Author: nina hovnanian

HOW KARABAKH DEVASTATES RUSSIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 15 2014

15 August 2014 – 10:55am

By Yuri Glushkov exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

The trilateral talks of Presidents Vladimir Putin (Russia), Ilham
Aliyev (Azerbaijan) and Serzh Sargsyan (Armenia) in Sochi have not
been a breakthrough and only reduced military confrontation. No
one expected a breakthrough from Russian peacekeeping anyway. The
Russian president focused on pacifying the sides and demonstrating
the domination of Moscow in mediating efforts in the South Caucasus.

France had been trying to organize a meeting of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group since
mid-May. Washington tried to orient the meeting toward September
within the framework of a new session of the UN General Assembly. The
situation on the Karabakh front in mid-July intensified, Moscow
gathered Aliyev and Sargsyan for a meeting with Putin and prevented
a new war.

Russia may guarantee peace in Karabakh

What is the secret of such effective Russian diplomacy? Putin’s
rating in Baku and Yerevan is as high as in Russia. Armenians and
Azerbaijanis understand that countries thousands of kilometers away
from the South Caucasus cannot guarantee peace on their lands. Both
capitals say that the key to resolving the conflict is in Moscow. But
in this situation, additional confrontation in the South Caucasus is
absolutely out of place for Russia in the light of the Ukraine crisis.

Since the active peacekeeping of Dmitry Medvedev during his presidency,
the sides got used to top-level mediation of Russia, Putin’s move
was natural and logical for them. Russia does need long-term peace
in Karabakh and full-fledged regional economic cooperation.

Some media reported that Russia took advantage of the violence on
the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in July-August. Moscow was allegedly
trying to add fuel to the conflict to demonstrate the fragility of
energy communication to the West. Most of such ideas are spread by
Armenian mass media opposed to Armenia joining the Eurasian Union.

In reality, Russia is the party most interested in peace on its
borders, hence the determination and diplomatic pressure to calm the
sides. Pragmatism and common sense are why Russia wants to keep peace
and settle the conflict.

How much does Russia lose in Armenia?

It is no secret that the Armenian economy is devastated. It is in the
deepest crisis, isolated from the majority of regional trade because
of the unresolved Karabakh conflict. Armenia exported products worth
$1.5 billion and imported $4.5 billion worth in 2013, a red ink of
$3 billion. The same tendency can be seen this year.

Russia is the main sponsor of Armenia. Over $1.6 billion of cash
transfers from Armenians working in Russia were made in 2013. Only
$82.1 million were transferred from the U.S., about $250 million from
other countries. The sum of about $2 billion could cover only part of
the deficit. Other funds were received from Russia as a loan worth
$1 billion. Everyone understands that the Russian pocket is finite
and cannot patch the budget of another state, even an ally, for long.

Moreover, there is no payoff from invested money while the situation
in Russia is not very positive.

Assisting Armenia in joining the Customs Union and the Eurasian
Economic Union, is a complicated mission for Russia because Armenia
has no border with it. Armenia’s strives to join the structures
add pressure to Armenian economy and Russian business that controls
about half of Armenian economic potential. So, speaking of failure
of the Armenian economy, it is necessary to mention losses Russian
companies suffer and missing opportunities for profit in the format
of mass projects realized in the South Caucasus Region.

What does Russia have in Armenia

Russia’s Gazprom is not the only supplier of gas in Armenia (over 1
billion cubic meters a year). Its subsidiary ArmRosgazprom controls
its distribution in the country, largest power plants producing about
80% of electricity.

Russia’s largest state company Rosneft is in fact a monopolist in
supplying Armenia with petroleum products (about 350,000 tons a year),
considering that customs fees for Russian fuel were lifted in December
2013. Rosneft owns the control package of shares in Armenia’s largest
chemical facility Nairit. The Armenian industrial giant specializes in
production of synthetic rubber. The alliance of Rosneft and Italy’s
Pirelli should revive production. In December 2013, Rosneft, Pirelli
Tyre Armenia and Rosneft-Armenia signed a memorandum to form a joint
venture to produce rubber at Nairit. The ambitious project requires
$400 million of investments.

Mars is the largest Armenia radio-electronic enterprises built in the
Soviet times. Russia took control over it in 2002 as a payment for
the state debt. Mars specializes in development and implementation
of electronic equipment, production of items from non-ferrous metals
and plastic. Its assets are controlled by Sintroniks, a high-tech
concern of Sistema. Sintroniks Armenia, a subsidiary registered
in September 2009, manages other assets Sintroniks took control of
from Rosimushchestvo: the Yerevan Science and Research Institute of
Automatized Control Systems, NPPM, management of the free economic
zone they are located on.

Armenal is the only manufacturer of aluminum foil in the Caucasus and
Central Asia. It has been a property of Rusal since 2003 and became
one of the most eco-friendly aluminum factories of the world. Russia
is represented in the transportation sector: the Russian Railways got
concession of the Armenian Railway in 2008, it is still managed by
the South-Caucasus Railway. Investments of the Russian Railways total
$250 million. The South Caucasus Railway became a self-sufficient
enterprise only a few years ago. Borders of Turkey and Azerbaijan
closed for Armenia reduce freighting. In reality, the South Caucasus
Railway only freights to Georgia, where Ports Poti and Batumi can be
used to transport goods to Armenia. About 80% of Armenian products
pass Georgia, causing rejoice among Georgian freighters.

VTB, VEB and other banks have Armenian subsidiaries used to finance
projects of Russian companies in the country and transfer money of
Armenians from Russia.

How to make Armenian economy work

All the mentioned and unmentioned enterprises of Russia are inefficient
at a certain scale in Armenia. If status quo of the Karabakh crisis
remains, drain of employable population (the population of Armenia
is already below 3 million) will only intensify.

Making Armenian economy work is only possible by settling the conflict
with Azerbaijan.

De-occupation of districts will doubtlessly open borders of Turkey and
start economic cooperation with Azerbaijan. Baku has declared several
times that it wanted economic cooperation with Armenia after withdrawal
of its forces from Azerbaijani districts unrelated to Karabakh.

Russian business, as part of the Armenian economy, his big hopes for
that. Russian establishment understands well that inviting Armenia
to the Eurasian Union at this point does not make problems simpler
because Russia and Armenia have no common border. Speaking of Armenia’s
joining an integration structure together or without Karabakh is a
completely different story.

Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would give clear results
to Russia, in terms of economy. Unblocking transportation would have
an enormous synergetic effect on all sectors of the Armenian economy.

The South Caucasus Railway would be able to operate in Turkey and
Azerbaijan. Cargo sent by Russian suppliers to Armenia could be
delivered through Azerbaijan without the need for transshipment at
Russian and Georgian ports.

Evaluating potential gains of the Armenian railway can be made basing
on the following example: the South Caucasus Railway transported
about 3 million tons of cargo in 2013, the Georgian Railway used its
transit potential to transport 18 million tons of cargo of Azerbaijan
and other Caspian states. Connections with the Turkish railway system
would be an important addition for the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway
route. Transportation would improve efficiency of Armenal and the
Zangezur copper facility the control package of shares of which
belong to a German company. About half of the 3 million tons of cargo
transported by the South Caucasus Railway was copper and related goods.

Gazprom would gain an alternative opportunity to supply Armenia with
gas through Azerbaijan. Armenian energy companies controlled by the
Russian gas monopoly would gain access to the huge Turkish market that
needs electricity. Rosneft would have diversified oil shipments to
Armenia, deepening confidential strategic relations with the State
Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). Armenia’s Nairit
would have been launched using raw materials of Azerbaijan.

Settling the Karabakh conflict would allow realization of mentioned
and implicit projects with hundreds of thousands of workplaces for
the Armenian economy. Russia and Armenia would make billions. Changing
the logistical schemes alone would create new alternatives and markets
for sales, reducing expenses of companies and stimulating investment.

Yerevan’s politicians need to show political will and confirm their
determination to do good for their own people. Until then, Russian
business will continue counting expenses and losses from property
in Armenia.

PUTIN CAN RESPOND TO WAR, AND THE WEST KNOWS IT

Pravda, Russia
Aug 15 2014

15.08.2014

Many were expecting bellicose statements in the Yalta speech of Russian
President Vladimir Putin in connection with the Ukrainian crisis,
but the dominant word was “peace.” The speech was aimed for Western
audiences, that’s why there was no live broadcast of Putin’s speech.

Risks of being misunderstood were too high. The main message to
the West was: Russia will not be running around with as a razor,
waving the razor right and left. The West breathed out. This is
evidenced by stable quotations on the markets and quotes in the
media. “Restrained” Vladimir Putin’s speech in the Crimea, as well
as the convoy of humanitarian aid for the people of eastern Ukraine –
these are Russia’s attempt to demonstrate “more peaceful sentiment,”
an article in The Wall Street Journal said.

Surprisingly, the word ‘razor’ prompted an interesting analogy. A while
back, Barack Obama delivered a keynote speech at West Point, saying:
“Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem
is a nail.” He proposed to combine “military and diplomatic tools” and
mechanism of sanctions to ensure the US leadership in the world. Here
is what Putin said in Yalta: “The United States pulled out from the
Treaty on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms just like that,
and that was that. The Americans proceeded from interests of national
security,” Putin said. Putin offered to pull out from, for example,
jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

What is this if not sanctions and military and diplomatic tools?

Does it not seem that the leaders of the two nuclear powers (the only
ones capable of destroying each other with these weapons) have the
same concept of foreign policy?

“The fact that the words look the same does not mean that the
deeds are the same too, – Vladimir Yevseyev, director of the Center
for Public Policy Research told Pravda.Ru. – It would be wrong to
understand that Russia and the United States share a common vision
of applying armed forces in the world, because the United States is
now the dominant military power. For Americans, it is now vital to
ensure their military leadership in the world. To do this, the United
States has to maintain a significant number of military bases. Even
announcing the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the United
States is doing everything possible to stay in the west of the country,
where there is a basis for the production of drugs. Iran is close too,
and it is possible to put influence on nearby states from there as
well. Therefore, the United States, declaring its love for peace, is,
in fact, regrouping forces. It does not mean that the United States
is going to weaken its military pressure on a global scale.”

One shall agree that strategic objectives of the Russian Federation
and the United States are different, but tactical objectives are
almost identical, although the countries have come to that on
different ways. America is not the country that can conduct direct
wars on several fronts. Economy does not allow that, and the world is
different today – the world of the Internet and the polarization of
the world public opinion. As for Russia, it has gained enough strength
to promote herself to the position of an equal partner. Putin took
a correct position, answering sanctions to sanctions, warnings to
warnings, suggesting that he would answer the same way to other steps.

He can respond to war, and the West knows it.

Yet, it can be concluded that the United States and Russia have come
to understand: to carry out one’s interests, there are methods of
soft power, rather than direct intervention. And if they need to go
to war, they will fight through third countries or forces. Is it not
what the United States is doing in Ukraine, fighting by the hands of
ultra right nationalists against Russia? Is Russia at war against the
United States by the hands of Bashar al-Assad in Syria? The victory
of the Syrian president in the elections and the stabilization of
the situation is the first major defeat of the United States after
the collapse of the Soviet Union.

“The war is conducted not by regular armies, but by paramilitary
forces like militias, insurgents, opposition groups – strictly
speaking, non-state entities, – Mikhail Alexandrov, a leading expert
of military-political studies at MGIMO told Pravda.Ru. – Therefore,
we can proclaim the Islamic State of Iraq and Lebanon, Donetsk and
Lugansk People’s Republics. They rely on local population and receive
help from outside. This form of war is more and more prevalent now.”

Putin will force the West to sit down to negotiate in December,
when Poroshenko is no longer able to follow Russia-must-enter-the-war
instructions. In winter, sanctions, the economic crisis and bankruptcy,
as well as massive riots among the population will make the West take
the opinions of the South-East of Ukraine into consideration.

If direct military competition is ruled out, it is logical to assume
that covert struggle will unfold for promoting one’s own interests.

Primarily, on global deterrent – nuclear weapons. Thus, the Americans
will continue to insist that Russia should cut strategic nuclear
weapons – to 1,000-1,100 warheads – more than the START-3 Treaty
stipulates. An ICBM is the only weapon in the hands of Russia to deter
USA’s aggression. The Russian leader has repeatedly stated before
that Russia could take such a step only if the Americans solve the
problem of the US missile defense system. Otherwise, the Americans
would be able to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles in the event
of an American nuclear attack against Russia.

According to Obama, the USA and its allies made it possible for
residents of Ukraine to choose their own future. The US needs partners
that will confront terrorism side by side with Americans. Putin does
not make such calls to Russian allies, although there the CSTO. For
the United States, an ally is the one, who attacks together with
the USA. A Russian ally is the one that needs to be protected. For
example, in Iraq, the United States now calls for alliance with Iran
against the Islamic Caliphate, which previously, as the “Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant” was an ally of the United States in
Syria against Assad. A year ago, Iran was seriously considered as a
target for pin-point strikes.

Russia lobbies Armenia as a Customs Union member, as Armenia needs to
be protected from Azerbaijan in the framework of the CSTO, although
the CSTO obtains no economic benefits from this. Russia has always
defended the Slavs, the Orthodox, Serbia, for which it was involved
in the First World War. When Yeltsin was in power, one may recall
an accelerated march in Bosnia. Today, Russia and Serbia have a free
trade zone, although the pro-Western Serbian government is going to
join the EU and NATO.

But this is a civilizational problem of Russia, which allies has
always been its own army and navy. Maybe this is not a problem at all?

Maybe this is the way it should be?

Lyuba Lulko Pravda.Ru

INFLUENTIAL ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN LEVON AIRAPETYAN TO REMAIN IN DETENTION

RAPSI
Aug 15 2014

MOSCOW, August 15 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court on Friday upheld
the detention of 65-year-old Levon Airapetyan, deemed to be one of
the wealthiest Armenian businessmen, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

Airapetyan is suspected of taking part in the sale of Bashneft
oil company in April 2009. The company headed by that time by Ural
Rakhimov, the son of Bashkortostan President Murtaza Rakhimov, was
sold to subsidiaries of investment holding company AFK Sistema.

Airapetyan was charged with embezzlement and money laundering.

Earlier the court arrested Bashneft stake worth 300 million rubles
(over $8.3 million).

His attorneys requested that Airapetyan be released from detention on
a no-exit pledge, recognizance of no-leave or a 30 million ruble (over
$830,000) bail. A number of celebrities, including stage directors
Mark Zakharov and Alexander Shirvindt, as well as the Head of the
Armenian Apostolic Church in Russia, suggested bailing him out.

Airapetyan took part in the court hearings via videoconference from
Moscow’s Matrosskaya Tishina detention center. He said that he didn’t
feel well and asked that the application be heard in absentia, but
the court ruled that his presence was necessary.

According to investigators, Airapetyan has dual citizenship and
owns real estate abroad. Notably, he has spent a lot of time in
Monaco lately.

Gulen-Linked Schools in Calif. to be Investigated by State

Friday, August 15th, 2014

Magnolia Science Academy 6 in Palms is one of the schools cited for
financial mismanagement

SACRAMENTO, LOS ANGELES–The Joint Legislative Audit Committee on
Thursday approved a statewide audit of the Magnolia Science Academies
of California, which runs 12 tax payer-funded charter schools in the
state that have ties to the Gueln Institute, affiliated to the Turkish
cleric Fettulah Gulen.

The audit, requested by State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, brings
forth major concerns of misappropriation of tax payer funds of the 12
Magnolia charter schools and their parent company, the Magnolia
Education and Research Foundation (MERF).

In August of 2012, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD),
Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) audit on Magnolia Science
Academies revealed major irregularities and misappropriation of funds
for two of eight Magnolia Charter Schools in their jurisdiction;
Magnolia Charter Schools number 6 and 7. In March of 2014, the LAUSD
granted a conditional renewal of the Charter agreements, with
reauthorization pending the results of the OIG’s findings.

“Charter Schools play an important role in the public education system
by delivering a high quality education to our students. I am deeply
troubled that public education funds are being abused by the Magnolia
Academies. It was important to bring this request forward to ensure
that our tax payer dollars aren’t being misspent, at the expense of
the students, and the taxpayers who support public education.” said
Nazarian.

The audit, which doesn’t have an official start date, will take 7-10
months to complete.

On June 27, the Los Angeles Unified School District issued findings
indicating that Magnolia Charter School Academy 6 and 7’s conditional
renewal were rescinded based on material fiscal and operational
findings and fiscal mismanagement based on a forensic review of the
schools and Magnolia Educational and Research Foundation. Magnolia
sought a preliminary injunction to block the District from
implementing the nonrenewal of the two schools.

During a July 25 hearing, Judge Luis A. Lavin granted the injunction
in order to not disrupt the student community, but ordered a strict
investigation into the finances of the MERF and the Magnolia schools.

The LAUSD said it viewed Judge Lavin’s protective orders as
affirmation of the serious conditions the District faced with
Magnolia. “Our primary concern has always been the students who attend
Magnolia,” Superintendent John E. Deasy said. “While it is never an
easy decision to disrupt a school community, Magnolia’s fiscal
mismanagement and serious fiscal issues gave the District no choice.
Now that Judge Lavin has provided these additional protective
measures, the schools can remain intact while the administrative
appeals process reaches its inevitable conclusion.”

Throughout the hearing on the preliminary injunction, Judge Lavin
repeatedly indicated that the preliminary injunction is in no way a
ruling on the merits of whether Magnolia should continue to operate. A
trial setting conference will be held on October 14, 2014, and a
hearing on the merits will be set sometime in January 2015.

If Magnolia fails to comply with any of the conditions outlined above,
LAUSD can petition the court on an ex parte motion to dissolve the
preliminary injunction.

On the national level, Gulen-affiliated schools have come under
investigation for questionable financial practices, to filling teacher
positions with often unqualified people brought in from Turkey.

Gulen-affiliated charter schools in Arizona, Louisiana, Pennsylvania,
Texas and New Jersey have been under investigation by the FBI since
2011.

Al-Jazeera, Qatar
Aug 16 2014

Armenia mulls joining Russia-led trading bloc

Many Armenians worry membership of the Eurasian Economic Custom Union
would lead to higher prices for European imports.

The government of Armenia is considering joining the Russia-backed
trading bloc, the Eurasian Economic Custom Union, leaving many
Armenians worried over possible price rices.

If it does join the bloc – which currently includes Russia,
Kazakhstan, and Belarus – Armenia said it would continue to allow
imports from the US and the EU.

The country’s largest trading partner is the EU, but Armenia backed
out of talks to join the union last year.

Al Jazeera’s Robin Forestier-Walker reports from Yerevan.

L’ARMENIE, DETENTRICE DU TITRE, TERMINE A LA 8EME PLACE DES OLYMPIADES DES ECHECS A TROMSO (NORVEGE)

ECHECS

L’Armenie, triple championne des Olympiades des echecs n’est pas sur
le podium des 41ème Olympiades qui viennent de se derouler a Tromso en
Norvège. Au terme du 11ème et dernier tour, l’Armenie a termine avec
16 points a la 8ème place au classement. Le titre fut remporte par la
Chine (19 points) devant la Hongrie (17 points) et l’Inde (17 points).

La Russie est 4ème. L’equipe d’Armenie composee par le numero deux
mondial Levon Aronian, Gabriel Sarkissian, Sergueï Movsissian et
Vladimir Hagopian etait detentrice du titre remporte en 2012 a
Istanbul. L’Armenie avait egalement remporte les Olympiades a Turin
(2006) et Dresde (2008). L’Armenie, pour les raisons politiques que
l’on sait, ne participera probablement pas aux Olympiades 2016 qui
se derouleront a Bakou.

Lors de ces Olympiades des echecs de Tromso, la belle surprise fut
enregistree chez les femmes où l’Armenie s’est classee a la 5ème place
derrière la Russie, l’Ukraine, la Chine et la Georgie. La performance
d’Elina Danielian, Lilit Mkrtchian, Lilit Galoyan et Maria Kursova
est a saluer dans cette competition très relevee.

Krikor Amirzayan

vendredi 15 août 2014, Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

12 ARMENIAN FAMILIES MOVE TO ARMENIA FROM UKRAINE

11:23 15/08/2014 >> SOCIETY

12 Armenian families have moved to Armenia from Ukraine amid the
ongoing crisis in that country, a source in the Armenian Diaspora
Ministry told Panorama.am.

The source also said that several thousands of Ukrainian Armenian
families have moved to Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia’s Public Chamber said on Thursday that around a million refugees
from south-eastern Ukraine are currently staying in Russia.

Source: Panorama.am

CONGRESS MEMBERS CHARGE ALIYEV REGIME WITH KARABAKH ESCALATION

Published: Friday August 15, 2014

Karabakh Defense Army soldier Norayr Kamalyan was wounded on July 31
as he engaged Azerbaijani army personnel in hand-to-hand combat.

Razm.info

WASHINGTON – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), amid
growing Congressional opposition to Baku’s escalating aggression,
is calling directly upon the Obama Administration for U.S. leadership
in stopping Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s march toward war.

The ANCA’s Aram Hamparian and Kate Nahapetian, on August 8th, held a
frank and open discussion with Ambassador James Warlick, the Department
of State’s mediator for Nagorno Karabakh, to press the U.S.

government to meaningfully challenge and materially constrain
?Azerbaijan’s reckless march toward war. During this meeting, the
Ambassador was given a letter from ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, which
noted that “President Aliyev’s most recent wave of fatal cross-border
attacks against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh has cost dozens of lives
and seriously undermined the vital work of the OSCE Minsk Group.”

Hachikian warned that: “All indications are that, unless stopped,
this undemocratic and unaccountable dictator will act on his threats
to start a full-scale Caucasus war, one that will visit vast death
and destruction upon all the peoples of the region, likely leading to
a wider and even more dangerous conflict.” He closed by stressing
that: “With sufficiently strong American leadership, the Minsk
Group can get the peace process back on track, by unequivocally
condemning Azerbaijan’s military attacks and then by leading an
international campaign to secure Baku acceptance of OSCE proposals,
already backed by Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, to pull-back
snipers and add observers.” The full letter is available online:

“We join with Armenian Americans and all those around the world who
seek peace in thanking Members of Congress for seeking to restrain
President Aliyev’s aggression and reverse Azerbaijan’s march toward
war,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

Among the recent Congressional expressions of concern on this topic
are the following:

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA): “I am deeply saddened by the recent reports
of escalated violence on the Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia border and
the deaths of several Armenian and Azeri soldiers. I am taken aback
by Azerbaijan’s attacks on Red Cross staff in a border village in
Armenia and Baku’s decision to use sniper rifles in this conflict
after several years of respecting the decision by both sides to
refrain from doing so. It is my sincere hope that Azerbaijan will
abstain from further sniper attacks and instead engage in meaningful
resolution talks with Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI): “I am deeply troubled by the resurgence
of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh and hope Armenia and Azerbaijan can
find a resolution to restore peace. I strongly condemn the use of
sniper attacks by the Azerbaijani government, which is in direct
violation of the cease-fire agreement and international law, and am
appalled by reports that Azerbaijan forces attacked a Red Cross envoy.

This continued aggression will only bring unrest and risks jeopardizing
a cease-fire agreement that was put in place over 20 years ago. As
both Presidents Sarkisian and Aliyev prepare to travel to Russia,
I hope Azerbaijan will agree to stop these attacks to defuse the
escalating violence and prevent the further loss of life.”

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) [Tweet]: “I’m deeply concerned about incidents
of violence against Nagorno-#Karabakh by #Azerbaijan. A long-term
solution requires peace & diplomacy.”

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA): “For two decades, the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh have lived with constant threats and sniper fire from
Azerbaijan, which seeks to reassert control over the overwhelmingly
Armenian population of the region. Last week, Azeri forces again
attacked across the Line of Contact, resulting in casualties on
both sides. This latest resort to violence must be condemned in the
strongest terms, and America should call upon the Azeri government
to withdraw its forces and renounce the use of snipers, especially
against civilians, and all American military assistance should be
suspended until Azerbaijan does so.”

“Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev
plan to meet starting tomorrow, but if their talks are to have
any chance of bearing fruit, President Aliyev is going to adopt a
sharply different tone from his remarks of late, when he asserted that
Azerbaijan had the means to destroy ‘any facility in Nagorno-Karabakh’
and again trumpeted his country’s military prowess.”

“Since breaking free of a regime that encouraged violence and pogroms
against its Armenian Christian citizens, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh
have sought to build democracy and a market economy at home. Baku has
responded with an oil-boom funded military build-up and a campaign
of bellicose rhetoric and has so imbued its citizens with blood lust
against Armenians, that an Azeri army captain who beheaded a sleeping
Armenian colleague during a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise was
treated as a hero and promoted to major after his transfer from
a Hungarian prison in 2012. Now is the time for the Minsk Group
to assert itself in this long-running and increasingly dangerous
dispute. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to determine
their own future, free from Azeri threats and violence, and they also
have the right to go about their lives without fear of being shot in
the back by a sniper.”

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA): “The increased military aggression
by Azerbaijan toward Armenians and its use of snipers to shoot at
Armenian civilians and even the International Committee of the Red
Cross in Armenia must be condemned. These actions by Azerbaijan are
violations of international law and a long-standing ceasefire. Against
all odds, the Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh have succeeded in
creating a democratic society that upholds peace and justice. They
have fought back against attacks to their society and for their very
right to exist. The international community must stand with them to
stop Azerbaijan’s march toward war.”

Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA) [Tweet]: “Saddened by deaths of Armenian
& Azeri troops & attacks on RedCross staff. I hope for no further
violence & for peace & diplomacy in future.”

The ANCA has organized a #StopAliyev social media campaign that has
attracted widespread interest and support.

Chairman Royce statement on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh

On August 14, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the
escalation of violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh region:

“Azerbaijan’s violation of the ceasefire agreement along the border
with Nagorno-Karabakh is deeply disturbing. The resulting escalation of
military activity along the line of contact has cost the lives of over
a dozen Armenian and Azeri young men. A ceasefire is needed to protect
further loss of life and escalation. The Obama Administration should
act to encourage the restoration of a ceasefire, press Azerbaijan
to withdraw snipers from the line of contact, and promote a peace
plan that includes a date certain of a referendum for the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh to decide their own future.”

In April, Rep. Royce led a bipartisan delegation to Armenia where it
commemorated the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENIA TO INCREASE ITS STOCK IN “ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN MINE COMPANY”

YEREVAN, August 15. /ARKA/. Armenia will replenish its capital in the
Armenian-Russian Mine Company cjsc, minister of energy and natural
resources Yervand Zakharyan said at a government meeting on Thursday.

The government made a decision to allow the ministry signing an
agreement to increase the authorized stock in the ARMC.

The government share is to increase by 95,295,600 drams at the expense
of the equities and a payment for geological prospecting is envisaged,
Zakharyan said.

The ARMC was founded on a parity basis. Its authorized stock was
989.5 million drams as of January 1, 2014. The Russian investor said
it wanted to invest an additional of almost 95.3 million drams for
further development of the company.

Armenian-Russian Mining Company was established in September 2008,
initiated by the government of Armenia, through negotiations with
Russian Atomredmetzoloto for exploration of uranium mines in Armenia.

The Russian side allocated 3 million dollars for exploration of
uranium mines. ($1 – 411.32 drams). -0–

SIXTH ‘ARENI’ WINE FESTIVAL TO OPEN IN VAYOTS DZOR OF ARMENIA ON OCTOBER 1

YEREVAN, August 14. /ARKA/. The sixth ‘Areni’ wine festival will be
held in Vayots Dzor of Armenia on October 1-5, the governor of Vayots
Dzor region Edgar Ghazaryan said.

At a press conference on Wednesday the governor suggested citizens
planning a vacation for these five days and spend it with families
and colleaugues in Vayots Dzor.

The festival will take place in five winemaking communities of
the region – Malishka, Yelpin, Rind, Areni and Yeghegnadzor, where
people will have a chance to taste local wines, get involved in grapes
picking, participate in crops festivities, games and performances. The
list of guest houses ready to host tourists is available on the
regional administration’s website, Ghazaryan said.

The governor also said a service will be conducted at Noravank
monastery and a grapes blessing ceremony will be held afterwards on
August 17, the Assumption Day.

Head of “Areni” Fund Nune Manukyan said the festival is gaining
popularity in the world and it will be filmed by Travel Gate American
channel this year.

Manukyan said they are happy wine sales have kept increasing since
the first festival and people give up vodka and are back to wine.

Manukyan also said this year the traditional wine contest within
the festival will be judged by an American sommelier who has already
confirmed his participation. Sommeliers from France and Germany are
also expected to participate, she said. -0–