Author: Karapetian Hovik

SCHRODER: ‘EU DOES NOT APPRECIATE TURKEY’S ROLE’

Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 2 2009
Turkey

Turkey has been promised membership to the European Union and the bloc
should keep this promise, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder
said Monday at a conference organized by private construction company
Simpas.

Schroder was the first foreign former leader to talk on the theme of
"leadership for sustainable success" at the conference, which was held
to celebrate the company’s 35th anniversary. Former U.S. President
Bill Clinton was scheduled to speak after Schroder.

Schroder said he regretted that the EU does not appreciate Turkey’s
role in helping to solve regional conflicts. He called for the
continuation of reforms in Turkey and for patience in the country’s
EU membership bid.

Europe can survive the challenges of globalization only if it pursues
a common internal market policy and external enlargement process,
said Schroder. Europe should be the third pole in the world, he
said, adding, "We will only succeed if the EU continues its internal
integration policy and its external enlargement, by building bridges
to Arab countries through Turkey’s accession process."

Schroder said the negotiations with Turkey serve only one purpose:
full membership. The principle of pacta sunt servanda, which that
translates into English as "promises must be kept," is important,
Schroder said. "No one should and can ignore this principle," he added.

According to the former chancellor, Turkey has been promised membership
and this promise needs to be kept. "Turkey’s accession will bring
considerable benefits to Europe," he said. "Over the decades, Turkey
has been a reliable partner for Germany and Europe."

"The vital importance of Turkey’s accession is that Turkey serves as
a model for other Muslim countries in our European neighborhood,"
he said, adding that a democratic Turkey is proof that there is no
contradiction between the Islamic faith and enlightened society.

Schroder said Turkey is aware of its function as bridge. He also
praised Turkey’s policy on Cyprus and said it had won international
respect.

After referring to the Turkey-Armenia normalization process, Schroder
said Turkey plays a major role in helping find solutions to conflicts
in European neighborhoods. "I regret that this is not sufficiently
appreciated in the EU," he said.

Schroder said Turkey’s role in energy security will also be vital,
especially in the Nabucco and South Stream projects. As an adviser
to Russian gas monopoly, Gazprom, he was careful to mention these
two projects compete with each other.

Nabucco aims to bring Caspian gas to Europe via Turkey to reduce
European dependence to Russia; South Stream, a project spearheaded
by Russia, aims to provide an alternative route to Europeans in order
to bypass the Ukrainian route, which has proven to be problematic in
the past.

At the end of his speech, Schroder said Turkey’s accession to the EU
has been a long and difficult process that requires patience and the
continuation of reforms.

In response to a question, Schroder said he has great respect for
the Turkish leadership and that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
had surprised many European leaders by showing how serious he was
in undertaking reforms. "Some European leaders were not expecting
that Turkish leadership and Prime Minister Erdogan would succeed in
internal reforms," he said.

Schroder said the policy of the new government in Berlin would not
change dramatically. "The new government will learn that Turkey’s
accession to the EU is not only important for Turkey but also very,
very important for the EU as well."

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA HAS ITS STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL PERCEPTIONS OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS AND WILL ACT ACCORDING TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

ArmInfo
2009-11-02 16:59:00

ArmInfo. Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations does not mean a
stop to the efforts to attain the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during
a meeting of the dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The press service of the President quotes Sargsyan to pointed out that,
as a responsible player in the international politics, Armenia has
always met its obligations and is ready to move forward according
to the spirit of the signed protocols: to normalize its relations
with Turkey within reasonable time and without preconditions. The
international community supports this stance. Sargsyan said
that Armenia has its strategic and tactical perceptions of the
Armenian-Turkish normalization process and will act according to
further developments.

Sargsyan reiterated that the Armenian-Turkish normalization process
and the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks have nothing to do with one
another. Armenia is solving these two problems separately. "We must
adopt decisions that will help to ensure stable peace and development
in the region," Sargsyan said.

SOUTH PARS GAS MAIN MAY RUN THROUGH ARMENIA?

news.am
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

The volumes of oil and gas offered by Azerbaijan will not be sufficient
for launching the Nabucco project, Ivan Danilin, Leading Scientific
Expert, Institute of World Economy and International Relations, RF
Academy of Sciences, told NEWS.am, referring to the data published
by the State Oil and Gas Company of Azerbaijan, as well as to the
behavior of large companies exporting energy carriers from the region.

According to him, the full operation of the Nabucco pipeline
requires other exporter states’ participation. Danilin believes
that the Central Asian states having huge oil and gas resources are
interested in exporting natural gas to the European Union (EU) and
in its transit through the states that do have much influence on the
energy carriers market.

"Under the circumstances, gas export to the EU through Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey is of strategic interest, but Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan have not yet resolved the territorial problems involving
the Caspian basin," Danilin said. He pointed out numerous other
obstacles to energy projects.

According to Danilin, Iran may become an alternative route for Central
Asian energy resources. Iran and Turkmenistan have taken some steps
in this direction: the states signed an agreement increasing Iranian
imports of Turkmen gas. Iran itself plans large gas exports to the EU.

Iran and Turkey have reached agreements on the construction of a gas
main from the South Pars gas field through Turkey, where the necessary
infrastructure is being created.

Danilin is sure that Turkey will become of the principal centers of
transit of energy resources to the EU if the South Pars and South
Stream (Russia) projects are launched. This, in turn, will enhance
Turkey’s regional influence.

One of the branches of the South Pars gas main may run through
Armenia. "I think it will be possible if the Armenian-Turkish relations
improve," Danilin said. The expert believes that Azerbaijan will
hardly be able to prevent the construction of the gas main.

AZERBAIJANI CHESS PLAYERS SLAPED IN THE FACE OF THEIR OWN MEDIA

Aysor
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

The Azerbaijani media is surprised that the Azerbaijani and Armenian
chess players have refused to comment on the competition process of
the 7th round that took place in Serbia in Novi Sad in the frameworks
of the European team league. If it is normal with the Azerbaijani,
as they have lost in that vital game, the behavior of the Armenian
Gross Master was not understandable, as the Azerbaijani journalists
noted, the Armenians had took a victory and they could speak about it.

The Azerbaijani media makes wrong suppositions. We all still
remember how they were adding not existing ideas in the Teymur
Rajabov’s interview about considering all the Armenians enemies and
so on and so forth. It took place years ago, because of that Teymur
Rajabov received tough criticism of the world media. In the result
the professionalism of the Azerbaijani journalists became obvious
to the entire world. By that step the Armenian chess players simply
regarded the "high quality" of the Azerbaijani media.

The important point here is that the Azerbaijani media received a slap
on its face by the chess players of their own country. Naturally after
the meeting with the Armenian team, especially after losing the game,
they didn’t want their words to be misrepresented again under the
political context and to give rise to new not justified problems.

Long before Teymur Rajabov had apologized to Levon Aronyan, mentioning
that he hasn’t made any hostile statement. But even that didn’t save
his face as he was to appear in the Azerbaijani media and apologize
there. That step naturally was not in Rajabov’s power and as a
result the Armenian chess players do not notice him during different
tournaments now. They also ignore the Azerbaijani media…

NA DELEGATION HEADED BY VICE SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT SAMVEL NIKOYAN PARTICIPATED IN 121ST ASSEMBLY OF INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION

ARMENPRESS
Oct 29, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: The 121st assembly of
Inter-Parliamentary Union took place in Geneva October 19-21 with the
participation of the Armenian NA delegation headed by vice speaker
of the parliament Samvel Nikoyan.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest parliamentary organization
established in 1889. Parliaments of about 152 countries are members
of the organization, it also has 8 associative members.

NA public relations department told Armenpress that the first session
of the head council of the union was called October 19 during which
issues on membership to the organization, situation in a number of
member-countries, etc. were discussed.

On the same day "Eurasia" geopolitical group, Armenia is its member
too, called a session where among many issues the one on filling
the vacancy in Executive Committee was raised. Head of the Armenian
delegation suggested the candidacy of member of the Armenian delegation
Michael Vardanyan.

On the second half of the day the opening of the 121st assembly took
place the agenda of which included issues like the cooperation in
fighting against organized crime, illegal drug, arms sale, trafficking
in human beings, international terrorism, participation of youth in
democratic process, etc.

October 20 and 21 the sessions of the assembly and head council
continued. The latter elected five new members of the Executive
Committee among which is Armenian parliamentarian Michael Vardanyan
who also became the deputy chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

AZERBAIJAN REMINDS TURKEY OF ITS INTERESTS

ArmInfo
2009-10-28 12:41:00

ArmInfo. The Azerbaijani party, in the person of its ambassador,
reminded Ankara of its interests once again. "Process of opening the
Turkey-Armenia border and withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the
occupied Azerbaijani territories should run in parallel", Azerbaijani
Ambassador to Kazakhstan Latif Gandilov said, Trend reports.

"We hail the option of solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict such
as opening of the border will run parallel to withdrawal of troops",
Gandilov said. Azerbaijan is a peace- loving country interested
in the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
ambassador added.

To recall, this "peace-loving state" launched a bloody war in Nagorno
Karabakh, committed massacre and pogroms of Armenians in Baku and
Sumgait, as a result of which half million of Armenians have become
refugees. Moreover, it occupied part of the NKR territory.

To also recall, the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations does not concern the relations of Armenia or Turkey with
the third parties, while the Karabakh conflict, as it was multiply
emphasized, by OSCE MG cochairmen as well, is in no way connected
with the Armenian-Turkish relations.

RA PRESIDENT’S CHAIR GOT 3 LEGS: ARMENIA, DIASPORA AND KARABAKH: EXPERT

news.am
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

If Armenian authorities’ policy on Karabakh will be as active as in
case with Turkey, the change of power will be inevitable, the Director
of Political economy Institute Andranik Tevanyan told journalists at
the Oct. 28 press-conference.

Political analyst did not rule out the possibility of the coercive
change of power. Tevanyan underlined that RA President’s chair got
three legs — Armenia, Diaspora and Karabakh.

Armenia had Presidents who continued in office owing to the Karabakh
issue, being however unacceptable to the country and Diaspora. "RA
Presidents can be replaced not election-wise solely because of Karabakh
issue," he concluded.

IT IS ENVISAGED FIXING MINUMUM ALIMONY AT 10 THOUSAND DRAMS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 26, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. 63 issues and 16 international
agreements are on the agenda of the RA National Assembly’s regular
four-day session that started on October 26.

After approving the agenda the parliament adopted the issues discussed
at the previous four-day session, including the 2008 annual report
on the implementation of the 2006-2007 program of state property
privatization. By the report, in 2008, 7 companies included in the
program were privatized, 4 of which were privatized through direct
sale (including on condition of assuming the obligation to make
investments, and on other obligations), and 3 companies were privatized
at auction. Out of money received from privatization, 555.2 million
drams was transferred to the privatization account of the RA state
budget and 69.25 million drams was transferred to community budgets.

The National Assembly passed in the first reading bills on additions
and amendments to a number of laws. Particularly, the amendment to the
RA Family Code, proposed by members of the NA Standing Committee on
Social Affairs, envisages fixing the minimum alimony for each child
at 10 thousand drams (about 26 USD) instead of 1,000 drams. In case
the alimony paying parent is unemployed and receives an unemployment
benefit, the amount of the alimony cannot be less than 20% of the
unemployment benefit.

Tert, Armenia
Oct 24 2009

Women for the Preservation of Liberated Territories Roundtable Issues
a Statement
13:28 ¢ 24.10.09

Today the Women For the Preservation of Liberated Territories
Association organized a roundtable, after which participants issued
the following statement:

`States having strategic interests in the region ‘ the US, Russia,
Turkey and the European Union ‘ seem to have come to a common
agreement on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey and on the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh at the expense of
the national and state interests of the Armenian people.

`The Republic of Armenia current governing leadership and the person
holding the presidential post implement the will of the superpowers
unquestionably, subordinating and selling our state and national
interests to foreigners, from whom they receive corresponding
guarantees in maintaining the governing leadership which was seized
from the people in Armenia.

`Only a leadership which enjoys the Armenian people’s trust has the
right to resolve the Armenian-Turkish issue. For that reason we find
that the solution to the current main problem is Serzh Sargsyan’s
resignation. Without the solution of that problem it is impossible to
bring Armenia out of those dangerous international processes where
Armenian people’s strategic interests are at risk.

`The Armenian people are ready to resist anything bound on them,
[including] encroachments from foreigners, ready to fight and defeat
the enemy that is greater in number than itself, if the force leading
the people in that fight and the sons of the nation standing among
them have shown with their life and deeds that they are devoted people
and resolute in rectifying the situation and in preventing this course
of betrayal.

`Today, the danger threatening the Armenian people’s alarm calls are
resounded by those individuals who assess the situtation as equivalent
to the Battle of Sardarapat.

`We, the roundtable participants, welcome the idea of creating a
Sardarapat movement.’

Editor’s note: the Battle of Sardarapat took place in 1918 near
Sardarapt, Armenia (not too far from the capital, Yerevan) and is
viewed as the battle which prevented not only Turkish advancement into
the rest of Armenia, but also the complete destruction of the Armenian
people.

ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS MAKE GOOD SHOWING

News.am
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

October 22, 2009 Armenian national teams made a good showing in the
first round of European Team Chess Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Men’s national team defeated Danish chess players (3:1). Armenian
Grandmasters Vladimir Hakobyan and Gabriel Sargsyan drew with Lars
Bo Hansen and Sune Berg Hansen, whereas Arman Pashikyan and Tigran L.

Petrosyan won a victory over Lars Schandorff and Jakob Vang Glod
respectively.

Elina Danielyan, Lilit Lazarian, Lilit Galoyan, Nelli Aginyan and
Siranush Andreasyan won Italian national team (2.5:1.5).

In the second round of the championship Armenian men’s team will face
Romanian chess players, and women players-Slovenian national team.