Six officers from one of the units of Noyemberyan, where Lyuks Stepanyan was killed, had been dismissed, spokesperson for Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisyan said in an interview with Radio Liberty. He also added that at present they are discussing the problem of initiating criminal proceedings against the battery commander being at guard duty that day.

Lyuks Stepanyan was killed in the unit on May 15. Parents of the solider decided to bring the body to Yerevan to learn from Defense Minister the true reasons of his death and hold a protest action near the building of the Armenian government. On their way to Armenia's capital they clashed with the policemen.  They damaged police cars preventing them from moving to the capital.  Parents held meetings with the Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, which promised to personally observe punishment of all the culprits.

Asked about the rumors on the expected resignation of the Commander of General Headquarters of Armenia's Armed Forces, Yuri Khachaturov, after this incident, Hovhannisyan replied: "It is a supposition, a conclusion made by people as a result of bad mood and wishes. Moreover, a commander of such a level is dismissed or appointed to the position by the commander-in-chief". He also added that there is no reason for Khachaturov's dismissal.

 Former employees of Armavia air carrier demand the owner Mikhail Baghdasarov to sell his personal property to cover debts.

To recall, Armavia national air carrier has launched a bankruptcy procedure without paying areas of wages.  The company's staff has already held several protest actions demanding wages.

Armavia national air carrier has launched bankruptcy procedure and stopped flights due to debts. In the autumn of 2012 Sukhoi Civil Aircrafts reported that Armavia's dept for exploitation of SSJ-100 is over $4 million.  Armavia's shareholders are MIKA LTD - 34.99% and Aviafin LLC - 65.01%.  Bagdasarov set up Armavia in 1996 and sold it to Russian S7. In 2005 pressured by the Armenian tax authorities, S7 gave the company back to Bagdasarov. It was the first to exploit SSJ-100. Armavia carried out over 100 flights to over 40 destinations in 20 countries.

Armenia must file a note of protest against Russia's weapon sale to Azerbaijan, former ambassador of Armenia to Canada, political analyst, director of the Centre for Sociological Studies, Ara Papyan, said at today's press-conference.

"Moscow says, if Russia did not sell weapon to Azerbaijan, another country would do that. This is an unclear and illogical answer. But the reaction of the Armenian party is more inadequate, as it is trying to justify the bargain", - he said.Papyan said that the West several times refused to show aid
to Armenia, stating that the country is Russia's ally and we must turn to Moscow.     

He also added that selling weapons to Azerbaijan by Armenia's strategic partner is unacceptable. "If Russia is a real strategic partner, it must not sell weapons to Azerbaijan to the detriment of its economic interests. Moreover, Armenia has always been loyal to Russia, while Moscow does not appreciate it," he said."Undoubtedly, Russia does not want starting of the war in Karabakh, but if it nevertheless starts, it will bring more victims. This a problem the authorities should think about", - he said. Papyan thinks that the given bargain cannot result in weakening of the Armenian parties in the negotiating process, as the latter is of the political but not military nature.

To note, on June 15 reports on the supply of military hardware to Azerbaijan by Russia flooded Mass Media. The military hardware being supplied to Baku is worth between $700 million and $1 billion and includes 94 T- 90S tanks, about 100 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, 18 Msta-S howitzers, 18 Smerch rocket launchers, 18 Vena "floating mortars," and six TOS-1A Solntsepek multiple launch rocket systems. Only in 2010- 2011 Russia supplied arms in the amount of nearly $3 billion to Azerbaijan.

 Sale of a new lot of up-to-date arms to Azerbaijan was nothing but a preventive measure by Moscow ahead of the Armenia-EU Association Agreement, diplomatic sources told ArmInfo.  "It is not a secret that the Association Agreement is to be signed at the EPP Summit in Vilnius in November. Therefore, the sale of arms to Azerbaijan meets this logic. The deal was legally registered in the package of contracts with Azerbaijan yet in 2011-2012. It is noteworthy, however, that Moscow has approved the supply of arms to Azerbaijan quite lately," the source says.

On June 15 reports on the supply of military hardware to Azerbaijan by Russia flooded Mass Media. The military hardware being supplied to Baku is worth between $700 million and $1 billion and includes 94 T- 90S tanks, about 100 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, 18 Msta-S howitzers, 18 Smerch rocket launchers, 18 Vena "floating mortars," and six TOS-1A Solntsepek multiple launch rocket systems. Only in 2010- 2011 Russia supplied arms in the amount of nearly $3 billion to Azerbaijan.

Armenia and EU has been negotiating for Association Agreement and for DCFTA since 2010. The negotiations are due to over till the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in Nov 2013. The document will replace the EPP and Armenia-EU Action Plan. The agreement aims gradual economic integration of Armenia into EU. In 2011 Armenia's export to EU totaled 45.5% of total export amid 20.1% export to CIS.  Cooperation with Europe has intensified amid Russia's growing integration efforts through formation of the Customs Union and versatile free trade area in the CIS, which Armenia joined yet in
Sept 2011. Armenia's integration policy implies simultaneous participation in the free trade areas of the CIS and EU.  nevertheless, Brussles and Moscow regularly offer Yerevan to chose one vector of integration as Association Agreement with the EU and Russia's Customs Union are incompatible.

Despite expectations for amnesty announcement in connection with the second term of Serzh Sargsyan's presidency, there will be no amnesty, a local Hraparak newspaper writes quoting Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan.

"I officially declare that there will be no amnesty," the minister told the paper.

  Water supply tariff in Yerevan will fall 2.2% from the current 174.059 drams per cu m inclusive of VAT to 170.26 drams, the Public Services Regulatory Committee adopted a relevant decision, Friday.

Introducing the new tariff Head of the PSRC Department for Tariffs Garegin Baghramyan said it will apply to Yerevan, Ararat, Aragatsotn, and Kotayk regions. Yerevan Djur CJSC applied to the Committee for revision of the tariff for 2013-2014. It is noteworthy that the company offered reducing the tariff to 166.044 drams. Baghramyan said that under the rental agreement, the tariff must be revised and reduced every year till 2016.  The tariff depends on four factors: inflation. Electric power tariff, the AMD/USD rate, and water consumption volumes. He said that the tariff could be higher, but for the rise in the electric power tariff on July 7 2013. He said that the basic water tariff in 2016 must be 90 AMD under the contract, but given the above four factors, the tariff may be different. The new tariff - 170.26 AMD per cu m - is a single tariff for drinking water, sewage and drainage.

To recall, Yerevan Djur CJSC has been managing the water supply and drainage services since June 1 2006. The company, part of Veolia Environment Group, was selected on the tender basis. The company's activity is regulated by a 10-year rental contract signed by the Government of Armenia in Dec 14 2005.

Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 411 drams for 1 dollar, 542drams for 1 EUR and 12,5 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 412 drams for 1 dollar, 546 drams for 1 EUR and 12,7 drams for 1 Russian ruble .

 Two citizens of Azerbaijan crossed the Armenian border on June and visited the village of Murzukh, Syunik region, near Sisian, Azerbaijani mass media reported.

According to 1news.az, Makhir and Fazil crossed the border to visit a certain holy place "Girlakh" which is allegedly located in the above village. A video is available on 1news.az. One can see on the video two men praying in a mountainous area. However, it is not clear where particularly that area is located. 

Armenian Defense Minister's Spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannissyan says they have studied the video and found out that the area is not in Armenia. Consequently, the Azerbaijani media reports do not correspond to reality.

Tbilisi. Democratic processes in Georgia are developing in the right direction, U.S. Ambassador Richard Norland stated on Thursday, June 20, while commenting the draft resolution of the U.S. Congress, containing critics  of the Georgian new government.

Tbilisi. A document lifting embargo on supplies of Georgian agriculture products to Russia was signed by the Georgian delegation and the Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) administration as part of the Georgian delegation's second visit to Moscow - local media reported with reference to the spokesperson for the National Food Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia.

Tbilisi. Georgian Defence Minister, Irakli Alasania, will hold a series of meetings in the USA as part of his working visit, that will begin on August 19 - Georgian Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported on June 20.

Tbilisi. Georgian Prime Minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, will leave for Israel on June 24 - Georgian Premier's spokesperson told BLACK SEA PRESS reporter on Thursday, June 20.

Tbilisi. Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili, will attend an expanded congress of the European People's Party (EPP), which is due in Austria's capital - Vienna - Georgian President's Administration reported on Thursday.

Baku. Today at the Azerbaijan State University of Languages (ASUL) passes the 2nd Educational Forum of the graduates of the university with the participation of the Minister of Education of Azerbaijan Mikail Jabbarov and representatives of the U.S. Embassy. The organizers of the event are the ASUL American Center, the Public Association of Azerbaijani Graduates Educated in the United States and the Center of Modern Education and Training Assistance.

Nakhchivan. Responsible Officer of Foreign Office on Azerbaijan and Armenia Michael Fenn and adviser to the British Embassy in Baku on political issues on June 19 arrived with a two-day visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR).

Baku. The U.S. State Department published its annual report on trafficking in human beings in the world.  Azerbaijan joined the group of countries where the standards are not fully implemented, but there are "significant efforts".

The "Union of billionaires" - is a means of the Kremlin to impose pressure so that to have more manageable and obedient Baku. I think such is its main role and nothing else, chairman of the Baku research centre "East-West", Arastun Orujlu, replied to Arminfo correspondent's question at the online press-conference.

"I don't think that the "Union of billionaires" set up by Azerbaijani businessmen in Russia may play the same part as the "Georgian dream" in Georgia. There are less such opportunities in Azerbaijan than in Georgia. The power is the richest and  in fact keeps all the sectors of the public and political life of
the country under the harsh control. This is impossible taking into consideration the level of limiting freedoms and rights in Azerbaijan", - Orujlu said.

What are the main reasons of unrest in Turkey?

Պաշտոնական Բաքուն, պարզապես, Թուրքիայի վերջին հուզումներին ինչ-որ կերպ արձագանքելու նույնիսկ բարոյական իրավունք չունի: Առցանց մամուլի ասուլիսում այդպիսի կարծիք է հայտնել Բաքվի ՙԱրևելք-Արևմուտք՚ հետազոտությունների կենտրոնի նախագահ Արաստուն Օրուջլուն` պատասխանելով ԱրմԻնֆոյի հարցին:

Նշենք, որ Ադրբեջանի իշխանություններն առայժմ չեն արձագանքել Թուրքիայի վերջին գործընթացներին, չհաշված Բաքվում Թուրքիայի դեսպանատան մոտ բողոքի ակցիայի ցրումը:

ՙԷրդողանի կառավարության հետ պաշտոնական Բաքվի հարաբերությունները չափազանց զգայուն են, և կա այն ըմբռնումը, որ ճիշտ չհաշվարկված արձագանքը տվյալ դեպքում կարող է խախտել հարաբերությունների այդ փխրուն տոնը, ուստի Ադրբեջանի իշխանությունները նախընտրում են լռել: Առավել ևս` Ադրբեջանում իրավունքների և ազատությունների բնագավառում առկա բազմաթիվ խնդիրների ֆոնին: Կարծում եմ, պաշտոնական Բաքուն, պարզապես, ինչ-որ արձագանքի նույնիսկ բարոյական իրավունք չունի՚, - նկատել է փորձագետը:

Որոշակի փոխզիջում կգտնվի, և կողմերը կնստեն բանակցությունների սեղանի շուրջ, քանի որ վերջին իրադարձությունները ցույց տվեցին, որ կայունությունը ցանկացած երկրում, ներառյալ Թուրքիան, չի կարող պահպանվել քաղաքական ընդդիմախոսների նկատմամբ ճնշման ճանապարհով: Ադրբեջանի վրա դա առանձնակի ազդեցություն չի գործի, քանի որ, մերձեցնող բոլոր այլ գործոնների առկայությամբ հանդերձ, քաղաքական համակարգերը չափազանց տարբեր են: Օրուջլուի կարծիքով, Թուրքիայի հուզումները, նախ և առաջ, պայմանավորված են ներքին գործոններով, քանի որ կառավարող AKP-ն վերջին ժամանակներս չափազանց ակտիվորեն է սկսել դուրս մղել քեմալիզմի աշխարհիկ ավանդույթները, սխալ հաշվարկելով ներքին դասավորությունը, հատկապես, բանակի բարձրագույն շրջանակներում զանգվածային ձերբակալություններից հետո: Եվ հենց այդ ձերբակալությունների նկատմամբ հանրային արձագանքի բացակայությունն է թխանել Թուրքիայի կառավարող շրջանակների սխալ հաշվարկները այդ գծի շարունակման գործում:

Պատասխանելով այն հարցին, թե արդյոք Մահմուդ Ահմադինեջադի փոխարինումը Հասան Ռոհանիով սրբագրումներ կմտցնի ադրբեջանաիրանական ոչ լավագույն հարաբերություններում, Օրուջլուն նշել է, թե սկզբունքային փոփոխություններ չեն լինի այնքան ժամանակ, քանի դեռ պաշտոնական Թեհրանն ադրբեջանական անկախ պետության գոյության փաստն իսկ ընկալում է որպես սպառնալիք սեփական ազգային անվտանգությանը:

Հայաստանի և Ադրբեջանի ԶԼՄ-ների համար արդի հրատապ հարցերի շուրջ տարբեր երկրների առաջատար փորձագետների համատեղ առցանց մամուլի ասուլիսները  կազմակերպվում են ՙՄիմյանց վերաբերյալ հայերի և ադրբեջանցիների գիտելիքների ընդլայնում և փոխվստահության հաստատում առաջին ձեռքից ստացվող տեղեկատվության միջոցով՚ նախագծի շրջանակում: ՙՌեգիոն՚ հետազոտական կենտրոնի (Հայաստան) և Խաղաղության և ժողովրդավարության ինստիտուտի (Ադրբեջան) նախագծին աջակցում են  Հայաստանում և Ադրբեջանում Մեծ Բրիտանիայի դեսպանությունները:

  Official Baku simply has no moral right to respond to the latest unrest in Turkey, said Arastun Oruclu, the head of the East-West Research Center in Baku, in response to ArmInfo's question in an on-line press conference. 

The Azerbaijani authorities have not responded anyway to the latest processes in Turkey, except dispersal of protesters from the area of the Turkish Embassy in Baku. It was the first protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Baku in the history of Azerbaijan.

"Official Baku's relations with Erdogan's government are very sensitive and a hasty response to what is happening in Turkey may break that fragile relations. Therefore, the Azerbaijani authorities refrain from any actions so far. In addition, with its big problems with human rights and freedoms, official Baku has not even a moral right to any response, I think," the expert says.

The parties will sit at a negotiating table and find a certain compromise, as the latest developments proved that stability in a country, including in Turkey, cannot be maintained via pressure on political opponents, he said. This will have no significant impact on Azerbaijan, because the political systems are quite different despite many other common factors. Oruclu believes that the unrest in Turkey is largely connected with domestic factors, as the ruling AKP has been recently ousting secular traditions of Kemalism too actively.  The known arrests in the top echelons of the army, which aroused no public response, encouraged the ruling circles in Turkey to continue their course.

Asked if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's replacement with Hassan Rouhani in Iran will make any corrections to the deteriorating Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, Oruclu said that there will be no fundamental changes as long as official Tehran perceives existence of the Azerbaijani statehood as a threat to its national security.

Joint online press conference of experts from various countries for Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian mass media on the relevant problems are organized within the project "Expansion of knowledge of Armenians and Azerbaijanis about each other and confidence building through first-hand information". The project of the "Region" Research Center (Armenia) and Peace and Democracy Institute (Azerbaijan) is supported by the British Embassies in Armenia and Azerbaijan.