Author: Andres-Papazian

Armenia’s Defense Minister visits Afghanistan

armradio.am
24.07.2010 14:34

On July 24 the delegation headed by Armenian Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanayn left for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for a two-day
visit. The delegation comprises Deputy Chief of the General Staff of
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, Lieutenant-General Enrico
Apriamov, Head of the Defense Policy Department of the Ministry of
Defense David Tonoyan, spiritual leader of the Armed Forces Vrtanes
Archbishop Abrahamyan.

Within the framework of the visit the delegation met with Armenian
peacekeeper, who carry out mission within the German forces under NATO
northern command of the International Security Assistance Force in
Afganistan (ISAF).

The Armenian Defense Minsiter will meet David Howell Petraeus,
Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and
Commander of the U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A), Abdul Rahim
Vardak, the Defense Minister of Afganistan, Sher Muhammad Karimi, the
Chief of Army Staff of the Military of Afghanistan, the leadership of
the ISAF Northern Command.

From: A. Papazian

Bako Sahakyan: Ruling of the Hague Court creates a new political situation

armradio.am
24.07.2010 13:54

`Irrespective of recognition of independence of Kosovo, Nagorno
Karabakh will continue working towards international recognition of
the Artsakh Republic,’ NKR President Bako Sahakyan told reporters in
Stepanakert. The President assessed the decision of the Hague Court as
an important event that creates a new political situation.

In response to the question about the policy Armenia pursues in the
negotiation process, Bako Sahakyan said: `The policy Armenia
implements is obviously constructive and contributes to the settlement
of the Karabakh issue. The Armenian President does not pursue a
radical policy, a fact welcomed by both us and the international
community.’ `In response to that Azerbaijan takes steps to fail the
negotiation process,’ he added.

The Karabakhi side is doing its best to contribute to the effective
activity of the OSCE Minsk Group. However, according to President
Sahakyan, the Minsk Group fails to achieve better results because NKR
does not participate in the talks. `The Co-Chairs have also come to
understand that the solution is impossible without the participation
of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Karabakh,’ he stated.

Touching upon the possible change of the Minsk Group format,
particularly Iran’s claims, Bako Sahakyan said such changes of the
format cannot contribute to the effectiveness of the Minsk Group
activity.

According to NKR President, the position of Artsakh has not changed
over years. `The independence and security of Artsakh cannot be
subject to any bargain,’ he said.

As to the recognition of NKR by the Republic of Armenia, Bako Sahakyan
said `this recognition should not be an end in itself. It’s a process
that should have proper grounds. Sure, the Artsakh Republic is most
interested in this, but it cannot ignore the fact that Armenia has
certain commitments before the international community.

From: A. Papazian

Self-determination of peoples is primary: this is what the ICJ
decision was about

armradio.am
23.07.2010 17:32

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan says yesterday’s
ruling of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo was
unprecedented, since for the first time it refers to the correlation
between two principles – territorial integrity and self-determination
of peoples.

`The self-determination of peoples is one of UN objectives, while
territorial integrity is a tool for reaching that objective,’ Shavarsh
Kocharyan said.

According to the diplomat, this decision of the ICJ shows that `when
there is self-determination, the territorial integrity is secondary.
`This is what the ICJ decision meant,’ he said.

Shavarsh Kocharyan also quoted the President of the International
Court, Hisashi Owada, as saying that `international law does not
contain obstacles for declaring independence.’ The Armenian Deputy
Minister recalled the words of the official representatives of the US,
who said that `international law neither prohibits the declaration of
independence nor permits it.’

`After all this it become quite obvious that Azerbaijan’s accretions
contradict the international law. The International Court actually
said `yes’ to the independence of two Albanian states – Albania and
Kosovo. We all know that the same Albanians live in Kosovo. After all
this the high-ranking officials of Azerbaijan will not be able to
declare that Armenians cannot have two states,’ Shavarsh Kocharyan
stated.

From: A. Papazian

Vahan Hovhannisyan: ICJ decision is a new tool for NKR recognition
23.07.2010 18:19

Lilit Muradyan
`Radiolur’

Member of the ARF Bureau Vahan Hovhannisyan welcomes President Serzh
Sargsyan’s statement that `Armenia will search for other ways if
Azerbaijan refuses to accept the Madrid Principles,’ but says that the
statement was a little belated.

The last statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries made it
clear to Azerbaijan that it had no right to select some principles
over others, he said.

According to Vahan Hovhannisyan, the decision of the International
Court of Justice on Kosovo can serve as a new tool for international
recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

`The verdict is fair and corresponds to our interests,’ he said.

Touching upon the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations,
Vahan Hovhannisyan said `the process has hit a deadlock, since we put
the emphasis on the ratification of the protocols, not the opening of
the border.’ According to him, the correct decision would be the
withdrawal of our signature from the protocols.

From: A. Papazian

Three factors affecting Armenia’s economy: Tigran Sargsyan

12:15 – 24.07.10

The most urgent issues Armenia is facing now are the ineffective
situation in the governing system, curruption risks and shadow
economy, Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at an interview
with local Armenian media sources.

According to Sargsyan the Government does not avoid speaking about
those issues and tries to find solutions to them.

Speaking about economic growth Sargsyan pointed to three factors that
affect it.

Firstly, it is the situation in the world economy. Beginning from the
last semester of 2009 some recovery trends could be seen in the world
economy which positively affects Armenia’s economy. Besides, the
economic recovery in Russia also positively affects Armenia’s economy.

“In so far as 120 enterprises with Russian capital are doing business
in Armenia, naturally, their financial standing, their relations with
their Russian colleagues have an essential impact on our economic
system,” said Sargsyan.

The second factor, according to him, were the bail-out steps taken by
the Government.

“We knew that that policy would have its macro-economic impact on our
GDP, and that is what happened,” underlined he.

According to Tigran Sargsyan the third one is the intra-state factor,
particularly, the behavioral rules of Armenian economic agents, their
expectations, and the investment conduct, which in turn positively
affect Armenia’s economy for the last six months.

“We state that there is economic activity due to which we have levied
about 35b AMD in taxes than planned. That is already a tangible
achievement, which means that our macroeconomic stability it being
sustained, and the state can implement all its liabilities.”

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Georgian officials arrested for embezzling money meant for renovation
of Armenia-Georgia electric grid

11:51 – 24.07.10

Two high-ranking officials in Gruzrosenergo Company have been arrested
over money embezzlement charges in Georgia.

Georgi Sheradze, the former director of the company and his deputy
Shota Maisuradze have been arrested for having embezzled money from
the state budget.

The money was planned to be used for the renovation of a high-voltage
electric grid that links Georgia’s and Armenia’s energy systems.

They have allegedly stolen about 30 per cent of the $4.5m allotted for
that purpose by using an electric grid that is far less than the
required 500kw-strong one.

Georgian law enforcement bodies say this is a serious damage caused to
the state.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Do not blame Armenia for not recognizing NKR’s independence: Bako Sahakyan

10:56 – 24.07.10

The Republic of Nagorno Karabakh will continue the process of its
international recognition, NKR President Bako Sahakyan told a press
conference on Friday.

According to Sahakyan the advisory ruling by the International Court
of Justice over the legality of Kosovo’s independence will bring about
new geopolitical situation.

Sahakyan also said he did not see Karabakh’s future status as one that
used to be during the Soviet era.

`Armenia’ President [Serzh Sargsyan] is pursuing such a policy which
greatly differs from the destructive policy of the other side,’ said
he.

In his words Armenia’s constructive efforts are aimed at the
settlement of the NK issue which has greatly been appreciated by the
international community, while Azerbaijan attempts to fail the
negotiations process and does not contribute to the logics of the
process.

`NKR in turn tries to contribute to the work of OSCE Minsk Group,’
said Bako Sahakyan, adding that the relative peace that currently
exists in the region, has been established also due to the OSCE MG’s
efforts.

The reason the talks are not that much effective is that NKR does not
participate in them.

Further he said he did not think that ICJ’s ruling over Kosovo will
seriously affect the works by OSCE MG, but even if it does, Karabakh
will only welcome it.

`Recognition of Karabakh’s independence by Armenia must not be an end
itself; this is a process that must have its substantiation. We must
take it into consideration that Armenia is responsible in front of the
international community, therefore Armenia must not be blamed for not
recognizing NKR’s independence,’ explained NKR President Bako
Sahakyan, adding that that day will definitely come.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

High time for Armenian parliament to recognize Karabakh’s
independence, says NKR’s NA Deputy Chairman

10:11 – 24.07.10

The ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) may be the
basis for Armenia to start the process of recognizing the independence
of Nagorno Karabakh, Democracy parliamentary faction MP at the
National Assembly of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Vahram Atanesyan
said at a press conference on Friday in Stepanakert, the capital city
of Karabakh.

On July 22 the ICJ ruled that the declaration of Kosovo’s independence
does not run counter with international law.

NKR’s National Assembly Deputy Chairperson Arthur Tovmasyan, in turn,
said that they used to have an agreement with Armenia’s National
Assembly that it will recognize Karabakh’s independence when the
necessary moment comes.

“I think this is the very moment. Our efforts must be decoupled from
the negotiations, and NKR’s international recognition. We think that
if some states recognize NKR, it will not hinder the settlement of the
issue,” said he.

Atanesyan further said the NKR will not turn to the ICJ with a claim
to recognize its independence as it does not question its
independence.

“It is Azerbaijan that can take such step. We can help that country to
turn to the court and get an answer, as did Serbia. Our independence
it is not questioned.”

Armen Sargsyan, an Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun,
ARF-D) MP in NKR said the wrong are those who think that only NKR must
participate in the talks.

“The NK issue is a pan-Armenian one thus the NKR must be a negotiating
party, while Armenia must take part in the talks as a guarantor of
NKR’s security and independence,” said he.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Bako Sahakyan awards Major General Hayk Kotanjyan with Gratitude Medal

July 24, 2010 – 13:13 AMT 08:13 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On July 24, NKR President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree awarding
Gratitude Medal to Doctor of Political Sciences, head of the RA
Defense Ministry National Strategic Research Institute, Major General
Hayk Kotanjyan.

The medal was bestowed for active participation in defending interests
of the Artsakh Republic and in connection with Hayk Kotanjyan’s 65th
birthday, Central Information Department at NKR President’s Office
reported.

From: A. Papazian

GruzRosEnergo officials arrested on charge of misappropriation

July 24, 2010 – 12:24 AMT 07:24 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

Former CEO of GruzRosEnergo Georgi Sheradze and his deputy Shota
Maisuradze were arrested in Tbilisi on a charge of significant
misappropriation.

Company officials are accused of misappropriating one third of the sum
(USD 4,5 million) allocated to reconstruction of high voltage
transmission line, connecting Armenian and Georgian energy systems.

As a result of misappropriation, 500 KW cable to be laid during
reconstruction was replaced with a lower quality one. Legislative
authorities consider the fact as a significant damage to the state,
Lenta.ru reported.

From: A. Papazian