Author: Jilavian Emma

HISTORIC HANDSHAKE WINS MONACO PRIZE

UEFA.com
Dec 5 2008
Switzerland

A historic handshake between the president of Armenia, Serge
Sarkissian, and his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, at an
international football match in Yerevan has led to a key award in
the principality of Monaco.

Silence ended The Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award was presented
for a photograph representing the image of fraternisation through
sport – the handshake between the two presidents at the FIFA World
Cup qualifier between Armenia and Turkey on 6 September. This moment
marked the end of nearly two decades of diplomatic silence. In front of
an audience of over 300 personalities from sport, politics, business
and civil life assembled for the International Peace and Sport Forum,
Prince Albert II of Monaco handed the award jointly to Armen Grigorian,
Armenian minister of Youth and Sport, and Mahmut Ozgener, president of
the Turkish Football Federation. The pair exchanged lengthy greetings
on stage, creating a moment of intense emotion among the spectators.

Sport promotes peace "President Abdullah Gul went to Yerevan to
watch the football match between Armenia and Turkey with the strong
conviction that sport is an important instrument for bringing
people together and for promoting peace, fraternity, solidarity
and tolerance," said Ozgener. "In 2008, the Turkish and Armenian
national teams played each other three times. The first game was
between our Under-19 teams, the second between our Under-21 teams
and the third between the senior national teams. These events proved
to be instrumental in establishing new contacts and bridges between
Turkish and Armenian football fans, journalists, members of the
football federations and, last but not least, the representatives of
the two governments.

‘Football diplomacy’ "After the game between the Turkish and Armenian
teams, UEFA president Michel Platini said publicly that this match will
take its place in history books as an excellent example of football
diplomacy. It is our sincere wish and hope that with the help of an
ever growing number of sports events, a new relationship is going to
emerge to the benefit of the two peoples."

President ‘moved’ In a letter sent to the Peace and Sport Foundation,
the Armenian president, Serzh Sargsyan, said: "I am really moved to
learn the decision of the jury to attribute the Peace and Sport Image
of the Year Award to the handshake with the president of Turkey,
Abdullah Gul. I am convinced that sport is one of the best means to
overcome disagreement between people and nations."

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2008

Azerbaijan, Armenia’s Foreign Ministers Plan to Continue Talks in Helsinki
04.12.08 12:31

Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 Dec/ Trend News corr E. Tanriverdiyeva/ Foreign
ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia plan to continue talks on the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Helsinki today.

The talks between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia
Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandyan attended by the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs began in the capital city of Finland within the frames
of the meeting of the Council of OSCE Foreign Ministers.

Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory ` Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven surrounding regions. The occupation began in
1988. Azerbaijan lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and
Khojali, in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied
Shusha, Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful, but
fruitless negotiations.

`Subject of yesterday’s meeting was re-examining Basic Principles of
the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh and once they are ready, we
will begin to negotiate formally,’ Matthew Bryza, U.S. co-chair of the
Minsk Group, told Trend News by telephone from Helsinki.

It has been negotiated to prepare next meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents, Bryza said. `We hope that leaders of Azerbaijan
and Armenia will meet in a couple of weeks,’ diplomat said.

Last time Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers met in early Nov
within the trilateral meeting of Presidents Ilham Aliyev, Dmitri
Medvedev and Serzh Sarkisyan in Moscow which ended with Moscow
Declaration.

The leaders of each country emphasize different elements of the Basic
Principles. `The President of Armenia emphasizes the concept of
self-determination. The President of Azerbaijan emphasizes the concept
of territorial integrity. Our job as mediators is to help both sides
negotiate an agreement that takes all of these concepts into account
in a mutually agreed way,’ he said.

AZG Armenian Daily #227, 06/12/2008

Armenia-Turkey-Azerbaijan

ECONOMIC COOPERATION POSSIBLE AFTER SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

Turkish State Minister for Foreign Trade K?Ã?¼r?Å?ad T?Ã?¼zmen announced
in Baku that trade-economic cooperation with Armenia and opening of
Armenian-Turkish border is possible only after rehabilitation of
Azerbaijani territorial integrity and Karabakh conflict settlement.

"In principle, we are not against starting a trade-economic
cooperation with Armenia, as the step will only contribute to the
positive development of the whole region. However, the step will be
taken exclusively on our conditions", the Turkish minister said at
Azerbaijani-Turkish business forum.

Translated by L.H.

"CASE OF SEVEN" SENT TO COURT

Noyan Tapan

Dec 2, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The case against the three RA NA
deputies, former RA Foreign Minister, and the others in connection
with the March 1 events in Yerevan has been sent to Yerevan Criminal
Court. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by Spokesperson
for RA Prosecutor General Sona Truzian. It should be mentioned that
RA NA deputies Sasun Mikayelian, Hakob Hakobian, Myasnik Malkhasian,
former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian, as well as Suren
Surunian, Shant Haroutiunian, and Grigor Voskerchian are accused of
organizing mass disorders accompanied by murders.

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
Nov 26 2008

MORE EU CONCERNS TO TURKISH MEMBERSHIP

Concerns have been raised by the head of a joint Turkish-European
committee over the closure case recently opened against the countrys
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, and the governments
policy regarding the Kurdish issue

The head of the Turkish-European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee,
Joost Lagendijk yesterday met with the leader of the DTP, Ahmet Turk,
in Parliament. Turk claimed if the party was closed by the court, his
party would vacate its seats in Parliament. Lagendijk told him the
committee were following the developments with concern, the Hurriyet
Daily News learned.

A public prosecutor launched proceedings several months ago to shut
down the DTP on claims the party has become a center of activities
aimed at damaging the independence of the state and the indivisible
integrity of its territory.

"If our party is closed down the bridge will collapse. In that case,
we are seriously considering abandoning Parliament," Turk told
Lagendijk.

During the meeting, Turk argued that the governments approach toward
the Kurdish problem was "nationalist" and "chauvinistic," saying that
the "love it or leave it" rhetoric of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan further escalated the tension. For his part, Lagendijk said,
"We are following this process with concern. Well talk with him."

Lagendijk said they had the same sensitivity over the closure case
filed against the DTP as the recent one against the ruling Justice and
Development Party, or AKP, adding he would share his views during a
meeting with the prime minister and president. He also extended
support to the strengthening of local administrations pointed out in
the political document of the DTP

Lagendijk later met with the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party,
or MHP, Devlet Bahceli, who complained the EU never spoke of the
positive steps taken by Turkey. Lagendijk answered the EU considered
the amendment to Article 301 of the Turkish penal code as well as the
governments opening to Armenia as positive steps, something which was
not agreed to by the MHP, learned the Daily News

[HH] No chapters left

Meanwhile, an official from Turkeys EU-Secretariat General told
business daily Referans that no policy areas or chapters were left, in
response to a warning from an EU official that no chapters would be
opened with Ankara in 2009 if the reforms stalled.

"Turkey is not satisfied with the EUs performance. We are working on
meeting the opening benchmarks in the areas of taxation, social
policy, competition and environment. We have an action plan for each
and every opening and closing criteria. But the number of chapters
that can be opened to negotiations has drastically dropped due to
political hurdles," said the official, who declined to be named.

Brussels suspended eight out of 35 chapters due to Turkeys refusal to
open its sea and air ports to Greek Cyprus. France opposes the opening
of five chapters on the assumption they would guarantee eventual
membership.

"The number of chapters to be opened has been decreased by the EU. No
chapter has been left due to the Cyprus row and French position," said
the official, adding that they shared such concerns with visiting
members of the European Parliament.

The other obstacle, according to the same official, is that the EU has
not yet sent to Turkey the screening reports of 10 chapters that need
to be opened to talks. Turkish officials expect the start of
negotiations in the areas of free movement of capital and information
society and media, pinning their hopes on the next presidency of the
EU, the Czech Republic.

PEOPLE, CALM DOWN!

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
28 Nov 08
Armenia

No earthquake is going to occur

Over the recent days, we have been hearing persistent rumors in the
capital city that an earthquake is expected in the near future. In this
connection, we yesterday talked to ALVARO ANTONYAN, Head of the
National Service of Seismic Protection, and this is what he said to us,
`There are really rumors in the capital city that an earthquake is
expected today or tomorrow or some time in the near future. Those
rumors do not correspond to the reality; this is misinformation. In
general, predictions about a nearest earthquake can be made only by the
National Service of Seismic Protection which has a national observation
network; it follows the seismic regime and relies on objective data.

Today, the seismic regime is in the domain of seismic protection, and
there’s no need for anxiety. No earthquake is expected during the
nearest days, at least such an earthquake that might be felt by the
people.’

CRISIS CONTRIBUTES TO EXPANSION

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
28 Nov 08
Armenia

`In my opinion, a crisis is a proper moment for expansion. The large
companies which are becoming insolvent put a lot of airplanes on the
market, and flights in many directions are terminated. That’s why a
crisis is the right moment for young companies to start active work and
expand their business. And this is what we are doing,’ Mikhail
Baghdasarov, Head of `Mika Holding’ company, announced yesterday.

Currently, negotiations are held with `Airbus’ and `Boying’ large
aircraft companies. In the nearest future, we are planning to start
negotiations for the acquisition of `Boying-777′ airplanes.

A few days ago, the Government signed an agreement for carrying out
flights in the directions Yerevan-Los Angeles and Yerevan-New York.
`Armavia’ will start flights in these directions beginning April.

KAREN BEKARYAN: EASTERN PARTNERSHIP BENEFIT FOR ARMENIA OBVIOUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.11.2008 17:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With the European Neighborhood Policy just launched,
it was obvious that the idea to unify Eastern Europe and Middle East
has no future, an Armenian expert said.

"The ENP brings together the South Caucasus states, Moldova, Ukraine,
Belarus, Palestine, Jordan and Israel. Nevertheless, it’s clear
that Middle East countries will never be a part of Europe, due to
difference in culture and values. From this viewpoint, Moldova,
Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan stand a good chance to
integrate onto Europe," Karen Bekaryan, head of European Integration
NGO, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"True, relations with Belarus are a bit frozen over tensions with
President Lukashenko but the situation is changing to the better,"
he said.

"As to the benefit Armenia can derive from the Eastern Partnership,
it’s apparent. New programs will be launched, economic cooperation
will expand; Armenia will be rendered assistance in implementation
of reforms it needs so much," Mr. Bekaryan said.

The European Commission is to propose pulling the EU’s six post-Soviet
neighbors closer to the West by recognizing their "European
aspirations" and creating a new "European Economic Area."

The new EU policy – first floated by Poland and Sweden in May –
proposes signing "Association Agreements" with Belarus, Moldova,
Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in the next few years and to
"acknowledge the European identity and aspirations of these countries."

The draft communique underlines that the new pacts, which recall
the association treaties signed with Poland or Lithuania prior to
the 2004 round of enlargement, do not amount to a promise of future
accession. "The conclusion of Association Agreements will be without
prejudice to the partners’ European aspirations."

The draft communique proposes holding an "Eastern Partnership
Summit" in June 2009 to launch the project. Follow-up meetings of
EU and Eastern Partnership foreign ministers are to take place each
Spring. "Senior officials" from the "27 + 5 (6)" countries are to
meet twice-yearly to prepare for the ministerials.

The European Partnership is to raise the EU’s per capita spending in
the region from the current 6 euro per head to 12 euro per head by
2013 and 20 euro per head by 2020, compared to the current 30 euro
per head in the Balkans. The shift will cost 2.1 billion euro, atop
the lost income of 75 million euro per year as a result of waiving
EU visa costs.

IRAN TO EXHIBIT MODERN ARMENIAN ART

press tv
Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:55:24 GMT

‘Falling Bricks’ by Marcos Grigorian

Iran is slated to mount an exhibition of modern works by a number of
the country’s Armenian artists in the capital city of Tehran.

The event will display paintings and photographs, depicting the social
and cultural rituals of Iran’s Armenian community.

The exhibition, which will showcase works by veteran photographers,
will be held to introduce the aesthetic, ethnographic and cultural
characteristics of Armenian art.

Panel discussion sessions will also be held on the sidelines of the
event, which is set to kick off on Dec. 7, 2008 at Saba Cultural and
Artistic Institute.

The Armenians of Iran are active members of the country’s art circles.

Figures such as Marcos Grigorian and Sirak Melkonian are among the
pioneers of Iranian modern art.

RA NA TO CONTINUE DISCUSSING 2009 STATE BUDGET AT NOVEMBER 26 SPECIAL SITTING

Noyan Tapan

Nov 26, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Assembly special
sitting convened on RA government’s initiative started on November
26. 15 issues were placed on the agenda, including the continuation
of the discussion of the RA bill On Republic of Armenia 2009 State
Budget interrupted on November 13.

At the beginning of the sitting NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian
congratulated the chess national team of Armenia on the occasion of
the victory in the 38th World Chess Olympiad and proposed the deputies
taking part in the honoring ceremony of the national team to be held
the same day at Karen Demirchian Sports and Concert Complex.

Then the parliament in the third reading discussed the bills On
Defence, On Refugees and Refuge, On General Agricultural Accounting,
which were ony edited after the second reading.

The package of amendments and addenda to the NA Regulations and
valid law On State Service in the RA NA’s Staff were discussed in
the second reading. At that, from January 1, 2009 a NA deputy can
have one assistant working by a paid and one by a public principle
instead of the current two assistants working by a public principle.

It should be mentioned that the package of bills envisaging
amendments to the laws On Salary of Top Workers of Republic of Armenia
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Powers and On Prosecutor’s Office
to be discussed in the first and second readings, as well as drafts
of amendments and addenda to the laws On State Benefits, On Minimum
Monthly Salary, On Payment of Civil Servants, and a number of other
laws to be discussed in the second reading were also among the issues
on the agenda.

Packages of bills on setting tax privileges on the line of ecological
payments of Armwatercanal, Lori Watercanal, Shirak Watercanal, and
Nor Akunk CJSCs will be discussed in the second and third readings.