Author: Takmazian

ARMENIA’S PRESENCE IN CSTO BENEFICIAL FOR MOSCOW, BAKU AND ANKARA: HASANGULIEV

Tert.am
17:16 ~U 04.02.10

Armenia’s presence in the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) should bother neither Azerbaijan nor Turkey, Azerbaijani MP
Gudrat Hasanguliev said in an interview with Day.az.

"I think [Armenia’s] participation in CSTO is beneficial for Moscow,
Ankara and Baku, especially given the fact that the West has already
rejected supporting Azerbaijan," said the Azerbaijani MP.

According to him, Armenia may lose Russia’s one-sided support in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, even if military operations are under
control.

"Even more so, in case of a [new] war with Armenia, Russia will no
longer be able to unequivocally support Yerevan," said Hasanguliev.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ESTABLISHES COOPERATION WITH LIBERAL-DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF GERMANY

ArmInfo
2010-02-03 08:56:00

The first president of Armenia, leader of the oppositional Armenian
National Congress Levon Ter-Petrossyan met with a delegation of the
Liberal-Democratic Party of Germany headed by Markus Lening.

The press-service of the Armenian National Congress reports that the
meeting covered issues related to the state of democracy in Armenia,
release of the political prisoners, overcome of corruption, as well
as cooperation with the Liberal-Democratic Party within European
structures.

Furthermore, the sides touched upon regional problems, including the
Armenian-Turkish dialogue, Karabakh peace process, as well as Turkey’s
possible admission to EU.

Representatives of the Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan and
David Shahnazaryan were also present at the meeting.

PRESS RELEASE
Institute of Armenian Studies
University of Southern California
Taper Hall of Humanities, Suite 252
Los Angeles, California 90089-4015
Tel: 213-821-3943
Email: [email protected]

USC Institute of Armenian Studies

is pleased to invite you to a lecture titled

"From Der Zor to Kessab 2010: a Pictorial Pilgrimage"

by

Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan
President, Mashdots College of Glendale

Monday, 8 February 2010, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m.

Waite Phillips Hall (WPH) 102

Please refer to the USC map at:

R.S.V.P. at [email protected]

***

This presentation is part of a lecture series offered by the USC Institute
of Armenian Studies in conjunction with the Spring 2010 course, MDA 333 —
Colloquium in Armenian Studies: Social and Cultural Issues

JOINT STATEMENT OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY

Lragir.am
1/02/10

During an official visit to Norway on 29 January 2010 by HE Mr Edward
Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia,
political talks were held with Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The
Ministers addressed a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from bilateral
relations to the regional situation in the South Caucasus as well as
European integration and co-operation and other international issues
of mutual interest.

Reflecting a shared ambition to further develop bilateral relations,
the Ministers agreed to intensify political dialogue, including through
bilateral consultations between the Foreign Ministries, to consider
expanding the legal framework of cooperation and to explore new
opportunities for people-to-people contacts. The Ministers stressed
the importance of economic cooperation and cultural ties between
Norway and Armenia.

The Ministers signed a bilateral Readmission Agreement. ‘In an era
of increasing mobility and migration, this agreement is an important
part of relations between our two states’, said Foreign Minister Store.

Minister Nalbandian invited his Norwegian counterpart to pay an
official visit to Armenia. ‘We value our relations with Norway
and look forward to raising our cooperation to a new level,’ said
Minister Nalbandian.

Minister Støre welcomed the efforts of Armenia and Turkey towards
normalization of their bilateral relations including the opening of
the border and the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The Ministers also exchanged views on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process. Minister Støre reiterated Norway’s full support for the
efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group to facilitate a peaceful solution. The
Ministers confirmed their commitment to the framework for further
negotiations as reflected in the 2009 OSCE Athens Ministerial
Statement.

Foreign Minister Nalbandian also held a lecture at the Norwegian
Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and paid a visit to the
former home of renowned Norwegian polar explorer, diplomat and
humanitarian, Fridtjof Nansen.

"AUTHORITIES HAVE MUTILATED DIGNITY"

A1Plus.am
01/02/10

"Armenia took a devious, mean and roundabout path which speaks of
the authorities’ fear and mutilated dignity," Heritage Party founder
Raffi Hovannisian told A1+ when commenting on the parliament speaker’s
decision to remove Zaruhy Postanjyan from the Armenian delegation to
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

"Our struggle will be ongoing and Mrs. Postanjyan will continue making
speeches. I also see some hyporacy here as in her speeches Mrs.

Postanjyan raises not only the issues of human rights, deadly clashes
of March 1, 2008, Armenian political prisoners, but also dwells on
the Armenian Genocide, destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in
Djugha and the problems of Artsakh. Let all people who have admitted
the Madrid Principles as the country’s official political course, who
have laid our national security, interests and rights on the altar,
be concerned over Armenia’s future," said Mr. Hovannisian.

"This is a matter of dignity, a challenge to Armenian citizens and
oppositional forces which needn’t separate them from others – be
it Heritage, Armenian National Congress of Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaktsutyun.

Our public must rearrange and urge its representatives – parties and
deputies – to give up "megalomania" otherwise PACE will sustain our
mandates and we shall start blaming the outer forces for settling
issues to the detriment of Armenia, while in reality Armenia makes
PACE take such a decision with its covert behaviour."

News.am

Azerbaijan and Georgia delimit border
17:03 / 01/30/2010

Activities on delimitation and demarcation of borders between
Azerbaijan and Georgia will continue. Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Halaf Halafov said that he held meeting with co-chairman of
the commission from Georgian side in the course of energy conference
in Batumi.

`The main issue is whether commission will continue its activities.
The expert group will probably meet in the bordering region to conduct
another check-up in the near future, approximately in first week of
February. The date of the regular commission session will be
clarified. The regular session of delimitation commission will take
place in Baku,’ he said.

A.G.

ARMENIA INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIC TIES WITH SWITZERLAND

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.01.2010 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland Charles Aznavour
met with Co-Chairs of Armenian-Swiss Parliamentary Friendship Group
Ueli Leunberger and Dominique de Buman.

The parties discussed issues concerning bilateral cooperation,
particularly in economic and social cultural spheres, and considered
possibilities of taking joint measures and initiatives.

Attaching major importance to the mutual political understanding
between Yerevan and Bern Armenian Ambassador reiterated Armenia’s
interest and willingness to develop bilateral economic ties with
Switzerland, RA Foreign Ministry’s press service reported.

Charles Aznavour: a French singer, songwriter, actor and public
activist. Besides being one of France’s most popular and enduring
singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world. He
is known for his characteristic short figure and unique tenor voice;
clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravely and profound
low notes. He has appeared in more than 60 movies, composed about
1,000 songs (including at least 150 in English, 100 in Italian, 70
in Spanish, and 50 in German), and sold well over 100 million records.

In 1998, Charles Aznavour was chosen as Entertainer of the Century
by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. He was
recognized as the century’s outstanding performer, with nearly 18%
of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. He has
sung for presidents, popes, and royalty, as well as at humanitarian
events, and is the founder of the charitable organization Aznavour
for Armenia along with his long-time friend and impresario Levon Sayan.

Aznavour started his global farewell tour in late 2006, which continues
through this day.

On December 26, 2008, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a
decree on declaring Charles Aznavour and his impresario Levon Sayan
citizens of Armenia.

In 2009, Azanavour was appointed as RA Ambassador to Switzerland, as
well as Armenia’s permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva.

AZERBAIJANI OFFICIAL: RUSSIA CAN HAVE SERIOUS IMPACT ON PROCESSES IN S. CAUCASUS

Today.Az
29 January 2010 [20:57]

"The sides are discussing the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group
on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the uncoordinated
points are being discussed in a new form," Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration’s senior official Ali Hasanov said referring to
Azerbaijani and Armenian president’s recent Sochi meeting.

"Nothing can be said about the results yet."

Hasanov said one can not say that common understanding has been
reached on the settlement of the conflict.

"But it is a fact that the sides and mediators believe in the prospects
and potential of the negotiations. It gives ground to continue the
issue through negotiations," he said.

As regards the particular activeness of Russia in the settlement of the
conflict, Hasanov said Russia had always been active in this regard.

"Simply, Russia has recently become active within the OSCE
Minsk Group. Russia has always been involved with resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem. The process is continuing in the previous
format. Russia is one of the three co-chairs, the country that can
seriously influence the developments in Armenia, Azerbaijan, South
Caucasus and Caspian region. These territories are under Russia’s
geopolitical influence. Though the US is a super power, it is too
far from the South Caucasus and Caspian," he said.

NIKA GILAURI: WE WELCOME THE RESOLUTION OF ALL CONFLICTS IN OUR REGION
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
26.01.2010 18:26

The delegation headed by Georgia’s Prime Minister Nika Gilauri has
arrived in Armenia on a one-day working visit. Within the framework
of the visit the Georgian Prime Minister had a meeting with President
Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

"We welcome the resolution of all conflicts in our region," Nika
Gilauri said at a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan.

"We welcome the opening of the Armenian Turkish border and the
normalization of relations between the two countries," he said.

According to him, the opening of the border will have no influence
on transportation fees, but the diversification will benefit all the
countries of the region.

Touching upon Georgian-Russian relations, Nika Gilauri said Russia
had to lift some restrictions, including the closure of the Upper Lars
checkpoint. Its opening would benefit Armenia, as well, the Georgian
Prime Minister said.

Summing up the results of the 8th sitting of the Armenian-Georgian
Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, Armenia’s Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan said: "I’m confident that this meeting will
promote the cooperation between the two countries."

ARMENIA AND TURKEY MUST FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS: US STATE SECRETARY

Tert.am
11:13 ~U 26.01.10

It’s very important that Armenia and Turkey take steps toward
fulfilling their obligations in the signed Protocols, said
U.S. Secretary of State press spokesperson Philip Crowley, reports
Turkish daily Sabah.

"We are going to continue dialogue with both Armenia and Turkey,
to encourage and support them, so that the agreement reached can be
implemented," said Crowley.