Author: Tamamian Anna

Azerbaijani defense industry minister: We have launched production of
unmanned aerial vehicles

17 December 2009 [14:21] – Today.Az

APA’s interview with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defense Industry Yavar Jamalov.

APA: The employees of Azerbaijan’s defense industry will mark their
professional holiday on December 17. What has the Ministry of Defense
Industry achieved within the last four years?

Yavar Jamalov: As to work of the ministry that I have led for the last
four years, I can say that defense industry was established in
Azerbaijan within the past four years. Thanks to the attention and
care of the head of state, a number of facilities have been
established and supplied with modern equipment. Cooperation has been
established with about 60 companies of 20 countries in aviation,
navigation, instrument-making and other spheres. Old equipment has
been updated, hundreds of new machines have been bought. A total of 21
facilities have been reconstructed within the reporting period. For
the first time in the international practice defense industry has been
established within four years and participated in the exhibitions
abroad. In a short timeframe we demonstrated 27 kinds of defense
products, small arms, bullets, air bombs and munitions in the IDEF
exhibition in Istanbul. Even the developed countries took interest in
our products. We are having talks with these countries on purchase and
sale. Talks with a Turkish company have ended and a contract has been
signed. According to the contract, we will sell 30 million 7.62mm
caliber munitions to that company.

What are your plans for the coming years?

We plan to overhaul 12 areas of production, buy modern technologies
from developed countries for production of 8 kinds of defense products
in 2010. Moreover, we are having talks to buy new technologies to
produce 5-6 kinds of products in the second half of next year.

What is the share of the defense industry in non-oil sector? How much
will this sector increase in near future?

I can say that the share of non-oil sector is increasing
year-after-year. Great improvements are expected in this field in near
future. It is early to predict figure of growth of this production.
But I can say that there will be significant improvements.

The production of new vehicles has started this year within the
cooperation with Paramount Group of the Republic of South Africa. Will
the cooperation with this company continue?

We have high-level relations with the Paramount Group. Together with
this company we have started producing 30 Matador and Marauder
armoured mine protected vehicles. In the first half of next year these
vehicles will be delivered to the Defense Ministry. I believe our
cooperation will continue in future.

In the Soviet times `Iglim’ and `Aviaagregat’ plants, which are now
subordinated to the Ministry of Defense Industry, produced important
parts for the air industry. Is Azerbaijan using its potential now? Do
you plan to produce military aircrafts and helicopters on basis of
these facilities in future?

Spare parts for Azerbaijani aviation are being produced in these
facilities. If they are effective, this kind of projects may be
implemented in future. We have also started work on production of
unmanned vehicles. I think this project will be implemented in 2010.

Azerbaijani government and a Singaporean company have recently signed
a memorandum on the construction of shipbuilding plant near Baku. Will
some navigation systems produced in Azerbaijani defense industry
facilities be used in the construction of ships in this plant?

Navigation systems are produced in some of our facilities. We have
enough practice and potential in this field. This company will mainly
produce civilian ships. If it is planned to produce warships, we will
participate in these projects.

`Istiglal’ sniper rifle demonstrated in IDEF exhibition attracted
attention. Do you plan to modernize Azerbaijan’s first national
weapon, and produce new small arms?

`Istiglal’ sniper rifle that we demonstrated in IDEF exhibition is
14.5mm caliber. On the basis of this weapon, we have started producing
IST 12.7, i.e. 12.7mm caliber model. We plan to produce 23mm and 30mm
caliber sniper rifles in 2010-2011. These will be purely national
products worked out by the local specialists. We have already begun
producing `Inam’, `Zafar’, `Zafar-K’ pistols, telescopes, cartridges
for sporting guns meeting NATO standards.

There were some reports that a project was being work out on
establishing new vehicles on the basis of Soviet-era PDM and T-55
tanks. What can you say about it?

We have begun modernizing Soviet-era vehicles and producing new
vehicles on their basis. A number of military bodies of Azerbaijan
have given five kinds of vehicles to us to modernize them.

Press TV, Iran
Dec 26 2009

Armenia rejects Iran mediation in Karabakh dispute
Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:45:35 GMT

Despite Iran extending an offer to mediate between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Yerevan moves to reject
the offer.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan ruled out the possible
participation of Iran as a mediator in the Karabakh settlement and
said the issue is out of the question.

The mediation format will not change, Ria Novosti quoted the premier
as saying to reporters.

The negotiation process dynamics on Karabakh will remain on the same
level next year, he added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, in a recent meeting with
his Azeri counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov, expressed Tehran’s readiness
to act as a mediator in the Karabakh settlement.

Both Azerbaijan and Armenia claim the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is largely populated by Armenians but located in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan lost control of the region in a rebellion by local
Armenians, who were supported by the military of the Republic of
Armenia. The conflict killed tens of thousands of people and displaced
over a million others.

However, the international community has refused to recognize the de
facto rule of the ensuing Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

A ceasefire was signed in 1994 but the dispute has so far remained
unsettled. Clashes often erupt along the ceasefire line and
negotiations have so far proved fruitless.

SF/HGH

SWINE FLU IN KARABAKH

news.am
Dec 25 2009
Armenia

Four swine flu cases are registered in Karabakh, NKR Health Minister
Armen Khachatryan stated, underlining that the infected are of
high-risk group — 2 children and 2 women.

One child was discharged from hospital yesterday and the other one
— today. A woman was hospitalized in a critical state, however the
progress is registered.

"We do not see ground for panic. The situation is under control both
in Stepanakert and regions including villages where daily monitoring
is conducted," Khachatryan said.

Under NKR Education and Science Minister’s decree, kindergartens and
schools are closed till Dec. 30. According to the expert, closure
of educational institutions entailed reduction of upper respiratory
infection cases.

WHO OWES WHOM?

ara-zohrabyan
24/12/09

"It’s not right when they choose the "Cafesjian Museum-Foundation"
as the target. It had to be aimed at the DHAA Company," lawyer of the
Foundation Ara Zohrabyan told "A1+" touching upon the protest organized
by the group of employees working on the project near the Cascade.

According to the employees, they work for the "Cafesjian
Museum-Foundation" and have helped construct the Cascade complex and
the Tamanyan square and the construction on the "Cafesjian Museum" is
underway. According to the protesters, the Foundation owes 120-140,000
dollars to 34 workers who are demanding that money from executive
director of "Cafesjian Museum", Michael de Marshe.

According to Ara Zohrabyan, "Cafesjian Foundation" has no relations
with its workers because they work for DHAA CJSC.

Ara Zohrabyan confirmed that Mr. De Marshe was truly appointed
director of that company. "But that still doesn’t mean that the DHAA
employees automatically become the Foundation’s employees. That is
not the case both legally and de facto. The Foundation and the DHAA
have no relation at all," he said, underlining that the Foundation
was only a client that transferred the amount foreseen for completion
of activities to the DHAA.

According to him, Mr. De Marshe tried to solve the issue of salaries
and wanted to understand what debts the DHAA has. "De Marsh is the
kind of person who wants to peacefully solve the matter in favor of
the employees," assured the lawyer, adding that DHAA has had more
obligations than its actives. In other words, DHAA can’t pay even 20%
of its salaries if it is not declared bankrupt and put up for auction
with its items.

"If those employees demand their salaries from DHAA, the company
will simply go bankrupt and will not be able to give the entire
amount and none of the share-holders will be held responsible,"
said Ara Zohrabyan.

According to him, when Mr. De Marshe started looking into the issue,
it turned out that the employees didn’t have any documents. Those
issues are in the process of clarification and according to Zohrabyan,
DHAA has two share-holders of which one has pledged to pay 50% of
his shares to the employees under the condition that the employees
present real figures that the DHAA owes.

"As a lawyer, my advice to the employees is that they can receive more
from DHAA through friendly relations rather than going to court and
trying to solve the issue there. In other words, they should keep
calm, although it is their constitutional right to hold protests
and appeal to the court. But if the share-holder lacks good will,
we will move to the field of law," said lawyer Ara Zohrabyan.

GEORGIAN LEADERSHIP THREAT TO REGIONAL PEACE – LAVROV

RIA Novosti
December 24, 2009
Moscow

The Georgian leadership is a threat to peace and security in the
region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

"The current Georgian leadership presents a threat to regional peace
and security, a threat that once grew into a war against South Ossetia
and Russian peacekeepers, against the Russian Federation," Lavrov said.

"That’s why we are doing everything possible to prevent similar
things from happening again, and hope those who continue restoring
the Georgian armed forces are aware of what they are doing and that
they will keep Georgia from continuing new reckless acts," he said
after talks with his Abkhaz counterpart Sergei Shamba.

He added that "after relevant treaties between Russia and Abkhazia
and South Ossetia were concluded, the security of the new independent
states is reliably protected against any attack."

Russia recognized the former Georgian republics in August 2008 after
repelling Georgia’s assault on South Ossetia in a five-day war. Only
Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny Pacific island state of Nauru have
followed suit.

US SUBMITS NO RESPONSE TO AZERBAIJAN’S NOTE SO FAR

news.az
Dec 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Terry Davidson The United States has not answered the note of
Azerbaijan yet, public relations officer of the US embassy in
Azerbaijan Terry Davidson told.

He said US government would be on Christmas vacation on December 24-25.

On December 17, Azerbaijani ambassador to the United States Yashar
Aliyev submitted to the State Department the protest note of the
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry against the US Congress allocation of
8 millions dollars to the separatist regime of Nagorno Karabakh. US
said it would answer the note as soon as possible.

AZERBAIJANI FM TO VISIT TURKEY

Today’s Zaman
Dec 22 2009
Turkey

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will pay an official
visit to Turkey at the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu Dec. 25-26 to discuss bilateral relations and the protracted
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a Foreign Ministry statement said on Monday.

The visit is expected to include private and committee meetings with
Foreign Minister Davutoglu as well as meetings with President Abdullah
Gul, Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin and Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan. "Along with discussing bilateral relations with the
Azerbaijani foreign minister, the talks will also cover regional
problems that concern both nations particularly including the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the statement read.

Although Azerbaijani-Turkish relations have been strained over the
protocols signed between Armenia and Turkey on Oct. 10 to normalize
relations and establish diplomatic ties, the Foreign Ministries of both
countries recently announced that they would annul visa requirements
between the two countries. The Turkish-Armenian protocols included
a provision that would open the border between the two countries
within two months once the protocols are ratified, which angered
Azerbaijan. Erdogan’s remarks following his White House meeting with US
President Barack Obama on Dec. 7 affirming that the border will be kept
closed until there is a breakthrough in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
has been largely welcomed among the Azerbaijani public and government.

The statement also said the Azerbaijani foreign minister’s visit will
also create an opportunity to display the political will to strengthen
solidarity and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Davutoglu met with his Azerbaijani counterpart on Oct. 24 this year
in Baku to alleviate tensions surrounding Turkish-Armenian relations
and mitigate the so-called flag crisis.

FOR MODERN GUEST – RESPECTABLE SERVICES
Srbuhy Vanyan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper NKR
December 22, 2009

Saying development of tourism, first of all is naturally supposed a
development of substructures, creation and expansion of a hotel net.

Recently in our republic it has been spoken much about the steps done
in this sphere. There are many comfortable and nice-looking hotels
in NKR territory, but today the leading one is "Armenia" hotel.

Its representatives periodically participate in international
tourexhibitions, seminars trying to use the international experience
and last innovations in the work for satisfying their guests’
taste and whims. What was the current year for "Armenia" hotel,
how did the financial crisis reflect upon the hotel’s employment,
what interesting services they suggest for their visitors? About all
this in the interview with the executive director of "Armenia" hotel
Robert Simonyan. – Mr Simonyan, how do you estimate last year’s
work of "Armenia" hotel in the context of 3 years of its existance.

– "Armenia" hotel began its activity in 2007 and now in the end of
the third year we remain dynamic developing organization, which moves
parallel with the market’s demands. Estimating the situation, we’ve
come to the conclusion, that hotel business is the most important spur
for development of tourism. There are some active players in hotel
market of Karabakh, but they don’t always offer gusts a respectable
service, naturally, they can’t meet the demands of modern visitors
( representatives of business world, high-ranking officials, merely
foreign guests). Presence of all this is the basis of policy being
realized by us: to manage the level of provision of services to
the level of Europian coutries’ service – suggesting comparatively
not expensive, but high-quality services. Such approach let us put
before us exalted aims and try to reach them. As practice shows, the
strategy chosen just from the beginning proves its value. – What
is the situation of hotel market in NKR by your estimation? How did
the financial crisis reflect upon this busienss? – Before financial
crisis for development of tourism, naturally, also hotel business here
there were all preconditions. Alluring investment sphere was incentive
for realization of great projects in NKR by foreign investors, which
promoted the process of hotel market’s formation and development. A
number of active workers appeared in the business. This phenomenon
brought with it positive and negative influence. It laudable on
the one hand, that hotel market began to become active, but on the
other hand the inconformity of quality of suggested services with
international standards is fraught for the country,which just trys
to form as a tourist’s centre. This situation can repel visitors,
but we should make all efforts for increasing their number.

This is the first law of business world. The situation formed in
NKR should be used: in conditions of competition’s absence it was
necessary to build a "Lux" hotel. What about the second question,
so the current financial crisis became more serious, than it was
expected. Proceeding from it, many companies made changes in their
established budgets, reduced the expances of business trips. As, for
example, american tourists being important for us, this year couldn’t
visit us because of the crisis. As it’s known, Armenia and the NKR are
expensive countries in tourist’s market, and especially in conditions
of financial crisis it’s difficult for us to seduce visitors. But
the crisis can have positive consequences: some representatives of
the market can make their work active on account of competition’s
increasing. Generally, it will be easy to overcome the crisis for
those, who last favourable years amassed a great number of material
human resources, on account of which they would be able to keep the
business stable. – As a well versed man in inner life and problems of
this sphere, how do you estimate the situation of other hotels in NKR?
– In regard to the last year some NKR hotel owners for existing in
conditions of the crisis were obliged to review their price policy. A
situation was created, which would give a chance to satisfy increase
of quality of rendered services in the market.

Consequently, the price of rendered service should correspond to
the quality. – What is the last year for you? – During last 11
months, in comparison with the previous year’s same period of time,
41 percent increase of employment was fixed. The quantity of sold
beds crossed the line of 10 thousand, which is by 52 percent more
than previous year’s indexes. – What measures do you use for being
competitive in the market? As it’s the sphere which needs continuous
changes and innovations. – We realize strong advertizing policy –
printing and spreading of booklets, participation in tourexhibitions,
we have a website, which is periodically refreshed and works in online
regime. It’s necessary to note, that our advertisment is placed in all
armenian tour magazines. Various actions are periodically organized
for providing employment of the hotel’s rooms and restaurant, we
have a number of long-term and short-term programs, with the help
of which we try to keep our first palce in the market. – And what
levers of collaboration you have? – We closely collaborate with RA
and foreign tourism organizations, embassies, business and diplomatic
organizations and institutions.In all this I’d like to emphasize one
of our basic partners – NKR government. As I’m the representative of
hotel business, I’d like to underline, that development of tourism,
which is the main source of incomes of many countries and can also
bring huge sums for our country’s budget is a team work and it’s
necessary to direct all able powers to it. – And in the end your
best wishes in connection with the coming Ner Year’s holidays. –
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas. Let 2010 give all the Armenians
health and well-off life, peace – in coming year, friendship and love
to all you. Let the God give us power and patience.

AHMET TURK TO FACE TRIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2009 19:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Turkish state prosecutor opened an inquiry
targeting Ahmet Turk, Chairman of banned pro-Kurdish Party (DTP)
on Tuesday after he said that a jailed militant PKK leader advised
the party’s legislators to stay in parliament.

The Ankara State Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement that it
had opened a judicial inquiry based on allegations that Turk had
glorified criminals and their acts and encouraged hatred in society,
state-run Anatolia news agency reported.

In the meantime, the Turkey’s Criminal Intelligence and Investigative
Bureau is conducting investigation under Article 215 (Praising the
offense or the offender) and 216 (Provoking people to be rancorous
and hostile) of the country’s criminal code.

"Turkey’s democratic forces, intellectuals, writers and scholars
stressed the importance continuing discussions over Kurdish issue
in Parliament. I met my lawyer Wednesday on Imrali Ocalan island and
said I disapproved the waiver of parliamentary mandates,", Anatolia
news agency quotes Ahmet Turk as saying.

PROCESS OF RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY CAME TO A STANDSTILL

Experts’ club
Dec 21 2009

Turkey once again linked establishment of diplomatic relations with
Armenia with an issue of Karabakh. Armenia in response emphasized
need of participation of representatives of Karabakh in talks. The
process came to a standstill – the leader of the faction "Legacy"
of the Armenian parliament Stepan Safarian says.

"Until Turkey has ratified the treaty between Armenia and Turkey
neither Yerevan will do that. We demand the recognition of status of
Karabakh and its inclusion in negotiation process", – said Safarian.

In turn, Turkey does not make concessions and declares that until the
surrounding mountain areas of Karabakh are not returned to Azerbaijan,
the Armenian-Turkish border will not be opened – says the website
"Caucasian Knot".