Author: Karakhanian Suren

AZERBAIJANI-RUSSIA RELATIONS ARE DEVELOPING ACCORDING IN LINE WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FORMULA

Today.Az
08 December 2009 [10:08]

Trend News interview with Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir
Dorokhin.

Trend News: Do you think that the trends in Azerbaijani-Russian
relations has changed over the last year? Have the countries become
closer? In which spheres is this seen?

Vladimir Dorokhin: Azerbaijani-Russia relations are developing
according to a formula of strategic partnership. The trend has not
been changed. Certainly, there are no preconditions. We focus on the
basic interests of the two countries and the interests of stability
in the region, but not the political situation.

As to subjective feelings, I have positive ones. During my staying
in Baku, I fully felt the respect of Azerbaijanis towards Russia. I
think that my Azerbaijani counterpart in Moscow notes the growth of
the favorable attitude toward Azerbaijan in Russia.

What efforts can be made by political elites, intellectuals and media
outlets to enhance understanding between our two countries?

More events with youth participation. Youth see Russia-Azerbaijan
relations differently than older generations. Civil society is being
gradually formed in Russia and Azerbaijan. Certainly, an exchange
of information is useful in this regard. Perhaps, you, journalists,
would win as a result of more active contacts.

We all try to promote ties via the state line. For example, a large
forum of intellectuals of both countries: "Russia-Azerbaijan. Horizons
of Partnership" will be held in Baku in January 2010.

It is widely believed that the 2008 Georgian war has changed the
geopolitical emphasis on the South Caucasus. What are Russia’s chances
to be a key player in the Caucasus, given its efforts to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and improve its partnership with Turkey?

The so-called Georgian war has changed not only the South Caucasus,
but the whole world. Everyone seems to be awakened and realized that if
one political charlatan can provoke almost a universal confrontation,
there is something is wrong in the world.

This understanding, in particular, lies at the basis of the "reset"
of Russian-U.S relations.

You call Russia a player. But Russia does not play in the Caucasus. We
realize our interests here, as other countries do. These interests do
not threaten anyone, otherwise Russia would not have partner bilateral
relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

We try to use the positive potential of these relations to solve
regional problems, especially Nagorno-Karabakh. We do it not to put
someone in checkmate on the geopolitical chessboard, but rather for
peace and stability in the Caucasus. They are also vitally important
for Russia.

Do you think that the European Eastern Partnership initiative runs
counter to agreements concluded within the CIS? Should the CIS
countries participating in this program make a choice between the
CIS and the EU?

The issue of a choice was raised by EU, not Moscow, when Brussels
discussed the participation of Belarus in the Eastern Partnership. At
the time our EU colleagues changed their position. They said they were
misunderstood. Russia received invitations to take part in several
projects within this program. We cannot rule it out. Let’s see how
the initiative will be implemented.

What are the Russian Embassy in Baku’s efforts to develop the Russian
language in Azerbaijan? Is it possible for Azerbaijan to give the
Russian language a state status in the future like Kazakhstan?

This is one of the most important directions of the embassy’s work.

Russia has been allocating funds for this purpose recently.

Corresponding organizational structures are being established. The
Russian Information and Cultural Center has been set up in Baku.

Support for the Russian language is important.

We closely cooperate in this field with the Azerbaijani authorities.

As for the legal status of the Russian language, it is within the
complete jurisdiction of the Azerbaijani state.

MANY OF THE NEW BUILDINGS IN YEREVAN DO NOT COMPLY WITH SEISMIC SAFETY STANDARDS: DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL SEISMIC SAFETY SERVICE OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-12-07 13:38:00

ArmInfo. Many of the new buildings in Yerevan do not comply with
seismic safety standards, Director of the National Seismic Safety
Service of Armenia Alvaro Antonyan said during a press-conference
today.

Today few constructors of apartment houses and office buildings apply
to the Service for seismic safety analysis. The visible parts of
those buildings seem to be stable but Antonyan means the building-soil
inter-connection as not all of the newly built houses are appropriate
for the platforms they are placed on. Special attention should be
paid to seismic resistance of residential complexes especially given
high population density in Yerevan.

FRENCH BACK SWISS BAN ON MINARETS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.12.2009 11:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The number of opponents to construction of mosques
in France doubled during the past 8 years, according to an IFOP poll
published by Le Figaro.

41% of respondents oppose building places of Muslim worship, compared
to 22% in 2001. About 46% of the French questioned by IFOP favor the
recent Swiss ban.

Jerome Fourquet of IFOP said the French are divided. "Irritation
about Islam has never been so strong," he said.

COMFY PRISON PIC SPARKS OUTRAGE IN ARMENIA

Radio Free Europe
December 2, 2009

Armenia’s Justice Ministry has ordered an inquiry after a photo
emerged of pro-government newspaper editor meeting under seemingly
comfy prison conditions with three convicted murderers.

The front-page photo in the opposition daily "Haykakan Zhamanak"
shows editor Artyom Khachatrian of the daily newspaper "Azatamtutyun"
and his aide drinking coffee and soft drinks with two men serving
life sentences in Yerevan’s prison for the killings in the Armenian
parliament 10 years ago.

Derenik Bejanian and Eduard Grigorian were among the gunmen who burst
into parliament in October 1999, killing speaker Karen Demirchian,
Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisian, and six other politicians.

They share a prison cell with Arsen Ardzruni, a former member of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation who was convicted of being a member
of a death squad that allegedly operated in the early 1990s.

"Haykakan Zhamanak" called the photograph scandalous, saying it proves
a serious breach of prison regulations.

Representatives of two main pro-government parties questioned the
authenticity of the photograph.

But Galust Sahakian, the parliamentary leader of President Serzh
Sarkisian’s Republican Party, said he will be "furious" if it turns
out to be real. Sahakian called the photo "a disgrace" that will
create a problem for state security.

Lana Mshetsian, a Justice Ministry spokeswoman, told RFE/RL that the
picture will be examined in order to determine whether prison rules
regulating visits to inmates were violated.

Meanwhile, Khachatrian confirmed he visited the prison on October 5.

He told RFE/RL that the photo was stolen from his office and he knows
who stole it.He was quick to add that he doesn’t see anything wrong
with the picture, sayingthe law allows journalists to visit prisoners
in their cell with their consent.

"Haykakan Zhamanak" claims that under prison rules nobody is allowed
to meet with more than one prisoner at a time. Khachatrian said prison
officials "saved time" by letting him visit with three prisoners at
the same time.

"Azatamtutyun" is known for its criticism of the opposition, which
claims that the newspaper is funded by people close to Sarkisian.

Khachatrian, once a harsh critic of Sarkisian and his predecessor
Robert Kocharian, is also known as the organizer of a protest by a
small group of government supporters outside opposition leader Levon
Ter-Petrosian’s house during the 2008 presidential race.

RICHARD GIRAGOSYAN: THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT BILATERAL DIALOGUE CONTINUES

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2009 18:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ After each meeting between Armenian and Azeri
officials, OSCE MG Co-Chairs imitate progress in Karabakh settlement
talks, according to Richard Giragosyan, Head of Armenian Center for
National and International Studies (ACNIS). "I am mostly concerned
by OSCE MG’s sudden activeness. What they call progress may not be
progress at all," he told a news conference commenting upon Armenian
And Azeri FMs’ meeting on the sidelines of OSCE Foreign Ministers
Summit in Athens.

Absence of democracy appears to be the main problem of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Armenian expert finds. "How can countries solve problems if
they do not even trust their leaders? If not involved in the process,
Armenian and Azeri societies will not approve any decision concerning
Karabakh conflict settlement," Giragosyan noted.

With regard to Turkish delegation’s upcoming visit to Washington, he
said, "This is the last day for Turkish Parliament’s International
Relations Committee to pass final decision on Armenian-Turkish
Protocols."

ARMENIA INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS WITH ALROSA DIAMOND MINING COMPANY

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.12.2009 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia intends to strengthen relations with Alrosa
diamond mining company, as RA business entities are currently facing
rough diamonds’ supply -related problems, RA Economy Minister Nerses
Yeritsyan said.

"Strengthening of collaboration with Alrosa will provide stable
supplies of rough diamond to Armenia’s business entities, which is a
serious issue today," the Economy Minister noted at a news conference
in Nor Hachn.

In this context, he added that local companies’ credit capacity
increase through investment attraction is among government’s top
priorities.

STEPAN SAFARYAN: RPA SESSION RULED OUT POSSIBILITY OF COALITION SPLIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2009 17:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-Turkish rapprochement created threats for
the formation of a third polar, however, Republican Party’s 12 session
eliminated such fears, Heritage faction leader Stepan Safaryan finds.

"I don’t think coalition will collapse by new parliamentary elections,"
he told a news conference in Yerevan.

At that, he ruled out any possibility for cooperation between ruling
coalition and opposition. Referring to Serzh Sargsyan statement on
the possibility of public-political crisis resulting from imperfect
electoral system, civil society institutes, freedom of press etc.,
he particularly stressed, "I don’t think opposition will hereafter
be desire to cooperate with authorities".

In turn, RPA faction MP Karen Avagyan disagreed with the above view,
arguing that President’s statement was aimed bringing governmental
institutions in compliance with up-to-date standards. He found
opposition-coalition cooperation possible provided Armenian National
Congress joined RPA projects".

ARMENIA READY TO RESPOND BRUTALLY TO CLAIMS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH – PRESIDENT

Interfax
Nov 28 2009
Russia

Armenia favors a peaceful settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan
over Nagorno-Karabakh, but it is prepared to respond appropriately
to claims on that territory, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said.

"Armenia favors the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through
peace talks, but we will not allow claims on Nagorno-Karabakh, and we
are prepared to employ most brutal methods to respond to any claim,"
Sargsyan said at the 13th congress of the ruling Republic Party
on Saturday.

IRAN TO MAKE 250-300 TONNES OF NUCLEAR FUEL A YEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2009 10:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran’s government has approved plans to build 10
new uranium enrichment plants, according to state media.

The government told the Iranian nuclear agency to begin work on five
sites, with five more to be located over the next two months. It
comes days after the UN nuclear watchdog rebuked Iran for covering
up a uranium enrichment plant.

Iran says the new plants would be of a similar size to its main
existing one at Natanz.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told his cabinet that parliament had
ordered that Iran should produce 20,000 megawatts of nuclear energy
by 2020.

It therefore needed to make 250-300 tonnes of nuclear fuel a year, he
said, which would require 500,000 centrifuges for enriching uranium,
BBC reported.

Russia’s Europe security pact draft offers mutual military assistance

MOSCOW, November 29 (RIA Novosti)

A draft treaty on European security prepared by Russia allows
signatory states to provide military assistance to each other, the
Kremlin said Sunday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev put forward the initiative to work
out a treaty on European security on June 5, 2008, proposing that the
principle of indivisible security be legally sealed in international
law, preventing any state or organization from strengthening their
security at the expense of others.

"…every Party shall be entitled to consider an armed attack against
any other Party an armed attack against itself," says the draft
published on the Kremlin website.

"In exercising its right of self-defense under Article 51 of the
Charter of the United Nations, it shall be entitled to render the
attacked Party, subject to its consent, the necessary assistance,
including the military one, until the UN Security Council has taken
measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.

"Information on measures taken by Parties to the Treaty in exercise of
their right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the UN
Security Council," it says.

The UN Charter’s Article 51 that Russia’s draft refers to says:
"Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of
individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs
against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has
taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and
security."

The draft also says: "… the Party which has been attacked or
threatened with an armed attack shall bring that to the attention of
the Depositary which shall immediately convene an Extraordinary
Conference of the Parties to decide on necessary collective measures."

"The Extraordinary Conference of the Parties shall be effective if it
is attended by at least four fifths of the Parties to the Treaty," it
says, adding that decisions made by the Conference would be binding.

"If an armed attack is carried out by, or a threat of such attack
originates from a Party to the Treaty, the vote of that Party shall
not be included in the total number of votes of the Parties in
adopting a decision," it says.

The draft is open for signing "by all states of the Euro-Atlantic and
Eurasian space from Vancouver to Vladivostok" as well as by the EU,
NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the
post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The draft says the Parties shall not "assume international obligations
incompatible with the Treaty" but adds that the document "shall not
affect the right of any Party to neutrality."

The Parties will also have the right to withdraw from the treaty.

Medvedev has sent copies of the draft to heads of state and chief
executives of NATO, the EU, the CSTO, CIS and OSCE.

The CSTO comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Russia’s security strategy until 2020
approved by Medvedev envisions the CSTO as "a key mechanism to counter
regional military challenges and threats."