Author: Kafian Jirair

U.S. THREW ITS WEIGHT BEHIND THE DEAL: U.S. EXPERTS

news.am
Feb 5 2010
Armenia

U.S. "threw its weight behind the deal", reads the article by
U.S. scholars — Henri J. Barkey and Thomas de Waal published in The
Los Angeles Times, commenting on recent developments in Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation process and present deadlock in the talks.

The authors reckon that first Armenia-Turkey accord looked like
"the start of a great reconciliation", mentioning that last month
Turkey "showed signs of having cold feet." The daily calls Turkey’s
criticism against RA Constitutional Court’s judgment another method to
"put the brakes on the process."

Looks like the country makes attempts to backtrack as it faced
resistance from local opposition and its ally Azerbaijan. However,
the authors deem that Armenia’s significant concessions over Karabakh
issue would be a political suicide for President Serzh Sargsyan.

The experts find that failure in talks might bring to destructive
chain of events. U.S. can move forward with Genocide resolution and
Karabakh peace process would be hit hard.

TURKISH MINISTER NOTES IMPORTANCE OF NORMALIZATION PROCESS WITH ARMENIA

Anadolu Agency
Jan 29 2010
Turkey

London, 29 January: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
[on] Friday [29 January] the normalization process between Turkey
and Armenia should not be hurt.

Speaking at a press conference in London, Davutoglu stressed that the
continuation of the process between Turkey and Armenia was important
for Turkey.

For this reason, we will do all that we can. We will not pay attention
to any criticisms for a thing that we believe we are doing right,
Davutoglu stressed.

Reminding reporters that he met with his Armenian counterpart
on Thursday within the framework on a conference on Afghanistan,
Davutoglu said that Edvard Nalbandyan and he exchanged views.

Nalbandyan and I shared the concerns we felt, Davutoglu said.

Answering a question on the Armenian Constitutional Court’s recent
decision on the protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia, Davutoglu said
that Turkey believed that the process with Armenia would not progress
right with comments that were against the spirit and substance of
the signed protocols.

We have respect for the (domestic) system of every country. The
protocols’ going to the Armenian Constitutional Court is an internal
process of Armenia. What we are careful about is that the protocols
signed do not get changed, Davutoglu stressed.

Turkish-Armenian relations passed through very difficult stages and
we have come to a point today. After having gone through a difficult
process, the normalization process reached should not be hurt. Yet
in order for normalization to be implemented, mutual good will and
political will must be displayed. We had a very open meeting with
Mr Nalbandyan on Thursday. The Armenian side knows our thoughts,
Davutoglu added.

ARMENIA CAN CHOOSE

Lragir.am
3/02/10

Arsen Kharatyan, orientalist, journalist of the Armenian service of
the Voice of America

You have not been to Armenia for two years. What has changed now?

It is very difficult to have ideas on the issues inside the country
when you are out of it. Now I am judging by Armenia by electronic media
only. In other words, I see that our fundamental problems deepened
even more. The authoritarian regime seems to be enhancing and deepening
here. Since the government came to power though blood, it is ready to
do everything and anything possible to keep the power. After March 1,
I understood that the power does not have any resource to speak to the
nation, to communicate with it as the power shot to its citizens. And
the nation does not have any other ways of struggle, it has already
tried all the possible ways and now people are exhausted and do not
believe that anything may be changed and so they again leave the
country or stay here feeling humiliated.

Two years ago, you were one of the activists of the opposition. Do
you see the same opposition today?

Of course, we have always had opposition. The point is whether this
opposition is ideological. I think it is not. The opposition has
been gradually exhausting during these two years by both internal and
external reasons. Saying external I mean that the government worked
very constantly to make the opposition weaker. As to its internal
exhaustion, it is due to the lack of essential ideological difference.

Just from the beginning, the opposition did not say that it has come
to propose another political system, socialistic or something else.

The opposition used to dwell on the illegalities and lack of moral in
the country. But in essence, it did not have any conceptual difference,
say about how the country is to be governed.

What projects and suggestions are needed in Armenia? Will the HAK
manage to overcome the current situation with its new proposals?

Now, I do not have any proposal that will surely be good for Armenia
but I think Armenia needs to choose a separate way starting propagating
original logic in the region.

What to do? There is a hard-fulfilled version. We need to make peace
the aim of the future for which we strive. In addition, peace from
the point of our relations with the world and people. In other words,
we need to reach the situation when people and countries accept
"constitutions of peace". I would like to stress that for our region
full of wars and nationalism what I propose is unlikely. I hope this
will sooner or later be the prospect of development and I think we
need at least to discuss as a country as a nation, as separate persons
the possibility of constitution of peace.

What do you mean by saying constitution of peace?

Which is the most important element of the common conscience of our
nation? Is it the fight with the Turks? The Armenian and Azerbaijani
war? Or maybe something else. Many people are possible not to agree
with me, but I think for the greater part of the Armenian nation, the
war with Azerbaijan is a past phase. At the same time, for Azeris,
the main element is their hatred towards Armenians. In this logic,
we will continue being nations with generations hating each other. To
great extent, this cannot lead to anything good. I think, if we find
enough force to communicate with any country proceeding from the point
how much it respects peace as a supreme value and aim, we will reach
the situation when the discourse will be on a completely other level.

As a starting point, we can take the UN declarations on which today’s
world is said to be based then to try to promote reinforced ideas.

With all this, I have to say that I do not have any proposal radically
different from the socio-state point.

Is the HAK able to present new ideas to the society?

The success of the HAK is the following: it has to be able to work
even in case of the lack of any leader. And if the existence of
this structure is to be determined by separate persons, it will be
difficult. Of course we have the example of India and Gandhi, who
managed to free India: here everything depended on one person. We
have the example of Nelson Mandela who brought the most progressive
constitution for his country. We have Martin Luther King at the cost
of whose life, Obama became president today. I think the success
of these people in their fights for social changes is determined by
their readiness to sacrifice themselves.

Interview By Siranuysh Papyan

ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION: AZERBAIJAN’S STATEMENTS THAT ARMENIA POLLUTES THE RIVERS KUR AND ARAX ARE FALSE

Arminfo
2010-02-03 09:07:00

The Azerbaijani party’s statements that Armenia pollutes the rivers Kur
and Arax with phenols and copper compounds are false, the press-service
of the Armenian ministry of nature protection told ArmInfo.

The source says that the analysis of water samples taken in the
territory of Armenia in 2009-2010 from the river Arax shows that
the concentration of copper compounds does not exceed the maximum
permissible concentration. As regards the rivers Debed and Aghstev,
the growth in the copper concentration is caused by geological and
chemical peculiarities of the territory. Moreover, the concentration
of copper in the rivers Arax, Debed and Aghstev in the borderline
regions of Armenia is several times lower than the standards accepted
in Europe. As for the phenols, their availability in the water is
caused by chemical, oil processing activities, which, however, are
lacking in the Armenian territory.

The source also points out that Azerbaijan raised the issue of the
high content of phenols as early as Soviet times, as a result, in the
90s of XX century Armenia started monitoring the phenols. The 5-year
monitoring showed that the content of phenols in Armenia’s rivers is
very low, so a decision was taken to suspend the monitoring. However,
as the Azerbaijani party has fixed for itself senselessly low
levels of maximum permissible concentration of phenols and copper,
and consequently states about pollution of the rivers, the Armenian
party decided to resume the monitoring of phenols. The first results
of the monitoring will become known within the next few months. In
addition, by Azerbaijan’s proposal supported by Armenian and Georgian
specialists, the phenol content of surface waters is being monitored
under the EU TACIS program. Under the given program, some sections
of the rivers Kur and Arax were researched in 2009, and the results
will allow working out programs on control and improvement of the
water quality. Being quite well aware of this, the Azerbaijani party
continues making statements deprived of a scientific basis, apparently,
for political reasons.

CANADIAN PROSPECT ADONIS STEVENSON SPARS ARTHUR ABRAHAM

EastsideBoxing.com
02.02.2010

Mark Pickering: Undefeated Canadian powerhouse Adonis Stevenson is
sharpening his skills as a sparring partner for Super Six front-runner
Arthur Abraham who is working towards his second-round meeting with
Andre Dirrell on March 6.

Stevenson, who at 32 is three years Abraham’s senior, is a
highly-regarded southpaw who is best known for his first-round
demolition of veteran Anthony Bonsante in 2008..

The Haiti-born super-middleweight, who has worked with the likes of
Mikkel Kessler, Librado Andrade and Lucian Bute, is now testing German
icon Abraham with his physical prowess and heavy hands in Zinnowitz,
a spa-town in Northern Germany on the Baltic Sea.

"It’s a good opportunity for me, he has so much experience, I’m here
to learn," said Stevenson.

"I worked with Kessler and Bute when I was an amateur, now I work a
lot with Andrade."

Stevenson has stopped 10 of 13 opponents; a lethal strike rate that
is reminiscent to Abraham, one of masters of power punching.

"Abraham, he can punch," said Stevenson

"He is in shape but I think he can do better and on March 6 is going
to be ready for Dirrell."

According to German newspaper Bild, Armenian-born Abraham has also
brought in retired former super middleweight king Sven Ottke, now 42,
to replicate Dirrell’s speed and movement.

EARTHQUAKE ON GEORGIAN-AZERBAIJANI BORDER

News.am
17:14 / 01/26/2010

January 26, 2010 at 2:27 p.m. local time 3 point earthquake was
registered on Georgian-Azerbaijani border.

The quake occurred 20 km west of Gakhsky Region, Republican Seismic
Service Centre of Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences (ANAS)
report says. 2 point tremors were felt in the region itself too.

TURKISH CHIEF PROSECUTOR DISCUSSED DISSOLUTION OF RULING PARTY

News.am
17:32 / 01/29/2010

January 28, 2010 Chief Public Prosecutor of Turkish High Court of
Appeals Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya had a secret 1.5-hour meeting with
former President of Turkish Constitutional Court Mustafa Bumin,
Turkish Stratejikboyut website reports.

According to the information, Yalcinkaya and Bumin discussed the
dissolution of ruling Justice and Development Party and the issue of
depriving Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul
and others of political activities, making a point of their illegal
bugging, which recently made a stir in Turkey.

In 2008 Constitutional Court discussed the lodge by Turkish Public
Prosecutor’s Office to close the ruling party, however it was rejected
by the majority of votes.

CAN THE "SUPERJET" RESCUE REGIONAL FLIGHTS?

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Friday, 29 January 2010

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A new Russian-designed jet could be delivered as early as mid-2010,
according to reports from Moscow, providing a boost to struggling
regional services.

The Sukhoi "Superjet," a short-range regional jet capable of seating
75 to 95 people, expects to receive its airworthiness certificate this
summer, Russia’s Industry Minister reportedly told parliament. Once
this certification is received, delivery can begin – 122 aircraft
are currently due to be delivered, around half to Russia and half to
customers in Italy, Spain, Armenia, Hungary and Switzerland.

The Superjet made its international debut at the last year’s Paris
Air Show, generating considerable interest. Sukhoi claims that it is
10 percent more fuel efficient than comparable aircraft and is more
comfortable, offering "jumbo jet comfort." It will put the Russian
manufacturer in direct competition with small jet manufacturers
Embraer and Bombadier, and to a lesser extent, industry giants such
as the 109-seat Airbus A318 and the 123-seat Boeing 737-600.

China’s Comac is also working on a regional jet with similar
specifications, the first commercial airliner produced by China. The
ARJ21 will seat between 70 and 100 passengers and is also due for
delivery this year.

Regional carriers that serve commuter passengers (or those connecting
for intercontinental flights at major hubs) hope that these new
aircraft can provide a much-needed boost to the industry. Mike Ambrose,
the Director General of the European Regions Airlines Association,
labeled 2009 the year of "aviation’s economic tsunami" in October
last year.

With short flights facing competition from high-speed rail links
and high fuel costs, many are questioning the viability of flying
short distances. In 2001, Air France cancelled its Paris to Brussels
flights in favor of booking passengers onto the Thalys high speed train
service. More recently in Italy, Alitalia has faced tough competition
from high speed rail – particularly on its lucrative Milan-Rome route –
incurring serious losses in 2009.

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INECOBANK INCREASES ITS OUTREACH TO MICRO AND SMALL ENTREPRENEURS BY JOINING THE IFC ARMENIA MICROFINANCE PROGRAM

ArmInfo
25.01.2010

ArmInfo. Inecobank CJSC and International Finance Corporation
(IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, signed a performance based
Grant Agreement according to which through a gradual, step-by-step
process, IFC will release up to $700,000 of performance-based grant
for INECOBANK reaching out to more than 71,000 new micro loans to
individuals and small entrepreneurs mostly in the rural areas of
Armenia. The press-service of INECOBANK told ArmInfo that the Project
will help the Bank to increase its outreach for the underserved poor
within the microfinance sector thus helping them to develop their
micro and small businesses and improve their living conditions.

During the Agreement signing ceremony Avetis Baloyan, the CEO of
INECOBANK said, "With the onset of the financial crisis, microfinance
proved to be one of the most sustainable products for the bank and as
one of its strategic sector priorities. Via participation in the IFC’s
Microfinance Initiative we are planning to significantly increase our
microfinance sector penetration and reach out the underserved markets,
particularly in the rural parts of Armenia. The project was welcomed
and supported by the Bank’s shareholders including DEG which, together
with CIM helped to bring on board of the Ineco’s management team an
expatriate Chief Strategy Officer, who helped the Bank to refine its
strategy." Jointly with IFC, INECOBANK developed an action plan that
outlines specific measures that need to be implemented to build up
the Bank’s capacity to provide micro loans, particularly in the rural
parts of the country.

Georgina Baker, IFC Director for Global Financial Markets, said,
"Microfinance has proven to be a critical tool in the fight against
poverty. Our support to INECOBANK will enable the bank to offer a
variety of microfinance products to the businesses and individuals
that have not had access to these services before, thus promoting
growth and sustainable development in the country."

Microfinance has demonstrated its potential to assist the
micro-entrepreneurs to make significant strides towards reducing their
vulnerability, improving their livelihoods, paying for basic health
care and financing their children’s education. INECOBANK identified
microfinance as one of its priority tasks towards the fulfillment of
its mission and since the end of 2007 has been consistently working
towards the development of this initiative. The Bank demonstrated an
ability to provide financial services to poor people on a sustainable,
profitable basis and has built a good network of international partners
in microfinance development sector.

To recall, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity
for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster
sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting
private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing
advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments.

Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping
channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis.

DEG, member of KfW Bankengruppe (KfW banking group), is one of the
largest European development finance institutions. For more than
40 years, DEG has been financing and structuring the investments of
private companies in developing and emerging market countries. DEG
invests in profitable projects that contribute to sustainable
development in all sectors of the economy and focuses also on
investments in the financial sector in order to facilitate reliable
access to capital locally. So far, DEG has worked together with more
than 1,500 companies and provided 4.7 billion euros of finance over
the past five years alone.

Inecobank CJSC is a universal bank founded in 1996 with the vision of
contributing to Armenia’s economic development and the improvement of
population of welfare. The bank is among the top 10 banks in Armenia
with the total assets of USD 130.5 mln. and capital of USD 25.8 mln.

as of the end of 2009. Among the shareholders of the Bank are IFC
(10% shares) and DEG (13.5% shares). The bank partners with reputable
international organizations such as EBRD, KfW banking group, OFID,
ADB, BSTDB, WB, SNS Institutional Fund, responsAbility etc.

TURKISH AND AZERBAIJANI LANDS PRESENTED AS ARMENIAN

Trend News Agency
26.01.2010 13:51

Turkish and Azerbaijani lands presented as Armenian

EDITOR’s NOTE: Details were added after the second paragraph

Eastern Turkey and Azerbaijan were presented as Armenian in a map
displayed at a seminar in one of Washington’s universities, CNN’s
Web site in Turkish reported.

The seminar was dedicated to the Turkish-Armenian protocols on the
normalization of relations between the two countries signed by Turkey
and Armenia foreign ministers in Zurich Oct.10.

The map presented Georgian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Iranian and Iraqi
territories as part Armenia’s historic lands.

Representatives of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, who participated
in the seminar, demanded the organizers to remove the map.

Organizers of the seminar said that the map was found on Google.