Author: Kalantarian Kevo

RUSSIA INTENSIFIES PRESSURE ON ARMENIA

Trend
Aug 2 2012
Azerbaijan

Moscow begins to realize that the two phased policy of Armenia has
an anti-Russian character and begins to struggle with it, increasing
the pressure on Yerevan in all forms, the director of the Center of
Political Innovations and Technologies, a political scientist Mubariz
Ahmedoglu said press conference on Thursday.

The political scientist pointed out that Russia is beginning to take
more and more segments of the economy of Armenia under its influence,
the Russian military is much more active in Armenia and Russia is
moving away from the position of Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

“Pro-Armenian, Russian political analysts, along with comments in
favor of Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, noted that Armenia’s
withdrawal from Russia would be dangerous to Yerevan,” he said.

He noted that the results of the so-called “elections” in
Nagorno-Karabakh exposed the Karabakh policy of Armenia and the
Armenians of the world.

“The figures show that the population is in an entirely different
mood,” said the analyst.

Ahmedoglu also noted the influence of the Syrian crisis to Armenia. In
his view, the situation in Syria creates a political problem to
Armenia.

“The Syrian Armenians who fled from fighting in their country and
arrived in Armenia, now do not want to stay there. But they need an
Armenian visa or Armenian citizenship for emigration to the West,”
he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

COPTIC CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS CLASH IN EGYPT

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 2, 2012 – 20:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – At least 16 people have been wounded after Muslims
attacked a church and Christian homes in a village near the Egyptian
capital, Cairo, officials say, according to BBC News.

The unrest in Dahshur, about 40km (25 miles) south of Cairo, started
after a Muslim man died of wounds sustained in an earlier clash
on Friday.

Violence frequently flares between Egypt’s Muslim majority and its
Coptic Christian minority.

It is the first instance since Mohammed Mursi took over as president
in June.

Last October, a suicide attack on a church in Alexandria killed
24 people.

Police in Dahshur early on Wednesday fired teargas to stop a Muslim
mob from setting fire to a church, but the rioters instead torched
several Christian properties and three police cars, officials said.

Ten policemen were among the 16 injured, according to the authorities.

The office of the local Coptic archbishop of Giza said the entire
Christian population of Dahshur had now fled, according to the
Associated Press.

The rioters “looted and torched shops, including a jewellery shop…

and terrorised the local community, forcing them to leave their homes”,
the agency quoted the statement as saying.

Tension first erupted on Friday after a Christian laundry worker was
accused by a Muslim client of singeing his shirt while ironing it.

Villagers from both sides threw fire-bombs at each other, fatally
wounding a Muslim.

The man died of his injuries on Tuesday and was buried overnight,
sparking the latest unrest.

About 10% of Egyptians are Coptic Christians.

They fear that more radical forms of Islam, resurgent since the fall
of former President Hosni Mubarak, could imperil their safety in Egypt.

COMMUNICATIONS NOT SWITCHED OFF IN SYRIA – ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

news.am
August 02, 2012 | 18:25

DAMASCUS. – Neither phone nor internet were switched off,
representative of the Armenian community in Syria, Damascus resident
Nazaret Ekmajian told Armenian News-NEWS.am. He claims communication
was temporarily lost due to technical reasons on Wednesday.

“It was resumed again on Thursday, while no other special intervention
was made,” he emphasized adding the country’s situation is still
unchanged.

To note, several media outlets circulated news about the complete
switch off of the country’s cell and landline phones. In addition,
Syria allegedly had no internet. Thus, RIA Novosti was informed that
Syria’s state communication and internet is switched off throughout
the country.

NKR MFA: AZERBAIJAN CONTINUES THE POLICY OF RESETTLEMENT IN THE SHAHUMYAN REGION, GETASHEN SUBREGION AND OTHER NKR REGIONS

armradio.am
02.08.2012 17:32

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection
with the note spread by Azerbaijan’s Permanent Mission to the OSCE,
concerning the alleged resettlement of the NKR territories, draws the
OSCE and its country-members’ attention to the propagandistic character
of the given document, which aims to deceive the international
community and destabilize the negotiation process and the situation
in the region.

“In spite of the obvious fact that the NKR has its sovereign right
to receive migrants in its territory, the spread misinformation
is absolutely groundless, and the results of the monitoring
on the situation in these territories, carried out by the OSCE
Assessment Mission in 2010, can proof it. As for the report by the
OSCE Fact-Finding Mission in 2005, which the Permanent Mission of
Azerbaijan refers to, we consider necessary to remind that according
to the statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen, the mission
did not find out “any clear organized resettlement” and “did not
determine that the resettlement resulted from a deliberate policy”.

In this context, we consider necessary to once more draw the attention
of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe to the fact
that Azerbaijan continues the policy of resettlement in the Shahumyan
region, Getashen subregion and the other NKR regions, being under
the occupation of Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijan has over the years
withheld its consent to carry out such a monitoring in these regions,
which testifies to the unquestionable fact of their resettling and
cannot but provoke the OSCE and other international organizations’
serious anxiety.

As for the attacks of the official Baku concerning the July 19
presidential elections in the NKR, attended by representatives from 22
countries as international observers, including the OSCE, members of
European Parliament, and recognized as free, just, transparent and
meeting the international standards, similar attitude is another
proof of the fact that Azerbaijan with its totalitarian regime,
where the power passes from father to son, where “the elections” –
are just a show and farce, cannot respect democratic values, human
rights and freedom, as well as the principle of the electiveness of
the authorities on the basis of real expression of citizen’s will,”
the Ministry said in a statement.

Turkey trains rebels near Armenian-populated city

tert.am
20:29 – 04.08.12

The Turkish armed forced have launched military exercises in Qamishli,
an Armenian-populated Syrian city lying 1km off the country’s
north-eastern border.

According to Svobodanews.ru, the trainings involve 30 tanks, armored
cars and missile stations. The Turkish forces are reportedly active at
night hours too. They are deployed along the borders of the Qamishli
and Nusaybin. Both cities are said to be under Kurdish control.

The Russian radio channel reports that the trainings aim to
demonstrate force to the Kurdish rebels. Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan had earlier said that his country is ready to launch
military operations on Syria’s territory in case of facing a threat.
Qamishli is among Syria’s top ten biggest cities. Its Armenian
population is estimated to be 6,000-7,000 million at present. The city
also has an Armenian church.

Aleppo Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia moved

13:38, 4 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS: Consulate General of the Republic of
Armenia located in the second largest city of Syria, Aleppo was
temporary moved to a districts most habited with Armenians. Armenian
Foreign Affairs Minister press secretary Tigran Balayan told
Armenpress,’ I confirm the news, Armenian General Consulate in Aleppo
was moved into another district’ .
The clashes are continuing in Aleppo between Assad loyalists and rebel
forces. The city has been left without telephone communication and
internet, which was restored in August 3. Arabian sources state, the
clashes are mainly hosted in the Muslim districts. Syrian Armenian
community representatives note, Aleppo based Armenians have not
suffered from the shillings.
In accordance with Syrian Human Rights Defense Organization the
ongoing clashes have resulted in the death of over 17 thousand 192
people. By the info of Arab mass media 11 thousand 897 were peaceful
civilians, while 4348 were security officers. Among the victims there
were 7 Armenians, 2 of which were the Syrian Army militaries. Because
of lasting disturbances in Syria a number of people are leaving the
country, getting refugee status in other countries. Recently Syrian
Armenian Community representatives are also quitting the state. The
applications submitted from Syria by our compatriots are being
envisaged by accelerated procedure, at least within ten days.

International organizations should intensify the control of border
incidents: Seyran Ohanyan

13:14, 4 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS: The international organizations should
intensify their junctions aimed at controlling Armenian-Azerbaijani
border incidents. Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Armenia
Seyran Ohanyan told Armenpress, `OSCE Minsk group co- chair states’
relevant international organizations and international agencies should
take overall control of the regional events, and especially the
cease-fire violations.
`It is obvious that the violations and subversion attempts are
provoked by Azerbaijani. It is unacceptable that Azerbaijani side,
ignoring the strong control exercised by strong states, continue
border infiltration attempts. The control should be made tenser, an
atmosphere of mutual trust must be created so NKR conflict settlement
negotiation processes go forward’ Ohanyan noted.
On the creation of border incidents investigation mechanism Defense
Minister stated, Armenian side has always expressed its willingness to
participate in this process.’ The co-chairs have come forth with the
suggestion on the launch of border incidents investigation mechanisms.
Yet there are some issues, for instance OSCE Minsk Group and the
monitoring the group’s financing. There is a need for appropriate
experts, who would be able to respond quickly the occurred incidents.
We have already expressed our willingness in the regard of the
process, ” Minister added.

COMMERCE CHAMBER WANTS TO HELP SYRIAN-ARMENIANS TO OPEN BUSINESS

news.am
August 02, 2012 | 15:50

YEREVAN.- Armenia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry has set up a
working group to assist Armenian businessmen of Syria.

Arayik Vardanyan, the Executive Director of the Chamber, told reporters
that the group will provide consultations on Armenian legislation
and help in seeking opportunities for opening business in Armenia.

Another participant of press conference expert in Arabic studies
Araks Pashayan said Syria has a close-knit Armenian community and
most Armenians have no plans to leave the country.

“They are ready to resist,” she added.

Head of the Commerce and Industry Chamber said Syrian-Armenians are
mainly engaged in trade and jewelry manufacturing.

“Only 2-3 percent of 3,000 families coming to Armenia will stay here,
but we are ready to help them,” Vardanyan emphasized.

RUSSIAN ANALYST RULES OUT PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

tert.am
02.08.12

A peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is highly
unlikely, according to Alexander Khramichikhin, a deputy director at
the Russian Institute for Political and Military Analysis.

“A war between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be inevitable sooner or
later, with the parties’ positions not coinciding and very often
conflicting one nother to an extreme degree. That is why, I think,
it is not possible to reach a peaceful settlement of the NK conflict,”
the expert told the Azerbaijani News Agency APA in an interview.

Khramikhchin said the process does not inspire any hope, with the
parties no having made a progress since the signing of ceasefire.

Asked what Russia will do in case of a possible war, the Russian
analyst said that the country pursue the same policies as before.

“But if Turkey takes sides with Azerbaijan, Russia will unquestionably
back Armenia. Otherwise, it will maintain neutrality,” he added.

ETHNIC FOOD & CULTURE FESTIVAL THIS SEPTEMBER IN YEREVAN

hetq
12:36, August 2, 2012

A four day festival of ethnic foods and culture entitled “Countries
Under One Roof” will take place on September 26-29 in Yerevan’s
Ring Park.

Organizers say it will be the first of its kind in Armenia.

Various food and arts and crafts vendors will set up booths to display
Armenian wares and those of other nationalities.