Author: Kalantarian Kevo

AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITY OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONDEMNS ILLEGAL ACTIVITY OF “THE VOICE OF TALYSHISTAN” RADIO IN SHUSHA

APA, Azerbaijan
April 2 2013

Baku. Ramil Mammadli – APA. “We condemn the activity of “The Voice
of Talyshistan” radio, illegally established at the instigation of
Armenian separatists in Shusha. We want it to be protested at the
international level as well,” said chairman of the “Azerbaijani
Community of Nagorno Karabakh” Public Union, Head of Shusha region
Executive Authority Bayram Safarov, APA reports.

Safarov said that ideologists of the radio would be determined after
a certain time, it is inexpedient to talk about this issue now:
“However, the creators and those who support the radio should know
that Shusha is the territory of Azerbaijan and the owners of this
land will return there.”

Safarov also touched on the possibilities for meeting between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian Communities of Nagorno-Karabakh. He said that
the Azerbaijani side has always taken initiative on this issue, but
the opposite side has not taken adequate steps: “Azerbaijani Community
is ready to meet with them. We are waiting for an invitation from the
Armenian Community. We are ready to meet after the Armenian Community
appeals to the government of Azerbaijan, the date is fixed.

Azerbaijani Community does not intend to beg.”

IRAN URGES ARMENIA TO CONDEMN TERRORISTS’ USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN SYRIA

Fars News Agency, Iran
April 2 2013

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called on
Armenia to condemn the recent use of chemical weapons by the terrorists
against the Syrian nation.

Earlier this month, terrorists fired a rocket containing chemical
substances in the Khan al-Assal area of rural Aleppo and reports
indicated that around 25 people were killed, most of them civilians.

The Iranian foreign minister made the remarks in a message to his
Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian on Monday.

“As one of the main victims of such weapons, the Islamic Republic
calls on Armenia to spare no effort to prevent the repetition of
similar incidents in future,” Salehi said in his message.

Salehi’s message was conveyed to Nalbandian by Iranian Ambassador to
Yerevan Mohammad Rayeesi.

Syria has asked for an independent investigation into the use of
chemical weapons by militants in Aleppo.

The chemical attack came after a video footage posted on the internet
late in January showed that the armed militants in Syria possessed
canisters containing chemical substances.

The foreign-sponsored militants had earlier released footage in which
rabbits were killed by inhaling poisonous gas.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized
attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border
guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have
been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups
for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated
from abroad.

IRAN’S FM SPOKESMAN CALLS FOR EXPANSION OF TIES WITH ARMENIA

Fars News Agency, Iran
April 2 2013

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast
in a meeting with Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan
said that Tehran is ready to enhance economic and tourism relations
with Yerevan.

Mehman-Parast pointed to Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Commission as
a suitable framework for broadening of bilateral economic ties, and
said, “Mass media also play a pivotal role in introducing business
and tourism attractions.”

Mehman-Parast, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived in the
Armenian capital city on Monday night for a four-day visit to the
country.

Mehman-Parast’s visit to Armenia comes after he paid a visit to
Belarus. He is slated to discuss the latest regional and international
developments with the Armenian officials, including his counterpart
Tigran Balayan.

The Iranian diplomat is also slated to meet with Armenian Foreign
Minister Eduard Nalbandian and give visits to some academic and
press centers.

Mehman-Parast started his regional tour last Wednesday by paying a
visit to Belarus in the first leg of his trips.

Earlier this year, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsian appreciated
Tehran for its effective mutual cooperation with Yerevan, and
underlined his country’s enthusiasm for the further expansion of ties
with Iran.

Sargsian appreciated Tehran for its effective bilateral cooperation
with Yerevan during the past years.

He said that his country “attaches great importance to expansion
of relations with Iran” despite efforts made by the US-led western
states to reduce Tehran-Yerevan ties.

Addressing people in the Armenian city of Meghri, President Sargsian
said “Armenia will continue efforts” to promote bilateral cooperation
with Iran.

In recent years, Iran and its Northern neighbor Armenia have signed
agreements on energy cooperation and agreed to cooperate in technology
and research and to enhance ties in commerce and economy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Sargsian pledged in December
2011 to further expand “high-level relations” between their nations
and, in particular, give new impetus to the implementation of joint
energy projects that have fallen behind schedule.

$1.6 BILLION WERE INVESTED IN ARMENIA IN 2012

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
April 2 2013

$1.59 billion were invested in Armenia in 2012, a drop by 8.6%,
compared with 2011. 49.82% were direct investments (and 37.6% foreign
investments) were spent on TV communications, the National Statistical
Service reports.

France increased investments 2.3-fold to $230 million, with 90%
of them in Orange Armenia.

Russia reduced investments 3.2-fold to $123 million, a third of which
was spent on communications. Russia invested $25 million in Armenian
energy, $7.2 million in non-ferrous metals, $25 million in retail
sales and $14.5 million in transportation.

Germany invested $48 million in mining, Switzerland $43 million in
mining, Seychelles $23 million in TV communications.

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ORGANIZATION OF DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN TURKEY, ARMENIA POSTPONED

Interfax, Russia
April 1 2013

The first flight between Yerevan and Turkey’s Van, which was originally
scheduled for April 3, has been postponed at Turkey’s initiative.

“The Turkish Directorate-General of Civil Aviation has postponed
indefinitely the decision on arranging direct flights between Van and
Yerevan starting from April 2013,” the travel company Narekavank-Tour,
the Armenian organizer of flights to Turkey, told Interfax on Friday.

“The flight organizers were guided by reasons of development of tourism
and cultural ties and avoided politicization of this issue, which
the Turkish authorities failed to do. We hope the Turkish authorities
will display common sense and reconsider their decision,” it said.

The flight organizer on the Turkish side was the Bora Jet airline.

Turkey and Armenia do not have diplomatic relations, and the border
between the two countries has been closed at Ankara’s initiative
since 1993.

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TURKEY RINGS BELL FOR FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 100 YEARS

France 24
April 1 2013

Despite no priest being available to hold a mass, worshipers gathered
at the recently restored Surp Giragos Armenian Church in eastern
Turkey on Easter Sunday to pray and listen to the church’s bell ring
out for the first time in 98 years.

The Armenian community has rung the bells of Diyarbakır’s Surp
Giragos Armenian Church for the first time in 98 years to celebrate
the Easter holiday, but failed to hold a proper mass due to a lack
of priests to take part, Dogan news ageny reported yesterday.

The church had been out of service for almost a century now, and was
recently restored with a $3,200,000 budget before it was re-opened.

The community visited the grounds yesterday, Easter Sunday. The bronze
bell, which was built in Russia, was rung for the first time in almost
a century.

WAS IT CONNECTED WITH THE ELECTIONS?

05:36 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

The head of Nairi investigation department Arsen Sargsyan found it
difficult to answer the question whether Proshian village head murder
was connected with the elections or not.

He only said that they were not involved in politics and the other
consequences the investigation process will show:

See the details on “Aravot” video.

ARMENIA CONTINUES BALANCED POLICY WITH EU, EURASIAN UNION

April 3, 2013 – 15:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia continues talks for the EU free trade
agreement as well as negotiations for joining the Eurasian Union and
affiliation with the Customs Union, a member of standing parliamentary
committee on financial affairs said.

As Gagik Minasyan told a news conference in Yerevan, Armenia may
receive a limited Customs Union membership, the issue being whether
the Union will agree to NKR~Rs affiliation as well.

Also, a working group meeting for the EU association agreement has
been scheduled for November 2013 in Brussels.

CATHERINE ASHTON TO VISIT TURKEY

April 03, 2013 | 12:11

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Catherine Ashton will pay an official visit to Turkey on April 3-4,
Anadolu agency reported.

During her visit, Ashton will hold a meeting with Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss international and regional issues,
as well as Turkey-EU relations. The diplomat will also meet with
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIA DOES NOT HAVE AND WILL NOT HAVE PRESIDENT NAMED SERZH SARGSYAN

2013-04-03 12:23:15

Today, on April 3, the leader of “Heritage” party Raffi Hovhannisyan
continued his rally in Abovyan city of Kotayk region. This time
Raffi Hovannisian is accompanied by the Armenian opposition MP Nikol
Pashinyan.

“I do not want that we sat in front of the TV on April 9 and watch
indifferently how Serzh Sargsyan once again occupies Armenia. On
February 18, our people made their choice in the person of Raffi
Hovhannisyan as their President. The main thing for me – to defend
the choice of our citizens. The current government can not deprive
the people of that choice.”

MPs called Abovyan residents to come to Liberty Square on April 9
and to show to the authorities that Armenia does not have and will
not have President named Serzh Sargsyan.

“Long live a free country! Long live our children who live in it!”

Pashinyan summed.