Author: Andres-Papazian

news.az, Azerbaijan
Sept 17 2011

‘Nagorno-Karabakh is in national interest of Washington’
Sat 17 September 2011 06:53 GMT | 2:53 Local Time

US respects choice of Azerbaijan to cooperate with NATO.

As the director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian Affairs of the US
Defense Department Jennifer Walsh believes, Russia will play a certain
role in the South Caucasus region, however, no country should have the
right of privileged influence in the region.

As reported by the “GHN”, Walsh announced this opinion at a conference
marking the 20th anniversary of the independence of the South
Caucasus, which runs at the Center for Strategic and International
Studies in Washington DC, USA.

“We disagree with this position of Russia” – said Walsh, adding that
the US Defense Department respects the policy choices made by each of
the countries of South Caucasus. “We respect the choice of Azerbaijan
to cooperate with NATO and welcome the willingness of Georgia to join
NATO. This right is provided by the international law” – said the
Pentagon official.

South Caucasus is important for the interests of the US security in
relation to its geographical proximity to Iran and countries which are
potential suppliers of weapons of mass destruction, stressed the
representative of the Ministry of Defense. South Caucasus plays a
critical role in logistics to support the NATO operation in
Afghanistan, she added: “The region is also an important producer and
supplier of energy to Europe”.

The United States believe that the promotion of stability and conflict
resolution, in particular, in Nagorno-Karabakh is in the national
interest of Washington, said Walsh.

South Caucasus also is a part of a wider Euro-Atlantic space and every
country in the region is free to join the Euro-Atlantic institutions,
the US representative said during a speech at the conference.

Georgia Times

From: A. Papazian

EU is to gradually increase its role in NKR conflict settlement

Aysor.am
Saturday,September 17

EU is to gradually increase its role in the process of solving the
regional issues for example the Nagorno Karabakh and Transnistria, the
EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy
Åtefan Füle stated.

According to Mr. Füle the EU is launching projects on restoration of
confidence in this region and a it is going to take a more serious
role on itself in order to solve problems. However, as Füle stated
those problems will not be solved in a day.

From: A. Papazian

ESC Today (Eurovision Song Contest Daily)
Sept 17 2011

Armenia: Host nation chooses Dalita

Dalita will represent the host nation at this year’s Junior
Eurovision, after winning the Armenian national competition with her
song `Welcome to Armenia’. She beat off 15 other contestants in a 2
and a half hour show, hosted by Armenian Head of Delegation Gohar
Gasparyan and Vladimir Arzumanyan, Junior Eurovision 2010 winner. You
can hear the winning song:

Dalita Avanessian (11), lives in the capital and attends a music
school in Yerevan in the piano, guitar and vocal sections. She is also
a young actor. Dalita currently has six songs in her repitoire which
she has written herself, including some music videos.

Dalita, like Ukrainian entrant Kristall is also a TV presenter, and
has hosted various features in Armenia’s morning TV shows. She also
plays the role of Charlita in the TV show `Charlie Show’, and has her
own kids magazine column.

The eleven year old is no stranger to Junior Eurovision — she
participated in the national selection last year, placing fifth.
Dalita last year also took part in Armenia’s `Got Talent’ program,
titled `Hidden Talent’ on Shant TV.

Junior Eurovision fans will notice that the song contains a large
amount of English, however, this is allowed according to the rules of
the contest — which now allow 25% of the song can be in a non-native
language to the participating country. At Junior Eurovision, Dalita
will be backed by dancers Robert, Raqelle, Dalita, Elen and Meliq. The
studio version of `Welcome to Armenia’ can be heard below:

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

Yerevan – world book capital 2012

In 2012 Yerevan will host events dedicated to the World Book Capital
and 500th anniversary of Armenian printing. On the international
copyright day, May 23, 2012, Armenia will officially kick off the
celebrations of the events.

Buenos Aires will pass the title to Armenia and we will be holding
world book capital title until 2013, representative of Armenian
Ministry of Culture Seyranuhi Geghamyan told Panorama.am.

Different events, including exhibitions, festivals, conferences, kids’
programs will be organized.

Famous writers, Nobel laureates are invited to attend the events,
though no final decision is yet available.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

Armenian opposition party leader incredulous about Armenia-Diaspora forum

September 17, 2011 | 13:19

YEREVAN. – Leader of opposition Heritage party Raffi Hovannisyan
believes that Armenia-Diaspora Forum will not solve any basic problem,
being of superficial and ceremonial nature, said the politician at a
press conference on Saturday.

`I learned about the event and the official invitation only yesterday.
Actually I have never been invited to ceremonies and events for the
past 16-17 years. Only recently I have acquired certain status, let’s
say, and got, although belated, still an invitation. Quite
unfortunately I leave for Kiev tomorrow to participate in
international forum of MPs on issues of struggle against racism,
nationalism and anti-Semitism and therefore I will miss the forum in
Armenia. I of course welcome the initiative, however the previous
experience shows that these events have been superficial and
ceremonial, without really touching upon topic of serious concern.
>From all this I expect filming of Presidents and Catholicoses,
followed by a discussion that will raise the spirits for 20th
anniversary of independence,” said Hovannisyan.

Armenia-Diaspora forum will bring together 500 representatives from 50
countries. Within the framework of two-day conference on Armenia’s
20th anniversary ministers, experts, the media representatives, and
political party activists will come up with their reports.

Four thematic sessions are scheduled: `The language and education’,
`The youth problems’, `The Genocide’s 100th anniversary’ and `The new
mechanisms of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.’

From: A. Papazian

Iran, Armenia agree to implement energy, transportation projects

Tehran, Sept 17, IRNA – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
described Tehran-Yerevan ties as excellent and said that he made
agreements on the implementation of energy and transportation projects
during talks with his Iranian counterpart on Saturday.

Making the remarks in a joint press conference with Ali Akbar Salehi,
he also said that bilateral ties were also reviewed today.

Stating that the talks were held at a high level, he noted both sides
voiced their readiness to promote bilateral ties.

Armenia as a neighboring country is interested in the establishment of
peace and security in the region, he said.

Iran and Armenia have always maintained excellent political and
cultural relations, he said, pointing out that agreements on the
implementation of energy and transportation projects were made during
today’s talks.

As to regional developments, Nalbandian underlined that his country
has always acted in favor of regional peace and stability.

Elsewhere in his speech, he appreciated Iran’s stances regarding the
issue of Karabakh.

He also said that his country seriously pursues deployment of NATO
missile defense shield in Turkey.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

We will never gain independence right for the third time – Armenian
party leader

September 17, 2011 | 12:52

YEREVAN.- Independence Day belongs to everyone, but first and foremost
to a citizen of Armenia who has taken responsibility for it, said
leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian.

According to him, the greatest achievement of independent Armenia is
that `we have gained the right to be responsible for our destiny.’ It
is the second time the Armenian nation retains this right and the
third opportunity will never be given, Hovannisian told journalists on
Friday.

As regards the losses, he mentioned two tragic events – 2009
parliament shooting and March 1 events.

Armenia declared independence back in August 1990 becoming the first
on-Baltic republic to secede from the Soviet Union.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

Azerbaijanis attacked Armenian social networks

September 16, 2011 | 20:02

YEREVAN. – In the last days unprecedented activity of Azerbaijani
attacks is noticed in social networking sites and news groups popular
among Armenians.

Particularly, on Facebook, Russian Odnoklassniki and other social
networks people with Azerbaijani surnames regularly aim are to
irritate the participants by swearing and offensive expressions.

Today, Armenian News-NEWS.am removed Azerbaijanis, who were making
offensive comments, from the Facebook page. Azerbaijan’s activity is
also noticed on the other pages of Armenian news sites and
initiatives.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Sept 17 2011

Armenian delegation in Euronest boycotted outcome document of plenary session

September 16, 2011 | 23:05

STRASBOURG. – The outcome report was not adopted in the first plenary
session of Euronest held on September 14-16 in Strasbourg. Armenian
side was against certain wording of the report, offered to the
political commission, ruling Republican MP, member of the Armenian
delegation in Euronest Hovhannes Sahakyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

`The work was generally done, issues were discussed in the commission,
but we did not arrive to a common agreement on some language issues.
Thus, no general document was adopted and the issues discussed in the
committee found their manifestation nowhere,’ Sahakyan stated and
added that Azerbaijani side is to blame, as it tried in any means to
move forwards its caprices but Armenians were not passive.

The document stated that territorial integrity should be respected.
Armenians were against this formulation. It should have either written
`according to the international law’ or to count all the principles,
MP added.

However, Armenian representative does not consider that the first
session of Euronest failed. It is a new structure and apparently there
may appear various issues.

From: A. Papazian

South Caucasus Railways to asses labor safety level

YEREVAN, September 17. / ARKA /. The South Caucasus Railways, a
Russian-run company operating Armenia’s railroads, said today it will
conduct a regular autumn examination to asses the labor safety level.
In a statement provided on Saturday to ARKA the company said the
overhaul will last from September 19 to October 19.

Special commissions will be set up to review the status of road
activities, compliance with road standards, the state of personnel
training. Special attention will be paid to the state of work places,
observance of work and leisure regimes, medical examinations of
employees, and providing employees with personal protective equipment.

The South Caucasus Railways is run by Russian Railways. The
concessional agreement was concluded in 2008 for 30 years, with a
right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of
operation. -0-

From: A. Papazian