YEREVAN TO HOST THE MEETING OF EASTERN PARTNERSHIP FMS
13:25 12.09.2013
Eastern Partnership
On September 12-13 Yerevan will host the non-official meeting of the
Foreign Ministers of the Eastern Partnership Program.
The heads of delegation will be hosted by President Serzh Sargsyan.
The ministerial meeting of September 13 will be followed by a joint
press conference, featuring the heads of delegation.
FIFA: ARMENIAN NATIONAL TEAM IS RANKED 54TH
September 12, 2013
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced
Thursday its new world ranking for the national teams.
And in line with the standings, Armenia’s squad climbed twelve spots
and is now ranked 54th, informs the Football Federation of Armenia
website.
The reigning world and European champions Spain continue to top the
ranking; they are followed by Argentina and Germany, respectively.
Armenia’s 2014 World Cup qualifier group opponents Italy are fourth,
Denmark are 23rd, the Czech Republic are 33rd, Bulgaria are 64th,
and Malta are 142nd.
NEWS.am Sport
MINSK GROUP NEW US CO-CHAIR NOT COMMENTING ON VIOLATION OF RIGHTS OF ARMENIAN POW IN AZERBAIJAN
September 12, 2013 | 11:20
YEREVAN. – Ambassador James Warlick, new US Co-Chair of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group,
did not comment on the facts that the rights of Hakob Injighulyan,
the Armenian prisoner of war (POW) who is held captive in Azerbaijan,
are violated.
“Can’t comment on that. My real purpose here is not to undertake this;
it is to better understand the situation,” Warlick stated during a
press conference on Thursday.
As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Armenian soldier Hakob
Injighulyan (born in 1991) found himself in the territory under
the control of the adversary. According to preliminary information,
Injighulyan turned up there on August 8 at around 3am, while carrying
out his military service, by crossing the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR)-Azerbaijan border, and as a result of losing his orientation in
the area. He was taken to Azerbaijani capital city Baku the next day.
The ICRC was able to meet with the Armenian prisoners of war on August
20. To note, Injighulyan was made to wear the military clothing of
the Azerbaijani army and give several interviews.
News from Armenia – NEWS.am
GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN ACTIVIST’S BROTHER RELEASED FROM JAIL
09:45 ~U 12.09.13
Armen Chakhalyan, the brother of the Georgian-Armenian activist Vahagn
Chakhalyan, has been released from jail, Georgia Online reported.
A Georgian court had earlier sentenced Chakhalyan to four years in
jail, demanding a fine of 2,000 Laris ($1,204.80). The decision to
set him free was made based upon a consensus.
Chakhalyan was detained in June after an incident in the town of
Ninotsminda.
Armenian News – Tert.am
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
LEVON ZURABYAN: HEAD OF JACES USED BUDGETARY FUNDS FOR PERSONAL NEEDS
by Karina Manukyan
ARMINFO
Thursday, September 12, 10:59
Head of the Judiciary Acts Compulsory Enforcement Service of Armenia
Mihran Poghosyan used budgetary funds for personal needs, MP from
the Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan said in the parliament
on Wednesday.
He said that the service bought a number of cars for personal needs
from Catherine Group, a company owned by Poghosyan. “So, it turns out
that Mr. Poghosyan bought cars from his own self but used budgetary
for the purchase,” Zurabyan said.
He asked the Cabinet members if they were aware of the deal. “If yes,
why then didn’t you make Mr. Poghosyan responsible?” Zurabyan said.
Armenia’s Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan said that none of the
service’s employees has the right to have a business. “You may appeal
to the Ethics Committee if you have any suspicions,” he told Zurabyan.
“But there are documents clearly saying that Mr.Poghosyan is the
owner of Catherine Group. And if you give no adequate response,
you are incompetent or are part of this corrupt deal,” Zurabyan said.
In his turn, Tovmasyan said that Zurabyan is incompetent in law. “To
be the founder of a company and its manager is two different things,”
he said.
MP: IT HAS BECOME ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES’ HABIT TO GIVE PROMISES ON ACCESSION TO ALL POSSIBLE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
by Ð~PÑ~HоÑ~B СаÑ~DаÑ~@Ñ~Oн
ARMINFO
Thursday, September 12, 10:56
The impression is that it has become the Armenian authorities’
habit to give promises on accession to all possible international
organizations, Alexander Arzumanyan, MP from the Heritage Faction,
ex-Foreign Minister of Armenia, said in Parliament when commenting
on Armenian Prime Minister’s recent statement that Armenia wants to
become an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Arzumanyan is bewildered at the fact that the Government’s program
adopted in early 2013 points out further strengthening of cooperation
with the EU and development of cooperation with the CSTO as the
priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy. “The Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation is not mentioned in the program at all. Subsequently,
if the Government’s program has been amended, the Parliament should
be informed of it and should approve the new program”, said Arzumanyan.
He added that the SCO focuses special attention on the fight against
terrorism, extremism and separatism. In this context, the MP said that
a number of SCO member countries, for instance, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,
and Uzbekistan consider the Karabakh conflict as a separatist movement.
In response, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said that
the matter concerns an observer status in the SCO. As regards the
Karabakh conflict, he said that the SCO had not adopted a single
resolution directed against Armenia’s interests yet.
NIKOL PASHINYAN URGES PRIME MINISTER TO RETURN FROM CHINA AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR INDOOR MARKET
by Karina Manukyan
ARMINFO
Thursday, September 12, 10:54
The issue of the Indoor Market, which has turned from a historical
monument of Yerevan into an ordinary supermarket, was raised during
a meeting of parliamentarians and government members on Wednesday.
Nikol Pashinyan, MP from the Armenian National Congress Faction,
said that a criminal case on the damage caused to the monument should
have been instituted. “I demand that the Government should explain why
no measures established by the law were taken and why the historical
monument has been demolished despite the fact that the issue has been
raised in Parliament for a year”, he said.
“According to the Constitution, the people that must reply to my
questions must be in this hall. Let them return from China and answer
my questions. The Prime
Minister has no right to be on a business trip today”, Pashinyan said
meaning Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s visit to China. He stressed
that the Premier is directly accountable for the current situation
around the Indoor Market. “In 2012, during the hearings on the
governmental program, I asked the Premier about the Indoor Market. He
answered that the issue was to be studied, discussed, and assessed.
But now we have no Indoor Market at all”, said Pashinyan.
The Indoor Market was built in 1952 by Armenian architect Grigory
Aghababyan’s project and has been considered one of the symbols
of the Armenian capital since then. The repair inside the building
has damaged the original exterior of the building. In early June,
the municipality promised that the constructions erected inside the
building would be demolished and the original appearance would be
restored. However, these constructions have not been dismantled.
From: Baghdasarian
HEAD OF OSCE OFFICE IN YEREVAN CONCERNED OVER CASES OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION AGAINST CIVIC ACTIVISTS IN ARMENIA
18:06 11/09/2013 ” POLITICS
The Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan Ambassador Andrey Sorokin issued the
following statement today on recent cases of violence and intimidation
against civic activists in Armenia.
“I am concerned about the reported violation of the right to peaceful
assembly, harassment, and undue pressure on the demonstrators
during street protests in Yerevan. Cases of direct intimidation and
physical attacks against civic activists such as those perpetrated on
5 September against the Project Co-ordinator of Yerevan Press Club,
Haykak Arshamyan, and the Board Member of Transparency International
Anti-Corruption Centre, Suren Saghatelyan, are highly regrettable.
“In addition to the physical harm caused to the individuals involved,
these instances can have a detrimental effect for the overall civic
engagement and the general public atmosphere in the country.
“It is extremely important for these cases to be properly investigated,
and I urge law-enforcement bodies to undertake prompt action. Timely
justice and identification of the perpetrators will help maintain
public confidence in Armenia’s institutions and will encourage civil
society to remain engaged and constructive.”
Source: Panorama.am
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
EU OFFICIAL SPEAKS OF ‘ENORMOUS PRESSURE’ FROM RUSSIA UPON EASTERN PARTNERSHIP NATIONS
NEWS | 12.09.13 | 11:36
European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan
Fule has made a statement in which he expressed his concern in
connection with growing pressure from Russia on the countries that
are members of the EU Eastern Partnership program, including Armenia.
Official Yerevan denies that any pressure was exerted on it by Moscow
in the matter of taking the decision to join the Customs Union of
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which apparently comes at the expense
of Armenia’s further integration with the European Union as part
of the Eastern Partnership Program. Other members of the program,
notably Ukraine and Moldova, have also apparently been pressured
by Moscow to abandon their plans to initial or sign agreements on
association and forming a deep and comprehensive free trade area
(DCFTA) with Brussels – something that Armenia was also on track to
do before the September 3 announcement of its decision to shift focus
towards integration with Russia.
“The Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius is fast approaching. It
promises to mark a momentous step forward in our political association
and economic integration with several of our eastern European
neighbors. Clearly – and wrongly – this is seen in some quarters as
a threat. As a result, we have seen enormous pressure being brought
to bear upon some of our partners,” said Fule.
The European official emphasized that a Customs Union membership is
not compatible with the DCFTAs. “This is not because of ideological
differences; this is not about a clash of economic blocs, or a
zero-sum game. This is due to legal impossibilities,” he explained,
emphasizing that for members of the Eastern Partnership it will
certainly be possible to increase their cooperation with the Customs
Union and participation in a DCFTA is fully compatible with partners’
existing free trade agreements with other CIS states.
“Let me be clear: the development of the Eurasian Economic Union
project must respect our partners’ sovereign decisions. Any threats
from Russia linked to the possible signing of agreements with the
European Union are unacceptable,” Fule underscored.
Despite its decision to join the Customs Union Armenia has reaffirmed
its commitment to continue political dialogue and cooperation with
the EU.
Fule is expected in Yerevan today and it is possible that Brussels
will formulate its official position on the issue after his visit.
‘NON GRATA’ FOR BAKU: DANES’ VISIT TO KARABAKH OCCASIONS MORE ‘BLACKLIST’ THREATS FROM AZERBAIJAN
KARABAKH | 12.09.13 | 11:32
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Azerbaijan continues to carry out ‘punitive actions’ against all
those who dare set foot in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). It
comes down to entering their names in the notorious ‘black list’
making their entry into Azerbaijan impossible in the future.
A group of Danish MPs and journalists who were one of the latest
foreigners to pay a visit to Karabakh also face the prospect.
In an interview with Azerbaijan’s Turan news agency Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said that official
Baku was examining the information and if confirmed, he said, it
would entail measures in relation to the Danes who visited Karabakh
“without Azerbaijan’s permission”.
Several members of the Danish Parliament, the country’s public figures
and journalists on September 9 met with NKR National Assembly Speaker
Ashot Ghulyan in Stepanakert, then they were also received by the head
of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop
Pargev Martirosyan.
In late August Baku was similarly angered by a visit to Karabakh by a
Russian delegation of journalists and public figures that also included
former Russian spy Anna Chapman. Azerbaijan described that visit as
“illegal”, too, and said the “offenders” also ran the risk of being
“blacklisted”.
The Danes and the Russians are not the first to be threatened by
Azerbaijan. On August 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
revealed a “black list” of 335 people who, it said, visited Karabakh
without Baku’s permission and therefore have been declared personas
non grata in Azerbaijan.
The list often referred to as the Montserrat Caballe list (by the
name of the famous Spanish opera singer who visited Karabakh last
summer and was ‘blacklisted’ in Azerbaijan for that) includes a
number of prominent political and cultural figures, scientists,
entrepreneurs, such as Australian MP, member of the New South Wales
Legislative Assembly Gladys Berejiklian, Russian State Duma member
Oleg Pokholkov, Ukrainian Profile magazine correspondent Varvara
Zhlutenko, The Washington Post Moscow correspondent Will Englund,
Argentinean-Armenian business magnate Eduardo Eurnekian, Austrian
conductor Ernest Hoetzl and many others.
Marcelo Cantelmi, editor-in-chief of International Policy in Clarín,
the largest newspaper in Argentina, visited Karabakh in 2005 and is
now on the Azeri “blacklist”, too. After the publication of the list
in its entirely last month, Cantelmi described it as a “barbaric step,
which only deserves to be ignored.”
“With such gross and poor methods the Azeris deny the rights
of Armenians towards their historical land,” said the Argentine
journalist, also describing it as a manifestation of discrimination
that has historically been used by dictators and tyrants to grossly
violate the principles of pluralism.
Sargis Asatryan, a specialist in Azerbaijan studies, says that
internationally Artsakh’s status is not determined yet and is still
at the stage of negotiations, and Azerbaijan has no legal basis
for making such statements, while such behavior only damages Baku’s
international image.
“This is not a proper method for solving the issue, especially that
this black list is more frequently ‘updated’ ahead of important events,
such as the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan,” Asatryan
told ArmeniaNow, adding that among those who appear in the list of
“personas non grata” are especially journalists, whose visits to
Azerbaijan are undesirable for the country’s authorities.
The website of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that recently a
statement was disseminated at the United Nations in which Stepanakert
expresses its concern about Azerbaijan’s threats to citizens of other
countries not to visit Karabakh “without consent of the Azerbaijan
government given in advance” as well as over the publication of the
list of personas non grata by official Baku.
From: A. Papazian