Author: Tamamian Anna

NKR: MOSCOW DECLARATION ENVISAGES STEPANAKERT’S PARTICIPATION IN TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2008 17:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Karabakhi political scientist David Babayan is
concerned over of the absence of any mention of Nagorno Karabakh
in the Declaration adopted by the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Russia.

"However, it mentions the norms and principles of the international
law, what supposes that the right of nations to self-determination is
one of key principles for resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
and envisages Stepanakert’s participation in talks," Babayan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"This declaration is the evidence of Moscow’s intention to have the
leading role in the negotiation process. To prevent resolution of the
conflict to the prejudice of its own interests, the Armenian statehood
should strengthen both in the Republic of Armenia and NKR," he added.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Babacan calls for attention to Turkey’s efforts for regional problems
resolution
31.10.2008 18:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey is both a European and Asian country, Turkish
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Friday.

Speaking at a panel discussion within the framework of the meetings of
the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Istanbul, Babacan said that Turkey
has taken many initiatives for peaceful solution of regional problems.

`Turkey launched the Alliance of Civilizations project after which
more than 70 countries and 15 non-governmental organizations declared
themselves as the friends of the project," Babacan said.

"Turkey proposed the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform which
received favorable feedback from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and
Armenia," he added.

As for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Babacan said that Turkey calls
on both Azerbaijan and Armenia to find a solution to the problem.

"There is a good potential for commerce and cooperation in the region
once the problems are resolved," Babacan concluded, the Anatolian News
Agency reports.

Day of Kazakhstan republic celebrated in Armenia

YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. The Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan was
celebrated in Armenia on Thursday. At the state reception for the
event, Nurbolat Alimbayev, the acting chargé d’affaires of Kazakh
Embassy in Armenia, stated the farsighted policy of Kazakhstan’s
President Nursultan Nazarbayev contributed to the country’s significant
development during its independency.

He noted, Kazakhstan is actively developing its constructive and
mutually beneficial relations with all countries. According to
Alimbayev, Kazakhstan intends to shape an effective civil society,
based on democratic values, and its most important achievements are
civil peace and international harmony, which is their corner stone of
national security and social and economic successes.

The RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan noted Kazakhstan had
significant achievements both in economy and shaping a republic during
its independency.

`It is no coincidence that Kazakhstan enjoys great international
authority and it is no coincidence that it is taken as a country
carrying out an important mission of setting a dialog between
civilizations, as a link between East and West, North and South,’ said
Kocharyan.

He stressed Kazakhstan plays an important role in international
organizations and collaborates with Armenian within CIS, UN, OSCE and
other international organizations.

The Republic’s Day is related with a historical date, establishment of
Kazakhstan’s sovereignty. The Supreme Council of the Kazakh SSR passed
the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the Kazakh SSR on October 25,
1990, which became a turning point for the country’s development.

The declaration secured the republic’s constitutional status of
Kazakhstan as a sanguineous subject of international law.

The declaration became the basis of developing Kazakhstan’s
Constitution in 1993 and 1995 and other acts.

The act ?-267 on Holidays of the Republic of Kazakhstan from December
13, 2001 includes this day into the list of national holidays. G. S.
`0–

WHERE DO THE INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIAN RAILWAY GO
K. Beglaryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
31 Oct 08
Armenia

Apartments, Cars, Salaries

When Armenia’s railway network was handed over to "Russian Railways"
for a long-term management, many people thought it would be the bases
of the salvation of "Armenian Railways". But the concessionaire’s
activity of the past months displayed that they didn’t live up to
the expectations.

Instead of raising the effectiveness of the railway’s governing system,
restoring and refreshing the infrastructures, technically rearming
the railway, improving the quality of the service, the investment
means were directed to buying expensive cars, purchasing apartments
in the center of Yerevan, making representational expenses, arranging
different events and celebrities, giving astronomical salaries to
the administrative staff of the railway.

Moreover according to our information "Russian Railways" Company is
planning to say a new word in the world economic history. The repairing
of our one engine, which is realized in Georgia, is more expensive than
the repairing of a plane. Does the mechanism of "recoil" work here.

On What Terms Was The Railway Handed Over For Management

The agreement on handing the management of "Armenian Railways" over
to the Russian company was signed on February 13 of the current year.

According to the before mentioned agreement the management of "Armenian
Railways" was handed over to "South-Caucasian Railways" Company for
(established by "Russian Railways") 20 years. It is previewed that
after the expiration of this term the agreement will be prolonged
for another 20 years.

The accredited manager pledged to invest 174,5 billion drams or
around 570 million dollars for the improvement of Armenian railway
system. During the first five years it is previewed to invest 67,3
billion drams, from which 59,3 billion – for the restoration of the
infrastructures, 8 billion – to purchase rolling stocks.

It is noteworthy that the investments promised by the manager are
more than expected. Armenia anticipated only 170 billion dollars
investment for the effective operation of the railway. But strange
as it may seem the concessionaire promised three times more.

The promises were incomparably great for the opening of the transit
ways.

But this is another topic.

The main purpose of handing "Armenian Railways" over to accrediting
management was the involvement of investments, which should have raised
the effectiveness of the railway’s activity. Because of the lack of
financial means, during the last 15-20 years the system collapsed. The
small-scale investments didn’t provide opportunity to achieve serious
results. The state budget didn’t possess such means. The involvement
of the credit means was not considered effective. Although during
the previous months the concessionaire made investments of several
dozen dollars in Armenia, the latter was directed to the welfare
of the administrative staff, and far not the restoration of the
infrastructures. Though these money was formulated as investment.

Expensive Cars And Apartments Purchased

Instead of repairing the worn out railway system, during the past
8-9 months the manager bought several dozen expensive cars, mainly
"Jeep". The number exceeds 50. Whereas according to our information
the cars were purchased by prices much higher than the market ones.

It is difficult to say why the railway needed that amount of
transportation means, especially when the system faces more serious
problems. It seems the new leadership of the railway is absolutely
not concerned about this fact.

They pursue other goals; otherwise they wouldn’t spend the money
that way.

Besides the cars the company managed to purchase several expensive
apartments in the center of Yerevan, most probably to provide flats
for the Russian officials who shifted to Armenia. According to our
information the salary of the Railway’s General Director is 17 thousand
dollars. The salary of the management staff exceeds 10 thousand drams.

The money directed to the company’s service and business tours have
increased.

These are expenses that in reality have nothing to do with raising
the effectiveness of the Railway’s activity, the security, technical
improvement, or the punctual and secure transportation of the loads.

To be continued

AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR TO GREAT BRITAIN MEETS WITH PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THIS COUNTRY

Today.Az
s/48616.html
Oct 30 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani ambassador to Great Britain Fahreddin Gurbanov held
meetings with members of the British parliament John Mann and Mark
Pritchard, said sources from the Azerbaijani embassy to Great Britain.

The meetings participants discussed issues of Azerbaijani-British
interparliamentary relations and shared views regarding the current
level of bilateral relations and ways of their expansion.

The ambassador informed the British deputies about the events in the
South Caucasus and political-economic reforms, conducted in Azerbaijan.

At the same time, Gurbanov stressed importance of ensuring regional
security, which will have a positive influence on regional integration.

The ambassador noted that the protracted resolution of the Karabakh
conflict is a threat to peace and stability in the region and announced
that this conflict must be settled peacefully and in the framework
of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

FIFTH SESSION OF ERGENEKON TRIAL TO BE HELD TODAY

Today’s Zaman
Oct 30 2008
Turkey

The fifth session of the trial of 86 suspects on charges of involvement
in Ergenekon, a criminal network accused of plotting to overthrow
the government, will be held today.

The session will be spent reading of the massive indictment, which
is expected to take at least another three weeks.

The Ä°stanbul 13th High Criminal Court is hearing the case in a
makeshift courtroom inside Silivri Prison, near Ä°stanbul. Among
the 86 suspects are retired Gen. Veli Kucuk, Workers’ Party (Ä°P)
leader Dogu Perincek, former Ä°stanbul University Rector Kemal
Alemdaroglu, lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz, who is known for filing suits
against intellectuals over their writings questioning or criticizing
the state line on issues such as Armenian allegations of genocide, and
retired Capt. Muzaffer Tekin. Forty-six of the suspects are in custody,
and the rest have been released pending the outcome of the trial.

Since some of the suspects’ lawyers demanded earlier this week that
the 2,455-page indictment be read out loud, the court will spend a
significant amount of time with this process. The prosecution was able
to finish only 120 pages of the indictment in the first two sessions
which were spent reading from it.

Journalists, who timed the prosecutor’s speed — and found that one
page takes about seven minutes on average — estimate it should take
at least 280 hours to finish reading the 2,455-page indictment.

–Boundary_(ID_aZjvkJcwxS94X0kizvwSCQ )–

REVOTING OF COMMUNITY HEAD ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN SISIAN AND 4 RURAL COMMUNITIES ON NOVEMBER 2

Noyan Tapan
Oct 29, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the October 27 judgement
of the RA Administrative Court, the October 12 Mayor’s elections in
Sisian and as a result of the elections district electoral commission’s
decision N 37 on election of Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia)
party member Aghasi Hakobjanian were invalidated. The second candidate
receiving maximum votes in Sisian Mayor’s elections, ARFD member
Tigran Poghosian had applied to the court with such a demand.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Tatev Ohanian, the
Spokesperson of the RA Central Electoral Commission, revoting with the
same staff of candidates will be held on November 2, current Mayor,
non-partisan Lavrent Sargsian, Bargavach Hayastan party member Aghasi
Hakobjanian, ARFD member Tigran Poghosian, RPA member Samvel Tangian,
non-partisan Razmik Danielian, Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party
member Vazgen Babayan.

On November 2, revoting of community head elections will be also held
in the rural communities of Mrgavan (Ararat region), Tegh, Khoznavar,
Antarashat (Syunik region), where the October 12 elections of community
head were invalidated by the decisions of the respective district
electoral commissions.

ARMENTEL OPENS CALL CENTER OF ARMECONOMBANK

Noyan Tapan
Oct 24, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. An agreement on opening a call center
was signed between Armeconombank and ArmenTel company of VimpelCom
group of telecommunication companies on October 23. The Call Center
is a commercial center of providing phone services to the bank’s
customers. It is the first one in Armenia and other CIS countries
serviced by VimpelCom. The agreement was signed by the chairman of
Armeconombank OJSC Board David Sukiasian and the director general of
ArmenTel CJSC Neycho Velichkov.

During a press conference after the agreement’s signing, D. Sukiasian
said that it is for the first time in Armenia that a bank entrusts some
functions of its information system to another commercial structure
specialized in the ICT sector. According to him, the Call Center of
24-hour and free services will provide an opportunity to establish
closer relations between the bank and its customers. By dialling
6868 Armeconombank’s customers can receive information about the
interest rates of the bank’s credits and deposits, and the tariffs of
other banking services. It is also envisaged providing information on
accounts and delivering money transfer and foreign currency exchange
services starting from the first quarter of 2009. D. Sukiasian said
that the center was established based on studies of the Russian market
of call centers that has a 15-year history. This allows the bank to
classify the surveys by subjects and than to guide its strategy based
on it.

N. Velichkov in his turn announced that ArmenTel plans to open call
centers of international companies starting from 2009. In his words,
previously they used to open such centers in India and Eastern Europe,
whereas now the market of these services is being moved from Europe
to the East. In the opinion of ArmenTel’s director, Armenia is an
excellent place for "call center" services because of Armenian young
people’s knowledge of foreign languages and the favorable geographical
location of Armenia.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS CONSECRATES NEWLY-BUILT SAINT HRIPSIME CHURCH IN BARNAUL

Noyan Tapan
Oct 24, 2008

BARNAUL, OCTOBER 24, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. At the invitation
of the Primate of the Diocese of Nor Nakhijevan and Russia Bishop
Yezras Nersisian and the Diocesan Council, the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on October 18 left for the
city of Barnaul, the Armenian Diocese of Nor Nakhijevan and Russia, in
order to consecrate the newly-built Armenian St Hripsime Church there.

Representatives of the local authorities headed by Barnaul mayor
Vladimir Kalganov, the deputy governor of Altay region Boris Larin,
as well as members of the Armenian community and clergymen of the
Armenian diocese met His Holiness at Barnaul Airport.

Early October 19 Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II had a meeting
with the governor of Altay region Alexander Karlin.

At noon of the same day, the consecration ceremony of St Hripsime
Church took place. The ceremony was presided over by His Holiness
Karekin II. The church’s architect is Hakob Babakhanian, it was built
under the patronage of the brothers Mkhitar and Yura Aroyan. The
foundation stone laying ceremony of the church was held as long ago as
2001 and was presided over by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of
Russia Bishop Yezras Nersisian, while its crosses were consecrated in
November 2006. About 30 thousand Armenians currently live in Barnaul
and adjacent regions.

Numerous members of the Armenian community headed by the Chairman of
the Diocesan Council of Nor Nakhijevan and Russia Arthur Chilingarov,
as well as Barnaul mayor, officials of the regional authorities,
Bishop Maxim of Barnaul and Altay of the Russian Orthodox Church, and
representatives of the Union of Armenians in Russia met His Holiness
outside the church. Armenians from other communities of Russia had
also arrived in Barnaul to attend the consecration ceremony.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Bishop Yezras Nersisian read
the Kondaks of the Supreme Patriarch of Armenia, according to which
the benefactors of St Hripsime Church were awarded St Gregory the
Illuminator orders.

Then His Holiness planted an evergreen fir-tree in the church yard,
blessed those present and distributed small crosses brought from the
Mother See of Hole Etchmiadzin to them.

Local creative groups and those from Armenia gave a concert in the
evening.

ANCA REVEALED FORMER U. S. PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL WORKING FOR ANKARA

DeFacto Agency
2008-10-22 16:27:00
Armenia

YEREVAN, 22.10.08. DE FACTO. On October 22 the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) revealed that the Turkish Government has
hired former Bush Administration official, Noam Neusner, to harness
Jewish American support for a pro-Turkey agenda in Congress, with
defeat of the Armenian Genocide Resolution as his top priority.

"If Turkey had a credible case to make to the Jewish American community
– which has grown weary of Ankara’s pressure to deny the Armenian
Genocide – it wouldn’t need to be spending this kind of money in a
misguided attempt to manipulate Jewish American opinion," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Sadly, it seems that for $8,500
a month from a foreign government, Neusner Communications is putting
at risk the well-deserved reputation of the Jewish American community
as a powerful opponent of all genocides and a defender of universal
human rights."

This revelation came as part of a September 30, 2008, mandatory
U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) Foreign Agent Registration
Act filings by Neusner Communications, LLC, a Washington, DC public
relations firm that had been on the Turkish Government payroll since
September, 2007. The initial registration document submitted by the
firm cites "policy goals" including "U.S. Jewish efforts to promote
a pro-Turkey agenda in the U.S. Congress." Neusner Communications LLC
is tasked to ensure "regular emails and phone calls to Jewish leaders
highlighting Turkey’s relationship with Israel" and facilitating the
"creation of working relationships between U.S.-based Jewish and
Turkish community groups."

Neusner’s filings reveal that the first order of business for the
public relations firm was, in September and October of last year,
to contact top Jewish-American organizations regarding pending
Armenian Genocide legislation, H.Res.106. Beginning with a phone
conversation with AIPAC Director of National Affairs and Development
Jon Missner on September 17th, Neusner personally contacted groups,
including JINSA, the American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League,
B’nai B’rith, Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations,
and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs some 23 times over the next
four weeks regarding H.Res.106.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the Armenian Genocide
Resolution on October 11th by a vote of 27 to 21.

The U.S. DOJ filings note subsequent emails by Neusner with the ADL’s
Director of Government and National Affairs Jess Hordes regarding "ADL
action on HR 106," and ADL Director "Abe Foxman’s visit to Turkey"
in May, 2008. Neusner continued to hold meetings with AIPAC’s Jon
Missner and National Political Director Rob Bassin regarding the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, including one on November 29th. Seven
months later, Neusner held a follow up meeting with Missner and AIPAC
Director of Research and Information Rafi Danziger to discuss "Turkish
concerns about Armenian issue; lack of support on the Hill from Jewish
orgs." The meeting came just one day after the House Foreign Affairs
Committee held a two- hour hearing on the South Caucasus region,
with specific focus on Turkey’s ongoing blockade of Armenia. In total,
in the span of one year, Neusner Communications contacted or met with
Jewish American groups at least 100 times – 32 times specifically to
discuss Armenian Genocide legislation or Armenian American concerns.

Neusner is well-known to Jewish American leaders, having served
as President Bush’s liaison to the U.S. Jewish community from 2002
through 2005, in addition to his capacity as Special Assistant to the
President for Economic Speechwriting. Neusner’s DOJ filings indicate
that he was hired by the "Embassy of the Republic of Turkey through
DiNovo Strategies and Fleishman Hilliard." DiNovo Strategies partner
Jay Footlik served as Clinton Administration liaison to Jewish
Americans and to European and Mediterranean groups, including the
Armenian American community.

According to the Foreign Agent Registration Act, a firm must register
within ten days of agreeing to become an agent and before performing
any activities for the foreign entity. It is unclear why Neusner
Communications’ filings were submitted over one-year after it began
lobbying for Turkey, a lapse that may represent a violation of U.S. DOJ
registration guidelines. FARA also mandates that all communications
from public relations firms must conspicuously cite any connection
to a foreign government. Copies of email communications submitted
by Neusner Communications to the U.S. DOJ make no reference to his
firm’s representation of the Turkish Government.

Neusner Communications, Inc. is one of four public relations firms
currently representing the Government of Turkey, including DLA Piper,
Fleishman Hilliard, and the Gephardt Group, who together receive
over $3 million a year for their services. Neusner Communications
is currently paid $8,500 a month by the Embassy of the Republic of
Turkey. Leading the campaign to clean up Turkey’s image in the United
States are former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt and House
Majority Leader Dick Armey. Former House Appropriations Committee
Chairman Bob Livingston ended his eight-year, $13 million lobbying
stint with Turkey earlier this year, after which he picked up a
lucrative $2.4 million contract with Libya.