Author: Talalian Arpi

TURKEY’S ENERGY MINISTER PRESSURES NABUCCO PARTNERS
Saban Kardas

Jamestown Foundation
April 20 2009

On April 17 Turkey’s Energy Minister Hilmi Guler, attended a meeting
on the future of the Turkish energy sector where he highlight the need
to invest in renewable energy resources and diversify its hydrocarbon
supplies. In that context, Guler sent important messages to Turkey’s
Nabucco partners. Asked about the current standing of the Nabucco
project, he said that draft intergovernmental and host government
agreements had been conveyed to Ankara’s partners. "We told them that
if we receive their response this month, we are ready to sign the
agreement in June…we have full confidence that we can conclude the
project, provided that our partners respond to the letter promptly"
(, April 17).

During the past fortnight Guler has repeatedly stressed this
point. On various occasions, he expressed Turkey’s dissatisfaction
with the slow pace of progress and tried to pressurize its European
partners. Satisfied with the results of the Budapest Summit in January,
where the EU supported the Nabucco project by earmarking 250 million
Euros ($324 million) to help the consortium secure loans, Turkey wanted
to fast track the process. Noting that Turkey was the driving force
behind the project, Guler argued that the Europeans were preoccupied
with small details and if Ankara took charge, the project would be
completed within three years. He contended that the Europeans have
finally realized that Turkey could not be reduced only to a "transit
country" (Radikal, February 1).

By mid-March, however, the EU debated reducing funds allocated for
Nabucco and removing it from its priority energy projects, before
eventually deciding to maintain the project. Guler said that even if
the EU were to drop its financial backing, it would not affect the
scheduled progress of Nabucco:

"The Nabucco project will be concluded under any circumstances. Just
as we finished the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Shah Deniz project
and the Turkey-Greece interconnector, we will also finish this
project. The credit issue can be considered as a detail. There
will be alternatives and we will discuss them with our partners"
(, March 19).

However, despite his powerful rhetoric, Guler failed to address
how Turkey will generate the necessary funding in the midst of the
global economic crisis. Guler was assuming that as long as a consensus
existed on the political-strategic level, the remaining problems over
financing could easily be resolved. As the subsequent developments
showed, that consensus cannot be taken for granted.

The declining commitment of the European partners was obvious and
Guler’s statements also reflected those changes. On April 12, he
again criticized the attitude of the Nabucco partners, which he
repeated within different platforms. According to Guler, in their
initial responses to Turkey’s draft proposals, its partners raised
issues which had already been agreed. To avoid such problems, and
accelerate the process, Guler sent the Europeans a letter requesting
that they "submit to Turkey what they all agree on and sign on to it"
(Anadolu Ajansi, April 12).

Funding problems aside, questions about how to supply Nabucco are
far from settled, which has a direct bearing on any evaluation of
the project by investors. The declining European interest in Nabucco
has already forced Azerbaijan -the only country to commit gas to the
project- to reconsider exporting through Russia. A related political
challenge has been posed by the tensions between Turkey and Azerbaijan,
caused by Baku’s discomfort surrounding Turkish-Armenian rapprochement,
which might ignore its concerns. Although Guler ruled out the negative
implications of the Turkish-Azeri frictions for the Nabucco project,
uncertainty over Baku’s plans further complicates the investor climate,
delaying a European response to Turkey’s draft proposals.

Against this background, the haste with which the Turkish government
is seeking to move the process forward might be an indication of an
underlying sense of nervousness about the fate of the project. Ankara
appears impatient to secure European commitment to the Nabucco project
and start without further delay. It has blamed its European partners
for the current stalemate in the negotiations.

On the other hand, the Turkish government rarely acknowledges its own
part in these delays, such as the covert threat to use the Nabucco as
a bargaining chip to accelerate Turkey’s stalled EU accession process,
or its insistence on privileged access to gas transiting its territory
to serve domestic demand, or its futile efforts to include Russia
in Nabucco. No matter how justified Turkey might be on these issues,
the government might have miscalculated the potential damage caused by
its bargaining tactics (Taraf, March 3). Turkey’s aggressive rhetoric
about becoming an energy hub may alienate some of its Nabucco partners.

Nor has Ankara appreciated the complexity of energy geopolitics in
general or the discussions taking place inside the EU. Turkey mainly
acted on the assumption that given its strategic location it could
dictate terms to Brussels, forgetting that Nabucco had to compete
with other rival projects to receive European backing (EDM, March 4,
5, 16). Likewise, Turkey hoped that the U.S. administration might
support the project. But as Obama’s European trips showed, Washington
does not enjoy the leverage over major EU members ascribed to it by
Ankara. It is unclear when a European response will emerge, but it
could disappoint the Turkish government.

ROAD RECOVERY PROGRAM TO BE LAUNCHED IN ARMENIAN PROVINCES IN APRIL

/ARKA/
April 16, 2009
YEREVAN

The AMD 10.9-billion program aimed at recovery of rural roads is to
be launched in Armenia in April.

Armenian Transport and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan,
speaking at Thursday’s governmental meeting, said the program will
contribute a great deal to GDP growth.

He said that the construction is to be implemented under Asian
Development Bank’s support.

"This is the Asian Development Bank’s second package targeting rural
roads. The program implies recovery of 118 kilometers of rural roads
in Armenian provinces of Kotayk and Gegharkunik."

At the same meeting, the Government confirmed the results of the
tender for selecting construction companies.

Seven companies, whose aggregate offer exceeded $1 million, won
the tender.

Under Asian Development Bank, about $42 million is to be spent for
recovery of 227 kilometers of rural roads.

Armenia embarked on construction of a 109-km section in 2008 and
intends to complete the construction this year.

After that, a 118-km section is planned to be constructed.

The completion of this construction is scheduled for 2010.

The Asian Development Bank, taking into account certain circumstances
such as rise in prices for some goods, allocated extra $17.32 million
for road recovery.

Armenia’s road network consists of 7704.3 kilometers, including 1686
km of international roads, 4056.3 kilometers of national and 1962
kilometers of local roads.

FRENCH BRAIN CENTERS RECOGNIZES AZERBAIJAN AS REGIONAL LEADER AND RELIABLE PARTNER IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: HEAD OF AZERBAIJANI STRATEGIC RESEARCH CENTRE AT AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT
S. Agayeva

Trend News
April 16 2009
Azerbaijan

Director of Strategic Studies Center under Azerbaijani President
Elkan Nuriyev spoke with Trend News in an exclusive interview.

Trend News: Was the round table held in Paris recently successful
from the viewpoint of Azerbaijan’s positioning and informing the world
our country’s realities? Which issues caused a dispute in auditorium?

Elkhan Nuriyev: It was noted at a round table on Azerbaijan’s
present-day geo-policy held in the International Relations Institute
in France on April 7 that Azerbaijan is a leading country in the
South Caucasus from geo-strategic viewpoint.

International Relations Institute Executive Director Dominique
David also confirmed it. While opening the round table David stressed
significance of the round table in a period when the world faces global
energy crisis. He spoke of rich oil and gas fields of Azerbaijan
who has become leading geo-strategic regional player in the South
Caucasus. He also emphasized importance of transportation of these
natural resources to Europe.

I spoke about future strategy elaborated by national leader Heydar
Aliyev who established a modern state. I noted that Azerbaijani
has become a regional leader and reliable partner in international
relations. Regarding political and economic reforms that are being
implemented at the moment I said new stage of our country’s development
has been launched under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership. New policy
and new strategic views have been formed. Along with economic growth,
Azerbaijan has also defined priorities of building and developing
open and democratic society.

Our country’s strategic choice is the course of modernization at the
current stage. Improving democratic system is one of the constituent
parts of this choice. Democracy is a sovereign right of each nation
which enables them to determine their development, strategy and
course. As an independent state, Azerbaijan uses sovereign right to
promote democracy and implement certain reforms.

As to Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, I said our country is pursuing
balanced and multi-faceted foreign policy. Azerbaijan is building ties
with neighbors and close and remote countries as a part of friendship
and partnership. This is strategic choice of our country. Principle
of a sound pragmatism has been formed under the successful foreign
policy strategy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev.

Naturally, participants of the event at the International Relations
Institute showed a great interest to the domestic and foreign policy
of Azerbaijan including analysis of current state and prospects of
development of Azerbaijan-Europe and Azerbaijan-France ties. The round
table was businesslike and constructive. The discussions contributed to
promoting intellectual dialogue between Azerbaijani and French experts.

Q: What is the French officials’ estimation of the French-Azerbaijani
relations in the contemporary stage and problems of evolution of the
Azerbaijanis society?

A: A meeting held in Paris with France-Azerbaijan parliamentary
friendship group head Jean-Lou Dumont focused on ongoing processes in
our country and development of interparliamentary relations. Dumont
is a member of the National Assembly [Parliament] on economy, finance
and plan and a special rapporteur on European budget.

The French MP spoke about interparliamentary contacts in detail and
voiced his satisfaction with the development of French-Azerbaijani in
the contemporary stage. Tracing back the evolution of the process,
he said that if earlier activity was demonstrated by Senate [Upper
House of French parliament], presently, National Assembly [Lower
House of the French Parliament] has also joined the process.

A 20-member parliamentary initiative group has been formed to lobby
Azerbaijan in the context of bilateral cooperation in different fields
under the aegis of the France-Azerbaijan parliamentary friendship
committee. Mr. Dumont informed that under his direct leadership a
French parliamentary mission visited Azerbaijan in summer and autumn
2008 and was received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Dumont
said the meetings were fruitful, because the sides had exchange of
opinions on the current status and prospects of the French-Azerbaijani
cooperation.

He underlined interests towards problems of evolution of the
Azerbaijani society and voiced his confidence in the development
and improvement of democratic system on the basis of remarkable
achievements in economic, cultural and other fields given the existing
potential.

Q: What position does France take on issues of peace and security in
Caucasus region in the context of conflict solution, in particular,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. What role does France, a leading European
country, play in this process?

A: During the ’roundtable’ at the Institute of International Relations,
broad discussions were held on the solution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. I stated that Azerbaijan’s position
on this issue is unchangeable. Azerbaijan demands rehabilitation
of its territorial integrity within the framework of national
sovereignty, and withdrawal of Armenian forces from its occupied
lands. Afterwards, it is possible to carry out negotiations on the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Ho matter how broad the status can be,
it will be provided only within the frames of the country and on the
basis of its territorial integrity. In its foreign policy Azerbaijan
pursues one goal: to restore peace and stability in the whole region.

By noting a position of France as a member of the Minsk Group
in peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, French
Parliamentarian Dumont stressed necessity to observe a principle of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Dumont also emphasized to provide
long-lasting peace and regional security through dialogue both at the
OSCE Minsk Group level and international contacts at the Azerbaijani
and Armenian supreme leadership’s level.

While analyzing the latest Russian-Georgia developments in the
region, Dumont and other French experts unambiguously stressed
equilibrium and realism of the Azerbaijani government’s foreign
political strategy. It is not surprising that at the exchange of
opinion process, representatives of the French expert community agreed
with necessity of more active interaction between France and Germany
as key members of the European Union (EU) in settlement of conflicts
in the South Caucasus.

Q: What is France’s vision of implementing energy projects in the
region and problems of the European Union’s (EU) energy security?

A: The French experts who attended the "round table" noted
that transnational projects, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan,
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum enabled Azerbaijan to make
a geopolitical progress and, respectively, Azerbaijan realizes its
strategic role and has gained its strategic place in the system of
integration with the world economy. Moreover, Azerbaijan is recognized
at the world political arena as a serious geopolitical state.

During the exchange of opinions, French Parliamentarian Dumont
and other experts considered Nabucco project as an opportunity
to supply the EU with alternative energy resources regarding the
recent Russian-Ukrainian crisis which caused gaps in fuel deliveries
to Europe. Furthermore, they emphasized necessity to deepen the
French-Azerbaijani cooperation in energy field under the French Total
corporation’s activity.

Q: Which perspectives of cooperation are there between the Strategic
Research Centre at the Azerbaijani President and the French
Scientific-Research Institute?

A: Different meetings with the French brain centers’ leaders took
place in Paris, as well. The meeting with Director of the French
International Relations and Strategic Research Institute Pascal
Boniface and Head of Choiseul Institute Pascal Loro focused on topical
issues of development of cooperation and exchange of opinions between
the sides, problems of scientific-research character, as well as
issues of joint implementing important regional projects. Heads of the
French brain centers displayed a great interest to activate contacts
between the two countries’ scientific-political elites. And then, it is
planned to develop several corporate projects on scientific-analytical
research, including organizing joint international conferences and
regional "round tables" to be held in Baku and Paris.

NAGORNO KARABAKH IS NOT ONLY THE AZERBAIJANI LAND BUT ALSO A PART OF THE WHOLE TURKIC WORLD: MP

Today.Az
April 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey always was the closest and most reliable friend for Azerbaijan,
said chairman of the Ana Veten party and Milli Medjlis deputy Fazail
Aghamaly at a round table on "Turkey and Azerbaijan: common interests
and problems".

"Unless Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not settled, we must not allow
the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. Friendship between the
Azerbaijani and Turkish peoples is eternal and no powers can destroy
it", said he.

According to him, after the USSR collapse, Armenia under support of the
Soviet army launched an undeclared war against independent Azerbaijan.

"We fought not only against Armenia but also against Russia headed
by Yeltsin. In the result we had strained relations with Iran and in
those hard years the only state Turkey was by our side. Azerbaijan
and Turkey maintain special relations. If without the settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict Ankara decides to open borders with Yereven,
it will not differ from Iran or Russia", said Aghamaly.

He noted that peace and stability in the region is impossible without
resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

"We should realize that Nagorno Karabakh is not only the territory of
Azerbaijan. It is a part of the whole Turkic world and this problem
should be settled by joint efforts in the contest of provision of
global security in the region. This struggle is for sovereignty and
integrity of the Turkic lands", noted Aghamaly.

IRAN- ARMENIA RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR ARMENIA

PanArmenian
April 14 2009
Armenia

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran -Armenia railway construction is the most
significant project ever implemented by joint efforts of Iran and
Armenia, Garnik Asatryan ESU Iranology Department Head told a news
conference in Yerevan.

"Armenia-Iran railway construction should have been launched long
ago. This is a serious project which might herald a new Silk Route
and allow Armenia to break out of isolation.

Geographically, the railway construction is not an easy task, requiring
consistence on behalf of RA and Iranian authorities."

On Mar. 3 in Yerevan a Draft Memorandum of Understanding on
Iran-Armenia railway construction was signed between Armenia and
Iran. The railway will be 470 km long, with 410 km of the main line
passing trough Armenia’s territory. Iran-Armenia railway construction
is expected to be completed in 5 years.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN VISITED THE EXHIBITION CO-HOSTED BY PROM-EXPO LTD AND THE GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA AT THE SPORTS COMPLEX AFTER KAREN DEMIRCHYAN, REFERRED TO AS "CONSTRUCTION AND INTERIOR – 2009."

Friday, 10 April 2009

Greeting those in attendance, the Prime Minister noted that the
government supports this already traditional exposition with a view
to fostering exchange of know-how and advanced technologies-related
information between building companies.

"It is not a secret that construction has been a driving force in
Armenia’s economics and plunging private investment in this area
may seriously affect the economic system, in general, and the GDP
growth, in particular. I would like to take this opportunity to
call your attention to the Operative Staff’s latest initiative on
the granting of government guarantees available to building entities
for large-scale borrowing from trade banks. It is my conviction that
this exposition is a unique opportunity to promote building sector
development in Armenia," the Prime Minister said.

After the opening ceremony, Tigran Sargsyan walked round the stands
to get acquainted with the exhibits displayed by several dozens of
domestic manufacturers.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE IMAM

IRNA
Apr 14, 2009

Tehran, April 14, IRNA – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan along with
his accompanying delegation here Tuesday paid tribute to the Father
of the Islamic Revolution, the late Imam Khomeini.

Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, the Armenian
president arrived in Tehran on Monday and was welcomed by Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki at the airport, before according
an officilal welcome to him by his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad.

President Sargsyan is in Iran on an official two-day visit to confer
with senior Iranian officials on the expansion of mutual relations.

In a ceremony held at the Mausoleum of the Founder of the Islamic
Republic in southern Tehran, the Armenian president laid a wreath of
flowers on the Imam’s tomb.

After attending the ceremony, the Armenian president signed the
memorial book of the late Imam Khomeini’s Mausoleum.

OPPOSITION MEMBERS COMMENT ON US PRESIDENT’S PHONE CALL TO AZERI LEADER

Yeni Musavat
April 10 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s opposition figures have commented on the 7 April phone
conversation between US President Barack Obama and Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev, opposition daily Yeni Musavat reported on
10 April.

In his interview with Yeni Musavat, the deputy head of the opposition
Musavat party, Qabil Huseynli, said that Obama made some "serious
strategic mistakes" in his policies regarding the killings of
Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in the early 1900s and the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border. So, Obama called Aliyev to partly correct
his mistake and clear the air, Huseynli said.

Chairman of the opposition Hope Party Iqbal Agazada believes that
Obama called to express his concern about the situation in the South
Caucasus and Azerbaijan’s attitude towards processes in the region.

Sardar Calaloglu of the opposition Democratic Party of Azerbaijan said
that Obama knows that no borders can be opened without considering
Azerbaijan’s interests. Azerbaijan is inclining towards Russia and
"the goal of the phone call was to prevent Azerbaijan from being lost",
Calaloglu added.

ARS WESTERN US CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SERVICE

373_4/10/2009_1
Friday, April 10, 2009

GLENDALE–A capacity group of more than 300 dignitaries, guests,
community members and supporters gathered at the new Embassy Suites
Hotel for an unforgettable evening to mark the Armenian Relief Society
Western US Regional Executive’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
on Sunday, April 5.

Among the many distinguished guests in attendance were Western Prelate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, the newly appointed Consul-General of
Armenia to Los Angeles Grigor Hovhannisyan, President of the Armenia
Fund Ara Aghishian, Congressman Adam Schiff, State Assemblyman Paul
Krekorian, Glendale Councilmen Bob Yousefian and Ara Najarian, Glendale
Unified School District Board President Greg Krikorian and School Board
Member Nayiri Nahabedian, as well as representatives of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee headed by its
chairman Avedik Izmirlian, representatives of affiliate organizations,
the chairwoman of the ARS Central Executive Vicky Marashelian,
members of ARS chapters from throughout the western US and others.

The banquet’s Mistress of Ceremonies Anahid Oshagan, Esq. welcomed
the attendees and highlighted the achievements of the ARS,
stressing that in 2010, the venerable organization will celebrate
its centennial. Oshagan then invited Arous Melkonian who offered her
opening remarks.

Before his invocation, Prelate Mardirossian praised the ARS for its
almost century of service to the Armenian nation, highlighting
its enormous contribution during the Genocide, the Diaspora
community-building, the earthquake, the Karabakh movement and now in
ensuring that the needs of the Armenian community in Javakhk are met.

As guests dined on a delectable dinner, a video presentation
chronicling the myriad achievements of the organization was presented.

Oshagan invited ARS Western US Regional Executive Chairwoman Rima
Boghosian, who delivered the ARS Regional’s message. She then
invited Congressman Schiff, Consul-General Hovhannisyan and others
who delivered their remarks and made proclamation presentations.

Following the presentations, ARS Central Executive chairwoman Vicky
Marashelian presented her congratulations to the Western US Regional
Executive, praising it for a quarter of century of service to the
community.

The evening’s program concluded with a traditional candle lighting
ceremony and cutting of the 25th anniversary cake. This was preceded
by a performance by the Armenian Folk Ensemble, under the direction
of Rouben Haroutunian, followed by performances by soloists Salpi
Mayelian and Mary Melkonian.

"I am so very happy and proud with this event. It was a wonderfully
fitting celebration for such a monumental occasion. All aspects of the
evening from the turnout, to the organization, down to the program,
were extremely impressive," said Boghosian.

"I commend all of the Ungerouhis who worked tirelessly to organize
such a magnificent event. All who attended left truly impressed and
pleased," said Marshelian, "We all leave here tonight with a renewed
sense of pride in our ARS and feel reinvigorated to serve it with a
renewed sense of fervor."

The ARS is the largest Armenian humanitarian organization of its
kind within Armenia and throughout the Diaspora. Over the course of
a century, since its founding in New York City New York, in 1910,
the organization has continually expanded and currently has chapters
in 26 countries.

The establishment of the first two ARS-WR chapters west of the
Mississippi River occurred in Fresno in 1915 and Hollywood 1918. The
Region has grown since, to include 26 chapters, five Social Service
Offices, Child Youth and Family Guidance Center, fifteen Saturday
Schools and after school programs and the list goes on. Its Social
Services and the Guidance Centers are open to every member of our
community, Armenians and non-Armenians alike. It also maintains several
programs in Armenia and Artsakh such as: the "Sponsor a Child Program,"
"Food for Orphans Project" as well as other humanitarian assistance
programs in the region. During its 100-year history, the ARS has
worked faithfully and tirelessly to meet the social, humanitarian,
educational, and cultural needs of the Armenian people, in both the
Diaspora and in Armenia. It has established schools, social service
centers, youth camps, and day care kindergartens across the globe and
recently extended its role in the international forum by becoming a
roster member of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Committee
(ECOSOC) and an active participant in ECOSOC’s many working groups.

NATO FULLY SUPPORTS ACTIVITY OF OSCE MINSK GROUP

ArmInfo
2009-04-10 13:01:00

ArmInfo. The Alliance recognizes that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is a major obstacle to peace and stability in the South Caucasus
region, NATO Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia,
Ambassador Robert Simmons told Azerbaijani media.

NATO takes this conflict very seriously and will continue to support
efforts towards a peaceful and negotiated settlement. However,
NATO is not in the leading role when it comes to mediation efforts
regarding Nagorno-Karabakh.

This role currently resides with the OSCE Minsk Group, whose work NATO
fully supports. Based on its support for the existing negotiation
format, NATO does not see a need for, or a benefit in, a separate
NATO role in this process, R. Simmons said.