Author: Andres-Papazian

ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT POSTS 1 MILLION PASSENGER TRAFFIC IN JAN-AUG 2012

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 18, 2012 – 16:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The number of passengers at Zvartnots Airport in
January – August 2012 totaled 1 110 604 against 1 051 509 posted
during the same period in 2011.

According to the Central Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia, 529
386 people arrived in the country in January – August 2012 against
496 824 during the same period in 2011. 581 218 people left Armenia
during the reporting period against 554 685 in that of 2011.

7 510 tons of cargo was transported in January – August 2012 against
5 977 tons during the same period of 2011.

The total number of takeoffs and landings in the reporting period
reached 6 973 against 6 439 during 2011.

From: A. Papazian

BRITISH MINISTER HOPES BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA TO DEEPEN

ARMENPRESS
18 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: The relations between Armenia and
Great Britain are on a firm basis. As Armenpress reports, Armenian
Foreign Affair Minister Edward Nalbandyan came forth in the joint
press conference with Minister of State for Europe of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, David Lidington.

The Minister stated they have envisaged Armenia- European Union
relations, bilateral relations , latest developments taking place
in the framework of the Eastern Partnership, Nagorno Karabakh issue
current state, Safarov extradition and the great damage hindering the
negotiation process. The sides have also covered some regional issues,
Armenpress reports.” I am gratified with my first visit to Armenia.

It is substantial I can be present in the establishment of 20
anniversary of diplomatic relations with Armenia and 10th anniversary
of British Council in Armenia. Lidington noted British culture is
high estimated in Armenia. In the words of the interlocutor numerous
students leave for Britain to continue their educations in British
high educational institutes .British high ranking diplomat hopes the
bilateral relations will deepen further on. “United Kingdom has always
favored Eastern Partnership, where Armenia is an important member. We
are going to promote comprehensive free trade negotiations which are
under way” Lidington stated.

British Minister was also happy with the existence of British shops
located in most central streets of Yerevan. Minister is sure Armenia-
British relations will deepen in this sphere as well. There is a goal
to establish a trade mission.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA IS THE LEADING COUNTRY IN IT GROWTH IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

ARMENPRESS
18 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: The Prime Minister of the Republic
of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan received the Secretary General of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Dr Hamadoun Toure. As
Armenpress was reported by the Information and PR Department of the
Armenian Government, the Prime Minister stated that Toure’s visit
to Armenia is a good opportunity for the discussion of the bilateral
interest issues.

In his turn the Secretary General of the International
Telecommunication Union stated with satisfaction that in our country
there are positive changes in the field of telecommunications, which
are quite satisfactory.

“We are happy that the developments in the information technologies
field of Armenia are visible. Certainly, the International
Telecommunication Union has assisted much in these developments”, –
said the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

Tigran Sargsyan informed the ITU Secretary General that in the
recently published world report of the National Competitiveness the
Armenia’s IT indices of the year of 2009 were published, despite the
fact that the results of 2011 were published in the ITU website. The
Head of the Government mentioned that if the indices of the year of
2011 were published, the level of our country’s competitiveness would
have been higher.

According to Dr Hamadoun Toure, a misunderstanding was occurred
in this issue. The ITU Secretary General stated that with the 2011
indices Armenia was the first for its growth rates in IT field in
the South Caucasus.

Then the interlocutors touched upon other issues related to the
telecommunications field. In particular, Hamadoun Toure expressed
readiness to assist the submission process of Armenia’s application
to the Radiocommunication Bureau.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia expressed his hope
that the International Telecommunication Union would assist in the
software provision issue, necessary for the implementation of the radio
monitoring project of the frequency domain. The parties discussed
also issues on introduction works of broadband communication system
in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

TANKIAN FOR TEGHUT: FORMER SOAD VOCALIST AGAIN RAISES CONCERN ABOUT MINING PROJECT IN ARMENIA
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow reporter
18.09.12 | 15:38

Photo: bnamard.blogspot.com

Former System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian has urged the government
of Armenia to stop the mining project at Teghut, in the country’s
northeastern Lori province, arguing that mining is “dangerous and
extremely short term solution” to the nation’s economic woes.

In a letter addressed to the Save Teghut civil initiative group,
the Armenian American rock star draws comparisons between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, saying that the only ally of Azerbaijan, besides Turkey,
is oil.

“Armenia doesn’t have an ally in oil. Nor does it need such
ecologically destructive, carbon-based allies. What Armenia needs is
a carbon neutral, ecologically sustainable, agriculturally diverse
future as its ally. True progress and a solution to Armenia’s economic,
environmental, and social challenges will be based on a coordinated
effort to support environmentally sustainable agriculture,” says
Tankian in the letter disseminated by the group. “I would urge
Armenia’s government to re-consider its granted license to develop
open-pit mines in and around Teghut Forest, which is one of the most
biologically diverse forests in Armenia, and refrain from issuing
further mining licenses to the detriment of our environment and
sustainable development in Armenia.”

It is not the first time that the famous singer, songwriter and
musician, who is widely known for his civil advocacy reflected
in his compositions, including for his lobbying of the Armenian
genocide affirmation, human rights and animal rights, raises his
voice of protest against the mining project in Teghut. Tankian also
spoke about the issue during his visit to Armenia last year. He also
spread a video on YouTube last summer calling for the development of
agriculture in the area instead of mining.

Armenian environmentalists, who have campaigned for more than four
years against the development of copper and molybdenum fields around
the forest in Teghut, recently came up with a new initiative trying
to prove that local residents have an alternative to mining in the
form of producing ecologically clean agricultural products. First,
environmentalists tried to sell honey produced in Teghut. They said
their experiment is crowned with success.

Teghut defense group member Lena Nazaryan told ArmeniaNow that they
value the involvement of conscious and active people in the campaign.

“We are very happy that Serj Tankian shares our ideas. Just like us
he thinks that Teghut’s real, long-term and profitable capital is
its clean land and water, which is a prerequisite for the economic
development of Armenia. It is wonderful that he is not indifferent
to these ideas. What brings known and unknown individuals around the
issue of Teghut is their dream to live in a safe country, within a
healthy environment and with dignity,” says Nazaryan.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH CYPRIOT POLITICAL PARTY DEMANDS THE RETURN OF ARMENIAN CHURCH ON VICTORIA STREET TO THE ARMENIANS OF CYPRUS

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (11.09.12) reports that the New Cyprus
Party (YKP), has issued a statement, demanding that the decision
taken to “lease” the Armenian Church to a “university” for a period
of 10 years to be revised and to be returned back to the Armenians
of Cyprus, together with the right of use.

The YKP, points out that the statement that the church is one of the
few cultural heritages left untouched today and underlines that it is
unacceptable for a church to be restored and given to a “university”.

The YKP calls also the “administration board” of the Efkav to revise
its decision and give back to the Armenians who live in Cyprus,
the church as well as the right of use it.

The statement points out that the YKP will pursue this process both
in Cyprus and in international arenas.

From: A. Papazian

CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL VISITED MILITARY INSTITUTE AFTER VAZGEN SARGSYAN

ARMENPRESS
18 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: On September 18 the Secretary
General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolay
Bordyuzha, as well as the members of the Parliamentary Defense and
Security Council of the CSTO member countries visited the Military
Institute after Vazgen Sargsyan of the Ministry of Defence of the
Republic of Armenia.

As reported by Armenpress, the guests were shown the equipment
necessary to raise the military preparedness of the militaries, after
which a destruction action of a conventional enemy was demonstrated.

During the action the attack of the conventional enemy’s investigative
diversion group was averted and the conventional enemy ran away
suffering losses.

The members of the Parliamentary Defense and Security Council of
the CSTO member countries got acquainted with the history of the
establishment of the educational institution, main features and
provided services.

The Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha and the members of the Parliamentary Defense
and Security Council of the CSTO member countries are in Armenia
within the framework of the program “Cooperation 2012” joint military
drills carried out by the Collective Rapid Response Forces (CRRF)
of the CSTO member countries.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN’S ACTIONS DEEPEN THE DIVIDE BETWEEN BAKU AND WORLD COMMUNITY – ARMENIAN FM

news.am
September 18, 2012 | 14:22

YEREVAN.- Azerbaijan’s actions deepen the divide between the country
and world community, Armenian FM said on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and UK Foreign Office Minister
for Europe David Lidington met with the reporters after their meeting
in Yerevan.

“The international community has no shortage of facts which have been
a cause of distrust of Azerbaijan for a long period of time. Let’s
leave alone the question why the current Hungarian government trusted
Azerbaijan’s promises and released Ramil Safarov. You are aware that
on September 2 the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Justice of
Hungary made a statement, according to which the Azerbaijani side
had promised that Safarov will continue to serve his sentence at home
for at least 25 years, but did not keep the promise,” said Nalbandian.

According to Minister Nalbandian, it is not for the first time that
Azerbaijan does not respect the promises and agreements reached,
moreover Baku simply ignores them.

As an example, he recalled the agreement on the establishment of
mechanisms to investigate the incidents of ceasefire violation along
the line of contact, which was reached by the Presidents of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russia, and which was announced twice in Sochi –
in early 2011 and January 2012.

“Azerbaijan did everything not to respect the arrangements preventing
the establishment of investigation mechanisms,” he emphasized.

The Minister also noted Azerbaijan refused to respect the arrangement
on maintaining ceasefire which was made two months after a trilateral
agreement on the cease-fire between Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan and
Armenia was signed in May 1994.

In February 1995, a new agreement was achieved to strengthen the
cease-fire, but Azerbaijan refuses to respect it so far, he said
recalling also rejected arrangements reached prior to the meetings
in St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Sochi, Kazan, etc.

“Indeed, the international community has unanimously expressed its
outrage at Azerbaijan’s decision,” Nalbandian concluded.

In his turn, David Lidington said that the case of Ramil Safarov is
really concerning.

“We welcome and support the statements of the OSCE Minsk Group,
the EU, the Council of Europe and the OSCE on this issue,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

GENOCIDE RECOGNITION PRECONDITION TO TURKEY’S EU BID, SAYS EURO-PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

asbarez
Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

President of the European Parliament Martin Shultz

BERLIN-The President of the European Parliament Martin Shultz announced
Monday that Turkey’s integration into Europe is preconditioned by
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reiterating the body’s
1987 decision.

“Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide and it would be
considered as a precondition to enter the European Union,” said Shultz
whose remarks were posted on the official Web site of his Left Party
of Germany, which also welcomed the position. Shultz said that Turkey
must face its history.

The European Parliament leader made the statement during a meeting
with Turkey’s European Integration Minister and Chief Negotiator
Egemen Bagis, who during a press conference later refused to answer
questions pertaining to the announcement and comments he made earlier
this year in Switzerland, effectively denying the Armenian Genocide.

The President of the European Parliament Martin Shultz stated about
it at the meeting with the Turkish State Minister and the Minister
for the EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis. They talked
about the official role of Turkey in Syria, visa issues and Turkey’s
possible membership in the European Union.

Instead Bagis told reporters that Switzerland was not an EU member
and “I will not spend a single second to speak about issues, which
do not concern the European Union.”

From: A. Papazian

PROTEST ACTION HELD IN FRONT OF ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN FRANCE

APA
Sept 18 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas
held a protest action in front of the Armenian embassy in France.

APA reports quoting the Armenian press those Azerbaijani organizations
in Germany and the Netherlands supported the protest action that was
initiated by the Turkish Fraction in France. The action started at
08:00 by local time.

Note that, Armenian community in France intends to hold a protest
action in front of the Azerbaijani embassy in France this evening in
order to protest Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the
country. The action organized by Turkish and Azerbaijani organizations
was retaliation to this initiative.

From: A. Papazian

DAVID LIDINGTON: “SELF-DETERMINATION IS ON OF THE MAIN PRINCIPLES FOR THE OSCE MINSK GROUP TOWARDS THE PEACEFUL SOLUTION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT”

APA
Sept 18 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. “UK wants peace between Azerbaijan
and Armenia to be established within the OSCE Minsk group’s peaceful
talks”, the UK minister for Europe David Lidington said in Yerevan,
APA reports quoting Armenian press.

He mentioned that the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
meets the interests of both the region and Europe: “UK is interested
in assistance for restoration of peace and stability in the South
Caucasus. This isn’t an ordinary place on the world map this is a part
of Europe for us. We have close relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia;
we have commercial interests that will support peaceful solution of
the conflict”.

In response to an Armenian journalist -“Why does UK prefer
self-determination principles in the issue concerning Kosovo and
Folkland, but in other cases it shows quite different approach”,
the UK minister said: “I consider that this question doesn’t refer
to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Kosovo issue must be solved due to
the UN resolution #1244. Self-determination of the OSCE Minsk group
is on of the main principles for the peaceful solution of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. Of course, this principle as well as others must
be identified under the control of the OSCE Minsk group’s co-chairs”.

From: A. Papazian