Author: nina hovnanian

NKR PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED THE JOURNALISTS WHO HAD ARRIVED IN ARTSAKH

Monday, 29 July 2013 12:19

For several years, the NKR Ministry of Defense has organized trips
of the media representatives of Armenia and Artsakh to the army units
and defensive lines.

These days, some media representatives were guests of Artsakh. On
July 25, NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan received the journalists
and answered their questions.

Ara Harutyunyan noted the importance of such initiatives, stressing
that the media is a mediator-link between the society and the
authorities. The media representatives can play a significant role
in presenting the real situation, noted the Prime Minister. The
journalists’ questions related to the economic policy and economic
situation in the NKR, the cooperation between the governments of
Artsakh and Armenia and the sentiments in both Armenian states.

The journalists could not help but ask about the reasons preventing
the operation of the Stepanakert airport and about the prospects in
case of its operation. The Prime Minister chose not to go into the
details of the reasons; as for the prospects, he noted that the launch
of the airport would ensure significant progress, first of all, in the
tourism sphere, which would positively affect other spheres. Also,
the program of water supply, the funds spent for this and the poor
quality of water were touched upon.

Mr. Harutyunyan noted that over 18 billion AMD had been spent for
this program and a new water system had been built. The works are in
progress, since filter stations should be put into operation.

According to the Premier, significant changes have taken place in
Stepanakert: 90% of the town is provided with round-the-clock water
supply, and the water quality will be improved upon the completion
of the works.

A question about the Syrian Armenians migrated to Artsakh was asked.

The Prime Minister noted that many of them were experienced farmers
and they formed a new culture in land cultivation of Artsakh, growing
new trees and plants. The journalists asked about the mechanisms of
control over the state procurement and government programs on opposing
the increase in the price of gas, tax policy, etc.

Parallels were drawn between the economic policies of the RA and the
NKR. The media representatives asked about the opinion of the Prime
Minister of the Republic of Artsakh on the policy of the RA Government.

Mr. Harutyunyan noted that many program-, legislative and other legal
actions in the NKR are implemented, basing on the experience of the
Republic of Armenia, as we are located in a single legislative and
economic field.

The Prime Minister considers that the tax field of Artsakh is quite
soft, compared with that of the RA. But, in his opinion, it should
comply with the tax field of Armenia to avoid any problems at the
negotiations. Another thing is that preferential mechanisms should
be elaborated for investors in Artsakh as a risk zone. Answering
the questions on the expected increase in pensions and salaries in
2014, Ara Harutyunyan noted that they would be equal to those in the
RA. As for the Karabakh conflict settlement, the Premier expressed
his personal point of view, noting that the region’s status quo can
be maintained for decades. And no matter how much weapons Azerbaijan
purchases, the NKR Defense Army is able to ensure our security. “First
of all, we should think about the development of the RA and the NKR,
improvement of the democratic situation, and solution of urgent
issues”, concluded Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan.

Srbuhi VANIAN

AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY HAS NO BEARING ON KARABAKH

09:29 02/08/2013 ” COMMENTS

Noyan Tapan news agency recently interviewed Armenia’s Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan, in which the minister
spoke about Azerbaijan and the Karabakh negotiations, according
to Asbarez.com.

NOYAN TAPAN: How would you comment on the statements from the president
of Azerbaijan at a military parade in which he claimed that Armenia
is afraid of Azerbaijan’s military expenditure?

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN: This neurotic proclamation, which is an attempt
to present a pipe dream as reality, is just another failed attempt by
the Azerbaijani government to hide its own fear and panic over the
inescapable prospect of losing its authoritarian grip as a result
of growing discontent in the country. Continuous publications about
exaggerated military expenses and glorifications of the military on
a daily basis, especially while close to presidential elections, are
intended to distract domestic public attention from the huge wealth
of the ruling family of Azerbaijan, which has been obtained by the
unsparing plundering of the state and population.

N.T.: How do you assess the statements from Baku that Karabakh and
Armenia are located on Azerbaijani territories and that Armenians
are newcomers in the region?

S.K.: The fact that it has been less than one hundred years that a
country named Azerbaijan appeared on the world map renders it funny
that Azerbaijan would deny references from historians as far back as
the likes of Strabo, Plutarch and many others. On the other hand,
the official historiography of Turkey accepts that Turks came to
our region from Central Asia. The leadership of Azerbaijan, which
describes its relations with Turkey with the phrase “one nation,
two states,” in fact admits that the nation, which got the name
“Azerbaijani” only in the 1930’s, is a newcomer nation in this region.

There is nothing insulting about that and one shouldn’t be ashamed
of it. But it is shameful to cut a people off from their roots and
falsify their history.

Such ridiculous statements from Baku only prove that both foreign
and internal politics in Azerbaijan are totally based on lies and
falsification. Azerbaijani propaganda even tries to attribute massacres
organized by themselves in Khojali to Armenians. It seems to Baku that
the Azerbaijani leadership can avoid responsibility for the cruel mass
killings of Armenians in Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad and other places in
Azerbaijan simply by using falsified propaganda on the Khojali tragedy.

The president of Azerbaijan declares that Armenians are their number
one enemy. In truth, the main enemy of Azerbaijan is its government.

For Azerbaijan’s hereditary regime, the words “Armenian” and “the
truth” have become synonymous. Any criticism by international
organizations and individuals about the rampant corruption and
pervasive violations of basic human rights in the country are
considered a result of the activities of Armenians and pro-Armenian
groups.

N.T.: You mentioned Turkey, which supports Azerbaijan’s position in
the Karabakh issue and denies the Armenian Genocide. How do you assess
the possibility of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations from
this perspective?

S.K.: Turkey is not consistent in its foreign policy. In defiance of
the letter and the spirit of the Armenian-Turkish protocols signed
in Zurich, Ankara supports the unrealistic intentions of Azerbaijan
and contributes to Baku’s rigid, narrow-minded position, creating
obstacles for both the progress of the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation
process and for the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. In
contrast, Armenia is consistent in all directions of its foreign
policy. We have been and are supporters of unconditional normalization
of relations with Turkey. So the ball is in Turkey’s court.

N.T.: Recently, meetings with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
have become more frequent and after every meeting, Azerbaijan declares
that the conflict must be resolved in the scope of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. To what extent do those announcements reflect
the negotiations process?

S.K.: First of all, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has nothing
to do with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. As for the negotiations
with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group, Azerbaijan has accepted
the Madrid documents as a basis for negotiations. The principles and
elements of the Madrid documents, which were made public by the heads
of the OSCE Minsk Group, should be considered as an integrated whole
and no element should be emphasized over another.

This was reaffirmed in the joint statement given by the Presidents
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries on June 18, 2013.

Azerbaijan, in contradiction with the UN charter, the principles
and elements of the Madrid documents, and the negotiation process,
tries to attach prevalence to the principle of territorial integrity,
totally ignoring the other principles that it has accepted, which
dictate that the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh should be
determined through a legally binding expression of will.

The attempts of Azerbaijan to present the negotiations process in a
distorted and selective way, to falsely present the essence of the
issues and the reasons of the conflict, to diminish the efforts of the
OSCE Minsk Group, and to obstruct the progress of the negotiations
process are useless. Despite the desperate efforts of Azerbaijan,
the conflict will be resolved in the framework of the right to
self-determination for the people of Artsakh and in the framework of
responsibility for the consequences of Azerbaijani aggression against
self-determined Artsakh.

SELON UN EXPERT : LE PRIX DE REVIENT POUR VOYAGER EN MINIBUS A EREVAN EST DE 90 DRAMS

ARMENIE

Le coût d’un voyage en minibus a Erevan est de 90 drams, selon Babken
Pipoyan, fondateur et president de l’organisation non gouvernementale
“consommateurs informes et proteges”.

Il a declare aux journalistes que l’organisation avait fait ses
propres calculs bases sur le modèle de calcul classique pour le
transport avec plus de dix arrets.

” Les Minibus sont destines a 14 passagers, mais il est connu, et
les proprietaires des lignes ne le cachent pas, que les minibus sont
toujours surcharges “, a-t-il dit.

” Tenant compte du fait qu’un minibus transporte 21 passagers, le
coût de revient est de 90 drams.”

Pipoyan a egalement declare que le tarif des minibus comprend
egalement des interets sur les emprunts contractes par les entites
economiques pour acquerir des minibus et les coûts d’amortissement,
qui sont surestimes.

Pipoyan a egalement souligne qu’il n’avait pas inclus les services
techniques dans ses calculs, meme s’ils sont necessaires pour des
vehicules bien entretenus et conserves dans des conditions ideales.

“Je serai heureux, si les roues, pièces de rechange et les huiles sont
remplaces aussi souvent que necessaire et les reparations effectuees
periodiquement “, a-t-il ajoute.

vendredi 2 août 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LA BERD A INVESTI ENVIRON 620 MILLIONS D’EUROS EN ARMENIE

ARMENIE

La Banque europeenne pour la reconstruction et le developpement (BERD)
a investi environ 620 millions d’euros dans divers projets en Armenie
depuis ses debuts en 1992 a precise le responsable du bureau d’Erevan
de la BERD Valeriu Razlog lors d’une manifestation speciale marquant
le 10e anniversaire de la BERD en Armenie. Il a dit qu’environ la
moitie de la somme – quelque 310 millions d’euros ont ete achemines
dans le financement du secteur bancaire.

Par ailleurs, 25% des investissements de la BERD a servi a financer le
secteur des transports, en particulier, la modernisation de l’aeroport
d’Erevan et les postes de douane, 15% ont ete utilises pour financer
une serie de projets dans le secteur de l’energie, en particulier
dans le domaine des energies renouvelables, y compris le soutien a
25 petites centrales hydroelectriques, ainsi que le transport et la
distribution d’electricite.

Selon Valeriu Razlog, les 10% restants du total des investissements
ont ete alloues aux secteurs prive et public, en particulier, pour
la reconstruction du metro d’Erevan, des système d’irrigation ainsi
que pour l’industrie alimentaire. La BERD est l’un des plus grands
investisseurs en Armenie.

vendredi 2 août 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

SNOWDEN GRANTED 1-YEAR ASYLUM IN RUSSIA, LEAVES AIRPORT

Thursday,August 01

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been granted temporary asylum
in Russia and is allowed to enter the country’s territory, Russia
Today reported.

The whistleblower has been granted temporary political asylum in
Russia, Snowden’s legal representative Anatoly Kucherena said.

“I have just handed over to him papers from the Russian Immigration
Service. They are what he needs to leave the transit zone,” he added.

Kucherena showed the document to the press. According to it, Snowden
is free to stay in Russia until at least July 31, 2014. His asylum
status may be extended annually upon request.

Snowden departed at around 15.30 Moscow time (11.30 GMT), airport
sources said. His departure came some 30 minutes before his new
refugee status was officially announced.

His present location has not been made public nor will it be disclosed,
Kucherena said.

“He is the most wanted person on earth and his security will be a
priority,” the attorney explained. “He will deal with personal security
issues and lodging himself. I will just consult him as his lawyer.”

Snowden eventually intends to talk to the press in Russia, but needs
at least one day of privacy, Kucherena said.

The whistleblower was unaccompanied when he left the airport in a
regular taxi, Kucherena added.

However, WikiLeaks contradicted the lawyer, saying the organization’s
activist Sarah Harrison accompanied Snowden.

TODAY, 16:49

Aysor.am

ANKARA STRONGLY CONDEMNS OF SHOOTING OF TURKISH SHEPHERD BY ARMENIAN BORDER GUARDS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Aug 1 2013

1 August 2013 /TODAYSZAMAN.COM, Ä°STANBUL

Ankara has said shooting of Turkish shepherd by Armenian border guards
is nothing but excessive use of force against an unarmed civilian,
warning Yerevan of dire consequences of wrong moves that may endanger
regional stability and peace.

Turkey strongly condemned the incident with a released statement.

Turkish Foreign Ministry called on Armenia to act with restraint
to avoid another tragic incident similar to death of a shepherd,
Mustafa Ulker, who crossed the Armenian border to retrieve his lost
sheep and was shot dead by Armenian border guards on Thursday.

Ankara said it has launched diplomatic initiatives to investigate
the incident. The body of the shepherd was brought to Turkey late
on Thursday.

Turkey stated that Armenia used escessive force in the recent case
and killed an unarmed civilian, ignoring the fact that such crossing
does not pose any threat to national security of the country.

The incident yet again highlighted the need for commonsense in Armenian
relations with its neighbors for normalization and sustainable peace
in the volatile region, the statement concluded.

TSAGHKADZOR AND DILIJAN DEVELOP ECOTOURISM

19:45, 1 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: Steps are being implemented for
developing ecotourism in Tsaghkadzor and Dilijan.

“Armenpress” was informed about this from mayors of Armenian touristic
cities. “Municipality together with “Dilijan” national park” developed
ways which will be used by tourists. “Bicycle services also operate,”
said mayor of Dilijan Armen Santrosyan. He assured that private
sector is also interested in tourism sphere and there is a readiness
of making serious investments.

In Tsaghkadzor also steps are implemented in that direction,
particularly in part of organizing mountain camps by youth. “On
August 20 we plan to climb the mountains and clean the territory,”
informed the mayor of Tsaghkadzor Arthur Harutyunyan.

Tourism growth temps in Dilijan are kept the same and it introduces
interest for both foreign people and Armenians especially for
population of the capital. In case of Tsaghkadzor and Sevan the
situation is different. The inflows decreased here. In Sevan the
number of resting people decreased because of price increases and bad
weather. In case of Tsaghkadzor and Sevan great inflow of tourists
is expected in August and September.

YEREVAN’S BUS FARE PROTESTS: A TIMELINE

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Christian Garbis in Featured, Headline, News

July 18: Fares for public transportation by bus or minibus
are scheduled to increase from 100 to 150 dram. The owners of
48 companies operating privatized transportation routes had filed
petitions with the Yerevan municipality to increase the fares, citing
high maintenance costs and price increases in liquefied gas imported
from Russia, which is used to fuel minibuses. Electric trolley bus
routes, favored by senior citizens because of the cheaper fare,
will also go up from 50 to 100 dram. The fare hike is the first in
well over a decade. The announcement is made by Henrik Navasardyan,
head of the Yerevan Municipality’s Department of Transportation.

1×1.trans Yerevan’s Bus Fare Protests: A Timeline Photo by Anush
Khachatryan

July 19: Young activists protesting against the slated price increase
congregate in front of Yerevan City Hall. Protesters at one point are
seen throwing 50-dram coins in the direction of the main entrance,
which is heavily guarded by policemen. One coin accidentally lands
on the head of Mayoral Advisor Albert Gevorgyan while he is talking
to journalists.

July 20: The new fare prices go into effect. Three young activists,
Davit Haroutyunyan, Sona Msryan, and Arsen Ohanyan, are detained for
passing out flyers that call on commuters to refuse to pay the new
fare. At bus stops, protesters tape flyers to the windshields and
windows of buses instructing people to continue paying the 100-dram
fares. They also hand them out to passengers when buses pull up at
bus stops. Announcements are made with bullhorns urging citizens to
continue paying the same fare. Activists claim that the new fares are
unjustified since the bus routes are owned by government officials or
individuals with close ties to the government, and are thus lucrative
businesses.

July 22: The citywide protests continue to gain followers. More
activists are detained. Celebrities who sympathize with the movement
begin offering free rides to people waiting at bus stops. Bus drivers
continue to accept the 100-dram fares, some begrudgingly, as reports of
quarrels with passengers come online. The social media, specifically
Facebook, is being used as a main channel for creating awareness and
disseminating information about the situation on the ground.

July 23: Protesters face resistance from riot police, and six more
activists are detained. They are released shortly after hundreds of
people swarm in front of the police headquarters. Small protests
continue at bus stops throughout the city center. Meanwhile,
Hetq Online publishes an article claiming that Navasardyan owns a
Yerevan bus route, and that one of his sons runs a company that sells
advertising space on public transportation vehicles. The news story
stirs even more controversy and outrage.

The movement’s name, “I Will Only Pay 100 Dram,” is revealed with
the announcement of a rally scheduled at Mashtots Park-a symbolic
site of civic protest.

July 24: An innovative carpooling initiative goes online on a new
website called freecar.am, where motorists who have spare seating
offer their services to people who cannot afford to pay the new fares.

(As of July 28, 269 drivers have signed up.)

Karen Andreasyan, an Armenian human rights defender, in a statement
putting pressure on Yerevan Mayor Taron Markaryan, says that the price
hike is unjustifiable without public debates and a signed order by
the mayor instating the new fare. Markaryan himself announces that
he signed the order on July 19, only one day before the new fare
price went into effect. Per Armenian law, it is illegal to put new
directives into force without prior notice.

Purported overtures made by the Heritage and Prosperous Armenia Parties
to lend sponsored support to the movement are rejected by its leaders.

July 25: In a move signaling the understanding that the civic movement
has no political undertones, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan-during
opening remarks of a meeting with his cabinet-hails the initiative,
stating that civil society is taking shape and the government must
do more to address public concern.

Activists continue their protests unabated. Some are seen in
Republic Square distributing flyers printed with articles on public
transportation per Armenian law.

Just before 6 p.m., Mayor Markaryan announces that he is temporarily
suspending the fare hike, but makes no mention of when prices may
increase in the future. Hundreds of activists take to the streets in
celebration, marching through Liberty Square and down Mashtots Street,
the tricolor in hand.

July 26: Activists continue to congregate en masse in front of
Yerevan City Hall, calling for the dismissal of Navasardyan and Misak
Hambardzoumyan, the director of Yerevan Trans Ltd., a transportation
operator. They are met by a persistent wall of police, but remain
peaceful. Activists also demand that commuters obliged to pay the
higher fare over the last week be reimbursed.

July 27: A sit-in protest continues in the evening at Yerevan City
Hall, where activists strategize to determine the direction the
movement will take. A similar gathering is held at Mashtots Park.

US CONGRESSMEN URGE TURKEY TO CONDEMN ANTI-SEMITIC REMARKS

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

14:37, 1 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: The members of the U.S. House of
Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee have sent a letter to
the Turkish President Abdullah Gul, demanding that he condemns the
recent anti-Semitic statements by the Turkish officials. As reported
by Armenpress, quoting the CNN Turk TV Channel, the letter by Brad
Schneider (D-IL), Randy Weber (R-TX), Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Mark
Meadows (R-NC) was signed by 46 U.S.

Representatives and noted remarks by the Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan referring to Zionism as a “crime against humanity.”

Recep Erdogan also blamed “the Interest rate lobby” in reference to
the protests in Istanbul’s Gezi Park, which the U.S.

Representatives’ letter called “a thinly veiled reference to
Jews.” Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay also recently blamed
the “Jewish Diaspora” as one of the communities fueling the Turkish
demonstrations against Recep Erdogan.

The U.S. Representatives wrote of the close relationship between
the Obama administration and Turkey, urging the Turkish government
“to publicly condemn the use of anti-Semitic rhetoric by government
officials,” which “has no place in a democracy.

ARMENIAN PARK IN BUDAPEST RAISED ENVY OF AZERBAIJAN

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

15:33, 1 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESSO~I Azerbaijan is secretly negotiating
with the Hungarian authorities on the opening of an Azerbaijani Park in
Budapest. As reported by Armenpress, quoting the Hungarian Index News
Agency, the negotiations on the opening of the park are kept secret,
as the new relations of the government of Hungary with Azerbaijan
are being negatively accepted not only inside the country but also
outside it.

As reported by Index, Azerbaijan is full of envy, stating that it
wants to have a park in Budapest like the Armenians. By the request
of the local Armenians of Hungary one of the local parks was renamed
Artashat in June.

Though the Azerbaijani side does not want to be limited only by the
renaming of a park or establishing a monument. It pretends also to
build a little cultural center and an exposition hall.

During the last years Azerbaijan as been activating the relations with
the Hungarian government. One of Hungary’s pro-Azerbaijani actions was
the extradition of the Azerbaijani killer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan,
who axe-murdered an Armenian officer in Budapest and was granted a
national hero title upon the return to his motherland. The Republic
of Armenia has suspended the diplomatic relations with the country.