Author: Andres-Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS WITH CHANCELLOR MERKEL IN GERMANY

[ 2010/06/22 | 17:06 ]
politics

During his working visit to Germany, RoA President Serzh Sargsyan has
met with Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two heads of states discussed
relations between the two nations and ways to improve cooperation
between Bonn and Yerevan.

President Sargsyan noted that Armenian-German cooperation is a
primary component in Yerevan’s European integration plans. The two
also discussed the present state of Karabakh conflict negotiations.

President Sargsyan welcomed Germany’s balanced political position
regarding regional affairs. While the two emphasized the importance of
rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey, President Sargsyan expressed
disappointment that efforts in this direction have proven fruitless
due to Turkey’s intentions to use the process for ulterior motives.

From: A. Papazian

CONGRESSMAN PALLONE CALLS ON US GOVERNMENT TO RESTRICT MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO AZERBAIJAN

Panorama.am
22/06/2010

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), co-chair of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, Monday released a statement condemning
attacks by the armed forces of Azerbaijan on soldiers of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

“I condemn these attacks in the strongest terms. The attempt to
penetrate the line of contact with Nagorno-Karabakh defenses was
an unacceptable provocation and an attempt to precipitate further
conflict,” the Congressman said, expressing his deepest condolences
to the families of the four soldiers who lost their lives due to
these attacks.

“The fact that these attacks were unprovoked and came just hours after
a meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan with Russian
President Medvedev as part of ongoing efforts to bring the conflict to
a final peace settlement, makes the attacks that much more egregious. I
continue to call on the U.S. government to reinstate Section 907 of
the FREEDOM Support Act and restrict all further military assistance
to Azerbaijan. We can not stand complacent as Azerbaijan makes good
on their aggressive statements and engages in violent attacks,”
Pallone said, according to Asbarez.

Remind that ANCA also came with the same call to the US government.

Previous News: ANCA disappointed with OSCE MG weak statement

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PM RECEIVES IRANIAN BUSINESSMEN

Panorama.am
22/06/2010

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received today the delegation
of the Iranian businessmen. The delegation of the Iranian businessmen
is in Armenia within the framework of the Armenian-Iranian business
forum held in Yerevan. Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Seyed Ali
Saghayian and honorary chairman of the Armenian-Iranian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Levon Aharonyan were present at the meeting,
government’s press service reported.

Highly assessing the level of the political cooperation extended
between Armenia and Iran, the Prime Minister attached importance
to deepening of the economic cooperation and to the full use of the
current potential.

During the meeting the interlocutors referred to the results of the
business forum organized June 18 with the Armenian Development Agency.

The Iranian businessmen informed that the development prospects of the
Armenian investment and Armenian-Iranian trade-economic relations were
discussed at the forum. Bilateral importance was attached to regular
organization of business forums directed toward intensification of
the economic ties between the private sectors of the 2 countries.

From: A. Papazian

D. BABAYAN SAYS OSCE CHAIRPERSON’S STATEMENT STRANGE

Panorama.am
22/06/2010

“This is a very strange statement as Saudabayev should have contacted
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry over June 18 incident to find out
what has actually occurred rather than speak about some imaginary
approaches,” head of the central information department of Artsakh
President’s administration David Babayan told Panorama.am, commenting
on the OSCE Chairperson, Kazakhstan’s FM Kanat Saudabayev’s statement.

Note that Saudabayev announced at a meeting with Turkey’s FM Ahmet
Davutoglu that Kazakhstan highlights Turkey’s important role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process.

“It sounds strange since both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have many
times announced that Turkey cannot be a mediator in the Karabakh
settlement process as it is inclined to backing Azerbaijan’s position.

Here it cannot go about neutrality,” NKR official said.

From: A. Papazian

JENS BOHRNSEN, SERZH SARGSYAN DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO BILATERAL COOPERATION

Panorama.am
22/06/2010

Jens Bohrnsen, Acting Head of State of the Federal Republic of Germany
and President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia discussed issues related
to the expansion of Armenian-German cooperation in bilateral and
multifaceted formats at the meeting in Berlin Tuesday, President’s
press office reported.

The sides noted that Armenian-German ties are developing with a spirit
of mutual understanding and amity and the new inter-state agrrements
to be signed in the upcoming future will open new perspectives for
collaboration. The Presidents signified implementation of joint
educational programs in terms of reinforcement of ties between the
two nations.

Reference was made to the opportunities for cooperation in the fields
of advanced technologies, tourism, energy, and mining industry.

Next, Armenian President is expected to meet with the Speaker of the
Bundestag, Norbert Lammert.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN BREAKS TRUCE

NEWS.am
June 21, 2010 | 17:44

On June 21, a number of ceasefire violations were registered on the
contact line of NKR-Azerbaijani armed forces.

According to NKR defense army operational report, Azerbaijani side
fired at Karabakhi positions from different types of small arms,
including sniper rifles in the directions of Horadiz, Ashag Veysali,
Kuropatkino, Yusufjanlu, Kengerli, Bash Karvend, Shkhlar, Seysulan
and Levonarkh.

With retaliatory fire the NKR Defense Army neutralized the enemy,
the NKR Defense Ministry press service informed NEWS.am.

On June 18, an Azerbaijani reconnaissance detachment intruded into
Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan, killing 4 Armenian soldiers and
wounding 4 others. The enemy retreated, leaving one soldier killed
and ammunition.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH WAR VETERANS DEMAND MEETING WITH PRESIDENT

NEWS.am
June 21, 2010 | 18:22

On June 21, the Karabakh War Veterans Union organized a picket in
front of the RA presidential residence, demanding a meeting with
President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on a visit to Germany now.

“All the males must have arms to seize Baku within half an hour if
necessary,” said one of the picketers, the first commander of the
NKR defense forces Arkady Karapetyan.

Commenting on the June 18 incident, which claimed the lives of four
Armenian soldiers, Karapetyan said Armenians are too self-confident.

“No one can resolve any issue if the nation is asleep. If we keep
alert, no one can do anything to us. If we are strong, no war will
break out. When we are week, the enemies think they can attack and
gain victory,” Karapetyan said. According to him, the unification of
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is the way out of the situation. The
veterans pointed out they will take certain steps if the President
fails to receive them on his arrival.

From: A. Papazian

THERE ARE SERIOUS REASONS FOR MOSCOW TO REFLECT, SAYS EXPERT

Aysor.am
June 22, 2010

In a result of the trilateral meeting between presidents of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russia, the Karabakh talks stepped six months back,
said political scientist Sergey Minasian.

“The most important result of this talk is that Karabakh talks stepped
six months back to the situation ahead of trilateral meeting in Sochi.

It is also important that the format has been kept, and that Russia,
who acts as the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair and main military and
strategic ally of Armenia, continues playing an important role in
the peaceful talks,” said analyst. He pointed that in result of last
developments the Armenian-Russian partnership got stronger, which is
a subject for concerns in Azerbaijan and beyond it.

“It can be said of the end of Turkey’s aspirations — even though
they were hopeless — to be involved into the process of settlement
to the Karabakh conflict,” said Sergey Minasian. In Sergey Minasian’s
opinion, Azerbaijan expected Turkey’s involvement into the process,
and that was the reason for Aliev’s frustration when he was leaving
from St. Petersburg.

Pointing at the Declaration signed on November 2, 2008 at the
Meiendorf Castle outside Moscow, Minasian said that the sides that time
demonstrated readiness to settle the conflict by peaceful meanings;
however the Declaration hasn’t acquired any legal force.

“At least, the facts that the Declaration is signed by Russian
President, and that last developments occurred several hours after
the trilateral meeting, organised by president of this country, had
been held, as I think, cause serious reasons for Moscow to reflect.”

From: A. Papazian

ANAHIT BAKHSHYAN: “WE WILL DREAM OF TODAY’S EDUCATION”

Aysor.am
June 22, 2010

Today on the meeting with the journalists the member of the Heritage
Party, member of stating committee on Science, Education, Culture,
Youth and Sport Anahit Bakhshyan spoke about the flow of the state
and joint exam tests and noted that the head of the Assessment and
Testing Center has confirmed the fact of the flow of tests and now
the corresponding bodies are taking care of it.

“This kind of criminal attitude towards the children’s knowledge
checking process will bring us to dreaming of today’s education as
well,” Anahit Bakhshyan mentioned and stated that if the child will
know beforehand that he is going to get the sample of the test will
not study and will not get the education needed during the whole year.

“This atmosphere of impunity that exists in all spheres in general
especially here, existed last year as well,” A. Bakhshyan stressed
and said that the “author” of the flow of tests is from the ATC.

“How long can we stay in the atmosphere of impunity,” the member of
stating committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport
Anahit Bakhshyan asked.

From: A. Papazian

G. MINASYAN: “THERE ARE NO “NEW MADRID PRINCIPLES”

Aysor.am
June 22, 2010

The negotiations of Karabakh conflict settlement process are based
on the Madrid principles, on which the Armenian side has given its
agreement. Announced Gagik Minasyan the member of the Council of
the ARP and mentioned that it’s not an obligatory document there are
just principles.

“As for the “renewed” Madrid principles there is no such official
document, like Madrid principles. After one of the official meetings
there have been suggestions which have been called “renewed principles”
by one of participants,” he mentioned adding that any other suggestion
of the OSCE Minsk Group can be called “renewed principle” in that
same way.

From: A. Papazian