Category: 2017

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
 Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker: Lapshin once again confirmed
Armenian-Azerbaijani essence of Azerbaijan
Yerevan September 16
David Stepanyan. With his latest statements, blogger Alexander Lapshin
once again confirmed the Armenian-phobic nature of Azerbaijan, - said
the vice-speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard
Sharmazanov.
"Lapshin's statements about terror against the Armenians of Sumgayit,
Baku and Karabakh over the Nazi scheme" juden frei "are what we have
been talking about for many years, something I repeatedly mentioned
myself: If the Azerbaijani authorities are at war with monuments, in
the Arax Armenian khachkars by the thousands, what can be said about
other manifestations of the Armenian-phobic essence of the Azerbaijani
state? " the Republican asked.
In late 2016, Lapshin was detained in Minsk at the request of
Azerbaijan, which included him in the "black list" for visiting
Artsakh without agreeing with himself. After that, he was extradited
to Azerbaijan, where on July 20 he was found guilty of "illegal
crossing of the state border of Azerbaijan as part of a criminal
group." Lapshin was sentenced to three years in prison, however, on
Monday he was pardoned by Ilham Aliyev and released to Israel.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
Delegation of US congressmen to discuss strengthening Armenia`s energy
independence from Russia in Yerevan
Yerevan September 16
David Stepanyan. Delegation of US congressmen to discuss strengthening
Armenia`s energy independence from Russia in Yerevan
According to Voice of America, the delegation will arrive in Armenia
on Sunday at the initiative of the congressman with the Armenian roots
Jackie Spir Kanchelian. As part of the delegation, congressmen Frank
Pallone, Anna Eshu, David Valando, on whose initiative Congress
recently allocated money for the demining of Karabakh, Tulsi Gubard
and Jim Sensenbiener.
"This is probably the largest delegation of the Congress that visited
Armenia, first of all we want to strengthen our friendship, help
Armenia to shake off the corrupt manifestations left over from Soviet
times, create new opportunities to support democracy in Armenia."
Those of us who have Armenian roots , it is very important to visit
the homeland, get acquainted with the historical homeland, feel it,
"the congressmen note.
US congressmen intend to discuss with Armenia the strengthening of
energy independence, because now Armenia in the energy sense
completely depends on Russia, which, according to the Congressmen, is
trying to restore the Soviet Union.
"I would like Armenia to receive more assistance, since we regard
Armenia as our partner in the region, which is under the aggressive
influence of Moscow, "- said the congressman Kanchelian.
"I am sure that Armenia does not want to return to the Soviet Union,
especially taking into account its technological potential of the
Armenians, we want to strengthen our relations with Armenia so that it
no longer feels threats to its sovereignty." Many Armenians, who have
reached high heights in the US, want to restore ties with Armenia, and
the congressmen will discuss these issues in Yerevan, "the congressman
summed up.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
Kuwait sheikh will bring several large-scale investment programs to Armenia
Yerevan September 16
David Stepanyan. Sheikh from Kuwait Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah will bring
several large- scale investment programs to Armenia
According to Jamanak newspaper, Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will arrive in
Armenia at the invitation of the head of the parliamentary group
"Tsarukyan block" Gagik Tsarukyan.
The visit of the chairman of Olympic Council of Asia and the Asian
Handball Federation will be held in the coming days. Within the
framework of the visit, sheikh's meetings with President Serzh
Sargsyan and other high-ranking officials are envisaged.

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ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
The export of cattle from Armenia is growing. Beef continues to go up
 Yerevan September 16
David Stepanyan. A significant increase in exports led to a
significant, about 8% rise in the price of beef meat sold on the
domestic market, Haykakan Zhamanak writes.
According to the data of the State Food Safety Service of Armenia,
only 1131 heads of large and 8,600 small cattle were exported from
Armenia in July-August.
Exports are mainly carried out in Qatar and Iran.
At the moment, kg of beef meat in Yerevan stores costs from 2,400 to 3200 drams.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
French Secretary of State: In the near future, within the framework of
the UN General Assembly, it is planned to hold a meeting of the
Foreign Ministers on Karabakh
Yerevan September 16
Angela Stepanyan. In the near future, within the framework of UN
General Assembly, it is planned to hold a meeting at the level of
foreign ministers on Nagorno-Karabakh, "Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne,
Secretary of State for the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of
France, said in Baku. "It is possible that in the future the meeting
will be held at a higher level, France has always been attentive to
this process.In today's meeting with President Ilham Aliyev I noted
that France, as a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group, is very
diligent in carrying out its mediation mission settlement of the
Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, "he said.
According to the estimates of the minister, the co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group do their work properly. In this regard, Lemoine maintains
an ongoing relationship with Ambassador Stefan Visconti, representing
France in the OSCE Minsk Group.
The OSCE Minsk Group has been dealing with the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict since 1992, represented by the co-chairs from
Russia, the United States and France. Currently, the settlement
process is based on the Madrid Principles put forward by the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs in 2007 and updated in 2009, among other things,
providing for the deployment of a peacekeeping contingent in the
conflict zone.

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Saturday
US Congress' representative delegation to visit Armenia
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. By the initiative of
Armenian-American congresswoman Jackie Kanchelian Speier a delegation
of US congressmen will visit Armenia on September 17, Voice of America
reports.
The delegation includes congressman Frank Pallone who brought
assistance to Armenia after the Spitak earthquake, ethnic Armenian
congresswoman Anna Eshoo, congressman David Valadao, congresswoman
Tulsi Gabbard and congressman Jim Sensenbrenner.
“This is perhaps the largest congressional delegation’s visit to
independent democratic Armenia”, congresswoman Jackie Kanchelian
Speier told Voice of America, adding that the agenda of the visit is
quite full. As for the goals of the visit, they are numerous: “The
first one is to strengthen our friendship, help Armenia to get rid of
corruption phenomena still existing in the country, create new
opportunities for providing assistance to Armenia aimed at development
of democracy”.
This visit has a sensational significance for the congresswoman. “Of
course, for us who have Armenian origins it is very important to visit
the homeland, get acquainted with the historical homeland, feel and
touch it”, she said. “I would like for Armenia to receive huge amount
of assistance since I consider Armenia as our partner in a region that
is under aggressive actions of Russia”.
The Congressmen are going to discuss with the Armenian side the issue
of strengthening Armenia’s energy independence since at the moment
Armenia depends on Russia in terms of energy supplies, which ,
according to the congresswoman, wants to restore the Soviet Union. “I
am convinced that Armenia doesn’t want to again become a Soviet
Armenia”.
Jackie Kanchelian Speier highlights Armenia’s huge potential in
development of technological field and Armenian Ambassador to US
Grigor Hovhannisyan’s perfect work on strengthening the
Armenian-American ties. The US is ready for expanding the political
and economic relations with Armenia.
“We want to strengthen the relations with Armenia so that Armenia will
never have to worry about the threat of its sovereignty”, she said.
Another advantage of Armenia is the Armenian Diaspora. Numerous
Armenians that have serious achievements in the US want to restore the
link with Armenia, and the Congressmen will discuss also these
prospects during their Armenia visit.

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Saturday
Flow of Syrian-Armenians to Armenia sharply decreases after Aleppo liberation
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. After the liberation of Aleppo the
flow of Syrian-Armenians to Armenia has sharply decreased, George
Barseghyan, president of theCoordinating CenterforSyrian-Armenians'
IssuesNGO, told Armenpress, adding that at the moment there is a
certain activeness among Syrian-Armenians departing for Aleppo from
Armenia.
“The Syrian-Armenians who were here and tried to achieve certain
result, to have their own business during these years, and failed for
some reasons, of course, were always waiting for an opportunity to
return. Thus, after the Aleppo liberation some of them return to
Syria, especially when they have their homes, workshops and stores in
Aleppo. The markets have been liberated, and people return to their
works”, George Barseghyan said.
He couldn’t mention an exact statistics on those who return since
Syrian-Armenians are in constant movement. According to the latest
data, 22.500 Syrian-Armenians are registered in Armenia. The
Syrian-Armenians in Armenia are connected with the theCoordinating
CenterforSyrian-Armenians' Issues which continues providing
assistance. Syrian-Armenians are provided with food, clothing, hygiene
items by the assistance of the government and cooperation with
international organizations and NGOs.
One of the main assistances provided to the Syrian-Armenians is the
medical service. There is a clinic in the second floor of the Center.
All this is being done for charity purposes.
“Of course, the main share of the medical assistance lies on the
Armenian government. The diaspora ministry managed to reach success
thanks to its gratitude work. When a Syrian-Armenian needs medical
assistance, he/she applies to the ministry, and the latter organizes
the issue of state order through the healthcare ministry within
several days. Additional assistance is provided by the Izmirlian
Foundation, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin”, he said.
However, Syrian-Armenians still face the problem of housing rent.
Assistance is also provided on this path. The money for rent is being
provided to those who arrived in Armenia in the first 3 months, and
then if that person is really in need, 60.000 AMD is being provided on
monthly basis. There are families who received assistance for 15
months.
George Barseghyan said there are numerous Syrian-Armenians in Armenia
who have their own business. They are engaged mainly in services,
restaurant fields.

 Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Saturday
Vice Speaker Sharmazanov to voice about Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian
policy at CSTO Parliamentary Assembly
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Alexander Lapshin recorded what has
been stated by the Armenian side for years, that is Azerbaijan is an
anti-democratic, racist state, Eduard Sharmazanov – Vice Speaker of
Armenia’s Parliament, told Armenpress commenting on Russian-Israeli
blogger Alexander Lapshin’s first note posted in the social network
after his release from the Azerbaijani prison.
“Azerbaijan carries out not only an anti-Armenian policy, but also
abnormal policy in general. What Lapshin has said should be considered
as a certain message for the international community: plus also the
facts that the foreign national has not only been arrested, but he
also was beaten, suffered tortures and attempt was made to present all
of these as a suicide attempt. This proves that Azerbaijan state is
completely based on the ideology of lie and frauds”, Sharmazanov said.
He compared Azerbaijan’s current policy with the policy of Young
Turks, stating that the people of Artsakh should fight for their
self-defense since nothing has changed in Azerbaijan’s calculations.
“This shows that there is a state in the 21st century which is a
member of the Council of Europe, however, its main ideology is racism
and Armenophobia”, he said.
Sharmazanov said like previously, now as well the Armenian delegations
in various structures will voice about Azerbaijan’s such policy.
“The same we are going to do during the upcoming CSTO Parliamentary
Assembly on October 12-14”, he said.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
 Saturday 6:08 PM GMT
Armenia’s defense ministry says situation in Nagorno-Karabakh calm
YEREVAN September 16
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has remained relatively calm over
the past week, Armenia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday, referring
to information from Nagorno-Karabakh’s Army of Defense.
YEREVAN, September 16. /TASS/. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has
remained relatively calm over the past week, Armenia’s Defense
Ministry said on Saturday, referring to information from
Nagorno-Karabakh’s Army of Defense.
"On September 10-16, the tactical situation along the line disengaging
the rival Armed Forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan has remained
relatively quiet," the statement said.
Over the past week, "the adversary violated the ceasefire mainly with
small arms of various calibers, conducting over 1,500 shots in the
direction of Karabakh positions," it said.
"Leading elements of the Army of Defense retain full control at the
frontline and stay vigilant carrying on combat duty," the Armenian
defense ministry said.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Mountainous Karabakh) is a
mostly Armenian-populated enclave inside the sovereign territory of
Azerbaijan. It was the first zone of inter-ethnic tensions and
violence to appear on the map of the former USSR.
Even almost a quarter of a century after the breakup of the Soviet
Union, Karabakh remains a so-called 'frozen conflict' on the
post-Soviet space, as the region is the subject of a dispute between
Azerbaijan and the local Armenian population that draws on strong
support from fellow-countrymen in neighboring Armenia.
In 1988, hostilities broke out there between the forces reporting to
the government in Baku and Armenian residents, which resulted in the
region's de facto independence. In 1994, a ceasefire was reached but
the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain strained ever
since then.
Russia, France and the U.S. co-chair the Minsk Group of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which attempts to
broker an end to hostilities and the conflict.