Author: Talalian Arpi

NKR MFA: RUSSIA CHANNEL REPORT ON KARABAKH CANCELLED OVER AZERI PRESSURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.11.2008 18:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Journalists from the Russia TV Channel have
paid a working visit to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Recently to
prepare a corresponding survey for the Vesti Nedeli program. The
journalists prepared a commentary on the peaceful life and post-war
rehabilitation of Nagorno Karabakh, and, at their request, the
corresponding structures of NKR arranged meetings with official and
public representatives of the Republic and organized visits to the
institutions, enterprises, etc. However, as it turned out later,
after the commentary was covered in the Far Eastern region of the
Russian Federation, the coverage of the material was stopped in other
regions, under the pressure of Azerbaijan, says a statement by the
NKR Foreign Ministry.

"Who could dislike the fair survey on the peaceful life in the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic? The answer is simple: Baku fears the truth about
Nagorno Karabakh that for the years of its independence, the Republic
has successfully solved all the issues and has progressively developed.

It’s absolutely inadmissible to use the situation in propagandistic
purposes; the informational technologies that distort the core of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be necessarily rejected. Similar
actions negatively affect, first of all, the Azerbaijani society,
as deluding it on the Nagorno Karabakh issue Baku brings all the
peacemaking initiatives to naught.

Moreover, this absurd incident testifies that the leadership of the
Russia Channel under the pressure of the Azerbaijani authorities
displays "caution", ipso facto preventing the TV viewers of the
Russian Federation from getting trustworthy information on the NKR
and sets a sad example both to other TV channels and periodicals,"
the statement says.

EUROPEAN STRUCTURES PLEASED WITH LEVEL OF COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.11.2008 15:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan held a working
meeting with members of the government, National Security Council
and other state bodies, the RA leader’s press office reported.

Briefing on the outcomes of his visit to Brussels, the President said
that the European structures seem content with the level of relations
with Armenia and the republic’s progress.

"The Armenian side offered to simplify the visa system and create
more favorable conditions for trade operations, recognizing Armenia
as a country with market economy. A joint Armenian-EU sub-commission
to assist the processes will be formed in the near future," President
Sargsyan said.

BRUNO PUEZA: "I HOPE THAT AFTER THE SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE CURRENTLY OCCUPIED LANDS"

Today.Az
itics/48931.html
Nov 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with UN resident-coordinator in Azerbaijan Bruno
Pueza.

– How would you comment on the recent talks of Presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia under mediation of the Russian president and adoption of
the Moscow declaration on the Karabakh conflict by the heads of the
three states?

– I think it is important that the meeting took place and that the
two countries are strengthening a contact between each others. I hope
for the rapid development of the negotiation process on the peaceful
resolution of this conflict.

– Armenians often blame Azerbaijani powers of the attempt to change
the settlement format, while Azerbaijan just tries to involve other
main international institutions, primarily the United Nations, which
adopted four basic resolutions on the conflict. Which role do you
think may UN play in the conflict settlement?

– I think the decision depends on both countries. As far as I
understand, several years ago both countries agreed to entrust
the negotiation process to the OSCE Minsk group and support this
decision. This is a basis, taken into account by the United Nations.

– This year, the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia for the
first time provided humanitarian aid in the amount of $2 mln to
the refugees and IDP of Azerbaijan. Are there plans to continue
this practice?

– Right, Russia has assisted Azerbaijani internally displaced persons
by means of the UN World Food Program. As for the plans for the
future, I do not have confirmation but I heard that this issue is
being discussed.

– Is the UN office working out any new programs on rendering assistance
to Azerbaijani refugees and IDP?

– I can not say anything new on this issue.

– Are you well acquainted with the situation with refugees and IDPs
in Azerbaijan. Do you expect the soonest resolution of their conflict
after the settlement of the conflict and return of Azerbaijani citizens
to their homes?

– I expect from the peaceful settlement of the conflict to include
return of the population, that was obliged to flee homes, to their
lands. I expect them to come back and I expect the Azerbaijani
government to render possible assistance to these families so that they
could start normal life in their homes in the currently occupied lands.

ALI BABACAN: ARMENIAN FM EXPECTED TO VISIT ANKARA

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.11.2008 17:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian is
expected to visit Turkey later this year, Turkish FM Ali Babacan said
Wednesday, Hurriyet reports.

"I will be in Azerbaijan in the coming days. Minister Nalbandian’s
visit to Turkey is undecided yet," he said, adding that "the diplomatic
traffic in the Caucasus will speed up by the end of the year."

GOD CAN GET US OUT OF THIS

Evening Herald
November 8, 2008 Saturday
Plymouth

The joy expressed by many Americans at the announcement of Barack
Obama as the next president of America was matched around the world.

A few hours after the announcement, I went online to read some of the
emails that people were sending from different parts of the world to
congratulate the senator. It was interesting to read about the hopes
and expectations people have. A well-wisher from Italy said that he
was excited because Obama "will now unite the world".

A man from the Congo said he was looking forward to the change that
the president-elect will bring to the economy of the world. As I
read these emails, I recalled the words of a Bank of England boss
as he described the current economic crisis. He called the situation
"the largest financial crisis of its kind in human history", but he
also warned that this is only the beginning of the pain.

So if this is just the beginning, what is going to happen next? Many
more job losses? Crime rates soaring? People losing their homes? Many
are trying to keep the flame of hope burning, but it is difficult to
have a positive attitude, with ‘credit crunch’ ringing stridently in
our ears.

Some reckon that the latest happening in America is a sign of the
much-awaited change. However, should we be looking to a person or a
government to bring about the breakthrough we need?

There is only one being who has the solution to this global crisis and
that is God, creator of the universe. There is no denying that he can
use anyone to bring about change, but we need to pray to him for help.

Many years ago, Samaria was besieged by the Armenians and there was
a terrible famine. However, in a single day, God turned things around
for the Samaritans, as he had promised His prophet Elisha.

Today, let’s humble ourselves and pray to God, because he alone can
turn a bad situation around.

JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS JINSA: SUPPORT FOR AZERBAIJAN DEFENSE URGED BY JINSA

Politics & Government Week
November 6, 2008

The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) today
expressed deep concern over those leaders of the Armenian Assembly
of America who denounced a reported arms sale by Israel to Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan is an important friend of the United States and is one
of the few Muslim countries that maintains a positive relationship
with Israel," said Tom Neumann, executive director of JINSA.

"Azerbaijan is in an unstable region, made even more dangerous by
Russia’s invasion of Georgia last August," Neumann noted. "In light
of all that is happening, the support of the U.S. – and that of the
entire free world – is appropriate and necessary."

The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs is an independent,
non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian educational organization
established in 1976 to educate the public on national and international
security issues, including the importance of an effective U.S. defense
capability and the key role of strategic allies, including Israel,
to promote democratic values in the Middle East.

Keywords: Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA),
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs JINSA.

This article was prepared by Politics & Government Week editors from
staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Politics & Government Week
via VerticalNews.com.

WILL BARACK OBAMA HOLD REALLY ITS PROMISE?
By Jean Eckian

AZG Armenian Daily
08/11/2008

Armenian Genocide

Will the support without precedent of the Armenian community of the
United States, filled with enthusiasm by the repeated declarations
of the candidate to the American presidential nomination pay? We
would be once again in right to believe it? Did it employ the double
language knowingly with an aim of securing the Armenian voices
fully, knowing that it will be inevitably caught up with by the real
politik? Perhaps… or perhaps not. The months which will follow
nomination of the 44th US president us will say it.

It is true that the former senator of Ilinois hammered during the
presidential campaign, that in the name of the United States and
of the human rights, the Armenian Genocide was to be recognized and
recalled by the Congress and the President of the United States. That
precisely he had written itself by twice in George W. Bush to invite
it to refer expressly to the Armenian Genocide at the time of the
commemorative ceremonies. That in addition, Armenia must profit from
the American assistance to reinforce its democracy and to help to seek
a durable exit in the conflict of High Karabakh. And that finally it
was necessary to put a term at the blockades Turco-Azeri. Of which act.

For the Armenians, the proverb Â" Once bitten, twice shy Â", has been
however, more than ever of topicality, so much the recognition of
the Genocide suffered by the Armenian people in 1915 is a recurring
question in the USA for more than twenty years with the not held
promises of Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush junior.

Let us preserve despite everything the hope of a positive exit of the
Armenian questions supported by the Obama-Biden ticket which, according
to a majority of American analysts, would be the most laid out to cross
the border of the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The
more so as the insurance of this recognition was formulated, in a
convincing way, on several occasions with the persons in charge of
the Armenian National Council of America (ANCA). Will American dream
generate the Armenian dream? In more than one connection, the year
2009 will be historical. Answer on April 24.

In the light of Lincoln

Next on February 2, Barack Obama will have immense honor to celebrate
the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. A sign of the destiny for
that which, descendant of a black father, will return honor to
the US president which émancipated slaves by his Proclamation of
1863. Moreover and in parallel with the career of Abraham Lincoln,
Barack Obama was used 8 years in Illinois’s Senat, like Lincoln.

–Boundary_(ID_eyArwM7DE4UbWmkqQNnJ7Q)–

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SATISFIED WITH COUNTRY’S MEDIATION IN KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Today.Az
Nov 6 2008
Azerbaijan

The Foreign Ministry of Turkey has posted a statement on its official
website, regarding the declaration, signed in Moscow between the
Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.

According to Day.Az, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed
satisfaction with the Moscow meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Russia on November 2 and adoption of a joint declaration
"aimed at the resolution of the Karabakh problem by way of a
direct dialogue and attainment of a solution, based on the norms of
international law" and "revival of talks on the highest level".

"Since the beginning our country has been supporting the peaceful
resolution of the Karabakh problem between the sides by way of a
dialogue and in the frames to be adopted by both sides. The meeting of
the sides in these frames is assessed as a constructive and important
step, made in this direction. We consider that the meeting of the
Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, held on September
26 of 2008, has contributed to this process," says the statement.

"Our initiative of creation of the Caucasus Stability and Security
Platform after the clashes which occurred in Georgia in August
pursues the aim of creating necessary conditions for the resolution
of all differences in the South Caucasus by way of establishing
mutual trustful and regional political dialogue. The platform will
promote creation of relations, based on cooperation and mutual trust
and establishment of trust between the sides, which is fixed in the
declaration", says the statement.

"At the same time, being the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, Turkey will
further continue working with the concerned parties on the resolution
of the Karabakh conflict, which poses a great threat to security
and stability in our region and will continue supporting Minsk Group
resolution efforts," says the statement.

RUSSIA, ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN SIGN DECLARATION ON FURTHER KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Itar-Tass News Agency
Nov 2 2008
Russia

Meiendorf Castle (Moscow Region), 2 November: The presidents of Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia have signed a joint Declaration on Nagornyy
Karabakh following their talks in Moscow.

"We had a meaningful and substantive discussion about the prospects
for a political settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, by
means of continuing a direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia
with the mediation of Russia, the USA and France as co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group," said [Russian President] Dmitriy Medvedev,
who read out the text of the signed document to journalists.

The presidents "state that they will facilitate the improvement
of the situation in the South Caucasus and provide or establishing
stability ad security in the region through a political settlement of
the conflict based on the principles and norms of international law
and the decisions and documents adopted in this framework, for the
purpose of creating a favourable environment for economic development
and universal cooperation in the region".

[Azeri President] Ilham Aliyev, [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan
and Dmitriy Medvedev "confirm the significance of continuation by the
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group of their mediatory efforts, taking
into account their meeting in Minsk in November 2007 and subsequent
discussions aimed at the development of the fundamental principles
of a political settlement".

The presidents have agreed that "the achievement of a peaceful
settlement should be accompanied by legally binding international
guarantees of all its aspects and stages".

The Declaration notes that the Azeri and Armenian leaders have
"agreed to continue work, including during further summit meetings, to
coordinate a political settlement for the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
and have instructed their foreign ministers to intensify further
steps in the negotiating process in interaction with the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group".

The final paragraph of the Declaration reads that the presidents
"believe it important to encourage the creation of conditions for
the implementation of measures aimed at strengthening mutual trust
in the context of the settlement efforts".

Yuriy Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group,
told ITAR-TASS that the primary value of the Declaration on Nagornyy
Karabakh signed today is that it is the first agreement since 1994
that has been concluded on paper directly between the two conflicting
parties.

"The main thing is that there has been no such document since 1994 that
would be signed directly by the two conflicting parties," Merzlyakov
explained. He described the Declaration as "a very important document"
capable of giving fresh impetus to further, exclusively peaceful
settlement efforts.

ARMENIAN ANNUAL INFLATION DECELERATES IN OCTOBER
Venla Sipila

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
November 3, 2008

The deceleration of Armenian annual consumer price inflation continued
in October. Indeed, according to the latest figures from the country’s
National Statistics Agency quoted by ARKA News, prices increased by
8.6% year-on-year (y/y) in October, after increasing by 11.3% y/y in
September, 11.5% y/y in August and 10.7% y/y in July. Food prices
rose by 8.3% y/y in October, while the cost of non-food goods and
services increased by respective rates of 6.5% y/y and 10.3% y/y. In
month-on-month (m/m) terms, prices in October increased by 0.7% on the
whole, after gaining 0.5% m/m in September and posting monthly falls
in the three preceding months. The monthly gain was entirely driven
by a 1.7% m/m rise in the cost of food, while prices of non-food
goods and services fell by 0.8% m/m and 0.2% m/m, respectively. The
cumulative price gain for the January-October period registered 4.9%.

Significance:Moderation in inflation rates is welcome in Armenia, where
rapid price growth has given rise to overheating concerns recently amid
very high GDP expansion. Easing annual inflation is likely to continue,
given the falling global international oil prices. In addition, the
recent weakening of the dram exchange rate indicates less pressure for
the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) to intervene in the currency markets
to try and restrict dram appreciation in the face of strong capital
inflows. Thus, while the Armenian financial system is relatively
isolated from the direct effects of the global financial crisis,
it feels the indirect effect of tighter international liquidity and
overall weakening of global growth. On the first signs of decelerating
inflation the CBA in September left its refinancing rate unchanged,
after eight successive modest rises in previous months (seeArmenia:
6 October 2008:). Armenian economic growth still remains in double
digits, and is driven by domestic spending, boosted for example by
fiscal expenditures. Thus, even though inflation now is moderating and
GDP growth should ease, the CBA would be well advised to be cautious
in monetary loosening, until further signs of clear easing of domestic
demand-side pressures are seen.