Month: September 2013

TURKISH WRITER YASAR KEMAL GETS ARMENIA’S KRIKOR NAREGATSI MEDAL

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Sept 4 2013

ISTANBUL – Doðan News Agency

Acclaimed Turkish writer Yaþar Kemal has received the Krikor Naregatsi
Medal, which is awarded by the Armenian Culture Ministry.

Kemal was awarded the medal for his successes and contributions
to literature, in addition to his works which have helped preserve
Armenian cultural heritage.

“We are here to show our appreciation to Kemal on his contribution to
protecting important Armenian architecture such as Akdamar Church [in
Lake Van],” said Culture Ministry representative Seyranuhi Geghamyan
during a visit to Kemal’s home to present him with the award.

“I am from Van. … Today I salute you and thank you, and I really
would like our societies to communicate again,” said Armenian The
Armenian representatives deputy Aragats Akhoyan, adding that they were
determined to build an environment that lends itself to communication.

“On these lands pople have gone through pain. The most sacred effort
is to fight against hostility,” Kemal said, adding that Narekli Krikor
was a poet that he esteemed greatly and that he was honored to receive
the medal.

The Armenian representatives also gave Kemal an Armenian translation
of one of his most famous works, “Memed, My Hawk,” which was first
published in 1975.

Kemal said Anatolia was the land of many civilizations, including
Armenian civilization, which had bequeathed many traces from
architecture to art and music.

September/04/2013

WILL ARMENIA’S CHOOSING CUSTOMS UNION CHANGE EUROPE’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT? – ANALYSIS

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

[ 04 September 2013 16:06 ]

If the West does not meet the expectations of Azerbaijan, it will
lose its positions in the South Caucasus once and for all

Baku. Vugar Masimoghlu – APA. Armenia has made a choice between Europe
and Russia and officially turned back on Europe with its decision to
join the Customs Union. Yerevan’s “attempt” to play among the two
power centers failed in the short run. With the decision announced
yesterday Armenia once confirmed that it is not and will not be an
independent player.

Armenia has made official its strategic choice passing a decision to
join the Customs Union. It is not surprising that a country, which
is not independent from political, economic and military point of
view and is an outpost of Russia in the South Caucasus, has selected
Moscow instead of Brussels. It was surprising that earlier, Armenia
intended to sign an association agreement with the European Union
and Europe sincerely believed this intention. Europe is well aware of
Russia’s dominant position in the policy of Armenia and it was naive
to think that it would draw Yerevan out of Moscow’s influence with
the association agreement. Europe is suffering from this superficial
approach.

The membership of the Customs Union crossed out Armenia’s Europe
prospects and means the gradual loss of Europe’s initiative to
interfere in Russia’s influence – the importance of the “Eastern
Partnership” program. Europe is expected to face the same fate
regarding Belarus after Armenia. Thus, the target countries of the
“Eastern Partnership” program will be only GUAM member states.

A question arises – Why Armenia, which was aware of Russia’s plans on
the Customs Union and its place in this project, was going to sign an
association agreement with the European Union? It should be estimated
as an indirect message of Armenia to Russia. The migration crisis and
economic collapse in the country and the sharp decrease of financial
means transferred to the budget of Armenia through Diaspora obliged
Armenia to think.

The world is facing a serious financial crisis, which has led to the
decrease of Diaspora donations. On the other hand, the investments
in Armenia’s economy by the countries, where the Armenian Diaspora
organizations are strong, have also decreased. Last year, direct
foreign investment in Armenia’s economy dropped 64%. Russia has
invested a total of $38 million in Armenia’s economy this year.

Though Armenia, which is facing severe economic crisis due to
the self-isolated policy relies on Russia, the support of Moscow
is restricted to political and military support. In the recent
presidential elections, some candidates accused Russia over the lack
of economic support and some of them showed Europe as a way out of
the situation. These views should be assessed as an approach of the
Armenian society, not of separate political circles.

Armenia’s attempt to sign the association agreement with the European
Union was a message to Russia. Threatening Russia with European
integration plans shows that Armenia can’t objectively evaluate its
foreign influence capabilities and political maneuvering opportunities
are so limited that it can be easily predicted (“It will be finally
admitted to the Customs Union”, “It will do what Russia says” and
other evaluations).

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policy towards Azerbaijan has also
influenced Armenia’s choice of the Customs Union. The statements issued
in Baku and steady development of relations between Azerbaijan and
Russia caused the fear in Yerevan that “Moscow may refuse the mission
of guarantor of Armenia’s security” and this fear objectively made the
neighboring country hastily formalize its role as “Russia’s mistress”.

The European Union’s superficial assessment of the processes also
played a key role in this process. Europe that doesn’t seriously
interfere in the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and tries only to ensure its economic interests in the region has
jeopardized its long-term plans. Though, steps were taken to remove
the South Caucasus region from the sphere of influence of Russia
(the Eastern Partnership, energy projects, visa facilitation regime
for the South Caucasus countries, financial aid, etc.), political
basis has not been established. One can also see these mistakes in
the West’s relations with Georgia.

The only way for the West, wishing to gain strength in the South
Caucasus, is to appeal to Azerbaijan that has openly declared its
policy of European integration and is pursuing a balanced policy.

Unlike Armenia and Georgia, the West shouldn’t repeat its mistakes
regarding Azerbaijan. Baku has made its energy resources an important
factor of the foreign policy and assumed an important role in ensuring
energy security of Europe.

Azerbaijan has expectations from Europe – unlike Europe, the official
Baku wants to ensure political interests rather than economic
interests and doesn’t hide that the main objective of the energy
policy is to obtain results in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Following the recent step of Armenia, it would be another
mistake for the West not to assess these expectations.

The first statements of the EU officials on Sargsyan’s decision to
join the Customs Union bore initial signs of it. For example, German
member of the European Parliament and chairman of its Foreign Affairs
Committee Elmar Brok stated that the European Union not dealing with
this issue up to now should be seriously interested in the solution of
“frozen conflicts”. It is not excluded that high-ranking officials
would make similar statements soon.

BRUSSELS SHOCKED BY ARMENIA’S DECISION AND AWAITS CLARIFICATION FROM YEREVAN

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

Diplomats and officials in Brussels are shocked by the unexpected turn
of Armenia, which announced its intention to join the Customs Union
of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, Secretary General of the Heritage
Party Stepan Safarian who is in the Belgian capital of Brussels on
an EU programme said, Novosti-Armenia reported.

On Tuesday, after talks between the Armenian and Russian Presidents,
Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin, it was stated that Armenia intends
to join the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia and
subsequently participate in the formation of the Eurasian Economic
Community.

“For the past several hours they can hide neither their surprise,
nor rage and it was obvious at all the meetings. Both the European
Commission and Parliament are waiting for Yerevan to offer an
explanation. I wonder what fairy-tale they will come up with this
time,” Safarian wrote on his Facebook page.

A summit of the EU leadership and leaders of EU Eastern Partnership
programme member states will be held on November 2013 in Vilnus.

During the summit it is expected to initial an Association Agreement
and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with several countries
including Armenia.

The Eastern Partnership initiative was put forward by Poland and
Sweden, approved at the EU summit in Brussels in 2008 and officially
established in May 2009 in Prague.

The programme’s goal is the convergence of the EU to Ukraine, Armenia,
Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Belarus without their admission to
the EU.

The programme provides a significant increase in the level of political
cooperation and broad integration of the former Soviet republics in
the EU economy, increasing the amount of financial assistance for
them and strengthening energy security.

EP FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: “BEING A FULL MEMBER OF THE CUSTOMS UNION, ARMENIA CAN’T HAVE AN ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION”

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

[ 04 September 2013 12:50 ]

Elmar Brok: “Armenia is under incredible pressure from Russia because
of the difficult situation towards Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh”

Baku. Ankhanum Hidayatova – APA. “Being a full member of the Customs
Union, Armenia can’t have an association agreement with the European
Union,” said a German member of the European Parliament and chairman
of its Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok, APA reports quoting
Radio Liberty.

“I am very sorry for that. I discussed it with the Armenian
president, too. We know that Armenia is under incredible pressure
from Russia because of the difficult situation towards Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh. There is all this pressure. A small country like
Armenia was blackmailed to make such a decision. I feel very sorry
because it is legally not possible to be a full member both of the
Customs Union and have an association agreement and free trade area
agreement with the European Union,” said Elmar Brok.

Brok said that there would be a relationship as we have with every
country but not a relationship with a European perspective. He
disagreed with the views that the EU let Armenia down and that this
is the reason why Armenia opted for the Customs Union instead: “I
think that is a propaganda argument for population. We were ready to
negotiate an agreement with them and go forward with that in Vilnius
and that was very clear. The reason behind this development is the
blackmailing pressure by Russia.”

EU PRESIDENT: “ARMENIA HAS BLOCKED ITS CHANCES OF SIGNING A FREE TRADE DEAL WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION”

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

[ 04 September 2013 11:28 ]

Baku. Anakhanum Hidayatova – APA. Armenia has blocked its chances of
signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join
the Russia-led customs union, EU president Lithuania said Tuesday,
APA reports quoting EU business.

The EU respects the decision announced by Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian in Moscow earlier Tuesday, but the two systems
are incompatible, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas
Linkevicius. “We respect any choice of countries but they cannot
enter both organizations at the same time because of different tariff
requirements,” he said.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, Linkevicius and seven other
ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian
pressure on post-Soviet states. “Any economic threat or political
pressure directed against Eastern partners because of their European
aspirations and engagement with the EU is unacceptable,” they said.

ARMENIA REJECTED EUROPEAN INTEGRATION FOR AZN 352.5 MILLIONS

Azerbaijan Business Center
Sept 4 2013

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Armenia verbally rejected European integration
for RUB 15 billion to be invested in Armenian railways by “Russian
railways”. In accordance with the official rate of Central Bank of
Azerbaijan for September 3 (AZN 0.0235 to RUB 1) the contract value
makes AZN 352.5 millions.

At this price yesterday Serzh Sargsyan, the President of Armenia,
(jointly with his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin) signed the document
on entering the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

“We hold detailed experience sharing discussion on the issues of
Eurasia integration and I confirmed Armenia’s intentions to enter
Customs Union and join the process of Eurasia Economical Union
creation. The decision to enter Customs Union pursues national
interests of Armenia and cannot imply rejection of dialog from European
Structures”, – said Sargsyan in Moscow. Nevertheless, the Government
members have already announced that the European integration is now
closed for Armenia and the country will not initial EU Association
Agreement at the European Partnership summit (EaP) to be held in
Vilnius in November. However, Armenians make no haste to enter the
Customs Union pointing out at the lack of common border with it and
“other problems”.

Such “problems” are well known: the Armenian occupation of 20 % of
Azerbaijan territory. Free-trade zone gained by Armenia as a result of
signing the EU Association Agreement wouldn’t include Nagorno-Karabakh
and 7 Azerbaijani regions occupied by Armenia. However, the Customs
Union contains the same condition, precisely formulated by Kazakhstan.

Today Armenia in fact cannot neither join EU Association, nor enter
the Customs Union, unless it stops the occupation of Azerbaijan
territories. And no one would pay even this not really substantial
for a successful state price of AZN 352.5 million for such choice.

SWEDISH FM: “ARMENIA VIOLATES THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION”

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

[ 04 September 2013 01:50 ]

Baku-APA. “Armenia is likely to refuse to negotiate on free trade
agreement with the EU and integrate with Russia”, Swedish Foreign
Minister Carl Bildt said, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

The intention of Yerevan to join the Customs Union became known after
the meeting of Presidents of Armenia and Russia Vladimir Putin and
Serzh Sargsyan on Tuesday.

“It seems that Armenia breaks negotiations on a free trade agreement
with the EU and instead of it integrated with Russia , rotate on 180
degrees,” – Bildt wrote in his microblog on Twitter.

In November 2013 in Vilnius will be held summit of EU leaders and the
leaders of member countries of the EU “Eastern Partnership”programm,
in which is expected initialed of association agreement “On a deep
and comprehensive free trade area” with several countries , including
Armenia.

The initiative of “Eastern Partnership” was launched by Poland and
Sweden, and approved at the EU summit in Brussels in 2008, formally
established in Prague in May, 2009. The purpose of the program is
the convergence of the EU to Ukraine, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Belarus without their admission to the EU.

From: Baghdasarian

CUSTOMS UNION VS. EU: ARMENIA’S WRONG CHOICE

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 4 / Trend /

Trend commentator Elmira Tariverdiyeva

Looking at Yerevan’s rushing between Russia’s initiative on the Customs
Union and an agreement on the association and free trade zone with
the EU, one can recall the parable about a donkey which could not
choose which one of two haystacks and died of starvation.

Although the donkey made a choice in this situation, this does not
testify to the fact that it will survive. The fact is that from the
legal point of view it is impossible to be a member of the Customs
Union and to have an agreement on association and free trade with
the EU. This means that Yerevan lost considerably again.

The fact that Armenia will try to placate Russia was obvious.

Relations between the two countries have recently weakened because
Yerevan began establishing trade relations with the EU. An agreement
on the association and free trade zone between the EU and Armenia
was to be initialled at Vilnius during the upcoming November summit
which of course will slightly improve the deplorable situation of
the country’s people.

Armenia, along with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, quite actively were
moving in the direction of initialling the Association Agreement in
Vilnius. Brussels has recently even recognised Armenia as a leader
of the programme in terms of reforms.

However, the Armenian authorities are completely indifferent about
the living conditions of the people, but the Russian leadership’s
attitude to them personally is important. Yerevan is even more upset
that relations between Baku and Moscow for many years remain friendly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Azerbaijan
confirmed this.

Judging by the Armenian president’s press service information, as soon
as the Kremlin confirmed Putin’s visit to Baku, Sargsyan started to
pack his bags to fly to Moscow.

But the Armenian leader voiced his consent to join the Customs Union
and at the same time sacrificed the relative prosperity of Armenian
people.

The fact is that Armenia having no border with Russia, will gain
little from joining the Customs Union. In fact, there is no economic
feasibility for Armenia as a result of joining the Union. But one can
understand the political implications of Yerevan’s actions. Yerevan’s
logic is very simple – old friends and old wine is best.

So, if one agrees with Moscow’s initiative, one can save friendship
with a long-time ally and partner. Alas, Armenia has no idea about
the balance policy, so the country’s rushing about is fully justified.

Well, a poor and a dependent country conflicting with its neighbours
cannot be independent. In this case, it is necessary to bend or yield
even in the issue of its own national interests.

As for Russia, Moscow needs poor little Armenia in the Customs Union
only for political, rather than economic participation.

In this case, the Armenian president’s team knew about the risks. The
internal situation will deteriorate after Sargsyan’s decision and
will turn against him.

The fact is that on the one hand Sargsyan’s team tried to succeed in
the process of European integration. Now, the authorities will have
difficulty to explain why Armenia joins the Customs Union instead of
signing an association agreement and why ordinary people again became
a bargaining chip in the bid for the big neighbour’s good attitude.

EU EXPECTS CLARIFICATION FROM ARMENIA ON ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

The European Union expects clarification from Yerevan on Armenia’s
decision to join the Customs Union, which was founded by Russia,
EU diplomatic chief Catherine Ashton said on Wednesday, News-Armenia
reported.

Armenian and Russian presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin made
a joint declaration as a result of bilateral negotiations in Moscow,
according to which Armenia made a decision to join the Customs Union
and subsequently to participate in formation of Eurasian Economic
Council.

“We expect clarifications from Armenia, and then we will be able to
assess which outcomes this will have,” Maya Kosyanchich, Spokesperson
for Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy told journalists in Brussels.

In November 2013, a summit of the European Union leadership and the
heads of member-states of the EU “Eastern Partnership” program will be
held in Vilnius, during which, it is expected to initial an association
agreement as well as one titled “On a Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Zone” by several countries, including Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

CATHERINE ASHTON: “WE EXPECT AN EXPLANATION FROM YEREVAN ON ITS DECISION TO JOIN THE CUSTOMS UNION”

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

[ 04 September 2013 19:13 ]

“After the explanation we will assess what results it can produce”

Baku. Anakhanum Hidayatova – APA. The European Union expects an
explanation from Yerevan on its decision to join the Customs Union,
said the statement issued by Catherine Ashton, High Representative
of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, APA reports.

“We expect an explanation from Armenia, then we will assess what
results it can produce,” said Catherine Ashton spokesperson Maja
Kocijancic.