Author: Kajoyan Gevork

LE NOUVEAU PRESIDENT IRANIEN S’ENGAGE A RENFORCER LA COOPERATION AVEC L’ARMENIE

Le nouveau president de la Republique islamique d’Iran Hassan Rohani
a fait part de sa volonte de resserrer les liens entre son pays et
l’Armenie dans une lettre en reponse a la lettre de felicitation
que lui avait adressee son homologue armenien Serge Sarkissian au
lendemain de son election. “Nous esperons que les efforts fournis
par l’Iran et l’Armenia encourageront le developpement des relations
bilaterales a tous les niveaux”, aurait ecrit M. Rohani dans sa lettre
citee par les agences de presse, ajoutant qu’il entendait ” renforcer
la cooperation avec l’Armenie sur la base de la comprehension, de la
confiance et du respect mutuels”.

Dans son message de felicitations adresse une semaine avant a M.

Rohani, le president Sarkissian avait de la meme manière exprime
l’espoir que les liens se resserrent entre les deux pays voisins
sous son mandat. “Je suis convaincu qu’en conjugant nos efforts
nous elèverons les relations entre les Etats armenien et iranien a
un nouveau niveau qualitatif”, avait notamment ecrit le president
iranien. MM. Sarkissian et Rohani se sont rencontres a deux reprises
par le passe. M. Rohani avait effectue une visite a Erevan en 2001
en qualite de chef du Conseil supreme national de securite de
la Republique islamique d’Iran et avait eu a cette occasion des
entretiens avec M. Sarkissian, qui etait alors le ministre de la
defense de l’Armenie.

Les deux responsables s’etaient rencontres une autre fois a Teheran en
2005. Les relations entre l’Armenie et l’Iran se sont considerablement
developpees sous le double mandat très controverse de Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, le predecesseur de M. Rohani. Mais les responsables
armeniens espèrent que le nouveau president iranien, qui passe pour
un modere, sera en mesure de normaliser les relations entre l’Iran
et la communaute internationale, permettant ainsi une cooperation
plus efficace avec le voisin iranien.

vendredi 28 juin 2013, Gari ©armenews.com

ARMENIA TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

The Messenger, Georgia
June 27 2013

The ‘Energy for the Future’ international conference on renewable
energy will be held on October 24 and 25 in Armenia.

Suren Shatvoryan-head of the organizing committee of the conference,
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)/Armenian
Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (ArmSEFF) Technical Project
Manager-told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“This year we are planning to receive specialists from Russia, Georgia,
Belarus, [and] several Western countries. No less important is the
participation of local specialists, who will have an opportunity
to discuss the present-day policy in the renewable energy sector,”
Shatvoryan informed. (News.Am)

AZERI LEADER ADDRESSES MILITARY PARADE IN CAPITAL

AzTV, Azerbaijan
June 26 2013

At 0510 gmt on 26 June, Azerbaijani state television AzTV started
broadcasting live an address by President Ilham Aliyev ahead of an army
parade to be held in the capital Baku to mark the 95th anniversary
of the country’s armed forces. The venue for the parade are Baku’s
main Azadliq Square and the nearby bay.

Over 5,000 troops, about 300 pieces of military hardware, over 100
aircraft and helicopters and about 40 ships and boats are taking
part in the parade, according to a 25 June statement by Azerbaijani
Defence Ministry press service.

BBCM note: Azerbaijan is locked in a conflict with Armenia over its
breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh region which came under the control of
ethnic Armenians during a war in the early 1990s. The sides signed
a cease-fire agreement in 1994. Years of internationally-mediated
talks have since failed to produce a permanent peace agreement, and
the dispute remains one of post-Soviet Europe’s frozen conflicts. In
early 2013, President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan will increase its
military spending to 3.7bn dollars this year. He has repeatedly said
that Azerbaijan is trying to resolve the conflict peacefully, adding,
however, that war cannot be ruled out if peace talks with Armenia
fail to produce a result.

[Translated from Azeri]

AZERBAIJAN SLAMS ARMENIAN FM’S STATEMENT

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
June 26 2013

26 June 2013, 12:56 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe has condemned the statement of Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbadian made at the PACE summer session.

Head of the Azerbaijani delegation, Samad Seyidov, discussed at a
Monitoring Committee meeting the biased statement of the Armenian
foreign minister, which was raised on the first day of the PACE
session.

“In my speech, I thoroughly discussed the false and biased statements
of the head of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, expressed on the first
day of the PACE summer session,” Seyidov said. “The Azerbaijani
delegation considers the minister’s speech as unforgivable because
an attempt was made to spread false ideas inherent to Armenia among
the MPs, by using such a high position. Actually, this action must
be regarded as an open provocation against Azerbaijan.”

Seyidov also said that the committee members consider the Armenian
minister’s statement as provocative and point out that these remarks
are inadmissible.

The Monitoring Committee members urged the Azerbaijani delegation
not to give in to the provocative statements, but to exercise patience.

Baku has criticized Nalbadian’s statement. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Trend news agency that the statement
made by Nalbandian while addressing the European MPs differs from
Yerevan’s actual deeds.

He noted that actions such as the intensification of confidence
building measures announced by the Armenian minister were blocked
and are still being blocked by Yerevan.

Abdullayev said Armenia has already used force by occupying 20 percent
of Azerbaijan’s territory and exposing the local population to bloody
ethnic cleansing.

“Armenia is responsible for the tense situation in the region today
and for the security of the region being under threat,” he said.

“Yerevan must seriously think about its aggressive policy.”

Over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory,
including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, has been
occupied by Armenian armed forces since a lengthy war between the
two South Caucasus countries in the early 1990s. The UN Security
Council has passed four resolutions calling for an Armenian pullout,
but they have not been enforced to date.

Negotiations are underway on the basis of the peace outline dubbed
the Madrid Principles, also known as Basic Principles. The document
envisions a return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh
to Azerbaijani control; determining the final legal status of
Nagorno-Karabakh; a corridor linking Armenia to the region; and the
right of all internally displaced persons to return home.

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV: STRONG AZERBAIJAN CAN SPEAK WITH WEAK ARMENIA IN ANY LANGUAGE

MilAz.info, Azerbaijan
June 26 2013

11:25 26-06-2013

“It is no secret that Azerbaijan is strengthening day by day, while
Armenia is weakening day by day”

“The military expenditure will continue dominating in the budget in
the coming years. For comparison, I can say that poor Armenia”s total
budget makes up $ 2 billion”, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said
addressing the parade dedicated to the 95th anniversary of Azerbaijani
Armed Forces, APA reports.

The Head of the State noted that the funds used only for military
purposes in Azerbaijan are about twice as higher than the total
expenditures of Armenia: “Strong Azerbaijan can speak with weak
Armenia in any language. For the moment, we just prefer the way of
negotiations to maintain stability in the region. Azerbaijan is a
stabilizing country in the region. No initiative, no project can be
carried out in the region without the consent of Azerbaijan.

Therefore, in order to maintain stability and to solve the issue
peacefully, we still prefer the political way. But it is no secret
that Azerbaijan is strengthening day by day, while Armenia is weakening
day by day. Our economic power has increased incomparably.

We prevail over the enemy in any direction by several times and
in some directions by more than 10 times and this difference will
grow gradually, because we have a clear future, prospects and way
of development”.

The President reminded that Azerbaijan is the most rapidly developing
country in the world: “In terms of economic development, there is not
a second country in the world that achieved development in 10 years
like Azerbaijan. I want to reiterate that these factors – historical
factors, international law, political factors, economic and military
might will have its say in the resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan will restore its territorial
integrity, Azerbaijani flag will be hoisted in Nagorno-Karabakh and
other occupied lands, Khankendi, Shusha”.

The head of state said that great attention is given to domestic
production in the process of military buildup: “Over the last 8 years,
local military production has developed in Azerbaijan. There are
dozens of military plants and 750 kinds of products are produced
at these plants. We produce all kinds of cartridges. Pistols,
submachine guns, machine guns, grenade launchers, mortars, aircraft
bombs, armored vehicles, sniper rifles, unmanned aircraft – all of
them are produced in Azerbaijan. We have great plans for the future
strengthening of local production. We already have a very strong
military industry. Azerbaijani products are demonstrated in the
exhibitions all over the world, our export capacity is increasing.

This shows that any task can be solved if there is will,
well-considered policy. We are purchasing the most modern military
vehicles from abroad, at the same time we are strengthening and must
strengthen domestic production”.

Supreme Commander-in-Chief said the servicemen”s social protection
issues are solved successfully.

“Yesterday I attended the opening ceremony of the new building of the
Military Hospital. Two days ago the salaries of the servicemen were
increased. The housing problems of the servicemen, who have served in
the army perfectly for 20 years, are being solved. Flats are given
by the state to the servicemen that fall under this category. About
200 flats have already been given. This process will be enhanced
in the coming years. Housing, social problems of the servicemen are
being solved. The Azerbaijani state attaches great importance to the
military buildup. This is our major task and this process will be
accelerated in the coming years,” President said.

President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan as an independent state has
made great achievements.

“Our country has a great influence in the world. We have become a
member of the UN Security Council, the most influential organization
of the world, and we are defending our position in this organization.

Azerbaijan has become a reliable partner not only in the region, but
also in the whole world, all our initiatives regarding our foreign
policy focus on peace and international cooperation,” he said.

NIKOLAI BORDYUZHA COMMENTS ON GREAT DEAL OF ARMS SALE TO AZERBAIJAN

APA, Azerbaijan
June 26 2013

Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. Russia is selling weapons to
Azerbaijan preserving parity in the region, said Secretary General of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha
in Yerevan while commenting on the reports on the sale of a great deal
of arms to Azerbaijan by Russia.

Nikolai Bordyuzha noted that Russia is selling arms to dozens of
countries, including non-member states of CSTO.

“This business and market is the economy of Russia. Another thing is
that first of all, the sale of weapons to non-member states of CSTO
should be based on the regional parity. The sale of weapons to
Azerbaijan has been carried out in accordance with this principle.”

A FASHIONABLE LOVE STORY

Ottawa Citizen, Canada
June 27 2013

They came from Korea and Armenia and now they are making a life – and
a business – together

It’s a Canadian love story with an international twist. Seoyoung Park
of South Korea and Karen Pogosyan, who was born in Armenia and grew up
in Russia, met and fell in love two years ago while studying at
Algonquin College. The pair have just become business partners as well
after opening a stylish boutique in the ByWard Market.

Be uniQ, located on Parent Street, opened five weeks ago and is
garnering lots of buzz for its imported clothing lines from some of
South Korea’s top fashion designers. On Wednesday, the couple returned
to the Algonquin campus where they first met for their official launch
party and fashion show hosted by former CTV Ottawa anchor Max Keeping.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and councillor Mathieu Fleury were also on
hand to toast the couple.

Canada was the country of choice for Pogosyan, 22, and Park, 23, who
were eager to start a new life abroad.

“I knew a little about Canada. I knew about hockey, poutine and the
Parliament Buildings,” says Pogosyan, who arrived in 2009 from
Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad).

He didn’t know anyone in Ottawa but was taken in by a “lovely Jamaican
woman” as part of a homestay program. He enrolled in the hospitality
program at the college, worked as a bellman at the Westin Hotel, a
bartender at the Novotel Hotel, and also at Trends International, a
men’s clothing store at Rideau Centre.

“I’ve loved fashion all my life – it’s more what I’m into,” says Pogosyan.

Park says her parents recommended she study abroad and in 2008 she
settled in Fredericton, N.B., where her father has family, before
moving to Toronto to study. Her younger brother Tony came to Ottawa
the following year to attend high school and she followed him here.

“I had visited Ottawa before with my brother and I fell in love with
the city,” says Park.

“The atmosphere, the downtown area, Parliament Hill and the European
style of the city is what I liked,” says Park, who was here studying
English.

She went on to take business marketing at Algonquin, hoping that she
might one day open her own business.

She says her life became complete when she met Pogosyan at the college
through friends. Pogosyan says he made the first move when he saw Park
standing by herself at a social event organized by the college’s
International Students Association.

Romantic sparks flew at their first meeting, and both felt it was the
start of a beautiful relationship.

“At that moment when I saw her I was walking around and thought hmmm
… maybe something will work out. Then I met her again another time
when my friend and I were going for dinner and I asked her to come
with us,” says Pogosyan.

Park says she was attracted to Pogosyan because they also shared
similar interests, especially connecting over their love of fashion.

The idea to open the boutique came in 2011 after her trip to South
Korea when she brought back to Pogosyan some clothing items. Her
cousin is one of South Korea’s top fashion designers.

“He said he’s never seen this kind of fashion before, so I thought
maybe Canadian people would like this kind of clothing,” she says.

The couple had some savings but both reached out to their parents to
help open the boutique.

“Our parents trusted us and supported us right from the beginning,”
Pogosyan says.

The 800-square-foot shop is filled with diverse styles for women and
men from casual wear to formal attire. About 30 South Korean designers
are represented and prices of the items range from $20 to $129.

“We went to South Korea and we chose all the clothing and met the
designers,” says Pogosyan, adding the fashion industry in South Korea
is booming with Asia, Europe and the U.S. being among the top markets
for exports.

They both agree the boutique is something they were meant to do.

“We were nervous before we opened because it was a big step. We don’t
have much experience in business, we have experience in fashion but
not in owning a business,” says Pogosyan.

AZERBAIJAN TO SEEK TO SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT BY POLITICAL MEANS – ALIYEV

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 26, 2013 Wednesday 03:31 PM GMT+4

– Azerbaijan will seek to settle the Karabakh conflict by political
means, President Ilkham Aliyev said.

Speaking at the military parade devoted to the 95th anniversary of
the National Armed Forces, Aliyev said, “We prefer negotiations,
political means in the settlement of the conflict for the sake of
stability in the region.”

“Azerbaijan has no unsolved problem, besides the Karabakh settlement.

I’m sure that we’ll achieve our goal and put the historical record
straight. There’s no other way,” the president stressed.

He said: “The norms of international law, political factors, the
economic and military power of Azerbaijan will allow us to achieve
the fair settlement of the Karabakh conflict and restore the country’s
territorial integrity.”

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WANTS CLOSE TIES WITH BOTH RUSSIA AND EU

Warsaw Business Journal, Poland
June 26 2013

President BronisÅ~Baw Komorowski met with President Serzh Sargsyan
of Armenia on Tuesday during the latter’s two-day visit in Poland.

Armenia, member of the EU’s Eastern Partnership program, is expected
to sign an association agreement with the EU during the November EU
summit in Vilnius. Armenia also has close ties with Russia.

“It’s impossible to be a part of two different economic spheres at
the same time, you have to choose one,” said President Komorowski,
commenting on Armenia’s plan to become an EU member state at an
unspecified time in the future.

“Our policy is based on the formula: EU and Russia, not EU or Russia,”
responded Mr Sargsyan, adding that he’s grateful to Poland for
supporting Armenia in getting closer to the EU and that his country
is the biggest beneficiary of the Eastern Partnership program, which
was initiated by Poland and Sweden.

Mr Sargsyan emphasized that he’s not happy with the current state
of business cooperation between Poland and Armenia and hopes it
will improve soon. Both states mostly deal in foodstuffs, chemicals
and mining.

POLAND WELCOMES ARMENIA’S DETERMINATION TO COOPERATE WITH EU

The Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
June 25 2013

Polish President BronisÅ,aw Komorowski said he welcomed the
far-reaching determination of Armenia in a bid to initial an
association agreement with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit
in Vilnius this autumn.

President Komorowski speaking at a press conference following Tuesday
talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that the initialling
of the agreement is also important as it will provide an additional
legal framework for the development of Polish-Armenian cooperation.

Asked about Armenia’s determination to draw closer to the EU, Sargsyan
noted that while his country appreciated European values and was doing
all in its power to implement them, it also had “historical ties”
to Russia and its relations with Moscow were of a strategic nature.

“Armenia’s relations with Russia base on a centuries-long tradition
of mutual trust. Our nations are befriended, Russia has the biggest
Armenian diaspora, we also have strong economic ties. Our policy is
not ‘the EU or Russia’ but rather ‘the EU and Russia’ and I see no
inconsistency in this”, the Armenian president said.

President Komorowski responded by assuring that Poland supported the
Eastern Partnership countries and understood Armenia’s strivings to
develop the best-possible relations with Russia. He noted, however,
that it was impossible to function in two economic areas at once.

“Poland is happy to lend support to these (the Eastern Partnership –
PAP) countries but must also point out that it is not possible to be
in two economic areas simultaneously. A choice must be made. We fully
understand and support Armenia’s endeavours to build the best-possible
economic relations with Russia, we also strive for the best-possible
relations with (…) the serious partner and neighbour which Russia is,
but we do know to which area we belong”, BronisÅ,aw Komorowski said.

He added that Poland’s own example should be an encouragement to
choose the EU.

Sargsyan said that the two presidents noted progress in bilateral
relations and saw a positive future for the development of cooperation.

The Armenian president also congratulated Poland’s economic
development. Sargsyan stressed that he was not satisfied with the
present level of economic cooperation with Poland and pinned great
hope on the possibility of its further development.

On Monday, in the presence of the two presidents, Polish and
Armenian representatives signed several bilateral agreements
covering international road transport and cooperation in the field
of agriculture.

The sides also signed a memorandum between the Polish Customs Service
and the Armenian State Revenue Committee on combating customs fraud
and the development of partnerly relations, as well as a statement
of intent of cooperation in the field of environment protection.

Sargsyan also laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in
Warsaw.

On Wednesday Sargsyan will visit the cities Lublin and Zamosc and the
site of a World War Two German Nazi concentration camp in Majdanek
near Lublin.(PAP)