Author: Kalashian Nyrie

ARMENIAN ECONOMIC COMPETITION PROTECTION COMMISSION TO TIGHTEN PRICE CONTROL

news.am
Dec 18 2009
Armenia

At its December 17 sitting the RA Commission for Protection of Economic
Competition decided to tighten control over prices for and sales of
a number of consumer products.

The Commission’s press service told NEWS.am that the results of the
Commission-conducted monitoring show an upward trend in the market
prices for petrol, diesel fuel, medicines, vegetable oil, butter and
sugar. The Commission is taking measures to prevent economic entities
from breaking the law by practicing unjustified price rise and has
demanded that economic entities to properly justify each case of
price rise.

Specifically, in the petrol market this principle will apply to the
Flash Ltd., City Petrol Group Ltd., Mika Corporation, Kagh Petrol
Service; in the drug market, these are Natali Pharm, Alphapharm,
Argopharm, as well as 22 other companies; in the vegetable oil market,
Alex-Grig, Dost International, and others; in the sugar market, Alex
Grig; in the egg market Lusakert Ltd., Arax Ltd., Arzni Pedigree Ltd.

IRAN READY TO ASSIST AZERBAIJAN IN SETTLING THE KARABAKH PROBLEM

news.az
Dec 18 2009
Azerbaijan

"Iran is ready to help the fraternal country in settling the Karabakh
problem.

The Karabakh conflict is almost a problem of the entire region.

Problems of each region must be settled by regional countries. Foreign
countries pursue their own interests above all", said Iranian
ambassador in Azerbaijan Mohammad Baghir Bahrami told.

The ambassador also stressed that his country is ready to mediate
the conflict settlement.

"Unfortunately, the practice of the OSCE Minsk Group is not so good for
Azerbaijan. We believe the region will develop, if regional stability
prevails. If Iran can also participate in the discussions to resolve
the conflict, it will try to reach a resolution of the conflict using
its potential in the international arena", the ambassador said.

According to Bahrami, the Minsk Group either is unable to solve this
problem or does not want to do it.

"Iran also wants to take advantage of its position. The meeting of
presidents and foreign ministers of the two countries will promote
the problem settlement which will open a new stage in the resolution
of the issue. I hope the conflict will find its fair solution through
the efforts of the regional countries", the ambassador added.

SCHIFF SLAMS TURKISH LOBBY GENOCIDE DENIAL

armradio.am
19.12.2009 13:13

House Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor, Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-CA), this week, called for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.252) as a necessary step to both counter Turkey’s
campaign of denial and to help lay the foundation for a lasting
Armenia-Turkey relationship based on truth, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

Rep. Schiff’s actions came in response to a letter from the Assembly of
Turkish American Associations (ATAA) and Federation of Turkish American
Associations (FTAA) that cited the historical "commission" provision
of the recently signed Turkey-Armenia Protocols as justification for
blocking Congressional condemnation and commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide. "The Turkey-Armenia Protocols, which the United States,
Europe and Russia are supporting, include the establishment of a
historical commission to investigate the events of 1915," explain
ATAA President Gunay Evinch and FTAA President Kaya Boztepe. "This
investigation will necessarily probe the Armenian Revolt (1885-1919)
during which 1.1 million Ottoman Muslims and Jews perished, and
its consequences for Ottoman Armenian rebels and their supporters,"
they continue, advancing the standard Turkish government propaganda
denying the Armenian Genocide.

Rep. Schiff, in a letter made public on December 18th, explained,
"I received your letter regarding the Armenian Genocide Resolution
(H.Res.252) and after reading it, I am more certain than ever that the
best way to ensure that the victims of the Armenian Genocide are not
forgotten is to pass the resolution." The California legislator also
stressed his concern that "tiny, landlocked Armenia will be forced to
accept an historical whitewash in order to end the punitive blockade
that is stifling its economic development and threatens to condemn
another generation of Armenian children to poverty."

Referencing recent statements by U.S government officials that the
"commission is not intended as a vehicle to review the history of the
Armenian Genocide," Rep. Schiff described the ATAA/FTAA joint letter as
"a vehicle to continue Ankara’s decades of denial."

"Congressman Schiff’s powerful response to the ATAA and FTAA clearly
rejects Turkey’s attempts to use the Turkey- Armenia Protocols to
block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide," said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. "We value, as well, the Congressman’s
strong words, his principled stand, and his tireless efforts to firmly
establish the fundamental truth that Turkey has spent decades trying
to avoid – namely that the universal recognition of this crime –
including by both Washington and Ankara – represents a necessary
element of any durable Armenia-Turkey relationship."

H.Res.252, introduced on March 17th of this year by lead sponsors Adam
Schiff and George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), currently has over
135 cosponsors. Its companion legislation in the Senate (S.Res.316),
spearheaded by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV)
has 11 cosponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
and Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), the most recent addition to the cosponsor
list. Both bills are identical to legislation in the 110th Congress
that was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and publicly
endorsed by then-candidate for President Barack Obama, current Vice
President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Since
the introduction of the current resolution this March, President
Obama has broken his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
retreating markedly from repeated statements and promises he made
throughout his service in the Senate calling for proper U.S.

condemnation and commemoration of this crime against humanity.

THE RECURRENT SITTING OF THE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE TOOK PLACE

; p=0&id=1093&y=2009&m=12&d=17
17.12 .09

>>From the 14th to 17th of December, 2009 the recurrent 4th
sitting of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental committee of the
military-technical cooperation took place in Yerevan. The sitting was
presided by the co-presidents of the committee RA Deputy Minister of
Defence Alik Mirzabekyan and the deputy director of the RF federal
service of military-technical cooperation Konstantin Biryulin. During
the sitting they discussed matters related to the further development
of the Armenian-Russian military and military-technical cooperation.

On the 16th of December, in the frames of the sitting, in the RA MoD
Administrative Complex the RA Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan and
the deputy director of the RF federal service of military-technical
cooperation, co-president of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental
committee of the military-technical cooperation Konstantin Biryulin
signed a agreements about "The interaction between the governments
of the RA and RF while exporting goods of military importance to a
third country". In his speech preceding the signing ceremony Seyran
Ohanyan underlined that signing these agreements between the RA and RF
governments is of great importance for fostering the Armenian-Russian
military cooperation and will contribute to the strengthening of the
fighting capacity of the two countries.

INDIA INTENDS TO OPEN ARMENIAN-INDIAN CENTER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN
DECEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Security Council
Secretary Artur Baghdasarian met with newly appointed Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to RA Achal Kumar Malhotra
on December 17. The interlocutors attached importance to the issue of
formation and further deepening of cooperation between RA and Indian
Security Councils. A. Baghdasarian invited his Indian counterpart to
Armenia for outlining the directions of cooperation in the security
sphere.

According to the National Security Council Press Office, the Ambassador
expressed readiness to support deepening of bilateral contacts in
various spheres of mutual importance. He said that in 2010 India
intends to initiate a number of programs in Armenia, in particular, it
intends to open an Armenian-Indian center for information technologies
in Armenia.

DENMARK APPOINTS NEW AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

armradio.am
17.12.2009 15:58

The newly appointed Ambassador the Kingdom of Denmark to Armenia,
Michael Borg-Hansen, presented the copies of his credentials to the
foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian.

Minister Nalbandian congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office
and said the ministry would do its best to support him throughout his
mission. Minister Nalbandian voiced hope that Ambassador Borg-Hansen
would contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

Reference was made to the cooperation between Armenia and the European
Union, as well as a wide range of regional issues.

ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT NOT INTEND TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR NKR SETTLEMENT PROGRAM

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.12.2009 17:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Last year, Armenian authorities approved our
proposals for the draft budget of 2009, but it turned out that 90
per cent of our proposals were suspended then, Artsvik Minasyan ,
ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group member told a press conference
in Yerevan today. According to him, this year the ARF was ready to
abandon all its proposals on the draft budget for 2010, in exchange
for one project – to increase financing of the NKR settlement program,
which was rejected by the authorities.

"The government decided to allocate funds for schools without giving
reasons for its decision, but refused to accept such an important
project as Karabakh settlement," Artsvik Minasyan said.

In turn, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia Gagik Minasyan
stressed that the decision to provide financial aid to schools has
long been in government programs. He also noted that the Armenian
authorities have increased assistance to Karabakh by AMD 2 billion
copmared to the amount originally projected.

"We do not have to say to Karabakh how to handle money, it would
mean that we do not trust them. NKR knows better how to use funds
and which issue is a priority for them, " Gagik Minasyan said.

EU and U.S. concerned over Kurdish party dissolution

NEWS.am
10:10 / 12/12/2009

EU expressed concern over the Turkish Constitutional Court’s judgment
dissolving the Kurdish `Democratic Society Party’ (DTP).

A representative of Sweden, which is chairing the EU Council, stated
the judgment violates the Kurdish minority’s rights. The EU condemns
violence and terrorism, but the dissolution of political parties is an
exceptional case, which needs to apply with utmost restraint, the EU’s
statement reads.

A U.S. Department of State representative outlined the decision is an
internal issue of Turkey, pointing out restrictions of political
freedoms should, however, be treated carefully.

As NEWS.am reported earlier, hundreds of people in different cities
held rallies after the Turkish Constitutional Court made its judgment.
The protestors in Diyarbakir threw Molotov cocktails at the police.

L.A.

Mass clashes in Turkey; EU concerned over ban on pro-Kurd party

Aysor.am
12/12/09

Mass clashes erupted between police and demonstrators of the
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party in the southeastern province of
Hakkari on Friday. Demonstrates went to streets for `Peace and
Democracy March’ after ban on Turkish pro-Kurd party. Turkey’s top
court earlier banned the main pro-Kurdish party for its connection
with the Kurdish rebels.

Around 3,000 people walked to the Hakkari Municipality building,
according to Dogan news agency. After clashes, protesters smashed shop
windows, set on fire the dumpsters. Police used tear gas; dozens of
people were arrested.

Meanwhile the European Union voiced concern over ban on Turkish
pro-Kurd party. The Swedish presidency said it is concerned over the
decision by Turkey’s Constitutional Court to close the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party. This is a violation of rights of the Kurdish
minority, it said.

"While strongly denouncing violence and terrorism, the presidency
recalls that the dissolution of political parties is an exceptional
measure that should be used with utmost restraint," said in the
presidency’s message.

The U.S. State Department representative said that the decision to ban
the pro-Kurt party is a completely internal business of Turkey. But it
is necessary to be choicely in limiting the political freedoms, he
added.

Azeri Defense Minister keeps threatening war on Armenia
12.12.2009 16:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev is again
threatening war on Armenia in case of failure to settle Karabakh
conflict peacefully.

`Military solution is always realistic. All depends on the results of
talks,’ Abiyev said.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry’s statement, saying that `the armed forces
of the RA and NKR are highly qualified and can rebuff any attack’ can
be a response to Azeri official’s threats.