Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

ARFD READY TO COOPERATE WITH RA POLITICAL FORCES ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.09.2009 15:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun is
ready to cooperate with other political forces on the Armenian-Turkish
relations.

"We will collaborate with the forces which do not suit their own ends,"
he said. "I am positive about the position of Heritage party on the
issue but there is no agreement on cooperation yet."

Mr. Markarian refrained from commenting on Heritage leader Raffi
Hovannisian’s renouncement of his mandate.

As to ARFD position, he said parliament is the arena where the party
can present its views and approaches to different problems

UNION OF IT ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES CONTEST ON COVERAGE OF IT SPHERE

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: "Union of Information Technology
Enterprises" announces contest of "Coverage of Information and
Telecommunication as well as High Technology Spheres in Mass
Media". The executive director of the Union Karen Vardanyan said that
the goal of the contest is to promote the development of IT and High
Technology sphere in Armenia, increase the level of awareness of the
public about the achievements of the sphere, novelties, deepen the
skills of journalists covering the sphere.

The contest has 9 nominations – "Best Article", "Best Interview",
"Best Radio Report", "Best TV Report", "Best Photo Report", "Best
Pamphlet" as well as "Best Coverage of DigiTec 2009 Exhibition".

The winners of the first, second and the third places will get money
awards. The deadline for presentation of the materials is December 15.

TURKEY ISTANBUL CALLING: FOR TURKEY AND ARMENIA, A ROADMAP’S UNCLEAR FINAL DESTINATION
Yigal Schleifer

The Faster Times
istanbul-calling-for-turkey-and-armenia-a-roadmaps -unclear-final-destination/
Sept 7 2009

Last week’s announcement by Turkey and Armenia that they have agreed
on a set of protocols that will lead towards the normalization of
their relations and the opening of their borders was certainly welcome
news. A previous breakthrough in Turkish-Armenian reconciliation —
last April’s vague declaration that the two countries had agreed on a
"roadmap" for restoring relations — quickly fizzled out when Turkish
prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that there would be no
progress on the Armenian front until the "full liberation" of the Azeri
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, occupied by Armenian forces since 1993.

What’s different this time around is the release of the detailed
protocols, which offer a clear path towards the reopening of the
Turkish-Armenian border and renewal of diplomatic ties between
Ankara and Yerevan. But has Turkey really changed its position on
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue? Will the Turkish parliament, which must
ratify the protocols for them to take effect (as does Armenia’s),
support the move without any concrete action on the Nagorno-Karabakh
front? From an analysis piece I have up on the Eurasianet website:

The Nagorno-Karabakh peace process is a complicating factor for the
ratification of the protocols. Turkey is Azerbaijan’s strongest ally,
and Ankara imposed its economic blockade on Armenia in 1993 to support
Baku’s efforts to retain control over Karabakh. Currently, Armenian
forces control Karabakh, along with large areas of Azerbaijan proper
that surround the enclave.

The timing of the withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied
Azerbaijani lands is one of the primary sticking points in the Karabakh
peace process.

The announcement last April of the existence of a "roadmap" to renew
ties between Turkey and Armenia led to a strong backlash from Baku,
and to what seemed like a stepping back from the deal on Ankara’s part.

During a May 14 address to the Azerbaijani parliament, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared "that the border between Turkey
and Armenia will be open only after the full liberation of Azerbaijani
occupied territories."

Although the recently released protocols make no mention of a linkage
between the normalization of Turkish-Armenian ties and the Karabakh
peace process, "there’s no doubt that the Karabakh issue looms over
this reconciliation process," says Kiniklioglu.

"If there is no movement on Nagorno-Karabakh, it will be up to the
Turkish parliament to assess the situation and judge accordingly."

Observers believe the Turkish government is now counting on
international pressure to increase on Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach
some kind of agreement regarding the disputed territory. Although
the AKP has a majority in parliament, many observers believe that
it will be difficult to ratify the protocols without any movement on
the Nagorno-Karabakh front.

"Erdogan obviously feels that Turkey wants to see something on
Nagorno-Karabakh before they can take it to parliament. The problem is
[that the protocols are] in Turkey’s interest, even if nothing happens
on Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey’s overwhelming national interest is in
putting this Armenian problem behind it," says Hugh Pope, a Turkey
analyst with the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.

Over at Today’s Zaman, the Brookings Institute’s Omer Taspinar
also takes a look at last week’s announcement, saying it might be
a bit to early to break out a bottle of "nice Caucasian champagne
to celebrate." The protocols being ratified by both the Turkish and
Armenian parliaments is a big "if," Taspinar says. Reminding readers
that this breakthrough in Turkish-Armenian relations started with
Turkish president Abdullah Gul going to Armenia for a World Cup
qualifying game between the two countries’ national teams, Taspinar
writes:

The good news is that the so-called "soccer-diplomacy" is alive and
well. The not so good news is that we are still at halftime, and the
fanatic supporters of the two national teams can cancel the game or
disqualify their teams by throwing sharp knifes on the field….

….So, last week’s announcement comes just in time to maintain
the facade of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. If no sharp knives
are thrown onto the field, soccer diplomacy will inch forward. It
may still be too early to speak of a genuine rapprochement between
Ankara and Yerevan. Yet, no one accuses the two parties of not
trying. Negotiations between stubborn neighbors are never easy. But
as Winston Churchill wisely said, "To jaw-jaw is always better than
to war-war."

So where is this Turkish-Armenian "roadmap" actually going to lead
to? The next few weeks will give a clearer indication of that. One
thing is clear: the protocols agreed upon by Ankara and Yerevan might
not refer to Nagorno-Karabakh, but the "roadmap" for Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation leads straight through the heart of that disputed
territory.

Today’s Zaman , Turkey
Sept 7 2009

Will government’s judicial reform plan be successful?

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government finally
announced an action plan for a comprehensive judicial reform to raise
Turkey’s standards in compliance with EU membership criteria late last
month after three years of study and talks with various parties,
including the European Union.

According to the government plan, the most noteworthy change will be
in the composition of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors
(HSYK), which has been criticized for its controversial attempts to
replace judges and prosecutors in what many viewed as an attempt to
hamper the independence and impartiality of judges and to influence
verdicts in major cases. The number of members of the HSYK is supposed
to be increased from seven to 21, and all senior judges in the country
will be able to run for a seat in the HSYK. Justice Minister Sadullah
Ergin met with journalists over the weekend in Ä°stanbul to
share details of the judicial reform, which were met with support by
most of the participants, while raising concerns about the possible
opposition to the reform from pro-status quo circles.
Erhan BaÅ?yurt from the Bugün daily recalls recent
controversial decisions of the HSYK and the Constitutional Court and
that Turkey has been discussing the problem of the judiciary’s
politicization for a long time. Noting that all these have damaged the
credibility and respectability of the judiciary as well as opening
wounds in the public conscience, he says Turkey needs these reforms
even if the EU process were not in question. `It is crystal clear that
Turkey, which is a country that has lost cases in the European Court
of Human Rights, needs these reforms. However, Turkey’s political
conditions show that a judicial reform will not be easy for Turkey. We
will see the reactions of the opposition parties when the action plan
is presented to them. Will they totally reject it as they did recent
Kurdish and Armenian initiatives of the government?’ asks
BaÅ?yurt.

Sabah’s Emre Aköz draws attention to the government’s reform
plans regarding the structure of the HSYK. Recalling that it plans to
restructure the board in accordance with the principle of `wider
representation,’ which will allow diverse groups in the judicial
system to have a say in the board, Aköz says Ergin stated in a
meeting with journalists that two-thirds of the board members will be
judges or prosecutors as part of their plans. `I think a challenging
process will start in the judiciary. There will be heated debates in
the following days. Those who oppose the reform and those who do not
want to leave the honor of carrying out the reform to the government
will unite. So they will cause Turkey to lose time by trying to
maintain the caste system within the judiciary,’ Aköz says.

Ergun Babahan from the Star daily has a proposal for those who oppose
the judicial reform. `Follow the method of [the founder of the Turkish
Republic Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk [who referred to laws of other
countries while forming the Turkish legal system.] Tell us the best
legal system in the West, and let us take it as long as we have a
transparent judicial system, which is distanced from politics and does
not make controversial decisions,’ he said. Noting that from now on it
is not possible to block the judicial reform process, Babahan says its
opponents can just delay it. `So, come and contribute to this process,
and let Turkey have a modern judicial system,’ he added.

07 September 2009, Monday

Transeuro Energy Corp.: Proposed Resolution of Ukraine Joint Venture
Dispute 9/1/2009 10:27:41 AM – Market Wire

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Sep 1, 2009 (Marketwire via COMTEX News
Network) —

Transeuro Energy Corp. ("Transeuro" or the "Company") (TSX
VENTURE:TSU)(OSLO:TSU) announces that the Company has signed a Term
Sheet with Rohol-Aufsuchungs Aktiengesellschaft ("RAG") based on which
the parties plan to finalize binding agreements to settle the dispute
pertaining to the purported withdrawal by RAG from the joint venture
company ‘Scythian Energy BV’. The Term Sheet states that the final
settlement will be based on:

– The global mutual release from all accrued rights and obligations
with regards to the joint venture operations in Ukraine, including the
claim raised by RAG for repayment of USD 13,473,403 plus interest and
Transeuro’s potential counterclaim for costs, losses and damages.

– The transfer of RAG’s 50% shareholding in Scythian Energy BV to
Transeuro immediately upon entering into the Settlement Agreement for
no or nominal consideration.

– The granting by Transeuro to RAG of a call option for 12.5% of the
shares in Scythian Energy BV (the "Call Option"). The call option is
valid until Scythian Energy and its subsidiaries have invested a
further USD 70 million.

– Adjournment of the ICC arbitration proceedings during the validity
period of the term sheet, the negotiation of the full settlement
agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") and termination of the ICC
arbitration proceedings immediately after transfer of the Scythian
shares.

– At any time prior to the exercise of the Call Option by RAG,
Transeuro shall be entitled to buy back RAG’s Call Option for the
purchase price of USD 13,473,403 plus interest calculated at 12
months’ USD LIBOR + 3.5%.

– The call option shall be backed by a pledge by Transeuro on 12.5% of
Scythian Energy shares in favour of RAG. Transeuro shall be entitled
to divest, pledge and/or mortgage up to 87.5% of the shares in
Scythian Energy BV to any third party(ies)
investor or financing entity) without requiring any prior approval
from RAG and on such terms as may be negotiated by Transeuro with such
third party(ies) at its sole and unfettered discretion.

– This Term Sheet is valid for a period of thirty (30) days from 20th
August 2009. During the validity period, the parties shall make their
best endeavours to (i) finalize a Settlement Agreement (ii) draft the
Shareholder Agreement and (iii) transfer 50% of RAG’s shares in
Scythian Energy BV to Transeuro.

In addition the Company has agreed with the Ukraine government to
complete the process for renewing both the Karlavskoye and Povorotnoye
licenses for ‘Exploration and Pilot Production’. The licenses will be
re-issued to the local joint venture partner ‘Crymgeologia’ with whom
Transeuro holds Joint Activity Agreements. Initial payments have been
made towards each license renewal and the Company expects to receive
the final license in due course over the next few months.

The Company has retained ‘Integra Group’ ()
to inspect the ‘Uralmash’ type drilling unit provided by Crymgeologia
and to advice on the necessary rig upgrades required to complete the
sidetrack of the Karlavskoye 101 well. Integra Group are the new
owners of ‘Uralmash’ and are best placed to assess the rig condition
and to supply the necessary compatible equipment.

Given the difficulties experienced by many international companies
within the Ukraine E&P sector the Company has initiated an overall
review of the Ukraine Business Opportunity to be conducted by
AGR/Tracs (). The review will include an assessment
of the operating environment in Ukraine with particular emphasis on
the Joint Activity Agreement relationship with Crymgeologia; the legal
and regulatory framework governing industry activity; the potential
value of the Karlavskoye and Povorotnoye fields with particular
emphasis on the gas sales market and recommendations on how best to
resume activities. The report will be released to investors around
orrall, Transeuro President & CEO, commented, "RAG’s decision to
retain an interest in Scythian Energy emphasizes the underlying
potential of our Ukraine assets and supports our position that we can
progress operations through to a successful conclusion. We remain
aware of the challenges of operating in Ukraine and have initiated a
number of reviews to gain an objective assessment of the environment
that will assist us in deciding our way forward.."

Transeuro Energy Corp. is involved in the acquisition of petroleum and
natural gas rights, the exploration for, and development and
production of crude oil, condensate and natural gas. The Company’s
properties are located in Canada, Armenia, and Ukraine. In addition,
the Company owns shares in Eaglewood Energy Inc. and holds a back-in
option.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Aage Thoen, Chairman

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the targeted
results. The Company relies upon litigation protection for forward
looking statements.

SOURCE: Transeuro Energy Corp.

Transeuro Energy Corp. David Parry SVP +1 604 681-3939 Transeuro
Energy Corp. Karen Jenssen IR +47 91 729787

Copyright (C) 2009 Marketwire. All rights reserved.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2009

Georgian FM expect difficult talks in Yerevan

Georgia, Tbilisi, Sept. 4 /Trend News, N.Kirtzkhalia/

Georgian Foreign Minister, Grigol Vashadze, will visit Armenia on
September 4-5. The Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister, David Jalaganiya,
said the visit is being held within a framework of bilateral
agreements.

During the visit, Vashadze will meet his Armenian counterpart, Eduard
Nalbandian. Meetings will also be held with Armenian executive and
legislative bodies.

Jalaganiya noted that the meetings will discuss bilateral relations.

In the meantime, independent experts say that Vashadze’s visit is
dictated by the tension that has arisen between the two countries in
recent weeks. This involves the movement of Georgian border guards
within Armenian borders, according to Yerevan, and Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan recently demanding that Armenian be granted the status
of regional language in the Georgian region of Javakheti.

COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS TO DISCUSS "A1+" ISSUE

0 8:01 pm | September 03, 2009 | Politics

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will examine
the implementation of the verdict reached for "A1+" by the European
Court of Human Rights during its meeting on 15 – 16 September 2009
and the decisions taken at this meeting will be released 2 days after
the meeting.

Let us remind that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe has a function of overseeing the implementation of verdicts
reached by the European Court of Human Rights and in the upcoming
days it will discuss why the verdict has not been implemented and
"A1+" is still not on the air.

The European Court had upheld the claim by "Meltex" LTD ("A1+")
on June 17, 2008.

HERITAGE DEMANDS CONDUCTING A REFERENDUM ON THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
03.09.2009 16:51

The "Heritage" Party has raised the question of conducting a referendum
on the two protocols on the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations. The party will start collecting signatures at the beginning
of the fall session of the National Assembly.

Head of the Heritage faction Armen Martirosyan today presented the
statement of the Party, in which it alerts that the ratification
of the protocols in their current form would be destructive for the
process of settlement of the Karabakh issue.

The Deputy considers that the preconditions well-known to the Armenian
and the international community are included in the protocols. He
said also that the discussion of the historical issues in one of the
sub-commissions of the intergovernmental commission hits the process
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

"Proceeding from the above-mentioned concerns, the Heritage demands
holding a nationwide referendum on the documents," Armen Martirosyan
said.

AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE PHONE TALK

ArmInfo
2009-09-03 12:47:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani and Turkish Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov
and Ahmed Davutoghlu, who was on a visit to Cyprus, had a phone talk
on Wednesday. Azerbaijani and Turkish media reported the ministers as
discussing development of Turkish-Armenian relations, in particular
the fact that the two states have agreed to start their internal
political consultations on the two protocols – the "Protocol on
the establishment of diplomatic relations" and the "Protocol on the
development of bilateral relations" – which have been initiated in
the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.

NEW ACADEMIC YEAR IN AN OVERHAULED BUILDING

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
September 01, 2009

The new academic year of 2009-2010 started. Today, in the educational
institutions of the Republic solemn arrangements dedicated to the
Day of Knowledge took place. The first lesson in all educational
foundations was devoted to the NKR independence. The lessons of
independence were participated by the NA deputies, members of
the Government, active participants of Artsakh movement and war,
public figures. The NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan together with
the NA Vice Speaker Roudik Hyusnunts and head of Martakert regional
administration Sergey Ohanyan partook in the solemn opening ceremony of
the completely overhauled secondary school of Maghavouz. Restoration
activities started in 2006 on public funds. Today, the restored
building accepted the pupils of Maghavouz.