Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA KICKS OFF NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 13, 2012 – 14:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia has kicked off construction of the
North-South corridor highway at Yerevan-Ararat sector, with Transport
and Communications Minister Gagik Belgaryan, North-South Road
Corridor Investment Program SNCO Executive Director Ara Hovsepyan and
president of Spanish Isolux Corsan company Francisco Garcia attending
the ceremony.

This corridor highway will help Armenia strengthen its role as a
transit country, as the North-South will join the “southern gate”
of Meghri with Georgia’s Black Sea ports, Mr. Hovsepyan commented.

The project is estimated at $962 million, of which $500 will be
allocated by the Asian Development Bank.

THE YOUNG MAN OF OUR REPUBLIC’S AGE DREAMS OF A CATTLE-BREEDING FARM

Karabakh-open.info
Thursday, 06 September 2012 18:17

Dweller of Maghavouz village, Mardakert region, Arman Soghomonyan who
was born on September 2, 1991, confesses that he always notes with
pride his being the same age as the independent Artsakh Republic is.

“I always celebrate a great birthday party in parallel with the day
of our Republic. Usually on this day as I visit the memorial complex
early in the morning I become sad a bit,” confesses Arman whose father
Armen Soghomonyan was killed in Ghazanchi in 1992.

Today Arman is a third-year student at the Stepanakert branch of the
Agrarian University of Armenia. He enjoys collegiate life, the only
problem, according to him, is having no spare room in the hostel and
he together with the other students has to rent a flat.

“My mother works in the NKR Defense Army and has to earn the living
of the whole family. Nearly 5 years ago she was provided an official
flat in Mardakert and our family moved there to live,” Arman says
and adds that in spite of his mother’s numerous applications they
were not provided with an apartment as a perished soldier’s family.

A year ago Arman addressed a letter to the President of the country
with a request of solving the housing problem.

“Soon we got the reply to my letter according to which a corresponding
decree of providing us with an apartment already existed. We are
looking forward to the event,” he says.

At the completion of his higher education Arman intends to find a
job in Mardakert, though, as he says, it would be better to settle
in Stepanakert.

The young man from Maghavouz aims to found a small cattle-breeding farm
in his native village. “I love my village very much yet my profession
is better paid in the capital and in the regional administration
centres. In fact I prefer the idea of founding a farm as before my
admission to University I studied farming at the agricultural college
of Stepanakert.”

GOVERNMENT WILL COVER ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES COSTS OF ECONOMIC ENTITIES

ARMENPRESS
13 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: By the 30th of November the
state bodies, organizations and the reporting staff will be provided
with identification cards and electronic signatures. As reported by
Armenpress, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic
of Armenia Artem Asatryan stated at the session of the Armenian
Government that the economic entities should submit a registration
application to the State Revenue Committee. “The economic entities,
which are provided with identification cards and electronic signatures
by November 30, the service fee for their e-signatures in 2013 will
be covered by the state budget”, – said the Minister.

The Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that thus the citizens’
e-signature issue would be settled and the major part of the expenses
would be covered by the Government.

Artem Asatryan informed also that special working groups have been
established in the regions to assist the process. A large-scale
works on raising the awareness of the economic entities and their
training will be carried out in order to pass to a united electronic
reporting form.

PRISONER SEWS UP HIS MOUTH

07:49 pm | September 12, 2012 | Social

The lawyer of an inmate of “Nubarashen” penal institution called the
hotline of Armenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman, saying that the prisoner
sewed up his own mouth and went on a hunger strike. In his words,
the man, who has health problems, took these actions in protest of
the improper medical aid given to him.

Employee of the Ombudsman’s Rapid Response Group David Davtyan along
with two representatives of NGOs cooperating with the Rapid Response
Unit Suren Iskandaryan and Hasmik Sahakyan went to “Nubarashen”
penal institution and had a face-to-face talk with the inmate. The
employees of the rapid response group familiarized themselves with
his problem and suggested submitting an application to the Human
Rights Ombudsman in order to take action on the problem.

Then the members of the rapid response group met with the head
of “Nubarashen” penal institution. As a result the prisoner was
transferred to the penal institution’s aid post, after which he ended
the hunger strike and removed the stitches.

SHRMAZANOV HIGHLY ESTIMATED LITHUANIAN SEJM MPS STANCE ON SAFAROV CASE

ARMENPRESS
13 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly
Vice -President, Lithuania-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group
Co -Chair Edward Sharmazanov had a telephone conversation with the
Group Co-Chair from Lithuanian part Algis Kaseta on Lithuanian Sejm
Mps statement posed to the international community in connection with
criminal assassin Ramil Safarov pardon by Azerbaijani President.

As National Assembly information and public relations department told
Armenpress the deputies signed the statement have expressed their
deep concern over Ramil Safarov extradition by Hungarian Government
and the subsequent release by Azerbaijani President who was sentenced
to life imprisonment for axe murdering Armenian Armed Forces officer
Gurgen Margaryan.

Sejm MPs voiced conviction Safraov pardon may lead to the repetition
of similar crimes, which contradicts to international standards and
may hinder the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peace regulating
process between Armenia and Azerbaijan .NA Vice- President stated in
the telephone conversation Armenian NA high estimates its Lithuanian
counterparts recall.

A. RASMUSSEN: “THE TERRIBLE CRIME MUST NOT BE GLORIFIED”

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen answered to the question
about his visit to Armenia during the conversation with Euro News TV
channel. Answering to the question about the protest actions in Armenia
and about his responsibility over R. Safarov’s case, Rasmussen said:

“It is really tragic event. Let me just note that I have not seen
any anti NATO action in Yerevan”, Rasmussen said adding that he saw
actions by the young people who were against Ramil Safarov’s pardon.

“The terrible crime must not be glorified. I am seriously troubled
that the decision by Azerbaijan to give a pardon to that officer may
damage the confidence, stability, cooperation and peace in the region”,
NATO leader concluded.

222 BIRTHS IN AUGUST

Wednesday, 12 September 2012 12:38

During the past month 222 births were registered in the Republic. The
greater part of them, 96 births were registered in Stepanakert. As
Karabakh-open.info was informed at the NKR Ministry of Justice in
the number births Mardakert with 29 births is in the second place
and Martouni with 26 births is in the third place.

The number of deaths has increased to 106 the most part of them in
Stepanakert /34 cases/, in Mardakert /23 cases/, and in Martouni
/22 cases/.

AZERBAIJAN VIEWS ARMENIA AS “FIRST TARGET” OVER KARABAKH – PRESIDENT

APA
Sept 11 2012
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani president has said that Armenia is his country’s
“first target” because of the Karabakh territorial conflict between the
two. Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan will continue to isolate Armenia
from international and regional projects and that “the liberation
of the occupied territories remains the most-priority issue” in his
country’s domestic and foreign policies. He said there is not enough
international “impact” on Armenia and that Azerbaijan “must restore
its territorial integrity”. He also said that the world supports Baku’s
position but the OSCE Minsk Group, which mediates a peaceful solution
to the conflict, has failed to settle it, which means Azerbaijan
“must become more powerful”. Private APA news agency, which carried
Aliyev’s remarks in English on 11 September, did not specify where he
had made the remarks. The following is the text of report; subheadings
inserted editorially:

Baku, 11 September: “The occupation of our territories is a main
problem for Azerbaijan. Our lands were occupied as a result of
aggression and invader policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan,” said
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Not enough world impact on Armenia

The president said that this issue remains unsolved because of the
supporters of Armenia. This issue cannot be solved: “Though, there
are all opportunities and legal base for the solution. International
organizations adopted orders and resolutions. Heads of the leading
countries announced that the current situation is unbearable and
‘status quo’ must be changed. Unfortunately, Armenia remains
indifferent in these challenges and the international community
does not sufficiently impact them, that is why, the problem remains
unsolved. We will further strengthen our country and international
positions. There are sufficiently many legal bases for the settlement
of the conflict and these bases defend and support the position of
Azerbaijan. The UN, UN Security Council, OSCE, Council of Europe,
European Parliament and other international organizations adopted
orders and these orders are the only way of the settlement.”

Azerbaijan won’t change position on Karabakh settlement

The head of state underlined that all countries recognize the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and that this problem can be
solved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan: “Azerbaijan
won’t change its position on the solution of the issue; we will not
give up our way. Nagornyy Karabakh is a historical and eternal land
of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan must restore its territorial integrity. The
invaders must be withdrawn from the occupied territories and will be
withdrawn. [Displaced] citizens of Azerbaijan must return back to their
native lands and they will return. Our compatriots will return back to
the regions situated outside the administrative borders of autonomous
province of Nagornyy Karabakh and Nagornyy Karabakh itself, Xankandi,
Susa. I believe in this and there are many factors that make me to
be sure: international law, economic power of Azerbaijan and growing
image of Azerbaijan in political sphere. We can see the successes of
Azerbaijan by looking at the history of one year. We are a member
of the best respected international organization – the UN Security
Council. We chaired this organization several months ago. We joined
them with the support of 155 countries.

Non-Aligned Movement

“One-hundred and twenty countries – members of the Non-Aligned
Movement supported resolutions reflecting the solution of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict within territorial integrity of the Azerbaijani
Republic. One-hundred and twenty countries make the majority of the
international community. In some cases we hear the conception of the
international community and some communities, organizations consider
themselves as the international community when they use the term. The
essence that the international world is neither the unity of 20, nor
30 states. The UN is an international community which includes 155
countries and all of them support us. The Non-Aligned Movement is also
an international community. This movement includes 120 countries. They
support us too. This means that the international community supports
our position and of course, this gives us additional possibilities
and increases our belief.

International mediators have failed to resolve Karabakh conflict

“At the same time the Minsk Group was especially established 20
years ago in order to solve this conflict, but it has not been able
to settle this issue, it is not able to show the necessary impact on
Armenia to achieve its aim. We observe that this issue maybe solved
by Azerbaijan by using force and it can find its solution. That is why
we must become more powerful. We must strengthen the Azerbaijani army
and this process is successfully being continued. The Azerbaijani army
is currently one of the most powerful armies of the world, and not
only in the region. We move our country forward by strengthening its
economy. It creates opportunity to pursue an independent policy in the
world arena. That’s why we pass the decisions in foreign and domestic
policy, which meet the requirements of our own interests. Strong
Azerbaijan is the main factor in the region. This is also a factor for
stability in the region, at the same time, it’s impossible to consider
regional issues without the opinion of Azerbaijan. Attempts of passing
relevant decisions without the opinion of Azerbaijan have not produced
any result and the last event distinctly reflected this. That’s why
the stronger Azerbaijan is, the faster it will be able to restore
its territorial integrity.

Armenia “first target”

We have a clear position concerning this issue. I have expressed my
opinion dealing with this issue for several times. All the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan must be liberated form the invader, then
peace, cooperation may be restored in the region and the source of
security can be established. Our lands are still under occupation,
that’s why our first target is Armenia. We will continue isolating
Armenia from all the international and regional projects. This policy
gives its results and the difficult position of Armenian economy
was the result of the policy carried out by Azerbaijan. This is
unambiguous. According to the official statistics declared by Armenia,
80,000 people left the country in the first half of the year. I
think that this figure will be doubled at the end of the year. The
population of Azerbaijan is growing and this figure will be seriously
increased in 5-10 years in comparison with today’s index. These factors
must make Armenians realize the current situation. The difficult
economic and demographic position of Armenia and its isolation
from all international and regional projects must concern them. But
Azerbaijan is going forward. Although Azerbaijani territories are
under the occupation, we achieve much success in the sphere and such
steps will be continued. Azerbaijan has recently taken the 46th place
[in the world] and the first place among CIS countries according to
the ability demonstrated in the competition between the world states
at Davos World Economical Forum. Our work shows its results. We want
the restoration of fairness and will be able to achieve our aims. The
liberation of the occupied territories remains the most-priority issue
that is put into the agenda of both domestic and foreign policy. We
do our best and we will continue our work to achieve our goals.

REPORT: SUSPECT LIABLE FOR MISCONDUCT IN BALıKcı CASE

BIAnet.org
Sept 13 2012
Turkey

The expert report on the death of Turkish-Armenian soldier Sevag
Balıkcı found suspect Kıvanc Agaoglu responsible for engaging in
wrongful conduct. The court also accepted the plaintiffs’ demands to
send evidence materials to the Forensics Institute.

Ekin KARACA

The expert report that arrived in the Diyarbakır Second Air Force
Command Court Martial on the death of Turkish-Armenian soldier Sevag
Balıkcı found suspect Kıvanc Agaoglu responsible for wrongful
conduct, plaintiff lawyer Cem Halavurt told bianet.

Agaoglu had shot Balıkcı dead on April 24, 2011 while they were
both performing their mandatory military service.

The court martial in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır also
accepted the Balıkcı family’s demands for evidence material to be
sent back to the Forensics Insitute during the eigth hearing of the
trial on Friday, as well as their request for the court to listen
to eyewitnesses.

“The report prepared by Capt. Murat Yazgan from the Land Forces is
in our favor. The report indicates that Agaoglu should have never
switched on his rifle’s safety lock and stresses that he had acted
wrongfully,” lawyer Halavurt said.

The court decided to adjourn the next hearing for Nov. 5, 2012.

“We had requested the file to be sent back to the Forensics Insitute
due to the confusion about [Sevag’s] clothes. Our request was granted.

Moreover, [the court] also accepted our demand to for them to hear
eyewitness,” he added.

Officials had examined Sevag’s clothes during the hearing on July
2, but Sevag’s father Garabet Balıkcı had claimed the clothes in
question did not belong to his son.

“He was not in the habit of wearing an undershirt. We are in doubt
as to whether the clothes really belong to him or not. If my son was
taken to hospital after he was wounded, then [medical staff] would
have torn his clothes apart during emergency treatment. None of the
clothes have been torn, however,” Garabet Balıkcı had said.

Lawyer Halavurt had then requested that the clothes be sent back to the
Forensics Institute for re-examination along with all other evidence
materials, and the chief judge had said they were going to issue a
decision on the matter following the arrival of the expert report.

Suspect Agaoglu’s lawyer also requested a ban on the publication of
news about the case on the grounds that the issue had wrongly begun
to acquire political dimensions, but the court rejected his demand
during Friday’s hearing.

“Agaoglu’s relative Bulent Kaya had attempted to influence the
witnesses. [Officials then] took his testimony as well. We had already
filed a complaint after he gave his testimony… The judge responded
that this issue would be settled in the next hearing due to the change
in the composition of the court delegation,” Halavurt also said. (EKN)

OSCE TO MONITOR CEASEFIRE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT ZONE

Journal of Turkish Weekly

Sept 12 2012

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will on
Wednesday check the way a ceasefire is being observed on the contact
line between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh,
the unrecognized republic’s Foreign Ministry reported.

The predominantly Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh claimed
independence from Azerbaijan in the late 1980s, triggering a bloody
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan which left more than 30,000
people dead on both sides between 1988 and 1994. The region has since
remained under Armenian control.

There have been an increasing number of shootouts along the line of
contact between the Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, as well as at
the border between the two states.

The OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France,
mediates the conflict.

Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been further aggravated
by the extradition and subsequent pardoning of Azerbaijani serviceman
Ramil Safarov, who killed an Armenian serviceman eight years ago.

Safarov had been serving a life sentence with a possibility of parole
only after 25 years for killing an Armenian soldier during a NATO
training event in Hungary’s capital Budapest in 2004. He attacked
Gurgen Margaryan with an ax as the Armenian slept, striking him an
alleged 16 times.

In August, Hungary extradited Safarov to Azerbaijan, where he was
pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev, greeted as a national hero and
promoted to the rank of major. Hungary said it had agreed to return
Safarov to Azerbaijan after receiving assurances that his sentence
would be enforced.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said earlier in September he hopes
tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the pardoned killer
would not affect the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.