Author: Badalian Vardan

IT IS POSSIBLE TO REACH PROGRESS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT ONLY IN CASE OF NKR FULLY PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATIONS: NKR MFA

ARMENPRESS
21 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS: The Foreign affairs ministry of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic expresses its support to the joint statement
of Russia, France and USA issued in Los Cabos on Azerbaijani-Karabakh
conflict. Armenpress was informed from NKR Foreign affairs ministry
that in the statement is mentioned:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
supports the joint statement of the Presidents of Russia, the USA,
and France on the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict issued in Los Cabos. We
always had a positive attitude to such initiatives aimed at a peaceful
solution to the issue, taking into account all the principles of
international law, and reaffirm our readiness to follow the appeals and
recommendations of the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing
states. At the same time, we have to state that the Azerbaijani
party continues to interpret the statement of the mediators in a way
favorable for itself and to set pre-conditions, thus torpedoing these
initiatives. Azerbaijan continues to boycott the implementation of
key confidence-building measures in the region, such as elaboration
of corresponding mechanisms for investigating the incidents at the
borderline, withdrawal of snipers from the contact-line, and others.

Unfortunately, official Baku hasn’t refused yet of the initially
assumed force method of solving the conflict. Azerbaijan, representing
a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the responsibilities
of which include fighting for the security in the region, refuses of
civilized ways of solving the issue.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
expresses hope that this time the authorities of Azerbaijan
will display constructivism and abandon their futile policy of
military-force blackmail and sabotage threatening the fragile regional
security and stability. We believe that only through a political
dialogue, with the equal participation of the Nagorno Karabakh
party, it is possible to achieve progress in the negotiations on the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement and to establish lasting
peace in the region”.

GEORGIA SCALES UP HELICOPTER FORCE
By Yurii RAIKHEL

No.38, Thursday, 21 2012

During the visit of Hillary Clinton US Secretary of State to Georgia
among other important issues there were discussed possibilities of
military and technical cooperation. After Russia’s aggression in 2008
it has become the main component of national security for Tbilisi. We
should not forget that the Russian military group is only a short
distance away from the Georgian capital.

There is also an international dimension to it. It is known
that tension has significantly increased on the contact line of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Explosions and gunshots can be heard there and
actions of Special Forces units have been reported in the region. Many
experts and observers do not rule out a transition of the conflict into
its hot phase. In this situation Armenia, which has been Russia’s ally,
is in geographical isolation. Moscow is somewhat limited in providing
possible assistance to this country because it has no common border
with Yerevan. That is why a number of military experts in Moscow
started talking about the possible breakthrough of Russian troops
through the territory of Georgia. In any case, this can be expected
through Georgian airspace.

That is why at the meeting of the bilateral working group, which
was held in Batumi within the framework of the Charter on Strategic
Partnership signed in January 2009, Georgia and the United States
represented by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton there were
discussed possible variants of assisting Georgia in developing its
surveillance of air, air defense, as well as surveillance in the
shoreline zone. While this process will take on from analysis and
evaluation to implementation in the following months the United States
will consider the request made by Georgia for purchasing materials
of defensive nature in addition to the training and assistance that
has been already provided. This was reported in the document of the
US Foreign Affairs Agency.

The document also mentions US willingness to assist in the
modernization of the Georgian utility helicopters. Clinton said:
“We will improve multipurpose helicopters of Georgia, so that they
could transport goods and people across the country easier. We also
intend to help Georgia to ensure training of officers, which is
necessary in today’s changing environment.”

The reports on the US possible assistance to Georgia coincided in time
with the news that after withdrawal of American and NATO troops from
Afghanistan in 2014 all the military equipment will be granted at no
cost to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. According to sources
close to the military departments of the Central Asian republics these
will be armored vehicles, as well as trailers for transporting tanks,
trucks, tankers, specialized graders, bulldozers, and water carriers.

Besides, the Pentagon is ready to give medical equipment, communication
and fire fighting equipment, and even portable gyms and other devices
for military life to Afghanistan’s neighbors. It also became known
that the US plans to deploy military equipment that was used in
Afghanistan in Central Asia.

This act of charity is absolutely justified from a technical and
economic point of view. Equipment has deteriorated greatly, is
partially or completely worn out and it makes no sense to transport
it for thousand miles, especially now, when US will soon put into
service new models of military equipment.

But there is also another aspect. The equipment received at no cost
will have to be repaired, maintained, and possibly upgraded. And
it can only be done by American companies that supply weapons
for their army. In any case, the US position in Central Asia will
be strengthened. Besides, it will shake Russia’s monopoly for the
supply of arms to countries in Central Asia, which is important both
from military and political perspective. Especially since this has
already happened in the South Caucasus. Georgia and Azerbaijan have
adopted Western standards in arms, although the latter still purchases
Russian military equipment in some quantities, but these supplies
do not determine the general state of country’s arsenal. The only
customer for Russian weapons in significant quantities in the region
is Armenia. It purchases weapons on favorable terms or even for free.

It is interesting that Moscow strongly opposes the transfer of weapons
used by American and NATO army to countries in Central Asia. Somehow
it has a right to perform such charity acts towards Armenia but would
not let anyone else do the same. Even though some of the countries
in the regions are the members of the CSTO and have the right, just
like Armenia, to get the same attitude. Perhaps Moscow doesn’t think
like that and it ranks its allies according to some vague criteria.

The big neighbor of Ukraine also did not leave without attention
the fact that Georgian military helicopters that were repaired in
Ukraine have been sent to Tbilisi. Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine
Grigol Katamadze reported that all the issues related to financing
the repair works have been resolved. Ambassador said: “We continue
our cooperation in military and technical spheres.”

Gela Bezhuashvili, Georgian Defense Minister said that the helicopters
were sent for repair to Ukraine back in 1999. According to him, two
ASW helicopters Mi-14 and three helicopters Mi-24 have been repaired so
far. Repair of two Georgian helicopters Mi-2 has not been finished yet.

In this regard, one can say firmly that, despite the continuing
successful military and technical cooperation between Ukraine and
Azerbaijan, Ukraine has not been realizing its potential in arms
sales and providing technical service to full capacity.

In this situation we can speak about the fact that Ukraine has
not yet been able to overcome the complex of a “younger brother”
in relation to the neighboring country. Recently we began hearing
more about the restoration of cooperation ties of times of the Soviet
military-industrial complex. On the other hand, clearly there is fear
of making neighbors angry in any way. But it doesn’t make much sense.

They do not hesitate to compete with their Ukrainian rivals on the
weapons market. They are in no way limited by discussion of the
brotherhood, common past, and frustrated cooperation. Instead they
try to find ways to replace the import of weapons and accessories
from Ukraine, but, to their regret, it never just works out the way
they want.

And the last thing. In the not so clear economic and financial
situation in the world the military and technical cooperation and
arms sales could be of significant importance for Ukraine’s economy.

Government need to be guided by this. Moreover, because even in the
CIS arms market we can still make some good money. The examples of
Georgia and Azerbaijan are a good proof of that.

YEREVAN CHURCH DOME CRACKS

news.am
June 21, 2012 | 11:51

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Rescue Service received a call, on Wednesday at
11:02am, informing that the facing stones could fall from the dome
of capital city Yerevan’s Holy Trinity Church.

And the Araratian Pontifical Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church was made informed of this development, the Rescue Service told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

It was found out, however, that there are cracks on the stones but
there is no danger of falling.

BSTDB TO DOUBLE THE INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
21 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARENPRESS: Black Sea Trade and Development Banks
will provide Armenian banks and business organizations around
50 million Euros until 2014. Armenpress reports that about this
declared the President of the Bank Andrei Kondakov during the press
conference on June 21. He informed that the bank since the day of
its foundation till today had invested around 50 million Euros in
different spheres of Armenian economy. “During the first two years
BSTDB will concentrate on commercial activities and infrastructure
as well as on development of energetic industry. The bank intends to
expand its continuing support to Armenian small and medium enterprises”
said Kondakov. Deputy Minister of Finance of Armenia Vardan Aramyan
informed that the Republic of Armenia is one of the founder countries
of the bank. “It is already the 4th national strategy established
with the bank. Our activity with the bank corresponds to our economic
reforms” said Aramyan highlighting that at present Armenia has 3.7
percent share of the bank.

SIUNIK MAKES ARMENIAN FOOD MORE ACCESSIBLE
By Kevin Pang

Chicago Tribune
,0,1025554.story
June 20 2012
IL

You point-they assemble service at restaurant is much like Chipotle

The first time I sunk my teeth into the pork kabobs at Siunik
Armenian Grill, glistened in its rich semi-rendered fat, speckled
with paprika-like dots of Aleppo peppers, it felt both welcomed and
unfamiliar. Something seemed out of place, like discovering cheese
at a Thai restaurant.

The incongruence soon became clear. You never see kabobs (in the Middle
Eastern sense) and pork together, per Halal laws. Whenever I taste
those region-specific flavors – chickpeas, parsley, dates, yogurt – my
mind fills in the blank with lamb or beef. But Armenia, a predominantly
Christian country surrounded on three sides by predominantly Muslim
countries, doesn’t observe such dietary restrictions. Its sparingly
spiced food reflects its crossroads Eurasian geography – peripherally
Middle Eastern, Turkish and Eastern European.

I wonder how Siunik Armenian Grill, an 8-month-old operation in
Glenview and Skokie, tackles the uphill task of introducing an
unfamiliar cuisine to reluctant Midwest American palates. They come
at it from several angles.

First, they serve items such as hummus, which is not Armenian, but
seemingly obligatory at Middle Eastern restaurants. So owner Levon
Kirakosyan added hummus to the menu, and his customer base grew.

Next, they hope to frame the cuisine as unintimidating and accessible.

I might have never stopped in Siunik if a friend hadn’t described
the restaurant as “an Armenian Chipotle.” That statement’s about 70
percent accurate. At its Skokie location, all that’s missing from
the concrete floor and two-toned wood panels are the funky Mayan wall
sculptures. Warm holding trays are stacked on the glass-partitioned
counter, where service is you-point-and-they-assemble.

Like Chipotle, an entree contains one each of meat, starch, vegetable,
side and sauce, which can be wrapped in a flour tortilla-like
lavosh flatbread, or heaped onto a plate. I’d suggest against the
wrap option here ($5-$5.75). Unfamiliar ingredients should be tasted
individually and not lumped into a haphazard mess. Go with the plate
instead ($7-$9.25), where you can see the vibrancy splayed out –
the Christmas colors of parsley and tomato tabbouleh, or chopped red
onions with the purple, lemony powder of ground sumac.

On my visits, there was one cashier and one cook. Here’s where Chipotle
aspiration ends and small business reality begins. A grandmotherly type
tended the grill, rotating stainless steel skewers to order. There
are no grab-and-go meals here. The food arrived when it did, which
was no more than five minutes. I later found out she was Hayastan
Kirakosyan, mother of Levon, who emigrated from Armenia six years
ago and helps at the restaurant.

She developed most of the dishes as a housewife. Levon said he’s
proudest of his mother’s mushroom pilaf, and I’ll second that – cous
cous-like cracked wheat steeped in mushroom and onion broth. Kasha,
too, is a family recipe: steamed buckwheat kernels, nutty and
gluten-free, rooted in Armenia’s Eastern European ancestry.

It’s a subtle thing, but I appreciate the varied textures on my plate
avoiding one-note mushiness. There’s a crunchiness to the cabbage
salad, a crumbly crispness to the honey cake, a gentle give to the
tender grilled meats. The made-in-house yogurt, smooth and tangy on
the intake, provides a cool counterpoint to the hot kabobs. The first
item listed on the menu (which I’d assume to be its proudest offering)
is the lula kabob. It’s a first cousin to kefta kabobs, ground beef
formed into cigars that tastes like your nana’s onion meatloaf. The
cubed steak and chicken breast kabobs both retained moistness, too,
a minor miracle. (A vegetarian plate of red beans and parsley is also
available, as is a $4.95 weekday lunch special of chicken, steak and
lula kabobs.)

Among dipping sauces, lolik is a spicy marriage of tomato salsa and
ajver, the Balkan red pepper sauce accompanying cevapcici (a second
cousin to lula kabobs). Garmiruk isn’t far off from bloody mary mix.

Taken as a whole, a forkful from each corner of the plate, the meal
transports you from the North Shore, though you’re not exactly sure
where it takes you. Middle Eastern? Persian Empire? A hint of Soviet?

I found it filling and exotically ambiguous.

Siunik Armenian Grill

1707 Chestnut Ave., Glenview, 847-724-7800 and 4839 Oakton St.,
Skokie, 847-329-4200

Open: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday. Credit
cards accepted, though cash preferred. Most expensive entree item
is $9.25

Recommended: Pork kabob, combo plate, mushroom pilaf, hamov (sauteed
eggplant), honey cake

VAHRAM ATANESYAN: LOS CABOS STATEMENT PROVED THERE ARE NO DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF THE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRING COUNTRIES
Lusine Avanesyan

“Radiolur”
20.06.2012 18:08
Stepanakert

Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the NKR National
Assembly Vahram Atanesyan supposes after the statement of the
Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries issued in
Mexico that there are no discrepancies regarding the Karabakh issue
between the leaders of the co-chairing countries.

Political scientist Hrach Arzumanyan considers that the United States
and Russia have reached an agreement on some issues, and the necessity
of abrupt changes in the Karabakh issue has lost its urgency. “That’s
why we have some time to understand what’s happening,” he said.

According to the political scientist, the Los Cabos statement changed
the opinion that in the context of disagreements between Russia and
the United States Washington will be trying to prove that the efforts
of the OSCE Minsk Group targeted at the settlement of the Karabakh
issue are not that effective.

TURKEY DEEPENS IMPRINT IN CENTRAL ASIA
Michael Moreland

Atlantic Sentinel

June 19 2012

By adding Turkey as a partner and Afghanistan as an observer, the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization pushed forward with its initiative
to strengthen the regional powers’ ability to combat terrorism,
extremism and drug trafficking.

Turkey has been a major factor in Central Asia’s development in
the aftermath of the Soviet collapse and has expressed interest in
creating even stronger ties with the region.

Turkey and Afghanistan will be an asset for Central Asia as it
struggles to overcome and destroy the expansive drug trade that
is undermining national institutions. By increasing aspects of
cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization hopes that regional
interdependence will grow and the region will be able to modernize.

Although much of its involvement in Afghanistan has been as a part
of the largely Western coalition operating in the country, Turkey
has taken a leadership role in many aspects of NATO operations and
has stated that it will pursue independent, close political ties
with Afghanistan even after the rest of the coalition packs up and
heads home.

As a new SCO dialogue partner, Turkey has expressed particular concern
about curtailing international terrorism in the region, as well as
crimes such as human and drug trafficking.

Analysis

Turkey is strategically positioning itself as the key player
bridging the SCO in the east and NATO in the west through its unique
relationship to Central Asia. Partnering with the SCO marks a logical
step towards Turkey’s pan-Turkic economic and strategic expansion
into the region.

Turkish expansion into Central Asia is driven by geopolitical forces
of Turkic identity, strategic interest and economic profitability. As
Turkey geographically bridges Asia with Europe, so will it bridge
the strategic blocs of NATO and the SCO in Central Asia. Moreover,
as the perceived standard bearer of Turkic ethnic identity, Ankara
is uniquely positioned to play a central role in Central Asia.

This could be beneficial for both NATO and the SCO, as Turkey can
facilitate productive avenues for cooperation between the two security
blocs. There are, however, several regional political entities that
will not be happy to see Turkey consolidate its spheres of influence
across Central Asia-Armenia, the Kurds and Iran.

Since the forced expulsion and unacknowledged genocide of ethnic
Armenians from Turkey in the early twentieth century, Armenia has had
a bitter relationship with the Turkish Government. Armenian diasporas
in Western countries, as well as in Russia, have proven to wield
considerable political influence in foreign policy decisions. The
violence and territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia
and Azerbaijan is one issue that may put Turkey at odds with SCO
member state Russia.

Ethnic Kurds throughout eastern Turkey, Iraq and Iran also have reason
to fear a Turkish partnership with the SCO. Ankara has long refused
to fully recognize Kurdish ethnic identity within its own borders
and has long fought against Kurdish nationalist and terrorist groups,
even going so far as to launch incursions into neighboring Iraq.

Iran is also interested in pursuing a similar strategy of expansion
into Central Asia, following historical ethnic paths to make strategic
inroads with ethnic Persians (i.e., Persian related speakers in
Afghanistan and Tajikistan). Iran, however, is already a key partner
with several SCO countries and an observer country itself.

As the only NATO member country within the SCO, Turkey could well
position itself as a useful dialogue state. With no credible assurance
of European Union membership and a unique NATO status, a place at
the inner circle of the SCO may leave Turkey with no other choice
but to become a third party broker state linking strategic blocs,
if not becoming a regional power unto itself.

GEGHARKOUNIQ COMMUNITY REPS OPPOSE TODAY’S LAKE SEVAN PARLIAMENTARY HEARING

news.am
12:19, June 20, 2012

The Ecolur Informational NGO reports that it has petitioned National
Assembly President Hovik Abrahamyan to nullify a parliamentary hearing
on Lake Sevan scheduled for today.

At today’s hearing, the issue of whether to draw down 320million
cubic meters of lake water will be discussed.

Ecolur has petioned Abrahamyan and Samvel Balasanyan, who heads the
parliament’s Standing Committee on Agricultural and Environmental
Issues, on behalf of twenty Gegharkouniq civic groups and local
community leaders who are against the measure and have already made
their opinion known to the parliament.

Ecolur says that these community representatives have been denied
access to today’s hearing, in violation of the RA Constitution and
the Aarhaus Convention.

U.S. FIRM TO BUY TEN RUSSIAN-MADE BE-200 JETS

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 20, 2012 – 17:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – An American company has signed up to buy ten
Russian-made Beriev Be-200 amphibian aircrafts for use in the
fire-fighting “airtanker” role, in a breakthrough contract to the
U.S. market for the plane, RIA Novosti reported.

“We have contracted for 10 Be-200s to use by us under expected
federal and state fire fighting contracts,” says TTE’s President,
David Baskett.

TTE will lease the aircrafts to airtanker operators in the U.S.

The value of the deal has not been disclosed, but in 2010 Russia’s
Emergencies Ministry signed a $330 million deal for eight of the
planes configured for firefighting.

Neither Beriev, which makes the planes, or United Aircraft Corporation,
Russia’s aerospace holding company, was available to confirm the deal
on Wednesday, June 20.

The contract award follows months of trials for the U.S. Interagency
Air Tanker Board, which promotes safety of airtanker operations in
the U.S..

The aircraft was demonstrated in Taganrog, south Russia in May,
and made practice water-drop demonstration flights for United States
Forest Service officials, according to fireplanes.org. The Taganrog
trials were conducted jointly by International Emergency Services,
and Beriev, which funded the trials.

The Be-200 can land on water and scoop up 3,000 gallons (12,00 liters)
of water into its hull, and can then fly quickly to an affected area
and drop its load onto a fire. It can also be reconfigured for search
and rescue or passenger flying. Beriev is the world’s only maker of
large amphibious jet aircraft.

The United States has an urgent need to renew its air tanker fleet as
many existing planes in the role are obsolete and coming to the end of
their lives. The FAA, the country’s aviation watchdog, recently ordered
safety checks on Lockheed Neptune P2V air tankers operated by Neptune
Aviation after large cracks were found on a wing spar in one aircraft.

DOLLAR PASSES AMD 417/$1 AT ARMENIA’S STOCK EXCHANGE

news.am
June 20, 2012 | 16:14

YEREVAN. – The US dollar’s exchange rate against the Armenian Dram
(AMD) continues to soar in Armenia’s financial market.

Its average exchange rate comprised AMD 417.61/$1, at NASDAQ OMX
Armenia stock exchange on Wednesday, and this is the first time this
year that the US currency’s average exchange rate exceeded the AMD
417/$1 level at the stock exchange.

The total sales were $1.27 million.

And Armenia’s exchange offices raised the dollar’s buying exchange rate
up till AMD 416.5/$1 and the minimum selling rate is at AMD 419/$1.