Author: Andres-Papazian

DETAILS OF INCIDENT IN ARMENIAN UNIT, 5 KILLED

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

Five servicemen were killed in the incident in one of the Armenian
military units, the coordinator of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly
Vanadzor Office Arthur Sakunts said, noting that it is preliminary
information that has to be clarified.

According to Sakunts, there are 4 officers and a private among the
victims. The officers caught soldiers sleeping on watch. They waked
them up and started humiliating them. As a result, one of the soldiers
took the gun and started firing. Thereafter he shot himself.

The human rights defender also noted that he keeps on clarifying
the details.

As NEWS.am reported earlier referring to the Armenian Defense Ministry
press service, an armed incident occurred in one of the Armenian
military units on July 28. According to the source, there are victims.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN MAY UNLEASH WAR SOON, RUSSIAN EXPERT SAYS

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

Azerbaijan’s buying of air-defense system from Russia is directed
against Armenia only, the head of the analytical department at the
Institute for Political and Military Analysis Alexander Khramchikhin
told NEWS.am. According to him, Azerbaijan has no other rivals.

Despite of the fact Armenian aviation does not have great combat
potential, such reinforcement by Azerbaijan hinders Armenia’s
opportunities. Doing so, Azerbaijan excludes any unpleasant surprises
in future, the expert stressed. “Having such weapons, Azerbaijan
can afford unleashing war,” Khramchikhin noted, adding that it is
Azerbaijan’s “combat hoard”.

As to the opinion that Azerbaijan undertakes measures on repelling
possible air attacks by Iran, the expert deems that war with Iran
is unreal. “I cannot imagine it,” he stated, adding that Iran
found itself in a very difficult geopolitical situation. “Doing so,
Iran will directly declare itself NATO’s enemy. It will be a costly
mistake,” Khramchikhin emphasized. The expert also called a “bluff”
the statement by Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia, hinting that Tehran
will not permit resumption of hostilities.

Khramchikhin considers that Azerbaijan is likely to unleash war. If the
country’s leadership is constantly making warlike statements and buying
S-300PMU2 worth at least U.S. $300m, one can assert that this country
intends to resume hostilities. The expert also spoke of Azerbaijan’s
military ambitions. According to him, Armenia will need more resources
and other kinds of weapons to resist this protection system.

NEWS.am reminds the readers, Russia will supply two batteries of
S-300PMU2 Favorit air-defense system to Azerbaijan, Vedomosti.ru
reported, referring to sources in the Russian defense industry.

From: A. Papazian

ARMED CONFLICT IN ARMENIAN MILITARY UNIT

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

On July 28, an armed incident occurred in one of the Armenian military
units, Armenian Defense Ministry press service informed NEWS.am.

According to the source, there are victims.

Criminal Proceedings were instituted. An investigation is underway.

The leadership of the Armenian Armed Forces offers its deep condolences
to the victims’ relatives. Corresponding bodies were instructed
to clarify all the details of the incident. No other information
is available.

From: A. Papazian

ROSOBORONEXPORT ON RUSSIAN ARMS FOR AZERBAIJAN

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

The Rosoboronexport (Russian Defense Export) state corporation neither
confirmed nor refuted the reports on Russia’s intention to sell two
batteries of the S-300PMU2 Favorit air-defense system to Azerbaijan.

Vyacheslav Davydenko, Spokesman for the Rosoboronexport Director
General, said he was not authorized to make any comments. He also
neither confirmed nor refuted the fact of a relevant agreement between
Rosoboronexport and the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

In a private talk, however, he said: “We are not allowed to make
any comments on the agreement, as the agreement has a relevant
stipulation. Russia signed an interstate agreement with one of the
partner countries, which has nothing to do with any others,” Davydenko
said. He also gave an evasive answer to a question concerning a
speculation that “it has nothing to do with Armenia.”

NEWS.am reminds readers that, referring to sources in the Russian
defense industry, Vedomosti.ru reported Russia plans to supply two
batteries of S-300PMU2 Favorit air-defense system to Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY, U.S. ALLIES SINCE KOREAN WAR, AMERICAN COMMANDER SAYS

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

Turkey has been U.S. ally since Korean war, James Mattis,the newly
appointed commander of the U.S. Central Command stated, adding that
the countries will continue to work together “on common interests”.

“Turkey has been an ally of ours since the Korean War when they
fought alongside us during that difficult period. They stood by us
through the Cold War. They stood by us through sanctions against
Saddam at a time when it cost them economically severe consequences
to their country,” he said during the meeting of Senate Armed Services
Committee, Asbarez reported referring to Today’s Zaman.

He also emphasized that Turkey is “the only NATO country that is
fighting an active insurgency in the southeast corner”.

From: A. Papazian

APPROVAL OF TATEV’S RESTORATION PROJECT POSTPONED

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

On July 29, the Armenian Government was to approve the development
program of Tatev Monastery. However, the issue was removed from the
agenda at the suggestion of Deputy Economy Minister Karine Minasyan.

The decision was reasoned by “necessity to make certain amendments”.

However, other developments might have played crucial role. The
restoration project of Tatev Monastery was in fact launched thanks
to $20m donation by Ruben and Veronica Vardanyan, well-off Armenians
residing in Moscow. The project provided for restoration of Tatev
Monastery complex, construction of the world longest Halidzor-Tatev
ropeway, as well as creation of tourism infrastructure.

Armenian society ambiguously admitted another project funded by Ruben
Vardanyan, construction of English-language school in Dilijan. In
his letter addressed to the Public Council, Vardanyan informed of his
refusal to construct a school, expressing discontent with the nature
of public discussions. It is not ruled out that Vardanyan will also
reject the investments in Tatev. In this case, the Government will
have to seek for other donors. This might be the reason why the
approval of the program was postponed.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN CYNICALLY CONTINUES ILLEGAL PRIVATIZATION OF KARABAKH’S CULTURAL HERITAGE

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

Azerbaijan filed a note of protest to the corresponding agencies in
Spain, Great Britain and Ireland, participating in the excavations
in Azokh Cave in Nagorno-Karabakh, one of the ancient cradles of
civilization, chief of department of Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture
and Tourism Arif Aliyev stated.

The Ministry called on these countries through Azerbaijani embassies
to recall their specialists, saying such activities in Azerbaijani
territory, without Azerbaijan’s permission, are non-conforming to
international conventions.

Aliyev also said Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry prepares appeal to
these countries to warn their agencies about the illegality of the
excavations.

From: A. Papazian

BRYZA NOT TO BE APPOINTED?

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

Information on the appointment of U.S. Ambassadors to 21 countries is
posted on the website of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Senator Kerry will preside at the hearings scheduled for August 3.

However, Matthew Bryza’s name, the U.S. Ambassador Azerbaijan
designate, is not included in the list.

Azerbaijani press reported that U.S. Embassy in Baku refused to comment
on the information, saying Senate’s decisions are not commented.

From: A. Papazian

IT IS CRITICAL THAT TURKEY ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, HOWARD BERMAN SAYS

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

Republican and Democratic members of Congress called into question
Turkey’s reliability as a U.S. ally, highlighted its deteriorating
relationship with Israel, and addressed a range of issues from
Armenian Genocide denial to its repression of Christian minorities and
the occupation of Cyprus, during a three-hour House Foreign Affairs
Committee hearing held earlier today, the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA) reported.

Chairman Howard Berman touched upon five policy areas concerns
related to U.S.-Turkey ties, including Ankara’s denial of the Armenian
Genocide.

“It is critical that Turkey acknowledge the genocide committed by the
Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people during World War I. That’s
why this Committee has repeatedly passed measures recognizing the
Genocide and calling on the President to do likewise. I believe that
Turks, once they come to terms with their past, will discover that
they have relieved themselves and their children of an immense moral
burden,” he said.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian thanked the Chairman Berman
for his support.

“We want to thank Chairman Berman and Representatives Costa, Smith,
Royce, Sires, Bilirakis, Berkley, and Mack for shedding much needed
sunshine on the many failings of our government’s weak response to a
leadership in Ankara that is increasingly and openly acting against
both U.S. interests and American values,” Aram Hamparian noted.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS, SOCIOLOGIST SAYS

news.am
July 29 2010
Armenia

Armenia should withdraw from Karabakh peace process and recognize
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Director of “Sociometer”
sociological center Aharon Adibekyan said.

“The negotiation process should be underway between Karabakh and
Azerbaijan. Armenia and the international community should accept a
negotiated solution Karabakh and Azerbaijan will arrive at,” he stated.

According to him, thus Armenia will get rid of allegations “occupier”
or “aggressor”. Armenia should act as a guarantee for Karabakh and
clamp down Azerbaijani attempts to resolve the conflict by force.

“Such a resolution to the conflict is acceptable for the 90% of
Karabakh people,” Adibekyan said adding Nagorno-Karabakh does not
fear Azerbaijan or external forces, but Armenia, which may leave it
alone with the problem.

From: A. Papazian