Month: February 2015

THE HILL: ACCORDING TO ILHAM ALIYEV’S TWEETS HE LIVES IN ‘UTOPIA’

19:29 05/02/2015 >> POLITICS

If one lived within the confines of the Azerbaijani president’s
official Twitter account, one might think Azerbaijan is situated within
Utopia, writes Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, the writer of the book
“Nowhere: The Story of Exile” in the site of “The Hill”.

As noted in the article, independent coverage of the rigged elections,
violations of the rights of journalists, civil society and activists
are in contradiction with statements of Aliyev in microblog “Twitter”.

“What Aliyev forgets to include in his Twitter monologues are
the recently raised concerns by U.S. Secretary of State Kerry of
Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses. Once these concerns were raised,
Azerbaijani authorities raided and closed Radio Free Europe – Radio
Liberty’s Baku bureau, interrogated its employees while denying them
access to legal representation. According to RFE/RL, the bureau, funded
by the U.S. government, was taken over by Azerbaijani prosecutor’s
office, which confiscated documents and equipment before sealing
off the premises. The criticism that triggered such a response
focused on treatment of journalists, specifically the imprisonment
of investigative journalists and rights activists Leyla Yunus, her
husband Arif, and Khadija Ismayilova,” the author writes.

The author reminds that in his op-ed in the Wall Street Journal,
David J. Kramer of Human Rights and Democracy at the McCain Institute,
called the raid “a direct challenge to the U.S.,” and called for U.S.

to “impose consequences on” Aliyev’s “thuggish” regime. Kramer
correctly pointed out that some responded to the dictator’s capricious
actions, as did the Council of Europe’s human-rights chief, Nils
Muiznieks, and several U.N. envoys. The war of words erupted when
the U.S. Ambassador to OSCE, Daniel Baer, tweeted that the raid was a
“behavior of weak, insecure corrupt governments and leaders.” Words
are not enough. “Why does the Aliyev regime think it can get away with
its abuses?” Kramer asks, before answering, “Because so far it has.”

“With the unfolding of the tragic events in Paris, the Azerbaijani
crackdown is alarming to the observers. But this reality always
simmered under the glittery disguise of Baku’s downtown, with promises
of a progressive nation, eager to receive its investors.

Azerbaijan’s abuses have been swept under the rug not only with its
internal crackdowns on freedom, but also with its blatant disregard to
international law over the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) conflict,”
Astvatsaturian Turcotte stresses, specifically, the 2014 downing
of the NKR military helicopter did not trigger any strong OSCE,
or world, reactions.

In response to Aliyev’s tweets that Armenia does not want peace,
while the Minsk Group can’t achieve any result in this matter, the
author notes that this speech doesn’t correspond to reality.

“As far as NKR and Armenia are concerned, peace is the only thing that
is advantageous for the continued development of the two Armenian
nations. Since 1994 NKR enjoyed rebuilding of its nation, free of
Azerbaijani aggression. Why, then, would NKR disturb the peace it has
won, and the roads and buildings it has built in the last 21 years,
by agitating a war-mongering neighbor next door that threatens war
daily?” the author wonders.

“And every time Aliyev gets bored, expect a tweet from him describing
his fictitious Utopia,” Astvatsaturian Turcotte says and adds,
yet on the 25th anniversary of Baku pogroms when innocent Armenian
population of Azerbaijan was killed, violated and exiled from their
homes, one of his 43 tweets that day declares: “Armenia is a powerless
and poor country.

The author calls on the US administration to enforce consequences on
Azerbaijan’s disregard for human rights and international agreements
by which it must abide.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN RESPONSE TO REPORTS ON VALERI PERMYAKOV’S ‘MENTAL DEFICIENCY’

21:10 * 05.02.15

Vice-Chairman of the Heritage party Armen Martirosyan is concerned over
the fact that Valeri Permyakov, the Russian soldier who is charged with
murdering a 7-member family in Armenia’s Gyumri, has been dubbed an
“oligophrenic patient.”

“What do they say? It is a good thing they did not draft him suffering
from manic depression,” Mr Martirosyan said ironically, as he commented
on reports by some Russian media outlets.

According to the reports, Valeri Permyakov should not have been
drafted as he was an “oligophrenic patient.”

“I do not like the situation surrounding the crime. It is not at all
what the public is expecting to take place. I have strong doubts
that he was alone and I fear that he is being made a scapegoat,
especially with such a diagnosis. A person cannot be drafted with
such a diagnosis, especially to serve at a military base abroad,”
Mr Matrirosyan told Tert.am.

Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan told
Tert.am that Russian law-enforcement agencies advanced a lead that
it was Valeri Permyakov who murdered the Avetisyan family. However,
nothing has yet been proved in court nor any expert examinations have
been conducted.

“I do not much think of whether he will be convicted as a perpetrator,
but all this arouses doubts,” Mr Ishkhanyan said.

According to him, the Russian side had no right to provide such a
definition before a trial.

“All this is to make society believe it was he, without any alternative
lead considered.”

All the other things are of secondary importance.

“For example, if he is really mentally ill, those responsible for
drafting him must be punished. However, it is not of essential
importance for the investigation.”

Armenian MP, lawyer Edmon Marukyan told Tert.am that if Valeri
Permyakov was drafted he must be considered sane regardless of whether
he is an “oligophrenic” or “schizophrenic.”

Head of the Shirak diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop
Mikael Ajapahyan told Tert.am that the media reports are not official
ones.

“It is not an opinion by a commission or by a forensic expert. So it
is too early to draw conclusions.”

He does not see any suggestion in the diagnosis ‘oligophrenic patient.’

“Do you think a mentally healthy person can commit such a crime?”

In an earlier interview with Tert.am, Sona Truzyan, Spokesperson
for the Chairman of the Investigation Committee of Armenia, said
that the Investigation Committee has no data on Valeri Permyakov’s
mental deficiency. The investigation has not yet received answers to
inquires about his health.

In his turn, Spokesman for Armenia’s Ministry of Defense Artsrun
Hovhannisyan said that he is not well-informed of Russia’s laws, but “a
person who leaves a mental hospital in Armenia will never be drafted.”

On the other hand, Head Psychiatrist of Armenia Armen Soghoyan told
Tert.am that oligophrenic persons with mild mental retardation are
normally drafted unless they have other disorders.

“Many oligophrenic people can reach a high social status if they gain
certain knowledge,” he said.

Asked if such a person can be ruled criminally sane, Mr Soghoyan said:

“Insanity is a separate category and decisions are normally made for
each individual case by a group of experts. This is a rather serious
legal concept involving responsibility.”

TAXI DRIVERS PROTEST NEW LAW WITH INCREASED COSTS: TRANSPORT MINISTER ADAMANT TO NOT AMEND THE LAW

02.05.2015 17:26 epress.am

Today, a group of individual taxi drivers (not employed by companies)
gathered in front of the government building protesting a new law
that came into effect on February 1, which states that individual
taxi drivers have to receive a special license and pay 12,000 AMD
($25) a month to the state budget.

The taxi drivers claim that the special license will cost close to
50,000 AMD ($105) to obtain, because they have to present proof of
installation for their gas system (gas balloon), taxi identification,
advertisement (which needs to include the driver’s number and tariff),
and the vehicle must have a taximeter.

The Minister of Transportation and Communications Gagik Beglaryan
approached the protesters and said that he can not delay the law
anymore, because it had to come into effect two years ago, but it
had been delayed already.

The drivers, however, say that many things have changed during the
past two years and that 12,000 AMD is impossible to pay. During
the past two years, delineated parking spots (red lines) have been
added (which cost money), mandatory insurance, cameras photographing
violations fixed across the city, increased prices of spare car parts,
increased gas prices, and that there are simply less people to take
taxis. According to the new law, drivers without a special license will
be fined 50,000 AMD, driving without a meter or taxi identification,
they will be fined 25,000 ($52) or 10,000 ($21) accordingly.

According to the taxi drivers, they asked the Minister to drop the
12,000 AMD monthly payment to 5,000 AMD, however Gagik Beglaryan
said that the law would function the way it is written. The Minister
promised that first time offenders of the law would not be fined,
but warned.

THE AMBASSADOR IN TURKEY (ABRAM I. ELKUS) TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Posted by Garo Kotchounian
Date: February 02, 2015

PAPERS RELATING TO THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE
LANSING PAPERS, 1914-1920 VOLUME I, , DOCUMENT 706

867.00/804 1/2

Constantinople, March 2, 1917.

[Received April 7.]

Dear Mr. Secretary:

. . . . . . .

Notwithstanding the rupture with Germany, our relations with the
Turkish Ministers independent of the business of the Embassy at
the Sublime Porte, more especially that dealing with belligerent
interests, continue to be cordial. It is reported to me from all
sides that the Turks will not break off relations with the United
States even if there should be war between Germany and America. As
I have already telegraphed the Department, Talaat Pasha stated to me
that he saw no reason why the friendly relations between Turkey and
America should not continue, even if there was a rupture between
America and Germany. Some days after that he told me that he had
reported our conversation to the Sultan, and that His Imperial
Majesty had thoroughly approved Talaat Pasha s statements and said
he deeply desired the continuation of the friendly relations between
the two countries. But Djavid Bey, the new Minister of Finance, was
much more outspoken than the Grand Vizier. In the course of a quiet
after-dinner confidential conversation at the Embassy, he told me the
other day that even if there was a war between Germany and America,
Turkey would not break off relations with America. Djavid said that
it was only after the war had ceased that people would realize what
a calamity it had been. This country would be short of men, would
be under the burden of a tremendous debt, the revenues decreased and
would have to look outside of Turkey for financial assistance in order
to begin the work of construction. Turkey s only hope is in the United
States. The European countries will be unable or unwilling to help us
financially.” On the other hand,” he continued, what can we expect to
gain if we take part in a war against the United States? Absolutely
nothing! I therefore guarantee 90% that if there is war between
Germany and the United States, Turkey will stay out of it. At least
that is our feeling and our intention to-day.” And he looks upon the
above reasons put forward by him as logical and convincing. I asked
him what the Turks would do in case the Germans insisted on Turkey
performing her duty as an ally to declare war against America. He
said Turkey would simply refuse and if Germany still insisted Turkey
would ask her to send her 3 to 400,000 troops to do the fighting,
as otherwise the Turks would be unable to fight alone. The cordiality
now demonstrated by the Ministers may be genuine and sincere, or may
be only assumed and serving for some ulterior purpose. . . . Future
developments will show whether this demonstration is sincere or not.

If not sincere it may serve one of the following two purposes: it
may be intended to mislead us, and for the purpose of having America
help Turkey now or hereafter,–a repetition under another form of the
assurances given to the British Ambassador in 1914 that Turkey would
remain neutral–or it may be intended for the edification of Germany,
a kind of a warning, if not a threat, to the overbearing ally that she
is not the only great power and that if she is not more considerate
towards the weaker ally, the latter can find–had found–other friends!

Some Turks, however, not friendly towards the Union and Progress
Committee have quite a different interpretation for these
demonstrations of cordiality. According to what they say the Union
and Progress leaders are aware that they will be held responsible for
dragging Turkey into this war, which has proved to be disastrous for
the Empire; that they will also be held responsible for the Armenian
massacres, the persecution of the other non-Turkish races and for
endless other misdeeds. Therefore seeing the approach of the day of
reckoning and having no confidence in the ability or the willingness
of their German ally to help them in the hour of need, they desire
to make friends with America now, in order to protect themselves or
at least have a friend when that day of reckoning comes.

But it is curious to hear that some German officers here have stated
that even if war should occur between America and Germany, Turkey
should continue her diplomatic relations with America. These officers
are further stated to have said it is not desirable to have a war
between Germany and the United States.

It is rumored that both in Turkish and German military circles here
there is an apprehension that should war ever be declared between
the United States and Turkey, the former can at once send troops and
ammunition from the Philippines to the Persian Gulf and thus help
the British in Mesopotamia or Palestine.

It may interest the Department to know some facts demonstrative of
cordiality on the part of the Ottoman Ministers and other dignitaries.

First of all, in the two private audiences which I have had with the
Sultan, His Majesty has put aside all formalism and court etiquette
and shown a kindly, friendly attitude towards me and towards those who
accompanied me. All the Court officials, Chamberlains, Secretaries,
Masters of Ceremony, Aides-de-Camp, have been friendly to me and to
my family, most attentive in details and tried their best to make
our stay in Constantinople pleasant. They have often called at the
Embassy on the days when Mrs. Elkus is at home. The same is true of
the officials of the Sublime Porte in their personal relations with us.

All the principal ministers–except Chukri Bey, Minister of Public
Instruction, who is chiefly responsible for the sinister policy
of the Turkish Government in the so-called seizure of the French,
British, et cetera, institutions, have been constant callers at the
Embassy, both before and after the rupture with Germany. I can state
that Talaat Pasha has shown more friendship and intimacy since that
rupture. Both at dinners, lunches and ordinary at home days these
Ministers, Senators and other dignitaries have thoroughly enjoyed
themselves. I hear that a short time ago, since the rupture with
Germany, Talaat Pasha gave instructions to the Press Bureau not to
allow the publication of articles hostile to America; and if articles
not exactly friendly have appeared we can be almost certain that they
were in papers subsidized by certain foreigners.

A few weeks ago it was suggested with very complimentary remarks to
confer an Ottoman order on Mr. Schmavonian, who, it was said had often
avoided misunderstandings between the Embassy and the Sublime Porte.

At Mr. Schmavonian s request I did not submit this matter to the
Department, as he with very becoming modesty, said he did not think
he ought to receive a decoration at a time when no other member of
the Embassy staff would be authorized to receive one. It came to me
as a surprise that the Grand Cordon (first class) of the Chefekat
order has just been bestowed on Mrs. Elkus. The Imperial Irade was
issued yesterday. As the law does not prevent her from accepting
the order and as the wives of all my predecessors have received the
same, I assume there can be no objection to her accepting this sign
of courtesy and friendship on the part of His Majesty and of his
Government. I could enumerate many other facts and instances showing
indications on the part of the Ottoman Government of friendly and
cordial conduct towards the Embassy.

Of course these things do not pass unnoticed and are variably commented
upon in foreign diplomatic and Turkish circles.

I do not believe that these demonstrations of cordiality are seen with
approving eyes either in Germany or in England. As much as I can judge
from the Entente and German press, I think that these countries would
prefer to see an enmity if not an actual break off between Turkey and
the United States. Otherwise how could we interpret such unfounded
statements as the following in the foreign press: that the American
missionaries have been interned in Turkey, that the Scorpion has been
sunk or seized, that the Department has had no news from the Embassy;
or that I invited a number of diplomats to dinner to discuss political
situation and all declined, et cetera? I can not say that the Germans
here, more especially the military, have all been cordial to this
Embassy. According to statements from Turkish sources, I am led to
believe that at times they have sought to bring about friction and
misunderstanding between us and the Turkish authorities.

I mentioned above the statements of Talaat Pasha concerning the
continuation of friendly relations and approval of the same by His
Majesty. I was told the other day by a neutral envoy here that the
German admiral Souchon, who bombarded Odessa and thus brought about
the war between Turkey and the Entente, stated to this diplomat
that Talaat Pasha had told me in connection with the question of an
eventual rupture of relations between Turkey and the United States,
that Turkey would do exactly what Germany dictated. (This is at
variance with what Talaat really said.)

Turks state to me that Germany does not wish to see here an Ambassador
of a great power like the United States, who is too friendly with
the Turks, because they wish to impress on the Turks that they are
the only power that can protect Turkey, and the only friend Turkey
has. I am told on the other hand that the Turks wish to emancipate
themselves from this German guardianship.

The feeling in the civilian Turkish circles is far from being
friendly to the Germans. In a conversation with a Turkish Minister,
the latter said,

really speaking the Germans had no friends, their manner is such
that they can have no friends, that they have a wonderful military
organization, of which they are proud, and through their organization
they have a strong discipline in their own country holding the people
under a permanent guardianship and obedience, and they imagine that
they have the same power over all the world. In diplomacy they are
poor and what success they have had has been through threat. They
think of nothing but themselves and their own interest. They never
take into consideration the feelings and interests of others. We
are their allies. In this war we have rendered them signal services,
and have acted towards them as gentlemen. What have we seen? What are
they doing for us. Nothing. In all our dealings with them they raise
difficulties. If we have negotiations concerning a loan or anything
else, there is not a small point that can be raised in their favor
which they would fail to raise. We went into the war without thinking
of loans, expenses or other details. Had we asked the Germans at that
time to take upon themselves all our war expenses, Germany would have
agreed to do so, but as we did not raise that question, to-day we are
borrowing money from the Germans and we are indebted to them to the
amount of 100,000,000 pounds sterling just for the war expenses. As
allies of the Germans, of course, we desire to see Germany win in this
war, but do not want to see Germany have such a victory as to become
the dictator of the whole world. That would be a misfortune for all.”

I spoke to him about the food question in Germany, and whether the
scarcity was such as to force the Germans to put down their arms. The
Minister stated that according to his information the German Army was
well fed; as to the civilian population, he believed, that through
the wonderful organization which they have in Germany, it would be
possible to feed them until the new crops. But in his opinion there
was another question which was more serious for the Germans than that
of the food supply. How long will the material for the manufacture
of ammunition last? There is scarcity of coal and scarcity of copper.

These statements did not prevent him from saying that the way the
Entente Powers had published their terms of peace was a most stupid
piece of business. There were thousands of people in this country,
who were against the war and longed for peace, and yet the Entente
Governments say that they want to give Constantinople to Russia. All
these people now want the continuation of the war.

He knew that there were no diplomats in Germany, that it was only
through force that the Germans wanted to deal with every nation,
but he had believed that in England and in France there were good
diplomats. The way the latter acted in this matter showed him that
there is a penury of statesmanship even in those countries.

While speaking of the friendly relations between Turkey and America, I
told him that Turkey had many friends in America, but I added in order
that these friends might in some way be able to be of any service to
this country, there should be put an end to all Armenian massacres as
well as Arab or Syrian or other persecutions. He at once stated that
he agreed with me entirely. “These things should not have happened.”

He said he hoped that very soon we would see an amelioration in the
condition of the Armenians, who would be allowed to travel and do
business within certain zones. What happened was a most deplorable
thing and he said you can be sure that it will not be repeated.

In conclusion I desire to inform you that when we first heard of
Germany s last decision in regard to submarine warfare, the German
Ambassador here told me that Germany was committing a serious mistake.

He is since reported to have said that this warfare has proved
ineffective.

It is difficult to know how much truth there is in these different and
sometimes contradictory rumors. But I thought you would be interested
to hear them. . . .

With kindest regards

Abram I. Elkus

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN SHELLS ITS OWN VILLAGES – DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN

09:33 05/02/2015 >> POLITICS

“Today, beginning from 10:40 pm, there has been intensive shelling of
the Azerbaijani village of Parakhli from the Azerbaijani positions,
on the opposite side of Baghanis and Shavarshavan villages of Armenia’s
Tavush province, primarily from tracer bullets,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan,
a spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry, wrote on Facebook
on Wednesday.

“This is yet another provocation by Azerbaijan,” the spokesman wrote.

Source: Panorama.am

HOVHANNISYAN: VIDEO REPORT FROM AZERBAIJANI BORDERLINE VILLAGE ABOUT ‘ARMENIAN SHOOTING’ IS MERE ORCHESTRATED PERFORMANCE

19:27 05/02/2015 >> REGION

Artsrun Hovhannisyan, the press secretary of Ministry of Defense of
Armenia, yesterday evening warned on his Facebook page that Azerbaijani
side is taking up provocative actions on the borderline, which is
dangerous for itself. The Azerbaijani units had opened heavy fire
from mainly large-caliber weapons at their own borderline villages
in Tavush district at the Armenian border, intending to blame it on
the Armenian side later.

No wonder that today the Azerbaijani information portal “Haqqin.az,”
referring to the TV-channel “RegionTV” reported that the Azerbaijani
village Alibeyli in the borderline of district Tovuz had been under
fire “by the Armenians from large-caliber weapons.” In the video
report the Alibeyli villagers were eagerly demonstrating the holes
and the cracks on the walls of their houses to the correspondent
claiming that those were the traces from the “Armenian shooting.”

Commenting on the situation in an interview with Panorama.am, the press
secretary of Ministry of Defense of Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan denied
the involvement of the Military forces of the Republic of Armenia
in the Tovuz region shooting. “If we see such a reportage prepared
in the borderline village during a total informational blockade that
exists in Azerbaijan, then this once again comes to prove that this
is a simple orchestrated performance,” he stressed.

Note that the above-mentioned Azerbaijani village has borders with
Aygepar village in Tavush region.

Yesterday an Azerbaijani sniper had wounded a resident of bordering
Movses village of Tavush region of Armenia – 85-year-old Levon
Andreasyan.

From: Baghdasarian

GOVERNMENT-PROPOSED TAX PREFERENCES FOR LARGE EXPORTERS SLAMMED BY ARMENIAN OPPOSITION

YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. On Thursday, the National Assembly
of Armenia discussed a government-proposed bill implying a tenfold
abatement of profit tax (to 2%) for large exporters from Armenia.

Deputy Finance Minister Vakhtang Mirumyan, presenting the bill to the
lawmakers, said it is aimed at attracting fresh foreign investment,
which should be used to boost Armenian exports.

He explained that the dramatic drop in income taxes is for companies,
which will have government-approved plan of actions to boost their
exports up to at least 50 billion drams, which should be reflected
in the companies’ accounts in resident Armenian banks.

The preferences apply only to exported products, not those goods sold
in Armenia’s territory.

According to him, the bill is aimed at attracting fresh foreign
investment, which should be used to boost Armenian exports. Mirumyan
described the proposed change as ‘unprecedented.’

In his words, the two-percent tax would be an unprecedented incentive
for exporters.

“In fact, the government refuses tax revenues in order to stimulate
producers and promote creation of new jobs and economic growth,”
said Mirumyan.

He also said that the proposed change provides for special regulatory
measures to prevent attempts of companies to artificially reduce
their tax payments.

He said the change will not apply to Armenian mining companies.

According to him, no company in Armenia meets now this requirement,
‘however, we are negotiating with some foreign investors that could
be attracted by the proposed change’.

The opposition factions, however, reacted angrily to the bill finding
the deputy minister’s arguments not convincing.

Tevan Poghosyan, an MP from heritage opposition party, said the
profit tax abatement from 20% to 2% for large exporters will give
room for appearance of bogus companies that will enjoy this local
tax preference.

he said.

Another opposition MP, Khachatur Kokobelyan, leader of the Free
Democrats party, said it is unclear whom this reform targets.

He said nobody disputes the significance of large companies’
activities for Armenia’s economy, but . Lawmakers from Armenian
Revolutionary Federation/ Dashnaktsutyun, Orinats Yerkir party and
the Armenian National Congress said they will vote against the bill
since it doesn’t solve problems.

said Heghine
Bishryan, head of Orinats Yerkir faction. Remarkable is that even some
MPs from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia put the reasonability
of the bill into question.

In particular, Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of the party’s faction in the
parliament, said that support for big exporters should not harm others.

he said.

ôhe bill will be put to vote on February 23. ($1- AMD
476.51). —-0—–

KOCHARYAN METHODS ARE COMING BACK

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

February 5 2015

SDHP Chairman Narek Galstyan about the tradition of “beating
a person in mask” and “declaring one or two needles or
toothbrushes more”

– On Saturday, the incident happened in Berdzor between the Founding
Parliament of Artsakh and the NKR police during the automobile march
was differently interpreted. In your estimation, what happened and why?

– Frankly speaking, the question here should be divided into two
parts. What happened in Berdzor is definitely condemnable. I have seen
the footage posted on the internet. They were beating with special
severity, broking the car windows. As I understood, there were also
cameramen from Artsakh, let them present their understanding of the
events. But, anyway, likewise treating unarmed and peaceful people
does not fit in the conscience, the law, nor in our understanding of
political logic.

Here, however, there is a second important factor. For us, the style
of the Founder Parliament’s actions, the logic of moves have
never been acceptable. Now, they are talking about the “regime
change” on April 24. On the day of the Centennial of the
Genocide, if a single Armenia’s nose bleeds in the city center,
we will decry our Cause in front of the whole world. It is clear that
in these days, the whole world’s attention will be concentrated
on Yerevan. Moreover, the logic of going out of Yerevan and holding
a demonstration in Artsakh is not acceptable. Artsakh has a plenty of
problems apart from going out of Yerevan and holding a demonstration
there. The border is a few kilometers away, every day subversive
acts are taking place, so why it is necessary to involve Artsakh in
domestic political matters. Absolutely, not.

– Recently, the beating of civil activists and politicians often
manifests as an attitude. Isn’t the time actually a passed
phase for us?

– You are right, lately, regular physical settlement of accounts are
taking place. After Robert Kocharyan’s tenure, such phenomena
were not find in our political and social life, which, indeed, was
welcomed. In recent months, the occurrences are beyond the logic in
general. There is no other disgracing and more villainous phenomenon
than beating a person in a mask. In 2007, I was attacked in the same
sneaky style, but perhaps a few times cruel. You know, somehow I will
understand that if someone curses him on the Internet, you shall go
and openly settle account with him.

In many cases, they go beyond the red line, involve families, which
is no way perceivable. But in contrast to it, the attacks in masks do
not also particularly shine by their honesty. At the same time, taken
objectively, there are thousands of problems in our country. What
does it mean, should there be no oligarchy in Armenia after making
the civil activists silent? Should the monopolies be eliminated?

Should the corruption in the public-sector stop ruling as a
cornerstone of building public relations? Of course, not. These are
our country’s real problems, these are the challenges before
the authorities and the whole public, rather than the Facebook users.

– You have repeatedly announced that SDHP party will act from the
interests of small and medium-sized businesses. It has been several
months since the RA Law on “Turnover tax” has made hundreds
of people to come out to the street, the talks with the government are
underway, but there is no final solution. Whom does the SDHP support?

– One gets the impression that a class struggle has begun in Armenia
against all small and medium-sized businesses. It seems we are back
to the 20’s of the 20th century, when the USSR as viewed
as a “hostile” class to all people who had more than
two chicken. Under this difficult social situation, the SDHP party
believes that it would be much righteous for the government to be
focused on bringing the oligarchy to the taxation field. After that,
everything will be regulated. Or else, by declaring one or two needles
or toothbrushes more, you would only make the social severity further
deep. SDHP Party shares the concerns of SME representatives, support
their claims, but our representatives do not participate in their
rallies only for one reason – no need to politicize people’s
legitimate social requirements.

Interviewed by Nelly GRIGORYAN

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“ARMENIA SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF PALESTINE”

February 5 2015

“Armenia must demonstrate a clear stance on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. I think that the first step should be the recognition of
Palestine by the Parliament of Armenia”, such a statement was made
by the Head of “Globalization and Regional Cooperation” NGO, also
political scientist Stepan Grigoryan in the interview with “Aravot”.

He does not consider this move beyond the context of Armenian matters
or outdated.

Moreover, he thinks that it should be prior to marking the centennial
of the Armenian Genocide. “Israel has a rather one-sided approach on
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Israel is also selling advanced offensive
weapons to Azerbaijan, and it built several military factories in
this country and so on. In other words, Israel is obviously running
an anti-Armenian policy in the region,” he said, adding that Israel
is also obviously running a subjective, even hostile policy on other
issues. “For example, on January 28, the Holocaust Remembrance Day,
the Israeli leader said in his speech from the UN podium that the
other genocides should be condemned, including the “Khojaly massacre”.

Such a statement ahead of the Genocide Centennial is obviously a
hostile attitude,” opines the political analyst and believes that the
Armenian side should not leave this statement unanswered. The move of
recognizing the independence of Palestine by Armenia, according to him,
will be viewed quite well by Europe and Russia, which also supports
the interests of the Palestine on this issue. “Several European
countries’ parliaments, and Sweden even at the government level,
recognized the independence of Palestine. But most importantly, the
Arab world will respond to Armenia’s move positive, which will boost
the future Genocide recognition process.”

Nelly GRIGORYAN

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THE ARTIST ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN VENICE BIENNALE. “ARMENIA CAN BE ACCUSED OF FASCISM.”

February 5 2015

In the interview with Aravot.am, the artist Sahak Poghosyan said the
following about Armenia’s participation in Venice Biennale, “I have
raised questions during the previous biennale. The former one at least
established a formal committee by appointing a curator and a project
was taken to Venice. Then, too, there were a lot of casus, but it is
in the past. How is this year’s Venice Biennale organized now..?”

According to Sahak Poghosyan, the Venice Biennale is an important
international platform, in which Armenia can present with a
contemporary art, and the whole world presents there.

The following questions are left “dark” for the artist. How is the
curator selected for the 2015 Venice International Art Biennale? How
are the selected artists related to the Republic of Armenia (the
professional qualities of the artists are not considered, there
are wonderful artists among them)? What is meant by the concept of
Biennale Armenity? How much public funds are provided? The showroom
of the island of San Lazzaro is chosen to be the Armenian pavilion,
where during the last Biennale, it was impossible to display the works
of one single artist, so how they are going to display the works of
18 artists. Sahak Poghosyan said that according to preliminary data,
Sargis Zabunyan will represent Turkey this year, but he is also in
the artists representing Armenia, so according to the Charter, can
the same artist represent two countries? It seems strange to Sahak
Poghosyan that all 18 artists selected to act under the Armenian “flag”
represent the Diaspora, and there is no local artist on the list.

Our interlocutor has also concerns about the concept of Biennale
Armenity. “If it is Armenity, then something national underlies,
tomorrow or the next day, we may be accused of fascism. They (the
Ministry of Culture and the coordinator – G.H.) do not realize of what
may happen in the future. This is in the case when the same Turkish
world will present an Armenian-origin artist, Sarkis Zabunyan. These
deep-reaching things, and something else can emerge underneath it. Let
them leave a room for maneuver at least on half way. I would like to
help but I do not get a response.” Sahak Poghosyan says that many
people may think that he does not have any private interest as an
artist, which is actually not the case. “This is the third or fourth
Biennale that I declare that, if you select, I will not participate
and will refuse. Why? Because Armenia does not rent a stall in a place
where the whole world is present. Armenia is going to San Lazzaro
Island, where no professional viewer comes. A small room is provided
there as an exhibition hall, where barely one or two artists will be
able to be present.

Gohar HAKOBYAN

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From: Baghdasarian