Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN REFUGEES STILL NOT INCLUDED IN UNHCR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, SERZH SARGSYAN SAYS

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

On August 24, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received the newly
appointed Representative of the UNHCR in Armenia Demtew Dessalegne.

President Sargsyan noted that Armenian government and the Office
of the High Commissioner have been efficiently cooperating for over
two decades, RA Presidential press service informed NEWS.am. Serzh
Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the UNHCR
Office to the Armenian Government in integrating refugees into our
society and tackling their problems.

Serzh Sargsyan also said that despite impressive accomplishments,
many refugees still live in temporary shelters. The Armenian leader
stressed the importance of a continued cooperation between the RA
Government and the Office in providing the refugees with housing.

The UNHCR Representative in Armenia said that efficient and continued
cooperation of the two sides has indeed yielded great results.

President Sargsyan and Demtew Dessalegne spoke about the forthcoming
projects of cooperation between the UNHCR and Armenia, stressing,
in particular, the importance of the Donors Conference to be held in
2011, which will be attended by the High Commissioner.

Serzh Sargsyan touched upon the Armenian refugees residing in
Nagorno-Karabakh. Stressing that Armenia and Artsakh have never
used the issue of refugees for political purposes, Serzh Sargsyan
expressed concern over the fact that they are yet not included in
the UNHCR programs of assistance.

From: A. Papazian

WEST WILL UNDERSTAND ARMENIA

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

The western countries realize that their efforts cannot make Turkey
ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols, thus Armenia is trying to find
new ways to ensure its security, said Karen Bekaryan, the President
of European Integration NGO, commenting on prolongation of Russia’s
presence in Armenia.

According to him, it will not lead to negative consequences
for Armenia. It will not affect Armenia’s European integration,
country’s bilateral and multilateral relations with the EU and the
western states as well, he stated. However, west, to put it mildly,
cannot welcome prolongation of Russian base’s deployment

From: A. Papazian

MEDVEDEV’S VISIT TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Yerevan and the CSTO
informal summit marked a new stage in the region. Russia is actively
returning to the South Caucasus, said Hayk Babukhanyan, the chairman
of Constitutional Rights Union Party.

Obviously, a substantial bloc will be formed where Armenia will play
major role, as the Armenian-Turkish border is the border between CSTO
and NATO as well, he added.

On August 19-20, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was on a state visit
to Armenia at the invitation of President Serzh Sargsyan. The sides
signed five agreements, including a protocol prolonging deployment
of the Russian base in Armenia and agreement on construction of a new
nuclear reactor. The Russian President laid a wreath at the Memorial
to Armenian Genocide victims. Dmitry Medvedev also participated in
the opening ceremony of the Hill of Honor, commemorating the Russian
warriors killed in the 19th century.

On August 20, an informal CSTO summit was held in Armenia. Issues
related to formation of crisis response system and situation in
Kyrgyzstan were on the agenda. Moscow will host the next summit
scheduled for December when Belarus will assume its presidency in
the organization.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PEOPLE PROVED ITS COURAGE, GREEK GENERAL SAYS

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

A Greek delegation headed by Chief of the Hellenic Army General
Staff Lt. General Frangoulis Frangos visited the Memorial to Armenian
Genocide victims, Tsitsernakaberd.

General Frangoulis Frangos laid a wreath at the Memorial, whereafter
he visited the Tsitsernakaberd museum.

The General was shown the exhibits and documents. He was told about
the Armenians’ heroic struggle, which saved thousands of lives.

The museum management presented the Greek General with an album about
the tragic events in Ottoman Turkey early in the 20th century. General
Frangoulis Frangos presented the museum with a statuette, a symbol
of Greece’s support for international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.

Any people’s history should be respected. “Freedom requires courage,”
Pericles said. The Armenian people, which sustained such great losses,
but gained independence and proved it does not lack courage, the
Greek General said.

It has been Frangoulis Frangos’ second visit to Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA NOT TO AFFECT KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS, AZERI OFFICIAL HOPES

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

Azerbaijan hopes that the Russian-Armenian new agreement to extend
term of lease of the Russian military base in Gyumri will not have
a negative impact on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Trend News reports.

“Russia’s official circles argue that the treaty signed in Armenia
would not adversely affect settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict,” Ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Deputy Chairman, Executive
Secretary, Ali Ahmedov told the reporters.

As NEWS.am reported previously, a protocol prolonging deployment
of the Russian military base #102 was signed in Yerevan today. The
document was signed by the Russian Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov
and his Armenian counterpart Seyran Ohanyan.

Under the protocol, the military base will remain in Armenia for the
next 49 years (instead of 25 years). It will also ensure Armenia’s
security.

From: A. Papazian

IRAN MAY BE INVOLVED IN NPP CONSTRUCTION IN ARMENIA, EXPERT SAYS

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

The construction of a new nuclear power plant is of critical importance
for Armenia’s economic development. It will not only replace the
old nuclear power plant, but also enable the country to offer more
energy that is less expensive that the energy generated by thermal
power stations, said Sergey Kondratyev, Senior Expert, Institute of
Energy and Finance, reported EnergyLand.info.

It was not mere chance that Russia was selected as partner in the
construction project – the Armenian NPP designed by Russian specialists
remained operative after the Spitak earthquake.

“Russia’s participation in funding the construction of a new nuclear
power plan is in full conformity with the Rosatom state corporation’s
strategy of expanding its presence on the external market and getting
profits not only from construction, but also from operation of new
NPPs,” the expert said.

The attraction of external investors, who would fund up to 60% of
the project, will facilitate risk diversification and involvement of
other interested entities. “It may be Iranian energy companies. Amid a
considerable increase in energy consumption in the country’s central
and northern regions, Iran’s power grid is having capacity deficit,
especially during peak loads. And Iran’s share in Armenia’s energy
exports is more than 70%,” he said.

An Armenian-Russian agreement on the construction of a new NPP in
Armenia was signed in Yerevan on August 20. The document was the
result of talks between the RA and RF Presidents, Serzh Sargsyan and
Dmitry Medvedev.

On the threshold of the signing, Head of the Rosatom corporation
Sergey Kiriyenko stated that Russia can finance more than 20% of the
construction costs. The project is estimated at U.S. $5bn.

An Armenian-Russian company has been formed to implement the project.

The company will cover 40% of the construction costs, the rest 60%
to be attracted as investments. The RA Government is negotiating with
potential investors.

Rosatom is stockholder of the Metsamor Inter RAO company, which is
to construct the 2nd nuclear power unit at the Metsamor NPP. The
company is to complete the construction and put the new power unit
into operation before the old reactor is out of operation.

From: A. Papazian

KURDS PUT DEPUTY PREMIER ON DONKEY FOR ANTI-ARMENIAN STATEMENTS

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

Kurds of Van responded to an anti-Armenian statement voiced by Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek.

In response to Cicek’s statement that some members of the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) are uncircumcised, which means a lot, (namely,
that they are allegedly Armenians), Kurds gathered near the office
of Democratic Society Party in Van. They were carrying a banner with
Cemil Cicek on a donkey. The banner had also an inscription saying
“Circumcision expert Cemil Cicek goes to Qandil (shelter for Kurdish
rebels in North Iraq).”

Earlier, the chair of Democratic Society Party Selahattin Demirtas
advised Cicek to circumcise Kurds himself. Let him go to Qandil
Mountains (northern Iraq) not confuse Armenians with Kurds, Demirtas
said.

The Armenian community of Istanbul also responded to Cicek’s words
and advised him to avoid such statements, as they are stirring up
hatred towards Armenians.

From: A. Papazian

ANKARA PROMISES FINAL DECISION ON ARMENIA-TURKEY BORDER IN LATE AUGUST

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

The opening of the Armenian-Turkish border during NATO military
exercises is still debatable. A decision on the matter will be made
this month, ANS agency reports referring to the Turkish Foreign
Ministry.

As NEWS.am reported previously, “Armenia-2010” joint exercise on
eliminating consequences of emergency situations within the framework
of NATO “Partnership for Peace” will be conducted in Armenia on
September 11-17. Servicemen of NATO 19 member states, including 3
Turkish representatives will participate in the maneuvers.

According to the scenario, after the powerful earthquake in Armenia
the water supply and drainage systems of the region are no longer
functioning. Means of communication, gas and energy supply systems,
as well as infrastructure and means of transport are heavily affected.

Turkey officially informed NATO committee on organization of
Armenia-2010 exercise that the equipment necessary for the Turkish
participants will enter Armenia from the territory of Georgia.

Despite Ankara’s official stance, Turkish diplomatic sources and press
wrote about possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish border for NATO
maneuvers. In particular CNNTurk reported that the Igdir Governor
ordered road conditions to be examined along the Armenian-Turkish
border.

From: A. Papazian

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF “HAYASTAN” ALL-ARMENIAN FUND’S LEBANESE BRANCH

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

On August 24, NKR President Bako Sahakyan met representatives of the
“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund’s Lebanese branch headed by its chairman
Sargis Armenyan.

Issues related to socioeconomic development of the Artsakh Republic
and realization of various projects in the country were discussed
during the meeting.

NKR President highly appreciated the contribution of the fund in the
development of Artsakh noting that he anticipated further activation
of the Lebanese Armenian community in this process.

Adviser to NKR President Armen Isagoulov, Minister of Education and
Science Vladik Khachatryan, Head of the Central Information Department
of the Presidential Office David Babayan, Permanent Representative of
the Artsakh Republic in the Middle East Karo Kebabjyan participated
in the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. SPENT ON KARABAKH $25 MILLION LESS THAN CONGRESS INTENDED

news.am
Aug 24 2010
Armenia

The U.S. Administrations – both Democratic and Republican – have, since
Fiscal Year 1998, expended $25 million less in aid to Nagorno-Karabakh
than Congress intended, the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) reported.

According to ANCA review, less than $36 million of the $61 million
slated by Congress for this purpose has actually been expended.

Approximately $12 million of the $25 million shortfall in aid
to Nagorno-Karabakh is the result of under-spending by the Obama
Administration during its first two years in office.

“Armenian Americans are deeply appreciative to the U.S. Congress for
its vision and generosity in initiating U.S. aid to Nagorno-Karabakh,
and for providing funding to help the people of Nagorno-Karabakh
emerge from the crisis created by Azerbaijan’s aggression, meet
pressing humanitarian needs, and, develop as a free society,” said
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.

“It is precisely because of our respect for the role of Congress and
the vital aims that are served by this aid that we are so troubled by
the failure of successive administrations to honor the clear intent
of Congress that this vital assistance program be properly funded
and fully implemented.”

“Sadly, the same State Department which sought unsuccessfully to
prevent Congress from starting the Nagorno-Karabakh aid program back
in the late 1990s, is still obstructing the clear will of Congress by
spending considerably less for this vital purpose than Congressional
appropriators intended,” he added.

From: A. Papazian