The Minsk Group Co-Chairs have no doubt, they clearly know which side is the aggressor and escalator, and ceasefire violator, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan said during an interview with Armenia TV, commenting on observations what the Minsk Group and/or the international community are putting the equal sign. The president doesn’t share this view.
The president also commented on the figures which were promised by the previous governments, which performed partially. He commented about the opinions that during the parliamentary elections the ruling party didn’t perform its promises fully, and neither has the president during the presidential election – namely regarding the minimum wage, economic growth figures.
“When you say revise, than with whom do you want, in order to revise and improve? With Turkey? Or is everyone waiting with their arms open in NATO? Or should be simply become enemies with everybody, or tell everyone – you are helping Azerbaijan: and it’s just us against the world”, he said.
The masterminds and perpetrators of such condemnable provocations by the Baku regime should bear responsibility.
“One day all these documents will be released and you will see that it is mentioned in all of them that the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh must take part in the development of peace agreement and negotiations. This has been agreed by the three Co-Chairing countries. It is impossible to reach any agreement or make a decision without the Artsakh side”, Nalbandian said.
The issue of visa regime liberalization of Armenia with the European Union is on the agenda, Ambassador Piotr Świtalski, head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, said at meeting with reporters on June 20, which was also attended by Ambassadors of Italy and Bulgaria to Armenia.
To the remark that Azerbaijan calls on the airlines of other countries to bypass the airspace of Artsakh for security reasons, Davit Babayan stressed that those are false and fabricated calls.”If a Turkish airplane really flew over the airspace of Artsakh, this documents that the mentioned calls are false. They are used to saying something, but doing something else. If it’s dangerous to fly over Artsakh, why do they fly over Artsakh themselves?” Artsakh President’s spokesperson said.
President Serzh Sargsyan attended today the solemn ceremony of inauguration of newly elected Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan, which was held during the special meeting of the Council of Elders of Yerevan. The President congratulated Taron Margaryan and the members of the newly elected Council of Elders on assuming responsibility for the governance of the capital city.
“I consider Armenia may be accessed visa free regime, however, not in near future. Yerevan should prove that it’s capable of modernizing the country, creating firm ground for democracy, human rights and rule of law, approach governance system structure to the EU criteria.”
According to him the inflow of foreign direct investments is positive and AMD 19.7 billion direct investments were recorded in the first quarter of 2017. According to the Minister numerous investments and reinvestments were made by local investors as well.
Children aren’t the reason of problems. Children are resources given to us to solve them. Children aren’t expenditures. Children are investment tended to future.
Moreover, no serious ceasefire violation cases have been recorded today, while the dissemination of such information is addressed to solely Azerbaijani audience. The Defense Army of Artsakh continues to keep full control of the front line and has suffered no casualties.
Promises given in the action plan of the government, then in RPA pre-election program, as formerly stated, mostly didn’t contain target. Only several promises contained concreteness among which was reaching export volume to 40-45% of GDP.
“I consider it’s difficult to do anything here. I wouldn’t overestimate the statement by OSCE MG on Azerbaijani activities, as months ago a statement was addressed to Armenia, when they called on the sides to solve the issue of returning bodies of Azerbaijanis.”
Armenia has always supported meeting with Azerbaijan on the level of both Foreign Ministers and presidents, and if the situation matures, works will be carried out to organize and it’ll be possible to launch a meeting. Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian told at the joint press conference with Lamberto Zannier, OSCE Secretary General.
“We accept we aren’t the leadership, which is ideal: there has never been and will never be ideal leadership in Armenia. But assessment to our work was given at April 2 elections by greater part of our public,” Eduard Sharmazanov, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, RPA faction head, told at NA today.
For a newly announced partnership with the Starmus Science Festival and in support of its Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication award, Omega will present each of this year’s three winners with a special 18k yellow gold Omega Speedmaster watch.
Production of polymer or plastic banknotes is more expensive, however, they are more beneficial, as they serve long.
National Statistical Service of Armenia from 2009 each quarter sumps up and publishes main indices of ICT. Those indices are given in section “Curious statistics”.
“I should start by reminding that the observatory mechanism on the contact line is not completely shut down. It’s still in effect, the common objective that the two parties (Yerevan and Baku) accept common procedures of planned monitoring and observation of the Line of Contact. Baku proposed to use a surveillance aerostat, on the area to be observed (west of Seysulan and Martakert district).”
The Ambassador said anti-corruption activities may serve a very good example for Armenian institutions, “The rest will be decided by independent courts. The EU is serious about fight against corruption, not only in words, but on the level of activities as well. We follow corruption as a policy of zero tolerance.”
“We greatly support the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and their latest statement. We believe that there is no military solution for this conflict, and that the status-quo is no longer maintainable. We believe that the ceasefire agreement should be respected, we believe there is no military solution to this conflict and we believe that investigative mechanisms, also confidence building mechanisms should be implemented.”
“Agreement was reached to increase the number of international observers up to 7. Both sides support this. However, there are still some disagreements over certain details, including placing observers, financing their activities and other technical issues.”
And in case of Georgia WB has taken the number of visitors. To be clear how these figures differ, exact data should be brought. In 2016 total 2.9 million visits to Armenia have been recorded (source: volumes of RA border crossing per RA border checkpoint), from which 1.26 million comprised tourist visits. In 2016 Georgia recorded 6.3 million visits, from which tourist visits comprised 2.7 million.
The soldier was stationed in a military base in the northern direction. The defense ministry of Artsakh told that an investigation is underway to determine details of the shooting. The defense ministry extended its condolences to the family of the fallen soldier.
“Here parliament’s role should be strengthened by another context, which is called establishment of trust atmosphere, e.g. if our parliament members could meet members of Azerbaijani parliament, discuss some issues and etc. However, the parliament can’t assume the role of an executive body. As the PM is a person elected by the majority, he should hold negotiations a year later, if they exist.”
“Unfortunately, escalation is possible at any moment. The point is that inside Azerbaijani elite sharp struggle is ongoing for existence under current serious economic crisis. Many realize Azerbaijan needs no Karabakh.”
“Who is guilty? For instance, I didn’t observe any prevention or opposing opinion, and Azerbaijan is against. A question rises here: who is interested in settlement through force? Naturally, the side, touching upon conflict settlement through force. It’s Azerbaijan.”
Armenia’s economic activity index (EAI) in January-April 2017 compared with the same period of the previous year comprised 105.7%. Note, in January-March EAI rate was higher—6.6%.
This year, in the period of 70th Festival de Cannes—May 18-26, for the first time Armenia will be represented in the Film Market in the sector Village International/Pantiero under the number 226 through the pavilion of the Republic of Armenia, where these days “Aurora’s sunrise” of Bars Media, Sergo Ustyan’s “Exchange” and Artur Sukiasyan’s “The Wounded City” are trying their chances to succeed.
He singled out a few of them. “In his speech at the National Assembly president Serzh Sarsgyan said that by saying concession we understand realization of the right of Artsakhi people to self-determination, and basically, new assessment is provided to the concept mutual concession.
“Through such provocative activities they intend to disorientate the international community and direct the arrow toward Armenia. It’s already a new strategy and shelling their own borders, territories under their control and filming they haven’t thought that we and international organizations have the opportunity to film.”
“You know our country and Iran negotiate around trilateral Armenia-Iran-Turkmenistan gas agreement, we again negotiate with Georgia and here some progress has been recorded. These formats allow increasing Armenia’s role in the whole region.”
Areg Galstyan (Russia), PhD, regular contributor to Forbes, the National Interest, the Hill and the American Thinker, editor-in-chief and head of American Studies, commenting on the statement issued by OSCE MG Co-Chairs, condemning Azerbaijani actions, told “168 Hours” that it has several reasons.
“There are two main streams contributing to peace and stability in the region: Armed Forces of Artsakh and Armenia, their combat readiness, this is one of the most important factors. The other crucial factor is consolidated opinion of the international community, that war is impermissible. In particular, they more seriously refer to these issues after April 2016.”
“Unfortunately, we recorded a casualty—this is irreversible loss, like any of them. Azerbaijan simply is playing with the fire. Such behavior, manifestation of such impudent, irreverent attitude towards the international community, I consider shouldn’t remain with no reply. Soon it may be anticipated that in case of continuity of such behavior tougher and more painful steps will be taken toward Azerbaijan: we hope it’ll be so,” Davit Babayan said.
“It is difficult to build statehood in the conditions of the armed conflict, which, unfortunately, is being escalated. I visited Nagorno Karabakh in August, 2014, the period when the situation was tense. I have visited there also during the constitutional referendum this year, and we were together in the place when the residents of Talish were resettled.
The defense ministry of Artsakh told a 21 year old soldier of the country’s Defense Army, identified as Karen Danielyan, has been shot dead in the early morning of May 20 by Azerbaijani forces.
The video recording devices installed on the front line have detected that the Azerbaijani side opened fire on its own positions from 60 mm mortars by preliminary information in the SeysulanYarmja section of the contact line at about 12:15-12:19 and 13:32-13:36, as a result of which explosions took place in the mentioned area.
“And Congress is for protection of interests of US citizens. Accordingly, raise the issue with your Congressman, take steps so that clear statements are made, that respective decision condemning those steps was adopted. If there were Jews or Irish instead of Armenians, I’m sure, a week later serious sanctions would have been imposed.”
