Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA OFFERS RUSSIA A SUBSTITUTE FOR AZERBAIJAN

epress.am
04.04.2012

Armenia is ready to provide its territory for the construction of a
Russian radar station, if Moscow and Baku don’t reach an agreement
on the Gabala Radar Station.

“If there is such an interest our area, we are ready to discuss the
matter,” Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said in an interview
with the Russian paper Kommersant.

According to him, the range of such a station could be even greater
than that of the Gabala Radar Station in Azerbaijan. “There might
even be advantages here since Armenia is a mountainous country. The
scope may be wider,” he said.

The radar station was built by the Soviet Union in the Qabala district
of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1985. It was an important element of the
missile defense system of the USSR and was intended to protect the
southern borders of the Soviet Union. The radar station has a range
of up to 6,000 kilometres and can pinpoint missile launches as far
as the Indian Ocean. The radar’s surveillance covers Iran, Turkey,
India, Iraq and all the nations in the Middle East. It can detect the
launch of missiles and track the whole trajectory to enable a ballistic
missile defense system to intercept an offensive strike. The Gabala
Radar Station is now operated by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.

SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT ARMENIA’S ECONOMY: ARMENIAN PM

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 4, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has a clear national doctrine
which describes all the risks and challenges. With respect of ensuring
national security Armenia must be ready for different scenarios in
connection with Iran, Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan stated
in an interview to Russian Kommersant paper asked whether Armenia is
ready to a closed border with Iran in case the latter be bombed.

The paper’s reporter was also interested what impact the military
solution of Iran’s issue may have on Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. “I
do not think the developments over Iran will have a direct impact on
Nagorno Karabakh. They will more affect the situation in Armenia. Iran
is one of our two neighbors we have relations with. We do not have
any relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey: only with Iran and Georgia,”
Tigran Sargsyan said.

In his words, the international sanctions against Iran impede the
development of economic relations with Armenia. “It does not stem
from our interests. They impede economy’s diversification, increase
geo-political risks for Armenia, decrease the investment attraction,”
the head of the executive power.

As to the results of the NK conflict settlement results, PM said
it depends on the anticipated result. “Such conflicts are not being
solved rapidly. First of all it is necessary to form a negotiation
platform and we have already acquired progress in that direction,”
the Armenian PM said.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION AT TIMES SQUARE (NEW YORK)

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 5, 2012
YEREVAN

NEW YORK, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Genocide Commemoration at Times
Square: “Turkey is Guilty of Genocide. Denying the Undeniable is a
Crime.” Begins at 2 p.m. at 43rd and Broadway NYC, reports Armenpress
citing The Armenian Weekly. Sponsored by the Knights and Daughters
of Vartan, Inc. Co-sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU), Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA), ADL-Ramgavars, and Armenian Council of America, with
the participation of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), Prelacy of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), Armenian Catholic
Eparchy for U.S. and Canada, Armenian Church Youth Organization of
America (ACYOA), Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Armenian youth
organizations, and Armenian university and college clubs.

ARMBOOKEXPO TO EXHIBIT MORE 40 BOOKS ABOUT ARMENIA FROM ABOUT 40 COUNTRIES

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 5, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. Publications about Armenia and Armenians
from more than forty will be presented at the ArmBookExpo international
exhibition. The event will open on the occasion of 500th anniversary
of the Armenian typography and Yerevan World Capital of Book. It will
open April 21 and last till 23.

Speaking to Armenpress, Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan said
as of the moment literature from more than 40 countries have been
submitted but their number is growing. “Their number is so big we
can hardly work them out and place,” the minister said.

The exhibited books will be provided to Armenia’s National Library
where a unique collection of literature about Armenia and Armenians
will be created.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIERS IN SLOVAKIA WILL BE SENTENCED UP TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON – SLOVAK SUPREME COURT CHAIRMAN

news.am
April 05, 2012 | 12:09

Wreathes were ceremoniously laid on Wednesday before the Armenian
Genocide cross-stone-monument erected at the heart of Bratislava,
the capital of Slovakia.

The wreathes were laid by Slovakia’s Supreme Court Chairman tefan
Harabin, Armenia’s Constitutional Court President Gagik Harutyunyan,
and others, the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

tefan Harabin stated that he places a huge importance to Slovakia’s
Law on Criminalizing Armenian Genocide’s Denial, and reaffirmed that
if any Turkish official–or anybody else–dare to deny in Slovakia
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, they will be immediately sentenced
to up to five years in prison.

In his turn, Gagik Harutyunyan briefly reflected on the
unprofessionally formulated provisions in the French Constitutional
Council’s decision, whereby the French bill on criminalizing the
denial of genocides was deemed unconstitutional.

Also, Harutyunyan expressed his deep gratitude to Slovakia, its people
and especially to tefan Harabin, for being the first EU country to
pass a law on criminalizing genocide denial.

EURANEST GAVE ITS OPINION ON ALIYEV’S SPEECH – ARMENIAN MP

Tert.am
05.04.12

Many of the European Parliament members attending the EuroNest summit
in Baku did not visit the city’s Shahid Park (cemetery of Azeri
fighters), thus expressing their opinion of President Ilham Aliyev’s
speech insulting the Armenians, says Artak Zakaryan, a member of the
Armenian delegation.

Speaking to Tert.am, the Armenian delegate said that many
parliamentarians joined the Armenian participant to decline the
invitations to a dinner party given on behalf of the Mili Majilis,
Azerbaijan’s chief lawmaking body. According to him, they criticized
the Azeri leader’s non-constructive and incorrect remarks.

“I drew very important conclusions for myself. Ilham Aliyev and
probably several representatives of the clan are alone with their
policies because the society, ordinary people, and the employees and
members of the same parliament we were talking to think absolutely
otherwiswe,” he said.

Zakaryan, who represents the ruling Republican Party faction in
Armenia’s National Assembly, noted that Aliyev’s speech was to the
detriment of his country as it left a negative impression on the
delegates.

Asked whether the delegation is going to meet President Serzh Sargsyan
to share its impressions, Zakaryan answered only that he is obliged
to report his party’s leader on the event regardless of whether or
not there will be a meeting.

As for more tangible outcomes, he said the EuroNest Social Committee
chairman is very satisfied with the overall results. “My report too,
was approved in Azerbaijan with a vote of 72 for, 1 against and 0
abstention. I consider it a big success as it contained very important
provisions,” he said.

Zakaryan added that he had also managed to prevent the passage of four
anti-Armenian proposals concerning territorial integrity, settlement
of conflicts and the internally displaced.

AZERBAIJANI SOCIETY HAS, OR IS HAVING, COMPLEX – ARMENIAN MP

news.am
April 05, 2012 | 13:05

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan’s map is placed in all of the country’s state-run
facilities. This is the character of a society that has-or is having-a
complex, head of Armenia’s delegation at Euronest and opposition ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Party’s National Assembly (NA) Faction leader Vahan
Hovhannisyan said during a press conference on Thursday.

“Everywhere there are huge maps, which include Karabakh. That is, the
[Azerbaijani] authorities are trying to impose upon their people the
idea of “Greater Azerbaijan;” they constantly remind what the people
wish to forget,” Hovhannisyan noted and added: “When you speak with
the [ordinary] Azerbaijanis, you sense that they do not need [it].”

In her turn, the Armenian delegation member and ARF MP Lilit Galstyan
said being on location and sensing it all is altogether something else.

“[Azerbaijani president Ilham] Aliyev’s rhetoric and the existing
reality are altogether different. Unlike Aliyev, they continually
favor a peaceful dialogue, understanding, [and] compromise. They favor
mutually beneficial solutions; and this is said by Azerbaijani MPs,”
Galstyan maintained.

AUDRONIUS AZUBALIS: ARMENIA IS TAKING STRONG STEPS TOWARDS EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

armradio.am
05.04.2012 14:38

President Serzh Sargsyan received the Foreign Minister of Lithuania,
Audronius Azubalis. The Minister attached importance to the deepening
of friendly cooperation between Armenia and Lithuania, taking into
consideration the latter’s experience of European integration.

President Sargsyan said Lithuania’s assistance within the framework
of the EU Eastern Partnership Program is important to Armenia.

Minister Audronius Azubalis said he was glad to see the progress
registered in the negotiations on the Armenia-EU Association
Agreement. He noted that Armenia is taking strong steps towards
European integration.

LA LIVRAISON D’ISRAEL A L’AZERBAIDJAN
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
jeudi 5 avril 2012

Où il est revele que le ministre de la defense azeri est alle dire
aux Iraniens que les missiles antinavires achetes a Israël sont prevus
pour le conflit avec …l’Armenie !

4 avril 2012, Strategy Page

l’Azerbaïdjan a mis son voisin l’Iran en colère, ayant recemment
achete pour 1,6 milliard de dollars d’equipement militaire a Israël.

Les details de cet achat n’ont jamais ete rendus publics, mais le voile
du secret vient d’etre leve. Parmi les armes commandees figurent des
missiles antinavires Gabriel. Ce sont des munitions de 522 kg d’une
portee de 36 kilomètres. L’Azerbaïdjan les utilisera pour proteger ses
côtes de la mer Caspienne des navires de guerre en nombre croissant
que l’Iran lance dans la region. Cinq Heron et cinq Searcher UAVs
font partie de la commande. Le Heron TP israelien est un avion de
4,6 tonnes qui peut voler a 45 000 pieds (15 000 mètres). Le Heron
TP a une charge utile de une tonne, lui permettant d’embarquer des
capteurs capables de donner une vue detaillee de ce qui se trouve au
sol, meme depuis cette hauteur. Son autonomie de 36 heures en fait
un concurrent du MQ69 Reaper americain. Le Searcher 2 est un avion de
500 kg dote d’une autonomie de 20 heures, une altitude maximale de 7
500 heures (23 000 pieds) et peut evoluer jusqu’a 300 km de distance
de son operateur. Il peut emporter une charge utile de 120 kg.

Pour la defense anti aerienne, 75 missiles Système Barak-8 en font
partie. Le prix des missiles est d’environ 1,6 million de dollars, sa
masse est de 98 kg avec une charge explosive de 21,8 kg, et une portee
de 10 km. Les missiles sont montes dans un conteneur de huit cellules,
(de maintenance reduite) et lances a la verticale. Le système radar
assure une couverture de 360 degres et les missiles peuvent detruire
un missile antinavire ou de croisière distant seulement de 500 mètres.

Chaque système Barak (conteneur de missiles, radar, ordinateurs et
installation) vaut a peu près 24 millions de dollars. Le missile a
une autonomie de dix kilomètres et est tout aussi efficace contre
les avions. Barak peut-etre monte sur des navires ou des camions.

Dans cette affaire est inclus le système radar Green Pine, qu’Israël
emploie pour le système de defense antimissile. Green Pine peut
detecter un missile balistique jusqu’a 500 kilomètres, mais aussi
reperer des avions de guerre en cours d’approche.

L’Azerbaïdjan a dit a l’Iran que toutes ces armes n’etaient pas
destinees a faire la guerre a l’Iran, mais serviraient a mettre un
terme aux conflit territoriaux avec l’Armenie voisine. Il y a deux ans,
cette hostilite envers l’Iran et les conflits avec l’Armenie voisine
tout a la fois, avaient conduit l’Azerbaïdjan riche en petrole a
accroître son budget de 87 pourcent a 3,1 milliards de dollars. Près
de la moitie du budget avait ete employe a moderniser les forces
armees. Beaucoup d’argent etaient depense dans l’amelioration des
moyens antiterroristes. Israël avait mis des conseillers et des
equipements speciaux pour detecter et neutraliser le terrorisme
islamique soutenu depuis l’Iran. Ces liens avec Israël et les succès
azeris en nombre toujours croissants contre les faits de terrorisme
iraniens, ont provoque la fureur des Iraniens.

Situe sur la Mer Caspienne, dans le Caucase, l’Azerbaïdjan faisait
partie de l’Union Sovietique jusqu’en 1991, et la plupart de son
equipement militaire est issu de la guerre froide. L’Azerbaïdjan est
musulman a 95 % (a 85% chiite) et a un conflit territorial serieux avec
son voisin chretien, l’Armenie. Les deux pays sont en opposition depuis
deux decennies, se disputant un territoire. Bien que l’Azerbaïdjan soit
trois fois plus peuple et dispose de ressources plus importantes (dues
essentiellement au petrole), les Armeniens sont des meilleurs soldats
et le conflit est dans une impasse. La population de l’Azerbaïdjan
est de 9 millions et son produit interieur brut est de 72 milliards
de dollars, compares a la population de 3,2 millions et au produit
interieur brut de 10 milliards de l’Armenie.

L’Azerbaïdjan est determine a inverser l’effet de cette defaite,
coûte que coûte… .

STAR INTENDS TO ESTABLISH ITS PRESENCE IN ALL REGIONS OF ARMENIA, THUS TURNING INTO A NATIONAL TRADE CHAIN

arminfo
Tuesday, April 3, 19:38

Today, on April 3, at 14:00, STAR trade chain opened its first
supermarket in Byureghavan, which is the 29th Supermarket of the
Chain.

The new STAR “neighborhood store” with trade area of 255 sq. m is
located on 2 V. Sargsyan street, one of the busiest streets of the
city. The product range of the store consists of more than 5000 SKU-s,
80% of which is food and 20% non-food items.

The supermarket is equipped with modern facilities and maintained with
the necessary conditions for civilized shopping. The range of services
offered in the store include collecting of STAR points by StarCard,
customer feedback box, payment through terminals, currency exchange
office and ATMs. In the new store 4 cash terminals operate, and a
convenient parking is available nearby.

“This is our first store opened in 2012”, – commented CEO of STAR
trade chain V. Kerobyan, adding that it has a strategic purpose. “By
the end of this year, we are planning to open 20 more stores, 10 of
which will be located in the regions of Armenia. And in the next 2 – 3
years, we intend to establish our presence in all regions of Armenia,
thus turning into a national trade chain”, he said.

Since the opening of the store, weekly promotions will be offered.

Besides current promo – sales, only for this store, special promotions
will be available, organized taking into account the territorial
specifics and needs of residents. Wide range of STAR private label
will be offered in the store which helps our customers to save when
shopping. The store is open every day from 08:30-23:00. Due to the
opening of STAR in Byureghavan 35 people are employed.

The opening ceremony of the store was attended by the top management
of STAR trade chain, representatives of the city hall of Byuregavan
and other partners of the Chain.