Baku.On May 28, 2013 Austrian energy company OMV announced that French GDF Suez SA energy company bought about 9% share in the Nabucco project from OMV. Therefore, GDF Suez replaced German RWE AG company in the project, which sold its 17% share in Nabucco to Austrian OMV in mid-April 2013.

Baku. Registration of results of the additional issue of Russian VTB bank's shares is not completed, but representative of the new investor has been already nominated to the VTB Observation Council. This is Shakhmar Arif oglu Movsumov, Executive Director of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ). SOFAZ has invested into VTB $500 million, reported Russian business edition Vedomosti.

Baku. Ministry of Economic Development approved on May 15, a number of regulations to ensure the activities of the industrial parks. Documents prepared in compliance with the "model provisions on industrial parks", entered into force on the 25th May.

Following a visit to Baku, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) made a statement calling for reinforced co-operation between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe, with a view to preparing for the forthcoming Azerbaijani chairmanship of the Council's Committee of Ministers, beginning in May 2014.

"Since its independence and accession to the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan has undergone significant changes that pave the way for building a prosperous society based on European values and focusing on European and transatlantic partnership" he declared.

He added "I welcome the country's progress in honouring the commitments and obligations it entered into upon its accession, and in particular the fact that Azerbaijan has signed and ratified all of the Council of Europe conventions which it undertook to adhere to, with but one exception.  I also note the advances made in reforming
the judiciary and combating corruption".

"However, some important reforms are not yet complete, and I call on the authorities to implement all of the Assembly's recommendations set out in Resolution 1917 (2013) on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan. Full respect for fundamental freedoms, in particular freedom of expression, assembly and association, is essential, and the legislation and regulations, as well as their application in practice, must be fully consistent with Council of Europe standards."

On this subject, the PACE President encouraged the authorities to implement more effective co- operation with the Venice Commission by seeking its advice from the outset of the legislative process. He urged them to take full account of the Commission's recommendations.

The PACE President also pointed out that the presidential elections, to be held this year, will be a key test for the country's democratic institutions and called for full respect of European standards in electoral matters, so that the elections could take place in a pluralistic environment and with free and open political debate.

On the issue of alleged political prisoners, the PACE President recalled the Assembly's position rejecting selective justice and politically motivated prosecutions in all countries. He called on the authorities to implement the PACE resolutions on this question, notably Resolution 1917 (2013) on the honouring of obligations and
commitments by Azerbaijan. "The charges brought against Ilgar Mammadov have raised serious concerns in all European and international organisations, and I hope that the Azerbaijani courts will decide the case in a completely independent and impartial manner and in full compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights", said the PACE President.

He recalled the importance attached by PACE to Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and encouraged the pursuit of the negotiations taking place within the Minsk Group to resolve the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. "On their accession to the Council of Europe, Armenia and Azerbaijan undertook to find a peaceful solution to this
conflict. Our Assembly is ready to do everything it can, through parliamentary diplomacy, to facilitate dialogue and establish a climate of trust between the two delegations."

 Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 416,5 drams for 1 dollar, 538drams for 1 EUR and 13,1 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 418 drams for 1 dollar, 543 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble .

It has been argued recently in Armenia that the public must fight for its rights through civil movements amid degrading oppositional political parties. We’d like to listen to the opinion of an oppositionist…

 Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 416 drams for 1 dollar, 353,5drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 417,5 drams for 1 dollar, 536,5 drams for 1 EUR and 13,3 drams for 1 Russian ruble .

An Alley named after Prince Charles will open in the Armenian town of Dilijan. The founders of the Dilijan International School Veronica Zonabend and Ruben Vardanyan handed in a relevant memorable certificate to His Royal Highness (HRH), The Prince of Wales, during his private visit to Armenia. 

Prince Charles was in Armenia as a guest of Armen Sargsyan's Charitable Initiative "Yerevan My Love".  Prince Charles visited the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts "Matenadaran" in Yerevan. Afterwards, he was given a presentation of Dilijan International School (DIS) that will receive the first students in September 2014.

The Alley will have 65 plane trees - a tree of knowledge - symbol of DIS.

 Justice Minister of Armenia Hrayr Tovmasyan met with an accident in the Zakyan Street in Yerevan, on May 29. Spokesperson of the minister, Karine Kalantaryan, confirmed the reports on the road accident.

She said that a Volkswagen violated the traffic rules and crashed into the minister's official car, Toyota Camry. No victims are reported. After the accident, the minister attended the government session.

 A small country, with limited resources, Armenia has to engage in global diplomacy as if it was a superpower, Commonspace.eu political editor Dennis Sammut says in his commentary on Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian's lecture on Armenian Foreign Policy given to Oxford University members at St Antony's College on May 22.

According to the expert, "Edward Nalbandian has been Foreign Minister of Armenia for five years - a time during which the country faced some tough challenges in the foreign policy arena. Nalbandian is a career diplomat who was catapulted to the head of his country's diplomacy after President Serzh Sargsyan became President in April 2008. He replaced an experienced and well liked predecessor, Vartan Oscanian, who had been in office for a long time, and had left his mark on Armenian diplomacy. Nalbandian over the years grew out of Oscanian's shadow and developed his own style. Many observers feel that he has grown in the job, and his performances on the international stage these days are much more polished and relaxed than in earlier occasions when he came across as terse and somewhat crude.

This is not however due to the fact that the challenges facing Armenian Foreign policy are any easier. A small country, with limited resources, Armenia has to engage in global diplomacy as if it was a superpower.  Locked in its bitter conflict with Azerbaijan, and in a historical confrontation with Turkey, it has been obliged to punch
well above its weight. Its only assets are the large and influential Armenian communities spread throughout the world, who often come to the rescue of Armenian diplomacy. But they come with too with their own baggage and agendas, and support is by no means a one way traffic. Armenian diplomats nowadays continue to heroically staff the only foreign diplomatic mission still left in the Syrian city of Aleppo, in an effort to safeguard the interests of the long established Armenian community in Syria."

Sammut believes that the biggest challenge to Armenian foreign policy is managing its relations with Russia.

"Armenia's dependence on Russia in the military, financial and economic spheres is a source of concern in Armenia and beyond. Yet Armenia's choice in this matter is limited. Armenia feels it needs to balance its enemy - Azerbaijan with whom it is still technically in a state of war, and adversary - Turkey, with whom it has no diplomatic relations.  Armenia's efforts to upgrade its relations with the European Union took some by surprise, however this now gives Armenia some, even if not a lot, of leeway.  Armenia will soon sign an Association Agreement with the EU. Armenia also has to manage relations with Georgia regardless of its relations with Russia, and with Iran regardless of its relations with the US," says the expert. 

In his opinion, Armenian diplomacy under Nalbandian has in all this been remarkably flexible and adaptive, even if it often looked as if Armenian diplomats were walking on glass: reaching out to Turkey in 2009 but wriggling out of the disappointment when the Turks backtracked; going for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU, despite Russia's attempts to get Armenia within the Eurasian Union; being a member of the CSTO Russian led military organisation, and having an active partnership agreement with NATO.

"Yet on one issue flexibility dries up completely. Armenia's position on the Karabakh conflict has hardly changed since Nalbandian has been in office. The support of Armenia for the current negotiating framework, down to the last detail, is to say the least odd. Armenia blames Azerbaijan for the failure of the Karabakh peace process. But even if that was the case flexibility in diplomacy is often better than rigidness. Nalbandian believes that a foreign minister's first priority is loyalty to his country's interests. In Armenia these interests are defined by the President. President and Foreign Minister need to think hard what has worked and what has not in
Armenian foreign policy and consider how flexibility could become a virtue in all aspects of their foreign policy," says Sammut.

The government and the parliament of Germany must come to terms and recognize the Armenian Genocide by 2015, research scholar at the Free University of Berlin Tessa Hoffman told journalists in Yerevan on Wednesday.

She said that the Armenians' efforts to convince the world community to recognize the Armenian Genocide inspire her in her work.

Hoffman said that she would spend the award she received from the Armenian President on Wednesday on the construction of an ecumenical monument and the publication of works by 16 Armenian writers arrested in Constantinople during the massacres of 1915.

22 scientists and cultural workers were granted a presidential award on Wednesday. The prize is worth $10,000.

Armavia air carrier's staff was picketing the Armenian president's residency, ArmInfo's correspondent on the spot reports. 

Some 30 employees of the air company gathered in front of the president's residency without any posters and demanded their salaries for the last 7 months.

The picketers say they sent a letter to President Serzh Sargsyan,  but the reply was sent to Armavia air company. In addition, they were told that Armavia owner Mikhail Baghdasarov promised that those who signed the letter would get salaries after all the others. The picketers have moved to the bankrupt company's office in Sakharov Square.

Armavia national air carrier launched bankruptcy procedure and stopped flights due to debts on April 1. The owner of Armavia, President of Mika Limited Mikhail Bagdasarov said in an interview with ArmInfo that the company's debt does not exceed $50 million, with the current debt being the main part of it.  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.

The newly appointed Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Ivan Volynkin handed on Saturday his credentials to President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

Sargsyan expressed hope that Volynkin would help to make Armenian-Russian strategic relations even stronger. Volynkin said that he would do his best for it.

The constantly developing Armenian-Iranian relations based on a number of bilateral agreements have not undergone and should not undergo the pressure or reprimand of the countries beyond the region, the Iranian Embassy in Armenia says in a statement sent to ArmInfo.  

To remind, when asked if the Iranian gas price is high because of the international sanctions against Iran, US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern told journalists on May 22 that since Iran did not give up its intentions to produce nuclear weapon and failed to respect international commitments, it would still undergo the sanctions.
Member of the UN, Armenia observes these sanctions, and the US welcomes this position of Armenia, the ambassador said.

The Iranian Embassy says that the illegal and unilateral sanctions of the USA and some Western countries against Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy have never affected the arrangements and agreements between Armenia and Iran. The Government and people of Armenia have repeatedly witnessed Iran's disinterested support in hours of need. Iran's Embassy thinks that by touching on these problems, the US Ambassador to Armenia has launched the policy of exerting pressure on
Armenia but fails to take into account the fact that such intervention statements cannot affect the friendly and warm relations between Iran and Armenia.

The Embassy hopes that Armenia will not sacrifice its national and economic interests just to please the United States as it is perfectly aware that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful.

The Embassy says that in view of the rise in energy prices in Armenia, Iran is ready to help that country to ensure its energy security through enlarged cooperation in this field. The Embassy believes that accelerated construction of Meghri Water Power Plant and new joint energy projects will help the countries to achieve their goals.

To remind, on Wednesday the U.S. Congress introduced new tighter sanctions against Iran. Its new bill stipulates a ban on the import of goods or services from any company owned or controlled by the Iranian Government. It also suggests blocking all assets of companies having anything to do with the Iranian regime and forbids providing them with insurance services. The bill is aimed not only against Iran but also against companies dealing with that country.  It is a way to step up pressure on the Iranian authorities and to force them to give up their plans to produce a nuclear weapon.

 Heydar Aliyev's persistence to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by force helped the Armenians to win the war, Vladimir Kazimirov, former Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, said during a meeting organized by Rossotrudnichestvo in Yerevan on Thursday.

"Even losing control over their territories, both Abulfaz Elchibey and Heydar Aliyev persisted in their futile attempts to turn things around and to resolve the conflict by force of arms. The Azeris kept rejecting the mediators' peaceful initiatives, while the Armenians were open to them," Kazimirov said.

He said that though losing more and more territories, the Azeris were stubborn in refusing to make peace, and that was good for the Armenians, who moved farther and farther into Azerbaijan.

"Had the Azeris accepted the UN Security Council's Resolution 822, they would have not lost Agdam, Fizuli, Jebrail, Kubatlu and Zangelan. But they do not wish to admit this as they want to pose as 'victims of occupation.' Ilham Aliyev keeps referring to the four UN resolutions.  But he quotes only the articles that serve his
interests. He insists that Nagorno-Karabakh troops be withdrawn from Azeri territories, but he forgets that it was Azerbaijan who wrecked those resolutions by refusing to stop the war," Kazimirov said.

The cease-fire agreement was signed by the defense ministers of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan on May 2 1994 due to efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will be held in Yerevan on Friday 31 May 2013 under the Armenian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.

On this occasion, PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon will hold high- level meetings with the President of the Republic Serzh Sargsyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian.

According to News.am, after the opening of the meeting by PACE President, the Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly will address participants. The parliamentarians will then hold an exchange of views with the Armenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for a six-month period beginning on 16 May.

The discussions will focus on Armenia's priorities during its Chairmanship and other issues in the framework of the Assembly's ongoing political dialogue with the Committee of Ministers.

Furthermore, a current affairs debate on "The Nagorno-Karabach conflict, 25 years later: the Council of Europe's possibilities to promote reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan" has been requested by the PACE United European Left (UEL) Group. The holding of this debate – or any other debate requested within the requisite deadline – will only be confirmed at the opening of the meeting, during the adoption of the agenda.

The Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks will become effective only when the conflicting parties guarantee that there will be no more war. By acting contrary to its peaceful
declarations Azerbaijan is protracting the existing status quo to the detriment of its own interests, Vladimir Kazimirov, former Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, said during a meeting organized by Rossotrudnichestvo in Yerevan on Thursday.

According to Kazimirov, they in Baku have finally realized that they will not be able to liberate their territories in one day. But they are still reluctant to sacrifice something for this purpose. Now that they keep threatening the Armenians with a new war, the latter will hardly withdraw from their current positions.

Kazimirov believes that the current status quo is good for the Armenians as it allows them to put off their withdrawal. But they should know that the "occupied territories" are the key irritant for the Azeris.

What the conflicting parties need here, according to Kazimirov, is first of all to guarantee that there will be no more war by signing an agreement on nonuse of force. Azerbaijan keeps refusing to do it, which is bad for the peace talks and confidence building efforts.

We should triple the efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said in his interview with the Nezavisimaya Gazeta, APA reports.

"The negotiating table should be cleaned from complexities before the issue on the status is solved. In this case, this is the existence of military factor, use of force, presence of Armenian Armed Forces in Azerbaijan's territories, presence of socially explosive element, such as refugees and internally displaced persons. Azerbaijan
supports enhancing the confidence between the sides. We propose to renew the mutual visits that took place a few years ago with the help of Russia.  Two visits were organized. But then Armenia prohibited this. It is a serious measure to build atmosphere of confidence," the Azerbaijani FM said.

 The Georgian air company "Georgian Airways" will start implementing flights at Yerevan-Tbilisi-Yerevan route from 1 June till 26 October.

As press-service of the air company reported, the flights  will be implemented by Boeng 737 and CRJ 200 air planes.