Author: Andres-Papazian

LE PREMIER MINISTRE ARMENIEN EST “EN GUERRE” AVEC LE PARTI DACHNAK, SELON LE LEADER DU PARTI D’OPPOSITION

ARMENIE

Le president du Bureau de la Federation revolutionnaire armenienne
Dachnaktsoutioun (FRAD), Hrant Markarian, a declare le 11 juillet
sur les ondes du service armenien de la radio RFE/RL que le premier
ministre armenien Tigrane Sarkissian etait “en guerre” avec son parti.

M.Markarian a precise que M.Sarkissian avait declare la guerre a
la FRAD en raison des vives critiques que le parti avait exprimees
a l’encontre de la politique economique du premier ministre. Le
leader du parti d’opposition a ajoute que M.Sarkissian avait entame
les hostilites en faisant circuler des “rumeurs indignes” dans la
presse armenienne visant la FRAD. M. Markarian faisait allusion a des
informations circulant dans certains media armeniens selon lesquelles
des querelles intestines dechireraient la direction de la FRAD, M.

Markarian lui-meme etant vise par des manouevres visant a lui retirer
la direction du parti. M.Markariana admis que les piètres resultats
de la FRAD lors des dernières grandes elections avaient suscite
la deception dans les rangs de ce parti plus que centenaire, qui
n’a jamais vraiment pu s’imposer sur la scène politique de l’Armenie
depuis la chute du système sovietique, qui avait permis son retour. Il
a precise que le parti dachnak avait pris en compte le mecontentement
de ses militants et que la direction du parti s’employait a repondre
aux attentes de sa base. “Ce que l’on a pu lire dans la presse est
faux”, a martele M.Markarian, en ajoutant que des forces exterieures
au parti tentaient a jeter le trouble et a y creer des divisions.

“Dans le cas present, je fais allusion au premier ministre”, a affirme
sans detour le leader de la FRAD. “Après avoir essuye des critiques
pour les echecs de sa politique economique, le premier ministre
Sarkissian a ouvertement declare la guerre a la FRAD. Et les ragots,
les rumeurs nauseabondes de ce genre sont son oeuvre”, a indique
M.Markarian, en ajoutant “lorsqu’un homme est affaibli, il tente de
regler les problèmes de cette manière”. Selon M. Markarian, le chef du
gouvernement aurait tenu des propos de la meme teneur a son entourage
proche, et en ” parfaite connaissance de cause “. Le leader du Bureau
de la FRAD a estime que cette “guerre” causerait plus de tort a son
initiatiateur, M.Sarkissian lui-meme, qu’a la FRAD. M. Markarian a
laisse d’ailleurs entendre que le premier ministre etait deja rattrape
par les affaires, et se trouvait en première ligne, avec les suspicions
d’investissements dans des paradis fiscaux qui l’ont vise dans les
media et dont il a eu a repondre publiquement, sans vraiment convaincre
l’opinion selon le leader de la FRAD. M. Sarkissian avait recuse les
allegations relatives a des operations “off shore” et a affirme ne
pas etre informe de la presence de son nom dans la comptabilite d’une
compagnie enregistree a Chypre. Ironique, M.Markarian a commente :
“Si telle est sa reponse, c’est plutôt comique” ! M. Markarian
en a profite pour reiterer l’appel de son parti a la demission de
M. Sarkissian. “Si nous ne voulons pas que s’eteigne la dernière
lueur d’espoir dans notre pays, [la demission du premier ministre]
est le moins que l’on puisse faire. Pas seulement celle du premier
ministre, d’ailleurs, beaucoup d’autres responsables doivent laisser
la place a d’autres”, a indique M.Markarian en precisant qu’un tel
appel ne relevait d’aucune animosite personnelle.

“La question n’est pas de savoir si l’on aime ou si l’on deteste le
premier ministre…Mais force est de constater que c’est un mauvais
premier ministre, et c’est d’ailleurs pourquoi il a recours a de tels
procedes pour faire face a ses problèmes”, a poursuivi M.Markarian.

Quant au president de la Republique armenienne, Serge Sarkissian,
homonyme du premier ministre, la FRAD n’est pas en mesure de demander
sa demission, a indique M. Markarian en rappelant que “changer le
president relève de la volonte du peuple. Seul le peuple est en mesure
de changer le president de la Republique”…

lundi 15 juillet 2013, Gari ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Battlefield will show one’s capacity – Karabakh Defense Minister – newspaper

July 13, 2013 | 07:37

YEREVAN. – 168 Zham daily interviewed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)
Defense Minister, NKR Defense Army Commander Movses Hakobyan, the
daily reports.

To the query as to the regional applicability of the weapons which
Russia recently sold to Azerbaijan and whether NKR possesses
equivalent weaponry to defend itself, or to retaliate, Hakobyan
responded as follows:

`I prefer to speak about the capabilities of the sides not under the
influence of the information being disseminated about the weaponry
being displayed in [military] parades, or being publicized by the
media, but rather by comparing the specific facts I have.

`The facts, however, do not at all represent the actual picture. So,
the battlefield will show who has what and [who] is ready for what,’
168 Zham quotes Movses Hakobyan as saying.

From: A. Papazian

Press TV, Iran
July 13 2013

Iran ready to mediate in Nagorno-Karabakh dispute: Envoy

The Iranian Ambassador to Baku Mohsen Pakaein has repeated Tehran’s
readiness to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

Pakaein said that Iran could act as a mediator in resolving the
dispute provided that Armenia and Azerbaijani give their consent.

`If the two countries are willing, Iran, as an influential country in
the region, the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the
also an active member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC), will enter negotiations with the countries in question and will
present its views on the resolution of the dispute,’ he said.

He said the security of the region could be at stake as there will
always be the risk of a war unless the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute is
settled.

Given the fact that Iran has land borders with both Azerbaijan and
Armenia, any violation of the region’s stability in the border areas
would have a negative impact on Iran as well, the envoy added.

Both Azerbaijan and Armenia claim the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is largely populated by Armenians but located in Azerbaijan.

Ethnic Armenian forces took control over the enclave which accounts
for 16 percent of Azerbaijan in the early 1990s during a six-year war
with the country that took place from February 1988 to May 1994.

The conflict left an estimated 30,000 people dead and one million
displaced before the two sides agreed to a cease-fire in 1994.
However, a peace accord has never been signed and the dispute still
remains unsettled.

Iran has on several occasions offered to intervene in the dispute.

“We believe that the Karabakh issue will be resolved through dialogue
and the commitment of both sides to justice, and Tehran is ready to
negotiate with them within this framework,” Iran’s President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad said in a joint press conference with his Azeri
counterpart Ilham Aliyev in November, 2010.

AR/HGH

From: A. Papazian

Xinhua General News Service, China
July 12, 2013 Friday 6:55 AM EST

Exports of Armenian famous brandy Ararat rise

YEREVAN Armenia, July 12

Ararat, a famous brand of Armenian brandy, is getting popular with
foreign consumers and its exports are on steady rise in recent years,
a company official said Friday.

The Ararat brandy is now exported to 30 countries, Zaruhi Sariberkyan,
public relations manager of the Yerevan Brandy Factory, said in an
interview with Armenia’s Armenpress.

According to Saribekyan, in the past twelve months, Armenia exported
3.3 million liters of the Ararat brandy, compared with 2.5 million
liters in the previous year-long period.

About two percent of the world’s consumption of brandy is covered by
the Armenian brand. Most of the exports go to Russia.

From: A. Papazian

The Times (London), UK
July 13, 2013 Saturday

How to be a mountaineer for a day

by Nicholas Roe

You don’t have to scale Everest or walk the Haute Route to score a big
mountain high – far easier summits offer huge rewards. Here are five
great small peaks that offer a real challenge- and all of them are
walkable within a day.

Mount Aragats Armenia
At 4,090m, Armenia’s tallest mountain sounds daunting, but is no more
than a moderately hard walk lasting seven hours, starting with alpine
meadows before zigzagging up steeper paths to the volcanic peak with
views to Turkey.

How to do it
Walks Worldwide (0845 3014737, ) has an
eight-day trek that costs from £1,499pp; flights, meals and guide
included.

Mount Teide Tenerife
This gaunt volcano in Tenerife’s centre presides over a Mars-like
landscape. At 3,718m it’s high enough to induce altitude sickness, but
the five-hour walk to the top, with its crater and sulphurous fumes,
is wonderful.

How to do it
There’s a tiny carpark and signposted trail at the 40km mark on Route
TF21; plus a Parador hotel ten minutes’ drive away within Teide
National Park (paradores-spain.com). Allow ten hours’ walking; take
food, water and extra clothing. You need a permit beforehand
() and you must carry your passport. You can
overnight at a mountain refuge half-way up
() or take a cable-car and walk the
last hour with a guide (gaiatours.es).

Mount Krn Slovenia
Mount Krn’s 2,244m peak offers fantastic views over the Triglav
National Park, dotted with pastures, cut by the Soca River and with
glimpses of the distant Adriatic. It takes eight taxing hours to reach
the summit and descend but the bonus is a mountain hut just below the
top selling refreshments.

How to do it
Base yourself at Bovec, 90 minutes from Ljubljana, then it’s 20
minutes to the Lepena Valley, where the walk begins. Bovec guides cost
150 to 220 euros a day (socahiking.

com or trek.si). Hotel Dobra Vila Bovec has doubles from 125 euros
(dobra-vila-bovec.si).

Montagne Sainte-Victoire France
Cézanne loved this mountain so much he painted it 60 times, and it’s
certainly beautiful and worth the moderate effort required to reach
the top, which is at barely more than 1,000m . There are fantastic
views over Provence. How to do it Headwater’s seven-night independent,
hotel-to-hotel walk “Aix-en-Provence to the Med” begins with this
five-and-a-half-hour trek, with a 30-minute transfer from Aix. It
costs from £1,028pp including flights, B&B, and maps (0845 527 2410,
headwater.com).

Ben Nevis Scotland
Britain’s highest mountain stands at 1,344m but don’t sneer as the
peak offers some of the best views in the country. It’s a steady,
draining walk, sometimes crowded in summer, potentially dangerous in
winter. Most will do the seven-hour trek alone, but a guide can be
useful. How to do it West Coast Mountain Guides charges £210 per
couple (01397 719120, westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk). See a route
description at walkhighlands.co.uk. Wilderness Scotland’s self-guided
breaks include a trek up Ben Nevis, three nights’ half-board
accommodation and maps from £480pp (01479 420020,
wildernessscotland.com). Nicholas Roe

From: A. Papazian

World Bank delegation was hosted in Control Chamber of Armenia

18:55, 13 July, 2013

YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS: President of Control Chamber of the
Republic of Armenia Ishkhan Zakaryan hosted the delegation of World
Bank – Regional head for financial management of Europe and Central
Asia region of World Bank Sukeina Kane and head of Yerevan office Jean
Michel Huppi. `Armenpress’ was informed from Control Chamber of the
Republic of Armenia that during the meeting the sides discussed the
process of World Bank’s grant directed to development of abilities of
Control Chamber as well as issues of mutual interest.
Ishkhan Zakrayan thanked the representatives of World Bank for the
technical support provided to Control Chamber.

Regional head for financial management of Europe and Central Asia
region of World Bank Sukeina Kane and head of Yerevan office Jean
Michel Huppi
expressed satisfaction for cooperation mentioning that the cooperation
between two bodies is on high level. Representatives of World Bank
expressed readiness to reverberate in future to new programs of
strategic development of Control Chamber.

From: A. Papazian

Naghdalian to Moldovan advocate: Scandal you planned did not work

Saturday,
July 13

`Dear advocate. Don’t be tempted, the scandal you planned did not
work. Armenian political figures are quite experienced and literate,
and the Armenian people and society are open and tolerant. We warn
those who interfere because of their own venality or in the interests
of their friends or boyfriends: don’t interfere with you dirty hands
and ideas in our sacred liberation war. We will not allow this,’ Vice
Speaker of the Armenian parliament Ms. Hermine Naghdalian said during
a talk with `Aravot’ paper, when discussing the scandalous behavior of
the Moldovan ombudswoman A. Grigoriu in the Armenian parliament.

TODAY, 12:39
Aysor.am

From: A. Papazian

Armenian cross-stone to be placed at Brest Fortress of Belarus (PHOTOS)

July 13, 2013 | 17:20

YEREVAN. – The Armenian delegation led by National Assembly (NA)
Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, which is in Belarus on a working
visit, on Friday traveled to Brest Province and met with Chairman
Konstantin Sumar of Brest Province Executive Committee.

The interlocutors gave a high assessment to the level of
Armenian-Belarusian relations, Sharmazanov’s staff informs. The
parties also expressed readiness to enhance bilateral relations.

The NA vice-chair recorded that the geographical scope of
Armenian-Belarusian cooperation is gradually broadening.

The parties remarked that the Armenian-Belarusian economic ties are
below the level of political relations. In this context, the
interlocutors exchanged views on holding a joint business forum in
Brest, to improve bilateral economic ties.

Following the talks, the Armenian delegation visited the Brest
Hero-Fortress memorial, laid a wreath to the tombs of the Unknown
Soldier and the eight Armenian soldiers that had fallen during the
Soviet resistance against the German invasion in 1941. Eduard
Sharmazanov expressed willingness to place, in the area of the
memorial, an Armenian cross-stone that symbolizes the friendship
between the Armenian and the Belarusian peoples.

From: A. Papazian

Turkish MFA `displeased’ with Armenian Prosecutor General remarks

July 13, 2013 – 14:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Turkey `strongly
rejects’ Armenian Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan’s remarks
claiming that lost Armenian territories should be returned to Armenia.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Levent Gümrükçü said `it must be
known that nobody can dare to claim territory from Turkey.”

Gümrükçü said “the remarks of Armenia’s Prosecutor General reflected
the problematic mentality prevailing in Armenia on Turkish-Armenian
relations and its neighbor Turkey’s territorial integrity.’

`The statement also contradicted the obligations of Armenia to the
international organizations it is affiliated such as the United
Nations and Organization for Security and Coordination in Europe,’
Gümrükçü said.

From: A. Papazian

Aghvan Vardanyan: There is no split within ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party

ARMINFO
Friday, July 12, 23:46

Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktutyun
(ARFD) Party Faction Aghvan Vardanyan told media Friday that staff
reshuffles in the top echelons of the ARFD Bureau are possible (it is
widely rumored that there are discrepancies within ARFD over the
candidature of the Bureau representative Hrant Margaryan – ed.)

He said that ARFD is an active structure where debates are held
regularly to settle internal problems. It does not mean, however, he
said, that there is split within the party. “Irrespective of whether
the last elections were fake or not, ARFD failed them. Consequently,
it must seriously think of its future,” he said. Commenting on the
statement by Hrant Margaryan, ARFD Burau representative, that Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan declared war against ARFD, Aghvan Vardanyan
said that ARFD has no problems with anyone.

“ARFD is an independent force and makes independent decisions. In this
light, we had no problems,” he said. Nevertheless, he said, Prime
Minister Sargsyan did not refute Margaryan’s statement.

Earlier, Hrant Margaryan, ARFD Bureau representative, in an interview
with RFE/RL Armenia service, said that Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan has openly declared war against ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Party. He said that the ordered Mass Media articles slamming ARFD
should be considered in the context of the prime minister’s ‘war’. He
is sure that those items are financed by the prime minister.
Markaryan means a series of mass media reports on alleged split within
the ARFD that pursues a goal to depose Hrant Margaryan.

Commenting on Margaryan’s interview, Prime Minister’s Spokesperson
Haroutyun Berberyan expressed surprise at the ‘war’ announced against
ARFD. “The prime minister has always respected the traditional
Armenian parties and considered them a national value. As regards the
internal problems of ARFD, it is their internal affairs. Tigran
Sargsyan, as Deputy Head of the Republican Party does not interfere
with the internal affairs of other political forces,” Berberyan said.

From: A. Papazian