Turkey wants to see positive signs before border is opened

At a seminar held today in Yerevan of Armenian journalists and representatives of Turkish educational and civil structures, Behlul Ozkan, an instructor of foreign relations at Istanbul’s Bogazici University, stated that there would be no progress in Armenian-Turkish relations without positive developments on the Karabakh front.

“One must understand, he said, that Armenian-Turkish relations cannot be independently viewed from Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, because Baku is an ally of Turkey in the south Caucasus.” He added that there were millions of people in Turkey who viewed Azerbaijan as a related nation and had quite friendly feelings towards it. »»»»»

Republican Party parliamentary faction Secretary Edvard Sharmazanov said today that Armenia shouldn’t sit idly by while Azerbaijan continues to increase its military spending. The ruling party spokesman used this argument, and pointed to continued bellicose statements coming out of Baku, for the need to increase the contract for the Russian military base in Armenia till the year 2044.

“Not only is the extension of the term important but the fact that the base will be assuming new functions and will be reequipped with modern technology and equipment. This will insure the inviolability of Armenia’s security,” Mr. Sharmazanov stated. He added that Azerbaijan would never dare to resume military operations against the people of Karabakh. I’ve said it before, even if Baku ever entertains such an idea, the Karabakh army will march all the way to the natural border of the Armenia plateau, the confluence of the Kur and Araks Rivers.”

Responding to statements made the other day by Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Baku that the Karabakh conflict must be settled according to the principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Edvard Sharmazanov, the secretary of the ruling Repiublican Party faction in the RoA National Assembly, noted that the upper political echelons of Turkey had learnt their lessons from the Third Reich’s Propaganda Minister Goebbels’ quite well. »»»»»

Hetq has learnt from reliable sources that Colonel Felix Baghdasaryan was dismissed as commander of the “N” military unit in Martuni, NKR. This was the base where several soldiers and officers were killed on July 27 and 28.

After the tragic incident, that only fueled speculation that all was not right within the ranks of the Armenian military, RoA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan convened a special assembly of the military corps on August 6. »»»»»

Grisha Baghiyan, who heads the State Food Safety and Veterinary Inspectorate with the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture, has told Hetq that the importation of meat from two provinces in China has been prohibited.

The likely cause is the outbreak of “O” type foot and mouth disease in pig herds last March in the southern province of Guangdong.

A well-informed Hetq source inside the Yerevan Brandy Company, whose main brand is Ararat, reports that during the past few years large amounts of distilled spirits have mysteriously disappeared from the plant’s vaults. The source claims that 300-400 tons has gone missing just within the past year alone.

The source says that an internal investigation is underway and that the head of security and other employees under his jurisdiction have been sacked. »»»»»

Most meat imported from India to Armenia is “unfit for human consumption”

In 2009, the Armenian government declared that frozen buffalo meat had been discovered in meat imported from India to Armenia. It turns out that there are 17 companies in India that are certified and meet required standards and that they supply 85% of the market. »»»»»

A memorial to honor the 17 residents of the village of Kaghartz who died in the Artskah War was recently unveiled in the community that is located in the Martuni region of the NKR. The memorial is next to one dedicated to those who died in the Great Patriotic War (WWII).

Local parish priest Father Arakel Ghazaryan officially blessed the memorial that was financed by Vrezh and Armen Safaryan, two Kaghartz natives that now reside in Russia.

“We’re ready to add lands, not return any,” says 27 year-old officer

The main artery in Artsakh is the North-South Highway. Down in the south of the country, its terminus is an intersection known as the “9 kilometer”. A yellow traffic sign that reads the “Araks River Valley” points to a road leading off to the right. »»»»»