Author: Harutyunian Christine

Tert.am

Russian Companies Investing in Armenia-Iran Railway Construction
14:52 ¢ 26.09.09

Russian companies `Russian Railway Project’ and `Foreign Construction
Technologies’ will participate in the construction of the new
Armenia-Iran railway, announced the Government of Armenia press
office.

The railway link between Iran and Armenia plans for 80-km-long, newly
constructed lines in the northwestern part of Iran. According to
preliminary assessment, the construction will cost around 2 billion
USD.

APA

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister holds meetings in US
[ 25 Sep 2009 11:13 ]

Baku. Lachin Sultanova ` APA. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov met with heads of Jewish organizations in the United
States, Foreign Ministry’s press service told APA that the
representatives of the Jewish organizations expressed their
satisfaction with the high tolerance of Azerbaijan.
Elmar Mammadyarov said the model of tolerance such as friendly
coexistence of the representatives of various religions and nations is
the main wealth of Azerbaijan, Jews historically lived in Azerbaijan
in peace. They discussed regional issues, settlement of
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Azerbaijan’s views on regional and global
processes.
The Minister met with Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs (the Swiss Foreign Minister). They
discussed present state and prospects of the relations between the two
countries, regional energy projects and Micheline Calmy-Rey noted
Azerbaijan’s important role in the energy supply of Europe. The sides
also discussed regional security. Elmar Mammadyarov said it is
impossible to establish peace and security in the region before
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict is solved.
Elmar Mammadyarov met with Secretary General of the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. The sides appreciated
Azerbaijan ` OIC cooperation and exchanged views on the prospects of
the cooperation. Ihsanoglu expressed his satisfaction with the
cooperation between Azerbaijan and OIC and praised Azerbaijan’s role
in promoting dialogue among civilizations.
Mammadyarov met with Foreign Minister of Lebanon Fawzi Salloukh. The
ministers discussed cooperation between the two countries, development
of the relations, situation in the Near East and South Caucasus and
other issues of mutual interest. Elmar Mammadyarov gave information
about Azerbaijan’s position on the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict and said it is impossible to maintain peace and security
jani Foreign Minister also met with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan
Kanat Saudabayev. The foreign ministers discussed present state and
prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, planned
high-level visits, cooperation within international organizations and
regional security.

Sitting of NATO Special Committee to be held in Yerevan

2009-09-25 16:23:00

ArmInfo. Sitting of NATO Special Committee will be held in Yerevan on
September 28-30. The sitting will be dedicated to the issues of fight
against terrorism, extremism, illegal migration and its relation to the
organized crime.

As press center of the National Security Service of Armenia reports, 32
representatives from 21 countries will take part in the sitting
organized by NSS of Armenia and NATO Special Committee. Representatives
of the Defense Ministry, Police, Foreign Ministry, Ministry of
Emergency Situations and Security Council of Armenia have been invited
for participation in the sitting.

U.S. CONGRESSMEN ASK COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Tert.am
25.09.2009

U.S. congressmen supported on Wednesday the normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relations.Three congressmen who are the members of
the Congressional Caucus on Turkey sent a letter to other members
of the U.S. House of Representatives, supporting the rapprochement
between Turkey and Armenia, reports the Anatolian News Agency.

In their letter, U.S. congressmen Robert Wexler, Edward Whitfield
and Kay Granger supported the August 31 joint declaration of Turkey,
Armenia and Switzerland and the normalization process between Turkey
and Armenia.

The three congressmen called on their other colleagues to support
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, and said the trilateral
declaration made by the governments of Turkey, Armenia and Switzerland
on August 31 made public two protocols and a schedule to normalize
relations.

In their letter, Wexler, Whitfield and Granger said as far as they
were concerned, Turkish and Armenian leaders would most probably meet
in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The U.S. congressmen hoped this meeting would bring the two countries
closer to each other, and lay the groundwork for a planned visit
of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Turkey to watch a World Cup
qualifier on October 14.

Therefore, they said in their letter, they were encouraging Turkish and
Armenian governments and parliaments to progress on the rapprochement
process, with the support of the Swiss government, and to build a
better future for Turkey, Armenia and the entire South Caucasus.

AGANBEKIAN: ARMENIA CAN BE ENERGY LEADER IN REGION

/ARKA/
September 23, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Armenia can become a regional leader
in energy sector, academician of Russian Academy of Sciences Abel
Aganbekian said.

Energy is a key point of Armenian economic efficiency, the academician
said Tuesday at a round-table discussion on main issues of Armenian
energy security.

Armenia has energy overproduction and can become a center of control
of peak energy loads in the region, Aganbekian said.

Energy surplus can be exported to neighboring regions and countries,
including Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Georgia for additional hundreds of
millions of dollars every year. For this, energy production needs to
be developed at a high level in the country through cheaper production
methods and reduced fuel costs for generation, Aganbekian said.

"It should be done in a balanced manner so that development of domestic
energy needs for a number of power-intensive industries in the country
is considered," he said.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, a total of
3,268.5 million kilowatt-hour energy was produced in Armenia in
January-July.

PARLIAMENTARIAN MAJORITY SPEAKS IN SUPPORT OF PROTOCOLS

Panorama.am
17:07 22/09/2009

The secretary of National Assembly Republican fraction Edward
Sharmazanov confirmed in today’s news conference the party’s
disposition that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties should
be held without any preconditions.

"It’s quite obvious for us that the issues of Armenian Genocide and
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can not be considered in Armenian-Turkish
ties," Mr. Sharmazanov declared.

Once again quoting Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan’s
statement at NA, fraction’s secretary said that there would not be
any changes in the protocols. According to him there are pros and
cons both in Armenia and Turkey.

"That’s why the issue will be discussed at parliaments of both states
and it will be defined how to quote after the hearings. But, in any
case, any recommendation is important," he said.

Mr. Sharmazanov says he is aware of the recommendations present by
his ARF colleagues concerning the protocols, and he says they stress
that Armenian Genocide and NKR conflict resolution should not become
matters of discussion.

It’s worth mentioning that the presigned Armenian-Turkish protocols
should be voted in the parliament. Is it to suppose that the protocols
will be ratified if the majority of the parliament is the Republicans?

"All the Republicans have one general disposition for this matter:
the document in this format is about establishing diplomatic ties
with Turkey. President Sargsyan resumed this very process a year ago
and we advance it. If Turkish side also expresses similar political
will than we expect successes."

If the document is put on discussion table without any changes in it,
then what is the sense to organize hearings? The Republican Deputy
said: "It’s possible that the opinion of Republican Party is more
convincing and has definite impact on others."

THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL WILL BE SMALL BUT LUXURIOUS

Aysor
Sept 22 2009
Armenia

"This year’s festival will be small but it doesn’t mean it will be
bad. The fest will be as luxurious as before," said International
theatre festival’s chairman Arthur Gukasyan at press-conference.

Note that the 7th theatre festival "Hay fest" will be held October
1-8. It will be attended by about 33 theater companies from 22
countries, including the UK, USA, Russia, Canada, Slovenia, Poland,
Israel, France, Georgia, and Iran. Within the framework of the fest
more than 50 plays will be performed on 16 stages.

Financial and economic crisis caused the participants’ reducing,
explained Mr. Gukasyan. He noticed that some theatre companies despite
the prior agreements couldn’t attend the city so as the transport
charges were not paid by their countries’ ministries of culture.

Mr. Gukasyan announced that the fest opening ceremony will consist of
two parts. At 8 pm Armenian theatre fans will have an opportunity to
partake in festival opening at Charles Aznavour Square. Then Bulgaria’s
Kredo theatre will perform "the overcoat" on State Academic Theatre
aft. G.Sundukyan’s stage.

Within this year’s festival’s framework there will also take place
seminars on "Developing the art of stage scenery in the South Caucasus
and Central Asia", master classes and exhibitions. This project is
supported by the network culture and art program of Open Society
Institute.

In addition, there will be held open reading of modern Armenian drama.

To find festival news go to "Hay Fest Dairy-2009" on "Ararat" channel,
which will be thrice a week.

ARMEN RUSTAMIAN: INDEPENDENCE IS OUR TOP VALUE

Yerkir
21.09.2009 17:17
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – The independence is our top value, and the nation
cannot be viable, Armen Rustamian, ARF Supreme Body of Armenia
representative, has told Yerkir when commenting on the Day of
Independence, marked on September 21.

"We are in a stage that we have to protect our independence. We have
to show today that we are independent enough to be the masters of
our own fate.

We should not yield before the dictate, which today, is hidden in the
protocols," Rustamian said. "We will start losing our independence
as soon as we ratify the protocols. We need to understand that we
are facing a serious test today, and by uniting only the people can
maintain their indpendence."

TURKEY TO DISCUSS IN NEW-YORK FOUR MAIN ISSUES REGARDING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

ArmInfo
2009-09-21 16:11:00

ArmInfo. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister
Ahmad Davutoglu are going to discuss four main issues regarding the
Armenian-Turkish relations and Karabakh settlement over their meetings
within the frames of UN General Assembly in New York.

As the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper says, the first issue is connected
with the OSCE Minsk Group. The trilateral meeting of representatives
of Armenia, Turkey and azerbaijan is not foreseen in New York. But
Turkey hopes that an important step will be made in New York in the
matter of liberation if the .

After getting of such a signal Ankara will give a positive reply for
holding of the trilateral meeting in New York.

the second issue is connected with the Armenian-Turkish protocols
which should be signed not late than 12 October by foreign ministers
of Armenia and Turkey in Bern.

The third issue is connected with the visit of the Armenian president
to Turkey. Ankara thinks that is both parties demonstrate resoluteness,
no obstacle for Serzh Sargsyan’s visiting Turkey will remain.

The last issue is connected with setting up of the commission of
historians which will consist not only of Armenian and Turkish
historians but also American, French, English and Swiss and
representatives of intelligentsia.

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Sept 19 2009

The Nagorno-Karabakh peace process has reached a point where Serzh
Sargsyan has not way back: opposition leader

19 September 2009 [11:58] – Today.Az

The Nagorno-Karabakh peace process has reached a point where President
Serzh Sargsyan has not way back, the leader of the Armenian National
Movement Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated at a rally organized by the
opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) on Sept. 18.

The primary reason for this conclusion is an unprecedented statement
made by the Presidents Barack Obama, Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas
Sarkozy on July 10. They actually stated their personal involvement in
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process thereby enhancing their countries’
role in the process.

`It is normally typical of the final stages of peace processes, which
means that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not `far
off’,’ Ter-Petrosyan said.

The opposition leader rejected official Yerevan’s statements as false.

He said the settlement plan does not contain any international
guarantees of security for Nagorno-Karabakh, of land communication
with Armenia or the exercise of the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to
self-determination.

`The lack of these essential components means that the Madrid
Principles, which were initially designed as a settlement package,
turned into a phased settlement plan. That is, the Armenian
authorities eventually returned to a plan they rejected as a defeatist
one ten years ago. But they have no courage to admit the fact,’
Ter-Petrosyan said.

/News.am/

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