Month: September 2013

AZERI FORCES OPEN FIRE AT ARMENIAN BORDER VILLAGES

12:16 05/09/2013 ” SOCIETY

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said yesterday
that Azeri forces opened fire at the Armenian border villages of
Movses and Aygepar, damaging a civil vehicle.

Azeri media reported today that allegedly a civilian was injured by
Armenian bullet.

Speaking to Panorama.am, Artsrun Hovhannisyan called the Azeri reports
misinformation.

According to him, Azerbaijan aims to distract the international
community’s attention from its aggressive acts and therefore spreads
such statements.

Hovhannisyan noted that after Azerbaijan opened fire at Armenian
villages, the Armenian servicemen keeping vigil opened fire in response
at Azeri military posts in order to silence the enemy.

He added that Armenian servicemen “never open fire at civilians and
settlements,” therefore he says for sure that Azerbaijan spreads
misinformation.

Source: Panorama.am

EU: “WE LOOK FORWARD TO UNDERSTANDING BETTER FROM ARMENIA WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE”

by Alexandr Avanesov

ARMINFO
Thursday, September 5, 11:50

“In July this year, after three and a half years, we finalised the
negotiations of the Association Agreement (including a Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia. This agreement would
allow Armenia with the EU?s support, to drive forward a programme
of comprehensive modernisation and reform based upon shared values,
political association and economic integration,” says the European
Commissionm in a statement disseminated on September 4.

Further in the statement: “We take note of Armenia’s apparent wish
to join the Customs Union. We look forward to understanding better
from Armenia what their intentions are and how they wish to ensure
compatibility between these and the commitments undertaken through
the Association Agreement and DCFTA. Once this consultation has been
completed, we will draw our conclusions on the way forward. We want
to underline once again that AA/DCFTA is a blueprint for reforms
beneficial for all and not a zero-sum game and could be compatible
with economic cooperation with the members of the Commonwealth of
Independent States.”

Armenia was expected to sign an Association Agreement with EU at the
upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. However, on September
3 in Moscow, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed Armenia’s
intention to join the Customs Union and the process of the formation
of the Eurasian Union. Vladimir Putin supported Sargsyan’s decision
and promised to contribute to Yerevan’s accession to the Customs
Union in every possible way.

The Customs Union has been created within the Eurasian economic space
for trade and economic integration of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia
on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“ARMENIA WENT TO MOSCOW TO ASK PUTIN TO LET US JOIN THE CUSTOMS UNION, THIS IS HUMILIATING.”

September 4 2013

“I consider the statement made during Sargsyan-Putin meeting retarded
and a big mistake”,-so expresses his opinion the former Chairman of NA
Foreign Relations Committee, member of newly established ANM initiative
Hovhannes Igityan, in the interview with Aravot.am, commenting on the
statement of joining the Customs Union made by the RA President in
Russia. As per Mr. Igityan “Serzh Sargsyan has repeatedly stated about
initialing to join Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade area between the
EU and Armenia in Vilnius. I still do not know the official view, I
have read the ITAR-TASS news, the form that is introduced by Russia,
I suppose, is in line with reality, Armenia went to Moscow to ask
Putin to allow us to join the Customs Union, afterwards Eurasia,
it is presented in very humiliating form. I do not know the response
of Europe, but I think it is an economic and political mistake.” To
our question of what the Customs Union will give Armenia and what
we were deprived of not joining the EU deep and comprehensive free
trade area, Mr. Igityan said that he would not have any progress,
because we did not have a problem of trade with Russia.

“We had a contract with Russia on free interactions and trade, and time
showed that it does not provide us with economic growth, while Russia
is number one investor country for Armenia, and Armenia’s only chance
of quick development was the development of economic relations with
the European Union, which failed.” To remind you that today during the
joint statement of the RA President Serzh Sargsyan and the President of
the RF Vladimir Putin, the President of Armenia said, -“We discussed
in detail issues related to the Eurasian integration and I confirmed
Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union and participate in the
processes of formation of the Eurasian economic union.”. Nelly Babayan

Read more at:

ALEXEY KOLOMIETS: ARMENIA-EU ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT MAY SHARE THE FATE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

ArmInfo’s Interview with Alexey Kolomiets, President of the Center for
European and Transatlantic Studies in Kyiv

by David Stepanyan

ARMINFO
Wednesday, September 4, 23:08

Armenia is still going to initial the Association Agreement and DCFTA
at the Vilnius Summit in November. This circumstance has caused serious
discrepancies between Yerevan and Moscow though at the recent meeting
with Russian President Vladimir Putin Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
has announced the country’s intention to join the Customs Union. What
should we expect from this meeting in the future?

I am confident that in this matter everything will depend on the
political will of the Armenian president and the stance of the Armenian
society or its key groups. I think only Putin has understood the
“significance” of the agreements with the EU for Kyiv, when he has
recently said that “Ukraine does not sing an agreement to join any
association”. It looks incredible, but behind the wild chatter on the
matter in Ukraine, only Putin voiced the most correct words about the
core of what Europe offers. There is no doubt that during the visit of
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to Moscow, Vladimir Putin imposed
strong pressure upon Sargsyan. However, Putin himself is in a very
hard geo-political situation. He needed success in the talks with
Armenia. But what can he offer Armenia? This is a cardinal question.

All the same, everything will be resolved in the territory of Armenia,
in Yerevan.

What are the prospects of initialing/signing of the Association
Agreement by Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia during the summit in
Vilnius? Do you think Russia will hinder the signing of the Agreement
between Ukraine and the EU in every possible way?

There is a little prospect for Ukraine to sign the Association
Agreement with the EU during the summit in Vilnius. Yanukovich’s
regime in Ukraine has started a primitive, blackmailing game since the
EU-Ukraine February summit. In the EU they do not understand this game,
and that is bad. The so-called opposition forces in the Parliament of
Ukraine seem to have joined this game which is shortfall and chiefly
based on their own political calculations. Against such a background,
perhaps, initialing of the agreements is more possible, but it is
not clear how the situation will develop. It is not clear either how
to combine processes with these association agreements with those
within the EU and its member-states. Just this synchronization is
the key task and requires a great amount of work. Of course, Russia
will interfere in this process in different formats and at different
levels. However, I do not think that what is happening in the trade
relations between Ukraine and Russia is “a trade war”. It seems to be
a well-planned general operation. The most interesting and important
thing may begin after possible signing of the agreements with Europe.

There is an opinion saying that there will be nothing following the
initialing of the Association Agreement due to the discrepancies
between these Agreements and the national security of Armenia,
particularly, the Karabakh peace process. Some experts think that
the Armenia-EU Association Agreement may share the fate of the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols. Do you think this scenario possible?

Such a scenario is quite realistic. I cannot say whether it will be
good or bad for Armenia. The Armenia-EU Association Agreement may
share the fate of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols especially given
that the EU is almost becoming a full strategic impotent against the
background of the Syrian problem. The national interests of Armenia
should be inviolable.

Having criticized the Kremlin’s stance, Ukrainian President Viktor
Yanukovich pointed out the need to hold a referendum in order to
choose between Eurasian and European integration processes. What was
the President of Ukraine guided by and is the referendum a way out
of the situation?

I think Yanukovich’s statement is absolutely destabilizing and
primitive. Actually, Yanukovich has always been guided by personal
gain and deception. Even if we suppose that Ukraine will become a
member of the European Union some day, it will happen in twenty years
or so. Ukraine may hold a referendum on the Customs Union but it will
fall into chaos and desperation shortly after the referendum.

Some experts think that due to integration into the Customs Union,
Ukraine will lose a part of its sovereignty. What risks does the
European integration contain for Kyiv?

This is an important issue for the country. Ukraine does not speak
about it but it will have to sooner or later. At the moment, the
country does not consider transferring its sovereignty to the Customs
Union. Actually, Ukraine’s chances to join that structure are almost
equal to zero. As regards the EU, things are much more dramatic
and much more serious here. To all appearances, Ukraine will have
to divide its sovereignty. Moreover, no one knows what the European
Union will be like in 2015. The first parameters of the new European
Union will most likely be visible following its summit in December.

Kyiv and Moscow are already conducting “trade wars” in relation to the
forthcoming signing of the Association Agreement with Europe. What
is the biggest threat for Ukraine? Are the benefits from European
integration able to compensate for it?

I am inclined to think that there have been no “trade wars”. But if
they really start, everything will develop very seriously. The biggest
threat is the huge banking sector of Russia in Ukraine. However,
the current regime that has almost led Ukraine to default is even a
bigger threat.

HRACH JABRAYAN. ABOUT THE INTERVIEW GIVEN BY FALLETTA SPOUSE

September 5 2013

“Hrach Jabrayan, Director General of “Dundee Precious Metals Kapan”
CJSC (formerly “Dino Gold Mining Company”) considered the statements
in the interview of General Director of “Dino Gold Mining Company”
Robert Falletta arriving in Armenia two and a half years ago and his
wife Farid Falletta ridiculous. As informed by Hrach Jabrayan, the
latter did not mention in their interview that they have applied to
the Court, including the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation,
but were not successful. “I have never met a person who has said a
good thing about Farida Falletta. I have not communicated with this
woman, I have once interrogated on January 25, 2011, and an hour after
the interrogation, I concluded that this woman is a devil. In the
interview, they forgot to mention that Hrach has found 56 thousand
dollars cash money in Farida’s company. When interrogated, she said
that she had sold her sister’s house in Russia, it is money from the
sale, and when I asked why the money is in the company, naturally,
she could not answer. I can continue revealing where the money is
collected from, from whom and how she has collected…. They have
forgotten that they have fired many innocent citizens from work, I
have rehired 6 out of all fired, one of them has a very high position
in this company,” – said Mr. Jabrayan, who said that the employee was
dismissed because he had noticed the violation of Farida Falletta in
the company. As for the statement made by Falletta spouse that upon
leaving the company they did not allow themselves to take anything
with them, Mr. Jabrayan clarifies that in Canada and America it is
quite normal that when the employee is fired the company takes all the
goods belonging to the company, documents, computer, and so on. “It
was ridiculous for me. Probably, they get some bad instructions from an
attorney or a lawyer. When you say when do you want to leave? We will
take you to Yerevan, you buy a ticket for her. But two years later,
she is presenting it that they have scared her, that they made her
leave the city, they have brought her to Yerevan, forced to leave the
country, we have taken them to the hotel, have bought ticket for them,
they could not go to the airport after all, they could stay in Armenia
for 3 months, who forced them to leave. I do not have nothing bad to
say about Mr. Falletta, he was a professional manager, I interrogated
him, as a director he had made mistakes, of course, but I’m sure that
I’m also doing wrong things, or Mr. Garkov also does wrong things as
a General Director.”- said Mr. Jabrayan. Mari SOGHOMONYAN

Read more at:

From: Baghdasarian

SHIRINYAN: ENTRY INTO CUSTOMS UNION STRENGTHENS SECURITY OF ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH

13:23 05/09/2013 ” POLITICS

Armenia chose to join the Customs Union. It is difficult to say whether
or not by taking that step Armenia became less sovereign. With good
governance we will enter into the political process like Kazakhstan
and Belarus, political scientist Levon Shirinyan told a news conference
in Yerevan.

Entry into the Customs Union further strengthens the security of
Armenia and Artsakh, the analyst said, and “Javakhk Armenians can
benefit from the new situation if they are clever enough.”

“Europe should treat our choice with understanding,” Shirinyan said,
adding that Armenia needs to develop the European direction.

Source: Panorama.am

ARTSAKH LEADER DISCUSSES CONSTRUCTION OF VARDENIS-MARTAKERT HIGHWAY

10:33 05/09/2013 ” SOCIETY

Un September 4, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan convened a
consultation on the construction works of Vardenis-Martakert highway.

President Sahakyan rated as important the highway’s role in the
republic’s life, emphasizing that this road of strategic importance
should fully correspond to the international standards. The President
gave instructions to the concerned structures for the proper
implementation of the activities.

Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan, executive director of the Hayastan
All-Armenian fund Ara Vardanyan and other officials attended the
consultation, the presidential press service reported.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN: CRACKDOWN ON CIVIL SOCIETY

11:44 05.09.13

The Azerbaijani government is engaged in a deliberate, abusive strategy
to limit dissent. The strategy is designed to curtail opposition
political activity, limit public criticism of the government, and
exercise greater control over nongovernmental organizations, The
Human Rights Watchreports.

The clampdown on freedom of expression, assembly, and association
have accelerated in the months preceding the presidential elections,
scheduled for October 9, 2013.

The 100-page report, “Tightening the Screws: Azerbaijan’s Crackdown
on Civil Society and Dissent,” documents the dramatic deterioration
of the government’s record on freedom of expression, assembly, and
association in the past 18 months. The authorities have arrested
dozens of political activists on bogus charges, imprisoned critical
journalists, broken up peaceful public demonstrations, and adopted
legislation imposing new restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Human
Rights Watch documented the arrest and imprisonment of several
high-ranking members of opposition political parties, government
critics with large followings on social media, and people who have
frequently been involved in political protests.

“A vibrant public debate through the media and freedom to participate
in peaceful public demonstrations are part and parcel of free and
fair elections,” said Giorgi Gogia, senior South Caucasus researcher
at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. “It will hardly be
a free and fair vote if so many people who criticize the authorities
and report the news in the country are in jail or otherwise harassed
into silence.”

The government should ensure that all those in detention on
unsubstantiated, politically motivated charges including political
activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and other civil society
activists, are released. The government should stop pursuing spurious
charges against its critics, Human Rights Watch said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

NAGORNO-KARABAKH PRESIDENT DISCUSSES HEPATOGOLY DEVELOPMENT IN ARTSAKH WITH AMERICAN PROFESSOR

STEPANAKERT, September 5. /ARKA/. President of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan received Wednesday well-known American
hepatologist Professor Robert Gish, the chief press office of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reported.

The meeting was attended also by Karabakh minister of healthcare Zoya
Lazaryan and director of the national infectious diseases hospital of
Armenia Ara Asoyan. Issues on development of hepatology in Artsakh,
preventive measures, diagnosing and treatment of liver diseases were
discussed at the meeting.

Sahakyan stressed the importance of hepatology for Artsakh and
of cooperation with leading countries in the field. The issue of
Karabakh doctors’ training abroad was discussed.-0– – See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

ARF CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN YEREVAN

By Weekly Staff // September 4, 2013

YEREVAN-On Aug. 24-26, the ARF Bureau held a conference in Yerevan
to discuss four key topics: organizational problems, the situation in
the Caucuses and its implications on Armenia, the country’s domestic
realities, and the relationship between the diaspora and Armenia. ARF
delegates and representatives from various Armenian communities in
the diaspora, as well as from various regions of Armenia, attended
the talks.

The conference reflected on the challenges and problems confronting
Armenians and Armenia, and discussed ways in which the ARF could
best use its manpower and resources. It underscored that collective
work was essential to overcoming the organizational problems of the
ARF. In order to keep pace with the time and current events, it is
crucial to develop a clear strategy, while making the best use of
technological development, members said.

The conference examined the social, economic, and psychological
situation of Armenia, and discussed the negative and worrisome features
that threaten the integrity of the present-day republic, especially
the rate of emigration from the country, which is increasing on a
daily basis and threatens the country’s national security. It was
agreed that in order to stop this phenomenon, the state is obliged
to adopt socio-economic measures that will benefit the people.

In regards to the situation in the Caucuses, conference attendees
asserted the following points: 1) The region is witnessing various
transformations, which will lead to global changes. Armenia is affected
by these changes, and hence is being confronted by new challenges
and problems.

2) Armenia’s foreign policy is presently facing temptations. The
country stands between Russia’s and the West’s power-balancing
intrigues.

3) To overcome the current challenges, it is essential for the Armenian
state to strengthen itself internally, and to unify its manpower and
adopt an active foreign policy.

4) The conference made it clear that the ARF does not accept any
skirmishes on the Karabagh-Azerbaijan border that would threaten the
national security of the people and the state. From this perspective,
it is necessary to adopt a new policy as far as the international
recognition of Karabagh is concerned.

5) The centennial of the genocide should serve to strengthen the
efforts towards the Armenian Cause (Hai Tahd), to formulate the current
targets as far as our national demands are concerned, and to widen
the content and geography of our efforts towards the Armenian Cause.

6) The Armenian state must seek multilateral economic and political
ties to secure guarantees of an independent policy.

The conference also discussed the political developments in the
Middle East, and especially the challenges facing the Syrian-Armenian
community. Attendees affirmed that Syrian Armenians remain a priority
for the ARF in the political, national, and state context. Their harsh
economic and material situation compels us to regard the issue as a
problem that requires continuous, daily effort. Furthermore, in order
to solve the problems of the various endangered Armenian communities
worldwide, it is essential to establish mutual relationships and work
with international organizations and the governments of the countries
in question. Cooperation between Armenia and the diaspora requires
continuous effort, which can be achieved by focusing on positive
initiatives and clear targets.

The conference confirmed that for the service of the Armenian
Nation and Armenia, it is a priority for the ARF to strengthen its
organization and presence in Armenia and the diaspora.