Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA OFRECE SU TERRITORIO PARA RADAR RUSO DE DEFENSA ANTIMISIL

RIA Novosti
04/04/2012

Armenia esta dispuesta a ofrecer su territorio para que Rusia instale
allí un radar de alerta temprana sobre lanzamientos de misiles,
declaro hoy el primer ministro armenio, Tigran Sarkisyan, en una
entrevista al diario ruso Kommersant.

Las conversaciones al respecto podran iniciarse, si Rusia no consigue
acordar con Azerbaiyan una prorroga del arriendo del radar de Gabala,
afirmo Sarkisyan. “Creo que incluso puede haber ventajas, puesto que
Armenia es un país montañoso. La cobertura sería mas amplia”, dijo.

Instalado en territorio azerbaiyano con el fin de detectar lanzamientos
de misiles balísticos, el radar de Gabala formo parte del sistema de
defensa antimisil en la URSS aunque Rusia siguio usandolo tambien en
el período postsovietico. En 2002 firmo con Azerbaiyan un contrato de
arriendo que vence el proximo 24 de diciembre. El Ministerio ruso de
Defensa mantiene negociaciones para prolongarlo y espera terminarlas
hacia junio.

Fuentes de Defensa y de la cancillería rusa citadas por Kommersant
en marzo pasado afirmaron que Azerbaiyan pretende subir el importe
del arriendo de siete a 300 millones de dolares anuales.

GOVERNMENT TO ORGANIZE BUSINESS FORUM FOR ARMENIAN AND CYPRIOT BUSINESSMEN

news.am
April 04, 2012 | 17:20

YEREVAN. – Armenian PM Tigran Sargsyan received on Wednesday Cypriot
FM Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis.

Premier Sargsyan stated that the Armenian Government is ready to
organize a business-forum with the participation of Armenian and
Cypriot businessmen.

“I am glad to see high level bilateral relations. We should deepen
and strengthen them. Based on the great economic potential, we should
elaborate projects promoting development of the economic ties,”
Sargsyan said.

Cypriot FM said that her visit will promote intensification of
multi-sided Armenian-Cypriot relations, including the economic
cooperation, governmental press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Cyprus is also ready to assist Armenia in various fields, as well as
in reforms and installing the European standards.

As for the Armenia-EU cooperation, it is deepening and talks on
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) will launch soon. The
sides also touched upon Armenia’s economic policy, including export
industry policy, construction of a new nuclear power plant and other
economic projects.

WILL ALIK SARGSYAN BE ARRESTED?

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:22:02 – 04/04/2012

One of the Armenian papers published information referring to its
sources that the ex Chief of police Alik Sargsyan may be arrested in
connection with the case relating to the theft of weapons from the
police. The paper writes that the commander of internal troops has
recently been fired because of the theft of weapons, and, supposedly,
the traces lead to Alik Sargsyan.

It is noteworthy that the rumors on Alik Sargsyan’s upcoming arrest
got activated after the statement of the foreign head of the Traffic
Police Margar Ohanyan who promised to make scandalous revelations.

Then, Alik Sargsyan asked to free Margar stating in his interview to
Radio Freedom, that people need to be forgiven their mistakes moreover
Margar paid the necessary means to the budget.

But rumors that Alik Sargsyan’s affairs are not good started after the
arrest of the former head of the Criminal Investigation Department
Hovhannes Tamamyan. In the press, along with the arrest of Ohanyan
and Tamamyan, there were “leakages” that allegedly a plot against the
current government was uncovered. It was said that a group of people
– supporters of former President Robert Kocharyan reportedly agreed
on the change of government, and among them there were high-ranking
police officers, including one who was later arrested. Alik Sargsyan’s
subsequent resignation was also tied up with this issue.

It is interesting that the resignation of the former speaker Hovik
Abrahamyan is also connected with this case. Even though he is
appointed Head of the Republican election headquarters, the press
immediately said that Serzh Sargsyan did so not to leave Abrahamyan
far.

Our sources in the Ararat region say Abrahamyan’s clan which
representatives run for the parliament through the Republican lists,
are working hard for the Prosperous Armenia Party.

Taking into account the fact that Hovik Abrahamyan is a relative of
the RPA leader Gagik Tsarukyan, these rumors don’t seem ungrounded.

But it is noteworthy that Alik Sargsyan’s name, who is also fro Ararat
region, is not mentioned in this relation.

A BOOK ABOUT ARMENIAN ENERGY ISSUES PUBLISHED IN YEREVAN

/ARKA/
April 4, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, April 4. /ARKA/. A book about the issues of energy security
in Armenia in the context of geopolitical interests of Russia in
South Caucasus was issued in the Armenian publishing-house “Antares”.

The book includes studies of main energy projects implemented by
Russia in Armenia. In particular, issues of transit potential of gas
pipeline Iran-Armenia were considered, participation of “Gasprom”
in modernization of 5th power block analyzed, on the basis of which
energy policy conducted by Russia in Armenia was characterized.

Author of the book, PhD in Political Science Vahe Davtyan analyzed the
dynamics of tariff increase of Russian natural gas for the Armenian
consumers. Special attention was paid to political aspects of operation
of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

In the book the author tried to analyze the category “energy diplomacy”
which is an important segment of establishment of foreign policy in
XXI century in Armenia and suggested a series of events aimed at the
creation and increase of “energy image” of the country.

The book is envisaged for scientific workers, specialists in the field
of international relations dealing with political problems of energy
security, as well as for those who is interested in this topic.

Davtyan’s book is a scientific study of theoretical and
scientific-practical importance. The book studies actual problems
of Russian energy policy on the example of Armenia and Caucasus in
general”, noted in his book review Doctor of Historical Sciences,
Prof. Vladimir Degoyev.

He said that he is the first time studying a number of poorly studied
and controversial issues.

“Mobilization of various documentary material and its creative
interpretation allowed the author to break the stereotypes in many of
them. The first time the author combined the works of his predecessors
in the general context of the topic, critically understood and analyzed
them, significantly filled the existing material with new interests
and serious discoveries on the basis of earlier unknown sources,
thus managing to show the objective and comprehensive picture of
the establishment and operation of energy system of the country”,
said Degoyev.

REAL BULLETS FIRED AT “ARMENIAN SOLDIER” DURING ANTI-ARMENIAN STAGING IN TURKEY

news.am
April 04, 2012 | 10:01

A tragic-comical incident occurred during yet another anti-Armenian
presentation in Turkey, which is sponsored by the country’s
authorities.

This time the staging, which continued to spread enmity and hatred
toward the Armenians, was organized in Van Province’s Arces city,
which had suffered the most from the October 23, 2011 earthquake.

Instead of eliminating the aftermaths of the devastating quake,
ArcesCity Hall wasted time on staging an anti-Armenian presentation
at the heart of the city, and along the lines of the 94th anniversary
of “liberating” Arces “from the Armenians,” during which the “hero”
Turkish soldiers “liberated” the lands from the Armenians.

But during the event a person by the name of Murat Alpsalaz, who
was playing the part of an Armenian soldier, fell on the ground, and
he was drenched in blood. He was seriously injured and subsequently
taken to hospital.

The prosecutor’s office launched an investigation to find out how
real bullets were put in the weapons used during the performance.

ONLY ONE ELECTION WAS HELD WITHOUT FRAUD – FORMER ARMENIAN FM

news.am
April 04, 2012 | 14:26

YEREVAN. – All of Armenia’s previous elections-except for one-were
conducted with fraud, Armenia’s former FM Vartan Oskanian said on
Wednesday.

According to him, there is noting more important today than holding
free and fair elections. “All previous elections were conducted with
fraud, except for one [election],” Oskanian noted, but he did not
specify which election that was.

He also underscored the cooperation between the political forces that
run in the elections. “We have acquired a considerable experience by
holding nine elections. I would suggest that, by taking into account
all forms of possible [election] fraud, we should attempt to offer
a joint solution to it,” Vartan Oskanian noted.

Representatives from four political forces on Wednesday signed
an agreement on establishing a joint headquarters to oversee the
upcoming parliamentary elections. But the ruling coalition’s Republican
Party of Armenia representative Galust Sahakyan did not sign under
the agreement.

EU COMMISSIONER STEFAN FULE SAYS DEMOLITION PROJECTS SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT

Turan
April 3, 2012

BAKU. April 3, 2012: Today, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and
European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule discussed the bilateral
relations, regional issues, the situation around Syria and Iran,
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict conflict, and human rights.

At a press conference after the meeting Fule noted the progress
in relations between the EU and Azerbaijan. Noting the high level
of cooperation in the energy sector, he pointed to the potential
development of relations within the frameworks of the “Eastern
Partnership” Program. Along with the Association Agreement, the parties
are working also on an agreement on modernization, which covers the
security area too.

“We decided to include in our agenda security issues too,” said Fule.

It was done with consideration of the role of Azerbaijan as a
non-permanent member of UN Security Council, as well as regional
threats, he said.

With regard to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Fule said that the
EU is ready to support the measures of mutual trust. Without going
into details, he said that the EU measures are aimed at establishing
contacts between ordinary people, without which, conflict resolution is
impossible. Responding to the question asking to comment on the ideas
to replace France in the OSCE Minsk Group by the European Union, Fule
said that in the March statement, the EU foreign ministers expressed
support for the Minsk group and its substitution was not expected.

Speaking of the human rights issues, Fule reminded the commitments
of Azerbaijan and statements by the EU expressing concern with the
situation in this area. Fule said the Eurovision Song Contest would be
an opportunity to show the country not only from a cultural point of
view. Improvement works touch the issues affecting the property, and
the solution of these problems should be transparent, he said (Turan).

ED. NALBANDYAN: “ALL THOSE ATTEMPTS BY AZERBAIJAN DO NOT AIM TO SETTLE NK ISSUE”

04.04.12, 13:36

On April 4 Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan met
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Erkki Tumioja. Press service
of Armenian MFA informs about this.

Minister Nalbandyan welcomed the guest and said: “Armenia rates
multilateral relations with Armenia and I am sure that this visit will
be another stimulus for two countries to expand and develop relations.”

Finnish MFA noted that he was happy to visit Yerevan and continue
dialogue for various spheres of cooperation.

Ministers Nalbandyan and Tumioja underlined with satisfaction that both
sides were eager to expand the cooperation and noted that political
will is needed for it.

Armenian and Finnish Ministers of Foreign Affairs referred to the
cooperation between Armenia and the EU and spoke about the programs
in this format. Reforms in Armenia, coming parliamentarian elections
were also on agenda.

Erkki Tumioja presented the electoral processes in Finland. Some
regional and international issues were also touched upon during the
meeting. Minister Nalbandyan presented the last developments of the
NK issue settlement process.

After the meeting two Ministers of Foreign Affairs held a joint
press-conference.

During the press conference Armenian MFA welcomed the journalists
and presented the results of the meeting with his Finnish counterpart.

After it he answered to the questions.

“Azerbaijani authorities try to make the foreign guests in Azerbaijan
speak about NK issue and underline the principle of the territorial
integrity. What do You think which is the aim of such attempts?”,
Edward Nalbandyan was asked.

“Unfortunately it is really so. Baku always tries to make blackmail
against the foreign officials and get unilateral formulations about
Nagorno Karabakh issue settlement.

It is obvious that such attempts will not be useful for the NK
issue settlement process. But one thing is obvious as well: nations’
self-identification is not only an international principle but also
is one of the main aims of the international society. This principle
exists in the base of the NK issue settlement which is presented by
the OSCE MG co-chairs with the other principles. All announcements
and decisions on the issue underline the importance of the nations’
self-identification and three Presidents have announced for many
times that Nagornoo Karabakh people must decide its destiny and its
future status.

All those attempts by Azerbaijan do not aim to settle NK issue but
they aim to cheat the international society. This is not useful for
the settlement process.

But we hope that the negotiations will be continued due to the
international society and three Presidents. We hope that a solution
will be found which will take into consideration the principles
of nations’ self-identifications, non-use of the force and the
territorial integrity”.

PEOPLE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH MUST DECIDE THEIR DESTINY – ARMENIAN MFA

news.am
April 04, 2012 | 12:25

YEREVAN.- Official Baku is trying to blackmail the delegations visiting
Azerbaijan to make them voice one-sided wordings on the Karabakh issue,
Armenian MFA said.

“Such an approach cannot be useful for the peace process,” Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian said during a joint press conference with
his Finnish counterpart Erkki Tuomioja.

He stressed that the right to self-determination, which is one of the
fundamental rights of the international law fixed in the UN Charter
and the Helsinki Final Act, along with other principles, is the basis
of the OSCE Minsk Group proposals.

The principle is reflected in the statements adopted in Helsinki,
Athens, Almaty, Astana and Vilnius, he said adding that the Co-Chairs
of the Minsk Group repeatedly stated the Karabakh people should decide
their own destiny.

“Azerbaijan’s attempts are not aimed to resolve the conflict. They
are simply trying to throw dust in the eyes of their society,”
Nalbandian added.

He expressed hope that with the efforts of the international community
and the Minsk Group it would be possible to reach progress based on the
mediators’ proposals and fundamental principles of the international
law: non-use of force or threat of force, right to self-determination
and territorial integrity.

ARMENIAN FM SAYS THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION IS THE BASIS OF SETTLEMENT OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 4, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS: The right to self-determination is
the basis of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Foreign
Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian said at a joint news conference
with his Finnish counterpart Erkki Tuomioja.

“Baku has always been trying to blackmail the delegations heading to
their country. It wants one-sided concessions in the NK issue but
it cannot be favorable for the settlement of the Karabakh issue,”
Nalbandian said.

He stressed that the attempts of Azerbaijan are aimed at casting dust
in the eyes of its people. The Armenian minister voiced hope that
with the efforts of the international community the negotiations
will continue and the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
will be accepted.