Author: Harutyunian Christine

LEGENDARY FRENCH ELECTRONIC BAND ‘SPACE’ TO GIVE YEREVAN CONCERT

Tert
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

On October 30, legendary French band Space’s sole Yerevan concert will
take place at Karen Demirchyan Sport-Concert Complex. The concert was
organized on the 8th anniversary of Unibank. As the group’s founder
Didier Marouani stated during a press conference, favourite hits from
Magic Fly (1977) and Just Blue (1978), as well as new works will be
performed at the concert. Space’s concert show is known by its laser
and light effects. The musician also said that Jivan Gasparyan will
be the concert’s honourable guest.

"It is an honour for us to give a concert with Jivan on the same
stage," said Marouani. Space’s music was well known in the Soviet
Union, and so in 1983, they held numerous concerts in former Soviet
Union cities, most notably in Moscow’s Red Square.

AZERBAIJAN’S SHORT-SIGHTED APPROACH MUST RECEIVE ADEQUATE ASSESSMENT FROM EUROPE, SAYS ARMENIA’S MFA

Tert
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

"The European Union has certain potential to promote cooperation among
countries in the South Caucasus and can support the establishment of
stability and solidarity in the region. Regretfully, not everyone
shares the pan-European approach of establishing an environment of
regional cooperation and mutual trust. Still back in the preparatory
stages of the Eastern Partnership Project, as well as during its first
actual meetings, Azerbaijan adopted a position of excluding cooperation
with Armenia within the frames of the initiative. I believe this is
a short-sighted approach, which must receive an adequate assessment
from our European partners," said Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian during the "Eastern Partnershp:
Next Step in European Integration" conference.

Continuing, the Armenian foreign minister said that after centuries-old
conflicts and rivalry among neighbouring states, European peoples
decided to combine their dream, will and resoluteness in order to
live and build their future peacefully, safely, freely, prosperously,
and based on mutual values.

"Armenia today is guided by the same vision. And being guided by that
vision, Armenia believes that, in our region, finally universal values
will be established: bringing people closer not only to each other,
but also to Europe," said Nalbandian.

EU SAYS WILL DEVELOP PARTNERSHIP WITH ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA

Interfax
Oct 27 2009
Russia

The European Union intends to continue developing partnership with
the three countries of the Southern Caucasus and is assisting in
the cooperation between them within the framework of the Eastern
Partnership policies, a communique issued after the meeting between
the EU Troika and the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia,
and Georgia says.

The Council of Foreign Ministers of the EU Countries met on Monday.

Among the meeting participants were the foreign ministers of the three
countries, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (who represents Sweden,
which currently chairs the EU) European Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Xavier Solana.

On the same day, the EU-Armenia Cooperation Council and the EU-
Georgia Cooperation Council met at the level of foreign ministers.

Reports released after these meetings state that the EU has discussed
with Armenia and Georgia the prospects of negotiations on the new
"association" agreements.

The EU promised to provide political and technical support to the
process of full normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey
and hailed the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which "has
helped narrow the differences" on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The EU has reconfirmed its commitment to support the development of
democratic institutions in Georgia.

The EU-Georgia Cooperation Council also addressed the role of the EU
in settling the conflict in Georgia through the presence of the EU
observer mission there, the EU involvement in the Geneva talks, its
financial assistance to the Georgian regions hurt in the conflict,
assistance to displaced persons, and economic stabilization.

The EU has also reconfirmed its commitment to support the security and
stability of Georgia on the basis of full respect of the principles
of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and also
peaceful and long-term conflict settlement.

ARMENIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY DEMANDS MEMORANDUM ADDENDUM TO THE PROTOCOLS

Tert
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

"We are against ratification of the Protocols with the presented
contents by the Republic of Armenia National Assembly," Leader of
Armenian Democratic Party Aram Sargsyan stated today and added that
some parts of the contents of the signed documents prove that the
Protocols are unfavourable.

According to Sargsyan, the establishment process of Armenian-Turkish
relations was not realized during the presidencies of the former
two presidents not because Ter-Petrosian and Kocharian didn’t want
Armenian-Turkish relations, but because normalization of relations
is only now part of Turkey’s political interests. Sargsyan stated
that the Armenian side, thinking that Turkey would give up signing
of the Protocols, made unprecedented concessions.

The party leader made a statement demanding attaching a Memorandum to
the Protocols ratification. "Concerned with this perspective and aiming
to insure us against the prospect of an incorrect political move, we
demand that the Armenian National Assembly adopt a special Memorandum,
in which it will enumerate those unresolved historical issues and
fair claims which are the not-overcome consequences of the Genocide
and which remain on the agenda of the Republic of Armenia’s foreign
policy as indisputable issues," the party demands with its statement.

Aram Sargsyan noted that they have sent their statement to the National
Assembly for discussion.

REGULAR STAGE OF POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND KUWAIT TAKES PLACE

Noyan Tapan
Oct 26, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. A regular stage of Armenian-Kuwaiti
political consultations was launched with the meeting of Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian and Kuwait’s Foreign
Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah at the Foreign Ministry of Kuwait
on October 26.

According to a report of the RA MFA, the sides discussed the
preparations for the upcoming visit of Armenian President to the
State of Kuwait, the documents to be signed, and issues related to the
further development of bilateral relations. They attached importance
to the signing of economic agreements for the promotion of trade and
economic links.

Arman Kirakosian presented Armenia’s policy with respect to
the neighboring countries, in particular the current stage of
Armenian-Turkish relations, the latest developments regarding the
Karabakh problem settlement, and issues of regional interest. The
Kuwaiti side expressed a high opinion about Armenia’s policy on
normalization of its relations with neighboring countries.

K. Al-Jarallah spoke about cooperation with neighboring countries,
particularly Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. He touched upon the
priorities of Kuwait’s foreign policy, as well as the policy conducted
within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

‘IF WE COME TO POWER, WE WILL TEAR THESE PROTOCOLS APART,’ SAYS TURKEY’S OPPOSITION

Tert
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

To alleviate the tensions between Azerbaijan and Turkey over the
so-called flag crisis, which erupted a week ago, Istanbul Aydın
University and the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Istanbul held a
conference on Thursday at the university to discuss a solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, reports Turkish news source Today’s Zaman.

Speaking during the first session of the conference, Justice and
Development (AK) Party deputy Mustafa Kabakcı said there may be small
misunderstandings and conflicts between two countries but they should
not become permanent problems.

"There needs to be definite, concrete actions and steps taken to expand
security and trust in the region. We have discussed these protocols
[on the normalization of relations and the establishment of diplomatic
ties between Turkey and Armenia] with the parliament speaker and the
prime minister. We have decided not to approve the protocols if there
is no development noted in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue," he said.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur Oymen said
they have done their best to promote peace and security in the South
Caucasus. "The region is not safe today. We saw wars in Georgia last
year, and the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is too fragile, there might be
wars in the region again," he said.

Criticizing the ruling AK Party over the protocols signed with Armenia,
Oymen said the protocols and the normalization of relations with
Armenia is the project of David Phillips, a senior analyst at the
Atlantic Council think tank in the United States.

He also said the protocols include neither a resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a condition for opening the
Armenian-Turkish border nor the Kars Treaty. "If we come to power,
we will tear these protocols [apart]," Oymen stated.

ARA PAPIAN SENDS AN OPEN LETTER TO TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2009 13:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The historian, diplomat and the head of the Modus
Vivendi Center Ara Papian , has sent an open letter to the Turkish
foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in which he criticized the recent
statement of the Turkish foreign minister in the Turkish Parliament.

According to Ara Papian, Ahmet Davutoglu by his statements in the
Turkish Parliament tries to pass the desirable for reality.

Mr. Papian paid particular attention to the statements regarding
the recognition of existing borders between Turkey and Armenia,
saying that the only international document by which the border may
be recognized – is an arbitral award of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson,
adopted November 22, 1920.

He also noted that Armenia cannot recognize the current
Armenian-Turkish border by the Treaty of Kars, since in the time f
signing of this document the Republic of Armenia did not exist.

"It’s amazing that you are talking about "occupation", when your
country has occupied 37 per cent of the territory of Cyprus and for
already nine decades occupied three-quarters of my country," Ara Papian
said in his address. "Armenia is ready to cooperate, but Turkey will
achieve nothing through its pressure," Ara Papian emphasized.

ARMENIA WILL BECAME A MODEL COUNTRY OF CUSTOMS REFORMS

Aysor
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

"We want to turn Armenia into a model country of customs reforms,"
said at press-conference WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya who is
paying his first two-day working visit to Armenia.

According to Mr. Mikuriya, both World Customs Organization (WCO)
and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have praised Armenian
strategic reforming programs in customs. In IFC 2009 "Doing Business"
report Armenia has improved its standing in the world customs rankings
and rose by 34 positions. Mr. Mikuriya said Armenia moves towards
international customs standards with its emphasis of active use of
informational technology.

"I came here to Armenia to review reforming and to see how we can
contribute to its development," said WCO Secretary General.

Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, Gagik Khachatryan, in his
part, said that the strategic reforming programs were carried out
within a joint "Columbus" project aimed at assessment of the capacity
of customs-houses in different countries over the world.

According to him, within this two-year program there were implemented
provisions which don’t require financial injections.

"AYB 2009" TEAM OF ARMENIAN SCHOOLCHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE OCTOBER 22-29 IN ALL-UKRAINIAN TEAM COMPETITION OF CHEMISTS

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 22, 2009
STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 22, ARMENPRESS: "Ayb 2009" team of Armenian
schoolchildren will participate October 22-29 in Ukraine in
All-Ukrainian team competition of chemists. Representatives of Ukraine
and CIS countries will participate in the event solving difficult
assignments, discovering scientific novelties. "Ayb 2009" includes
6 pupils.

An official from "Ayb" educational foundation told Armenpress that
the participation of Armenian pupils in the event is invaluable from
the viewpoint of development of educational and scientific spheres,
establishment of new international ties.

KARABAKH LIBERATION ORGANIZATION ATTEMPTS PROTEST AGAINST ARMENIAN DIPLOMAT’S BAKU VISIT

Tert
Oct 22 2009
Armenia

Azerbaijani Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) made an attempt
today to organize a protest action against Armenian deputy foreign
minister’s visit to Baku.

As reported by Azerbaijani news source Trend News, KLO members
organized a protest action near the building where a Council of
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) meeting was taking place, in which the Armenian
deputy foreign minister was participating.

The police dispersed the participants in the demonstration and the
organization’s chair Akif Nagi was arrested.