Author: Hambardsumian Paul

STATUS-QUO OF NAGORNO KARABAKH IS NOT PERPETUAL: EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR S. CAUCASUS

Today
Nov 2 2009
Azerbaijan

There are many details that still remain unresolved and if there
is a useful environment, I am sure, they can go ahead", EU Special
Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby said in his
interview with Russian "Vremya Novostey" newspaper during his visit
to Russia.

"I can’t talk about the concessions to be made by Azerbaijan and
Armenia. Everything was clearly described in Madrid principles. Of
course, the most complicated problem is in details, but the Madrid
document describes resolutions about the concessions by both sides,"
he said.

"The most complicated issues, including determination of Nagorno
Karabakh’s status, are postponed until indefinite time", said Semneby.

Semneby noted that normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations
can have positive effect on the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"We are sure that normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations
can create new opportunities for the solution to Nagrono Karabakh
conflict. It creates positive dynamic. I am sure that Armenian
leadership will perceive that existent status-quo of Nagorno Karabakh
is not perpetual".

THIS WAS SARGSYAN’S LAST VISIT: AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER

news.am
Oct 30 2009
Armenia

November 2, Turkish military delegation will arrive in Azerbaijan,
said Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev Oct. 29, APA news
agency informs.

The Turkish militaries’ delegation will be headed by the Commander
of Turkish Army General Isik Kosaner, 1news.az reports, referring
to ANS-TV.

At the press conference Abiyev also commented on the October 22 visit
of RA President Serzh Sargsyan to Nagorno-Karabakh for the maneuvers.

He did not stint threats, stating: "Perhaps, this was his last visit."

According to Azerbaijani Minister, Serzh Sargsyan had no right to visit
"the occupied Azeri territories."

BULGARIAN WATER BOTTLING COMPANY GORNA BANYA HAS BEEN SOLD FOR ALMOST 25 MILLION EURO TO ARMENIAN NATIONALS GAGIK AND DJAVAIR TSARUKYAN

ArmInfo
2009-10-29 18:47:00

ArmInfo. Bulgarian water bottling company Gorna Banya has been sold
for almost 25 million euro to Armenian nationals Gagik and Djavair
Tsarukyan, according to the trade registry, Sophia Echo reported.

Evgeni Goranov, one of the company’s former owners, confirmed to
Dnevnik that the deal was struck at the end of last week.About
20 million euro of the amount will be channeled to debt payments,
Goranov said, noting that the company owes 12 million euro in long-term
banking loans and a further four million euro in short-term funding.

It should pay a separate sum of about 3.5 million euro to a UK
investment fund.

A further million euro has been deposited with a guarantee fund to
cover possible future payments. The monies will be left there until
March 30, according to Goranov.

Gorna Banya generated total revenue of more than 36 million leva for
2008. Short-term liabilities for the period stood at 14.9 million
leva and the long-term at 9.6 million leva.

Gorna Banya is the entrepreneur’s first Bulgarian investment. It will
be managed by Zaven Asadurov, according to the trade registry.

Asadurov was not immediately available for comment.

TURKISH PARLIAMENT NOT ALWAYS CONSISTENT: HALIL AKINCI

news.am
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

In the course of the Protocols’ ratification in Turkish Parliament,
a wish that the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations be improved will be
expressed, Turkish Ambassador to Russia Halil Akinci stated in his
interview with the Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Independent Newspaper, Russia).

"It is yet too early to speak of Russian cooperation projects with
Armenia and Turkey – the Turkish Majlis first has to ratify the
Zurich protocols," the Ambassador said. He stressed that the Turkish
Parliament is not always consistent in dealing with the Government
enquiries, "while the Government’s policy is to establish good
relations with neighbors."

Ambassador Halil Akıncı said that it was at the signing ceremony in
Zurich that the United States and Russia obviously demonstrated their
interest in and support for the improvement of the Armenia-Turkey
and Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. The ceremony was attended by the
Russian and French FMs as well as by the U.S. Secretary of State,
"that is the diplomats of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries."

"The Armenian-Turkish Protocols signing in Zurich demonstrates both the
wish to normalize Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations,"
Ambassador Halil Akinci said.

THE CONCERT "ROCK FOR THE LOVE OF NATURE" TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

Aysor
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

Arevordi (SunChild) International Environmental Festival will hold
tonight a rock concert under the motto "Rock for the love of Nature"
using music to spread their message to protect and conserve the
environment.

The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets in
the Republic of Armenia in cooperation with VivaCell-MTS organizes and
holds the fest which got underway on October 25 involving screening,
exhibitions, discussions, and other activities.

Armenian rock bands Road Movie, Vordan Karmir, and U.S.-based ensemble
Armenian Space Station will perform at tonight’s concert at 9:00
p.m. in Moscow Cinema Open Hall.

AMERIABANK PREPARES PRESENT IN HONOUR OF OPENING OF ITS HEAD OFFICE

ArmInfo
2009-10-28 12:43:00

ArmInfo. Ameriabank has prepared a present in honour of opening of
its Head office. On the same day, November 12, a sole concert of the
world-famous guitarist George Benson will be held in Yerevan.

To note, the concert of G. Benson in Yerevan will be held under the
auspices of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, Ministry of Culture
and ‘Prospects of XXI Century’ Festival.

AMERICAN EXPERT: "ARMENIA MUST WITHDRAW ITS FORCES FROM FIVE OCCUPIED REGIONS, THEN TWO MORE REGIONS AND NAGORNO KARABAKH"

APA
Oct 28 2009
Azerbaijan

Astana. Laman Agayeva – APA. International conference "Kazakhstan’s
presidency of OSCE: recommendations and opportunities" was held in
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, APA’s correspondent for Kazakhstan
and Central Asia reports.

Officials, experts of Kazakhstan, political analysts and scientists
from the US, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in
Kazakhstan participated in the conference.

Representative of the U.S. Center for Strategic and International
Studies Yanush Bugay, expert of the Jamestown Foundation Vladimir
Socor, Senior Associate of Carnegie Fund Dr. Martha Brill Olcott
and others underlined that Kazakhstan may play an important role in
the resolution of the conflicts in the Caucasus, energy and transit
problems in the region. To the question of APA’s correspondent "How
should the resolution of the conflicts in the Caucasus and Karabakh
problem be approached?" Martha Brill Olcott said: "Kazakhstan during
its presidency in OSCE may be able to play big role in resolution
of frozen conflicts. But Azerbaijan and Armenia should also find
diplomatic way for the resolution of the problem," M. Olcott said.

Vladimir Socor considers that Kazakhstan can not achieve resolution
of the Karabakh problem. "America, Russia and OSCE have been dealing
with the Karabakh problem for long years. It is difficult to reach
solution of the problem in a period of Kazakhstan’s presidency
in OSCE". The expert reminded about bilateral and multilateral
negotiations between US, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia and
said OSCE had its agenda. "OSCE concludes that Armenia and Turkey
should normalize relations at first, which based on the opening of
borders between them. Turkey closed borders with Armenian in 1994
after the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by the Armenian armed
forces. Now the talks are going on that Turkey to open its gates. In
return, Armenia must withdraw its forces from five occupied regions
around Nagorno Karabakh, then two more regions and Nagorno Karabakh
Autonomous Region as well. About one million Azerbaijanis were expelled
from those territories and suffered from the ethnic cleansing against
them. These are difficult duties ahead. Turkey can open the borders
after liberation of five regions. The main condition is that Turkey
will open borders at the same time with the withdrawal of Armenian
troops from the five occupied regions. A priority can not be given to
Armenia during the solution of these problems. It is wrong to think
that we open the doors and then the lands are returned. It will be
a wrong step".

ARMENIAN PREMIER PROVOKES MPS’ RESENTMENT

news.am
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

Armenian PMs resented RA Premier Tigran Sargsyan’s statement that
the Armenian Government "is only responsible for the three million
citizens of the country."

Addressing the Premier in Parliament, Artyusha Shahbazyan, Secretary
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction, designed
statements like that as "impermissible", especially in the context
of Ankara’s "persuasions" to ignore the Diaspora’s opinion. He also
regards as unacceptable Yerevan’s silence over Ankara’s aggressive
rhetoric.

Responding to the accusations, the Premier reminded the
parliamentarians of the new concepts implemented by RA President Serzh
Sargsyan. It is under the new concepts that the Ministry of Diaspora
was established in Armenia. The Government worked out a concept of the
Armenian World, with not only Armenia, but also Javakhk (a Georgian
region with a dense Armenian population) and Nagorno-Karabakh being
components thereof. "So the accusations against the Government are
groundless," the Premier said. It is natural that different components
of the Armenian World should have different interests.

According to the Armenian Premier, only a small, "politicized" part
of the Armenian Diaspora is against the Armenian-Turkish protocols —
they disagree with the Armenian leaders at this point. "The Republic of
Armenia is the locomotive of the Armenian World, and it is responsible
for the whole Armenian World and I, as Armenian Premier, as well,"
said Tigran Sargsyan.

As regards "Yerevan’s silence over Ankara’s aggressive rhetoric,"
the Premier said: "I do not think it is right to respond to all the
statements made by official Ankara – it will weaken our positions. Our
ideological positions are very strong."

A. Shahbazyan was not satisfied with the Premier’s answer. "Armenia and
the Diaspora cannot have different interests. Our common interests are
building up a strong, independent and united Armenia!" he exclaimed.

FOREIGN MINISTRY OF KUWAIT HOLDS ARMENIAN-KUWAITI CONSULTATIONS

Aysor
Oct 27 2009
Armenia

The meeting between Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan
and Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah, held October
26 at Foreign Ministry of Kuwait, marked the beginning of a new stage
of Armenian-Kuwaiti political consultations, reports press office of
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

The parties discussed the upcoming visit to Kuwait of Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan as well as process of signing of some
documents and issues of bilateral relations. In the context of
developing and deepening of trade and economic ties, the parties
stressed the importance of the signing of economic agreements.

Mr. Arman Kirakosyan presented Armenia’s policy related to neighbors,
in particular, the current stage of Armenian-Turkish relations and
last developments in settlement of Karabakh issue as well as some
other regional projects. The Kuwaiti side praised Armenian activities
aimed at reconciliation with neighboring nations.

Mr. Khaled Al-Jarallah, in his part, talked about cooperation with
neighboring states, especially with Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia;
he presented Kuwait’s priority objectives in foreign policy and
activities within the framework of the Cooperation Council between
Arabian states of Persian Gulf.

ARMENIA REPRESENTED IN FRANKFURT INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.10.2009 20:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia took part in Frankfurt International Book
Fair which this year was held in China on October 14-18.

Armenian pavilion displayed books in Armenian and foreign languages,
published over the past 2 years.

Armenian delegation consisted of representatives from Ministry of
Culture, as well as Heads of "Zangak-97", "Antares", "Edit Print"
and "Collage" publishing houses and director of Artbridge bookstore.