Author: Nalbandian Eduard

COUNCIL OF EUROPE IS READY TO HELP ARMENIA AND TURKEY IN PROCESS OF RAPPROCHEMENT

ArmInfo
2009-11-19 11:18:00

ArmInfo. The Council of Europe (COE) hopes Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement will help settling the Karabakh conflict, said Thorbjorn
Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in a press
conference on Wednesday after the Switzerland took over the Chair of
the Committee of Ministers from Slovenia, Trend reported.

Following the agreement between Armenia and Turkey, Thorbjorn
Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, made the
following statement: "I congratulate the Governments of Armenia and
Turkey on the agreement to restore diplomatic relations and re-open
the frontier between the two countries. This is a historic step,
which should bring about a lasting reconciliation between the two
countries and reinforce the stability of the South Caucasus region
as a whole. I would like to pay tribute to the Swiss government –
as well as the European Union, Russia, France and the United States –
for their crucial role in negotiations that led to this event. No-one
doubts that the full implementation of the yesterday’s agreements
will require time and sustained commitment from both parties. The
Council of Europe is ready to help in this process, within its fields
of expertise, and in full co-operation with the governments of Armenia
and Turkey," the COE website reports.

CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF THE HOUSE-MUSEUM OF THE WORLD SINGER CHARLES AZNAVOUR COMPLETELY FINISHED

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 18, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: The construction works of the
house-museum of the world singer Charles Aznavour have completely
been finished. Armenia’s chief architect Narek Sargsyan said that
currently samples of the museum are being placed. According to him,
the museum will consist of two parts: the one will be intended for
Charles Aznavour to live there, and the second public part will serve
as a museum.

The official opening of the house-museum is intended for the first
quarter of the coming year.

WESTERN ARMENIANS TO HOLD THEIR SECOND CONGRESS IN SEVRE

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2009 19:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Second Congress of Western Armenians in scheduled
for November 21-22 in Sevre, outskirts of Paris. Meeting will take
place in "Samvel Murad" college. It is planned to hold seminars and
round tables devoted to Western Armenia and the Western Armenians’
rights. Decisions concerning organizations’ 2010 activities will sum
up the Congress, "Yerkramas" Russian-based Armenian newspaper reports.

Discussions will end on November 22, 89 years after Woodrow Wilson
established border between Western Armenia and Turkey. The moment
became decisive for the subsequent signing of Sevre Peace Treaty after
World War I. Exhibition displaying various documents, maps and photos
has been organized in collaboration with local authorities of Sevre.

BERLIN HOSTS EU-AZERBAIJAN CONFERENCE

APA
Nov 17 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. Azerbaijani embassy in Germany
and Institute of European Policy organized a conference entitled
"EU-Azerbaijan relations: problems, ideas and prospects" at the
European Commission Office in Berlin, the embassy told APA.

Azerbaijani ambassador in Germany Parviz Shahbazov spoke about the
foreign policy course of Azerbaijan and called Azerbaijan-EU relations
a priority.

Member of German delegation to PACE, former member of Bundestag
Edward Linthner, professor of oriental studies of Marburg and
Hamburg universities Udo Steinbach, chief of the EU department of
Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nargiz Gurbanova and sector
chief of the law-enforcement department of the Azerbaijan Presidential
Administration Chingiz Asgarov addressed the conference.

The speakers mentioned importance of Azerbaijan for the European Union
and said the country had large potential for integration into Europe.

The German speakers said EU was sometimes non-active in the region
and called to take more advantages from the Union’s capacity. They
focus on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and said this conflict created
serious obstacle for cooperation and occupation of Azerbaijani lands by
Armenia was gross violation of basic principles of international law.

Representatives of German Bundestag, government agencies, different
political foundations and universities, journalists, scientists,
activists of Azerbaijani Diaspora in Germany participated at the
conference.

MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION WAS SIGNED BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY OF ARMENIA, COUNCIL OF CIVIL SERVICE OF ARMENIA AND BRITISH COUNCIL

ARKA
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 17. /ARKA/. Memorandum of cooperation was signed on
Tuesday between the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, Council of Civil
Service of Armenia and British Council in the frames of the program
of British Council "European Union: cooperation and skills".

Memorandum was signed by Nerses Yeritsyan, Minister of Economy, Manvel
Badalyan, Head of Council of Civil Service and Arevik Saribekyan,
Head of British Council Armenian Office. The program "European Union:
cooperation and skills" is directed at the exchange of experience
and development of skills of civil servants involved in the process
of European integration which assists in efficient implementation of
the program "European neighborhood" and "East partnership".

According to Memorandum, Ministry of Economy which is the coordinator
of the activities between EU and Armenia will provide professional
consultations for the implementation of the program. Council of
Civil Service of Armenia which provides training and attestation of
civil servants will assist in conducting courses in the frames of the
program and its result will be included in mandatory training of the
Council. British Council organizes courses for civil servants with
the participation of highly qualified international experts.

Three-year program "European Union: cooperation and skills" implemented
by British Council, funded by British Embassy in Armenia and assisted
by the Government of Armenia started in 2009.

ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION TO BE INITIATED ON MARIAM SUKHUDYAN CASE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 19:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Additional investigation will be initiated on
"S.O.S Teghut" movement activist Mariam Sukhudyan’s case. Investigator
Vigen Mesropyan, responsible for case-related investigative actions,
was put in charge of additional investigation. As lawyer Nona
Galstyan reported, this was the first time in the whole preliminary
investigation period when law enforcement agencies granted
defense-submitted petitions.

Criminal case was filed after the November 13, 2008 regular broadcast
of Haylur on Public TV channel. There, a school-girl from Nubarashen
boarding school No. 11 complained about being sexually harassed by
a teacher, "Ecolur" NGO says in a press release. Sukhudyan herself
finds she is being persecuted for participating in "SOS-Teghut"
function aimed the protection of Teghut forest.

Initially, Sukhudyan was accused of libel (Section 1, Article 135 of
RA Criminal Code). However, on August 15, Erebuni Police Office’s
Investigative Department replaced Article, accusing the defendant
of providing false information accompanied by artificial creation of
evidence. The article envisages graver punishment, i.e. imprisonment
for up to 5 years. On October 21, the court overturned the previous
decree, once again changing the accusation to libel, Ecolur press
service reported.

RURAL ECONOMY MUST BE CONDUCTED PROFESSIONALLY

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
November 13, 2009

A number of agricultural issues were discussed during the conference,
convened today by the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan, at which
the most responsible representatives of the republic, heads of regional
administrations and managers of agricultural divisions were present.

The Minister of Agriculture Armo Tsatryan, first submitted information
on the results of bread grain harvesting. It was mentioned that an
average grain crop capacity formed 15, 5 centners from a hectare,
and the maize – 25.9 centners.

In view of a low crop productivity, the Prime Minister A.Haroutyunyan
complained, accentuating at unsatisfactory specialized activity
of agricultural divisions. He charged the heads of regional
administrations with a task to replenish rural divisions with
specialists, in case of necessity, and to provide the farmers with
purposeful consultations. With this in view the Minister of Agriculture
will render the needed assistance. According to A.Haroutyunyan’s
words, further state assistance will be rendered only to the farmers,
conducting land cultivation fully in compliance with land cultivation
rules. It is anticipated that qualitative cultivators will be rendered
credits without pawn.

The Minister of Agriculture informed that by today more than 30
thousand hectares of land are sown. The Prime Minister recommended to
take advantage of favourable weather and to sow the under crop areas
(more than 45 thousand hectares) within the next few days.

Special conversation was conducted in concern with plant pests
combating. It was reported that for extermination of rodents and
plant pests purposeful measures are being realized. The head of the
Government demanded that the competent circles conduct combat in
proper order and to complete the first stage of it by December 15.

At the conference, issues of obtaining qualitative chemical
weed-killers, chemical fertilizers, and maize seeds were touched upon.

In this connection, the Prime Minister assigned corresponding
instructions.

At the end of the conference, brief information concerning credit
repayment proceeding was announced. It was stated that at present
about 80 percent of the credits are repaid. A.Haroutyunyan instructed
to undertake necessary measures for successful continuation of the
process.

ABOUT 30 MILITANTS WANTED

armradio.am
16.11.2009 17:45

The Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office had applied to the
Prosecutor’s Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, asking to
provide information about the criminal cases launched on the crimes
against humanity committed in Nagorno Karabakh in 1990s.

According to the data obtained from the NKR Prosecutor’s Office,
different criminal cases were launched between 1990 and 1992 on
genocide, terrorism and crimes against humanity. The investigation
confirmed a number of cases of terrorism committed by Azerbaijani
militants.

In particular, it was proved that on April 10, at 7 a.m. terrorist
groups committed criminal actions targeted at the physical
extermination of the Armenian nation in Maragha village (Martakert
region) with the support of the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Azerbaijan, as a result of which 60 civilians were killed, another
70 were taken hostage.

Employees of the special police departments of the Ministry of Interior
of Azerbaijan committed terrorist acts against Armenians in a number
of settlement, namely Martakert, Kichan, Arajadzor, Seysulan, Jayntagh
and Mirbashi.

The law enforcement bodies of Nagorno Karabakh confirmed the identity
of some of the militants. More than 30 of them are now wanted for
crimes against humanity, terrorist acts, and murders. According to
some information, the criminals hide in Azerbaijan.

Several of the immediate perpetrators of the terrorist acts in
Arajadzor village of Nagorno Karabakh were found. They were sentenced
to 15 years of imprisonment, but were actually set free, since the
Azerbaijani leadership expressed willingness to exchange them for a
few Armenian civilians taken hostage by Azeris. The civilians were
exchanged for criminals, who were later set free in Azerbaijan.

Right Vision News
November 12, 2009 Thursday

Turkey:Why Minister Davutoglu went to France

Pakistan

Pakistan, Nov. 12 — Foreign Minister Mr. Ahmet Davuto?lu had a very
busy October, during which he took so many trips that I cannot recall
the number. Some of these visits brought him to Iraq, Iran, Syria,
Pakistan and several Balkan countries.There also were historically
unprecedented events last month such as a visit to Serbia and the
Armenian opening. Even though these trips were quick and generally
one-day working visits, their preparation certainly took a long time.

What is worth noting is that synchronized developments around these
visits were commented on by international experts as proof of Turkey’s
determination to re-establish its influence in the historical Ottoman
geography.Mr. Davuto?lu’s travel plans for November include many EU
countries and the United States. As we are not able to talk about a
new kind of relationship to be established with EU countries, we
cannot say that he has another "opening" in mind toward these
countries. As for the US, Ankara and Washington concluded several
treaties just after Barack Obama’s inauguration. So there isn’t any
new situation to be discussed there, either. However, we must expect
international commentators to claim that Turkey has tried to put back
on track the EU accession process through these visits.Let’s imagine
for a moment that Turkey’s objective is indeed to become very
influential in the territories that belonged to the Ottoman Empire. To
claim that, we also have to admit that any other actor doesn’t have
some kind of influence in the same area or that there aren’t any other
actors who are fighting with each other in different manners to get or
to preserve their influence in these regions.One may think: How would
it hurt anyone if Turkey becomes a source of stability for this
immense geography? However, it seems that Turkey’s openings are being
watched with concern by some actors who don’t care about the stability
it can generate and who don’t want Turkey to become too influential
because they only want to understand whom Turkey will share this
influence with and in what degree this can limit others’ room to
maneuver.Before anything, we must emphasize one fact: Turkey is
probably establishing a new kind of relationship in the surrounding
region, which happens to be the Ottoman Empire’s geography, but it is
not doing it single handedly. It acts as the strategic partner of
Russia and the US. These two great powers are a part of this very
process, and there is a balance of interdependence and mutual
understanding. As Turkey doesn’t intend to "integrate" into Russia or
the US, it’s choosing to develop a strategic partnership with them.
Consequently, it doesn’t try to establish a strategic partnership with
the EU because it simply wants to fully integrate into the European
family. But as this "family" keeps ostracizing its distant cousin, it
perceives Ankara’s openings toward Turkey’s neighbors as this
country’s effort to replace the family with a new family. In other
words, as long as the EU keeps pushing Turkey away, it’s normal to
expect Turkey to seek new channels for its economic and financial
development and political stability. Besides, these openings would be
needed anyway if Turkey were already an EU member.The main reason for
the astonishment emanating from Turkey’s recent foreign policy
actions, which are, in fact, quite natural, is that this process is
not conducted in coordination with the EU. But here is the point: If
the EU refuses to contribute to or join Turkey’s openings, this will
mean that it has decided not to include Turkey within the EU. So it’s
not senseless for Mr. Davuto?lu to start his November schedule with a
trip to Paris. He wanted to detect Europe’s decision.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Right Vision News.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 13 2009

OSCE must keep its key role in resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict: UN Under-Secretary-General

U.S, Washington, Nov. 13 / Trend News N.Bogdanova /

The OSCE must remain in its key role in South Caucasus, especially
when it comes to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, UN
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Coordinator John Holmes believes.

"I think that the defrosting of any protracted negotiations is not
easy, but some revival concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh was noticed
recently and this is making us optimistic," he added.

Holmes expressed support to all the tactics and principles proposed by
OSCE Minsk Group. According to the top UN official, OSCE Minsk process
should come to some fruitarian. "Though this process will be difficult
for both Azerbaijan and Armenia, settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is in the interests of both sides," he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.