Author: Khondkarian Raffi

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 6 2010

Azerbaijani MP: `Armenia should realize the scale of such threat’

06 February 2010 [13:45] – Today.Az

`Peace negotiation over Karabakh conflict can not last forever’.

Azerbaijani MP Azay Guliyev stated this commenting on recent warning
of the head of US National Intelligence Dennis Blair on possibility of
renewing the military action between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

`Such statements can not be called accidental. Many people began
thinking of peaceful policy of Azerbaijan towards Armenia last for
ever. But this is wrong. Patience of Azerbaijan is has its limits, and
if Baku sees no hope in negotiation process, we will start to take
alternative measures’ stated Guliyev.

`For succeeding in Karabakh issue there must be some pressure on
Yerevan from the side of Russia, Europe and USA, but unfortunately we
can not see any now. That’s why when talking about restoration of war
by Azerbaijan we want to be understood.

For freeing of Azeri territories occupied by Armenia, Baku did nothing
for a long time. We are actively involved in development of our
military industry, modernize our army, and by this means achieve new
standards. That’s why the warning of US intelligence is addressed
first of all to Russia and US itself, because they must have pressure
on Armenia if they don’t need the escalation of situation in
Caucasus’, – said the deputy.

`Besides, the war in Karabakh will affect not only Azerbaijan and
Armenia, but also the whole Eurasian continent. That’s why Armenia
should realize the scale of such threat.

No one in Karabakh denies the possibility of restoration of military
action in Karabakh. During peace negotiations with Armenia Baku has
stated its favors. The fact that Azerbaijan is carrying out peace
negotiations with Armenia, and is ready to give the population of
Nagorno Karabakh the largest range of rights, that can be autonomy, –
is the favor of Baku. That’s why Armenia should now that there can not
be unlimited negotiations over Karabakh, and there is an alternative
to peace dialogue’, – stressed A.Guliyev.

/Day.Az/

URL:

Aysor, Armenia
Feb 6 2010

`Shanghai EXPO 2010′ the day of Armenia celebrated

Since May 1 to October 31, 2010 in Shanghai city of China will be held
`Shanghai EXPO 2010′ exhibition titled `Prosperous city, prosperous
life’ on which will take part also Armenia. The national operator of
the exhibition is `The Armenian Development Agency’.

At present they are actively getting ready for the presentation day.
Lusine Tumanyan the head of ADA export promotion department informed
Aysor.am that on the exhibition the country gets the opportunity to
present his culture, economic and mental potential, and history.
During the exhibition on September 21 will be celebrated the National
Day of Armenia.

`It’s an international exhibition in the frameworks of which will take
place also a series of economic events’, – L. Twumanyan mentioned.

She noted that the Armenian pavilion is going to have its commercial
place where will be presented and sold Armenian products. During the
184 days of the world’s biggest exhibition there will be organized
many performances of different cultures, more than 20 thousand events,
around 200 thousand visitors per day.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle, UK
February 4, 2010 Thursday

GANG SMUGGLED GIRL INTO TYNESIDE

BYLINE: ADAM JUPP

A HUMAN trafficking gang has been busted after trying to sneak a girl
of 15 into Tyneside.

The schoolgirl, originally from Armenia, in Eastern Europe, arrived at
the North Shields Ferry Terminal, having travelled from Holland.

UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers became suspicious when she tried to
enter the country using a Latvian passport.

It emerged she was accompanied by two men, also from Armenia, who were
49 and 25, and two women, 33 and 26, from Latvia.

And after further investigations by UKBA’s North East Immigration
Crime Team (NICT), two more males, also Armenian and aged 30 and 19,
were picked up.

The teenager has been taken into the care of North Tyneside Council’s
social services department, while the six adults were arrested on
suspicion of people trafficking offences.

The smuggling operation is not thought to be linked to prostitution
but inquiries are ongoing.

Det Insp Graham Brown, of the NICT, said: "The safety and wellbeing of
the young girl is of paramount importance to all the agencies involved
in this investigation.

"Trafficking and facilitation are serious offences which often involve
young and vulnerable members from the international community.

"The UK Border Agency, working with the North East Police forces, now
has a formidable team to investigate and detect such criminality."

The youngster and her chaperones had boarded a ferry in Amsterdam,
which sailed overnight on its way to North Shields.

Two of the men arrested had addresses in the Manchester area and all
those arrested have been bailed pending further inquiries.

The NICT was formed as the UKBA joined forces with the region’s police
forces to focus on foreign crooks who have committed immigration
crimes and offences. It aims to crack down on the production, sale and
use of bogus travel documents.

As well as raids on addresses where those who have made use of illegal
paperwork are based, operations are carried out at our ports and
airports.

SERGEI MOVSISYAN COMES 7TH AT GIBRALTAR OPEN

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2010 14:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian grandmaster Sergei Movsisyan (representing
Slovakia) came 7th at Gibraltar Open chess tournament. In the 10th
round, Movsisyan made a draw with Jan Gustafsson, the winner of
the tournament.

Michael Adams and Francisco Vallejo Pons took the 2nd and 3rd
respectively.

SIDES IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TALKS AGREE ON DOCUMENT’S PREAMBLE – RUSSIAN FM

ITAR-TASS
Jan 25 2010
Russia

Krasnaya Polyana, 25 January: The preamble of the document on the basic
principles of settlement of the problem of Nagornyy Karabakh is finding
a mutual understanding of the sides. As for the parts containing
the subject of disagreement, the sides will prepare their ideas and
wording for future rounds of talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov has said summing up the results of the trilateral meeting of
the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"The sides considered the specific proposals submitted by co-chairmen
of the Minsk group," Lavrov said.

"There is a mutual understanding as to the preamble of the document,"
Lavrov said. "Everyone has recognized as useful the existence of the
document, because it makes it possible to hold a conversation not in
an abstract manner, but attached to concrete wording," he said.

"The main result today is the agreement on the fact that even though
there are parts that are not subject to the sides’ concord, the sides
will prepare their specific ideas and wording that will be incorporated
in the text," Lavrov said.

He refused to gives the details of the document or of its preamble.

"This is the subject of the sides’ talks," he said.

The talks of the presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan lasted
over two hours.

TURKISH PREMIER COMMENTS ON TURKEY-ARMENIA AGREEMENTS, CYPRUS ISSUE

Anadolu Agency
Jan 31 2010
Turkey

Istanbul, 31 January: Turkey’s prime minister commented on
Turkish-Armenian relations and the Cyprus issue during a TV programme
he attended on Sunday [31 January].

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan replied to questions of
reporters at a TV programme broadcast on TRT-1 channel.

Commenting on relations between Turkey and Armenia, Erdogan said that
Turkey would not take a step back regarding the protocol it signed
with Armenia in Switzerland.

Erdogan said that Russia, France and USA, which were the three
co-chairs of the "Minsk Group", showed a major negligence in the
process.

He said Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan would not be experiencing the
current problems if those countries had taken the necessary actions
over the last 20 years.

"United Nations (UN) confirmed Armenia’s invasion as well. The problem
will end once this invasion is over," Erdogan said.

Pointing to the 170,000 Armenian-origin people living in Turkey
currently, Erdogan said nearly 70,000 of them were Turkish citizens,
while the rest were living in the country illegally.

"We overlook this fact. Because, we do not want any tension,"
Erdogan said, adding that Armenia did not respond positively to
Turkey’s efforts.

Regarding Cyprus issue, Erdogan said the Greek Cypriot party did not
have a positive approach like the Turkish Cypriots.

He said Turkey desired UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to assume an
active role in the ongoing process in the island.

Commenting on the result of the Orams case as well, Erdogan said the
United Kingdom had displayed a wrong stance and a major complacency
in the case and Turkey had never approved such attitude.

AZERBAIJANI MP: U.S. CONGRESS’ RECOGNITION OF "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" WOULD PLAY INTO TURKEY’S HANDS

Today
51.html
Feb 4 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with member of Azerbaijani Milli Majlis (parliament)
Gudrat Hasanguliyev.

Many expert argue that the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
requires shift in positions of the great powers. Do you expect any
changes in their positions?

I do not think that the position of states involved in the Karabakh
peace process has changed in recent times. They remain committed
to their opinion ignoring interests of Azerbaijan which requires
to resolve the conflict based on international law. Besides, I do
not see prospects for a shift in the positions of these powers. All
these do not promise bright prospects for a peaceful solution to the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

In your opinion, can the U.S. Congress neglect the country’s national
interests and recognize the "Armenian genocide" if Turkey fails to
ratify the Zurich protocols signed with Armenia?

I believe when we talk about neglect of national interest in U.S.

relations with Turkey, we should not refer to future. Washington
has already neglected its relations with Ankara. As you know, many
Congressmen and other U.S. officials are dependent on the Armenian
diaspora in the States. Therefore, the issue of "Armenian genocide"
is regularly raised in the United States which also provides support
to the separatist regime of Karabakh.

The U.S. Congress is constantly blackmailing Ankara by recognition
of the "Armenian genocide" seeking to control Turkey’s foreign
policy. Of course, the U.S. Congress is less likely to adopt such a
decision because it would mark end of the Turkish-American strategic
partnership.

But I think U.S. Congress’ recognition of the "Armenian genocide" would
play into the hands of Turkey. Because this would end Washington’s
blackmail to Ankara enabling Turkey to pursue more free foreign
policy. At present, Ankara wants to establish closer cooperation with
the Turkic countries, as well as with Russia.

Moreover, I believe that in event the United States recognizes the
"Armenian genocide", Turkey should withdraw from NATO and join
together with Azerbaijan the CSTO, which already has a Turkic
state. I think that Turkey’s withdrawal from the pro-Western NATO
and accession to the CSTO is much easier than NATO accession for
other Turkic states. Thus, influence of the Turkic countries in
the military-political organization like CSTO will increase many
times, and, most importantly, our countries will be together in one
organization.

Does not Armenia’s presence in the CSTO bother you?

Not at all. This should bother neither Azerbaijan nor Turkey. On
the contrary, Armenia could lose one-sided support of Russia in the
Karabakh issue, even in the event of resumed hostilities. Moreover,
in case of war with Armenia, Russia will no longer be able to
unequivocally support Yerevan. I think accession to the CSTO is in
line with common interests of Moscow, Baku and Ankara since the West
has already denied support to Azerbaijan.

ARMENIA: TEN NATIONAL FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

esctoday.com
ws/read/14999
Feb 4 2010

The ten contestants in the Armenian national final for the Eurovision
Song Contest 2010 have been revealed along with their songs and the
respective songwriters. One of them will become the fifth Armenian
representative in the comeptition.

The following acts will compete in the national final
(Composer/Lyricist in brackets):

1.Another Story – Ays dzmer (This winter) (A. Sargsyan)

2.Eva Rivas – Apricot stone (A. Martirosyan/K. Kavaleryan)

3.Nick Egibyan – Countdown (N. Egibyan)

4.Emmy & Mihran – Hey (Let me hear you say)
(V. Ter-Yeghishyan/M. Kirakosyan)

5.David Ashotyan – Infected dreams (D. Ashotyan)

6.Maria Kizirian – Little Red Riding Hood (M. Kizirian)

7.Razmik Amyan – My love (V. Petrosyan/V. Zadoyan)

8.Sonya – Never (S. Qatuzyan/K. Grigoryan)

9.Ani Arzumanyan – The Mermaid song (A. Nersisyan)

10.Meline Beglaryan – We must believe (M. Beglaryan)

Some familiar faces can be found in the line-up. Karen Kavaleryan,
lyricist of Apricot stone, has already competed in the Eurovision Song
Contest as a lyricist on various occasions: He co-wrote the lyrics
for the Russian entries in 2002 (Northern girl, 10th place) and 2006
(Never let you go, 2nd place) and wrote the Belarusian lyrics in 2007
(Work your magic, 6th place), the Armenian lyrics in 2007 (Anytime
you need, 8th place), the Georgian lyrics in 2008 (Peace will come,
11th place) and the Ukranian lyrics in 2008 as well (Shady lady,
2nd place). Mihran and Emmy were claimed to already have been chosen
as Armenian representatives before the official call for songs was
launched. The rumour turned out to be untrue, but now they can be
found in the line-up of the national final instead. Emmyalso competed
in the 2007 Armenian national final.

The Armenian national final will be held on 14th February. The winner
will be chosen by a mix of televoting and a jury voting, each counting
for 50%. The running order for the final will be determined during
a draw on 11th February.

Armenia has been competing in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2006.

In 2009, they were represented by Inga & Anush with the song Nor par
(Jan jan), which finished tenth in the final making it the country’s
lowest placing entry to date.

OPEN ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER TO DEPRIVE GEORGIA OF MONOPOLY IN FREIGHT

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.02.2010 17:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Georgia is not interested in the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, since open Armenian-Turkish border will
deprive Georgia of monopoly in freight transportation to Armenia," "
Shirak Torosyan , Armenian National Assembly MP, Chairman of Patriotic
Association of Javakheti told a news conference on February 3.

According to him, in case of open borders, Georgia will have to revise
its customs duties.

"Georgian approach that opening of PPC Upper Lars is beneficial
only to Armenia, since through this road mainly Armenian goods are
imported, is incorrect. In the case of opening of the Upper Lars
Georgia will become a transit country for importing of these goods,
" Shirak Torosyan said. He stressed that via this road a plenty of
Georgian goods will be exported, like Georgian wine and mineral water,
which is certainly very beneficial to Georgia.

Upper Lars is a village and Russian checkpoint in the Russian-Georgian
border on the Georgian Military Road in North Ossetia. The situation
around PPC, changes in its operation and location repeatedly led to
conflicts between Russia and Georgia and protests from the Georgian
side. Upper Lars closed for the reconstruction on July 8, 2006.

Residents of North Ossetia, natives of Kazbegi district of Georgia,
having close relatives and farms in the area, were deprived of the
opportunity to cross the state border. Until recently, they enjoyed
the right of visa-free crossings of the border with special permits
in passports.

On May 5, 2009 the construction of multilateral road "Upper Lars" of
North Ossetia customs was officially finished. In 2009, discussions
over the opening of the checkpoint resumed. The opening of the border
is believed to contribute to economic recovery in the border areas
and ease the Armenia-Russia trade. The planned opening of the PPC is
projected for March 1, 2010.

ARMAVIA HAS PROVED ITS HIGH SECURITY AND QUALITY ONCE AGAIN

ArmInfo
2010-02-04 10:51:00

ArmInfo. Armavia air company has been granted an IATA certificate in
the framework of the Operational Safety Audit program (IOSA). The
certificate has confirmed the safety of Armavia’s services and the
company’s commitment to ensure high safety standards, President of
Armavia Mikhail Bagdassarov said during the certification ceremony.

During the audit IATA experts inspected Armavia’s activities in line
with over 900 IOSA standards covering such fields as aviation security,
cargo operations, flight control

IOSA certificate is an obligatory prerequisite for IATA membership
and is a kind of pass into the world’s biggest aviation alliances,
an opportunity to develop cooperation in the framework of codeshare
and interline agreements.

Presently, Armavia carries out over 100 flights a week to 35
destinations in 20 countries. In 2009 the company carried 700,000
people.