Author: nina hovnanian

Safaryan: Turkey has again focused on Europe and Armenia

16:03 29/08/2014 >> POLITICS

We should not have great expectations from Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian’s visit to Turkey, at least in terms of the goals
Yerevan pursues,
says Founding President of the Armenian Institute of International and
Security Affairs Stepan Safaryan.

With Edward Nalbandian’s attendance at Turkey’s newly elected
President’s inauguration Yerevan is joining the West’s strategy
towards Turkey which we will see in the coming months, the expert told
reporters on Friday.

Speaking about Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s statement on
the Armenian and Cyprus issues, Safaryan said that it shows that
Turkey has again focused on Europe and Armenia.

Related: Armenian issue included in Davutoglu’s manifesto

Armenian FM hands Erdogan official invitation to visit Yerevan on April 24, 2015

Source: Panorama.am

Black Sea Silk Road Corridor Project web portal, app presented

14:58 29.08.2014

On August 29, AMAP Human Development NGO organized a sneak preview of
the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor (BSSRC) Project web portal and app at
the Erebuni museum. Participants included U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Heffern, Head of USAID/Armenia Karen Hilliard, and supporters and
colleagues of the AMAP NGO.

The presentation highlighted an important milestone in AMAP’s work on
the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor and the development of 21st century
social technologies to promote tourism in the local communities. The
public presentation of the web portal and the app will be held in
November 2014.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) and the European Union (EU), AMAP is the leading organization
in the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor project, a two year initiative
between five partners in Armenia, Georgia, Turkey and Greece. The
project fosters cross-border cooperation and economic development in
more than 173 communities along the corridor.

In addition to physically marking the corridor with signs and panels,
AMAP is creating a companion web portal and six smart-phone apps. For
the first time, visitors to this amazing region will have the IT tools
to self-navigate, visit cultural and natural sites and enjoy the
hospitality of local B&Bs, guest houses, craft artisans and other
essential services. Embedded within the apps are social networks and
SnapShot photos, an instant picture messenger.

Critical to the Project is the connection that is being built across
borders to connect tourists to local communities.With
multi-dimensionalinformation about each site on the corridor combined
with access to local services, financial resourcesare brought into
local (often rural) communities.

Other sponsors include the EU-Black Sea Cross Border Cooperation, the
Honorary Consul for Italy in Gyumri, the Armenian Travel Bureauand
Arminco Communications.

Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan transferred to third country

14:12 29/08/2014 >> SOCIETY

Hakob Injighulyan has been transferred to a third country, the
Armenian POW’s brother, Harutyun Injighulyan, told Panorama.am.

He said that the information was received from the Armenian Office of
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“It is not clear yet what country Hakob was transferred to,” he said,
adding that Hakob Injighulyan has not contacted his family so far.

Source: Panorama.am

Your move proves de-facto independence of Karabakh – Armenian
parliament official to Lithuanian MPs

14:39 * 30.08.14

A deputy speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly has praised the
members of the Lithuania-Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Parliamentary
Friendship Group for the initiative to collaborate with legislators of
the second Armenian republic.

Greeting the delegation led by Dalia Kuodite, the group’s chairperson,
Eduard Sharmazanov said the move really testifies to
Nagorno-Karabakh’s de-factoindependence. Ruling out any alternative to
the country’s recognition, the Armenian parliament official said he
expects the parliamentary collaboration to raise the understanding of
the real situation over Karabakh.

Sharmazanov noted that Lithuania was the first to recognize Armenia’s
independence and the only Baltic state to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide.

Considering the initiative to create the group quite a natural
process, Kuodite, for her part, stressed the importance of exercising
the people’s right to self-determination.

The sides further considered measures of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict based on the right to self-determination, and principles of
territorial integrity and non-use of force.

Canadian businesses stand to lose $600 million from Russian sanctions
– Global and Mail

YEREVAN, August 28. /ARKA/. It’s estimated that the recent sanctions
announced by Russia could wind up costing Canada $600 million per
year, according to The Globe and Mail, with some of the biggest blows
being felt by food exporters. Pork, shrimp, vegetable and dairy
exports are expected to feel the effects most acutely.

Jayson Myers, president and CEO of the trade group Canadian
Manufacturers and Exporters, told the national newspaper that these
sanctions often have a domino-like effect.

“There are a number of other sectors that this sends a signal to, and
they are concerned,” Myers told The Globe and Mail. “There are other
areas where we could be susceptible if this continues to escalate.”
Brad Nelson, general manager of Honey Bee Manufacturing, which is
based in Saskatchewan, added that sales in his industry don’t seem to
have felt the effects as of yet, but that’s subject to change.

“I’m always concerned about these things,” said Nelson in an interview
with Canada’s second-largest daily newspaper. “Sanctions start with
something and end up with something else.” -0–

Scandal in Turkish parliament as Erdogan sworn in

17:15, 28.08.2014

A scandal broke out during the inauguration ceremony of Turkey’s
president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Representatives of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)
protested inauguration of Erdogan by banging their fists on their
tables in the Turkish parliament, worldbulletin.net reported.

For his part Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek urged the opposition to
respect traditions of the state and parliament.

“We participate in the debates in every way and at every opportunity,
but today there is no chance of us doing so. You may participate or
you may not, but I will fulfil this inauguration,” he said.

Following his words, CHP member Engin Altay then threw a copy of the
parliament’s constitution at the Parliament Speaker’s face. After the
incident CHP members left the hall.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

Paruyr Hayrikyan. `They are sitting either busy with fortunetelling or
with toys of idle times.’

August 28 2014

`Turkey is moving toward democratization, while we, Armenians, are
talking about constitutional reforms, and actually lead the country
with inverted commas opposition to decline of democratization’, such
opinion was expressed by NDU leader, Paruys Hayrikyan, in the
conversation with Aravot.am, drawing parallels between the
presidential elections held in Turkey and the current situation in
Armenia. He noted that by constitutional reforms, actually, they want
to restrict the people’s right, the right to vote one or two times in
five years. To our question of whether negative developments are
expected in the Armenian-Turkish relations, given the fact that Gül is
perceived as more tolerant figure than ErdoÄ?an, Mr. Hayrikyan
responded as follows, `There is a talk, they say a toy of idle times.
Those expressing such an opinion are busy with it. These people, in
recent times, were the bearers of political power. How one can tell
that the same political power bearers should worsen or make something
better? Armenian-Turkish relations can be changed when one of the two
sides takes a step. While they are sitting either busy with
fortunetelling or with the toys of idle times.’

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at:

David Babayan: Recognition of NKR’s independence by California is
equivalent to recognition by a big and influential state

by Marianna Lazarian
Thursday, August 28, 16:11

Recognition of NKR’s independence by California Senate has completed
the process of NKR’s recognition by California, NKR President’s
Spokesperson David Babayan told ArmInfo.

He recalled that earlier the National Assembly of California
recognized the NKR. According to Babayan, it is a very important
step, as California is the biggest State by its population and
economic potential. In addition, California State is among the world’s
top seven biggest economies. “That is why, recognition of NKR by
California State is equivalent to recognition of our country by a big
and influential state. It is a milestone event. Nevertheless, we plan
expanding the geography of Artsakh’s recognition,” Babayan said.

The spokesperson said in NKR they are very encouraged with the given
news and very thankful to the people of California.

In addition, Babayan sees something symbolic in the given step, as the
Resolution was passed a few days ahead of NKR’s Independence Day
celebrated on 2 September.

“I think, the resolution also hints Azerbaijan that civilized unions,
countries and states simply cannot afford the policy of official Baku
and cannot bear the attempts of a fascist and feudal country to settle
the dispute with a democratic and civilized state by force,” Babayan
said.

He said that such a phenomenal result is achieved due to close
cooperation with Armenia and Diaspora. “It is a result of coordinated
and consolidated efforts,” Babayan said. The NKR president’s
spokesperson is sure that the given step will give a new impetus to
the NKR-California relations. As for Azerbaijan’s response to the
Resolution, Babayan called it predictable. “They realized that money
couldn’t decide everything. Azerbaijan’s propaganda is based on the
lie and bribes and has no power against values and moral principles
many countries and peoples adhere to. That is why Azerbaijan fell into
violent hysterics. They spend billions of dollars to blacken Nagorno
Karabakh, but it no longer works. I think, it is a kind of cry by a
drowning man who no one wants to save, because a country that has
entered the path on fascism will drown sooner or later,” Babayan said.

To recall, the California State Senate, led by incoming Senate
President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon, by an overwhelming majority of votes
on Wednesday passed Assembly member Mike Gatto’s resolution, AJR 32,
encouraging Artsakh’s (Nagorno Karabakh) continuing efforts to develop
as a free and independent nation and formally calling upon the upon
the President and Congress of the United States to support the self-
determination and democratic independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, reported the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region.

AJR 32 was adopted by the CA State Assembly in May 2014 by a sweeping
vote of 70 to 2 under the leadership of Speaker Emeritus John Perez.

Eight virtual labs to be established at Armenian schools

YEREVAN, August 28. / ARKA /. Eight virtual laboratories to teach
physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and geometry will be set up
soon at senior and secondary schools of Armenia, education and science
minister Armen Ashotyan said at a cabinet session today.

He said the purpose is to upgrade the teaching and learning of these
school subjects, as well as to compensate the lack of real
laboratories in some schools.

According to the minister, schoolchildren will use electronic
laboratories to apply their knowledge and experiences. -0-

Russian Ambassador: Investigation mechanisms needed in Karabakh conflict area

August 28, 2014 15:21

Russia welcomes any meetings aimed at settlement and peaceful
resolution of Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Ivan Volynkin told
reporters.

Asked whether Russian side will be consistent in investigation of the
death of Karen Petrosyan in Azerbaijan’s captivity, the diplomat said
it does not depend on the Russian side only. “An investigation must be
carried out in multilateral basis to involve all the parties.
Everything will depend on the arrangements that the parties will
reach. Investigation mechanisms should work well to reduce possible
risks of incidents,” Ambassador added. Earlier Russian Foreign
Ministry said they deeply regret the deaths caused by unsettled
Karabakh conflict.

Spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich said they consider it necessary to
conduct thorough investigations into such incidents. Karen Petrosyan,
a resident of Chinari village, was taken captive on August 7, and on
the next day Azerbaijani side reported about his death of “a heart
failure”. Armenian investigation committee has launched a criminal
case.

Artsakhpress.am