Author: nina hovnanian

ARMENIA ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING RELATIONS WITH IRELAND

ARMENPRESS
12 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS: Armenia attaches importance to the
strengthening and expansion of relations with Ireland. At the course
of the joint press conference with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office,
Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore ,
Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbnadyan came forth with
the statement.

“Although our countries are not geologically close, friendly ties have
been registered between the two states”. Nalbandyan noted Armenia will
contribute to all the steps taken by the Irish Presidency, directed
making OSCE body more effective and vibrant”, Armenpress reports.

” We have discussed Armenia-OSCE cooperation activities in three
dimensions” Nalbandyan underscored.

Gilmore also reaffirmed the readiness to strengthen Armenia -Ireland
existing warm relations.

TURKEY’S REPRESSION THROUGH FRAGMENTATION
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:33:22 – 14/06/2012

The Israeli Knesset considered the Armenian genocide issue and
delegated the right to further consideration to the commission on
education and culture. Knesset, naturally, didn’t recognize the
genocide, though it was stated that the Holocaust survivor Jewish
people can’t ignore such a tragedy of another nation. Moreover,
it was stated that the deportation and annihilation of Anatolian
Armenians in the Syrian deserts is an indisputable fact.

The world is actively getting ready for the year 2015, and if Turkey
does not take up relevant steps, not only the U.S. but also Israel
will recognize the Armenian genocide. By then, the Syrian issue may
be resolved, and the Syrian Kurds may unite with their Iraqi fellows
stating about the creation of a Big autonomy. Then, only the Turkish
Kurdistan will lack from the map of the Kurds. The recognition of the
Armenian genocide in 2015 and following territorial claims to Turkey
may help the establishment of the Kurdish state.

Most likely, Turkey understands where the political developments in the
region lead, but it hopes to benefit even from unbeneficial events,
understanding that it will be impossible to stop them. One of the
ways to keep the territories, at least on square and not borders, is
Azerbaijan’s rendering into a strong outpost. And we need to suppose
that the main efforts of Turkey in the nearest future will be directed
to ensuring concessions on Karabakh by Armenia in exchange of opening
of the borders.

It is left to Armenia in this process not to yield to the provocations
and intimidation and go on its line, which this time, matches with
the intentions of world centers.

It is noteworthy that the U.S. nominated Richard Morningstar for the
position of the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, who is just engaged
in separating energy projects from international and conflict issues.

Yesterday, the first hearing on his candidacy was held in the U.S.
Senate, and apparently, the Armenian lobby will not resist to his
appointment. This means that the Ambassador won’t lead a policy of
connecting the Armenian-Turkish issue with the Karabakh conflict,
like Mathew Bryza did, but to the contrary, he will try to prove that
the opening of borders for energy projects even without the final
settlement of the conflict, is much more beneficial.

OSKANIAN REFUSES TO TESTIFY ON MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES AMID MORE ALLEGATIONS OF PRESSURE ON PAP

Politics | 14.06.12 | 12:05

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and MP from the Prosperous Armenia
party (PAP) Vartan Oskanian has refused to testify upon being summoned
to the National Security Service (NSS) for the second time in the
past several days.

“Today, I was again summoned to the National Security Service to give
testimony. The message NSS disseminated yesterday indicated that I
would be interrogated as a suspect rather than a witness. Given this,
I resolved to make use of my constitutional right and not to testify,”
Oskanian said in a post on his Facebook profile page on Wednesday.

The NSS is conducting a criminal investigation in connection with
alleged money laundering by the Civilitas Foundation, a think tank
founded by Oskanian upon his leaving the foreign minister’s post
in 2008.

Oskanian insists that the criminal case is politically motivated and
is retribution for his hard-hitting criticism of the government in
the lead-up to the May 6 parliamentary elections.

The PAP, of which Oskanian has been a senior member since February this
year, refused to form a coalition with the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) in the post-election period, leading to speculation that
Gagik Tsarukyan, the PAP leader, will refuse to throw his political
weight behind the RPA leader and current president Serzh Sargsyan
in next February’s presidential vote, while the party will choose to
field its own candidate, possible Oskanian.

In another development linked by many to politics, the Ararat Cement
factory owned by Tsarukyan is said to have stopped its operations.

Tsarukyan’s spokesman Iveta Tonoyan neither denied nor confirmed the
media reports on this, but said: “You need not seek any political
context.”

The factory employs more than 1,000 workers.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY MINISTER IS HAPPY OVER LEAVING COALITION GOVERNMENT – NEWSPAPER

NEWS.AM
June 14, 2012 | 07:23

YEREVAN. – Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Arthur Petrosyan was the
most happy among the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) for the latter’s
decision to leave the ruling coalition, Hraparak daily writes.

“He tells whomever he sees, ‘all of us left the coalition as a team
[and] with such harmony, organized [fashion].’

In the meantime, everyone knows that whether or not the PAP had formed
a coalition, Arthur Petrosyan was to be deprived of his position
[as Minister]. [But] Now, it became something like a joint death,”
Hraparak writes.

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ALIK SARGSYAN MAY BE RELIEVED OF POST – PAPER

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 14, 2012 – 10:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Adviser to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, former
police chief Alik Sargsyan is not happy with the current situation,
Yerkir paper reports.

Even his best friends and relatives avoid meeting him. Rumors go in
Sargsyan’s hometown Artashat that he may be relieved of his position
in near future, according to the paper.

However, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is confident
of his retaining post until the presidential race, the paper says.

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: GAGIK TSARUKYAN’S CEMENT PLANT STOPS PRODUCTION

tert.am
14.06.12

The Ararat cement plant has not been operating for several days. The
reason is a decline in demand for cement.

This January-April, the cement output showed a 12.6% decrease, but
the plant is unable to sell this amount either.

The Ararat cement plant is owned by Chairman of the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan.

AZERBAIJANI POLICE JAIL JOURNALIST

tert.am
13.06.12

A member of Azerbaijani Institute for Security and Freedom of
Journalists has been arrested on charges of hooliganism.

According to the Azerbaijani media, Mehman Husseynov was detained on
Tuesday evening after three hours of interrogation at the police. He
is facing charges under Article 221.1 of the country’s Criminal Code
(hooliganism committed in violation of social order and through the
expression of disrespect for the public).

Turan news agency said that the detained is the brother of the
Institute’s director, Emin Husseynov.

Mehman Husseynov attended the Azerbaijani opposition rally on May 21.

Local observers believe that his detention is aimed at suppressing
his brother, as well as the Institute, which is considered a leading
human rights organization in the country.

VIVACELL-MTS LAUNCHES COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT FOR ARMENIA’S UNIVERSITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 12, 2012 – 16:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – VivaCell-MTS project aiming to provide Armenian
universities with communication infrastructure is underway.

Telecommunications operator has provided Ijevan branch of Yerevan State
University with equipment necessary for organizing the educational
process: a 3G router operating in the frames of Home-Zone Turbo
package, a Wi-Fi corner, an auditorium with 7 computers with Internet
access, a switch and a laser printer.

The technically equipped laboratory, high-speed Internet, and
contemporary methods of education are now available for the University.

New technologies help to save time, ensure high level awareness and
rapid decision-making skills. These terms guarantee availability of
success, the company’s press service reported.

HOVNANYAN: REAL ESTATE DOES NOT SELL

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:46:13 – 12/06/2012

Businessman Vahagn Hovnanyan met reporters today and noted that it
is a tough year for his business because decline in building continues.

He said that building is declining because no one is left in Armenia
to buy. There is little money in the market and people are emigrating.

According to Hovhanyan, Armenians from Syria, Iran and Egypt who want
to buy apartments here brought a little activity to the market.

Hovnanyan says Armenians are leaving because unemployment, and this
situation is not something new. For this situation, he blames people
too saying that the Armenian men are not hard-working. It is not
necessary to sit and wait for the state to give them a job, it is
necessary to create it. According to the businessman, the business
climate in Armenia is not favorable.

Dwelling on the dollar exchange rate, he noted that the market is
controlled somehow, so prices did not soar. He added that if the
dollar goes up, soon we will witness huge inflation.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA: TURKEY UNABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO FAIR RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

arminfo
Tuesday, June 12, 16:33

Armenia has repeatedly stated the necessity of peaceful resolution
of the Karabakh conflict with the support of the OSCE Minsk Group,
Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian said at a joint press
conference with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ireland’s Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore, in Yerevan, Tuesday.

He came out for creation of real and effective mechanisms to inquire
into incidents on the line of contact. The minister said that Armenia
never refuses its stance unlike its neighbor Azerbaijan. As regards
the latest statement by Turkey wherein it expressed regret for the
death of Azerbaijani soldiers, Nalbandian said that Turkey has never
expressed regret for the human losses on the Armenian party.

“Offiicial Ankara’s statements are racially themed and encourage
Azerbaijan in its actions. Ankara tries to lay the guilt on others
pretending that it does not know who is responsible for protraction of
the Karabakh conflict. Yet 20 years ago everyone thought that Ankara
would help resolving the conflict, but it has not only refused to
take an impartial stance but also keeps creating many obstacles to
the process. A question arises as to whether Turkey’s efforts to
contribute to the Minsk process are adequate?” the minister said.

Since 1992 the OSCE Minsk Group represented by co-chairs from Russia,
U.S. and France has been mediating in resolution of the conflict
unleashed by Azerbaijan in 1988. At present the peace process is
based on the Madrid Principles suggested by the OSCE MG in 2007 in
Madrid and renovated in 2009.