Author: Jidarian Alex

EURASIAN STRATEGY PROJECT DIRECTOR: ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A POLITICAL RISK

Today
4.html
Dec 1 2009
Azerbaijan

Eurasian Strategy Project and Georgetown University professor Cory
Welt spoke to Day.Az about the upcoming meeting of U.S. President
Barak Obama and Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"President Obama and Prime Minister Erdogan will have a number of
pressing issues to discuss next month. Insofar as the Turkey-Armenia
normalization process is one of these issues, we can expect that their
conversation will also touch upon the Karabakh conflict resolution
process. For now, the Turkish parliament seems to be holding out on
ratification with the aim of encouraging at least a minor breakthrough
on Karabakh," – Welt said.

"If this attitude persists through the December visit, then the
two leaders will undoubtedly discuss ways to encourage such a
breakthrough. The contours of this breakthrough should be familiar
by now: some kind of agreement that points the way to the withdrawal
of Armenian forces from most of the occupied territories around
Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the formulation of a neutral "interim"
status for Nagorno-Karabakh that points neither to secession nor
re-integration into Azerbaijan," – Welt added.

"There are at least two immediate obstacles to achieving such a
breakthrough, however, or in relying on the United States to persuade
Armenia to move forward on such a deal. First, the Armenian government
is already taking a political risk on normalization with Turkey;
even if President Sargsyan was prepared to move forward on Karabagh
(which is by no means certain), he would undoubtedly prefer to take
one risky move at a time."

"Second, the Azerbaijani government is not making it as easy for the
United States to support its position as it could. While President
Aliyev’s public support for a "status neutral" solution to the Karabagh
conflict is highly welcome, official rhetoric regarding Azerbaijan’s
willingness to use force as a last resort is negatively received in the
U.S. – all the moreso after we witnessed the recent bloodshed in the
South Caucasus. At the same time, Azerbaijani internal developments,
for better or for worse, inescapably influence American views toward
Azerbaijan and its state interests" – the expert noted.

ARMENIAN POLICE: SOS MELKONYAN MURDER SOLVED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.12.2009 13:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As result of investigative operations caried out
in Yerevan, senior student of secondary school N33 Azat Yegoyan,
16, and student of college N2 Sargis V., 12, were detained Monday on
suspicion of the murder of 13-year-old Sos Melkonyan.

It was found out that the murder was committed by Azat Yegoyan. Sargis
V. was released. Investigation is underway.

Erebuni police department was alerted Sunday that dead body of a boy
with numerous stab wounds was found in an apartment in the district’s
central street. The alert on the incident was also received from
Erebuni medical center, where the body of 13-year-old Sos Melkonyan
was brought.

The task force said the boy was stabbed to death in the period from
3 to 5 pm. Sos died on the way to hospital.

The investigators found a kitchen knife at the scene of the crime.

PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN URGES TO TRUST LOCAL PRODUCERS
Nelly Danielyan

"Radiolur"
01.12.2009 17:10

In February, when the impact of the global economic crisis on Armenian
economy became obvious, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan invited
representatives of importing companies to a meeting and urged them
to establish local production.

The Prime Minister visited the "Original distillery company" today
to assess the implementation of his instructions.

"We want to encourage the local producers, increase the trust of
our consumers in the local production and give preference to local
products at New Year," he said.

Touching upon the issue of counterfeit vodka, Tigran Sargsyan said
he’s going to come forth with a legislative initiative, which will
allow state bodies to punish the counterfeiters and prevent the entry
of the dangerous products to the market.

Availing themselves of the opportunity, the reporters asked the Prime
Minister how he had made the decision to join the Republican Party.

"Definitely, I have not taken the decision under the influence of
vodka. We’ll refer to the topic later, because I have promised to
invite a press conference at the Government and ask all the questions
reporters are interested in," the Prime Minister said half-serious.

A FESTIVAL THAT CELEBRATES WINTER IN ARMENIA: NOW THAT’S REFRESHING

Tert.am
30.11.09

>From December 19 till January 6, Yerevan will be celebrating its very
own Winterfest, an initiative by the NGO Kanachstan, with the support
of Armenia’s culture and economy ministries. The festival’s aim is
to have people take an interest in a clean, well-taken care of and
beautiful environment during the winter season, as well as promote
the development of wintertime activities and recreation in Armenia.

The festival kicks off with a winter parade taking place along main
streets in central Yerevan, wrapping up in Lovers’ Park. Organizers
have planned for similar parades to take place in the regions and
towns outside of Yerevan.

Beginning from December 19, and for the duration of the festival
(until Armenia celebrates Epiphany on January 6), decorated Christmas
trees, which showcase New Year celebrations from different countries,
will be on display in Lovers’ Park.

A number of other events are planned to take place during the festival:
a concert, winter games, a figure skating performance, a seasonal
marketplace, as well as a theatrical performance of the nativity
scene to take place on the evening of January 5, 2010.

ABRAHAM-DIRRELL FIGHT GETS POSTPONED

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2009 12:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ January 23 Arthur Abraham-Andre Dirrell title fight
during the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament gets postponed
until March 7, BoxingTalk reported.

Abraham is allegedly suffering from a severe case of the flu.

Dirrell’s promoter Gary Shaw did not comment.

SWEDISH FM BILDT QUESTIONS COUNTRIES OPPOSED TO TURKEY’S EU BID

Hurriyet
Nov 26 2009
Turkey

European Union term President Carl Bildt on Wednesday asked those
opposing Turkish membership to the EU: "Did the enlargements to date
take place because the public wanted them?"

Participating in a debate on the future enlargement of the EU at the
European Parliament, the Swedish foreign minister made comments to
oppose those against Turkish membership and those who wanted to end
the membership negotiations with Turkey and offer Turkey a privileged
partnership instead of full membership.

Far-right deputies are against Turkish membership in the EU because
of its large, Muslim-majority population, Bildt said. The Treaty of
Amsterdam and Article 49 do not allow for exceptions for big countries,
he said, adding that the treaty also has no religious criteria.

Article 49 states that the EU is founded on principles of freedom,
democracy, rule of law, human rights and basic freedoms. It states
that any European country displaying respect for such principles may
apply for full membership, Bildt said.

The Treaty of Amsterdam was signed on October 2, 1997, and entered
into force on May 1, 1999; it made substantial changes to the Treaty
on the European Union, which was signed at Maastricht in 1992.

The Amsterdam Treaty meant a greater emphasis on citizenship and the
rights of individuals, an attempt to achieve more democracy in the
shape of increased powers for the European Parliament, a new title on
employment, a Community area of freedom, security and justice, the
beginnings of a common foreign and security policy, and the reform
of the institutions in the run-up to enlargement.

WAS THERE AN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE?

cs&nid=2173
26 November 2009

Geoffrey Robertson QC’s opinion

PREFACE

In recent years, governments of the United Kingdom have refused to
accept that the deportations and massacres of Armenians in Turkey
in 1915-16 amounted to genocide. The Armenian Centre decided in 2008
to refer this matter for the expert opinion of Mr Geoffrey Robertson
QC, who had served as the President of a UN War Crimes Court and is
recognised as an authority on this aspect of international law and its
history. Mr Robertson was instructed by solicitor Bernard Andonian to
reach his own independent conclusions on all legal and factual issues,
without being influenced by the concerns of the Centre.

Mr Robertson advised at the outset that an application should be
made under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain all the policy
documents which have informed the UK government’s position and, with
the assistance of barrister Kate Annand, drafted the letters which
eventually extracted these important and hitherto secret documents
which Mr Robertson analyses in this opinion. Ms Kate Annand, who has
a practice in international and European law, assisted with research
and the author is additionally grateful to Mrs Penelope Pryor and to
Doughty Street Chambers.

This opinion has significance for legal and historical scholarship,
as an exposition of the law against genocide by a distinguished jurist.

It has particular importance for British politics and for the future
involvement of this country in international affairs, and will serve
as a case study of how easily government policy can be manipulated
by a Foreign Office that has abandoned "the ethical dimension" in
favour of what it thinks will be commercial and diplomatic advantage.

YEREVAN HOSTS GREAT SCHOOL ENCYCLOPEDIA’S SECOND VOLUME PRESENTATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.11.2009 17:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, Yerevan hosted Great School Encyclopedia’s
second volume presentation.

Published in 2008, the first edition of Great School Encyclopedia
features information on natural and exact sciences. Second edition
includes extensive data on history, languages, literature, art and
architecture," Editor-in-Chief for encyclopedia series, Hovhannes
Ayvazyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

The Great School Encyclopedia will be published in 5 volumes, with
the last one exclusively dedicated to Armenia.

High demand for the first volume, published in a run of 3000 copies
caused a necessity for republishing. According to Hovhannes Ayvazyan,
the government allocated AMD 20 million for encyclopedias’ publication.

"Great School Encyclopedia’s publication is an important event. Both
children and adults will find it very informative," head of Armenian
studies and social sciences department at RA NAS, Vladimir Barkhudaryan
noted.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTERS AND HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT’S STAFF TO SOON GET ARMENIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY-MEMBERSHIP CARDS

ARMENPRESS
Nov 25, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian economy and finance
ministers Nerses Yeritsyan and Tigran Davtyan as well as head of the
government’s staff David Sargsyan presented applications for becoming
members of the Armenian Republican Party.

Secretary of the party’s parliamentary faction Eduard Sharmazanov
assessed this step as logical as the ministers are members of the
political team headed by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and
before the November 28 assembly decided to become members of the party.

"I consider it normal, it is a decision of each one. It is also
logical as we are members of the same political team. As member of
the Republican Party I am happy that the party is being filled with
professionals, and I think that our party work will more consolidate
our statehood and will help in solving those issues which the society
faces," Sharmazanov said.

In the coming days the ministers and head of government’s staff will
get their Party-membership cards.

"A STRONG WILLINGNESS HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED IN FINDING THE WAYS OF SOLUTION ON THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT"-AMERICAN CO-CHAIR ROBERT BRADTKE

Trend
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

A strong willingness have been displayed by the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, in a finding the ways of solution on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Robert Bradtke said.

"I think today was impressive the way, that two presidents worked with
us, their willingness to discuss the points that are quite difficult
and quite controversial and I think, as someone who is relatively
new to this process, that is what impressed me the most," he added.

The meeting of presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the residence
of the French Consul General in Munich was organized on the initiative
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard
Fassier (France) and Robert Bradtke (USA). The talks held with the
participation of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Elmar
Mamedyarov and Edward Nalbadyan, as well as the personal representative
of the OSCE Andzei Kasprzyk.

The talks held with the participation of foreign ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Elmar Mamedyarov and Edward Nalbadyan, as
well as the personal representative of the OSCE Andzei Kasprzyk.

The negotiations held on Sunday in Munich between Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan to resolve
the Nagorny- Karabakh conflict made "important progress", but still
"some difficulties" have been identified in the negotiation process. ,
French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorny- Karabakh
Bernard Fassier said

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.