Author: Ara Felekian

From heavy industry to military production: How 5-Year Plans contributed to Korea’s rapid economic development

Ara Felekian

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 11:12, 25 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Korea Development Institute (KDI) has a special place in South Korea’s economic life.

Founded in 1971, Korea Development Institute has been recognized as a leading think tank of Korea significantly contributing to the economic and social development of the country. KDI has conducted research on a broad range of economic and social issues, including macroeconomics policy, fiscal policy, and labor.

From the moment of its establishment up to 1996 the Institute has developed and presented to the country’s leadership 5-Year Economic Development Plans which have been consistently implemented by ensuring the country’s drastic economic development. Since 1996, this policy of fulfilling 5-Year Plans has been suspended, but the Institute continues cooperating with the government, assisting with policy development and implementation.

Within the frameworks of the media tour organized by the Korean Culture and Information Service, ARMENPRESS spoke with KDI Visiting Senior Fellow Byung Koo Cho. He said that the development and implementation of these 5-Year Economic Development Plans is justified, the evidence of which is the high level of economic development of South Korea.

“In 1960s we thought it’s necessary to achieve economic development with the use of own technologies, and the 5-Year Plans served for achieving this goal. Everything worked out well for us, that’s why we achieved such success”, he said.

According to him, Korea has achieved wonderful economic results because of these 5-Year Plans, however, notes that this path was also full of barriers and crisis situations which were overcome thanks to a flexible policy.

“During the implementation of the 4th Plan, President Park Chung-hee died, and starting from late 1960s up to mid-1970s our country faced an economic and political crisis. There was also the conflict with North Korea, and that time North Korea was a richer country economically, politically and militarily. We were mainly exporting light industry products that time, such as clothing, shoes, etc. The problem was that many other countries had that product and were exporting it, therefore, we understood that we need to focus on other directions. There was a goal to develop the military and defense industry. But Korea didn’t have that capacities that time, and starting 1973 our country began developing the heavy and chemical industry”, Byung Koo Cho said.

How South Korea made such a drastic economic development thanks to the 5-Year Plans, Byung Koo Cho gives a very simple explanation. According to him, many countries have developed economic development plans, but developing plans only is one thing, and implementing them is another. He thinks that these plans must be implemented, not be left on paper.

The KDI Visiting Senior Fellow informed that every time facing a new crisis the leaders of South Korea were changing the development plans in order to adapt to the new situation and overcome the crisis.

Another feature that Korea has, according to Byung Koo Cho, is that here private companies have a big role and freedom in promoting the economic development plans. “In other countries the government is pushing forward the economic development plan, but in our country private companies have freedom in this regard. That’s why Samsung and Hyundai developed that time and still continue their development course”, he said.

Currently, South Korea also has its own military production as the country is producing tanks, missiles, fighter jets. South Korea started its own military production after the collapse of the Soviet Union when they managed to obtain the military technologies of the collapsed Union. “On its basis we achieved the development of the military industry, but, of course, with developing, improving the technologies that we have obtained. Now we have orders for military products from Poland, Norway and other countries”, he added.

Before the interview, the reporter of ARMENPRESS also toured the Global Knowledge Exchange & Development Center where the models and main directions of economic development of modern Korea are presented in chronological order.

 

Shant Khlghatyan

Photos by PENTA PRESS




No one cancelled OSCE Minsk Group’s mandate – MFA

Ara Felekian

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 15:52,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship has an international mandate to provide support for the lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan told ARMENPRESS, commenting on Azerbaijan’s reaction to Washington’s appointment of a new U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

“No one cancelled this mandate,” Hunanyan added.

On August 25, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken appointed Ambassador Philip T. Reeker as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations, who will also serve as U.S. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair.




Forecast: There are more questions than answers. But they will be resolved with the support of Moscow

Ara Felekian
ARMINFO
Armenia – Aug 26 2022
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.As of today, there are more questions than answers about the corridors to be opened in the South Caucasus. But I really hope that with the support and participation  of Russia, these issues will be resolved soon or maybe not so soon.  Viktor Nadein-Raevsky, Researcher of the Institute of World Economy  and  International Relations (IMEMO), said in an interview with  ArmInfo. 

"For example, the area around the Lachin corridor, no doubt, needs  protection: mountainous terrain, serpentine – there is not just a  narrow section of the road, there is a section of territory that  someone should protect, especially after the arrival of the  Azerbaijani population there. Otherwise clashes are inevitable.  And  I do not at all think that control over the territory of the Lachin  corridor should be carried out exclusively by Azerbaijan," he  stressed.

In this light, returning to the history of the conflict, the  Turkologist recalled that the territory of Nagorno- Karabakh  inhabited by Armenians was once included by the Bolshevik government  of the RSFSR to Azerbaijan. At the same time, he noted that the  region of Lachin, which at that time also belonged to the Azerbaijan  SSR, was mainly inhabited by Kurds. And this time the Armenian side  is the one who raises questions about the fact that the latter was  forced to leave it in the 1990s.

According to the Russian expert, one way or another, there is no  mention of ownership of Karabakh and Lachin in the tripartite  statement of November 9, 2020. As well as there is no mention of  Baku's control over movements and passage in the Lachin corridor  Thus, according to Nadein-Raevsky, even the agreement of the  conflicting parties to move still leaves open the question of  ensuring its security.

"In general, the activation of transport corridors seems to be a very  real step towards the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani  relations. But even here the question arises of the need to ensure  their safe functioning. For example, it is not clear who will ensure  the safety of the passage of Armenian passengers passing through  Nakhichevan or Baku. History shows that, unfortunately, Baku is not  able to do this on its own, while the security of the road from  Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan will be provided by Russian border troops,"  the expert summed up.

Iran receives the US response on the nuclear deal

Ara Felekian

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 20:28,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Wednesday that Iran is studying the US responses received via the EU coordinator, ARMENPRESS reports, citing IRNA agency.

Kanaani said that the US government's response to the Islamic Republic of Iran's comments to resolve the remaining issues in the sanctions removal talks has been received by Tehran through the European Coordinator this afternoon.

A detailed review of the views of the US side has begun and the Islamic Republic of Iran will announce its standpoints to the Coordinator after completing the study, he added.

At the latest round of the talks, held earlier in August, the European Union presented proposals aimed at salvaging the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), which ran into trouble in 2018 after the US withdrew and reinstated sanctions on Iran.

Tehran last Monday offered its response to the proposals which the EU and the US said they had received and were assessing.

Iran has time and again said that it is serious to reach a strong, good and durable revival agreement that respects its red lines.

In a conversation with his French counterpart, Armenian FM highlights the importance of repatriation of Armenian POWs

Ara Felekian

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 18:19,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on August 24.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, Minister Mirzoyan expressed condolences to the French side regarding the human casualties caused by the storm in Corsica on August 18. Minister Colonna, in turn, expressed condolences to the Armenian side regarding the human casualties as a result of the explosion in the "Surmalu" shopping center and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Catherine Colonna expressed satisfaction with the high level of special Armenian-French relations. In this context, the sides expressed willingness to take active steps in the direction of further deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation and enrichment of the bilateral agenda through the implementation of specific projects.

During the telephone conversation, issues of regional security and stability were touched upon.

Minister Mirzoyan presented to his counterpart the approaches of the Armenian side regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the establishment of regional peace.

The parties emphasized the role of France as the Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group in promoting the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Referring to the solution of the humanitarian problems caused by the 44-day war, the Armenian Foreign Minister stressed the need to repatriate the Armenian prisoners of war and civilians illegally held in Azerbaijan, and to reveal the fates of the forcibly disappeared and the missing and the missing.

Putin, Pashinyan discuss issues of security on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Ara Felekian

Aug 8 2022
Earlier in the day, Azerbaijan accused the Armenian side of violating the ceasefire on the border and in Nagorno-Karabakh

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed issues of security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Kremlin press service said on Monday after their telephone conversation initiated by the Armenian side.

"The sides discussed the development of the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh and issues of security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border," it said.

In this context, Putin and Pashinyan discussed the trilateral agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh. "They reiterated their commitment to all the provisions of the agreements of the Russia, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021," the Kremlin said.

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijan accused the Armenian side of violating the ceasefire on the border and in Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that "Armenian armed units shelled positions of the Azerbaijani army ten times during the past day."

Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry reported earlier that the situation in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh was escalating. According to the ministry, the ceasefire was violated by the Azerbaijani army near the Sarybaba height. The command of the peacekeeping contingent jointly with representatives of the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides are taking measures to stabilize the situation.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs – Russia, France and the United States.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. Under the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the engagement line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor that connects Armenia with the enclave to exercise control of the ceasefire observance. Apart from that, a number of districts came over to Baku’s control.

Several months later, on January 11, 2021, the three leaders met in Moscow and reached an agreement on unblocking regional communications. Following this agreement, a working group at the level of deputy prime ministers was set up.

The three leaders met again in Sochi on November 26, 2021. They agreed to take steps to enhance stability and security at the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. They also agreed to set up a bilateral commission on the delimitation and demarcation of the border. The Russian side promised to offer its consultative assistance at the parties’ request.

Azerbaijan says it crushed Armenia attack near Karabakh, EU wants end to fighting

Ara Felekian
EurActiv
Aug 4 2022

EURACTIV.com with Reuters

Azerbaijan said its forces had crushed an Armenian attack near the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday (3 August), prompting international calls for an end to fighting in a region that has been a flashpoint for 30 years.

Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan with Armenian support after a bloody post-Soviet ethnic conflict in the early 1990s. In 2020, with the help of Turkey, Azerbaijan successfully won back part of the territory controlled by the separatists.

Under the terms of a subsequent ceasefire, Russian peacekeepers were deployed to protect the remainder of the separatist-held territory. Both sides though accuse each other of breaches and in recent days violence has flared.

In recent months the EU has tried to help put in place a peace treaty.

The Azeri defence ministry said Armenia had grossly violated the ceasefire by committing an act of sabotage that killed one soldier. In addition, Baku said its forces had beaten back an Armenian attempt to capture a hill in an area controlled by the Russian peacekeepers.

“As a result, those fighting for the illegal Armenian armed formations were killed and injured,” it said in a statement, demanding all Armenian troops pull out of the area and promising “crushing” countermeasures if necessary.

Reportedly Azerbaijan used Turkey-made Bayraktar drones.

In response, Armenia’s foreign ministry said Azerbaijan had violated the ceasefire by launching an attack in areas controlled by the peacekeepers. In a statement, it said Yerevan wanted the international community “to undertake measures toward halting the aggressive behaviour and actions of Azerbaijan”.

The European Union called for an immediate end to hostilities and said both sides should respect the ceasefire, a call echoed by the Polish chairman of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

“The United States is deeply concerned by and closely following reports of intensive fighting around Nagorno-Karabakh, including casualties and the loss of life,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said. “We urge immediate steps to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation.”

Earlier, separatist authorities in the ethnically Armenian enclave declared a partial mobilisation.

Russia said the situation in the areas controlled by its peacekeepers was getting more tense and reported at least one violation of the ceasefire by Azeri forces, Interfax said.

(Edited by Georgi Gotev)


Azerbaijan took control of Armenian Mount Buzlug and raised its flag. Is a new war about to break out?

Ara Felekian
Aug 7 2022
August 7, 2022 - by admin@defenceview

The Armenia-Azerbaijan tensions are flaring up again. Azerbaijani troops seized control of Mount Buzlug and surrounding areas of Armenia.

The Azerbaijani army occupied Mount Buzlug and hoisted the Azerbaijani flag on it. This happened after two days of relative calm in the region. As it became known, the Azerbaijani troops managed to move freely in this direction and completely take control of Mount Buzlug, the heights surrounding it, as well as nearby areas. As a demonstrative gesture, Azerbaijan hoisted the state flag on Mount Buzlug. This information has been confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

“As a result of the activities carried out by our units, Mount Buzlug and the heights surrounding it came under the control of the Azerbaijani army ,” the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reports.

In the published video footage, you can see how a group of Azerbaijani military hoists the state flag over the region taken under control. This indicates that the latter is currently really under the control of the Azerbaijani army.

It is known that earlier this area was supposed to be controlled by Russian peacekeeping forces, as well as units of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. However, at the moment there are no official data from the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

A few days back Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said it carried out “revenge” attacks on Armenian forces on August 3 in response to an attack that killed one soldier and an attempt to seize control of a hill in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. The Azeri ministry accused Armenia of “grossly” violating the terms of a ceasefire agreement signed in November 2020, and said the attacks occurred in an area where a Russian peacekeeping contingent had been deployed. 

Azerbaijan’s “retaliatory operation” involved the destruction of “several combat positions of illegal Armenian armed detachments” and an airstrike on a military unit stationed in the village of Yukhary Oratagh, the ministry said. This aerial footage released by the defense ministry shows a military vehicle exploding at a facility just north of the village. Azerbaijan said the strike killed and wounded several members of Armenia’s forces, and destroyed “several D-30 howitzers, military vehicles and a large amount of ammunition.

EarlierRussia kept things calm in the region despite all adversities during the past two years, but the region is now erupting in the fire as soon as EU chimed in and because of Russia is now completely busy in Ukraine.

In 2020, a long-simmering conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh erupted into a six-week war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Around 2,000 soldiers and civilians lost their lives in the clash. Armed drones and other weapons supplied by Turkey helped Azeri forces break past Armenian defences and usurp territories, including almost 40% of Nagorno-Karabakh itself.

https://www.defenceview.in/azerbaijan-took-control-of-armenian-mount-buzlug-and-raised-its-flag-is-a-new-war-about-to-break-out/

Asbarez: Mirzoyan Condemns Baku as OSCE Calls on Both Sides to De-Escalate

Ara Felekian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 3, 2022

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan (right) meets with the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk in Yerevan on Aug. 3


Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan condemned Azerbaijan’s attempts to destabilize the situation after days of attack by Azerbaijani forces in Artsakh, as a result of which two soldiers were killed and 19 others were wounded on Wednesday.

Meeting with the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, Mirzoyan provided a briefing on the latest security situation in the region, also condemning what he called “arbitrary interpretation” of agreements between Yerevan, Baku and Moscow.

The foreign ministry reported that Mirzoyan also stressed “the importance of the targeted assessments of the situation by the international community and, particularly, by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries.”

Meanwhile, the OSCE chairmanship, which this year is being held by Poland, voiced extreme concern about the most recent “armed incidents and casualties in the South Caucasus.”

“We call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to bring de-escalation and resume dialogue. We remain committed to support all efforts aimed at consolidating peace in the region,” the Polish presidency said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Official Yerevan has been largely silent as the new wave of Azerbaijani attacks began on Monday. Mirzoyan held a telephone conversation with this Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, while the vacationing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a similar discussion with President Vladimir Putin of Armenia.

On Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire in its attempts to breach the line of contact in Karabakh.

Armenia’s Human Right Defender Kristine Grigoryan said in a statement on Wednesday that Azerbaijan’s military aggression “directly threatens and essentially nullifies any guarantee of the right to life of people living in Artsakh, which is the most vital component of peace.”

She called on Azerbaijan to “immediately cease its criminal actions.”

“On the 1st and 2nd of August, and today, the Azerbaijani side conducted aggressive military operations in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping mission in various directions in Artsakh, using weapons of various calibers, grenade launchers, and attack unmanned aerial vehicles,” Grigoryan.

“These acts grossly violate the principles of international law on the prohibition on the use of force and the threat of use of force, as well as the obligations of the Azerbaijani state under the trilateral agreement of November 9, 2020,” explained Grigoryan.

“I have called upon the ambassadors of the Minsk Group Co-Chairing Countries, and other international actors involved in the conflict resolution process to undertake maximum efforts in the direction of truly guaranteeing the right to life of the peaceful population of Artsakh,” said Grigoryan in her statement, which also that “this encroachment on the right to life and other fundamental rights of the civilian population must receive its true assessment.”

This story was updated to reflect that the number of injured has changed to 19.