Author: Andres-Papazian

G. MELIQYAN: WITHOUT KARABAKH FINAL DECISION CONFLICT CAN’T BE SETTLED

Panorama
July 19 2010
Armenia

“Artsakh must be a negotiating side, NK conflict can’t be settled
without Artsakh,” Republican Deputy Gagik Meliqyan told Panorama.am
speaking about OSCE MG co-chairing states’ Foreign Ministers’
statement.

The statement reiterated that the primary responsibility to put an
end to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still remains with Azerbaijani
and Armenian leaders.

According to the NA Deputy without Artsakh’s decision this issue
can’t be advanced and can’t find a final solution.

“NK conflict can’t be settled without Artsakh. Artsakh should be
negotiating side, since Azerbaijan launched a war against NK and not
Armenia, and Armenia has had no connection with the armed activities.

Armenia is the guarantor of Artsakh security,” Meliqyan said.

From: A. Papazian

STUDENTS OF “LUYS” FOUNDATION WELCOMED TO THE GOVERNMENT

gov.am
July 19 2010
Armenia

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received students of “Luys” foundation.

They are in Armenia to take part in the “Let Us Develop Armenia”
program. The students are scheduled to visit Gyumri, Jermuk, Tsakhkunk
community of Sevan region and Vank community in Artsakh. They will
try to draw upon their learning and personal experience to devise
development scenarios and programs for Armenia.

Greeting the guests, the Prime Minister stated in part: “Luys
foundation seeks to assist talented youth to get graduate learning
at the best universities of the world. We are sure that beneficiary
students will grow in number every year. It is crucial for us to
create a new environment which we call the Armenian world in an
effort to provide conditions necessary for self-development and
self-realization.”

Highlighting the Foundation’s role in the formation of the Armenian
world, the head of government stressed the importance of Armenia’s
National Competitiveness Fund in this respect. He emphasized that
both of them will have a say in the enhancement Armenia’s national
competitiveness.

Mindful of the important role of knowledge and learning in the modern
world, Tigran Sargsyan said in particular: “While the release of goods
and services was at the heart of industrial societies, postindustrial
societies seem to be based on intellectual activity. New knowledge is
the staple product of modern societies. It can bring about qualitative
changes in the organization of any society.”

Greeting remarks were delivered by the Foundation’s academic director
Jacqueline Karaaslanyan, educational board members Rev. Mesrop Aramyan
and MP Anahit Bakhshyan.

During an exchange of views unfolded at the meeting, Tigran Sargsyan
answered the students’ questions.

From: A. Papazian

THE DRAFT LAW DISCUSSED

gov.am
July 19 2010
Armenia

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called a consultative meeting to
discuss RA draft law on refuse collection and sanitation.

Public-private sector collaboration toward the management of hard
waste materials in Yerevan city was discussed in particular.

The international experts in attendance offered their views and
recommendations concerning the organization of refuse collection and
sanitation activities in the capital city. They presented their vision
of Nubarashen refuse dump construction and commissioning practicalities
in line with the international standards.

From: A. Papazian

EXPANDING OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION DISCUSSED WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF CHINA

gov.am
July 19 2010
Armenia

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received Chinese ambassador to Armenia
Tian Chanchun.

Welcoming the foreign diplomat, the head of government said to be
pleased with the dynamics of bilateral relations. In this context,
he highlighted Armenia’s participation in the Shangai Expo – 2010
and the commissioning of “Shansi-Nairit” Chinese-Armenian chloroprene
rubber producing joint venture.

Tigran Sargsyan said he would be visiting China this September as
part of Armenia Culture Days to be held on the sidelines of Shangai
Expo – 2010. The Prime Minister thanked the Ambassador for the
assistance received from the Government of the People’s Republic of
China. Yuan 20 million worth of free aid, as well as 88 ambulances
were made available to the Government of Armenia under the technical
and economic cooperation agreement which was signed on June 2, 2010.

Thanking the Prime Minister for reception, Ambassador Chanchun
forwarded the greetings of the Chinese Prime Minister by assuring
of his country’s keen interest in the furtherance of multifaceted
relationship with Armenia.

With reference to the possibilities for expansion of economic
cooperation and implementation of joint projects, Tigran Sargsyan and
Tian Chanchun spoke about the next meeting of the intergovernmental
commission and the scheduled Armenian-Chinese business forum.

The parties have likewise discussed strengthening of humanitarian
ties between the two countries. In this context, they said to be
highly appreciative of the functionality of a branch of Confucius
Institute at the Yerevan State Linguistics Institute after V. Bryussov.

From: A. Papazian

ALL-ROUND SUPPORT FOR FARMING EXPANSION

gov.am
July 19 2010
Armenia

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received International Foundation of
Agricultural Development (IFAD) Armenia Program Coordinator Henning
Pedersen. In its capacity of a specialized UN agency, the IFAD promotes
poverty reduction in rural areas worldwide.

Henning Pedersen presented the IFAD program of rural capacity
building and the timetable for program approval. The program has
two main components: Fruit and Nuts Production Support and Rural
Infrastructures. The first component is meant to promote sustainable
nuts production facilities and contractual gardening countrywide,
with the second one providing for the repair and reinstatement of
public utilities and infrastructures (gas pipelines, irrigation and
drinking water mains, rural roads and so on).

This USD 52mn-budgeted program as scheduled for implementation in
2011-2015 will have the IFAD as the key source of financing, with the
balance to be ensured by the OFID and the Government of Armenia. The
program will affect Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Aragatsotni, Gegharkunik,
Vaiots-Dzor and Syunik marzes o Armenia. It has to be approved yet
by the Board of IFAD.

Highly appreciative of the expected impact of this program, the Prime
Minister stressed the need for including organic husbandry-related
actions in the first component.

The IFAD has so far carried out 4 programs in Armenia: the World
Bank-co-financed irrigation system rehabilitation program, the
farming development program in Armenia’s northeastern regions, the
rural service program and the rural area development program.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN INVITED A SESSION OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

President.am
July 19 2010
Armenia

The President of the Republic of Armenia, President of the National
Security Council Serzh Sargsyan invited today a session of the National
Security Council.

The participants of the meeting discussed and approved the concept
of the development of the RA structure of seismic safety.

The President of Armenia spoke to the members of the Council about
the latest developments in Armenia’s foreign policy.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, ALEXANDER ZHUKOV

President.am
July 19 2010
Armenia

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received the Deputy Prime Minister
of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee
Alexander Zhukov.

Speaking about high level Armenian-Russian relations, the two sides
underlined that they develop in the spirit of strategic partnership.

President Sargsyan expressed confidence that the forthcoming state
visit of President Dmitry Medvedev to our country would open a new
phase in our bilateral relations.

According to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Zhukov, efficient
dialogue between the two states at all levels creates a strong
base for the implementation of new programs and further expansion
of cooperation.

The President of Armenia also congratulated Alexander Zhukov on
his election as Chairman of the RF Olympic Committee and expressed
confidence that he would give a new impetus to the development of sport
and Olympic movement in Russia which already have rich traditions
and added that it would certainly strengthen the Armenian-Russian
cooperation in that area too.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN RECEIVED CELESTE WALLANDER, US DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

President.am
July 19 2010
Armenia

President Serzh Sargsyan received today Celeste Wallander, US Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense.

The President of Armenia underscored that Armenia is interested in
deepening cooperation with the United States which is not only in the
interests of our country but also can become an important factor for
the enforcement of peace and stability in our region.

Speaking about Armenia’s contribution to international peacekeeping
missions, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense thanked our
country for joining these missions. The two sides underlined that
Armenia’s participation not only supports the actions undertaken by
the international community but also promotes combat readiness of
the Armenian armed forces.

The parties discussed also regional security issues, including the
current stage of the NK peace process. Ms. Wallander stressed that the
United States has at all levels expressed its position regarding the
inadmissibility of the use of threat of force. She added that that
the United States strongly believes that there is no alternative to
a peaceful resolution of the NK conflict.

The two sides emphasized the importance of the US assistance to
Armenia for the reformation and modernization of the Armenian armed
forces and enhancement of the Armenian-American cooperation in the
areas of defense and security.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED PHILIPPE CAYLA, CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF EURONEWS

President.am
July 19 2010
Armenia

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received Philippe Cayla, Chairman of
the Executive Board of EuroNews.

Welcoming the guest, the President of Armenia noted with satisfaction
that EuroNews is the most viewed European channel in Armenia and is
believed to be reflecting Europe’s or European viewpoint.

According to Mr. Cayla, he is greatly impressed with the centuries-long
Armenian history, culture and everything he has seen during his stay
in our country.

The two sides expressed confidence that in our country EuroNews
is playing a significant role for Armenia’s Eurointegration and in
broadcasting of Europe-related information.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH PEACE REQUIRES ‘NEW WAYS OF THINKING’
Kamala Mammadova News.Az

news.az
July 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Georgi Vanyan News.Az interviews Georgi Vanyan, Armenian expert and
chairman of the Caucasus Center of Peacekeeping Initiatives.

What can you say about the intensification of talks on Karabakh,
specifically the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
in St Petersburg and the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to
the region?

Armenian and Azerbaijani servicemen clashed between these two events.

Can this be considered a sign of the intensification of negotiations?

Can the official debates about this incident be considered the
intensification of negotiations? Can active forecasts of imminent war
by the analytical community be considered a sign of the intensification
of negotiations? The same can be applied to the different versions
of what districts Armenia has agreed to surrender, the deployment
of foreign bases and different versions of accelerated changes in
the situation. Can we consider the differences in the Russian and
English versions of the statements of the presidents of the co-chairing
countries a sign of the intensification of negotiations?

The visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to our region was
important. What can you say about her statement that “it is time to
complete work on the main principles to launch the development of
the final peace agreement”?

The visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the region had
an important moral and psychological effect. It reminded us of the
chance to be a part of a civilian world.

State Department official Mark Toner said the process of normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement were complementary. What is your opinion?

The process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is a
qualitatively new regional process that can put an end to the so-called
“post-Soviet” regional situation in which Armenia acted as a brake on
integration and peace negotiations. The process of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations is important as the catalyst for resolution
of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. The Bolshevik-Fedayeen Armenian
ostrich is finally obliged to take its head out of the sand and accept
the realities.

How do you assess current developments in Armenian-Turkish relations?

Armenian-Turkish relations have moved to a high level. This is a great
achievement. The process of normalization of relations between the
two countries has been planned and implemented has started in a new
space for political culture. Unlike the format for the OSCE Minsk
Group, this process cannot be frozen, since the responsibility of
the parties is clearly fixed and it is impossible to put on a show
of activity in this case.

Should we expect the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border this year?

We shouldn’t. There is the problem of the ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols in the parliaments of the two countries.

There is the of the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia
which the Turkish side has protested about. The normalization process
is in deadlock, it requires political will and active diplomatic work
to return to dialogue. This should be expected in the near future. The
limit of destructive steps has been exhausted and Armenia and Turkey
should either have relations or the normalization process should be
declared to have failed.

What are the prospects for a Karabakh conflict settlement? Is there
a peace solution to the issue?

There is a peace solution to the issue. The peace solution is not
kilometres of land or the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. The peace
solution is a solution that will ensure security in the conflict
area and the security of the region. Today it is difficult to say
whether the process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group
fosters the search for this peace solution or not. Unfortunately,
we, the conflict parties, and the community and political leadership,
deceive ourselves – the current perception of the OSCE Minsk Group as
the international community’s mechanism of negotiations about which
there is no choice does not mean that only this process should dictate
to us what to do, what to think and where to look. On the contrary,
the peace solution can be found only in alternatives – new processes,
new formats, new ways of thinking.

Do you consider the resumption of hostilities in the conflict area
possible?

Until a peace solution is found, there is a threat of a resumption of
hostilities and there is an equal threat of the adoption of solutions
by force, i.e., the creation of a new status quo which maintains the
risk of a resumption of war.

From: A. Papazian