Author: Kanayan Tamar

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Oct 16 2012

Airport in Karabakh

16 October 2012 – 8:58am

Orkhan Sattarov. Exclusively to VK

The situation over the planned airport in Nagorno-Karabakh which
caused a sharp reaction from Baku is involving more and more
participants. The Azerbaijani information agency APA cites independent
diplomatic sources as saying that Azerbaijan and Turkey have achieved
an agreement on closing their airspace for Armenia if the airport in
Nagorno-Karabakh is launched into operation.

Several Turkish PMs developed a project of a corresponded resolution
in the parliament. An agreement between civil aviation administrative
structures of Azerbaijan and Turkey was reached, according to the
agency. It is interesting that this information spread a week ago
wasn’t disposed either by Baku or Ankara: it means purposeful stove
piping – a direct signal to Yerevan. Closing of the Turkish air space
would be a serious challenge for Armenia.

It seems Armenia understood the signal and decided to relocate the
missile defense system S-300 to the Azerbaijani border. The analysis
of recent pictures made from space shows changes which might seriously
influence the missile defense situation in the Caucasus.

The military analysis center located in the US, IMINT, published
satellite pictures of Russian and Armenian missile defense systems in
the region. `The pictures show appearance of new S-300 complexes in
Armenia and the Georgian province of Abkhazia. Both places of
dislocation have a great potential for launching,’ the expert Sean
O’Connor says. Turan reports that till 2008 Armenia imported
components of at least three S-300s and changed old S-125 for defense
of Yerevan. Russia located two more S-300s in the province of Syunik
near Goris and Kagnut in 7 km from Nagorno-Karabakh in 2010. `The
systems use the mobile radar 5N63S and the low height radar,’ the same
source notes.

S-300s situated near Nagorno-Karabakh can cover the airport near
Khankendi as a supplement to S-125 situated there. Moreover, such
location of S-300 covers the existing air gap and enables Armenia to
block the air communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhichyvan.

The situation over the airport might cause escalation of the conflict
and even resumption of hostilities. If Azerbaijan tried to intercept a
plane of separatists in the Karabakh sky by means of fighter
aircrafts, Armenia would use its missile defense system and a
full-scaled military operation would begin.

The situation is worsened by the fact that presidential elections will
take place in both republics next year. None of leaders want to yield
in such a delicate issue, considering sensitive perception of
everything connected with Nagorno-Karabakh by both sides. Operation of
the KArabakh airport without negative consequences for Armenia means a
failure of Azerbaijan; yielding to Azerbaijan and Turkey by Armenia
means another slap in the Armenian authorities’ face.

Speaking about the legal aspect of the problem, all trumps belong to
Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh is not recognized even by Armenia and
conduction of flights by the separatist regime violates the air space
of Azerbaijan which is legally recognized by the international
society.

Mediamax, Armenia
Oct 16 2012

Italian Defense Minister to visit Yerevan today

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The delegation headed by Italian Defense Minister
Giampaolo Di Paola will pay a 2-day official visit to Armenia today.

According to the press service of the Armenian Defense Ministry, the
Minister is scheduled to meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
during the visit.

The meetings will focus on issues related to Armenia-Italy bilateral
defense cooperation and regional security and a defense cooperation
agreement will be signed between Armenian and Italian governments.

Mediamax, Armenia
Oct 16 2012

Oskanian’s lawyer on the former Armenian Foreign Minister’s case:
`It’s a political persecution disguised as an investigation’

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Lawyer of the former Armenian Foreign Minister,
member of `Prosperous Armenia’ party Vardan Oskanian Tigran Atanesyan
stated today that the case of Oskanian and `Civilitas’ foundation is
`a political persecution disguised as a preliminary investigation’.

Vardan Oskanian’s lawyer noted during his meeting with journalists
that `it’s a political process and the issue is not on the legal
field’, Mediamax reports.

`There is no preliminary investigation held. They (the body of
preliminary investigation -edit.) present the events in the light
beneficial for them. Here we deal with an obvious political order’,
said Tigran Atanesyan.

The lawyer noted that the preliminary investigation body tries to
carry out the case as though Oskanian made a financial deal behind the
back of the members of the Board of Trustees of `Civilitas’
foundation. He stressed that money laundering and embezzling is out of
question.

According to him, if the preliminary investigation body and Armenian
courts operate objectively the Oskanian’s case should be dismissed.

`Within coming days, we’ll file a motion on dismissing of the criminal
case’, said Oskanian’s lawyer.

Radio Free Europe
October 15, 2012

Armenia’s Christian Heritage Under Threat

October 15, 2012

As the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion,
it’s not surprising that many Armenians are proud of their religious
heritage.

With a national church that dates back to A.D. 301, as well as
thousands of ancient churches and monastic sites across the country,
it’s fair to say that religion looms large over Armenia’s physical and
psychological landscape.

That’s one of the reasons why Yerevan has in the past been quick to
criticize Georgia and other neighboring countries for apparently
neglecting their Armenian Christian heritage.

Now, however, the conservation of Armenia’s own religious monuments
has come under scrutiny.

According to a recent report by EurasiaNet.org, nearly 50 percent of
the country’s 24,000 Christian sites are in dire need of repair and
almost one-third are on the verge of collapse.

The main reason for this situation is a lack of funds for preserving
churches, but the Armenian public has also been blamed for not
respecting these precious monuments.

“It’s not the Turks or Georgians or Azerbaijanis who are [to blame for
this],” historian Samvel Karapetian told reporter Gayane Abrahamyan.
“We are the ones littering, polluting, destroying.”

The Culture Ministry has also been criticized for misspending some of
its budget on dodgy reconstruction work.

It insists that the process for allocating conservation contracts has
since been tightened up.

Nonetheless, given its limited resources, the ministry maintains that
ordinary Armenians will also have to do their bit to ensure that
Armenia’s proud Christian heritage is not destroyed.

“Attitudes have to change…. Society has to become aware of the value
of [historical] monuments,” says Deputy Culture Minister Arev
Samuelian. “The ministry is not almighty.”

National Assembly Received 1148 Letters in the Third Quarter of 2012

11.10.2012

In accordance with the RA Law `On the Order of Discussing the
Citizens’ Proposals, Applications and Complaints’ the NA Secretariat
issues the brief information of the results of the discussions of the
letters received in the third quarter of 2012.

The citizens’ 275 letters have been accepted, registered and handed
over to the NA President, and 41 letters to the Vice Presidents. The
NA President and the Vice Presidents have answered all the letters.

The citizens’ 358 letters have been handed over to the NA Standing
Committees, and they answered to all of them.

The citizens’ 456 letters have been handed over to the NA factions,
they answered to all of them.

18 letters have been addressed to the National Assembly, and all of
them have been answered.

APA, Azerbaijan
Oct 15 2012

Turkish Foreign Minister: `We will continue supporting the just
position of Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabakh conflict’

[ 15 Oct 2012 17:45 ]
Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. `Turkey has always supported and will
continue supporting the just position of Azerbaijan on the solution to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ahmet Davutoglu told journalist, APA reports.

`We have always wanted all countries and nations of the region to live
in peace. Solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is very important
from this point of view’.

The Minister called on Armenia to free the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan and to restore peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
Moreover, he called on OSCE Minsk Group to strengthen its activity
towards the settlement of the conflict.

RTT News
Oct 15 2012

Syria-Bound Armenian Plane Forced To Land In Eastern Turkey

10/15/2012 9:26 AM ET

Turkey on Monday forced a Syria-bound Armenian cargo plane to land at
an airport in the eastern city of Erzurum, media reports citing
Turkish officials said.

The Armenian plane was on its way to Syria’s Aleppo city carrying
humanitarian cargo when it forced to land in Erzurum province for
security check.

The plane was later allowed to continue its journey to Aleppo, Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said.

Turkey is on heightened vigil to prevent its air space being used to
supply the Syrian military, and had force landed a Syrian airliner
flying from Moscow last Wednesday, alleging it was carrying Russian
military hardware for the Syrian regime of embattled President Bashar
al-Assad.

by RTT Staff Writer

ANSA Med, Italy
Oct 15 2012

Turkey forces Aleppo bound Armenian plane to land

Humanitarian aid aboard, authorities check cargo

(ANSAmed) – ANKARA, 15 OCT – Turkish authorities forced an Armenian
plane to land in Erzurum for cargo checks Monday, according to state
broadcaster TRT.

Private TV network NTV reports that the plane was bound for Aleppo and
is carrying humanitarian aid. If no security issues arise the plane
will be allowed to continue to Aleppo.

Last Wednesday Turkey forced a Syrian civilian airliner en route from
Moscow to Damascus to land in Ankara.(ANSAmed).

Mediamax, Armenia
Oct 15 2012

Armenian Armed Forces can start missile strikes at 300km and more distance

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The Armenian Armed Forces can start missile
strikes at 300km and more distance in case of fighting against a
potential rival.

Head of the Operative Department of the General Headquarters of the
Armenian Armed Forces, Major-General Artak Davtyan said this today,
Mediamax reports.

He noted that scenarios of missile attacks have been applied during
the strategic command and staff exercises on October 1-13.

According to Artak Davtyan, they have been aimed against the rival’s
military objects as well as economic infrastructure, oil and gas
industry objects in particular.

Airplane transferring humanitarian aid for Syria successfully landed

20:40, 15 October, 2012

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Plane with Yerevan-Erzurum-Aleppo
flight, transferring humanitarian cargo to Syria on the initiative of
`Help your brother’ successfully landed, Armenpress was informed from
Tigran Balayan, the speaker of MFA. The plane left Erzurum at 18:20,
reported `Air Armenia’. Earlier Turkish media had declared as if the
plane had been forced to land on suspicion of transferring not
humanitarian cargo. Armenian MFA declared that the landing of Armenian
plane was initially planned and was done according to the agreement.
The plane has passed a technical examination in Erzurum.