Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Suren Surenyants announces creation of new party

13:27 23/08/2014 >> POLITICS

I believed that the liberal political forces could consolidate, but
they didn’t – and therefore I am announcing the creation of a new
party – New Liberal Party, head of the party’s organizing body Suren
Surenyants told a news conference on Saturday.

In his words, it is not important how many members the party will have
– it is much more important that the party be based on ideology.

Surenyants noted that the new party cannot cooperate with the
Communist Party, it can hardly cooperate with ARF Dashnaktsutyun,
Heritage, Prosperous Armenia and Armenian National Congress. The
politician added that cooperation with Armenian National Movement,
Liberty, Republic and Free Democrats parties is possible.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

Hraparak: Georgia’s new government not serious to Armenia

09:59 * 23.08.14

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s recent visit to Armenia
is said not to have received a proper coverage by his press service.

The paper claims that the Georgian cabinet chief concealed certain
details of his two-day official trip in an attempt to play up to the
Turks and Azerbaijanis. Particularly, a press release issued after the
trip made no mention of Garibasvili’s visit to the Armenian Genocide
Memorial Complex, notes the paper.

What’s even more, the Georgian and English versions of the statement
did not coincide, says the paper, adding that the meeting with
President Serzh Sargsyan was missing from the English version.

The paper says that the political circles attribute all this to
Georgia’s serious trade-economic relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

“Azerbaijan is the fourth [major] investor in Georgia, so Georgia
probably resorted to the primitive trick in an attempt to demonstrate
that the relations with Armenia are not serious at all,” the paper
says, noting that the Georgian side issued the official statements
only after the visit.

From: Baghdasarian

Trend, Azerbaijan
Aug 22 2014

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry calls on U.S., France to refrain from bias

Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 22
By Seba Aghayeva – Trend:

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement made Aug. 22, called on
U.S. and France to demonstrate a principled position with regard to
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s resolution and to refrain from bias
while expressing condolences and concerns.

The statement was disseminated by the ministry’s press service with
regard to the statements of the U.S. Department of State and French
Foreign Ministry on Karen Petrosyan, a member of the Armenian armed
forces subversive group.

“As it was stated by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, Karen Petrosyan, with the aim of committing acts of
sabotage as part of the Armenian armed forces subversive group entered
the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan through the
Armenia-Azerbaijan borderline,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“The attack and sabotage of the subversive group were prevented by the
Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and a military serviceman
of the subversive group, Karen Petrosyan, was taken captive,”
according to the statement.

“Furthermore, it was also stressed that the reasons for the death of
Karen Petrosyan, who passed away suddenly, were investigated by the
medical experts in an open and transparent manner, and the
International Committee of Red Cross was immediately informed about
his death.”

The ministry said Armenia in occupying Azerbaijani territories is on a
regular basis gravely violating international humanitarian law against
Azerbaijani citizens, who are held hostages and as prisoners of war in
Armenian captivity.

Armenia is violating the ‘Geneva Conventions for Protection of War
Victims of 1949’, the ministry stressed.

“The acts of mass murder, inflicting cruel torture, mental suffering,
merciless and degrading treatment to the point of suicide; executing
or torturing to death were conducted by Armenia against the
Azerbaijani prisoners of war and hostages,” the ministry stressed in
its statement.

“As the result of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, the fate of
more than 4,000 Azerbaijani prisoners of war and hostages in captivity
of Armenia still remains unknown,” according to the ministry.

“Inflicting brutal torture and degrading treatment against Shahbaz
Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov, who visited their native land and
graveyards of their parents, murdering of Hasan Hasanov, targeting the
civilians, including children by the Armenian forces through the
contact line and Armenia-Azerbaijan border since the very beginning of
occupation, the terror-sabotage act committed in cowardice and
contemptible manner on July 31 – August 1 and the attempts to continue
it on August 7, are the facts of Armenia’s immoral and inhuman policy
detrimental to international law.”

The ministry said that in the view of aforementioned, Armenia’s
deliberate attempts to exaggerate and politicize the case of Karen
Petrosyan are only aimed at concealing the atrocities committed by
Armenia.

“While exhibiting indifferent attitude to such inhuman behavior of
Armenia, including the fate of Shahbaz Guliyev, Dilgam Asgarov and
also Hasan Hasanov, as well as the terror-sabotage act of Armenia on
July 31- August 1, the statement delivered by the U.S. and France,
which are also the Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group, under the influence
of the propaganda machine of Armenia and radical Armenian diaspora is
incomprehensible and unacceptable.”

The ministry said that this lop-sided and biased attitude demonstrated
by OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs vis-à-vis such sensitive issues is not
perceived in an unambiguous manner by Azerbaijani society.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four U.N. Security Council resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

From: Baghdasarian

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 22 2014

Armenia and Georgia discuss energy cooperation

22 August 2014 – 11:35am

Armenian and Georgian Energy Ministers Yervand Zakharyan and Kakha
Kaladze have met in Yerevan. Zakharyan noted that increase of power
transit from 200 to 700MW was one of the most important goals of
energy programs. The new 400-KW power line is capable of achieving the
goal, Armenia Today reports.

Zakharyan discussed readiness of Georgia to assist Armenia in
accidents around the transit gas pipeline and Armenia’s compensation
of power cuts in Georgia. Kaladze thanked Armenia for cooperation and
pointed out good potential for their further development.

From: Baghdasarian

The New Indian Express, India
Aug 22 2014

Chennai Turns 375

CHENNAI: A name that kindles the old world charm, ‘Madras,’ in its
latest avatar Chennai, turned 375 on Friday as festivities marked the
birthday of this historic coastal city in South India.

In the run up to Madras Day, a long list of programmes devised by a
set of volunteers, including historians, were undertaken since August
17.

The city was believed to have been founded on August 22, 1639. A
British-era name that brought with it a lot of old world charm and
memories associated with it, Madras was rechristened Chennai by the
DMK Government in 1996.

What was once believed to be a sleepy hamlet, Chennai has now
transformed into a bustling metropolis dotted with skyscrapers, malls
and IT offices stretching beyond the city limits, even as the young
and old hobnob with their choice of filter coffee and cappuccinos.

While a group of heritage lovers came together to celebrate August 22
as Madras Day lining up a series of events including heritage walks,
exhibition of old photographs, film screenings and culinary sessions,
TV and radio channels aired programmes related to the city’s birthday.

The topics on which the walks, talks and shows are based include the
city’s origin, Armenians in Madras, forest conservation, temples and
churches besides cartoons to attract children and many more.

Madras High Court building (File/PTI) TN Secretariat building in
Chennai (File/EPS)

Madras, or Chennai, is not only known for its sumptuous spicy menu,
but also boasts of the sandy Marina, billed as the world’s second
longest beach, the multi-million rupee Tamil cinema industry whose
icons include M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan and
Rajnikanth.

The city has the rather unenviable record of being bombed by a German
ship, Emden, in 1917 during the first World War, that tested the then
British rulers’ resolve though it did not cause much damage to the
city.

Since then, Emden has found a place in the Tamil lexicon, meaning
someone who is determined and bound to create trouble.

It is a different story that the German ship was later neutralised by
the then fledgling Australian Navy, celebrating which its Consulate
General here held a photography exhibition as part of the Madras Day
menu.

From: Baghdasarian

The National, UAE
Aug 22 2014

Chapter and verse at heart

Andrew Scott

Ani Bazdekian, is a senior media relations executive at Travel
Agencies Accounting Solution. The 25-year-old Armenian was born and
raised in the UAE and is pursuing a master’s degree in media and
technology

Describe your financial journey so far.

My financial journey has been exciting but not unusual. When I was
doing my BA I used to freelance in market research companies. My
parents encouraged that because they said it instils the sense of
responsibility in me. After I graduated I started at a junior level
and gradually I got promoted. I look forward to enhancing my knowledge
of the industry and growing not only for the sake of the company I
work for, but for my own sake. I truly believe that we all have to
start small and work very hard and be extremely dedicated to climb up
the career ladder.

Are you a spender or saver?

Definitely a spender. It’s very hard to save money in Dubai, there are
a billion ways to spend money. The more I have, the more I spend. The
bare necessities include house rent, car instalments, Salik, parking
fees and fuel which alone is enough to leave a dent in a person’s
pocket. Then comes the weekend, movies, dinner, a friend’s birthday
and by the end of the month I wonder where all the money went.

What is your philosophy towards money?

I’m not going to use my own words to answer this but Ayn Rand’s words
because she says it better than anyone else. “So you think that money
is the root of all evil? Have you ever asked what is the root of
money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can’t exist unless there are
goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material
shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must
deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the
moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take
it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who
produce. Is this what you consider evil?” In brief, money is a
necessity, we need it to survive but it’s not money that is evil;
greed is evil and destructive.

Have you made any financial mistakes along the way?

I don’t think I have made any financial mistakes and I owe this to my
parents who have always taught me to spend according to my earnings;
and always be responsible with money because it sure does not come
easy. However, I know a lot of people who have been in financial
trouble, and looking at them has taught me to always be careful and
save for emergencies. You never know what life throws your way!

If you won Dh1 million, what would you do with it?

First thing I would do is finish off my master’s. I would take a month
off to travel around the world; live the local life though, I wouldn’t
want to stay in five-star hotels. I would definitely want to invest as
well, so maybe open a cafe that serves home-made desserts (I love
baking). It would really be a library/cafe. Do you plan for the
future?

My plans are not set in stone. If an opportunity comes my way and that
means I need to diverge from my plans then so be it. I have a goal I
want to reach before I’m 50 but I’m in no rush. What do you enjoy
spending money on?

I love spending money on books. Take me to Kinokuniya and watch me max
out my credit card limit. I have every book that Ayn Rand has written
and I’ve read them at least twice.

From: Baghdasarian

Do Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan not exclude escalation of military situation?

August 22 2014

Defense ministers of the three countries are discussing the issues on
protection of communication infrastructures during the military
situation On August 19, a remarkable tripartite meeting was held in
Nakhchivan between Zakir Hasanov, Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Irakli
Alasania, Georgia’s Defense Minister and Ismet Yilmaz, Turkey’s
National Defense Minister. Defense ministers of the three countries
discussed the issues on protection of communication infrastructures
during the military situation. In particular, it relates to protection
of oil pipelines, gas pipelines, railway, communication and other
facilities of strategic significance. An agreement was reached also on
conducting mutual exercises for protection of oil and gas pipelines.
This is the first meeting of the leaders of the three countries’ law
enforcement agencies in this format. According to the Georgian Defense
Minister, Irakli Alasania, the idea of holding a tripartite meeting
belongs to Georgia. `We are getting ready for the tripartite meeting
long time ago. Last year, Georgia made such a motion, and this is
going to be the first official meeting of the three ministers,’
mentioned Alasania, adding, `These meetings and the agreements reached
under these meetings will be intended to planning of our next steps,
in particular, on how our armed forces should act in emergency
situations to protect our communication infrastructures, our oil and
gas pipelines, and railway, in the event if the military situation is
escalated.’ The head of Georgia’s defense minister also emphasized
that the tripartite meeting is not directed against any party; the
initiative aims to regulate the security and defense issues. `On the
contrary, such agreements lay additional foundations for the regional
stability,’ he said. Alasania has qualified the relations between the
three countries as a strategic partnership, and has emphasized the
important role of military cooperation in achieving peace in the
region. At the Nakhchivan meeting of defense ministers of the three
countries, an agreement was reached between Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Turkey to conduct joint military exercises. According to Trend news
agency, the journalists learned about this from the Azerbaijani
defense minister. According to him, the exercises are designed to
increase the combat readiness of the armed forces. During the meeting,
the ministers also agreed on this format of meeting, twice a year, to
conduct joint seminars and conferences, and to establish a
three-dimensional format of cooperation in military-education and
military-technical industries. Defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey
and Georgia also discussed the military-political situation in the
region; they exchanged opinions on issues of security and restoration
of stability in the region. In his interview to Ð’овоÑ?Ñ?иÐ?зеÑбайджан
(Azerbaijan News) news agency, Azerbaijani military expert, Uzeyir
Jafarov, commenting on the tripartite meeting, qualified it as an
initial phase for the establishment of an equivalent to CSTO.
`Currently, Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan already have a full
cooperation on military industry. Joint exercises and training are
held, negotiations are underway on energy supply security, and so on.
Now, with regard to processes going on in the world, these countries
want to establish a military unity, which over the time will also
involve a number of CSTO members.’ He added that the Nakhchivan
meeting will be followed by other meetings in Tbilisi and Istanbul,
and after the Istanbul meeting, it would become clear about the
establishment of the new military unity. `In the initial phase, the
agreement may be signed by Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. But in the
prospect, this organization can also include the membership of a
number of Turkic-speaking countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
as well as Tajikistan,’ noted Jafarov. Defense Ministers of Georgia,
Turkey and Azerbaijan, in fact, are considering the current
military-political situation in the region, security-related issues,
and are discussing the issues of partnership in military industry, as
well as agreeing to conduct joint exercises. Moreover, they are
planning to implement special tripartite exercises for the protection
of the oil-gas infrastructures. One gets the impression that the three
countries neighboring Armenia are getting prepared for a possible
tension in the region, or at least do not rule out such escalation. If
official Tbilisi’s alarms were quite understandable even after the
signing of the EU Association Agreement, and Moscow’s possible
pressures are not ruled out in Georgia, then it is noteworthy to whom
Azerbaijan and Turkey consider a threat. Such tripartite meeting,
especially after the Sochi tripartite meeting on defense industry,
probably, is symbolic for the Azerbaijani authorities. Most likely,
the Azerbaijani authorities are making attempts of self-determination
in other unities. After inciting provocation on the Contact line and
after introducing a long-term consistent tension on the border, the
counter attacks by the Armenian side, and later, the tripartite
meeting in Sochi, anyway, were humiliating for official Baku,
especially for junior Aliyev. With regard to the Nakhchivan meeting of
defense ministers of the three countries, there is no yet a response
from Russia and Armenia. Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili
will visit Armenian on August 21-22. The Georgian side had informed
that Garibashvili would meet Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan. The meetings will focus on political and economic issues.
The core attention will be on the situation that is being developed
between the EU and Georgia after signing of the Association Agreement
and Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union. The parties are planning
to discuss the contradictions that have been emerged and to find an
acceptable format for interaction. The Armenian side is planning to
raise Georgia’s intention of defining a visa regime with Armenia since
September 1. Will the Government of Armenia ask the Prime Minister of
Georgia about what issues on military-political situation,
security-related issues and cooperation in military industry the
official Tbilisi is discussing with Turkey and Azerbaijan, and what
fears the three countries have?

Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at:

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia-Georgia relations are on the highest level in their history,
Serzh Sargsyan says

Friday 22 August 2014 16:13
Photo: Press service of the Armenian President

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said today that
Armenia-Georgia relations are on the highest level in their history.

He said this receiving Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili who
is on an official visit to Armenia, Mediamaxreports.

Serzh Sargsyan stressed that it allows discussing anything concerning
not only bilateral relations but regional issues.

In his turn, Irakly Garibashvili highlighted that he has always said
and he is now restating that Armenia is not only Georgia’s neighbor
but a friendly state.

During the meeting, the sides reiterated their commitment to speed up
construction of a new “Bridge of Friendship” on Bagratashen-Sadakhlu
checkpoint.

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijani propaganda machine implicates ICRC in its disinformation intrigues

18:49, 22 August, 2014

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. The International Committee of the Red
Cross does not participate in any negotiation on internees or exchange
of bodies. The ICRC cannot also be involved in forwarding suggestions
to the parties.

“Armenpress” was told about this by the Head of the Communication
Programs of the ICRC Armenian office Zara Amatuni, underlining that in
accordance with its commitment and the International Humanitarian Law,
the ICRC, as an independent mediator, performs its role in the
repatriation process. “The ICRC has transmitted this position to the
two sides.

The Humanitarian Law requires that the bodies should be repatriated
without any preconditions. And one side is obliged to do
this, even if the other side does not do it, while the repatriation of
the internees should not be dependent on the willingness of the
repatriation of the other side. As always, the ICRC stands ready to
fulfill its role as an independent mediator in the repatriation
process,” said Amatuni.

In response to the verifying question of “Armenpress” whether the
Azerbaijani press reports that the ICRC had allegedly conveyed that
the Armenian side did not agree with the proposal of the Azerbaijani
side – to exchange the five members of an Armenian family held in
Azerbaijani captivity and the body of Karen Petrosyan, who died in
captivity, with the two saboteurs arrested after an unsuccessful
attempt of diversion and the dead body of one of the saboteurs,
correspond to the reality, Amatuni said. “In matters like this,
especially when related to body handover, we act strictly in
accordance with the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law.”

From: Baghdasarian

UCom presents gifts to Armenian border guards

YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. On Wednesday, UCom’s management team
headed by Director Hayk Yesayan toured the border troops in Armenia’s
Tavush province that have foiled Azerbaijanis’ recent raids and
presented packages with sweets and cigarettes to the servicemen, the
company’s press office reports.

“The aim of our visit is to express our respect to the servicemen,”
Yesayan said. “As an Armenian company, UCom is always ready to support
the Armenian army, Armenian soldiers and Armenian statehood.”

In late July and early August, raids from the Azerbaijani side became
frequent. As a result, 25 Azerbaijani and six Nagorno-Karabakh
servicemen have been killed.

UCom (Universal Communications) established in 2007 provides
telecommunication services. The company, under support from Ericsson,
has created a broadband access network embracing Yerevan. It provides
Internet, IP television and fixed telephony services. —0—

From: Baghdasarian