Author: Kajoyan Gevork

WAS ARMENIAN CONDUCTOR PROMPTED TO RESIGN? – NEWSPAPER

news.am
Nov 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra’s Artistic Director and
Chief Conductor Loris Tjeknavorian recently resigned and returned to
his place of birth, Iran, Aravot daily writes.

“They say, as of 2012 the maestro intends to link his creative
life again with the Motherland [Armenia], and this time, for life,”
Aravot writes.

According to the daily, Tjeknavorian’s resignation was provoked by the
“factor” of Konstantin Orbelian Jr., the nephew of American-resident,
USSR People’s Artist, Konstantin Orbelian Sr.

To note, in 1989, when Loris Tjeknavorian assumed the post of Artistic
Director of State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia, he pushed out the
State Band Orchestra, whose conductor was Orbelian Sr. According to
evil rumors, Orbelian Jr. has some part in Tjeknavorian’s aforesaid
resignation, thus avenging for his uncle.

OIKOTIMES CANCELS TRIP TO YEREVAN

oikotimes.com

Nov 21 2011
Greece

Posted by TEAM on Nov 20, 2011 in JESC 2011, OIKOTIMES

The oikotimes.com team is in the sad position to announce the
cancellation of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011 coverage
as a trip to Yerevan, Armenia is not possible. After many efforts to
secure the funds for the team and the costs for the trip up to the last
moment, the Greek crisis seems to be the reason for the cancellation.

We will try to follow the event through our affiliated editors but
there will be no extensive coverage of the event.

TURKISH, ARMENIAN BUSINESSES EXPLORE TIES IN YEREVAN FORUM
Naira Bulghadarian

Armenialiberty.org

Nov 22 2011

More than 100 entrepreneurs from Armenia and Turkey explored greater
business opportunities in each other’s country during a U.S.-sponsored
conference that began in Yerevan on Tuesday.

The two-day forum was organized by Armenia’s leading business
association and the Chamber of Commerce of Diarberkir, the largest city
in eastern Turkey, as part of a project to improve Turkish-Armenian
relations financed by the U.S. government’s Agency For International
Development (USAID).

Most of its 50 or so Turkish participants represented businesses
operating in Diarbekir and nearby regions located not far from the
Turkish-Armenian border. Many of them called for the quick opening of
the frontier, something which the Turkish government makes conditional
on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We have long been lobbying for the opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border,” said Diadin Gezer, deputy chairman of the Diarbekir Chamber
of Commerce. “Countries around the world do at least 60 percent of
their trade with their neighbors.”

Gezer and other entrepreneurs agreed that Turkish-Armenian commercial
ties can grow even in the absence of diplomatic relations and an open
border between the two estranged nations. Firat Aslan, a chocolate
manufacturer from Diarberkir, said this would only facilitate the
eventual normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.

“If Turkish-Armenian economic relations develop, then pressure on
the two states will grow and they will open the border,” Aslan told
RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

A memorandum of understanding signed by Gezer and Arsen Ghazarian,
chairman of the Armenian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs,
envisages that the two business groups will promote direct links
between their members and greater commerce between the two neighboring
states.

Armenia – Turkish and Armenian businesswomen at a conference in
Yerevan, 22Nov2011.â~@~Kâ~@~KWith Ankara keeping the border closed
since 1993, the bulk of Turkish-Armenian trade is carried out via
Georgia.

According to official Armenian statistics, it grew by almost 19
percent to $168.8 million in the first nine months of this year.

Turkish exports to Armenia accounted for over 99 percent of this
figure because of Ankara’s unofficial ban on imports of goods from
Armenia. Businesspeople say Armenian products are usually re-exported
to the Turkish market through Georgia and other third countries.

Speaking at the Yerevan conference, Noyan Soyak, an Istanbul-based
businessman affiliated with the Turkish-Armenian Business Council
(TABC), estimated the annual volume of bilateral commerce at around
$300 million. He said this figure can quickly be tripled.

Founded in the early 1990s, the TABC is the only organization uniting
Turkish and Armenian businesspeople. Its Turkish members also favor
an unconditional normalization of Turkish-Armenian ties.

Participants spent the first day of the conference introducing their
firms and promoting their products. “We have come here to invite
Armenian entrepreneurs to Turkey and foster exchange of Armenian and
Turkish goods,” said Gafur Turkay, an ethnic Armenian executive of
a Diarbekir-based insurance firm.

Some Armenian manufacturers are already involved in such exchange.

Samvel Gasparian said his Artsocks textile company has imported
Turkish raw materials for the past three years. “Since this sector
is very developed in Turkey … we should look into their experience
and find partners there,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.

Another businessman, Gagik Bostanjian, said his Lux shoe company
mainly imports shoe components from Russia and would like to find
cheaper suppliers in Turkey.

As part of the USAID project implemented by several Armenian
non-governmental organizations, the business forum will be followed
by a Turkish-Armenian trade exhibition in Armenia’s second largest
city of Gyumri. About 80 Armenian and Turkish firms will display
their products there on Thursday.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH BUSINESS FORUM KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN

news.am
Nov 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Armenian-Turkish business forum has kicked off in Yerevan.

The event brought together about 100 representatives of business
circles and NGOs with 50 representing the Turkish side. The forum
is organized by Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen within the
framework of USAID two-year project “Support to Armenia-Turkey
Rapprochement” with the partnership of Turkish-Armenian Business
Development Council.

In 2012 similar forum will be held in Turkey. The participants
highlighted prospects of joint work and necessity to strengthen
contacts between businessmen from two countries.

Trade turnover between Armenia and Turkey made $212.1 million last
year. Export from Armenia made approximately $1.3 million, while
import – $210.4 million.

INHERITED PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT AFFECT ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS – TURKISH MP

news.am
Nov 22 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- The issues inherited form previous generations should not
continue influencing Armenian-Turkish relations, MP from ruling
Justice and Development Party Galip Ensarioglu told the Armenian
News-NEWS.am correspondent.

The MP arrived in Yerevan to participate in the Armenian-Turkish
business forum.

Asked about prospects for ratification of Armenia-Turkey protocols in
Turkish parliament, Ensarioglu said the issues related to bilateral
relations should be settled unequivocally.

“We must establish relations. The aim of politics is to display
political will. I do not think that the issues inherited from
predecessors should continue affecting our relations,” stressed
Ensarioglu.

The Turkish lawmaker said that cooperation agreements had been
discussed between business circles of Armenia and Turkey.

“We are signing agreements with Armenia which proves we are treating
the Armenian people as native. When we are trying to preserve the
difficulties of the past years on the agenda, they turn into something
resembling confrontation. In this case it is very difficult to notice
and develop friendly relations,” he said.

H. MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN: ALIYEV STATES CONFLICT NOT FROZEN BUT ACTIVE

Panorama
Nov 22 2011
Armenia

In recent two days, having ignored the world community’s opinion, two
Armenian servicemen were killed by Azerbaijani snipers. The Armenian
party has officially declared that that the response will be far more.

Expert Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan has stated in a news conference Tuesday
that punitive measures won’t be late. The expert has drawn attention
on Aliyev who, in fact, has strained the situation in the region.

“Aliyev’s recent statement says much – he’s stated that the situation
in the region isn’t stable, that the conflict isn’t frozen but it is
active and that Azerbaijan is ready to regain Artsakh through armed
conflict,” underlined the expert.

Expert ensured that Azerbaijan wouldn’t display all those casualties
recorded in the aftermath of Armenian punitive measures. “They will
declare about one or two victims, and will hide the rest.”

YEREVAN AND TBILISI DISCUSS THE PROGRAM OF UNIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES OF CUSTOMS CHECK POINTS

Mediamax
Nov 21 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said
that the programs realized in cooperation with the EU facilitate the
introduction of a common economic policy between Armenia and Georgia.

The session of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission
under the chairmanship of two countries’ prime ministers was held in
Batumi on November 18-19.

Georgian PM Nika Gilauri noted that the trade turnover between two
countries has grown by 45% against last year. He also spoke about
the joint programs related to customs check points, construction of
transmission lines, construction.

Nika Gilauri also said that Yerevan and Tbilisi discuss the program of
unification of activities of customs check points. “We have realized
such a program on the Georgian-Turkish border, in Sarpi, and it was
very effective. The time spent on crossing the border is halved.

Instead of crossing the border twice people cross it only once. We
would like to realize such a program on the Armenian-Georgian border
as well,” the Georgian PM said.

Tigran Sargsyan said that the results of the tender for the
construction of North-South transport corridor will be summarized
within two weeks. “The end of this large-scale program will enable
our citizens to reach Batumi much faster and by better roads,” he said.

Tigran Sargsyan said that Armenia and Georgia develop joint tour
routes for European tourists. “Our studies have shown that European
tourists prefer to visit two countries within a week,” the head of
the state said.

After the meeting with the Armenian community of Ajaria, Tigran
Sargsyan and Nika Gilauri visited Batumi Justice Chamber, where Tigran
Sargsyan got acquainted with innovations allowing to render one-window
services to citizens.

GAFGAZINFO.AZ: BUILDING STONE WALL ON AZERBAIJANI-ARMENIAN BORDER DEMONSTRATION OF AZERBAIJAN’S DEFEATISM

Panorama
Nov 22 2011
Armenia

Head of the so-called “Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh”
Bayram Safarov has lately announced that if Armenians carry out flights
to NKR after the opening of Stepanakert Airport, the “planes can be
stopped in the air,” i.e. they will be shot down by Azerbaijan.

In this connection, correspondent of Gafgazinfo.az Asef Guliyev writes:
“These senseless statements by Bayram Safarov and other politicians
produce the opposite effect. Official media often say that allegedly
if the “Supreme Commander orders, we are ready to cleanse Karabakh
of Armenians.” It comes that everybody is ready for it, however,
Ilham Aliyev still wouldn’t give an order.

The country’s leadership initiated construction of a stone wall
to protect Azerbaijani civilians from Armenian soldiers in border
villages. This news just had a comic effect. Even in Azerbaijan, this
was considered as a demonstration of defeatism, a symbol of despair,
and Armenians said that Azerbaijan is afraid of Armenian soldiers.

The reporter, referring to Bayram Safarov’s statement, noted that no
leader in any of the Azerbaijani force structures, even the Supreme
Commander, will give an order to shoot down a civil plane because
Azerbaijan will only suffer in this situation.

“Don’t people like Safarov know that today also military and civil
planes and helicopters fly over Karabakh? Why doesn’t Azerbaijan
shoot them down?” the Azerbaijani reporter writes ironically.

VERACITY OF GENOCIDE CANNOT BE QUESTIONED, SAYS NALBANDIAN

asbarez
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Foreign Minister Nalbandian

YEREVAN (ArmRadio)-“The Armenian authorities have declared on many
occasions that the veracity of the Armenian Genocide and the importance
of its recognition and condemnation have never been and will never
be questioned,” said Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian in
an with the Dutch De Volkskrant daily.

Nalbandian used the interview, published on Tuesday, to counter
statements made last week by his Turkish counterpart Ahem Davutoglu
that commission of historians should deal with the subject. The
comments were made when Davutoglu was meeting with French Foreign
Minister Alain Juppe, who endorsed the idea, thus negating a statement
made last month in Yerevan by French President Nicolas Sarkozy who
urged Turkey “to come to terms with its past.”

“The Turkish Foreign Minister’s statements on establishment of a
commission of historians to study the events of 1915 are an attempt
to question the fact that France and many other international
organizations have recognized the Genocide,” said Nalbandian.

“It is nothing else but the continuation of the dangerous policy of
denial. The French President made a clear statement on that matter
in Armenia,” added Nalbandian.

Nalbandian also touched on Davutoglu’s assertions that an letter
addressed to former president Robert Kocharian by Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has remained unanswered. The Armenian foreign minister pointed out
that the letter in question was, in fact, answered on April 25, 2005.

“Both the international community and Turkey – perhaps with
the exception of a few people as it can be concluded from Ahmet
Davutoglu’s statement – are well aware of the contents of that answer,”
said Nalbandian, referring to Kocharian’s response who rejected the
creation of a commission to study the Armenian Genocide.

[Asbarez: Might it not be time for Armenia to withdraw its signature
from the protocols?]

ARMENIANS DETAINED FOR SPYING FOR AZERBAIJAN

asbarez
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Prosecutor General’s office has charged three with spying

YEREVAN (News.am)-Armenia’s Prosecutor General confirmed that three
Armenians have been detained for allegedly spying for Azerbaijan and
have been charged with high treason. Another three have been accused
of having knowledge and not reporting the alleged collaboration with
Azeri intelligence service.

The Prosecutor General’s office reported K. Mehrabyan, R. Matevosyan
and A. Chtrkyan allegedly were recruited by officers of Azerbaijan’s
intelligence service during a visit to Turkey.

The three were asked to collaborate with Azeri intelligence services
in exchange for payment. The prosecutor’s office reported that the
three were asked to provide information about the armed forces of
Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

The prosecutor’s office also reported that Armenian citizens K.
Petrosyan, A. Avetikyan, and D. Avetikyan were aware that K. Mehrabyan
allegedly had agreed to find the required information and transfer
it to Azerbaijani officers in exchange for payment. The three did not
inform Armenian law enforcement about the latter’s alleged collusion.