Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

SOUTH STREAM POSES THREAT TO UKRAINE’S NATIONAL INTERESTS – BOIKO

20:53, 27 May, 2011

The South Stream gas pipeline poses a threat to Ukraine’s national
interests, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuri Boiko said on Friday.

He underlined that “Kiev will always oppose” the construction of the
gas pipeline that will pump gas under the Black Sea to Europe.

“The more efforts we take to modernize the country’s gas pipeline
network, the less chances there will be for the implementation of
the South Stream project that is targeted at draining our pipeline
network,” he said.

Boiko asserted that “the existing capacities of Ukraine’ s gas pipeline
network provide opportunities for loading it with additional volumes
of the Russian gas to transit it to West and Central Europe without
expanding the network of main gas pipelines.”

He noted that modernization of Ukraine’s gas pipeline network under
support of the European Union will begin in the middle of June.

“Reconstruction works will begin at the Urengoi-Pomary-Uzhgorod
pipeline,” he said.

Boiko assured that “Ukraine will further fulfil its partner obligations
and will remain a reliable country for the transit of Russian gas to
EU member-states.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN MP OWNS SWANKY PARIS VILLA
Levon Hayrapetyan

18:42, May 27, 2011

The villa shown here is located on a ritzy Paris street named after
the French singer Maurice Chevalier. A little digging on our part
shows that it belongs to RA National Assembly MP Tigran Arzakantsyan.

The villa, named Heritage, belongs to a firm called Almaz, which is
registered under MP Arzakantsyan’s name.

Homes on the quiet street go from 1.5 to 2 million Euros.

MP Arzakantsyan is a no-show Armenian legislator, having been absent
from 1,371 out of 1,630 parliament sessions. He only visits Armenia
when there is personal commercial business to attend to.

The Mercedes parked outside the swanky villa carries Armenian license
plates that have been tracked back to one Edik Arzakantsyan from the
town of Gavar, Armenia.

Even more interesting is the fact that none of the financial disclosure
statements submitted by the MP make any mention of the purchase of
French real estate.

From: Baghdasarian

FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER WILL FACE ETHICS HEARING

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 27, 2011 – 18:08 AMT

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will face an ethics investigation alongside
his election rival Mohamed bin Hammam after soccer’s governing body
widened its enquiry into bribes-for-votes allegations.

In shock move on Friday May 27, FIFA said it was calling Blatter to
appear at an ethics hearing on Sunday, three days before he stands
against challenger Bin Hammam in the election for the most powerful
job in world soccer.

Bin Hammam was summoned on Wednesday, along with CONCACAF president
Jack Warner and two Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials, after
fellow executive committee member Chuck Blazer reported a possible
case of bribery in the election campaign.

According to FIFA’s statement on Friday, ethics proceedings were opened
against Blatter at Bin Hamman’s request because the FIFA president
may have known about cash payments to delegates at the meeting.

“I cannot comment on the proceedings that have been opened against
me today,” Blatter, who has been FIFA president since 1998, said in
a brief statement on Friday. “The facts will speak for themselves.”

Bin Hammam has denied any wrongdoing in the matter, which concerns
a CFU meeting attended by Bin Hammam and Warner on May 10-11.

The presidential election, in which the two men are the only
candidates, is due to go ahead on June 1 at the annual FIFA Congress
in Zurich but is now surrounded by uncertainty.

FIFA would not comment on the potential consequences of the ethics
committee hearing, to be headed by Namibia’s Petrus Damaseb.

However, a previous ethics committee hearing in November handed down
provisional bans to two executive committee members who allegedly
offered to sell their votes in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting
contest to undercover newspaper reporters.

If such a ban was handed to one or both of the candidates it would
make it impossible to hold the election on June 1.

Blatter is standing for a fourth term against Qatari Bin Hammam,
head of the Asian Football Confederation.

The crisis erupted on Wednesday following a report by CONCACAF
general secretary Blazer alleging possible violations of the FIFA
code of ethics.

On Thursday, Bin Hammam said in a statement that Blatter was aware
of alleged payments and should therefore be investigated himself.

FIFA accepted that view and will invite Blatter, who recently described
the governing body as comfortably off with over $1 billion in reserves,
to explain his conduct in the matter, Reuters reported.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN PLEASED WITH STATEMENT OF U.S., FRENCH AND RUSSIAN LEADERS ON KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 27, 2011 – 14:31 AMT

Novruz Mammadov, the head of the international relations department
at the Azerbaijani President’s Administration, said Azerbaijan hails
and supports the joint statement adopted in Deauville by the U.S.,
Russian and French Presidents.

“Concerns expressed by Obama, Medvedev and Sarkozy with respect to the
unresolved Karabakh conflict are quite explainable. The Presidents
stressed the necessity of soonest settlement of the conflict, with
what we are pleased,” Mammadov said.

According to him, the world community’s stance indicates that
the status-quo cannot be maintained and its change is important,
1news.az reported.

From: Baghdasarian

PEGOR PAPAZIAN RESIGNS NCFA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 27, 2011 – 16:15 AMT

On June 15, National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA)
executive director Pegor Papazian will resign his position.

The decision came as a result of lengthy discussions, NCFA reported.

“During the 20th meeting, the NCFA board of trustees confirmed the
importance of Mr. Papazian’s contributions to the development of the
foundation’s structure and direction-setting. Major programs in tourist
and healthcare sectors were launched under Mr. Papazian’s guidance,”
NCFA report stressed.

From: Baghdasarian

MP: IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS WITH OPPOSITION AMONG REASONS FOR AMNESTY

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 27, 2011 – 11:45 AMT

Member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Rafik Petrosyan
admitted that improvement of relations with the opposition was among
the reasons for the amnesty declared on the occasion of the 20th
anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

“Amnesty will help solve problems challenging Armenia and improve
the situation in penitentiaries,” Petrosyan told a press conference
in Yerevan.

Leader of New Times Party Aram Karapetyan, in turn, welcomed
the amnesty, particularly the fact that his “friends – political
prisoners – will be released.” He agreed that the authorities’ decision
concerning amnesty was caused by the wish to ease domestic tensions.

With a vote 91-0, the Armenian parliament approved Thursday, May 26,
President Serzh Sargsyan’s proposal for declaration of amnesty for
396 people to be released and 379 to have their sentence cut.

Presenting the proposal on Wednesday Justice Minister Hrayr
Tovmasyan said that “declaration of amnesty is a humane initiative
and demonstration of the President’s good will.” “This is a move
that can unite the nation. We must change our public life and have a
civilized dialogue,” he said, adding that amnesty does not mean loss
of vigilance.

From: Baghdasarian

PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENT STATEHOOD 20 YEARS AGO WAS A PROPER STEP
Laura Grigorian

Friday, 27 May 2011 10:56

This idea was emphasized by members of the international scientific
conference in Stepanakert.

Arsen Melik-Shahnazarov, Adviser to the NKR Foreign Minister:

– I consider this an extremely important event, as first of all,
we must remind of ourselves each time. Second, our friends should
know our position. And not only them. By the way, those, who have
arrived here, are also our friends, and it is important to share our
viewpoints, because such discussions end with new ideas, which can be
brought to both local and foreign political scientists and societies
while communicating with them. I think the main goal of the conference
should be just the exchange of opinions, because if we only speak of
our 20-year independence and achievements, we’ll have no results. So,
I see the basic goal of the scientific conference in getting specific
advices and discovering new ideas. Besides, it is, surely, a chance
for those who didn’t visit Artsakh earlier, and there are such among
the conference participants, in particular, mass media representatives
from foreign states. I think the conference is important both for
them and us. They will have a series of interviews with the Artsakh
authorities and separate persons and will make assure once again
that the proclamation of independent statehood 20 years ago was a
proper step and is an irreversible reality. So, there cannot be even
a word about the return. As of the international recognition of the
NKR, I think that any similar event should be aimed at actual ends,
i.e. the NKR recognition process, as all of us, including our friends,
are working in this direction. And to this end, similar events should
be held not only in Nagorno Karabakh, but also in foreign states,
which is done thanks to our representatives in different states.

Victor Sheynis, Senior Staff Scientist of the RAS World Economy and
International Relations Institute:

Unfortunately, I participated in the second part of the scientific
conference, due to my participation in another event in Armenia. In
this regard, the conference organizers should have taken into account
that a scientific conference would take place also in Yerevan, which
wasn’t done. I think both conferences were very interesting and
purposeful. What I saw, heard, and understood here is that life is
passing in its natural way in the conflicting state – people live,
create, and deal with scientific issues. This scientific conference
also testifies that everything is so as it should really be. As of the
NKR international recognition, I think it isn’t so important as the
determination of the NagornoKarabakhRepublic in defending its right.

This is the most important, which needs Armenia’s support. Important
is also the position of Russia, which isn’t interested in a conflict
occurrence in the South Caucasus. Other powers aren’t interested in
this either. I don’t approve the position of the OSCE Minsk Group. I
think it can be more resolute. But, the powers are not interested
in the violation of the existing balance here. Will recognition take
place or not, it is another matter.

Vladimir Zakharov, Director of the Political and Social Researches
Institute of the Black Sea-Caspian region:

The two-day scientific conference, taken place in Artsakh, was
very interesting and impressive. Generally, the event was also
interesting in the context of our communication with our Armenia and
Artsakh colleagues. We learnt many news and ideas. And the role of
the conference is quite significant. It seems to be a regular and
usual conference, which isn’t so. First, it is related to the 20th
anniversary of the NKR proclamation, or 20 years of the actual
existence of the NagornoKarabakhRepublic. And whatever is said
(either by the enemy or a friend) about its non-recognition, the NKR
has proved by its existence that it is a free and independent state
and its authorities are legitimate.

Ruben Zargarian, Adviser to the NKR Foreign Minister, Candidate of
Historical Sciences:

The scientific conference passed on quite an interesting and
intellectual-analytical level. Interesting reports were made, covering
the general situation in the region and the international laws, basic
on which the NagornoKarabakhRepublic was established. The speakers
from Armenia, Russia, and Artsakh touched upon the issues in details
and with actual analysis, giving their fair assessment; corresponding
discussions took place, and everybody came to the conclusion that
finally, the NKR international recognition is necessary and inevitable.

Similar conferences should be organized more frequently in order that,
first, the position of the Artsakh people can reach the world, and
second, that the Artsakh people can learn the viewpoints of experts
from different states.

From: Baghdasarian

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: ARMENIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN SUPPORT OF EXCLUSIVELY PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

ARMENPRESS
MAY 27, 2011
YEREVAN

We highly appreciate the efforts of Presidents Medvedev, Obama and
Sarkozy directed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said commenting on the
statement of the Minsk group co-chairing countries.

“The statement made May 26 in the sidelines of the G8 Summit in
Deauville by the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries,
contains important messages and may become an impulse for the
settlement of the issue. Armenia has always been in support of the
settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh
through exclusively peaceful means and has repeatedly proven that in
practice, therefore, it is clear to whom is addressed the unequivocal
message of the statement in this regard. Armenia has given a clear
answer to the latest version of the basic principles proposed by the
three Co-Chairs as a basis for the negotiations of the settlement. If
Azerbaijan gives an unequivocal agreement, then it will be possible to
register a progress in the process of the settlement. It is apparent
to whom is addressed the message included in the statement in this
regard, too.

From: Baghdasarian

BAKU ANGRY AT YEREVAN’S CLAIM THAT CSTO COULD INTERVENE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT

Interfax
May 20 2011
Russia

Baku has branded as provocative Yerevan’s statement that the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) could support Armenia in case
the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh worsens.

“Azerbaijan does not claim an inch of another country’s land and is
not taking any steps toward this. But if Azerbaijan intends to do
something on its own land, this is its right,” Azeri presidential
spokesman Novruz Mamedov said on ANS television.

Allegations that the CSTO could intervene if Azerbaijan decides to
liberate its land from Armenian occupation are “provocative in nature,”
Mamedov said.

Armenian Defense Minister Seiran Oganian said on Thursday that Armenia
counted on support from its allies within the CSTO if the war over
Nagorno-Karabakh is resumed.

Oganian said also that Yerevan favored a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN BOOKSTORES SELL ANTINATIONAL MAPS

Aysor.am
27 May 2011

In the Armenian bookstores maps are being sold with the images of
Armenia and Artsakh where the liberated regions are included in
the territory of Azerbaijan, informs the “Recognize your country”
initiation.

While the Armenian publishers “consecrate” our fathers’ lands to
the Azerbaijanis the latter “appropriate” not only the present NKR
including it in their maps but also put an imaginary pointer from
NKR to Nakhichevan.

“Recognize your country” youth initiation calls on the publishers
of the antinational maps not to support the Azerbaijani propaganda
machine.

Aysor.am Recognizes its country (see the picture).

From: Baghdasarian