Author: Chaltikian Arsine

Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
Jan 3 2010

Turkey looking to the West without neglecting the East

By Dr Andrestinos Papadopoulos
Published on January 3, 2010 +-Text size

EIGHT MONTHS after President Barack Obama’s visit to Ankara, in April
2009, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan payed a
reciprocal visit to Washington in early December. Time-wise, the
meeting of the two leaders in the White House took place at a time
when Turkey enjoys the fruits of an up-grading in various fields.
Without producing petrol or natural gas she became energy player. East
and West need Turkey as a transit country for energy issues, as it is
shown by the Nabucco and South Steam Agreements. As a result of a
multidimensional foreign policy, on the basis of the neo-Ottomanism
and the theory of `strategic depth’ of Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu, Turkey managed to project the image of a strong regional
power.
She participates in peace-keeping forces all over the world. And
promotes economic co-operation with various countries, especially in
the Caribbean and Latin America. This is possible due to the fact that
Turkey is the 6th biggest economy in Europe and the 17th in the world.
In the Balkans, she established her position by participating in
peace-keeping operations of the UN, NATO and EU in Kosovo,
Bosnia-Herzegovina and the FYROM, investing in various projects and
supporting the Muslims of these countries.
Through high level visits to more than 60 countries, Turkey aims at
promoting her positions at the international level and her role as
regional power. Good examples are the visits of President Gul to Iraq,
where he talked to the Kurds, and Iran, where he was received by
Ayatolah Khamenei, who for the first time gave audience to the leader
of a NATO country. Fruit of all these efforts was the election of
Turkey as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council with 151
out of 192 votes, giving her additional margin of diplomatic
manoeuvring.
Having such capital at his disposal, Prime Minister Erdogan met Obama,
who visited Turkey on his first overseas trip and described US-Turkish
relations as `a model partnership.’ At the meeting they discussed
issues of common interest like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Turkish-Armenian relations, the Middle East, the Cyprus problem, the
fight against terrorism and other.
On most of these issues they disagree. Concerning the Iranian nuclear
programme the United States favours new stronger sanctions, whereas
Turkey is against them expressing scepticism about their
effectiveness. To the call of the US for more troop commitment to
Afghanistan, Turkey responded negatively. On the question of the
normalisation process between Turkey and Armenia, the United States
stand for a speedy implementation of the Protocol signed between the
two countries, whereas Turkey demands the withdrawal of Armenia from
Nagorno-Karabakh as a precondition.
More important, the close co-operation with Israel does not exist for
Turkey any more. Despite the existence of the 1996 Treaty of military
co-operation, Turkey cancelled common military exercises. Israel
angrily retaliated by announcing the erection of an Armenian genocide
monument and the termination of sophisticated weapons’ supply, which
prompted Turkey to hold common military exercises with Syria, the
arch-enemy of Israel.
Efforts by the United States to bring the two countries together
failed, while the US is sharing Israel’s criticism of Turkish
behaviour. The language used by Erdogan in Davos to characterise
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and the initial objection to the election
of the former Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen to the post of
Secretary-General of NATO demonstrated that Turkey has chosen the Arab
camp.
Finally, it should be noted that Obama raised the question of the
continuation of the Halki Seminary and that of the Ecumenical
Patriarchy. On the other hand, Erdogan raised the Cyprus question
asking for more active involvement of the US through the appointment
of a special representative for the Cyprus question. On both issues
there was disagreement. They agreed, however, to further develop their
`model partnership’, with emphasis on the economic cultural fields.
In general, we observe an effort of disengagement of Turkey from the
US through differentiation of her policies on many international
issues, which is due to the prominent role she seeks to play in the
region. Erdogan said it clearly: `We look towards the West, without
neglecting the East.’ It remains to be seen whether a future
coincidence of interests will lead to an agreement on issues where
there is at present disagreement. One thing is, however, certain…the
recognition of Turkey by the US as a regional power of the first
magnitude.

n Dr Andrestinos N, Papadopoulos is a former ambassador for the
Republic of Cyprus

Daily Post (Liverpool), UK
December 30, 2009 Wednesday
North Wales Edition

Resort marks bicentenary of four-time PM

LIB-DEMS GATHER TO HONOUR GLADSTONE: Favourite holiday spot for statesman

by DAVID POWELL

POLITICIANS yesterday laid a wreath to mark the 200th anniversary of
the birth of four times Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.

It was placed at the Gladstone Memorial in Penmaenmawr in a ceremony
held by Liberal Democrats at 2pm.

They were led by Welsh party President Cllr Christine Humphreys, of
Llanrwst, and House of Lords spokesman for Wales Lord Roger Roberts,
of Llandudno.

Earlier, the group commemorated the bicentenary at the Talardy Hotel, St Asaph.

Born on December 29 1809, Gladstone became a British Liberal Party
statesman. He died on May 19, 1898, aged 8. William Gladstone Lord
Roberts said: "We had a small celebration at the Gladstone Memorial in
Paradise Crescent to mark the bicentenary of the great man’s birth."

He added: "Penmaenmawr was his favourite holiday resort. It was a
rural retreat from politics.

"He had a house there and visited eight times between 1859 and 1868.
He would go sea bathing and in 1861 alone recorded 27 bathes between
August 15 and September 10."

He added: "He was very robust. He would go walking along the cliffs
and once walked 40 miles in a day."

He also lived of course at Hawarden Castle in Flintshire and, well
into his 80s, he carried 30,000 of his books in wheelbarrow trips into
nearby St Deiniol’s Library.

Gladstone has been voted among Daily Post readers’ Top 30 North Walians.

He is in the company of Glyndyfrdwy freedom fighter Owain Glyndw?Ë?r,
Bible translator William Morgan, and another ex-PM David Lloyd George
among others.

Last month, the Daily Post highlighted his lasting legacy for his
family and others.

The Victorian icon lived at Hawarden Castle, which remains the home of
the Gladstone family today.

Its current head is Sir William Gladstone, 84, great grandson of the
former prime minister.

Sir William, whose father Charles was Gladstone’s second son, has just
written a new history book about Gladstone.

It was penned in the very room where Gladstone would himself have
penned many of his books and speeches.

It is called Gladstone: A Bicentenary Portrait and is intended to
delve further into the life of Gladstone the man, not just the
politician.

Published by Norwich publishers Michael Russell, it contains
previously unseen essays and documentary evidence from castle
archives. He said last month: "He hated the idea of the British
fighting wars in order to acquire territory.

"He roused the nation against the atrocities committed against the
Christians in the Turkish empire and later in life against the
Armenians.

"Gladstone is worth celebrating because he pioneered a fair society
and an inclusive society."

TURKEY’S NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR NATION’S INTEGRITY AND CITIZENS’ UNITY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.12.2009 13:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) rallied
on December 28 under the chairmanship of President Abdullah Gul to
take up high-priority issues concerning Turkey’s internal affairs
and foreign policy initiatives. The discussion held in Cankaya palace
lasted 4.5 hours, according to Turkish state-run TRT.

The meeting of top officials focused on tangible results of a
tripartite mechanism between Iraq, Turkey and the US regarding
elimination of terror in the region, and latest unrest in eastern
cities of Turkey accordingly.

"We will continue to fight with determination against terrorism and
the atmosphere that cultivates it, which target our nation’s integrity
and our citizens’ unity and peace," a statement from the council said.

Authorities also considered latest developments in Cyprus peace talks
and Turkey’s EU accession process.

COUNTRY’S LEADER CLAIMS OPTIMISM ON GARABAGH CONFLICT PROBLEM IN 2010

Azerbaijan Business Center
Dec 29 2009

The Azerbaijani President gave an interview to TV channel Vesti of
All-Russian State Television & Radio Broadcasting Company.

"We have certain optimism for the next year and it is linked with
the fact that theme of Garabagh conflict settlement has become one
of the central on international agenda. It became clear for many
those who maybe failed to understand fully that without settlement of
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict no other regional problems can be
tackled as well. In particular, the conflict is the prime cause, and
without its removal it is impossible to create favourable climate in
the region, regional co-operation, strengthening of security measures
in the region. In order to settle this conflict Armenia simply needs
to meet the UN Security Council’s resolutions and withdraw its forces
from occupied territories around Nagorno Garabagh. And after that peace
and co-operation in the region can be established," Ilham Aliyev said.

Following the conflict Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani
territory and evicted 1 million people from places of their residence.

"We hope we will manage to accord key positions on the Garabagh
problem in 2010 but we flatly against turning of the negotiation
process into permanent.

Negotiations on the conflict have been conducted since 1992 when the
OSCE Minsk Group was set up. The ceasefire agreement was signed in
1994. 15 years have passed. There is a little progress, but no result.

That is why we cannot allow the process to turn into frozen, precisely
in final sense of this word. It should not repeat fate of other
conflicts that last for decades. We will never agree on that. That
is why I consider that if the Armenian party displays constructivism
and, the chief thing, common sense, then we will be able to advance
in 2010," the President said.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN HELD A RECEPTION FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF MASS MEDIA ON THE OCCASION OF NEW YEAR AND CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

president.am
Dec 28 2009
Armenia

President Serzh Sargsyan held a reception at the Presidential Palace
for over two hundred representatives of mass media on the occasion
of New Year and Christmas holidays.

The President of Armenia congratulated the journalists on the
occasion and said, "Year 2009 will soon come to an end. It’s been
full of vigorous events and remarkable developments. It is no secret
that your words, your position and point of view really matter in our
society since it is from you that our society first learns about all
the happenings. It means that the chronicle of our state is written in
part also by you. It’s my wish and desire that this chronicle comes
out as unbiased and comprehensive as possible. Imagine a historian
who will try to picture the events and atmosphere reigning today in
Armenia going through the media of the time. I think you’ll agree
that he will not always have a comprehensive picture, the printed
material will not always be a reliable source, and the conclusions
reflected in there will not always be unbiased.

We appreciate your difficult work which sometimes demands civic
courage. Be assured that any, I would like to repeat, unbiased
and concerned publication regarding any problem in our country has
been and will be appreciated. Raising alarm publications, outspoken
materials help the authorities to avoid mistakes, prevent them in time,
and always be alert.

I wish that in 2010 you have ample opportunities to bring joyous news
to our people. When tragedy strikes in any corner of the world, all
are talking about it: The bigger the tragedy, the bigger the audience
and response. I wish that in 2010 it is only good news that attract
huge audiences and response, news about scientific breakthroughs,
achievements in sports – this makes people happy.

I also wish that in 2010, with you help, we have such a degree of civil
liberties, democracy, and tolerance that it will not be necessary to
be courageous for our journalists and citizens to be frank, to voice
an opinion, or conduct journalist investigation.

I believe year 2009 has been a productive one for our entire media.

Taking this opportunity, I thank all those journalists who throughout
this year have been covering activities of the President and the
Presidential staff. Summarizing the year’s work, it is easy to see how
much effort and time it takes from you and your colleagues to do it.

I am confident that working together, even speaking from differing
positions, we will move our country and our society forward, and 2010
will become a vivid testimony to that advancement.

Once again, I congratulate you on the occasion of New Year and
Christmas. I wish you in 2010 to be active, principled, and fair.

Happy New Year!

WATERTOWN TRIES TEACHING ARMENIAN SANS TEACHER

The Boston Globe
December 27, 2009 Sunday
MA

In a bid to save one of the last public school Armenian-language
programs in the nation, Watertown officials are experimenting with
a hybrid class for upper-level students.

The program, nicknamed "ArMedia," has replaced traditional
foreign-language instruction for Watertown High School juniors and
seniors with a curriculum that has the students compose online blogs
and create multimedia projects about Armenian politics and culture,
using the language whenever possible.

The school district’s 40-year-old language program was nearly shut
down this summer after its founder, Anahid Yacoubian, retired from
teaching. The system was unable to find a qualified teacher to take on
advanced students in Armenian, the heritage of many Watertown residents
but a language otherwise so obscure that there is no official state
certification for instructors, and enrollment had dwindled to just
a dozen or so students in the upper grades.

Armenian classes were cut from the public schools in nearby Arlington
and Belmont years ago. Most local instruction for young children in
Watertown, which registered the third-highest number of Armenian
immigrants in the country in the 2000 US Census, is now sponsored
privately at St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church or St. James
Armenian Apostolic Church.

At the behest of many local Armenians, school officials agreed to take
special, if somewhat unorthodox, means to keep the language alive at
the high school level.

Houry Boyamian, principal of the elementary school at St. Stephen’s,
said she is pleased that the Watertown district had found a way to
salvage the program this year. But she also said a more aggressive
search must be launched to recruit a qualified instructor for the
future.

"I would prefer more language classes, rather than just combining
Armenian with technology," Boyamian said. "The school needs to keep
looking. It’s not right just to stop looking."

The hybrid course has Watertown High School’s media teacher,
Vera Ventura, who does not speak Armenian, collaborating with two
Armenian-speaking volunteers: Setta Sullivan, a full-time employee
in the school district’s business office, and Tamar Berejiklian,
a Waltham resident who teaches English as a second language.

The new class is a hit with students, several of whom attended a recent
School Committee meeting at Town Hall to show off video projects they
were working on; school officials are considering adding the program
to the curriculum next fall.

Watertown High senior Ani Moushigian, president of the school’s
Armenian Club, and Ani Israelyan, a junior who emigrated here with
her family in 2003 speaking only Armenian and Russian, said they are
enjoying the new, more contemporary approach to the language classes,
and believe their skills have continued to improve, despite the lack
of traditional instruction.

Their class requires them to read Armenian newspapers and websites
on a daily basis, as well as create in-depth study projects, they said.

Despina Najarian, a junior, said the class blog chronicling the
experiment, at , has received more than
150 hits from all over the world.

Ohanes Arouyan, a sophomore still in the traditional language track
this year but who is creating an independent study project on the
Armenian diaspora, brought his Armenian-speaking father, Khoren,
to the School Committee presentation. "I like the idea," said the
elder Arouyan.

Sullivan said ArMedia is a good solution to the challenges of providing
courses to meet student interests during a time when every penny spent
on education must be justified, and far more Watertown students elect
to learn Spanish than Armenian or French.

"It closes a circle. The students learn not just the language, but
more about where they came from and it teaches them to be better
Americans," said Sullivan, who was raised in Lebanon, where her
ancestors fled amid the mass killings and displacements of Armenians
under a genocide by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1918.

The students, using the Internet video-linking service Skype, are
creating a relationship with a high school in Yerevan, Armenia’s
capital, Sullivan said, with hopes than an exchange program will
blossom in the coming years.

The new effort takes a distinctly modern approach to an Armenian
identity that is deeply rooted in past persecutions, she acknowledged.

"Sometimes, all kids know is about the genocide and they define
themselves through that. That’s not to say it is not important,
but there are many, many aspects to being an Armenian," said Sullivan.

The school district’s superintendent, Ann Koufman-Frederick, said
she understands some academics might argue that a media class is no
substitute for classical language training.

However, in the absence of a qualified, advanced Armenian-language
instructor, the nontraditional class "shows in a clear way how media
tools can be used to help students learn a foreign language," she said.

"The program is still being built, so I don’t really know what it
will look like in the end. But our goals are to build the Armenian
program, and the evidence that it is a success, so far, is that the
kids are engaged and are learning to use their language in productive
oral and written ways."

Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 26 2009

Cuba calls on immediate return of Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by
Armenia: ambassador Marcelo Caballero Torres (INTERVIEW)

Cuba’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Marcelo Caballero Torres spoke in an interview with Trend News on the
eve of Liberation Day and the anniversary of the victory of the
revolution – January 1.

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 25 / Trend News S. Agayeva /

Q.: How can you characterize the relations between the two countries.
What is the potential of their development?

A.: Cuba is not the only Latin American country represented in
Azerbaijan. The Brasilian Embassy in Baku has been recently set up. It
is a sign of developingrelations between Azerbaijan and Latin America.

How can the relations between our countries be characterized? Since
the establishment of diplomatic relationsApril 10, 1992, our friendly
relations become stronger.

Even in the most difficult 1990 Azerbaijan did not vote against Cuba.
In 1993, Azerbaijan was the only CIS country, which has supported Cuba
in the matter of the blockade.

In September 2006, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
paid an official visit to Cuba. That time a decision was made to
increase the level of diplomatic representations between our
countries. In April 2007, the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan
to the UN Agshin Mehdiyev has been concurrently accredited as
ambassador to Cuba. In October 2007, Azerbaijan has appointed
temporary charge d’affaires in Havana. Cuba established its Embassy in
Baku. It should be noted that time they became the first diplomatic
representations for both countries in corresponding regions –
Azerbaijan’s one in Latin America and the Caribbean and Cuba’s one in
the Southern Caucasus. From that moment, the Azerbaijani-Cuban
relations began to fully develop. The example are the meetings held
between the governmental delegations and signing of the agreements and
the projects on cooperation.

Q.: At what level are the economic ties between the two countries,
especially the volume of turnover? What spheres have a wide potential
to expand cooperation?

A.: With regard to economic relations, there is dissatisfaction with
the level of these relations from both sides. They are insufficient.
They do not correspond to the potential of both countries and discord
with the level of political relations. Turnover between us is poor.
Much work should be done in this direction. A working mechanism of the
inter-governmental joint commission on cooperation between the two
countries has been acting since 2007 to correct this problem. So far,
we have already held two sessions. We have signed three important
agreements on cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism and
sports. Over 10 agreements on cooperation in such fields as energy,
health, communication and agriculture are under signing.

Cuba is interested in equipment and machinery produced in Azerbaijan.
At present, about 70 percent of the equipment used by Cuba in oil
industry, have been made in Azerbaijan. We are also interested in food
and agricultural products. Other possible areas of cooperation include
communication, health, Cuban medicines.

With regard to the spheres of mutual interest, their number is
sufficient. The most prospective spheres in our economic relations are
tourism, oil and gas and information sectors, pharmacology and health
care, education, sports and other areas. I reiterate that one should
actively introduce and bring together facilities producing goods and
services. In this regard, participation in various fairs and economic
forums can play an invaluable role.

The third session of the Joint Commission will be held in Havana in
early March 2010. During the session a new impetus will be given to
the important economic and trade relations. Days of Azerbaijan’s
Culture in Cuba will be also held within this activity. This fact is
an example of good bilateral relations between our countries.

Regarding with modern Azerbaijan-Cuba relations, one can say with
confidence that they develop successfully. Both countries have
achieved much for the last years. Cuba knows well about success
achieved by Azerbaijan in social-economic development, as well as a
significant role and authority of the country in the foreign policy.
>From its side, Cuba is a traditionally important country of the
region. It has great authority among the countries of the so-called
‘third world’. A level of political cooperation between our countries
is high. Regular meetings and consultations between the foreign
ministries of both countries are being held. Our countries
successfully cooperate within different international organizations.
Azerbaijan supports Cuba’s position voting for the resolution
condemning the U.S embargo towards Cuba. It is seriously affected,
especially, on ordinary Cuban people.

Q.: There are two critical topics for our countries, including
occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia and the U.S embargo towards
Cuba. Is Havana satisfied with a cooperation level of both countries
on the international arena to solve these problems?

A.: We will be glad when two these problems you have mentioned are
solved. At present, a concrete situation is the following: Cuba
supports and recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. It calls
on immediate return of territories occupied by Armenia and rapid
solving the Karabakh conflict peacefully within territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan strictly adheres to its position
towards economic and financial blockade. The U.S administration has
been conducting it against our country more than 50 years.

Q.: Cuban medicine has got the world recognition. What are the plans
for the development of cooperation with Azerbaijan in this field?

A.: In 2008, two Cuban medical delegations visited Baku to study the
market and consider services and products of biotechnology from Cuba.
Previously, an intensive exchange of information on health systems of
both countries has been already held. Are there specific results?
Unfortunately, there are not any results at this moment.

Q.: January 1 is Liberation Day and the anniversary of the victory of
the Revolution. Please, tell us about this important date.

A.: Liberation Day – the anniversary of the victory of the revolution
of 1959 is celebrated in Cuba on the first of January.

There are some historical facts:

March 10, 1952. Early morning commander-in-chief of Batista’s Army
gave a note to the Cuban President Prio Socarras: "This is the end for
you! I am the government!". It was the beginning of his reign, which
was marked by a ruthless dictatorship.

The dictator immediately began to act decisively. He ceased effect of
the constitution, disbanded the Congress, broke off diplomatic
relations with the Soviet Union, canceled the presidential elections
planned for June that year. According to all forecasts, the opposition
was to win.

July 26, 1953. The majority of Cubans did not support actions of
Batista, especially the radically-minded youth. The leader was a
twenty-five-year-old lawyer, Fidel Castro. In his struggle against the
dictatorial regime, he was unbending.

A preparation for the first assault was made about a year. On July 25,
1953 about 165 patriots in an attempt to seize weapons stormed the
Moncada military barracks. But forces were unequal.

The governmental troops exceeded them 15 times. They managed to
capture many of them. Many participants of the assault were killed.
Fidel Castro was imprisoned for 15 years, his brother Raul – for 13
years.

May 12, 1955 – prisoner No 4914, Fidel Castro, leaving the prison,
told journalists of the newspapers, radio and television: "We will not
give a single part of our honor for the freedom give to us."

November 25, 1956. Released rebels settled in Mexico, where they began
to prepare a new rebellion. "The Movement July 26" was created. Rebels
bought a relatively small pleasure craft yacht "Granma". On November
25, 1956 at 2 a.m. this too crowded boat moved from the Mexican port
of Tuxpan to the shores of Cuba. There were 82 men on board (Ernesto
Che Guevara was among them, later he became a famous Argentine
doctor), 90 guns, 3 machine guns and 2 anti-guns.

Only 22 revolutionaries reached the designated place, including Fidel
Castro and Che Guevara.

1957-1959. Castro’s popularity was increasing quickly. The local
population has rendered much aid to the surviving detachment by giving
them food and informing about the movement of the governmental troops
in the mountains, giving guides to patriots.

The fight of insurgents was gradually turned into a struggle of people
against the military-police regime. "The movement July 26" has become
a national patriotic organization.

On December 31, 1959 the dictator organized a New Year reception.
"They clinked glasses.Batista was theatrical to the last minute. He
closed the New Year ceremony in his usual manner saying: "Hi! Hello!",
a witness recalled.

On the night of January 1, Batista run. A whole line of cars headed
for the heavily guarded military airfield. There were four aircrafts
waiting for the dictator and his entourage.

Speaking at a meeting, Fidel Castro said the triumph of the revolution
does not mean an immediate solution of all Cuba’s problems, as well as
"what each of us will have now and in future life will be just a
cakewalk for us. "We only won the right to begin on January 1!, leader
of the revolution said.

TURKISH SU TV BROADCASTS NEWS IN ARMENIAN

news.am
Dec 25 2009
Armenia

14:50 / 12/25/2009Turkish SU TV television starts broadcasting news
in Western Armenian. The channel will be the first TV company beaming
news in Western Armenian language, Turkish Vatan daily informs.

Newscast in Armenian on SU TV will go on the air each day at 8:00 p.m.

local time, starting December 28, 2009.

Melissa, Istanbul citizen of Armenian origin will the presenter.

ARMENIAN ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION DOWN 7% IN 2009

Interfax
Dec 22 2009
Russia

Armenia produced 5.680 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2009,
7% less than in 2008, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen
Movsisyan said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Output declined on lower demand from industry. Hydroelectric
stations produced 2 billion kWh, including 0.335 billion kWh at small
hydroelectric stations, up from 0.259 billion kWh last year.

"The policy on small hydroelectric stations is bearing fruit.

Output in the segment has increased 150%-200% in the last few years.

We plan to maximally utilize our hydroelectric potential," Movsisyan
said.

Optimization of the dispatching scheme helped to substantially reduce
output from thermal electric stations, to 1.1 billion kWh from 1.8
billion kWh in 2008.

Movsisyan did not specify total output at Armenia’s nuclear power
plant.

OSCE MINSK GROUP RUSSIAN CO-CHAIR TO LEAVE HIS POSITION

Panorama.am
18:18 24/12/2009

OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov hopes to leave his
position next year.

"Last year I said that I hope will soon leave my position as a Minsk
Group co-chair. But, as you can see, it did not happen in 2009,"
Merzlyakov told Trend News.

Merzlyakov is likely to resign from the Minsk Group shortly. "I think
it will happen soon. I expect it will happen as early as next year,"
he said. Earlier he had said that he will leave the position of
co-chair in 2009.

The rumor over Merzlyakov’s resignation spread in July, 2009. Then
it was alleged that not only Mrzlyakov, but his US counterpart Bryza
will resign as well.

Time showed that this was not just a rumor. A month later Bryza left
the MG; Robert Bradtke took over. Another diplomat is expected to
take over Merzlyakov next year.

According to experts, the change of MG Co-Chairs estimates that any
expectations over Nagorno-Karabakh soonest settlement are useless.