Author: Andres-Papazian

I’VE ALREADY STARTED FORGETTING ABOUT OPPOSITION, SAYS SAHAKIAN

Aysor
July 28 2010
Armenia

“I’ve already started forgetting about opposition, as when the
oppositional parties begin sorting things out between each other,
the opposition becomes out of the question,” told Wednesday media
leader of the Republican Party of Armenia, Galust Sahakian.

He described the opposition of nowadays as following: “If you oppose
everything imposed by authorities, then you are an opposition, and
when you deal and cooperate with authorities, then you are a betrayer.”

Galust Sahakian said he backs a way of a joint work between opposition
and authorities at least towards issues of national significance and
importance. In this connection, Sahakian referred to the allegations
of leader of Heritage Party of Armenia, Raffi Hivhannisian, who said,
following the ruling by the International Court of Justice over
Kosovo that “in the fullness of time we were calling to recognize
the independence of Karabakh…”

“The right time to recognize independence of Nagorno Karabakh was July
of 1992 when we fight for recognition of NKR by Armenian Parliament,
with all ensuing consequences,” stressed Sahakian.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA-TURKEY SEPTEMBER TO BE HOT

Aysor
July 28 2010
Armenia

Certain developments will appear between Armenia and Turkey and
their relations in the second half of September, said at the press
conference Artak Shakarian, a turkologist, pointing at the upcoming
referendum to be held on Turkey’s constitution, Armenia’s hosting of
NATO training exercises and opening of the Armenian Surb Khach Church
(St Cross Church) [in Turkey].

Shakarin also said that the Armenian-Turkish process can be influenced
by changing of role of military in the ruling elite of Turkey. Expert
pointed that on August 30, term of the chief of the General Staff
expires, and there is no information about new candidate for the
post, so there is no information about his position over relations
with Armenia.

There is another key factor, according to Shakarian, which is the
Kurdish issue, and from this point of view Turkey won’t take any
serious step towards normalisation of relations with Armenia until
parliamentary elections in 2011.

There will not be any changes in Armenia-Turkey relations, while
statements of Turkish officials and opening of Surb Khach Church is
just a “makeup”, said Shakarian. He said that Washington’s position
can only be important; however, it will not lead to any serious
consequences as the US Congress is preparing for elections in November.

“I don’t exclude that then there will be made some statements arising
from Armenia’s interests like it was on March 4,” said Shakarian. He
added that Turkey’s expectations are linked to the issue of Karabakh.

Shakarian stressed: “Any concession in this matter from Armenia will
be perceived [by Turkey] as ‘a green light.’ But Armenia can never
make concessions when negotiation this issue.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION TO HOLD A RALLY ON SEPTEMBER

Aysor
July 28 2010
Armenia

17 Armenian oppositional parties made a decision to hold a republican
rally on September 17. The decision was accepted at the session of the
political council of the oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC).

A spokesperson to the ANC told media that during the session there
were discussed issues of foreign and home police of Armenia and
Congressâ~@~Y further activities.

â~@~The congress authorized its structures to set to work over
preparing the meeting,â~@~] said ANC.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA INCREASES DIAMOND EXPORTS 6.7 TIMES
Armen Hareyan

HULIQ.com
July 28 2010
SC

During the first six month period of 2010 Armenia has increased its
diamond supply by 6.7 times compared to the same period last year.

The diamond production and exports in Armenia has grown from 43
thousand carats in the first half of 2009 to 288 thousand carts in
the January to June period of 2010. The report is released by the
country’s Customs Service Committee of State Revenues.

During the first six months of 2010 the country had exported diamonds
worth of $ 50,412,000 dollars. This is the customs value. In the
same period of 2009 Armenia had exported diamonds worth of 22,277,000
dollars. The increase in export value is 2.3 times.

The import of rough diamonds picture the following image. During the
first half of 2010 Armenia imported 390 thousand carats valued at
$58,234,000. During the same time in 2009 the country imported 73
thousand carats, which were at a time valued at 22,004,000 dollars.

The main export destinations of the Armenian diamonds are Russia,
the USA and the European markets. The recent increase in diamond
exports are connected with the revival and stability of global markets.

The global recession of the past few years had decreased the diamond
prices world’s markets. Many diamond minds shut down their operations
in 2009 worldwide to to the falling prices.

In the first half of 2010 the prices have recovered. Although they are
still low, they have gained ground reaching the levels of 2008. The
United States alone accounts for half of global diamond consumption.

The retail sales have recovered in USA as well.

From: A. Papazian

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER URGES AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA TO REJECT USE OF MINES

news.az
July 28 2010
Azerbaijan

Thomas Hammarberg Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
calls on Azerbaijan and Armenia to ratify Mine Ban Treaty.

‘There have been more than 3 000 casualties caused by landmines in
Europe in the last ten years,’ says the article ‘Landmines still kill
in Europe: Time for an absolute ban’ by Council of Europe Commissioner
for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg.

The Commissioner calls on all European states ratify the 1997 Mine
Ban Treaty.

‘In spite of its paramount importance for Europe, six Council of Europe
member states have still not ratified the Mine Ban Treaty: Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Finland, Poland and Russia. The presence of
landmines and cluster munitions affects the entire fabric of society.

They obstruct countriesâ~@~Y development after a conflict. They
inhibit the return of displaced persons and hinder the reconstruction
of affected areas.’

From: A. Papazian

SAAKASHVILI: “GEORGIA TO COOPERATE WITH TURKEY, ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO DEVELOP CUSTOMS SYSTEM”

Panorama
July 28 2010
Armenia

Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili deeply condemned country’s
customs system. According to Georgian media Saakashvili expressed
his disposition during the meeting with customs systems authorities
and staff.

President Saakashvili said Georgian customs officers “ransack like
a barbarian the tourists and” and their citizens.

“When you travel to Europe, have you ever been ransacked? Then why
do you do it with each tourist and each car?”

Georgia’s President said cooperation should be launched with customs
system representatives of Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIANS’ CHANCES TO LEGITIMIZE SECESSION LOW AFTER COURT’S OPINION ON KOSOVO

news.az
July 28 2010
Azerbaijan

Vugar Seyidov The International Court has passed a legally correct
opinion.

AzerTAj reports that the statement came from political reviewer
Vugar Seyidov.

“On the one hand, he did not confirm the fact of irreversible change
in the territory of Serbia and did not state the appearance of a new
state-Kosovo. The court just stated that the declaration of Kosovo
independence is not prohibited, since international law does not have
either a ban or permission to adopt declaration with no sense.

They are without sense because the Court did not even consider the
issues on legal implications of the adoption of declaration and
refused to answer the question whether a new state appeared in the
Balkans in the result of this declaration (see article 51 of the Court
decision). The court was just answering the question set by the UN
General Assembly recognizing only the narrowness of its frames. The
court did not go beyond the frames of the question. Therefore, when
Armenian Defense Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan says that the
court “has shown that the right for self-determination is primary
while territorial integrity is aimed to serve this primary goal”,
he is demonstrating his incompetence to the world about which we
have no objections. The court even did not consider the issue of
self-determination and territorial integrity. Any competent person will
see it after getting familiar with the text of the Court’s opinion.

“On the other hand, the states which decided to recognize Kosovo
have supported the victim of the conflict-the people that suffered
the deportation from native lands and physical termination. Civilized
world has demonstrated that it does not intend to reconcile with rule
violations of human rights and forgive grave crimes such as ethnic
cleansing, termination of civil population, shooting of refugees,
looting, plunder and so on.

But it is really important in the resolution of the Court that
article 81 says clearly that in definite cases when independence is
declared on the background of crimes against humanity, aggression,
ethnic cleansing, genocide and steps on unilateral proclamation of
independence may even be condemned. There is no need to prove that
proclamation of independence by Armenian separatists was accompanied by
all these crimes, plus aggression and occupation by Armenia, policy of
illegal settlement of occupied lands and factual annexation of Nagorno
Karabakh by Armenia. Thus, the Court’s decision on Kosovo creates
a brilliant precedent for condemnation of unilateral declaration of
Karabakh independence.

Armenia considers that the chances of Karabakh Armenians for
independence have increased after the resolution of the Hague Court
on Kosovo. But I think they have even dropped!”, Seyidov said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN CONTRACT SERGEANT, 31, DIES IN TAVUSH

Aysor
July 28 2010
Armenia

An Armenian contract sergeant, 31-year-old Artak Nazarian, had died in
a military unit of Tavush region of Armenia. Country’s Defense Ministry
confirmed Artak Nazarian’s death, and said will report details later.

Defense Ministry: The Lieutenant committed suicide

Contract serviceman, Lieutenant Artak Nazaryan was killed from
fire-arms in a military unit near the village of Chinari, Tavush
region.

According to preliminary information, A. Nazaryan, 31, shot himself
dead from martial arms attached to him, Armenian Defense Ministry
press office reported.

An investigation is carried out.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY PROMISES NOT TO OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA – CONSUL

news.az
July 28 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s general consul in Kars Aykhan Suleymanov has visited
Turkish Igdir where he made a number of statements.

According to Ihlassondakika, the general consul has visited graves
and the museum of victims of Armenian terror in Igdir. The general
consul told reporters that the true face of Armenian nationalists who
committed genocide against Turks in 1918-1919 and in Khojaly in 1992
must be demonstrated to the world.

‘This museum and burials show once again that Turks were subjected
to real genocide’, the diplomat said.

As for the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, Suleymanov said
the position of the Turkish government in this issue is clear: ‘The
Turkish government has promised not to open the Turkish-Armenian
borders unless Armenians quit the occupied lands of Azerbaijan’.

From: A. Papazian

SRC PUBLISHES LIST OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN ARMENIA

Aysor
July 28 2010
Armenia

The State Revenue Committee (SRC) published the list of the commercial
organizations with more than 100 employees from the start of the
fiscal year in Armenia.

According to the list, the Electric Networks of Armenia company has
the largest number of employees – 7 617, ArmRosgazrpom ranks the
second with 6 017 employees. The top three of major employees is
concluded by the South Caucasian Railways CJSC with 4 411 employees.

ArmenTel, Haypost, Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Plant rank the 4-7th with
3 227, 3 168, 3 087 and 3 074 employees, respectively. From the 8th
place on, the number of employees falls abruptly. K-Telecom ranking
the 8th has 1 852 employees. The number of employees in companies
ranking up to the 21st is 1000 and above.

346 companies on the list have 100-500 employees, 38 companies from
501 to 983 employees, and all 405 companies in total provide 146 673
jobs in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian