Author: Dabaghian Diana

"EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE NAGORNO KARABAKH NEGOTIATING PARTY"

Panorama.am
13:48 20/02/2009

The Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Hovik Abrahanyan
is currently paying two-day working visit to Nagorno Karabakh. The
delegation chaired by the Chairman consists of the Vice Prime Minister,
the Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan, the Chief
of Staff of the NA Gegham Gharibjanyan, deputies Avet Adonts, Armen
Roustamyan, Areg Ghukasyan, Hamlet Harutyunyan, etc.

The Chairmen of the National Assemblies of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
held a session of inter-parliamentary council.

Hovik Abrahamyan said that Armenia signifies the role of OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs in holding the negotiations over Karabakh conflict.

Deputy Armen Roustamyan said that parliamentary diplomacy should be
developed and everything should be done to make NKR negotiating party.

The Chairman of the NA of Armenia had a separate meeting with the
President of NKR Bako Sahakyan, after which the meeting continued in
an expanded format, reports the press service of the NA.

PRESIDENT ALIYEV: POTENTIAL FOR PEACE TALKS REMAINS ALIVE

AzerNews Weekly
Feb 18 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said the possibilities for
negotiating a settlement to the long-standing conflict with Armenia
have not yet been exhausted.

Aliyev told the Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS that resolving
the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict was possible and Azerbaijan is
focused on seeking a solution to the problem.

He emphasized that Baku was trying to intensify ongoing peace talks
and clarify future prospects for a Garabagh settlement, considering
that a new leader has recently come to power in Armenia.

"There are certain hopes for Armenia`s more constructive and realistic
approach to the issue. These expectations have emerged not only among
us, but also among the mediators dealing with settling the conflict,"
Aliyev said.

He noted that peace talks are currently underway based upon the
principles outlined in the Moscow declaration signed by Baku and
Yerevan late last year.

The Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders signed the document on November
2, 2008 as part of talks that were hosted by Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev. Being the first document signed by the two heads of state
in the past 16 years, it called for settling the Garabagh conflict
based upon principles of international law and respective decisions
and resolutions passed so far.

"Naturally, this implies the four UN Security Council resolutions, the
UN General Assembly resolution and the OSCE Lisbon summit decision. All
these documents envision settling the conflict within Azerbaijan`s
territorial integrity," the president said.

Aliyev said, further, that the Moscow declaration also foresees
supplementing all stages of a treaty with international
guarantees. Azerbaijan has always stated that the dispute could
be resolved in stages. In other words, seven Azerbaijani districts
around Upper Garabagh, currently under Armenian occupation, must be
freed during the first stage. Azerbaijani refugees displaced during
the armed conflict in the early 1990s are to return home. Also,
the population that is living and will live in the region should be
provided with international security guarantees. During the next stage,
the legal status of Upper Garabagh is to be determined. The president
reiterated that determining the residents` status must comply with
his country`s territorial integrity.

Upper Garabagh has been occupied by Armenia since a 1994 ceasefire
ended hostilities that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted
about one million Azeris from their homes. Years of peace talks have
brought few tangible results.

However, Armenia has reiterated its claims to Upper Garabagh, with
President Serzh Sarkisian declaring that the region does not belong
to Azerbaijan.

"Garabagh will not be Azerbaijani territory. There is absolutely
no legal ground for this," he announced during a meeting with
representatives of the pro-government Prosperous Armenia party.

Sarkisian also said that the most important issue was that "the
people of Garabagh" do not want their territory to be transferred to
Azerbaijan`s control.

"Garabagh is our land, and it`s invaluable. Therefore, bargaining on
this issue is out of place," the Armenian leader said.

Baku, in turn, stated that Sarkisian`s statement is baseless.

"Azerbaijan has not put its land up for sale. The people of Upper
Garabagh are non-existent, and a non-existent nation cannot have any
desires," Khazar Ibrahim, the spokesman for the Azerbaijan Foreign
Ministry said, emphasizing that the population of the region consists
of both Azerbaijani and Armenian communities.

He said Sarkisian`s statement indicated that Yerevan was sticking to
its policy of aggression.

Ibrahim added that the OSCE Minsk Group – a team of diplomats brokering
a settlement to the Garabagh conflict – must respond to this statement.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER: OUR KARABAKH COMPATRIOTS MUST APPROVE ANY AGREEMENT ON SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

ArmInfo
2009-02-20 10:47:00

ArmInfo. "Peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict is constantly
in the focus of attention of Armenian Parliament. Numerous hearings
and discussions have been held on this topic", Armenian Parliamentary
Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan declared in Stepanakert, ArmInfo correspondent
to Stepanakert reported. The Armenian speaker heads a delegation
to the Nagorny Karabakh Republic for participation in the regular
meeting of Armenian-NKR Inter-parliamentary Commission for Cooperation.

‘We have one principle: our Karabakh compatriots must approve any
agreement on settlement of Karabakh conflict’, he said. As regards
the process of settling the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, Hovik
Abrahamyan said: ‘Republic of Armenia appreciates the meditation of
OSCE Minsk Group in the processes on development of Karabakh conflict
as effective format of negotiations’. ‘Any attempt to settle the
conflict by force may have unpredictable aftermaths both for the
parties and the region in the whole. Republic of Armenia supports
the principle of peaceful settlement of the conflict and highlights
the importance of confidence building for further constructive
negotiations. The parties should refrain from any steps that may
aggravate tension and create obstacles to the peace process’,
Hovik Abrahamyan said. He is sure that Nagorny Karabakh must have
uninterrupted land communication with Armenia and the security of
the Karabakh people must be guaranteed at the international level.

The speaker highlighted the close cooperation of Armenian and Karabakh
parliaments and came out for regular meetings and discussions.

To recall, H. Abrahamyan’s delegation comprising Vice Premier of
Armenia, Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan,
representatives of the parliament and the government arrived in
NKR on February 19. The delegation participated in the regular
meeting of the Armenian-NKR Inter- parliamentary Commission for
Cooperation. Hovik Abrahamyan is expected to meet with NKR President
Bako Sahakyan tete-a-tete. Afterwards, an enlarged meeting will be
held. The delegates will visit Stepanakert Memorial Complex, Church
Surb Ghazanchetsots in the town of Shushi as well as will meet with
Leader of Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop
Pargev Martirosyan. On February 20 the delegation will arrived back
to Yerevan.

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

February 20, 2009
Contact: Sara Simounian

Crescenta Valley High School Junior Steps Up to Serve
Community Through ANC-WR

LOS ANGELES, CA – Sara Simounian recently joined the Armenian National
Committee – Western Region’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR
IEP) as one of its newest interns this spring. As part of the
program, Simounian will be specializing in Public and Media Relations.
Only a few weeks into the program, Simounian has jumped into action
assisting the ANC staff with several projects ranging from press
releases to event promotion.

"Through the program I am learning more about current issues dealing
with Armenia and Armenian communities all over the world," noted
Simounian. "Though I am dealing with present community concerns,
doing so has made me feel a greater appreciation for my heritage," she
added.

Simounian is a third year student attending Crescenta Valley High
School in Glendale. She intends to continue her academic studies at
Glendale Community College before heading off to university. In
addition to her projects, Simounian has also had the opportunity to
learn more about the ANC as well as valuable work environment skills
through the internship program’s lecture, workshop, and seminar
series.

Simounian learned about the internship program through her brother, an
ANC-WR IEP alumnus. She had regularly volunteered for the ANC-WR in
the past year and as soon as Simounian heard about the 2009 Spring
Session of the internship program she quickly submitted her
application.

"One of the best things about this program is that I get to work with
friends who feel just as strongly as me about making a positive
difference in my community," said Simounian.

The Armenian National Committee ? Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American Grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

ALI HASANOV: "CONCERN OF AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC AND MEDIA OVER TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS IS UNDERSTANDABLE"

APA
Feb 19 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. "Unfortunately, the issue on Turkey’s
retracting from the term of Nagorno Karabakh to establish relations
with Armenia is covered partially in Azerbaijani media.

We know this issue as much as Azerbaijani media does. According to
Armenian service of Radio Liberty, Turkey decided to open borders,
establish diplomatic relations with Armenia and retracted from its
previous position in order to make this decision. Unfortunately,
Turkey’s official bodies neither refute, nor confirm these reports,"
chief of socio-political department of the President’s Office Ali
Hasanov said, APA reports.

The department chief said mass media covers understandable concern
and discontent of Azerbaijani public and media.

"It was always said during the presidency of Turgut Ozal, Suleyman
Demirel and by Erdogan during AKP’s ruling that political, economic,
cultural or diplomatic relations will not be established with the
aggressive state unless Armenia releases the occupied Azerbaijani
territories, refugees and IDPs return to their native lands,
peace is established in the South Caucasus and between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. We believe this word and think that it is still so. But
ask Turkish ambassador in Azerbaijan and other our Turkish friends
why the issue is not made clear," he said.

Ali Hasanov believes that Azerbaijan’s public opinion is not
insignificant for Turkish authorities.

"The relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are higher than the
relations between two states. We have always made political and
historical statements about eternal alliance. It is the duty of
Turkish and Azerbaijani official and unofficial bodies to protect
this alliance," he said.

POLICE OFFICERS PROHIBITED THEM FROM APPROACHING THE CEC

A1+
[08:13 pm] 19 February, 2009

Dozens of police officers were waiting for members of the "Special
Regiment" movement today, which marks one year since the Armenian
presidential elections.

Some police officers were waiting in cars and were led by Commander
of the patrol service regiment Robert Melkonyan and his deputy
Valeri Osipyan.

The "Special Regiment" youth movement was planning to hold a picket
and put on a show in front of the building of the Central Electoral
Commission.

Around 2:20 p.m. today nearly 40 youth were walking from Koryun
Street to the Central Electoral Commission with signs and tricolor
flags in their hands. But the youth had not taken a couple of steps
before the police officers prohibited them to move forward.

After the youth announced that they were only 40 people and have
the right to organize a march, Robert Melkonyan stole the signs of
one of the members and broke it. The other police officers did the
same and pushed the youth back, including Deputy of the "Heritage"
faction Zaruhi Postanjyan. Not after the pushing and shoving of police
officers did activists start to move back and yell "Serzhik, leave"
and "Shame on you".

Police officers pushed the youth back into the building of the Armenian
National Congress located on Koryun Street.

When member of the Armenian National Movement Aram Manukyan tried to
find out from Robert Melkonyan why they were pushing the youth back
and breaking the signs, the high-ranking police officer started to
push Aram Manukyan too. They pushed everybody back and closed the
door. Swearing was heard from both sides and the police officers
even started pushing the girls and did not allow journalists to do
their job.

Deputy Zaruhi Postanjyan demanded Robert Melkonyan to give her a
document stating that police officers have the right to drive away
a crowd.

"Show me the decision for attacking the youth members or breaking
their signs," said Zaruhi Postanjyan. But Robert Melkonyan refuted
that and said that nothing like that had happened (the clips taken by
"A1+" clearly show how Robert Melkonyan breaks the sign-ed.)

GOVERNMENT LOAN TO HELP MAINTAIN DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS IN ZANGEZUR COPPER-MOLYBDENUM FACTORY

ARKA
Feb 20, 2009

YEREVAN, February 20. /ARKA/. The loan allocated by the Armenian
Government to Zangezur cooper-molybdenum factory will be used for
keeping the development of the enterprise on and for maintaining
the jobs, Director of the factory Maxim Hakobyan said at Novosti
International Press Center.

Armenian Government made a decision to extend a $10mln worth
loan to Zangezur copper and molybdenum factory at its sitting
yesterday. Armenian Minister of Finance Tigran Davtyan said that
these investments are part of government efforts to overcome the
world crisis effects.

Director of the factory said that four years ago the government
and the stockholders signed an agreement on development of the
field. According to him, implementation of the first stage of the
program made production output grow by 50% over four years and helped
create 400 new jobs.

"The amount allocated will be directed to implementation of the
second part of the program, i.e. ensuring development, output growth,
maintaining jobs and salaries," Hakobyan said.

Investments in enterprise totaled about $330mln over the last four
years, he said.

"We used these amounts mainly to purchase modern and high-efficiency
equipment," director of the company said.

Hakobyan also said that the government-provided funds will help to
keep about 2,000 employees of 30 satellite enterprises. Besides, the
program will ensure a 35% growth of molybdenum production and a 75%
increase in cooper production. Permanent work will be provided to
10,000 people and another 200-300 new jobs will be opened by the end
of this year or the beginning of the next year.

Under the agreement of privatization of a major Armenian mining
enterprise, Zangezur cooper-molybdenum factory in Kajaran, the control
stock (60%) of the company’s shares were transferred to the German
"Cronimet", 15% to "Pure Iron Plant" open joint stock company, 12.5%
to "Armenian molybdenum production" CJSC and the remaining 12.5% to
"Zangezur Mining" LLC.

The investment program of Zangezur cooper-molybdenum factory for
2005-2020 totals $240mln and is to be implemented in two stages –
in 2005-2008 and in 2008-2020. The first stage investments are to
total $157mln. The program anticipates modernization of open-cut mine,
processing plant, tailing dump, outer networks and buildings, as well
as protection of environment and labor safety measures.

NERSES YERITSYAN ON FREE TRADE WITH EU: NOT THE LAWS BUT THEIR IMPLEMENTATION IS THE PROBLEM

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.02.2009 14:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenia-European Commission held a meeting
in Yerevan Wednesday to map out a preparatory process for future
negotiations on free trade agreement.

The meeting was presided over by RA Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan
and Mrs. Ewa Synowiec from the EC Directorate General for Trade.

"This meeting is crucial to the further integration of Armenian
business into European markets," Minister Yeritsyan said.

He added that EC requested a report on the influence of free trade
agreement implementation on Armenia’s economic growth.

Asked whether Armenia’s legislative framework is ready for conclusion
of the agreement, Nerses Yeritsyan said that not the laws themselves,
but their implementation is the problem.

The Minister noted that a thorough work will be conducted in
the following directions: overcoming technical trade barriers:
certification, standardization, hygiene and sanitary, requiring
substantial investments into corresponding substructures, creation
of laboratories, contributions to science as well as creation of
legislative framework for intellectual property protection.

He added that institutional changes in the sphere of state purchasing
and competitive environment are also in order.

According to the Minister, the EU is committed to continue assistance
to Armenia to speed up the process of reforms envisaged by the European
Neighborhood Policy.

YOUNG ARFD MEMBERS OF GREECE ORGANIZE ACTION OF PROTEST ON OCCASION OF AZERI PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO GREECE

Noyan Tapan
Feb 18, 2009

ATHENS, FEBRUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Greece was accompanied by an action of protest
organized by the ARFD Youth Union of Greece. According to the Azat Or
(Free Day) newspaper, Azeri President’s peace was broken, when the
action of protest participants voiced "Karabakh is ours!" at the
moment he entered Greece Chamber of Commerce.

An hour before the meeting of Greek and Azeri businessmen young
ARFD members, who had gathered in front of the Chamber of Commerce,
hoisted the state flags of Armenia, Greece, and Artsakh, as well as
a placard with the inscription "Aliyev, stop the aggression, Karabakh
is already independent."

According to the Azat Or, Azeri President’s smile froze on his face,
when coming out of the armoured car he looked at the crowd gathered
on the opposite pavement and heard the voice of fair complaint and
request of the Armenians.

"The Azeri bodyguards responsible for Azeri President’s security rudely
treated representatives of Armenians exercising their democratic right
of action of protest and demonstration hindering the entrance of Azat
Or’s editor and Armenian photographer photographing the gathering to
the meeting hall. And Greek Police forces surrounded their compatriots
expressing their complaint on the pavement in front of the meeting
building," the newspaper reported.

In spite of policemen’s attempt to repulse the demonstrants the
latters refused to leave and met with applause President of Greece
Karolos Papoulias, who arrived a little later.

During the meeting with Greek businessmen the Azeri President once
more used the chance to voice anti-Armenian statements again touching
upon "issues of seizing Azerbaijan’s lands by Armenia and issues
of refugees."

GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT ARMENIA

armradio.am
19.02.2009 14:26

The delegation headed by the Foreign Minister of Georgia Grigol
Vashadze will arrive in Armenia for an official visit.

Within the framework of the visit Grigol Vashadze will have meetings
with the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The delegation headed by the Foreign Minister of Georgia will visit
Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian
Genocide victims.