Author: Andres-Papazian

ALARM DIDN’T STOP ACTIVITIES

Law-enforcement bodies still aren’t releasing details in relation
to the bomb that was placed on the “Toyota” service car belonging to
Head of Finances of “Dino Gold Mining Company” Ara Markosyan.

A case has been brought up according to Part 1 of Articles 137 and
235 of the RA Penal Code. As reported by the company’s correspondent
for community and media relations Norayr Aghyan, the incident has
not had an impact on the company’s activities.

“We are continuing our work and the police are clarifying the motives
of the incident” said Norayr Aghayan.

The bomb was placed on the spindles of the car’s right tire. According
to rumors, it couldn’t have been placed at the enterprise since the
latter is under the surveillance of the company’s security guards
and the guard service. The guards even check cars leaving the premises.

The entire territory is under surveillance. Well-informed insiders
link the incident to the internal conflicts between employees of the
company’s administration.

There is also a version according to which the incident has nothing
to do with Ara Markosyan’s job and it was a way of settling personal
issues.

On the night of July 27, all cars leaving Kapan were checked by
the police. Although the police told “A1+” that the inspection had
nothing to do with the incident at “Dino Gold Mining Company”, they
didn’t go into detail either.

According to another version, citizens of Yerevan had come to Kapan and
placed the bomb. Initially, it was said that the company’s employees
had noticed the bomb on the car belonging to the company’s director
Robert Faleta.

The operative group found out that the device was on Ara Markosyan’s
car and the person who informed the police was the company’s commercial
director Manuk Darbinyan.

Armen Davtyan, “Sosi” TV of Kapan

From: A. Papazian

AFTER 35 YEARS HELSINKI FINAL ACT HAS NOT LOST RELEVANCE, SAYS OSCE CHAIRPERSON-IN-OFFICE

Tert.am
30.07.10

The Helsinki Final Act remains as relevant today as it was when it
was signed 35 years ago, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s
Foreign Minister and Secretary of State Kanat Saudabayev said today,
according to a release issued by the OSCE Office in Armenia.

“For the 35 years of its existence, the Helsinki Final Act has not
lost its relevance and topicality. The innovative and comprehensive
concept of security that was established by the leaders of 35 states in
Helsinki remains today an important factor of security and co-operation
in the OSCE area of responsibility,” he said.

“At the same time, truly tectonic changes in the world that have taken
place, particularly in recent years, require the OSCE participating
States, and first and foremost their leaders, to search for adequate
responses to these new challenges and threats. This is why the
timeliness of an OSCE summit in Astana this year is difficult to
overestimate. Our aim is to move from the concept of a ‘space of
security from Vancouver to Vladivostok’ to the creation of a single
Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian community of security.”

“We believe that a result of the summit will be a new ‘Spirit
of Astana’ that will naturally and logically stem from the new
geopolitical realities and the Helsinki Final Act. This will represent
a commendable way to mark the anniversary of the Organization and
will encourage new achievements in the 21st century,” Saudabayev added.

The Helsinki Final Act, signed by presidents and prime ministers from
35 countries on 1 August 1975, was seen as a major step in reducing
Cold War tensions and led to the formation of a permanent forum for
dialogue on security – the Conference on Security and Co-operation
in Europe, now the OSCE.

The Act established a uniquely comprehensive definition of security –
encompassing the politico-military, the economic-environmental and
the human dimensions – and along with the commitments subsequently
agreed by the participating States continues to guide the OSCE’s work.

A Summit bringing together the leaders of the 56 States which make
up the OSCE today is planned to take place in Astana before the end
of the year.

From: A. Papazian

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A SOLDIER IS BEING HUMILIATED: ARTHUR SAKUNTS

Tert.am
30.07.10

“This is not a rare case when a soldier is being humiliated in
the army. The Defense Ministry must take measures to avert similar
incidents,” President of Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Association
Arthur Sakunts told Tert.am, speaking about a recent incident in an
Armenian military unit.

According to Sakunts such incidents in the army are serious challenges
to national security.

The Defense Ministry of Armenia issued a release acceding to which
an incident with the use of gun took place on July 28 which claimed
human lives.

According to Mr Sakunts Karo Aivazyan, a temporary soldier from Yerevan
has in fact taken revenge for his friend. The latter had been asleep
in the trench while in service. The sergeant and the lieutenant in
charge of the military post noticed it while checking how the service
was going on.

They started verbally assaulting the soldier, and Karo Aivazyan,
seeing that, opened fire and killed the sergeant and the lieutenant.

Further he opened fire at three fellow servicemen who had heard the
fires and rushed to the scene.

Karo Aivazyan committed suicide afterwards.

Six people died due to this incident.

According to Mr Sakunts the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Association
is conducting a research on the issue and is collecting additional
data.

“Let’s see what investigation the Defense Ministry will conduct,”
said Mr Sakunts.

From: A. Papazian

ANKARA WILL CONTINUE ASSISTING BAKU OVER KARABAKH CONFLICT, SAYS TURKISH STATE MINISTER

Tert.am
30.07.10

Turkey has always been and will always stand by Azerbaijan when it
comes to the Karabakh conflict, Turkish State Minister Zafer Caglayan
said at a Turkey-Azerbaijan business forum in Baku, reported by
Turkish news agency Anadolu.

Saying that Turkey has assumed important responsibilities aimed at
the establishement of peace in the region, Mr Caglayan said that
the Nagorno Karabakh issue must be resolved, adding that Turkey will
among other things assist Azerbaijan in that issue.

“At the highest level possible Turkey is making efforts across the
world for that issue. Turkey has always stood by Baku when it comes
to the return of territories and will continue to do so,” said Mr
Caglayan, who paid a three-day visit to Azerbaijan on July 27.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN LANGUAGE FACES SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN GEORGIA: ACTIVISTS UNABLE TO RAISE CONCERNS TO ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Tert.am
30.07.10

Each year more and more Armenian schools are shut down in Georgia,
Coordinator of Tbilisi Assembly of Armenians, Arnold Stepanyan told
Tert.am, adding that the first reason the is a decreased number of
schoolchildren.

“Today no reforms are being made in the Armenian schools in Georgia;
they [the schools] have come to be of poor quality. These schools
do not meet the quality [norms] that existed 15 years ago,” said
Stepanyan apparently concerned about what is happening with Armenian
heritage and culture in Georgia.

The Armenian schools are not competitive with the Georgian ones
therefore the Georgia-based Armenians prefer to send their children
to Georgian and Russian schools.

Further Mr Stepanyan said that the Georgian authorities make obstacles
for Armenian schools to make sure they don’t have a chance to grow and
develop. By doing, according to him, they try to shape an Armenian
community which does not require anything and does not strive for
anything either.

“A community with poor knowledge [also about its roots and origin]
is easy to rule,” explained he.

Speaking about the fact that the school classes allotted for the
Armenian language and history have recently been reduced at the
Armenian schools in Samtskhe-Javakheti and some activist teachers have
been sacked for taking measures to preserve the Armenian language
there, Stepanyan said that a “fight” has been launched against the
Armenian language in Georgia.

He also mentioned that the schools and the language preservation
are in serious need in Georgia, especially in Samtskhe-Javakheti –
something, according to him that must be addressed at the state level
but “Armenia’s government does not cooperate with us.”

“I wanted to meet with Armenia’s foreign minister [Edward Nalbandyan],
who recently paid a visit to Georgia, and present the issue to him.
Unfortunately, me and those raising Armenians’ problems were not
given the chance,” said Mr Stepanyan, adding that currently there
are 150 Armenian schools in Georgia.

From: A. Papazian

TNJRE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL IN KARABAKH

Tert.am
30.07.10

On 29 July President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received a
group of participants of Tnjre international music festival of young
performers, according to a release issued by the presidential office.

Mr Sahakyan noted the importance of holding such events in Artsakh
considering it a significant event both in the republic’s life and
in creating and widening cultural ties with different countries.

Bako Sahakyan mentioned that the cultural sphere is among pivotal
directions of the country’s development and is one of the best means
of introducing Artsakh to the outer world.

Artsakh Republic Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Narine
Aghabalyan partook at the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

COLD SHOWER FOR A “DEAD” SEASON
Leonid Martirosyan

Azat Artsakh Daily,
22 July 2010
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On July 16-17, an informal summit of the OSCE member states’ Foreign
Ministers took place in Almaty, within which a meeting of the Foreign
Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing
states was also held. No intensification of the negotiation process on
Nagorno Karabakh is likely to be expected in the nearest two months, as
a “dead” political season related to the traditional summer vacations
will start very soon. What a baggage will the settlement participants
take with them and what impulses have Armenia and Azerbaijan got from
the international mediators for the further search of ways for the
issue’s resolution? The summit in Almaty gives partial answers to these
questions. We can state at once that the summit events on the Karabakh
settlement became a peculiar cold shower for Azerbaijan. Let’s give
some clarifications. The informal forum of the OSCE member-states’
Foreign Ministers in Kazakhstan followed quite an active propaganda
campaign by the Azerbaijan party, which used the favourite instrument
of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy – lie and blackmail. President Aliyev
and Foreign Minister Mamedyarov declared their determination to resolve
the conflict in a military way, they stated that the issue of returning
the Karvachar and Kashatagh regions would be allegedly discussed in
Almaty, and the return of the rest five regions had been allegedly
resolved and was out of any discussion. To fairly note, Armenia’s
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian gave a corresponding rebuff to his
Azerbaijani colleague, calling his words on the territories’ return an
absolute lie. But, the lie’s disclosure hasn’t properly impacted the
Azerbaijanis. Another matter is the statement of the Foreign Ministers
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states – Russia, France, and the
USA, which actually recommended Baku to refuse of its illusions,
which, surely, couldn’t but cause a negative reaction. Within
the ministerial meeting, the delegations’ heads – Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kushner,
and Deputy US Secretary of State James Steinberg issued a joint
statement, the provisions of which had actually to cool the heat of
the Azerbaijan party. And though due to the traditions of the western
diplomats dealing with the conflict settlement process, no specific
names were noted, the addressee of the sounded warnings was obvious,
as the competent political and expert circles, as well as others are
exactly aware of those who rattle the saber and falsify the essence of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as a whole and the negotiation process
in particular. First of all, the statement’s authors reminded once
again the three major principles, on which the conflict resolution
should be based – the nonuse of force or of threat of force, the
right to self-determination, and the territorial integrity. Which is
more important, they emphasized the inadmissibility of hierarchy of
the noted principles of the Helsinki Final Act, i.e. domination of
one principle over another, which is obviously done by Azerbaijan,
constantly underlining the primacy of the principle of territorial
integrity over the right to self-determination. So was on July 6,
at the presentation of the so-called “Central Headquarters” of the
so-called Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh. Speaking of the
Helsinki principles, Ilham Aliyev stated without a moment’s hesitation,
“The basic principle here is the territorial integrity.

There is also a principle of nations’ self-determination. But, this
principle should not harm the territorial integrity of nations or
contradict it”. This is the legal incompetence of the Moscow State
Institute of International Relations’ graduate, his legal selectivity,
and to be more exact, legal ilHAMNESS (RUDENESS). Actually,
the Azerbaijani President was taught a lesson of elementary legal
literacy in Almaty. But, it is a great question whether the lesson
will be of any use, as the Azerbaijani leader is also famous for his
legal nihilism. And the most important. In the former capital city
of Kazakhstan, the inadmissibility of any force actions or inciting
statements, which could destabilize the situation in the region,
was clearly noted. The addressee of this message is also obvious. In
other words, Azerbaijan was notified that it wouldn’t be allowed to
aggravate the situation, and it was called upon to take corresponding
measures for maintaining the cease-fire regime. The Foreign Ministers
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states finished the summit in
Almaty with similar advices to the conflicting parties, actually,
having outlined the political-legal field, in which the settlement
process participants can “break a lance”. The struggle’s means are
also determined – they are diplomatic, excluding any war rhetoric,
and all the more – military activities. We’ll see in the nearest time
what the Azerbaijanis’ response will be, whether they will consider the
mediators’ recommendations or still wider – listen to reason. Though,
judging by the recent publications in the Azerbaijani press, anything
will hardly change in the position of official Baku. The latter is
rather a diagnosis.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT OF THE AR VISITED THE ASKERAN AND MARTOUNI REGIONS

Azat Artsakh Daily,
28 July 2010
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On 28 July President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan visited
the Askeran and Martouni regions and inspected on site functioning of
the newly-built irrigation system. Thereupon the Head of the State
convoked a working consultation in Askeran regional center dedicated
to the issues of irrigation system. Head of the department of water
industry under the Cabinet of Ministers Kajik Khachatryan delivered a
corresponding report. Bako Sahakyan underlined strategic importance of
irrigation network development for our country. The President noted
the significance of elaborating new strategy of water consumption and
adoption of the necessary legal acts in the legislative sphere. In
this context Bako Sahakyan gave concrete instructions to the heads
of corresponding structures. Premier Ara Haroutyunyan, minister
of agriculture Armo Tsaturyan and other officials accompanied the
President during the visit.

From: A. Papazian

BAKO SAHAKIAN:
Laura Grigorian

Azat Artsakh Daily,
28 July 2010
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

“REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING, WE’LL CONTINUE OUR ACTIVITY ON ACHIEVING THE
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE NKR” On July 23, the President of
the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakian received representatives of the
leading mass media of Artsakh and Armenia. The meeting was aimed at
discussing the resolution of the Hague Court on Kosovo’s independence
adopted the day before. During an hour-long press conference, the NKR
head of state answered over 15 questions of journalists. Will the
resolution on Kosovo become a considerable stimulus and precedent
for other unrecognized Republics, including Nagorno Karabakh? What
is the position of the President of Artsakh? According to Bako
Sahakian, though the resolution of the UN International Court is of
recommendation character, however, this is a significant event. “We
can only appreciate if the resolution of the Hague Court contributes
to the international recognition of the NKR. Regardless of anything,
we’ll continue our activity on achieving the international recognition
of the Republic of Artsakh”, said Bako Sahakian. We are more or less
aware of the principles on the current negotiations’ agenda. Does
the NKR President admit the policy of the RA President, or is he
satisfied with the course of the negotiation process? According to
the President of Artsakh, Armenia, represented by its President,
conducts a policy radically differing from that of the opponent.

Armenia’s steps are aimed at conducting a constructive activity and
contributing to the negotiations, said Bako Sahakian. “We all see
that the RA President doesn’t conduct any extreme policy, which is
praised both by our people and the international community. We have
made sure for the last two years that Armenia’s steps have been highly
appreciated by various international structures. Unlike Armenia, the
steps taken by the Azerbaijani authorities do not contribute to the
negotiation process, moreover, they hamper it”, noted the President
of Artsakh. According to the journalists, the Hague resolution,
actually, opens a new page in the sphere of international law. Can
the negotiations’ course be changed, introducing new proposals to
the co-chairs? The Artsakh head of state noted that not only after
the Hague resolution, but also at all meetings the Karabakh party
introduced various proposals and tried to support the OSCE Minsk
Group mission within the existing format. The Minsk Group’s failure
in achieving progress in the negotiation process is caused by Nagorno
Karabakh’s non-participation in the negotiations. As for the resolution
of the UN International Court, Bako Sahakian isn’t convinced in its
impact on the negotiation process or the Co-Chairmen’s position. “If
it has a positive impact, we’ll only commend this”, emphasized the
NKR President. The mass media have repeatedly raised the issue of
recognition of the NKR independence by Armenia. The journalists asked
the Republic’s President about this.

Answering the question, Bako Sahakian said, “We have repeatedly
expressed our viewpoint on this – this is not an end in itself for us.

Armenia’s recognition of the Republic of Artsakh has become an issue of
speculations. I assure you that this is a process, which should have
its grounds, and the most interested party in this is the Republic
of Artsakh. This issue is not on our everyday agenda, which is quite
justified. Eventually, Armenia bears certain responsibility before
the international community, and it would be wrong to condemn it in
this issue. We are sure that sooner or later it will happen, but we
want no political speculations in this”, Bako Sahakian noted.

The journalists were interested in the negotiations on the Karabakh
conflict settlement in different contexts. But, the most important
question was when can the Karabakh party become an equal party to the
negotiation process? Speaking of this, the Artsakh President noted
that the position of the Minsk Group Co-Chairmen on the Karabakh
party’s participation in the negotiation process had changed. For
the last two years, Armenia has conducted a great work for this. In
its official statements, Armenia always underlines that no progress
is possible in the settlement process without the Karabakh party’s
participation. The co-chairmen and the Armenian parties are convinced
that no efficient job can be hoped for in the current format, i.e.

without Nagorno Karabakh’s participation”, Bako Sahakian said. How can
Kosovo’s example influence the determination of the status of Nagorno
Karabakh, and how real is the international community’s activity
in this process? “The Karabakh issue is a phenomenon, which cannot
be ignored either by international structures or the international
community, despite their long efforts. Today’s Artsakh follows the
standards proclaimed by the international community. To our credit,
we have numerous achievements – in the context of creating both
democratic culture and a civil society. Our today’s activity will,
surely, come to its logical end. First, it is the international
recognition of the Republic of Artsakh; second, it is the increase
of our country’s security, and the work conducted to this end will
allow the people of Artsakh to properly develop their life in peaceful
conditions”, Bako Sahakian said. Returning to the resolution of the
Hague Court, the President of the Artsakh Republic said, “Surely,
this is a new political situation created by the resolution of such
an authoritative organization as the Hague International Court. And,
surely, this is a new reality related not only to the Artsakh issue,
but also to the political life in the world, and in accordance with it,
certain developments will take place in our life as well. Another
matter is how we’ll enjoy all this. Many people criticize the
Armenian party for the so-called weak job. We don’t admit this: if
our activity is not made public, it doesn’t mean that it is weak. I
believe that under a proper activity we’ll win both in the political
and non-political situations”. Questions on mutual compromises
and on the liberated territories were also asked. What option will
Nagorno Karabakh choose? The answer to this question was quite precise:
“When compromises are noted we say that when Nagorno Karabakh becomes
an equal party to the negotiation process, then we’ll present our
viewpoint. I have repeatedly emphasized for all these years that
we don’t consider the final status of Nagorno Karabakh within the
former NKAO. We have territories endorsed by our Constitution. And
when we say that our positions haven’t changed, it means that the
security and independence of Karabakh are not subject to any bargain
or speculations. This is our choice”, concluded Bako Sahakian.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC RECEIVED A GROUP OF ,,,

Azat Artsakh Daily,
30 July 2010
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On 29 July President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received
a group of participants of “Tnjre” international music festival of
young performers. The Head of the State noted the importance of
holding such events in Artsakh considering it a significant event
both in republic’s life and in creating and widening cultural ties
with different countries. Bako Sahakyan mentioned that the cultural
sphere is among pivotal directions of the country’s development and
is one of the best means of introducing Artsakh to the outer world.
Artsakh Republic minister of culture and youth affairs Narine
Aghabalyan partook at the meeting.

From: A. Papazian