Author: Kanayan Tamar

RUSSIA, ARMENIA OPPOSE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN

CASMII

April 3 2012

by Tigran Avetisian (source: Azatutyun)

Russia and Armenia spoke out on Monday against possible Western
military action against Iran, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov warning of “very serious” consequences for regional security
during a visit to Yerevan.

Speaking after talks with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian,
Lavrov said attempts to end the West’s nuclear standoff with Tehran
by force would destabilize not only the Middle East but also the
South Caucasus.

“It is hard to predict consequences [of military action] but they
would obviously be very serious and negative,” he told a joint news
conference. “It would affect the security of not only Armenia but
also Azerbaijan given the fact that there are three times as many
ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran as in Azerbaijan.”

“It’s hard to predict how the Iranian Azerbaijanis would react to the
use of military force against their country,” Lavrov said. “But if,
God forbid, that happens then there will undoubtedly be large inflows
of refugees and a large part of those refugees will end up in Russia
given the existence of a large Azerbaijani Diaspora there.”

Moscow has strongly opposed use of force by the United States, other
Western nations and Israel ever since Iran embarked on a controversial
nuclear program. Lavrov reaffirmed the Russian position that it would
run counter to international law.

Nalbandian indicated that Armenia is also against air strikes and
other military operations against Iranian nuclear facilities. “Iran
is Armenia’s neighbor and we are interested in solutions to problems
concerning Iran achieved through dialogue and negotiations, rather
than use of force,” he said.

The Iran standoff as well as the situation in Syria were apparently
on the agenda of the two ministers’ talks which Nalbandian said
testify to a “high level of political dialogue” between Moscow and
Yerevan. A statement by the Armenian Foreign Ministry said they
discussed “ongoing developments in the Middle East” and agreed on
“the need to solve problems through dialogue.”

According to the statement, Lavrov and Nalbandian also had a “detailed
discussion” on international efforts to end the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Nalbandian was quoted as praising Russia for its active
involvement in the negotiating process.

Speaking at the news conference, Lavrov said that both Armenia and
Azerbaijan are his country’s “strategic partners” and that Moscow will
carry on with its Karabakh mediation. He also defended the work of the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France.

Lavrov met with Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian later in the day. An
Armenian government statement said the meeting focused on economic
issues.

“Russia is our strategic partner and we must expand and strengthen
bilateral relations,” Sarkisian told the Russian minister.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS: Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin
II received the delegation led by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. As
press service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told Armenpress,
the catholicos noted with gratification that the relations of the two
countries are in balance with centuries-long friendship of Armenian
and Bulgarian people and are developing in different spheres of
cooperation.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov referred to church-state relations in
Bulgaria, particularly, state support to the Bulgarian Church in
repair and construction of historical monasteries and churches.

Referring to the relations of the two countries Borisov highlighted
preservation of the historical friendship between the two peoples
and its further development.

Wrapping up the meeting, His Holiness conveyed his brotherly love and
good wishes to head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Bulgarian
Patriarch Maxim and his blessings to Bulgaria and Bulgarian People.

RUSSIAN WARSHIPS TO TEAM UP WITH CHINA FORCES FOR JOINT DRILL

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 3, 2012 – 19:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Four Russian warships, as well as support vessels,
warplanes, helicopters and naval infantry, will team up with Chinese
naval forces in a joint exercise in April, a source in Russia’s
Pacific Fleet said on Tuesday, April 3, RIA Novosti reported.

The Russian Navy will be represented by the guided missile cruiser
Varyag, and three large antisubmarine ships in an exercise that is
to take place between April 22 and 29 in the Yellow Sea.

In all, more than 20 Russian and Chinese warships and support vessels
will participate.

Since 2005, China and Russia have conducted several joint military
exercises within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization.

The group also includes the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and aims to promote regional
cooperation and check U.S. influence.

CYPRUS FM: NATION HAVING SURVIVED GENOCIDE DESERVES RESPECT

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 3, 2012 – 21:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Foreign Minster Edward Nalbandian
congratulated his Cypriot counterpart Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis on
the 20th anniversary of establishment of bilateral relations.

He said that Armenia deeply appreciates the fact that Cyprus was
one of the first counties to recognize the Armenian Genocide. FM
Nalbandian stressed the importance of Armenian community in Cyprus
in deepening of bilateral ties.

Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, in turn, stressed that the Armenian community
totaling about 3500 people, plays a major role in development of the
country and bilateral relations. In this context she noted that about
15 agreements have been so far concluded between the two countries,
voicing confidence for the cooperation to continue,

The FMs noted that the parties discussed bilateral cooperation in
political, trade and economic fields, regional and international
security, as well as Nagorno Karabakh conflict and unification
of Cyprus.

ARMENIAN PREMIER RECEIVES BAVARIAN DELEGATION

Tert.am
03.04.12

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received on Tuesday with Dr.
Helmut Palder, Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia, and Christopher
Strotz, Munich Chief Prosecutor.

They arrived in Armenia at the invitation of Armenian Prosecutor
General Aghvan Hovsepyan.

The sides discussed prospects of bilateral cooperation, particularly
retraining of judges and public prosecutors.

Dr. Helmut Palder stressed the importance of high-level education
and personnel management.

The Armenian premier stressed the need for studying German experience.

Bavaria’s high-ranking judicial officials stressed their willingness
to share their experience with Armenia.

The German delegation is to leave Armenia on Apr. 5.

TURKEY’S MEDIATION ROLE ON KARABAKH ABSURDITY – ARMENIAN FM

news.am
April 03, 2012 | 21:02

YEREVAN. – It is just an absurdity to consider Turkey as a mediator
on Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian
said on Tuesday during the joint press conference with his Cypriot
counterpart Erato Kozaku-Markulis in Yerevan.

In response to the possible meeting between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents Sargsyan and Aliyev mediated by the U.S. and
Turkey, Nalbandian said that the U.S. as a Minsk Group mediator state
puts constructive efforts, while possible Turkish mediation is just
an absurdity.

TWO REGIONAL GOVERNORS WITHDRAW FROM ARMENIAN RULING COALITION PARTNER’S ELECTION LIST – NEWSPAPER

news.am
April 03, 2012 | 09:56

YEREVAN. – “The governors of Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik Regions
yesterday [Monday] withdrew from the proportional [election] list
of the [ruling coalition’s Prosperous Armenia Party] PAP [for the
forthcoming parliamentary elections]. And to learn the reason, we asked
PAP Chairman’s press officer Khachik Galstyan,” Iravunk daily writes.

‘”They withdrew because they are carrying out their executive powers,
and in that sense [their] participation in the pre-election campaign
with the corresponding electoral system would have impeded.’

To our question, ‘wasn’t it clear until then that those combined
activities could have interfered with one another?’, Galstyan
responded: ‘You can call them right now and ascertain their personal
view; and they will carry out solely executive powers,'” Iravunk
writes.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN ASKS AZERBAIJANI MINISTER EDUCATION A QUESTION

APA
April 2 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Parvin Abbasov – APA. Armenian parliamentarian Aram Safaryan
asked Minister of Education of Azerbaijan Misir Mardanov a question
at the meeting of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Committee on
Economic Integration, Legal Approximation and Convergence with EU
Policies: “Is it true that hostility and hatred against Armenians
are being promoted in your schools and textbooks. If there are such
issues we must settle them separately also together and in a different
format. We must settle it so that the future generations are mutually
respectable and tolerant. I consider that it will be a significant step
for the settlement of the conflict between our nations and states.”

Mardanov said that it is impossible to settle these issues in such
events or in a short time: “The experts must investigate and settle
this issue. I can’t say and it will not be true that we have friendly
relation to Armenia and Armenians. Just imagine, one family was
completely killed as a result of Karabakh conflict and only one member
is alive. How can this person be friendly with regard to Armenia and
Armenians? There is a great gap between our societies and this event
is the step for removal of this gap. I don’t know what is written in
your books and you do not know what is written in our books. That’s
why it is impossible to find an answer to this issue within a day or
single event. These issues demand very serious investigations between
the experts.”

MINISTER: “THE CURRENT “STATUS-QUO” IN NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE IS NOT ONLY INADMISSIBLE, BUT ALSO DANGEROUS FOR AZERBAIJAN”

APA
April 2 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. “The current “status-quo” in Nagorno
Karabakh issue is not only inadmissible, but also dangerous for
Azerbaijan”, said Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov in a joint press
conference with Finnish FM Erkki Tuomioja, APA reports.

Minister said that the elections in Armenia and some co-chairing
countries delay the negotiations process: “But it doesn’t mean that
the process will stop completely”.

Mammadyarov reminded that the last statement of foreign ministers
of the co-chairing countries called the sides to demonstrate the
political will: “There is necessary legal base for the settlement
of the conflict and this base is enough strong. The conflict must
be settled on the basis of international legal norms. The conflict’s
settlement is a long process. But I am sure that we can achieve it”.

Commenting on the issue on replacement of France with European Union
in OSCE Minsk Group, Mammadyarov said that there was no such mechanism
and added that he couldn’t answer instead of EU and France.

In his turn, Erkki Tuomioja noted that Finland supported the efforts
of the Minsk Group and rapid settlement of the conflict on the basis
of international legal norms.

RUSSIAN FM WARNS AGAINST STRIKE ON IRAN

Military.com

April 2 2012

YEREVAN, Armenia – Russia’s foreign minister has strongly warned
against a military attack on Iran, saying that a pre-emptive strike
would violate international law.

Sergey Lavrov said Monday on a visit to Armenia that an attack on
Iran would destabilize the region.

Israel and the U.S. have warned that all options remain open, including
military action, to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Iran insists its uranium enrichment program is aimed at civilian power
generation and research, but Israel and Western nations believe it
is a cover for a nuclear weapons bid.

Russia, which built Iran’s first nuclear power plant, backed some of
the previous U.N. sanctions against Tehran, but in recent months has
firmly rejected imposing new sanctions and called for dialogue.