Armenia-Kuwait relations deep, arising from support in 1990: Charchoglian

Tuesday,12 October 2010
By : Jameel W. Karaki
KUWAIT: Armenian Ambassador to Kuwait Fadey Charchoglian underscored, in an interview with Al Watan Daily, that bilateral relations between the State of Kuwait and Armenia are deep and that there is a concerted effort to sign conventions in the areas of economy, education, culture and education.
The ambassador mentioned that a delegation from Armenia is going to sign an agreement regarding an exchange program between the two countries that will allow students from both sides to be involved. Speaking on relations with its neighbors, the ambassador said that there are no relations between Armenia and Turkey or Azerbaijan. However, he noted that Armenia continues to work on the peace efforts in order to improve relations with both nations within the framework of international laws and resolutions.

The following is excerpts of the interview:
How do you describe the bilateral relationship between Kuwait and Armenia?
Fadey Charchoglian: All the ministers and officials I have met so far have welcomed me, and I have found among them a desire to sign a number of bilateral agreements. We look forward to seeing the flag of Kuwait in Armenia when the Kuwaiti embassy opens to develop the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Kuwait and Armenia are great examples of a partnership in the international realm. During the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Republic of Armenia took a clear political position, demanding the restoration of Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to ensure its independence at the same time.

What sectors in Armenia are open to foreign investment?
Charchoglian: Armenia today has stable and sustainable economic development policies and it presents itself to the world as a reliable partner. Armenia works to attract foreign direct investments in many industries such as the IT sector, electronics, mining, chemicals, tourism, food and beverages, textiles and clothing, and jewelry and diamonds
The Armenian government guarantees secure investments for every single dollar invested by a foreign investor. As a result, many foreign investors and delegations have visited Armenia and shown interest in investing.
Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali visited Armenia recently, where we signed an agreement to promote investments between the two countries. Currently we are preparing an agreement in the field of technical and economic cooperation, hopefully to be signed this year.
I conducted many meetings with officials from the Public Authority for Investment (PAI) and the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Economic and trade cooperation will be built on solid and strong foundations and, such a step will pave the way for deeper relations between the two countries.

What about cooperation in the education field?
Charchoglian: I had a meeting with the president of Kuwait University and we are waiting for a delegation from Armenia to sign an agreement regarding an exchange program between the two countries that allows students from both sides to be involved. In addition, Kuwait University showed interest in cooperating with us. Armenia has a strong Oriental Studies faculty and we are ready to receive Kuwaiti students in our universities.

Are there any visits planned by the officials of the two countries?
Charchoglian: We invited His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Armenia since all Armenians love the Amir; he is a well-known figure and we are looking forward to his visit. In my opinion, I believe that this visit will develop the bilateral relationships between the countries and we hope to see the Kuwaiti flag on our land.

How is Armenia handling disputes with its neighboring countries? What is the goal of your foreign policy?
Charchoglian: I do not want to focus on the political problems between Armenia and neighboring countries, however, there are no relations between Armenia and Turkey or Azerbaijan. We recently signed a protocol with Turkey to open the common borders and to establish diplomatic relations without preconditions. However, the Turkish Parliament has not ratified it, after which the Armenian Parliament suspended the ratification of this protocol, and now we are waiting for the decision of the Turkish side to push forward the process.
The foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia aims to achieve peace and security among nations and to maintain balanced relationships with all countries based on mutual respect within the framework of international society. In addition, the foreign policy of Armenia encourages tolerance and the dialogue of civilizations. Armenia is keen to make every effort to be among the countries contributing to the achievement of world peace and security, regionally and internationally
In addition, Armenia has always exercised a policy of peace, seeking the establishment of peaceful relations with neighboring countries, and we do not seek to invalidate cooperation protocol with Turkey. However, we are waiting for the final decision by the Turkish Parliament in this regard.
As for Azerbaijan, the dispute relates to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh between the two countries. I confirm that Armenia seeks and will continue to seek to resolve the existing problems with neighboring countries in the future by peaceful means within the framework of international laws and resolutions. The peace process is going on within the framework of OSCE Minsk group proposed by the three Co-chairs of the Minsk Group - France, the Russian Federation and the United States

http://alwatandaily.kuwait.tt/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=93164&dt=Tue Oct 12 03:07:15 UTC+0300 2010

http://alwatandaily.kuwait.tt/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=93164&dt=Tue Oct 12 03:07:15 UTC+0300 2010

Disillusioned voices crying out in peace talks

Friday,08 October 2010
By : Jameel W. Karaki
I still reminisce those glorious days when I was a sprightly young lad with a flowing mane of blonde hair (all tied up in a neat ponytail) and used to hear and read in the media about ongoing peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel under the auspicious blessings of the American authorities. It's unfortunate that we still hear and read about these so-called peace talks - don't we?
This universal farce called the peace negotiations that have been played time and again by the so many actors and actresses under the direction of the US through the international media still seem to be ongoing! The key player in this imbroglio is the chief Palestinian negotiator and diplomat.
Here we have a negotiator in our midst - who enjoys brandishing his internationally branded designer wardrobe bought through his various visits to the US State department and Arab countries in addition to obtaining countless financial advantages to the extent that if you ever gain access to his economic and financial statuses, you'd be under the impression that he is an influential Scandinavian citizen.
Shaking hands with the enemy seems to be a rightful recognition of his very existence, and this is truly evident in the fact whenever President Mahmud Abbas is pictured - not only shaking hands with the Israeli enemy, but in also fighting against the Hamas who has been elected and chosen by the Palestinian people under the capable patronage of the former American president Jimmy Carter who was monitoring the elections there.
Sometimes, I really wonder what this total submission to the commands set by Israel is all about despite bearing in mind the fact that the establishment of a Palestinian state should not, in any way, be an intended target that is preceded by the liberation of this land. Moreover, why should it be turned into a bargaining chip in exchange for land that rightfully belongs to the people or compromise on the fundamental rights and principles of those people?
The initiatives of the peace talks first overlooked the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people and then subsequently refuted the rights of reinstating the refugees in their own homes, lands, towns and villages, from which they were brutally expelled through the gory massacres in 1948. And then, through initiating so-called "alternative solutions" they called for finding "a just solution to the refugee issue." It is highly debatable and reproachable that those in power repeatedly use the slogan "in reaching a just solution" while the slogan should actually be "right to return," which seems more appropriate given the said circumstances.
The second key player in the negotiations is Israel, which is a deliberately planted racist terrorist state that does not seem to pay any attention to international laws. It flagrantly continues to rebuild one settlement after another under the encouraging blessings of the US. Their atrocious activities in killing innocent children, women and elderly Palestinians continue unabated despite international condemnations.
Using sophisticated American weapons, it swats the lives of innocent people like flies and as a reward for their inhumane massacres; the American government blatantly upholds its support for Israel. We have yet to ascertain whether US President Barack Obama actually intends to stop supporting these atrocities. The president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, can barely manage to garner enough support to have a health bill passed in favor of his own people so one can well imagine what kind of power he actually wields in guaranteeing any substantial progress concerning the peace process.
The US recently slammed a UN probe into Israel's storming of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, urging the Human Rights Council to prevent the report from being used to torpedo the ongoing peace talks. What if other nations had followed the same path in supporting the cause of Palestine or even Iran? Wouldn't that move be slammed as supporting terrorism and going against the tenets of American foreign polices?
Those Palestinians who believe in such empty negotiations as a being a "true path' in the establishment of their state, are living in a disillusioned reality and their fragile hopes translate into mere stupidity itself. Just take a single glance at the map of Palestine printed before 1948 and an existing one. You will surely notice that the Palestinian landmass (whatever little is left of it) is shrinking by the second and a day will surely dawn on us when these elegant Palestinian negotiators are relegated to crawling down on their knees - begging the Americans to permit them to move freely inside their own cluttered bed rooms; simply because at that given point of time, their homes will be located in a land called just Israeli.
Mahmoud Abbas seems to rush to Washington DC at the drop of a hat - behaving as if he is the legitimate president of the Palestinian people, without consulting the other Palestinian parties or even his own people. He has also, time and again, blatantly overlooked the fact that he could have used Hamas and its operations in Israel as proxy to gain their unified demands. However with the existence of an absolute and unwavering American support to Israel, the American government no longer seems to be a neutral party to either side.
The only solution to end this never-ending dilemma is to resort to an armed struggle and creating an effective lobby in the US to reduce the magnitude of American aid to Israel. What is not required at this point of time are useless summits that are organized for the sake of issuing ineffective press statements and splashing photographs across local and international newspapers.
Furthermore, it is impossible to achieve a two-state solution bearing in mind that Israel is a racist Zionist country down to its roots. I sincerely hope the American and Arab leaders realize this underlying fact, and work accordingly towards realizing the secularization of Israel.
Finally, if the Palestinians insist on engaging in unfeasible negotiations without realizing the immunization of the "right to return" and demanding due compensations from Israel, I advise them to stop their wasted efforts and engage themselves in holding fruitful talks with the Israeli government in becoming an integral part of the State of Israel itself.
In that way, they can finally bid farewell to their quest of regaining their own homeland. What is paradoxical about the entire issue is: "Doesn't the current Palestinian authority go to extremes to ensure the overall safety and security of the Israeli people more than its own people?
Now although my flowing blonde locks have thinned considerably and I am almost going bald, I am nonetheless older and wiser. But even now, I can safely state that negotiations under the current situations and conditions can bring about peace in the region. The recent visits of George John Mitchell, Special Envoy for the Middle East peace process and discouraging the continued construction of settlements by the Zionists can truly realize a lasting peace process for both sides, if taken seriously
http://alwatandaily.kuwait.tt/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=92838&dt=Fri+Oct+8+03%3A53%3A24+UTC+0300+2010

The below statements can be attributed to the Spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy:

-- We condemn such acts as disrespectful,
intolerant, divisive, and un-representative of
American values. While we respect the right of
Americans to exercise their freedom of speech, we
are deeply concerned about all deliberate attempts
to offend members of any religious or ethnic group.

-- Public condemnation of this event has come from
a variety of organizations, including the National
Association of Evangelicals, the Southern Baptist
Convention, and the Anti-Defamation League. The
Islamic Society of North America held an interfaith
summit on September 7th to unify faith communities
to promote tolerance and counter anti-Muslim
rhetoric. Representatives included prominent
Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders.

-- As Secretary Clinton said at the September 7th
State Department Iftar, "We sit down together for
this meal on a day when the news is carrying reports
that a pastor down in Gainesville, Florida plans to
burn the Holy Koran on September 11th. I am
heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of
this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come
from American religious leaders of all faiths, from
evangelical Christians to Jewish rabbis, as well as
secular U.S. leaders and opinion-makers. Our
commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the
very beginning of our nation. Many of you know that
in 1790, George Washington wrote to a synagogue in
Newport, Rhode Island, that this country will give
'to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no
assistance.'"

-- We believe firmly in freedom of religion and
freedom of expression; they are universal rights,
enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We reaffirm
our position that the deliberate destruction of any
holy book is an abhorrent act.

-- We also believe the best answer to offensive
speech is dialogue and debate. As President Obama
said in Cairo: "Suppressing ideas never succeeds in
making them go away." In answering offensive
speech, we encourage people to follow the examples
of citizens and religious, political, and community
leaders around the world who engage tirelessly in
constructive and respectful dialogue, and who
respond to such speech by refuting it through
principled arguments, bridging communities and
faiths and treating each other with dignity and
mutual respect.

-- Religious freedom and religious tolerance are
fundamental pillars of U.S. society, and as
important bedrocks of our values today they were at
the time of the country's founding. A copy of the
Quran is part of the White House library, and a
member of Congress took his oath of office on a
Koran once owned by Thomas Jefferson - one of
America's founding fathers.

-- Citizens and officials in Gainesville, and
across Florida, have mobilized against this pastor
and his small congregation who are sponsoring the
event. Craig Lowe, Mayor of Gainesville has
condemned the plan and signed an interfaith
solidarity day in Gainesville on 9/11.

http://www.alwatandaily.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=89229&dt=Tue Sep 7 02:29:14 UTC+0300 2010

http://www.alwatandaily.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=89229&dt=Tue Sep 7 02:29:14 UTC+0300 2010

http://www.sawtbeirut.com/press-articles/beirut-now/9557-2010-08-29-23-53-53.html

http://www.sawtbeirut.com/press-articles/beirut-now/9557-2010-08-29-23-53-53.html
اللبنانيون: هل هم شعب الله المختار؟
لست بناقم على ميلادي كلبناني ولا بحاقدا على ساسة أتقنوا فن قيادة خرفان من الشعب اللبناني ولكني في سماء أفكاري أبحث عن لبناني الوطن قبل كل شيئ قبل الإيمان والإلحاد وقبل عروبته وفينيقيته وقبل مساحته التي تخططت كل الحدود الجغرافية والكونية فأصبح كالمنارة على شاطئ العالم ينير دروب الغير متناسيا ظلمات أزقته الداخلية وتفتت أحجار قلاعه وأثاره المنسية على صفحات كتب التاريخ المصفرة إلى أن أصبحنا قضية عالمية تتلاقفها أيدي المجتمع الدولي والعربي والفضائي والبكتيري والطفيلي لأننا ندعي القدرة على فهم ما حاولنا من متغيرات لأننا شعب الله المختار وأذكى الكائنات وأننا الدولة الأهم في العالم ولولا إشتراكنا في اللعبة الدولية لأنهار الكرة الأرضية في كأس ماء.

فنحن الأفضل والأمثل والأقوم والأصلح,يحق لنا إطلاق النكات على غيرنا من الشعوب, ويحق لنا أن نرمي بعضنا البعض برصاصات طائفية تكاد تفتك في قلب لبنان أكثر من قنبلة نووية. نفتخر بمذاهبنا وطوائفنا وبلكناتنا ولكن نسينا الله والوطن فنسينا أنفسنا فأصبحنا كالعبيد الساجدين الراكعين لساسة وللأجنبي والعياذ بالله ولكننا نرى كلمة الله الحقة في عمامات وقلنوسات رجال ديننا ولست متهكما ولكن " كما قال جبران العظيم كثرت مذاهبنا وطوافئنا وخلينا من الدين"؟

نحن فصحاء إجلاء نبغاء على بعضنا البعض ولكن أمام الأجنبي توابع عمي صم بكم, نمضي نحو جنات الغرب والشرق متناسين أن جحيم لبنان هو الجنة. في لبنان ندعي أننا دولة ولكن هل نعترف ببعضنا الأخر فبلدنا مقسم إلى غربية وشرقية ومنطقتنا ومنطقتهم وطائفتنا وطائفتهم كأننا أصبحنا مدمنين على الطائفية والتبعية؟

سقط العديد من الشباب والذين هم شهداء نتيجة لكلمة سياسي أو زعيم أو راعي غنم وفقا لقاموسي وبعد ما إختلطت دماؤهم بتراب لبنان, أطل علينا زعماؤنا يسألوننا العفو والسماح والعدل والرشاد متناسين أن أيدهم ملطخة بالدماء فكم من زعيم دفع بأولاده وفلذات كبده إلى حظيرة الطوائف اللبنانية مقاتلا؟

لدينا عدد من الأحزاب والأفكار والأيدولوجيات والتصورات ما يفوق عدد سكان لبنان المقيمين والمغتربيين ولكن ما الجدوى؟ نفتخر بإتقاننا العربية والإنجيليزية والفرنسية ولكننا نتناسى أنا لبنانيين. كم من مظاهرة جالت الشوراع لتخفيض الدين العام؟ أو لتحسين الأوضاع المعيشية للخروف اللبناني؟ هل يجب على الخروف الإستمتاع بأكل علف لم يراه؟

لبنان مزرعة,يترأسها العديد من القواويد لا القادة شغلهم الشاغل توريث مناصبهم وزعماتهم إلى أبد الأبدين من أبناء صلبهم ولن ألوم ساسة أتقنوا فن رعي الإغنام وتوطينهم في لبنان وزيادة ثرواتهم الإلهية والتي تعد ضرب من ضروب الخيال.

فعلى كل شاب لبناني أن يأكل الكتب بأسنانه وبيده ويعمل وظيفتين ويقوم بإستدرار عطف مسؤول سياسي لكي يتعلم أو يحصل على وظيفة لا تكفيه لمعيشته اليومية وإلا " ما قلك إلا الفيزا". فمنذ الأيام الأولى للجامعة تستشرس الأحزاب اللبنانية في العمل الحزبي الجامعي وتدفع الطالب الجاهل إلى ركوب عربة الحزب والتي تمشي على وقود "مستقبل الشعب اللبناني"ولكن لم نجد حزبا قاد طلبه لإنتاج بحث علمي أو إجتماعي أو إقتصادي أو سياسي أو مالي ولكن قادهم إلى الإصطدام والتنفيرمن الأخر.

وبعد نزول الراكب من العربة عليه التوجه إلى أقرب سفارة ليسافر ويترك لبنان برجعة أو من غيرها. إي كان الحزب التي تنتمي له فأنت مهاجر غريب في المهجر وإن كنت من غير إنتماء حزبي فأنت غريب في الوطن ومن لم يقنع فليستمتع بأكل العلف, ومن أراد الولاء فليكن للبنان الواحد.

والحل الوحيد هو قيام مجلس شيوخ لبناني وتغير المناهج الدراسية وتبادل الطلاب بين المدارس والجامعات اللبنانية كافة وتركيز العمل الحزبي الجامعي على العمل العلمي المنطقي لا على النباح الطائفي والشعارات الرنانة والتي لا تسمن أو تغني عن جوع

عشتم وعاش لبنان , ومن أجل تصحيح الوضع نلقاكم.


جميل كركي

http://www.alwatandaily.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=88226&dt=Sun Aug 29 03:19:29 UTC+0300 2010

http://www.alwatandaily.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=88226&dt=Sun Aug 29 03:19:29 UTC+0300 2010

Oil prices affected by several factors, says report

Sunday,29 August 2010
By : Jameel W. Karaki

KUWAIT: The Fed's announcement weeks ago that it will reinvest the principal from maturing agency bonds into treasuries has come as a reminder of the uncertain economic outlook ahead according to a report published by Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research, titled, 'Bank of America ML Commodities - Global Energy Weekly: Oil and the Fed' dated Aug.12, 2010, authored by the Global Commodity Research Team at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research.
The report reaffirms the perception that there has been a change in company and consumer preferences in their demand for credit. Despite the best efforts by central banks in developed market economies, easy monetary policy has not translated into increased lending in the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation Development Countries). However, continued capital outflows to European Monetary System (EMS) suggest that investors see opportunity there.
The report highlights the fact that real interest rates are more relevant to oil prices than gross domestic product (GDP) with an assumption that oil demand is directly linked to changes in GDP, oil price levels are not determined solely by physical supply and demand. The report suggests that real interest rates are more important than GDP to oil demand. It estimates that a one percent reduction in real interest rates will result, other things being equal, in a 3.8 percent increase in long-term equilibrium oil prices. In contrast, a one percent increase in the GDP of advanced or emerging economies will impact long-term equilibrium oil prices by two percent and one percent respectively. Thus, while economic activity is no longer expanding at a rapid pace, oil prices may depend more on monetary policy than GDP changes.
If the analysis in the report is correct according to the writer, oil prices could hold up better than demand over the next 12 months. Just like gold, oil is also a hard asset and ultra loose monetary policy which involves lower interest rates and more money entering circulation, will ultimately come in to support nominal US dollar prices. In economics, nominal values are the face value of currency over long periods of time (years), whereas real values have been corrected for inflation.
According to the view of writer, Even if cyclical conditions deteriorate further and oil drops to reflect it, super-easy monetary policy will push oil price levels straight back up in the medium term. Sometimes oil leads gold, and sometimes gold leads oil. But if the value of the key reserve currency is eroded through monetary easing, commodities will reflect this trend. So, even if a down cycle temporarily sends oil below $65 barrels, the upward trend in the US dollar size of key emerging economies should support prices next year.
It is worthy to mention that other factors may affect oil prices such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Also, oil prices are driven by global changes in supply and demand along with a number of other geopolitical factors. Worldwide oil production is controlled by OPEC and the organization aims to maintain a stable price-per-barrel for crude oil.
In addition, political instability in the Middle East especially in Iraq and Iran has caused great concern about access to oil given that this region accounts for a large amount of the world's oil supply. One of the main reasons that oil prices rose so precipitously during some periods was due to the fact that suppliers were unable to convince buyers that they would be able to maintain and properly deliver o