Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ARF REACHED ITS GOAL

Lragir.am
15/01/10

The letter of 14 political forces handed to the Constitutional Court
was not an accidental one and as there are opinions regarding the
reason why the CC had to accept the letter and whether so it was not
involved in political processes, the ARF parliamentary member Artsvik
Minasyan said the CC has to clear up all the details of the case and
include in it any document which deals with the case.

According to Minasyan, that document included all the worrying issues
which have been repeatedly dwelt on, as well as it proved that by
signing those protocols, the RA constitution was violated.

According to Minasyan, the next important issue is the assessment of
professional and political circles of the CC decision.

"With the help of this document handed to the CC, we pursued two main
goals: maximum and minimum. The maximum aim was that the CC could
decide that the protocols were not in accord with the RA Constitution.

The minimum aim was that the CC decision would create grounds for
future reservations. We reached our goal. No Karabakh issue, genocide
refusal and recognition of the Armenian-Turkish border can be included
in this document. The CC decision set these affirmations. But the RA
interest is not fully protected with the help of these reservations",
says Artsvik Minasyan.

TURKEY’S POSITION ON PROTOCOLS CAN VIOLATE REASONABLE TERMS OF RATIFICATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.01.2010 19:04 GMT+04:00

"At the moment Turkey is artificially prolonging the ratification of
the Armenian-Turkish Protocols, and the country delaying the documents’
ratification will have problems with the international community,"
Edward Sharmazanov , secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia’s
parliamentary group, told a press conference in Yerevan today.

Replying to a PanARMENIAN.Net question about Armenia’s response to
further delay of the ratification process by Turkey, Mr. Sharmazanov
said that Armenia will react in the framework of international law.

"The order of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan about making
amendments to the RA Law "On international treaties" create legal
framework for denunciation of the Protocols," he said.

Protocols on the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations have
been signed on October 10, 2009 in Zurich by the foreign ministers
of Armenia and Turkey, Edward Nalbandian and Ahmet Davutoglu in the
presence of the foreign ministers of France, the United States, Russia
and Switzerland after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss
mediation since 2007. According to the Protocols, diplomatic relations
should be established between the two countries and the mutual border,
closed by Turkey since 1993, should be opened. On January 12, 2010
Armenian Constitutional Court acknowledged the constituency of the
Protocols.

Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) was founded in 1990 by Ashot
Navasardyan. The ideological basis of the party is the doctrine of
the Armenian political and military leader of the First Republic
of Armenia Garegin Nzhdeh. The re-birth of the Republican Party is
organically linked with the national liberation struggle in 1988.

Institutional framework for the establishment of the Republican Party
was formed at the beginning of this struggle by the military-political
union "Army of Independence". As a political party it was registered
on 14 May 1991.

The party has made a significant contribution to the work of the
Coordinating Council of volunteer militias, helping to establish the
rule of law and order in the republic, and after the formation of a
regular national army in Armenia Armenian Republican Party declared
about its demilitarization.

In July 2006, the 10th extraordinary congress of the party declared
the Republican Party of Armenia as National Conservative Party.

Chairman of the party up to 1997 was Ashot Navasardyan, between 1997
and 2005 – Andranik Margaryan. At present, the party is headed by
the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

YEREVAN TO CARRY OUT STEPS TOWARDS CREATION OF GEOPOLITICAL SQUARE

news.az
Jan 14 2010
Azerbaijan

Heydar Jamal "Official Yerevan will undertake steps towards the
creation of the Armenia-Iran-Turkey-Russia geopolitical square.

Turkey would also benefit from normalization of the Turkish-Armenian
relations", said Heydar Jamal, chairman of the Islamic Committee of
Russia and famous political scientist.

He said by means of normalizing relations with Armenia, Turkey is
lifting several issues, primarily the mythical "armenian genocide",
creating obstacles on the way of its EU accession. Naturally,
normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations is not profitable
for Azerbaijan.

"I think the improvement of relations with Iran despite West’s
pressure on this country is the only open way for Azerbaijan on the
existing background. If Iran improves relations with Turkey that
is a traditional partner of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan needs to improve
relations with the traditional partner of Armenia-Iran.

This is primarily the lever of pressure on the West because the United
States has set a task of geopolitical surrounding of Iran. This task
has already been put under threat, because Turkey has launched active
cooperation with Iran while Armenia is Iran’s traditional ally in our
region. If Azerbaijan also starts cooperating with Iran, the process
of Iran’s isolation will come off the US projects especially because
the United States are stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thus, if Azerbaijan reconciles with Iran and frustrates the US policy
on isolation of this country, this may lead to definite steps from
the US side to coax Baku. In addition, Iran when time works in favor
of this country and the United States are losing opportunities for
effective pressure on Tehran is gradually turning into a regional
superpower under support of Russia and China. Meanwhile, Iran is really
an independent player in our region and Azerbaijan’s reconciliation
with this country would allow using all opportunities of normalizing
relations with such an influential regional superpower".

ASHIB AWARDED MONEYGRAM CERTIFICATE AS ARMENIA’S MOST RELIABLE BANK

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.01.2010 14:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ardshininvestbank CJSC (ASHIB) has been awarded a
certificate by MoneyGram international money transfer system, as the
most reliable bank of Armenia, the bank’s press office reported. ASHIB
cooperates with MoneyGram since its establishment, and jointly with
MoneyGram offered its clients various discounts.

According to ASHIB chairman Nerses Karamanukyan, the certificate
awarded by MoneyGram system obliges ASHIB to remain a reliable bank
not only for foreign partners, but also for all customers.

Ardshininvestbank CJSC was registered by the decision of the RA
Central Bank Board in 2003. It operates through Contact, MoneyGram,
Migom, IntelExpress, RIA, and Express Mail systems. ASHIB has 49
branches in Armenia , 6 branches in NKR and an office in Paris. Moody
international rating agency assigned to ASHIB a long-term ratings Ba2
and short-term Not Prime for short-term deposit in local currency,
long-term ratings Ba3 and short-term Not Prime for deposits in foreign
currency, as well as the financial strength rating BFSR "D". In 2008,
the bank was awarded the International Quality Management System
Certificate ISO 9001: 2000.

The bank is a member of Armenian Bank Union, Armenian-Georgian Business
Cooperation Association, ArCa payment system, Armenian fund exchange
self-regulating organization, the Union of Armenian mortgage market and
affiliated member of MasterCard/Europay international payment system.

MoneyGram international money transfer system is one of the leading
money transfer systems throughout the world. The system has 186 000
service points in about 190 countries.

FOREIGN MINISTRY OF AZERBAIJAN TRIES TO FORECLOSE THE COURSE OF NEGOTIATIONS ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

ArmInfo
2010-01-15 13:58:00

ArmInfo. Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan tries to foreclose the course
of negotiations on the Karabakh settlement.

In particular, when summing up the year 2009, the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry states that Azerbaijan’s position on the settlement of the
conflict is unambiguous: "The conflict must be solved only within the
framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and the
country’s internationally-recognized borders. This position is based on
the principles and norms of the international law, UN Charter, OSCE’s
Helsinki Final Act and a number of international documents adopted on
the settlement of the conflict. The negotiations held for peaceful
settlement of the conflict, aim to coordinate the details arising
from these principles", Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s bulletin says.

According to the bulletin, the negotiations on the settlement of
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict held in 2009 were intensive, that is
testified by the meetings of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents,
held six times during the year, with the participation of OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs, as well as several meetings of foreign ministers. The
bulletin says that the attention of the international community was
high enough.

LAVROV TO TALK KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT DURING VISIT TO ARMENIA

RIA Novosti
January 13, 2010 Wednesday 2:37 AM GMT+3
Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss the problem of
the Nagorny Karabakh settlement during his two-day visit to Armenia
that kicks off Wednesday.

Lavrov will meet with President Serzh Sargsyan and with Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei
Nesterenko said.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh
first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from
Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people are estimated to have died on both sides between
1988 and 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed. Nagorny Karabakh has
remained in Armenian control and tensions between Azerbaijan and
Armenia have persisted.

The OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France,
is a mediator in the conflict.

The officials will also discuss bilateral cooperation.

Nesterenko said that despite the global crisis, Russian-Armenian
trade, economic, military, political, humanitarian and interregional
cooperation "showed positive development tendencies."

DMITRY MEDVEDEV EXTENDED CONDOLENCES TO GEORGE GARANIAN’S FRIENDS AND RELATIVES

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.01.2010 19:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has extended
condolences to the friends and relatives of jazz saxaphone player
and bandleader George Garanian who passed away Monday, at age 76,
Russian leader’s press service reported.

George Garanian died in Krasnodar as a result of heart attack. He
had arrived there to give a concert which was scheduled for January 13.

Garanian was one of the first Russian musicians who attracted
attention of Western world as part of the "jazz from the USSR". He
belonged to the first generation of Russian jazzmen who started
to perform after the World War II. As a musician (alto saxophone),
conductor and composer he always was among the best musicians. He
was the leader of country’s best big bands: "Melodia" (70s – 80s),
Moscow Big Band – 1992-95. He led the Municipal Big Band of Southern
Russian Krasnodar city.

THE SCUFFLE BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND GREEK CLERGYMEN INCITED BY JEWS
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
11.01.2010 18:35

The fight between Armenian and Greek priests in Bethlehem on December
29 was specially organized like all other previous scuffles, Pastor
of St. Sargis Primacy church priest Shahe Hayrapetyan told a press
conference today.

The scuffle between the Armenian and Greek priests has existed starting
from middle ages. The struggle started after Palestine got a separate
Patriarchate. The Armenian district is situated on Zion Mountain,
which is unacceptable to Jews, priest Shahe Hayrapetyan clarified.

Greeks urge the Jews to take the areas, where the Armenian district is
situated. The Republic of Armenia cannot interfere with the affair,
and the Armenian clergymen have to defend the Armenian areas with
prayers and even fists, if necessary, he said

PROTESTERS HEADED FOR RA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.01.2010 18:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The participants of the protest against ratification
of RA-Turkish Protocols have organized a torch march to Armenia’s
Constitutional Court to submit to CC Chairman the legally substantiated
conclusion on the documents’ threats to Armenia’s national security.

Gathering near the CC building, the protesters will hold a
hunger-strike, waiting for the court’s decision, Head of ARFD Supreme
Body Hrayr Karapetyan said.

The protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the common border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich
by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of
diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

Turkey to chair UN Security Council in June 2010
07.01.2010 18:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In June 2010, Turkey will take over chairmanship of
UN Security Council, according to Baki Ilkin, the country’s permanent
representative in United Nations.

In that period, all Security Council meeting will be presided over by
Mr. Ilkin, however, high level meetings will be chaired by the
country’s Foreign Minister, The Journal of Turkish Weekly reported.

Chairmanship in UN Security Council is taken over by 20 member states
in alphabetic order. Turkey became the Council’s non-permanent member
in 2009. Its membership term expires in 2010.

The United Nations Security Council is the organization’s permanent
body which has primary responsibility, under UN Charter (Article 24),
for the maintenance of international peace and security.

It has 5 permanent members (China, France. Great Britain, Russia and
United States) and 15 non-permanent members (Austria, Belgium, Burkina
Faso, Costa-Rica, Croatia, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Lybia, Mexico,
Panama, South African Republic, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam).