BELARUS PREPARED TO PROVIDE EVERY ASSISTANCE ON FINAL DOCUMENT ON RESOLUTION
OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IN MINSK – BELARUSIAN AMBASSADOR
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
Nikolay Patzkevich, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador
of Belarus to Azerbaijan, stated on 8 November in Baku that Belarus
is prepared to provide every assistance to the final document on the
resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
in Minsk.
We are deeply concerned about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We
understand the essence and outcome of the conflict, he noted. “As
a result of our experience of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station,
Belarus fully understands the problems of internally displaced people,”
the diplomat stated. It results in multi-million losses in funds,
moral and human losses for the Government and the State.
“We hope the conflict will be resolved on the basis of international
principles and are prepared to render every assistance on the signing
of a peace agreement in Minsk.”

ARAM KARAPETYAN ANSWERS SERGE SARGSYAN
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
In answer to Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan’s hints in his interviews
addressed to me I state that recently Mr. Sargsyan breaks down rather
often. Every time he answers an important question, he either calls
people wretched or says that criticizing him makes some people feel
more important. I should mention at once that unlike Mr. Sargsyan,
who became minister of defense by chance, with only philological
education, I became established in the sphere of science getting my
first academic title at the age of 26.
It is evident that though Mr. Sargsyan and I function in the Russian
geopolitical sphere, he has lost in this sphere by his short-sighted
and illogical moves, which is the cause of Serge Sargsyan’s nervous
breakdown.
Although we beieve that the minister of defense is real danger for
the society of our country, we agree that the reality has changed,
or as Mr. Sargsyan says, “it is not like 5, 7 or 10 years ago”,
and we will not hit a minister or another government official on the
head for expressing opinion. After the imminent change of power we
will quiely and in a civilized way lead the present government to
the nearest court of law.

ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE STOPPED UNTIL ELECTION 2007
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
Amalia Kostanyan, Chair of the Center for Regional
Development/Transparency International stated November 6 that it is
not expedient to withdraw Armenia from the list of countries assisted
by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, reports the news agency
ARKA. Amalia Kostanyan said it is not right to deprive the people of
Armenia of assistance from international organizations, namely the
MCC because separate representatives of the government are corrupt.
“People are extremely poor and really need the help of the
international community.”
Instead Amalia Kostanyan thinks it is necessary to reinforce the
monitoring of the use of financial aid provided to the country. “Over
10-15 years that Armenia gets assistance no case of prosecuting a
government official for misuse or misappropriation of these funds
has been reported.” Amalia Kostanyan thinks the assistance of the
MCC should be stopped until the parliamentary election 2007.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPENING BORDERS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA IS IMPOSSIBLE UNDER PRESENT SITUATION – HEAD OF IGDIR MUNICIPALITY
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
Opening the borders between Turkey and Armenia is impossible under
the present situation, the Head of the Igdir Municipality of Turkey,
Nurettin Aras, stated in an exclusive interview with Trend.
According to him, the European Union (EU) member-countries insist
on opening the Turkish-Armenian borders. “There are no relations
between Turkey’s entrance to the European Union and the opening of
the borders with Armenia, and it does not reflect within the Helsinki
Charter. However, the EU Head and member-countries are constantly
pressurizing Turkey on this issue and calls for its borders to open.
This matter is touched upon at each level and the pressure is
unavoidable,” Aras said. He stressed that recently, a number of
countries put this question as a condition for Turkey’s entrance into
the European Union. “Will the borders be opened as a result of these
pressures? Never!!! The Turkish Constitution does not allow it,”
he added.
According to Aras, to open the Turkish-Armenian borders it needs
not only to recognize the existing borders, but also Armenia should
improve its relations with Azerbaijan, as well as open the transport
route to Baku.
Aras positively assessed the initiatives to open a transit
corridor between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran via Nakchivan
Autonomous Republic. “Together with the opening of the rail link
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku, there is no reason not to support the
construction of the railway stretches to Iran through Nakchivan. It
will be of mutual benefit. Consequently, the Silk Route will develop,”
Aras concluded.

CHILDREN LEAVING ORPHANAGE WILL GET APARTMENTS
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
The minister of employment and social affairs Aghvan Vardanyan told
news reporters that the government has allocated 379 million drams to
provide the children leaving the orphanage with apartments. He says
this is a novelty in Armenia. “In 2007 it is foreseen to provide
50 children leaving the orphanage with apartments,” he said. The
government has allocated 1.2 billion drams for 935 children of 8
orphanages of Armenia. For 1010 residents of 4 old people’s homes
the government allocated 1.1 billion drams. The salaries of workers
of orphanages and old people’s homes will grow.

NUMBER OF ARMAVIA EMPLOYEES TO BE REDUCED FROM CURRENT 490 TO 400
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Work on technical, personnel and
other improvement is underway at the airline Armavia after the crash
of A-320 plane on May 3 near Sochi. Armavia’s owner Mikhail Baghdasarov
said on Novemeber 7 that the company has overcome the crisis.
Responding to NT correspondent’s question, he noted that it is planned
to reduce the number of the airline’s employees from current 490
to 400. “There are many people in Armavia, who, in addition to not
working, also spread rumors that the company is allegedly being sold,”
M. Baghdasarov said.
In his words, he will develop the Grand insurance company founded
by him because “we are afraid of trusting others to insure the
aviation.” According to him, in their pursuit of profits, some
insurance companies do not reinsure their risks in “strong companies”
and “if there is something, problems will arise.” He said that
insurance companies keep part the sum envisaged by the insurance
contract and give the remaining sum to the reinsurer. Reinsurance
is often done in the amount of 60-80% of the value of the contract
subject. If the price of an aerobus makes 30 million dollars, the
insurer “gets quite a large sum from reinsurance, while we are left
0.1-0.5%”.
In the words of M. Baghdasarov, after the May 3 tragedy the financial
“losses were minimal” thanks to the fact that all risks related to
Armavia were reinsured.

OSCE CHAIR-IN-CHIEF HOPES FOR POSITIVE COURSE OF COMING MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
“Unfortunately, the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan this
year had nearly no progress, therefore, they gave no results, the
OSCE Chair-in-Chief, FM of Belgium, Carel de Gucht, told the Baku
“Zerkalo” newspaper.
As the source reports, C. de Gucht has also reminded about the coming
visit of Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev, to Belgium, during which
the Karabakh conflict solution ways will be discussed as well. “This
meeting will be preceded by the negotiations of Foreign Ministers,
Mamediarov and Oskanyan, scheduled for the midst, November. As for
me personally, I have some definite assumptions regarding the coming
meeting results but I will not yet make them public, since my personal
opinion may affect the development of events. However, I hope for a
positive course of negotiations and believe they will more effective
than the previous ones”, Carel de Gucht said.

ARMENIAN COMMUNISTS CELEBRATE 89TH ANNIVERSARY OF OCTOBER REVOLUTION
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
Armenian communists held a number of events devoted to the 89th
anniversary of the Great October Revolution on November 7.
By tradition, about 200 activists and supporters of the Communist
Party of Armenia (CPA) visited the monuments for one of the first
heads of the Armenian Soviet Government Alexander Myasnikyan and Head
of Baku Commune Stepan Shahumyan.
First Secretary of CPA Central Committee Ruben Tovmasyan said at a
mini-rally near the monument for A. Myasnikyan: “One can see oligarchs
and their hangers-on instead of ordinary working people in Armenia
and understand how urgent are the ideals of the Great October that
secured the right to education, rest and labor to the workers and
peasants, and to the working intellectuals”.
After the events in Yerevan, CPA leadership left for the village
of Lernamerdz, Armavir region, to visit the bust of Vladimir Ilyich
Lenin. The local pioneer organization presented a small literature
party in the village center.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: IT SEEMS NO AGREEMENT ON RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT WILL BE THIS YEAR
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
“The year 2006 is a year of opportunities, since there were no
elections either in Armenia or Azerbaijan”, Robert Kocharyan, President
of Armenia, said at the meeting with the Armenian community of Astana.
Kazakh Mass Media reports that President Kocharyan pointed out that
Armenian side tried to actively conduct negotiations with Azeri
side on resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but, unfortunately,
no success was achieved.
The President said that Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
recently held a meeting on finding the ways to resolve the conflict.
The President admits a possibility of meeting with President Alyev in
Minsk in the end of November but it much depends upon the results of
the Foreign Ministers’ meeting. “There is nothing definite about it
yet. The latest meetings with President Alyev weren’t optimistic and
it seems no agreement will be reached this year either”, concluded
President Kocharyan.
From: Baghdasarian

POLAND TO BE A MEDIATOR IN IMPROVING ARMENIA-TURKEY DIALOGUE
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
Poland came out with proposal to propose Armenian interests to
Turkey and visa versa. Armenian side has already responded on the
proposal, Bogdan Borusewicz, the Marshal of the Polish Seym, said at
the press conference in Yerevan today. He said that despite the lack
of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia the both countries
are of interest to each other. He pointed out that relations between
the two states should be improved by means of the ‘small steps’ policy.
The Marshal said that the closed border is a bigger problem for
Armenia rather than for Turkey. “If the closed border is a question
of principle for Armenia it is only a local one for Turkey”, said.
Mr. Borusewicz. He added that Poland is for Turkey’s membership in EU
even if the process will take 15 years. “I think Turkey’s membership
in EU will benefit for Armenia as well”, the Marshal said.
In his turn, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torossyan agreed
with Borusewicz that Turkey’s entry into the EU is not contrary to
Armenia’s interests as each EU member state should comply with the
European values. Simply it would be strange if Turkey joined the EU
without opening its border with Armenia. Torossyan is not optimistic
in the matter as he has met with Turkish representatives and has
seen that Turkey has a stiff approach to the problem of its relations
with Armenia.
The speakers said that the Armenian-Polish cooperation is quite
developed. Torossyan expressed hope that the visit of Borusewicz will
increase the role of Poland in Armenia, while Borusewicz said that
his visit will help to enhance the image of Armenia in Poland. The
sides noted that the economic cooperation is not active because of
Armenia’s blockade. In 2005 the Armenian-Polish trade turnover was
just $17 mln. In order to attract Polish investments Armenia should
become a more predictable country. Borusewicz noted that Armenia has
big potential for democracy development.