EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO ARMENIA OPENED IN MURMANSK
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.02.2010 11:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Roman Pakinyan’s photo exhibition dedicated to
Armenia opened in Murmansk, Russia, reported Murman state-run TV
company.
Roman Pakinyan was born in Yerevan. In 1980ies, longing for the
Extreme North, he started traveling. He bought his first camera
in 1985, after acquaintance with members of Murmansk photo studio,
and has been taking photographs ever since.
EXPERT VIES LAST TEN YEARS IN ARMENIA AS DECADE OF LOST CHANCES
ARKA
Feb 12, 2010
YEREVAN, February 12. /ARKA/. Manuk Yerghnyan, the head of E-V
Consulting Research Center, speaking Thursday in Novosti International
Press Center, called the last ten years in Armenia a decade of lost
chances.
He thinks that a deformed structure of economic development has been
created in the country for the last decade and chances for forming
sources of sustainable economic development have been lost.
"In fact, the country showing double-digit economic growth has failed
to create essential factors for making itself less vulnerable for
outside shocks and going out of the crisis with minor losses,"
Yerghnyan said.
According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, Armenia
enjoyed 13.2% economic growth in 2002, 14% in 2003, 10.5% in 2004,
14% in 2005, 13.4% in 2006, 13.7% in 2007 and 6.8% in 2008.
In 2009, the country faced 14.4% economic decline.
BAKO SAHAKYAN TOOK PART AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE REELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA SERGEY BAGHAPSH
ARKA
Feb 12, 2010
SOUKHUM, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. On 12 February
President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan on the invitation of
the authorities of the Republic of Abkhazia arrived in Soukhum and
took part at the inauguration ceremony of the reelected President
Sergey Baghapsh. As it is informed to Noyan Tapan from the central
information department of the office of the NKR President, in his
congratulatory speech Bako Sahakyan wished fruitful work to Sergey
Baghapsh, prosperity and peace to Abkhazia and its people.
ARMENIA CONTINUES TO ACT AS PETITIONER IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS
news.az
Feb 12 2010
Azerbaijan
Vardan Oskanian "The world community exerts pressure on Ankara and
Yerevan."
Armenia continues to act as the petitioner in the Armenian-Turkish
process, said head of the Sivilitas Fund and former Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian, speaking at the presentation of the report
"Armenia 2009: promise and reality" in Gumri.
According to him, the more Yerevan asks, the more problems will
there be in the Karabakh settlement. In his view, it was originally
naive and a mistake to believe that the Armenian-Turkish process and
the Karabakh settlement will not be linked to each other. "However,
regardless of the belief of the international community that these
two processes are not bound, it is not like that, and they will always
bind these two processes," he said.
In his view, the world community exerts pressure on Ankara and
Yerevan. He has no doubt that pressure on Armenia will increase in
the issue of Karabakh settlement to manage to maintain balance.
Referring to the possible resumption of hostilities in the Karabakh
conflict zone, Oskanian noted that there are two factors in which the
probability is minimal. First is the hope for the negotiation process,
second is the economic and military balance between the conflicting
parties. If you violate one of the factors the probability of war
increases. "At a time when Baku decides that the negotiations have
reached an impasse, the risk of renewed hostilities will increase.
Today the situation is complicated and unpredictable, considering
the statements of official Baku, so it is necessary to be prepared
for any scenario", Oskanian said.
PROTEST MARCH IN YEREVAN
12/protest
07:41 pm | February 12, 2010
Politics
Young activists of the Armenian National Congress today staged a
protest in front of the OSCE Yerevan Office in support of the Armenian
political prisoners. They demanded to publicize the OSCE/ODIHR report
on civil proceedings which was to be introduced to the Armenian
society by January 24.
But the report has been sent to Armenian authorities which aroused
discontent and suspicion among the youth.
"Serzh Sargsyan has promised outer forces so many things that they
close an eye to Armenia’s home situation. One can guess easily what
he has promised to them. Political prisoners are a good cards in the
hands of Serzh Sargsyan," said one of the protesters.
Deputy head of the OSCE Yerevan Office received the protesters
and promised to send their letter to the OSCE/ODIHR central office
in Warsaw.
TIGRAN SARGSYAN: WE’RE SERIOUS IN OUR INTENTION TO NORMALIZE TIES WITH TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2010 13:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce, Foundation
for Political Research and US Embassy in Armenia organized a public
debate on Armenian-Turkish relations and cross-border regionalism.
"Opinions of Armenian society, as well as international and regional
communities are to be assessed in analyzing relations with Turkey,"
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said in his remarks.
According to him, the speech President Sargsyan delivered at Chatham
House in London as well as the message he addressed to Turkish
President Abdullah Gul, prove the RA President’s resoluteness on
the issue.
"President Sargsyan opened a new page in the history of RA-Turkey
relations. New realities we’re currently facing have to be reckoned
with," PM Sargsyan said, adding that presidential statements completely
dispel suspicions of the whole process being just a political game.
"We’re serious in our intention to normalize ties without
preconditions. We have to show strong political will to make progress,
at the same time trying to remain on guard," Mr. Sargsyan emphasized.
"Armenia and Turkey are given a unique chance to normalize ties,
enjoying superpowers’ support in the issue," he concluded.
EU WELCOMES TURKEY’S DEMOCRATIC MOVE AND PROTOCOLS WITH ARMENIA, SAYS SPANISH AMBASSADOR
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Feb 12 2010
European Union welcomes recent steps taken by Turkey, especially
government’s democratic initiative and protocols signed last October
with Armenia to normalize relations, Spanish Ambassador to Turkey
said on Thursday.
Ambassadors of EU member states met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
Spanish Ambassador Joan Clos, who took the floor as representative
of EU member state holding the six-month rotating presidency, said
that Turkey had recently made serious reforms.
Clos said both Turkey and EU were in a period of change, adding that
this process would gain momentum after the Treaty of Lisbon entered
into force last December. He said Turkey and EU would take important
advantages during negotiation process thanks to this change.
Clos said both parties were aspirant for Turkey’s accession and
he expressed belief that Turkey and EU would make progress during
Spanish presidency.
He said Spain hopes to open negotiation chapters on food safety,
public procurement, social and cultural relations, and energy during
its presidency until July 2010.
Although Turkey might face some obstacles on its way to EU membership,
Spanish ambassador said, and he went on saying, "all countries that
started negotiations with EU had become members."
PRESIDENT ATTENDS ARTEXPO-2010 EXHIBITION
Aysor
Feb 12 2010
Armenia
Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan has attended ARTEXPO-2010 art
exhibition, a spokesperson for the Presidential Administration said.
The ARTEXPO-2010 art exhibition is being launched for the second time,
in assistance with the Armenian Ministry of Culture.
Minister of Culture of Armenia, Mrs. Hasmik Poghosian, said at the
press conference that the exhibition’s goals are to present modern
developments in the Armenian cultural sphere, establish ties with
different organizations and businesses.
It’s worth mentioning that nearly 50 organisations are presenting
their art and cultural works at ARTEXPO-2010.
SERGE SARGSYAN RULES OUT FAILURE OF RATIFICATION PROCESS BY ARMENIA
Lragir.am
10/02/10
Holding a speech in the Chattem House British Royal Institute of
International Affairs Serge Sargsyan said that he rules out the
failure of the ratification of the Armenian and Turkish protocols in
the Armenian National Assembly, if they are ratified by Turkey.
Speaking at this esteemed institution today, I reiterate the commitment
of the Republic of Armenia to this process. As the political leader
of the political majority of the Armenian Parliament, I reiterate
that I rule out any possibility of the Armenian Parliament failing
to ratify the protocols in case Turkey ratifies the protocols without
preconditions, as agreed.
However, they ought to remember that in case of Armenia they deal
with a country, which persevered throughout the process and did not
stop even in spite of losing a key ally in the ruling coalition. I am
confident that President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan will, subject
to the demonstration of political will, find sufficient support within
their party that holds the majority of seats in the Turkish Parliament.
We are confident that the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations
can become the greatest input of the recent decades in achieving peace
and stability in the South Caucasus. With this vision, we have agreed
to move forward without any preconditions, not making our relations
contingent upon Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
However, if, as many suspect, it is proven that Turkey’s goal is
to protract, rather than to normalize relations, we will have to
discontinue the process.
I would not claim that the process has so far been easy. It is common
knowledge that Turkey repeatedly attempted to voice preconditions
related to the resolution of the Mountainous Karabakh issue. It is,
however, obvious that attempts to link these two processes will
undermine both the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations and the
talks around the Karabakh issue. I, however, believe that the rapid
normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations can set an example of a
proactive problem-solving attitude that will positively stimulate
and set an example the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
I would like to take one step further and inform you that I am going
to invite President Aliyev to the potential opening ceremony of the
Armenian-Turkish border. I believe it can serve as an essential
and in some ways exemplary measure for the region, which will
clearly demonstrate how existing problems should be solved and that
every conflict, even the stalest one, can be resolved by means of
negotiations and the ability to look truth in the eye. I am sure that
the best way to facilitate the resolution of the Karabakh issue is
setting the example of one’s own country being able to resolve issues
for the benefit of the whole region.
Yesterday, I was inquired about how one should present facts related
to the Armenian Genocide to Great Britain, and whether Great Britain,
by recognizing the Armenian Genocide, would not harm security in
the Caucasus. I responded that there are numerous countries that do
not need these facts to be presented to them, because they have vast
archives of their own regarding the Armenian Genocide. What is needed
here is other work.
Armenian-British relations did not start after the collapse of the
USSR. They date back to centuries. Exceptional and genuine interest
has been demonstrated by British society in respect of the tragedies
that befell the Armenian people at different times in history and
their fate, as best illustrated by the powerful humanitarian movement
that started in Britain in support of Armenians and the amazing
philanthropic activities of the British people that were the first to
reach out with protest in support of the Armenian people surviving the
Genocide. The British people learnt about the Armenian Genocide from
the well-known works and statements of James Bryce, Arnold Toynbee,
William Gladstone, and Lloyd George.
AZERBAIJAN DISSATISFIED WITH "LOS ANGELES TIMES" PAPER
Aysor
Feb 9 2010
Armenia
Azerbaijani media keep strengthening their ‘friendly relations’
with foreign editions. Mass hysteria and attack against different
publications and articles on foreign media pages appear to have become
a tradition in Azerbaijan.
In respond to various publications by foreign media, which are for some
reasons discontented with position of their Azerbaijani colleagues,
epic campaigns are starting with claims ‘to stop the lawlessness!’
This time "Los Angeles Times" paper made Azerbaijan unhappy announcing
in its program schedule the travel and adventure show, dedicated to
Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) will be
represented in the main Exhibition Hall of the Travel Show, on-stage
with cultural performances, and with a photo travelogue, according
to the schedule. Besides, the tourism offices of Armenia and Karabakh
will share a large "Welcome to Armenia" booth.
It’s worth mentioning that the Los Angeles event is the largest travel
show in the United States.
All this made Azerbaijani media feel unhappy and send a letter to
"Los Angeles Times" paper claiming to "go with international law and
terminology". "Armenians must develop tourism in Armenia, but not
on the occupied territories," said in the letter by Azerbaijan-born
citizens of the U.S.
"The U.S.’s government has repeatedly recognized the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. We think that every artificial body must go
with the government’s position.
"In order to stop this lawlessness, there is still time," either they
threaten, or something else.