Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2008

Co-chairs make statement on Nagorno Karabakh conflict

[ 04 Dec 2008 15:40 ]

Helsinki. Tamara Grigorieva`APA. Foreign ministers of OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair countries ` Russia and France Sergei Lavrov and Bernard
Kouchner, as well as US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried made
statement on Nagorno Karabakh conflict, APA correspondent in Helsinki
reports.

The top diplomats called on the sides of Nagorno Karabakh conflict to
use constructive and positive impulse created at the presidents’
meeting in Moscow.

`Moscow Declaration opened a new far reaching phase for peace
achievement in the region. The presidents confirmed their commitment
to the peaceful solution based on the Madrid principles. We call on
the sides to make efforts to complete the work on the basic principles
in the few next months and then to prepare draft peace agreement on
this basis. We call on to carry out measures toward the mutual trust
and to withdraw snipers from the line of contact to save lives of
militaries and civilians. It is necessary that the sides work with
each other and the co-chairs as well. We are stating once more that
there is no military way of solution to the conflict and calling on
the sides to confirm their loyalty to the peaceful solution’.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN: IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE NORMAL LIFE FOR BOTH AZERIS AND ARMENIANS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2008-12-05 20:17:00

ArmInfo. The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh continues to be a serious
source of instability. The Moscow Declaration is an important
document. Our presidents have declared that they will seek to resolve
the conflict in the framework of the international law. And in all
documents of the international law Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
is mentioned as basic principle, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mamedyarov said during a meeting of the OSCE foreign ministers.

Day.az quotes Mamedyarov to say that "the meeting of the OSCE FMs is
taking place in a symbolic place – a place where the OSCE was set up
and we must reconfirm our adherence to the principles of the Helsinki
Final Act. We must recognize the principle of territorial integrity
of states and their sovereignty in the light of the last developments."

"Azerbaijan believes that the OSCE has a special role in peace
making. It has big experience in conflict settlement and post-conflict
management and this potential must be employed. For the time being the
OSCE is focused on human rights issues but we advocate a more balanced
agenda. The settlement of the conflict must create a favorable
economic situation in the whole region. The Moscow Declaration
calls for enhancing confidence, ensuring normal life for Azeris and
Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, encouraging their communication and
cooperation. We hope that the Armenians understand and share our
position," Mamedyarov said.

VIC DARCHINIAN AWARDED "ANDRANIK OZANIAN" MEDAL OF THE RA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Noyan Tapan

Dec 4, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian minister of defence
Seyran Ohanian on December 4 received the current boxing champion
of the world Vic (Vakhtang) Darchinian. The minister attached great
importance to V. Darchinian’s contribution to development of Armenian
boxing, saying that thanks to him the Armenian tricolor was raised
at many championships, and the younger generation should be brought
up by seeing such examples.

At the end of the meeting S. Ohanian presented V. Darchinian with
a symbolic sword. Then the minister handed the boxer an "Andranik
Ozanian" medal of the RA ministry of defence for winning the title
of the absolute champion of the world, upholding the sport honor
of Armenia at international competitions, and contributing to the
development of boxing in Armenia.

"PEACE AND SPORT IMAGE OF THE YEAR" AWARD TO THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND TURKEY

armradio.am
05.12.2008 14:45

During the "Peace and Sport Awards" ceremony in Monaco the "Peace and
Sport Image of the Year" Award for the best image of fraternization
through sport was awarded for a photograph of the historic handshake
between the President of the Republic of Turkey Abdullah Gul and the
President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, during the qualifying match
for the Football World Cup between Turkey and Armenia, the Sports
Features Communications reported. Thanks to football, this moment
marked the end of nearly two decades of diplomatic silence.

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco presented the award jointly to
Armen Grigorian, Armenian Minister of Youth and Sport, and to Mahmut
Ozgener, President of the Turkish Football Federation, who exchanged
long greetings on stage, creating a moment of intense emotion amongst
spectators.

Joel Bouzou and David Tomatis, CEO of Sportel, acclaimed the photograph
as "a symbol of hope for two communities whose history has been marked
by hostility and pain."

In a letter sent to Peace and Sport, the Armenian President Mr
Sargsyan proclaimed himself "deeply moved to hear the Grand Jury’s
decision to attribute the Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award to
his handshake with Turkish President Mr Gul." He added that he was
convinced that "Sport is one of the best ways to overcome differences
between nations".

ARMENIA WILL NEED $3 BILLION TO RAISE THE ASEISMIC STABILITY OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
03.12.2008 14:58

Armenia was the first country to adopt aseismic construction norms
in post-Soviet period. Before that the norms accepted in the Soviet
Union led to the disastrous consequences of the 1988 Spitak earthquake.

Twenty years have passed. Rector of the Crisis Management Academy
Hamlet Matevosyan recalls those dreadful December days from the
distance of time.

"It was a very hard situation, we faced many difficulties. Everything
was destroyed, relatives of the victims did not want to leave their
houses."

"However, earthquake is not dangerous when the high-rise buildings
are aseismic," Director of the National Survey for Seismic Protection
Alvaro Antonyan told "Radiolur." He added that more than $3 billion is
needed to raise the aseismic stability of the buildings constructed
in Soviet times. This is, however, more than the annual budget of
the Republic of Armenia.

"Rather we lay the emphasis on substituting the old buildings with
new ones. Here the question refers to capital Yerevan, which is two
densely populated," Alvaro Antonyan said. Asked whether the newly
constructed buildings are aseismic, he gave a positive answer, not
ruling out, however, that in some cases the laws may be ignored.

Over the recent years it has become fashionable to add new=2 0stories
on the roofs of high-rise buildings. This is another source of
danger. Who gives the permission to the citizens? Alvaro Antonyan
assured the NSSP does not give any permission and noted that it is
given by construction companies. To fill the gap the NSSP has several
times come forth with a legislative initiative, but in vain.

ARMENIAN EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN THE CHRISTMAS CHARITY BAZAAR IN ATHENS

armradio.am
02.12.2008 17:30

The 9th International Christmas Exhibition and Sale was held at
the HELEXPO exhibition center of Athens of November 29-30. It was
organized by the "Friends of the child" charity union, wives of the
Ambassadors accredited in Greece and female Ambassadors. All in all,
33 Embassies participated in the event.

Like the previous years, the Armenian Embassy of Greece brought its
contribution by allocating the sum gathered from the sale of Armenian
goods to the programs of the "Friends of the child" union.

"CONFLICTS SHOULD NOT BE PASSED ON TO THE GENERATIONS"

AZG Armenian Daily
03/12/2008

Armenia-Turkey-Azerbaijan

"Anka ra is interested in continuation of the diplomatic steps towards
settlement of all the conflicts", Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
announced during his visit to Baku. "We discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani
and Armenian-Turkish relations as a complex", Babacan said at
a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar
Mammadyarov commenting on the possibility of opening the borders
with Armenia. According to him, Baku and Ankara regularly exchange
information on the meetings.

"Issues of the Genocide, land claims and Karabakh conflict will
be settled in a joint format. These issues are inseparable", said
the diplomat.

"Russian-Georgian relations were also discussed at the meeting with
Mammadyarov", Babacan added.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: MACROECONOMIC SITUATION IN ARMENIA EVALUATED AS SUSTAINABLE AND PREDICTABLE

ArmInfo
2008-12-02 16:25:00

ArmInfo. Despite the expanding world economic crisis, Armenia still
hopes for maintaining high rates of economic growth and low inflation,
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said at the 10th meeting of the
Presidential Atomic Energy Council Tuesday.

He said that high capitalization of Armenian banks may soften the
damage caused by the crisis. ‘We understand that it is impossible
to avoid the crisis, however, it is possible to minimize the loss’,
the president said. Today the macroeconomic situation in the country
is evaluated at sustainable and predictable in general.

NKR Prime Minister Met with Culture Employees

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department

November 28, 2008

On November 27, the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan met with
employees of the NKR Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs. L.Hakobyan,
the NKR Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs and the Deputy Minister
G.Grigoryan were present at the meeting. Attaching importance to the
role of culture in the deal of state construction and spiritual
development the Prime Minister emphasized that the sphere of culture
was and remains in the center of the country’s leadership’s attention.
Introducing red tape and bureaucratic problems of the sphere, in
particular, in ensembles, which take a great deal of artistic
directors’ creative time, the Prime Minister presented his own version
of the problem’s solution- to unite all ensembles in all its’ genre
variety into one whole noncommercial organization and to appoint a
common manager, coordinating activities of the ensembles included in
it. The Prime Minister added that it will allow, at the same time, to
increase salaries of ensemble members.
After the Prime Minister’ brief report, directors-artistic managers
of pop-folk ensemble "Vernatun", State Dance Ensemble, pop, chamber and
other state ensembles presented their viewpoints and proposals then the
Premier expressed gratitude to meeting participants and announced that
all their proposals and considerations will be taken into account.

EU DOESN’T COMPEL COUNTRIES TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2008 15:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some 10 years ago, South Caucasus countries were
far away from the European Union, according to the head of delegation
of the European Commission to Armenia.

"At that time, we created a new vision for cooperation with eastern
partners and launched the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), although
it was not an easy move," Mr. Raul de Luzenberger said during ‘European
Union and South Caucasus – A Security Partnership?’ international
conference in Yerevan today.

"Despite various differences between EU members and partners, there
is also much in common," he said.

"We offered our partners to use our experience in democracy and
security building. Each partner was offered a joint reform program. The
Action Plan is a package of proposals, implementation of which in
corpore can produce effect," Mr. de Luzenberger said, adding that
the EU compel countries to European integration and it’s up to the
partners whether they want to get close to Union or not.