Author: Mamian George

MONITORING OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONTACT LINE, NO VIOLATION OF CEASEFIRE

Tert.am
13:28 ~U 02.02.10

According to the earlier agreement with the authorities of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission held a regular monitoring
of the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces’ contact-line, near NKR
Martakert region’s Levonarkh village, on February 2, reads a press
release issued by the Nagorno-Karabakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the mission was led by
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk. The monitoring group comprised of Field Assistants of the
OSCE Chair-in-Office’s Personal Representative Vladimir Chuntulov
(Bulgaria) and Jaslan Nurtazin (Kazakhstan).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule, and no
violation of the ceasefire regime was fixed.

>From the Karabakh party, the monitoring mission was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry
of Defense.

HALTING CONFRONTATION IN ARMENIA BY SMOTHERING THE POLITICAL FIRE

Lragir.am
29/01/10

By Maj Gen (Ret) Kulwant Singh and Dr David Leffler

A new technology of defense is now available that has been
scientifically shown to prevent war and create peace by harnessing
the deepest level of nature’s functioning.

War is ultimately a human problem requiring a human solution.

Scientists postulate that the underlying cause of war is accumulated
social stress. As social stress builds, groups take sides, diplomats
become unable to resolve their differences, and enemies arise within
or outside the nation.

Any military organization is theoretically a deterrent shield that
permits national policy to be executed without armed interference.

When social division and enemies directly challenge this execution of
national policy, military force can be invoked to protect the nation by
means of deployment and action. At this point, armed conflict results,
with unpredictable outcomes. But even if conflict temporarily solves
the problem for the victor, the social stress remains, fueling future
cycles of conflict. In contrast, the absence of collective stress
translates into the absence of tension between competing sides,
thereby reducing the probability of hostilities.

Today, the military of Armenia has an opportunity to overcome the
cycle of war by deploying a scientifically verified technology of
defense that neutralizes social stress. This technology is based on
the unified field of all the laws of nature – the most fundamental
and powerful level of nature’s dynamics. Since the unified field
is the source of the objective world, its power cannot be harnessed
through objective technologies. A new approach is needed – one that
draws upon subjective traditions of meditation.

The late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi revived systematic subjective
technologies for experiencing the unified field, including the
Transcendental Meditation program and its advanced techniques. When
used in a military context these meditation practices are known as
Invincible Defence Technology (IDT). They have been successfully
applied by members of many faiths to eliminate conflict. If the
Armenian military were to apply these non-lethal and non-destructive
technologies, Armenia could reduce collective societal stress and
resultant tensions.

Over 50 research studies confirm that when the required threshold
of IDT experts is crossed – approximately the square root of 1% of
a given population – crime goes down, quality of life indices go up,
and war and terrorism abate. Scientists have named this phenomenon the
Maharishi Effect, as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi first predicted it. The
causal mechanism appears to be a field effect of consciousness –
a spillover effect on the level of the unified field from the
peace-creating group into the larger population.

In 1993, a two-month Maharishi Effect intervention was implemented
in Washington, DC. The findings published in Social Indicators
Research showed that crime fell 24 percent when the peace-creating
group reached its maximum size. A global-scale study published in
the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation documented a 72% drop in
international terrorism.

The Armenian military is responsible for defending the country. It can
now succeed in this mission simply by creating a Prevention Wing –
a coherence-creating group of IDT experts exceeding the square root
of 1% of the population of Armenia – approximately 177 soldiers.

As part of its responsibility to protect the nation, Armenia’s military
is obligated to thoroughly examine scientifically proven methods for
preventing war and terrorism. All that is necessary is to provide
the proper training for a group of military personnel – or indeed,
any large group within the country. Armenia has the opportunity today
through IDT to create national security, invincibility, and peace. But
the time to act is now.

About the Authors:

Major General Kulwant Singh, UYSM., PhD, leads an international
group of generals and defense experts that advocates Invincible
Defense Technology.

David Leffler, PhD, a US Air Force veteran, is the Executive Director
at the Center for Advanced Military Science (CAMS).

ANGELA MERKEL VS. RECEP ERDOGAN

News.am
16:25 / 01/29/2010

According to the survey "At Home in Europe – Muslims in Europe"
conducted by the London-based Open Society Institute, 75% of Muslims
living in Germany do not identify themselves with Germans. Referring
to the survey, the Yerkramas newspaper published by the Armenian
community in Russia, Germany showed the worst result, as Muslims
feel more "at home" in all the other European states. Specifically,
70% of Muslims residing in London, and 82% residing in Leicester,
identify themselves with the British.

Boris Kharkovsky, expert for the Center of Ethnic & Political Studies,
gives a simple explanation: unlike other European countries, most
of the Muslims residing in Germany are ethnic Turks. "Most of the
Muslims residing in Germany do not identify themselves with their
country of residence, as they are Turks. During their history Turks
have shown aggression toward other peoples – both inside and outside
Turkey. We can only remember regular Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, Kurd
genocides, Turks’ wars with their neighbors, invasion of Cyprus,
xenophobia reigning in the country," the expert said.

Turks retain this mentality outside Turkey as well, which is greatly
supported by the Turkish authorities’ pan-Turkic inclinations,
Kharkovsky said. "They in Germany well remember Turkish Premier
Recep Erdogan’s visit in 2008. Speaking before 20,000 Turks at a
Koln stadium, the Turkish Premier called on his nationals to resist
integration into the German society, receive education in Turkish
and realize their power. ‘You are three millions already,’ stated
Erdogan," Kharkovsky said. His statement caused indignation among
Turkish politicians. Wolfgang Schauble, who was then Federal Minister
of the Interior, stated that "Erdogan brought Turkish nationalism
to the German land." He expressed doubts that a state with leaders
holding views like that would hardly joint the European Union.

Angela Merkel had to remind the Turkish Premier that she was still
Chancellor of Germany and, therefore, of the Turks residing in the
country. "If a person comes to Germany, he or she must observe the
country’s laws instead of hearing foreign statesmen’s prompts – what
he or she must or must not do, to what extent to integrate and how
to behave," Merkel said.

ARTHUR PETROSYAN TO REPLACE ARMEN GEVORGYAN AS MINISTER OF SPORT
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
29.01.2010 13:23

The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Armen Gevorgyan, has submitted
his resignation to the President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh
Sargsyan, Khachik Galstyan, Spokesman for the leader of the Prosperous
Armenia Party, told "Radiolur."

According to Khachik Galstyan, Armen Grigoryan will be replaced by
Arthur Petrosyan, who currently occupies the position of the Head of
the State Labour Inspectorate of Armenia.

ARMY IS ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT’S STABILITY GUARANTEE

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2010 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On occasion of Armenian Army Day, RA Ombudsman
Armen Harutyunyan issued a congratulatory statement, characterizing
Army as Armenian government’s stability guarantee.

The Ombudsman expressed confidence that reforms implemented in the
sphere of Armed forces will provide Armenian soldiers’ fighting
efficiency and wellbeing.

He congratulated Armenian Army soldiers on this notable day, wishing
them health, strength of will and successful service, Armenian
Ombudsman’s press service reported.

TURKEY ASKS FOR GUARANTEE FROM BERN, WASHINGTON ON BEHALF OF ARMENIA

Hurriyet Daily News
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Turkey asks United States and Switzerland, the official mediator
between Ankara and Yerevan, to give written clarification that the
recent decision of Armenian Constitutional court will not legally
close the door to challenge the claims of genocide. "We will try to
find a solution on the legal ground," says a Turkish official

Armenia’s constitutional court acknowledged the legality of a landmark
deal that would re-establish ties with Turkey. Ankara argues the
decision legally closes the door to a debate challenging the genocide
claims. AFP photo Turkey will start talks with Switzerland and the
United States to get legal clarification that the recent decision
of the Armenian court will not prevent a debate between Ankara and
Yerevan on whether or not the 1915 killings of Armenians at the hands
of Ottomans amounted to genocide.

The recent decision by the Armenian Constitutional Court on the
protocols agreed to by Armenia and Turkey to start normalization of
relations has angered Ankara, which argues the decision legally closes
the door to a debate challenging the genocide claims. Turkish reaction
has been interpreted by some as a pretext not to ratify the protocols
in the Parliament due to the objections of the opposition parties.

"This is absolutely not true. We do not want the reconciliation
process with Armenia to collapse," said a senior Turkish official.

The groundbreaking protocols signed last October foresee the
establishment of diplomatic ties, the opening of the border as well
as the establishment of a committee that will discuss the 1915 events.

The Armenian Constitutional Court ruled last week that the protocols
were in conformity with the Armenian constitution, but Turkey’s major
source of concern is the court’s reference to the Armenian Declaration
of Independence. The court said the interpretation and application of
the protocols should be in compliance with the Armenian constitution
and paragraph 11 of the Armenian Declaration of Independence, which
states: "The Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of
achieving international recognition of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman
Turkey and Western Armenia."

If the Armenians continue to consider the events of 1915 as an
undisputable genocide, in the Turkish view, this goes against the
essence of the normalization process. "We can set up a commission of
historians that can talk about everything on the 1915 events, yet
cannot discuss whether it was genocide or not because the Armenian
court ruled this is not an issue open to discussion," said a Turkish
official. "We immediately asked for clarification from Armenia, the
United States and Switzerland," said the same official. Switzerland
was the mediator during last year’s talks between Turks and Armenians.

Switzerland has first agreed with Turkey’s concerns, yet after talks
with Armenians said the Swiss government was ready to guarantee Turkey
that the court ruling would not hamper the process, according to the
Turkish official. "We have asked Switzerland to give us a written
guarantee," said the official. Although the Swiss were unwilling to
give the written guarantee, the concerned sides decided to continue
the dialogue. "We will talk to Switzerland and the U.S. and try to
find a solution on legal grounds," the official added.

Meanwhile, Turkey has urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach a partial
agreement that will pave the way later for a lasting solution to
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. So far talks between the Armenians
and the Azerbaijanis have focused on five subjects. One of them is
the withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the occupied Azerbaijani
territory surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

While the protocols foresee no direct link between the Turkish-Armenian
normalization and Nagorno-Karabakh, talks between Armenian and
Azerbaijani leadership gained momentum after the start of the
reconciliation process between Ankara and Yerevan, according to
Turkish officials. "Our relations with Armenia have deteriorated due
to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. If there is no change in the
Armenian-Azerbaijani track, then the efforts for Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation can backfire," said the Turkish official.

VICENZAORO FIRST 2010 CLOSES WITH SIGNS OF CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE

01.27.10

The first international gold and jewellery show in the annual fair
calendar, Vicenzaoro First 2010, has ended.

The figures for the flow of visitors to Vicenzaoro First fully
confirm its centrality and importance for the sector. The presences
of accredited operators at the end of the sixth day numbered 17,969
compared with 13,154 in 2009. The countries best represented were:
France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Israel, Turkey and the USA.

The presence was recorded of buyers from the most important department
stores and luxury retailers at international level, people of the
calibre of Scott Martin from Saks Fifth Avenue (USA), Mehul Choksi
from the Gitanjali Group (India), Anna Avakian from Mercury (Armenia),
Alex Popov from Moscow Diamon Bourse (Russia) and Alon Torjeman from
Padani (Israel).

The noticeable increase in the presence of operators can also be
interpreted as greater interest in gold and jewellery products and
purchases from the end customers too.

For the moment, it is not possible to transform these positive
indications into secure order forecasts and it will be necessary to
obtain specific precise data from other sources to do so.

A certain liveliness was perceptible during these fair days and allows
us to hope that the definitive data will effectively be in growth.

"The positive feelings expressed in these last few days," commented
the incoming Chairman, Roberto Ditri, "have further reinforced my
enthusiasm for my new position and my conviction that with these
premises, the approval of the shareholders, and the collaboration of
the staff, we will be able to fine-tune great projects and proposals
for consolidating Fiera di Vicenza leadership role on the international
stage and provide support for the entire gold sector.

These days of full emersion in the gold business," Ditri continued,
"have let me gather lots of fundamental ideas from entrepreneurs,
operators, economic categories and media for defining future
strategies which will be tackled and discussed very soon by the Board
of Directors."

The lively climate that could be felt in the exhibition pavilions was
reflected by the support for the show and for the jewellery sector
by the city, institutions, business people and townspeople. The
inaugural day, attended by all the public representatives, ended
with the Golden Night, an evening in which Vicenza welcomed the
businesses and operators with late opening in the shops, events,
shows and performances by artists.

The sector is coming from a very long and deep recession. The demand
for gold and jewellery in 2009 recorded a steep fall of about 18% at
world level with very marked downturns in the United States (-17%),
in the Arab countries and in Europe. The sole sign of solidity came
from the Chinese market where there was a 12% increase in the demand
for gold and 8% growth in jewellery.

The forecasts indicate a market recovery for 2010, the scale of
which will however be linked to the performance of the economy in
the various parts of the world.

Vicenzaoro First is the first international exhibition of the new
Fiera di Vicenza Spa, a company established on 22 December 2009
with the merger by incorporation of the property company and the
management company.

The Board of Directors of the new Fiera di Vicenza, elected unanimously
by the majority shareholders (the Commune, Province and Chamber of
Commerce) is composed of business people and technicians: Michele
Amenduni, Paolo Brunello, Renato Corr?, Ambrogio Dalla Rovere,
Antonio Pilastro and Stefano Stenta (Vice-Chairman).

It met for the first time on 15 January and elected Roberto Ditri
as Chairman.

Roberto Ditri, managing director of Marelli Motori, part of the British
Melrose Plc group, is an international manager with a wide variety
of commitments in trade associations at regional and national level.

Ditri has full powers and also fills the role of managing director
of Fiera di Vicenza SpA.

HAMLET HOVSEPYAN: WE MISSED A HISTORICAL CHANCE TO WIN BACK NAKHIJEVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2010 13:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Commander of Sasuntsi Davit detachment Hamlet
Hovsepyan, Arabo detachment commander Manvel Eghiazaryan and Karabakh
war hero Samvel Matevosyan gave a press conference Thursday on occasion
of the 18th anniversary of the Armenian Army formation.

"I was often asked why I left the post of a judge and went to the
front. The answer is simple: who if not me?" said Hamlet Hovsepyan.

"When our detachment was formed the soldiers were armed with shotguns.

Now, the Armenian army is developing day by day and serves the state,"
he said adding that during the battles in Yeraskh, Armenia missed a
historical chance to win back Nakhijevan, because of the ban of the
Soviet Union.

"Bravery not power is the driving force in a war," Manvel Eghiazaryan
said for his part.

ARMENIAN-CYPRIOT DELEGATION VISITED NICOSIA: GIBRAHAYER

News.am
13:18 / 01/28/2010

January 24, 2010, an Armenian-Cypriot delegation headed by Archbishop
Varoujan Hergelian visited Armenian complex in Turkish-occupied Nicosia
to view the initial progress of the restoration of the medieval
Sourp Asdvadzadzin church. In addition, they went to Prelature,
the Melikian-Ouzounian and kindergarten buildings of the community’s
school and Armenian Genocide monument, Gibrahayer e-magazine reports.

"The planning phase of the restoration project was completed last
December. Recently, the contract was awarded to EMEK Ltd. contractors
and the works are currently under way," the source informs.

OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE TO VISIT ARMENIA IN FEBRUARY

armradio.am
27.01.2010 17:46

Secretary of the National Security Council of Armenia Arthur
Baghdasaryan received the OSCE delegation headed by Talgat Kaliyev,
Head of Kazakhstan’s Policy Planning Committee.

Talgat Kaliyev presented the steps Kazakhstan is going to take during
its chairmanship and underlined that as an OSCE-presiding country
Kazakhstan will pay special attention to the South Caucasus region.

During the meeting the parties discussed issues related to the
cooperation between Armenia and Kazakhstan within the framework of the
OSCE. Arthur Baghdasaryan noted that "Armenia stands for establishment
of lasting peace and stability in the region.

Talgat Kaliyev informed that the OSCE Chairman-in-Office will visit
Armenia in February.