Author: Mamian George

MARXIST PARTY ANNOUNCES ITS BREAK AWAY FROM ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ALLIANCE

Tert.am
15.12.09

After a long and deliberate analysis, during the political stagnation
stage of this historic period, a decision was made at the plenary
session of Armenia’s Marxist Party to suspend its membership with the
Armenian National Congress (ANC) political alliance, said candidate
of the No. 10 electoral district parliamentary elections and Marxist
Party Leader Davit Hakobyan at a press conference today.

In Hakobyan’s words, the ANC is formed during a certain historic
stage, while its main purpose and mission is "implementing a change in
governing leadership through an ideological generation change." Apart
from that, according to Hakobyan, the main issue is not whether
"you become a part of the governing leadership or not."

The Marxist Party leader came to the following conclusion: "That
alliance, after all, theoretically didn’t serve the new national
doctrinated conception, it wasn’t able to serve… new foreign and
internal affairs policy tenets to the public." In Hakobyan’s opinion,
the most important thing is that the Armenian National Congress didn’t
remain an opposition of the Pan-Armenian National Movement.

With today’s landscape, according to Hakobyan, the situation dictates
the formation of a new principled political force with a new leader
in order to resolve the three large issues before the nation.

The three large issues, in the Marxist leader’s opinion, are as
follows: ideological unanimity, the nation’s biological and physical
security and the regional entirety of Armenian historic-geography,
as well as the issue of a new diplomatic doctrine in the diplomatic
stage of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Afterwards, Hakobyan expressed his gratitude to the 18 political
parties with whom he collaborated. "I am proud that I have stood on the
platform that publicized democracy with the Republic’s first president
Levon Ter-Petrossian, though the history is brutal," said Hakobyan.

Azeris face spending crunch

zeris-face-spending-crunch-2009-12-11
Friday, December 11, 2009

BAKU – From wire dispatches
Azerbaijan could face a spending crunch next year after the government
lowered the price it expects the country’s oil to get by almost a
third.

Finance Minister Samir Sharifov blamed the world economic crisis for
the bleak outlook, but said the government was still determined to
invest in Azerbaijan’s future. `We have also taken into account a
revival next year of world trade, and the restoration of credit. As a
whole, the budget for 2010 is aimed at the further strengthening of
the defense capability of Azerbaijan, the provision of support to
entrepreneurs, the strengthening of energy and production security,
and the strengthening of monetary policy,’ Sharifov told parliament in
a debate on the budget.

The predicted oil price, which is the main component of the
government’s receipts, was set at $45 a barrel, down from $70 in this
year’s budget – a prediction that proved over-optimistic and led to
the budget having to take money from the State Oil Fund. The fund was
set up to hold excessive earnings from the oil industry in an attempt
to protect the economy from the inflationary pressures of high foreign
exchange earnings.

Economic experts warned that the budget could harm those most
vulnerable in society. `Social spending in the budget will be cut next
year by 5 percent. Spending on education will fall by 5.6 percent, on
health care by 5.9 percent, on social support by 4.9 percent, on
support for the state television and radio company by 6.6 percent, on
communal services by 5.1 percent, and on agriculture by 18.2 percent,’
said Zohrab Ismayil, head of the Azerbaijan Public Union for Healthy
Evolution, an economic pressure group.

Opposition parties, which have little influence in parliament,
savagely criticized the government’s plans. `Despite the fact that
last year prices for metro tickets and gas tripled, and that prices
for food are rising sharply, funds for social spending in the budget
have been cut. Not only that but there is a rise in spending on the
courts, the police and the administration,’ Ikram Israfil, a deputy
from the Musavat party, said.

ARMENIAN MARKET IS INTERESTED LATVIAN ENTREPRENEURS – PRESIDENT OF LATVIA

ARKA
Dec 11, 2009

YEREVAN, December 11. /ARKA/. "Armenian market interested Latvian
entrepreneurs", said Valdis Zatlers, President of Latvia during the
opening of Armenian-Latvian business-forum.

President of Armenia also participated in the Forum. Mainly they were
interested in pharmacology, woodworking, textile and food industry.

Armenian-Latvian business-forum aims at searching new opportunities
and development of contacts between entrepreneurs of both countries
targeted at the improvement of people’s welfare. "Currently world
economy has to resist unprecedented challenges.

Only through efficient cooperation between the countries it is
possible to overcome the difficulties. Our government is aimed to
maintain stability and obtain new opportunities for the development of
business-environment", said Zatlers. Now it is necessary to re-orient
to new spheres of economy.

"Spheres which did not interest in the past, today became actual and
we should put our efforts in that spheres", he said. Turnover between
Armenia and Latvia does not correspond to the existing potential. In
2008, turnover between Armenia and Latvia was $11.3 million, from
which $1.17 million is export and $10.11 million – import.

Turnover during 2004 to 2008 was $19.43 million. Mainly alcohol drinks,
vinegar, optics, cinematography products are exported from Armenia to
Latvia and railway locomotives, meat and fish products are imported
from Latvia to Armenia.

"There are 64 joint Armenian-Latvian companies and good pre-conditions
for the increase of their number", said the President of Latvia.

Cooperation with Latvia is beneficial for Armenia from the point of
view of entering into European markets. "We are ready to share our
experience of integration into European structures with Armenia",
said Zatlers.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEFAN KOPPELKAMM TO BE EXHIBITED IN SEUA

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2009 13:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ State Engineering University of Armenia will host
an exhibition of photographs by Stefan Koppelkamm on December 14.

The exhibition dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall
fall is organized by the Armenian Embassy in Germany, German Foreign
Ministry and Goethe Institute.

US URGES TURKEY TO DROP KARABAKH CONDITION FOR TIES WITH ARMENIA: ZAMAN

ArmInfo
2009-12-11 16:10:00

ArmInfo. Within days of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan clearly
linking the issues of normalization of relations between Ankara and
Yerevan to resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Baku
and Yerevan, a senior US State Department official urged Turkey to
make progress on normalization efforts with Armenia without setting
preconditions, the Turkish newspaper Zaman reports.

Following a White House meeting with US President Barack Obama on
Monday, Erdogan said progress in ongoing efforts at normalization
between Armenia and Turkey was related to progress concerning the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Obama had already "encouraged him [Erdogan] to continue to move forward
along this path," in regards to the rapprochement between Turkey and
Armenia. Obama’s remarks are considered an apparent reflection of the
US expectation of further progress on the normalization efforts with
Armenia, probably through the swift ratification of the two protocols
signed by the governments on restoring diplomatic ties and reopening
the common border between the two neighboring countries.

Philip H. Gordon, the assistant secretary of state for European and
Eurasian affairs at the US State Department, who participated in White
House talks between US and Turkish officials, touched upon the issue
on Wednesday during a meeting at the Council on Foreign Relations
(CFR). :Underlining US expectations of seeing a "move forward as
quickly as possible," Gordon said the US has been asking both the
Armenian and Turkish governments for the ratification of the protocols
"as soon as possible, without preconditions and independently of any
other issue," the source reported.

ARMENIA AND EU MEMBER STATES TO HAVE MAXIMUM BENEFITS FROM EASTERN PARTNERSHIP PROJECT

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.12.2009 20:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign Ministers from EU member states and Eastern
Partnership countries will meet Tuesday in Brussels to conduct the
first round of their talks.

During his visit to Stockholm, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandyan met with
his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt.

"Armenia attaches great importance to cooperation with the European
Union and its Member States. The Eastern Partnership initiative
provides a new framework for this relationship through enhanced
political dialogue, increased trade opportunities and people-to-people
contacts. Another added value of the Eastern Partnership is that
it supports cooperation among the partner states, which is can be
critical to the overall success of the initiative. At this first
ministerial meeting we will take stock of the progress achieved and
I look forward to productive discussions with my colleagues on the
perspectives of our future cooperation," Armenian top diplomat said

According to him, the Eastern Partnership not only reflects the
progress achieved in relations between Armenia and the EU in the last
decade, but also offers the perspective of an Association Agreement,
which will adapt Armenia’s cooperation to the new realities and will
take into consideration the aspirations of each partner state and
the European Union.

Commenting upon Armenia’s possible advantages within project
frameworks, Armenian FM noted, "Cooperation presupposes common values
and interests. Armenia and EU member states will have maximum benefits
from the project. For us, a priority issue is the relaxation of visa
regime, which will enable people to broaden cooperation frameworks."

S. SARGSYAN, "RELATIONS OF ARMENIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA HAVE WIDE PROSPECT POSSIBILITIES

ARMENPRESS
Dec 8, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: The newly appointed Ambassador of
Bosnia and Herzegovina to Armenia Mr. Zhelko Yanetovic (residence
in Moscow) handed today his credentials to Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan.

Presidential press office told Armenpress that President Sargsyan
congratulated Ambassador Yanetovic on assuming the new mission.

Pointing out our country’s interest in developing the cooperation with
Bosnia and Herzegovina Armenian President Sargsyan said that though
the relations of the two countries are still in the formation process,
they have wide prospect possibilities.

He expressed hope that the present potential will start being realized
through ambassador’s direct support, and the cooperation of the two
countries in bilateral and multi-lateral formats will become more
dynamic and efficient.

During the talk the sides attached importance to the formation of
a relevant legal-agreement field, which will allow implementing a
multi-slice cooperation.

Ambassador Yanetovic briefly presented their country’s political
priorities and economic situation.

The Armenian president and the newly-appointed diplomat exchanged
ideas also over the issues and developments of the Balkan and South
Caucasian regions.

RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN NEGOTIATIONS ON UPPER LARS CHECK POINT TO TAKE PLACE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR

ArmInfo
2009-12-09 14:52:00

ArmInfo. In Dec Russia and Georgia will hold the second round of
their negotiations for the opening of Upper Lars check point, says
Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigory Karasin.

"After completing the modernization of the check point we suggested
resuming its activities. But the Georgian authorities are very
inconsistent in this matter. If they show sensible approach, the
second round of the talks may yield tangible results, says Karasin.

Gazeta.ru quotes Karasin as saying that Russia does not avoid working
contacts with the Georgian authorities, especially in cases concerning
humanitarian contacts and communication between Russian and Georgian
citizens.

Earlier, Russia, Georgia and Armenia reached preliminary agreement
on the opening of Upper Lars for cargo operations only. This decision
does not imply lifting of the Russian embargo on Georgian products.

The check point will let pass only transit cargoes.

‘JUST EMPTY TALKS FOR THE BLIND’? ANALYST ON PROGRESS IN SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Tert.am
14:56 ~U 09.12.09

In an interview with Azerbaijani news source Day.Az, well-known
Azerbaijani political expert Vafa Guluzade stated that Turkey, by
being a guide for American interests in the region, could become a
leader in the South Caucasus.

However, according to Guluzade, "neighboring countries Russia and Iran,
who do not want Turkey and the United States to increase influence
in the region, will hinder it."

Continuing, Guluzade said, "Currently, Turkey serves as a mediator
in negotiations between the West on one hand and Syria and Iran
on the other. So, Turkey has enormous tasks in the South Caucasus,
the Middle East and Central Asia.

"In this situation, the U.S. can not participate in solving the
Karabakh problem, because now it has other priorities. Washington’s
priority now is relationship with Moscow, and it does not want to
engage in a confrontation with Russia on the South Caucasus," noted
the analyst.

Guluzade once again expressed his opinion that the OSCE Minsk Group
does not genuinely want to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, and
"they show no will [to do so]." According to the Azerbaijani analyst,
"It was Azerbaijan who showed a will in 1999, when it was close to the
solution of the Karabakh issue. But the Armenian parliament shooting
at that time canceled all agreements."

On the topic of statements on the progress in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Guluzade considers all such statements
to be "just empty talks for the blind." In his opinion, "there is no
progress in the Karabakh issue."

Vafa Guluzade worked as the Foreign Policy State Advisor to the
Azerbaijani President between 1990-1999.

ARMENIA’S DELEGATION PARTICIPATES IN NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S SESSION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 7, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The session of the North Atlantic
Council took place on December 4 in NATO headquarters with the
participation of the Foreign Ministers participating in the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen presided at the
meeting. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Ministers
of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Afghanistan and
other countries involved in that format participated in the meeting.

RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian headed Armenia’s
delegation. According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information
Department, it is the first meeting of the kind at which Armenia
was represented.

Nearly fourty speakers expressed unequivocal support to the new
strategy U.S. President Barack Obama had declared, reaffirmed
the importance of continuing involvement in Afghanistan, assumed
commitments of providing additional military contingents.

A. Kirakosian in his speech touched upon partner cooperation with NATO
emphasizing cooperation in the peacekeeping sphere and participation in
the actions. He mentioned that with an exact intention of participating
in international security and stability Armenia made a decision
to dislocate a military unit in Afghanistan. Armenian servicemen
will leave for Afghanistan in the first months of 2010. In that
connection A. Kirakosian thanked Germany’s government for comprehensive
assistance.