Author: Jagharian Tania

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 30 2008

Time to hope
by
ALÄ°NE Ã-ZÄ°NAN*

It is no doubt Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s visit to
Ä°stanbul to attend a ministerial gathering of the Organization
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on Nov. 24 will be
remembered in the two countries’ diplomatic history as the most
concrete step toward cooperation after the match held between the
countries’ national teams on Sept. 6 in Armenia.

While his visit was an ordinary working visit done in connection with
Armenia’s term presidency of the BSEC, and his meeting with Turkish
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan was not official, it became more obvious
during the dinner hosted by Babacan at the Four Seasons that this
visit had other meanings.

As I was waiting for the dinner to end, I asked a Turkish Foreign
Ministry official about who requested the
tête-à-tête meeting. "Does it really matter?" the
official replied. "The thing is they are talking with each other
inside, which is the important bit." At the end of the night, Babacan
said, "Both parties have the political will to normalize relations."
This implied that these acts were not just made as agenda-setting
maneuvers; the intention to normalize relations with Armenia is a
sincerely made wish.

Nov. 24 was a considerably busy day for the Armenian delegation. It
was the first time the meeting hall of the BSEC Secretariat saw so
many reporters. More than 100 Turkish and foreign reporters attended
the news conference, which was warm and free from tension. In general,
Nalbandian emphasized the importance of resuming diplomatic relations
unconditionally and called on the Turkish side to open up the border.

Responding to a question about whether Armenia will put an end to the
Armenian diaspora’s activities, he said, "Armenia never did it and
will not do it," implying that Armenia does not influence the
diaspora. He provided information about the trilateral declaration
signed in Russia and emphasized that the issue will eventually be
solved in compliance with the international law. He said he is
optimistic about Turkish-Armenian relations.

When he was questioned about the possible effects of the US
presidential election on bilateral relations, Nalbandian said: "This
is an issue between two countries. Opening border gates will be
beneficial to both sides." He reiterated that Armenian President Serzh
Sarksyan will watch the match between two national teams in 2009 in
Turkey.

After the news conference, Nalbandian attended the reception at the
BSEC. The BSEC member countries were both surprised and happy that the
BSEC could provide an occasion for such a meeting. Another piece of
happy news was that Turkish Airlines (THY) is preparing to launch
regular flights to Yerevan.

The two ministers, who were obviously tired after a two-and-half-hour
meeting accompanied also by their undersecretaries and the dinner,
held a brief conference in which they said that talks are proceeding
in a positive atmosphere. After the conference, Nalbandian presented a
special Armenian whistle made from an apricot tree, which is a popular
instrument in Armenia and which was introduced to Turkey by Civan
Kasparyan, to Babacan as a gift symbolizing friendship.

The Turkish press attached special importance to Nalbandian and live
broadcast vehicles followed him all through his talks. Those who
closely monitor Turkish-Armenian relations will remember that during
and after Gül’s visit to Armenia on Sept. 6, the Turkish press
attached great significance to the bilateral relations. The same
applied to the Nalbandian visit, the repercussions of which
continue. A number of authors examined the reasons for his visit,
stressing the change of Russia’s stance toward favoring a solution or
the possible impact of the policy Obama will likely follow on the
Armenian issue.

Turkish-Armenian relations are certainly important for the welfare and
peace of the Caucasus, but the political will seen on both sides
cannot be explained only with such arguments. The Turkish and Armenian
governments openly state that they are sincere and favor resolving the
issue. One of the factors that motivate Turkey is its intention to
ensure stability in the region, which includes Georgia. This is also
what the US, which is thought to be Turkey’s strategic ally, seeks.

As we appreciate the bold steps taken by both countries, we need to
understand their lack of confidence in their publics. As Sarksyan’s
pro-dialogue stance was criticized by nationalist groups inside
Armenia and among the diaspora, some Turks still argue meaninglessly
that Armenia should recognize Turkey’s borders. Since the day it
declared its independence, Armenia has not made any claim about
Turkish borders; it is also unacceptable under international law not
to recognize the borders of a country with which one seeks to
establish diplomatic relations.

The Armenian Indepen-dence Declaration, which defines Turkey’s eastern
pro-vinces as "western Armenia" from a historical point of view —
which tends to be remembered whenever bilateral relations improve —
was in place in 1991 when Turkey recognized Armenia, and the
Turkish-Armenian border gates were open until 1993. On cannot
understand why this declaration, which had been ignored in the past,
should now serve as an obstacle to improving relations.

The Armenian community in Turkey, which recoiled and started to act
more cautiously following the planned murder of Hrant Dink, is closely
following these developments. The Armenian minority felt happy when
they saw Kirkor was remembered in the ads prepared for Ä°stanbul
as the 2010 European Capital of Culture, but they were saddened by the
Culture and Tourism Ministry’s failure to mention that Ani ruins were
Armenian heritage on the Web site designed for the ruins.

If we know how to look at it, we can see that there is room for hope
for Turkish-Armenian relations. Armenian Energy Minister Armen
Movsisyan announced that the Armenian Electricity Administration and a
Turkish corporation signed a deal during Gül’s historic visit
to Yerevan. Turkey plans to convene the deputy undersecretaries of
five countries in December for the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation
Platform.

While it is still a ripe idea, it seems that there are plans for
convening Russian, Turkish, Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijani
presidents in Ä°stanbul in 2009. The first opportunity for this
will be the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to be held in Helsinki on
Dec. 5. Nalbandian said they are ready to assess a proposal for a
trilateral meeting among Turkish, Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers in Helsinki. If border gates are opened and diplomatic
relations established, we have time until the match in 2009, and we
should make good use of this time. As talks are now held openly, not
secretly as done in the past, everyone is hopeful for concrete
progress. But we must be alert against provocations.

*Aline Ã-zinian is the press coordinator of the Turkish-Armenian
Business Promotion Council.

30 November 2008, Sunday

PanARMENIAN.Net

Catholicos of All Armenians condemns encroachment on Armenian churches
in Georgia
29.11.2008 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Supreme Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church
(AAC) has condemned encroachment on the Armenian churches in Georgia,
Holy Echmiadzin’s press service reported.

`As the Georgian Orthodox Church is deaf to AAC requests, Holy
Echmiadzin will do everything in its power to bring the problem of the
AAC Georgian Diocese to the notion of the international community,
hoping for a solution,’ Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness
Garegin II said, condemning the recent encroachment on Norashen.

`The Supreme Council calls on all sons of the Armenian Apostolic
Church to support Georgian Armenians in their struggle for Armenian
churches,’ His Holiness said.

Mediamax, Armenia
Nov 27 2008

Most Armenians support president, establishing ties with Turkey – poll

Yerevan, 27 November: The results of a survey on political moods in
Armenia carried out by the Eastern-European branch of the Gallup and
commissioned by Armenian Public TV were presented in Yerevan today.

Armen Arzumanyan, the executive director of Public TV, said that the
survey was aimed at increasing the efficiency of communications
between Public TV and its audience. The poll was conducted between
late October and mid November in all regions of Armenia where 2000
adult citizens were polled. The poll results showed that 44.4. per
cent of the respondents support Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan;
18.58 per cent support former president and the leader of opposition
Armenian National Congress Levon Ter-Petrosyan; 57 per cent approved
of the authorities; 43 per cent expressed a negative opinion.

Presenting the analytical part of the poll, the authors noted that the
Armenian population does not link the solution of socio-economic
problems to the political parties, which, according to the poll
results, do not fight the country’s problems; instead, they fights
against each other.

The poll demonstrated a positive attitude of the population towards
the activity of the prime minister and the cabinet of Armenia; in
particular, in the sphere of reforms in tax administration and works
directed at restoring the disaster zone.

The section of Gallup poll on the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations showed that a majority (47.3 per cent) of the polled favours
establishing diplomatic relations, but with caution, and 26 per cent
definitely spoke for the establishment of relations; 18 per cent
opposed to establishing relations unless Turkey recognizes the
Armenian genocide. Sixty per cent said that Turkey will become a good
economic partner for Armenia, with 33 per cent saying it would make a
political partner.

AZERI PRESIDENT ACTUALLY DENOUNCED MOSCOW DECLARATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2008 15:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani President’s statement that the Moscow
declaration doesn’t guarantee against a new fact is actually
denunciation of the document signed by the leaders of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russia, according an NKR political scientist.

"In an interview with RAI International Italian language channel,
Ilham Aliyev stated that the declaration "doesn’t contain a provision
reading that Azerbaijan obliges to refrain from a military resolution
of the conflict and therefore, any kind of measures, including use
of force and admissible." Commitment to a peaceful resolution of the
Karabakh conflict was the most important aspect of the declaration but,
with this statement, Azerbaijan made the positivism of the declaration
null and void," David Babayan told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Under the circumstances the talk about confidence-building measures
makes no sense. Moreover, Aliyev interprets the international documents
and principles in favor of Azerbaijan only. Meanwhile, the Budapest
summit confirmed the format recognizing Nagorno Karaabkh as a party
to conflict, with Azerbaijan’s consent. As to UN resolutions, they
are non-binding but they also recognize Karabakh as a side. "Local
Armenian forces" wording can serve as a proof," Babayan said.

"Within a month, Azerbaijan returned to its usual policy of
threats. This is not surprising. Azerbaijan’s principle is ‘all or
nothing’. The process of formation of the Azeri nation has not been
completed yet and the leadership fears of a chain reaction among
Avar, Talysh and Lezgin peoples. The Azerbaijani leadership needs
Karabakh without Armenians and hopes to address the other fronts of
ethno-political confrontation," the expert said.

"JERMUK GROUP" NOT INFORMED?

Panorama.am
conomy/2008/11/21/jermuk/?sw
15:03 24/11/2008

Panorama.am has covered in its previous articles that after
"Bjni" left the customer market the purchase amount of "Jermuk"
has been significantly increased, although the official figures of
its production remained the same. Besides, the doubtful quality of
"Jermuk" has become much spoken by the public.

Before "Bjni" was leading the market, but currently, according to
surveys, "Jermuk" has occupied the market. According to the experts
we deal with the shadow circulation of mineral water.

Maria Arsenyan, the head of staff of "Jermuk Group" company told
Panorama.am reporter that they have not added any amount in the
market. Nara Manukyan, category manager of "SAS" supermarkets refused
to present figures but said that "Jermuk" is much demanded in recent
period.

In "Yeritsyan" supermarkets the situation is similar as the purchase
of "Jermuk" has been increased. Karen Soghomonyan the director of
"Yerevan City" supermarkets net said that "Jermuk" is sold in the
supermarket by 10% more than earlier.

Panorama.am did not manage to find out from the Ministry of Nature
Protection whether the company applied to increase the amount of
their production.

WHO WILL HAMMARBERG RATTLE THE SABRE ON?
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
25 Nov 08
Armenia

After the regional visit of the Minsk Group Co-Chairmen, when the
fairy-tale about the "settlement" of Karabakh issue blew up and
it became evident that the "settlement is only starting" the local
neo-Bolsheviks were shocked.

So providence gave another chance to the radicals, a gift of the
destiny, in the person of the PACE Human Rights Commissioner Thomas
Hammarberg, who finally visited our country after a long absence,
for "democratic study-tour". As a rule he intimidated us promising
to make a "strictly criticizing" report regarding the process of the
implementation of resolutions 1608 and 1620.

He even hurried to record that if our authorities continue like this,
that is to say if they don’t release the provokers and the organizers
of March 1 developments, the Assembly will deprive Armenia of the
right to vote, based on his authoritative opinion.

The activists having failed in Karabakh front have thoroughly prepared
for Hammarberg’s visit.

LTP’s Spokesman Levon Zurabyan immediately took off the advocacy "bomb"
regarding the sniper shooting, from his archives, in the number of
other shootings on the "peaceful demonstrators" on March 1.

Ex Military Prosecutor Gagik Jhangiryan and Jirayr Sefilyan in their
turn created a corresponding propaganda background, showering the
press belonging to Armenian Pan National Movement with terrorizing
stories regarding various snipers, which opened fire and killed lots of
"peaceful demonstrators".

And finally the "political prisoners" uttered their manly word, by
starting a hunger strike, specially adapted to Hammarberg’s visit and
they refused to receive the Human Rights Commissioner, as a sign of
a protest against the Council of Europe that doesn’t employ political
punishments towards us.

In addition they organized a high level reception in honor of the
European official and in "Vardashen" penitentiary received him with
ironic screams and ovations addressed to the "impartial, honest and
fair" Hammarberg.

And after all this can you imagine how happy the Commissioner was,
when in contrast to the wrathful announcement of "28" two of the
"political prisoners" Sirun Sirunyan and Shant Harutyunyan generously
agreed to receive him and over again represent the "stance" of the
radicals regarding March 1 developments. Saying that "the case is
totally political, and far not criminal" and that they are detained
only because they "support Levon Ter-Petrosyan".

As regards the barricades in the center of the city, the brutal actions
towards the police, firings and the robbery, regarding which Alik
Arzumanyan re ported to the boss that "everything is ok", "everything
is under full control", they were simply childish games, no more.

Of course this time as well Hammarberg took the stories of the
neo-Bolsheviks at face value and during his brief press conference on
Saturday he expressed "deep concern" regarding the condition of the
"detained political figures", not opening the brackets.

Moreover he even hurried to give assessments to the inquest on
the case of "March 1" and the court procedure, announcing, "The
preparation of the cases was not implemented professionally". But
to what extent does this comply with the functions of the Human
Rights Commissioner? This isn’t important. The most important thing
is that Hammerberg completely satisfied the hopes of the radicals
"objectively and honestly" repeating what these people say: "there
is no proof that it was an attempt of overthrow".

It’s not worth mentioning how they would act in Hammerberg’s capital
city, have some radicals tried to turn the center of the city into a
military front. As we know they don’t like formalities in Europe and
the USA. It is only in Armenia that you can show armed resistance to
the law enforcers and gain the back up of the European structures. In
Armenia they call it "self defense" and the law enforcers must give an
an swer and bear criminal liability because they dared to hinder the
actions of the neo-Bolsheviks to stop the march of the revolutionaries
to the presidential residence.

So we will not be surprised if Hammarberg keeps his promise and makes a
"strictly critical" and "fair" speech in PACE and the parliamentarians
decide to use sanctions against us, to freeze the competencies of
our delegation. But one thing is interesting on whose ears will
the neo-Bolsheviks sit, complaining against the violence towards
"democracy".

Who will Hammarberg rattle the sabre on?

Azerbaijan – that shows the Europeans and the Americans their place,
the moment they dare to criticize the state of democracy and the
hopeless state of the human rights in Azerbaijan?

Turkey – where people are detained only for using the word "Genocide"?

Or the West’s for-post Georgia, which is awarded for the failed
attempt of conducting ethnic cleansing in South Osatia, promising
billion dollars’ investments to annihilate the consequences of the
war initiated by themselves.

Interfax, Russia
Nov 22 2008

Protest Action Against Concessions in Nagorno-Karabakh Settlement
Takes Place Near Armenian Fm
Friday, November 21, 2008 7:58 PM

(Source: Daily News Bulletin; Moscow – English)YEREVAN. Nov 21
(Interfax) – The Miatsum public organization staged a protest action
against territorial concessions in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in
front of the Armenian Foreign Ministry in Yerevan on Friday.

Miatsum activists demanded "to stop speculating on the issue of the
liberated territories" and "make the maximum effort to settle these
territories."

"Ceding the liberated territories is a very dangerous process, which
will completely ruin the established system of geopolitical security
and defense in the country," Zhirair Sefilian, a Miatsum activist,
said.

"The liberated territories are an integral part of our Motherland, and
any retreat from its borders is treachery," he said.

Protesters passed a letter to Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian, in which they noted that "the concession of the liberated
territories is a crime against the Armenian sovereignty."

According to Zarui Postanjian, an MP from the opposition Legacy
faction, who witnessed the action, it "was ended under the pressure of
police" who were deployed to the scene.

ARMENIAN GDP GROWS BY 9.2% IN JANUARY-OCTOBER 2008 ON SAME PERIOD OF 2007

Noyan Tapan

Nov 21, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian GDP grew by 9.2% in
January-October 2008 on the same period of last year and made 3
trillion 10 billion 472.9 million drams (more than 8 bln 842.6 mln
USD). The GDP index-deflator made 110.8%.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the industrial
production grew by 4% to 639 bln 445.2 mln drams in January-October
2008 on the same months of 2007.

The gross agricultural output increased by 1.8% to 576 bln 601.4 mln
drams, construction by 6.9% to 685 bln 105.5 mln drams, retail trade
by 7.9% to 793 bln 383.8 mln drams, and services by 13.3% to 589 bln
901.6 mln drams.

The foreign trade of Armenia grew by 31.5% as compared with
January-October 2007 and made 4 bln 520.4 mln USD. Exports grew by 0.9%
to 941.2 mln USD, imports grew by 42.8% to 3 bln 579.2 mln USD.

The consumer prices rose by 9.6%, the industrial production prices
by 5% in January-October 2008 on the same months of last year.

The number of officially registered unemployed persons declined by
6.4% and made 75.3 thousand in late August 2008 as compared with the
same month of 2007.

The average monthly nominal salary made 89,164 drams in the first ten
months of 2008 (19.8% growth on the same period of 2007), including
the average salary of employees of the state budgetary sector – 63,256
drams (20% growth) and that of employees of the nonbudgetary sector –
110,191 drams (18.4% growth). The average exchange rate of the dollar
made 305.86 drams in January-October 2008 (this index made 342.08
drams in 2007).

HELP CAME IN DUE TIME

A1+
[06:39 pm] 21 November, 2008

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, received the Head of
the World Bank Armenia Office Aristomene Varoudakis and his delegation.

Greeting the guest, the Prime Minister noted that the visit of
the World Bank delegation is timely, because the assistance of
international financial organizations – the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund – is very important for Armenia today. He
underlined that due to that assistance Armenia has managed to resist
the first wave of the world financial crisis, but such assistance
is more than essential today, since it will be much harder to resist
the negative influence of the expected second wave of the crisis.

The Prime Minister of Armenia noted that in the framework of the
agreement recently reached in Washington, the financial assistance
promised by the World Bank will be provided to implementing programs in
three strategic directions of the country’s economy – energy system,
drinking water and irrigation system and road construction. The
additional $250 million assistance will be used to encourage the
development of small and medium-sized businesses.

The Head of the World Bank Armenia Office expressed their opinion
on the raised taxes and welt on the possible developments of the
financial and economic crisis.

AZERBAIJAN BREACHED THE CEASEFIRE REGIME IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 19, 2008 Wednesday
Russia

In the night of November 15-16, a special-purpose detachment of
the armed forces of Azerbaijan tried to break through to the rear
of the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and thus grossly breached
the ceasefire regime requirements. As a result of the measures taken
the group was thrown back to the former positions and bore losses in
manpower. The ministry pointed out that this attempt of breakthrough
was organized by the Azerbaijani party on the day of arrival of
co-chairs of the Minsk OSCE group and representative of acting chair
of OSCE in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as after the recent signing of the
Moscow declaration by the presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.