Author: Jagharian Tania

VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO WORK OUT SYSTEM OF COMPULSION OF PEACE

Noyan Tapan
May 15, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Vladimir Kazimirov, the former Russian
Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, considers that resumption of military
operations on the Armenian-Azeri contact line should be in no case
permitted. According to him, the Armenian and Azeri armed forces have
approximately the same military potential, and in those conditions
a war can last rather long and lead to no result. Besides, military
operations will call forth a strict response by the international
community.

Therefore, as he mentioned at the May 15 press conference, not signing
of some agreement between the sides, but its fulfillment in the future
is more important. V. Kazimirov reminded that the agreement signed
in 1995 on events of strengthening the ceasefire established in 1994
was not fulfilled, as it is not beneficial for all sides signing
the document. In particular, Baku does not like it that Stepanakert
has also signed the agreement. The Russian diplomat said that the
Armenian and Karabakh leaders have expressed readiness to return to
fulfillment of that document’s points if Azerbaijan does the same,
but no response was received from Baku. "It is obvious that someone
needs ceasefire violation," V. Kazimirov said. He also mentioned
that Baku that has repeatedly expressed concern on cases of ceasfire
violation has never presented a proposal for preventing them.

According to V. Kazimirov, under the circumstances of lack of
security guarantees it is difficult to imagine fulfillment of any
signed document. In his words, for the Armenians to return some
territory they should be convinced that Azeri side’s attack will not
follow it. "It is also obvious that international community’s calls
for keeping peace are addressed to neither Yerevan nor Stepanakert,
but to the very Baku," the speaker said.

Vladimir Kazimirov considers necessary to work out a system of
compulsion of peace, which should be done in a civilized way, by
political and diplomatic methods. According to him, countries to be
involved in peacekeeping actions should be ready for compulsion of
peace to the sides by military methods if necessary. And whether there
will be such volunteers among OSCE member countries’ peacekeepers –
it is difficult to say.

EBRD MEETING TO FOCUS ON FINANCIAL CRISIS IMPACT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.05.2009 11:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ministers, senior officials and business leaders
from more than 60 countries are meeting today in London to discuss
the impact of the financial crisis in central and eastern Europe.

The 18th Annual Meeting of the European Bank of Reconstruction and
Development will review the response to the crisis and the Bank’s
increased investments in the financial sector as well as enterprises
in the region.

The EBRD’s shareholders will assess the impact of the crisis on
the region and determine how the EBRD can play an effective role,
supporting the recovery both now and in the longer term.

The meeting will also bring together international policy makers and
economists to discuss the future international financial architecture.

"During the two-day meeting (15-16 May) the Bank is expected to sign
a number of projects, sealing further investments in the financial,
enterprise and infrastructure sector. In the first quarter of this
year, investments rose 64 percent to â~B¬1.1 billion compared to last
year," EBRD reported.

Representatives of the leading banking groups active in eastern Europe
will attend the meetings. The EBRD is working closely together with
these banks and with other International Financial Institutions to
ensure that funds keep flowing to the real economies of the region.

Most recently, the EBRD joined forces with the UniCredit group,
announcing on May 7 plans to provide over â~B¬430 million mainly into
small businesses in eight eastern European countries. The Bank has
also invested in locally owned banks in the region, including the
acquisition of a 25 percent plus one share stake in Latvia’s Parex
Banka and a â~B¬100 million loan to one of Romania’s leading local
SME banks, Banca Transilvania.

The Bank’s response has included a joint initiative with the World
Bank Group and European Investment Bank to invest â~B¬24.5 billion
across the region to meet the financial needs of banking groups,
securing their continued engagement and maintaining their capacity
to lend to small- and medium-sized enterprise.

The EBRD is also looking beyond the immediate demands of the crisis
to ensure that economies in the region continue to prepare for the
longer-term future.

During the meeting the EBRD will unveil plans to extend its investments
in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The EBRD’s
Sustainable Energy Initiative launched in 2006 has already led to
investments of â~B¬14 billion over the last three years, helping to
reduce energy intensity and to make economies more competitive.

As usual the EBRD is staging a Business Forum alongside the Annual
Meeting, providing a platform this year for senior politicians and
policy-makers, business executives and economic experts to draw
lessons from the crisis and map out solutions.

Under the heading "Investing for the Future: Opportunities in a
Tougher Climate", the Forum is focused firmly on the region, analyzing
the changing landscape of the financial sector, over-dependence on
commodities, the importance of energy efficiency and the key role
of infrastructure investment as an engine of economic growth, The
Financial reported.

H. ABRAHAMYAN SAYS THE EU "EASTERN PARTNERSHIP" INITIATIVE OPENS NEW HORIZONS FOR COOPERATION WITH EU

ARMENPRESS
May 13, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: The NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan received
Secretary General of European International Movement Henrik Kronen.

Public relations department of the Armenian Parliament told Armenpress
that on the guest’s request during the conversation the NA Speaker
presented the activity of Armenian legislative body towards the
integration into the European family. He stressed that the lately
kicked off EU "Eastern Partnership" initiative opens new horizons
for the cooperation with the EU and that Armenia will by all means
make use of all the opportunities.

In his turn Secretary General H. Kronen presented to H. Abrahamyan the
history of European International Movement, its issues and objectives,
after which the interlocutors referred to the activity of the Movement
in Armenia.

Chairman of the Armenian Council of the European Movement Viktor
Yengibarian also took part in the meeting.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA APPOINTS THREE NEW MINISTERS – LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS, EDUCATION AND SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE

ARKA
May 13, 2009

YEREVAN, May 13. /ARKA/. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed
a decree on Tuesday on appointing Gevork Petrosyan Minister of Labor
and Social Affairs, Armen Ashotyan Minister of Education and Science
and Gerasim Alaverdyan Minister of Agriculture.

The newly appointed ministers took the places of resigned
representatives of Dashnaktsutyun Party Arsen Hambardzumyan, Spartak
Seyranyan and Aramayis Grigoryan respectively.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation "Dashnaktsutyun" (ARFD) was a
member of the coalition in power formed on March 21 2008 and left the
coalition on April 27 due to disagreement with the Armenian authorities
concerning the steps on normalization of relations with Turkey.

The current coalition includes the Republican Party of Armenia,
"Prosperous Armenia" Party and "State of Law".

After ARFD announced its leaving the coalition, representatives of
the party filed applications for resignation from all their offices
in the legislative and executive powers. Namely: three ministerial
offices – agriculture, education and science, labor and social affairs,
as well as the offices of vice-speaker of the Parliament, heads of
two standing parliamentary committees – on foreign relations and on
defense, national security and internal affairs. The last two offices
belonged to Dashnaktsutyun Party.

Gevork Petrosyan ("Prosperous Armenia" Party) was born in 1972. In
1995 graduated with honors from faculty of law of the Yerevan State
University. Lectured at the Yerevan State University and other higher
schools. In 2005-2009 worked in telecommunication company "ArmenTel"
as a legal advisor for the general director, and then as chief expert
for the issues of labor rights. Co-author of school-books "Theory
of state and rights" and "State and rights". Author of two dozens of
scientific articles and publications. Member of the political board
of the "Prosperous Armenia" Party. Married, has three children.

Armen Ashotyan (Republican Party of Armenia") was born in
1975. In 1998 graduated from Yerevan State Medical University
after Mkhitar Heratsi. In 1999-2000 studied in French University
AIX-Marseille. Candidate of medical sciences. In 2005 graduated from
Moscow School of Political Researches.

Deputy of the National Assembly since 2005. Headed committees
on science , education, culture, youth and sport. Decorated with
"Garegin Nzhdeh" award. Married, has a child.

Gerasim Alaverdyan (State of Law Party) was born in 1965 in the village
of Srashen of Kapan region. In 1991 graduated from technology faculty
of the Yerevan Politechnical Institute as a mechanical engineer. In
2004-2008 worked in the Supervisory Chamber of the Armenian National
Assembly as a member o f the Council, then as the chief of the
management of the state budget.

Since 2008 worked as the chief manager at the Supervisory Chamber of
Armenia, supervised sectors of agriculture, protection of nature and
water system. Member of management of State of Law Party, chairman of
the committee on agricultural issues of the party. Married, has a son,
a daughter and a grandson.

Interfax, Russia
May 5 2009

REFUGEES MUST RETURN TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH BEFORE STATUS TALKS

Talks on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh can only start after refugees
return to their homes, Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told
reporters on Tuesday.

"If the population of the region is to return to their land, the
territory around Nagorno-Karabakh must be liberated, people must
return to this territory, the roads must be reopened cooperation
launched and security guaranteed," he said.

"If this does not happen and Azeris fail to return to Nagorno-
Karabakh, no discussion of the status will be possible and no talks
can be held on how a normal environment could be created in connection
with this region," Azimov said.

"A sequence is seen here, set by the logic of the process, not by
us. Logic demands that," he said.

Assessing the situation ahead of the talks between the Azeri and
Armenian presidents in Prague on May 7, Azimov said that discussions
are continuing on the draft, proposed by the co-chairmen [the basic
principles of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict].

"Some questions remain open, while others remain the subject of
disagreement. On the whole, as previously, nothing is deemed
negotiated before agreement is reached on all aspects. The work must
continue based on these principles," the Azeri diplomat said.

No ‘arithmetic’ can be involved in the talks on Nagorno-Karabakh and
all territories must be liberated unequivocally, he said. "Nagorno-
Karabakh will remain part of Azerbaijan. A concrete model will be
developed for the co-existence of two communities in it," Azimov said.

LIVE FROM THE ARMENIAN PRESS CONFERENCE
by Kristof Friday

3minutes.me
al-selections-09/583-live-from-the-armenian-press- conference
May 8 2009

3minutes.meLive Blog Inga & Anush
Armenia: Inga & Anush – Jan Jan.

7:24 Fresh Art have a partnership with the singers Inga & Anush.

7:25 Inga & Anush would like to tour after Eurovision. They will come
up with some new projects and songs very soon.

7:27 Aremenia has been very succesful recently, does this add pressure
on them? Indeed, they see this as a very challenging contest to
represent Aremenia.

7:30 Aslan from Fresh Art says that Eurovision is still a contest
and they hope to make it to the final.

7:31 What do they think of the new system with partial jury voting
in the final? As they are professional singers they are delighted
about the new system.

7:38 The change in costumes from colourful in the video clip to rather
black outfit now is explained by the fact that Fresh Art only got
involved with Inga and Anush after the videoclip was shot.

End of Press Conference.

STRANGE GAMES ON IMPORTANT PRECEDENTS
Opinion by Shahan Kandaharian

Aztag Daily
May 1 2009
Lebanon

The president of Lebanon is the first president in fifty years who
accepted an invitation to visit Ankara and that a few days before
April 24.

The visit of course is a normal phenomenon between the two countries
who have mutual diplomatic relationships with each other as well as
enjoy an active and a gradually increasing cooperation in the fields
of politics, culture and trade.

The scheduled date of course was unacceptable for us, the Lebanese
Armenians. Moreover, following the official visit the organization of
the Turkish cultural week during the month of April was an insult to
the Armenian community in Lebanon which constitute a significant part
of the Lebanese public opinion. It also was an act of over-looking
its national collective remembrance.

We are aware that the latest developments in the region have reserved a
new role to Turkey which is demonstrating an over-active participation
in the region. This constitutes a volunteer participation in the
peacekeeping forces located in Southern Lebanon, organizing cultural
weeks in Lebanon, receiving Lebanese delegates, the busy activities of
the Turkish Embassy in Lebanon, the investments done in the Lebanese
educational system and the delicate searches and registrations of
the people of Turkish origin living in Lebanon.

On the regional level, the self-assigned mediatory missions in the
Middle Eastern crises, the mediation of the Syrian-Israeli talks as
well as the different scenes staged to woo and win the hearts of the
Arab countries during the Gaza war are good indications that Turkey
has entered the region through wide doors and has done some important
preparations to set the stage.

The sensitivity of the Lebanese Armenians concerning the date of
the visit to Turkey was conveyed to the president of Lebanon by the
representative of the Armenian parliamentarians’ block. The Lebanese
Armenian youth and the students’ who have political awareness also
didn’t let the Turkish cultural events pass without making their
voice heard. The issue has already passed community boundaries:
Lebanese political figures have already endorsed these actions and
stressed the importance of respecting the collective memories of a
significant community in the Lebanese society.

We will still have the chance to comment on the nature of the
agreements signed by the two countries during the above mentioned
recent visit. All of these processes, however, underline the
necessity of political actions that would constitute leverage. Here
we acknowledge the importance of the implementation of the more than
fifteen agreements between Lebanon and Armenia.

The above mentioned games are foreign and are not genuine moves
coming from Lebanon and the Lebanese people. Now we are on the verge
of May the 6th and it is the date to remind Lebanon of all that. It’s
the remembrance day of the Lebanese martyrs. Martyrs who fell under
Ottoman tyranny. And this necessity is not just related to the Armenian
community but to all of Lebanon in essence.

MEMORIAL STELE TO RAILROADERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN WWII UNVEILED IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2009-05-09 14:18:00

ArmInfo. A memorial stele to the railroaders who participated in the
WWII was unveiled at the Railway Station square in Yerevan today.

Deputy Director General of South Caucasian Railways Marat Khakov said
that next year, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the May
9 victory, the stele will be replaced by a monument.

He said that during WWII Soviet railroaders carried over 20,000,000
carloads of military hardware and personnel.

Over 600,000 Armenians took part in the war with almost half of
them killed.

4 Soviet marshals, 65 generals and 110 heroes were Armenians. The
driver of the first train that arrived in liberated Berlin was Armenian
Suren Matnishyan.

SERZH SARGSYAN AND ILHAM ALIEV DISCUSSED NKR ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 18:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA and Azeri Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham
Aliev discussed NKR conflict settlement perspectives in Prague, RA
President Press Secretary Samvel Farmanyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.

Thursday meeting was attended by Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedyarov, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, MG OSCE Co-Chairs
Matthew Bryza, Yuri Merzlyakov, Bernard Fassier and personal
representative of OSCE Chairman Anjey Kasprchik.

BIG NAMES TO STAY AWAY FROM PRAGUE SUMMIT

ArmInfo
2009-05-05 13:45:00

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Spain’s Jose Luis Zapatero
will not attend the Czech EU presidency’s "Eastern Partnership"
summit on 7 May.

As Euobserver reports, London and Madrid on Monday (4 May) confirmed
that the two countries will instead send foreign ministers. Mr Brown is
"firmly committed" to the project despite his absence, the British
embassy to the EU told EUobserver, while Mr Zapatero is too busy
with a special meeting on unemployment, the Spanish mission said. A
spokeswoman for the Elysee Palace in Paris said "at this moment"
Mr Sarkozy is also not coming. The president is instead scheduled to
listen to a report on equal rights in France and attend a World War
II commemoration event.

‘If big countries such as the UK and France decide not to go, it
will send the message that the EU is not really serious about this
initiative. In a way, it would be a victory for Russian diplomacy,"
one EU official said.

To note, presidents of Belarus and Moldova, Lukashenko and Voronin,
also refused from participation in the summit.

To recall, the ‘Eastern Partnership’ initiative, which supposes
establishment of tighter cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, was approved on March at EU
summit. Official launch of this programme has been scheduled for May
7 in Prague when "Eastern Partnership" special summit is held.