Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN: US CONGRESSMEN ARE THE LAST TO JUDGE ABOUT PEOPLE’S HISTORY

ArmInfo
2010-03-12 09:32:00

ArmInfoIn a conversation with ArmInfo correspondent, Turkish
parliamentarian, member of the ruling Justice and Development Party
of Turkey Suat Kiniklioglu said that he knows US congressmen well
enough and they are the last to judge about people’s history. The
Turkish MP expressed confidence that H.Res.252 on Armenian Genocide
will not be affirmed in the Congress.

But if it is affirmed, the process of normalization with Armenia will
be suspended. Turkey will not accept the process of normalization of
relations with Armenia as the US Congress is unaware where Armenia
is situated on the world map, he said and added that the affirmation
of the H.Res.252 by the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs has
complicated the Armenian-Turkish process. Kiniklioglu pointed out that
the Americans have nothing to do with 1915 and should not judge these
events, as they have neither opportunities nor expertise for that.

BERNARD FASSIER: KOSOVO PRECEDENT MAKES AZERBAIJAN MORE CAUTIOUS AND DISCREET

ArmInfo
2010-03-12 13:22:00

ArmInfo. OSCE MG French Cochairman Bernard Fassier said at today’s
seminar in Yerevan that the situations in Kosovo and Karabakh
absolutely differ and cannot be compared to each other.

According to him, in case of Kosovo, the conflict was inside of one
country, while in case of Karabakh, there is a conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Moreover, he said, unlike Karabakh, international
forces were presented in Kosovo. According to him, what was in Kosovo,
is impossible in Karabakh. He added that Nagorno Karabakh has not
been recognized by any country of the world, including Armenia. At
the same time, he emphasized that Kosovo precedent made Azerbaijan
more cautious and discreet.

OSCE PA PRESIDENT PLEDGED TO VISIT KARABAKH NEXT TIME

news.am
March 12 2010
Armenia

March 12, NKR Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulyan met with President of
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Joao Soares in Yerevan.

"Without Nagorno-Karabakh participation the Karabakh conflict cannot
be settled. Karabakhi side should return to the negotiating table to
present its topical issues," Ghulyan said.

After the meeting, lasting over an hour Soares did not make a
statement to the press, while Ghulyan said: "The meeting was very
fruitful. We have discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh,
internal and foreign policy, as well as presented our stances on
Karabakh conflict settlement."

According to him, they also touched upon warlike statements by
Azerbaijan. Particularly, he underlined that from the beginning of the
conflict he did not see fundamental changes in Azerbaijan’s position.

"We consider threats and appeals for war as hostilities," Ghulyan
concluded. NKR Speaker informed that Soares pledged to visit Karabakh
next time.

TURKEY’S AKP DEPUTY CHAIR IN YEREVAN TODAY FOR NATO SEMINAR

Tert.am
13:35 â~@¢ 11.03.10

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chair of External
Affairs and head of the US-Turkish Interparliamentary Friendship Group
Suat Kınıklıoglu will come to Armenia to participate in the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly’s 73rd Rose-Roth seminar, whick kicks off in
Yerevan today.

The three-day seminar will gather some 41 members of parliament from
16 NATO and partner countries, and 72 representatives from research
institutes, NGOs, interparliamentary assemblies, international
organizations and NATO, according to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
official website.

The seminar entitled "Regional Developments in the South Caucasus:
Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects" will not only focus on
Armenia’s relations with NATO and the EU, but will be also devoted
to regional security issues such as energy security, the Northern
Caucasus, political developments and civil society and on regional
relations in the South Caucasus Region.

This will be the second time that Yerevan hosts a Rose Roth seminar.

The first one was hosted in 2005.

COMPANY "VALLETTA" BECAME OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR OF "DANONE" PRODUCTS IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 11, 2010

YEREVAN, March 11. /ARKA/. From March 1, 2010 "Valletta" became
official distributor of "Danone"products in Armenia. The first part
of products was imported to the country on March 6 and was handled
to 80 shops in Yerevan, including the network of "Star" supermarkets.

"Danone" is leading in the production of cultured milk foods in the
world market. Success of the brand is popularity of healthy lifestyle.

Ten years ago 90% of "Danone" products were being sold in developed
countries and today one -third – in developing countries.

Shahen Stepanyan, Executive Director of "Valletta" said that "Danone"
products will enter Armenian market in phases. In the primary phase
"Danone"yogurts will be imported, including drinks, as well as
yogurts "Danissimo". From March 20 the line of "Danone" production
will be supplemented by "Actimel", "Activia" and children’s favorite
"Rastishka".

Multi-profile company "Valletta" is operating in Armenia since 1990.

Activity spheres of the company are – production, trade (wholesale
and retail), catering and entertainment services.

Structure of the company includes network of supermarkets "Star" and
"Comfort", restaurants "SFC Express" and "Plener" and own production
of meat products "Biella".

ASSOCIATION OF CREDIT ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA TO RECEIVE A GRANT WORTH 62.5 THSD EUR FROM A DUTCH ORGANIZATION

ArmInfo
11.03.2010

ArmInfo. The Association of credit organizations of Armenia will
receive a grant worth 62.5 thsd EUR from the Dutch organization
OXFAM NOVIB. Within the frames of the first annual meeting of the
Association of credit companies, its exchairwoman, Executive Director
of Aregak UCO Mariam Yesayan said that the Association has signed
an agreement with OXFAM NOVIB on receiving 62.5 thsd EUR. She said
the funds will be directed t creation of the executive body of the
Association whose functions have been carried out by the Association
members. In addition, part of the funds will be directed to enhancing
the professional skills of the participants.

Yesayan said that in 2010 the Association is going to establish mutual
cooperation with the associations operating in the financial market of
Armenia, particularly, with the Association of insurers of Armenia and
Union of commercial banks of Armenia. She added that though all the
operating financial structures are specializing in various segments
of the financial market, nevertheless, they have a general goal –
to create a stable financial system, which will work for the welfare
of the public.

Last year the Association also managed to establish cooperation
with the Poland-based Center for micro- financing of CIS and Eastern
Europe countries, as well as with a US international organization for
training and development of small enterprises, and an international
group working in the sphere of social treatment.

To note, the Association of credit organizations of Armenia was
registered by the Central bank of Armenia in December 2008. The
member founders of the Association are 6 credit organizations out of
the 28 in operation, namely: UCO FINCA, New Horizon, GFC – General
Financial Credit Company, SEF International, Farm Credit Armenia and
AREGAK. At the end of 2009, the share of these organizations made up
40% of the total amount of assets of all credit organizations, over
43% of the credit portfolio, and over 42% of their total capital. The
Association contributes to development of the financial-credit system
of Armenia by means of effective and complete implementation of the
potential of credit organizations. The key task of the Association
is to represent the interests of its members in the CBA, governmental
and non-governmental bodies.

AT THE ELYSEE PALACE THERE TOOK PLACE A MEETING OF PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC NICOLAS SARKOZY

president.am
March 11 2010
Armenia

Today, at the Elysee Palace there took place a meeting of the President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan with the President of the French Republic
Nicolas Sarkozy. This is the third meeting of the two Presidents since
Serzh Sargsyan was elected President of Armenia. The first meeting
of Serzh Sargsyan and Nicoals Sarkozy took place in November, 2008
in the framework of the Armenian President’s working visit to France.

After the official ceremony of welcoming the President of Armenia in
the Elysee Palace, the two Presidents held a tête-a-tête meeting.

Later, President Sarkozy gave official dinner in honor of the Armenian
President.

Expressing thanks to President Sarkozy for the invitation to make an
official visit to France, Serzh Sargsyan highly praised the high level
of the political dialogue existing between the two friendly nations.

The President of Armenia noted that for the further deepening of genial
relations between Armenia and France it is important to maintain
regular contacts and conduct reciprocal visits, exchange views on
bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. He
also said that in Armenia, as well as by the Armenian communities
all over the world, France is perceived as a close friend, an ally
and a reliable partner in international affairs, and it endows the
Armenian-French relations with special meaning. President Sargsyan
noted with satisfaction that relations between Armenia and France
develop vigorously in all areas.

President Sarkozy underlined that in France Armenia and the Armenian
nation are regarded with fondness, while the Armenian-French community
is an indestructible bridge between the two countries and the two
peoples. Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated his country’s determination to
develop relations with Armenia on all directions and underscored that
France has been and remains Armenia’s friend and will always stand
by her side.

The President of Armenia once again thanked the people of France and
President Sarkozy for the principled and unwavering position regarding
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Serzh Sargsyan and Nicolas Sarkozy discussed the NK peace process
(France is one of the three Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group), issues
related to regional security, Armenia-Turkey normalization process as
well as other subjects of mutual interest. The President of France
praised efforts of the Armenian President aimed at the upholding of
regional peace and security.

Presidents Sargsyan and Sarkozy spoke also about further deepening
of the bilateral economic and trade ties, expansion of cooperation
in the humanitarian area, and exchanged views on Armenia-EU relations.

President Sargsyan expressed gratitude to President Sarkozy for
constant support provided to Armenia in different areas.

The two sides agreed to continue high level contacts on a regular
basis.

POLITICAL SCIENTIST STEPAN GRIGORIAN: ARMENIA SHOULD NORMALIZE ITS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY WITHOUT THIRD COUNTRY’S MEDIATION

Noyan Tapan
March 9, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia should normalize its relations
with Turkey through a dialogue, without a third country’s mediation.

Head of the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional
Cooperation, political scientist Stepan Grigorian expressed such an
opinion at a March 9 press conference. "We do not need to solve our
problems with Turkey with the help of a third state as that process
is used, speculated by other countries for the purpose of solving
their own problems. They press Turkey to extort concessions, and it
is not clear what we gain from it," he said.

According to the political scientist, the process of adoption of the
resolution on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by U.S.

Congress recurs almost every year, which further complicates Armenia’s
condition in the region. "Having expectations from someone we once
more repeat the same mistake. The process of resolution’s adoption
in Congress is very dangerous as it is politicized and is obviously
linked with the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols," S.

Grigorian said adding that the issue of recognition of the Genocide
should be connected with morality, restoration of justice and not
with today’s political processes.

In political scientist’s opinion, reconciliation and political
issues should be separated in the process of normalization of the
Armenia-Turkey relations. "Reconciliation is a problem coming from
history that can last for dozens of years. It should be separated
from everyday concrete political measures," S. Grigorian said.

He also said that Armenia should ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols
without waiting for Turkey’s steps. "We should show the world that we
are a predictable, reliable partner," S. Grigorian said. In his words,
Armenia delaying the process of ratification of the protocols helps
Turkey to protect itself from other countries’ pressures.

Agence France Presse
March 5, 2010 Friday 11:35 AM GMT

Armenia praises US lawmakers’ vote on ‘genocide’

Yerevan, March 5 2010

Armenia on Friday hailed a vote by US lawmakers to brand the killing
of Armenians by Ottoman forces during World War I as "genocide,"
calling it an important step forward for human rights.

"We highly appreciate the decision," Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandian said in a statement. "This is another proof of the devotion
of the American people to universal human values and is an important
step toward the prevention of crimes against humanity."

Officials in Yerevan also said Ankara should not use the vote as a
pretext for delaying fledgling reconciliation efforts.

Armenia insists that a deal signed in October for the two countries to
establish diplomatic ties and re-open their border after decades of
hostility should not be linked with the genocide issue.

"It is groundless to say that the acceptance of the resolution…
should become an obstacle to normalising relations between Armenia and
Turkey," the head of a parliamentary committee studying the protocols,
Armen Rustamian, told reporters.

"The United States supports the normalisation of relations between
Armenia and Turkey without preconditions and the best way for the
United States to show that these processes are not related is to
recognise the Armenian genocide."

Overriding pressure from the White House and Turkey, a long-time NATO
ally, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee narrowly approved the
text on Thursday, opening the door for a vote at the full House of
Representatives.

The non-binding resolution calls on President Barack Obama to ensure
that US foreign policy reflects an understanding of the "genocide" and
to label the mass killings as such in his annual statement on the
issue.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed during World
War I by their Ottoman rulers as the empire was falling apart, a claim
supported by several other countries.

Turkey argues 300,000-500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in what was a civil strife when Armenians rose up for
independence and sided with invading Russian troops.

Turkey recalled its ambassador from the United States after the vote
and has warned that ties will suffer.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also warned that the US
resolution raised the "the risk of stopping" the bridge-building
efforts with Armenia.

The signing of the Armenia-Turkey agreements was hailed
internationally but ratification by both countries’ parliaments has
since stalled as the two sides have traded accusations of trying to
modify the deal.

Russian commercial pilots ordered out of Iran

06.03.2010 17:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran has given Russian commercial pilots working in
the Islamic Republic two months to leave the country as it has no need
for them, Transport Minister Hamid Behbahani has been quoted as
saying.

The move is a further sign of strains between Iran and Russia, which
has indicated it could back new sanctions against Tehran over its
disputed nuclear work. For its part, Iran has voiced frustration over
Moscow’s failure to deliver a defense missile system.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars News Agency said the idea to order the
Russian pilots to leave the country gained momentum after a
Russian-made aircraft caught fire as it landed in northeastern Iran in
January, injuring more than 40 people.

The plane belonged to Iran’s Taban airline but the pilot was Russian,
Fars said. It did not say how many Russians currently worked as pilots
for Iranian airlines.

"Upon an order from the president [Mahmud Ahmadinejad], the Road and
Transport Ministry has set a two-month deadline, upon the expiry of
which all Russian pilots will have to leave the country," Behbahani
said.

"When our country itself possesses plenty of professional and
specialist pilots, there is no need to bring in pilots from abroad,"
he told Fars.

Iran has suffered a string of crashes in the past few decades, many
involving Russian-made aircraft.

In 2009 a Tupolev aircraft flying to Armenia caught fire in midair and
crashed, killing all 168 people on board.

U.S. sanctions against Iran have prevented it from buying new aircraft
or spare parts from the West, forcing it to supplement its ageing
fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes with aircraft from Russia and other
former Soviet states.

Behbahani said about 120 aircraft out of 193 planes in Iran’s
commercial fleet were currently active, with the rest grounded for one
reason or another.

Russia, which has significant trade ties with Iran, is among six world
powers trying to find a diplomatic solution to the long-running
dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Moscow has indicated it could support new sanctions against Iran
provided they are not too severe. Iran denies Western accusations that
its nuclear work is aimed at developing bombs.

Iranian officials have voiced growing frustration at Russia’s failure
to supply the advanced S-300 missile defense system, which Israel and
the United States do not want Tehran to have. Russia last month said
it would not sell weapons if it leads to destabilization in any
region, Reuters reported.