Author: Torosian Aram

TURKEY TO BUY ISRAELI DRONES

AZG DAILY
25-12-2009

International

Turkey has reached an agreement with Israel to purchase 10 Heron
drones from Israel and a deal would be announced within one or two
days, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) said on Tuesday, according
to thenews.com.

"We’ve reached agreement with procurement office. We expect to announce
an agreement within a few days," TAI Chief Executive Muharrem Dortkasli
told reporters.

Turkey and Israel signed a deal in 2005 for the supply of the unmanned
aircraft, worth $185 million. Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul
in July denied reports published in the Israeli media that the deal
would be cancelled due to the delay in the project.

According to the source, speculation about the project’s cancellation
had mounted amid escalating tensions between regional allies Israel
and Turkey, which had sharply criticised Israel’s Palestinian policies,
especially the Gaza offensive it launched in December 2009.

DELAYS IN IRAN-ARMENIA OIL PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

The Messenger
Dec 24 2009
Georgia

Due to certain problems some Armenia and Iran joint energy projects
have been delayed. Armenian Minister for Energy and Natural Resources
Armen Movsisian had previously announced that construction of an
oil pipeline from the Iranian city of Tabriz to the Armenian city of
Eraskh would start by the end of 2009. 10% of this project would be
owned by Russia.

Armenia exports electricity to Iran in return for Iranian gas imports.

It also conducts seasonal exchanges of electric energy with Georgia
as well. Iran began exporting gas into Armenia from mid-May 2009.

ARMENIAN, TURKISH JOURNALISTS NEED A DIRECT LINK

Aysor
Dec 21 2009
Armenia

"Both Armenian and Turkish media lack for mutual sharing of views,"
told journalists a turkilogist Artak Shakaryan, referring to the visit
of top Turkish reporters and editors to Armenia on December 17-20.

The meeting between Armenian and Turkish media was held in the
framework of the project by Eurasia-Cooperation Fund in assistance with
the Global Political Trends Center. It was funded by the Government
of Norway, and USAID. Artak Shakaryan said the project had a key
objective to improve the Turkish and Armenia media neutrality.

The similar meeting between the sides was held in Turkey’s Bursa on
October 13-14.

"Turkish journalists mostly got information about Armenia on
Azerbaijan’s Russian-language web-sites, and Armenian journalists did
the same for information about Turkey," said the analyst stressing
the need of direct links between the sides.

There have been organized seminars on Armenian-Turkish relations,
the Karabakh conflict and item of Armenian migrants in Turkey for
Turkish journalists. Besides, some meetings and interviews with
Armenian politicians were also organized, said Artak Shakaryan.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: "IF TURKEY WANTS THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT, IT SHOULD NOT INTERFERE IN THIS PROCESS"

APA
Dec 18 2009
Azerbaijan

Yerevan – APA. "If Turkey wants the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, it should not interfere in this process", said Armenian
foreign minister Edward Nalbandian during the meeting with a group
of Turkish journalists, APA reports.

According to him, Turkey’s interference in Nagorno Karabakh issue does
not contribute to the regulation process, but impedes it: "The world
community including Armenia say that there is no connection between
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and Turkey-Armenia rapprochement. The OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs stated over and over again that these are
two different processes with no links. Linking them threatens the
prospects of both processes".

Nalbandian also noted that official Ankara’s statements that Armenia
must demonstrate good will in the regulation process of the conflict
were groundless: "If there hadn’t been such will, so many meetings
between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents wouldn’t have been held".

The foreign minister said the normalization of relations between
Armenia and Turkey would positively impact on the entire region,
including Azerbaijan: "All countries in the world, except Azerbaijan
welcomed the normalization between the two countries. Azerbaijan
cannot hide its emotions in this issue".

ARMENIAN LEGIONNAIRE TRAVELING EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY AT PASADENA CENTRAL LIBRARY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.12.2009 11:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Legion Armenienne: The Armenian Legion and Its
Heroism in the Middle East," a traveling exhibit developed and prepared
by the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA), is now on display
at the Great Hall of the Pasadena Central Library through January 17,
2010. The exhibit explores the formation, training, military action,
and postwar activities of this all-volunteer force from World War I
through photographs and narratives.

The exhibit’s appearance at the Central Library is generously
sponsored by Ed Aghjayan, former Deputy City Manager of Pasadena,
and Bill Paparian, former Mayor of Pasadena.

Visitors can see the exhibit Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 9
pm; Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm; and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.

Pasadena Central Library is located at 285 East Walnut Street Pasadena,
CA 91101.

ALMA commissioned this traveling exhibit in response to tremendous
interest from the Armenian and Veteran communities. The exhibit
tells the story of the brave and selfless young men who fought with
the Allies to victory, and later risked all in defense of Armenian
human rights.

"Le’gion Arme’nienne" was curated by Ardemis Matteosian in close
collaboration with ALMA Board Members Arakel Almasian and Dr. Barbara
Merguerian. It premiered at Northbridge Town Hall in Whitinsville,
MA in September and then traveled to the California State University
in Fresno before arriving at the Pasadena Central Library, Asbarez.com
reported.

RA SECURITY COUNCIL SEC MEETS WITH INDIAN AMBASSADOR

NEWS.am
14:54 / 12/17/2009

Secretary of the RA National Security Artur Baghdasaryan held a
meeting December 17 with the newly appointed Indian Ambassador to
Armenia Mr. Achal K Malhotra.

The press office of the Secretary of the RA National Security Service
told NEWS.am that the sides pointed out the importance of establishing
and developing the cooperation between the Armenian and Indian National
Security Councils. Artur Baghdasaryan conveyed an invitation to visit
Armenia to his Indian counterpart to discuss the fields of cooperation.

Ambassador Achal K Malhotra voiced his readiness to contribute to
the development of bilateral relations in the important fields.

He pointed out that India plans to launch a number of projects in
Armenia, including opening an Armenian-Indian IT center.

CHAMBER OF ADVOCATES TO APPEAL TO ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IN KARAKHANYAN AND PARTNERS CASE

Tert.am
17.12.09

"The State Revenue Committee has carried out inspections in Karakhanyan
and Partners Law Office LLC, after which certain actions were taken
which should not have been taken.

"The issue is very important for both attorneys and taxpayers," said
President of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia,
Ruben Sahakyan, while speaking to journalists today.

RA Chamber of Advocates Vice-President Ara Zohrabyan noted that
the State Revenue Committee, not waiting for the end of the appeal
procedures period, has begun persecutions against businesses, with
the aim of limiting, through the economic crisis, the law office’s
independence.

"The State Revenue Committee has put the brakes on the [law] office’s
accounts. Let me note that the law allows stopping accounts only
during that time when tax bodies have to appear before the court and
receive a verdict in 30 days. In this case, the purpose of stopping
[the accounts] is liquidating the company," noted Zohrabyan.

According to him, the Chamber of Advocates has decided to appeal to
the RA President and other high-ranking officials, with the expectation
of properly resolving the issue.

RA LEADER: FACT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CAN IN NO WAY BECOME SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION WITHIN COMMISSION’S AGENDA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.12.2009 18:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has responded to
an October 13 open letter from the President of the International
Association of Genocide Scholars, William Schabas. In the letter,
addressed to both Sargsyan and Turkish President Abdullah Gul,
Schabas, said:

"Acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide must be the starting point
of any ‘impartial historical commission,’ not one of its possible
conclusions."

Below is Sargsyan’s response to the Schabas letter:

"We, in Armenia, are well aware of the unbiased scientific research
conducted for many years by your Association on the crime of genocide,
including the Genocide of Armenians, and we attach great importance to
it. Your contribution to the cause of the international recognition of
this crime and keeping the international community informed regarding
the issue is invaluable.

Today, Armenia has chosen the path of establishing normal relations
with Turkey without any preconditions. Nevertheless, any relation with
neighboring Turkey does not question the fact of the Armenian Genocide
and deprivation of Homeland. The Genocide of Armenians committed by
Ottoman Turkey in 1915 is an acknowledged fact and must be recognized
and condemned by progressive people.

As for the matter of the establishment of the inter-governmental
sub-commission aimed to discuss the historical dimension, envisaged by
the Protocols signed by Armenia and Turkey, I should assure you that
it is not a commission of historians. The purpose of that commission
is to give an opportunity to Armenian and Turkish peoples to find
common grounds for mutual trust and dialogue. I fully agree with your
approach that the contribution to the elimination of the consequences
of the Genocide should be the goal of the sub-commission’s work,
and the fact of the Genocide itself can in no way become a subject
of discussion within the agenda of the commission.

With this exact perception, we signed the Protocols with the Turkish
side, and this was what I stated in my address to the nation prior
to the signing.

Once again, I thank you and the International Association of Genocide
Scholars for conducting principled, unbiased and objective activity,
and would like to assure you that the Republic of Armenia, alongside
you and other organizations conducting scientific research, will be
in the vanguard of those pursuing the cause of the struggle against
the crime of genocide. We believe this is the moral duty of every
nation that survived genocide."

US Azerbaijanis in Washington commemorate Haydar Aliyev

[ 12 Dec 2009 11:14 ]

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. US Azerbaijanis in Washington DC
commemorated the 6th anniversary from the date of death of Heydar
Aliyev. According to APA’s Washington DC correspondent, H. Aliyev’s
memory was esteemed on December 11th at the mosque of the Islamic
center of Washington DC first with a prayer, and later with a special
dinner.

Except that the Brookland Elementary School of Washington DC prepared
a presentation about Azerbaijan. Kids were also demonstrated a
documentary about the creation of Azerbaijani Republic and the role of
President Heydar Aliyev, after what they were able to ask numerous
questions about this country – so new, but so interesting to them.

`In the history of the United States there were a number of very
important figures, like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson. It seems
like Heydar Aliyev played the same role for Azerbaijan’, – says a 10
year-old Joshua.

Azerbaijani Diaspora members also commemorate the ex-president; many
say he played a critical role in their lives:

`I was a very small boy, when Azerbaijan became independent – those
were really hard times for our country – it was all anarchy. Everybody
was afraid. But Heydar Aliyev changed everything, he brought us hope
and stability’, – says Mekhti Yakhyayev, a mathematics student.

`He was doing a lot for Azerbaijan during the USSR and so did he
during the independence. Azerbaijanis will never forget him’, –
comments a young musician Irada.

armradio.am
16.12.2009 13:22

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, participated in
the sitting of Foreign Ministers of the International Organization
of the Francophonie (OIF).

The sitting featured delegations from 70 member, associated and
observer countries.

In his speech Minister Nalbandian underlined Armenia’s commitment to
the values of the organization and said it would continue actively
participating in OIF activities.

Within the framework of the visit to Paris Minister Nalbandian had
meetings with the Director of the Federal Department of Foreign
Affairs of Switzerland, Micheline Calmy Rey, the Foreign Minister
of Morocco Fassi Fihri, the Foreign Minister of Cambodia Namhong Hor
and Diplomatic Advisor to President of France, Jean-David Levitt.