Author: Jidarian Alex

Armenian IT companies will be able to find domestic clients if
Armenian businessmen ask them to supply management systems for their
business processes

2009-10-31 10:14:00

ArmInfo. Armenian IT companies will be able to find domestic clients
if Armenian businessmen ask them to supply management systems for
their business processes, says Coordinator of IT Cluster of USAID/CAPS
program Armen Abrahamyan.

The demand for corporate management and information systems in Armenia
is bigger than the offer. Simply, IT companies and businessmen have
not yet established cooperation in this field. IT companies are able
to supply commercial companies with efficient process control
solutions but businessmen are reluctant to provide the former with
necessary information. If IT companies manage to show that their
systems are more efficient, the domestic demand for these products
will grow.

More On The Protocols

Civilitas Foundation
Saturday, 10 October 2009 20:31 | by Gerard Chaliand |
Analysis / Turkey

The current Turkey-Armenia Protocols, with their ambiguous wording,
are unfavorable to the interests of the Armenian state. What are the
motives of the latter? Opening the Turkish Armenian border, while
separating Turkey-Armenia relations from a solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Apparently, to substitute for this issue not being mentioned, Armenia
has conceded for a "sub-commission on the historical dimension to
implement a dialogue with the aim to restore mutual confidence between
the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the
historical records and archives to define existing problems and
formulate recommendations, in which Armenian, Turkish as well as Swiss
and other international experts shall take part.’ Such wording should
be unacceptable for an Armenian government worthy of the name. What is
the goal of Turkish diplomacy, whose excellence cannot be denied, as
demonstrated its progress during the recent years, with the impulsion
of Recep Erdogan, and reach the following: ¨- A recognition of
existing borders between Turkey and Armenia; ¨- Avoid at all costs
that the term genocide is used for the events of 1915-1923. ¨- Work
in agreement with Azerbaijan for the return of Nagorno-Karabakh under
the sovereignty of Baku.

This last point is implicit in the protocols, as Armenia and Turkey
reaffirm "their commitment, in their bilateral and international
relations, to respect and ensure respect for the principles of
equality, sovereignty, non interference in internal affairs of other
states, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders’.
(underline is mine).

This means to bury the principle of the right of peoples to
self-determination, a principle on which the argument of Nagorno
Karabakh and its overwhelmingly Armenian population is based.
Accordingly, Turkey, if it so chooses, can delay the opening of the
border, arguing there is no such clause in the protocol. And it can
always come back to it, as part of a protocol endorsed by both
parties. ¨ ¨The clause on mutual recognition of borders between
Armenia and Turkey seems to result from an intangible position of
force. Also, being a realist, although many may find it regrettable, I
think abandoning this territorial claim is reasonable. In this sense,
for the cold historian, the genocide of 1915-1916, seen from the side
of the Turkish state, was a success, as there are no remaining
Armenians in the six eastern vilayets. To continue demanding what one
can’t get, no matter what you do, has no sense in politics. It is as
absurd as the non-recognition of the State of Israel by the PLO
yesterday and by Hamas today. ¨ ¨By no means should there have been an
agreement to the sub-commission of the historical dimension. Talat
Pasha’s diary, which has been publicly published and distributed,
mentions nearly a million "disappeared people.’ Nothing justifies an
ethnic cleansing of this magnitude if not the intention of making a
clean space. Only the term genocide is appropriate for this deliberate
and inhumane crime. The Armenian Genocide is a historical fact proven
by many available archives (German, Austrian, American, etc.), and the
work of the two recent generations of American, British, German, and
French historians. The work of an "impartial scientific examination of
the historical records and archive" has already been initiated and
completed, despite Turkish claims. Who are we mocking? What kind of
government can agree to sign such a clause? It is like Israel willing
to discuss the reality of the Jewish Holocaust with a German state
that would, over 94 years after the fall of Nazism, continue to deny
the Holocaust, and where all their embassies and representatives
abroad were still working in this direction! To be sold to the heirs
of unrepentant murderers, I speak here of the Turkish state, the
murderers of a whole people, the Armenian government is unworthy of
its country. ¨ ¨There is no foreign policy based on human rights, but
rather on diplomacy driven by political and economic benefits,
especially in regions of the world where, as around the Caspian basin
and the Middle East, resources abound. Armenia, it is a fact, faces in
this regard some advantages compared to Azerbaijan, or even, for other
reasons, Georgia. Turkey, on the contrary, as a regional power and
geostrategic crossroads, is going up. And, more importantly, it has a
real head of state.

It is more than probable that this protocol is more beneficial for
Turkey than Armenia, which has not come to the point to renounce this.
A concession will lead to another. Enjoying the frozen situation of
Karabakh may end up not realizing that time does not work for those
who are content to wait, in a framework of limited sovereignty. The
oil and the projects, already accomplished or in the make, of gas and
oil pipelines have consolidated the assets of Azerbaijan and Turkey.
While Russia, which in this case has its own interests, has taken note
of this.

As for the United States, they have reiterated their support to a
Turkey within Europe, which will be a valuable ally at the periphery
of Russia, even China… Was it not Recep Erdogan who called the
killing of 750 Uighur (turkophone) of Xinjiang as a "kind of
genocide?’

OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE ENCOURAGED BY THE "POSITIVE MOMENTUM" IN THE KARABAKH TALKS

armradio.am
30.10.2009 11:17

The new Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE), Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Thursday
said he was encouraged by positive momentum in the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace talks and expressed his support for ongoing efforts by the
OSCE’s Minsk Group to resolve the conflict.

In his first speech to the OSCE Permanent Council since taking over
as Chairman-in-Office on Oct. 6, Papandreou called on OSCE member
states to "enhance cooperation to address prevailing tensions in the
South Caucasus," and pledged to lend his "personal support" to the
American, French and Russian Minsk Group Co-Chairs "in their quest
to achieve a long-lasting peace in the South-Caucasus region."

He referred to protracted conflicts like the one in Nagorno-Karabakh,
saying that "they are potential sources of discord, and we cannot
afford to leave them on the back burner. The war in Georgia has proven
this point."

"Protracted conflicts have stubbornly plagued the OSCE area for
decades now. "We are encouraged by the positive momentum that the
recent frequent meetings of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
have created," he added.

"We know that they are potential sources of discord, and we cannot
afford to leave them on the back burner. I would like to pay
tribute to the three Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group, as well as to my
personal representative for the conflict dealt with by the Minsk
Group Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk. I would like to pay tribute to
their tireless efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue," he said.

"IDEAL SCHEME" TO OPEN BORDERS: IS ANKARA PREPARED FOR ARMENIAN OPTION?
By Ali Mammadov

Today
57028.html
Oct 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Turkey, the two fraternal nations, have succeeded to
overcome the recent hardships in relations with the smallest losses.

The two countries reiterated their loyalty to fraternal relations. The
incident with flags has been suppressed successfully.

Admittedly, the Azerbaijani and Turkish societies saw incomprehension
following the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols on
normalization of relations.

Nevertheless, our Turkish brothers still assure us of inviolability of
eternal friendship and that the two processes – the Ankara-Yerevan
dialogue and settlement of the Karabakh conflict are moving in
parallel.

Azerbaijan voices anxiety for opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border just given the thoughts that despite significant progress
in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and liberation of its
Armenian-occupied territories, it might worsen the situation even.

At first look, any concerns in this respect might seem groundless.

Firstly, promises were given in the top level.

Secondly, both Turkish and western partners of Azerbaijan
state constantly that breakthrough in peace talks to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will happen soon, as if hinting at existence
of some secret gentlemen’s agreement with Armenia. Simply, Armenia
is not interested in the existence of a formal "link" between the
process of normalization of relations with Turkey and settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Thirdly, they almost state that normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations in a long-term perspective in parallel with resolution of
the Karabakh conflict meets interests of not only Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Turkey, but also the entire South Caucasus. Quite clear: nothing
causes question in this part.

Initiators of this process believe should all conflicts are solved
at once Armenia will pursue more independent foreign policy, get
involved in regional integration and consequently, cease to play a
destabilizing role in the South Caucasus. U.S. Vice President Joe
Biden is right in this claims that "the main point is not a love and
affection, but opportunities and necessity."

However, any long-term scheme violates the "ideality" because it
ignores threats in a particular historical period that may hinder its
implementation. Better to say, possibilities do not always coincide
with a desire. In this case, the main point is Armenia, more precisely,
this country’s President Serzh Sargsyan.

Despite heavy historical responsibility, it is much easier for
Sargsyan to agree to normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
rather to resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In fact, most
of the Diaspora is opposed to the protocols. But one needs to take
into account the following factor:

Firstly, the Diaspora has no real levers of influence on internal
political situation in Armenia. Dashnaks, who represent the Diaspora’s
interests, are not trendsetters in the domestic arena. They
have never gained more than 15 percent of the vote in national
elections. Indeed, this is not a small number, but not enough to
destabilize the political situation. A striking force of the opposition
– the Armenian National Congress led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, despite
criticism of the protocols, in fact, "played into Sargsyan’s hands"
refusing to participate in mass rallies organized by the Dashnaks.

Secondly, Sargsyan understood that Armenia will lose nothing in terms
of financial aid from abroad after normalization of relations with
Turkey. The point is that a smaller part of the Diaspora, namely,
money giants who are alien to all sorts of historical sentiments, are
really interested in normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They have just got tired
of providing charity. They need real investments that would yield a
profit. And this is possible only if Armenia resolves conflicts with
its neighbors and becomes involved in regional integration processes.

Furthermore, the Western countries who are interested in normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations, are likely to increase financial
assistance to Armenia.

Thirdly, absence of serious foreign forces able to oppose the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations at this historical period
was also taken into account. Many analysts viewed Iran and Russia as a
force capable of influencing Armenia’s decisions. However, both Russia
and Iran now are interested in developing normal relations with Turkey.

Meantime, the situation with settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is much more complicated. In this case, Sargsyan has no
serious allies, especially within the country.

Firstly, greater part of the Armenian elite used to earn from the
conflicts both in a literal and figurative sense of the word. Making
profits in peace is much more difficult, because rivals grow in
number. So, definite part of the elite will oppose any peace agreement
with Azerbaijan because of their selfish interests.

Secondly, the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is not a history, but
present day of Armenia. Many Armenian leaders have made political
capital out of this conflict. Considerable part of them are now
strongly opposed to Sargsyan, including leader of the Armenian National
Congress. They are unlikely to miss an opportunity "to get even with"
Sargsyan.

As a matter of fact, Sargsyan’s predecessor, Armenia’s ex-president
Robert Kocharyan, is also opposed to him. He has fallen into oblivion
for a while, whilst his counterpart, former Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian, speaks for him sharply criticizing Serzh Sargsyan’s policy.

Thirdly, the state of the Armenian armed forces is much more
complicated. Suffice it to recall the post-election events in Armenia.

Sargsyan had to bid farewell to one of the vice ministers of defense
due to his support to the opposition.

Presently, the situation is much more difficult for Serzh Sargsyan and
easier for his potential opponents from the military opposition. After
all, main point is not the power, but Karabakh. It is much easier for
them to provoke unauthorized large-scale hostilities on the Karabakh
front thus leaving no choice to Sargsyan.

Similar events have previously happened in Armenian history. The
conflicting sides signed a ceasefire agreement under Iran’s mediation
in Tehran in May 1992. However, Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh
began an offensive against the Azerbaijani town of Shusha on that
day in an effort to leave no choice to the then leadership of Armenia
headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, a fact that Robert Kocharyan admitted
recently.

Fourth, normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in parallel theoretically enhances
opportunities to diversify energy supply routes from the Caspian Sea
to European markets. This is fundamentally contrary to interests
of specific external forces, who have real levers of influence on
political situation in Armenia. These forces are able to torpedo any
peace agreement to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through
Armenians’ hands. This has happened on numerous occasions. Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s attempts to facilitate a breakthrough in resolving
the conflict in 1998 cost him his power.

A year later, namely in 1999, Robert Kocharyan faced a threat of
overthrow following the shooting in the Armenian parliament. Those
in Armenia have long accustomed to use an opportunity to resolve the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh to overthrow the government.

Thus, the problem is that to what extent Turkey and the authors of
this "ideal" scheme are prepared to the afore-said threats of the
peaceable process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict solution. What will
Turkey do if Sargsyan turns out in no condition to fulfill an alleged
gentleman’s agreement on settlement of the Karabakh conflict?! After
all, there is a certain time frame for ratification of the protocols.

Deadline is April 24, 2010 at most. After a choice should be made
anyway…

OPCW SECRETARY GENERAL DUE IN ARMENIA

Aysor
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

The Director General of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW), Rogelio Pfirter, will arrive in Armenia today.

On October 29 Rogelio Pfirter is expected to have meetings with
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Emergency Minister Mher
Shahgeldyan and Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan, informs the
information and press department of the RA Foreign Minister.

RUSSIAN REFEREES TO ARBITER ARMENIA-ESTONIA YOUTH TEAMS FOOTBALL MATCH

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.10.2009 23:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian referees, lead by Igor Yegorov will arbiter
Armenia-Estonia teams football match. Assistant referees: Vladislav
Khodeyev and Ilya Baryshnikov. Reserve referee: Alexey Kovalyov.

On November 14, Armenia youth team will host their Estonian peers
within WC 2011 qualifier.

On November 17, Armenia will host the Irish team.

Armenian Youth Team was twice defeated by Switzerland (2:1 and 1:3)
and Turkey (2:5 E 0:1), thus appearing at the bottom of tournament
table with no points gained.

REFUGEES: URGENT PROBLEM UNRESOLVED

news.am
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

Over the last 20 years the problem of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan
has been a headache for independent Armenia’s authorities. The trouble
is, however, that the problem has not so far been resolved. Now
that the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process is intensifying and nearing
completion, the negative consequences of the authorities’ short-sighted
policy are becoming increasingly obvious.

In 1988-1990, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians flooded into
Armenia from Azerbaijan (over 200,000 refugees came to Armenia from
Baku alone), the country was busy with other things. The economy was
collapsing, Armenia was blockaded and Azerbaijan launched an aggression
against the country. The extensive Soviet housing facilities enabled
Armenia to provide refugees with temporary lodgings at hostels, and
only several thousands of Armenian refugees from Baku, Kirovabad and
Sumgait received or purchased flats in Armenia.

Since the hostilities were over and economy recovery got under way,
the refugees’ problems have been resolved at a snail’s pace. No
integration program for refugees has so far been elaborated in
Armenia. Specifically, nothing has been done to organize free Armenian
language courses for refugees – knowing the language at a necessary
level would play a serious role in their "settling" the language and
mental differences with the native Armenian population.

Years have passed, power has changed in Armenia and natives of
Nagorno-Karabakh are holding the reigns of government. North Avenue,
as well as numerous high-rise buildings with thousands of empty flats,
has been constructed in Yerevan. Yet, after Robert Kocharyan came to
power in Armenia, the authorities did not launch a policy of settling
the liberated territories, particularly, the ancient town of Shushi.

The opposite tendencies could be observed: thousands of families
from Nagorno-Karabakh settled down in Armenia to become one of the
major "supports" for the new authorities. They were joined by many
refugees from Azerbaijan, who have made up their minds to settle
down in Armenia, which had no necessary state policy of settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). It is noteworthy that most of the
refugees are natives of Nagorno-Karabakh.

All the above certainly affected the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

The Azerbaijani side has for many years been "howling" about
Azeri refugees, wildly exaggerating their real number, whereas the
Armenian side has hardly opposed anything to that. The logic of the
negotiations now is: Azeri refugees must return to their homes, but
Armenians – may not. True, a few months ago Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian at last remembered the 400,000 Armenian refugees
from Azerbaijan. His single statement, however, has not so far been
followed by any practical steps.

It is obvious, with the return of hundreds of thousands of Armenian
refugees to Baku and other Azerbaijani cities being impossible, the
Armenian side has the right to raise the issue of compensation. Quite
a good option is settling the Armenian refugees in Shuhsi, while the
Shushi "ex-residents" will demand housing from their fellow countrymen,
who seized the flats of tens of thousands of Armenians.

In short, the Armenian authorities should realize the necessity for
revising their policy as long as the situation can be improved.

AZERBAIJANI, TURKISH FLAGS WILL BE INSTALLED BACK IN MARTYRS’ LANE: AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL EXPERT

Today.Az
/56959.html
Oct 27 2009
Azerbaijan

"Those who insulted Azerbaijan’s flag in Bursa must be severely
punished."

"Turkish flags will be installed in the previous location as soon as
these issues are solved," Azerbaijani political expert Rasim Musabayov
said commenting on removal of Turkish flags near the monument to the
Turkish soldiers in the Martyr’s Lane in Baku.

"Of course, the flags will be installed back to their original
location. Not only Turkish, but also Azerbaijani flags will be
installed again. It all depends on developments in the Azerbaijan –
Turkey, Armenia – Turkey relations. But I am absolutely confident that
during a visit to Azerbaijan by the president or the prime minister of
Turkey or their visit to the memorial complex of the Turkish soldiers
flags will again be installed in Martyrs’ Lane and they will never
be removed," the political expert said

He said the trust between the two countries has recently weakened.

"To be exact, Azerbaijan expects fulfillment of the promises made by
Turkey. Those who insulted Azerbaijan’s flag in Bursa must be severely
punished. Turkish flags will be installed in the previous location
as soon as these issues are solved," the political expert said.

ARFD ACTED AS IT HAD TO: EXPERT

news.am
Oct 27 2009
Armenia

"The opposition role is to blame the authorities and no wonder that
Armenia-Turkey Protocols’ signing arouse heated discussions both
in oppositional and public circles," the Director of the Caucasus
Institute Alexander Iskandaryan told the journalists Oct. 27.

Political analyst reckons there is nothing weird about the feel of
nervousness after the Protocols’ signing amongst the public and
actions initiated by ARFD. "ARFD acted as it was supposed to. As
for the tension in society, it is natural as people who used to live
without any relations with Turkey since 1993, are confused and see
tricks in all," Iskandaryan concluded.

STUDENTS OF AREVORDI ECO-CLUBS PROPOSE A NEW METHOD OF PAPER RECYCLING

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.10.2009 17:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Eco-expo "Green Alternative" was opened today
as a part of Arevordi eco-festival held between October 25 and 29
in Yerevan.

The purpose of eco-expo is to draw public attention to issues
of environment protection, sustainable use of natural resources,
ecological lifestyle.

"Our goal is to create an environmental movement and develop
environmental consciousness of the public by raising their awareness,"
the director of Arevordi festival Ruben Khachatryan said.

Pupils of Eco-clubs of Arevordi proposed a new method of paper
recycling, which, they say, saves 17 trees, 320 liters of oil, 4100
kWh of energy, 3.2 sq. meters of land in the processing of one ton
of paper.

The first Armenian Youth environmental portal and "art crafts" made
from a variety of wastes were presented at the expo.