Author: Kajoyan Gevork

DON’T BE EXCITED, IN ORDER NOT TO BE DISAPPOINTED

NOVEMBER 20, 2012 13:12

“The political and economic isolation of Armenia yields results,
and Azerbaijan will continue deepening that isolation,” naturally,
Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan said this. Well, it is a
common thing in politics to regularly state that one’s opponent is
weak, constrained, feeble, in order to encourage one’s own team,
in this case, nation. The same applies to internal politics – the
opposition in Armenia has been saying for 20 years: “The

panicking government is in agony,” and the government has been saying:
“We will do whatever we like.”

There was nothing sensational in Aliyev’s statement – he expresses
such wishful thinking at least once a week. However, since it is a
pre-election period in Armenia, Galust Sahakyan, a representative of
our government, claims that the Armenian “opposition is smoothing
the way for such [Aliyev’s, A. A.] statements with its provocative
and ridiculous statements.” So Aliyev makes a speech with ordinary
arrogance, because our opposition plays its usual “repertoire”:
“Armenia is being ruined,” “The country is on the brink of a
precipice,” “So one should… as soon as possible,” etc. This is the
Azerbaijani President’s basis. If the opposition said that everything
was great, we are a regional tiger, Aliyev would address his people
with a speech of this kind: “Armenia is very powerful, we cannot
bring it to its knees, therefore, we should give up on Karabakh.”

What I am saying is that the Azerbaijani leader, as well as our
opposition and Galust Sahakyan, in particular, say what is in their
own interest and in the interest of their teams. One shouldn’t take
anyone’s statement as gospel truth. However, I would ask politicians
and their spokespersons to avoid extreme assessments. Certainly,
I am talking about our politicians – if Aliyev wishes to deceive his
people, it’s his problem.

“The brink of a precipice” is as deceitful as “tangible progress,”
if we talk about the economy. “The national leader” is as unacceptable
an exaggeration as “the head of the regime,” whoever it is said about.

The issue here is to be a bit more considerate toward our citizens –
when one arouses too much hope, the disappointment will be as big.

Just 3 months will pass, and people will understand that eloquent
speeches at every turn are, although necessary, not very important
parts of the election campaign. Don’t be excited, in order not to
be disappointed.

ARAM ABRAHAMYAN

KARKAR HAS GRADUALLY BEGUN TO REVEAL ITSELF

Monday, 19 November
2012 15:18

It is two years the Department of Tourism and Historical Environment
Protection adjunct to the NKR government has carried out exploration
activities in the location of the newly discovered town of Karkar.

Karkar is the only medieval town of the province of Artsakh, Mets
Hayk, the name of which is mentioned in Armenian as well as in Arabic
and Georgian sources. We tried to find out how it was discovered and
what results have been recorded during these two years from head of
the expedition examining the monument archeologist Gagik Sargsyan.

– Mr. Sargsyan, first of all how was the citadel discovered and how
did you make sure that it was Karkar?

– In June, 2011, when we were carrying out exploration and sanitation
activities at St. Saribek sanctuary of Dashushen village we made
inquiries among the local inhabitants concerning the famous local
archeological sites. 70-year-old inhabitant of the village Vazgen
Aghajanyan said that in the plateau on the opposite side of the river
Karkar which they call “King’s place” ancient walls could be traced out
the stones of which had been used by the inhabitants of Shosh village
as construction material in the 1960s and 70s. We visited the site
accompanied by Aghajanyan and this was the beginning of the discovery
of Karkar, the one-time major town of Artsakh and its second birth.

The town is located between the towns of Stepanakert and Shoushi up
the afforested slope of the military unit on the right side of the
north-south highway.

After the visual examination of the site we found out peculiarities
typical only of a town, such as the large territory occupied by
it /50 ha/, the length of its northern wall /1100 m/, the citadel
surrounded with walls, traces of monumental buildings, handmade
embankments, the system of gravity flow water supply and some other
distinguishing features which prove that the discovered location is
neither a village nor a castle but a real town, the pottery found on
the ground belonged to the early medieval period. A question arises:
what medieval town could be found in this location? The answer to
this question was best substantiated by historian Alexan Hakobyan,
“This is definitely the town of Karkar.”

– What can you say about the results of the activities carried out
this year?

– The most important discovery is the heathen temple which, as we know,
is the fireplace of the pagan faith where eternal fire was burning. It
must be distinguished that in the 6th century Artsakh was under the
influence of Sasanian Persia and pagandom was the religion of the
ruling clique which had nothing to do with the people’s faith.

It is a unique building, in Armenia only Dvin had a temple of fire
worship, and that was a building made of clay, while this one is
a stone building in a clay-made room. The room is wholly dug into
the land, deep in 2 metres with a long slanting entrance. In all
probability there was another stone building nearby which was pulled
down with a tractor and the temple was filled with building refuse.

The wood coal from the fire place was sent to the radio examination
to find out the real age of the heathen temple.

In the second exploration site we discovered the Cyclopian wall
which belonged to the Stone Age. In one corner of the wall there was
a rectangular room partially covered with paving stone with a stone
hearth in the centre which evidently proves that this is an apartment.

Next to it another room of the same sizes but of economic significance
was discovered with two jammed jars lying out under the walls.

The first exploration site is remarkable for its two round towers
over the northern wall which appear to be quite new constructions
as compared with the wall itself. The ancient Stone Age wall of the
town was cut and the two towers were inserted in which points to the
fact that the town was reconstructed and the old walls adapted to
the early medieval fortification demands.

Among the discovered stuff there must be mentioned the small iron
knife, beads and numerous pieces of pottery with the overwhelming
majority of them belonging to the antique or Stone Age periods. The
discovered pottery include fragments of the small jewellery box,
a small black pot and the handle of a big jar made in the form a
chamois’s head. The horns of the latter could not be found while its
mouth and the beard were not damaged.

Thus, the town has begun to reveal itself and we can state for sure
that we deal with a very serious, big and valuable monument. It was
unfortunately destroyed by human beings to use it as a construction
material source, it was mostly damaged when installing the gas pipeline
and planting an artificial forest here.

Karkar was the second Tigranakert of Artsakh for its significance and
its historical role as well as the historical capital of Artsakh and
the ancestor of the NKR present-day capital Stepanakert.

– And how significant is Karkar for you?

– All my life I have been engaged mainly in the search, discovery
and examination of historical monument. Karkar is the greatest,
the most valuable and the most remarkable of the numerous monuments
I have discovered and put in scientific circulation. Karkar is the
logical haven of my professional activity, my pride and joy.

Armine Hayrapetyan

ISTANBUL ARMENIAN CREATES WEBSITE TO CONNECT COMPATRIOTS

news.am
November 20, 2012 | 00:09

The social networking website created by Istanbul Armenian Burak
Bulduk has become available for Armenians all over the globe.

Haysocial website includes main functions of Facebook, Twitter,
Google+ and Lınkedin. It is the website with registration available
only for Armenians.

Talking to Agos daily, Bulduk said website’s aim is to break barriers
between Armenians all over the globe to make their communication
easier .

Registration is free of charge but you must be an Armenian to register,
he said, adding there are certain mechanisms to check whether the
user is Armenian.

The website is connected to 30 cameras in Istanbul streets and soon
will be connected to cameras installed in Armenia’s cities.

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ARMED GROUPS INSIDE THE COALITION OF THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION ARE NOT CLEAR: ARABIST

11:15, 19 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The relations between the armed
groups fighting against the governmental forces and the new political
coalition of the Syrian opposition are not clear. Arabist Grigor
Vardanyan spoke about this in a conversation with “Armenpress”. Grigor
Vardanyan stated: “The discussions in the capital of the State of
Qatar Doha resulted the formation of the National Coalition of the
Syrian Revolution and the forces of the opposition. The West and
France in particular considered the possibility to provide the defense
systems and weaponry of the largest calibers only in the case of the
political unification of the Syrian opposition.” Vardanyan added that
this unification caused the recognition of the National Coalition by
almost ten countries.

Among other things Vardanyan emphasized the following: “To my opinion
this coalition still has to prove its political vitality by showing
that a large number of the people support them inside Syria. In
military terms there is no tactical, operative and strategic contact
in the opposition. As to the final success of the struggle it largely
depends upon the unbreakable and simultaneous actions of the chain of
“command and control”.”

The Opposition Union of Syria has been recognized by France, Turkey,
six Arabian states etc.

THE THREE COMPONENTS OF ARMENIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY

armradio.am
16:00 19.11.20120

A two-day conference of political scientists and experts titled
“Challenges of the 21st Century and Issues of Armenia’s Security”
kicked off at the National Academy of Sciences today.

Speaking at the conference, Secretary of the National Security Council
of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan dwelt on Armenia’s National Security
Strategy, particularly the main directions of foreign security,
the modern threats and challenges.

Arthur Baghdasaryan presented the components of Armenia’s foreign
security, namely the cooperation with European and other international
security, political and economic organizations, the process of European
integration, the cooperation within the framework of the EU Eastern
Partnership Program, the partnership within the Collective Security
Treaty Organization and the process of Armenia-NATO cooperation.

Arthur Baghdasaryan referred to three main factors, which are of
primary importance for Armenia’s national security. “First of all,
it is the guarantee of military security. The military and political
institutions of the country should be ready to resist any assault
or military aggression. The second factor is economic security. We
must be able to ensure the energy, food, transport and information
security. The second is the social and demographic security, which
is of fundamental importance,” he said.

Arthur Baghdasaryan referred to the Karabakh issue, the
Armenian-Turkish relations, the process of international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, the security of Syrian Armenians, other
regional issues.

Also speaking at the conference were also Minister of Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan, Head of Staff of President’s Administration Vigen Sargsyan,
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and others.

ECONOMY: DIASPORA ARMENIANS IN NO HURRY TO INVEST, SEEING POOR PROTECTION OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN

19.11.12 | 12:59

Economy: Diaspora Armenians in no hurry to invest, seeing poor
protection of foreign investments in Armenia

United States Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern

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In his most recent video blog United States Ambassador to Armenia
John Heffern made a statement on the U.S.-Armenian-American economic
cooperation. He reminded that on October 18 Yerevan hosted a regular
meeting of the Armenian-American Task Group held for the purpose of
exploring ways to develop bilateral trade and making investments.

Earlier, the Ambassador repeatedly stated that he was trying to attract
U.S. investments to Armenia. Deputy Undersecretary of State Eric Rubin
and project coordinator of U.S. government assistance projects Daniel
Rosenblum discussed ways of improving the business environment to
promote trade and investment, in particular, concerning the reform of
tax and customs administration, ensuring open competition, intellectual
property rights and independence of the judiciary.

On November 16, the U.S. ambassador hailed the progress that
Armenia had made in these areas, which he said was reflected in the
improvement of Armenia’s positions in the World Bank Doing Business
2013 report. But he stressed that political will was needed to proceed
with key reforms.

This means that Armenia still lacks sufficient conditions for
attracting sizable foreign investments. In an interview with Lragir.am
in August Heffern said that when in the United States he spoke with
potential investors, they asked him three main questions – whether
their contracts in Armenia would be protected by the judiciary,
how much their investment would cost them – taxes, customs, etc.,
and whether there was a level-playing field for competition in the
country. He noted that there was some progress in Armenia, reforms
were continuing, but “unfortunately, I still could not answer those
three questions.”

Armenia has signed bilateral agreements concerning the Encouragement
and Reciprocal Protection of Investments with 37 governments of the
world, including with 15 European Union-member countries, the United
States, Russia, and six other post-Soviet countries. However, despite
the fact that according to the Doing Business rating in terms of
investment protection Armenia has risen from the 98th to 25th position,
no big flow of investments has yet started into the country’s economy.

Several litigations are currently on in Armenia related to the
protection of foreign investments. Armenian-American businessman
Edmond Khudyan has unsuccessfully been trying, through courts, to
regain several million dollars that he had invested in construction
and says were seized away from him by scammers enjoying protection
at the very top of the Armenian power pyramid.

Khudyan is one of few Diaspora Armenians to have decided to use
publicity to stand up for his rights. Many Armenians from abroad
who became victims of fraud after investing money in Armenia prefer
not to talk about it loudly, often out of “patriotic reasons”. They
simply silently leave, thus encouraging further fraud in Armenia.

However, public courts can be a test for the Armenian government as
they are to indicate whether investments in the country are protected
in name or in action. What is the use of good laws if the court defends
only the interests of local “fraud-committing” senior officials?

Ambassador Heffern said that he has monitored the process related
to the Khudyan case and lawyers of the Embassy would be present at
the hearings to draw conclusions. Heffern also said that he had been
in contact with the Armenian presidential administration to demand
explanations in connection with the case that has been dragged out
for two years now.

A group on the protection of Diaspora investors is also attending to
this case. This group has also chosen the way of publicity. Little
progress has been made in the Khudyan case yet, but the fact that he
is not accused of slander perhaps means that the accusations that he
makes are grounded.

There is also another court proceeding in connection with another
U.S.-Armenian, Nareg Hartounian, who was charged with tax evasion.

Remarkably, Hartounian’s is a rare case when the Armenian public has
stood next to the investor, which may have had an impact on the court.

Court proceedings are also on into the claim of the German-owned
company, InstInvest, against Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik
Tsarukyan’s Ararat Brandy-Wine and Spirits Factory. The German company
is demanding the reinstatement of its shares, which it claims to have
lost due to an alleged unlawful decision made by the General Meeting
of Shareholders.

Earlier this year, a New York court ordered Armenia’s former Minister
of Nature Protection Vardan Ayvazyan to pay $37 million in penalty to
the American Global Gold Mining company. The ex-minister did not admit
his guilt and the Armenian authorities have not commented on the case,
which may also have an adverse effect the level of confidence among
potential foreign investors

YEREVAN TO HOST ARMENIA-CZECHIA BUSINESS FORUM NOV 20

November 19, 2012 – 13:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Yerevan will host Armenia-Czechia business forum
on Tuesday, November 20.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanian and his Czech
counterpart Tomas Dub will deliver opening speeches at the event.

Discussions on economic and investment environment in Armenia and
Czechia, as well as business meetings are included on the event agenda,
Armenian Development Agency told PanARMENIAN.Net

RUSSIA DEVELOPING NEW LONG-RANGE ROCKET SYSTEMS

November 19, 2012 – 14:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russia is developing new long-range multiple-launch
rocket systems (MLRS) with improved guidance that could allow them to
strike targets up to 120 miles (200 km) away, the Defense Ministry’s
artillery spokesman said on Monday, Nov 19, according to RIA Novosti.

“We have the military-technical potential to create a new generation
of MLRS with a range of 200 km,” Lt. Col. Nikolai Donyushkin said.

Russia’s artillery currently deploys the 122-mm Grad, 220-mm Uragan,
and 300-mm Smerch rocket systems and the improved Tornado-S, Tornado-G,
and Uragan 1-M are currently undergoing state acceptance trials. The
army is in the process of receiving up to 30 Tornado-G systems this
year, replacing the BM-21 Grad.

The improved Tornado-S is being upgraded with the special GLONASS
satellite navigation system used in the Smerch missile system,
Donyushkin said. The Tornado-S will have guided rocket rounds enabling
it to fire out to 72 miles (120 km).

“The Tornado-S will have a longer range and increased effectiveness
thanks to greater accuracy and the use of new warhead payloads and
a reduced launch readiness time of just three minutes,” he said.

The army is gradually moving toward a new level of capability for
deploying precision use of long-range rocket artillery, he said.

“Massed use of high-precision weapons makes it possible to be certain
of destroying high-value targets before they can be used on the
battlefield by main-force groups. Fewer rounds need to be fired,
simplifying logistics,” he added.

0

GERMANY TO HOST CONFERENCE ON ROLE OF JUSTICE IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

November 19, 2012 – 14:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) is
holding the international conference ~SNagorno Karabakh peace process:
on the role of the question of justice for the conflict resolution~T.

The conference, which is supported by the German Academic Exchange
Service (DAAD), will take place on November 23-27, 2012 at the
Evangelische Akademie Arnoldshain near Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

More than forty participants, including high-ranking representatives
from politics and research from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Germany
are expected for the four-day conference. The main focus is the role
of justice in the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The conference’s aim is to explore, how and under what conditions the
disparate ideas of the counterparties can be made aware, communicated
and transformed in order to contribute to a peaceful settlement of
the conflict. Firstly, following introductory lectures by German
experts on problems of justice in peace processes as well as on
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict well-known scholars from Armenia
and Azerbaijan will take a critical look at the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict from the perspective of the respective states. Afterwards,
the politicians will get a chance to speak ~V prominent government
officials and parliamentarians from both countries will discuss the
respective ideas of solution to the conflict. Further presentations,
including these of renowned experts from Germany and Russia will deal
with external factors in conflict management.

For the first time experts from research and politics from the
countries of the region are brought together in Germany and thus
creates an important platform for an international and intersectoral
dialogue. The conference is organzed by PRIF’s research department
“Governance and Societal Peace”.

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URUGUAY’S INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY IS BASED ON STRONG AND TRADITIONAL PRINCIPLES AND VALUES SUCH AS RESPECT FOR STATES’ SOVEREIGNTY, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

arminfo
Monday, November 19, 11:29

Foreign Ministry of Uruguay has replied to Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry’s note of protest regarding the visit of the delegation led
by chairman of Uruguayan Parliament’s House of Representatives to the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Foreign Ministry’s press service told APA.

Foreign Ministry of Uruguay says regarding Nagorno Karabakh visit of
the Uruguayan parliamentarians that Uruguay’s international activity
is based on strong and traditional principles and values such as
respect for states’ sovereignty, territorial integrity, people’s
right to self- determination, non-interference in internal affairs,
peaceful resolution of conflicts and international law, as well as
other fundamental principles of the UN, of which Uruguay is a founding
member. It is also noted that the maintenance of international peace
and security is one of the major principles of the UN Charter strongly
supported by Uruguay.

“Uruguay has deep and traditional contacts with the Republic of
Armenia and cordial and constructive friendship with the Republic
of Azerbaijan. Therefore, the biggest desire of the government of
Uruguay can be nothing but to make efforts to solve the conflict
between its two friendly states through dialogue, understanding and
other peaceful ways that will ensure coexistence and cooperation of
the relevant nations and governments, this will of course be reflected
in the future prosperity and welfare of the entire region. Uruguay’s
behavior or position must by no means be interpreted outside this
framework, other goals or intentions are out of the question,” says
the note of reply.