MFA: Acting Spokesperson responds to questions Re Azimov comments

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
13-02-2007

Vladimir Karapetian, Acting Spokesperson
responds to the questions by Arminfo news agency regarding Azimov’s comments

.Question: Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister has called the last Moscow meeting
as a "step backwards" and said that "if Armenians do not continue based on
our former agreements, then it will probably be pointless to continue." How
do you interpret this?

Answer: It is odd that comments about the Moscow negotiations are
being made 20 days after that meeting.

We have already had the opportunity to assess the most recent stage of
negotiations, and we consider them constructive and hopeful. The mediators
agreed with this assessment. It is possible that in anticipation of the next
meeting of foreign ministers, the Azerbaijani Deputy Minister is preparing
the ground, as he has done countless times in the past, for the Azerbaijani
side’s non-constructive approach.

www.armeniaforeignministry.am

Jane’s: Turkish Military Seeks Armenia Detente

TURKISH MILITARY SEEKS ARMENIA DETENTE

Jane’s International Security, UK
Feb 12 2007

The assassination of a prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant
Dink, on 19 January 2007 in Istanbul renewed attention on Turkey’s
troubled relations with its small neighbour, Armenia.

The record of Turkish-Armenian relations has been blighted by both
Ankara’s refusal to extend normal diplomatic relations to Yerevan
and a trade embargo and transport blockade, imposed on Armenia in
1993 in support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

A group of Western-trained young officers brought into senior posts
within the Turkish military’s General Staff authored a preliminary,
semi-official internal study in late 2006 that presented several
new strategic initiatives, including a reconsideration of Turkey’s
long-standing hesitance toward addressing the stalemate with Armenia.

Such recognition has to date been limited to a rather narrow circle
of Turkish elite, defined by a generally progressive, pro-Western
orientation. In the wake of Dink’s murder, however, there has been
a surprising public outpouring of sympathy for Armenians that has,
at least temporarily, bridged the historic enmity between the two
neighbours. This has also triggered a political shift, with public
opinion presently driving and defending a reassessment of Turkey’s
policies regarding Armenia.

For the Turkish government, the Armenian issue offers a new sense of
political advantage, whereby any improvement in its relations with
Armenia can offer a welcome respite to the recent round of vocal
European opposition to Turkish EU membership aspirations.

It is, however, the economic consideration of a possible
Turkish-Armenian rapprochement that is key for decision makers in
Ankara. In fact, less than a week before Dink’s killing, a conference
was held in Yerevan to examine the economic and social implications of
the possible reopening of the Turkish-Armenian border. The conference
brought together leading economists from the US and Europe, as well
as academics and business leaders from Armenia and Turkey.

al_security/news/jiaa/jiaa070212_1_n.shtml

http://www.janes.com/security/internation

Data On Escherichia Coli Therapy Published By Researchers At Yerevan

DATA ON ESCHERICHIA COLI THERAPY PUBLISHED BY RESEARCHERS AT YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF BIOPHYSICS

Drug Law Weekly
February 13, 2007

ESCHERICHIA COLI THERAPY;

Data detailed in "Redox sensing by Escherichia coli: effects of
copper ions as oxidizers on proton-coupled membrane transport" have
been presented. According to recent research from Yerevan, Armenia,
"Escherichia coli is able to grow under anaerobic fermentation
conditions upon a decrease in redox potential (E(h)). Indeed, upon a
transition of E. coli MC4100 wild-type culture to stationary growth
phase a decrease in E(h) from the positive values (approximately
+100 mV) to the negative ones (approximately -520 mV) was observed,
the acidification of the medium and the H(2) production were obtained."

"An oxidizer, copper ions (Cu(2+)) affected a bacterial growth in a
concentration-dependent manner (of 0.1 mM to 10 mM) increasing latent
(lag) growth phase duration, delaying logarithmic (log) growth phase
and decreasing specific growth rate. Acidification of the medium
and the N,N’-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-and azide-sensitive
proton-potassium exchange by bacteria were inhibited, H(2) production
upon growth and under assays disappeared with Cu(2+) (0.1 mM). These
effects were observed with hycE but not hyfR and hyc(A-H) mutants
and under aerobic conditions. Cu(2+) also increased membrane proton
conductance. Copper ions are suggested to affect directly the
F(0)F(1)-ATPase associated with potassium uptake transport system
and/or formate hydrogenlyase composed with hydrogenase 4," wrote G.

Kirakosyan and colleagues, Yerevan State University, Department
of Biophysics.

The researchers concluded: "A role of the F(0)F(1)-ATPase in redox
sensing under fermentation is proposed."

Kirakosyan and colleagues published their study in Bioelectrochemistry
(Redox sensing by Escherichia coli: effects of copper ions as oxidizers
on proton-coupled membrane transport.

Bioelectrochemistry, 2007;70(1):58-63).

For additional information, contact G. Kirakosyan, Biological Faculty,
Dept. of Biophysics, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoukian Str,
375025 Yerevan, Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Bioelectrochemistry is:
Elsevier Science SA, PO Box 564, 1001 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Keywords: Armenia, Yerevan, Escherichia coli Therapy, Copper, Drugs,
Escherichia coli, Pharmaceuticals, Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Drug Law Week editors from staff and
other reports. Copyright 2007, Drug Law Week via NewsRx.com.

The existing conflicts are serious obstacles to development, Azeri P

The existing conflicts are serious obstacles to development, Azeri President considers

ArmRadio.am
09.02.2007 15:08

Currently sharp changes are observed in development processes in
a number of spheres in the region, large-scale projects are being
implemented, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared during the
meeting with the Chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Goran
Lenmarker.

At the same time Aliyev noted that the conflicts existing in the
region create serious obstacles for the general development process.

The Azeri President emphasized the immense importance of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan for the successful development of the region.

One Day We Shall Pant With The Pollutant Gas

ONE DAY WE SHALL PANT WITH THE POLLUTANT GAS

Panorama.am
15:11 07/02/2007

In Yerevan, for 1 km of mileage each car releases in average 2 kg of
carbonic acid (CO2) and 47 gram of carbon monoxide (CO).

The researches of the Center for Ecological-Noosphere Studies
testify. "It became clear from the calculations that the transport
means in Yerevan exhaust approximately 71,000 tons of carbonic acid
a year", Armen Saghatelyan, Director of the aforementioned Center
mentioned. We learned from the Ministry of Nature Protection that
the acceptable limits of carbonic acid and carbon monoxide in the
atmosphere are the same: in one cubic meter of air – 3 mg, and the
maximum – 5 mg.

According to the amendments to the RA Law "On the rates of nature
protection charges", which was put into force since Jan 1, 2 per cent
of the customs cost is charged in case of import of cars, which have
5-10 years’ prescription, for the cars with 10-15 years’ prescription –
10%, and over 15 years – 20%. Before that no similar charge had been
established by a legal act.

According to Armen Saghatelyan, to make amendments to the law is
only the small part of regulation of the situation and the problem’s
solution. Administrative, technical and controlling complex measures
are necessary for it.

"It is necessary to control the quality of fuel, strengthen the
maintenance control of the vehicles, improve the transport flows,
broaden the roads or to build parallel roads", the director of the
center said.

Large quantity of these gases in the atmosphere may harm the
health of the citizens; bring to climatic conditions and change
of the ecosystem. In rush hours many people complain of headaches,
nausea. Large quantity of emission of carbon monoxide is the main
reason for it, Armen Saghatelyan said.

Armenia To Take Part In International Agricultural Exhibition In Par

ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION IN PARIS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 8 2007

YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Armenia intends to take part in an
international agricultural exhibition in Paris on March 3-11, 2007.

The Public Relations Department, RA Ministry of Agriculture reports
that this issue was discussed at a meeting between RA Minister of
Agriculture David Lokyan and French Ambassador to Armenia Serge
Smessov.

Armenia’s participation in the exhibition is also important in the
light of declaration of the year 2007 a Year of Armenia in France.

The sides pointed out the priority of bilateral cooperation in
vine-growing, wine-making and veterinary.

Ambassador Smessov expressed the French side’s readiness to render
necessary assistance in consolidating Armenian-French cooperation.

The sides also addressed the current level of bilateral agricultural
cooperation and prospects for development.

They pointed out the activities of the Pernod Ricard Company in
Armenia as one of the best examples of bilateral cooperation.

In June 1998, the Pernod Ricard Company purchased the Yerevan Brandy
Company (YBC) for $30mln. In January-September 2006, French direct
investments in Armenia totaled $6.3mln.

French capital is mainly invested in Armenia’s food and beverage
production and private service sector.

Turkish FM Threatens U.S. With Deterioration Of Bilateral Relations

TURKISH FM THREATENS U.S. WITH DETERIORATION OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.02.2007 14:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The second day of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s
visit to Washington DC was marked yesterday by talks on the Armenian
Genocide bill that was presented to the U.S. House of Representatives
last week. Speaking at Washington’s National Press Club, Gul noted that
the Armenian bill represented a serious threat to relations between
Turkey and the U.S., saying, "If it is passed, it will have a shock
effect on our relations." During yesterday’s meeting U.S. Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice assured Gul that the current administration is
working to prevent the passage of the Armenian bill. During his talk
at the Press Club, which was entitled "Turkey and the U.S.: Allies
in the past and into the future," Gul made some of the following
comments, "We have no difficulty facing our own history. These events
took place during a time of war. At the same time period, we lost 3
million people. Acceptance of the Armenian bill would have a serious
effect on our bilateral relations. Let’s not forget that we have been
a long-time ally of the U.S., and will be such in the future. The
Armenian bill should not be allowed to take Turkish-American relations
hostage. It should not be politicized," reports Hurriyet.

ANKARA: In Washington, No Meeting For Gul And Pelosi

IN WASHINGTON, NO MEETING FOR GUL AND PELOSI

Hurriyet, Turkey
Feb 7 2007

With Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in the US capital Washington,
DC for official visits, it has been a noticeable gap in his schedule
that he has not been able to meet with the new Speaker of the House
of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi, who has voiced her support for the same Armenian bill on
genocide which Gul is trying to work against, rejected a request from
the Turkish Foreign Ministry for a meeting with Gul, with claims that
her schedule during Gul’s visit to the US capital would be too busy
to fit him in.

In Ankara meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson,
has announced that he will be going to the US in March to try and
contribute to administration efforts to prevent the Armenian bill from
passing through the Congress. Speaking two nights ago at a reception
in the US Embassy in Ankara, Wilson reiterated previous statements
that the Bush administration is against the Armenian bill, and that
they are making an effort to stop it from passing.

Speaker Of Armenian Parliament Highly Evaluates Work Of OSCE Minsk G

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT HIGHLY EVALUATES WORK OF OSCE MINSK GROUP FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 7 2007

YEREVAN. February 7. /ARKA/. Speaker of the Armenian parliament Tigran
Sargsyan highly evaluated the work of the OSCE Minsk Group for the
Karabakh conflict resolution, the press service of the Armenian
parliament reported.

"A good formula has been found that can underlie the problem
settlement. This is comparison of two of ten principles of the final
Helsinki act of OSCE: territorial integrity and self-determination
of nations," Torosyan reported at the meeting with President of the
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Goran Lennmarker in Yerevan on Monday.

Torosyan pointed out that Armenia is ready for cooperation. However, it
expect adherence to European values by other countries. "We believe
that the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is very painful and European
principles should not be sacrificed to some ends," he said.

Editor In Chief Under Custody

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF UNDER CUSTODY

A1+
[06:03 pm] 06 February, 2007

Novruzali Mamedov, editor-in-chief of "Tolshi Sado" newspaper was
arrested and sentenced to 15-day detention. He was arrested by the
premises of the Academy of Science in Baku.

Two men dressed in ordinary clothes approached him in the street and
demanded to produce documents. In answer to them, the editor-in-chief
asked them for identity cards. Soon afterwards Mamedov was taken to
the police station.

Mamedov’s advocate says he is unaware of the reasons for
arrest. According to official data, Mamedov was arrested for resisting
the policemen.