Author: Kafian Jirair

U.S. SAYS TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH TURKEY UNDER NEW ADMINISTRATION

Hurriyet
Nov 5 2008
Turkey

ISTANBUL – The U.S. president-elect understands the importance of
Turkey and the two countries would work together even more closely
under the new administration, a high-level American diplomat said.

"America cannot face the challenges alone and the next administration’s
partnership with Turkey will continue in the fight against the PKK and
other terrorists, in building a democratic, secure and stable Iraq,
in finding new energy resources and routes of supply and in promoting
peace in the Middle East and other regions," U.S. Consul General
Sharon Wiener said at the breakfast for the elections on Wednesday.

She said Barack Obama understands the importance of Turkey as a
strategic ally and a friend, in a bid to soothe concerns that a
possible problematic period lay ahead in the relations of the two
countries due to the Democratic new president’s approach to the
so-called Armenian genocide claims.

Obama has said he would accept the so-called Armenian genocide claims
if he is elected. The Democratic candidate garnered the support of
Armenians living in the United States.

However some observers say Obama would not be the first president
to move away from campaign pledges and take different actions or
decisions once elected.

"We will work together even more closely as Turkey has been elected
to the United Nations Security Council," Wiener added in her speech.

Obama won Tuesday’s historic presidential elections with pledges for
change, defeating Republican candidate John McCain.

DECLARATION OF ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, AND RUSSIA ON NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE

Noyan Tapan

Nov 3, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The Presidents of Russia, Armenia,
and Azerbaijan signed a Declaration on the issue of Nagorno Karabakh
on November 2 in Moscow. Below is the text of the Declaration provided
to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press Office:

"The Presidents of the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan,
and Russian Federation meeting on November 2, 2008 in Moscow at the
invitation of the President of Russian Federation, in a constructive
atmosphere holding a subject and content discussion on the situation
and prospects of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with the
mediation of Russia, the United States, and France as Co-chairs of
OSCE Minsk Group, by political methods between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
through continuation of the dialogue:

1. Declare that they will contribute to the rehabilitation of
the situation in the South Caucasus and ensuring establishment of
stability and security in the region, through political settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, on the basis of international law
norms and principles and decisions and documents adopted within the
framework of it, which will create favorable conditions for economic
development in the region and all-round cooperation.

2. Confirm the importance to continue the mediatory efforts of OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chairs taking into consideration their meeting with
the sides held on November 29, 2007 in Madrid and further discussions
for the purpose of further elaboration of main principles of political
settlement.

3. Agree that achieving a peaceful settlement should be accompanied
by legally committing international guarantees regarding all its
aspects and stages.

4. Mention that the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed
to continue working in the direction of coordination of political
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, including during further
contacts at the higher level, and instructed their Foreign Ministers
to make active their further steps in the negotiations process in
cooperation with OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

5. Consider it important to encourage creation of conditions for
realization of means of strengthening confidence in the context of
the efforts aimed at settlement."

Mediamax, Armenia
Oct 30 2008

Armenian pundit expects no big changes after Moscow meeting on Karabakh

Yerevan, 30 October: Director of Oriental Studies Institute of the
National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Ruben Safrastyan does not
expect significant changes in the process of Karabakh conflict
settlement after the upcoming November 2 meeting of the Russian,
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents.

Mediamax reports that Ruben Safrastyan said today [30 October] that
Moscow may put certain pressure on the sides, but Azerbaijan and
Armenia should be making decisions independently.

The scientist expressed opinion that Russia’s stirring up
[intensification in its activity] in the process of Karabakh conflict
settlement is mainly conditioned by the strengthening of Moscow’s role
in the South Caucasus after August war in Georgia.

According to Safrastyan, Turkey has a jealous attitude towards the
consolidation of Russia’s positions in the region and, by starting a
dialogue with Armenia, tries to consolidate its influence in the
Caucasus, striving to take up the role of a mediator in the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict.

"Armenia quite correctly turns down such mission by Turkey, taking
into account its open pro-Azerbaijani stance," the Director of
Oriental Studies Institute stated.

Ruben Safrastyan believes that "after the visit of the Turkish
President to Yerevan, the relations between Yerevan and Ankara have
made a transition to the course of normal diplomatic struggle, in
which the sides defend their national interests". At that one should
not expect to see soon solutions in the given process, taking into
account Ankara’s reluctance to take up real compromises, the scientist
concluded.

ONE INSTEAD OF THREE

Panorama.am
18:30 30/10/2008

Today the Executive Body of Armenia made a decision to make changes
in customs duty service to use TWM program in the system. Gagik
Khachatryan, the President of State Revenues Committee has presented
the project to the Government.

By the adoption of the document the customers passing the customs
border will present only 3 types of documents, by this they have
simplified the procedure.

CONFERENCE AT NKR PRIME MINISTER

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
October 28, 2008 Print

Today, a conference with participation of the Vice Prime Minister
A.Tsatryan, the Minister of Finance S.Tevosyan, the Mayor of
Stepanakert and heads of regional administrations was convened at
the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan.

Problem of heating in state organizations, social and educational
establishments was touched upon, first of all. Taking into
consideration the experience of the previous years, heating season this
year was foreseen to start earlier to escape surcharge of energetic
system and to provide effective heating. In this view Prime Minister
has charged the Mayor of Stepanakert V.Mikayelyan with a task.

hereupon, the head of the Government has discussed the process of
autumn sowing and repayment of credits in the Republic with heads
of regional administrations. Participants to conference spoke with
corresponding information noting preventing circumstances and announced
concrete figures.

It turned out that yet there is a lot to be done. In particular, it
is important to conduct voluminous and qualitative autumn sowing in
time. Heads of regional administrations were assigned task to liven
up sowing works and render all kinds of assistance to land users.

Haroutyunyan has announced that alongside with state assistance
countrymen will be supported with fertilizers. They will also be
assisted with new agricultural techniques, the first consignment of
which is already in the Republic. New machinery will be first rendered
to tillers of Kashatagh and Karvachar regions.

The Prime Minister has announced that in 2009 a large quantity
of agricultural machinery will be imported into the Republic and
distributed to all regions of the NKR.

ARMENIAN, BULGARIAN MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOLD CONSULTATIONS

armradio.am
30.10.2008 16:52

On October 30 consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs
of Armenia and Bulgaria took place at the Armenian MFA. The Armenian
delegation was headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia,
Arman Kirakosyan.

Greeting the guests, Deputy Foreign Minister Kirakosyan appreciates
the Armenian-Bulgarian friendly relations and emphasized the importance
of their further development and deepening.

During the meeting the parties touched upon a broad range of issues
related to the development of bilateral cooperation.

The interlocutors noted that a rich contractual-legal field exists
between Armenia and Bulgaria, which the parties said to be willing
to enlarge.

During the consultations the parties discussed the opportunities of
Armenian-Bulgarian cooperation within international organizations. They
attached importance to Armenia-Bulgaria cooperation within the
framework of the Armenia-EU relations.

WALES-ARMENIA SOLIDARITY APPEAL TO HELP THE ARMENIANS OF IRAQ (PAREGAMUTIUN WALES-HAYASTAN)

AZG Armenian Daily
28/10/2008

Armenians of Iraq

Dear Friend,

Today we launch a world-wide appeal to give financial and other help
to the Armenians of Mosul and Baghdad who have had to flee for their
lives.(this last week following the killing of 15 Christians in Mosul
and previously) . This follows my visit to the Armenian community of
Havrest and Zeikho on friday of last week and the Chaldean Church in
Dohuk on Saturday.

On Thursday, I had visited the Municipality of Ankawa, an entirely
Christian town just outside Erebil. It was there that the Head of the
Municipality informed me of what had happened to Christians in Mosul
the previous week. I met the KRG Foreign Minister and thanked him
for the assistance given to fleeing Christians of the Arab-controlled
Mosul city, and asked him to ensure their protection

On Friday, in Zako, Father Miran Yousif Murad showed me around the
Armenian Church, built in 1923 by Genocide Survivors and introduced
me to several who had previously fled to Zakho from Mosul. He agreed
to accept any money collected in Europe and America to help the local
refugees from Mosul and from Baghdad.

He took me to a village called Havrest, built for the Armenians
by the Kurdish Regional Government. With me was Jwan Taher Ahmed a
journalist who represents the Dohuk Governate. About 60 local people
came to meet us and we sat outside the school. When I asked what are
the main problems, their spokesman replied that they are helping the
refugees arriving this week by sharing them around people’s homes. The
refugees receive nothing only the help of themselves for several
weeks or months. Later they are given about 40 dollars per month by
the Kurdish government, as well as enough diesel to run generators
to provide electricity for 3 hours per day Financial help for three
problems would be most welcome

1 the new refugees who receive nothing yet from the government

2 There are presently 9 children who need to travel to the High School
in Dohuk.

They would like 12,000 dollars to buy a van to carry them to school. I
was impressed by their willingness to help others even though their
own situation was not flourishing. Surely, throughout the world we can
raise 12, 000 dollars for the vehicle, and some more to help the newly
arrived refugees? When I asked them do you receive help from Europe or
America they said that they had no contacts there. The van can also be
used to carry people to see the doctor and to take people to hospital

3 I was afterwards taken to the home of a family who showed us her
two-year old daughter (more details, names etc. will follow about
them). She has two holes in her heart and when they lived in Baghdad,
a German doctor was going to take her to Germany with a humanitarian
organization to have the required heart operation. Unfortunately,
the doctor fled Baghdad because of the terrorism and then they also
fled, loosing the chance of this operation.

Can anyone help by persuading the US, UK, French or Armenian government
to provide a 6 month visa for the mother and daughter, please? Does
anyone know of Humanitarian organizations who could help them? Can
you put us in touch with every Armenian heart specialist that you
know of? Father Miran will provide more details very soon.

On Saturday in Dohuk, I was taken by translator Kamal Hussain Mawlood
to meet the members of the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Assembly, including
Jameel Zaito, the chairman. They include all but one of the Christian
political parties, and they confirmed the truth of the news of killings
and flight of Christians from Mosul. I met a brave lady, Ms Basima
Issa Salman, a Christian Member on the Nineveh Council, who had been
threatened with assassination 13 times. She gave me copies of the
letters, which had been posted, into the houses of Christians, ordering
them to leave, and threatening to kill them in the name of Islam.

SERGE SARGSIAN: ARMENIAN PARTY RECOGNIZES OSCE MG CO-CHAIRING COUNTRIES AS MEDIATOR IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

DE FACTO
28.10.08

YEREVAN, 28.10.08. DE FACTO. The process of Karabakh conflict’s
peaceful settlement was discussed today, at the RA President Serge
Sargsian’s meeting with Peter Semneby, the EU Special representative
for the South Caucasus.

According to the RA President’s Press Office, noting that Armenia
was inclined to the Karabakh conflict’s peaceful settlement on the
basis of Madrid proposals the RA President said, "the Armenian party
recognizes OSCE Mink group as the talks’ format, and the OSCE MG
co-chairing countries as a mediator".

In the course of the meeting the RA President noted that Armenia
strived to be closer to Europe and attached great importance to
enlarging relation with European Union.

In his turn, Peter Semneby noted that Serge Sargsian’s forthcoming
visit to Brussels would enable to estimate relations and mark the
cooperation’s general agenda.

The parties discussed regional processes and Armenian-Turkish
relations.

Peter Semneby welcomed Armenia’s initiative and resoluteness in the
issues relevant to normalization of relations with Turkey and noted
that EU was ready to promote establishment of relations between the
two neighboring countries.

DRAFT LAW ON DEFENCE PUT UNDER CONSIDERATION

A1+
[07:50 pm] 22 October, 2008

Today the Armenian Parliament considered the draft law "on Defence"
authored by the RoA Government. The main idea of the bill is that the
defense minister should be a civil personality, member of the leading
political team and will have a full civil control over the armed
forces. At the same time, under the suggested bill, the armed forces
will have nothing in common with politics. Political affiliations,
campaigns and political activities are prohibited in the army.

Defence Minister Seyran Ohanian noted that Armenia will have a
professional army in a few years’ time. "The idea of a professional
army lies in the heart of our reforms," he said.

RUSSIA’S HELP IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT "TRAP" FOR AZERBAIJAN

Zerkalo
Oct 8 2008
Azerbaijan

Russia’s support for a stage-by-stage settlement to the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict may be a trap for Azerbaijan, the independent
Azerbaijani Zerkalo newspaper has said.

"Russia’s constructiveness, particularly its support for a
stage-by-stage settlement in view of the latest developments in the
South Caucasus, may catch Azerbaijan in a trap," Zerkalo said on
8 October.

The paper added that the sides might have different understanding of
the term "stage-by-stage settlement".

"If this is the definition of all ultimate goals, including the
future status of Nagornyy Karabakh, then all is normal, at least
in general terms. That is, the ultimate goals are defined, but the
package is implemented stage by stage. However, there exists another
understanding of the stage-by-stage settlement of the conflict,
that is step by step. That is, at each stage the sides resolve only
those problems on which they need to reach agreements. As a result,
the status is not defined even in general terms at preliminary stages,
nor is it discussed on the whole," the paper said.

The report added that the second version of the stage-by-stage Karabakh
settlement was acceptable and that it had been seriously discussed
at various conferences before the conflict between Russia and Georgia.

"However, the consequences of Russian aggression urge us to give up
on this version, which will allow Moscow to constantly manipulate
the conflicting sides in its own interests and influence the foreign
policies of Azerbaijan and Armenia," Zerkalo said.

The report added that Russia wants to involve Azerbaijan in the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and control the energy
stream from the Caspian basin.

The paper said that Russia had accused western countries, including
Ukraine, of violating international commitments on arms deliveries
to conflict zones and accused Russia of cynicism and hypocrisy.

"Russia itself delivers arms to Armenia, being an ally in the CSTO,
at Russian domestic prices, which are considerably less than world
prices, and promises Azerbaijan the same if the Baku government takes
Moscow’s interests into account," Zerkalo added.

BBCM note: In an interview with Russia’s Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that there are several principles in
the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict that have not been
agreed upon. He said that those principles would be discussed at a
meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents.