Month: September 2013

250 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side reported in
the past week

14:42 14.09.2013

ceasefire violation

About 250 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were
registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan from September 8 to 14.

The rival fired more than 1,500 shots from weapons of different
caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the Defense Army took relevant measures to
prevent the activeness of the rival.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sunday

15:44 14.09.2013

The Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross on September 15.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the last one of the
five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is the most
important feast among the feasts dedicated to the Holy Cross, as it is
dedicated to the history of the return of the Holy Cross from
imprisonment, its elevation and glorification. In the Armenian
Apostolic Church the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is
celebrated on Sunday during the period between September 11-17.

In 610 A. D, the Persian King Khosrov with a large army attacks the
Byzantine Empire. Enthusiastic about the initial victory, in 614 A. D.
the Persian army enters Jerusalem. Many people are killed and many are
imprisoned. Pontiff Zakaria, the Patriarch of Jerusalem is imprisoned,
too. However, the Persians are not satisfied and enter the Church of
Holy Sepulcher and take the Holy Cross kept in the Church. The Holy
Cross had been found and installed in the Church for the Christians to
worship by Heghineh, the mother of the King Costandianos, in the
beginning of the 4th century.

In 628 A. D., the Byzantine army led by the King Herakles fight
against the Persians to return the Holy Cross. The Armenian army
regiment, led by Mzhezh Gnounie, supported the Persian army. With the
Lord’s help the Byzantine army wins the battle.
The Holy Cross is solemnly brought to the Armenian town Karin, from
where it is carried to Constantinople, and then – to Jerusalem. On the
way the Holy Cross was raised for the people to see and worship.

For Christians the Cross is God’s power and strength and pride of all
prides, on which Christ’s innocent blood was shed. By means of the
Cross Jesus proved His love towards mankind, and the Cross became for
us the symbol of hope, love and saving.

Armenian President to visit Moscow

15:33 14.09.2013

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Russia on September
16 to participate in the consecration of an Armenian Church in Moscow
and the opening of the church complex, President’s Press Office
reported.

President Sargsyan visits Armenia Expo 2013

15:23 14.09.2013

President Serzh Sargsyan visited today the Armenia Expo 2013 annual
universal regional industrial exhibition at the Yerevan-Expo Center.

President Sargsyan toured the exhibition hall, familiarized himself
with the products, technologies and innovation systems on display.

Serzh Sargsyan talked to representatives of the participating
companies about their achievements, problems and future development
programs.

Customs Union decision heralds new war – opinion

13:45 – 14.09.13

Armenia’s decision to join the Eurasian Customs Union was made under
pressure to herald a new war, according to Ashot Manucharyan, a former
member of the Karabakh Committee.

`After several years of negotiations with the European Union, Armenia
decides all of a sudden to change its position.

`The Russian pressure was unexpected on our political arena, but it
wasn’t a surprise to the forces that have authority over Armenia,’ the
politician told reporters, pointing out to the United States’
influence.

According to him, all the political decisions of Armenia are
implicitly made by the US.

Manucharyan said that the struggle will continue in future, with the
United States trying to make Armenia an EU member in an attempt to
exercise an easier control over the country. `We must be very careful.
Europe is a very important trend for us, but it shouldn’t be confused
with the European Union,’ he noted.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Saakashvili lashes out at Putin’s Eurasian Union plan

12:39 – 14.09.13

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili Wednesday went on the offensive
against newly elected Russian president Vladimir Putin’s brainchild;
the Eurasian union plan, Democracy&Freeom Watch reported.

Any attempt to resurrect the Soviet corpse in 2012 is destined to be
unsuccessful,’ Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili said during a
visit to Azerbaijan.

The first step was taken in November 2011 with the establishment of
the Eurasian Commission, which started work January 1, 2012. Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan have set a target to establish the Eurasian
Union by 2015.

Saakashvili was speaking during a working visit to his counterpart
Ilham Aliyev in neighboring Azerbaijan.

Some have seen the Eurasian Union as an attempt to restore the Soviet Union.

Saakashvili said the Soviet Union was destroyed by the people living
there `because people couldn’t bear it anymore’ and that people in
Azerbaijan and Georgia would never give up their freedom.

He continued outlining his views on Georgia’s relationship with its
neighbor Russia.

`It’s better having strong neighbors than unstable vassals; better to
have partners than enemies. Despite the propaganda, I don’t want to
see a weak Russia. In fact, I dream to see a stable, proud, confident
Russia, which won’t threaten other states to prove its power and which
will be able to provide a worthy life for its citizens and not feed
them with nostalgia instead of bread.’

The Georgian president said that Russian patriots are not Georgia’s
enemies. They want strong Russia, as Georgians want a strong Georgia,
or Azerbaijanis a strong Azerbaijan.

`They are our partners. One day we will create a common space for
peace and cooperation. We will do this with enthusiasm, because we
cannot change the geography and cannot delete the history. We cannot
do this and do not want to. This is our geography, common history. We
have common past and future to build together with Russia. I am sure
and no one can change my mind that the name of this future will be EU
and NATO. It doesn’t mean necessary severing relations with Russia. It
shouldn’t mean this,’ the Georgian president said.

Recalling his own decision to cancel visa requirements for Russian
citizens, he said this was equal to `sending invitations to 140
million Russians.’

Saakashvili said Azerbaijan and Georgia are confronting common challenges.

`Azerbaijan developed very fast and now is considered a large player
on the international arena. Your membership in the UN Security Council
is proof for this development. As real friend and strategic partner,
Georgia can only be proud of your success. I am here to underline how
vitally important the strategic partnership between our countries is.
Our friendship has been forming for centuries,’ Saakashvili said on
the last day of his two day visit to Azerbaijan.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

Nail of Blackmail: Serzh Sargsyan Preferred Victimizing Armenia
Instead of Himself

Interview with Arthur Sakunts, head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly
Vanadzor Office

Armenia’s membership to the Customs Union is on the agenda today. What
should the civil society be doing?

Today a challenge to independence is on our agenda. Serzh Sargsyan’s
challenge of joining the Customs Union eventually puts forth political
demands. Now a goal is set which has a political importance and will
impart our disobedience with a political nature.

What implications does membership to the Customs Union have for the
development of Armenia?

I will tell you something interesting. Let’s try to figure it out. It
is nevertheless clear what the CU is, judging by the quality of the
current government and governance of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
In the case of Armenia, considering the closed borders, the only
visible model is isolation. This is a situation similar to North Korea
where the regime feeds people on ideas on international imperialism
and enemies. The Armenian government will lead the country to
isolation, while isolation results in stagnation. As soon as
membership to the Customs Union is established, we will end up so very
soon. And in this case, while we were moving towards the solution of
problems with difficulty but at least there was a vector of
opportunities to resolve problems, now these opportunities disappear.
Moreover, regress replaces opportunities, and these problems become
deciding.

Will Europe change the format of cooperation?

Certainly Europe cannot be indifferent in any case, it is not
indifferent to Belarus, Kazakhstan. Unlike Belarus, however, which is
integrated with Russia, Armenia will also be called a member but it
will be an isolated territory rather than an integrated territory.
Without resolving our problems we will become Russia’s lever in the
hands of the so-called Customs Union in its relationship with the EU.
The European countries will keep us in focus, under monitoring by way
of reports on the state of human rights. Certainly, without
opportunities for development there will be no development programs,
which means the minimum level of relations not to allow Armenia to be
used as a threat relating to Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani
relations.

The rule in Europe is to help those who want to help themselves. And
if we do not want to help, Europe cannot withdraw us from this
situation dragging by the hair. This is not the way in politics. It
works with you patiently until you understand how you can resolve the
problems and it cannot fish for you all the time. In fact, Serzh
Sargsyan chose to have someone else to fish for him. And Putin said I
will fish for you. This is misery. Now Europe is in a difficult
situation because the expectations that were formed in at least seven
years were different.

This situation proves that the decision was subjective and stemmed
from individual interests. This means that a person is so detached
from the reality in Armenia that he made a decision that stems from
his own personal interest. It is nonsense to refer to the Karabakh
issue to explain membership to the Customs Union as a guarantee of
security. How can one be a guarantee of our security if one speaks the
language of threat? Serzh Sargsyan saved himself because Putin and the
Armenian elite in the face of Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan are
accomplices to the crime of March 1. In other words, the nail of the
blackmail which they cannot speak about openly was their link to the
crime and if this crime is revealed, Serzh Sargsyan and Robert
Kocharyan should be the first to be convicted for committing a state
crime. Serzh Sargsyan preferred to victimize the country instead of
him. Now is a critical moment. Common sense is that the issue is
serious, and Europe acknowledges its mistake because it should have
made an adequate evaluation on 1 March 2008. Europe’s softness
resulted in such a situation because if a crime is not evaluated in
principle, the criminals get away with impunity and they are ready to
repeat the crime, which Serzh Sargsyan did during his meeting with
Putin. If Serzh Sargsyan thinks that he keeps fire under control by
kindling it, he is badly mistaken. This is very much similar to the
last years of the Soviet Union.

The government does not enjoy confidence, and Serzh Sargsyan is making
a mistake after another because he is anxious, he has run out of
opportunities and resources to cover up the crime. Meanwhile, Europe
may have a huge influence on revealing the crime. Problems have
occurred and there are opportunities for their solution, and one needs
a real battle of Sardarapat, not a Sardarapat Initiative or a
pre-parliament.

14:09 11/09/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

2014 Will Be Fatal For Putin

The SCO member states have called Russia to assume responsibility for
the region after the withdrawal of the American forces from
Afghanistan. Russia would happily refuse but cannot. Russia
understands that if Afghanistan shifts to Central Asia, not only the
post-Soviet empire but also Russia will fall apart. But Russia will
hardly afford to assume such responsibility.

Moscow will be mobilizing actively to fight terrorism and drugs from
Afghanistan. CSTO could be helpful but the Kremlin understands that
Armenia will hardly agree to send its soldiers to Afghanistan.

The global press forecasts that 2014 will be a fatal year for Putin
not only due to Afghanistan but also Sochi 2014 which turned a
nightmare. Putin is growing marginal, and now only a group of odious
people – Mizulina, Glazev, Kadyrov – are left beside him who are not
ashamed of expressing absurd ideas.

Russia’s isolation is growing, and the last act of isolation was
Armenia whose president was forced to announce to join the Customs
Union. What Russia listed as a victory was rather the last lock on the
iron curtain. The act of enforcement on September 3 shifted the latent
fight to the battlefield, and now Russia has to defend itself
desperately. It will be enough for Armenia to follow the battle.

Russia will not be able to fight on several fronts. Now all the
efforts are directed at Syria. Moreover, the Russian press did not
call the U.S. consent to postpone shelling a Russian victory. Nobody
knows what will be next, and the United States has already stated that
Putin’s reputation is at stake.

Putin’s letter to the New York Time was the final blow to Russia’s
reputation. The president of the huge country is begging the president
of another country to treat him equal. As if he feels that he is not
treated equal.

Naira Hayrumyan
14:44 14/09/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Samvel Beglaryan. `Yerevan is not Yerevan’

September 14 2013

We asked Samvel Baglaryan, President of Tavush Regional Division of
the Writers’ Union of Armenia, Chief of Noyemberyan Territorian Agency
of Social Service, about distortion of Yerevan Indoor market building
of cultural monument by NA MP Samvel Alexanyan and about the riots of
civilian activists against it. He said,- `If I were in Yerevan, I
would definitely stand next to the protesters … Why are they
protesting for they demand justice, it is not a protest, they demand
justice. I totally do not discredit, to whom they give it, to Samvel
or Lfik, these names have zero meaning for me. The important thing is
that they gives a historical value, one of the wonderful pages of
history. They are giving this. The important thing is that Yerevan
very intensely, very quickly has started to lose its face. Yerevan in
not Yerevan. Didn’t you see that the so-called North Avenue is not
decent to Yerevan, it didn’t work. North, south or something else, it
didn’t become Yerevan, it does not fit Yerevan. I’m an architect,
first, I do not like this style of architecture, I like the national,
secondly, good or bad, at least it is not of Yerevan, it does not fit
Yerevan, it does not coalesce. In every corner of the world, on seeing
the picture of the market, its marvelous metal ornaments, facade, I
was already feeling better, it was Armenian. Whatever he want to build
there, they cannot replace.’ Voskan SARGSYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

From: A. Papazian

Gurgen Yeghiazaryan to the authorities: `Let them wear hockey
goalkeeper’s helmet, get stronger to oppose the blows’ (Video)

September 13 2013

`What can I interpret: they played with people, played, cheated, and
then did something else? These Europeans have gone crazy. Regardless
of what, they say what happened, how did it happen?’,- so responded
the former Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) member Gurgen
Yeghiazaryan to the question of Aravot.am as to how he would interpret
the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan
Füle’s harsh statements and especially the fact that he emphasized
that the Customs Union is incompatible with the DCFTA agreements. We
inquired as to how the RA authorities should come out of this
situation, Mr. Yeghiazaryan responded,- `The killer will be freed.
This is also a way out, isn’t it? The know that they are busy with the
Customs Union, hence they will go for it. This authorities need
murderers, they are getting ready for something.’ Referring to the
`European misters’, Gurgen Yeghiazaryan said,- `These games should not
be played with Armenia. Today, they are expressing still mildly
because they did a mistake, they must smear their mistake. The day
after tomorrow, when they saw how they were cheated, they will
remember everything. They will remembered our elections, their
Prescott. They still hope that everything will turn back, but when
they saw that there is not return, watch what they will start doing.
We will not achieve anything with the Association Agreement, because
the dividends that we were going to benefit, we will not. Joining the
Customs Union, naturally, the door to economic relations with the
European is closed. The rest are declarative things.’ To our
observation that the RA authorities are waiting for the visit of Füle
to Armenia, what expectations are from this meeting, Mr. Yeghiazaryan
replied,- `Let them wear hockey goalkeeper’s helmet, get stronger to
oppose the blows.’

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia