Author: Varosian Antranik

GEORGE BUSH THANKS ARMENIA FOR THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN IRAQ

armradio.am
14.01.2009 11:29

The President of the United States of America, George Bush, sent
a letter to President Serzh Sargsyan, President’s Press Office
reported. The letter states:

"Dear Mr. President:

In the wake of Armenian troops’ completed mission in Iraq, I express
the deep gratitude of the United States to the Government and people of
Armenia for the forces your nation has contributed to Multinational
Forces-Iraq sine 2005. I express particular appreciation for the
transportation and convoy security, de-mining, and medical support
these forces provided.

The willingness of the Armenian people to support the establishment
and strengthening of a democratic government in Iraq, despite great
hardships, testifies to their strong spirit. Armenians can be proud
of their participation in the successful operation to help Iraq secure
its freedom.

The United States looks forward to pursuing further cooperation with
Armenia on other common interests within the South Caucasus region
and around the world."

ALEXANDER MANASIAN: FACT OF GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS IN AZERBAIJAN HAS NOT FOUND AN ADEQUATE ESTIMATION SO FAR

Noyan Tapan

Jan 13, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The fact of the 1990 genocide of
Armenians in Azerbaijan has not been adequately estimated so far by
either Armenia or the international community. Political scientist
Alexander Manasian expressed such an opinion at the January 13 press
conference. According to him, as a rule journalists and specialists
concentrate on the genocide committed in Western Armenia, while the
Azeri slaughters made part of the Armenian Genocide. "Turk’s goal
was to exterminate not part of Armenians, but the whole nation,
and we should always remember it," A. Manasian said.

The political scientist considers that Armenia’s diplomacy still has
much work to do in the issue of presenting the genocide of Armenians
in Azerbaijan to the international community. And in his words, Nagorno
Karabakh as the guarantor of security of Armenians in Azerbaijan should
patronize that work in the political respect. Besides, according to A.

Manasian, Armenia’s specialists should stop depicting only the
administrative territory of Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region on
the map, as Karvachar and Kashatagh are also the inseparable part of
historic Karabakh.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA PARDONS 9 PEOPLE PROSECUTED FOR PARTICIPATION IN MAR 1 EVENTS IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2009-01-12 23:04:00

ArmInfo. Today President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan decreed to pardon
9 people sentenced to 2-4 years in prison for participation in the
Mar 1 events in Yerevan, illegal possession and use of weapons,
application of violence against government representatives.

The official web-site of the President of Armenia gives the names of
the pardoned: Yeghishe Grigoryan, Karen Tarkhanyan, Avetik Khrejyan,
Karlen Manucharyan, Armen Movsissyan, Haroutyun Lazarian, Norik
Haroutyunyan, Sargis Parunakyan and Raja Petrossyan.

The key grounds for the President’s decision are petitions by the
prisoners, no previous convictions, family circumstances, health
problems.

ArmRusgasprom invested $10.4 million in gas supply program in Armenia
in 2008

2009-01-10 17:00:00

ArmInfo. ArmRusgasprom invested 3.2 billion drams ($10.4 million) in
gas supply program in Armenia in 2008, the company reported.

As of January 1 2009, the number of gas consumers in Armenia totaled
573,955. Under gas supply program in Armenia for 2008, 57,686 consumers
joined the gas network instead of envisaged 50,000 or by 15.4 percent
more. The work on gas supply to 109 facilities envisaged by the program
was fulfilled. In December 2008 the number of real gas consumers of
CJSC ArmRusgasprom was up 6,952. This monthly indicator is considered
the best for the last year.

At the enlarged meeting on January 10, Karen Karapetyan, Chairman of
Board, Director General of ArmRusgasprom CJSC, summed up the company’s
activity for 2008, and took positive view of the projects implemented.
As regards the tasks for 2009, K. Karapetyan said the programs should
be implemented more effectively focusing on the quality of services and
improvement of administration structure. He presented the list of the
tasks to be implemented in 2009 to support sustainable level of
financial and economic activity and future development of the company.
K. Karapetyan charged the subdivisions, subsidiaries and limited
liability companies of the system to report on the activity for 2008
and plans for 2009 within the shortest period of time.

CJSC ArmRusgasprom was founded in December 1997. OJSC Gazprom holds
75.55 percent stake in the company, Government of Armenia – 20 percent
stake, and Itera Group – 4.44%.

FOOD PRICES GROW BY 0.8% IN ARMENIA IN DECEMBER 2008

Noyan Tapan

Jan 8, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. 0.8% growth of food prices was
recorded in Armenia in December on November 2008, which was mostly
due to 0.1-18.1% growth of prices in 8 out of the 13 food commodity
groups under observation.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, prices in
the commodity group of potato and vegetales increased by 18.1%
in December on November 2008 and fell by 11.9% in December 2008 on
December 2007. There was a growth in prices of tomato (1.9fold),
cucumber (41.5%), beet (12.7%), carrot (8.1%), cauliflower (7.9%)
and onion (4.7%) in December on November 2008.

Potato and garlic prices fell by 4.1% and 0.2% respectively in the
indicated period.

The price growth in the fruit commodity group made 13.1% in December
on November 2008. There was a growth in prices of apple (5%), pear
(6.8%), pomegranate (16.8%), red pulp Malta orange (18%), and grapes
(20%), while prices of orange, tangerine and lemon fell by 11.2-27.8%
in the indicated period.

The average republican price of eggs increased by 2.4% in December on
November 2008. Prices of fish grew by 1.1% in the same period. Prices
of meat products grew by 0.1% in December on November 2008 and by
9.1% in December 2008 on December 2007. Pork prices grew by 4.5%,
while mutton and beef prices fell by 1.7% and 1.2% respectively in
December on November 2008.

Prices of alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, confectionery, dairy products,
coffee, tea and cocoa increased by 0.1-0.7% in December on November
2008.

Prices of soft drinks remained unchanged as compared with the
previous month.

16.9% price growth in the commodity group of bread products in
January-October 2008 was followed by a 7.7% price fall, with
prices falling by 3.5% in December on November, which was mainly
conditioned by a fall in prices of flour (6.1%), grain (4.4%)
and high-quality bread (4%). Prices of rice, some types of bread,
macaroni, buckwheat, lavash and cracked wheat fell by 0.2-2.2%
in the indicated period. 14.8% fall in flour prices was recorded in
Armenia in July-December 2008 following 20.4% growth in flour prices in
January-June 2008. 15% growth of bread prices in January-September 2008
was followed by 8.5% fall in bread prices in October-December 2008.

Prices in the commodity group of butter and vegetable oil fell by 1%
in December on November 2008, which was mostly due to a fall in prices
of sunflower oil (2.5%) and butter (1.2%). Prices of melted butter
and margarine grew by 0.2-1.1%, while prices of granulated sugar and
other foodstuffs fell by 0.2% in the indicated period.

US AND ISRAELI FLAGS BURNED ON ASHURA DAY IN AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 7 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ramil Mammadli-APA. The Day of Ashura is held in Nardaran
Village of Baku on Tuesday, on the 10th day of Muharram.

APA correspondent reports from Nardaran that Akhund of Nardaran Village
Haji Mukhtar Rza addressed the people gathered in the mosque. He spoke
about Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and thousands of our
citizens, who became martyrs as a result of this aggression and said
that liberation of Karabakh and Iravan would pass through Quds. "The
time will come when millions of Muslim people will go against the
tyrants and will establish that system, which Quran states and will
liberate all Muslim lands from the occupation of tyrants".

Other people addressing the ceremony called on the world Muslims
to unite.

At 12.00, on the peak of Ashura, the people began to beat themselves
with chain. Then they burned US and Israeli flags and the process
was accompanied by the exclamation of "Allahu Akbar". Israeli flag
was trampled in the mosque’s yard. It was stated in Ashura meeting
that on the meeting for support of Palestinians will take place in
Imam Hussein Square in Nardaran on January 9.

The Ashura Day is continued.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 6 2009

Turkey only country capable to ensure peace in Middle East
06.01.09 13:28

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 5 /corr. Trend News B.Hasanov / Based on the
historical past, Turkey’s authority in the Middle East promotes
Ankara’s posibility to ensure peace between Israel and Palestine.

` Turkey’s ponderability amongst the countries of the Middle East
throughout the history stipulates that Ankara is the most real power
capable to ensure peace in the region,’ Syrian expert Husnu Mahalli
told Trend News on Jan. 5.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babajan highlighted the importance of
necessary efforts of the international community to ensure peace in
the Gaza Strip. Babajan made this statement at the news conference
held with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem who is on visit to
Turkey.

Turkey displays activity in solving the problems of the Middle East
over the last years. Turkey made a number of important initiatives to
restore peace and cease of Israel’s military operations in Gaza
started on Dec. 27.

On Jan. 3, an extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member states was held on
the initiative of Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babajan in the first
days of the military operations. Furthermore, the Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan visited Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia from
Dec. 31 to Jan. 2 to settle the conflict in Gaza.

Finally, at the initiative of Turkish Parliament’s chairman Koksal
Toptan, a decision was made to hold a meeting of the Executive
Committee of the OIC Parliamentary Assembly on Jan. 14 in Istanbul to
discuss the events in Gaza.

Turkish expert Bulent Aras said that when there were few peace
initiatives in the Middle East as compared to the last years, Turkey’s
mediation efforts filled deep emptiness.

Expert said that the initiative of Turkey’s mediation in nearest
future will promote countries of the region to express their protest
against Israel in a more organized form, diplomatically and to prepare
proper base for ensuring ceasefire regime.

`The mediation of Turkey, which attempts to enlist the support of the
Middle East countries, is an important factor to ensure peace in the
region,’ Araz, professor on international relations at Istanbul Ishik
University, told Trend News from Istanbul on Jan.5.

Saying that the Arabian countries are unable to actively intervene in
the events in Gaza, Mahalli mentioned the importance of Turkey’s
mediation for achieving peace in the Middle East. Mahalli said that no
one in the region will seriously accept the Arabian countries,
majority of which quarrel with each other and are at the hand of the
United States. Therefore, Turkey is the only country which can help
unite all countries of the region under the common
denominator. However, the expert thinks that despite the serious
initiatives of Turkey, Israel is unlikely expected to take positive
steps towards peace.

Mahalli said that Turkey’s dependence on the Jewish lobby in the issue
of so-called `Armenian genocide’ is the reason why Ankara can not have
considerable influence on Tel Aviv and therefore, Turkey can not make
a wishful contribution in the process of achieving peace in the Middle
East. Furthermore, Mihalli considers that even if the relations
between Turkey and Israel continue, they will not be as good as
previous. Israeli expert of the Strategic Survey Center Ephraim Inbar
considers that Turkey is one of the closest allies of Israel and there
is no danger for the further relations of the two countries. `
Turkey’s criticism towards Israel has a compelled character for
Ankara, since Turkey is a Muslim country and an active member of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference and therefore, it is compelled
to criticize Israel,’ Inbar told TrendNews.

Turkey continues its attempts to ensure peace in Gaza. The Foreign
Minister Ali Babajan said that currently he holds meetings with the
countries of the region and works on various proposals to prepare an
overall peace plan.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 30 2008

Azerbaijani diaspora will considerably develop and strengthen next
year: State Committee
30.12.08 12:31

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 30/ Trend News, J. Babayeva/ Nazim Ibrahimov,
chief of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan, is
sure that the next year will mark a considerable development and
strengthening of Azerbaijani diaspora.

`Next year the Azerbaijani diaspora will get actively involved in the
public and political life of country where it is represented. Serious
changes are impossible in diaspora activities as it requires
systematic approach. The efforts yield results only several years
later,’ Ibrahimov said to reporters.

December 31 is a Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis.

2008 was very successful for Azerbaijani diaspora, he said. `Every
outgoing year can be considered successful for Azerbaijani
diaspora. Azerbaijani diaspora is developing and organizational work
has completed. Significant changes take place in daily life of
diasporas. Every diaspora organization began to get actively involved
in public and political life of the country it represents,’ he noted.

`Even Armenian websites highlighted efforts of the Azerbaijani
diaspora after meeting of the Coordinating Council of World
Azerbaijanis was held in Baku. It indicates that strengthening of
diaspora is on a right path. The diaspora has united around Azerbaijan
and policy of President and it informs the world about Azerbaijan’s
realities,’ he said.

If diaspora keeps on developing in this direction, it will be more
united around Azerbaijan in the coming years, Ibrahimov said.

Today’s Zaman
Dec 27 2008

Press Round-up

Taraf: Another execution of Hrant by TRT

`Another execution of Hrant by TRT,’ the headline of the daily’s top
story said yesterday, reporting that a documentary film broadcast by
the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) on Wednesday night
showed slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink as one of the
individuals responsible for the MaraÅ? massacre, in which 111
Alevi citizens were killed in 1978. The top suspect in the massacre,
Ã-kkeÅ? Å?endiller of the Grand Unity Party (BBP), wa
shown in the documentary claiming that what happened in 1978 was not
an Alevi-Sunni conflict, but the work of Dink and his
friends. Å?endiller said organizations in which Dink and his
friends were members had carried out the massacre. The daily said
letting someone make such allegations about Dink on TRT was tantamount
to killing Dink once again because he had nothing to do with the
massacre.

3000 CASES OF VIOLATION OF CEASE-FIRE

A1+
[07:43 pm] 26 December, 2008

"There have been over 3000 cases of violation of the cease-fire
regime on the contact line of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani Armed
Forces this year," said Andranik Mkrtumyan, head of the frontier
representation of the General Staff of RA Armed Forces.

Five people died and 22 servicemen got wounded in the result. A
gross violation of the ceasefire regime by the Azerbaijani side was
registered in the area of Mehrab village, Martakert. Azeris have
applied long-range artillery and bombed our frontier villages, roads
and bridges. Great harms were caused to the agriculture as peasants
are unable to till their lands for fear of being shot dead.

Andranik Mkrtumyan says the OSCE mission has conducted eleven
crisis-monitoring at the contact line but three of them failed
because of the Azeri efforts. Yet, during the monitoring the Armenian
side submitted the mission with the chronicle of the incidents and
unprecedented violations of the ceasefire. They also presented their
observations and notifications.

The Azeri side bombs Armenian villages at any time. We have suggested
the OSCE to help restore the telephone communication between the
military units of Ghazakh and Ijevan so that the commanders can
clear up the problems on the spot. The Azeri side keeps rejecting
this proposal.

We have also suggested monitoring the area of Chinari village, Tavush
marz, as it is one of the vulnerable territories in Armenia.

Six cases of a frontier violation have been reported this year –
two by Armenia and Karabakh and the other four by Azerbaijan. Upon
the mediation of the the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) four civilians, a serviceman and a cadaver were returned to
Armenia in 2008.

They returned the dead soldier 18 days later but we return their dead
servicemen immediately.

Mkrtumyan states the Armenian side has returned two servicemen and one
civilian to Azerbaijan. "Presently, our serviceman Paruyr Sahakyan is
held hostage in Azerbaijan. He was taken hostage on May 25. According
to the Azeri side Sahakyan doesn’t want to return to Armenia. He
has sent no letters to his parents so far. While Azeri serviceman
Rafik Hasanov who is presently in Armenia has already sent a few
letters to his parents. It is due to mention that during a special
television appearance Hasanov announced that he doesn’t want to go
back to Azerbaijan."