Author: Nalbandian Albert

IRANIAN AZERBAIJANIS PROTEST AGAINST OPENING OF ARMENIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN TABRIZ

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Iranian Azerbaijanis protested against opening of Armenian Consulate
General in Tabriz. Intellectuals have already appealed to the
president, head of Tabriz province, Foreign Ministry and parliament.

Editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan-language newspaper published in
Iran "Yarpag" Said Muganli told APA that a group of Azerbaijani
intellectuals met with parliamentarian from Tabriz Akbar Alami and
informed him about the protest of the Azerbaijanis living in Iran.

Said Muganli said that signature collection campaign started in
the country.

"Signature collection campaign started among Azerbaijanis, who protest
against opening of Armenian consulate in Tabriz, five days ago. Iranian
government has not taken a stance on the problem yet. We think that
Iran should take into account the opinion of millions of Azerbaijanis
and should not allow opening of Consulate General in Tabriz, where
there are few Armenians. This is a wrong step and may cause serious
protests of Azerbaijanis," he said.

DANGER IS NOT WHEN OPPOSITION CANDIDATES TAKE VOTES FROM EACH OTHER BUT…

Panorama.am
17:49 18/01/2008

"Let’s become the owner of our country, the owner of our
victories." This is a slogan by which presidential candidate Vazgen
Manukyan is guided during the elections. He also pays importance to
another slogan saying "let’s change and not put up with."

Asked if the citizens of Armenia will dare to change and not put up
with, Manukyan said the major issue for Armenia is that people want
change but they do not believe it may be possible through elections. He
said this brings to a situation that after some time even election
fraud will not be needed because people will start participating in
the elections "as a usual event" and even will think ‘why not make
use of it.’

Manukyan said the public is presented to the argument that the
authorities will not allow this or that candidate "to pass."

Speaking about the unification of the opposition, Manukyan said the
danger is not that the opposition takes votes from each other but
that those votes go to the authorities.

Ilham Aliyev receives US senator Richard Lugar

14 January 2008 [11:12] – Today.Az

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev recevied a delegation led by US
senator Richard Lugar, as reported by the press service for the
President.

During the meeting the president stressed successful development of
bilateral partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States in all
spheres.

The head of state expressed confidence about the further expansion of
the US-Azerbaijan cooperation noting that it will contribute to the
security of the whole region.

Senator Richard Lugar said the United States and Azerbaijan are close
partners and he highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s active participation in
the anti-terror coalition.

He also stressed the importance of developing processes ongoing in
Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and
congratulated the president on this occasion.

U.S. CALLS TURKEY FOR OPENING BORDER WITH ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The United States calls Turkey for
opening the border with Armenia. Matthew Bryza, the American Co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group, stated on January 15, at the conference Wider
Black Sea Region: Prospects of International and Regional Security.

According to him, during the recent visit of Turkish President Abdullah
Gul to Washington, the leaders of the two countries declared the start
of a new stage of overcoming distrust and a new stage of strategic
relations between the parties. According to M. Bryza, the parties
registered a new approach over energy issues, as well as in connection
with the South Caucasus and Armenia. "It does not mean that Turkey has
assumed some commitments and the borders will be suddenly opened or new
pipelines and roads will pass through Armenia. However, this is our
purpose and it is not unrealistic," he mentioned. According to M.
Bryza, establishment of close relations between Ankara and Washington
creates a good historic possibility for Armenia and Turkey to improve
their relations, which will also result in the opening of the border in
the future. "We encourage our Turkish allies to make use of this
historic situation. Though Turkey has put forward some preconditions
for normalization of the relations, we hope that the moods are changing
and these preconditions will be withdrawn," M. Bryza said. According to
him, the Armenian party can also undertake some steps to withdraw these
preconditions by recognizing the current borders.

According to M. Bryza, the improval of the Armenian-Turkish relations
will be greatly conditioned by the process of Nagorno Karabakh
settlement. "I will not say that we are optimistic. However, the
negotiations are at a very important stage and it is time that the
parties reach an agreement over the main principles," the MG American
Co-chair said.

YURI MANUKIAN CALLS ALL CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENCY GIVING UP FURTHER
STRUGGLE IN FAVOR OF SERGE SARGSIAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Today it is the Republican Party of
Armenia, which most of all supports the people in its problems,
therefore the United Communist Party of Armenia (UCPA) does not regret
for its decision to support RPA candidate, RA Prime Minister Sarge
Sargsian made long ago. UCPA Chairman Yuri Manukian said at the January
15 press conference. According to him, only S. Sargsian is able to
solve all problems faced by the country. Therefore, in Y. Manukian’s
words, all other candidates should realize it and withdraw their
candidatures by supporting S. Sargsian. Especially as, according to the
speaker, 70% voters will vote for the Prime Minister. And the
communist, who will vote for another candidate, according to the UCPA
leader, has no right to be called a communist.

Speaking about first Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian, Y.
Manukian said that he respects state symbols, including the institution
of the first President and does not wish to say anything compromising
L. Ter-Petrosian. "However, I would respect him more if he withdrew his
candidature," Y. Manukian said. At the same time, he added that L.
Ter-Petrosian imagines himself a false king, but "vanity always leads
to disgrace."

The idea of unity is not bad if it is not made a fetish

Anahit Danielyan
14-01-2008 18:27:10 – KarabakhOpen

Recently an acquaintance of mine has offered me to write a story on a
topic which he thinks is urgent. When I advised him to write himself,
he said: `I cannot, I have a job, a family, children.’ It happens often
when people try to solve their own problems through other people. As if
journalists have no jobs, no families, and their children do not need
anything.

The idea of unity which emerged on the eve of the presidential election
has erased courage and risk in people. Although it goes without saying
that without courage and the ability to express one’s own opinion it is
impossible to work in any team.

Either you have the courage to criticize the drawbacks of your mates
and leadership, or the team suffers. It means the team is bad since no
member of the team dares to oppose to the leader.

The lack of courage in members of teams is displayed in different
spheres of life. Some people do not risk voicing their stance because
they were appointed to a position or got some assistance. Some people
are afraid of losing their job, yet others obey the `team game’.

Some people do not even dare to admit to their statements and refer
them to other people. Others nevertheless convey some information but
through other people.

It is time each official bore responsibility for fulfilling or failing
their duties. Otherwise, the impression is that nobody is responsible
for their actions and defaults.

In Karabakh it is becoming customary to speak about the shortcomings of
the former government, and to forgive `generously’ all the mistakes.
There can be two reasons ` either unconscientious officials are backed
by stronger ones, or they have joined the team to help fulfill the idea
of unity. The idea itself is not bad if it is not made a fetish.

ARARATBANK issues Green Line plastic card to make customs payments
quicker and more reliable

2008-01-15 19:22:00

ArmInfo. ARARATBANK issued plastic cards Green Line to make customs
payments quicker and more reliable, ARARATBANK press service told
ArmInfo. The annual service of these cards is 10,000 AMD.

The source reports that when importing goods and vehicles, individuals
and legal entities as well as private businessmen holding the above
cards can make customs payments, taxes and other payments for
registration of documents directly at the local branches of ARARATBANK.

Alongside with this, Green Line cards speed up the registration of
customs documents and allow making non-cash customs payments. In
addition, this way of payment allows controlling over the funds and
calculations and ensures the safety of large payments.

PanARMENIAN.Net

EU apt to establish stronger institutional relations
with partners in South Caucasus
14.01.2008 16:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Unresolved conflicts hamper
establishment of stability in South Caucasus, positive
changes and institutional reformation, EU Envoy for
South Caucasus Peter Semneby said in Yerevan Monday
during an international conference titled Enlarged
Black Sea Region: Prospects of International and
Regional Security.

`Despite economic progress, there are problems that
proceed from economically unfavorable conditions and
are directly tied to security issues,’ he said

`The hardships are conditioned by existence of closed
borders between Russia and Georgia as well as Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Turkey. The region will be eyed as unit
only when reforms in human rights and freedom of
speech are carried out in all states,’ he said.

In this view Mr Semneby noted that the EU proceeded to
establishment of stronger institutional relations with
partners in the region and development of cooperation
with Russia and Turkey.

`These are our initial but long-term steps,’ he noted,
Novosti Armenia reports.

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN CONSIDERS PEOPLE’S SUPPORT AS DECISIVE IN HIS
GAINING VICTORY IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. "If I see that the elections are
falsified, realizing my rights and knowing the laws well, I will take
steps proceeding from the legislation, that is, I will hold rallies,
processions, pickets, demonstrations, court examinations on
falsifications, and other measures will start." First RA President
Levon Ter-Petrosian said at the January 11 press conference.

Answering the question of how he estimates his chances of winning the
presidential elections, Ter-Petrosian said that already today his
audience, thanks to meetings with the public and rallies, makes half a
million people. He assured that in a few days and especially when the
election campaign starts his audience will considerably increase and
will reach one million. According to him, the very support of the
people is decisive in his fight and his success depends on that support.

L. Ter-Petrosian also assured that he does not need any support from
outside. In this respect, according to him, the issue of sympathy of
this or that state does not play a significant part.

YOUNG PEOPLE GATHER TO COMMEMORATE HRANT DINK

armradio.am
11.01.2008 11:50

Armenian, Alevi, Kurdish and Turkish young people in Turkey have formed
a group called "Hadig" to commemorate Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of
bilingual Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos, on the first anniversary of
his assassination, the Turkish Daily News reports.

The word "Hadig" literally means "grain" in the Armenian language. The
14-member group composed of university students gathering through
a civilian initiative formed the Tilili Project that took its name
from a sentence in Dink’s article titled "Armenian Identity." A total
of 19 articles written by Dink between 1996 and 2007 for bilingual
Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos were chosen to give voice to the framework
of the Tilili Project. The number 19 symbolizes the date Jan. 19,
the day Dink was murdered in front of Agos’ building. Dink’s articles
were read aloud by some of Turkey’s respected artists.

Again symbolizing the date Dink was assassinated, 19 artists and
intellectuals are participating in the project, where the biggest
surprise is the recorded voice of Dink himself while reading his
article titled "Su Catlagını Buldu" (Water finds its crack).

The Tilili Project’s display poster includes depictions of four
pomegranates because this fruit symbolizes fruitfulness, blessing and
togetherness in traditional Armenian culture. Kızılarslan said,
"We put pomegranate grains on the display poster because we are
each grains of this country and when we come together we form the
unity and integrity of Turkey. May the grains of the pomegranate
not disintegrate." The Turkish audio version of Dink’s articles will
be available on headphones during "Apartment Project" that will take
place Jan. 4-20, 2008. The project is expected to travel to Europe and
the US with English and French versions of Dink’s recorded articles.

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