Haague Ruling Over Kosovo May Be Definitive For Nagorno Karabakh: The Guardian

The International Court of Justice is due to rule on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral secession from Serbia. Judges will issue a non-binding ruling on Serbia’s claim that Kosovo’s declaration of independence was a violation of its territorial integrity.

If the ICJ sides with Serbia, Kosovo could be pushed into negotiating a settlement. The opposite could see more countries recognising its independence.

Earlier, the US reaffirmed its “full support” for an independent Kosovo. The commander of the Nato-led peacekeeping force meanwhile said its 10,000 troops were ready for any violence sparked by the ruling.

“On the field we don’t have indications about nervousness, about any upcoming threat,” BBC News quoted German General Markus Bentler of the Kosovo Protection force as saying.  Read more... (373 words)

President of the Armenian Parliament Delivers Speech in Geneva

 President of the Armenian Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan made a speech at the third World Conference of Speakers of Parliament going on in Geneva. Speakers of Parliament from 150 countries participate in the Conference.

Hovik Abrahamyan’s speech was mainly dedicated to the global financial-economic crisis.

“With its volume, geography and consequences, the global financial crisis has shown that the global economy faces new challenges,” Hovik Abrahamyan said.

“In some countries the financial crisis grew into a political one, and governments were forced to resign. This comes to prove the necessity of reforming the field of global macroeconomic management and regulation of financial markets.

I think we must do our utmost to raise public awareness, provide transparency and full parliamentary supervision. We must apply parliamentary mechanisms aimed at increasing budget supervision.  Read more... (294 words)

High Probability For Armenian Genocide Bill’s Inclusion in The French Senate Agenda:Hurriyet

Three bills that define criminal responsibility for the denial of the Armenian Genocide are currently pending on the French Senate agenda, writes Turkish daily Hurriyet, adding that there is a high probability that the bills will be brought to full Senate session this fall.

According to the source there are three such bills: the first was initiated in 2006, the second – on May 19, 2010. On July 5 some 30 socialist MPs initiated the third one which they are going to discuss in the Senate in 2011 ahead of the next parliamentary elections.  Read more... (246 words)

French Senate To Discuss Bill Defining Criminal Responsibility For Armenian Genocide Denial

French Senate is planning to discuss a bill that will define criminal responsibility for denying the Armenian Genocide, reports Turkish news agency Dogan.

The bill has been brought to the Senate agenda by 30 senators.

It will have to be approved by the senate and then signed by the president.

If the bill succeeds, all those who will deny the fact of the Armenian Genocide across France will be sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment and fined for 45,000 Euros.

A similar bill was adopted by the French National Assembly (Lower Chamber) on October 12 in 2006.

Source: Tert – Original Article

Information Sessions To Bring Armenian Businesses Closer To The EU

European consumers are interested in Armenian products and Armenian businesses are interested in selling on the EU market. To facilitate this exchange, the European Union Delegation to Armenia, European Union Advisory Group, Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Centre and SME Development National Centre of Armenia are organising two workshops to inform Armenian producers on how to export to the EU.

The EU is the world’s largest single market and is also Armenia’s leading export partner. Moreover, since January 2009 Armenian businesses enjoy preferential conditions to export to the EU that reduce significantly ─ and in some cases even totally remove ─ the import duties to be paid when entering the EU market.  Read more... (221 words)

PACE Co-Rapporteurs Express Concern About Amendments To Republic of Armenia’s Law on Broadcasting

The two co-rapporteurs on Armenia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC) and Georges Colombier (France, EPP/CD), have welcomed a series of initiatives outlined in the reply of the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament to their letter recommending the establishment of a clear roadmap for reforms in Armenia. While not able to give a detailed assessment of the initiatives outlined in the letter at this stage, they cautioned that more needs to be done to ensure that the reforms address the important issues raised by the Assembly.  Read more... (419 words)

EU, NATO ‘Regret’ Karabakh Fighting

The European Union and NATO on Wednesday added their voice to international mediators’ concerns about the worst ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh in over two years that was reported late last week.

The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said through a spokesperson that she regrets the June 18-19 armed incident in northeastern Karabakh that left four Armenian and one Azerbaijani soldiers dead.  Read more... (580 words)

Sargsyan Questions International Reaction To Latest Karabakh Fighting (Video)

The Armenian leader spoke on Tuesday to an audience at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a leading think tank, in Berlin as part of his three-day official visit to Germany. In his speech he also addressed problems of regional concern and answered questions on the June 18 clashes in Karabakh that Yerevan says was a major provocation of Azerbaijan aimed at scuttling the current peace process.

Answering questions after his speech, Sargsyan said that very often “the unclear approach of many institutions, including European ones, their fear that if they try to mention those responsible for concrete cases, they will disrupt the negotiating process” impedes progress in the issue.  Read more... (435 words)

Serzh Sargsyan Met With The Armenian Community in Germany

RA President Serzh Sargsyan met representatives of the Armenian community of Germany on the evening of his official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany on June 21.

Serzh Sargsyan thanked the community for consistent support to Armenia and Artsakh and notable efforts for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the preservation of the Armenian identity. The RA President said that the Homeland is responsible for the long life of the Diaspora. “We must multiply our efforts toward that,” said Serzh Sargsyan.  Read more... (318 words)