Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ERDOGAN VOWS ‘RESPONSE’ TO SYRIA AFTER ATTACK ON TURKISH FLAG

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 15 2011

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled that an apology
from the Syrian government for attacks on its diplomatic missions in
Syria is not enough, urging President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to find
and punish the perpetrators of an attack on the Turkish flag in Latakia
and vowing that such assaults will receive the proper “response.”

Addressing the Syrian president by his first name, Erdogan said:
“Bashar, you who have thousands of people in jail, must find those
who attacked the Turkish flag and punish them.”

Turkey evacuated the families of diplomats after Saturday’s attacks
on its embassy in Damascus and its consulates in the cities of
Aleppo and Latakia, where assailants burned a Turkish flag. Assad
supporters tried to break into Turkish missions to denounce an Arab
League decision to suspend Syria’s membership over its crackdown
on the eight-month uprising. Turkey is not a member of the league,
but welcomed the decision.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, speaking at a news conference
on Monday, apologized for the attacks on foreign diplomatic missions.

The diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia and France were also attacked
following the Arab League’s decision.

“I want to make this clear to the Assad regime: Throughout history,
those who have tried to touch the Turkish flag were given their
response. They will receive a response in the future as well,”
Erdogan said, during a parliamentary group meeting of his Justice and
Development Party (AK Party). “Once again, we strongly condemn these
attacks. We want the Syrian regime not only to apologize, but also
to find the culprits.”

However, the Turkish prime minister, once a close ally of Assad,
reiterated his criticism of the Syrian government’s brutal crackdown
on anti-regime protests and promised that Turkey will continue to
support the Syrian nation. “Those who fire on their own people will
go down in history as leaders who feed on blood,” Erdogan said.

Addressing Assad, he continued: “You are on the same path.”

“Nobody now expects the (Syrian) people’s demands to be met. We
all want the Syrian administration, which is now on a knife-edge,
to turn back from the edge of the cliff,” Erdogan also said.

Gul warns of ‘different reaction’ President Abdullah Gul also
condemned attacks on Turkish diplomatic missions on Tuesday, calling
it “unacceptable” and warning the Syrian regime against unspecified
measures if it happens again.

“If Syrian authorities do not take the necessary measures, if
these attacks are repeated, then our reaction will certainly be a
different one,” Gul said at a joint news conference with his Hungarian
counterpart, Pal Schmitt, in Ankara.

AZERBAIJAN TO INSTALL SEISMIC STATIONS TO CONTROL SEISMIC PROCESSES IN ARMENIA AND IRAN

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 15 2011

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. 3 seismic stations will be built next
week in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Chief of seismology and
geodynamics department of the Republic Seismological Service Center
Tahir Mammadli told APA.

According to him, one seismic station is functioning now in Julfa. The
new stations will be installed in Shahbuz, Ordubad and Sadarak.

Mammadli said that 28 seismic stations were operating now in
the country. The number of seismic stations will reach 31 after
installation of seismic stations in Nakhchivan. Four more seismic
stations will be installed in AzerbaijanE~Ys regions of Yardimli,
Fuzuli, Beylagan and Aghdam. According to Mammadli, the installation
of seismic station in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region has a purpose to
control the seismic process not only in Karabakh, but Armenia and
Iran: “The seismic stations were operating in Kalbajar, Jabrayil and
Aghdam before Armenian occupation. There is no seismic activity in
Karabakh. But any way, it is important to control the processes in
this region”.

DOES AZERBAIJAN’S ‘BLACK CITY’ HAVE A GOLDEN FUTURE?
By Jim Boulden

CNN.com
November 14, 2011 Monday 11:23 PM EST

What I first noticed when arriving in Baku, beyond the world’s tallest
free-standing flag pole, was the oil derricks in the Caspian Sea,
visible from western hotels steadily rising along the coast.

Where other cities might dress the skyline to lure visitors to the
beach, or to take a boat cruise, Azerbaijan is all about its energy
wealth.

The country of eight million people benefits from having started early
in the oil game — in 1846 the country drilled the first oil well in
the world — but all that is well known, as is the country’s push to
extract more oil off shore in the Caspian.

Country profile: Azerbaijan

What should become more well-known is the country’s attempt to
diversify away from oil and focus more on natural gas. To the ever
expanding gratitude of Western Europe, Azerbaijan is close to tripling
the amount of natural gas processed through its BP facility south
of Baku.

Soon the owners of the Shah Deniz natural gas lease in the Caspian
will choose from a host of competing pipeline consortiums to bring
more natural gas to Western Europe. Most importantly, it means more gas
heating rooms in Romania and Germany that does not come from Russia.

As one of the most potent symbols to me of the rising energy wealth,
seaside luxury homes are being built directly across the street from
the vast BP oil and gas refinery south of Baku.

>From the front bedroom the new owners will overlook ever more
derricks. From the back yard, it is the refinery. Still, I saw more
than a dozen of these little palaces under construction.

So, what else can Azerbaijan do to move away from oil?

Information technology is one of the bigger pushes. If you look at
a map of the country, you can see why IT, software and social media
companies are reputably looking to set up regional hubs there.

Firstly, students are learning English, which is the international
language of technology. Secondly, many still speak Russian. The legacy
of the former Soviet Union means workers can not only communicate
easily with neighboring Russia, but also with potential customers in
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan — two fast growing countries in the region.

Add to that two obvious connections: language with Turkey and ethnicity
with Iran. If you are setting up a regional company, Baku would be
one of the first places you would have to study.

Azerbaijan’s economy does of course suffer from some of the leftovers
of the Communist era. The roads outside Baku are terrible. There
are also simmering tensions with neighbor Armenia (not seen on maps
whenever I looked at one around the city) and the region is not stable
when you add in Georgia, Southern Russia and Chechnya.

Azerbaijan is also using its money to reinvigorate the fishing
industry, once it has cleaned up the Caspian. It is also building a
vast complex, the size of Monaco, of new housing, shops and hotels near
the port called White City. It’s a tip of the hat to what Baku used
to be known as when it produced half the world’s oil — the Black City.

One day, Baku might even become a tourist attraction. Thousands of
people will be flocking here next year when the country’s hosts the
European Song Contest finals.

Test your knowledge of Azerbaijan

These fans will see a brand new convention center, a new museum in the
shape of a rolled up carpet to capture the country’s love of making
carpets and exporting them around the world, a massive new embankment
ringing the Caspian giving people a chance to walk nearly the length
of the city, and explore the amazing Old City — one of the finest
in the world and mostly unknown outside the Caucasus.

Then, if, and it’s a big if, the International Olympic Committee
chooses Baku over Istanbul, Doha, Madrid and Tokyo to host the 2020
Summer Games, the world will awake to the rise of Azerbaijan.

Baku must be seen as a long shot, but it was put to me by several
people, that like the Games themselves, it is more important to take
part in the process than to necessarily win. Baku wants to be seen
on a world stage and is learning what steps to take for its growing
economy and wealth to be noticed far and wide.

ARMENIA’S CLEVER MOVE: COMPULSORY CHESS CLASSES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS

Daily Mail Reporter

15th November 2011

Nearly £300,000 earmarked to introduce new initiative Chess has been
made compulsory for primary school pupils in Armenia.

Education chiefs in the chess-obsessed former Soviet nation have
made the game part of the national curriculum for children between
the ages of seven and nine.

The Armenian authorities say teaching chess in school is about building
character rather than breeding champions.

Checkmate: Education chiefs say that teaching chess to pupils will
be character building Taking the pastime into classrooms will help
nurture a sense of responsibility and organisation as well as serving
as an example to the rest of the world, education minister Armen
Ashotyan claimed.

~QWe hope that the Armenian teaching model might become among the
best in the world,~R he said.

More…Undercover sting shows schoolgirl, 14, allowed to flout the
law and use sunbeds in HALF of tanning salons Less than fifth of
child runaways reported missing by parents and guardians

Nearly £300,000 has been allocated to allow the national chess
academy to draw up a course, create textbooks, train instructors and
buy equipment.

Another £600,000 will go towards buying furniture for chess classrooms.

Chess is a national obsession in tiny Armenia, a nation of three
million situated between Turkey and Iran.

The passion was fostered during the Soviet era, when the country~Rs
own Tigran Petrosian won the world championship in 1963.

He successfully defended the title three years later.

Read more:

RA DEFENSE MINISTER CONGRATULATES VARDANANK ON ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 15, 2011 – 18:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On November 15, Armenian Defense Minister met with
members of Club of military-patriotic education of YSU Vardanank.

As ministerial press service reports, the meeting was dedicated to
the 15th anniversary of Vardanank club, which unites parents of the
fallen in Artsakh Liberation Struggle, their children and YSU students.

During the meeting club members presented the history and the activity
of the club and expressed gratitude for the assistance extended.

On his part, Seyran Ohanyan, highly appreciated the military-patriotic
activity of the club awarding medals and diplomas to the
representatives of Vardanank.

Chairman of the Public Council at the RA Defense Ministry Gegham
Harutyunyan and hero of the Artsakh liberation war, General-Mayor
Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan (Commandos) also attended the meeting.

WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION STANDS UP FOR NK CONFLICT PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT

ARMENPRESS
November 15, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: World Tourism Organization (WTO)
comes forth for peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
stated Chairman of World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai, Armenpress
reports, citing the Azerbaijani mass media, stressing that it will
promote South Caucasus’ becoming more open region for development
of tourism.

“World Tourism Organization supports positions of international
organizations in Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” he stressed.

ARMENIA TO HOST FIREWORK PRESENTATION DURING JUNIOR EUROVISION 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 15, 2011 – 16:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – For the first time Armenia will host a firework
presentation during Junior Eurovision 2011, to be broadcast live
throughout Europe, the head of Armenian Delegation said.

As Gohar Gasparyan told a press conference, Ukrainian specialists
are invited for organizing the firework. Illumination engineering
and sound control specialists are also invited from abroad within
the framework of the contest. Junior Eurovision 2011 will be held
in Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, December 2-3. 50
journalists are expected to arrive form Europe.

Armenia has participated in Junior Eurovision Song Contest since 2007,
when it was represented by Arevik (Sun) Armenian group, winning
the 2nd place. In 2008 Monika Manucharyan with her song ranked
8th. Luara Hayrapetyan representing Armenia in Eurovision 2009 again
won the second place sharing it with a singer from Belarus, Roman
Voloznev. In 2010, Vladimir Arzumanyan with his song Mama brought
Armenia a smashing victory.

This year Dalita with her song “Welcome to Armenia” will represent
Armenia performing the 4th.

POLICE ARREST 5 BROTHERS IN CONNECTION WITH BEIRUT KILLINGS

The Daily Star

Nov 15 2011
Lebanon

November 15, 2011 10:22 AM (Last updated: November 15, 2011 03:26 PM)
The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Lebanese police arrested early Tuesday five brothers suspected
of being involved in the killing of four men in various suburbs of
the capital.

A security source told The Daily Star that members of the Internal
Security Forces (ISF) arrested the brothers during a raid at their
house in Nabaa, Beirut, at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday.

The five men were identified as Lebanese-Armenian George, Aziz,
Massis, Maurice, and Michel Tanelian.

The arrests came one month after police surveillance was launched
following the murder of two middle-aged men ~V Albert Ramez Nashar
and Shaker Said Abdel-Nour.

On Oct. 14, Nashar, 52, was found shot dead and dumped under a bridge
connecting Antelias to the Metn town of Naccache, while the body of
48-year-old Shaker Said Abdel-Nour was discovered next to a bridge
in the Beirut suburb of Sin al-Fil in a similar condition.

On Saturday, the body of Lebanese Army Cpl. Ziad Hani Deeb, 30, was
found on the road straddling Beirut River. On the same day, 50-year-old
Hagob Yakoubian, a Lebanese Armenian, was discovered behind a church
on Mar Maroun street in the Sadd-Boushrieh area, north Beirut.

The source said the four crimes were carried out in identical fashion
with shots to the victims~R heads using a 7.85mm pistol.

Speaking to a local radio station on the arrests, Interior Minister
Marwan Charbel said the five brothers were now being interrogated as
part of investigations.

PRICES WILL INCREASE AGAIN
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:15:09 – 16/11/2011

While the parliament is discussing tax amendments and introduction
of new taxes, enterprises have already added the added taxes to the
prices of their products.

As a result of change to the excise tax on alcohol, the price of 0.5
liters of locally produced beer may go up by 21 drams, stated the
president of Yerevan Beer Company Hakob Hakobyan. According to him,
consumption of beer may drop.

No doubt other products will also get expensive and once again the
ordinary citizens will have to bear the major enterprisers’ burden
of increase of taxes.

The government officially does not interfere with prices. Exercising
this “right”, the government provides full price freedom to importers.

The Anti-Monopoly Committee did not react to the information of the
businesswoman Silva Hambardzumyan who stated that markup on sugar in
Armenia imported by Samvel Alexanyan is 100%. The Committee may say
that it did not receive any written report but it does not change
anything because its chairman stated a week ago that the prices of
sugar in Armenia are justified.

No need to doubt that after tax amendments Alexanyan will raise the
price of sugar, and the Anti-Monopoly Committee will justify the
prices once more. It cannot be otherwise. The government did not set
mark-up limits which the enterprises cannot pass. It benefits from
this situation.

Who will the government support? Will it finally set to defend the
rights of citizens or will this function again be considered as
secondary to the virtual eminent domain?

ARMENIAN DIAMOND PROCESSING COMPANIES DISFAVOR PRICE RISE BY RUSSIAN ALROSA

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 16, 2011 – 14:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Main supplier for Armenian diamond processing
industry Russian Alrosa company has supplied rough diamond totaling
USD 39,16mln to 7 companies as of November 1, 2011.

Director of Arevakn diamond producing plant, Vardan Anderasyan told
journalists that Alrosa has increased cost of rough diamond against
decline in world prices, causing 20% loss.

Fort the past months increase in Arevakn LLC production totaled 142,7%
against the same period of 2010.

Deputy director of Lori diamond-cutting plant Grigor Shahnazaryan,
who shares Anderasyan’s opinion, added that the price upsurge urged
them to decrease purchase volume from the Russian company.