Author: Kalashian Nyrie

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN, TURKISH PARLIAMENTS ESTABLISH CONTACTS

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Speaker of the RA Parliament Hovik Abramyan held a meeting on Moscow
with his Turkish counterpart Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin. The meeting was held
within the framework of the 34th conference of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization (BSEC).

The press service of the RA Parliament told NEWS.am that the sides
exchanged views on the Armenia-Turkey normalization process without any
preconditions. Speaker Abramyan stressed the Armenia side considers
it necessary that the Armenian-Turkish protocols be signed within a
reasonable timeframe. Hovik Abramyan and Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin welcomed
the Armenian and Turkish Presidents’ resolution and joint work, which
has laid the foundations for natural relations between the two nations.

In this context the sides shared the opinion that direct human contacts
should first of all be promoted and that the two Parliaments have to
establish relations. The sides made a high appraisal of their meeting
and expressed hope for further ones.

TIGRAN BALAYAN SAYS IT IS EARLY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BILATERAL MEETINGS OF THE ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ATHENS

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: "As of this moment we can only say
that Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan will participate in
the OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens," spokesman for the Armenian
foreign minister Tigran Balayan told Armenpress in a phone conversation
from Italy. The spokesman did not provide any information about the
bilateral meetings of the Armenian minister within the framework of
the gathering, noting that it is early to speak about them.

The statement of the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs about the results of
the Munich meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents says
that as a next step the meeting of the foreign ministers of the two
countries is expected to be organized in early December in Athens on
the eve of OSCE Ministerial Council.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
Nov 20 2009

Russia does not link Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia-Turkey processes – spokesman

Russian MFA Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko Response to Media Query
Regarding "Association" between Processes of Nagorno Karabakh
Settlement and Normalization of Armenian-Turkish Relations
1751-19-11-2009

Moscow has taken note that some Armenian media have raised a fuss
about the remarks made by the Russian MFA Spokesman on November 17.
They allege that Moscow has changed its position and now links the
processes of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement and Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement. This is a misunderstanding. Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov has repeatedly clarified Russia’s point of view. It remains
unchanged. These are two different processes.

We have a positive attitude to the bilateral documents signed by
Armenia and Turkey, which determine their subsequent actions towards
comprehensive normalization of state relations.

We believe that the establishment of good neighbourly relations
between Armenia and Turkey should objectively contribute to further
steps to promote peace and security in Transcaucasia.

As to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, despite continuing disagreements,
the parties have managed to achieve some definite progress in agreeing
on the basic principles for its settlement.

We see our role in facilitating this process, the search by the
parties for mutually acceptable solutions to the key issues, but
without the imposition on the conflict participants of any recipes
from outside. At the same time we believe that the primary
responsibility for the final choice should lie with the Azerbaijanis
and Armenians themselves. Russia will be ready to support the solution
option which will suit all parties involved, and if a compromise
agreement is reached to act as guarantor of the settlement. Clearly, a
viable solution will be the one that will enable returning stability
and tranquillity in Transcaucasia and in the post-conflict period help
to maintain the historically established geopolitical balance of
forces there and is not likely to transform the region into an arena
of international political and military rivalry.

November 19, 2009

Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2009

Armenian elite understands regional alignment of forces will not be in
favor of Armenia: Russian expert

21 November 2009 [13:44] – Today.Az

Day.Az interview with Russian political expert and Head of the
Political Forecasting Service of the Center for Post-Soviet Studies
Alexander Karavayev.

Day.Az: According to media reports, Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents will meet in Munich on Nov. 22. What are your expectations?
Can we expect progress?

Alexander Karavayev: It is hard to predict. It seems there are good
conditions for a breakthrough that could be beneficial for Armenia. At
present, Azerbaijan extends its hand to Armenia. In general, fairly
positive picture emerges out of the impasse. Support by global powers
and, of course, the Diaspora serves as an incentive to keep Karabakh
and surrounding areas. Actually, this support has always existed and
still exists. But support is rendered to Armenia as a state. It is not
policy of this state in respect of Karabakh.

The Armenian elite understands that the alignment of regional forces
in the foreseeable future will not be in favor of Armenia. But now
there are all chances to gradually get out of this impasse with
dignity, and to get benefits from it. If no progress is reached, a
window of opportunities will remain till the spring of 2010.

Q: What can be an alternative to the Minsk Group?

A: I have no idea. Any scheme in this respect is possible. If the CIS
bodies had retained the authority and power, this organization would
have every reason to become a sponsor of the peace process. But it did
not happen. Peacekeeping forces can hold any name. But only powers
that enjoy credibility and respect all over the world should act as
organizers. However, experience shows even this is not always enough.

Q: The Council of Europe Secretary General says his organization is
ready to offer assistance once Turkey and Armenia need it while
normalizing relations. What assistance can the Council of Europe
provide?

A: Probably, they could offer "to talk about it." No more. For
example, hold a conference, meeting of members of parliament and
public leaders. There can be no exceptional diplomatic involvement of
the Council of Europe.

Day.Az

URL:

NATIONAL POLICE OF TURKEY SUSPECTED IN PLANNING OF MURDER OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS IN TURKEY

ArmInfo
2009-11-20 15:07:00

ArmInfo. The investigation into an alleged illegal network known as
Ergenekon has revealed that a civilian who was formerly employed by
the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had collected detailed information on
Turkey’s ethnic Armenian population.

As Turkish Zaman says, Ergenekon investigators found that Fatma
Cengiz, who is currently a suspect in the case against Ergenekon,
collected various dossiers regarding the Armenian community in Turkey.

The file included a list of subscribers to the bilingual Armenian
weekly Agos.

In addition, there were lists of names and members of Armenian
foundations and churches, which were classified as "active" or not, as
well as the balance sheets of Agos. Cengiz had been in the limelight
before after claims that she gave information to Ibrahim Sahin,
a former deputy head of the National Police Department’s Special
Operations Unit, to establish "S-1 and S-2 teams" to assassinate
intellectual leaders in society.

According to sources, Cengiz also tracked the names of academics,
writers and journalists who participated a two-day academic conference
held on Sept. 24-25, 2005, at Istanbul Bilgi University titled "Ottoman
Armenians during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific
Responsibility and Democracy." The conference openly disputed the
official Turkish account of the Armenian massacres. In the files
allegedly belonging to Cengiz, who is also known as Asena Ozturk,
there are several famous names, with notes next to their names:
Halil Berktay, "professor, he had publicly said that Armenians were
massacred"; Kazm Aknc, "secret Armenian, he applied to a court to
change his religion after Dink [Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant Dink
who was assassinated by an ultranationalist teenager in 2007]";
Ece Temelkuran, "she said that if something happens to her the
prime minister is responsible for it, she is a graduate of the Ankara
faculty of law"; Herkul Milas, "he is not an Armenian"; Sevan Nisanyan,
"writer at Taraf, maybe from Agos, needed to be investigated"; Markar
Esayan, "Taraf writer, information regarding him will come together
with Etyen Mahcupyan"; Aytac Ilhan, "he might be a student in Igdr,
he should be investigated, he had applied to change his religion";
Baskn Oran, Adalet Agaoglu and Elif Safak.

Investigators have also found a PowerPoint presentation which was
allegedly prepared by Cengiz, who signed it as Asena Ozturk. In that
presentation, pictures of Sahin and Korkut Eken, a former officer of
the TSK Special Operations, are placed side by side. There is also a
photograph of former Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukant, in
addition to the expression "Everything is for the country," written
in blood on a background of weapons and the Turkish flag.

CRIMES AGAINST MINORS PRIMARILY COMMITTED BY ADULTS, SAYS POLICE COLONEL

Tert
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

During 10 months of this year, 7,222 criminal offences have been
registered in Armenia — compared to 5,480 for the same period last
year, announced Head of Department of Criminal Investigations of RA
Police, Colonel Hovik Tamamyan.

At a press conference today, Tamamyan presented the complete picture
of crimes registered in Armenia by and against minors during a 10-month
period in 2009: during that time, 383 crimes were committed by minors,
which is 18 more cases than in the previous year. Out of this total,
96 crimes were committed by 14-15 year-olds, while 276 were committed
by 16-17 year-olds.

Out of the total criminal offences, 23 were committed by young women, 4
were committed by youth under the influence of alcohol, and 1 committed
by a juvenile under the influence of drugs. The majority of crimes were
committed by youth with varying occupations; excluding 24 delinquents
who were students. In any case, none of the crimes committed by youth
were murder cases. Tamamyan, speaking on the reasons for the crimes,
mentioned an noteworthy fact: according to the colonel, crimes against
juveniles were primarily committed by adults.

The picture of crimes committed against minors is not a pretty one.

During the current year, 155 crimes have been committed against
juveniles, 2 of which were murders, 2 were deaths caused by
carelessness, 3 resulted in suicides, 3 physical assaults, 4 sexual
assaults, and 25 sexual violations. What is distressing to note is
that the crimes committed by youth are nothing compared to those
committed by adults against youth.

And the icing on the cake? Today marks the 20th anniversary of the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Armenia adopted in 1993.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH MUST BE RESOLVED IN OLD FORMAT: RUSSIAN FM

Trend
Nov 17 2009
Azerbaijan

Conflicts addressed by the OSCE should be resolved in the previously
agreed upon format, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in
response to a question posed by Trend News during a news conference
in Moscow today.

"These conflicts, such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Transdniester and Kosovo
should be resolved in the previously adopted format," he said.

"Kazakhstan as the organization’s chairman will take a responsible
approach to this problem."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

EU has gained a foothold in Georgia and will now try to do the same in
Armenia and Azerbaijan

2009-11-14 20:12:00

ArmInfo. In the coming half a year the EU will be very busy with its
own affairs. It will introduce the post of EU Foreign Minister, who
will be provided with very broad competences, particularly, in
resolving territorial conflicts like the one in Nagorno-Karabakh,
Program Director for Russia-Eurasia of the German Council on Foreign
Relations Alexander Rahr said in an interview to ArmInfo.

The EU FM will have its office. Some special representatives will most
probably be changed. Rahr does not expect quick or drastic changes but
is sure that the European foreign policy will be very active in the
South Caucasus. As a result of the Russian-georgian conflict, the EU
has gained a foothold in Georgia and now will try to do the same in
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

It seems that the EU is not sure what to do with the upper hand it has
gained in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process but it knows that
something must be done. It may so happen that Armenia will be
pressured into giving back the territories surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh, Nagorno-Karabakh will be granted some more specific
status and some troops, probably, European, will be send to keep peace
in the area.

MATTHEW BRYZA NOT TO BE APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. According to
American diplomatic sources, the U.S. State Department has suspended
the procedure of appointing Matthew Bryza Ambassador of U.S. to
Azerbaijan. According to Asbarez, the post of the U.S. Ambassador to
Azerbaijan has been vacant for already 4 months and media constantly
reported about the probability of Matthew Bryza’s appointment as
Ambassador to Azerbaijan citing Bryza’s words that the South Caucasus
is dear to him and he will be content to work there.

IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT OCCUPIED TERRITORIES SURROUNDING NAGORNO-KARABAKH SHOULD BE RETURNED TO AZERBAIJAN: RUSSIAN EXPERT

Today
458.html
Nov 13 2009
Azerbaijan

"Russia believes that settlement of any conflict in the Caucasus
contributes to the resolution of all conflicts in the region, in
particular, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," Director General of
Russia-based Effective Policy Fund Kiril Tanayev said.

"From an optimistic viewpoint, all frozen conflicts will one day be
resolved. It is wrong to expect everything to be resolved "in a few
days." I think it is widely believed that territories surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh should be returned to Azerbaijan, and a resolution
will be achieved at some point," he added.

Tanayev also commented on recent media reports claiming that Turkey
may become OSCE Minsk Group co-chair.

"I think this is some kind of analytical speculation. Any change
in format of the negotiations involves not only the opinion of
mediators countries, but, above all, countries that are parties to
the negotiations, namely, Azerbaijan and Armenia. I think on any
changes to format of the negotiations depends on positions of these
countries," Tanayev noted.