Author: Andres-Papazian

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

The Messenger
Aug 23 2010
Georgia

In the first quarter of 2010 trade turnover between the two countries
reached USD 184 million, which is 14 percent higher compared with the
same period last year. Imports from Russia to Armenia were USD 157
million, whereas exports from Armenia were USD 27 million. Russia’s
investment in Armenia’s economy in 2009 was more than USD 500 million.

Russia is investing in electricity and gas distribution, communications
and transport. There are currently 1380 operating enterprises financed
by Russian capital in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

CHIEF OF GREEK GENERAL STAFF OF LAND FORCES ARRIVING IN ARMENIA

Aysor
Aug 23 2010
Armenia

A delegation led by the Chief of Greek General Staff of Land Forces,
Lt. General Frangos Frangoulis is arriving on two-day working visit
to Armenia on August 23.

Lt. General Frangos Frangoulis will meet with Armenian Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of
Armenia, Colonel General Yuri Khachaturov, Defense Ministry press
office reported.

On August 24, the delegation will visit the Tsitsernakaberd
memorial complex and lay a wreath at the Genocide memorial. After
the wreath-laying ceremony Lt. General Frangos Frangoulis will meet
the media.

From: A. Papazian

ANKARA ‘NOT BOTHERED’ BY RUSSIAN TROOP INCREASE IN ARMENIA

News.az
Aug 23 2010
Azerbaijan

Suha Bolukbasi News.Az interviews Suha Bolukbasi, professor in the
Department of International Relations at the Middle East Technical
University, Ankara.

How would you comment on the changes in the functions of the Russian
military base in Armenia and the proposed increase of Russian arms
supplies to Yerevan?

Apparently Russia is interested in keeping a foothold in the
South Caucasus. (Georgia is definitely anti-Russian; Baku is less
anti-Russian, but not pro-Russian either. Azerbaijanis consider
Russia to be pro-Yerevan, and that Moscow helped Armenia to conquer
Nagorno-Karabakh.) Hence for Moscow a military base in Armenia is
very important. Yerevan, meanwhile, considers the Russian military
presence to be vital, given the fact that it is surrounded by
Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey – countries that do not share many
common objectives with Armenia.

Do you think that an increased military presence near the Turkish
and Azerbaijani borders is a threat to Ankara and Baku?

I don’t think such a threat exists. Russia’s military presence in the
region will reinforce its diplomatic objectives, but I don’t think
Moscow will use force to influence developments. Moscow’ military
presence in Armenia has continued since the demise of the USSR and
could strengthen its role in the settlement (or non-settlement, as
many Azerbaijanis believe) of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. Moscow has
been enjoying very close relations with Ankara for some time. (Some
point to a Turkey-Iran-Russia axis in diplomacy.) So, Ankara will
not be bothered by a larger Russian military base near its borders.

Can we expect Russian intervention in a Karabakh war if Azerbaijan
decided to liberate its occupied lands by force?

I don’t think Baku will initiate war to liberate Karabakh. Yet
accidents do happen, and hostilities with Armenia could resume. In
such a situation Russia might decide to deploy troops as peacekeepers
in and around mountainous Karabakh.

Do you think that the agreement on strategic partnership and mutual
support signed by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey can ensure
stability in our region?

I believe this agreement is basically a diplomatic gesture for
both Ankara and Baku. If stability means prevention of a renewal of
hostilities between Baku and Yerevan, the prevailing situation in
the region and surrounding occupied territories will continue unless
Baku decides to liberate these lands. I don’t believe that Baku is
genuinely interested in doing so. Even if the Azeri government were
to declare war, Turkey would not participate in hostilities, because
its involvement could result in a military conflict between Turkey
and Russia.

There are reports of plans to establish Turkish military bases
in Nakhchivan or other Azerbaijani regions. Do you think they are
accurate?

As I mentioned earlier, no Turkish government would take such a step.

Ankara would believe that such a step would be too provocative
vis-à-vis Moscow or Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

IRAN PLANS TO ADD 14 PLANES TO FLEET

Press TV
Aug 23 2010
Iran

Iran plans to add 8 Boeing MD and 6 Airbus passenger planes to its
aviation fleet “in the near future,” Iranian Roads and Transportation
Minister Hamid Behbahani says.

“Joining new Western planes into the fleet and replacing old planes
show the ineffectiveness of US sanctions on importing new planes and
aircraft spare parts,” Behbahani told the Fars News Agency on Monday.

Behbahani said 5 Boeing MD planes have already joined the country’s
air fleet as Iran is currently trying to renovate its planes.

In reaction to several accidents involving Russian-built Tupolev
passenger planes in Iran, the country weighs discharging its entire
Tupolev fleet. More than 20 Tupolev airplanes are currently in service
by different Iranian airline companies.

Iran has suffered a string of aviation disasters over the past decade,
most involving private airlines using Russian-made planes and crew.

Officials have blamed the incidents on a ban by the US on the sale
of new airplanes and spare parts to Iran, forcing it to purchase the
parts from Russia and other former Soviet states.

In the worst plane crash in Iran, a Tupolev-154M, crashed shortly after
take-off from Tehran en route to the Armenian capital of Yerevan on
July 15, 2009, leaving all 168 passengers onboard dead.

From: A. Papazian

“DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS THE BASIC DOCUMENT OF ARMENIA”

Aysor
Aug 23 2010
Armenia

Twenty years ago the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia adopted
a very important document having significant program and legal force,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Dean of YSU Department of
History Edik Minasyan told a press conference congratulating everybody
on the Declaration of Independence Day.

The historian stressed that the Declaration of Independence of the
Republic of Armenia laid the foundations for establishment of Republic
of Armenia independent statehood.

According to the expert, the Declaration of Independence was the
basic document of the Republic of Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PM ANNOUNCES NEW NUCLEAR STATION VALUED AT $5 BILLION

Aysor
Armenia
Aug 23 2010

Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has announced in his
interview with Haylur aired by county’s Public Television that Russia
will invest in building of a new nuclear station in Armenia.

“The agreement signed during Russian President’s visit to Armenia,
enshrines that the Russian partners will participate in the nuclear
station’s building and will invest in it. With the preliminary
calculations, the program’s cost is equal to $5 billion,” said Prime
Minister.

“We will cooperate with our partners. There will be a new
configuration and a new project, which will be followed by a more
detailed information to be delivered to the public about the nuclear
station,” he said.

Sarkisian said that the nuclear plant aims at improvement of the
energy system of Armenia and pointed that the station’s power will
be equal to 1,000 megawatts.

“This will be a modern station significantly increasing generation
capacity of the country,” said Prime Minister. He added: “This
also means that our industry will have a better future in sense
of development.”

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY STEP WITHOUT CONSIDERING AZERBAIJAN’S INTERESTS

Trend
Aug 23 2010
Azerbaijan

Trend’s interview with adviser to Prime Minister of the Turkish
Republic Geybulla Ramazanoglu regarding the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border

Trend: Turkish media reported about temporary opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border during NATO military exercises about after
the Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Azerbaijan. Earlier,
the Turkish officials repeatedly stated that the border will not be
opened until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved. Do you think
Turkey will support Azerbaijan once more?

Ramazanoglu: I think it would be wrong to attribute protection of
Azerbaijan’s interest only to opening of the border. It is necessary to
take into account the international relations between states, as each
country, regardless of how big or small it is, has its own political,
economic interests and international obligations. Each state strives
to act within these interests and obligations without prejudice to
another country’s interests. As you know, Ankara is very sensitive
to the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations and tries not to spoil them.

I would like to note that all the negotiations, which are underway
at the moment, all the steps are taken in accordance with the
mutual understanding between Turkey and Azerbaijan. President
Abdullah Gul’s recent visit to Baku is nonrandom. The officials’
meetings discuss the issues that are not included in any documents or
protocols. Everyone knows that in Soviet times all the questions were
discussed in advance and included in a protocol, meetings were held on
a pre-agreed scenario. In recent years, officials holds talks in the
“tete-a-tete” format, and nobody knows what they discuss.

I think the Azerbaijani and Turkish officials discussed many issues.

Only part of them was made public.

To my mind, Turkey will never take any step without considering
Azerbaijan’s interests. However, in some issues Ankara can face the
need to make a certain decision and thus unpremeditatedly commit an
act against Baku’s interests.

Q: What is the motivation for President Gul’s evasion of a direct
answer to a journalist’s question about the opening of Turkish-Armenian
border during NATO military exercises at a news conference in Baku?

A: It is quite obvious that if one doesn’t want to discuss any serious
question he/she evades answering them. Diplomacy is the ability to
hide the reality, not to talk about it. I think Abdullah Gul could
specifically answer “no” to the question about the possibility of
opening the Turkish-Armenian border during NATO military exercises

Q: It is supposed that Turkey will be forced to open the
Turkish-Armenian border under the superpowers’ pressure. Do you think
the U.S. and Europe exert pressure on Ankara in this issue?

A: This issue has a real side and an open side, which was made public.

In diplomatic circles you will not hear a phrase “we are under
pressure” both by the Turkish officials, and representatives of other
countries. But even someone without political education understands
that nowadays there are certain countries, whose desire solves many
questions. How do they implement their plans if there is no pressure?

So, there is pressure, but its form of expression is different.

Sometimes these powers can put the country before the fact.

Q: Could Turkey waive Azerbaijan’s interests in accordance to its
“quiet diplomacy” on the background of this pressure?

A: In fact, there is no connection between the “quiet diplomacy” and
Azerbaijan’s interests. The “Quiet diplomacy” is a policy aimed at
resolving Turkey’s internal problems. If the policy pursued within
the country now is made public, many will oppose it. Therefore,
preference is given to the “quiet diplomacy”. For example, Turkey
holds talks to resolve the problem of the Kurdish Workers Party. If to
inform the public that similar talks are being held with any country,
then there will be many problems. Therefore, the “quiet diplomacy”
is used in addressing such issues. It is held among governmental
officials and is not made public, or information about it will be
made public when the time for it reaches. Such diplomacy bears fruit
only after a certain time.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

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ARMENIANS COMMEMORATE THE 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORTY DAYS OF DEFENSE OF
MUSA DAGH
AND 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANJAR

ANJAR – On Saturday 23 August in the afternoon, His Holiness Aram I,
accompanied by the President of Arzakh (Nagorno Karabagh), and members of
the clergy, arrived in Anjar. After a warm welcome by the people of Anjar
and pilgrims arriving from the diaspora, the Catholicos and his entourage
walked to St. Paul’s Church for the service of the canonical hour. At the
end of the service, Catholicos Aram I thanked everyone for their warm
welcome, and said that the presence of the President of Arzakh, Pago
Sahakian, added to the significance of these anniversaries.

The procession then moved to the monument of the martyrs of Musa Dagh, which
they inaugurated with wreathes, and marked the event with speeches and
cultural presentations. His Holiness Aram I closed the evening with the
following words: “The past should shape our vision for future action. Our
history has shown that since the foundation of our nation by our forefather
Haig, we have struggled for our independence and for justice for our people.
The heroic defense of Musa Dagh against the Ottomans demonstrates that in
spite of our different convictions we can unite and defy our oppressors.”
Referring to the present, His Holiness continued, “After the genocide and
deportation, we built ‘little Armenias’ wherever we went. Anjar is a living
example of this ‘little Armenia’. As diaspora communities, we express our
loyalty to our host countries, without giving up our demand for justice, and
today, we are assisting our young Armenian Republic to grow and thrive. I am
certain that we shall remain united in our demand for justice in memory of
our martyrs”. At the end of his speech, Catholicos Aram I decorated Dr.
Vazken Der Kaloustian with the ensignia of St. Mesrob Mashdotz, in
recognition of his services to his people of Musa Dagh and the Church,
following the steps of his late father, Movses Der Kaloustian, one of the
heroes of Musa Dagh.

On Sunday, His Holiness Aram I presided over the Eucharistic celebration.
The two-day celebration came to an end with a Service in Memory of the
martyrs and an agape meal. Before giving his final blessing, Catholicos Aram
said, “Anniversaries should be the yeast, the leavening agent that shapes
our future actions. Our actions should safeguard our specificity as
Armenians, as they have in Anjar, strengthen our common will as a people and
deepen our Christian faith through the teachings and spirituality of our
Church”.

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View the photos here:

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

From: A. Papazian

OFFICIAL BAKU REFUSES ACTUALLY TO SUPPORT M. BRAYZA AS CANDIDATE FOR U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan Business Center
Aug 23 2010

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Official Baku has actually refused to back
Matthew Brayza’s candidate, appointment of whom as U.S. Ambassador
to Azerbaijan has faced opposition in the American Senate.

According to head of external relations department of Azerbaijan
Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov, the candidate of
American Ambassador has no principal significance as far as normal
relations between two countries will be continued irrespectively who
will be appointed head of the American diplomatic representatives
in Azerbaijan.

“Refusal of the USA to appoint M. Brayza Ambassador to Azerbaijan,
certainly, it will not do grace to the Presidential administration,
President, U.S. Secretary of State. So it turns out that the Armenian
lobby and diaspora able to appoint U.S. ambassadors to certain
countries,” N. Mammadov said, having underlined that M. Brayza is a
promoted worker of President and U.S. State Secretary, and their image
will suffer if this candidate be blocked by pro-Armenian senators.

The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations put off
voting for candidates of ambassadors to Azerbaijan and Turkey for
September-October, 2010. At that, senators from the Democratic party,
which considered M. Brayza’s explanations insufficient concerning his
excessive personal economic relations with the Azerbaijani government,
came out against M. Brayza. Senators asked the administration to tackle
more in detail with the issue. Candidate for Ambassador to Turkey was
blocked by senators from the Republican Party, which blame him for
insufficient support of democracy and freedom within the framework
of past diplomatic activity. At that, it was declared that relations
between the USA and Turkey are not at that level so that to be under
“local tyrants'” thumb in Turkey.

Nevertheless, position of U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan remains vacant
already more than a year that in itself generates questions not so
much concerning relations between the countries as management policy
and abilities of Barack Obama’s administration.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA SUPPORTS DIVERSIFICATION OF ECONOMIES WITH RUSSIA

Aysor
Aug 23 2010
Armenia

The Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission on economical
cooperation seeks for diversification of spheres of cooperation,
said Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian in his interview with
Haylur on the Public Armenian television.

“It’s necessary to diversify our economics and this means that new
issues should be included on agenda, and these issues are to be linked
to modernization of our economics and realization of joint innovation
projects,” said Tigran Sarkisian.

He said that the Commission focuses also on inter-regional connections.

“The previous session was held in Yaroslavl, and the next one
is scheduled in Yekaterinburg. And, sure, this will contribute to
signing of agreements directly between Armenia and Russia, and this
will result in more concrete cooperation,” said Prime Minister.

From: A. Papazian