Author: Ekmekjian Janet

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA PARTICIPATES IN CLOSED MEETING OF CIS SUMMIT IN BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN

ArmInfo
2008-10-10 13:17:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan is participating in the
closed meeting of the Heads of State of CIS in Bishkek, the capital
of Kyrgyzstan.

Russian media report that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev opened
the session. The participants of the session are President of Russia
Dmitry Medvedev, President of Belarus Aleksander Lukashenko, president
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Turkmenistan Gurbangulli
Berdiuhamedov, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President
of Moldavia Vladimir Voronin, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon,
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan
Artur Rasizade, Secretary of the Narional Security and Defense Council
of the Ukraine Raisa Bogatireva.

Russian media report hat the session is held behind the closed doors.

The closed meeting will preliminarily discuss the agenda of the
enlarged CIS Summit. In particular, the CIS Council of the Heads of
State is expected to discuss 20 draft documents.

The key issue of the agenda of the Council is the draft CIS Strategy
of Economic Development for 2020. A specially formed Working Group of
deputy heads of economic departments drafted the Strategy. Chairman
of the Working Group was elected Deputy Minister of Economy of the
Ukraine Valery Muntiyan.

The draft Strategy is in compliance with the vital interests of
every CIS signatory-state and does not contradict the development of
relations with third countries.

The strategy is to be fulfilled in three stages through elaboration
and fulfillment of plans of specific actions. The fulfillment of the
Strategy will allow ensuring development of integration processes
in the economic sphere, using the social and economic potential of
each state and the Commonwealth in general more effectively, creating
conditions for the confident entry of CIS signatories in the world
economy, and constantly improving the living conditions of citizens.

The package of documents drafted in conformity with the Conception
of development of CIS has a special part in the agenda. The document
implies fulfillment of the Point 9.5 of the Action Plan for its
implementation dated October 5 2007.

OPPOSITIONIST: I DON’T THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE IN COE WHO UNAMBIGUOUSLY MAKE DEALS WITH ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES

ArmInfo
2008-10-08 23:26:00

ArmInfo. "I don’t think that there are people in the Council of Europe
who unambiguously make deals with the Armenian authorities. The issue
of implementation of PACE Resolutions N1609 and N1620 by Armenia
is not closed", Grigor Harutyunyan, the secretary of Board of the
oppositional People’s Party of Armenia, said to ArmInfo correspondent.

The oppositionist explains the fact that international structures
gave time to Armenia till January, when the situation in Armenia will
be discussed again at the PACE session, by the Europeans’ approach,
according to which abrupt steps against even the worst authorities
may lead to a complete loss of control over them. "I think, this is a
wrong approach. The representatives of European structures accepted
the RA authorities’ arguments that little time had initially been
given for implementation of PACE requirements, consciously allowed
the RA authorities to deceive them.

But Thomas Hammarberg’s latest statement says that no answers have
been given to the raised questions. Now let’s see what the CoE will
do next", Harutyunyan said.

He disagrees with his oppositional colleague Levon Zurabyan, who
recently said that RA authorities were given carte blanche by the
international community for the opposition’s crackdown in exchange for
steps aimed at improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations. "Obviously,
our colleague meant that the authorities are digesting the obstacles
thrown in the opposition’s way by paying a price as improvement
of relations with Turkey and expected return of territories to
Azerbaijan. As a result, an impression arises that the international
structures are bargaining with the authorities", he said.

Furthermore, Serzh Sargsyan shows to the West that no other politician
but him can take pro-Western steps, he added. "Nonetheless, I don’t
think that there are people in the CoE who unambiguously make deals
with RA authorities. In PACE people are responsible before their
voters. And I hope, they will finally give honest assessment to what
is going on in our country", Harutyunyan said in conclusion.

OVER 100 COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN ARMENIA EXPO 2008 REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL FORUM

ARKA
Oct 7, 2008

YEREVAN, October 7. /ARKA/. Some 120 local and overseas companies will
participate in ARMENIA EXPO 2008 eighth annual regional industrial
forum in Yerevan on October 14-17.

Industrial and commercial companies from Armenia, Russia, Ukraine,
Belarus, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Poland, France, China and Germany will
participate in the workshop, reported Ara Stepanyan, director of the
LOGOS Expo Center.

The venue for the forum is Yerevan’s Dinamo Stadium. The organizer
of the event is the LOGOS EXPO center.

"More organizations could enroll in the event if there were enough
space for everyone," Stepanyan said, adding the stadium can roof
about 160 organizations.

This year Karen Demirtchyan Sport and Concert Complex refused to host
the expo. "You should ask the management of the complex why it has
turned down our proposal," Stepanyan was quoted saying.

Previous expos helped about 15 foreign companies to find partners in
Armenia and start their business in the country.

The mission of the forum is to search new markets and partners, as
well as to attract foreign investments by showing Armenia’s economy
to the best advantage. ARMENIA EXPO 2008 includes six exhibitions on
Armenia’s industry, construction, food industry, transport, computers,
printing, publishing and advertising.

Established in 1999, the LOGOS EXPO Ce nter is a leader in organizing
sectoral, industrial, national and international exhibitions and
congresses.

The center annually organizes 10-12 expos in Armenia and abroad. Around
1,000 local and overseas organizations and companies enroll in the
exhibitions.

AFRICANS READY TO SIGN CONVENTION BANNING CLUSTER MUNITIONS

Joy Online
Tuesday, 7 October 2008, 8:46 GMT
Ghana

A total of 28 African countries have affirmed their commitment to
sign the convention on banning the use of cluster munitions by the
end of the year.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions is an international treaty that
bans cluster bombs and provides assistance to affected communities
to be opened for signature in Oslo, Norway, on December 3, 2008,
the International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

A total of 107 states adopted the Convention in Dublin, Ireland,
in May 2008, a statement issued in Accra by Foundation for Security
and Development in Africa (FOSDA) to the Ghana News Agency on Monday
stated.

The statement said the continent’s position was made at the just-ended
African Regional Conference on Cluster Munitions held in Kampala,
Uganda.

According to the statement, the Africa Regional Conference adopted
the "Kampala Action Plan" outlining a series of strong actions by
civil society organisations across the continent to persuade African
governments to sign the Convention.

The Kampala Conference is the second in a series of regional meetings
arranged to build support for signing the convention banning the use
of cluster munitions.

Cluster bombs or munitions are large weapons which are deployed
from the air and from the ground and release hundreds of smaller
sub-munitions.

Sub-munitions released by airdropped cluster bombs are often called
"bomblets," while those delivered from the ground by artillery or
rockets are usually referred to as "grenades."

Air-dropped or ground-launched, they cause two major humanitarian
problems and risks to civilians. First, their widespread dispersal
means they cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians
so the humanitarian impact can be extreme, especially when the weapon
is used in or near populated areas.

The Kampala Conference said many sub-munitions used in the past had
failed to detonate on impact and become de facto antipersonnel mines
killing and maiming people long after the conflict has ended.

The Conference said these duds were more lethal than antipersonnel
mines, adding that incidents involving sub-munitions duds were much
more likely to cause death than injury.

Fourteen countries were identified for having used cluster munitions –
Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Israel, Morocco, the Netherlands,
Nigeria, Russia (USSR), Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, UK, US,
and FR Yugoslavia.

According to the FOSDA statement, a total of 34 states are known to
have produced over 210 different types of cluster munitions whilst
more than two dozen countries have been affected by the use of cluster
munitions including Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, and Cambodia.

The rest are Chad, Croatia, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia,
Grenada, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia,
Serbia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Vietnam,
as well as Chechnya, Falkland, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Western Sahara.

A total of 42 African governments attended the Kampala Conference,
which discussed the treaty on cluster munitions, of which 28 announced,
most for the first time, their intent to sign the Convention on
Cluster Munitions.

The countries were Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central
African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, DR Congo, The
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Madagascar,
Malawi, and Mali.

The rest are Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal,
Seychelles; Uganda, Togo and Zambia.

MINISTER NALBANDIAN LEAVING FOR BISHKEK

armradio.am
08.10.2008 11:08

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Edward
Nalbandian, will leave for Bishkek today to participate in the sitting
of the Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS countries to be held in
the capital of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan October 8-9, Press and
Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed.

THE PRIME MINISTER VALUES THE WORK OF A REPORTER

Hetq Online
October 06, 2008
Armenia

On September 30th Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan sent a
written statement to Mr. Edik Baghdasaryan, the Editor of "Hetq",
congratulating him and the editorial staff on the occasion of winning
the 2008 Global Shining Light Award at the Global Investigative
Journalism Confrence recently held in Lillehammer, Norway. (One
of the International Investigative Journalism Prizes went to Edik
Baghdasaryan). The Prime Minister underlined the importance of
"exposing existing social, economic and political problems facing us
and negative aspects of our life through a process of unbiased news
reportage and imparting a strong social voice to them, something which
is the mission of any reporter and which results in the resolution
of numerous issues exposed in such a manner."

On behalf on the government the Prime Minister expressed a willingness
"to continue the benificial and productive cooperation with reporters
for the good of the state and society." The PM noted that the best
example of such cooperation to be the measures taken against the
illegal felling of trees in Armenia’s regions and the "Hetq" series
of articles on which such a drive is based.

TURKEY’S CAUCASUS STABILITY AND COOPERATION PLATFORM DEMANDS AN "OPEN GAME"

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2008 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform
demands an "open game", a Russian expert said.

"As a rule, cooperation becomes possible if the sides waive
their national interests to combat a common enemy or if there is
a necessity of diversification of economic relations. Under the
global financial and energy crisis, the Caucasus states could reach
an agreement to resolve the existing conflicts and secure beneficial
economic cooperation. However, there are some irrational historical
factors that hamper normalization of relations," senior lecturer at
Saint-Petersburg State University, deputy editor at the Center of
Oriental Studies, Ph.D. in history Alexander Sotnichenko said in an
interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

Armenia could officially renounce territorial claims against Turkey
and stop the worldwide campaign calling for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. In response, Turkey could reconsider its position on Nagorno
Karabakh and open the border with Armenia, according to him.

"A similar precedent was in case with Syria. As soon as Damask
recognized territorial integrity of Turkey and stopped laying
claims to the province of Hatay that was annexed to Turkey in 1838,
the relations between the two states considerably improved, not to
mention the economic factor. Presently, Turkey is mediating for the
Syrian-Israeli reconciliation, what is convenient for both sides. I
am hopeful that the Caucasus nations will overcome their historic
hostility and establish fruitful political and economic cooperation,"
Dr. Sotnichenko said.

Full text of the interview

Alexander Sotnichenko:

Caucasus nations most interested in peaceful development of the region
Given the latest changes on the regional political map, the growing
attention to the Caucasus is not surprising. Recognition of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence, Turkey’s Caucasus Stability
and Cooperation initiative and forthcoming presidential election in
Azerbaijan are among the most topical issues. Senior lecturer at
Saint-Petersburg State University, deputy editor at the Center of
Oriental Studies, Ph.D. in history Alexander Sotnichenko comments on
the situation to PanARMENIAN.Net.

06.10.2008 GMT+04:00 Can we suppose that the U.S. and EU are against
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations?

Surely, no. Both the U.S. and EU hope for successful resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations. Nevertheless, they want it to happen through their
mediation. European countries and organizations, such as NATO, EU
and OSCE want to be direct intermediaries in settling conflicts in
the Caucasus in order to expand their influence throughout the region.

How could you explain the precedent of conflicts in Kosovo, South
Ossetia and Abkhazia? Both the U.S. and Russia insist that other
conflicts, including Nagorno Karabakh and Transnistria, should be
resolved in a different way…

There is no system of international relations which could regulate the
world politics on the basis of universally recognized international
law. Each event is interpreted from the position of strength and
benefit. Since 1991, the ideas of "state sovereignty" and "right
of nations to self-determination" have been interpreted one-sidedly
by the world powers. Both Nagorno Karabakh and Transnistria can be
internationally recognized if their longing for independence will
coincide with strategy of one or several world players. The case
with Nagorno Karabakh is demonstrative: I can’t name a power which
is interested in recognition of this territory.

Does the Caucasus Stability Platform have any future?

Such projects demand an "open game". As a rule, cooperation becomes
possible if the sides waive their national interests to combat a
common enemy or if there is a necessity of diversification of economic
relations. Under the global financial and energy crisis, the Caucasus
states could reach an agreement to resolve the existing conflicts
and secure beneficial economic cooperation. However, there are some
irrational historical factors that hamper normalization of relations.

Armenia could officially renounce territorial claims against Turkey
and stop the worldwide campaign calling for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. In response, Turkey could reconsider its position on Nagorno
Karabakh and open the border with Armenia.

A similar precedent was in case with Syria. As soon as Damask
recognized territorial integrity of Turkey and stopped laying
claims to the province of Hatay that was annexed to Turkey in 1838,
the relations between the two states considerably improved, not to
mention the economic factor.

Presently, Turkey is mediating for the Syrian-Israeli reconciliation,
what is convenient for both sides. I am hopeful that the Caucasus
nations will overcome their historic hostility and establish fruitful
political and economic cooperation.

What’s your vision for the Caucasus?

All depends on the countries’ willingness to maintain friendly
ties. Moreover, they should stop building their national policy
dependently from the powers beyond the region. The August conflict
demonstrated that Washington’s power is not universal. With
Russia mediating for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution
and with Turkey alleviating tensions between Georgia and Russia,
the Caucasus states will be able to implement their economic and
political strategic for the glory of the region. However, if some of
the countries orient for the West, like Georgia does, new conflicts
are possible. Deployment of NATO troops in Georgia will aggravate
tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Escalation will involve Turkey,
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Georgia may provoke a new war in
an attempt to take back Abkhazia and Ossetia with the help of the
U.S. forces.

Are there parallels between the Israeli-Palestinian and Nagorno
Karabakh conflicts?

I do not see vivid parallels. Religion is the key factor between
Arabs and Jews. Besides, Israel enjoys support of a superpower –
the United States, while majority of the UN member states recognize
Palestine as an independent entity.

Don’t you think that it’s unreasonable to decide the fate of Nagorno
Karabakh people behind their back? Are the borders of the former
soviet republic correct?

I think a decision that will satisfy all parties to conflict
will be the reasonable one. The notion of justice is absent in the
international law, all the more so in present days, when sovereignty
of states is violated so often. Certainly, the borders between the
soviet republics were outlined proceeding from the interests of the
empire. Actually, the USSR decline provided the people living in the
Caucasus with a possibility to decide their fate themselves.

As result of the unfair soviet policy, we received three unrecognized
republics, dozens of thousands of victims of inter-ethnic conflicts,
hundreds of thousands of refugees, destroyed infrastructure and
agriculture. The policy of nationalists, who came to power in Caucasus
states in 1991, yielded deplorable results.

I am confident that territorial and national problems can be resolved
through dialog, multilateral meetings and agreements. Caucasus people
are most interested in a peaceful development of the region. Meanwhile,
the goal of mediators from outside is to strengthen their positions. If
peace is established in the Caucasus, no one will need American bases.

ARMENIA SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT THE USA, RUSSIA, TURKEY AND EVEN THE EU PROMISE HER FOR "MODEL BEHAVIOUR"
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2008 GMT+04:00

In fact, Armenia is offered temporary economic dividends, which in
the future will simply bring to a loss of independence, not to mention
the country’s sovereignty.

Baku demonstrates hyper-nervousness in connection with the
latest developments in the region, particularly because of the
consolidation of Turkey’s position after Mikhail Saakashvili’s
unsuccessful blitzkrieg, which "guaranteed" regional reshaping for
all and retirement for Saakashvili himself. Azerbaijani political
analysts and experts began to comment out exactly every word uttered
by Armenia, never doubting accuracy of the received information and
quoting some unauthorized Armenian mass media.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Thus, political analyst Rasim Musabekov states that
"The bright prospects described in the Armenian mass media as regards
the link between Armenia and Turkey to be constituted through the
railway line Gyumri-Igdir, as well as the viewpoint that it can stir
up competition against the railway magistral Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars can
only arouse laughter"… The Kremlin, which despite the declarations
of the RF Foreign Minister still gives preference to Armenia against
Azerbaijan, has a hand in Musabekov’s statement, which, as usual,
comprises more hypothetical than factual elements. However, once
again it is the standpoint of Azeri political analysts, who follow
the example of Vafa Guluzade, whose amazing "revelations" have already
become the talk of the town.

Fuel was added to the fire of Azerbaijani ambitions by the visits of
the US Administration high-ranking officials. In our opinion Baku
doesn’t believe that the arrival of John Negroponte or the regular
travels of Mathew Bryza to Azerbaijan are made for the mere sake
of pleasing her. But for its oil, no one would ever take notice
of Azerbaijan; a position we now face in Armenia. Simply after the
reckless move of Georgia, Armenia was offered a chance to become a
transit country for the energy carriers. Thus, US representatives’
visits to our country are to be expected too, and not only after
the Presidential Elections. However, all this is not so important,
especially when October 15 is just around the corner.

It should be made clear what the USA, Russia, Turkey and even the
EU promise Armenia for her "model behaviour". "Model behaviour"
as such comprises renunciation of strategic basis of Armenian state
system: handover of Nagorno Karabakh, silence in the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and absence of territorial claims against Turkey. The
latter can be somehow submitted, as Armenia has neither resources nor
manpower to lay claims on at least part of Western Armenia. In this
particular case the matter will concern only compensation, which by
the most conservative estimate will be no less than US$50 billion,
and neither the current nor the future Turkish Government can pay it,
even by installments.

Instead, Armenia is offered participation in such regional projects
as Nabucco, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku
railroad. Besides, there is also the project of Yerevan-Batumi highway,
which, by the way, is of great importance not only to Armenia but to
Georgia as well. However, Leader of the Georgian Opposition Shalva
Natelashvili is sure that the agreement signed between Mikhail
Saakashvili and the Armenian President on building Yerevan-Batumi
highway through Goderdzi pass is nothing else but "a new Roki tunnel
on our soil, where complex, awful separatism is certain to break
out." "And it will not take long," declared Natelashvili, obviously
having in view Javakhk…

In fact, Armenia is offered temporary economic dividends, which in the
future will simply bring to a loss of independence, not to mention the
country’s sovereignty. In a word, we may face the Georgian scenario,
when Turkey’s territorial expansion totally wrecked the country’s
economy. Now Turkey is determined to do the same with Armenia,
with the help of Russia of course. According to Director of Caucasus
Institute Alexander Iskandaryan Baku feels extremely awkward in the
light of Turkish-Russian developing relations. "We shall observe
the future developments. In my opinion, what is going on in the
Armenian-Turkish relations are merely opportunities, which did not
exist before. But these opportunities should still be seized, they
should be regained. Much depends on Yerevan-Ankara interaction and
on the internal processes in Turkey, as a considerable part of the
Turkish political elite and its population do not welcome the onset
of these processes. So, I can conclude that resumption of Baku’s
bellicose rhetoric depends on two main factors: Armenia’s foreign
policy and Turkey’s domestic affairs," Iskandaryan stated.

Thus, Baku and Tbilisi have to be reminded that on the whole
aggressive war is nothing else but an armed robbery in especially
large dimensions, and the punishment for it is extreme penalty.

HULIQ (press release), NC

Posted September 29th, 2008 by admin_huliq

President of Armenia Hosts Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

The presdent of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stresses the importance of
religion in maintaining peace and moral values in a meeting with the
Catholicos of All Armenians and the Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople.

President Serzh Sargsyan today hosted the Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II, Heads of Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew I
who arrived in Armenia on the occasion of blessing the Holy Chrism and
representatives of sister churches of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Greeting the guests, the President of Armenia said: `Muron is of
special symbolic importance or us. Everyone in Armenia believes that
spreading all over the world, the Muron returns to Holy Etchmiadzin `
our religious center and it’s the spiritual magnetism of our people.’

Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of religion in maintaining
peace and moral values, fighting against despair, immorality and
temptations, since there are many temptations in the contemporary
world.

`Having been deprived of statehood for many centuries, the Church has
guided our people to the 21st century. Every official should return
his duty to the church for our country to grow stronger and for our
belief to lead us towards brighter future,’ the President said.

The Patriarch thanked the representatives of sister churches for
participating in the ceremony of blessing of Holy Muron.

On behalf of Pope Benedict 16th, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri wished
peace, prosperity to the Armenian people and noted: `The enthusiasm
with which people participated in the ceremony of blessing the Holy
Muron shows their exceptional devotion to the church.’

By Public Radio of Armenia

GOVERNOR OF ROSTOV REGION IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA
02.10.2008
Armenia

On October 2 Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of
Armenia Mr Hovik Abrahamyan received the delegation headed by the
Governor of Rostov Region, Mr Vladimir Chub, comprising Armenian
businessmen. RA Consul General in Rostov Mr Ararat Gomtsyan attended
the meeting.

Welcoming the guests, the NA Speaker Mr Hovik Abrahamyan expressed
satisfaction for hosting them in the parliament and referring to the
Armenian-Russian traditional friendship, assured that as NA Speaker
he would do his best to strengthen those ties. Mr Abrahamyan stressed
that being well familiar with the potential of the Armenians living
in Rostov, he highlighted the role of the Armenian community in
expanding cooperation.

Warmly congratulating Mr Hovik Abrahamyan on being elected the Speaker
of the National Assembly, Governor of Rostov Mr Vladimir Chub expressed
confidence that the economic and cultural ties with Rostov region
will continue developing. According to him, Armenians make a great
contribution to the political and economic life of Rostov.

RA Consul General in Rostov Mr Ararat Gomtsyan also congratulated Mr
Hovik Abrahamyan and noted that when he worked as Deputy Prime Minister
of the Republic of Armenia a consulate of Armenia was opened in
Rostov. He also expressed confidence for deepening further cooperation.