Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Identity revealed of Azerbaijani saboteur killed in Karabakh

13:17, 24.07.2014Region: Armenia, Karabakh, AzerbaijanTheme: Politics

The identity is determined of the Azerbaijani group member who was
rendered ineffective in Karvachar Region of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR).

The Azerbaijan State Committee for Work with Refugees and IDPs has
issued a respective statement, reported the APA news agency of
Azerbaijan.

The Committee’s press service told APA that a series of meetings were
held with head of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC)
representation in Azerbaijan regarding the Azerbaijani “hostages.”

The Azerbaijani side expressed its concern over the lack of
information about the “hostages.”

“At these meetings, ICRC was told to intensify its measures to get
information about the hostages.

“Consequently, ICRC has managed to obtain several photos, one of which
belongs to Hasan Hasanov, who was allegedly killed by Armenians. These
photos were shown to his relatives and they confirmed Hasan Hasanov.
ICRC has already started talks to return Hasanov’s corpse. However,
they were told that there is a need for additional clarifying
materials to identify the corpse,” the Committee said, APA reported.

The matter refers to the members of an Azerbaijani
sabotage-intelligence team which was recently rendered ineffective in
Karvachar. One of the members is killed and two others are arrested.
The Armenian side has announced that charges have been brought against
the arrestees, and pursuant to several articles of the NKR Criminal
Code.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

Debts to Vorotan Hydro Cascade Paid with Stake in Nairit-2

07.24.2014 15:31 epress.am

Haygazard’s current balance of debts will be paid by transferring a
46.73% stake in Nairit-2 CJSC to the Government of the Republic of
Armenia, decided the Armenian government in its cabinet today.

The RA Government website states [AM] that 11 companies merged in 1998
to create Haygazard CJSC. The real assets of the gas system were
invested into the authorized capital of the newly created
ArmRusGazprom, while the not collected receivable and payable debts
were transferred to Haygazrd’s balance.

Today’s government decision stipulates that the debts and obligations
will be fulfilled by several of the company’s assets, including
transferring 46.73% stake in Nairit-2 CJSC to the Armenian government.

At the same time, some of Haygazard’s debts to the Vorotan Hydro
Cascade (which was recently sold to the US company ContourGlobal) will
be paid by transferring a 53.27% share in Nairit-2 CJSC to the Vorotan
Hydroelectric Power Plant Complex.

In accordance with the decision, with the transfer of its assets,
Haygazard fulfills its obligations to the RA Ministry of Finances and
Vorotan Hydro Cascade.

Turkey Elections: Expert in Yerevan says ethnic Armenians to favor
Kurd as presidential candidate

NEWS | 24.07.14 | 17:39

Photo: Petrosyan’s facebook official page

Gevorg Petrosyan

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

In upcoming presidential elections in Turkey Armenians will probably
support a Kurdish candidate, however some votes of the Armenian
community will go to the current Prime Minister.

On August 10, the first nationwide presidential elections will take
place in Turkey and Justice and Development party president, Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also a joint representative of
two big oppositional parties ` Democratic-republican and National
movement party joint candidate, Ekmeleddin IhsanoÄ?lu, as well as
Kurdish forces representative, Democratic Party head Selahetdin
Demirtas will participate in the elections.

According to turkologist Gevorg Petrosyan, the favorite to win in the
elections will be PM Erdogan and his main competition will be
Ihsanoglu, the turkologist does not consider Demirtashi as a serious
candidate.

In Turkey, a country with a population of 77 million, 50-60,000
Armenian community will not form a serious factor, nevertheless,
following the media we can assume that Demirtashi enjoys most
popularity among the Armenian community, Erdogan also competes with
him, because strong Armenian organizations, structures have close ties
with the government.

`Generally we must mention the fact that during the Erdogan rule
certain positive steps have been done in the Armenian community.
Demirtas is a favorite for being a Kurd, he has built his political
career on the basis of relationships with ethnic, religious
minorities, and he also builds his election campaign on the basis of
relations between Armenians and other ethnic minorities.

Ihsanoglu is a new name, he is a new politician, and the political
parties represented by him have anti-Armenian spirit, that’s why he
will get less support from the Armenian community,’ the turkologist
said, adding that Erdogan refrains from speaking about Armenians,
Armenia and Armenian Genocide, because his main electorate is formed
of the middle class which is not positively positioned toward Armenia.
According to Petrosyan, Ihsanoglu is a defender of Turkish denial
policy; he speaks of Armenians only when asked, while Demirtas has
based his campaign on the talk about Armenians and Armenian Genocide.

However, Petrosyan said that with the change of the government we
should not expect much change, according to the turkologist, the state
must undergo basic global changes, which would bring to the admission
of the Genocide.

Detained Azerbaijani saboteur has mysteriously avoided punishment for
drug trafficking in his home country

16:56 24/07/2014 >> REGION

Dilham Askerov, the member of an armed group of Azerbaijanis detained
at the beginning of July in Karvachar, had earlier been under
investigation in Azerbaijan on the charges of drug trafficking.
Askerov was without any clear reasons released shortly after being
arrested, Azinform.az informs.

The Shamkhor police was informed that resident of Chinarli village
54-year-old Dilham Askerov was cultivating narcotic plants. As a
result of investigations conducted in Askerov’s house and yard one and
a half kilogram of dried marihuana was confiscated, reported Magerram
Mamedov the head of the crime detection unit of Shamkhor region police
station.

Dilham Askerov’s co-villagers, 54-year-old Mubariz Mehdikhanov and
30-year-old Elbrus Ismayilov, were assisting him in implementation of
drug trafficking . As a result of the investigation a criminal case
was brought against the three suspects.

The resident of Chinarli village, who wished to remain anonymous, told
the website that Askerov often used to leave for Russia for earning
money and seldom appeared in the village. He had moved to the village
from Karvachar (former Kelbajar) and each out of the seven thousand
village residents knew him.

Earlier a video showing how Askerov was detained for drug trafficking
was disseminated by the Azerbaijani mass media . When asked by the
website to comment on the situation the Shamkhor police department
stated that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan had gave
them precise orders not to provide any information on this issue.

In its turn Razm.info website wonders how a man who had been detained
in April on drug trafficking charges could appear in Karvachar just
two months later and why the official bodies of Azerbaijan refuse to
comment on the situation.

According to the data provided by the NKR police, Azerbaijani citizens
Shahbaz Guliyev (1968), Dilham Askerov (1960) as well as the person
whose identity is not known on 29 June 2014 had illegally crossed the
NKR state border, carrying weapons and ammunition, and penetrated into
the territory of Shahumyan region of the republic with the purpose of
gathering intelligence. These individuals were collecting intelligence
and doing espionage by special order. Moreover, on July 4, with the
use of arms they kidnapped an underage citizen of NKR Smbat
Mekhakovich Tsakanyan whose body, was found with gunshot wounds on 15
July in the forest belt between Karvachar and Manashid of Shahumyan
region. Besides, the person whose identity is not known, on July 11,
in the evening , on the 32nd kilometre of Vardenis-Karvachar road out
of national hatred shot a citizen of Yerevan Sargis Samvelovich
Abramyan (1971) and inflicted gunshot wounds to the resident of
Dzoraghbyur village in Kotayk region of the Republic of Armenia. This
unidentified man showed armed resistance during his detention
operation and was neutralized. Shahbas Guliyev and Dilham Askerov are
detained and arrested.

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ statements unfair, but appreciated: opinions

14:56 * 24.07.14

In an interview with Tert.am, political scientist Aghasi Yenokyan
commented on the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ a statement.

He sorts out two important factors. First, it is their concern, which
is most likely to be followed by their regular visits. Secondly, it is
an Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting expected to take place in
New York.

“I view this statement as a response to the latest border tensions.
The most important thing is that the co-chairs are attempting to
organize an Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting in New York. I
think it is most important because French President François Hollande
has failed to organize such a meeting,” Mr Yenokyan said.

“I think France’s efforts have met with Russia’s strong resistance
because Russia got full control of the conflict management. The import
of the co-chairs’ statement is that Russian joined the initiative to
organize such a meeting, especially since the meeting is expected to
take place as part of the UN General Assembly’s meeting,” he said.

In response to a remark that the co-chairs’ are appealing to both the
sides, he said:

“Appealing to both the sides is their natural wording. Moreover,
although Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan claims the
Armenian side has remains silent, I am not sure the Armenian side has
not acted in retaliation for Azerbaijan’s attacks.”

Manvel Badeyan of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary
group welcomes the co-chairs’ statement.

As to whether the co-chairs are appealing to both the conflicting
parties, he said:

“It is natural they cannot appeal to one of the sides. It is a
peaceful, rather than critical, attitude that is necessary for the
establishment of peace. They are always appealing to both the sides
through it is not quite fair. However, we appreciate the Minsk Group’s
conduct.”

As to the reasons why the venue for an Armenian-Azerbaijani
presidential meeting has been changed, Mr Badeyan said:

“I have no detailed information, but I welcome such a meeting
irrespective of where it may take place. The meeting may prove to be
one more step toward a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. On the other hand, similarly to many previous meetings, the
meeting may fail to solve any issues. In any case, no one can forecast
the results of such a meeting except for the two countries’ presidents
and foreign office representatives.”

Asked about disagreements between the co-chairs, Mr Badeyan said:

“No doubt, there are some disagreements, but all the co-chairs are
seeking a peaceful settlement of the conflict.”

Chess: Another Armenian chess player wins int’l tournament

CHESS | 24.07.14 | 09:57

Armenian grandmaster Tigran Nalbandian scored 8 points out of 9 and
took the first prize at Helmut-Kohls Memorial that was held by the
round robin system in Dortmund, Germany, Armchess.am reports.

Three more Armenian grandmasters celebrated successes in international
competitions earlier this week.

Karen Grigoryan won an open tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Tigran
Petrosian won the Miguel Najdorf International Chess Festival in
Warsaw, Poland, and GM Levon Babujian shared 1st-2nd places with
another player at the Nana Aleksandria Cup in Poti, Georgia.

HAUT KARABAGH
Le

Discours du ministre des Affaires étrangères
L’Arménie souhaite développer son partenariat avec l’Europe

L’Arménie souhaite développer son partenariat avec l’Union européenne
sur la base de ce qui a été réalisé lors des dernières négociations et
en tenant compte des “nouvelles réalités”, a déclaré à Bruxelles le
ministre des Affaires étrangères, Edouard Nalbandian.

Au cours d’une réunion hier entre des représentants de l’UE, les
ministres des Affaires étrangères des pays du Partenariat oriental, le
Haut Représentant de l’UE pour les affaires étrangères et la politique
de sécurité, Catherine Ashton, et le commissaire européen à
l’élargissement et la politique de voisinage Stefan Füle, Nalbandian a
déclaré que l’Arménie veut que ce partenariat avec l’UE soit basé sur
les résultats et les progrès réalisés au cours des dernières années.

Dans son discours, il a déclaré : “Au sommet de Vilnius, l’Arménie et
l’Union européenne ont réaffirmé leur engagement à poursuivre et à
renforcer leur coopération dans tous les domaines d’intérêt commun, en
insistant sur l’importance de mise à jour de la base juridique de nos
relations. L’Arménie espère progresser encore dans le but d’établir un
nouveau cadre juridique pour la coopération avec l’Union européenne
qui, d’une part, tienne compte de ce qui a été réalisé au cours des
négociations avec l’Arménie et, d’autre part, prenne en compte les
nouvelles réalités “, a déclaré le ministre.

Par “nouvelles réalités”, le ministre fait apparemment référence aux
plans d’Erevan pour rejoindre l’Union économique eurasienne.

Dans son dernier discours, Nalbandian a également noté que l’aide et
le soutien continu de l’UE jouent un rôle important dans la mise en
oeuvre du processus de réforme en Arménie et dans le renforcement de la
démocratie dans le pays et la capacité institutionnelle.

Il a souligné que le programme de coopération UE-Arménie couvre de
nombreux domaines – du dialogue politique à la justice et de la
mobilité, des questions de migration pour les réformes
institutionnelles et le potentiel de croissance, ajoutant que
l’Arménie est prête à continuer à travailler sur tous les domaines
d’intérêt mutuel.

Le ministre a déclaré que le renforcement de la mobilité entre les
sociétés est un objectif commun et l’Arménie veut entamer un dialogue
sur l’abolition du régime des visas, sur la base de la facilitation
des visas et des accords de réadmission.

Le ministre des Affaires étrangères a souligné l’importance du
protocole de l’accord sur les principes de base du partenariat et de
coopération qui est entré en vigueur en mars dernier pour la
participation de l’Arménie dans les programmes de l’Union. Ce
protocole, a t-il dit, permettra à l’Arménie de participer à
différents programmes communautaires et d’élargir la coopération
bilatérale.

Parlant de la coopération régionale, le ministre a souligné qu’ “en
continuant à garder sa frontière avec l’Arménie fermée, la Turquie
entrave le règlement de nos relations bilatérales et le fonctionnement
des voies de transport et les communications de l’Arménie avec l’UE.”

“Paradoxalement, la Turquie, un pays qui veut adhérer à l’Union
européenne, maintient fermé sa frontière avec l’État voisin alors que
la libre circulation est un principe fondamental dans l’espace de
l’Union européenne”, a t-il dit.

Nalbandian a salué la nomination de l’ambassadeur Herbert Salber en
tant que représentant spécial de l’UE pour le Caucase du Sud, lui
souhaitant un total succès dans sa mission.

Concernant le règlement du conflit du Haut-Karabagh, le ministre des
Affaires étrangères a souligné que, en réponse à de nombreux appels
lancés par les présidents du Groupe de Minsk, l’Arménie a,
contrairement à l’Azerbaïdjan, constamment réaffirmé son attachement
aux principes du droit international, en particulier le non-usage de
la force et de la menace de la force, l’égalité des droits des
peuples, les principes de l’autodétermination et de l’intégrité
territoriale, et a déploré le manque de volonté politique de
l’Azerbaïdjan, qui se caractérise par un “rejet continu” de toutes les
propositions des médiateurs.

“Nous sommes entièrement d’accord qu’il est nécessaire de préparer les
peuples à la paix et non la guerre. Malheureusement, l’Azerbaïdjan
fait tout le contraire avec sa rhétorique militante et provocatrice,
avec sa propagande de l’intolérance et de la haine, qui, à la ligne de
contact avec l’Artsakh et à la frontière avec l’Arménie, provoque des
tensions et l’aggravation de la situation dans la région “, a conclu
Nalbandian.

jeudi 24 juillet 2014,
Claire (c)armenews.com

168 Hours: Shushan Petrosyan should give up parliamentary seat

Thursday, July 24, 2014

‘168 Hours’ paper writes that member of Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK) parliamentary faction Shushan Petrosyan has always had problems
within the faction. “She repeatedly complained that other female MPs
go on business trips each month, while she is not included in
parliamentary delegations. Now Shushan Petrosyan is facing more
serious problems: she will have either to vote in the same way as
other members of the faction or to give up her parliamentary seat,”
the paper says.

“On June 21 Petrosyan boycotted the vote on the bill on accumulative
pension system. The faction believes that if so far they could turn a
blind eye to free expression of her will, now it is an unaffordable
luxury. Thus, if Shushan Petrosyan does not want to go against her
convictions, she should give up her parliamentary seat by September,”
the paper writes.

TODAY, 10:33
Aysor.am

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 23 2014

Vorotan dam cascade

23 July 2014 – 12:51pm By Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for
Vestnik Kavkaza

Disputes over the legitimacy of the sale of Armenia’s Vorotan dam
cascade to U.S. company Contour Global Hydro Cascade (CGHC) continue
in Armenia. The three-level dam cascade on the River Vorotan (Syunik
Province) will have an output of 404.2MW, an average of 1.16 billion
kilowatt hours annually. The Armenian government and CGHC signed a
contract: the U.S. company will pay $180 million for the cascade in
six years and $70 million of investments for its modernization. Any of
the sides has the right to cancel the deal if they fail to implement
it in 75 days.

The deal was supposed to be signed in mid-April. Justice Minister
Ovannes Manukyan said that the process was slow because the list of
facilities for privatization needed clarifying. Absence of
explanations provoked speculations about foreign influence. U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia John A. Heffern warned Armenia about the
consequences of refusing to sign the document. In his words, it would
become a signal for Western investors. Realization of the document
would, on the other hand, demonstrate the opportunities and potential
of Armenia in making deals, proving the readiness of Armenia for major
contracts.

Grayr Manukyan, an economic columnist of 1in.am, is adamant that the
real reason for the problems with the contract is pressure from the
Kremlin. The latter, in his words, does not want the U.S. to
strengthen its economic influence in Armenia.

The key dispute is the legality of the deal, the cascade was sold
without parliament’s approval. The Vorotan cascade was not on the list
of enterprises for privatization and the government skipped the
parliamentary procedure when signing it. The vagueness of the deal is
so obvious that two Armenian ex-presidents have spoken out against it.
“By selling the Vorotan cascade, Armenia lost its sovereignty. It is
nothing but a crime of the century,” said Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
According to Robert Kocharyan, the best energy asset of Armenia was
being sold in a very dubious manner: “The people responsible for the
sale will hardly have a chance to avoid responsibility. It is a very
ambiguous acquisition for the purchaser too.”

Experts explain that the economic activation of the U.S. and interest
of American business in strategic energy facilities of Armenia is a
response to Armenia’s plans to join the Eurasian Economic Union. The
logic of foreign players is fair, it is aimed at preserving and
expanding influence in Armenia. The only thing unclear is the logic of
Yerevan. What interests do the Armenian authorities have?

Alexander Karapetyan, an ex-member of the Energy Ministry, said that
the government had decided to refrain from privatization of the
Vorotan cascade, a regulator of the energy system, according to
studies of experts in the 2000s. “If the facility operates to make
profit, it will not regulate peaks and falls in the energy system
properly. Its output depends on the needs of the system. It is the key
facility of our system, it has great strategic value.”

In this case, the foreign political element does not serve Armenian
interests, which require the Vorotan dam cascade to remain under state
control.