Month: September 2013

ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS ARE ON GOOD GROUNDS – BRITISH MP

September 18, 2013 | 17:14

YEREVAN. – Armenia underscores the development of relations with the
United Kingdom.

National Assembly (NA) Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan stated the
abovementioned Wednesday during his talk with John Whittingdale,
Vice-Chairman of the British-Armenian Parliamentary Friendship Group
of the British House of Commons, and MP Stephen Pound.

Abrahamyan highlighted the need to invigorate interparliamentary
cooperation, informs the NA press service. He expressed a conviction
that parliamentary diplomacy is an important lever toward boosting
political discourse among countries. The Armenian parliament chairman
considered it indispensable to carry out specific programs.

Hovik Abrahamyan also reflected on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process
and the Armenian-Turkish relations, and stressed the necessity to
form an objective view concerning these matters. In this context,
he highly appreciated the British parliamentarians’ visit to Karabakh.

Speaking on Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union, the NA head
noted that this decision is in the best interests of the country. He
added, however, that this decision does not at all mean a suspension,
or a relaxation, of Armenia’s political dialogue with the European
Union (EU).

In turn John Whittingdale reaffirmed their readiness to contribute to
the development of bilateral interparliamentary ties and the deepening
of interstate relations. In his words, Europe, and especially theUnited
Kingdom, is interested in developing relations with Armenia.

In the British MPs’ conviction, Armenia-EU relations are placed on
good grounds.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

MOD OHANYAN: SNIPERS MUST BE REMOVED FROM LINE OF CONTACT TO ESTABLISH “MUTUAL TRUST” IN NKR PEACE PROCESS

News | 18.09.13 | 21:01

Photolure

By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

While Azerbaijan refuses to meet international organizations’ demand to
remove snipers from the frontline, the defense minister of Armenia has
confirmed once again its readiness to withdraw its snipers together
with Azerbaijan, which, he believes, would bring an atmosphere of
mutual trust into the negotiation process and help build a dialogue.

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said on Wednesday during his meeting
with Yerevan State University professors and students that reaching
a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue is the priority of the
military-strategic administration of Armenia and there cannot be
any alternative.

Azeri APA agency reported on Tuesday that in reference to the
border-related incidents Azeri defense ministry spokesman Eldar
Sabiroglu said at the briefing during his visit to the military units
next to the line of contact that “although Azeri soldiers get killed
because of them, Armenia has suffered twice as many losses and snipers
will not be removed until the war is over”.

“As for withdrawing our snipers we say we are willing to create lines
of trust, ready to remove them. This is not a one-sided obligation,
we can see that it is the most basic step to be taken, otherwise
there cannot be mutual trust and dialogue in the negotiation process,”
says Ohanyan.

Reflecting on joining the Customs Union, the Armenian defense minister
says the decision was made out of national security concerns.

“We are strategic partners with CSTO and Russia and implement
military-technical security,” he says.

As for conscript Hakop Injighulyan, serving in the army since August,
2012, who accidentally crossed the Armenian-Azeri border when he got
lost at night and found himself on the other side, the minister says
respective measures have been taken to bring him back. The minister
says the soldier will not be prosecuted for his mistake.

“I would not wish anyone to be in Hakob’s place. We don’t even
know under what kind of pressure he is today, although we have an
approximate idea of what might be happening. Today we are not sparing
efforts to bring him back to Armenia,” promised the minister.

IN TERMS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF WEAPONS ARMENIA AHEAD OF ALL ITS REGIONAL NEIGHBORS, DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS

YEREVAN, September 18. / ARKA /. In terms of some types of weapons
Armenia is ahead of all its regional neighbors, defense minister
Seyran Ohanyan said today.

As an example, he cited Russia-manufactured S-300 air-defense systems
saying no country in the region can boast of that number of the
system as Armenia. Speaking at a meeting with students of the Yerevan
State University the minister downplayed earlier reports that Russia
delivered $1 billion worth battle tanks and other military hardware
to Azerbaijan. According to reports in the Russian media, Azerbaijani
military received over 90 T-90C tanks, around 100 armored personnel
carriers and dozens of multiple-rocket systems and artillery cannons.

According to Ohanyan, the Armenian side had been notified of the
delivery 2-3 months prior to it.

“Each country itself decides the way of its military- technical
cooperation with other countries and Armenia has no right to interfere
or try to hinder weapon sales, however, we send messages via some
organizations that when it comes to Azerbaijan it is unacceptable,
especially that Azerbaijan has been turning its defensive capabilities
into offensive ones,’ he said.

He stressed that delivery of weapons to regional countries and
cooperation with them brings them to a certain degree of control.

“The closer military cooperation between other countries and
Azerbaijan, the better our messages reach destination and the
democratic norms of control that apply to us will spread to our
enemies as well,” the minister said.

Earlier this year Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said the
country saw a dramatic increase in its arms acquisitions in the last
few years, which have offset Azerbaijan’s ongoing military build-up.

“In the last three years we have acquired as much weaponry as we did
in the previous 20 years,” Tigran Sarkisian said during a visit to
Nagorno-Karabakh. -0-

19:36 18.09.2013

PUTIN URGES ARMS MANUFACTURERS TO PRODUCE BETTER WEAPONS

September 18, 2013 – 22:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russian President Vladimir Putin urged his country’s
arms manufacturers on Wednesday, Sept 18, to produce weapons that
are superior to those of possible adversaries, RIA Novosti reported.

“Our past successes are no reason to sit back and relax,” he said
during a visit to the Kalashnikov gun maker. “We must constantly
strive to stay on top of current demands.”

He added that many of Russia’s legendary weapons were “no longer able
to make the grade.”

He urged the Defense Ministry and weapons makers to redouble their
efforts to develop new models of arms and military equipment,
especially precision weaponry and fire-control systems.

Putin’s remarks came soon after a senior Defense Ministry official
said Russia’s defense industry technology was largely outdated,
lagging decades behind competitors.

Lt. Gen. Alexander Shevchenko said earlier in September that many
defense firms were still not ready for mass production of high-tech
weapons systems and many military technologies were still at 1980s
levels.

There has been a disturbing decline in the quality of weapon
production, he said, adding that this was mainly due to obsolete
equipment and an extremely low pace of modernization.

The Russian government has reportedly allocated 20 trillion rubles
($640 billion) for the comprehensive rearmament of the country’s Armed
Forces. The measure is expected to make the share of modern weaponry
rise to 30 percent by 2015, and exceed 70 percent by 2020.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Tuesday that Russia
would spend $650 billion for the rearmament and modernization of its
armed forces through 2020.

SERZH SARGSYAN SENT A LETTER OF CONDOLENCES TO BARACK OBAMA

19:05, 18 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: President of the Republic of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to President of
United States of America Barack Obama on the tragedy in U.S. Navy
command complex.

“Honorable Mr. President,

I am deeply shocked by the news of tragedy in result of shooting in
U.S. Navy command complex. I strictly condemn that terrible act which
took lives of more than 10 innocent people leaving incurable wound in
the lives of their relatives and witnesses. I express deep condolences
to You, relatives of victims and friendly nation of United States
wishing fortitude and valor and to the wounded people speedy recovery,”
is mentioned in the letter of condolences, reports “Armenpress”.

A former Navy reservist Alexis Aaron killed at least 12 people on
September 16 in a mass shooting in of US Navy military bases.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

RA NA PRESIDENT HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVES THE DELEGATION OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

On September 18 the RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan received the
Vice-President of the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group
John Whittingdale and Stephen Pound. The Ambassador of Great Britain
to the RA Jonathan Aves and the Head of the NA Armenia-Great Britain
Friendship Group Karen Chshmaritian attended the meeting.

Welcoming the guests the NA President noted that Armenia greatly
highlights the further development of relations with the United Kingdom
in different directions. Hovik Abrahamyan highlighted the necessity of
activation of inter-parliamentary cooperation not only with bilateral,
but also multilateral formats. Highly assessing the activity of the
British-Armenian Group of the parliament of the United Kingdom in the
development of inter-parliamentary relations of the two countries
he expressed conviction that the parliamentary diplomacy is one of
the important levers for advancing the political dialogue between the
countries. The NA President expressed confidence that the British MPs’
visit would boost the relations between the parliaments of the two
countries and the activity of the parliamentary friendship groups. He
deemed necessary the implementation of the concrete programmes in
different spheres.

The NA President introduced the regional developments to the guests.

Hovik Abrahamyan touched upon the process of the NK conflict
settlement, the Armenian-Turkish relations, highlighting the
necessity of forming an objective opinion on them abroad and in
international structures. In this context he highly assessed the
British parliamentarians’ visit to Artsakh. Touching upon the decision
of Armenia’s joining to the Customs Union, the NA President noted
that it stems from the interests of our country and added that the
decision does not mean at all suspension or weakening of political
dialogue with the European Union. “The European Union has been and
continues to remain one of the most important counterparts of the
Republic of Armenia,” Hovik Abrahamyan noted.

Thanking for reception the Vice-President of the British-Armenian
All-Party Parliamentary Group John Whittingdale reaffirmed their
readiness to promote the activation and development of bilateral
inter-parliamentary relations and deepening of inner-state relations.

In his word, Great Britain highlights the role of Armenia in the
region, and Europe, particularly the United Kingdom are concerned of
developing and deepening the relations with Armenia. By the British
MPs’ conviction, the basis of Armenia-EU relations is well laid. They
expressed conviction that from now on those relations will develop
and deepen, noting that during the recent years considerable progress
had been registered in Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

NO NEWS SINCE ICRC SEPT 2 MEETING WITH ARMENIAN CAPTIVE

September 18, 2013 – 17:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Absence of governmental ties with Azerbaijan is
the main hindrance on the way to returning Armenian captive Hakob
Injighulyan, with the process mediated by international organizations
Defense Minister said.

“We’re taking our best efforts for Injighulyan to return to Armenia,”
Seyran Ohanyan said, noting that the solder won’t be legally
persecuted. “We can only imagine the pressure he might have been
subjected to on Azeri side,” Tert.am quoted Ohanyan as saying.

As the representative of the ICRC in Yerevan Ashot Astambatsyan told
PanARMENIAN.Net no fresh reports on the Armenian captive have been
provided, with the news to be released as soon as something transpires.

September 2 was the last time when the Representatives of the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met with the Armenian
captive.

As the head of the ICRC Baku office Denise Duran stated earlier, the
Committee continued the captive-related negotiations with Azerbaijani
authorities.

On the night of Aug 8, Injighulyan, born in 1991, failed to find his
bearings on the ground and crossed into the Azeri-controlled territory.

Azeri media have been spreading information suggesting the captive
is unwilling to return to Armenia.

However, Injighulyan never mentioned his unwillingness to return
to Armenia in a meeting with ICRC representatives, with Azerbaijani
Prisoners of War Commission Secretary noting he sees no problem with
the captive’s return.

Armenia has repeatedly slammed the “interviews” with Injighulyan as
forced by Baku and urged the ICRC to take every effort to help the
captive’s return, with no persecution to be initiated against him in
the absence of crime in the act.

APPELLATE COURT REJECTS REMOVAL OF PRE-TRIAL DETENTION FOR HAK ACTIVIST

Narek Aleksanyan

17:44, September 18, 2013

Armenia’s Criminal Appellate Court today rejected a motion to replace
the pre-trial detention of Armenian National Congress (HAK) activist
Tigran Arakelyan with a personal affidavit guaranteeing he would not
flee the country.

The court issued the rejection even though 110 prominent citizens
signed the affidavit which obliged them to pay upwards of 500,000 AMD
as a sign of good faith. The money would be returned to them after
the trial.

Tigran Arakelyan and three other HAK activists were sentenced to
terms ranging from two to six years on charges of “hooliganism” due
to a scuffle with police on August 9, 2011. Arakelyan was sentenced
to six years and has been detained since.

The Criminal Appellate Court dismissed their appeals in November,
2013, but in May of this year the Court pf Cassation overturned the
decision and ordered a retrial.

When the court issued its verdict, supporters of Arakelyan broke out
in boos and cat-calls.

COURT’S DECISION ON TIGRAN ARAKELYAN CASE SLAP IN THE FACE OF ARMENIAN SOCIETY – LAWYER

September 18, 2013 | 19:28

YEREVAN. – The decision by Court of Appeals not to change the
restraining order against activist Tigran Arakelyan is “a slap in
the face of Armenian society”, activist’s lawyer said.

Earlier on Wednesday the Court rejected the motion signed by 110
politicians and public figures demanding that restraining order
against Tigran Arakelyam must be changed.

“For me, this decision was predictable. Unfortunately, we live in
an illegal state. There is no independent court in the Republic of
Armenia,” Mushegh Shushanyan said.

He noted that over 100 public figures respected in Armenia, provided
guarantees for proper conduct of Tigran Arakelyan during the trial.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, a general jurisdiction
court had sentenced ANC activists Tigran Arakelyan, Artak Karapetyan,
Sargis Gevorgyan, and Davit Kiramijyan to six, three, and two years,
respectively, as a result of an incident that had occurred on August 9,
2011, in capital city Yerevan. The Criminal Court of Appeals had upheld
this ruling, and therefore the activists’ attorneys had submitted to
the Court of Cassation their objections to this verdict.

As a result, six of the young activists were released on signature
bond, whereas Arakelyan had remained under arrest.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POLICE SOLVE 50 OUT OF 83 THEFTS COMMITTED IN PAST WEEK

One murder was recorded in Armenia in the period of September 13-18.

The murder was solved, the press service of the Armenian police said.

In the same period, 48 out of the 57 injury infliction cases were
solved. The police also detected 50 out of 83 thefts committed,
17 out of 18 frauds, and 3 out of the 4 recorded acts of hooliganism.

40 road accidents were recorded in Armenia in the past five days,
as a result of which one person was killed, 62 received injuries.