Armenian Ombudsman: Final Report By Ad Hoc Committee To Inquire Into

ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN: FINAL REPORT BY AD HOC COMMITTEE TO INQUIRE INTO POST-ELECTION CLASHES OF MARCH 1 2008 SPARED PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-09-18 11:38:00

ArmInfo. "Final report by the National Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee
to inquire into post-election clashes of March 1 2008 has spared the
Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia. The report contains too little
criticism at the Prosecutor Genera’s Office. Mostly the opposition
is criticized by specific negative examples, hereby exculpating the
law-enforcement. I cannot agree with this," Armenian ombudsman Armen
Haroutiunyan told media on Friday.

As regards the death of the ten people, the Ombudsman believes that
the report did not properly cover this circumstance. "The report just
contains a few sentences on the Police and the Special Investigation
Services, whereas the Prosecutor General’s Office is not mentioned at
all," he said. Armen Haroutiunyan believes that the Ad Hoc Committee
did not touch upon the problems with numerous evident violations by
investigators either.

Arman Melikyan: Armenia Not Aware Of Its Own Interests

ARMAN MELIKYAN: ARMENIA NOT AWARE OF ITS OWN INTERESTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.09.2009 15:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia should be thankful to the United States for
efforts to promote normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations,
former NKR foreign minister Arman Melikyan said.

"Russia and European countries should also be praised for favoring
normalization of relations between neighbors," he told a news
conference on Thursday.

"Moscow understands what’s going on and we should not teach it how
to defend its interests. Armenia’s problem is that it doesn’t know
how to present its own interests, not to mention how to defend them,"
Melikyan said.

Armenia’s Former Foreign Minister Believes In "Usefulness" Of Politi

ARMENIA’S FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER BELIEVES IN "USEFULNESS" OF POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.09.2009 16:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The forthcoming meeting of political leaders with
the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan will be useful if agreement
is reached over the changes in the protocols on normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations, Vartan Oskanian, ex-minister of foreign
affairs of Armenia told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

On September 17 political consultations on the Armenian-Turkish
relations will be held in Yerevan. During consultations the Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan will discuss with leaders of political
parties of the country the current stage of the Armenian-Turkish
relations. This will be the third meeting of Serzh Sargsyan with the
political forces of Armenia in such a format. Previously, counseling
on mitigating the effects of the global economic crisis on Armenia
and the Karabakh conflict settlement were carried out.

BAKU: Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Should Be Included In Ankara-Yerevan

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ANKARA-YEREVAN PROTOCOLS: TURKISH OPPOSITION LEADER

Today.Az
/55580.html
Sept 14 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkish Opposition Leader Deniz Baykal demands to include
Nagorno-Karabakh issue in the Ankara-Yerevan protocol signed between
Turkey and Armenia in August, Turkish CNN TURK TV channel reported.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh issue should be included in the Turkey-Armenia
protocol," Baykal said.

On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland
reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations"
to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and
Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry reported.

Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and
following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two
countries’ parliaments for approval. At present Turkey does not plan
to open the borders with Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davudoglu said.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993.

The Turkish Foreign Ministrer appealed to hold a meeting to discuss
the Turkey-Armenia protocol reached by the mediation of Switzerland
in the Turkish Parliament. Davudoglu said that he will meet with
the leaders of the country’s opposition leaders to discuss the
Ankara-Yerevan protocol.

The meeting between the opposition leader and Davudoglu to discuss
the protocol is expected to take place on Sept.15.

http://www.today.az/news/politics

Armenian people to face a serious test

Armenian people to face a serious test
12.09.2009 15:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In an letter addressed to RA President, the Council
on the Protection of Western Armenia says, `Armenian people are going
to face serious test, i.e. diplomatic talks with an experienced
`rival’ like Turkey. You too, Mr. President and Foreign Minister, are
going to face hardships in that process.’

Your decision should be considered based on its merits. Its message
consists in launching discussions in Armenia and Diaspora over
Armenian-Turkish process (negotiations between Eastern Armenia and
Turkey). You are required to find a maximum acceptable solution for
Armenian people. If processes follow the wrong course, Armenian
authorities will have to quit the game to avert possible dangers,’
Council members say in their letter sent to PanARMENIAN.Net.

RA Government Reduces Visiting Delegations’ Reception Expenditures

RA GOVERNMENT REDUCES VISITING DELEGATIONS’ RECEPTION EXPENDITURES

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.09.2009 14:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At Thursday’s sitting, RA Government resolved to
reduce visiting delegations’ reception expenditures.

According to RA Finance Minister Tigran Davtyan, the necessity was
caused by increased number of institutions applying to government
for compensation of expenditures for foreign delegations’ reception.

The reception expenditures stipulated will not extend to delegations
arriving in Armenia on the invitation of RA President, Premier and
Foreign Minister.

First Armenian-Croatian Business Forum Held In Zagreb

FIRST ARMENIAN-CROATIAN BUSINESS FORUM HELD IN ZAGREB

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
ZAGREB

ZAGREB, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On September 8 – the second day of
his 3-day official visit to Croatia, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
together with President of Croatia Stjepan Mesic took part in the first
Armenian-Croatian business forum with the participation of about 100
businessmen from both countries. According to the RA presidential press
service, a memorandum on cooperation was signed between the Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of Armenia and the Croatian Economic Chamber.

In his speech S. Sargsyan said that the forum opens a good opportunity
for businessmen of Armenia and Croatia to establish relations
and outline their further cooperation. In his words, holding such
forums on a regular basis will promote trade and economic relations
between the two countries and help establish mutually beneficial
cooperation. He attached importance to the fact that the forum is
being held in conditions of the global crisis which increases the
significance of its possible results.

S. Sargsyan stated that Armenia’s scientific and technological
potential have created prerequisites for the development of its IT
sector, electronics, pharmaceutics, and chemical industry. Armenia
also has serious potential in such sectors as agricultural industry,
construction, light industry, gem and jewelry sector, tourism, and
power engineering. Noting that the information technology sector
has been proclaimed a priority at a state level both in Armenia and
Croatia, S. Sargsyan informed the forum participants that during
negotiations, the opportunities of cooperating with the Croatian
branch of Ericsson with the aim of introdicing an electronic health
system had been discussed.

Speaking about the unused opportunities in the tourism sector,
S. Sargsyan said that the examination of Croatia’s experience and the
use of its possibilities to train specialists in tourism may open new
and wide perspectives for businessmen engaged in this sphere. Besides,
great horizons for bilateral cooperation are opening in the rapidly
developing infrastructure sector of Armenia, within the framework
of the investment projects on construction of North-South Highway,
a railway and the new nuclear power plant.

He reminded that during the Croatian president’s official visit to
Armenia in May, the sides agreed to spare no effort to establish and
develop mutually beneficial links between the two peoples, for which
two precondition exist: to create a legal and contractual field and
to encourage direct contacts between business circles of the two
countries. "As for the first precondition, as you know, during the
visit of President Mesic to Armenia, an agreement on the avoidance of
double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion regarding taxes on
income and property was signed. We are taking steps aimed at developing
the legal and contractual field which is important for strengthening
the trade and economic relations in order to cooperate in trade
and economic sphere and facilitate the cooperation of businessmen,"
the Armenian president said.

"Given that our countries are proceeding along a European integration
path, as well as the fact that the EU is the main trade and economic
partner of Armenia, I consider our close cooperation in European
structures as necessary. I am convinced that as a result of efficient
cooperation under the agreement on free trade between Armenia and
the European Union, we will achieve a significant growth in trade
turnover," S. Sargsyan said in conclusion.

The president of Croatia in his turn underlined the necessity of
cooperation for improving the situation during the crisis. "We
have come to agree on definite steps, and the active participation
of businessmen in this forum shows their desire to establish new
links. I am sure we can achieve more if we stipulate this desire in
clear programs," S. Mesic said.
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
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From: [email protected]
Subject: First Armenian-Croatian business forum held in Zagreb

First Armenian-Croatian business forum held in Zagreb

ZAGREB, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On September 8 – the second day of
his 3-day official visit to Croatia, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
together with President of Croatia Stjepan Mesic took part in the first
Armenian-Croatian business forum with the participation of about 100
businessmen from both countries. According to the RA presidential press
service, a memorandum on cooperation was signed between the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Armenia and the Croatian Economic Chamber.

In his speech S. Sargsyan said that the forum opens a good opportunity
for businessmen of Armenia and Croatia to establish relations and
outline their further cooperation. In his words, holding such forums on
a regular basis will promote trade and economic relations between the
two countries and help establish mutually beneficial cooperation. He
attached importance to the fact that the forum is being held in
conditions of the global crisis which increases the significance of its
possible results.

S. Sargsyan stated that Armenia’s scientific and technological
potential have created prerequisites for the development of its IT
sector, electronics, pharmaceutics, and chemical industry. Armenia also
has serious potential in such sectors as agricultural industry,
construction, light industry, gem and jewelry sector, tourism, and
power engineering. Noting that the information technology sector has
been proclaimed a priority at a state level both in Armenia and
Croatia, S. Sargsyan informed the forum participants that during
negotiations, the opportunities of cooperating with the Croatian branch
of Ericsson with the aim of introdicing an electronic health system had
been discussed.

Speaking about the unused opportunities in the tourism sector, S.
Sargsyan said that the examination of Croatia’s experience and the use
of its possibilities to train specialists in tourism may open new and
wide perspectives for businessmen engaged in this sphere. Besides,
great horizons for bilateral cooperation are opening in the rapidly
developing infrastructure sector of Armenia, within the framework of
the investment projects on construction of North-South Highway, a
railway and the new nuclear power plant.

He reminded that during the Croatian president’s official visit to
Armenia in May, the sides agreed to spare no effort to establish and
develop mutually beneficial links between the two peoples, for which
two precondition exist: to create a legal and contractual field and to
encourage direct contacts between business circles of the two
countries. "As for the first precondition, as you know, during the
visit of President Mesic to Armenia, an agreement on the avoidance of
double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion regarding taxes on
income and property was signed. We are taking steps aimed at developing
the legal and contractual field which is important for strengthening
the trade and economic relations in order to cooperate in trade and
economic sphere and facilitate the cooperation of businessmen," the
Armenian president said.

"Given that our countries are proceeding along a European integration
path, as well as the fact that the EU is the main trade and economic
partner of Armenia, I consider our close cooperation in European
structures as necessary. I am convinced that as a result of efficient
cooperation under the agreement on free trade between Armenia and the
European Union, we will achieve a significant growth in trade
turnover," S. Sargsyan said in conclusion.

The president of Croatia in his turn underlined the necessity of
cooperation for improving the situation during the crisis. "We have
come to agree on definite steps, and the active participation of
businessmen in this forum shows their desire to establish new links. I
am sure we can achieve more if we stipulate this desire in clear
programs," S. Mesic said.

Zharangutiun Faction Members Not To Follow Their Leader’s Example

ZHARANGUTIUN FACTION MEMBERS NOT TO FOLLOW THEIR LEADER’S EXAMPLE

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Members of the Zharangutiun
(Heritage) RA NA faction will not follow the example of party
leader Raffi Hovannisian and will not put down their deputy
mandates. Faction member Stepan Safarian stated this at a September
9 press conference. In his words, as far back as at the end of last
year the party Board made a decision to continue working at the
parliament. In spite of it, according to the deputy, that decision
does not prohibit anyone to make a personal decision.

According to S. Safarian, R. Hovannisian’s decision was expected to
become a subject of various kinds of talks. In his words, the reasons
of that step, which was a surprise for many and predictable for others,
come from the depth, from various planes. According to S. Safarian,
in R. Hovannisian’s opinion, national problems proceed from problems
of domestic democratization, starting March 1 and the period following
it, inability to solve conflicts, up to international developments
contradicting Armenia’s interests as a result of society’s and state’s
vulnerability, when the authorities obediently as a slave do what
they are dictated.
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
From: [email protected]
Subject: Zharangutiun faction members not to follow their leader’s example

Zharangutiun faction members not to follow their leader’s example

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Members of the Zharangutiun
(Heritage) RA NA faction will not follow the example of party leader
Raffi Hovannisian and will not put down their deputy mandates. Faction
member Stepan Safarian stated this at a September 9 press conference.
In his words, as far back as at the end of last year the party Board
made a decision to continue working at the parliament. In spite of it,
according to the deputy, that decision does not prohibit anyone to make
a personal decision.

According to S. Safarian, R. Hovannisian’s decision was expected to
become a subject of various kinds of talks. In his words, the reasons
of that step, which was a surprise for many and predictable for others,
come from the depth, from various planes. According to S. Safarian, in
R. Hovannisian’s opinion, national problems proceed from problems of
domestic democratization, starting March 1 and the period following it,
inability to solve conflicts, up to international developments
contradicting Armenia’s interests as a result of society’s and state’s
vulnerability, when the authorities obediently as a slave do what they
are dictated.

V. Ayvazyan: The Opening Of The Boarder Is Also An Economic Need

V. AYVAZYAN: THE OPENING OF THE BOARDER IS ALSO AN ECONOMIC NEED

ysor
Sept 9, 2009
Armenia

The opening of the Armenian – Turkish boarder can be obliged by the
economic factors and the necessity of the growth of the economy,
said today Vardan Ayvazyan, the Standing Committee on Economic Issues
during the press conference touching upon the records signed between
Armenia and Turkey on August 31.

According to the speaker the Armenian-Turkish agreements made
beforehand have served a new stimulus for activating the production
sphere of Armenia as new perspectives can be noticed.

"The opening of the boarder can bring to an economical growth", –
said V. Ayvazyan, mentioning that processing of infrastructures will
give an opportunity to easy and activate the the product circulation
between Armenia and Turkey, making it unmediated.

The deputy agreed the provisions of those economists that say that
the opening of the boarders can give GDP 4% growth, 17.7% exportation
and 13% of importation increase.

V. Ayvazyan thinks that the opening of the boarders "is undoubtedly
good" for the Armenian businessmen. He mentioned that Armenia has
an active product circulation with Georgia and Iran, and it doesn’t
reflect over the Armenian producers.

"The Armenian producer has different tools, starting with the
financing, cheap credit resources, from the usage of the standards,
till 37 thousands of standards", – mentioned Ayvazyan adding that the
Turkish producer is forced to stand against the Indian and Chinese
products in its market.

"If we also add that Turkey is a country that tends to be a member
of the European Union and Armenia can actively cooperate with that
union having advantages with the exportation of our products, so we
have to use that policy, too against the Turkish side."

Yerevan Welcomes Appointment Of New U.S. Mediator On Karabakh – Fore

YEREVAN WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF NEW U.S. MEDIATOR ON KARABAKH – FOREIGN MINISTRY

Interfax, Russia
Sept 8 2009
Yerevan

Armenia is ready to work with the new United States co-chairman
of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe)
Minsk Group mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign
Ministry spokesman Tigran Balaian told Interfax.

"We are ready to work with the new U.S. mediator. Our position on
the resolution of the conflict has not changed: Armenia is committed
to the peaceful resolution of this problem through negotiations,"
Balaian said.

Last Monday the U.S. Secretary of State appointed Ambassador Robert
Bradtke as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairman.