Author: Babajanian Karo

BAKO SAHAKAYAN RECEIVED A GROUP OF ARMENIAN STUDENTS

ARMENPRESS
24 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS: On 24 July Artsakh Republic President
Bako Sahakayan received a group of Armenian students studying abroad
with the assistance of the “Luys” fund. As Armenpress was informed at
the press office of the NKR president, the Head of the State noted with
satisfaction that our compatriots who have studied in leading foreign
universities already work in different departments and organizations
of the republic. According to Bako Sahakyan the number of Artsakh
students studying abroad increases year by year and the country will
continue to assist them in this process. The President also discussed
with the students issues related to the domestic and foreign policies
of Artsakh. Artsakh Republic minister of education and science Vladik
Khachatryan was present at the meeting.

RESIDENT OF ARMENIAN VILLAGE ATTACKED NEIGHBOR WITH AXE

news.am
July 24, 2012 | 18:40

A resident of Aygepat village of Armenia hit with an axe his neighbor
during a scuffle on Tuesday.

According to Armenian News-NEWS.am sources, an argument broke out
between a 45-year-old resident of the village Garegin Kirakosyan and
his neighbor Gevorg Mnatsakanyan. The argument later turned into a
scuffle as Garegin Kirakosyan started hitting the other with an axe.

Mnatsakanyan’s son alerted police about the incident. Garegin
Kirakosyan was detained, an investigation is underway.

OLIGARCHS AGAINST POLICE
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:59:21 – 24/07/2012

The severe sentence of four ANC activists overlapped with Serzh
Sargsyan’s speech in the Police board meeting. Serzh Sargsyan stated
that there are no non-punishable people, and hinted that he will back
up the police. Apparently, the verdict sentencing the young activist
of the ANC to 6 years was passed in this context, in order to show
that the smallest step against the Police will be punished severely.

However, the severe punishment applied to the Congress activists will
hardly console or satisfy the policemen or inspire them or help them
feel protected and backed by Serzh Sargsyan.

Serzh Sargsyan and the police, even those red-beret policemen who
were sitting on the bench of sufferers during the trial of young ANC
activists know very well that the citizens fighting for their rights,
freedoms, rule of law and Constitution are not a threat to the police
and there is no need to defend the policemen from them.

In Armenia the oligarchs and the gangs of their bodyguards are a
threat to the police the protection of which is often the task of
the policemen. The Police of Armenia is used to protect oligarchs,
different business and political clans, protect them, cover up their
crimes, declare the guilty innocent, blame the innocent, overlook
unlawfulness from everyday life to elections.

The young activists of the Congress, and generally the citizens
fighting for the enforcement of the Constitution, the rule of law and
freedoms will protect and back up every official, government agency,
the police.

Consequently, the verdict on the young activists is not protection
of the police. It is warp of truth, conscious or not, which deepens
the influence of the oligarchy on the police. Meanwhile, the future
of every subject in Armenia depends on how fast inertia will end.

The Armenian society is not moving by inertia. So, the Armenian
society has future, also in the face of the “condemned” young people,
and perhaps all the other subjects need to think about future.

ARMENIA, FRANCE HAVE CLOSE TIES – FRENCH FM

news.am
July 24, 2012 | 14:07

Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is in
Paris on a working visit, on Monday met with his French colleague,
Laurent Fabius.

The French FM stressed that close and friendly relations are
established between Armenia and France.

Subsequently, the two FMs reflected on bilateral ties, and regional
and international matters of mutual interest. They recorded that
Armenia and France have the same positions with respect to several
international issues.

The Ministers also discussed the Armenia-EU relations, exchanged views
on Armenian-French cooperation within international organizations,
and reflected on the activities of the International Organization of
La Francophonie.

In addition, Edward Nalbandian and Laurent Fabius discussed the
settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Both men stressed
that the matter can solely be resolved through peaceful methods and
by way of talks. And Nalbandian appreciated France’s constructive
engagement in this process, as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing country.

CONGRESSMAN SHERMAN: ARTSAKH DEVELOPED DEMOCRACY DESPITE CHALLENGES

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 24, 2012 – 10:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), a senior member
of the House Foreign Affairs committee released a statement on the
July 19 presidential election in Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic.

“I congratulate President Bako Sahakyan of the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh on his reelection,” Congressman Sherman said.

“Since independence, Artsakh has developed a democracy and a vibrant
civil society despite remarkably difficult challenges. I also
congratulate the people of Artsakh on their record of democratization.

I will continue to work in the House Foreign Affairs Committee to
make sure our foreign policy is supportive of the independence and
prosperity of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.”

EDWARD NALBANDYAN INVITED BELGIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
24 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan participated in European Union
Eastern Partnership meeting with the level of the heads of Foreign
Affairs Ministers, hosted in Brussels. High Representative of the
Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood
Policy Stefan Fule also took part in the session.

As information and public relations department of the Foreign Ministry
informed Armenpress, taking his floor Armenian Foreign Minister noted
that the works initiated since Eastern Partnership Prague constituent
Summit, passed through Warsaw Summit and ahead of the session due to
take place in Vilnius come to prove the efficiency of the project.

” Eastern Partnership Ministerial meetings enable a chance to exchange
views on the issues aimed to promote the cooperation, wrap up all
what have been already done and present the expectations as well as
elaborate new measures to be undertaken.

I am stating with gratitude that two years later after the launch of
the negotiations Armenian has registered tangible progress: 28 out
of 29 negotiations chapters have been completed, one chapter pertain
to one field remained to approval.

Based on the positive experience accumulated in the Association
Agreement negotiations, we expect a smooth progress over the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area negotiations. Our goal is to approach
the final stage by the Vilnius summit.

Promoting contacts and cooperation between the people is another
important component. I am happy to note the visa regime facilitation
and readmission agreements are now about to be finalized and we
look forward to the signing and ratification in the near future
“the Minister announced.

Prior to the session Edward Nalbandyan had a meeting with European
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan
Fule, in the course of which the interlocutors envisaged the organizing
issues pertain to the launch of Association of Donor conference taking
place in Armenia , the timetable for the planned high-level visits.

The interlocutors touched upon Association Agreement entry visa
facilitation, readmission, establishing deep and comprehensive
free trade area agreement negotiations, discussed the Armenia-EU
cooperation issues.

On the same day Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister had a meeting with
Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier J.L.

Reynders.

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Belgium discussed in detail the
framework of bilateral relations, dwelled on political dialogue,
the expansion of legal field, the regular launch of consultations
between the ministries of foreign affairs, the promotion of economic
cooperation, the measures to be undertaken for the activation of
antiparliamentary relations.

During the negations the sides exchanged views on EU-Armenia relations.

The cooperation within the framework of Francophone international
organization was also discussed by the top diplomats.

By the offer of Belgium Foreign Affairs Minister, Nalbandyan presented
the efforts undertaken in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

Edward Nalbandyan invited his Belgium counterpart Didier J.L.

Reynders. to visit Armenian.

AZERBAIJANI ARMAMENTS INCREASE THREATENS THE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT: UN

ARMENPRESS
24 July, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, July 23, ARMENPRESS: The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s
“Conventional arms control in regional and sub regional levels” report
was published, where the situation connected with armaments in the
South Caucasus is presented. As “Armenpress” states it is particularly
mentioned in the report that the fundamental role and importance of the
treaty on the conventional armaments in Europe increased especially in
the South Caucasus, where Azerbaijan unleashed a dangerous arms race.

“According to the treaty of conventional arms in Europe, Azerbaijan
exceeded the limited number of three types of weapons. Azeris have
381 battle tanks instead of permissible 220, 518 points of artillery
weapons instead of permissible 285 and 287 armored cars instead of
permissible 220”; it was stated in the report. Azerbaijan increased
the number of its artillery weapons by 47, striking weapons by 2 and
armored cars by 106.

Azerbaijan’s military budget increase, as well as the Azerbaijani
leaders’ aggressive and rough military rhetoric enlarges the gap
between the two nations, increases the stress and undermines the
existing problems, particularly the negotiation process of the NK
peaceful settlement.

“In this sense, Azerbaijan’s inconsistent policy has a great negative
impact on Armenia’s efforts to establish an atmosphere of trust and
cooperation in the region”, reads the report.

ARMENIAN VILLAGER WOUNDED IN AZERI SHELLING

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 23, 2012 – 15:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On June 21, Azeri forces again opened fire on Nerkin
Karmiraghbyur village in Armenia’s Tavush province, with Gor Parsyan
(born in 1987) having received a shrapnel wound in shelling.

As village administration representatives told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter, Gor Parsyan was wounded in the hand while carrying out
farm work. After the medical assistance, he was provided with at Berd
town’s hospital, he was able to return home.

Investigation is under way.

STATEMENT OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:39:47 – 23/07/2012

On July 19, the presidential elections were held in the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (the Republic of Artsakh). 73,4% of the
voters participated in the elections. International observers from
22 countries, as well as local representatives of civil society
and political parties monitored the elections. According to the
international observers’ preliminary estimate, the elections were
held in compliance with the democratic standards and participation
of several candidates thus ensuring free expression of will of the
republic’s citizens.

The level of the elections held in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is
comparable with the level of elections in the advanced democratic
countries, and testifies to the irreversibility of the process of
building a sovereign and independent state, commitment of our people
to the ideals of freedom, democracy and peace building. The elections
have once more demonstrated the correctness of the path chosen in the
1991 referendum on independence. With every election the people of
the NKR express their firm will to continue this path and the return
of the NKR to the past is out of the question.

In this regard, we consider it necessary to state that the
participation in the elections and the formation of authorities via
honest and fair elections is one of the fundamental rights fixed in
the international law and their ignorance and non-recognition is a
gross violation of the law.

The speculations that the elections in the NKR may hinder the process
of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement are groundless and
pursue propaganda goals. The will of the NKR people is crucial in
the conflict settlement process and this is fully recognized by the
international community and the mediators.

Development of democracy is a fundamental basis of state building
in the NKR and corresponds to the interests of the civilized
world community. That is why the attitude towards the presidential
elections held in the NKR cannot be stipulated by subjective opinion
of several political circles displaying conformism to the caprices
of the official Baku.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

“ARMENIANS IN SYRIA REMAIN LOYAL TO THEIR HOMELAND AND ITS PEOPLE”, STATED
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

His Holiness Aram I, who has been following the situation in Syria with the
community leadership in Syria for the past year, expressed his solidarity
with his people, making the following statement:

I have been monitoring the situation in Syria with the Executive Council of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, and we urge the Armenian community to remain
united in these difficult times.

We have directed the church authorities to assist needy families. The
leadership of the community should help families living in dangerous
neighborhoods move to safety.

Armenians in Syria and in the diaspora should not forget that the Syrian
people welcomed the survivors of the Armenian Genocide by the Turks and
accepted them as co-citizens. Systems may change, but people stay.

It is important to remind all parties that the Armenian community in Syria
will remain loyal to the country and is aware of its responsibilities and
rights.

Having been informed of the difficulties of the Armenian Schools in Syria, I
instructed the dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia to assist the schools.

Catholicos Aram I concluded his statement by saying that he was pleased
Armenians were not fleeing the country. He assured the Armenian community in
Syria of his determination and that of the National Executive Council to
continue monitoring the situation and responding to the changing needs of
the people.