Author: Nalbandian Albert

RICHARD G. LUGAR: U.S. CAN THINK OVER INSTALLATION OF MISSILE DEFENSE SHIELD IN AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.12.2008 13:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia should be offered a possibility to watch
U.S. missile defense system in Czechia and Poland, according to a
U.S. Senator.

"Besides, we can think over installation of a missile defense shield
in Azerbaijan," said Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for
Indiana. "We should reason out the ground for rockets and radars."

"I think we could reach an agreement with Moscow, since we have common
interests. We are concerned over installation of rockets in Iran,
what is dangerous not only for the United States but also for the
entire world. Russia could be helpful to improve the situation,"
Senator Lugar said, the Echo of Moscow reports.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES LIST OF MEASURES ON IMPROVEMENT OF GARNI-GEGHARD TOURIST ROUTE

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 18, 2008
YEREVAN

At the December 17 sitting, the Armenian government approved the list
of measures on improvement of the Garni-Geghard tourist route.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, it
was established that the annex of the decision envisages measures
(except for Point 4) to be implemented by the respective responsible
bodies at the expense of state budgetary resources allocated for their
activities. The RA minister of finance was instructed to submit a
proposal to the government within a month regarding allocation of 29
mln drams (about 95 thousand USD) to Kotayk regional administration
from the reserve fund of the government with the aim of implementing
the measure envisaged by Point 4 of the annex: organization of regular
garbage collection in Goghti community and communities included in
the Garni-Geghard tourist route.

The bodies responsible for implementation of the measures envisaged by
the decision were instructed to submit information on the measure’s
implementation to the RA minister of economy within 10 days after
the end of the implementation period. By another instruction, the RA
minister of transport and communication is to submit a proposal on
ensuring the servicing of the first kilometer of the motorway from
the border of Yerevan’s Nor Nork community to Jrvezh community to the
government within a week. The RA minister of economy was instructed
to submit a summary report on the measures implemented during 15 days
to the government after receiving the above mentioned information
envisaged by 4th point of the decision.

AZERBAIJAN-TURKEY CONTROVERSIES

The Messenger
Dec 16 2008
Georgia

Azeri newspaper Zerkalo commented recently on certain details in the
Azeri-Turkish relationship.

Until recently Turkish-Armenian relations were based on the issue of
the occupation by Armenia of Azeri territories including Karabakh. The
Azeri Foreign Ministry has recently made a statement saying that Turkey
has a complete right to regulate its relations with Armenia without
considering the Azeri position, but in reality Azerbaijan is very
sensitive towards this issue. Azeri public opinion will not accept
a warming of Turkish-Armenian relations without the precondition of
fairly regulating the conflict in Karabakh.

Executive Secretary of the ruling party Ali Akhmedov has several
times stated that Turkey should not take steps which would be against
Azeri interests, meaning that Turkey should not open its borders to
Armenia or establish diplomatic relations with it without resolving
the Karabakh knot.

MP Aidim Mizarzade has asked Turkey to inform Azeri society about
confidential Turkish-Armenian negotiations. Zerkalo thinks that these
might be influenced by the economic factors, in particular the price of
Azeri natural gas transported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ezerum pipeline.

If Turkey will not consider Azeri interests whilst formulating
Turkey-Armenia relations Baku will forget the "brotherly ties" which
currently influence the price of natural gas. Of course Turkey does not
want to upset its neighbour and brother but all kinds of negotiations
are being conducted with Armenia in a confidential and suspicious mode,
even though on the surface the slogan of the eternal brotherhood of
Turkey and Azerbaijan remains unaltered.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Iran can use its potential for Karabakh conflict resolution
13.12.2008 12:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran made Azerbaijan some proposals on resolution of
the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Iran’s Ambassador to Baku said.

"Azerbaijan and Armenia are applying efforts to resolve the
conflict. Iran can also use its potential," Nasir Hamidi Zare said.

Commenting on Iran’s interest in the Caucasus stability and
cooperation platform, the Ambassador remarked that the world is tired
of the Marxist and capitalistic systems. "It’s time to form a new and
fair structure," he said, the Azeri Press Agency reports.

Variety, CA
Dec 13 2008

Rotterdam unveils nominees

‘Dogging’ will premiere in competition
By IAN MUNDELL

The Rotterdam Film Festival, one of the world’s leading events for
avant-garde pics, on Friday unveiled five of the 15 films that will
compete for its VPRO Tiger Awards plus the 35 projects selected for
co-production market CineMart.

Preeming in competition is Brit Simon Ellis’ feature debut, "Dogging:
A Love Story," about a boy obsessed with casual sex in parking lots.

It is joined by Ramtin Lavafipour’s "Be Calm and Count to Seven,"
about smugglers on an Iranian island, while Naito Takatsugu’s "Dark
Harbor" shows life in a Japanese fishing village.

"Breathless," by Yang Ik-june, unfolds the relationship between a
South Korean gangster and a precocious schoolgirl; from Taiwan, Leon
Dai’s "No puedo vivir sin ti" concerns a father whose vagrant
lifestyle endangers his family.

The Tiger jury includes South African artist Marlene Dumas, helmers
Yesim Ustaoglu from Turkey and Kornel Mundruczo from Hungary, and Park
Ki-yong, director of the Film Academy in Seoul.

Other world preems at the fest include U.S. docu "Fixer: The Taking of
Ajmal Naqshbandi" by Ian Olds, which recounts the tragic fate of a
guide and translator hired by journalists reporting in Afghanistan.

New films have been commissioned from Guy Maddin, Carlos Reygadas and
Nanouk Leopold. All three will create work for extra-large screens
mounted on three Rotterdam office blocks.

Also bowing in Rotterdam are "Dazzling," by Dutch helmer Cyrus Frisch,
featuring Rutger Hauer; "FILM IST. a girl & a gun" by Austrian Gustav
Deutsch; and "Border," by Armenian Harutyun Khachatryan.

The full competition lineup will be unveiled in early January.

Notable CineMart projects include oil industry tale "Pioneer" from
Norwegian helmer Erik Skjoldbjaerg, best known Stateside for his 1997
thriller "Insomnia," remade in 2002 by Christopher Nolan; and New
Zealand helmer Taika Waititi’s "Tama." Waititi’s debut, "Eagle vs
Shark" played at Sundance in 2007.

Fest unspools Jan. 21-Feb. 1, with the 26th CineMart running
Jan. 25-29.

stivals&jump=story&id=1061&articleid=V R1117997333&cs=1

Interfax, Russia
Dec 12 2008

Azeri MP slams Minsk Group’s role in Karabakh settlement

BAKU Dec 12

Azeri Parliament First Deputy Speaker Ziyafet Askerov has criticized
the Minsk Group’s assistance in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, but he has called for further cooperation with the group.

"The Minsk Group has been active for many years. I regret the fact
that it has not been very productive," Askerov told journalists on
Friday.

"We have been told to take our own measures to find a common language
with Armenia, while they [the mediator-nations] can put forth only
suggestions. What do we need the Minsk Group for if we ourselves can
find a common language with Armenia?" he said.

The first deputy speaker, however, said he does not want the format of
the Minsk Group to be reviewed.

"We need to work with the Minsk Group. But I think that a categorical
demand requiring specific results should be set. If Armenia does not
leave the occupied territories and fails to honor the UN Security
Council’s four resolutions, the Minsk Group will have to step
in. Otherwise, we do not need it," he said.

Commenting on Turkey’s growing role in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement
process, Askerov said that Azerbaijan will be grateful to any country
that is able to help resolve the problem.

The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group from the United States, Russia
and France have been acting as international brokers in negotiations
intended to help settle the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a
predominantly Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan.

ARMENIAN-CAPTURED AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER RAFIG HASANOV SENDS LETTER TO HIS FAMILY

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva-APA. The representatives of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met with the soldier of Azerbaijan
Army Rafig Rahman Hasanov captured by Armenian servicemen on October
8 this year, press officer of the ICRC representation in Azerbaijan
Gulnara Guliyeva told APA.

During the meeting took place on December 9, Rafig Hasanov’s health
state and detention condition was monitored and his letter to the
family was received. Guliyeva said the letter was not delivered to
the soldier’s family yet.

Rafig Hasanov did not write a letter to his family at the meeting on
November 21, since ICRC representative knowing Azeri did not attend
the meeting with Hasanov.

Soldier of Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s military unit, Hasanov
Rafig Rahman, 19, was captured by Armenian servicemen on the line of
contact in Gazakh region on October 8, 2008.

MUSHEGH SAGHATELIAN TO SERVE 5 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT SENTENCE BY COURT DECISION

Noyan Tapan

Dec 12, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Criminal Appeal Court
on December 10 left unchanged the October 23 sentence passed by
the Yerevan Criminal Court on the case of Mushegh Saghatelian, the
former head of the Criminal Punishment Execution Department of the
RA Ministry of Internal Affairs, NT was informed by the press service
of the RA Cassation Court.

To recap, the Yerevan Criminal Court presided over by Judge Mnatsakan
Martirosian sentenced M. Saghatelian to 5 years’ imprisonment and
a fine of 900 thousand drams for commiting violence, dangerous and
not dangerous for life, against a representative of authorities and
for carrying illegally a knife considered as a cold steel weapon
(Article 235 Part 4 of the RA Criminal Code).

MINISTER NALBANDIAN MEETS EU MIGRATION MISSION TO ARMENIA

armradio.am
13.12.2008 12:55

On December 12 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian,
received the EU Migration Mission headed by representative of the
French presidency Jean-Christophe Peaucelle and representative of
the European Commission Francisco Bataller.

Greeting the members of the delegation, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian positively assessed their visit to Armenia and the
deepening of the dialogue and cooperation between Armenia and the
European Union on migration issues.

The Armenian Foreign Minister attached particular importance to the
issue of simplification of issuing entry visas, envisaged within the
framework of the Eastern Partnership.

The guests noted that this was their first mission to the region,
aimed at developing cooperation through exchange of information and
experience, reinforcing the existing mechanisms and creating new
bases for partnership.

EXPO BEAUTY 2008 EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Dec 10, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The EXPO BEAUTY 2008
International Exhibition was opened on December 10 at the Moscow House
cultural-business center of Yerevan. More than fourty companies from
Armenia and abroad take part in this specialized exhibition held for
the fifth time. Flower compositions will be presented in the days of
the exhibition, a fashion show, a beauty contest will be organized,
and designers will hold master classes.

As Ara Stepanian, the LOGOS EXPO Center’s Executive Director, said
at the exhibition’s opening ceremony, besides presenting goods
and services, exhibition’s goal is to contribute to establishment
of new business contacts. According to him, the center holds 10-12
specialized exhibitions annually, which reflect dynamic development
of our country’s economy. A. Stepanian said that the 10th anniversary
of LOGOS EXPO’s foundation will be marked next year, on the occasion
of which it is planned to expand exhibitions’ list.

EXPO BEAUTY will work until December 12.