Author: Hambardsumian Paul

ROUNDTABLE ON "AZERBAIJAN AND UNSOLVED KARABAKH CONFLICT" AND "ROLE OF NORWAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGION" TO BE HELD IN OSLO

APA
Feb 23 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku-APA. Roundtable dedicated to 18th anniversary of Khojaly Genocide
titled "Azerbaijan and unsolved Karabakh conflict" and "Role of Norway
in the development of region" will be held with joint organization of
"Peace and conflict studies" program of Political Studies faculty at
Oslo University and Norwegian Azerbaijani Youth Organization, (NAYO)
in Oslo, Norway. Azerbaijani ambassador to Sweden Rafael Ibrahimov,
Deputy Secretary of Helsinki Committee Gunnar M.Ekelöm-Slydal,
deputy secretary of Norwegian Foreign Ministry for global security
and CIS countries department Bord Ivar Svendsen and Statoil Norway
Oil Company’s social responsibility department’s adviser Hokon
F. Nordang will attend the roundtable, press service of Azerbaijani
State Committee for Work with the Diaspora told APA. NAYO’s chairman
Ramil Aliyev told Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with the
Diaspora press service that speeches on "Karabakh conflict and
its dissensions", "Khojaly tragedy-tragedy of humanity" will be
delivered at the event. He noted that Khojaly tragedy is one the
horrible accidents happened during Karabakh conflict. On such day all
our compatriots in the while world must be solidary and raise their
voice for the punishment of killers executed our innocent compatriots.

"Khojaly in the eyes of children" photo exhibition will be demonstrated
and booklets about tragedy will be distributed within the event where
professor and teacher’s staff of "Peace and conflict studies" program
of Political Studies faculty at Oslo University, foreign students,
several officers of emergency and high-level embassies in Norway,
media representatives and representatives of Azerbaijani community
will present.

As well as within the framework of event NAYO’s local community
representatives will send information about tragedy to the e-mails of
international organizations, address letters to public and political
figures of foreign countries.

IT WILL TAKE ARMENIA TOO LONG TO GET OUT OF THE CRISIS IF ECONOMY STRUCTURE IS LEFT UNCHANGED

ArmInfo
2010-02-23 12:15:00

ArmInfo. "Crisis reveals the very hidden factors that undermine the
bases of healthy competition at a glacial pace and result in disastrous
consequences," said Araik Karyan, Head of RASCO Insurance Company, the
former head of the Insurance Inspectorate and USAID expert, during the
7th International Economic Forum BRIDGE 2010 in Armenia. He said that
in conditions of crisis no one can predict the trends of economic
development, but one thing is clear that maintaining the former
mechanisms and structure of economy may deteriorate the situation
in the country. The expert thinks that construction and services
sectors have become an important link in the structure of economy in
Armenia and their share in GDP is 62% whereas the share of industry,
agriculture and energy in total does not amount even to 30%.

A. Karyan believes that Armenia needs its own stabilization fund that
would be replenished at the expense of the sectors having surplus
profit. This will stimulate structural changes in economy with a focus
on the industrial sector. A. Karyan proposed exempting import of any
type of equipment in Armenia of VAT as well as prolonging the period
of payment of the tax on import of raw materials for processing by
6-8 months. As regards preferential terms of taxation on import of
equipment approved by the government, A. Karyan called it nothing
but charging of VAT in advance.

Among the major steps stimulating development of economy, the
expert stressed the necessity of partial governmentalization
(re-privatization) of enterprises implementing innovative business
projects, their further monetization through provision of budgetary
loans with prolonged debt service as well as through placing
government orders with enterprises implementing effective and
innovative projects. "The next tooling suggests administration of
guarantees to the business by certain insurance schemes, governmental
co-financing of activity of the subjects undergone relevant selection,
partial or full funding of commercial credits, development of a new
state property management concept, governmental financing of venture
projects, which allows attracting long money without mortgage security,
as well as administration of state guarantees in form of long-term
loans till 2020 for business stimulation and innovative development",
he emphasized.

Within the frames of export stimulation, A. Karyan offers providing
insurance guarantees for exporter enterprises. According to him,
this tooling is used very successfully in both the developed European
countries and in the countries with transient economy. Then, the
expert offers creating efficient mechanisms of regional development.

Here, Karyan recommends the government to pass from the policy of
smoothing of economic processes to the policy of polar development of
the country’s economy, where centralization of financial, technological
and managerial resources is necessary for innovative development of
the regions. Moreover, emphasis in the regional development strategy
should be laid on the competitive advantages of each region.

When speaking of assistance to the social sphere, the expert
highlighted the pension reforms, initiated by the government, in
particular, implementation of accumulative pension system in 2011. A.

Karyan offers changing the sources of financing of social tasks with
transfer from budgetary mechanisms to insurance ones.

KUSTURICA ARRIVES IN ARMENIA BY HIS OWN PLANE

Aysor
feb 22 2010
Armenia

The tickets for Serbian musician, director, Emir Nemanja Kusturica
and his band "No Smoking Orchestra" are being sold. As the concert
organizer Ervand Tonoyan, the "Avangard" Folk-club manager told to
Aysor.am the tickets cost 7 – 50 thousand AMD.

"There are also VIP tickets which cost 100 thousand AMD. Those who have
VIP tickets will have the opportunity to partake in the meeting which
will take place in the foyer of the music hall", – E. Tonoyan informed.

The organization of the concert is supported by the RA Culture
Ministry and the producers are "VivaCell-MTS" Company and the The
Yerevan Brandy Distillery. The concert will take place in the Opera
and Ballet house after Alexander Spendaryan on March 5.

"Besides the concert there will also be a master class for the
musicians which will be organized in "Avangard" Folk-Club", –
E. Tonoyan informed and added that the band of Kusturica is arriving by
his personal airplane and one of the pilots will be Kusturica himself.

SUDUKHYAN CASE IS NOT QUASHED

os16902.html
17:05:21 – 19/02/2010

Yesterday, the member of the Teghut group Mariam Sudukhyan gave a
testimony at the Yerevan investigatory department and said all she
knows about the teacher of the Nubarashen special school Levon
Avagyan. As a result, a case was brought against Levon Avagyan charged
with `committing perverse acts of violence’.

Recall that in the past, Mariam was involved in the same case as the
accused – first on charges of false accusation, then – libel. She has
presented data on sexual assaults against inmates.

As Sudukhyan’s lawyer Nona Galstyan noted, she and Mariam have never
been invited to the court during the trial. At the same time, in an
interview with Radio Liberty, she said: `Although a criminal case is
brought against Levon Avagyan, the case of Mariam Sudukhyan for
defamation is not quashed’.

news.am, Armenia
Feb 20 2010

Armenia may become pipe corridor in Caucasus: EU rep

11:04 / 02/20/2010Armenia may become a pipe corridor in Caucasus, EU
Special Representative for Central Asia Pierre Morel told Turkish
reporters Feb. 19.

According to him, the Armenia-Turkey reconciliation and reopening of
the common will have a positive impact on the two countries’ energy
sectors.

There are many options for the Caspian-Turkish energy pipeline, due to
its `mobile energy landscape’. In this context Armenia could be a
route for future pipelines, he said.

`However, things have not been fixed up so far. The main thing to say
is, why not use Armenia as a way for other pipelines in the future,’
the official emphasized.

According to him, Caucasus should be used for the transportation of
energy resources. The South corridor is a wider concept than Nabucco,
Morel said.

`A corridor is not one pipeline, but a system of pipelines. The
southern corridor can be talked about only if you have a system of
pipelines,’ the diplomat noted.

L.A.

AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
February 18, 2010 Thursday

EU ENVOY SAYS EASTERN PARTNERSHIP TO AID CONFLICT RESOLUTION

EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia believes that the Eastern
Partnership Program will bring to Azerbaijan not only economic
benefits, but also will help start a dialogue with its neighbors,
which is a key aspect of solving any conflict. "The best way of
solving any conflict is the willingness to negotiate with opponents.
The Eastern Partnership contributes to this dialogue," Kobia said at
the debates organized at the Center for Strategic Studies in Baku on
Thursday.

The Eastern Partnership Program is a Polish-Swedish initiative under
the EU Neighborhood Policy aimed at improving EU relations with former
Soviet states. The program was approved at an EU meeting March 20 last
year. The founding summit of the Eastern Partnership Program was held
May 7. The program will include six countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. Under the program, the EU will
provide neighbor countries with 600 million euros in 2009-2013. The EU
is not directly involved in the process of resolving the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, but the EU is
ready to promote peace in the region in order to help people, the
ambassador said. France co-chairs the OSCEs Minsk Group, which is
working to reach a peaceful resolution to the Garabagh conflict.
According to the ambassador, the Minsk Group is doing everything
possible for the successful outcome of the conflict. "The EU has not
had enough opportunities to interfere in the negotiations process. But
we are ready to do more if we are asked," the ambassador said.
Concerning Eastern Partnership Program prospects, Kobia said the
program is an ambitious initiative for both the EU and Azerbaijan.
This cooperation will bring tremendous benefits to Azerbaijan. The
program is planned to allocate 400-600 million manats to Azerbaijan,
the ambassador added. This amount may be increased after 2013. At
bilateral level, Eastern Partnership envisages: – Signing of an
association agreement with each country. The procedure with Azerbaijan
is scheduled to begin in 2010. – Creating a free trade zone.
-Simplifying of visa regime between the program’s countries and the
EU. It is planned to ultimately achieve full abolition of the visa
regime and pass to the free movement of citizens between the Eastern
Partnership countries and the EU. – Comprehensive institutional
development.

‘NO MORE ROOM FOR EUROPE AT THE SETTLEMENT TO KARABAKH CONFLICT’

Aysor
Feb 19 2010
Armenia

Europe doesn’t play the same role that the United States and Russia
do in the process of settlement to the Karabakh conflict, said in an
exclusive interview with Trend News agency ex French Foreign Minister
Roland Dumas.

"It would be important to hear Europe’s voice, if Europe could be
louder and act from a single position. Europe doesn’t have a voice
at the moment, as the key parties in negotiations are the U.S. and
Russia. There is no more room for Europe at the settlement to Karabakh
conflict. The only exception is French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s
initiative over the ongoing conflict that he proposed some months ago.

However, this is not a fundamental force. If we don’t have an
institutional force, then no one will hear Europe’s voice," said
Roland Dumas.

According to Roland Dumas, the issue of Turkey’s joining the EU has
some "perseverance of Americans": "The U.S. presidents have several
times visited Europe to talk over Turkey’s accession to the EU. This
raises some suspicions. As long as Turkey is a member of the North
Atlantic Alliance, it would be difficult to let Turkey join the
European structure," he said.

"We’ve already solved many issues with Turkey over its accession to
the EU. But it’s too early to talk about joining the EU.

"As for me, I do not oppose Turkey to become the EU member; however,
it’s necessary to identify all the problems and solve these problems
together with the Turkish side," said Roland Dumas.

CHAIRMAN OF LOCAL ELECTION COMMISSION N12/10 ACCUSED OF RIGGING ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.02.2010 20:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Special Investigation Service of Armenia finished the
preliminary investigation of the criminal case against the chairman of
the local election commission of N 10/12 polling station in Yerevan in
connection with falsification of the election results to the National
Assembly of Armenia.

RA Special Investigation Service found that the commission chairman
of N10/12 polling station G. Galoyan falsified the results of the
elections by making entries in the electoral lists.

Galoyan is charged under Article 150 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

The case was sent to the Court of First Instance of Kentron and Nork
Marash communities of Yerevan, press office of the General Prosecutor’s
office reported.

On January 10 the candidate of National Unity Party Ara Simonyan,
who collected 7,622 votes in the elections to the National Assembly
at the 10th electoral district of Yerevan. Three candidates run for
MP: Ara Simonyan (7,622 votes), leader of Marxist Party of Armenia
David Hakobyan (299 votes), being under arrest the chief editor of an
opposition newspaper "Haykakan Zhamanak " Nikol Pashinyan (5023 votes).

AZERBAIJANI MP: RENEWED MILITARY ACTION WOULD BE ONLY CORRECT SOLUTION FOR AZERBAIJAN
Z. Ahmadov

Today
1946.html
Feb 18 2010
Azerbaijan

Member of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis (parliament) Gudrat Hasanguliyev
says the Madrid principles imply phased resolution to the Karabakh
conflict.

"The Madrid principles have never been officially published. But,
based on media reports, as well as statements by Azerbaijan, this
document implies gradual resolution of the conflict, for which we
have always hoped. That is, the occupied territories will be freed,
later refugees will return there and only after status of Karabakh
will be decided within Azerbaijan," the MP said.

"If this document really implies these conditions, it is advantageous
for Azerbaijan. In this case, we should not agree to the referendum
in Karabakh in no event. This should be one of the important and
fundamental conditions of the Azerbaijani side. If Armenia does not
accept these conditions, Azerbaijan will have no other option but to
take military action," the deputy noted.

"I have previously said that Azerbaijan could consider conditions for
the CSTO accession if there is a chance to change Russia’s position.

But if it sees that it is not realistic and Armenia does not agree
to the highest status of autonomy for Karabakh within Azerbaijan,
a renewal of hostilities would be the only correct solution for
Azerbaijan since it does not make sense to negotiate for decades."

"I believe that Azerbaijan has a good economic and military potential
to solve the Karabakh conflict by military means," MP Hasanguliyev
added.

WEST SPOILS ARMENIA

news.az
Feb 16 2010
Azerbaijan

Reshat Dogru The member of the Turkish Parliament has commented on
the issue of the Turkish-Armenian protocols and the Karabakh issue.

"The West’s actions on Turkey and Azerbaijan are unjust. We strongly
condemn such an approach of the West to our problems. Why does the
European Parliament protect Greeks and Armenians in its report at the
same time ignoring a million of Azerbaijani refugees who were forced
to flee their homes? Is this called Democracy? Is this called the
protection of human rights? West does not want to see the obvious
crimes of Armenians against Azerbaijanis, Turkish MP Reshat Dogru
has said.

"There will be no ratification of the protocols in the parliament
unless Armenia withdraws from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan
and changes the decision of the Constitutional Court, where Armenia
is clearly setting territorial claims to Turkey. West has spoiled
Armenia and it thinks that Turkey will indulge its whims. Armenians
should know that Turkey is a great country and it is not susceptible
to blackmail and threats ", said R. Dogru.

"A tragic date for the entire Turkic world – the anniversary of the
Khojaly genocide, is nearing. Where are the U.S. Congress and the
European Parliament, why they are silent, why they are blind? It is
not an ancient tragedy, its witnesses are still alive. If they are
fighting for justice, let them come to Azerbaija and ask about this
tragedy and take interest in the life of refugees. Turkey will always
be close to good and justice, unlike the West. Azerbaijani brothers
should always be confident that Turkey will be next to them", he said.