Author: Vanyan Gary

ARMENIA WON’T RATIFY RELATIONS DEAL BEFORE TURKEY, SAYS SPEAKER

Hurriyet
Dec 24 2009
Turkey

The head of Armenia’s parliament said Thursday that it would not ratify
a landmark deal on ties with Turkey before the Turkish parliament does,
accusing Ankara of setting new conditions on the agreement.

"The National Assembly of Armenia will start discussions on the
ratification of the protocols only after their ratification by the
Turkish parliament," Speaker Hovik Abrahamian told journalists.

He accused Turkish officials of trying to link the ratification to
Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
region and the question of whether World War I-era killings of
Armenians under Ottoman Empire constituted "genocide."

"These are not fair steps, as initially this was a question of
normalizing relations without preconditions," Abrahamian said.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in October on establishing
diplomatic ties and re-opening their shared border in a deal hailed
as a historic step towards ending decades of hostility stemming from
the World War I-era killings.

But Armenia in recent weeks has expressed growing frustration over
Turkey’s failure to ratify the protocols, with President Serge
Sarkisian earlier this month threatening to walk away from the deal
if Ankara "drags out" the process.

Turkish officials have repeatedly said the agreements will not be
ratified without progress in Armenia’s dispute with Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-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.

SO FAR ANKARA MANAGES TO RETAIN BALANCE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND ARABIAN STATES

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.12.2009 16:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As a strategic partner to Israel, Turkey turns
into Israel’s strategic partner as well, Shahan Kandaharian,
Editor-in-Chief of Beirut-based "Aztag" newspaper said in an interview
with PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"Turkish Premier’s schedule of Syria visit was rather tight. Around
56 agreements were signed. We must remember that Turkey is acting as
a mediator between Syria and Israel," Kandaharian said, reminding that
recent meeting of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Kuwait testified to
activation of Turkish foreign policy in Middle East and Arabian world.

"From regional viewpoint, Syria is the main step for Turkey on the way
to establishing strategic collaboration with Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq."

"Ankara has so far managed to retain balance between Israel and Arabian
states. In near future, Ankara’s mediator mission success will become
easier to assess," he noted, adding that this is the decisive reason
for strengthening or extermination of Turkish factor.

LEVON ANANYAN: THE YEAR 2009 WAS CRUCIAL FOR ARMENIAN LITERATURE
Lilit Muradyan

"Radiolur"
23.12.2009 15:17

"The year 2009 was crucial for Armenian literature, and fortunately,
the global financial-economic crisis bypassed us," said Levon Ananyan,
President of the Union o Writers of Armenia.

According to Levon Ananyan, the year was rich in events – jubilees,
traditional literary weeks in marzes, a meeting of young writers in
Tsakhkadzor, celebration of the Translators’ Day. However, the most
significant event was the 75th anniversary of the Union of Writers.

"The fact that the publishing house of the Union of Writers has
submitted 60 new books to the Competition Committee speaks for itself.

This means that our writers do not just sit by," Levon Ananyan said.

THEY WERE DRIVING THE ELEPHANT IN THE TREETS OF BAKU…
Leonid Martirosyan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper NKR
December 21, 2009

Azerbaijan has not had time to come round after the sensational
reporting of TVchannel Euronews "Nagorno-Karabakh – a wind of changes"
in which Artsakh has been called a truly Armenian, Christian earth and
heart of Armenia, when its self-respect has received one more painful
blow. And the matter is that on December 9th at joint conference of
members of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the USA
Congress the bill, according to which in 2010 financial year the
United States will allocate Nagorno-Karabakh the help at a rate of 8
million dollars, has been approved. As it’s known, in a case with
Euronews Azerbaijan with shamelessness peculiar to it has begun to
overflow the authoritative TVchannel with protest letters in which
it has accused it of all incredible sins – paid invitation, ignorance
of history of region and Azerbaijan, in disrespect for international
law, according to which, in Baku’s opinion, the correspondents of the
channel should ask its permission for going to Nagorno-Karabakh. In
a word, the tooling of blackmail and threats well- known to us has
been settled, to which each time Azeri side has already resorted for
a long time, when someone dares to operate contrary to the point
of view of Baku. Also it is necessary to say, in its impoliteness
Azerbaijan comes so far, that absolutely loses feeling of a reality
and let’s say so, ability to concern its personality self-critically.
Here and this time in Azerbaijan the whole protest campaign against
the decision of the USA Congress has been initiated, in which
representatives of both official and oppositional circles have been
involved. Which already brings selfly to the idea about existance
of the united centre, which organises and co-ordinates all this
propaganda witch meeting. Knowing about East monarchic character
of a regime in this country, it is possible not to doubt, who has
given the signal of start to this Antiamerican action. Let’s admit,
all this Antiamerican noisiness of Baku, cannot cause anything except
an ironic smile. However, completely not indulgent smile. The thing
is not, that the USA allocate humanitarian help to Nagorno-Karabakh
not the first year. And any more it’s not the first year, that Baku
tries vainly with all lawlessnesses to achieve the termination of
such help by american administration.. Comedy of a situation is in its
similarity with a plot of the known fable of Krylov about the Pug and
the Elephant. As stupid Krylov’s doggie, Baku does not wish to notice
an essential difference in weight (especially – political) between
themselves and Washington. Otherwise the parliament of Azerbaijan,
protesting against the decision of the American legislators on
allocation of financial help to Nagorno-Karabakh, would not accept
on December 15th the rigid reference to the USA president and the
Congress in which under cover of demagogical rantings about "national
interests and strategic partnership of the two countries" practically
inconsiderately demands from the US president to put a veto for this
decision. As well the political parties presented in parliament have
accepted similiar reference. Certainly,Azerbaijan’s President’s
Stuff could not stand aside of campaign of condemnation of actions of
the USA. So, the head of department on public- political questions
Ali Hassanov has declared, that Azerbaijan condemns rendering of
financial help to Nagorno-Karabakh, and has saddled the favourite
propaganda fad of the Azeri side – territorial integrity.

"Each such help serves development of a separative regime, and such
step of the USA indirectly serves infringement of territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan", – the representative of a presidential host has uttered
this drilled phrase. But, perhaps, in all barks to the elephant, the
ambassador of Azerbaijan in the USA Jashar Aliev has gone further. He,
neither more, nor less, without everyone’s diplomatic tenderness has
demanded from Washington henceforth to co-ordinate decisions of the
American Congress with Azerbaijan: "All programs and the activity,
realised by the government of the USA in Nagorno-Karabakh, should be
co-ordinated with Baku". Curiously, what sanctions threaten Washington
in case of obeying the requirements of Baku? Ah, yes – barking to
the elephant! Well, if Azerbaijan does not notice, how comically it
looks in the role of Pug, so it’s of course its personal-aliev’s
business. But the Elephant’s, that is Washington’s business is –
proceeding from the humanitarian reasons fixed in the own Constitution,
henceforth to assist Nagorno-Karabakh people who have suffered from
antihuman actions of Azerbaijan.

Therefore here it’s proper to speak not about comedy, and about
cynicism of the Azeri authorities which, not having managed earlier to
realise the purposes on gain Nagorno-Karabakh destroying phisically
its people, now they try by brutal rage to prevent its development
in every possible way. Naturally, they won’t manage to do it.

IMF WELCOMES ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANKS’ TIME-TO-TIME INTERVENTIONS

ARKA
Dec 22, 2009

YEREVAN, December 22. /ARKA/. IMF Resident Representative to Armenia
Nienke Oomes, in an interview with ARKA News Agency, said: "We have
always advised Armenia to stick to a floating exchange rate. This,
however, does not necessarily mean that the CBA should not intervene
in the foreign exchange market at all. We think it is reasonable that
the CBA will intervene in the market from time to time in order to
prevent unexpected sharp daily exchange rate changes."

She finds it important that the CBA does not resist the overall
objective exchange rate trends and follows them. In the beginning of
this year, there were clear pressures for the foreign exchange rate
to depreciate, because of the large drop in remittances, exports,
etc, and it was clear that the CBA could not resist this depreciation.

During the next year, it is possible that there will be pressures
for the exchange rate to appreciate, when global growth resumes,
in which case the CBA should also not resist these pressures.

"In our view, the exchange rate should be determined by the market,
based on foreign exchange inflows and outflows. However, I repeat
that occasional interference of the CBA is justified in order to
prevent sharp short-term exchange rate fluctuations," Oomes said in
her interview.

"We think that the CBA has been doing a very good job in ensuring
financial stability. Compared to other countries, Armenia succeeded
in avoiding a banking crisis. The CBA has already strengthened banking
supervision and took several measures to protect the financial sector.

Subsequently, we are satisfied with the CBA’s financial sector
policies," she added.

Asked about likely share of non-performing banking loans at the end
of 2009, Oomes said: "We are not making such projections, however,
given the existing situation, the level of non-performing loans has
probably stabilized. It recently fell from 9.3 percent in September
to 8.1 percent in October."

0.2% DECREASE REGISTERED IN GROSS AMOUNT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN RA IN JANUARY-NOVEMBER 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2009 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Gross amount of agricultural production in Armenia
decreased by 0.2% in January-November 2009, compared with 2008 results,
to comprise AMD 515,2 billion, Armenia’s Agriculture Minister Gerasim
Alaverdyan said, summarizing 2009 results.

At the news conference, the Minister presented the situation with basic
agriculture spheres, noting that crop sector production volumes grew by
0.2% to comprise AMD 333,5 billion. At the same time, livestock sector
production volumes decreased by 0,9% to comprise AMD 181,7 billion.

In 2009, special emphasis was put on seed production, stud breeding,
creation of tractor stations and establishment of anti-hail stations.

According to Gerasim Alaverdyan, the Ministry fulfilled tasks,
stipulated by 2009 state budget. Active works were conducted jointly
with international structures to provide technical assistance for the
development of agriculture in Armenia. Also, a number of international
agreement in agriculture sphere will be implemented in 2010.

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Dec 19 2009

Finita la comedia: Karabakh lacks Armenians, Armenia lacks money

19 December 2009 [13:54] – Today.Az

There is a notion `soap bubbles’ or `financial pyramid’ in economic
crime. Laws of "financial pyramids" are simple: these structures
properly operate and bring solid dividends to its organizers while can
involve new investors and their money, of course. Unfortunately, at
some point such "pyramid" can no longer draw new gullible players.
Then `overheating’ comes and soon newspapers publish headings "Another
`soap bubble’ burst’!" "Financial scam," "Thousands of investors lost
their money!’

There are also political `soap bubbles’. When they burst, greater
number of people turns out to be deceived. Such a political "soap
bubble" burst in Armenia just a few days ago. Journalists uncovered a
terrible secret – the Armenian government has refused to allocate
funds for resettlement of ethnic Armenians in the occupied Karabakh
from country’s 2009 public budget. The statement was made by MPs from
the Dashnaksutun Party.

This is not just the distribution of budget funds where each party is
prepared to defend its interests and its vision of problems and a
sudden rush of respect for the laws and international law.

Unfortunately, one would believe that the director of slaughterhouse
will soon begin promoting vegetarianism rather to believe in progress
in the outlook of Serzh Sargsyan- an accessory to the Khojaly
Genocide. A next fraud has been revealed ` this time political but not
financial. The Armenian strategy to seize both mountainous and plain
Karabakh from Azerbaijan has failed.

How easy and achievable everything seemed at first! "Frozen" conflict
seemed the best reason to Yerevan strategists for the policy of "fait
accompli". The strategy was simple and uncomplicated: to resettle
ethnic Armenians in Karabakh and then to present the world community
"free Karabakh people" enjoying their "independence’ on backdrop of
sluggish negotiations within the Minsk Group. They could not imagine
even in their nightmare that there will be no Armenians and no
options.

Armenian media have already wrote about lack of Armenians for the
settlement of Karabakh through clenched teeth seeking to strip up
patriotic feelings of Karabakh people who are willing to live
anywhere, but not in the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region.
They could not actually understand why there was no "volunteers’ since
leaders of the Republic of Armenia and Diaspora promised mountains of
gold and "tax haven" …

Those in Yerevan avoided thinking that the Diaspora’s flashy
"patriotism" has long turned into a political show business and were
deeply surprised that a half million Armenians from France did not
rush to the unsettled Karabakh on the first call for the sake of
dubious propaganda success.

But this was not the only and major reason. Simply the Diaspora
perfectly understood about what Yerevan has diligently and doggedly
kept silent. It was calling to travel to "extra-legal area" where the
situation is under control by victorious gunmen who through their own
experience learned what power a gun can give when there is no law.

However, it is still possible to negotiate with a gunman and even
`start relations.’ The diaspora is well aware that Armenia will have
to leave most of these conquered lands sooner or later either
voluntarily or not. Armenia will have to do so without any kind of
compensation and counter-claims. In this case no court will accept
claims to Azerbaijan. The whole world recognizes Karabakh as
Azerbaijani territory with all its implications.

Unlike Armenian citizens, the Armenians in the diaspora, who are urged
to `relocate’ have access to information, not "filtered" through the
newly established Armenian "Ministry of Truth." It will be hard to
cheat them by screaming, "We will not give up any inch of land to
pernicious Turks.’ They prefer "to love the motherland at a distance’,
lamenting fate of the "Western Armenia", walking along the shore of
the Mediterranean, but do not sigh for the Mediterranean, sitting on
the shore of the Lake Sevan.

The Armenian government has to take into account what professional
patriots prefer not to think about. Armenia has no money for first
installment not to mention mountains of gold for future
"colonialists". Armenia has lacked it for already quite a long time.
Economic recession in Armenia has reached 15 percent even in
accordance with official figures, setting a record in post-Soviet
area. It is too much even amid the crisis.

The figures themselves make clear many things, but not everything.
Armenia was sinking deeper into its own national crisis even before
the global crisis. Armenia’s national-hysterical and current economic
problems resulted from its own aggressive policies against its
neighbors. Yerevan political "gatherings" could simply not afford
their own ambitions specifically after they had to think about boring
and unromantic economy where income should converge with the
expenditures and the deficit can not be limitless.

On this backdrop, failure of policy of resettlement in Karabakh is the
moment of truth. This is clash with reality, though not very
spectacular, but very painful. Of course, one can pretend that this is
just a "temporary financial difficulties’ but in reality Armenia has
not simply ended up in a reckless scheme. The failure of the
"resettlement policy" was also a sort of an unexpected opinion poll
where respondents, the most inveterate patriots of Armenia (!), were
asked to respond whether they believe in a success of Miatsum. It is
not difficult to "read" the answer. Those willing to play the role of
"human shields" and "lambs to the slaughter" were not found.

Nurani
Day.Az

URL:

STRONG ARMENIAN LOBBY IS A MYTH

news.az
Dec 18 2009
Azerbaijan

Nazim Ibrahimov Azerbaijani diaspora has intensified its work in
various directions in the recent years.

This statement was made by chairman of the State Committee for Diaspora
Nazim Ibrahimov at today’s news conference in Baku .

"We have almost managed to break the old stereotypes, but still much
is to be done. Many argue that the Armenian lobby is strong but it
is not true. This is a myth. Therefore, we should to intensify the
work to propagandize our country in the international arena ", said
N. Ibrahimov.

Head of the State Committee condemned the decision of the US Congress
to allocate financial assistance to Karabakh separatists.

"Representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the United States have
sent letters, telegrams, conducted explanatory work in this regard.

But, despite the fact that we carry out democratic reforms, reforms in
the economic field and are moving closer to Europe, double standards
are still applied to our country", he said.

Nazim Ibrahimov also noted that the work on the formation of the
Azerbaijani diaspora abroad can be considered complete.

"We used to say that the establishment of diaspora consists of several
phases but now we say that this work was completed and it is time
for action", said N. Ibrahimov at a news conference Friday.

"Activities of the Azerbaijani diaspora have become real", he added.

The chairman noted that "we sometimes face certain difficulties."

"Therefore, we demand from the diaspora to be savvy and ready to
debates. I can say that the diaspora organizations are headed by the
people of this type ", said N. Ibrahimov. In his view, the activities
of the Azerbaijani diaspora have become indispensable in bringing
the truth about Azerbaijan to the world community.

"The Azerbaijani diaspora felt the care and attention of Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and began active steps. It has already gained
a great influence on the American, European and Asian continents
", stated Ibrahimov. According to him, a tangible impact of the
Azerbaijani diaspora is felt in the issue of Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation, and problems of Azerbaijanis in Georgia and Dagestan.

LUCA GUIDUZZI: NKR PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE STILL AT WAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2009 17:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ People in Karabakh hold contradictory views on
their country’s future, according to Turin University Professor Luca
Guiduzzi. "Some say it will become one of Armenia’s regions while
others are keen to believe that Karabakh will be an independent
republic," Italian scholar told a round table discussion hosted by
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS).

The ‘neither-war-nor-peace’ situation makes Karabakh people that they
are still at war, he believes.

With regard to Karabakh conflict settlement, Italian professor stressed
the importance of involving Armenian and Azerbaijani societies in the
process. "The same applies to frontier region. People should learn
to co-exist peacefully," he noted.

ARMENIA MUST NOT REPEAT SERBIA’S MISTAKES

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.12.2009 13:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On December 17, Russian State Duma held an
international conference entitled "21st century Balkans: geopolitical
and strategic changes". Russian-Armenian Collaboration head, Yuri
Navoyan also delivered a statement at the conference.

"Certain steps are undertaken to use Balkans’ experience in the
Caucasus," Navoyan stated, drawing parallels between situations with
Caucasus and Balkans.

At the same time, he noted that Armenia is currently subjected to
pressure, as rapprochement protocols, stipulating for Armenia’s
refusing from its historic rights, were imposed on the country.

Even ratification of protocols, which meet all of Turkey’s demands, is
linked to Armenia’s concessions in Karabakh conflict settlement, where
Armenia is persuaded against supporting its compatriots in Karabakh.

According to Yuri Navoyan, the situation resembles the 1995’s collapse
of Serbian Kraina in Croatia when the issue of protecting Serbian
compatriots in Croatia and Bosnia rose.

"With the collapse of Serbia’s Kraina, Balkans faced a new stage of
tragedy. Serbia’s turn came next," Yuri Navoyan noted.

Lessons from past have to be leaned, he noted. "We have to consider
the will of people and timely refuse obligations, which could entail
loss of regional stability," he stressed.

Dwelling on recent events in Serbia, experts noted Turkey’s important
role in strengthening of Muslim population in Serbia.