Author: Kalantarian Kevo

RUSSIA’S MFA: RUSSIA DOESNT RECOGNIZES NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
September 22, 2011 Thursday

Conducting elections in Nagorno Karabakh cannot impact on the process
of peaceful settlement of the conflict, official representative of
the RF Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich stated.

As is known, Russia doesnt recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
as an independent state. We consider that conducting elections in
Nagorno Karabakh cannot impact on the process of peaceful settlement
of the conflict, the statement says.

Lukashevich has also underlined that Russia in close interaction
with its partners on the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs – USA, France,
will undertake active mediation efforts to solve the problem. We shall
continue our efforts for soonest resolution to the problem. We confirm
the principles of territorial integrity and norms of international law,
the Russian diplomat emphasized.

PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN SENDS HIS CONGRATULATIONS TO PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA TIGRAN SARGSYAN ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

States News Service
September 21, 2011 Wednesday

The following information was released by the Government of the
Russian Federation:

The message reads, in part:

“Relations between our two countries, founded in many centuries of
friendship and spiritual affinity, continue to flourish. We have
achieved significant successes in cooperation in trade and economic
areas as well as in investment, science, technology, transport and
culture. We are strengthening this constructive cooperation within
the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation, and also in other multilateral formats.

I am confident that the further development of Russian-Armenian
partnership is absolutely in the interests of both our peoples,
and that it contributes to ensuring stability and security across
the broader Caucasus region.”

EBRD: BANKING SECTOR OF ARMENIA IS ON THRESHOLD OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

arminfo
Thursday, September 22, 15:22

The banking sector of Armenia is on the threshold of mergers and
acquisitions, and the market participants themselves should gradually
come to the relevant decision in this matter, without any external
pressure, Valeriu Razlog, Head of the EBRD Yerevan Office, said in an
interview with ArmInfo. He said that from this viewpoint the EBRD is
ready to help all the participant banks of Armenia in the projects on
consolidation and mergers, elaboration of new products and reformation
of the banking sector.

Razlog said that the idea of supporting the initiatives on
consolidation of the banks, enlargement of their capitals, assets and
branches has already been included in the strategy on cooperation with
Armenia in 2012-2015 being worked out by the EBRD. He added that the
EBRD’s new strategy related to the support to Armenia, will supposedly
come into force in April 2012 and will not radically differ from the
current strategy, though certain changes are expected.

It is still difficult to judge about the financing to Armenia for
the next 3 years, as the EBRD mostly focuses on development of the
private sector, which constitutes 92% of the EBRD’s credit portfolio in
Armenia. In addition, the EBRD wants to retain flexibility for possible
intermittent growth or decline in certain spheres, Razlog stressed.

Razlog said that due to its dialogue with the municipal authorities
the EBRD is planning to explore new sectors: public transport, water
supply, waste recovery. The bank has already implemented a number of
successful projects to upgrade a sewerage system near Lake Sevan and
to recover the Yerevan subway. In July, jointly with the European
Investment Bank and the European Union, the EBRD launched a program
to improve water supply in 23 settlements in Armenia.

Since 1994 the EBRD has lent Armenia over 435mln EUR ($626mln) for
almost 100 projects. The bank is partner to 12 Armenian banks.

PARADING STRENGTH: MILITARY EXPERT PRAISES ARMENIAN ARMY QUALITY DEMONSTRATED ON SEPTEMBER 21
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN

ArmeniaNow
News | 22.09.11 | 12:23

By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter

The fifth military parade devoted to the 20th anniversary of
Independent Armenia featuring 4,000 marching troops and 3,000 pieces
of armored hardware created a festive, high spirit and combat-ready
atmosphere in the Armenian capital on September 21.

For the first time demonstrated was the military technology that can
reach target deep in the enemy territory and with high precision.
Military expert Artsrun Hovhannisyan said in this connection, though,
that the parade was not pursuing a quantity show-off, and as such it
should not be compared to the Azeri arms and armament; the parade,
he stressed again, was not meant as a show-off.

~SIf Azerbaijan by its annual parade, with more headcount and
equipment, seeks PR and tries to prove something to the world and to
its people, Armenia does not have the same urge,~T says the expert.

The parade featured exclusive military technology, such as artillery
fire control and reconnaissance systems, trench mortar volley systems.
Hovhannisyan says that some of the anti-aircraft defense systems were
of domestic production or updated derivatives. Among the displayed
tactical missiles, were 120-km range ones as well as 9K78 tactical
ballistic missile derivative of ~SElbrus~T (also known under its NATO
name of Scud), which is being further developed in Armenia to reach
a greater precision.

~SThis missile has a 300-km range that can reach any target in
Azerbaijan. It is exceptional in its tactical features, and the only
operators of such missiles in the region are Iran and Armenia. For
the first time we have displayed qualitative characteristics,~T
says Hovhannisyan.

Referring to the parade march (defile) by the honor guards drill team
at the end of the event, he defined it as astonishing and said that
not all countries succeed in displaying such a drill, which speaks
volumes about the soldiers~R discipline.

~SA parade does not illustrate the army~Rs total combat power, rather
displays drill readiness, that is: how disciplined soldiers are. No
parade is designated to show the full level of combat-capacity,~T
he stresses. Hovhannisyan points out that freedom fighters~R and
clergymen~Rs presence in Republic Square was very important, as they
symbolize the strength of the army and the high spirit of people~Rs
combat-readiness.

Soldiers of Russian military unit N102 took part in the parade, too.
As press secretary of the Defense Ministry David Karapetyan said
in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty~Rs Armenian
service (Azatutyun), because the military unit has an active part
in ensuring Armenia~Rs security, the detachment~Rs participation
symbolizes the deep roots of Armenian-Russian cooperation in the
field of defense. ~SThere is no ground for speculations,~T he said.

However, the opposition sharply criticized the Russian soldiers~R
participation.

Heritage parliamentary faction member, MP Larisa Alaverdyan says in
this connection: ~SThey are working here, aren~Rt they. It~Rs their
job; it~Rs a contract-based employment, so why should they participate
in the parade? It doesn~Rt make sense; it can be explained, but not
accepted. If the point was to show to neighbor countries that we are
not alone on festive days either, that~Rs a different issue, however,
still not acceptable. We have to not only gain independence, but also
free our souls of this serfdom, and rid our perceptions off the image
of a mighty partner.~T

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun faction member Lilit
Galstyan believes that in order for the country to be on a leveled
strong backbone, it has to be strong from the inside, but when the
country is vulnerable it turns to ~Swedding generals~T. (Old Russian
custom when a general was invited to a merchant~Rs wedding to make
it look more prominent).

According to Heritage’s Alaverdyan, vulnerability has always been an
issue for independent Armenia that started with the first president,
increased with the second, and keeps growing now with the third.

“If it keeps going the way it has, maintaining our absolute value is
going to become very costly,” she says.

AZERBAIJANI-GEORGIAN PROVOCATION AT EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
Anna Balyan

“Radiolur”
22.09.2011 18:05

Georgian-Azerbaijani provocation at the plenary sitting of the
EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly. The delegations of the two countries
tried to pass a resolution, which highlighted two of the principles
of international law – territorial integrity and inviolability of
borders. However, the bill failed to pass because of the protest of
the Armenian side.

ARF representative, member of the Armenian delegation to the EuroNest
Parliamentary assembly Lilit Galstyan says “it was neither victory,
nor loss; it was a call to respect the equality of all principles of
international law.”

The question refers to the EuroNest PA Resolution, which was to be
submitted to the EU summit in Poland. The Azerbaijani and Georgian
delegations incorporated only the principles of territorial integrity
and inviolability of borders in it with no reference to the right of
people to self-determination.

“It was actually an attempt by Azerbaijan and Georgia to bypass the
principle of the right of peoples to self-determination, disturb the
shaky peace and stability in the region and hinder the Minsk Group
activity,” she said.

“The Armenian delegation comprised of representatives of different
political forces made it clear to the European family that we are
united on certain issues irrespective of our political preferences,”
said Vahe Enfiachyan from the Prosperous Armenia Party.

POLICE DRAGGED ME ON THE GROUND, CALLED ME INSANE, SAYS OPPOSITION ACTIVIST

epress.am
09.22.2011

Armenian National Congress (HAK) activist Vardges Gaspari was staging
a protest during the military parade marking 20 years of Armenian
independence yesterday when he was forcibly removed from Yerevan’s
Republic Square.

The opposition activist recounted his story to Epress.am today.

“During the military parade, I held a poster on which it was written
that ironic [or ridiculous] is a parade for an army in which more
people die from bullets fired by our own soldiers than those fired by
the enemy. I was standing on my own outside the government building,
when suddenly someone in plainclothes came, attacked [me] and stole
my poster. At that time, I lay on the ground. Red berets [Armenia’s
Police Patrol Service] led by Valeriy Osipyan appeared and dragged me
to the Hanrapetutyun [Republic Square] metro station and they weren’t
letting me go forward from there. Osipyan was saying, ‘He’s mentally
ill.’ Regarding this matter, I have prepared a statement [to report]
a crime, as well as a separate statement for that expression of
Osipyan’s, which is a gross violation of the law,” Gaspari said.

MOSCOW’S THANK YOU
JAMES HAKOBYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:10:09 – 22/09/2011

The official representative of the Russian foreign ministry, Alexander
Lukashevich, made a statement on the local elections in NKR.

The mentioning of the position of Russia regarding the settlement of
the conflict is notable. “We reiterate our support to the principles of
territorial integrity, non-use of force, as well as other fundamental
principles and norms of international law,” announced Lukashevich,
who is the official representative of the Russian foreign ministry.

It is the same Russia which is Armenia’s strategic partner and ally,
the troops of which marchÕ¥Õ¤ across the Republic Square in the
military parade devoted to the independence of Armenia. The official
representative of the Russian foreign ministry notes the principle
of territorial integrity, generalizing the rest as other fundamental
principles and norms of international law.

Why does the official representative of the Russian foreign ministry
avoid mentioning plainly the principle of self-determination? Is he
afraid of insulting or infuriating Aliyev? Or maybe they don’t care
for the Armenians and they think it is sufficient and a great honor
to mention the principles favorable for them in general terms.

On the whole, Russia’s attitude is adequate to the behavior of most
Armenians. When the higher, middle and lower-ranking government
tends to beatify every action of Russia and is ready to describe
the opposite as treason, Russia does not need to take account of
the interests of the state with an “elite” full of such readiness,
even if it is all about diplomatic statements.

By the way, it should be noted, especially for different calibers
of personalities and tools of this “elite”, that in their official
statements the other co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group do
not hesitate to mention the right to self-determination along with
territorial integrity.

Apparently, on the next anniversary of independence it is necessary to
hold another military parade in the Republic Square and run a Russian
tank brigade across the square besides the Russian border guards. The
Russians may appreciate and recall self-determination.

DAVIT TONOYAN: USING THE PHRASE “FOREIGN COUNTRY” IN RELATION TO RUSSIA SOUNDS STRANGE

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 22, 2011
YEREVAN

Using the phrase “foreign country” in relation to Russia sounds
strange to all those who are aware of the joint Russian Armenian
military projects, deputy defense minister Davit Tonoyan said,
commenting on the recent public discontent in connection with the
presence of Russian troops at Armenia’s independence parade.

“The servicemen of Russia, Armenia’s strategic ally, marched alongside
Armenian servicemen at the parade dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of independence. They are from a country which provides an invaluable
support to our security,” he said. “For Russia, the phrase ‘foreign
country’ does not coincide with the reality but also sounds strange to
all those who, over the course of years, have witnessed the successful
implementation of Armenian-Russian joint military projects”, the
deputy minister stressed.

Tonoyan said presence of foreign troops in military parades is an
internationally recognized practice. According to him, a battalion
of Armenian honor guards attended a military parade in Italy a few
months ago. Such practice also exists in France.

AZERBAIJANI PARTY DO NOT LEAD THE OSCE MISSION TO ITS FRONT LINES

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 22, 2011
YEREVAN

On September 22, according to the earlier agreement with the
authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission
held scheduled monitoring of the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces’
contact-line, in the Hadrut direction.

NKR MFA Press Service reported that from the positions of the NKR
Defense Army, the monitoring was held by Coordinator of the OSCE
Office Imre Palatinus (Hungary) and Field Assistant of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Antal Herdich (Hungary).

On the opposite side of the contact-line, the monitoring group
comprised, Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Christo Christov (Bulgaria) and Marius Puodziunas
(Lithuania).

No violation of the cease-fire regime was fixed during the monitoring.

But, the Azerbaijani party didn’t lead the OSCE Mission to its front
lines, to the earlier agreed site, as a result of which the OSCE
monitoring groups had to hold the monitoring from a more distant site.

On the Karabakh side, the monitoring group was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.

ARMENIAN TAVERNA REVIEW
by Jonathan Schofield

Manchester Confidential
Sept 22 2011
UK

I HAD a meal with George Best recently. He was black and white. There
was also John Mundy, one of the Nolan sisters I think, someone
very glamorous called Cassie Baker and Sam Wanamaker, the actor and
filmmaker. All in black and white and all loving the Armenian Taverna.

All in all the re-visit to the Armenian Taverna was great fun. The
prices didn’t break the bank and the antique design of the place
provided a constant conversation point.

After the meal I rang up the National Trust. Apparently they are moving
away from their portfolio of grand stately properties in vast manicured
acres and are looking to acquire more humble premises, that capture
a time, a fashion and a mood: ex-Beatles’ council houses for example.

I suggested they stake an early claim on the Armenian Taverna when
the present goodly owners decide to call it a day.

The menu claims the basement Albert Square restaurant opened in 1968.

The evidence from the decor backs this up. It has all the crazed charm
of a grandparent’s chintzy front room, a mix and unmatch of trinkets,
pots, pictures and wall coverings so old fashioned they’ve gone from
being contemporary and delightful through to being naff and ridiculous
and ended up amusing and appealing.

The two dimensional traditional Armenian dancers’ mural with Mount
Ararat in the distance is so badly drawn but done with such enthusiasm
you can’t help but smile. On our visit we reckoned we found the gay
one. And the boss one.

The black and white pictures of the ‘stars’ – I can barely remember
BBC local newsman John Mundy – complete with endorsements for the
Armenian Taverna are like a echo down the ages of San Carlo’s present
fame galleries. Did Carlo nick the idea from here?

The whole place makes you grin.

The food makes me full.

This is lamb-based fare from the Near East, as it used to be called,
before people got confused and started calling it the Middle East. I’m
not au fait with Armenian food and its traditions strangely enough
but it appears similar to Syrian, Persian and Turkish grub.

The dishes here though don’t carry the subtlety of Persian food.

The Armenian Taverna’s take on goulash (£12) for instance, is massive
and looks like an explosion in a paint factory dominated by brown hues.

The lamb is marinated for two days, apparently, and then slow cooked
for six or seven hours. There’s red wine in there, bay leaves, thyme,
cloves, split peas, barley, the kitchen sink, frogs and snails and
puppy-dogs’ tails. Maybe even sugar and spice and all things nice.

The combination is a great onslaught of flavour and food with a lovely
bubble of rice as well. Winter’s coming folks. If you need bolstering,
this is your boy.

The Madznov kebab (£10.50) was similar in scale. But this time it
came with spiced minted lamb with yoghurt, pitta bread and a fried
egg on top. It also looked a mess, in fact radioactive, and was as
vast and wholesome as the goulash but compromised by an egg that
wasn’t runny enough.

Decent sides such as an oily black olive topped hummous (£4) helped
things along as did a bottle of an aggressive Chateauneuf du Pape
(£26).

The only disappointment was a Kunafeh (£3.50), which should have been
light and rich and sweet with walnuts, syrup, almonds and spices under
a shredded pastry cover. The problem was that the shredded bit was
dryer than Les Dawson’s sense of humour – I think I saw his picture
at the back of the room. The Armenian needs to be more careful with
this dessert, which really was a desert.

Still, all in all the re-visit to the Armenian Taverna was great fun.

The prices didn’t break the bank and the antique design of the place
provided a constant conversation point. There’s a good range of fish
and veggie dishes as well.

If you’ve not been since before the Berlin Wall came down, or before
Manchester made any Olympic bids, then try it again. The aesthetics
of the food won’t appeal but the decor, flavours and scale might.

You can follow Jonathan Schofield on Twitter here @JonathSchofield

ALL SCORED CONFIDENTIAL REVIEWS ARE IMPARTIAL. £1000 to the reader
who can prove otherwise, and dismissal for the staff member who wrote
a review scored out of twenty on a freebie from the restaurant.

The Armenian Taverna Victoria Buildings 1-7 Princess Street, City
0161 834 9025

Rating: 13/20 Food: 6/10 Service: 3/5 Atmosphere: 4/5