Author: Chmshkian Vicken

"ARMENIAN RAILWAY" DISSOLUTED

Panorama.am
20:53 17/01/2008

Today the Armenian Government made a decision about the dissolution
of the "Armenian railway" CSJC, The dissolution committee was ordered
to satisfy the demands of the shareholders of the company and to hand
the rest stuff to the Ministry of transport and communication.

According to the information and public relations department of the
Government, all the rights of Armenian railway passed to "Russian
Railways" CSJC for consensus governing and "South-Caucasus Railway"
CSJC is the official company to carry out company’s mission in Armenia.

The Ministry of Transport and Communication was charged with presenting
to the discussion the contract project of Armenian railway within a
month. The Ministry of Finance and Economics was charged with release
from duties and from 12.6 million dollars loan disposed to the company
by "Development credit agreement".

KHAZAR IBRAGIM: "IF KAZIMIROV HAVE CALLED THINGS BY THEIR NAMES, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REMEMBERED AS A BIASED MEDIATOR"

Today, Azerbaijan
Jan 16 2007

If Kazimirov have called things by their names, that is occupation
is occupation and ethnic cleansing is ethnic cleansing, he would
have been remembered from the positive point of view, but not as a
biased mediator.

The due statement was made by spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of
Azerbaijan Khazar Ibragim, commenting on the speech of the former
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov in Yerevan,
who accused the leadership of Azerbaijan of "militaristic spirits".

"I do know whether he lacks courage, professionalism or anything else
to do it…", Kh.Ibragim continued.

"The President of Azerbaijan is a guarantor of the Constitution and
it is in his competence to restore the territorial integrity of the
country. Fortunately, the legislation of Azerbaijan and international
law envision clear opportunities for that", the spokesman for the
Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan noted.

URL:

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 14 2008

Proposals on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Regulation for the first time
Submitted by OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Simultaneously to Azerbaijan
and Armenia in Madrid
14.01.08 10:48

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. Ê.Ramazanova / Bernard Fassier, the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, answering to the questions of journalists
in Baku airport on 13 January stated that the proposals on the
regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were for the first time
officially submitted in Madrid.

`For the first time since the beginning of the negotiations the three
Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group submitted the proposals on the
regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict simultaneously.’
According to Fassier, the proposals have a positive character for
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

`Now, the both sides have enough time to think over the made
proposals,’ Fassier said. The monitoring on the contact line between
the both countries is expected to hold on 16 January.

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

The Times, UK
Jan 11 2008

David Nalbandian guarantees Britain will get warm welcome in Buenos
Aires

Neil Harman, Tennis Correspondent

David Nalbandian is laughing out loud, uncontrollably, which is
unusual in itself. When it comes to stereotypes, Rafael Nadal is the
indefatigable warrior, Andy Murray the shaggy-haired wunderkind and
Nalbandian the guy from Argentina who rubs people up the wrong way,
wears a look of permanent indifference and is regarded by many as the
trickiest of all to get along with. So why is he guffawing?

He has just been receiving ice-pack treatment on a back injury, which
means that he will enter the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday
without a preparation match under his belt. That is no laughing
matter, but he is in ebullient mood – he has just been asked what
kind of welcome the Great Britain team can expect on their arrival
for next month’s Davis Cup World Group first-round tie in Buenos
Aires.

`Hmm, I think it will be really good,’ Nalbandian says, laughing all
the while. `No, I think it will be a nice atmosphere. It will be a
very good week – beautiful weather at the end of the summer, an
excellent crowd, a beautiful city. A very good week for us, I think.’

When he learns that Britain are employing a security team the
strength of which would shame a visit by George W. Bush, Nalbandian
asks: `Why would you want to do that? There are absolutely no worries
at all on that score. We respect the British players very much. We
are not out of control when we play Davis Cup ties at home,
absolutely not.’

He reluctantly confesses that there `may be people’ who are not
predisposed to a red-carpet welcome for a sporting team from Britain.
Last year, on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict of 1982
in which 907 lives were lost in 74 days, 649 of them on the Argentine
side, the Government of Argentina renewed its claim of sovereignty.
The response was that Britain was seeking to extend its seabed
territory around the islands to prevent the exploitation of their
natural resources – the waters are abundant in fish and oil.

Argentina took exception. `So maybe it will be a little tough for you
and I cannot tell for sure how everybody will react,’ Nalbandian
says. `The Davis Cup is very important for the Argentinian people. It
is something we have never won. We reached the final two years ago
and lost in Russia, so this year we think we have a good chance and
the first opponent is Britain. We are ready to win the cup this
time.’

Nalbandian will be phoning Diego Maradona in the hope that his friend
will attend the match, from February 8-10. Seeing the barrel-chested
football legend in the front row will only add to the frenzy of the
occasion. `He is still the No 1 sporting superstar of all time,’
Nalbandian says. `The people worship him.’

They love their tennis, too. Nalbandian is the Argentina No 1, so he
would need to lose at least once for Britain to have a chance of
pulling off a massive upset. If he picks up this year where he left
off in 2007, John Lloyd’s team can forget that.

Nalbandian, who was 26 on New Year’s Day, is the tenth-best player in
the world, thanks in no small part to his success in the final two
Masters events of last year, in Madrid and Paris, weeks that included
back-to-back victories over Roger Federer and Nadal as well as the
scalps of Novak Djokovic, Richard Gasquet and David Ferrer. When he
is on such a roll, he is a match for anyone. There are few better
double-handed backhands and for someone who has been accused of
carrying too much weight, he moves beautifully.

`I feel I can be better again this year,’ the former world No 3 and
2002 Wimbledon finalist, says. `I want to return to the top five, the
top three. I will be pushing hard. It is not going to be easy because
there are many good players coming through, but I am 100 per cent
ready for the challenge.

`I feel I can win a grand-slam [tournament], the Davis Cup for my
country and do well at the Olympics. It is tough to compare years,
but I definitely feel very good right now.’

ARAM HAROUTIUNIAN IS CONVINCED THAT HE WILL PASS TO SECOND TOUR OF
ELECTIONS

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Aram Haroutiunian, the
Chairman of the National Consent party, a candidate for presidency in
the forthcoming presidential elections in RA, his preelection program
differs from other candidates’ programs in the respect that the
suggests differentiating business from politics. As he mentioned at the
January 11 press conference, an economic parliament should be created
for that purpose and only businessmen should be included in it. The
latters, according to A. Haroutiunian, will be admitted to that
parliament not through elections but through the amount of the taxes
they paid and their conscientiousness. "In this way we will secure that
businessmen will not evade paying taxes," A. Haroutiunian said.

Besides the above mentioned, the National Consent’s leader also
proposes making amendments to the electoral system, in particular, when
voting not marking in front of the name of the preferable candidate,
but to estimate all candidates by giving them points, for instance,
giving 9 points to a preferable candidate, 8 points to a less
preferable one and 0 points to an absolutely not preferable candidate.
In this case, as A. Haroutiunian assured, the task of falsifiers will
become rather complicated, as they will have to do "hard creative
work."

He added that his election campaign will be held under the mottos "It
is time of national consent" and "I will be President of not only all
but also everybody." In case of fair elections, as A. Haroutiunian is
convinced, a second tour will be held without fail, and he will be one
of the candidates taking part in it. "And I am ready to dispute with
all candidates within the framework of the election campaign, except
Tigran Karapetian," A. Haroutiunian said.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 15 2008

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs meet Armenian President

[ 15 Jan 2008 16:53 ]

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs-Mattew Bryza (US), Bernard Fassier
(France) and Yury Merzlyakov (Russia) met Armenian President and
Andrzey Kaspszyk, personal representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office
met Armenian President, APA reports quoting Armenian media
They discussed the issue on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict and co-chairs learned Armenian President’s opinion of the
proposals presented in Madrid on November 29.
Co-chairs will observe the monitoring at the opposite side with
Andrzey Kaspszyk that will be held in the contact frontline of troops
in Yusifjanli village of Aghdam. They will return Yerevan at the same
day. They will return Azerbaijan on January 18.They met Azerbaijani
President and Foreign Minister and carried out talks on January
14./APA/

GOVERNMENT TO SPEND $600,000 ON ADVERTISING ARMENIA ON CNN AND EURONEWS

ARMENPRESS
Jan 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government plans to
spend thousands of US Dollars this year to advertise the country as
an attractive tourist destination and especially its winter resort
town Tsakhkadzor, on CNN and Euronews.

Mekhak Apresian, head of a department at the trade and economic
development ministry, dealing with tourism, told Armenpress that the
government will release to this end 180 million Drams (some $600,000),
as much as it did for 2007.

Also a resort town of Jermuk in the Vayots Dzor province, where
the eponymous mineral water is produced, has now a cable road. Its
construction was launched in late April of 2007.

The government released 1.3 billion Drams from its reserve funds to
that end. The cable road is 1000 meter long.

The cable road is to give a push to tourism development and make the
town more attractive for holiday-makers not only in summer, but also
in winter.

Mekhak Apresian told Armenpress that the cable road will be officially
opened in mid-January.

Armenian National Committee of Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada 89135
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
January 10, 2008

Contact: Ara Shirinian
E-mail: [email protected]

*Nevada Armenian Americans Will Make Difference in Presidential Primary Set
for January 19th *

*Las Vegas, NV* – The strong growth of the Armenian American community in
Nevada will be a factor in the upcoming Presidential primary slated for
January 19, 2008. In a new development this Presidential election cycle,
both the Republican and Democratic Party primaries have been moved up the
date of the Nevada primary, bringing more attention and importance to the
Silver State’s upcoming primary.

A recent article in the Las Vegas Review Journal summed up the increased
relevance of Nevada in picking the next president. "The eyes of the nation
will be on the Silver State’s voters as never before in 2008, and those
seeking the presidency of the United States will surely be spending ample
time in Nevada getting out their message and securing support," remarked Las
Vegas area Congresswoman Shelly Berkley (D-NV).

Since 1990, Nevada’s population and economy has grown at a remarkable pace,
as the state is the second fast growing in the country behind only Arizona.
The 2006 census estimate puts the state’s population at approximately
2.5million, a figure that has grown by more than 20% since 2000.
The state’s largest Armenian American advocacy group, the Armenian National
Committee of Nevada (Nevada ANC), estimates that the Armenian community has
increased five-fold over the last decade, with over 10,000 Armenian
Americans now residing in the state.

"Our community has continued to grow at a tremendous pace since the last the
presidential election in 2004," stated Nevada ANC Chairperson Ara Shirinian.
"Armenian Americans will play an important role in the upcoming presidential
primary on January 19th. Clearly, we are all watching the presidential race
closely," he added.

Nevada is home to among the strongest supporters of Armenian American issues
in the U.S. Congress. U.S. Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Harry Reid (D-NV;
Senate Majority leader) are currently cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide
resolution (S. Res. 106), in addition to U.S. Representatives Shelley
Berkley (D-NV-01) and Jon Porter (R-NV-03) who have cosponsored H. Res. 106.

"Armenian-Americans throughout the United States are prepared to vote in
this pivotal and heated race," remarked ANCA-WR Executive Director, Andrew
Kzirian. "The outcome of the upcoming presidential election will depend on
mobilizing voters who care deeply about specific issues that affect their
communities," he added.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

###

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY "ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN CONTACTS IN 2007 DID NOT GO BEYOND NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SETTLEMENT OF THE GARABAGH CONFLICT"

Today
itics/42217.html
Jan 9 2008
Azerbaijan

Last year the contacts between Azerbaijan and Armenia did not go
beyond negotiations on the settlement of the Garabagh conflict.

In 2007 the contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan did not go beyond
negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Garabagh
conflict.

The due information is contained in the report of the Department
of Press and Information under the Foreign Ministry of Armenia on
results of the activity of the Ministry in 2007.

"The relations with Azerbaijan mainly developed in the framework of the
negotiation process on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Garabagh
conflict under control of the OSCE Minsk Group", the document states.

Definite contacts were also observed in the framework of international
organizations, as well as on the level of public organizations and
media representatives.

VARDAN OSKANYAN: "THE SETTLEMENT OF THE NAGORNO GARABAGH CONFLICT WILL BECOME A KEY ISSUE ON THE AGENDA OF THE EXTERNAL POLICY OF ARMENIA IN 2008"

Today
s/42216.html
Jan 9 2008
Azerbaijan

The settlement of the Nagorno-Garabagh problem will become the main
priority of Armenia’s external policy in 2008.

The due statement was made by Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
at a press conference on Wednesday.

"The settlement of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict will become a key
issue on the agenda of the external policy of Armenia in 2008. The
negotiation process will intensify due to the replacement of the
President of Armenia this year", the Foreign Minister of Armenia said.

The Minister announced that the basis of the negotiation process will
remain the same and the talks will continue considering the old basis.

V.Oskanyan also voiced hope that the talks will end positively in 2008.

Oskanyan noted that Armenia will continue its diplomatic activity to
lay foundation for the independence of the so called self-appointed
"Nagorno Garabagh Republic".