Author: Khoyetsian Rose

LAVROV: RUSSIA WELCOMES TURKEY’S CAUCASUS PLATFORM

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2008 13:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia welcomes Turkey’s initiative on formation of
a Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform as well as all other
moves meant for regional stability and security, Russia’s Foreign
Minister said.

"Advancing the idea, Turkey did not have exact plans but just offered
the countries in the region to make common cause," Sergei Lavrov said
during a joint news conference with his Armenian counterpart Edward
Nalbadnian in Yerevan.

For his part, the Armenian Minister said official Yerevan welcomes
efforts for ensuring regional security. "Consultations are in
the initial stage and Armenia is ready to continue them," Edward
Nalbandian said.

ARMENIA HAS OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH RELATIONS WITH TURKEY: US AMBASSADOR

Trend News Agency
02.10.08 18:41
Azerbaijan

Presently Armenia has the "historical opportunity" to establish
relations with Turkey and to advance the process of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement, the US Ambassador to Armenia Maria Yovanovich
stated.

Maria Yovanovich assured at her first press-conference in Yerevan
that she will make efforts to unblock the Armenian-Turkish border,
achieve settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and further
development of the Armenian-American relations, Mediamax reports.

"Details of initiative are still not clear and it is hard to comment
them, but the United States were always welcoming the initiatives on
strengthening of regional stability, integration and cooperation,"
Maria Yovanovich said. She was commenting on the question about
the US attitude towards Turkey’s initiative on establishment of the
"Platform of stability and cooperation in the Caucasus"

Each conflict is unique and should be solved in its own way, the
US Ambassador said with respect to the perspectives of the Karabakh
settlement amid the US support of Azerbaijani territorial integrity.

"Besides the principle of territorial integrity, which is very
important, there are also the principles of non-use of force and
self-determination. In the Nagorno-Karabakh case the process is
running, it is advancing and we hope to positive development," Maria
Yovanovich said.

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA WELCOME ANY STEP TARGETED AT ENSURING SECURITY AND STABILITY IN THE CAUCASUS

armradio.am
03.10.2008 15:29

Armenia and Russia welcome any step targeted at ensuring security and
stability in the Caucasus region, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia
and Georgia Edward Nalbandian and Sergey Lavrov stated during a joint
press conference. According to eth Foreign Minister of Armenia,
the formation of an atmosphere of security, stability, trust and
cooperation lays in the basis of creation of the Caucasus Platform,
and no country can oppose that idea. However, issues of its functions,
mechanisms, the format of participants still need to be discussed.

According to Sergey Lavrov, Russia also backs the steps targeted
at maintaining a stable, calm and comfortable situation for the
cooperation in the economic, humanitarian and security spheres.

Turning to his the trilateral meeting between himself and his
Azerbaijani and Turkish counterparts, Edward Nalbandian noted that it
was positive just because it took place, but it was hard to expect
concrete results from the first meeting. During the meeting they
discussed the issue of the Caucasus Platform and expressed willingness
to continue the meetings in this and other formats.

ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF SEPTEMBER 28 ELECTIONS OF HEAD OF YEREVAN’S NOR NORK COMMUNITY, CURRENT PREFECT HAS RECEIVED MAXIMUM VOTES

Noyan Tapan

Se p 29, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the preliminary
results of the September 28 elections of head of Yerevan’s Nor Nork
community, current prefect, RPA member David Petrosian has received
maximum votes. 16 913 voters have voted for him. The other candidate,
RPA member, currently unemployed Melik Gasparian has received 10
982 votes.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by district electoral
commission N 2, 29 395 out of 91 668 voters of the community took
part in the elections.

479 ballot-papers were invalidated. The number of inaccuracies is 56.

As of 10:40, September 29, district electoral commission N 2 had
received one application-complaint on the process of voting. The
deadline for submitting application-complaints was 14:00.

YEREVAN’S ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT TOUGHENS RULES, FORBIDS CARRYING LIQUID IN HAND LUGGAGE

ARKA
Sep 26, 2008

YEREVAN, September 26. /ARKA/. Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport will give
effect to new rules from October 1, prohibiting passengers to carry
liquid in hand luggage, the press service of Armenia’s national air
carrier Armavia reports.

According to the new rules, drinks, water, gels and aerosols in hand
luggage must not exceed 100ml.

All the passengers of Zvartnots, including transit passengers, are
to show inspectors the liquid in their bags and send it as heavy
luggage.

BUSH WON’T SUPPORT ISRAELI ATTACK ON IRAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2008 13:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US president told Israeli prime minister he would
not back attack on Iran, senior European diplomatic sources said.

Israel gave serious thought this spring to launching a military strike
on Iran’s nuclear sites but was told by President George W. Bush that
he would not support it and did not expect to revise that view for
the rest of his presidency, The Guardian reports.

"The then prime minister, Ehud Olmert, used the occasion of Bush’s trip
to Israel for the 60th anniversary of the state’s founding to raise the
issue in a one-on-one meeting on May 14, the sources said. "He took it
[the refusal of a US green light] as where they were at the moment,
and that the US position was unlikely to change as long as Bush was
in office", they added.

The sources work for a European head of government who met the Israeli
leader some time after the Bush visit. Their talks were so sensitive
that no note-takers attended, but the European leader subsequently
divulged to his officials the highly sensitive contents of what Olmert
had told him of Bush’s position.

Bush’s decision to refuse to offer any support for a strike on Iran
appeared to be based on two factors, the sources said. One was US
concern over Iran’s likely retaliation, which would probably include
a wave of attacks on US military and other personnel in Iraq and
Afghanistan, as well as on shipping in the Persian Gulf.

The other was US anxiety that Israel would not succeed in disabling
Iran’s nuclear facilities in a single assault even with the use
of dozens of aircraft. It could not mount a series of attacks over
several days without risking full-scale war. So the benefits would
not outweigh the costs.

Iran has repeatedly said it would react with force to any attack. Some
western government analysts believe this could include asking Lebanon’s
Shia movement Hizbollah to strike at the US.

Even if Israel were to launch an attack on Iran without US approval its
planes could not reach their targets without the US becoming aware of
their flightpath and having time to ask them to abandon their mission.

"The shortest route to Natanz lies across Iraq and the US has total
control of Iraqi airspace", the official said. Natanz, about 100
miles north of Isfahan, is the site of an uranium enrichment plant.

In this context Iran would be bound to assume Bush had approved it,
even if the White House denied fore-knowledge, raising the prospect
of an attack against the US.

Several high-level Israeli officials have hinted over the last two
years that Israel might strike Iran’s nuclear facilities to prevent
them being developed to provide sufficient weapons-grade uranium to
make a nuclear bomb. Iran has always denied having such plans.

Olmert himself raised the possibility of an attack at a press
conference during a visit to London last November, when he said
sanctions were not enough to block Iran’s nuclear program.

"Economic sanctions are effective. They have an important impact
already, but they are not sufficient. So there should be more. Up to
where? Up until Iran will stop its nuclear program," he said.

The revelation that Olmert was not merely saber-rattling to try to
frighten Iran but considered the option seriously enough to discuss
it with Bush shows how concerned Israeli officials had become.

Bush’s refusal to support an attack, and the strong suggestion he would
not change his mind, is likely to end speculation that Washington
might be preparing an "October surprise" before the US presidential
election. Some analysts have argued that Bush would back an Israeli
attack in an effort to help John McCain’s campaign by creating an
eve-of-poll security crisis.

Others have said that in the case of an Obama victory, the
vice-president, Dick Cheney, the main White House hawk, would want
to cripple Iran’s nuclear program in the dying weeks of Bush’s term.

During Saddam Hussein’s rule in 1981, Israeli aircraft successfully
destroyed Iraq’s nuclear reactor at Osirak shortly before it was due
to start operating.

Last September they knocked out a buildings complex in northern Syria,
which US officials later said had been a partly constructed nuclear
reactor based on a North Korean design. Syria said the building was
a military complex but had no links to a nuclear program.

In contrast, Iran’s nuclear facilities, which are officially described
as intended only for civilian purposes, are dispersed around the
country and some are in fortified bunkers underground.

In public, Bush gave no hint of his view that the military option
had to be excluded. In a speech to the Knesset the following day he
confined himself to telling Israel’s parliament: "America stands with
you in firmly opposing Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions. Permitting
the world’s leading sponsor of terror to possess the world’s deadliest
weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations. For the
sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

Three weeks after Bush’s red light, on June 2, Israel mounted a
massive air exercise covering several hundred miles in the eastern
Mediterranean. It involved dozens of warplanes, including F-15s,
F-16s and aerial refueling tankers.

The size and scope of the exercise ensured that the US and other
nations in the region saw it, said a US official, who estimated the
distance was about the same as from Israel to Natanz.

A few days later, Israel’s deputy prime minister, Shaul Mofaz, told
the paper Yediot Ahronot: "If Iran continues its program to develop
nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The window of opportunity has
closed. The sanctions are not effective. There will be no alternative
but to attack Iran in order to stop the Iranian nuclear program."

The exercise and Mofaz’s comments may have been designed to boost
the Israeli government and military’s own morale as well, perhaps,
to persuade Bush to reconsider his veto. Last week Mofaz narrowly
lost a primary within the ruling Kadima party to become Israel’s
next prime minister. Tzipi Livni, who won the contest, takes a less
hawkish position.

The US announced two weeks ago that it would sell Israel 1,000
bunker-busting bombs. The move was interpreted by some analysts as a
consolation prize for Israel after Bush told Olmert of his opposition
to an attack on Iran. But it could also enhance Israel’s attack
options in case the next US president revives the military option.

The guided bomb unit-39 (GBU-39) has a penetration capacity equivalent
to a one-tonne bomb. Israel already has some bunker-busters," the
article says.

OPPOSITION RALLY TO BE HELD IN NORTHERN AVENUE

A1+
[05:15 pm] 24 September, 2008

The Armenian National Congress has already notified the Yerevan
City Hall about the upcoming rally and march on September 26. The
City Hall rejected the notification with a groundless and fake
excuse. The leitmotif of the coming rally is the local election in
Kentron district.

The candidate of the Armenian National Congress Ararat Zurabyan who
stands for the district head of Kentron commune, has also applied
to the City Hall to hold a pre-election meeting with his voters on
September 26. Violating the Election Code, the City Hall declined
that notification as well. We do not accept these rejections as they
violate the constitutional rights of Armenian citizens and the rights
set down in the Declaration on Human Rights. We will exercise our
rights and hold the rally on September 26.

Dear compatriots, We will not allow any provocations. At the same time
we have the opportunity to respond to the toughness of the regime
by the solution of a problem which has become highly important in
the given conditions. We aim to win the local elections in Kentron
commune. The Armenian National Congress and its candidate Ararat
Zurabyan have every possibility to win. The victory will be of a
great psychological importance and will change not only the internal
political and psychological atmosphere but also the correlation of
forces in a short period of time.

We certainly do not doubt that the government will try to use their
arsenal of illegalities, but we are also convinced that our force
is enough to curb illegalities, reduce their effect, and reveal the
real outcome of vote. This possibility cannot be missed. Therefore,
considering the exceptional political importance of the election,
the Armenian National Congress appeals to its supporters all
over the country: Contact your relatives, friends, acquaintances
living in the district and ask them to vote for Ararat Zurabyan on
September 28. Visit the election offices of our candidate and offer
your help. Participate in Ararat Zurabyan’s pre-election rally due
at 6 pm, SEPTEMBER 26 in NORTHERN AVENUE.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

September 22, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

NGOs SELECTED FOR COALITION BUILDING PROGRAM

Washington, DC – The League of Women Voters (LWV), the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly) and the NGO Center, Civil Society
Development Organization (NGOC) are pleased to announce the selection
of six NGOs to participate in the launch of a Coalition Building
education program for local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in
southern Armenia.

The goal of this program is to provide and expand on existing skill
sets for effective coalition and cross-sector coalition
building. Through a series of focused coaching sessions, homework
assignments, and team-building exercises, NGO representatives will
learn how to build and maintain coalitions and work together to
effectively advocate for positive change in their communities.

Selection Committee members met earlier this month to review the
applications. Six NGOs were selected. Each NGO will send two
representatives to participate in the three, two-week sessions to be
held in September, October and November, in Yeghegnadzor, in Armenia’s
Vayots Dzor Region. LWV Deputy Director Zaida Arguedas, Assembly
Country Director Arpi Vartanian and NGOC Trainer/Consultant and
Program Coordinator Hripsime Nazaretyan, extend their thanks to fellow
Selection Committee Members from the Armenian Young Women’s
Association/Yerevan, Counterpart International, National Democratic
Institute and OSCE/Yerevan, for their active participation and
support.

Of the six NGOs selected, four are from the Vayots Dzor Region and two
are from the Syunik Region. Within their own communities, all of the
NGOs selected have specific areas of concern, ranging from health and
social issues to education and cultural issues, to human rights, to
overcoming stereotypes, to garbage collection, to issues of the
disabled, and more. By forming coalitions, NGOs can work with each
other and their local communities to overcome these issues.

Vartanian remarked, "I’d like to extend my thanks to our Selection
Committee for their valuable input and support, which is helping this
project move forward. Each of the NGOs that will participate in this
project has something important to offer to the program. Upon
successfully graduating this course, they will be part of a core group
of NGOs that will lay the foundations in southern Armenia for
effective cross-sector coalitions and partnerships."

NGOs Selected

Syunik Disabled People Support Organization, Voghji, advocates for the
rights of those with special needs, and assists the integration of the
disabled into society by addressing their social, legal, education,
and health related issues.

The Women’s Association of Kapan, promotes gender equality and the
active participation of women in the public, political, economic and
social issues in the Syunik Region.

Huys-98 (Hope-98) NGO, from Vayk, concentrates primarily on issues in
the social, cultural, health and education sectors by providing
consultations on social, psychological, and legal issues and
organizing community development activities.

Fund Against Violation of Law, Vayk Branch, works primarily in the
legal sector, supporting the establishment of democracy and peace
building initiatives, through community development, to victims of war
and violence, in particular, refugees, former hostages, war prisoners,
etc.

Fund Against Violation of Law, Yeghegnadzor Branch, working in the
Vayots Dzor, Syunik, and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia, addresses
legal, community development, health, and youth issues. Services are
provided to victims of war, ethnic minorities, and others whose rights
have been violated.

The Armenian Young Women’s Association, Yeghegnadzor Branch, focuses
on advocacy, service delivery, education and overcoming
stereotypes. AYWA’s mission is to enhance the status of and encourage
the participation of young women in public, political, economic,
educational, cultural and other fields, by working with young women
and men.

Nazaretyan, long-time Trainer and Consultant with the NGO Center, is
the Program Coordinator for this program. As a Trainer with the NGOC
since its establishment in 1994 as a project of the Assembly, she
brings a wealth of experience to this project. The NGOC’s goal is to
promote democracy through civil society development. In 2005, the NGOC
registered as a separate, local entity, and continues to work with
NGOs and other elements of civil society.

Arguedas also remarked "I like to thank all those who have joined us
to make this project a possibility. This program commences on
September 22, and we look forward to all its success to the region and
Armenia." Arguedas will be in Armenia from September 18 – October 4.

This project is made possible through the collective efforts of the
League of Women Voters of the United States, the Armenian Assembly of
America and the NGO Center Civil Society Development NGO. Funding for
this project has been provided in the form of a grant to the League of
Women Voters by private donors and Assembly Trustees Charles Talanian
and Peter Vosbikian.

The NGOC was established in 1994, as a project of the Armenian
Assembly of America to promote democracy through civil society
development. In 2005, it registered as a separate, local entity in
Armenia. Targeting NGOs, community based organizations (CBOs), civic
action groups (CAGs) and other elements of civil society, the NGO
Center continues to help them in their efforts to develop a strong NGO
sector in Armenia.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization,
encourages informed and active participation in government, works to
increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences
public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League
is open to men and women of all ages. With more than 88 years of
experience and 850 local and state affiliates, the League is one of
America’s most trusted grassroots organizations.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#2008-067

Editor’s Note: Photo can be viewed by following this link:
s/PR_-_2008/Sept/Selection-Committee-16-ECWB.jpg

Photo Caption: L to R – Alex Sardar, Counterpart International; Lilit
Asatryan, Armenian Young Women’s Youth Association; Tsovinar
Harutiunyan, OSCE; Hripsime Nazaretyan, NGO Center Civil Society
Development Organization; Inga Kirakosyan, National Democratic
Institute and Arpi Vartanian, Armenian Assembly of America

ORANGE HAS INTENTION OF LONG-TERM OPERATION IN ARMENIA, OFFICIAL OF
COMPANY SAYS

Y EREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. It is important how many
subscribers Orange company will have during the first year of its
operation in Armenia. Given the fact that France Telecom has long-term
operation plans in Armenia, the circumstance of having the maximum
number of subscribers in the long run by providing high quality
services is even more important, NT correspondent was informed by
Jean-Michel Serre, the chief deputy president for business development
in Europe, Eurasia and America of France Telecom group’s Orange
company. Orange is among the three companies that have passed to the
final stage of the government-held tender for a third mobile phone
communication operator in Armenia.

According to him, in the 40 days that remain for submitting a final
tender proposal, the company will conduct additional technical studies,
based on the results of which it will be announced how much time it
will take for Orange to introduce the mobile communication service
provision system and how much it will cost.

He assured NT correspondent that France Telecom has experience of
introducing new services of a mobile communication operator in various
countries, and sufficient resources which it will invest in Armenia in
case of winning the tender. In this case Orange will introduce the
2G/3G mobile communication service system, as well as Internet services
through mobile communication in Armenia, after which studies will be
done to determine the opportunities of providing other services, in
particular broadband Internet services.

Discussing Armenia’s legislative field and business practice in the
communication sector, J-M. Serre said: "I do not see any serious
problems at the moment. If problems arise in a country, we use our
experience and the necessary resources to deal with them. We have
introduced mobile communication networks in about 30 countries. Each
country has its own difficulties. I do not remember a case when we
failed to overcome a problem."

He also explained that the assortment of services to be included in
Orange’s package of mobile communication services depends on the market
of the given country. For example, in some countries the company
provides broadband Internet services (including to households), as well
as mobile and fixed-line phone services, so the package contains a wide
range of services as compared with countries where only mobile
communication services are provided.

It was mentioned that Orange builds broadband Internet service
provision networks by using nearly 30 technologies, which are
introduced in different combinations in different countries, even in
different areas of the same country or city – depending on local
conditions. According to J.-M. Serre, France Telecom has 4 thousand
experts working worldwide. They decide what combination of new
technologies and services has to be introduced in the given place. In
some countries Orange combines broadband Internet service provision by
itself and retail providers, while in others either of these ways is
used. Besides, there are countries where Orange uses channels of other
operators. In particular, in France where France Telecom provides
fixed-line phone services, Orange delivers broadband, 8 megabit/sec
Internet services by a prepayment-unlimited use system. In some other
countries services are provided by received and transferred data
volumes.

The official of Orange company told NT correspondent that every six
months France Telecom organizes shows of its services, every time
displaying about 20 new services. He added that Orange Business Service
package services are already availabale in Armenia, while official
presence of Orange company in Armenia will allow to promote and expand
their use.

J.-M. Serre said that wherever France Telecom starts its activities, it
becomes an industrial partner of the given state if its government
proposes some projects.

According to website, France Telecom group of companies
has 174 million users in 28 developed and developing countrues, with
two thirds of them being users of Orange’s services. The gross sales of
the group made 52.9 bln euros in 2007 and 26.3 bln euros in the first
half of 2008. As of June 30, 2008, France Telecom had 113.8 million
mobile communication subscribers and 12 million ADSL broadband Internet
service users. France Telecom is in third place in the world by its
sales in the mobile communication sector and in first place by sales in
Internet sector. It is the world leader in Internet phone connection
and television sectors.

TURQUIE-ARMENIE: BRUXELLES PRONE LA NORMALISATION DES RELATIONS

RIA Novosti
16 Sept 2008
Russie

BRUXELLES, 16 septembre – RIA Novosti. Sur fond d’embellie entre
l’Armenie et la Turquie, l’Union europeenne prône la normalisation
des relations bilaterales, a declare lundi a Bruxelles Jean-Pierre
Jouyet, secretaire d’Etat francais aux Affaires europeennes, dont le
pays preside actuellement l’UE.

"Nous esperons la normalisation des relations", a-t-il confie lors
d’un point presse a Bruxelles, où se deroule une reunion entre la
Troïka ministerielle de l’UE et la Turquie.

M. Jouyet a qualifie de "geste historique" la presence du president
turc Abdullah Gul lors d’un match football opposant les selections
des deux pays dans le cadre des qualifications pour le Mondial-2010
debut septembre, donnant lieu a des negociations entre les leaders.

"Cette visite est un geste plus que symbolique, c’est un geste
historique", a-t-il affirme.

Les relations diplomatiques entre la Turquie et l’Armenie sont
inexistantes et la frontière est fermee depuis 1993 a l’initiative
d’Ankara. La partie turque estime que le règlement du conflit du
Haut-Karabakh et l’abandon de la part de l’Armenie de la demande de
reconnaissance politique internationale du genocide armenien dans
l’Empire ottoman pendant la première guerre mondiale, pourraient
contribuer au retablissement des relations entre les deux pays.

–Boundary_(ID_gnQusFDKM9TnpAI9Y9KW4g)–