Author: Kalantarian Kevo

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS BUILDS UP ITS PASSENGER TRAFFIC IN 2009

ARKA
Jan 15, 2010

YEREVAN, January 15. /ARKA/. South Caucasus Railways has built up
its interstate passenger traffic 32.4% from 27,500 in 2008 to 36,400
in 2009 and local traffic 10.4% from 651,400 to 719,200 passengers,
the company’s press office reported on Friday.

South Caucasus Railways’ interstate passenger turnover was 13918
thousand passenger/km in 2009 (42.4% growth) and local 20368 thousand
passenger/km (30.1% growth, compared with 2008).

The company operates interstate runs on two routes – Yerevan-Tbilisi
and Yerevan-Batumi.

Runs in the latter route are operated in summer season.

Vanadzor-Ayrum, Yerevan-Arax, Yerevan-Armavir, Yerevan-Yeraskh,
Yerevan-Ararat, Yerevan-Gyumri, Kanaker-Hrazdan and Gyumri-Pemzashen
runs are operated inside the country.

The South Caucasus Railways CJSC is concession manager of the Armenian
Railway Company.

Armenian Railway Company was handed over to

South Caucasian Railways fully owned by the Russian Railways Company
on February 13, 2008 for 30-year management with a right for one-decade
prolongation.

1988-90S MASSACRES IN AZERBAIJAN MUST BE RECOGNIZED AS GENOCIDE

Aysor
Jan 13 2010
Armenia

"Events in Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku happened 20 years ago is
nothing but the Genocide. There is not any other determination for
what happened," told Aysor’s correspondent chairman of ‘Return to Hyke’
Social Organisation, Robert Melik-Pashayev.

Deported from Azerbaijan Armenians will receive neither contribution,
according to Robert Melik-Pashayev. "Who will compensate? Azerbaijan
will not compensate, while our people and government remain silent.

Our organisation gives to the world that Armenians left more than
100,000 houses in Baku. Moscow government has investigated and approved
that there took place massacres, marauding, and larceny.

There are confirming documents at state archives. Azerbaijan’s
government must appear in court," he said.

Armenia’s government can apply to Russian archives for cases of those
years to recognize those massacres and deportations against Armenian
population in Azerbaijan as Genocide, according to Melik-Pashayev. The
public man also pointed that those Azerbaijanis who lived in Armenia
never become victims of massacres and deportations while the Armenian
community of Azerbaijan became the victim of atrocious and intolerable
premeditated massacres.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

January 11, 2010
___________________________________________

CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
AT ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), reminded the faithful gathered for Christmas services
at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Wednesday, January 6, that "Christ’s
purpose in life was to exemplify God’s love – and to call everyone to make
that love a reality in our hearts."

"God, our Heavenly Father, from His infinite love gave the most precious
gift to us: He sent His Only Begotten Son in order to save us," Archbishop
Barsamian said. "Christ came to this earth, walked among us, preached,
performed miracles, carried the heavy burden of the cross, and was crucified
because.He loves each one of us."

"This feeling of joy and love is what God calls each of us to discover, in
our own lives," the Primate said. "Our Lord calls to each and every one of
us – and we must be attentive to hear his call, and accept our God-given
roles in life. To some, that role is to take up our Lord’s pastoral staff:
to serve him, and serve his people, as priests of the church. In the coming
year, throughout our Diocese, we will explore and encourage this most
precious calling in our ‘Year of Vocations: The Call to Serve.’"

Sharing his personal story of becoming a priest in the Armenian Church, the
Primate said that it was love that "first motivated me to answer God’s call.
Love is what strengthens me every day as I live out my vocation as a
priest."

On January 6, Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
performed the Blessing of Water ceremony. Randy Sapah-Gulian, chair of the
board of directors of the Fund for Armenian Relief, served as the godfather
for the Blessing of Water ceremony.

During the ceremony, which symbolizes Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist
in the River Jordan, Mr. Sapah-Gulian took up the ornate hand-cross after it
was immersed in water by Archbishop Barsamian. At the conclusion of the
service, Mr. Sapah-Gulian held up the cross for the faithful to kiss as they
walked up to receive the water blessed with the Holy Muron (Holy Oil). Mrs.
Corinne Sapah-Gulian, Mr. Sapah-Gulian’s wife, also attended the service.

"It was very moving," Mr. Sapah-Gulian said of the Blessing of Water
ceremony. "I am very happy and honored to have been asked by Srpazan Hayr to
be the godfather, and it’s something I shall remember forever."

Reflecting on his role as the chair of the board of directors of the Fund
for Armenian Relief, he stressed the importance of the organization and its
array of programs for families in Armenia. This year the Fund for Armenian
Relief is marking its 20th anniversary.

"Corinne and I are very involved," he said, "and everything that the Diocese
does [through FAR] – whether it’s FAR’s child protection programs or the
senior citizen programs – is an integral part of helping our brothers and
sisters in Armenia."

More than 900 people took part in services at the cathedral. In the
sanctuary, the energy was palpable throughout the morning as some rose to
light candles and people entered and left the building. The St. Vartan
Cathedral Choir sang the sacred music under the direction of Maestro Khoren
Mekanejian, with Florence Avakian on the organ.

A Joyous Celebration

After the January 6 services, a home blessing service and Christmas luncheon
were held in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium.

The event featured remarks by the Primate; toasts by St. Vartan Cathedral
dean the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Randy Sapah-Gulian, and Armenia’s
Ambassador to the United Nations Garen Nazarian; and performances by the
Antranig Dance Ensemble and members of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir. Dr.
Raffy Hovanessian, vice chair of the Diocesan Council, served as the master
of ceremonies.

Garen Nazarian made the first toast of the afternoon, thanking the Eastern
Diocese for a wonderful year and close cooperation on new projects. "May
2010 bring newly-found prosperity to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh," Mr.
Nazarian said.

Fr. Mardiros Chevian made a toast to Randy Sapah-Gulian, godfather for the
Blessing of Water ceremony. Fr. Chevian thanked Mr. Sapah-Gulian for his
dedication to the Armenian Church and to the people of Armenia, many of whom
benefit from the programs offered by the Fund for Armenian Relief, which Mr.
Sapah-Gulian chairs.

Maestro Khoren Mekanejian led performances of Armenian songs by Hasmik
Mekanejian and 10-year-old Dzovinar Aghavian. Anahid Zakarian was
accompanied by Vagharshag Ohanian on the piano.

Eight members of the AGBU’s Antranig Dance Ensemble performed two dances.
Archbishop Barsamian presented the dancers with small gifts in appreciation
of their hard work. He also mentioned that Mr. Sapah-Gulian, once a member
of the ensemble, is one of its founders.

Mr. Sapah-Gulian offered the last toast of the program, thanking Archbishop
Barsamian for the opportunity to serve as godfather for the Blessing of
Water ceremony.

Archbishop Barsamian thanked everyone for taking part in the day’s
celebration. "Participating in today’s Christmas badarak is a great
opportunity for us to feel unity with Jesus Christ," he said. "That is the
ultimate goal for all of us, that connection with God."

Concluding his remarks, Archbishop Barsamian said, "This is the season when
we have to remember that love has to be at the center of who we are and what
we do. When there is love, there is peace. When there is love, there is
understanding. When there is love, there is unity."

The day’s meal was prepared by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.

Youthful Voices

On Tuesday, January 5, the Eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian celebrated the Divine
Liturgy at St. Vartan Cathedral.

Students from the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum read scriptures in Armenian and
assisted the Cathedral Choir. The Khrimian Lyceum is an Armenian language
and culture school for students ages 12 to 17.

Many parishes across the Eastern Diocese also held Christmas services on
January 5 and January 6, with some celebrating the Nativity and Theophany of
Our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, January 10.

###

Photos attached.

Photo 1: Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St.
Vartan Cathedral on the Eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of
Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Photo 2: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian during the Blessing of Water ceremony
at St. Vartan Cathedral on January 6.

Photo 3: The St. Vartan Cathedral Choir sings the sacred music under the
direction of Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, with Florence Avakian on the organ.

Photo 4: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian during the Blessing of Water ceremony
at St. Vartan Cathedral on January 6.

Photo 5: Randy Sapah-Gulian receives the ornate hand-cross after it was
immersed in water by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian during the Blessing of
Water ceremony on January 6.

Photo 6: Randy Sapah-Gulian, chair of the board of directors of the Fund for
Armenian Relief, served as the godfather for the Blessing of Water ceremony
on January 6.

Photo 7: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian delivers a sermon at St. Vartan
Cathedral on the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus
Christ.

Photo 8: The faithful kiss the cross during the procession at St. Vartan
Cathedral on the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus
Christ.

Photo 9: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian performs the home blessing service with
Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium.

Photo 10: Ambassador Garen Nazarian delivers a toast at the Christmas
luncheon. Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, vice chair of the Diocesan Council, served
as the master of ceremonies.

Photo 11: The Antranig Dance Ensemble performed at the Diocesan Center
following services on January 6.

The quality of life in Armenia has not changed

armradio.am
08.01.2010 17:49

The International Living Magazine has released the 30th annual Quality
of Life Index, which attempts to answer the question of what is the
best place in the world to live.

The countries have been ranked in 10 categories – Cost of Living,
Culture and Leisure, Economy, Environment, Freedom, Health,
Infrastructure, Safety and Risk, and Climate.

For the fifth time in a row France has been recognized the best
country to live in. The top ten includes also Australia, Switzerland,
Germany, New Zealand, Luxemburg, the United states, Belgium, Canada
and Italy.

With 56 points, Armenia ranks 101st among 194 countries. Georgia,
China, Ghana also have the same number of points. Armenia’s points
have not changes as compared to the previous year.

January 7, 2010

CHRISTMAS SERVICES ATTRACT
THE FAITHFUL
All of our parishes within the Eastern Prelacy have reported
exceptionally large turnout of the faithful for Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day services on January 5 and 6.
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy
and delivered the sermon at St. Illuminators Cathedral in New
York. His Eminence also officiated over the Blessing of the Water
service that followed the Liturgy.
The Vicar General, Bishop Anoushavan, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy, delivered the sermon and officiated over the Blessing of the
Water service at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
PRELATES CHRISTMAS
HOME BLESSING AND RECEPTION
The Prelacys Vahakn and Hasmig Hovnanian Hall was filled to capacity
at the Prelates annual Christmas Reception yesterday
evening. Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan welcomed the many
friends who came to express their Christmas and New Year greetings.
The traditional Home Blessing was conducted by Rev. Fr. Mesrob
Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminators Cathedral with the participation
of area clergy including Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian,
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian.
The Armenian tradition of home blessing has unfortunately
diminished in recent years. Not too long ago it was considered
essential to have homes blessed during the Christmas and Easter holy
days. During the ceremony the priest blesses bread, water, and saltall
considered to be essential to life. It is customary to burn incense,
echoing the words of the psalmist, Let my prayer be counted as incense
before you, (Psalm 141). The priest usually places a wafer (nushkhar)
with the bread, water, and salt.
Oh Christ our God, guardian and hope of all your faithful,
protect and keep in peace your people under the protection of your
holy and venerable cross; and especially this family, their home, the
bread, the salt and the water. Save them O Lord from visible and
invisible enemies and make them worthy to glorify you with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, now and always, forever and ever. Amen.
(The Benediction from the Armenian Blessing of Homes ceremony)
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian performs the traditional Home Blessing
ceremony.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob and Setrak Agonian present a cross to Archbishop
Oshagan in appreciation of his dedicated service to the Cathedral
renovation project.
Archbishop Oshagan with Ambassador and Mrs. Garen Nazarian (right) and
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Gulbenkian.
TODAY IS MEMORIAL DAY
Today, January 7, is Memorial Day. In the tradition of the Armenian
Church the day following each of the five major feasts (Nativity,
Easter, Transfiguration, Assumption, Holy Cross) is a memorial day,
when the faithful go to the cemetery to have the graves of their loved
ones blessed.
NEW KITCHEN DEDICATED AT CATHEDRAL
The new kitchen at St. Illuminators Cathedral was dedicated
yesterday, Wednesday, January 6, following
Christmas and Epiphany services. The newly-located and renovated
kitchen was sponsored by the Cathedrals Ladies Guild, Mr. &
Mrs. Vartan Geudelekian, Mrs. Makrouhi Kaladjian, and Mr. and
Mrs. Avedis Hadjian.
The Cathedral underwent a total renovation that took more than
one year. The final phase of the renovationthe entrance and foyeris
expected to be completed this year.
PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO BOSTON
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Massachusetts this weekend where on
Sunday he will preside over the Divine Liturgy and deliver the Sermon
at St. Stephens Church, Watertown.
VICAR ATTENDS ECUMENICAL EVENT
Bishop Anoushaan Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy, and Ecumenical
Officer of North America for the Holy See of Cilicia, attended a
Christmas and New Year celebration hosted by the Council of the Indian
Orthodox Church in Bellerose, New York, on Sunday, January 3. Bishop
Anoushavan conveyed greetings on behalf of Archbishop Oshagan to His
Grace Bishop Zacharia Mar Nichollovos.

PROF. TANER AKCAM LECTURES IN LEBANON
Professor Taner Akcam, author of A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide
and the Question of Turkish Responsibility, is visiting the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, and other areas in Lebanon.
Four years ago, when His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, was invited to deliver lectures at the College
of Saint Benedict and Saint Johns University in Minnesota, Dr. Akcam
expressed the desire to visit the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The
Turkish historian lectured at the Catholicosate on January 4, and is
scheduled to lecture tomorrow, January 8, at the Punik Auditorium in
Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, January 7, the second day of
Nativity, are: Acts 6:8-8:2; John 12:24-26.
Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the
earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it
bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who
hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever
serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be
also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. (John 12:24-26)
For listing of this weeks Bible readings click here (
F/2010dbr-1.pdf
).

FEAST OF THE NAMING OF OUR LORD
Next Wednesday, January 13, the Armenian Church commemorates the
naming of our Lord Jesus Christ in accordance with the Hebrew
custom. The commemoration of this event (see Matthew 1:20-23; Luke
1:30-32; Luke 2:21) comes seven days after the Feast of Theophany,
which is the eighth day of the octave of Theophany. This event of the
naming and circumcision of our Lord resulted in the tradition for
newborn children of Christians to be baptized eight days after birtha
tradition that is rarely followed in modern times.

ANNUAL GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING
The annual clergy gathering on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont and Priests, will take place at St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, February 8-11. The
Feast of Ghevontiantz is celebrated each year preceding the Vartanantz
Feast.
For the agenda of the clergy conference (in Armenian) click
here (
F/2010ghevontyantzprogram.pdf
).

BALAKIAN AND EGOYAN TO PARTICIPATE IN SYMPOSIUM
Peter Balakian and Atom Egoyan will be featured at a symposium titled
Imagination and Catastrophe: The Aftermath of Genocide, at the Center
for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, this Sunday, January
10. The symposium will include filmmakers, writers, and musicians who
will explore the complexity of creating art that deals with genocide
and its aftermath. The artists and critics will discuss how the
imagination wrestles with historically catastrophic events. The event
begins at 11 a.m. For tickets ($20): or 212-868-4444.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
January 31Saint Sarkis name day, celebrating the patron saint of
St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th St., Douglaston, New York, and special
requiem service for Archpriest Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kelejian. Luncheon
and special cultural program following church services. Donation $25.
For reservations: 718-224-2275.
February 6St. Stephens (Watertown, Massachusetts) Ladies Guild, Mardi
Gras celebration, 7 pm at church hallo. Costumes optional; masks a
must. For information: Mary Derderian, [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) or 781-762-4253.
February 8-10Annual Ghevontiantz Clergy Gathering, hosted by
St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts.
February 28 and March 7General Membership meetings of Soorp
Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
March 21Musical Armenia, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York
City. Featured artists: Tanya Gabrielian, pianist; Natalie Aroyan,
soprano.
May 13 to 16National Representative Assembly hosted by
St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, and St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
July 17A Hye Summer Night V, dance hosted by Ladies Guild of
Sts. Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode
Island. Watch for details.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Turkish Press
Jan 4 2010

Turkey To Open Armenian Church In Eastern City To Worship, Governor
VAN – A regional governor said on Thursday that Turkey would open an
Armenian church in an eastern city to worship in 2010.

Munir Karaloglu, the governor of the eastern province of Van, said
they would open the Akdamar Church to worship in September 2010.

"We expect all Armenian citizens to a prayer at the Akdamar Church on
September 12, 2010," Karaloglu told AA correspondent.

The Akdamar Church on Akdamar Island on Lake Van was opened in 2007 as
a museum after it was restored by the Turkish government between May
2005 and October 2006. The restoration costed 1.7 million USD (2.6
million Turkish liras).

Karaloglu said he had contacted the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
for opening of the church to worship, and they would invite all
Armenians to the prayer in 2010.

Then Turkish Culture & Tourism Minister Atilla Koc, then Armenian
Deputy Minister of Culture Gagik Gyurjan, and Mesrob II, the patriarch
of Turkish Armenians, participated in the inauguration ceremony on
March 29, 2007.

The Akdamar Church was constructed by architect bishop Manuel between
915 and 921 A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I.

Among the important pieces of Armenian architecture, the church draws
attraction with its stone workmanship and the relieves on its walls.

Spain takes reins of revamped EU
By Laurence Peter
BBC News

Story from BBC NEWS:
europe/8435991.stm

Published: 2009/12/31 13:36:59 GMT

>From 1 January Spain takes the helm of the EU – a role which will
define how member states work with the new EU president and foreign
policy chief.

Spain’s six-month term as holder of the EU presidency comes just a
month after the Lisbon Treaty took effect.

EU summits will be chaired by Herman Van Rompuy, the former Belgian
prime minister who is now President of the European Council.

But Spain will steer other top meetings and host summits with non-EU
countries.

Critics say the Lisbon Treaty allows too much scope for overlapping
roles, as the six-month rotating presidency continues, potentially
allowing a member state to further its own agenda.

A key aim of Lisbon is to develop continuity in EU policy-making and
reduce the disruption caused by the six-month rotation.

Spain will chair important EU ministerial meetings on the economy,
eurozone policy, the environment and energy, as well as other sectors.

Jobless army

A major EU goal in the next six months is to agree on a replacement
for the Lisbon Strategy – a blueprint that was supposed to make the EU
the world’s most competitive economy by 2010.

KEY 2010 DATES
18 Jan – Spain sets out priorities
11-19 Jan – European Commission nominees face parliament hearings,
then MEPs vote 26 Jan
11 Feb – Special EU summit on economy
25 Mar – EU summit
18-19 May – EU-Latin America and Caribbean summit
25 May – EU-US summit
17 June – EU summit

Mr Van Rompuy will chair a special EU economic summit on 11 February.

Then on 25 March EU leaders will try to agree on the economic strategy
for the next decade. It has already been outlined by the European
Commission, which has called for a "smarter, greener social market".

Jobs and growth top Spain’s agenda as the EU struggles to recover from
the global economic crisis.

Spain’s unemployment rate has doubled in the past two years. The rate
hit 19.3% in October – the worst figure in the 16-nation eurozone and
the second highest rate in the EU behind Latvia.

Another major challenge is to restore the EU’s role as a world leader
in the battle against climate change. The Copenhagen summit in early
December was widely seen as a debacle for the EU, which wanted a much
more ambitious final deal.

Treading on toes?

Spain has already signalled that it will let Mr Van Rompuy chair
summits with third countries in Spain, with Spanish Prime Minister
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at his side.

A key test of the new diplomatic protocol will be an EU-US summit in
Madrid on 25 May. Who will shake President Barack Obama’s hand first?

The world will be watching closely to see if the Lisbon Treaty
improves or muddies the EU’s international image.

The UK’s Catherine Ashton will chair EU foreign ministers’ meetings,
as the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs. But first she must
get the approval of Euro MPs at European Parliament hearings in
January.

The 27 nominees for European Commission posts will each be questioned
in turn by MEPs at the 11-19 January hearings, with a vote on the full
Commission set for 26 January.

Resetting the compass

It is not yet clear to what extent Madrid will be able to focus the EU
on Spanish foreign policy priorities, which include improving
relations with Cuba and North Africa, forging closer trade ties with
Latin America as a whole and pushing for the creation of a Palestinian
state alongside Israel.

Spain’s interest in the Americas and North Africa is already clear
from the list of EU summits with third countries that will be held in
Spain: Morocco (7-8 March), Canada (10 May), Mexico (15-16 May), Latin
America and Caribbean (18-19 May), United States (25 May), and Egypt
(5 June).

In July 2008 France – the then holder of the EU presidency – launched
a 43-nation Union for the Mediterranean, which included North African
countries, and that may get a boost from Spain’s presidency. It made
little progress in 2009.

But the EU has another major initiative with neighbouring countries –
the Eastern Partnership, launched in May this year. It aims to build
closer ties with six former Soviet republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Croatia is eager to conclude its accession talks with the EU in 2010,
aiming for membership in 2011. Meanwhile, its Balkan neighbours are
also in the queue to join at some future date, along with Iceland and
Turkey.

news.am, Armenia
Jan 1 2010

New Year Congratulatory Address of NKR President Bako Sahakyan

02:53 / 01/01/2010Dear compatriots,

Time has come to bid farewell to the year of 2009 and meet the New
Year, a bright and wonderful holiday that symbolizes kindness, love
and harmony.
All of us are looking forward to the New Year with great hopes and
expectations that it will be more successful and effective, that our
wishes and aims will come true. And we are trying to recall the past
year, analyze and find keystones of success or the reasons of
failures.

Dear people of Artsakh,

I am confident that together we will do everything possible to make
the future of our people more safe and peaceful, and our country more
prosperous and flourishing.
On this festive day I bow my head before the memory of all the martyrs
of the Artsakh liberation struggle. Eternal glory to them! Let the New
Year bring happiness to their relatives, to our disable, to the entire
personnel of the Defense Army from privates to generals, to our
sisters and brothers in Armenia and the Diaspora, to the heroic people
of Artsakh.
Let the 2010 year bring warmth and abundance to our families, health
and success to our relatives, peace and prosperity to the Fatherland.
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

HUNGARIAN FM: AZERBAIJAN IS OUR STRATEGIC PARTNER IN SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION

Today
Dec 28 2009
Azerbaijan

How do you assess the current bilateral relations between Hungary
and Azerbaijan?

Hungary considers the Republic of Azerbaijan as a strategic partner
in the South Caucasus region. We recognized the independence
of Azerbaijan on 26 December, 1991. Diplomatic relations were
established on 27 April, 1992. The first embassy of Hungary in Baku
was opened on January 12, 2009. The political relations between the
two countries are meaningful and excellent, with no major problems or
misunderstandings. Economic cooperation is also steadily on the rise.

In the field of contracts we have already done the bulk of the job
and created a whole net of so called basic agreements destined to
boost this cooperation.

Past years have witnessed a number of important high level visits
between the two countries. Just to mention the most important ones, we
had the privilege to welcome President Ilham Aliyev twice in Hungary,
first in February 2008 and then in January 2009. The Prime Minister of
Hungary also visited Azerbaijan twice, in July and November 2008. In
September 2008 the Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary held
talks in Baku.

We are really impressed by the remarkable economic performance of
Azerbaijan, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of which is increasing
by more than 10% per year despite the severe conditions of the global
financial crisis. The economic turnover between the two countries
is also on the rise. The overall Hungarian-Azerbaijani turnover was
USD 85.9 million in 2008, while in the period between January and
September 2009 it was USD 62,7 million. These figures highlight that
we have serious reserves in our bilateral economic relations to be
exploited by common efforts.

Besides the political and economic fields, we have an increasingly
developing cooperation in the field of culture, education, defense and
energy supply. We are convinced that Azerbaijan can play a significant
role in the diversification of Europe’s energy supply. Therefore we
would welcome the greatest possible involvement and participation of
Azerbaijan in the Nabucco Project as well.

What is Budapest’s position on the question of Armenian Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

We are quite aware of the complexity of this problem. Given the
political, legal, historical, moral and human aspects of the conflict,
we consider that the genuine solution can only be worked out along and
on the basis of the so called Madrid Principles. The solution has to
be reached through negotiations and only by peaceful means, taking
into consideration the core interest of each party concerned. It
is very important to mention that the territorial integrity of the
countries involved and the rights of the national minorities has to
be equally respected.

There is no doubt that the direct highest-level contacts play a crucial
role in the solution of this conflict. Therefore, we truly welcome
the practice of personal meetings and talks between the Presidents
of Azerbaijan and Armenia. We do hope that the two heads of state
will find the right modalities of the solution.

At this moment, how does Hungary see the perspectives of success of
the Nabucco project? What are your expectations from Azerbaijan in
this matter?

Hungary has contributed considerably to the success of Nabucco by
promoting it on every possible international forum, including the
January Nabucco Summit held in Budapest. The Hungarian Parliament
was the first to ratify the Nabucco Intergovernmental Agreement,
and our ambassador-at-large has already deposited the instrument
of ratification in Ankara. This may give a further impetus to other
state parties to accelerate their internal procedure of ratification.

Indeed, the year of 2009 was a milestone in the life of Nabucco.

However the fate of the project will be decided only in the coming
year. In order to reach the point of no return Nabucco needs a final
investment decision at end of 2010.

To launch the project per se, the pipeline should be filled up
with gas. Azerbaijan has already committed herself several times to
offering 8 bcm of natural gas from the Shah Deniz field. Nevertheless,
the consortium needs not only the molecules to start the project.

Member states highly appreciate and keep counting on the political
cooperation of Azerbaijan, considering the Nabucco not merely as a
commercial project but as a symbol of long-term strategic teamwork
between EU and Caspian countries.

The EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner has made a statement that
European Union continues its work on giving the associative membership
to the "Eastern Partnership" program country members. Now, considering
that Hungary is a member of the EU, and Azerbaijan is in the "Eastern
Partnership" program, what, in your opinion, are the privileges of
this associative membership?

The Eastern Partnership has never been a "doorstep" to EU membership.

Its main goal has been and will remain to assist our partner countries
in their approximation to EU structures, offering specific bilateral
and multilateral programs and projects in order to assist the
implementation of their structural reforms in the fields of economy,
finances, good governance, institution building etc. Therefore, the
Eastern Partnership is not about membership. However, in accordance
with Article 49 of the Treaty of Rome, the possibility of membership
is open to any European country which fulfils the membership criteria.

The Eastern Partnership may open new forms of cooperation between the
EU and the partner countries, including the upgrading of contractual
relations towards association agreements. The same has been offered
to Azerbaijan.

Considering Hungary’s experience in the EU integration process, what,
in this case, Budapest could share with Baku?

Hungary has been supporting Azerbaijan’s rapprochement to the EU. We
are ready to offer all kind of assistance at our disposal, including
our experience in preparing for negotiations on the post-Partnership
and Cooperation Agreement. During our EU Presidency in the first half
of 2011, we would like to put on the EU’s agenda issues of interest
for our Eastern partners, including Azerbaijan. We wish to create
favorable circumstances for preparing decisions giving additional
impetus to our mutually advantageous cooperation.

Do you believe that the South Caucasus countries (which include
Azerbaijan) could in time become "full" members of the European Union?

Some experts expressed an interesting point of view. According to
them, "Eastern Partnership" program is considered some sort of a
"buffer zone" between the countries of the EU and other countries of
the region. Do you agree with that?

It is crucial that the Eastern Partnership will provide additional
impetus to the economic and social development of our Eastern
partners. Consequently, it can help to ease the impact of the global
economic crisis which has badly affected the region. However, the
Eastern Partnership is a long-term program, not a magic cure-all for
every problem. It offers a broad range "menu" from which the relevant
partner countries could choose, according to their aspirations, needs,
and level of ambition.

This is not a "carte blanche" of course – conditionality and
differentiation are key principles of the Eastern Partnership. Better
performance of partner countries is a prerequisite to make effective
use of the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

The Eastern Partnership is not a tool for EU integration. However, its
programs facilitating the adoption of the acquis and the convergence
to the EU’s system of values and rules should prove helpful in practice
for those Eastern partners who wish to have a European perspective.

Consequently, the Eastern Partnership has never been a "buffer zone"
between the EU and other countries; it is rather an important step
forward, a concrete policy to be developed according to our mutual
interest.

Should there be expected any official visits from Hungary to Azerbaijan
in the near future?

It is our intention to continue developing our relations through
high-level contacts. We consider reciprocating some time in the
not too distant future the highest level visit by the President of
Azerbaijan to Hungary. However, as you may also know, the schedule
of the Hungarian President and the political agenda in Hungary in
2010 are rather tight. Parliamentary elections will be followed by
the municipal elections and later on by the election of the Head of
State at the National Assembly. So while we try to keep this momentum
alive and back up the practice of high level contacts, we have to
manage at the same time the difficult task of the right timing of
the forthcoming visits.

Nevertheless, we do attach great importance to this matter and
believe that the highest level visits as well as those of official and
professional nature are very important. They may considerably boost
our relations and open up new opportunities for further excellent
cooperation between Hungary and Azerbaijan.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: PRESENT FOREIGN POLICY ANTIPODAL TO FORMER

news.am
Dec 28 2009
Armenia

"We were members of one team, supporting one and the same foreign
policy, and I did not expect such processes to take place in this
field," the former Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian stated,
commenting on RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s foreign policy.

According to him, the present foreign policy is antipodal to that
pursued by the former authorities.

According to Oskanian, all of Armenia’s problems, whether political or
economic ones, are in monopolism. "If we fail to create alternatives,
we will not be able to resolve any problems. We amended the
Constitution to create alternatives and counterbalances, bu the
authorities usurped the power," Oskanian said.

As regards foreign policy challenges, Oskanian stressed that the
way out of any difficult situation can be founded provided internal
consolidation exists in Armenia. Speaking of the present stage of
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, he said: "Unfortunately, they in
Europe believe that the issue of territories has been settled under
a package agreement. So they are waiting for progress and for the
Armenian-Turkish border to be reopened. We have to make them change
their opinion," Oskanian said.