Author: Chavushian

VARDAN MINASYAN NAMED NEW ARMENIA COACH
By Stefan Coerts

Goal.com
Feb 12 2010

The Armenian Football Association has made the decision to appoint
Vardan Minasyan as the new head coach of the nation’s senior national
side with immediate effect.

The 36-year-old was previously employed by Armenian champions Pyunik
Yerevan and has signed a contract that runs until the end of the Euro
2012 qualifying campaign.

Armenia were paired with Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Andorra
and Macedonia during last week’s draw for the Euro 2012 qualifying
campaign and Minasyan has made it clear that the Armenians have to
focus on spot four in the table.

"We were drawn into a very strong qualifying group, where Russia are
clear favourites. Slovakia and Republic of Ireland are also very
strong opponents but we will do our best to provide them all with
tough games. I hope we can finish in fourth place," said Minasyan to
reporters upon his presentation.

ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN: TURKEY TRYING TO GRAB THE MAXIMUM FROM THE ARMENIAN SIDE
Lusine Vasilyan

"Radiolur"
11.02.2010 17:14

It’s naive to view the Armenian-Turkish process as Armenia’s
initiative, member of the initiating group of "Sardarapat" Movement
Zhirayr Sefilyan told a pres conference today. According to him,
the process develops within the framework of the strategic programs
of the West and aims to ensure the access of the West to Asia and
push Russia out of the South Caucasus.

Turkey benefits from the geopolitical changes in the region,
according to Sefilyan. Then why doesn’t Turkey rush to ratify the
Armenian-Turkish protocols?

"Loyal to their usual way of action Turks are now trying to get the
maximum form the process. The task of the Turkish side today is to
grab the maximum from the Armenian side," he said.

The liberated territories of Artsakh are the maximum for Turkey
in this case. Sefilyan said to be dissatisfied with President
Sargsyan’s speech in London. "Serzh Sargsyan spoke only about the
former Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh, without mentioning the
liberated territories." "We never speak about the rest. Does this
mean we are ready to yield the liberated territories?"

Which is the minimum of the maximum level of concessions acceptable to
"Sardarapat" Movement? Sefilyan said that saying mutual concessions
his supporters understand the maintaining of the status quo.

FRUSTRATION IN TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS MIGHT DETERIORATE SITUATION IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

The Messenger
Feb 10 2010
Georgia

On February 6 The Los Angeles Times published an article by Henri J.

Barkey and Thomas de Waal dedicated to the issues of Armenian-Turkish
relations and the Karabakh conflict. The article states that if the
attempts of Armenia and Turkey to get closer are frustrated this
could be followed by an increase of tension in the region and cause
destabilisation there.

The article recommends that Armenia take more serious steps in the
direction of Turkey. The authors think that Armenia’s current President
Serzh Sarkisian cannot risk giving up the occupied territories
around the Karabakh region as it would mean political suicide,
but he could take steps to link the Nakhchevan region to Azerbaijan
proper. The Nakhchevan region is separated from Azerbaijan by Armenia,
and a railway connection there could be rebuilt as an expression
of goodwill from the Armenian side. Turkey and Azerbaijan see that
Armenia does not want to lift a finger to do this, and this causes
the utmost irritation.

The authors consider that Turkey cannot solve problems with its
neighbours while there is tension between Turkey and Armenia.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES IMF DELEGATION

NOYAN TAPAN
FEBRUARY 10, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving the International Monetary
Fund’s delegation led by the Head of the IMF Armenian mission Mark
Luis on February 10, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan spoke
about the current state of the Armenian economy and its development
prospects in the short and long term.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, a number
of issues related to the further development of relations between
the Armenian government and the IMF were discussed at the meeting.

TURKEY WILL SEND ITS DIPLOMAT TO WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Armradio.am
10.02.2010 13:36

Turkish first Deputy FM Firudin Sinirlioghlu is leaving for a visit to
the United States. According to CNN-Turk, the Turkish diplomat will
have important meetings in the State Department where he will inform
the US side about Ankara’s concerns with the recent resolution of the
Armenian Constitutional Court regarding the protocols as well as the
upcoming discussion of the recognition of the Armenian genocide in
the US Congress.

The meetings will start on February 13 and last for several days.

After the visit to Washington the Turkish diplomat will visit Paris
and Moscow and before it he held meetings in Switzerland that was
mediating between Turkey and Armenia.

SEMINAR ON IT SECURITY AUDIT KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.02.2010 13:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A seminar on IT security audit kicked off in Yerevan
on February 10 on the initiative of Apaga Technologies.

"Over 60 representatives of Armenian banks and financial
organizations are discussing information security-related
issues," Apaga Technologies marketing director Hayk Asriyants
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. "Information security is highly
important. Rights and responsibilities of the employees should be
determined. Financial management should not have access to personnel
department data while the accountant should not be aware of financial
transactions at equity market."

There aren’t many IT security auditors in Armenia. It’s a rapidly
developing sector and we should improve our knowledge and resort to
foreign specialists’ assistance," he said.

TIME TO MOVE FORWARD: ARMENIA’S CALL TO TURKEY

Armradio.am
09.02.2010 11:10

President Serzh Sargsyan issued an address to Turkey’s President
Abdullah Gul. The message reads:

"Your Excellency,

I’m extending my greetings to You and the people of neighborly Turkey.

Our initiative of normalizing the Armenia-Turkey relations is in the
spotlight of attention of the international community. This is truly
a historic one, and the whole world realizes it. The efforts of the
countries involved in the region are invaluable in the process of
improvement of bilateral relations. I’m confident that it would be
impossible to register progress without their mediation. At the same
time I do believe that no matter how much the friendly states are
interested in the positive outcome of the process, they cannot do
what our peoples are able to do.

Mr. President,

I think you’ll agree that the authorities are to play a key role
in breaking the stereotypes between our peoples and establishing an
atmosphere of mutual trust. Only with trust in our work, resoluteness
and adherence to our principles can we achieve results. Otherwise,
when the words and deeds contradict each other, it brings about
mistrust, thus opening a broad filed of action for those who oppose
the process. We have to realize that in this case time does not
contribute to the process.

If up to this moment we have managed to bring the bilateral contacts
to a level, from where the future of normal relations between our
countries becomes more visible and tangible, today it’s high time
to demonstrate willingness to make a step forwards in order to leave
and stable and secure region to the coming generations.

Accept, please, Your Excellency, the assurance of my respect."

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF AKNAGHBYUR COMMUNITY CENTER

Noyan Tapan
Feb 9, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund recently began construction of a vitally needed
community center in Aknaghbyur, a village in Armenia’s Tavush Region.

The project is sponsored by the fund’s French affiliate, through
the financial support of the France-based Tavitian family. This is
the fourth grant of the foundation in Aknaghbyur with a population
of about 560 people. They include the community’s state-of-the-art
natural-gas, potable-water, and irrigation networks, all of which
have vastly improved the daily lives of residents.

According to the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, to date construction crews
have laid the community center’s foundations, erected the pillars,
and built the supporting walls. Work will resume following a short
pause due to the harsh winter weather. Ararat Khlghatyan, Hayastan
All-Armenian fund deputy director in charge of construction projects,
said that the two-story building of the community center will house the
mayor’s office, a clinic, a library, and a concert hall, thus becoming
a vibrant hub for local governance, healthcare, culture, and the arts.

"Due to the reformations in village life already in the past few months
we have seen an increase in the number of births, four families have
moved back to the village. It is so wonderful that, after so many
years of hardship, the residents of Aknaghbyur once again believe in
the future of their community," said Aknaghbyur mayor Karen Dolmazyan.

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA YET TO SUBMIT KARABAKH PROPOSALS

news.az
Feb 8 2010
Azerbaijan

Yury Merzlyakov International mediators have not yet received proposals
from Armenia and Azerbaijan on contentious points in a settlement to
the Karabakh conflict.

At a trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian
presidents in Sochi on 25 January, it was agreed that Baku and
Yerevan should submit proposals on uncoordinated points of the Madrid
principles for a settlement within two weeks.

"Azerbaijan and Armenia have not yet submitted their proposals on
the uncoordinated points in the Madrid principles to the co-chairs,"
Minsk Group co-chair Yury Merzlyakov told APA.

Asked about a visit to the region by the co-chairs, Merzlyakov said
they were waiting for the proposals from both sides.

"First, we have to receive the proposals of both parties, and then
we can think about a visit."
Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:

MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
From: Katia Peltekian <[email protected]>
Subject: BAKU: Azerbaijan, Armenia yet to submit Karabakh proposals

news.az, Azerbaijan
Feb 8 2010

Azerbaijan, Armenia yet to submit Karabakh proposals
Mon 08 February 2010 | 15:10 GMT Text size:

Yury Merzlyakov International mediators have not yet received
proposals from Armenia and Azerbaijan on contentious points in a
settlement to the Karabakh conflict.

At a trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian
presidents in Sochi on 25 January, it was agreed that Baku and Yerevan
should submit proposals on uncoordinated points of the Madrid
principles for a settlement within two weeks.

"Azerbaijan and Armenia have not yet submitted their proposals on the
uncoordinated points in the Madrid principles to the co-chairs," Minsk
Group co-chair Yury Merzlyakov told APA.

Asked about a visit to the region by the co-chairs, Merzlyakov said
they were waiting for the proposals from both sides.

"First, we have to receive the proposals of both parties, and then we
can think about a visit."

APA

EURONEWS INTERVIEW WITH ILHAM ALIYEV, PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN

AZG DAILY #21
09-02-2010

"We want to put an end to the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh by peaceful
means…but at the same time, our patience also has limits."

Ilham Aliyev is president of Azerbaijan and commander-in-chief of an
army that for 16 years has been on the brink of war.

The southern Caucasus country has been locked in conflict with Armenia
since the region of Nagorno Karabakh declared its independence from
Azerbaijan in 1993.

Aliyev’s country is also of significant strategic interest to Europe
as it sits on an estimated five trillion cubic metres of natural gas.

But its economic and democratic prospects depend on a resolution of
the Nagorno Karabakh dispute.

Is there a peaceful way out of this "frozen conflict" nearly 16 years
after a ceasefire was declared?

euronews went to the Azerbaijani capital Baku, to ask President Aliyev.

euronews: President Aliyev welcome to euronews and thank you for
welcoming us here. Nagorno Karabakh, first of all. How do you evaluate
the chances of a peaceful resolution to the conflict?

Aliyev: We have hopes about that because the process which has
continued for many years must lead to a peaceful resolution. But
of course it will depend on the willingness of Armenia to comply
to international law norms, to withdraw the troops from the
international recognized territories of Azerbaijan, and then peace
will be established.

euronews : So you’re rather optimistic, if I understand correctly.

Aliyev: I can tell you that the proposals of the mediators are based
on restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, (they)
are based on the withdrawal of Armenian troops from all the occupied
territories, beyond the administrative borders of Nagorno Karabakh,
the return of internally displaced Azerbaijanis (IDPs) to that land
and opening of all communications.

euronews: You’ve been quoted as saying that if the Armenian side
does not withdraw its troops from the seven occupied territories of
Azerbaijan and return this land, then Azerbaijan would take those
provinces back through a military offensive. Do you maintain this
position?

Aliyev: This is a fundamental right of Azerbaijan, as I mentioned
before, given to us by international organizations, including the
United Nations. We can not afford the conflict to be in such a frozen
situation for another 15 years.

euronews: It has already been frozen for 16 years…

Aliyev: Of course, so there should be an end to that. We want to put
an end to that by peaceful means, and we are working on that, but
at the same time, our patience also has limits. I hope that what has
been agreed basically before and what we are planning to agree during
2010 will put an end to conflict and peace will come to the Caucusus.

euronews: Nagorno Karabakh’s final status. Is there room for any
concessions in this respect?

Aliyev: Azerbaijan will never agree to independence of Nagorno
Karabakh, or to any kind of mechanisms or procedures which will
eventually lead to secession. Interim status for Nagorno Karabakh
can be one of the solutions. We live together. Armenians live here,
Azerbaijanis lived in Armenia, so there was no problem in the past. So
reconciliation must happen and after that, people, of course, will
communicate and we will see what could be the final status of Nagorno
Karabakh.

euronews: Even though it’s premature to anticipate a deal
between Turkey and Armenia, how do you perceive the impact of the
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation on the resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict? Is it an opportunity or a threat?

Aliyev: We are concerned that if that happens regardless of any
progress on Nagorno Karabakh, Nagorno Karabakh’s prospects for a
peaceful settlement will be very weak. And what then? To our minds,
it will lead only to more difficulties in the region. Therefore, I
think that now it’s maybe a unique opportunity, when we have already
the Turkish-Armenian process in progress, and at the same time we came
to the final stage of the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
to combine the energy of those two processes so that no country in
the region could consider itself abandoned, could consider that its
national interests are ignored. Because if that happens, then tensions
are unavoidable.

euronews: Your country established the first democratic republic in
the Muslim world, before being forcably incorporated into the Soviet
Union. What do you think about those who say you run your country
like a post-Soviet dictatorship?

Aliyev: These kinds of expressions, they are insulting to us.

Sometimes we become the subject for very unjustified and very
biased critical attacks, in the international media, in so-called
international human rights groups. These attempts to present Azerbaijan
as undemocratic are absolutely unacceptable. We understand that as
Azerbaijan’s importance is growing, the attemps to influence Azerbaijan
are growing from various parts of the world.

euronews: What about those who say that the opposition in Azerbaijan
doesn’t stand a fair chance, and that a lot of your opponents have
been silenced?

Aliyev: Well, it’s up to the people to decide. If opposition in
Azerbaijan is weak, it’s not our fault. And I can tell you now
why opposition is now in a very disastrous situation: the people
of Azerbaijan are living better and better. During the crisis year
of 2009, our economy grew 9.3%, industry 8.6%, inflation 1.5%. Hard
currency reserves are 20.4 billion dollars. In these circumstances,
what can the opposition deliver? Only criticise? Well, they’re doing
it on a daily basis, we do not object.

euronews: But in March 2009, there was a referendum, and there has
been a change in the constitution, which abolished presidential term
limits. Do you want to remain in office indefinitely?

Aliyev: Well, that was not made for any kind of personal reasons. This
practice exists in many countries.

euronews: Not in democratic ones…

Aliyev: Well, it depends. If you have a king, which is a nominal
head of state, and a prime minister who can be elected five times,
it’s not that different to from what we have here. If you look at
the European countries you will see.

euronews: You don’t consider yourself as a king, do you?

Aliyev: No, no. I consider myself as the head of the executive branch,
which is, in the cases of your countries, the prime minister, who
can be elected many times. So why people should be deprived from this
right? If they have a choice, if they have a chance to choose.

euronews: If…

Aliyev: …. they can choose whomever they want. And the democratic
process in Azerbaijan is very active. We do not interfere in the
internal issues of your countries, though there are a lot of things
which we can not like, we can oppose, and we can consider to be
ridiculous. But we never tell that.

euronews: For instance?

Aliyev: That’s because we never tell that. We behave in a very delicate
manner. Internal issues of a country, its traditions, its history,
its political system, its attitude to its national leaders must be
left for the people of that country to decide.

euronews: Of course, but Azerbaijan is a member (of the Council
of Europe)

Aliyev: If somebody wants to use this factor (*) in order to achieve
something, we will not allow it!

* He’s speaking about what he names the "so-called democratic factor,"
meaning big world powers that, in order to take advantage of small
countries’ resources, use the democratic criteria to "destabilize"
that small country.