Author: Jidarian Alex

NALBANDIAN: AZERBAIJAN DISRESPECTS OSCE VALUES

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.02.2009 13:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian visited
the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
today and met ODIHR Director Ambassador Janez Lenarcic to discuss
possibilities for strengthening cooperation with the Armenian
authorities in the field of human rights and democracy.

The ODIHR Director offered assistance in following up on the
recommendations made in ODIHR’s final report on last year’s
presidential election, and in reviewing new legislation in areas such
as freedom of religion and belief.

For his part, Minister Nalbandian pointed out to the Azeri propaganda
of national hatred, which is a gross violation of OSCE principles.

Edward Nalbandian also visited the Armenian Embassy in Warsaw and
met with representatives of the Armenian community

"SMALL THEATRE" PARTICIPATES IN "GOLDEN MASK"

Panorama.am
12:59 10/03/2009

"Small Theatre" from Armenia will participate in "Golden Mask"
National Theatre award ceremony and festival, Gayane Durgaryan,
the head of information and public relations department told to
Panorama.am. She said that the festival will take place in Moscow and
performances from Russia, CIS and Baltic countries will attend the
festival. "Small Theatre" will present "Theatre of Ofelia’s Shadows"
performance by M. Ende.

The festival will take place from 27 March to 17 April. "Theatre of
Ofelia’s Shadows" play will be performed on 3-4 April.

FROM RATINGS TO RATES FOR ABOVE-AVERAGE JOE
By James Massola

The Canberra Times
l/national/general/from-ratings-to-rates-for-above average-joe/1435534.aspx
Feb 17 2009
Australia

After five years of the Kev-and-Joe show on Sunrise, millions of
Australians must feel they know the Member for North Sydney.

But Joe Hockey’s jokey TV appearances and his public friendship with
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ended some time ago.

A rumoured move to the NSW Parliament has not eventuated and some
staffers are already touting him as the next deputy Liberal leader.

Hockey’s first order of business to get on the front foot and get
the Coalition back on the economic scoreboard.

The son of an Armenian-Palestinian immigrant will have his work cut
out for him.

His opposite number, Treasurer Wayne Swan, and his old-sparring partner
Rudd believe Australia stands at an economic crossroads and they have
all the answers.

Hockey’s task is to wrong foot them and you can bet the proven
parliamentary and media performer won’t waste any time in trying to
prove them wrong.

With a recent history as a Coalition problem solver he took over the
near-impossible task of selling the unpopular WorkChoices after the
bland Kevin Andrews had failed to do so Hockey performed admirably.

On a hiding to nothing, few blamed him for the resounding thrashing
the former government suffered at the polls.

Hurriyet / Turkish Daily News
February 12, 2009 Thursday

ON ARMENIAN LOBBIES FIGHTING FREE SPEECH AND POLITICIANS NOT STANDING
UP FOR LIBERTY

In Washington the "mischief of factions" is in full swing in the
corridors of power to paraphrase James Madison, the father of the
American Constitution. Lobbies are hard at work and not just for
bailout money. Electoral promises were made, campaign money raised by
the well-organized Armenian interest group. Its time for reckoning.

American lawmakers would be well advised to look at recent
developments in France for a reality check. The 2001 law recognizing
the events of 1915 as "genocide" was passed. But the Armenian lobby
asked for more, namely the criminalization of the denial of
"genocide." When the bill reached the Senate in 2007, it finally
dawned on a wise few that the logical legal consequence was that
France would need to arrest and prosecute the entire Turkish
nation. Our political establishment backpedaled. The National Assembly
issued a 400-page Information Report on Nov. 18, 2008. Sobering
reading! Contrary to what some intellectuals keep trumpeting, it is
not the Armenian community who requires further protection. The report
states the risks posed by the introduction of so-called memory laws:
unconstitutionality, abridgement of fundamental freedoms, disguised
censorship through the threat of legal action, the creation of a
precedent for a "thought" crime, restriction of the fundamental
principle of freedom of scholarship. Last but not least, these laws
due to their communitarian logic could weaken the fabric of our
society. It concludes that it is not the role of Parliament to write
history. Eminent law professors have appealed for their annulment.

With a growing sense that a Rubicon against individual liberties has
been crossed, the silent French majority is now speaking out. In
growing numbers citizens are saying that "Liberty for history is
liberty for all," (2008 European historians "Appel de Blois" see
"Liberte pour lHistoire" ). The practice of state
edicted truth is not consistent with our democratic values. As Hayeks
famously commented in "The Road to Serfdom," in totalitarian regimes,
"the disinterested search for truth cannot be allowed Opinion must be
controlled." With these laws the "end of truth" in the field of
history is staring us in the face. The Armenian lobby is increasingly
looking like an Orwellian "thought" police intent on misusing the
Ministere de la Justice as a Ministry of "their Truth."

The story of socialist politician and Member of Parliament, or MP,
Dr. Jack Lang is enlightening. During a debate with historians, he
admitted candidly that MPs had mostly voted for the 2001 law "out of
electoral concerns." Hence a senior political figure essentially
admits the obvious, namely that a small dedicated minority had imposed
its "diktat" on the majority under the guise of the "common will," (28
votes in a National Assembly of 577). His eloquent defense of freedom
of expression resulted in him being targeted with a deluge of
aggressive and unjustified attacks (letters, blog comments, etc) which
forced him to retract behind a wall of political correctness. He is
only the latest victim of the situation precisely highlighted as a
"risk" in the report. A letter addressed to the former Minister by
Alexis Govcivan, a leading figure of the pro-Armenian lobby, is a
thinly disguised threat to sue. The free exchange of ideas and dissent
within its own ranks cannot be allowed. The very notion that Armenians
would apologize for the murders committed by the nationalist terrorist
organization Asala in the 1970s and 80s is abhorrent. Dr. Armen
Gavakian from the Macquarie University, Sydney had to cancel the
launch of a campaign inspired by a similar Turkish initiative
apologizing to Armenians (). The Turkish
intellectuals campaign continues to gather signatures despite the
pressure.

Almost a century after a dark period for all the peoples of Anatolia,
it is time to leave history to the historians, time to look to the
future. Turkey and Armenia have engaged in a dialogue started by the
brave steps of the two leaders and the visit to Yerevan of President
Abdulah Gul last September. History is being written where it
matters. Diplomatic efforts to normalize relations if conclusive may
open a new era of trade and prosperity, cultural exchanges between the
two nations, free debate between historians. The diasporas aggressive
lawmaking and bullying strategy may satisfy the nationalists in their
ranks but it is not helping to resolve present problems. Obstructing
progress from the prosperous and free United States and Europe is easy

Exercising judgment and leadership takes courage. When called upon to
vote on the resolution, American lawmakers should seriously ask
themselves whether the founders of their democracy had given them
powers to write Armenian and Turkish history. I hope they wont chose
to appease yet another lobby under pretence of justice and remember
George Washington’s wise words: "If the freedom of speech is taken
away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."

(Sophie Quintin Adaly is a French citizen living in Tokyo who sent
this piece through "letters to editor." Views expressed here are her
own.)

ARMENIANS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS: GTI POLL

ARKA
Feb 13, 2009

YEREVAN, February 13. /ARKA/. Armenia is among the 11 states that
remain optimistic about their economic prospects, Grant Thornton
International, one of the world’s largest accounting and consulting
firms, says in its International Business Report (IBR).

India (+83%) tops the list of the 11 countries, followed by Botswana
(+81%), Brazil (+50%) and Armenia (+46%).

The International Business Report (IBR), formerly known as the
International Business Owners Survey (IBOS), provides insight into
the views and expectations of over 7,200 privately held businesses
across 36 economies, said Gurgen Hakobyan, GTA ( Grant Thornton Amyot)
partner.

The report explores the continued emergence of corporate social
responsibility, global trends in recruitment and retention issues,
investing in global growth markets and trends in mergers and
acquisitions.

The results of the report has shown that optimism among privately held
businesses has slumped by 56% to a record low of 16% compared to +40%
in 2008, with pessimistic forecast prevailing over optimistic ones.

Of the four largest trading nations, the United States and China,
who together contribute over 32% of global GDP, scored their optimism
at -34% in the United States but +30% in mainland China. Similarly,
Japan and India (collectively contributing over 11% of global GDP)
scored their optimism at -85% and +83% respectivel y.

According to Alex MacBeath, global leader of privately held business
services, "these polarised results suggest there are still pockets
of hope in the global marketplace and it is no coincidence that PHBs
are some of the first to realise."

With entrepreneurs across the world getting ready for a long-lasting
downturn, theirs colleagues from developed countries realize that on
the micro-level, those economic challenges offer ample opportunities,
he said.

PHBs in 33 out of the 36 economies cited a fall in consumer demand with
a shortage of business credit a secondary concern, Alex MacBeath added.

"The economies in our survey contribute 81% of global GDP. If
politicians were in any doubt about the need to take steps to boost
consumer spending and kick start the global economy this overwhelming
consensus from PHBs should surely persuade them," the expert was
quoted saying.

The research is carried out by Experian Business Strategies. For
each filled in report form, GTI donates $5 to UNICEF, with overall
donations reaching $39,000.

Bring back ‘Stone Age Beaujolais’

>From the Bosphorus: Straight

Hurriyet
February 9, 2009

Wine snobs in Bordeaux or California’s Sonoma valley will
probablydisagree with us. But we believe history’s most important wine
producing area is eastern Turkey. For according to molecular biology
researchersat the University of Pennsylvania and the University of
Ankara, this is where it all began.

What one researcher calls "Stone Age Beaujolois Nouveau" probably
emerged somewhere near the headwaters of the Tigris River, in the
environs of today’s ElazıÄ=9F as long ago as 8,500 B.C. Most
probably, this involved hunters and gatherers slurping fermented juice
made out of wild grapes from animal-skin bags. Not our idea of a chic
tasting where one swirls the glass and mutters a profundity like
"…hmmm… notes of pear… with a butterscotch finish." But it is a
fact worth repeating in light of our weekendstory on efforts in
ElazıÄ=9F to produce the first villager-led wineproduction.

Efforts are still pending to pinpoint the origin of wine grape
domestication. But it is most certainly in eastern Turkey. From there,
the skills and cultivars spread throughout the ancient Mediterranean
world. Today, at the retail level, this is all something on the order
of a $60 billion to $80 billion sector depending on how you count.

The project in ElazıÄ=9F, aimed at producing a strong market for
thesurrounding villagers’ grape production, already has nearly 500
villagers joined in a cooperative. The head of the project,
Hüsamettin Kaya, is trying to line up something on the order of 20
million Turkish liras from investors or perhaps through European Union
grants. In this sense, the project may still be a bit "young" in
vintner jargon. For wine production and retailing is an increasingly
sophisticated business. Farmers in California monitor sugar levels and
pest infestations in vineyards with airplane-mounted infrared
sensors. World market pricesare driven by the industry’s equivalent of
Dow Jones, the "Vin-Ex 100 Fine Wine Index," down 20 percent on the
world economic crisis. Just in the past six years, world acreage
planted in wine grapes has grown by some 210,000 hectares. That’s
about a third of Turkey’s entire areaplanted in grapes from which 98
percent are sold as fresh fruit or raisins.This is a volatile, global
business where the neophyte can easily get burned.

But Turkey has somewhere between 600 and 1,000 indigenous varieties of
grape, only about 60 of which are commercially exploited. Turkey has
the marketing edge that might come from a legitimate claim in having
started it all. And the country has a need and interest in
diversifying the economy, particularly in agriculture.

Like a good wine, this idea in ElazıÄ=9F needs nurturing and
maturation. But when its time comes, wine produced in its birthplace
can make a great contribution to development in eastern Turkey.

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MAY FACE-OFF

A1+
[06:38 pm] 10 February, 2009

The Armenian and Azeri Greek-Roman style wrestling teams may face off
during the World Cup to be held on February 20-21 in France. Chief
trainer of the Armenian team Levon Julfakalyan told "A1+" that these
days the national team is preparing for the competition.

Armenia, Russia, France, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Hungary and
Azerbaijan will all compete in the World Cup play-offs.

"Before the competition there will be a lottery to choose two groups
from each country and four teams in each. Thus, each team will play
three matches and the winners will face-off in the final round,"
said Levon Julfalakyan.

The trainer informed that the Armenian team includes young
wrestlers. "There are eight wrestlers in the preparatory stage,
including youth. Shavigh Gevorgyan, weighing 55 kilograms, will play
in the national team for the first time. Our leader in this weight
category Roman Amoyan will get ready for the European championship
to be heldin March."

The only experienced wrestlers are Arman Geghamyan (96 kilograms),
Arsen Julfalakyan (74 kilograms) and Yuri Patrikeyev (120 kilograms).

PanARMENIAN.Net

Germany hoping for diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program but
ready for tougher sanctions
07.02.2009 16:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Germany is hoping for a diplomatic solution to the
conflict over Iran’s nuclear programme but is ready for tougher
sanctions if no progress is made, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on
Saturday.

"We want a diplomatic solution," Merkel told the Munich Security
Conference in a speech, referring to new U.S. President Barack Obama’s
offer to hold talks with Tehran on the nuclear issue.

"I think the new U.S. administration will make its approach towards
Iran clear to us in coming months. We are ready to walk this path
together. But we are also ready for tougher sanctions if there is no
progress," Merkel said, Reuters reports.

Azerbaijan Business Center, Azerbaijan
Feb 7 2009

Goran Lenmarker in interview: `Good possibility’ for solution on
Nagorno Karabkh

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special
Representative on Nagorno-Karabakh and Special Envoy for Georgia,
Goran Lenmarker, said that there is a `good possibility’ for the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be solved this year.

He made this statement in an interview for the OSCE PA web site on the
eve of the visit to the South Caucasus region.

`There is a good possibility for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be
solved this year, but the time is scarce and it is now critically
important to seize the opportunity,’ Lenmarker emphasized.

Lenmarker’s trip to the South Caucasus region includes visits to
Armenia 9-10 February, Georgia 10-12 February and Azerbaijan 12-14
February, where he will hold talks with the leaders in the
parliaments, governments, and with NGOs. The purpose of the visit is
also to discuss the situation in general in the three countries in the
Southern Caucasus, and particularly the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with
the Armenians and Azerbaijanis and the conflicts in South Ossetia and
Abkhazia with the Georgians. Goran Lenmarker expressed a hope that the
result will be positive signals that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
on its way to a peaceful resolution.

Lenmarker was asked if he thinks the conflict can be solved in 2009.

`I think there is a good possibility for that. It is very much up to
the leadership of the two countries to take responsibility for
resolving it. We from the outside can support and help and also give
support after a solution. But it’s the responsibility of two
countries, particularly the leadership and also the two parliaments to
actually reach a peaceful solution,’ Lenmarker said.

GEORGIA, ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN DISCUSS FIGHTING AGAINST DRUG DISSEMINATION

ARMENPRESS
Feb 6, 2009

TBILISI, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: The session of the organization
committee of fighting against dissemination of drugs in the South
Caucasus took place today in Tbilisi with the participation of
representatives of Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijani governments.

During the meeting the sides discussed the results of fighting against
drug dissemination since 2007 and plans for 2009. The program is being
carried out with the support of EU and direct participation of UNDP.

The program started functioning five years ago. The fifth round of
the program, the cost of which exceeds 2 million euros started in
2007 and will continue for 3 years.

"The drug issue is trans-national problem, it equally refers to the
three South Caucasian countries. In this respect the cooperation is
very important so that it will be possible to reduce the spread of
drugs and their usage," representative of the European Commission in
Georgia, Ambassador Per Eklund said.

On his turn, permanent representative of UNDP Robert Watkins noted
that the main goal of the program is to support the cooperation between
the South Caucasian countries in fighting against drug dissemination.