The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear frends! Arminfo news agency inform Politics 2007-11-05 20:01:00 Hearings on frozen conflicts being held in Berlin ArmInfo-Turan. On the initiative of the Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe, frozen conflicts will be extensively discussed in Berlin on November 5-6, Turan reports referring to Head of the Azeri delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Samed Seidov. According to him, the frozen conflicts in the CIS, particularly, in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova will be discussed in Berlin. The hearings on the prospects for the solution of problems in the South Caucasus and Transdniestria will be presided over by Head of the PACE Sub-committee on Nagorno-Karabakh Lord Russell-Johnston. Jonathan Cohen, the Caucasus program manager at the London-based Conciliation Resources NGO, and Nottingham University Professor Stephan Wolf are expected to make reports. The issue of frozen conflicts was discussed at the PACE Monitoring Committee's session in Skopje, Macedonia, in May, where an agreement was reached to discuss the frozen conflicts in Berlin in November. 2007-11-05 19:48:00 Daniel Fried: The Kosovo model for conflict resolution cannot be a precedent for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ArmInfo. The Kosovo model for conflict resolution cannot be a precedent for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, because it is an individual process, as Trend reports, Daniel Fried, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, said in a meeting with graduates of US universities in Baku. 'The United States are for the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, because armed operations, irrespective of the reasons, will be dangerous to both nations', - Fried said. He did not comment on the imbalance among the military forces in the South Caucasus. Fried preferred to speak about the resolution of conflicts. 'It is necessary to establish stability in this region',- he stressed. The resolution of the conflict will help Azerbaijan to become an economically and politically powerful country, the US Assistant Secretary of State said. The US grant policy is directed at assisting countries in their establishment of a powerful and independent country. Fried held meetings in Baku, met the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, heads of some non-governmental organizations, opposition parties and graduates of US Universities. 2007-11-05 19:20:00 New meeting to be held at Liberty Square of Yerevan on 16 November with participation of the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan ArmInfo. 'A new meeting with participation of the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan will be held on 16 November>, - executive secretary of Armenian Pan-National Movement Board Vahagn Hayotsyan told ArmInfo correspondent. He also added that Ter-Petrosyan will probably come forward with another speech at the meeting. In the People's Party of Armenia they told ArmInfo correspondent that they are going to take part in the meeting scheduled on 16 November. Other political parties which support Ter-Petrosyan will also take part in the meeting - Republic party, Social-Democratic Party Hchakyan as well as public and political movement "Alternative". 2007-11-05 18:29:00 Secretary General of Council of Europe hopes that possible reduction of the OSCE monitoring missions not to affect the results of the presidential election in Armenia ArmInfo. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis hopes that possible reduction of the OSCE monitoring missions will not affect the results of the presidential election in Armenia, he said at the joint press-conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in Yerevan, Monday. 'I hope that Russia's suggestion supported by Armenia about reduction of the OSCE monitoring mission over the election will not affect holding of the presidential election in Armenia, in February 2008. The OSCE itself should comment on Russia's suggestions and their affecting the electoral processes', - Terry Davis said. He also emphasized an important role of mass media in raising transparency of election holding. He also mentioned the balanced covering of the election campaign and the candidates. Nevertheless, T.Davis emphasized that the programmes of the Council of Europe do not impose their policy upon the member-states of the CE but give the needed assistance for holding of free and fair elections. For his part, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said that Russia's suggestion to reduce the number of the monitoring missions to 50 people caused some misunderstanding in Yerevan. He explained that this was only regarding to long-term monitoring missions financed from the OSCE budget. 'Taking of such a decision will not affect Armenia as not more than 30 observers of the OSCE take part in monitoring of the elections in Armenia', - Oskanyan said. He thinks that Russia's suggestion is directed to improvement of the OSCE activity, and Armenia supports this initiative as it is an active participant in reforming of the OSCE structure. 2007-11-05 18:25:00 Armenian Defense Minister: There are no Kurdish bases in Armenia except stock-raising ones ArmInfo. Armenian Defense Minister Mikael Haroutunyan categorically refutes the information by Turkish and Azerbaijani sources saying that PKK allegedly has exercise centers in the territory of Armenia. In response to ArmInfo's question, the minister said: 'There are no Kurdish bases in Armenia.' He stressed that Kurds have long since been living in Armenia exclusively as peaceful citizens. Existence of military or exercise bases in the country is out of question. At the same time the minister advised Azerbaijan and Turkey to care for themselves. 'There are Kurdish bases in Armenia, but they are stock-raising ones,' the minister joked. APA has recently disseminated information that a Turkish journalist Ardan Zenturk blamed Armenia for supporting Kurdish movement in the Star newspaper. In particular, he wrote that 'part of PKK's exercise centers and the Bureau regulating international relations are in Armenia. Ammunition of the terrorist organization is also delivered from Armenia.' 2007-11-05 18:17:00 Armenian defence minister advises Azeri army command to intensify control over Azeri servicemen ArmInfo. Armenian Defence Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan told journalists today that he advised the Azerbaijani army command to intensify the control over the Azeri servicemen. Asked by ArmInfo correspondent about the situation on the contact line in the context of Azerbaijan's daily propagandist statements about cease-fire violation, the minister recalled that "we regularly hear such statements from the Azeri leadership since 1994". According to M.Harutyunyan, the situation is stable at the moment. At the same time, the minister stated frequent cases of cease-fire violation. "Azerbaijan initiates fire, and we'll open the return fire from now on," he stressed. M.Harutyunyan advised the Azeri army command to intensify the control over the Azeri servicemen and stop the cease-fire violation on the contact line. He expressed confidence that if the cease-fire is not violated by Azerbaijan, there will be no return fire from the Armenian side. 2007-11-05 15:05:00 Terry Davis: Alternative service in Army should not be of punitive nature ArmInfo. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis criticized the law on the alternative service in RA Armed Forces. In his today's speech in the Yerevan State University, T. Davis emphasized that this law does not yet meets CE standards, according to which the alternative service in the Army should not be of punitive nature. Terry Davis added that the activities of the Punishment Execution Department of RA Justice Ministry has also some deficiencies and omissions, which could be eliminated via Armenia's cooperation with CE Committee on Prevention of Trials. 2007-11-05 14:54:00 Terry Davis: The fact that not president but Constitution is guarantee of judicial system's independence has become most important provision of reformed Constitution of Armenia ArmInfo. The provision, according to which not the president but the Constitution and legislation are guarantee of the judicial system's independence, is the most important one of the Constitution reformed in November, 2005, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis told students of the Yerevan State University. He also emphasized that November, 2005, Constitutional reforms included a number of provisions which allow to confirm the democracy development bases. In particular, the provisions about the parliament's participation in appointment of members of the National Commission on TV and Radio (the process of selection and appointment of candidates should be maximum open and transparent- Terry Davis), appointment of an ombudsman by the parliament, separation of the power branches, elimination of administrative arrests, enabling citizens to appeal to the Constitutional Court, T. Davis said. 2007-11-05 14:51:00 Terri Davis: One shouldn't neglect history, but one shouldn't turn it into a clause of legislative acts, either ArmInfo. One shouldn't neglect history, but we shouldn't turn it into a clause of legislative acts, either Council of Europe General Secretary Terri Davis said, Monday, when making a speech in front of Yerevan State University students. Touching upon the topic of Armenian-Turkish relations in his speech, he emphasized that he realizes what a pain Armenians suffer remembering about the events that happened 80 years ago. "Time heals such wounds and remembering about the victims one should, firstly, look to the future, though. The only right way here is to go ahead, to reconciliation. One should work with his neighbors and not be opposed to them for the sake of the future of one's own children. Understanding, respect and reconciliation -there is no other way", Council of Europe of Secretary General Terri Davis said. 2007-11-05 14:51:00 Terry Davis: Authorities and opposition must learn conducting a dialogue instead of hitting each other below the belt ArmInfo. The observers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that followed the elections held in Armenia within the last few years have repeatedly expressed disappointment over the voting. However, the parliamentary elections of 2007 allowed them making more positive resolution, despite some disorders observed, Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis told students of Yerevan State University, Monday. He said the reforms of the Constitution and Election Code in 2005 allowed making a progress in elections. Terry Davis expressed hope that the presidential election of 2008 will confirm the progress achieved. At the same time, CE Secretary General was dissatisfied with the political culture in Armenia. He advised the authorities and opposition to learn conducting a dialogue instead of hitting each other below the belt. 2007-11-05 14:50:00 Terry Davis: Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan should exert more efforts to achieve peaceful agreement in conflict over Nagorny Karabakh ArmInfo. Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan should exert more efforts to achieve a peaceful agreement in the settlement of Karabakh conflict, Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis told students of Yerevan State University, Monday. He said the history did not favor Armenia. However, it should not forget that the rival might have another view of the history, which can be argued, but respected at the same time. Speaking at the Council of Europe, Armenia and Azerbaijan pledged to achieve an agreement through peaceful methods. Unfortunately, in 13 years after the ceasefire and in 6 years after joining the CE, the parties fail to get an agreement so far. T. Davis urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to exert more efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict. 2007-11-05 14:02:00 CE Secretary General: Armenia has many ways to boost fulfillment of commitments to Council of Europe ArmInfo. Many ways have opened for Armenia to boost the fulfillment of its commitments to the Council of Europe, CE Secretary General Terry Davis told students of Yerevan State University, Monday. He said that when joining the CE in 2001, Armenia chose the European way of establishment of basic democracy principles in the country. This process has all the preconditions to be accelerated due to Armenia's active involvement into the work of CE committees and commissions, including GRECO. In its turn, Council of Europe will further render every possible support to Armenia, T. Davis said. 2007-11-05 13:31:00 RA Ambassador to RF: Russia like any other country is interested in stability around and near its borders ArmInfo. Russia like any other country is interested in stability around ad near its borders, RA Ambassador to RF Armen Smbatyan told the Day.az asked about his opinion on the statement that "Russia will do its best for the Armenians and Azerbaijanis could never recover good-neighbourly relations". "I do not agree. Just on the contrary, Russia does the best for the parties could agree and build good- neighbourly relations, since it is beneficial to Russia as well. The fact that millions of Armenians and Azerbaijanis have a job in this country and maintain the economic stability and relative social welfare in their countries by their salaries, stands high. The position of Russia's authorities, who always expressed readiness to become a guarantee of direct agreements reached between us, is very important and realistic", the ambassador said. Talking of the conflict and its beginning, A. Smbatyan said that "this is, in fact, a real trial which faces our peoples. It appeared as a result of accumulation of problems during many years and an attempt to solve them within several weeks". At the same time, he emphasized that "Only we are responsible for the development of events, only we should agree and come to forgiveness and consent which rules out the mistakes of the past", the ambassador said. Asked how unsettlement of the Karabakh conflict affects the interrelations between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis living in Russia, Armen Smbatyan said that the Armenians and Azerbaijanis live, work and often cooperate in business so that an observer, being incompetent in history, may ask: "Is there, generally, any conflict between these peoples?". He also said that the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in Russia have such civilized interrelations that they may be considered exemplary today. This is the merit of both the communities and their leaders, as well as the Russian state and the Russian public, A. Smbatyan said. 2007-11-05 13:23:00 Armenian and Azerbaijani intellectuals thinking over new trip to Nagorny Karabakh, Yerevan and Baku ArmInfo. Intellectuals of Armenia and Azerbaijan are planning a new trip to Karabakh, Yerevan and Baku, Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan says in an interview with Day.az. interesting and reflect the actual attitude of public to the contacts and meetings of Armenian and Azerbaijani intellectuals. There are no real preconditions to consider the first trip the last,> Ambassador Smbatyan says. He says the idea of the trip belongs to him and Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bul-Bul oghli. The envoys have known each other for already 20 years since both them are musicians and ex-culture ministers. We were concerned upon the virtual propaganda and confrontation that can develop at the prejudice of the people, especially the youth that is unaware of historical facts and their analytical interpretation, the Ambassador says. He is sure that the world community will perceive these contacts with understanding since it is against any confrontation and supports civilized and panhuman ideas. 2007-11-05 13:10:00 Patriarchal visit of Catholicos of all Armenians is over ArmInfo. The Patriarchal visit of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the Second is over. Yesterday, he arrived in the Holy See of Mother Echmiadzin. As the press-service of Echmiadzin's administrative office told ArmInfo, Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church was met in the Yerevan international airport by Archbishop Paren Avetikyan, Head of the interconfessional department of Echmiadzin's administrative office, Archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan, locum of Ararat Eparchy of AAC, Bishop Navasard Kchoyan and Head of the Information Structure of Echmiadzin's administrative office, priest Vahram Melikyan. To recall, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II visited 18 cities of 13 American states within the frames of his Patriarchal visit. Economy 2007-10-31 04:18:00 Yerevan Brandy Factory resumes production of 'Old Yerevan' wine ArmInfo. Yerevan Brandy Factory (YBF) resumed production of red dry "Old Yerevan" wine, Director General of YBF Cedric Retailleau said during the product's presentation. Tuesday. According to him, the wine's production was stopped several years ago, as at that time YBF's leadership didn't consider the wines' output its priority tasks. Today, the priorities have changed and the director general thinks that "Old Yerevan" will be in great demand. After his degustation, there already came purchase orders from the Ukraine and Russia. 17 000 bottles have been manufactured to be sold in Armenian market and will come into the market this week. Retail price per a bottle makes up 3 500AMD. The director general also added that "Old Yerevan" is produced jointly with Armenian "Vedi Alko" factory, where it is bottled. Finance and banks 2007-11-05 14:53:00 Results of Currency Transactions in Interbank Market for November 2 ArmInfo. The transactions in the Interbank currency market for November 2 made up $650,000 (211.250 mln drams) by the average weighted rate of $325 AMD/$1. The total transactions reduced about 1,2 times as compared with the previous trading day indicator (250.750 mln drams on November 1). According to the data of the commercial banks, the average exchange rate of USD fell by 0.9 point. The data of the Armenian stock exchange say the currency transactions on the floor made up $3.970 mln (1.290 bln drams), which is lower than the similar indicator of the Interbank market 6 times. The average weighted rate at the exchange made up 325,11 AMD/$1 USD. 2007-11-05 13:39:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 324 drams for 1 dollar, 469 drams for 1 EUR and 13,01 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 326 drams for 1 dollar, 474 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble. Social 2007-11-05 13:15:00 Prime Minister of Armenia condoles with family and friends of famous film cameraman Albert Yavuryan ArmInfo. Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan condoled with family and relatives of famous cinematographer, film cameraman Albert Yavuryan, who died at the age of 72. The Governmental press-release says the premier, particularly, mentions that he perceived the news on A. Yavuryan's death with great bitterness. 'It is a great lost. The great cinematographer of the 20th century is no longer alive. A. Yavuryan was the first to break the stereotypes in cinematography. He saw the life and humanness through his camera and showed it to the world. Contemporaries appreciated his work. I take off hat to the master,' the premier says in his message of condolence. The famous film operator Albert Yavuryan worked on such popular movies as 'Good day. It's me' and 'The Mechanics of Happiness', as well as on the last films by Parajanov 'Ashib Kerib' and 'Confession'. The funerals are scheduled for November 6 12:00-2:00 pm at Camber Music House. 2007-11-05 13:12:00 RA Prime Minister expressed condolences in view of death of Academician Rafael Ghazaryan ArmInfo. RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan expressed condolences in view of death of Academician of the RA National Academy of Sciences Rafael Ghazaryan. "The academician's contribution to the Armenian science, the radio physics, in particular, is great. I am sure that his image of an intellectual, scientist and citizen served and will serve an example to many new generations of politicians", RA PM said. Culture 2007-11-05 19:45:00 A cross-stone dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims erected in Cardiff, Wales ArmInfo. A khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 has been erected near the Temple of Peace in Cardiff, Wales. The information and press department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told ArmInfo today that Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Great Britain Vahe Gabrielian and Speaker of the Welsh Parliament Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas were present at the inauguration of the monument. The source reports that 100-150 representatives of the Turkish community in Wales held a demonstration of protest against erection of the monument in Cardiff. The BBC TV channel covered both the inauguration of the khachkar and the demonstration of the Turks. No information from Site can be used without prior permission of ARMINFO http://www.arminfo.am -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=media.arminfo&email=e@mail http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com