Japanese government presents 61 tractors to Ar- Defense minister: menian farmers Page 2 Armenia to acquire “long-range” PAGE 3 ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS
Weekly Digest of the Government of Armenia
August 10 -16 2010 THEMA
“Quote of the week”
“The main directions are the expansion of our long-range strike capacity and the introduction of extremely precise systems, which will allow us to minimize the enemy’s civilian casualties during con- flicts.”
Seyran Ohanyan Defense minister of RA Serj Tankian: I’d like to play a concert with System of a Down in Yerevan aving a System of a Down “I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. I Hconcert in Yerevan may be a would like to stay longer in Armenia,” Tan- good idea, former SOAD frontman, kian said World-known musician of Arme- Upcoming Events American rock musician of Arme- nian origin, former SOAD frontman Serj nian origin Serj Tankian believes. Tankian favors the idea of rock festival to As he noted during the August 12 support Armenian Genocide recognition. news conference in Yerevan, after the “I can’t foretell where I’ll be and what’ August 19: President of RF arrives SOAD collapse, the band was offered I’ll do in 2015 (100th anniversary of Ar- Yerevan to reunite on multiple occasions, yet menian Genocide). I like the idea of or- there are no certain plans to that end. ganizing a rock festival to support Ar- August 20-22: CSTO non-official “Everything’s possible, as we’re still menian Genocide recognition, yet don’t summit good friends. Should we decide to reu- know if I’ll participate,” the singer nite or play a concert in Armenia, the told a news conference on August 12. information will by all means be pro- Serj Tankian characterized his rock-actions vided on our website,” Serj Tankian said. aimed to increase Genocide awareness as suc- Well-known rock musician, former lead cessful, noting however, that there are other USEFUL LINKS singer of System of a Down Serj Tan- means to express one’s position on the issue. • www.president.am kian said he is happy to be in Armenia. Dwelling on problems covered in his songs, • www.gov.am “I was planning to give a concert the singer pointed out, “I prefer to refer to • www.parliament.am in Yerevan for a long time and I universal issues. However, words of free- • www.mfa.am am happy that it was finally organ- dom and national identity can be respond- • www.armenpress.am ized,” he told a press conference on ed anywhere in the world, regardless of • www.panarmenian.net August 12 prior to his solo concert. song author’s nationality,” he concluded • www.matenadaran.am August 12, 2010 www.panarmenian.net.. ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS CHRONICA Armenia sends humanitarian aid to Russia Hague court ruling: a prece- dent to be used in Karabakh conveyed to Rossotrudnichestvo of- issue? fice in Yerevan. Besides clothes, shoes ague court verdict on Kosovo independence is a and bedclothes, the money collected Hmoral and juridical assessment of the situation on the initiative of Armenian Youth which may have an influence on Karabakh conflict Center will be transferred by Nizhny settlement, according to Orinats Yerkir deputy chair- Novgorod and Voronezh regions. man Mher Shahgeldyan. As he told July 24 news During the ceremony, Center president conference in Yerevan, Kosovo precedent consoli- Andranik Nikoghosyan noted that the dates juridical and diplomatic position of Armenian forest fires “are a calamity for Russia side in peace talks for Karabakh conflict settlement. and Armenia can’t remain indifferent.” “The ICJ ruling is legitimate and acceptable to inter- Armenian Youth Center was created in national community. Kosovo verdict gives de jure confirmation of de facto situation with Karabakh, as 2008 with a purpose to unite Armenian well as other conflict zones.” 00 boxes with humanitarian aid young people. It also highlights strength- 4for the people who suffered from ening of Armenian-Russian relations. AH forest fires in Russia were officially August 12 2010 www.panarmenian.net hairman of European Integration NGO CKaren Bekaryan said on July 27 that the EIB to assign 5mln euros Japanese government presents Hague court’s ruling on lawfulness of Kosovo’s for Yerevan Metro Reha- 61 tractors to Armenian farm- secession from Serbia serves as a good reason for the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh to initiate a bilitation project ers certain process on NKR’s international recogni- he European Investment Bank tion. Tsigned a 5mln euros loan agree- “The fact that Karabakh is not directly involved ment with Armenia for implementa- in the talks provides Stepanakert with the op- portunity to be less constrained in similar initia- tion of Yerevan Metro Rehabilitation tives,” the expert stated. project. As reported by the press of- Bekaryan added that the civil sector of NKR fice of the RA Ministry of Finance, the also should be involved in the process of inter- sum is a part of a 15mln euros project national recognition of NKR’s independence. envisaged for implementation of the As for Armenia’s steps in this process, accord- first stage of the project. The loan will ing to Bekaryan, it should stir up the parliamen- arming machines were imported to be provided for 15 years with 4 year tary diplomacy. “Through international organi- Armenia through the courtesy of grace period. According to an agree- F zations and parliamentary friendship groups Japanese government, providing 170 Armenia may initiate steps for recognition of ment concluded on March 10, 2010, million Japanese yen grant within the the European Bank for Reconstruc- NKR’s independence by parliaments of friendly framework of development aid program. countries. In its turn, the Armenian Diaspora tion and Development will allocate 61 tractors were delivered to Ko- should assist Armenia and NKR in this proc- another 5mln euros in the framework tayk’s Nurnus community to be dis- ess,” noted Bekaryan. of Neighborhood Investment Program. tributed among Armenian regions. The expert said that the Hague court’s ruling The project consists of the addressing Since 1997, Japanese government will definitely have an impact on the negotia- the problem of the water ingress into has provided 63 grain combines and tion process on Karabakh. the metro tunnels, modernization of 366 tractors complete with farming tools to Armenia within Aid to Low- AH the infrastructure and refurbishment of income Farmers program framework. ice-president of “Orinnats Yerkir“ party the rolling stock. August 13, 2010, www.panarmenian.net August 10, 2010www.panarmenian.net VMher Shahgeldyan pointed out that the statement of the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries once Armenia defeated by Iran in Armenia vs. Georgia 2:3 again accentuated the three principles of inter- a friendly eorgia kept alive their outside chance of national law for the Karabakh conflict settle- Gsealing a play-off place with a 3-2 win ment: the people’s right to self-determination, rmenia suffered a 1:3 defeat in a friendly away to Armenia in UEFA European Under-21 Aagainst Iran on August 11. In a game with Championship qualifying Group 2,UEFA said non-use of force and territorial integrity. many blunders and unforced errors on either on its website. Jano Ananidze, Mate Vatsadze It is very important that the statement views side, both teams had a couple of chances, most- and Nika Kvekveskiri got the goals for Geor- these principles as something single and inter- ly with shots from outside the area, persian- gia, who had to hang on for victory after sub- related, Shahgeldyan stressed. football.com reports. Armenia took the lead stitute Valter Poghosyan pulled Armenia to According to him, Armenia hails this approach slightly against the run of play five minutes be- within one with two minutes to play. The win of the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk fore halftime, thanks to a mishit cross from the takes Otar Gabelia's side above Armenia and Group Co-Chair countries. left side by Aghvan Mkrtchyan which found it's Estonia into third, five points behind leaders way into the net via the goalpost. Shahgeldyan noted that Armenia’s diplomatic Switzerland, who have played a game more, positions have strengthened in the Karabakh is- August 12, 2010 and within a point of second-placed Turkey, full story www.panarmenian.net who they meet on 4 September. sue. August 12, 2010 August 14, 2010 www.panarmenian.net full story www.panarmenian.net 2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS PRO PATRIA JULLIARD & LE COZ: Emissary Tourism development in Armenia and Azerbaijan com- entanglements Armenia pete to buy Georgian gas pipe- nternational experts believe that line. ast month, Washington Times reporter IArmenia has the potential to de- LJames Morrison wrote an item in his Em- velop serious tourism infrastructure, bassy Row column about the nomination of Mat- although there need to be amendments thew Bryza as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan. made to certain parts of its legisla- As Mr. Morrison noted, several human rights groups had previously questioned Mr. Bryza’s tion. Armenia currently offers holiday close ties to Azerbaijani leadership, and tough makers an attractive tourism product, questions about his possible bias again sur- secure and safe environment and hos- faced during his recent confirmation hearing. pitable people. Developing tourism erious competition has begun During the hearings, Mr. Bryza stated: “If con- will create many jobs for the locals. Sover the issue as to who will buy firmed, I will continue to encourage the government Thus the country has big potential the south-north gas pipeline connect- of Azerbaijan to move forward on key issues such to attract tourists while employing ing Russia and Armenia and passing as media freedom, freedom of expression, politi- the local population in the business. through Georgia. The Georgian gov- cal pluralism, rule of law and civic participation.” A special project created with the sup- ernment has recently put this strate- Obviously, these are noble goals often repeated by port of USAID was offered to help gic asset up for sale. Different sources U.S. ambassadors who are stationed in authoritar- ian countries, but Mr. Bryza’s past in Azerbai- develop Armenia’s tourism sector. claim there is a 99% chance that the Azerbaijani state oil company SO- jan raises important doubts about his promises. Particular attention is paid to the nec- In 2007, the editor of the opposition newspaper CAR will purchase the asset; Yerevan essary legislation amendments and in- Azadlig, Ganimat Zahid, and correspondent Agil creasing the role of the private sector is totally against this option. Another Khalil were sued over an article titled “Azerbai- and local municipalities in facilitat- possibility is that it will be bought by janis Paid for Matthew Bryza’s Wedding.” The ing tourism development. There are Russia’s Gazprom – this has caused article states that Azeri Economic Development also a number of items specifying the concern for the Georgians as well as Minister Haydar Babayev paid for a significant planning of the development of the the Azeris. There is also a third possible portion of Mr. Bryza’s wedding, which took place tourism sector, specifying different player – Kazakhstan’s Kazmunaigaz, in Istanbul the same year. At the time, Mr. Bryza spheres, tourist routes and other neces- although some think that the Kaza- was the U.S. co-chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Minsk Group, sary ingredients for its development. khstanis will protect Russian interests. the body tasked with mediating a peace deal for August 11, 2010 www.messenger.com.ge August 6, 2010 full story www.messenger.com.ge the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbai- Iran beats Armenia jan and Armenia. Both countries claim sover- eignty over the region, and although a cease-fire in friendly Defense minister: Arme- has been observed since 1994, no agreement has ever been signed between the two governments. ran’s national football team nia to acquire "long- range" weapons In the year after the article was published, Aza- Ihas defeated Armenia 3-1 dlig correspondent Agil Khalil was the target in an international friendly in rmenia's defense minister, Seyran of four murder attempts, and in July 2008 - no the Armenian capital Yerevan. AOhanian, says that Armenia plans to longer able to deal with the constant threats According to Press TV, in the game, buy "long-range, precision-guided weap- against him - he fled to France, where he re- which was played on Wednesday, Ar- ons," though it hasn't specified of what mains to this day. Mr. Khalil cannot return sort and from whom. Reports RFE/RL: menia had the upper hand in the first to Azerbaijan because he fears for his life. Ohanian's announcement today followed a half and took the lead six minutes before There is no doubt that Mr. Bryza’s experience in the meeting of an Armenian government com- region could be valuable for improving relations the break, taking advantage of a blun- mission on national security that approved der by Iranian keeper Mehdi Rahmati. between the United States and Azerbaijan, but we two programs envisaging a modernization think that because he has been involved in a com- But in the second half, Iran reversed of the country's armed forces. One of the plaint and suit against a newspaper, his credibility the course of the game, scoring two documents deals with army weaponry, within Azerbaijani civil society and his stated com- goals in the span of two minutes. while the other details measures to de- mitment to press freedom can easily be questioned. Hadi Aghily neatly headed the velop the domestic defense industry. Oha- Moreover, Mr. Bryza was very much criticized and ball in to level the score. And two nian said the programs "will qualitatively questioned about his position on the Nagorno-Ka- minutes later Mohammad Nos- improve the level of the armed forces in rabakh conflict, an extremely sensitive and taboo the short and medium terms." "The two rati scored the second for Iran. subject in Azerbaijan. Reporter and editor Eynulla programs envisage both the acquisition of The Iranian team sealed the Fatullayev remains in jail for writing about the sub- state-of-the-art weapons and their partial ject in a way that displeased Azerbaijani officials. win in injury time when Agh- manufacturing by the local defense indus- ily scored from the penalty spot. August 11, 2010, try," Ohanian said. full story www.washingtontimes.com August 12, 2010 english.irib.ir August 11, 2010 www.eurasianet.org "Armenia Highlights" is compiled in association with & DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in "Armenia Highlights" do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Armenia.
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