Author: Andres-Papazian

GYUMRI MAYOR’S SON UNWELCOME IN MOSCOW

Vestnik Kavkaza
July 25 2012
Russia

Gyumri Mayor Vardan Gukasyan was summoned to the residence of
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan where he was informed that the ruling
Republican Party would not promote him for the mayor’s position anymore
and would support Samvel Balasanyan of Prosperous Armenia instead,
Aysor reports.

Gukasyan quit the party. Ruben Tadevosyan, head of the organization
commission of the Republican Party, confirmed the information.

Moreover, a passenger of a Gyumri-Moscow flight said that the police
and the National Security Service took the mayor’s son Spartak from
the plane. About 30 people arrived to see him off, but he was unable
to depart.

The police of Armenia commented that no prohibition was made against
Spartak Gukasyan. The problem was that his documents had problems.

From: A. Papazian

BELARUSIAN AND ARMENIAN BORDER GUARDS EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE

Vestnik Kavkaza
July 25 2012
Russia

Brest is hosting a seminar for Belarusian and Armenian border guards,
BELTA reports.

The meeting is part of the joint project of international technical
assistance of the International Organization for Migration and the
Belarusian State Border Committee.

The project is aimed at expanding opportunities of Belarusian and
Armenian border services and control over migration. Border services
will improve control over borders according to international standards.

From: A. Papazian

SYRIAN ARMENIANS AMONG THOSE FLEEING THE COUNTRY

Gulf News

July 25 2012
UAE

Children could experience long-term trauma

By Joseph A. Kechichian Senior writer
Published: 17:29 July 25, 2012

Beirut: As fighting is raging in major Syrian cities refugees have
streamed across the border in the thousands, settling with relatives
wherever possible.

Syrian Armenians are among those who are fleeing, and many who can
afford to move back to Armenia are doing so.

But the vast majority are settling with relatives in Lebanon until
the situation back home returns to normalcy.

Lina, a middle-aged woman who fled with her children, speaks of
the horrors she left behind in Aleppo. “Shabiha came and beat up
businessmen who closed their shops in Aleppo,” she said. Shabiha,
are pro-government militias with a notorious reputation for savagery.

“Some were beaten so badly they had to be hospitalised,” she added.

Her young son witnessed a bombing in the Syrian capital and was
severely tramautised by the experience. “He sobbed uncontrollably for
two days,” she said. But her son is among the many Syrian children
exposed to such brutality and devastation. Many children, Lina says,
are displaying aggressive behaviour and will be pyschologically
affected for the rest of their lives.

While Lina and her children are safe in Beirut for the time being, she
remains nervous. “I fear for my community’s long-term survival,” she
said speaking about Armenians in Syria. She is among many minorities
in Syria who fear that the collapse of the regime will adversely
affect their respective communities. Many minorities still believe
the Baath regime protects them.

Lina is particularly grateful that the regime opened its doors to the
Armenian survivors of the 1915 genocide at the hands of the Turks. “We
remain loyal to the country, and I cannot wait to go home,” she said.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN, ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTS TO EXCHANGE REPRESENTATIVES

ITAR-TASS
July 24, 2012 Tuesday 06:47 PM GMT+4
Russia

Russia’s State Duma lower parliament house and Armenia’s parliament
have decided to exchange representatives, Armenian parliament speaker
Ovik Abramyan said on Tuesday after his talks with his visiting
Russian counterpart, speaker of the State Duma Sergei Naryshkin.

“With due account of dynamically developing bilateral
interparliamentary cooperation, the Armenian side suggested that
an institution of representatives should be created, i.e. the two
parliaments should exchange representatives,” Abramyan said.

The sides noted efficient cooperation within the framework of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO), the speaker said and added that this September Yerevan will
host the first meeting of the coordinating conference of leaders
of defence and security commissions of the member countries of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIA, ARMENIA WORKING ON LONG-TERM SOCIO-ECONOMIC COOPERATION PROGRAM

ITAR-TASS
July 24, 2012 Tuesday 07:09 PM GMT+4
Russia

Russia’s and Armenia’s governments are currently working on a new
long-term program of socio-economic cooperation, Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sarkisyan said on Tuesday at a meeting with visiting
speaker of the Russian State Duma lower parliament house Sergei
Naryshkin.

According to the Armenian prime minister, the program “embraces all
spheres of cooperation, joint projects and goals up to the year 2020.”

“Diversification of bilateral economic ties is a key condition to give
a fresh impetus to the Russian-Armenian strategic relations,” he said
and added that this is what underlies the program of socio-economic
cooperation.

“Such meetings present a good possibility to discuss most important
issues and principles of the Russian-Armenian cooperation, to outline
common views on our future and the key problems that would be on
the further bilateral agenda,” Sarkisyan said, greeting the Russian
speaker.

The Russian speaker highly assessed “strategic partnership between
Russia and Armenia, and bilateral trade and economic ties as its key
component.” “We in Russia are proud of being Armenia’s chief economic
partner,” Naryshkin said. “Lawmakers are ready to do their best to
expand and further develop economic ties between our countries.”

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN COURT CONTINUES SIVILITAS VS. FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER CASE

Vestnik Kavkaza
July 24 2012
Russia

The Yerevan court of Center and Nork-Marash has overruled the request
of former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s lawyer demanding the
decision of Michael Ambartsumyan, deputy head of the investigative
directorate of the Armenian National Security Council, on initiation
of the criminal case on May 25, 2012.

Lawyer Tigran Atanesyan’s request was considered by judge Mnatsakan
Martirosyan on July 23.

The National Security Council initiated a case against the Sivilitas
Fund founded by Vardan Oskanyan for legalization of criminal income.

Oskanyan is a witness in the case.

The Committee for State Income of the Armenian government visited the
fund in June. They demanded documents on all its financial operations
since its foundation in May 2008.

From: A. Papazian

GERMANY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH PILGRIMS VISIT MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

16:15 – 24.07.2012

On July 24, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Grace Bishop
Hovakim Manukian, Director of the Interchurch Relations Department
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; received a group of pilgrims
from Germany’s Catholic Church, led by Matthias Konig, representative
of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

At the beginning of the meeting, Matthias Konig, presented the group
members and the aim of the visit, stating that during the eight days
of their visit the pilgrims had visited Armenia’s historic monasteries
and churches.

His Grace Hovakim welcomed the visit of the pilgrims to the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin, noting that the Armenian Church receives Sister
Church pilgrims with special love, who want to learn about the rich
culture and sacred heritage of the Armenian people and their ancient
Christian values. Bishop Hovakim also briefly presented to the guests
the important highlights of Armenian Church history, the hierarchal
structure, the difficulties the Armenian Church experienced during
the Soviet period and the current status of church-state relations.

Speaking on inter-church relations, His Grace noted that the Armenian
Church is in warm relations and close cooperation with the Christian
Churches; through clergy reciprocal visits, exchanges of students
and many joint educational and social initiatives.

During the meeting His Grace answered the pilgrims’ questions,
which related to the educational, promotional and social activities
undertaken by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as to
future projects.

From: A. Papazian

LIBERATION OF AGHDAM WAS A MORAL VICTORY

15:20 – 24.07.2012

Dean of history department of the Yerevan State University Edward
Minsayan noted today during the press conference that liberation of
Aghdam in 1992 had a significant meaning not just for Armenians and
Artsakh battle but also in the war history. Minasyan also informed
that Aghdam means “White city”.

“Aghdam was populated with Armenians, but in the beginning of the
20th century turk-tatar populations inhabited also”, said he and
added that all the regions were surrounding Aghdam, besides Hadrut
and they all partook in the battle.

Minasyan noted that liberation of Aghdam was the second main issue
after Shushi liberation.

“Aghdam was a nazi center for azeris as it was the center of armor
storages”, said Minasyan and added that by liberating Aghdam, Armenians
broke Azerbaijan’s “back” as it was a moral victory for us.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY LAUNCHES INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 24, 2012 – 15:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Turkish Armed Forces have begun working on
a project to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM),
Hurriyet Daily News reported citing broadcaster NTV.

A decision to launch the project was made during a July 17 meeting
of the Defense Industry Executive Board, headed by Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and General Staff chief Necdet Ozel.

Erdogan had previously requested that the military develop missiles
with a 2,500-kilometer range.

According to NTV, Ankara could cooperate with an undisclosed Eastern
European country to develop the satellite launch center.

The ICBM project, meanwhile, has sought to improve on the SOM
cruise missile developed by TUBÄ°TAK. The SOM cruise missile has a
current range of 300 kilometers. The range would first be increased
to 1,500 and later to 2,500 kilometers within the project, according
to the report.

The report did not elaborate on whether the SOM’s planned
2,500-kilometer range would be increased even further or whether its
increased range would be utilized to develop an ICBM separately,
as missiles with ranges under 5,500 kilometers are not considered
“intercontinental.”

The countries known to currently have ICBMs in their military arsenal
are Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China
and India.

From: A. Papazian

BELARUS AND ARMENIA INVEST INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN THE FIELD OF MONITORING THE BORDERS

ARMENPRESS
24 July, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, July 24, ARMENPRESS: Belarus and Armenia are working on a
joint program aimed at the investment of the international standards
in the field of monitoring the borders. As “Armenpress” reports the
deputy head of the International Cooperation Service of the Belarus
State Border Committee Igor Vasilevski stated this, who takes part
in the Belarus and Armenian frontier bodies’ seminar in Brest, July 24.

Vasilevski noted that the seminar is organized by the International
Organization for Migration Affairs and International Technical
Committee of Belarus “The assistance to the border activities
in Belarus and the Republic of Armenia” within the framework of
cooperation with the State Border Committee.

The two countries’ border representation activity system is expected
to be improved in the result of the program implementation. To Igor
Vasilevski’s word the program reviews the quality improvement process
of the prevention of incidents at the two countries’ border. It will
allow border agencies to enhance cooperation with relevant countries
and state borders to increase the level of investigations.

From: A. Papazian