Author: Kanayan Tamar

WHAT RUSSIA WANTS FROM ARMENIAN AIR COMPANIES

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 12 September 2014, 20:32

The director of Air Armenia Armen Avetisyan told reporters, “I don’t
want to guess what the cause of such action was but every time we
increase destinations of our flights, the Russian side displays
worries.”

Earlier the Russian side announced that on September 21 air traffic
control services for Air Armenia will be suspended in the territory
of Russia. The Armenian company announced that payments were made
conscientiously but there are problems with bank communication which
is determined by Western sanctions against Russia, and they are asking
the Russian company to provide an account number to which the money
will be transferred to the Russians without hindrances.

The issue that Arsen Avetisyan brings up is really interesting. Why
is the Russian side conducting such an information policy against
the Armenian airlines? It is difficult to call this otherwise but
information attack. At least, doubts occur that the problem is
compensation.

Flights to Russian destinations outnumber others on the Armenian
market for comprehensible reasons, and are certainly more profitable.

Air Armenia is the only Armenian airlines. It replaced Armavia after
the latter’s bankruptcy. Armavia had a monopoly which, however,
did not “prevent” this company with so-called Russian “sprigs” from
going bankrupt.

In addition, judging by the policy conducted by Russia against the
Armenian company, doubts occur that Armavia went bankrupt to leave
the Russian companies alone on the market. After all, Armavia was de
facto a Russian company rather than an Armenian one. Simply Armenia
gave part of the money. Why would they lose that part if they could
send the company into bankruptcy and take away that money as well?

A few months ago the government launched the open sky policy which
means no company receives any preference. Armenia adopted this policy
by the decree of the previous government, which was supported by the
United States and Europe as a stimulus for development of tourism
in Armenia. This policy has produced certain positive results,
air prices in some destinations are cheaper, several new companies
and destinations have appeared on the market though there are also
companies that have left or are going to leave.

Air Armenia is the only Armenian company in the Armenian open sky,
which mostly flies to Russia. Some experts fear that in the result
of the open sky policy the Russian companies will dominate on the
Armenian market.

In fact, what is happening to Air Armenia is evidence that Russia
does have such intentions. It may be a naturally driven one. However,
it is equally natural that this intention must be preempted by the
government to make sure that the open sky policy of the government
does not end up as always, i.e. absolute dominance of Russia in this
sector of Armenia as well.

BASQUE PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZES NAGORNO-KARABAKH SELF-DETERMINATION

18:42 * 12.09.14

On Friday, September 12, 2014, a European Union regional parliament
has, for the first time in history, adopted a motion supporting the
self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh following several official
visits to the region that were organized by European Friends of Armenia
(EuFoA) and the commitment of EuFoA contacts’ network.

The motion adopted today by the Basque Parliament praises the strong
determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh people in their choice for
democracy, despite the hard and difficult situation. In addition,
it states that Karabakhi people have the right to decide their own
future, namely their self-determination, which is the fundamental
element in any negotiation for the final settlement of the conflict.

Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of Nagorno-Karabakh’s
participation in the OSCE Minsk Group conflict resolution negotiations.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s Foreign Minister, Karen Mirzoyan, with the
assistance of European Friends of Armenia, travelled to the Basque
Country on this occasion and had official visits, including meetings
with Basque country government high officials, the head of the
legislative, Ms Bakartxo Tejeria Otermin, and departmental and main
local authorities, as well as companies with an interest in the region.

“I am particularly pleased by the acknowledgment of the democratic
governance development of Nagorno-Karabakh and the recognition
of the efforts they are doing in transposing EU legislation. The
Nagorno-Karabakh society should be proud that their commitment for
democracy as an inalienable part of the European space is not only
recognized in the US, but also in the EU,” says EuFoA Director Eduardo
Lorenzo Ochoa.

The Basque country is one of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities since
1979 and has a population of approximately 2.5 million people. It has
its own executive and legislative institutions. The Basque government
is among the sub-state governments that enjoys the highest level of
competences in the European Union. Basque authorities are competent
to lead policies in domains such as fiscal policy and tax collection
or police management, having its own police force, among other more
classic competences at regional level, such as health, education,
from elementary schools to universities, or territorial development.

Moreover, the Basque country has its own External Actions Service, at
the head of a network of over 200 political and cultural delegations
worldwide. From an economic point of view, the Basque country
represents one of the European Union most developed areas, showing
an annual GDP per capital of over 31 000 EURO, 20 % higher than the
EU average (25 700 EURO).

AGHVAN VARDANYAN: IT WILL BE DIFFICULT WITHOUT DASHNAKTSUTYUN

13:29 | September 12,2014 | Politics

In recent days, different circles have been talking about differences
in the four major opposition forces in the Armenian parliament,
Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun
announced at the National Assembly on September 12.

“There have been numerous reports and opinions. I believe that all our
partners have an inner confidence that Dashnaktsutyun has an essential
and important role in all these processes which would otherwise be
ten times difficult,” said Aghvan Vardanyan.

Lawmakers of the Country of Law Party (OEK) announced that on
September 29 they will convene an extraordinary sitting at the end
of the NA four-day sitting to discuss the RA Law “On Administrative
Offences” and the draft amendments submitted by Republican MP Arpine
Hovhannisyan. OEK lawmaker Hovhannes Margaryan said all factions have
joined the initiative. Republicans have submitted proposed but have
not joined the initiative.

MEETING WITH THE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

12.09.2014

On September 12 the Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on
Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Artak Davtyan met with
Lilian van Hoff, Professor of the University of Antwerp of Belgium
and a group of students. The students came to Armenia with an exchange
programme of Yerevan State University and the University of Antwerp.

Welcoming the guests in the National Assembly, Artak Davtyan presented
the RA NA legislative and representation activities. During the talk
the students addressed questions to Artak Davtyan. The questions
related to the development of tourism in Armenia, the opportunities
of continuing the education abroad for the Armenian youth, the
competitiveness of the Armenian higher educational institutions
and the challenges of the educational sphere. Then at the request
of Lilian van Hoff, professor of the University of Antwerp, Artak
Davtyan presented the structure and the staff of the parliament and
gave the picture about the activities of the factions and the twelve
standing committees represented in the National Assembly.

AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SEBASTIAN KURTZ IGNORED THE QUESTION ABOUT THE MEETING WITH SARGSYAN

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2014

[ 12 September 2014 01:27 ]

Baku. Rufat Ahmadzadeh – APA. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian
Kurtz is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, APA reports.

During the visit Austrian FM met with Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan
Elmar Mammadyarov. At a joint press conference after the meeting,
Azerbaijani FM E. Mammadyarov said that they discussed the political
and economic relations between the two countries.

The Minister said that at the meeting they also touched upon regional
conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

E. Mammadyarov also noted that there are ample opportunities for
businesses in both countries that are effectively used by the
Azerbaijani and Austrian businessmen.

The minister Sebastian Kurtz, in turn, noted that Austria attaches
great importance to relations with Azerbaijan. According to him,
the political and economic rapprochement attaches great importance to
and within the EU. With regard to the settlement of conflicts in the
region, he noted that Austria supports the early settlement of the
Karabakh conflict, which is necessary for the sustainable development
of the region.

Elmar Mammadyarov, responding to a question about the reason for
the ban on entry into the country of the Austrian journalist Jutta
Bauer, said that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity was confirmed by
international organizations and Austria is among the countries that
have recognized the territorial integrity of the country: “The rule
of law, respect for international law in this context have great
importance. Ms. Bauer toured the occupied territory of the country
and prepared a report there, not having the official permission of
the Azerbaijani side. Journalists have several times addressed to
Azerbaijan on this issue. Simply, the fact is that visits to the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan should be agreed with official
Baku. This is required by international law.”

Austrian Foreign Minister, in turn, noted that with the understanding
perceives concern of Azerbaijan: “I understand why Azerbaijan has
made a similar step. I understand that unauthorized trip of J. Bauer
to the occupied territory of Azerbaijan is against the law. I also
understand that the main task of journalists is to reflect the truth. ”

S.Kurts left unanswered the following question addressed to him:
“During the visit to Armenia, you had a meeting with Serzh Sargsyan
– a dictator, a war criminal, the head of the process of ethnic
cleansing of Azerbaijanis, ignoring the rules and principles of
international law, ordered the killing of civilians during military
operations, has a radical fascist ideology and implemented after the
presidential election of 2008 in Armenia kill 10 Protesters. This man
is the leader of a criminal regime which carried out the occupation
of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, and even threatened missile
strikes on Human Settlements in Azerbaijan. Does a meeting with such
a notorious criminal correspond with European values? Such approach
is not ignoring war crimes committed by this man?”.

Austrian Foreign Minister said that during the visit to the South
Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, he met with presidents
and ministers: “It is our normal practice.”

SEARCH FOR CAUSES OF USSR DISINTEGRATION IN KARABAKH -4

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 11 2014

11 September 2014 – 1:59pm

By Peter Lyukimson, Kuryer, Israel, N28-32, June 1992

Peter Lyukimson lived in Baku until 1991. He worked as a journalist
there in the late 80s-early 90s and witnessed the events preceding
the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh, Sumgayit, Khojaly…

The feature story “Nagorno-Karabakh: chronicles of the conflict. Notes
of a Jew from Baku” was written in 1992, soon after the move of
the author to Israel. It was published in a Russian-language paper
of Israel named Kuryer. Those were the times when the tone in the
cultural and the public life of the Russian-speaking community of
Israel was set by the Moscow and Saint Petersburg clerisy. It had a
big impact on the attitude of Israeli society towards the events on
the territory of the former USSR. They sympathized with Armenia in its
conflict with Azerbaijan. As it turned out, most Israelis knew nothing
about the origin of the conflict or the truth about its development.

The position of the Jewish clerisy on the issue was formed based only
on publications in the central Soviet and partly on Western press,
which were not always impartial.

Fear is what has often led people at protests. Fear, for everyone
trying to stutter about reluctance to engage in politics and
demonstrating indifference to who will take control over Karabakh,
was immediately labeled “a traitor of the common Armenian cause…”

On September 21, after several pogroms, the last Azerbaijani left
Stepanakert… And still, Azerbaijan was waiting for things to settle.

Only when it became clear that Armenians had started cutting down
trees at the sacred grove of Topkhan, demonstrating that the Armenian
authorities were indifferent to the de jure status of the NKAO,
annexing it de facto, did Azerbaijanis gather at the square opposite
the government building. But the crowd was carrying the national
flags of the Musavat Azerbaijan, not the red flags.

Meanwhile, in Baku, Kirovabad (Ganja) and other districts of the
republic, mass sacking of Armenians started. Many sacked workers
were in a hurry to get away from Azerbaijan, understanding that they
were prisoners of the political game of their government and any
new demand by Armenia could provoke a new Sumgait at any place in
Azerbaijan… The number of Armenian refugees started growing. On
the other hand, they were not really refugees, they were more like
the first wave of a transfer than an exodus…

In such a situation, First Secretary of the Azerbaijani Communist Party
Vezirov found no better solution than to ask Moscow for additional
troops to help the army take the republic under control. On November
24, a special state was declared in Baku, Nakhchivan and Kirovabad. On
December 5, troops were ordered to clear Lenin Square in Baku of the
last demonstrators. At 5.00am, General Tyagunov, the city commandant,
ascended a tribune and addressed the young people: “Comrades, the
sanitary condition of the square forces us to clear it for tidying
up. Everyone willing [to do so] may get on buses that will deliver
you home.”

Most stayed where they were. And then soldiers with truncheons started
moving towards them.

The square was cleared then… Now Baku was in order, everyone was
leaving the house with their passports and hurrying back home after
9.00pm to be on time before the curfew… At the same time, Armenia
was in a hurry to deal with the rest of the Azerbaijanis. People
were tortured, their houses set on fire, cemeteries dug up. Refugees
started moving over mountain passes. Dozens of helicopters were sent
to save people dying in the mountains.

“God will not forgive, neither can the earth,” said one Azerbaijani
who lost a granddaughter on the pass and searched for her in Baku,
“he cannot forgive when cemeteries are desecrated…” And the earth
did respond, the world was shocked on September 8 when the terrible
earthquake happened in Spitak and Leninakan, the place the last
Azerbaijanis were driven out of the previous day.

Gorbachev ended a visit to the U.S. and returned to the USSR.

Governments of dozens of countries were in a hurry to express
condolences to the Armenian people… A lot depended on the
Azerbaijanis that day. The authorities of the republic tried to use
the last chance to make peace. Three hours after receiving reports
about the earthquake, Armenian radio broadcast the condolences of the
Azerbaijani side. Carriages with food, medications and essentials were
urgently sent from Baku, medics and builders were despatched. Protests
of the Karabakh committee were waiting for them on roads.

“Turn back, we do not want anything from enemies…” they said.

The last chance was lost, only the path of war was left.

Baku, being in a special state, was silenced, but everyone knew that
it was the calm before a storm. Ever more rumours about weapons being
shipped via humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Armenia were appearing.

The rumours soon proved true, the forces of the USSR Interior
Ministry intercepted a shipment of SMGs and ammunition from Yerevan
to Stepanakert. The investigative group found several ammunition
warehouses in the NKAO. Most of them were hidden in Armenian churches.

With the efforts of Vezirov, tens of thousands of Armenians scattered
around the Soviet Union figured that their homeland only needed them
as propaganda bait. They returned to Baku…

To be continued…

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT AND MICROSOFT PLAN TO EXPAND COOPERATION

16:30, 10.09.2014

YEREVAN. – Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received Pilar
Torres, Microsoft General Manager Central&Eastern Europe.

During the meeting, PM Abarahamyan noted that IT is one of the fastest
growing sectors in Armenia.

“There is a great potential for IT development, and it is one of the
key directions of the Armenian government,” Abrahamyan said.

The Prime Minister assured Armenia is interested in further deepening
of cooperation with Microsoft.

Taking into account the successful cooperation experience, Abrahamyan
offered to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and new
projects targeted at IT development in Armenia. In particular, PM
touched upon possibility of creating Microsoft Ventures accelerator and
mobile solutions center on the bases of Microsoft innovation center.

Pilar Torre, in turn, welcomed the government’s initiative to develop
IT sector and assured of company’s readiness to deepen bilateral
cooperation. The Microsoft representative stressed importance of
cooperation on protection of intellectual property and struggle
against cyber crimes.

The parties discussed issues related to signing of a memorandum
between the government and Microsoft.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

DOWNFALL CONTINUES AT AN UNBELIEVABLE RATE

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 10 September 2014, 23:56

Formally the foreign minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandyan states
that the wording in NATO Wales Summit’s final declaration endangers
the process of Artsakh negotiations and regional security.

Apparently, Nalbandyan thinks danger and threat emanate from the
fact that the right to self-determination is not mentioned directly
in the declaration. There is no doubt that it is not in the interests
of Armenia, and a direct statement would have been desirable. But why
danger for negotiations and a security threat if during the summit one
of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States which has
organized the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting and announced that escalation
is unacceptable? In other words, the United States directly rebuked
Azerbaijan.

Besides, NATO Summit has made several other decisions which will
strengthen regional security.

In this situation, it does not seem adequate to present the
declaration as exposing the negotiations and a document that does
not favor security. Hence, the Armenian side actually considers its
participation in Wales Summit as a failure because if a declaration
worth such evaluation has been adopted, the failure of Armenian
delegation attending the summit is acknowledged.

In fact, the Armenian foreign minister thus plays down on the
participation of Armenia in Wales Summit. Why is Nalbandyan doing
this? To calm Russia’s jealousy? Or is Russia displeased with some
decisions of NATO Summit and the U.S. initiative at the Sargsyan-Aliyev
meeting which is actually aimed at restoring the balance of forces
in the region and reducing the prospects for a Russian-Turkish deal
over Artsakh.

NATO Summit laid down that the process of Artsakh negotiations remain
within the Minsk Group mediated format. A few months ago, during the
joint meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey and Russia, Ahmed
Davutoghlu was speaking about a joint settlement of the conflict though
Turkey is not in any format of negotiations. And Russia did not oppose.

In fact, the developments in NATO Summit were a wedge driven between
the Russian-Turkish intentions and may have actually voided the
invitation to Erdogan to visit Armenia that Nalbandyan had taken
to Baku to hand to him. And now, in order to save the situation,
he needs to play down on NATO Summit and whatever happened during
the participation of the head of state in this summit.

Or this is a very wily Armenian diplomacy which is ridiculous in the
modern world or a diplomatic reconnaissance-in-force against positive
tendencies for Armenia observed during NATO Summit.

ICRC REPRESENTATIVES COME TO SEE ARMENIAN CITIZEN CROSSING AZERBAIJANI BORDER

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 10 2014

10 September 2014, 13:33 (GMT+05:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 10
By Ilkin Izzet – Trend:

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross came
to see an Armenian citizen who recently crossed the border in the
Gazakh region of Azerbaijan, ICRC Azerbaijani Office Head, Ilaha
Huseynova told Trend Sept. 10.

“The ICRC representatives came to see the detainee on Sept.8,”
she said.

She stressed that the ICRC representatives informed the Armenian
government about their visit to the detainee’s family members.

Fifty-three year old Armenian citizen Sarkis Ananyan illegally crossed
the state border of Azerbaijan on Aug. 26.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.

The two countries 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 four U.N. Security Council resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

SERBIA WILL SEEK TO RESOLVE MILITARY CONFLICTS DURING ITS OSCE PRESIDENCY

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 10 2014

10 September 2014, 15:58 (GMT+05:00)

By Sabina Ahmadova – Trend:

During its OSCE presidency, Serbia will seek to solve military
conflicts, Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Ivica Dacic said at the press conference in Baku on Sept.10.

Serbian minister stressed that he intends to contribute to the
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “I
will visit this region again. As OSCE chairman, I will seek to waste
no effort in resolving military conflicts,” he added.

Dacic went on to add that Serbia highly appreciates Azerbaijan’s
support to its territorial integrity.

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

The two countries 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.