Category: 2017

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Monday


 View from Moscow: In the base of Russia`s "arms policy" is the
military-political and economic component

Yerevan May 22

David Stepanyan. In the base of Russia's "weapons policy" is the
military- political and economic component. Commenting on the role of
parallel deliveries of arms to Armenia and Azerbaijan in Russia's
foreign policy, Military expert Vladimir Yevseyev Caucasus department
of the Institute of CIS countries deputy director told ArmInfo as.

"One of the reasons for last year's April war was a violation of the
balance of forces along the contact line. Moreover, both
quantitatively and qualitatively. In particular, we are talking about
the systems of reactive volley fire "Smerch", "Soncepyok", a number of
other types of weapons allowed this balance change. Meanwhile, in the
event of timely implementation of Russia's plans to supply a parity
Armenia until April, the conditions for war, probably still would be
less. Now the balance is restored, if not quantitatively,
qualitatively. I do not know what kind of UAV has Armenia, maybe
Russia helped, but it is not so important, the main thing is that now
Armenia has weapons to respond", he said.

Therefore, for the Russian arms supplies to Azerbaijan, according to
military expert - is to hold Azerbaijan in the sphere of its
influence. At the same time, he does not believe that Russia sells
weapons to Baku for purely economic reasons, since for Russia it is
not the amount for which it would sacrifice allied relations with
Armenia. At the same time, Russia, he said, certainly would like to
see Azerbaijan in its sphere of influence. This is important both from
a military-political and economic point of view, if we consider the
implementation of the project of building an international transport
corridor "North-South" with the participation of Iran, Russia and
Azerbaijan. It is Azerbaijan that is the transit country of
Russian-Iranian cooperation. And the victory of Hasan Rouhani in the
presidential elections creates good prerequisites for the
implementation of this project.

"And the weapons Russia sell to Azerbaijan, most likely because of
those two factors, compensating it shipments of Armenia in order to
equalize the balance. Armenia is the ally of Russia, in Azerbaijan,
unlike Armenia, we do not have a single military Russian base,
therefore Armenia should not wary about arms supplies to Azerbaijan.
In the end, in April, Azerbaijan used Israeli and not Russian, against
Karabakh army. "Spike", UAVs, some other systems. Russia is not
interested in the destabilization of the situation around Karabakh,
knowing well that it threatens with a large regional war", summed
Yevseyev.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Monday


View from Moscow: Only the threat of counteroffensive can curb the
aggressiveness of Baku

 Yerevan May 22

David Stepanyan. Counteroffensive, the threat of an offensive is the
only panacea capable of curbing the aggressiveness of the leadership
of Azerbaijan. Caucasus Department of the Institute of CIS countries
Deputy Director, military expert Vladimir Yevseyev, expressed this
opinion to ArmInfo.

"It is very important to keep the conflict from moving to another
stage. Today, I see a change in the quality of the conflict. In
February, the Azerbaijani reconnaissance by demining sappers or remote
robots tried to infiltrate deep into the Armenian territory, then at
that time it looked quite typical. However, striking through the UAV
the depth of the territory controlled by the NKR Defense Army, damage
to anti-aircraft missile system "Osa" - is actually the act of
aggression blow was obviously caused in the rear, as the air defense
systems nobody puts at the forefront and that talks about moving into
a new phase of the conflict course, the Defense Forces and also forced
by the UAV hit back at Azerbaijan's rear", he said.

The strikes on the rear, with the help of technical means, the
military expert regards as an entirely different level of conflict.
Thus, the destruction of air defense weapons can be regarded as the
first step of reconnaissance by combat with the aim of organizing its
aviation support using helicopters, as it was in April and the same
UAVs. And if the Azeris managed to inflict more damage as a result of
more concerted actions, then immediately a force of approximately a
battalion could follow reconnaissance.

"In the end, we could get events very close to the events of April
2016. That is why I am very worried about the qualitative change in
the situation in the conflict region, I was sure that the April war
will happen for six months and spoke about it at the celebration of
Artsakh Days in Moscow, on the basis of a host of indirect indicators,
unfortunately, I see such indirect signs in favor of the repetition of
April 2016 now too," the expert notes.

Stressing the restoration of the balance of power, Yevseyev noted that
the desire to continue the policy of Ilham Aliyev "Biting off the
territories" is too great. And in the case of his implementation of
the resumption of hostilities at the level of April will be
inevitable. According to his estimates, in Baku they are not
considered with any sacrifices. For example, the carefully concealed
death of 10 Azerbaijani servicemen as a result of the February
sabotage did not serve as a basis for restraining their own appetites.

"Unfortunately, I do not see any possibility of achieving real peace
agreements, there are simply no conditions for that. Now Azerbaijan is
not set to talking about compromises. And only the force can bring
Baku in adequate state. Only after that it will be real to talk to
Ilham Aliyev. Therefore, Armenian side should seriously prepare for
it, periodically clearly warning the enemy of retaliatory
counteroffensive. Talks on defense are unable to stop the aggressor,
it can do only the treat of striking back", the Russian expert summed
up.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Monday


Yerkir Tsirani Party reacted on CEC decision

Yerevan May 22

Mariana Mkrtchyan. Yerkir tsirani Party reacted on Central Electoral
Commission decision, which on May 21 rejected the complaint of the
Party to recognize the Elders to Yerevan Council elections invalid.

"It is not a secret to anyone that the Armenian Nation make ends meet
on its historical fatherland because of the dictatorship of the Head
of the Republican Party Serzh Sargsyan. The years of this dictatorship
are a catastrophe for the people. The catastrophe is the mass
corruption in all the layers of the society and the high treason. The
two electoral processes held in 2017, the parliamentarian elections
and the Yerevan Council elections demonstrated that from now on the
electoral processes in Armenia are to be coordinated by the RPA by the
systemized corruption. Nowadays, the problems and the threats created
by the corruption destruct the yet not formed democratic institutions
in Armenia, moral values and the justice. The most cynic evidence of
the corruption is the trade of the own land of Artsakh by RPA and
Serzh Sargsyan and the system of state security of Armenia", Yerkir
Tsirani leader Zaruhi Postanjyan's statement reads.

At the same time, it is emphasized in the statement that the law
enforcement bodies of Armenia and CEC are the coverers of the
electoral corruption. "The property of the Yerevan Mayor Taron
Margaryan from RPA is the evidence of that corruption mechanism.
During the elections to the Yerevan Council of Elders, staff members
of Taron Margaryan's headquarters, together with police officers,
organized mass electoral fraud. A quarter of a century the results of
all elections were republicwide and referendums were falsified. In
Armenia, legitimate power was not formed. Today, political apathy has
formed in the Armenian society, and the dictatorial regime in the
person of the RPA and Sargsyan show exceptional cynicism. Continuation
of this situation can lead to civil unrest and riot. During the past
week, we twice witnessed the manifestation of cynicism on the part of
the RPA and Serzh Sargsyan, when an attempt was made to conceal
massive falsifications during the elections to the Yerevan Council of
Elders, and during Sargsyan's address to parties and blocs from the
rostrum of the country's parliament, in which he announced forthcoming
programs of the dictatorial regime".

At the same time, "Yerkir Tsirani" emphasizes that during the
elections to the Council of Elders of Yerevan, many violations and
falsifications were recorded, in addition, police officers used
violence against the party leader Zaruhi Postanjyan and her daughter
Lilit Drumpyan, as a result of which they were hospitalized. The party
notes that the law enforcement bodies of Armenia, instead of properly
investigating the incident, distributed a statement in which they
emphasized the legitimacy of the actions of the police.

To note, on May 21, the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia
rejected the application- complaint of the Yerkir Tsirani party to
declare invalid the results of the elections to the Council of Elders
of Yerevan. It is noteworthy that the authorized representative of the
party Armen Gabrielyan did not attend the discussions. As the leader
of the Party Zaruhi Postanjyan stated, Gabrielyan was not informed
properly about the meeting because of that he could not attend, as he
was at that time in Gyumri. In his turn, the CEC Chairman Tigran
Mukuchyan assured that all were informed about the meeting properly.
Mukuchyan said that the Yerkir party did not submit the complaint
application, and therefore it will be rejected. According to the CEC,
the application has no legal justifications.

To recall, on May 14 elections were held in the capital's Council of
Elders. According to the results of the elections, the Republican
Party of Armenia received 71, 25% of the votes, the "Yelq" bloc - 21%,
the "Yerkir Tsirani" party - 7.75%. The Republican Party of Armenia
will receive 46 mandates, the bloc "Yelq" - 14, the party "Yerkir
Tsirani" - 5.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Monday


Armenia`s Deputy Foreign Minister`s statement in BSEC caused Erdogan`s
uncertain reaction

Yerevan may 22

Mariana Mkrtchyan. Armenia`s Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot
Hovakimyans's statement during special meeting of the BSEC Council of
Foreign Ministers caused the Turkish President Erdogan`s uncertain
reaction.

According to Azerbaijani Media, Hovakimyan called on the Speaker of
Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Oktay Asadov not to use the platform of
BSEC for political speculations.

Immediately after the Hovakimyan's statement, Turkish President
Erdogan stated that he is not agree with Hovakimyan. "None of the
representatives speaking here made political blames and assessments.
But you dedicated all your time to that what in my opinion is not
right".

To note, Oktay Asadov during his speech said, "25 years ago BSEC was
created for long-term, tight cooperation. It is pity that during these
25 years our region became more dangerous, new conflict took place and
the prospects of the development of the region are under serious
threat. The human tragedies grow, the number of inhumanity, cruelty of
people. But for Azeris, in particular, for more then a million of
refuges it not something new. Armenia continues the occupation of 20%
of Azerbaijani territories and through that violates the security and
stability of the region. "The occupation of Azeri territories by
Armenia" create obstacles for regional cooperation. Unfortunately, on
of BSEC members continue its intolerance and aggression. The ideology
of Armenia made itself a mononational state and hinders both itself
and the region to develop. Armenia steel ignores the supremacy of the
International Law by refusing to implement 4 resolutions of UN
Security Council. That is why I would like to tell everybody that the
primitive way of thinking of the Armenian leadership is unhealthy. It
is of no doubt that Azerbaijan will fully restore its territorial
integrity within the norms of international law".

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Monday


Russian expert: In April 2016, Russia did not do enough to establish
peace in Karabakh

Yerevan May 22

David Stepanyan. I saw no results of Baku's last April request to
Russia to stop the Artsakh army counterattack. Caucasus Department of
the Institute of CIS countries Deputy Director, military expert
Vladimir Yevseyev, expressed this opinion to ArmInfo.

"I expected Stepanakert to return to negotiation table, which would be
quite logical and normal. Apparently, there were no such demands,
which was a joint mistake by Russia and Armenia. I see Yerevan's
activity in this issue, which, apparently, wants to be the main one in
the negotiations with Baku, however, in this situation it is
counterproductive, since it is impossible to talk about the return of
some territories instead of those not present at the table," he said.

Yevseyev supposed that last April Ilham Aliyev took the obligation to
refrain from military actions in the zone of the Karabakh conflict.
And, at least until February 2017 - attempts of two Azerbaijani
reconnaissance groups to penetrate into Artsakh soil, during which up
to 10 Azerbaijani servicemen were killed, in general, took place.
Thus, Moscow froze the conflict for some time.

"In my opinion, this short-term frostbite was not worth it, as April
brought much more negative consequences, in particular, it reinforced
Baku's confidence in the correctness of the policy of "biting off the
territories." In April, the propagandists managed to convince the
Azerbaijani society of the victory, and allow Baku not to go to
compromises, I do not see other conditions specifically for Karabakh,
so I believe that Russia has not done enough to establish peace in
Karabakh," the Russian expert summed up.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Monday


"To be a doctor, to save people's lives and to help them is my credo,"
Tom Katena, 2017 Aurora Awards winner says.

Yerevan May 22

Ani Mshetsyan. On May 22 Doctor Tom Katena, the winner of Aurora Prize
2017, held an open lecture at Yerevan State Medical University after
Mkhitar Heratsi. He told about his experience at the hospital of
Mother of Mercy, located in Sudan mountains. Katena is a sole
physician at that hospital treating about 700 000 local habitants.

" It does not matter what conditions do we have, it is important what
we deal with. To be a doctor, to save people's lives and to help them
is my credo," Doctor Katena said.

"Yerevan State medical University awarded Ph.D. title to Tom Katena
for his service and humanitarian mission on saving human lives in
Sudan. The appropriate decision was taken by the Scientific Board of
Yerevan Medical University," rector Armen Mouradyanb stated.

Tom Katena could visit Yerevan due to the efforts of Aurora
Humanitarian Initiative and thanks to three Armenian physicians, who
left for Sudan to replace katena at the hospital of Mother of Mercy.
For the period of his stay in Armenia.

Candidates for Aurora prize 2017 will be awarded on may 28, 2017 in
Armenia, within the framework of Aurora Awards Ceremony, and one of
them will become the Winner. The Winner will receive a 100.000 USD
grant, which will give an option to continue the charity race and to
support the organizations which inspired him/her.