Author: Karakhanian Suren

OSCE AMBASSADOR: ARMENIAN AND TURKISH SOCIETIES SHOULD BE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT THE NORMALIZATION PROCESS BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES

ArmInfo
2009-10-27 15:58:00

ArmInfo. The process on normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey is a bilateral process and it should be conducted by the
two parties, head of the OSCe Yerevan office Sergey Kapinos told
Arminfo correspondent.

‘The first step has been already made and we see how difficult
processes accompany and follow signing of the document in Turkey and
Armenia. First of all, it is very much important for the societies of
Armenia and Turkey to learn more about the developing processes, as
absence of information causes doubt and makes it possible to organize
various political combinations and games which are not so much real’,
– Kapinos said.

He also added that Turkey, as a sovereign state, can make any
statements, but Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is not mentioned in the
Protocols.

‘Any statements may be interpreted in a different way, and the
statements that sound today may be interpreted from the viewpoint that
it is very much important for Turkey the Protocols not to finally
damage its relations with Azerbaijan. From the point of view of the
bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey, it is not at all
connected with the Protocols themselves’, – Kapinos said.

Interfax, Russia
Oct 22 2009

Russia trying to stop unlicensed production of Kalashnikovs

KLIMOVSK. Moscow region Oct 22

Russia is trying to stop unlicensed production of Kalashnikov
submachine guns abroad, Rosoboronexport Director General Anatoly
Isaikin told the media on Thursday.

"Intellectual property rights are the most efficient way to regulate
the issue," he said.

Russia has signed such agreements with Belarus, Armenia, Israel,
Italy, Kazakhstan, France, South Africa, Bulgaria and some other
countries. "The list will be continued," Isaikin said.

At least 30 companies worldwide are engaged in unlicensed production
of Kalashnikov, he noted.

Apart from economic damage, unlicensed production harms the
Kalashnikov brand, he said, adding that counterfeit submachine guns
were actively used in conflict zones.

"The quality of counterfeit submachine guns is incomparable with that
of products made in Russia," he said.

ANS TV, Azerbaijan
Oct 22 2009

Turkish minister promises to punish people slighting Azeri flag – TV

Nothing is important [for Turkey] more than the territorial integrity,
prosperity and stability of Azerbaijan, as well as Turkish-Azerbaijani
friendship. We have repeatedly stated this, Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu told journalists of a number of Azerbaijani news
agencies [in Baku on 22 October].

Azerbaijani territories, which are also our territories – we regard
them as such, have been under occupation for the past 17 years. Turkey
has always been seeking an end to this occupation, the Turkish
diplomat said.

We should also think about how to change the existing status quo. Ways
should be found to put an end to the 17-year occupation. We have told
all the world about this during the signing of the protocols [on
normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations], prior to this and after this.
The normalization [of relations] between Turkey and Armenia can
develop in favourable conditions if there is large-scale normalization
[of relations] in the region. It means that the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict should be resolved, he said.

Davutoglu also said that he had clarified the flag incident at a
meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart [Elmar Mammadyarov] and that
they had resolved the issue in a friendly manner. The Turkish foreign
minister said that they were concerned about an Azerbaijani flag being
put in a trash can during the Armenian-Turkish football match in Bursa
[on 14 October]. He added that they had issued an instruction to
investigate this incident. There are no trash cans in Turkey with the
WC inscription on them. An unidentified person wrote WC on a trash can
and put the flag in it and filmed. This is provocation and the results
of the investigation have proven this. No matter what, the Azerbaijani
flag will always be raised in Turkey, because this flag is our flag.
If some people slighted the Azerbaijani flag, we will find them and
punish, Davutoglu said.

NO SOCIAL SECURITY IN ARMENIA: RA OMBUDSMAN

News.am
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

It is pointless to speak of social protection of the Armenian citizens
under the current economic system, RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan
told the journalists October 23.

Presenting social-economical situation and level of human rights’
protection in Armenia, Harutyunyan exemplified the case when people
are forced to work 18 hours a day. "Even the slaves in Ancient Rome
were not working for that long." According to him, the employees are
exploited without being paid.

Harutyunyan underlined that Armenian monopolistic economy will reach a
deadlock, "this phenomenon, as well as human rights’ violation should
be eradicated for the sake of our future."

Ombudsman also touched upon the issues related to ecology, particularly
commented on the activities of Dino Gold Mining in Kapan.

Harutyunyan said that company keeps on polluting hundred thousand
meters of the region.

MENENDEZ AND ENSIGN TRY TO PRESSURIZE WHITE HOUSE: GIRO MANOYAN

News.Am
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

The Resolution No252 on Genocide was introduced to U.S. Senate. It
became a manifestation of protest against the historians’
sub-commission stipulated by Armenia-Turkey Protocols voiced by
congressmen and senators.

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and John Ensign try to pressurize the
White House for the country’s leadership not to link Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation with the recognition of the fact of Genocide, the Head
of Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Office Giro Manoyan said at the October
23 press conference.

Giro Manoyan warned that Protocols can really hinder the Genocide
recognition internationally. According to him, currently a number
of U.S. quality newspapers ambiguously support the historical fact,
moreover prefer to replace the word ‘Genocide’ with more loyal
synonyms.

TURKEY-ARMENIA BORDERS TO BE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED UNDER TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOL: TURKISH FM

Trend
Oct 21 2009
Azerbaijan

With ratification of the Turkey-Armenia protocol the Turkey-Armenia
borders will be officially recognized, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davudoglu said at the Turkish Parliament during the discussions on
the protocols, CNN Turk reported.

Under the Turkey-Armenia protocols the state border of the countries
will be officially recognized, Davudoglu added.

IT WAS TURKEY WHO REVIVED RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT: TURKISH FM

Today.Az
23.html
Oct 22 2009
Azerbaijan

The negotiations on Karabakh problem revived thanks to Ankara, which
until the end will fight for the liberation of Azerbaijan’s lands,
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.

"Turkey for a short time managed to break the deadlock on the
negotiations. Azerbaijani lands are also our lands and we will fight
for them," Davutoglu said in Baku.

He said thanks to the enthusiasm of Turkey the president of Azerbaijan
and Armenia held five meetings for five months.

"Turkey in this period reached a much greater success than someone else
thanks to "Platform for Stability and Development in the Caucasus" it
initiated. At a meeting with President Obama the first question that we
raised was Karabakh. The first question was Karabakh again at my recent
meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Turkey will
always raise this issue, in spite of everything," the minister said.

"We openly declare the Azerbaijani society that the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan is precious for us as that of Turkey. We
will never inflict any damage to it," Davutoglu said commenting on
the view that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will
harm the resolution of the Karabakh problem.

He said Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey are the countries of the region
that have potential of cooperation.

"In 18 years of occupation we have done and will do everything to
liberate the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Both previous and
the current government of Turkey will never change its policy on
Karabakh, nothing will harm our unity, and will not change strategy
on this matter in Turkey," he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister said that the meeting with his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov in Baku was "a meeting between two
brothers."

"There was a sincere and open dialogue. I note that we are a united
side. I personally gave a written order to 120 embassies and 180
consulates of Turkey worldwide to accept Azerbaijanis as Turkish
citizens and solve their problems. I said to Mammadyarov "This is
your embassy and consulates, and any citizen of Azerbaijan may contact
them for solving their problems," Davutoglu said.

AZERI SPY ARRESTED

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 21 2009
Armenia

RA National Security Service (RA NSS) arrested Gevorg Hayrapetyan
(Armenian citizen) on a charge of cooperation with Azeri special
services.

NSS press service told NEWS.am, Hayrapetyan was reserve lieutenant
colonel. In 2007 he was transferred to the reserve for severe
violations of military and service discipline. He is accused under
"Treason against the state as espionage" article. A foreign citizen
who maintained contact between Hayrapetyan and Azeri special services
was also detained.

AZERBAIJAN’S FM REPRESENTATIVE ALONE CAN UNDERSTAND HIS STATEMENT, SAYS BALAYAN

Tert
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

Head of the media relations department at Armenia’s Foreign Affairs
Ministry, Tigran Balayan, commented on Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign
Affairs representative Elhan Polukhov’s statement, according to
which Azerbaijan has always taken a constructive position in the
negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh and accused Armenia renouncing
agreements already made.

"Probably, Mr. Polukhov bears in mind the ‘constructiveness’ with
which Azerbaijan began a large-scale war against the Karabakh people,
by which it gave up the 2001 Paris principles, which were put to paper
in Key West, or the ‘constructiveness’ with which Azerbaijan denied,
for almost a year, the existence of the Madrid document presented in
2007. I think only Polukhov can understand his constructiveness."

TREATY OF KARS DENUNCIATION TO GUARANTEE SECURE NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2009 14:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia should denounce the Treaty of Kars to
neutralize the Azerbaijani factor in the process of Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation, according to former NKR Foreign Minister Arman
Melikyan.

"Armenia should ratify the Protocols only in case the Treaty of Kars
is denounced. Otherwise, we will be deprived of efficient diplomatic
tools," he said.