Author: Khoyetsian Rose

THE AZERBAIJANI MASS MEDIA HAVE ONCE AGAIN LOST THEIR WAY

Lragir.am
24/12/09

The Azerbaijani mass media have once again lost their way in broad
daylight, trying to depict the Karabakh party in an unfavourable
light. During a day, the woman, who was killed on December 20, 2009
on the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces’ contact-line first by an
"Armenian" serviceman, then, as it was found out, by an Azerbaijani
soldier, turned from an "Armenian woman" into an Azerbaijani one.

Moreover, a photo of a Georgian woman made in August 2008 during the
war in South Ossetia was attached to the information.

The Azerbaijani mass media have practiced forgeries in their
anti-Armenian propaganda for a long time. This was fixed not only
by the Karabakh party. The Moscow edition New Region notes that the
Azerbaijani mass media have, at least, three times used forgeries for
the last three months, applying photomaterials of various countries
for "proving the facts of the Armenian aggression". Besides the
abovementioned forgery of the Azerbaijani Agency Vesti.az related to
the killed woman, the edition notes as an example the distribution
of a photo of a Georgian soldier killed in August 2008 "to confirm"
the Karabakh party’s losses allegedly taken place as a result of the
NKR Defense Army units’ attacking the Azerbaijani positions. In fact,
everything was exactly the contrary.

Besides, the Russian edition unmasked Trend Azerbaijani information
agency, which had informed of the completion of a documentary about
the Karabakh conflict, attaching a photo of alleged "victims of the
Armenian aggression", which, in fact, turned out to be a photo of
deceased citizens of Kosovo taken from a Canadian francophone website.

This forgery related to the tragic events in Khojaly and placed at some
Azerbaijani websites, including the one of the basic anti-Armenian
misinformation center of the Heydar Aliyev Fund (),
the leader of which is the Azerbaijani President’s wife, was earlier
diclosed by the NKR Foreign Ministry.

We have to state once more that against the background of the
proceeding meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents and
the optimistic statements of the international mediators on certain
progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement process, official Baku
and its improvised mass media continue their aggressive information
war against the RA and NKR, using all the means for introducing the
Armenian parties as the misdeeds’ actors and for injecting a new
portion of Armenian-hatred poison into the international community’s
and their own people’s mind.

Unfortunately, this destructive policy of official Baku isn’t properly
assessed by corresponding international structures, which is fraught
with nullifying the multiyear peacemaking efforts.

"Democratic" Azerbaijan "integrating" into the West and its
"independent" mass media should finally realize that freedom of speech
is not freedom of misinformation.

We hope that in the coming year, the international community will
take the counterproductive actions of the Azerbaijani authorities
more seriously.

NKR MFA Information Department

PUBLIC COUNCIL’S COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SAYS ARMENIA COULD SELL $250 MILLION ELECTRICITY TO TURKEY

ARKA
Dec 24, 2009

YEREVAN, December 24, /ARKA/. Vazgen Safarian, chairman of a
presidential Public Council’s committee in charge of financial and
economic issues, said today Armenia could sell $250 million worth
electricity to neighboring Turkey if both countries normalized their
relations.

Speaking at a news conference he said Armenian exports to Turkey may
skyrocket to $300 million a year and apart from electricity Armenia
could also sell confectionary and industrial goods to Turkey.

He also said Armenian textile goods could compete with Turkish at
global markets if the government supports the sector.

Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since Armenia became
independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 in a show of support for its ally, Azerbaijan,
which had a dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan.

There are several sensitive issues complicating the establishment of
normal relations between the two countries, particularly, Ankara’s
blatant support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
resolution process and Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge the mass
killings of Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman Empire as
a genocide.

On October 10 Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister, and Edward
Nalbandian, his Armenian counterpart signed two protocols in Zurich,
Switzerland on establishment of diplomatic relations and development
of bilateral ties. The protocols will still need ratification by
their respective parliaments.

YEREVAN WARNS ANKARA AGAINST DRAGGING OUT TIME

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.12.2009 17:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By issuing a statement on the possibility
of announcing RA-Turkey protocols void in case Ankara drags out
ratification, Armenia’s political elite is trying to signal that time
can no longer be dragged out, said Alexander Iskandaryan, Director
of Caucasus Institute.

"Yerevan suggests that the time frame for normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations is of importance," he told the news
conference in Yerevan.

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN INNOVATION CENTER TO OPEN IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.12.2009 17:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In collaboration with the Joint Institute for
Nuclear Research in Dubna, Armenian-Russian Innovation Center will
be established on 15 January 2010 in Armenia.

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov will attend the opening ceremony in Yerevan,
chairman of Armenia’s State Committee on Science under the Ministry
of Education Samvel Harutyunyan told press conference December 23.

The center will finance innovation programs in science and technology.

"This is a pilot project. Similar centers may be opened in Chisinau,
Astana and Berlin. Yerevan-based center will be hosted by the House of
Moscow. Major investments are expected from Russia," Harutyunyan said.

MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI: RUSSIA HOLDS THE KEY TO KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.12.2009 17:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia holds the key to Karabakh conflict, according
to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said.

"Over the past years, we heard European diplomats make optimistic
statements on being ‘on the verge of breakthrough’. But the problem
is complicated. Direct talks between countries and adherence to
international law norms (including right of return for refugees and
respect for state sovereignty) seem to be the only way out," he told
Ekho Moskvy radio station.

At that, Georgia’s leader didn’t rule out escalation of the situation.

"To change something for the better, countries should enter into a
dialogue. In that sense, I think the ongoing talks between Turkey
and Armenia should be coordinated with Azerbaijan," Saakashvili said.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN LEARNS GYUMRI’S CONSTRUCTION WORKS

Aysor
Dec 23 2009
Armenia

Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan on his visit to region of Shirak
learnt the construction work at Mush-2 district of Gyumri. By the
government’s decision, the works here are being carried out by Glendale
Hills Company.

In an interview with journalists, Glendale Hills’s director Vahe
Almoyan said the apartments would soon handed to Ministry of Urban
Development which is responsible for further allocation of apartments
among homeless people that the Spitak Earthquake of 1988 left.

At the moment, 22 apartment houses are already built with 1056
apartments (instead of 3030). According to the director, the rest part
of apartments will be put into operation in January 2011. Houses at
Ani district will be put into operation in June 2010.

Glendale Hills Company will direct its own funds to build a school
and a kindergarten at Ani and Mush-2 districts, Aysor’s correspondent
reported quoting Vahe Almoyan.

NO PROJECT FROZEN IN ARMENIA’S ENERGY SECTOR IN 2009 DUE TO GLOBAL FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 22, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. No project has been frozen in
Armenia’s energy sector in 2009 due to the global financial and
economic crisis. RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen
Movsisian declared this at the December 22 press conference held
to summarize the results of this year, adding that the only impact
of the crisis on the sector was that power generation fell by 7%
as compared with 2008.

The minister said that 5.680 billion kwh of electric power was
generated (7% fall compared with last year) as some enterprises in the
mining and chemical industries did not operate because of the crisis.

Small hydropower plants produced 335 million kwh of power this year
against 259 million kwh in 2008. Thermal power plants produced a
total of 1.1 billion kwh against 1.8 billion kwh last year.

As regards the mining industry, the minister pointed out considerable
success in this sector despite the global crisis. In particular,
131 tons of gold concentrate was produced in 2008 and 133 tons in
2009. 90 thousand tons of copper concentrate was made in 2009, which
exceeds the 2008 output by 18 thousand tons. In 2009 8,362 tons of
molybdenum (8,300 tons in 2008) and 6,200 tons of zinc (7,400 tons in
2008) were produced. The minister reminded that although in early 2009
the mining enterpises did not operate, in May the production resumed,
and last year’s volumes of main products have been exceeded.

Out of important activities carried out in 2009, Armen Movsisian
indicated the completion of building and assembly work on the
gas-turbine unit at Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. In his words, the
fact that the unit will be put into operation on the stated date –
21 April 2010 inspires confidence.

The minister also spoke about the start of the new nuclear power
plant’s construction. 15-20 days ago an agreement was reached with
an Armenian-Russian joint venture which will install equipment of
the reactors of the new power unit. The selection of main equipment
is scheduled to finish in 2010.

As for the Russian-Armenian joint venture set up to do geological
exploration, mining and processing work at uranium mines in Armenia,
the minister announced that the company has already begun geophysical
and geochemical exploration. The work will last 3-5 years and enable
to receive complete information about uranium reserves in Armenia.

"NORTH-SOUTH" HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION TO GET UNDER WAY IN 2010

Panorama.am
16:48 21/12/2009

The Asian Development Bank will allocate $500 mln. for the
implementation of "North-South" highway. $60 mln. will be provided
for conducting the first stage of works next year. The program is
estimated worth $ 962 mln., Armenia’s Transport and Communication
Minister Gurgen Sargsyan told a press conference today.

Panorama.am recalls that Armenia and Georgia reached an agreement over
"North-South" in 2008 as the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan paid
a visit to Georgia.

The German-Austrian ILF company has worked out a conception for
the implementation of "North-South" highway projects, while the
technical-economic survey was conducted by the Japanese "PADECO".

According to the minister, the "North-South" will cut Yerevan-Batumi
highway for 30%, we will get a 450km-long way, instead of the current
700km.

"The program is very important. It’s of regional nature and will have
an economic significance to our country," G. Sargsyan said.

OSCE OFFICE IN YEREVAN SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR JUVENILES AT ABOVYAN PRE-TRIAL DETENTION CENTRE

armradio.am
22.12.2009 16:35

The OSCE Office in Yerevan donated educational and recreational
resources for the juvenile pre-trial detention centre in Abovyan
today as part of activities to support the improvement of conditions
of persons deprived of their liberty.

The Office donated equipment for an indoor sports centre and leisure
activities, books and other reading materials for the library.

"This support for the Abovyan pre-trail detention centre is part of
the Office’s efforts to assist the Armenian Justice Ministry in its
efforts to improve conditions for persons deprived of their liberty,"
said Carel Hofstra, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

"Alongside our assistance with capacity building and legislative and
procedural improvements to secure the rights of incarcerated juveniles
to education and health, a donation like this gives them the chance,
while in detention, to engage in sports and learn."

Since 2003, the Office has assisted the Criminal-Executive Department
of the Justice Ministry to reform the criminal justice system in
Armenia and improve the conditions of persons deprived of their
liberty.

In light of continuing penitentiary system reforms, the Office assists
the Criminal-Executive Department to strengthen the professional
capacity of penitentiary institution staff in line with international
standards and practices. An OSCE expert is currently assessing the
training needs of the criminal-executive staff in the legal, social
and psychological spheres to direct future training initiatives.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN RECEIVED ALBANIAN AMBASSADOR

news.am
Dec 21 2009
Armenia

December 21, 2009 Albanian Ambassador to Armenia Villi Minarolli
(residence-Athens) presented his credentials to RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandyan.

He expressed a hope that the Ambassador will make a significant
contribution to the development of bilateral relations and
implementation of the agreements, referring to his meetings with
Albanian Foreign Minister and Premier within the framework of his
visit to Tirana in October, 2008, Nalbandyan RA MFA Press Service
informed NEWS.am.

In the course of the meeting the officials touched upon reciprocal
issues and made a point of the enhancement of political, economic
and cultural ties between the two states. The parties also reached
an agreement to hold regular consultations and take measures for
formation of the legal field.

Nalbandyan and Minarolli exchanged views on Caucasian and Balkan
regional issues.

RA Foreign Minister asked Villi Minarolli to convey invitation to
visit Yerevan to his Albanian counterpart Iler Meta.