Author: Andres-Papazian

RFE: Sarkisian Urges West To Engage Iran

23.06.2010

Armenia — President Serzh Sarkisian speaks at the Konrad Adenauer
Foundation in Berlin, 22June 2010.

President Serzh Sarkisian has urged Western powers to respect Iran’s
geopolitical interests in the South Caucasus and held up Armenia’s
economic projects with the Islamic Republic as a model for regional
cooperation.

Ending an official visit to Germany late on Tuesday, Sarkisian also
asserted that the Western-backed energy projects involving Azerbaijan
and excluding Armenia have only complicated a peaceful resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In a speech at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation headquarters in Berlin,
he said: “I do realize that in the light of the sanctions imposed
on Iran some people will treat my approach with skepticism, but I
am convinced that it is wrong and not possible to ignore Iran in
regional solutions.”

“It is extremely important for the region to address Iran’s sense
of being in danger. Without that, there can be no solution to future
challenges or even the current [Iranian] nuclear problem,” he said.

Sarkisian did not specify what concrete role Iran should play in
regional security. Nor was it clear whether he thinks Tehran should
have a major say in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

The Armenian leader instead promoted his administration’s plans to
implement more multimillion-dollar projects with Iran. He singled
out the planned construction of an Armenian-Iranian railway and the
unfolding upgrading of Armenia’s main highways stretching from the
Iranian border to southern Georgia.

“These infrastructure projects could have a truly revolutionary
significance in terms of transport communication as they would connect
the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean,” he declared.

Sarkisian juxtaposed them against the pipelines carrying Azerbaijani
oil and gas to international markets through Georgia and Turkey. He
said the resulting windfall revenues have only enabled Azerbaijan to
embark on a military build-up, thereby increasing the likelihood of
renewed war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“What has that project given the region?” he said, referring to the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. “Deepening of division lines, an
arms race, an increase in bellicose rhetoric. Was this the anticipated
‘security and prosperity?'”

“Oil and gas pipelines, communication lines stretching only from the
east to the west can not guarantee stability, security and prosperity
in the region,” he added.

Sarkisian also denounced Azerbaijan for rejecting any economic
cooperation with Armenia before a resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

He said “economic integration processes” involving all regional states
would greatly facilitate a Karabakh settlement.

From: A. Papazian

IRAN ON WAR ALERT OVER “US AND ISRAELI CONCENTRATIONS” IN AZERBAIJAN

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
June 23, 2010, 1:23 PM (GMT+02:00)

In a rare move, Iran has declared a state of war on its northwestern
border, debkafile’s military and Iranian sources report. Iranian
Revolutionary Guards Corps men and equipment units are being massed in
the Caspian Sea region against what Tehran claims are US and Israeli
forces concentrated on army and air bases in Azerbaijan ready to
strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The announcement came on Tuesday, June 22 from Brig.-Gen Mehdi Moini
of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), commander of the forces tasked
with “repelling” this American-Israeli offensive. He said: “The
mobilization is due to the presence of American and Israeli forces
on the western border,” adding, “Reinforcements are being dispatched
to WestAzerbaijan Province because some western countries are fueling
ethnic conflicts to destabilize the situation in the region.”

In the past, Iranian officials have spoken of US and Israel attacks in
general terms. debkafile’s Iranian sources note that this is the first
time that a specific location was mentioned and large reinforcements
dispatched to give the threat substance.

Other Iranian sources report that in the last few days, Israel
has secretly transferred a large number of bomber jets to bases in
Azerbaijan, via Georgia, and that American special forces are also
concentrated in Azerbaijan in preparation for a strike.

No comment has come from Azerbaijan about any of these reports.

Iranian Azerbaijan, the destination of the Revolutionary Guards forces
reinforcements, borders on Turkey, Iraq and Armenia. Witnesses say long
IRGC convoys of tanks, artillery, anti-aircraft units and infantry
are seen heading up the main highways to Azerbaijan and then further
north to the Caspian Sea.

On Tuesday, June 22, Dr. Uzi Arad, head of Israel’s National Security
Council and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest adviser,
said “The latest round of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran is
inadequate for thwarting its nuclear progress. A preemptive military
strike might eventually be necessary.”

debkafile’s intelligence and Iranian sources point to three other
developments as setting off Iran’s war alert: 1. A certain (limited)
reinforcement of American and Israeli forces has taken place in
Azerbaijan. Neither Washington nor Jerusalem has ever acknowledged a
military presence in this country that borders on Iran, but Western
intelligence sources say that both keep a wary eye on the goings-on
inside Iran from electronic surveillance bases in that country.

2. Iran feels moved to respond to certain US steps: The arrival of
the USS Harry S. Truman Strike Group in the Persian Gulf and the
Arabian Sea and its war games with France and Israel, which included
live-fire bombing practices against targets in Iran.

3. The execution of Abdolmalek Rigi, head of the Sunni Baluchi
rebel organization (including the Iranian Baluchis), on June 20 was
intended as a deterrent for Iran’s other minorities. Instead, they
are more restive than ever. Several Azeri breakaway movements operate
in Iranian Azerbaijan in combination with their brethren across the
border. Tehran decided a substantial buildup in the province would
serve as a timely measure against possible upheavals.

From: A. Papazian

BAKO SAHAKYAN HANDS AWARDS

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 23, 2010
STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS: A solemn ceremony of awarding took
place today at the office of Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan.

Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR President told
Armenpress that the president handed in valuable gifts and financial
awards to the heads and a group of servicemen of the Artsakh Republic
Police and National Security Service for quick disclosing the theft
of large financial means, discovering and confiscating the stealing
committed in the “ATA Vank Les” closed joint-stock company due to
coordinated operative-reconnoitering and investigatory efficient
activities.

Bako Sahakyan expressed satisfaction in connection with successful
performance of the set tasks in the shortest time period and noted
that the authorities would continue keeping in the spotlight the
issues of raising work efficiency of law enforcement agencies and
ameliorating social conditions of the servicemen.

From: A. Papazian

BAKO SAHAKYAN VISITS ORE MANIFESTATION SITE NEAR THE TSAGHKASHEN VILLAGE

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 23, 2010
STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS: President of the Artsakh Republic
Bako Sahakyan visited today ore manifestation site near the Tsaghkashen
village in the Martakert region and got acquainted with the carried
out activities.

Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR President
told Armenpress that the president noted the importance of activities
directed to the investigation and efficient exploitation of the
mineral wealth considering this sphere among the pivotal directions
of the country’s economic development.

Premier of the Artsakh Republic Ara Haroutyunyan, president of the
“Base Metals” closed joint stock company Valery Mejloumyan and other
officials accompanied the President.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN DELIVERS SPEECH IN ADENAUER FOUNDATION

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 23, 2010
YEREVAN

Yesterday’s official visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to
the Federal Republic of Germany wrapped up with participation in the
session entitled “Security and Development in the South Caucasus:
the Role of Armenia” summoned in Conrad Adenauer Foundation and with a
working dinner with the board of the Eastern economic committee of the
Federal Republic of Germany and representatives of business circles.

Armenian presidential press service told Armenpress that Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan delivered a speech in the Adenauer Foundation,
as well as answered to the questions exciting the guests, and then
participated in the reception arranged in honor of the Armenian
President.

Conrad Adenauer Foundation, in addition to other functions, is an
authoritative platform of discussion of important international
public-political issues, where heads of different countries,
representatives of the public-political elite and authoritative
experts present their viewpoints on up-to-date themes.

The delegation headed by the Armenian President will arrive back in
Yerevan today- June 23.

From: A. Papazian

RA PRESIDENT CRITICAL OF WORLD FOR VAGUE ASSESSMENTS OF AZERBAIJANI PROVOCATION

NEWS.am
June 23, 2010 | 18:22

The entire world knows that it was Azerbaijan that violated
the ceasefire in the contact line between the Azerbaijani and
Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces, on June 18, RA President Serzh Sargsyan
said in Berlin. The Armenian leader spoke of the international
community’s calm response to an act of sabotage by Azerbaijan, which
killed four Armenian soldiers and injured another four.

“So what? The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the EU Representative
for the South Caucasus make general assessments of to the incident,
calling on the sides to avoid provocations. What sides do they mean?

Who is to blame for this incident? We – Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh – signed a trilateral ceasefire agreement in
1994. We signed an agreement with Azerbaijan’s assistance and Russia’s
mediation. Thus, we undertook legal commitments not to violate the
ceasefire,” he added.

Citing Martin Luther King, the RA President expressed hope that one
day a real dialogue with Armenia’s neighbors will be started and all
the sides will gather around one table, as it meets the region’s
interests. “I am sure that a day will come when, asked whether a
dialogue is possible in our region, we will say ‘yes’,” Sargsyan said.

From: A. Papazian

150, 000 POPULATED KARABAKH COULD NOT BREAK OUT HOSTILITIES AGAINST AZERBAIJAN, RA PRESIDENT

NEWS.am
June 23, 2010 | 17:59

The speech of RA President Serzh Sargsyan at the Konrad Adenauer
Foundation was followed by questions. A certain Gajibeyli, who claimed
to be from Aghdam, addressed the President, “Since 1992 my village
has been occupied by Armenian-Russian units. It is already for 18
years that I have been unable to return to my motherland. How long
will you occupy my motherland?” he asked.

“Until you, Mr. Gajibeyli, stop making four serious mistakes in one
sentence,” the Armenian President replied. “First, it was Azerbaijan
that attacked Nagorno-Karabakh from Aghdam in 1992 and occupied
its major part. Besides, there was not a single Russian soldier in
the mentioned region and you should not explain your defeat by any
other reasons. Thirdly, I have no relation to the forces deployed in
that region to be able to help you. That region is controlled by the
armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and this situation was imposed upon
them – Karabakh with a population of 150,000 could not have started
hostilities against Azerbaijan, with its population of several
millions. That was an imposed war, which made the Karabakh people
to take up arms and save their independence at the expense of their
children’s lives,” Serzh Sargsyan said.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN FIRES AT KARABAKH

NEWS.am
June 23, 2010 | 17:33

Azerbaijani army units have violated the ceasefire 220 times within
recent 24 hours, the NKR Defense Army press secretary Senor Hasratyan
told NEWS.am.

He noted that Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire at various
sections of the contact line. The NKR Defense Army retaliated, with
no victims from Karabakh side registered. “The NKR Defense Army is
controlling the situation in the forward line,” Hasratyan stated.

From: A. Papazian

ARMS RACE, WARLIKE STATEMENT DO NOT PROMISE GOOD FUTURE, RA PRESIDENT STATES

NEWS.am
June 23, 2010 | 10:22

“Armenia has repeatedly called on its eastern neighbor, Azerbaijan,
to use our countries’ potential to contribute to the stability and
development of our region,” RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated in
his speech at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation “The arms race and
warlike statements cannot promise a good future for our children,”
the President said.

The Armenian leader said that “as a man who felt the pleasure of
victory, went through the war, but will never forget its bitterness.”

“After all, when the processes of economic integration start in our
region, we can more easily resolve the Karabakh conflict and ensure
our nation’s welfare than in today’s atmosphere of distrust,” the
Armenian President said.

From: A. Papazian

CAUCASUS BORDERS DIVIDE RATHER THAN UNITE, RA PRESIDENT STATES

NEWS.am
June 23, 2010 | 10:14

“I am sorry to say the interstate borders of more than 3,000 kilometers
long in the South Caucasus divide rather than unite us,” RA President
Serzh Sargsyan stated in his speech at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

According to him, there are few places in the world, where the
inhabitants have such historical problems and experience such pain,
and even hostility towards each other. The example cited by Konrad
Adenauer is noteworthy here, who once saw the future of Europe and
future of Germany in this Europe. “Is such future possible for our
region? Definitely, it is possible. It is possible to move forward
only if we realize our goal, jointly set it and show firm will,”
Sargsyan said.

Sargsyan stressed the end of the Cold War led to stability and peace
in different parts of the world. However, in some regions, including
the South Caucasus, it resulted in violent conflicts.

“State-building in the new independent countries was accompanied
by wars, revolutions, severe economic crises, societies became
militarized, intolerant enemies hating each other. Two decades passed.

Did we learn an appropriate lesson from the past? According to my
observations, the answer is a negative one,” Sargsyan stressed.

From: A. Papazian