Author: Zaminian Bedik

ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IS MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY OF RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN REGION, STEPAN GRIGORIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 23, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The proposal of Russia to build a
new nuclear power plant in Armenia bears evidence of Russia’s intention
to strengthen its influence in the South Caucasus. The Chairman of the
Globalization and Regional Development Analysis Center Stepan Grigorian
expressed this opinion during a talk with NT correspendent. He said
that the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), which was constructed
by a Russian design and, under an Armenian-Russian agreement, has
been transferred to the Russian side for trust management, is the most
important priority of Russia’s influence in the region. As for Armenia,
according to S. Grigorian, a vital necessity has arisen to build a new
nuclear power plant in Armenia, taking into account the obligations
of our country to the EU to close down the ANPP in 2016 as well as the
growing prices of oil products and gas. In his words, atomic energy is
the only stable source of electricity generation for Armenia that is
not rich in energy resources. The political scientist reminded that
the Armenian government has also received proposals on construction
of a new nuclear power plant from the U.S. and France. "In any case
it is worth working with Russia and other possible investors in this
sector. In this respect Armenia has some choice," S. Grigorian noted.

To recap, issues of Armenian-Russian cooperation in the atomic energy
sector, including the possibility of constructing a new nuclear
power unit, were discussed during the meeting of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and the Director General of Rosatom state corporation
(Russia) Sergei Kirienko two weeks ago.

Reference: The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant consists of two power
units and has an installed capacity of 815 megawatts. After the 1988
earthquake the plant was stopped by a special decision of the Soviet
government. In November 1995, the second unit of the ANPP was put
into operation again. The ANPP currently generates 2 billion kwh of
electricity a year.

TOROSYAN HAD UNBEARABLE DISAGREEMENTS WITH RPA

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
18 Sep 2008
Armenia

But He Himself Doesn’t Know About It

Yesterday it turned out that RPA members didn’t have any idea about
the "unbearable disagreements" Tigran Torosyan had with them.

"For the first time we came to know that he had disagreements linked
with the party’s political line. For the last two years I have been
member of RPA council, I have been participating in all the sessions
of the council and I haven’t heard him to have any serious differences
in his stance regarding the party’s political line. I must underscore
that every political figure expresses his/her disagreement by means
of voting.

During the recent years Tigran Torosyan hasn’t voted against the
decisions of our council. Moreover he has clearly represented his
approaches in different interviews," Edward Sharmazanov reminded
yesterday.

CO-CHAIRMEN WON’T JOIN NEW YORK MEETING

Panorama.am
13:08 17/09/2008

The co-chairmen of the Minsk Group won’t join to the negotiations to be
hold among the Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey in
New York. Remind that the meeting will take place by the initiative of
Turkey in the frames of UN General Assembly session. During the meeting
the Foreign Ministers are to discuss relationship of Armenia with
its neighbor countries – Turkey and Azerbaijan, and the NKR conflict.

"Turkish side has taken the initiative to organize the current meeting
and we haven’t yet received an invitation to join the meeting,"
said Yuri Merzliakov, Russian co-chairman of the Minsk Group.

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER: "OSCE MINSK GROUP HAS BEEN OPERATING INEFFECTIVELY FOR 15 YEARS"

Today.Az
itics/47601.html
Sept 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev received yesterday a
delegation of the CE Union Assembly, visiting our country, said the
press service for the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, S.Abiyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s success, attained
in the economic and political fields and in army construction after
it gained independence.

At the same time, the Minister informed in details about the problems,
which emerged in connection with Nagorno Karabakh problem.

S.Abiyev said the work carried out by the Minsk Group through 15
years was ineffective.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS EU TAKES TURKEY’S NEGOTIATION PROCESS SLOWLY

Turkish Press
Sept 16 2008

BRUSSELS – Turkish Foreign Minister & Chief Negotiator for the European
Union (EU) talks Ali Babacan said on Monday that Turkish officials
felt the EU took Turkey’s negotiation process slowly.

Holding a press conference in the Belgian capital of Brussels, Babacan
said he had the impression that opening two chapters to negotiation
during every new term of EU’s rotating presidency almost became
a tradition.

Babacan said Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the
issue with French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a recent meeting
and France was currently seeking ways to open three new chapters to
negotiation during its rotating presidency of the union.

Commenting on the latest developments regarding Turkey’s "National
Program" which would become the country’s "reference document" in
its EU membership process, Babacan said he hoped the program would
be given its final shape before the parliament recess was over.

Regarding the relations between Turkey and Armenia, Babacan said the
Armenian government acted as if it understood Turkey’s sensitivity
on the Karabakh issue much better in the recent period.

He said assessing the problems between the two countries in a
tripartite platform that would also be attended by Azerbaijan would
facilitate the solution of the conflict.

Commenting on the situation in Cyprus as well, Babacan said,"
I believe that an open-ended process would be risky. I think it
will be beneficial to move rapidly before the current atmosphere
is destroyed. A missed opportunity may not be acquired again for
long years".

SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVES OSCE MINSK GROUP FRENCH CO-CHAIRMAN

ARMENPRESS
Sep 17, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received today OSCE Minsk Group French co-chairman Bernard Fassier.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that during the meeting
the sides particularly discussed issues on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
regulation and recent developments in the region.

AZERBAIJAN – EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS DISCUSSED IN GREAT BRITAIN

Trend News Agency
Sept 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Great Britain, London, 17 September/ TrendNews, corr G. Ahmadova/
An event entitled Role of European Union in Resolution of Conflicts
within the annual conference of Liberal Democratic Party was held
in Bournemouth city of Great Britain on 16 September, Embassy of
Azerbaijan in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
said to TrendNews.

Ambassador Gurbanov, members of Liberal Democrats in Chamber of Lord
and Chamber of Representatives, members of the Party from European
Group and representatives of the public took part in the event.

Ambassador Gurbanov made a speech on Azerbaijan-EU relations during the
event. He said integration to Euro-Atlantic structures was one of the
priorities of AzerbaijanÑ-s foreign policy and reforms are carried out
in the sphere of development of market economy, technical assistance
and law. Ambassador also said Azerbaijan has become leading country
in the region. At present, European Union-Azerbaijan relations are
actively regulated within European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan
and this Plan is continued successfully, he said.

Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a major threat
in impeding peace and stability in the region and resolution of the
conflict will pave a way for regional integration, Ambassador said.

Lord Wallas and doctor Smith, deputy director of International Studies
Centre at Cambridge University said unsolved conflicts in eastern
borders of EU pose a threat for Europe and they stressed significance
of solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict soon.

–Boundary_(ID_ctvE7hQgTW9S5EhWM4EhZw)–

SECRETARY OF OPPOSITIONAL HERITAGE FACTION: POWER SYSTEM OF ARMENIA CAN SHARK NOT ONLY OPPOSITION, BUT ALSO ITS OWN PEOPLE

ArmInfo
2008-09-16 16:29:00

ArmInfo. ‘The present evil system in Armenia has vividly demonstrated
that it can shark not only representatives of the opposition, but also
its own people’, Stepan Safaryan, the Secretary of the oppositional
Heritage Party’s parliamentary faction, told ArmInfo correspondent
when commenting upon Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Tigran
Torosyan’s Sep 16 decision to leave his post and the ranks of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

According to the oppositionist, the latest events demonstrated that
the formal institutes of power in the country are only to attach a
legal form to different groups’ decisions. ‘This is proved by the
circumstance that the decision had been taken long before it was
discussed in the National Assembly , and the parliament has only to
approve it’, Safaryan said.

Speaking of possible premises of the RPA leadership’s decision to
replace Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Tigran Torosyan with
Hovik Abrahamyan, the oppositionist supposed that most likely the
matter concerns implementation of promises given by President Serzh
Sargsyan during the pre-election period. ‘Hovik Abrahamyan lost the
Vice Premier’s post he had held for many years, and now he is obviously
getting the promised compensation’, he s aid. Tigran Torosyan’s
resignation should be a good lesson for all those myrmidons of the law
who should finally realize that radical reforms in the country meet
the authorities’ own interests as well, Safaryan stressed. He added
that the Heritage faction hasn’t yet discussed the issue whether it
will take part in voting on Torosyan’s dismissal.

EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE ARMENIAN HOLY CHURCH OF NAZARETH, KOLKATA

AZG Armenian Daily
17/09/2008

Diaspora

The Committee of Armenian Church in Kolkata is delighted to announce
the celebration of the historic 300th anniversary of the laying of
the foundation stone of the Holy Church of Nazareth in 1707, between
the 8th November and 15th November 2008, in Kolkata.

Included in the events is the re-consecration of the equally historic
St. Mary’s Church in Chennai (formerly Madras), the birthplace of
Armenian newspaper journalism, which has recently been renovated.

The Committee of the Armenian Church takes this opportunity to extend
an invitation to all those who are interested to participate in these
events to join in this special and unique occasion.

A diverse range of events will take place throughout the week, which
will include a thanksgiving service at the Holy Nazareth church,
visit to the historic and renowned Armenian College and Philanthropic
Academy, a cultural seminar featuring distinguished Armenian speakers
and historians, tours to the two other Armenian churches in Kolkata
as well as visits to the Armenian churches in Chinsurah and Saidabad.

It is expected that His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos and Supreme
Patriarch of all Armenians will grace the occasion with his presence
and blessings.

It is also expected that as many members of the community, local,
national and international will attend all or some aspects of the
events.

Anyone wishing to participate should email the Pastor of the
Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth, the Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan
Gulgulian at the Armenian Church [email protected], the
Wardens of the Armenian Church at [email protected], or the
event assistant [email protected], as soon as possible to
register their interest. You can also register your desire to attend
at

The sooner you communicate with one of the above the sooner we can
assist you with the details of your visit to India.

We look forward to seeing you in Kolkata.

IS TIGRAN TOROSYAN FORMER REPUBLICAN?

Panorama.am
15:55 16/09/2008

The Chairman of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan announced that
he has applied to leave the Republican Party. Panorama.am reporter
has been informed that the Chairman of the National Assembly has been
resigned from his position of NA chairman. Mr. Torosyan commented on
his decision that "several issues in the inner political life with
the majority made me to come to this decision".

Remind that Mr. Torosyan has promised to express his positions in a
press conference.

"Today at 11:01 we have received a resignation letter from Mr. Torosyan
to leave the party," said the press secretary of the Republican Party
Edward Sharmazanov to Panorama.am reporter.