Author: Nargizian David

RELUCTANT BAKU SAYS ARMENIA VISIT DECISION UP TO TURKEY

Today’s Zaman
Aug 30 2008
Turkey

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has met with Turkish
officials in Ankara to discuss a crisis in the Caucasus that Turkey
hopes can be resolved through dialogue among regional countries that
would include Armenia, with which Azerbaijan is officially at war
with over the occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Turkey, in contrast to its NATO allies, has refrained from a strong
condemnation of Russia after it fought a brief war against Georgia
and later recognized two Georgian breakaway regions, South Ossetia
and Abkhazia, as independent states. Instead, Ankara has proposed
a Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform, a scheme that calls
for new methods of crisis management and conflict resolution. But
involvement of Armenia is problematic in the mechanism, given that
Turkey has no formal ties with Armenia and that Azerbaijan is still
in a state of war with Yerevan due to its continued occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

But there have been developments that suggest a thaw in Turkey-Armenia
relations. It has emerged that Turkish and Armenian diplomats have been
holding secret talks on normalization of ties, and Armenian President
Serzh Sarksyan has invited his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, to
watch a World Cup qualifying game between the national teams of the
two countries on Sept. 6. Gul says he is still considering whether
to accept the invitation.

Asked to comment on a possible visit by Gul to Yerevan, Mammadyarov
declined to comment. "This is a decision that the president of Turkey
will make," he told reporters upon his arrival in Ankara. He met his
Turkish counterpart, Ali Babacan, President Gul and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan later in the day.

Speaking after talks with Mammadyarov at a brief press conference,
Babacan assured Azerbaijan that Turkey and Azerbaijan were "strategic
partners" acting with an understanding that they share the same destiny
in all areas, in an apparent reference to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

But Mammadyarov, in turn, was less enthusiastic about supporting a
US-backed pipeline to transfer natural gas from the Caspian region
to Europe via Turkey. Asked about Russian readiness to buy Azeri
natural gas, something that could deal a blow to the planned pipeline,
Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan would consider profit while deciding on
the offer. "We haven’t given a response yet. Talks are continuing,"
he said before meeting with Babacan.

Azeri gas is set to become a major source of supply for the planned
Nabucco pipeline, a cornerstone of Europe’s policies to diversify away
from heavy reliance on Russian gas. Pressed to say whether accepting
the Russian offer would undermine Nabucco, Mammadyarov said, "This
is a matter of trade and profitability."

Turkey closed its border with Armenia and severed formal ties after
Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. Normalization of ties depends
on Armenian withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, Yerevan’s
shelving of support for Armenian diaspora efforts to win international
recognition for Armenian genocide claims and formal recognition by
Armenia of the current border with Turkey.

Azerbaijan, Turkey’s regional and ethnic ally, is likely to be offended
by any rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia. But the recent crisis
in the Caucasus may force a rethinking of regional balances. The
Russian operation in Georgia raised questions about the security of
regional transportation and energy transfer lines. With its Armenian
border closed, Turkey relies on Georgia as an outlet to the Caucasus.

The proposed Caucasus platform will also require a restoration of
some sort of dialogue between both Armenia and Turkey and Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Turkish officials have said Armenia will definitely become
a part of the proposed platform and that formalities of the dialogue
with Yerevan will be decided after further talks with Armenian ally
Russia, raising expectations that dialogue between Ankara and Yerevan
could take place via Moscow’s mediation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will arrive in Turkey early next
week for talks on the proposed Caucasus platform. On Sunday, Georgian
Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili will have talks in Ä°stanbul on
the situation in the region and on the potential Caucasus platform.

Azerbaijanis cool to Gul visit

In the streets of Azerbaijani capital Baku, public opinion is divided
but mostly cool to a possible visit by Gul to Armenia to watch the
World Cup qualifying game on Sept. 6.

"Gul should not go there because there will be provocation and
chaos if he goes. No one will be welcoming if Gul agrees to visit,"
said Akif Rustemov, a teacher, to Cihan news agency. He softened
his opposition when asked whether Gul and Sarksyan should discuss
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "If this is the case, then he should
go. In fact, our president, Ilham Aliyev, should also join. Foreign
mediators have been trying to find a solution for 17 years, but
nothing happens. We have to solve this ourselves."

"Gul should not go to Armenia because it is a hostile country,"
said Ahmed Halilov, a civil servant, to Cihan. "If it’s an enemy of
Azerbaijan then it’s also an enemy of Turkey because we — as our
politicians say — are one nation with two states."

Mahmud Necefov, however, disagreed, saying Gul should visit Armenia
and discuss every issue of dispute. "Political issues should be taken
up and the Nagorno-Karabakh issue should definitely be discussed,"
he said. "I think he should go and discuss everything."

In remarks published yesterday, Gul refused to give a hint on whether
he is planning to go but sent warm messages to Armenia. "We want to
solve our problems with all neighbors. This is our region and we are
all children of this region. Turks and Armenians live side by side
in these lands," Gul told Radikal daily.

–Boundary_(ID_qOQ8RA2N0agfvBMJTTD1FA)–

PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO HIS KYRGYZ COUNTERPART

armradio.am
27.08.2008 14:56

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan sent a message of condolences to the
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Igor Chudinov connected
with the crash of the passenger plane in Kyrgyzstan on August 24.

"On behalf of the Armenian Government and myself I extend condolences
on the crash of the Boeing 737 plane near the airport of "Manas,"
which took tens o human lives.

We condole with you at this hard moment of sorrow."

REALIZATION OF PETROL – RESTRICTED
Vasak Tarposhyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
27 Aug 2008
Armenia

But this will not last long

Although after the breakdown of the Georgian railway the state
undertook an initiative to import a certain quantity of fuel to Armenia
by automobile transport, there are a great number of filling stations
that have stopped the sale of petrol. However, it is not in all the
cases that this is conditioned by the lack of fuel. Taking advantage
of the existing stock-jobbing, some filling stations are engaged in
a so-called "shadow sale", increasing the prices on petroleum twice
or thrice.

"Flash" company, which operates in the fuel-importing market, has not
stopped the sale of petrol, however, it has restricted the realization
of the fuel. Petrol is provided only by special coupons and what’s
more, with restricted amounts – 20 liters; the restriction of the
diesel fuel is 40 liters.

"We release petroleum for our permanent clients only with special
coupons. I mean those people who acquired petroleum from us in the
past and continue doing the same now. As regards the rest of the
clients, they are, for the time being, deprived of that opportunity,"
MOUSHEGH ELCHYAN, Deputy Director of "Flash" company, reported to
"Hayots Ashkharh" yesterday.

Such restriction, he says, is conditioned by the difficulties in imp
orting fuel, and this has resulted in a certain scarcity of reserves.

"We have released a large number of coupons; therefore we are trying
to ensure that the people who made payments previously are provided
with petrol. That’s why we have imposed certain restrictions for the
amount of petrol not to exceed 20 liters. There have been stoppages
only for technical reasons. All the filling stations of ‘Flash’
company which are situated in Yerevan continue operating. Of course,
some filling stations of the marzes still lack petrol. There are
special coupons for diesel fuel as well," our interlocutor informed.

M. Elchyan believes that these restrictions will not last long. If no
new incidents occur, the situation will be normalized in a couple of
days. The 10 wagons of fuel (500 tons) belonging to "Flash" company
are already on the way; last night they reached Khashouri and are
expected to enter Armenia today.

The company has an additional amount of 800 tons of fuel stored
in Batumi, and in case of the successful operation of the railway,
it will be transported in a couple of days. Three thousand tons of
fuel have already been embarked on the ship and are expected to reach
Poti within the upcoming three days. In case everything is all right,
an additional period of 2-3 days will be required for transporting
them to Armenia.

In the meantime, M. Elchyan says, certain measures have been undertaken
towards importing fuel from Turkmenistan. The company has managed to
transport diesel fuel to Armenia.

"We have already imported 50 tons of Turkmenian fuel via the territory
of Iran. It was done more speedily because there was a certain transit
quantity in the territory of Iran, and we managed to ‘borrow’ it,
so to say, till ours reaches here. There was no petrol to be acquired
by such mechanism; otherwise we would have brought it too."

Anyway, the company is expected to import Turkmenian petrol to
Armenia in quite large quantities, and there is a relevant agreement
in that connection.

"We have already placed an order, and have an agreement for importing
7 thousand tons of petrol from Turkmenistan. It is just required by
the existing mechanism for the product to reach its destination only
20-25 days after signing the agreement. 10 days of the above-mentioned
time-limit have already passed. That’s to say, even if the worst
comes to the worst, the 7 thousand tons of fuel will reach here from
Turkmenistan in 15 days’ time. Furthermore, let me note that after
the first portion of the fuel is imported, the import of the next
portions will be facilitated. Hereafter, we can import fuel from
Turkmenistan more frequently should the Georgian railroad be closed
or fail to operate normally.

ASSETS OF CENTRAL BANK OF ARMENIA REDUCE 0.75% TO AMD 579.2 BILLLION

ARKA
Aug 25, 2008

YEREVAN, August 25. /ARKA/. The assets of the Central Bank of Armenia
totaled AMD 579.2 billion by late June after reducing 0.75% over six
months, the Central Bank’s report for the 2nd Q 2008 says.

According to the report, assets in foreign currency made 82.67%
of total assets against 84.79% earlier this year.

The bank’s assets in foreign currency reduced 3.23% or by the amount
equal to about AMD 16 billion and totaled about AMD 478.8 billion by
late June.

Foreign banks’ liabilities toward the Central Bank reached about
AMD 185 billion after growing 13.38% or by AMD 21.8 billion over the
second quarter.

Foreign currency assets placed in IMF totaled 4.4 billion against
2.3 billion in early April.

The foreign currency assets intended for sale remained unchanged –
AMD 1 million 216 thousand.

The Central Bank’s investments in financial instruments totaled AMD
288.6 billion by late June against AMD 328.6 billion in early April.

Cash in foreign currency was AMD 374.2 million against 383.1 million
in early April.

The Central Bank’s other assets in foreign currency reached AMD 550.2
million by late June after growing 81.42%.

Assets in Armenian drams amounted to AMD 100.3 billion against AMD
88.8 billion earlier that quarter.

They grew 13.08% in the second quarter.

According to balance data, credit investments and agreements on return
REPO reached AMD 42.2 billion by late June after growing 38.07%.

The Central Bank’s investments in assets available for sale totaled
AMD 48.6 billion against 48.9 billion.

Fixed assets and non-material assets totaled AMD 8.7 billion.

Other assets in drams shrank from AMD 1.2 billion to AMD 898
million. ($1 = AMD 303.44).

FORMER MINISTER URGES ARMENIA TO RECOGNIZE KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Aug 25 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 25 August: The time has come to recognize the independence
of the [Azerbaijani breakaway] Nagornyy Karabakh republic (NKR)
by Armenia, the former foreign minister of the NKR, Arman Melikyan,
has told our correspondent.

"I think that the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia by Russia can be just another stroke on the long path
to the independence that Nagornyy Karabakh took long ago," he said
while commenting on a statement made by the Russian Federation Council
[upper house of parliament] today.

Melikyan believes that Armenia must unilaterally recognize the
sovereignty of Nagornyy Karabakh, since the republic is considerably
ahead of its neighbours in the region in terms of development of
democracy. "I think Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev will also put
his signature under the statement by the senators of the Federation
Council, because there are all preconditions for this, the main of
which is the world order that is changing by the hour in conditions
of equal confrontation between the USA and Russia," Melikyan said.

‘ASHTARAK – KAT’ TO USE DIARY FARMERS OF TAVUSH REGION

ArmInfo
2008-08-22 12:41:00

ArmInfo. Three milk collection centers have been established in
Varagavan, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur and Tovuz Rural Communities of Tavush
marz, Armenia. Implementing partners are United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development
(CARD), rural municipalities, Ashtarak-Kat CJSC.

As Arminfo was informed from UNDP, project goal is to assist dairy
farmers from Varagavan, Tovuz and Nerkin Karmiraghbyur as well as from
around 10 neighboring rural communities of Tavush marz through the
establishment of locally based milk collection and marketing units
and thus to contribute to the sustainable growth of the marz.

As part of this one-year project milk collection centers were
established in Varagavan, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur and Tovuz rural
communities of Tavush marz. With support from UNDP the respective
buildings provided by the rural municipalities were fully renovated
and two trucks were purchased to organize daily milk collection in
the communities. From its part, CARD provided contemporary cooling
and testing equipment which was installed in each center. To organize
and supervise the work of the milk collection centers three local
milk marketing cooperatives were created titled Varagavan, Vardashen
and Tavush.

The project was identified and prioritized by all the three communities
and subsequently carried out as a result of the application of
performance-based budgeting model at the local level. UNDP has been
working with these and other Armenian communities to introduce
the new budgeting methodology through its Performance Budgeting
Project. Performance budgeting provides for a higher level quality
management of community resources and also for participatory budget
planning and execution.

In compliance with the signed Memorandum of Understanding, Ashtarak-Kat
private dairy producing enterprise will purchase the milk produced
and collected in the communities on a daily basis. The company will
also deliver on-spot consultations on improving of milk quality and
maintenance of sanitary-hygiene standards.

TRANSPORT ROUTES TO NORTH OF YEREVAN TO BE CHANGED TEMPORARILY

ARKA
Aug 21, 2008

YEREVAN, August 21. /ARKA/. The Municipality of Yerevan has notified
of the change in some public transport routes due to repairs works
on Miasnikyan Avenue and Acharyan Street.

According to the press release, traffic to Avan (north of the capital)
is to go through Miasnikyan Avenue – Gay Avenue – Acharyan Street or
Khudiakov Street.

The following route will operate for getting to Gay Avenue from
Zeytun: Rubinyan Street – Tsarav Aghbyur – Acharyan – Babajanyan –
Safarov General – Totovents – Gay Avenue.

>From Nor-Nork to the center of the city cars will have to drive
through Gay Avenue – Misanikyan Avenue. Acharyan Street – Misnikyan
Avenue is to be taken to get from Avan to the city center.

TAMARA GRIGORYEVA: NEIGHBORS GET THE MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW
By Tamara Grigoryeva

The Olympian
Aug 21 2008
WA

Links Comments "Our home looks like a dormitory now, because so
many relatives have arrived," said Azerbaijani Parvana Mamedova,
23, as she helped take care of a stream of refugees from Georgia’s
Marneuli region. "We don’t have enough space in our three rooms, but
it’s our duty to receive them." Since the fighting began on Aug. 8,
thousands of Azeris who live in Georgia have fled to their homeland
seeking safety with relatives.

Related Stories & Links
html (weblink) Azerbaijan
has close political ties with both Georgia and Russia. So far,
the government has tried to steer clear of the ongoing dispute, with
Khazar Ibrahim, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, saying only that
"Azerbaijan recognizes Georgia’s territorial integrity and believes
that the conflict must be settled within (the) framework … of
international law." President Ilham Aliev has remained at the Olympic
Games in Beijing throughout the crisis and made no public comment.

Neighboring Armenia has tried to keep a low profile in the crisis. All
statements on the crisis were made by Armenia’s deputy foreign
minister. "Armenia is very concerned about the situation in South
Ossetia and expresses hopes that the parties will make efforts to
settle the issues under dispute peacefully as soon as possible,"
said a spokesman for the country’s foreign ministry.

And like his Azeri counterpart, President Serzh Sarkisian remained
in Beijing to observe the Games rather than rush back to monitor the
crisis in a neighboring country.

And the presidents of both countries flatly rejected Georgian President
Mikhail Saakashvili call that they join him in withdrawing from the
Commonwealth of Independent States.

Analysts say it’s understandable why both presidents have been
reluctant to speak out against Russian intervention, as leaders from
other former Soviet satellites have done in recent weeks.

"I think that this position can be explained by the president of
Azerbaijan’s commitment to good relations with the leadership of
Russia, and his wish to preserve stability in the country on the eve
of the forthcoming presidential elections," analyst Ilgar Mamedov said.

TURKEY DRAFTS THIRD NATIONAL EU PROGRAMME

Anatolia news agency
Aug 18 2008
Turkey

Ankara, 18 August: Turkish Government Spokesman and State Minister
Cemil Cicek said on Monday [18 August] that draft of Turkey’s third
national programme for European Union (EU) was concluded.

Speaking to reporters after Council of Ministers meeting, Cicek said
the national programme would be hammered out after Turkey’s foreign
minister and chief negotiator for the EU talks, Ali Babacan, meets
with representatives of political parties and NGOs.

"Within the scope of cooperation between its institutions, Turkey
continued its works for the 400-page national document that would
be submitted to EU public. The programme consists of four parts. In
the programme, Turkey expresses its commitments for the next four
years. The programme requires 131 legal arrangements. All of them
are about adjustment," Cicek said.

Cicek also said Council of Ministers also debated 2008-13 Irrigation
Action Plan. "It is necessary to prepare an action plan to use water
sources in the best way. Turkish government prepared an action plan
comprising of 1,543 projects."

Speaking on Stability and Cooperation Platform in Caucasus, which
covered Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, that would
solve disagreements through peaceful ways, Cicek said, "A step should
be made to resolve problems not through military methods by through
peaceful ways."

He said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited
Russia and Georgia immediately after the incident (clashes in Caucasus)
and held meetings with officials. Cicek said that Erdogan would also
visit Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

"Turkey, being a neighbouring country, submits a project for a peaceful
solution instead of watching incidents as a spectator. I hope related
countries will extend necessary support," he said.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: GOOD HARVEST OF CORNS IN ARMENIA THIS YEAR MADE IT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE THE REPUBLIC WITH LONG-TERM STORE

arminfo
2008-08-13 16:32:00

ArmInfo. Good harvest of corns in Armenia this year made it possible
to provide the republic with long-term store, Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sarkisyan told journalists today when speaking about the food
and fuel stores in case of the battle actions.

‘The harvest was so big that we managed to store corn. This is
a positive factor foe Armenia’, – Sarkisyan said. ‘Although we are
ready as much as possible to the unpredictable development of events,
I hope we shall not be forced to start the planned distribution of
products’, – Armenian premier said.