Author: Varosian Antranik

BAKU HOSTS EVENT "NEW WORLD ORDER AND TURKEY"

news.az
Dec 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku An event on the theme "New world order and Turkey" has been
organized by "Asian Dialogue" Public Union and "Ireli Azerbaijan"
Public Union in Baku.

Chairperson of "Asian Dialogue" Public Union Sevil Nuriyeva said the
aim of the event is to discuss Turkey-Azerbaijan relations, opening
of Turkey-Armenia borders, Turkey’s role in the world.

Chairman of "Ireli Azerbaijan" Public Union Baba Tagiyev spoke about
the present state of the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

According to him, Turkey’s will serves Azerbaijan’s interests.

"The policy pursued by Turkey and Azerbaijan should supplement each
other. The leaders of both countries are influential politicians. We
should strengthen our relations," he said.

Famous Turkish journalist Taha Akyol said economic relations between
the two countries are important. According to him, gas can be delivered
to Europe only through Turkey. Azerbaijan’s oil and gas can also be
delivered to Europe only through Turkey.

"Strong relations require economic ties. Of course, it is impossible
to establish strong relations without the support of Russia and US.

Turkey wants to solve all problems with the neighboring countries.

Syria and Turkey had strained relations in connection with the
Euphrates river ten years ago, but now they are friendly countries,"
he said.

Akyol said the relations between Armenia and Turkey should be
regulated.

"Azerbaijan can not tolerate for 17 more years. Nagorno Karabakh
problem should be solved. The world is accustomed to the protraction
of this problem. But the problem can not be protracted more, it must
be solved," he said.

Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan to create unified economic space by Jan. 2012

AK-BULAK HOTEL (Almaty region), December 19 (RIA Novosti) – The
presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan agreed Saturday to create
a single economic space by January 1, 2012.
The leaders of seven post-Soviet states (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) met in a place near
Almaty to discuss security and economic integration.

"We are committed to the further deepening of the integration process
in the EurAsEC area, as we thereby confirm as our subsequent goal the
creation, no later than January 1, 2012, of a unified economic space
of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian
Federation," they said in a joint statement.

Medvedev, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a package of deals on November 27 in Minsk
to create a customs union with common tariffs, paving the way for a
single economic space.

In June 2009, the heads of governments of Russia, Kazakhstan and
Belarus notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of their intention
to join the world trade club as a customs union.

The three ex-Soviet republics suspended their bilateral negotiations
on the WTO entry to hold consultations on a common position on the
customs union.

In October 2009, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus announced they would
resume talks on WTO accession separately, but on synchronized
positions.

92 SWINE FLU CASES IN ARMENIA

NEWS.am
17:42 / 12/16/2009

As of December 16, 2009 the number of swine flu cases in Armenia
reached 92, Assistant to RA Health Minister Shushan Hunanyan told
NEWS.am.

According to her, new A/H1N1cases were not registered in the country,
even more – the number of people consulting doctors halved.

Meanwhile, today some media spread the information that two people
Erebuni hospital are suspected of swine flu. According to executive
director of Erebuni hospital Armen Rustamyan, laboratory test results
are not yet available.

As NEWS.am reported previously, a pregnant woman from Hrazdan town
died in Erebuni hospital and a young man in Nork infectious diseases
hospital, December 14, 2009.

OPEC TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.12.2009 19:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Vice Premier Armen Gevorgyan Tuesday
met with Head of OPEC (OFID) International Development Fund Jazir
Al-Herbish, Ministry’s press service reported. Present at the meeting
was Gagik Matevosyan, Head of "Rural Territories Development Program"
at Ministry of Agriculture.

Armenia-OFID cooperation began in 2004. Over 5 years, 4 programs
were implemented, mostly in the sphere of gas supply. OFID funding
in Armenia comprised USD 30 million. Negotiations are now being held
for attracting an additional sum of USD 20 million.

Armenian Vice Premier and Head of OFID discussed issues concerning the
new investment program. Rural Empowerment Program will be co-funded
by OFID and IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development).

Armen Gevorgyan informed that OFID funding is due in the second half
of 2010 and requested fund leadership to implement procedural steps
within the shortest time limits.

Agreement was achieved for approving the program in March 2010,
after discussions between OFISD and IFAD.

Nabucco without Iran- empty pipeline: Iranian FM

NEWS.am
12:25 / 12/09/2009

Implementation of Nabucco project is impossible without Iran. December
8, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki stated at the joint
Iranian -UAE economic commission session, Fars news agency reports.
`Speaking about the Nabucco pipeline without Iran’s participation
would amount to nothing but a pipeline void of gas,,’ said Iranian
Minister, adding if anyone wants and has money let them build void
pipeline without Iran.

Commenting on the statement by U.S. Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy
Richard Morningstar that `Iran is not in a position to become a part
of any new projects in the Southern Corridor’, Mottaki told Fars news
agency, `We have never heard that Europeans have entrusted the
Americans with their authority to decide on the pipeline.’ Iranian
Foreign Minister recalled that country sits on largest world’s natural
gas reserves and takes the second place after Russia.

To date, Azerbaijan was considered a gas supplier to Nabucco, however
its gas reserve is too small for the project. The Nabucco project is
estimated at 7.9 bn and is planned to lessen European dependence on
Russian gas. The supply volume is expected to reach 31 bcm annually.
U.S. indicates possibility of Iraq’s involvement in the project.
However, the first objective is to provide gas supply from Central
Asia, the initiative that Russia and China are opposing.

A.G.

DASHNAKTSUTYUN WOULD WELCOME STRONG STEPS BY PRESIDENT

Aysor.am
14/12/09

Pressure on Armenia related to the reconciliation between Armenia
and Turkey will be continued, said at today’s press conference leader
of Armenian Revolutionary Dashnaktsutyun Faction Vahan Hovhannisyan
when asked to comment statement by Armenian President who said of
adequate steps would be taken by Armenia if Turkey fastened down
the ratification.

"This process is a result of pressure. However, if Armenian President
decided to hold his ground, this can be only welcomed," he said.

"Armenia can withdraw from the negotiations. And there is another
way: Armenia’s President in accordance with Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
words, says that Armenia is a democratic state and that the executive
authorities cannot influence the voting at Parliament. So, in this
case, the Parliament would be free in the expression of will, and I
tell you – the protocols wouldn’t be ratified," he said.

He added, there is one more continuity. For example, Armenia can cite
the Constitutional Court. "These pretences would not deny the signed
documents, but will improve them. If Turkey adopted these pretences,
then this would be fine. If no – then the negotiations will renew
from some other phase."

"I think the pressure on Armenian government will be continued.

Whether it would be able to resist, or not, is not clear. Obviously,
Armenia must be ready for any developments."

ARMENTEL SUBSCRIBERS TO BE ABLE TO SEND MMS TO 10 COUNTRIES OF EUROPE, CHINA AND PHILIPPINES

ArmInfo
2009-12-14 12:14:00

ArmInfo. ArmenTel CJSC (Beeline trademark) announces commercial
launch of a service on international multimedia message exchange
(MMS), ArmenTel press service reports. According to Director General
of ArmenTel CJSC Igor Klimko, henceforth, Beeline subscribers will
be able to exchange MMS-messages with subscribers of different mobile
operators in the countries of Europe: Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Czech, Hungary, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovakia, Ukraine,
Great Britain, as well as in China and Philippines.

At present, Beeline subscribers can exchange international MMS-messages
not only with subscribers of the operators of VimpelCom group of
companies, but also with subscribers of other 13 big international
mobile operators, among which are China Mobile, Telefonica O2,
Kyivstar, Life and others. To recall, VimpelCom group of companies
represents mobile communication in Russia, Armenia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine, as well as in Vietnam
and Cambodia. ArmenTel CJSC is subsidiary of VimpelCom OJSC.

The outgoing MMS-message inside Beeline network costs 50 AMD, to the
numbers of operators of VimpelCom group, as well as mobile operators
of Armenia – 55 AMD, and to other networks – 299 AMD (VAT inclusive).

The incoming MMS-messages are free- of-charge.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA CONGRATULATES CREW OF ‘ARMENIA’ SAILING BOAT ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF FIRST STAGE OF SAILING

ArmInfo
2009-12-14 13:03:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has sent a congratulatory
message to Zori Balayan, the head of the expedition "Mesrop Mashtots",
Samvel Karapetyan, the captain of Armenia sailing boat and the crew,
the presidential press-service told ArmInfo.

The president, in particular, says in the message: "I sincerely
congratulate you on successful completion of the first stage of the
world cruise. For the first time in history, an Armenian sailing boat
crossed the Atlantic Ocean within 6 months. Passing Panama Canal you
reached the Pacific to visit our compatriots in Los Angeles. You have
visited also Armenian communities in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentine
leaving behind distance equal to the equator."

He believes it symbolical that the expedition has been named "Mesrop
Mashtots" because its mission is to unite our compatriots around the
religious and cultural heritage of the Armenian people.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister says possibility of war always high

news.az
Sat 12 December 2009 | 08:37 GMT Text size:

Safar Abiyev Safar Abiyev says possibility of war always high.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told reporters that the
"possibility of war is always high" answering their question about the
possibility of resumption of war with Armenia.

He said the defense ministry takes it into account and always keeps
army combat ready.

Meanwhile, he said the exact answer to this question will be known by
results of the current negotiations. The co-chairs are proposing new
initiatives, hold consultations which means the negotiation process
continues", the minister said.

ARMENIA’S TYCOONS CUT DONATIONS TO ARMENIA FUND CHARITY

Asbarez
Dec 9th, 2009

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-Armenia’s leading oligarchs have all but stopped
funding a pan-Armenian charity that has been implementing large-scale
infrastructure projects in Nagorno-Karabakh, it emerged on Wednesday.

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund said only two Yerevan-based
entrepreneurs have made donations exceeding $100,000 this year. One of
them, Samvel Aleksanian, contributed $200,000 to its 2009 fund-raising
campaign that will mainly benefit the war-ravaged Karabakh town
of Shushi.

The year-long campaign attracted almost $16 million in contributions
and donation pledges from Armenians around the world. Roughly $5.3
million of that was donated by Russian-Armenian businessmen during
a recent fundraising gala in Moscow attended by President Serzh
Sarkisian.

Armenia Fund collected $4 million and $1.7 million in Europe and
Armenia and Karabakh respectively. The rest of the sum was raised
among Armenian Americans during its annual telethon broadcast from
Los Angeles on November 26-27.

Armenia Fund officials said the 2009 campaign netted no donations from
wealthy Armenian tycoons such as Gagik Tsarukian, Hrant Vartanian
and President Sarkisian’s brother Aleksandr. Tsarukian donated $2
million to the fund last year.

Barsegh Beglarian, another tycoon who owns Armenia’s largest
fuel-importing company, gave only 15 million drams ($39,000) in 2009.

The sum paled in comparison with the contributions of several ethnic
Armenian businessmen based in Moscow. One of them, Samvel Karapetian,
contributed $1 million to the Shushi reconstruction program.

The Karabakh-born Aleksandr Sarkisian has also refrained from
supporting the ongoing construction of a heart clinic in the
southeastern Armenian town of Goris financed by Hayastan. The
controversial businessman, who has allegedly invested millions of
dollars in real estate in California and Britain, represents Goris
and surrounding areas in Armenia’s parliament.

Incidentally, Armenia Fund has received a $100,000 donation to the
hospital from Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a fact emphasized
by the fund’s executive director, Ara Vartanian. "We still lack money
to finish the project," Vartanian told a news conference.

Armenia Fund has also failed to attract any donations this year from
prominent Armenian-American philanthropists such as Kirk Kerkorian,
Louise Manoogian-Simone and Hirair Hovnanian who financed a large
part of its charitable activities in the past. Vartanian insisted
that the reason for that is purely economic.

"Those two benefactors have not given donations for the past two
years," he said. "The explanation given by them during our meetings was
very simple: the economic crisis. So this is not a question of trust."

According to Vartanian, the Armenian president’s and prime minister’s
offices donated roughly $8,000 each during this year’s fundraising. In
addition, he said, former President Robert Kocharian gave his one-month
state salary of 320,000 drams to Hayastan. "When Robert Kocharian
was president, he did the same thing," added Vartanian.

He also said that the fund received no money from Kocharian’s
predecessor Levon Ter-Petrosian.