Month: September 2013

SARKISYAN UNLIKELY TO BE REPLACED – 2

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 25 2013

25 September 2013 – 10:59am

Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

See Part 1

Despite rumours about the appointment of Karen Karapetyan
to the position of prime minister, many experts in Armenia
doubt the possibility. However, there is a moment which makes
the invulnerable Tigran Sarkisyan worry. In late August and early
September representatives of the ruling RPA party began to discuss
possible changes to the constitution. A commission has been formed,
which in 10 months should present proposals on amendments to the
constitution to the President. The speaker of the parliament, Ovik
Abramyan, and other officials were talking about the possibility of
launching a position of vice-premier.

Serge Sargsyan’s electoral program of 2008 and 2013 didn’t speak
about amendments to the constitution. During the year only once did
the question of the need to change the constitution was raised by a
member of the Constitutional Court, Felix Tokhyan, who is thought
to be a top-level professional in the sphere of constitutional
law. Tokhyan pointed to the need for serious changes in the court
system and the system of self-administration. However, Tokhyan wasn’t
included on the commission on constitutional amendments. So further
changes will unlikely touch on the court system or the system of
self-administration. Perhaps it will concern a new distribution
of power.

According to the chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission on
state and legal affairs, the head of the executive body of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia, David Arutyunyan, the RPA is discussing
that not all the decisions made in the constitution adopted in 2005
are thought to be satisfactory, and it is time to launch new changes
to the constitution. Arutyunyan thinks that the discussion will last
several months. At the same time, he doesn’t exclude the ruling party
considering shifting from a presidential to a parliamentary system
of governance.

Arutyunyan also assumes that in case of a shift to a parliamentary
republic, the current president of Armenia Serge Sargsyan will head
the proportional list of the RPA, and if the RPA wins, Sargsyan will
be elected Premier and will head Armenia in this status.

Why should this concern Tigran Sarkisyan? Formally, the position
of vice-premier exists even today. It is taken by Armen Gevorkyan,
who is involved in territorial management. But the point is not in
the position, but who can take it. Today it is difficult to predict
possible candidates, but there is a moment which should be analyzed. I
mean the trial over the former prime minster Grant Bagratyan. A
certain Mane Akopyan, who took part in development of the economic
program “100 Steps” by the opposition coalition the Armenian National
Congress 4 years ago (the whole development was conducted under active
participation and management of Bagratyan), accuses the former premier
of intellectual property rights violation. Akopyan demands Bagratyan
pay more than a million drams for publishing a small article from
the program on his page in Facebook.

Bagratyan called the suit absurd and accused Akopyan of being engaged
to spy on the opposition, initiated by Tigran Sarkisyan. According to
the former premier, there is a clear political order in the lawsuit,
and the authors of it are Sarkisyan and his team.

The government hasn’t disapproved the statement by Bagratyan yet. It
is difficult to understand all the details of the case, but it
shouldn’t be excluded that Tigran Sarkisyan wanted to eliminate his
possible rival, as there is a small possibility that Bagratyan could
be appointed vice-premier or even prime minister. At the same time,
in general Tigran Sarkisyan is unlikely to be replaced in the position
of prime minister.

ARMENIA’S DECISION TO JOIN THE CU WILL IMPROVE RUSSIA’S POSITION IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 25 2013

25 September 2013 – 10:12am

By Vestnik Kavkaza

Three weeks ago Armenia expressed its desire to join the Customs
Union. However, an official agreement of member-states is needed –
not only Russia, which stands for extension of the alliance, but
also Belarus and Kazakhstan. Astana and Minsk took the appearance of
a new member of the CU kindly, but some Belarusian experts doubted
the sincerity of the statements.

Nevertheless, Moscow says that Serge Sargsyan’s statement on readiness
to join the CU and take part in the EU will be beneficial for everyone.

According to the former Russian ambassador to Armenia, Vyacheslav
Kovalenko, “from the beginning of the year when the work on the
association agreement between the EU and Armenia and the free trade
area agreement stepped into a final stage, Western experts promised
that the point is in unification of standards of Armenian products
and its laws. And only in late August did European commissionaires and
diplomats in Yerevan and abroad make it clear that economic integration
and political association should go hand by hand, and that they were
an indispensible part of the association agreement. Stefan Fule stated
that the EU cannot divide these two important agreements.

Thus, it is clear that it is not only about a system of values,
a civilized development course, a struggle against corruption, and
elimination of monopolies, but also a geopolitical choice which is
imposed on Armenia.”

Local elites, the government, some members of the president’s team
wanted to follow the European development course, which would make
Armenia a part of the European family in the future. According to
Kovalenko, “it didn’t answer the question: if geopolitical orientation
is changing, it is necessary to solve the problem of security; but no
alternative to Russian security support was found. The temptations and
doubts of the ruling elite were great. A principal talk with Yerevan
at the top level was needed; and it took place on September 3rd. The
result of the global competition between integration entities was
Armenia’s decision to join the CU.”

Kovalenko thinks that “Armenia’s decision to join the CU will
improve Russia’s position in the South Caucasus and in case of deeper
integration can influence the whole South Caucasus. From the point of
view of a geopolitical and geoeconomic worldview, Armenia’s accession
can have an integrating effect in the post-Soviet state, which is much
greater than the size and economic potential of the country. Armenia’s
accession to the CU within the Eurasian Economic Union will maintain
the internal balance between the Asian-Muslim factor, which will be
improved after Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan join the Eurasian Union and
the European Christian factor.”

At the same time, Kovalenko believes that “along with rather successful
steps on holding Armenia within partnership with Russia, it is
important to extend the dialogue of nomenclatures. It is important
to work on promotion of the Eurasian project, explain to Armenian
citizens what they can gain from participation in Eurasian integration
projects. The ideological paradigm of relations should be corrected.

Along with improvement of friendship and brotherhood of people,
our glorious historic past, it is necessary to explain to Armenian
society why they need to integrate and what could happen if Armenia
separates from Russia.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CUSTOMS UNION POPULAR IN MOST POST-SOVIET STATES, FINDS STUDY

Business New Europe
Sept 25 2013

September 25, 2013

A substantial majority of the population in most of the potential
Customs Union member states is in favour of joining the Russian-led
bloc, according to a study by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

The EDB Integration Barometer finds that the highest level of support
is in Central Asia. A full 77% of Uzbek respondents say they are in
favour of entry to the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space,
the trade block Moscow is currently pushing so hard to fill with former
Soviet states – especially those to the west that are flirting with
the EU.

In Tajikistan, 75% of respondents would be happy to join. In
Kyrgyzstan, where the government has said it plans to sign up by 2015
but has recently provoked suggestions that it is dragging its feet,
72% of respondents would like to see the deal sealed. The figures
are even higher than in the existing member states, Belarus, Russia
and Kazakhstan, where public support is at 65%, 67%, and 73%.

Surprisingly, given the troubled relationship with Russia, a majority
of Georgians – 59% – are in favour of hooking up with the Russian-led
bloc. The figure is twice as high that seen in the EDB’s 2012 report.

Armenia is the only state to have succumbed to the Kremlin’s pressure
thus far. Following a rise in Russian gas prices and a large arms
deal handed by Moscow to his country’s bitter rival Azerbaijan,
President Serzh Sargsyan announced in early September that Armenia
will join the Customs Union.

Despite demonstrations in Yerevan against the decision – due to the
fact that it will likely rule out closer association with the EU –
67% support the move, according to the report. By way of contrast,
just 37% of Azeri’s would like to see their country join the Customs
Union – the lowest level of support in any country of the Commonwealth
of Independent States. Over half – 53% – see the club negatively.

Negative opinions have also increased in Moldova and Ukraine, reaching
24% and 28% respectively. However, 50% of Ukrainian respondents and
54% of those in Moldova said they supported Customs Union entry.

Many countries in the post-Soviet space still consider countries
outside the region to be the most attractive sources of foreign
capital. For example, 60% of Tajikistani respondents said China was
the most attractive source of capital, Georgia looked to the US,
Uzbekistan to Japan and Azerbaijan to Turkey.

Meanwhile, a majority of Moldavians and Ukrainians see the EU was
the most attractive source of capital. Both countries say they are
determined to sign trade and association pacts with Brussels in
November, which has seen Moscow raise trade barriers in recent weeks.

Politically, respondents from Central Asia, Armenia and Belarus
were oriented towards the post-Soviet space, while those from Russia,
Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine favoured the EU, and Azerbaijan identified
more closely with Turkey.

ARMENIA TO DIRECTLY PURCHASE WEAPONS, AMMUNITION AND MILITARY EQUIPMENTS FROM RUSSIAN ENTERPRISES AT LOW PRICES

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 25 2013

[ 25 September 2013 14:51 ]
The two countries have signed a unique contract in this regard

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. Armenia will directly purchase weapons,
ammunition and military equipments from Russian enterprises.

APA reports that Armenia’s “Qraparak” newspaper made this report
quoting its sources in the Parliament.

The Armenian Parliament will confirm the contract on direct purchases
from the Russian military factories signed between Armenia and Russia
in the near future. Thus, Armenia will be the only country having
such a contract with Russia.

Currently, Russia is carrying out the sales of weapons and military
equipments to Armenia and its close ally Belarus via Rosoboronexport
State Corporation that is responsible for foreign sales. The Russian
Armed Forces and security agencies sign procurement contracts with
manufacturing enterprises directly without a mediator.

The contract let the Ministry of Defense of Armenia purchase weapons
from Russia at low prices as one of the country’s own military
structures.

UN REFUSES TO INTERFERE INTO ISSUE OF ARMENIAN REFUGEES’ PLACING IN OCCUPIED AREA OF AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan Business Center
Sept 25 2013

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. UN High Commissioner for Refugees declined from
interference into the matter of placement of refugees of Armenian
nationality by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Today in Baku representative of the Office of the High Commissioner
for Refugees Doug Sigurdson has claimed that the Office of the High
Commissioner is informed about this process.

“We’ve received information on the placement of Armenian refugees
in the territory of Nagorno Karabakh and a report on this process
has been sent to the UN headquarters in Geneva and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. However, I personally think that
this question should be resolved without UN’s interference, as the
organization has no relation to it,” Sigurdson said.

Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory.

AMBASSADOR: IF BLACK-LISTED PERSONS COME TO AZERBAIJAN, THEY WILL HAVE BALANCED OPINION

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 25 2013

Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 25 /Trend, M. Aliyev/

It would be better if people on the ‘black list’ of the Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry came to Azerbaijan, saw the people, realized the
realities of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and understood that this
is a very significant and sensitive issue for the population, French
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Monnier told journalists on Wednesday.

In this case, those persons will have not a one-sided, but a balanced
opinion, the Ambassador added.

“I know that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a very sensitive issue
for Azerbaijan,” Monnier said commenting on the presence of names of
French citizens on the list which was released by Baku in connection
with illegal visits to Nagorno-Karabakh.

He noted that France supports Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity.

“Some politicians are invited to this country (Armenia) and then that
country takes them to Nagorno-Karabakh. I personally believe that
the ‘black list’ has always been a signal of displeasure. Because,
these persons have unintentionally violated Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. But I think that exchanges have always been the best way
of solving problems.

It should be noted that the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s unwelcome
persons list includes the names of 331 persons.

DURBIN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO ASSIST IN ARMENIA REFORESTATION

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

Deforastation in Armenia’s Teghut region

WASHINGTON-Senate Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-IL)
introduced legislation on Wednesday aimed at stopping the rapid
deforestation of Armenia and Haiti, and restoring their native forests
to their pre-1990 levels within 20 years, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America.

“We are pleased to support Senator Durbin’s introduction today of the
Haiti Armenia Reforestation Act, and welcome his leadership in seeking
the timely adoption of this legislation aimed at promoting sustainable
growth and authorizing ‘debt-for-nature’ swaps for Armenia and Haiti,”
stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“We value and respect Senator Durbin’s record of support, dating back
to his service in the U.S. House, for the full range of issues of
concern to all friends of Armenia, notably his past leadership, during
the 110th Congress, as author of the Armenian Genocide Resolution.”

The Haiti and Armenia Reforestation Act would assist the two countries
in developing proposals that:

Encompass widely-accepted environmentally sustainable forestry and
agricultural practices; Improve forest governance in ways that engage
and protect local communities and groups; Enhance coordination among
relevant Haitian and Armenian ministries and private organizations; and
Develop short- and long-term performance metrics to measure results,
to include technology to monitor the results of conservation efforts.

The bill also authorizes debt-for-nature swaps for both nations. Under
this mechanism, a nongovernmental conservation group would work with
the Haitian and Armenian governments and international creditors
to trade debt for commitments and plans to reforest and protect key
tracts of land.

The ANCA’s support for this reforestation measure is part of a
longstanding dialogue with Senator Durbin on strengthening the
U.S.-Armenia relationship and helping to meet the many challenges
facing Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Among the Armenian
American community’s most urgent priorities in this regard are the
pressing need for strong American deterrence against Azerbaijan’s
escalating threats of war, and unequivocal U.S. efforts to end
Turkey’s shameful denial of the Armenian Genocide and illegal blockade
of Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National committee of America – Western Region
211 W. Chestnut St. | Suite
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-507-1933
Email: [email protected].

ANCA Glendale Hosts Path to College

Glendale, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America Glendale
Chapter in collaboration with the Glendale Unified School District and
the Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools will host a Path
to College educational forum for parents of middle school and high
school students. The series of forums begins with a seminar discussing
High School Graduation Requirements in Armenian on September 26, 2013
from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Krikor and Mariam Karamanoukian Glendale
Youth Center (211 W. Chestnut St. Glendale, CA 91204).

“The ANCA-Glendale Chapter has organized the Path to College Forum so
that Armenian-American parents and students can have the support they
need to succeed in school and beyond. In the past, we have had
hundreds of parents and students who have benefitted from the
workshops and seminars. We hope to break down the language barriers
that may impede support students need” commented ANCA- Glendale
Chapter Executive Director, Talar Malakian.

Read More
[]

Find the facebook event page
here. []

For more information contact the ANCA-Glendale Chapter offices at
(818) 243-3444 or email [email protected].

PRESS RELEASE
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network
28, Chovelidze street
Tbilisi, 380008, GEORGIA
Tel: ++ 995 32 99 63 28, 995 99 57 77 22
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Web:

25-09-2013

INOGATE holds sustainable energy policy workshop for Eastern Partners

Sharing knowledge and useful experience in the field of sustainable
energy policy is one of the key aims of an INOGATE workshop which is
taking place this week (22 – 28 September) in Riga, Latvia, and
Vilnius, Lithuania. This capacity building event has brought together
medium and senior level managers of relevant ministries, energy
regulators and energy efficiency agencies from Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

To read more visit:
&id=34559&lang_id=450

Kind regards,

EU Neighbourhood Info Centre

.

TENSIONS DANS LES RELATIONS ENTRE L’ARMENIE ET L’EUROPE

Armenie-Europe

Selon de hauts responsables du Parlement europeen, l’Armenie a cause
de graves dommages dans ses relations avec l’Union europeenne après
sa decision inattendue de rejoindre l’Union douanière.

” L’Europe n’a pas perdu Armenie, mais l’Armenie a perdu toute
perspective europeenne “, a declare le president de la commission
des Affaires etrangères du parlement, Elmar Brok.

Il pense que cette volte-face est le resultat d’une pression ”
incroyable ” de la Russie. Il a accuse Moscou d’exploiter ses liens
etroits en matière de securite avec Erevan pour forcer l’Armenie a
adherer a l’Union douanière, et ainsi contrecarrer la signature d’un
accord d’association entre l’Union europeenne et l’Armenie.

Le comite de Jacek Saryusz- Wolski a declare : ” C’est une decision
souveraine et nous la respectons, mais nous regrettons que tant de
temps et d’efforts aient ete depense en vain des deux côtes.”

Brok a predit qu’aucun accord ne serait signe avec l’Armenie lors du
sommet europeen de Vilnius prevu pour novembre. ” Nous allons continuer
nos echanges, mais nous ne signerons pas d’accord d’association avec
un etat membre de l’Union douanière “, a-t-il certifie.

Saryusz- Wolski , pour sa part, a declare que l’Armenie a perdu une
chance d’avoir une ” relation privilegiee ” avec l’UE : ” Nous allons
maintenir nos bonnes relations, mais elles seront comme celles que
nous avons de nombreux autres pays “.

jeudi 26 septembre 2013, Claire ©armenews.com

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress