Author: Tvankchian Parkev

Prosperous Armenia party: Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
without preconditions may become stimulus to change public conscious in
Turkey

2009-09-05 19:01:00

ArmInfo. Normalizaiton of the Armenian-Turkish relations without
preconditions may become a stimulus to change the public conscious in
Turkey, the statement by the political Council of Prosperous party of
Armenia says. According to the document, the party’s approaches, which
also lay at the root of Armenia’s foreign policy, have been reflected
in the protocols, published on August 31, on establishment of
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and development of
bilateral relations. ‘The fact that there s no mention of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in the protocols is acceptable for us’, the statement
says.

According to document, the positive aspects are also contained in the
proposal about creation of an intergovernmental commission which will
allow to discuss all the difficult problems in the Armenian- Turkish
relations, including the issue of the Armenian Genocide recognition by
Turkey, at a high level.

To recall, Armenia and Turkey have agreed to start internal political
consultations around the "Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic
Relations Between the Two Countries" and the "Protocol on Development
of Bilateral Relations" signed during the negotiations under the Swiss
mediation. It is scheduled to complete the political consultations
during six weeks, after which two protocols will be signed and
submitted to the two countries’ parliaments for approval.

CE SECRETARY GENERAL WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

Panorama.am
15:20 03/09/2009

Council of Europe welcomes the agreement on diplomatic relations
between Turkey and Armenia. Acting Secretary General of the Council
of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio addressed a statement, which states:

"I strongly welcome the agreement to sign two protocols between Turkey
and Armenia on establishing of diplomatic relations between the two
countries." Mr. Boer-Buquicchio declared that this is a historic
event for both countries and the region.

"It will help to normalise the relations between two member states of
the Council of Europe and I would like to encourage the two countries
to continue on the path which will help to improve the stability in
this part of Europe," CE Secretary General said.

TURKISH PREMIER SAYS PROTOCOLS WITH ARMENIA NEED PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL

Anadolu Ajansi
Sept 1 2009
Turkey

Ankara/parliament, 1 September: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said on Tuesday [1 September] that the protocol, which was
initialled between Turkey and Armenia, would not be functional without
the approval of Turkish parliament.

Regarding the protocol on development of relations between Turkey
and Armenia, Erdogan told reporters, "This is one of the steps we
have taken within this process. This is a step to start internal
consultations and it was announced by Switzerland, Turkey and Armenia
yesterday at 5:00 p.m. This (protocol) will not be functional without
the approval of the parliament."

Under Switzerland’s mediation Turkey and Armenia agreed [on] Monday
to start their internal political consultations on the establishment
of diplomatic ties and development of bilateral relations.

Under the agreement, the two countries will conclude internal political
consultations within six weeks, which will be followed by ratification
at Turkish and Armenian parliaments.

REPUBLIC’S DAY CELEBRATED

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
September 03, 2009

On September 2, the 18th anniversary of the NKR’s independence
proclamation was celebrated. Together with the high-ranking officials:
the RA President Serj Sargsyan, the RA and the NKR former Presidents
R.Kocharyan and A.Ghoukassian, official delegations from the RA and
numerous guests participated in festive arrangements. Accompanied
by the NKR President B.Sahakyan, the NA Chairman A.Ghoulyan, the
Prime Mionister A.Haroutyunyan, and representatives of executive
and legislative authorities, they laid wreaths on stone monuments
of the Memorial Complex, on the graves of soldiers perished in
Artsakh War, and the first Chairman of the NKR’s Supreme Council
A.Lazarian. Thousands of inhabitants of Stepanakert visited the
Memorial Complex to pay tribute to the memory of all those who gave
their lives for the freedom and independence of Artsakh.

The same day leaders of the two Armenian Republics and other
high-ranking officials partook in the ceremony of reopening of the
complete overhauled hospital of the NKR DA.

On the eve, the Prime Minister A.Haroutyunyan had working meetings
with the members of the RA Government present at celebrations
arrangements. In particular, with the Minister of Finance T.Davtyan
jointly implemented financial and economic programmes were discussed.

EU REPRESENTATIVES WELCOME

07:35 pm | September 01, 2009

Official

EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Olli Ren welcomed today
the protocols on Turkish-Armenian relations.

"The European Commission welcomes the agreement between Turkey and
Armenia on developing the process of normalizing relations. The
European Commission attaches importance to the speedy and steady
implementation of the protocols on establishment of diplomatic
relations and development of bilateral relations. This agreement must
contribute ot peace and stability in the South Caucasus," as stated
in the statement by Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Olli Ren.

ONLY OPENING BORDER NOT STIMULATE ECONOMY WITHOUT AZERBAIJAN

Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 2 2009
Turkey

Turkey and Armenia’s efforts to reconcile their differences will
relieve some tension in the Caucasus, but a boom in trade from
reopening the border can only take place if Azerbaijan is included in
the equation and that is dependant on unraveling the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem, according to Turkish leaders

Despite the historic step taken by Turkey and Armenia, local
businessmen and experts warn that only a comprehensive solution that
includes Azerbaijan could boost economic and trade opportunities for
the region.

"It is quite important to find a parallel solution for the
Azerbaijan-Armenian track. We actually think Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation will accelerate the Nagorno-Karabakh solution,"
Kaan Soyak, co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Development
Council, or TABDC, said Wednesday in an interview with the Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review.

The normalization process is expected to have an enormous impact
on trade between the border towns of the two countries. Igdır,
which is linked to Armenia through the border gate Alican, is one of
them. "The border trade has become the main actor of the local economy
as livestock and agriculture production decreased," Kamil Arslan,
president of Igdır Industry and Trade Chamber told the Daily News
on Wednesday.

The exclusion of Azerbaijan from the peace process would be the worst
scenario for local tradesmen, according to Arslan. Pointing out that
many local businessmen have deals in autonomous Azeri areas such
as Nahchivan, Arslan said: "In such a case they might lose their
current market."

"It takes 10 to 12 days to send our goods to Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan through Georgia. However, it will only take four hours
to export through Armenia. That’s why we insist on a comprehensive
solution that includes the Azerbaijanis."

He advocated Armenia had no promising potential, saying: "Trade only
with Armenia will not be profitable. It doesn’t have medium or large
industry. Its economy is weak with no significant production. We
already sell our goods to them thanks to our dealers across the
country."

"But if a transit corridor linking Igdır to Baku is opened, then
our trade volume will be doubled" he said.

Economic growth to stem ‘democratic move’

Turkish government has nowadays been working on a "democratic move,"
also known as a Kurdish initiative, but it will fail without economic
growth in the region, Soyak said.

"An economic initiative is needed in eastern and southeastern Anatolia
and I believe that reconciliation with Armenia will promise it. You
can reach nowhere through only political campaigns without financial
solutions," Soyak said.

Richard Giragosian, director of the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies, or ACNIS, voiced the same opinion,
saying: "Opening its closed border with Armenia would constitute a
new strategic opportunity for galvanizing economic activity in the
impoverished eastern regions of Turkey, which could play a key role in
the economic stabilization of the already restive Kurdish-populated
eastern regions and thus meet a significant national security
imperative of countering the root causes of Kurdish terrorism and
separatism with economic opportunity."

Turkey will also offer Armenia not only a way to overcome its regional
isolation and marginalization, but also a bridge to larger markets
crucial for economic growth and development, he said.

Promising projects to boost bilateral economic ties

Border trade isn’t the only key element to boost bilateral relations,
according to TABDC’s Soyak. It seems that the tourism sector will be
an initial driving force. Approximately 400,000 to 500,000 Armenians
visit their homeland once a year and they are quite interested in
small tours to historical attractions in eastern Turkey. Initially
$60 million is expected even if 200,000 of them stay for three days.

He said there could be a railway linking Turkey to the Caucasus, the
Central Asian states, Russia and China will be realized, strengthening
Turkey’s geostrategic position.

Turkish builders can invest in sub-construction projects in the
neighboring country. Armenia can provide natural gas and electricity
since it became an energy hub in the southern Caucasus, Soyak said.

And lastly, the textile sector, severely affected by Russian customs,
may utilize a free-trade agreement between Russia and Armenia if its
production is partly completed there, he said.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS THE PARTICIPANTS OF "COME HOME" PROJECT IN THE GARNI TEMPLE

ARMENPRESS
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsian met August 31 with the participants of "Come Home" program
in the Garni temple. The program aims at getting the world spread
Armenian young people acquainted with Armenia, contributing to the
creation of sense of homeland in the Diaspora Armenian youth, seeding
in them a national value system, conscience of national identity,
get the Diaspora Armenian youth acquainted with the customs and
traditions of our nation, way of thinking of the Armenian family and
Armenian people and assisting to the conciliation of Armenia-Diaspora
ethical-psychological, educational-cultural links.

Public relations department of Armenian Government told Armenpress that
the Prime Minister discussed the issues of development of Armenia as
well as prospects of fortification and progress of Armenia-Diaspora
links with the young participants of the program.

Greeting the Diaspora Armenian youth the head of the Executive
branch noted that our relations with the Diaspora are continuously
developing. The Diaspora Ministry has been established to coordinate
and develop them, which already implements numerous projects.

The Prime Minister noted that Armenia-Diaspora cooperation is one
of the priorities of the government. He also stressed that the young
people are to be the new ambassadors of the homeland.

Tigran Sargsian expressed his special gratitude to the families which
received the youth who have come to recognize Armenia and who shared
with them the warmness of their families.

The Prime Minister reminded them that they have a real homeland called
Armenia and advised them to return back.

The head of the Government handed gifts to the winners of the
intellectual game of the "Come home" project. Afterwards Tigran
Sargsian answered different questions the participants are concerned
with and took part in the concert of departure of "Come Home" project.

PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER OF NKR: WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPED ALL ATTRIBUTES OF SOVEREIGN STATE OVER 18 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

ArmInfo
2009-08-31 11:36:00

ArmInfo. "Declaration of the Nagorny Karabakh Republic was a logical
end and a start for all the following legal steps towards sovereignty
of our country," NKR Parliamentary Speaker Ashot Ghulyan declared,
ArmInfo correspondent to Stepanakert reported.

He mentioned that the NKR Declaration contained all the parameters
of the future independent state from the very beginning. "I believe
that we have successfully developed all the parameters of a sovereign
state both in legal field and in government building over the 18 years
of independence," he said. The NKR celebrate the 18th anniversary of
Independence on September 2.

COLUMBIAN PRESIDENT INFECTED WITH SWINE FLU

Panorama.am
13:32 31/08/2009

President of Columbia Alvaro Uribe is announced to be infected with
H1N1 influenza (swine flu). Doctors assess the president’s health
condition normal.

The president is cured at his private house and is not determined to
hand his authorities to anybody.

Note that the president of another south-American country Ugo Chaves
has also passed medical examination as he has communicated with the
infected Columbian President. Mr. Chaves is healthy as no influenza
threats his life.

AAA: MADRID PRINCIPLES CAN BE ADOPTED ONLY WHEN PEOPLE OF KARABAKH ADOPT THEM

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.08.2009 16:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Karabakh should re-engage in negotiations, since
without its participation and consent the settlement of the conflict
will not be reached, Arpi Vartanian , the regional director of the
Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh told
press conference in Yerevan today. "In respect to the Karabakh problem
the United States must show a tough position in order Stepanakert
returns to talks and Azerbaijan stops violating the cease-fire,"
Arpi Vartanian said. According to her, irrespectively how much the
Madrid principles are talked about, however, they can be adopted only
when the people of Karabakh adopts them.

Commenting on the possible appointment of the former U.S. co-chair
of OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza to the office of U.S. Ambassador
to Azerbaijan, the regional director of the AAA noted that these
reports are still at the level of rumor. "As long as the Congress
does not return from vacation, the White House is unlikely to make
such a proposal," Arpi Vartanian said.