Author: Hovhannisian John

LEADER OF NEW TIMES PARTY: IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS SERZH SARGSYAN AND LEVON TER-PETROSYAN ARE POLITICAL CONTINUATION OF EACH OTHER

Arminfo
2009-09-10 16:34:00

ArmInfo. In Armenian-Turkish relations Serzh Sargsyan and Levon
Ter-Petrosyan are the political continuation of each other, Aram
Karapetyan, the leader of the oppositional New Times Party, told
journalists, Thursday.

"The Armenian National Congress leader and Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan had, and have, and will have no discrepancies on
Armenian-Turkish relations and Nagorno-Karabakh. The discrepancies
are only in the nuances",- he said.

At the same time, Karapetyan said that he will continue cooperating
with the Armenian National Congress as in domestic problems the
Congress opposed the power. Moreover, the New Times leader is going to
cooperate with the forces coming out against ratification of protocols
in parliament. He thinks it is necessary to convoke a conference of
these forces.

The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed to
start their internal political consultations on the two protocols –
the "Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations" and the
"Protocol on the development of bilateral relations" – which have been
initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation. The
two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of their
bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political
consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which
the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective
Parliaments for the ratification on each side.

IMF: ECONOMIC DECLINE SLACKENING IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-09-09 12:38:00

ArmInfo. The International Monetary Fund experts say economic decline
in Armenia is slackening and positive trends have been observed, Nienke
Oomes, IMF Resident Representative in Armenia, told media on Wednesday.

She said that Armenian economy is over the worst and GDP fall
in Armenia for late 2009 will be lower than for the seven months
of 2009 (18.5%). The IMF’s last forecasts for GDP in Armenia are
currently being specified, but some 10%-15% economic decline and 3%
average yearly inflation are expected anyway, Nienke Oomes said. She
highlighted that real estate prices and transactions in this sector
were up in July as compared to the previous month. IMF representative
believes these positive trends very important, for 2/3 of GDP fall in
Armenia is the result of decline of construction scales and the share
of construction in the 18.5% GDP fall for the first 7 months of 2009
was 14.1%. She said that demand for housing is still high in Armenia
and the construction sector will develop in the mid-term outlook.

Nevertheless, Armenian economy was rather dependent on the construction
over the last years. Unfortunately, this sector is subject to wide
fluctuations, and the country’s economy needs diversification. Nienke
Oomes said that positive trends have been observed also at mining and
metallurgical enterprises in Armenia thanks to the significant growth
of world copper and molybdenum prices. In addition, devaluation of the
Armenian dram against the US dollar has also had a positive impact on
export opportunities of the country, IMF Resident Representative said.
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Subject: IMF: Economic decline slackening in Armenia

IMF: Economic decline slackening in Armenia

2009-09-09 12:38:00

ArmInfo. The International Monetary Fund experts say economic decline
in Armenia is slackening and positive trends have been observed, Nienke
Oomes, IMF Resident Representative in Armenia, told media on Wednesday.

She said that Armenian economy is over the worst and GDP fall in
Armenia for late 2009 will be lower than for the seven months of 2009
(18.5%). The IMF’s last forecasts for GDP in Armenia are currently
being specified, but some 10%-15% economic decline and 3% average
yearly inflation are expected anyway, Nienke Oomes said. She
highlighted that real estate prices and transactions in this sector
were up in July as compared to the previous month. IMF representative
believes these positive trends very important, for 2/3 of GDP fall in
Armenia is the result of decline of construction scales and the share
of construction in the 18.5% GDP fall for the first 7 months of 2009
was 14.1%. She said that demand for housing is still high in Armenia
and the construction sector will develop in the mid-term outlook.

Nevertheless, Armenian economy was rather dependent on the construction
over the last years. Unfortunately, this sector is subject to wide
fluctuations, and the country’s economy needs diversification. Nienke
Oomes said that positive trends have been observed also at mining and
metallurgical enterprises in Armenia thanks to the significant growth
of world copper and molybdenum prices. In addition, devaluation of the
Armenian dram against the US dollar has also had a positive impact on
export opportunities of the country, IMF Resident Representative said.

NO INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING OSCE MONITORING ON ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN CONTACT LINE

Today.Az
Sept 9 2009
Azerbaijan

Monitoring was held on the contact line between Armenian and
Azerbaijani armed forces on Sept. 9 after a mandate by the special
envoy of the OSCE chairman.

The monitoring near the Gapanli village of Azerbaijan’s Agdam region
proceeded without incident on Sept. 9, the Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry reported.

The monitoring was held on the Azerbaijani side by OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Personal Representative field assistants Pieter
Ki and Irji Aberli.

The monitoring was held on the opposite side, which the
international community recognizes as Azerbaijani territory, by OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Personal Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk’s field
assistants Imre Palatinus, Vladimir Chountulov and Jaslan Nurtazin.

The OSCE regularly holds monitoring on troop’s contact line to secure
ceasefire.

SPEAKER OF TURKISH PARLIAMENT HOPES FOR PROMPT SOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend
Sept 8 2009
Azerbaijan

The newly elected Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey Mehmet Ali Sahin
said that he hoped for solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in
the near future.

"Azerbaijan and Turkey are "one nation, two states." Turkey will in
no case bring harms to the interests of Azerbaijan. We are always
close to Azerbaijan," Ali Sahin said at a meeting with Azerbaijani
Ambassador to Turkey Zakir Hashimov, press service of the Azerbaijani
embassy in Turkey told Trend News.

During the meeting, held in a friendly atmosphere, along with
international issues were discussed issues, which Azerbaijan and
Turkey are concerned over.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

THERE IS POLITICAL WILL ON BOTH SIDES TO PUSH FORWARD COOPERATION IN VARIOUS SPHERES, PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND CROATIA DECLARE

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
VELIKI BRIJUN

RA President Serzh Sargsyan arrived in Croatia on a two-day official
visit on September 7. According to a report provided to Noyan Tapan by
the RA President’s Press Office, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,
Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsian, Chairman of the Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia Arsen Ghazarian,
Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Martin Sargsian,
other officials, businessmen are included in the delegation led by S.

Sargsyan.

After the official meeting ceremony that took place on Veliki Brijun
Island, at the local White House, S. Sargsyan and Croatian President
Stjepan Mesic had a tete-a-tete talk, during which the sides discussed
issues regarding cooperation between the two countries, international
agenda, other issues of mutual interest.

The Presidents highly evaluated the current level of political dialogue
between Armenia and Croatia, stressed that there is a mutual political
will to push forward the cooperation in various spheres.

S. Sargsyan said that fulfillment of the agreements reached during
Croatian President’s official visit to Armenia is underway. There is
no open problem between the two countries and the past way of the
two peoples is very much alike, which contributes to deepening of
cooperation. S. Sargsyan positively evaluated the circumstance that
there are a great number of businessmen in the delegation headed
by him and at the September 8 business forum the sides will have a
possibility to discuss concrete projects and initiatives regarding
cooperation in various spheres of economy. S. Sargsyan also attached
importance to cooperation between the two countries within various
EU formats and initiatives.

S. Mesic gave assurance that deepening of cooperation between Armenia
and Croatia will contribute to expansion of contacts between the
Balkan and South Caucasian regions. He presented the past way of his
country since independence, the current agenda of Croatia’s foreign
policy, provided information about the process of membership to the
European Union.

The prospects of development of cooperation in the sphere of tourism
were discussed at the meeting. An agreement was reached, according
to which one of Armenian regions should start cooperation with one of
Croatia’s leading tourist regions, at the same time Armenian students
will have a possibility to get specialized at Croatian universities
in this sphere. The sides also discussed prospects of implementation
of joint programs in the sphere of agriculture. The sides also agreed
over coordinated cooperation at international structures.

To lay cooperation between the two countries on institutional bases the
Presidents of Armenia and Croatia attached importance to the creation
of intergovernmental commission, which will attend to fulfillment of
all reached agreements and promotion of new spheres of cooperation.

S. Sargsyan presented to his Croatian counterpart Armenia’s vision
of the latest developments in Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and
normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations, Nagorno Karabakh settlement
negotiations process. S. Mesic welcomed RA President’s initiative
to normalize the relations with Turkey and expressed confidence that
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, in its turn, will result
in strengthening of peace and security in the region.

After the private talk the bilateral negotiations continued in an
extended staff.

In the second half of the day S. Sargsyan participated in an official
dinner served in his honor, visited an exhibition dedicated to renowned
politician Tito opened on Veliki Brijun Island.

U.S. NAMES NEW KARABAKH ENVOY
Emil Danielyan

Armenialiberty.org
Sept 8 2009

The United States named its new top negotiator in the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process late Monday, pledging to do "everything possible"
to broker a near-term solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute.

The State Department said career diplomat Robert Bradtke will
replace Matthew Bryza as the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE’s Minsk Group
on Karabakh. "Ambassador Bradtke brings to this position more than
thirty-six years of Foreign Service experience and extensive expertise
in European security policy," department spokesman Ian Kelly said in
a statement.

Bradtke was Washington’s ambassador in Croatia until this July and
had served as a deputy assistant secretary of state responsible for
NATO and the OSCE from 2001-2004. His long professional career also
includes a two-year stint as executive secretary of the U.S. National
Security Council during the final years of Bill Clinton’s presidency.

Bryza has represented the U.S. in the Minsk Group and been closely
involved in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks since June 2006, combining
that role with the duties of deputy assistant secretary of state for
European and Eurasian Affairs, of which he was also relieved last
month. His replacement in that position, Tina Kaidanow, is also a
career diplomat with extensive experience in the Balkans. Kaidanow
served until recently as the first U.S. ambassador to Kosovo.

Bryza has been tipped to move to another post ever since the
administration of President Barack Obama took office in January. Recent
media reports have said that he could be appointed as U.S. ambassador
to Azerbaijan. Neither Bryza, nor the State Department have denied
those reports.

Bryza was reported to heap praise on his Minsk Group successor on
Tuesday. "Bradtke is an excellent diplomat and good friend of mine,"
the Azerbaijani Trend news agency quoted the former Bush administration
official as saying.

"We have informed the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan of
Ambassador Bradtke’s appointment," read the statement issued by
Kelly. "Ambassador Bradtke looks forward to his first trip to the
region in the coming weeks."

The Minsk Group’s American, French and Russian co-chairs are due
to visit Baku and Yerevan later this month to prepare for another
meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents that could take
place in early October. They hope that the two leaders will overcome
their remaining disagreements over a framework peace accord drawn up
by the mediating powers.

"We welcome recent positive dialogues between President Sarkisian
of Armenia and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan," the State Department
spokesman said. "Secretary Clinton has indicated to the two presidents
her strong interest in the Minsk Group’s ongoing efforts to bring
the process to a fruitful conclusion, and the Obama Administration
is committed to doing everything possible to support this goal."

HALFBACK HAMLET MKHITARYAN DISQUALIFIED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.09.2009 09:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By decision of the disciplinary committee of the
Football Federation of Armenia, former player of the national team,
Banants halfback Hamlet Mkhitaryan was disqualified for 2 matches
and fined with AMD 100 thousand for offending his partners during
Banants-Ulis match.

Mkhitaryan joined Banants in June 2009. Earlier , he played for Iran’s
Rah Ahan.

The terms of the contract has expired and Mkhitaryan will go back to
Iran in mid-September.

THE BELGIAN TEAM ARRIVES TO YEREVAN TODAY

Aysor
Sept 7 2009
Armenia

The Armenian National Football team will meet the Belgian National
team in the frameworks of the 2010 world championship on September
9. The game will take place in the "Republic" stadium after Vazgen
Sargsyan, at 21:00. The Belgian National team will arrive to Yerevan
today at the evening and will take rest at "Golden Palace" hotel,
informs FFA press office

On September 8 at 18:00 the Belgian team will have before-game training
in the "Republican" stadium. The journalists are allowed to be present
at the training only for the first 15 minutes.

After the training, in the press conferences hall of the "Republic"
stadium, will take place the press conference of the chief coach of
the Belgian team, Fransua Vercoterie.

ARMENIA AND SYRIA WILL STRENGTHEN BILATERAL COLLABORATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2009 11:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-Syrian intergovernmental committee arrived
in Armenia to promote strengthening of bilateral collaboration, Syrian
Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Armenian-Syrian intergovernmental
committee Chairman Leon Zaki Etalian told a news conference.

According to him, collaboration spectrum is not restricted to imports
and exports, but also includes banking sphere, scientific potential
exchange, and widening bilateral collaboration range.

Etalian also added that 100 000 Armenians reside in Syria, with
humanitarian collaboration acquiring increasing importance in this
context. Currently, committees in charge oh the issues above are
being formed.

5th sitting of Armenian-Syrian intergovernmental committee on bilateral
economic, industrial and scientific collaboration launched in Yerevan.

Within recent years, a number of programs were implemented in
Armenian-Syrian collaboration framework, over 40 intergovernmental
and interdepartmental documents signed, and most of them fulfilled.

The sitting will focus on further collaboration perspectives.

A number of documents on expanding collaboration in trade and economic
spheres will be concluded based on sitting results.

ARMENIAN FM CLAIMS BORDER WITH TURKEY WILL OPEN IN JANUARY

AssA-Irada
September 3, 2009 Thursday
Azerbaijan

The Turkey-Armenia border is expected to open on January 1, media
reports quoted Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian as
saying. Nalbandian was commenting on the latest initiative by the
two countries to normalize their strained relations, in a bid to end
a century of hostility. Ankara and Yerevan on Monday agreed with
Swiss mediation to start consultations on forging diplomatic ties
and developing bilateral relations.

The two countries announced they would complete domestic consultations
over two protocols within six weeks, to be followed by their
ratification at their parliaments. The protocols ultimately envision
opening the Turkish-Armenian border, which has been shut since 1993 due
to Armenias policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Armenian
claims on the genocide of their ancestors by Ottoman Turks during World
War I. Nalbandian alleged that the process of mending ties with Turkey
has no bearing on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh, saying the co-chairs of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group
support this stance. As for Bakus tough position on the prospect of the
border opening, the Armenian minister said the changes taking place in
the turbulent region will benefit Azerbaijan as well. Nalbandian said
Yerevan would strive to join all regional projects if its relations
with Ankara normalize. Touching on the alleged 1915 mass killings
of Armenians, he said the normalization process does not pose any
threat to efforts in this regard, adding that an intergovernmental
commission will be set up to research the developments. Turkeys Star
newspaper reported quoting a source at the countrys energy ministry
that the energy balance will be altered in the region if the Turkish
and Armenian parliaments ratify the two mentioned protocols. The
report claimed that, following approval of the documents, technical
changes will occur in the project on the Nabucco pipeline, and the
European Union is likely to call for the conduit passing not through
Georgia, but Armenia, another South Caucasus republic. According to
Star, the EU has long been seeking to have Armenia join the project,
which aims to pump Caspian and Central Asian gas to European markets,
with France being the most arduous supporter. Pointing out that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) main export pipeline passes through Georgia,
which faced a military incursion by Russian troops in August 2008,
the 27-member bloc considers as risky routing another key pipeline
through the country. Therefore, it believes Armenia is an alternative
transit state for energy projects, Star said.