Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

ARFD: ARMENIA SHOULD RECONSIDER ITS FOREIGN POLICY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.07.2009 20:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The latest developments in Karabakh process arouse
serious concerns about Armenia’s national interests, the Supreme
Body of Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun said in
a statement.

"A severe divergence from the Armenian national security doctrine is
observed. Armenia fails to act as the guarantor of Nagorno Karabakh
people’s security. International recognition of the Armenian Genocide
is being blocked," the statement said.

"Armenia should reconsider its foreign policy until it’s too late… We
are hopeful that the RA President will not sign any document and spare
no effort to bring Artsakh back to the negotiation process," it said.

ARF Dashnaktsutyun also urged resignation of Armenian Minister of
Foreign Affairs.

ARF CALLS FOR NALBANDIAN’S RESIGNATION

Yerkir
Jul 16th, 2009

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme
Council of Armenia on Thursday issued an announcement calling for the
resignation of Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, saying
"Armenia’s foreign policy has deviated from the main provisions of
its national security strategy."

"For the purpose of eliminating the negative consequences that have
emerged in the foreign policy domain and restoring the national-state
course, we demand the resignation of Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian, who is immediately responsible for the sphere," said
ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Armen Rustamian at a press
conference Thursday.

The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia has called for foresight and
political will from the governments of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic to work in tandem to secure "our place and capabilities in
the region."

"We anticipate that the Armenian President will not sign any document
that will ignore the will of the Karabakh people, which has already
been expressed through two referendums, and will make every effort
to bring the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic into the negotiations as a
full party to the conflict," said the statement.

"If, God forbid, such a document is signed, our struggle will receive
a completely different nature," said Rustamian adding that the20ARF
has "repeatedly said that no matter who the incumbent president is,
we will oppose such a policy with all available constitutional means,
including by demanding [the president’s] resignation."

"The president still has an opportunity to make a drastic change in
the situation and, most importantly, not to sign the document that
is being proposed today," he said.

Rustamian also said that while Armenia’s recognition of Karabakh’s
independence was always a priority, the time had come for Armenia and
Karabakh to sign a strategic political agreement, whereby Armenia is
clearly identified as the guarantor of Karabakh’s security, calling
it a "serious step."

Rustamian also announced that the ARF had addressed letters to
the ambassadors of the United States, France and Russia to Armenia
informing them of "the deepest disappointment of Armenians around
the world with the unjustified and groundless pressure of the
Minsk Group co-chairing countries on Armenia for the purpose of
imposing unilateral and dangerous concessions in the issue of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."

The ARF asserted that "the concessions will imperil the security
of Armenia, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the Armenian people;
increase the prospects of renewed Azeri aggression; and undermine
the ability of the parties to the conflict to reach a truly lasting
and durable peace."

GUESTS FROM ARMENIA TO BE GIVEN FLOWERS AND TO BE SERVED DURING ARMENIA-TURKEY FOOTBALL MATCH IN KESARIA

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
JULY 15, 2009
ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL, JULY 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenia-Turkey
football match to be held in October is being prepared in Kesaria. On
this occasion 70 thousand pinks are envisaged to decorate the sports
ground.

The Marmara daily reports referring to the Turkish Sabah daily that
besides the 70 thousand pinks, the families of Kesaria are going to
receive and serve the Armenian team fans, who will arrive in Kesaria
to watch the competition. A Hospitality Club will be also opened.

The football match will take place at a newly built, modern Kadir
Has sports ground. The chairman of Florists Union Erengul said that
the sports ground will be decorated like a bride, each woman fan of
Armenian team will be given a rose and the men will be given a pink
or any other flower. "We should express our love and open-mindedness
with flowers," Erengul said. And the football players and those
accompanying will be given bouquets.

It is mentioned that the goal of these events is the rapprochement
of Armenians and Turks.

ANCA DENOUNCES MINSK GROUP PRESSURE TO SECURE UNILATERAL ARMENIAN CONCESSIONS IN KARABAGH TALKS

armradio.am
15.07.2009 13:19

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian
expressed "profound disappointment" at the unreasonable pressure being
applied by the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which could threaten the viability of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.

The concern was expressed in a July 14, 2009, letter to President
Obama, where Hachikian noted that the Minsk Group’s "heavy handed"
approach to secure unilateral and dangerous concessions by Armenians
regarding the Nagorno Karabagh conflict would "imperil the security
of Armenia, the Nagorno Karabagh Republic (NKR) and the Armenian
people; increase the prospects of renewed Azerbaijani aggression;
and undermine the ability of the actual parties to this conflict to
reach a truly lasting and durable peace."

Hachikian went on to argue that the Nagorno Karabagh Republic’s
participation in the peace process is fundamental to the success
of the endeavor. "As a direct party to this conflict, the primary
victim of Azerbaijan’s aggression, and a full stakeholder in the
search for regional peace, the Nagorno Karabagh Republic must be
a full and equal participant in all aspects of the peace process,"
explained Hachikian. Similar concerns were addressed in letters sent
to French Ambassador to the U.S. Pierre Vimont and Russian Federation
Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

The ANCA has also initiated a letter writing campaign to President
Obama and the State Department as well as the Embassies of France
and Russia in the U.S. encouraging Armenian Americans and human
rights activists to express their thoughts to Minsk Group Co-Chair
country leaders.

The effort reflects worldwide Armenian apprehension following a
July 10 statement issued by U.S. President Barack Obama, French
President Nikolas Sarkozy and Russian Federation President Dmitry
Medvedev calling on Armenia and Azerbaijan to "to resolve the few
differences remaining between them" based on an updated version of
the "Basic Principles" advanced by the co-chairs in the November 2007
Madrid Document.

BULGARIAN, CROATIAN OFFICIALS, BUSINESSMEN EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO ARMENIA SOON

ARKA
July 13, 2009

YEREVAN, July 13. /ARKA/. Bulgarian and Croatian officials and
businessmen are expected to visit Armenia in the coming fall at
the invitation of Gagik Tsarukyan, prominent Armenian businessman,
chairman of Multi Group Concern.

His spokesman, Khachik Galstyan, speaking at a press conference on
Monday, said that Croatian businessmen are expected to come to Armenia
in September for discussing joint business programs and some proposals.

Galstyan said that that the Bulgarian delegation’s trip to Armenia
is scheduled for October.

He said that Gagik Tsarukyan make every effort to find new markets
instead of many traditional outlets closed because of the global
crisis.

TURKEY WELCOMES MINSK GROUP’S KARABAKH STATEMENT

Hurriyet/Turkish Daily News
July 13 2009
Turkey

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has welcomed a joint statement from the
United States, France and Russia as the co-chairmen of OSCE’s Minsk
Group on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

In a statement released from the Group of Eight summit in Italy on
Friday, the United States, France and Russia called for the leaders
of Armenia and Azerbaijan to settle a long-running row over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region. The three countries said they "affirm our
commitment" to efforts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize "the
basic principles for the settlement" of the conflict.

A day after the so-called Minsk Group’s statement, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry said the joint statement referred to the "basic principles
for the settlement of the Karabakh problem" submitted to Armenia and
Azerbaijan on November 2007 in Madrid, noting that "the principles
in question formed a whole, reflecting the stances of both parties."

"The parties should assume a constructive approach and consider the
importance given to the matter by the co-chairmen. Both Azerbaijan
and Armenia should achieve a final solution in this conflict, which
continues to be a bleeding wound for the south Caucasus region,"
the Anatolia news agency quoted the ministry’s statement as saying.

Border issue:

Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been under the
control of ethnic Armenian forces since a six-year conflict that
killed about 30,000 people and displaced 1 million before a truce
was reached in 1994.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan
during its conflict with Armenia. Mediators from the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, who have been monitoring
peacemaking efforts, had reported in early May that they saw signs
of progress.

As peace efforts in the South Caucasus intensify, Armenia has
reaffirmed it wants to restore ties with Turkey and open its borders
without any preconditions.

The statement came from Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,
who spoke at a joint news conference with U.S. Deputy Secretary of
State James Steinberg, Armenian dailies reported. "As it was previously
said, Armenia is ready to normalize relations with Turkey without any
preconditions," he said. "Now we are waiting for a response from the
Turkish side."

NECESSITY OF COORDINATED ACTIVITY FOR STRENGTHENING OF ARMENIA-ARTSAKH-DIASPORA TRIUNITY DISCUSSED

Noyan Tapan
July 13, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues relating to consistent
strengthening of the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora triunity, just
settlement of the Artsakh problem and NKR social-econmic development
were discussed at NKR President Bako Sahakian’s and Deputy Chair of
the Ramkavar Azatakan Party Central Board Harutiun Arakelian’s and
Central Board member Karen Kakoyan’s meeting.

The interlocutors attached importance to the necessity of coordinated
activity in that direction.

According to the information of the NKR President’s staff, issues
relating to the internal and foreign policy were discussed at the
meeting.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS REACH DEADLOCK

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.07.2009 20:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Turkey’s policy in the context of opening the
border with Armenia has always involved preconditions. Now, after
signing the roadmap there have not been any tangible moves in the
Armenian-Turkish relations," Alexander Arzumanyan , ex-Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Armenia told a press conference today. According to
him, the existence of the road map enables Turkey to create an illusion
of open borders with Armenia in the eyes of world public in order to
solve own specific tasks, for example, to prevent the U.S. President
Barack Obama from using the term "Genocide" in his speech on April
24. "Moreover, Turkey links the issue of opening the border with the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict," Mr. Arzumanyan emphasized.

Ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Alexander Arzumanyan believes
that the road map signed by Armenia and Turkey on April 23 was a great
bluff. He noted that, before signing the roadmap, both sides must
have prepared agendas, without which this document becomes meaningless.

Answering the question of a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, will the
establishment of historians’ commission promote dialogue with Turkey
and raise the awareness of Turkish public on the matter of the Armenian
Genocide, Mr. Arzoumanyan answered, that the mere existence of the
historians’ commission puts into question the fact of the Armenian
Genocide, and its establishment cannot be accepted at all.

TSVETANA PASKALEVA: IN 1994 WE LOST A CHANCE TO RESOLVE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

ArmInfo
2009-07-09 14:44:00

In 1994 we lost a chance to resolve the Karabakh conflict, the
known Bulgarian TV journalist Tsvetana Paskaleva said at today’s
press-conference in Yerevan.

She said that time Armenians were on the rise in all senses and
Azerbaijan was weak and asked about cease-fire. Paskaleva thinks
that Armenian politicians had to make use of the moment and get
signature of Azerbaijan under the document about independence of
Nagornyy Karabakh. Today a new balance of forces was established in
the region, Azerbaijanis are supported by their friends and Armenia
is a country which is catching up, she said.

‘For this reason I think that today’s status-quo is more favorable for
the people of Nagornyy Karabakh than if they will be made to resolve
the conflict as soon as possible’, – Bulgarian TV journalist said.

BOXING TOURNAMENT HAS SPOT FOR TAYLOR
NICK WALKER

Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Wednesday, July 8, 2009

If Showtime gets what it wants, Jermain Taylor will be part of an
unusual round-robin super middleweight tournament that starts in the
fall, ESPN.com reported over the weekend.

Taylor, the former middleweight champion from Little Rock, is in
line to fight Arthur Abraham in the undefeated Armenian’s adopted
home of Germany on Oct. 10, according to the report. The fight would
be one of the preliminary bouts in a tournament Showtime senior vice
president Ken Hershman is trying to put together that would not end
until the summer of 2011.

Abraham, the IBF middleweight champion, is 30-0 with 24 knockouts.

The other fighters in the tournament would be WBC super middleweight
champion Carl Froch, the Englishman who knocked Taylor out in April on
a Showtime telecast; WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler;
WBO super middleweight champion Andre Ward; and Andre Dirrell, who
had held the WBO super middleweight title on an interim basis.

Taylor also would be committing to fights against Ward and Kessler,
according to the report.

Taylor’s trainer, Ozell Nelson of Little Rock, declined to comment
when contacted Tuesday and deferred questions to promoter Lou
DiBella. DiBella said he was not "at liberty to talk about the
situation", but neither DiBella nor Nelson denied talks between
Taylor’s camp and Showtime.

Sources close to the situation in the Taylor camp said discussions
are under way, but Showtime spokesman Chris DeBlasio said the network
had no comment.

It would be Taylor’s first fight as a professional outside the
United States.

Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs) is 1-3 in his past four fights and has
the worst record among the boxers the cable network wants in the
tournament. In fact, the only other boxer among the six with a loss is
Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs). Taylor would be one of three Americans in the
event, joining Ward (19-0, 12 KOs), of Oakland, Calif., and Dirrell
(18-0, 13 KOs), of Flint, Mich.

If Taylor fights Abraham, it would be the fourth time in Taylor’s
past five fights that he has faced an unbeaten opponent. Froch was
24-0 with 19 KOs before knocking Taylor out late in the 12th round of
his most recent bout. Kelly Pavlik was 32-0 after he took Taylor’s
WBC and WBO belts in September 2007, and Pavlik made it 33-0 after
their catch-weight rematch in February 2008.

Abraham most recently defended his IBF middleweight belt with a
10th-round technical knockout of Mahir Oral on June 27 in Berlin in
a Showtime bout.

Tournaments of this type are rare. HBO tried something similar in
the 1980s with heavyweights, which resulted in Mike Tyson unifying
the belts.

The proposed super middleweight tournament isn’t a singleelimination
event. According to ESPN.com, each fighter would commit to a series
of bouts. The semifinals and final would be determined by a points
system based on victories and knockouts.

According to the proposed schedule: Froch would defend his belt against
Dirrell in Great Britain on the same telecast as Taylor-Abraham.

Kessler would defend his title against Ward on Nov. 7 in the United
States.

Abraham would then fight Dirrell on Jan. 30 in the United States.

Froch would face Kessler in Denmark or Great Britain next spring.

Taylor’s second bout would be against Ward in the United States,
also next spring and possibly on the same date as Froch vs. Kessler.

Ward and Dirrell would fight in the summer of 2010 in the United
States in a matchup of 2004 Olympic teammates. (Ward won the gold;
Dirrell won the bronze.) Kessler vs. Taylor would take place in the
United States in September 2010.

The semifinals would be January 2011, and the final, which would be
in the United States, would be in May or June 2011.