Author: Badalian Vardan

KOWEIT
6000 Arméniens au Koweit

L’ambassadeur d’Arménie au Koweït affirme que 6000 Arméniens résident
dans ce pays aujourd’hui, la plupart des hommes d’affaires.

Fadey Charchoghlyan a noté que les Arméniens de Syrie qui se sont
installés dans le pays à la suite des récentes tensions en Syrie, se
sentent très à l’aise maintenant, car la plupart ont trouvé un emploi
au Koweït. « La communauté est très calme, elle n’interfère pas dans
les développements politiques. La plupart sont des hommes d’affaires,
nous avons des bijoutiers et des médecins bien connus et aimés par les
Koweïtiens » a déclaré le diplomate.

L’histoire de la communauté arménienne au Koweit date de 1955.

dimanche 27 octobre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
L’Arménie va consulter ses alliés de l’OTSC sur « les provocations à
la frontière » de la part des azéris

L’Arménie va consulter ses alliés militaires de l’Organisation du
Traité de sécurité collective (OTSC) au sujet des dernières violations
de la frontière par l’Azerbaïdjan qui ont accru les tensions dans les
régions du nord du pays ces derniers temps.

Un militaire arménien a été tué mardi et trois autres blessés lorsque
les forces azerbaïdjanaises ont ouvert le feu sur un convoi militaire
se déplaçant le long de la section Paravakar sur la route Berd-Ljevan.

D’autres tirs sur la route située près de la frontière avec
l’Azerbaïdjan ont été signalés le lendemain et le ministère de la
Défense a déclaré que la route était fermée temporairement pour le
transport pour permettre certains travaux de génie pour des raisons de
sécurité.

S’adressant au parlement mercredi, le Premier ministre arménien Tigran
Sarkissian a décrit cette situation comme une autre « provocation » de
l’Azerbaïdjan et a juré qu’elle ne resterait pas sans réponse.

« Je pense que le but était de détourner l’attention des citoyens
azerbaïdjanais des discussions actives des résultats des élections
dans la période postélectorale », at-il ajouté en réponse à une
question du secrétaire de la faction Héritage Tevan Poghosyan
concernant l’incident à la frontière.

Quant à savoir si l’Arménie a soulevé cette question devant ses alliés
de l’OTSC, Tigran Sarkissian a déclaré : « Nous allons attirer
l’attention de nos partenaires sur cette question et, naturellement,
la question porte sur le système de sécurité collective. Nous allons
informer nos partenaires sur toutes ces questions, présenter nos
points de vue ».

Pendant ce temps, un groupe d’étudiants arméniens a tenu une
manifestation devant le bureau de l’OSCE à Erevan mercredi, exigeant
une condamnation internationale des actions de l’Azerbaïdjan à la
frontière avec l’Arménie.

dimanche 27 octobre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

RUSSIA’S MOTIVATION FOR WAR

Russia’s policy is not just becoming increasingly uncertain but also
reminds prostitution. Such characteristics do not allow defining more
or less the country’s behavior, even regarding the agreements in place.

The existence of the Russian base in Gyumri is in the interests of
Russia, not Armenia, and the Armenian political government is not
aware of its affairs.

It is hard to tell that Russia is interested in the defeat of
Azerbaijan in the war because first it would reduce the sales of
Russian weapon, second, it may lead to Turkey’s intervention. Besides,
such intervention will be possible in the result of little
participation of Russia in the war.

For its part it could lead to NATO’s intervention. In this regard,
Russia will prefer contacting Turkey during the war, which will
lead to agreements on preventing any military success of Armenia,
even insignificant.

NATO and the United States will continue to carry out the task of
Turkey’s containment in case of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Turkey demonstrates its ambitions and pretensions to the United
States and NATO but Syrian events demonstrated that despite being
dissatisfied with the West’s position Turkey did not dare intervene
in Syria directly, without agreeing with the United States and NATO.

Nobody can limit Turkey’s defense support to Azerbaijan but the United
States and NATO hope to contain Turkey in case of a war in the South
Caucasus. Therefore, relations with Russia will be helpful to Turkey.

Russia’s foothold in the Black Sea and Caucasus in not strong enough.

At least, it is far behind Turkey in all dimensions except nuclear
containment. Deployment of the Russian military base of Gyumri would
soon reveal the inability of this base in particular and the Russian
armed forces in general. Therefore, Russia would rather use this
military base for blackmail and defeatist claims to Armenia.

Hence, however it is called in the professional military language,
Russia keeps in mind the military defeat of Armenia as a means of
protecting its interests in the region.

The next step is territorial concessions. Having lost Western political
support, there is no need to expect that the United Stated, NATO
and the EU will join this regional game if their interests are met,
i.e. NATO member Turkey’s intervention is prevented with all the
mutual commitments, the oil and gas complex is saved, expansion of
Russian influence on the South Caucasus and its military strengthening.

In this situation Russia’s intentions are acceptable for the West.

Thereby they will demonstrate what awaits a country which thoughtlessly
and shamefully rejected cooperation with the Euro-Atlantic
cooperation. So, it is worth figuring out what should be done with
the Russian military base in case of a war.

The “fifth column” in Armenia will not appear at the front line, of
course, and will be limited to showing televised images of Russian
armed forces during a demonstration of military force in Yerevan.

Igor Muradyan 09:17 26/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

LA GEORGIE INVITEE A REINTEGRER LA CEI, ORGANISATION DOMINEE PAR MOSCOU

MINSK

MINSK,(AFP) – Les presidents belarusse et ukrainien ont appele vendredi
la Georgie a reintegrer la Communaute des Etats Independants qu’elle
avait quittee a la suite de la guerre eclair russo-georgienne de 2008,
a deux jours de la presidentielle dans cette ex-republique sovietique.

“Je le dis franchement – et ce n’est pas seulement mon opinion – :
nous voudrions que la Georgie revienne” dans la CEI (ex-URSS, moins
les pays Baltes et la Georgie), a declare le president belarusse
Alexandre Loukachenko, lors d’une reunion d’une reunion du conseil
des chefs d’Etats de la CEI a Minsk.

Le president ukrainien Viktor Ianoukovitch, aussi present a cette
reunion, s’est egalement montre favorable a cette idee. “Les portes
de la CEI sont toujours ouvertes pour la Georgie”, a-t-il dit. La
Georgie a annonce en août 2008, en pleine guerre avec la Russie pour
le contrôle de la region separatiste d’Ossetie du Sud, territoire
georgien pro-russe, son intention de quitter la CEI.

Après une offensive georgienne, lancee dans la nuit du 7 au 8 août
2008, la Russie avait riposte en engageant une operation militaire
d’envergure et en envahissant une partie de la Georgie. A l’issue
de cette guerre de cinq jours, Moscou a reconnu l’independance de
l’Ossetie du Sud et de l’Abkhazie, un autre territoire separatiste
georgien.

Le retrait de Tbilissi de la CEI, une organisation dominee par Moscou
et fondee a la chute de l’URSS, est entree officiellement en vigueur
en août 2009. Les dirigeants belarusse et ukrainien s’exprimaient
alors que la Georgie elit dimanche un nouveau president pour succeder
au pro-occidental Mikheïl Saakachvili, arrive en 2003 au pouvoir.

Le favori de ce scrutin, Guiorgui Margvelachvili, un ex-professeur de
philosophie, est le candidat du camp adverse, celui du milliardaire
et Premier ministre Bidzina Ivanichvili, qui prône pour sa part
une normalisation des relations avec Moscou, interrompues depuis le
conflit de 2008.

En meme temps, M. Ivanichvili assure cependant reprendre a son
compte l’orientation pro-occidentale de la Georgie. Reagissant aux
declarations des presidents belarusse et ukrainien, le porte-parole
du ministère georgien des Affaires etrangères a d’ailleurs indique
que la politique etrangère du pays restait “inchangee”.

“L’integration europeenne et euro-atlantique est le choix du peuple
georgien et le gouvernement ne se detournera jamais de cette voie”,
a declare Irakli Vekoua. Le porte-parole du Kremlin, Dmitri Peskov,
a de son côte indique a l’AFP qu'”en theorie, la Russie soutenait le
developpement de processus d’integration”.

samedi 26 octobre 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

BOLSHOE SPASIBO MR. BALAYAN

Friday, October 25th, 2013

Zori Balayan

BY PATRICK AZADIAN

Come and take it, we can’t deal with this any more! This was supposedly
the message in Zori Balayan’s letter to President Putin of Russia
on the issue of Karabakh. Apparently, Mr. Balayan has suggested that
based on the Treaty of Gulistan, Russia is the rightful owner of the de
facto Armenian republic of Karabakh. Interestingly, since this ‘news’
hit the Armenian media outlets, Balayan has rejected the notion of
offering Karabakh to Russia.

Karabakh’s unification with Russia is a radical idea that should
raise some very thick eyebrows in the region.

It is difficult to go through all the permutations of who meant what,
but either Mr. Balayan did suggest this idea himself or some people
took his attempt to remind President Putin that Russia should own
up to its historical responsibilities in the region and twisted the
spirit of the letter to serve their own narrow personal interests.

Regardless of whether anyone takes the idea seriously, we can’t just
dismiss the sentiment. The urge of handing over everything Armenian
to Russia is a real and present danger for the Armenian people.

Let’s pretend for a moment that Mr. Balayan was in favor of such an
anti-Armenian proposal. Why would an Armenian patriot born in Karabakh
suggest the handover of his motherland to Russia on a silver platter?

I can only think of two general possibilities. Either he was under
the influence of tti oghi (mulberry vodka) or he genuinely thought
this was in the best interest of the Armenian people.

I suggest Mr. Balayan was as sober as a God-fearing mullah from
Qum when he wrote the letter. You see, I know this because I am a
diasporan Armenian and have felt the effects of vodka combined with
patriotism. Drinking produces Dutch courage, not meekness and treason.

If Mr. Balayan was in fact under the influence of mulberry vodka,
his letter would have been something like this: “Dear Mr. Erdogan, we
are coming to take Western Armenia. Dear Mr. Saakashvili, Akhalkalak
is ours. And you, Mr. Aliyev, Nakhichevan is our next Karabakh. War
on all fronts, at any expense!”

Now that we are certain that Mr. Balayan wasn’t drinking, the next
possible question is what could have he been thinking to prompt such
a letter? I have to assume that with someone of his legacy, he was
thinking this would be the best option for the Armenian people. There
are a few scenarios that may have passed through his mind.

Here is the most unlikely scenario: Russia takes Karabakh; Russia turns
around and gives it to Armenia. This scenario needs no discussion but
I’ll entertain the idea briefly because it has been suggested by some.

If Russia takes Karabakh, it is not guaranteed that there will be no
backroom deals with Turkey and Azerbaijan to ensure that Karabakh is
not annexed to Armenia. There is also no assurance that Russia will
not hand it over to the Azeris in exchange for major concessions from
Turkey and Azerbaijan.

History suggests that a handover of Karabakh to Azerbaijan by Russia
is not out of question. It has happened once already. It was under the
auspices of Soviet Russia that Nakhichevan and Karabakh were included
in the territories of Soviet Azerbaijan. It was the same big brother
that also facilitated the transfer of Kars and Ardahan to Turkey. One
could argue that this was a different Russia – the Godless kind.

What’s more terrifying is that the Godless big brother’s record
is actually better than the churchgoing one when it comes to the
Armenians. At least on paper, Soviets believed in brotherhood of
nations and under their rule Armenia and Armenians prospered in certain
realms. Back then, we were known as the more progressive peoples of
the empire. Now, Russia views us as the backward South Caucasians.

Next comes the scenario of Russia taking Karabakh, keeping it and
making it a paradise where Armenians live happily ever after. Take
one look at how Russia treats its own provinces and ‘autonomous’
republics and it is not difficult to see that this scenario is as
naïve as the last.

I can’t imagine Mr. Balayan is naïve enough to believe in any of the
above-mentioned scenarios. Thus, I have to conclude that there are
elements in the Armenian society that want the transfer of Karabakh to
Russia. First, to rid themselves of the Karabakh problem and perhaps
benefit financially from Russia’s further exploitation of the region.

Which brings us to a final scenario that could not have been Mr.

Balayan’s brainchild. Russia takes Karabakh and sucks the blood out
of it natural resources. In the process, Armenia avoids the Azeri
(and Turkish) threat while some Armenians pad their pockets with
Russian-Armenian joint ventures.

Here, we come full circle to the following question: Why does the price
of security and prosperity have to be slavery and servitude to Russia?

The common thread in all of these scenarios is the assumption that
Armenians cannot govern and protect themselves. Mr. Balayan’s letter
has brought to surface this type of slave mentality and love for
greed that exists among some Armenians.

* * *

Every nation suffers from some national illnesses. We have our own
share. Not taking responsibility for our own long-term future must
be on the top of this list, right there with illusions of grandeur,
infatuation with symbolic victories, and our vintage pack up and
leave mentality from almost every place on Earth where we encounter
difficulties and challenges.

Perhaps, Mr. Balayan is aware of these national maladies and feels he
must choose between the least of two evils before it’s too late. But
it is difficult to believe that the Armenian people have been left
with no other alternatives than selling off everything to Russia. Some
ex-Soviet republics are trying to crave out an independent path for
themselves. Why can’t Armenians entertain such a path even if we were
to recognize Russia’s supremacy in the region?

Have we exhausted all other alternatives? What have we (I include
Diaspora and Armenia in the ‘we’) done with Karabakh since its
liberation? What are we doing with Armenia’s potential?

* * *

Despite our national ailments, we have managed to experience some
miracles in recent history as well. We are respected for our spirit
of survival and entrepreneurship. After just about 600 years of
statelessness and immediately after the trauma of the Genocide, we
managed to declare a republic in 1918. Regardless of the circumstances,
that was no small feat. In retrospect, that was a miracle, which lead
to our newly gained independence, to our youthful and fragile Armenia
– yet another miracle. Who would have bet on the Armenians emerging
victorious against the Azeris in the Karabakh war?

And on a much smaller scale, who would have put money on the Armenian
national soccer team giving the four-time world cup winners Italy in
Napoli a scare few weeks ago (the game ended 2-2. Maladetz tgherk!)?

So perhaps, we do have the potential to take our rightful place among
other nations as a living, breathing culture with our dignity intact.

Maybe there is a possibility to maintain some self-respect while
trying to carve out an independent path that ensures the survival and
growth of our culture on our ancestral lands (emphasis on the lands
we already have).

Maybe it’s time to take responsibility for our destiny and recognize
the resources that we do and do not have.

As a people we don’t do realistic with a hint of idealism well enough.

We are heavy on utopianism with a rare splash of practicality. We
are addicted to symbolic causes and we have forgotten how to think
about practical, long-term solutions that improve our chances of
national progress.

Thank you, Mr. Balayan for bringing to surface our national maladies
and exposing the sell-out elements of our society, even if you didn’t
mean it.

Bolshoe spasibo, Mr. Balayan. Blagodaryu!

THIS IS AN ACCELERATED PROCESS – KHACHATUR KOKOBELYAN

22:42 ~U 25.10.13

Below is an interview with Chairman of the Free Democrats party
Khachatur Kokobelyan.

– Mr Kokobelyan, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan participated in
the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and asked for the
process of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union to be speeded up.

Also, two stages of integration into the Eurasian economic area
were reported.

– First, I consider the statement is a continuation of the process
launched on September 3.

Secondly, it is common knowledge that, since September 3, we have
stated our objection to the process, as, no matter how strongly it
is advocated as a means of resolving Armenia’s security problems, it
has not given us any new security guarantees. We should not forget
that it is Armenia that is the most reliable security guarantee
both for itself and for Nagorno-Karabakh. The most striking evidence
thereof is the Belarusian president’s statement that, in the context
of Armenia’s accession, the Customs Union must necessarily consider
Azerbaijan’s position, as well as Russian officials’ statements on
Nagorno-Karabakh. Just imagine, the president of a Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) member-nation states that the Customs Union
must consider non-member Azerbaijan’s position in signing an agreement
with Armenia. That is, we are speaking of strategic cooperation with
Russia and other nations while they are not treating us as their
strategic partners.

Thirdly, it is obvious that, when the visa facilitation process was
launched in cooperation with the European Union (EU), the Customs
Union speeded up the process of Armenia’s accession, as, according
to previous statements, it was to be done in May 2014. However, the
process is accelerating indeed. I link it to that process and I feel
regret that we are not only speaking of the Customs Union, but are
also moving toward an alliance which we consider unpromising. If that
strategic alliance were capable of resolving all the major problems
of our foreign policy and economic progress, we would not object to it.

But we do not see such a process in this case.

– Mr Kokobelyan, by saying “accelerating” do you mean the aim is to
torpedo the document on a new format, which is expected to be signed
following the European Partnership summit in Vilnius, Lithuania?

– Of course, this ‘acceleration’ has to do with the Vilnius summit.

The fact is that we do not have any tangible results with respect to
the security system since that statement was made. At the same time,
we lost our chance to draft an Association Agreement with the EU,
which, I firmly believe, would have ensured the economic progress
Armenia needs so much.

No matter, how many statements our government officials make at
different levels, claiming their support for both the processes, life
has once more proved it is not so. We have repeatedly stated that the
‘both…and’ policy does not work in this case.

– Following the Vilnius meeting, an EU official stated there would
be a new document. Do you think Armenia may sign a document with the
EU that would enable our country to have a lower status than Moldova
and Georgia, but a higher status than Belarus and Azerbaijan?

– I do not think a serious document will be signed in Vilnius. I
firmly believe that a document will be signed which will record the
results of four-year negotiations and may serve as a basis for further
negotiations, which, I think, will certainly take place. That is,
the document in question is supposed to record the results – from
legal reforms to government system reforms. I do not think a practical
document will be signed in Vilnius.

– President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev made a statement on
Turkey’s involvement in the Customs Union.

– His statement is one more proof that the problems of Armenia’s
foreign relations and Nagorno-Karabakh are being ignored. Proponents
of the Customs Union have always pointed out the problem of security
and Turkish threats. In contrast to many, I do not think Armenia and
Turkey will both be Customs Union members. But the nature of this
alliance is of high importance. That is, what are rules the Customs
Union members will have to observe? We see that most of Turkey’s
official statements on the re-opening of border with Armenia mention
Nagorno-Karabakh. Official Turkey is biased against Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is our problem. It is obvious that we do not have any chance
to be convinced that Armenia’s national interests are taken into
consideration in the accession process.

– Do you imply that the accelerated process will worsen Yerevan’s
relations with Brussels?

– I would not like to view your question from this aspect. But I
am sure the development of Armenia-EU relations is not in Russia’s
interests. Otherwise, they would not have put the question of Armenia’s
accession to the Customs Union before the Vilnius summit.

And no one can prove the opposite. High-ranking Russian officials
stated and hinted Armenia would face problems if it signed an
Association Agreement with the EU.

– What’s your opinion of the European Parliament’s resolution approved
on Thurday?

– It should be noted it is a strong-worded resolution. It highlights
three points: it condemns violence against political activists; it
contains regret over President Serzh Sargsyan’s decision and notes
that he made the decision without consulting the parliament or the
public. Thus, the EU considers it a rash decision. And the third point
highlights the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and contains a reference to the
four UN resolutions and the OSCE Minsk Group’s statement in L’Aquila.

Different assessments have been and may yet be made. By and large,
the aforementioned points can be said to have recorded the present
situation. But I think that the EU’s regret itself is not in Armenia’s
interests.

Armenian News – Tert.am

WHO WILL STOP AZERBAIJAN’S AGGRESSION?

Friday, October 25th, 2013

Azerbaijan’s President Ä°lham Aliyev inspects a military outpost on
the Armenian-Azeri border

BY HRANT APOVIAN

Aggression (noun): Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward
another, readiness to attack or confront.

On October 16, at 20 30 hours another Armenian defense force officer,
senior commander of strategic planning, Captain Kevork Mnatzaganian
was killed as a result of Azeri machine gun fire. Seriously injured
were senior corporal Karoush Hampartsoumian, privates Nareg Hagopian
and Edgar Haroutiounian. Over the last several years, over one hundred
members of the Armenian Defense Forces were either killed or injured
by Azeri border attacks or sniper fire.

The border attacks on Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia are not accidental
incidents. They are part of a long standing political-military
strategy of Azerbaijan, to keep the line of demarcation volatile,
to test Armenian defense positions, and as a ploy to challenge and
derail peace efforts by the O.S.C.E.

It is significant, that the attack occurred on the eve of an O.S.C.E.

Mission scheduled to observe the line of contact on the two sides
of the border in Hatrut. O.S.C.E representative Andrzej Kasprezyk
suspended the monitoring for security considerations.

What is glaringly obvious, is that Azerbaijan’s aggressive behavior
is revved up, whenever there is monitoring or prior to negotiating
sessions. One was during then Secretary State Hillary Clinton’s visit
to the region.

It is a fact that Azerbaijan is never held accountable and exposed for
its violations. O.S.C.E. Representatives never accuse the aggressor.

They resort to a non-committal call for restraint to the parties
involved. This emboldens Azerbaijan even more. Its challenges to
peace efforts remain unpunished.

Publicly, Armenian Defense Force communiqu̩s Рwhile mourning the
loss of young conscripts- are satisfied with a laconic and vague
pronouncement of a proper response repelling and punishing the
aggressors.

Politically we are still waiting for world condemnation of Azerbaijan’s
aggressive behavior. Rather, there is an effort to appease Azerbaijan,
and to woo it back to the negotiating table. There is a stark effort
not to alienate Azerbaijan.

Politically Armenia is reluctant to stop negotiations, while the
killing of Armenian soldiers at the line of contact goes on unabated.

With each loss of human life, one expects a response from the Armenian
government that never materializes.

Negotiations were not suspended when Ramil Safarov, “The Ax Murderer”,
was extradited to Azerbaijan and was welcomed as a hero.

They were not broken off while President Aliyev repeatedly threatened
to attack Nagorno Karabakh with his mighty military arsenal. Finally
they were kept alive when Azerbaijan tried to present Armenia as
the aggressor in Muslim nation forums or at the United Nations,
succeeding in passing anti-Armenia resolutions.

It seems that time is not in favor of a just resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh quest for independence.

Azerbaijan is amassing a formidable arsenal, outspending Armenia by
two billion dollars a year.

Azerbaijan has no intention of coming to terms with Nagorno Karabakh
independence.

The West is pampering Azerbaijan and overlooks its rigged presidential
elections, turns a blind eye to human rights abuses, arrests of
journalists, and opposition figures.

Azerbaijan is violating the terms of a cease fire that it is a
signatory to.

What is unacceptable is the killing of young soldiers. It is a war
crime to post snipers on the Azerbaijan – Nagorno Karabakh border,
as if it were a shooting gallery.

Azerbaijan’s transgressions are extensive; they need to be exposed
one by one:

1. There has to be worldwide condemnation of Azerbaijan’s aggressive
posture and war crimes.

2. Azerbaijan needs to pull its snipers away from the contact line
and stop the killing.

3. Azerbaijan has to adhere to its pledge made in Moscow of not
resorting to a military solution.

4. Azerbaijan has to adhere to a pact of limiting military expenditures
in the Caucasus.

5. Azerbaijan has to adhere to the Geneva Convention and give access
to the International Red Cross to visit Armenian war prisoners and
repatriate Armenian soldiers that are still being held.

6. Azerbaijan has to stop its anti-Armenian hateful rhetoric.

7. Azerbaijan has to stop presenting the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
as a religious war to the Muslim world.

8. Azerbaijan has to stop its multimillion dollar lobbying effort in
the United States to buy influence.

9. Azerbaijan has to stop blacklisting foreign officials that visit
Nagorno Karabakh, or maybe it should continue to do so.

10. Finally, Azerbaijan must come to terms with the concept of self
determination for a people that has lived there for centuries and
was subjected to massacres and persecution by the Azeri Government.

The West should not remain silent; it has to force Azerbaijan to stop
the killing.

The cease fire is a sham. The killing has to stop. We will not stand
for this.

Azerbaijan is accountable for each Armenian soldier killed.

Armenia: neutralize the snipers or stop all negotiations…

CYPRIOT, ARMENIAN DEFENCE OFFICIALS DISCUSS TIES, ENERGY, SYRIA

Cyprus News Agency
Oct 23 2013

Fotiou and Armenian Deputy Minister of Defence Discuss About
Cooperation

Nicosia, Oct 23 (CNA) — Cyprus’ natural resources in its Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) should be exploited to the benefit of all people
of Cyprus, peace and security in the region but also they should
constitute a motive for the achievement of a solution of the Cyprus
problem, Minister of Defence Fotis Fotiou has said.

Speaking Wednesday [23 October] during a meeting he held with Deputy
Minister of Defence of Armenia, Alik Mirzabekyan, Fotiou also referred
to the economic crisis, noting that the government of Cyprus is
determined to work hard to restart the economy.

According to an official press release, Fotiou and Mirzabekyan praised
the “long-lasting and excellent relations, which are based on common
values and their struggle for survival.”

They exchanged views on how to further enhance relations between
the two Ministries and decided to draft an agreement for the mutual
protection of upgraded information.

According to the press release, they exchanged views on issues of
mutual concern and discussed about the political situation in the
wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean placing emphasis on Syria.

They also expressed conviction that their bilateral relations would
be further enhanced for the benefit of stability in the region.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Fotiou said that the Republic of Cyprus
wants to resume the negotiations that would lead to a viable, just
and mutually acceptable solution, on the basis of the UNSC resolutions.

He pointed out that the government of Cyprus is willing to proceed
to a substantive dialogue, provided that the basis of the solution
is clarified and the procedure of the talks is well prepared.

As regards the developments in the energy sector, Fotiou stressed
that the hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus’ EEZ should be exploited to
the benefit of all people of Cyprus and for peace and security in
the region.

He added that the natural resources in Cyprus’ EEZ should constitute
a motive also for the achievement of a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied
its northern third. Repeated UN-led efforts over the past decades have
not led to a negotiated settlement in Cyprus. Talks are expected to
resume in the coming weeks.

Cyprus is currently developing natural resources discovered within
the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone, while several international
companies are involved in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation
activities.

4 YEAR-OLD SHANT NEEDS YOUR HELP!

11:50, October 25, 2013

Four year-old Shant was diagnosed with acute leukemia in July.

The little boy is now being treated at Yerevan’s R. Yeolyan Haematology
Center.

But Shant will need expensive medication to continue his treatment.

The “Give Me Life” association implores all to donate whatever possible
to help little Shant

Donations can be made to the following VTB-Hayastan Bank accounts:

AMD 16028018838600

USD 16028018838601

EUR 16028018838602

RUR 16028018838603

Shant’s parents are ready to provide copies of all medical documents
and bills.

For more information, please call +37494 63 46 84:

Sincerely,

Sargis Hovnanyan

“Give a Life”

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CHARLES AZNAVOUR TO PERFORM IN ROYAL ALBERT HALL

October 25, 2013 | 18:34

World famous singer Charles Aznavour on Friday will be appearing for
one night only for his first live concert at Royal Albert Hall for
over 25 years.

French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour is also Armenia’s Ambassador
to Switzerland, permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva,
a National Hero of Armenia, a songwriter, actor, and public activist.

The 89-year-old singer has recorded 1,200 songs and released 294
albums.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am