Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

Azerbaijan threatens force over Nagorno-Karabakh
(AP)
21/11/09

BAKU, Azerbaijan – President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan said Saturday
his nation may resort to military force if talks with Armenia on
resolving a long-standing territorial dispute produce no result.

Aliyev said he expects to hold talks next week with his Armenian
counterpart, Serge Sarkisian, on resolving the dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh. "If that meeting fails to produce result, our hopes
for negotiations will vanish," Aliyev said during a meeting with
Azerbaijani refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The mountainous region is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been under
control of Armenian troops and ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994
cease-fire ended six years of war that killed about 30,000 people and
displaced 1 million. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute have
failed.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan wants a peaceful settlement, but won’t wait
indefinitely. "We have the right to free our land using military
force," he said.

There was no immediate comment from Armenia’s government.

Aliyev repeatedly has made similar threats in the past. His latest
statement could be aimed at encouraging Azerbaijanis, who are
concerned that Turkey’s move last month to normalize ties with Armenia
could ruin hopes for regaining control over Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey
has assured its ally Azerbaijan that it would continue supporting it
in the dispute.

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2009

European Azerbaijanis Congress and Coordination Council of
Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organizations hold joint meeting in
Frankfurt

[ 21 Nov 2009 11:10 ]

Frankfurt ` APA. European Azerbaijanis Congress and Coordination
Council of Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organizations hold a joint
meeting in Frankfurt, Germany on Saturday.

The State Committee for Diaspora Activities took into consideration
addressed of the European Azerbaijanis Congress and Turkish
communities in the different countries and put forward an initiative
to hold such meeting. The addresses said important events in the
region in 2009, particularly signing of protocols between Turkey and
Armenia on October 10 about the establishing of diplomatic relations
between the two countries and development of bilateral relations
caused serious concerns and protests of Azerbaijani and Turkish
Diaspora organizations. They univocally stressed that the opening of
Turkish-Armenian borders without solution to Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno Karabakh conflict is unacceptable and they support
Azerbaijan’s position on this issue.

The State Committee considers it necessary to express the position of
Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas in large scale. Vice Speaker of the
Azerbaijani parliament Bahar Muradova, chief of the public policy
department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov, chairman of
the State Committee for Diaspora Activities Nazim Ibrahimov, members
of the parliament, scientists, intellectuals, as well as members of
the European Azerbaijanis Congress and Coordination Council of
Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organizations participate at the meeting.

The meeting of European Azerbaijanis Congress and Coordination Council
of Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organizations will consist of three
panels: `Azerbaijan-Turkey: common history, common interests and
common problems’, `Integration of Azerbaijan and Turkey into the
globalized world: realities, problems and prospects’ and `Contemporary
development level and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijani and
Turkish Diaspora organizations’.

European Azerbaijani Information Center will be presented at the
meeting. The center will enhance propaganda opportunities of European
Azerbaijani Diaspora. It will provide Europe with information about
history and today’s realities of our country. It will contribute to
the strengthening of solidarity between the Azerbaijanis abroad and
will be important bridge between them and Azerbaijani community.
Initiative Group of the Union of European Azerbaijani Women
Organizations will be established at the meeting.

ARNO BABAJANYAN CONCERT HALL TO HOST PREMIUM PRESENTATION OF "KANON" ON NOV. 23

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.11.2009 15:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 23, Arno Babajanyan concert hall will
host the premium presentation of "Kanon" film. This is the third
motion picture from "Armenian Musical Instruments" series. The other
two films screened previously were "Duduk" and "Kamancha".

The author and producer of the project is Rita Shakroyan, Head of
Hay-art Cultural Center; the stage director is Armen Ronov. People’s
artist Angela Atabekyan tells about the features of the string
instrument.

"The film tells about Armenian people’s role in spreading the
instrument and prolonging its life to the present day," Rita Sharoyan
told PanARMENIAN.Net.

JAGLAND WELCOMES ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION

news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia

Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe welcomed
Armenia-Turkey reconciliation, expressing hope that it will enable
to resolve Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani APA news agency reports.

Speaking at the press conference after Switzerland took over from
Slovenia as Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Jagland underlined
that if Turkey and Armenia need assistance the Council of Europe is
ready to help.

"We have not been appealed concerning this issue yet. Both countries
are members of the Council of Europe and the only fact is important for
both countries and the process I have just mentioned," stated Jagland.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN TO CARRY OUT WORKING VISIT TO YALTA ON NOVEMBER 20

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.11.2009 16:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 20, Premier Tigran Sargsyan will carry
out a working visit to Yalta to participate in the regular session
of CIS Government leaders, RA Government’s press service reports.

Armenian delegation consists of Head of Government Staff David
Sargsyan, Deputy FM Shavarsh Kocharyan, RA Ambassador to Belarus
Oleg Yesayan, RA Ambassador to Ukraine Armen Khachatryan and other
officials.

LABOR FAIR TO BE CONDUCTED IN DECEMBER IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 18, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: A labor fair will be conducted in
December in Yerevan by the "International Center for Agro-Business
Research and Education" Foundation and "Center of Getting Fixed in
the Job and Consultation".

Director of the center Lusine Mnatsakanyan said that according to
initial information 30 employers, mainly of production companies, state
institutions and banks’ representatives will participate in the fair.

"Labor fairs create very good opportunities for establishing ties
between an employer and job seeker. We are organizing such labor fairs
for already 5th time, keep in touch with employers who participated
in the fair. Summing up the last year’s results we may say that there
are satisfactory," L. Mnatsakanyan said.

RA MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL ISSUES GEVORG PETROSIAN SUBMITS APPLICATION ON RESIGNATION

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 18, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Due to health problems, RA Minister
of Labor and Social Issues, Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia)
party Political Board member Gevorg Petrosian submitted an application
on resignation. The Minister informed journalists about it on November
18, responding to rumors on his coming resignation.

It should be mentioned that G. Petrosian had been appointed to that
post by BH’s quote. As BH member Naira Zohrabian reported, at party
Chairman Gagik Tsarukian’s suggestion the probable candidate to be
nominated for Minister’s post is Chairman of NA Standing Committee
on Human Rights and Public Affairs, BH member Mkhitar Mnatsakanian,
who had been elected deputy by the proportional system, from the BH
electoral roll. If being appointed Minister his deputy powers will
be stopped ahead of schedule. According to the Electoral Code, the
vacant mandate will be passed to the next candidate on the electoral
roll. At the moment the next candidate is head of party’s youth
structure Vahe Enfiajian.

N. Zohrabian also spoke about rumors on BH members’ putting down
their mandates in Yerevan Council of Elders mentioning that there is
no such problem in the party at present.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN AND HANS GUNAR ADEN DISCUSS ISSUES ON ARMENIA-SWEDEN BILATERAL COOPERATION

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Secretary of the National Security
Council Arthur Baghdasaryan received today Swedish ambassador to
Armenia Hans Gunar Aden.

Spokeswoman of the National Security Council told Armenpress
that during the meeting the sides discussed a number of issues on
Armenia-Sweden bilateral cooperation. Arthur Baghdasaryan highlighted
the importance of development of Armenian-Swedish cooperation both
in bilateral format and within the framework of the international
establishments.

The interlocutors also exchanged thoughts over the Armenian-Turkish
relations and Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation process.

ARMENIA NEEDS $600 MILLION TO PROTECT VINEYARDS FROM PHYLLOXERA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 16:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia needs $600 million to combat phylloxera
and preserve vineyards, Head of wine-makers’ Union Avag Harutyunyan
told today a news conference in Yerevan. At that he noted that one
of vineyards in Armenia is infected with phylloxera, but the process
has been at active stage for the past 3-4 years. "To avoid losses
Armenia will need $600 million for restoring vineyards, and that will
be achieved in 5 years," he said.

According to Harutyunyan, Armenia will never have the sum, let alone
that 99% of vineyards belong to rural population who don’t have
enough means. "Thus, Armenia faces the threat of total destruction
of vineyards," he added.

Phylloxera (Viteus vitifolii) is a greenfly originally native
to America. It had no significance there, however, penetrating
to Europe it changed its biology, becoming an extremely dangerous
vermin. First appearing in France, a country taking pride in its wine
making industry, phylloxera caused major harm to its economy. Later,
it spread to the east. Over the 30 years of its existence, the vermin
has destroyed vineyards with a total area of 6 million hectares.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS WRAPS UP HIS VISIT TO SYRIA

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 16, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: President of Syria Bashar al Assad
received November 15 the delegation headed by the Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II.

Armenian Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department told
Armenpress that during the meeting the sides referred to the
Armenian-Syrian ancient-long historic-cultural ties, developing
relations, deepening of cooperation.

The Syrian president particularly highlighted the role and importance
of the Armenian community in Syria and the efforts of the Armenians
in the development of country’s economy and social life.

On his part His Holiness thanked the Syrian president for the warm
attitude toward Armenian community. At the same time the Catholicos
highly assessed the position of President Assad toward the ethnic
religious minorities, noting that Syria as a country and state may
serve as an example of religious tolerance and public reconciliation.

During the meeting the sides also discussed regional issues. A special
refer was made to the normalization process of Armenian-Turkish
relations.