Author: Mamian George

NKR MFA: KARABAKH ISSUE WASN’T DISCUSSED DURING ARMENIAN-TURKISH TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.02.2009 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The talks for resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict are held under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group, the most
optimal mediation format, said Marsel Petrosyan, head of the NKR
Foreign Minsitry information division.

"As far as we know, the Karabakh issue wasn’t discussed during the
Armenian-Turkish talks," he told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Hurriyet daily reported Wednesday that "Yerevan and Baku sealed a
partial agreement on Karabakh."

The daily announced Wednesday that Armenia and Azerbaijan reached
a partial agreement on a solution plan for the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. The agreement allegedly came after the Turkish Foreign
Minister’s contacts with officials from both countries.

According to the plan, Armenia will return some of the towns
surrounding the Nagorno Karabakh region to Azerbaijan in a specific
timetable and repatriate the Azeris who were forced to leave the
regions, the report said.

The administration of the Nagorno Karabakh will be handed to a
provisional body and Kelbejer will be returned to Azerbaijan after
the status of the region is determined, Hurriyet added.

The railroad and highway between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be
opened, while an international peace force will be deployed at the
border region between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the report said.

REASONS OF NOT HAVING NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLED SOON

Panorama.am
19:12 07/02/2009

Goran Lenmarker the Personal Representative of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly on the NKR conflict visits Southern Caucasus on 9 February. In
9-10 February Lenmarker visits Armenia, in 10-12 he will be in Georgia
and in 12-14 his visit to the region will be concluded by Azerbaijan.

Goran Lenmarker wishes to have meetings with the Presidents of the
above mentioned three countries, the representatives of the Governments
and the Parliaments, as well as non-governmental bodies. The mission
of the Special Representative’s visit to the regional countries is to
discuss the problems of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Georgian-Ossetian
and Georgian-Abkhazian conflicts.

The press release spread by the OSCE press service points out that
Mr. Lenmarker hopes his visit will serve as an improved signal in
the half way of NKR conflict resolution.

"There is a good opportunity to have the NKR conflict regulated,"
announced Lenmarker and mentioned that "time is precious, and it is
important not to lose the given opportunity."

It is for sure that Lenmarker’s visit to the region is the natural
development of the negotiations dealt over the NKR conflict, which
has been launched since the middles of the previous month when the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs made their regular visit to the region and
the Meeting of the President of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Zurich. But
as it is not the first time the negotiations are activated, it means
that Lenmarker treats the issue "optimistically" and it should not
be seriously treated.

It is not by chance that we start our observations from such a
pessimistic start. The thing is that similar statements have not
brought any use to the conflict resolution, moreover, the visits also
have not done. The only reason is that the conflict sides and the
mediators and even some other sides pursue quite different things
under the resolution. And the press release is the evident to our
observation.

"First the resolution should touch upon the refugees and the displaced
people but it should also concern the young people’s fates who wear
out their time in the barricades," said Goran Lenmarker. To point out
the difference of the approaches other examples are useless. For more
than sixty years people in Europe encourage to target human beings in
the base of the problem, to regulate the conflict by overcoming the
obstacles and to secure peace for every person in Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

The approach is a typical European one. Is it similar for the South
Caucasus? Definitely, no. An example? Just a day after the press
release has been spread an Azeri military expert announced in his
interview given to "Day.az" that "to solve the conflict through
military activities will demand 10 thousands military officers’
lives". Surely, a nation having European way of thinking would prepare
counter attack to such an announcement and to the one made it. In
this case – no echo.

To conclude that the conflict of Nagorno Karabakh will not be regulated
either this year or the forthcoming ones, because public way of
thinking and its transformation is impossible to organize within one
or even several years. Hence, the visits and the announcements of
reporters and mediators can not impact on the soonest regulation of
the conflict.

But still one thing should be concerned, as if the mediators make
too much effort to get "stable peace" and not taking into account
the current situation, they try to recommend some solutions and
formalize them. But if somehow the situation is improved (the
conflict sides to be forced to sign a regulation document), it will
have an opposite effect. Our societies are not ready which will have
unwritten developments.

"The European experience shows that the conflict should be transformed
into co-operation," stress the mediators. We should agree with the
current statement but we should also add that the European experience
accumulated within hundreds of years, through wars, the Inquisition
and genocide.

We should acknowledge that history evidenced thousands of similar
situations, conflicts, but the developments have been several – wise
peace (the European model), conflict by adopting indefinite peace
(post Soviet Union conflicts) and the most unacceptable version for
us is permanent arm-forced conflict, like Arabic-Israeli conflict.

The very last version, we guess, is the dictated peace; hence we
encourage the advocates of the soonest regulation of the conflict to
think over it seriously.

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Feb 8 2009

Turkey continues efforts to normalize ties with Armenia – foreign
minister

Munich, 8 February: Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has said that
NATO and the European Union (EU) could succeed in creating common
values and ideals in the Balkan countries where different religious
faiths and cultures co-existed.

Speaking at a panel discussion on "Caucasus and Balkans" held on the
sidelines of the 45th Munich Security Conference in Germany, Babacan
said, "the Balkans where different religious faiths and cultures
co-existed, need common values and ideals to bring people
together. NATO and the EU could achieve it together."

Babacan highlighted importance of dialogue to find productive
solutions to problems. "The EU should pursue an opening policy towards
the Balkans. We support Serbia’s membership to the EU. On the other
hand, we think that Macedonia should become a member of NATO as soon
as possible," he said.

Referring to Turkey-Armenia relations, Babacan said, "our efforts have
been continuing to normalize the relations between the two countries
after President Serzh Sargsyan invited President Abdullah Gul to watch
the soccer match between Turkish and Armenian national teams in
Yerevan. After the relations between Turkey and Armenia and Armenia
and Azerbaijan are fully normalized, the situation in the region will
change considerably."

Upon a question about the Cyprus issue, Babacan said that Turkey fully
supported President Mehmet Ali Talat of the [self-declared] Turkish
republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the latest negotiation process
between the two parties on the island aiming at finding a lasting and
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue.

Meanwhile, President Sargsyan of Armenia said that important
developments could happen in Turkey-Armenia relations in the second
half of the year.

He said that Armenia aimed at developing its cooperation ties with all
regional countries to make southern Caucasus an alternate route of
transportation.

Composite picture of murderer of Deputy Head of Armenian Police finished

2009-02-06 15:37:00

ArmInfo. Composite picture of the murderer of Deputy Head of Armenian
Police Gevorg Mheryan has been finished , Armenian Police press-service
told ArmInfo.

Yerevan-based Aravot Daily published the composite picture and data on
the supposed murderer Friday. By unofficial data ‘leaked’ from the
Police, a dark-haired and dark-eyed man at the age of about 40 (height
1.77-1.80) is wanted.

G. Mheryan was murdered on February 3 in the evening. The special
investigation service initiated a criminal case on the fact of the
murder in compliance with Articles 104 and 235 of the Armenian
Criminal Code.

Armenia-Germany relations discussed in Munich
07.02.2009 13:58

Karen Ghazaryan
"Radiolur"
Munich

The President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, had a meeting
with the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. The Chancellor was
interested in the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the
development of Armenian-Turkish relations, Russia’s role and
Armenian-Russian relations, particularly in the context of the latest
developments.

Commenting on the meeting, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
said it was very warm and constructive. Bilateral issues were discussed
`The interlocutors highly appreciated the level of bilateral relations.
The commodity turnover between the two countries has reached $350
million and about 100 joint companies function in Armenia. Different
programs are being implemented in Armenia with Germany’s support.’

Minister Nalbandian said regional and international issues were also
discussed. Chancellor Merkel invited the President of the Republic of
Armenia to pay an official visit to Germany in the near future.

The diplomatic relations between Armenia and Germany have a history of
about 17 years. The political contacts between the two countries got
particularly active over the past years, when a number of high-level
visits took place. Today the Armenian-German relations are reinforced
by 29 agreements, another five are in the stage of elaboration.

The Armenian-German Intergovernmental Commission on Financial and
Technical Cooperation has been functioning for a long time. Germany has
invested $241 billion 924 thousand into Armenian economy as a result of
this cooperation. Thus, Germany is the second donor country for Armenia
after the United States.

During the meeting with the German Chancellor President Sargsyan
expressed hope that even under the conditions of unfavorable situation
in the world, our countries will manage to ensure the continuousness of
the Armenian-Germen programs, which are targeted at development and are
of vital importance for Armenia’s economy and the public sector.

DOCUMENT ON RUSSIAN ARMS TRANSFER TO ARMENIA FRAUD

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2009 16:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The document on the alleged transfer of Russian
arms to Armenia is a fraud, Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia said.

"There was no transfer and there is nothing to comment on," Ambassador
Nikolay Pavlov told a news conference today.

The Azeri media started spreading rumors on "Russian arms transfer
to Armenia to the amount of $800 million." Despite refutations by
the Russian Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijan
doesn’t put an end to the campaign.

ARMENIA MAKES USE OF GSP+ TRADE REGIME OF EU SINCE JANUARY 1

Noyan Tapan

Jan 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Negotiations are being conducted with
the EU on signing the Enlarged Free Trade Agreement by Armenia. In this
connection a EU fact-finding mission will visit Armenia on February
17-18 for preparing the documents to be signed after discussions with
various deaprtments of Armenia. The RA deputy minister of economy
Mushegh Tumasian said at the January 30 press conference that the
process of joining the agreement is expected to be completed in 1-2
years. Armenia currently has interstate agreements on free trade regime
with a number of countries, including Russia, the US, Canada, Japan.

The main subject of the press conference was provision of the GSP+
trade regime to Armenia – among 16 other developing and underdeveloped
countries, thanks to which Armenia received the opportunity to export
the established 6,400 groups of commodities to the EU at zero or
reduced customs duties – on condition that the exported commodities
were made in Armenia.

According to M. Tumasian, until 2009 Armenia made use of GSP system, by
which customs duty privileges applied to about 2,000 commodities. As
a result, in 2007 the amount of customs duties paid by Armenian
exporters was less by about 120 million euros. The deputy minister
said that the new system allows Armenian producers to expand their
economic relations with the EU and save considerable sums which is
more than important under conditions of the global financial-economic
crisis. The EU is now among the biggest trade partners of Armenia:
about 30% of Armenia’s overall commodity turnover is with EU countries,
with 50% of exports being directed to EU member states.

In the opinion of the chairman of the Republican Union of Employers
of Armenia Gagik Makarian, the above mentioned trade regime will
contribute to an increase of exports and domestic production volumes
and make our country more recognizable in international market.

DOCUMENTARY ON DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE IN GEORGIA SCREENED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.01.2009 18:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Silence", a documentary on destruction of the
Armenian cultural heritage in Georgia was screened in Yerevan
yesterday.

Video filming of construction of Sameba temple in Havlabar,
where burials of Armenian Khojivank pantheon were found, were
presented. Moreover, the film shows how gravestones from Khojivank
were used in construction of road kerbs in Tbilisi.

"Silence" also presents a chronology of events which took place in
Surb Norashen Armenian church lately: demolition of the fence between
Surb Norashen abd Djvaris-mama Georgian church, transportation of
gravestones from Mleti Georgian village to Norashen yard.

Assimilation of Armenians was also one of the topics.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES
THE NEWLY ELECTED PATRIARCH OF RUSSIA OUTSPOKEN KIRILL

The Synod of the Russian Church elected the Metropolitan of Smolensk and
Kaliningrad, Outspoken Kirill, as Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia on
January 27. Metropolitan Kirill has been the director of the Russian Church’s
Ecumenical relations for over thirty years. He has been a member of the
World Council of Churches’ Central and Executive Committees, as well as
other ecumenical bodies.

His Holiness Aram I is well acquainted with the Patriarch and has had close
collaboration with him. On two occasions throughout the past decade, the
newly elected Patriarch has visited Antelias to participate in ecumenical
meetings.

In his congratulatory letter addressed to the Patriarch, His Holiness
expressed his delights over the news and refers to the warm friendship and
close cooperation that has existed between himself and the Patriarch since
1975, particularly in the field of ecumenical relations. His Holiness
expressed hope that through his vast experience in interfaith relations,
Patriarch Kirill will open a new page in the contemporary history of the
Russian Church.

Finally, The Pontiff informed the Patriarch that a delegation of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia composed of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan (Prelate of
the Eastern Prelacy of North America) and Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical
Officer of the Cathoicosate) will attend his enthronement ceremony in Moscow
on February 1.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

AZERBAIJAN TO SPREAD REGULAR MOCKING AND DISINFORMATION

Panorama.am
16:41 28/01/2009

It turns out that the rumors spread by Azeri mass media that the head
of Armed Forces of Poland Franchesk Hagor during his meeting with
the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Safar Abiev announced that the
conflict of Nagorno Karabakh can be regulated only by the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan are pure mocking. Note that Azeri mass media
have referred to some official sources from Azerbaijan.

The press spokesman of Foreign Ministry of Armenia Tigran Balayan
answers to the questions of Panorama.am. "Armenian Embassy in Warsaw
verified that information from the authorities of Poland, and we have
found out that the Polish official has not made such announcement
in Azerbaijan. Moreover, the Polish official landed in Baku because
of some technical problems when flying back from Afghanistan," says
T. Balayan.

Hence, according to the official information the news spread by Azeri
mass media is a pure lie and regular disinformation.