Author: Torgomian Varazdat

OFFICIAL BEIRUT SUPPORTS BAKU IN KARABAKH ISSUE

news.az
Feb 17 2010
Azerbaijan

Ali Al-Shami Beirut is still loyal to friendly relations with
Azerbaijan.

Beirut supports Baku in the Karabakh issue and respects the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan within the framework of international law,
said Lebanese FM Ali Huseyn al-Shami.

"Lebanon supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan within the framework of the internationally recognized
borders on the basis of norms of international law and according to
UN resolutions", Al-Shami said.

He noted that despite Lebanon abstained from voting at the 63rd
session of the UN General Assembly on the situation in the occupied
Azerbaijani lands, Beirut is still loyal to friendly relations with
Azerbaijan and continues permanent consultations and cooperation with
Baku in different spheres, according to Trend.

"Lebanon officially recognized the Azerbaijani Republic after it
gained independence in 1991 and established diplomatic relations in
1992", the Lebanese FM said "In addition, the countries have signed
a number of agreements in the sphere of economic, trade and customs
cooperation, as well as the contract on air communication".

NAZARBAYEV CONVEYED ALIYEV PROPOSALS ON KARABAKH ISSUE

news.am
Feb 16 2010
Armenia

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev offered his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilham Aliyev methods of Karabakh conflict resolution,
Kazakhstan Today reports.

According to the source, Kanat Saudabaev handed Aliyev the offers in
the course of Feb.15 meeting in Baku.

Speaking at the joint press conference with Azerbaijani FM Elmar
Mammadyarov, Saudabaev said that Astana hopes 2010 will be critical
stage for Karabakh conflict settlement if the parties follow the
agreements.

Meeting with Aliyev, Saudabayev stressed that Karabakh conflict
resolution will be one of the priorities for Kazakhstan during its
OSCE presidency.

TURKEY ASKS US TO PLAY GREATER KARABAKH ROLE

news.az
Feb 16 2010
Azerbaijan

Ahmet Davutoglu Turkey has asked the USA to step up its role in the
OSCE Minsk Group mediating a settlement to the Karabakh conflict.

The issue was raised by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
during a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Qatar
yesterday.

They discussed bilateral relations, Armenian-Turkish rapprochement
and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Davutoglu said that the Armenian Constitutional Court ruling on the
protocols impedes progress on rapprochement with Turkey.

The parties agreed to continue discussions on these issues during
the forthcoming visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Bill Burns
to the region.

Davutoglu is in Iran today.

WE MUST CONTINUE WHAT DINK STARTED: DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY, SAYS BISHOP

Tert.am
13:28 ~U 15.02.10

Hrant Dink, former chief editor of the Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos,
initiated a dialogue between Armenia and Turkey, and "we must continue
that way," said, in an interview with Turkish paper Sabah in Istanbul,
the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark of the Holy Armenian Apostolic
Church, Bishop Sebuh Chouldjian, one of three candidates for the post
of co-patriarch at the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.

"As you know, members of clergy are not involved in political matters,
but as it can be seen, it is politicians who are interested in us.

Almost a century later [after the Armenian Genocide], Armenians and
Turks are making an attempt to sit at the negotiation table for
reconciliation. Diplomatic relations will decrease the tension,"
said Bishop Sebuh, upon the journalist’s request to comment on recent
developments in Armenian-Turkish normalization.

"First of all, a favorable atmosphere must be established for
representatives from both sides so that they can get to know each
other up close. Unlike state officials, people can solve even the most
difficult questions more easily. The clergy can also contribute. The
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople can become a spiritual and
cultural bridge among Yerevan, Ankara and the [Armenian] Diaspora,"
said the bishop.

He also mentioned that, first of all, Armenian and Turkish
intellectuals, scientists and cultural workers must be able to meet
each other.

"Today we must secure not a clash between civilizations, but a
reconciliation and bringing together of the values of Islam and
Christianity," said Bishop Sebuh Chouldjian.

BAKU WOULD LIKE MADRID PRINCIPLES TO BE ADOPTED

Tert.am
16:56 ~U 15.02.10

Azerbaijan would like to see a renewed version of the Madrid Principles
be adopted, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov said at
a press conference today, reports Trend News.

He also said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process
was moving forward, adding that it was uncertain what would happen
should the settlement process come to a stop.

"If the process does not move forward, then it begs the question:
what will happen next? The other participants in the talks must also
ask themselves the same question," said Mammadyarov.

Yerevan Report, Armenia
Feb 11 2010

Yerevan City Hall to Begin Greening Project

Feb 11th, 2010 |

YEREVAN (Novosti-Armenia), February 11’Yerevan City Hall will begin
planting of greenery and shrubs in the Armenian capital thanks in part
to the nature preservation fees that Yerevan factories polluting the
air are required to pay.

The head of Yerevan City Hall’s nature protection department, Avet
Martirosyan told Tert.am that `city greening’ projects have been
designed for the Shengavit and Erebuni administrative districts,
including constructing the irrigation system, planting trees, and
restoring lawns.

The project also includes the creation of green spaces in Shengavit
and Erebuni in 2011.

By creating more outdoor green spaces, `It will make it possible to
ease the negative effects on the environment [caused by polluting
factories],’ Martirosyan said.

Among those factories that are considered pollutants in Yerevan are
Nairit Factory, Yerevan JEK, Maqur Erkat (Pure Iron), Gajegorts, Gaj
and Armenia Molybdenum Protection.

Translated from Russian by Yerevan Report
evan-greening-project/

REPEATED VIOLATIONS OF CEASEFIRE EVIDENCE OF AZERBAIJAN’S HOSTILE ATTITUDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2010 15:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Serious progress in Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict
is not to be expected in immediate future, according to Kiro Manoyan,
director of ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office.

"Baku’s persisting with current position on Karabakh can lead to
either of two scenarios: Azerbaijan’s gaining its end in a peaceful
settlement or unleashing a war," he stated at a news conference in
Yerevan on Friday.

As Mr. Manoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Armenia is not the
only country Baku’s militaristic statements are addressed to. Baku
aims to warn Ankara about the possibility of renewed hostilities on
the line of contact with NKR armed forces in case of Turkey’s opening
the border with Armenia. "Repeated violations of the ceasefire are
the evidence of Azerbaijan’s hostile attitude," he said. "Azerbaijan
behaves like a pouty child, flaunting a dangerous weapon."

In conclusion, Mr. Manoyan urged vigilance, avoiding, though, excessive
panic Azeri statements may cause.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, NKR and
Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions of Azerbaijan
around it (the security zone) remain under the control of NKR defense
army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the
OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

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THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF NAGORNO KARABAKH IN ANTELIAS

On Wednesday 10 February 2010, H.E. Kevorki Bedrossian arrived in Lebanon to
meet with the representatives of Armenian Political Parties, Social and
Cultural Associations, as well as the community. The Minister was hosted by
His Holiness Aram I in Antelias.

The visit began with official discussions between Catholicos Aram I, the
Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon H.E. Ashod Kocharian, and the Foreign
Minister of Nagorno Karabagh.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

WHOEVER AND HOWEVER PRESENTS…

ArmInfo
2010-02-11 12:52:00

ArmInfo. The National TV and Radio Commission of Armenia will
timely respond to the citizens’ statements, Chairman of the Armenian
parliamentary Commission on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and
Sport Artak Davtyan said when commenting on the standards being
developed by the National TV and Radio Commission.

"The Commission will timely respond to the all the requests of citizens
and give explanations on the questions related to the broadcast of TV
and radio programmes. Everyone may freely express his opinion about
the state of the domestic air", A. Davtyan said. The MP also touched
on the limitation of broadcast of erotic scenes at night.

"Materials were broadcasted by Euronews over the last several
days about the necessity to limit viewing of TV programmes for the
children. This topic was also touched on by many well-known experts.

So, whoever claims of the necessity of "correct" erotic for aesthetic
education of children, I am inclined to believe in the experts I have
mentioned", A. Davtyan said.

SECRET WITNESS ON DINK’S CASE — ARMENIAN

news.am
Feb 10 2010
Armenia

Another oddity occurred in the court trial on murder of Agos daily
chief editor and renowned Armenian publicist Hrant Dink.

The regular hearing started February 8 was adjourned. Secret witness
was not brought for the hearing. According to the judge, policeman
forgot to invite the secret witness into the courtroom.

According to Aksam daily, policemen forgot about both a witness and an
interpreter. Hearings were already adjourned for such neglects several
times, however no one admits the fault. Istanbul police claimed they
received no instruction to invite the witness in.

Attendance of secret witness will definitely register significant
breakthrough in the case, as he testified that was at crime scene
and saw the murderer and his accomplice, plus other details. It has
become known that the witness was Armenian.

Chairman of 14th Istanbul court on grave crimes Erkan Canak informed
that they forgot to find interpreter as witness does not speak Turkish
well, adding that both the witness and interpreter will undoubtedly
attend the next hearing.