Author: Tigranian Ani

President Serzh Sargsyan says no encroachment on NKR to be allowed

Panorama.am
13:29 28/11/2009

During his address at the ARP 12th Congress today the Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan referred to the Armenian-Turkish
normalization and Nagorno-Karabakh settlement and once again
reconfirmed that the Armenian-Turkish normalization assumes no
preconditions.

President said that the Armenian-Turkish normalization doesn’t mean
suspension of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
but just vice versa, the normalization will contribute to the earliest
recognition.

In his address Serzh Sargsyan highlighted that in the normalization
process we should be very resolute.

President said NKR is for the peaceful regulation of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and the Armenian party will allow no encroachment on
Karabakh, and in case of the latter, harsh measures will follow.

`Both with Turkey and Azerbaijan Armenia’s national and state
interests will be a priority and above all,’ President said.

Serzh Sargsyan also referred to Armenia’s inner-political,
social-economic and other issues.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting IWPR, UK
Nov 27 2009

ARMENIA SURPRISED BY ANTI-RUSSIAN AGITATION

Emails and text messages seek to spark campaign over military bases.

By Naira Melkumyan in Yerevan

A burst of anti-Russian emails and text messages, supposedly sent from
an Armenian activist group, has left Armenians baffled as to who’s
behind it and what their motives are.

The emails and text messages originate from an organisation calling
itself Hayastanci: Anti-Russia, and thousands of Armenians have
received them.

`I got an email with the subject It linked to
various anti-Russian materials saying that the presence of a Russian
military base in Armenia takes away our sovereignty and makes it
impossible for Armenia to enter other alliances and groups, like the
European Union,’ said Vardan Papikian, a Yerevan resident and one of
the many contacted by the group.

`After that I received a text message from my mobile operator with a
request that I forward a message with the address of the anti-Russian
site to my friends.’

Russia has kept a military base in Armenia since 1995, when it was
founded on the site of a previous Soviet installation, and it has been
a key link in Russia’s defensive chain since Georgia forced it to
close its bases there. Armenian politicians are close to their Russian
counterparts, and the anti-Russian agitation was greeted with
bemusement in a country used to friendship with Moscow.

A spokesman for Russian-owned VivaCell-MTS, the mobile company via
which the text messages were sent, said it had no connection to the
agitation and that anyone with internet access could send text
messages that appear to come from the provider.

`The client thinks the message is from the mobile operator, but in
fact the company could not use the network for such purposes,’ said
Vahe Isahakian.

Internet security experts said it was easy to register a website on
the .org domain, and that it could be very hard to discover the site’s
real owner.

`The site is registered to one Gurgen Pinosian, but the registration
information is obviously false. For example, the address is listed
with the non-existent address Hakarusastyan Street, 1,’ said an
Armenian computer security blogger called Rafael.

IWPR managed to communicate with Armen Ghazarian, the head of the
movement, via email, but he declined to comment on his motives. He
said he was currently in Georgia but intended to return in the near
future.

`I don’t consider it sensible to reply to your questions at the moment
or to tell you the number of direct participants in our movement in
Yerevan. They have been ordered not to take action at the moment,
since the regime has ordered a campaign against our movement,’ he
said.

`I can say only that our movement is not organised enough at the
moment. However, we have many members and supporters. Since 2002, the
regime’s security services have detained me and my relatives several
times in Yerevan. The serious persecution of me and our movement began
in 2007, and we could not even hold a press conference.’

In the absence of further information, Armenians were reduced to
speculating as to why such a site, aimed at spoiling relations between
Armenia and its closest ally, should appear now.

Apart from Russia’s military base, Moscow has significant economic
ties to Armenia. Both of the Armenian mobile companies ` VivaCell-MTS
and Armentel ` are owned by Russian companies, while other major
assets, such as 80 per cent of the energy network and the country’s
nuclear power plant, are also Russian-controlled.

Samvel Martirosian, an expert in information security, said the new
campaign could be connected to Azerbaijan since it also appeared to be
aiming to separate Armenians in Armenia from their ethnic kin in
Nagorny Karabakh, which has broken free of Baku’s control.

`When you are talking about the internet it is hard to know who is
really behind something. I am 90 per cent sure this is Azerbaijani
propaganda, an attempt to put pressure on Armenians via Armenians,’ he
said.

He also pointed out that since the middle of the summer, hacker
attacks on Armenian government websites had intensified and become
more ambitious.

Sergei Shakariants, a political commentator, linked the site to
Georgia as well. He said the campaign could be part of an intensifying
battle for influence in the South Caucasus, where Turkey is also
seeking to gain sway via a peace process with Armenia.

`There is a group of paid agitators who earn their wages by such
operations, including over the internet, which contain anti-Russian
propaganda characteristic of Georgia and Azerbaijan. In our region the
battle for influence is intensifying, and the last redoubt of
non-anti-Russian feeling is Armenia,’ he said.

But other experts pointed to a simpler cause. They speculated that the
rise in Russian racist violence, which is often targeted against
Armenians and other people from the Caucasus, who typically have
darker skin and hair than ethnic Russians, could have angered some
Armenian web-users.

According to the Russian human rights group the Centre for Information
and Analysis, SOVA, 109 foreigners were murdered in Russia in 2008,
including 25 from the Caucasus. So far in 2009, 49 foreigners have
been murdered, including 11 from the Caucasus.

`We can speculate that there is circular xenophobia, which consists
of, for example, Armenian citizens becoming victims of racist
aggression in Russia. On returning to Armenia, they employ their
nationalist aggression against Russians, Russian-speakers or Russia in
general,’ said Galina Kozhevnikova, SOVA’s vice-president.

Ara Saghatelian, director of the Armenian president’s information
centre, said the authorities were monitoring the internet and forcing
sites to remove harmful material. He said that in the last two months,
YouTube had taken down around 1,300 videos deemed to be anti-Armenian.

`We are watching those measures initiated specifically by our
well-known neighbouring country and which are aimed against the
informational interests of Armenia, and we are taking steps to oppose
those measures,’ he said.

Naira Melkumyan is a freelance journalist in Yerevan and a member of
IWPR’s Cross Caucasus Journalism Network.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS SHIMIZU CORPORATION LEADERSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian attended
the headquarters of Shimizu Corporation in Tokyo to discuss the
programs implemented by the Corporation in RA.

He also met with members of Armenia-Japan friendship association.

Development of Armenian-Japanese relations was in focus of talks.

TECHNICAL TROUBLES IN YEREVAN METROPOLITAN

Aysor
Nov 26 2009
Armenia

Aysor.am received information from the Yeritasardakan station of
Yerevan underground that it is around half an hour that there is no
train going to G. Nzhdeh station. The employees of the Yeritasardakan
station to the question which is the reason of the delay of the
train answered: "And we are wondering why the stream of the people
is unilateral".

While the train was being late the number of the people was increasing
at the station. The queue was so big that many of them were standing
in queue for going out from the station.

Ninel Vardanyan the press secretary of the "Yerevan Metropoliten
after K. Demirchyan" told to Aysor.am that is not informed about
the trouble, then some minutes later checking with the deputy of
the security service the reason answered that there was a technical
trouble the electricity was gone, now it will start working.

To the question why the employees of Yeritasardakan and other stations,
as well as the passengers have not been informed was no answer.

"SARGSYAN PLEDGED TO WITHDRAW ARMENIAN TROOPS"

9/11/25/jirayr-sefilyan
25/11/09

Jirayr Sefilyan, commander of the Shushi special military brigade and
one of the founders of Sardarapat Initiative, thinks Serzh Sargsyan
pledged to withdraw Armenian troops from the liberated territories
during a recent meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
in Munich.

Only a few days before the meeting Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
announced they would not resume negotiations unless the Armenian side
removed the troops from the "occupied territories."

In fact, the Azerbaijani side didn’t stop the talks after the Munich
meeting which means Armenia gave pledges to them," Jirayr Sefilyan
told A1+.

He thinks that in the talks Azerbaijan uses the method of blackmail
against Armenia and dictates its will to us.

"We need not see a signed document to understand that the regime is
going to surrender our lands. The point is that the Armenian side is
losing day by day and it will be hard for us to regain the lost."

In reply to Azerbaijan’s warlike announcements, Jirayr Sefilian said,
"Azerbaijanis should realize that if they wage a war it will end
with Azerbaijan’s capitulation. Azerbaijan is deluded if it relies on
our buffoon authorities and their myrmidon top brass since Armenians
still preserve the potential they displayed in 1994.

Serzh Sargsyan realizes that he has taken treacherous steps and has
appeared in an awkward situation. He knows that Armenians treat the
liberated territories as a sanctuary and he is afraid of it.

On the other hand, Serzh Sargsyan has promised the international
community to obey their orders. Today Mr. Sargsyan faces a dilemma
for he cannot meet the demands of his people or foreigners. The only
thing to do in the given situation is to resign office, I think."

OPENING OF ARMENIA-TURKEY BORDER WILL NOT AFFECT EFFICIENCY OF BAKU-TBILISI-KARS RAILWAY: AZERBAIJANI TRANSPORT MINISTRY

Today
57739.html
Nov 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Azerbaijani Deputy Transport Minister Musa
Panahov.

Day.Az: At what stage are works to build Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars
railway?

Musa Panahov: Work is underway in the construction site to establish
a new connection. I mean the 26 kilometers of new railway which is
laid to connect the border with Turkey to counter a branch under
construction. The construction work is much more intense in Georgia
than ever before. We have stepped up the pace of construction and
involved extra forces from a contractor. Overhaul of the section
from Marabda to Akhalkalaki station has completed. In other words,
the project documents are ready.

The project is implemented in three lots. A tender has been opened to
overhaul a section from Marabda to Tetritskaro. About 30 kilometers
of railway needs to be repaired. The winner of the tender will deal
with overhaul of this section. This section of the railway must also
be ready for tasks laid down in the draft to ensure large volumes of
traffic in future.

Accordingly, tenders will be opened in early 2010 for overhaul
of other sections up to Akhalkalaki. Akhalkalaki interchangeable
station is being projected at the moment. So, we will announce a
tender for construction of the new station of Akhalkalaki in the
middle of next year.

Q: So, you say everything is going on according to schedule?

A: Yes, everything is going according to schedule. We will complete
the project in the first half of 2012.

Q: In recent months, there were views that Azerbaijan may limit funds
for the construction of its part due to warming of Turkish-Armenian
relations. Are there any grounds for such an assumption?

A: There is no any reason for such statements. Our work is moving
forward in accordance with schedule despite cost of the project
has increased. The prices on building materials rose as soon as the
project began to be implemented. I believe cost of the project will
continue to rise to some extent. This is due mainly to the fact that
reconstruction and overhaul of the previously existing 160-kilometer
stretch requires more funds.

Q: What are your views about political experts’ statements
claiming that this international project may lose significance once
Armenia-Turkey border is opened?

A: All current and future factors were taken into consideration when
the draft and feasibility study of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway
project were developed.

This project is independent of the question whether the border
between Turkey and Armenia will open. This is absolutely independent,
self-sufficient transportation project that will operate very
efficiently. So, opening of borders will not have a negative affect
on economic viability of the project. The construction work will
continue under any circumstances.

Q: You mean the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars can not lose its economic
value after political changes?

A: Yes. Because this project is economically efficient and it will
operate even if the borders with Armenia are opened. Indeed, there are
old Soviet railway of international importance which connect Azerbaijan
to Turkey via Armenia. However, (even excluding all political points)
it will be necessary to overhaul the section in the territory of
Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia in order to make it work.

That is about 200 kilometers of railway, which needs to be fully
overhauled as Armenians have looted infrastructure and almost destroyed
the railroad. Rebuilding 200 km-section will cost more than the project
we are implementing at the moment. It will also take very long time.

TURKPA SHOULD PROTECT TURKIC INTERESTS: OFFICIAL

Trend
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkish-speaking countries (TurkPA)
must develop efficient mechanisms to work within international
organizations to address issues affecting the interests of Turkic
peoples, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Vice Speaker Bahar Muradova said at
a summit of the European Azerbaijani Congress and Azerbaijani-Turkish
Diaspora Organization Coordination Council, the Azerbaijani State
Committee for the Diaspora said today.

The European Azerbaijani Congress and Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora
Organization Coordination Council held a joint meeting in Frankfurt
Nov. 21-22.

Azerbaijani Parliamentary Vice Speaker Bahar Muradova and Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Social and Political Department head
Ali Hasanov participated at the meeting, as well as State Committee
for Diaspora Activities Chairman Nazim Ibrahimov, Azerbaijani
MPs Sabir Rustamkhanli and Fazil Mustafayev, several Turkish MPs,
scientists and intellectuals from the European Azerbaijani Congress
and Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organization Coordination Council.

According to Muradova, TurkPA member countries must bring the structure
to an international level, forming a parliamentary assembly composing
all such organizations across the world.

Muradova said the assembly must organize activities to form a unified
position on matters that affect the interests of Turkic-language
countries.

However, Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s solidarity is at the moment of
the utmost importance, she said. According to the official, foreign
countries are attempting to influence their relations.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were broken due
to Armenian claims of an alleged genocide and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. Their border closed in 1993.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Representatives of the Turkish government have repeatedly stated the
impossibility of opening the Turkish-Armenian border until Azerbaijani
lands are de-occupied.

SAMVEL NIKOYAN: NO LAW ON GENOCIDE DENIAL NEEDED IN ARMENIA

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) will show determination
in getting the RA Parliament to consider a bill that provides for
punishment for denying the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, Hrair
Gasparyan, the member of the ARF Executive Council and Chairman of
the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, told NEWS.am.

According to him, the bill is of not only criminal and moral
importance, but also political importance. "Many European countries
where relevant laws are in effect cannot understand why Armenia itself
has not such a law," Karapetyan said. He pointed out that the ARF
agreed to the postponement of consideration to come to terms with
the Government, as the Parliament’s rejecting the bill will have
extremely negative consequences for the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. "But, I say again, the ARF will show
determination," Karapetyan said.

Samvel Nikoyan, the Vice-Speaker of the RA Parliament and member of the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said that laws are normally adopted
then necessary. "Are there any people denying the Armenian Genocide in
our society? If not, we do not need such a law. If we adopt such a law,
they abroad may think that there is a tendency toward Genocide denial
in Armenia. Also, imagine the bill is on the agenda, and heated debate
over it takes place, what will be the comments by the international
community, Turkey and Azerbaijan. So I do not think it is necessary
to put such documents on the agenda and discuss them," Nikoyan said.

The Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, RA Parliament,
postponed the consideration of the ARF-submitted bill for 90 days.

VISIT OF NKR DELEGATION TO U.S. GOES ON

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

The visit of NKR delegation headed by Ara Harutyunyan in the framework
of annual pan-Armenian telethon is in progress.

Nov. 22 Harutyunyan had an official meeting with benefactors Levon
and Ashkhen Arsenyans, Gevorg Voskanyan and Rafik Khachatryan,
Information and PR Department of NKR Government informs.

In the course of the meeting the officials discussed issues on
implementation of different programs. Harutyunyan thanked the
benefactors for their assistance pointing out that their patriotism
inspires Karabakhi people.

The Executive Director of "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund Ara Vardanyan,
Head of Information Department of NKR Presidential Staff David
Babayan and Permanent Representative of NKR in U.S. Robert Avetisyan
also attended the meeting. The same day NKR delegation took part in
solemn reception dedicated to Telethon – 2009, organized by "Hayastan"
All-Armenian Fund. About 350 representatives of social and business
circles of Armenian Community were also present. The Prime Minister
Ara Harutyunyan and Leader of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church Archbishop Parkev Martirosyan made a point of all
Armenian solidarity reinforcement, resolution of national issues by
joint efforts, necessity to restore and enlivening Shoushi.

CYPRUS TALKS CONTINUE WITH ‘GOOD WILL’

FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE
23.Nov.09

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has underlined
that efforts to reunify Cyprus and its people will continue with
persistence and good will.

In an address at a mass at the Armenian Church in Nicosia, read out
by Deputy Minister to the President Titos Christofides, President
Christofias stressed "we remain committed to our goals for the creation
of a peaceful, united and prosperous homeland for all its citizens,
Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins".

He reiterated that "efforts to reunify Cyprus and its people will
continue with persistence and good will, asserting our rights based on
principles. We pursue a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single
sovereignty, citizenship and international personality as well as
unified economic institutions".

Referring to the Armenian people living in Cyprus, he said that "tight
bonds of friendship and common struggles describe the historic paths
of Greek Cypriots and Armenians in our country".

"Cyprus and its people have always been present to the important
historic times of the Armenian people", he said.

The Cypriot President recalled that Cyprus was the first European
state, which adopted a resolution recognising the Armenian Genocide.

The religious groups in Cyprus, he said, are an important part of
Cyprus and enrich its multicultural society.

President Christofias reassured that the government does its utmost
to contribute to maintaining he religious groups` identities.