Author: Jilavian Emma

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT ENTITLES DIPLOMATIC RANKS TO AMBASSADORS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
03.06.2009 12:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan issued a decree
to entitle the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Chili,
Uruguay and Argentine Vladimir Karmishalyan the diplomatic rank of
the RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

According to the same decree, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia Ashot Galoyan
was entitled the diplomatic rank of the RA Envoy Extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary.

ERDOGAN PRIORITIZES FOREIGN POLICY IN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
Saban Kardas

Jamestown Foundation
June 1 2009

Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a naval exercise
On May 30 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered his
State of the Union address, focusing on Turkey’s enhanced profile in
regional diplomacy. Erdogan provided details relating to his trips
to Azerbaijan, Russia and Poland, and discussed recent foreign policy
initiatives, most importantly Turkey’s role in energy security. Erdogan
attempted to boost public confidence in the foreign policy agenda,
which he described as "very active, dynamic and intensive," essentially
offering a restatement of the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
government’s position on these issues (, May 30).

Erdogan highlighted Ankara’s role in energy policies, which he
described as one of the most important issues on the global political
agenda. He illustrated how his government had "turned Turkey’s
geographic position into an effective foreign policy instrument,’
while arguing that the country’s location enables it to act as an
"energy corridor and terminal" between Western markets and the Middle
Eastern or Caspian energy producers. However, he noted that if Turkey
fails to develop longer term planning, it will be unable to fully
capitalize on these opportunities or meet its domestic needs.

Erdogan’s views on energy geopolitics reflect the growing energy
demands of an emerging economy. Although Turkey has initiated various
projects to increase its domestic production and invest in alternative
energy sources, its domestic energy output accounts for only one third
of the country’s needs. Recent Turkish foreign policy initiatives
have endeavored to turn this ongoing dependence on imports from a
liability into an asset, by capitalizing on Turkey’s position between
the suppliers and Western consumers.

Erdogan maintained that the AKP government had taken important
steps toward diversifying suppliers and energy transportation
routes. After summarizing several existing and planned oil and gas
pipeline projects across Turkish territory, Erdogan added that Turkey
had become an integral part of the discussions on ensuring European
energy security. He claimed that once these projects are completed,
"Turkey will emerge as the fourth largest hub after Norway, Russia
and Algeria, in supplying gas to Europe." He also suggested that the
Turkish port of Ceyhan will become an "important energy distribution
center and the largest oil sale terminal in the eastern Mediterranean."

In that context, Erdogan prioritized the Nabucco project, since it
will consolidate Turkey’s role within European energy security. He
hoped the construction of the pipeline will begin soon and become
operational by 2010: "we will sign the [intergovernmental] agreement
in June," he added. Erdogan’s statements also reflect recent changes
in Turkey’s position over the stalled Nabucco project, which raised
expectations that the intergovernmental agreement might be concluded
in June (EDM, May 15).

Turkey’s diplomatic initiatives in the South Caucasus were another
key feature of Erdogan’s agenda. After noting Turkey’s cooperative
policies within the region, he highlighted his trip to Azerbaijan. He
underlined the close ties between the two nations by referring to the
growing bilateral trade volume, and Turkish investment in Azerbaijan’s
economic development.

Erdogan also stressed Turkey’s continued support for international
initiatives to resolve regional issues, most importantly the
Karabakh question. He repeated his government’s recent stance on the
Azeri-Armenian dispute by maintaining that "Turkey and Azerbaijan
will continue to share a common destiny, and walk on the same path"
and that Turkey "will protect Azerbaijan’s interests as much as our
own interests." He warned the Turkish and Azeri peoples against those
"who work to undermine the friendship and brotherhood between the
two countries through false claims" (, May 30).

He was clearly seeking to alleviate domestic concern over the
normalization process between Turkey and Armenia. Nationalist
forces within Turkey had successfully mobilized public opinion
against the AKP government’s overtures toward Armenia. They argued
that it had betrayed the interests of Azerbaijan, by separating the
Turkish-Armenian normalization from Azeri-Armenian negotiations. The
mounting domestic pressure and criticism from Baku forced the
government to reduce the pace of Turkish-Armenian rapprochement
(EDM, April 29, May 6). Erdogan’s trip to Azerbaijan as well as
other recent high level contacts between the countries, has served
to reassure Baku (EDM, May 14). Nonetheless, these moves toward Baku
added to uncertainty surrounding the future of the Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement, and Turkish politicians have recently proven reluctant
to comment on the issue.

He also referred to the recent naval exercises carried out by the
Turkish military in the Aegean and Mediterranean. Erdogan stressed the
use of high-technology weaponry and said the successful conclusion
of the exercises was proof of the country’s power of deterrence in
the region. Moreover, he emphasized that the Turkish army not only
ensures national defense, but it also makes significant contributions
to global security.

Erdogan’s address provided significant clues concerning Ankara’s
strategic vision, which underpins the thinking of the Turkish political
elite on foreign affairs. Erdogan repeated the geopolitical argument
that Turkey is uniquely located in a strategic position at the
intersection of several regions. He maintained that Turkish foreign
policy strategies are devised with the aim of turning this position
into an asset. Moreover, he reflected on how a constant search for
markets and energy supplies to sustain Turkey’s economic development
now drives many of the country’s foreign policy initiatives. Equally,
he revealed that military power remains an essential component of
Turkish foreign policy, despite the government priding itself on its
effective use of soft power.

Erdogan’s use of geopolitical rhetoric also highlighted the shifting
priorities of Turkish foreign policy under the AKP government. He said
that since a large part of Turkey’s territory is in Asia, that part of
the world naturally occupies a vital place in Ankara’s foreign policy
agenda. This admission is important, since some analysts describe
the reorientation of Turkish foreign policy toward the Middle East
and the South Caucasus as an indication of an ideological shift and
the emergence of neo-Ottomanism – whereas Erdogan rightly explains
it as a geopolitical necessity.

REASON OF ROBERT AVAGIAN’S NOT PARTICIPATING IN FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE WORK IS STRAINED RELATIONS WITH ANC REPRESENTATIVE

NOYAN TAPAN
JUNE 2, 2009
YEREVAN

The reason of ruling coalition representative Robert Avagian’s not
participating in the work of the fact-finding committee on study of
the March 1 events is his strained relations with Armenian National
Congress (ANC) representative Andranik Kocharian. Reporting it at
the June 2 press conference, R. Avagian said that at first their
relations were very good, but they worsened when he refused to
"write something" about the death circumstances of Police Officer
Hamlet Tadevosian who perished on March 1. Explaining the reason of
his step, R. Avagian had said to A. Kocharian: "It would be better if
you write it, as your political force trumpets it very much. Besides,
governmental institutions have already expressed their opinion, it
would be better if we are neutral in this issue so as not to exert
pressure upon you in this issue and be passive and you be active."

According to R. Avagian, personally he was against sending the
conclusion on death circumstances of H. Tadevosian to the NA Ad-hoc
Committee, as the fact-finding committee even was not empowered to
introduce an interim conclusion to the Committee. "If A. Kocharian
and Zharangutiun representative Seda Safarian had listened to me and
had not sent, it would be also good for the opposition, and the death
circumstances of the rest 9 victims would have been also found out,"
he emphasized.

Commenting upon RA Ombudsman’s statement on appointing a new
representative in the fact-finding committee instead of Vahe Stepanian,
who has also resigned, R. Avagian said that the Ombudsman is not
empowered to introduce a new representative. "RA President’s order
contains a provision, according to which fact-finding committee’s 5
members are irreplaceable," he emphasized.

G. BEGLARIAN SAYS THESE ELECTIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR EACH YEREVAN
RESIDENT AND THAT HE HAS GREAT EXPECTATIONS

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: `These elections are very important for
each resident of Yerevan and I have great expectations. Tomorrow’s
Yerevan must have a new body for which fair and free elections must be
held,’ after voting in the 9/5 polling station Mayor of Yerevan,
leader of the ARP list in the elections of Council of Yerevan Elders
Gagik Beglarian said.
He came to the polling station at 12:00 o’clock with his wife and
daughter. According to G. Beglarian, by that moment the elections have
passed very quiet, the activeness of voters was assessed as well and
the electoral headquarter got no urgent calls.
G. Beglarian’s first pre-election promise is that he will work very
hard and coordinated.
`My promise was to work hard for each resident of Yerevan and our
capital,’ he stressed.
During the brief conversation the delegates of CoE Congress of
Local and Regional Authorities who conduct observation mission in the
polling station said the candidate that they implement their work in
an unbiased way.
As of 12:00 o’clock 700 from 1948 voters registered in the 9/5
polling station situated in the #39 secondary school of the capital
have realized their civil debt.

12-month inflation makes 3.4% in Armenia

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The consumer price index made 103.4% in
Armenia in May 2009 compared to May 2008, including the index of food
commodities (including cigarettes and alcoholic drinks) – 99.8%, of
non-food commodities – 104.1%, of service tariffs – 109.8%. The same
indices made 102.5%, 99.1%, 100.6%, and 110% in January-May 2009 on
January-May 2008.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the consumer price
index made 105.5% in May 2009 compared to December 2008, including the
index of food commodities (including cigarettes and alcoholic drinks) –
104.4%, of non-food commodities – 106.9%, and service tariffs – 106.9%.

6.3% overall inflaton was recorded in Armenia’s consumer market in
March-May 2009, with 1.6% inflation in May as compared to April. Prices
of food commodities (including cigarettes and alcoholic drinks) rose by
2.1%, of non-food commodities – by 2.6%, and tariffs of services grew
by 0.2% in May on April 2009.

The average monthly growth of consumer prices made 1.1% in January-May
2009, which was lower by 0.3% than the respective index of the same
period of 2008 (1.4%).

The consumer price index made 124.7% in May 2009 on May 2005, including
the index of food commodities (including cigarettes and alcoholic
drinks) – 125.3%, of non-food commodities – 112.5%, and of service
tariffs – 130%.

Turkey makes grave mistake by linking Armenian-Turkish ties with
Karabakh issue
30.05.2009 17:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey is making a mistake by linking an improvement
in ties with Armenia, says the report of Turkish Economic and Social
Studies Foundation. `Tying the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement to the
Karabakh issue, which won’t be resolved for a long time, is a great
mistake, because Turkey’s policy of punishing Armenia has yet to yield
the results it wants," said Aybars Gorgulu, co-author of the
report. Turkish premier Erdogan’s latest comments made after a meeting
with Azeri president `negatively impact the rapprochement with
Armenia,’ Reuters quotes Gorgulu as saying.

PRESIDENT URGES NATIONAL UNITY

Interfax
May 28 2009
Russia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan called for national unity and
condemned intolerance as "an evil.""The brief history of the First
Republic of Armenia reminds us that we should abandon all internal
hostility, which wears down national unity, and see intolerance as
an evil," Sargsyan said in a statement in connection with the Day
of the First Republic of Armenia, a holiday commemorating the first
independent Armenian republic, which existed from 1918 to 1920.

"The government of the First Republic made many efforts to prevent
ideological or class splits in Armenian society. However, this did not
work. The seeds of enmity and discord bore their bitter fruit. Have
we learned the lesson? Unfortunately not," Sargsyan said.

Protests in the capital Yerevan on March 1, 2008, that erupted into
violence mean there is still a lot of work to do to learn the lesson,
he argued.

"Those events, which are our common pain, offer evidence that
a situation where everyone is the loser, where unity and kindness
suffer defeat, and where embitterment and intolerance are the winners
is possible in our times as well. At some moment, one must stop and
turn over a new leaf. The lessons of the past and the future of our
country call for this," he said.

The First Republic, also known as the Democratic Republic of Armenia,
existed from May 28, 1918, to November 29, 1920. Its emergence followed
Armenian victories over Turkish forces in the battles of Sardarapat,
Karakilisa and Bash Abaran. The republic existed until Soviet rule
was installed in Armenia in 1920.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ELECTS DR. YERVANT ZORIAN AS FOREIGN MEMBER?

Wireless News
May 27, 2009 Wednesday

Virage Logic announced that Dr. Yervant Zorian, the company’s VP and
chief scientist, has been elected a foreign member of the National
Academy of Science, Republic of Armenia (NAS RA).

The NAS RA is an official scientific advisory body to governing
institutions in Armenia. The Academy promotes and carries out
fundamental and applied research across a broad spectrum of
scientific fields, and coordinates research that is done throughout
Armenia. Foreign Members of the NAS RA include world-renowned
scientists who have made significant contributions to the scientific
sphere in Armenia.

"Dr. Zorian is a world-recognized scientist in the area of computer
engineering and microelectronics. Over the past 20 years, he has
made essential contributions in the support and growth of research
in this field in Armenia. Dr. Zorian has also been instrumental in
attracting several foreign technology companies to Armenia," said
Yuri Shoukourian, VP, NAS RA.

At its annual assembly in 2008, the NAS RA made the decision to expand
its Armenia-Diaspora scientific collaboration. As a result, foreign
members were elected to the NAS, several of whom are world-renowned
scientists.

This year’s annual assembly, held on April 21-23, was primarily
devoted to the newly elected foreign members who attended the assembly,
received their diplomas, and delivered invited presentations. After
receiving his diploma, Dr. Zorian delivered a presentation on the
"Design and Test Challenges and Solutions in the Nanometer Era."

The annual assembly was attended by the highest authorities of the
Republic of Armenia, including: Serzh Sargsyan, president of the
Republic of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, prime minister of the Republic
of Armenia, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, as well as numerous
scientists and Armenian government representatives.

TURKISH PRESIDENT VIEWS KURDISH ISSUE, RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA, IRAQ

Anadolu Agency
May 27 2009
Turkey

Bishkek, 27 May: The Turkish president said on Wednesday [27 May]
that there could be no negotiation with the terrorist organization.

Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul said that no negotiation could be
made with the terrorist organization.

"If there is violence in one place, people even face problems in
raising democratic standards," Gul told Turkish reporters in the
Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.

"Whether you call it terrorism, Kurdish issue or Southeastern Anatolia
problem, isn’t it the most important problem of Turkey?" Gul asked.

Gul also said therefore, Turkey would solve this problem on its own
and by raising democratic standards.

"What we should do is to see our differences as a richness and thus
our respect, affection and sympathy to each other will be more when
we do so," he said.

The Turkish president said that the Democratic Society Party (DTP)
should also contribute to the process, as well as all other political
parties in the parliament.

"Everyone should do what is necessary to settle this issue down with
a constructive approach," Gul also said.

Gul is actually visiting Kyrgyzstan and earlier met his Kyrgyz
counterpart Kurmanbek Bakiyev and the two president held a joint
press conference.

Gul also participated in a meeting of the Turkish-Kyrgyz Business
Council and received Prime Minister Igor Chudinov of Kyrgyzstan.

The Yusuf Balasagun National University in the Kyrgyz capital of
Bishkek presented honorary professor title to Turkey’s President
Abdullah Gul.

The Turkish president expressed on Wednesday his belief that the
current status quo with Armenia was not for nobody’s interest.

Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul said that the status quo between
Turkey and Armenia was not for nobody’s interest.

"Neither the current status quo between Turkey and Armenia nor the one
between Armenia and Azerbaijan are in the best interests of any of the
parties," Gul told Turkish reporters in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.

Gul is actually visiting Kyrgyzstan, the first stop of his tour
covering this country and Tajikistan.

President Gul said that diplomacy was being carried out to convince
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to a national match between Turkey
and Armenia to be played in Turkey in October.

Gul defined Russia as a key country in settlement of Caucasian
problems and said this country had good will and was exerting efforts
to solve problems.

On Iraq, Gul said the best interests of the central government of
Iraq and the regional administration in north of Iraq were stability
of the entire country.

Also speaking about the initiatives to clear land mines across
Turkish-Syrian border, Gul said that the parliament would debate
whether this was for the best interests of Turkey and then pass a law.

Gul said that he would ratify the law if he thought it was for the
best interests of Turkey.

AZAKHSTAN’S CHAIRMANSHIP TO OSCE NOT TO AFFECT NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Trend News Agency
May 28 2009
Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan’s chairmanship to the OSCE in 2010 will unlikely
significantly affect the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
experts consider.

"Kazakhstan will not be actively involved in the solution of conflicts,
since firstly it does not want to assume great responsibility;
and secondly – currently the Caucasus region is not a priority for
Kazakhstan," said Kazakh expert Dosim Satpayev.

It is planned that in 2010 Kazakhstan will assume chairmanship to
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – the
world’s largest regional security organizations. The co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – have been holding
the peace negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
but they are still unsuccessful.

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.

Observers laid their trust in Kazakhstan, as the OSCE chairman,
which may also mediate in the conflict settlement. However, the
experts are skeptical that the country’s chairmanship – a stable
economic partner of Azerbaijan, a neighbor of the Republic in the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) – can somehow affect the
solution of this conflict.

"Despite that the Minsk Group is the structure of the OSCE, the role
of the OSCE chairman has limited opportunities to directly influence
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement," Azerbaijani political
scientist Rasim Musabeyov told Trend News.

However, Musabeyov said that Kazakhstan has first-hand knowledge of
the conflict and about all its complexities.

In early 1990, along with Russia, the country initiated the
establishment of the mediation mission, which was called "Zheleznovodsk
initiative". However, this did not bring adequate results.

Mediatory role of Kazakhstan, as the chairman, is useful to facilitate
this process, "but I would not exaggerate," the Director of the
European Neighborhood, Foreign and Security Policy programme of the
Center for European Policy Studies, Emerson told Trend News in a
telephone conversation from Brussels.

Unlikely the Republic will be actively involved in solving the problem
of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, experts think.

Despite the opinion of European expert Michael Emerson that chairing
Kazakhstan will try to reach a solution, other experts doubt it.

"I do not think that when Kazakhstan will chair the OSCE, it will want
to more actively intervene in the processes that we are now observing
in the Caucasus," Director of Risk Assessment Group (Kazakhstan)
Satpayev told Trend News by telephone from Astana.

He said that Kazakhstan does not want to spoil relations with either
Azerbaijan or Armenia, and it is important to maintain the normal
partnership relations with all the Caucasus nations.

In addition, according to experts, to resolve the conflict is not an
easy task.

The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group – France, United States
and Russia, are more powerful and much better able to resolve this
conflict than Kazakhstan, Musabeyov said.

And if their mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement has
no clear progress, it is unworthy to wait for it from Astana, he said.