Author: Andres-Papazian

“ZERKALO”: AZERBAIJANI OIL PRODUCTION DECLINES DESPITE THE TAKEN MEASURES

18:24 13/08/2013 ” ECONOMY

Despite the taken measures, the oil production rate in Azerbaijan keeps
on declining. It is a quite negative trend for Azerbaijan, taking into
account the huge share of the Azerbaijani export, which is based on
oil and petroleum products, writes Azerbaijani newspaper “Zerkalo.”

According to the article, the oil production in Azerbaijan for 2014
is projected at 41 million tons, which is 2,6% less than the results
of 2013.

“Based on the results of 2013 the government predicts that the oil
production in Azerbaijan will be projected at 42,1 million tons. The
production overview for 2014 will be 41 million tons of oil,” reported
the information source of the government to “Interfax-Azerbaijan”
news agency.

The author of the article notes that oil production decline leads to
the decrease of crude oil pump from export pipelines. The ongoing
situation is the following: the entire volume of crude oil can be
pumped only by one oil pipeline. Moreover, there will still be “space”
for transporting additional volumes.

“The oil pumping volume through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline from
January to July of 2013 was 17 million 739,955 thousand tons, which
is by 0,9% less than the indicator of the same period the previous
year,” writes the “Zerkalo” with reference to “Interfax-Azerbaijan.”

“2 million 559,379 thousand tons of Azerbaijani oil was transported by
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in July, while 223 million 191,769
thousand was transported since the beginning of exploitation of the
given pipeline on June 4, 2006 (approximately – “IF”) to August 1 of
the current year,” informs the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan.

Oil volume in Azerbaijan has started to decline since 2011. While
around 50,8 million tons of oil was pumped in 2010, the volume was
reduced to 10.8% and 45,4 million tons in 2011. The volume of oil
production declined to 5,3% and 43 million tons in 2012. Another 2,2%
decrease was recorded during the five months of 2013.

According to the official data, the volume of commercial gas production
in 2012 equaled to 17,2 billion cubic meters. This number is by 5,4%
more than in 2011. However, the state structures of Azerbaijan didn’t
provide any information about the production of commercial gas in
2011. According to the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan,
gas production volume in the country declined by 1,7% during the
first term of 2013.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

VLADIMIR PUTIN: “NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE SOLVED ONLY BY POLITICAL MEANS

APA, Azerbaijan
Aug 13 2013

[ 13 August 2013 20:49 ]

Baku-APA. “There is only a political solution to Karabakh conflict”,
– President of the Russian Federation Vladimir said at the press
conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, APA reports
quoting RIA Novosti.

“During the negotiations we touched upon international issues,
including the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Russia is providing active
assistance to the settlement, which is possible only by political
means”, – Vladimir Putin said.

He also noted necessity of the solution of the existing problems
in the Caspian region related to delimitation, ecological issues,
for the benefit of all countries of the region.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIA, AZERBAIJAN TO SIGN 5 OR 6 DOCUMENTS DURING PUTIN’S VISIT TO BAKU

ITAR-TASS, Russia
August 12, 2013 Monday 11:27 AM GMT+4

MOSCOW August 12

– Russian and Azerbaijan are expected to sign half a dozen documents
during Vladimir Putin’s working visit to Baku on Tuesday, an aide to
the head of the Russian state told reporters.

“The signing ceremony will take place after the talks. Five or six
bilateral agreements are being prepared,” Yuri Ushakov noted.

He did not specify the documents noting that they were being
coordinated. The aide did mention however that some of them related
to the energy sphere.

The Kremlin noted consistency in the development of cooperation in
this field. In 2012, Azerbaijan supplied 1.55 million cubic meters of
natural gas to Russia. In January through June 2013, Russia purchased
0.88 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan. There are more than
500 Russian companies operating in the republic.

Bilateral cooperation has been successfully developing in other areas.

“Azerbaijan is traditionally one of the most important Russian
partners in the Commonwealth of Independent States /CIS/. Bilateral
interaction includes intensive political dialogue and active trade,
regional and cultural ties,” Ushakov noted

Bilateral trade has been increasing in a stable trend: it grew by
10.8 percent to 3.4 billion dollars in 2012. In January through May
it grew by 40 percent.

“Russia is Azerbaijan’s leading foreign trade partner,” the aide
underscored.

The countries are expanding parliamentary cooperation, their foreign
ministries closely interact, regional ties are becoming stronger,
and cooperation in the field of education is developing at a good rage.

“During the talks, the presidents will consider preparations for the
3rd international humanitarian forum in Baku on October 31-November
1,” Ushakov said.

Also,the two leaders will touch upon the key issues of international
and regional agenda, the legal regime of the Caspian Sea and the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Putin will arrive in Baku on Tuesday afternoon. The program of his
visit envisions one-on-one talks with President Ilkham Aliyev and
broader negotiations involving officials of the two countries.

During the Baku summit, Caspian Fleet warships will make a friendly
call to the Baku port. The leaders are expected to visit one of
the warships.

From: A. Papazian

INTERCONTINENTAL LOS ANGELES NAMES JAKE MEGRIKIAN NEW DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

International Meetings Review
Aug 13 2013

August 13, 2013

Here’s a name to remember when booking events in California: Jake
Megrikian has been named the new director of sales and marketing at
the InterContinental Los Angeles.

Born in Armenia, Megrikian began his career in hospitality in 1999
at the Marriott Armenia where he worked in the food & beverage
and banquet departments. Following his move to the United States,
he spent more than eight years with the Marriott and Hilton brands,
holding management positions in room operations and events and sales,
where he has focused his the past five years.

In 2007 and 2010, Megrikian was awarded Manager of the Year from
the Warner Center Marriott. In 2008, he successfully completed the
Certified Meeting Professional exam and acquired the designation
of CMP.

Megrikian joined the InterContinental Los Angeles team in February 2011
as a senior sales manager. Recently, during an extended absence of a
director of sales and marketing, he stepped into the role and became
an instrumental part of the management team. Working closely with the
Los Angeles and United States tourism boards, Megrikian helped the
property reach record numbers for both leisure and business bookings.

In addition to his role at InterContinental Los Angeles, Megrikian
serves as co-chair of Site (Society of Incentive Travel Executives)
Young Leaders program, which brings together future leaders of the
incentive and meetings industries.

For more information, visit

From: A. Papazian

2013 MARKS A MILESTONE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS COUNTRIES

Vesnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 13 2013

13 August 2013 – 11:38am

Alexei Vlasov exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

2013 marks a milestone for the South Caucasus countries. The
presidential elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are
zero hour for political elites. In the 20 years since the collapse
of the Soviet Union, according to pro-government experts, stable
management systems have been established, the balance in relations
between the authorities and the opposition was formed. However, every
electorate cycle in the South Caucasus is always a stress situation
for the society and the elite. 2013 is not an exception. Moreover,
all countries of the region has a common tendency: the crisis of the
old opposition and appearance of new and more radical rivals of the
current authorities.

Armenia

The Republican Party’s leader Serge Sargsyan won the February
elections. It was predicted by the majority of international experts.

However, the gap between him and the second place which was taken
by the leader of the opposition party of Heritage, Raffi Ovannisyan,
appeared to be small – 58% and 36.7%.

The third president of Armenia was heavily criticized for clanship
of the power, corruption, unsettlement of the huge amount of
socio-economic problems, but his opponents had no alternative program
of reforms. The elections turned into a fight between persons,
not ideas.

Ovannosyan is a politician from “the old charger”, well-known in
Armenia, but never being a contender for the presidential throne. He
accumulated the significant part of the protest electorate because
other promising candidates – the first president of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosyan and one of the richest persons of the country Gagik
Tsarukyan – decided not to take part in the elections. Many experts
thought that the decision by the leader of Prosperous Armenia was
about business. It was too risky for his business, and Tsarukyan
wasn’t ready for this.

Anyway, for Ovannisyan the success will probably be the last, and the
May elections to the city council of the Armenian capital confirmed
this. The coalition “Hello, Yerevan” got only six seats in the Council
of the Elders.

Meanwhile, the internal problems of the Armenian society are still
relevant. The outflow of the population from the country gains a
disastrous character. Probably the elections of 2018 will have a
different, tougher scenario. The country demands modernization –
both political and socio-economic.

Azerbaijan

The elections of 2013 in Azerbaijan can become the last chance to
consolidate “the old opposition” which almost 20 years tries to
resist at first Heydar Aliyev, then his son, the current President
Ilham Aliyev. The National Front, Musavat, some other party structures
managed to gather into the National Council of Democratic Forces and
even choose a candidate who deserves to represent the opposition –
the popular social activist Rustam Ibragimbekov.

However, it is still unclear whether Ibragimbekov will manage to
register as a presidential candidate, because a criminal case was
initiated against him and he has Russian citizenship. But the point
is not in technical moments. Just like in Armenia, we have obvious
contradiction between ambitions, rather than political programs.

Behind-the-scene games play more significant role than competition in
the public field. So, there is no guarantee that the leader of Musavat
Isa Gambar won’t decide to be a separate presidential candidate at
the last moment. Moreover, that the program of NCDF is standard:
fighting corruption, extension of the mass media freedoms, settlement
of social issues – any opposition leader will match the mottos.

At the same time, the so-called “net opposition activists”
who represent little-known youth opposition organizations, can
represent a bigger danger for the current authorities. They don’t
like behind-the-scene negotiations, they are more technological and
have good contacts in embassies of Western countries. They can be a
serious resource in the future.

Nobody doubts that Ilham Aliyev will win the elections in October. The
question is what lessons the authorities will learn from the victory.

I think it is notable that there are a lot of discussions of staff
shifts in Baku after the presidential elections.

Georgia

In October, the presidential elections will also take place in
Georgia. But the Georgian situation is the most different in the
political context of the South Caucasus. An actual diarchy can be seen
here during the whole year, which is accompanied by fighting between
President Mikhail Saakashvili and Premier Bidzina Ivanishvili. The
rivalry will define the presidential election campaign.

The point is not in who will win personally, but whose protege he
or she will be. Anyway, a voter will be behind a candidate either
Saakashvili or Ivanishvili. The intrigue is improved by Ivanishvili’s
promise to leave politics right after the presidential elections.

However, many experts doubt that this promise will be fulfilled. No
politician from the environment of Ivanishvili has such personal
popularity and political weight, like the current prime minister
of Georgia has, so his participation in the “big game” is the
main guarantee from revenge of Saakashvili’s supporters. As for
candidates from the United National Movement, David Bakradze yields
to such figures from the presidential team as Gigi Ugulava and
Vano Merabishvili, from the rating point of view. But scandalous
criminal cases shortened the list of possible candidates from the
former party of power. In this context, Georgy Margvelashvili, the
minister of science in Ivanishvili’s government, seems to be a more
promising candidate. At the same time, Nikolai Silayev, the senior
scientist of the Center of Problems of the Caucasus and Regional
Security under MGIMO, programs of Margvelashvili and Bakradze are
similar. “The peculiarity of the game is that there are no alternatives
to the program goals which Saakashvili stated: differing from Russia,
integration into European-Atlantic structures, and liberal economy,”
Silayev noted. The main problem is that whether settlement of diarchy
can solve the problems Georgian society faces.

From: A. Papazian

PUTIN REITERATES NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT CAN BE SOLVED ONLY BY POLITICAL MEANS

19:20, 13 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS: President of Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin during bilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev in Baku discussed Nagorno-Karabkh issue.

“Armenpress” reports that Russian President during joint press
conference with Aliyev particularly mentioned: “Russia actively
supports the quick settlement of the conflict which is possible only
by political means”.

Azerbaijani President mentioned that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can
be solved only in accordance with international law and Russia as
OSCE Co-Chair country has important role in the settlement issues.

Armenia has acted many times for peaceful settlement of NagornoKarabakh
conflict in accordance with three principles of international law –
self-determination of peoples, territorial integrity of States and
Refraining from the threat or use of force.

The position of our country also received the support of international
community. particularly OSCE Co-Chair countries – France, USA and
Russia.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S CENTRAL BANK RAISES KEY REFINANCING RATE BY 0.5 PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 8.5%

YEREVAN, August 13. / ARKA /. Armenia’s Central Bank has decided
today to raise its key refinancing rate by 0.5 percentage points
to 8.5%. It said in a statement that the 0.4% inflation recorded
in July was prompted by an increase in electricity and gas prices,
while a year ago the inflation dropped by 1.5%. This year’s rise led
to an 8.5 percent annualized inflation rate, it said.

“The Central Bank’s decision (to raise the key rate) is aimed at
mitigating the secondary impact of increased electricity and gas
prices. Besides, the Central Bank Board is eager to preserve the
real positive interest rates. The CB’s policy is expected to ease
the inflation gradually over the next months. The Central Bank will
respond to gradual decline in inflation rate and a possible slowdown in
economic growth by loosening its monetary policy terms”, the CB said.

The Central Bank said also it believes that the external sector
is within the projected frame. According to it, the slowing global
economic growth tendency continues as commodity prices show a certain
deflationary trend. These processes suggest that no additional
inflationary pressures from the external sector are expected, the
Central Bank said.

According to the Central Bank, economic developments in the country in
the first half of the year formed a higher than expected inflation,
escalated by developments in the agricultural sector in the second
quarter, when it was affected by hailstorms and a rise in prices for
some services.

“The Central Bank Board believes that inflation will be gradually
declining to the target level and remain there within the permissible
fluctuation band”, it said.

According to the National Statistical Service, the first half inflation
rose by 4.1% year-on-year. The government inflation projection for
this year is 4%. (± 1.5%). The last time the Central Bank revised
its refinancing rate was in 2011 September, when it cut it by 0.5
percentage point to 8 percent. -0-

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

ANCIENT CHURCH FOUND IN TURKEY’S WESTERN PROVINCE

10:08 13.08.13

A church found in the ancient city of Tripolis in the Aegean province
of Denizli’s Buldan district dates back 1,500 years and will open to
visitors at the end of the year.

Hurriyet Daily news reports that the construction will be covered
with a wooden material.

The archaeological excavations have been carried out for two years by
Pamukkale University in the Lycian city of Tripolis, which was located
at the junction point of Phrygia, Karia and Lydia in the Hellenistic
period. The city was surrounded with walls in the early Roman period.

In last year’s excavations, georadar work revealed a marketplace in
good condition. This year during excavations next to the marketplace,
a church, which is in very good condition until its roof level, was
found. The earth in the church has been cleaned and its roof will be
covered with a wooden material just like the original before being
opened to visitors.

The head of the Tripolis ancient city excavations, Professor Bahadır
Duman, said the history of the first settlement place in the ancient
city dated back to the Hellenistic period in the 3rd century BC.

“One of our most important findings in 2013 excavations is this church
from the early Byzantium period in the 6th century. But the frescos
and icons on the walls of the church show us that worship continued
here until the 10th century. The church is in 21 by five meters in
size and seven meters in height. Local stones of the region were
used in the construction of the church, mostly travertine. The floor
covering is made up of marble and travertine. It has three sections,
which are the narthex, naos and atrium. We are currently working on
the restoration of the church. At the end of this season, we plan to
open it,” said Duman.

He said the church remained original aside from its roof. “As roofs
were generally wooden in the ancient era, it was unprotected against
natural conditions such as erosion and earthquakes, and it collapsed.

But we will finish its restoration and revive it. Another significance
of the church is that worship continued for 400 years between the 6th
and 10th centuries. When compared to other churches in the region,
it is a small church but better protected.”

Duman said the walls of the church had figures of Jesus Christ, the
Virgin Mary and the 12 apostles. “Iconoclasm existed in Christianity
in the 8th and 9th centuries. This structure consists of frescos made
in 10th century after the iconoclasm period.”

The church is located on an important route, Duman said. “The ancient
city of Philadelphia in Manisa AlaÅ~_ehir is in the northwest of
Tripolis. It is one of the seven churches mentioned in the Bible. One
of these churches is also located in Laodicea in 40 kilometer south
of our ancient city. Therefore, Tripolis is on the pilgrimage route
between these two holy cities. We have found four churches in two
years, and this church is one of them. Pilgrims will visit it since
it is on the pilgrimage route.”

From: A. Papazian

JAMALYAN: ARMENIAN SIDE SHOULD RESPOND SHARPER TO ENEMY

12:38 13/08/2013 POLITICS

As a rule, Azerbaijan intensifies ceasefire violations before meetings
with senior U.S. officials, military psychologist David Jamalyan told
reporters in Yerevan, adding that the Azerbaijani Defense Minister
is going to visit the United States.

According to him, Azerbaijan’s aim is to gain dividends from the
United States during the negotiations or to see the possible reaction
of the United States to its attacks.

The Armenian side should respond sharper to the enemy, according
to the military expert. “The public should demand from our army to
respond sharply to the enemy so as to suppress it.”

Last week, 4 Armenian servicemen were injured as a result of Azeri
provocations, mostly by sniper fire. At least 5 Azerbaijani servicemen
were killed last week as a result of response to Azerbaijan’s actions.

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan neither
confirmed nor refuted this information to Panorama.am.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

Trend, Azerbaijan
Aug 10 2013

Armenian crossed into territory controlled by Azerbaijani Armed Forces
brought to Baku

Azerbaijan, Baku, August 10 /Trend E. Mehtiev /

The Armenian who crossed into the territory controlled by Azerbaijani
Armed Forces, was brought to Baku and handed over to Azerbaijani
Ministry of Defence, the Secretary of the State Commission on
Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons Shahin Sailov told
Trend on Saturday.

According to him, a meeting between that person and the
representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
will be organized next week. The ICRC members will learn whether he
wants to return to Armenia, or to depart to a third country.

It was clarified that the Armenian got lost and crossed into the
territory controlled by Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Sailov said.

According to him, no documents were found on that person, and only his
surname was found out, it is Injigulyan.

The Armenian crossed into the territory controlled by Azerbaijani
Armed Forces, law enforcement bodies told Trend earlier.

As Armenian media outlets reported, according to preliminary data, on
August 7-8, at about 3:00 in the night, the soldier of the Armenian
Armed Forces, Akop Gevorkovich Injigulyan (born in 1991) got lost and
found himself in the territory controlled by Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since
1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding
districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: A. Papazian