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Artsakh News Digest #5

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  • Artsakh News Digest #5

    ARTSAKH NEWS DIGEST
    June 26, 2007 (#5)

    POLITICS

    Robert Simmons, NATO Special Representative in the South Caucasus,
    criticized Azerbaijan's aggressive rhetoric and emphasized the need to look
    for only peaceful ways to resolve the Karabakh conflict. He also ruled out
    NATO direct involvement in the process. Nevertheless, just a few days later,
    Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev talking at a military school graduation
    promised to "attack Armenia in all directions". He named political,
    economic, diplomatic and informational fronts, while also not ruling out a
    possible future military attack on Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh enabled by
    Azerbaijan's ongoing military build-up, which Aliyev also touted.

    U.S. House appropriators voted to allocate up to $6 million in assistance to
    Nagorno Karabakh. They again called upon the State Department to carry out
    confidence building programs among parties to the Karabakh conflict. But
    Azerbaijan has repeatedly stalled such efforts by refusing pro-peace
    initiatives.

    Two European Union officials, Mark Fawcett and Kaupo Kand, discussed
    potential EU humanitarian and rehabilitation programs with President Arkady
    Ghoukasian in Stepanakert. They also said that Peter Semneby, the EU envoy
    to South Caucasus, plans to visit Nagorno Karabakh.

    NKR presidential campaign began, as Central Election Commission registered
    all five individuals that decided to run. Artsakh Public TV and radio will
    provide equal amount of free air time to each candidate. (More about July 19
    elections at <http://www.elections.nkr.am/eng/index.html> )

    Azeri soldier Samir Mamedov, who surrendered to the Armenian side last
    December, reportedly applied for refugee status so that he could remain in
    Armenia. He refuses to return to Azerbaijan fearing government harassment.

    BUSINESS & ECONOMY

    President Ghoukasian emphasized the importance of continued investments in
    Artsakh's economy when he met with Arsen Ghazarian, Chairman of the Union of
    Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia. The two also discussed how to
    further stimulate such investments, which have seen substantial increase in
    the last few years. (For more about investments in Karabakh see
    <http://www.nkrusa.org/business_economy/ten _reasons.shtml>)

    SOCIETY

    Armenian geologists arrived in Artsakh to help design a long-term solution
    to seasonal water shortages in Stepanakert, Artsakh's capital. They
    specifically looked at using underground water as a possible solution. The
    project will need major investments to materialize.

    Scholars and scientists from Armenia and Karabakh gathered at a conference
    in Shushi to speak about the fortress-town's unique place in the Armenian
    history and culture. The meeting was devoted to the fifteenth anniversary of
    Shushi liberation being marked this year. (Read more at
    <http://www.shushi.org/en/>)

    ***
    ARTSAKH NEWS DIGEST is a publication of the NKR Office.
    The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in
    Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the public
    representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno Karabakh
    Republic, Artsakh. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. Government
    under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is
    available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

    Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States
    1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
    Tel: (202) 223-4330 Fax: (202) 315-3339
    Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
    Web: www.nkrusa.org <http://www.nkrusa.org/>

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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