Author: Andres-Papazian

Interfax, Russia
December 8, 2014 Monday 6:12 PM MSK

Consent on fundamental principles should be key to conclusion of
Karabakh peace treaty – Armenian foreign minister

YEREVAN. Dec 6

The development of a comprehensive peace treaty may be started after
agreement is achieved on fundamental principles of settling the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian said.

“When agreement is achieved on fundamental principles and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s consent is obtained, then it would be possible to
start negotiations between Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia on
the development of a comprehensive peace treaty,” Nalbandian told
journalists following the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in
Basel.

There is no alternative to negotiations, he said.

“This is our principled position. But the difficult situation that has
taken shape as a result of an Armenian helicopter’s destruction and
provocative acts on the part of Azerbaijan requires more steps on
creating favorable conditions for promoting negotiations,” he said.

Azerbaijan “regularly backtracks from agreements that already were
reached,” he said.

“This is among the principal reasons, which doesn’t leave even a hint
of trust during negotiations,” Nalbandian said.

From: A. Papazian

Tasnim News Agency, Iran
Dec 14 2014

8 Armenian Ministers Due in Iran Monday

December 14, 2014 – 18:30

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Eight Armenian ministers and their deputies plan to
pay an official visit to Tehran on Monday to participate in the 12th
session of the two countries’ joint economic commission for promoting
Tehran-Yerevan ties in diverse areas.

Print

The meeting, which will be held in Tehran from Monday to Tuesday, will
be attended by Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Ervand
Zakharyan, Minister of Finance Gagik Khachatryan, Minister of
Transport and Communication Gagik Beglarian, and Minister of Foreign
Affairs Eduard Nalbandian.

Armenia’s Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetian, Minister of Urban
Development Narek Sargsyan, Minister of Health Armen Maradyan and
Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetian will also accompany the
Armenian delegation in the visit to Tehran.

Iran’s Energy Ministry will host the upcoming session of the joint
economic commission and represent the Iranian administration in the
talks.

Back in late October, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan made a
visit to Tehran and discussed ways to deepen relations between the two
neighboring countries in various spheres, including economy,
agriculture and politics.

Iran and Armenia have always enjoyed amicable relations in a whole
host of fields.

From: A. Papazian

Trend News Agency (Baku, Azerbaijan)
December 6, 2014 Saturday

Fruitless outcomes of negotiation process-2014 on Nagorno-Karabakh

byElmira Tariverdiyeva

Dec. 06–At the year-end it is usual to sum up the results of
political processes that have taken place throughout this period.
However, in the case of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, summing up the results becomes increasingly meaningless from
year to year.

The 21st OSCE Ministerial Council held in Basel, Switzerland, didn’t
bring any results other than another statement of heads of delegations
of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries urging the sides to comply
with the ceasefire regime and common phrases of major figures of
European diplomacy on the need to resolve the conflict.

The foreign ministers of the conflicting sides met with OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs, discussed the current situation and…And didn’t
reach any decision again. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov even didn’t meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian as part of the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council. And this in
general proves the vainness of co-chairs’ efforts to present the
negotiations in OSCE MG format as positive.

Alongside with the conflicting sides, all the observers are also aware
that the format of OSCE mediation doesn’t work and is confined to
declarative calls.

One would think that in such a good time, after Azerbaijan and Armenia
have already held presidential election, in a year, when at the
initiative of the presidents of Russia, France and the US State
secretary the leaders of the two countries held three meetings, at
least some progress could be expected. Alas! Nothing new has happened
excluding another provocation by Yerevan.

And who will condemn the military command and authorities of the
aggressor country, if the international mediators allow them to do
everything that is contrary to the international law, only limiting
themselves to the endless appeals? Why not hold military exercises on
the occupied territories turning a blind eye to the light reproaches
from the OSCE Minsk Group, if it provides no threat? With human lives
not taken into account, the Armenian authorities are known to be
indifferent to the victims on the path of their self-will.

Thus, one just doesn’t feel like summing up the Nagorno-Karabakh
process for the last year at all. And all the optimistic promises of
the intermediaries that they will continue efforts sound less and less
convincing today. Efforts remaining futile for more than 20 years, are
apparently made in the wrong manner and from the wrong place!

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA
A British company sued by an Armenian businessman

Diageo PLC, the largest drinks company in the world, is being sued by
a former Armenia Armenian distributor of a great Russian vodka now
owned by the British giant. In a case pending before a court in
Yerevan, Armenian FM Spirits firm asked nearly 3.5 million in damages
for the denial of Diageo PLC to honor the contractual obligations of
the previous Russian owner of the Smirnov brand .dropoff window

MF Spirits became the exclusive distributor of vodka in Armenia after
a supply contract for five years, which was signed in 2005 with the
Smirnov Trading House, then a subsidiary of the Russian Alfa Group
conglomerate. Less than a year later, Diageo paid $ 50 million to
settle a longstanding dispute over the rights to the Smirnoff and
Smirnov brands.

The settlement took the form of a joint venture in which Diageo won a
share of 75 percent. (The wine and spirits group purchased the
remaining 25 percent of Alfa Group in 2008). The company, called D
Distribution, has since sold the drinks brand Smirnov, Smirnoff and
other world famous drinks – including Johnnie Walker whiskey, gin
Gordon and Guinness beer – in the former Soviet Union.

The owner MF Spirits Georgi Lazarian says that executives of D
Distribution visited him in Yerevan in 2006 to assure him that Smirnov
distribution agreement remained in force and urging it to continue to
promote the brand in the local market .dropoff window He said he
received such assurances, in person and by correspondence via email,
within two years following although Diageo PLC stopped providing the
vodka.

According to Lazarian, D distribution notified him in early 2009 that
will not soon resume these supplies because of the small size of the
Armenian market and its main objective was Russia. “If I had known
before I would not have spent money on distribution Smirnov,” said the
businessman based in Yerevan Armenian service RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am).
He claimed to have spent more than $ 260,000 on advertising and
salaries.

Armenia and Russia are signatories to the Convention of 1993, which
commits Minsk 12 ex-Soviet states to the recognition and enforcement
of other court decisions. MF Spirits lawyers say that any decision
against Armenian D Distribution should be applied by the Russian
authorities.

Sunday, December 14, 2014,
Stéphane © armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE-AZERBAÏDJAN
L’Azerbaïdjan a rendu à l’Arménie Yéghiché Kevorkian et sa famille qui
s’étaient enfuis au Nakhitchevan en 2010

Hier 12 décembre Yeghiché Kevorkian ainsi que sa famille ont été
transférés d’Azerbaïdjan vers l’Arménie. Le transfert eut lieu par
l’intermédiaire de la Croix Rouge internationale, il s’est déroulé à
la frontière arméno-azérie. Rappelons que le 10 janvier 2010, Yeghiché
Kevorkian (52 ans) qui avait fait l’objet d’une condamnation et
poursuivi pour assassinat avait en compagnie de son épouse et de ses
trois enfants fui l’Arménie et passé la frontière entre l’Arménie et
la République autonome du Nakhitchevan (ex-Arménie, aujourd’hui occupé
par l’Azerbaïdjan).

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 13 décembre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Azerbaijani sniper wounds Armenian citizen

10:55 – 13 / 12 / 2014

Azerbaijani snipers continue to fire and this time Berqaber village of
border Tavoush region was the target for the enemy. Armenian young man
Aghasi Tamrazyan is wounded.

As Times.am was informed by head of the Berqaber village Arthur
Madatyan, the incident took place early in the morning.The Azerbaijani
snipers shot and wounded the 33-year-old young man on his both legs.

The young man is now in hospital, in Ijevan town. His life is out of danger.

Another resident of the village was also under target of the enemy’s
sniper but he managed to escape.

The situation in the village is under control.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian freedom fighter slams police – Video

20:06, 13.12.2014

YEREVAN. – Armenian freedom fighter, famous “Sasun” detachment
commander and founder of “Civil Initiative” Sasun Mikaelyan proposed
to found a structure that will protect the safety of freedom fighters
in the state, Armenian News – NEWS.amreports.

Mikaelyan made his announcement on Saturday in “Yerablur” pantheon,
where Armenian freedom fighters and military heroes are laid to rest.

“If an incident happens that involves attack on the freedom fighters,
let us do something, let us organize a protest, block a street, stand
at the government, in order to prevent such incidents. It’s a shame, I
am ashamed, enough is enough guys. We are guys, we are not like these
‘girls’,” Sasun Mikaelyan said commenting on those who attacked
freedom fighters in Armenia. “We, the veterans, have brought our
nation to independence. We are here, in front of our martyrs, to
report about what we have done to protect their heritage. If a
[police] commander threatens to cut one’s ears off (for expressions
against the country president – NEWS.am), I promise to cut such
commander’s ears off as we do with dogs.”

According to Mikaelian, the political forces divide fighters, while
the freedom fighters should be united.

“I have come today to ask you that we leave this political prostitutes
alone and be united” he said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE
Le Département de l’aviation civile d’Arménie signe un mémorandum de
coopération avec l’école supérieure d’Oulianovsk

Le chef du Département général de l’aviation civile d’Arménie Artem
Movsisyan et le recteur de Ecole Supérieure de l’aviation civile
d’Oulianovsk Sergey Krasnov ont signé un mémorandum de coopération à
Erevan.

Le document prévoit une coopération accrue dans la formation de la
main-d’oeuvre, des efforts conjoints visant à améliorer processus
éducatif et l’organisation d’événements professionnels, ainsi que la
mise en oeuvre de projets de recherche conjoints, etc

Chaque année, cinq citoyens arméniens sont admis à l’Ecole Supérieure
de l’aviation civile cequi permet de garantir la sécurité
d’exploitation des vols dans le pays.

Après la cérémonie de signature Artem Movsisyan a attribué à Sergey
Krasnov une médaille pour sa contribution considérable au champ de
l’aviation.

samedi 13 décembre 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE
Une société britannique poursuivie par un homme d’affaire arménien

Diageo PLC, la plus importante société de boissons alcoolisées du
monde, est poursuivi en justice en Arménie par un ancien distributeur
arménien d’une grande marque de vodka russe appartenant maintenant au
géant britannique. Dans une affaire en cours devant un tribunal à
Erevan, la firme arménienne MF Spirits a demandé près de 3,5 millions
de dollars en dommages-intérêts pour le refus de Diageo PLC d’honorer
les obligations contractuelles du précédent propriétaire russe de la
marque Smirnov.

MF Spirits est devenu le distributeur exclusif de la vodka en Arménie
après un contrat d’approvisionnement de cinq ans qui a été signé en
2005 avec la Trading House Smirnov, alors filiale du conglomérat russe
Alfa Group. Moins d’un an plus tard, Diageo a versé 50 millions de $
pour régler un différend de longue date sur les droits sur les marques
Smirnoff et Smirnov.

Le règlement a pris la forme d’une coentreprise dans laquelle Diageo a
gagné une part de 75 pour cent. (Le groupe de vins et spiritueux a
acheté le 25 pour cent restant d’ Alfa Group en 2008). L’entreprise,
appelé D Distribution, a depuis vendu des boissons de la marque
Smirnov, Smirnoff et d’autres boissons de renommée mondiale – y
compris le whisky Johnnie Walker, le gin Gordon et la bière Guinness –
dans l’ancienne Union soviétique.

Le propriétaire MF Spiritueux, Georgi Lazarian, affirme que les
cadres de D Distribution lui ont rendu visite à Erevan en 2006 pour
lui assurer que le contrat de distribution de Smirnov restait en
vigueur et le priant instamment de continuer à promouvoir la marque
sur le marché local. Il dit qu’il a reçu de telles assurances, en
personne et par correspondance via des e-mail, dans les deux années
suivantes même si Diageo PLC a cessé de le fournir en vodka.

Selon Lazarian, D distribution lui a notifié au début de 2009 qu’il
ne reprendra pas de sitôt ces fournitures en raison de la petite
taille du marché arménien et de son objectif principal qui était la
Russie.

From: A. Papazian

Artsakh President attends opening the crisis management center

17:48 | December 12,2014 | Official

On 12 December, President of the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Republic
Bako Sahakyan attended the solemn opening of a crisis management
center of the NKR State Service on Emergency Situations under the
Cabinet of Ministers in capital Stepanakert.

Bako Sahakyan underlined in his speech that proper and efficient
organization of the center’s activities would give fresh impetus to
the functioning of the whole service, overall management and
coordination of all the forces and means to be operating in case of
emergencies, undertaking necessary measures to prevent such
developments.

He rated high the Republic of Armenia ministry of territorial
administration and emergency situations and its head Armen Yeritsyan’s
personal participation in establishing the center, expressing
gratitude for constant support shown to Artsakh.

Primate of the Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, minister of the RA territorial
administration and emergency situations Armen Yeritsyan and other
officials partook in the event, Artsakh President’s Press Office
reports.

From: A. Papazian