Author: Nadirian Emma

Reuters UK,
Feb 15 2008

President’s heir seeks top job in Armenia vote
Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:00am GMT

YEREVAN (Reuters) – Armenia votes next week in a presidential
election that is likely to transfer power from outgoing President
Robert Kocharyan to his trusted ally and prime minister Serzh
Sarksyan.

Opposition parties already allege the campaign is unfair, setting up
Tuesday’s election to be a test for stability in a country that has
only in the last few years recovered from a period of political
convulsions.

Nestled high in the Caucasus mountains, Armenia is in a region that
is emerging as a vital transit route for oil exports from the Caspian
Sea to energy-hungry world markets, though it has no pipelines of its
own.

The energy flows could be threatened, analysts warn, if an unresolved
conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan flares again into fighting. A
dispute between Armenia and its other neighbour, Turkey, complicates
Ankara’s relations with the West.

Opinion polls give Sarksyan, 53, a lead over the rest of the field,
including former speaker of parliament Artur Baghdasaryan and Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, the previous president who was forced to resign in
1998 but is now seeking a comeback.

Most observers predict that if Sarksyan is elected, his rule will be,
in most aspects, a continuation of Kocharyan’s 10 years in office
that have been marked by economic growth and firm stands toward
Azerbaijan and Turkey.

"Our candidate is the only one with an exceptional chance to win in
the first round," said Armen Ashotyan, a lawmaker with Sarksyan’s
Republican Party. "If he wins, naturally a continuation of the policy
direction will be ensured."

Sarksyan’s victory though is not guaranteed. "There is serious
competition going on," said analyst Alexander Iskanderyan.

LONG PARTNERSHIP

Close associates for over 20 years, both Kocharyan and Sarksyan are
from Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of oil-producing Azerbaijan whose
ethnic Armenian population broke away in a 1990s war.

They worked side by side to lead the separatist forces, then
transferred their partnership to the Armenian capital.

Kocharyan, also 53, is constitutionally barred from serving a third
consecutive term. He is expected to remain influential, but he has
refused to disclose what role he will take until his replacement is
inaugurated.

Some commentators have predicted Kocharyan could become prime
minister, mimicking the arrangement in nearby Russia where outgoing
President Vladimir Putin has said he may serve as prime minister if
his protege Dmitry Medvedev wins the presidency.

"The intrigue of the election in Armenia is where Kocharyan will go
and who will be the prime minister," Gevorg Pogosyan, an independent
analyst, told Reuters.

Voters credit Kocharyan — and by association Sarksyan — with
overseeing strong economic growth. Gross domestic product grew last
year by 13.7 percent. Once blighted by power blackouts, capital
Yerevan is now enjoying a construction boom.

Sarksyan’s election chances are boosted by the fact the opposition
has failed to unite around a single candidate.

Previous votes in Armenia have been followed by mass opposition
protests alleging ballot fraud, and observers say more are possible
after Tuesday’s vote.

Armenia is Moscow’s only firm ally in a region where Russia and the
West are competing for influence. It is home to a Russian military
base and Russian firms control a significant chunk of the Armenian
economy.

Relations with Turkey are fraught in part because Ankara refuses to
recognise as genocide the killings of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in
the early part of the last century.

(Writing by Margarita Antidze; Editing by Charles Dick)

AL GORE, AMOS OZ AMONG WINNERS OF DAN DAVID AWARD FOR 2008

Jerusalem Post
Feb 12 2008

The Dan David Award committee announced its 2008 winners, Tuesday.

Al Gore will receive a $1 million prize for his contribution to social
responsibility with an emphasis on environmental issues.

Israeli novelist Amos Oz, British playwright, film director and
screenwriter Tom Stoppard (of Jewish descent) and Canadian Armenian
filmmaker Atom Egoyan will share a $1 million prize for their
contribution to the reflection of past artistic endeavors in current
creative output in the fields of literature, theater and cinema.

Alan Mosley, Lonnie G. Thompson and Geoffrey Eglinton will share a
$1 million prize for their contribution to research in Earth sciences.

TURKEY’S EU BID: FOLLOW THE MONEY
By Paul Taylor

Reuters
Feb 11 2008
UK

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Turkey’s bid to join the European Union offers
a bonanza for European business, but not for everyone.

European companies have already invested 16 billion euros ($23 billion)
in the EU’s biggest candidate country. Tens of billions more are
expected as Turkey, growing at 5-7 percent a year, modernizes its
infrastructure and privatizes key sectors.

Yet while German trade and investment are booming, French business
is suffering a backlash over President Nicolas Sarkozy’s hostility
to Turkish membership of the bloc.

"France has lost contracts to Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy and Greece
because of its constant Turkey-bashing discourse," says Bahadir
Kaleagasi, Brussels representative of the Turkish Industrialists’
and Business Association (Tusiad).

The latest blow came last week when state-controlled Gaz de France
(GAZ.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) was shut out of a consortium to
build the 5 billion euro ($7.3 billion) Nabucco gas pipeline from
Turkey to central Europe in favor of German utility RWE (RWEG.DE:
Quote, Profile, Research) (RWEG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) at
Ankara’s behest.

Turkey earlier awarded a big military helicopter order to an Italian
firm rather than French-based aerospace group EADS (EAD.PA: Quote,
Profile, Research) after the French National Assembly voted to make
it a crime to deny the killing of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915
was genocide.

That bill has yet to become law, and Laurence Parisot, head of French
employers’ movement MEDEF, has lobbied to prevent its passage through
the upper house of parliament.

Across Europe, the business community supports Turkey’s EU accession
process, even in countries such as Germany and Austria where opinion
polls show majority public opposition to the idea.

Yet business leaders acknowledge their voice is muted due to political
sensitivities.

"We are in favor of a strong economic relationship," says Philippe
de Buck, secretary-general of BusinessEurope, the main umbrella
organization for EU business. "But the political issues are not for
us to judge. It’s not up to us to judge membership."

Executives see the sprawling NATO member on the hinge of Europe and
the Middle East as a giant market of 71 million consumers, with a
booming economy, plentiful cheap labor and major modernization needs.

"Turkey … has a gigantic economic potential," Parisot told Reuters.

French companies with major investments there include carmaker Renault
(RENA.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and supermarket chain Carrefour
(CARR.PA: Quote, Profile, Research).

"What we tell our Turkish opposite numbers is ‘keep moving forward
in the negotiation process with Europe and don’t ask all the time
whether Europe wants your accession or not’," she said.

"We’ll see how the accession dynamics turn out in 10 years’ time. In
the meantime, above all let us not make it harder on either side to
work together."

The European Commission is trying to use the talks to coax Turkey
into opening its markets wider to European firms.

Banks are already pouring in. Insurers and energy firms are keen
to follow. But the slow pace of negotiations dictated by France and
Cyprus gives Ankara little incentive to push reforms.

Some EU officials are frustrated that the business community is
not more vocal in support of Turkey’s accession process. They are
encouraging BusinessEurope and Tusiad to stage a public event this
year to highlight the economic benefits.

Sarkozy’s declarations that Turkey has no place in the EU have soured
the mood.

Turkish officials say French companies stand to lose out in forthcoming
privatizations and nuclear energy, environmental, waste management
and water projects due to his stance.

Murat Mercan, chairman of the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs
committee, says government attitudes to the accession process are
bound to sway Turkish public procurement decisions.

"Lack of willingness by major EU countries — I don’t want to name
any — and biased political debate on the issue of Turkey’s membership
may create a reluctance on the Turkish side to enable those countries
to win those major projects," he said.

Germany, which has historic ties with Turkey, seems to have escaped
such retaliation despite the fact that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
Christian Democrats oppose full membership and say the EU should
offer Ankara only a "privileged partnership".

Fabian Wehnert of the Confederation of German Industry (BDI)
said business has not suffered because Merkel has respected her
predecessor’s word and allowed the talks to go ahead.

YOU ARE THE ONES PERPETRATING GENOCIDE; GET OUT OF KARABAKH
by Turan Yilmaz

Hurriyet
Feb 10 2008
Turkey

"Sharp exchange" reported between Turkish premier, Armenian minister

The sharp exchange between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan has put its stamp on the
Security Summit [ 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy] that
began in Munich yesterday. Erdogan accused Armenia of perpetrating
"genocide" against Azeris in Karabakh.

Erdogan is attending the summit, which is being held in the Hotel
Bayerischer Hof under tight security measures, as an honorary guest
and delivered the opening address. Erdogan also answered questions
at the summit, which is attended by more than 250 participants,
including the foreign and defence ministers and military officials
of 47 countries. When Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanyan referred to
Erdogan’s remarks that [Turkey] "is ahead of its time" and asked why
diplomatic relations have not yet been established [between Turkey
and Armenia], Erdogan responded with the following sharp comments:

‘Your Citizens Are Running’

"There was no air cargo transportation between Turkey and
Armenia. I opened the gates when I took office. Today, there is cargo
transportation between Turkey and Armenia. The Armenian church on the
island of Akdamar [in Van] was in ruins. We restored it and opened
it to serve our Armenian citizens as a gesture. Furthermore, today,
in my country, there are more than 40,000 Armenians who are not
our citizens. Why do these people run and come to my country? We do
not have any problems with Armenians who are our citizens. However,
you should ask yourself why Armenians run from Armenia and from many
other places in the world and come to Turkey. [They do so] because
Turkey is a country of peace."

‘Genocide in Karabakh’

"The resolution of the Minsk Summit [as published] in connection with
Nagorno Karabakh has not yet been implemented. The world considers
Armenia an occupier. Leave that place – get out so that tens of
thousands, hundreds of thousands of Azeri can settle there. They are
also our kinsmen. Why do you not take a positive posture on this? The
Karabakh events clearly demonstrate who has seized whose property
and who has perpetrated genocide against whom.

‘Very Unbecoming’

"Massacred Christians, Armenians. On what basis do you say these?

This is a very unbecoming approach. What information do you have in
your hands? I wrote a letter and issued my invitation. We opened our
archives. Armenia should also order its archives and open them if
it can so that archaeologists, historians, political scientists, and
legal experts can conduct research. Then we can decide as politicians.

‘Prepared to Face Up’

"It is inappropriate to level accusations against Turkey with the
argument that massacres were perpetrated only in 1915. There is no
genocide in our culture or civilization. We are prepared to face up
to anything. I invite Armenia to make its own preparations. We cannot
accept attributions of genocide to us in parliaments of the world as
a result of lobbying. We will come to a reckoning with our history
if necessary."

Signed Golden Book

Prime Minister Erdogan visited Bavarian Premier Gunther Beckstein
yesterday. During the visit, Erdogan signed the Golden Book of
Bavaria. Erdogan’s wife Emine and Beckstein’s wife Marga were also
present during the signing ceremony and press briefing. After the
briefing, Beckstein gave a dinner in honour of Erdogan.

‘We Are not at War’

Erdogan was upset with the following question from Armenian Foreign
Minister Oskanyan: "There are no diplomatic relations between us. Our
border is closed. When we ask why, you always refer to developments
related to the genocide of 1915 and Nagorno Karabakh. However, we
are not at war with you. Why can we not sit down and discuss these
matters? Why can we not establish diplomatic relations? We have no
preconditions."

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REJECTS APPLICATION OF LEVON TER-PETROSYAN

Panorama.am
19:25 11/02/2008

The Armenian Constitutional Court shortly announced its ruling on the
application of Levon Ter-Petrosyan on finding the obstacles imposed on
him us unconquerable. The Constitutional Court ruled out that the facts
submitted by the application " cannot be considered as unconquerable."

Speaking about the constitutional-legal content of the obstacle
called unconquerable, the constitutional court ruling mentions that
"the legal precedent of this provision has outset from the French
constitutional-legal practice, according to which, unconquerable
obstacle is described as the one in which the electoral process of
a certain presidential candidate is impossible in terms of his or
her participation."

The constitutional court ruling continues: "The continuation of the
campaign by the candidate proves that unconquerable obstacles are
not present but there is a dispute on the legality of the electoral
campaign which is submitted according to law to bodies that have
legal right to solve such issues."

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, LEADER OF THE NATIONAL-DEMOCRATIC UNION (NDU) VAZGEN MANUKYAN STATED TODAY DURING THE MEETING WITH THE JOURNALISTS IN THE INFORMATION CENTER ON NATO IN YEREVAN THAT ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP TO THE ALLIANCE WILL NOT LEAD TO STRENGTHENING OF THE REPUBLIC’S SECURITY

armradio.am
12.02.2008 13:51

Presidential candidate, leader of the National-Democratic Union (NDU)
Vazgen Manukyan stated today during the meeting with the journalists in
the Information Center on NATO in Yerevan that Armenia’s membership to
the Alliance will not lead to strengthening of the republic’s security.

According to Manukyan, considering the prospects of Armenia’s
membership in NATO, one "should take into account all the pluses
and minuses."

Among the "minuses" the presidential candidate noted the aggravation
of Armenia’s relations with Iran and Russia, which will be the result
of the entry to NATO. At the same time, the candidate stated it is not
ruled out that in 10 years the situation in the world will change to
such extent that the issue of Armenia’s membership in NATO will have
a completely different form."

Talking about the relations of Armenia with Russia, Vazgen Manukyan
stated that he stands for their development. "However, I am absolutely
against relations, in which Armenia will be a toy in the hands of
Russia, or its "advanced post," he stated.

Vazgen Manukyan stated that "neither of the opposition candidates
is able to gain over 20% in the first round of the presidential
elections."

According to him, it is obvious that neither the candidate from the
ruling party, nor anybody from the representatives of the opposition,
is able to gain victory in the first round of the elections on
February 19.

Panorama.am

19:32 07/02/2008

OSCE REFUSES TO SEND OBSERVERES TO RUSSIAN
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

The reply to the main intrigue around the presidential
elections in Russia was given today: OSCE refused to
send observers to watch the election there. OSCE
swiftly reacted to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov’s statement by which Lavrov assessed the
request by OSCE/ODIHR as a `final note’ and said that
Russia cannot accept that.

Not only ODIHR observers but also OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly delegation refused to leave for Russia. The
assembly was present during the parliamentary
elections in Russia.

Glep Pavlovski, a political scientist close to
Kremlin, announced that this is a start of a program
to announce the elections as not legitimate.

Source: Panorama.am

Panorama.am

19:30 07/02/2008

STATUE SYMBOLIZING SOVIET ARMENIA FOUND IN PARIS CASTLE

The French archeologists have discovered statues in a
17th century castle of Paris. The statues date back to
the Soviet period, Inrap Archeological Institute told
Ria Novosty. During the studies of 17th century
Val-d’Uaz castle, the archeologists discovered 2,5-3
meters height statues and remains of statues. Among
others, statues symbolizing Soviet Armenia and
Azerbaijan were also found.

All the statues were presented by the Soviet Union in
1937 to a modern art and technology exhibition. Later
the Soviet Union handed them to the supervision of
French CGT trade union. The statues were raised in the
park nearby the castle.

Asked when the statues appeared in the basement of the
castle, it was said that they appeared there during
the world war II.

Source: Panorama.am

AZERI PUNDITS WARN OF "FRESH TERROR" IF PKK MEMBERS RELOCATE TO KARABAKH

Yeni Musavat, Baku
Feb 6 2008

Azerbaijani pundits have said that the reported possible relocation
of members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to the breakaway
region of Nagornyy Karabakh will lead to fresh terror, the opposition
newspaper Yeni Musavat reported on 6 February.

The paper said, without specifying the source of the report, that
following military operations in northern Iraq by Turkey against
the PKK, the latter has launched talks with Armenia in a bid to find
shelter in Nagornyy Karabakh.

The paper quoted political expert Eldar Namazov as saying that
relocation of PKK members to Nagornyy Karabakh will cause Azerbaijan
to face fresh terror threats.

Azerbaijan should urgently appeal to international organizations
over the issue and seek the help of Turkey for fighting the PKK,
Namazov added.

The paper also quoted Ilham Hasanov, senior adviser to the analytical
information department at the Azerbaijani parliament and political
expert, as saying that deployment of PKK in Nagornyy Karabakh will
result in "a new wave of terror in the region". Only joint actions
by Azerbaijan and Turkey can prevent this and preparations should be
started against this danger now, he said.

The paper went on to quote Alovsat Aliyev, the head of the centre to
provide migrants with legal assistance, as saying that PKK members
may be deployed in the region with the aim receiving training and
recruiting people. He confirmed that reports had circulated even before
about the intention of creating a Kurdish state in Azerbaijan’s Lacin
District currently held by ethnic Armenians troops.

The paper also said that there are several reasons why the PKK wants
to move to Azerbaijani territory.

First, Armenia is one of the countries that the PKK receives the
greatest support from. The paper quoted Turkish intelligence reports
that Armenia secretly sells weapons that it buys from Russia to
the PKK.

Second, PPK provided "active support" to Armenians when the latter
were taking control of Nagornyy Karabakh, and the aim was to divide
Azerbaijan’s territory later on.

Third, PKK has training camps in Nagornyy Karabakh that have been
operating for years now. It appears that Armenians have promised the
PKK to build new camps.

Fourth, it has been confirmed that the PKK has ethnic Russians,
Armenians, French, English, Bulgarians and others in its ranks,
the paper said. It added that it is a natural thing that they want
to find refuge with their Armenian colleagues in Nagornyy Karabakh.

Fifth, forces that guide the PKK believe that Turkey cannot invade
Armenia because the latter is under the protection of both the West
and Russia. PKK members believe that they will be safe in Armenia
and Azerbaijani territory held by Armenians, the paper said.

Yeni Azarbaycan, the organ of the governing New Azerbaijan Party,
quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov as telling reporters that
if need be, an antiterror operation might be held against the PKK in
Nagornyy Karabakh. The paper did not specify when and where Azimov
made the statement.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN EXPRESSES HIS CONTENT WITH DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS WITH EUROPEAN UNION

2008-02-07 09:58:00

ArmInfo. At a meeting with the EU Troika representatives, Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan expressed his content with the relations
with the European Union, the Armenian presidential press-service
told ArmInfo.

During the meeting the sides exchanged opinions on developing
Armenia-EU relations and discussed the Action Plan within the frames
of the European Neighborhood Policy. The president noted that due to
implementation of the Action Plan the relations between Armenia and
the EU have become more coordinated. Kocharyan welcomed the opening
of new premises of European Commission’s Delegation to Armenia,
which will contribute to expansion of cooperation. Touching upon
the forthcoming presidential election, Kocharyan said that this is a
very responsible period for Armenia. "We are interested in holding
of really good election in compliance with international standards
and we did our best to organize them well", he said. He presented
the recent developments of the Karabakh peace process, as well as
the republic’s approaches to energy security and regional cooperation.