Author: Christine Harutyunian

Government Mulls Another Amulsar Mine Audit

Christine Harutyunian
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Amulsar

After strong backlash from environmental activists and the public, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  announced Wednesday that his government was mulling another possible audit of the environmental impact of excavating a gold mine in Amulsar in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. Pashinyan sent a recently released report to Armenia’s Environmental Protection Ministry, which will recommend whether a new audit is warranted.

Public criticism of the Amulsar mine project escalated Monday when Pashinyan gave the green light for the excavation of the mine, after the Lebanon-based ELARD company submitted results of its environmental impact audit, which deemed that the operation of the gold mine in Amulsar would not pose ecological and environmental hazards to residents of the nearby resort town of Jermuk and surrounding communities, including Lake Sevan.

He said the environmental protection ministry is tasked to determine “whether or not the conclusion [of the ELARD audit] contains information, which according to Armenia’s laws, require the need for a new environmental impact assessment for the operation of the Amulsar mine.”

After holding a series of meeting on Wednesday that included representatives of Lydian International, the British-American company that was grated the contract for the mine several years ago, Pashinyan took to Facebook to explain that all parties were set to move forward with the excavation at Amulsar, until a representative from the environmental protection ministry called for a more detailed study of the ELARD report, prompting the prime minister to task the ministry for a final conclusion.

“I was already about to end the consultation when a representative of the environmental protection ministry said that he nevertheless believes that the question should be answered after a more deeper study. After that I tasked the staff to forward the ELARD conclusion to the ministry with a specific task,” Pashinyan said in a Facebook Live post.

When green lighting the mining project on Monday, Pashinyan said the standards by which the project will move forward, will force other mining companies to elevate their standards.

”In the event that Amulsar is developed under existing conditions, it will be developed under unprecedented environmental standards for the Republic of Armenia,” said Pashinyan on Monday adding that the so-called high standards would force other mining companies to reform their practices.

“Now the government has to go to the low-level mines and tell them that they should elevate their operations to [comply with] the new standards. This is a political obligation,” Pashinyan said Monday. “Now the companies that are operating in lower levels will be forced to spend tens of millions of dollars elevate their standards and the government has the levers to force those companies to do so.”

ACNIS reView

Christine Harutyunian
Pass of the week  

AUGUST 16, 2019 
 

A:Last weekend, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was on a working visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he participated in the regular session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. Pashinyan, as the head of the country presiding over the Eurasian bodies, made an opening speech. The heads of governments of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union discussed the distribution of import duties between the budgets of the member states, the development of the Union’s unified financial market, the signing of the agreement “On cross-border movement of hazardous wastes” in the EAEU customs territory, the development of the agro-industrial complex in the Union and other issues. As a result of the session, a number of documents were signed. As part of the visit, the meetings of the RA Prime Minister with the President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov and the Head of the Russian Government Dmitry Medvedev took place.

It is planned that the concept of creation of EAEU unified financial markets will be signed in Yerevan on October 1 at the session of the Higher Eurasian Economic Council.

…of the RA Prime Minister Kyrgyzstan the results of the visit can be considered successful, taking into account the signing of a number of important documents, especially related to the creation of the common financial market of the Eurasian Economic Union and member in the states organizedin competitions of securities placement, circulation and: credit of storiesregarding of information exchange possibility with October 1 is no less important for Armenia Er:and:doing to be held EATM B:short council at the sessionSingapore of the Prime Minister and: Iran of the president possible participationwhich Nikol Pashinyan announced in his opening speech. He specifically said: “How? EATM–to whom chairmanերկիր՝ we separately attention we are made this two countries with our organizationof cooperation to the questions»:

Political some Observers attach great importance to this initiative of Armeniapayconsidering that the expansion of EAEU representation in Yerevan can give a certain political weight to that organization, which will be beneficial for Armenia as well. Political commentator Hakob Badalyan, however, does not say that the leaders of EAEU member states have created certain artificial obstacles. kcreate and not alloware givel:, that the assembly to be held in Armenia will be important. Like jealousyatypical there has already been a precedent, when during the April 2016 Four-Day War, the meeting of the EAEU Governmental Council was moved from Yerevan on the grounds that Ilham Aliyev might get upset. “Of course, nowE:A:TM:–to whom work have at all other of Armenia with, thatthe Eurasian her entityn: more is raises and ohd: in the structure trying is ato do questions, which ones in line with are her to the benefit, which ones more typical are sovereign to the state. Let’s see, or Armenia: how much will be able toprovide erand:anya of the assembly ohd: representativeness and: E:A:TM: to the assembly to reportreally regional and geopolitical significant character“, the commentator said in a conversation with “Azatutyan”.

The positive results of the Prime Minister’s visit should not be ignored Kyrgyzstan presidentand the importance of Nikol Pashinyan’s meetings with the Prime Minister of Russia, which is conditioned by the readiness for further development of constructive interaction between these countries, in particular, the prospect of an unprecedented strengthening of Armenian-Kyrgyz economic and political ties. As for the traditional partnership relations of our country with Russia, it should be noted that the security component prevails in them as before. And since the economic situation is not very good, the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Russia discussed mainly the development of trade and economic relations, increasing the volume of goods turnover, problems of implementation of joint projects.

Let’s hope that the discussions will be followed by real, concrete actions for the benefit of the two strategic partner countries.

 

OhOn August 15, environmentalists held a protest near the Government building. They are against the operation of the Amulsar mine and claimed that the mine will have a disastrous effect on the environment. Yesterday, the Investigative Committee published the results of the examination conducted by the international company ELARD, according to which there is a very low probability that the contaminated waters of the Amulsar mine will have an impact on the springs of Jermuk. According to the report, no violation was recorded in terms of preservation of biodiversity. After receiving the international expert opinion on the study of the operation of the Amulsar mine, the body conducting the proceedings found that there are no grounds to continue the criminal prosecution in the case related to the mine.

…Environmentalists, however according to they are not published conclusion with and they demand to stop the construction works of the mine, because Further exploitation of Amulsar, in their opinion, can have devastating consequencesin terms of pollution of the environment, particularly Jermuk springs and Lake Sevan։ Gold mining permission received british The assurance of “Lydian Armenia” company Amulsar Q:ain the Republic of Yastan first miningthe program is, thatn: implemented is International financial of the corporation and: Reconstruction and development european bank standards appropriate effects evaluation, is not a convincing argument for environmentalists. They kept the roads leading to the mine closed for a long time, regularly new onesdoing demonstrations, other protest actions.

It must be said that the problem of Amulsar is not new, it comes from the time of Hovik Abrahamyan’s prime ministership, more precisely, from the day the construction of the mine was started, in August 2016. B:guard activists eand don’t series scientists by appeared concernsis “Lydia The officials of Armenia” consider ittaxraised noise. A:of the picture executive director Hayk: Aloyan «of freedom» with in the conversationopinion is obviouslyl, or here political, other no or environmental problems are manipulated. «Being directed are people, that like promotions implement: We think we are, that this more a lotpolitical is»,- mentionis “Lydian» representative: Opponents claim the opposite:expressing belief that the project will have a catastrophic impact on the surrounding water resources.

In any case, people’s worries are not unfounded. The Investigating Committee, stating that mine withconnected in case «criminal the pursuit to continue grounds there are none“, in the same messagestates that ELARD of the company spent examination resultsin: according to՝ «available isa lot low probability, that Amulsari mine contaminated the waters effect will haveJermuk sources on»։ It means that there is a possibility of danger, however “very low probability”. So people’s worries are not in vain.  If there is even the slightest possibility of danger to human life, the action should be reconsidered immediately. At least, that’s how they would act in the states implementing people-centered policies, among which Armenia definitely does not belong. Alas!

 

On August 10, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the restart of the Maralik cotton yarn factory. According to the Prime Minister’s official website, Pashinyan toured the factory, got acquainted with the production process and capabilities, working conditions and opportunities. While presenting the production process to the Prime Minister, the heads of the factory, Gevorg Gasparyan and Vardan Srmakesh, noted that the factory will produce cotton and semi-cotton yarns, and there will be a production line for the processing of fabric waste with a combination of the latest technologies. It is also planned to launch the production of medical cotton items.

Aram Barseghyan, the driver-assistant of the former Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia Armen Ashotyan, was arrested within the framework of the criminal case investigated by the Special Investigation Service, and he was charged with aiding large and particularly large-scale embezzlement. Barseghyan, according to the CSI report, recognized himself as fully guilty, confessed to the crime committed by him, repented for what he had done, and fully restored the material damage caused to the state. Taking into account the mentioned circumstances, the body conducting the proceedings released Barseghyan from the restraining order, and a restraining order was chosen against him, the signature not to leave. According to the State Police, the preliminary investigation is ongoing, measures are being taken to find out the entire range of persons involved in the commission of crimes.

 

Gevorg Lalayan commented

 

CNN reports that last Thursday, seven nuclear specialists working at the Russian state-owned Rosatom Nuclear Energy Corporation died as a result of an explosion at a military test site in the north of the country, not far from the port of Severodvinsk. “We think it was a consequence of the failed Burevestnik nuclear missile test,” Jeffrey Lewis, an arms control expert at the Middlebury Research Institute in Monterrey, told reporters.

The Guardian reports that the explosion caused an increase in radiation in neighboring cities, exceeding the permissible norm by 20 times within half an hour. Last week, the Russian nuclear program experts also noticed the “Serebryanka” ship carrying nuclear fuel at the site of the explosion, which, they believe, took part in the restoration works. The ship was previously spotted in waters near Novaya Zemlya, where the Burevestnik missile was tested in 2017.

The Wall Street Journal quoted a senior administration official as saying that the United States believed the explosion was the result of a failure at the launch site, rather than an explosion after the missile was launched. However, it remains unknown whether the failure occurred during launch or due to other circumstances. According to the newspaper, a person close to the Minister of Defense also suspects that “Burevestnik” exploded. According to him, the explosion may have been caused by tests of a different type of engine, which is known among defense industry experts as the “Putin Battery”.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that authorities in the Arkhangelsk region urged residents of a village within range of the missile test to leave their homes just days after the explosion.

 

Prepared by Marina Muradyan


 

 

 

Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan are heroes for me. Minasyan

Christine Harutyunian
  • 09.08.2019

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George Martin wrote in his “Game of Thrones” book: “Many people have been forgotten. Many deserve to be forgotten. But the heroes will always be remembered. To those who deserve it. The best and the worst. And some who were from both.”


Like it or not, the history of any country is the history of heroes. If you remove the heroes, it becomes a faceless essay. That is why the biggest danger of our public agenda is the merciless treatment of our heroes of the last 30 years. It seems like there is an undeclared “witch hunt” against them, Mikael Minasyan, the former RA ambassador to the Holy See, made such a post on his Facebook page.


“One of the vivid examples of that is the British BBC article about March 1. If there is an impression from it, then it is one. The targeting of the prominent military officer of Artsakh, Major General Samvel Karapetyan and the hypothetical connection between him and the victims. The article with its content will become a forgotten past tomorrow, but it will leave a wound. the article targeted our hero. Samvel Karapetyan is a hero.


Scott Fitzgerald used to say: Show me a hero and I’ll write a tragedy about him. I don’t know if it is our collective tragedy or individually, for example, General Manveli, who is in the defendant’s chair today. He, Monte and many others together liberated Artsakh. Unfortunately, Monte died, died and remained a hero. Manvel is there and instead of being able to atone for his real sins, he is in prison with a prank called “tushonka”.


The guys who made the April victory are heroes. All of them. The boys who fell both in the Artsakh war and in the April war will remain heroes forever, while those who are alive today are defendants or potential defendants.


Heroes are like that. Controversial. It has always been like that. And so it will be. How we should treat them is another matter. In order to leave the political context, but understand the problem, let’s take Ruben Hakhverdyan, for example. He is one of the stars of our time, a talented Yerevanian, the author of many popular songs. But Hakhverdyan has always stood out with the most absurd statements and embarrassing interviews. Has this changed his status or our attitude towards him? No. Now the same is about the heroes of the war and the country.


Regardless of our attitude towards many omissions and mistakes, there should not be complications in calling things by their names in Armenia, Artsakh and the entire Armenian people. It should not be complicated Levon Ter-Petorsyan not to be called a hero. Because President Ter-Petrosyan was the leader of Armenia in dire times for our state and people, in times of the dilemma of being or not being.


And, as the captain of a ship in rough seas, he and his team were able to bring the ship to safe harbor. It should not be complicated Robert Kocharyan not to be called a hero. Because President Kocharyan led Artsakh at the time of the split of the republic, and then he led the Republic of Armenia and ensured unquestionable progress for the two Armenian states, cementing our ship of state building step by step.


It should not be complicated Serzh Sargsyan not to be called a hero. Because under the leadership of President Sargsyan, who dedicated every day of his life to statehood and security for more than 30 years, Armenia faced almost all possible challenges, he set a benchmark for ensuring external and internal balance, opened up the country and gave Armenia wings that few could understand, that will provide flight.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan are heroes to me, despite the mistakes that all three made. And they still have something crucial to say today.


Unspeakable heroes are Vazgen Manukyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan and Pargev Srbazan, who made history during the war and in the post-war period.


Heroes are Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan, Arshavir Gharamyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Vitali Balasanyan, Seyran Ohanyan, Movses Hakobyan, Samvel Babayan, Yuri Khachaturov, Mikayel Harutyunyan, Artur Aghabekyan, Manvel Grigoryan, Seyran Saroyan, Sasun Mikayelyan, Zhora Gasparyan, and others, despite yesterday or today or tomorrow. to their mistakes that they have done or could do.


One cannot and should not live with the thesis that “there is no past, only the present”. There is a past, in which there are both victories and mistakes, but we must go to the future. Heroes should be recognized, evaluated and, if necessary, called to account for mistakes. But not to discredit and destroy. Not to deprive the country of its foundation. Heroes are our support point, the creators of our destiny. It may be difficult with them, but it is impossible without them.


Heroes are also among the living. We should have the courage to see what history will record later. And enemies – as many as we want! Only or across the border? We should not have an enemy in Armenia. And we won’t have it.


No one fell in vain in battle and no one lives in vain today. It is not possible to have a society capable of making feats and revolutionary changes based on hatred. The right to live well and safely can only be earned in an atmosphere of solidarity. And it is possible,” he wrote.

Armenia to continue imports of military hardware

Christine Harutyunian
TASS: Russia’s Defense Technologies Newswire
August 5, 2019 Monday 3:20 PM GMT
Armenia to continue imports of military hardware
 
YEREVAN August 5
 
 In 2019 through 2020 the Armenian Defense Ministry will continue to import military hardware, especially anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems. This statement was made by Artak Davtyan, head of the General Staff of the country’s armed forces. “I wish to emphasize that imports of military hardware will continue based on the agreements we have reached. This applies in the first place to the newest anti-air and anti-missile systems. Such systems will reinforce the fire power of our reconnaissance,” the Armenian Armed Forces General Staff head said, without specifying which weapon systems are at issue.
  
YEREVAN, August 5. /TASS/. In 2019 through 2020 the Armenian Defense Ministry will continue to import military hardware, especially anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems. This statement was made by Artak Davtyan, head of the General Staff of the country’s armed forces. “I wish to emphasize that imports of military hardware will continue based on the agreements we have reached. This applies in the first place to the newest anti-air and anti-missile systems. Such systems will reinforce the fire power of our reconnaissance,” the Armenian Armed Forces General Staff head said, without specifying which weapon systems are at issue.
 
Armenia acquires arms primarily from Russia. Previously, the Republic’s Defense Minister David Tonoyan revealed that Armenia had acquired from Russia four Su-30SM aerial fighters, which will be delivered to the country before the end of 2019. .

Asbarez: Parliament Speaker Tours ARF Archives

Christine Harutyunian
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13 hours ago

Ararat Mirzoyan touring the ARF archives with Eastern Region Central Committee Chair George Aghjayan

BY LEEZA ARAKELIAN AND MASHA KERYAN

WATERTOWN, Mass., (Armenian Weekly)—Armenia’s National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan just wrapped up his three day visit to the Greater Boston area this week. His time spent with the Armenian community in Watertown and Boston was part of a larger working visit to the eastern region with scheduled meetings in Washington, D.C. and New York. Mirzoyan was accompanied by other delegates including Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan.

On Friday, Mirzoyan met with the Chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Eastern Region Central Committee George Aghjayan and ARF Eastern Region Central Committee member Ani Tchaghlasian at the Hairenik building, where he was taken on a tour of the archives of the ARF and the First Republic.

Mirzoyan, who has a PhD in history, reflected on his experience at the Hairenik building with members of the community that night during a scheduled town hall at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center. “I was reminded once more of the history of our people. But most importantly, it was a reminder and a lesson for me so that we can create a better future for our people, for Armenia—a future that we have dreamed about for many years.”

Ararat Mirzoyan speaking at town hall meeting, Watertown, Mass.

Democracy has been a significant part of that dream, continued Mirzoyan, as well as free and fair elections. He elaborated on this matter in Washington, D.C. during his formal remarks at the House Democracy Partnership Leaders’ Forum to which Armenia was invited for the first time. His speech was entitled, “Reasserting the Independence of the Legislature in the Face of Rising Authoritarianism.” Mirzoyan drew upon American history and the Federalist Papers; he argued that the root of authoritarianism is the inability of democratic leaders to stay connected with their citizens. “In Armenia, we are currently pursuing this through reforming and strengthening the democratic institutions, where reversal of the democratic breakthrough will be unattainable,” said Mirzoyan to a room full of D.C. lawmakers and international leaders.

It wasn’t until 2014 when Mirzoyan started paying closer attention to the disenfranchised. “Armenia’s problems require complex solutions,” he told editors of the Armenian Weekly and the Armenian Mirror Spectator on Saturday afternoon. “It became clear to me that if you want a change, you have to do it yourself, especially if you are against the government.” Mirzoyan has been in his post since last May; the Civil Contract party member has been leading 132 members of the legislative branch—a noticeably young demographic. “It was the youth that was the manpower of the revolution. It’s been mostly the youth fighting for all these years. Why wouldn’t they be in parliament after all that work?” he said.

During that interview, Mirzoyan covered a variety of topics with the Diasporan newspaper editors, including the United States’ newly imposed sanctions on Iran, an issue that Mirzoyan vehemently opposed at the Atlantic Council in Washington the previous week. “We have been neighbors with Iran for centuries,” he explained in Cambridge, Mass. “The Armenian economy has already suffered because of the sanctions. We cannot lose the privilege of getting gas from Iran.”

Ararat Mirzoyan, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan placing flowers at Armenian Heritage Park, Boston, Mass.

Closer to home in Artsakh, Mirzoyan spoke about the situation at the border. He says Armenia and Artsakh must continue working towards peaceful negotiations. While death rates at the border have decreased over time, Mirzoyan says that is not enough. “One death at the border is significant for us. We don’t want a single death at the border,” said Mirzoyan before asserting Armenia’s increased efforts in the negotiation process in partnership with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

As for Turkey’s latest controversial purchase from Armenia’s strategic partner—Russia, Mirzoyan says the arrangement might serve as a diplomatic opportunity for Armenia-Turkey relations. “The world is not black and white,” he said. “You can’t rule anything out in politics.”

Mirzoyan also visited Armenian Heritage Park in Boston to pay his respects at the Armenian Genocide memorial. In the final leg of their journey to the eastern region, Mirzoyan and his delegates traveled to New York. All in all, Mirzoyan says this was an important trip to the United States. “Every now and then, Armenian government leaders should have meetings with members of the Diaspora to keep the relationship dynamic and maintain open lines of communication.”

The Armenian and Assyrian Communities in Los Angeles Sign a Historic Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation

Christine Harutyunian
PR Web

The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation elevates our relationship with the AAASC to a deeper institutional level,” remarked ANCA Western Region Chairperson Nora Hovsepian, Esq.

GLENDALE, Calif. (PRWEB)

The Assyrian American Association of Southern California (AAASC) and the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) hosted a ceremony in which both groups singed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in an effort to further deepen and institutionalize relations between the two organizations.

The ceremony took place at the ANCA-WR Headquarters in Glendale, California and was signed into effect to formalize the organizational relationship between both parties.

The Memorandum recognizes the historic relations between both communities, accentuates the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding, and commits both communities to ensure comprehensive cooperation.

“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation elevates our relationship with the AAASC to a deeper institutional level,” remarked ANCA Western Region Chairperson Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “Our nations have lived side by side for millennia, and we’re codifying both traditional as well as novel areas for our extensive collaboration, taking our advocacy work to new heights.”

“Together, the Assyrian and Armenian communities have experienced the best of times and the worst of times.” Said Assyrian American Association of Southern California President Ramond Takhsh. “We have laughed together, danced together, broken bread together, and bled together. This Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation formalizes this historic union and will serve to continue strengthening the bond between both communities as we stand shoulder to shoulder in the struggle and fight for justice.”

Following this memorandum, both AAASC and ANCA-WR agreed to continue in collaboration to undertake joint advocacy measures and public education initiatives promoting human rights, peace, and the rule of the law, and continue their commitment in seeking justice for the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek Genocide.

In recent years, both groups have worked tirelessly to fight for recognition and justice for the Genocide of 1915 and have garnered the support of many elected officials including Congressman Brad Sherman, Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Scott Wilk, LA City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, and Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti who has been vocal about his support for both communities in their fight for justice.

“The lies that are put out must be answered with truth. Every single time someones says ‘that wasn’t a genocide’ we say ‘Yes it was’. Or, ‘that didn’t happen’ we say ‘yes it did’. We all know Elie Wiesel who said ‘The second death is to forget those that have died’. We will not allow that to happen– we will not allow them to be killed twice” Says Hon. Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles.

Both parties have agreed to continue their collaboration to further strengthen their key messaging relating to the Genocide and will continue to advocate on behalf of their communities in their homelands and abroad.

This memorandum was signed into effect on Monday, July 22nd 2019.

About ANCA-WR: The ANCA Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

About AAASC: Founded on August 1964, the Assyrian American Association of Southern California is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose broad mission is to serve and advance the Assyrian-American community by concentrating on a wide spectrum of areas such as cultural and linguistic identity, public/governmental outreach and advocacy, education, arts/literature, youth services, and many others.

Azerbaijani press: Whom US congressmen serve?

Christine Harutyunian
14:23 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, July 18

Trend:

The adoption of an amendment by the US House of Representatives to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) proposed by Congresswoman Judy Chu, which is supposedly aimed at reducing tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh, is essentially aimed at undermining Azerbaijan’s ability to ensure the Resolute Support Mission that the US and NATO are implementing in Afghanistan.

By participating in this mission since 2001, Baku agrees and ensures the security of cargo transported by the US across the territory of Azerbaijan, including the airspace, taking into account respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other and the cooperation of states.

The support of an initiative by US congressmen Ed Royce and Eliot Engel by both parties in the US Congress for a legislative amendment proposed by California-elected Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman prohibiting the provision of defense products made in the US to Azerbaijan, contradicts the statements by Representative of the US Administration John Bolton made during his visit in Baku.

The recommendations regarding air flights in the generally recognized airspace of Azerbaijan and the use of the airport in Khojaly town in Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenia is illegal in general and against the interests of Washington.

The US Congressmen, short-sighted and blinded by the lies of the Armenian lobby, are trying to create legal chaos in the airspace of Azerbaijan, violate the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, act contrary to the realities of the existing close cooperation of Azerbaijan and the US.

However, it is time to understand that Nagorno-Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan and the fact that for many years the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has been prohibiting civil aviation flights to the region due to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The congressmen who voted for the amendment may not be interested in the functioning of the normal air defense system of Azerbaijan, however, the protection of the safety of the US soldiers in the airspace of Azerbaijan is their direct duty. Trying to please aggressor Armenia, these congressmen first of all harm the interests of the US not only in the region, but also threaten Washington’s foreign policy – NATO peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.

It is unlikely that the amendment will help create favorable atmosphere for holding effective negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it is aimed at encouraging occupier Armenia, creating atmosphere in which Armenian terrorists can feel comfortable.

The history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict knows many facts when Armenian terrorists shot down Azerbaijani civilian planes and helicopters. Trying to interfere and by violating the rights of sovereign Azerbaijan, which so far has been providing and continues to provide a safe air corridor for the US and NATO forces, the congressmen shouldn’t encourage the creation of an uncontrolled zone in the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh, from where Armenian terrorists may launch missiles on vehicles, including those of the US.

Here the case is to ensure that the members of the Resolute Support mission, being implemented by NATO in Afghanistan and where Azerbaijan participates, can transport cargo through Azerbaijani territory as part of this mission. So far, Azerbaijan has contributed to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, as well as to promoting peace and security in the region as a whole, guided namely by this approach.

It is known that due to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, during the NATO summit on May 25, 2017, it was decided to increase the number of troops deployed in this country from 12,000 to 15,000 people, which indicates the increased interest of the NATO Resolute Support Mission.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking April 4 this year at a press conference in Washington, said that Azerbaijan is a close partner of NATO and works closely with the organization in establishing international peace and security. The secretary general noted the significant contribution of Azerbaijan in the provision of armed forces and multimodal transit for the NATO Resolute Support Mission. The secretary general represents the collective position of the NATO countries, and this statement by the secretary general was made namely taking into account the safety of the corridors provided by Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s partnership with the US worries and annoys many, but Baku prefers a multi-vector, balanced policy. It seems that some congressmen, taking the side of Armenia, hiding behind humanism and making decisions in favor of Armenia’s occupying army in Nagorno-Karabakh, are pushing Baku to reconsider its foreign policy. These same people have done everything that led to a crisis in US relations with Turkey, and now they are working to split the cooperation of Azerbaijan with NATO, but they haven’t succeeded so far.

Elkhan Alasgarov, PhD, Head of Baku Network (http://bakunetwork.com)

Join us on Twitter and Facebook https://twitter.com/BakuNetwork, https://www.facebook.com/BakuNetwork

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp5ic7mhc6rZF6w0TQWqtmg


Head of Civil Aviation Committee suggests removing departure tax for new routes

Christine Harutyunian
Panorama, Armenia

One of the main problems of the civil aviation sector of Armenia is the high cost of service, Tatevik Revazyan, the Chairwoman of Civil Aviation Committee stated at a press conference on Monday in Yerevan.

“Apart from high service prices of Zvartnots airport we have the so-called departure or air tax of 10,000 AMD (around $22) which is not a low amount,” Revazyan said, adding the regular ticker price is around 40 Euros in Europe, while the air tax in Armenia only amounts for $22

“This is a major problem and we plan to suggest removing the tax for new routes, since when air carriers are exploring new routes it could be a risk for them. It needs time to create its own market,” Revazyan added.

in the words of the head of the Civil Aviation Department, if the departure tax is removed and Yerevan Zvartnots Airport reduces its service prices, two new air carriers may enter the Armenian market in the summer of 2020, one of them Ryanair low-cost airline.

“I have this commitment in writing as well,” said Revazyan.