“Hayots Ashkhar” says the Armenian Foreign Ministry should issue a “very tough statement” and demand an emergency meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group in connection with the latest ceasefire violations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The paper says the OSCE and the Minsk Group co-chairs will bear responsibility for a further escalation of tensions if they fail to “rein in” Azerbaijan.
“Why do the Azerbaijanis resort to subversive actions so often?” asks “Haykakan Zhamanak.” “What objectives are they trying to achieve and what goals are they pursuing? First of all, they are trying to verify the accuracy of data at their disposal and gain new intelligence. With these actions, Ilham Aliyev is also seeking to solve internal issues. He wants to show the domestic public that he has not forgotten the Karabakh problem and is thinking about resolving it by military means. This is also a message to the international community and Armenia: a consistent reminder to the effect that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not been settled.”
“And most importantly, with these attacks Aliyev is testing the combat readiness of his and Armenian armies,” “Haykakan Zhamanak” goes on. “Just what kind of conclusions he has drawn is difficult to tell.”
“Zhamanak” comments on U.S. calls for Armenia to avoid doing business with Russian companies sanctioned by the United States and the European Union. The paper says the West’s deepening standoff with Russia over Ukraine has left Armenia at a critical crossroads. The pro-Western daily sees a “great opportunity” for the country to secure its prosperous future. It also warns of grave geopolitical risks facing Armenia.
“Zhoghovurd” reports on a 10 percent rise in electricity prices in Armenia which will take effect on August 1. The paper believes that state utility regulators initiated and allowed the price rise “without any serious substantiation.” It says Armenians are being made to pay for the losses incurred by the Russian-owned national power distribution company. The paper predicts that the cost of other essential goods and services will also rise as a result.
(Tigran Avetisian)