Author: Andres-Papazian

Sahakian Rules Out Karabakh Under Azeri Control

asbarez
Friday, July 30th, 2010

Karabakh President Bako Sahakian

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian on
Friday said the war with Azerbaijan is unlikely to resume soon and
again ruled out any peaceful settlement that would place Karabakh back
under Azerbaijani control.

`The likelihood of large-scale hostilities is small,’ Sahakian told
the Russian Interfax news agency in an interview. `First of all, there
is a very effective balance of forces existing between the conflicting
parties.’

`Secondly, war is fraught with unpredictable consequences. The
international community and, in particular, the mediating countries
are hardly interested in instability in a strategically important
region like the South Caucasus,’ he said.

Tensions along the main Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact have
risen since a June 18-19 firefight in northeastern Karabakh that left
four Armenian soldiers dead. The incident was followed by fresh
Azerbaijani threats to resolve the conflict by force.

`Such [ceasefire] violations can not change the existing balance of
forces or undermine the spirit of our people and its army,’ said
Sahakian. Karabakh Armenian forces are capable of not only repelling
an Azerbaijani offensive but also `taking hostilities deep into the
enemy’s territory,’ he added.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the U.S., Russian and French
mediators co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group urged the conflicting
parties to `reinforce the ceasefire and demonstrate a spirit of
compromise.’ They also confirmed that the parties failed to overcome
their differences over the conflict’s resolution during recent
negotiations.

Sahakian scoffed at Azerbaijani statements that Baku is only prepared
to give Karabakh a high degree of autonomy. `We already had that
autonomy during 70 years of Soviet rule and we all know how it ended,’
he said. `A broad or any other autonomy within Azerbaijan is out of
the question. The conflict with Azerbaijan can only be resolved
through a formal international recognition of the independent
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.’

The Karabakh leader also insisted that the recent ruling by the
International Court of Justice upholding the legality of Kosovo’s
secession from Serbia is also applicable to the Armenian-Azerbaijani
dispute.

From: A. Papazian

Bryza confirmation vote scheduled for August 3rd

armradio.am
31.07.2010 12:49

Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee, announced that his panel will hold a vote next Tuesday,
August 3rd, on the confirmation of Matthew Bryza, President Obama’s
controversial nominee to serve U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, despite
the nominee’s evasive and incomplete answers to a series of written
questions submitted to him by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
and key members of this influential panel, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

“Mr. Bryza’s evasive, unresponsive, and incomplete written answers to
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, even more than his spoken
testimony before this panel, confirm our reservations about his
troubling track record, and clearly confirm that he is not the right
person to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan,” said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “American diplomacy in the
region would be well served by a fresh start, with a new ambassador
who doesn’t have deep ties into Azerbaijan’s corrupt government, a
history of turning a blind-eye to Baku’s aggression, or serious
conflict of interest issues.”

“We want to thank Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and offer our
sincere appreciation to Senators Boxer and Menendez and all the those
who have worked hard to ensure that we send an ambassador to Baku who
can effectively represent U.S. interests, persuasively advance
American values, and – crucially, for the cause of peace – constrain
an increasingly belligerent Aliyev regime from acting on its threats
of renewed war,” added Hamparian.

Bryza’s July 22nd confirmation hearing before the Foreign Relations
Committee raised more questions than answered on a range of issues,
prompting Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Russ
Feingold (D-WI) and Chairman Kerry to submit written questions to the
nominee and, significantly, prompted a detailed letter of inquiry to
the State Department directly from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

From: A. Papazian

Senate Appropriations Committee approves $40 million for Armenia

armradio.am
31.07.2010 11:35

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year
(FY) 2011 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, reported the
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The Committee recommended $40
million in assistance for Armenia, which is $1 million below last
year’s level of $41 million, and equal to the Administration’s request
of $40 million.

“In light of Turkey’s ongoing blockade of Armenia, and its refusal to
normalize relations without preconditions, the importance of U.S.
assistance to Armenia cannot be understated,” said Congressional
Relations Associate Bianka Kadian-Dodov.

The Senate Committee action comes after the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
adopted its version of the bill last month, which included $44 million
for Armenia and $10 million in assistance to Nagorno Karabakh.

“The Assembly will continue to work with both the Senate and House to
ensure the best possible outcome for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,”
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

The Senate Bill also called for “confidence-building measures and
other activities in furtherance of the peaceful resolution of
conflicts” for the “Southern Caucasus region.” In addition, the Bill
provided $25.5 million “to support people to people reconciliation
programs, which bring together individuals of different ethnic,
religious and political backgrounds from areas of civil strife and
war.”

The Committee also required a report regarding Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act directing the “Secretary of State to submit a
report not later than 90 days after enactment of this act, analyzing
the effectiveness of the restrictions on assistance for the Government
of Azerbaijan as contained in section 907 of Public Law 102-511, and
the exceptions to such restrictions on assistance provided under this
heading, in furthering a resolution to the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Such report shall also include specific
recommendations for increasing opportunities for reconciliation
between parties.”

Funding for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International
Military Education Training (IMET) were not delineated for Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Given Azerbaijan’s escalating military expenditures and
its continued war mongering, the Assembly in its congressional
testimony, “urged” appropriators “to cease military assistance to
Azerbaijan.” The Committee’s report also expressed concerns “with
repression of independent journalists in Azerbaijan” and directed the
Secretary of State to “seek improvements in freedom of expression in
connection with assistance for the central Government of Azerbaijan.”

Further action on the Senate and House bills will continue in
September when Members of Congress return from the August recess.

From: A. Papazian

New manuscripts donated to Matenadaran
30.07.2010 18:11

Lena Badeyan
`Radiolur’

The branch of Matenadaran will start functioning in Nagorno Karabakh
soon. `This will be of both cultural and political importance,’
Director of Matenadaran Hrachya Tamrazyan told reporters today.

Today the `Pyunik’ All-Armenian Fund for Human Resources Development
gifted a number of ancient manuscripts to Matenadaran.

According to the President of the Board of Trustees of `Pyunik’ Fund
Levon Sargsyan said `it’s senseless to speak about the value of the
manuscripts kept in Matenadaran. This value already belongs to the
generations.’

From: A. Papazian

Armenia’s Deputy FM meets outgoing Ambassador of Canada

armradio.am
30.07.2010 17:18

On July 30 Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan received
the Ambassador of Canada, Ralph Lysyshyn, who is completing his
diplomatic mission in our country.

Arman Kirakosyan lauded Ralph Lysyshyn’s personal contribution to the
development of the bilateral relations over the past four years.

Appreciating the expanding bilateral relations, the growing frequency
of bilateral meetings, as well as the cooperation within international
organizations, the parties attached importance to the development of
bilateral ties.

Reference was made to the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue,
Armenia’s relations with its immediate neighbors, as well as other
regional issues.

The parties attached special importance to the visit of Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian to Canada in May-June 2010, which
served as a great impetus for the reinforcement of friendly ties.

From: A. Papazian

Residents of Halidzor village treat longest ropeway’s construction
with optimism

July 30, 2010 – 18:49 AMT 13:49 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA) organized a
contest to choose a name for the longest ropeway leading to Tatev
monastery, as part of implementation of the project on reconstruction
of Tatev monastery complex. Residents of Halidzor and Tatev villages
(Syunik region) wrote essays to present their vision of how the
ropeway will change their lives.

There was no age limit for the contest participants, thus, both school
students and their teachers participated in it. The contest winner,
who offered Eagle Wings name, received a computer.

The contest basically aimed to involve residents of the villages in
the program of tourism development in the region, Press Secretary of
the NCFA Zara Amatuni told journalists.

Head of Halidzor administration Samvel Asryan noted that the ropeway
construction will create new jobs in the village. `Many residents of
the village have migrated since the Soviet times to earn money.
Meanwhile, the problem of employment will be solved now. We treat the
project with optimism,’ concluded Asryan.

From: A. Papazian

NATO Parliamentary Assembly to hold discussion over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

13:46 – 31.07.10

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly will not abandon the discussions over
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, despite calls by the Armenian
parliament, the press office of the Assembly press office told
Azerbaijani news agency Trend.

“[It is] very unlikely that the political leadership of the Assembly
will refrain from the discussions simply because somebody don’t like
it. There has been a political commitment by the Assembly to go ahead
in this issue.”

NATO PA has discussed the possibility of introducing at its next
meeting in Warsaw in November a resolution related to
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Earlier Armenian press reported Chairman of Armenian parliament Hovik
Abrahamyan appealed to the NATO PA head John Taner to refrain from
discussions over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict “in connection with a
possible report on the Karabakh problem.”

NATO PA press office said there are no preparations to publish a
report on Nagorno-Karabakh. However, there are plans to adopt a
resolution at the next meeting in Warsaw. The resolution will be
non-binding policy recommendations based on the deliberations of the
members, the same source said.

“Resolution differs from a report that tries to investigate an issue
and inform people about a particular situation, – NATO PA said. – It
is just a statement about what a collective membership of the Assembly
think should be done on a particular situation.”

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Turkey studies road near Alican checkpoint bordering Armenia

13:21 – 31.07.10

Turkey is presently studying a short section of a road that will in
all probability be used should the Armenia-Turkey border be opened.
According to CNNTurk experts from Erzurum regional road department
have upon the instruction of Igdir’s Governor arrived at the Alican
checkpoint and are currently exploring the 6km-long road, as well as a
bridge on the border.

The experts will in the near future prepare a report on the works
being done and will submit it to the Igdir province Governor.

Earlier in July some reports said that the Turkish Foreign Ministry
sent a written query to the Kars and Igdir province administrations
asking to respond how much time would be needed to make the road ready
for exploitation should the border be opened.

Ahmet Karan, the Kars governor, had said in response that a month
would be enough to get the road ready for exploitation should
Armenia-Turkey rapprochement be again brought on the agenda.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $40m for Armenia

14:48 – 31.07.10

On July 29 the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill,
reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The Committee
recommended $40 million in assistance for Armenia , which is $1
million below last year’s level of $41 million, and equal to the
Administration’s request of $40 million.

“In light of Turkey ‘s ongoing blockade of Armenia , and its refusal
to normalize relations without preconditions, the importance of U.S.
assistance to Armenia cannot be understated,” said Congressional
Relations Associate Bianka Kadian-Dodov.

The Senate Committee action comes after the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
adopted its version of the bill last month, which included $44 million
for Armenia and $10 million in assistance to Nagorno Karabakh.

“The Assembly will continue to work with both the Senate and House to
ensure the best possible outcome for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,”
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

The Senate Bill also called for “confidence-building measures and
other activities in furtherance of the peaceful resolution of
conflicts” for the ” Southern Caucasus region.” In addition, the Bill
provided $25.5 million “to support people to people reconciliation
programs, which bring together individuals of different ethnic,
religious and political backgrounds from areas of civil strife and
war.”

Further action on the Senate and House bills will continue in
September when Members of Congress return from the August recess.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Artsakh army can shift military actions deep into the aggressor’s
territories: Bako Sahakyan

12:13 – 31.07.10

The use of force and the resumption of military actions should never
be ruled out when it comes to the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict especially given the presence of a belligerent Azerbaijan and
anti-Armenian propaganda there, President of Artsakh Republic Bako
Sahakyan said at an interview with Interfax, pointing to continuous
violations of the ceasefire agreement from the Azerbaijani part as a
supportive argument of what he said.

“But the probability of widespread military operations is small. First
of all, there is quite an effective balance of force between the
conflicting parties. Secondly, the war has unpredictable consequences,
and the international community, particularly the mediator countries
would hardly be interested in the unpredictability and instability in
a strategically important region like the South Caucasus,” said he.

At the same time Mr Sahakyan mentioned that Artsakh’s Defense Army has
a very high level of military preparedness and cannot only resist a
potential aggression but also replace military actions deep into the
aggressor’s territories if need be.

“But a settlement of the Karabakhi-Azerbaijani conflict by force is
the one that has fewer perspectives, and the experience of the
previous war has shown that. For that reason it is necessary that we
spend our effort to prevent the resumption of military actions and
resolve the issue at the table of negotiations. Knowing the war from
our own experience we appreciate peace far more,” said Mr Sahakyan.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian