Author: Dabaghian Diana

‘SAY NO TO CORRUPTION’ CAMPAIGN KICKED OFF

Aysor
Feb 18 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s judicial system hasn’t the act of disqualifying, said expert
Hyke Harutyunian at the Round Table. "Under the 2007’s changes in law,
the judge alone makes a decision whether to approve motion to dismiss
or not. In addition, the made decision is final and doesn’t subject
to appeal," pointed the expert.

According to Hyke Harutyunian, in this connection, they have applied
to Advocate for Human Rights, who in his part will apply to the
Constitutional Court.

It’s worth mentioning, that the Round Table and these hearings are
being held in the framework of the "Say No to Corruption in our
Lives" programs by APRA and USAID. The programs’ chief objective is
to introduce to the society, media, and business the legal mechanisms
to protect their rights when they face corruption.

The campaign includes programs and projects to cover the cases of
fights against corruption in the courts via media resources.

In the framework of the campaign some 20 publications are released
on Aysor.am and Panorama.am on-line papers; a TV version is also
available.

OMENS NOT GOOD FOR NEW ROUND OF TALKS
By Stefanos Evripidou

Cyprus Mail
Feb 17 2010

NEGOTIATIONS between the two leaders are not resuming with the best
omens given the lack of unity on the domestic front, government
spokesman Stefanos Stefanou has said.

Speaking to London Greek Radio (LGR), Stefanou said the internal rift
created by EDEK leaving the government coalition only made President
Demetris Christofias’ work harder to find a solution to the Cyprus
problem.

The spokesman noted that Christofias has agreed to meet with Turkish
Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat four more times before elections in
the north for all-day, intensified meetings on February 24, March 4,
16 and 30.

"The aim of these meetings is to discuss issues of the economy, EU
affairs, and property, and if there is time, guarantees and security,
as well as settlers," said Stefanou.

The two leaders have looked at all these issues in previous meetings,
with difficult issues like property being discussed 18 times so far,
he said, noting that the result so far was greater differences than
convergences on property. On the economy, there were some convergences,
until the Turkish Cypriot side retracted from its original positions,
he added.

Talat’s spokesman Hasan Ercakica said yesterday that Christofias’
proposal for four more meetings was inadequate, highlighting that
the Turkish Cypriot side wanted more. He argued that Turkey and the
international community wanted negotiations to continue intensively,
adding that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had tried to convince
Christofias to do so in a recent phone call.

According to Stefanou, Ban called Christofias on Saturday and was
informed by the president on the four new meetings scheduled. Talat
also spoke to Ban via phone and reportedly thanked him and his wife
for their interest in the Cyprus problem.

In a letter to DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades last Friday, Christofias
argued that there was an "orchestrated effort" by some to portray
the Greek Cypriot side as being negative about the continuation
of talks. He highlighted that Talat’s original request was for a
suspension of the talks in February due to upcoming elections in
the north. However, just days before the UN chief’s visit to Cyprus,
Christofias said Talat requested that the talks continue after February
1. The president agreed and set four dates which would give the Greek
Cypriot side enough time to fully prepare for the full-day intensive
talks which could cover issues like EU affairs, the economy, property,
and possibly security and settlers.

"As you know very well, for his own election purposes, Mr Talat refuses
at this stage to discuss the issue of territory," said Christofias
in the letter.

The president clarified that he would not make unacceptable concessions
in the talks to get Talat re-elected, adding that in no way could
the Greek Cypriot side be blamed if he fails to do so.

At the weekend, Turkish Minister of State and EU Chief Negotiator
Egemen Bagis warned that Turkey would not sacrifice Cyprus for the EU,
blaming the Greek Cypriots for blocking progress.

"The EU process is important for Turkey, however, it is not as
important as to make us sacrifice Cyprus. Cyprus is a national cause
for all of us," he said.

He repeated the view that Turkey had succeeded in changing the
perception of the world without having to withdraw a single soldier
or give away any tract of land. Bagis claimed the international
community could now clearly see that it was the Greek Cypriot side
that was preventing a solution in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday in Qatar where the two
discussed the talks in Cyprus, the Armenian issue, terrorism and
Iran’s nuclear programme. According to reports, the hotel meeting
was scheduled for 20 minutes but lasted an hour.

Talat is due in Italy today to meet with the Italian foreign minister.

He is expected to announce his candidacy for the ‘presidential’
elections on his return from a visit to Spain between March 25 and 27.

The Turkish Cypriot leader yesterday hosted a lunch for the ambassadors
of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council at the
‘presidential palace’ in the north.

DEMAND FOR SUFFICIENT CATTLE-BREEDING PRODUCTION

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
February 16, 2010

At the second conference convoked today NKR Prime Minister Ara
Haroutyunyan touched upon the issues of cattle-breeding. He announced
that the present situation dictates more rapid rates of programme
drafting and realization for the development of the branch. The
conferees were charged with a task to find out the potentials and
resources needed to be invested for the development of cattle-breeding.

The participants’ attention was drawn to the fact that today the
Republic of Armenia records murrain and price rise of meat products
which can have its consequences in Artsakh. The Premier instructed the
executives of the sphere and the heads of regional administrations to
control the sale of cattle livestock and to prevent its export. An
objective was set to give an incentive to swine-breeding which will
enable to supply the probable deficiency of the cattle population.

The next directive of the Premier referred to the statistic data
specification. It is necessary to possess exact information on the
real representation of the branch,- the Prime Minister emphasized.

NKR Minister of Agriculture Armo Tsatryan partook in the conference. He
presented some data on the agricultural production comparing the
present and pre-war indices of the sphere. According to the Minister’s
presentation some progress has been recorded only in the sphere of
cultured plant production.

AZERBAIJANI FM DISCUSSES REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS WITH US CONGRESS OFFICIALS

Today
/61745.html
Feb 16 2010
Azerbaijan

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met Monday with
US Congress officials to brief them on the ongoing developments in
Azerbaijan and region.

The Minister told of the democratic development processes and social
economic achievements in the country, stressing Azerbaijan is a young
democracy in the region.

Mammadyarov pointed out the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unsolved
and stressed the need to withdraw Armenian occupational troops from
Azerbaijani lands, restore the country’s territorial integrity,
create conditions for displaced Azerbaijanis to return home.

Azerbaijan’s top diplomat pointed out Azerbaijan has grown into
the region’s leader participating in important regional and global
projects.

Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan contributes to international security
since the country currently participate in peacekeeping operations
in Afghanistan, and before that in Kosovo and Iraq.

The Minister touched upon the current state of and prospects for
US-Azerbaijan bilateral relations. He highlighted the importance of
spreading unbiased and real information in the congress about the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and situation in the region.

He found the need to address these matters on the basis of
international law.

HEYDAR JAMAL: BY HIS LONDON SPEECH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED HIS CONSENT TO WITHDRAW FROM AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED LANDS
A. Hasanov

Today
1611.html
Feb 15 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Russia’s Islamic Committee Chairman, renowned
political expert Heydar Jamal.

How would you comment on outcome of Armenian President Serzg Sargsyan’s
recent visit to United Kingdom and statements he made there?

President Sargsyan’s visit to London and statements he voiced at
the Chatham House suggest that he has rushed about and has no clear
plan of action. Indeed, as shown by analysis of the realities,
the leading European powers are interested in the Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement to some extent while the U.S. actually do not want it
because the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement would, in turn, lead to
Iranian-Turkish rapprochement which does not suit Washington.

On the other hand, the United States is interested in changing the
whole situation in the South Caucasus region and it is not satisfied
with Armenia current’s position. Because it contradicts U.S. plans
to deploy NATO bases in the South Caucasus. To realize its plans,
the U.S. needs to blow up the situation, to instigate direct military
confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia which would give pretext
to the international community, in fact the United States and NATO,
to intervene in this confrontation. Of course, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan understands this.

He realizes that his actions do not suit the U.S. It is for this
reason that there is serious opposition to Serzh Sargsyan both within
Armenia and the Armenian diaspora over which the president of this
country is very concerned.

In other words, you believe that the Armenian opposition is influential
enough to displace Serzh Sargsyan from the presidential post?

As far as I know, the political processes in Armenia come in waves
in terms of aggression. But they all have a single goal – to force
Serzh Sargsyan to step down. The Armenian opposition has potential
to achieve its objective.

The opposition split at the moment. But once there is a leader who
will be able to unite the opposition, it could force Sargsyan to seek
dialogue with the opposition, hoping to agree with it. The Armenian
President understands this.

Therefore, the Armenian President’s London speech can be described
as statement by a confused person. In fact, in London Serzh Sargsyan
announced his consent to withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani
lands in response to West’s guarantee to help him to preserve his
presidency. It was the cry of SOS by the Armenian President.

Given all these statements made, what are prospects for resolving
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Let’s start with the fact that the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will still have to be solved by force.

Another question is when and with whose help. If Azerbaijan remains
in isolation, it mean that resumed of military confrontation with
Armenia will lead to the emergence of NATO forces in the region.

This will only turn entire South Caucasus into one big frontline zone
against Iran which runs counter to interests of Azerbaijan. At the
same time, Azerbaijan could easily choose use of force to recover
its Armenian-occupied territories later at different, more favorable
geopolitical situation for it to be preceded by a great diplomatic
work.

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS ARRIVE IN AFGHANISTAN

armradio.am
15.02.2010 17:51

On February 14 the 40-member peacekeeping brigade of the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Armenia arrived in the city of Kunduz to
participate in the NATO’s peacekeeping mission within the International
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The main mission of Armenian
contingent will be to provide security in the Airport of Kunduz along
with the German troops.

The Armenian brigade left for the place of dislocation from Germany,
where it participated in four-week trainings.

On February 16 the Armenian servicemen will leave for the Airport of
Kunduz to familiarize themselves with the objectives of their mission.

Yerevan has 16 Sister Cities

Tert.am
13:07 – 13.02.10

In 2010, Yerevan city Mayor Gagik Beglaryan is expected to pay
official visits to the following cities: Riga, Beirut, Buenos Aires,
Warsaw, Florence, Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Nice and Marcel.

Head of Yerevan City Hall Foreign Relations’ Department David
Gevorgyan told Tert.am that currently negotiations are underway to
organize visits of delegations headed by mayors of Athens, Budapest,
Kiev, Lion, Marcel, Tehran, Venice and Brussels to Yerevan in 2010.
These exchange visits are aimed at strengthening cooperation in
various areas.

In Gevorgyan’s words, currently Yerevan has 16 sister cities. The
first protocol on cooperation was signed between Yerevan and the
Italian city of Karara in 1973. The last city that became a sister
city to Yerevan was Nice. The agreement was signed in September 2007.

Yerevan cooperates with its sister cities in such areas as trade,
science, technologies, culture, healthcare, tourism, construction, and
so on.

news.az, Azerbaijan
Feb 13 2010

US, Russia share interests in peaceful restoration of territory to Azerbaijan
Sat 13 February 2010 | 07:20 GMT Text size:

Theodore Hopf News.Az interviews Theodore Hopf, Associate Professor of
Political Science, The Ohio State University.

There are numerous factors that deteriorate Russia’s relations with
the West. Do you consider the soonest "reloading" of ties possible and
what do the sides need to do to improve these relations?

US needs to reduce its expectations for the relationship. Russia is
likely to disappoint.

It seems that after war in Georgia in August 2008 US became less
active in resolving security problems in the South Caucasus. Is it
wrong opinion or US admitted that the major player in the region is
Russia?

Never thought US was much of a player in the South Caucasus to begin
with. Offloaded most of it to EU, Council of Europe and OSCE.

Is the South Caucasus a mostly region of cooperation between US and
Russia or still a zone of struggle for national interests?

I think on Nagorno-Karabakh, the US & Russia share interests in the
peaceful restoration of that territory to Azerbaijan….eventually.
Continued competition over Azerbaijani gas, and its export routes will
continue. Of course, the greatest strategic blow the US could deal to
Russia would be a rapprochement with Iran that would result in
US/Western energy companies investing in Iran, including building gas
pipelines from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, giving them,
and Kazakhstan, a non-Russian outlet for exports.

The GUAM regional alliance brings together Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan and Moldova, 4 republics which want to be integrated to
Europe. How would you assess current state of this organization?

It is dead.

The former USSR countries are linked with common economic and
democratic problems associated with the burden of the transitive
period. How much time will be spent for Azerbaijan to be able to
become a full member of the European family?

Does Azerbaijan want to join? Getting rid of the kleptocratic
authoritarian family dictatorship of Aliev would be necessary for a
start. No signs of that happening.

Do you share the opinion that ethnic conflicts in Europe, in
particular in the South Caucasus, are threats to Europe? What kind of
role can the EU play to support stability and peace in the South
Caucasus? And is the EU ready to compete with Russia for influence in
the post-Soviet area, in the South Caucasus in particular?

I don’t see EU competing for influence, but certainly its good offices
are available for the outstanding issues in Nagorno Karabakh, Osetia
and Abkhazia.

Due to the relative passiveness of the West, Russia is almost the only
influential mediator in the Karabakh settlement. Do you think it may
settle this conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia alone or there is
a need for Europe’s and US participation in the peacekeeping process?

I wrote of this above; the US is involved, but why stand in the way of
Russia going it alone if it can deliver Armenia’s concessions?

Aliyah Fridman
News.Az

Armenian delegation to participate in winter session of OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly

2010-02-13 09:40:00

ArmInfo. On February 17 the Armenian Delegation to OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly will leave for Vienna to participate in the winter session of
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Head of the Armenian Delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Aram
Safaryan told ArmInfo correspondent that the delegation includes Artak
Davtyan, Head of the Standing Parliamentary Commission for Education,
Science, Sport and Youth, and Khachik Haroutyunyan, Head of the
Standing Parliamentary Commission for Agriculture and Ecology,
representative of the Orinats Yerkir faction. The Assembly’s work will
last 2 days – on 18 and 19 February. In addition, Safaryan pointed out
that on February 20 OSCE PA Co-Rapporteur on Nagorno-Karabakh Goran
Lennmarker will meet with the representatives of Armenian and
Azerbaijani Delegations to the Assembly.

FESTIVAL OF SERGEI PARAJANOV TO START IN LONDON ON FEBRUARY 22

ArmInfo
2010-02-12 12:08:00

ArmInfo. Festival of Sergei Parajanov will start in London on
February 22.

As Director of Sergei Parajanov Museum Zaven Sarkisyan told ArmInfo,
retrospective of the Master’s films, as well as presentation of the
album and photo exhibition of Parajanov’s friend Yuri Mechitov will be
held within the frames of the festival. The exhibition of Parajanov’s
collages will be held approximately in May.

To note, S. Parajanov’s festival is organized by the British Film
Institute. As expected, the festival will also be held in Bristol.