Author: Kanayan Tamar

MP: World community should give adequate response to Azerbaijani moves

09:41, 02.08.2014Region: Armenia, Karabakh, AzerbaijanTheme: Politics

YEREVAN. – The Aliyev regime has no other grounds to justify its
existence for Azerbaijan people but to struggle against Armenia in
every possible way, spokesperson for Prosperous Armenia party Tigran
Urikhanyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He is convinced it is related to aggressive, inhumane, “Safarov style”
police in the neighboring state.

“As to Armenia, the country should develop to contribute to
strengthening of military and defense capabilities of the army so that
the enemy could realize that escalation would bring to worse
consequences. Foreign policy and diplomacy of official Yerevan should
underline that Azerbaijan’s policy is unacceptable,” he said.

The MP noted that international community should give an adequate response.

“I would like the United States, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group, and representatives of EU and other international agencies to
express their unbiased views on the recent developments over Karabakh
issue,” Ulikhanyan emphasized.

According to Karabakh Defense Ministry, Azerbaijani group made an
attempt to attack a military outpost on July 31. Two Armenian soldiers
were killed, while on July 1 Azerbaijani media reported about over 10
killed.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

Tension escalation in Karabakh unlikely to evolve into large-scale
military actions – ambassador to Armenia

YEREVAN, August 2. /ARKA/. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan
Volinking doesn’t think that the current escalation of confrontation
in the Karabakh conflict zone may grow into large-scale military
actions.

“We are concerned over the situation, since it is wrong to solve
problems by military means,” he was quoted by Novosti-Armenia as
saying Saturday at a news conference. “It is necessary to reach a
truce, to set a ceasefire regime and to persuade the conflicting sides
of the necessity of negotiation.”

“We remain stuck to opinion that the matter should be settled by
peaceful means,” the ambassador added.

In recent days, Azerbaijan’s raids on the contact line became
frequent. As a result, 15 Azerbaijani and three Nagorno-Karabakh
servicemen were killed.

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—

Armenia warned Azerbaijan about possible tightening of retaliatory actions

Saturday 2 August 2014 12:43
Photo: Press service of Armenian Defense Ministry

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The Armenian Ministry of Defense stated today “if
Azerbaijan continues to increase tension, then Armenian Armed Forces
will be forced to tighten their retaliatory actions”.

The statement of the Defense Ministry describes the actions of the
Azerbaijani military leadership as “deprived of military logic” and
“full of senseless revenge”.

The statement reads that over the past days Azerbaijan does not cease
attempts of subversive sallies on the line of contact between Karabakh
and Azerbaijan by using large caliber shooting and artillery weapons
as well as grenade launchers, mortars and heat-seeking missiles.

“The Armenian Defense Ministry states that the actions of the
Azerbaijani Armed Forces fully contradict to the spirit and logic of
the peace process within the OSCE Minsk group and are fraught with
transformation into large-scale military actions”, the statement
reads.

Karabakh conflict: US concerned over escalating violence along the
Line of Contact

10:19 * 02.08.14

The United States has expressed its concern over the escalation of
violence along the Line of Contact that resulted in significant
casualties on Thursday.

In a statement, the Department of State, extended its condolences to
the families of those killed or injured and called on the Armenian and
Azerbaijani sides to take immediate action to reduce tensions and
respect the ceasefire.

“There can be no military solution to the conflict. Retaliation and
further violence will only make it more difficult to bring about a
peaceful settlement.

The United States urges the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
meet at the earliest opportunity to resume dialogue on key issues. We
also call on the parties to accept the proposal from the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe Chairman-in-Office to enter
into negotiations which can lead to the conclusion of a peace
agreement. We remain committed to participating in the Minsk Group
process and stand ready to help efforts to bring about a lasting
settlement,” reads the statement.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Brooklyn Daily Eagle
July 29 2014

Collaboration in works for creative dance residency at BAM

`Nonetheless,’ performed by Turkey’s Korhan BaÃ…?aran Company in 2011 at
Peridance in New York City. Photo by Todd Carroll

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

DanceMotion USA’s David Dorfman Dance and Turkey’s Korhan BaÃ…?aran
Company will come together for a creative residency at Brooklyn
Academy of Music (BAM) from Aug. 14-16, featuring new collaborative
work devised by the two dancers.

As one of three U.S. dance companies participating in the program’s
fourth season, David Dorfman Dance recently completed a four-week-long
educational exchange and performance tour of Turkey, Armenia and
Tajikistan. Korhan BaÃ…?aran Company ‘ which will join David Dorfman
Dance at BAM and at the Bates Dance Festival in Maine ‘ was a company
that David Dorfman Dance worked with in Turkey.

Additionally, two Armenian guest artists ‘ Karen Khachatryan and Davit
Grigoryan ‘ have been invited to join the BAM residency as part of an
effort by the DanceMotion USA program to promote themes of
reconciliation.

DanceMotion USA is a cultural diplomacy program that supports U.S.
foreign policy goals by engaging international audiences through
educational opportunities, performance and cultural exchange. The
program is a people-to-people international exchange initiative of the
U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
produced by BAM.

The residency will culminate in performances at the BAM Fishman Space
(321 Ashland Place) from Aug. 14 through 16. Following the Aug. 16 1
p.m. performance, an artist talk/Q&A will take place with David
Dorfman and Korhan BaÃ…?aran. The performance and artist talk will be
available as a live feed to an audience in Turkey.

Tickets are can be reserved at BAM.org, by calling BAM Ticket Services
at 718.636.4100 or in-person at the BAM box office (30 Lafayette Ave).

A video clip of David Dorfman Dance and Korhan BaÃ…?aran Company at work
in Istanbul, Turkey may be viewed at

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Le génocide arménien sera bien enseigné dans les écoles du Canada
malgré la pression de la communauté turque

La communauté turque du Canada qui désirait effacer l’étude du
génocide arménien du programme scolaire des écoles de Toronto ont
échoué dans leur action écrit le journal canadien >. Ainsi
comme les années précédentes, le génocide arménien fera partie du
programme scolaire. Au début de l’année, la communauté turque du
Canada avait réuni une pétition regroupant 2 200 signatures afin
d’écarter le thème du génocide arménien des manuels scolaires. La
pression n’a pas abouti. Les Turcs affirmaient que la référence au
génocide

Minister Of Finance And Economy – Artsakh

Thu, Jul 24th, 2014

Impressive Economic Performance Since 1997

Spartak Tevosyan, Minister of Finance and Economy

Spartak Tevosyan, Minister of Finance and Economy, discusses Nagorno
Karabakh’s impressive economic performance since 1997. He also notes
the republic’s outstanding investment attractions.

European Times: Please give a brief overview of Nagorno Karabakh’s
recent economic performance.

Spartak Tevosyan: The economy has been performing very well since
1997, averaging 10% growth per year. In 2013, the republic’s GDP
totalled approximately EURO 310 million compared to EURO 35.6 million in 1997.
Per capita GDP is now close to EURO 2,091. In addition, the average salary
in 2013 was EURO 205.1whereas in 1997, it was EURO 24.7.

European Times: What is the tax system of Nagorno Karabakh?

Spartak Tevosyan: Nagorno Karabakh has a value-added tax of 20%, an
excise tax, an income tax for individuals at the rate of 21% of the
salary, and a profit tax of 10%. These taxes support the state budget,
which is 10 times bigger than it was in 1997. Around 24% of the budget
funds social programmes, 15.5% are for education, 6.3% for healthcare
and 3.5% for culture. During the global economic crisis, our citizens
did not suffer because the state financed social programmes. Our taxes
are low compared to other countries in the region.

European Times: Which sectors offer the most investment potential?

Spartak Tevosyan: In 2013, agriculture accounted for 14% of GDP,
industry 13.3% and construction 9.2%.

The mining sphere has developed significantly in Artsakh for the
recent years, becoming one of the most powerful subsectors of the
industry and providing 40-50% of the entire industrial product.
However, we have managed to provide the progressive development of
other subsectors of the industry as well, and in 2012-2013, the mining
sphere provided nearly 25% of the entire industrial product,
maintaining the production volumes.

We are strongly supporting the growth of the mining industry but we
are also promoting all industrial activities, including
food-processing, textiles and fabric production. In the energy sector,
hydropower has enormous potential. We have built eight small hydro
plants which provide over 70% of the country’s energy needs. In 2013
we produced more than 190 million kWh. We welcome investors in the
energy sector. The construction sector is also a leading economic
driver and new systems for housing loans should stimulate the sector
further. Agriculture remains very important to the local economy, and
the tourism sector is growing rapidly. We are also promoting ICT and
the government has established the Artsakh Information-Technology
Centre as a first point of contact for ICT investors. The Artsakh
Investment Fund also supports investors.

European Times: What is your personal message to potential visitors
and investors?

Spartak Tevosyan: Our country is young but with an ancient history,
and in the last 20 years we have made impressive progress. We welcome
investors and are ready to assist them.

Minister Of Agriculture – Artsakh

Thu, Jul 24th, 2014

Agriculture Key Driver Of National Economy

Andranik Khachatryan, Minister of Agriculture

Andranik Khachatryan, Minister of Agriculture, discusses Nagorno
Karabakh’s exceptional agricultural potential. He also outlines
outstanding opportunities for foreign investors.

European Times: How important is agriculture to Nagorno Karabakh
Republic’s economy?

Andranik Khachatryan: Nagorno Karabakh has always been an agricultural
country. Agriculture has accounted for 11% of the country’s GDP on
average for the past five years and the sector has been growing by
around 9% to 10% per year. In addition, most of our labour force is
involved in agriculture. Since 2007 the government of Nagorno Karabakh
has made major investments in the agriculture sector. We have
distributed agricultural machinery to farms, imported better seeds,
provided fertilisers to farmers, and offered financing for
agricultural projects. We have also imported cattle from Germany for
breeding purposes and we have established many international
partnerships, including with John Deere and several German firms. We
are trying to implement international know-how and technologies in the
agriculture sector and to train specialists, for example in livestock
breeding. Our long-term goal is to make Nagorno Karabakh
self-sufficient in food production.

European Times: What are some of the challenges the agriculture sector faces?

Andranik Khachatryan: Our agriculture sector was completely destroyed
by war, so we have had to restore it. In addition, we need more
specialists in agriculture and we have been sending our people to the
Netherlands, Israel and other countries to learn and bring back
knowledge and experience to the sector. We are also inviting
international specialists in cattle breeding to come here to share
their experience. We need to train our farmers to cope more
effectively with climate change and adverse weather conditions.

European Times: Why should international investors target Nagorno
Karabakh’s agriculture sector?

Andranik Khachatryan: Agricultural projects in Nagorno Karabakh are
tax-exempt, from production through packaged foodstuffs, and there are
many investment opportunities available, especially in food
processing. We award subsidies in this sector, which is another draw
for international investors.

European Times: International investors are concerned about the safety
of their investments. How safe is Nagorno Karabakh as an investment
destination?

Andranik Khachatryan: Anyone who visits Nagorno Karabakh will see that
it is very safe and that its people are very friendly. Our government
has taken all possible measures to make sure that the country is safe
and secure. For example, the Halo Trust International organisation
ensures that our fields are safe to work in. All international
investors in agriculture are welcome in Nagorno Karabakh and they will
find exceptional potential here.

Europe Hotel

Mon, Jul 28th, 2014

Luxury Hotel In The Heart Of Stepanakert

Arsen Meliksetyan, Managing Director

Europe Hotel, which opened in 2012, offers world-class facilities and
services along with genuine Armenian hospitality in the heart of
Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Managing
Director Arsen Meliksetyan explains, “Our modern, five-storey hotel is
located in the city’s business centre and our contemporary
architecture and conference hall have made us a favourite among
international executives, while our excellent location and modern
facilities are also popular among leisure travellers. Europe Hotel has
become an integral part of the local landscape and a symbol of the new
Stepanakert.”

Since Nagorno Karabakh is in a seismically active region, the hotel
was built using the latest technologies and materials to make it
earthquake-proof. It is officially classified as a luxury hotel and is
set to receive a five-star ranking. The boutique property offers 33
guestrooms and suites, including a presidential suite and family
suites. Additional amenities include office rentals, a swimming pool,
a sauna, a restaurant, tour packages and a conference centre.

Hotel Europe definitely puts the emphasis on service. Arsen
Meliksetyan says, “We do our best to be prepared to satisfy any needs
of our clients, and we can provide any kind of assistance a guest
requires. We will continue to invest in new facilities and services to
ensure the complete satisfaction of every one of our guests.”

Promoting Local Tourism Attractions

The hotel is also playing a role in boosting tourism to Nagorno
Karabakh. Arsen Meliksetyan explains, “We organise tourism packages so
that visitors can see all of Nagorno Karabakh’s natural beauties and
monuments as well as its potential for adventure tourism. We partner
with various travel agencies to arrange both inbound and outbound
tourist packages.”

“The Europe Hotel is a place where the comfort and care for our guests
is our mission. We try to delight and satisfy our guests and provide
them with the finest personal service and facilities and make sure our
guests always enjoy a warm and relaxed ambience. We are committed to
making a difference every day continuously improving our service”,
Arsen Meliksetyan points out.

The hotel has its own web site and is enhancing its presence on social
media and various tourism sites. Arsen Meliksetyan welcomes
international partnerships as he continues to promote and improve
Europe Hotel. He says, “We regard partnerships as important for us to
grow and expand our client base. We are a business-oriented hotel and
we are always looking to expand our connections.” He adds, “I want
more people to know how beautiful Nagorno Karabakh is and to
experience the hospitality of our people.

For investors, Nagorno Karabakh offers a business-friendly government,
skilled labour, and many incentives.”

IBC Europe Hotel Artsakh
26 Azatamartikneri Ave. Stepanakert
Tel.: +374 47 975752
+374 47 975782
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 30 2014

Armenian group criticize US nominee for Turkey envoy

July 30, 2014, Wednesday/ 17:37:38/ TODAY’S ZAMAN / ISTANBUL

The US-based Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) said on
Monday that the US must be represented in Ankara by a clear and
compelling voice for truth.

`We oppose Turkey’s gag-rule and all who accept Ankara’s veto over
America’s right to speak with moral clarity about the Armenian
Genocide. The US must be represented in Ankara on April 24th of 2015
by a clear and compelling voice for truth,” the director, Aram
Hamparian, said in a written statement.

John Bass was nominated to be the new ambassador to Turkey by US
President Barack Obama and delivered his testimony along with four
other ambassadorial nominees during a hearing at the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations on July 15.

Ankara’s policy is that the 1915 events do not amount to genocide, and
Turkey argues that both Turks and Armenians were killed when Armenians
revolted against the Ottoman Empire during World War I in
collaboration with the Russian army, which was then invading Eastern
Anatolia.

`It is simply unacceptable — six years after President Obama pledged
to recognize the Armenian Genocide, five years after Ankara walked
away from the Turkey-Armenia reconciliation protocols, and less than a
year away from the 100th anniversary of the start of this still
unpunished crime — for a US ambassadorial nominee to respond to
direct Senate questioning on the Armenian genocide with generic
references to ‘shared history’,’ the statement read.

Hamparian claimed that the `euphemistic language’ of Bass during the
questioning aimed to downgrade a genocidal crime to a bilateral
conflict.

`The ANCA cannot support the nomination of John Bass to serve as US
Ambassador to Turkey, on the basis of his Senate testimony that
compounds President Obama’s broken pledge to recognize the Armenian
Genocide by retreating even further from the truth and tightening
Turkey’s gag-rule on the US government,’ he added in the statement.

In a historical first for the Turkish Republic, Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip ErdoÄ?an extended condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians
who lost their lives in 1915.

His surprising statement came ahead of April 24, when Armenians
commemorate the events of 1915-1923 that they call genocide.

`It is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient and unique
geography, who share similar customs and manners, will be able to talk
to each other about the past with maturity and to remember together
their losses in a decent manner. And it is with this hope and belief
that we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of
the early 20th century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to
their grandchildren,’ said ErdoÄ?an’s statement.

However, not satisfied with ErdoÄ?an’s condolences, Hamparian said, on
April 23, `Increasingly isolated internationally, Ankara is repacking
its genocide denials.’

“Prime Minister ErdoÄ?an, in his statement today, attempts, in vain, to
escape responsibility for the Armenian Genocide, by somehow
downgrading this still unpunished international crime to the level of
a simple, unresolved bilateral conflict. Neither the facts nor any of
the world’s commonly accepted codes of law or morality support this
twisted view,’ Hamparian added.