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The Russian-language Golos Armenii semi-weekly writes that as of the moment the Nagorno Karabakh problem is the main impediment for reaching a favorable climate in the South Caucasus. The paper says this was stated by the President of Turkey Abdullah Gul in an interview to “Moskovski Komsomolets” paper ahead of the meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Dmitri Medvedev. “I think Turkey’s opinion over this issue coincides with the viewpoint of the Russian Federation”, the paper cited him as saying in the interview.
Meanwhile, already in this few sentences everything is placed upside down. The paper says even if we forget about all the other controversies in the region, about which the Turkish president is well aware, and if put the accent only on the Nagorno Karabakh issue, it is obvious for every unbiased observer: Ankara had all the main trumps in its hands to be able to assist the settlement of the conflict not only in words. The paper says it is talking about the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. Ankara was urged by a number of world organizations to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols. This revolutionary step could really sharply change the situation in the South Caucasus, promote the formation of the new atmosphere of collaboration and therby have a favorable impact on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh as well, the paper claims, adding that this would first of all be beneficial for Azerbaijan. The paper continues that Ankara has not done it as it was expecting to get just other dividends not connected with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The paper claims with the help of protocols Ankara was expecting if not stop but at least bring down the intensive efforts of Armenians toward the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. And when these efforts brought to nothing, Ankara quickly forgot about its “platform of stability” in the South Caucasus and under excuse of non-settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict decided to continue the blockade of Armenia. The paper continues that if Ankara really wants favorable climate in the South Caucasus and settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, it is not late to admit its mistake and resume the process of normalization of relations with Yerevan.
The daily Hayots Ashkhar writes that September 14-15 the first plenary sitting of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly will take place where serious discussions are expected. The daily says member of the Armenian delegation Naira Zohrabyan said that the “Euronest” platform is very important for Armenia at the same time it will be rather complicated in respect that the “eastern partners” are united in one organization GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) which may create certain issues for Armenia. “But the Armenian delegation is ready to work effectively and combat all the possible and predictable issues the Azerbaijani delegation will try to create through its “partners” of GUAM”, the paper cited Zohrabyan as saying.
The daily Hayots Ashkhar also writes about the sudden death of the chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Garegin Azaryan. The 50-year old Azaryan passed away from the heart attack.
In an interview with the semi-weekly 168 Zham responding to the question that parents of killed conscripts complain that there are traces of violence on the bodies of their children but in death conclusion it is written that they committed suicide, head of the RA Armed Forces Chief Headquarter Yuri Khachaturov said he is neither a forensic medicine expert nor the head of it. “The person who wrote it is the one to answer why he did so. I even do not have his phone number to say write in this or that way. My position is that everything must be clear and right. Each guilty must be punished”, the paper cited him as saying. Speaking about the atmosphere of impunity in the army, Khachaturov said only in chief headquarter this year they conducted 53 service examinations as a result of which 50 orders have been issued by the minister and him. “149 soldiers, officers have been fined this year, 10 people were dismissed and demobilized, 27 lost their offices”, the paper cited him as saying. In response to the claims of the paper that “Yeghnikner” military unit is considered the most dangerous one, Khachaturov insisted that it is not so and it used to be the better one. “Two cases have been registered there this year. But it is a battle-worthy unit. If I say that everything is good there, it will not be right, but it is not as bad as it is being presented”, the paper cited him as saying.