AZERIS OF YAROSLAVL TOOK PART IN FESTIVITIES OF YEAR OF ARMENIA IN RUSSIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 14:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Mass events marking the Year of Armenia in Russia
and 15th anniversary of creation of Nairi Armenian regional society
were held in Yaroslavl past weekend. As President of the Russian
Society of Friendship and Cooperation with Armenia Victor Krivopuskov
told PanARMENIAN.Net, at the end of these there was a concert and
consecration of the building of Surb Gevorg (Saint George) Armenian
temple. Nairi community Chair Valerik Palakyan stated at the meeting
that energetic and diligent Armenians have considerable positions in
the industry and building, services and other fields.
Vice Governor of the district Vyachesvla Blatov and First Deputy
Mayor of the City Valery Velichko in their turn underscored that
the Armenian community is the oldest one in that region and it
displays exemplary tolerance, internationalism, inter-ethnic accord
and friendship, actively participates in the work of the Assembly
of Peoples of Russia. Thus, it is natural, that representatives of
practically all other national communities, including the Azeri one,
were present at the Armenian holiday.
Envoy Extraordinary of the Embassy and Plenipotentiary Minister
of the Republic of Armenia Ashot Manukyan, President of the Russian
Society of Friendship and Cooperation with Armenia Victor Krivopuskov,
Vice-Presidents of the Union of Armenians of Russia Hapet Tapaltsyan
and German Ananyants were present at the events.

GUAM GOING TO CREATE PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT BY MID-2007
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 14:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Organization for Democracy and Economic
Development – GUAM will form a peacekeeping contingent by
mid-2007. Reported the Press Office of the Defense Ministry of
Ukraine, referring to the Minister Anatoly Gritsenko. We remind that
Presidents of Ukraine Victor Yuschenko, Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili,
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Moldova Vladimir Voronin approved the GUAM
Statute May 23, 2006. In late May at the meeting of representatives
of General Staffs of the GUAM Defense Ministers of Ukraine and
Azerbaijan sponsored consideration of the issue of creation of a
joint peacekeeping detachment, reports RBK.

KOCHARIAN TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN NOVEMBER 6-7
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 15:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian will pay an
official visit to Kazakhstan November 6-7.
According to Kazakh MFA official representative Yerzhan Ashikbayev,
within the framework of the visit Kocharian is scheduled to meet with
leadership of the country. “Signing bilateral documents, as well as
the holding of a round table with participation of business circles
Armenia and Kazakhstan are planned within the visit,” he remarked.
At the same time November 5-6 the Kazakh-Armenian Commission on Trade
and Economic Cooperation will hold its second meeting. “Matters of
strengthening cooperation will be discussed during it,” the Kazakh
MFA representative said, reports Kazakhstan Today.

UNFREEZING OF KARABAKH CONFLICT INEVITABLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 16:31 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The situation in the South Caucasus is very unstable,
it is an unstable balance, at the verge of war and peace, which cannot
last long, Chief of the Department of CIS Countries of the Russian
Institute of Strategic Research, Candidate of Historical Sciences
Alexander Skakov said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In
his words, there is some military and economic balance between the
countries of the region, as well as inability of basic players –
world and regional superpowers – to pursue their own policy, not
looking back at the partners.
“Owing to these factors and inertia stability, there is still peace in
the region. Unfortunately, this “suspended” state cannot be eternal,
especially that it does not fit some people any more, for example
Georgia, Azerbaijan, the US and EU. To the contrary, Armenia, Russia,
Iran, Turkey, unrecognized states of the region are interested in
preserving the status-quo,” he remarked.
“The powers wanting “unfreezing” of the region are rather influential
and their actions are becoming more and more persistent. It would be
a mistake to consider that it is possible “to unfreeze” conflicts and
sustain regional stability. “Unfreezing” of the Karabakh conflict
is inevitable, irrespective of the outcome. It will aggravate
Armenian-Azeri relations, while unfreezing of the Georgian-Abkhaz or
Georgian-Ossetian conflicts not only threatens further complication
of Russian-Georgian relations, but will also ricochet other countries
of the region.
“Unfreezing” is inevitable, moreover is it likely and one should
prepare to it,” the Russian politician said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN-BAKU DIALOGUE NOT EXHAUSTED
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 16:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Any meetings and talks – are already boon even
if they bring no result. Much worse if the sides have no wish and
possibility to meet and hold talks, let us take Georgia and Russian,
for example,” Chief of the Department of CIS Countries of the Russian
Institute of Strategic Research, Candidate of Historical Sciences
Alexander Skakov said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In
his opinion the potential of the Armenian-Azeri dialogue has been
exhausted. “Meetings at the presidential and ministerial level are a
positive phenomenon but expecting the leaders to make halfway would be
impracticable now. In my opinion, the problem of the Armenian-Azeri
relations is the ill will of the peoples heated up by the history
and patterns of the politicians. At the same time we are neighbors
and will remain such,” he said.
“The task of the peaceful process is to establish dialogue between
the publics. In this case the terms of the Karabakh settlement, let it
be 3 or 30 years, becomes not so important. The security zone and the
actual front line can be maintained until they become unnecessary. May
be it seems fantastic but I do not see any other way of settlement
at present. I do not think that the leaders of the two states should
dedicate their meetings to the search of a universal compromise. They
have better improve the atmosphere of the Armenian-Azeri relations. For
example, establishment of transport communication should precede the
conflict settlement,” the Russian analyst said.

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT MEET IN KREMLIN
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/10/2006
“Russia occupies the shameful 3d place as a major capital investor in
Armenia. I say ‘shameful’ because it’s strange that Russia is not the
1st in the economy of a strategic partner,” president Vladimir Putin
of Russia stated at the Kremlin yesterday where he hosted his Armenian
counterpart Robert Kocharian. Then the Russian president underscored
that he expects growth of Russian investments in the Armenian economy.
Putin also pointed out that trade between the two countries is on
the upward curve though numbers for Russia are not that high: 60%
in 8 months. President Kocharian, on his part, informed that all
agreements with Gazprom are being accomplished and expressed hope
that the situation with investments will change next year.
The Armenian president suggested elaborating mechanisms that would
help to get maximum use of the ties that emerged during the Year of
Armenia in Russia, ITAR-TASS reports.
This was the 4th meeting of the two presidents this year.
Armenian president’s next scheduled visit is to Kazakhstan in November.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VOSKANIAN’S APPOINTMENT AS ROMANIA’S REPRESENTATIVE TO EUROPEAN COMMISSION MAKES TURKEY UNEASY
AZG Armenian Daily
31/10/2006
As we previously informed, senator and head of the Romanian-Armenian
community Varuzhan Voslanian was appointed Romania’s representative to
the European Commission. Hurriyet Turkish newspaper reports that this
fact stirred unrest in Ankara as Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the
European Commission, himself contributed to this appointment. Romania,
which is set to join the EU on January 1 2007, marks April 24 as
Armenian Genocide remembrance day thanks to the senator’s initiative.

COMMERSANT: MOSCOW MAY ENABLE PRESSURE OF ARMENIA UPON GEORGIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 15:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ One of leading Russian newspapers, the Commersant
believes that Moscow may enable pressure of Armenia on Georgia. An
article published on Monday concerns the visit of Armenian President
to Moscow October 30-31.
Robert Kocharian met with Russian President Putin on Monday. The
newspaper supposes Georgia will be the subject of conversation. “The
Kremlin is looking for tools to influence Georgian President
Saakashvili.
Tbilisi fears that one of the tools to influence Georgia may be
suspension of electric power supplies from Russia and Armenia. Georgia
will be in a catastrophic position then,” the Commersant writes.
The article does not rule out Moscow asking Armenia to organize
“small disorders” in the southern province of Samtskhe-Javakheti,
where some 200 thousand Armenians live.
Georgian experts do not rule out these developments, as Armenia depends
on Russia in the political and economic respects. At the same time
Armenia cannot have a confrontation with Georgia, as it is the only
way, linking with Russia and European countries.
“Russia has already appropriated Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and the
Hrazdan thermal electric power plant.
Now Russia works to appropriate the rail network of Armenia. Yerevan
is going to organize a tender for conveying ownership of the railway
for 30 years, but President Putin will try to persuade his Armenian
counterpart the tender is not necessary and Russia will take care of
the railway of Armenia,” reports Prime News.

GREAT SILK ROAD REEMERGING?
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/10/2006
The Great Silk Road functioned 2000 years ago and still can function
today. The CIS member states are looking to restoring it. This issue
was discussed at the session of the council coordinating transport
communication in CIS countries. The routs of the Great Silk Road pass
through 40 European and Asian states.
Russia’s transport minister Igor Levitin said that projects of
organizing corridors for goods transportation from China to Europe
are being elaborated jointly with Ukraine. During the upcoming 5
years transportation corridors of the Great Silk Road passing through
Kazakhstan are going to be restored, transport minister of the country
Serik Akhmetov assured.

THANKS FOR ARMENIA’S BALANCED APPROACH
AZG Armenian Daily
31/10/2006
Chairman of the National Assembly Tigran Torosian received yesterday
Georgian ambassador to Armenia Revaz Gechachiladze. According to
NA information center, the Georgian ambassador thanked the Armenian
parliament for its balanced, restrained and acceptable approach during
the Georgian-Russian crisis. Tigran Torosian, on his part, expressed
hope that Georgia and Russia will soon overcome the crisis and assured
that Armenia is ready to contribute to a solution. Torosian stated that
our country was always for peace and prosperity in the region. They
also discussed the OSCE report on stability in the South Caucasus
published in San Marino on October 17.