Author: Nahapetian Boris

NE/ AZERBAIGIAN, VARI SCENARI DI GEOPOLITICA ENERGETICA

Virgilio Notizie
Ott 14, 2008
Italy

Esteri

Baku al centro degli interessi di Russia, Stati uniti e Turchia

Roma, 14 ott. (Apcom) – Basta guardare la cartina: l’Azerbaigian
nel mezzo di quel Caucaso meridionale, sconvolto quest’estate dalla
guerra russo-georgiana, ed uno snodo cruciale per la geopolitica delle
risorse energetiche che dal centro dell’Eurasia, il mar Caspio, fa
dipanare le arterie del gas e del petrolio verso la Russia, l’Europa
e la Cina. Quel che decide il presidente azero Ilham Aliev, destinato
a una probabile ampia vittoria nelle presidenziali di domani, non
affatto scevro di significato per le potenze che si contendono le
ricchezze della regione.

In particolare, il conflitto tra Mosca e Tbilisi ha posto ancor
pi in dubbio la sicurezza dell’approvvigionamento di energia. La
Georgia, infatti, un paese di transito per il petrolio trasportato
dall’oleodotto che parte dalla capitale azera Baku e arriva al
porto turco di Ceyhan. Si tratta del noto Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (Btc),
che l’Occidente considera un’infrastruttura strategica – assieme al
quasi parallelo gasdotto Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (Gadotto del Caucaso
meridionale) – per la strategia di diversificazione energetica
dell’Europa. E la Russia, dal canto suo, ritiene questo sistema di
trasporti un pericoloso concorrente per il suo predominio sulle rotte
dell’energia dell’Asia centrale.

Potenze globali – come gli Stati uniti e la Russia – e regionali
(il caso della Turchia) si contendono i favori di Aliev, arbitro
del destino di importanti stock d’idrocarburi. Un giudice che, però,
ha nel suo stesso territorio un fattore d’instabilita importante: il
conflitto mai concluso con la vicina Armenia per il controllo della
regione del Nagorno-Karabakh. Una guerra "congelata" dagli anni ’90,
ma che ancora piu esplodere come accaduto alla Georgia per l’Ossezia
del sud e l’Abkhazia.

La Russia, oggi, ha nel Caucaso meridionale un solo vero alleato
– l’Armenia – e rischia di vedere crescere ai suoi confini un
importante concorrente per l’esportazione di gas, soprattutto se
andra in porto il progetto europeo per la costruzione del Nabucco,
la condotta tran-europea che l’Ue considera una priorita strategica
e che andrebbe a innestarsi al Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum. D’altro canto,
nell’eterno conflitto per il Nagorno-Karabakh, Aliev ha tutto
l’interesse a cercare di mettere un cuneo tra Erevan e Mosca. E un
accordo sul tema cruciale delle forniture energetiche potrebbe esserne
il lubrificante.

Eurasia Daily Monitor ha spiegato in un recente articolo che "l’attuale
situazione presenta un raro momento d’opportunita a Baku per fare
un’offerta che non piu rifiutare". La tesi del giornale online
della Jamestown Foundation che Aliev potrebbe decidere di vendere il
gas azero alla Russia – essendoci gia stata all’inizio dell’estate
un’offerta in questo senso del presidente russo Dmitri Medvedev –
a un prezzo favorevole.

L’eventuale mossa avrebbe indubbi vantaggi sia per Baku che per
Mosca. L’Azerbaigian potrebbe cosi rendere meno importante per la
Russia il sostegno all’Armenia. La Russia vedrebbe confermato il
ruolo di Gazprom come principale fornitore dell’Europa e avrebbe il
vantaggio di rallentare l’avvicinamento di Baku alle strutture della
Nato, facendolo peraltro in una maniera piu limpida agli occhi degli
osservatori internazionali rispetto a quanto accade con la Georgia
e l’Ucraina.

–Boundary_(ID_ZBqv5ldEZcVJbOGAxhyY+A) —

Eurasia Daily Monitor

October 14, 2008 — Volume 5, Issue 196

RUSSIA TERMINATES "PEACEKEEPING" IN ABKHAZIA AS NO LONGER NECESSARY

by Vladimir Socor

At the CIS summit in Bishkek on October 9 and 10, Russia announced the
termination of the "CIS collective peacekeeping operation in the
Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone" after 14 years. Moscow describes its move as
a common decision of the assembled heads of state and government. It is a
final attempt to portray the now-discarded operation as having been approved
multi-nationally from its inception to its end (Interfax, Itar-Tass, October
9, 10).

Moscow has decided that it no longer needs "peacekeepers" in Abkhazia
after the August war against Georgia. In their stead, Russia is deploying
combat forces to be stationed in Abkhazia indefinitely, cement the Russian
hold, and — unlike the "peacekeepers" — to pose an offensive threat to
Georgia.

Despite its CIS cover, the "collective peacekeeping" in Abkhazia was
always purely Russian. After 2002 CIS meetings abandoned even the pretense
of examining this operation, let alone prolonging its "mandate." The CIS in
any case is not authorized to confer peacekeeping mandates, and Georgia has
in any case quit the CIS following the Russian invasion of the country’s
interior in August this year. Moscow’s move ends a 14-year-old
"peacekeeping" pretense that culminated in Russia’s full-scale military
seizure of Abkhazia from Georgia, rendering any peacekeeping redundant from
Moscow’s viewpoint. Those troops, who acted under a false CIS label and with
Georgian consent extracted under duress since 1994, are being replaced by
far larger Russian forces in "agreement" with the Abkhaz authorities, whom
Moscow installed in the first place and has now given "diplomatic
recognition."

Although Russia acted from the outset as a participant in the conflict
against Georgia on Georgia’s own territory, Western governments and
international organizations accepted Russia’s claim to be a neutral mediator
between Georgia and the Abkhaz. That international pretense continued
through the years, despite Russia’s military operations, economic embargos,
and political warfare relentlessly waged against Georgia. Admittedly, Russia
never received "special responsibility for peacekeeping in the CIS," a role
that Moscow sought in vain during the 1990s in international organizations.
It did, however, monopolize that role in practice, as the first stage in a
long-term empire-restoration strategy. Whether recognized officially or
conceded de facto, a peacekeeping monopoly is one key ingredient of
sphere-of-influence building.

The United States and West European governments have practically
conceded a "peacekeeping" monopoly to Moscow in post-Soviet conflicts —
Transnistria, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Tajikistan — from 1992 to the
present. The government of Azerbaijan, however, had the foresight to turn
down the offer of "third-country" peacekeeping by Russia through the OSCE in
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

On the whole, the Euro-Atlantic community never displayed a sense of
urgency on this issue. It approached it in a spirit of benign neglect when
Russia was weak and later in a spirit of dependency on Russian "help" to
resolve various Western dilemmas, even before Russia grew stronger. The year
2002 could have marked a turning point toward Western hands-on involvement
at the U.S.-Russia and NATO-Russia summits, held near Rome in May of that
year. Those summits adopted decisions — as expressed in both communiques —
for joint U.S.-Russia and NATO-Russia peacekeeping and conflict-resolution
efforts on Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, and Karabakh (with Russia
listed in second place throughout the joint communiques). This Western
initiative dissipated within months, however, as the United States and NATO
became distracted by Iraq, Afghanistan, and later a growing number of failed
policies.

It is a tribute to Russian strategy and Western disorientation that
Moscow initiated, conducted, and ended the Abkhazia "peacekeeping" operation
as it saw fit during all these years, without any serious international
challenge. Georgian and other appeals to multilateralize and civilianize the
peacekeeping format fell mostly on deaf, indifferent, or distracted ears in
the West during all this time. Down to the Russian invasion in August of
this year, Washington and European governments continually advised Georgia
to show patience and tone down or indefinitely postpone demands for
replacing the Russian operation. Now, however, Russia itself has ended its
operation in its own way and timing and on its own terms, which are worse
than ever from the West’s and Georgia’s perspective.

The United Nations Security Council had routinely applauded the
Russian "peacekeeping" in Abkhazia. While never officially authorizing that
operation, the UNSC paid it compliments each time when prolonging the
mandate of UNOMIG (UN Observer Mission in Georgia) at six-month intervals.
Moscow demanded and received this genuflection regularly as a condition for
not vetoing the symbolic UNOMIG. In all these years, the U.S. State
Department and other Western chancelleries went along with this semiannual
travesty.

The Russian operation, however, breached the UN’s fundamental rules of
peacekeeping operations. Such operations require consent by the sovereign
state on the territory on which they are deployed. The consent must involve
not only acceptance of the operation as such but also the parameters of its
implementation. Neighboring countries and countries with a direct interest
or stake in the given conflict are not acceptable as troop contributors to a
peacekeeping operation. Such operations are by definition international, not
a monopoly of any one country. Troop contributing nations must be impartial.
Peacekeeping operations abide by the principles of inviolability of borders
and non-interference in internal affairs of the country in which they are
deployed.

In yet another unprecedented breach of peacekeeping norms, the Russian
military backed the ethnic cleansing of Georgians from Abkhazia in 1994 and
has refused to this day to assist in their safe return. Russian
"peacekeepers" helped arm the Abkhaz forces and beefed up arms stockpiles
which they shared with their Abkhaz proxies. Yet no international authority
ever called for Russia’s disqualification from its self-appointed role as
peacekeeper and mediator.

Moscow now takes the position, as Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei
Lavrov has announced, that Russian troops in Abkhazia will "no longer be
peacekeepers. They will from now on be armed forces," to be stationed there
under a basing agreement with the Russian-recognized Abkhaz authorities
(Interfax, Itar-Tass, October 9, 10). Those forces are slated to include a
combat brigade-size ground force, to be supplemented by air and naval
elements, at reactivated Soviet-era bases and newly-built installations.

–Vladimir Socor

7% INFLATION IN SEPTEMBER

Panorama.am
20:31 13/10/2008

In September 0.5% inflation has been fixed compared with August,
hence twelve months inflation reduced by 0.2% and formed 11.3%,
reported the public relations department of World Bank.

The inflation in September has been caused by the increase of prices
of vegetables and potatoes, meat and fish, as well as education system,
which has been stopped by the prices of fruits and petrol.

GENERAL CHEMISTRY: REPORTS FROM G.B. BAGDASARYAN AND CO-RESEARCHERS ADD NEW DATA TO RESEARCH IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY

Science Letter
September 23, 2008

According to a study from Yerevan, Armenia, "A method of the
s,mthesis of triphenylpropargylphosphonium bromide is developed. Its
isomerization and hydration in various solvents are studied, and
reactions with secondary arnines, tricthylamine, and triphenylphosphine
are carried out."

"It is established that secondary arnines add to the intermediate
allene isomer with subsequent migration ofthe formed double
bond to the phosphorus atorn. The reaction of triethylamine with
trir.henylpropargyl and triphenylethynyl bromides occurs similarly to
alkaline hydrolysis involving attack of’ the amine on the phosphorus
atom. Triphenylphosphine fornis with triphenylpropar-ylphosphonium
biomide a bis-salt with a terminal methylene group," wrote
G.B. Bagdasaryan and colleagues (see also General Chemistry).

The researchers concluded: "Experimental evidence is obtained showinc
-, that for plioi;phoxazole derivatives to form from oxiines derived
from triphenyl(oxomethyl)phosphonium salts tha latter should bear an
aryl substituent at the keto group."

Bagdasaryan and colleagues published the results of their research in
Russian Journal of General Chemistry (Synthesis and transformations
of triphenylpropargylphosphonium bromide. Russian Journal of General
Chemistry, 2008;78(6):1177-1183).

For additional information, contact G.B. Bagdasaryan, National Academy
Science Armenia, Institute Organ Chemical, Ul Z Kanakertsi 167A,
Yerevan 375091, Armenia.

The publisher of the Russian Journal of General Chemistry can be
contacted at: Maik Nauka, Interperiodica, Springer, 233 Spring St.,
New York, NY 10013-1578, USA.

Burbank Armenian Center
Organizes 1st Annual Festival
For Immediate Release e-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Silva Kechichian

Phone: (818) 445-0704

October 10, 2008

BURBANK, CALIF – The Burbank Armenian Center is organizing its 1st
Annual Festival, to be held on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at Gross Park in
Burbank from 11 AM to 5 PM. We will have food, music, dancing and games
for the kids, as well as booths promoting Burbank businesses and
organizations.

"The Armenian Festival in Burbank will be a great place for the kids to
have fun," said Ungerouhi Nanig Kupelian, chairwoman of the event.
"Adults will be able to see old friends and make new friends, as well as
keep in touch with the goings-on of the local Armenian-American
community."
In operation for more than 18 years, the Burbank Armenian Center houses
many local chapters of the following Armenian-American organizations:
The Armenian Cultural Foundation, the Armenian National Committee (ANC),
the Armenian Youth Federation, The Badanegan, the Armenian Relief
Society and the Homenetmen.
The Burbank Armenian Center promotes and serves the local community by
offering anti-drug & anti-gang initiatives, educational & civic
programs, meetings & forums, and local-school partnerships.
Hope to see you all at Robert E. Gross Park is located at 2800 W. Empire
Avenue in Burbank for the festival. For more information, contact
Burbank Armenian Center at (818) 562-1918.

BY GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2008-2009, ARMENIA IN 97th POSITION BY ITS COMPETITIVENESS AGAINST 93rd PLACE LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Oc t 9, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. By the Global Competitiveness Report
(GCR) 2008-2009, Armenia is in 97th place by competitiveness out of
134 countries – against 93rd place in 2007. The chairman of "Economy
and Values" research center Manuk Hergian said at the October 9
press conference dedicated to the release of the report that it is
the fourth year that Armenia has been included in GCR. In his words,
GCR is an internationally recognized and authoritative annual report
that compares, assesses and analyses the economic competition of
various countries, aa well as the factors that affect their economic
development.

M. Hergian said that in a GCR, the countries are classified based on
the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), which is based on 12 pillars
of competitiveness: macroeconomic stability, education, health, etc.

According to the GCR 2008-2009, the three most competitive countries
in the world are the U.S, Switzerland and Denmark. Among the CIS
countries, Russia is the most competitive one, followed by Kazakhstan
and Azerbaijan. M. Hergian underlined that the index did not take
into account the impacts of the international financial crisis as
the data used by the report represent the annual indices of 2007.

He noted that Armenia’s competitive position has not undergone a
notable change as compared with last year and continues to be at
quite a low level.

In his words, Armenia is now facing serious challenges related to
raising the country’s competitiveness, and in case of overcoming these
challenges Armenia will be able to maintain high rates of economic
growth. He said that at the present stage of development, Armenia’s
main challenges are related to development of the microeconomic
bases of its competitiveness, however, the macroeconomic risks have
also increased in the past year. It was mentioned that the primary
prolems of the Armenian government are the elimination of the current
shortcomimgs in the resource and commodity markets, and ensuring an
institutional field aimed at a stable macroeconomic environment and
business development.

PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief / Megerian Rugs
630 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10016;
Tel: (212) 889-5150
email: [email protected]
Web:

Megerian Rugs and the Fund for Armenian Relief enter partnership to
further stimulate economic growth in Armenia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~

Megerian Rugs and the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) are joining
together to foster the cultural traditions of Armenia, rebuild
infrastructure, and create stable jobs in far-reaching regions and
villages throughout the country.

"By partnering with FAR, the Megerian family seeks to build programs
that strengthen the labor force and facilitate economic growth and
social stability in Armenia" said John Megerian, the CEO of Megerian
Rugs.

The Megerian family has been involved in the buying, selling,
restoration, and production of fine oriental rugs for over four
generations. Inspired by traditional aesthetics, the Megerians create
hand-made rugs by delicately modifying antique designs and updating
color combinations to reflect modern trends and contemporary
style. Megerian also maintains environmentally conscious objectives
and utilizes only eco-friendly dyes and processes in their new lines
of luxury rugs. Using organic dyes that can only be extracted from
plants found in the Armenian highlands, Megerian implements their own
special weaving techniques with centuries-old Armenian artisanship to
create rugs of stunning quality and durability. Production of their
fine rugs also takes place in Egypt, Romania, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
and China.

Megerian Rugs is currently unveiling their new Armenian contemporary
collection designed by one of America’s top up-and-coming designers,
Barry Dixon. A part of the proceeds from this distinguished
collection will go to FAR to stimulate economic development,
facilitate the creation of jobs in far- reaching regions in Armenia,
and further healthcare and education programs in the country.

"We are very proud to work with Megerian Rugs to further our mission
and support innovative economic development in regions where jobs are
scarce," said Garnik Nanagoulian, the Executive Director of FAR.
"Megerian has revitalized the rug industry within Armenia by
bolstering traditional Armenian creativity and combining this
resourcefulness with innovative production standards. We are certain
that our partnership will do the same for the development of jobs in
Armenia."

FAR is a four-star rated (Charity Navigator 2008,
) non-profit charitable organization
based in New York, with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and
Stepankert. Founded in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
millions of people through more than 220 relief and development
programs in Armenia, Karabagh, and Georgia. FAR has utilized more than
$265 million, providing short-term emergency relief and implementing
long-term education, health, social, and economic development
programs.

"FAR is dedicated to realizing the dream of a free, democratic,
prosperous, and culturally rich Armenia", said Garnik
Nanagoulian. "This partnership, which will stimulate economic growth,
brings us one step closer to our goal."

With over 2,000 employees in 22 weaving facilities in Armenia,
Megerian always takes into consideration the social and environmental
implications of all their decisions. The cooperation between Megerian
and FAR will help to sustain Armenian production by promoting Armenian
rugs, encouraging their purchase, and funding various socio-economic
programs in Armenia. Together, Megerian and FAR hope to stimulate
economic growth while conserving Armenia’s history of weaving and
preserving Armenian tradition and national identity.

"Rug weaving has been an important part of Armenian society for
thousands of years, and the Megerian family seeks to uphold the
traditions that have been such a cultural phenomenon", said John
Megerian.

For more information about Megerian Rugs, visit
or contact at 262 Fifth Avenue, New York,
NY 10001; Tel: (877) MEGERIAN or email: [email protected]

For more information on FAR or to send donations, visit
or contact at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016;
Tel: (212) 889-5150 or email: [email protected]

Photographs – hHk39xU-CQ4BKxM7I8uwZ0nG63CL_J7TZTazSUEKs-pMVepYjg ZV-UYti5DX2l-36LNTKyIEhSyEXl2SRP0GapOGwNSBAcsBUb9T zteJeGMHJVQQ3aj6g0pyRQ6mMqFdnf3ZLj2GfsnuxA2TCFrBTD 10IFy80Sg==

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~
Fund for Armenian Relief
Garnik A. Nanagoulian
Executive Director
email: [email protected]
phone: (212) 889-5150
Megerian Rugs
Elaine Szumanski
Marketing Assistant
email: [email protected]
phone: (212) 684-7188

MEMBERS OF THE SWITZERLAND-ARMENIA PARLIAMENTARY GROUP TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
07.10.2008 15:57

Members of the Switzerland-Armenia parliamentary group of the
Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation headed by Christine
Egerszegi-Obrist will arrive in Armenia on October 8. The same
day members of the Swiss delegation will meet with President Serzh
Sargsyan. At the National Assembly the delegation will be received
by Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan.

On October 9 members of the delegation will meet with RA Deputy
Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan and Deputy Minister of Economy
Ara Petrosyan.

They will visit also the specialized Armenian-Swiss school. The same
day they will pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims at Tsitsernakaberd.

On October 10 members of the Switzerland-Armenia parliamentary group
of the Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation will visit the NKR
Representation in Armenia. The same they are scheduled to meet with
RA Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan. Members of the delegation
will meet with representatives of the opposition, as well. A joint
press conference of the friendship groups will be organized at the
National Assembly.

On October 11 at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin members of the
Swiss delegation will be received by His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. They will later visit the
Byurakan Observatory in Aragatsotn marz.

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA GREET ANY STEP TOWARDS SECURITY AND STABILITY IN CAUCASIAN REGION

ARMENPRESS
Oct 3, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenia and Russia greet any step
towards ensuring security and stability in the Caucasian region,
Armenian and Russian foreign ministers Edward Nalbandian and
Sergey Lavrov stated about it during the extended meeting of the
delegations and at the joint press conference followed the face to
face conversation.

According to Armenian foreign minister, the basis of Caucasian platform
is the establishment of atmosphere of security, stability, trust and
cooperation and neither of the countries may be against this idea,
including Armenia. Though the issues of its functions, mechanisms,
format of the participants are to be discussed.

Sergey Lavrov said Russia is also for the steps which are aimed at
providing peaceful, stable and convenient situation for the cooperation
in the humanitarian, economic and security spheres.

Turkey’s initiative brought the countries of the region to dialogue on
how these issues can be solved with combined efforts. Russian Foreign
Minister noted that bilateral meetings took place between Caucasian
countries which will continue in future in more extended formats.

Referring to the trilateral meeting between foreign ministers of
Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan in New York September 26, Armenian
Foreign Minister E. Nalbandian noted that the fact that it took place
is already positive, but it was difficult to expect certain results
from the first meeting. He said during the meeting they discussed
the issue on Caucasian platform and expressed readiness to continue
the meetings in this and other formats.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE VENICE COMMISSION GENERAL SECRETARY AWARDED GOLDEN MEDAL

Panorama.am
14:19 03/10/2008

By the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Giani
Buquicchio, the General Secretary of the Council of Europe Venice
Commission has been awarded a golden medal for his effective efforts
invested in the creation of cooperation between the Venice Commission
and Constitutional Court of Armenia.

Mr. Gagik Harutyunyan, the President of the Constitutional Court of
the Republic of Armenia awarded the golden medal to Mr. Buquicchio
during the 13th international conference on "The principle values of
the constitution and civil practice".