Author: Torgomian Varazdat

ANCA: OBAMA-BIDEN VICTORY POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR U.S. RECOGNITION OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Yerkir.am
November 06, 2008

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed
President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden’s
historic win as a new and powerful opportunity for American recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, stronger U.S.-Armenia relations, and U.S.
support for a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict that respects
its citizensâ?¬?¢ right to self-determination.

The ANCA also welcomed the election yesterday of 94% of the
Congressional candidates it had endorsed in House and Senate races.

The victory of Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden stands as a
testament to the strength of grassroots activism across the United
States committed to change,stated ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.

Starting with the ANCA’s endorsement of Senator Obama in January of
this year, Armenian Americans in battleground states – organized by an
extremely effective and far-reaching Armenians for Obama operation –
played a critical role in bringing Armenian American Democrats,
Independents and a surprisingly large percentage of Republicans to the
Obama-Biden ticket on Election Day. Our pre-election polls showed
between 80 and 85% support for Obama-Biden in our community, a very
strong showing, particularly in a community well represented across the
American political spectrum, and a testament to the fact that Armenian
Americans are willing to cross party lines to support pro-Armenian
candidates."

"In many ways, this election marked the emergence of the Armenian
American community as a powerful and broadly respected Presidential
election constituency, one that is able – through grassroots efforts,
campaign professionals, fundraising, media outreach, and
get-out-the-vote – to help tip the balance in a close national contest
toward the candidate best positioned to reflect our views and values,"
concluded Hachikian.

President-elect Obama was consistently strong in his outreach to
Armenian American voters, issuing a powerful statement in January,
2008, voicing his vigorous support for passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution and pledging that, as President, he would recognize the
Armenian Genocide. The Presidential hopeful also reaffirmed his support
for a strong U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common
security and strengthens Armenian democracy.Unlike other candidates, he
also pledged to â?¬Â`promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the
Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and
durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict that is agreeable
to all parties, and based upon America’s founding commitment to the
principles of democracy and self determination.

President-Elect Obama restated his pledge on two subsequent occasions,
the last one in the form of a fact sheet issued just four days before
the Presidential election, which stated in no uncertain terms Barack
Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
(H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

IF YOU WANT TO COME TO POWER START FROM COMMUNITIES

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
08 Nov 08
Armenia

`The policy pursued by the pro-oppositional forces in terms of
party-construction is incomplete. Independent of the fact whether the
political force is at the helm of state or in the pro-oppositional
domain they must have structures in all the provinces or at least big
towns.

And it is natural if the leader of the initial structure of the party
nominates his candidacy. Otherwise this structure will turn into a
family contract and they will never know how many votes and how many
supporters they have got in their area.

Whereas there is a parliamentary party, which has nominated 10
candidates in more than 800 communities, because if you want to come to
power you must try your power in the communities,’ CEC Chairman Garegin
Azaryan believes.

THE REPETITION OF THE OLD TRICK

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
08 Nov 08
Armenia

According to Ruben Hakobyan Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s decision on
discontinuing the demonstrations allegedly not to hinder the process of
the settlement of Karabakh conflict is not believable: `This reminds me
of 1998, when L. Ter-Petrosyan resigned. At that time his formulation
was like this `there are contradictions inside the ruling power
regarding Karabakh issue, which is why I decided to resign.’ But the
real reason was that he was not a legitimate President and he found a
civilized option to leave.

The same is for today. The movement has lost its force and over again
L. Ter-Petrosyan found a gorgeous option to stop the demonstrations,
saying that he is doing it based on the state interests. In my view had
he managed to gather 100 thousand people he would have never stopped
his demonstrations.’

Panorama.am

17:28 08/11/2008

KIRO MANOYAN AND HMAYAK HOVHANNISYAN TO COMMENT OBAMA’S PROMISE

Kiro Manoyan the representative of ARF Bureau Armenian Case and
political affairs says that if Obama follows his positions expressed
during the presidential campaign concerning Iran, Russian Federation
and Iraq, then the tension in the region will be eased.

Hmayak Hovhannisyan the president of Union of Politicians of Armenia
says that the fact itself is gratifying as like all other Armenians,
he also hopes that Obama will keep his promise and will recognize
Armenian Genocide.

Source: Panorama.am

US ARMENIA ENVOY ASSERTS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLE

AssA-Irada
November 4, 2008 Tuesday
Azerbaijan

The principles of territorial integrity and self-determination should
be taken into consideration in settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, the newly-appointed US Ambassador to
Armenia, Marie Yovanovitch, has said. The diplomat said the context
of Garabagh settlement is guided by both principles not only in
Washington but also in the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the peace
process. Both principles should be taken into consideration in the
peaceful resolution of the Garabagh conflict, she said.

NEXT MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS TO BE PROBABLY HELD IN TURKEY

AZG Armenian Daily
08/11/2008

Karabakh conflict

The next meeting of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian
President Serzh Sargsian will be held in the nearest future in Istanbul
on the initiative of Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Turkish "Zaman"
reported.

According to the newspaper, the issue of holding a new meeting was
discussed during Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Ankara this week. The latter
gave a positive answer to the initiative of the Turkish side.

"Now Ankara will send the proposal for holding the meeting to the
Armenian side, after which the date and the place of the meeting will
be fixed", the newspaper writes quoting from diplomatic sources.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov answered the questions
of "Zaman" mentioning that the agenda of the meeting will be fixed by
the country accepting the proposal. According to him, the discussions
between Aliyev and Sargsian will not be limited to discussions of
prospects for Karabakh conflict settlement.

REPORT CALLS FOR AZERBAIJAN REFORMS

Middle East Times
Nov 3 2008
Egypt

BRUSSELS, Nov. 3 (UPI) — Azerbaijan’s military investments have
raised concerns about a possible renewed conflict with Armenia,
a report from the International Crisis Group says.

The report by the independent non-governmental organization says
that oil wealth has enabled Azerbaijan to substantially increase its
defense budget. Officials argue that while Azerbaijan has been trying
to upgrade its military, much needed reforms have yet to take place,
the Crisis Group reported.

The report cites concerns that Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, instead of
pursuing reforms, might attempt to recover the semiautonomous region
of Nagorno-Karabakh, which could prompt a war with Armenia. Crisis
Group officials are calling on leaders of Azerbaijan to permit more
transparency of their defense sector and open a dialogue with Armenia
to avoid violence.

"It makes sense both for Azerbaijan to pursue the kind of deep reforms
of structures, laws and procedures necessary to build a truly excellent
military and for NATO and other democratic states to provide a degree
of assistance," Sabine Freizer, Crisis Group Europe program director,
said in a statement.

"However, the fundamental need is for all who profess an interest in
stability in these areas to give more priority to ensuring that it is
diplomacy, not war, that provides the answer to the still dangerous
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."

NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL LEGAL ENTITIES GROWS BY 5.2%, THAT OF PRIVATE BUSINESSMEN BY 34.94% IN ARMENIA IN PAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Nov 4, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. By data of the State Register of
Legal Entities and Private Businessmen of the RA Ministry of Justice,
2,798 commercial legal entities and 13,956 private businessmen were
registered in January-September 2008, with their total number making
58,598 and 63,263 respectively as of October 1, 2008. By data of the
RA National Statistical Service, there were 55,708 legal entities
and 46,881 private businessmen as of October 1, 2007. The number of
legal entities grew by 5.2%, that of private businessmen by 34.94%
in the past year.

747 legal entities and 1,141 private businessmen were wound up in
January-September 2008.

2,798 legal entities registered in January-September 2008 made
investments of 17 bln 808.08 mln drams (about 58 mln 230.6 thousand
USD). Investments of 9 bln 161.35 mln drams were made in 283
enterprises founded with foreign capital, including investments of
7 bln 102.42 mln drams in 167 enterprises founded by only foreign
legal entities and citizens and investments of 2 bln 58.93 mln drams
in 116 joint ventures.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: "WE HOPE THIS NEW ACTIVATION IN NEGOTIATIONS WILL OPEN NEW DOOR TOWARDS KARABAKH CONFLICT REGULATION"

ARMENPRESS
Nov 3, 2008

PARIS, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: "Meeting between Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents in Moscow was quite effective in the sense
that there was substantial discussion over Nagorno Karabakh conflict
regulation and just like the first meeting of the presidents June 6,
2008 this time as well, the meeting was constructive," Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian said today, commenting on the meeting held
November 2.

The minister said that the meeting was effective as for the first
time during the 14 years a joint declaration has been signed between
Armenia and Azerbaijan on the level of presidents.

"Declaration is not an agreement, but it is important in respect that
it pointed out the importance of political regulation of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and continuation of the mediatory efforts of the
Minsk Group. Besides, it underscores the importance of international
guarantees which must guide the regulation process. It must be noted
that it was the initiative of the Russian president, and Russia is one
of the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group and has always
had a very constructive role in the peaceful process. This initiative
was very important for opening new round for the activation of the
negotiations," the foreign minister said, adding that the presidents
tasked the foreign ministers to activate the negotiations.

Edward Nalbandian noted that after signing of the declaration, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan had a substantial meeting with the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs, who are planning to visit the region – Armenia,
Karabakh, Azerbaijan – in near future to continue the negotiations
and activate the process.

"Today Armenian president is already in Paris, tomorrow he will meet
with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. France is also co-chairing
country and with the president of this country the results of the
negotiations between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, joined by
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, will be discussed. Tomorrow meetings
will also be conducted with French prime minister and chairman of
the Senate. We hope that this new process, this new activation in
the negotiation process will really open a new door towards the
regulation," Edward Nalbandian pointed out.

PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, AND RUSSIA SIGN DECLARATION ON NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE

Noyan Tapan

Nov 3, 2008

MOSCOW, NOVEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting of Presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev took place on November
2 in Moscow. The process of Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement was
on meeting’s agenda. According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan
by RA President’s Press Office, this was S. Sargsyan’s and I. Aliyev’s
second meeting this year. The first meeting took place on June 6, 2008
in Saint Petersburg, within the framework of CIS member-countries’
unofficial summit.

After the tete-a-tete conversation of Armenian and Azeri Presidents,
the negotiations continued with the participation of Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev.

S. Sargsyan, I. Aliyev, and D. Medvedev signed a Declaration as a
result of the meeting. OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Yuri Merzliakov,
Matthew Bryza, Bernard Fassier and Personal Representative of OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk were present at the signing
ceremony.

The same day S. Sargsyan met with OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

The delegation led by the RA President will leave Moscow for France
on a two-day working visit on November 3. S. Sargsyan will meet French
President Nicolas Sarkosy, Prime Minister Francois Fillon, and Senate
Chairman Gerard Larcher in Paris. He will also meet with famous singer,
National Hero of the Republic of Armenia Charles Aznavour in Paris.