Author: Kanayan Tamar

HAUT KARABAGH
« Une mauvaise paix vaut mieux qu’une « bonne » guerre » affirme
Arkady Ghoukassian, l’ex-Président du Haut Karabagh

Alors qu’à Stepanakert de nombreuses voix s’élèvent pour remettre en
question de statut du cessez-le-feu quotidiennement violé par
l’Azerbaïdjan, l’ex-Président de la République du Haut Karabagh,
Arkady Ghoukassian affirme de son côté qu’il est préférable de
négocier que de faire la guerre. « Une mauvaise paix vaut mieux qu’une
« bonne » guerre, sachant qu’il n’y a jamais de bonne guerre. Je crois
que la signature de l’accord du cessez-le-feu était un pas juste » dit
Arkady Ghoukassian aux médias arméniens qui l’interrogeaient sur les
dernières déclarations des citoyens de l’Artsakh mécontents de ce
statut actuel de cessez-le-feu.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 18 mai 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
L’Arménie va produire 60000 tonnes de viande de b`uf par an

L’Arménie va produire jusqu’à 60000 tonnes de viande bovine par an en
2020 selon Sergo Karapetian, ministre de l’Agriculture d’Arménie.

« Dans le cadre du programme de promotion de l’élevage en Arménie,
nous nous attendons à augmenter la production de viande bovine chaque
année de plusieurs milliers de tonnes. Cela nous permettra de réduire
l’importation de b`uf en 2020 et de complètement répondre aux
exigences du marché intérieur », a déclaré Sergo Karapetian.

L’Arménie a toutes les ressources nécessaires pour satisfaire la
demande de boeuf complètement, a-t-il ajouté.

Sergo Karapetyan n’a cependant pas précisé combien de tonnes de viande
de b`uf l’Arménie produit à l’heure actuelle.

Selon le Service national de la statistique d’Arménie, la production
de viande en Arménie s’élève à 63000 tonnes en 2012 contre 60900
tonnes en 2011.

samedi 18 mai 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

HAUT KARABAGH
Bako Sahakian a visité la région de Kashatagh ainsi que la mine d’or
de Tontrikert

Bako Sahakian, le président de la République du Haut Karabagh était le
15 mai en visite dans la région de Kashatagh afin de prendre
connaissance de la réalité socio-économique sur le terrain, avec les
habitants. A Kovsakan il a également rencontré des habitants et
longuement discuté sur les problèmes rencontrés par ces derniers afin
d’apporter des solutions. Il s’est également rendu sur le site de la
mine d’or de Tontrikert. Le même jour Bako Sahakian s’est rendu auprès
de la société « Araxe », filiale du groupe « Hadrouti
agrodnedessoutioun » (région de Hadrout) spécialisée dans les produits
agro-alimentaires. Au sud de la République du Haut Karabagh il a
également rencontré des unités de l’armée.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 18 mai 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

Birmingham Mail, UK
May 17 2013

Tony Iommi’s song puts Armenia in the final of the Eurovision

17 May 2013 09:26

The 65-year-old rock legend was called upon after Armenia failed to
make the final last year after enjoying a run of top 10 finishes since
their debut in 2006.

Black Sabbath guitar hero Tony Iommi will be cheering on Armenia on
Saturday after his song made it to the final of the Eurovision Song
Contest.

The 65-year-old rock legend was called upon after Armenia failed to
make the final last year after enjoying a run of top 10 finishes since
their debut in 2006.

This year they opted for rock band Dorians and an old ballard Lonely
Planet written by Tony Iommi.

Thankful for all the charity work Tony has done in their country,
where he has spearheaded the rebuilding of a music school destroyed by
an earthquake, Armenian broadcasting bosses wondered if he had any
spare songs.

And the plan has worked so far. Armenia made it through the second
semi final along with Hungary, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, Norway,
Iceland, Armenia,

Finland, Malta and Greece.

They will join Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and last
year’s winning country Sweden, in the Grand Final of the 2013
Eurovision Song Contest,

which takes place tomorrow.

Wales’ Bonnie Tyler will represent the UK with Believe in Me.

The last time the UK won the competition was in 1997 with Katrina and
the Waves’ Love Shine a Light.

The final result was determined by way of a 50/50 split between
national expert juries and televoting.

APA, Azerbaijan
May 17 2013

Azerbaijan’s Presidential Administration department chief: It is
inevitable that sooner or later Armenia will fall –

[ 17 May 2013 11:43 ]
Baku hosts international forum of BSEC think tanks organized by Center
for Strategic Studies

Baku. Shamil Alibeyli – APA. The international forum of think tanks of
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) member states
is organized by the Center for Strategic Studies under the President.

Addressing the opening of the forum moderated by MP Rasim Musabeyov,
chief of the Presidential Administration Political Analysis and
Information Provision Department Elnur Aslanov said that Azerbaijan
accounts for 75% of economy and 65% of population in the South
Caucasus: `Azerbaijan is the major transport corridor connecting West
and East and it is very difficult to implement regional projects
without Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is becoming the center of political and
economic, as well as inter-religious and intercultural debates.’

Aslanov also touched on the situation in the South Caucasus and Black
Sea countries.
`This is the area where there are separatist tendencies. And Armenia
has become a state playing the role of cancerous tumor in the South
Caucasus. Illicit drug and arms trafficking here is not controlled by
the international community. Therefore, it is inevitable that sooner
or later Armenia will fall. Withdrawal of Armenian armed units from
Azerbaijani territories must be ensured basing on the four resolutions
of the UN. We would like Armenia to become a state making efforts in
establishing peace and stability in the region. But there exist
difficulties in this regard. Nevertheless, we hope for peaceful
solution of the conflict. If it does not happen, Azerbaijan has great
opportunities provided by the international law to liberate its
territories,’ he said.

SAM Director Farhad Mammadov spoke about the importance of the event.
Touching on the situation in the region, he underlined that Azerbaijan
has the biggest conflict in the region.

Following this, the participants of the event made speeches on the
topics discussed. The international forum will be continued with panel
discussions and end tomorrow.

Hartford Courant (Connecticut)
May 16, 2013 Thursday
STATEWIDE EDITION

ARMEN’S ARMENIAN MUSE

Pianist/composer Armen Donelian, a veteran of the international jazz
scene who incorporates his Armenian heritage into his compositions,
leads his trio Friday at 8:30 and 10 p.m. at New Haven’s Firehouse 12,
45 Crown St.

As a musically gifted child of Armenian parents, Donelian was immersed
in his home in Armonk, N.Y., with the sounds of Armenian, Turkish,
Greek and Middle Eastern music both at festive family gatherings and
through his father’s record collection. His father, who was born in
the old Ottoman Empire and later lost dozens of family members during
the Armenian genocide, was a physicist who worked on the Manhattan
Project, the massive research and development program that created the
first atomic bomb during World War II.

Donelian has traveled to Armenia numerous times to perform. As a
Fulbright Senior Scholar in 2002, he taught at Yerevan State
Conservatoryin downtown Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. He has had
Fulbright residencies in Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Greece,
taught extensively at the college level and written authoritative
instructional texts.

Since playing in 1975 with Mongo Santamaria’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Octet,
he has led his own bands and performed with Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker,
Billy Harper, Paquito D’Rivera and the late Thomas Chapin, the
celebrated creative music saxophonist/composer who grew up in
Manchester.

Performing songs by 18th century troubadour Sayat-Nova, original
compositions and jazz standards, he’ll be accompanied by bassist David
Clark and drummer George Schuller.

Information: and 203-785-0468.

Interfax, Russia
May 16 2013

Rally against gas price increase held in Yerevan

YEREVAN. May 16

A rally against the increase of natural gas prices is being held in
front of the Armenian government’s building in central Yerevan.
Around 100 people are participating and deputies of the Armenian
parliament representing the Dashnaktsutyun Party, Armen Rustamyan and
Artsvik Minasyan, joined the rally.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan said at a governmental
meeting on Thursday that the government intended to subsidize 30% of
gas prices.

“I have sent a relevant letter to chief of the committee regulating
public services, in which I informed him on the government’s decision.
Besides, the socially disadvantaged in Armenia will get help so that
the growth of gas prices does not undermine their family budget,”
Sarkisyan said.

Armrosgazprom and Transgas have suggested the committee regulating
public services to reconsider the existing tariff on natural gas.

Armrosgazprom proposed to increase the tariff for those using up to
10,000 cubic meters a month (citizens mostly) from 132,000 dram
including VAT to 221,000 dram per 1,000 cubic meters. Thus, the growth
will amount to 67.4%.

Armrosgazprom is a monopoly gas supplier in Armenia. Russia’s Gazprom
(RTS: GAZP) owns 80% of Armrosgazprom and the Armenian government has
the remaining 20%.

The official exchange rate is 418 dram/$1 as of May 16.
ez jv

Where Is Russian Loan of 500 Million?

The decision of the government to issue government bonds may be a
breakthrough. It may be. However, the issue brings up issues which
make breakthrough relative.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said the money from bonds will be used
to repay the debt to Russia. He noted that soft conditions of
repayment have been agreed with the Russian counterparts.

Perhaps, Russians demand that Armenia repay the anti-crisis loan of
500 million dollars. The question occurs whether the Armenian
government would issue bonds if Russia had not remanded repayment.

Bonds are a subtle issue. Those are indicators of a country’s
reputation, credibility. The interest is important though. What will
be interest on the government bonds of Armenia? In fact, Armenia is a
new actor, which means that interest must be high to attract
customers. In addition, Armenia is a state with an unresolved
conflict, complicated relations with two of its four neighbors, at a
cold war, in blockade and isolation.

Most people would prefer to buy bonds of more stable countries at
lower interest than the ones at high interest issued by Armenia.

Hence, demand for Armenian bonds is under doubt and if Tigran Sargsyan
is talking about repayment of the Russian loan, there must have been a
preliminary agreement on issue and there is a buyer already otherwise
Armenia would not issue bonds.

So, who will be the buyer, the West or Russia? The minister of finance
Davit Sargsyan has stated that Armenia is not considered a low-income
country and is no longer eligible for soft loans. In fact, government
bonds replace soft loans, so they are similar to a soft loan. Who will
borrow money to Armenia?

Why does the West stop issuing soft loans to Armenia? Is the reason
that Armenia is not a low-income country or does the West think that
Armenia should not rely on loans but improve its business climate and
attract investments to be able to resolve its social issues?
Apparently, this is the scenario. Loans are wasted, whereas a
capitalist would not allow waste of his money.

Hence, issue of government bonds brings up questions. In fact, Armenia
is not giving up the tactics of addressing needs by borrowed money.
Bonds are issued to repay the Russian loan, whereas the question
occurs where that 500 million went to and why the enterprises which
received it do not repay it. the economy of Armenia is officially
growing, the crisis has been overcome, the country has stepped into
the stage of development. So why isn’t the loan repaid by those who
received it? If they have not received it, where is the loan which the
government is going to repay by issuing state bonds?

Will Russia buy the bonds, Armenia repay the loan to Russia on money
from bonds, eventually owing Russia the money of bonds?

Or does the government of Armenia want to repay the loan to Russia and
then launch economic reforms by the time of paying interest on
government bonds?

However, real reforms are required to attract Western investments. In
other words, Armenia needs to use the time out of bonds with common
sense. It means complete review of the economic and political
relations, demolition of corruption schemes. It is necessary to
account for the 500 million dollar Russian loan, where is the profit
from loan, why is there a need to borrow more to repay it?

Or an independent commission must be set up involving stakeholders,
the civil society and political opposition, to study the effectiveness
of management in ARG to understand whether the gas bills are common
sense or are consumers paying for gas, not mismanagement of ARG.

Armenia needs to answer a number of questions one by one to ensure
that the government bonds will have value apart from price which will
reduce interest and boost demand.

Hakob Badalyan
19:30 17/05/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

BigCaucasus about how Armenian volunteers defeated Chechen mercenaries
in Karabakh who fought for Azerbaijan

20:10 17/05/2013 » SOCIETY

“The president of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has recently made a rather
interesting statement. Kadyrov has declared that the Chechen
mercenaries have been involved in hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh,”
reads the article in the `BigCaucasus’, which also contains Kadyrov’s
record on the LiveJournal’s service: “The Chechen mercenaries were
involved in the armed forces of both sides (of the conflict) in
Nagorno-Karabakh war.”

The `BigCaucasus’ notes that immediately after the statement of the
president of Chechnya, the MFA of Nagorno Karabakh gave a rather
deployed comment on the situation. `The statements that Chechen
mercenaries fought for the Karabakh Armenians are absolutely untrue.
Unlike Azerbaijan, no mercenaries of any nationality have ever fought
on the NKR side,’ the statement of the MFA of NKR read.

`Numerous facts testify that in 1992-1993, about 3.000 Afghan
mojahedins, as well as Chechen detachments headed by Shamil Basayev
fought against the Karabakh Army. In early July 1992, the Chechen
mercenaries in Nagorno Karabakh amounted to about 300. In July 1993,
Chechen-Press Agency reported about ChechensÕ? participation in the
military activities in Nagorno Karabakh, which was confirmed by the
first losses among them,’ the MFA of Nagorno Karabakh reports.

Maj. Gen. Astvatsatur Petrosyan the commander of the “Eagles bombers”
squad told the `BigCaucasus’ about the details of participation of
Chechen squads in the Karabakh war. “Chechens fought in Karabakh, but
not on the Armenians’ side. When they were taken hostage they
presented themselves as Russians or representatives of other
nationalities. They would not have fought for the Christians,” the
general said.

He also noted that a detachment of Cossacks from Transnistria fought
on the Armenians’ side for a short time, but losing 7 people in one of
the battles in September 1992, they confessed that it was very
difficult to fight in Karabakh.

There were moments during the fighting in Karabakh when the Armenian
and Chechen troops were to fight against one another.
“During the fight of 1992, we saw about 70 militants at Karmaravan
city, who were fighting for Azerbaijan. They stood out by the black
uniform that they were wearing on. When we shot down their armor and
took some of them as captives, it turned out that those were Chechen
mercenaries who were fighting in Karabakh for the Azerbaijani Armed
Forces,” he said.

The captivated Chechens confessed that they were promised to be given
salary at a rate of 15 thousand rubles, with the prospect of rising to
40,000.

Petrossian is one of the three generals who have developed and
successfully carried out an operation to free the fortress city of
Shushi. He leads a simple life; he speaks of war only when the
journalists ask him to do.

The general reminded that the Azerbaijani side also used the Russian
and Tatar militants to carry out sabotage in the rear of the Armenian
forces. “During the war, a detachment of 15 people, mostly Russian and
Tatar, had, reportedly, expressed desire to fight on our side.
However, we quickly figured out that this was a well trained team sent
by Baku aimed at carrying out sabotage in the rear of our troops. We
have figured out and quickly neutralized them,” the general said.

As A. Petrosyan told, Shamil Basayev was in Karabakh twice – in 1992
and 1994. “Both Basayev and Dudayev were professional soldiers, who
had finished the school of the General Staff of the USSR. Basayev
participated in the Karabakh not just as an envoy of Soviet KGB. This
structure functioned against the Armenians during the war. Basayev was
in Azerbaijani training center. He was well trained; he was involved
in coaching and training the troops of Azerbaijani AF. He was not
involved in the fights personally,” said the general, noting that in
1992 the Armenian units surrounded, and then occupied the Azerbaijani
training center, and Basayev managed to move to Georgia.

As stated in the material, in those days the media wrote that the
Chechen rebels had left the war stage after suffering significant
losses. In 2000, Basayev gave an interview to ANS Azerbaijani TV
Company, admitting his involvement in the Karabakh war: `We came to
fight in Karabakh not for trophies, but for the idea of jihad`.
However, Basayev told, `when we arrived at the scene and saw the
situation, we realized that there was no sign of jihad’.

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs meet in Poland; Co-Chairs to visit the
region later this month

18:56 17.05.2013

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the
Russian Federation, Jacques Faure of France, and Ian Kelly of the
United States of America) met on May 17 with the Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, and the Foreign Minister of Armenia,
Edward Nalbandian. The Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, also participated
in the meetings.

The Co-Chairs and the Foreign Ministers discussed possible ways to
advance the peace process.

The Ministers exchanged views on the current situation and reaffirmed
their commitment to promoting peace in the region.

The Co-Chairs reiterated the need to avoid actions or rhetoric that
could raise tensions or damage the peace process, and discussed with
the Ministers a number of confidence building measures to help create
an atmosphere conducive to reconciliation. The Co-Chairs will travel
to the region later this month to discuss these issues further with
the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.