Author: Babajanian Karo

APA, Azerbaijan
May 26 2012

Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be one of topics, to be discussed
during U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the region

[ 26 May 2012 12:14 ]
Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. One of the issues, to be discussed during U.S.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the region, will be the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, US Chargé d’Affaires in
Azerbaijan Adam Sterling said, APA reports.

To him, cooperation on all spheres, as well as issues on energy and
region will be discussed within the framework of Clinton’s visit to
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Remind that, Clinton will pay visit to Azerbaijan on June 6.

To question on appointment of the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan,
Sterling said that it depends on the U.S. Senate: `Candidacy of
Richard Morningstar must be confirmed by the Foreign Relations
Committee of the Senate. I hope that Senate will hold discussions on
this issue in the coming weeks. If the candidacy of ambassador is
approved, he will arrive in Azerbaijan soon’.

APA, Azerbaijan
May 26 2012

Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov sends a letter of protest
to EU Parliament President Martin Schulz

[ 26 May 2012 12:59 ]

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay
Asadov has sent a letter of protest to the President of European
Parliament Martin Schulz.

Press service of the Parliament told APA that the letter expresses
regret and anxiety connected with the resolution on `Violation of
human rights, democracy and supremacy of law’, adopted by the European
Parliament in relation to Azerbaijan on May 24.

The letter reminds the steps taken by Azerbaijan, as well as laws
adopted in direction of maintenance of human rights and freedom, its
close cooperation with Venice Commission of the European Council, OSCE
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and other
international organizations:
`By generalizing different cases, attempt to disgrace democratic
processes in Azerbaijan, introduce special issues as a general
development inclination demonstrates one-sided approach to such
issues. By taking all these into account, the last resolution of the
European Parliament can be assessed as an attempt to line over the
works carried out in maintenance of human rights and freedom in
Azerbaijan, provision of supremacy of law, as well as in the field of
legal, democratic, worldwide state-building’.

The Speaker noted that one of the main reasons of adoption of the
resolution in such a way is connected with that during the process
arguments of Azerbaijani side were not taken into consideration,
whereas inaccurate and unexamined information was taken as base.

Asadov added that on one hand Azerbaijan is in a state of factual war
and military confrontation with Armenia, which occupied 20% territory
of the country; on the other hand, the threat of Islamic
fundamentalism is intensifying from the south: `In such circumstances,
the adoption of European Parliament’s resolution, based on double
standards, biased evaluates the situation in Azerbaijan aimed at
damaging the international image of the country, causing a shadow on
bilateral relations and the sincerity of the relationship of the
European Parliament toward Azerbaijan’.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 23, 2012 Wednesday 12:49 PM GMT+4

Armenia prioritizes regional cooperation, integration – speaker

YEREVAN May 23

Armenia rivets much attention to regional cooperation and integration
processes, parliament speaker Samvel Nikoyan said.
Opening a plenary session of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Parliamentary Assembly (BSEC) on Wednesday, Nikoyan said being one of
the founders of BSEC, Armenia “prioritizes regional cooperation and
integration processes”.

“Many common values and purposes, including ensuring peace and
stability in the Black Sea region and good-neighbourliness between the
countries of the region, unite the BSEC member-states,” the parliament
speaker said.

“Multilateral cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy assume paramount
significance. Being one of the internationally recognized regional
organisations, BSEC expands its activities every year,” Nikoyan
stressed.

The speaker recalled that the BSEC legislative activity aimed at
developing economic and trade cooperation in the Black Sea region
“should facilitate the resolution of our internal problems, trust and
mutual relationship between our countries”. “Relying on this we are
moving towards bolstering regional cooperation”, Nikoyan said.

In his words, “the National Assembly of Armenia is taking ongoing
steps towards improving legislation in order to further liberalise the
economy and trade, encouraging interaction in social welfare, in
politics, culture, education and the environment.”
The speaker noted the active work of the BSEC three specialized
commission during Armenia’s presidency in the Parliamentary Assembly.
The participants in the session discussed reports related to economic,
social and legal spheres. BSEC members, as well as the staff of the
Assembly’s international secretariat, represented it in several
international organizations, Nikoyan pointed out.

Armenian President bestows state awards, titles

May 26, 2012 | 14:24

YEREVAN. – By the decree of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, and in
connection with the Republic Day, state awards and titles have been
bestowed upon several representatives of the domains of science,
education, culture, health care, and other fields.

On Saturday, the President congratulated the recipients, on the
occasion of the Republic Day and becoming worthy of the Motherland’s
high awards, and presented them to the participants of the award
ceremony held at the Presidential Palace.

Green Union of Armenia: Concept of sustainable development resembles a utopia

arminfo
Saturday, May 26, 14:22

The concept of sustainable development resembles a utopia, Head of
the Green Union of Armenia Hakob Sanasaryan said at today’s press
conference.

He said that the concept does not only fail to reflect the interests
of the humanity, but is also directed against them. For instance, the
document envisages 8-10% growth in the world manufacturing, which runs
counter to conservation of natural ecosystems. “On the whole, the
concept of sustainable development is not scientifically established
and resembles a utopia”, Sanasaryan said. He added that the ideas
suggested by the concept obviously contradict the mechanisms of their
achievement. In this context, the expert is afraid that at Rio+20
summit in Brazil this summer Armenia will sign some documents on
implementation of the concept provisions.

To note, Armenia will present a national report at Rio+20 summit. The
report mentions such negative aspects as polarization of the society,
monopolization in economy, as well as conditions that fail to
stimulate the development of agriculture and small and medium
business. In addition, the report points out environmental problems
related to deforestation and development of ore mining industry.

LES ORGANISATIONS NON GOUVERNEMENTALES CRITIQUENT UN PROJET DE ROUTE
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 25 mai 2012

Un groupement d’organisations armeniennes non gouvernementales a
critique le gouvernement pour son traitement d’un projet portant sur
plusieurs millions de dollars visant a mettre a niveau l’infrastructure
routière du pays.

Les organisations contrôlant l’execution du projet ont specifiquement
exprime des inquietudes quant au choix d’une societe espagnole pour
la reconstruction et l’expansion de plus de 90 kilomètres de chaussees.

La societe, Corsan Corvian Construccion, a signe un contrat d’une
valeur de 280 millions $ avec le Ministère armenien des Transports
et des Communications a la fin du mois dernier après avoir gagne un
appel d’offre international.

La Banque de Developpement Basee a Manila asiatique (ADB) financera la
plus grande partie de ce travail de construction d’un 500 millions $
de pret qu’il a promis de pourvoir a l’Armenie en 2009.

Silva Adamian, qui coordonne l’equipe en charge du contrôle, a pretendu
que l’offre n’etait pas juste parce que les societes armeniennes ont
ete interdites d’y participer. ” On n’a pas permis a nos societes de
participer a cette offre ” a-t-elle dit au service armenien de RFE/RL
(Azatutyun.am). e Je ne considère pas cela comme une offre. Quel
genre d’une offre est-ce cela ? ”

” En plus, il n’y a aucune information sur cette societe espagnole
” a dit Silva Adamian. ” Nous ne savons pas quel genre de societe il
s’agit, où elle a travaille et ce qu’elle a fait “.

” Je ne sais pas qui a dit a Mme Adamian que les societes armeniennes
ont ete interdites de participer a l’offre. Ce n’est pas vrai ”
a repondu Ara Hovsepian le directeur nomme par le gouvernement en
charge de l’agence qui doit executer le projet.

Ara Hovsepian a dit que des societes armeniennes figuraient parmi les
28 entites qui ont montre un interet a l’offre l’annee dernière. Aucun
d’entre elle n’a soumis d’offres en fin de compte a-t-il dit.

” Aucune societe armenienne ne s’est precedemment engage dans cette
echelle de travail ” a dit Ara Hovsepian au service armenien de
RFE/RL (Azatutyun.am). ” Il n’y a pas eu cette echelle de travail de
construction [de route] dans notre pays auparavant “.

” Cette societe [espagnole] a ete declaree gagnante parce qu’elle
a repondu a toutes les exigences de l’appel d’offre et a une
experience suffisante dans le travail de construction ” a ajoute le
fonctionnaire. ” Base sur quelque information officieuse … je peux
dire qu’elle est consideree comme une des plus grandes societes de
construction d’Espagne qui fait des affaires non seulement en Espagne,
mais aussi ailleurs dans le monde “.

UN PROJET MINIER AU KARABAKH MET EN DANGER PLUSIEURS VILLAGES
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 25 mai 2012

Les autorites du Nagorno-Karabakh ont declare qu’elles pourraient
transferer plusieurs villages pour frayer la voie pour des operations
d’extraction a grande echelle dans la zone de Martakert.

Selon un accord signe avec le gouvernement du Karabakh en mars,
la societe Vallex Group enregistre au Liechtenstein doit investir
environ 80 millions de $ dans l’extraction de cuivre et de Molybdène.

Les operations d’extraction ouverte devraient commencer en 2015 soit
juste a temps pour l’epuisement prevu des reserves de cuivre et d’or
placees ailleurs dans Martakert. Une filiale de Vallex Group appelee
Base Metals a exploite le depôt de Drmbon pendant la decennie passee,
produisant environ 20000 tonnes de concentres de minerai par an.

” Si des mines ont besoin d’etre placees près des maisons … il devra
y avoir des relocalisations ” a declare Ara Harutiunian, le Premier
ministre du Karabakh, au service armenien de RFE/RL (Azatutyun.am)
ajoutant que la population n’aura aucune raison d’etre mecontente.

Ara Harutiunian a mentionne les villages places autour de Kashen. ”
Cette [relocalisation] dependra des residants dans le premier cas
” a-t-il dit. ” Nous compterons avec l’avis de la majorite. Si une
personne refuse de se deplacer nous ne laisserons pas le principal
projet economique non realise a cause de cette personne “.

Ara Harutiunian a soutenu que les operations de Vallex Group marqueront
le plus grand projet d’affaires jamais execute dans le Karabakh. Il a
dit qu’il en resultera des milliers de nouveaux emplois et une hausse
assez considerable des revenus budgetaires du gouvernement du Karabakh.

Les operations de Drmbon produisent deja environ 17 pour cent de ces
revenus. Plus de 1000 personnes travaillent actuellement la-bas.

Les activites d’extraction dans Martakert sont la raison principale de
la construction l’annee dernière d’une deuxième route qui connectera le
Karabagh avec l’Armenie. La route de 80 kilomètres courra de Martakert
vers une station de chemin de fer en Armenie par Kelbajar, une des
sept zones liberees par les forces du Karabakh pendant la guerre de
1991-1994. Sa construction en cours est financee par Vallex Group.

ARMENIANS PLAN TO CONSTRUCT THE HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION IN AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

APA
May 24 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. Armenians plan to construct the
hydroelectric power station in Azerbaijan’s occupied Lachin region.

APA reports quoting Armenian press that the station will supply the
human settlements settled after the occupation of Lachin region,
called by Armenians as Kashatagh, with energy.

The station’s power is 3 megawatts.

IRAN-ARMENIA RAILWAY PROFITABILITY AMOUNT IS NOT YET CALCULATED

ARMENPRESS
24 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS: The amount of Iran-Armenia railway
construction profit is not calculated yet. South Caucasian Railways
(SCR) Director Victor Rebets told a press conference on May 24,
Armenpress reports.

The interlocutor noted that the computation process is underway.

Rebets stated that the technical and economic basing is not yet
elaborated and only rough calculations of possible value are available.

Iran-Armenia railway will enable Armenia transport the oil products
and other goods in alternative ways. The railway length will make
470 kilometers; 60 kilometer will pass by Iran territory, the rest
by the territory of Armenia.

GENED SEEKS TO MAKE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EDUCATION PART OF SCHOOL CURRICULUMS

ARMENPRESS
24 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS: On the occasion of the 97th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide, The Genocide Education Project (GenEd) reached
out to teachers and community members, reminding them of the importance
of expanding instruction about the first genocide of the 20th century
into more school classrooms, reports Armenpress citing Asbarez.

GenEd’s commemorative initiatives culminated in hosting the April
30 presentation by Prof. Ugur Ungör on Turkey’s seizure of Armenian
property during and after the Armenian Genocide.

GenEd contacted thousands of teachers, offering lesson plans and
a variety of teaching resources, noting the opportunity to tie the
coursework to the anniversary of the beginning of the Genocide.

Shant Hogopian, representing GenEd, spoke to students at UC Riverside,
and GenEd Southern California Regional Director, Suzanne Douzmanian,
spoke to members of the Pasadena Armenia Relief Society and members
of the Nights of Vartan, about the scope of GenEd’s work, making
Armenian Genocide education part of school curriculums.

GenEd Executive Director, Raffi Momjian, was keynote speaker at the
Bay Area Armenian Genocide Commemoration at Mt. Davidson Cross in
San Francisco.