Author: Andres-Papazian

Ankara considers opening border with Armenia: Yerevan informally
doesn’t welcome the move

13:33 – 17.07.10

Ankara is considering the feasibility to temporarily opening the
ground border between Turkey and Ankara which will enable Turkish
military forces to cross the border and participate in an emergency
relief exercise organized by NATO in Armenia from September 11-17,
said Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Burak Ozugergin.

According to Turkish news agency Anadolu Ozugergin said at the same
time that previous news about those exercise and the possible opening
of the border are not true.

Earlier local Turkish daily Radikal reported that Turkey might open
the ground border with Armenia so that Turkish military forces could
also participate in those exercises.

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News & Economic review had also touched upon
the subject. According to the newspaper an Armenian diplomatic source
told Radio Free Europe radio under condition of anonymity that Yerevan
did not welcome such a development of events and might not allow the
Turkish forces to cross the border into Armenia.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

OSCE MG foreign ministers make no announcement for press

13:29 – 17.07.10

An informal meeting of foreign ministers of OSCE Minsk Group co-chair
states in the Almaty, Kazakhstan, has already been over.
According to Azerbaijani news agency the foreign ministers made any
announcement for the press.

Further a meeting is expected between Armenian and Azerbaijan foreign
ministers Edward Nalbandyan and Elmar Mammadyarov with issues relating
to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the high agenda.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

We are not far from bringing the Turks’ and Czars’ dream true to life:
Levon Ter-Petrosyan

13:06 – 17.07.10

If any policy is not based on reality it may be called anything but
not policy, former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan said as he
addresses the 16th congress of the Armenian Pan-National Party’s
(HHSh).

According to him regardless who is in power, the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, the Armenia-Turkey normalization, issues like
Armenia’s economy, security and demographic problems have no
perspective for improvement.

As long as the Nagorno Karabakh issue is unresolved, according to
Ter-Petrosyan, the possibility of the resumption of a new war cannot
be ruled out. Today the Armenian authorities use the last diplomatic
chances to solve the Karabakh issue, but it is not excluded that the
situation may come out of control due to delaying of the settlement of
this issue.

“Today the risk of the resumption of the war is as much real as it was
before and will be the same tomorrow,” said he, adding that in this
sense Armenian authorities must be frank with the people.

Further Ter-Petrosyan mentioned that Armenia will soon bring the dream
of Turks’ and Czars true to life – to have Armenia without Armenians.
In his words that can be proved by an abrupt drop of the population in
Armenia.

“I do not oppose to preserving the status quo, but they [authorities]
must respond to one question: how are they going to stop emigration?
Without an answer to this question it is not a political view.”

Levon Ter-Petrosyan later said that the relations between Armenia and
Turkey cannot be improved as far as there is no solution to the
Karabakh issue or at least some progress over the settlement.

“How many times must the Turkish authorities reiterate it so that
eventually everybody understands it,” said Ter-Petrosyan.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

There have been three movements in Armenia since independence: Levon Zurabyan

11:43 – 17.07.10

There have been three movements in the newly independent Armenia,
coordinator of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) Levon Zurabyan
said today as he addressed at the 16th congress of the Armenian
Pan-National Movement Party (HHSh), adding that today the movements
emerge very quickly.

According to Zurabyan the first real movements was HHSh, the second
one were those gathered around Stepan Demirchyan and Aram Sargsyan in
2003-2005, and the third one, in his words, is HAK, which `has again
unified the Armenian nation around sacred objectives and is not simply
an alliance among 18 parties but a an entity that unifies the aims of
the Armenian nation.’

Referring to the March 1 events Zurabyan said that after that the
authorities started targeting HHSh by arresting and persecuting some
of its members. In his words three out of all the political prisoners
kept under detention related to the March are HHSh members.

Further Zurabyan spoke about the support that HHSh provided HAK with
in terms of coordinating the work in local bodies and strengthening
international ties.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Aznavour and Berlusconi on the same stage

11:14 – 17.07.10

Famous French-Armenian singer and Armenia’s Ambassador to Switzerland
Charles Aznavour and Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi are
going to have a ‘joint’ concert.

According to local Turkish daily Hurriyet the upcoming concert will
take place in Duomo Cathedral in Milano where an Italian citizen threw
a souvenir statue at Berlusconi on December 13 last year causing him
serious facial damage.

Berlusconi said he would walk on the stage and sing with Aznavour.

“I will watch the concert with great pleasure. But at the end of the
concert I will go on stage and sing two French and two Italian songs
with the maestro,” said Berlusconi.

“Berlusconi knows my songs. I like him very much as a political
figure. It is going to be a perfect concert,” Aznavour said in turn.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Joint Statement by the Heads of Delegation of the Minsk Group Co-Chair
countries

armradio.am
17.07.2010 14:35

The Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries,
Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Foreign
Minister of France Bernard Kouchner, and Deputy Secretary of State of
the United States James Steinberg, released the following statement
today:

The Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries,
Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Foreign
Minister of France Bernard Kouchner, and Deputy Secretary of State of
the United States James Steinberg met on the margins of the OSCE
Informal Ministerial with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian in
Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The Heads of Delegation of the Co-Chair countries recalled the joint
statement on Nagorno-Karabakh of December 1, 2009 at the OSCE
Ministerial meeting in Athens and reminded the sides of their
commitment to seek a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict based on the principles contained in the Helsinki Final Act,
particularly those related to refraining from the threat or use of
force, the territorial integrity of states, and the equal rights and
self determination of peoples. They reiterated that the elements
articulated by Presidents Medvedev, Sarkozy, and Obama on July 10,
2009 at L’Aquila and repeated at Muskoka on June 26, 2010 must be the
foundation of any fair and lasting settlement to the conflict. These
proposed elements have been conceived as an integrated whole, and any
attempt to select some elements over others would make it impossible
to achieve a balanced solution. Foreign Minister Kouchner and Deputy
Secretary Steinberg expressed appreciation for the efforts of
President Medvedev and Foreign Minister Lavrov to bridge the
differences between the parties, taking into consideration the
positions discussed during the meetings in Sochi on January 25, 2010
and in St. Petersburg on June 17, 2010.

The Heads of Delegation of Russia, France, and the United States
stressed that the efforts made so far by the parties to the conflict
have not been sufficient to overcome their differences. They deplored
recent developments which have increased tension in the region,
including the serious armed incident of June 18-19, 2010 and
inflammatory public statements. They warned that the use of force
created the current situation, and its use again would only lead to
suffering, devastation, and a legacy of conflict and hostility that
would last for generations. They urged a greater spirit of compromise
to reach agreement on a common basis for continuing the negotiations.
Additional actions by the sides are needed to reinforce the ceasefire
of 1994 and to create a more favorable atmosphere for further
political dialogue and reaching agreements.

The Heads of Delegation of the Co-Chair countries renewed their
commitment to support the sides in reaching a peace agreement, but
reiterated that the primary responsibility to put an end to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still remains with Azerbaijani and Armenian
leaders.

From: A. Papazian

Armenia-EU Association Agreement talks to start on July 19

armradio.am
17.07.2010 13:47

The negotiations on the Association Agreement between the Republic of
Armenia and the European Union will start in Yerevan on July 19, Press
and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

The same day Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Karine Ghazinyan will
have a meeting with Gunnar Vigand, Chairman of the Directorate for
East Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

From: A. Papazian

President Sargsyan convenes Security Council sitting

armradio.am
17.07.2010 14:08

President Serzh Sargsyan today convened a sitting of the National
Security Council, President’s Press Office reported.

The Security Council discussed and approved of the doctrine of
development of the seismic security system of Armenia.

President Sargsyan informed members of the National Security Council
about the latest developments in Armenia’s foreign policy.

From: A. Papazian

Working consultations at the President’s Office

armradio.am
17.07.2010 13:36

President Serzh Sargsyan held working consultations today on issues of
modernization and management of border checkpoints of the Republic of
Armenia, President’s Press Office reported.

From: A. Papazian

President Serzh Sargsyan received Chairman of the Executive Board of EuroNews

armradio.am
17.07.2010 11:39

President Serzh Sargsyan received Philippe Cayla, Chairman of the
Executive Board of EuroNews, President’s Press Office reported.

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