Author: Badalian Vardan

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN HEADS A DELEGATION TO GERMANY

Panorama
Sept 23 2011
Armenia

Chairman of National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan will head a delegation
to the Federative Republic of Germany.

Information and public relations department of NA has informed on
September 26 Hovik Abrahamyan will visit house-museum of Johannes
Lepsius and will have a meeting with the scientific staff of the
museum.

On September 27 Hovik Abrahamyan will have a meeting in Berlin with
the Chairman of German Bundestag Norbert Lamert and will attend the
concert and reception dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
Independence.

NAGORNO KARABAKH MAY BECOME NEXT RECOGNIZED STATE AFTER SOUTH SUDAN – ARMENIAN LEADER

Interfax
Sept 21 2011
Russia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian believes in the possibility of
independence for Nagorno Karabakh and warns against the use of force
in resolving the problem of Karabakh.

“This year South Sudan became independent thus enriching the
international experience of matters related to the self-determination
of nations. I am simply sure that we will have the same result in
Karabakh,” he said in an interview with Russia 24 channel.

He said “calls for a military solution are dangerous for the entire
region, not just Karabakh itself.”

Sargsian stressed that at the summit in Kazan Azerbaijan proved
“its reluctance and inability to reach compromise” but assured that
in its turn Yerevan will continue seeking compromise.

ANTI-IRANIAN FEELING RUNS HIGH IN AZERI CAPITAL
By Sabuhi Mammadli

Institute of War & Peace Reporting IWPR
CAUCASUS REPORTING SERVICE, No. 608
September 16, 2011

Environmental protests in Iran spark concerns about ethnic Azerbaijanis
living around shrinking lake.

Protests in northwest Iran demanding action to stop a major lake
drying up have been echoed across the border in Azerbaijan, where a
demonstration took place outside Tehran’s embassy in the capital Baku.

The hundreds of people who took part in the Baku protest, which was
broken up by police, went beyond environmental concerns about Lake
Urmia and expressed support for Iran’s large ethnic Azerbaijani
minority.

Chants of “Unite Azerbaijan with its capital in Tabriz” were heard
– a reference to nationalist aspirations for their former Soviet
republic to one day join up with ethnic Azerbaijan-majority regions
of northwest Iran..

“Our demands are not political,” Seymur Hasanli, head of the youth
section of the World Congress of Azerbaijanis, insisted. “We just think
it’s our duty to support our Azeri brothers in Iranian Azerbaijan.”

Lake Urmia, located between Iran’s East and West Azerbaijan
provinces, is the largest lake in the Middle East, but its area has
shrunk drastically through damming, overuse of water, drought, and
evaporation. Because it is a saltwater lake, the minerals deposits
left as the lake’s edges recede pose potential health hazards.

Javad Jahangirli, an Iranian parliamentarian from the region, told
the BBC that if the lake were to disappear, the salt-covered bed could
create an environmental catastrophe affecting up to 14 million people.

Protests in August in the cities of Tabriz and Urmia, which sit
on either side of the lake, met with the usual heavy-handed police
response.

“Instead of listening to people’s demands, the Iranian authorities
launched mass arrests,” Vahid Garadagli, spokesman for the Baku-based
Association for the Defence of Azeri Political Prisoners in Iran,
said. “On September 4 alone, more than 200 protesters were arrested
in Urmia – both in the street during the protest, and in their homes.

It’s very hard to put a figure to the total numbers arrested, but
it’s already in the thousands.”

The environmental issues are real enough for people living over the
border in Azerbaijan, who are well aware of what happened to the
Aral Sea in Central Asia. Excess use of river waters in the Soviet
era reduced the sea’s area, and harmful dust and salt residues on
the exposed Aral seabed were dispersed over surrounding areas of
Uzbekistan and Kazakstan.

In Azerbaijan, however, much of the focus has been on minority politics
in Iran.

“The Iranian authorities’ indifference [to the lake] shows their
antipathy to us Azerbaijanis,” Sabir Rustamkhanli, a member of
parliament who heads the World Congress of Azerbaijanis, said. “If
Lake Urmia, one of the world’s saltiest lakes, dries up, then all of
southern Azerbaijan [in Iran] will be affected by salinity. People
will lose not just their homes but their livelihoods. Just think of
the threat our brothers face from the Iranian authorities.”

The World Congress has promised to keep up the pressure on Tehran.

“Despite the brutal police response and the dispersal of the
protesters, we are going to continue protesting until the problem
is resolved,” Hasanli said. “Following our protests, the government
closed the road outside the Iranian embassy, supposedly for repairs.

But that isn’t going to stop us – we will find ways and places to
show our support for our kin.”

The nationalists have already shown some ingenuity in voicing
their views. At a football match between Kazakstan and Azerbaijan
on September 6, a group of fans chanted: “Azerbaijan is our life,
Urmia is our blood”, and “Persians, Russians and Armenians are the
[Azerbaijani] Turks’ enemies”.

The police moved in, arresting 14 fans and dispersing the rest.

The grassroots protests leave the Azerbaijani authorities in a
difficult position, given that relations with Tehran have never
been easy.

Mubariz Gurbanli, a parliamentarian from the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan
party, called for moderation.

“Of course we understand that Azerbaijanis in the cities of Tabriz and
Urmia are justified in protesting against the evaporation of the lake.

We cannot be indifferent to that. But they are citizens of Iran, and
we can’t interfere in the internal affairs of another country. All
the same, no amount of force and violence can stop people standing
up for their rights. I am certain that sooner or later, the Iranian
authorities will come to understand this.”

Sabuhi Mammadli is a correspondent for the website.

OPPOSITION WILL USE PUBLIC PRESSURE TO REACH ITS GOALS, SAYS DEMIRCHYAN

Tert.am
24.09.11

Armenia’s opposition forces will reach their goal not through dialogue,
but rather public pressure, Stepan Demirchyan, the leader of Democratic
Party of Armenia, has said.

Speaking at a rally organized by the opposition Armenian National
Congress, Demirchyan said that fair elections must be forced to the
ruling authorities.

“Recently, while speaking about the achievements of independence,
Serzh Sargsyan noted that the greatest achievement is our citizens. Of
course, these are very nice words, but the authorities have for
several years now been offending the dignity of those citizens,
by falsifying their vote,” said Demirchyan.

“Due to the unskillful governance by the authorities many are leaving
the homeland. The country had been appropriated by a group of people,”
said he, adding that Armenia is still under the control of what he
called a criminal-oligarchic system.

“All these must be stopped. It should be started by holding free,
independent elections,” Demirchyan explained.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN’S SPEECH AT THE 66TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

armradio.am
23.09.2011 21:44

Mister President,
Mister Secretary-General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Firstly, I would like to thank and wish much success to Mr. Nassir
Abdulaziz al Nasser, the President of the 66th session of the UN
General Assembly, and thank Mr. Deiss of Switzerland for his leadership
during the 65th session.

I would also like to take this opportunity to once again congratulate
the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his second term in office.

Mister President,

I wish to recognize the important choice of the general debate
theme for this session and highlight the role of mediation in the
settlement of disputes by peaceful means and as a means of preventing
the resumption of hostilities.

We highly appreciate the mediation efforts of global and regional
structures and organizations in various parts of the world in
preserving peace and security and in conflict settlement through
peaceful negotiations.

It is particularly worth mentioning the engagement of regional
organizations that have built-up an enormous experience in mediation
and have an in-depth knowledge of the political, cultural, and military
realities on the ground. The success of mediation hinges, among other
things, upon the articulation of a clearly-defined mandate. A case in
point for us is the mission of the OSCE Minsk Group in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Another key factor worth highlighting here is the mediators’ role in
preventing conflict escalation and the resumption of hostilities. This
aspect of mediation is sometimes overlooked, yet it is of no less
importance to international peace and stability than finding a solution
to a contentious matter.

Mr. President,

Three years ago, when I had the honor to speak from this rostrum, I
stated that the time has come for seriously considering the exercise
of the people’s right to self-determination in the 21st century. We are
today witnessing new cases of the exercise of this inalienable right.

In this context, I would like to congratulate the newly-elected
193rd member of the United Nations Organization, the Republic of South
Sudan. Its path to having a place in this august hall has been long and
difficult, but the people of South Sudan, through the free expression
of will, exercised their right to live sovereignly and independently,
thus crossing the path that many of the UN member states present here
today have crossed.

Mr. President,

The people of Nagorno-Karabakh made the same choice two decades ago
by exercising their right to self-determination, by withstanding the
war unleashed by Azerbaijan, and surviving bloodshed to earn their
right to live in freedom.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement talks are continuing with
the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. We are grateful to
the co-chair countries and their leaders for their mediation efforts.

However, the mediators cannot reach an agreement in place of the
negotiating parties.

Azerbaijan’s utter unwillingness to reach an agreement and its
“everything or war” position have stalled progress in the peace talks.

Despite the expectations and the high-level advice from the
international community, Azerbaijan took yet another step back during
the last meeting in Kazan by rejecting the previously elaborated
arrangement and trying, in fact, to break down the negotiation process.

Baku has turned armenophobia into state propaganda, at a level that
is far beyond dangerous. It is not only our assessment; the alarm
has also been sounded by international structures specializing in
combating racism and intolerance. Even more dangerously, armenophobic
ideas are spread among the young Azerbaijani generation, imperiling
the future of peaceful coexistence.

By denying and destroying all that is Armenian, Baku stubbornly
continues to disseminate false accusations against Armenia,
Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Armenians at all levels everywhere, including
here, within the framework of the UN. The Azerbaijani propaganda
machine continues regularly to overwhelm the international community
and the domestic audience with horrendous lies about the so-called
“Armenian brutality” and the killings of children. These stories are
fabricated and disseminated using a trite yet painful logic, whereby
their authors believe that some people out there will rise to the bait
of this black PR against Armenia, and it will thus serve a purpose.

In recent years, owing to the efforts of the Minsk Group co-chair
countries, particularly the direct mediation by the President of the
Russian Federation, a number of documents have been signed, including
the Meindorf, Astrakhan, and Sochi Declarations, which have stressed
the need to strengthen the confidence-building measures between the
parties. The signature of the President of Azerbaijan also stands on
those documents.

Azerbaijan, however, continues to turn down the repeated proposals
by the international community concerning agreement on the non-use
of force and strengthening the confidence-building measures.

Moreover, the belligerent rhetoric and war threats uttered by
Azerbaijan have intensified and ceasefire violations have grown more
frequent, continuing to deprive of life innocent civilians. All of
this is orchestrated from the highest state level.

The dangerous rise in manifestations of armenophobia not only fails to
contribute to an atmosphere of trust in the region, but also leads to
questions about Azerbaijan’s understanding of the goals of the United
Nations to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one
another as good neighbors. Aspiring for membership in the Security
Council of the UN with such an understanding is impermissible and
even dangerous.

Mr. President,

In the frameworks of this Assembly, alongside debates on some of the
most vital and urgent issues of our time, a high-level meeting took
place yesterday on the 10th anniversary of the Durban Declaration,
which reiterated the urgent need to eliminate racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of intolerance.

Unfortunately, such intolerance is known to us, Armenians, not
only through the examples I mentioned earlier. As a nation that has
survived a genocide, the most extreme form of racism and xenophobia,
we are morally obliged to act for the prevention of future genocides.

The elimination of racism and xenophobia and the inculcation of
tolerance can become a truly effective mechanism if accompanied with
clear prescription of liability. Impunity and avoidance of liability
give birth to yet new crimes. Hence, it is incumbent upon us in the
international community to identify and denounce without delay any
expression of intolerance, but especially its extreme forms.

The Genocide of the Armenians perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire has
been recognized and condemned by numerous countries, parliaments,
international organizations, and genocide scholars’ community.

Unfortunately, the same does not hold true for the Republic of Turkey,
which continues to engage in a policy of denying this atrocious crime
committed against humanity.

We unequivocally welcome the clear position adopted by the
international community in precluding any possibility of immunity or
pardon for perpetrators of genocide or other crimes against humanity.

Without recognition and condemnation, it will be impossible to develop
and implement effective mechanisms of prevention, which is one of the
UN’s priorities. Armenia will contribute its most to the recognition,
punishment, and prevention of genocides.

These references to the Armenian Genocide lead me to recall another
important celebration marked this year: the 150th birthday of Fridtjof
Nansen, the first High Commissioner for Refugees. In the most difficult
period for my nation, the great humanist rendered priceless support
to the survival of the homeland-deprived fragments of the Armenians
fleeing from the Genocide. Holders of the Nansen passports settled in
various countries of the world, reaching as far as South America. They
rose to their feet and partook in the development of the countries
and peoples hosting them.

I believe that justice and the equality of rights between states have
become standards in international relations owing to such powerful
individuals who promoted their vision of morality in that cruel world
of the “realpolitik.”

Mr. President,

Speaking from this rostrum in 2008, I had expressed hope that
the Armenia-Turkey normalization process initiated by us and the
establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of the borders
closed by Turkey, trespassing international law, would become the
first steps in enabling us to start a dialogue and overcoming the air
of mistrust, suspicion, and uncertainty existing between us. Although
our initiative was commended and widely supported by the international
community, Turkey has in all ways possible aborted the ratification
and implementation of the protocols we initialed in 2009.

Mr. President,

Today, on the eve of the Rio Summit on Sustainable Development,
political will must be demonstrated to honor the international
commitments in order to turn the South Caucasus into a region of
cooperation and prosperity.

The correlation between security and development is not an abstract
theory for our region where economic cooperation and deeper integration
with the global economy are hindered by unlawful blockades and the
blockage of regional integration projects.

These attitudes, alongside the fueling of an arms race, not only are
dangerous for the peoples of the region, but they also continue to
absorb the resources direly needed for sustainable development.

The time has come for the leaders of the countries in our region to
try to stand above the dictates of a narrow political agenda and to
move towards solutions that are aimed at a peaceful and prosperous
future for generations to come.

I want to believe that, not in the distant future, our region will
be perceived as a solid and firm bridge uniting civilizations, rather
than as a dividing line.

Mr. President,

Two days ago, the Republic of Armenia celebrated the 20th anniversary
of its independence. In September 1991, Armenia restored its
independence, realizing the dream of the Armenian people and reuniting
with the Family of Nations.

In the realm of history, 20 years may seem like a short period, but
it has served for the present generation as a period of great change,
construction of independent statehood, and a renewed perception of
their role and place in the world. I wish to take the opportunity
from this esteemed rostrum to express my gratitude to all the states,
peoples, and individuals that have supported us in these 20 years of
development and construction of statehood.

Freedom, peace, and democracy are our choice, and we are committed to
this path. We are proud of our achievements today. In two decades,
the Republic of Armenia has implemented a wide-scale program
of constructing statehood. Much has been done in the fields of
democratization, human rights and economic reforms, the establishment
of the rule of law and liberal economy. We have many achievements,
but much still remains to be done. Above all, we are convinced that
we are on the right path, a path that is irreversible.

Mr. President,

Exactly a decade ago, New York, the city which is home to the United
Nations Organization, experienced one of the worst atrocities in the
history of mankind, the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Armenia unconditionally
supports and actively contributes to the international community’s
counter-terrorism efforts and all of the UN’s initiatives in this
area. We are doing and will continue to do our best for the world to
be a safer and more peaceful place.

We stand ready, to the best of our abilities, to contribute to global
security and respond to global threats, be it through peace-keeping
missions, elimination of the consequences of natural disasters,
environmental protection, or the fight against terrorism, racism,
and intolerance. Over the years, we have proven our aspirations
and determination with deeds, and we stand ready to continue doing
the same.

Thank you.

PROGRESS IN ARMENIAN FREE ECONOMIC ZONES TO BE VISIBLE BEFORE END OF THIS YEAR

/ARKA/
SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Progress in Armenian free economic zones
will be visible before the end of this year, Hayk Mirzoyan, Armenian
economy ministry’s industrial policy division, said on Thursday.

“The ministry has already worked out necessary legislative acts,
which are now being considered by the government,” he said.

He also said that projects of deployment of enterprises in the two
probable free economic zones in Zvartnots Airport’s territory and
Mars works are being considered as well.

On June 21, the Armenian president signed the law on free economic
zones and related laws.

The law establishes a new legal regime for economic activities. The
law is also aimed at creation of proper economic environment,
solution of export problem and creation of favourable conditions for
export-oriented enterprises.

If a zone is not used within one year, the government will void its
decision. These zones will enjoy special tax and customs preferences.

USAID/ARMENIA ANNOUNCES END OF MOBILIZING ACTION AGAINST CORRUPTION

/ARKA/
SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 23, /ARKA/. The USAID/Armenia has announced today
the end of its Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity.

It also has announced the award of a grant to Armenian Young Lawyers
Association to operate the network of Advocacy and Assistance Centers
jointly with Armavir Development Center and Gegharkunik Chamber of
Commerce and Industry.

The network was initially established by the USAID Mobilizing Action
Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity in 2008.

Francois Vezina, Chief of Party, Mobilizing Action Against Corruption
(MAAC) Activity, said today the $10 million worth MAAC was launched
in 2007 June. It was designed to help the government and the civic
society combat corruption. According to him, it has created grounds
for serious changes in this matter in the next decades.

Francois Vezina also said the goals of the project were to encourage
civil society to strengthen work with government institutions, and
assist the latter to establish links with similar anti-corruption
agencies, as well as raise public awareness through meetings,
television programs and websites.

USAID Democracy Office director Stephen Brager said the establishment
and work of Advocacy and Assistance Centers is the most important
outcome of this project. He said that was the reason why USAID
decided to continue it by providing $600,000 grant to the Armenian
Young lawyers Association to support their network.

Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association,
said the joint work will be focused on expanding and strengthening the
powers of Advocacy and Assistance Centers, including provision of free
legal consulting. Zadoyan said some 11,200 people sought help from
Advocacy and Assistance Centers from October 2008 to August 2011.-

DEPUTY SEAT IS NOT FOR RUBEN HAYRAPETYAN

arminfo
Friday, September 23, 18:21

I reiterated many times that the deputy seat is not my place. Just for
this reason, I am going to leave the politics and do my own business
and continue my activity in Football Federation, President of Armenian
Football Federation, Ruben Hayrapetyan, told journalists today.

“I am not going to stand for the parliamentary election in 2012. I
could even return my deputy mandate now, but taking into consideration
that only several months have been left till the election, there is
no sense to do that”, – he said.

GRAPE HARVEST IN ARMENIA TO BE HIGHER MAKING ABOUT 150-160 THOUSAND TONS – EXPERT

/ARKA/
September 23, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Grape harvest in Armenia will be higher
this year making about 150-160 thousand tons which is by 50 thousand
tons less than the last year indicator, said the Chairman of Agrarian
Union of Armenia Hrach Berberyan.

The reason for non-qualified harvest this year is vine fungal diseases
of grape (odium and mildew) that must be addressed by spraying the
vines. In this regard, Barberyan said that Armenian Agriculture
Ministry should more seriously deal with this problem taking into
account the program of protection of plants.

According to the data of Agriculture Ministry, grape harvest in Armenia
in 2010 was 210-215 thousand tons versus 185 thousand tons in 2009.

He also informed that this year apricot harvest was more than last
year. Only in Ararat valley the harvest was 20 thousand tons and
throughout Armenia – 24-25 thousand tons. Peach harvest was twice
less. “Peach prices in the market are 300 drams which is related to
high prices of fuel and pesticides”, he said.

In particular, a sack of nitrous fertilizer from Georgia costs 8200
drams and from Iran – 9200 drams.

He mentioned the efficiency of steps of the government in the import
of high-quality seeds which provided good harvest. “Imported seeds of
elite wheat provided high harvest of 4-6 tons from one hectare. But
it is only 5% of sowing territories and it is ridiculous to speak
about record harvest”, said Berberyan. Next year wheat harvest will
be higher making 2.2-2.5 tons from one ha.

In 2010, 1010 tons of elite wheat seeds from Russia were bought,
of which 50 tons was given to Nagorno-Karabakh republic.

Total demand of cereals in the country is about 700 thousand tons. The
level of self-provision reaches at best 40-45%. Deficit of cereals in
Armenia is covered due to import, especially from Russia and Ukraine.

Berberyan added that this year was favorable for irrigation lands and
in non-irrigation lands there is no harvest at all due to drought.-0–

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN CONGRATULATES VALENTINA MATVIYENKO

ARMENPRESS
September 23, 2011
YEREVAN

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan has sent a
congratulatory letter to newly-elected Speaker of the Russian Council
of Federation Valentina Matviyenko.

RA NA press service told Armenpress that in the letter Hovik Abrahamyan
congratulates Valentina Matviyenko on the occasion of being elected
in the post of Speaker of the Russian Council of Federation.

“The inter-parliamentary cooperation between Armenia and Russia is
at a high level today. The close and productive cooperation within
the framework of Armenian-Russian inter-parliamentary commission,
CIS inter-parliamentary summit and other international parliamentary
organizations promote further expansion of the strategic partnership
between Armenia and Russia,” the letter runs.

Hovik Abrahamyan also expressed confidence that by Valentina
Matviyenko’s election the inter-parliamentary cooperation between
our countries will grow and afford new opportunities for its further
expansion.