Author: Chavushian

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN: NEGOTIATORS UPDATE KARABAKH TALKS FRAMEWORK

EurasiaNet
July 28 2009
NY

International mediators for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have penned
a new draft document that will provide a framework for the next phase
of talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, regional media reported on
July 28. Details of the document remain under wraps, but it builds on
a white paper produced in 2007 in Spain by the US, France and Russia.

The original document, known as the Madrid Principles, stipulates
that Armenian forces must withdraw from seven Azerbaijani districts
adjacent to Karabakh. A referendum on the territory’s status would
also be held in the region, which is primarily inhabited by ethnic
Armenians. Yerevan and Baku have long argued about which of the
above moves should come first. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].

The Armenian opposition has bitterly opposed the Madrid Principles,
claiming that such a deal may pave the way for Azerbaijan to regain
control of the territory. Representatives of the three mediating
countries did not specify if these two principles have been modified
in the new document.

INFORMATION PANELS INSTALLED IN THE CENTER OF HISTORICAL GYUMRI

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.07.2009 20:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On July 26, VivaCell-MTS and the Armenian Monuments
Awareness Project (AMAP) announced installation of multi language
information panels in the center of Historical Gyumri. VivaCell-MTS
extends its Corporate Responsibility hand to help rekindle Gyumri’s
social spirit.

AMAP receives major sponsorship from VivaCell-MTS and is also supported
by the Honorary Consul of Italy and by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) through its Competitive Armenia
Private Sector (CAPS) program.

Protection of cultural values is the main principle of the organizers.

AIRPORT BOASTS BIGGEST AIRFREIGHT CONSIGNMENT IN HISTORY

Monsters and Critics.com
ews/article_1492151.php/Airport_boasts_biggest_air freight_consignment_in_history_#ixzz0MVp0lSNW
July 27 2009

Hahn, Germany – A 190-ton generator bound for a gas-powered electricity
plant in the Armenian capital Yerevan will be the heaviest item ever
delivered by air freight, staff at a German airport said Monday.

A Ukrainian-built Antonov 225 plane is to lift off Sunday from Hahn
Airport, west of Frankfurt.

While larger loads have been carried by air, they have always comprised
several items. ‘This is the largest single item ever delivered by air,’
the airport said.

It will take several hours to carefully load the machine into the
plane. Armenia is landlocked, and otherwise can only be reached by
road and rail.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR AND USAID PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE IN ARMENIA MS CONSUELO VIDAL

Friday , 24 July 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received UN Resident Coordinator
and USAID Permanent Representative in Armenia Ms Consuelo Vidal. In
attendance were heads of the United Nations Armenia missions and
program coordinators.

For the Government of the Republic of Armenia and for the United
Nations respectively, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Consuelo
Vidal signed a cooperation program specifying strategic areas for UN
activities in Armenia for the next 6 years. The 2010-2015 cooperation
program meets those key national development priorities stipulated
in the RA Sustainable Development Program allowing for the possible
impact the global crisis.

This program of a total budget of USD 72 million, otherwise known
as the United Nations Development Assistance Program, will address
poverty, democratic governance, basic social services, environmental
management and emergency risk minimization in Armenia.

Following the document signing ceremony, Tigran Sargsyan and Consuelo
Vidal gave a joint press conference.

Highly appreciative of UN activities in Armenia, the head of
the Armenian government said that the ongoing programs are in
full accord with the rationale and the focus of his government’s
actions. Sustainable development is a primary focus, followed by
effo rts towards ensuring equal opportunities for the recipients of
social services, strengthening democratic institutions nationwide,
addressing environmental issues and minimizing emergency risks.

"It is important for the UN programs to concentrate on proportionate
territorial development, the strengthening of democratic institutions
in marzes with a special focus placed on community development
programs. These are the chief targets stipulated in the 2010-2015
Cooperation Program, and we strongly believe that our joint efforts
will be of significant support to economic development in Armenia,"
the head of government said.

Thanking the Prime Minister for excellent partnership, UN
Resident Coordinator and USAID Permanent Representative in Armenia
Ms Consuelo Vidal said the new program came into being through
effective consultations held with the government and civil society
in Armenia in an effort to build up national capacity by bringing
in best international standards, advanced know-how, technical and
financial resources.

Program implementation will be co-monitored by the Government of the
Republic of Armenia and the system of United Nations.

ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS TO LEAVE FOR BRYANSK TO PARTICIPATE IN FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.07.2009 23:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Under the aegis of President Serzh Sargsyan and
Armavia air company, Armenian journalists’ football team will leave
for Klinsty, Russia (province of Bryansk) on July 24 to participate
in CIS journalists’ football tournament.

Apart from Armenian players, journalist commands from Volgograd
(Russia), Minsk (Belarus), Moscow (NTV+), Vilnius (Lithuania), Lutsk
(Ukraine) and Bryansk (Russia) will also take part in competitions.

Reporters will also have chance to demonstrate their skills in table
tennis; they will also visit cultural sights.

Armenian team consists of the following players: Armen Petrosyan
(AZK), Edward Hayrapetyan (Press service of Kentron community’s real
estate cadastre), David Nazaryan (Panarmenian.net news agency) Aram
Haroyan (REGNUM news agency), Emil Sargsyan ("Hayastani Hanrapetutyun"
newspaper), Hovhannes Hakobyan (AZK), Arman Alaverdyan (Mediamax news
agency), Tigran Hovhannisyan (team captain, Russian language editor of
"7 or" newspaper’s Web site).

Since 1999, Armenian journalists’ team has participated in all
similar tournaments on CIS territory, with the exception of the 2000
competitions organized in Baku. Beginning 2001, Armenian journalists’
team was sponsored by the President Robert Kocharyan. Since last year,
the team has been under the patronage of President Serzh Sargsyan.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN GOT ACQUAINTED WITH CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF THE NEW TERMINAL IN "ZVARTNOTS" AIRPORT

ARMENPRESS
July 24, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
visited today "Zvartnots" Airport to get acquainted with the projects
being implemented and construction works of the new terminal. He was
accompanied with Armenian Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan, head of
the Chief department of Civil Aviation subordinated to the Armenian
government Artyom Movsisyan, General Director of "Armenia International
Airports" CJSC Khuan Pablo Gechijhan and others. The Armenian President
walked around in "Zvartnots", got acquainted in detail with the process
of construction works in the airport and was presented the expected
results. S. Sargsyan paid a visit also to "Duty free" segment; he
was interested in the presentation volumes of Armenian products,
particularly – cognac, wine, as well as in their prices.

Kh. P. Gechijyan said in the interview with journalists that the
construction of the new hall has begun in 2008 and is intended to be
accomplished at the end of 2011.

The crisis hinders the general construction process, but the works
probably will be brought to an end according to the determined
chronology. The two storied building on 34 000 square kilometers is
to have arrival and departure halls, here are to be conducted the
registration process of passengers as well, entertainment places are
intended to be constructed. The airport will supply about 3 million
passengers annually.

At presence negotiations are carried out with the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and Asian Development Bank to get
financial means for the implementation of the project.

According to the Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsian the airport will
correspond to all modern international requirements, won’t concede
to the best airports of the world by its conveniences and services.

"Armenia International Airports" having assumed the accredited
management of "Zvartnots" airport in 2009, here carries out serious
works in several rounds. Currently the works of the 3-rd round –
2008-2009, are being carried out; the intended general volume of
investments for them is 160 million USD. They include the construction
of the new terminal in public zone on 34 000 square kilometers
territory. Underground 2-storied parking intended for 600 cars on 20
000 square meters is planned to be constructed by that sum of money
as well.

Technologies reducing seismic dangers by nearly 65 % are being used
in construction. The new building, besides being technically well
equipped, will have a beautiful appearance as well.

MAYOR’S ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 2 IN NOR HACHEN

Noyan Tapan
July 24, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The community head’s elections will
be held on August 2 in the city of Nor Hachen, the Kotayk region.

As Press Secretary of the Central Electoral Committee of Armenia Tatev
Ohanian informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the only candidate
pretending on the Mayor’s post is the Nakhsh LTD commercial head,
Bargavach Armenia party member Gagik Matevosian.

RA GOVERNMENT STARTS TO IMPLEMENT A NEW METHOD OF INVOLVEMENT OF INVSTMENTS

ARMENPRESS
July 23, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS: RA Government starts to implement a new
method of involvement of investments. During today’s session of the
Government the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian noted that with this
the state will itself design business plans, make land selection and
allocations. If these plans are approved by the specialists they are
proposed for tender.

The representatives of the private sector, assessing the attraction
of the project present an application about their concern and the sum
of money they are ready are ready to invest in bringing this or that
plan into life.

First such plan refers to the establishment of an agro-tourism hotel
complex on the territory neighboring to Garni-Geghard highway for
which according to the preliminary calculations $5-6 million will be
needed. The greatest flow of tourists transports through the mentioned
highway. If the undertaking is of success and private investments
are involved, the Government will make other such initiatives for
instance in the Syunik province.

According to T. Sargsian the initiative is especially attractive
in the respect that the state itself reveals the projects based on
the strategy of the Government which increases the opportunities of
their profitability.

The state also settles the issues of infrastructural development and
creates more favorable conditions for the investors.

The first project is being implemented in the tourism sphere; there
may be other interesting projects in the agriculture and infrastructure
spheres as well.

This mechanism of involvement of investments is rather efficiently
implemented in Chili.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: CHANCES TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY NOT LOST YET

ArmInfo
2009-07-21 10:49:00

ArmInfo. ‘We should be optimists. I think that chances for both
the states to settle their relations have not been lost yet’,
Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian said at a joint press
conference with Foreign Minister of Sweden, the EU chair-state, Carl
Bildt, in Yerevan on Monday. E. Nalbandian said that normalization
of the two countries’ relations is not only in favor of Armenia
and Turkey but also of the region. Every country welcomes this
process. ‘Probably, Azerbaijani was the only state to express
some dissatisfaction. However, it is not reasonable since the
Armenian-Turkish relations will have a positive impact on the region
and Azerbaijan is part of it’, the minister said.

He reiterated that there is no agreement on setting up of an
Armenian-Turkish joint committee of historians. He said that is has
been repeatedly declared that an inter-governmental committee may
be set up to study various issues of mutual interest, including
trust building between the Armenian and Turkish peoples if both
the parties achieve an agreement to open the border and establish
diplomatic relations.

For his part, Carl Bilft said that the EU welcomes the negotiations
between Armenia and Turkey. He agreed with his Armenian counterpart
that settlement of the two countries’ relations will positively
affect the region. The Swedish minister is sure that the parties
should overcome all the possible obstacles and the EU will support
the process by genuine efforts.

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 18 2009

Azerbaijani, Armenian, Russian religious leaders to mull
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan, Baku, July 18 /Trend News, A.Huseynbala/

Religious leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia will meet to
discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is also planned to continue
the tripartite summit of the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and
Russian Orthodox Churches, as well as the head of the Caucasus Muslims
Office Sheikhulislam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh in Moscow under
mediation by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill,
theArmenian media writes.

Such an agreement was reached during the meeting between the
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II with the Patriarch Kirill
during as part of the visit of the head of the Armenian Church to
Moscow.

Catholicos of All Armenians visited Moscow on July 14-16.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding
districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.