Author: Felekian Ara

Turkish mass media: The technical work was completed with regard to
the Lachin corridor linking Armenia to Karabakh

2009-11-22 09:44:00

ArmInfo. "Turkey has said it is hopeful that Armenia and Azerbaijan
will make progress toward resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
facilitating an imminent normalization of relations between regional
foes Ankara and Yerevan.

"The technical work was completed with regard to the corridors linking
Armenia to Karabakh. We are informed of the progress [regarding the
negotiations]," a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hurriyet Daily News
& Economic Review.

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham
Aliyev, are expected to meet Sunday at the French consulate in Munich,
Germany. It will be the eighth presidential meeting since Turkey and
Armenia began reconciliatory talks.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols Oct. 10 but have not yet
initiated ratification of them at either parliament. Turkey submitted
the protocols to its Parliament, but Armenia is still trying to pass
them through the constitutional court. "I do not think that one could
press Turkey at this moment when Armenia has still not submitted them
to parliament," the senior diplomat said.

"There are important developments," the senior diplomat said, adding
that a technical delegation had completed an exploration of the Lachin
Corridor, a mountain pass within the official borders of Azerbaijan
that is the shortest route connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Its status and how to provide its security are important matters to
be solved."

Davutoglu held a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov last week and was informed about the
talks. The co-chairmen of the OSCE’s Minsk Group held meetings last
week in Yerevan and Baku. Mammadyarov is expected to pay a visit to
Ankara next month.

The three things Turkey expects are the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from the seven regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh province and
the return of the Azerbaijani people who were expelled from their
homeland; clearer definition of the status of the corridor and how its
security would be assured; and, lastly, the reaching of an interim
agreement.

For Turkish diplomats, there are no additional obstacles before the
two parties being able to shake hands in the near future. "Talking
about deadlines is not always productive, but everyone is aware of the
need to accelerate the process," another Turkish diplomat said.

"Who knows, maybe Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan will be
opened simultaneously," the diplomat added.

According to Davutoglu, simultaneous rapprochement between Turkey and
Armenia and Armenia and Azerbaijan would be the best formula for
reaching a comprehensive settlement in the southern Caucasus.

news.am, Armenia
Nov 21 2009

Munich meeting to change nothing: Guluzade

16:35 / 11/21/2009Azerbaijani political analyst Vafa Guluzade is
pessimistic and aggressive about the meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian Presidents in Munich on November 22. `I do not think that
there will be any change in the course of upcoming meeting,’ said
Guluzade, adding that the document on table is pro-Armenian and does
not meet Azerbaijani interests. Political analyst underlined that
great powers turn blind eye to the situation in the `occupied’
territories, as cooperation with Azerbaijan is a business for them.
According to him, Christian states are keener to back Christian
Armenia, than contribute to the conflict settlement advantageous for
Islamic Azerbaijan.

`Armenia is instructed by Moscow not to agree to any settlement and
demand Karabakh independence from Azerbaijan. It is merely Russia’s
geopolitical issue and it wishes to develop relations with Azerbaijan
not being involved in Karabakh peace process,’ he stated.

Commenting on the statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu, namely `Turkey intends to change status quo of Karabakh’,
Guluzade pointed out that these are also abstract statements.

VICE PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA FAMILIARIZED WITH PROBLEMS OF TAVUSH AND GEGHARKUNIK DWELLERS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.11.2009 16:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Deputy Head of the Armenian Government, the Minister
of Territorial Administration of Armenia Armen Gevorgyan visited Tavush
and Gegharkunik regions of the republic, where he familiarized works
on gas network, as well as listened to the concerns of residents of
the Artsvashen community.

According to press service of the Ministry of Territorial
Administration, in frames of the program "Economic development of
rural areas" Chambarak (Gegharkunik region), as well as the village
of Chinari and Verin Karmir Aghbyur were connected to the gas network.

ARMENIAN STATE OFFICIALS TO TAKE SPECIAL COURSES WITHIN SKILLS FOR EU PROJECT

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.11.2009 16:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan, RA Civil
Service Council Chairman Manvel Badalyan and British Council Armenia
Director Arevik Saribekyan signed Tuesday a memorandum of collaboration
within Skills for EU project frameworks.

Launched in 2009, the three-year project is implemented by British
Council and financed by the UK Government, with RA Government’s
assistance. The project encompasses the ministries, administration,
headquarters and other institutions at the state level that are
involved in the coordination and correspondence with the International
Community, and especially in the context of European integration. The
program focuses on developing communication skills within the
European Union.

Professional consultations, expert courses for state and civil
officials are scheduled.

Two work meetings focusing on Azerbaijan, Georgia and Azerbaijan-
related regional issues will be organized within program frameworks.

Ukraine and Moldavia are expected to participate. Project participants
will twice visit Brussels for further familiarization with structures’
activities.

Upon signing ceremony’s completion RA Economy Minister Nerses
Yeritsyan, RA Civil Service Council Chairman Manvel Badalyan, British
Council Armenia Director Arevik Saribekyan and British Ambassador
to RA Charles Lonsdale delivered speeches, giving high assessment to
project and expressing hope for its effective implementation.

REGULAR POPULATION CENSUS TO BE CONDUCTED OCTOBER 12-21, 2011

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian parliament approved
today the "Armenian three-year long program on state statistical work
for 2010-2012". In the ethnography sphere the document particularly
intends conduction of experimental population census from April 14-23,
2010 and a regular population census October 12-21, 2011.

It is also expected to make the date base of the ethnographic indexes
in accordance with the international standards for more inclusive
presentation of the ethnographic situation in the country.

The three-year long program intends also implementation of programs
in economic, social, educational, nature protection and other spheres.

The parliamentarians also approved the 2010 program of activity of
the Oversight Chamber.

RUSSIA, GEORGIA REALIZE IMPORTANCE OF UPPER LARS CHECKPOINT OPENING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.11.2009 14:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Opening of Upper Lars checkpoint is Moscow and
Tbilisi’s attempt not to stand by regional projects, according to
Haykazun Alvrtsyan, Director of the Western Armenians’ Studies Center.

"After signature of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Russia and
Georgia realized the importance of opening the checkpoint. Georgia
is interested in unblocking the corridor to retain its role of a
regional communication actor," he said.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS COORDINATOR CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER ON ‘JOINING THE MAFIA’

ArmInfo
2009-11-17 13:45:00

ArmInfo. "Probably, this is the very stage necessary to pass to
join the mafia and the oligarchic and crony power system," says
Levon Zurabyan, Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress, when
commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s joining the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia.

"I have nothing to do but congratulate him on joining the mafia,"
the oppositionist says.

T. Sarkisyan got the party membership card on November 16 during the
meeting of the RPA Executive Committee.

IGOR MURADYAN: THE US WILL NOT SUPPORT THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RECONCILIATION PROCESS
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
16.11.2009 14:38

Political scientist Igor Muradyan considers that the United States
will not guarantee the continuity of the process targeted at the
establishment of the Armenian-Turkish relations, since it is in
confusion.

There are a lot of unsolved issues in our region – the Russian-Georgian
conflict, the Karabakh issue and the Armenian-Turkish relations. Under
these conditions the United States does not manage to conduct a
multifaceted policy, the political scientist said. According to
him, the US is the regulator of the process of normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations.

Why did the US initiate process if it was not going to support it?

"It’s necessary to take note of the main purpose of US policy targeted
at restricting Turkey’s claims. However, Turkey wishes to come out
of US control, therefore, the US will not benefit from supporting
the process," Igor Muradyan said.

SOME $600 MILLION REQUIRED TO FIGHT GRAPE PHYLLOXERA

ARKA
Nov 16, 2009

YEREVAN, November 16, /ARKA/. Avag Harutyunian, chairman of the Union
of Armenian Winemakers, said today some $600 million are required to
fight grape phylloxera.

Phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally
native to eastern North America. These almost microscopic, pale yellow
sap-sucking insects feed on the roots and leaves of grapevines.

Studies have shown that vineyards infested with phylloxera can lose 20
per cent of production in only the first year of infestation. Vines
generally become uneconomic within 3 to 10 years of infestation. The
spread of phylloxera and the rate of destruction varies depending on
factors including soil condition, the age of the vine and how much
the vine has been stressed.

According to Avag Harutyunian, the $600 million need to be added by
hard work that may last 5-6 years.’ He warned that otherwise Armenia
would risk losing its vineyards.

ASSOCIATE AGREEMENT – GOOD PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPING ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.11.2009 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 13, Secretary of National Security
Council (NSC) Arthur Baghdasaryan received Netherlands’ Foreign
Ministry’s Special Representative on Eastern Partnership Onno Hannting
and Netherlands’ Ambassador to Armenia Peter Yan Langenberg.

Parties discussed prospects of cooperation within Eastern Partnership
program. Reiterating Armenia’s willingness to deepen relationship
with EU, Mr. Baghdasaryan characterized associate agreement as good
platform for developing Armenia-EU relations.

Discussion also focused on EU-Armenia action plan. Arthur Baghdasaryan
briefed on Armenia’s current reforms in different directions.

Touching on current Armenian-Turkish normalization process, parties
highlighted the importance of establishing diplomatic ties and opening
borders in terms of strengthening peace and stability in the region,
RA NSC press service reports.