Author: Dabaghian Diana

CONGRESSMAN ROBERT WEXLER: "AZERBAIJAN IS A KEY ENERGY SOURCE FOR BOTH EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES"

Today.Az
21 February 2008

Members of Turkish and Azerbaijani community of Northern California
have today met with Robert Wexler, co-chair of the Congress’ working
group on Turkey, congressman of 19th district of Florida.

APA reports that the meeting was organized by American Turkish Alliance
for Justice.

The aim of the meeting was to demonstrate support of Turkish and
Azerbaijani community to the congressman in the forthcoming elections.

The event was held in Menlo Park city of Northern
California. Azerbaijan was represented by founder of Northern
Azerbaijanis’ Cultural Center Samir Lutvaliyev.

Prior to the event, answering the question of APA Robert Wexler highly
appreciated the results of his visit to Azerbaijan two weeks ago. He
mentioned that Azerbaijan, neighbor of such giant countries as Iran
and Russia, allied with the West and was an important energy source
for both Europe and the US.

Speaking about his day and a half visit to Azerbaijan, the congressman
said Turkish embassy had a very beautiful building in Baku. According
to the congressman, Turkish embassy is the largest in Baku and this is
the symbol of eternal fraternity between the two states. Addressing
the meeting, Robert Wexler said Turkish Diaspora was on the stage of
development and over 72 congressmen were represented in the working
group on Turkey in the Congress.

According to Robert Wexler, the main attention in connection with
the Diaspora formation should be focused on California.

"This is because the large Armenian community of the US lives there,"
he said.

The congressman said those who support Armenian Genocide Resolution
(H.Res.106) spoiled the image of the United States. Robert Wexler
said Turkey was a democratic state and 75 percent of equipment,
supplies and food for military operations were delivered to Iraq
through this country.

SARGSYAN TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, PUTIN SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.02.2008 15:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia’s President Vladimir Putin congratulated
Serzh Sargsyan on victory in the presidential election.

The address says, in part, "Russia values highly the relationship
remarkable for trust, cooperation and mutual support. Consistent
strengthening of partnership meets the interests of Russian and
Armenian people and promotes stability in Transcaucasia. I make special
mention of your contribution to development of the Russian-Armenian
relations. I am confident that your activity at the post of President
will help further progress."

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
VISITS ANTELIAS

Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury delegated his representative, Father
Nebil Shehade, to meet with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias on February 19.

The Catholicos and his guest discussed a number of issues with a special
focus on re-launching the theological dialogue between the Oriental Orthodox
and Anglican Churches. The two sides examined the possibilities and the
means of overcoming the difficulties facing this dialogue.

Another issue that featured in the talks concerned the Middle East Council
of Churches (MECC) and proposals for further cooperation with the
organization. As the newly elected president of the Council, the Pontiff
expressed his viewpoints on this issue having in mind the perspectives for
practical and effective results.

Finally, Archbishop Williams was interested in the Catholicos’ viewpoints
concerning the call for cooperation made by the Amman-based Royal Aal
Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought and signed by 138 Muslim clerics and
scholars. The Archbishop was interested in the Pontiff’s opinion on the
potential for a pan-Christian response to the call for cooperation from
Islam. His Holiness shared with the Archbishop’s delegate his views about
the matter.

The Archbishop of Canterbury visited Antelias last summer and held a meeting
with the Catholicos, deepening the level of friendship between the two
spiritual leaders.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos197.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 19 2008

Rasim Agayev: "Armenian people is a professional structured
organization which has its tasks and goals"

19 February 2008 [18:51] – Today.Az

"Armenia has put forward its claims not only on Nagorno Karabakh, but
also on Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan".

The due announcement was made by political scientist Rasim Agayev.

He said Armenians are a professional structured organization which
has its tasks and goals.

"This is not the only phenomenon in the world. Such peoples do exist.
Along with their ethnic features, they have a political striving for
being organized", Agayev noted.

He noted that Armenia did not stop on occupation of Nagorno Karabakh,
it has ideas regarding Turkey, Crimea and North Caucasus.

"Karabakh is a small episode in big Armenian policy, which became a
part of each Armenian", Agayev noted.

He said Azerbaijan has lost only the battle, not the whole war.

/Day.Az/

URL:

Global Insight
February 18, 2008

EU Says Turkey is Committed to Nabucco

by Zoe Grainge

The European Union (EU) co-ordinator for natural gas projects in
Southern Europe, Jozias van Aarsten, said at the weekend that Turkey
was fully committed to the EU-endorsed Nabucco pipeline project. Van
Aarsten had held a meeting with Turkish officials and planned to hold
further talks soon on a disagreement over a pricing mechanism for the
project. Turkey has failed to agree on the pricing of the project and
is also opposed to French company Gaz de France
joining the consortium that will build the pipeline. Turkey has been
angered by France’s objections to its bid to join the EU and by
French moves to make denying the alleged Armenian genocide. Turkey
rejects the label genocide and insists the mass killings of Armenians
at the start of the last century were the result of the chaos of war.
A delegation, led by France’s Trade Minister, is scheduled to visit
the Turkish capital, Ankara, next week to try, among other things, to
overcome Turkey’s objections to Gaz de France, the state-run Anatolia
news agency reported.

Significance:In the past two weeks, there has been a lot of newsflow
from Nabucco. The latest EU-level talks come after the European
Commission confirmed its approval of a third-party access exemption
for the Austrian stretch of the proposed Nabucco pipeline. The
decision means the project developers–OMV, MOL, Transgaz, Bulgargaz,
BOTAS, and RWE–will have exclusive rights to use up to 50% of the
pipeline’s Austrian-based capacity. Turkey has made two public
objections to GDF joining Nabucco, and differences need to ironed out
fast if the project is to keep up its current momentum.

"WE SHOULD RETURN GYUMRI ITS QUONDAM TITLE OF THE NORTH CAPITAL OF ARMENIA"
By Gegham Mkrtchian

AZG Armenian Daily
17/02/2008

Presidential elections

Serge Sarkisian’s campaign in Shirak province

Presidential candidate, Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian conducted his
pre-election campaign in Shirak province on February 15. After the
meetings with the voters in the province’s villages and towns Langik,
Azatan, Artik and Maralik a crowded rally was held in the center of
the province – Gyumri.

Touching upon the issues of Gyumri the presidential candidate
mentioned, "Peoples of Gyumri never complain of bad conditions,
they complain of injustice and inattention".

"We are fully aware that there were times that the authorities
disregarded the problems of Gyumri… I am deeply sure of our ability
to return Gyumri’s pride".

The candidate mentioned that people should look ahead; they should
believe in their future and get over the difficulties together.

Serge Sargsian assured that in coming five years they should basically
finish the building of Gyumri and increase the opportunities of the
town, and return the quondam title of Gyumri – the north capital
of Armenia."

After the meeting the campaign continued in the north parts of Shirak
province – Akhurian, Ashotsk and Amasia.

TER-PETROSIAN PROPOSES PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER TO GIVE UP POWER
WITH DIGNITY

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Calls like "We will win", "President
Levon", "Armenians, Unite" were made at the February 16 rally organized
by the opposition and during a mass procession that followed tha rally.

The presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian delivered a summary
speech at the rally. Addressing those present, he said that he is
speaking with the people that has already won. He urged everybody to be
consistent in the national struggle and to go to vote without fail. He
warned that indifference and pessimism of some people may ruin the
national struggle.

Levon Ter-Petrosian said that his election campaign can already be
summarized. According to him, the campaign has reached its goal, and,
in particular, during numerous meetings in remote marzes it has become
possible to "break" the atmosphere of fear which formed there in the
past ten years. Such an atmosphere, according to L. Ter-Petrosian, does
not exist in Yerevan and four nearby marzes adjacent to it: Ararat,
Armavir, Kotayk and Aragatsotn which are the most active and
well-informed marzes. He announced that he calls a rally on February 20
at 3 p.m. to celebrate the victory in the elections.

A procession was organized following the rally. The procession led by
Levon Ter-Petrosian and representatives of the political forces
endorsing him made its way along Mashtots, Grigor Lusavorich, Italy and
Nalbandian Streets and back to Freedom Square. During a short rally
after the procession, the first Armenian president proposed that Serge
Sargsian withdraw his candidacy, while Robert Kocharian should "give up
power with dignity and without any shocks", thus proving that they are
statesmen.

L. Ter-Petrosian declared that he is convinced that he will win at the
very first round of elections. In his words, if the authorities try "to
draw some figures in favor of Sargsian", then the February 20 rally
will be the beginning of the struggle (with the use of all legal means)
for defending the opposition’s victory.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 16 2008

Armenians’ ceasefire violation kills soldier of Azerbaijani Army-
UPDATED

[ 16 Feb 2008 11:24 ]

Aghdam. Teymur Guliyev-APA. One more soldier of Azerbaijani Army was
killed as a result of violation of ceasefire by Armenians. APA’s
Karabakh bureau reports that it happened yesterday evening.

The enemy forces fired from their positions in Yusifjanli village of
Aghdam region killing 20-year-old Gurbanov Arzuman Ramiz who was
drafted from Sabunchu district in October, 2006. Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry’s press service confirmed the fact.

Jordanian News Agency
February 15, 2008 Friday 3:38 PM EST

Statement issued by Council of Church Leaders in Jordan

Amman, Feb.15 (Petra)?The Council of the Church leaders in Jordan
expressed its surprise regarding an article published by an American
News Agency, "Compass Direct News" about Christians in Jordan. The
article contained falsities that distort the truth and harm relations
between Muslim and Christian citizens in Jordan.

The Council added that it is puzzling that certain small groups,
whose memberships number only few hundred people and which are
foreign to Christians in Jordan and to the history of
Muslim-Christian relations, permit themselves to speak in the name of
all Christians and appoint themselves as the guardians and protectors
of Christianity as if Christianity were in danger.

The statement clarified the proportion of Jordanian Christians
nationals currently residing in the country comes to about 4% and
rise to 5% if the Christian nationals residing abroad were included.
The statement added that Christian citizens are not imported from
abroad; they are Jordanian citizens deep-rooted in this land since
the days of the prophets and the first Christian generation. There is
a Council of Church Leaders residing in Jordan grouping the Bishops
of Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, (Melkite), Roman Catholic, and
Armenian Orthodox Churches. Ninety-five per cent of Christian
citizens in Jordan belong to one of these churches. Due to the small
numbers of the followers of other churches their religious leaders
reside in Jerusalem.

The statement underlined the Christian nationals in Jordan live a
normal life, in various towns and villages, in secure and safe
environment where they maintain good social relations with their
Muslim compatriots. The two different religions did not produce two
split communities: Muslim and Christian. Christian contribute to the
social, economic, cultural and scientific life in Jordan, and serve
in the army and in various front line with other intellectual, and
arte educationally qualified in various fields. Christian leaderships
enjoy good relations with both Muslim religious leaders and
government officials.

GYUMRI TECHNOPARK TO OPERATE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, HOSPITALITY AND FASHION SECTORS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 14, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. In foundation of the Gyumri
technopark, the RA ministry of trade and economic development
cooperates with the State Engineering University of Armenia, the
Armenian State University of Economics, the American University
of Armenia, two IT companies, an expert of the fashion sector, the
USIAD, the World Bank and a Finnish technopark, the RA minister of
trade and economic development Nerses Yeritsian stated on February
13 when presenting the economic section of the pre-election program
of the presidential candidate, RA prime minister Serge Sargsian at
the request of the Club of Economic Journalists.

According to him, the technopark will operate in IT, hospitality and
fashion sectors. Universities will function as resreach centers in the
incubation chain of the technopark. A system to ensure registration of
intellectual property will be introduced and based on this property,
advice necessary for business model formation will be given with
the aim of setting up enterprises and establishing connection with
venture and other investors.