Author: Andres-Papazian

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ACCUSES HILLARY CLINTON OF BIAS

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 7, 2010 – 20:22 AMT 15:22 GMT

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted the statements by
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to Tbilisi on
July 5 that the United States will not accept the “Russian occupation
of Georgia’s territories” and will seek “de-occupation of Georgia.”

“Under international law, occupation is a temporary stationing of
the troops of one state on the territory of another in conditions
of a state of war between them. Moreover, authority in the occupied
territory is exercised by the military command of the occupying state.

Thus, the use by Secretary of State Clinton of the term “occupation”
has no foundation beneath it. There is not a single Russian service
member in the territory of Georgia. In the region there are Russian
military contingents, but they are stationed in the territories of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have seceded from Georgia as a result
of the aggression unleashed by the Saakashvili regime. At the same
time Abkhazia and South Ossetia have their own democratically formed
legislative, executive and judicial authorities fully operational;
political parties are actively working there.

Russian troops and bases in the two republics are stationed on the
basis of bilateral interstate agreements in full accordance with the
norms of international law.

We expect that our partners will take account of this objective reality
in their public and practical activities,” reads the statement of
the Russian Foreign Ministry.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN ALMATY ON JULY 16

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 7, 2010 – 19:54 AMT 14:54 GMT

The Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers are scheduled to meet
on the margins of an informal meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in
Almaty on July 16-17. The meeting is prepared by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairmen on the Karabakh conflict settlement.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Secretary of State and Foreign Minister
of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev will also participate in the talks.

During the informal meeting, to take place at the Ak-Bulak Resort,
35 kilometers south-east of Almaty, Foreign Ministers and other
high-level representatives from the 56 OSCE participating States
will consider matters related to security in Europe and the OSCE’s
role, including the agenda of a possible OSCE Summit proposed by the
Kazakhstan’s OSCE Chairmanship. Some 40 Foreign Ministers are set to
participate in the informal meeting, the OSCE press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

RA MFA RESPONDS TO AZERBAIJANI STATEMENTS

07:29 pm | Today | Official

The Foreign Ministry of Armenia has responded to recurrent bellicose
statement of the Azerbaijani President.

“The recent statements of Azerbaijani top officials are the
continuation of the June 18 provocation and seek to disrupt the
negotiation process. In an attempt to withdraw from an agreement
reached in St. Petersburg, Azerbaijani leadership deludes its
people misinterpreting the talks and distorting history, geography,
ethnography and international law.

Karabakh’s right to self-determination cannot be limited to
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity mentioned in one and the same
speech for 13 times. Azerbaijan is again speaking in the language of
threats and provocations.

The statements testify to the fact that prior to each important meeting
Azerbaijani leaders take deliberate steps to thwart the negotiations.

Constructivism is based on truth rather than on lies, delusions and
threats,” said RA MFA Spokesman Tigran Balayan.

From: A. Papazian

“ARMENIA STARTED A WAR WITH THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE”

06:59 pm | Today | Politics

“Armenia-CoE relations are periled,” Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, former
chair of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Council of Europe
(PACE) said on July 7.

“It seems as if the parties have started a small war: the Armenian
side has expressed its distrust for the PACE President, delegates and
co-rapporteurs. But Armenia cannot win this war,” Mr. Hovhannisyan
said.

Remind that Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan announced
that PACE President’s unawareness of June 18 incident at the contact
line between Azerbaijani and NKR Armed Forces causes bewilderment
and the head of the Armenian delegation to PACE David Harutyunyan
blamed PACE Monitoring Committee Co-rapporteur Goran Lindblad for
“political immaturity.”

Hovhannes Hovhannisyan says the Armenian delegation is partly to
blame for the current situation though the main reason is the change
of international attitude towards Armenia.

“Membership to the Council of Europe was to ensure democratic values
in Armenia and guarantee protection of human rights. In fact, the
situation is worse today than it was in 1999 and 2000,” Hovhannisyan
said. “And the reason for this is that the Armenian side is constantly
lying. The CoE finally got tired of us and demanded to call things
by their right names. The structure simply lost confidence in Armenia.”

To come out of this mess, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan suggests freezing
membership to the structure, changing the Armenian delegates or
meeting the CoE commitments.

From: A. Papazian

RALPH YIRIKIAN INVITED TO SKOLKOVO SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

06:04 pm | Today | Social

VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian was invited as a
guest-speaker to lecture on the contemporary issues of business
management for the managers of the largest international companies
operating in Russia and other CIS, in Moscow’s Skolkovo School of
Management.

The President of the Board of Trustees of the school is the President
of the Russian Federation Dmitri Medvedev. The education at the school
is based on the exchange of experience through interactive meetings
and discussions with renowned businesspeople and scientists.

To find the formula of success in business, to prepare the leaders of
tomorrow, to be able to effectively manage the modern day business
structures, to give them innovative practical knowledge so that
they are able to make the country more competitive on international
markets – these are the priorities set for the “Skolkovo” Moscow
School of Management.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN CITIZENS DO NOT FEAT HEAT

05:38 pm | Today | Social

The highest temperature (+ 38) of this season was recorded in Yerevan
on July 6 and 7.

Despite the unbearable heat, Yerevan streets are overcrowded today.

Some are hurrying to work, others are simply enjoying themselves and
walking in central streets.

Grandpa Levon was photographing his grandson near the fountains of
Republic Square.

“My grandson was eager to go out and I brought him here to drink cold
water and cool himself.”

Tourists John and Mike were surprised at Armenians’ patience and
endurance.

The heat did not worry even the beggar of Abovian street.

The capital cafes are full of young people who find pleasure in
outdoor activities.

“We cannot stay indoors in summer. Life is boiling in the streets
and we try to find amusement in cafes.”

From: A. Papazian

ARTHUR MKRTCHYAN SWORN IN AS ARABKIR COURT JUDGE

05:12 pm | Today | Official

Arthur Lazarian today swore in as Judge of General Jurisdiction Court
of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun administrative districts. Present at
the swearing-in ceremony was RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

By a Presidential decree of July 1, Arthur Lazarian was appointed
judge of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun administrative districts’ Court.

From: A. Papazian

VARDAN KHACHATRYAN IS STILL OFFENDED

04:40 pm | Today | Politics

Armenian MP Vardan Khachatryan does not agree that the recent
statements over the Karabakh conflict settlement have reduced the
possibility of a new war.

“I think that Azerbaijan is threatening with a war, but it is not ready
for serious actions,” Mr. Khachatryan said at the “Mirror” club today.

His opponent, Republican MP Hovhannes Sahakyan said the danger of
the war resumption was always perceived.

Regarding U.S. Secretary Clinton’s visit to the Armenian Genocide
Memorial, the Republican MP said, “With her visit, Ms. Hilary Clinton
showed that the USA has recognized the Armenian Genocide.”

“U.S. Secretary of State tried to prove that Washington takes interest
in the region and her visit to South Caucasus has deep implication,”
Vardan Khachatryan said.

Note that Mr. Khachatryan is not going to attend the July 10 meeting
of the Heritage Party.

“I have not received an invitation,” he said.

Vardan Khachatryan confessed that he is still offended by the party.

“Insults fuel internal-combustion engine,” he concluded.

On September 9, 2009, Vardan Khachatryan, was expelled from the
Heritage Party.

From: A. Papazian

MINISTER NALBANDIAN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SITTING

04:15 pm | Today | Official

The working sitting of the Armenia-EU Interparliamentary Cooperation
Commission took place in Yerevan on June 7.

Chairwoman of the Commission Naira Zohrabyan informed members of the
Committee about the latest developments in the Armenia-EU relations.

The Commission decided to work out an agenda of issues within the
coming week to be submitted to the corresponding commission of the
European parliament.

Representatives of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
corresponding bodies of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and experts
will participate in the next meetings to be held every fortnight.

It was decided to invite Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
to participate in the next sitting.

From: A. Papazian

ALIYEV SINGS THE SAME SONG

04:04 pm | Today | Politics

At the opening ceremony of central headquarters of the Azerbaijani
community of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev again spoke about Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and regulation of the Karabkh conflict through military
actions.

During his 40-minute speech, Aliyev laid the accent on the Karabakh
conflict and updated Madrid Principles.

“Azerbaijan agreed in principle with these proposals. The other side
agrees or not, or is still working on tightening time. If the opposite
party – Armenia does not respond positively to these proposals and if
we find the peace process exhausted, we shall give preference to the
military path,” Aliyev said and added that international law supports
their position in this case.

“Article 51 of the United Nations Charter clearly states that each
country has full rights of self-defense. We want to resolve the
issue peacefully. We want our territorial integrity be restored by
peaceful means, through negotiations. But it is not yet possible,”
Azerbaijani President said.

Referring to the settlement of the conflict, he underlined that
Azerbaijan should recover and restore its territorial integrity.

“We have always sought that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan be
taken into account during the conflict settlement and we have done so.

Unless the Karabakh conflict is resolved, it will remain a priority
of Azerbaijan,” Ilham Aliyev said.

From: A. Papazian