "I don’t think that Turkey will take
actions easily under current conditions because Turkey will never
take any action against Azerbaijan. EU Foreign Relations Commission
welcomed Turkey’s actions in the Caucasus. If there is any important
progress in April, Turkey can bring protocols to the parliament. If
the occupied lands are liberated and Turkish-Armenian relations are
normalized, Azerbaijan will take most benefits. If Armenia rejects
Russian influence and makes step toward the West, it will be useful
for Azerbaijan because Azerbaijan has such strong arm like oil. But
unfortunately there is no progress in this field".

Mansur Akgun said if the relations with Armenia were not normalized,
Turkey wouldn’t lose anything. "The "genocide" issue will not
create problems for Turkey further. Turkey doesn’t see Armenia as a
market because potential of Armenian people as buyers is known. It
is difficult to believe that Turkey will make concrete steps while
there are no concrete actions toward the solution of Nagorno Karabakh
problem".

ARMENIAN TRADITIONAL PARTIES HELD RALLY AGAINST PROTOCOLS IN BEIRUT

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.01.2010 19:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ramkavar Liberal Party, Social Democratic Hnchak
Party, ARF Dashnaktsutyun organized protest rally on January 10 in
Beirut to deny constituency of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols.

The rally gathered spiritual leaders, government representatives,
youth, students and professional unions. MP of the Lebanese Parliament
Hakob Bagratuni, Mayor Andranik Mesrlean took part in the event,
the Armenian media in Iran reported.

The protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the common border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich
by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of
diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.