Author: Nahapetian Boris

news.am, Armenia
Nov 21 2009

Unpacific statement of Azerbaijani President

13:15 / 11/21/2009On the threshold of the meeting with RA President
Serzh Sargsyan on Karabakh conflict settlement, Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev made a regular warlike statement.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a new settlement for refuges, near
Veyisli village, Aliyev newly voiced doubt about effectiveness of
negotiation process, OSCE Minsk Group efforts in conflict resolution,
as well as UN Security Council activities.

`UN Security Council adopted 4 resolutions. There is no structure
above it around the globe. But if its decisions are not carried out,
it means either Council’s influence is depreciated, or the norms of
international law do not work. If that is the case, everyone should
know what to do. If international law does not work, then we should
know where we stand. We just want to do it by means of negotiations,
diplomatically. On the other hand, it is not right to be tolerant of
the current situation. If Armenia considers that we will permanently
hold the talks, it is a fallacy. We do it as log as hope that the
issue will be settled and up to the moment till we hope for success.
But if we see that Armenian side is merely protracting the process and
wishes to &`perpetuate’ the issue, the talks will break off,’ Aliyev
stated.

Commenting on the upcoming meeting with RA President, Aliyev
underlined that recent meetings `were unproductive’, blaming on
Armenian side as usual, that according to him demonstrated `absolutely
deconstructive position.’ However this time, Azerbaijani President
emphasized, this will be a `decisive meeting’: `We go to the meeting
having our program. The meeting should play a pivotal role in the
negotiation process. If it yields no result, our hope for talks will
end.’ In this case, Aliyev did not rule out the possibility that
Azerbaijan will prefer military showdown, if loses hope for diplomatic
solution. `If the hope for talks comes to an end, we will have no
choice. We should be ready to this too,’ Aliyev said, outlining that
the country `is justified in liberating its territories by coercive
methods.’

Aliyev said the reason for Armenia’s `deconstructive position’ is the
intensification of Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations through
negotiations. However, Azerbaijani leader expressed confidence that
Armenian-Turkish border will not open: `The current developments prove
it will not happen. Both Azerbaijan’s set-foot stance and that of
Turkish society, statements by Turkish authorities, their pledges
given to us ` all this proves that Armenian-Turkish relations cannot
be normalized without Karabakh conflict settlement.’

At that, he underlined that `Azerbaijan will never agree to
Nagorno-Karabakh independence.’

ERGENEKON PROBE EXPOSES SURVEILLANCE OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

Today’s Zaman
Nov 20 2009
Turkey

The investigation into an alleged illegal network known as Ergenekon
has revealed that a civilian who was formerly employed by the Turkish
Armed Forces (TSK) had collected detailed information on Turkey’s
ethnic Armenian population.

Ergenekon investigators found that Fatma Cengiz, who is currently
a suspect in the case against Ergenekon, collected various dossiers
regarding the Armenian community in Turkey. The file included a list
of subscribers to the bilingual Armenian weekly Agos.

In addition, there were lists of names and members of Armenian
foundations and churches, which were classified as "active" or not,
as well as the balance sheets of Agos.

Cengiz had been in the limelight before after claims that she gave
information to Ä°brahim Å~^ahin, a former deputy head of the National
Police Department’s Special Operations Unit, to establish "S-1 and
S-2 teams" to assassinate intellectual leaders in society.

According to sources, Cengiz also tracked the names of academics,
writers and journalists who participated a two-day academic
conference held on Sept. 24-25, 2005, at Istanbul Bilgi University
titled "Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the Empire: Issues
of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy." The conference openly
disputed the official Turkish account of the Armenian massacres.

In the files allegedly belonging to Cengiz, who is also known as Asena
Ozturk, there are several famous names, with notes next to their names:
Halil Berktay, "professor, he had publicly said that Armenians were
massacred"; Kazım Akıncı, "secret Armenian, he applied to a court
to change his religion after Dink [Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant
Dink who was assassinated by an ultranationalist teenager in 2007]";
Ece Temelkuran, "she said that if something happens to her the prime
minister is responsible for it, she is a graduate of the Ankara faculty
of law"; Herkul Milas, "he is not an Armenian"; Sevan NiÅ~_anyan,
"writer at Taraf, maybe from Agos, needed to be investigated"; Markar
Esayan, "Taraf writer, information regarding him will come together
with Etyen Mahcupyan"; Aytac İlhan, "he might be a student in Igdır,
he should be investigated, he had applied to change his religion";
Baskın Oran, Adalet Agaoglu and Elif Å~^afak.

Investigators have also found a PowerPoint presentation which was
allegedly prepared by Cengiz, who signed it as Asena Ozturk. In that
presentation, pictures of Å~^ahin and Korkut Eken, a former officer of
the TSK Special Operations, are placed side by side. There is also a
photograph of former Chief of General Staff Gen. YaÅ~_ar Buyukanıt,
in addition to the expression "Everything is for the country,"
written in blood on a background of weapons and the Turkish flag.

ARAM SAFARYAN: MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY IS THE SOLUTION OF THE NKR STATUS ISSUE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.11.2009 20:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh settlement
go around the status of Nagorno Karabakh, which can not be lower
than the current one. The main objective of the Armenian diplomacy
today is the issue of the Karabakh’s status, Aram Safaryan , MP
from "Prosperous Armenia" faction said during a briefing in the RA
Parliament on November 20.

According to Aram Safaryan, the Azeri’s information war against Armenia
has weakened recently. Dwelling on the scheduled meeting between the
Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev,
in Munich, Mr. Safaryan characterized it as very important. However
the Azeri side now claims that Armenia is not going to settle the
Nagorno Karabakh issue by consensus.

Recall, that the sixth meeting within this year between the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be held November 22 at the residence of
the Consul General of France in Munich initiated by co-chairs of OSCE
Minsk Group (United States, France and Russia) on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

OPENING BORDER WITH RUSSIA… FOR ARMENIA’S SAKE

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 18, 2009 Wednesday
Russia

THE GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES WILL OPEN CHECKPOINT VERKHNY LARS ON THE
BORDER WITH RUSSIA; Russia and Georgia open the border.

Armenia aspired to it for a long time because nearly 30% of all
shipments to this country had come via Verkhny Lars once. Its shut
down made life hard for Armenia. At first, official Tbilisi used to
say that the opening of the checkpoint depended on Moscow implying
that it should reopen the Russian market for Georgian produce. No
such demands are made any more but Tbilisi warned that the checkpoint
would be closed again the moment Russia announced that terrorists
were crossing the border from Georgia.

The problem of the checkpoint (it is called Kazbegi in Georgia)
was discussed at a special meeting of the Georgian National Security
Council.

President Mikhail Saakashvili outlined three arguments for the
opening. First, it would benefit the population of several regions
of Georgia. Second, it would confirm Georgia’s status of a transit
country. "What counts is that it will enable Georgia to ship its
produce to the third countries via Russia," he said.

The border between Russia and Georgia was closed in 2006 when Russian
officers were seized in Tbilisi and charged with espionage. Russia
closed its market for Georgian produce and locked up Verkhny Lars. It
said a new terminal was being built nearby. In late 2008, Moscow
informed the Georgian Foreign Ministry that a new terminal with the
running capacity of 400 vehicles per day had been built and could be
opened. Tbilisi said it wanted to discuss the matter in Geneva with
Switzerland being the intermediary. Moscow told Georgia to forget it.

Consultations between Russia, Georgia, and Armenia began this autumn.

It seems that certain progress has been made. Kazbegi on the territory
of Georgia and Verkhny Lars in Russia will function in unison, trying
to harmonize the border regime. At first, the border will only be
open for trucks.

Saakashvili warned that Russia might renege on the deal at the last
moment. "They probably never counted on us playing ball. They thought
we would refuse. Well, we did not. It’s up to them now. Let’s see
them agree to open the border now that we do not object."

US CONGRESSMEN SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Nov 19 2009
Azerbaijan

US Congressmen support decision of US Senate appropriations committee .

US congressional Azerbaijan caucus members Solomon Ortiz, Bill
Schuster, Robert Vexler, Virginia Foxx have sent a letter to the
Subcommittees for Foreign Operations of the US House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations with respect to the Department of State
appropriations bill for 2010 fiscal year

The letter supported the Senate Appropriations Committee`s decision
concerning the paragraphs on US`s aid to Azerbaijan and development
of US-Azerbaijan relations on the eve of discussions at the Senate
on the foreign operations and Department of State appropriations bill.

The letter stressed Azerbaijan`s important role in global war on
terrorism including military operations in Afghanistan.

The authors of the letter backed the decision not to add any new terms
to the authority granted by the Senate Appropriations Committee to the
US President with respect to the section 907 of the Freedom Support
Act. It said adoption of new paragraphs concerning the section 907
would harm US-Azerbaijan relationship and US`s interests in the region.

The letter supported the fact that the Appropriations Committee did
not included any aid to Nagorno-Karabakh into the department of state
appropriations bill for 2010 FY.

On July 9, unlike the US House of Representatives, the Senate
Appropriations Committee did not include any amendments to the
appropriations bill regarding section 907 and aid to Nagorno-Karabakh

The letter was sent to Chairman of US Senate Subcommittee for foreign
operations Patrick Leahy and ranking member Judd Greg as well as
Chair of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
Nita Lowey and ranking minority member Kay Granger.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 13-19, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: INTELLECTUALS AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

AMENDMENTS TO RA CRIMINAL CODE, STIFFENING PENALTY FOR IMPEDING JOURNALISTIC
ACTIVITIES, APPROVED IN FIRST HEARING

DECISION RENDERED ON THE SUIT OF "GIND" PRINTING HOUSE VERSUS FOUNDER OF
"CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" NEWSPAPER

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: INTELLECTUALS AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

On November 17, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media"
TV company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project,
supported by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC
President Boris Navasardian were Mayis Nikoghosian, Director of State
College of "Mkhitar Sebastatsi" Educational Complex, and Narineh Tukhikian,
Director of House-Museum of Hovhannes Tumanian. The discussion centered on
role of intellectuals in promoting democratic reforms.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on November 24,
at 21.15.

AMENDMENTS TO RA CRIMINAL CODE, STIFFENING PENALTY FOR IMPEDING JOURNALISTIC
ACTIVITIES, APPROVED IN FIRST HEARING

On November 17 RA National Assembly approved the Draft Law "On the
Amendments and Supplements to the RA Criminal Code" in the first hearing.
The authors of the draft, NA deputies from "Orinats Yerkir" faction
Hovhannes Margarian and Heghineh Bisharian, presented an initiative on
supplementing Article 164 ("Impeding the Legitimate Professional Activities
of a Journalist") of RA Criminal Code. Namely, it was suggested that
impeding the legitimate professional activities of a journalist or forcing
the journalist, while on professional duties, to disseminate or not the
information, attended by either use of violence, or a threat of its use,
dangerous for the life and health of the journalist or a member of his/her
family, is to be sentenced by a fine of 250-450 minimum wage, or
correctional labor for not more than 2 years, or by imprisonment for not
more than 5 years.

The initiative is stipulated by a number of facts indicative of the scarce
degree of protection of journalists.

DECISION RENDERED ON THE SUIT OF "GIND" PRINTING HOUSE VERSUS FOUNDER OF
"CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" NEWSPAPER

On November 16 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan rendered decision on the suit of "Gind" printing
house versus "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" newspaper founder, "Ogostos" LLC. As it
has been reported, the plaintiff demanded to oblige "Ogostos" to pay off the
debt for printing costs. At the session of November 5 the court secured the
plaintiff’s petition, banning the issue of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun". A
number of journalistic associations considered the ban as infringement of
the right on free dissemination of information (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
November 6-12, 2009).

According to the court decision released on November 16, the ban imposed on
the newspaper’s issue will be valid till the repayment of liabilities in the
amount of 2 million 673 thousand AMD (around $ 6,900).

Chief Editor of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" Shogher Matevosian informed YPC
about the intention to appeal the decision with the upper court
jurisdiction. According to Shogher Matevosian, "Ogostos" LLC does not owe
any debts to the printing house, moreover the founder itself has financial
claims to "Gind".

It should also be noted that the editorial office of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun"
and its publisher, "Trespassers W." LLC, continue publishing a new daily,
called "Chorrord Inknishkhanutiun" (being issued since November 10).

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
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IS JESUS CHRIST A GEORGIAN?

Aysor
Nov 18 2009
Armenia

There are some cultural difficulties with not only Turkey, but with
Georgia, said at today’s press conference Director of ‘Sociometr"
Sociological Center, Agaron Adibekyan.

"Georgia celebrated the 2000th anniversary of Christianity in 2004
appealing to contest as followed: Virgin was born in Kapadovkiya of
Georgia, so, she is a Georgian and Jesus Christ was a Georgian, too."

And this matter was adopted by UNESCO.

Meanwhile, it’s worth mentioning, that historically Christianity was
introduced into Georgia from Byzantium by Armenians.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT REJECTS ARF BILL CRIMINALIZING GENOCIDE DENIAL

Asbarez Staff
Nov 16th, 2009

Legislation Aimed at Curbing Consequences of Turkey’s Historical
Commission

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-A key committee of the National Assembly effectively
rejected on Friday a proposal by the opposition Armenian Revolutionary
Federation to criminalize public statements denying that the Armenian
Genocide.

Armenia’s Criminal Code already carries heavy fines and up to four
years’ imprisonment for public denial of genocides and "other crimes
against humanity." An amendment tabled by the ARF last month would
extend the maximum punishment to five years and apply it to anyone
"denying, playing down, approving or justifying the genocide of
Armenians in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia."

The bill is directly connected with the recent agreements to normalize
Armenia’s relations with Turkey that have been strongly condemned
by the party. They ARF says it is specifically directed against a
Turkish-Armenian "subcommission" of historians envisaged by one of
the agreements.

The commission would be tasked with studying the extermination of the
Ottoman Empire’s indigenous Armenian population. The ARF and other
critics of the deal say the very existence of such a body would call
into question the fact of the genocide, a claim denied by Armenia’s
authorities.

In a written opinion submitted to the Armenian parliament committee
on legal affairs this week, the Ministry of Justice objected to the
ARF bill and essentially upheld the existing Criminal Code clause
relating to genocide denial. The committee on Friday postponed the
bill’s consideration by at least two months, meaning that the proposed
amendment will not reach the parliament floor before February.

The committee chairman, David Harutiunian, made no secret of his strong
opposition to the measure, saying that it would create "extremely
serious problems" in the ongoing Turkish-Armenian negotiations. He
said its passage would lead the Turkish authorities to resume heavy
enforcement of a controversial law that makes it a crime to "insult
the Turkish nation." The law, superficially amended last year, has
been used in the prosecution of prominent Turks who have questioned
the official Turkish version of the events of 1915.

Harutiunian also argued that amendment drafted by the ARF was
unnecessary because "Armenia’s position on this issue is so strong
that we don’t need any additional tools of defense in the shape of
criminal liability," the former justice minister said at a committee
meeting. "The stronger party doesn’t need such tools."

"I don’t see that confidence about our strength," Vahan Hovannisian,
the leader of the ARF faction in the parliament, countered, referring
to President Serzh Sarkisian’s conciliatory policy towards Turkey. He
said the October 10 signing of the Turkish-Armenian protocols in
Zurich was "a sign of weakness" on the part of Yerevan.

ISSUES OF INFORMATION SECURITY

"Noravank" Foundation
16 November 2009

Autumn school, third lesson On November 13 the third lesson of
"Issues of Information Security" autumn school took place.

The reports were made by the Director of The Centre for the Public
Relations and Information of the RA president administration Ara
Saghatelyan and the Head of Main Information Office of the NKR
president David Babayan.

In his report ("The Proper Information Provision of the State Policy")
Ara Saghatelyan presented the situation in the sphere pointing out
the importance of the activity of interagency committee dealing with
the issues of information security of the RA and the adoption of
the RA Information security conception. The reporter briefly touched
upon the steps made till now, mentioning that there would be other
documents within the conception of information security adopted;
the appropriate actions which would adjust the sphere would be taken.

David Balayan in his report ("Nagorno-Karabakh Issue from the point of
view of information war") spoke about the problems of coverage of the
conflict between the NKR and Azerbaijan. The speaker, particularly,
mentioned the importance of the right usage of the terms and maps in
the information materials.

The reports were followed by the active discussion.

PETER SEMNEBY: NO PRECONDITIONS FOR ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION

news.am
Nov 16 2009
Armenia

20:16 / 11/16/2009The Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and Armenia-Turkey
normalization process are two different processes that should not
be linked, Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby stated in his interview with Trend News on
the results of his visit to Azerbaijan.

The Armenian-Turkish relations must be normalized without any
preconditions, as this process is producing a having positive impact
on the situation in the region, including Azerbaijan, Semneby said. He
pointed out that both the processes are progressing.

Speaking of his impressions of the visit, he said that he had
substantial talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov. Among the issues discussed by the sides
were both Azerbaijan’s foreign policy issues, relations with the
European Union, Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and Armenian-Turkish
relations. The EU Special Representative also expressed hope for
further progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

In his interview, Semneby also spoke of the prospects of the EU
Eastern Partnership program. According to the diplomat, the next
step is adopting a mandate for association agreements with the South
Caucasus states.

The EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the negotiations mandate early
next year, which will be followed by long-lasting negotiations.

Progress in the negotiations depends on the will and potential of
each of the states, Semneby said. He pointed out that the program
will afford ampler opportunities for discussing regional problems.

As regards a negative impact the lack of a transit agreement with
Turkey may have on projects of gas transit from Azerbaijan to Europe,
Semneby said the issue is on the agenda, and a decision is a joint
priority of Azerbaijan and EU. He pointed out the need for creating
all the necessary conditions for the supply Caspian gas region to
Europe. The best way of doing it is signing a transit agreement with
Turkey, Semneby said. He reported that during his visit to Azerbaijan
he discussed energy issues as well.