News.am
Russian leader meets Turkish Premier
10:42 / 09/26/2009
During the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, RF President
Dmitry Medvedev held a working meeting with Turkish Premier Recep
Erdogan. The RF President’s official website reports that the sides
discussed bilateral cooperation and regional problems.
Ruben Gevorkyan’s `Wizard’s autumn’ among Oscar nominees
24.09.2009 18:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Wizard’s autumn’ documentary by RA Cinematographers
Union Chairman Ruben Gevorkyants, was nominated for Oscar Annual
Academy Awards’ Best foreign language film.
According to Academy regulations, participation applications are to be
filed till September 1, 2009. As Modern Culture Department expert at
RA Ministry of culture Kristina Gushchyan reported, the application
was filed two month ago.
`Wizard’s autumn’ was created in 2008 by scriptwriter Ruben
Gevorkyants, directors Ruben Gevorkyants and Vahe Gevorkyants. The
film is dedicated to famous Italian scriptwriter, dramatist, poet and
sculptor Tonino Guerra.
In 2008, `Wizard’s autumn’ was granted the Grand Prix of `New films of
21st century’, as well as Golden Laurel Prize (Khanty-Mansiysk, 2008)
and presidential prize.
KARABAKH FOREIGN MINISTER: "SOLUTION TO PROBLEM IS A MATTER OF TIME"
Tert.am
25.09.2009
The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgy
Petrossyan, recently gave an interview to Turkey’s NTV TV Channel. Here
is the interview as reported by NTV.
Recently, Turkish-Armenian relations have been improved and some
protocols have been signed, etc. My first question is: how do you
treat that process from the Karabakh side?
To tell you the truth, I am not informed that these protocols have
already been signed. Let’s express ourselves more correctly: according
to preliminary agreement, these documents are to be presented to
the [Armenia and Turkey’s] parliaments for ratification within 6
weeks. If my information is incorrect, you can contradict. We follow
that process attentively enough, as the country we live in should
seriously follow developments like that. At the same time I want to
say that we don’t even try to interfere in any decision-making process
of citizens and leadership of Armenia. Our stance is clear-cut: we
have never interfered and don’t interfere in Armenia’s domestic life,
although we understand that there are some issues… connected with
the establishment of close relations between Turkey and Armenia that
we are worried about.
Yes, those protocols have not been signed yet, but, anyhow, today
if they speak in Turkey about Armenian-Turkish relations, connected
with the protocols, Karabakh is constantly mentioned, though it is
not involved in these processes.
We wish Turkey and Turkish officials, who constantly state that without
the Karabakh issue settlement any progress is impossible, had the
same attitude. We wish these two issues were separated from each other.
How will the Karabakh problem be solved, in your opinion? Will you
have a meeting with Azerbaijan one day on solving the issue, or is
it possible to solve it on the international platform?
We have repeatedly stated that we are ready to sit around the table for
ne but unfortunately, Azerbaijan refuses, for some reason or other. May
be it has its own argument for that. In my opinion, Azerbaijan has
no grounds to persistently refuse to have direct relations with us.
We have said more than once that the settlement can hardly be
productive without taking into account the people of the Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s opinion.
Maybe it is the unique sample of a republic in the world that is not
recognized by anyone. What are the problems connected with it? When you
look at the future what do you see? How will you achieve recognition?
First of all, it is quite distinctly fixed in international law that
the political situation in a republic does not depend on its being
recognized or not-recognized today. Secondly, during all these years,
since 1992, we have proved both to us and to others that we want and
we are able to establish statehood, which is the basis of our general
policy in this condition as well. From this point of view, the issue of
recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence will have a solution sooner
or later. If you have noticed, we treat different political events
taking place in our region with restraint and don’t allow ourselves
to take antagonistic steps in the field of information, and I hope
it is evaluated both by the international community and our adversary.
It is clear that a solution to the problem is a matter of time. Time
is an irreversible category.
What will you tell or advise Turkey as the Foreign Minister of
Karabakh?
At the moment I find difficulty in giving any advice. But, anyway,
let’s not forget, that Armenians and Turkey have numerous problems
and complicated knots that today influence our everyday life. I wish
the process of approach was not a matter of gambling but also that
serious negotiations and meetings were held between people of two
countries, in order to make our positions clear and precise and to
come to a mutual understanding.
These tangled points on the whole relate not only to Armenians and
the Armenian world. In c eriod of modern history that the people
of Karabakh raised a political question. Since 1988, in fact,
on the threshold of USSR’s dissolution, we have witnessed certain
events in the territory of Azerbaijan in connection with the Armenian
population: of course passions have been fanned again, wounds opened,
and if it was not a preparatory step to commit genocide, then what
was that? Today there are different comments concerning those issues:
official, humanitarian, etc. These are the questions that seriously
influence human memories, future policy and possibilities to establish
good neighbourly relations. It’s evident that nobody will leave
this territory. Common edges must be found in this territory which
must be based on human rights, as well as on the right of people in
general. This is the most significant thing.
In addition, in the present situation we see that Turkey’s
high-ranking officials directly try to connect these two issues
together: Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian-Turkish relations. It does not
contribute to the settlement of the problem, as Turkey has obviously
become hostage to the promises he has made to Azerbaijan in due course,
and this very directly and clearly shows that Azerbaijan exerts
pressure. Willy-nilly Turkey becomes a concerned party once again,
insisting that without this, this and that, it is impossible to achieve
any positive results. This is also perceived as a means of pressure;
however any display of pressure can hardly ensure positive results.
Thank you very much. Have you anything to add?
At the moment I have nothing to add. I think these days will set
the beginning of the future, when Karabakh officials will have an
opportunity to connect not only with journalists, but also with the
politicians of different countries. Restrained and calm political
dialogues and discussions will be very productive.
I’ll merely add that time has a concept of irreversibility, and
Turkey also has such an experience, but everybody must have the
courage to take a sensible view of his past, his history, in order
to build his future.
ARMENIAN FM TO MEET WITH OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS IN NEW YORK
ArmInfo
2009-09-24 12:22:00
ArmInfo. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan
will take part in the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly in New
York Sept 25-29 2009.
The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
reports that Nalbandyan will speak during the session and will meet
with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
He will also meet with a number of colleagues from different countries
and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.
TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE ANKARA-YEREVAN PROTOCOL ON OCT. 10-11: PM
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Thursday, 24 September 2009
China believes sanctions on Iran "are not the way out," Bloomberg
quoted a government spokeswoman as saying in Beijing on Thursday.
"At present, it is not conducive to diplomatic efforts," Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters. The joint statement
at the UN that China signed "emphasized the resolution of the issue
through dialogue and negotiation and getting the Iranian nuclear
issue back to the track of dialogue."
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council – China,
Russia, the UK, France and the US – and Germany will meet with Iranian
representatives on October 1 for the first time in more than a year
in an attempt to reduce tensions over Teheran’s refusal to curb
nuclear activities.
Iran says it wants to use enrichment technology to create
nuclear fuel, but there are international fears that it seeks to
develop it to reconfigure its program and make the fissile core of
warheads. RELATEDIran to ask for nuclear fuel at talksUN to give boost
to nuclear free worldRussia links Iran sanctions to US missile change
Ahead of the negotiations, the foreign ministers of the six nations
met Wednesday on the sidelines of the General Assembly to discuss
how to get Iran to stop uranium enrichment.
Russian news agencies cited an official in the Russian delegation as
saying Moscow does not rule out new sanctions against Iran over its
nuclear program.
Also Wednesday, with a diplomatic wink and nod, Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev opened the door to backing potential sanctions against
Iran as a reward to President Barack Obama’s decision to scale back
a US missile shield in Eastern Europe.
While US and Russian officials denied a flat-out quid pro quo, Medvedev
told the UN General Assembly that Obama’s pivot on a missile defense
plan long loathed by Moscow "deserves a positive response." Obama
himself has said his missile decision may have spurred Russian good
will as a "
"We believe we need to help Iran to take a right decision," Medvedev
said after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the UN assembly.
In related news, the Financial Times on Wednesday reported that Chinese
state companies began supplying gasoline to Iran earlier in September
and now provide up to one-third of its imports.
The Sino-Iranian deal may undermine US-led efforts to shut off the
supply of fuel on which Iran’s economy depends. Iran has large reserves
of crude oil but its refining capacity is minimal.
Chinese language textbook available in Armenian
24.09.2009 18:16 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On September 24, Yerevan State Linguistic University
(YSLU) after V. Brusov organized the presentation of a Chinese
language text-book. The publications will seriously enhance and
strengthen Armenian-Chinese relations.
Compiled in Armenian language, new text-book will enable YSLU
Confucian Institute students to study Chinese.
Presentation was attended by YSLU Rector Suren Zolyan, Confucian
Institute representatives, Chinese Amabssador to Armenia as well as
officials from RA Government, National Assembly and Education
Ministry.
CASINO BLUFF
5290.html
17:30:18 – 23/09/2009
The Control Chamber of the Republic of Armenia with the help of its
chair Ishkhan Zakaryan informed about the regular controls which
cleared out what for example the casino owners do to avoid taxes.
The ministry allocates licenses for casino tables.
Hence, it was found out that in previous year licenses for 102 tables
were issued but only 42 of them paid the price to the budget for a
table which is 4 million a month. In case of the resting 60 tables, the
owners presented certifications that those tables do not work. Ishkhan
Zakaryan states there is a serious danger of corruption and there is
necessity to make amendments to the law.
According to Ishkhan Zakarayn, a law should be adopted which will
provide for owner of a table to pay the fixed 4 million regardless
the table works or not.
There was registered another interesting tick in the work of
casinos. The point is that the casino owners have to register the
importation of casino objects at the ministry of finances noting the
place from where they imported them. According to the international
rule on casino automats, it has to return the 86 percent of the sum
played on it.
But it was found out that the Armenian casino automats pay back only
the 5-10 percent of the sum played on it. These automats are said to
be imported but according to Zakaryan in reality, only the "brain"
is imported and after the object is transformed and adapted to the
local conditions. The result is that instead of 86 percent the automat
gives back only the 5-10percent.
EU TO OPEN INFORMATION CENTRE IN ARMENIA
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
24.09.2009 00:16 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On September 22, NSC Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan
received a delegation headed by Gunnar Vigand, Head of Eurocommission’s
Department on Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Discussion focused on issues concerning "Armenia-EU" action plan
within the frames of European Neighborhood Policy, as well as
cooperation within European Neighborhood project. Parties stressed
the importance of accelerating the process of opening EU information
centers in Armenia.
Upon the initiative of Arthur Baghdasaryan, they also discussed
possibilities of simplifying visa regime with EU member states. Gunnar
Vigand expressed willingness to assist in the process.
Touching upon the newly created working group headed by Deputy Foreign
Minister Karine Kazinyan, Mr. Baghdasaryan said that the new body
might, upon necessity, engage in elaboration of relevant documents.
Parties also touched upon Karabakh conflict settlement and
Armenian-Turkish normalization. Gunnar Vigand and Swedish Foreign
Ministry’s Eastern Europe Department Head Johan Friezel expressed
support for the latter process, NSC press service reports.
BY THE INVITATION OF PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN, LEE KUAN YEW, MINISTER MENTOR OF SINGAPORE, HAS ARRIVED TO ARMENIA ON OFFICIAL VISIT
President.am
Sept 21 2009
Armenia
By the invitation of President Serzh Sargsyan, Lee Kuan Yew, Minister
Mentor of Singapore, has arrived to Armenia on official visit. He was
Singapore’s first Prime Minister and headed the executive branch of
his country for 31 years. Lee Kuan Yew is well known as the founder
of the Singaporean model of economic development. Today the Minister
of Mentor of Singapore was received by the President of Armenia.
Welcoming the high guest, President Sargsyan said, "You can hardly
find anyone, who wouldn’t admire the Singapore miracle and everyone
realizes that you, being the first Prime Minister of your country,
are the creator and administrator of that phenomenon. And, of course,
that example is very desirable for small states."
The President of Armenia expressed confidence that the visit
of Lee Kuan Yew would give a new impetus to the historical
Armenian-Singaporean relations and said that he signed a decree to
award Mr. Lee Kuan Yew with the Order of Honor for his activities
directed at the establishment and deepening of bilateral cooperation.
Receiving the award with gratitude, the Minister Mentor of Singapore
said that he was happy for the opportunity to visit Armenia. He
said also that even though the number of Armenians in Singapore
is not large, they have played a significant role in the country’s
development. He added that an Armenian church was located in the one
of the most prominent places in town.
The President of Armenia and Minister Mentor of Singapore exchanged
views on the Singaporean model of development and discussed the
possibility of conducting consultations regarding the experience. Lee
Kuan Yew said that their experience shows that in the base of efficient
development lies high quality education for which all necessary
conditions should be created, providing the young people with the
opportunity to study abroad. President Sargsyan said that toward
that end serious steps have already been taken in Armenia: through
the state financial support this year, for the first time a group of
students will study in the leading educational institutions abroad.
The President of Armenia inquired also about the Singaporean experience
in establishing civil service, noting that Armenia was intending
to conduct large scale reforms in that area as well. It was decided
that a group of specialists would go to Singapore for retraining and
learning about the experience first hand.
BULGARIANS ARE PATRIOTS AFTER A COUPLE OF DRINKS
Standart News
Sept 21 2009
Bulgaria
We are proud of our fore-fathers and we forget that we write history
too, says Rossen Petrov
– We celebrate Independence Day today but many Bulgarians actually do
not know exactly what happened on this day. Does the average Bulgarian
know Bulgarian history?
– On the one hand, like a typical Balkan person, the Bulgarian is proud
of the Bulgarian historical past but on the other hand, Bulgarians
generally do not know their past. I think one of the basic reasons
for this lies in the way History is taught and written as a whole in
Bulgaria because it has always been put to use to the ruling ideology.
– Is the Bulgarian a patriot?
– Perhaps the best description of the Bulgarian patriotism is that
we are patriots when at party. We all remember Bulgaria’s glorious
past when we drink a couple of rakias. When, however, the patriotism
should enter our everyday lives, we stop living up to it. Bulgarian
patriotism is a sort of a second-hand patriotism ? it is based on
memories from the past. When we switch on the TV and see the reports
about five legal cases against former ministers or about two dozens
accidents on the roads?
– The reality today maybe does not give us reasons for high national
confidence.
– We are successors of one of the oldest peoples in the world. An
ancient Armenian manuscript gives data about the Bulgarians, at
times when the English, German and French people did not exist. We
have all the right to be proud of our past but it is only up to us
to give grounds for national confidence today. Nobody will give it
to use ready-made.