Author: Tvankchian Parkev

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE DELEGATION OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF HEADS OF ARCHIVAL SERVICES OF CIS MEMBER-STATES WHO ARE IN ARMENIA TO ATTEND THE 10TH EURASIAN REGIONAL FORUM OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF ARCHIVES

Fri day, 30 October 2009

Emphasizing the importance of the forum, the head of government wanted
to know its targets and outcomes. The delegation briefed the Prime
Minister on the proceedings of the forum and the results obtained.

During the meeting, the representatives of partner archives said
they actively cooperated with the National Record Office of Armenia
which was said to have been forwarded electronic copies of important
historical documents.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHOULD OBSERVE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.11.2009 15:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian government agencies should follow the
provisions of the national security strategy, said Hrayr Kaparetyan,
head of the parliamentary committee on defense, national security
and domestic affairs.

"Officials often make statement on Karabakh which conflict with the
national strategy," he told a news conference on Monday.

Yerevan should react to Ankara’s attempts to become a Co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group, according to him.

"Turkey and Azerbaijan blockade Armenia and it’s time for Armenia
to call for international sanctions against these countries,"
Karapetyan said.

Assyrian International News Agency AINA
Nov 1 2009

Main Swedish Party Recognizes Turkish Genocide of Assyrians

Stockholm (AINA) — Sweden’s largest political party took a decision
on Thursday during its annual convention to acknowledge the genocide
of Assyrians, Greeks and Armenians during World War one. The genocide,
called Seyfo in Assyrian, occurred between the years 1914-1918.

"I was very moved when the decision was taken," said Yilmaz Kerimo,
who is an Assyrian and a prominent member of the Social democratic
party. "It is a positive standpoint and a great step forward. The
party will now work for the recognition of the genocide within Sweden,
in the European Union and the United Nations."

The recognition by the Social Democrats has raised hopes in the
Assyrian community in Sweden of recognition in the Swedish parliament
as well. The issue will be voted on in the parliament during spring
2010.

Sweden’s left party, Vänsterpartiet, and the green party,
Miljöpartiet, both recognized the genocide more than a year ago.

The work to have the genocide recognized has been long for the
Assyrians of Sweden. The Assyrian Federation of Sweden welcomed the
decision of the Social democrats on Thursday, saying "It’s the result
of years of lobbying, both by Assyrians and non-Assyrians," said Ilan
de Basso, chairman of the Federation. "We have learnt to never give
up. The ultimate goal is to have recognition from Turkey itself."

DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER: IT IS NOW POINTLESS TO DEMAND PRESIDENT’S RESIGNATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.10.2009 16:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I disagree with the idea of shifting power in
Armenia for the simple reason that it will be to the detriment of
the country’s state interests," Democratic Party leader Aram Sargsyan
told a news conference in Yerevan.

The politician believes Armenian President clearly introduces his
position on Armenian-Turkish normalization, and his approach stands
in stark contradiction with that of pro-opposition forces. "But we
want to correct the mistakes enshrined in Protocols," he said.

Democratic Party leader also noted that demands for President’s
resignation would be pointless since there are no grounds to assume
that his policy is inconsistent with Armenia’s interests.

WHITE COLLAR CRIMES IN ARMENIA: POLICE DEPARMENT HEAD

Tert
Oct 27 2009
Armenia

Head of the central department for Combatting Organized Crime, Hunan
Poghosyan, gave a press conference today to present the mosaic of
crimes committed over 9 months in Armenia in 2009.

Tert.am asked Poghosyan whether over the 9-month period the police
had uncovered any cases where the criminal was a known, high-ranking
official, to which Poghosyan replied that no such cases had been
revealed.

Without mentioning any names, he said that his department had
revealed crimes committed by heads of institutions and well-known
corporations, founding directors of limited liability companies,
directors of funeral homes and polyclinics.

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

news.am
Oct 27 2009
Armenia

"The prospects for ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols
are neither at the zero nor at the 100 per cent level," Alexander
Iskandaryan, Director of the Institute of Caucasus, told reporters.

He pointed out that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
will bring stability and changes to the region and said that
such developments are not to Georgia’s advantage. The reason is,
Iskandaryan said, that it will cause a 30-40 decrease in the cargo
transit through that country. Azerbaijan will not benefit either:
its influence over the region will diminish.

On the other hand, Iskandaryan said, the Armenian-Iranian relations
will develop.

As to when the Turkish Parliament will ratify the Armenian-Turkish
protocols, Iskandaryan advanced a number of arguments. The issue is
most likely to be "shelved" by the Turkish Parliament for a long time.

Also, the ratification may be delayed until next April.

"In any case, the Armenian side’s position is to ratify the protocols
after the Turkish parliament has ratified them. The right decision,
but it is interesting to see what would happen if we did it before
Turkey thereby driving Turkey into a corner," Iskandaryan said.

EU EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF RATIFICATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS SIGNED AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS

ArmInfo
2009-10-27 14:58:00

ArmInfo. The 10th annual session of Armenia-EU cooperation council
was held in Luxembourg on October 26.

As Armenia’s Foreign Ministry press service reports, the Armenian
delegation, headed by FM Edward Nalbandyan, included Permanent
Representative of Armenia to EU , Ambassador Avet Adonts, deputy
Justice Minister Nikolay Arustamyan, deputy Economy Minister Mushegh
Tumasyan and other officials.

EU delegation was headed by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. The
delegation included European Commissioner for External Relations
and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Spain’s
Secretary of State for the European Union Diego Lopez Garrido, as
well as high-ranking representatives of EU structures. The issues of
Armenia-EU cooperation, its deepening prospects, as well as regional
issues were discussed at the cooperation Council session held under
chairmanship of Armenia’s FM Edward Nalbandyan.

E. Nalbandyan introduced the Armenian party’s steps on implementation
of the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Programme and said that
efficient implementation of the Programme is Armenia-EU cooperation
priority, and official Yerevan will keep on taking practical steps for
tightening of the relations. Armenian foreign minister emphasized the
importance of activity of EU Consulting Group which assists in the
process of reforms in Armenia, and characterized it as a successful
example of efficient cooperation.

Armenian deputy Economy and Justice ministers introduced the steps
being taken in their spheres, the government’s economic policy and
the reforms in the judicial-legal system.

During the session, the parties discussed the process of fulfillment
of the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Programme in details and
express satisfaction with successful implementation of the programme.

They also noted the programme extension prospects available.

The parties exchanged opinions on the Eastern Partnership programme and
emphasized the importance of complete use of its potential: development
of an agreement on association, signing of a deepened and comprehensive
free trade agreement, as well as simplification of the visa regime.

The European party welcomed the brave steps aimed at normalization
of the Armenian- Turkish relations and emphasized the importance of
prompt ratification of the protocols, signed on October 10 in Zurich,
and their implementation without preconditions. High-ranking European
officials highly appreciated the cooperation with Armenia, as well as
the democratic and economic reforms being carried out by the country’s
authorities. They also claimed of their support to these steps.

At the European party’s request, E. Nalbandyan introduced the current
stage of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

INTERESTS OF GREAT POWERS NOT FOCUSED ON RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: GERMAN EXPERT

Today.Az
/56843.html
Oct 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations
Alexander Rahr.

Day.Az: How do you generally assess Armenian-Turkish relations at
the moment?

Alexander Rahr: I think that now a breakthrough in Turkish-Armenian
relations has been planned which have not yet occurred. There are too
many complexities. Now there is the so-called "bargaining behind the
scenes" by all sides, someone has to give something, while others
have to get something. The bargaining here implies, in particular,
laying of new pipes, global energy security of Europe and new enhanced
role of Turkey. It is difficult to say anything here except that,in my
opinion, we are now at the beginning of a new chapter of geopolitical
rearrangements.

Q: What can you say about the opening of borders between Turkey and
Armenia? Will Turkish parliament ratify the Turkey-Armenia protocols?

A: I think that Turkey can not go in the opposite direction. Turkey
wants to open borders with Armenia, and the important factor here
is the European Union, which wants to gain access to the Caucasus
through Turkey. I do not think that the Armenian-Turkish border will
be easily opened. The process moves in this direction, though rather
slowly. The fact is that the program of East Partnership implies a
very close relationship with the three South Caucasus countries, so
for Europe is very important that the entire region will be removed
from the isolation in which it is caught up at the moment.

Q: What impact did the Armenia-Turkey dialogue have on resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

A: The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the form in which it exists now
does not satisfy only Azerbaijan. Other countries are quite satisfied
with the status quo. For Europe and the West the most important thing
is that there was no violence, that there was no military action and
excessive blood. I understand the Azerbaijan side – now the Karabakh
issue will be removed from the agenda. I also think that Azerbaijan
will be very hard in talking on the Karabakh issue with Turkey, as
here, the interests of great powers in the face of the United States,
European Union (if I may say so) are not focused on resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh question, but how to involve the entire region
of South Caucasus to cooperation with the European Union.

TURKEY REASSURES AZERBAIJAN ON ARMENIAN DEAL

The News International
Oct 23 2009
Pakistan

BAKU: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday reassured
Turkey’s anxious ally Azerbaijan that Ankara would not ignore Baku’s
interests in its reconciliation efforts with Armenia.

Davutoglu met his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov amid
growing concern in Baku that Turkey is diminishing its support in
Azerbaijan’s conflict with Armenia over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh
region.

"We consider Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity as important as
Turkey’s. We value it and will never cause damage to it," Davutoglu
told journalists after the meeting, held on the sidelines of a
gathering of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation regional grouping.

"We will do everything for the liberation of Azerbaijan’s territories.

Turkey’s authorities will not change their policy on this issue.

Nothing will damage our unity," he said.

The two ministers later visited a cemetery in Baku where Turkish
soldiers who fought for Azerbaijan in the early 20th century are
buried.

Baku removed Turkish flags from the cemetery after complaining that the
Azerbaijani flag was not allowed at a football match in the Turkish
city of Bursa earlier this month that was attended by the Armenian
and Turkish leaders. Turkish officials later expressed regret over
the flag incident.

Mammadyarov told reporters at the cemetery that he had discussed the
flag dispute with his Turkish counterpart.

"As far as the crisis over the flag is concerned, minister Davutoglu
has told us that Turkey is investigating the incident and that those
who are guilty will be punished," he said. "We agreed to resolve any
problems jointly."

The Turkish government on Wednesday submitted to parliament two
landmark protocols with Armenia aimed at ending decades of hostility
over World War I-era massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey and Armenia on October 10 signed the pacts on establishing
diplomatic ties and opening their common border after months of Swiss
mediation and need their respective parliaments’ approval before the
deals can take effect.

Although internationally hailed as a major step, the deals have
deeply angered Azerbaijan, which fears a drop in Turkish support over
Nagorny Karabakh.

Backed by Yerevan, ethnic Armenian separatists seized control of
Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan during a
war in the early 1990s that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in a show of solidarity
with Azerbaijan — with which it has strong ethnic, trade and energy
links — against Yerevan’s support for the enclave’s separatists.

In remarks deeply worrying for Ankara, Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev said last week that Turkish terms for buying Azerbaijani
gas were unacceptable and that Baku is considering other routes for
shipping its gas to Europe.

ARMENIA, TURKEY INTERPRET PROTOCOLS DIFFERENTLY

News.Am
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

The Armenian Parliament must not ratify the Armenian-Turkish Protocols,
as the sides interpret them in different ways, Giro Manoyan, Head of
the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Central Office, Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD), told a press conference. According
to the Armenian side, the Armenian Genocide will not be discussed,
whereas the Turkish side states the subcommittee to be formed under
the Protocols is supposed to hold a joint discussion of the problem.

Manoyan is sure that Turkey will not ratify the Protocols in the
near future – it will delay the process under new pretexts. "The same
happened with the publication of the Protocols. They had been prepared
but shelved from April 22 to August 31. It was not until Turkey
fixed the day that they were published," Manoyan said. He pointed
out Ankara needs to regularly show activity in the Armenia-Turkey
normalization process.

Manoyan does not rule out Turkey’s ratifying the Protocols if Turkey
and Azerbaijan agree on the fundamental principles of settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict before.