Author: Chmshkian Vicken

KAZAKHSTAN TO ASSIST IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.12.2009 18:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As OSCE co-chairing state, Kazakhstan intends
to take active part Minsk Group activities, the country’s Foreign
Minister Kanat Saudabayev said. During the Summit in Athens, Kazakh
official stressed the exclusively important role of dialogue in
conflict settlement process, Azad Or Athens-based newspaper reports.

Starting from January 2010, Kazakhstan will assume OSCE chairmanship.

NA VICE SPEAKER AND STATE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE DISCUSSED ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2009 22:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NA Vice Speaker Samvel Nikoyan has today received
Eton Goldrich, Director of U.S. State Department’s Caucasus Office.

At the guest’s request, Mr. Nikoyan briefed on National Assembly’s
legislative and control functions, as well as the procedures of
forming the parliament.

Parties focused on Armenian-Turkish rapprochement, protocol
ratification process, as well as the legislation concerning NGOs’
activity, RA NA press service reports.

THE 17TH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF OSCE TO TAKE PLACE IN ATHENS DECEMBER 1-2

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 30, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: The 17th session of the Council of
Foreign Ministers of OSCE will take place in Athens December 1-2.

Press service of the Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry reported that foreign
ministers of 56 member states of the organization, partner countries as
well as heads of OSCE establishments, representatives of international
and regional organizations will take part in the gathering.

"The results of the session of the OSCE Ministerial Council will
become a "road map" for the further chairmanship of Kazakhstan in
the organization," the statement of the Kazakh ministry says.

According to the agenda, the participants are planning to discuss
issues on strengthening the activity of OSCE in military-political,
economic-environmental and humanitarian security spheres and adopt
a number of ministerial decisions over them. The issue of 2012 OSCE
chairmanship will be discussed too.

"In parallel discussions about the situation in conflict zones will
take place," the statement says. The foreign ministers of the OSCE
"troika" Greece, Kazakhstan and Finland will give a joint press
conference.

ARMENIAN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES VISIT HOUSE OF HOPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 17:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The German Embassy in Armenia organized a visit of
media representatives to Yerevan-based "House of Hope" on November 27.

"This institution has established since 1994. Numerous programs with
support of the German Red Cross in Armenia and the Embassy of Germany
in Armenia are carried out here," the head of the institution Movses
Pogosyan said.

"Home Care" project has been implemented for several years, ensuring
care for lonely elderly people, including medical care and physical
assistance, provision of food and clothing.

"Every day 300 to 400 people have lunch here, besides 40 people are
taken good care at home, " Movses Pogosyan said.

YEREVAN TO HOST A CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE AND BUSINESS INTEGRATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 19:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Enterprise Incubator Foundation, RA Ministry
of Economy and the U.S. Civilian Research and Development (CRDF)
organize conference Integration of Science, Technology and Business,
on December 2, 2009.

14 investment proposals developed by Armenian experts in cooperation
with private companies with financial support of CRDF will be presented
at the conference. "This is a unique opportunity to get acquainted
with the new information technology, hi-technology and biotechnology
oriented to business," Enterprise Incubator Foundation wrote.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONDUCTS MEETINGS IN JAPAN

ARMENPRESS
Nov 26, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan arrived November 25 in Tokyo on an official visit. Press and
Information department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenpress
that in the capital of Japan the Armenian minister conducted the first
meeting with the parliament speaker Tokahiro Yakomich. The latter,
describing the Armenian-Japanese relations as friendly, expressed
hope that the visit of the Armenian foreign minister will give new
impetus to the development of Armenian-Japanese relations.

The Armenian minister said that Armenia highlights consolidation
and expansion of multi-lateral relations with Japan and said that
the aim of his visit is to discuss ways of development of bilateral
cooperation.

The interlocutors also discussed issues on promoting cooperation
between the parliaments of the two countries. In this pre-context
Edward Nalbandyan informed that in the Armenian parliament already an
Armenian-Japanese friendship group has been formed and the Armenian
side is waiting for the formation of such group in the newly-elected
Japanese government.

The Japanese parliament speaker highlighted Armenia’s efforts toward
normalization of relations with Turkey and establishment of peace in
the region, expressing confidence that the normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey will have positive impact on the regulation
of the Karabakh conflict.

Armenian foreign minister also met with his Japanese counterpart Kazuya
Okada. The Armenian minister noted that the development of partnership
with a country which has an important role in different arenas is an
important direction for Armenia and he arrived in Tokyo to point out
the directions of cooperation. In this respect the Armenian minister
said that Armenia is planning to establish permanent representation
in Tokyo.

During the meeting the sides discussed a number of regional,
international issues, cooperation in international organizations,
formation of legal-agreement field between the two countries, bilateral
cooperation in educational, scientific, cultural and other spheres.

The Japanese minister expressed support to the steps directed toward
the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and expressed hope
that the signed protocols will be ratified and be implemented which
will promote the establishment of peace in the region.

Armenian minister invited his Japanese counterpart to visit Armenia.

Besides the political agenda, the visit of the Armenian foreign
minister to Japan has an economic element. In Tokyo Edward Nalbandyan
visited the Japanese Foreign Trade Organization where he met with its
chairman Yasuo Hayashi and discussed opportunities of development
of trade-economic cooperation between the two countries, presented
Armenia’s investment field and spheres.

As a result of the meeting an arrangement has been reached that a
representative of the company visits Armenia to establish ties with
partners and to discuss cooperation ways.

The Armenian minister is also expected to meet with the Japanese throne
heir Narohito as well as deliver speech at the Japanese International
Relations Institute.

ARMENIA THREATENS TO RECOGNISE AZERBAIJAN’S REBEL REGION

Public Television of Armenia
Nov 23 2009

Asked by "Haylur" how Armenia will behave if tension over the Karabakh
issue really mounts, the spokesman for the Armenian president, Samvel
Farmanyan, said that Armenia may recognize the Artsakh [Karabakh]
republic and sign an agreement on mutual assistance with the second
Armenian republic is events develop in such a way.

[Presenter-reads out Farmanyan’s statement] Yerevan has had occasions
to note that no matter to what extent these statements are made for
domestic consumption, they hardly create a favourable atmosphere
for the settlement process. [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev’s
statements once again show the non-constructive conduct of Azerbaijan.

Growth of tension around Nagornyy Karabakh is of course the most
undesirable outcome for the whole region, Farmanyan said. However,
Armenia cannot be indifferent to the fate of the people of Artsakh, and
for this very reason the president of the republic [Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan] and other officials have numerously announced that we
are responsible for the security of the people of Artsakh. There are
accepted ways in case of such developments. Let’s suppose the Republic
of Armenia may recognize the independence of Nagornyy Karabakh with the
consequences stemming from that. Second, Armenia may sign an agreement
on mutual assistance with the Artsakh Republic. There are options and I
am sure that Armenia will use these few options either individually or
[all] at the same time. One should note that Armenia has not done so
[has not recognised Nagornyy Karabakh as independent] for one reason
– so as not to hinder the peace talks. And if the peace talks are
stopped and hostilities resume, nothing will prevent Armenia from
recognizing Artsakh’s independence.

[Presenter-read report] However, according to Farmanyan, the reality is
that the negotiation process continues. Armenia has always announced
that it sees no alternative to the peaceful settlement of the
issue, and that it is possible to reach a peaceful and comprehensive
settlement on the issue though negotiations. The presidential spokesman
also spoke about reports by some Azerbaijani media. According to the
reports, it was said during the Munich meeting that Armenians may pull
out of Kalbacar District by the end of this year to provide Turkey an
opportunity to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols and Azerbaijan –
to make its position milder.

[Presenter-reads out Farmanyan’s statement] We have already got used
that after each meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
"extremely informed" sources report about some arrangements which do
not exist in reality. This is mere misinformation and has no connection
with reality. Such an issue is not discussed, and consequently no such
arrangement can exist. It has been numerously said that the key issue
of the negotiation process on the settlement of the conflict and of
the discussions is the issue of the status of Nagornyy Karabakh. All
other issues are secondary.

10TH ANNIVERSARY OF "ORER" ARMENIAN PERIODICAL CELEBRATED IN PRAGUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.11.2009 16:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Prague town library has recently hosted the
celebration of the 10th anniversary of "Orer" European magazine.

During the ceremony, violinists from Prague Armen Sargsyan and Anna
Hambadrdzumyan played music and young singer Varine Lazarian performed
Armenian and Italian songs.

In his speech, Ashot Vanesyan, Head of Prague Office of Armenian
Ambassador to Austria, said " ‘Orer’ magazine contributed to the
strengthening Eastern European-, particularly, Czech-Armenians’
ties with their homeland, since it is published in Western Armenian
language and elucidates the problems of European Armenians."

Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan’s statement was also read
out. "I am sure that apart from being the most popular magazine for
Czech-Armenians. ‘Orer’ also serves as an unbreakable bridge between
Armenia and Diaspora. I wish the magazine to continue enjoying
popularity both among Diaspora readers and Armenian population,"
Minister Hakobyan said in her address.

At the end of party, singer Gayane Sokhakyan performed Armenian
folk songs, and own compositions, as well as pieces from Greek and
jazz music.

TURKISH DIPLOMAT: WE DEMAND ARMENIA TO QUIT OCCUPIED LANDS

news.az
Nov 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey used to have strained relations with Greece and the thaw
occurred owing to economic cooperation.

If economic cooperation prevails over political, it would be possible
to settle problems, spokesman for the Turkish embassy Nihad Javaner
said during a round table on integration processes in Middle Asia
and the South Caucasus.

According to the Turkish diplomat, definite steps are needed for
country’s integration.

"We should reach integration in different spheres, including economy,
but without free trade economic integration cannot be effective. We
attach a great importance to relations with Turkic states. Having
common language and common traditions is comfortable for our
cooperation, yet we integrate more and seek removal of customs tariffs
and other issues. We should work on this. If we attain an agreement
with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on all integration issues, this will
become a good example for other countries. If economic prosperity
comes to the region, it will lead to people’s welfare", Javaner said.

The Turkish diplomat noted that after the USSR collapse Turkey
recognized independence of all newly established countries, including
Armenia.

"One of the most actively discussed issues in Turkey and Azerbaijan
is signing of the Turkish-Armenian protocols. This does not mean that
we will ratify the protocols tomorrow and they come into effects.

However, Turkey wants to establish ties with all our neighbors and for
this purpose it has recently held a huge work. We have repeatedly
spoken of our provisions and said our ties with Armenia cannot
be normalized without the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. We
demand from Armenia to respect international law and withdraw from
the occupied lands", the spokesman said.

ARMENIA MAY RECOGNIZE INDEPENDENT KARABAKH IF TENSIONS GROW

Interfax
Nov 23 2009
Russia

Armenia may recognize independent Karabakh or sign an agreement on
mutual assistance if tensions around the unrecognized republic grow,
Armenian presidential press secretary Samvel Farmanian said.

"There are universal methods. If such developments occur, Armenia may
recognize independent Karabakh with all the consequences. Besides,
it is possible to sign an agreement on mutual assistance," he said.

"There are some options, and I am sure that Armenia will use some of
them or all. The sole reason why Armenia has not recognized independent
Karabakh is that it does not want to hamper the peace process. Once
the peace process stops and military actions begin, nothing will
prevent Armenia from recognizing independent Karabakh," he said.