Author: Vanyan Gary

WE DO NOT CONFIDE IN TURKEY: MKRTICH MINASYAN

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 22 2009
Armenia

Some Turkish MPs and factions speak out the way they want to. The
Protocols did not contain any preconditions, otherwise they would
not be signed," Republican Party member Mkrtich Minasyan stated at
Oct. 22 interview with journalists commenting on Turkish FM Ahmet
Davutoglu’s statement.

Turkish diplomats make such statements for backrooms, Minasyan deems.

The Parliamentarian considers Protocols’ ratification by Armenia
first illogical, as Turkey is likely to make various statements and
preconditions, whereas Armenia will have to keep on refuting them
behindhand. "We do not confide in our neighbor, thus let Turkey beat
its head with our further actions. Thereupon we will make out mind
and take adequate steps," Minasyan said.

He also noted that if Turkish Parliament ratifies the documents
without any additional decisions and comments by either side, Armenian
Republican Party and coalition members will readily vote for Protocols’
ratification in RA National Assembly.

ARMENIA WILL WITHDRAW FROM PROCESS, IF TURKEY CONDITIONS PROCESS WITH KARABAKH, SAYS ANALYST

Tert
Oct 22 2009
Armenia

European Integration NGO chair Karen Bekaryan referred to raising
the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh issue in the process of establishing
Armenian-Turkish relations at today’s press conference.

Bekaryan noted that if we presume that Turkey is going to give up
raising the Karabakh issue with no reason, then we have a problem
with our presumption. According to Bekaryan, Turkey has spoken about
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and not just now, but also before the
Armenian-Turkish process began.

"If Turkey ratifies the Protocols, but conditions the opening of
the border with the issue of Karabakh, Armenia will come out of the
process unequivocally," announced Bekaryan.

AIM WAS TO OUST COMPETITION FROM THE FIELD: PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT COMPLAINTS IN CONFECTIONERY BUSINESS

Tert
Oct 22 2009
Armenia

Armenian government approved the legislative package to make
amendments to a number of laws on trademarks and geographical
indications. According to Deputy Minister of Economy Vahe Danielyan,
the approval of the package is conditioned by the improvement of the
system of legal protection of trademarks, as well as the necessity
to make intellectual property legislation in line with EU legislation.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated on the legislative package that
the draft law was discussed with the interested parties.

"There are businesses which have problems with this law. European
countries give a clear answer to that issue on how the modern world
regulates these issues," the prime minister said.

"The delegation arrived in Armenia from [the Ukrainian city of]
Kharkov; in particular, the director of one of the known factories
in Kharkov asked for our support so as it can sell its traditional
products, chocolate, various cakes in Armenia. Presently, they aren’t
able to sell them in Armenia, since their competitor registered
the trademarks in Armenia. [The competitor] doesn’t manufacture any
products under the [trademarked] names but the purpose was to oust
the competition from the field. We got similar complaints from our
colleagues from Russia too and if we don’t settle the problems here
they will implement similar measures against our manufacturers,"
the prime minister said.

The deputy minister of economy said that this legislative package
provides solutions to these problems.

"The law clearly protects the rights of manufacturers of world-renowned
brands and the local manufacturers are prohibited from automatically
registering those brands and creating obstacles for importers in
doing business," Danielyan said.

Head of Intellectual Property Agency of Ministry of Economy Armen
Azizyan also referred to the issue.

"Really, there are such problems between Grand Candy and other
companies. But, it seems the Armenian company doesn’t prohibit Russian
companies from importing confectionery, whose trademarks belong to it
[the Armenian company]," he said.

According to Azizyan, Grand Candy was the first to appeal to the
agency and the latter registered the trademarks. "We registered
the trademark and afterwards the Russian Krasni Oktyaber company
appealed to us for registering the trademark, but we refused since
we had already registered them under an Armenian company. If Krasni
Oktyaber manufacturing sweets registered the trademark it could
prohibit Armenian companies to manufacture candies under trademarks
Belochka, Krasnaya Shapochka and other known trademarks," he said.

IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
________________________________________ _________________________

ALERT – ARMENIA

22 October 2009

Trial begins against editor accused of "organising mass disorder"

SOURCE: International Press Institute

IPI concerned that charges are politically motivated

(IPI/IFEX) – VIENNA, Thursday 22 October 2009 – A court in the Armenian
capital of Yerevan began hearing a criminal case against prominent
newspaper editor-in-chief and opposition figure Nikol Pashinyan earlier
this week. Pashinyan faces up to 10 years in prison for "organising mass
disorder" and "assaulting a state representative."

Armenian authorities have accused Pashinyan of organising the March 2008
riots that followed a contested presidential election and left 10 people
dead. He also stands accused of assaulting a police officer during those
riots.

Pashinyan, editor-in-chief of leading daily Haykakan Zhamanak ("Armenian
Times") and a vocal critic of the current Armenian administration, denies
the allegations, claiming that his actions during the events of February
and March 2008 were within Armenian law.

Both local and international human rights organisations have also called
the charges against him into question.

Following the 2008 riots, and amid concerns he had become a target for
assassination, Pashinyan went into hiding. He handed himself over to police
on 1 July this year and is currently being detained pending the outcome of
the trial.

Pashinyan was charged under Articles 225.1 and 316.1 of the Armenian
Criminal Code, which carry a combined sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Although the Armenian president this past June issued an amnesty for all
those implicated in the unrest, the terms of the amnesty only apply to
those convicted to less than a five-year jail term.

As the trial commenced on Tuesday, Pashinyan’s lawyers petitioned for the
judge hearing the case, Mnatsakan Martirosyan, to be changed, claiming he
cannot hold a fair trial following his highly criticised handling of a
similar case earlier this year.

Pashinyan also presented information from international non-governmental
organisation Transparency International, supporting his claims that the
Armenian judiciary is corrupt.

"If you consider the whole system to be corrupt, what difference does it
make to you which judge will be hearing the case?" responded the
prosecutor, according to a report by local media.

"We at IPI are highly concerned that Pashinyan may not receive a fair
trial," said IPI Deputy Director Alison Bethel McKenzie. "We are also
concerned by the possibility that the authorities have pressed charges
purely to bully a government critic into silence, as well as to scare off
others who would dare to oppose them.

"We hope the trial will be held in as transparent a manner as possible and
in line with all Armenia’s obligations under international agreements."

9/10/22/pashinyan_trial_begins/

For more information:
International Press Institute
Spiegelgasse 2
1010 Vienna
Austria
ipi (@) freemedia.at
Phone: +43 1 5129011
Fax: +43 1 5129014

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TURNING ARMENIA INTO TRANSIT COUNTRY LINKING EUROPE AND ASIA CONSIDERED PRIORITY TASK BY SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS CJSC

Noyan Tapan
Oct 21, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The priority task of South Caucasus
Railways CJSC is to turn Armenia into a transit country linking Europe
and Asia, Director General of the company Shevket Shaydullin said
at the October 21 press conference. "Our task is to enter and take
the Europe-Caucasus-Asia transit corridor, we have already discussed
this issue with both the president and the prime minister of Armenia,"
he stated.

He announced that a new logistical center with a carrying capacity of
70 coaches will open at Akhurian Station in a month. The strategy of
South Caucasus Railways is to develop logistical centers to help the
Armenian railway enter the international arena. As regards creation
of international logistical centers, according to S. Shaydullin,
the search of investors is underway. "In light of the prospects of
transit routes, the issue of constructing a new Fioletovo-Vanadzor
branch line is currently being discussed," he said.

In the words of S. Shaydullin, South Caucasus Railways actively
cooperates with Georgian Railways to ensure complex freight traffic.

It is noteworthy that the company has already launched complex freight
traffic operations from the Netherlands and Germany.

TURKEY WILL RATIFY PROTOCOLS BY EARLY SPRING, SAYS ARMENIAN MP RAZMIK ZOHRABYAN

Tert
Oct 21 2009
Armenia

"I am of the conviction that before the end of the year or early
spring of next year, Turkey’s parliament will ratify the Protocols,"
stated ruling Republican party MP Razmik Zohrabyan, referring to the
news that Turkey’s parliament today begins the process of ratifying
the Armenian-Turkish Protocols.

Zohrabyan was unable to note a specific deadline on how long those
discussions will take place in Turkey’s Grand National Assembly, but
he did add that the Armenian side is waiting for their ratification.

Zohrabyan explained his views on this matter by stating that Turkey’s
opposition is more active and weighty on the matter.

Speaking on the Azerbaijan factor along the way to ratification,
Zohrabyan noted that Turkey, prior to signing the Protocols,
thoroughly considered the extent, form and weight of Azerbaijan’s
disappointments. "Nothing is excluded, but I am convinced that Turkey
will ratify the Protocols," said the MP.

SITUATION IN MOVEMENT FOR KARABAKH AND REPUBLIC IS INADEQUATE AND NON-STANDARD: AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION LEADER

Today.Az
/56771.html
Oct 21 2009
Azerbaijan

"I think the current situation in the Movement For Karabakh and the
Republic is inadequate and non-standard," said Ali Aliyev, Chairman
of the Azerbaijan Citizens’ and Development Party, member of the
Movement for Karabakh and Republic.

"Why? Because this movement was created prior to a referendum this
year, and this process identified which organizations can say something
in our country. That is, the format was not artificially created. I
think in its present form the movement is disadvantageous for all
opposition as a whole. We wanted to create a more serious format,
but, unfortunately, we have not been able to do so," he said.

"It is too early to say what we will achieve. It is early to talk
about any decisions and steps. We will think about a format for the
opposition in general and try to make this format represent a wider
range of forces. I think that the opposition is doomed to joint
action. I think we will think about it," Aliyev said.

Musavat party, member of the Movement for Karabakh and the Republic
urges Umid Party to withdraw its members from the electoral
commissions. Umid Party stated that it will do so if the members of
the parliamentary group of the Musavat renounce their mandates. The
emerging tensions between the two parties has caused a serious crisis
in the movement.

The Movement for Karabakh and Republic was established by the
Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Citizens and Development, Liberal,
Democratic, Musavat, Umid prior to the referendum on amendments and
additions to the Constitution which took place on March 18, 2009.

WASHINGTON BRIEFING: PRO-TURKEY MEMBER OF CONGRESS RESIGNS TO DEAL WITH MIDDLE EAST PEACE
by Emil Sanamyan

0-17-pro-turkey-member-of-congress-resigns-to-deal -with-middle-east-peace
Saturday October 17, 2009

Washington – Rep. Robert Wexler (D.-Fla.), a key supporter of Turkey
in Congress, said he will resign his seat in January, a year before
completing his seventh term in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Wexler, who is also known as a strong advocate of Israel, said in
an October 14 statement that he will instead become president of the
little-known Center for Middle East Peace. The center was founded by
Slim-Fast diet foods magnate S. Daniel Abraham in 1989.

During last year’s presidential campaign, Mr. Wexler was an early
and active supporter of Barack Obama’s campaign. Commentators have
speculated he may play a role in the administration’s efforts to
address the Arab-Israeli conflict or that his resignation may be
financially motivated. Mr. Wexler denied he would take a lobbying job.

A senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Wexler is
the founding co-chair of the Turkey Caucus in 2001 (which counted 94
members as of last month), has made at least eight trips to Turkey, and
takes pride in close relationships he developed with leaders in Ankara.

"My wife jokes I could run for Prime Minister of Turkey," he wrote in
his book Fire-breathing Liberal, published last year. His resignation
statement made no mention of Turkey, however.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN TURKEY TO WRITE COLUMN FOR WEEKLY

human-rights-activist-in-turkey-to-write-column-fo r-weekly/
October 18, 2009

WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)–The Armenian Weekly recently welcomed
Eren Keskin, a prominent Kurdish activist in Turkey, as its newest
columnist. Keskin will share her thoughts on human rights and
minorities in Turkey. Her first column will appear in the Oct. 27
issue.

Keskin is the second columnist to write for the Weekly from Turkey.

Last year, journalist and human rights activist Ayse Gunaysu began
writing her bi-weekly columns, which are some of the most widely
anticipated and read in the paper.

Eren Keskin is vice-president of the Turkish Human Rights Association
(Ä°HD) and former president of its Istanbul branch. She has been
repeatedly threatened, assaulted, and arrested by Turkish authorities
for exposing and speaking out against the abuses suffered by women in
Turkish prisons, and co-founded the project "Legal Aid for Women Who
Were Raped or Otherwise Sexually Abused by National Security Forces."

In 1995, Keskin was imprisoned for her human rights activities and
was adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. In
2004, she received the prestigious Aachen Peace Award "for her
courageous efforts and activities for human rights." And in 2005,
she was awarded the Esslingen-based Theodor Haecker Prize for Civic
Courage and Political Integrity. In March 2006, Keskin was sentenced
to 10 months’ imprisonment for insulting the Turkish military; the
sentence was later converted to a fine of 6,000 New Turkish Liras,
which she refused to pay.

The Armenian Weekly welcomes Keskin into its family of columnists.

INDIA TO SUPPORT ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 19 2009

India expressed its support to the establishment of Armenia-Turkey
diplomatic relations, newly appointed Indian Ambassador to Armenia
Achal Kumar Malhotra told at the October 19 press conference.

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan and Malhotra discussed the
issues of intensification of bilateral political dialogue, stimulus
of trade and economic relations and strengthening of cooperation with
international organizations, RA MFA Press Service reports. Nalbandyan
also presented the recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process at the Ambassador’s request.

The officials exchanged views on Armenia-Turkey normalization process.

The Ambassador expressed his support to steps taken towards the
establishment of Armenia-Turkey relations.