Author: Nanijanian Alex

MINISTER NALBANDIAN VISITS ITALY

armradio.am
23.11.2009 10:44

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian arrived in Italy
today on a short working visit, Press and information Department of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

In Rome Minister Nalbandian is scheduled to meet his Italian
counterpart Franco Frattini and the Chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee of the Senate, ex-Prime Minister of Italy, Lamberto Dini.

Edward Nalbandian will give a lecture on Armenia’s foreign policy at
the Italian Senate.

NATO offering carrot to ex-Soviet states – analyst

MOSCOW, November 17 (RIA Novosti)

20:1717/11/2009

The creation of a Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian peacekeeping brigade is
an attempt by the West to woo former post-Soviet countries while not
formally admitting them to NATO, a Russian analyst said Tuesday.

The Ukrainian, Polish and Lithuanian defense ministers on Monday
signed a letter stating their plans to form a joint peacekeeping
brigade, LitPolUkrBrig.

Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine,
said "the Europeans and Americans do not want to alienate Ukraine,
Georgia and other countries, and they are looking for options intended
to symbolize engagement" now that the issue of their admission to NATO
has been frozen.

Polish Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Komorowski annouced the
creation of a joint brigade at the seventh Informal High-Level
NATO-Ukraine consultations with the participation of defense ministers
and other senior officials from Ukraine and NATO countries.

"We have signed a letter spelling out our plans to form a
Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian brigade. Lithuanian Defense Minister Rasa
Jukneviciene, Polish Defense Minister Stanislaw Komarowski and I have
signed it," Ukraine’s acting defense minister, Valeriy Ivaschenko,
told the media in Brussels.

Media reports said other countries were free to join the trilateral agreement.

"It is a kind of military analogue of Eastern Partnership in the trade
and economic sphere," Lukyanov said. "This brigade is an attempt to
show, ‘we cannot admit you to NATO, but we remember you.’"

"Such organizations tie the Ukrainian elite even closer to all sorts
of Euro-Atlantic structures," he said.

Ukraine has been pursuing NATO membership since pro-Western Yushchenko
was inaugurated in January 2005.

Ukraine and Georgia’s NATO bids were strongly backed by the
administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, but were turned down
due to pressure from Germany and France at a 2008 NATO summit in
Bucharest.

However, NATO has stated that the two countries will join at an
unspecified date in the future.

Both countries have also been included in the alliance’s Partnership
for Peace program, aimed at allowing "partner countries to build up an
individual relationship with NATO, choosing their own priorities for
cooperation."

Progress reported as Armenian, Azerbaijani leaders meet in Munich

BAKU, November 22 (RIA Novosti)

Mediators reported progress on the Nagorny Karabakh settlement as
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan
exchanged opinions on the issue at a meeting in Munich on Sunday.

Nagorny Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan with a largely Armenian
population, has been a source of conflict between the former Soviet
republics since the late 1980s. The mountainous province has its own
government and is de facto independent.

French mediator Bernard Fassier said Sunday "some important progress"
was reached but outlined certain "difficulties."

The presidents met for the sixth time since the start of the year.
Their previous meeting took place on October 8, during the CIS summit
in Chisinau.

The war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the mountainous enclave in
1988-1994 left an estimated 35,000 people dead. Sporadic violence on
the border has continued ever since.

The Madrid principles on the Karabakh settlement, put forward in
November 2007, stipulate that the occupied Armenian territories
surrounding Nagorny Karabakh should be brought back under Azerbaijan’s
control. They also envision a future referendum of self-determination
in Karabakh.

The conflict is mediated by the Minsk Group of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, comprising the U.S., Russia and
France.

Arakel Mirzoyan wins silver at World Weightlifting Championship
22.11.2009 18:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, in the men’s 69-kg category, Armenia’s Arakel
Mirzoyan won a silver medal, lifting 334kg in a clean and jerk at
World Weightlifting Championship in Goyang of South Korea.

The sportsman sent 154kg up before lifting 180 kg in the clean and
jerk for a total of 334 kg.

At Goyang’s World Weightlifting Championship, Armenia will be
represented by the following sportsmen:

Women’s Team

Meline Daluzyan weight category 63kg (November 25)
Nazik Avdalyan weight category 69kg (November 27)
Hripsime Khurshudyan weight category 75kg (November 28)

Men’s Team

Tigran G. Martirosyan weight category 77kg (November 24)
Tigran V. Martirosyan weight category 85kg (November 26)
Gevorik Poghosyan weight category 85kg (November 26)

Reuters, UK
Nov 22 2009

Mediators report progress in rebel Karabakh talks

Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:31pm EST

* Difficulties also identified – French envoy
* Turkey wants Armenian concessions before opening border
* Azeri leader warned of force ahead of meeting (Adds quotes, background)

By Anna Holzer

MUNICH, Germany, Nov 22 (Reuters) – Mediators reported important
progress at talks on Sunday between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but said difficulties were also identified
as the Azeri leader threatened renewed war.

Tensions over the breakaway mountain region are rising, with
oil-producing Azerbaijan angry at a deal between ally Turkey and
Armenia to open their border, 16 years after Ankara closed it in
solidarity with Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Turkey says it will only go through with the deal if Armenia makes
concessions on Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians backed by
Christian Armenia broke away from Muslim Azerbaijan as the Soviet
Union headed towards its 1991 collapse.

The rebel territory lies at the heart of the South Caucasus, a
strategic crossroads and key transit region for oil and gas, where
Russia and the West are vying for influence.

Mediators from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
gave few details after four hours of talks between Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarksyan, but reported
progress as well as difficulties.

Both presidents left the meeting at the French General Consul’s
residence in Munich without talking to reporters. It was their sixth
meeting this year.

"Some important progress has been reached," French mediator Bernard
Fassier told reporters. "At the same time we have identified some
difficulties."

Fassier said he and his co-mediators from the United States and Russia
would start preparing the next meeting, without specifying when it
might take place. "We hope for additional progress in the following
weeks and beginning of next year."

"MILITARY MEANS"

Aliyev, whose country is being courted by Europe to supply gas for the
planned Nabucco pipeline, had raised the stakes before the talks,
warning that the meeting would be "decisive" and that his army was
ready to take back the region by force.

"Azerbaijan is spending billions on buying new weapons, hardware,
strengthening its position on the line of contact," Aliyev said in
comments broadcast on Saturday. "We have the full right to liberate
our land by military means."

Fassier, in response, said: "Our governments are of the opinion that
war is not an option."

Analysts say Aliyev’s warning reflects Azeri anger over the deal
between Turkey and Armenia, which is aimed at burying a century of
hostility stemming from the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks.

The deal carries huge significance for Turkey’s diplomatic clout in
the strategic Caucasus region, for its bid to join the European Union,
and for landlocked Armenia’s struggling economy.

Azerbaijan fears it will lose leverage over Armenia. Stung by the
backlash and facing tough talks over Azeri gas supplies, Ankara says
it wants progress on Nagorno-Karabakh before it ratifies the Armenia
deal. Armenia rejects the link.

Some 30,000 people died and more than one million were made homeless
before a ceasefire was declared in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1993. The
territory wants recognition as an independent state, but without a
full peace deal sporadic exchanges of fire continue to threaten fresh
conflict.

The principles of a deal would see Nagorno-Karabakh give back most of
seven surrounding Azeri districts captured during the war, in exchange
for greater international legitimacy before a popular vote in the
future to decide its final status. (Writing by Matt Robinson; editing
by Elizabeth Fullerton) (([email protected]; +995 32
999 370))

is/idUSGEE5AL03X._CH_.2400

Aivazovsky painting fetches $1.35 mln at New York auction

19:30 | 22/ 04/ 2009

NEW YORK, April 22 (RIA Novosti) – A painting by Russian seascape
master Ivan Aivazovsky sold for $1.35 million on Wednesday at Sotheby’s
spring sale of Russian Art in New York, the auction house said.

The auction’s top lot, entitled Columbus Sailing from Palos, by the
Russian 19th century artist, was earlier given a price guide of $1-1.5
million.

Aivazovsky (1817 – 1900) created the work portraying Christopher
Columbus’ departure from Palos, Spain, to mark the 400-year anniversary
of his voyage to America. The painting was among works represented by
the artist at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893.

"Aivazovsky’s stunning portrayal of Columbus’ departure from Palos,
Spain, on August 2, 1492, is among the finest of such compositions to
ever appear at auction," Sotheby’s said in a press release.

The painting comes from the private collection of Joseph Davies, former
U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union.

A series of Russian Art auctions held by Sotheby’s in November in
London yielded a total of 25.2 million pounds ($36.9 mln), well below
pre-sale estimates, signaling a downturn in the recently booming
Russian art market.

ILLOGICAL DECISIONS ON DENO GOLD MINING CASE

ArmInfo
2009-11-20 14:32:00

ArmInfo. The verdict of the Syunik regional court to reject suit
against Deno Gold Mining company still causes many questions. To
recall, the lawsuit was filed by the public organization "On ensuring
ecological safety and democracy development", which represents the
interests of 140 owners living not far from the DGM of Shaumyan
deposit. Permanent explosion and making holes led to destruction of
houses and communications. In 2008 Deno Gold Mining company gave
compensation only to 8 owners living in Shahumyan region, all the
rest 140 families did not get compensation.

As the of the ‘Ecolur’ organization Inga Zarafyan told ArmInfo
correspondent, on 23 October the regular court of Syunik region issued
a verdict which sounds a little bit misty ‘About prevention of danger
to the life and health of Shaumyan region residents because of the
mining activity at this territory’. But it is not clear what events are
supposed under the word "prevention". Some time later, in November the
same judge Anahit Tumanyan rejected suit against DGM, grounding such
a decision that no proof of threatening the life and health of people
was presented in the materials of the case. ‘We think that the court
issued judicially wrong verdict. If on 23 October the court made a
verdict to prevent danger to life and health of Shahumyan residents,
it means that time it had all the needed proof’, – Zarafyan said.

According to her, the experts have multiply indicated a number of
violations revealed in the activity of Deno Gold Mining. "We are much
concerned over the poisonous dump, which numbers a thousand tons
and which are overthrown right in the center of Kapan. Noteworthy,
Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection said, responding to our
request, that the dump is in the territory the Company owns. However,
this territory is actually the property of Kapan community", I.

Zarafyan said. Another circumstance, which is neglected by the
authorized instances, is illegal change of Atchanan riverbed aimed
at facilitation of ore generation in the mine. As a result of
investigation, it was cleared up that DPM company contaminates both
the river and the riverside territories by wastes. "We think that
Armenia’s Nature Protection Inspection is in close relations with
DGM company", Zarafyan said.

To note, all the issues related to the activity of DGM in Armenia,
will be raised by Inga Zarafyan on November 24 within the frames of
international conference in London.

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED REACHES 83000 IN JANUARY-OCTOBER 2009 IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.11.2009 15:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to RA National Statistic Service data,
the number of unemployed reached 83000 in January-October in Armenia,
increasing by 11,4% against last year’s index.

Average monthly salary totaled AMD 98618 in January-October 2009,
increasing by 11,5% compared with 2008 data. At the same time,
average salary in government-financed organizations totaled AMD 81529,
increasing by 16,1%; in private enterprises the figure reached AMD
123160, increasing by 8,1% against last year’s index.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: COOPERATION WITH OSCE/ODIHR TO CONTRIBUTE TO ARMENIA’S DEMOCRATIZATION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.11.2009 20:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan has
today received OSCE/ODIHR Director Janez Lenarcic. During the meeting,
Armenian Speaker said that the country’s cooperation with organization
contributed to Armenia’s democracy and human rights development. Mr.

Abrahamyan also expressed Armenian authorities’ willingness to see
their country in the list of European states.

In that context, Parliament speaker introduced to Lenarcic Armenia’s
steps following 2008 elections.

In turn, ODIHR Director thanked Abrahamyan for warm reception,
stressing that visit aimed at establishing mutual trust with Armenian
authorities. In the meantime, he noted that his organization’s goal
consisted in offering professional assistance, without imposing any
measures on countries.

Parties also touched upon normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties
without preconditions and Karabakh conflict settlement, RA NA press
service reports.

ARAM MANUKYAN: IT’S JUST THE FORM OF STRUGGLE THAT HAS CHANGED, NOT THE STRATEGY
Lusine Vasilyan

"Radiolur"
19.11.2009 17:47

"The Armenian National Congress (ANC) has not weakened its struggle,
it has given the last chance to the authorities," representative of the
Armenian National Congress Aram Manukyan told a press conference today.

"We have changed the form of the struggle, and it has an explanation,"
he said.

The explanation is connected with regional developments. Those have
affected ANS plans of shift of power.

"The strategy has remained the same. Only the form and terms have
changed," Aram Manukyan said.