Month: September 2013

ARMENIA TO ATTEND JATA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SHOWCASE IN TOKYO

14:44 11.09.2013

On September 12-15, 2013 the National Competitiveness Foundation of
Armenia, along with local travel agencies, will represent Armenia in
JATA TABIHAKU International Travel Showcase in Tokyo.

The exhibition, organized by Japanese Association of Tourist Agents,
is one of the largest tourist exhibitions in Asia where world’s
tourist organizations and companies from more than 150 countries
gather to provide the latest tourism information directly to visitors.

Armenia’s rich cultural, historical and Christian heritage will be
presented in newly developed and fully redesigned travel guides and
maps in Japanese during the exhibition.

In the framework of the exhibition, the NCFA delegation will also
participate at the JATA Tourism Forum, which will examine prospects
for tourism promotion in the East Asian market.

NCFA’s participation in this major exhibition aims to promote the
tourism of Armenia in the Asian market, identify new potential markets
for the realization of tourism products and contribute to the growth
of tourist inflows.

From: Baghdasarian

DANISH MPS ANGER AZERBAIJAN BY VISITING NAGORNO KARABAKH

13:28 11.09.2013

Danish Parliament members Eva Kjer Hansen (Venstre) and Marie Krarup
(Dansk Folkeparti) have angered the foreign ministry of Azerbaijan
by visiting Nagorno-Karabakh, the Copenhagen Post reports.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry contends that the Danish MPs and
other officials visited the region without first obtaining the
appropriate permissions and then participated in a meeting with
representatives from the region, including the foreign minister and
Armenia’s ambassador to Denmark, Hrachya Aghajanyan.

Elman Abdullayev, an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said
that the incident will be investigated and a decision on any action
will be reached following the investigation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CUSTOMS UNION DEBATE: Q & A LEAVES MORE QS FOR OPPOSITION MPS

SOCIETY | 11.09.13 | 14:43

Photolure

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Armenian law-makers are unhappy with the closed-door meeting with
foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan, during which he introduced the
reasons behind the decision to join the Customs Union with Russia. MPs
say they are not satisfied with the minister’s explanations.

Armenian National Congress faction secretary Nikol Pashinyan says the
minister did not give any definite answer to any of the questions,
nothing informative. Prosperous Armenia Party faction secretary Naira
Zohrabyan says nothing was said about what Armenia was going to gain
by trading one economic regime for another. Former foreign minister
Alexander Arzumanyan stated it was just a “pro-forma meeting”, failing
to offer any clarity of the motives of joining the Customs Union (CU).

Armenian Revolutionary Federation MP Armen Rustamyan, as opposed to
the others, gave details of the Q&A with the minister.

“My first question was where Karabakh is going to be in this process.

If Karabakh is going to be part of the CU and further that of the
Eurasian Union, I am all for it, and no Armenian can say: ‘Why did we
give up Europe and have come here?’ Keeping Karabakh is a crucial issue
for us, it is also the matter of our national security. If Karabakh
is involved in this process, if it is accepted, then I support this
decision. I know that there was going to be a definite condition set
in case of signing the Association Agreement with the EU, which is to
draw a border between Armenia and Karabakh, meaning there should be a
customs post. The answer voiced by Nalbandyan claiming that Karabakh
would not suffer from this, I hope, implies that such a customs post
won’t be required if part of the CU. Then, that makes a difference,”
he says.

He also pointed out that both Armenia and Russia are members of the
World Trade Organization (WTO), but different countries have entered
WTO on different terms. Rustamyan says Armenia “made rather serious
commitments” when joining WTO and it is important to understand
whether it might be facing trouble with that organization.

“The third issue is that we are currently going for initialing the
Association Agreement. Clearly, association, at its fullest, means
harmonizing all spheres – from economic to political. Naturally, that
complete association won’t be happening now, all things considered,
and we are talking about some partial association. Won’t that new
partial association need reconsideration if in the future we become
members of the Eurasian Union as a political unit? I did not receive
a satisfactory answer to that question,” he says.

In reference to the discontent with his reasoning Nalbandyan says if
somebody just wants to raise a question, but not listen to the answer,
then there is no answer:

“I have responded to all the questions raised. If someone did not
understand or thinks the answers were unsatisfactory or they disagree,
that’s their personal opinion.”

Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:

MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: Customs Union Debate: Q & A leaves more Qs for opposition MPs

Customs Union Debate: Q & A leaves more Qs for opposition MPs

SOCIETY | 11.09.13 | 14:43

Photolure

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Armenian law-makers are unhappy with the closed-door meeting with
foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan, during which he introduced the
reasons behind the decision to join the Customs Union with Russia. MPs
say they are not satisfied with the minister?s explanations.

Armenian National Congress faction secretary Nikol Pashinyan says the
minister did not give any definite answer to any of the questions,
nothing informative. Prosperous Armenia Party faction secretary Naira
Zohrabyan says nothing was said about what Armenia was going to gain
by trading one economic regime for another. Former foreign minister
Alexander Arzumanyan stated it was just a ?pro-forma meeting?, failing
to offer any clarity of the motives of joining the Customs Union (CU).

Armenian Revolutionary Federation MP Armen Rustamyan, as opposed to
the others, gave details of the Q&A with the minister.

?My first question was where Karabakh is going to be in this process.
If Karabakh is going to be part of the CU and further that of the
Eurasian Union, I am all for it, and no Armenian can say: ?Why did we
give up Europe and have come here?? Keeping Karabakh is a crucial
issue for us, it is also the matter of our national security. If
Karabakh is involved in this process, if it is accepted, then I
support this decision. I know that there was going to be a definite
condition set in case of signing the Association Agreement with the
EU, which is to draw a border between Armenia and Karabakh, meaning
there should be a customs post. The answer voiced by Nalbandyan
claiming that Karabakh would not suffer from this, I hope, implies
that such a customs post won?t be required if part of the CU. Then,
that makes a difference,? he says.

He also pointed out that both Armenia and Russia are members of the
World Trade Organization (WTO), but different countries have entered
WTO on different terms. Rustamyan says Armenia ?made rather serious
commitments? when joining WTO and it is important to understand
whether it might be facing trouble with that organization.

?The third issue is that we are currently going for initialing the
Association Agreement. Clearly, association, at its fullest, means
harmonizing all spheres ? from economic to political. Naturally, that
complete association won?t be happening now, all things considered,
and we are talking about some partial association. Won?t that new
partial association need reconsideration if in the future we become
members of the Eurasian Union as a political unit? I did not receive a
satisfactory answer to that question,? he says.

In reference to the discontent with his reasoning Nalbandyan says if
somebody just wants to raise a question, but not listen to the answer,
then there is no answer:

?I have responded to all the questions raised. If someone did not
understand or thinks the answers were unsatisfactory or they disagree,
that?s their personal opinion.?

From: Baghdasarian

DEPUTY DIRECTOR “HRW” EUROPE AND ASIA: “AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES REFER TO CRITICISM PRIMITIVELY AND NARROW-MINDEDLY”

13:37 11/09/2013 ” IN THE WORLD

Rachel Denber, Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Director of the Europe
and Central Asia Division, commented in an interview given to “Turan”
on critics of the official Baku which blame the organization in being
“biased and prejudiced.”

“It was strange to hear all these allegations and to realize that
the Azerbaijani authorities refer to criticism so primitively and
narrow-mindedly. Why should the call to improve the state of human
rights be regarded as support for the enemies?” she said.

Agency reminds that the Azerbaijani government has expressed its
dissatisfaction with the last report of the organization. The report
speaks about the suppression of civil society by the authorities of
Azerbaijan on the eve of the presidential election.

Representatives of official Baku accused “HRW” of cooperation with
the enemies of Azerbaijan and the Armenian lobby.

“Our report was on a crackdown on fundamental rights–freedom of
expression, association, and assembly–that’s been under way for the
past 18 months. It’s a crackdown that started well over a year ago
but intensified as the election drew nearer,” she noted.

When asked how the country should improve its human rights record
now, she answered, the first step should be for the government
to acknowledge that many of the activists whose cases were very
carefully detailed in our report were arrested on flimsy grounds and
to release them.

According to her, in this way the government of Azerbaijan “will show
that it is serious about investigating attacks and threats against
investigative journalists,” she added.

In early September, “Human Rights Watch” released another report
on Azerbaijan, which read that In the run-up to the presidential
elections, the Azerbaijani authorities deliberately carry out the
strategy of arbitrary restriction of dissent.

Source: Panorama.am

CONGRESSIONAL HELLENIC CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS SEEK ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TRUTH & JUSTICE RESOLUTION

16:12 11.09.2013

In yet another demonstration of the enduring and increasingly energized
Armenian-Hellenic partnership, U.S. Representatives Michael Bilirakis
(R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), the Co-Chairs of the Congressional
Hellenic Caucus, are backing the adoption of the Armenian Genocide
Truth and Justice Resolution (H.Res.227), reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We join Armenian Americans across the country and with all of
our Hellenic American coalition partners in thanking Congressman
Bilirakis and Congresswoman Maloney for their leadership in support
of a truthful and just international resolution of Turkey’s crime
of genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and other Christian
nations,” said Aram Hamparian, ANCA Executive Director.

“Greeks, Armenians, and all our fellow U.S. citizens who seek to
advance American ideals look forward to the day when our White House
will, at long last, end its complicity in Ankara’s genocide denials
and begin the process of moving the Turkish society and state toward
the acceptance of their full moral and material responsibilities for
this crime.”

Representatives Maloney and Bilirakis join as cosponsors with a broad
range of senior Congressional leaders, including many serving on key
foreign policy and appropriations panels, who have already lent their
support to this groundbreaking human rights measure. The bipartisan
resolution seeks improved Armenian-Turkish ties based upon Turkey’s
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide and a just international
resolution of this still unpunished crime.

Introduced and spearheaded by Congressmen David Valadao (R-CA), Adam
Schiff (D-CA), Michael Grimm (R-NY) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in May of
this year, the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution reflects
and reinforces previous U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide
as a crime of genocide, citing the U.S. Government’s May 28, 1951
written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide, President Ronald Reagan’s April 22, 1981 Proclamation and
Congressional adoption of Armenian Genocide legislation in 1975 and
1984. H.Res.227 calls on “the President to work toward equitable,
constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based
upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgment of the facts and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and
comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.”

The resolution specifically references that “the Republic of Turkey,
rather than acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the
past, has escalated its international campaign of Armenian Genocide
denial, maintained its blockade of Armenia, and increased its pressure
on the small but growing Turkish civil society movement acknowledging
the Armenian Genocide and seeking justice for this systematic campaign
of destruction of millions of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians,
Syriacs, and other Christians upon their biblical-era homelands.”

ARMENIA MAY LOSE SOVEREIGNTY BECAUSE OF AUTHORITIES – STYOPA SAFARYAN

17:23 ~U 11.09.13

Tweet

Secretary of the Heritage party Styopa Safaryan regrets that Armenia’s
authorities have brought the country to the point of losing its
sovereignty and right to choose strategic partners.

“It is most dangerous. All the forces concerned over Armenia’s national
interests must stop this process,” Safaryan told a press conference on
Armenia’s choice between the Customs Union and the European Union (EU).

Joining the Customs Union will disturb Armenia’s foreign policy
balance.

“One thing is clear: we are facing a new reality. We must not contrast
an Association Agreement with the EU with the Customs Union.

By signing the Association Agreement with the EU Armenia will not
disturb its foreign policy balance, whereas it will do so by joining
the Customs Union,” Safaryan said.

Because of Armenia’s geopolitical location the country’s political
and military security has to date been guaranteed due to the balance
between external forces, with Russia being one of them and the EU
being the rest, Safaryan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARMENIAN DM MEETS NEWLY APPOINTED US CO-CHAIR OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP

17:02 11.09.2013

Armenian Foreign Minister Seyran Ohanyan received the newly appointed
US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick. US Ambassador to
Armenia John Heffern was present at the meeting.

The parties discussed issues related to the negotiation process and
the situation along the line of contact.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of maintenance of the
ceasefire regime, mitigation of the tension at the line of contact,
implementation of confidence-building measures.

ARMENIAN PM ATTENDS WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN CHINA

18:17 11.09.2013

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan participated in the opening
ceremony of the World Economic Forum in the Chinese city of Dalian.

Before the start of the forum the Prime Minister met with its founder
and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

Tigran Sargsyan and Klaus Schwab exchanged views on the current
economic developments, the challenges facing the world economy.

During the meeting reference was made to the economic structure
of Armenia, the future programs and the steps towards economic
diversification.

The forum, featuring heads and representatives of government of a
number of countries, will consider the processes taking place in
world economy, their possible implications and perspectives.

“PRE-PARLIAMENT”: RELEASE OF SURIK KHACHATRYAN’S SON AND BODYGUARD HAS AGAIN DISCREDITED JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ARMENIA

by Ashot Safaryan

Wednesday, September 11, 14:46

The civil initiative “Pre-Parliament” has disseminated a statement
in connection with release of ex-governor of Syunik region, Surik
Khachatryan’s, son and bodyguard, Tigran Khachatryan and Zarzand
Nikogosyan. The statement says that this has again discredited justice
system in Armenia.

“The criminal regime has again demonstrated that the state government
system with all its components, including justice, has turned into an
instrument for enthrallment and humiliation of its own people. The
case of releasing a man which committed grave crime, as well as the
case of criminal prosecution of a serviceman, which protected the
honor and dignity of his brother, is more than a blatant injustice”,
– the statement says.

The Pre-Parliament thinks that this case as well as therefusal of
sovereignty via joining of the Customs Union, and civil activists
abuse by policemen and criminal prosecution of Armenian citizens,
in fact mean a war by the authorities against their own people. This
war should have an adequate reaction. “The Pre-Parliament calls to
self-organization and formation of the parallel structures of power –
executive, legislative and judicial, in order to take the power into
our own hands at the needed moment and to ensure development of our
statehood”, – the statement by the Pre-Parliament says.

To recall, shootouts in front of Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan’s
house at 00:10am on June 2 killed former candidate for Goris mayor
Avo Budaghyan and wounded his brother Artak Budaghyan, a commander
at a military unit in the NKR. There was another wounded, Nikolay
Abrahamyan, a relative and bodyguard of Governor Suren Khachartyan. A
criminal case has been initiated on the basis of Article 103.1 (murder)
and Article 235 (illegal use, storage and bearing weapons) of the
Criminal Code of Armenia. Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan’s son,
Tigran Khachatryan, has been arrested over latest shootouts in Syunik.

Earlier, the governor’s bodyguard Zarzand Nikoghosyan was arrested
over the case. On June 3 Suren Khachatryan sent in his resignation
declaring that everyone must answer for their mistakes. He regretted
for failing to prevent the tragic incident near his house. On July 9,
the brother of Avetik Budaghyan was charged with Article 137.1 of
the Criminal Code. Budaghyan denies the accusations against him. He
was released on the recognizance not to leave. Later on September 7,
Department for Major Cases, Investigation Service, Defense Ministry
of Armenia, set free the son and bodyguard of Surik Khachatryan. The
Investigation adopted a resolution saying that Tigran Khachatryan
and Zarzand Nikoghosyan acted in self-defense.

CORPSE OF ARMENIAN CITIZENS DROWNED IN GEORGIA FOUND

16:36, 11 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. A corpse has been found in the
coastal areas of Batumi, Georgia by 15.00 on September 11.

The Press Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the
Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that it was the body of
Armenian citizen D. M. (born in 1985), who drowned on September 8 of
the current year.

Previously it was reported that in Summer 2013, a total of four
people have drowned in the coastal areas of Georgia, and three of
those victims were the citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

Two accidents have been recorded only at the course of the past three
days, as two young lives fell victims to the waves. Lack of knowledge
and skills for swimming, swimming in the sea while being drunk or
late in the evening, and not following the security rules and the
expected storm warnings are among the main causes of drowning.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress