Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ARMENIA NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY EXPLAINED THAT IRRATIONAL, UNCONSTRUCTIVE POSITION WILL BE FAILURE: TOP AZERBAIJANI OFFICIAL

Today.Az
cs/54914.html
Aug 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration’s Political Analysis and
Public Relations Department Chief Elnur Aslanov spoke in an interview
with Day.Az.

Day.Az: Recently, Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev held a meeting on
the Caspian cooperation in Astrakhan. How do you comment on the fact
that Moscow insists on the ban on deployment of military forces in
the Caspian Sea by non-regional countries while the U.S. is actively
cooperating with Azerbaijan as a part of the program "The Caspian
Guard"?

Elnur Aslanov: Azerbaijan is an active supporter of peace in the
region. We cooperate with the United States in a number of issues,
as well as with Russia. In all these respects Azerbaijan has an
understanding of national security issues. Everything we do meets
our national interest and is aimed at ensuring national security.

Q: How can replacement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs impact
settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

A: A few days ago, I commented on this issue. This is issue of staff
rotation and inherent in all spheres. Naturally, we hope and expect
that each new co-chair will do everything so that Armenia will
eventually free the Azerbaijani territories.

Armenia needs to be clearly and unambiguously explained that the
irrational and unconstructive position will be failure. Today, Armenia
is totally crushed by global financial crisis and the situation in
the economic and political sphere in this country will deteriorate
every day. It is obvious to all. How long the Armenian leadership
will try to give hope to its citizens denying them democratic rights
and opportunities to live in peace with its neighbors? The Armenian
leadership needs to have a rational look at the blunders and mistakes,
because time is working against them.

Q: Please comment on the recent withdrawal of Georgia from CIS. What
impact this move can have on CIS?

A: This move was expectable following August events that took place
last year. The two member states had difficult relationship within
one organization and analysts described the possibility of their
improvement in the short term as remote.

As to CIS, this organization has experienced great difficulty in
proving its reliability and efficiency for many years. There are,
of course, attempts to save, change the format, to improve the
atmosphere … but, everything is solved at the bilateral level and
within personal relations of the States in the CIS. Of course, if
you ask what will happen to the CIS, the answer is that the CIS will
continue to operate, because there are certain economic preferences
of this union. But when one member of the Commonwealth occupies the
territory of another member, then naturally the question arises as to
how long this situation can persist. CIS is far from more effective
unions that provide economic security and prospect to their members

Q: In light of recent events, which include the Russia-Azerbaijan gas
agreement, intergovernmental agreement on the Nabucco project signed
in Ankara and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkey,
how you see future of the Nabucco project?

A: It is clear that Nabucco will be realized, especially since the
financial crisis in the West for a number of projections is on the
wane. This is a project of geo-economic nature, so it is of a very
big interest. But at the same time, we can see how more expedient
routes and projects are skillfully and efficiently organized. At a
time when everyone should think about its economic benefits no one
does not have to wait since we do not live in a period of planned
economy. Accordingly, some Western countries should understand
importance of such categories as mobility and speed, for a proverb
says: "Who are not at risk, he does not drink champagne."

Q: How do you assess political situation in the country on the eve
of municipal elections?

A: Municipal elections are an important step in terms of development
of a democratic state. Therefore, each of us should treat them with
utmost responsibility. We have a tradition and experience to hold
open and democratic elections and stability and desire to build
a democratic state. Of course, there is also a weak opposition,
which has already announced some blocs and alliances. Hopefully,
though with difficulty, they still be able to organize interesting
and effective promotion of their ideas and suggestions. I think,
it will be more interesting to discuss political situation in the
country in a period closer to the elections.

TURKISH POLITICAL, PUBLIC FIGURES FIGURED OUT?

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Aug 24 2009
Armenia

Racist notes were found in the notebook that belongs to Ibrahim
Å~^ahin, a former task group officer and arrestee involved in the
Ergenekon case. Sahin was a member of the illegal S-1 group.

The Turkey-based Radikal daily reported that anti-Armenian and
anti-Kurdish notes were contained in Å~^ahin’s notebook. According to
the bill of indictment, in a telephone conversation he called himself
head of an anti-Armenian unit. The following note was contained in
the notebook: "There are 580 Armenians, Syrians and Yezids among the
DTP (Democratic Society Party) members. Hikmet Cetin’s father is a
source of financing for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and ASALA. The
grandmother of Devlet Bahceli, leader of the MHP (Nationalist Movement
Party, a political wing of grey wolves, a radical anti-Armenian force)
is an Armenian. Mehmet Eymur (former head of the anti-terrorist
department who was at the head of operations against ASALSA) is an
Armenian as well.

Public Television of Armenia
Aug 17 2009

Over 100 Armenian websites attacked by hackers

[Presenter] Fresh massive attacks were launched on Armenian websites
today. By midday today it was reported that hackers had attacked the
websites of the [Armenian] Football Federation and BTA Bank. But now
it has become known that they hacked into the websites of over 100
major organizations in Armenia. The attackers present themselves as
Iraqi hackers who claim that they are the best in the world. According
to another version, they are Azerbaijani hackers.

[Correspondent] Hackers started attacking the websites of some of our
ministries today. The websites of the ministries of agriculture and
environmental protection asked its visitors to visit the websites
later. But the website of the Ministry of Urban Development infected
computers with a virus on opening. Experts are confident that the
hackers are Azerbaijanis.

The Jerusalem Post
August 12, 2009 Wednesday

Israeli navy to partake in Turkish training exercise

First joint maneuvers since Operation Cast Lead indicate reduction of
tensions with Ankara

by YAAKOV KATZ

In a sign that tension between Jerusalem and Ankara has cooled down,
two Israeli Navy missile ships will sail to Turkey next week to
participate in the annual Reliant Mermaid search-and-rescue naval
exercise.

The maneuvers will be held in the Mediterranean Sea together with the
Turkish and American navies. The exercise, the first joint one with
Turkey since relations with Ankara grew tense during Operation Cast
Lead, will begin on August 17.

Several months after the January war, OC Ground Forces Command
Maj.-Gen. Avi Mizrachi said in a lecture that Prime Minister Recep
Erdogan needed to "look in a mirror" – and see the Armenian genocide
and Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus – before criticizing Israel.

Mizrachi’s comments were negatively received in Ankara, particularly
by the Turkish military, which is a strategic partner to the
IDF. Since Operation Cast Lead, the IAF – which regularly flew over
Turkey for training – has yet to deploy there and even sat out of a
large-scale aerial exercise called Anatalian Eagle, which was held in
June, and which it had attended in previous years.

The Reliant Mermaid exercise is aimed at improving coordination
between the Israeli, US and Turkish navies. Part of the challenge is
for all three navies to communicate in joint search-and-rescue
operations that could arise in the future.

The INS Lahav and INS Sufa will represent Israel at the exercise,
which will be attended by eight missile ships and three helicopters.

Note: The Safe Streets Forum has been postponed from Saturday, August 22
to Sunday, Sept. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. Location will be determined
shortly.

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
Event Date: Sunday, Sep. 13, 2 to 4 p.m.
Contact: Jeremy Oberstein (818) 558-3043

Assistant Majority Leader Krekorian
to Hold Free Traffic and Speeding Forum
Safe Streets Forum will offer residents a chance to talk about traffic
safety

BURBANK – Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) is set to host a
free forum to address safe streets on Sunday, Sep. 13 in Van Nuys. The
Safe Streets Workshop will give residents an update about Krekorian’s AB
766, the Safe Streets Bill, and what lies ahead for ensuring local
control over speed limits.

AB 766, legislation to give local municipalities greater control over
setting their own speed limits, was held in the Assembly Transportation
Committee in May after registered opposition from statewide groups
derailed support.

Despite that setback, Krekorian is pressing ahead with a public forum to
elicit suggestions for ways to make streets safer throughout the San
Fernando Valley and the next steps toward local control over speed
limits. The forum will include information from state officials and an
update from local law enforcement and other elected officials on street
safety.

Where: TBD
When: Sunday, Sep. 13, 2 to 4 p.m.
Note: Though parking is located in the surrounding lots and on the
street, the center is accessible via public transportation (Metro.net)
and there is ample bicycle parking. Light refreshments will be provided,
but a limited number of seats are available. To RSVP, please call
Krekorian’s District Office, (818) 558-3043 or email
[email protected] with "Safe Streets Workshop" in
the subject line.
Assemblymember Paul Krekorian represents the cities of Burbank and
Glendale, and the Los Angeles communities of Atwater Village, Los Feliz,
North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, Valley Village
and Van Nuys. His website is Follow him
on Twitter <; (@PaulKrekorian) and
Facebook <; .

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GIRO MANOYAN: NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT CURRENT PROCESS IS NOT IN ARMENIA’S INTERESTS

Noyan Tapan
Aug 19, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Giro Manoyan, the Head of
the ARFD Bureau Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) and Political Affairs Office,
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries try until October 14 to
ensure Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s consent over the revised Madrid
principles. However, as G.

Manoyan mentioned at an August 19 meeting with journalists, the
revised variant of those principles will be given to the sides in
late September.

According to the speaker, none of the sides will give a consent to
those basic principles, but "no one wants to be the first to say "no."

"Rather hot political weather is forecast in the coming weeks as
after all official Yerevan should form a final view towards those
principles," G. Manoyan said. According to his evaluation, this
process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement is not in Armenia’s interests.

G. Manoyan also said that Turkey has failed the process of negotiations
with Armenia by putting forward preconditions. "In the middle of the
game Turkey has changed the rules of the game. For Armenia, these
negotiations are failed, suspended by Turkey," G. Manoyan said. In his
words, Armenia should declare it as soon as possible as for Turkey,
it is very important to show that allegedly there is some process. In
G. Manoyan’s opinion, under the conditions the RA President should
not leave for Turkey.

SERZH SARGSYAN SHOULD VISIT TURKEY TO INDICATE TO TURKISH COUNTERPART HIS MISTAKES

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.08.2009 17:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the meeting in Switzerland between the
Armenian and Turkish sides, Turkey has pledged to make a step towards
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, in particular, open
borders, lifting the blockade of Armenia, but to date it has not
fulfilled its promises.

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated that he will go Turkey
to visit a football match between national teams of Armenia and Turkey
only if the Armenian-Turkish border would open, or if parties will
be on the threshold of deblocking Armenia. This was stated by the
specialist in Turkic philology Hakob Chakryan at the press conference
in Yerevan today.

According to him, regardless of the Turkey’s position and whether the
border is opened or not, Mr. Sargsyan should go to a football match
and indicate to the President of Turkey to his mistakes.

"If the Armenian-Turkish dialogue fails, it will be difficult then
to start it from the beginning, since there are no relations between
countries. It would be difficult to create a new reason to renew the
dialogue. We ourselves will not be able to do it, " Hakob Chakryan
said.

President Serzh Sargsyan during his joint meeting with the President
of Serbia in Yerevan said that he will visit Turkey to watch the
match between national teams of Armenia and Turkey only if the
Armenian-Turkish border would be open, or if parties will be on the
threshold of deblocking of Armenia.

The game between the national football teams of Turkey and Armenia in
the qualifying round of 2010 World Championship will be held October
14 at the stadium named after Ataturk in Bursa.

BAKU THINKS LITTLE OF OSCE CO-CHAIRS

News.am
16:16 / 08/19/2009

Azerbaijan wishes any new OSCE MG Co-Chair would make all efforts "to
restore justice and ensure the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan",
Elnur Aslanov, the Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration
Political Analysis and Dataware Department, told Trend News August 19.

According to Aslanov, Russian and U.S. MG Co-Chairs will be replaced
this year, though this fact should be little thought of, as this
change is "a technical issue, because the rotation of personnel
concerns all areas."

"One cannot remember the names of all OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. In
any case, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are exponents of wills of the
state that are involved in resolving the conflict. At the same time,
the Minsk Group co-chairs are the people that can say their word
in determining the policies of their states," Aslanov said, adding
that any new mediator would continue scheduled agenda. "Therefore,
the replacement of the Co-Chairs should be considered in the context
of job rotation, and no more," he concluded.

IT WAS KNOCKING OUR DOOR, BUT WE WERE SAYING

Aysor.am
19.08.2009, 18:45

Vardan Bostanjyan, the president of the Standing Committee on Economic
Affairs of the National Assembly, today at the conference expressed
a view-point that even the most powerful countries cannot avoid the
crisis. As to him it is really a very negative phenomenon.

"It was knocking our door, but we were saying the crisis would not
harm us. All the people who make short-term predictions fail",-
said Bostanjyan.

He thinks that in this case we should acquire a very miserable look
and ask money from strangers to input in our economy.

The MP is not even optimistic in the industrial growth, he even asked
whether there exists any industry and answered that in reality it is
just the "illusion of industry".

"The relations of export-import are more brisk reaching 1:7. Actually
we pay for something made by others. At one time we put some stress
on transfers, but now even they are reduced",- mentioned Vardan
Bostanjyan.

Bagrat Asatrayan, the former president of CB, started with the
"saddest" topic: "What’s new in the economy of Armenia?"

At first he remembered that he had given the prediction of the previous
year according which the economic reduction was to be around 20%.

"By the December program of the last year the Government prepared
9.2% growth. The reduction will go on, the temps will be changed,
I suggest you one more time to gather yourselves", – said Asatryan
to the deputy minister of Finance.

At the same time CB former president told that the government tries to
cure the illness by the cause of the illness, the inflow of the money.

ARMENIANS TO WORK IN TURKISH CHIEF SECRETARIAT ON EU AFFAIRS

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Wednesday, 19 August 2009

Armenian media leaks that the Turkish Chief Secretariat on EU affairs
will employ researchers and translators of Armenian background are
true, a secretariat employee told Trend News.

"But it should be taken into account that they are Turkish citizens who
speak the Armenian language and are representatives of the Armenian
community in Turkey," he said. "I think that any citizen in Turkey
can get a job like this, regardless of religious and national status."

Turkish laws do not forbid this, he added The Armenian media reported
that the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople will take an interest
in this issue. An advertisement was posted on the Patriarchy’s official
website: "Young representatives of the Armenian community who wish
to work in the General Secretariat of Turkey for EU affairs required."

An official from the Secretariat, Burak Erdemir, said: "We have no
representatives from ethnic minorities in the Secretariat, and we
need representatives from all segments of the social structure."