Category: 2017

Interfax - Russia & CIS Diplomatic Panorama
 Thursday 7:46 PM MSK
Armenian, Azerbaijani foreign ministers' meeting to help avert armed
conflict - Yerevan
YEREVAN. Aug 10
An upcoming meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers scheduled for September will be aimed at preventing possible
hostilities in the region, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh
Kocharyan said.
"The mediators are setting one task - averting possible hostilities
and reducing the degree of tensions. This is task number 1," he told
reporters on Thursday.
Azerbaijan's policy "remains a policy of force, and this country is
trying to blackmail the mediators, but it will not succeed," Kocharyan
said.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov are expected to meet in New York in the
second half of September.
Nalbandian told reporters on Wednesday that "the meeting's agenda
includes ways to promote the negotiating process [on
Nagorno-Karabakh]. There is no alternative to negotiations."
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs proposed arranging a meeting on the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents before the end of 2017.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers met previously in
Brussels on July 11.
The ceasefire between Armenia and the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic on one side and Azerbaijan on the other side was declared in
May 1994.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group,
set up in 1992, has been mediating talks on finding a peaceful
solution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The OSCE Minsk Group
includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland
and Turkey. It is co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States.

Interfax - Russia & CIS Diplomatic Panorama
 Thursday 7:46 PM MSK
Armenia's ties with Iran not to affect its relations with U.S. - diplomat
YEREVAN. Aug 10
Armenia is interested in having deeper relations with Iran and is not
worried by the United States' possible reaction to this, Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said.
"Armenia is interested in deeper relations with Iran, and we don't
look at the position of other countries on the matter. This can't have
a negative effect on Armenia's relations with the U.S.," Kocharyan
told journalists on Thursday.
Amid tensions in U.S.-Iranian relations, the U.S. has "treated our
ties with Iran with understanding, because we are honest in our
foreign policy," he said.
Kocharyan also acknowledged that U.S. sanctions against Russia may
have a negative effect on Armenia's economy.
"When the Russian economy sees negative trends, they affect all of its
neighbors. This affects EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union] member Armenia,
this affects EAEU non-member Azerbaijan, and this affects Georgia,
which is moving towards the EU. Countries that are linked to Russia in
this way or that - in terms of workforce, economic relations, or the
sale of goods - may naturally feel negative influences," Kocharyan
said.
Armenia should expand existing economic relations with EAEU countries
and other states and also build and develop ties with new countries,
he said.
"The economic component of EAEU membership is very important to
Armenia, and this also makes up the foundation of national security,"
he said.

Plus Company Updates(PCU)
 Thursday
Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Karen Karapetyan holds a
meeting with the Chairman of Eurasian development bank Dmitry Pankin
Yerevan: Karen Karapetyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia,
met yesterday with Dmitry Pankin, Chairman of the Management Board of
Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). The meeting was held on 7 July 2017,
in Yerevan.
During the meeting, the parties shared their high appreciation of
bilateral cooperation in the framework of implementing several
investment projects. Karen Karapetyan and Dmitry Pankin also discussed
further prospects of developing partner relationships. The parties
specifically agreed to cooperate in the domain of agriculture,
transport, and infrastructure.
Additional Information:
By 7 July 2017, EDB, in its capacity of the EFSD Resources Manager,
had provided to Armenia US $490 million. The following agreements are
signed and effective:
- on providing a financial credit of US $300 million to Armenia for
the purposes of budget support;
- on financing the construction of the North-South Road Corridor
(Phase IV) amounting to US $150 million;
- on financing the “Irrigation System Modernization Project” in
Armenia amounting to US $40 million.
The EFSD Council has approved its support to the project “Construction
of Mastara Reservoir”, which involves investments amounting to US $40
million.
In July 2017, EDB also provided a US $20 million credit line to
Ardshinbank for trade finance.
Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is an international financial
institution founded by Russia and Kazakhstan in January 2006 with the
mission to facilitate the development of market economies, sustainable
economic growth, and the expansion of mutual trade and other economic
ties in its member states. EDB's charter capital totals US $7 billion.
The member states of the Bank are the Republic of Armenia, the
Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic,
the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Tajikistan.
The Eurasian Fund for Stabilisation and Development (EFSD) amounting
to US $8.513 billion was formed on 9 June 2009 by the governments of
the same six countries. The objectives of the EFSD are to assist its
member countries in overcoming the consequences of the global
financial crisis, ensure their economic and financial stability, and
foster integration in the region. The EFSD member countries signed the
Fund Management Agreement with Eurasian Development Bank giving it the
role of the EFSD Resources Manager.

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Thursday
150-180 mln USD to be invested for construction of Shnogh
hydroelectric power plant
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s government approved the
draft decision to sign a framework agreement on the construction,
funding, ownership and exploitation of Shnogh hydroelectric power
plant in Lori province (76 MW capacity)withthe Investors’ Club of
Armenia non-public contractual investment fund, reports Armenpress.
Ashot Manukyan, minister of energy infrastructures and natural
resources, said for the implementation of the program a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) has been signed between the government and the
fund on April 13, 2017. Based on the MoU provisions, the fund has
applied to the government with a proposal to implement the program and
an initiative to attract necessary financial resources.
“The adoption of the decision stems from the government’s action plan
which aims to strengthen energy security. It is a well-known fact that
the water resources of Debed and Araks rivers remain underused, and
this investment program aims at partially fill that gap. The program
will be implemented within the frames of public-private sector
cooperation. It was discussed long ago and is the first major program
of the Investors’ Club of Armenia”, the minister said, adding that the
program is in accordance with the standards presented to environmental
organizations. Within the framework of the program the fund will
cooperate with Western specialized companies. A total of 150-180
million USD investment is required for the program, however, this
number can be further adjusted.
“The hydroelectric power plant will be a modern complex engineering
structure which will be equipped with latest technologies and will be
environmentally safe. The HPP will produce 5% of our country’s
domestic electricity consumption”, Ashot Manukyan said, adding that
the HPP is being built for the upcoming 100 years. More than 500
notifications and proposals were made over the program which were
mainly accepted.
Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said good and prospective program has
been presented.
It is expected the government will assist the constructor to obtain
land for the HPP construction.
The launch of activities of “Investors’ club of Armenia” non-public
contractual investment fund was officially heralded on March 25 with
the participation of the Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan
and over 3 dozens of Diaspora Armenian businessmen from the Russian
Federation. Back on January 25, 2017 numerous Armenian businessmen in
Russia had issued a statement on their readiness to support the reform
process in Armenia and to participate together with the Government of
Armenia in the initiatives and business projects in Armenia.

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Thursday
Armenia's two military factories to be merged
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s government made a decision
to merge the 65th military factory CJSC and Garni-Ler
scientific-production unit OJSC, reports Armenpress.
As a result, the Republic of Armenia will be a 100% owner of the
Garni-Ler OJSC which will enable the company to be engaged in state
military-industrial development programs, according to which,
investments are expected to be made in priority 100% state
enterprises, as well as to take part in talks on company related
issues, in the processes of creating joint enterprises within the
frames of international agreements.
Defense minister Vigen Sargsyan said the decision aims at making the
repair and modernization process of military products effective by
merging the production and mobilization capacities of the two
companies. “Mr. Prime Minister, this decision is aimed at implementing
our government’s policy, increasing the efficiency of enterprises with
state participation”, the minister said.
65th military factory is a company with 100% state participation which
is mainly engaged in repair of small arms, artillery separate systems,
as well as in technical service works in the army.
Garni-Ler scientific-production unit is a company with 98.4% state
participation which is managed by the defense ministry. The company is
engaged in production of firearms, development of new types of
weapons.

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Thursday
MG Co-Chairs understand that the reason of impossibility of progress
on NK conflict is Azerbaijan – deputy FM
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have
one task in the negotiations over the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict - to prevent all possible military developments,
Shavarsh Kocharyan – deputy minister of foreign affairs of Armenia,
told reporters after the Cabinet meeting, reports Armenpress.
“Their number one task is to take steps to reduce level of military
tension. The next mission of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs is to
contribute to the sides to come to an agreement”, the deputy FM said,
adding that the Co-Chairs are focused on this issue.
According to Kocharyan, they understand very well that it’s impossible
to speak about any progress on this issue and the reason of that is
Azerbaijan with its policy. The deputy FM said as before Azerbaijan
hopes to resolve the conflict by force, be it in the line of contact
with Artsakh and in the border with Armenia. According to him, even
though now there may be a relative silence along the line of contact
with Artsakh, incidents are taking place both there and in the border
with Armenia. “All this yet again shows that Azerbaijan is not
inclined to a peaceful settlement of the conflict and as before it
hopes to solve it by force”, Shavarsh Kocharyan said.
Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian earlier informed that the
foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in New York in
the second half of September.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Thursday
Armenian MFA Deputy Minister: US has always been sympathetic to the
friendly relations of Armenia with the Islamic Republic of Iran
 Yerevan August 10
Naira Badalyan. Armenia is interested in deepening cooperation with
Iran and in this issue has never built relations with countries with
an eye on others. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh
Kocharyan stated in a conversation with journalists after the August
10 meeting of the Government, commenting on possible negative
consequences for Armenia from the presence of President Serzh Sargsyan
at the inauguration of the reelected Iranian President Hassan
Roukhani, during which anti- American statements were made
According to the Deputy head, good relations with the Iran and their
development do not harm the Armenian-American relations. "Even at a
time when Iran was under the strictest sanctions of the West, the US
was sympathetic to Armenia's friendly relations with Iran, and if the
country is honest in its foreign policy, does not speak one thing in
one place but does another, everything should be normal ", Kocharian
noted.
Earlier, according to the expert, on the background of the weakening
of Turkey's positions, Iran's role will increase. In this connection,
the Turkologist notes the importance of the presence of the Armenian
delegation headed by the president at the inauguration of the elected
head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hasan Ruhani. According to Ruben
Safrastyan, the Armenian-Iranian relations have already moved beyond
the bilateral, becoming a factor of regional stability. The factor
that Azerbaijan did not participate in the inauguration of the Iranian
president, according to the turkologist, says that Baku is reviewing
its regional policy, hinting at the US that follows the regional
policy of Washington and encourages pressure on Iran.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Thursday
Shavarsh Kocharyan: aim of intermediaries at this stage is not to
allow repeat of military actions
Yerevan August 10
Naira Badalyan. OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs today are aimed not so much
at reaching an agreement on Karabakh settlement issue, as not to allow
the resumption of hostilities at the contact line. Armenian Deputy
Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan stated in an interview with
journalists after the Government meeting on August 10. According to
him, the intermediaries at this stage are very well aware that it is
impossible to talk about progress in the negotiation process until
Baku's policy regarding the resolution of the Karabakh conflict
changes. According to the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of
Armenia, Azerbaijan has never refused a military solution to the
conflict and a policy of blackmail. "Today's relative calm on the line
of contact does not mean that we should lose our vigilance because
Azerbaijan is not committed to a peaceful solution to the problem,"
Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated.