Author: Andres-Papazian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE RESOLVED WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT: GERMAN AMBASSADOR

Trend
Oct 3 2011
Azerbaijan

Nagorno-Karabakh solution will come about and be sustainable only with
the support of the international community, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Azerbaijan Herbert Quelle said on
the eve of the October 3 Day of German Unity.

“World public opinion will play a key role in establishing this
support,” he underscored.

According to Quelle, the EU, as well as Germany, is interested in
contributing to a solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We have always supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. At the
same time we have to accept that there is a negotiation format in the
form of the OSCE Minsk Group. Nobody wants to disturb this format,”
he ambassador said.

The EU and Germany, according to ambassador, are mostly concerned with
the question of how we can assist in building a framework around the
ongoing negotiations which will be conducive to a solution.

“I am confident that the new EU special representative for the Southern
Caucasus will come up with proposals in a not too distant future,”
he said.

The ambassador noted the readiness to examine any concrete requests
for supporting Azerbaijan’s concern.

He is also convinced that further progress in democratization that
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pronounced again in his speech on
27 May 2011 will be very positive for the global image of Azerbaijan.

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.

Relations in economic and political spheres

According to the ambassador, relations between Germany and Azerbaijan
are good and historically friendly in all spheres.

Concerning economic relations, the ambassador said that the countries
are in the final stage of negotiations for the establishment of a
bilateral chamber of industry and commerce in Baku,” he noted. This
institution will support German-Azerbaijani business relations and
further strengthen Germany’s presence and position in Azerbaijan.

“Baku is quite an attractive market for German cars and many other
products. I would also like to see more German financial direct
investments,” he added.

According to Quelle, small and medium enterprises are the backbone of
the German economy, and it is essential that an investment destination
offers them the proper legal framework and necessary securities.

Azerbaijani authorities are aware of certain deficits still existing
in this respect and work to remedy them.

Concerning political relations, ambassador said Germany fully supports
Azerbaijan’s efforts to adopt the value system that Western Europe
has enjoyed since the end of World War II, including human rights,
democracy, rule of law and market economy.

“The EU and her member states including Germany are in a constant
dialogue about the whole range of these issues. I have the feeling
that this dialogue will be further intensified,” the ambassador said.

Among the bilateral meetings taking place, the ambassador highlighted
high-level working group on trade and investment that was formed this
year in Berlin and will meet again in Berlin in October.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN, TURKISH, BULGARIAN, AND GEORGIAN VEHICLES AFFECTED BY LANDSLIDE IN ARMENIA’S REGION

news.am
Oct 3 2011
Armenia

Landslide at Ayrum section of Armenia’s Tavush Region is still active.

After the arrival of rescue teams, several vehicles moved forward
20 centimeters, Armenian Special Rescue Service’s Search and Rescue
Commander Avetis Manukyan told news reporters on Monday. In his words,
there were 33 vehicles at the scene of the incident, but the reason
for their piling up is not yet ascertained.

The landslide occurred on Sunday at around 6:40 p.m. According to
Manukyan, a number of trucks and passenger cars rolled into Debed
River, whereas several vehicles remained under terrain.

Armenian News-NEWS.am’s reporter at the scene reported of at least
two trucks with Turkish, Bulgarian, and Georgian license plates.

By the decision of Armenian PM, an operative team is formed
to eliminate the effects of the landslide. Instead of the
landslide-affected section of the Vanadzor-Bagratashen road of M6
Interstate Highway, the Vanadzor-Dilijan-Ijevan-Bagratashen bypass
is currently in operation. Relevant governmental bodies ask drivers
to refrain from traveling via Vanadzor-Bagratashen road.

From: A. Papazian

LEBANESE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Tert.am
03.10.11

A Lebanese parliamentary delegation headed by Speaker Nabih Berri
has arrived on a 3-day official visit to Armenia at the invitation
of Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan.

The Lebanese delegation laid flowers at the monuments to the victims
of the terrorist act on October 27, 1999. Thereafter, Speakers Hovik
Abrahamyan and Nabih Berri had a private meeting.

Speaker Abrahamyan pointed out that his Lebanese counterpart’s visit
to Armenia is evidence of friendship between the two peoples and
mutual willingness to develop cooperation in various fields and,
particularly, between the Parliaments. Speaker Abrahamyan expressed
the confidence that Nabih Berri’s visit to Yerevan will contribute
to bilateral political, economic and trade relations, as well as
bilateral cooperation in other fields.

“We can without doubt speak of high-level Armenian-Lebanese relations,
developing in an atmosphere of mutual confidence,” Speaker Abrahamyan
said. He pointed out the importance of developing relations in
various fields.

Mr. Nabih Berri thanked his Armenian counterpart for a warm reception
pointing out the importance of developing bilateral cooperation. He
made a high appraisal of Speaker Abrahamyan’s visit to Lebanon last
April. “I should note that our Armenian brothers are like a permanent
bridge in our relations. They are involved in both political and
social life,” Mr. Nabih Berri said.

The sides also discussed regional problems, stressing cooperation
within international agencies.

The private meeting was followed by that of the parliamentary
delegations.

From: A. Papazian

SERGEY MINASYAN: ARMENIA’S INTERNAL POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS TO INFLUENCE PACE REPORT POSITIVELY

ARMENPRESS
October 3, 2011
YEREVAN

“I think the latest developments of Armenia’s internal political life
will only positively influence the PACE report,” Deputy Director of
“Caucasus” institute, political scientist Sergey Minasyan told today a
news conference, adding that he does not expect certain sharp changes
in the internal political life in the upcoming several days.

Referring to the NK issue regulation process, whether bilateral
and trilateral meetings are expected, the political scientist
theoretically did not rule out them. “Meetings are possible, but only
for continuation of this process. Only for maintaining at least the
zero level of trust the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will possibly try to
organize some meetings,” the political scientist said, noting that he
hardly imagines certain sharp changes or signing of a certain document.

“On the other hand, we see that both the co-chair counters and some
departments attempt to influence the parties or at least one of them.

If those processes bring to some results, and a meeting at a level
of presidents is needed for it, such a thing is possible,” the
speaker said.

Referring to the possibility of France’s exchange of place with Russia
as a mediator in NK issue, Mr. Minasyan noted that he does not rule
out such a thing, but no announcement on it has been released yet.

From: A. Papazian

ANOTHER ARMENIAN BOXER SUFFERS DEFEAT

news.am
Oct 3 2011
Armenia

Another representative of the Armenian team Hovhannes Danielyan
suffered defeat at the World Boxing Championship held in Baku.

Danielyan (49 kg) lost his bout to Japan’s Naoa Inue.

The only Armenia’s representative left in the tournament is vice
world champion Andranik Hakobyan (75 kg). He will hold his second
bout on Monday.

From: A. Papazian

MACEDONIA TRAVELS TO ARMENIA, HOSTS EXPECT EASY WIN

MINA – Macedonian International News Agency

Oct 3 2011

The Macedonian team is traveling to red hot Armenia who is enjoying
its biggest success in football since their independence from the USSR.

In the European qualifying tournament Armenia sits on 14 pts from
8 matches, three back from Group C leader Russia. A win for Armenia
will put the small nation in first place.

The Macedonians have finished their 2012 campaign as in their first
8 matches have accumulated a very respectable five losses.

John Toshack expects a tough match against an invigorated Armenian
team.

-Our goal scoring ability is of major concern, we have a tough time
scoring, admitted Toshack at a press conference earlier today.

Don’t worry Toshack. It gets better. Earlier today, Macedonian
offensive players were told the ball must enter a 7 meter wide
rectangular frame with a net attached to it. “It’s the only way to
score”, said a Football expert via a power point presentation. Armed
with this information, we expect a much better performance by our
players in Yerevan.

Joking aside, our players are looking better, though obvious goal
scoring quality is missing up front.

Macedonia will be without its ace, Goran Pandev who himsels has
struggled putting the ball through the rectangular frame, even when
there isn’t a goalie present. Maybe Pandev’s absence will spur the
red and yellow to perform better?

We count on Trickovski to score. As for the final score come Friday,
MINA’s prediction is 2-1 to Macedonia. Our colleagues in Yerevan expect
an easy win against Macedonia and have reported complete sellout
(33,000 tickets sold). Despite this, we are still putting our money
on an ‘upset’ in the making. //Pero Stamatovski

From: A. Papazian

BERRI’S VISIT TO ARMENIA KICKS OFF

iloubnan.info
Oct 3 2011
Lebanon

YEREVAN | iloubnan.info – October 03, 2011House Speaker Nabih Berri
arrived in Yerevan on Monday on a 3-day official visit to Armenia
whereby he is scheduled to meet with the Armenian President, House
Speaker and Prime Minister to tackle bilateral ties reactivation and
latest developments in the region the National News Agency reported.

Berri is accompanied by the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc
member, Deputy Muhammad Raad and the head of the Lebanese-Armenian
parliamentary friendship committee, Deputy Arthur Nazarian, as well
as an administrative and journalistic delegation, the report added.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI MP RAISES KARABAKH, LAKE URMIA AT EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY

news.az
Oct 3 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani MP Ganira Pashayeva has urged the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe to condemn Armenian action in occupied
Azerbaijani land.

Ganira Pashayeva made the call during discussion of a report on the
work of the PACE Political Bureau and Standing Bureau at the first
day of PACE’s autumn session on Monday.

She reminded PACE members that the assembly had called on Armenia to
withdraw from Azerbaijani land in Resolution No. 1416.

“But Armenia doesn’t fulfil PACE and UN resolutions and holds illegal
elections in the occupied Azerbaijani lands, including the unrecognized
‘Nagorno Karabakh republic’, without paying heed to the calls and
demands of the Council of Europe,” Pashayeva said.

“The municipal elections held in the occupied Azerbaijani territories
on 18 September run counter to international law and to UN, OSCE
and PACE resolutions, and at the same time are a serious blow to the
negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as they have heightened tension in the
region. The assembly must condemn such cases and seriously demand
that Armenia stop such steps.”

She also raised the case of Aygun Shahmaliyeva, 13, who was killed by
a mine in July. The mine had been placed inside a toy which the child
picked out of the Tovuz River, flowing into Azerbaijan from Armenia.

“I represent the regions bordering on Armenia. A girl by the name of
Aygun Shahmaliyeva was killed by Armenian armed forces on 13 July this
year. Our assembly must not keep silent about such crimes committed
against children. Aygun’s family is waiting for your voice of protest
and for you to increase your efforts to punish the criminals.”

Lake Urmia

The non-partisan MP also raised Iran’s arrest of hundreds of protesters
concerned about the Lake Urmia environmental disaster.

“Our assembly must not remain indifferent. We must give a voice to
these people who have had their rights crushed, support them and call
on the Iranian authorities to stop repressing and torturing innocent
people,” she said.

Lake Urmia (also written in English as Orumiyeh) is a salt lake,
which straddles the Iranian provinces of West Azerbaijan and East
Azerbaijan. It is gradually drying up and has lost more than half
its surface area.

Many ethnic Azerbaijanis both within Iran and beyond its borders fear
the Iranian government is deliberately harming the lake and protests
about the lake have gathered pace in recent months.

At least 60 protesters were arrested at a rally in the town of Urmia
on 3 September.

From: A. Papazian

SAMAD SEYIDOV: WE WILL CONTINUE TO OBJECT TO THE DOUBLE STANDARDS AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Today
Oct 3 2011
Azerbaijan

Report on the activity of the PACE’s Political Bureau and Standing
Committee was made at the first plenary meeting of the autumn session.

The head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov also
made a speech at the discussions on the report.

Touching on the reports that Azerbaijan refuses to cooperate with some
structures of the Council of Europe Samad Seyidov said Azerbaijan
does not refuse to cooperate with the structures of the Council of
Europe and is ready for any kind of dialogue. He spoke about the
appointment of the rapporteur on the persons considered political
prisoners in Azerbaijan and cooperation with him.

“Everybody forgets that such kinds of problems exist in most countries
of the Council of Europe, too. But no rapporteur is appointed for these
states concerning this issue. No one dares to demand the appointment
of such a rapporteur for these countries. Why is such a rapporteur
appointed for Azerbaijan? If we speak about the binding decisions of
the Bureau, if Christoph Strasser’s appointment is a binding decision
and the Azerbaijani government must obey it, then why don’t we speak
about the other decisions of the Bureau? One of these decisions is the
restoration of the activity of the Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh. We
unanimously voted for the restoration of the committee’s activity, but
for some reason no one speaks about the inactivity of the committee,
which was resumed after the unanimous decision. No one speaks about
Armenians’ boycott of the committee and as a result of it the decision
of the Bureau has become an insignificant document. Let’s speak about
it. We will continue to object to the double standards at the Council
of Europe,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA AND KARABAKH SHOULD TOUT THEIR ADVANTAGES TO ATTRACT EXTRA FOREIGN INVESTMENT: PM SAYS

ARKA
Oct 3, 2011

YEREVAN, October 3. / ARKA /. Speaking at the third economic forum
‘Bridge Artsakh 2011’ that opened October 1 in Nagorno-Karabakh capital
Stepanakert Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh should more actively advertise their advantages to
attract more foreign investment.

The agenda of the forum that discussed the advanced economy as the
basis of independence of the country, highlighted ways about how to
make Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh attractive both for Armenian and
foreign entrepreneurs.

In a keynote speech prime minister Sarkisian said the forum has
become traditional, saying also that additional efforts are needed
to bring more participants to it from Armenia and foreign countries
because that will enable to identify the economic potential of the
Nagorno-Karabakh and to attract new investment.

The prime minister said that the current global economic trends
suggest that ‘our behavioral rules should be consistent with
global processes.’ In this regard, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
must advertise more aggressively their comparative advantages to
attract additional private investment from abroad. According to him,
in 2012 the two Armenian states should set the focus on disclosure
of domestic resources.

“We need to stimulate economic growth by using our own potential.

First of all we need to create a favorable and supportive environment,
eliminate all barriers and reduce corruption risks. To this end we
have implemented unprecedented measures in 2020 and 2011. Soon the
president of Armenia will decree to introduce the so-called “system
of guillotine” that means removing all extra red tape that prevents
business development,” the prime minister said.

Sarkisian said cooperation between public and private sectors will
be another important task in 2012. He said it is important in terms
of strengthening the resilience of the state. According to him, the
atmosphere of trust is very important because that shapes positive
expectations of business people.

On the fringes of the forum the second trade-industrial exhibition
“Artsakh Expo 2011” opened involving companies from Armenia
and Karabakh operating in the fields of agriculture, industry,
construction and food processing. Tigran Sarkisian visited the
exhibition-hall and then the Artsakh State University to meet with
faculty and students.

From: A. Papazian