Author: Andres-Papazian

IT WOULD BE GOOD IF A PRO-ARMENIAN NON-BINDING RESOLUTION WERE ADOPTED, STEPAN DEMIRCHYAN
Lena Badeyan

“Radiolur”
02.06.2010 15:54

It would be good if the international community once adopted a
pro-Armenia non-binding resolution, leader of the People’s Party of
Armenia Stepan Demirchyan told a press conference today. According
to him, the latest resolution adopted by the European Parliament was
another blow to Armenian diplomacy.

“Some say it’s no tragedy, since this or other resolutions have
no legal force. However, it would not be bad if the international
community once adopted a pro-Armenia non-binding resolution. At
last, this shapes an opinion, which is important to Armenia,” Stepan
Demirchyan said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA, CHINA SIGN AN AGREEMENT OF TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC COOPERATION

armradio.am
02.06.2010 13:27

An agreement on technical-economic cooperation was signed between
the Governments of Armenia and China today. The Governments of the
two countries also signed a letter and an address on behalf of the
Government of the Republic of Armenia and a letter and address on
behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

>From the Armenian side the documents were signed by Deputy Foreign
Minister Karine Ghazinyan. China’s Deputy Minister for Commerce Fu
Ziying signed the documents on behalf of the Chinese Government.

Under the agreement the Governement of China will provide 20 million
Chinese yuans to the Government of Armenia for implementation of
technical-economic programs.

According to the agreement reached by the letter and the address,
the Chinese Government has provided 88 ambulance cars to the Armenian
Government.

From: A. Papazian

SERZH SARGSYAN: WE ARE NOT GOING TO BARGAIN OVER THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF ARTSAKH TO SELF-DETERMINATION

armradio.am
02.06.2010 13:12

Within the framework of the visit to Rostov-on-Don, President Serzh
Sargsyan visited the Armenian Church, the historic museum and paid
tribute to the Armenian soldiers of Myasnikyan region killed in the
Great Patriotic War.

President Sargsyan had meetings with the leadership of Rostov and
representatives of the local Armenian community.

Speaking about the current political and economic situation in Armenia,
President Sargsyan said: “You know that we have suspended the process
of ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols. Its main reason
is clear: Turkey is not ready to ratify the protocols today, and it
constantly brings forward new preconditions to justify the failure of
the process. Furthermore, it tries to penetrate into a sphere, where
it obviously has nothing to do. I mean the settlement of the Karabakh
issue. At this moment we have nothing to talk with an unreliable and
untrustworthy partner, who constantly breaks the agreements reached.”

“Time has shown that we did the maximum we could for the last closed
border of Europe to open, while Turkey is not ready for it. As for the
Karabakh issue, we have clearly stated that we are not going to bargain
over the right of the people of Karabakh to self-determination,”
President Sargsyan stated.

From: A. Papazian

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: THE THREAT OF FORCE SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A TRUMP CARD IN THE TALKS

armradio.am
02.06.2010 11:16

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Canada, Edward Nalbandian and
Lawrence Cannon, held second-round talks in Ottawa.

The parties emphasized the importance of reciprocal high-level
visits and conduct of periodic consultations between the Ministries
of Foreign Affairs.

The Foreign Ministers discussed in detail the issues on the agenda
of the forthcoming G8 and G20 summits in Canada. The two talked about
the urgent international issues and the ways of their solution.

Edward Nalbandian next met the Canadian Minister for Science
and Technology, Gary Goodyear. The interlocutors discussed the
opportunities of development of cooperation between Armenia and Canada
in the fields of science and technology.

Minister Goodyear said he would pursue the promotion of establishment
of ties between the scientific-educational institutions of Armenia
and Canada.

The same day Minister Nalbandian participated in the sitting of the
House of Representatives. The Armenian Foreign Minister was also
hosted at the Carlton University, where he delivered a lecture on
Armenia’s foreign policy.

In his speech Minister Nalbandian presented the current state and
perspectives of the Armenian-Canadian relations, Armenia’s regional
policy and the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations.

Touching upon the prospects of settlement of the Karabakh issue,
Minister Nalbandian stated: “The use of force or the threat of
force should not be used as a trump card in the negotiations. The
bellicose statements of the Azerbaijani leadership, propagation
of national hatred are not only a violation of international law,
but also contradict the false promises of Azerbaijan to ensure the
prosperity of the Karabakhi population in the future. How cynical
should one be to threat to kill the one it promises to take care
of? It’s impossible to solve the issue by suggesting the cause of
the conflict as a mechanism of its settlement.”

“Today the Azeri leadership has an illusion that the waving of the
Azerbaijani flag in Stepanakert will mean settlement of the conflict.

In reality, it was the imposition of this very flag in 1921 by Stalin
that served as a reason for the conflict,” Edward Nalbandian stated.

From: A. Papazian

UNE JOURNALISTE ET DES MILITANTS DE L’OPPOSITION ARRETES
Marion

armenews
mercredi2 juin 2010
Armenie

Deux jeunes militants de l’opposition et une journaliste ont ete
places en garde a vue, mardi 1er juin a Erevan, pour avoir agresse
des officiers de police. Ils encourent jusqu’a cinq ans de prison
et de lourdes amendes. Le Congrès national armenien (HAK) a condamne
leur arrestation.

Ani Gevorgian, correspondante du quotidien d’opposition Haykakan
Zhamanak, son frère Sargis et un autre militant de l’opposition,
Davit Kiramijian, ont ete arretes avec au moins 15 autres personnes
lors des affrontements de lundi 31 mai, entre plusieurs partisans du
HAK et une douzaine de policiers.

Ces derniers ont recouru a la force pour empecher les militants
d’entrer dans le Liberty Square, principal lieu de rassemblement
politique organise en Armenie depuis la fin des annees 1980. Tout
le monde a ete relâche quelques heures plus tard, excepte ces trois
jeunes.

Dans une declaration ecrite, la police armenienne a defendu l’usage
de la force, en assurant que les partisans du HAK ” ont viole l’ordre
public “, ont injurie les agents de police et leur ont inflige ”
des blessures ” alors qu’ils tentaient d’entrer dans le parc.

La declaration a fait valoir que Sargis Gevorgian et Kiramijian ont
frappe un sergent de police et lui ont arrache ses epaulettes lors
de l’incident. Elle n’a pas indique les raisons de l’arrestation de
Ani Gevorgian.

Selon les avocats des detenus, la journaliste de 23 ans peut etre
accusee d’avoir agresse un ” representant de l’Etat dans l’exercice de
ses fonctions “, tandis que les deux autres risquent d’etre poursuivis
pour ” hooliganisme “. Les policiers ont 72 heures pour inculper ou
liberer les suspects.

Lusine Sahakian, l’un des avocats de la defense, a declare a RFE / RL
qu’aucun des trois detenus n’a accepte de temoigner ou de signer des
declarations en garde a vue, ” car ils ont ete arretes illegalement “.

” Tous les trois ont ete victimes de violence et de blessures “,
a-t-elle affirme.

” Le nombre de prisonniers politiques en Armenie a augmente, passant
de 14 a 17 “, a denonce Levon Zurabian, chef de file du HAK, lors
d’une conference de presse mardi 1er juin.

” La police s’est transformee en un gang de criminels qui au lieu
de maintenir l’ordre public, est devenue une sorte de gardienne du
regime oligarchique “, a-t-il accuse.

From: A. Papazian

CASCADE INSURANCE COMPANY INSURES PAINTINGS BY SARYAN, KHATLAMAJYAN, SIRAVANYAN, AND MINAS

ArmInfo
02.06.2010

ArmInfo. Cascade Insurance Company has insured the paintings by the
acknowledged Armenian painters Martiros Saryan, Seyran Khatlamajyan,
Henry Siravanyan, and Minas exhibited at the American University of
Armenia on June 1, the company’s press-service reported.

The insurance amount is nearly $4.5mn (12 paintings), the source
reported. The insurance sector of Armenia encompasses 10 companies
and Cascade Insurance is among top companies in terms of insurance
premiums for Q1 2010 (10% of total) and 13% of total in 2009, says
the Ranking of the Armenian Insurance Companies prepared by the Agency
of Rating Marketing Information (ArmInfo).

From: A. Papazian

FROSTBITTEN FRUIT: APRICOT PRICES TO GO UP AS ARMENIA EXPECTS LOWER HARVEST THIS YEAR
Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow reporter
02.06.10

Minister Alaverdyan promises that in 10-15 days prices will fall as
local rather than imported produce appears in the market.

This year the apricot harvest will fall by 30-40 percent in Armenia
as compared to previous years due to frosty weather conditions early
this year; and that is why apricot prices will be higher as compared
with last year, according to the agriculture minister.

At the press conference on Wednesday, Gerasim Alaverdyan said the main
part of the apricot harvest comes from the Ararat province in Armenia,
which has about 3,071 hectares of apricot orchards. Early this year,
according to gardeners, many apricot orchards were frostbitten. In
2009 apricot harvest was 80-82,000 tons, of which 13,500 tons were
exported — mainly to Russia and Belgium.

According to the minister, this year, grapes harvest, unlike apricots,
will be very rich, especially the so-called technical sorts, which
are mainly used in wine-making.

Alaverdyan said there is no sharp hike in vegetable prices, nor is
expected one.

“The market determines prices, however, in 10-15 days prices will
fall as soon as our local vegetables will appear in the market to
supplant greenhouse-grown and imported vegetables,” said Alaverdyan.

The minister also stated that fungus disease recently spread among
plants, as well as rodents may affect the crop yield. The Ministry of
Agriculture had allotted 300 million drams ($800,000) to combat them.

Last year Armenia had 375,000 tons of wheat, but Armenia’s general
consumption is about 650,000 tons, and about 300,000 tons were imported
last year. Alaverdyan believes that this year as well an equal amount
will be imported, even though the crop yield will be a little bit
more as compared with last year due to the expansion of lands used
for growing wheat.

From: A. Papazian

MEDVEDEV-SARGSYAN MEETING DISCUSSES ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Official news | 02.06.10 | 11:14

Armenian-Turkish relations were among issues discussed by the
presidents of Russia and Armenia who met in a southern Russian city
on Tuesday.

(Serzh Sargsyan was in Rostov-on-Don reportedly to attend the annual
horse race for the Russian Presidential Cup.)

A report made by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s press service
quoted the Russian leader as saying ahead of his meeting with Serzh
Sargsyan in Rostov-on-Don that “the current situation required an
exchange of opinions”.

“There are, of course, economic issues… There are regional issues. In
short, I have things to tell you about,” said Medvedev, who was on
a visit to Turkey as recently as last month.

“I have had several important trips during which – and I won’t conceal
it – we also discussed the situation around the Turkish-Armenian
settlement and some other issues. I had contacts with some European
colleagues. So I have things to tell you about and share with you,”
said Medvedev.

The Russian leader was in Ankara in the middle of May, with his
visit focusing on large energy projects with Turkey. It came
some three weeks after Armenia formally suspended the process of
ratifying normalization agreements with Turkey citing the latter’s
“preconditions” in the rapprochement process, including calls for
progress in the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh
that would favor Baku.

Speaking in Ankara on May 12, Medvedev said he hoped Turkey and Armenia
would be able to “restore full-fledged relations” and “positive
momentum gained after the signing of relevant documents in Zurich
will go on.” He also noted “encouraging steps” taken recently in the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, but stressed that “not all issues have
been agreed” and that “all these issues should be discussed by the
parties to the conflict first.”

Neither the Kremlin press service or the press service of the
Armenian president released details of the discussion pertaining to
Armenian-Turkish relations or other “regional issues” mentioned in
the media releases.

Sargsyan’s press office said agreement had been reached on President
Medvedev’s visit to Armenia in August.

From: A. Papazian

GERASIM ALAVERDYAN: SHARP INCREASE IN PRICES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS UNLIKELY IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 2, 2010 – 13:42 AMT 08:42 GMT

Armenian Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan said that the
Ministry is implementing a monitoring in the country’s regions
to define the damage caused to harvest by natural and climatic
conditions. Its results will be submitted to the Armenian government
to take relevant measures, Alaverdyan told a press conference in
Yerevan on June 2.

According to Alaverdyan, natural disasters and abundant precipitation,
including hail, have affected the works implemented in the country’s
agriculture. Armavir, Shirak, Lori and Vayots Dzor regions of the
country have suffered most of all.

The Minister noted that the damage caused to the country’s agriculture
amounted to AMD 12bln in 2009.

The Minister added that grain crops have already been seeded at
87731ha that is 3000ha higher as compared with the same period of 2009.

85,000 tons of apricots were picked up in 2009, while this index will
be 30-40% lower this year. According to Alaverdyan, Armenia will face
problems with meeting the demand of internal market this year.

However, the Minister said that sharp increase in prices for
agricultural products is unlikely. “There is inflation in the country,
but it is controlled by the authorities,” said Alaverdyan, adding that,
nevertheless, “the market defines prices.”

Alaverdyan said that currently there are problems related to harvest
viability, as epidemics of several diseases are already observed,
including among grain crops. The Minister added that relevant measures
are undertaken: required pesticides are available in all agricultural
shops and if they are used appropriately and in time, it will allow
preserving the obtained harvest.

From: A. Papazian

LEVON SHIRINYAN: ARMENIA SHOULD SUBMIT NEW MODEL OF SECURITY SYSTEM FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 2, 2010 – 14:43 AMT 09:43 GMT

Political analyst Levon Shirinyan said that Armenia should submit a new
model of security system for the South Caucasus. The country should
offer recognition of all autonomous regions, which have factually
become independent states, Shirinyan told a press conference in
Yerevan.

At the same time, the Armenian expert noted that Yerevan should work
with Moscow on this. “Russia should understand that if it does not
want to lose the South Caucasus, it should recognize the independence
of all autonomies,” said Shirinyan.

He added that Armenia should treat cautiously the format of three
states (Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan), as two of them will always
be against the third. “Georgia and Azerbaijan will oppose to Armenia,
as was the case in 1918-1920,” noted Shirinyan.

From: A. Papazian