Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIA INTERESTED IN RERUN OF GEORGIAN TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Trend
Nov 14 2012
Azerbaijan

Armenia is interested in expanding and rerunning of the Georgian
transport infrastructure, which will enable countries in the region
to diversify their communications capabilities, Armenian Ambassador to
Georgia Hovhannes Manoukian said during a meeting with Georgian State
Minister for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili, Mediamax reported.

Zakareishvili said that the Georgian side is interested in effective
involvement of national minorities, including the Armenian community
in the political and social life of Georgia. Zakareishvili also
said that it is necessary to ensure effective mechanisms to address
community problems. Manoukian discussed prospects of cooperation in
European structures at a meeting with State Minister for Euro-Atlantic
integration Alexi Petriashvili.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN LEADER SUGGESTS AGREEING UPON KEY SETTLEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT

Interfax
Nov 13 2012
Russia

YEREVAN. Nov 13

Negotiations aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem cannot be started without agreeing upon
fundamental principles for settling this conflict, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said.

“Baku refuses to accept the international mediators’ proposals,
thinking that it is possible to immediately launch talks around a peace
treaty without agreeing upon these fundamental principles,” he told
French daily Le Figaro during his three-day official visit to France.

A peace treaty is not viable “unless it is based on principles that
are clear and acceptable for everyone,” Sargsyan said.

From: A. Papazian

MARKS & SPENCER LAUNCHES FIRST SHOP IN ARMENIA

tert.am
14.11.12

The major British retailer, Marks & Spencer, is from now on represented
on the Armenian market.

The company opened its first ever shop in Yerevan on Wednesday,
introducing its latest collection of clothes for men, women and
children, as well as accessories, shoes, underwear and makeup products.

The opening event in Yerevan’s Dalma Garden Mall was attended by the UK
ambassadors to Armenia and the M&S regional director, Mark Koprovsky.

Twelve Armenian top models showcased the M&S autumn and winter
collections of footwear and clothes offered for sale.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Katherine Jane Leach said that
the company offers styles meeting the local market demand. Noting that
Armenia and UK have developed firm relations over years, the diplomat
said that the presence of numerous British brands (including M&S)
in the country is an evidence of such closeness.

Founded in 1884, Mark & Spencer is now a leading retail company in
Britain. It operates over 730 shops locally and more than 390 others
internationally (in Europe, Middle East and Asia).

From: A. Papazian

FOREIGN MINISTRY OF KARABAKH: AZERBAIJAN HAS STARTED ABUSE CAMPAIGN REGARDING REABILITAION OF STEPANAKERT AIRPORT

arminfo
Tuesday, November 13, 11:55

The letter of the NKR Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan was circulated
as a document of the General Assembly and Security Council in the
United Nations Organization.

According to the letter Azerbaijan has started a fraudulent campaign
aimed at misleading the international community and justifying
its policy of using force or threat of force against the people of
Nagorno Karabakh.

The rehabilitation of the Stepanakert airport is the sovereign right
of the NKR and pursues solely civilian and humanitarian objectives,
including realization of such a basic human right as freedom of
movement. Freedom of movement of the civilian population of the
NKR alongside with other human rights outlined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and other core international instruments
have already been continuously and vehemently undermined by the
ongoing Azerbaijani blockade. This stance of Azerbaijan is a clear
manifestation of its upright disregard for human rights and fundamental
freedoms as a continuation of its policy of collective punishment of
civilian population, reads the letter of the NKR Foreign Minister.The
threats of Azerbaijan to shoot down civil aircrafts in particular,
violates the provisions of the Chicago Convention on International
Civil Aviation and runs counter to the commitments undertaken in the
framework of the negotiation process mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chair states, to reject any threat or use of force against civil
aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps, and refrain
from politicizing the issue.

Such threats, along with the statements on the highest level declaring
all Armenians of the world as enemy number one of Azerbaijan are
a vivid example of the long-established anti-Armenian hysteria
and xenophobia of the Azeri state policy. The pardon and nationwide
glorification of Ramil Safarov, Azerbaijani officer, who was convicted
to the life imprisonment in Hungary for perpetuating brutal hate crime,
a manslaughter, is the most shocking yet just recent manifestation
of this policy. In this context, my Government considers the steps
taken by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in particular
declarations on undertaking “all necessary measures” in order to
prevent the functioning of the Stepanakert Airport along with previous
threats to shoot down civil planes as irresponsible and politically
charged actions, is mentioned in the letter.Minister Mirzoyan called
upon the UN Secretary General, the UN and its specialized agencies, as
well as all peace-loving Member States to assist in the rehabilitation
of the Stepanakert airport in order to ensure that the people of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic is able to exercise their basic human rights
and fundamental freedoms.

The NKR Foreign Minister expressed strong belief that the
rehabilitation of the Stepanakert airport will contribute to the
realization of aims and objectives of the Convention on International
Civil Aviation and may also serve as a confidence building measure
contributing towards progress in the negotiation process under the
auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: ARMENIA HIGHLY APPRECIATES INTENTIONS OF FRENCH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO IMPLEMENT SEVERAL PROGRAMMES IN ARMENIA

arminfo
Wednesday, November 14, 14:31

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan being in France with an official
visit met with French businessmen of the Armenian origin in Lyon,
13 November.

As press-service of the president reported, Serzh Sargsyan touched on
last initiatives and developments which business-community of France,
and in particular, Lyon, is interested in, in particular, the reforms,
Armenian-French business links, the trade and economic relations and
the prospects of their development. “The Armenian-French business-club
has been functioning in Armenia since last year, and President of
France Mr Hollande offered yesterday this club to become a trade
and industry chamber. We agreed with pleasure. This club delivers
professional and information aid, organizes various meetings, and
is called to promote development of the French business-community
in Armenia and attract new companies to the Armenian market”, – the
president said and added that he highly appreciates the intentions
of the French Development Agency to implement several programmes in
Armenia. “We link great hopes with this agency, as you are aware of
the potential of this structure. As for us, we shall do everything
possible for successful activity of the agency in Armenia”, –
president of Armenia emphasized. He also wished luck to businessmen
when fulfilling joint programmes.

Later, on behalf of Lyon Mayor Gerard Collomb, a reception was
organized in Lyon Mayor’s office in the President’s honor, during
which President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan was awarded with Lyon’s
Medal of Honour.

Wrapping up the three-day official visit to France, the delegation
headed by President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan will return to Yerevan
on 14 November.

From: A. Papazian

“THE NATIONAL RADIO” WILL COMMENCE ITS WORK IN MAY

Anna.
Monday, 12 November 2012 23:44

A new medium will soon appear in the Artsakh media sphere. “The
National Radio and Television” LLC has already received the
corresponding license and according to the primary data it will
broadcast on 106.30 FM frequency until May, 2013. In his interview
to Karabakh-open.info director of the company Kim Gabrielyan informed
about the objectives and the programmes of the company.

– Mr. Gabrielyan, why just radio broadcasting?

– Taking into account the fact that the greater part of the radio
stations functioning in Artsakh are entertainment directed or broadcast
for limited airtime we decided to fill the gap by creating a new
radio station that will broadcast in Stepanakert, in the neighbouring
regions and in the Internet for 24 hours. Because of the local relief
rebroadcasting transmitters will be located in the regions. Recently
we have signed a memorandum with the “Mix Media” LLC of Artsakh and
the “Radio Hay” LLC of Armenia according to which these two companies
will provide the necessary technical means and the service for our
radio station.

– Who will be the voices of the national radio?

– We have already marked out several journalists with whom we will
begin to work in the nearest future. By the primary data we shall
employ three journalists, an editor and announcers who will initially
take retraining courses at the “Radio Hay” LLC. For the operative
organization of the work on the radio our journalists will be provided
with all the necessary technical means which will enable to prepare
the material on the spot and send it to the editorial staff via the
Internet. Thus, we are going to select not just employees but people
with new ideas and mentality.

– What programmes will be broadcast by the national radio?

– Apart from the news broadcasts there will be various programmes,
discussions and debates where a wide range of economic, social,
political and cultural topics will be discussed. The radio will
never be under the influence of any political power. Some sound and
well-grounded criticism will also have its place in the discussions.

– Who will this all be financed by?

– This will be a self-financing company with the advertisement as the
major source of income. Though here the radio advertisement market
is not developed so much we intend to employ advertisement agents
not only in Artsakh but in Armenia as well.

– Will there be any competition with the Public Radio?

– In any case it will be a sound competition whereas at the same
time we shall try to cooperate with each other. We shall offer to the
Public Radio to rebroadcast some of its programmes by our radio and
when needed we are also ready to render some of our materials to them.

After all, our top priority problem is the development of the radio
media in Artsakh.

– The name of the company includes the word “Television” as well,
shall we suppose that the radio station will operate in parallel with
the television?

– At first we shall be limited to the radio broadcast only. This
implies that besides broadcasting the radio programmes some video
materials and type matters will be allocated in the official website
of the radio. When the radio begins working as we have planned, in
the near future we shall have a television broadcast as well which,
I think, is necessary for the Artsakh people, anyway, one television
company is not enough.

Qnar Babayan

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF URUGUAY: WE ARE A SMALL PART OF ARMENIA

arminfo
Tuesday, November 13, 15:25

Armenia has a good investment climate and convenient strategic
location, President of House of Representatives of the Oriental
Republic of Uruguay, Jorge Orrico, which paid an official visit to
Armenia yesterday, said in the Armenian parliament, 13 November.

He said that Uruguay’s economy has been growing much and is one of
the most effective ones among the countries of Latin America and is
open for effective cooperation. Stability and strict foreign policy
orienting points promote that.

He also added that Uruguay was the first country that recognized
Armenian genocide, and he is proud of that. “We have got the Armenian
genocide museum. We are a small part of Armenia. We are always angry
for the fact that the Armenian genocide is not recognized by many
countries once and forever”, – Orrico said.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH OPPOSITION MP ASKS PM WHO SANCTIONED WIRETAPPING OF ARMENIAN JOURNALIST

news.am
November 13, 2012 | 14:55

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Atilla Kart
asked PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan as to who had ordered the wiretapping
of Taraf daily’s journalists.

He noted that, based on the decisions by two Istanbul courts, Turkey’s
National Intelligence Service (MIT) had wiretapped, from 30 October
2008 to 4 November 2009, the conversations of these journalists,
including the daily’s Armenian coordinator Markar Esayan, Milliyet
daily of Turkey reports.

Atilla Kurt recalled that the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has
petitioned to the PM with a request to launch an inquiry against the
MIT agents, and he asked Erdogan: “Were these wiretappings conducted
with the knowledge of the MIT Director? Why are you not conducting
an administrative and a criminal procedure against such actions by
MIT, which violates freedom of the press and the fundamental rights
and liberties?”

To note, when hearing they were wiretapped, Taraf’s journalists
had filed lawsuits against MIT and the judges that sanctioned these
wiretappings.

From: A. Papazian

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY CHANGES THE RULES

12:14 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

By December 1st 2012 CJSC “SCR” changes the rules for tickets
to return, according to which: no later than 120 hours before the
departure of the train passengers are returned the full charge; 24 to
120 hours before departure passengers are returned 85% of ticket cost;
2 to 24 hours before departure passengers are returned 75% of tickets
cost; 2 hours before departure tickets can not be returned; If tickets
returned passengers are fully refunded the cost of additional services,
including payment for bedclothes and insurance.

If a ticket returned the passenger is not returned the sum of 600
drams, paid for making the ticket purchase.

The cost of an e-ticket does not include 600 drams for issuing
tickets. The cost of tickets purchased online is returned in cash at
cash offices of CJSC “SCR”.

CJSC “SCR” keeps to its policy to gradually improve the quality
of passenger service, the level of comfort in trains of local and
international communication. Accordingly, the railway upgrades the
rolling stock, the list of services expands, train speed increases.

From: A. Papazian

EIGHT PEOPLE, INCLUDING 2 CHILDREN, INJURED IN CAR ACCIDENT IN ARMENIA

tert.am
13.11.12

Eight people were injured, among them two children, as a result of car
accident on Yerevan-Meghri highway on November 13, at approximately
09.55 a.m.

According to Emergency Situations web site, two Mercedes Benz-model
cars collided with each other on the 179th kilometer of the highway.

Drivers and passengers of the two cars, including 5 and 3 years old
toddlers were taken to Goris and Sisian town hospitals. Doctors say
their condition is satisfactory.

From: A. Papazian