RICHARD GIRAGOSYAN: ARMENIA SHOULD NOT TRUST PROMISES OF FOREIGN STATES
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2009 19:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The future of Armenian-Turkish relations depends on
Turkey’s domestic policy, but neither U.S. nor Europe can influence the
process, ACNIS Director Richard Girgosyan finds. "Armenia should not
trust the promises of foreign states," he told today a news conference.
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EDWARD NALBANDYAN DELIVERED SPEECH AT THE 17TH SESSION OF THE OSCE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
ARMENPRESS
Dec 3, 2009
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan delivered speech December 2 at the 17th session of the OSCE
Ministerial Council. Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department told Armenpress that in his speech the minister referred
to agenda issues, necessity of improvement of the European security.
The Armenian minister drew the attention of the OSCE member-states’
ministers to the violation of the international commitment on
ammunition restriction by Azerbaijan and one of the basic principles
of the international right – non-usage of force or force threat.
Minister Nalbandyan also referred to the process of normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations, highlighting the ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols. According to the minister, the groundless
dragging of the process and forwarding of preconditions, including the
attempts of tying it with Karabakh conflict regulation may harm the
two processes. Edward Nalbandyan pointed out that all the countries
expressed their positive attitude toward the normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey, only one country – Azerbaijan expresses
negatively going against not only OSCE Basic Principles but the whole
international community.
Referring to the negotiations over Karabakh conflict settlement,
Edward Nalbandyan pointed out the importance of preservation of the
positive dynamics formed as a result of the meetings of the Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents.
The second day of the Ministerial Council was full with bilateral
meetings. First meeting Edward Nalbandyan conducted with the acting
chairman of the OSCE, Greek Prime Minister Georgiou Papandreou. The
Armenian minister conveyed to the Greek prime minister the greetings
of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and expressed delight over
the close cooperation established between the two countries.
The Greek prime minister and Armenian foreign minister discussed
a wide-range of issue on bilateral relations, highly assessed the
established political dialogue and referred to the steps undertaken
for the consolidation of cooperation.
The interlocutors exchanged thoughts over the OSCE agenda issues,
Armenia-EU cooperation and regional issues.
In Athens the Armenian minister met with the OSCE Secretary General
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut. The parties discussed issues on different
spheres of the activity of OSCE, exchanged thoughts over the reforms
in the organization.
Minister Nalbandyan noted that Armenia highlights the role of OSCE in
ensuring security and cooperation in Europe and will continue practical
participation in all the platforms of activity of the organization.
During the meeting the sides also discussed a number of regional
issues, refereed to the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations and negotiations over the Karabakh conflict regulation.
The next meeting of the Armenian minister was with the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland. Edward Nalbandyan
congratulated Thorbjorn Jagland on being elected as Secretary General,
expressing conviction that he will have his notable contribution to the
implementation of the goals of the establishment. During the meeting
the interlocutors discussed a number of issues connected with the
activity of Council of Europe, referred to the normalization process
of Armenian-Turkish relations. Minister Nalbandyan invited Secretary
General of the Council of Europe to visit Yerevan.
At the meeting with the Belarus Foreign Minister Sergey Martinov,
Edward Nalbandyan discussed the implementation of arrangements reached
during the meeting of the Armenian and Belarus presidents.
Before departing from Athens, the minister met with the leadership
of the ARF Greek office. On the same day ending his visit to Greece,
the minister leaded to Yerevan.
MELIKYAN: NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC’LL PARTICIPATE IN TALKS
Aysor
Dec 2 2009
Armenia
"The agenda of the Armenian side is that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
must participate in talks on Karabakh. And make no mistake, this will
be done," said a member of the Republican Party of Armenia Gagik
Melikyan when asked by Aysor’s correspondent whether the Armenian
side intends to involve the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in negotiations.
"This was announced at the Congress of the Republican Party. And feel
certain, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will participate in negotiations
having full rights."
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said in Athens that
Stepanakert will participate in negotiations especially in those
connected with agreements, according to Gagik Melikyan.
As soon as Armenia and Azerbaijan reach an agreement on fundamental
principles, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will be involves in
negotiations. "An agreement without sign by the Nagorno-Karabakh is
unacceptable," he added.
ARFD ATTEMPTS TO SET ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES ON THE RIGHT PATH
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.12.2009 15:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ARF Dashnaktsutyun is ready to launch a national
movement against ratification of Armenia-Turkey protocols on
normalization of relations, ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group
leader Vahan Hovhannisyan said.
He informed that the party intends to form action groups in
constituencies throughout Armenia.
"The voters themselves will address the MPs, urging them to vote
against ratification of the protocols," he stressed.
"ARFD will attempt to set Armenian authorities on the right path,"
Hovhannisyan said, adding that the government will be overthrown,
should it fail to improve its ways.
Wine: Government wary of temptations of Bacchus
FInancial Times, UK
Nov 25 2009
Although home to one of the world’s earliest wine-producing regions –
dating back 4,000 years – Turkey’s wine offerings were low on variety
and uninspiring until just a few years ago.
A state-run alcohol monopoly and two companies – Kavaklidere and
Doluca, founded at the same time as the republic in the 1920s –
dominated a lacklustre market. Then there were a handful of lesser
brands, known colloquially as `dog-killers’. Vintage year or grape
variety were little-known details and hardly mattered.
Those days are receding. A combination of industry liberalisation, a
slew of wealthy executives investing in boutique vineyards and
innovation by the US-educated scions of established wine-makers is
helping to revitalise an ancient tradition.
Turks can now count a number of homegrown grape varieties, such as the
dark, tannic Bogazkere, fruity red Kalecik Karasi or delicate Narince,
technology has improved and international buyers are taking note.
`What I saw in vineyards and cellars suggests it will not be long
before Turkey produces something truly exceptional,’ said well-known
wine critic Jancis Robinson, who writes for the FT, after a recent
visit.
After all, the Turkish wine industry would appear to have huge
potential: the country is the world’s fourth-largest grape grower, it
has favourable climate and soil conditions, nearly 1,000 indigenous
grape varieties and a large, youthful population – more than half of
70m are under the age of 35 – with rapidly urbanising palates. Alcohol
sales rose by 19.5 per cent to more than 1.1bn litres last year.
Yet businesses are faltering. Wine producers accuse the government of
failing to support the nascent industry, chiefly through a tax levied
since 2002, which is among the steepest in the world when measured
against per capita income.
Wine taxes now amount to 0.80 per litre, compared with a European
average of 0.48 per litre. `The tax has made wine very expensive,
which has reduced consumption and brought the 12-15 per cent annual
sectoral growth we saw in the early 2000s to a standstill,’ says Sibel
Kutman, a member of the board at Doluca.
More recently, an advertising ban took effect in July making it
illegal to promote alcohol in association with food, Turkish cultural
or historic values, or – in vague wording – in a way that might appeal
to youth.
`The government has adopted an attitude of passive resistance,’ says
Resit Soley, a prominent architect-turned-vintner who owns the
up-market Corvus label. `It doesn’t kill you, but it saps your
strength. It is an exhausting constant struggle.’
Due to Muslim prohibition, under Ottoman rule, wine-making was
traditionally the province of the empire’s Christian Greek and
Armenian subjects. When the Empire collapsed in the 1920s, most of its
non-Muslim minorities left, taking their expertise with them.
It was the plight of abandoned vineyards on the Aegean island of
Bozcaada that prompted Mr Soley to turn to wine-making. `I’ve had a
house on the island for 20 years,’ he says. `I could see a tradition
dying out and I wanted to save it.’ His Corvus label produces about
300,000 bottles a year, several of which have won international
awards. He began exporting last year to counter a slowdown in domestic
sales he attributes to high taxes. `My goal now is to sell nine out of
10 bottles abroad,’ he says. `That’s the only way to circumvent the
tax dilemma here.’
The republic’s westernising founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk famously
enjoyed a tipple and kept a wine cellar. But some 80 years later, his
successor, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a devout Muslim,
abstains, as do most members of his cabinet. AKP mayors in various
municipalities have tried periodically to ban alcohol sales.
`The official attitude is less than friendly,’ says Mr Kutman. `For a
country on the road to EU membership, there is no desire to officially
promote Turkish wine or to see wine as a national product.’
The market was liberalised in 2001 when a state monopoly on alcoholic
beverages was lifted and private sector wine imports freed up. A
market watchdog, TAPDK, was established in 2002 to regulate the
industry. A private consumption tax was introduced the same year, at a
rate of 48.7 per cent on fresh grape wine. Over the next three years,
it was raised to 63.3 per cent. Imports are taxed further – 50 per
cent on European products, 70 per cent for other countries.
About half the sector’s revenues are paid out in tax – more than TL3bn
($1.9bn) last year.
`All I’m asking for is fairness,’ says Mr Soley. `As it stands, I have
to pay tax on my product two weeks after I’ve invoiced it. But I get
paid by supermarkets and suppliers weeks, even months after they
receive an order.’
As Turkish wines make their mark abroad, foreign investors such as
Piero Antinori and Frescobaldi have visited to look into vineyards.
`On one level it is a great market,’ says Mr Kutman. `Both in terms of
its vineyard opportunities and a large, youthful consumer population.
`But there is a big question mark over the political attitude. That
makes investors wary.’
ALIYEV IS NOT SAAKASHVILI: SKAKOV
news.am
Nov 27 2009
Armenia
Ilham Aliyev’s warlike statements on resumption of hostilities in
Karabakh conflict zone are groundless and nothing else but a political
game, Head of CIS Department of the Russian Institute of Strategic
Research Alexander Skakov said in an interview with NEWS.am.
According to him, Baku’s recent military threats are induced by
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and intended for internal public.
"Thereby Baku tries to link Karabakh conflict with Armenian-Turkish
relations and affect somehow Ankara, as attempts of relations’
normalization with Yerevan incur displeasure in Azerbaijan. However,
this pressure will not come to head as Ankara has its own priority
interests", the expert reckons.
Skakov reassured, that Azerbaijan will not open hostilities especially
after the August 2008 war in Georgia. "Georgian experience showed
that military operations in South Caucasus are doomed to failure, as
International organizations will not permit escalation of situation in
the region. Even if we assume in theory, that Azerbaijan unleashed a
war, it will last several days and end under the pressure of CSTO, UN,
European structures and Russia. I would restate that Azerbaijan will
not resume hostilities, as Aliyev would not run such an adventure,
if for no other reason than he is not Saakashvili," Skakov concluded.
VANADZOR-1 POWER PLANT TO BE PUT INTO OPERATION IN 2010
Aysor
Nov 26 2009
Armenia
Director of the Northern Branch of the Armenian High-Voltage Networks
company, Gevorg Gevorkyan, has presented today last developing in
the process of reconstruction of Vanadzor-1 Power Plant.
"Age-worn equipment is supplanted by European-made components providing
the population and industrial consumers with the certain electric
power supply. The Vanadzor-1 Power Plant provides with electricity
the most part of Vanadzor town," he said.
"Accidents happen, but not often, while after the modernization works
neither accident will happen, and the losses will be brought to a
minimum," he added.
The Vanadzor-1 Power Plan will be put into operation in 2010
September. Its renovation begun in June, this year, and are funded
by KfW Bank. The reconstruction is carried out by Simens Company with
assistance of Areva and ABB companies.
Armenian High-Voltage Networks Company has 14 power plants. Next year
the company intends to begin reconstruction of Gyumri Power Plant
which will provide Turkey with electricity.
In 2003 the fully restored with funding from KfW Bank the Vanadzor-2
Power Plant was put into operation. It will run at least 30 years
on without any system failures, according to Gevorg Gevorkyan. The
Vanadzor-2 Power Plant provides Georgia with electricity, but it is
for two years as the terms of the contract with Georgia has expired
and not resigned yet.
PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA CALLS ON GOVERNMENT MEMBERS TO PERSONALLY CONTRIBUTE TO RECOVERY OF SHUSHI
ArmInfo
2009-11-26 18:41:00
ArmInfo. Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sarkisyan called on the
government members to personally contribute to recovery of the town
of Shushi, the prime minister said at Thursday government session.
He recalled that an annual International Fundraising Telethon of
Hayastan All Armenian Fund will be held on November 26 in Los Angeles
(USA), and the major part of the funds gathered will be directed to
recovery of Shushi. According to T. Sarkisyan, his Karabakh counterpart
is already in the USA.
"Recovery of Shushi is a matter of national dignity for us. All of
us present here have to take part in the donation and inspire our
relatives and friends by the personal example in order to assure wide
participation. Me and my family will also take part in this donation
and make contributiuon", T. Sarkisyan said.
GOOD NEWS FOR "MAGNIS" TARIFF PLAN SUBSCRIBERS
AZG DAILY
25-11-2009
Economy
According to VivaCell-MTS official website, the company is glad to
make another surprise for "Magnis" tariff plan subscribers. Now they
can call to any local destination other than "Magnis" subscribers for
only AMD 35. The calls within the tariff plan remain the same AMD 10
per minute.
Moreover, from now on SMS price within the tariff plan is AMD 5 and
to all other destinations – AMD 15.
ARMENIA, ITALY TO INTENSIFY POLITICAL DIALOGUE
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.11.2009 11:52 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met
Monday in Rome with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini to discuss
bilateral cooperation, Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and some other
regional issues. Armenia-EU relations, specifically the European
Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership, were also in focus.
The Italian Minister hailed the signature of Armenian-Turkish protocols
and voiced hope for soonest opening of the border.
The two men also stressed the necessity to intensify political dialogue
between Armenia and Italy.