Author: nina hovnanian

BAKU MAY BAR RUSSIAN POLITICIAN MITROFANOV FOR VISITING OCCUPIED LANDS

Interfax
Sept 19 2011
Russia

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is verifying reports about a visit
of former State Duma deputy, politician Alexei Mitrofanov to the
occupied Azerbaijani lands.

“A visit to the occupied lands without the notification of Baku is
impermissible; it is an act of disrespect for the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan,” ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Interfax.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry includes persons, who visit the
Armenia-occupied Karabakh without coordination with the Azerbaijani
side, on the black list of individuals prohibited from coming to
Azerbaijan.

The Armenian media said that Mitrofanov attended the opening of
the Moscow House in Karabakh and urged the Russian authorities to
recognize Karabakh’s independence.

AVERAGE ARMENIAN CITIZEN BELIEVED THINGS GET BETTER RIGHT AFTER INDEPENDENCE – RULING PARTY

news.am
Sept 20 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Average citizen of Armenia believed things would get bright
colors right after the independence but it turned out to be different,
said the Deputy Chairman of ruling Republican Party of Armenia Razmik
Zohrabyan to a press conference on Tuesday.

Mentioning the Soviet times struggle of underground National United
Party for Armenia’s freedom, Zohrabyan said that the main points of
party’s program were declaration of Armenia’s independence by means
of a referendum and withdrawal from Soviet Union.

“Those people were working in underground and it was natural that
they should get arrested. National United Party, however, accomplished
its task, bringing the struggle to 1988,” said the MP,” he said.

Zohrabyan argued that they had a clear understanding of the hardships
and sensations the country would face after transition from socialistic
system to capitalistic economy.

“Average citizen believed things would get bright colors right
after independence but it worked differently. We nevertheless stood
with clenched teeth. Here I would like to bring in the words of our
president that in 20 years people would live much better than we do
now,” he added.

FRENCH DEPUTIES’ MEETING IN THE PARLIAMENT

National Assembly of RA

Sept 20 2011
Armenia

On September 20 the members of the RA NA Armenia-France Friendship
Group met with Francois Rochebloine, the Chairman of the France-Armenia
Friendship Group of the National Assembly, Rene Rouqet and Francois
Pupponi, the members of the group, who at the invitation of the RA
NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan took part in the events dedicated to the
20th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia.

Highly assessing the existing multilateral relations between the
two countries Ara Babloyan, the Head of the RA NA Armenia-France
Friendship Group, thanked the French colleagues for the warm and
friendly attitude shown towards our country and disinterested
cooperation in the international structures.

Expressing his gratitude for the invitation Francois Rochebloine,
the Chairman of the France-Armenia Friendship Group of the National
Assembly, touched upon with joy the significant achievements and
progress reached in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh during the 20 years
of independence.

During the meeting the interlocutors touched upon the Armenian-Turkish
protocols, the issue of the NK conflict settlement and the upcoming
official visit to be paid to Armenia by the President of France
Nicholas Sarkozy.

The Armenian and French colleagues highlighted the more deepening
and development of parliamentary cooperation.

NAIVE TO USE PALESTINE’S INDEPENDENCE TO MAKE ISRAEL RECOGNIZE KARABAKH – EXPERT

news.am
Sept 20 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Armenian expert in oriental studies Davit Hovhannisyan
commented for Hraparak newspaper on Armenia’s stance on Palestine’s
independence bid.

The newspaper writes that some experts consider Armenia should use
Palestine’s issue to make Israel recognize Nagorno-Karabakh. If
recognized, Armenia would vote against Palestine’s independence
resolution.

However, Hovhannisyan considers it a naive step as one should take
into account the reality. “Over 50% of oil used by Israel is supplied
by Azerbaijan. Israel is engaged in active military cooperation with
Azerbaijan. Thus, we should not cherish vague hopes and agree on the
issues which seem less significant but are more realistic,” he said.

FRANCOIS ROSHBLUA WOULD CONTINUE ITS ACTIVITY DIRECTED TOWARDS STRENGTHENING AND DEEPENING THE COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND FRENCH PEOPLE

Noyan Tapan
20.09.2011 | 18:44

Politics

On September 20 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan received the
delegation of France-Armenia deputy friendship group of French
parliament headed by Francois Roshblua .

Edward Nalbandyan highly assessed the personal contribution of French
deputies in the development of Armenian-French friendly relations,
as well as in the widening of cooperation between Armenian and French
parliaments.

Francois Roshblua noted that he always was a friend of Armenians
and would continue its activity directed towards strengthening and
deepening the cooperation between Armenians and French people.

STAR DIRECTOR FORECASTS FURTHER RISE IN PRICES IN ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Tuesday, September 20, 18:20

This year consumer prices in Armenia will be growing, Director of
STAR Trade Chain Vahan Kerobyan said in an interview to ArmInfo.

He explained that the prices will be spurred by the tax reforms. The
growing tax revenues will lead to growth in social spending.

Kerobyan said that STAR will continue its “STAR’s Social Basket”
project, launched Aug 12. The key component of the project is the
effort to curb the growth in the prices of some of the 180 products
included in the basket or even to reduce them by curtailing costs. “As
the biggest trade chain in Armenia, we have necessary resources and
will do our best for the project’s success,” Kerobyan said.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in 2010 there
was 8.4% inflation in Armenia. In Aug 2011 there was 0.6% deflation,
in Jan-Aug 2011 – 0.2% deflation. The Aug deflation was due to 1%
drop in food prices (including alcohol and tobacco) and 0.1% drop in
non-food prices and service tariffs.

STAR has 20 supermarkets (19 in Yerevan and 1 in Hrazdan).

IRANIAN STUDENTS DESIGN DRONE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 20, 2011 – 17:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iranian students at Tabriz University designed an
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flying at 15,000 feet.

Fars News Agency reported that researchers at the Modern Technologies
Engineering Collage of Tabriz University developed the drone, dubbed
as Shaparak (butterfly), which can keep flying at 15,000 feet and a
range of 20 km.

One of the designers of the drone said that the long period of constant
flying at high altitudes is one of the main feature of the newly
designed drone. “These types of UAVs are able to keep flying for 3
hours and have the capability to increase their length of flight to
20 hours,” the designer said.

The small size Shaparak weighs 55kg and enjoys the capability to
carry a maximum 10kg load and conduct night flights.

The UAV can take off in three seconds.

NKR REPORTS INTENSIFIED CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS AT CONTACT LINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 20, 2011 – 11:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Increased incidents of ceasefire violation at the
line of contact between the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed
forces were reported over the last 2 days.

On September 18-19, over 100 instances of ceasefire violation by the
Azerbaijani armed forces were noted, with 450 shots fired.

According to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic defense army press service,
Azeri forces have been showing increased activity on the threshold of
Armenia and NKR independence celebrations, clearly meaning to affect
the festive mood of Armenian people.

~SUnderstanding the intentions of the rival, NKR defense army is not
only able to suppress aggressive actions but also offer retaliatory
measures in case of necessity,~T the defense army statement said.

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN UZBEKISTAN “LOSES” NATIVE TONGUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 20, 2011 – 09:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – About 75 000 Armenians live in Uzbekistan, of whom
30 000 reside in the capital, Tashkent. The Armenian community is
engaged in cultural and public life of the country.

However, the community faces a range of problems, including
preservation of the Armenian language, according to Sergey Andriasov,
head of Armenian community in Uzbekistan.

As he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, “Despite provision of Armenian
language textbooks, the problem is pressing,” he said, adding that
the main obstacle in proper teaching of the Armenian language is that
it isn’t spoken in many of the families.

“The lack of textbooks and not practicing the language worsens the
situation. In fact, children speak the language only in class,”
Andriasov said.

Regarding the situation within the community, he pointed out Armenian
population’s achievements, particularly the famous dance ensemble
Urartu, state award winner. Cultural center “Arvest” and Sunday school
are also operating.

CLINTON, DAVUTOGLU IN NEW YORK DISCUSS ARMENIA-TURKEY TIES

epress.am
09.20.2011 14:02

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu in New York on Monday discussed moves to normalize
Armenia-Turkey ties, AFP reports, without, however, providing further
details as to what conclusions the parties reached on this matter.

Clinton and Davutoglu met ahead of the UN General Assembly opening
Wednesday. The main topic of their discussion was mounting tension
between Turkey and Israel.

Clinton urged Turkey to defuse tension and repair strategic ties with
Israel as Washington values them both as allies, US officials said.

Washington has expressed mounting concern about the bitter row between
Turkey and Israel over a May 2010 Israeli commando raid on an aid
flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip that left nine Turks dead.

Clinton “made clear that this is not a time when we need more tension,
more volatility in the region,” a senior US official said on condition
of anonymity.

The chief US diplomat and Davutoglu met before US President Barack
Obama holds talks Tuesday with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan as they gather for the UN General Assembly.

Israel and Turkey have been locked in a bitter dispute since May 2010
when Israeli naval commandos stormed a convoy of six ships trying to
reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade.

Earlier this month, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador and froze
military ties and defense trade deals. Ties strained even further
when Erdogan threatened to send warships to escort any Turkish vessels
trying to reach Hamas-ruled Gaza.

The United Nations criticized Israel for using “excessive” force in
the 2010 raid, but upheld Israel’s right to impose a naval blockade
on Gaza. Israel has refused Turkish demands for an apology.

Apart from the Turkish-Israel dispute, Clinton and Davutoglu discussed
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on popular protests,
the revolution in Libya, and Somalia, officials said.

Israel is currently threatening to impose a series of measures against
Turkey, one of which is recognizing the Armenian Genocide.