Author: nina hovnanian

VISIT OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN TO THE NKR

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
2011-06-09 14:58

Within their regional visit, Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group
Robert Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russia), and Bernard Fassier were
on a visit to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic on June 8-9.

NKR President Bako Sahakian received the mediators to discuss issues
related to the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement and regional
processes. According to the Central Information Department of the NKR
President’s Office, the meeting participants noted that there was no
alternative to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. Introducing the
position of official Stepanakert, the head of state emphasized that
it would be impossible to achieve any breakthrough in the conflict
settlement process without the participation of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in all the stages of the negotiation process.

NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosian, Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, and other officials
participated in the meeting.

***

“As you know, a few days ago, our three Presidents adopted a
significant joint declaration at the Great 8 Summit in Dovile, in
which they emphasized that there was no alternative to the peaceful
settlement of the conflict. This is a very important fact. They also
stressed that it was preferable to approve the basic principles of
the settlement as soon as possible in order that the elaboration of
the peaceful settlement project could be started”, stated OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairman from France Bernard Fassier after the meeting with
the NKR President.

“We discussed with President Sahakian the events, which had taken
place since our last meeting in April. From the diplomatic point of
view, that was a very tense period. I had a chance to inform President
Sahakian about the visits of Ministers Nalbandian and Mamedyarov to
Washington. In particular, one of the most important moments at the
meetings of Secretary of State Clinton with each of the Ministers was
that she emphasized the unacceptability of the use of force. And as
the Presidents noted in Dovile, the use of force led to the emergence
of the existing unacceptable situation. The use of force will not
resolve the issue and will only bring to more deaths and sufferings.

And the USA are firmly committed to the peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh issue”, said American Co-Chairman Robert Bradtke.

Russian mediator Igor Popov added, “We also spoke about the Russian
efforts directed to the soonest accomplishment of the work over
the basic principles of settlement. I informed that on April 22,
a meeting of the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan and Armenia, with
the participation of Sergey Lavrov, took place in Moscow, at which
the project was discussed. The next meeting of the Ministers should
take place in the nearest future. In the focus of attention will be
discussion of the final formulations to be proposed at the next summit
in Kazan. We proceed from the fact that the Dovile statement of the
three Presidents, in which the soonest accomplishment of the work over
this document is noted, will give additional impetus to this work. We
hope that the parties will display a constructive approach in Kazan”.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN AND THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EUROPE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF FRANCE PHILIPPE LEFORT TOUCHED UPON THE ISSUES OF DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-FRENCH RELATIONS AND THE PROBLEMS OF MUTUAL INTEREST

Noyan Tapan

09.06.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 09.06.2011) On June 9, the Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan received the head of the department of Europe of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France Philippe Lefort, who arrived
in Armenia to participate in the consultations of foreign political
departments.

Welcoming the guest the Foreign Minister expressed content with
the high level of Armenian-French mutual relations and intensive
communication, noting that it forms favourable field in the tightening
and widening the cooperation between two countries.

During the meeting the sides touched upon the issues of mutual
relations, as well as problems of international and regional interest.

According to the press, information and public relations of RA
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the sides discussed Armenia-EU relations,
especially a number of issues referring to the present phase of
negotiations over association agreement between Armenia and European
Union. During the discussions on the process of peaceful regulation
of Artsakh issue, the Minister Nalbandyan underlined the positive
involvement of France as the co-chair of OSCE Minsk group.

THE DELEGATION HEADED BY ARTHUR GRIGORYAN, RA MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS, VISITED QATAR STATE

Noyan Tapan

09.06.2011

(Noyan Tapan – 09.06.2011) On June 6-8, the delegation headed by
Arthur Grigoryan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, visited
Qatar State by the invitation of Nasser bin Abdallah al-Hamidii,
Labor Minister of Qatar State.

Gagik Yeganyan, the head of the migration service of RA Ministry
of Territorial Administration, representatives of RA MFA and the
International Organization for Migration office in Armenia were
members of the delegation. The RA Minister of Labor and Social
Affairs met Qatar Minister of Labor, Deputy President of the Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, the leaders of “Hamad” medical complex and
other employer agencies. During the meetings, within the framework
of discussed issues they mutually gave importance to the involvement
of high-quality labor-force from Armenia into Qatar State especially
in the fields of health, architectural and technology.

According to the press release of the Department of Information and
Public Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to clarify the
legal and labor contract provisions of RA labor-force “The agreement
between RA and Qatar State on the use of labor-force of RA in Qatar the
territory of Qatar State” was signed at the result of the discussion
of experts.

COURT STARTED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OF ‘BIRD LOVERS CENTER’ AND ‘ECODAR’ NGOS AGAINST NATURE PROTECTION MINISTRY

arminfo
Thursday, June 9, 13:16

The Administrative Court of Armenia has admitted into the legal
proceedings the lawsuit brought by ‘Bird Lovers Center’ and ‘EcoDar’
NGOs against Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia. ‘Bird Lovers
Center’ NGO Chairman Silva Adamyan told EcoLur about this. The NGOs
accuse the ministry of inaction.

Suing the ministry is conditioned by the fact it’s already three
months since NGOs have sent an enquiry to the Ministry demanding to
hold environmental impact assessment of “Nemo” Dolphinarium operating
in Yerevan, nevertheless, they haven’t received any reply from the
Ministry so far.

The dolphinarium “Nemo” was opened in Yerevan on 24 Dec 2010. A group
of greens held a protest action in front of the dolphinarium the
same day. Experts say that in captivity dolphins are prone to stress
and can be very dangerous. There have even been cases of dolphins
killing people. Despite this fact, “Nemo”‘s commercial says that they
will also provide dolphin-therapy for children. The activities of
“Nerium,” the Ukrainian company that has brought dolphins for “Nemo”,
have been declared illegal in Ukraine. Some 50 organizations, including
Aarhus centers, environmental NGOs and international structures, have
written a letter against the dolphinarium project and have sent it
to the President earlier in December. No answer have been received yet.

Earlier, Armenian Administrative Court has rejected the lawsuit
filed by “Center for Bird Lovers” and “EcoDar” NGOs against Nature
Protection Ministry of Armenia. The NGOs demand from the court to
hold an expert examination on the dolphinarium construction located
at Park after Komitas, Yerevan, EcoLur reported.

MINISTER NALBANDIAN EMPHASIZES FRANCE’S POSITIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

armradio.am
09.06.2011 13:11

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Mr. Philippe
Lefort, Head of the Continental Europe Department of the French
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, who has arrived in Armenia to
participate in political consultations between the Foreign Ministries
of Armenia and France.

Greeting the guest, Minister Nalbandian hailed the high level of
Armenian-French bilateral relations and the intensive contacts,
underlining that they create a good basis for further reinforcement
and expansion of ties between the two countries.

During the meeting the interlocutors touched upon a number of regional
and international issues of reciprocal interest.

The parties discussed the Armenia-EU relations, particularly the
current stage of ongoing negotiations on the Association Agreement.

Minister Nalbandian emphasized France’s positive involvement in
the Karabakh conflict settlement process as co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group.

SCPEC STARTS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ROYAL ARMENIA AND VIA ARGO

/ ARKA /
June 8, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, June 8. / ARKA /. Armenia’s State Commission for
Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) has decided today to
start administrative proceedings against Royal Armenia and Via Argo,
two coffer beans importing companies after their failure to meet a
reporting requirement.

When conducting a study of this market the State Commission for
Protection of Economic Competition had asked several largest companies
to provide it with specified information, but the two mentioned
companied ignored the demand.

The SCPEC said the study revealed that the market of coffer beans is
dominated by Kafe do Brasi, Grand Candy and Viva Argo, which together
control 85.66% of the market. Instant coffee market was found to be
dominated by Alex Grig, Armen-Hasmik and Royal Armenia, which control
72.87% of the market.

EU-AZERBAIJAN TIES DISCUSSED

Trend
June 8 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received a delegation
headed by Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, European
External Action Service Miroslav Lajcak, the ministry reported.

During the meeting the sides exchanged views on the current state and
prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU. Empathizing
intensity of the Azerbaijan – EU cooperation, the parties stressed
the importance of the Eastern Partnership Program.

Noting that the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains
unresolved, Mammadyarov provided information about the talks on the
conflict resolution. He said the withdrawal of occupying forces from
Azerbaijani territories, restoration of the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and returning of refugees and IDPs to their homelands are
the basic conditions for peace and stability in the region.

Lajcak expressed hope for a speedy settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

FIRST NATIONAL MOVIE AWARD IN ARMENIA

news.am
June 8 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia organizes the first national movie award Pepo,
President of Armenia’s National Cinema Center Gevorg Gevorgyan said
at a press conference on Wednesday.

“The awarding ceremony should be organized at high level. The future of
the first national movie award depends on the quality of the premiere,”
Gevorgyan said.

Currently the preparation for the premiere is almost over.

Negotiations are being held regarding sponsorship of the premiere fund,
criteria and nominations.

“Pepo” was the first Armenian sound film ever created. It is directed
by Hamo Beknazaryan in 1935 at Armenfilm studio.

‘UPCOMING MEETING OF PRESIDENTS TO TAKE PLACE ON BACKDROP OF IMPORTANT EVENTS’

news.az
June 8 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has not lost hope for a peaceful settlement of
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The statement came from political expert Fikret Sadikhov while
commenting on Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents’ upcoming
meeting in Kazan in late June.

“Our expectations from the negotiating process are not lost yet.

Otherwise, there would be no sense to negotiate. Naturally, our side
is much more dissatisfied and we constantly reiterated it having
sufficiently serious ground,” the expert said.

One should not forget that the upcoming meeting between presidents in
Kazan will be take place on the backdrop of very serious and important
events, the expert noted.

“First, it is a very serious statement by the heads of three of
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs issued in Deauville. Secondly,
they were quite serious negotiations and discussions over the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and international issues, including
those of regional character, which took place in Washington, as part
of which our foreign minister met with Secretary of State Clinton.

And finally, this was a meeting of foreign ministers of Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia prior to the forthcoming meeting of the
presidents in Kazan. That is, these three factors give some reason
to believe that some basic principles of a large agreement might
be adopted at a Kazan meeting which is also the result of offensive
diplomacy of Azerbaijan,” Sadikhov added.

IRANIAN TROUPE TO PERFORM “MACBETH” AT ARMENIAN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Tehran Times
June 8 2011
Iran

TEHRAN — Iranian stage director Hossein Farrokhi will perform
“Macbeth” at the Shakespeare International Theater Festival which
will be held in Yerevan, Armenia this coming September.

“I have made small changes in the text and revised some of the
dialogue, but I have remained true to the original text,” Farrokhi
told the Persian service of IRNA.

He called Iran’s participation in international festivals opportunities
to introduce Iranian dramatic arts to foreign artists.

“We shall begin rehearsals after actress Afsaneh Mahian returns from
her abroad trip,” he said.

“I believe that this cooperation between Iranian and foreign troupes
is necessary in order to earn credit for Iranian theater,” he added.

Each edition of the non-competitive Shakespeare International Theatre
Festival is dedicated to an individual who was a key figure in the
furthering of drama in Armenia.

International theatre troupes take part to give Armenians examples of
their interpretations of the great playwrights. In 2010 Peter Brook,
the renowned theater producer, was invited to participate.

Photo: A scene from “The Symphony of Awakening” directed by Hossein
Farrokhi at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on July 19, 2008. (Mehr/Ra’uf Mohseni)