Author: Jagharian Tania

RUSSIA’S ACTUAL POSITION ON KARABAKH CONFLICT COINCIDES WITH OFFICIAL POSITION IT HAS PROCLAIMED

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.09.2008 15:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Having no access to the Russian corridors of power
I can suppose that Russia’s actual position on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict coincides with the official position it has proclaimed,"
Arsen Melik-Shahnazarov, advisor to NKR Foreign Minister, said in an
interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"But I can say that Moscow often allows itself to be led by Baku
which capriciously urges to taboo any mention of Karabakh in Russian
media, to continue telephone, telegraph and postal blockade if
NKR. That is why Russian officials fear to establish contacts with
NKR organizations," he said.

17 years of independence is not little, according to him.

"These years were not lost against the background of recessive
developments in the post-soviet area," Melik-Shahnazarov said.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA MR. TIGRAN TOROSYAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC

National Assembly of RA
Sept 2 2008
Armenia

The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
Mr. Tigran Torosyan congratulated the Nagorno Karabakh Republic on
the occasion of the 17th anniversary of its independence:

"Dear compatriots,

I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of the proclamation of the
17th anniversary of the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
– one of the dearest holidays of our people. Those years have been
not only years of valour and heroism, but also years of compulsion
of peace to the enemy, establishment of statehood and creation.

Bowing our head before the memory of the martyrs who died for the
establishment of the second state – this real miracle, we should not
forget that we are obliged to continue their work, as the security,
peace and strengthening of two Armenian states and the dignified life
of our heroic people depend on our daily work."

TURKISH DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO VISIT ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-09-01 13:00:00

ArmInfo. A high-ranking diplomatic delegation of Turkey will visit
Armenia before the visit of President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan, Turkish
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said at a press conference with his
Georgian counterpart on 31 August, 1news.az reports. The source reports
the delegation will settle security issues and describe the problems
to be discussed during the visit of A. Gul to Yerevan. A. Babacan
declared that he sends a delegation to Armenia to discuss the visit
of Gul. To recall, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan invited A. Gul
to watch Armenia vs. Turkey qualifier match in Yerevan.

NTV television, Turkey
Aug 31 2008

Turkish premier says Russia "more than special" for Turkey

Prime Minister Erdogan has said that Turkey is trying to make sure
that the tension in the Caucasus does not become worse. He said:
Russia is special for us.

The prime minister was replying to reporters’ questions during the
Victory Day reception at the at the Gazi military club in Ankara.

In reply to a question on President Gul’s visit to Armenia, Erdogan
said: May it be auspicious.

As for the president, he said he has not yet decided whether to go or
not.

Erdogan said that together with Foreign Minister Babacan, they were
trying to solve the problems in the Caucasus at the negotiation
table. He said: Russia is more than special for us. The United States
is our ally and Russia is our largest trade partner. We get two thirds
of our energy from Russia. God forbid, we may remain in the dark. We
are also sensitive in connection with Georgia.

In connection with the warships in the Black Sea, Erdogan affirmed
that the Montreux Convention would be followed, and that the ships
will leave on time, and maybe earlier.

[translated from Turkish]

RESUMPTION OF WAR IN KARABAKH WOULD BE "CATASTROPHE" – US ENVOY

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Aug 26 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 26 August: A war cannot be a solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, the US charge d’affaires in Armenia, Joseph Pennington, said
today. He was answering a question about the situation in the region
and the ongoing belligerent statements by the Azerbaijani leadership.

"A new war in the region would be a catastrophe. The USA is making
consistent efforts not to allow this. I think the Armenian and
Azerbaijani authorities realize that a war would be a catastrophe
and a military means is not a solution to the problem," he said.

ARMENIAN PARTIES AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS DEMAND RECOGNITION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE SELF-DECLARED "NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC"

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Aug 27 2008

Tens of Armenian public organizations and parties appealed to the
Armenian powers regarding the conflict between Georgia and South
Ossetia.

"The armed aggression, Georgia demonstrated in South Ossetia, proves
that the praised quo-status has no real grounds in our region.

Experience shows that the talks, aimed at the resolution of frozen
conflicts in the South Caucasus, gradually lead to resumption of
hostilities. Moreover, both Georgia and Azerbaijan, protracting
the negotiation process, use peaceful time for armament and armed
resolution of the conflicts.

It is clear that the negotiation process can not lead to the peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Today, the only guarantee
of the statehood of the self-declared "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" and
security of its population can be its influence and the national army.

Therefore, considering the bitter experience of Ossetia, as well as
Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements and active armament of its army,
we demand from the Armenian powers to recognize the independence of
the self-declared "Nagorno Karabakh Republic", conclude military,
political and economic intergovernmental agreements with it and start
active process for the international recognition of the self-declared
"Nagorno Karabakh Republic".

The statement was undersigned by Mika analytical center, youth public
organization "Generation of Dependence", Union of young orientalists,
Armenian youth forum, public organization Araet, student council
of the journalism faculty of Yerevan state university, public
organization "Postoim", public organization "Proud", student youth
alliance "Progressive youth", youth public organization "Generation
of victory", public organization "New reality", Union of organization
"Single nation", public organization "National union of Armenia", party
"Single nation", public organization "Youth wave", public organization
"Armenian association for study of conflict and peace", party "Order
of Armenian Arians", New Armenia, Ay Yerak and others.

100 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM 16 COUNTRIES GATHER IN ARMENIA FOR INTERNATIONAL YOUTH INTER-CULTURAL FESTIVAL

ARMENPRESS
Aug 22, 2008

TSAKHKADZOR, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS: About 100 young people from France,
Poland Egypt, China, Lithuania, Greece, Romania, India and other
countries, have gathered in the Armenian resort town of Tsakhkadzor
for an international youth inter-cultural festival titled "Dialogue
of Cultures.’ The festival opened on August 21.

Young representatives of Yezidi and Assyrian communities of Armenia
are also among its participants. The Armenian culture is presented
by young people from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Deputy youth and sport minister Arthur Poghosian said this is the
second festival which he said is included in the plan of actions of
the CIS Youth Issues Council and is carried out in the context of
the Council of Europe and EU 2007-2008 priorities.

The goal of this event is to promote maintenance of inter-cultural
diversity and help young people to step up their involvement in this
process. The festival aims to gather under one shelter representatives
of different cultures and different ethnic groups to give them an
avenue to show their culture, traditions and customs.

The festival is organized by the Armenian youth and sports issues
ministry in cooperation with the Center for Youth Events, International
Center for Inter-Cultural Studies, Education and Dialogue and
Pan-Armenian Youth Center Foundation.

The government released 18 million Drams to support the festival that
will run through August 27.

SERZH SARGSYAN SENDS TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE TO KING OF SPAIN

Noyan Tapan

Au g 21, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
sent a telegram of condolence to King of Spain Juan Carlos I in
connection with the plane crash at Madrid Airport on August 20. The
text of the telegram was submitted to NT by the RA president’s press
service. It reads:

"It caused me a deep pain to hear of the plane crash at Madrid Airport
which resulted in many deaths.

At this moment of mourning in Spain, on hehalf of the Armenian people
and myself, I express condolences to you, the families of those whi
died in the crash and to the friedly Spanish people."

TURKEY TO HOLD TALKS WITH ARMENIA ON PROPOSED CAUCASIAN UNION PROJECT

Hurriyet
Aug 20 2008
Turkey

Turkey has sped up its efforts on works to form a stability and
partnership forum in the Caucasus and plans to hold talks with
neighboring Armenia, which Ankara has no diplomatic relations for
more than a decade. Armenia welcomed Turkey’s plan to launch talks,
Interfax reported. (UPDATED)

"The talks would also be held with Armenia. The foreign minister
(Ali Babacan) would meet his Russian counterpart (Sergei Lavrov) this
week to hold talks. After those talks, the format of the contacts
with Armenia would be shaped," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
told reporters.

There is no diplomatic relations between two countries, as Armenia
presses the international community to admit the so-called "genocide"
claims instead of accepting Turkey’s call to investigate the
allegations, and its invasion of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory
despite U.N. Security Council resolutions on the issue.

Armenia welcomed Turkey’s plans to launch talks, Interfax
said. "Armenia has always advocated dialog and talks, especially over
issues of cooperation and security in our region," Armenian Foreign
Minister Edvard Nalbandian said in answer to questions from a Turkish
newspaper, according to the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press service.

Erdogan pays a visit to Azerbaijan to discuss his proposal of a
forming a Caucasian union with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.

Turkey had proposed the formation of the "Caucasian Stability and
Partnership Platform" to resolve the disputed issues in the region
through diplomacy and to enhance economic ties after the clashes that
erupted between Russian and Georgian forces.

Erdogan said the proposal was welcomed by both the Russian and Georgian
leaders. "The recent situation in Georgia had confirmed the urgent
need of ensuring peace, trust and stability in the Caucasus. We as
Turkey have crucial interest in doing that," he added.

The United States has not been informed about such an initiative,
Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs told on Tuesday. He added he was surprised by
Turkey’s efforts.

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN: "TURKEY WILL CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS WITH ARMENIA"

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 20 2008
Azerbaijan

Ankara – APA. "I will discuss with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
the recent developments in the region," Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told journalists in Ataturk Airport, Ankara,
APA reports.

He said that the happenings in Georgia would be in the center of
attention.

"We will also discuss Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform,
which we view as the solution of the region’s problems. Situation in
Georgia showed that Caucasus needed permanent peace and stability. This
stability is in the interests of Turkey, too. During my visits to
Moscow and Tbilisi we told the sides that Caucasus Stability and
Cooperation Platform was a platform that would lead to long-lasting
peace and stability in the region. Both sides said they could be
represented in such a format, so the sides approve the proposal. We
intend to create fundamentals of the format together with five
countries," he said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said negotiations would also be conducted with
Armenia.

"Turkish Foreign Minister will meet with Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov this week. The date of our meeting with Armenia will
be known after this meeting," he said.