Author: Kajoyan Gevork

YEREVAN WANTS TO AGREE ON BASIC PRINCIPLES BEFORE ELABORATING KARABAKH PEACE AGREEMENT

Interfax
July 14 2011
Russia

Azerbaijan is dragging out Karabakh settlement negotiations, Armenian
Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian said at the International Institute
for Strategic Studies in London.

He made the statement in commenting on Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mamedyarov’s opinion that it would be senseless to waste time on
coordinating fundamental settlement principles and the sides should
proceed to the elaboration of a peace treaty right now, a source at
the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Interfax.

“The cochairmen [of the OSCE Minsk Group] have expressed their opinion
about the idea the Azerbaijani administration was expressing for two
years. If Azerbaijan cannot agree on fundamental principles, how is
it possible to speak about a peace treaty?” Nalbandian said.

“This position of Azerbaijan aims to rid of the fundamental principles
suggested by the cochairmen and, actually, to thwart the negotiations
of the recent years,” he said.

Earlier, Mamedyarov urged Armenia to start work on a peace agreement
on the settlement of the Karabakh problem without delay.

“Certain progress has been made, I think, and we can quietly move
toward a peace agreement,” he said in an interview with Interfax
in Baku.

Asked when Baku could start talks with Armenia on the peace agreement,
Mamedyarov said, “Right now, if they want.”

“Media reports claim extensively that the Kazan summit was not
successful, but I disagree,” Mamedyarov said on the meeting in Kazan
between the Russia, Azeri and Armenian presidents on June 24.

“I side better with the position that, first, rapprochement was
accomplished and this was reflected in the presidents’ statement. And,
second, that Azerbaijan and Armenia must continue the talks without
any publicity stunts or hysterics, and work further to draw their
positions nearer,” he said. “Moreover, Azerbaijan remains on the
position it had in 2010 after Sochi: we are prepared to start drafting
a peace accord with what has been achieved taken into account. Kazan
allowed us to move further,” Mamedyarov said.

“We were aware that some unsettled elements still existed. But they
must in a way be reflected in the peace agreement. If the good will is
indeed there, let us start working on it right away, without waiting
for the next stage in the talks on the basic principles,” he said.

“Inside the basis principles there are unsettled details. Why trebling
efforts to negotiate these elements, if they will be reflected in the
peace agreement anyway. Why make unnecessary fuss. Let us concentrate
right away on a peace agreement and demonstrate our political will to
the world, and show that we are prepared to start working at once on a
legally binding peace agreement rather than on a political document,”
Mamedyarov said.

H. SAHAKYAN: WILL AZERBAIJAN STOP ADVENTURISM?

Panorama
July 15 2011
Armenia

“Some circles in Azerbaijan deliberately create panic among the
population; Azerbaijan sows hatred towards Armenians among the people –
these are unequivocal facts. Doesn’t Azerbaijan’s leadership realize
such steps finally discredit the country’s name? It is not accidental
that Azerbaijan took this shameful step while the Co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group are in Baku,” MP from the Republican Party of Armenia,
Hovhannes Sahakyan told Panorama.am.

Note that some Azerbaijani media, citing unofficial sources, say that
allegedly a 13-year-old Azerbaijani child has been killed as a soft
toy exploded in the village of Alibeyli, Tovuz region of Azerbaijan,
bordering Armenia. In Azerbaijan, rumors were spread that the soft toy
had appeared in Azerbaijan via an Azerbaijan-Armenia border river and
allegedly this was a diversion by Armenia. While the Defense Ministry
or Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan do not issue an official comment
on a diversion by Armenia.

The parliamentarian made his remarks about the statement of the U.S.

Embassy in Baku which called on Baku to carry out a transparent and
unbiased investigation into the incident. H. Sahakyan said thus the
American side attempted to prevent the shameful hysteria planned
by Baku.

“This step of the American Embassy is really praiseworthy, and I
hope, nevertheless, the international community will manage to stop
Azerbaijan’s adventurism,” Sahakyan said.

BASIC PRINCIPLES ON KARABAKH NOT TO BE SIGNED IN THE NEAR FUTURE – ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN

news.am
July 15 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Signing of a document on basic principles for the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict is unlikely in the near future, said the
head of Armenian Cause Office, Giro Manoyan.

According to him, the reason is diametrically opposite positions of
the parties: Armenia will never agree to a document which does not
set decision on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, while Azerbaijan will
never agree to Karabakh independence.

He stressed that the OSCE mediators are in a hurry to coordinate
positions of the parties on the basic principles before the elections
in Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to launch work on drafting of
peace agreement.

“However, the parties are hardly prepared for it. In addition,
Nagorno-Karabakh should be returned to the negotiating table to
agree on basic principles. It is not possible without participation
of Stepanakert,” Manoyan told journalists on Friday.

Member of ARF Dashnaktsutyun party stressed that Russia does not
intend to give up mediation efforts, adding that proposals conveyed
by Russian FM Sergey Lavrov did not inspire the parties.

ARMENIAN ARTIST TELLS ABOUT HIS GRAMMY WINNER ALBUM

news.am
July 15 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Armenian singer and famous avant-garde folk artist Arto
Tuncboyaciyan got Grammy 2011 award for Best New Age Album.

He got prize for “Miho: Journey to the Mountain” album together with
Paul Winter, Tuncboyaciyan told journalists in Yerevan on Friday.

The musician said that album was recorded in Japan with poor technical
equipment and using background noise.

Arto Tuncboyaciyan appeared on over 200 records in Europe and then
moved to U.S. where he worked with jazz legends. He is a front man
of his own Armenian Navy band group.

July 15, 2011
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY
AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL IN MONTEBELLO

– REQUEIM SERVICE FOR ARCHBISHOP SUMBAT LAPAJIAN

On Sunday, July 17th, 2011, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Holy
Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
Following Divine Liturgy, the Prelate will preside over requiem
service on the one year anniversary of the passing of Archbishop Sumbat
Lapajian.
A memorial luncheon will follow at “Bagramian” Hall hosted by the
parish Pastors, Board of Trustees, and Ladies Guild.

EVENING SERVICE ON THE NAME DAY
OF THE PRELACY CHAPEL

In accordance with the Armenian Church calendar, the Feast of St.
Dertad and St. Ashkhen, the first Christian king and queen of Armenia, will
be observed on Saturday, July 16th. The feast is also the name day of the
Prelacy “St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen” Chapel.
On this occasion, on Saturday, July 16th, Evening Services will be
offered at the Chapel presided over by the Prelate.
Given that the Crescenta Valley Parish holds its Sunday service at
the Prelacy Chapel, Saturday’s service is also being organized by the Pastor
Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian and the Board of Trustees.

PRELATE PRESIDES OVER OPENING OF
A.R.S 91ST REGIONAL CONVENTION

The Armenian Relief Society 91st Regional Convention convened on the
morning of Thursday, July 14th at the Sheraton Delfina Hotel in Santa
Monica.
The Prelate conducted the opening prayer and delivered his message
on this occasion.
Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian accompanied the Prelate. Executive
Council Chair Mrs. Rima Boghossian participated in the convention.

PROTESTING BAN ON STREET TRADE, YEREVAN VENDORS SELL PRODUCE OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT BUILDING

epress.am
07.14.2011

Those protesting the ban on street trade in Yerevan held a protest
demonstration outside the government building today. The protesting
vendors had brought with them fruit and vegetables, which they placed
in baskets outside the building and began to sell. Assisting them in
this process was Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjyan.

Demonstrators Gayane Muradyan and Kima Grigoryan told journalists
they have been fighting for 6 months, but no one has been paying any
attention to them.

“I have twin sons serving in the army, what dirt shall I throw on my
head that I cannot send anything to my children? And my husband is
ill,” said Muradyan.

Grigoryan told reporters that Yerevan City Hall’s idea to build
mini-markets in different areas around the city hasn’t materialized.

“Let their mini-market stick to their heads. There is no mini-market.

And in the [regular] markets, they want 3,000-4,000 drams per day
[for rent] – how am I supposed to pay that much money?”

Gayane Muradyan, in turn, said if she was given a job, she wouldn’t be
selling on the street, but, according to her, they don’t take anyone
older than 25.

Note, several police officers, gathered in the area, did not interfere
in the protest.

THE REPUBLICAN MATERNITY HOSPITAL IS PROVIDED WITH UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT

Thursday, 14 July 2011 11:25

Specialists of the YerevanShengavit MedicalCenter, together with
Director Sergey Urumian and close friend of the Center, Professor of
the USA Californian Irvine University Petros Kojian, again visited
Artsakh on July 11-13.

The basic event of the first day of the three-day visit was
ceremonial opening of the medical establishment in Hadrut region’s
Mets Tagher village. The establishment was renovated and provided with
up-to-date equipment, including with the needed technical means for
TV-treatment, which was realized via the joint efforts of Professor
Kojian and Director General of Shengavit Medical Center S. Urumian. The
ceremonial opening was attended by NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunian,
Health Minister Sergey Mosesian, and fellow-villager, RA NA Deputy
Arthur Aghabekian. The other two days, the doctors accepted patients,
holding gynecological and optical examinations and surgeries at the
StepanakertMaternityHospital and MilitaryHospital. Recently, by a
corresponding decree of the NKR President, Petros Kojian and Sergey
Urumian have been awarded with Gratitude medal for their contribution
to the development of the NKR health sphere.

Via the support of Professor Kojian, the Stepanakert Mother’s and
Child’s Health Care Center received new laparoscopy equipment from
Shengavit Medical Center and via joint efforts, the first surgery was
conducted here on July 12, with the use of the new method. “Our goal
is to improve the health sphere of Artsakh and make it more perfect”,
said Professor Kojian.

Generally, Shengavit MC has cooperated with Artsakh for over 10 years.

In 1999, on the initiative of the California University Professor,
obstetrician-gynecologist Petros Kojian and Shengavit MC’s leadership,
as well as the support of the NKR Government, a laparoscopy surgery
center was created at the StepanakertRepublicanHospital and the
Professor gifted the center the first complete set for endoscopic
surgery in Artsakh. Over 300 cholecyst surgeries were realized on
the laparoscopic method.

According to Director of Mother’s and Child’s Health Care Center Vadim
Osipov, the Shengavit has cooperated with our maternity hospital for
years. But, the style of the cooperation has changed for the last
years, having become more practical. The majority of the maternity
hospital’s doctors have already taken advanced training courses on
the basis of Shengavit MC where a similar program has been realized
by Professor Kojian for longer period. The Artsakh specialists
were retrained in the spheres of anaesthesiology and resuscitation,
obstetrics and gynecology, human health reproduction, dopplerometry,
and ultrasonic research (7 doctors in 2010). According to V Osipov,
in spite of the laparoscopic equipment availability, it wasn’t used
in gynecology for many years. Thanks to the Shengavit-based retrained
specialists, laparoscopic surgeries have been made for the last two
months, which is an innovation. Considering the progress, Shengavit
MC provided more improved laparoscopic equipment and an endoscopic
surgery center was created at the RepublicanMaternityHospital. In two
days, 13 women were operated on via joint efforts of Professor Kojian,
Shengavit and local doctors. V. Osipov is concerned about the fact
that our people are still trustless towards local doctors and they
prefer taking treatment in Yerevan. According to him, the situation has
somewhat changed the recent years, which is testified by the following
fact: while a year ago 5 or 6 surgeries were conducted in a month, 25
surgeries were fixed the last month. He believes that for gaining the
people’s trust they should constantly improve and increase the level
of medical service. “But, unfortunately, everything doesn’t depend on
us. Modern medicine supposes also modern equipment availability. If
the equipment is lacking, it is impossible to achieve good results
even in case of good retraining”, he said, adding that as a director,
he aimed at using up-to-date devices at the medical establishment.

Svetlana Khachatrian

SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH; ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER

/ ARKA /
July 14, 2011
YEREVAN

The increasing number of small hydropower plants in Armenia is
promoting economic growth, prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said at
Cabinet session today after the Cabinet decided to change the category
of some land areas in central Kotayk province from agricultural to
industrial. Deputy minister of territorial administration, Vache
Terteryan, said small hydropower plants will be built on these
land areas.

Today there are 108 small hydropower stations across Armenia with an
average capacity of 130 MW, which generate 450 million kWh of energy
per year. This represents about 10% of the total consumption and 8%
of the total production in the country.

Some 65 more small hydropower plants are under construction. By
the end of 2011 the number of operating small hydropower plants in
Armenia will rise to 165 with total capacity of 265 MW and annual
power generation of 923 million kWh..

CLINTON GOES TO ISTANBUL; WILL MISSILE DEFENSE BE ON THE AGENDA?
by Joshua Kucera

EurasiaNet.org
July 14 2011
NY

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Turkey on Friday, and
some reports suggest that the Turkish government is prepared to agree
to host a NATO missile defense system there. Turkey, you’ll recall,
wanted to impose several conditions on the system’s deployment in
Turkey, mainly that it not explicitly target Iran and that information
from the system not be shared with Israel.

It’s not clear that any of those issues have been resolved, but a
couple of U.S. senators have called on the administration to consider
using the South Caucasus, instead. Senior U.S. missile defense
officials, the senator wrote, have said that “a forward-deployed
X-Band radar in either Georgia or Armenia would have significant
advantages for the missile defense of the United States,” according to
a letter (pdf) obtained by ForeignPolicy.com blogger Josh Rogin.

(Presumably the reference to Armenia is a mistake and they mean
Azerbaijan, which gives a sense of how attuned to the regional
dynamics the senators are.)

If this sounds familiar, it’s because the same senators said the same
thing in February — though then they were accompanied by two
additional senators. It’s not clear why those senators dropped out of
this campaign, but it could be because the whole idea makes little
sense. As Daniel Larison writes:

First, I have to note with some amusement that the Azerbaijan
suggestion is one that was originally proposed by no less than
Vladimir Putin as an alternative to the now-cancelled installations in
Poland and the Czech Republic. Azerbaijan already feels neglected and
ill-used by the U.S., and it~Rs not obvious that the way to remedy that
is to ask it to take an adversarial stance towards its next-door
neighbor. The idea of putting a missile defense installation in
Georgia is obviously a non-starter for political reasons. Perhaps most
important is the small matter than neither Georgia nor Azerbaijan is
part of NATO. For that matter, Georgia has been trying to cultivate
improved ties with Iran for several years now, and it can afford to
antagonize Iran much less than Turkey. It wouldn~Rt be doing Georgia
any favors to put the radar there, and it would needlessly increase
U.S.-Russian and Russian-Georgian tensions. The entire exercise is
rather pointless, since there isn~Rt much of an Iranian missile threat
to defend against, but that~Rs all the more reason not to set up the
system in a way that~Rs bound to create political problems for all
parties involved.

Turkey is the only realistic place to expect these radars to be
placed, so the real story would seem to be what sort of concessions
Washington and Ankara are making to come to an agreement. We’ll see if
any of that comes out of Clinton’s visit.

ARMENIA TO SUCCEED THROUGH COOPERATION WITH FRANCE – PM

news.am
July 14 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited French
Embassy in Yerevan on Thursday to participate in the events organized
on the occasion of Bastille Day, the French National Day.

Premier Sargsyan congratulated the embassy staff stressing that
Bastille Day is one of the holidays which is marked even outside
France.

Tigran Sargsyan pointed out deep-rooted Armenian-French relations
stressing importance of future development of ties.

Armenian PM is confident that cooperating with France our country
will have achievements in the fields of economy and politics.