Author: Badalian Vardan

Trend, Azerbaijan
Oct 21 2011

Russia and West interested in promoting negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh

21 October 2011, 18:15 (GMT+05:00) Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 21 / Trend
E.Tariverdiyeva/

Both Russia and Europe and the United States have objective interests
in promoting the negotiating process and neutralizing risks of
resumption of military actions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone,
member of Azerbaijani parliamentary committee on international and
inter-parliamentary relations, MP Rasim Musabeyov told Trend.

“However, Russia wants not to hurt Armenian partners and promote its
goals in the region, and then Moscow’s interests clash with the
interests of the West,” said a member of Trend Expert Council
Musabeyov, commenting on Russian leader’s recent statement.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev assured on Oct. 20 that Moscow will
continue to assist in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but the
two nations should seek for an agreement. Russian President stated
that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of the several frozen conflicts
in Europe that can be solved, RIA Novosti reported.

According to Musabeyov, much in the future will depend on difficult
economic and demographic situation of Armenia, which should encourage
Yerevan to restrain from its appetites in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

“Azerbaijan has objective concerns and questions to which it can not
receive satisfactory answers. And although the issue of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains on the agenda and the negotiations
should be continued, it is not worth to count on speedy breakthrough
in the peace process,” said the expert.

According to him, Russia’s next president will have to start to deal
with priority policy issues, which do not include the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

“If most likely candidate – the current prime minister and former
president Vladimir Putin comes to power in Russia, he, as a sane
person, would realize the importance of Azerbaijan and will have to
try to pave the way for a compromise. But this is unlikely to happen
soon,” Musabeyov said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

Marin Independent-Journal
Oct 23 2011

Sorry, Simitian, no more summering in Azerbaijan

Cross Azerbaijan off state Sen. Joe Simitian’s list of future travel
destinations. The Azerbaijan government has banned the Palo Alto
Democrat from returning after his visit last month as part of a
California delegation.

We first wondered which Democratic Party honchos Simitian had hacked
off to draw such an assignment. Azerbaijan, a Minnesota-sized republic
on the western shores of the Caspian Sea between Russia and Iran,
isn’t exactly Monte Carlo. The CIA describes it as a place beset with
territorial disputes, corruption and authoritarianism.

In other words, a lot like Sacramento.

But the earnest senator is such a foreign affairs junkie that he not
only wanted to join the Senate Office of International Relations
delegation — a trip, he notes, that wasn’t billed to taxpayers — he
also extended his trip on personal time.

That’s where Simitian ran afoul of the Azerbaijan government.
Simitian, of Armenian descent, tacked on a visit to Nagorno-Karabakh,
a primarily Armenian-populated region east of neighboring Armenia.
Azerbaijan claims the territory and has been fighting with Armenia
over Nagorno-Karabakh for decades.

Azerbaijan leaders saw Simitian’s subsequent travel to the region
without their permission as a snub. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
publicly announced earlier this month that Simitian would be
blacklisted from the country for his disrespect, with a ministry
spokesman reportedly calling it shameful that a lawmaker would violate
another country’s laws.

Azerbaijan’s requirement that foreigners seek its permission before
visiting Nagorno-Karabakh is about as widely disregarded as Simitian’s
law banning drivers from yakking into hand-held cellphones. But
Simitian said his high profile as a state official made him stand out.

Simitian said he was aware that visiting the disputed territory could
trigger a ban on future travel, but that U.S. officials told him it
was “entirely lawful” for him to do so. He has since spoken with
Azerbaijani officials and they agreed to disagree on the matter in a
conversation he described as “cordial.” He told them they’re always
welcome in Sacramento.

“The world is a complicated place,” Simitian said. “To the extent we
understand each other better, that’s a good thing.”

Azerbaijan keeps violating ceasefire on Contact Line

14:43 – 22.10.11

The Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire on the Contact
Line with Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) 180 times within the past week.

According to a press release by the NKR Defense Army, the frontline
subdivisions of the Azerbaijani army opened more than 1,000 gunfires
on the defense positions of Karabakh.

More intensive violations were observed on October 18, with the enemy
releasing around 200 gunshots.

The NKR anti-air defense forces also observed unmanned drones
belonging to the Azerbaijani army in the above period.
Despite the enemy’s activeness, the Defense Army refrained from
retaliation, establishing surveillance both on land and air.

Tert.am

6-7 new documents to be signed during Armenian President’s state visit o Russia

October 23, 2011 – 15:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – President Serzh Sargsyan’s state visit to Russia in
response to Dmitry Medvedev’s state visit to Armenia a year ago
testifies to extremely cordial relations between our countries,
reported Armenian Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian in an interview
with Interfax. According to Nalbandian, forty high-level meetings have
been recorded for the past three years. When Government heads meet
more than 40 times, they have a lot to talk about. A discussion of
wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues is on the
agenda of the upcoming state visit, noted Nalbandian. According to
Armenian Foreign Minister there is a solid legal base between Russia
and Armenia. `More than 200 agreements have been reached, new ones are
prepared, the old ones are updated’, he noted adding that the
six-seven new documents will be signed during Sargsyan’s state visit
to Russia.

Armenian-Russian alliance, strategic relations cannot be stable
without deep ties between the nations, without mutual sympathy and
warm ties between nations’, reports INTERFAX.RU.

Turkey’s inclusion in Karabakh settlement is Turkish phantasmagoria –
Nalbandian

12:29 – 23.10.11

There is no need to change the OSCE Minsk Group format over the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian has said in an interview with the Russian news agency
Interfax.

Speaking about Turkey’s intentions to be involved in mediation efforts
over the Karabakh conflict, Nalbandian said it is `Turkish
phantasmagoria’.

`Regarding Turkey, I think it is Turkish phantasmagoria. When it comes
to changing the format, there is no such need,’ Nalbandian was quoted
as saying.

Asked whether the Armenia-Turkey reconciliation would continue,
Nalbandian said that the `ball is in Turkey’s court’.

`I would like to remind the numerously-stated statement that Armenia
has walked down half of the way, and the ball is in Turkey’s court,’
said Nalbandian.

`Turkey should deliver on those obligations it has assumed in front of
the international community,’ he added.

According to Nalbandian, this `view has been stated and is being
stated by the leaders of several states and international
organizations.’

`We share this view completely,’ Nalbandian added.

Tert.am

Armenian woman boxer wins silver in Rotterdam

13:17 – 23.10.11

Armenian boxer Armine Sinabyan has won a silver medal at the European
Women Boxing Championship held in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

According to the Armenian sports news website Armsport, Sinabyan
(64kg) lost to Gulzum Tatar from Turkey at 4:10 score in the final.
Four Armenian women boxers were taking part in this championship in
Netherlands.

Sinabyan, who currently lives in Sweden, was the only Armenian athlete
to win a medal.

Haykuhi Nahapetyan, Karine Gevorgyan and Ashkhen Simonyan lost in
their first battles and were left out of competition.

Tert.am

news.am, Armenia
Oct 22 2011

Russia urges US to show respect – Russian FM

October 22, 2011 | 14:36

MOSCOW. – Russia understands US interests in Central Asia and South
Caucasus, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov stated on the air of a Russian
radio station.

`Russia is quite respectful toward them as states [in Central Asia and
South Caucasus] that have the right to choose their partners. That is
why the interests which the United States, European countries, and
other countries have in Central Asia and South Caucasus are dictated
by those regions’ important territorial position in terms of the
danger of terrorism and drug trafficking, and this touches upon the
interests of Russia, Europe, and US.

The issue is about the energy transport conduits which pass through
that territory and connect the East and the West. We understand these
interests, but we also want for the interests of non-regional players
to be carried out in this geopolitical region by way of respecting the
interests of local states and the Russian Federation, too, taking into
account the close ties that connect us with the former Soviet Union
countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and European neighbors,’
Russian FM concluded.

Two Italians arrested in Yerevan over fraud charges

13:41 – 22.10.11

Police have apprehended two Italians in Yerevan suspected of
orchestrating large-scale frauds.

According to a press release by the police, a 62-yearl-old Yerevan
resident came to Arabkir police station on October 21 and said he
recognized Vincenco Torino and Antonio Kave when he saw them in a TV
program called Duty Section.

The Yerevan resident claimed the Italians had abused his trust and
taken the equivalent of 900 euros in Armenian drams.

Vincenco Torino and Antonio Kave have been arrest and an investigation
is underway.

Tert.am

Hraparak: The `brain’ of the gang group
10:25 – 22.10.11

The paper claims it has learned that Surik Hakobyan, the father of
Artiusha Hakobyan who was recently arrested on suspicion of heading a
gang group that committed several robberies in Yerevan, met with
Armenia’s Police Chief Alik Sargsyan.

Hakobyan told the paper that the meeting was held upon his request.

Hakobyan said he asked police chief to make sure who wants to
recognize his son as the head of the gang group, claming that his both
sons arrested during that raid, are innocent.

`I said, `but did you find anything from my son’s house> Does anybody
know him or has anybody seen him being there,” said he, adding that
Alik Sargsyan, however, said it was Artiusha Hakobyan who led the gang
group.

Tert.am

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND OSCE MEDIATORS DISCUSS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

news.am
Oct 21 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received on Friday
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Bernard Fassier, Robert Bradtke, Igor
Popov and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

The officials discussed the issues related to current stage of the
Karabakh peace process, presidential press service informed Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

President Sargsyan and the mediators also touched upon necessity to
strengthen confidence measures between the parties to the conflict.