Author: Emil Lazarian

SARKISIAN SEEKS CLOSER MILITARY TIES WITH BRITAIN
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 11 2006
Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian called for the deepening of defense
and security ties between Armenia and Britain during talks with a
visiting senior British official on Wednesday.
Meeting with British Minister for Europe Geoff Hoon, Sarkisian
suggested that the two countries draw up “long-term programs of
military cooperation.” A statement by the Armenian Defense Ministry
cited him as saying that such programs are needed for achieving
“tangible results” in the ongoing bilateral activities in the areas
of international peace-keeping, military training and defense reforms.
The statement said Hoon, who served as Britain’s defense secretary
from 1999-2005, welcomed the idea and expressed his readiness to help
to solve “problems arising during the deepening of [British-Armenian]
cooperation.” It did not give further details, saying only that the
two men also discussed the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
other challenges to regional security.
Hoon arrived in Yerevan on Tuesday and left it later on Wednesday as
part of his tour of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The low-key visit
involved no talks with President Robert Kocharian, with Hoon meeting
only with Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. The latter’s
press office did not immediately release any statements on the meeting.
Sarkisian’s calls for closer British-Armenian military ties came amid
Yerevan’s growing cooperation with NATO and the U.S. military in
particular under an “individual partnership action plan” which was
launched late last year. Sarkisian has repeatedly stated that that
cooperation is now an increasingly important elements of Armenia’s
national security doctrine that continues to be anchored in a military
alliance with Russia.

“DAYS OF ARMENIA IN SIBERIA” OPENED IN KRASNOYARSK
Siberian News Online, Russia
Oct 10 2006
“Days of Armenia in Siberia” opened in Krasnoyarsk in International
Exhibition Business Center “Siberia” today.
Vyacheslav Rychkov, a deputy-mayor, the head of the department of
food policy, commerce and services, Valery Sergienko, a State Duma
deputy, Sarkis Muradyan, the chairman of the Board of Directors of
CJSC Sibagropromstroy, participated in the exhibition opening.
Armenian delegation was headed by Arsen Grigoryan, the governor of
Gegarkunik Region of the Republic of Armenia.
On behalf of Armenian government Arsen Grigoryan thanked the exhibition
organizers and residents of Krasnoyarsk Territory for an opportunity
of holding the presentation.
‘Krasnoyarsk Territory governor Alexander Khloponin expressed his
confidence in his letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
that the exhibition would help to enlarge commercial and economic
cooperation between Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of
Armenia. Our countries take special places in the world society, and
fact prove that Armenia and Russia are interested in cooperation:
trade turnover between Armenia and Russia constituted $107 million
in 2000, and it increased up to $353 million by the end of 2005,’
Grigoryan said.
After the opening visitors were able to see an exhibition of Armenian
food and industrial goods. The expositions showed decorative goods,
national souvenirs made of stone and ceramics, shoes, textile,
equipment, a wide range of beverages, including alcohol.
It is worth reminding that Armenian businessmen are going to have
meetings with the regional businessmen, participate in a panel
discussion with members of Central Siberian Commerce and Industrial
Chamber, The Union of Industrialists and Businessmen of Krasnoyarsk
Territory and the Union of Commodity Manufacturers and Consumers.
Apart from that, Krasnoyarsk audience will enjoy a cultural program
prepared by the guests from Armenia. Famous Armenian singers and
musicians will give two concerts, one in IEBS Siberia, the second one –
in the Big Concert Hall of the philharmonic society.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR DEPUTY FM: AZERI PARTY’S GOAL IS TO UNDERMINE NKR’S FOOD SECURITY
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 10 2006
October 9 the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Deputy FM Masis Mailyan
received the members of the OSCE Mission on the estimation of the
ecological situation in the bordering zone between Nagorno-Karabakh
and Azerbaijan.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the NKR MFA Press Service,
welcoming the commission’s members Masis Mailyan underscored the
NKR leadership was always open for the international cooperation
and did its best for the OSCE monitoring to be held. In his turn,
the Mission’s Head, Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental
Activities Bernard Snoy (Belgium) expressed his gratitude to the
Nagorno-Karabakh authorities for the substantial support of their
plans’ implementation, having noted the Karabakh experts participating
in the monitoring had contributed to the Mission’s work on Azerbaijan’s
territory. Mr. Snoy expressed satisfaction that the Karabakh leadership
had allowed the Azerbaijan’s representatives to participate in the
monitoring on the Nagorno-Karabakh’s territory.
“Our goal is to come to the conclusions based on the consensus. The
mission’s task is to strengthen confidence between the parties, which
will promote the conflict’s settlement in the future”, noted the
OSCE Coordinator. In his words, the experts will estimate the fires’
short-term and long-term influence on the environment and prepare
recommendations on the actions to be undertaken again fires.
On the request of the Mission’s members Masis Mailyan presented the
situation connected with the fires. In part, he noted the fires had
begun early June, mainly because of the unprecedented dry weather.
He noted Baku politicized the problem, in part, the Azeri mass media
charged the Karabakh party with the fires’ organization. “In June we
sent a letter to the OSCE urging to hold a crisis-monitoring to refute
Baku’s ungrounded accusations. The first monitoring was held June 28,
then 3 more monitorings were held July 3, 4, 5. On the outcomes of the
monitoring the OSCE Chair-in-Office’s Personal Representative Andrzey
Kasprzyk prepared a report. However, Azerbaijan led the issue to the
U. N., and we are dissatisfied over the fact”, Masis Mailyan said.
The NKR Deputy FM voiced discontent that the discussions in Vienna
on the fires had been conducted without the representatives of the
Nagorno-Karabakh – the most concerned party.
He mentioned the main reasons for the fires on the fields in the
bordering zone: unprecedented drought, Azerbaijan’s hostile actions –
the Azeri servicemen set fire to the dry grass on the neutral territory
and used tracer bullets while shooting. “The Azeri party’s goal is
to undermine the NKR’s food security. As a result of the fires the
Nagorno-Karabakh’s interests were prejudiced for 3, 5 milliard drams”,
Masis Mailyan said.
He spoke up for the necessity of the joint activities to be undertaken
by the Karabakh and Azeri structures, having noted as early as in
2001 the NKR leadership had offered a complex of measures on the
establishment of trust to Azerbaijan (over 20 proposals), one of which
presumed elaboration of the preventive measures on the pastures’
fires. “However, Baku rejected the Karabakh party’s proposals,
and the mediators did not promote them properly. If our proposals
were accepted, the current situation would not be like this. Today
we are also ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan, but, unfortunately,
Baku does not get in touch with the Karabakh party even on the issues
of mutual interest”, Masis Mailyan stated.
The Deputy FM answered numerous questions of the Mission’s members
who thanked him for the thorough information.
The officials from the NKR MFA, MOD, the Ministry of the Production
Infrastructures and Territorial Management, the State Department of
Ecology participated in the meeting as well.
The representatives of the U. S., Germany, Macedonia, Switzerland,
Italy, France, Moldova and Estonia are in the OSCE Mission. In
Nagorno-Karabakh the Mission will hold monitoring of the zone adjacent
to Azerbaijan for 3 days. To remind, October 5-7 the OSCE Mission held
a similar monitoring from the Azeri party with the Karabakh experts’
participation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DAYS OF ARMENIA: EXCISE WAREHOUSE OF ALCOHOL MADE IN ARMENIA TO APPEAR IN KRASNOYARSK
Siberian News Online, Russia
Oct 11 2006
An excise warehouse of Armenian alcohol will appear in Krasnoyarsk,
as Vazgen Safaryan, the chairman of Armenian Union of Commodity
Manufacturers, stated at the panel discussion “Commerce and
Industrial Chamber, the Union of Commodity Manufacturers, the Union
of Industrialists with representatives of Armenian business” at
“Days of Armenia in Siberia” on October, 11.
‘We are going to deliver environmentally friendly spirits only to the
Russian market. There are a lot of counterfeits among alcohol made in
Armenia, in particular, cognac. We are not only interested in economic
profit from sales of our products but also in the health of Russian
citizens,’ Safaryan explained. This project will be implemented
by Sarkis Muradyan, the chairman of the Board of Directors of CJSC
Sibagropromstroy, the director of International Exhibition Business
Center “Siberia”.
‘The price policy of goods made in Armenia is favorable, and it can
be said that prices for real Armenian alcohol will not be higher than
counterfeits in Krasnoyarsk. We are working at design of a warehouse
construction now. Moreover, this project has been approved of by
Central Siberian Commerce and Industrial Chamber.
It is worth reminding that Armenian businessmen are going to have
meetings with the regional businessmen, participate in a panel
discussion with members of Central Siberian Commerce and Industrial
Chamber, The Union of Industrialists and Businessmen of Krasnoyarsk
Territory and the Union of Commodity Manufacturers and Consumers.
Apart from that, Krasnoyarsk audience will enjoy a cultural program
prepared by the guests from Armenia. Famous Armenian singers and
musicians will give two concerts, one in IEBS Siberia, the second one –
in the Big Concert Hall of the philharmonic society.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MISSION OF MOSCOW DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMY OF TEUTSCHES’ IDEAL-METHOD TO VISIT YEREVAN ON OCTOBER 15-18
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 10 2006
YEREVAN, October 10. /ARKA/. Mission of Moscow department of the
Academy of Teutsches’ Ideal-method is coming to Yerevan on October
15-18.
“Armenia will become one of the countries, where the Academy of
Teutsches’ Ideal-method will present its innovative scientific
approach towards the analysis of human behavior and state, as well as
towards the actions directed to elimination of problems and negative
phenomena”, according to the information provided by the Moscow
department of the Academy.
According to the source, a press-conference on Teutsches’ Ideal-method
will be held in the House of Journalists in Yerevan on October 17.
Boris and Tatyana Sorin are president and vice-president of the Moscow
department of the Academy – experienced experts in psychogenetic
behavior of human being.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LIFE BETWEEN THE COMMAS
Times Herald-Record, NY
Oct 11 2006
On the day The Washington Post carried a story about how President
Bush had characterized the present difficult period in Iraq as “just a
comma,” Matt Mendelsohn called me. He is a photographer who took the
pictures for a new book by his brother Daniel, “The Lost.” It is an
attempt to find out what happened to six members of the Mendelsohn
family who perished in the Holocaust – the family of great-uncle
Shmiel Jager, “killed by the Nazis,” of which almost nothing else was
known. There: You went right by it. Shmiel lived between the commas.
In between those commas, of course, is the life of a man. He was
scared and he was brave, he was proud and he was shamed, he headed a
family and ran a business and then hid from the Nazis until he, along
with four daughters and his wife, was betrayed and shot right on the
spot. Don’t think of the bullet as a period. It was, worse, a comma.
So Daniel Mendelsohn set out to expand the commas, to push them
open and let in a life. From what the reviewers say, he succeeded
brilliantly, so when someone says 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust
or if someone mentions Auschwitz, you can understand that it is not a
number that died, but a person who was murdered. I say that also about
Rwanda in 1994, or what happened to the Armenians in Turkey in 1915,
or what is happening in Darfur today.
Commas imprison us all. You see them in the headlines of obituaries:
Joseph Smith, accountant, 81; Mildred Jones, housewife, 87; Frank
Miller, longtime resident, dies. The brevity of it all, the compression
of a life into a clause, is appalling, yet an unalterable fact. This
is the way not just of newspapers, but of history, too.
You come across the mention of a war – the Crimean, the Civil, the
Vietnam, the Boer, the Algerian – and then, like a cemetery dangling
from two commas, comes a mention of the number of dead. They get the
same prominence – sometimes less – as the amount of ordnance used or
ships sunk or airplanes built.
Wars are fought with commas. They are essential. Here and there is
a world leader who does not care about human life, but most do. The
only way they can function is to plant commas around the misery they
cause, to subordinate the loss of life to a supposedly greater cause.
This is what Bush is doing. If he did not think he is on his way to
something grand, that he is doing immense good, then he could not
face what is between those two commas – almost 3,000 American lives
and immense suffering. He is not a man given to introspection. Still,
he could not live without the succor of cliches: breaking eggs to
make an omelet and all of that. In between his commas are all those
broken eggs. As yet, there is no omelet.
Not too long ago, I embraced the commas myself. I favored this idiotic
war because I thought that the deaths of some would improve – even
save – the lives of many. I likened the about-to-die soldiers to
firemen or cops, the people we summon to risk or lose their lives
in the common good. I had the common good in mind when I supported
the war and I did not expect much space between the commas. Now, the
space expands and expands, one comma marching away from the other. It
seems we will need room for all of Iraq.
When he was alive, I didn’t much care for Menachem Begin, the
hard-line Israeli prime minister. But when he retired after the 1982
war in Lebanon and showed his grief, my view of him changed. He was
despondent over all the lives wasted, and he went into seclusion. For
Begin, somehow, the commas evaporated and the immensity of his mistake
pitched him into a depression relieved only by death. Other world
leaders, in similar circumstances, join consulting firms. The bigger
their mistakes, it appears, the higher their fees.
Most of us yearn to escape our commas, to become something more than a
profession (longtime lawyer) or resident (Washington native), to make
our mark on the world. A president who has ineptly waged a foolish
war instead seeks the solace of commas. It is not so much where he
has deposited the wounded and dead, but where he hopes he can hide
from history. It can’t be done, though: George W. Bush comma – and
then his failure in Iraq. The comma is his epitaph.
Richard Cohen is a syndicated columnist. His e-mail address is
[email protected].

PATRONISING TURKEY IS A DANGEROUS GAME FOR EUROPE
By Denis MacShane
Financial Times, UK
Oct 11 2006
Europe is doing its level best to tell Turkey it is no longer wanted
as part of the European Union. It is a high-risk game with little to
gain and a great deal to lose. How much longer will this sec-ular,
democratic, Muslim country look westwards to a European future,
instead of turning east?
Take the proclamation by Jacques Chirac, president of France, on
a recent visit to Armenia. Indulging his hosts and delighting the
politically active Armenian diaspora in France, Mr Chirac said Turkey
should recognise the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians
in the turmoil of the first world war as “genocide”. In doing so,
he unilaterally created a new condition of EU membership for Turkey.
This is rather like Tony Blair popping up in Madagascar or Algeria
and telling France to apologise for the postwar massacres undertaken
by French soldiers as they put down uprisings.
ADVERTISEMENT The Armenian massacres are a dreadful scar in the
memory of that proud people, torn apart by the many wars and foreign
interventions of the 20th century. But it was the decaying elements
of the Ottoman Empire that killed the Armenians, not the modern
Turkish Republic. If the EU is to demand apologies for historic
misdeeds from its existing members, let alone potential members,
then it may as well dissolve itself.
After Mr Chirac’s statement, Olli Rehn, EU enlargement commissioner,
reiterated that recognition of a genocide is not an official
precondition of membership. It was a welcome correction. But how do you
explain away the European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso,
saying that the era of EU enlargement is over?
This problem goes beyond the bluster of bureaucrats in Brussels or
an elderly French president on his way out of office. In April 2004,
European foreign ministers solemnly agreed to open trade links with
northern Cyprus. They have broken that promise. I took part in that
negotiation, and I find it shameful that powerful European states
are unable to enforce their own decisions.
Turkey wakes up almost every month to find a new hurdle on its path to
Europe. The mishandling of “the Turkish question” would seem laugh-able
were it not so important. The implicit repudiation of its European
ambitions is already fuelling support for radical groups in Turkish
domestic politics who argue that Europe is reneging on its pledge to
negotiate seriously. This matters because Turkey is pivotal to Britain
and other European states realising their interests overseas. Today,
scores of thousands of Europe’s best soldiers are fighting the
anti-democratic forces of jihadist terror networks from the shores
of Lebanon to the frontier mountains of Pakistan. If Europe wants to
promote democracy in the region, Turkey is an indispensable ally.
Turkey, of course, does much to drive its friends in the west quite
mad. The trials of writers and journalists are an insult to any
notion of democracy. The occupation of northern Cyprus and refusal
to normalise relations with Nicosia is intolerable – but is likely to
last forever if Europe continues to patronise the Turks. However, the
enormous progress in rule of law, freedom of intellectual activity
and the defence of the secular state against illiberal religious
fundamentalism remains an important advance in the struggle to defend
democracy.
Europe cannot rely on its loyalty because Turkey has alternatives. It
can create a Black Sea alliance with Vladimir Putin’s increasingly
authoritarian Russia. It could even forge a coalition with a
nuclear-armed Iran; the neighbours have rarely threatened each other in
the past. There are energy-rich republics to Turkey’s east that share
its language and culture. Islamists in Turkey have long advocated a
rapprochement with Pakistan to create a crescent of influence and power
linking a series of Islamic states governed by strong semi-military
regimes. An independent Turkey, free of ties to the EU, could also
clash with European foreign policy goals by aggressively pursuing
its interests in the Mediterranean or the Middle East.
Turkey’s friends need to lead a diplomatic offensive to ensure the EU
honours its obligations. Leaving Turkey turning on the spit of European
debate – roasted by condescension, ignorance and hostility – will
transform one of Europe’s greatest assets into a source of conflict
and tension. For good or ill Europe is now intervening in a region
full of problems in Iran, Iraq and Israel-Palestine. Making an enemy
of Turkey will make solving any of these problems far more difficult.
Should Turkey’s friends to rally round and prevent it being shut out
of the EU? Denis MacShane will answer your questions in a live Q&A
on Thursday from 11am BST. Post a question now
The writer is Labour MP for Rotherham. He was Britain’s Europe minister
between 2002 and 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE URGES AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTRY TO RESUME DIRECT TALKS WITH YEREVAN
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 11 2006
Today OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen Matthew Bryza (U.S.), Yurii
Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fasye (France) have held talks with
administration of Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry.
“We had a very useful and interesting conversation with Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov and his Deputy Araz Azimov. We spoke about
resumption of direct contacts between the sides in the near future,”
said Russian co-chairman Merzlyakov after the meeting.
Merzlyakov told Turan news agency that “some additional elements
could be regarded as new ones.” “There are such elements, we have
discussed them and will continue work on them,” added diplomat.
Questioned when Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers will hold
a meeting, Merzlyakov said “in the near future.” Speaking about
perspectives of the meeting between the two presidents at the CIS
summit in Minsk, Merzlyakov said “we need to wait until the summit
first.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CLEMENTE WANTS NO SLIP-UPS FROM SERBIA AGAINST ARMENIA
The Guardian, UK
Oct 10 2006
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Serbia’s Spanish coach Javier Clemente
warned his team they must take unheralded Armenia seriously in their
Euro 2008 Group A qualifier on Wednesday.
“The Armenians have improved a lot over the past five years and
narrowed the gap in quality between them and stronger European teams.
The players must not think for a minute that it’s going to be easy,”
he told reporters.
“Armenia play defensively with the aim of not conceding too many
goals and the players will get anxious if we don’t open them up with
an early goal,” said the 56-year-old Basque.
“But there is no doubt that we are the favourites and I expect the
difference in quality to show on Wednesday.”
The Serbians are top of the group with two wins and a draw from their
opening three matches, having registered 1-0 wins over Belgium and
Azerbaijan and a 1-1 draw with Poland.
Armenia lost their opening match 1-0 to Belgium last month and drew
0-0 with Finland on Saturday and are seventh in the eight-team group.
Captain Dejan Stankovic said he would be quite happy with another
win by the odd goal that would leave Serbia in the driving seat
of a tight group also including World Cup semi-finalists Portugal,
Finland and Kazakhstan.
“There is no shame in winning any match 1-0. There is still room for
improvement in our game but as the coach said, we are coming together
as a unit rapidly and I am very optimistic.”
Defensive midfielder Igor Duljaj will fill in for suspended right
back Marjan Markovic while Galatasaray forward Sasa Ilic may get a
rare start in a deeper role behind the two strikers.
“He is a quality player but the line-up depends on the rival’s
formation. Ilic may not be a regular starter for Serbia but he is
still a very important player in our squad.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERBIA VS ARMENIA
AsianHandicap.com, UK
Oct 11 2006
Serbia is leading the Group A after three games winning against
Belgium at home and earning an important point away in Poland, one
of their main rivals in the race to qalify for the Euro 2008.
With Portugal on the third place with a game in hand the situation is
not very clear yet in this group as five teams are having good chances
to move further. The strong display from Finland is an extra reason
of concern as they were not among the favourites in this group yet
the scandinavian team is on the second place just two points behind
the leaders.
On the other hand we have Armenia a team with no chances to qualify,
but a formation that managed so far not to be thrashed by the better
teams drawing at home with Finland and loosing by 1-0 to Belgium.
Perhaps the only objective reachable for them is to play the best
fotbal they can and in the end secure the sixth position, just for
the records.
The trip to Serbia is going to be the real test so far for Armenia
as they will be under pressure the enitre games as the host will
look forward to widen the gap between them and the runner-ups. With
Finland having to travel to Kazahstan for a game more difficult that
the odds show and with Portugal involved in today’s derby against
Poland things are looking good for the serbians.
Armenia will defend and a draw would be a great result is they will
be able to reach it, and although I am not sure they are going to
earn a point tonight I am confident that they are not going to allow
many goals. If Serbia will win they are not going to do it by more
than 2 goals for sure.
Date: 2006-10-11 League: Euro 2008 Qualifying Match: Serbia v Armenia
Page=TipsterPicks&Match=928600
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress