VIDEO: DEFENSE MINISTER SEYRAN OHANYAN FALLS ASLEEP DURING PARLIAMENT SESSION
epress.am
02.08.2012
There was a question and answer period with members of Armenia’s
government in the National Assembly today. During the second half of
the day, the room as usual was half empty.
When Heritage Party MP Stepan (Styopa) Safaryan began talking about
environmental issues, RA Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan closed
his eyes and slept briefly.
TRIAL INTO SOLDIER’S DEATH AGAIN ADJOURNED
10:14 pm | February 08, 2012 | Social
The trial into the case of Artak Nazaryan, who died under non-combat
conditions in one of the military units in Tavush marz, was due to
take place on February 8.
The sitting started with a 15-minute delay since the court was waiting
for Alvard Mnatsakanyan, lawyer for defendants Harutik Kirakosyan,
Adibek Hovhannisyan and Mkhitar Mkhitaryan.
However, lawyers Hrant Gevorgyan and Azat Shahbayan did not attend
the seeing accounting their absence for unfavourable weather.
Artak Nazaryan was found dead in one of the border bases in Chinari
villages on July 27, 2010. Though Nazaryan was officially announced
to have committed suicide, his relatives claim that the 30-year-old
lieutenant was murdered.
Five accused have been named in the case.
AZERI PRESIDENT, FRENCH SENATORS DISCUSS TIES, BILL
APA
Feb 6 2012
Azerbaijan
Baku, 6 February: On 6 February, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
received the delegation led by the Deputy Chairman of France-Caucasus
friendship group, head of France-Azerbaijan Working group, member of
Centrist and Republican Union in the Senate, Senator Nathalie Goulet.
The delegation includes Sylvie Goy-Chavent, Jean-Marie Bockel, Herve
Maurey, Andre Reichard and Jeanny Lorgeoux.
Head of state thanked Mrs Nathalie Goulet and the other senators for
their fair position during the French Senate’s discussion of draft
law criminalizing the denial of the so-called Armenian “genocide”.
The president said that the relevant law discussed at the Senate was
distorting the history, run contrary to the democracy and freedom
of speech and was based on false and concocted reports. He expressed
the hope that the bill would not be adopted.
Mrs Nathalie Goulet underlined that she and the other senators would
do their best for extending relations with Azerbaijan and said that
they would give detailed information about this to the Azerbaijani
society during their meetings in Baku.
[translated from Azeri]
AZERI PRESIDENT, US TOP OFFICIAL DISCUSS TIES, KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Turan news agency
Feb 5 2012
Azerbaijan
Baku, 5 February: [Azerbaijani] President Ilham Aliyev and US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton have held a meeting on the sidelines of
the Munich Security Conference. The presidential press service has
reported that the sides expressed their satisfaction with the high
level of bilateral ties.
The role Azerbaijan plays in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan as
part of the anti-terror coalition was praised. The sides exchanged
views on the settlement of Karabakh conflict. Issues related to
democracy, security and regional problems were also discussed,
sources at the [US] Department of State have reported.
[translated from Russian]
From: Baghdasarian
TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN MILITARY COOPERATION DISCUSSED IN BAKU
APA
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan
Chief of General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces meets with Azerbaijani
Defense Minister
Baku – APA. Chief of General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces,
Army General, Necdet Ozel met with Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister,
Colonel-General Safar Abiyev, Defense Ministry’s press service told
APA. Solemn welcome ceremony was held at the Defense Ministry for the
Turkish guest, the national anthems of both countries were performed.
Safar Abiyev gave information about the military-political situation
in the region and the problems caused by Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno Karabakh. Minister said as the efforts made by the Minsk
Group towards the resolution of the conflict have not produced concrete
results, Azerbaijan is obliged to take back the occupied Azerbaijani
territories through other means, therefore it is strengthening the
Armed Forces.
Military cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan was discussed
at the meeting, the sides underlined the importance of enhancing
the relations.
From: A. Papazian
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ALI HASANOV: “THE DECISION ADOPTED IN THE FRENCH SENATE IS NOT THE POSITION OF FRENCH PEOPLE, IT IS THE POSITION OF A GROUP OF SENATORSBRIBED BY ARMENIAN DIASPORA”
APA
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan
Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. “The visit pf French Senate’s delegation
led by Nathalie Goulet, their meeting with the IDPs, voting in the
Senate against law criminalizing the denial of made-up “Armenian
genocide” shows that the decision adopted in the French Senate is not
a position of French people”, said Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of
the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov at the meeting
with Members of the French Senate.
He noted that the decision passed in French Senate is the position
of a group of senators bribed by Armenian diaspora: “Those who take
this step in France are under the influence of Armenian diaspora”.
Sneator Goulet said that the arrival of French senators to Azerbaijan
was planned before the Senate’s adoption of this law: “France always
supported the return of IDPs to their lands. The tragedy of refugees
and IDPs justifies Azerbaijanis position in this issue. But I believe
that Azerbaijan will not be emotional. The purpose of our arrival to
Azerbaijan is to become familiar with your country and deliver the
realities to our country.
French Senators met with IDPs settled in Sabunchu District’s Raman
settlement and Binagadi district in the morning today.
From: A. Papazian
1109 PERSONS SETTLED IN OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES WITHIN ARTIFICIAL SETTLEMENT POLICY CONDUCTED BY ARMENIA
APA
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan
Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. 1109 persons were settled to Nagorno
Karabakh within the artificial settlement policy conducted by Armenia
in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.
APA reports quoting “Regnum” agency that the number of Armenians
settled in Nagorno Karabakh in comparison with 2010 was more than
373 people.
55.7% of people, which were brought to Karabakh, settled in Lachin,
10% in Khankendi, 8.8% in Agdere-Kalbajar. 91.9% of Armenians brought
to Karabakh said that they would like to live there permanently.
94% of settlers are from Armenia, 4.2 from Russia. Besides, 663
persons left Nagorno Karabakh last year.
TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY PROTESTED SWITZERLAND
Trend
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan
7 February 2012, 01:00 (GMT+04:00) Turkish Foreign Ministry protested
the initiative of the Swiss Prosecutor’s Office to prosecute the
Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis, ITAR-TASS reported with
reference to Turkish media.
Swiss Ambassador in Ankara Raimund Kunz has been called in Foreign
Ministry for an explanation.
The tense situation arose last week when Bagis, returning from Davos
Economic Forum in Zurich, made a statement on the “Armenian genocide”
in the Ottoman Empire. This happened a few days after the French
Senate approved a bill introducing criminal liability for denial of
“genocide”. A similar law applies in Switzerland. “I am in Zurich
and declare: there was no “genocide”. And now let me arrested,” –
said Bagis.
Swiss prosecutors after the treatment of local Armenian organizations
saw in these words, a violation of Article 261 of the Criminal Code
and has started a preliminary investigation. According to the channel,
if the court receives documentary evidence of this speech, the Turkish
minister, if will be found that is not covered by diplomatic immunity,
the court will proceed to Zurich direct litigation.
Advisor to the Foreign Minister of Turkey Feridun Sinirlioglu
protested Swiss ambassador and said that the initiative of the judicial
authorities of his country is unacceptable.
HEAD OF MULTINATIONAL GEORGIA ORGANIZATION ARNOLD STEPANYAN: IF ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN CONFLICT IS RESOLVED, THE PROBLEM OF METSAMOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WILL BE SOLVED BY ITSELF
APA
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan
“Armenia should be free from Russia’s energy dependence”
Tbilisi. Nizami Mammadzadeh – APA. “Each atomic power plant gives
people heat and energy to improve their social lives. But from
ecological point of view each atomic power plant is a great threat,”
head of the Georgia-based Multinational Georgia organization Arnold
Stepanyan said, APA’s Georgia bureau reports. Answering APA’s question
“Does Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia pose threat to the
countries of the South Caucasus?” Stepanyan said the nuclear power
plants in all regions are potential threats.
“A nuclear power plant no matter it is in Armenia, Iran, Japan or
Turkey can be dangerous for the region. There are issues that should be
approached to not only from ecological aspect, but also from social
aspect. Under the present circumstances, this plant gives strong
energy for production in Armenia. But there are alternative ways
to get energy. I think, western investors will seek ways to produce
alternative energy in Armenia. This is favorable for the seismically
active region surrounding us and for the whole world. There is one
complicated issue. The control stock of Metsamor nuclear power plant
belongs to Russia. If alternative energy sources are created in Armenia
and these sources are equal to the power of Metsamor plant, it will
be very difficult to realize this project from political aspect.
This will mean the end of Armenia’s getting energy resources from
Russia. Russia will not allow this. Alternative energy resources were
discussed during the recent visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy
to Armenia,” he said.
Arnold Stepanyan said the discussion of energy issues during Sarkozy’s
visit to Armenia has deep roots.
“The discussion of energy issues in Armenia by French President did
not emerge suddenly. This is an attempt of the West to direct the
countries of the South Caucasus not to the North, but at the same
time to the West. Therefore, economic assistance should be given,
so that it becomes strong and independent. Energy resources play
important role in this issue. We know that Armenia has no power to
create alternative energy resources. I think Armenia should be free
from Russia’s energy dependence. If Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is
resolved and Armenia has an opportunity to get energy from Azerbaijan,
the problem of Metsamor nuclear power plant will be solved by itself,”
he said.
RUSSIAN DEPUTY FM, U.S. AMBASSADOR DISCUSS SITUATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
Trend
Feb 7 2012
Azerbaijan
Secretary of State, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigory Karasin
received U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul at his request on
Feb.6, the Ministry’s website reported.
During the meeting the sides discussed issues on the international
agenda, including the situation in the South Caucasus and Central Asia,
the report said.
Michael McFaul, newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Russia, assumed
his office in January.
The U.S. and Russia are co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group
on resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.