Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION OFF TO MOSCOW

armradio.am
09.06.2009 13:04

The delegation headed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran
Sargsyan, left for Moscow today to participate in the 23rd sitting
of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) on the level of Heads
of Government, Information and Public Relations Department of RA
Government reported.

The delegation headed by the Prime Minister will comprise the Head of
Staff of the Government, David Sargsyan, Minister of Finance Tigran
Davtyan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan,
Deputy Minister of Finance Vardan Aramyan, Deputy Foreign Minister
Shavarsh Kocharyan, other officials.

APA, Azerbaijan
June 6 2009

Hillary Clinton: `We believe a lot of progress has been made in
relatively short period of time to resolve the issues over Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, which are long standing’

[ 06 Jun 2009 11:30 ]

Washington. Zaur Hasanov `APA. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held a joint press
conference on Friday. Secretary Clinton said she held wide and
fruitful discussions with her Turkish counterpart, APA US bureau
reports.

The Secretary of State reminded that Turkey was among the countries
where she and President Obama made their first official visits. She
said US and Turkey were working together to solve number of problems
and there are new opportunities alongside with the problems. `Both
U.S. and Turkey have unique roles to play. We obviously already
collaborate. Not only we are both members of NATO but we are working
with G 20 to respond to the world global economic crisis. We are
exploring ways to enhance our trade and commerce between our two
countries. We are working to develop new energy sources including
resources from the Caucasus and Central Asia. We are partners in the
fight against terrorism’.

Clinton said US allied with Turkey in EU membership efforts and
struggling PKK. She said they were strongly supportive of Turkish
effort to normalize its relation with Armenia and we also very
strongly supportive of the efforts to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu called his visit to
Washington as a continuation of the Secretary Clinton and President
Obama’s visit to Turkey. He said both parts had constructive dialogue
on the issues of Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the
Caucasus and Black Sea Region.

Secretary Clinton answered the question about the Turkish-Armenian
relations after the announcement of roadmap in April and possibility
of the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict soon. `I have been very
encouraged by the progress has been made and by the commitment of the
governments involved. Certainly Turkey and Armenia with the assistance
of Swiss government have committed themselves to the process of
normalization. We are well aware that it is difficult and requires
patience. But we are seen no flagging of commitment. The minister and
I discussed the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia
at length. He brought me up to date on developments. We are continuing
to encourage the parties to proceed on the path which they themselves
have set. Similarly with ongoing negotiations over
Nagorno-Karabakh. The government of Azerbaijan and Armenia are
proceeding and working together. They just were together in Saint
Petersburg. We believe a lot of progress has been made in relatively
short period of time to resolve the issues which are long standing’.

Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu thanked the US government for
its support for both processes. `We are very optimistic. We want to
achieve a prosperous, peaceful Caucasus. And in that sense, we are
fully committed to our normalization process with Armenia, and also,
we are fully committed and we are ready to work together with United
States and other co-chairs of Minsk Group for the resolution of
Armenian-Azerbaijani issues’.

U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY GORDON TO VISIT ARMENIA, GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN

ssistant-secretary-gordon-to-visit-armenia-georgia -azerbaijan/
Jun 5, 2009

YEREVAN-Philip Gordon, the assistant secretary for European and
Eurasian affairs, will travel to the South Caucasus next week,
visiting Armenia on June 9.

The purpose of the visit is to discuss regional and bilateral
issues. During his visit, Gordon will meet with government officials,
civil society representatives, and other local figures.

Following his trip to Armenia, Gordon will visit Georgia and
Azerbaijan. This is Gordon’s first visit to the South Caucasus as
assistant secretary.

Gordon assumed office on May 15, replacing Daniel Fried. Before
joining the State Department, Gordon was a senior fellow from 2000-09
at the Brookings Institution, in Washington, D.C., where he focused on
European and U.S. foreign policy issues. Prior to joining Brookings,
he served as director for European affairs at the National Security
Council in the Clinton Administration

ARMENIAN CULTURAL CENTER OPENS IN ZHELEZNOVODSK

Noyan Tapan
June 5, 2009

Zheleznovodsk, June 4, Noyan Tapan – Armenians Today: On May
29 inauguration of a new Armenian Cultural Center took place in
Zheleznovodsk’s Inozemcevo districk. Zheleznovosk’s branch of the
Union of Armenians in Russia (UAR), headed by Henrik Meliksetyan,
supported the construction of the new Armenian Cultural Center.

According to the "Armyanskaya Panorama" newspaper, the event
was attended by the mayor of Zheleznovodsk Victor Lozovoy, head
of Stavropol’s branch of UAR Artem Arzumanyan, heads of Armenian
organizations of the region. Mayor of Zheleznovodsk Victor Lozovoy
emphasized the great role the Armenian community plays in the economic
and cultural life of the city.

As the news paper reports, lessons of Armenian language, culture and
history will be organized at the cultural center soon, all necessary
books have been already delivered from Armenia. The concert was
organized in the yard of the newly opened center during the opening
ceremony.

YEREVAN AND BAKU SHOULD RENOUNCE THE PRINCIPLE "KARABAKH IS OURS"

LRAGIR.AM
15:43:58 – 05/06/2009

The dialogues of the Armenian and Azerbaijani president taken place
in Prague showed that the stances of the sides are different in
relation to a public opinion poll. Yesterday, during the meeting
in St. Petersburg, the sides again did not come to an agreement;
the member of the Hanrapetutyun Party (Republic) Suren Surenyants
expressed his opinion. If Armenia views the public opinion poll from
the legal-political point of view, Azerbaijan considers it something
like a survey, stated Surenyants.

He stated that until Yerevan and Baku do not renounce the irrational
principle "Karabakh is ours", the issue will not be settled. And if the
Armenian and Turkish and Armenian and Azerbaijani relations are not
settled this will mean that Armenia is not a completely independent
county. If the conflict is not settled, the situation will be graver
after 10 years, stated the member of the Republic political board
Suren Surenyants.

Surenyants noted that any settlement supposes for compromises, but
with the condition that the Karabakhi security should be provided
internationally. The first is the right for the Karabakh people’s
self-determination.

AZERI, ARMENIAN MINISTERS NOTE "SOME PROGRESS" AFTER PRESIDENTS’ MEETING

ANS TV
June 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Presenter: Foreign Ministers spoke after the meeting held between
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

[Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan speaking in Russian]
The parties are moving forward even though today we cannot speak
about any breakthrough or significant progress but the parties are
moving forward and have agreed to continue the negotiations. There
is a possibility of setting up a new meeting between the presidents
and in connection with this the presidents have instructed foreign
ministers along with co-chairs [of the OSCE Minsk Group] to conduct
relevant preparatory work and continue further negotiations on reaching
an agreement on the positions of the parties.

[Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov speaking in Russian] I
agree with what my colleague has said. I can only add that unlike the
previous ones this meeting was conducted in a different manner. There
is some progress. I absolutely agree with the assessment of my
colleague. Of course we cannot speak about significant progress, but
in principle there is more understanding, more perception of each
other’s positions. Most importantly there is a common agreement on
the necessity of moving forward and settlement of the issue and this
decision makes [us] glad.

[Correspondent] Which questions were more discussed in the meeting?

[Elmar Mammadyarov] This is how I would characterize – considering
that some principles have been acquired over the past five years
which started as the Prague process and continued as the Madrid
document. In the end, all these principles [changes tack] – there is
more understanding on some of them, some outlines on some of them,
which were discussed between the presidents today, and I can say
in this context if a document is adopted, which presumes common
understanding, then it will be a comprehensive document.

[Correspondent] Did you discuss the Madrid principles?

[Edvard Nalbandyan] Of course the negotiations were based on Madrid
principles, Madrid document.

[Correspondent] Will you later give a statement saying that Armenia
demonstrated a non-constructive position?

[Elmar Mammadyarov] Our statements are always based on facts and
realities.

ARMENIAN PREMIER: OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER WILL HAVE POSITIVE EFFECT ON ARMENIAN ECONOMY

Today.Az
s/52917.html
June 5 2009
Azerbaijan

The opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will have a positive
influence on the economic system of Armenia, said Armenian Premier
Tigran Sargsyan.

"If we have an alternative way which will help us connect to Europe
and other countries of the region by the railroad, this will raise
independence of our economic system", said he Friday at the seminar
for young specialists "Crisis as an opportunity", organized by the fund
"Financial-banking college".

According to Sargsyan, today Armenia is extremely dependent on Georgian
infrastructures as the two thirds of its external turnover is carried
via Georgia.

"Dependence in this aspect is extremely negative and our neighbor
makes use of it as transaction expenses are too high and we fail to
reduce them", said he and added that transportation of goods from
any point of the world to Pati or Batumi is twice as cheap as from
Poti and Batumi to Armenia.

In this connection, the Armenian Premier said a monopoly situation
is being formed in Georgia and this country abuse it.

"Naturally, if we have alternative ways, our independence will grow
dramatically, transaction expenses will reduce sharply and we will
have cheaper ways and the overall macro-environment for business
will change. Most spheres of Armenian economy will be competitive,
which is currently not observed due to transportation charges and
in this connection most kinds of goods are impossible to transport",
explained he.

At the same time, Sargsyan is confident that "no wonders will happen,
time will be required for creation of the due enterprises and
investments" right after the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border.

TURKISH TROOPS LAUNCH NEW ATTACK AGAINST PKK

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.06.2009 16:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish troops launched a new attack against PKK
rebels the southeast of Turkey, at the border with Iraq, in Sirnak
and Hakkari provinces. Helicopters struck the caves were Kurdish
rebels are reported to hide.

As result of overland operation, one Turkish soldier was killed and
three wounded.

Caches with ammunition and food were found in Hakkari, where the
rebels managed to escape.

S.O.S. SEVAN INITIATIVE GROUP TO PLAN AUTUMN MOVE

Panorama.am
18:12 04/06/2009

S.O.S. Sevan initiative group plans to hold autumn action, Inga
Zarafyan, the president of "Ecolur" environmental NGO told in a
press conference. The action is going to have different directions,
Zarafyan said.

First, a monitoring of "GeoProMining" company activities will be
conducted regarding the implementation of environmental duties. "We
are intended to make investigation of international experience of
such companies, to inform public about the activities conducted in
Sotq mining," she said.

In 2008 S.O.S. Sevan initiative found support from international
ecological and public groups like IPEN, WECF, Forum NGO on ADB are,
the expert says.

In this respect the initiative group sent letters to Armenian high
ranking officials with requests to stop the processes on constructing
gold reprocessing factory in Sotq mining.

ARFD DOES NOT INTEND TO SIGN FINAL PROTOCOL OF CEC UPON RESULTS OF ELECTION OF YEREVAN COUNCIL OF ELDERS

ArmInfo
2009-06-02 12:53:00

ARF ‘Dashnaktsutyun’ party does not intend to sigh a final protocol
of the Central Election Committee of Armenia upon the results of
the election of the Council of Elders of Yerevan, yesterday’s ARFD
statement says.

‘We have considered the election of the Council of Elders as an
opportunity to establish a political system, form a new model of the
capital administration, overcome the atmosphere of confrontation and
enmity, which developed after the presidential election in 2008, as
well as consolidate the society’, the document says. However, according
to the statement, the situation at the current election turned out
to be like before: the community and oligarchic authorities, bribes
and use of administrative levers played their role at the election.

The document also emphasizes that creation of problems in a
legal aspect in view of the election is useful and inexpedient,
and ‘Dashnaktsutyun’ party will never resign itself to this
situation. ‘ARFD representative to CEC will not sign a final protocol
upon the election results without indication of the specific violations
during the election’, the statement says.