Author: Andres-Papazian

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER DEMANDS RESPONSE TO RECENT RUSSIA STATEMENT

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Nov 5 2013

5 November 2013, 16:58 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister received OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
and Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office on November 4.

Zakir Hasanov met Igor Popov of Russia, Jacques Faure of France,
James Warlick of the U.S. and also Andrzej Kasprzyk.

They discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
the current situation in the contact line of Armenian and Azerbaijani
troops.

Hasanov touched on the situation of the region, the occupation of
Azerbaijan’s lands by Armenia, and the problems of IDPs in the country.

He also spoke of international organizations’ attempts for finding
a solution for the dispute, calling it “unsuccessful work”.

Hasanov draw the co-Chairs` attention to a recent statement by the
commander of the Russian military base No102 in Armenia, stressing
the necessity of giving an official response to it.

The Russian commander Andrey Ruzinskiy recently told the Armenian media
that the military-political situation in the zone of responsibility
of military base 102 is troubled and is characterized by a number of
destabilizing factors associated with the possibility of an escalation
of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

According to him, in case of war the Russian military base may get
involved in an armed conflict in accordance with the treaty obligations
of the Russian Federation within the framework of the CSTO.

Russian Co-Chair Popov said the incident would be investigated,
adding that he did not rule out its being a misunderstanding.

Hasanov also said that Azerbaijan supports the peaceful liberation
of its occupied lands, and that Azerbaijani people would not accept
the occupation and Azerbaijan had the right to liberate its lands.

He also highlighted the country`s efforts to bring its Armed Forces
in line with modern standards.

First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of General Staff of the
Armed Forces Colonel-General Nejmeddin Sadigov was also present at
the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs.

They discussed the current state of and prospects for talks to settle
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early
1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed
forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions. The UN Security Council’s four resolutions on Armenian
withdrawal have not been enforced to this day.

Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE
Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed
by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The
negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.

From: A. Papazian

CHINA ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT NEW MARKETS TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, November 5. /ARKA/. China is one of the most important new
markets to Armenia which are able to spur growth of Armenia’s industry,
Robert Harutyunyan, the director of the Armenian Development Agency,
told journalists on Tuesday.

“The Chinese market will not replace the Russian market, but will
give room for building up Armenia’s output, especially brandy and
wine output,” he said.

He stressed that it is very important to every country to diversify
export markets to shield itself from possible risks and to expand
production. And this expansion attracts larger investments.

“Armenian market is small for investments, and if you want to establish
a big industry, it will be wrong to concentrate only on Armenian
market, since it is small in size and demand here is low,” Harutyunyan
said. “But already established ties and new destinations for exporters
attract investors, since every investor care of his business.”

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, trade
turnover between Armenia and China grew 10.5% Jan-Sep 2013, compared
with the same period a year earlier, to $321.75 million. —-0—

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

U.S. INTELLIGENCE SERVICE FINDS PROOF OF PACE OBSERVERS’ BRIBERY AT AZERI POLLS: REPORT

November 5, 2013 – 18:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The U.S. intelligence service found proof that
the members of the PACE committee, monitoring presidential poll in
Azerbaijan were bribed, with part of the evidence, including MEPs’
phone conversation records, passed on to the country’s opposition.

As Yeni Musavat said, citing own sources, even before the start of the
elections, the intelligence service tapped telephone conversations
and internet correspondence of MEPs. According to the report, the
chair of the Azerbaijani delegation to PA Euronest Elkhan Suleymanov
was authorized to hold talks. As the report reveals, U.S. procured
evidence that fees to the amount of $50 thous. were transferred to
a number of European parliamentarians through a German law firm.

The European Parliament will discuss the results of the October 9
presidential elections in January 2014. Should the falsification
claims prove serious, a subsequent decision won’t be based on the
conclusions of PACE observers. “An international scandal inevitable
unless Azeri authorities manage to change the situation in their
favor,” the source said.

According to earlier reports, Elkhan Suleymanov was involved in a
briery of a number of MEPs. Rumours name Suleymanov among the leading
figures of Azeri caviar diplomacy and even its initiator. Recently,
the European Stability Initiative report stressed that a group of PACE
members who visited Azerbaijan were given pricey gifts, minval.az said.

Azerbaijan’s leader Ilham Aliyev claimed victory in the October 9
presidential polls.

With about three-quarters of the votes counted Aliyev had won nearly
85%, the national election commission said.

The president called the election a “triumph of democracy”, but
opposition groups alleged widespread fraud.

Aliyev inherited the presidency from his father in 2003. He has
stifled dissent and scrapped term limits.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA POSTS DECREASE IN Q3 BUSINESS ACTIVITY INDEX

November 5, 2013 – 19:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia’s business activity index dropped 0,8 in Q3,
2013 as compared to last quarter to total 55,6%.

The highest activity index, 57,8% (0,6% decrease against Q2) was
posted in the industrial sector; the lowest activity index – 53,3%
(2,6 % decrease) – was reported in construction sector.

Business environment sector posted a 54,2% index in Q2, 2013,
increasing by 0,4 pct against the previous quarter. The highest
activity index, 56,8% with a 1,1 pct increase was reported in the
industry sector.

The construction and services sectors indices grew to reach 52,3 and
54,7% respectively.

The consumer confidence index dropped by 1,1 pct to total 41,9%,
the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA INCREASINGLY MIGHT BE VIEWED AS PROBLEM FOR ITS NEIGHBORS: ANALYST

11.05.2013 18:51 epress.am

“After Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s Sept. 3 announcement that
Armenia would join the Russian-led Customs Union, there have been
elements of occupation in Armenia: there is even no need for an army
(for occupation) – the army has been here a long time,” said Armenian
Center for Political and International Studies political analyst
Ruben Mehrabyan (pictured), speaking to journalists in Yerevan today
on recent developments in the region and on Russia-Armenia relations.

“If before, we spoke of the relationship between Russia and Armenia
as one of a vassal and a sovereign, from that day [Sept. 3] forward,
the country was occupied. My remarks solidify the notorious document
of the Oct. 25 Minsk Summit, which obliges Armenia not only not to
take any actions against the Customs Union and its members, but also
not to make any statements that are contrary to the interests of the
member countries of the Customs Union,” he said.

According to him, there is not even a single word about the obligations
of the other party.

“All of Armenia’s four neighbors today have serious relations with
the West: Turkey is a NATO member and is in the same free trade zone
with the European Union; Georgia is preparing to sign a free trade
agreement in Vilnius; Iran is in talks with the leaders of the ‘six’
– it clearly has a desire to improve its relations with the West;
and Azerbaijan is establishing a serious relationship with the EU.

Armenia, on the contrary, is gradually becoming an instrument of
Russia’s self-defeating strategy, the black hole of Russian interests.

The likelihood is great that all of Armenia’s neighbors will view
Armenia as a problem. As for the security of our country, after
joining the Customs Union, Armenia turned from a subject to an object.

Subjugating Armenia, Russia will now do everything to keep Azerbaijan
away from Western markets. And the Karabakh issue will become leverage
in the hands of the Russians,” said Mehrabyan.

From: A. Papazian

NALBANDIAN INVITES CO-CHAIRS’ ATTENTION TO CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

Tuesday,
November
05

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs – Igor Popov of Russia, Jacques Faure of France and
James Warlick of the U.S. as well as the Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

E. Nalbandian and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs discussed the possible
ways of advancing the Karabakh peace process, the press service of
Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

The Co-Chairs informed the foreign minister of their impressions
about the meetings they held in Baku.

Edward Nalbandian invited the Co-Chairs’ attention to Baku’s repeated
statements distorting the essence and nature of the negotiating
process and to the frequent violations of the ceasefire by Azerbaijan
recently. He stressed that such actions hinder the peace process.

The possibility of organizing a summit of Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents in the near future was discussed at the meeting.

TODAY, 16:24

Aysor.am

From: A. Papazian

FORBES ARMENIA LAUNCHES WITH KIRK KERKORIAN

16:39 05.11.2013

The November launch of the Armenian edition of Forbes is the biweekly’s
30th overseas, and if the nation’s ancient alphabet is difficult to
read, the face is easy, minonline.com reports.

Kirk Kerkorian is recognizable in Forbes circles because his
investments present and past in movie studios, automobile companies and
nearly everything “Las Vegas” gave the 96-year-old a Forbes-calculated
2013 net worth of $3.9 billion. He ranks 118th in the magazine’s
“400 Richest Americans.”

Technically, the Fresno, Calif.-born Kerkorian is not among the richest
Armenians. But his being on Forbes Armenia’s debut is indicative of
the reverence towards a man who has donated millions of dollars to
his family’s homeland.

Forbes becomes the second U.S. magazine export to Armenia after
Cosmopolitan (March 2011). That was personally important to
publishing director (since Aug. 1995) Donna Kalajian Lagani, whose
four grandparents were born in the country.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA MARKS DAY OF INTELLIGENCE TROOPS

13:24 05/11/2013 ” SOCIETY

The first intelligence unit was created in Armenia on November 5,
1992. Later, November 5 was declared the Day of Intelligence Troops.

Armenia’s intelligence troops marked their 20th anniversary in
November 2012.

The tasks of intelligence troops include obtaining information about
the adversary and revealing enemy groups, destruction or crippling
the significant facilities of the enemy, etc.

According to Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, “this kind
of troops is distinguished by combat and physical readiness, high
professionalism and patriotic spirit and ability of taking quick
decisions in tough situations.”

On the Day of Intelligence Troops, traditionally, servicemen are
awarded diplomas, medals and orders.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

HENRIKH MKHITARYAN: I’M NEITHER NATIONAL HERO NOR A STAR

November 5, 2013

“I give autographs with great pleasure because that is a part of my
job. And if people become happier with that, this makes me happier,
too.”

Armenian national football squad and Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan told the aforementioned to Welt.de.

“The Republic of Armenia is 22 years old, but we are a very old
nation, with a very ancient culture. We are the first country to
adopt Christianity. But the country has social problems, too. “I am
not a national hero, but rather an ordinary guy. I never would have
thought that I would become Armenia’s footballer of the year.

“It is natural that people approach me on the streets and ask for
autographs. [But] I don’t feel like a star,” the 24-year-old Armenian
international said, in particular.

NEWS.am Sport

From: A. Papazian

MUNICIPALITY OF YEREVAN DECIDES TO SPRING A “NEW YEAR SURPRISE” ON RESIDENTS BY RAISING PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARE TO 150 AMD

by David Stepanyan

ARMINFO
Tuesday, November 5, 11:11

The Municipality of Yerevan has decided to spring a “New Year surprise”
on the residents by raising the public transport fare from 100 AMD
to 150 AMD.

According to the sources of Haykakan Zhamanak daily, the authorities
took into account the bitter experience of summer 2013, when they had
to suspend the decision on the public transport fare rise following
the wide-scale public protests.

Therefore, now the authorities have chosen the New Year festivities to
raise the fare, hoping for the passive reaction of the public. The
source says that initially it will be announced that the public
transport fare rises to 200 AMD. Later, however, the Municipality will
“do a favor” to the citizens and allow them to pay 150 AMD.

From: A. Papazian