Author: Jidarian Alex

SITTING OF THE ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION COUNCIL HELD IN LUXEMBURG
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
26.10.2009 17:57

Within the framework of the 10th sitting of the Armenia-EU Cooperation
Council the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, had a
meeting with the Secretary General of the EU Council, Javier Solana
and his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze.

During the sitting reference was made to the situation in the South
Caucasus. Minister Nalbandian presented the latest developments
in the Karabakh conflict settlement process. Head of the Media
Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
Tigran Balayan, told "Radiolur" that special attention was paid to
the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Later today the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will meet the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers in Luxemburg. They will address plans
for their next trip to Baku and Yerevan in November and preparation for
discussion of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement at the OSCE Ministerial
Council in December 2009

Hurriyet Daily News – Turkey
Oct 25 2009

Police officer takes blame for flag crisis

Sunday, October 25, 2009
EMRE KOÅ?AK and FUNDA AVCI
BURSA ` DoÄ?an News Agency

The flag issue between Turkey and Azerbaijan has cost a police officer
his job.

A police officer who put Azerbaijani flags into a box after the world
football governing body, FIFA, banned these flags from entering the
stadium in Bursa for the Turkey-Armenia football match was laid off
temporarily.

The governorship of Bursa also started a disciplinary investigation
into two other officers for their action during the Oct. 14 match,
which caused a crisis between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani flag was not allowed to enter the stadium during the
Turkey-Armenia 2010 World Cup qualifying football match following
orders from FIFA. As a result, police prevented groups that wanted to
bring Azerbaijani flags into the stadium to protest the decision. When
some of the police officers were unable to find a place to put the
flags they had confiscated, they put them into a box at the entrance
of the stadium in area close to the restrooms.

The event caused a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Azerbaijan,
including the removal of Turkish flags at the martyrdom monument in
Azerbaijan and in front of a Turkish diplomatic mission. The
Azerbaijani press argued that the removal was reciprocity for the
Turkish ban on Azerbaijani flags during the Turkey-Armenia game.

The crisis began to ease when Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu
met with Azerbaijani President Ä°lham Aliyev and the minister’s
Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, in Baku last Thursday.

The governorship of Bursa has launched an investigation about those
involved in the event. In a press conference on Saturday, Gov.
Å?ahabettin Harput said they had studied video recorded by police,
along with video from 10 national television channels and three local
channels.

Harput said some civilians who had caused disturbances were identified
by studying the videos and that criminal charges were pending against
the people in question.

Aysor, Armenia
Oct 24 2009

Presidents of Armenia and NKR leave for Moscow

Head of the Board of Trustees of the All-Armenian Fund `Hayastan’,
Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, went to Moscow paying two-day
working visit.

Cabinet’s press office reports, that Mr. Sargsyan will hold a dinner
to raise money for a charity within annual Telethon-2009 Campaign.

Armenian delegation accompanying the President includes members of the
Board of Trustees of the All-Armenian Fund `Hayastan’: President of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Bako Sahakyan, and Speaker of the
Parliament of Armenia, Hovik Abrahamyan.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY OVERMONOPOLIZED

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.10.2009 19:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Dominating monopolization in Armenia will bring the
country to a deadlock. I agree there are both objective and subjective
reasons for monopolization," RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan told a
news conference in Yerevan. RA economy’s monopolization is explained
by mainly subjective factors, Armen Harutyunyan noted, adding that RA
anti-monopoly institutions’ work is not productive enough and carries
mostly formal character.

The Ombudsman emphasized the importance of institutional reforms,
stressing that otherwise Armenia will not be able to overcome
challenges faced. "Monopolization and labor exploitation has to be
eliminated," Armen Harutyunyan underscored.

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA WILL MEET OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS IN LUXEMBOURG

Trend News Agency
Oct 23 2009
Azerbaijan

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yury Merzlyakov of
Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United
States will meet Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Luxembourg October
25-27, says the statement by the Co-Chairs, released at the official
website of organization on Friday.

"The Co-Chairs will also travel to Luxembourg October 25-27 to
meet Armenian Foreign Minister Nalbandian and Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Mammadyarov. They will address plans for their next trip
to Baku and Yerevan in November and preparation for discussion of
the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement at the OSCE Ministerial Council in
December 2009", the statement says.

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.

According to statement, the Co-Chairs attended a "Retreat on OSCE
Mediation Activities" hosted October 22-23 by the OSCE Conflict
Prevention Center in Vienna, Austria. After the retreat, the Co-Chairs
provided a quarterly briefing to the OSCE Minsk Group.

"On the margins of the retreat, each Ambassador individually
participated in different bilateral meetings with a variety of
interlocutors, including, among others, Greek Ambassador Marinaki,
representing the OSCE Chairman-in-Office; OSCE Secretary General
Perrin de Brichambaut; Armenian Ambassador Hovakimian; Azerbaijani
Ambassador Ismayilov; Kazakh Ambassador Abdrakhmanov; Swedish
Ambassador Bard-Bringeus, representing the EU presidency; and Turkish
Deputy Undersecretary Cevikoz", the statement says.

ARMENIA LAUNCHED INTERNAL PROCEDURES TO SUBMIT TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOLS TO PARLIAMENT: DEPUTY FM

Today.Az
Oct 22 2009
Azerbaijan

"On Oct.21, Turkish Foreign Minister submitted the Armenia-Turkey
protocols to the parliament. The process was launched in Ankara.

Yerevan has also launched the internal procedures in the government to
submit the Turkey-Armenia protocols for consideration," Armenian Deputy
Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian told reporters in Baku on Oct. 22.

Kirakosian tripped to Baku to attend the meeting of the Council of
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) in Baku.

Kirakosian said under the protocols, the process to normalize the
Armenian-Turkish relations will proceed without any preconditions.

ALL-ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION OF POWER SPECIALISTS EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER LOSS OF RELIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT ENERGY INDUSTRY OF ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN
OCTOBER 22, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The Council of the All-Armenian
Association of Power Specialists on October 20 took a decision, which
says that "the transfer of the country’s low-voltage electricity system
to Electric Networks of Armenia private company has resulted in the
loss of reliable information about the sufficient number of qualified
repairs experts to work at substations and complex energy facilities,
as well as about the operation and installation of electrical equipment
and the adherence to safety standards.

It is noted in the document that being concerned about the
unreliability of information which is fraught with various kinds of
power supply shocks in the territory of Armenia, the Council members
have considered it necessary to apply to Vazgen Manukian, Chairman of
the Public Council under the Armenian president, and ask him to apply
to the Armenian president with the request to mediate regarding the
following issues:

"1. To set up a commission of competent representatives of the
RA Ministry of Energy and the All-Armenian Association of Power
Specialists and give it the right to conduct inspection checkup of
the electrical facilities transferred under ownership of this or that
private company.

2. To assist the Association in establishing a production enterprise
with its staff of repairs experts, including those invited from CIS
countries, which would be able to provide crews for carrying out high
quality repair work at all energy facilities of the country.

3. To provide assistance to the Association with the aim of training
repair experts for electrotechnical stations attached to the indicated
enterprise, granting the right to repair complex energy facilities,
and establishing a training center for certification of the personnel
already working in Armenia".

The Council of the All-Armenian Association of Power Specialists
believes that the implementation of this proposal will help raise the
level of energy security in Armenia and improve the country’s rating
in the energy sector.

AHMET DAVUTOGLU: ARMENIA WILL NOT DARE TO CLAIM ANY PART OF TURKISH TERRITORIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2009 21:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a speech delivered in Grand National Assembly,
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu introduced to Turkish
parliamentarians to Armenian-Turkish Protocols signed in Zurich.

Turkish official stressed the main target of Ankara’s foreign policy,
i.e. peace and stability around Turkey. "We are trying to create an
atmosphere of mutual trust in the region and consolidate a ground
of political dialogue. The current status quo in the Caucasus does
not correspond to our vision because there are frozen crises which
can emerge and lead to a security problem in the region," Davutoglu
stressed. Turkish FM again touched upon the issue of "occupied
Azerbaijani lands", noting that status quo might prevent effective
steps by Turkey.

"We have three important targets to this end. First of all, we need to
establish good neighborly relations with Armenia. Secondly, we want to
set up a channel of healthy communication between Turkish and Armenian
peoples. And thirdly, we aim at accelerating the process to resolve
the Upper Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia," he said.

Davutoglu also added that, "neither Armenia nor any other country could
dare to claim any part of Turkish territories. And the protocols we
signed with Armenia ensure this." "Kars and Moscow agreements arrange
borders between Turkey and Armenia. The protocol made references to
those agreements."

Noting that Turkey’s efforts for the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan would continue without any disruption, Davutoglu said
that he, President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan
always told that the basic issue in this subject was Karabakh issue,
Anatolian News Agency reports.

ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI DEPUTIES TO MEET

uma
07:41 pm | October 20, 2009

Politics

Armenian and Azerbaijani deputies will meet at the State Duma of the
Russian Federation on October 22, press secretary of the National
Assembly Chairman Nairi Petrosyan told "A1+".

According to her, an agreement had been made a long time ago. Chairman
of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Boris Grizlov sent a
letter to the RA National Assembly Chairman to organize the meeting
on October 22. NA Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan expressed gratitude for
the proposal and accepted it.

It was decided that there would be five deputies from Armenia and
Azerbaijan respectively to participate in the meeting. According to
Nairi Petrosyan, the parliamentarians will hold discussions within
the framework of the round-table discussion entitled "Current issues
facing inter-parliamentary cooperation in modern geopolitics".

Armenian deputies participating in the discussions are RA
parliamentarians, chairman of the standing committee on healthcare,
mothers and children Ara Babloyan, deputy chairman of the standing
committee on economic issues Vardan Bostanjyan, member of the
same committee Hermine Naghdalyan, head of the ARF faction Vahan
Hovhannisyan and "Heritage" faction representative, member of the
standing committee on defense, national security and internal affairs,
Vardan Khachatryan.

Let us mention that the Azerbaijani delegation mainly includes
representatives of the Human Rights Parliamentary Committee and the
Legal Politics and Nation-Building Committee of the Mejlis. Head of
the Azerbaijani delegation, chairman of the Human Rights Committee of
the Mejlis, Rabiyat Aslanova told the "APA" agency that Armenian and
Azerbaijani deputies are preparing to discuss the issues concerning
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, the situation in the
South Caucasus, the return of refugees and the details regarding
the coexistence of Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. Aslanova
also said that the meeting is organized by Azerbaijani Ambassador to
Russia Polad Bulbuloglu.

Let us remind that last year’s visit of Armenian and Azerbaijani
cultural figures was under the initiative of Aslanova. Among
other participants of the meeting to be held on October 22 are
the Ambassadors of Armenia and Azerbaijan to Russia, as well as
representative of the Russian President on international cultural
cooperation Mikhail Shvidkoy.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 21, 2009
Contact: Michael A. Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

SENATORS MENENDEZ, ENSIGN INTRODUCE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Washington, DC – Earlier today, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John
Ensign (R-NV) introduced the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the U.S.
Senate, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

"In the face of Turkey’s ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide, we
commend Senators Menendez and Ensign for their commitment to reaffirm
this incontestable fact and the proud chapter in U.S. history to help
save the survivors of this terrible crime against humanity," said
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

The Senate action comes as the Assembly continues its advocacy efforts
to ensure unequivocal U.S. affirmation. The Assembly’s efforts
registered gains in the House with seven additional cosponsors recently
added to the House version of this bill. "Genocide affirmation and
education are the keys to prevention. The Assembly will not rest until
Armenian Genocide denial is defeated," added Ardouny.

On the introduction of this important measure, Menendez said: "Only when
history’s darkest hours are acknowledged and understood can we truly
learn from them and build a peaceful future upon those lessons. One and
a half million Armenians experienced Hell on Earth, and to sweep their
plight under the rug is to insult their memories and their descendants.
It is long past time that our nation help set the historical record
straight and provide a foundation of understanding that helps prevent
future atrocities."

Ensign added, "It is inconceivable that after so many years the
international community has yet to affirm that the deportation,
expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre and starvation of the
Armenian people was genocide. By joining together and affirming that
genocide was committed on the Armenian people, we send a strong message
to the international community that we will not turn a blind eye to the
crimes of the past simply because they are in the past."

This resolution calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign
policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and
sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing,
and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

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NR#2009-075