Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIANS MUST NOT FORGET THAT ‘FLAG FOR US NOT JUST A CLOTH’

news.az
Sept 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Jeyhun Osmanly The flag for us is a symbol of honor, historical memory,
source of psychological confidence and an object of pride.

Head of the Ireli public union Jeyhun Osmanly in the interview said,
it is not a secret for anyone that the stiff psychological and
information confrontation is currently observed in the world.

‘This confrontation manifests itself everywhere – both among the
strongest countries of this world, and the small states. In this
regard, Azerbaijan is not an exception. In fact, being at war with
Armenia, that illegally occupied our native land, and constantly
feeling manifestation of double standards from the outside, we must
be doubly alert to psychological warfare.

In my opinion, the opening of the biggest square of the state flag in
the world is a serious and effective step intended for subconscious
thought and psychological state of Azerbaijanis. This event will
have no less effect on Armenians. In fact, such a celebration, such
sizes and incredible sense of pride that appears on the face of every
Azerbaijani are symbolic measures of two different statuses which
Armenia and Azerbaijan have now.

Indeed, Azerbaijan is a country that differs for its dynamic
development, a positive international image and our economic
opportunities allow us to implement even the most outrageous
initiatives. Opening of the Baku world’s largest square of the state
flag is the confirmation of this.

This is not just a statistical event, it is primarily a symbol of
those peaks to which Azerbaijan is striving now in contrast to Armenia,
which is satisfied with the status of “vassal” at every step.

This is not my opinion, it is the opinion of the most famous political
scientists in Armenia. I think that we will further witness other
effective psychological steps of the country’s political leadership’,
he said.

Osmanli said that his only wish is that our flag rose over the
occupied territories.

‘This day is not far away, and I think that the biggest and the most
solemn flag of the world will decorate the sky of Karabakh. We have
everything for this including will and power and desire. Armenians
must not forget that the flag for us is not just a cloth. The flag for
us is a symbol of honor, historical memory, a source of psychological
confidence and pride, and it eventually will raise where it is intended
to rise in history. History always rewards those who can defend their
own right’.

From: A. Papazian

UEFA PRESIDENT VISITS ARMENIA

Peace FM Online

Sept 2 2010

UEFA president Michel Platini met the Armenian president Serzh
Sargsyan and the leader of the Football Federation of Armenia (HFF)
Ruben Hayrapetyan for talks in Yerevan on Wednesday.

Mr Platini was in the Armenian capital to take part in the official
opening of the HFF’s national football academy which has been built
with UEFA support. He used the occasion to hold discussions with the
country’s president, Serzh Sargsyan, and his football association
counterpart, Ruben Hayrapetyan.

Mr Sargsyan thanked the UEFA president for his ongoing contribution
to the game’s development in Armenia by admitting him to the Order
of Honour, a prestigious national award. The UEFA president had
attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the HFF academy and national
training centre three years ago, and was delighted to return for the
inauguration of the new facility.

“Together we have constructed this academy,” Mr Platini said. “I am
confident it will benefit young players in Armenia. “I always say
it is very important to give youngsters the opportunity to enjoy
the game, and today is like a dream come true for a lot of young
people here”. The practice of UEFA supporting national associations
is working and will continue in the future – football development is
our common goal,” he emphasised.

The football academy can host six team training camps simultaneously,
and Armenia’s senior national team and Under-21 side had tried out the
new complex before their recent qualifying games. “It would have been
impossible to build such a complex without UEFA assistance,” said Ruben
Hayrapetyan. “UEFA funded 62% of the work and that says everything
about their attitude to our country. Football people in Armenia want
to thank UEFA and Michel Platini for their great help, because this
academy will become a base for all Armenia’s national teams.”

Mr Platini also met the president of the Armenian Olympic Committee,
Gagik Tsarukyan, and Yerevan’s mayor Gagik Beglaryan, before taking a
tour of the training facility. “I can see huge efforts are being made
by the HFF,” he said. “It is not a question of producing world-class
talent here, rather of giving young people an opportunity to enjoy
the game. The HFF is dedicated to youth development and I want to
underline the hard work of their president.”

From: A. Papazian

SEYRAN OHANYAN’S STATEMENT INTENDED FOR ARMENIAN AUDIENCE – ENVOY

news.az
Sept 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Yerevan’s statements about Russian base participation in Karabakh
war is intended for inner audience.

The statement of Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan about the
use of the Russian military base in Gyumri in case of war for Karabakh
is intended for the Armenian audience, considers Russian ambassador
in Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin told Azerbaijan’s ATV.

‘The protocol (signed recently by Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev
and Armenia Serzh Sargsyan) about the military base in Gyumri only
pursues the goal of extending the term of this base there (in Armenia)
for another 25 years’, Dorokhin said.

‘This agreement does not envision either the increase in arms on this
military base, or changes in the right of their use’, the ambassador
said adding that ‘Azerbaijan and Armenia have different positions,
while we (Russia) must try to be neutral’.

Dorokhin also noted that the Russian side wishes the increase in the
volumes of natural gas transported by Azerbaijan to Russia and due
work is conducted in this regard.

From: A. Papazian

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN, IRAN TO MEET SOON

news.az
Sept 2 2010
Azerbaijan

The meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran
will be held at the intersection of the borders of the three states.

Zaman reports that journalists were informed about the planned meeting
of the foreign ministers of the three countries by Turkish FM Ahmet
Davutoglu in Igdir.

He said the aim of the meeting is the strengthening of trilateral
cooperation between the countries.

“We are going to discuss the whole specter of our relations from
frontier trade to facilitated passage of the border by the citizens
of the three countries.

At this section there are passage points between Azerbaijan and Turkey,
we are also negotiating the opening of the border point with Iran”,
he said.

According to Davutoglu, Armenia will further be able to take part in
regional projects if it stops occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA MAY SEEK TO PROVOKE AZERBAIJAN – MILITARY EXPERT

news.az
Sept 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Uzeyir Jafarov News.Az interviews military expert Uzeyir Jafarov.

What is your view of the 31 August incident near the village of
Chayli in Terter District? The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reports
that an Armenian sabotage group crossed the front-line and attempted
to attack Azerbaijani positions.

After the recent visit of Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev and the
signing of the Russian-Armenian agreement to extend the term of the
Russian military base in Gyumri for 49 years, the Armenian side got
its second wind. This has turned into a growth in openly provocative
statements by the country’s senior leaders that the return of the
Azerbaijani land occupied by Armenia is impossible. The logical
continuation of these sentiments in Armenia is increased provocations
on the front line. And the fact that a diversionary group of Armenian
armed forces crossed the front line near Chayli village in Terter and
attempted to attack Azerbaijani positions is an illustration of what
we are talking about. In other words, links between the signing of the
Russian-Armenian agreement and tensions on the front line initiated
by the Armenian side are obvious. I am confident that the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, who have to declare their position on this
issue, will see this clear trend.

What are the Armenian side’s goals in organizing these provocations?

The Armenian side has probably received an order from abroad and this
is related to Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev’s visit to Azerbaijan
that starts today. These provocations may well be an attempt to create
grounds to increase pressure on Azerbaijan to agree to a version of
a Karabakh conflict settlement that would completely rule out the
restoration of our territorial integrity by force. They want to say
“you see how unstable the situation on the front line is without that
type of agreement from Baku”. Of course, the Azerbaijani leadership
is well aware of the motives for the Armenian provocations and will
make its position known to Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev during
talks in Baku.

What further developments can be expected on the front line?

I don’t think that all these provocations by the Armenian side will
cause large scale hostilities, but at the same time I do not rule out a
growth in provocations by Armenia, whose main goal will be to provoke
Azerbaijan to make a powerful strike against the enemy. Of course,
such a turn of events would meet the interests of both Armenia and the
powers that use it for its purposes since Azerbaijan’s response could
be used as grounds for a further campaign of pressure on our country.

From: A. Papazian

MOSCOW SAVES BAKU’S FACE, SAYS MELIK-SHAKHNAZARIAN

Aysor
Sept 2 2010
Armenia

The agreement on prolongation of the terms of deployment or Russian
military unit in Armenia has saved the face of Azerbaijan, told
reporters political analyst Levon Melik-Shakhnazarian at today’s
press conference.

He said that military statements of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev
brought him to a deadlock, while the Azerbaijani public is expecting
clear actions.

“After the Armenia-Russia protocol [on prolongation of deployment of
Russian base] was signed, Aliev can say that Russia interfered and
Azerbaijan can’t go in war with Russia,” said political analyst.

Levon Melik-Shakhnazarian also referred to the issue of steps that
Russia would take in case of resumption of hostilities in Karabakh. “I
wouldn’t like Russia interfered, as under such circumstances we will
not be able to reach what we want,” he said. If the war begins,
the Armenian armed forces can reach better results than in 1994,
according to analyst.

“The combat capability of the Armenian army is higher that that of
the Azerbaijani one,” stressed Levon Melik-Shakhnazarian. He added
that Armenian Armed Forces are highly equipped as well.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN SHOWED ITS REAL WORTH ONCE AGAIN, RA DEFENSE MINISTER SAID.

Times.am
Sept 1 2010
Armenia

“Azerbaijan’s another sortie was prevented on August 31 night. After
our border guards took retaliatory measures, the subversives escaped,
suffering losses. However, in a habit of spreading misinformation,
Baku reported 2 Armenian soldiers killed and 1 injured. Actually, it
was quite the contrary,” Seyran Ohanyan told reporters on September 1,
PanARMENIAN.Net reported.

“Armenian army always keeps alert and any attack is repelled,”
he added.

On August 31 night, Azerbaijanis made an attempt to penetrate in
the NKR territory nearby Upper Chaylu settlement. NKR defense army
soldier Rudik Manaseryan was injured.

From: A. Papazian

MUSHEGH AGHEKYAN: AZERI MEDIA SPREADS DISINFORMATION ABOUT THEIR LOSTS IN FIREBRAND SABOTAGE

Times.am
Sept 1 2010
Armenia

The information spread in Azerbaijani mass media that Armenian
side has 2 victims as a result of organized firebrand sabotage on
the 31st of August, around 6:30 am in the North-Eastern part of the
contact line between the Karabakh – Azerbaijani forces, is a absolute
disinformation”,- head of the Department of Information and Public
Affairs of RA Defence Ministry Mushegh Aghekyan told Times.am.

According to Aghekyan Rudik Manaseryan is the only wounded soldier
from Armenian side, whose state is stabile.

Mushegh Aghekyan also informed that according to yet unconfirmed
information Azerbaijani side has left 7 killed and wounded soldiers.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN IGNORES THE EFFORTS MADE TOWARDS A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE NK CONFLICT

Times.am
Sept 1 2010
Armenia

Keeping faithful to its style and violating the armistice on the
contact line, the Azerbaijani side once again organized firebrand
sabotage, Department of Information and Public Affairs RA Ministry
of Defence.

According to the information received from the press service of
the NKR defence army, on the 31st of August, around 6:30 am in the
North-Eastern part of the contact line between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani
forces, towards one of the Armenian posts near the village of Verin
Chaylu, the enemy has tried to realize sabotage activities. Due
to the watchfulness of the Armenian post-keepers and as a result
of the activities that were undertaken, enemy’s attack was halted,
and the Azerbaijani special importance detachment, with casualties –
wounded and dead – was thrown back to its posts.

Unfortunately, during a close fight Private conscript of the defence
army Rudik Tovmas Manaseryan, born in 1991, was wounded. The details
of the incident are being examined.

The Azerbaijani side, as always, has ascribed the sabotage of their
own initiative to the Karabakh forces and has disseminated information
allegedly the Armenian side has had casualties, as a result of the
encounter. These announcements are sole disinformation and do not
correspond with the reality.

All of this, once again facts, that the government of the neighboring
country ignores the efforts made towards a peaceful settlement of the
NK conflict. They periodically undertake such activities, artificially
destabilizing the situation at the borderline and endangering the
settlement negotiation process.

Such a behavior of the Azerbaijani AF not only causes a tension at
the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact line, but also does not correspond
to the announcements of the elite of the neighboring country on their
readiness for a peaceful NK conflict settlement.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIA, AZERBAIJAN TO SIGN DEAL ON INCREASED GAS SUPPLIES

Times.am
Sept 2 2010
Armenia

Russian gas giant Gazprom and Azerbaijan’s state oil and gas company
will sign a deal to increase supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Russia
in 2011-2012 during the Russian president’s visit to Baku on Thursday.

According to Ria Novosti Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said in mid-June
that Gazprom is prepared to “buy as much gas as Azerbaijan is ready
to deliver.”

“As part of the [Russian president’s] visit, an additional agreement
to the contract on increasing natural gas supplies in 2011-2012 will
be signed,” Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said.

Azerbaijan’s gas reaches Russia through its Baku-Novo-Filya gas
pipeline along the Caspian Sea to the Russia’s North Caucasus
republics.

A Kremlin source told RIA Novosti that Dmitry Medvedev and Ilham Aliev
among other issues would also discuss military cooperation but did
not elaborate on the issue. However, it was recently announced that
Azerbaijan would buy four Russian Ka-32 helicopters, used in utility
cargo work and fire-fighting.

From: A. Papazian