Author: Kanayan Tamar

PATRIARCH TALKS ABOUT TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

The Messenger
Nov 6 2009
Georgia

As part of his visit to Azerbaijan Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
Ilia II met Caucasus Muslims Sheikhulislam head Haji Allahshukur
Pashazade on November 5. One of the topics they discussed was the
territorial integrity of Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Azeri news agency Trend News reported that the Catholicos-Patriarch
stated at the meeting that war and instability will not last forever
in the South Caucasus, adding that Georgia will do everything it can
to restore territorial integrity in both countries.

"We live in a very difficult time," he said. "Although we always
dreamed of independence, our expectations have not been entirely met.

Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s territorial integrity have been violated.

We will not allow Azerbaijan’s integrity to be further violated. We
will do everything we can to restore it," the Catholicos-Patriarch
stated, mentioning the efforts of the Sheikhulislam and the Azerbaijani
and Georgian Presidents to restore peace and stability in the region.

Pashazade stated at the meeting that both neighbouring states share a
‘common fate’ and in many ways the destiny of Azerbaijan and Georgia
is the same, highlighting that some forces hope to sow discord among
these nations. "A major problem for both Georgia and Azerbaijan
is the violation of their territorial integrity," he said. "It is
no secret that other serious problems in the Caucasus are related
to Armenia’s territorial claims against its neighbours. I believe
you will make every effort to establish peace in the Caucasus and
eliminate separatism," the Caucasus Muslim spiritual leader added.

Before meeting Pashazade the Catholicos-Patriarch had met Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev on November 4. According to Azeri news sources
Aliyev expressed his satisfaction regarding the successful development
of Azeri-Georgian relations in all spheres. The Azerbaijani leader
praised the participation of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
in the international conference entitled "Interreligious dialogue:
from mutual understanding towards joint cooperation" to be held in
Baku. Greeting President Aliyev on behalf of the Georgian Orthodox
Church and people, Ilia II said that the Georgian people know the
Azerbaijani leader very well and love him for conducting his wise
policy at this difficult time.

Georgian Patriarch Ilia II left for Baku on November 4 to attend
the 60th birthday of Allashukur Pashazade, Caucasus Muslim Council
Head and spiritual leader of Azerbaijan. Russian Patriarch Kyril,
Pope Benedict XVI and other spiritual leaders are also expected to
attend the celebrations on November 6. Contradictory reports have
been spread concerning a possible meeting between the Georgian and
Russian Patriarchs, which would be their first, in Baku.

RUSSIA MAY WIN OUT AS ARMENIA AND TURKEY RESTORE TIES: TREND NEWS COMMENTATOR

Trend
Nov 3 2009
Azerbaijan

Commentator of Trend News European Desk, Elmira Tariverdiyeva

The recent establishment of diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey
will not only affect the interests of these two countries. This process
stretches far beyond the region, as restoring these relations are
important for Ankara and Yerevan, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and also
the West.

But perhaps the international community is most curious about Russia’s
attitude about these processes, as one of the most interested regional
players in the South Caucasus.

Moscow always played the role of Yerevan’s key ally. The Russia-Armenia
strategic partnership developed due to a historic friendship between
the two Christian peoples. Moscow considers Armenia a major ally and
partner in the South Caucasus, especially after the August events in
Georgia, when Russia cut off all diplomatic relations with Tbilisi.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has always maintained political balance, sharing
congenial relations with all countries in the region, Russia and the
West, and historically preferring Turkey as an ally.

The recent history of cooperation between Russia and Armenia dates back
to 1992 when the Russian and Armenian presidents signed a treaty on the
legal status of the Russian armed forces in Armenia. In March 1995,
the two countries signed a treaty on stationing Russia’s military
base in the country. Since 1992, Armenia and Russia have also joined
the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Russia has repeatedly provided financial assistance to Yerevan.

Armenia has been in an economic blockade since 1993 when Turkey
followed Azerbaijan’s example and closed its borders with the country.

Russia also boasts one of the largest and most influential Armenian
Diasporas in the world.

However, the establishment of diplomatic ties between Armenia and
Turkey today is rapidly changing the geopolitical configuration of the
South Caucasus. Many observers believe Russia may lose its influence
in Armenia as open borders with Turkey will make the country less
economically dependent on Moscow.

Russia, though, will actually benefit from the renewed diplomatic ties.

Armenia will never trust Turkey as much as Moscow. History’s ghosts
will haunt Ankara-Yerevan bilateral relations – more specifically
centuries of Western Armenia being a part of the Ottoman Empire and
the so-called "genocide" in 1915.

Recent history is also full of unpleasant memories.

During the active military phase of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Turkey clearly sided with Azerbaijan, which was the reason why it
closed its borders with Armenia.

Russian businesses, which filled a serious gap in the Armenian economy
at the time, are now so firmly rooted in the country’s economy that
Turkish businessmen will not be able to compete. After the opening of
the borders, Turkish business in Armenia will be more entrepreneurial
in spirit than Russia’s large-scale projects.

However, on the other hand, Turkey’s large and streamlined economy
will defeat the need to keep Russia as a constant donor.

Russia’s investments in Armenia’s small and medium enterprises need
to pay off quickly as the border opens between Armenia and Turkey to
keep the local population satisfied.

Another positive outcome for Moscow is that many Armenian migrants
in Russia will relocate to their homeland or Turkey after the border
opens.

On the other hand, the normalization of Turkish-Armenian ties may cool
relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Russia will take advantage
of this situation to improve its relations with Baku.

On Oct. 28, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting with
members of the Turkish Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs
touched on the Ankara-Yerevan protocols. The Azerbaijani leader said
that part of Azerbaijan’s lands have been under Armenian occupation
for nearly 20 years and Armenia pursued a policy of genocide
and ethnic cleansing in these areas. Therefore, the Azerbaijani
society’s sensitive approach to relations with Armenia should be
assessed properly. A major cause of discontent in Azerbaijan is the
assumption that by opening the Turkish-Armenian border, Armenia will
no longer suffer from a severe economic crisis and be able to stiffen
its position in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks, Aliyev said.

Fearing that opening the border may negatively affect the
Nagorno-Karabakh talks, Azerbaijan may begin to see Moscow as an
important regional partner.

It is obvious that Russia needs Azerbaijan as a key strategic partner
in the South Caucasus, as the geopolitical center of the region and
a country rich in energy resources.

Russia’s Gazprom has already offered to buy Azerbaijani gas at a
price three times higher than the $120 per thousand cubic meters which
Turkey pays for the energy. Azerbaijan has also signed a contract to
supply Russia with at least 500 million cubic meters of gas per year.

The upper bracket of supply is not restricted, and their volume will
increase as gas production grows in Azerbaijan.

It seems that Russia can acquire a strategic regional partner in
the region without losing its long-standing historic ally, and will
economically gain much from the establishment of Ankara-Yerevan ties.

NATO REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT ARMENIA

armradio.am
04.11.2009 11:29

Special Representative of NATO Secretary General in the South Caucasus
and Central Asia Robert Simmons will visit Yerevan on November 5-6,
NATO Information Center in Armenia informs.

Robert Simmons will meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsian,
Speaker of the Parliament Hovik Abramyan, Secretary of the National
Security Council Artur Baghdasaryan, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Edward Nalbandian, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Minister of
Emergency Situations Mher Shahgeldyan.

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR IN TURKEY PELTED WITH EGGS
by Hillel Fendel

Arutz Sheva
Nov 4 2009
Israel

(IsraelNN.com) Turkish police prevented a mob of students from breaking
into a car carrying Israel’s Ambassador in Turkey, Gabi Levy.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Trabzon, a city on
the Black Sea coast of northeastern Turkey.

Despite police efforts, the students succeeded in throwing eggs at
Levy, who was unhurt.

Tensions between Turkey and Israel have risen dramatically over
the past month, beginning when Turkey called off a joint military
exercise with Israel and then held one with Syria. In addition,
Turkey’s president has made some anti-Israel remarks, and even met
with and praised Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad.

Turkish television recently broadcast a fictional series depicting
IDF soldiers as cold-blooded murderers, prompting official protests
from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor
Lieberman.

Anti-Israel protests have been held in Turkey of late, featuring the
burning of Israeli flags and the waving of Palestinian Authority flags.

Israeli Tolerance

Despite the above, the new Turkish Ambassador to Israel spoke this
past Sunday to an Israeli audience in Be’er Sheva, nearly without
incident. Marking the conquest of the Negev city from the Turks by
Great Britain in 1917, Ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol was interrupted
only by two men carrying signs. The signs were addressed to Turkish
Prime Minister Erdogan, and read, "Remember the Holocaust you
[perpetrated upon] the Armenian people!"

Before his speech, Ambassador Celikkol said there is no anti-Semitism
in Turkey, and that "every relationship has its ups and downs; I am
sure we can rehabilitate the relations between us."

IRAN TO EASE TRADE INTERACTIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN

Moj News Agency
November 1, 2009 Sunday
Iran

Head of Azerbaijani Entrepreneurs Confederation met Iran’s Chamber of
Commerce vice-president, Hooshang Fakher.Iran’s Chamber of Commerce
vice-president told that joint trade councils play an effective role
in the bilateral commerce relations for both sides.

The recent visit by Iran’s Chamber president to Azerbaijan also paved
the way for a better and closer cooperation, Fakher pointed out.

The Azerbaijani side also emphasized that the two nations got lots
of cultural commons and told that his respective country is quite
ready to expand its trade relation with Iran.

Karabakh Customs which is passing its construction works may then play
an important role in easing the trade interactions by the two nations,
said Fakher.

NKR DELEGATION’S VISIT TO FRANCE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
2009-10-30 16:51

An NKR delegation, headed by NKR NA Chairman Ashot Ghulian,
departed October 25 for France on a five-day visit. The delegation
comprises Chairman of the NKR NA Standing Committee on Social Issues
Arpat Avanesian, NKR Minister of Culture and Social Issues Narine
Aghabalian, Stepanakert Mayor Vazgen Mikhayelian, and Chief of the
NKR MFA Multilateral Relations Department Irina Beglarian.

On arriving in the French capital, the delegation members attended
the same evening a concert of Artsakh’s Voices ensemble organized
in Ranlag Theater on the initiative of the NKR Mission to France and
under the support of Assistance to Artsakh organization.

During the party, NKR NA Chairman Ashot Ghulian handed Gratitude
decorations to Deputy Chairman of the Armenian Foundation in France
Michel Pazumian and the family of the passed away member of the same
organization, Emanuel de’la Bary, awarded by a corresponding decree
of the NKR President.

In the October 26 morning, the NKR delegation members met with the
employees of the Office of the Coordination Council of Armenian
organizations of France to discuss the prospects of cooperation
between Artsakh and the Armenian organizations of France, the recent
developments in the Karabakh conflict settlement process, and some
other issues of national significance.

The same evening, the delegation members had a separate meeting with
the Chairman and some responsible employees of Assistance to Artsakh
organization.

On October 27, Ashot Ghulian and Arpat Avanesian met with Chairman
of the French-Armenian Friendship Caucus of the French Senate Serge
Lagosh to discuss some regional issues related, in particular, to
the process of the Karabakh conflict settlement, the role of France
in this issue, and the recent developments in the Caucasus region.

RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France Vigen
Chitechian participated in the meeting.

Delegation members Narine Aghabalian and Vazgen Mikhayelian met,
in their turn, with mayors of some Armenian-populated towns near Paris.

The same day, at the RA Embassy to France and with the participation of
Ambassador Vigen Chitechian, the NKR delegation members had a meeting
with members of some Armenian organizations of France operating in
NKR. During the meeting, the delegation members introduced the problems
in the social, economic, urban development, and cultural spheres of
Artsakh. The attendants were also given separate packages of programs
to be implemented in the social and educational spheres, and were
asked to use utmost efforts for improving the Artsakh people’s welfare.

In the October 28 morning, the NKR delegation was received at the
National Assembly of France, where they met with Chairman of the
parliamentary French-Armenian Friendship Caucus Francua Roshbluan and
the Caucus members. After a thank you speech, Ashot Ghulian answered
the attendants’ questions related to the Karabakh conflict and the
NKR authorities’ position on its peaceful settlement.

The meeting was followed by an official lunch organized in the
ceremonial receptions’ hall of the French NA.

The same day, the NKR delegation departed for Marseilles.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN BELIEVES THAT ALL HUMAN VALUES WILL BE FINALLY ESTABLISHED IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND WILL UNITE PEOPLES

ArmInfo
2009-10-29 14:37:00

ArmInfo. "Armenia follows European values and we believe that all
human values will be finally established in our region and will unite
the peoples living there and Europe," Foreign Minister of Armenia
Edward Nabandian said during the conference in Yerevan devoted to
the Eastern Partnership Project.

The minister said the Armenian people have centuries-long ties with
Europe. Centuries ago the general history and geography of Armenia and
Europe were more limited and representatives of the Armenian people
made their contribution to the system known as the European Values.

The minister said Europe is now identified with peace, solidarity,
human rights protection and all human values. However, everyone knows
also the high price the European peoples had to pay for that. "Nowhere
else in the world wars and conflicts were as severe as in Europe. That
is why, probably, peace achieved by European peoples is especially
valuable. After so many confrontations and two world wars, Europe
found enough power and will to revive and unite after a century of
enmity between the peoples. And now Europe is a symbol of peace, unity
and solidarity for the international community," the minister said.

ARMENIAN MOGUL ACQUIRES BULGARIA’S WATER BOTTLER GORNA BANYA

Novinite
Oct 29 2009
Bulgaria

Armenian major businessman Gagik Tsarukyan have bought Bulgarian water
bottling company Gorna Banya in a EUR 25 M deal, which was sealed at
the end of last week, local reports say.

This is the first sale deal to be completed in the Bulgarian water
bottling sector this year.

About EUR 20 M of the sale price will be used for covering the
company’s debts, one of the former owners Evgeni Goranov told Dnevnik
daily.

The company owes EUR 12 M in long-term banking loans and another EUR
4 M in short-term funding.

It should pay a separate some EUR 3.5 M to a UK investment fund.

Gagik Tsarukian, arguably Armenia’s wealthiest man, owns more than
40 medium and large companies, making up a business empire, which
has seen an incredible expansion in recent years.

A former arm-wrestler, Tsarukian started out as a minority shareholder
in one of Armenia’s two largest breweries in the late 1990s.

Tsarukian has been a member of Armenian parliament since 2003, while
a year later he established the "Flourishing Armenia" party. Chairman
of Armenia’s National Olympic Committee.

The news of Gorna Banya’s sale comes a month after one of its nearest
rivals, Devin, majority owned by Austria’s Soravia Group, signed an
agreement for the sale of a 75% stake to global private equity fund
Advent International.

The deal price is said to be around EUR 21 M to 22 M. Its final value
will be fixed between the signing of the contract and its conclusion.

RUSSIA NOT CURRENTLY SUPPLYING S-300 SAM SYSTEMS TO IRAN

RIA Novosti
Oct 28, 2009

FRYAZINO (Moscow Region), October 28 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is not
supplying S-300 defensive surface-to-air missile systems to Iran,
a Russian deputy prime minister said on Wednesday.

"Presently, there are no such supplies," Sergei Ivanov told reporters.

He offered no clue as to whether supplies could begin later.

Last Thursday, the Federal Service for Military and Technical
Cooperation said Russia had no plans to cease military cooperation
with Iran.

The statement came amid media reports that Russia could cancel a
contract to deliver S-300 systems to Tehran.

An unnamed defense industry official said last Wednesday that Russia
would sustain significant losses if it decides to tear up the contract
for S-300 systems.

Russian military analyst Konstantin Makiyenko previously said a
decision not to go ahead with the contract would cost Russia about $1
billion in lost profits, plus $300-400 million in fines and penalties.

Reports of possible deliveries of S-300 missiles to Iran have aroused
concerns in the West and in Israel.

Iranian media, citing senior security officials, have reported that
Russia has started delivering elements of the advanced version of the
S-300 missile under a 2005 contract. However, Russian arms industry
officials have invariably denied such reports.

The latest version of the S-300 family is the S-300PMU2 Favorit,
which has a range of up to 195 kilometers (about 120 miles) and can
intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles at altitudes from 10 meters
to 27 kilometers.

It is considered one of the world’s most effective all-altitude
regional air defense systems, comparable in performance to the U.S.

MIM-104 Patriot system.

TWO SUBSIDIARIES OF METAL PRINCE CORPORATION INCLUDED IN MAJOR ARMENIAN TAXPAYERS’ LIST

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.10.2009 20:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to RA State Revenue Committee
January-September 2009 data, two subsidiaries of Metal Prince Ltd. were
included in major Armenian taxpayers’ list.

AMD 222,4 million worth taxes were paid by Akhtala ore-dressing plant;
AMD 160,7 million by Sagamar CJSC.

The Metal Prince Ltd. Corporation is registered in the British
Nevis Island. Through its joint-stock subsidiary companies, Akhtala
ore-dressing plant, Sagamar CJSC and Molibdenum World Ltd., it launched
its activities in the Armenian mining sector in 2000.