REPAIR WORKS AT GORIS-STEPANAKERT GAS PIPELINE ACCOMPLISHED
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.06.2009 14:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Repair works at Goris-Stepanakert gas pipeline to
secure uninterrupted gas delivery to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
have been accomplished, reported ArmRosgazprom’s press service.
According to the report, the pipes were damaged severely because of
landslips or overflows.
Some AMD 450 million was spent to reconstruct the pipeline.
SPOKESMAN: AZERBAIJAN UNLIKE ARMENIA ALWAYS PRESENTS CLEAR ARGUMENTS
Today.Az
ics/53367.html
June 24 2009
Azerbaijan
Baku considers allegation of Deputy Foreign Ministers of Armenia
Shavarsh Kocharian that the lack of progress in negotiations on the
Karabakh is Azerbaijan’s fault to be frivolous.
"Once again, it is regrettable that the Armenian side prefers to
live with desires, dreams, dreams and legends, appealing in their
statements and comments to unreal topics", said spokesman for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elkhan Poluhov, according
to Interfax-Azerbaijan.
He stressed that "Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia always speaks with clear
arguments, building its position on the basis of norms and rules of
international law – the UN Charter, OSCE documents, in particular,
the Helsinki Final Act, which lays the ground of this organization".
E. Poluhov quoted article 8 of the Act, which states that "it is
necessary to respect the equal rights and self-determination of
peoples, while continuing to act consistently in accordance with
the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and relevant norms of
international law, including those relating to territorial integrity
of the states".
"This sentence cannot be read and interpreted otherwise and Azerbaijan
is clearly focused on these documents and principles. Azerbaijan has
always been constructive and always participated in the negotiation
process.
If the opposite party, which also must show its agreement and a clear
stance, refused to do so, how can a result be achieves?", wondered
E. Poluhov.
DEBATES ON FUNCTIONING OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN ARMENIA TO BE HELD IN PACE TODAY
ArmInfo
2009-06-24 11:04:00
ArmInfo. Debates on functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia
will be held in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
today. Co- rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Committee John Prescott and
Georges Colombier, who visited Armenia on June 15-16, will present
their reports on this topic.
The present report notes that, as a result of the efforts by the
Parliamentary Assembly, as well as other parts of the Council
of Europe, and also the excellent co-operation with the Armenian
delegation to the Assembly over the last 15 months, incremental
progress has been made by the Armenian authorities to comply with
the demands of the Assembly: the controversial amendments to the
Law on Conducting Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations
have been repealed, an investigation into the events of 1 and 2 March
2008 has started, important changes to problematic provisions in the
Criminal Code have been adopted, and several reforms recommended by
the Assembly have been initiated.
That process has now culminated in an amnesty as a result of which
most, albeit not all, persons deprived of their liberty in relation
to the events of 1 and 2 March 2008, will be released. At the same
time, the Monitoring Committee notes that the fact finding group to
establish the facts with regard the events on 1 and 2 March 2008
and their circumstances has been disbanded due to insurmountable
tensions between its members and considers that the disbandment
of the fact-finding group should not be allowed to circumvent the
conclusion of an independent and credible inquiry as demanded by the
Assembly. Therefore, although the declaration of amnesty means that the
authorities have complied with a crucial demand of the Assembly and,
most importantly, that an important new page has been turned in the
normalisation of Armenia’s political life and resolution of the crisis,
the Monitoring Committee notes that these achievements should not be
seen as the end of the process. The Monitoring Committee should fully
support and accompany that process in the framework of the regular
monitoring procedure of the Assembly with respect to Armenia.
GEORGIAN PRESIDENT TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT ON JUNE 24
Noyan Tapan
June 23, 2009
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
with his wife Sandra Rulovs will arrive in Armenia on a two-day
official visit on June 24.
RA and Georgian Presidents’ private talk, official delegations’
meeting in an enlarged staff, and Presidents’ joint press conference
will take place the same day. M. Saakashvili will also meet with RA
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian. An official supper will be served
in honor of the Georgian President and his wife on behalf of Serzh
Sargsyan and his wife Rita Sargsyan in the evening.
According to the report of the RA President’s Press Office, within the
framework of the visit the Georgian President will visit the Memorial
Complex of Armenian Genocide, will lay a wreath to the memorial of
the victims. M. Saakashvili will meet with lecturers and students at
Yerevan State University.
The Georgian President will leave Armenia on June 25.
EDWARD NALBANDYAN TO LEAVE FOR KORFA TO PARTICIPATE IN OSCE FOREIGN MINISTERS’ SUMMIT
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
24.06.2009 16:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 26-27, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan
will carry out a working visit to Paris, France, to meet with his
Azeri colleague Elmar Mamedyarov and OSCE MG Co-Chairs.
On June 27-28, FM Nalbandyan will take part in OSCE Foreign
Ministers’ summit on Korfa Island. Meeting will be devoted to issues
of cooperation and security systems in Europe, RA MFA press service
reports.
Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: [email protected]
web:
Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and Foreign Minister of
the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayid Al Nahyan discussed
expansion of bilateral relations
On June 21, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian met Foreign
Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah Bin Zayid Al Nahyan who
arrived in Armenia on a working visit.
Minister Nalabndian expressed satisfaction on the dynamically
developing cooperation between Armenia and the United Arab Emirates,
mutual high-level visits, and growing interest of the Emirate’s
businessmen in Armenian economy. Edward Nalbandian stressed that the
Emirates are important economic partner of Armenia in the Middle East
region and Armenia is interested in further strengthening and
deepening of cooperation.
The UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayid Al Nahyan thanked for warm
reception and stressed that his country intends to take concrete steps
for the further expansion of cooperation with friendly Armenia.
In the course of the meeting the two discussed wide range of issue
concerning the development of bilateral relations, cooperation within
the frameworks of international organizations. The two stressed that
high level of political dialogue and serious potential for expansion
of economic and cultural cooperation exists between the two
countries.
Armenian Foreign Minister said that Armenia geopolitically being close
to the Middle East is interested in the establishment of peace and
security in that region.
Ministers Nalbandian and Al Nahyan exchanged views on the issues
concerning strengthening of security in the South Caucasus and the
Middle East.
Foreign Minister of Armenia and the UAE noticed the importance of
regular consultations between the Foreign Ministries.
The meeting was followed by the signing ceremony of documents. Foreign
Ministers of Armenia and the UAE signed Agreement between the
Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United
Arab Emirates on land donation for the establishment of diplomatic
missions, as well as Memorandum of Understanding between the
Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United
Arab Emirates on Exemption of entry visa waiver for holders of
diplomatic passports.
The signing ceremony was followed by the joint press conference of
Ministers.
SYRIAN FIRST LADY VISITED HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.06.2009 16:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Syrian first lady Asma al-Asad and Executive
Director of Hayastan All Armenian Fund Ara Vardanyan have today met in
Yerevan. The meeting was also attended by RA first lady Rita Sargsyan
and Foreign Minister’s spouse Natalia Nalbandyan.
At the guest’s request, the fund structure, principles and work
experience were introduced. Parties also touched upon fund raising
mechanisms. After watching the film devoted to the fund’s activities,
Ara Vardanyan answered Asma al-Asad’s questions.
As mentioned by Syrian first lady, Armenian and Syrians are similar
in that they both have big diaspora communities. Apart from the 18
million Syrians living in their homeland, there are 15 million others
living beyond its borders. As noted by Mrs. al-Asad, Syrians often
express willingness to make investments in their country’s economy,
hence an institution like Hayastan All Armenian Fund may help realize
a number of projects.
At the end of the meeting, Mrs. al-Asad invited Ara Vardanyan to
Syria to introduce the fund’s activities in more detail.
PRESIDENT OF SYRIA: CONSTRUCTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA RAILWAY WILL PROMOTE ARMENIAN-SYRIAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS
ArmInfo
2009-06-18 18:10:00
ArmInfo. Construction of Iran-Armenia railway will promote the
Armenian-Syrian economic relations, President of Syria Bashar Al-Assad
said at the opening of the Armenian-Syrian Business Forum in Yerevan
on Thursday.
He said the possibility of laying the railway between the Mediterranean
and the Persian Gulf is currently considered. Iran-Armenia railway
will make it possible for Armenia to access Syria via Iran, Iraq,
the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean, the Syrian president
said. Nevertheless, lack of overland communication between Armenia
and Syria hinders development of the trade and economic relations of
the two states. ‘This issue was discussed with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan on Wednesday in the context of normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations since the resolution of this issue will help
not only Armenia and Syria but also Turkey. In addition, Armenia will
get the shortest way to the Arab world,’ the Syrian president said.
He said the parties should facilitate the procedures of signing
contracts and agreements and simplify the air communication between the
two states. A flight from Armenia to Syria takes 1 hour and 40 minutes
and it is a short way linking Armenia and the Arab world. However,
visa regime needs simplification to enhance also the tourist sector,
Bashar Al-Assad said.
He said that relying on friendly relations of their peoples Armenia
and Syria should boost commodity turnover. ‘It is necessary to exert
efforts to implement both long-term and short-term projects.
Long-term projects can be implemented also in the agricultural
sector in particular to settle irrigation problems’, the Syrian
president said. As regards the peculiarities of the tourist sector,
the president of Syria said that Armenia has many sights and if these
sights ‘are flavored with Aleppo cuisine the effect will be excellent’.
Nearly 200 businessmen are participating in the Business Forum
including 65 Syrian businessmen, mainly Armenians by origin
representing various sectors of economy. The remaining participants
are local businessmen.
The Armenian community in Syria is nearly 120,000 people. The commodity
turnover of Armenia and Syria for 2008 totaled $5.99 million, the
unfavorable balance of trade made up $5.81 million. The share of
import of Syrian goods to Armenia was $5.9 million, whereas export
from Armenia to Syrian totaled $90,000. Armenia exports honey,
carbide, paint materials and other products to Syrian and imports
shoes, medicine, citrus fruits, vegetables, nuts, washing substances,
jewelry and other products from that country.
ACCORDING TO BASHAR AL-ASSAD, NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPEMENT OF ARMENIA, SYRIA AND TURKEY
Noyan Tapan
June 18, 2009
YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN. "The visit to Armenia has a great
significance for us, as we know Armenian culture but we are not well
informed about its current situation." President of Syria Bashar
al-Assad said this during the Armenian-Syrian business forum and
added that it is a very good opportunity to get acquainted with the
economic and political situation of the country. He noted that for
expanding the cooperation between the two countries short-term and
long-term programs need to be implemented through investments and
business meetings need to be organized.
According to him, for this it is important to create a convenient
legal sphere for two countries, for the businessmen to be able to
make investments.
According to B. al-Assad, the only impediment for the developement
of the relations between Armenia and Syria is the lack of land
communication. "We spoke to the Armenian President about the problem
of how to improve Armenian-Turkish relations, as the solution of this
problem will contribute not only to the development of Armenian and
Turkish economies but also the economy of Syria," B. al-Assad said.
The President of Syria noted that the conflicts, be them in the
Caucasus or in the Middle East, should be solved peacfully. According
to him, it will give an opportunity to the businessmen to make
investments trustfully.
"Yesterday I saw the Armenian tourism map and learnt how many beautiful
places there are in Armenia. And if the visits are accompanied with
Aleppo dishes it will be wonderful and they will be very good tourist
places," B. al-Assad said.
WAR EXPERT: I DO NOT THINK THAT ANY CSTO COUNTRY WILL USE FORCE AGAINST AZERBAIJAN
Today.Az
tics/53161.html
June 16 2009
Azerbaijan
If Azerbaijan decides to return its occupied lands, I do not think that
CSTO will resist this, as Azerbaijan has a right to do it and there
are UN resolutions, international organizations recognize Nagorno
Karabakh as the Azerbaijani land, said war expert Uzeir Cafarov,
speaking of possible involvement of Collective Fast Response Forces
in case hostilities are launched in Nagorno Karabakh.
"Therefore, I do not think that any country, which is the CSTO member,
will use its force against Azerbaijan and send troops to Azerbaijan",
noted the war expert.
According to him, Armenia periodically voices definite statements
to calm itself, to feel support of other countries but this is a
self-deception, as Russian, Kazakh, Tajik and other politicians have
their own opinion and I do not think they will spoil relations with
Azerbaijan and speak against our country.
It is clear that Armenia’s human and material resources are less than
in Azerbaijan and it is compensating this imbalance by its statements
that CSTO might allegedly speak on its side in case hostilities with
Azerbaijan are launched.