Author: Topchian Jane

TURKEY’S PENDING ISSUES WITH ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN SHOULD BE SETTLED TOGETHER, SAYS ERDOGAN SAYS

Qatar News Agency
April 9, 2009 Thursday 5:22 PM EST

Ankara, April 09 (QNA) – Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
on Thursday said that it was impossible to solve the pending issues
between his country and Armenia unless other issues between Armenia
and Azerbaijan were settled, referring to the Armenian- Azeri dispute
over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations, and their border
has been closed in 1993 over Armenia’s invasion of territory that
accounts for 20 percent of Azerbaijan ? a frozen conflict legacy of
the Soviet Union known as Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev didn’t take part in the 2nd Forum
for Civilizations Alliance which was held in Istanbul, due to tense
ties with Turkey.

10TH MEETING OF ARMENIA-EUROPEAN UNION PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE SUMMED UP

National Assembly of RA
April 9 2009
Armenia

On April 8 the works of the 10th meeting of Armenia-European Union
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee continued. The meeting presided
over Co-Chair of Armenia-European Union Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Beguin.

A number of issues were included in the agenda of the committee,
which the Armenian and European parliamentarians touched upon and
expressed their views.

MP Mr. Armen Ashotyan presented the problems of Armenia-European
cooperation in the spheres of health care, education and culture,
the reforms being implemented and the programmes. Mr Ashotyan said
that as a result of the influence of global financial-economic crisis
some budgetary programmes have been moved to the end of the year but
have not been reduced. He highlighted the enlivening of cooperation
in the humanitarian sphere with EU countries and the availability of
distinct programmes.

MP Mr. Karen Chshmarityan gave a speech on the macro-economic
development in Armenia, influence of the global financial-economic
crisis on the economy, reduction of its consequences and ways
of prevention. According to Mr. Chshmarityan, though the crisis,
nevertheless, had an impact on the economy of Armenia, in particular,
on the rates of growth of construction and industry. Touching upon the
economic policy being pursued Mr. Chshmarityan noted Armenia had chosen
and continued to pursue free economic policy, which had favourable
impact on overcoming the crisis. As a second stabilizing circumstance
he noted that the country had pass to the floating money currency.

He considered an obstacle of development of trade-economic relations
between Armenia and EU countries not understandable order of providing
entry visas to Europe and its simplification by the EU assistance.

Mr. Raul de Luzenberger, Head of delegation of European Commission
in Armenia made clarifications on this problem. He noticed that
united discussions were going on the problem of providing visas in
EU countries, a number of problems exist, and Armenia should take
certain steps in the settlement of the problem.

MP Mr. Gagik Melikyan presented the tendencies of the poverty reduction
and the development of labour market in Armenia and the envisaged
steps, i.e. the road construction to be implemented by the financial
assistance of the international organizations, the planned house
construction in the disaster area, the repairing of the drinking and
irrigation water, the construction of Iran-Armenia railway and new
nuclear energy block.

Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Beguin, Co-Chair of the Committee considered
concerning the information about the construction of the new nuclear
energy block, proposing to think once again about its expediency,
taking into account the seismic danger of the region.

MP Mr. Hovhannes Margaryan spoke about the programmes being implemented
on the environment protection in Armenia, in particular, the rise
of the level of Lake Sevan, mine clearing of border areas and making
them cultivate, issues of security of poisonous chemicals.

MP Mr. Armen Rustamyan presented the positions of Armenia on regional
issues. He touched upon the settlement problem of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, armed conflict between Georgia and Russia, which had a
negative impact on Armenia and regional cooperation.

At the end of the meeting Armenia-European Union Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee adopted a text of announcements and
recommendations, which consisted of 41 items and contains issues
regarding Armenia-EU relations, inner situation of Armenia, human
rights, rule of law, economic policy, regional problems and Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

Armenia-European Union Parliamentary Cooperation Committee completed
the work of the 10th meeting.

Co-Chairs Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Beguin and Mr. Avet Adonts thanked
for effective joint work and expressed hope that Armenia-EU would
continue to develop and find new ways of cooperation.

SILENCED THE OPPONENT

A1+
07:41 pm | April 09, 2009

Politics

On the night of April 8 cases of violation of the ceasefire regime
were registered in a number of zones of the line of contact between
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

According to the press release of the Ministry of Defense of the NKR,
the opponent bombed towards the positions of Karabakh allocated
in Ashagh Abdurahmanli, Nuzger, Chakhrl, Korgan, Ashagh Velsal,
Kuropatkino and Jrabert using small-caliber automatic and marksmen’s
guns.

The opponent was silenced after the response actions taken by the
vanguard subdivisions of the Defense Army.

AZERBAIJAN INTERESTED IN RESOLUTION OF MIDDLE EAST CRISIS: FM

Today.Az
07.html
April 8 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mamedyarov received Wednesday copies of
credentials of newly appointed ambassador of Saudi Arabia in our
country Fahd bin Ali al-Dusar, according to the press service for
the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.

The sides highly evaluated the level of friendly relations existing
between the two countries.

Mamedyarov thanked the Saudi Arabian government for support to
Azerbaijan’s position in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict, noting that Saudi Aravia, as a really friendly state,
was always by Azerbaijan’s side in this issue.

In turn, according to the Azerbaijani FM, official Baku supports
position of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East crisis and is interested
in restoration of peace and stability in Gaza sector and ready to
contribute to the restoration of social objects in the region.

Al-Dusar in turn thanked Azerbaijan for support to Saudi Arabia. He
said unless Azerbaijani lands are liberated from occupation, the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is restored and Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is settled on basis of the national interests of Azerbaijan,
his country will not establish any diplomatic relations with Armenia.

OBAMA BACKS ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES

Moscow Times
April 7 2009
Russia

ANKARA, Turkey — U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday stood by
his views on mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915,
which he has termed genocide, but said he expected a breakthrough in
talks between Turkey and Armenia.

Obama, asked about the historical controversy during a two-day visit
to Turkey, said he had not changed his mind but sought to shift the
focus onto the Turkish-Armenian talks.

"My views are on the record, and I have not changed those views,"
he told a joint news conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

As a candidate, Obama pledged to call the killings genocide, which
Ankara rejects, and a resolution to so designate them was introduced
in the U.S. House of Representatives last month.

Ankara and Yerevan are engaged in negotiations aimed at restoring
full diplomatic ties after nearly a century of hostilities and may
be on the point of reopening their border.

A breakthrough between Turkey and Armenia could help shore up
stability in the volatile Caucasus, criss-crossed by oil and gas
pipelines which make it of strategic importance to Russia, Europe
and the United States.

Armenia-Turkey negotiations hit a bump

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs refrains from visiting Istanbul
following statements by Turkish President and Prime Minister

YEREVAN, 5 March 2009 — The Armenian Yerkir Media TV reports that
Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edward Nalbandian, did not get
on the Yerevan-Istanbul flight late this evening, after issuing a
terse response to announcements made by Turkish President Gul and
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan that Turkey will not lift its blockade
of Armenia unless Armenia fulfils Turkish preconditions regarding the
Mountainous (Nagorno) Karabagh issue and the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

Responding to a question by the Interfax news agency, the Armenian
Foreign Minister said: "The establishment of Armenian-Turkish
relations should be realized without any preconditions and with that
understanding we have been and are conducting the negotiations with
the Turkish side.

"The establishment of relations is not related to the resolution of
the Karabagh issue and that issue has not been discussed during the
negotiations aimed at establishing Armenian-Turkish relations.

"It has been said many times and I wish to stress again that the
establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations can not put into question
the veracity of the Armenian Genocide.

"Tens of countries and international organizations have recognized the
Armenian genocide and Armenia has hailed that recognition.

"I think that the announcements that put forward preconditions to the
establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations can be viewed as an
attempt to fail the advances registered during the negotiations,"
concludes Foreign Minister Nalbandian.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry distributed Minister Nalbandian’s
response just before the Armavia flight from Yerevan to Istanbul, at
23:06.

The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs was to attend a two-day
United Nations cultural forum in Istanbul. The Armenian Minister’s
now failed visit was seen by the U.S. and Turkish media as a step
towards the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and
Armenia, which Turkey has refused since Armenia gained its
independence in 1991.

The Armenian Foreign Minister’s derailed visit to Turkey was to
coincide with U.S. President Barack Obama’s official visit to Turkey.
Analysts had pointed to the issue of the Armenian Genocide as possibly
the most challenging for the president to deal with during his talks
with Turkish officials.

On several occasions during his campaign for president, Obama had
committed himself to properly recognize the massacres and deportations
of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. Turkey continues
to vehemently deny that there was any genocidal intent towards the
Armenians in the last years of the empire. Official Ankara spends
millions of dollars in its denial campaign, which lobbies politicians,
entices support from journalists, funds academic denial efforts,
suppresses education efforts on the Armenian Genocide to the general
public in North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East (Israel
especially).

The main battlefield for genocide recognition in recent years has been
the United States, where a majority of Members of Congress support
passing a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Turkish officials had hoped that the recent rapprochement between
Turkey and Armenia can be used as a bargaining chip to keep Obama from
speaking the truth. On numerous occasions in recent months, top
Turkish officials have warned the U.S. that interfering in discussions
between Turkey and Armenia and recognizing the genocide would be
detrimental to the budding relations between Yerevan and Ankara.

Now, announcements by the Turkish Prime Minister and the Turkish
President, resetting preconditions to the establishment of diplomatic
relations with Armenia and to the lifting of the blockade have
actually led the Armenia-Turkey negotiations into a rocky road or
maybe even an impasse.

ENCOURAGING REGIONAL COOPERATION THROUGH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE STARTED IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 3, 2009

Yerevan, April 3, Noyan Tapan. Encouraging Regional Cooperation
through Information Technology two day conference started its work
on April 2 in Yerevan.

Representatives of information and communication technology spheres
of Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey participate in the
conference.

According to deputy minister of economy Vahe Danielian, the conference
is organized by the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
in the fringes of Armenian semi-annual Chairmanship. The main purpose
of the conference is to expand current cooperation and establish new
ties between representatives of ICT spheres of participating countries,
promote innovation sphere and assist to technological advancement. The
preliminary works have started a year ago.

According to Mr. Danielian, development of information technology is
regarded as an urgent topic world-wide and that was the main incentive
of organizing the conference. In addition, the government of Armenia
considers the success of country’s IT industry as a prerequisite
for turning Armenia into an excellence center. The government of
Armenia considers e-governance and information society, as well as,
eLearning and Secondary Schools Connectivity Networks (particularly,
such initiatives as "Computers for Everybody) as primary for country’s
Information Technology Sphere. The government belives that in future,
0D IT and high technology spheres of the country can become "big
laboratories for the global market," told Danielian.

The conference is organized by the ministries of economy, foreign
affairs and Enterprise Incubator Foundation. According to Bagrat
Yengibarian, director of EIF, IT sphere in the world has largely
suffered from the global economic crisis. He articulated the urgency of
cooperation and exchange of good practices in the sphere of information
technology. In particular, according to him, new approaches to IT would
enable other spheres of economy to release the consequences of the
crises by, for instance, cutting expenses. According to Engibarian,
Armenian IT companies, which have targeted proper markets, have
increased their jobs and turnovers. He emphasized the importance of
further penetration of the Armenian IT companies into new markets. On a
commission from prime minister state bodies jointly with the private
sector are elaborating new ways of positioning of these companies
on the new markets, mentioned Mr. Yengibarian. According to his
estimation, the strongest competitive advantage of Armenia’s
IT sphere is its intellectual power and comparatively cheap
labor force. Encouraging Regional Cooperation through Information
Technology Conference has the following sections. Impact of Crisis,
IT outsourcing, Trade Promotion, IT Policies of Countries, "e-Society",
"IT based Education", "Human Resource Development".

TURKEY AND ARMENIA PAVE WAY FOR HISTORIC ACCORDS
By Marc Champion

Wall Street Journal
50480025.html
April 2 2009

Neighbors’ Bid to Open Border and Establish Ties Could Sideline
Genocide Dispute, Improve Security for Fuel Pipeline to West

BRUSSELS — Turkey and Armenia could soon announce a deal aimed at
reopening their border and restoring relations, according to diplomats,
a move that could help stabilize a region that’s increasingly important
as a transit route for oil and gas.

The timing of the deal is being choreographed with the schedule
of U.S. President Barack Obama, who visits Turkey next week, these
people say.

The Turkish and Armenian governments have agreed on terms to open
formal talks in three areas: opening and fixing borders, restoring
diplomatic relations and setting up commissions to look at disputes,
including one on the tense history between the two nations, according
to the diplomats, all of whom declined to be named due to the
sensitivity of the talks.

There is strong opposition to a deal in both countries, as well as in
Armenia’s neighbor Azerbaijan. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in
1993 to protest Armenia’s occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in
Azerbaijan, following a bloody war. That conflict remains unresolved.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the media
at the headquarters of his Justice and Development Party, the AKP,
in Ankara, Turkey, on Sunday.

But an accord would be seen in Western capitals as a major potential
success that could help to open up and stabilize the Caucasus. The
region is studded with unresolved conflicts and hostile borders,
and saw war between Russia and Georgia in August.

Normalizing relations between Turkey and Armenia would "create a new
and positive dynamic" in relations across the region, "as well as
in developing the economic and transport links we have been pursuing
ever since the collapse of the former Soviet Union," said U.S. Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matthew J. Bryza, the State Department’s
point man in the Caucasus.

Mr. Bryza travels to Azerbaijan Thursday to discuss how a
Turkish-Armenian agreement could help revive efforts for a settlement
on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Announcement of a Turkish-Armenian pact is also being influenced by
Mr. Obama’s campaign promise to support a Congressional resolution
that would recognize as genocide the Ottoman Empire’s 1915 killing
of up to 1.5 million Armenians in what is now central and eastern
Turkey. Turkey fiercely denies the killings were genocide. The White
House traditionally makes a statement to mark Armenian Remembrance
Day on April 24.

Analysts say Turkey’s government hopes progress in reviving its
relations with Armenia could prompt the White House not to recognize
the killings as genocide and to block the Congressional resolution.

If the U.S. proceeds with the genocide resolution, "I cannot imagine
any Turkish government opening the Armenian border," said Ozgur
Unluhisarcikli, director of the Ankara office of the German Marshall
Fund of the United States, a think tank.

A Senior Turkish foreign-policy official said the U.S. is trying to
facilitate the agreement with Armenia. Turkish and Armenian officials
declined to comment on the status of their talks.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said on Turkish
television last week he would discuss Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian
"genocide" and relations between Russia and Georgia with the
U.S. president, among other issues.

Mr. Obama’s decision to make Turkey the final, two-day stop on his
European tour has been welcomed in Ankara as a sign of the country’s
strategic importance.

Turkey, a secular Muslim nation of 70 million people, is taking on a
growing role as a regional player in the Caucasus and the Middle East.

Turkey opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and refused to let
its territory be used for the assault. Now the U.S. again wants to
use its bases in Turkey for Iraq, but this time to withdraw troops —
something much easier for Ankara to accept.

Turkey could also prove a helpful ally in the Mideast, where it has
played a mediating role between Syria and Israel and has offered to
mediate with Iran.

One date under discussion for signing the deal with Armenia, diplomats
say, is April 16. But Mr. Unluhisarcikli said he believes Turkey and
Armenia won’t be ready to sign the deal before April 24, and Turkey
instead will "signal" its commitment to reopen the borders in the
hope that will be enough for Washington.

Russia’s invasion of Georgia last August opened the door for Turkey
to become more heavily engaged in the Caucasus. The war showed
the limitations of U.S. and EU influence in the region and exposed
the extent of Armenia’s isolation. When Russia cut Georgia’s main
East-West railway by blowing up a bridge in August, it also cut off
the dominant supply route to Armenia, a close Russian ally.

The war in Georgia also showed the vulnerability of pipelines that have
been carrying oil and natural gas from Azerbaijan to Western markets
via Georgia since 2006. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline carries 1
million barrels of crude per day to Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The
pipelines were targeted unsuccessfully during the Georgia war.

–Nicholas Birch in Istanbul contributed to this article.

Write to Marc Champion at [email protected]

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AWARDS A MEDAL TO AUSTRALIAN BOXER OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN

ArmInfo
2009-04-02 17:56:00

ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan awarded a Movses Khorenatsi
Medal to Vakhtang Darchinyan, a well-known Australian boxer of Armenian
origin, an absolute world champion, the presidential press-service
told ArmInfo.

The president congratulated the sportsman on his recent victories and
expressed confidence that Darchinyan will continue his victorious way.

To note, the decree on awarding Darchinyan was signed on 27 December
2008.

ORBITAL RECEIVING STATION LAUNCHED

A1+
06:07 pm | April 01, 2009

Official

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, accompanied by the
Ministers of Defence, Economy and Emergency Situations, the Chairman of
the State Committee of the Real Estate Cadastre, the Chairman of the
National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, visited the Center of Geodesy and Cartography
of the State Committee on Real-Estate Cadastre to participate in the
launching of an orbital receiving station. The Prime Minister walked
about the center, got familiarised with the working conditions and
talked to the employees.

The creation of the orbital station is to receive exact data about
Armenia’s territory with the application of space technologies. The
station provides an opportunity to make use of the opportunities
of artificial satellites in the near-earth orbit and explore
the Earth. The data will be used for solving issues of geodesy,
cartography, as well as security and economic issues.