Author: Nahapetian Boris

SERZH SARGSYAN MANAGED TO PERSUADE DIASPORA WHILE TURKEY IS NOT ABLE TO PERSUADE AZERIS, TURKISH JOURNALIST SAYS

NOYAN TAPAN
DECEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. "We accept the Armenian-Turkish
protocols without preconditions but real life is different: the
Turkish government is pressed by society and Azerbaijan," Badri
Gursey, a correspondent of the Milliyet newspaper, who arrived in
Yerevan, declared at a December 17 press conference. "I do not think
that against Azerbaijan’s opinion the protocols can be ratified," he
mentioned emphasizing that the Azeri moods are used by the Turkish
opposition. According to B. Gursey, the opposition protests saying
that Azerbaijan’s interests are violated and therefore the issue of
protocols has reached a deadlock.

The Turkish journalist expressed an opinion that at the price of
losing Azerbaijan Turkey will move forward only in some cases and in
certain situations but found it difficult to mention in what
situations concretely. B. Gursey also stressed that the
Armenian-Turkish relations regard not only the two countries but also
the whole region and in order to succeed Azerbaijan should also take
part in the negotiations process.

The other speaker, CNN Turk TV channel’s correspondent Ferhat Boratav,
declared that today Armenia and Turkey "do not dance tango two
together," another three states, including U.S. and Russia, also dance
that tango. Turkey and Azerbaijan, as he mentioned, are players of a
big game which is called "axis of East-West energy carriers." "No one
imagined at first that Azerbaijan can leave the game," F. Boratav
said.

He mentioned that at the stage of discussion of the protocols
President Serzh Sargsyan visited Diaspora’s communities, gave
explanations to Diasporan Armenians, and the Turks considered it
natural. Just this way, according to F. Boratav, Turkey considers it
necessary to consult with Azerbaijan which is also a natural
phenomenon. However the difference, according to him, is that S.

Sargsyan managed to persuade the Diasporan Armenians while Turkey is
not able to persuade Azeris.

In response to the question of whether he is ready to personally
apologize for the Armenian Genocide B. Gursey declared that he is not
at the court. And F. Boratav in connection with the same question
mentioned that not apologizing but knowing and accepting the truth is
important. He also expressed an opinion that not historians but
lawyers and the court can give a final conclusion on the Genocide.

OSCE MG ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN KARABAKH ISSUE: GORDON

NEWS.am
15:43 / 12/16/2009

U.S. hopes for quick progress in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said U.S.

Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon, Azerbaijani APA news
agency reports.

According to him, OSCE Minsk Group is actively engaged in Karabakh
peace process.

"We think this is mutually important and I do hope that we can make
progress very soon on it. It is important to us. There are some basic
understandings of the basic principles that would be necessary to
resolve this conflict, and I believe all of the parties would benefit
if there were a resolution of the conflict," Gordon told APA.

South Caucasus, Middle East, Iran’s nuke program and other regional
issues are some of the EU-U.S. cooperation fields, Gordon underlined
at the hearings under "The Lisbon Treaty: Implications for Future
Relations between the European Union and the United States" head,
APA says.

AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION GROUP WILL SUPPORT PRESIDENT IN EVENT OF WAR

Novosti-Azerbaijan
Wed 16 December 2009 | 12:31 GMT

Azerbaijan’s occupied land The Union for Democracy has said that it
will support the Azerbaijani president if "anti-terror operations"
are held on the land occupied by Armenia.

The Union for Democracy, which brings together some of the smaller
opposition parties in Azerbaijan, held a forum on Karabakh on
Wednesday. The forum was attended by political parties that are not
members of the union, MPs and public organizations as well as by the
union’s member parties.

The forum discussed the negotiating process to find a settlement to
the Karabakh conflict.

The forum said the Azerbaijani authorities should inform the public
about the negotiating process.

It also said that a national programme on the Karabakh problem should
be drawn up by the political parties and the government.

HANDCAR RUNS DOWN A MAN AT BAYANDUR-GYUMRI RAILWAY SECTOR

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.12.2009 11:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A handcar ran down a man at Bayandur-Gyumri
railway sector on December 15, reported the press office of the South
Caucasian Railways.

According to the report, the driver could not make out what was on
the rails due to poor visibility. When approaching he saw a man aging
50-55, who did not react to honking. Emergency braking did not help.

Investigation is underway.

Q&A: OPENING OF ARMENIA -TURKEY BORDER OR IMPROVING THE DOMESTIC ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
Hayk Petrosyan

The Civilitas Foundation
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 10:58

Dialogue

In our previous poll, we asked which would be of greater benefit to
Armenia’s economy , opening of Armenia -Turkey border or Improving
the domestic economic and political environment . Before proceeding
to discussion of the poll results, a little bit about the poll itself.

One of the respondents asked whether the choices contradict each
another, or if it is not possible to implement both simultaneously.

Certainly it is possible and even desirable. The question however was
really the following: which of these two measures is more tangible,
visible and in the long-run will have a positive influence on the
economy of Armenia. In other words, what is the most direct way of
solving economic problems: opening the Armenia-Turkey border by all
means or directing our efforts to finding solutions to the internal
systemic problems.

The majority of our respondents, 88 percent, think that domestic
reforms will have a better influence on the economy. Fourteen percent
think that opening the border is a higher priority.

Without disputing the necessity of the open border, we agree with
the majority of our respondents that opening the border can not have
a magical influence on the economy when and especially while the
domestic economic and political systemic problems are not yet solved.

When we talk about the problems we mean the low level of the
diversification of the economy and the existence of monopolies
and the lack of economic competitiveness and a number of other
entrenched obstacles. After all, today we have two open borders,
but the economic issues of the country are not resolved. In fact,
even with closed borders, foreign trade turnover between Armenia and
Turkey last year was 4.7 percent of the total foreign trade turnover,
which is more than the trade with Georgia and Iran where with open
borders, they amount to 2.4 percent and 4.3 percent respectively.

Needless to say, our trade balance with Turkey is negative; indeed
the ratio is 98.5 to 1.5 percent. That is, nearly the entire trade
activity is in the form of imports by Armenia. Even with the open
border doubling or tripling the trade turnover between our countries,
it is obvious that the volume of exports will remain low. No doubt,
that the open border has a certain transit potential for some goods
which will in the long-run create some economic opportunities, but
the economic miracles and long-run solutions should be sought not in
or across the borders but at home.

ARMENIAN MEN’S CHESS NATIONAL TEAM TO TAKE PART IN WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Dec 9, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Chess Team Championship
will start on January 4 2010 in the city of Bursa, Turkey. National
teams of Armenia, Russia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Israel, U.S., Turkey,
Azerbaijan, and Greece will take part in it.

Armenia’s team for the fourth time will perform in this world
competition. The Armenian chess players took the third place in
the previous three championships. The Armenian Chess Federation has
established national team’s staff: Levon Aronian, Vladimir Hakobian,
Gabriel Sargsian, Arman Pashikian, Tigran L. Petrosian, and Tigran
Kotanjian are registered according to chessboards. Team’s principal
coach is Arshak Petrosian.

WE PUT TO AUCTION WHAT WE HAVE
James Hakobyan

Lragir.am
10/12/09

Before the Obama-Erdogan meeting on December 7 in Washington, the press
secretary of the Republican Party Eduard Sharmazanov declared a couple
of times that the meeting would not take place if the parliamentary
committee on foreign relations of Turkey did not give a positive
opinion on the Armenian-Turkish protocols. Sharmazanov prophesied,
and even almost assured that the answer would be positive otherwise
Obama would not accept Erdogan.

As you can see, the commission has not expressed its opinions but Obama
received Erdogan and even allowed him to issue a statement after the
meeting that despite the fact that the Turkish executive body did
not consider the Armenian-Turkish relations as a precondition for
the Karabakh issue, the parliament thinks it cannot influence this
parliamentary decision.

Obviously, the press secretary of the party, who is the secretary of
the faction, was mistaken. He would seem to be mistaken in the fact
that the Karabakh problem is not a precondition in the Armenian-Turkish
relations and the U.S. has the same opinion too.

Based on this logic, Eduard Sharmazanov was predicting that if the
Turkish commission did not make any positive step in this connection,
the U.S. as a sign of dissatisfaction would refuse Erdogan.

Although in reality Edward Sharmazanov and those thinking like him are
mistaken in the question that they deal with global issues with the
inherent shallowness of the RP in drawing conclusions only in order
to please or to justify Serge Sargsyan. If Barack Obama also had such
a problem, he could, and would not accept Erdogan. But Obama took
the office of the president of the United States with more serious
purposes. And the seriousness in politics, especially in geopolitics
is incomparable with personal relationships and emotions.

It is understood even in Russia where politics has traditionally
been built on personal relationships and feelings. And even the
president Medvedev says now that relations between countries and
hostility towards the president Saakashvili cannot affect the
relations between the two peoples. It would seem that this is also
emotions because politics and friendship of peoples have always been
considered at different poles. However, Medvedev clearly hints that
Putin’s personal distaste for Saakashvili must not become an obstacle
for the realization of political interest of Russia which requires
establishing certain relations with Georgia for which the friendship
of peoples is a handy version.

The world seems to be undergoing a serious transformation of
perceptions, at least serious attempts for changes aimed at it. And the
Armenian-Turkish relations totally fit into these attempts. Here the
problem is not between the Armenian and Turkish peoples and the opening
of the border for any payments and benefits. They are only derivatives
of the new world of philosophy which the new administration of the
United States tries to bring in policies. The Armenian and Turkish
process is one of the ways of the introduction of this philosophy.

Meanwhile, in Armenia this process is perceived on the plane of
emotions. As a result, Armenia was left behind this philosophy and the
philosophy of personal relations was brought to the Armenian-Turkish
relations. That is, we put to auction everything we have to get what
we want. Put up to auction, we are waiting now to see who and how
much is ready to pay for our goods, who is revengeful with whom for
us to benefit. But no one turns out to be revengeful because in this
world there are much more serious things.

ST. HOVHANNES CHURCH CONSECRATED IN ABOVYAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.12.2009 18:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ St. Hovhannes five-domed church was consecrated
today in Abovyan town (Kotayk region).

Addressing people after the ceremony, Bishop Arakel Karamyan, Primate
of AAC Kotayk Eparchy, said, "A church not filled with our everyday
prayers will turn into an ordinary construction."

YEREVAN TO WORK AT EU-ARMENIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.12.2009 12:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian delegation led by Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian took part in the first meeting of EU Foreign Ministers and
their counterparts from CIS countries participating in the Eastern
Partnership.

The Ministers assessed highly the work carried out and exchanged
views on efficient use of the project potential.

"Armenia is resolute to develop collaboration with the European
Union," Minister Nalbandian said. "All initiatives offered by the
Eastern Partnership are important for Armenia and other participant
countries," he said, adding that Yerevan is willing to work at
EU-Armenia association agreement."

He also referred to relaxation of visa regime and creation of a free
trade zone.

LA TIMES: OBAMA-ERDOGHAN MEETING TO FOCUS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2009 18:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In their upcoming meeting¸U.S.President Barrack
Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoghan will need to
navigate the perennial issue of an annual U.S. statement to America’s
Armenian community on the day of commemorating Armenian Genocide
victims. Breaking a campaign pledge, Obama has refrained from referring
to the killings as genocide, a term widely viewed by genocide scholars
as an accurate description, Los Angeles Times reports.

The Obama administration has said it is wary that the sensitive issue
could upset talks that could lead to reconciliation and a reopening
of the border between Armenia and Turkey. It remains unclear how the
administration will handle the issue in the future, especially if talks
between Turkey and Armenia falter, the author of the article says.