DMITRY MEDVEDEV, ILHAM ALIEYEV AND SERZH SARGSYAN HAD MEETING
RIA OREANDA
July 20 2009
Russia
Moscow. OREANDA-NEWS . July 20, 2009. After watching the Russian
President’s Cup horse races in Central Moscow Hippodrome, the
presidents continued their discussions in a tripartite format and
discussed the Nagorno Karabakh settlement and its basic principles.
Dmitry Medvedev confirmed Russia’s readiness to exert efforts to find
mutually acceptable solutions to the Nagorno Karabakh settlement.
CO-CHAIRS RELEASE A STATEMENT ON THE RESULTS OF THE MEETINGS OF PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
armradio.am
22.07.2009 11:50
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group released the following statement
today:
"Armenian President Serzh Sargsian and Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliev met in Moscow on July 17-18 to discuss issues related to the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
During the meeting on July 17, the sixth since June 2008, the
Presidents held a tete-a-tete discussion and extensive talks with
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs: Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia),
Ambassador Bernard Fassier (France), and Deputy Assistant State
Secretary of State Matthew Bryza (United States), in the presence of
the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office Ambassador
Andrzej Kasprzyk.
On July 18, the Presidents were received by Russian President Dmitri
Medvedev.
The discussions were held in a frank and constructive atmosphere
that allowed the sides to discuss at length and in detail proposed
formulations to overcome their remaining differences on the few
elements of the Basic Principles that have yet to be conceptually
agreed.
The Minsk Group Co-Chairs informed the two Presidents they will hold
a working session at the end of July in Krakow, Poland, to prepare
an updated version of the Madrid Document in accordance with the
‘L’Aquila Declaration’ of Presidents Barack Obama, Dmitri Medvedev
and Nicholas Sarkozy.
The Co-Chairs intend to visit the region in September to assess
the possibilities for a subsequent meeting between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents either at the end of September or the beginning
of October."
BAKU ARMENIANS ARE TIME-WORKERS IN BORCHALI VILLAGES
APA
July 21 2009
Azerbaijan
Marneuli. Nizami Mammadzadeh -APA. "Armenians prefer to live in other
countries than Armenia because of unemployment and poverty in the
country", the Armenians receiving refugee status in Armenia told APA
Georgian bureau.
After the closing of Sadakhli market, the Armenians were forced to
work by the day in the houses of Azerbaijanis in Borchali villages
of Georgia. They engage mostly in the agricultural work. Every day
hundreds of Armenians crossed the Georgian borders to search jobs in
the Azerbaijani houses in Borchali. They are working for three lari
per day.
Ashot, a 40-year old Armenian told APA that they look at the Armenians
born in Azerbaijan and received refugee status in Armenia as a
second-rate man and even don’t give in marriage their daughters.
There are Armenians who are selling fruits in the markets of Marneuli
and Tbilisi, but they said they couldn’t earn enough money because
of high customs duty in Georgia. Local Armenians living in Marneuli
can come to understanding with the Georgian customs offices and carry
fruits to Armenia.
Local official of the Sadakhli village Aflatun Veliyev told APA that
hundreds of Armenian citizens crossed the Sadakhli customs station
in recent years to search jobs in Borchali or to go abroad.
Meeting with first participants of Come Home program takes place at RA
Ministry of Diaspora
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Diasporan Armenian
young people arriving from Turkey, Egypt, France, Russia, Ukraine,
Syria, and Iran became participants of the first stage of the Come Home
program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora.
According to the RA Ministry of Diaspora Press and Public Relations
Department, members of the hosting families, departments participating
in program’s implementation, and representatives of Yerevan
administrative districts were present at the reception.
RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Stepan Petrosian thanked program’s first
participants for responding with faith to the appeal to visit Armenia
within the framework of the program. He also thanked the families
hosting the young people. Deputy Minister S. Petrosian expressed the
hope that those young people, many of which visit the homeland for the
first time, will leave Armenia with the best impressions and will
become ambassadors of the RA Ministry of Diaspora in their countries
and will pass their home-sickness to persons of the same age.
Artak Zakarian, the Head of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Staff, asserted
that other departments and local self-government structures also passed
a hard way when carrying out the organization work of the Come Home
program. He gave assurance that they will show a considerate attitude
to the participant young people over these two weeks of their stay in
Armenia for these days to be meaningful and the young people from the
Diaspora to be able to get acquainted and love the homeland.
Zhenya Azizian, the Head of the Come Home program and Secretary of the
Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Program Implementation,
presented the events of the Come Home program’s first stage. Diasporan
young people aged from 14 to 25 participating in them will visit the
Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, Sardarapat Memorial Complex, Zvartnots
temple, Khor Virap church complex, Saghmosavank, Erebuni
Reserve-Museum, Armenian Genocide Victims Memorial Complex,
Matenadaran, and many other historic-cultural centers of Yerevan. They
will also get acquainted with Armenian national art of singing and
khachkar (cross-stone) art, cuisine, will take part in interactive
study courses on Homeland Study subject, will visit one of Armenian
army’s military units, industrial enterprises, will take part in sports
events. Diasporan young people will take part in the final concert of
Shant TV company’s People’s Dances contest. They will prepare their
performances during a few classes.
It is also planned that first stage’s participants of the Come Home
program will also meet with representatives of Armenian universities
and their student councils. The program of rapprochement with the
homeland will be concluded with an exhibition of works by young people
from the Gegharkunik region on the bank of picturesque Lake Sevan and
with a farewell event.
Daniel Warner doesn’t believe Azerbaijan is preparing for war
19.07.2009 00:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `I do not believe that Azerbaijani government is
preparing for war,’ director of Graduated Institute of International
Studies of Geneva Daniel Warner said.
He said he understands Armenia’s concerns over Azerbaijan’s large
military expenditure and Armenia is obliged to maintain equality in
the region. But it is also noticeable that number of Russian troops in
Armenia is impressive, today.az reports.
He rejected the view that some super powers benefit from the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. `I do not think any super power is interested in a
war in the region. No one is interested in any country’s possessing
potential strong enough to launch a war. I think all are interested in
prosperity, stability and unity in the South Caucasus,’ Warner said.
YURI MERZLYAKOV: THE PARTIES HAVE GOT SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSER ON THE NEGOTIATED ISSUES AND HAVE STARTED DISCUSSING NEW ONES
ArmInfo
2009-07-17 21:04:00
ArmInfo. If we compare today’s meeting of the Armenian and Azeri
presidents with the previous one in St.Petersburg, we will see
no serious achievements in terms of coordination of the basic
principles. Nevertheless, the parties have got substantially closer
on the negotiated issues, the Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group Yuri Merzlyakov said after the meeting of Presidents Sargsyan
and Aliyev in Moscow.
ArmInfo’s correspondent in Moscow quotes Merzlyakov as saying that
the parties have started discussing new issues. Both the presidents
and the co-chairs believe that the settlement is possible. So, the
presidential meetings will be continued. The US co-chair Matthew Bryza
will visit the region in Aug, the French co-chair Bernard Fassier –
in early Sept, all the co-chairs – in late Sept. The next meeting of
the presidents may take place in Oct.
The presidents did not discuss the possibility of involvement of
Nagorno-Karabakh in the peace talks as this issue was not on the
agenda.
French co-chair Bernard Fassier said that there is progress in the
peace process, however, the Madrid principles have not yet received
the final approval of the presidents. The presidents have discussed
a wide range of problems and they need time for assessing this
discussion. Fassier is sure that by Oct the presidents will sum up
the results of the Moscow meeting and will get ready for the new one.
To note, the Moscow meeting of the Armenian and Azeri presidents
lasted for over three hours.
RUSSIAN GAS DELIVERIES TO ARMENIA DOWN 15% IN H1
Interfax
July 16 2009
Russia
Russian gas deliveries to Armenia fell 14.8% in the first half of 2009
year-on-year to 938.8 million cubic meters, exclusive gas supplier
Armrosgazprom reported.
The company blamed declining demand from Armenian consumers due to
tighter household budgets since the onset of the crisis, relatively
warm winter weather in the period and technical limitations on the
production of electricity.
A total of 867.7 mcm of gas was sold in Armenia in the six months,
14% less than in the same period last year.
Household gas consumption fell 4.2% to 344.6 mcm, consumption by
industry tumbled 37.2% to 116.8 mcm and consumption by generating
companies was down 26.7% to 157.4 mcm.
Armenia purchases gas from Russia for $154 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Deliveries from Iran started up in May.
Armrosgazprom was set up in December 1997. Gazprom (RTS: GAZP) has
an 80% interest and the Armenian government has 20%.
SARKISIAN WARNED AGAINST SIGNING ‘KARABAKH DEAL’
Sarkis Harutiunian
July 16 2009
A political party in Armenia known for its hard line on national issues
has warned President Serzh Sarkisian against signing any framework
agreement with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
that would be based on the latest principles offered by international
mediators.
At a press conference in Yerevan on Thursday, a senior representative
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) did not
rule out a demand for Sarkisian’s resignation if the latter signed a
document based on the so-called Madrid principles that Dashnaktsutyun
deems as running against the interests of both Armenia and Karabakh.
Sarkisian will fly to Moscow on Friday to hold talks with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliev. The meeting in the Russian
capital will come a week after the presidents of France, Russia,
and the United States – the three countries that jointly co-head the
Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) leading international efforts on mediating a solution to the
Karabakh conflict – issued a joint statement urging the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan "to resolve the few differences remaining
between them and finalize their agreement" on the most recent draft
of the Madrid principles.
These principles proposed by the mediators as a basis for further
negotiations, in particular, call for the "return of the territories
surrounding Karabakh to Azerbaijani control" and "future determination
of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally
binding expression of will."
Dashnaktsutyun Executive Council of Armenia representative Armen
Rustamian said on Thursday that "if, God forbid, such a document is
signed, our struggle will receive a completely different nature."
"We have repeatedly said that no matter who the incumbent president is,
we will oppose such a policy with all available constitutional means,
including by demanding [the president’s] resignation," said Rustamian.
Earlier this week, Dashnaktsutyun presented a demand for the
resignation of the foreign minister in the Sarkisian cabinet.
The party had scheduled a picket near the Foreign Ministry building
in Yerevan for Thursday afternoon, but canceled it after President
Sarkisian declared July 16 a day of national mourning in Armenia
over a deadly plane crash in Iran in which 168 people, including 36
Armenians, were killed while traveling from Tehran to Yerevan.
Among Dashnaktsutyun’s demands, which were also echoed by the
participants of the party-hosted large forum in Karabakh capital
Stepanakert last weekend, is that Yerevan paves the way for Karabakh
to return to the negotiations with Azerbaijan as a full party.
A statement adopted by the Dashnaktsutyun Executive Council of
Armenia earlier this week called for the resignation of Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian because "Armenia’s foreign policy has
deviated from the main provisions of the national security strategy."
"For the purpose of eliminating the negative consequences that have
emerged in the foreign policy domain and restoring the national-state
course, we demand the resignation of Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian, who is immediately responsible for the sphere," said
Rustamian, presenting the summary demand of the statement.
Rustamian explained that by not demanding President Sarkisian’s
resignation, Dashnaktsutyun shows that it does not want to "disrupt
the works", but instead seeks a "drastic change" in the situation.
"The president still has an opportunity to make a drastic change in
the situation and, most importantly, not to sign the document that
is being proposed today," he said.
Rustamian also announced that Dashnaktsutyun had prepared a letter
addressed to the ambassadors of the United States, France and Russia
to Armenia informing them of "the deepest disappointment of Armenians
around the world with the unjustified and groundless pressure of
the Minsk Group co-chairing countries on Armenia for the purpose of
imposing unilateral and dangerous concessions in the issue of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
Another Armenian party, Zharangutyun, also known as a vocal critic
of Sarkisian’s policy on Karabakh, hinted at possible cooperation
with Dashnaktsutyun in opposing a deal with Azerbaijan based on the
Madrid principles.
Larisa Alaverdian, a member of the party’s parliamentary faction,
emphasized at a separate press conference on Thursday that Zharangutyun
was the first to declare they would demand Sarkisian’s resignation
if he signed any document based on the Madrid principles.
"I am glad we have some ground for cooperation with such an old and
established political force as Dashnaktsutyun," said Alaverdian. "I
have criticized Dashnaktsutyun on many occasions over domestic matters
before. But it is good that [in this issue] our viewpoints match."
SIX ARMENIAN CITIZENS REPORTED KILLED IN TU-154 CRASH
ARKA
July 15, 2009
YEREVAN, July 15. /ARKA/. According to the preliminary data, six
Armenian citizens were killed in the TU-154 crash in Iran, reported
Vice-Chief of the RA Civil Aviation Department Ara Poghosyan.
They are Ashot Nersisyan, Artur Grigoryan, Karine Margaryan, Ara
Simonyan, as well as the flight engineers Grigor Barseghyan and
Suren Soghomonyan.
According to the preliminary information six Armenian citizens were
killed in the crash, with 35 Armenian names being in the passenger
list.
Two Georgian citizens (Nikonova Natella and Chkodua Givi) were aboard,
with all the other passengers being Iranian citizens.
The nationality of two children killed in the crash is being
identified.
The plane crashed 200km away from Tehran. According to the preliminary
data, all the 153 passengers and 16 crew members were killed. P.T. -0–
JULY 16 ANNOUNCED A MOURNING DAY IN ARMENIA
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.07.2009 18:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA President Serzh Sargsyan convened an extraordinary
meeting in connection with crashing of The Caspian Airlines Russian
made Tupolev jet heading from Tehran to the Yerevan.
Heads of National Security Council and Civil Aviation Authority
participated in the meeting, submitting catastrophe details to RA
President.
A resolution was passed on forming a Governmental Committee headed
by Vice Premier and Territorial Management Minister, RA President’s
Press Service reported.
RA President also signed a decree on announcing July 16 a mourning
day in Armenia.