Author: Torgomian Varazdat

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.

AZERI OFFICIAL HAILS DECLARATION WITH ARMENIA ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Hurriyet
Nov 3 2008
Turkey

A joint declaration by the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents
on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very significant
and reflects all aspects of the talks, a high level Azeri official
was quoted by Azerbaijan’s Trend News as saying Monday.

Armenian President and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev signed
a declaration at the end of their meeting in Moscow on Sunday, and
called for a "peaceful resolution" to their dispute over the province
of Nagorno-Karabakh on the basis of "binding international guarantees".

"There is no need to look for something new in signing of the
document. The talks still continue and the document indicates their
significance. Foundation is needed to be laid to shift to next stage,"
Khazar Ibrahim, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan,
told reporters.

"Oral statements are usually followed by the signing of a document. It
was necessary to sign the document. Azerbaijan is determined to
continue talks. The next stages of the talks are not known yet,"
Ibrahim said.

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began in 1988 on Armenian
territorial claims over Azerbaijan.

Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20 percent of
Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven
surrounding districts, displacing 10 percent of the Azeri population
in the series of bloody clashes both between and within the two
neighboring countries.

In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group are currently holding peaceful negotiations.

Nearly 30,000 were killed in the 1990s war over the enclave and
soldiers on both sides continue to exchange sporadic fire, claiming
lives.

BRYZA WELCOMES DECLARATION Matthew Bryza, the American co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group, also said the declaration is a very important
step towards resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"It is constructive character and contains several important items –
a solution to the conflict only through political means and the point
that the country would solve the conflict, together with the OSCE
Minsk Group," Bryza told Trend News.

The declaration would give the co-chairs the space and opportunities
for further successful negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, he said.

RUSSIA KEEN TO MAINTAIN INFLUENCE The Kremlin says that the principle
position of Russia in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement is that the
final choice regarding the status of disputed territories must be
made by Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

Moscow also says it would support a solution that satisfies both
sides and is ready to act as a settlement guarantor.

Analysts say Moscow is keen to maintain influence in Armenia, its
main ally in the Caucasus, after the conflict between Russia and
U.S.-allied Georgia in August raised tensions throughout the region.

The August war, which began when Georgia attacked its own breakaway
enclave of South Ossetia, raised fears of similar violence in
Nagorno-Karabakh.

THE DECLARATION SIGNED IN MOSCOW IS A SUCCESS OF ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY IN SOME SENSE, DEPUTY FROM RPA THINKS

ArmInfo
2008-11-03 13:55:00

ArmInfo. The Declaration on Karabakh conflict signed in Moscow is a
success of the Armenian diplomacy in some sense, press-secretary of
the RPA Eduard Sharmazanov told Arminfo correspondent.

‘The three main positive points have been fixed in the Declaration –
the first – Karabakh conflict settlement only peacefully, second –
settlement process remains in the former format of the OSCE minsk
Group and third – the Karabakh conflict should be settled only within
the frames of international law’, – he said.

Sharmazanov said the first point of the Declaration fully rules out
force application by Azerbaijan. The second is an answer to all the
statements and rumours spread by certain political forces of Armenia
that ‘the negotiating process is beyond the frames of the OSCE MG
format’. And the third gives some ground to say that settlement of
the conflict within the frames of the international law gives us hope
on the option acceptable for the Armenian party within the frame of
people’s right on self-determination.

‘All the three points are acceptable for the RPA. We have always said
about it. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan also said about it in his
speech at UN. These points are the result of Armenian foreign policy
conducted by our president’, – Sharmazanov concluded.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 29 2008

AZERBAIJAN UNRUFFLED BY ARMENIAN DRILLS

The Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has termed the military exercises held
by Armenian armed forces in the occupied territories on Saturday as
weak, citing the low belligerent spirit of the servicemen. It also
dismissed Armenian claims that new military machinery was used during
the drills. Azerbaijani parliament members regarded the exercises
primarily as a step aimed at domestic policy.

MP Aydin Mirzazada said that after the wave of mass protests in
Armenia which were put down with the use of force, President Serzh
Sarkisian is trying to legitimize his authorities and to increase
public confidence in him. On the other hand, Yerevan is indignant over
Russias stepping up effort of late at resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and its holding discussions in this
regard with Azerbaijan. Armenia, which has no say in the region, is
trying to air its grievances by holding military exercises and thus
remind everyone about its presence. Another MP, Gultakin Hajiyeva,
agreed that by holding exercises, Armenia, which is trying to create
an impression that it has a powerful military, aims to allay public
dissent and form public opinion that it has no intention to make
concessions on the Garabagh settlement. Movses Akopian, the "defense
minister" of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic, earlier
claimed the self-styled entity’s army had for the first time trained
attack maneuvering during the exercises held in the occupied
Azerbaijani territories, in order to ward off the threat posed to the
security of Garabagh. He also maintained that "Upper Garabagh’s
servicemen will not wait for the day Azerbaijan attacks."

Upper Garabagh is an Azeri region occupied by Armenia since a 1994
cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an estimated
30,000 people and ousted about a million Azeris out of their
homes. Years of peace talks have brought little tangible result.

ARMENIA APPEARS IN THE GROUP OF HYBRID COUNTRIES

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
01 Nov 08
Armenia

The research group of the British `Economist’ periodical has published
the `Democracy Index-2008′ report. In the list of the countries
included in the paper, Armenia ranks as the 113rd state. In 2007, it
ranked as the 117th state.

In the 2008 report, 30 countries are estimated as democratic. According
to the research, 14 percent of the world’s population lives in fully
democratic states. In 50 countries, in which 35 percent of the world’s
population lives, democracy is considered fragile. There are 36
countries in the group of the hybrid regime (Armenia being one of
them), with 15 percent of the world’s population living in them. As to
the authoritarian countries, 34 percent of the population of the planet
lives in this group of states.