Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVES SECRETARY GENERAL OF CSTO NIKOLAY BORDYUZHA

ARMENPRESS
Nov 24, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received today Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that greeting the guest
the president said that this is the first meeting after passing the
chairmanship of the organization and re-appointment of Bordyuzha in
the office.

Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude for joint effective work and
expressed his satisfaction toward the tempo of cooperation within
the framework of the CSTO and pointed out that serious work has been
carried out during the recent times. "It is very possible that this
is the first very good precedent when the so to say orally adopted
decision in short period of time became a document, and not only CSTO
operative reaction joint forces have been established but military
exercises have already been conducted. I am sure that in near future
we will develop a package of normative acts and our Organization will
become the establishment ensuring the security of its member states,"
the president said.

Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude to Nikolay Bordyuzha for operative
and effective work, noting that in that connection he signed a decree
on awarding him Armenia’s highest state order – Order of Honor.

Accepting Armenia’s state order with gratitude, the CSTO secretary
general said that he views it as an advance and will do everything
for the active work of the establishment.

AZERBAIJAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY CONFIRMS "PROGRESS" IN KARABAKH TALKS

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Elkhan Polukhov Baku has confirmed the statement of the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group about the latest round of talks between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Munich on Sunday.

"Progress was observed on some urgent issues," the spokesman for
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, Elkhan Polukhov, said on Monday.

He said the sides had started a more detailed and deeper discussion
on the remaining outstanding issues and differences.

"The seriousness and level of the meeting are shown by the fact that
the negotiations lasted for more than four hours," Polukhov said. He
confirmed that the foreign ministers had been instructed to continue
the work and that the ministers’ next meeting will be in Athens.

ILHAM ALIYEV AND SERZH SARGSYAN HELD A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF SOLUTIONS TO THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES

ArmInfo
2009-11-23 10:59:00

ArmInfo. The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and
Serzh Sargsyan during the sixth meeting in this year, held on Sunday
a detailed discussion of solutions to the most important issues,
the OSCE Minsk Group statement says upon the results of the meeting
of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Munich on November 22.

"The talks, lasted about four hours, were constructive. In some areas,
progress has been made. At the same time some questions are still
open", the statement says.

Moreover, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia have instructed
their foreign ministers to continue their working with Co-Chairs
on these issues. As a next step, the co-chairs intend to organize a
working session with Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers on
the eve of the OSCE Ministerial Council to be held on December 1-2
in Athens.

To recall, the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents was held
in the Consulate General of France in Munich on the initiative of the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier
(France) and Robert Bradtke (USA).

The talks held with the participation of foreign ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Elmar Mamedyarov and Edward Nalbadyan, as
well as the personal representative of the OSCE Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Turkey will lose Azerbaijan in case of Armenia-Turkey border opening
22.11.2009 16:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Azerbaijan never acted to the detriment of Turkey’s
interests and we seek the same response from Turkey,’ Echo of Moscow
radio station reported Ali Hasanov, Chairman of Social and Political
Department of Presidential Administration as saying.

Today, Munich residence of French consul general is hosting the 6th
meeting between Armenian and Azeri Presidents, Serzh Sargsyan and
Ilham Aliyev. The meeting was initiated by MG OSCE Co-Chairs (US,
France and Russia).

news.am, Armenia
Nov 21 2009

Aliyev will not keep his word: Martirosyan

14:29 / 11/21/2009The initiation of military actions by Azerbaijan is
excluded in the current stage of the talks on Karabakh conflict
resolution, as Azerbaijan is well-aware of the Armenian armed forces’
high combat readiness, Head of the `Heritage’ faction Armen
Martirosyan said commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s
statement on the possibility of resumption of hostilities in Karabakh
conflict zone.

According to him, Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents’ Munich meeting
will not be the last, as Mr. Aliyev forecasts, because the negotiation
process does not depend on two leaders only, but their `senior
partners’ as well. `As Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents are not
legitimate, they are bound hand and foot,’ Martirosyan outlined.
According to him, Aliyev’s statement pursues an aim to exert moral
pressure on RA Serzh Sargsyan and OSCE MG Co-Chairs.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
stated if the meeting with RA President Serzh Sargsyan in Munich on
Nov. 22 yield no result, Azerbaijan will walk out of the talks and
seek military solution to the conflict.

TURKISH EXPERT: ARMENIA DRAGGING OUT KARABAKH TALKS

news.az
Nov 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Sinan Ogan The talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
on 22 November are unlikely to produce a major breakthrough in settling
the Karabakh conflict, Sinan Ogan has said.

The head of the Turkish Centre for International Relations and
Strategic Analysis (TURKSAM) told 1news.az, "No significant
breakthrough in negotiations is expected in Munich as Yerevan is
not ready for constructive talks and uses them just to continue the
occupation of Azerbaijani land."

"Armenia’s tactics are clear," Ogan said.

"The Armenians are trying to protract the negotiations till April in
order to put pressure on Turkey through the United States. And then,
naturally, relations between Baku and Ankara will worsen and Yerevan
will get additional dividends.

"This is clear to everyone. Armenians forget that Turkish diplomacy
has a 600-year history. Don’t they understand that we realize what
they are trying to do?" Ogan said.

The Karabakah problem is one of the issues that Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss on 7 December in Washington and
in Moscow too, Ogan said. "Turkey will spare no efforts in putting
pressure" on the countries co-chairing the OSCE’s Minsk Group that
is mediating a resolution to the conflict, he said.

Ogan said that the talks should be effective, otherwise Azerbaijan
has the right to suspend them and settle its problem in other ways.

"How can we bear all this?" Ogan asked. "The United States, Russia
and France should persuade Armenia to stop this policy and comply
with the norms of international law."

NKR DELEGATION HOLDS MEETINGS IN BOSTON

news.am
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

18:42 / 11/20/2009An official delegation of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) led by Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan is holding
meetings in the United States as part of the annual telethon to be
held by the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund in Los Angeles, November 26.

The Information and Public Relations Department, NKR Government,
reported that the NKR delegation arrived in Boston yesterday to take
part in the opening ceremony of a fund-raising phonothon. The funds
will be channeled for development programs in Shushi. The NKR Premier
pointed out the importance of the event, underlining young people’s
active participation, which will preserve the young generation’s
patriotic spirit and national identity.

Ara Harutyunyan also held a meeting with members of the Armenian
community in Outertown. The NKR Premier outlined the socio-economic
situation in the NKR, pointing out the strategic importance of
rehabilitation of Shushi. Ara Harutyunyan also answered questions.

The NKR Premier also met with members of the Knights of Vartan
organization. He pointed out the organization’s role in developing
ties with the NKR and its readiness to contribute to rehabilitation
of Shushi. Participating in the meeting were Head of the Artsakh
diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Pargev Martirosyan, NKR
Permanent Representative in the USA Robert Avetisyan and Head of the
Information Department, NKR Presidential Staff, David Babayan.

EFFICIENT INVESTMENT POLICY ALLOWED SCR TO INCREASE ITS TECHNICAL-ECONOMICAL INDICATORS

/ARKA/
November 19, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 19. /ARKA/. Indicators of CJSC "South-Caucasian
Railway" for 2008-2009 evidence about efficiency of investment policy.

As of October 1, 2009 capital repair of 10 electric locomotives B’Ð~10,
79 cargo wagons, 12 passengers’ wagons, 30 pair of wheels of electric
locomotives and 300 pair of wheels of cargo wagons was implemented.

During the same period 10 diesel locomotives ЧÐ~Э3 and 24 sections
of electric trains were obtained. As of October 1 repair of 10.2
km of route, replacement of ties – 82 000 items, transfer bars –
88 sets, repair of indicating transfer bars – 60 sets, repair of
crossing buildings – 18 sites, repair of passengers’ buildings,
platforms – 15 sites was implemented. Total volume of expenses of CJSC
"South-Caucasian Railway" investment program in 2008-2009 was 3 653.3
million rubles.

The result of investment activity is the increase of
technical-economical indicators of the road. It is expected that the
repair of roads in the sections Kaqavadzor-Hrazdan, Vardenis-Zod,
Shorzha- Vardenis, Tsovagyugh- Shorzha, Sevan- Tsovagyugh, Tsaghkunk-
Sevan, Hrazdan- Tsaghkunk will allow to increase the speed of the
trains from 25-40 km/hour to 30-45 km/hour. It is planned to repair the
buildings of locomotive depot of Gyumri and Yerevan till the end of
2009. Modernization of information system of ASQMT (automated system
of quick management of transportation), network of FOCL (fiber-optic
communication line) and repair of administrative and other bulldogs
is envisaged (2849.8 quadrate meters).

The main tasks of investment activity of CJSC "SCR" have two directions
– repair and improvement of infrastructure of railway of Armenia and
renovation of parks of passengers’. CJSC "South Caucasian Railway" is
100% affiliate of Open JSC "Russian Railway". CJSC "Armenian railway"
was transferred under concession management of CJSC "SCR" according
to Concession Agreement signed on February 13, 2008.

The terms of concession management is for 30 years with the right of
prolongation for another 10 years.

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN BELIES HIMSELF

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.11.2009 15:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s latest statement was full of
contradictions, said Kiro Manoyan, ARFD Hay Dat and Political Affairs
Office Director.

"On the one hand he demands resignation of the President, on the other
hand he offers a deal to the authorities. Ter-Petrosyan’s statement
targeted the ARFD because of which the ANC lost monopoly at Armenia’s
opposition field," he said.

INTERVIEW TO TURKISH JOURNALIST

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
November 16, 2009

On November 15, NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan gave an interview
to the journalist of the Turkish "Akhsham" periodicals N.Alchi. The
Prime Minister answered a number of various questions referring
to the negotiation process round the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
settlement and the regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations. The Prime
Minister particularly underlined that people of Artsakh chose the way
of independent statehood formation and the international community
is obliged to regard the self-determination right of Artsakh people.

The fact of impossibility of any overall settlement of the conflict
without Artsakh party’s engagement into the negotiation process
was noted as well. The Prime Minister repeated his recently issued
statement that no issue on concessions is touched upon at the present
stage, the framework of mutual concessions will be determined only
in case of recognizing the self-determination right of the NKR.

"People of Artsakh will prefer struggle to any resolution contradicting
the interests of the NKR",- A.Haroutyunyan stated.