Author: Ekmekjian Janet

CLINTON PHONES SARKISIAN AFTER ARMENIAN WARNING TO TURKEY

a-turkey/967-clinton-phones-sarkisian-after-armeni an-warning-to-turkey.html
Friday, 11 December 2009 19:26
Armenia-Turkey

RFE/RL by Emil Danielyan — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
telephoned President Serzh Sarkisian late Thursday just hours after he
threatened to annul Armenia’s fence-mending agreements with Turkey if
Ankara fails to unconditionally implement them, it emerged on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan, Sarkisian said Ankara’s
continuing linkage of the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations
and the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict runs counter to
the U.S.-backed agreements signed in October. He said he has already
instructed his administration to draft amendments to Armenian laws that
"pertain to the signing, ratification and abrogation of international
agreements."

According to Sarkisian’s press office, Clinton initiated the phone
conversation to brief the Armenian leader on President Barack Obama’s
Monday talks with the visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. A U.S. official told RFE/RL that the Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement topped the agenda of the talks.

"During the phone conversation, Secretary of State Clinton once again
emphasized that the United States will continue with its consistent
support for a speedy normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey without preconditions," the presidential office said in
a statement.

The statement said Sarkisian asked Clinton to express his "gratitude"
to Obama for adhering to this position. It also cited him as
reaffirming Yerevan’s readiness to press ahead with the normalization
process and expressing hope that "the Turkish side will display
similar readiness and responsibility." There was no word on whether
the two touched upon the Armenian threats to walk away from the deal.

In a letter to a leading Armenian-American organization publicized last
week, Obama said the process "should move forward without preconditions
and within a reasonable timeframe." According to Sarkisian’s office,
Clinton likewise stated that Washington views the Turkish-Armenian
normalization and efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as
"separate processes."

However, Erdogan insisted after the talks with Obama that from
Ankara’s perspective, the two processes are "very much related." He
said Turkey’s parliament is unlikely to ratify the two Turkish-Armenian
"protocols" unless there is a breakthrough in the Armenian-Azerbaijani
peace talks.

The protocols commit Ankara to establish diplomatic relations with
Yerevan and reopen the Turkish-Armenian border within two months of
their entry into force. Neither document makes any reference to the
Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute.

Still, citing pro-Azerbaijani statements made by Erdogan and other
Turkish officials, Armenian opponents of the deal claim that Yerevan
confidentially agreed to make more concessions to Azerbaijan during
the fence-mending negotiations with the Turks. Sarkisian and his
political allies strongly deny this.

The Sarkisian administration has also been on the defensive over a key
protocol clause that envisages the formation of a Turkish-Armenian
panel of historians that would look into the 1915 massacres of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Its critics say Ankara would exploit
the existence of the body to deter more countries from recognizing
the massacres as genocide. Sarkisian insisted in a November 28 speech,
however, that the rapprochement with Turkey will actually help Armenia
and its worldwide Diaspora "accelerate the recognition process."

Clinton has been personally involved in the drawing up and signing
of the Turkish-Armenian protocols. She was among foreign dignitaries
that attended the signing ceremony held in Zurich on October 10. The
top U.S. diplomat already phoned Sarkisian in August and September to
discuss the dramatic thaw in the historically strained Turkish-Armenian
ties.

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTRY’S LEADERSHIP HOLDS BRIEFING FOR MILITARY ATTACHES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES

APA
11 Dec 2009 15:31

Baku – APA. Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Chingiz
Mammadov and chief of Defense Ministry’s International Military
Cooperation Department, Major-General Ramiz Najafov held a briefing
in the Military Academy of Azerbaijani Armed Forces for the military
attaches accredited in Azerbaijan.

Defense Ministry’s press service told APA that the main aim of the
meeting is to inform the attaches about the achievements of the
Azerbaijani Army, outcomes of the year and the future activities.

Ramiz Najafov said reforms were being carried out in the Armed
Forces since 2007 within the framework of Individual Partnership
Action Plan (IPAP) signed between Azerbaijan and NATO, the process
was more successful in 2009. Najafov said the weapons and equipment
had been modernized, teaching and training process was perfect,
for the first time Azerbaijan’s military attaches accredited in
foreign countries had met in Baku to discuss the cooperation, 10
official and working meetings on the ministerial level had been held
in Azerbaijan, 8 official and working meetings in foreign countries,
the contingent participating in the peacemaking operations had doubled,
the country had military cooperation with 54 countries, 102 contracts
and agreements had been signed with 27 of them.

According to Najafov, Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh
should be solved peacefully, but if does not happen, Azerbaijan is
ready to liberate its occupied lands.

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND’S 2009 TELETHON RAISES $15.875 MILLION

/ARKA/
December 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, December 9. /ARKA/. Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 2009 Telethon
has raised $15.875 million, Ara Vardanyan, executive director of the
fund, said Wednesday at a press conference.

"Telethon is the only instrument giving us a chance to account for
the job done. This job is positive in nature, and we are thinking
over plans for the next year," he said adding that some 12,000
people participated in the telethon in 2008, while now the number of
participants doubled.

The number of participants grew 18% in the United States alone.

Vardanyan said that this year the fund got large sums from Europe on
two wills.

"We received $2.25 million from France and will spend this money
for reconstruct the school after Muratsan in Shushi, city in
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic," he said. "The other sum, $1 million,
received on a will from Great Britain, will be spent for recovery of
a hospital for children in Armenian Syunik province’s city of Kapan."

Vardanyan said that $8,000 was transferred from the Armenian
president’s administration.

He said that the fund is raising money in Armenia through Haypost
and SMS on VivaCell.

The SMS-Campaign is already completed.

About 12,000 people has taken part in it, and 15,000 people donated
money through Haypost within ten days and the whip-round will last
until late December.

Vardanyan said that the major part of the donations (70%) would be
targeted for recovery of Shushi city’s drinking water infrastructure,
schools, library and three streets.

He said that one million people watched the telethon 30 minutes and
can transfer money, if want.

In January 2010 names of all the participants from Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will appear on Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s
Internet site, and names of all participants from other countries
will be placed on the site in May.

About $870,000 have been spent for holding the telethon on November 26.

The results of the fund’s implemented programs and future projects
were presented at the telethon.

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund was established in 1992 for implementation
of national projects and development of infrastructures in Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

The president-headed council of trustees is made up of prominent
representatives of Armenian communities worldwide.

LECTURER SENT TO PRISON

armen-chughuryan
10/12/09

Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court today sentenced Armen
Chughuryan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party, lecturer of
Yerevan State Institute of Economy, to a three-year imprisonment.

Armen Chughuryan is charged with bribery. He reportedly took $5 000
from a Yerevan citizen.

During a conversation with A1+ Advocate Varduhy Elbakyan said they
are going to appeal to the Court of Appeals.

50 SECTS WITH 10 TO 250 THOUSAND MEMBERS OPERATING IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.12.2009 21:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ False friends of Armenian Apostolic Church are the
ones who present most danger, Ter Shmavon Ghevondyan, St. Hovhannes
Church priest stated.

As he told the news conference today, over 50 sects with 10 to 250
thousand members are operating in Armenia, all of them Protestant.

"Armenia’s legislation does not forbid activities of organizations
presenting no threat to families or the state. Yet there’s no sect
that wouldn’t destroy a family, and their true purpose has yet to be
guessed," he noted.

"Armenian constitution forbids mass agitations, yet we often witness
how sect members try to almost compulsively involve people, which
is punishable by law. "People are free to choose their religion,
yet they have to be provided objective information."

"Only Armenian Apostolic Church is called national, so let us not
betray our national faith," Shmavon Hovhannes Ghevondyan concluded.

592,731 USERS CONNECTED TO GAS CONSUMPTION SYSTEM OF ARMENIA AS OF DECEMBER 1

Noyan Tapan
Dec 8, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. 592,731 users were connected to the
gas consumption system of Armenia as of December 1, 2009. The number of
users of the system grew by 18,776 in the first eleven months of 2009,
including 3,312 users in November, the press service of ArmRusgazprom
company reported.

226,291 safety devices were installed by the company at apartments of
gas consuming users as of December 1. 13,541 devices were insatlled
in November.

To recap, by the Armenian government’s decision of September 3, 2009,
the deadline for installation of alarm safety devices was extended
for two years. Based on the decision, it is envisaged completing
the program on installation of safety devices in 1 January 2012. The
program was launched in December 2008.

TURKEY FACES ENORMOUS TASKS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS: POLITICAL ANALYST

Today.Az
09 December 2009 [12:13]

Day.Az interview with well-known Azerbaijani political expert Vafa
Guluzade.

Day.Az: During official visit to the U.S., Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border depends on return of Azerbaijan’s seven occupied regions by
Armenia. How do you assess this statement?

Vafa Guluzade: I welcome this statement. Turkey does not want to ruin
relations with Azerbaijan by opening borders with aggressor Armenia. I
believe opening the borders without resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict can prompt strong reaction of Azerbaijan.

On the other hand, this statement is also meant for the Turkish public
which is dissatisfied with signing of the Turkey-Armenia protocols
not to mention the possibility of opening the borders with Armenia.

It was stated at a Washington meeting that Turkey and the U.S. have
the same agenda in the Caspian region. In your opinion, what does
this agenda include?

I think Turkey is a guide for American interests in our region. Turkey
can become a leader in the South Caucasus. But neighboring countries
Russia and Iran, who do not want Turkey and the United States to
increase influence in the region, will hinder it.

Currently, Turkey serves as a mediator in negotiations between the
West on one hand and Syria and Iran on the other. So, Turkey has
enormous tasks in the South Caucasus, the Middle East and Central Asia.

In this situation the U.S. can not participate in solving the Karabakh
problem, because now it has other priorities. Washington’s priority
now is relationship with Moscow, and it does not want to engage in
a confrontation with Russia on the South Caucasus.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan at the meetings in Washington said
that the OSCE Minsk Group should be willing to solve Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. What are your views on this statement?

I believe that the OSCE Minsk Group do not want to solve the Karabakh
issue, and they will show no will. It was Azerbaijan who showed
a will in 1999, when it was close to the solution of the Karabakh
issue. But shooting in the Armenian parliament at that time canceled
all agreements.

Do you believe the top level meetings in Washington will lead to
progress in resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

I think that all statements about progress in the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict are just empty talks for the blind. I believe there
is no progress in the Karabakh issue.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS: ARMENIA HAS GIVEN AN OFFICIAL CONSENT TO SOLVE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT BASING ON AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

APA
Dec 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. "With the statements of the co-chairing countries’ foreign
ministers and OSCE Ministerial Council Armenia has undertaken a
commitment on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict basing
on the principles of the territorial integrity, non-use of force
and self-determination," says the statement issued by the Armenian
National Congress led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, APA reports quoting
Panarmenian. The statement says that for the first time Armenia has
given an official consent to solve the conflict basing on Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity.

"The inclusion of the right of people’s self-determination does not
compensate Armenia’s compromise. Joint application of the territorial
integrity and right of self-determination means that even if Nagorno
Karabakh is given the highest right of self-government, this right
will be realized within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity," he said.

ONLY 9 PERCENT OF THE INVALIDS IS WORKING

aysor
Dec 3 2009
Armenia

There are around 650 million invalids in the whole world today of
which 177 thousand are in Armenia. The number of the invalids is
increasing day by day in Armenia.

As Jemma Baghdasaryan the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia mentioned on January 1, 2009 there were
170 000 invalids in Armenia, on June 1 there number reached 175 000
and on October 1 there were already 177 000.

With the growing number of the invalids grows also the problems of
the being occupied. J. Baghdasaryan mentioned that today some of the
employees already realize that it is more important to see what the
man can do and not "what he can’t do".

"It will give an opportunity to work and to receive education. Our
employees should realize that the invalid people too can be good
workers", – he said adding that all the employees who have given work
to the invalids are always satisfied with their work.

Laylee Moshiri the coordinator of the UNO mentioned that it’s time to
resume the respect towards every person’s dignity. "All the people
have not only rights but also duties, to realize the general rights
of the people, and the invalids in that number."

Only 9% of 177 000 invalids is working in Armenia today.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE 500,000 USD FOR ACQUIRING NEW BUILDING FOR THE ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN BELARUS

ARMENPRESS
Dec 3, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian government decided at its
today’s session to release 500,000 USD for acquiring new building
for the Armenian embassy in Belarus. Armenian Finance Minister Tigran
Davtyan said that a relevant project already exists, the building is
selected. The minister said that part of the sum for acquiring the
building is Belarus’ debt to Armenia and in addition to it means will
be released from the state budget.

T. Davtyan expressed hope that the new building, ensured with all the
necessary working conditions, will promote the implementation of high
level diplomatic work.