Author: Mamian George

GUL INVITES ARMENIAN, AZERI PRESIDENTS TO ISTANBUL

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.11.2008 14:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Following a landmark visit to Yerevan, where he
watched a World Cup qualifying match between the national teams of
the two countries in September, Turkish President Abdullah Gul is
readying to take another bold step to contribute to regional peace in
the Caucasus by soon hosting a trilateral summit with the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Gul, who introduced his proposal for the trilateral meeting during
his meeting with Azerbaijan’s visiting President Ilham Aliyev on
Wednesday, received a positive response from the Azerbaijani leader,
diplomatic sources said.

Gul has already voiced support for the Moscow talks and expressed
hope that it will be followed by other steps, while the Turkish
Foreign Ministry, separately, said that a network of relations based
on cooperation and mutual trust within the framework of Turkey’s
proposal for a regional platform could build confidence between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Turkish side will convey its proposal
for a trilateral summit to the Armenian side. The exact date and
venue of the meeting will be decided later; however, Istanbul has
been mentioned as the probable venue.

"The summit may take place in a few months," said a Turkish official
on condition of anonymity.

With observers assuming that Turkey’s proposal for such a summit
is also related to its proactive drive toward handling the Armenian
Genocide issue, the summit is likely to take place before April 24.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that the decision
on meeting’s venue and date is up to Turkey, adding that agenda of
the trilateral summit doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Issues concerning all parties can be discussed during the meeting, the
minister said, reiterating support for Turkey’s proposal to establish
a Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform, Today’s Zaman reports.

DPA LEADER SURE PROVISIONS OF ‘MADRID PRINCIPLES’ OF KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT NEED REVISION

ArmInfo
2008-11-05 13:59:00

ArmInfo. Leader of Democratic Party of Armenia Aram G. Sagrsyan told
media at Friday Club he is sure that provisions of ‘Madrid Principles’
of Karabakh conflict settlement need revision.

He said it was not for nothing that Russia initiated the meeting
of Armenian, Azerbaijan and Russian presidents in Moscow on 2
November. Russia intended to mention that it is one of the key players
in the region of the South Caucasus. ‘However, I think, Russia will
not limit itself by that’, he said. Aram G. Sargsyan believes the
Declaration on Karabakh signed in Moscow nothing but ’emphasis of
good intentions nothing else’. He is sure that the conflict will not
be settled within the nearest future and the Declaration will hardly
change anything.

DPA Leader thinks that the document is contradictory. It says the
parties are devoted to the mutually exclusive political and legal
principles of settlement The Armenian party must insist on the
legal settlement of the conflict since all the ‘bargaining chips’
are in its hands both in the historical and legal aspects, Sarsyan
said. He is sure that Armenia must be categorically against unilateral
compromises. ‘It is not clear either what referendum or peacemakers
are in question. It is not clear where particularly the referendum can
be held and any peacemaking division in the region will make Iran,
which is in friendly relations with Armenia, feel in unfavorable
situation. ‘Madrid Principles’ must be revised and no settlement
is possible without involvement of Karabakh into the negotiations’,
DPA leader said.

THE HAZARDS OF UNFOUNDED CONCESSIONS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
05 Nov 08
Armenia

Can the Moscow Declaration be considered a guarantee that the Karabakh
conflict will not be settled through military operations?

In response to our question, VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN yesterday said,
"No such guarantee is possible under any circumstances; however, the
Declaration creates additional reassuring grounds. If the Declaration
established that the Madrid principles are final and irrevocable,
there would still be concerns over the issue of ceding the liberated
territories.

There are reasons for concerns now too; however, the Declaration
clearly establishes that the fundamental principles for the political
settlement of the conflict still have to be elaborated. This is an
important goal, and taking the Madrid principles into consideration,
it is necessary to develop those principles. It is with the purpose
of eliminating or circumventing those troublesome clauses that the
negotiations continue now.

We must be able to make it obvious to everybody that any unfounded
concession will create a number of new hazards to the national
security."

ARMENIAN MONASTERY ON WORLD HERITAGE LIST

CCTV
ess/20081105/102268.shtml
Nov 4 2008
China

The north west part of the Islamic Republic of Iran seems an unlikely
setting for classical Christian Churches. But there are the Iranian
churches of St. Thaddeus, St. Stephanus, and Dzordzor. The churches,
in the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan were added this year,
to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The churches, in the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan were added
this year, to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The Armenian Monastic Ensemble consists of three monasteries of the
Armenian Christian faith: St Thaddeus and St Stephanus and the Chapel
of Dzordzor.

The oldest structure – Saint Thaddeus monastery – dates back to the
seventh century. It’s in Chaldoran, in West Azerbaijan.

Saint Thaddeus, also known as Saint Jude, was one of the twelve
apostles.

The churches, in the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan were added
this year, to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Barsam Abrahamian, monastery caretaker, said, "An apostle of Jesus
Christ came to this region to preach Christianity. After he died, he
was buried somewhere in this monastery. The precise location of his
grave is unknown. Christians come every year to commemorate Thaddeus’
death. About four thousand people, who are Christians from Iran and
Armenia , come here and camp near the church. They pray, light candles
and slaughter sheep."

The Cultural Heritage Organization in Iran held a press conference
about the addition of Saint Thaddeus to the World Heritage List in
July 2008.

The churches, in the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan were added
this year, to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The monastery of Saint Thaddeus and the other two monastic sites
are considered prime examples of the Armenian architectural and
decorative traditions.

The details of the architecture of the three structures reflect
other cultural influences in the region, in particular the Byzantine,
Orthodox and Persian cultures.

EXPERT: UKRAINE SHOULD JEOPARDIZE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2008 13:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ukraine has not recognized the Armenian Genocide
so far because Armenia failed to bring the importance of the issue
to the notion of the Ukrainian public, an expert said.

"Armenia and Ukraine have similar history. The Ukrainian people
survived Golodomor in 1920-1930. The point is that recognizing the
Armenian Genocide, Ukraine should not jeopardize its neighborly
relations with Turkey," Vadim Karasev said.

"We should work out a proper approach to the Armenian Genocide
recognition issue not to strain Armenia-Turkey and Ukraine-Turkey
relations. Black Sea-Caucasus stability platform formation should
not be damaged either," the Ukrainian expert added.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN: PROBABLY TURKEY WILL HAVE IMPACT ON AZERI POSITION

Panorama.am
18:30 30/10/2008

The Foreign Minister of Armenia has not yet received an invitation
to meet with his Turkish and Azeri counterparts in Helsinki, said
Edward Nalbandyan in a press conference today.

The Foreign Minister rejected the rumors that the Foreign Ministers
of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey have discussed Nagorno Karabakh
conflict during their New York meeting. "Our meeting lasted 15 minutes
and we discussed idea to establish Caucasus Platform. The initiative
of the meeting belonged to Turkish Minister," said E. Nalbandyan.

Regarding the participation of Turkey in Nagorno Karabakh conflict
Minister Nalbandyan said: "Turkey could help Armenia by regulating
relations and opening border." According to E. Nalbandyan probably
Turkey could have its impact on Azerbaijan making the latter to be
more constructive during the negotiations.

MOBILE SPAM ACTIVELY PENETRATES INTO ARMENIA FROM THAILAND, MADAGASCAR AND BULGARIA

ArmInfo
2008-10-30 13:11:00

ArmInfo. Mobile spammers who started attacking the subscribers of
Armenian mobile operators VivaCell-MTS and ArmenTel this year have
rather activated.

Head of ArmenTel CJSC Public Relations Office Anush Begloyan told
ArmInfo the main flow of mobile spam into Armenia is from Thailand,
Madagascar and Bulgaria. In particular, subscribers receive SMS
congratulating them on winning a big amount, car or other prizes. To
receive the prize, subscribers are required to contact the foreign
phone number. Afterwards they are requested to send a not large
amount for registration of documents or opening of bank accounts,
for instance. The goal of spammers is to get this amount.

‘Although there is no easy solution to the problem of mobile spam,
there are a series of key aspects for any really effective solution
including identification of SMS-centers through which the messages
are received. At present our company is engaged in identification
of these centers’, A. Begloyan said. ‘We are ready to study any
proposal for settlement of the problem and cooperate with the
companies interested. Beeline calls on its clients not to respond to
spam-offers>, she said.

For his part, VivaCell-MTS Press Secretary Vahe Isahakyan said the
company also works to expose the sources of such spam. ‘However,
there are cases when it is impossible to expose the spammers even with
help of foreign operators we actively cooperate with in the sphere’,
he said. V. Isahakyan explained that in some cases mobile spam is
received through Internet which practically rules out identification
of spammers. VivaCell-MTS also warns its subscribers not to respond
to such messages, he said.

THREE RUSSIAN POLICE OFFICERS ADMIT BURNING SUSPECT ALIVE

RIA Novosti
12:39 | 31/ 10/ 2008

MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – Three police officers in the
Russian Volga city of Saratov have admitted to burning an Armenian
national alive, local media said on Friday.

The three officers are accused of detaining the man on suspicion of
theft on the night of October 28-29, and then beating a confession
out of him.

When he then refused to sign his "admission of guilt," local media
say he was "taken to the edge of the city and burned alive."

The dead man has been officially identified as 30-year-old Armenian
national A. Gasparyan.

Saratov Region police have been criticized in the Russian media for
only making the news public on the evening of October 30, after local
journalists had already written about the incident.

This is not the first case of its kind in Russia this fall. In
September, in Russia’s Far Eastern Primorye Territory, three police
officers were arrested on charges on beating a man to death near the
city of Vladivostok. The same charges were also brought against two
other officers in the city later that month.

SMILING MEXICAN RILES VIC

Melbourne Herald Sun
Nov 1 2008
Australia

AUSTRALIAN Vic Darchinyan’s verbal barbs have upset the camp of Mexican
Cristian Mijares in the lead-up to their super flyweight world title
fight in Los Angeles tomorrow.

Promising to "break him in half" and describing Mijares as overrated
and unskilled, Darchinyan clearly irritated the Mexican’s promoter
Lou DiBella at the pre-fight press conference.

"Vic Darchinyan is a little man with a big mouth," DiBella said
yesterday.

Mijares, a 28-year-old southpaw, is one of boxing’s new elite, a
superstar with a string of impressive scalps on his belt, including
countryman, Jorge Arce.

But the feisty Darchinyan can not stomach Mijares.

"There’s always a smile on his face," the Armenian-born Australian
said. "I want to wipe the smile off his face."

The 32-year-old underdog said he would be friendly to Mijares only
after he knocks him out.

When Mijares is on the canvas, Darchinyan said he would gladly pick
him up and walk him back to his corner.

"I’m going to punish him," Darchinyan said.

The winner tomorrow will be crowned World Boxing Council, World
Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation super flyweight
champion – the first time one man has held the three major belts of
the division.

Mijares had his WBC and WBA belts on display at the press conference
and Darchinyan, owner of the IBF belt, thanked the Mexican for bringing
the trophies along.

"I’m looking forward to taking them back to Australia," Darchinyan
said.

FUNDING OF RA PUBLIC SERVICES REGULATORY COMMISSION TO INCREASE IN 2009 DUE TO EXTENSION OF REGULATION SPHERES

Noyan Tapan
Oct 31, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The 2009 draft state budget envisages
allocating 417 mln drams to the RA Public Services Regulatory
Commission – against 403 mln drams in 2008. In the words of the
commission’s chairman Robert Nazarian, the 14 mln dollar increase
in the financing is conditioned by the inclusion of two new sectors,
those on the use of railway infrastructures and the establishment of
car checkup tariffs, in the commission’s regulation field. In this
connection the staff of the commission was increased.