NEW AMBASSADORS APPOINTED
armradio.am
29.08.2008 16:13
On August 29 Ra president Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing
Vasili Ghazaryan the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Kazakhstan (seat in Astana).
According to another presidential decree Vladimir Badalyan was
appointed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Republic of Armenia to Turkmenistan.
VAKHTANG ABRAHAMYAN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE CBA BOARD
armradio.am
29.08.2008 16:16
According to President Serzh Sargsyan’s decree of August 29,
Vakhtang Abrahamyan was appointed member of the Board of Directors
of the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia for the term of five
years. The decree comes into force from September 1, 2008.
From: Baghdasarian
PRESIDENT SARGSYAN TO VISIT SOCHI
armradio.am
29.08.2008 16:20
On September 2 RA Presidnet Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Sochi on a
working visit. In Sochi the Armenian President will have a meeting with
his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. During the meeting the parties
will discuss the future development of the Armenian-Russian strategic
partnership, and will dwell on issues of Armenia’s forthcoming
presidency of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The
interlocutors will also discuss regional and international issues.
SITTING OF CSTO SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARIES’ COMMITTEE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON 3 SEPTEMBER
arminfo
2008-08-29 15:39:00
ArmInfo. Sitting of CSTO Security Council Secretaries’ Committee will
be held in Yerevan on 3 September, adviser of Information department
of CSTO Vitaliy Strugovets told ArmInfo.
He also added that about 20 issues entered the agenda of the
forthcoming sitting.
The leaders of security councils will discuss a block of documents
directed to formation of the effective system of collective
counteraction against new challenges. In particular, draft agreement
on training of staff for law-enforcement, fire-fighting, rescue and
special services for the CSTO member-states, etc.
They will also coordinate drawing out, financing and fulfillment
of the purposeful inter-state programmes of the CSTO; discuss the
priority directions of CSTO activity over the second half-year 2008
and first half-year 2009.
UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND EUROPEAN STABILITY
David Miliband
guardian.co.uk
Friday August 29 2008
It is not an act of hostility towards Russia for Europe to support
Ukraine, but a positive move towards lasting peace
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has seemed that new rules
were being established for the conduct of international relations
in central and eastern Europe and central Asia. The watchwords
were independence and interdependence; sovereignty and mutual
responsibility; cooperation and common interests. They are good words
that need to be defended.
The Georgia crisis provided a rude awakening. The sight of Russian
tanks in a neighbouring country on the 40th anniversary of the crushing
of the Prague Spring has shown that the temptations of power politics
remain. The old sores and divisions fester. Russia remains unreconciled
to the new map of Europe.
Yesterday’s unilateral attempt to redraw the map marks not just the
end of the post-cold war period, but is also the moment when countries
are required to set out where they stand on the significant issues
of nationhood and international law.
The Russian president says he is not afraid of a new cold war. We
don’t want one. He has a big responsibility not to start one.
Ukraine is a leading example of the benefits that accrue when a
country takes charge of its own destiny, and seeks alliances with
other countries.
Its choices should=2 0not be seen as a threat to Russia or an act of
hostility. Equally its independence does demand a new relationship
with Russia – a partnership of equals, not the relationship of master
and servant.
Russia must not learn the wrong lessons from the Georgia crisis:
there can be no going back on fundamental principles of territorial
integrity, democratic governance and international law. It has shown
in the last two weeks what anyone could have foretold: that it can
defeat Georgia’s army.
But today Russia is more isolated, less trusted and less respected
than two weeks ago. It has made military gains in the short term. But
over time it will feel the economic and political losses. If Russia
truly wants respect and influence, and the benefits that flow from it,
Russia needs to change course.
Prime Minister Putin has described the collapse of the Soviet Union as
"the greatest geopolitical catastrophe" of the 20th century. I don’t
see it that way. Most people of the former Soviet bloc or Warsaw Pact
don’t see it that way. It will be a tragedy for Russia if it spends
the next 20 years believing it to be the case.
Indeed, since 1991 there has been no "stab in the back" of Russia. In
fact, we have offered Russia extensive cooperation with the EU
and Nato; membership of the council of Europe and the G8. Summits,
mechanisms and meetings have been developed by the EU and Nato not to
humiliate or threaten Russia, but to engage with it. The EU and the
United States provided critical support for the Russian economy when it
was needed, and western companies have invested heavily. And Russia has
made substantial gains from its reintegration into the global economy.
These are actions that seek to promote prosperity and respect for
Russia.
But they have recently been met with scorn. Indeed, the record from
suspension of Russian participation in the conventional armed forces
to harassment of business people and cyber attacks on neighbours is
not a good one. Now we have Georgia.
People often talk and ask about unity in Europe. Russian action
has produced unity in Europe. Unity in demanding the withdrawal of
Russian troops to their August 7 positions; unity in rejecting the
use of force as the basis for redrawing the map of the Caucasus;
unity in support of the democratically elected government of Georgia.
Of course Russia can and should have interests in its neighbours,
but like everyone else, it must earn that influence. Indeed, they
do not make up the "post-Soviet space" to which Prime Minister Putin
often refers. The collapse of the Soviet Union created a new reality –
sovereign, independent countries with minds of their own and rights
to defend.
Russia also needs to clarify its attitude to the use of force to solve
disputes. Some argue that Russia has done nothing not previously
done by Nat o in Kosovo in 1999. But this comparison does not bear
serious examination.
Leave to one side that Russia spends a lot of time arguing in the
UN and elsewhere against "interference" in internal affairs, whether
in Zimbabwe or Burma. Nato’s actions in Kosovo followed dramatic and
systematic abuse of human rights, culminating in ethnic cleansing on a
scale not seen in Europe since the second world war. Nato acted over
Kosovo only after intensive negotiations in the UN security council
and determined efforts at peace talks. Special envoys were sent to
warn Milosevic in person of the consequences of his actions. None of
this can be said for Russia’s use of force in Georgia.
The decision to recognise Kosovo’s independence came only after
Russia made clear it would veto the deal proposed by the UN secretary
general’s special envoy, former Finnish President Ahtisaari. Even then
we agreed to a further four months of negotiations by an EU-US-Russia
troika in order to ensure that no stone was left unturned in the
search for a mutually acceptable compromise.
Over Georgia, Russia moved from support for territorial integrity to
breaking up the country in three weeks and relied entirely on military
force to do so.
Russia must now ask itself about the relationship between short-term
military victories and long-term economic prosperity. At the time
of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Hungary in 1956 or Czechoslovakia
in 196 8, no one asked what impact its actions had on the Russian
stock market.
There was no Russian stock market.
Now, the conflict in Georgia has been associated with a sharp decline
in investor confidence. Russia’s foreign exchange reserves fell in
one week by $16bn. In one day the value of Gazprom fell by the same
amount. Risk premia in Russia have sky-rocketed.
Isolation of Russia is not feasible. It would be counter-productive
because Russia’s economic integration is the best discipline on its
politics. It would only strengthen the sense of victimhood that fuels
intolerant nationalism. And it would compromise the world’s interests
in tackling nuclear proliferation, addressing climate change or
stabilising Afghanistan.
But the international community is not impotent. Europeans need Russian
gas, but Gazprom needs European consumers and investment. The reality
of interdependence is that both sides have leverage; both sides can
change the terms of trade.
Our approach must be hard-headed-engagement. That means bolstering
allies, rebalancing the energy relationship with Russia, defending the
rules of international institutions, and renewing efforts to tackle
"unresolved conflicts".
Here, Ukraine is key. It has strong links to Russia and this is
firmly in both countries’ interests. But Ukraine is also a European
country. Ukrainian leaders have spoken of their aspiration to see their
country become a member of the EU. Article 49 of the EU treaty gives
all European countries the right to apply. The prospect and reality of
EU membership has been a force for stability, prosperity and democracy
across eastern Europe and it should remain so beyond. Once Ukraine
fulfils EU criteria, it should be accepted as a full member.
As for Ukraine’s relationship with Nato, it does not pose a threat to
Russia. It is about strengthening Ukraine’s democratic institutions
and independence – things that will benefit Russia in the long term.
Europe also must re-balance the energy relationship with Russia. Europe
needs to invest in storing gas to deal with interruptions. More
interconnections between countries and properly functioning internal
markets will increase resilience. It needs diverse, secure and
resilient gas supplies.
Europe needs to act as one when dealing with third parties like
Russia. And we will be reducing our dependence on gas altogether:
increasing energy efficiency, investing in carbon capture and storage
technology for coal, and in renewables and nuclear power.
In all international institutions, we will need to review our relations
with Russia. I do not apologise for rejecting kneejerk calls for
Russia to be expelled from the G8, or for EU-Russia or Nato-Russia
relations to be broken. But we do need to examine the nature, depth
and breadth of relations with Russia.
In Nato, we will stand by our commitments to existing members, and
there w ill be renewed determination that there should be no Russian
veto on the future direction of Nato.
Fourth, the unresolved conflicts that mark the end of empire should
not be ignored. The world’s attention is currently on South Ossetia
and Abkhazia.
But the conflicts in Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh must not
be overlooked. Each has its roots in longstanding ethnic tensions,
exacerbated by economic and political underdevelopment.
The choice today is clear. Not to sponsor a new cold war, but to be
clear about the foundations of lasting peace.
ARMENIAN FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER: WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. CHOOSING IS NOT A CHOICE
arminfo
2008-08-29 15:48:00
ArmInfo. Armenia should be more active and demonstrate its
non-partisanship to the conflict around South Ossetia, Armenian former
foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan said in an interview with Azg daily.
‘In other words, Armenia would have clearly said to all that it is
not going to choose between friends, that if Russia is our strategic
partner, Georgia is our natural partner. Both are of existential
importance to us. If in the past we used the policy of complementarity
to maintain and nurture relations with both the West and Russia, now
the situation is at our door and that need is even more acute. Now,
we must use enhanced complementarity, more audacious and blunt,
to openly and actively promote relations with all. We have no other
choice. Choosing is not a choice’, – Oskanyan said.
Asked if Russia’s role will change in the region, Oskanyan replied
of course it will and the region will not be the same.’It is the
political relationship that will be evolving between Russia and the
West that is of utmost concern to us. This relationship has been
badly damaged. The scars that are sure to remain will make future
cooperation or collaboration even more complicated. Worse, there is the
fear that there may be a return to Cold War partisanship. Even after
the honeymoon ended, Russia-West relations remained respectful. To say
that the disappearance of such a tolerant environment will adversely
affect Armenia and the region is a great understatement. East-West
tensions will be reflected in the Georgia-Russia relationship, by
proxy. That means Armenia will have to not just adhere to its policy
of complementarity, but as I said, will have to practice enhanced,
more audacious complementarity in order to assure our own, unique
role in this new configuration’, – Oskanyan said.
ARMENIAN FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER: IF THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS FAILS ARMENIA WILL NO CHOICE BUT TO RECOGNIZE THE NKR
arminfo
2008-08-29 15:45:00
ArmInfo. Armenian former foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
an interview with Azg daily he is sure that Yerevan cannot occupy
the correct position on Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia without impartial assessment of the present situation.
He means Russia-USA and Russia-Europe relations and division of the
influence zone. As for Russia’s decision, Oskanyan said it was a
surprise for everybody including to the Russian politologists close
to the Kremlin.
‘Armenians’ negotiating position need not be changed, but ought
to be even more clearly and loudly articulated and reinforced than
ever. Armenia has to make clear very quickly that the only reason
Armenia has not thus far recognized Nagorno Karabakh’s independence
or asked others to is because at core of the ongoing negotiations
is the issue of the self-determination of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh. If this process fails, Armenia should make clear that it
will have no choice but to recognize Nagorno Karabakh. What the
military and political conflict of the last two weeks brought to
the fore is this: One, that the issue of use of force to resolve
ethnic conflicts is unacceptable. Second, a country’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity have become an even greater focus of
attention. This newly emerged situation is a double-edged sword
for Nagorno Karabakh because on the one hand, there will be far less
tolerance for military rhetoric and military action. On the other hand,
we should expect a toughening of the line on self-determination issues
by the international community. Still, just as we’ve said all along,
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not like any other conflict. It
has evolved down its own path. Our right to self-determination is
founded not just on legal, historical and political foundations,
but also on the fact that Azerbaijan has repeatedly used force to
impose its jurisdiction on the people of Nagorno Karabakh. We will
continue to defend their rights’, – Oskanayn said.
VOLUME OF CARGO TRAFFIC TO ARMENIA GROWN
arminfo
2008-08-29 15:40:00
ArmInfo. The volume of cargo traffic to Armenia has grown,
press-secretary of Armenian Transport and Communication Ministry
Susanna Tonoyan told ArmInfo correspondent.
‘Yesterday 111 cargo wagons arrived in Armenia, 19 of which loaded with
petrol, 61 with bread-corn and 31 with mixed goods’, – she said. Today
morning another 42 wagons arrived in Armenia, 22 with mixed goods and
20 with bread-corn. ‘At present 325 wagons are on the way to Armenia,
123 of which loaded with bread-corn, 172 with mixed goods and 39
with petrol.
Moreover, 2900 tonnes of air fuel have been already loaded in Poti
and will arrive in Armenia soon’, – Tonoyan concluded.
VICE SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT: I THINK THAT AS AN INFLUENTIAL POLITICIAN, ROBERT KOCHARYAN WILL FIND LEVEL IN POLITICAL FIELD
arminfo
2008-08-29 16:18:00
ArmInfo. Vice Speaker of the Armenian parliament, representative of
ARF Dashnaksutyun Party, Hrayr Karapetyan, doesn’t rule out Armenian
ex-president Robert Kocharyan’s return as a prime minister.
At the Aug 29 press-conference at Hayatsk club, Karapetyan noted
that the present head of the Armenian government, Tigran Sargsyan,
carries out his work very well. At the same time, however, he stressed:
"I think that as an influential politician, Robert Kocharyan will
find level in the political field by all means".
ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION DASHNAKTIUTYUN TO ORGANIZE PROTEST ACTIONS IN CASE OF TURKISH PRESIDENT’S ARRIVAL IN ARMENIA
arminfo
2008-08-29 16:16:00
ArmInfo. Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktiutyun will
organize protest actions if Turkish President Andullah Gul accepts
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to arrive in Armenia,
vice-speaker of the parliament, member of the ARF Dashnaktiutyun
Hrayr Karapetyan said at today’s press-conference in Hayastk club.
‘As Turkey still continues its anti-Armenian propaganda, this
is the best case for the ARFD to raise the voice of protest’, –
he said. Touching on the football game between the national teams
of Armenia and Turkey he said: ‘This match is politicized. It is
important for our football players to understand this, in that case
they will play better’.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress