Month: September 2013

A Plea for Caution From Russia

What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria

By Vladimir V. Putin

September 12, 2013 “Information Clearing House – “New York Times” –
Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood
against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once,
and defeated the Nazis together. The universal international
organization – the United Nations – was then established to prevent
such devastation from ever happening again.

The United Nations’ founders understood that decisions affecting war
and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent
the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the
United Nations Charter. The profound wisdom of this has underpinned
the stability of international relations for decades.

No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of
Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is
possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take
military action without Security Council authorization.

The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite
strong opposition from many countries and major political and
religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent
victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond
Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new
wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve
the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and
further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw
the entire system of international law and order out of balance.

Syria is not witnessing a battle for democracy, but an armed conflict
between government and opposition in a multi-religious country. There
are few champions of democracy in Syria. But there are more than
enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all stripes battling the
government. The United States State Department has designated Al Nusra
Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, fighting with the
opposition, as terrorist organizations. This internal conflict, fueled
by foreign weapons supplied to the opposition, is one of the bloodiest
in the world.

Mercenaries from Arab countries fighting there, and hundreds of
militants from Western countries and even Russia, are an issue of our
deep concern. Might they not return to our countries with experience
acquired in Syria? After all, after fighting in Libya, extremists
moved on to Mali. This threatens us all.

>From the outset, Russia has advocated peaceful dialogue enabling
Syrians to develop a compromise plan for their own future. We are not
protecting the Syrian government, but international law. We need to
use the United Nations Security Council and believe that preserving
law and order in today’s complex and turbulent world is one of the few
ways to keep international relations from sliding into chaos. The law
is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not.
Under current international law, force is permitted only in
self-defense or by the decision of the Security Council. Anything else
is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute
an act of aggression.

No one doubts that poison gas was used in Syria. But there is every
reason to believe it was used not by the Syrian Army, but by
opposition forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign
patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists. Reports that
militants are preparing another attack – this time against Israel –
cannot be ignored.

It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in
foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it
in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world
increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying
solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan
`you’re either with us or against us.’

But force has proved ineffective and pointless. Afghanistan is
reeling, and no one can say what will happen after international
forces withdraw. Libya is divided into tribes and clans. In Iraq the
civil war continues, with dozens killed each day. In the United
States, many draw an analogy between Iraq and Syria, and ask why their
government would want to repeat recent mistakes.

No matter how targeted the strikes or how sophisticated the weapons,
civilian casualties are inevitable, including the elderly and
children, whom the strikes are meant to protect.

The world reacts by asking: if you cannot count on international law,
then you must find other ways to ensure your security. Thus a growing
number of countries seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction. This
is logical: if you have the bomb, no one will touch you. We are left
with talk of the need to strengthen nonproliferation, when in reality
this is being eroded.

We must stop using the language of force and return to the path of
civilized diplomatic and political settlement.

A new opportunity to avoid military action has emerged in the past few
days. The United States, Russia and all members of the international
community must take advantage of the Syrian government’s willingness
to place its chemical arsenal under international control for
subsequent destruction. Judging by the statements of President Obama,
the United States sees this as an alternative to military action.

I welcome the president’s interest in continuing the dialogue with
Russia on Syria. We must work together to keep this hope alive, as we
agreed to at the Group of 8 meeting in Lough Erne in Northern Ireland
in June, and steer the discussion back toward negotiations.

If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere
in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust. It will be our
shared success and open the door to cooperation on other critical
issues.

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by
growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to
the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made
on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is
`what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.’ It is
extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as
exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and
small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions
and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ,
too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings,
we must not forget that God created us equal.

Vladimir V. Putin is the president of Russia.

© 2013 The New York Times Company

Vladimir Putin to offer Iran’s Hassan Rowhani missile systems, nuclear reactor

Posted Wed 11 Sep 2013, 11:00pm AEST

Russian president Vladimir Putin will reportedly offer to supply
missile systems to Iran and build a second nuclear power reactor in
the country, a move likely to gladden Tehran and trouble the United
States.

Iran’s new president Hassan Rowhani is set to meet Mr Putin on the
sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation held in
Kyrgyzstan on Friday, in the newly elected centrist cleric’s first
meeting with a major world leader.

The Kommersant business daily reported on Wednesday that Mr Putin will
offer to supply Iran with S-300 air defence missile systems as well as
build a second reactor at the Bushehr nuclear plant.

The S-300 offer would be a particularly contentious development given
it would essentially revive a contract for similar missile systems
that Russia cancelled in 2010 after heavy Israeli and US pressure.

Mr Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Kommersant that Mr Putin and
Mr Rowhani were expected to discuss “working together in the nuclear
energy sphere” and “questions of military technical cooperation” at
the summit.

Mr Putin’s meeting with the leader of Moscow’s long-standing regional
ally comes shortly after he hosted Western powers for a G20 summit
focused on Syria in Saint Petersburg this month.

In 2007, Russia signed a contract to deliver five of the advanced
S-300 ground-to-air weapons systems – which can take out aircraft or
guided missiles – to Iran at a cost of $859 million.

However, in 2010, then-president Dmitry Medvedev cancelled the
contract after coming under strong US and Israeli pressure not to go
ahead with the sale of the weapons system, drawing vehement protests
from Tehran.

Russia to supply Iran if US strikes Syria

Russia could increase supplies of arms to Iran if the United States
decides on military intervention in Syria, the head of the lower
house’s committee on international relations, Alexei Pushkov, told
parliament on Wednesday.

“If the ‘party of war’ prevails in the United States… then I
consider it absolutely justified to suggest considering more serious
measures by Russia, including broadening of supplies of defensive
weapons to Iran,” Mr Pushkov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

Iran is Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s main regional ally and has
warned Western powers against intervention in the conflict.

Moscow has cooperated with Iran on nuclear power generation despite
international opposition to a program that Western powers and Israel
believe is being used as a smokescreen for building a nuclear bomb.

Iran, however, insists that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

Russia had urged the West to soften sanctions against Iran after the
June election of Mr Rowhani, a centrist cleric, expressing hopes for a
major breakthrough in the nuclear standoff.

Mr Rowhani has pledged greater transparency in talks.

AFP

From: A. Papazian

Several Eurovision countries, including Azerbaijan offering bribes for votes

17:22 – 13.09.13

An investigation has been launched into claims that several countries
have bought votes in the Eurovision Song Contest, The Daily Mail
reported.

An executive from an unnamed country’s delegation, who had been
contacted by several rival countries seeking to strike deals for high
points, has made the claims in a Swedish newspaper this week.

The executive, who worked on this year’s contest in Malmo, Sweden,
accused 2011 winners Azerbaijan of offering him ‘enough money to live
for a year’ if they could arrange high jury points.

It is also claimed that members of the Azerbaijani delegation handed
out free mobile phone SIM cards to Lithuanian students and paid them
to vote.

Speaking in Swedish newspaper Skanska Dagbladet, the source claims to
have been contacted by a member of the Macedonian team hoping to
strike a vote swap deal at the semi-final stage.

The source claims to have been offered ‘enough money to live for a
year’ over a coffee meeting with an Azerbaijani delegate in return for
high jury points.

According to the Daily Mirror, the executive added that there are at
least three other countries who have attempted to strike similar deals
behind the scenes.

UK entrant Bonnie Tyler, who came 19th out of 26 finalists in the
competition back in May, also told a French newspaper that she
overheard Russians asking why they didn’t get votes that they had paid
for the morning after the contest.

Sietse Bakker, Eurovision Song Contest Event Supervisor, told the
Mirror that the European Broadcasting Union is now investigating.

He said: `We have a very clear policy on such speculations.

`First of all, we always look into the story. And if we would find
actual proof that the rules have been breached, we will impose firm
sanctions and do everything we can to avoid it in the future.’

The newspaper added that Eurovision experts fear that even though an
investigation into corruption has been promised, no real action will
be taken.

‘Come in Baku. Have you been cheating at Eurovision song contest?’

Allegations against Azerbaijan, made by a delegate to 2013’s song
contest, are being investigated

LOULLA-MAE ELEFTHERIOU-SMITH

SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2013

It is renowned for having one of the most tortuous electoral systems
known to voters. Now the Eurovision song contest is itself in danger
of receiving nul points after allegations of vote-fixing and bribery.

Officials from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises
the annual event, confirmed yesterday that it was investigating claims
that jury members were offered bribes to vote.

The accusations were made in Swedish press reports, which cited an
anonymous delegation member involved in this year’s contest held in
Malmo, Sweden. According to the source, attempts were made by several
delegates to fix votes. Azerbaijan, the source claims, tried to buy
high scores from jury members with `enough money to live off for a
year’.

Azerbaijan’s Farid Mammadov was awarded 234 votes and was runner-up to
Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest, who triumphed with 281. According to the
reports, other delegations tried to set up vote-swapping schemes a
week before the semi-final. The unnamed delegate also claimed to have
received a phone call from a southern European delegate who wanted to
buy votes in return for positive PR coverage of their country’s act.
The source claimed that the EBU had shown no interest in investigating
the claims, despite being told about them last May.

But the EBU insists it is taking the claims seriously. Sietse Bakker,
the event’s supervisor, confirmed that Azerbaijan is under
investigation.

The UK’s entrant, Bonnie Tyler, who came 19th, earlier told a French
newspaper that she overheard Russians `complaining to Azerbaijan: `Why
didn’t you give us the points we paid for?”

Azerbaijan has already been accused of trying to pay Lithuanian
students to vote multiple times. A recording showing teenagers being
offered cash was published on the day of the Eurovision final in May
by the Lithuanian website 15min.

Mr Bakker said: `It is interesting that this `anonymous’ delegate
claims we are not interested in investigating this, or taking action,
while in fact we have been doing so and have been very open about it.’
He dismissed separate claims made against Macedonia, referring to
`speculation without any foundation’.

It is not the first time the song contest has been linked to
vote-rigging. In 1968 Cliff Richard was believed to have been robbed
of victory by General Franco’s regime; the Spanish act Massiel won
with `La La La’ and a one-point lead. A documentary by Montse
Fernandez Vila, released in 2008, claims the win was due to a fix
cooked up by TV executives at Spain’s state-run channel.

From: A. Papazian

Azeris intensify ceasefire violations Sept 8-14

September 14, 2013 – 14:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 250 ceasefire violations by the Azeri armed forces
were reported at the line of contact between Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijan from Sept 8-14.

Azerbaijan fired over 1500 shots from various caliber weapons towards
Karabakh positions, NKR defense army’s press service said. The defense
army continued with their military duty in line with ceasefire
principles, taking necessary measures to protect the frontline.

Over 14000 ceasefire violations by Azeri armed forces were reported at
the contact line in 2012. Azerbaijan fired over 68700 shots from
various caliber weapons towards Karabakh positions, with intensified
instances of ceasefire violations reported during state holidays and
special events.

914 ceasefire violations were registered in December 2012 when
Azerbaijan fired over 170 shots from sniper weapons, with 6 shots
fired from large-caliber sniper weapons.

About 1000 ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan were reported in
November, with 210 shots fired from sniper weapons.

The number of ceasefire violations by Azeris in October totaled 1050,
in September – 1185, in August – 1161 and over 1300 and 3750 in July
and June respectively.

From: A. Papazian

Armenia’s President congratulates Russia’s PM on birthday

September 14, 2013 | 14:47

YEREVAN. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on Saturday issued a
message of congratulations to Russian Federation Prime Minister Dmitry
Medvedev, in connection with the PM’s birthday.

`They know you in Armenia as a resolute supporter of the further
strengthening of the Armenian-Russian allied partnership. This
partnership expands for the benefit of the brotherly peoples of our
countries, for the strengthening of regional stability and security.

`I expect that the relations that are formed between us will
contribute to the implementation of joint projects, [and] assist in
further deepening cooperation between our countries,’ the Armenian
President’s congratulatory message reads, in particular.

From: Baghdasarian

Tigran Sargsyan had a telephone conversation with Dmitry Medvedev

13:50, 14 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Prime Minister of the Republic of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan had a telephone conversation with his Russian
counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. `Armenpress’ was informed from Armenian
government’s press service that Tigran Sargsyan congratulated Russia’s
Prime Minister on occasion his birthday, whish him and his family
health, happiness and welfare.

Tigran Sargsyan thanked Dmitry Medvedev for the contribution which he
shows in consistent expansion of cooperation between the two nations.
The interlocutors highly estimated the level of bilateral cooperation
and expressed readiness to make efforts for further development and
deepening of Armenian-Russian relations.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

From: Baghdasarian

US exercises control over Europe through EU – member of Karabakh committee

September 14, 2013 | 13:21

YEREVAN. – The United States accepted Armenia’s joining the Customs
Union not to lose Armenia’s government machine which is being under
America’s influence, member of Karabakh committee Ashot Manucharyan
said.

In order not to offend Russia and angry `bear’, Armenia had to take
this step, while Armenia is considered Russia’s foothold with
pro-American officials, Manucharyan said.

`Unless Armenia declared its intention to enter the Customs Union,
then there would be a confrontation between the U.S. and Russia, so
that Russia would destroy the pro-American ruling apparatus of
Armenia,’ he said during the Saturday press conference.

Manucharyan also noted that, in reality, for Armenia it was not a
matter of choosing between the EU and Russia. The choice was between
the U.S. and Russia. The European Union is nothing but a structure
through which the U.S. exercise control over Europe.

`The struggle for influence in Armenia has not ended, the United
States and Russia continue geopolitical division,’ Manucharyan added.

From: Baghdasarian

Germany highlights efforts made by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs: Jurgen Klimke

16:21, 13 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. On September 13 the Chairman of the
Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly Artak
Zakaryan met with the member of the FRG Bundestag Jurgen Klimke and
the Editor of the political section of Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper
Christian Unger.

The Press and Media Relations Department of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that welcoming the
guests the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations
highlighted Jurgan Klimke’s visit to Nagorno Karabakh and noted that
it was a good opportunity for getting familiarized with the problems
of the region on the spot.

In the course of the meeting the sides touched upon the
Armenian-German relations, discussed issues relating to
inter-parliamentary cooperation, particularly the close work between
the parliamentary friendship groups was emphasized.

Highlighting the deepening of bilateral ties, the Chairman of the
Standing Committee on Foreign Relations deemed necessary to activate
the cooperation between the committees on Foreign Relations of the two
countries. Particularly, the circumstance that in the Bundestag of
Germany would be real and distinct information and pictures about the
external political problems and their peculiarities of Armenia during
the current period for future was highlighted. Artak Zakaryan also
emphasized the role of Germany as the EU leading state in the
processes of the further development of the RA-EU dialogue. Touching
upon the problem of Armenia’s joining to the Customs Union, the
Chairman of the NA Standing Committee substantiated the factors
decision and answered the guests’ question in detail.

The MPs also touched upon the foreign policy of Armenia and the
regional problems. Talking about the problem of Nagorno Karabakh the
member of the FRG Bundestag Jurgen Klimke has noted that Germany
highlights and supports the efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement
of the Karabakh conflict made by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

From: A. Papazian

National Assembly Passes New Bill Expanding Media Copyright Protection

Grisha Balasanyan

19:08, September 12, 2013

On September 10, Armenia’s National Assembly unanimously passed a bill
amending the Law on Copyrights and Related Rights.

Passage of the bill signals the first serious effort to regulate
copyright issues that have plagued the electronic and print media in
Armenia, providing new weapons in the struggle against the `copy and
paste’ culture so endemic in the country.

The bill was sponsored by MPs Arpineh Hovhannisyan, Galoust Sahakyan,
Artzvik Minasyan, Aghvan Vardanyan, Alexander Arzoumanyan, Gagik
Janhangiryan, Tevan Poghosyan and Davit Haroutyunyan.

Even though Armenia signed the Berne Convention for the Protection of
Literary and Artistic Works ten years ago, in addition to other
international copyright regulatory treaties, the problem of media
copyright infringement has only spread, especially in the expanding
field of internet `news’ sites.

Why the problem has persisted remains a nagging question for many in
Armenia’s media sector given that a fairly comprehensive `Law on
Copyright and Related Rights’ was passed in 2006.

MP Arpineh Hovhannisyan told her colleagues that the bill contained
amendments demanded from a number of news outlets.

The bill’s most important feature is that it expands the scope of what
types of news reporting will be legally protected from copyright
infringement.

According to existing law, reports about daily or ongoing news weren’t
considered subjects of copyright protection. The new bill specifies
that the `choice’ of daily news and events is considered copyright
protected if the mode of expression of such news is the result of
creative effort.

Another article of the bill limits the amount of material that one
internet news site or print newspaper can reproduce/republish from
another.

The article specifies that the permissible amount to be republished,
without the consent of the original author, should just be enough to
`justify’ the aim of republished citation. It goes on to say that
regardless of the republished amount, it must never reveal the
essential core, the crux, of the original material.

Here, the new law is attempting to protect the original source from
losing readers by having its material appearing elsewhere,

Articles and material can only reproduced in full with the consent of
the author and according to conditions defined in a mutually
negotiated contract.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress