Author: nina hovnanian

The bell of Diyarbakir Saint Kirakos church will sound after 97 years
of silence

15:02, 23 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS: The restoration works of Saint Kirakos
Church in Diyarbakir (Tigranakert) city which is in danger of crushing
because of the fact that it has not been used for 30 years are
continued by Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul. Armenpress reports
calling CNNTurk that during the years of Armenian Genocide because of
its altitude the nationalists blew up the dome because of which the
bell had been broken. Due to efforts of Armenian Patriarchate of
Istanbul a new bell has been built in Moscow and it has already been
transferred to Moscow. Now it is situated in the Church and soon will
be placed on the campanile. The Church Saint Kirakos in Diyarbakir is
the greatest church owned by Armenian community in Middle East. The
opening ceremony of the church is planned on November 4 of current
year: The bell will sound in Armenian Church after 97 yeas of silence.

Tourism assures economic growth in Nagorno-Karabakh .The Guardian

18:38, 22 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS: The leafy boulevards of Stepanakert,
capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, are beginning to attract visitors. As
Armenpress reports citing The Guardian, in many ways, Stepanakert
resembles a small American town on the rise. Its main boulevards have
been repaved, locals stroll through the renovated central square past
its elegant fountain, and hotels have sprouted on every other block to
hold the new influx of visitors.

Not long ago much of the city was in ruins and the economy virtually
non-existent. Today locals meander along leafy streets lined with new
banks, stores and government buildings. A tourism industry is slowly
taking root, as travellers from across the world descend on the tiny
republic, population about 141,000, in increasing numbers.

Yet ordinary Karabakh Armenians are trying to capitalise on the
relative post-war stability. Even as border tensions have escalated
in recent years, which have seen deadly skirmishes between Armenian
and Azeri forces, small-time businessman Ashot Simonyan says foreign
visitors have continued to stream through his spare rental apartments.

“Everyone who comes here really loves it,” he says with a salesman’s
grin. “We have everything a tourist needs, it’s completely normal
here.”

Armenia’s Declaration of Independence 22 years old

tert.am
11:16 – 23.08.12

Today marks 22 years since the adoption of Armenia’s Declaration of
Independence.

The document, approved by the Supreme Council on August 23, 1990
marked the beginning of the new state building process. Immediately
after its passage, the Council made a decision to declare the Soviet
Socialist Republic of Armenia as the Republic of Armenia. The twelfth
Supreme Council was correspondingly renamed the Supreme Council of the
first convocation.

The Declaration of Independence was first delivered by Aram Manukyan,
the incumbent leader of the Armenian Pan-national movement.

`The day was really divine for all of us. There was neither an
opposition nor ruling authorities. All were a single body. I don’t
know whether or not the people will experience such a moment,’
Manukyan said in an interview with A1+ years later.

The Declaration of Independence is based on December 1, 1989 joint
decision by the Supreme Council of the then Soviet Armenia and the
National Council of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Republic of Armenia’s first Supreme Council had 260 members, all
representing single- member districts. It consisted of two political
forces, the Communist Party and the Armenian Pan-National Movement.

Other parliamentary factions developed later.

The original copy of the Declaration is lost. Manukyan says the
document was stolen from his car in 2007. A subsequent police probe
into the matter is said to have yielded no result.

Kesab Armenian population not suffered by incessant fires along Turkish border

11:10, 23 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS: Forest fires along Turkish Syrian
border are not terminating. Aleppo-based Facebook users inform,
Armenian populated Syrian border town located in North west of the
country, near Turkish border has not suffered losses, yet the
telephone and internet remain paralyzed, nevertheless on the whole the
situation remained quiet. Cell phone mobiles operate mainly in Chalma
district.

Syrian Armed forces have taken control over some border areas, which
served an arena for clashes about two weeks before.

Aleppo-based Facebook users state a bomb was exploded in Midan mosque
nearby bread store, Aleppo New village district, which resulted in the
death of one person, two others were wounded. Our Aleppo compatriots
note people got terribly afraid of the bomb powerful voice. This step
of the opposition was aimed to thwart Government forces successes.

The clashes between opposition and Government forces resulted in the
death of more than dozen Armenians, two of which Syrian army soldiers.
The Syrian riots make the Syrians leave the country appearing in other
countries as refugees. Recently the Armenian community representatives
also leave the country. The refugee status or asylum applications from
Syria are considered in an accelerated procedure, at least ten days.76
member 41 families have turned to Migration Service in order to get
shelter, 27 families are already provided with temporary shelter.

Stepanakert airport to operate soon

10:23, 23 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS: Stepanakert airport is technically
ready for launching: organizational issues are being resolved aimed at
the sooner operation of the airport. In the briefing with Armenpress,
Dmitry Atbashyan head of Civil Aviation Chief Department, adjacent to
NKR Government stated airport operation preparation is in its full
process. Airport staff is also ready: ”I guess the airport will soon
start its works” Atabashyan noted.

NKR President staff information department chief head David Babayan
assured there is no political or state level problem to hinder airport
operation. Latest technical problems are being carried out. I do not
want to mention terms yet I am sure soon it will declare its launch”
Babayan underscored. In his words initially the flight to
Armenia-Artsakh direction will be launched: in the future the flights
to other directions will be increased in connection with work
procedure and demand.” In accordance with international law we assure
our citizens’ to move, NKR is state where the letter of the
international law is strictly kept” Babayan came forth with.

Stepanakert airport was built in 1974 and mostly hosted flights from
Yerevan and Baku. In 1992 the airport ceased its activities. In 2008
work began on the construction of a new passenger terminal resembling
that of an stretched wings eagle. In the course of this period of
time the runway was also expanded, besides they smoothed runway
adjacent several hills aimed at adoption of modern type aircrafts.

Reuters’ publication on Armenia-Iran cooperation a warning for Armenia
– opposition

news.am
August 22, 2012 | 17:21

YEREVAN. – The article on Armenia-Iran cooperation published by
Reuters agency was a warning for Armenia calling to be careful in
relation with Iran and not to display unnecessary zeal, opposition
Heritage party secretary Stepan Safaryan said at a press conference on
Wednesday.

The upcoming presidential elections will not be the only key issue on
political agenda this fall.

`In particular, the process around Iran and will be urgent and Armenia
will have to face various challenges,’ Safaryan said.

Safaryan also said that Armenia may appear in a very difficult
situation in the near future by defining its position. Yerevan should
demonstrate extreme carefulness and flexibility in its approaches, not
a single state can blame Armenia for its policy on Iran as it is a
matter of national security.

In addition, foreign political processes may become fatal for the
Armenian leadership unless they are able to resist the challenges.

In an article `Iran looks to Armenia to skirt sanctions’ Reuters cited
the report by U.N. panel of experts that monitors compliance with the
sanctions against Tehran. The report said Iran is seeking ways to
bypass sanctions.

`One state bordering Iran informed the Panel of requests from Iran to
open new financial institutions,’ the agency cited the report. The
article said several diplomats familiar with the report confirmed the
state is Armenia.

August 22, 2012 | 17:21

YEREVAN. – The article on Armenia-Iran cooperation published by
Reuters agency was a warning for Armenia calling to be careful in
relation with Iran and not to display unnecessary zeal, opposition
Heritage party secretary Stepan Safaryan said at a press conference on
Wednesday.

The upcoming presidential elections will not be the only key issue on
political agenda this fall.

`In particular, the process around Iran and will be urgent and Armenia
will have to face various challenges,’ Safaryan said.

Safaryan also said that Armenia may appear in a very difficult
situation in the near future by defining its position. Yerevan should
demonstrate extreme carefulness and flexibility in its approaches, not
a single state can blame Armenia for its policy on Iran as it is a
matter of national security.

In addition, foreign political processes may become fatal for the
Armenian leadership unless they are able to resist the challenges.

In an article `Iran looks to Armenia to skirt sanctions’ Reuters cited
the report by U.N. panel of experts that monitors compliance with the
sanctions against Tehran. The report said Iran is seeking ways to
bypass sanctions.

`One state bordering Iran informed the Panel of requests from Iran to
open new financial institutions,’ the agency cited the report. The
article said several diplomats familiar with the report confirmed the
state is Armenia.

The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 22 2012

On the way to Karabakh through Georgia?!

The military analysis magazine `Arsenali’ in the article `On the way
to Karabakh through Georgia? Turkey thinks Russia should refrain from
supporting Armenia in the Karabakh conflict’ states that Saina Ogan, a
member of the Turkish Parliament and the head of the Strategic
Research Center, made a controversial statement to one of the Turkish
media sources: ” In case Russia provides any kind of military support
to Armenia, this will be a reason not for only Armenia and Russia to
become involved in the conflict, but for other countries as well. War
may put Russia in a very difficult situation.’

Ogan has also confirmed that in case Russia supports Armenia in the
conflict, Turkey will oppose them.

The article also stresses the possible role of Georgia in the conflict
and the ways in which Turkey could supply military aid to Azerbaijan.
Turkey could attack Armenia across their shared (and closed) border.
Another possibility would be to transport troops and weapons through
Georgian territory, and thereby bring another country into the
conflict, as Armenia would be forced to stop Azeri supply routes by
attacking Georgian highways and possibly even enlisting the support of
Georgian citizens of Armenian ancestry.

Having taken an official responsibility to protect and support
Armenia, Russia will not remain just a neutral observer should the
conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region escalate. All roads from
Russia to Armenia run through Georgia. Flying across Georgian airspace
(which is currently closed for Russian aircraft) would be the easiest
way to transport military supplies to Armenia. After the 2008 war it
does not seem likely that the Georgian government would try to take
down or land Russian military or transport jets should they violate
Georgian airspace. It does seem very likely that should the conflict
in Nagorno-Karabakh erupt again Georgia would become involved at some
point, whether it wants to or not.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 22 2012

OSCE to monitor Nagorno-Karabakh contact line

The OSCE will monitor the Azerbaijani-Armenian contact line of forces
at the Mireshelli Village of the Agdamsky District of Azerbaijan, News
Azerbaijan reports.

The Azerbaijani side will be monitored by field assistants of the
personal representative of the OSCE chairman Antal Herdic and
coordinator of the local office Peter Ki.

The contrary side will be monitored by personal representative of the
OSCE chairman Andrzej Kasprzyk, field assistant Jiri Aberle and
personal assistant William Pryor.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 21 2012

Armenian citizen under trial for smuggling combat jet parts

Tigran Mkhitaryan (Armenia) will be under trial in North Ossetia for
smuggling spare parts for MiG-27 jets, 15th Region reports.

The suspected tried to smuggle the parts through the Verkhny Lars
customs post. He may be sentenced to 12 years of prison by the
Sovetsky District Court of Vladikavkaz.

Mediamax, Armenia
Aug 22 2012

Deputy Minister of Finance: “Our economy is currently more diversified”

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Deputy Minister of Finance of Armenia Vardan
Aramyan said today that “our economy is currently more diversified”.

The Deputy Minister said that as of January-July 2012, the index of
economic activity in the country grew by 7.7%, Mediamax reports.

According to the data presented by Vardan Aramyan, as of the first
half-year, the domestic industrial production registered 13% growth
and the processing production has a share of only 8.1%.

“It indicates that apart from the metal-mining field there is growth
in other spheres as well”, said the Deputy Minister. ‘

Agriculture growth made 8% as of the first half-year of 2012.