Author: Hunanian Jack

MGK VOICES SUPPORT FOR PROTOCOLS, COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS

Today’s Zaman
Oct 22 2009
Turkey

The National Security Council (MGK) has expressed strong support
for the two protocols signed recently with Armenia to thaw Turkey’s
long-standing icy relationship with the country and plans to respond
to acts of terror directed at Turkey by terrorists hiding in northern
Iraq.

The council convened on Tuesday at the Cankaya presidential palace
for a meeting to discuss the latest developments in Turkey, including
the government’s recent efforts to end terror in the country and the
process of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement, which has recently
gained momentum with an agreement signed between the two countries.

The Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers signed two protocols on
Oct. 10 in Zurich, which call for the opening of the border, closed
since 1993, and the restoration of diplomatic relations. Turkey
closed the border and severed its diplomatic ties with Armenia in
a show of solidarity with Azerbaijan, who fought a war with Armenia
over Nagorno-Karabakh. About one fifth of Azerbaijani territory has
been under Armenian occupation since then.

The MGK issued a five-article statement after a seven-and-a-half-hour
meeting. The statement included the council’s positive opinions
about improving relations between Turkey and Armenia, views about
Turkey’s growing role for peace and stability in the region and its
determination to fight any terrorist threat posed by northern Iraq.

"Recent efforts to settle disagreements in the South Caucasus,
including Nagorno-Karabakh, and perspectives for the future of the
region have been evaluated in light of the two protocols signed
with Armenia. It has been confirmed that the ongoing process will
contribute to the solution of problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia,"
read the statement. According to the statement, Turkey will continue
its efforts for the restoration of an atmosphere of peace, stability,
cooperation and confidence in the region.

On Turkey’s counterterrorism efforts, the council spoke sharply and
recalled a government motion passed in early October to extend by
another year a mandate to launch cross-border military operations
against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

"Any terrorist threat directed at Turkey from northern Iraq will not go
without a response," read the MGK statement. Turkish fighter jets have
staged a series of strikes on PKK targets in neighboring northern Iraq
since October 2007, and in February 2008 the military sent significant
land forces across the border to fight the group, which is designated
a terrorist organization by a large majority of the international
community. The extension of the motion came at a time when Turkey
has been discussing a recent move by the government to settle the
country’s long-standing Kurdish question with a democratic initiative.

The MGK statement also recalled that Turkey is set to assume leadership
of the Regional Command Capital once again in November, underlining
that Turkish troops would not carry out any activities related to the
fight against terror, drug smuggling and the clearing of land mines.

The number of non-combat Turkish troops there will be increased to
1,600 when it takes up leadership on Nov. 1. Turkey has constantly
voiced its determination not to send any combat troops to Afghanistan.

AZERI PRESIDENT ON VISIT IN SWITZERLAND

Yerkir
19.10.2009 13:14
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Azeri President Ilham Aliyev is on an official
visit in Switzerland. Aliyev will meet with his Swiss counterpart
Hans-Rudolf Merz, other officials. The bilateral relations, trade,
economic and energy cooperation will be discussed at the meetings.

NICKOLAY VALUEV: GOOD FOR ARTHUR FOR DEMONSTRATING WILLINGNESS TO WIN

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2009 17:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the first fight of Super Six World Boxing
Classic tournament, Armenian boxer Arthur Abraham knocked out his
American rival Jermain Taylor. The single fight was attended by
Russian boxer Nikolay Valuev and his coach Alexander Zimin who are
currently conducting a training session in a sports base in Kinbaum,
an area on the outskirts of Berlin.

At the start of single combat, Jermain Taylor was more active. After
first rounds, it was clear Abraham was striving for one decisive blow.

Abraham is a kind-hearted boxer with great willingness to win. He
resorted to defense in the first round, but then became active,
eventually knocking out his rival," Zimin’s official Web site quotes
Valuev as saying.

Russian sportsmen noted in turn that Arthur had really deserved his
victory, and wished him success in his future endeavors.

"Arthur demonstrated willingness to win. Just 10-15 seconds before the
12th round he managed to strike the decisive blow. Good for Arthur. In
the fight against the experienced rival, he gained three points. I
wish him success in future competitions," Valuev said.

AUCTION OF TREASURY SHORT-TERM BONDS WITH 26-WEEK MATURITY HELD ON OCTOBER 20

Noyan Tapan
Oct 20, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. An action of state (treasury)
short-term bonds (AMGT26204105 issue) with a 26-week maturity was held
on October 20. The amount of bonds subject to placement was 1 billion
drams, the demand – 1 billion 444 million drams. The placement of
bonds made 1 billion drams, the revenues from placement amounted to
967 million 10,028 drams. The weighted average yield of the placement
is 6.7481%, the limit yield is 7.1429%, the press service of the RA
Ministry of Finance reported.

STABILITY IN REGION REMAINS DELICATE WITHOUT SOLVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: CONSUL GENERAL

Trend
Oct 19 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey-Armenia relations and stability in South Caucasus remain
delicate given the lack of significant progress in solving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani Consul General to Los Angeles,
Elin Suleymanov, said.

"It is early to speak about new routes of energy resources export
without solving the conflict," Suleymanov’s article posted in
Washington Post said.

He said that the USA can promote achievement of real changes in South
Caucasus by encouraging overwhelming regional settlement on the basis
of stated adherence to intensify efforts to solve Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN RECEIVES AIDE TO THE ASSISTANT US SECRETARY OF STATE ON EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS TINA KAIDENOW

ARMENPRESS
Oct 20, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan received today Aide to the Assistant US Secretary of State
on European and Eurasian Affairs Tina Keidenow.

Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Media and Information Department told
Armenpress that Nalbandyan congratulated her on being appointed in
this responsible office and expressed hope that her experience and
skills will be useful in development of bilateral relations.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed prospects of development
of bilateral relations. The Armenian minister said that Armenia
highlights boosting of relations with United States and consolidation
of cooperation.

They exchanged thoughts over the process of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations and referred also to the recent developments
in Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation process.

ARMENIAN PM, WB MANAGING DIRECTOR DISCUSS COOPERATION PROSPECTS

ARKA
Oct 19, 2009

YEREVAN, October 19. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
met with World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Saturday
and discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation and the current
state of Armenian economy, Armenian governmental press office reports.

The Armenian premier said that Okonjo-Iweala’s visit and frequent
meetings would give a new impetus to cooperation between Armenia and
the World Bank.

Sargsyan spoke about Armenian economy, impacts of the world recession
on the economy and the government’s bailout steps.

He said that the government pursues expansionary policy and pays a
special attention to bailout measures targeting infrastructures and
intensifies its support to small and medium enterprises.

Speaking about economic development prospects, the premier presented
tax and customs administration reforms to his guest.

He said that the government attaches importance to involvement of
international experts in this process.

"Tax and customs reforms will upgrade competitive ability of our
economy, improve business environment and reduce shady dealing."

Issues related to introduction of corporate administration in Armenia,
pension reforms, development of securities market as well as measures
for education, healthcare and insurance sectors were discussed at
the meeting.

The Armenian premier and the WB managing director spoke about
Blue Ocean Strategy that lays favorable ground for forming new,
unconquered markets.

They also discussed possible participation of the World Bank in
restructuring of Armenia’s foreign debt for easing debt burden.

Sargsyan and Okonjo-Iweala attended the ceremony of a new WB office
opening in Yerevan.

ZIYAFAT ASGAROV: IF THEY CAN TELL ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER "SIGN AND GO", THEN THEY CAN TELL "PULL OUT TROOPS FROM KARABAKH" AS WELL

Aysor
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. "The events happened during the signing
of Turkish-Armenian protocols in Zurich, Switzerland showed that if
the co-chairs intend they can pressure upon Armenia", said first vice
speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Ziyafat Asgarov, APA reports.

"If they can tell Armenian foreign minister "sing and go", then they
can tell "pull out troops from Karabakh" as well".

The first vice speaker said the powerful countries were working
with quadruple standards. "They must behave mannerly on the basis
of international law. We have to pressure upon the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs. If the co-chairs intend they can pressure upon Armenia".

Asgarov talked about the Turkish-Armenian protocols. "Our concern is
about Turkey as well. We know Armenians very well. They will settle
in Turkey after the protocols come into force and then put forward
territorial claims against Turkey. We want Turkey to know that Sargsyan
said in Turkey that Armenia’s capital is in Turkey".

BUSINESS LEADER DENIES REPORTS OF PRESSURE ON TURKISH COMPANIES

Today’s Zaman
Oct 20 2009
Turkey

A senior official of the main Turkish business group in Azerbaijan
has denied media reports that Turkish companies are facing unjust tax
inspections amid political tensions over a recent Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement.

Yasin Görul, the secretary-general of the International Society of
Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSÄ°AB), said the reports
that appeared in the Azerbaijani media were "exaggerated."

Azerbaijani newspapers Yeni Musavat and Azadlıg reported this week
that Azerbaijani authorities have started tax inspections over the
past transactions of Turkish businesses operating in Azerbaijan,
reportedly in an act of reprisal by the Azerbaijani government over
the signing of two protocols on diplomatic relations between Turkey
and Armenia, which occupied Azerbaijani territory in a war over
Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s. They claimed that Azerbaijani
President Ä°lham Aliyev ordered the Ministry of Finance to take a
strict line in investigating Turkish companies in Azerbaijan in case
of any irregularities in their operation and tax payments.

"We have not received any such information. Every six months, however,
tax inspectors conduct routine investigations of which this is a part.

Nevertheless, some circles always trying to use this situation to
create tension," Görul told Today’s Zaman.

Officials at the Baku office of the state Turkish Cooperation and
Development Agency (TÄ°KA) also told Today’s Zaman that they have
not received any information about the reported tax inspections.

But another Turkish businessman, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
confirmed the reports, saying that tax inspectors have informed his
companies that they will come for an inspection in the near future.

"SERZH SARGSYAN HAS SOLD 9 MILLION ARMENIANS"

/10/19/vardan-martirosyan
04:28 pm | October 19, 2009

Politics

Canadian Armenian businessman Vardan Martirosian will never forget
October 10 – the day of signing of Protocols between Armenia and
Turkey.

"The authorities have sold us. They have sold 9 million Armenians. I
felt as an invalid in front of the TV set. While Nalbandian was
signing the Protocols I felt terror and couldn’t utter a word. Never
had I experienced such a shiver in my life," Mr. Martirosian told A1+.

"Serzh Sargsyan has sold us to Barack Obama," added the businessman.

"I am convinced that the whole Diaspora experienced the same shock on
October 10. The Diaspora is displeased with Armenia’s leadership. We
have always supported our homeland and today we receive the
authorities’ ignorance.

They say they don’t visit the Diaspora to learn our opinion. It is
really offending and a bad approach to Diaspora Armenians.

Vardan Martirosian was born in Turkey. In a year his family migrated
to Iraq. Today Vardan is a successful businessman in Canada. His wife
and daughter are presently in Abu Dhabi.

"My wife is an architect and my daughter a manager. We are going
to move to Armenia. I visit Armenia every two months. Though I am
in deep despair Armenia is my homeland and I am going to settle in
Armenia. I shall let no one to take a decision for me."