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News, 11 Aug, 2009.
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DAS Bryza hopes President Sargsian will visit Turkey, believes rapprochement "will get moving again". According to RFE/RL, the United States hopes that President Sargsian will visit Turkey in October to continue Yerevan’s fence-mending “football diplomacy” with Ankara, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said over the weekend. Bryza acknowledged, at the same time, that the Turkish-Armenian dialogue has stalled as of late and that he is now less optimistic normalization of relations between the two estranged neighbors will take place. "What I had hoped was going to happen did not happen," he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. "Sometimes, if I’m asked to make a prediction, the prediction does not come true. I thought that there was a specific step that was about to occur. There is no reason why those steps still cannot happen, and we are working together with the Swiss mediators to try to help the parties think through what it is that they each can do to get the process moving again. I do have some hope that that will happen, but I can’t predict how quickly or what can be agreed.” / Read the full article at http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/1796458.html
Another unfounded report that Matthew Bryza will be next Ambassador to Azerbaijan? HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK writes that yesterday, Matthew Bryza was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan. In the same article, the newspaper refers to Bryza’s visit to Yerevan, reporting that he had a number of meetings with Armenian officials and a closed door meeting with opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian. The author also refers to the meeting of Bryza with journalists and the "sensational statements" he made. According to the daily, when asked what will happen if Armenia recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, Bryza said that Armenia would lose its opportunity for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The author opines that, in general, Bryza’s statements went much further than in the past (in terms of pro-Azerbaijan, anti-Armenian rhetoric). According to the author, Bryza declared that Armenia's position was stronger 10 years ago than today, and that Armenia cannot force Azerbaijan on any issue. (Note: There has been no announcement by the White House regarding the next Ambassador to Azerbaijan.)
Turkish FM says normalization of relations with Armenia will contribute to N-K negotiations. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davudoglu, in an interview with Kanal 7 TV, expressed Turkey's determination to normalize relations with Armenia and said talks between the two countries are underway. He also added that in the Caucasus, Turkey wants to see the normalization of Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. He believes that normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations will contribute to a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict./ ARAVOT
Heritage Party: Armenia-Turkey negotiations a "diplomatic victory" for Turkey. The negotiation process with Armenia has allowed Turkey to attain a diplomatic victory, senior Heritage Party member Armen Martirosian told ARMINFO. The politician believes that if the Armenian President refuses to attend the soccer match, the Turkish side’s diplomatic gains will still have value, whereas in terms of consequences for the Armenian side, the Turks will accuse the Armenians of setting preconditions whereas Turkey's President did not. / Also covered by ARAVOT
Newly freed editor to travel abroad for brain surgery, vows to return to politics. Arman Babajanian, the gravely ill newspaper editor who was released from prison last week, pledged to fight for leadership change in Armenia alongside the country’s main opposition force on Monday, as he prepared to travel abroad for urgent medical care. Babajanian, 33, walked free last Tuesday less than two months before completing a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence which he had received for dodging compulsory military service. He was granted parole after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. In an interview with RFE/RL, Babajanian said that he will fly abroad on Tuesday and undergo brain surgery the next day. He refused to name the hospital or the country where he is scheduled to receive treatment. "I will definitely return to Armenia and stay involved with politics because I believe Armenia’s problems have deepened and become more serious since 2006," the editor said. "The deficiency of justice which I have observed among our citizens during this past week requires very serious work."/ RFE/RL, ARAVOT and HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK
Opposition activist discusses ANC’s future plans, N-K, etc. Opposition activist Levon Zurabian was interviewed by Lragir.am on the ANC's upcoming plans, the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, and other topics. The full interview is available at http://www.lragir.am/src/index.php?id=lrahos||politics&pid=14888
Military moving around equipment, training medics for war? HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK reports that the Defense Ministry intends to transfer military equipment from the Pushkino Military Unit to the Hrazdan Military Unit. The newspaper’s source in the Defense Ministry claims that medical personnel are being conscripted to attend training on the use of field hospitals as if in preparation for a war. In addition, a demonstration of military hardware will be held in Yerevan while the transfer of equipment between the two units occurs.
Possible airport for Jermuk being discussed. The proposal of constructing a small airport and helicopter pad in Jermuk is currently being discussed by Vice Urban Minister and Chief Architect of the Republic Narek Sargsian. At his August 9 press conference in Jermuk, Sargsian noted that there is no need for an international airport in the region. He said the city really only needs a small airport and helicopter pad and, if these are built, they will be built on the town’s outskirts so as to not generate excessive noise for the city’s resident. Sargsian also said that since a North-South highway is slated for construction for the whole of the country, it would be wiser to build an international airport in Goris, which would provide reasonable access to Jermuk. / ARMENPRESS
MP’s relatives involved in a high profile shootout at a Yerevan restaurant. HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK reports another shootout in Yerevan between the nephew of MP Samvel Aleksanian (nicknamed Lfik Samo) and the sons of a crime boss from Rostov. The police detained that latter, but Aleksanian's nephew got away. (Note: the nephew reportedly had been recently released from a prison in the United Arab Emirates where he had been sentenced to two years for robbery.) The daily writes that Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan is connected with the family of the Rostov crime boss, and doubts that any of the parties involved will be punished. The scuffle took place in a restaurant that belongs to a high-ranking police officer. The newspaper wonders whether the participants in the scuffle will reimburse the restaurant for broken dishes.
Jailed (for murder) Republican Party official freed from prison. HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK reports that Artur Sedrakian (43rd on the proportional list of the Republican Party), in jail for killing Karen Hakobian (101st on the list) just prior to May 31 municipal elections has been released from prison. (Meanwhile, the paper's editor remains in prison awaiting trial for his role in the March 1, 2008 protests.) |
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