Author: Andres-Papazian

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS MEET IN MOSCOW

APA
June 4 2012
Azerbaijan

Moscow. Farid Akbarov – APA. A meeting of mass media managers
of Azerbaijan and Armenia started in Moscow on the humanitarian
initiative for rapprochement of society of both countries for the
purpose of supporting the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

APA’s Moscow correspondent reports that the meeting is being held
in the office of “Rossiyskaya gazeta” newspaper on the initiative
of Special Representative of the Russian President for International
Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvidkoy.

Editor-in-chief of “Baku Post” newspaper Tofig Abbasov, editor-in-chief
of “1news” agency Rahman Hajiyev, General Director of “Trend”
information agency Ilgar Huseynov, editor-in-chief of “News.az” news
portal Elnur Baimov and journalist Azer Hasrat are participating in
the meeting from Azerbaijani side.

Expert of the Armenian Association for Public Relations Armen Minasyan,
information security expert, culture expert-blogger Samvel Martirosyan,
editor-in-chief of “Aravot” newspaper Aram Abramyan, director of the
Center of Public Relations and Information of the Armenian President’s
Office Ara Saghatelyan and deputy editor-in-chief of “Golos Armenii”
newspaper Marina Grigoryan are participating in the meeting from the
Armenian side.

Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, Armenian ambassador
to Russia Oleg Yesayan, executive director of the CIS Interstate
Humanitarian Cooperation Fund Armen Smbatyan are also participating
in the meeting.

Then the meeting will continue in ITAR-TASS information agency.

The office of “Rossiyskaya gazeta” newspaper hosted a meeting between
the intelligentsias of two countries on February 22. Mikhail Shvidkoy,
who attended meeting, said that such contacts would be continued.

Besides, during his last visit to Baku OSCE Minsk Group’s Russian
co-chair Igor Popov said that the next meeting would be held between
Azerbaijani and Armenian intelligentsias in the near future.

The intensification of humanitarian contacts was also decided at
Sochi meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents on January 23.

From: A. Papazian

IRANIAN, ARMENIAN OFFICIALS DISCUSS ENERGY COOPERATION

Fars News Agency
June 4 2012
Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Senior Iranian and Armenian officials underlined
maintaining ties and cooperation in various fields, specially in the
energy sector.

Iranian Minister of Energy Majid Namjou and Armenia’s President
Serzh Sargsian explored avenues for the further bolstering of the
two countries’ mutual cooperation, specially in the energy sector,
in a meeting in Yerevan.

Namjou also met with Armenia’s Energy Minister Armen Movsisian and
told his counterpart that Tehran is ready to help resolve problems
in the implementation of joint water and electricity projects.

Movsisian, for his part, called for the speedy execution of the
Iran-Armenia third power transmission line and the Araz hydroelectric
power plant, and said, “The projects serve the interests of both
nations.”

The new power transmission line aims at exporting Iran’s electricity
to Georgia, Russia and Europe.

Iran is currently exchanging electricity with Azerbaijan, Afghanistan,
Armenia, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

In recent years, Iran and its Northern neighbor Armenia have signed
agreements on energy cooperation and agreed to cooperate in technology
and research and to enhance ties in commerce and economy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sargsian pledged in December 2011 to further expand “high-level
relations” between their nations and, in particular, give new impetus
to the implementation of joint energy projects that have fallen
behind schedule.

From: A. Papazian

CLINTON: YEREVAN-ANKARA TIES MUST BE NORMALIZED WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 4, 2012 – 21:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – U.S. Secretary of State believes Armenia-Turkey
relations must be normalized without preconditions.

As Hillary Clinton told journalists in Yerevan, no preconditions had
been set while signing the rapprochement Protocols.

As she noted, despite Turkey’s intention to link normalization of
Ankara-Yerevan ties to Karabakh conflict settlement, and though very
important, these 2 issues must not become

From: A. Papazian

GAZPROM TO LAUNCH SOUTH STREAM CONSTRUCTION WITH 2 PARALLEL LEGS – CEO

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 4, 2012 – 19:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Gazprom will start construction of the South Stream
gas pipeline to pump natural gas to Europe along the bed of the Black
Sea with two parallel legs, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on Monday,
June 4, RIA Novosti reported.

“We plan to build two pipeline legs with a capacity of 15.5 billion
cubic meters each; they will be built in parallel,” Miller said.

The South Stream pipeline is intended to transport up to 63
billion cubic meters of natural gas to central and southern Europe,
diversifying Russian gas routes away from transit countries such as
Ukraine. Construction will start in December 2012, and not 2013 as
previously planned.

Overall, Gazprom plans to build four pipeline legs for the project.

A board of directors meeting for the South Stream operator has been
scheduled for June to present information to shareholders for an
investment decision on the project, Miller said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN POLITICIANS ON CLINTON’S VISIT

tert.am
04.06.12

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is arriving in Armenia later
today as part of her regional visit to the South Caucasus. In that
connection, Tert.am has talked to Heritage party member Styopa
Safaryan, and the head of the Union of Political Analysts, Hmayak
Hovhannisyan, to know their opinion of the scheduled tour.

Safaryan, who represented the opposition Heritage party faction in
the previous parliament, finds that the secretary’s visit a clear
message signaling her serious position on the region’s westernization.

“Hillary Clinton’s visit demonstrates the importance Armenia and the
South Caucasus have for the United States. Armenia significance grows,
with Iran being its [southern] neighbor,” he noted.

Hmayak Hovhannisyan believes Clinton will propose a new agenda,
considering the developments in Syria and Arab countries.

“The situation in the region has really changed, so it is necessary,
against that backdrop, to finalize the geo-political orientation
of each South-Caucasus state,” he said, noting that Clinton has not
randomly chosen Armenia as her first stop.

“That seems to be a signal that the United States finds Armenia’s
approaches of landmark importance in terms determining the expectations
or questions to be posed to Georgia and Azerbaijan,” he said.

The expert believes that the United States expects Armenia to finalize
its choice between Nato cooperation programs and the Eurasian Union
plan. He says Armenia’s stance is not so clear as in the neighboring
Georgia and Azerbaijan.

“The second largest political force in parliament says, at least,
it favors cooperation with the Eurasian Union,” Hovhannisyan added.

According to him, the agenda could include also other issues, such
as the renewal of the Armenia-Turkey process and attempts to boost
the Karabakh conflict settlement.

From: A. Papazian

SURVEY: PEOPLE OF ARTSAKH EXPECT NEW JOBS AND HIGHER SALARIES FROM THE NEW PRESIDENT
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
04.06.2012 16:16

The Sotsiometer sociological center conducted a survey ahead of the
presidential elections in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to reveal the
expectations of the population, the level of political activeness and
the rating of the candidates. The public opinion poll was conducted
among 946 adults in capital Stepanakert, six regional centers and 14
villages of NKR.

Today Director of the Sotsiometer Center Aharon Adibekyan presented
the data related to the socio-economic situation. It turns out that the
assessment of the social-economic situation is completely different in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. 45% in Armenia give a negative assessment
to the social situation in the country. 50% and 35% say the social
conditions are poor in the community and family respectively. Thus,
the families are considered to be in a better condition than the
country in general. The picture is quite different in Artsakh.

“In Artsakh the condition of the country is assessed as good, the
condition of the community – as satisfactory, and that of the family –
as bad,” Adibekyan said.

According to the results of the study, the expectations of the people
of Artsakh are connected with resolution of social problems. 69.3%
expect new jobs, raise of salaries and social benefits from the newly
elected President, 20% anticipate improvement of infrastructures.

The main competition in the presidential elections of July 19 will
take place between former Deputy Defense Minister Vitaly Balasanyan
and incumbent President Bako Sahakyan.

From: A. Papazian

ARTHUR SAKUNTS: HILLARY CLINTON TO BE REPORTED ON CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

Panorama.am
04/06/2012

The international community, in particular, OSCE Minsk Group, must
have active mechanisms for maintaining the ceasefire regime in border
settlements, head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office,
Arthur Sakunts told a Panorama.am reporter, commenting on Azerbaijani
diversion attack on Armenian military posts near Chinari village today.

Sakunts said he would be present at a meeting with U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan today and
thinks that “Mrs. Clinton should certainly be reported on ceasefire
violations.”

Today Azerbaijan once again grossly violated the ceasefire, trying to
break into Armenian military posts in the north-eastern region of the
contact line near the villages of Berdavan and Chinari, Tavush region.

Armenian forces repulsed the enemy offensive. As a result of
Azerbaijan’s diversion attack, Armenian servicemen Hrach Sargsyan,
Zohrab Balabekyan and Karen Davtyan were killed. Some soldiers were
wounded.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive in Armenia today.

As part of her visit to Armenia, first of all, she will meet with
civil society representatives and later will be received by Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN COMPETING IN KARABAKH?
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:55:17 – 04/06/2012

On these days, Ruben Vardanyan has visited Karabakh and promised to
fulfill a number of investment projects. According to some information,
the point is about the construction of elite housing.

Armenian press reports Ruben Vardanyan just decided to support Bako
Sahakyan at the next presidential elections.

It is noteworthy that on the very same day, an interview with
the second main candidate Vitali Balasanyan appeared in the press
who was “suddenly” asked whether again Russian-based benefactor
Levon Hayrapetyan will support his candidacy. Balasanyan said that
non-citizens of Artsakh have no right to support anyone, but he didn’t
hide that Levon Hayrapetyan can’t fulfill all his plans under the
acting power of Karabakh.

Actually, the presidential race in Artsakh may be brought to the
competition of two ambitious Russian businessmen of Armenian origin.

In Armenia, apparently, they have no chance to work, or they have no
enough resources, so they decided to compete in the small Karabakh.

Although this would not happen if the candidates in Karabakh presented
alternative approaches. The campaign has not stated yet and we cannot
definitely state that there will be no alternative proposals. But,
apparently, the approaches of the two major candidates will differ
insignificantly so that people will elect on the basis of the
assessment of these approaches. Someone will be influenced by the
administrative power resource of Bako Sahakyan, someone else by the
credibility and “courage” of Vitaly Balasanyan, who decided to say
that not only Bako Sahakyan “has the right”.

But the important is that the insignificant difference between the
candidates becomes the good field for “competition” of foreign actors.

And if in Armenia, in connection with the lack of alternative,
the competition was between the world centers – Russia, U.S. and
Europe, so, in Artsakh, which is completely pro-Russian, Russia-based
businessmen are competing.

The same programs are proposed to the Karabakhi population every year –
solution of social issues, “wait and see” foreign policy, full trust
to Armenia, loyalty to Russia, ensuring of housing for militaries,
return of Karabakh to the negotiations. For all these years, the only
candidate who proposed real alternative was Masis Mayilyan in 2007,
who proposed to launch the process of international recognition of
Karabakh parallel to the efforts to return to the negotiations and
not to do social charity but to refuse shadow quotas and open the
economic and boost foreign investments.

This was a “different” approach. What will the candidates proposes
this time?

From: A. Papazian

CALMING THE ROILING CAUCASUS – NEW YORK TIMES

tert.am
04.06.12

By Denis Corboy, William Courtney and Kennet Yalowitz

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and
Georgia this week is timely. The Caucasus holds risks of confrontation
that could affect American and European interests, and it requires
regular and high-level attention.

Terrorism and insurgency are spreading in Russia’s North Caucasus
region. Russian military occupation of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and
adjacent areas in Georgia heightens strains. Renewed hostilities are
increasingly possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.

Vladimir Putin’s return to Russia’s presidency adds complexity. He
seeks to increase Russia’s influence over former Soviet neighbors,
counterbalancing the appeal of the NATO and the European Union. Last
month, Putin skipped a G-8 summit but convened leaders from the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, whose other members are
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Russia is pushing for a widened Eurasian customs union, which Ukraine
is resisting.

The Kremlin is skeptical about democratic openings on its borders,
such as the 2003 Rose revolution in Georgia and the one a year later
in Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 violated established
precedent in seeking to change by force borders of the former Soviet
states. Moscow engineered proclamations of independence by Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, but they are effectively being integrated into Russia.

Although last year Georgia agreed to allow Russia to join the World
Trade Organization, relationships remain tenuous. The Kremlin
refuses to deal with President Mikheil Saakashvili, and most
economic ties are suspended. Last month in Chicago, despite Moscow’s
opposition, NATO reaffirmed that Georgia will become a member and
noted its “substantial contribution” – including in Afghanistan
– to Euro-Atlantic security. Georgia’s holding of free and fair
parliamentary elections this year and presidential elections in 2013
will influence NATO attitudes about membership.

War over Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s displaced about a
million people and gave Armenia control of the enclave and another 9
percent of Azerbaijan’s territory. The Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe seeks a mediated solution, but negotiations are
long stalled. A fragile cease-fire is frequently violated. Russia
arms Armenia and maintains a military base there. Azerbaijan uses
its oil wealth for an arms buildup, and its ally Turkey has closed
the border with Armenia for more than a decade. The Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict could suddenly become unfrozen.

In the North Caucasus, popular alienation and militant violence are
increasing. Two dozen Russian soldiers died in an attack three days
before Putin’s inauguration last month. Russia relies mostly on force
and economic subsidies to quell resistance, but the strategy has not
worked. Terrorism could be a real threat to the 2014 Winter Olympic
games in Sochi. Moscow might again blame Azerbaijan and Georgia for
aiding terrorists, as it did falsely in 1999 regarding Chechnya.

How can the America and Europe lessen risks in the Caucasus?

They should continue to stand firm for the independence of Georgia and
against the illegal occupation of one-fifth of its territory. Moscow
ought not to be allowed to assert control over the export of Caspian
energy through Georgia. Europe and America should importune Georgia
not to stir anti-Russian animosities in the North Caucasus. They ought
to cooperate with Russia to prevent terrorist acts around the Olympics.

America and Europe can no longer keep the Nagorno-Karabakh talks on
the back burner. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev faces domestic
pressures to act, but Europe and America should caution him about
the adverse consequences, notably a broader regional war. Energy
investment in Azerbaijan and a major new gas pipeline to Europe,
Nabucco, could become casualties.

OSCE members have largely stopped engaging Russia about tensions in the
North Caucasus, but risks grow and could spill over into Azerbaijan
and Georgia. Members should use the permanent council in Vienna to
raise concerns and begin a dialogue.

In her visit, Secretary Clinton should spotlight these tensions
and offer reassurance that the West will work actively to prevent
confrontation and conflict.

From: A. Papazian

TURKS ARE BOTHERED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF V. BOYER’S REELECTION

04.06.12

Member of the French Party “National Movement Union” and the author
of the bill of criminalization of Genocides’ denial in France Valerie
Boyer is again presented as a deputy candidate from Marcel region.

Turkish media is troubled about this issue and pays attention to the
fact that well-known politician and state figure, former Minister
of Economy, member of the French Parliament, French-Armenian Patrick
Devejyan supports Boyer’s candidacy for the elections.

As the Turkish media writes Deverjyan is one of the most authoritative
political faces in France. Ankara is troubled with the possibility of
Boyer’s reelection as after being reelected she will again restart he
activities on the accepting bill of criminalization of the Armenian
Genocide denial.

During her pre-electoral meeting with the Marcel population Boyer
announced that the struggle is not over despite of the fact the French
Parliament denied the bill.

From: A. Papazian