Author: Karapetian Hovik

War likely if Azerbaijani territorial integrity violated – minister

BAKU, December 12 (RIA Novosti)

A war between Azerbaijan and Armenia is inevitable should the two
sides fail to settle the Nagorny Karabakh conflict in favor of
Azerbaijan, the defense minister said Saturday.

"If the issue is not settled so that Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity is preserved, a war is inevitable," Safar Abiyev told
journalists.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh
first erupted in 1988, when the mountainous region claimed
independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people were reported dead on both sides between 1988 and
1994, and over 100 others died after a ceasefire was concluded in
1994, leaving Nagorny Karabakh in Armenian hands, but tensions between
Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.

The OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France,
is a mediator in the conflict.

THE SERBS ARE INTERESTED IN PARAJANOV’S LIFE AND ACTIVITY

Aysor.am
11/12/09

The director of the monuments protection agency on Serbia Tibor Vaydan
and the employee of the same agency Dragan Ilich are in Yerevan,
Armenia by the invitation of Sergey Parajanov’s the museum.

Today the Serb guests together with the Honorary Consul of the Republic
of Serbia in Armenia Babken Simonyan met with the journalists.

"The aim of our agency in Novi Sad city is to preserve the cultural
values and to create ties between our two nations", – mentioned Tibor
Vaydan and added that once the name of Parajanov was hidden and secret
and learning that there is a museum dedicated to Sergey Parajanov in
Armenia the guests have visited it for getting acquainted with his
life and activities.

"Knowing that Parajanov is a great artist we came to Armenia to
take something to Novi Sad, and to show it to our compatriots who is
Parajanov", – underlined T. Vaydan.

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia in Armenia Babken Simonyan
mentioned that the cultural ties of Armenia and Serbia have history
of about 750 years.

"There exist some documentaries, observations which once again come
to certify that the Serbian monuments bear the influence of Armenian
architecture", – informed B. Simonyan and added that the Armenians
of Serbia have emigrated especially after Ani being destroyed, and
at present there is Armenian small community consisting of 300-350
people in Serbia.

"Culture is the only way that can turn the people into real friends",
– stressed Tibor Vaydan and added that the first step is already done,
and on returning to Serbia they will try to harden the Armenian and
Serbian Ties.

EU LEADERS SATISFIED WITH EASTERN PARTNERSHIP IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2009 19:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Finishing their two-day meeting in Brussels,
the leaders of 27 EU member states expressed satisfaction with
the implementation of Eastern Partnership program which is aimed
strengthening links between "big Europe" and Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine.

During a news conference summing up the outcomes of Eastern Partnership
ministerial conference, EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita
Ferrero-Waldner said the Union was hopeful to sign associate agreements
with Ukraine and Moldova in 2010.

She noted in the meantime that the project isn’t aimed at preparing
countries for EU accession. "We announced earlier that Eastern
Partnership is not designed for that. Hence we can’t say whether or
not EU doors are open to those counties," Waldner said.

THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE OFF TO ST PETERSBURG

T hursday, 10 December 2009

A government delegation led by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan will
leave for St Petersburg early tomorrow to attend the 24th sitting of
the EurAsEC Interstate Council, involving the heads of government.

The delegation is composed of Chief of Government Staff David Sargsyan,
Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan, Deputy Finance Minister
Vardan Aramyan, Deputy Economy Minister Mushegh Tumasyan, Deputy
Transport and Communication Minister Artashes Avetisyan and other
high ranking officials.

RF FOREIGN MINISTRY: YEREVAN AND BAKU ON THE WAY TO KARABAKH BREAKTHROUGH

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.12.2009 19:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia and Azerbaijan are on their way to serious
breakthrough on Nagorno Karabakh issue, Russian Foreign Ministry
representative Andrei Nesterenko said.

"With positive negotiation dynamics preserved next year, we have
reason to hope for creation of draft peace agreement, upon final
coordination of basic principles for conflict settlement," he stated.

Reviewed Madrid principles document, containing basic approaches
to Karabakh conflict settlement, will soon be provided to Armenia
and Azerbaijan by OSCE MG Co-Chairs, BBC Russian Service cited him
as saying.

Pro- Armenian lawmaker to replace "friend of Turkey" in U.S. Ccongress

04 December 2009 [09:45]

A member of the Congressional caucus on Armenian issues, known as
close friend of Armenian Diaspora Bill Delahunt is going to replace
Congressman Robert Wexler at the position of Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Europe, R.Wexler’s office said.

Congressman Robert Wexler is currently serving as a Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Europe and a senior member of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee and the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Turkey
Caucus, also member of House Caucus on Azerbaijan.

Wexler’s office said that Congressman is leaving the Congress and is
accepting a position as President of the Center for Middle East Peace.

Members of Azerbaijani Diaspora express their disappointment about the
replacement.

`This appointment is against Azerbaijan, Turkey and it will be clear
quite soon," American Azerbaijani Ismail Hamidov said.

He pointed out that Mr. Wexler always preventing Armenians
provocations against Turkey and Azerbaijan in the Congress.

Azerbaijani Diaspora representatives stated that the new Chairman Bill
Delahunt has consistently supported Armenian issues, having
co-sponsored the "Armenian Genocide Resolution".

Mr. Wexler is known in Congress as active public person who is also on
the list of the best 50 Congress members.

ARMENIAN SOCIETY TOLERANT TOWARDS CORRUPTION: T. SARGSYAN

NEWS.am
16:03 / 12/09/2009

Dec. 9, RA Premier Tigran Sargsyan participated in a conference timed
to International Anti-Corruption Day, organized by USAID and OSCE
Yerevan Offices jointly with RA Prosecutor General’s Office.

In his speech Sargsyan touched upon three core issues: "firstly,
authorities – me and my colleagues; if we are not severe upon high
raking officials, evidently the fight against corruption will be hard
or impossible. Secondly, structural changes related to governmental
bodies. Thirdly, public sentiments – here we need dramatic changes, as
see that society does not desperately fight against corrupt practices,
indeed it is tolerant towards corruption."

The participants were presented with the results of public opinion
poll carried out in Armenia by the Caucasus Research Resource Center.

NKR PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN MEETS ANDRZEJ KASPRZYK

Panorama.am
17:13 08/12/2009

On 8 December President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic c met the
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador
Andrzej Kasprzyk, Central Information Department of NKR President’s
Office reported.

Issues related to the current situation along the line of contact
between NKR and Azerbaijan armed forces were discussed during the
meeting.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PLEASED WITH THE WORK OF THE BORDER GUARDS

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 4, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received today deputy head of the Border Guard Department of the
Russian Federal Security Service, General-Lieutenant Vladimir Streltsov
who introduced to Serzh Sargsyan the new head of the Border Guard
Department in Armenia, General-Lieutenant Victor Vlassov.

Presidential press office told Armenpress that the President highly
assessed the consolidating strategic partnership between Armenia and
Russia and highlighted the continuation of efforts in that direction.

The president of the country considered the protection of the Armenian
state border an important element of country’s national security and
one of the core elements of Armenian-Russian allied relations.

"We are pleased with the work of the border guards, with our joint
work and their professionalism," the leader of the country pointed
out and added that traditional good relations have been formed with
the border guards which gives an opportunity to always give operative
and effective solutions to the raising issues.

Expressing gratitude for the assessment, Vladimir Streltsov said they
are seeking to implement their work consciously.

OVER 70,000 SIGNATURES COLLECTED WITHIN CAMPAIGN "NO TO ARMENIAN OPENING! WE APOLOGIZE TO AZERBAIJANI TURKS" IN FATIH SETTLEMENT OF ISTANBUL

APA
Dec 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Istanbul – APA. The campaign "No to Armenian opening! We apologize
to Azerbaijani Turks", which started by MHP Fatih organization on
October 22, has ended, APA reports.

Over 70,000 signatures have been collected as a result of the campaign
in Fatih settlement of Istanbul. Chairman of MHP Fatih organization
Ali Dincer Colak and party members handed over the signature sheets and
documents on the end of the campaign to Azerbaijani Consulate General
in Istanbul. According to the organizers, they have reached their
goal, collection of over 70,000 signatures in Fatih, the population
of which is 50,000, is the best result. Ali Dincer Colak said not
only MHP members, but also all the residents of Fatih participated
in the campaign. The copies of the signature sheets will be sent to
Turkish Foreign Ministry and media outlets.