Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIA TO DEVELOP RELATIONS WITH CANADA

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 11:22 AMT 06:22 GMT

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met in Ottawa with his
Canadian counterpart Lawrence Cannon to discuss bilateral relations
and a number of international and regional issues.

“Armenia attaches importance to relations with Canada and is resolute
to take action to develop them,” the Armenian Minister said, adding
that two dozens of enterprises with Canadian capital are operating
in Armenia successfully.

Security issues and Armenian-Turkish normalization were also in the
focus of the meeting. “The Armenian-Turkish process will succeed only
when Turkey meets its commitments and ratifies the Protocols without
preconditions,” Minister Nalbandian said.

Mr. Cannon said for his part that his country welcomes efforts aimed
at establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey
and opening of the border, RA MFA press office reported.

From: A. Papazian

NALBANDIAN THANKED CANADIAN PARLIAMENT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 11:28 AMT 06:28 GMT

In the framework of a visit to Ottawa, Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian met with Peter Milliken, Speaker of House of Commons
of Canada, to discuss development of Armenian-Canadian relations,
parliamentary cooperation and normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations.

Minister Nalbandian thanked the Canadian parliament for recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

He also met Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney
and representatives of the Armenian community of Canada.

From: A. Papazian

47.7% GROWTH RECORDED IN BRANDY PRODUCTION IN ARMENIAN IN JANUARY-APRIL 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 15:06 AMT 10:06 GMT

4.07mln liters of brandy were produced in Armenia in January-April
2010 that is 47.7% higher as compared with the same period of 2009.

Meanwhile, 2.19mln liters of vodka were produced from January to April
2010 that is 39.4% lower as compared with the same period of 2009,
the Armenian National Statistical Service reported.

Besides, 1.44mln liters of wine were produced in January-April 2010
against 1.07mln liters during the same period of 2009.

3.12mln liters of beer were produced in January-April 2010 that is
52.7% higher as compared with the same period of 2009. Production of
sparkling wines grew by 46.4%, amounting to 62.2 thous. liters during
the reported period.

In addition, production of soft drinks decreased by 12.3%, totaling
10.64mln liters during the first quarter of 2010.

From: A. Papazian

SLANDEROUS ATTACKS ON POLITICIANS TO HARM AZERBAIJAN’S IMAGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 14:07 AMT 09:07 GMT

Azeri media is flooded with deceitful reports concerning the visit
of the Slovak observer mission to Nagorno Karabakh, the Federation
of Armenian Unions of Europe (FAAE) said in a statement signed by
FAAE head, Slovak MP Ashot Grigoryan.

“Frantisek Miklosko, who became a target of aggressive and senseless
attacks, asked the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry whether it has
ever been requested to issue a visa to Nagorno Karabakh, as it’s
physically impossible to travel to Artsakh through Azerbaijan,”
the statement said.

It goes on saying, “With its well-organized governing system, modern
infrastructures and economy Artsakh arouses surprise of European
guests… Moreover, Azerbaijan is far from reaching the level of
democracy achieved by Arstakh.”

From: A. Papazian

PHILIP CROWLEY: U.S. REMAINS DEEPLY CONCERNED BY SUFFERING OF CIVILIANS IN GAZA

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 15:04 AMT 10:04 GMT

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Public Affairs Philip
Crowley stated that the United States deeply regrets the tragic loss
of life and injuries suffered among those involved in the incident
aboard the Gaza-bound ships. “We are working to ascertain the facts,
and expect that the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible
investigation,” he said.

According to Crowley, the United States remains deeply concerned
by the suffering of civilians in Gaza. “We will continue to engage
the Israelis on a daily basis to expand the scope and type of goods
allowed into Gaza to address the full range of the population’s
humanitarian and recovery needs. We will continue to work closely
with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, along
with international NGOs and the UN, to provide adequate access for
humanitarian goods, including reconstruction materials, through the
border crossings, while bearing in mind the Government of Israel’s
legitimate security concerns,” noted Crowley.

In addition, the State Department believes that Hamas’ interference
with international assistance shipments and work of nongovernmental
organizations, and its use and endorsement of violence, complicates
efforts in Gaza. “Mechanisms exist for the transfer of humanitarian
assistance to Gaza by governments and groups that wish to do so. These
mechanisms should be used for the benefit of all those in Gaza.

Ultimately, this incident underscores the need to move ahead quickly
with negotiations that can lead to a comprehensive peace in the
region,” stated Crowley.

From: A. Papazian

NATO DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT LOSS OF LIFE IN GAZA SHIP INCIDENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 16:13 AMT 11:13 GMT

NATO Spokesman issued a statement on Gaza ship incident.

“NATO is deeply concerned about the loss of life in this incident. We
look forward to a further establishment of the facts of what has
happened,” NATO official website reported.

Israel -Turkey relations became aggravated on Monday after a raid by
Israeli naval commandos that killed nine people, many of them Turks,
on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza.

On Thursday, the Israeli Navy prepared for the expected encounter
with the aid flotilla making its way to Gaza. Israel Defense Forces
said they were concerned that terrorists may try to use the “Freedom
Flotilla” to enter the Strip or smuggle in weapons.

From: A. Papazian

TEHRAN HOSTS EVENT DEDICATED TO 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 17:11 AMT 12:11 GMT

On May 24, Tehran hosted Unpunished Crime event dedicated to the 95th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The event was initiated by Tehran Center for Armenian Researches,
the RA MFA press service reported.

During the event, Armenian Ambassador to Iran Grigor Arakelyan
expressed gratitude to parliaments of all those countries, which
have recognized the Armenian Genocide. Besides, he hailed the
Iranian authorities for providing Armenians with the opportunity to
appropriately hold events dedicated to the Armenian Genocide.

From: A. Papazian

INCIDENT WITH GAZA CONVOY SERIOUS FACTOR FOR ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 14:00 AMT 09:00 GMT

The incident with Gaza convoy was the culmination of Israeli-Turkish
tensions, an Armenian expert said.

“I don’t think that this incident can provoke hostilities between
Israel and Turkey. But its consequences will be felt for a long time,”
Ruben Melkonyan told journalists on June 1.

“Turkey aimed to strengthen positions in the Middle East and to gain
dividends from the Arab world and Iran. The recent Islamic trends in
Turkey are a part of Neo-Ottoman ideology, represented by Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,” he said, adding that the incident will
be a serious factor for Islamic solidarity, thus making Armenia face
new challenges.

“If the AKP wins the forthcoming parliamentary election, the influence
of Islamism will inevitably grow,” Melkonyan said.

He also added that the Jewish community in Turkey is now in danger.

From: A. Papazian

ALEXANDER MANASYAN: PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION IS TRAP FOR US IN SOME RESPECTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 1, 2010 – 15:37 AMT 10:37 GMT

Political analyst Alexander Manasyan said that the people’s right to
self-determination is a trap for us in some respects. According to
him, the Republic of Artsakh was formed in 1991 at the territories,
which legally had not belonged to Azerbaijan, Manasyan told a press
conference in Yerevan.

“This is a sound argument, and we have replaced it by the people’s
right to self-determination, which supposes that Nagorno Karabakh used
to be a legal part of Azerbaijan once,” said Minasyan, adding that
this approach should be changed and new emphasis should be placed in
the process of Karabakh conflict resolution.

Referring to the European Parliament’s Report on the South Caucasus,
Manasyan said that it is a result of the Armenian authorities’
inactivity.

From: A. Papazian

POST-SOVIET BLOC SUPPORTS MEDVEDEV’S PAN-EUROPEAN SECURITY PLAN

RIA Novosti
May 31, 2010
YEREVAN

The Parliamentary Assembly Council of the post-Soviet Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) bloc has given its support
to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative to improve the
European security structure, the speaker of the Russian lower house
of parliament said.

“We perfectly understand that security in Europe can not be built at
the expense of other states,” Boris Gryzlov, who also chairs the CSTO
Parliamentary Assembly, said.

“The entire space must be within the overall security frames and
all members of the Council have supported Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev’s initiative on improving the structure of European security,”
Gryzlov continued.

He added that the CSTO PA Council welcomed the development of the
Russian leader’s idea and will persuade their European colleagues
that relations on security issues must be based on this approach.

The CSTO comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Medvedev announced his initiative to draw up a new pan-European
security pact in May 2008, and the first real draft was presented
by the Kremlin in November 2009. It got responses from more than 20
governments and their administrations. The European Union and NATO
have also studied the draft.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said such a treaty
was unnecessary.

Her position was echoed by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
who has stated repeatedly that the West is no threat to Russia and
that extra security guarantees are uncalled for.

The assembly meeting was held on Monday for the first time in Armenian
capital of Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian