Author: Nahapetian Samvel

ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR HANDS CREDENTIALS TO THE PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN

armradio.am
23.09.2008 16:25

The newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to
Turkmenistan Vladimir Badalyan presented his credentials to the
President of Turkmenistan Gurbankuly Berdymuhammedov.

During the meeting President Berdymuhammedov stressed the necessity
of reinforcing the traditional ties between Armenia and Turkmenistan
and developing mutually beneficial cooperation.

The interlocutors turned to the organization and productive activity
of the first sitting of the Armenian-Turkmen Intergovernmental Economic
Cooperation Commission, as well as issues of reinforcement of bilateral
ties in the humanitarian, cultural, educational, and tourism sectors.

The President of Turkmenistan underlined that he is willing to
provide wide opportunities for Armenian investments in the fields of
construction, healthcare, chemical production and tourism.

GAS PRICE TO GET INCREASED

Panorama.am
19:54 23/09/2008

The new gas price has been defined and a contract with the Russian
side is signed. In a meeting with the journalists the director of
"Armrusgasard" company Karen Karapetyan said that starting from April
1, 2009 gas will be provided to Armenia in a new price – 154 USD for
1000 cubic meter.

After a year the price will be again increased; in 2010 Armenian
consumers will have to pay for 1000 cubic meters 200 USD. According to
Mr. Karapetyan the price will be get increased gradually and Armenian
consumers won’t feel extreme negative influence.

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the director of the
company Karen Karapetyan called the signed contract "exclusive". The
President commented that the exclusive price is connected with the
exclusive relationship between the countries.

steelguru.com
September 24, 2008
Russia to raise gas prices for Armenia by 40% in 2009

Interfax cited Mr Karen Karapetian CEO of Armrosgazprom during a meeting
with Mr Serzh Sargsian president of Armenia Russia will raise gas prices for
Armenia 40% to USD 154 per 1,000 cubic meters on April 1st 2009 from the
current USD 110.

He said that gas prices will then rise to USD 200 per 1,000 cubic meters on
April 1st 2010. The growth in gas prices for Armenia is on par with the
increase on the Russian energy market. Starting in 2011, Armenia is to start
paying European prices for gas.

Mr Karapetian said the upcoming hike in gas prices would not lead to a
reduction in gas consumption.

Mr Sargsian said the negotiations with Gazprom are based on a gradual
increase in gas prices, which allows the population and business to plan in
advance. The president said that the price hike will have a negligible
impact on the population but create great opportunities for heightened
competition among businesses."

He also called on Armrosgazprom to actively continue the process of bringing
gas to the whole country.

In September 2008, Gazprom signed a contract on gas supplies to Armenia in
2009 to 2010. Gazprom delivered 2.05 billion cubic meters of natural gas to
Armenia in 2007.

ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN SINGS SONGS OF GOMIDAS ON A NEW CD TO BE RELEASED SOON

Noyan Tapan

Se p 22, 2008

OTTAWA, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. On September 23
Nonesuch will release songs of Gomidas in the performance of famous
Canadian-Armenian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian.

Isabel Bayrakdarian: "Gomidas Songs, to be released on September 23,
offers the first authentic major-label recording of a variety of music
by Gomidas in all its hauntingly melodic glory – from folk songs and
love songs to prayers, songs for children, songs of nature, and solo
dances for piano, all reconstructed and arranged by Kradjian, who also
performs on the album." We should mention that Isabel Bayrakdarian’s
husband, pianist and musicologist Serouj Kradjian is meant here.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO TURKMEN PRESIDENT

Turkmenistan.ru
22.09.08 20:10
Turkmenistan

On 22 September, the newly appointed ambassador of Armenia to
Turkmenistan, Vladimir Badalyan, presented his credentials to Turkmen
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The Turkmen president and the Armenian ambassador exchanged opinions
on important aspects of bilateral cooperation, including trade and
economic sphere, science, education, healthcare, sport and tourism,
the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports quoting the press service
of the Turkmen president.

Touching on cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedov emphasized the importance of holding international
conference and symposiums on a regular basis with participation of
scientists and specialists of the two countries.

Vladimir Badalyan informed the Turkmen president about opening
of a new institution in Yerevan. History and original culture of
Turkmen people will be one of the major areas of study at the new
institution. According to the diplomat, the institution has a special
room of Mahtumkuli Fragi, "the outstanding philosopher, poet and
great son and patriot of the Turkmen land."

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

September 18, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE FOR TURKEY TO FACE SENATE
FOREIGN RELATIONS PANEL

Ending Denial through Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, Ending the
Blockade are Key Issues to be Addressed

Washington, DC -The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has
scheduled the nomination hearing of Bush’s Ambassadorial Nominee for
Turkey, James F. Jeffrey, for Wednesday, September 24, 2008, reported
the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

"We are hopeful the nomination hearing is not a question and answer
session, which in the past has resulted in equivocating on the
historical fact of the Armenian Genocide and America’s proud record of
humanitarian intervention," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. "This represents a critical opportunity for the
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey to go further than Ambassador Yovanovitch
and this time to squarely affirm the Armenian Genocide. The
U.S. record of affirmation is clear as evidenced by the 1951
U.S. filing before the International Court of Justice. The Armenian
Genocide is an historical fact and Mr. Jeffrey would be well served to
follow in the tradition of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau," continued
Ardouny.

In addition to its campaign of denial and application of article 301
of its penal code, which punishes discussion of the Armenian Genocide,
for more than a decade, Turkey, in coordination with Azerbaijan, has
blockaded Armenia. The Turkish blockade not only costs Armenia
hundreds of millions of dollars, but also undermines the stated
U.S. policy goals of regional cooperation and economic integration in
the South Caucasus Region.

While Turkey’s President Gul did accept the bold invitation by
Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan to visit Armenia on the occasion of
a soccer game between the two countries earlier this month, more
concrete steps are needed, including establishing working diplomatic
relations and a process of normalization that removes blockades, opens
borders, restores economic relations, and strives toward the peaceful
resolution of differences and disputes in the region. In fact, the
U.S. Administration has repeatedly called upon Turkey "to restore
economic, political and cultural links with Armenia."

Jeffrey, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, currently
serves as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security
Advisor at the White House. Prior to this, he served as Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern
Affairs. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission
in Baghdad, United States Ambassador to Albania, and three other
assignments in Turkey. Ambassador Jeffrey received his bachelor’s
degree from Northeastern University and his master’s degree from
Boston University.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#2008-065

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS GEORGIA AS AN AGGRESSOR

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 17 2008
Azerbaijan

New York -APA. "Georgia committed the act of aggression invading
into the territory of South Ossetia and violated UN Charter",
said Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, UN General Assembly President and
former Nicaraguan foreign minister at his first press conference, APA
reports. He criticized the United States for its role in the latest
world processes. "It seems the United States was infatuated with its
right of veto and thinks that it can do everything not depending on
its results". Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann called for urgent reforms in
the UN Security Council.

UN Security Council has 5 permanent and 10 temporary members. USA,
China, Great Britain, France and Russia are the permanent members,
which have a right of veto. The Council is functioning for 63 years
without changes. The UN General Assembly passed decision at its
closed meeting on July 15, 2008 to start intergovernmental talks on
enlargement of the Security Council’s composition.

Nicaragua is only country after Russia recognizing the separatist
regimes in Georgia. Some countries, including Armenia, Belarus and
Venezuela supported the Russia’s decision of recognition, but they
didn’t decide to recognize separatists so far.

EU COMMISSIONER: I FULLY SUPPORT THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva – APA. "I fully support the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and a negotiated, peaceful solution to
the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh," said Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner at
the meeting with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
in Brussels.

"The recent armed conflict in the region has shown again that the use
of force does not contribute to such a solution. Political dialogue,
confidence building measures and negotiations are the only feasible
ways to solving such protracted conflicts. I am committed to our close
cooperation with Azerbaijan and the countries of the Caucasus region
in order to achieve political and economic stability which is in the
interest of all of us," said Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Press service of the EU delegation in Azerbaijan told APA the meeting
focused on the situation in the South Caucasus, the bilateral
cooperation on energy and the strengthening of the relationship
between the European Union and Azerbaijan, including in the framework
of the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy Action
Plan. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and Foreign Minister Mammadyarov
paid special attention to the impact of the August events on the
South Caucasus region and the perspectives for a peaceful settlement
of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

NATO PA PRESIDENT APPRECIATED SERZH SARGSYAN’S FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.09.2008 19:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Wednesday with
NATO PA President Jose Lello, the RA leader’s press office reported.

Appreciating highly the level of cooperation with NATO, President
Sargsyan said it’s one of constituents of Armenia’s security. "The
IPAP offers Armenia a possibility to bring its security system in
line with international standards," he said.

For his part Mr Lello said NATO hopes for dynamic cooperation with
Armenia and praised the Armenian leader’s footfall diplomacy.

"Our goal is to establish rational and logical relations with Turkey
for the welfare of our nations and the entire region," the Armenian
President remarked.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN ADVISES THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS FATE "TO TAKE THEIR 30 PIECES OF SILVER AND CONTINUE THEIR WAY"

Noyan Tapan

Se p 16, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The speaker of the RA National
Assembly, deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
Tigran Torosian on September 16 submitted an application about his
leaving the RPA. In another application as a "logical continuation of
the first one", he gave up the post of the NA speaker. The reason is
"the current insurmountale differences" with the political majority
of the party and the parliament over "a number of problems related
to the internal political life", T. Torosian declared at a press
conference on the same day.

According to him, by the RPA regulations, he is a non-party man at
the moment of submitting the application. As regards his applications
about resigning from the post of the NA chairman and leaving the RPA,
in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the RA National Assembly,
these appolications will be presented at the upcoming plenary session
of the parliament. The resignation will be considered as accepted if
it is submitted again 5 days after the application on resignation is
made public.

After this T. Torosian will continue his activities in the parliament
as an independent deputy. "It is obvious that when a person represents
a political force, especially authorities, he has to make some
specifications when expressing an opinion and to make some, so to
speak, concessions. I think that now I will be much freer and present
fully my views," he stated, adding that "it is also interesting".

T. Torosian said that he made decisions about his resignation and
leaving the RPA as a result of summarizing the process that began
4 months ago and making some conclusions. "It is clear for me that
what has happened is a process planned beforehand with quite a simple
goal. Everything has been done through backstreet intrigues for 3-4
months. An unprecedented black propaganda has been conducted for
4 months, by using all available means and exceeding all limits,
including moral ones. It is obvious this propaganda was an organized
one, and everybody knows who has done it and why," he noted. In the
words of T. Torosian, only by mid September "this process became a
formal political problem and was discussed at the executive body of
the party – with an outcome known in advance". He said that there were
some people "who behaved in an immoral way, falsifying both the process
and the vote and presenting quite a different picture to everybody".

He advised those concerned about his fate to take "their 30 pieces
of silver and continue their way". Noting that "neither the form nor
the essence and content of what has happened are acceptable to him",
T. Torosian at the same tine said that he took his decisions because
he does not want those, with whom has worked in the party for 16 years
and in the parliament for 9 years, "to have psychological problems:
to think one thing but to have to do another".