Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARTSAKH DEFENSE ARMY REPORTS 3 OF ITS SOLDIERS KILLED AND 4 WOUNDED REPULSING AZERBAIJANI INCURSION

16:15, March 19, 2015

The Artsakh Defense Army (ADA) reports that three of its soldiers
were killed and four wounded during a two hour firefight to repulse
an Azerbaijani incursion this morning in the direction of Gyulistan.

The ADA claims that the Azerbaijani unit was routed and eventually
wiped out as Armenian troops pursued the unit back to its base.

The three dead Armenian soldiers have been identified as Hakob
Khachatryan, Edward Hayrapetyan and Arshak Harutyunyan.

MASS MEDIA: HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN TRYING TO STOP COLLAPSE OF PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY

by Ashot Safaryan

Thursday, March 19, 10:18

Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan tries to save the Prosperous
Armenian Party (PAP) that is due to collapse. His ‘envoys’ are now
persuading some leading representatives of the Party not to leave to.

According to the Haykakan Zhamanak Daily, Abrahmyan pins hopes with
PAP, since it may help him ensure strong positions in the power
hierarchy during the election processes in 2017-2018. The paper
writes that ex-leader of PAP Gagik Tsarukyan, in turn, tries to wreck
Abrahamyan’s plans. Tsarukyan actively works with his former party-men
to make them leave the party. Tsarukyan seeks revenge against his
relative Hovik Abrahamyan after the prime minister openly slammed him
after the notorious meeting of the Republican Party Executive Board.

Then Abrahamyan warned that Tsarukyan would be responsible for possible
domestic policy tensions in the country.

To recall, speaking at the Republican Party Council meeting on
February 12, Serzh Sargsyan levered harsh criticism at Tsarukyan for
his ‘pseudo-political’ activity, saying he would be excluded from the
Security Council, because “the supreme security body of the country
is not a cinema where one can come and leave when he wants.” The
president blamed Tsarukyan for non- competence and for tax evasion.

ARMENIA’S GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN COULD AFFECT ISRAEL

CHRISTIAN NEWS

By JNS.ORG

03/19/2015 13:08

Armenia’s budding relationship with Iran may hurt it’s longstanding
relationship with Israel.

Armenian Christmas in Bethlehem . (photo credit:TRAVELUHJAH)

The status of the Old City of Jerusalem and those holy places also
presents one of the thorniest issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict,
and the latest installment in this long-drawn drama involves the
Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Armenian leadership’s cancellation of a planned visit to Jerusalem
in February 2010 by then-prime minister Tigran Sargsyan provided
a cause for concern and puzzlement for the Israeli government that
persists to this day.

Until recently, the Armenian government had not sent a single
delegation to Israel since the cancellation of Sargsyan’s visit. In
contrast, an Armenian neighbor, the Muslim-majority Republic of
Azerbaijan, has sent a series of top-level delegations, including
cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, and Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov.

In what was reportedly a bit of damage control, on March 5, Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan arrived in Israel for what the
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as a “private visit,”
promoting a decidedly anti-Turkish and anti-Azeri agenda. Nalbandyan
received a less-than-warm welcome due to the well-documented and
increasing wave of anti-Semitism in the Armenian media as well as the
prolific state-sponsored anti-Israel propaganda that makes Armenia
such a darling of Iran.

What really caused the cancellation of the visit of Armenian prime
minister Sargsyan to Israel? In mid-February 2010, Yerevan notified
Israel that Sargsyan had become ill with the flu and was unable to
travel. Other diplomatic sources in Jerusalem noted that the flu struck
the Armenian prime minister in “a strange manner after a meeting with
the advisor of Iranian President Mehdi Mostafavi.”

Nearly at the same time as the Armenian official trip, the Iranian
ambassador in Yerevan, Seyed Ali Sagayan, announced that the Islamic
Republic would act as an intermediary, promoting the normalization
process between Armenia and Turkey. This was preceded by a visit
to Tehran of then-Armenian minister of transport and communication
Manuk Vardanyan, an invitation to the defense minister of Armenia to
Iran, and the arrival in Yerevan of a head of the Iranian diplomatic
delegation.

According to information received in Jerusalem, Tehran feared that
the Israelis would try to negotiate with the head of the Armenian
government about the tacit cooperation on the Iranian issue. Although
Iran remains a major regional partner of Yerevan, no less important for
the Armenians is their position in Jerusalem at the city’s holy sites.

The Jerusalem Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church controls
many Christian shrines in the city (including a part of the Church
of the Holy Sepulchre). The Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem (where
about 2,500 people live) is the spiritual center for the influential
Armenian diaspora in the Middle East, including Lebanon, Syria, and
Iran. This quarter is even called the key to the “Armenian factor”
of Middle East politics.

For Armenians, these places are particularly sensitive because of
the long-term confrontation with the Greeks regarding control over
the Jerusalem sites. In resolving a number of conflicts between
the Armenians and Greeks, the Israeli authorities, in particular the
Ministry of Religious Affairs, plays a critical role. On such matters,
Israeli state agencies prefer to remain neutral.

But recently, representatives of the Armenian Church began to
express fears that amid the crisis with Turkey, Israel had decided to
strengthen the partnership with Greece, and by consequence the Israeli
government may prefer the Greeks in the conflict over Jerusalem’s
holy sites.

“Holy Mount Zion to the Jews actually is in the possession of the
Armenian community and the Israeli government is implementing a
systematic policy to force Armenians out. Armenia as the state did
not oppose this policy.” Step Karapetyan, stated publicly ess than
a month before the announcement of the visit of the Armenian prime
minister to Israel, one of Jerusalem’s priests. He further noted
that “in such circumstances, conflicts and collisions will occur and
further, because the problem is not only religious but also political
and geopolitical conditions.”

The Iranians reportedly feared that in exchange for some assistance in
the matter of holy places, Sarkisian would agree to tacit cooperation
on subjects of strategic importance for Tehran, but the Armenians
quickly backed down under pressure from Iran.

The Iranian regime has never ceased to support Armenia in its
megalomaniac policy of occupation of the sovereign Azeri territory.

Recently, on behalf of Armenia, a blatant attack on an Azeri senior
diplomat–Baku’s ambassador to Washington, Elin Suleymanov–was aired
by the official Islamic Republic of Iran broadcaster Radio Tabriz,
in which the Iranian broadcast accused Suleymanov of “lobbying
activities against Armenia in Washington, DC.” The Iranians used a
classical anti-Semitic ruse by calling any diplomat who has healthy
relationship with Jewish people, especially American Jewry, a “secret
agent” of Zionists.

The mullah-controlled regime in Tehran manifests a growing concern
over the invigoration of relations between Israel, Azerbaijan,
and the states of Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan. The
Iranians fear that the Israeli strategy of containing the Islamic
Republic–which continues to stall the P5+1 negotiations over Iran’s
nuclear program–is gaining momentum, while Armenia is still suffering
from the Iranian flu.

IRAN CONDEMNED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: DIPLOMATIC DELICACY (VIDEO)

14:18 | March 19,2015 | Politics

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Patriarchate of the Great House of
Cilicia issued a joint statement condemning the Armenian Genocide.

This statement has both religious and political importance, explains
Iranian studies expert Karen Lazarian, “This statement has diplomatic
delicacy. The Islamic Republic of Iran expressed its attitude towards
the Armenian Genocide through the Patriarchate. If Iran did it through
our state, it would be politicized.”

According to the information of Iranian studies expert, there haven’t
been negative reactions from the Islamic society on this statement.

Dean of YSU Faculty of History, Professor Edik Minasyan also stresses
the importance of this statement and reminds that Iran is not only
our neighboring but also friendly country, “I stress the importance
of the role, which this country played during the first years of
independence. Once, Iran was the only way to connect to the outside
world. It has a big role in our history.”

To remind, the Islamic Republic of Iran hasn’t given an official
response whether on April 24 it will visit Armenia.

The speakers say that in all probability the delegation of Iran will
be in Armenia on April 24.

SALES OF RUSSIAN WEAPONS TO AZERBAIJAN SHOULD AROUSE SELLER’S CONCERN – ARMENIAN MP

YEREVAN, March 19. /ARKA/. Sales of Russian arms to Azerbaijan should
be the matter of the seller’s concern, Gagik Melikyan, head of the
faction of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia in the National
Assembly, told journalists on Thursday.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, speaking yesterday at the fifth
international media forum ‘At the Bottom of Ararat’, expressed concern
over the sales of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan.

The president was quoted by Novosti-Armenia as saying that the allied
relations between Armenia and Russia have been developing since 1992,
and military cooperation plays an important part in these relations.

Melikyan
said commenting on the president’s speech.

In his opinion, Sargsyan’s speech was unprecedented for the idea
that this fact should arouse not only Armenia’s but also the seller’s
anxiety.

Melikyan said.

Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated
by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.

On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority
of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.

Afterwards, large-scale military operations began.

As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the
seven regions adjacent to it. Some 30,000 people were killed in this
war and about one million people fled their homes.

On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the
military operations. Since 1992, talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group
are being held over peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group
is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France. —0—

ARMENIAN PRODUCERS TO SHOWCASE THEIR WINES AT PROWEIN-2015 IN GERMANY

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. The Armenian Development Foundation,
together with five Armenian companies, will participate in ProWein-2015
alcoholic drinks exhibition in Germany’s Dusseldorf on March 15-17,
the press office of the foundation reported.

Participation in the exhibition is expected to boost development of
Armenia’s winemaking and enhance recognizability of Armenian wines
in the EU markets.

ProWein is a prestigious international exhibition where about 6,000
companies from over 50 countries are presented. It is also a wide
platform for international business. -0–

EURONEST PA CO-CHAIR SAYS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION IMPORTANT

YEREVAN, March 18. / ARKA /. Euronest Parliamentary Assembly co-chair
Heidi Hautala described a resolution adopted yesterday by the Euronest
Parliamentary Assembly on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide as
a very important decision, when speaking to reporters in Yerevan
today on the sidelines of the Euronest PA session. The resolution
was endorsed by 33 votes, 4 votes were against.

“Personally, I attach great importance to this resolution. Before
the start of the plenary session of the Euronest PA, we visited the
Genocide Memorial in Tsitsernakaberd, and adopted this important
decision,’ said Hautala.

Prior to the vote a German MP Kurt Fleckenstein said that “it is
impossible to build a good future, without recognizing the fact
of genocide.”

One of those who voted against was an MP from Ukraine Sergey Alekseev,
who said their position in this matter does not coincide with the
Armenian, as Armenia does not support their position on Russian
aggression against Ukraine and refuses to recognize the Holodomor.

Hautala said the fourth ordinary session of the Euronest PA
was successful, having adopted a number of important resolutions
concerning the expansion of cooperation with the countries embraced
by EU’s Eastern Partnership program.

Euronest PA session was held in Yerevan on 17-18 March. The agenda
included four main reports by the standing committees of the National
Assembly of Armenia on cooperation issues in 2014-2020 under the
European Neighborhood and Eastern Partnership programs.-0-

LYDIAN SEEKING TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS INTO AMULSAR PROJECT BEARING HIGH INVESTMENT RISKS

16:00 March 17, 2015

EcoLur

Lydian International Company is seeking to attract shareholders into
the development of Amulsar gold mine Armenia. Lydian International
Company presented Amulsar project at PDAC-2015 in Canada. The CEO of
Lydian International Company Howard Stevenson stated that investments
will be attracted and the construction will be launched in 2015,
while gold mining will start in 2016. Nevertheless, the company
didn’t mention anything about pre-conditioned positive opinion
of environmental expertise for Amulsar project and the mandatory
requirements of project safety posed by Nature Protection Ministry and
naturally not a word about serious risks and threats for strategic
water resources, unique biodiversity revealed by public monitoring,
as well as nothing about public opposition to Amulsar project.

Below we publish environmental lawyer and ‘Save Teghout’ initiative
member Arthur Grigoryan’s article

‘Amulsar Mining Is Illegal and Impermissible

PART ONE

I have joined the group, which opposes to Amulsar mining project
considering it, first of all, contradictory to the legislation of
the Republic of Armenia, economically harmful and disproportionally
risky in viewpoint of ecology and culture.

It should be mentioned that company to be developing Amulsar has
presented a quite high-quality EIA, which is not inherent to mining
projects implemented in Armenia so far. Nevertheless, nice packaging
contains a very vulnerable project in conent and an irresponsible
project, the implementation of which is merely illegal.

Amulsar mining can’t be classified as ‘responsible mining’ concept,
as it doesn’t comply with ‘performance standards’ it declared
and the requirements of the national legislation it prescribes,
mentioned by units advocating the mining project – IFC, WB, EBRD, US
and UK diplomatc representations etc, thus bearing huge individual
responsibility, including for the processes started before the
projects…

Another legal issue is that the positive opinion of the environmental
expertise of EIA is not an expert document in compliance with the law,
but a short summary of the EIA, in my evaluation, which is subject
to appellation as an administrative act in all legal ways, including
in court.

The heap leach facility is located in the area of Gndevaz community
in a distance of 1 km from residential area. The permissibility of
the construction of an ore dressing plant and a heap leach facility in
such proximity to residential area is also subject to legal assessment,
as well as determination of the project affected zone.

– In territorial viewpoint, the most acute legal issue is determining
the mining affected zone: taking into consideration that Amulsar
is located in the drainage basin of Lake Sevan, while ‘Vorotan-Arpa’
hydrotechnical complex is also an immediate impact zone of Lake Sevan –
all the communities located in the drainage basin of Lake Sevan shall
also be recognized as Amulsar mining affected communities.

– Spandaryan reservoir is located in a distance of 6 km from mining
area (including infrastrucutres), which can store up to 260 million
cum water. On the other side, Kechout reservoir is located in a
distance of around 4.5 km, from where the accumulated water flows to
Lake Sevan through Arpa-Sevan tunnel. Water flows form in the area
of Amulsar mine, which supply water to Vorotan, Arpa and Darb rivers,
which will be used for different purposes in the area laid down in the
EIA, as well as beyond this territory for the irrigation of vineyards
for the production of brandy and wine.

– Approximately 22-kilometer-long Spandaryan-Kechout tunnel is
located between the mine and the plant, which was constructed to
transfer annually around 160 million cum water from Vorotan water
accumulated in Spandaryan reservoir to Kechout reservoir, then to
Lake Sevan. Some parts of mining affected zones are also Lake Sevan
immediate impact zones.

Jermuk resort town is located in a distance of 10 km from Amulsar.

Depreciation of Jermuk international fame, probable negative impacts
on the vineyards irrigated with the project affected rivers, risks
for decrease in wine and brandy production and their quality decrease
are subject to alternative economic assessment.

Though the recently passed resolution of the Armenian Government allows
to transfer rare and extincting plant species from the mining area,
this resolution is subject to appellation in court, as it contradict
with RA Code on Subsoil, as well as laws on flora and fauna.

Valuable cultural finds have been detected in Amulsar.

In addition to legal, economic, social, cultural and other
contradictory points, Amulsar mining also has a very serous problem,
which makes the declared priority of social responsibility impossible:
it has already caused a tense intercommunity and intracommunity
conflict, which will get deeper and deeper.

YEREVAN MARKS CENTENARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Spy Ghana, Ghana
March 18 2015

World News
Mar 18, 2015

An international media forum was held Wednesday in Yerevan to mark
the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.

The three-day forum attracted media representatives from Turkey,
Italy, Russia and South Korea.

The media play a responsible role in the struggle against all
manifestations of aggression and crimes against humanity, said Ara
Saghatelyan, head of the Armenian President Press Office.

Armenia says about 1.5 million Armenians were killed by forces of the
Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. More than 20 countries have officially
recognized the fact of the mass killing.

Armenians across the world will mark the centenary of the genocide
on April 24.

DES COMPAGNIES AERIENNES DU QATAR ET DE LA GRECE VONT LANCER DES VOLS VERS L’ARMENIE EN 2015

ARMENIE

Des representants de Qatar Airways (Qatar) et Aegean Airlines
(Grèce) ont exprime leur intention de commencer l’exploitation de
vols vers l’Armenie en 2015 a annonce le ministre de l’economie
Karen Chshmarityan.