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President Sargsian participates in informal Kyrgyzstan CSTO summit, visits Armenians in Russia. HAYOTS ASHKHAR writes that President Sargsian participated in an informal summit of CSTO heads in Kyrgyzstan. During the summit, the participants discussed issues of international security and information policy. From Kyrgyzstan, President Sargsian left for Orenburg, Russia where he participated in the opening of the Armenian metochion at the "National Village" cultural complex and met with representatives of the Armenian community.
American and Italian media highlighting negative reports of Armenia to influence N-K? HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK speculates that the recent publications in the American and Italian press may be somehow connected with the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations. The daily refers to the recent reports in the American press (the arrest of the former Armenian Console in Los Angeles by ICE officials), and wonders why American authorities publicized this crime now, and not between 1999 and 2003, when the alleged illegal acts were taking place. The article does not exclude the possibility that President Sargsian, who was then the National Security Minister, is connected with the crime. The article also refers to the article in the "Corriere Della Sera" Italian newspaper which charges that Armenia is a transit country for the transportation of arms to Hezbollah. The paper alleges that a munitions explosion caused the recent Tehran-Yerevan plane crash and that the explosives were bound for Hezbollah. The author of the article notes that this is a very serious allegation aimed at Armenian officials, in specifically President Sargsian.
Report that Hezbollah-bound arms shipment caused plane crash just "anti-Armenian hysteria". HAYOTS ASHKHAR quotes an official with the Civil Aviation Department who dismissed a recent article in the Italian newspaper “Corriere Della Sera” as nothing but anti-Armenian hysteria. The paper alleges that the July Tehran-Yerevan plane crash was caused by an explosion of detonators bound for Hezbollah. According to the official, specialists believe the cause of the plane crash was an explosion in one of the airliner’s engines.
Azerbaijani DefMin reserves military option for N-K, appreciates Russian mediation. HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK quotes Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev saying, during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov, that if the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not resolved in a peaceful way "the military way is unavoidable." The Defense Minister also said that the "efforts of the Russian Federation directed towards the conflict’s resolution are praiseworthy."
European Armenian Union concerned over increasingly hostile language coming out of Azerbaijan. ARAVOT says that the European Armenian Union sent a letter to the OSCE expressing concern over Azerbaijan’s increasingly bellicose language, urging the OSCE to restrict Azerbaijan's participation in the negotiation process.
MG Co-Chairs to visit region, reveal Madrid Principles in the early fall. HAYOTS ASHKHAR and HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTIUN write that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs announced that the updated Madrid Principles will be shared with the parties during a planned visit to the region in the fall. Spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Press Tigran Balayan said the Armenian side has not yet received the document and, as the Co-Chairs noted, it will be provided when the Co-Chairs visit in late September or early October. U.S. Meanwhile, Co-Chair Matthew Bryza will visit the region in August and French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier in early September.
Armenian citizen arrested while smuggling jewelry to Russia. According to HAYOTS ASHKHAR, workers at the Koltsovo International Airport in Yekaterinburg, Russia arrested an Armenian citizen who was trying to smuggle gold and diamond jewelry into the city.
Fugitive MP’s brother heads to Strasbourg to meet with PACE Co-Rapporteurs. Quoting unnamed sources, ARAVOT writes that Saribek Sukiassian, brother of fugitive businessman and MP Khachatur Sukiassian, is headed to Strasbourg, France. In Strasbourg, Sukiassian will meet with PACE Co-Rapporteurs in order to discuss the charges brought against his brother.
Former Head of the Tax Service to be new National Security Service boss? ARAVOT reports on rumors that say one of the possible candidates to replace National Security Service Head Gorik Hakobian is former Head of the Taxation Service Armen Avetisian, who is currently pursuing his personal business interests, in particular, construction of a luxurious "Golden Palace" Hotel in the ski town of Tsakhkadzor.
Jailed editor refuses medication for brain tumor, threatens hunger strike. HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK reports that Arman Babajanian, the jailed newspaper editor diagnosed with a brain tumor, yesterday refused to take his medications, threatening instead to go on a hunger strike in order to hasten his release from prison as recommended by doctors.
ANC Representatives to visit regions. Representatives of the Armenian National Congress will start their regional visits this week. / HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK
Jermuk Group Owner and MP seeks to restrict the use of the Jermuk logo by other corporations. IRAVUNK reports that during the past several months, owner of the Jermuk Group Corporation and MP Ashot Arsenian has been doing his best to restrict the use of the Jermuk logo by other water-bottling enterprises. The newspaper asserts that this topic was also raised with the Prime Minister, as other companies have asked him to resolve the issue.
Armenia experiences deflation at 2.7%. According to the National Statistical Service, Armenia experienced deflation at a rate of 2.7% in the period of June-July 2009. Foodstuff (including alcoholic drinks and tobacco products) prices fell by 5.2% in July as compared to June, and prices of nonfood and services went up by 0.5% and 0.1% respectively. The consumer price index was 102.4% in July 2009 of what it was in December 2008. / ARKA/ |
