Author: Andres-Papazian

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN TO MAKE SPEECH IN HHSH CONGRESS

03:06 pm | Today | Politics

The Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) convenes a congress on
July 17. Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan is expected
to deliver a speech in the congress.

The participants will adopt a resolution and elect a new administrative
board, HHSh senior representative Vahagn Hayotsyan told A1+.

“Later, the newly-elected administration will call a sitting to elect
a board chair,” he said.

Overall, 700 delegates will participate in the HHSh congress, among
them intellectuals, proponents and parties of the Armenian National
Congress (HAK).

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA EXPECTS UNBIASED APPROACH

Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan yesterday
answered the questions of the European Parliament’s Committee on
Foreign Affairs referring to the Karabakh conflict settlement,
Armenian-Turkish relations and Armenia-EU partnership.

Earlier, the RA NA Speaker gave a speech in the Committee’s special
sitting.

“The Karabakh conflict has many delicate sides and Armenia expects an
unbiased and balanced approach in all documents referring to conflict.

In this respect, I sent a letter to the president of the European
Parliament in connection with the resolution on “EU Strategy for the
South Caucasus” adopted on May 10, 2010.

The resolution includes incorrect wording on the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue, as the author was unaware of the nuances of the conflict.

Moreover, he had never visited the region and consulted with mediators
– the OSCE Minsk group co-chair countries, in particular with France,
a member of the European Union.

The right of Nagorno Karabakh people to self-determination cannot
be opposed to the principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
as Nagorno Karabakh has never been part of either Azerbaijan
proclaiming independence in 1918 or current Azerbaijan being the
latter’s successor.

-In response to the legitimate wish of Karabakhi people to exercise
their right to self-determination, Azerbaijan resorted to force and
unleashed a large-scale war against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh
in 1991-1994. The present situation in the conflict zone is the
consequence of that war.

-Since the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is not recognized internationally,
Armenia represents and protects NKR interests but Armenia cannot
replace Karabakh and cannot shoulder commitments instead of
Karabakh. If Azerbaijan recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as a negotiating
party, it will contribute to the productivity of the negotiation
process.

Disregard of these facts may have a negative impact on the
Karabakh conflict settlement. Azerbaijan’s recent provocation on
the contact-line, which left five Armenian soldiers killed, is not
a mere accident.

I would like to note that the resolutions adopted by the European
Parliament suggest interesting ideas on the mechanisms of strengthening
relations between South Caucasus and European Union.

From: A. Papazian

IS AZERBAIJAN READY TO CONTINUE TALKS?

The upcoming meeting between Armenian, Azerbaijani and OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chairing countries’ Foreign Ministers in Almaty aims to specify
the sides’ stance, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said
on July 14.

“The key issue of the discussion will be whether Azerbaijan is willing
to continue negotiations on the basis of the updated version of
Madrid Principles presented during the presidential meeting in Saint
Petersburg,” Edward Nalbandian said during a joint press conference
with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski.

The Polish Foreign Minister refrained from commenting on the bellicose
statements Azerbaijan, a member of the Eastern Partnership Program.

“The collaboration in the realm of the Eastern Partnership program will
help countries resolve problems. As a bridge between the countries,
Poland will do everything in its power for the peaceful resolution
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” Sikorski said.

The top diplomats today dwelt on Armenian-Polish centuries-old
friendship, intensively developing bilateral relations, and the
possibility of arranging a direct flight between the two capitals.

From: A. Papazian

NO VIOLATIONS REGISTERED AT THE CONTACT-LINE

On July 14, in accordance with the earlier achieved agreement with the
NKR authorities, the OSCE Mission conducted Á regular monitoring of
the contact-line of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces,
near the NKR Martouni region’s Kuropatkino settlement.

>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring was
conducted by Coordinator of the OSCE Office, Lieutenant-Colonel Imre
Palatinus (Hungary), Field Assistant of the Personal Representative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Zhaslan Nurtazin (Kazakhstan), as
well as the representative of the OSCE High Level Planning Group,
Lieutenant-Colonel Fergus Hannon (Ireland).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule. No
violation of the cease-fire regime was registered.

>From the Karabakhi side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs,
NKR MFA Information Department reports.

From: A. Papazian

FRANCE MARKS NATIONAL HOLIDAY – BASTILLE DAY

France marks Bastille Day on Wednesday as a celebration of the
uprising of modern French nation. Today, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan visited the French Embassy in Yerevan.

After celebrating the French people on the national holiday, President
Sargsyan voiced hope that the bilateral dynamic relations will always
remain on a high level.

“Today we speak about the close relations between the two peoples
with pride,” Serzh Sargsyan said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENAKAN-RAMKAVAR AZATAKAN PARTY CONVENES CONGRESS

12:25 pm | Today | Politics

The Armenakan-Ramkavar Azatakan party convenes a congress on July 17.

According to a press release, the second congress is aimed at refining
the party’s stance on domestic and foreign policy challenges.

Party Chairman Hakob Avetikyan is scheduled to make a summary report.

The meeting will focus on a number of political, social and
educational issues, as well as the Karabakh conflict settlement and
Armenian-Turkish relations.

In the end, the deputies will elect the party’s governing body.

From: A. Papazian

GOLD PRICE IS DOWN IN ARMENIA

The State Treasury of Precious Metals and Stones” agency at the RA
Ministry of Finance has set the following prices for precious metals
for July 12-July 18, 2010, the press office of the RA Ministry of
Finance reported.

According to information provided, the set prices are as follows:
gold: purchase price: AMD 12991.89 (-466.41), release price: 14121.62
(-506.97); silver: purchase price: AMD 193.25 (-9.32), release price:
AMD 210.05 (-10.13); platinum: purchase price: AMD16419.14 (-324.98),
release price: AMD 17846.89 (-353.24); palladium: purchase price is
AMD 4763.81 (-164.92), release price is AMD 5178.05 (-179.26).

From: A. Papazian

PIGS SLAUGHTERED IN SYUNIK MARZ
Armen Davtyan

11:54 am | Today | Social

More than 70 pigs have been slaughtered in five swine-breeding farms in
the village of Khdrants, Syunik Marz. Earlier, some 20 pigs reportedly
died in the marz of some unknown disease.

It is already 15 days veterinary surgeons cannot find the reasons
for the infection. They say villagers failed to vaccinate the pigs
in time, hence the outbreak of the infection.

The locals are confident that the pigs are infected with African
plague, which reached the village two years ago.

To avoid the further spread of epidemic, the neighbouring villages
have slaughtered all pigs and buried them safely outside the village.

Edgar Tokhsants, Head of Syunik’s State Veterinary and Food Safety
Inspection, says the results of analysis will be known in three days.

From: A. Papazian

THE PRISONER IS IN A DESPERATE STATE

July 13, 2010

Soghomon Kocharyan, who has been sentenced to life in prison and
has been on a hunger strike for over 50 days, is worn out and in a
desperate state, advocate Avetik Ishkhanyan told “A1+”.

Ishkhanyan visited “Nubarashen” penitentiary upon the prisoner’s
request.

Let us remind that on 2009 November 27, Kocharyan and his cellmate
Mher Yenokyan escaped the penitentiary and were caught on December 18.

By a June 7 court ruling, their sentencing was extended by 7 years.

Let us mention that Soghomon Kocharyan was sentenced to execution
for the murder he committed, but after the elimination of the death
sentencing, life in prison was replaced by Robert Kocharyan’s decree.

Avetik Ishkhanyan mentioned that Soghomon Kocharyan is on a hunger
strike for two reasons-he demands a revision of his sentencing as he
considers it rather brutal and a transfer to “Yerevan” penitentiary
based on his security.

According to the advocate, he has talked to the head of the
penitentiary in relation to the last demand and the latter has
guaranteed that Soghomon Kocharyan is safe and there can be no threat.

As far as the sentencing is concerned, “Soghomon committed murder
and doesn’t deny it, but whether life in prison is adequate in such
circumstances or not is another story.”

During a nearly half hour conversation with the detainee, Avetik
Ishkhanyan said he had tried to convince him to stop the hunger
strike. “Each person chooses his or her own path to take. We talked
about serious issues. Perhaps some emotions were stirred or perhaps
he has faith toward the future.”

According to Avetik Ishkhanyan, Soghomon Kocharyan is under a doctor’s
daily supervision.

Press speaker for the Head of Penitentiaries at the RA Ministry of
Justice Arsen Babayan told “A1+” that the doctors rate the striker’s
health status as normal. As far as Soghomon Kocharyan’s security
is concerned, according to Babayan, the regime employees ensure
his security.

Avetik Ishkhanyan met with Mher Yenokyan who is also sentenced to
life in prison and had a talk with him. Mher and Soghomon are now in
separate cells after their escape.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANIS PREPARE FOR RETURN TO KARABAKH

news.az
July 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Bayram Safarov The Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh has
started major preparations for a return to their homeland.

The chairman of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh,
Bayram Safarov, told ANS yesterday that the population was being
counted again.

“Figures show that the Azerbaijani population of Nagorno-Karabakh
exceeds 75,000. For example, there were 22,000-23,000 Azerbaijanis in
Shusha in 1989, but today the figure of Azerbaijanis from Shusha has
reached 30,000. An exact list of the population needs to be compiled
in order to facilitate the process. The work is continuing; we are
preparing the list and organizing the procedure for the return of
the population,” he said.

Once Karabakh has been liberated, complex restoration work will be
carried out. “Shusha will become even better than before. I am sure
that some of the population will be ready to live in tents as long
as they are in their native land,” Safarov said.

Agreement has yet to be reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan on
the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Baku is ready to make compromises, though the Madrid principles
for a conflict settlement do not fully meet its interests, Safarov
said. He believes that all eyes are now on Armenia: “Armenia must
make concessions as we do. They should understand that Azerbaijan has
great economic potential. Do you think the Armenians want to live in
the current conditions? Certainly, they don’t. How long can they live
on foreign aid?”

“Anyway, if the problem cannot be settled diplomatically, then war is
an alternative,” Safarov said. “All of us, young and old, are ready
to return our lands at the order of the supreme commander.”

From: A. Papazian