Author: Hambardsumian Paul

SAMAD SEYIDOV: PACE HAS DECIDED TO ACTIVATE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NAGORNO KARABAKH

APA
14 Dec 2009 19:20

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. The implementation of the resolution
#1416 on Nagorno Karabakh conflict adopted by the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in 2005 has been discussed at
the meeting of the PACE Bureau in Paris today, head of Azerbaijani
parliament’s delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov, who attended the
meeting, told APA.

PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig said the negotiations on the
settlement of the conflict were going on.

"PACE President said there a Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh and
asked whether there was a need to include actively this issue into the
agenda. I made a detailed speech and said Nagorno Karabakh problem
should always be on the agenda of the Council of Europe. The more
this issue is discussed not only in the Subcommittee, but also in
the committee on conflicts, political affairs committee, monitoring
committee, PACE’s plenary meetings, the more it is important for us. I
think the Bureau members agreed with me that Nagorno Karabakh issue
should be activated and approached delicately, as the negotiations
continue. We are not the organization replacing the Minsk Group, Minsk
Group is doing its work, we should exchange views in the Council of
Europe on Nagorno Karabakh problem, include objective facts into the
agenda and raise awareness," he said.

The parliamentarian said most members of the Bureau had expressed their
views on the issue and a common decision had been passed in the end.

"Though the decision has not been written on paper, it says that the
work of the Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh should be activated,
the issue should be discussed again in the January session. It was
also discussed how the Council of Europe might deal with this issue
and the implementation of the resolution on Nagorno Karabakh," he said.

To the question "Was the election of the new chairman of the
Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh discussed?" Samad Seyidov said PACE
President supervises the committee.

"The activation of the issue means that it will be discussed again in
the January session. The question is the activation of the committee,
discussion of the issue in other committees, rather than the election
of the chairman," he said.

CENTRAL BANK: WEEKLY CLOSING STATEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2009 17:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Between December 7 and 11 banks purchased 62,521,974
U.S. dollars at 383.77 AMD/USD and sold 59.658631 U.S. dollars at
385.1 AMD/USD in the inter-bank market , press office of the Central
Bank of Armenia reported.

At the same time sale and purchase transactions in the interbank
market reached USD 700,000 at 384.03 AMD/USD.

Within the same period sale and purchase transactions in the NASDAQ
OMX reached in USD 5,365,000 at 384.03 AMD/USD.

BLOCKS OF STEPANAKERT GET TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR WATER-SUPPLY

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
December 11, 2009

In Stepanakert a number of blocks will be provided for twenty-four-hour
water-supply.

The NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutunyan, Mayor of Stepanakert Vazgen
Miqaelyan, officials, guests from Yerevan and the local inhabitants
were present at the opening-ceremony of a storage having 20.000 square
meters capaciousness.

Twenty-four-hour water-supply will have school No.9, a number of
industrial organizations and 560 families.

The storage was built by "The Virazh" organization. "The Hayjrmugh",
the Architectural State University of Armenia also participated in
the building process.

The partakers noted that it was a major step toward the prosperous
future of Stepanakert.

LATVIAN PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO YEREVAN CREATES TRAFFIC JAM

ArmInfo
2009-12-10 10:30:00

ArmInfo. Yerevan citizens were rather late to work today. This time
it was not because of the traffic jams the citizens have used to. The
reason was the visit of Latvian President Valdis Zatlers and the
security measures taken in the city in this connection.

In particular, a number of streets in Yerevan were blocked because of
the Latvian president’s visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial early
in the morning. The other streets proved jammed because of unexpected
change of routes of public transport. Security measures taken were
necessary, indeed. Nevertheless, the citizens and especially public
transport drivers were to be informed beforehand of the planed change
of routes. Considering that the Latvian president is expected to
have several meetings today, the morning traffic chaos will probably
continue within the day.

FRANCIS DENG: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT THE RISK OF GENOCIDE

armradio.am
09.12.2009 11:08

Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of
Genocide issued a message to mark the anniversary of the adoption
of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime
of Genocide.

"The ninth of December marks the day in 1948 when the United Nations
adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime
of Genocide, an appreciation of the necessity that all states work
together to prevent a recurrence of the Holocaust and other mass
atrocities that preceded the Convention.

Throughout history, genocide has occurred in societies where different
national, racial, ethnic or religious groups become involved in
conflicts related to their identities. However, it is not mere identity
differences that cause genocidal conflicts, as genocide is often
preceded by serious discriminatory practices and other human rights
violations against the targeted groups often reflecting an exclusionary
ideology and eliminationist policies on the part of those in power.

Genocides may no longer take the shape and form of the Holocaust and
will occur in times of peace where targeted groups are subject to
long term practices and policies affecting their ability to exist
as an identity group, and in the context of intra-state as well as
inter-state conflicts. Authoritarian rule, absence of the rule of law,
the proliferation of small arms and impunity contribute to the risk
of genocide. Processes that should otherwise be uneventful, such as
elections, can under such circumstances turn deadly.

Too often, the international community has failed to remain
vigilant to the various manifestations of genocidal situations,
such as "ethnic-cleansing" and targeting of civilian groups from
which armed elements draw their membership. These situations are
typically labeled as military and "counter-terrorism" strategies and
highlight the ongoing necessity to understand genocide and therefore
prevent the destruction of groups representing nationalities, races,
ethnicities and religions.

The international community has a responsibility to prevent the risk
of genocide. All States are called upon to implement the preventive
aspects of the Convention and to support efforts to prevent massive and
serious human rights violations that could lead to genocide. We must
work to eradicate all kinds of discrimination and promote tolerance,
respect for cultural and ethnic diversity, and discourage anything
which tends to strengthen identity-based division, wherever it occurs.

Genocide is a crime against all of humankind and affects all of
humanity. The choices we make on how and when we decide to respond to
prevent genocide reflect our fundamental values, our commitment to
protect civilian populations and human groups and the "never again"
promises we have repeatedly made to victims of past genocides that
they will be the last."

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN: THE PROTOCOLS WITH ARMENIA WERE SIGNED UNCONDITIONALLY, BUT IN ORDER TO PASS SOMETHING IN TURKISH PARLIAMENT ANY ISSUE MUST BE UNDER CONDITIONS

APA
08 Dec 2009 11:47

"I told Barack Obama that reaching the Turkish-Armenian normalization
is difficult without solving the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh"

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. Turkey’s Prime-Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan met with US President Barak Obama in Washington DC. According
to APA’s Washington DC correspondent, the meeting between Obama
and Erdogan took longer than it was planned. A number of Turkish
ministers including foreign affairs minister Davudoglu participated
in the negotiations process. According to APA’s Washington DC
correspondent, Erdogan noticed after his meeting with Obama,
that he was trying to convince US administration that reaching
the Turkish-Armenian normalization is difficult without solving
the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Erdogan told APA correspondent,
that during his meeting with Obama, he explained him the Caucasus
model: "I explained him, that in order to reach a long-term peace
in this region, one has to solve all the unresolved issues, all the
conflicts. And if the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is not solved,
then there is no opportunity for this long-term peace".

Erdogan says that just some years before Turkey itself was in the
middle of conflicts, while now Turkey is a great supporter of peace
in the world.

At a press-conference after the meeting with Obama Turkish
prime-minister spoke about Turkey-Armenian rapprochement. An
Armenian journalist told him, that Turkey is not keeping its word
about the Turkey-Armenian normalization. Erdogan answered that when
the protocols were signed, there wasn’t any condition, but in order
to pass something in Turkish parliament any issue must be under
conditions. Such a condition is probably Nagorno-Karabakh, as Turkish
parliament is very sensitive for this issue.

Answering on APA’s correspondent’s question, what would be the future
of the normalization protocols, if they reach Turkish parliament,
Erdogan said that neither he, or anyone else of the government can
dictate the parliament – this is an independent body: "But I can
suppose that Nagorno-Karabakh is a very sensitive issue for our
parliament".

During his visit to Washington DC, Erdogan also discussed NABUCO,
Cyprus, Iran’s nuclear program, and Israel-Palestine conflict, Iraq,
NATO and Afghanistan.

Speaking of Iran’s nuclear problem, Erdogan stated that Turkey is
ready to be a mediator between USA and Iran. He also said all the
countries should abandon nuclear weapons.

He also mentioned Turkey isn’t currently planning to increase
the number of its forces in Afghanistan, but however is ready to
participate in other operations.

During his visit to US prime-minister also addressed with a speech at
Turkish organization SETA. Azerbaijani ambassador to US participated
in one of the events organized by Turkish delegation.

GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA WILL ALLOCATE 12 MILLION DRAMS FOR THE STRUGGLE AGAINST PESTS OF VINEYARDS – MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

ARKA
Dec 8, 2009

YEREVAN, December 8. /ARKA/. "In 2010 Government of Armenia will
allocate 12 million drams for the struggle against dissemination of
phylloxera in vineyards", said Samvel Galstyan, Deputy Minister of
Agriculture during the press-conference on Tuesday.

"At present, the dangerous pest stroke three hectares of forests
in Ararat region and the only means of struggle with it is burning
out of affected by phylloxera gardens for the prevention of further
dissemination", said Galstyan. He said that one million drams will
be allocated for every erased hectare.

The remaining 9 million drams will be allocated for the organization
of research activities. He said that it is possible that the virus
came from the planting stock of new sorts. He said that phylloxera
is a serious pest for prophylactics of which serious measures are
undertaken. ($1-385.01 drams).

PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES ON PERM TRAGEDY

armradio.am
07.12.2009 17:46

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, sent a message of
condolence to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the occasion
of the tragedy in the city of Perm. The telegram reads, in part:

"On behalf of the Government of Armenia and the Armenian people,
I extend sincere condolences on the occasion of the tragedy that
took place in Perm on December 5. Together with the Russian people
we mourn the tragic death of more than 100 people.

Please, convey my condolences and words of compassion to the families
of the victims."

THE MIGRATION WILL INCREASE:AT PRESENT IT’S ABOUT 25 THOUSAND

Aysor
Dec 4 2009
Armenia

Demographer, head of the Armenian Social-Demographic Initiative
Ruben Yeganyan informed today that they shouldn’t wait for essential,
significant changes.

There will be certain changes but they will be conditioned not only
with our inner situation but also with the external conditions, how
the economic situation will be in the country where oru citizens tend
to live etc, said the speaker.

According to Yeganyan the number of the Armenian migrants who wish or
have the whish to leave the country is rather big too. It is something
else that becoming a citizen of other country becomes difficult.

The present situation of migration Yeganyan compared with 1990s. He
presented the result in lighter colors when the official data are
presented with smaller amounts than they really are.

The number of the temporary migrants makes a bigger amount during
which more than 10-15 thousands people are going out annually.

"Those people are our people, and it is not excluded that they will
return", – Ruben Yeganyan said adding that if they do not return and,
taking into consideration that they also have families they will take
their families with them.

MONITORING REVEALS NO VIOLATION OF CEASEFIRE

Yerkir
03.12.2009 14:45
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – The OSCE held regular monitoring on NKR-Azerbaijan
armed forces contact line near Talish settlement, Martakert region
of Nagorno-Karabakh on December 3.

The monitoring was conducted by OSCE Chairman-in-Office Personal
Representative Field Assistants Peter Kee (UK), Irji Aberl (Czech
Republic), Vladimir Chountulov (Bulgaria). It was held in accordance
with schedule. Violations of ceasefire were not registered.

OSCE mission was accompanied by NKR foreign and defense ministries’
representatives.