Author: Andres-Papazian

3 BILLS, DEFINING DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AS A CRIME, IN FRENCH SENATE

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
PARIS

The bill, defining the denial of the Armenian Genocide as a crime,
which has already been adopted by the French National Assembly (Lower
Chamber), but not is involved in the agenda of the Senate yet, is again
on focus of discussions. Armenpress reports that the Turkish ‘Hurriyet’
daily expressed anxiety about the fact there are 3 bills, defining the
denial of the Armenian Genocide as a crime. The authors of the bills
are the deputies, representing the socialist and communist parties.

The French Parliament adopted a resolution on condemnation of
the Armenian Genocide 2001. The French National Assembly (Lower
Chamber) adopted October 12, 2006 a bill on defining the denial of
the Armenian Genocide as a crime. Now it is expected that the bill
will be brought into agenda of the Senate by several senators before
the forthcoming elections. According to the bill, the one, who dares
deny the Armenian Genocide will have to pay a penalty of 45 000 euros
or will be sentenced into 5 years of imprisonment.

Citing some French media, the Turkish ‘Hurriyet’ daily also reports
that the possibility of discussing the bill in the Senate is quite
big. In France there are over 500 000 Armenians, who have the electoral
right. There are over 500 000 Turks in France. Only 60 thousand of
them have the electoral right. ‘According to some experts, the French
political figures will endeavor to support the Armenian Diaspora,’
‘Hurriyet’ reports.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR VISITS SAMTSKHE- JAVAKHK

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: RA Ambassador to Georgia Hrach Slivanyan
paid July 16-18 a working visit to the region of Samtskhe- Javakhk.

An official from the press and information department of RA Foreign
Affairs Ministry told Armenpress that during the visit the Ambassador
met with Governor of Samtskhe- Javakhk Lasha Chkadua, as well as
with the newly-appointed heads of local authorities. He discussed
with them a variety of social, economic, cultural and educational
issues of the region.

The Ambassador visited July 17 ‘Surb Khach’ (Holy Cross) Church of
Akhalkalak and got acquainted with the process of the reconstruction
works. Ambassador Hrach Slivanyan also visited Karzakh village of
the district of Akhalkalak, and partook in the traditional memorial
festivity, dedicated to great Armenian ashugh Jivani. The Ambassador
also partook July 18 in the opening ceremony of The Hayos and Kartlos
Memorial, which symbolizes the Armenian-Georgian friendship.

In Gandza village of the district of Ninotsminda the Ambassador visited
the Vahan Teryan Museum and partook in the festivity, dedicated to
the 125th anniversary of the great Armenian writer.

The delegations of RA Government and the Armenian Writers Union, a
number of clergymen, deputies of Armenian and Georgian Parliaments,
representatives of the local authorities, intellectuals, cultural
figures and thousands of people of Javakhk partook in the ceremonies
and events, organized in Javakhk.

From: A. Papazian

ROAD TAKING TO TATEV MONASTERY TO BE RECONSTRUCTED

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
GORIS

The number of visitors to the Tatev monastery has notably reduced. Head
of the village Murad Simonyan told Armenpress that if 3-4 years ago the
number of visitors reached 50-55 thousands annually, last year their
number was only 15 000. This year it is already notable that their
number will be less. The head of the village said the only reason of
it is the road of the village which is difficult to pass. The visitors
confess that they hardly persuade the drivers to bring them to Tatev.

The construction of the Tatev cable way – the longest in the world –
is in process after which the road issue will also be solved.

The visitors of the monastery are people of different gender, age
and profession. Part of them are Armenians, the others are Diaspora
Armenians and foreigners. In case of wish, the head of the village
said, the tourists have an opportunity to stay in the village for
a night or two. Residents of the village offer their mansions with
that purpose. Though the head of the village says the budget of the
community is not increased.

From: A. Papazian

PLAN OF EVENTS OF CSTO COLLECTIVE SECURITY COUNCIL’S JUNE SESSION IMPLEMENTED ON SCHEDULE

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: The plan of events of the CSTO Collective
Security Council’s June session is being implemented on schedule. All
the events, concerning Armenia, have already been implemented,
according to Arthur Baghdasaryan, secretary of National Security
Council. He stated it at today’s consultation with the delegation,
headed by CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha.

‘The special interdepartmental committee is engaged in the
implementation of more than 6 decades of events in 6 thematic
directions. The plan of events is on focus of RA President,’ Arthur
Baghdasaryan said.

An official from the press office of Secretary of RA National Security
Council told Armenpress that the sides discussed a variety of issues
on the agenda of CSTO non-official summit, which is expected to be
held August in Yerevan. They also discussed the issue of holding
the 2011 trainings of the Quick Response Collective Forces of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Armenia.

At the press conference, held after the consultations, Nikolay
Bordyuzha said that the trainings are expected to be held next year
and that he considers the suggestion of holding the trainings in
Armenia quite rational.

Concluding the results of the three-day visit, Nikolay Bordyuzha
mentioned that the military-technical cooperation within the
framework of the CSTO is a priority. He said that the pilot project
of establishing joint military-industrial enterprises in Armenia will
be implemented for this purpose.

‘The heads of our enterprises got acquainted with the possibilities
of the Armenian enterprises. There is some interest: I hope we will
have good results in the near future,’ said Konstantin Biryulin,
deputy director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical
Cooperation.

‘It is the first time such a delegation of Russian military-industrial
enterprises arrived in Armenia. The Russian entrepreneurs have an
intention to start cooperation. We expect some practical results in
the near future,’ Arthur Baghdasaryan said.

From: A. Papazian

TRAININGS OF CSTO QUICK RESPONSE COLLECTIVE FORCES MAY BE HELD IN ARMENIA 2011

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: The trainings of the Quick Response
Collective Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
may be held in Armenia 2011, according to CSTO Secretary General
Nikolai Bordyuzha. At today’s meeting with journalists he said that
the trainings are expected to be held next year and that he considers
the suggestion of holding the trainings in Armenia quite rational.

As to the non-official meeting of the Presidents of the CSTO
member-states, expected August in Yerevan, Nikolai Bordyuzha said
that the agenda of the meeting will be presented for the approval of
the presidents in the near future. He added that after the approval
the agenda items will be reconsidered. CSTO Secretary General says
no doubt the issue of Kyrgyzstan will discussed.

In answer to the question about the possible actions of the CSTO
in case the Azerbaijani President makes the threat of war reality,
Nikolai Bordyuzha said: ‘During the non-official meeting of the OSCE
foreign ministers in Almaty, most of them mentioned that settlement of
any issue by applying force is not prospective and is accepted by the
international community negatively. It also referred to the NK issue’.

From: A. Papazian

ISSUES ON DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA’S MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL SPHERE DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Secretary General of the Armenian
National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan summed up today the
results of the three-day visit of the Russian delegation to Armenia
during which issues on development of the military-industrial sphere
in Armenia were discussed. The Russian delegation visited Armenia’s
military-industrial enterprises. “We may register first positive
results. It refers to the launching of concrete cooperation between
Armenia and Russia in the military-industrial sphere that is – creation
of joint ventures which will give an opportunity to develop the
military-industrial sphere of our country,” Arthur Baghdasaryan said.

Within the framework of the visit consultations were held with the
participation of secretary general of the CSTO and representatives of
corresponding Armenian establishments during which the steps undertaken
within the framework of the organization have been discussed. “The
steps initiated by the Armenian party have been implemented by 100%
and we have good results, which is very important on the eve of the
summit of the heads of the CSTO member states expected in Yerevan,”
Arthur Baghdasaryan said.

Secretary General of the CSTO Nikolay Bordyuzha said that the
military-technical cooperation within the framework of the CSTO is
considered a priority. “Within the framework of that cooperation
we are carrying out a pilot project on active cooperation of the
Armenian-Russian military-industrial enterprises. I hope that in the
near future practical steps will be undertaken for creation of joint
military-industrial enterprises,” Nikolay Bordyuzha said.

From: A. Papazian

COMMITTEE OF US SENATE TO DISCUSS MATTHEW BRYZA’S CANDIDACY FOR THE OFFICE OF US AMBASSADOR

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations will discuss July 22 former Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group
Matthew Bryza’s candidacy for the office of the US Ambassador to
Azerbaijan. Armenpress reports, citing the official website of the
US Senate, that the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will
also discuss today at 2.30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) the issue of
appointing new ambassador of the US to Turkey.

US President Barack Obama announced support to the candidacy of Francis
Ricciardone for the office of US Ambassador to Turkey early July. The
candidate is currently the US Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan. He
has served as U.S. Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, the
Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Palau (2002-2005).

According to the Armenian National Committee of America, the
Armenian-oriented senators will raise issues before the candidates
for the office of the US Ambassador. After the discussion and approval
at the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the candidacy will
be presented for approval at the US Senate.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS THE NK ISSUE WITH OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Grigori Karasin received July 19 the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs-
Bernard Fassier (France), Robert Bradtke (U.S), Igor Popov (Russia)-
and Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Anjey Kasprzik.

Armenpress reports, citing the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry,
that a variety of issues on the regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict were discussed during the meeting. Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister Grigori Karasin awarded Bernard Fassier a medal for the
investment in the international cooperation.

From: A. Papazian

PROSPECTS ON MILITARY-TECHNICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ARMENIA AND RUSSIA DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
July 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan
received today delegation headed by the vice director of the Russian
Federal Service Konstantine Biryulin. During the meeting the parties
discussed prospects on military-technical cooperation between the
Armenia and Russia.

Public relations department of the DM told Armenpress that the
secretary of the National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan,
secretary general of the CSTO Nikolay Bordyuzha, assistant to the
secretary general of the CSTO Valeri Semerikov as well as heads of the
Russian leading military-industrial enterprises partook in the event..

During the meeting issues on development of military-industrial
complex, opportunities of creation Armenian-Russian joint
military-industrial ventures were discussed.

From: A. Papazian

COURT OF ARBITRATION NOT SO POPULAR IN ARMENIA BECAUSE OF LOW PUBLIC AWARENESS

ARKA
July 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, July 20. /ARKA/. Armen Voskanyan, secretary general of the
Court of Arbitration affiliated to Armenian Commerce and Industry
Chamber, thinks that the court is not so popular because of low
public awareness.

The Court of Arbitration was established in 2007. It has considered
only ten complaints since then. On Tuesday, speaking at a news
conference, Voskanyan said that some of 50 suits filed over the
mentioned period hadn~Rt been considered and some had been withdrawn
by claimants.

He said that the Court of Arbitration considers a wide range of cases
connected with commerce, financial relations, leasing, factoring
and lending.

Voskanyan said that conflicting sides can appeal to the court after
sealing appropriate arbitrary agreement.

However, very often (90% of cases) such an agreement is not signed
because of refusal from the defense side.

Argam Nazanyan, an arbitrator at the court, speaking at the same
news conference, said that the Court of Arbitration is necessary for
development of Armenian judicial system, for quick and just settlement
of disputes.

Arthur Hovhanisyan, chief of Armenian Justice Ministry~Rs European
integration division, said that human rights protection, justice
availability and justice system reformation are among the country~Rs
top-priority objectives.

From: A. Papazian