Author: Dabaghian Diana

ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS TO MEET OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS TONIGHT

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.01.2010 19:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tonight, at 8 p.m. Yerevan time, Armenian and
Azeri Presidents will meet OSCE MG co-chairs for Karabakh conflict
settlement, Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France) and
Robert Bradtke (USA). The meeting will take place at Adler’s airport,
PanARMENIAN.Net journalist reported.

This is the first meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev in
2010, preceded by 6 presidential meetings in 2009.

RF, AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA PRESIDENTS TO DISCUSS KARABAKH CONFLICT

Itar-Tass
25.01.2010, 03.20

MOSCOW, January 25 (Itar-Tass) – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
will meet with his counterparts, Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Serzh
Sargsyan of Armenia, in Sochi on Monday to discuss the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Kremlin press service reported.

Upon the results of the first tripartite meeting in Barvikha "the
presidents signed the Declaration of the Azerbaijani Republic, the
Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, which confirmed the
striving for attaining a political settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict under the international law, the support for the mediating
efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, the United
States and France) and the agreements reached between the presidents
of Azerbaijan and Armenia to intensify the negotiating process and
to promote the creation of conditions for building up trust."

"A forthcoming meeting in the tripartite format is intended to confirm
Russia’s intention to continue an active mediating assistance to the
parties to the conflict in order to find a mutually acceptable solution
to the Nagorno Karabakh problem, particularly within the framework of
the OSCE Minsk Group," the Russian presidential press service reported.

"Along with the Nagorno Karabakh settlement problem the presidents
will discuss topical issues of regional cooperation (with due account
of Russia’s current presidency in the CIS as of January 1, 2010),
the measures that are being taken within the framework of regional
integration unions to overcome the negative aftermaths of the world
financial and economic crisis, as well as the situation in the Caucasus
region," the Kremlin press service said.

RA CC ruling doesn’t limit or qualify Protocols in any way, US says
23.01.2010 15:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The United States welcomed a ruling by Armenia’s
Constitutional Court late on Friday, effectively dismissing Turkey’s
claims that it runs counter to the Turkish-Armenian fence-mending
agreements.

`We view the court decision as a positive step forward in the
ratification process of the normalization protocols between Turkey and
Armenia,’ U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said in
written comments sent to RFE/RL. `The court decision permits the
protocols, as they were negotiated and signed, to move forward towards
parliamentary ratification, and does not appear to limit or qualify
them in any way.’

`We are confident that both Turkey and Armenia take their commitment
to the protocols seriously, and we urge timely ratification of the
protocols by both countries,’ added Gordon. `Our position remains the
same. We support the normalization process, which we believe
contributes to peace and stability in the Caucasus. What is critical
is to keep the parties focused on the vital importance of moving
ahead.’

Earlier, commenting on the decision of the Armenian Constitutional
Court, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that `the decision
contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the
letter and spirit of the Protocols.’

‘The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these
Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot
be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed
allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence
to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same
allegiance from the Armenian Government,’ the Ministry said.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the 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, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Interfax, Russia
Jan 20 2010

Russian investment in Armenian economy drops 30% in 2009

YEREVAN Jan 20

Russian investments in the Armenian economy last year amounted,
according to preliminary data, to $300 million or 30% less than in
2008, Russian Trade Representative Alexander Zaitsev said at a
Wednesday press conference in Yerevan.

Overall Russian investment in the republic has reached $2.5 billion,
Zaitsev said. It could grow substantially – to $5 billion – in the
next few years if Russia’s involvement in the building of a new
nuclear-power generating block is factored in.

Zaitsev attributed the drop in Russian investments last year to the
negative effects of the world economic crisis, which also prompted a
reduction in Russian-Armenian trade turnover that will not reprise the
2008 level of roughly $1 billion until 2012.

Official stats indicate that Russia invested $191.9 million in Q1-Q3
last year, and was the republic’s largest foreign investor for the
period.

TURKISH MINISTERS COUNCIL DID NOT DISCUSS ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT’S DECISION

Tert.am
11:31 ~U 22.01.10

A ministers council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, took place in Turkey yesterday. As previously reported,
discussed during the meeting, among other issues, was to be the RA
Constitutional Court’s decision on the Armenian-Turkish Protocols.

Turkish government spokesperson Cemil Cicek stated that, during the
meeting, no assessments were made on the RA Consitutional Court’s
decision, adding that Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already
issued a statement on the issue, reports Anadolu Ajansi.

"That is a decision which hinders [our] efforts. If the Armenian
authorities find that it’s useful to implement the Protocols and if
they are sincere in that issue, then they should make a statement that
will satisfy not only Turkey, but also the international community,"
said Cicek.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SATISFIED WITH CONTROL CHAMBER’S ACTIVITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.01.2010 16:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Friday with
RA Control Chamber’s staff.

Addressing those present, Mr. Sargsyan said, "Judging by the Chamber’s
work, we can fix that this is a developing structure carrying out
effective work".

According to him, "The solution of existing problems requires all of
us to be consistent and goal-oriented, but that should not cause any
delays in resolving more urgent problems."

"In that regard, the Control Chamber should be capable of
distinguishing and raising the key problems and shortfalls,
particularly in management sector, and be actively involved in finding
solutions," President stressed.

Expressing satisfaction with Chamber’s activities in the sphere of
effective management, he particularly stressed, "That encourages the
Chamber to work more actively to attain better results."

President also focused on chamber’s activities in public relations
sector. "Society often has objective questions as to why Control
Chamber is not considerate about instituting criminal case against
state officials accused of abusing power. In that context, I attach
importance to cooperation with law enforcement agencies," he said.

"The Control Chamber should be very strict about disclosing problems
and providing solution to them, working effectively" President added.

GAS CONSUMERS NUMBER INCREASED BY 22398 IN 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.01.2010 16:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As of January 1, 2010, the number of gas consumers
in Armenia reached 596353, ArmRosGazprom press office said. Thus,
over the year 2009, total number of gas consumers grew by 22398.

In all, 243137 signalling devices and cutoff valves were installed
by ArmRosGazprom in accordance with the governmental decree.

Founded in 1997, ArmRosGazprom, a subsidiary of Gazprom, supplies
gas for the domestic market in Armenia. The company also transports,
stores, processes, distributes, and sells natural gas; and generates
electricity, as well as engages in the reconstruction and expansion
of the gas transportation system and underground storage facilities
system in Armenia. In addition, it manages gas deliveries from the
Russian Federation to Armenia, as well as exports to Turkey.

Currently, the company’s authorized capital totals AMD 316.6 billion.

RUSSIAN POLITICIAN OFFERS TO FREEZE KARABAKH CONFLICT FOR 30 YEARS

news.am
Jan 21 2010
Armenia

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has no political solution that would meet
all parties’ interests "without what they call losing face," the
Co-chair of Russian "Just Cause" party Leonid Gozman told Day.az.

"I know exactly that this conflict is not the one that can be solved
by a magic wand," he added.

Gozman says he sees resolution of the conflict differently. "Some
unresolved issues are negotiated for 30 years. In other words,
the parties may agree in a written form or orally to return to the
solution of the conflict after some time," he told Day.az.

In this case, the parties might discuss a number of issues, leaving
aside this problem.

"The core of my offer is to establish initial contact between the
two countries, which, I think, is much more important today," the
politician stated, underlining that the point is establishment of
diplomatic, trade-economic, cultural, ecological and other ties.

Russian politician considers that the conflicting parties might
reach an agreement in the near future. However, the agreement will be
related more to the normalization of regional situation on the whole,
than directly Nagorno-Karabakh status.

US, ARMENIA MAIN ENEMIES OF TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.01.2010 19:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to a survey held by the Center for Research
on European Communities at the University of Ankara, Turkey’s main
enemy is the United States, Armenia comes next. 37.5 per cent of
respondents consider the United States as the enemy, 10.9 per cent –
Armenia, 10.6 per cent – Israel, 6.1 per cent – Greece, 5.1 per cent
– France.

29.9 per cent of respondents named among Turkey’s friends Azerbaijan
and 15.7 per cent – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

69.7 per cent of respondents are for the ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols by the Turkish Parliament. But they
expressed some reservations: for example, 35 per cent – in case
of "withdrawal of Armenians from the territories of Azerbaijan",
28.6 per cent – in case if Armenians refuse from the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and only 6.1 per cent agree
with the ratification, without preconditions.

The survey was held between October 31 and December 31, 2009 in nine
provinces of Turkey, Ankara and Istanbul. Students, public figures,
intellectuals were among 1,032 respondents, AbHaber reported.

Protocols on the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations have
been signed on October 10, 2009 in Zurich by the foreign ministers
of Armenia and Turkey, Edward Nalbandian and Ahmet Davutoglu in the
presence of the foreign ministers of France, the United States, Russia
and Switzerland after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss
mediation since 2007. According to the Protocols, diplomatic relations
should be established between the two countries and the mutual border,
closed by Turkey since 1993, should be opened. On January 12, 2010
Armenian Constitutional Court acknowledged the constituency of the
Protocols.

KRIKOR MAZLUMIAN RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS FROM FSRWAD

Aysor
Jan 20 2010
Armenia

Foundation for Supporting Russian-writing writers of Armenia and
Diaspora has sent its sincere congratulations to Armenian-born Russian
poet, well-known resident of Sochi, Director of Cultural Center of
Sochi’s Lazarevsky district, Krikor S. Mazlumian on the occasion of
receiving the Imperial Culture Award’s diploma.

"We’ve met with Krikor Mazlumian at the presentation of his collection
of poems, Songs about Hamshen," told Aysor’s correspondent on the
phone interview Suren Petrosian.

"We’ve established warm friendly relations, Krikor became our friend.

We sincere congratulate him for his achievements and success. I
would like to stress Krikor Mazlumian’s activities in bringing to
the world the Armenian culture. I believe, Krikor will please us with
his success and in the future."