Author: Tashjian Arbi

FRENCH AND SPANISH OMBUDSMEN OFFICES TO ASSIST ARMENIA’S OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE

ARMENPRESS
Oct 26, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Ombudsman’s Office will
receive support this year from the same offices of France and Spain.

The works will be carried out within the framework of "Twining" program
the main goal of which is to support the Armenian Ombudsman’s Office
in technical and organizational functions.

Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan said today presenting the program that
a group of representatives of Spanish and French ombudsmen’s offices
will arrive in Armenia and cooperate with Armenian partners.

"Works will be carried out in several directions. The legal basis
of the activity of ombudsman will be studied, issues on creation
of branches, human resources, increase of public awareness will
be discussed. I am sure that effective work will be carried out,"
Harutyunyan said.

This initiative is the first program of European neighborhood policy
action program the budget of which is 1 million euro and the duration –
18 months.

Head of the delegation of the European Commission to Armenia Raul de
Luzenberger, highlighting the initiative, noted that the ombudsmen’s
offices of France and Spain will support and promote the development
of the system.

Head of staff of the France’s ombudsmen office Kristian Le Ron noted
that France and Spain will bring together their forces and support
the development of Armenian human rights defense institute.

"This is a very important program and as a result of a joint work it
will have its best result," he said.

Senior head of staff of the Spanish Human Rights Office Karmen
Komas-Mata Mira said the Spanish ombudsman’s office has developed
and annually receives 20,000 applications.

Interfax, Russia
Oct 22 2009

Armenia continues Karabakh negotiations with Azerbaijan – diplomat

BAKU Oct 22

Armenia continues constructive and positive negotiations on the
Karabakh settlement with Azerbaijan, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister
Aram Kirakosian told the media in Baku on Thursday.

"We think the negotiations with Azerbaijan are positive and
constructive," he said.

These are sensitive negotiations, the official noted. "Armenia and
Azerbaijan continue the negotiations. The presidents meet, and that
has a positive effect on the negotiating process," he noted.

As for Armenia-Turkey normalizations, Kirakosian said that oral and
written statements differed. "The written statements reflect the
sides’ agreement to normalize relations without preconditions," he
noted.

RESEARCH RESULTS FROM N.A. KORKHMAZYAN AND COLLEAGUES UPDATE UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNICAL PHYSICS

Science Letter
October 20, 2009

According to recent research from Yerevan, Armenia, "X-ray radiation
from fast electrons in undulators filled with an inverse medium is
studied. A formula for the spectral density of the number of photons
is derived."

"The intensity zeroth harmonics, as well as the intensity of radiation
in zero undulator field, are described by the Tamm-Frank formula for
Cherenkov radiation. It is shown that the spectral density of emitted
photons in a wavelength range of lambda a parts per thousand…

0.4-2.0 in such a medium can be increased by four orders of magnitude
as compared to the radiation intensity in a vacuum undulator," wrote
N.A. Korkhmazyan and colleagues (see also Technical Physics).

The researchers concluded: "The energy of emitted electrons in the
former case must be in an interval of 5-2 GeV, while electrons with
an energy of 14-6 GeV are required in vacuum undulators."

Korkhmazyan and colleagues published their study in Technical Physics
(Hard undulator radiation in an inverse medium. Technical Physics,
2009;54(9):1392-1394).

For additional information, contact N.A. Korkhmazyan, Abovyan Armenian
State Pedag University, Yerevan 375010, Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Technical Physics is:
Maik Nauka, Interperiodica, Springer, 233 Spring St., New York,
NY 10013-1578, USA.

Spy Arrested

spy
03:07 pm | October 21, 2009

Official

RA National Security Service arrested Gevorg Hairapetian (Armenian
citizen) on charges of spying for Azeri special services.

Hairapetian was reserve lieutenant colonel. In 2007 he was
transferred to the reserve for severe violations of military and
service discipline. He is accused under the article "Treason against
the State as Espionage". A foreign citizen who maintained contact
between Hairapetian and Azeri special services was also detained,
reports the RA

MINISTER NALBANDIAN MEETS US DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE

armradio.am
20.10.2009 16:02

On October 20 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian,
received US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Tina S. Kaidanow.

Greeting the guest, Minister Nalbandian congratulated her on
appointment and voiced hope that her great diplomatic experience and
skills would contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed the prospects of
development of bilateral relations. Minister Nalbandian said Armenia
attaches importance to the deepening of multifaceted relations and
reinforcement of friendly cooperation with the United States.

The parties exchanged views on the process of normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations. In this context Edward Nalbandian
expressed gratitude for the US support to the process of establishment
of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

The interlocutors dwelt on the latest developments in the negotiations
on the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue.

WORLD BANK ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR’S VISIT TO ARMENIA

ARKA
Oct 20, 2009

YEREVAN, October 20. /ARKA/. Okonjo-Iweala’s visit is seen by the
World Bank as an important step in enhancing and further extending
its partnership with Armenia.

On Sunday, the World Bank Managing Director Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
completed her two-day visit to Armenia, as part of her first trip to
the South Caucasus.

"The aim of the visit was to discuss with the Armenian Government,
business leaders, and civil society the impact of the financial crisis
and ways to ease the crisis and ensure sustained economic growth",
the WB Yerevan office’s press service reports.

Okonjo-Iweala met with the President of the Republic Serzh Sargsyan,
the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and the key members of the economic
team of the Government.

It was stressed at the meetings that Armenia has been severely hit
by the crisis, because of strong dependence on a few sectors for
its growth, and on remittances for the financing of investment, but
has responded appropriately to the crisis, which was not of its own
making. It also entered the crisis with some strengths, thanks to
a well-capitalized and liquid banking system, a low level of public
debt, and a small fiscal deficit.

"These challenges need to be addressed to permit Armenia to attract
investment, diversify its economy, and capitalize on its future
opportunities, its potential, and the entrepreneurship of its people",
the press office quoted Onkonjo-Iweala.

Onkonjo-Iweala also toured Bank-financed projects that Armenia is
implementing. Armenia was the first country to use the IDA Fast Track
Initiative, as an immediate response to the global economic crisis.

Ms. She traveled to Aragatsotn marz and met with project beneficiaries.

In Yernjatap village she met and talked with the residents who have
prioritized the reconstruction and expansion of the Community Center,
implemented by the Armenian Social Investment Fund (ASIF). The project
will be completed soon and the new Center with hall for ceremonies,
library, medical center, and administrative rooms will fully serve
the needs of the village.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also visited Vardenut and Ara villages where a
3.5 km road is being rehabilitated to connect both communities to
the highway. The project is about to be completed under the Lifeline
Road Improvement Project (LRIP), thus reducing the transportation
costs of delivering the agricultural products to markets, improving
competitiveness and living conditions of villagers, and generating
employment opportunities at the local level.

In Agtsk village Ms. Okonjo-Iweala visited a gas network, prioritized
by the residents and funded by the Rural Enterprise and Small-Scale
Commercial Agriculture Development Project (RESCAD). This project,
already completed, will provide to the residents, especially to women,
better and safer winter heating and cooking conditions, and will
generate new business activities. In Voskehat village she visited the
recently established "Ashtarak dzu" poultry farm. New technologies
at the farm have reduced the cost of production and have generated
new employment for men and women from surrounding villages.

"The World Bank is very proud to team up with the Government and local
communities for the implementation of these impressive projects,
which in one place enable people with economic opportunities, in
another area provide better access to social services, while generating
employment at the local level at a time of economic contraction." said
Ms. Okonjo-Iweala. "But it is important that these investments are
maintained and that the central, regional, and local authorities
provide adequate maintenance financing for them", Okonjo-Iweala said.

While meeting with the business and civil society representatives,
Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala underscored that the Bank values these
consultations and is committed to engaging actively in ongoing
dialogue with the public, be it on individual projects the World Bank
is supporting, or more broadly, on the economic and social agenda. The
Bank will also continue to encourage the Government to intensify its
dialogue with all the stakeholders on issues of vital importance for
Armenia’s progress.

The Bank presented its new Country Partnership Strategies (CPS) to
the Board in June 2009. It provides for new IDA/IBRD lending of $545
million for 2009-2012 and IFC investments in the range of $120 to $160
million. It is intended to assist Armenia to resume growth and reduce
the impacts of the crisis on the poor. It also aims to help Armenia
lay the foundation for a more competitive economy-a key requirement
for diversified and sustainable growth. The current portfolio consists
of 21 active projects with commitments of $506.5 million.

Since 1993 the World Bank has financed 54 projects with total
commitments up to $1.3 billion.

THIS DAY LAST YEAR: WILL OBAMA RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE?

Tert
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

On October 20, 2008, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun,
or ARF-D) representative Giro Manoyan had said that American President
Barack Obama would recognize Armenian Genocide, Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev paid a business visit to Yerevan, and Einstein’s gold
watch sold for much more than anticipated.

If Obama Elected President the US will Recognize Armenian Genocide,
Says ARF-D Representative

"If Obama is elected president, there’s a big possibility that the
US will recognize the Armenian Genocide," Director of ARF-D Bureau’s
Political Affairs and Armenian Cause (Hay Dat) Office Giro Manoyan
stated on this day last year.

According to him, after the American presidential elections, a
change in the political approach toward the region will be apparent
in the US. As to the US’s position in Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Manoyan
believed that there wouldn’t be much change in that respect.

Dmitry Medvedev Arrived in Yerevan

At the invitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Yerevan on a business visit.

President Sargsyan met the high-ranking official at Zvartnots
International Airport.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Armenia’s Ambassador
to Russia Armen Smbatyan, and Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia Nikolay
Pavlov were also at the airport. The delegation headed by the Russian
president included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Minister
of Transport Igor Levitin, Minister of Energy Sergey Shmadko, heads
of Russian entities, and Armenian businessmen.

Further, the Armenian president organized an official dinner in honour
of the Russian president at the presidential office.

Einstein’s Watch Was Sold

The gold watch belonging to Albert Einstein was sold at the internet
auction at about 600,000 USD. The purchaser of the Swiss watch wished
to remain unknown.

The organizers of the auction were initially expecting to get
20,000-30,000 USD. But their expectations were exceeded significantly.

INTERVIEW – ARMENIAN OPPOSITION ISSUES WARNING OVER TURKEY THAW
By Hasmik Lazarian

Reuters
Oct 20 2009
UK

YEREVAN (Reuters) – An Armenian opposition leader said on Tuesday
President Serzh Sarksyan lacked public backing to make concessions
in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to secure ties with foe Turkey and
demanded elections if he tries.

"I do not believe the Armenian authorities are capable of convincing
the Armenian public that unilateral concessions on two fronts, namely
Armenian-Turkey relations and the Karabakh conflict, are necessary,"
Giro Manoyan told Reuters.

Turkey and Armenia are pursuing a road map to establish diplomatic
relations, open their border and end a century of hostility stemming
from the World War One mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

But Sarksyan faces resistance from opponents at home and the huge
Armenian diaspora abroad, who say Turkey should first recognise the
killings as genocide.

They are also worried by Turkish demands that Armenia make
concessions in its festering conflict with Turkish ally Azerbaijan
over Nagorno-Karabakh before Armenian-Turkish accords are ratified
by parliament.

"The Turkish government will use the ratification process in the
Turkish parliament as leverage to try to pressure the Armenian side to
give in to Azeri-Turkish demands regarding resolution of the Karabakh
conflict," said 46-year-old Manoyan, international secretary of the
opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun.

Sarksyan denies any link. But analysts say he is under pressure to
offer something to seal the pact, which would ease Armenia’s economic
woes and boost Turkey’s credentials as a moderniser in the West.

NIndia-43302620091020?sp=true

STREET PROTESTS Manoyan’s party, which has strong support in the
diaspora, quit as a minority partner in the ruling coalition in
April. It holds 16 seats in the 131-seat parliament. The Heritage
Party with seven seats shares its position on the thaw.

With 94 seats, Sarksyan’s remaining partners enjoy a strong majority
and can force through the accords. But Armenia is no stranger to
political street protests, the last coming in March last year when
police and opposition protesters clashed over Sarksyan’s election.

Nagorno-Karabakh cost former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan his job in
1998 when he was forced to resign under pressure from opponents angered
by concessions he offered to Azerbaijan over the mountain region.

Manoyan said the opposition would seek snap elections, in comments
that underscored the strength of feeling among Sarksyan’s opponents
and particularly the diaspora, which has played a key role in Armenian
foreign policy since independence.

Sarksyan was met with angry protests by members of the diaspora during
a week-long intercontinental tour to discuss the accords before they
were signed this month in Zurich.

Turkey rejects the term genocide, saying many people died on both
sides of the conflict. But the event remains a central element of
Armenian national identity.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with close
fellow Muslim ally Azerbaijan, which was fighting Armenian-backed
ethnic Armenians in breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenian-backed forces took control of the mountain region and seven
Azeri districts surrounding it in a war that cost 30,000 lives and
still threatens security in a region key for oil and gas transit to
the West.

Beirut-born Manoyan, whose parents fled last century’s killings,
threatened "every available political and constitutional means"
to block ratification of the accords.

"If we do not succeed, the only alternative left is to go for a change
of administration, to have a new president and a new national assembly
which will renounce these protocols as null and void."

AZERBAIJAN’S ANTI-TURKISH CAMPAIGN
By Ivan Gharibyan

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 19 2009
Armenia

A few days after the Armenian-Turkish Protocols were finally signed,
official Baku mounted an all-out offensive – they must have realized
the incompatibility of the ongoing processes with the reference points
of their own policy launched many years ago.

After a few days of silence, late this week, the Azerbaijani
authorities decided to go on an offensive and show the Turkish
leaders all their resentment over the irreversible Armenia-Turkey
normalization process. Of course, for the time being, Turkey’s
willingness to stop setting preconditions in this process under
international pressure is out of the question, but the processing is
running this very course now: whatever "trademark" promises may be
made by official Ankara, they are not yet indicative of any immediate
linkage between the Armenia-Turkey normalization and Nagorno-Karabakh
peace processes. The Armenian and Turkish Parliaments are progressing
to successful ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, which
are most likely to be ratified and come into force before the end
of October. This, in turn, means reopening of the Armenian-Turkish
border by the end of this year.

After being convinced that the principal geopolitical players
and international mediator got "sick and tired" of dealing with
"uncompromising" Azerbaijan, which, in contrast to Armenia, will
not make any concessions on Nagorno-Karabakh, President Ilham Aliyev
decided to take a number of desperate steps hoping for a change in
developments. The other day, the Azeri leader stated Azerbaijan’s
intention to refuse to supply gas to Turkey at a much-lower-than-market
price. He designated this policy as "squandering that is going
too far."

One more piece of evidence of an apparent change in the "little
brother’s" attitude to its "big brother" is the Azerbaijani
authorities’ decision, which is by no means in conformity with the
"centuries-old" firm friendship between the two nations. "The Shahid
lane" located at highest spot of present-day Baku — the burial place
of the participants in the Armenian pogroms in January 1990, after
Soviet troops entered the city – is the "pride" of the city. The
Armenian and Turkish national flags alternated along the lane in
symbol of firm friendship. Now, however, after a number of top-ranking
officials visited the lane, the flags have been taken off.

Further developments are difficult to forecast. President Aliyev
is unlikely to show such political shortsightedness as to aggravate
relations with Turkey, which, is any case, is Azerbaijan most loyal
and closest ally. It must be a "tooth show" to be followed by a forced
dialogue with Ankara to find a way out of the situation. There is
only one way out. None of the international mediators conceal their
desire for a final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict soon
after the Armenian-Turkish relations have been normalized. However,
since the Armenian authorities clearly explained major — and most
painful — concessions the Armenian side can afford, it is Baku’s
turn now, and Turkey has to explain to Azerbaijan the inevitability
of similar painful concessions, which are of vital necessity for the
negotiating process.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Oct 16 2009

Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from all occupied territories:
Azerbaijani President

Azerbaijani fundamental position is simple. The conflict must be
settled within Azerbaijani territorial integrity. Armenian armed
forces must be withdrawn from the occupied territories. Our
compatriots must return to native lands, Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev said at an inauguration ceremony of a new apartment building in
Hovsan settlement for the Great Patriotic War veterans, the Karabakh
War invalids and families of martyrs, AzerTaj state news agency
reported.

No other point of view is considered beyond this position. Azerbaijan
has repeatedly voiced its position on this issue, Azerbaijani
President said.

He said that presently, the conflict has not been solved yet. We
strive to solve it by talks.

"Our country’s opportunities increase both in economic and military
spheres. At present, Azerbaijani Army is the strongest one in the
region. If we had had such a powerful army late 1980 – early 1990,
Azerbaijani lands would not have been occupied. The people taking
office in Azerbaijan late 1980 – early 1990 have made big mistakes. As
a matter of fact, they have allowed occupying Nagorno-Karabakh.
However, after Great Leader Heydar Aliyev took office, the situation
in Azerbaijan changed. Several lands were returned. There was cease
fire regime.

During cease fire regime, Azerbaijan was able to achieve great
success," Ilham Aliyev aid.

Azerbaijani President said that at present, Azerbaijani economy can
not be compared with Armenian one. "We excel it in all spheres. We
have very broad political opportunities. Our international positions
are strong. But economic potential is several times higher. Regarding
with military strength, I would like to stress again that Azerbaijani
Army is the strongest one in the region. We intensify our military
strength.Telling the truth, it needs huge funds. But we must do it as
we live in war terms. The war has not finished yet. Its first stage
has been completed. We must be ready for releasing our native lands
from occupiers any moment," Azerbaijani President said.