Author: Chatinian Lara

ONLY 75 MIGRANTS GRANTED ASYLUM IN CR LAST YEAR

Prague Daily Monitor
29 January 2010

Prague, Jan 28 (CTK) – The Czech Republic granted asylum to 75
foreigners in 2009, which was the lowest number since 1995, according
to the Interior Ministry data released to CTK Thursday.

Only 1258 foreigners asked for asylum last year, which is the lowest
number since 1994.

>From 1990 to 2009, 89,1623 migrants applied for asylum in the country
and Czech authorities met 3508 of the applications. The highest number
of applications were approved in 1991 (776), followed by 2006 (268).

Only 30 asylums were granted in 1990 and 59 in 1995.

The most successful asylum seekers have been migrants from Romania
(477), Russia (384), Belarus (318), Afghanistan (293) and Armenia
(208). In 1990-1996, 175 citizens of the former Soviet Union were
granted asylum.

Last year, asylum was granted to citizens of Burma (21), Ukraine (9),
Vietnam (8), Afghanistan (7) and Kazakhstan (7), among others.

The number of successful asylum claimants has been steadily decreasing
in the recent years in the Czech Republic. While 268 migrants received
asylum in 2006, it was 191 in 2007 and 157 in 2008.

The Czech Republic joined the Schengen system without borders in
December 2007 and none of its borders is an external border of the
Schengen area. The only direct entry to the country for foreigners
are international airports.

However, a number of foreigners apply for asylum on Czech territory,
usually after staying in the country for some time. They may apply
for it in prisons and detention and health facilities, for example.

Copyright 2009 by the Czech News Agency (Ä~LTK). All rights reserved.

TRILATERAL MEETING HELD ON IRAN-ARMENIA RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

News.am
18:35 / 01/27/2010

Today, Jan.27 a trilateral meeting of Armenia-Russia-Iran working
group on Iran-Armenia railway construction was held in Yerevan.

Armenian side was represented by RA Deputy Minister of Transport
and Communication Hrant Beglaryan, Russian – by Deputy Director of
the RF Transport Ministry’s Department for State Policy in Railway
Transport Sergey Tugarinov and Iranian – by IRI Road and Transport
communication Deputy Minister Majid Asadi as well as other officials,
RA Transport and Communication Ministry press secretary Susanna
Tonoyan informed NEWS.am.

The parties discussed works implemented following the previous
meeting. Beglaryan informed that Asian Development Bank already
gave $1m grant for the technical part of the project and in April a
tender will be invited for the constructions works’ implementation,
thereafter the works will commence. In addition, it was outlined that
Austrian IlF company conducted researches for the project.

Iranian official added that they have already completed the
preparatory works for the 60km segment of railway on the territory
of the country. He also emphasized that in case the project launches
Iran is ready to construct their part with own means.

MOVLUD CAVUSOGLU: UNRESOLVED NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS MAIN OBSTACLE TO STABILITY IN THE REGION

armradio.am
27.01.2010 13:14

The unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main obstacle
to stability in the region, the new chairman of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Movlud Cavusoglu said in an
interview with Trend News.

Talking about possible contribution PACE could make to solution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue during his presidency, Movlud Cavusoglu
said that there are PACE decisions on the conflict and they must
be implemented.

"There are PACE decisions on Nagorno-Karabakh. These decisions must be
implemented. In addition, the OSCE Minsk Group should more actively
pursue efforts that would have this conflict resolved in the near
future, because it is the main obstacle facing the region’s stability.

Minsk Group deals with this question. Many countries provide support
to this. We must also support this. We have resolutions on the issue.

Additionally, the agenda is the work of the PACE Subcommittee on
Nagorno-Karabakh. Perhaps some work can be carried out in this
direction too. But, ultimately, we as a Council of Europe, should
provide strong support for this reconciliation, resolution of the
conflict", said PACE chairman.

Referring to the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia on
the Turkish-Armenian protocols Cavusoglu noted that it would be wrong
if he, as chairman of the PACE, commented on the Armenian-Turkish
relations.

"It is wrong for me, as chairman of PACE, to comment on the
Armenian-Turkish relations. It would be wrong if I touch upon
specific topics. Our desire is that relations between the two
countries normalize. There are issues not only with Turkey, but also
with Azerbaijan. Indirectly, we also want this question decided in
a short time through reconciliation," said Cavusoglu.

TURKEY INITIATES LEGAL CONSULTATIONS OVER RA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT’S RULING

Tert.am
14:31 ~U 27.01.10

Turkey would like to have legal guarantees from Armenia concerning the
RA Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Armenia-Turkey Protocols. For
that reason, Ankara is beginning legal consultations over the issue.

Ankara wants the US and Switzerland to get involved in the
consultations, reports Turkish daily Today’s Zaman. While the US
has no direct involvement in the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement,
Switzerland is a mediator.

Despite Yerevan’s statement to Turkey that the RA Constitutional
Court’s ruling will not affect the normalization process, Ankara
insists that that approach be included in a document that has
compulsory legal force.

In an interview with Today’s Zaman, a Turkish diplomat said that
if the Armenian side thinks the Court’s ruling will not affect the
provisions previously agreed upon in the Protocols, then it needn’t
avoid including that position in written from.

According to the Turkish publication, Ankara has already informed
all the sides involved in the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process
that it will not take any steps toward ratification of the Protocols
without a written guarantee.

OSCE Minsk Group and EU will also be informed about these consultations
by Ankara.

When the RA Constitutional Court ruled that the Protocols are in
line with the Constitution, Ankara publicly stated that it found
"some restricting provisions and preconditions" and declared that
the RA Constitutional ruling "runs counter to the letter and spirit
of the Protocols and undermines the whole negotiation process."

Ararat Ghukasyan: Rise In Refinancing Interest Rate Reflects Current Situation

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.01.2010 15:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Refinancing interest rate in Armenia is an indicator
of the proper liquidity level, Ararat Ghukasyan , chairman of the
Union of Banks of Armenia told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. "And
this step, as the Central Bank has already stated, was aimed at
reducing inflationary pressures and, of course, indicates to the
proper liquidity level. In my opinion, rise in refinancing interest
rate reflects the current situation," he said.

As for the CBA policy’s consistency, according to Ararat Ghukasyan,
"the Central Bank is faithful to its policy: it is always reviewing
the interest rate: increasing or reducing it".

The CBA Board at its meeting on January 21 2010 decided to raise the
refinancing interest rate to 0.5 percentage points, setting it at
5.5 per cent.

ARMENIA DOESN’T EXPECT TURNING POINT IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER SOLUTION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

APA
Jan 22 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian said he didn’t
expect turning point in the negotiations over the solution to Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in 2010. nalbandian said in a press conference in
Yerevan that if Azerbaijan showed constructiveness in the negotiations,
there would be certain progresses, APA reports quoting New Armenia.

"I don’t consider that there will be turning point in the negotiations
in 2010".

The minister also reminded about the meeting of Russian, Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents in Sochi on January 25. "We are thankful
to the Russian president for his efforts for the solution to Nagorno
Karabakh conflict".

ARMENIA EMERGES AS CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE PARTNER

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.01.2010 18:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, Armenia emerges as consistent and reliable
partner, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said, summarizing
2009 activity results.

"World powers demonstrate respectful attitude towards Armenia, which
proved its reliability both on regional and international levels,"
the Foreign Minister told a news conference in Yerevan. According to
him, international community’s position on crucial regional issues
coincides with that of Yerevan.

As Edward Nalbandian stated, 2009’s activities of Armenian Foreign
Ministry were aimed at strengthening external security, provision
of favorable development conditions, increasing effectiveness of
Armenians’ human rights defense abroad and RA’s involvement in
international organizations.

"About 100 international agreements were concluded in 2009, serving
as a firm basis for strengthening of multilateral relations," Edward
Nalbandian stressed.

RUSSIA’S FEDERATION COUNCIL ADVISOR TO CHAIRMAN: AZERBAIJAN SHOULD NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ZHIRINOVSKY’S STATEMENT

Trend
Jan 22 2010
Azerbaijan

Adviser to Chairmen of Federation Council in Russia Gennady Burbulis
called Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s statement unreasonable and inconsistent
with the official position of Russia.

"This statement is unreasonable and inconsistent with Russia’s official
position and common sense of a politician," Adviser to Chairmen of
Federation Council in Russia Gennady Burbulis told Trend News on
Friday, commenting on Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s recent statement on the
need for Russia to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.

It is an incredible test to comment Zhirinovsky, Burbulis said.

"I would not like Azerbaijan to attach great importance to this
statement," Burbulis said.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky said in an interview with the Latvian newspaper
Neatkarigas Rita Avize that if Nagorno-Karabakh itself proclaims its
independence, Russia must recognize it.

In this regard, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia sent a note to
Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

The Embassy expects for a formal response of Russian organizations,
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu told Trend News
today.

The note expresses a protest against such appeals of Russian
parliamentary vice-speaker. It indicates that such remarks of Russia’s
State Duma representatives do not correspond with the spirit of
relations between the two countries.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.

TRIPARTITE MEETING OF PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, RUSSIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 25 IN SOCHI

Noyan Tapan
Jan 21, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. A tripartite meeting of RA President
Serzh Sargsyan, RF President Dmitry Medvedev and Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev dedicated to the Nagorno Karabakh settlement will be
held on January 25 in Sochi. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by RA
President’s Press Office.

FREEDOM HOUSE ASSESSMENTS CAN BE VIEWED AS PRESSURE ON ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.01.2010 12:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Heritage party secretary Larisa Alaverdyan said
she can’t approve Freedom House Country Report on Armenia, since the
organization displays a politicized approach to the problem.

"Freedom House’s assessments can be viewed as pressure on Armenia,
possibly conditioned by the Armenian-Turkish relations or the Karabakh
conflict settlement process. If Armenia were more flexible in the
Karabakh issue, the language of the report would have been milder,"
she said.

Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization that supports
the expansion of freedom around the world. Freedom House supports
democratic change, monitors freedom, and advocates for democracy and
human rights.

The organization was founded by Wendell Willkie and Eleanor Roosevelt
in 1941, and describes itself as "a clear voice for democracy and
freedom around the world." The group states "American leadership in
international affairs is essential to the cause of human rights and
freedom" and that this can primarily be achieved through the group’s
"analysis, advocacy, and action". Freedom House receives about 66% of
its budget from the U.S. government and is criticized for furthering
the latter’s interests.

Founded in 2002, Heritage , a National Liberal Party, is national by
its roots, liberal in its economic principle, and an advocate of the
democratic system of governance and due process for its citizens. The
party’s objective is the development of Armenia as a democratic,
lawful, and rights-based country that anchors its domestic and foreign
policies in the nation’s sovereign interest. During the party’s Third
Congress on May 30, 2005, Raffi K. Hovannisian was elected chairman.

The other eight members of the party board were elected by secret vote.