Author: Kanayan Tamar

COMMENTS BY NKR MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS KAREN MIRZOYAN

Comments by NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs Karen Mirzoyan on the
Joint Statement on Nagorno-Karabakh by the Heads of the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chair States We welcome the interest of the heads of the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chair states, reflected in their June 18 Joint
Statement, in achieving a sustainable and peaceful settlement of the
conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.

This statement is another proof that the co-chairs are determined to
exclude the possibility of resumption of hostilities and to contribute
to the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

At the same time, we consider it necessary to reiterate our position
that the restoration of full-fledged negotiations with the immediate
and direct participation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in all its
stages is a sin qua non for achieving real progress in the settlement
process, which is strongly hampered by Azerbaijan.

We hope that the call to intensify the efforts for a peaceful
settlement will be heard in Azerbaijan and its leadership will
refrain from attempts of a selective interpretation of the norms and
principles of international law, escalation of tension and mistrust,
as well as ignoring the existing realities.

Since the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is the most interested party in
finding a way out of the current situation in the negotiation process
and reaching decisions on the issues directly related to the future
of the country and its people, it is ready to further exert efforts
to establish lasting peace and stability.

13:36 19/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

WILL SERZH SARGSYAN SWINDLE EUROPE?

Hmayak Hovhannisyan, chairman of the Armenian Union of Political
Scientists, said that at the last moment Armenia will refuse to sign
the Association Agreement with the EU. Note that initially it is said
that the agreement will be signed in November.

Hmayak Hovhannisyan does not hide that he would like to see Armenia
in the Eurasian Union. It is not important what his wish is determined
by – ideas or other? The important thing is that it is hinted through
Hovhannisyan that Serzh Sargsyan will swindle Europe.

The issue of trust of the West in the Armenian government has been
there from the very first day of the establishment of relations.

European countries show that they do not believe Serzh Sargsyan’s
intentions until they see the signed document. It has been two years
European officials have been unable to agree on a donor conference
for Armenia. Last autumn it was put off till the end of the electoral
period in Armenia. Now they are saying that the conference may be
held late in the autumn, in other words, when it will be clear whether
Serzh Sargsyan swindled or not Europe.

It should be admitted that trust is increasing slowly. Serzh
Sargsyan and his government have shown determination to initialize
the agreement. Anyway, the West insists on decisive steps, namely
anti-monopoly fight, market liberalization, diversification of energy
and other spheres, including security.

There are no steps yet, and Europe is skeptical. The visa facilitation
agreement has not been ratified, though it was supposed to enter into
force a long time ago. Apparently, Europe wants to wait a little more.

Europe’s lack of trust in Serzh Sargsyan may play an evil trick with
Armenia’s Association and the EU. Moscow is boosting pressure on
Armenia using compromising materials, gas price, provocative reports
on sale of weapons to Azerbaijan. Hmayak Hovhannisyan’s statements
are also aimed at undermining Europe’s trust in Serzh Sargsyan whose
policies of rapprochement with Europe need concrete support.

The point is not about money or investments, though this would be
the best argument, but about expressing confidence in Serzh Sargsyan.

Sure, Europe may be wrong because no one knows what Serzh Sargsyan
thinks and what decision he will make. But it is evident that the lack
of confidence and uncertainty about the date of the donor conference
or visa facilitation will determine Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to
swindle Europe.

Armenia is on the razor’s edge, and those who say that the choice of
civilization is not the most pressing issue in Armenia are probably
wrong. Since Armenia announced willing to associate with Europe,
this issue has become a key one. This issue should not depend on the
will of one person. Europe’s distrust towards Serzh Sargsyan can be
eliminated only in case Europe sees that the Armenian society will
not allow him to cheat.

Naira Hayrumyan 13:13 19/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

AZERI STATE OIL VENTURE SETS EYE ON GREEK DESFA

10:30 ~U 19.06.13

The Azeri state energy company Socar said it has started talks with the
Greek government on purchasing the country’s natural gas grid operator
DESFA, the asset of the national gas firm DEPA, after being the only
bidder in a failed tender for the asset sale, Balkans.com reported.

“The tender procedure on the privatization of DESFA is over and Socar
has started talks with the Greek government,” Socar president Rovnag
Abdullayev told reporters on June 15.

“It means that the whole natural gas distribution system of Greece
will be in our hands soon.”

Abdullayev said a purchase of Greek assets would “strengthen the
export potential of Socar.”, Hurriyet Daily reports.

Armenian News – Tert.am

THREE PRESIDENTS PROLONGED STATUS QUO

Presidents of Minsk group co-chair countries Barack Obama, Francois
Hollande and Vladimir Putin issued a statement on Nagorno Karabakh
issue settlement on June 18 in Northern Ireland during G8 Summit.

The statement of the three presidents does not contain anything new.

It should be viewed as an urge to hold a meeting of the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. The co-chairing presidents just reiterated the
existence of the status quo, and there seems to be an agreement not to
take any steps that will bring about changes in the current situation.

The presidents’ statement is interesting in terms of the lack in
it of any hint on the possibility to have new details or ideas in
the settlement process. This means that the presidents think it is
meaningless to load the parties to the conflict with new proposals
since they understand that the conflict does not have the balanced
resolution about which they are speaking.

The current developments in the region produce a contradictory
impression. On the one hand, Turkey is unsteady, while the West and
Russia have tougher positions on the Syrian issue, on the other hand,
a reform-minded cleric is elected in Iran.

Anyway, the Caucasus is not insured from a force majeure and the
statement of the presidents is evidence to lack of a common resolution
on the Karabakh issue. At least, they have assured that there will
be no sharp moves. For the time being.

10:33 19/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

U.S., RUSSIAN AND FRENCH PRESIDENTS ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

APA, Azerbaijan
June 18 2013

“The delay in achieving a balanced framework agreement is unacceptable”

Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. As a part of G-8 summit, the
Presidents of the US, Russia and France, the co-chair countries of the
OSCE Minsk Group, have issued a joint statement on the settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. APA reports quoting RIA Novosti that
the statement signed by Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin and Francois
Hollande expresses deep regret over the fact that the parties have
not been able to solve the problem in the process of negotiations:
“We want to express our deep regret that instead of finding a solution
in accordance with mutual interests, the parties continued attempts
to seek unilateral advantages. We are confident that further delay
in achieving a balanced framework agreement leading to the peaceful
settlement of the conflict is unacceptable and urge the Azerbaijani
and Armenian leaders to focus with updated energy on the solution of
the issues that are still open.”

The presidents believe that the statements issued by them in the past
four years must lay the foundation for the fair and lasting settlement
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. They consider that the clauses must be
regarded as a single whole, as any attempt to give preference to one
of them may impede finding a balanced way of solution.

“We urge the leaders of all parties to reaffirm the commitment to
Helsinki principles, especially to the non-use of force, territorial
integrity, equality and the people’s right to self-determination.”

“COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS,” CONDEMNS AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES FOR BANNING JOURNALIST M. HUSEYNOV TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY

18:02 18/06/2013 ” SOCIETY

Authorities in Azerbaijan should lift the travel ban imposed against
journalist Mehman Huseynov and allow him to travel freely, the
Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) said today.

“Authorities should drop their charges against Huseynov and allow
him to travel without restrictions,” said Muzaffar Suleymanov, CPJ
Europe and Central Asia research associate.

Press freedom has deteriorated in Azerbaijan in the last two years,
threatening the public’s access to uncensored news ahead of the October
2013 presidential elections. At least seven independent journalists
are currently being held in Azerbaijani jails, while others are
subjected to intimidation, attacks, and threats of being imprisoned,
CPJ research shows.

Officer of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Security (IRFS)
Mehman Huseynov was arrested on June 17 in the morning at the
Baku airport. The reporter was not allowed to leave Azerbaijan for
Norway, where the awarding ceremony of M. Huseynov with prestigious
international journalism award after Gerd Bucerius titled “Free Press
of Eastern Europe – 2013” was to be held. The Azerbaijani authorities
have motivated their decision by presenting a criminal case against
Huseynov. The journalist believes the travel ban was unreasonable.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIA TO SELL SHARES TO RUSSIAN GAS GIANT

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

Gazprom

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-The Armenian government seems ready to sell its
remaining 20 percent share in the domestic gas distribution network
to Gazprom in order to subsidize the recently increased price of
Russian natural gas delivered to Armenia.

The Russian energy giant revealed late on Monday that its chief
executive, Alexey Miller, discussed the matter in Moscow with Armenian
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisian.

“In the course of negotiations the aspects of Russian gas pricing for
Armenian consumers were discussed,” Gazprom said in a statement. “The
meeting also looked into the possibility of increasing Gazprom’s
stake in ArmRosGazprom (ARG) to 100 per cent.”

The announcement came amid Armenian government efforts to secure
funding for subsidizing the Russian gas price, which officially rose
by 50 percent to $270 million per thousand cubic meters in April. A
30 percent subsidy promised by the government has meant that the
price hike will be much less drastic for Armenian households.

Armenian officials have said that Yerevan is seeking a Russian
“grant” to finance the subsidy. But they have given no details of
that arrangement so far.

The Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources refused to
comment on the Gazprom report on Tuesday. A ministry spokesperson
said that only Movsisian can give relevant explanations.

The government was already rumored last year to have ceded its 20
percent stake in ARG to conceal a secret rise in Russian gas price and
make sure Armenian voters are unaffected by it until the February 2013
presidential election. Government officials dismissed this speculation,
saying that the gas price remains unchanged. However, Armenian customs
data showed that ARG paid considerably more for Russian gas than was
officially reported in 2012.

Opposition lawmakers were quick to criticize the government’s apparent
readiness to place ARG under full Russian control. Gazprom currently
owns 80 percent of the gas network.

“This once again shows that our authorities are not capable of
doing anything,” said Artsvik Minasian of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation. “They can declare that we will get a grant but we won’t
get it or will cede more state assets in return.”

RUSSIA, US RUE LACK OF KARABAKH PROGRESS

South Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh
RIA Novosti. Ilya Pitalev
21:57 18/06/2013

LOUGH ERNE, June 18 (RIA Novosti) – Russia, the United States and
France, the three countries mediating the conflict over the disputed
South Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh, said Tuesday that they
were greatly concerned by the lack of progress in bringing peace to
the region.

The parties to the conflict – Armenia and Azerbaijan – are still
pursuing unilateral aims rather than trying to find a solution based
on due consideration for each other’s interests, the presidents of
the three mediating countries said in a joint statement.

Presidents Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama and Francois Hollande warned
that further delays in reaching a framework agreement leading to a
comprehensive peace treaty was “unacceptable” and urged the leaders
of Armenia and Azerbaijan to redouble their efforts and focus on
finding a solution.

They also called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to reaffirm their
commitment to the Helsinki principles, in particular the non-use or
threat of force, territorial integrity, equality and people’s right
to self-determination.

Relations between the two countries have been strained for more than
two decades, since the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly
ethnic Armenian region, first erupted in 1988. The region then claimed
independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people are estimated to have died on both sides between
1988 and 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed. Nagorno-Karabakh has
remained in Armenian control and tensions between Azerbaijan and
Armenia have persisted.

ARMAVIA EMPLOYEES WAITING FOR WAGES

07:40 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

Former employees of Armenian businessman Mikhail Bagdasarov’s Armavia
Airline Company, the country’s only carrier that launched bankruptcy
procedures earlier this year due to grave financial problems, again
gathered in front of the Company’s office demanding their unpaid
wages. As the pilots said the administration had promised them to
pay part of the wages but again it failed to keep the promise.

Later in the day, the former employees met with Armavia CEO Norayr
Beluyan who again assured the group that the company would pay their
wages, without specifying the long-awaited date of payment.

Armavia has not paid its employees since November 2012.

Armenia’s last national airline, Armavia, ceased operations on April 1,
2013, over grave financial problems. In a statement released later
on the day, the Company linked its inability to pay debts to the
consequences of the world economic crisis that has hit the aviation
industry hard and has caused the bankruptcy or liquidation of several
major carriers such as American Airlines and Russia’s Kuban.

Founded in 1996 by Armenian businessman Mikhail Bagdasarov, Armavia
owned one Airbus A320, three Boeing 737, and four medium-range planes.

The Company served 48 destinations in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

Armavia’s bankruptcy leaves Armenia without a national air carrier,
since the other state-owned carrier, Armenian Airlines, went bankrupt
in 2003.

OPPOSITIONIST MP TELLS ABOUT HOW ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S BROTHER STARTED AS A DRIVER AND BECAME A MULTIMILLIONAIRE

The authorities in Armenia are stuck in corruption at the same time
fighting it. The authorities are inherently illegitimate, but they
fight illegality. They boost migration allegedly trying to stop it,
Nikol Pashinyan, parliamentarian from the Armenian National Congress,
said in the parliament, Tuesday.

The oppositionist said that he is not going to dispute the ruling
party’s statement that total fraud in the country started yet in
1990s. “We can remember that Serzh Sarhsyan then headed one of
the key structures fighting corruption – Ministry for the State
Security and then the Interior Ministry. It is not surprising that
his brother Alexander Sargsyan who started as a driver easily became
a multimillionaire. All the statements that Alexander Sargsyan became
wealthy through joint ‘fraud’ and seizure of others business is ‘dirty
slander.’ The Armenian public does not believe in that ‘slander’,
as the authorities used to say,” Pashinyan said.

The oppositionists recalled also another person who, as he says,
gathered wealth after becoming the president’s son- in-law – Mikael
Minasyan. Pashinyan is bewildered with the fact that Armenia has two
diplomatic offices in one city, in fact. He means the embassies in
Rome and Vatican. “What issues must the Embassy in Vatican settle?

The Embassy operates on the funds of Armenian taxpayers. Probably,
it has been opened for the president’s family to have an opportunity
to take photos with the Pope and hold noble talks with him,” Pashinyan
said recalling that Mikael Minasyan is the Ambassador to Vatican.