Author: Tambiyan Samvel

ARMENIAN WINEMAKERS SHOULD MERGE INTO SINGLE BRAND TO JOIN EUROPEAN MARKET

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.10.2009 16:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian wine making companies should merge into
one brand to be able to join European market, wine-making technology
Professor Mario Baribieri told a seminar devoted to winemaking problems
in Armenia. Discussion was held within the scope of "Trevizon for
Armenuia" program (organizer: Civilitas foundation).

As early as 50-60 years ago, Trevizon was faced with crop gathering,
acquisition and realization problem and in such circumstances,
cooperatives pursuing common goals acquired plants whose income was
shared among owners. "That enabled them to avoid the risk of losing
grape," speaker said.

Barieberi also noted that during meetings with Armenian winemakers he
had noticed great potentials for creating such cooperatives which may
"pave the way to European market."

Italian Wine-maker particularly focused on "Areni" grape as a
high-quality sort. He also stressed the need for "creating a local
expert group engaged in enhancing the quality of local sorts."

Besides he noted that quality of Armenian wine suffered from obsolete
production technologies. "Some Armenian and Italian factories
already have agreement on delivering relevant equipment to Armenia
for enhancing and accelerating wine production process," he said.

ARMENIA PARTICIPATES IN INTERACTION-2009 MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAM

Aysor.am
Wednesday, October 07

Today Kazakhstan’s Matybulak butts launches the first joint
military training program with participation of all members of
Interaction-2009 including Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
and Tajikistan. Belarus is represented by its Defense Ministry’s
Task Forces.

LEBANON ARMENIANS ANGRY OVER PLANNED TURKEY DEAL

orld/view/1009653/1/.html
06 October 2009 2057 hrs

BEIRUT : Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian was to face a largely
hostile reception later on Tuesday from members of Lebanon’s Armenian
community up in arms over Yerevan’s plans to establish ties with
Ankara.

Sarkisian’s brief stop in Beirut is part of a week-long international
trip aimed at calming concerns among members of the Armenian diaspora
over Turkish-Armenian efforts to normalise relations.

But such plans have angered many in Lebanon’s 140,000-strong Armenian
community, mostly made up of the descendants of survivors of massacres
in eastern Anatolia under Ottoman rule almost a century ago.

"After nearly 100 years of fighting for our cause, how can our enemy
become our friend in the blink of an eye?" said a visibly angry
Koko Marashlian, a store owner in Beirut’s Armenian neighbourhood of
Burj Hammud.

Hagop Pakradounian, one of six Armenian deputies in Lebanon’s
parliament, said the community was all for improved ties between
Armenia and Turkey but not at any price.

"This issue concerns Armenians worldwide and not just those in
Armenia," Pakradounian told AFP.

"We are not talking about a simple economic accord between two
countries but a historic one that concerns each Armenian family,
whatever its nationality," he said.

Community members have drawn up a petition condemning the agreements
set to be signed later this month between Turkey and Armenia on
establishing diplomatic ties.

Stores in Burj Hammud were to shut down on Tuesday afternoon in
protest, while a demonstration was also planned.

"We remember, we demand, we refuse," read placards put up throughout
the neighbourhood, where Armenian patriotic music blared.

"These agreements will sound the death knell of our cause," store-owner
Marashlian said. "As descendants of those exiled, we are the main
victims of these agreements."

Keborg Abajian, 55, who runs a coffeeshop, said he was ready to take
up arms to prevent the normalisation of ties.

"I will shut down my shop to go fight so that our martyrs are not
forgotten," he said. "We want to recover our land. My ancestors owned
huge plots of land in Urfa," in southeast Turkey.

Some members of the younger generation, however, appeared to adopt
a more conciliatory tone, saying it was time to move on.

"The state of Armenia has made a decision and who am I to decide what
is best for its people?" said Haig Asmarian, 34, a jeweller. "My
grandfather still has the titles to his property but it’s time to
turn the page.

"And who knows, maybe this will benefit Armenia economically."

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were systematically
killed between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart.

Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that 300,000-500,000
Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when
Armenians took up arms against their Ottoman rulers and sided with
invading Russian troops.

U.S. SENATOR CALLS THE PROTOCOLS "ABSURD"

NEWS.am
15:00 / 10/05/2009

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee member and outspoken advocate
of international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, Bob Menendez
called the regulations of Armenia-Turkey Protocols "frankly absurd",
Asbarez daily reports. Menendez said: "I do not think that Armenia
should be pressured into anything that is not in their national
interests or in the long-term national interests of the U.S."

Commenting on the Protocols’ provision on the creation of historians’
sub-commission, the Senator stated that "it is an insult to Armenian
people. It is an insult to the memory of the victims. It is an insult
to the top scholars who have clearly spoken on this issue and issued
their unequivocal conclusions. It is time that Turkey recognizes
it and accepts it. It is time that the world acknowledges this fact
of history and moves on towards a viable peace that honors the true
history of the Armenian people."

Film devoted to children’s issues shot in frames of ReAnimania
03.10.2009 18:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Animated film about children’s rights is shot in
Yerevan with 12 children between 6 and 13 years, " Vrezh Kasuni,
director of the International Animated Film Festival "ReAnimania" told
a press conference on October 3.

Works have been started 4 days ago with assistance of the Armenian
office of UNICEF. The premiere of the movie will be held November 20
timed to 20th anniversary of UNESCO Convention on the Rights of the
Child.

A seminar for children "Every problem has a solution" is also
organized and will last 10 days.

FORMER AMBASSADOR CALLS ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS "FLAWED DOCUMENTS"

Yerkir
30.09.2009 18:15
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Armenian-Turkish Protocols can be defined as flawed
documents, US former Ambassador to Armenia John Evans said during an
international web cast of an Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

"I think that the impulse to try to get diplomatic relations started
and to get the border opened was a good impulse. In the execution there
may have been, and there certainly were some shoddy work," said Evans
who prefaced his remarks by noting that he was speaking on his own
behalf and not as a representative of any government or organization.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES MUST PREVENT ALL RISKS RELATED TO BORDER OPENING BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.09.2009 18:45 GMT+04:00

On September 30 the president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had a
meeting with the Public Council of Armenia on the matter of the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols.

According to the chairman of the Public Council Vazgen Manukyan, all 12
committees of the council held meetings on the subject matter, and then
adopted the draft decision, reflecting the main views of the Council.

"Almost all are in favor of opening the border and establishing
diplomatic relations with Turkey, since Armenia this way will come
out of isolation and become a reliable partner for other regional
countries. There are, however, concerns related to economic
and migration expansion, uncontrolled opportunity of trading the
property. In our opinion, the Armenian authorities should create a
proper governmental group, which will review some legislation and
prevent the risks of expansion, " Vazgen Manukyan said.

"Establishing a subcommittee on historical issues, in our opinion, can
be treated as we question the Armenian Genocide, and that Turkey’s goal
is to suspend the process of international recognition of the Genocide.

We believe that Turkey wants to drive a wedge between Armenia and
the Diaspora," said the Council chairman, adding that the Armenian
Genocide cannot be questioned.

"On the other hand, the discussion of Genocide in a different context
can enable the Turkish people to become familiar with it and understand
that such events really occurred," Vazgen Manukyan said.

According to him, the subcommittee should also involve scientists from
Diaspora, and its chairman must be someone who is very well aware of
the subject matter and enjoy confidence in Diaspora.

Today.Az

Status-quo is inadmissible in Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict:
U.S. Secretary of State

26 September 2009 [13:37] – Today.Az

The U.S. administration believes status-quo unacceptable in the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton said at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

The new U.S. administration has reiterated its support in the speedy
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Clinton said at a meeting
with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, the Foreign Ministry said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved only within the
framework of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and
internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, Mammadyarov said.

The Clinton-Mammadyarov meeting took place as part of the UN General
Assembly in New York.

The parties also debated the issues of bilateral and regional
cooperation.

Turkish Daily News

ErdoÄ?an plans a ‘new move’ within the AKP

Sunday, September 27, 2009

GÃ-KSEL BOZKURT

ANKARA Daily News Parliament Bureau

In its upcoming general congress, the ruling AKP plans to make radical
changes to its decision-making cadre. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an is expected to give a boost to Deputy Prime Minister
and his close workmate Bülent Arınç, former
Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan, former education minister
Hüseyin �elik and Education Minister Nimet
�ubukçu

The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, will hold its third
general congress on Oct. 3 in Ankara. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an plans to go to the general elections in 2011 with a new
makeup after shaping the party’s new organizational structure in the
congress.

ErdoÄ?an, only candidate

The AKP, established on Aug. 14, 2001, will hold its third general
congress in the sports hall of the Ankara Water and Sewerage
Administration, or ASKÄ°. ErdoÄ?an will attend the party
congress as the single candidate for the party
leadership. ErdoÄ?an is also expected to make important
structural change in his party’s 50-member Central Executive Board, or
MKYK. ErdoÄ?an will shape the party’s administrative structure,
which will carry the party to the 2011 general elections, in the
congress. Currently hosting 11 female members, ErdoÄ?an’s
efforts will also include furthering the role of women and youth in
the MKYK structure.

Sources say, ErdoÄ?an will maintain the seats for female members
in the MKYK, while intending to include some other names. Among these
names are Education Minister Nimet �ubukçu, State
Minister Selma Kavaf who works as Chairwoman of AKP’s Women Branch and
AKP Malatya deputy Ã-znur Ã?alık, according to
sources.

Past legends reappear in the scene

ErdoÄ?an is also expected to include Deputy Prime Minister and
his close workmate Bülent Arınç in the
MKYK. Former Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan, former Education
Minister Hüseyin �elik and former Labor and Social
Security Mi
urat BaÅ?esgioÄ?lu also remain among other potential
candidates for MKYK membership.

Ã?elik, whose name stood out as political adviser in the AKP’s
Kurdish move, is expected to be appointed as the deputy leader in
charged of the political and legal affairs of the party.

Emphasis on Kurdish move

The party’s Kurdish move will be another important agenda topic of the
congress. ErdoÄ?an is expected to review the party’s eight-year
ruling period and the developments so far. ErdoÄ?an will also
give important messages on the Kurdish and Armenian move, making a
last call to the opposition for their contribution to both
initiatives.

DTP continues with Türk

Another party summoning a congress is the pro-Kurdish Democratic
Society Party, or DTP. The DTP will gather for a general congress on
Oct. 4, in which the DTP leader Ahmet Türk is considered to be
re-elected as the party leader. A mini survey of the party showed
DTP’s Emine Ayna will assume the post of co-chair, together with
Türk. Some deputies in the party think her radical statements
on various issues could harm the AKP’s Kurdish move, but the general
sentiment in the party is still that a replacement of Ayna with
another name would be surprising.

MHP goes to congress

The opposition Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, will convene its
general congress on Oct. 8. No challenging rival is expected to appear
in the congress to compete with MHP’s current leader, Devlet
Bahçeli. The only candidate considered relatively strong and
likely to challenge Bahçeli, is former public works minister
Koray Aydın. But, Aydın is not expected to run his
candidacy in the congress, according to many MHP deputies.

Crucial period for parties outside Parliament

The upcoming period will also be important for political parties
outside the Parliament. The Democrat Party, or DP, which elected old
politician Hüsamettin Cindoruk as its new leader, also prepares
itself for the party congress. Cindoruk made his way to politics again
in a bid to unite the center right.
is expected that another center-right Motherland Party, or ANAP, will
also hold its congress and take a decision to unite with the DP. Both
parties plan to hold their congresses at the end of October or the
beginning of November.

Two new parties on the way

Former Democratic Left Party, or DSP, deputy Mustafa
Sarıgül, who left the party, meanwhile, is planning to
establish a new party called the `Turkey Change Party.’ He plans to
join the electoral race in 2011 general elections.

Those who left the DSP after the death of DSP’s founder, leader
Bülent Ecevit, and those disappointed with the current
leadership of Masum Türker, also plan to establish a new
party. Emrehan Halıcı and Recai Birgün are
expected to take part in the planned party, also supported by Ecevit’s
wife RahÅ?an.

The Protocols Fall Outside the National Assembly’s Purview

tocols-fall-outside-the-national-assembly%e2%80%99 s-purview/
By Contributor on Sep 25th, 2009

The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia is not authorized to
discuss and vote on, much less ratify the protocols between the
Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey on establishing
diplomatic relations and developing bi-lateral ties.

The said protocols fall outside the authority of the National
Assembly. The current Constitution of the Republic of Armenia is clear
on this point. According the Article 81, clause 2 of the Constitution,
`international treaties’ – only `treaties’ – are subject to
ratification by the National Assembly. The article does not provide
for the ratification of any other international document, including
protocols. The protocols are an arrangement, but not a treaty. Any
activity or process in the National Assembly having to do with the
aforementioned protocols would be anti-constitutional.