Author: Harutyunian Christine

WAR HERO SAYS ARMENIA NEEDS PROFESSIONAL ARMY

ARMENPRESS
Dec 04 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: A Karabakh war hero said today
Armenian armed forces are becoming stronger with every passing day, but
he added that Armenia needs ‘a small, but a very professional army."

The remarks came from Arkady Ter-Tadevosian, (Commandos) during a
meeting with students of Yerevan State University. He said professional
army requires huge financial means, but in every area, including in
wars, it is professionals who solve problems.

"The main guarantee of Armenian army’s power is that it is made up
exclusively of ethnic Armenians, not counting few representatives
of national minorities. Our rival (Azerbaijan) can not boast of it,"
he said, adding that conflicts among representatives of 10 different
nations serving in the Azerbaijani army are commonplace.

He also cited another argument, saying all Armenian cadets sent for
training to many foreign counties come back home, while 40 percent
of Azeri cadets, choose the opposite.

He wrapped up by saying if Azerbaijan was sure, even very little
that it would win the war against Armenia, it would have resumed
hostilities long ago.

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 6 2007

STARTED WITH POET’S WORDS AND REGRETTED FOR KOCHARYAN

The leader of the Nor Jamanakner Party held a news conference a few
days ago and stated that the refusal to issue a certificate on
permanent residence in Armenia over the past 10 years was a political
instruction because the government is overwhelmed with fear.
Afterwards the court declined his appeal against the decision of the
passport and visa department of the police. On the eve of the court
decision Robert Kocharyan had stated it’s a pity that Karapetyan
cannot run in the campaign because figures are needed to amuse the
public.

On December 6 Aram Karapetyan started his news conference with a
response to Robert Kocharyan’s statement, and he began with the words
of Silva Kaputikyan, an Armenian poetess, about one of the
politicians. `When I heard this man speak Russian, I thought he was
speaking Armenian, when he started speaking Armenia, I understood
that he is ignorant,’ Aram Karapetyan cites the poetess. `My
impression is that Robert Kocharyan has become a sectarian. He uses
every opportunity to swear at someone. For instance, I cannot
understand what his job is,’ Aram Karapetyan says, referring to
Robert Kocharyan’s statement in an interview with the Golos Armeni
that Levon Ter-Petrosyan is up for having Armenia annexed by Turkey.

`One amuses him, the other leads Armenia into Turkey, the third I
don’t know what, one is a drum, the other is a band of ethnic
instruments. Frankly speaking, my impression is that it is a sect,
and someone is preaching against the other,’ Aram Karapetyan says. He
says Robert Kocharyan had stated before the court ruling that this
person has no right to run in the election.

`Judge, do switch on the TV and listen to what I am saying, think for
yourself. I understand that political instructions are carried out.
It always happens in such countries. It may be done by telephone,
they may send people. But it is something new when they place a
political order openly, with the world watching,’ Aram Karapetyan
explains the situation.

Robert Kocharyan had also said that when in 2003 they declined to
issue a certificate on permanent residence in Armenia over the past 5
years for Aram Karapetyan to run in the parliamentary election, he
had so many years to appeal against it. `I know he dislikes reading
books, newspapers but even if a person at such a post does not read
documents, what does he read then?’ Aram Karapetyan says
demonstrating the decision of the first instance court in 2003. `At
the bottom of the document it is written that the verdict is enforced
from the moment of reading and is not liable for appeal. Nothing else
is written below it, Mr. Kocharyan, it is written Yuri Rashidyan.
What shall I appeal against? Maybe against Yuri Rashidyan?’ Aram
Karapetyan asks.

As to Robert Kocharyan’s regret, Aram Karapetyan says he regrets that
Robert Kocharyan is not running in the presidential election because
Robert Kocharyan has amused the society a lot with his word stock and
pronouncements.

AZERI OFFICIAL, HEAD OF IRANIAN AID AGENCY DISCUSS TIES WITH ARMENIA

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Azerbaijan
Nov 27 2007

The first deputy speaker of the Milli Maclis, Ziyafat Asgarov, today
received a delegation led by the head of Iran’s Imam Khomeyni Relief
Committee international humanitarian organization, Hoseyn Anvari,
who is visiting Azerbaijan. The first deputy speaker recalled that
the committee had allocated 33m dollars in aid for the displaced
Azerbaijanis so far and thanked the Iranian guests for this.

Asgarov regarded it as important that members of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference, including Iran, reconsider their ties with
Armenia. Anvari stressed that they considered the problems Azerbaijan
faced in connection with the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict to be their
own problems.

NATIVE OF SOUTHERN GEORGIA SAYS ARMENIANS WILL NOT VOTE FOR SAAKASHVILI

ARMENPRESS
Nov 27 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: A native of southern Georgian
region of Javakheti, who is an Armenian parliament member, said today
in Yerevan that voters in this predominantly Armenian-populated
province will not vote for Mikhail Saakashvili in January 5, 2008
snap presidential election.

Shirak Torosian, who is also head of a non-governmental organization
called Javakhk (the Armenian version of Georgian Javakheti), said
his fellows in the region will cast their ballots in favor of that
candidate whose election platform will spell out clearly ways to
protect national minorities in Georgia.

Shirak Torosian argued that ethnic Armenians in the Georgian province
have learned from their own experience that Saakashvili’s policies
ignored the interests of national minorities.

According to Shirak Torosian, Armenians in Javakheti have always been
on the side of Georgian authorities, but in opposition to them when
they raise a long string of their pressing social and other problems.

He said Armenians of the region had endorsed Mikhail Saakashvili in
the previous election hoping that the West-leaning leader guided by
Western system of values would not ignore the needs of the national
minorities and would not violate democratic norms.

Shirak Torosian, specifically accused Mikhail Saakashvili of pushing
through the parliament the language law that actually has drastically
restricted chances of Armenians to hold even lowest government
positions.

"Georgian authorities are making everything possible to replace the
Armenian language by Georgian.

Armenians lacking the knowledge of Georgian, even teachers of Armenian
schools are being sacked," he said.

He said Armenians of the region want to learn Georgian, but they do not
want their native language to be replaced by it. He accused Georgian
authorities of failing to respect the Council of Europe Framework
Agreement on Protection of National Minorities, which Tbilisi signed
in 2005.

He said Armenians of the region are also against the construction
of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway that circumvents and further isolates
Armenia. He said given a well-calculated Tbilisi’s policy towards the
region Armenians of Javakheti will become a bridge between Georgia
and Armenia and not an obstacle.

At the end of his today’s news conference Shirak Torosian said members
of his organization will vote for prime minister Serzh Sarkisian in
2008 Armenian presidential election.

ARMAN MELIKYAN: NAGORNY KARABAKH MUST PARTICIPATE IN NEGOTIATIONS AS AN INDEPENDENT PARTY

2007-11-28 14:13:00

ArmInfo. It is necessary for Nagorny Karabakh to participate in the
negotiations as an independent party, ex-foreign minister of NKR,
Adviser to NKR President for Foreign Affairs Arman Melikyan said. To
recall, A. Melikyan announced an intention to run for president of
Armenia. He said Armenia must stop discussing the issue on return of
the territories under control of NKR . ‘Armenia can speak only of the
problem of refugees and their settlement in these territories,’ Arman
Melikyan said. Moreover, he said Armenia can start negotiating with
NKR for its recognition. ‘I think Armenia must state in public that
the decision on NK autonomous region’s joining Armenia is no longer
valid. This decision does not meet the realities. Such a statement
will allow Armenia to recognize NKR within the borders it exists,’
A. Melikyan said.

MANUKIAN GETS NOMINATION AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
By Karine Kalantarian

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Nov 28 2007

Opposition member Vazgen Manukian received unanimous nomination by
his political party on Wednesday to contest next year’s presidential
election.

Speaking at the congress of his National-Democratic Union (AZhM),
Manukian urged both political forces and the public "to rally around
ideas rather than personalities", which he said is the only guarantee
of success.

He explained the need for the AZhM’s participation in the electoral
process by the urgency of changing the current system, the foundations
of which, according to him, were laid during the years of the rule of
former president Levon Ter-Petrosian’s Pan-Armenian National Movement
(HHSh).

"1998 was conditioned by 1996, the October 27 [parliamentary killings]
are conditioned by 1998, the banners at the 2007 election," Manukian
charged.

He went on to say that despite the "power change" made in 1997,
the system remained the same.

"Electoral mechanisms in Armenia do not work and the power is still
concentrated in the hands of a small number of people," Armenia’s
ex-premier said.

At the same time, according to Manukian, "liberal and national ideas
are dominant in Armenian minds today."

"I say let’s rally around ideas," he said.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I IS ELECTED AS ONE OF THE NEW PRESIDENTS
OF THE MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

The General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) convened
in Cyprus elected His Holiness Aram I as its one of the new presidents.

The Council groups the Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and other
churches in the Middle East.

During the past 15 years, the Catholicos has given up his turn to be elected
as President of MECC in favor of the Spiritual Heads of the Coptic Orthodox
and Syrian Orthodox Churches, Patriarchs Shnouda III and Zakka Iwas I
respectively, given his busy agenda as Moderator of the World Council of
Churches.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

OSCE MG CALLS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT PARTIES TO COMPLETE CURRENT STAGE OF TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2007 17:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The mediating states are ready to contribute to
peaceful efforts for resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
reported the Russian Foreign Ministry’s division of information and
press when covering the meeting of the Russian and French FMs with
their Armenian and Azeri counterparts that took place November 29,
2007 in Madrid.

The meeting participants emphasized that the mediators proposed
mutually admissible and impartial solutions.

The parties to conflict were offered to complete the current stage
of talks and proceed to a new stage – elaboration of a universal
peaceful agreement.

Besides, they were asked to encourage monitorings at the contact
line, promote trust building measures and put an end to any kind of
bellicose statements.

ARMENIA CONCERNED ABOUT AZERBAIJAN EXCEEDING ITS HOLDINGS OF TLES

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2007 16:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "As I reflect on the priorities of the organization
as a whole, I must address the CFE, a foundational issue and one that
plays an important role in the edifice of military strategic security
for the area," Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said in his
speech at the 15th session of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers.

"Presently it is in trouble. We are a state party and the effective
functioning of a Treaty in full implementation is essential to our
national security.

Frankly, we are deeply concerned by our neighbor Azerbaijan blatantly
and unapologetically exceeding by substantial numbers its holdings of
TLEs. It is in this sense that the reinvigoration of the CFE and its
adapted successor is vital for all state parties," the Minister said.

FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS AND TURKEY BACK ECONOMIC ZONE IN CAUCASUS
By Lale Sariibrahimoglu

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Nov 30 2007

With the November 21 launch of the long-stalled Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK)
railroad project that will link Azerbaijan and Georgia with Turkey,
Ankara has made headway toward its goal of creating an economic zone in
the Caucasus. But there are still obstacles to overcome before making
that scheme fully functional; specifically the ongoing territorial
dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as Turkey has sided with Baku.

International financial institutions refused to support the scheme
because Armenia was excluded from the railroad project, prompting
the three countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to finance
the $420 million project through their own means.

Since Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993, Georgia has
played a major role in Turkey’s access to Central Asia, while also
serving as a transit route for carrying Azerbaijani gas and oil via
Turkey to Europe, bypassing Russia.

Georgia’s dispute with Russia over Moscow’s alleged support for
separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia also endangers the viability
of long-term economic projects in the Caucasus.

However, Turkey is pushing ahead with projects that Ankara thinks
will contribute to the stability of this fragile region.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul, attending the opening ceremony in
Georgia together with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili, said, "This project is very important
for the regional peace, stability, and prosperity" (see EDM, November
27, 28).

The railway, which will eventually connect Far Asia with Europe, is
also open to other countries, Gul said, sending a message to Armenia.

"The railroad scheme does not only link Baku with Turkey’s Kars
township, but it will also connect China to London under which rail
cars leaving China will pass via the Caspian Sea [using ferry boats],
as well as Baku, Tbilisi, and Kars before reaching Istanbul," he
said. "Via Istanbul, the railroad will be connected to Europe, passing
under the Bosphorus Straits through the Marmaray project [already]
underway, reaching to the English Channel and then to London. Today
here, we are in fact taking a step toward the realization of a big
project that will change history" (All Turkish dailies, November 21).

The idea to connect Turkey to Central Asia via Georgia with a railway
emerged in 1993, pre-empting an earlier plan to link Turkey with the
existing railroad to Central Asia via Armenia. At that time Ankara
closed its border with Yerevan due to its ongoing occupation of a
portion of Azerbaijan’s territory as well as the Azerbaijani-Armenian
dispute over the enclave of Karabakh.

Ankara also blames Yerevan for not abandoning its policy of claiming
territories from Turkey, as well as its refusal to accept a 2005
Turkish proposal to set up a panel of historians to investigate the
allegations of an Armenian genocide committed by Ottoman Turks during
World War I. Turkey denies the genocide allegations.

In the meantime, President Gul predicted that the railroad project will
revitalize the historic Silk Road, now dubbed the "Iron Silk Road,"
while thanking Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev for his
commitment to allocate 10 million tons of goods to be carried via
the new railroad (Milliyet, November 21).

A joint economic zone is beginning to emerge, as Azerbaijan, Georgia,
and Turkey become more connected to each other via road, air, and
railroad links, Gul stated, indicating the gradual realization of
a Benelux model in the Caucasus that Ankara first proposed in the
mid-1990s.

"These are very exciting big projects. Once upon a time, such projects
were described by some as a dream. But today all those projects are
becoming a reality. The BTK railroad will become operational soon, as
has been the case with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, now carrying
Caspian oil to Europe as well as the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline
[carrying Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz gas to Europe via Turkey]," he said
(Milliyet, November 21).

Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Georgia and Turkey is planned to
reach to $1 billion by the end of this year, as the two countries
negotiate a free-trade deal and an agreement to prevent double
taxation.