Author: Kamalian Hagop

ACCORDING TO TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY, CC’S DECISION UNDERMINES FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 19, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. On January 18, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey spread a press release,
which read:

"The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia has declared
its decision of constitutional conformity on the Protocols between
Turkey and Armenia signed on 10 October 2009 with a short statement
on 12 January 2010. The Constitutional Court has recently published
its grounds of decision. It has been observed that this decision
contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the
letter and spirit of the Protocols.

The said decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these
Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot
be accepted on our part.

Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international
commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of
these Protocols.

We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian Government."

The RA Foreign Ministry Press Service is expected to comment upon
Turkish Foreign Ministry’s statement today.

MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS: THE POSITIVE DYNAMICS IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS SHOULD NOT BE WASTED

armradio.am
19.01.2010 16:53

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country holds
the rotating EU presidency, addressesed the OSCE Permanent Council
today.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Moratonos said that the
frequent contacts between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
"had created a positive dynamic that should not be wasted."

"The efforts we are making to strengthen security and stability in
Europe are worth nothing if they do not contribute to the resolution
of real problems on the ground," he said.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN ARRIVE IN YEREVAN

Arminfo
2010-01-19 18:24:00

ArmInfo. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen are already in Yerevan.

To recall, US Co-chairman Robert Bradtke has been in Armenia
since last weekend and has already visited Stepanakert and met the
Nagorno-Karabakh leadership. French Co-chairman Bernard Fassier arrived
in Yerevan Monday evening, and Russian Co-chairman Yuri Merzlyakov
arrived on Tuesday. Today the co-chairmen are going to meet Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan. They will leave for Baku on
Wednesday. According to ArmInfo information, the co-chairmen are
not going to visit Stepanakert, taking into account the fact that
one of the co-chairs, R.Bradtke has recently met NKR President Bako
Sahakyan. In addition, last Saturday (January 16) Armenian Foreign
Minister E.Nalbandyan met the US co-chair.

To recall, in late 2009 the co-chairmen visited Baku, however, the
visit to Yerevan was put off till January.

NUMBER OF BABIES BORN IN ARMENIA REACHES 43,000

Aysor
Jan 19 2010
Armenia

Number of babies born in Armenia by 19 January 2010 stands at the
2009’s level, said Chief Obstetrician-Gynecologist of Armenia’s
Ministry of Health Razmik Abrahamian.

He said the happiest day at Ministry’s stuff is the day when number of
born babies increase in comparison with the previous day. According
to official reports by Razmik Abrahamian, 43,000 babies were born in
2009, in comparison with 2008’s 40,000. This may come from the system
of backing certificates.

"Neither maternity hospital can demand on anything. Even if you
choose a doctor, you shouldn’t pay him, as he receives a bonus,"
said Razmik Abrahamian.

SUPER WELTERWEIGHT MARTIROSYAN OUTPOINTS OUMA

Associated Press Worldstream
January 17, 2010 Sunday 7:21 AM GMT

Undefeated super welterweight contender Vanes Martirosyan earned a
unanimous decision over former world champion Kassim Ouma of Uganda
on Saturday.

Armenian-born Martirosyan, a former Olympian, used his speed and
length to neutralize Ouma’s aggression. The three judges scored the
fight 97-93, 97-93, 97-92.

Trained by Freddie Roach, Martirosyan upped his record to 27-0 with
17 KO’s and moved a step closer to a world title shot with a win over
a quality opponent.

"It was a tough fight and he was an awkward opponent," Martirosyan
said. "We work on everything to prepare for the fights, Freddie Roach
is the best."

Martirosyan last fought less than a month ago, stopping former champion
Willie Lee with a third-round TKO. Martirosyan seemed fresh and
neither fighter seemed to tire in what was an entertaining slugfest.

"Ouma is a veteran fighter and it was a great lesson for Vanes,"
Roach said.

In the co-main event, super featherweight prospect Diego Magdaleno
upped his record to 13-0 with a unanimous decision over Gerardo
Robles. The former U.S. amateur champion had his hands full with
Robles but managed to pull out the win with the judges scoring the
bout 80-72, 78-74, 78-74.

On the undercard, Ismayl Sillakh remained unbeaten, running his record
to 10-0 after knocking out Julius Jackson in the first round, and Jose
Benavidez won his pro debut with a first round TKO over Steven Cox.

RUSSIA, ARMENIA DENY STALEMATE IN KARABAKH DISPUTE

RIA Novosti
14:2414/01/2010

YEREVAN, January 14 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia and Russia denied a
stalemate in talks on the Soviet-era Nagorny Karabakh dispute with
Azerbaijan on Thursday.

Tensions remain high between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with both Caucasus
states continuing the exchange of allegations of ceasefire violations
over the disputed region, and Azerbaijan threatening to use force if
talks yield no results.

Speaking after a meeting with his Armenian counterpart in Yerevan,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said "the talks are not in
a stalemate."

Echoing him, Edvard Nalbandyan said: "I do not think there is a
stalemate."

Nalbandyan said the settlement is under way as Armenia and Azerbaijan
held nine high-level meetings on the problem last year alone.

Mediators in the conflict – the U.S., Russia and France that comprise
the OSCE Minsk Group – reported some important progress in talks
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders in Munich late last year,
but said difficulties remain.

It was the first meeting of the two countries’ leaders after Armenia
and Turkey, Azerbaijan’s Muslim ally, signed historic accords in
October to restore diplomatic ties and reopen their borders.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in a show of support for
Azerbaijan following a bloody conflict over Karabakh, in which some
35,000 died on both sides. The largely ethnic Armenian Nagorny Karabakh
in Azerbaijani territory has remained in Armenian control.

Nalbandyan pledged efforts on Thursday to have the diplomatic accords
with Turkey ratified by the Armenian parliament as soon as possible.

Some politicians in Turkey have linked improvement in ties with Armenia
to progress in the Karabakh negotiations. Ankara also insists Yerevan
drop its campaign to have the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks in 1915 internationally recognized as genocide.

Lavrov reiterated Russia’s resolve to help Armenia and Turkey improve
relations. "Russia has reaffirmed its support for the process; we are
interested in the improvement of their relations which would benefit
the whole world."

The meeting took place after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
visited Moscow on Tuesday and Wednesday, when the sides reaffirmed
their backing for joint ambitious energy projects.

RUSSIAN WARPLANE MISSING IN FAR EAST

Itar-Tass
14.01.2010, 12.30

MOSCOW, January 14 (Itar-Tass) – A Russian Su-27 fighter disappeared
from radar screens during a scheduled flight in the Far East on
Thursday morning, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry
told Itar-Tass.

"Today, a Su-27 of the Far Eastern Air Force and Air Defense Formation
disappeared from radar screens at 09:27, Moscow time. The fighter
was on a scheduled flight after taking off from the Dzyangi airfield
in Komsomolsk-on-Amur".

"According to preliminary information, the plane disappeared some 30
kilometers from the airfield," a Defense Ministry official said.

TURKISH MP DEEMS LIFTING OF VISA REGIME WITH ARMENIA POSSIBLE

news.am
Jan 12 2010
Armenia

The Turkish leading Justice and Development Party MP Mehmet Erdogan
did not rule out lifting of visa regime with Armenia shortly.

According to Turkish HaberX website, Premier made such a statement
referring to Turkey’s current policy on lifting of mutual visa regime
with neighboring countries, outlining the process will continue.

"We speak of tolerance, peace and fraternity. It is impossible for
the conflicting country to develop. To whom and what the conflict
ever gave?" Erdogan said.

DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS ESCALATE AFTER ISRAEL SNUBS TURKISH AMBASSADOR

Hurriyet
Jan 12 2010
Turkey

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon (l) and Turkish Ambassador Oguz
Celikkol (r) in the controversial seating order on Monday. AFP photo

The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador to Ankara,
Gaby Levy, on Tuesday, asking for an explanation about the undiplomatic
treatment in Tel Aviv of the Turkish ambassador.

Late Monday, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, summoned
Ambassador Oguz Celikkol to criticize a Turkish television drama
depicting Israeli security forces kidnapping children and shooting
old men.

As the meeting started, Ayalon told the cameramen that Celikkol was
purposely seated on a sofa lower than his own chair, reported Turkish
broadcaster NTV. He also noted there was no Turkish flag on display.

Israeli Defense Minister expected in Ankara this weekend

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is expected to head to Ankara
this weekend for talks with Turkish leaders, his office said Tuesday
as tensions between the longstanding allies spiked again. Barak is
scheduled to meet with President Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu and senior military officials on Sunday, an official in
Barak’s office told Agence France-Presse.

Meanwhile, Israeli ministry sources said Monday that Foreign Minister
Avigdor Lieberman was trying to stop Barak from visiting Turkey next
week in order to keep up the recent tensions between the two allied
countries as well as prevent Turkey from resuming its role as mediator
in Israel’s peace talks with Syria, reported daily Haaretz.

"We get the sense that Lieberman wants to heat things up before
Barak’s visit," a senior Foreign Ministry source said. "All the recent
activities were part of Lieberman’s political agenda."

The Turkish government was expected to give a warm welcome to Barak,
who alongside Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer was looking to
bring the allies’ relations back to stability

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR GEORGY GARANYAN TO BE HELD AT TCHAIKOVSKY CONCERT HALL

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.01.2010 14:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Funeral services for jazzman, People’s Artist of
Russia Georgy Garanyanwill be held at Tchaikovsky concert hall on
Thursday, January 14 in Moscow.

The composer will be buried at Vagankovo Cemetery in Moscow, RIA
Novosti reported.

Georgy Garanyan was a People’s Artist of Russia, a laureate of state
awards of the Russian Federation, a laureate of international jazz
festivals, he was Chief conductor of Oleg Lundstrem Jazz Orchestra.

Garanyan represented the first post-war generation of masters of
Russian jazz. In 1958 Garanyan’s saxophone first sounded in Oleg
Lundstrem’s orchestra and later, in 1966 in a concert jazz orchestra
of Soviet radio.

In the mid-1960s modern jazz compositions made Garanyan popular. In
1973 he was invited to work for the Melody music recording company,
which was an important landmark in his career. Garanyan founded a
modern jazz ensemble named after the Melody giant. It was a star pop
group remembered in all corners of Russia to the present day. The
famous jazz band accompanied singers, recorded dance music and jazz
compositions.

In 1991 Garanyan’s dream came true. He founded the Moscow Big Band
in which the most talented professional jazzmen performed. Experts
and general public praised the Big Band for its unique sound and
excellent music arrangements made by its founder and artistic director.