Author: nina hovnanian

Fars News Agency, Iran
July 2 2011

Speaker Urges Negotiated Solution to Karabakh Dispute

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani renewed Iran’s
call for a negotiated solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Speaking to reporters in the Azeri capital city of Baku on Saturday,
Larijani pointed to the failure of the recent trilateral negotiations
between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute, and said he and the Azeri officials have discussed the issue
in their meetings.

“We have always defended Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in all
solutions to the dispute, and given the current circumstance in the
region we recommend that the issue be solved through negotiations,”
Larijani noted.

He stressed that Iran is suspicious of the powerful countries’
attitude and performance in the region since they are seeking their
own interests, and added, “Therefore, we believe that it is more
logical to pursue regional solutions to the Karabakh dispute.”

Russian President Dmitry Medvede’s latest trilateral negotiations with
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev
were held in the Russian city of Kazan on June 24.

Despite facing strong international pressure, the Armenian and
Azerbaijani leaders failed to agree on the basic principles of ending
the Karabakh conflict put forward by Russia, the United States, and
France.

The Kazan meeting was the ninth Armenian-Azerbaijani summit hosted by
Medvedev in the last three years.

In November 2010, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad voiced
Tehran’s readiness to help resolve the territorial dispute between
Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

“We believe that the Karabakh issue will be resolved through dialogue
and the commitment of both sides to justice, and Tehran is ready to
negotiate with them within this framework,” Ahmadinejad said in a
joint press conference with his Azeri counterpart at the time.

Armenia and Azerbaijan remain officially at war over Karabakh and the
dispute is a major source of tension in the South Caucasus region
wedged between Iran, Russia and Turkey.

No country – not even Armenia – officially recognizes Karabakh as an
independent state.

The rebel region has been controlled by ethnic Armenians since it
broke free of Baku’s control after a fierce war in the early 1990s
that killed 30,000 people.

ARTSAKH CAN BECOME A POWER GENERATING COUNTRY

Friday, 01 July 2011 11:29

Power generating substances resolve everything in the modern world.
But, everything isn’t single-valued here. The reserves of oil and gas
are not inexhaustible. Different analytical centers note different
terms, often mutually exclusive. But, one thing is clear – the
humanity will finally face this problem in the near future. Even
today, the states importing power generating substances have serious
problems, especially considering the recent years’ extreme price
increase at the world market. As of the generation of nuclear power,
many states, first of all, the developed ones prefer stopping it,
considering the possible dangerous consequences.

THE FIRST STEPS ARE SMALL HYDRO-ELECTRIC STATIONS

The energy independence program is one of the strategic programs of
Artsakh. In 2007, within the program, development of the water
resources of Artsakh started. Two small hydro-electric stations are
already put into operation; construction of 4 more stations will be
completed this year. The private sector is actively involved in the
program. Besides the fact that many people used the chance of becoming
shareholders of the Artsakh HES, the private sector already
independently deals with the construction of small HES in the
Republic.

BIOENERGETICS – ON THE STATE LEVEL

The issue of searching new and alternative power sources is on the
agenda. The issue has an additional ground in Artsakh. Currently, the
issue of power security (and, generally, independence) also gains
political significance.

An attempt will be made in Artsakh to get an alternative power source.
We mean a branch already established in many states of the world –
bioenergetics, for which recoverable raw material is used. In our
conditions, as such can be used straw, cane, and timber, which can be
got from the sanitary cleaning of forests. Specialists consider that
the local raw material reserves are enough for the successful
development of the program.

The development of bioenergetics will not cause environment problems,
assure the program’s authors; wastes from forests’ sanitary clearing
and not strong trees will be used as raw material.

On May 19, an expanded meeting was convened by the NKR President to
discuss the conducted researches and first actual steps. And on May
31, according to President Bako Sahakian’s instruction, the provisions
on the development of alternative power generating substances in our
country were endorsed at the Government meeting. The document
elaborated by the Ministry of Economic Development was adopted at the
Government meeting and the establishment of a new economic branch was
declared.

GREAT SAVINGS ARE ENVISAGED

Development of bio-energy will ensure considerable savings, assure the
program’s authors. It will be especially felt by those who are forced
to spend great amounts for heating. 5 million drams are annually spent
by the state for heating the state offices. This year, about 10
schools have been provided with new type heating coppers, giving the
chance for savings – at about 20-50%. The inhabitants of Stepanakert
‘Artsakh’ block will enjoy the new type heating. The further
construction works will be conducted with the consideration of the
possibilities of introducing the new type heating system.

NEW POSSIBILITIES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SPHERE

It seems that generation of alternative energy has nothing common with
agriculture. But, the prospective programs include also this sphere.
It is creation of the so-called popular warmhouses. The new heating
system will be cheaper and will ensure additional possibilities for
the sphere’s development.

THE FIRST STEPS ARE MADE IN KARVACHAR

Simultaneous production of heat-power and electricity will be made
possible by heat-power stations, the first of which is planned to
build in Karvachar, thus ensuring stable electricity supply in
Shahumian region’s distanced villages. Following are the steps
undertaken for the development of the bioenergetics sphere: production
of heating coppers started in Stepanakert, in Kashatagh region’s
Mijnavan town, started the construction of a workshop for producing
concentrated fuel from cane. The sphere’s development also means
creation of jobs, including in the agricultural sphere.

COAL

The prospect of using alternative power caused interest also in the
Republic of Armenia. This time coal is meant. Specialists have started
the research of the mine in the NKR Maghavuz subregion.

Norayr Hovsepian

Yerevan hosts 12 Days at Cannes Festival photo exhibit

July 2, 2011 – 18:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On July 1, Bureaucrat bookstore in Yerevan hosted a
presentation of 12 Days at Cannes Festival PanARMENIAN Photo album.

The album features 150 pictures shot during the 64th Cannes
International Film Festival.

The bookstore also highlights an exhibit presenting 22 of most
impressive shots made in the framework of the photo project.

The pictures were created by the head of PanARMENIAN Photo agency
Vahan Stepanyan.

PanARMENIAN Photo became the first photo agency to cover Cannes
Festival. Over 10000 shots were made during 12 festival days, in which
the author of the pictures managed to capture world famous film stars
from most unexpected angles.

PanARMENIAN Photo album was created through the courtesy of DEEM
COMMUNICATIONS agency and Glendale Hills CJSC.

Even now Armenia’s Constitution needs amendments – Paruyr Hayrikyan

12:45 – 02.07.11

Armenia’s Constitution needs amendments even so many years after its
adoption, the head of the Union for National Self-Determination has
said.

According to Paruyr Hayrikyan, the Constitution adopted in 1995 was
written for the needs of the then authorities.

`They had written that Constitution for themselves. Under that
Constitution the president could wake up and dissolve the National
Assembly,’ said he.

This year the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia is turning 16 years old.

But following the 1998 amendments to the Constitution the president
has no more such authority.

`With all these amendments [in place] today Armenia’s Constitution is
in need of serious amendments,’ said he, adding that one key issue
missing in the document is the order of parliament formation.

This omission, according to him, allows ruling authorities to win a
majority through amendments in the Electoral Code.

Further, Hayrikyan said that at least the principle of the formation
of the parliament must be clearly stipulated in the Constitution.

Another key point Hayrikyan mentioned related to the Constitution was
the principle of clear-cut distinction of power.

Tert.am

Yerkir: Those accompanying Garegin II save the situation

11:37 – 02.07.11

The paper says that His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, anointed the Saint Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Latvia on Friday.

But the event, the paper claims citing a local NGO, was initially
attended only by 30 Armenians, whlie there is a 3000-strong Armenian
community in Latvia.

The paper further says that the situation was saved by those invited
from neighboring countries and those accompanying the patriarch.

Evntually, a total of 110 people attended the ceremony, the paper concludes.

Tert.am

Zhamanak: The Mason forum delayed

10:28 – 02.07.11

The paper claims that a forum by Armenian Masons worldwide was
schedueled to take place in Yerevan’s Mariot Hotel.

After having checked all the halls at the hotel the paper found out
that there was not such conference on Friday.

Further, it claims that the hotel administration dealing with events
confirmed that the forume had been schedeuled on Friday but it was
delayed till Monday, July 4.

Tert.am

CHAMPIONNAT D’ARMENIE DE FOOTBALL
« Kantsassar » Ghapan toujours leader

Au terme de la 14e journée, « Kantsassar » Ghapan reste leader du 20e
championnat d’Arménie de football. « Kantsassar » Ghapan s’est imposé
1-0 face à « Panants » Erévan par un but d’Alain Hampartsoumian (17e).
De son côté « Piunig » Erévan s’est également imposé sur le même score
de 1-0 (but de Varaztad Haroïan à la 24e minute). « Ararat » Erévan
gagnait 2-1 face à « Chirag » Gumri et « Oulis » Erévan prenait
l’avantage sur « Impulse » Dilidjan (1-0).

Classement après la 14e journée : 1. « Kantsassar » Ghapan 29 points,
2. « Piunig » Erévan 27 points, 3. « Oulis » Erévan 27 points, 4. «
Mika » Achdarak 18 points, 5. « Impulse » Dilidjan 18 points, 6. «
Chirag » Gumri 13 points, 7. « Panants » Erévan 12 points, 8. « Ararat
» Erévan 9 points.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 2 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

Environmentalists draw Armenian health minister’s attention to toxic
vegetables and fruit

arminfo
Friday, July 1, 23:29

Scholars and environmentalists raised many times the signal alarm
about hard ecological situation in Lori and Syunik Regions. EcoLur has
sent a request to Health Minister Harutyun Qushkyan to react to this
situation.

The request particularly says: “Director of the Center for Ecological
Noosphere Studies of NAS RA Armen Saghatelyan publicly stated that the
genofond of the nation is at stake: In Alaverdi, in the soil of
Neghots and Qarkop Villages ultrahigh content of heavy metals have
been detected in the grown vegetables and forest fruits, including
toxic elements, such as mercury, cadmium and arsenic which are
oncogene and pose great danger for the health of the population. The
samples of the soil from Alaverdi contain copper, zinc and arsenic in
higher concentrations that the maximum permissible concentration.”

The same situation is in Syunik Region. According to Armen
Saghatelyan, there are no agricultural products in orchards – fruit,
vegetables, greens which were not intoxicated with toxic elements such
as cadmium, arsenic and mercury. Saghatelyan is sure there will be no
healthy children born in Syunik after two generations.

Dear Mr. Minister, we would like to ask you to inform what kind of
measures Health Ministry takes to reveal the risks for people’s health
who live in ecologically polluted zones in Lori and Syunik.”

-Whether the Ministry is informed about the results of studies
conducted by the Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies of NAS RA in
Qajaran, Kapan, Alaverdi, Akhtala and adjacent communities?

-Whether the Health Ministry conducts its own studies about the health
of the population who live in ecologically hot spots?

-We would like to ask to present data about the dynamics of change in
the indicator for cancer diseases for the population in Lori and
Syunik regions.

-What kind of measures Health Ministry takes in Lori and Syunik
Regions so as to prevent the negative impact of mining industry on
people’s health?”

Whether Health Minister Harutyun Qushkyan Knows People in Syunik and
Lori Jeopardize Their Health and Health of Their Future Generations?”.

British Council established a special award within framework of Golden
Apricot VIII Yerevan Film Festival

arminfo
Friday, July 1, 23:51

The British Council has established a special award within the
framework of VIII Golden Apricot International Film Festival

British Council Armenia Director Arevik Saribekyan said that “The New
Name of the Festival” award will be conferred on the active and
promising participant. The award- winning Armenian participant will
participate in the Encounters 17th International Film Festival on
16-20 November 2011 in Bristol, UK.

Saribekyan pointed out that “The New Name of the Festival” is not the
only surprise from the British Council. Cultural Management Workshops
will be held from 11 to12 July 2011 within the framework of Cultural
Leadership International programme. During this two-day workshop the
participants will study business strategy and planning of cultural
projects, marketing and audience development and the tools available
to reach different groups of the community. The workshops will be run
by Roger McCann and Hussain Currimbhoy (UK). oger McCann is Visiting
Lecturer in Arts Management for London Metropolitan University where
he teaches the arts management module for the MA in Arts and Heritage
Management, and for London’s South Bank University, where he teaches
two undergraduate courses on Arts Management and Theatre Production.
Hussain Currimbhoy has been the programmer for the Sheffield Doc/Fest
since 2007, and lives and works in Sheffield, UK. With the support of
British Council famous film critic and historian Derek Malcolm (UK)
and BAFTA award-winning Pawel Pawlikowski will arrive in Armenia. They
will conduct master classes for the Armenian students. “We are glad to
announce that our cooperation with Golden Apricot is developing with
every passing year”, she said.

Political analyst: co-chairs support further talks to prevent Karabakh
conflict escalation

July 1, 2011 – 19:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – France assumed mediatory initiative in Karabakh
conflict settlement which used to belong to Russia, according to
deputy director of Caucasus Institute.

In a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, political analyst
Sergey Minasyan commented on French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe’s
statement suggesting additional offers to achieve agreement on
Karabakh issue will be submitted to conflicting parties.

`I don’t believe he meant Azeri suggestions advanced by Aliyev in
Kazan, the offers may refer to the next stage in negotiations,’ he
said.

Minasyan stressed the importance of continuation of talks, noting that
to prevent conflict escalation, the co-chairs will take their best
efforts for negotiations to go on.

According to the expert, the parties are not ready for concessions; no
progress is possible unless NKR is involved in negotiations.

The summit between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Kazan on June 24
completed without an agreement on basic principles of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement. `The countries’ leaders registered mutual
understanding on a range of problems, the resolution of which boosts
creation of conditions for approving main principles. The meeting
participants considered the course of works carried out with the aim
of coordination of the project with basic principles,’ according to
the statement. The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan expressed
gratitude to the Russian, French and U.S. leaders, the OSCE Minsk
group co-chairs, for `their constant attention to Nagorno-Karabakh
problem’ and highly praised personal efforts of the Russian President
in support of agreements.

Later on Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian noted that the
June 24 meeting was not a breakthrough, as Azerbaijan proved unready
to accept the final version of the basic principles suggested by the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. Instead, the Azerbaijani leader attempted
to impose 10 new proposals, thus precluding the possibility of any
agreement on the issue,’ he added.