Author: Kalantarian Kevo

NALBANDIAN HIGHLY ESTIMATED THE ROLE OF FRANCE IN NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT PROCESS

ARMENPRESS
24 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS: Foreign affairs minister of Armenia
Edward Nalbandian during the working visit to Paris held a meeting
with Foreign affairs minister of France Laurent Fabius. Armenpress
reports calling the official website of French foreign ministry that
issues concerning bilateral relations, particularly strengthening
economic relations were included in the agenda of the meeting.

The ministers discussed issues concerning Armenia-European Union
relations, programs implemented in the framework of those relations and
exchanged opinions on Armenian-French cooperation in the framework
of international organizations, reverberated to the activity of
Francophone International Organization.

Edward Nalbandian and Laurent Fabius reverberated to the issues of
South Caucasus and Middle East regions. On occasion of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement process Armenain foreign minister expressed his
high estimation for French positive involvement as a Co-Chair of OSCE
Minsk Group.

NERSES NAZARYAN MAY BE REMOVED FROM YEREVAN POLICE CHIEF POST – PAPER

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 24, 2012 – 13:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Yerevan Police Chief Nerses Nazaryan, currently
on vacation, won’t be returning to his workplace, Zhoghovurd daily
believes.

According to the sources close to the paper, the perspective of police
major general Nerses Nazaryan’s dismissal is linked with ex-MP Ruben
Hayrapetyan’s losing his authority.

“Before, a telephone call from Hayrapetyan might keep help keep
Nazaryan’s post. However, the situation is different now,” the
paper said.

Nazaryan, however refuted the information above in a conversation
with Zhoghovurd reporter.

ALEPPO-ARMENIANS NOT FACING THREATS DESPITE CLASHES

tert.am
24.07.12

The Armenian community of Aleppo is not reportedly facing threats
amid the continuing armed attacks in the city.

The clashes are said to be far from the Armenian districts, though
the smoke and noise are not out of their sight and hearing.

Despite the extremely tense situation in the city, Armenians are in
safer areas.

Clashes were reported yesterday on the way leading to the city’s
airport. But the scheduled Yerevan-Aleppo flight was carried out,
though with a little delay.

The Free Syrian Army announced on Monday that it had launched a direct
attack on the capital city, after occupying the surrounding districts.

The Army’s colonel, Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi, said in a YouTube address
that they are planning to seize Alleppo from Assad.

He also pledged to support the civilian population, including the
Christian Armenians, Assyrians, as well as the Alevis, Shahs and
Druzes.

Representatives of Aleppo’s Armenian community told Tert.am on Monday
that the city had become deserted, with only the government forces
marching in the streets in an attempt to find and destroy the armed
rebels’ shelters.

ARMENIA-IRAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE SITTING TO FOCUS ON AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 24, 2012 – 12:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetyan met Iranian
Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Rayeesi.

At the meeting, the Minister stressed the importance of strengthening
Armenia-Iran ties in the sectors of animal husbandry and plant growing.

The envoy, in turn, expressed readiness to contribute to implementation
of Armenia-Iran agreements.

As the Minister noted, Yerevan will soon be hosting a sitting of
Armenia-Iran intergovernmental committee on trade and economy, with
a numerous agriculture-related issues on agenda. In this connection,
the Armenian official invited his Iranian counterpart to attend the
sitting, agriculture ministry press service reported.

MOVSISYAN’S DOUBLE BRINGS KRASNODAR A WIN IN RUSSIAN PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND 1 (VIDEO)

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 24, 2012 – 12:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Yura Movsisyan bagged a brace as Krasnodar began
their Russian Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Rubin
Kazan.

Armenia international Movsisyan opened the scoring four minutes before
the interval and added his and Krasnodar’s second with a penalty in
the 61st minute.

Kazan, who famously recorded an upset victory over Barcelona at
the Nou Camp in 2009, hit back thanks Bebras Natcho’s 65th-minute
spot-kick but they could not find an equalizer, FIFA.com said.

ARMENIA WILL HOST AN INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON TOURISM IN FALL
Ara Petrosyan

Economy | 24.07.12 | 12:36

The number of foreign tourists visiting Armenia this year is expected
to grow by 8-10 percent to around 800,000, according to Deputy Minister
of Economy Ara Petrosyan, as quoted by Arka news agency.

In 2011 Armenia was visited by 758,000 foreign tourists, and each of
them spent on average $1,000.

In a related development Armenian economy minister Tigran Davtyan
said Yerevan will host an international forum on Human Values and
Cultural Diversity in the 21st Century: the Importance of Tourism,
October 18-19. He said the gathering to be held under the auspices of
the World Tourism Organization will be attended by tourism ministers
and 120 representatives of the sector.

He said the event will provide Armenia with an unprecedented
opportunity to showcase its tourist potential.

MONOPOLY AND SHADOW BUSINESS HINDER DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN ARMENIA

arminfo
Tuesday, July 24, 12:56

Armavia Company’s monopoly in the market hinders development of
incoming tourism in Armenia, TATEV-T.T.T. Director Arlen Davudyan
told media, Wednesday. He said that his company is organizing tours
from Iran and can use only bus transportation services of Vaspurakan
Company. That company always wins state contests for Meghri-Yerevan
transportation services as special conditions are created for that.

Similar situation is observed also in other tourist routes. Davudyan
believes that contests conditions must be changed in order 2-3
companies could win. This would reduce tariffs and increase quality
of transportation services.

He said that there is a wide network of taxi drivers who make tours of
the country without providing any information on the sights. They act
through mediators who organize rent of apartments and illegally keep
passports of tourists. “There is no control in the given sphere. This
is a shadow business that seriously hinders activity of the legal
companies, reduces their incomes and possibilities of advertising the
Armenian tourism product and tours of the country,” Davudyan said. He
believes that the government must liquidate the transport monopolies,
properly introduce Armenia as a country of tourism and assist travel
operators in participation in international exhibitions, which require
much funds. Among positive changes, Davudyan outlined improvement of
online reservation of air tickets and hotel rooms, though the prices
are still unreasonably high.

For her part, Melita Hakobyan, Head of the National Association of
Consumers, explained that only 15%- 20% of the population can afford
rest in abroad, another 2%-5% of the population rest inside Armenia
but prefer rented houses or stay at relatives to expensive hotels.

Davudyan said, in turn, that the country lacks mid-class hotels. For
instance a week rest at a good hotel on the Lake Sevan will cost $400
while at the best hotels in Batumi (Georgia) on the Black Sea shore
a one- place room will cost $60-$65 a day. A five-day rest in Antalia
(Turkey) will cost $250 in average. As a result, Armenia is becoming
a transit country for the Iranian tourists who prefer having a rest
on the Black Sea shore in Georgia.

Melita Hakobyan recalled that hotel services are very expensive and
incomparable with the population incomes. As a result, chronic fatigue
syndrome of the population is observed in the country.

IRANIAN MINISTRY: SO-CALLED “ELECTIONS” IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGATIVELY IMPACT ON CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Trend
July 24 2012
Azerbaijan

The so-called “elections” in Nagorno-Karabakh have a negative
impact on the peace process of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry
Ramin Mehmanparast said at a briefing today, IRINN TV channel reported.

He said that these actions have a negative impact on the negotiation
process till the sides of the conflict come to an agreement to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The so-called “presidential elections” took place in the occupied
Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan on July 19,
2012. No world country recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as independent
and sovereign state.

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

INVESTORS INTERESTED IN ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT’S FREE ECONOMIC ZONE – ECONOMY MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 23, 2012 – 15:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Potential investors have already expressed interest
in opening a free economic zone (FEZ) on the territory of Zvartnots
airport, Armenian Economy Minister said.

As Tigran Davtyan told a news conference in Yerevan, “in line with
an agreement between Economy Ministry and Sitronix Armenia CEO,
the 1st free economic zone will be launched in Armenia.”

According to the official, Armenia hopes for foreign companies with
new technologies to be involved in FEZ operations, with foreign
investments to be attracted for FEZ activities.

The $10 mln project envisages creation of a 100 000 square meter
zone with the establishment of export-oriented production as an
obligatory condition.

JULY 23 MARKS 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF AGDAM (AKNA) LIBERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 23, 2012 – 15:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The liberation os Shushi in 1992 decreased but
didn’t eliminate the threat to the towns of Nagorno Karabakh.

Azerbaijani military-political leadership viewed the air force and
heavy artillery as means of intimidating the Armenian population,
rather than fulfillment of fire support tasks.

After Shushi liberation, Azeri military leadership transported most
artillery to Agdam province, with the enemy group posing constant
danger to Martakert and Martuni defensive provinces of the NKR.

All the surrounding settlements including Stepanakert were shelled
from Agdam; Armenian villages of Askeran, Martakert and Martuni
provinces were destroyed, with Askeran almost entirely ravaged by
Azeri artillery.

Hence, seizure of Agdam and suppression of firing points became a
vital necessity. On July 23, Artsakh forces launched an offensive on
both sides and seized the town, forcing out the Azeris.

“The population didn’t want us to defend them. They all fled the town,”
an Azeri officer recollected.

Agdam liberation ensured Askeran civilians’ security. Moreover, the
operation eliminated the threat to systematic shelling of NKR capital,
as well as attacks against Askeran and neighboring provinces.

In November of 2010, NKR government took a decision to rename the
town of Agdam as Akna, which will have a status of a province. Akna
which currently has population of 360, may in future regain status
of an independent settlement.