Author: Dabaghian Diana

"MY ARMENIA" EXHIBITION BY AFSHIN ARIAFAR

Panorama.am
20:28 17/09/2008

A photo exhibition of an Iranian photographer Afshin Ariafar who has
arrived in Armenia from Irab Shiraz city will be conducted in Armenia
devoted to the Independence Day of Armenia.

The exhibition is called "My Armenia". Black-white 50 photos will
be presented to the public attention, which cover Armenian nature,
people and few parts of Armenia.

Those photos which should be presented in the exhibition have been
made by the photographer himself.

TURK FM: NO EXPECT SHORTAGE IN GAS IMPORT FROM RUSSIA

Sept 17 2008
Turkey

Turkish President Gul said that they saw the will of the Armenian
side to solve the Karabakh issue between Azerbaijan-Armenia in their
meetings with Armenian President and FM during the soccer game.

Babacan said they were not expecting a problem (shortage) in Turkey’s
natural gas import from Russia during the Winter because of the crisis
in the Caucasus.

He said Turkey’s relations with Russia rested on mutual trust saying
that his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov had unequivocally rejected
these claims during his visit to Turkey

Underlying the importance of diversification of energy resources,
Babacan pointed out that the Russian Georgian conflict pushed Europe to
look for new supplies. He said the importance of the Nabucco pipeline
project –foreseen to carry eastern natural gas to EU countries over
Turkey– was once more seen.

Relations with Armenia

Commenting on President Gul’s recent visit to Armenia to watch a
2010 World Cup qualifying game between the national soccer teams of
Turkey and Armenia after decades of no diplomatic exchange with this
country, Babacan said a process to normalise relations between Turkey
and Armenia was in place even before this visit.

He said they saw the will of the Armenian side to solve the Karabakh
issue between Azerbaijan and Armenia in their meetings with Armenian
President Serzh Sargisian and Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian
during the soccer game.

Babacan pointed out that the recent conflict between Russia and
Georgia showed how risky it was for countries in the region to keep
frozen conflicts. He said he feared that Azerbaijan’s energy projets
could be harmed and a situation similar to recent developments in
South Ossetia and Abkhazia could occur in Karabakh.

He referred to the food and energy shortage in Armenia and said Turkey
was exerting efforts to create an atmosphere encouraging a solution
to this problem.

Turkish Foreign Minister said positive developments between Azerbaijan
and Armenia would contribute to Turkey-Armenia relations.

Babacan said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice welcomed their
efforts.

EVERYTHING TO BE DECIDED TODAY AND TO BECOME CLEAR TOMORROW
Gevorg Haroutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
16 Sep 2008
Armenia

Today, the Council of the Republican Party will convene a session,
having one issue on the agenda: to approve the RPA Executive Body’s
decision on removing T. Torosyan from the post of the NA Speaker and
replacing him with newly elected MP Hovik Abrahamyan.

With the purpose of presenting his comments on this issue, RPA Vice
Chair GALOUST SAHAKYAN yesterday had a meeting with the journalists.

The Vice Chair of the Republican Party finds that "There are no
clear-cut formulas for developing these processes. At this stage,
the Republican Party has adopted a certain strategy and tactics. The
party sees Hovik Abrahamyan’s activity as the most effective way
towards the implementation of the Republican’s tactical goals. He is a
highly-experienced personality possessing organizational abilities. I
refrain from making other kinds of assessments since the RPA Chairman
has already presented to the public the subject matter of the issue."

G. Sahakyan deemed it necessary to specify that it’s not with
the purpose of ensuring the presence of all the MPs at the NA
sessions that Hovik Abrahamyan is taking over the post of the NA
Speaker. "Legislative work is not solely conditioned by one’s presence
or absence. There are much broader frameworks. The replacement of the
NA Speaker is not conditioned by the function of making a roll-call.

We are convinced that as a result of this change, the discussions of
the draft laws and the political debates will definitely become more
active. And this will lead to the further extension and strengthening
of the direct ties between the Parliament and society."

The speaker confessed that "in separate cases, the MPs do really
vote instead of others. However, voting is not a separate component
of the Parliament’s work. Especially if we take into consideration
the fact the parliamentary factions previously specify one another’s
attitude towards the issues under discussion. Of course, it is bad
when someone votes instead of another, but this doesn’t cause the
country, the law or any person to suffer a material or moral damage."

Although, the speaker expressed belief that there will be no surprise
as a result of today’s voting during the session of the RPA Council,
and the decision of the Executive Body will be approved, he refrained
from making any comments on what Tigran Torosyan will be offered to
do thereafter.

"I can’t say in what sphere Tigran Torosyan will work. That depends on
him. He can work effectively both in the executive and the legislative
branches. I believe we’ll provide him with a proper job. The major
part of Tigran Torosyan’s activity is associated with 0Adifferent
European structures, and he still has quite serious and important
things to there. I believe his activity in this sphere will prove
more effective. "

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RESIGNS AND LEAVES RULING PARTY

Regnum
Sept 17 2008
Russia

Tigran Torosyan, the Speaker of the Armenian parliament, vice-chairman
of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) that is a member of the
ruling coalition declared on September 16, while speaking at a
press conference, announced he was going to resign and leave the
party. Torosyan justified his decision by "irresistible disagreements
with the majority in questions of domestic policy", informs a REGNUM
correspondent.

It is worth mentioning that on September 6, the executive council
of the Republican Party of Armenia made a decision to pronounce
inappropriate further work of Tigran Torosyan as the speaker of
the Armenian Parliament and nomination of Hovik Abrahamyan to the
parliament speaker’s post. The president of Armenia, chairman of RPA
Serzh Sargsyan commenting on the decision of the executive council of
the party, stressed on September, 12, that Hovik Abrahamyan can enhance
the role of the Armenian parliament, and at the same time underlined,
that the Republican Party, pursuing its main targets, started to
enhance the efficiency of the government machine on this stage.

Today, on September 16, a session of the council-board of RPA will take
place, where will be again discussed the decision of party’s executive
council about the change of the representative of the party on the
Parliament Speaker’s post, and the question will be voted. It is worth
mentioning that on September, 15 Galust Sahakyan, the vice-chairman of
the Republican Party of Armenia, member of RPA faction declared during
a press conference that the decision of the party was obligatory for
all its members and if anyone did not agree with the decision of the
majority, he must either leave or face disciplinary actions.

According to results of the elections on May 12, 2007, the Republican
Party of Armenia, obtaining the absolute majority got 65 from 131
mandates. RPA is a member of the ruling coalition together with parties
"Prosperous Armenia", "Dashnaktsutyun" and "Orinats Erkir". RPA is
represented in the government of Armenia by prime minister and five
ministers.

IRAN PRESIDENT DISMISSES NATO ROLE IN CAUCASUS CRISIS

Fars News Agency
Sept 16 2008
Iran

Fars: President [Mahmud Ahmadinezhad] called the strengthening of
international ties between Iran and Armenia as a message of friendship
to the world and said: There is no need for NATO to resolve issues
of international difference between regional countries.

Fars reports from the public information office of the presidency where
this Tuesday afternoon [16 Sep] Mahmud Ahmadinezhad met the Foreign
Minister of Armenia – Edward Nalbandian – and pointed to the profundity
and robustness of relations between the two countries and said: Tehran
and Yerevan’s cooperation can be a blueprint for cordial relations.

The president pointed to the urgency in deepening cultural ties between
the two countries and stressed: In the realm of bilateral relations,
the cultural aspect must be developed more than ever and the cultural
and historical commonalities of the two nations are suitable assets
which can be used in the interests of the two countries.

Stressing that the widening of ties with Armenia is a definite policy
of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmadinezhad said: There are no
obstacles to the deepening of bilateral ties and the regional issues
too have added to the urgency for widening of ties and bilateral
relations.

The president also regarded the development of bilateral relations as
leading to the strengthening of security, peace and friendship in the
region and stressed: The countries of the region can resolve their
differences through cooperation with each other and in this regard
there is no need for NATO’s intervention or the intervention of anyone
else. And of course, experience has shown that their intervention
will only aggravate the situation.

Remarking that in the international arena there are great upheavals
afoot, Ahmadinezhad said: The unipolar world system has now fallen
through, and the effects of this will be felt around the world. To
this end, we have to fight for the establishment of a system on the
basis of which sustainable peace and security can be attained.

He made a reminder that we have to move ahead of global upheaval in
order to safeguard national interests.

The Armenian foreign minister – for his part – called for the
ever-greater widening of bilateral ties in the economic and political
sphere and said: The widening of reciprocal relations can demonstrate
the deep ties between the two nations and can turn into a blueprint
for the region.

Nalbandian pointed to the events in Caucasus and made reassurances
that: What is happening indicates the sensitivity of the region. To
this end, we have to find new alternative paths for the improvement
of bilateral ties.

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION AND LEFT REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2008-09-16 13:15:00

ArmInfo. Speaker of Armenian parliament Tigran Torosyan has tendered
his resignation and left Republican Party of Armenia today morning. The
parliament will discuss resignation application over its next session
on 29 September, if extraordinary sitting of the parliament is not
appointed.

To recall, RPA executive body adopted a decision on 6 September
about inexpediency of Torosyan’s staying at the post of the speaker
of Armenian parliament and approved to the post Hovik Abrahamyan,
the member of the executive body of the RPA, deputy of the Armenian
parliament and former head of the president’s administration.

MOTTAKI: TEHRAN READY TO MEDIATE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN OVER KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.09.2008 14:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Caucasus region has important points for
convergence but developments during the past month caused many problems
for the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said
in a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Edward
Nalbandian, in Tehran Tuesday.

Mottaki added that Iran, as a neighbor to the sensitive region of
the Caucasus, presented a proposal on consultation among regional
countries with the aim of drawing up strategies for cooperation.

Mottaki said that following the directions of Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he made separate visits to Russia, Azerbaijan and
Germany. The minister added that the current visit by the Armenian
foreign minister to Tehran is a ‘good opportunity’ to complete the
chain of talks.

"Iran and Armenia share common concerns and stances on regional
developments," Mottaki said.

Mottaki also expressed Iran’s readiness to mediate between neighboring
Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Karabakh issue.

For his part, Edward Nalbandian said that Tehran and Yerevan enjoy
the same position on the conflict in Georgia.

The Armenian minister noted that Iran has very interesting ideas
and proposals, adding Yerevan would keep talking with Tehran about
regional security and stability, PRESS TV reports.

Interfax, Russia
Sept 12 2008

CSTO to pay "very serious attention" to military component – Bordyuzha

MOSCOW Sept 12

The military component of CSTO (Collective Security Treaty
Organization) activity will be enhanced, CSTO Secretary General
Nikolai Bordyuzha told a news conference at Interfax on Friday.

"We are moving the direction of transforming the CSTO from a
military-political bloc into a multipurpose international structure
capable of reacting to all types of challenges, which was outlined
several years ago. Secondly, very serious attention will be paid to
the military component," Bordyuzha said.

A number of crucial decisions on the further development of the
organization were made at a recent CSTO session in Yerevan, he said,
adding that in particular it was decided to accelerate military
cooperation between the member states.

"In fact, it was acknowledged that the decision made in Yerevan will
add great dynamism to the processes of creating bilateral groups of
armed forces: Russian-Belarusian and Russian-Armenian, as well as the
Collective Rapid Deployment Forces in the Central Asian region. The
creation of joint regional air defense systems of the CSTO member
states, as well as communication and military group command systems
will speed up as well, he added.

The CSTO consists of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER PARTICIPATED IN PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
2008-09-11 15:33

On September 10, a round table on "Situation in the South Caucasus, the
prospects of international recognition of the NKR", with participation
of the NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian, took place in the
National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced to the debates
participants – the heads of parliamentary and extraparliamentary
political forces – an analysis on situation in the region, carried
out by the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The analysis of the situation testifies to serious and rapid dynamics
of the processes taking place in our region, and in this respect,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the society on the whole, are
charged with the duty to retrace these processes and respond to them
in proper time", – Georgy Petrossian told the journalists at the
briefing on the debates results.

The Minister also noted that people must be aware of the positions
of the republic’s political forces and participate in similar debates.

ARMENIA ACCEDES TO CONVENTION FOR PROTECTION OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF EUROPE

ARKA
Sep 12, 2008

YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. At its sitting on Thursday the RA
Constitutional Court confirmed the constitutionality of the Convention
for the Protection of Architectural Heritage of Europe.

The Convention was signed in Granada on October 3, 1985, and took
effect on December 1, 1987. According to the latest information,
among the signatories are Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal,
Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, France, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Switzerland and Sweden.

RA Permanent Representative in the EU Christian Ter-Stepanyan signed
the Convention on behalf of Armenia on May 17, 2007.

The signatories are obliged to take necessary measures to protect
architectural heritage. Relevant laws entitle government bodies to
demand that owners of architectural heritage carry out necessary
renovation work or, in case owners are unable to meet the demand,
purchase the government-protected property.

The Convention also provides for sanctions for violations.