Author: Kanayan Tamar

SEIRAN OHANYAN ON AZERBAIJANI RECONNAISSANCE-IN-FORCE AND SERZH SARGSYAN’S STATEMENT

Lragir.am
Country – 15 July 2014, 17:11

“Clearly, there was a reconnaissance-in-force,” the minister of defense
stated on July 15, commenting on the reconnaissance-in-force by the
Azerbaijani side.

In answer to the circulated rumors that the arrested may not be
an Azerbaijani commando, the minister said professionals must make
evaluations.

“I think the information that is in place describes the reality – there
was a reconnaissance-in-force. In addition, the leadership of the army
of the enemy uses criminal groups for reconnaissance-in-force who are
acquainted with the region. In other words, according to our laws, a
crime was committed, and the NKR law enforcement bodies have brought
up a criminal case. They will be held accountable in accordance with
our laws and international norms,” Seiran Ohanyan said.

Seiran Ohanyan dismissed media reports that the arrested Azerbaijani
commando member was in trade for three years. According to the
minister, they do not have such information. “Unfortunately, a lot
of people, and unfortunately among them are our brothers-in-arms,
are trying to make assessments, saying that service is not organized
satisfactorily. Those who were at different sections of our border
line, particularly in Karvachar where the NKR Defense Army troops are
on duty, the mountains and forests do not allow covering the territory
fully. There have always been such cases, and on the contrary, we
must glorify our soldiers who were able to detect, render harmless,
destroy one and capture two,” Seiran Ohanyan said.

In regard to escalation at the line of contact, the minister said
dialogue and confidence building are the only way that leads to a
peace settlement of the NK issue. “A war was imposed on us and the
people of Artsakh achieved success and won. Now they are trying to
affect the process of negotiations through escalation to achieve
unilateral success, unilateral compromise,” he underlined. Commenting
on the disappearance of the young man of Karvachar, the minister said
the members of the commando may be related to his disappearance.

Seiran Ohanyan said the investigation will find this out.

The minister of defense also commented on Serzh Sargsyan’s statement
that sale of Russian weapon to Azerbaijan causes concern. “This worries
us but not everything that we do in the sphere of defense cooperation
can be made known to the public. Our defense cooperation with Russia
is at a higher level than their cooperation with Azerbaijan,” Seiran
Ohanyan said.

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ARMENIE-TURQUIE : LA REACTION PRUDENTE A EREVAN ALORS QU’UN JOURNAL TURC S’INTERROGE SUR L’EVENTUELLE OUVERTURE DE LA FRONTIERE FERMEE

ARMENIE

La semaine dernière, le journal turc “Taraf” a publie un article
affirmant que l’actuel premier ministre de la Turquie, candidat a la
presidentielle, Recep Tayyip Erdogan a ordonne le debut des preparatifs
pour l’ouverture de la frontière armeno-turque en Septembre. Le journal
estime cette etape comme un mouvement pre-electoral et conclut que
M. Erdogan veut ainsi obtenir le soutien de la communaute occidentale,
qui exige l’ouverture de la frontière.

La nouvelle a suscite des commentaires interessants dans les medias
armeniens. Redacteur en chef de la section armenienne du journal
Agos basee en Turquie Bagrat Estukyan, par exemple, estime que cette
information a ete publiee dans le but de conduire Erdogan dans un
corner avant l’election presidentielle qui devrait etre tenue en
Turquie en Août. Il considère que l’information comme “farfelue”
et dit qu’en reponse le ministère turc des Affaires etrangères a nie
l’information du journal Taraf.

En Armenie, la reaction a ete plus prudente face a cette information.

Des references ont ete faites aux declarations par le ministre turc
des Affaires etrangères Ahmet Davutoglu, qui a maintes fois mis en
avant les conditions pour l’ouverture de la frontière avec l’Armenie –
un retrait armenien d’au moins un ou deux districts du Karabagh.

Cependant, la partie armenienne et les mediateurs occidentaux ont
declare que la normalisation armeno-turque ne doit pas etre liee au
problème du Karabagh.

Vladimir Yakounine, directeur de chemins de fer russes, une societe
qui est proprietaire de la concession des chemins de fer armeniens,
a declare lors d’une recente visite a Erevan que la section du
chemin de fer Kars-Gyumri est entièrement renovee et prete pour une
solution politique lors de l’ouverture de la frontière . Cette demarche
s’inscrit complètement dans le regime que certains analystes armeniens
croient que la Russie, la Turquie et l’Azerbaïdjan tentent de realiser.

L’essence de ce système est que la Russie va >
l’Armenie de laisser introduire dans le Karabagh des troupes de
maintien de la paix de la Russie elle-meme ou de l’Organisation du
Traite de securite collective (OTSC) dirigee par la Russie et de
les faire stationner afin qu’une partie de ces zones passent sous
contrôle azerbaïdjanais et d’ainsi attirer l’Azerbaïdjan dans l’Union
economique eurasienne et de donner a la Turquie une raison d’ouvrir
la frontière avec l’Armenie. Cela peut egalement dejouer les plans
de communications de transit via l’Armenie si l’Iran et l’Occident
acceptent de retablir leur cooperation.

Mais le ministre armenien de la Defense Seyran Ohanian semble avoir
rejete categoriquement le plan de la mise en place des forces russes ou
dirigees par la Russie au Karabakh a Erevan la semaine dernière lors
d’un forum de maintien de la paix organise par le secretaire general
de l’OTSC Nikolai Bordyuzha. Les experts russes parlent ouvertement
de la possibilite par la Russie d’introduire ses troupes dans la
zone du conflit armeno-azerbaïdjanais, mais Ohanian a declare que
les Armeniens depuis de nombreuses annees ont reussi a maintenir la
paix et que l’armee armenienne est capable de continuer a maintenir
la paix, sans l’aide de soldats de la paix internationaux.

Il est difficile de dire si la frontière armeno-turque sera ouverte
après, surtout qu’il y a des offres de plus insistantes de l’Iran de
transformer le Nakhitchevan, une enclave azerbaïdjanaise situee au
sud-ouest de l’Armenie, en une zone de libre-echange, ce qui pourrait
simplifier considerablement la communication entre le golfe Persique et
la mer Noire a travers l’Armenie, et de ce fait la liaison des chemins
de fer de la Turquie et de l’Armenie serait complètement vide de sens.

Vardan Oskanian, qui a servi comme ministre armenien des Affaires
etrangères pendant la presidence de Robert Kotcharian (1998-2008),
a estime que le blocus turc, en dehors de ne pas reussir a entraver
le developpement de l’Armenie, a davantage stimule la croissance
de la petite production technologique dans le pays. En 2009, le
gouvernement de Serge Sarkissian a essaye de negocier avec la Turquie
et les protocoles diplomatiques, meme signes ne contenaient meme pas
de conditions prealables sur le Karabagh. Mais ces protocoles n’ont
pas encore ete ratifies par la Turquie, alors qu’Ankara utilise encore
le langage des conditions prealables pour parler a Erevan.

Le president Sarkissian a officiellement invite le prochain president
de la Turquie a Erevan le 24 Avril 2015 le jour du 100e anniversaire
du genocide armenien, pour commemorer les 1,5 million de victimes des
massacres de 1915. Avant cela beaucoup de choses pourraient changer
dans la region – la creation d’un Etat kurde n’est pas exclue. Les
Kurdes considèrent certains des territoires dans la Turquie moderne
comme leur terre natale et aimerait egalement les voir comme une
partie de leur etat.

Par Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow

mardi 15 juillet 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

NAGORNY KARABAKH SERVICEMAN DIES OF GUNSHOT FROM AZERBAIJAN – STEPANKERT

Interfax, Russia
July 11 2014

YEREVAN. July 11

A serviceman of the self-proclaimed Nagorny Karabakh Republic died in
the afternoon on Friday as a result of a gunshot fired from Azerbaijan.

“Following the gunshot of the enemy, serviceman Movses Gasparian,
20, sustained a deadly gunshot wound at 3 p.m. on July 11 at the
battle position in the southeastern direction of the contact line of
the Karabakh and Azerbaijani troops,” the Nagorny Karabakh Defense
Ministry press office told Interfax.

Nagorny Karabakh servicemen impeded a sabotage and intelligence
attempt to enter from Azerbaijan on July 9.

“The enemy attempted to carry out sabotage and intelligence entry at
the border between Nagorny Karabakh and Armenia in the direction of
Karvachar [near the Tavush district in northeastern Armenia]. As a
result of prompt measures taken, leading subdivisions of the Nagorny
Karabakh defense army stopped the movement of the sabotage group. Some
members of the Azerbaijani sabotage and intelligence group were
detained, the rest managed to escape,” the self-proclaimed Nagorny
Karabakh Defense Ministry press office told Interfax.

The Nagorny Karabakh Defense Ministry released on Friday a picture
of Guliyev Shakhbaz Dzhalolglu, 1968, and arms seized.

ARMENIA PM WEARS BULLET-PROOF VEST? – NEWSPAPER

July 12, 2014 | 08:25

YEREVAN. – According to rumors, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan was on a working visit to Shirak Region two days ago
wearing a bullet-proof vest, Zhamanak daily reported.

“In response to Zhamanak’s query as to what was the purpose for
[Abrahamyan’s] meeting with the villagers while wearing a bullet-proof
vest, [and] whether the PM was cautious about something, Abrahamyan’s
assistant Tigran Abgaryan said:

‘”I formally say that the rumors on [Abrahamyan’s] wearing a
bullet-proof vest are not true. Hovik Abrahamyan was not wearing a
bullet-proof vest,'” Zhamanak wrote.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

WORKS TO IMPROVE AL. SPENDIARYAN NATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET THEATRE UNDERWAY – DIRECTOR

13:00 / 12.07.2014

The artistic staff of the Al. Spendiaryan National Opera and Ballet
Theatre once in three years must pass qualification exams. Newly
appointed director of the theatre Andranik Arzumanyan spoke with
Nyut.am about the plans and issues of the theatre.

– Mr Arzumanyan, how the qualification process passed? What results
have been achieved?

– The qualification exams of the orchestra, singing band, vocalists
and ballet ensemble passed according to the established order and
I can say for sure that they passed in a simple, transparent and
professional way. The qualifying commission consisted of invitees
to ensure the transparency. The goal of the exams is not to dismiss
people but evaluate their knowledge and professionalism.

– Have all the participants passed the necessary threshold?

– Unfortunately no. Few of our artists failed the qualification exam
and were dismissed.

– As a newly appointed director, what works are you carrying out to
improve the work of the theatre?

– In parallel with the qualification we are carrying out structural
changes as I think the theatre must get a new breath and adopt a new
working style. The theatre needs professional management and a more
dynamic working style. In near future the formation of the main team
of the theatre will be accomplished and we will start working with a
new spirit enriching our stage with new performances. We have planned
4-5 new projects we will carry out in the new season.

– Mr Arzumanyan you are going to present “Gayane” ballet in St.

Petersburg July 21-22. What other tours do you have?

– Yes, on July 20 we are departing for St. Petersburg to perform Aram
Khachaturyan’s Gayane. The performance is staged on so high level that
we are proud to present it on a big stage. The artists understand well
the responsibility and treat their work seriously. After September
20 we have tour performances in Qatar where we will present Romeo
and Juliet by Rudolph Kharatyan.

Last year our ballet ensemble was in Qatar with Spartak ballet. As
a result an agreement was signed between our and Qatar’s theatres
according to which our ballet ensemble is to perform there this years.

Overall, we will present four performances there.

– It is interesting that our ballet ensemble has raised such interest
in Arab country.

– Yes, but it is not strange. This Arab territory longs for arts. Not
having their own professional theatres, they are ready, they want to
invite professional theatres from different countries of the world.

So, we have planned to have tours in other Arab countries as well
like in Kuwait, Oman where people like opera art. Oman has the most
gorgeous stage of the region where the best theatrical groups perform.

The arrangements are already underway. Armenia’s embassy in Kuwait
supports us in it.

Of course, we have programs to come up in European countries as well
but I do not want to speak about them as they are in projecting phase.

As of the moment our prior issue is to gather a team and pass to
active creative activity.

LE SERVICE DE LA SECURITE ALIMENTAIRE D’ARMENIE SUSPEND LA PRODUCTION DE CERTAINS PRODUITS DE BOULANGERIE ET DES PRODUITS A BASE DE VIANDE

ARMENIE

Le service de la securite alimentaire d’Armenie a suspendu la
production d’un certain nombre de produits des societes Pghik Ltd
(Petit elephant) et Khamadam.

En particulier, la production de la pâtisserie “Gata” de la compagnie
Pghik a ete arrete en vertu d’un decret du chef du service Abram
Bakhchagulyan en raison de la non-conformite avec les normes d’hygiène.

Le decret suspend la fabrication de pelmeni en raison de la presence
de bacteries ainsi que des escalopes de poulet trouvees a l’usine
de Khamadam.

Les deux societes ont ete chargees d’etudier les causes et de
normaliser le processus de production.

samedi 12 juillet 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

CONCIERTO DEL GRUPO DE VOCES SAYAT NOVÁ

La Razon (Bolivia)
11 Julio 2014

Las butacas abarrotadas y los intensos aplausos marcaron
la presentacion en la cual Stepanian no solamente hizo gala de
su destreza artística, sino de su conocimiento al hablar sobre la
historia de este tipo de música.

La Razon (Edicion Impresa) / Erika Ibarguen / La Paz

El Círculo de la Union fue el escenario para que los asistentes se
deleitaran con el concierto del grupo de voces femeninas Sayat Nova,
bajo la direccion de la maestra Karina Stepanian, soprano oriunda de
la República de Armenia.

Las butacas abarrotadas y los intensos aplausos marcaron
la presentacion en la cual Stepanian no solamente hizo gala de
su destreza artística, sino de su conocimiento al hablar sobre la
historia de este tipo de música.

En la primera parte, el público disfruto de canciones armenias
traducidas al español, como Primavera, Sona Yar, Mi querida Shoger,
El sauce lloron, entre otras; mientras que en la segunda tanda,
Stepanian y su conjunto interpretaron temas en italiano, quechua,
hebreo y catalan.

ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION WITHOUT SPECIAL CONDITIONS ECONOMICALLY UNREASONABLE – EXPERT

YEREVAN, July 11. /ARKA/. Economic reasonability of Armenia’s
membership in the Eurasian Economic Union without providing special
conditions to it contradicts formal logic, Sergey Minasyan, chief
of Caucasus Institute’s political analysis division, said Friday in
Novosti International Press Center during a Yerevan-Moscow televised
bridge called Eurasian Choice – Armenia – 2014.

On one hand, the process of accession to the Eurasian Economic Union
is being dragged out, he said, but on the other hand, many economic,
financial and customs problems are not solved and it is not clear
whether they will be solved.

“Otherwise, economic reasonability of Armenia’s membership is called
into question, since it will not necessarily have favorable impacts
on economic and social things in the country, if Armenia joins the
union on common conditions,” the expert said.

More than that, he said, Armenia may become an economic and financial
burden on other member countries.

“Armenia has neither geographical nor communicative borders with
the Customs Union’s core, and the link is Georgia, but Georgia has
already joined the European economic zone,” Minasyan said.

On May 29, at a session of Eurasian Economic Council in Astana,
Kazakhstan, the Armenian president expressed Yerevan’s intention to
join the Eurasian Economic Union agreement until June 15. However,
appropriate papers have not been signed so far.

On July 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a meeting
of Russian diplomats, said Armenian will become a full member of the
union very soon.

In resent days, media outlets quoted Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerlan
Idrisov as saying that the agreement between Armenia and Eurasian
Economic Union is likely to be signed in October 2014 at a regular
meeting of Eurasian Economic Union countries’ presidents in Minsk.

–0—-

– See more at:

POLICE OFFICER NAMED AS VICTIM IN CASE AGAINST SHANT HARUTYUNYAN SAYS HE WASN’T INJURED IN CLASHES

07.11.2014 20:56 epress.am

Police Lieutenant Colonel Andranik Arakelyan said in court today
that he received no bodily injuries and his clothes were not torn
during the November 5, 2013 march organized by Shant Harutyunyan and
his friends. Arakelyan said only that his eyes stung from the petrol
bombs. The lieutenant colonel is named as a victim in the case and
it was in this capacity that he testified at the Court of General
Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork Marash Administrative Districts of
Yerevan today.

Arakelyan also said he didn’t intend to disrupt Harutyunyan’s planned
march; he simply wanted participants to walk on the sidewalk.

Harutyunyan asked Arakelyan whether he knew that he simply wanted to
cross Mashtots Avenue and walk on the sidewalk across the street. The
lieutenant colonel answered in the negative.

Harutyunyan explained that he didn’t want to walk up and cross the
street at the crossing, as he was afraid there would be provocations
there, and he simply wanted to cross Mashtots Avenue and walk on the
sidewalk on the other side of the street.

Arakelyan continued his testimony in court at time of publication.

LEVON BARSEGHYAN. “GAGIK HARUTYUNYAN WAS PROBABLY CONFUSED THAT HE WAS INVITED BY KVN” (VIDEO)

July 11 2014

“The applause addressed to Gagik Harutyunyan were a sign of protest”,
so responded the President of Gyumri Journalists’ Club “Asparez”,
Levon Barseghyan, to the question of Aravot.am of whether his loud
applauses to Gagik Harutyunyan’s speech meant that he agrees with his
observations, or they pursued other objective. Recall that, today,
the CC President Gagik Harutyunyan’s speech at the international
conference entitled “Constitutional Reform in the Context of Democratic
Development” organized in support of Open Society Foundations –
Armenia office was followed by Levon Barseghyan’s loud applause. In
this regard, Mr. Barseghyan, in the conversation with us, detailed,
“The man was talking about the matters that the oligarchy is not
something new, Aristotle has still talked about it, and reached
up to Councils of Ashtishat, Khorenatsi, “Vorogayt Pararts”, and
Shahamiryans. The man had come here to lecture and babble. Then,
he decided that the U.S. Constitution was amended in ten amendments.

Twenty years ago, students and professors were doing such errors.

Talking about the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, they were
using the words “correction or change”, and Gagik Harutyunyan, working
as a judge at Serzh Sargsyan’s staff, in 2014, is using the word
“amendment”. And this man dares to talk about constitutional reform.

The crown and wreath of his speech was that the mechanism of
constitutional reform has reached a deadlock in our own hands.

Perhaps, he meant himself that the Constitution is not functioning.”

According to Levon Barseghyan, this kind of people that have repeatedly
proven that they cannot protect the Constitution, have no right to
be included in the reform commission, nor to call their amendments
reforms. Again, referring to Gagik Harutyunyan’s speech, Mr. Barseghyan
mentioned, “Probably, he was confused that he was invited by KVN
(“Club of the smart and the merry”), he has come to entertain, and
I could not stand and deservedly applauded him.” Levon Barseghyan
urged upon that there is no public demand for constitutional reforms
in Armenia and mentioned the 2005 constitutional amendments, which
they were also saying that the Constitution is to defend the citizen,
the sovereignty. Levon Barseghyan is sure that “Serge Sargsyan and
Gagik Harutyunyan are the guys, from whom we cannot expect that the
Constitution may be reformed in favor of the public.” Mr. Barseghyan
said he would do everything to make constitutional reforms
fail. According to him, Gagik Harutyunyan’s “tours to marzes” are
not associated with constitutional reforms. Instead, Levon Barseghyan
mentioned, if they are really inclined for reforms, “let them enshrine
by the Constitution that the list of all persons participating in
the elections would be publicized after each elections.”

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

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