Author: Andres-Papazian

BELARUSIAN AMBASSADOR: DIVERSIFICATION OF TRADE-ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF BELARUS IS A PLEDGE OF SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 10:38:00

ArmInfo. Diversification of economic relations of Belarus is a pledge
of successful development of trade relations with Armenia, Ambassador
of Belarus to Armenia Stepan Sukhorenko told ArmInfo.

“The success achieved in trade-economic cooperation between our
countries over the last years is explained first of all by the fact
that the Belarusian president gave the following suggestion even
before the crisis: “it’s enough putting all the eggs in one basket”,
i.e. in Russia’s basket. The Belarusian president offered to diversify
the market, since all the countries of the post-Soviet space are
acquainted with our products, and it would be incorrect to ignore these
opportunities. Just upon visiting Armenia, I started to implement this
suggestion on tightening of our trade-economic relations to the level
of political cooperation between our countries”, the ambassador said.

Moreover, Sukhorenko thinks that the global crisis has also become
a kind of catalyst element for development of Armenian-Belarusian
relations: it has shown that one should develop any markets, both
small and large. According to the ambassador, Belarusian products are
of interest in Armenia, like Armenian products in Belarus. Armenian
brandy is very much appreciated in Belarus, and its supplies to
Belarus in 2009 increased twofold.

“As for the trade house we have recently opened in Yerevan, there is
just one problem here – timely replenishment of its product range.

Moreover, we shall follow this way through creation of branches all
over Armenia. However, this is not yet the level we would like to
reach, and I think a great unused potential is still available for
development of our relations”, Sukhorenko said.

According to the data of National Statistical Service of Armenia, goods
turnover between Armenia and Belarus over the latest years increased
tenfold to $30 mln, upon the results of the first 7 months of 2010.

From: A. Papazian

AMBASSADOR OF BELARUS: IT IS TIME FOR BELARUSIAN CRAFTSMEN TO LEARN CRAFT FROM ARMENIAN JEWELERS

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 10:39:00

ArmInfo. Issues of cooperation in jewelry were one of the many
considered at the session of the Armenian-Belarusian intergovernmental
Commission held at late September, Ambassador of Belarus to Armenia
Stepan Sukhorenko told ArmInfo.

“We have agreed that specialists of “Gomel Crystal” plant will
visit Armenia to learn craft from Armenian jewelers, taking into
account a powerful jewelry school available in Armenia. Cooperation
is the second direction of our collaboration. We process our diamonds,
however, there is no school in Belarus to make high-grade jewelry from
them. This school in Armenia is actually great, and we would like to
cooperate to make such jewelry also in Belarus. Moreover, we do not
rule out creation of joint enterprises in this sphere”, he said.

According to Sukhorenko, the Belarusian party considers Armenia’s
agriculture programme very prosperous. Small-scale farms have already
shown their inefficiency, and the farm amalgamation programmme,
as well as their processing through car-tractor stations, which is
successfully applied in Belarus, will zing up this sphere. “It is
of course expensive to supply our equipment to Armenia, however
it is quite prosperous to organize on-site assembly. Today, our
tractors with suspended-type units perform 3 – 5 operations, that is,
our technologies are very advanced and we would like to share our
experience with the Armenian partners”, he emphasized.

Moreover, the ambassador said, there are very serious projects
in Armenia, including “North-South” transport project and the
highway widening project. Their implementation will require a heavy
pit equipment, and the joint intergovernmental commission is now
considering these issues. Moreover, the issue of supplies of Armenian
fish, as well as joint production of ecologically pure infant food
is also under consideration.

According to the data of National Statistical Service of Armenia, goods
turnover between Armenia and Belarus over the latest years increased
tenfold to $30 mln, upon the results of the first 7 months of 2010.

From: A. Papazian

AMBASSADOR OF BELARUS: CERTAIN SPECULATIONS SWIRL AROUND EASTERN PARTNERSHIP PROJECT

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 10:42:00

ArmInfo. Certain speculations swirl around the Eastern Partnership
Project, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to
Armenia Stepan Sukhorenko said in an interview with ArmInfo.

“Formation of parliament with full-fledged possibilities was initially
planed as part of the Euronest i.e. the parliament would comprise
by 10 delegates from each member-state and equal number of the
European Parliament deputies. Now, they suddenly began to doubt if
the Parliament of Belarus is right or wrong and whether to replace us
with another state etc. Thus, certain speculations swirl around the
Eastern Partnership Project. And during the last working session that
discussed adoption of statutory documents, there was a suggestion to
form Euronest without Belarus so far,” he said.

Sukhorenko said that claims will be made to Belarus now. Tomorrow
Armenia will face claims, then Moldova and others. This means that
the countries will be again divided into “the right” and “the wrong”
ones and unequal conditions will be created from the very beginning
of cooperation.

“Partnership is impossible when dual standards are applied and
unequal conditions are created. Therefore, we thank the countries
that supported us in this issue and Armenia, first of all,” he said.

The Eastern Partnership is a project, which was initiated by the
European Union (EU). The foreign minister of Poland presented it
with assistance from Sweden at the EU’s General Affairs and External
Relations Council in Brussels on 26 May 2008. The Eastern Partnership
was inaugurated in Prague on 7 May 2009. The Eastern Partnership is a
project aiming to improve the political and economic trade-relations
of the six Post-Soviet states of “strategic importance” – Ukraine,
Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia with the European
Union.

From: A. Papazian

BELARUS AMBASSADOR: BELARUS EQUALLY EFFECTIVELY COOPERATES WITH ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 10:43:00

ArmInfo. Belarus has been equally effectively cooperating with Armenia
and Azerbaijan, Belarus Ambassador to Armenia Stepan Sukhorenko told
ArmInfo correspondent.

‘Today Belarus sells weapon to many countries. Actually, if we do not
deliver those not so big lots of weapon to Azerbaijan, it will buy it
from another deliverer. The point is that delivery of our weapon does
not break the limits of the international quota. Moreover, over the
last period of time Belarus has started developing the military and
technical cooperation with Armenia as well. We have good arrangements
in this sphere which may be fulfilled. I do not want to present the
details, but the effective cooperation between our countries in this
sphere has already become a fact’, – he said.

He also added today Minsk has been effectively cooperating with Armenia
as well as Azerbaijan despite the conflict between the two states.

‘As for the rumours about delivery of the S-300 air defence systems,
I think they are backstage rumours and nothing more. Today we ensure
guarding of the western gates of Russia and Belarus. We do not produce
these defence systems, and if to sell, we should simply take them
from the military duty breaking our air defence system. But we have
nothing odd, and it is simply impossible’, – he said.

‘We also see, despite Moscow’s suggestion to set up Global Security
System in Europe, unfortunately it has not yet come true. Kyrgyzia’s
sample has shown once again how unstable the world is. For this reason,
we welcome creation of the CSTO Rapid Deployment Force which will
jointly react at extraordinary situations. Belarus has been always
supporting the CSTO development, and I am confident our chairmanship,
which will be adopted in December, will be filled with content like
over the chairmanship of Armenia. For this reason, we are rather
optimistic regarding t5he CSTO and think its activity is very much
useful’, – the ambassador concluded.

From: A. Papazian

AMBASSADOR OF BELARUS: ONE SHOULD LET OFF STEAM PURPOSEFULLY

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 10:44:00

ArmInfo. We are very concerned about disagreements between the
Byelorussian and Russian authorities because it is very difficult to
imagine any other two countries having as close friendship as Russia
and Belarus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus
to Armenia Stepan Sukhorenko said in an interview with ArmInfo.

“We fought together, starved together and restored economy together.

This situation is just absurd and I am convinced that Russia also wants
to overcome it as soon as possible because there is no alternative to
the allied relations we have built. I mean, first of all, the social
aspects of our relations. We feel ourselves in Russia as citizens of
Russia and the Russians feel themselves in our country as citizens of
Belarus. We are building what will expand into the entire post-Soviet
area in future and we do not want to hear from television what we
hear today,” he said.

As regards the fact that certain Russian circles have criticized the
extremely warm reception to Aleksander Lukashko in Armenia in late
August, Ambassador Sukhorenko said that the president besides being
the president is also a human being that may have friends.

“If he left for Armenia on a working visit, it does not mean that he
should not have met with his friends. It is just unserious politicizing
all this. I do not know the goals of the people who disseminate such
information. I do not know either if it is right to disseminate such
information that goes beyond the bounds of decency.

It is not right when the boiling point goes beyond all human norms.

There are much more important things in the world, so let’s let off
steam purposefully,” the Ambassador said.

From: A. Papazian

BELARUSIAN AMBASSADOR: WE SHALL CONSIDER PROPOSAL ON ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION ON RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IF WE RECEIVE IT

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 12:36:00

ArmInfo. Current relations between Armenia and Belarus may be estimated
as advanced, however, a quite painful topic of recognition of the
Armenian Genocide is not considered in our mutually beneficial
cooperation, Ambassador of Belarus to Armenia Stepan Sukhorenko
told ArmInfo.

“The point is that this quite a painful issue is still at the initial
stage of examination in Belarus. I think our opinion in this respect
will be formed depending on how the events around the international
situation are developed. Moreover, Armenia has not yet offered us
to adopt a resolution on the Armenian Genocide, and if it happens,
I think we shall consider it”, the ambassador said.

Genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923, during which
1,5 million Armenians were killed in Western Armenia and other parts
of the Ottoman Empire, is the first genocide of XX Century. Armenian
Genocide has been recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania,
the Lower Chamber of Italian Parliament, the majority of American
States, the Greek, Cyprian, Argentinean, Belgian Parliaments, the
Parliament of Wales, the National Council of Switzerland, the House of
Commons of the Canadian Parliament and Polish Seim. In its resolution
of June 18, 1987, the European Parliament recognized the fact of the
Armenian Genocide and demanded from the Council of Europe to bring
pressure on the government of Turkey for the latter to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.

From: A. Papazian

AMBASSADOR OF BELARUS: WE ARE FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT ON THE BASIS OF THE THREE BASIC PRINCIPLES

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 12:40:00

ArmInfo. Belarus is for peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict
on the basis of the three basic principles: the peoples’ right to
self-determination, territorial integrity and non-use of force,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Armenia
Stepan Sukhorenko said in an interview with ArmInfo.

“Thus, Belarus does not support any of the parties to the Karabakh
conflict unlike certain speculations on the given topic. In addition,
we see no alternative to the format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,”
he said.

As for Turkey’s aspirations for the OSCE MG co-chairmanship,
Ambassador Sukhorenko believes that it will be possible only in case
of coordinating the positions of the co-chair-states and reckoning
with the desire of the parties to the conflict.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out on February 28 1988 in the
Azerbaijani Sumgait with massacre of Armenians as a peculiar response
of Azerbaijanis to the peaceful demand of the Nagorno-Karabakh
autonomous Region, part of the Azerbaijani SSR, to unite with the
Armenian SSR. This resulted in other pogroms of Armenians in Baku,
Kirovabad and other regions of Azerbaijan populated with Armenians. In
1991 Azerbaijan unleashed war against peaceful populations of
Nagorno-Karabakh, expulsing ethnic Armenians from the territory of
Azerbaijan. Dozens of thousands of peaceful residents on both parties
were killed in the military actions, and hundreds of thousands were
left homeless and have become refugees. In 1994 in Bishkek in mediation
of the OSCE MG, the NKR, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Protocol on
Ceasefire that is observed more or less so far.

From: A. Papazian

DELEGATIONS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN AND PACE PRESIDENT DISCUSSING RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY OF PACE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 13:36:00

ArmInfo. Delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan started meetings
with PACE President Mevlut Chavushoglu in Strasbourg. The parties
are discussing resumption of activity of PACE Ad Hoc Committee on
Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian delegation to PACE told ArmInfo.

“The meeting with the PACE President was held on Tuesday and will be
continued on October 7. The delegates have no comments at present,”
the source reported.

Earlier in a press conference on October 4 in Strasbourg where the
PACE Autumn Session is underway President Chavushoglu said that in
2005 PACE adopted a resolution on creation of PACE Bureau Ad Hoc
Committee on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Chavushoglu came out for fulfillment of the given resolution. He
is going to make a report to the PACE Bureau on the results of the
meetings with the Armenian and Azerbaijan delegations which will
become a basis for a decision on the issue of resumption of activity
of the Ad Hoc Committee.

From: A. Papazian

416 EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS WORK IN DIASPORA

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 5, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Four hundred 16 Armenian educational
establishments, including colleges, everyday and Sunday schools,
work in the Armenian Diaspora with about 7 million population. Vardan
Petrosyan, chief specialist of the Department of Ties with Armenian
communities of Russia, Ukraine, Belarusia and Moldova of the CIS
Department of Armenian Communities of the Armenian Diaspora Ministry
told Armenpress that the 137 of those educational establishments are
in Russia.

“By non-official data, the Armenian community of Russia is the largest
in the world, and according to official sources, it is the second
after the USA. By non official data, 1, 3 million Armenians, and by
non-official – 1, 5 million Armenians live in Russia. As we have such
a large Armenian community in Russia, the educational establishments
are many, too,” Mr. Petrosyan noted, adding that subjects in Armenology
are taught in 6 secondary schools of Rostov Region.

Ukraine is in the second place with the number of Armenian educational
establishments (43), then comes Lebanon (38), Syria (30) and Iran
(29). Though most Armenians live in the USA by official information,
nevertheless, there are only 27 Armenian educational establishments
there, and in France and Turkey – 16 and 19 respectively.

From: A. Papazian

BYRAKAN OBSERVATORY CLAIMS TO BECOME A REGIONAL CENTER

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 5, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Viktor Hambardzumyan Byrakan
Observatory claims to become a regional center. Scientific worker of
the observatory, co-chairman of the Armenian Astrological Company
Areg Mikaelyan told at a news conference at Armenpress press hall
that for becoming the center other countries as well ~V Iran, Egypt,
United Arab Emirates which not having enough potential are ready to
invest large financial means for it, submitted applications to the
International Astronomical Union. By the end of the year the IAU
Executive Board will make a decision in connection with it.

~SIn case the IAU accepts us as a regional center, it will provide
additional means about 50 000 USD for implementation of programs. But
our country too on its part must financially assist for ensuring
necessary devices and salaries for the employees of the sphere,~T he
said, expressing hope that the IAU will satisfy Armenia~Rs application.

From: A. Papazian