Author: Kanayan Tamar

DAVID JAMALYAN SAYS CSTO A DEVELOPING AND PROMISING MILITARY-POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 12, 2011
YEREVAN

The CSTO is a developing and a very promising military-political
establishment: a number of countries, having special interests, are
involved in it, yet there is some common, as they all appeared in
the same establishment, according to Davit Jamalyan, military expert.

Davit Jamalyan told Armenpress that first of all the common interests
with Russia in a variety of issues unite the countries. “The CSTO’s
first and main mechanism as a military-political establishment is the
rapid reaction force, which gives quite a real image to CSTO,” he said.

According to the military expert, Armenia has agreements with Russia
not only within the framework of the CSTO, but also directly with the
country. This firstly refers to military security issues, about which
Armenia has serious expectations from other member-states of the CTSO,
as some mutual agreements are available. This may refer to various
forms of mutual assistance. There are serious expectations from the
rapid reaction force.

As to the Azerbaijani side’s statements, according to which the CSTO is
an inefficient establishment, Davit Jamalyan said the Armenian-Russian
strategic partnership caused serious concerns by the Azerbaijani
side. “Therefore they tend to discredit Armenia’s cooperation with
Russia through creating a background of mockery.” The military expert
says in fact the Azerbaijani side realizes that the countries, which
strongly cooperate with Russia on the basis of geopolitical interests,
are involved in the CSTO.

“One should not overestimate the significance of CSTO, but if the
cooperation is deepened, CSTO as a military-political establishment
will become stronger,” he said.

CYPRIOT, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS WELCOME ‘ARMENIA’ BOAT IN LIMASSOL

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 12, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – Cypriot President Demetris Christofias welcomed
the sailing boat ‘Armenia’ to Cyprus, during a special ceremony on
August 11 evening held in Limassol.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan also attended the ceremony,
Famagusta Gazette reported.

Limassol is the final port of call of the sailing boat, which set off
on a world tour on May 28, 2009 from Valencia. Its mission is to raise
public awareness about the Armenian nation which was once an important
seafaring nation with more than a thousand sailing boats in 24 ports.

IRAN INTERESTED IN PRO-ARMENIAN RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT – HISTORIAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 12, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iran is interested in pro-Armenian resolution of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, according to historian Alik Gharibyan.

“This is partly conditioned by Tehran’s unwillingness to see the
strengthening of Turkish factor in the region and fears that the
liberated territories of Artsakh might be used as springboard for
attack on Iran if these are returned to Azerbaijan,” he told a news
conference on August 12.

Expert Mher Baghdasaryan, in turn, noted that the West is not
interested in settlement of Karabakh conflict in Azerbaijan’s favor
either. “Western powers are concerned that if Azerbaijan regains
control over Nagorno Karabakh it will give rise to Pan-Turkism ideas,”
he said.

ARMENIAN MOUNTAINEERS HOIST NATIONAL FLAG ON MOUNT KAZBEK

Aysor.am
August 12, 2011

An Armenian mountaineering team comprising five mountain climbers
hoisted our national flag on Mount Kazbek (5033 m) on August 8, 2011.

Despite bad weather, the team including three women succeeded in
climbing to the top of the mountain. Here are the names of our
mountaineers: Garegin Unusyan (captain), Levon Movsisyan, Hasmik
Manandyan, Ani Khachatryan.

ARMENIAN TRANSPORT MINISTER: NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR CONSTRUCTION PLANNED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2017

/ARKA/
August 11, 2011
YEREVAN

Investment program on construction of North-South transport corridor
is planned to be completed in 2017, Armenian Transport Minister Manuk
Vardanyan said Wednesday at this investment program presentation
aimed at attracting contractors.

The Armenian government approved this program as well as a $500-million
financial agreement with Asian Development Bank on January 14, 2010.

“As a result, Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport communication will be
improved,” Vardanyan said.

On August 2, Armenian transport ministry announced an open tender
for selecting contractor for reconstruction of 11.7 kilometers of
Yerevan-Ashtarak road, 38 kilometers of Yerevan-Ararat road and 42
kilometers of Ashtarak-Talin road.

The minister said that after the launch of this investment program
two other roads – Sevan-Dilijan-Noyemberyan-Bagratashen and
Yerevan-Aparan-Vanadzor-Bagratashen – will be reconstructed and a
road will be constructed near Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport.

He said that that the 556-kilometer North-South corridor will create
a gateway to the Black Sea and European countries through Georgia’s
territory. He said this corridor would solve also freight problems.

“Taking into account the average speed of 100-120 km/hour, it can
be said that the way from Yerevan to the Black sea will be passed in
4.5 or 5 hours,” he said.

Vardanyan said that the next tranche, which is under discussion now,
will be targeted for reconstruction of sections of the road to Gyumri
and for rehabilitation of road sections in Armenia’s southern areas.

“Results of the tender will be released in late September, their
estimation together with the Asian Development Bank and approval
by the Armenian government will take one month, and recruitment of
builders will start in October,” he said answering the question ARKA
News Agency put up to him.

The first tranche of Asian Development Bank – $70 million, an
agreement on which was signed on October 12, 2009, was intended for
reconstruction of Yerevan-Ararat and Yerevan-Ashtarak road’s sections.

The second tranche of $210 million agreed on May 30, 2011, were
targeted for rehabilitation of a section of Ashtarak-Talin road.

MORE BOYS BORN IN ARMENIA

Tert.am
12.08.11

At an Aug. 12 press conference, Karine Kuyumjyan, Head of the Census
and Demography Division, Statistical Service of Armenia, reported
that 8,977 boys and 7,661 girls have been born in Armenia this year.

“That is 117 boys per 100 girls,” she added.

MEDVEDEV ET ALIYEV SE RENCONTRENT A PROPOS DU KARABAKH
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 12 aout 2011
KARABAGH

Le president russe Dmitry Medvedev a rencontre mardi son homologue
azeri Ilham Aliyev dans ce qu’il a ete decrit comme des pourparlers
” extremement francs ” sur l’avenir du processus de paix
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Les deux leaders n’ont fait aucune declaration publique après la
reunion qui s’est tenue dans la ville russe de Sochi.

Le Kremlin a dit qu’ils ont discute ” des questions centrales dans les
relations russo-Azeries ” et de ” l’etat du processus de negociation
dans le règlement du conflit du Nagorno-Karabakh. ” Le Kremlin n’a
pas donne plus de renseignements.

” Bien sûr, le règlement du Nagorno-Karabakh est un des sujets les
plus importants ” a dit Dmitry Medvedev a Aliyev dans ses remarques
televisees faites au debut des pourparlers.

” Je voudrais avoir une conversation extremement franche avec vous
sur ce que faire ensuite et comment les evenements pourraient se
developper en tenant compte de notre dernière reunion trilaterale
[le 24 juin avec le President armenien Serge Sarkissian] qui s’est
tenu a Kazan et des reunions precedentes tenues dans le meme format
” a-t-il dit.

Ilham Aliyev a loue la participation active de Medvedev dans la
recherche de la paix au Karabakh. Il a dit que la douzaine de sommets
organises par Medvedev au cours des trois dernières annees ” a beaucoup
fait pour rapprocher les positions des parties l’une de l’autre. ”

” C’est le problème principal de la securite regionale et, bien sûr,
l’Azerbaïdjan est interesse a une resolution rapide du conflit plus
que quiconque ” a ajoute Ilham Aliyev.

TBILISI PUTS “GEORGIAN OIL AND GAS CORPORATION”, “GEORGIAN RAILWAY”, “GEORGIAN ENERGY SYSTEM” ON SALE

Today.az
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

The government of Georgia intends to sell the shares of “Georgian
oil and gas corporation” that owns North-South gas pipeline. APA
reports that Georgian Minister for Energy and Natural Resources
Georgi Khetaguri said it was discussed at the recent meeting of the
government and the draft amendments were approved.

Khetaguri said the shares will be put on sale in London, New York
and other leading stock exchanges. In the initial stage, 25 percent
of the shares will be put on sale.

“Along with the shares of “Georgian oil and gas corporation”, the
shares of “Georgian railway”, “Georgian energy system” and other
strategic companies will be put on sale in western stock exchanges.

Khetaguri said the initial process started.

“We have agreed with the investment banks to start registration for
the placement of shares in the stock exchanges,” he said.

Khetaguri’s statement caused concern in Armenia. Armenian publications
write that the fate of the Georgian part of the gas pipeline from
Russia to Armenia may be brought into question. Armenian newspapers
write that Azerbaijani companies may buy the management right of
the pipeline.

/APA/

‘FRANCE HAS OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE PROCESSES AS MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR’

news.az
Gun.Az
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

France has rather economic interests related to Azerbaijan and cultural
interests related to Armenia.

France is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group with an
opportunity to influence processes and President Nicola Sarkozy’s
visit to the region will therefore be significant.

The remarks came from Rasim Musabayov, member of the Azerbaijani
Parliament and politicial expert.

France has rather economic interests related to Azerbaijan and cultural
interests related to Armenia. France’s political interests are related
to Georgia in many cases, Musabayov said.

The expert recalled that Sarkozy appointed former ambassador to
Georgia as foreign minister when he came to power.

‘All this show that France has certain interests. But I don’t think
that the meeting visit produce any serious results. Sarkozy made great
efforts to prevent developments back in 2008. These all are related to
internal policies of France. Sarkozy does not enjoy much rating today.

But he still wants to be elected president for the next time.

Sarkozy thus wants to expand successes he has achieved so far. I
don’t think France has made much efforts in terms of Karabakh conflict
lately. Anyway, Jeaques Chirac was much more involved in the conflict
resolution. Nevertheless, France can influence processes as a Minsk
Group co-chair,’ the MP stated.

RULING PARTY ANNOUNCES AZERBAIJAN’S CONCEPT TO RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
T. Hajiyev

Trend
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

The concept put forward by Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement is based on international law.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s meeting with his Russian
counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi is the next step in the
negotiations to resolve this conflict, Deputy Executive Secretary
of the New Azerbaijan Party, MP Mubariz Gurbanli told the official
website of the ruling party.

Gurbanli recalled the recent tripartite meeting in Kazan and said
Russia is active in resolving this conflict given Armenia’s current
situation, economic and social challenges.

He said Aliyev openly talks about Azerbaijan’s concept on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at all meetings.

“The principles and norms of international law put the territorial
integrity and sovereignty in the forefront,” he said. “Azerbaijan’s
main requirement at all the talks is its territorial integrity and
sovereignty.”