Author: Kanayan Tamar

SARGSYAN RECEIVES KOVALENKO

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 22 2009
Armenia

On September 22, 2009 RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received RF
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Vyacheslav
Kovalenko. RA Premier congratulated the Ambassador on commencing
diplomatic service in Armenia and expressed confidence his efforts
will contribute to further deepening and continuous consolidation of
Armenia-Russia relations, RA Governmental Information and PR Department
informed NEWS.am.

Tigran Sargsyan also talked of the significance and tendencies’
momentum in Armenian-Russian economic partnership.

The issues of mutual interest were discussed, including strengthening
of business ties, possible cooperation in certain economy fields,
as well as the agenda of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental
commission impending session.

Today.Az , Azerbaijan
sept 19 2009

United States places importance on relationship with Azerbaijan: Under
Secretary of State (UPDATE)

19 September 2009 [12:57] – Today.Az

William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, made a speech
to a conference on Azerbaijan-U.S. relations organized at the
Georgetown University.

12:57

Text of Burn’s speech was posted to a Web site of the Department of
State.

`Azerbaijan is now on the threshold of a new and even more promising
phase of energy sector development,’ Burns said.

`The U.S. and Azerbaijan have a long partnership in major strategic
energy projects that have created linkages between West and East.’

`The recent signing of the Nabucco Intergovernmental Agreement was a
major milestone for opening up a new natural gas corridor to
Europe. It is important that Turkey and Azerbaijan build on this
momentum and soon reach an agreement on gas pricing, transit, and any
remaining issues needed to make the Southern Corridor a reality,’ he
said.

`Such projects have not only unlocked Caspian energy resources for the
world, but have also fueled Azerbaijan’s economy and secured a more
independent economic future for the Azerbaijani people,’ he added.

`We encourage ongoing discussions between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan,
Kazakhstan, Turkey, and other partners to find reliable, transparent
ways to help this production reach European and other markets. And I
assure you that the United States stands ready to keep working closely
with Azerbaijan, our other friends in the region, and the private
sector to strengthen and expand global energy supply.’

`While several major U.S. firms, such as Chevron and Exxon, operate in
Azerbaijan’s energy industry, we’d frankly like to see more
U.S. investment in the non-oil sectors. American companies can help
Azerbaijan diversify its economy by bringing new technologies and
skill sets,’ he said.

`I’m confident that investment will flow as long as Azerbaijan
continues its program of economic and democratic reform, which is the
third pillar of our shared agenda.’ `Azerbaijan has already made
significant strides in improving the country’s infrastructure and
regulatory environment,’ he noted.

`Joining the World Trade Organization ` an aspiration that Azerbaijan
has pursued and the U.S. strongly supports ` promises to be one of the
fastest ways for the country to seize the benefits of foreign markets
and attract international investors,’ he said.

11:17

"President and Secretary Clinton are committed to doing everything
possible to support that goal. We want to see Azerbaijan and Armenia
living side-by-side in a peace that fosters mutual prosperity," Burns
said.

"Towards that end, we recently announced the appointment of Ambassador
Bob Bradtke as the next U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group."

"We hope that the recent progress made in talks between Presidents
Aliyev and Sargsian will lead to tangible results when they meet next
month," he said.

Burns also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Burns mentioned the economic and political reforms ongoing in
Azerbaijan.

"The U.S., as a strong and steady friend of Azerbaijan, is committed
to working together with the Azerbaijani government and its people to
support the development of a secure, prosperous, and democratic
state," he added.

"As an active participant in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program,
Azerbaijan is developing multifaceted security relationships with its
neighbors in the region. It has made steadfast contributions to NATO
and coalition efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo," Burns said.

URL:

PROTOCOLS TO CONTRIBUTE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT: VAZGEN MANUKYAN

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 17 2009
Armenia

Armenia-Turkey protocols are elaborated based on the exclusion of
mutual preconditions’ principle, stated Vazgen Manukyan, National
Democratic Unity leader after the RA President’s consultations with
political forces on the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation.

There are many discrepancies in the documents, thus the establishment
of the new policy in the region is essential as in the absence of
such Armenia might "be drowned". The documents currently discussed
by Armenian authorities are related to Armenian statehood, not
Diaspora. "Diaspora can continue its struggle for their ambitions," he
said. As to Karabakh issue, Protocols’ signing can contribute to the
peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict. "Serzh Sargsyan will never
make compromise till the final settlement of Karabakh conflict and
recognition of NKR independence. It is absurd," Manukyan underlined.

"Undoubtedly, there are certain concerns on Armenia-Turkey Protocols,
however fears are entailed by reasons," he stated. Speaking about
Dashnaktsutyun’s position, namely the unacceptability of mutual
recognition of borders, depriving Armenia of possibility to
put forward territorial claims to Turkey, Manukyan pointed out:
"Should we form arrays and attack Turkey if the borders are not
recognized? How can one establish diplomatic relations without
recognition of its borders?" Manukyan wonders. The amendments to
the Protocols are advantageous for Turkey as it will be capable of
initiating favourable alterations.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSIAN AND SINGAPORE’S SENIOR MINISTER LEE KUAN YEW EXCHANGE THOUGHTS ON THE SNGAPORE’S DEVELOPMENT MODEL

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: On the invitation of Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Kuan
Yew is in Armenia on an official visit. He was Singapore’s First
Prime Minister and headed the executive power of the state for 31
years. Lee Kuan Yew is known as the founder of Singapore’s model of
economic reforms. Today the Singapore Senior Minister was hosted by
the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Presidential Press Office told Armenpress that greeting the
top-official President Sargsyan said: "There are few people in the
world who are not delighted with the Singapore wander and everyone
very definitely imagine that being the first prime minister You are
the author and organizer of the issue. And of course the model is
very desirable for small states."

The Head of the State expressed confidence that the visit of Lee Kuan
Yew will give a new breathe to Armenia-Singapore historical relations
and stressed that he has signed a decree on granting him with a Medal
of Honor for his activity directed toward establishment of relations
between the two states and activity targeted toward the development.

Receiving the award with gratitude the Singapore’s Senior Minister
said that he is glad for the opportunity to visit Armenia. According
to him though the number of Armenians in Singapore is little but they
had a decisive role in the development of the state and an Armenian
church functions in one of the best known places of the state.

President of the republic and the Senior Minister exchanged thoughts
on the Singapore’s development model and discussed the opportunity
of conduction of consultations on the achieved experience.

According to Lee Kuan Yew their experience prompts that the high level
education lays on the bases of efficient development of the state,
for which necessary conditions should be created giving the youth an
opportunity to tional establishments.

President Sargsyan said that already serious steps are conducted in
Armenia in that direction and for the first time this year a number
of young people will study in foreign first class educational
establishments with the financial assistance of the state. The
President of the Republic also got interested in the Singapore’s
experience of consolidation of Civil Service system noting that Armenia
intends to implement wide scale reforms in that sphere. An agreement
has been reached to send a group to a business trip to Singapore to
get acquainted with the experience and be retrained at the place.

U.S. ARMENIANS APPEALED TO OBAMA

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 16 2009
Armenia

12:27 / 09/16/2009Leaders of the Armenian Assembly of America,
Armenian General Benevolent Union, Western and Eastern Dioceses of
Armenian Apostolic Church sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama,
calling him to make Turkey open the border and establish diplomatic
relations without preconditions.

American Armenians also called the U.S. President to recognize the
Armenian Genocide clearly and unconditionally.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER SH. KOCHARIAN RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF RUSSIA TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Deputy Foreign Affairs
Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan received today the newly appointed
Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko.

Media relations department of Armenian Foreign Ministry told
Armenpress that during the meeting Deputy Minister Kocharyan and
Ambassador Kovalenko discussed a number of issues related to the
Armenian-Russian bilateral agenda.

It has been stressed that the mutual understanding, trust and close
cooperation between Armenia and Russia create a good basis for alien
relations and further fortification of strategic cooperation.

The interlocutors also exchanged thoughts on a number of regional
and international issues.

‘COUNCIL OF EUROPE NOT TO REFER TO ISSUES RELATED TO ARMENIA’: POSTANJYAN

Tert.am
Sept 15 2009

"In my opinion, the Council of Europe clearly has a political decision,
at this time, not to refer to any issue which relates to Armenia,"
Heritage Party member Zaruhi Postanjyan said today.

"Though I am not a member of the Council of Europe Monitoring
Committee, I was twice formally invited to its meetings, in which
ARF-D representatives were present," the MP said and added that when
once again she was asked to participate in a meeting, the monitoring
committee chair sent her a letter which, in particular, said, "We
don’t see the need for your participation any longer, since the ARF-D
Party is present as an oppositional party."

According to Postanjyan, no issues related to Armenia were discussed
during the meeting.

"The Human Rights Committee adopted a draft resolution and a report
concerning the rights of minorities in Turkey. Armenians’ rights
are also mentioned there," Postanjyan said and added that the draft
document which was included in the agenda of the forthcoming meeting,
was also excluded from the list of topics to be discussed.

Once again mentioning the party’s position against the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols, Postanjyan stated it was decided to leave the issue of
Armenian-Turkish relations alone at all levels, as well as Armenian
inner political affairs, "so that an opportunity is created for the
governing authorities to sign the agreement." The MP also doubts that
the Armenian issue will be included in the planned meeting agenda
at all.

RF signs agrmnt with Abkhazia, S Ossetia on military coop

15.09.2009,13.09

MOSCOW, September 15 (Itar-Tass) — According to an instruction of the
Russian president, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has
signed agreements on cooperation in the military sphere with heads of
the military departments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Merab Kishmaria
and Yuri Tanayev on Tuesday.
`In accordance with the documents, Russia is given the possibility to
build, use and improve the military infrastructure and military bases
on the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as create a
joint grouping of troops both in the peace time and the war time,’
press secretary of the Russian defence minister Alexei Kuznetsov said
commenting on the signed agreements.
According to the agreements, the headquarters of the Russian military
base in Abkhazia will be dislocated in Gudauty, and in South Ossetia –
– in Tskhinvali. The strength of the personnel of each of the military
bases, as Kuznetsov said, will amount to 1,700 people.
The agreements on military cooperation of Russian with Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, which were singed in Moscow on Tuesday, in particular
envisage:
– coordination of issues of strengthening of military security and
measures of trust;
– coordination of actions on issues of ensuring security and control
of the air space;
– interaction in issues in charge of naval forces, on ensuring sea
communications and security at sea (with Abkhazia);
– training of servicemen at military educational establishments of the
sides, joint training of military-scientific and
scientific-pedagogical cadres;
– sending of military specialists to ensure national military men and
military-technical cadres;
– interaction in the field of military intelligence;
– interaction on issues of military communications, systems of
automated direction;
– organization of military interstate transportations;
– meteorological, hydrological and topographic ensuring of troops, as
well as rear and technical ensuring of
years with automatic prolongation for another five-year periods.
`At present, draft interstate agreements between the Russian
Federation and the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on joint
Russian military bases on the territories of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia are being worked out on the sidelines of the Russian Defence
Ministry,’ Alexei Kuznetsov said.

AFGHANISTAN: ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF UZBEKISTAN FIGHTERS ACTIVE IN KUNDUZ
Deirdre Tynan

Eurasia Insight
ticles/eav091409a.shtml
9/14/09

Afghan government troops and foreign forces have gone on the offensive
against Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) militants who are active
in northern Afghanistan.

On September 12, a joint Afghan-international operation began with
a raid on a compound near the village of Torbah Kash, north-east
of Kunduz city. The mission was seeking "Taliban facilitators and
commanders responsible for attacks on Afghan citizens and for aiding
the flow of money, foreign fighters and suicide bombers into the
region."

The joint force killed "a number of militants [?] armed with
machine guns and rifles" and recovered weapons including "multiple
rocket-propelled grenade systems" according to an International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) press statement. "Generally, those
personnel, fighters and bombers alike, move between Afghanistan and
its immediate neighbors, as well as [among] Afghan provinces."

Uzbek militants are among those believed to have used Pakistan both as
a safe haven and training base. "Fighters may come from surrounding
countries, as well as countries beyond Afghanistan’s neighbors,"
Elizabeth Mathias, an ISAF public affairs officer, told EurasiaNet
on September 14.

Two militants — including one identified as Khalid Ahmadov, a
former resident of Uzbekistan’s Ferghana Region — were recently
captured. In a statement issued September 14, the Afghan National
Security Directorate said the two detainees admitted to being in
Kunduz Province on orders from Tahir Yuldashev, the leader of the
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Habibullah Khan Khattak, an administrator from Pakistan’s tribal areas
bordering Afghanistan, told the Pakistani parliament on September 12
that North and South Waziristan are havens for "not less than 5,000"
Uzbek fighters.

According to Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, a Pakistani senator, many Uzbek
militants use Islamabad airport as a transit point. "[I] received
information from North Waziristan that the Uzbek militants land at
Islamabad airport and take a taxi to reach Mirali, where they have a
strong presence," the daily newspaper The News quoted Khan as saying
on September 13.

Sources also told the paper that "many Uzbeks" living in Islamabad’s
suburbs have been arrested.

Central Asia has seen an upsurge of IMU activity in recent months. In
July, three suspected IMU members were detained in Tajikistan’s
autonomous region of Gorno-Badakshan. The men were reportedly involved
in anti-government protests in Waziristan and were ordered by Yuldashev
to launch a series of attacks, local media reports said.

A shootout in Tashkent last month has also been linked to IMU
militants. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In May,
the Islamic Jihad Union, believed to be a splinter group of the IMU,
claimed responsibility for attacks in Khanabad and Andijan.

Editor’s Note: Deirdre Tynan is a freelance journalist who specializes
in Central Asian affairs.

"MASTERGAIT" OR "MASTERGATE"
Hakob Badalyan

hos15160.html
12:25:46 – 14/09/2009

It seemed difficult to distract the society’s attention from the
development of the Armenian and Turkish process especially in the
phase of six weeks of home consultations. But the Heritage succeeded
in this question and everyone is engaged in learning who joined the
party and who left it and where Raffi Hovhannisyan is. TV channels
generate the attention of the society towards this issue attaching
such importance to the Heritage scandal as if the future of the
Armenian state depended on this.

It will not be surprising if one of the channels decided to make
a scenario on the Heritage split giving birth to a regular TV
series. At least, the subject will not be less interesting than
those of various "vorogaits" (traps) which are seen in the Armenian
television. Moreover, the series maybe entitled "Mastergait" in honor
of the slogan "are you the master of your country?" with which Heritage
joined the Armenian political "elite". Or it is better to call the TV
series "Mastergate" with the spirit of the famous story of Watergate
bringing the scandal with Heritage to international level, moreover
considering that Raffi Hovhannisyan’s foreign visits broadened the
frames of the activities of the party long ago.

But even this TV series is unable to explain to the Armenian citizens
what impact the Heritage scandal may have on their lives, their
country and on the solution of important issues of the country. The
reason is not determined by the fact that the Armenian TV series are
unable to explain anything to citizens. But the question is that what
is happening in the Heritage is unexplainable to the public moods.

They say the slit of a regular party moreover, a party with a
tangible electorate may be a harm to the public moods and will cause
a regular wave of despair. This danger, of course exists, but the
2008 presidential elections show that that however the society is
despaired a clear speech, an adequate assessment of the situation
are able to change the situation. Society is like justice: it falls
ill but does not die.

So, the existence or the extinction of the Heritage does not change
big things in Armenia if Armenia is viewed in long-term context. The
representatives of this or that wing of the Heritage are also
surprised that a party quarrel aroused such scandal. If someone
has organized this quarrel, they are also surprised that it caused
such massiveness. Consequently, perhaps it is high time to close
the Heritage topic moreover there are open and not yet closed more
important topics.