Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN NOVEMBER 19

DeFacto Agency
Nov 16 2007
Armenia

According to the information PanARMENIAN.Net received from the office
of EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby,
the latter will visit Yerevan November 19-20.

To note, Peter Semneby last visited the region in September 2007. EU
Special Representative was to visit Nagorno-Karabakh then, however,
his trip did not take place. According to Semneby, EU Special
Representative’s visit to Nagorno-Karabakh ‘~Rshould not become
a subject of debate’~R. Peter Semneby said it while commenting on
reports claiming that his visit to Stepanakert had been frustrated
by Baku’s demands to tour Karabakh via Azerbaijan and not Armenia.

UKRAINE’S PRESIDENT YUSCHENKO PRESSURES ISRAEL ON GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Vladimir Matveyev

Baltimore Jewish Times, MD

Nov 14 2007

Fresh from the controversy over shifting positions on the Armenia
genocide, the Jews could be caught up in another controversy over
genocide recognition. This time the subject is the Ukrainian famine of
1932-33, called Holodomor, which Ukrainian President Victor Yuschenko
wants Israel to recognize as genocide, orchestrated by Josef Stalin
against the Ukrainian people.

Yuschenko is expected to press the issue when he comes to Israel
Nov. 14-15 for his first official visit to the Jewish state.

Israeli and Jewish officials, on the other hand, are more concerned
with pressing Yuschenko to take a tougher line against the genocidal
ambitions of Iran and against Syria, a major trading partner with
Ukraine.

"We are waiting for Yuschenko to make a statement that Ukraine will
not sell weapons to the conflict region," said Josef Zissels, head of
the Association of Jewish Communities and Organizations in Ukraine,
or Vaad. Zissels is expected to accompany the president on his visit
to Israel.

In 2005, Yuschenko confirmed that nuclear-capable cruise missiles
were sold illegally to Iran under Ukraine’s previous government.

At least three times in three years, planned visits by Yuschenko
to Israel were postponed due to "scheduling conflicts." Some Jewish
leaders said the delays were the result of Ukrainian concerns over
upsetting Arab allies, notably Iran and Syria.

Syria is one of Ukraine’s major trading partners. Ukraine exported
some $602 million worth of goods to Syria in 2006, and some $234
million in the first four months of this year, according to the
Ukraine Finance Ministry.

Syria’s finance minister has said Ukraine is his country’s largest
trading partner in Eastern Europe. Yuschenko recently appointed a
Syrian millionaire to be his Middle East adviser.

On his trip next week, Yuschenko will meet with Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas.

In Israel, Yuschenko will meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and hold
discussions on business, tourism and agriculture. The two leaders are
expected to discuss easing visa requirements for tourists from each
other’s countries, and Yuschenko wants to push for greater Israeli
business investment in Ukraine.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian immigrants live in Israel. Leonid
Kuchma was the last Ukrainian president to visit Israel, in 1996.

"Hopefully the visit will provide President Yuschenko with a deep
understanding of the Jewish state and Jewish people," said Mark Levin,
executive director of NCSJ, which advocates for Jews in former Soviet
republics. "It will also provide an opportunity for both governments
to discuss the ongoing problems of anti-Semitism in Ukraine."

Ukraine’s government faced strong criticism last month from Jewish
leaders for the lack of response by Ukraine authorities to a recent
spike in anti-Semitic attacks in the country.

After the president of the European Jewish Congress canceled a planned
trip to a ceremony in Ukraine to protest the government’s silence,
Yuschenko met with Jewish leaders to assuage their concerns and affirm
his government’s commitment to fighting anti-Semitism.

But Jewish leaders fear Yuschenko will link his government’s fight
against anti-Semitism, neo-Nazism and Holocaust denial to Israel’s
recognition of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33 as genocide.

Israel is unlikely to recognize the Holodomor as genocide because such
a declaration inevitably would harm Israel’s ties with the Kremlin,
which Ukraine accuses of having orchestrated the famine to destroy
Ukraine, the Soviet Union’s bread basket, as a viable political entity.

An estimated 3 to 4 million people died during the great famine,
which also struck parts of Russia and Kazakhstan and resulted from
Stalin’s policies of agricultural collectivization.

In Ukraine, Stalin’s campaign destroyed a significant part of the
Ukrainian peasantry, virtually eliminated Ukraine’s clergy and resulted
in the mass imprisonment and execution of Ukrainian intellectuals.

Yushchenko has pressed the genocide issue since taking office in
2005, and last year Ukraine’s parliament recognized the famine
as genocide. More than two dozen other countries have recognized
the Holodomor as genocide, but UNESCO has stopped short of that
definition. Russia calls it a "tragedy" but not genocide.

Aside from Zissels and Aleksandr Feldman, a parliament member and
president of the Jewish Foundation of Ukraine, most Ukrainian Jewish
leaders do not support recognizing the Holodomor as genocide.

Jewish leaders say it is unfair to link the Holodomor and the
Holocaust, which Yuschenko reportedly plans to do by introducing a
bill in the Ukrainian parliament that would recognize both the Jews’
suffering during the Holocaust and the suffering of the Ukrainian
nation in the Holodomor.

"We regret the tragedy of the Ukrainian people, but Yuschenko can’t
equate the Holocaust and the tragedy of the Holodomor in Ukraine,"
said Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, one of Ukraine’s chief rabbis.

Some Ukrainian nationalists have openly blamed Jews, among others,
for the famine and the "genocide of Ukrainians."

In their meetings with Yuschenko, Israeli officials are expected to
bring up the attacks against Jews in Ukraine, which have included
several rabbis being beaten up, including at least one Israeli,
the burning of a Chabad house and neo-Nazis rallies.

In recent days there has been some praise from Jewish leaders in
Ukraine for Yuschenko’s positive steps concerning the Jewish community
in his country.

Last week, Yuschenko signed an order to return to the Jews an estimated
1,000 Torah scrolls confiscated from Jewish communities in Ukraine
during the communist regime. Yuschenko also returned the historic
Chernovtzy synagogue to the Jewish community, which was shuttered
decades ago by the communists.

The president also has ordered the Ukrainian Security Service to
establish a special department to combat hate crimes and proposed
a bill to criminalize denial of the Holocaust – and denial of the
Holodomor famine.

"I express my blessing to you for your concrete activities against
manifestations of xenophobia and anti-Semitism," Rabbi Azriel Chaikin,
one of Ukraine’s chief rabbis wrote in an open letter to the president
several days ago.

Mikhail Frenkel, an expert on Ukraine-Israel relations, said the
visit is a positive step but there is no serious dynamic between the
two countries.

"Relations between Ukraine and Israel should be more concrete and
realistic," Frenkel said.

COOPERATION HAS MUCH GREATER POTENTIALS
Haroutyun Gevorkyan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Nov 14 2007
Armenia

SERGEY STANISHEV, Prime Minster of the Republic of Bulgaria, is in
Armenia on a three-day official visit. The long negotiations between
the Heads of two countries’ Executive Powers were held yesterday.

Right after the end of the negotiations, SERGE SARGSYAN and his
Bulgarian counterpart had a meeting with the journalists.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister attached importance to the fact that his
country has begun the current year as a full member of the European
Union. "This was a goal we had been aspiring to for long years,
and the whole nation has made a lot of efforts unanimously.

The factor of being an EU member allows us to view the
Armenian-Bulgarian relations in a new context.

During the negotiations I assured Serge Sargsyan that Bulgaria is
ready to drastically develop the economic ties with Armenia in all
the spheres and do its best to involve Armenia in all the pan-European
programs and projects."

According to S. Stanishev, Bulgaria will also increase its direct
assistance to Armenia. For planning the specific steps, it will be
required to set up an intergovernmental committee and clarify the
frameworks of the economic and scientific-technical interests. To
this end, a business-forum with the participation of Armenian and
Bulgarian businessmen will be organized in 2008.

"Today, the volume of the good-circulation between the two
countries is 30 million Dollars, and this cannot be estimated as
satisfactory. The Government of Bulgaria has already approved the
economic assistance strategy for the EU non-member states. And this
implies a large-scale funding, in the amount of 0.17 per cent of
the Gross Domestic Income. Within the frameworks of this program,
we have elaborated serious projects which will be implemented in the
near future. The coming year will be a year of cultural cooperation,
as days of Bulgarian culture will be organized in Armenia," the
Bulgarian Prime Minister added.

S. Sargsyan confirmed that the current volumes of the economic
cooperation between Armenia and Bulgaria cannot be satisfactory,
"Currently Armenia imports a larger quantity of oil products from
Bulgaria. However, there are chances to import as well as export
various other products in larger quantities, because Armenia currently
produces a various kinds of products which are in demand on the
Bulgarian market.

We are carrying out large-scale preparatory activities for effective
participation in the business-forum scheduled for the next year. I am
sure we will manage to use the great potential of the two countries’
economic cooperation, including the ports of Bulgaria."

AMBASSADOR OF BELGIUM TO AZERBAIJAN: WE WANT THE RESPECT FOR THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN IN FRAMES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 13 2007

Ambassador of Kingdom of Belgium to Azerbaijan Frank Geerkens’s
interview to the APA

-How do see the relations between Azerbaijan and Belgium in political,
social and economic spheres?

– The opening of an embassy which we are doing now I think is very
important moment in the relations between our countries. Of course
we established the diplomatic relations since 1991 after Azerbaijan
becoming independent. But opening the embassy now is an important
issue now. I think there is more to do, to accomplish. I think
the embassy here will be an effect of getting more cooperation,
more exchanges. Everyone is praising the economic development of
Azerbaijan, and economic and trade cooperation is also the thing we
would like to do, but it goes further than only business. I think
Belgium is the country central of EU – we have the host of EU, NATO,
other organizations. I think Azerbaijan is also a focus in that part
of Eurasia, of the region. When it comes to political contacts –
I think it already happened – the president Aliyev was in Belgium
last year. In 2006 Belgium chaired the OSCE, and in that capacity
the MFA of Belgium visited Baku and the region for several times.

– Which spheres are the most possible to cooperate for our countries?

-Azerbaijan has signed the ENP action plan with the European Union. I
think Belgium, as well as the entire EU; can help Azerbaijan with the
implementation, democratization, local government works. We can help
in practical steps. I think we should also develop the contacts in
non-governmental spheres. In terms of education – between universities,
also with the NGOs, also culture, human, student exchanges, etc.

Belgium is also as a part of EU is interested in Azerbaijani energy
resources. EU wants to diversify its energy recourses supplies, and
in that terms of view the Caspian region is very important. There are
also business opportunities to cooperate in IT, technical, financial
and construction services. We don’t have big projects or contracts –
but we are looking for partners. Certainly Im also discussing mow
an idea of having a business forum between our countries with my
colleague – the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium.

-Will Belgium be sending a delegation on the presidential elections
in 2008 to Azerbaijan? Do you believe Azerbaijan can have free and
fair ones?

-We don’t send special delegations, but our representatives will come
in the framework of ODIHR OCSE.

Azerbaijan is improving. It already implemented some of the
commitments. We are looking forward for the next election process. As
for the press issues about Azebaijan – we refer to the EU statement
made a few days ago and to the action plan too. And we hope the
opposition representatives will also not be silent.

The last elections were better than the previous ones. They could
have been better in terms of free and fair. We look forward for
the Azerbaijani election process to take place in frame of the
recommendations, and if Azerbaijan needs help – it will get it.

– What is Belgium’s opinion on Nagorno-Karabakh problem?

-When we were chairing OSCE in 2006 we got a very close understanding
for the conflict, and also for the opinions of both sides involved.

We want the respect for the territorial integrity in frames of
international law. I also think the conflict must be resolved
peacefully. It is a difficult situation, and it is not so easy to
solve it. We in Belgium know how difficult it is for two different
communities to live together. In Belgium we have the Flemish, the
German and the French speaking communities. So we can understand that.

– Some experts say the MG OCSE doesn’t work pretty well, and it might
be more active if change one of the co-chairs. Would Belgium want to
become one?

-The Mink Group, the co-chairs and the OSCE itself is there to help
the parties involved to negotiate, to work on that process. That
would be very unrealistic to think that it is very easy to solve this
problem. The conflict has to be solves by the sides themselves, so
they don’t have to blame the mediators. It all depends on Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

WILL THERE BE A WAR?
Ruben Safrastyan

International Analyst Network, NY
Nov 12 2007

SAFRASTYAN SAYS ANKARA LIKELY TO EXPLOAT GENOCIDE RESOLUTION, PURSUE
STRONGER FOREIGN POLICY

Turkey might act on threats made to the United States if the Armenian
Genocide Resolution passes said Tuesday Director of the Institute
of Oriental Studies at the Armenian Academy of Sciences Dr. Ruben
Safrastyan, adding, however, that a Turkish retaliation will not do
much harm to the U.S. "Turkey will evidently launch military operations
in Northern Iraq as a form of revenge," he said, adding that Turkish
Prime Minister Erdogan has already given the go ahead.

"An appropriate draft bill will be approved in the parliament. As
to restricting the U.S. use of Incirlik base and blocking crucial
supply routes to Iraq, I do not suppose Turkey will resort to such
extreme measures," he commented. Passage of the H.Res.106 may lead
Turkey expand its role as a regional power and adopt a more proactive
foreign policy, said Safrastyan.

"Turkey wants to ensure its security at the expense of its neighbors.

This tradition has been maintained since the times of the Ottoman
Empire," he added. Although this resolution is non-binding and
lacks the authority to force the President to use the term genocide,
Dr. Safrastyan said, "Turkey has taken the opportunity to pursue its
own foreign policy," he remarked. (Yerkir, 10-10-07)

ACCORDING TO TURKEY EXPERT, POLITICAL TENSIONS EXPECTED IN USA

"Currently, Turkey cannot do everything it threatens to do. All they
can do is suggesting symbolic steps," Turkey expert Ruben Safrastyan
told a Panorama.am journalist when answering a question as to what
he expects to happen to Armenian-Turkish relations after the passage
of House Resolution No. 106.

We note that yesterday the foreign relations committee of the US
House of Representatives voted 27 for, 21 against in passing the
resolution. In Safrastyan’s words, Turkey’s parliament will take a
symbolic step and allow their armed forces to enter northern Iraq.

"That is also seen as a step in pressuring the USA," he insisted.

Safrastyan said that he didn’t expect the passage of the resolution
to have any major affect on Armenia. "Armenia’s budget won’t get
larger, and Armenia won’t get more foreign aid. We can only be happy
that a large and important government recognized and condemned the
Genocide. We have to be thankful for that," he said.

Safrastyan says he can’t say for sure if the resolution will become law
in the end. "The Bush administrations, and especially Condoleezza Rice,
are fighting hard against the resolution. The reality is difficult,
but many are on our side this time," he added.

In any event, the resolution will now be passed on to Nancy Pelosi,
who will present the resolution to the House of Representatives for
discussion. "The House session continues until mid-November," he
said. "We’ll have to see if Pelosi will present the resolution in the
current session or wait until after the winter break." (Panorama.am,
10-12-07)

KURDS ARE U.S. REAL ALLIES IN REGION

"The decision of the Turkish parliament to approve incursion into
northern Iraq doesn’t mean immediate action. This decision is not
unexpected," Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the RA
Academy of Sciences, Prof. Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.

"Erdogan’s government is free to act and it can launch operations
any moment. I do not think it will be a large-scale incursion. The U.S.

has already expressed discontent about this plan and will go on
pressing. We should not forget that Kurds are U.S. real allies in
the region. Although, judging from Erdogan’s statements, Turkey is
ready to wrangle with the U.S.," he said.

October 17, despite U.S. and NATO’s warnings, Turkish parliamentarians
Okayed the government’s plans on a cross-border operation into
northern Iraq for neutralization of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party
rebels. (PanARMENIAN.Net, 10-18-07)

H.RES.106: TURKEY GAINS ITS ENDS FOR LAST TIME

Turkey has gained its ends but it happened for the last time, Director
of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the RA Academy of Sciences,
Prof. Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter when commenting
on the decision by H.Res.106 leading authors to call for a revised
schedule for the House consideration.

The U.S. refused from vote on H.Res.106 in exchange for Turkey’s
promise not to launch war in Iraq, according to him.

"Nevertheless, I think that the resolution will be put on vote and
will be passed during the next Congress session in 2008. Turkey has
exhausted its tools of pressure on the United States," Prof.

Safrastyan said. (PanARMENIAN.Net, 10-26-07)

WILL THERE BE A WAR?

"Turkey seems to ease its will-power to resume a war but anti-Kurdish
sentiments continue to be dominant," Ruben Safrastyan, an expert in
Turkish studies, told a news conference today, speaking about the
situation on Turkish-Iraqi border.

The Turkish expert cannot forecast if there will be a war or not.

However, referring to Turkish media, he said that the final decision
will be reached on November 5, 6 when Turkish Prime Minister Erdoghan
is in USA. Safrastyan believes that Turkey pushes back the European
integration processes in its Middle East politics.

In the words of the expert, Turkish-Iraqi war is full of dangers.

Without doubt, Turkish intentions are strong. Turkey is supported
by the USA. "USA has started to provide intelligence information on
Kurdish Working Party deployments in the mountains of Northern Iraq,"
the expert said referring to the press secretary of Pentagon.

The next danger, according to the speaker, is that in case Turkey
engages in large-scale actions in Iraqi Kurdistan, it will mean that
Turkey engages in aggression against Iraq. The leadership of Iraq
has announced that it will fight against such actions. It means war
is inevitable. (Panorama.am, 11-01-07)

TURKEY USES THREATS TO UNLEASH WAR FOR STRENGTHENING ITS GEOPOLITICAL
POSITION, RUBEN SAFRASTIAN CONSIDERS

Abrupt aggravation of situation in the region, in particular, around
North Iraq and Iran, as well as the fact that Armenian factor starts
playing a bigger role in Turkey’s policy requires conducting a precise
policy by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, with taking into consideration
existence of Armenian communities in these countries.

Ruben Safrastian, the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies
of the National Academy of Sciences, stated at the November 1 press
conference.

In connection with possibility of Turkey’s starting large-scale
operations against Iraqi Kurdistan, he mentioned that Turkey is
using threats to unleash a war for the purpose of receiving certain
political dividends. In particular, thanks to these actions Turkey
has already managed to freeze the issue of discussion of Resolution
106 on Armenian Genocide in U.S. Congress.

Besides, Turkey is using these threats to demonstrate its strength
in the region and to prove that it is one of the most powerful states.

"Through threats to start large-scale operations in North Iraq Turkey
is trying to strengthen its geopolitical position in the region",
R. Safrastian stated. (Noyan Tapan, 11-01-07)

ANKARA USES KURDS AND WAR THREATS FOR STRENGTHENING POSITIONS IN REGION

"The situation in the region is extremely tensed and complicated
by three factors: the Turkey-Iraq collision, Iran’s nuclear program
and strengthening of Turkey’s role in the region. Armenia can’t be
indifferent about it," Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute
of the Oriental Studies, told a news conference in Yerevan.

"There are Armenian communities in all Middle East states and the RA
Foreign Ministry should closely watch the developments. It Turkey
launches a major cross-border operation in northern Iraq it will
inevitably lead to greater tensions. The PKK is menacing Ankara. In
July 2007, the ruling AKP used Kurds for gaining a victory. As result,
1/3 of Turkish MPs are ethnic Kurds. If the situation deteriorates
AKP will lose a part of mandates," he said.

"War can deliver a heavy blow on the economy of southwest Turkey. The
commodity turnover between Turkey and northern Iraq makes $2,5 –
3 billion with 200 thousand people engaged in business. Moreover,
war would strain social problems in Turkey," he said. "With strong
anti-Kurdish propaganda, Ankara uses Kurds and war threats to
strengthen positions in the region." (PanARMENIAN.Net, 11-01-07)

TURKEY DOESN’T SEEK AFTER EU MEMBERSHIP ANY LONGER?

"Turkey has restrained its diplomatic stride toward the European
Union recently," Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute of the
Oriental Studies, told a news conference in Yerevan. Turkey longs
for domination in the Middle East but not in Europe, according to him.

"Position of leading European states, including France which doesn’t
want to see it in the EU, is an important factor here. Furthermore,
support for the European way of development wanes in Turkey," he said.

The EU-Turkey entry talks opened in October 2005, although the bid
was submitted in 1965. The Cypriot issue remains the major stumbling
block for Turkish membership. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has
numerously stated that ‘Turkey has no place in Europe’. Manuel
Barroso, the President of the European Commission, shares this
opinion. (PanARMENIAN.Net, 11-01-07)

RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE USSR POLICY IN MIDDLE EAST

"The Russian diplomacy attempts to revive the USSR policy in Middle
East, Dr Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute of Oriental
Studies, told a news conference in Yerevan.

"Russia is demonstrating wait-and-see attitude but the USSR used to
support Kurds. Do not forget that Masoud Barzani’s father was a KGB
agent and the old ties were certainly maintained," he said adding
that Russia’s line in the South Caucasus is still firm.

"Russia has the 102nd military base in Armenia. It has good relations
with Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, the U.S. is determined to push
Russia out of the region," Dr Safrastyan said. (PanARMENIAN.Net,
11-01-07)

HAVING NO GEOPOLITICAL IMPORTANCE, GUAM WAS FORMED TO RUIN CIS

"Georgia’s domestic tensions will not change the balance of forces in
the region, just as GUAM activities. Having no geopolitical importance,
GUAM was formed to ruin the CIS," Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the
Institute of Oriental Studies, told a news conference in Yerevan.

"The Saakashvili regime is alive thanks to U.S. financial assistance.

Even if it collapses nothing will change in Georgia," he said.

When commenting on closure of U.S. and British Embassies in
Azerbaijan, Dr. Safrastyan said, "The Islamic factor is gaining
weight in Azerbaijan. This is not anti-Americanism, this is radical
Islamism. Although Baku’s attempts to weaken it prove fruitless,
wahhabits have no influence on political regime in the republic yet."

(PanARMENIAN.Net, 11-01-07)

ARMENIA IS IN THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION IN THE REGION

Turkologist, Director of NAA (National Academy of Armenia) Institute
of Oriental Studies Ruben Safrastian was the guest of "Hayatsk"
club on Wednesday. He touched upon the three factors in the region,
mentioning that the Armenian factor has gained a significant role in
the world and especially Turkish policy. "In this case, Armenia is
in the focus of attention in the region", he added.

The situation in Iraqi Kurdistan is full of serious consequences

Ruben Safrastian is sure that the latest developments around Iraqi
Kurdistan of the North Iraq are full of serious consequences.

According to him, if Turkey starts a war, it will raise the Kurdish
factor not only in the region, but also in Turkey. The leading
"Justice and development" party has many Kurd members, and in case
of military operations, Turkey will lose part of its support and will
weaken. Besides, the Kurdish "Democratic society" party, registered in
Turkey, appealed Turkey for adding a point about the local autonomy
of Kurdistan. Consequently, according to Safrastian, Turkey feels
the activization of the Kurdish factor not only politically, but also
economically, and it will not perform wide military operations. "Turkey
uses the threats about wide military operations to strengthen its
position in the region and to show the regional countries that it is
a center of power", underlined Ruben Safrastian.

Turkey decreased its efforts to be integrated in EU

Turkey is not only involved in the Middle Eastern policy recently,
but also it finds there the bases for strengthening its position,
according to the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies,
"Turkish European diplomacy has weakened recently, in this case EU
attitude is not important for Turkey", he said.

Adoption of Resolution 106 is the Armenians’ victory

Mr. Safrastian is sure that adoption of Resolution 106 by US House
of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee is the victory of all
Armenians that showed the role of the Armenian factor in the world.

"Armenian factor has its place in the world, and Turkey could only
slow down that process with its menaces", mentioned the Turkologist.

Russia is still the leader in the region

"Russian diplomacy shows intentions in the recent period to recover
the spheres of influences of the former USSR in the Middle East. What
about the present crisis in North Iraq, Russia still shows a waiting
attitude to those incidents. But we should not forget that Russia has
close relations with Kurdish organizations and kept those connections",
announced Mr. Safrastian. According to him, Russia still keeps the
leader’s position in the region thanks to the Russian military bases
allocated in Armenia, its wide economic relations, the gas factor in
Armenia and the political connections.

The situation of Georgia will not change anything in the region

The regime of Sahakashvili is greatly supported by the United States,
and the Georgian opposition also doesn’t have a well-disposed attitude
towards Russia. In this case if the Georgian opposition can fall down
the regime of Sahakashvili, it will not change the whole geopolitical
situation in the region, according to Ruben Safrastian.

The Islamic factor will not change the regime in Azerbaijan

"Though Azerbaijani authorities and Americans do everything to
weaken the Islamic factor, it becomes stronger mainly thanks to
Islamic extremist representatives. It’s not an anti-Americanism,
it’s Islamism that, of course, has a strong anti-Americanism. I don’t
think that this Islamic factor will change the regime in Azerbaijan",
mentioned Ruben Safrastian.

(AZG Armenian Daily #202, 11-03-07)

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ACCORDING TO SERGE SARGSIAN, RA FIRST PRESIDENT SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO PEOPLE FOR MISTAKES MADE BEFORE

Noyan Tapan
Nov 10 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. At the November 10 conference of
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serge Sargsian, the Chairman of
the party, referred to the charges sounded in the recent speeches of
Levon Ter-Petrosian, the first President of the Republic of Armenia,
in the address of the authorities. In the words of Serge Sargsian,
it seemed that the Armenian National Movement, which made numerous
mistakes, resigned in a fatal period for the country and then
split, does not exist any longer, however, it has returned to life
now. "Levon Ter-Petrosian, the godfather of the Armenian National
Movement, declares in public that he will destroy the pyramid of the
authorities and advises me and President Robert Kocharian to leave the
political arena. Here is a piece of advice for him: it would be better
if he repented, apologized to the Armenian people for the mistakes,
to put it mildly, he has made," Serge Sargsian said.

ONCE YOU HAVE DECIDED TO GET MARRIED YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT

A1+
[11:44 am] 09 November, 2007

If you have decided to attend the Registry Office you will have to
wait for a month or two. Couples are to submit an application on
wedlock and to pay 1000 drams state due.

The office registered 426 marriages and 273 divorces in Armenia in
September. There are still many couples who haven’t registered their
spousehood. Civil marriages have increased over the recent years.

In the main we have recently registered couples living together for a
long time and having children, Registry Office Head Hmayak Navasardian
informed A1+.

It is due to mention that the terms of registration can be curtailed in
case the couple has children, the spouse is ill or serves in the army.

Under the Family Code, matrimony is considered valid in case the
Registry Office has registered the act, Hmayak Navasardian says.

The church gives the couple a certificate of marriage but marriages
are ratified by the state, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reports.

PRESS RELEASE
Eurasia Foundation
56 Zarobyan Str., Yerevan 0009, Armenia
Contact: Alisa Alaverdyan
Tel: (374 10) 586095
Fax: (374 10) 586096
E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
Web:

Legacy Institution of Eurasia Foundation is Launched

Yerevan, Armenia – On November 15, 2007, marks the official launch of
Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), the local legacy institution of
Eurasia Foundation (EF) in the South Caucasus. Members of the press are
invited to attend a press conference at 14:30 on Thursday, November 15 in
the Queen Erato Meeting Room of the Armenia Marriott Hotel to hear about
this initiative from members of EPF’s Board of Trustees; the President of
EPF, George Zarubin; the President of Eurasia Foundation, Horton
Beebe-Center; EPF Country Director in Armenia, Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan; Joseph
Pennington, Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy; and the Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arman Kirakossian.

In Armenia, the launch of EPF will be marked by a meeting of members of
EPF’s senior management and Board of Trustees with President Kocharian, and
two round table discussions on labor migration and cross-border dialogue and
cooperation. EPF will begin official operations as a local foundation on
January 1, 2008, when EPF will take over EF’s programs, tools and
approaches, staff and financial management systems.

With offices registered in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, EPF will inherit
the key resources that have made Eurasia Foundation a leading innovator in
civil society development in the region. At the same time, the new
Foundation will re-emphasize local decision making as the driver of positive
social change. This will be accomplished through a strengthened governance
system driven by experts whose guidance in programmatic planning and long
term institutional development will ensure that EPF is acting on behalf of
needs that are defined locally.

The Board of Trustees will be made up of international figures with expert
knowledge of the region, including Kenneth Yalowitz, former U.S. Ambassador
to Georgia, Dieter Boden, former German Ambassador and OSCE representative
and Sabine Frazier, a specialist in civil society and conflict resolution
with the International Crisis Group. The Board members’ expertise in
business, finance and law will ensure that the new Foundation is accountable
and fiscally responsible: Margaret Richardson is the former Commissioner of
the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Andrew Coxshall is the Managing Partner
of KPMG in the South Caucasus and David Lee is the Director of MagtiCom,
Ltd., Georgia’s largest telecommunications service.

The Board’s guidance on strategic and financial decisions will be
complemented by guidance from local Advisory Committees, composed of local
experts who convene to provide guidance and expertise on the new
Foundation’s programmatic decisions.

According to George Zarubin, President of EPF, "The new foundation will also
begin an important collaboration between U.S. and European partners. In
addition to core support from USAID, the Swedish International Development
Agency plans to support EPF for three years. Many other European, North
American and corporate donors will support EPF."

"The Eurasia Foundation has contributed greatly to the building of a strong
civil society in the South Caucasus, and to enhancing cross-border dialogue
throughout the region. The U.S. government is pleased to have assisted in
that effort. The new structure being unveiled today should serve to enhance
these efforts by facilitating greater local input in the design and
implementation of their programs," states Joseph Pennington, Charge
d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

Supported by the United States Agency for International Development and
other public and private donors, EF has invested nearly $70 million in the
South Caucasus through more than 1,700 grants and programs since 1992.

BALTIC STATES READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO OSCE MG EFFORTS FOR KARABAKH RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.11.2007 14:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "All conflicts in the South Caucasus should be
resolved peacefully," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas
said at a joint news conference with RA FM Vartan Oskanian.

"Baltic states are ready to contribute to OSCE MG efforts for the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution.

Our position bases on norms and principles of international
law. Lithuania doesn’t interfere in the internal affairs of states
of the region," he emphasized.

For his part, Vartan Oskanian noted that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
might submit new proposals on the outcomes of their recent regional
visit. "We are expecting the mediators to sum up the outcomes of
their visit to Yerevan and Baku," he said.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES IN FIRST READING BILL ENVISAGING AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO ELECTORAL CODE

Noyan Tapan
Nov 5, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. At the November 5 special session,
the RA National Assembly passed 7 bills and legislative packages,
which were discussed at the previous two sittings and which envisage
amendments and additions to a number of laws.

In particular, the NA passed in second reading and fully the bills
envisaging amendments to the Law on Income Tax and the Law on the
Minimum Monthly Salary. According to these amendments, the minimum
monthly salary and the lower limit of the gross income liable to
taxation in Armenia have been set at 25 thousand drams instead of
the current 20 thousand drams.

The NA also passed in first reading the bill of amendments and
additions to the RA Electoral Code and to the RA Law on State Duty,
as well as the draft law on special investigation service and based
on it, amendments and additions to a number of laws.