Author: Andres-Papazian

US STATE DEPARTMENT REAFFIRMS US SUPPORT FOR ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT, NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Panorama
July 7 2010
Armenia

The US State Department hosted a briefing Tuesday, when reporters
inquired from Mark C. Toner, Acting Deputy Department Spokesman,
on the results of Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Central Europe
and the South Caucasus regions and, particularly, Armenia-Turkey
normalization process.

Answering the question on Secretary Clinton’s trip, Toner said:
“Obviously, it was very successful. She did do a broad tour, beginning,
I believe, in Kyiv, traveling to Krakow where she participated in the
Alliance for Democracies, and then went to Armenia and Azerbaijan,
and then to Georgia before she returned home yesterday.” Secretary
Clinton had good discussions on regional bilateral issues, he added.

To the question if she discussed the Armenian-Turkish relations in
Azerbaijan, “because Baku authorities have some reservations regarding
the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement”, Toner said, “Certainly our policy
hasn’t shifted. We support rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia.

We also obviously support a settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. The two
obviously aren’t mutually exclusive, but are mutually supportive.”

“There seems to be an impression in Azerbaijan that the U.S. hasn’t
really done as much as it could over Nagorno-Karabakh. Now that the
Secretary has been to that region – it came up as an issue – will
the State Department now be taking any new actions, putting it on
the front burner? Do you accept that characterization?” reporter asked.

Toner said, he doesn’t accept that. “I think we’ve continued to
meet through the Minsk process and – or the Minsk Group, rather,
continually to work on these issues. Obviously, they’re difficult
issues and that requires a great deal of time. But our Ambassador
Robert Bradtke is hard at work on these issues and that’s just
reinforced by the Secretary’s visit to the region.”

From: A. Papazian

THE OSCE MINSK GROUP IS CURRENTLY MAIN FORMAT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

news.az
July 7 2010
Azerbaijan

It is possible to speak of the “parallel” efforts of Russia which is
the serious factor in the South Caucasus.

The result of the property chosen format of the conflict settlement
was the fact that serious talks are currently proceeding in the
OSCE Minsk Group along with different variants of the conflict
settlement presented to citizens of all parties of the conflict
(including package, phased and “single state” variant of the conflict
settlement in 1997-98). Currently we are speaking of the so-called
Madrid principles.

The statement came from political scientist Stepan Grigoryan (Armenia)
who spoke during public debates with Azerbaijani expert Rasim Musabeyov
at the “Club of Political Discussions”.

Certainly, there appeared “parallel” efforts and institutions on the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict in different periods.

Thus at the spring session of 2005 PACE decided to create the
PACE Temporary Committee on the Karabakh issues that involved
representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, France, Germany, Italy,
Russia, Sweden and Turkey.

The trilateral Azerbaijani-Armenian-Turkish negotiations related to
the Karabakh problem were held in period of intensification of the
Armenian-Turkish dialogue in 2008-2009.

Here it is possible to speak of the “parallel” efforts of Russia which
is the serious factor in the South Caucasus and the OSCE MG co-chair
periodically “demonstrating” its influence in the Karabakh conflict
regions beyond the efforts of the Minsk Group through initiation of
trilateral Azerbaijani-Armenian-Russian high level meetings.

One of such meetings was held on 2 November 2008 marked by the signing
of the Moscow Declaration. This is the first document ever signed by
the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia after 1994 when the ceasefire
agreement (Bishkek protocol) was signed between the conflict parties.

In paragraph 5 of the declaration the parties consider it important
to encourage creation of conditions for implementation of measures
to raise trust. This is a very important paragraph that proves the
understanding of the need to raise measures of trust toward each
other and prepare our communities for a compromise.

The meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held in Saint
Petersburg on 17 June at the invitation of the Russian president for
the purpose of continuing talks on the peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict must be referred to such “parallel efforts” and
“continuation of the meeting that was held on 2 November 2008.

We believe these meetings are already useful since the parties
are holding talks no matter whether they are difficult and of low
efficiency.

From: A. Papazian

ISKANDARYAN: CLINTON REAFFIRMED MADRID PRINCIPLES PROVISION

Aysor
July 7 2010
Armenia

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Armenia specified
Washington’s position on Armenia-Turkey rapprochement and Nagorno
Karabakh negotiation process. Caucasus Institute Director Alexander
Iskandaryan told a press conference today.

According to the speaker, with her statements and private visit to
Tsitsernakaberd Cinton hinted Ankara that Washington expects active
steps in the process of normalization of relations with Yerevan.

According to the political scientist, Clinton clearly made understand
that the United States agrees with Armenia in that issue.

Speaking about Clinton’s statements on Nagorno Karabakh settlement Mr.

Iskandaryan noted that they do not differ from OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs statements on resolving the problem on the basis of Madrid
principles. “They seek maintenance of the settlement format,” the
speaker said.

In response to aysor.am correspondent’s question of whether Clinton’s
statement that the problem should be resolved “thanks to Karabakh
people’s, Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s work” can imply that Washington
is for Nagorno Karabakh return to negotiating table, the political
scientist said that with the statement Clinton merely reaffirmed
Madrid principles provision that the problem should be resolved also
with Nagorno Karabakh people’s opinion taken into consideration.

“However, Nagorno Karabakh cannot be returned to negotiating table
since Azerbaijan’s position on the issue is harsh,” the speaker said.

Mr. Iskandaryan does not think that Secretary of State’s visit to
the region can promote serious developments.

“She just visited the former USSR region in which the United States
is interested,” Mr. Iskandaryan noted.

According to the speaker, Clinton’s visit cannot have an impact on the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement, either. He thinks that no new document
will appear in the near future.

“There will be just new meetings, statements and documents mentioning
that all issues are solved. We have seen it for many times, but no
serious step on settlement will be taken,” Mr. Iskandaryan concluded.

From: A. Papazian

THE ARMENIAN TEAM RETURNED TO THE 2ND PLACE

Aysor
July 7 2010
Armenia

The Armenian Youth team on the memorial tournament after Dvorkovich
held in Moscow after 10 rounds received 13 team and 22 individual
points and is on the 2nd round. The Chines team is still ahead with 19
(32) points, the Armenian Chess Federation informs.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER TO ATTEND NEXT SITTING OF ARMENIA-EU INTER-PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION

Panorama
July 7 2010
Armenia

Working sitting of the Armenia-EU inter-parliamentary cooperation
commission was held today.

The Armenian co-chair of the commission Naira Zohrabyan informed the
members of the session about the recent Armenia-EU developments.

The commission decided to work out an inner working regulation for
more coordinated organization of the upcoming activities. It was also
decided to work out within a week an agenda of issues for suggesting
to the joint discussion with corresponding commission of the European
parliament.

Representatives of the Armenian foreign ministry, corresponding NKR
establishments will be invited to participate in further sittings of
the commission which will be summoned every two weeks.

It was decided to invite to the next sitting Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan, according to the NA public relations department.

From: A. Papazian

WORKING SITTING OF THE ARMENIA-EU INTER-PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE HELD

Parliament.am
National Assembly of Armenia
July 7 2010
Armenia

On July 7 the working sitting of the Armenia-EU Inter-Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee was held.

The Co-Chair of the Armenia-EU Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee Naira Zohrabyan informed the committee members about the
latest developments between Armenia and EU. The committee decided
to elaborate inner working Rules of Procedure for organizing the
upcoming works more coordinated. They also decided to work out
within one week an agenda of problems for proposing to jointly
discuss in the relevant committee of the European Parliament. The
representatives of the Ministry of RA Foreign Affairs, NKR relevant
structures, as well as experts of the sphere will be also invited at
the further meetings of the committee, which will be convened once in
two weeks. It was decided to invite at the next working sitting of the
Armenia-EU Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee the RA Minister
of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian for organizing the joint work of
the inter-parliamentary committee and foreign department coordinated.

From: A. Papazian

ENTERPRISES OF ARMENIA, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN AND RUSSIA TO FORM THE INTERSTATE CORPORATION OF DEVELOPMENT

300 News

July 7 2010

On July 1, 2010 in the framework of the business program of the
First International Forum â~@~Engineering Technologies 2010â~@~]
the agreement on establishment of the Interstate Corporation of
Development was signed.

The aim of the Corporation is to develop scientific and industrial
and high-technology cooperation in the CSTO countries.

Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha and First Deputy Director of Federal Service
for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC of Russia) Alexander Fomin
took part in the ceremony of the Agreement signing.

Intellectual and productive assets of the CSTO states will form
the basis of the Interstate Corporation of Development. Currently
the Manufacturing Association named after A.S. Popov (Russia) and
Corporation â~@~AK-Maralâ~@~] (Kyrgyzstan) have confirmed their
intention to enter the Corporation. In the framework of the business
program of the First International Forum â~@~Engineering Technologies
2010â~@~] there were business meetings with representatives of
Military-industrial complexes of Armenia and Kazakhstan who expressed
readiness for entering the Interstate Corporation of Development.

The Agreement is expressed so as the Corporation will be formed by
December 30, 2010 and provide the creation of more than 3,000 jobs,
total production volume by 2020 is to amount to 50 billion Rubles.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS IN INTERNATIONAL OPEN OF PARIS

Panorama
July 7 2010
Armenia

Four Armenian chess players who represent France are taking part
in the International Open of Paris. GM Tigran Gharamian has scored
3,5 points out of 4 and is only half a point behind the leader,
GM Sebastien Feller (France), Chess Federation press service reported.

Thomas Saatdjian has scored 2,5, IM Thierry Manouck – 2, Gary Giroyan –
1,5 points. 68 chess players are taking part in the tournament.

From: A. Papazian

THE US UNDERTAKES STEPS TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Aysor
July 7 2010
Armenia

The visit of the US State secretary to South Caucasus was very
significant for the whole region, thinks Gagik Melikyan, the member
of the ARP.

He attached importance to the visit of the State Secretary to the
Armenian Genocide Memorial and stressed out that it was not a private
but an official visit.

G. Melikyan is sure that the US undertakes steps to recognize the
Armenian Genocide: “After that visit it will be difficult for the
Turkish and Azerbaijani lobbyists of America to prevent the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S.”

From: A. Papazian

WASHINGTON EXPECTS CONCRETE STEPS FROM ANKARA

Aysor
July 7 2010
Armenia

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sent a message to Ankara that
they must continue process of reconciliation, told media at the press
conference Armenian parliamentarian, a Republican Hovhannes Sahakian.

“Through such harsh statements Clinton gave Turkey to understand that
it hasn’t any other chances while Washington is expecting concrete
steps,” said Sahakian.

He said though Clinton attended Monday morning the Tsitsenakaberd
Memorial Complex dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims due to private reasons, she personally recognizes the 1915
Genocide against Armenians.

Politician also said that Clinton’s statements contained messages
that Washington rules out the military way of settlement to the
Karabakh conflict.

From: A. Papazian