Author: Tambiyan Samvel

KARABAKH MUST BE INDEPENDENT, NO UNILATERAL CONCESSIONS for Azerbaijan – President Sargsian

Interfax
Sept 21 2009
Russia

Yerevan will hold a dialog with Baku on Karabakh if certain conditions
are met, said Armenian President Serzh Sargsian."We would accept it
with three amendments: Karabakh will never be part of Azerbaijan again,
Karabakh’s independence will be recognized at the political level,
and the last one, the independent Karabakh must retain safe ground
communication with Yerevan," he said in an interview with the MK
newspaper published on Monday.

"If these three conditions are met, we will probably be ready for a
dialog," the Armenian president added.

"We are not going to make any unilateral concessions to Azerbaijan.

They are absolutely ruled out," he said.

"This is what some in Russia, in the West and Baku think. But I gave
21 years to the land of Artsakh and I cannot afford to lose it.

Karabakh was and will remain free," the Armenian president said.

"Those occupied territories that Azerbaijan is demanding from us
today are the border settlements between them and us, this is our
security zone. We will not give them away. They may call us occupants
for this. I am not offended," Sargsian said.

"If they were able to take these lands by force, believe me, they
would have done so. But they are not. Therefore, one has to heed
our opinion. Then, sooner or later, a compromise might be found,"
the Armenian president said.

GALUST SAHAKYAN: "WE GAINED INDEPENDENCE WITH GREAT LOSSES"

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 21 2009
Armenia

The greatest achievement of Armenia in recent 18 years is the
independence, Galust Sahakyan, Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
faction leader told NEWS.am on September 21, 2009.

He underlined that within these 18 years we lost many outstanding
sons of Armenia.

On September 21, 2009 Armenia celebrates the 18th anniversary of its
independence. Eighteen years ago 99% of RA citizens voted for the
country’s independence.

SEPTEMBER 21, 1991 OPENED NEW CHAPTER IN HISTORY OF ARMENIAN PEOPLE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.09.2009 10:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako
Sahakyan sent Monday a congratulatory address to President of the
Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, reported the Central Information
Department of the Office of the NKR President.

The letter reads:

"I cordially congratulate you on the Independence Day of the Republic
of Armenia.

September 21, 1991 has opened new chapter in the history of the
Armenian people. Building independent statehood was a difficult,
but at the same time respectable path our people could successfully
overcome. Armenian people restored the right to be the arbiter of
their own destiny, to have an independent, free and sovereign state.

Even today under the global financial and economic crisis the
leadership of Armenia is doing everything possible to take up
different challenges and to lay a stable foundation for socio-economic
development. I am confident that under your presidency the Republic
of Armenia will achieve new success, will celebrate new victories
and the cherished dreams of the Armenian people will come true.

I wish you peace, good health and all the best in the name of
prosperous and bright future of Armenia and Artsakh."

TURKEY’S EU NEGOTIATOR SAYS FRANCE GIVES ASSURANCES NOT TO INTERRUPT ENTRY TALKS

Anadolu Ajansi (Anatolia Agency)
Sept 20 2009
Turkey

Paris, 20 September: Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for
EU talks Egemen Bagis said French executives gave assurances that
ongoing full membership talks between Turkey and the EU would not
be interrupted.

Speaking to Turkish journalists about his talks in Paris, Bagis
said he met with French Secretary of State for European Affairs
Pierre Lelouche, noting that Lelouche expressed stance of France on
continuation of talks and assessment of the situation after conclusion
of negotiations.

Bagis said he conveyed Turkey’s uneasiness to French executive over
the news reports that France has launched initiatives to propose
privileged partnership to Turkey. "French executive gave assurances
that no study started or would start regarding an alternative apart
from full membership," he added.

Bagis said ongoing negotiations with Turkey, customs union, illegal
migration were assessed at the meeting, noting that France closely
follows Democratic Move in Turkey and the process of normalization
of relations with Armenia.

Bagis also met with the representatives of Turkish associations
in France.

Aysor, Armenia
Sept 19 2009

The new performance of `Almast’ available also today

The premiere of the new performance of `Almast’ opera took place
yesterday on the stage of the Opera and ballet house after
Al. Spendarian in Yerevan. Today also the lovers of music will have
the opportunity of watching the performance.

The director of the performance is the Russian prominent Georgi
Isahakyan the staging conductor, national artist of Armenia Yuri
Davtyan, the designer Vyacheslav Okunev from Russia, the dances are
staged by Vilen Galstyan Armenian national dancer. It is being
realized by the order of the Culture Ministry of Armenia.

As the ticket seller informed today the Aysor.am journalist there are
tickets for the today’s performance still. They cost 1500 to 5000
drams.

The `Almast’ opera was to be staged on June but as the head of the
public relations of the RA Culture Ministry Gayane Durgaryan told to
Aysor.am the performance was delayed as the art council made up a
decision to open the new autumn period with `Almast’ opera.

ARMENIA-TURKEY AGREEMENTS MAY HARM FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN,TURKEY ESPECIALLY BUILT BY DEMIREL AND HEYDAR ALIYEV: DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER

Today.Az
Sept 17 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu completed meetings with
leaders of political parties as part of six-week internal political
discussions concerning the protocols initialed with Armenia, Turkish
news agencies reported.

Ahmet Davutoglu last met with former speaker of Turkish parliament
Husamettin Cindoruk.

Cindoruk told journalists after the meeting that actually
Turkey-Armenia relations were trilateral, not bilateral as Azerbaijan’s
participation was necessary in the process.

"Azerbaijan is our brother, friend, ally. We share similar roots. We
should have delicate approach to relations with Azerbaijan. But at
present this delicacy is not demonstrated fully. It is impossible
to forget the torments of Azerbaijani people. There are 1 million
refugees. I have witnessed how they live and graves of the war
victims. We cannot forget Azerbaijan’s war victims," he said.

Cindoruk said Azerbaijan should not be blamed for the conflict with
Armenia.

"It was Armenia who attacked. We do not want the enmity to last for
centuries. But agreements with Armenia may harm friendship between
Azerbaijan and Turkey especially built by Demirel and Heydar Aliyev,"
he said.

Husamettin Cindoruk said Turkish government should not hurry with
establishing relations with Armenia and should take all the opinions
into account.

"Because the reopening of the borders will favor Armenia," he said.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT BUILDS BACKING FOR TURKEY TIES

Agence France Presse
Sept 17 2009

YEREVAN — Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian held five hours of
talks with the country’s political leaders on Thursday as he sought
to build support for the delicate aim of establishing diplomatic ties
with Turkey.

Speaking at the opening of the closed-door talks, Sarkisian said the
meeting with members of 52 political parties was aimed at hearing
all perspectives on the controversial issue.

"I have heard various opinions in detail, I have heard positive,
encouraging statements, and I have heard criticisms and concerns as
well," Sarkisian said.

"Obviously I also see risks and have concerns. But in order to assess
the risks properly… we must bring all of our observations together,"
he said.

"I see the end of this process only as providing the minimum
environment to begin a dialogue with Turkey," he said.

Armenia and Turkey announced last month they had agreed a framework
to establish diplomatic ties and reopen their border after decades of
hostility, in what was internationally hailed as a major breakthrough.

The two countries said they would hold internal political consultations
for six weeks before submitting to their parliaments two protocols
on establishing diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations.

The deal has come under fire from opposition groups in both countries,
which accuse their governments of making concessions.

Turkey has long refused to establish diplomatic links with Armenia
over Yerevan’s efforts to have World War I-era massacres of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks recognised as genocide — a label Ankara strongly
rejects.

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

Turkey also closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
ally Azerbaijan over Yerevan’s backing of ethnic Armenian separatists
in the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region.

ARMENIA, IMF REACH DEAL ON $60 MILLION LOAN

Yerkir
17.09.2009 16:57
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – The International Monetary Fund announced September
16 a staff-level agreement with Armenia on its loan, which would give
the country access to $60 million once the IMF board approves.

The IMF now expects Armenia’s economy to contract by 15% as the impact
from the global crisis has deepened.

Tax revenues have dropped sharply, with the budget deficit expected
to rise to as much as 7.5% of gross domestic product, the IMF said
in a statement.

Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator Singapore
60 Hill Street
Singapore 179366
[email protected]
www.armeniansinas ia.org

Dear Armenians & Friends,

Warm greetings to you from Singapore! On behalf of the Trustees and
the Supervisory Board of the Armenian Church of St. Gregory the
Illuminator Singapore, I am pleased to provide a brief update on the
affairs of the Church and to enclose for your review the audited
accounts for the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the
Illuminator, Trust for the financial year ending 31 December 2008.

The Church seeks your generous financial support to meet our funding
requirements so that we can continue to preserve this special
heritage. I am also very pleased to convey that The Haig & Elza
Didizian Foundation has generously agreed to help us meet this
financial challenge by offering to match dollar-for-dollar up to SGD
$100,000 all financial contributions received through 31 November
2009. Furthermore, The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation has kindly
agreed to donate SGD $20,000 toward the restoration projects.

We can also send you a pdf press release announcing the 175th
Anniversary Celebrations of the Singapore Armenian Church to be held
next year in October 2010 in Singapore.

Thank you for your time and consideration and we look forward to
welcoming you to Singapore and to celebrating the 175th Anniversary
together!

With kind regards,
Pierre Hennes
Trustee

PAST AND PRESENT ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS’ SINCERITY DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT

Tert.am
Sept 16 2009
Armenia

Relations without preconditions not only are driven by the Armenian and
Turkish peoples’s interests, but also contribute to peace and stability
in the region, stated independent MP Viktor Dallakyan in parliament
yesterday. He added that, along with their vulnerable aspects, the
Armenian-Turkish protocols are a considerable step in that direction.

"At one time [ex-president of Armenian] Ter-Petrosyan had a genuine
wish to establish Armenian-Turkish relations, but he was unable to
do so, or the possibility wasn’t made available for him," stated
Dallakyan.

Turning his attention to ex-president Kocharian’s term in office,
Dallakyan noted that the second president didn’t have a genuine wish to
establish Armenian-Turkish relations; rather, Kocharian only created an
"imitation" of those relations.

As for the current president, according to Dallakyan, Serzh Sargsyan
does in fact have a genuine wish to establish Armenian-Turkish
relations. "Sargsyan’s steps are the governing bodies’ test before
the Armenian and international communities," concluded Dallakyan.