Author: Topchian Jane

ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DISCUSS RELEVANCE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS TO ARMENIAN CONSTITUTION JANUARY 12

ARMENPRESS
Dec 9, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Constitutional Court will
discuss the issue on relevance of the Armenian-Turkish protocols to the
Armenian Constitution on January 12, spokesman for the Constitutional
Court Vladimir Hovhannissyan told Armenpress.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan presented November 19 to the Armenian
Constitutional Court the protocols signed October 10 in Zurich between
Armenia and Turkey on establishing diplomatic relations and developing
further bilateral relations.

"AS THE PROCESS IS BEING DELAYED THE OBSTACLES INCREASE"

Aysor.am
10/12/09

The RA President Serzh Sargsyan has applied to corresponding bodies
for adding in the legislation corresponding changes and addition in
the signing, ratifying as well as nullifying international agrrements.

President Serzh Sargsyan instructed relevant authorities to make
appropriate amendments related to the signing, ratification and
declaration of invalidity of treaties, said President of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan at a press conference with President Valdis Zatlers,
speaking about delaying of the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols by the Turkish Parliament.

S. Sargsyan informed that the records are already sent to the
Constitutional Court of Armenia, who on January 12 will decide on
their conformity with the Constitution of the Republic.

"Everyone should understand that the more process is delayed, the
increasing is constrainted", – said S. Sargsyan.

Referring to the statements by Turkish Prime Minister that the
protocols will be ratified in the case of positive progress in the
Karabakh settlement, the President of Armenia said that these two
processes can not be linked.

"It is very important for Turkey to realize that peace and stability in
the region will be established only when the Armenian-Turkish relations
will be settled. We believe that all attempts to link Karabakh and the
Armenian-Turkish processes are doomed to failure", – said S. Sargsyan.

"I declare that the Republic of Armenia is ready to duly fulfill
its international obligations under the Protocol’s ratification
and expects the same from Turkey. If Turkey delays the ratification
process, then Armenia will take advantage of the opportunities given
by the international law", – President said.

AZERBAIJAN COMPLAINS TO UKRAINE ABOUT NAGORNO-KARABAKH FILM TV BROADCAST

Tert.am
16:23 ~U 07.12.09

According to Azerbaijani news agency Trend News, the Azerbaijani
Embassy in Ukraine delivered a diplomatic note to the Ukrainian
Foreign Ministry due to the broadcast of an "anti-Azerbaijani" film
on the Inter television channel, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine
Talat Aliyev told Trend News today.

The film in question is about Nagorno-Karabakh and it was prepared
by Inter and aired after Euronews.

The Azerbaijani diplomatic mission to Ukraine is getting in touch with
the channel’s management to demand an explanation, the ambassador said.

FRUITLESS NAGORNO-KARABAKH TALKS OBLIGE AZERBAIJAN TO RESORT TO ALTERNATIVE METHODS: DEFENSE MINISTER

Today.Az
08 December 2009 [14:14]

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Colonel-General Safar Abiyev met with
the U.S. Air Forces Commander in Europe General Roger Brady on Dec.

8., press office of the Defense Ministry said.

They discussed the U.S.-Azerbaijani military cooperation,
current situation in the South Caucasus and Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The defense minister said the fruitless negotiations held within the
OSCE Minsk Group for more than 15 years oblige Azerbaijan to resort
to other ways to liberate its lands from occupation.

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2009

European Court launches probe into Armenian president’s involvement in
Khojaly massacre

05 December 2009 [11:43] – Today.Az

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has asked Turkey-based
Organization for Fight against Baseless Armenian Allegations (ASIMDER)
to provide documents which prove that Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan ordered Armenian armed forces to commit a massacre in
Khojaly, Azerbaijan, Hurriyyet quoted ASIMDER chairman Goksel Gulbey
as saying.

According to him, the European Court of Human Rights replied to their
application for Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to be tried on the
Khojaly genocide.

`European Court of Human Rights stated that they put our application
into operation and asked us to send documents about the application to
the court by January 8, 2010,’ Gulbey said.

"The court asks us to provide documents about Sargsyan. As an addition
to the documents we already have, we asked Azerbaijan’s Consulate
General to Kars to provide us with more documents. When documents are
sent, we will prepare our application in the shortest term and we will
present them to the court.’

`We believe that the European Court of Human Rights will make a fair
decision. Sargsyan was the commander of the Armenian armed forces
which committed massacre in Khojaly in 1992. He ordered Armenian armed
forces to commit a massacre and he also participated in that. The
blood of the victims of Khojaly massacre has not dried yet. 1.2
million Azerbaijani citizen had to flee their homeland as displaced
persons in that period. Sargsyan should be tried in ECHR for these
crimes,’ he added.

/APA/

URL:

news.am, Armenia
Dec 5 2009

RA CC to announce Protocols’ ratification day

14:02 / 12/05/2009Dec. 4, 2009 the 15-day period intended for
consideration of Armenia-Turkey Protocols and introduction to the
court by RA Constitutional Court judge Vladimir Hovhannisyan expired.

RA President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan should
appoint a day for meeting within 10 days to decide on the Protocols’
ratification date and respondent, RA CC press secretary Hovhannes
Papikyan informed NEWS.am.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Armenia-Turkey Protocols were signed
in Zurich, October 10, 2009. The documents should be ratified in the
parliaments of the two states to come into effect.

REGIONAL ENTERPRISES’ BUSINESSMEN DISPLEASED WITH ADMINISTRATION

news.am
Dec 3 2009
Armenia

"Small and medium enterprises businessmen in Armenian regions are
displeased with administration, tax policy and corruption", ProSME
Deputy Director Anoush Aslanyan told journalists. ProSME is a project
of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in Armenia –
implemented by PEM Consult GmbH, Dusseldorf by order of the Federal
Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

According to her, four surveys were conducted among regional
businessmen and majority was displeased with officials’ workstyle.

"This year the main impediment for businessmen was administrative
vices. The businessmen complain about large authorities of state
regional bodies on control."

Aslanyan outlined the superficial level of regional businessmen’
knowledge of legal issues. In order to remedy situation ProSME through
German PEM company provides free legal advice services to small and
medium undertaker. Starting 2010, the development promoting project
will be handed to GTZ Armenian office.

James Macbeth Forbes, GTZ local office Team Leader informed that
he cooperates with RA Ministry of Territorial Administration,a
dministrations ad municipalities for several years to improve the
service quality. "I cannot unambiguously state that all our programs
are successfully ended, but at least 80% registers positive result",
he stated.

According to Forbes, German Government decided to allocate Armenia
â~B¬100m as a loan and grant.

CELESTE WALLANDER MEETS WITH ARMENIAN OFFICIALS

Aysor
Dec 3 2009
Armenia

Today Armenia’s Defense Minister Seyran Oganyan, and Armenia’s Minister
of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan met with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense Minister Celeste Wallander.

The parties discussed items of Armenia-U.S. cooperation in safety

"The U.S. appreciate our relationship with Armenia and its contribution
to NATO and Alliance through participation in peacekeeping mission
in Kosovo, Iraq, and the upcoming in Afghanistan," said Mrs. Wallander.

She said the U.S. keeps on supporting the process in the framework of
the Minsk Group mediation. President Obama’s Administration is ready
to support and contribute to the peace settlement of the Karabakh
conflict in accordance with the fundamental principles of refraining
from the threat or use of force, sovereign equality, and respect for
the rights inherent in sovereignty.

TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOLS NOT TO BE RATIFIED ANY TIME SOON: CONFLICTOLOGIST
R. Mehdiyev

Today
57878.html
Dec 2 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Azerbaijan-based Peace and Conflict Resolution
Center Director Elkhan Mehdiyev.

Day.Az: Do you believe the Turkey-Armenia protocols will finally be
ratified? Which of the sides is likely to ratify them first?

Elkhan Mehdiyev: I think the Turkey-Armenia protocols will not to
be ratified any time soon because we know the mood in the Turkish
society and parliament and even in government. Prime Minister Erdogan
has repeatedly stated that ratification of protocols is impossible
without liberation of occupied Azerbaijani territories.

So I do not think even his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Barack
Obama will help move this issue because this issue has already become
agenda of Turkey’s domestic policy. So, now it is not an Azerbaijani
issue any longer, but a purely Turkish. Of course, if Armenia and
Azerbaijan sign an agreement on troop withdrawal and liberation of
Azerbaijan’s territories, the ratification will certainly be possible.

As for Armenia, it can either expect Turkey to ratify the protocols
or it may itself ratify the protocols first to play with the world
public opinion to show that it has already signed the document and
it respects its commitments made in Zurich. They can use it as a
propaganda. Both options is possible.

Q: Do you think Russia is interested in opening of Armenia-Turkey
border? Does Russia fear that Turkey may step up its influence in
the Caucasus?

A: I think Russia is interested in resumption of diplomatic ties
between the two countries. Because it was stated on top level that
Russia is interested in this process. Once such statements have been
made, we can not say that Russia is against this process. In addition,
Russian foreign minister attended the Zurich meeting.

In meantime, Russia has its interests in this matter. It is connected
with the Georgian events above all. Open borders would allow Russia to
have good trade relations with Turkey and enjoying even more influence
on Armenia. Russia understands that the Turkish-Armenian border will
be opened sooner or later. If this process takes place with Russia’s
support, it will win and increase its influence. One should bear in
mind that Russia has many economic projects in Armenia and it wants
to implement them through Turkey.

Q: Is there still a need to change format of the OSCE Minks Group?

Maybe it is high time for the European Union to deal with the issue?

A: Of course, the Azerbaijani side does not trust the Minsk Group, but
it really has no other choice. Azerbaijan cannot deny the OSCE Minsk
service. On the other hand, the EU will not be able to independently
engage in the settlement process because of Russia. Azerbaijan wants
Turkey to be one of the co-chairs. But the three powers had already
monopolized the Nagorno-Karabakh process and do not allow anyone to
learn even more details of ongoing negotiations, even countries that
are ordinary members of the Minsk Group.

So, if Azerbaijan refuses Minsk Group mediation services, then who
will take over mediation? European Union is very diversified group
of states some of who have polar views on just outcome of the conflict.

Therefore, it would be better if the format of the mediators was
composed of not regional countries. But it’s to late to do it now.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS FOCUS ON RETURN OF PART OF OCCUPIED LANDS AT CURRENT STAGE: AZERBAIJANI MP

Today
Nov 30 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with member of ruling New Azerbaijan Party Political
Council, deputy chairman of Parliamentary Committee for Security and
Defense Aydin Mirzazade.

Day.Az: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan voiced a number of
statements at the 12th congress of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA). How do you comment on his words: "I have no reason
to vindicate myself. Let those who had a goal to cede Karabakh to
vindicate themselves" ?

Aydin Mirzazade: This is another statement by the Armenian president
meant solely for domestic audience. The reason for such statements
is that Serge Sargsyan feels a strong pressure from various Armenian
opposition parties and movements.

His attempts to position himself as a confident politician is not
effective, because not only citizens of this country, but also people
outside the country is aware of the real state of affairs in Armenia.

The Armenian president does not enjoy support of overwhelming
majority of the country’s citizens. He took power through blood and
falsifications. Now he is trying to "whitewash" himself in front of
the West in all possible ways.

Sargsyan’s position is also understandable. Armenia lives in
self-imposed isolation because of the occupation of 20 percent of
Azerbaijani territories that has led to collapse of the country’s
economy. These problems are growing very rapidly threatening loss of
statehood. But the most interesting and sad for Armenia is that those
who criticize President Sargsyan and to whom the Armenian president
addressed his statement have no real program to address the problems
facing the country.

This most clearly indicates that there is no alternative to liberating
Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan as the only possible way
out of that terrible crisis whatever statements various political
figures in Armenia make.

Q: The Armenian leader said his RPA party has three tasks: to
develop Armenia, to normalize Armenia-Turkey ties and resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Do the first two tasks suggest that the
Armenian parliament will ratify the protocols?

A: I think Armenia faces a task comparable to looking for squaring the
circle. Most likely, Armenia will wait until the Turkish parliament
ratifies the protocol. I believe Armenian has already understood that
Turkish parliament will not ratify protocols without a just resolution
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The development of Armenia about which Sargsyan so beautifully
reasoned will remain only desire and slogan. The Armenian government
needs to switch from slogans to concrete steps to fairly resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in order save Armenia from self-imposed
isolation.

Q: Do you believe Armenian may take such a step during the next round
of talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents?

A: Whatever the Armenian leadership says, return of at least part of
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan are already being negotiated at
current stage. Furthermore, despite Armenia’s constant unconstructive
position, the negotiations have seen some progress. In other words, if
Armenia demonstrates a constructive and common sense, the negotiations
on a just settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict may bear results soon.

I think that the very reality (deepening economic crisis, regular
tension in Armenia’s relations with all its neighbors against backdrop
of increasing economic growth and geopolitical influence of Azerbaijan)
makes even the most radical ultranationalist forces in Armenia to
take a sober view of things.