Author: Kajoyan Gevork

AZERBAIJAN HAS FORMAL APPROACH TOWARD OSCE MONITORING – ARMENIAN ARMY SENIOR OFFICER

news.am
November 08, 2012 | 06:16

The Azerbaijani side denied direct contact yet again, Colonel Andranik
Mkrtumyan-representative of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed
Forces-stated after Wednesday’s regular OSCE monitoring.

“For already several years we are proposing to organize direct
contacts by crossing the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] border during
the monitoring. [But] The Azerbaijani side stubbornly refuses,”
Mkrtumyan noted.

He recalled that the Armenian side is prepared and authorized for
such meeting. “But the Azerbaijani side’s demeanor bespeaks a formal
attitude with respect to the conducting of monitoring,” he stressed.

In Colonel Andranik Mkrtumyan’s words, the international organization
representatives’ being at the border for several minutes does not yield
much result. “That is why we had proposed the OSCE representatives
to organize a meeting with the local commanders in the first phase,
and, subsequently, with the village prefects.

Furthermore, we are proposing a long-term monitoring for several days,
and one-sided monitoring,” representative of the General Staff of
the Armenian Armed Forces said.

IRAQ AND ARMENIA TO DISCUSS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PROJECTS IN OIL AND GAS SECTOR

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Armen Gevorgyan, Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of Territorial Administration, co-chair of Armenian- Iraqi
Intergovernmental Commission had a serious of meetings in Baghdad
on November 7. Issues of deepening bilateral cooperation were on
the agenda. As Information and Public Relations department of the
Ministry of Territorial Administration informed Armenpress, in the
course of the meeting with Iraqi railways board representatives issues
of mutual cooperation possibilities have been touched upon.

Iraqi officials presented information on the state of the country’s
railway system, the long-term development plans. Gevorgyan in his
turn dwelled on Iraq-Armenia railway construction project, stating
it will create new significant opportunities in the term of cargo
transportation.

An agreement has been reached upon to organize bilateral discussions
at a professional level. Mutually beneficial cooperation suggestions
will be formed and presented to the sides in the course of the held
meetings.

Deputy Prime Minister Gevorgyan had a meeting with Iraq’s Minister
of Oil Abdul Karim al-Luaibi. The sides have envisaged cooperation
related issues on energy and natural resource. They jointly highlighted
agreement reached during Intergovernmental commission session on
elaboration of cooperation projects. The interlocutors jointly
emphasized there is a great potential of partnership both in energy
and oil and gas sector.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 2-8, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS:

“PRESS CLUB” TALK SHOW: PROS AND CONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

REPRESENTATIVES OF EAP CSF ARMENIAN NATIONAL PLATFORM DISCUSSED ISSUES OF
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE

TIGRAN KOCHARIAN ADDS FINANCIAL CLAIMS VERSUS FOUNDER OF “CHORRORD
INKNISHKHANUTIUN” DAILY

DEAN OF VANADZOR PEDAGOGICAL INSTITUTE RECALLS SUIT VERSUS “HETQ”
CORRESPONDENT

“PRESS CLUB” TALK SHOW: PROS AND CONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

On November 5, the season’s first program of “Press Club” cycle, dealing
with journalistic ethics, went on “Yerkir Media” TV company. The TV shows’
series are produced by Yerevan Press Club in the frames of the “Promoting
Freedom, Professionalism and Pluralism of the Media in the South Caucasus
and Moldova” programme, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of
Europe.

The talk show considered the advantages and disadvantages of social media.
Diverse viewpoints on the issue were presented by the “Press Club”
discussants – Konstantin Ter-Nakalian, blogger, Assistant to Chief Editor of
, and Anna Israelian, Editor of The experts of
the program were Manana Aslamazian, Director of “Alternative Resources in
Media” project, lawyer Ara Ghazarian, Suren Deherian, Head of “Journalists
for the Future” NGO, Gegham Manukian, Director of the News and Current
Affairs Programs of “Yerkir Media” TV company. YPC President Boris
Navasardian hosted the talk show.

The next “Press Club” talk show will be aired on “Yerkir Media” on Monday,
November 12 at 18.00 (rerun – on Saturday, November 17 at 12.50).

Watch “Press Club” of November 5, 2012 at

REPRESENTATIVES OF EAP CSF ARMENIAN NATIONAL PLATFORM DISCUSSED ISSUES OF
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE

On December 2-4, in Dilijan, Tavush region, Yerevan Press Club held the
seminar “The Role of the EaP Civil Society Forum in Fostering Reform in the
Fields of Human Rights and Social Dialogue”. The event, supported by the
Friedrich Ebert Foundation, was attended by NGOs, joining the Armenian
National Platform of Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, experts from
Belarus and Georgia.

The report of Grigori Grigoryants, Child-Welfare Advocacy Officer of World
Vision Armenia, presented the situation of human rights in Armenia from the
civil society’s perspective. Tamar Chugoshvili, member of EaP CSF First
Working Group, Chairwoman of Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, talked
about the implementation of CSF recommendations on human rights in Georgia
and reflected upon the results of the recent parliamentary elections in the
country. Aliaksandr Yarashuk, President of the Belarus Congress of
Democratic Trade Unions, spoke about the role of social dialogue in
democracy building and the expectations from the newly-established CSF Fifth
Working Group on Social Dialogue. Levon Khachatrian, Head of Educational
Research Centre at Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia, introduced to
the concept for developing social dialogue in Armenia. Seyran Martirosian,
Facilitator of EaP CSF Armenian National Platform, told about the activities
of the National Platform and its future. The report of YPC President Boris
Navasardian dealt with the Fourth EaP Civil Society Forum, which will be
held on November 29-30, 2012 in Stockholm.

TIGRAN KOCHARIAN ADDS FINANCIAL CLAIMS VERSUS FOUNDER OF “CHORRORD
INKNISHKHANUTIUN” DAILY

On November 5, Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
administrative districts of Yerevan ended the preliminary hearings on the
suit of blogger Tigran Kocharian versus the founder of “Chorrord
Inknishkhanutiun” daily, “Trespassers W.” LLC. As we have reported, the
basis for the litigation was the piece “Fascist and Elephant: Save the
Elephants”, published in “Chorrord Inknishkhanutiun” on July 15, 2012. The
piece contained critics about Tigran Kocharian, whose Internet nickname is
“Elephant”. The plaintiff demanded refutation, moral damage in the amount of
3 million AMD, caused by libel and insult (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
September 21-27, 2012). In the course of preliminary hearings the financial
claims rose by 500,000 AMD (attorney fees), thus making the overall amount
3,500,000 AMD (about $ 8,600).

The next court session is assigned on November 12.

DEAN OF VANADZOR STATE PEDAGOGICAL INSTITUTE RECALLS SUIT VERSUS “HETQ”
CORRESPONDENT

On November 2, Court of General Jurisdiction of Lori region dismissed the
case on the suit of Tereza Shakhverdian, Dean of Pedagogic Faculty of
Vanadzor State Pedagogical Institute, versus Adrineh Torosian, correspondent
of “Hetq” online. (“Hetq” was involved in the case as a third party.) The
basis for the Court’s ruling was the withdrawal of the suit. At the same
time, the Court bound Tereza Shakhverdian to pay off the attorney costs of
the plaintiff in the amount of 185,000 AMD ($ 450). As we have reported, the
matter of the protracted litigation that had started on December 5, 2011,
was the piece “Unhealthy Passions at Vanadzor Pedagogical Institute”,
published in “Hetq” on May 13, 2011(see details in “On Freedom of Speech in
Armenia” Yerevan Press Club report for 2011 at
).

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

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this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

ISTANBUL-ARMENIANS SUPPORT PROTESTING JAILED KURDS

tert.am
09.11.12

Several Turkish Armenians have held a protest rally in Istanbul in
support of in support of the Kurdish immates holding a hunger-strike
in the country’s prisons.

The crowd, which gathered outside the editorial office of the
Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos (where the publication’s editor-in-chief,
Hrant Dink, was gunned down in 2007), urged for measures to halt the
deadly protest, Sondakika.com reported.

Sayat Tekir, one of the protesters, said they want the hunger-strike
to stop as they consider the inmates’ demands absolutely justified.

“Especially receiving education in their native language is an
important demand. I think it is as vital as bread or water. We want
to bring an end to the military atmosphere and establish peace as
soon as possible,” he explained.

The Kurdish MPs joined their jailed compatriots’ protests on Wednesday,
expressing support to their hunger-strike.

BAKO SAHAKYAN CALLED ON THE ARMENIANS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO PARTICIPATE WITH ENTHUSIASM IN THE “TELETHON-2012” AND KEEP SUPPORTING ARTSAKH

10:32, 9 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako
Sahakyan participated in the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund’s Gala Dinner
Party held in Moscow on November 8 and welcomed the participants
by delivering a speech. As the Chief Department of the Stuff of
the President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic informed “Armenpress”
the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
Hovik Abrahamyan, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Russia and
New Nakhijevan and the Pontifcal Legate to the Russian Orthodox
Patriarchate of Moscow and All Russia Bishop Yezras Nersissyan,
the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of
Armenia to the Russian Federation Oleg Yesayan, the Consultant of
the NKR President Armen Isagulov, the Permanent Representative of NKR
in the Russian Federation Albert Andryan, the Executive Director of
the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund, other official figures, Armenian
benefactors, businessmen and social figures.

The President of NKR stated: “The Armenian community of Russia is
among the most patriotic, established and active parts of our nation.

Since the very formation of the Artsakh independent statehood each
of you has directly been involved in the process of making the native
land prosperous and developed. It is hard to imagine any sphere where
your presence would not be evident. As a result, it is also due to
this active participation that we have succeeded in realizing numerous
programs of strategic significance.

It is enough to mention that the construction of a new hospital in
Stepanakert, which is among the most equipped patient care institution
in the whole region fully corresponding to the international standards,
is very close to completion. Capital reconstruction of the school
N3 in the capital of the Artsakh Republic has already ended, the
construction of new buildings for schools N1 and N6 as well as a
new maternity hospital is in full swing. The school after Khachatur
Abovyan and “Maryam Ghukasyan” historical maiden school building were
capitally reconstructed. The later is now the central headquarter
for the NKR ministry of culture and youth affairs and a number of
other institutions.

Artsakh veterans and the disabled are regularly provided with
various kind of assistance, including hand-operated cars. Stepanakert
retirement home was capitally reconstructed too.

Numerous water pipelines, roads and other vital facilities were and
are being built in all quarters of the republic. I want to mention
particularly the Vank-Kolatak road, which leads up to Hakobavank,
one of the most ancient monasteries in Artsakh. This road is of
essential economic significance and will stimulate tourism.

Consistent support is being shown to improving the demographic
situation, particularly within the frameworks of providing social
benefits to the children of the Grand Karabagh wedding couples.

All this has been carried out with the direct support of our brothers
and sisters from Russia. Many of them are now here. We highly
appreciate such compassionate and impartial attitude, considering it
one of the most important manifestations of the unity of our people.

Dear friends,

Today we gathered to implement another important project which aims
to secure a balanced long-term development of the rural areas. A
developed countryside is the most important tool connecting our people
to the land, which simultaneously solves a number of socioeconomic
and political issues, particularly in the fields of agriculture,
local production, processing industry, demography and other fields. I
think it is obvious that the strong and prosperous village is one of
the key components of Artsakh’s strength.

Within the frameworks of this project special accent is put to
the construction of rural community centers. Each center will have
a village administration, first aid station, internet cafe and a
celebrations house. The construction of these centers will undoubtedly
contribute to the improvement of the peoples’ living conditions,
revival of rural life, which will have its positive impact on the
continuous development of the Artsakh countryside.

Dear Compatriots,

2012 is a jubilee year for our people. The whole nation celebrated the
20th anniversary of the NKR Defense Army formation and the liberation
of Shoushi. It is also a jubilee for the “Hayastan” All-Armenian fund,
which celebrates its 20th anniversary. The “Hayastan” fund is the
institution uniting the world spread Armenians around various projects
with a common goal to develop and reinforce the historic homeland,
further cement and strengthen the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity.

I want to be confident that this festive atmosphere will give an
additional impetus to the successful implementation of this very
nationwide event.

I am more than confident that being united and organized, having
corresponding will and determination, we are enable us to solve any
issue we face.

I call everyone to participate with the same energy and enthusiasm
in the “Telethon-2012″ and keep supporting the patriotic mission of
making Artsakh prosper.”

TURQUIE: VIVE INQUIETUDE POUR LES JOURNALISTES INCARCERES EN GREVE DE LA FAIM

Publie le : 09-11-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire ce Communique de presse des Reporters Sans Frontières
publie sur leur site le 7 novembre 2012 et mis a jour le jeudi 8
novembre 2012.

(Photo : Erol Onderoglu / RSF)

Reporters Sans Frontières

Turquie

Chronique du harcèlement judiciaire des medias en Turquie

Reporters sans frontières a decide d’ouvrir un fil d’actualite
pour rendre compte de la multiplication des poursuites judicaires a
l’encontre des journalistes et des medias en Turquie. Malgre la loi
6352 du 5 juillet 2012, la presse reste la cible d’un harcèlement
judiciaire constant, dont les procès KCK et Ergenekon ne sont que
les emanations les plus visibles.

********************************************************************

Publie le mercredi 7 novembre 2012. Mis a jour le jeudi 8 novembre 2012

07.11.2012 – Le calvaire sans fin des journalistes emprisonnes

Reporters sans frontières fait part de sa profonde inquietude devant
la degradation de l’etat de sante d’une dizaine de representants des
medias pro-kurdes emprisonnes, en grève de la faim depuis plusieurs
semaines.

“La situation est très grave. Ces personnes se rapprochent
progressivement de la mort. Nous en appelons instamment a toutes les
parties prenantes pour qu’elles adoptent, avant qu’il ne soit trop
tard, une attitude positive permettant de resoudre les differends
qui poussent les detenus a faire grève. Les autorites doivent
imperativement gerer cette situation avec humanite et responsabilite”,
a declare l’organisation.

“La recherche d’une solution pacifique a la question kurde et
l’amelioration de la situation de la liberte de la presse sont
intrinsèquement lies. Nous reiterons notre appel en faveur de la
liberation immediate de tous les journalistes et collaborateurs
des medias actuellement emprisonnes du fait de leurs activites
professionnelles.”

D’après le ministère de la Justice, 682 detenus de 67 etablissements
penitentiaires sont actuellement en grève de la faim. Ils reclament
notamment le droit d’utiliser la langue kurde dans les tribunaux
et la levee de l’isolement impose au leader du PKK Abdullah Ocalan,
emprisonne depuis treize ans sur l’île d’Imrali.

Parmi eux, au moins neuf journalistes et collaborateurs de medias.

L’etat de sante de Tayip Temel, ancien directeur de publication
du quotidien en langue kurde Azadiya Welat, est particulièrement
preoccupant. En grève de la faim depuis le 12 septembre dans sa prison
de Diyarbakir, il souffrirait d’hemorragies internes et de pertes de
perceptions. Il serait incapable de boire et de parler.

Fatma Kocak, de l’agence de presse DIHA, et Ayse Oyman du quotidien
Ozgur Gundem, toutes deux incarcerees a la prison pour femmes de
Bakirkoy (Istanbul), ne s’alimentent plus depuis le 24 septembre.

Pelvin Yerlikaya Babir (DIHA), emprisonnee a Bakirkoy et Faysal
Tunc (DIHA), detenue a la prison de Kalkandere de Rize (Nord-Est),
sont en grève de la faim depuis le 15 octobre. C’est aussi le cas de
Selahattin Aslan (Demokratik Modernite), detenu a Kandira (region de
Marmara), et de Sahabettin Demir (DIHA), a Giresun (Nord-Est). Mehmet
Emin Yildirim (Azadiya Welat) et Omer Faruk Caliskan (Ozgur Halk),
incarcere a Kandira, ont egalement rejoint le mouvement.

Des intellectuels et journalistes de diverses tendances, dont Vedat
Turkali, Garo Paylan, Aydin Engin, Ahmet Sik et Ertugrul Mavioglu,
ont fait part de leur grande preoccupation pour leurs collègues.

Rassemblement pour les journalistes emprisonnes

Le 5 novembre 2012, une manifestation a rassemble environ 500 personnes
sur l’avenue Istiklal d’Istanbul sous le slogan “Pas de societe libre
sans presse libre”, pour demander la liberation des journalistes et
collaborateurs des medias emprisonnes en Turquie.

Parmi eux, des journalistes recemment liberes, comme Ahmet Sik, Nedim
Sener, Baris Pehlivan, Baris Terkoglu et Vedat Kursun, ont repondu
a l’appel de la plate-forme “Liberte pour les journalistes” (GOP),
qui rassemble la plupart des organisations professionnelles locales.

Reporters sans frontières y etait egalement representee.

“Toute personne qui critique le pouvoir est immediatement traduite en
justice sur la base de la loi antiterroriste, ce qui a pour consequence
de remplir les prisons de journalistes, a souligne Ahmet Abakay,
president de l’Association contemporaire des journalistes (CGD), qui
assume actuellement la direction tournante de la GOP. Les tribunaux
dotes de pouvoirs speciaux ne rendent pas la justice mais l’injustice,
qui les fait traîner toute notre profession devant eux.”

Nouveaux emprisonnements et remises en liberte conditionnelle dans
l’enquete KCK Le 7 novembre 2012, Zeynep Kuris, reporter a Mersin de
l’agence de presse DIHA, a ete placee en detention preventive a la
prison pour femmes de Karatas (Adana, Est) après quatre jours de garde
a vue. Elle est accusee d'”appartenance a l’Union des Communautes
du Kurdistan (KCK)”, le relais urbain du PKK. Deux collaborateurs
du journal en langue kurde Azadiya Welat, Halime Parlak et Ergin
Caglar, interpelles en meme temps que la journaliste, ont ete remis
en liberte le 6 novembre. D’après DIHA, Zeynep Kuris, tout comme son
collègue Ozlem Agus mis en examen dans la meme affaire, enquetait sur
des mauvais traitements commis contre des adolescents a la prison de
Pozanti (Adana).

Le reporter de DIHA Sinan Aygul, incarcere le 23 janvier 2011 a la
prison de Mus (Est), a ete libere le 6 novembre 2012 en attente de
son jugement. Le meme jour, un autre journaliste d’Adana, incarcere
le 9 mai 2011 a la prison de Kurkculer, Ahmet Akyol, a ete remis en
liberte conditionnelle. Il etait accuse d'”appartenir au PKK’~R et
de s’etre livre a de la “propagande en faveur de cette organisation’~R.

Le 17 octobre 2012, Reyhan Capan, redacteur en chef du quotidien
pro-kurde Ozgur Gundem, a ete condamne a 15 mois de prison pour la
une du 21 mars 2012, intitulee “La voix de la revolte”, qualifiee de
“propagande d’une organisation terroriste”. Ce titre ainsi que deux
autres articles, “Manifestation sans interruption jusqu’a la liberte”
et “Le Newroz des Kurdes a Amed et Istanbul”, portaient sur les
manifestations tenues a l’occasion de Newroz, le nouvel an kurde.

Interdites, les celebrations traditionnelles kurdes avaient largement
degenere en affrontements avec les forces de l’ordre. Le tribunal
s’est oppose a un allègement de la peine, en estimant que l’accuse
n’avait “pas exprime de remords” et qu’il “n’inspirait pas confiance
quant a la reproduction d’un delit de meme nature a l’avenir”.

Lourdes requisitions contre les journalistes d’Atilim

Le procureur de la 11e chambre de la cour d’Assises d’Ankara,
Mehmet Ozgur, a requis 15 ans de prison contre le chroniqueur
de l’hebdomadaire de gauche Atilim (Elan), Hasan Cosar, accuse
d'”appartenance au Parti communiste marxiste-leniniste” (MLKP,
interdit). Il a cependant demande a ce que les poursuites ouvertes
contre le journaliste pour “propagande d’une organisation terroriste”
soient suspendues, en vertu de la loi 6352 (“troisième paquet de
reformes judiciaires” – voir ci-dessous). La cour avait remis Hasan
Cosar en liberte conditionnelle en decembre 2011, tenant compte de
“la duree deja passee en detention, de la nature de l’accusation et
de l’etat des preuves’~R.

Dans un autre dossier concernant le MLKP, le parquet en charge de
la lutte antiterroriste a rendu son acte d’accusation a l’encontre
d’Ibrahim Cicek, directeur de la publication d’Atilim. Le procureur
a requis la prison a vie contre le journaliste et un conseiller du
president du Parti socialiste des opprimes (ESP), accuses d’avoir
“tente de renverser l’ordre constitutionnel, d’avoir fonde une
organisation terroriste et la gerer”. Ils avaient ete interpelles il
y a six mois, puis liberes sur decision du juge. Un mandat d’arret
vient a nouveau d’etre lance contre eux.

Lire aussi:

22.10.2012 – Quatre journalistes condamnes a des peines de prison en
trois jours

12.10.2012 – Malgre la reforme, le harcèlement judiciaire des
journalistes se poursuit a un rythme effrene

07.08.2012 – Le redacteur en chef d’un quotidien kurde relâche après
deux ans de detention preventive

27.07.2012 – Suivi des dernières audiences

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Reporters Sans Frontières

UN PROCUREUR PRINCIPAL LIMOGE
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 9 novembre 2012

Un procureur a ete limoge plus de cinq mois après avoir ete accuse
d’avoir battu un homme dans un differend de rue a Erevan.

Le Bureau du Procureur general a declare que Mesrop Manrikian a ete
releve de ses fonctions pour “un comportement qui n’est pas digne
d’un officiel”, deux jours après que le president Serge Sarkissian
ait sevèrement critique les procureurs de l’Etat.

Mesrop Manrikian, qui a travaille au bureau du procureur de la province
centrale de Kotayk, a ete plonge dans un scandale en mai.

Ruben Grdzelian, un resident d’Erevan de 33 ans qui travaille en
tant que journaliste, a affirme avoir ete agressee par le procureur
et trois autres hommes, dont son fils, tout en se promenant dans le
centre-ville avec sa femme et ses enfants en bas âge.

Ruben Grdzelian a dit que Manrikian l’a insulte et frappe après
avoir crie que ses enfants ont joue devant un garage appartenant
au procureur.

Serge Sarkissian a mentionne l’incident lors d’une reunion avec
le procureur general Aghvan Hovsepian et ses grands subordonnes,
au cours de laquelle il a accuse les procureurs de graves exactions.

vendredi 9 novembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

RULING PARTY: OBAMA’S RE-ELECTION TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN RELATIONS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND U.S

Trend
Nov 8 2012
Azerbaijan

Re-electing U.S. President Barack Obama will lead to the further
strengthening of the relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S on
the basis of the existing basis of cooperation, Deputy Chairman,
and Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP)
Ali Ahmadov said today.

Relations between the two countries continue developing in a positive
way. They serve the national interests of Azerbaijan and the U.S,
he told media.

“We stand for developing these relations,” he said. “Azerbaijan takes
an active part in ensuring international security and combating
terrorism. The interests and policies of Azerbaijan and the U.S
coincide in this regard.”

He said that U.S activity has been expanded in the direction of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the leadership of Obama last year.

Washington’s attempts to take the initiative in the process are
sometimes observed.

He added that if the U.S continues supporting for the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and take real steps for this, then we
can expect a rapid settlement of the conflict.

ARMENIAN SOCIAL PAYMENT SYSTEM TO BE CHANGED

Vestnik Kavkaza
Nov 8 2012
Russia

Armenian Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Artyom Asatryan said
that the system of social payments from wages will be discontinued
on January 1, 2013.

Income tax for a monthly wage of $294 will total 24.4%. Higher wages
will have a tax rate of over 26%.

People without tax agents will have a rate of 24.4% and 26% for sums
over and under $3530 a month respectively.

TURKEY SEARCHES ARMENIAN AID PLANE BOUND FOR SYRIA

France 24
Nov 8 2012

AFP – An Armenian plane carrying humanitarian aid for Syria was made
to land in Turkey on Thursday for what officials said was a “routine”
search of its cargo.

The plane, which was carrying 15 tonnes of food, was ordered to land
in the Erzurum airport in eastern Turkey where teams of police and
troops with sniffer dogs conducted a search of the cargo.

The plane was allowed to take off for Syria after nothing suspect
was found aboard, NTV television reported.

The Armenian foreign ministry said the landing was planned.

“It was a planned landing. The plane is carrying humanitarian cargo
for Syrian Armenians in Aleppo,” Armenian foreign ministry spokesman
Tigran Balaian told AFP in Yerevan.

Diplomatic sources quoted by the Anatolia news agency said the crew
had handed Turkey a list of the cargo ahead of the flight.

Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said the landing “a routine
practice in compliance with civil aviation rules being applied for
the security of Syrian people” according to the Anatolia news agency.

It was the second time in a month that the Turkish authorities have
ordered an Armenian plane heading for Syria to land for security
checks.

On October 15, another Armenian plane carrying humanitarian aid to
Syria’s battered second city of Aleppo was forced to land at Erzurum
airport but the plane was allowed to resume journey after officials
said no suspect cargo turned up during searches.

Last month, Turkish jets forced a Syrian plane flying from Russia to
land at Ankara airport because of what it called suspect cargo.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the cargo contained
military equipment for the Syrian defence ministry, but Russia said it
was dual-purpose radar equipment which was not banned by international
conventions.

Former allies Turkey and Syria have seen their relations deteriorate
as fighting between regime troops and rebels has intensified in Syria
and the two countries have closed their airspaces to each other.

Syria has a small Armenian community of between 60,000 and 100,000
people, according to estimates, most of whom live in Aleppo.

Armenia also has close ties with Syria’s major ally Russia while its
relations with Turkey have long been strained.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and their border has been
closed for more than a decade.

Turkey-Syria relations plunged further after shells fired from Syria
killed five Turkish civilians inside a Turkish village on October 3.