Author: Karapetian Hovik

GIVING WRITTEN UNDERTAKING NOT TO LEAVE PLACE OF RESIDENCE CHOSEN AS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE FOR NA DEPUTY, BUSINESSMAN KHACHATUR SUKIASIAN

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 7, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Special Investigation Service
on September 4 discussed the issue of choosing a precautionary measure
for deputy of the National Assembly Khachatur Sukiasian charged
with organizing mass disorder. According to an official report of
the press service of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office, taking into
account the fact that the accused Khachatur Sukiasian who was wanted
by the police from March 5, 2008, came of his own free will to the
investigation body on September 2, 2009, the investigation body on
September 4 decided not to use arrest as a precautionary measure for
K. Sukiasian and to replace it with a written undertaking not to leave
the place of residence. K. Sukiasian was released on September 4, 2009.

ANNA MAILYAN TO PERFORM IN STOCKHOLM

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2009 12:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On September 24, Armenian mezzo-soprano Anna Mailyan
will give a concert in Stockholm in annual Royal Palace Music Festival
frameworks. The festival will feature works of Armenian musicians:
Aram Khachaturian, Arno Babajanyan and others.

Anna Mailyan will perform to the accompaniment of Hasmik Leyloyan
(kanon), Ani Ghazaryan and Narine Mardoyan (piano), Felix Minasyan
(cello), Royal Festivals’ official website reported..

Since its debut in 1970, the Royal Palace Music Festival has grown into
a successful and popular tradition in Stockholm. Throughout the years
its has welcomed both well known artists as well as new talents; world
famous ensembles and orchestras besides new groups and constellations.

Armenian prime minister opens Armenia expo 2009 regional
trade-industrial Expo-Forum

YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
opened ARMENIA EXPO 2009, ninth regional universal trade-industrial
expo-forum on Friday.

The forum will last until September 6.

`We attach importance to this event that has already traditional. This
event is especially significant amid the global recession, which
creates obstacles to all economic entities’, the premier said at the
opening ceremony.

He expressed confidence that such events create favorable environment
for overcoming the difficulties by joint efforts.

He said 150 local and foreign organizations are taking part in the
forum.

`It means people have come here with programs. They have services for
boosting their products and want to find new partners, expand their
outlets and present the business community the opportunities available
to all’, Sargsyan said.

Sargsyan said that Armenian government is always supporting such
events.

Arsen Ghazaryan, chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
of Armenia, speaking at the forum, said that organizers of the
exposition hadn’t been sure of success, but they put their idea in
reality even amid the recession.

`Even in this hard time, our economic entities are working intensively,
boosting their products and services on markets. Today’s exposition
proves that w
e’ll overcome the crisis with light losses’, he said.

After the opening ceremony, Tigran Sargsyan saw the exposed products
and talked to the forum participants.

Products from Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Russia, Belarus,
Iran, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Georgia and China.

Seven exhibitions ` Industrial Armenia EXPO 2009, Construction EXPO
2009, Foods and Drinks EXPO 2009, Transport EXPO 2009, Computer EXPO
2009, Printing, Publishing, Advertising EXPO 2009 and Furniture EXPO
2009 – will be opened as part of the expo-forum.

The forum is supported by Armenian government as well as economy,
agriculture, transport and communication ministries.

The forum is organized by LOGOS EXPO CENTER and the Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia. M.V.-0—

NGO WANTS VISIT OF AZERI SPORTSMEN TO ARMENIA CANCELLED

Turan News Agency
Azerbaijan
Sept 3 2009

Baku, 3 September: An attempt by activists of the Karabakh Liberation
Organization (KLO) to meet Minister of Youth and Sports Azad
Rahimov on Thursday [3 September] grew into a brawl. The activists
wanted to "clarify" issues related to his visit to Armenia. The KLO
representatives also intended to demand that the minister cancel
the trip of Azerbaijani judoists to Yerevan on 9-13 September to
participate in a European youth championship.

The security service of the ministry and support staff met the KLO
representatives "aggressively", the KLO press release said. However,
the KLO activists broke into the building where they clashed with
employees of the ministry. Force was used against KLO members, and
some of them received bodily injuries.

[Passage omitted: repetition]

An Azerbaijani delegation visited Armenia in order to tackle issues
related to the security of Azerbaijani judoists at a European youth
championship in Yerevan.

ARF EUROPE: ‘NOT TO THE COMPROMISINGS OF THE ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES’
Jean Eckian

os||politics&pid=15068
15:58:17 – 03/09/2009
Paris

Mourad Papazian, chairman of ARF Dachnaktsutyun/Western Europe,
launches a shout of alarm: ‘ The Armenian cause is in danger, Karabakh
is in danger, authorities of Armenia will make the greatest political
error since Armenia’s independence . ‘ Precise Papazian: ‘ To react,
it is not to criticize Armenia. It is to take part in the safeguard
of avenir.’ For him, ‘ the Armenian authorities seem ready with
all compromisings with Turkish State to obtain the normalization
of the diplomatic relations and the opening of the borders between
the two countries. Compromising on the question of the Armenian
genocide. Compromising on the question of the rights of the Armenian
people. Compromising on the question of Karabakh. ‘

The fact even as the ‘ two States decide to create a structure in
responsibility of study, re-study, open or to reopen the files relating
to the ‘ events ‘ from 1915 ‘, constitutes for its eyes ‘ that what was
an indisputable asset, not only for the Armenians but for the score
of States and the community of the researchers – specialized in the
genocide who recognized the Armenian genocide, today is potentially
called into question, including by the Armenian government. This is
an hard blow carried to the Armenian cause. A considerable retreat. A
formidable victory of the Turkish diplomacy. ‘ , he said.

In addition, chairman Papazian stresses the ‘ renouncement of the
Armenian authorities have regard of the territorial claims. ‘ In the
name of what? In the name of which? ‘ he says. Adding: ‘ The Armenian
government, its Foreign Minister, as well as the President of the
Republic do not have the right to speak in the name of the Armenian
nation, without preliminary consultation, precise mandate of the
Armenian people. The decision of the Armenian authorities concerns
political irresponsibility and is stripped of any legitimacy. […] It
is absolutely necessary that the President of the Republic organizes
a side-Armenian dialogue, consults the communities throughout the
world, the large international Armenian organizations, the Armenian
political parties. The fracture between the authorities of Armenia,
including its diaspora, is imminente.’ Mourad Papazian concluded its
warning statement by a call to the representatives from the Armenian
nation so that ‘ a position truly representative of all the Armenian
people is adopted. ‘ ‘ It would be inadmissible that it is Turkey
which divides the Nation armenienne.’ , he said.

U.S. AND RUSSIA UNBLOCK SOUTH CAUCASUS

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 4 2009
Armenia

Georgian mass media reported about the opening of "Upper Lars"
checkpoint, the new checkpoint opening ceremony took place in
Russian-Georgian border in Kazbegi.

The construction was funded by the United States and managed by
a corps of U.S. army engineers. US 2.4 $ mln was spent on the
project. U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John Tefft, Georgian Finance
Minister Kakha Baindurashvili as well as Zaza Gogava, the chief
of border police and Grigoriy Grigalashvili, the chief of patrol
forces participated in the ceremony. The U.S. side expressed hope
that Georgia and Armenia will restore economic and tourist ties, and
the Kazbegi station (Upper Lars form Russian side) will contribute
to safe transportation of people and goods between the countries.

In his interview with Azerbaijan-based 1news.az., Tengiz Pkhaladze,
the head of the Georgian Center for Geopolitical Research, expressed
the opinion that the newly opened checkpoint will make full-fledged
traffic possible. "Washington’s aim is control over the entire
South Caucasus, but Armenia frustrates all their plans, and they
seek for an alternative. The opening of the Upper Lars checkpoint,
and the Turkish-Armenian border negotiations are part of this plan,"
the expert said. It is noteworthy Russia has not tried to conduct
direct negotiations with Georgia, but held talks with United States.

"It seems Moscow and Washington agreed on some issue related to the
Caucasus. Let us not forget that Russia used to express discontent
with the possible reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border. At present,
however, Moscow even welcomes these agreements. The checkpoint opening
has also been perceived calmly by Russia. However one cannot say the
checkpoint will work properly, as the Russian side used to repeatedly
open and then close it in the past. I do not want to be too optimistic
over Upper Lars," he said.

Earlier, the political analyst Armen Gevorgyan told NEWS.am that
Washington and Moscow shared roles in the settlement of South Caucasian
problems. According to Gevorgyan, the United States has assumed part of
the responsibility for the settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations,
and the initiative policy of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
is evidence thereof. The Russian side pledged to contribute to the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process – the Maydorf Declaration and the
number of Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meetings in Moscow are
evidence thereof as well.

Commenting on the reports on the planned reopening of the Upper
Lars checkpoint and the U.S. contribution the process, Gevorkyan
underlined: "U.S-Russian agreements seem to be of larger scope than
we expected. After the August war (war in South Ossetia) Russia
became more compliant, agreeing to a dialogue with Washington. The
matter concerns the full-scale unblocking of the region by joint
efforts, without touching upon South Ossetia and Abkhazia problem,
and drawing parallels with Kosovo. Armenian-Turkish border opening
is senseless if commodity flow stalls at the Georgian-Russian and
Armenian-Azerbaijani borders. Most likely, the Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement and a breakthrough in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process
are part of the unblocking plan in the South Caucasus."

GAROYIAN: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Famagusta Gazette
Sept 4 2009

House of Representatives Speaker Marios Garoyian said yesterday that
Cyprus has always stood by the side of the Armenian people with regard
to their struggle for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

In his opening address at the conference,"The Armenian Genocide and
International Law" in Beirut, Garoyian said: "whether committed in
times of peace or war Genocide constitutes a crime, condemnable and
punishable under International Law."

"Although the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide provides for an effective
international tool against this crime, adhering to a Convention is
only the first important step of what should actually and ultimately
be pursued," he added.

Garoyian said that the genocide of one and a half million Armenians
by the Ottomans, in and around the year 1915, undoubtedly constitutes
such a crime, for which Turkey has been toiling to prevent recognition.

TURKISH BUSINESSMEN SUPPORT ARMENAIN-TURKISH BORDER OPENING

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2009 19:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council (TABDC)
Co-President Kaan Soyak says the Turkish and Armenian governments
know what work there is to be done to develop relations.

Soyak, evaluating the midnight announcements on Aug. 31 in an interview
with Today’s Zaman, said, "Of course we found [the developments]
positive. The concerns and problems of both sides were put to paper
in the protocols. Everyone knows well what they must do." He also
said he had positive expectations regarding a solution to the issue
of Nagorno-Karabakh and said that when it came to internal political
discussions, he was more concerned about the Armenian side than the
Turkish side.

Soyak expects that when the border between Turkey and Armenia is
opened, the Kars-Yerevan train line will carry people and freight
between the countries. According to Soyak, this would make it
easier for Turkish products to reach Central Asia, traveling through
Armenia. "With this route, Turkey will be able to reach both Central
Asia and Russia much faster and will also be able to be reached much
more quickly. It will also bring down prices of raw materials," he
said. Soyak also recalled that because the border between Turkey and
Armenia is closed, trade between the two countries takes place through
Georgia, and according to United States and European Union data in 2008
such trade amounted to $200 million. This figure could rise to as much
as $400-500 million if the border were opened, he said. In addition,
the Turkish tourism sector would receive a boost with an influx of
Armenians from Armenia as well as diaspora Armenians coming to visit
Turkey’s East, which hosts many sites of interest to them, Soyak said.

TURKEY, ARMENIA EDGE TOWARDS PEACE DEAL
By Ivan Watson

CNN.com
September 1, 2009 Tuesday 12:13 PM EST

Hours after Turkey and Armenia announced a tentative, Swiss-mediated
peace deal, opposition politicians in Turkey were blasting the
proposal.

The plan would normalize relations and open the common border between
the two neighbors.

Political analysts warn that there are still immense hurdles left,
before Armenians and Turks can overcome nearly a century of bad
blood and re-open a border that has been sealed shut for more then
fifteen years.

In a joint press statement released late Monday night, Switzerland,
Armenia and Turkey announced they had agreed to start six weeks
of "internal political consultations" on two protocols, aimed at
establishing diplomatic and bilateral relations.

"The protocol can be signed in six weeks, ratified by the parliament
completing the process there and come into force," Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, in an interview to Turkey’s NTV news
station. "However it is not known how long the approval process
would be."

At least one observer noted the tenuous nature of the deal.

"I don’t see it as a breakthrough, because as long as everything is
tied to parliamentary approval … you can always go back to square
one," said Nigar Goksel, an Istanbul-based analyst with the European
Stability Initiative, who has closely followed recent diplomacy
between Yerevan and Ankara.

The border between Turkey and Armenia has been shut since 1993,
after Turkey objected to Armenia’s war with Turkish-ally Azerbaijan
over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabagh. Neither country has
embassies in each other’s capitals.

"The United States warmly welcomes the joint statement made today by
Turkey and Armenia, with Swiss participation, outlining further steps
in the normalization of their bilateral relations," the U.S. State
Department said in a statement released Monday.

"It has long been and remains the position of the United States that
normalization should take place without preconditions and within
a reasonable timeframe. We urge Armenia and Turkey to proceed
expeditiously, according to the agreed framework as described in
today’s statement.

"We remain ready to work closely with both governments in support
of normalization, a historic process that will contribute to peace,
security and stability throughout the region."

Turkish-Armenian relations are often overshadowed by dispute over
the massacre of ethnic Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman
Empire, more then 90 years ago. Armenians accuse Ottoman Turks of
committing genocide, killing more then a million Armenians starting
in 1915. Modern-day Turkey vehemently rejects these allegations.

The proposed protocol for normalizing relations calls for creating a
committee of international experts, to research archives and "restore
mutual confidence between the two nations." But there is no mention
of the disputed territory of Karabagh, which Armenian troops have
controlled since the 1993 Armenian-Azerbaijan war.

"In this way Turkey is taking a step back," said Onur Oymen, a lawmaker
in Turkey’s opposition CHP party. He said if the protocols were put
to a vote before the Turkish parliament, "we won’t support them. This
would damage Turkey’s relations with Azerbaijan."

Many observers say the current diplomatic rapprochement between
Turkey and Armenia was made possible by a dramatic round of "football
diplomacy." In September 2008, Turkish president Abdullah Gul accepted
an invitation to attend a soccer match with Armenia’s newly-elected
president in the Armenian capital.

But in interviews, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian has said he wants
Turkey to make progress towards re-opening the border, before agreeing
to attend a follow-up round of football diplomacy, at a soccer match
scheduled to take place in the Turkish city of Bursa on October 14.

ARMENIAN AND TURKISH GOVERNMENTS TO HOLD INTENSE TALKS FOR RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC TIES

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
September 1, 2009

Yesterday, the Foreign Affairs Ministries of Armenia and Turkey issued
an encouraging joint statement for supporters of the reconciliation
process. Officials from the two countries are set to start negotiations
soon; the six-week talks will be chaired by Swiss officials, and should
result in the signing of protocols on the establishment of diplomatic
ties and better relations. The statements did not mention when the
highly contentious issue of the killing of Armenians by members of
the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1918 would start, or how it would
be tackled. The talks will end at around the time of a world cup
qualification match between Turkey and Armenia in Istanbul, to which
the Turkish government has invited Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian.

Significance:The beginning of negotiations is the green shot in
Turko-Armenian bilateral ties. The two sides have made cautious steps
towards a normalisation of ties since 2008 (seeTurkey – Armenia: 23
April 2009:). Their efforts are boosted by the common need to increase
economic growth rates, and considerable pressure by the senior figures
from the European Union (EU) and the United States. Yet the willingness
for a change in relations does not reach far enough for now; although
the cabinets may be willing to give it a try under the auspices of
the Swiss government, the Armenian and Turkish parliaments and radical
forces in the two countries may reject a thaw in ties. The protocols
would need to be backed by the countries’ parliaments to enter into
force. Turkish authorities may worry about restitution requests by
Armenian citizens, while Armenian authorities may regard the thaw as a
Trojan horse through which the Turkish government–together with the EU
and the United States–may try to force a detrimental peace deal with
neighbouring Azerbaijan. Turkey was previously a staunch supporter
of Azerbaijan in its dispute with the Armenian government; the Azeri
government now worries that this may change and prove negative for
its efforts with regards to the Armenia-supported breakaway republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan (seeTurkey – Armenia – Azerbaijan:
14 May 2009:).