Author: Nalbandian Eduard

AHMET DAVUTOGLU: WE CONSIDER THE OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI LANDS OUR LANDS AND WILL CONTINUE OUR STRUGGLE TO RELEASE THEM

APA
Oct 22 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu gave interview
to APA and some other Azerbaijani news agencies.

-Can Turkey-Armenia border be reopened unless Nagorno Karabakh problem
is solved?

-Our President, Prime Minister and I being Foreign Minister, have
several times expressed our position on this issue. I said in
the parliament yesterday that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
is as important for us as Turkey’s territorial integrity and is a
strategic priority for us. Nothing is more important than Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity, welfare, stability and Turkey-Azerbaijan
friendship. As this is the fundamental principle of our foreign
policy your question has also been replied. One should ask – Does
the status-quo favor Azerbaijan, Turkey or Armenia? For 17 years
Azerbaijan’s territories – our territories, as we consider it so,
– are under occupation. Turkey has always made efforts to end this
occupation. Previous ministers, governments supported Azerbaijan
after the country gained its independence. It will always be
so. Nothing can change the reality that Turkey is always with
Azerbaijan. But we should think over changing the status-quo. We
should find ways to end peacefully the occupation lasting for 17
years. We said to the entire world the day when the protocols were
signed, earlier and later: Turkey-Armenia normalization may improve
only of there is large-scale normalization in the region. It means
that Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict should also be solved. How can it
be solved? Of course, by ending the occupation. This is such an open
position that no one in Azerbaijan should doubt it. We consider the
occupied Azerbaijani lands our lands and will continue our struggle
to release them. We think that these protocols will give an impetus
to this process. Dynamism has been observed in this direction in the
past five months. A delegation went to Lachin to carry out technical
analysis. This is connected with Turkey’s Caucasus policy. We touch on
Karabakh problem at every meeting, every international event that we
attend. I discussed Karabakh conflict with Hillary Clinton in Zurich
when the protocols were signed. The representative of our ministry Unal
Cevikoz is attending the meeting of the Minsk Group in Vienna. Even
if Azerbaijan does not put Karabakh problem for discussion, Turkey
will do it everywhere. This is one of our national problems. We do
not discriminate between Azerbaijani and Turkish lands, Azerbaijani
and Turkish flags.

-How was your meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister?

-It was like the meeting of two brothers. President Abdullah Gul and
I were in Nakhchivan a week before the protocols were signed in Zurich.

We met with President Aliyev and Elmar Mammadyarov there. There could
be little discords between two brothers, but we had open and sincere
talks like brothers. The foreign ministers of Turkey and Azerbaijan
never sit at the table of negotiations as different parts, they take
one side having same look at the processes. We never see Azerbaijan as
a different part in the bilateral meetings. When I took this office,
I sent written instructions to our diplomatic missions all over the
world – more than 120 embassies and 180 consulates. I instructed
our diplomats to see the Azerbaijani people in the countries where
they are working as the Turkish citizen, to show same attitude to
the Azerbaijani citizens in the Turkish embassies and consulates
with the Turkish citizens, to solve their problems. If you wish,
I can send this written instruction to the Azerbaijani media too.

– Did you mention tensions around the flags?

– Yes, we did. We have to solve the misunderstandings friendly as
brothers. The Turkish and Azerbaijani flags are same for us. We also
have a law on the national flag, but Azerbaijani flag is exception. We
don’t consider the Azerbaijani flag as a flag of foreign country. My
townsman became martyr here. Today 72 million Turkish citizens are
ready to die for Azerbaijan. You should know that.

Regarding the Bursa events, you know that, press shows only problematic
moments of the developments. On that day, thousands of Azerbaijani
flags were hanged on the houses, shops and streets. I also was
at the stadium. There were more than 50 Azerbaijani flags in the
different places of the stadium, even in front of honorable stands
where the presidents watched the match. But FIFA decision on the day
of match. We didn’t demand it. Even certain numbers of Azerbaijani
flags were allowed at the stadium. But there were some tapes, which
concern me too. I can not be tolerant to disrespect to the Azerbaijani
flag. I also concern about that the Azerbaijani flag was thrown to the
dust-bin. We give instruction to investigate that incident. There were
no dust-bins in Turkey with WC initials. Unknown wrote it on the box
and took its picture. It is provocation. The results of investigation
also proved that.

Public officers also could take unaware wrong action among the crowd.

We are investigating those incidents too. Bursa Governor made statement
on this issue. I brought the results of these investigations to
President Aliyev. There was a provocation in Bursa aiming to create
discords between us and Azerbaijani brothers.

There are hundreds of streets in Turkey named after Heydar Aliyev and
Azerbaijan. There are tens of busts of Heydar Aliyev, whom we see as
our leader. Azerbaijani flag is waving in the places where the busts
were erected. It will wave forever. I told Elmar Bey that we want
Azerbaijan, friendly country to us, not to see Turkish flag as a flag
of foreign country. Martyrdoms are holy places for us. When you look at
the names engraved in Martyrdom in Baku you see sons of Anatolia who
became martyrs here, while Anatolia was under the occupation in that
time. But our soldiers didn’t make difference between Azerbaijan and
Anatolia and came here to defend Azerbaijan. Those are not ours, but
martyrs of Azerbaijani people. Our Azeri brothers should understand
that. The flag and Martyrs Mosque were entrusted to Azerbaijan and
the problems there are not ours, but your problems. If it was ours,
the soldiers died in Sakarya or Eskishehir. The Azerbaijani flag will
wave in turkey forever because it is our flag.

We will punish those who showed disrespect to Azerbaijani flag.

ARMENIA CHESS TEAMS TO PLAY VS. DENMARK, ITALY IN 1ST ROUND OF 17TH EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.10.2009 14:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian men’s and women’s teams are participating
in the 17th European Team Chess Championship held on Novi Sad, Serbia,
October 21-31st, 2009.

Levon Aronyan will not take part in the first round on Oct. 22.

Men will play vs. Denmark while women will meet with Italian chess
players.

ANC REPRESENTATIVE: SERZH SARGSYAN INITIATES ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM INTERNAL POLITICAL SITUATION IN COUNTRY

ArmInfo
2009-10-22 14:00:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian-Turkish process threatens worsening of
relations between the two countries instead of their normalization,
representative of the Foreign Relations Commission of the oppositional
Armenian National Congress Vladimir Karapetyan said at today’s
press-conference.

According to him, one may draw the following conclusion of the
developed situation: Serzh Sargsyan initiated this game with one
purpose – to distract the public’s attention from the lawlessness
reigning in the country and, simultaneously, distract the world
community’s attention from the problem of political prisoners,
in particular, from the process with respect to Editor of Haykakan
Zhamanak newspaper Nikol Pashinyan. V. Karapetyan thinks that this is
confirmed by an increased attention to around the building, where the
judicial process is held, and hundreds of policemen positioned around
the court building. According to Karapetyan, ‘it is a if retention N.

Pashinyan in captivity is more important for the authorities than
recognition of the Genocide’.

Former spokesman of Armenian Foreign Ministry also criticized the
activity of the country’s ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan. Having recalled
the ombudsman’s promise to present a report on March 1, 2008, events
in Yerevan, Karapetyan said that the ombudsman’s activity is actually
aimed only at legitimization of the corresponding report, presented
by Chairman of Ad Hoc parliamentary commission for the March 1-2,
2008, events Samvel Nikoyan.

TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC SUBSTANTIATION IS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARATION AIMED AT MODERNIZATION OF AGARAK COPPER-MOLYBDENUM COMBINE

ArmInfo
2009-10-21 11:59:00

Arminfo. GeoProMining Group commissioned the Company of "Mechanobr" to
prepare technical-economic substantiation of production reconstruction
project for Agarak Copper-Molybdenum Combine.

By the end of November the project of Agarak reconstruction will be
ready. The plant needs modernization in order to increase processing
capacities and raise extraction percents. The basis for Company’s
activities is the complex approach to designing of new plants and
modernization of the existing ones, which includes development of
effective technologies, use of modern project-design solutions and
use of technological equipment of high technical-economic indicators.

"Mechanobr Engineering" Company was established on the basis of
designing and scientific parts of "Mechanobr" Institute, and has 88
years of experience, which include development of technologies and
designing works for 250 mining companies as in the territory of the
Russian Federation, as well as in CIS and other countries (Algeria,
Angola, Bulgary, India, China, Kongo, Mongolia, Myanmar).

Let’s remind, that at the RA Government session, which was held
at Syunik region on June 26 it was decided to grant "Agarak
Copper-Molybdenum Combine" a budget credit of 14 million USD for
four years.

Monthly Agarak Copper-Molybdenum Combine produces 2,5000 copper
concentrate with 26% copper content, and 40 ton molybdenum with 51%

ARFD: WE STRUGGLE AGAINST TURKS

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 21 2009
Armenia

The opponents of the Armenia-turkey normalization process urge
the Armenian people to unite and torpedo the ratification of
Armenia-Turkish Protocols or get them amended, Artusha Shahbazyan,
Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun)
(ARFD) parliamentary faction, told a press conference. He said that
the people must rally round matters of national importance now.

"Why should we unite with the Armenian National Congress? What is
the purpose? Remove Serzh Sargsyan from the chair and seat Levon
Ter-Petrosyan on it?" Shahbazyan asked? He pointed out that the
President’s resignation is not the ARFD’s priority task nor is the
party seeking power.

The party has not yet decided on its further steps to achieve this
important aim. The priority task is to get the RA Constitutional
Court to return a verdict of "unconstitutional" on the Protocols. If
the efforts fail, actions of protest during the ratification process
must be organized.

The party does not lose hope. "For 120 years we have been struggling
for national interests and we will go on. We must struggle. We are
struggling against Turks, while the authorities and the Armenian
National Congress are struggling against us," Shahbazyan said.

Responding to NEWS.am’s question s to whether the ARFD is urging the
people "to struggle against Turks", Shahbazyan admitted he meant the
struggle against the Armenian authorities. "The present situation makes
us accept the sad reality: the Armenian and Turkish authorities are
acting on the same plane," he said. Shahbazyan also said that the ARFD
is not yet "shutting the door" for a dialogue with the authorities,
but when the party "shut[s] the door, a problem will arise, and the
issue of change of power and structural reforms may be raised."

RA PARLIAMENT READY TO PROMOTE COLLABORATION WITH WB

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2009 19:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Parliamentary Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan met
the Head of WB Yerevan’s Office Aristomene Varoudakis , RA NA press
service reported.

The parties focused on reforms implemented with WB assistance, as
well as RA NA programs of professional and technical possibilities’
development. RA Parliamentary Speaker stated RA NA is ready to promote
collaboration with WB.

Hovik Abrahamyan and Aristomene Varoudakis also discussed financial
crisis influence on RA economy.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Arevik
Petrosyan.

TALKING ABOUT A REVOLUTION: MP LARISA ALAVERDYAN

Tert
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

Even revolting and direct revolutionary measures are included among
human rights, said first Ombudsman of the Republic of Armenia and
Heritage party MP Larisa Alaverdyan today.

She said one shouldn’t think that the revolt is organized by
"disorganized groups of hoodlums." Alaverdyan, referring to events
in Latin America which took place 150 years ago, said, "When the
public sees that it’s impossible to achieve a change in the current
leadership or change in public order through non-violent means,
they resort to more tough measures," said the MP.

Stating that there are more than 160 ways to achieve a change in the
country’s governing authorities, Alaverdyan said that Armenian civil
society hasn’t used even ten percent of the options available to them.

RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: TURKEY’S PRO-ISLAMIC REGIME REASON FOR TURKEY-ISRAEL COOL-DOWN

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 19 2009

A pro-Islamic regime in power in Turkey is the reason for he rapid
cool-down in the Turkish-Israeli relations, Richard Giragosian,
Head of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS), told NEWS.am.

According to him, the pro-Islamic regime’s efforts to enhance Ankara’s
role in the Middle East and in the Islamic World makes cooperation with
Israel unnecessary for Turkey. "The latest developments are striking
evidence of problems in the Turkish-Israeli relations, which is not
at all a new tendency. The situation has reached its climax now,
Ankara does not even want to allow Israel to take part in the NATO
maneuvers in Turkey," Giragosian said. He stressed Turkey is not
seeking a leading role in the Islamic World, nor will it get it even
"with the best will in the world" – at least because of internal
conflicts. "Turkey is not an Islamist state, but pro-Islamic forces
came to power there, which is the cause of internal conflicts. On
the other hand, Turkey can serve as a bridge between parts of the
Islamic World, between Iran and Syria," the expert said. Giragosian
pointed out that the intensifying cooperation between Ankara, Teheran
and Damascus is making Israel "jealous and suspicious."

As regards the prospects for more active Azerbaijani-Israeli
cooperation amid the cool-down between Azerbaijan and Turkey following
the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Giragosian stressed
that, irrespective of the Turkish factor, Israel has always maintained
close cooperation with both Azerbaijan and Georgia. Considering the
latest developments, this cooperation is likely to intensify. In
this context, responding to a question as to whether Israel will
seek the role of a third player in the region, Giragosian said: "I do
not forecast such developments. First, Russia and United States will
not allow it. Secondly, Israel’s regional interests are restricted
to Iran."

As to the possibility of Tel Aviv stopping its diplomatic support for
Turkey’s policy of denying the Armenian Genocide, Girgosian said:
"It is possible, but unlikely. The Turkish factor is not the only
reason for Israel’s opposing the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide – it is jealousy as well. Israel wants the Holocaust
to remain, as it were, the Jewish people’s exclusive tragedy."

AZERBAIJAN’S CONSUL GENERAL SPEAKS AT UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
October 18, 2009 Sunday

The Consul General of Azerbaijan spoke last Thursday at University
of San Diego about continuing efforts to create alternative energy
sources and build a stronger society within the country and a stronger
community throughout the Caucasus region of Asia.

Azerbaijan is now a main distributor of energy to Russia, Turkey
and Georgia and hopes to expand to Europe in the future. Though only
about the size of Maine, the country has become very influential in
its region and is ahead of its time in researching alternative energy
sources while maintaining the beauty of its homeland, which contains
nine distinct climatic zones. The country also had the fastest growing
GDP in the world in 2007.

It is not that you have energy resources, it is how you use it, and
Azerbaijan has been using it for the good, Suleymanov said. We invest
our profits into new technologies because the government understands
that oil is finite. We are not going to rely on oil forever. We want
to turn black gold into human gold.

He said the Secretary of State of the Vatican called Azerbaijan an
example of tolerance. He said: We were the only nation whose troops
served in Iraq, and we are serving today in Afghanistan. We were the
first republic of the Muslim world in 1918. We granted equal rights
to women to vote in 1919.

America`s behavior towards Iraq has also been a question, to come so
convincingly to our nations and pull us over into Iraq and then simply
turn around. And of course we know the U.S. could be more active in
the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We know that America is
not utilizing 100 percent of its abilities to do that.

TURKEY MUST RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE; PM

ARKA
Oct 19, 2009

YEREVAN, October 19, /ARKA/. In a last Thursday televised interview
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said Armenia wants not only
other foreign countries but Turkey as well to recognize the Armenian
genocide.

"Our goal on moral-psychological and cultural levels is to achieve
justice,’ he said, adding that Turkish-Armenian relations are not
conditioned only on the opening of the border, because they are
‘much more complex relations.’

"In the first place I mean moral-psychological and cultural relations,
a complicated domain both for Armenians and Turks,’ he said.

"It is very difficult to go beyond this level when it comes to the
Armenian genocide. We all feel this burden and we carry it. Naturally,
Turkey’s denialist policy creates problems in the normalization of
our relations,’ he said.

The mass killing of 1.5 million Armenians in the last years of the
Ottoman Empire was the first genocide of the last century. Turkey
denies that mass killings constituted genocide. The Armenian genocide
was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, the
majority of U.S. states, Switzerland and many other countries.