Author: Andres-Papazian

NEW NUCLEAR ENERGY BLOCK TO CORRESPOND TO ALL THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: Public hearings on building of a new
nuclear energy block near the city of Metsamor were held today at the
square of the Armenian nuclear power station. The public hearings
were organized by RA Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources,
‘MetsamorEnergoAtom’ CJSC in association with Armavir Governor’s
Office. The productive power of the second energy block of the Armenian
nuclear power station will be replaced with this new nuclear energy
block.

The second energy block is currently securing more than 40% of the
demand for energy in the Republic. ‘In contrast to the current energy
block, this new block of the next generation is more reliable and is
expected to operate for 60 years,’ RA Energy and Natural Resources
deputy Minister Areg Galstyan said. He mentioned that the best
technique will be used in the construction works. He added that
the influence of the forthcoming block on the environment will be
reduced and that all the systems will correspond to the international
standards. ‘We do not have any alternative variant from the point of
the security and energy security of Armenia,’ Areg Galstyan said. The
forthcoming energy block will be equipped with the Russian NPS-92
water energy reactor with 1060-megawatt gross power.

The reactor, supplied with passive security systems, is designed in
correspondence with of the codes and standards of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and with the nuclear requirements for
Russia and European Union. The construction of the new nuclear energy
block is expected to start 2011. It will occupy 17 ha of territory
of energy significance. The territory is wholly involved in the area
of the square of the Armenian nuclear power station and belongs to
RA Government. The number of people to be employed makes 900. It is
expected that most of workers will be Metsamor-based.

From: A. Papazian

FRANGUS FRANGOULIS, “WE MUST SPEAK ABOUT THE BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN ARMENIA AND GREECE AND NOT ABOUT RELATIONS”

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: “We must speak about the brotherhood
between Armenia and Greece and not about the relations of the two
states, for brothers do not speak about the level of relations,”
Head of the chief headquarter of the Greek land troops, Lieutenant
General Frangus Frangoulis, who has paid a two day working visit to
Armenia, said today at a briefing with journalists. Referring to the
prospects of the activity of the two states, noted that they have
already spoken of that with the Armenian Defense Minister during
his visit. And in response to the question of a journalist whether
Armenia-Greece brotherly relations do not mean establishment of
Armenia-NATO closer relations, for Greece is a member of the NATO,
Frangus Frangoulis gave a negative answer.

“Armenia is a free democratic state, has an elected government,
conducts its elections alone. If Armenia decides to establish closer
relations with the NATO, it will be the initiative of Armenia, and
we are ready to help as much as possible,” he said. Mr. Frangoulis
added that the Collective Security Treaty Organization is
internationally-recognized, and Armenia is its member state.

Referring to the Armenian-Turkish conflict, Mr. Frangoulis noted that
any nation is committed to respect the national identity of the other,
a state which has had so many victims and has become independent,
must remember its history. “In my homeland about 3 thousand years ago,
even during the Troy War, the war stopped to give a tribute of honor
to the perished.

And why the Armenian people must not remember the past events, in
order their efforts find their place in the history of people,” he
said, adding that respect is not bad in any case and can never have
negative consequences. “If peoples exert efforts and take lessons from
the history, they will find a way of cooperation. In order it takes
place, all the states, no matter it is Armenia, Turkey or Greece,
must express the same wish, to manage to overcome all the problems
of the past,” he added.

Referring to the goals of his visit to Armenia, Frangos Frangoulis
just said, “I like Armenians very much”.

From: A. Papazian

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN: THE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN PROTOCOL IS ADDITIONAL GUARANTEE DIRECTED TOWARD REGIONAL STABILITY

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: “Each state first of all must be
able to ensure the security of its borders on its own but with the
already established fact it is possible to once again point out
that the amendment in the agreement between Armenia and Russian on
extending the presence of the Russian military base in Armenia is
an additional guarantee for ensuring the stability of the region,”
deputy foreign minister Shavarsh Kocharyan stated in an interview to
“Realpolitik” program August 23.

At the agreement signed 15 years ago it was fixed that the Russian
military base must protect the foreign border of the USSR in Armenia,
and now it is fixed that the military bases protect Armenia’s border
from the foreign intrusion. The deputy minister highlighted the
provision of the protocol with which Russia must supply contemporary
weaponry to Armenia.

In response to the question of the anchor of the program Karen
Bekaryan whether the ensuring of security of Armenia means also
ensuring the security of Nagorno Karabakh, Mr Kocharyan noted that it
is obvious for all that the Republic of Armenia was, is and will be the
guarantor of the security of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Artsakh
population. If it was not so, Azerbaijan would have long ago tried to
settle the conflict in the other way instead of its military rhetoric.

The recent developments in the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations,
according to the deputy minister, are the unveiling of what has
always been. “If they state ‘one nation, two states’ everything is
said with it, there is nothing new in these relations. And there
is only one way to avoid the destabilization in the region – it is
the way the President of Armenia offered Turkey – establish normal
relations without pre-conditions and as to NK conflict be guided not
with the distortion of history, turning the whole negotiation process
to a propaganda but basing on the norms of the international right,
try to move forward.

He said after the trilateral meeting of the Armenian, Russian and
Azerbaijani presidents in St. Petersburg the Armenian side appeared in
a situation like after Madrid when Azerbaijan was contradicting the
statement it had made previously. After Madrid for a year they were
insisting that there is no such document. In St. Petersburg as well
though the Azerbaijani president at the presence of the presidents
of Russia and Armenia gave initial agreement to the document the
statements currently voiced from that country raise doubts, Mr
Kocharyan said, “they say ‘yes’ and afterwards act in a contrary.”

As to Armenia, its word and activity have never contradicted each
other.

From: A. Papazian

BAKO SAHAKYAN’S VISIT TO LEBANON CONTINUES

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: On 23 August President of the Artsakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan visited Patriarchate of the Armenian Catholic
Church located in Beirut where he met Armenian Catholic Patriarch
Nerses Bedros XIX, supreme hierarchs of church and representatives
of the Armenian community.

Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic
President told Armenpress that issues related to Motherland-Diaspora
ties as well as domestic and foreign policy were discussed during
the meeting.

Bako Sahakyan called important steady strengthening the ties between
various segments of the Diaspora, underlining that in this process
making more frequent periodical visits is of special significance.

Bako Sahakyan rated high the contribution of the Armenian Catholic
Church in preserving Armenian cultural and educational centers in
the Diaspora, particularly in Lebanon. The interlocutors touched upon
the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement process too.

Adviser to the President of the Artsakh Republic Armen Isagoulov,
minister of education and science Vladik Khachatryan, head of the
Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic
President David Babayan, permanent representative of the Artsakh
Republic in the Middle East Karo Kebabjyan, as well as ambassador
of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan partook at
the meeting.

On the same day the NKR president gave a press-conference for a number
of leading Lebanese mass media. Issues related to socioeconomic
development of the Artsakh Republic, Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict
settlement process and Artsakh-Diaspora ties were touched upon during
the press-conference.

On 24 August President of the Artsakh Republic 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.

Bako Sahakyan rated high 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 the President of the Artsakh Republic Armen Isagoulov,
minister of education and science Vladik Khachatryan, head of the
Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic
President David Babayan, permanent representative of the Artsakh
Republic in the Middle East Karo Kebabjyan partook at the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

HAKOB CHAKRYAN, “PROLONGING OF THE CONTRACT ON RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA ENSURES ARMENIA’S SECURITY”

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: The prolonging of the contract on
the Russian military base in Armenia signed between the Armenian and
Russian Presidents ensures the security of Armenia, but only from the
viewpoint of confronting the Turkish-Azerbaijani military-political
alliance, specialist of Turkish studies, political analyst Hakob
Chakryan said today at a news conference.

“The Turkish press writes that Baku is in panic today, but there is
no word about the response of Turkey. Ankara is very calm, which
gives place for thinking,” Mr. Chakryan noted. The specialist of
Turkish studies attached importance especially to the circumstance
that Russia has been and remains the strategic partner of Armenia,
which allows suggesting that we can trust the Russian party. “This
contract is of regional significance,” Mr. Chakryan said.

According to him, thanks to this contract Armenia will not become a
target of military activities, but the political pressures are not
excluded to grow. “In case of bigger countries such a contract might
make the given country a target of military activities, but we do not
have that issue in case of Armenia. We must be afraid of becoming a
target of political pressures,” Hakob Chakryan said.

From: A. Papazian

STEPAN SAFARYAN SAYS ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS TO BE EQUAL IN RIGHTS, ALLIED AND STRATEGIC

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: The amendment to the agreement on
location of Russian military bases in Armenia transforms it into a
new agreement, according to Ruben Hakobyan, deputy chairman of the
‘Heritage’ party. He said at today’s meeting with journalists that
the region undergoes great changes, and the agreement is to promote
those changes.

‘Though contradictory viewpoints are being expressed about the
agreement, I do not think there is any political force in Armenia,
which would not support those initiatives of the authorities, aimed
at strengthening the security of Armenia and Artsakh,’ Ruben Hakobyan
said. He says Russia showed once again that the South Caucasus and some
part of the Eastern Europe, especially the Ukraine, are in Russia’s
security zone. He added that the above-mentioned agreement and that
of Sevastopol prove the statement.

The Armenian-Russian relations should be equal in rights, allied and
strategic, according to Stepan Safaryan, head of RA NA’s ‘Heritage’
faction. He added that Armenia is the force, which prevents the
Azerbaijani aggression in the Caucasus.

The speakers also touched upon the Russian-Turkish and
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. Ruben Hakobyan mentioned that the
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations are not invulnerable and are full of
issues. ‘People in Azerbaijan worry about the increasing role of
Turkey,’ he added.

As to the visit of President of Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev to
Baku, Stepan Safaryan mentioned that the agreements, which are expected
to be signed during the visit, are not so important, as compared to
those, signed between Russia and Azerbaijan 2008. ‘One can notice
some cooling in the Russian- Azerbaijani relations,’ he noted.

From: A. Papazian

KAREN BEKARYAN, “DEEPENING OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND CSTO NON-OFFICIAL SUMMIT WERE AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN THE BALANCE INTHE REGION”

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: The deepening of Armenian-Russian
relations can be perceived in the West in quite a right way, taking
into consideration the step by step downfall of the regulation process
of Armenian-Turkish relations by Turkey, Chairman of the “European
Integration” NGO, political analyst Karen Bekaryan said, adding that
there is no contradiction between the European Integration strivings
of our country and its membership in the security sphere of the CSTO.

From: A. Papazian

KAREN BEKARYAN SAYS AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT ON LOCATION OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES IN ARMENIA EXPRESSES DEEPENING OF CONTENT OF THE COOPERATION

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: The amendment to the agreement on
location of Russian military bases is comprised of 3 points. The
first one is connected with timeframes, the second one implies that
the Russian forces will not only protect the interests of Russia, but
also ensure the security of Armenia, the third point eliminated the
condition, according to which the influence zone of Russian military
bases involves foreign border of the former Soviet Union.

Karen Bekaryan, political commentator, president of ‘European
Integration’ NGO, said at a press conference today that the
zone of operation of the Russian military bases now involves the
Armenian-Georgian and Armenian-Azerbaijani borders.

‘This amendment to the agreement expresses the deepening of the
content of the cooperation,’ the political commentator said. He added
that the amendment is driven by the interests of Armenia. He says the
Armenian side underscored the importance of the zone of operation of
the military bases, but for Russia the issue of prolonging of the
timeframe was essential. ‘It is natural, because in the process of
negotiations each side defends its interests, but there is no doubt
that the results of the process increased the guarantees of security
of Armenia,’ he said.

Karen Bekaryan mentioned that the strengthening of the Armenian-Turkish
relations cannot be considered negative by the USA or EU, because
it was evident for those forces that Turkey failed the process of
regulation of the Armenian-Turkish relations, so Armenia just makes
the relations with Russia stronger for the ensuring of its security.

From: A. Papazian

REFORMS IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION SPHERE DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan conducted today a consultation dedicated to the reforms in
the general education sphere. Ministers, governors and representatives
of stakeholder departments partook in the meeting.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that on the eve of the new
academic year Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan presented
the process of implementation of reforms, the existing issues and
prior activities. Among many issues, the ones connected with the
improvement of the quality of general education, and increase of
efficiency were discussed.

With the decision of the government stemming from the law “About
General Education” inner and foreign assessment mechanism will be
applied in the schools which will give an opportunity to form the
rating of schools.

Soon the order of attestation of the teachers will be established
and by the end of the year the proves of licensing of schoolmasters.

Summing up the consultation and reaffirming the importance of equal
territorial development Tigran Sargsyan assigned to keep under
limelight the issues of community schools.

From: A. Papazian

SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVES REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNHCR IN ARMENIA DAMTEW DESSALEGNE

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 24, 2010
YEREVAN

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received today Representative of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Armenia
Damtew Dessalegne. Presidential Press office told Armenpress that
welcoming the guest Serzh Sargsyan noted that the Armenian government
and the UN office effectively cooperate for already two decades. He
thanked the UN agency for assisting Armenia in solving issues of
refugees.

Serzh Sargsyan pointed out that in spite of the huge work carried out
till now, still many refugees are living in temporary hostels. The
leader of the country rated high the continuation of cooperation
between the UNHCR and Armenian government on ensuring apartments
to refugees.

UNHCR representative said that the long-lasting cooperation between
the UNHCR and Armenian government has really given results.

The interlocutors also spoke about the coming cooperation programs
of Armenia and UN, highlighted the conference of donors to be held
in 2011.

Serzh Sargsyan also referred to the issue of refugees living in
Nagorno Karabakh, expressing concern that they are not involved in
the UN program of assistance to refugees.

From: A. Papazian