Author: Karagyozian Lena

TURKISH MASS MEDIA: TURKISH AND ARMENIAN DIPLOMATS BEGIN NEXT ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS

ArmInfo
2008-09-18 10:37:00

ArmInfo. The next round of negotiations between the Armenian and
Turkish diplomats began in Switzerland, APA reports with reference
to the Turkish Daily News. According to the newspaper, diplomats are
trying to finalize a draft for the common declaration of good will
in the wake of a tripartite meeting between the foreign ministers of
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia to take place in New York at the end
of September, said the Turkish Daily News, APA reports.

Undersecretary of the foreign ministry, Ertugrul Apakan, and his
deputy, Unal Chevikez, headed for Switzerland late Sunday to meet
their counterparts in Bern, which already hosted two rounds of talks
in May and July.

Diplomatic sources said Armenia now moves closer to giving a green
light for a joint committee of historians to study the events of
1915. The source recalls that the Armenian and Turkish diplomats have
already held secret negotiations in Switzerland in May.

US OFFICIAL PLEDGES SUPPORT TO AZERBAIJAN AFTER GEORGIA EVENTS

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku, 18 September: "Vice-President Dick Cheney’s visit to Azerbaijan
[on 3 September] points to expanding relations. The USA is seriously
interested in Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, security and development,"
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza has told a news
conference in Baku.

In his opinion, Azerbaijan, which meets its international commitments,
can be an example for Russia. "Russia should comply with its
commitments under the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan like Azerbaijan complies
with its commitments," he said.

Bryza said that Azerbaijan can rely on the USA’s support during both
peaceful and difficult times and that the USA will be by Azerbaijan’s
side especially after the Georgian events.

[Passage omitted: Bryza goes on to criticize Russia]

"Following the Georgia events, the OSCE Minsk Group [that mediates a
solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh]
cannot continue operating as previously," Bryza said. However, Bryza
believes that it is important that the OSCE Minsk Group continues
its work.

"If Russia meets the commitments it took before [Georgian President
Mikheil] Saakashvili and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, I hope we
will be able to continue the work within the framework of the Minsk
Group," he said.

Bryza said that Russia violated Georgia’s territorial integrity and
invaded Georgia in August. "This shows that the Minsk Group cannot
continue its activity as previously. But I believe that we are on the
path of restoring the work of the Minsk Group. Russia also sees that
its steps have damaged its international image," Bryza said.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

September 17, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ADOPTS AID PACKAGE TO GEORGIA

Berman Thanks Armenia For Its Constructive Role, Sherman Raises Concern
About Attempts To Isolate Armenia

Washington, DC -The House Committee on Foreign Affairs (HCFA), adopted
the first phase of funding for Georgia, since hostilities erupted in the
region last month, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
The Stability and Democracy for Georgia Act of 2008, H.R. 6911,
reprograms existing funds, $470 million in fiscal year 2008, to provide
targeted humanitarian and economic assistance to Georgia.

During his opening remarks, Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) expressed his
concerns in regard to the effects on the region, as they relate to
Armenia. Berman said "that the ripple effects of this crisis were
clearly felt beyond Georgia’s borders." He also emphasized the need to
consider Armenia when funds are appropriated in the future. Adding,
"although this bill does not include funding for other countries in the
Caucasus region, it is my intention when we consider the authorization
of assistance next year to examine the wider impact of this conflict and
provide appropriate funding for Armenia and other affected countries."

Berman also said that the "United States is grateful to the Armenian
government for providing safe transit for American and international
officials, relatives of diplomats and NGO representatives, and Georgian
nationals."

Also during the mark-up, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) raised concerns
about the need to keep Armenia from being isolated during these
difficult times, stating that "since the current bill provides no aid to
Armenia, I will work to see that rectified in future legislative
vehicles that this body will consider."

"Stability in the South Caucasus is important to stated U.S. policy of
fostering regional and economic integration," said Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. "Providing humanitarian assistance is an
important first step, and we look forward to continuing our outreach to
Members on the Committee to ensure that the needs of Armenia are also
addressed. Maintaining the security of Armenia is paramount during these
critical times."

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###
NR#2008-064

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
September 12, 2008 Friday 12:09 PM EET

Gazprombank ups stake in Armenia’s Areximbank to 100%

MOSCOW Sep 12

Russia’s Gazprombank has brought its stake in Armenia’s Areximbank to
100% from 94.15% previously, Gazprombank’s press office said Friday.

Gazprombank purchased the 5.85% stake from Raiffeisenbank for an
undisclosed sum.

Gazprombank bought 80% in Areximbank in November 2007 and then
increased its stake to 94.15% in July through the purchase of the
bank’s additional share issue.

Areximbank provides a full range of banking services. As of July 1,
the bank’s assets were at U.S. $110.5 million, while shareholders’
equity was at $31.8 million.

Gazprombank is the banking arm of Russia’s natural gas monopoly
Gazprom.

RIA OREANDA, Russia
Sept 12 2008

President Sargsyan Received Secretary General of BSEC

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS . On September 08, 2008 The President of Armenia
discussed with the Secretary General of the BSEC issues related to the
upcoming presidency of Armenia in the organization and events
scheduled for that period, reported the Official website
.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia has seriously prepared for that
mission and will do her best to carry it out properly. Serzh Sargsyan
said that Armenia has developed a precise plan of action and is
intended to follow it thoroughly.

Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos expressed his satisfaction with the
preparatory works and noted that Armenia is assuming presidency in a
critical period of time related to the recent events in Georgia and
tendencies of normalization of the Armenian -Turkish relations.

In his opinion, the normalization of the relations between Armenia and
Turkey and the dialogue between the two will directly and positively
influence efficient cooperation with the BSEC.

Interfax, Russia
Sept 12 2008

PROPER TIME TO RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT HAS COME

MOSCOW Sept 12

The proper time has come to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse said.

The U.S. notes that the conflict should be resolved by peaceful means
only on the basis of the principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity, Derse told journalists in Baku on Friday.

At this stage, the U.S. is resolved and able to continue its activity
and advocate peaceful resolution of the problem, the ambassador said.

The diplomat also expressed hope that the OSCE Minsk Group will be
able to continue working in the same format.

AS SUREN SURENIANTS AFFIRMS, RUSSIA CARRIES OUT ITS IMPERIAL AMBITIONS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 12, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Suren Sureniants,
Political Board member of the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party, today
Russia is carrying out policy of empire’s revival. As he stated at
the discussion organized on September 12 at the National Press Club,
recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia was only
a veil for Russia to conceal its imperial ambitions.

Aram Mayilian, a deputy of the former Armenian Supreme Council, said
that he was away from Armenia during the five-day Georgian-Russian war
and on returning he noticed emphasized anti-Georgian and anti-American
moods in the country. To have a negative attitude towards Georgia,
as A. Mayilian affirmed, means to violate moral norms forgetting that
Armenian culture has mainly developed in Georgia. "Today Armenia is
a puppet country, which decides and says nothing. A little change
happened in 1988, but now do not have its result. Armenia knows seven
songs and all of them are about Russia," he stated.

RUSSIAN EXPERT THINKS ABDULLAH GUL’S VISIT TO YEREVAN IS OF SYMBOLIC NATURE

ArmInfo
2008-09-11 14:54:00

ArmInfo. Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Yerevan was of a
symbolic nature, representative of Political and Military Analysis
Institute Sergey Markedonov told ArmInfo correspondent.

He explained such a view since the two presidents did not discuss
the problem of the Armenian genocide recognition by Turkey, opening
of the Armenian-Turkish border or the Karabakh conflict.

Stemming from all this, one can conclude the visit was of a symbolic
nature which nevertheless was a positive one, thinks the European
vector in the foreign policy of Turkey is a prior one>, – Markedonov
concluded.

TURK-ARMENIAN DELEGATIONS WELCOME GUL’S VISIT TO ARMENIA

Sept 10 2008
Turkey

Yavuz Mildon, chairman of the Congress of European Local Authorities
and also head of the Turkish delegation, issued a joint statement
with Emin Yeritsian, deputy chairman of the congress who also heads
the Armenian delegation.

Heads of Turkish and Armenian delegations at the Congress of Local
and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (COE) have welcomed
Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia to watch a World
Cup qualifier between Turkish and Armenian national teams in Yerevan
on September 6th.

Yavuz Mildon, chairman of the Congress of European Local Authorities
and also head of the Turkish delegation, issued a joint statement
with Emin Yeritsian, deputy chairman of the congress who also heads
the Armenian delegation.

"The visit will constitute a productive opportunity to develop friendly
relations between the two countries. President Gul’s visit provided
new perspective for development of good neighborly relations and
cooperation between local authorities of the two countries. The two
countries should not miss such an opportunity," the statement read.

51st ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES HELD IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Se p 9, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The opening ceremony of the 51st
annual conference of the International Association of Judges (IAJ)
took place in Yerevan on September 8. 216 judges from 53 countries
are participating in the conference. Armenia joined the IAJ in 2005.

The participants will discuss issues related to independence of
judicial power from executive power and to disciplinary liability of
judges, in partucular, the issue of initiating a disciplinary procedure
against a judge by the other branches of power. The conference will
last until September 11.

The election of the IAJ president and his deputies will be held and
the place of the next 52nd conference of the association will be
decided during the Yerevan conference.

The chairman of the RA Cassation Court Hovhannes Manukian attached
importance to the fact that a conference of IAJ, a structure promoting
the independence and efficient work of judicial power, is being held
in Armenia – for the first time in the CIS. He pointed out the fight
against corruption and the protection of the principle of everyone’s
equality before the law as the most important problems. In his words,
in order to fight effectively against corruption, it is necessary
that society place a social order, while political power display a
definite will. The chairman of the RA Cassation Court said that the
people’s trust in the judicial system is quite low, and the society
has serious doubts about impartiality and honesty of judges.

The sittings of the European Association of Judges, as well as of
the IAJ’s regional groups (Latin American, African, and Asian, North
American and Oceanian Groups) took place within the framework of the
conference. In the evening the guests went to the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial Complex and the Genocide Museum to pay a tribute of respect
to the Armenian Genocide victims.