ARTSAKH NEWS DIGEST
June 26, 2007 (#5)
POLITICS
Robert Simmons, NATO Special Representative in the South Caucasus,
criticized Azerbaijan’s aggressive rhetoric and emphasized the need to look
for only peaceful ways to resolve the Karabakh conflict. He also ruled out
NATO direct involvement in the process. Nevertheless, just a few days later,
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev talking at a military school graduation
promised to "attack Armenia in all directions". He named political,
economic, diplomatic and informational fronts, while also not ruling out a
possible future military attack on Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh enabled by
Azerbaijan’s ongoing military build-up, which Aliyev also touted.
U.S. House appropriators voted to allocate up to $6 million in assistance to
Nagorno Karabakh. They again called upon the State Department to carry out
confidence building programs among parties to the Karabakh conflict. But
Azerbaijan has repeatedly stalled such efforts by refusing pro-peace
initiatives.
Two European Union officials, Mark Fawcett and Kaupo Kand, discussed
potential EU humanitarian and rehabilitation programs with President Arkady
Ghoukasian in Stepanakert. They also said that Peter Semneby, the EU envoy
to South Caucasus, plans to visit Nagorno Karabakh.
NKR presidential campaign began, as Central Election Commission registered
all five individuals that decided to run. Artsakh Public TV and radio will
provide equal amount of free air time to each candidate. (More about July 19
elections at <; )
Azeri soldier Samir Mamedov, who surrendered to the Armenian side last
December, reportedly applied for refugee status so that he could remain in
Armenia. He refuses to return to Azerbaijan fearing government harassment.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
President Ghoukasian emphasized the importance of continued investments in
Artsakh’s economy when he met with Arsen Ghazarian, Chairman of the Union of
Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia. The two also discussed how to
further stimulate such investments, which have seen substantial increase in
the last few years. (For more about investments in Karabakh see
< _reasons.shtml>)
SOCIETY
Armenian geologists arrived in Artsakh to help design a long-term solution
to seasonal water shortages in Stepanakert, Artsakh’s capital. They
specifically looked at using underground water as a possible solution. The
project will need major investments to materialize.
Scholars and scientists from Armenia and Karabakh gathered at a conference
in Shushi to speak about the fortress-town’s unique place in the Armenian
history and culture. The meeting was devoted to the fifteenth anniversary of
Shushi liberation being marked this year. (Read more at
<;)
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
