Author: Hunanian Jack

AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: THIS IS A REAL IDEOLOGICAL PROVOCATION BY ARMENIA

Today
April 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with political commentator at Azerbaijan-based Lider
TV Tofiq Abbasov.

In your opinion, what is the goal of Turkish FM’s trip to Azerbaijan
that is taking place almost right after the recent Washington meetings?

It shows that Davutoglu will trip to Azerbaijan on a delicate mission.

The visit aims to persuade Azerbaijan not to distance itself from
contacts with Turkey and the United States. Turkey has remained true
to its original idea, and it still goes ahead with reconciliation
with Armenia not without pressure from Washington, of course.

It should be noted that from the very beginning process had a
separate character and the first steps towards the Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation were made in secret from Azerbaijan. In its turn,
Azerbaijan took the necessary steps to stop the process.

Therefore, Turkey’s ruling party is trying to persuade the Turkish
society that opening the border with Armenia will be the first step
toward stabilization in the region and towards resolving the Karabakh
problem.

America, who first initiated the project of reconciliation Turkey,
puts pressure not on those who ignore international law and continues
to occupy foreign lands, but on those who are victims of international
lawlessness.

In your opinion, what will top agenda of Armenian President Sargsyan’s
Russia visit to take place on April 20?

No doubt, regional issues will be discussed at this meeting. But
I think that for the most part this meeting will be devoted to
the Karabakh issue in the context of American initiatives since
the situation is still controlled by Washington. Sargsyan received
necessary dose of moral support when in Washington. Otherwise, he
would not "castigate" Turkey because of the notorious "genocide".

However, Russia will never allow the United States to play a major
role in this process.

Yerevan believes Armenian President’s U.S. trip was a success in
terms of Sargsyans’ negotiations with Erdogan and his meetings and
speeches in front of the Armenian Diaspora. How do you evaluate the
visit and relations between Armenia and the Diaspora?

Armenia believes this visit was a success because the Azerbaijani
delegation was absent at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Armenians interpret the absense of Baku officials at the forum in
their own way, although things are quite different.

As for Sargsyan’s meetings with the diaspora and U.S. officials, they
are described in different ways. Armenia is a country which occupies a
compromising position with all the grandees in all matters, except for
so-called "genocide" and the seizure of Azerbaijani lands. The country
has no real leverage to influence solution to any significant problem.

The Armenian diaspora and Yerevan have always held the same position.

The Armenian media reports that Turkey and the U.S. allegedly push
Azerbaijan to war…

This is a real ideological provocation by Armenia. Turkey does not
want Azerbaijan to become involved in military action. In the Karabakh
problem, Turkey’s ruling party holds a position radically different
from that held by previous cabinets. Ankara has visibly distanced
itself from Baku, and therefore tries to save face before its voters
and not lose Azerbaijan.

By the way, abrupt change of course can be very painful for Turkey in
the future. Turkey has been a permanent ally of Azerbaijan since 1993.

The two countries have continuously weighted the steps in the energy
and transport projects, coordinated actions also in the ideological
direction, especially in eliminating a myth about "genocide".

Priorities for Turkish leadership have changed as of late. Not only
Azerbaijan, but also Turkish society are unhappy with this. But
friends’ opinion is important for Azerbaijan. There are plenty of
them even in the ruling Justice and Development Party.

As to the U.S., it has always been against military solution to
the Karabakh conflict. Both at the official level and in private
negotiations, all emissaries and special envoys of America warned
Azerbaijan against the force option. Probably, not the last causes is
the firm belief of Americans that the use of military force is the
sole prerogative of the United States. But this is not a guarantee
that all will agree with this.

IMPORTED VEHICLES TO ARMENIA TO BE KITTED WITH AIR POLLUTION FILTERS: MINISTER

news.am
April 19 2010
Armenia

Imported vehicles to Armenia should be kitted out with air pollution
filters. RA Ministry of Nature Protection studies the air pollution
in Yerevan, for this purpose 5 automatic stations were established,
RA Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan stated in April 19
press conference.

Asked about measures the ministry takes for the reduction of air
pollution level in Yerevan, the minister replied this year automatic
devices were set up in Yerevan, enabling to learn the pollution of
the environment by each vehicle. In addition, the imported vehicles
will be checked for the compliance with the environmental standards
and if failed, special filters will be installed on them.

Speaking of the possibility of the Saritagh district landscaping,
Harutyunyan informed that the issue is coordinated in accordance with
Yerevan plan. Though he did not specify when trees will be planted
there, but assumed it would be included in the plan anyway.

news.am, Armenia
April 17 2010

John McCain on Armenian Genocide

11:31 / 04/17/2010On April 15, the former presidential nominee, U.S.
Senator John McCain reiterated his opinion that Armenian Genocide was
perpetrated in Ottoman Empire.

`U.S. and Turkey have been friends and allies for years. Turks fought
beside U.S. troops in many wars and I hope we will do our utmost to
maintain relations,’ McCain said in the interview with Voice of
America.

According to him, Armenian Genocide should not become an everlasting
issue in Turkish-Armenian relations.

`I am confident, what happened was genocide, but I state it was
perpetrated in other times and under another government. This should
be considered by all parties.’

L.A.

ARAM SAFARYAN COMPARES ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION WITH A MARATHON

Tert.am
16.04.10

"Armenia-Turkey dialogue is not a sprint, i.e. a 100 meter-long race,
that can be get over all in the same breath, but rather a marathon,
as there is a knot of century-old disagreements, conflict and enmity
here," Prosperous Armenia Party deputy Aram Safaryan said at a press
conference today.

His comments come amid statements made by the Turkish side which
are getting more and more frequent these days ahead of April 24,
the commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide in the last days of
the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

According to Safaryan the Armenian side should be able to overcome
all the stage of this ‘marathon’ with dignity and without any defeat.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN: "AZERBAIJAN CANNOT BE LEFT ASIDE OF PEACE PROCESSES IN THE REGION"

APA
April 14 2010
Azerbaijan

"Turkey closed the borders because of tensions between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, because of occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia"

Baku – APA. Ankara doesn’t think that President Barack Obama will
use "Armenian genocide" phrase in his traditional address to the US
Armenian community on April 24. "We want the third countries not to
cause rows between Turkey and Armenia and not to adopt resolutions. I
told Obama what I am telling every time. I have a character – I don’t
say one thing before the doors and another one behind the doors",
said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington,
APA reports. He said he didn’t think that Obama will do that.

Erdogan said they discussed next phase of the relations between the
two countries at the meeting with Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan.

He reminded about the meetings between the foreign ministers of
both countries, as well as US Secretary of State and Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Erdogan noted that the purpose of Zurich
protocols was described clearly. "It purposes to establish peace in
the region. How can Azerbaijan be left aside of these processes?

Azerbaijan is one of the elements in the regional peace processes. It
is necessary to solve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and
to bring the sides to common solution. Why Turkish-Armenian borders
were closed in 1993? It was closed because of tensions between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, because of occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.

Now it needs to reach progress in the settlement of the conflict
between the sides and to establish peace and stability for the
opening the borders. From this view, the OSCE Minsk Group has great
responsibility. Today, we discussed this issue with Russian president
Medvedev. We discussed the issue with Mr. Sarkozy last week. I consider
that the acceleration of the process will bring some results".

Erdoagn sad there was no concrete schedule for ratification of the
Zurich protocols. "We sent the protocols to the parliament. Armenia
also sent the protocols to the parliament passing them through the
Constitutional Court. I believe that there will be some positive
results to stimulate the process and it will accelerate the
parliaments’ activity toward this".

HRANT MELKUMYAN WAS 7TH IN DUBAI CHAMPIONSHIP WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP DREW TO AN END IN DUBAI. ARMENIA HAD FIVE PLAYERS IN THIS

Tert.am
11:17 14.04.10

World Chess Championship drew to an end in Dubai. Armenia had five
players in this tournament, reports Armsport.am.

In the 9th tournament the Armenian player Hrant Melkumyan defeated
the Azerbaijani player Eltaj Safarli with black figures, gained 7
points and became the seventh in the winners list.

Eight players could score 7 points but the winner was the Venezuelan
player Eduardo Iturrizaga.

With 6.5 points Armenian player Gabriel Sargsyan secured the 10th
place by defeating David Shengelia from Georgia.

Another Armenian player, Tigran Kocharyan, had a draw with the Mosshen
Sharbafi (Iran) and was 30th with 5.5 points.

Tigran Petrosyan was the 41st with 5.5 points, while Gevorg Harutunyan
was the 50th with 5 points.

MP: "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED AT GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT

Trend
April 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani members of the Georgian parliament will take all measures
to prevent from discussion the appeal of the Armenian community in
Georgia on recognizing the genocide of Armenians in 1915 in Ottoman
Turkey, a member of the Georgia parliament Ramin Bayramov told Trend.

"Parliament is not the body in Georgia, in which this issue can be
addressed," he said.

Bayramov stressed that "Georgia carefully and objectively approaches
this issue, and therefore, the parliament will not consider it".

He said that he is in close contact with his Georgian colleagues and
is sure that the parliament will not discuss this issue.

Armenian community of Georgia appealed to the president and the
parliament to consider recognition of the so-called "Armenian Genocide"
in 1915.

As noted in the statement, the Armenian community appeals to the
authorities of the country to prepare a bill.

The initiators of the appeal are non-governmental organizations.

CONCEPTUAL PROVISIONS OF DEVELOPING ARMENIA’S MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT TO BE WORKED OUT WITHIN THREE MONTHS

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 13, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The interdepartmental commission
coordinating issues of development of the military-industrial
establishment held its first meeting on April 13. The meeting was
conducted by Secretary of the RA National Security Council (NSC)
Arthur Baghdasarian.

The commission will prepare the concept of development of Armenia’s
military-industrial establishment and take concrerte steps on providing
the necessary assistance to enterprises of the military-industrial
establishment in order to ensure their efficient work.

A. Baghdasarian underlined the necessity of encouraging links of
Armenian enterprises with those in former Soviet countries with
the aim of increasing the defence capacity of Armenia and providing
its armed forces with necessary equipment. The development of the
military-industrial establishment will also solve social problems
through creation of new jobs.

The visits of the delegations headed by A. Bahdasarian to Russia
and Belarus have already produced the first results: representatives
of the military-industrial establishment of these countries visited
Armenia and examined the opportunities of cooperation on the spot.

Some basis have already been formed for establishing closer relations
with several enterprises of the military industry.

"There are joint initiatives, and we will assist the implementation of
all the programs. Armenia’s military-industrial establishment has some
potential which should be used," A. Baghdasarian stated, adding that
these problems are in the center of Armenian president’s attention.

According to the press service of the NSC Secretary, a decision
was made at the meeting to work out, within three months, conceptual
provisions of developing of Armenia’s military-industrial establishment
and to present them for discussion.

NEWBORN INFANT LEFT IN THE STREET

A1Plus.am
12/04/10

RA Police today issued a report on the incident that took place about
a month ago.

A newborn child wrapped in a gray robe was left near house 69 in
Yerevan’s Artsakh Street on March 17. The baby had a white vest,
a colorful diaper, yellowish towel and was wearing a baby bonnet.

People possessing information about the infant are asked to call the
nearby police department.

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

12 April, 2010

Funds raised during Phoneathon 2009 help rebuild Askeran water and sewer
systems

Yerevan, April 12, 2010 – The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has launched a
major infrastructure project in Askeran City, the capital of Artsakh’s
Askeran Region, seeking to rebuild its crumbling potable-water and sewer
networks. The initiative is co-financed by the fund’s French affiliate –
through donations received during the 2009 Pan-European Phoneathon – and the
government of Artsakh.

Commenting on priority issues facing Askeran today, Albert Avanesyan, head
of the region’s Urban Development Department, identified the potable-water
problem as the most urgent. Currently drinking water reaches Askeran City
through rusted pipes and at minimal volume – due to water loss caused by an
extensively damaged network. Askeran’s aging sewer system is also in a state
of disrepair, posing serious health risks.
Avanesyan added that another obstacle affecting the growth of the city is
the recent decline in the number of marriages, a phenomenon brought on by
the lack of affordable housing, he said.

With the earthwork already completed, construction crews are now rebuilding
Askeran’s internal water-distribution system by installing new pipes, which
by the project’s end will cover the network’s close to six-kilometer overall
length. Also to be built are a 50-meter-long embankment along the shore of
the Badara River, meant to prevent riverbank collapse, and a
water-purification station. Finally, the project will include the
reconstruction of two water reservoirs (with a total capacity of 1,000 cubic
meters) and the sewer network.

"As the lack of access to water remains a critically urgent issue in both
Armenia and Artsakh, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is committed to helping
address the problem as a matter of highest priority," said Ara Vardanyan,
the fund’s executive director. "We are deeply grateful to our compatriots
across Europe, whose generous contributions during the 2009 Pan-European
Phoneathon made the Askeran infrastructure project possible."

Nestled in northeastern Artsakh, the Askeran Region borders Azerbaijan on
the east. Of the area’s some 17,600 residents, 2,100 live in Askeran City.

The Askeran Region is home to a number of major commercial companies
including Artsakh Alco (a manufacturer of alcoholic beverages), Artsakh
Fruit (a producer of fruits and vegetables), Varanda (a maker of barrels and
hardwood flooring), as well as a alabaster factory. These enterprises employ
close to 260 area residents. Products made by Artsakh Alco and Varanda are
also exported.

Agriculture continues to be a vital component of Askeran’s economy. The area
produces significant quantities of pomegranates, grapes, and cereal crops,
which are packed at local food-processing centers. Lately Askeran farmers
have begun efforts to grow watermelons as well.
Notable among Askeran’s historic monuments is the 18th-century Mayraberd
fortress. Another community institution is the Surb Astvatsatsin Church,
built in 2003.

Currently three projects financed by the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s French
affiliate are nearing completion. They include the construction of the
Chartar Village school (Martuni Region, Artsakh), construction of an
internal potable-water network in Sos Village (Martuni), and construction of
a regional cardiology center in Akner, near Goris (Syunik Region, Armenia).

Two additional projects financed entirely or in part by the French affiliate
will be launched within the next few months. They are the reconstruction of
the Muratsan School (Shushi) and reconstruction of the Aygehovit-Vazashen
irrigation network (Tavush Region, Armenia). The latter initiative is
sponsored jointly by the fund’s French and Argentinean affiliates.

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Hayastan All Armenian Fund