Author: nina hovnanian

Wall Street Journal
Oct 15 2012

Turkey Releases Armenian Jet’s Cargo After Probe

By EMRE PEKER

ISTANBUL – An Armenian cargo plane carrying humanitarian aid to Syria
landed on Monday in Turkey to let authorities investigate its cargo
before continuing its flight; part of Ankara’s tougher stance toward
Damascus as it seeks to choke support for embattled President Bashar
al-Assad.

The Armenian plane’s arrival in the eastern province of Erzurum
triggered a flurry of news reports that Ankara had forced down a
second plane destined to its southern neighbor following the first
such occasion last Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry painted a different
picture, highlighting that, in contrast to the passenger jet from
Moscow to Damascus last week, the Armenian cargo plane had agreed to
have its contents checked in exchange for permission to use Turkey’s
airspace.

The plane, traveling from Yerevan to Aleppo, has a crew of nine people
and is carrying 14 tons of cargo, Air Armenia’s Operations Manager
Vardan Nazinyan said in a telephone interview from the Armenian
capital. The shipment – including jams, rice, sugar and pasta, among
other food items – was put together through the donations of a local
community in Yerevan to help Armenians in war-torn Aleppo, a major
city just 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Turkey’s southern border that
has been the stage for fierce fighting between Mr. Assad’s forces and
Syrian rebels. Mr. Nazinyan added that Erzurum had been designated for
Turkish authorities to search the plane and all the procedures
followed official agreement with the Foreign Ministry.

“We are very serious about this matter, we are following everything
very well and doing our duty,” Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent
Arinc said in televised comments from Bursa. Speaking about two hours
after the plane landed at 11:30 a.m. local time, Mr. Arinc said,
“Armenia had declared that they are flying to Aleppo for humanitarian
aid. The plane landed, was searched and it was confirmed that the
declaration is true. The plane was allowed to take off.”

Monday’s landing followed a markedly different pattern to last week,
when a Syrian passenger plane from Moscow to Damascus was forced by
two F-16 fighter jets to land in the Turkish capital. Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan subsequently said it confiscated boxes
of materials designated to the Syrian Defense Ministry that included
ammunitions and military material. After a nine-hour stay in Ankara,
the Syrian jet, which had Russian passengers on board, was allowed to
continue to Damascus.

The episode initially appeared to strain Turkey’s relations with
Russia, which said the cargo included legal radar parts and demanded
an explanation for the incident. But Moscow moved to cool friction
with Ankara on Sunday, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressing
that the incident wouldn’t hurt “solid” relations.

Turkey was criticized by Syria for “air piracy” after last week’s
forced landing. Mr. Erdogan, once Mr. Assad’s ally, reversed his
earlier support for the Syrian regime in August 2011, about five
months after the uprising started. The Turkish premier has since been
calling for the president to leave and supports rebels seeking to oust
Mr. Assad’s government.

Mediamax, Armenia
Oct 15 2012

Armenia tests S-300 systems

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Spokesman for the Armenian Defense Minister
Artsrun Hovhannisyan confirmed today the information according to
which Armenia tested its S-300 anti-aircraft missile system.

Hovhannisyan said today that the stock of the arms and military
equipment of the Armenian Armed Forces including the anti-aircraft
defense systems are being constantly updated, Mediamax reports.

Head of the Operative Department of the General Headquarters of the
Armenian Armed Forces, Major-General Artak Davtyan noted in his turn
that the Armenian side attentively follows the process of purchasing
of new weapon types and military equipment by the rival.

Artak Davtyan especially pointed out new antitank weapons tested
during the recent exercises. They are meant for fighting
next-generation armor.

Military clash preparations not observed from adversary – Armenian
military General Staff

news.am
October 15, 2012 | 17:00

YEREVAN. – Armenia will be ready in case of a war, Combat Training
Department Head of the General Staff of Armenia’s Armed Forces, Major
General Ishkhan Matevosyan stated, during a press conference on
Monday, commenting on the bellicose statements made by the Azerbaijani
authorities.

`No war starts suddenly in the morning. The war, or the military
confrontation, has a latent period. Our state’s intelligence agencies
are following those changes. As of today, preparatory activities for a
military clash are not observed from our adversary,’ the Major General
noted.

In his words, the militaristic statements by Azerbaijan have several
objectives. `First, [they are] for the domestic `consumer.’ I am
convinced that we will be ready in case of a war,’ Matevosyan said.

In response to the query as to whether Azerbaijan could hit the
airplanes flying into the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic capital city’s
Stepanakert Airport, he noted: `In theory, the opponent has the
capability to strike. [But] The matter should be considered in the
diplomatic, [and] political dimension. [Yet] We, the soldiers, will do
our job.’

In his turn, Armenian Defense Minister’s Press Secretary Artsrun
Hovhannisyan noted that `we have heard such statements a lot ion the
past twenty years,’ but none of them have materialized.

President of Armenia: We must welcome all initiatives uniting Diaspora

ARMINFO
Monday, October 15, 16:20

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan attended the Second Conference of
the World Armenian Congress on Monday.

Welcoming the delegates to the Conference, the president said that all
them are united with common values and feelings that helped the
Armenian people overcome numerous difficulties and preserve its
ethnos. “We must welcome all the initiatives uniting the Diaspora. We
are few and we must be united not to face assimilation. Therefore,
mechanisms of self-organization and mutual-assistance must be
welcomed.”

The president said that due to various public organizations Armenia
can speak of the world Armenian civil society comprising successful
political, charitable and cultural organizations. “A big variety of
such organizations makes the civil society stronger and we must do our
best to preserve this variety. It should be noted, however, that the
public must unite around justice and knowledge,” he said.

The president thinks that the country cannot replace civil society and
the vice verse, which means that the state and the civil society must
cooperate and promote each other.

“Many peoples live outside their motherlands, but Armenians did not
leave the motherland for better life, they were forcefully deported
and submitted to Genocide. A centennial of that crime against our
people is coming, bit it has not yet received a proper assessment. So,
Armenia and the world Armenian community must unite around that
issue,” the president said. He said that recognition of the Armenian
genocide is not the only important issue on agenda of our country.
After the victory in the war for Artsakh unleashed by Azerbaijan, it
is time to establish justice in the diplomatic field by combined
efforts, the president said. Sargsyan touched upon the Syrian
Armenians who need assistance. “All of us have much to say and do. We
have done much and yet have much to do. I am sure we will,” the
president concluded.

Edward Nalbandian came to agreement on non-resident Ambassadors
accreditation in Yerevan and Brazzaville

15:26, 15 October, 2012

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Edward Nalbandian had several bilateral meetings in the framework of
the Summit of International Organization of La Francophonie in
Kinshasa. As Armenpress was informed from the Armenian MFA press,
informational and public relations department Edward Nalbandian met
with the President of Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso on
October 14. The head of Congo congratulated Armenian Minister on
becoming a member of Summit of International Organization of La
Francophonie and hoped Armenia would develop its relations with the
Francophone world. In his turn Edward Nalbandian noted that Armenia
evaluated the development of relations with African countries.

During the meeting interlocutors referred to the formation of legal
field, the prospects of business relations. Also they came to an
agreement to have non-resident Ambassadors accredited in Yerevan and
Brazzaville. During the meeting of Edward Nalbandian and Moroccan
Minister of Foreign Affairs Saad-Edin Al-Otmani a wide range of
economic, trade, scientific, cultural and touristic issues have been
discussed. Saad-Edin Al-Otmani presented Morroccan position on
Western Sahara and Edward Nalbandian in his tern presented NKr
settlement issue.

Edward Nalbandian also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Côte d’Ivoire Daniel Cablan Dunkan. They highlighted that there was a
great potential for the development of the relations.

Air Armenia: Agreement with Turkey on Armenian plane’s landing for
routine check reached last week

15:18 15/10/2012 » Society
The Armenian plane forced to land in Turkey belongs to Air Armenia Company.

Director of Air Armenia CJSC Arsen Avetisyan told Panorama.am that the
aircraft with humanitarian cargo on board landed at the Turkish
airport for a routine check under previously reached agreement.

Air Armenia agreed with Turkey on landing the Armenian plane in
Erzurum airport last week, the Armenian air official noted.

Source: Panorama.am

Struggle against corruption struggle against fixed-run taxis – Armenian expert

tert.am
14:37 – 15.10.12

Struggle against corruption in Armenia reminds the sociologist Aharon
Adibekyan of struggle against fixed-run taxis.

`Time and again, when it exceeds all bounds, they start sacking or
jailing one or another, they organize a `month of struggle’. Everyone
is jailed for a month, and then they are `safe and sound’ in office
again,’ the expert said.

Back in early 1990s, on his proposal, Armenia’s government had an
anti-corruption department to study officials’ personal data.

However, the department was closed after Hrant Bagratyan was appointed
Armenia’s premier.

Armenia and Russia to explore third-party countries’ markets through
regional ties

YEREVAN, October 15. /ARKA/. Successful economic cooperation on the
regional level between Armenia and Russia can result in developing
markets of third-party countries, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia
Shavarsh Kocharyan said.

`Today’s reality is that we can see not only states among influential
economic players, but also regions, especially those which border with
third-party countries,’ he said at the second Armenian-Russian
interregional forum in Yerevan on Saturday.

According to him, 1500 Armenian-Russian joint enterprises will be
responsible for enhancing competitiveness.

`That is why we must aim to enlarge our commerce volume, as well as
commodity nomenclature. We should also make the exported production
meet all the requirements, enabling our companies to present their
production at different regional markets,’ he noted.

After the plenary session the forum participants continued discussing
cooperation in different sectors between the two states at the round
table.

The first Armenian-Russian interregional forum was held in Yerevan on
April 18-20, 2011.

A number of agreements were reached following the forum, including the
memorandum signed between SCR and Armenia’s government on launching a
construction of a 32-km segment of Vanadzor-Fioletovo railway. -0-

Armenian cargo aircraft did not land forcefully, but made a planned
landing in Turkey

ARMINFO
Monday, October 15, 14:26

Armenian cargo aircraft of AirArmenia did not land in Turkey
forcefully, as Reuters reported, but made a planned landing in
Erzurum, a source from Armenia’s Civil Aviation General Department
told Arminfo.

Armenian aircraft heading from Yerevan to Aleppo landed on Monday in
the airport of Turkish Erzurum. At present, cargo screening of the
aircraft is being implemented. The aircraft has humanitarian cargo for
the Armenian community of Aleppo on board. After the screening, the
aircraft will fly to Syria as it was scheduled.

To recall, Reuters disseminated the information that the air forces of
Turkey forcefully landed a cargo aircraft in Erzurum which was flying
to Aleppo.

To recall, last week Ð?irbus Ð?320 with a number SRY442 of Syrian air
company was arrested in Ankara. The plane was flying from the Moscow
Vnukovo airport to Damascus. Prime Minister of Turkey, Erdogan said
that military equipment produced in Russia was on board of the
arrested airplane. Because of the incident, the authorities of Syria
closed their airspace for Turkish civil aviation.

IMINT: Russian S-300 protect Armenia, Karabakh skies

October 15, 2012 – 14:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The analysis of recent imagery acquired from various
sources highlights air defense developments in the Caucasus region.

In its most recent research, the U.S.-based open-source military
analysis IMINT & Analysis, based on the Google Earth satellite imagery
of air defense systems, examines Russian and Armenian air defense
postures in the Caucasus region, Contact.az reported.

`Imagery from TerraServer and Bing Maps provides the first look at
newly identified active S-300PS (SA-10B GRUMBLE) complexes in Armenia
and the Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia. Both locations
represent significant deployments for differing reasons,’ says Sean
O’Connor, a subject matter expert in the fields of air defense and
strategic warfare.

Prior to 2008, Armenia imported components for at least three S-300PT
(SA-10A GRUMBLE) batteries, displacing S-125 (SA-3 GOA) batteries
defending the capital of Yerevan, according to the source.

By 2010, Russia delivered an additional pair of S-300PS batteries,
reportedly deployed in the eastern Syunik province. The two sites,
near Goris in the north and Kaghnut in the south, both reside within
seven kilometers of the border with Nagorno Karabakh.

`Only the Kaghnut battery resides on a prepared site, the complex
specially designed to accommodate the local terrain. Both batteries
employ a 5N63S mobile engagement radar and mast-mounted 5N66M
low-altitude EW radar,’ the source mentioned.

`As imaged in 2011, the Goris battery currently operates four 5P85S/D
TELs, with the Kaghnut battery operating eight. Additionally, both
batteries displaced aging 2K11 (SA-4 GANEF) units. The status of the
displaced 2K11 batteries remains unknown.’

Deployment of the mobile S-300PS batteries in Syunik province places
the entire Nagorno Karabakh under the protection of Armenia’s air
defense network, according to the analyst.

Furthermore, the S-300PS enjoys mobility that the S-300PT does not,
enabling rapid relocation when required. As such, either S-300PS
complex represents a possible occupant for the S-300P complex
constructed near Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh,
supplementing or replacing extant 2K11 or S-125 batteries in the
region.

The siting of the S-300PS batteries permits target track assignment
from either the Yerevan-based 64N6 battle management radar or a
Nagorno Karabakh-based 36D6 EW radar. Furthermore, the current siting
of the S-300PS batteries closes a pre-existing air defense gap,
allowing Armenia to deny air travel into Nakhijevan.

`With the amount of attention given to air defense related
developments in the Middle East, it is simple to overlook developments
elsewhere in the world. However, overlooked developments, such as the
placement of Armenian S-300PS batteries adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh,
represent significant occurrences potentially impacting various future
scenarios in the region,’ the source concludes.