Month: February 2015

ARMENIAN COPPER PROGRAMME CUTS PRODUCTION OF UNREFINED COPPER 9% FOR 2014

by Arthur Yernjakyan

Wednesday, February 4, 13:20

Armenian Copper Programme (ACP) cut production of unrefined copper
9% in 2014 to 9,802 tons versus 10,771 tons for in 2013, the ACP
press-service told ArmInfo.

ACP processed 44,031 dry metric tons of copper concentrate for 2014
versus 49,185 tons for 2013.

The company explains the production decline with the cut off
in supplies of concentrate and higher content of metal in the
concentrate. The company is supplied with concentrate from the
affiliated company, Base metals CJSC in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and
Zangezour copper and molybdenum combine CJSC (south of Armenia). The
copper content in the latter’s concentrate is higher. The production
is exported to Europe.

To recall, in 2012 ACP raised production of unrefined copper 13.1%
to 10,075 tons versus 8.877 tons in 2011. 100% of ACP cjsc’s shares
belong to Valery Mejlumyan, a citizen of Russia.

From: A. Papazian

ECOLUR’S PROPOSALS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION DURING EXPERTISE OF QAGHTSRASHEN PROJECT

17:07 February 03, 2015

EcoLur

EcoLur’s proposals and observations will be taken into consideration in
the environmental expertise of Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation project,
as the Nature Protection Ministry informed EcoLur in his letter.

The project plans to lay a pipieline of 27,685 meters length to take
water from the Azat River to Aygestan, Berdik, Getazat, Deghzout,
Hnaberd, Mrganush, Narek, Nerqin Dvin, Norashen, Vardashen, Verin
Dvin, and Qaghtsrashen communities in Ararat Region. Qaghtsrashen
gravity irrigation project will be constructed with World-bank funded
“Improvement of Irrigation System” project. The liability for the
project bears the project implementer – State Committee on Water
Industry.

Reminder: EcoLur has submitted its opinion on this project to Nature
Protection Ministry outlining the project risks.

“The project has anti-environmental nature taking into consideration
the data laid down in the project. The system will be constructed
in the immediate proximity to Khosrov State Reserve and Symphony of
Stones – a monument of nature. The Azat River is the main factor in
forming the ecosystem of the Azat Gorge. Khosrov reserve, Garni gorge,
Symphony of Stones and other communities are in the project affected
zone, as well as all other communities, which use the water of the
Azat River and Azat reservoir.

Currently “Yerevan Jur” Company uses 1.560 l/s water from Azat and
Goght river water basins. From June to October Garni Village takes
11.44 million cum water and 1.32 million cum water from Goght River.

The project doesn’t mention anything how much water is needed for the
villages in Ararat. The project only says that 0.85 m3/sec water will
be left in the river as environmental flow.

The project risks are as follows:

1. Even the project says that the remaining flow in the river will
be reduced in the dry and hot weather, which means that the riverbed
can get dry.

2. The project area is located in the semi-desert and desert zones,
while the absence of water will promote desertification processes in
Garni Gorge, where lack of water has already been observed.

3. Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation project will be constructed with
World-bank funded “Improvement of Irrigation System” project. The
liability for the project bears the project implementer – State
Committee on Water Industry.”

EcoLur has proposed “Environmental Expertise” SNCO of the Nature
Protection Ministry to turn down this project.

ARMENIAN MP KEEPS ENDANGERED SIBERIAN TIGERS AS PETS: ‘THOSE IN THE WILD WOULD BE JEALOUS’

Grisha Balasanyan

11:25, February 4, 2015

It’s sort of become a fashion craze for the ultra rich and top
officials in Armenia to “domesticate” wild animals and keep them at
their restaurants and hotels as attractions.

Some, as the case throughout the world, keep wild animals at home
as pets.

We know that Prosperous Armenia party leader and MP Gagik Tsarukyan
has created a veritable mini-zoo, including lions and tigers, at his
sprawling home. MP Manvel Grigoryan keeps ostriches and tigers as
pets. MP Moushegh Petoyan has a pet bear.

Prosperous Armenia MP Rouben Gevorgyan, following in the footsteps
of his illustrious deader, also keeps a number of wild animals at home.

The legislator doesn’t conceal the fact and often posts photos of
the animals on the internet.

“Every person, I would say, has enjoyed keeping a pet from an early
age. Be it a dog or cat. Later, at a certain age, they keep pedigree
dogs, a trait which I believe characteristic of us Armenians,”
Gevorgyan told Hetq.

The MP argues that the conception of ‘wild’ animals is a wide one,
encompassing wolves and others. The animals he keeps at home are
Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Amur
tigers.

The tigers are included on CITES Appendix Ibanning international
trade. All tiger range states and countries with consumer markets
have banned domestic trade as well. At last count, there are said to
be some 340 Siberian tigers in the wild.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered
plants and animals. Appendix I includes some 1200 species that are
threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by trade.

Commercial trade in wild-caught specimens of these species is illegal
(permitted only in exceptional licensed circumstances).

“If they cannot multiply in their homeland, I am seriously interested
in breeding them here. And my efforts have succeeded. I have already
raised a third generation. Even the Russian association headed by
President Putin knows about this,” said Gevorgyan, referring to a
Russian organization engaged in preserving the Amur tiger.

MP Gevorgyan says nine tiger cubs have been born under his watch and
that the Russian environmentalists were amazed at the result.

Gevorgyan says they periodically come to Armenia to check on the
tigers.

Gevorgyan now keeps six tigers at his enclosure. He gave the others
as gifts to friends. One went to Gagik Tsarukyan.

Gevorgyan says he only gives the valuable tigers to people who can
properly take care of them.

The MP says he received the tigers five years ago from Russia and that
the paperwork is in order. When this reporter asked if keeping wild
animals in captivity isn’t in violation of international treaties
signed by Armenia regarding animal rights, Gevorgyan replied that
tigers in the wild would be jealous of the lifestyle of the tigers
in his care.

“They have a large swimming pool in which to bathe. They drink clean
water like we do. They have large tree limbs on which to sharpen their
claws. All the facilities equal to nature have been created. You
cannot call their enclosures cages. They measure 50 meters long by
15 meters wide,” said Gevorgyan.

Gevorgyan went on to argue that the Siberian tigers are a fickle
animal and can’t reproduce in their native environment and that’s
why they are disappearing. “In the climatic conditions of Armenia,
however, they have been multiplying,” he noted.

Gevorgyan claims he isn’t following a fad by keeping the tigers,
and that in addition to loving and doting over them, he keeps the
tigers to breed them.

“I do not sell the tigers, nor can I give them to people who cannot
take care of them. Harming or killing the tigers is a crime,” said
Gevorgyan.

The MP told me that he had kept a valuable lion for five years and he
then gave it as a present to Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan three
years ago. Sahakyan, in turn, donated the lion to theGandzasar Zoo
in the village of Vank.

SECOND ARMENIAN-FRENCH ECONOMIC FORUM TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN IN MAY 2015 – AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN, February 4. /ARKA/. The second Armenian-French economic forum
is planned to be held in Yerevan in May 2015, French Ambassador
to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier said at a news conference on
Wednesday.

He said that the business forum will mainly be focused on fashion,
clothes, design and equipment for vine-growing and wine-making
businesses.

The ambassador said that trade turnover between Armenia and France
amounts to EURO 50 million now.

He pointed out the French-Armenian Commerce and Industry Chamber,
the Armenian-French Business Club in Armenia and the Development Fund
in Armenia saying that cooperation between the two countries should
be intensified.

Charpentier said the French Development Agency’s investments in
Armenia will reach EURO 1 million later this year, and this is a
quite impressive amount for two years of activity.

The first Armenian-French economic forum took place in Yerevan in May
2014 as part of French President Francois Hollande’s two-day visit
to Armenia.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, trade between
the two countries amounted to $84.9 million in 2014 and made up 1.4%
of Armenia’s foreign trade turnover showing a 20.5% year-on-year
growth. —0—-

EXPERT: “MAIDANIZATION” IN ARMENIA WILL PROCEED AMID EXISTENTIAL THREATS

by David Stepanyan

Wednesday, February 4, 02:53

Ukraine is a spectacular example for Armenia that demonstrates how
the oligarchic groups’ fight for the power can lead the country to
a collapse and civil war, Hrachya Arzumanyan, expert in defense and
national security problems, has told ArmInfo.

“The society has allowed the oligarchs to throw Ukraine into chaos and
turn it into a state without strategically important territories. The
oligarchs’ fight for power has caused the death of the country, whose
potential could have enabled it to join the leading powers of Europe
some day. But this will never happen”, he says.

Arzumanyan points out that “maidanization” may proceed in various
forms. It may be as harsh as in Ukraine or it may be mild when the
president’s early resignation happens within the frames of a palace
revolution and becomes known to public on television. Regardless
of the revolution scenario, the results will be disastrous for the
statehood and the remainders of domestic legitimacy.

The expert is convinced that “maidanization” deprives the people of
the opportunity to appeal to the national law. The “administrators”
of the territory are appointed by geopolitical force centers. So,
the oligarchic groups’ fight for the political power ends up in death
of the statehood and oligarchs themselves.

“The critically important point for Armenia, which is missing in the
Ukrainian crisis, is that in Armenia “maidanization” will proceed amid
the existential threats for the people. This considerably complicates
the people’s task to realize the developments and prevent the country’s
collapse and death”, says Arzumanyan. He thinks Armenia should avoid
the scenario of “maidanization”.

KEY: RUSSIAN BASE IN ARMENIA

February 4, 2015 13:28
EXCLUSIVE

Photo:

Taking into account that after the killing of the Avetisyan family
in Gyumri on January 12 the interest to the Russian base in Armenia
does not decrease, Mediamax has decided to focus on this topic in
its next article for the “Key” section.

1. How, when and under what circumstances was the Russian 102nd
Military Base established in Armenia?

-The military base was established on September 1, 1994, on the basis
of the 127th Motor Rifle Division of the Transcaucasian Military
District. On March 16, 1995, Presidents of Russia and Armenia Boris
Yeltsin and Levon Ter-Petrosyan signed a treaty on the deployment of
Russian military base in Armenia for 25 years with automatic extension
for five years if none of the parties objected to it.

“On April 18, 1997, the treaty was ratified by the Russian State Duma
which overcame the resistance of the pro-Azeri lobby the mouthpiece for
which was Chairman of the Russian Duma’s Defense Committee, Lieutenant
General Lev Rokhlin. The MPs of the Armenian National Assembly did
not make themselves waiting and ratified the treaty a few days later”,
wrote former Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Vladimir Stupishin.

2. What changed after the Presidents of Armenia and Russia signed
Protocol No. 5 in 2010?

– Protocol No. 5 of the Armenian-Russian agreement of 1995, extending
the deployment of the Russian military base in Gyumri till 2044,
was signed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s state visit to
Armenia in August, 2010. The validity term of the agreement was 25
years and the protocol extended the period for up to 49 years. Other
than that, by this Protocol the area of the base’s geographical and
strategic responsibility was also expanded. If the operation of the
base was previously limited to the external borders of former USSR,
then this restriction was withdrawn from the agreement text after
the Protocol was signed.

The Russian party undertook the commitment to jointly ensure Armenia’s
military security and provide support to equip the Armenian Armed
Forces with up-to-date arms.

3. How many servicemen serve in the military base and what armament
does it possess?

-The total number of the servicemen of the Russian 102nd Military
Base is around 5000. According to the information provided by military
sources, the base is armed with 74 tanks, 17 IFV, 148 APC, 84 artillery
systems, and S-300 and S-200 surface-to-air missile systems.

In 2012, the base received over 200 new and modern Perun, Grotto and
Breeze UAVs compatible with GLONASS and GPS navigation systems.

The means and forces of the Armenian and Russian air defense took
up the permanent and joint duty in 2001. 18 Russian MiG-29 based in
Erebuni Airport in Yerevan are on duty to protect and defend the air
frontiers within the United Air Defense System of the CIS countries.

4. Who pays for the base?

– Moscow rents the base free of charge. The base is partially contained
at the expense of the Armenian state budget.

5. What was the base engaged in, in 2014?

– Over 2014, more than 100 military squad and platoon firings, about
15 tactical exercises of various levels including those within a
formation have been held.

The main focus was on training and holding of joint exercises with
the Armenian Defense Ministry subdivisions and the first tactical
exercise within the whole military base involving aviation and air
defense forces.

Over 2014, about 3500 training sessions of small arms firing and
about 500 classes for combat vehicles were carried out. Over 2200
practical classes, about 1500 test and control exercises were held
at the trainings of driving of armored vehicles and military equipment.

Pilots of Erebuni Russian air base carried out over 500 flights. The
overall flying time made over 2000 hours.

6. What criminal incidents involving Russian military servicemen
have occurred?

– On April 14, 1999, two drunken Russian servicemen, armed with rifles,
came to Gyumri market and opened desultory fire. Two people were
killed and nine were wounded. Armenian and Russian judicial authorities
agreed that the trial be held in Armenia under the chairmanship of an
Armenian judge and in conformity with the Armenian legislation. Russian
soldiers were also supposed to endure their sentence in Armenia.

By the decision of the Gyumri Court, they were sentenced to
respectively 15 and 14 years in maximum security penal colony.

According to unofficial information, the criminals were transferred
to Russia and in total, spent 7-8 years in jail.

On July 11, 2003, there was exchange of fire at the Russian base.

Several young people tried to infiltrate into its territory and
met with the resistance of the soldier on duty. As a result of the
scuffle, fire weapon was applied. Gyumri residents Arthur Poghosyan
and Armen Aroyan were killed. Two other people were taken to hospital
with gunshot wounds. Following this incident, Commander of Base Major
General Alexander Titov was relieved from his post by the order of
the Defense Minister of Russia. The report of the Transcaucasian
Military District stated that Titov committed gross infringement of
the military discipline and “did not fulfill his duty of service”.

On April 7, 2013, A. Lazarian born in 2001 and M. Gevorgyan born in
1997 died in the territory of the tank range of the Russian base. The
children had stepped on a mine.

Early in the morning of January 12, 2015, six members of the Avetisyan
family were brutally killed in Gyumri. Six-month old Seryozha Avetisyan
who was taken to hospital with stab wounds died on January 19. The
principal defendant in the case is servicemen of the base Valery
Permyakov.

Aram Araratyan

– See more at:

EDGARS RINKEVICS: IT IS IMPORTANT TO REVISE THE BASIS OF THE EU-ARMENIA TIES

February 4, 2015 09:25

exclusive

Mediamax’s exclusive interview with the Latvian Foreign Minister
Edgars Rinkevics

– The Armenian leadership states that joining the Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) doesn’t contradict to Armenia’s dialogue with the EU. Do
you really think that EU and Armenia can continue “business as usual”
after Armenia’s EEU membership?

– After Armenia’s decision not to sign the Association Agreement with
the EU, the European Union and Armenia reconfirmed their commitment
to further develop and strengthen comprehensive cooperation in all
areas of mutual interest within the Eastern Partnership framework. The
European Union will continue cooperation with Armenia in all areas
compatible with Armenia’s choice. At the same time we expect Armenia
will continue with reform efforts.

– During the Armenia- European Union Cooperation Council session
in Brussels on January 20 one of the main topics was question of
future legal basis of relations between EU and Armenia. It means a
completely new legal framework or the existing format will be enriched
with new chapters?

– EU relations with Armenia are governed by the EU-Armenia Partnership
and Cooperation Agreement (1999), which allows for wide-ranging
cooperation in the areas of political dialogue, trade, investment,
economy, lawmaking and culture. However, the EU and Armenia believes
it is important to revise the basis of the EU-Armenia relationship.

The consultations about the scope of a new legal framework are
currently ongoing.

– After decision to join the EEU, Armenian leaders were saying there
are ready to sign the “political part” of the Association Agreement.

EU explained that DCFTA is an integral part of the Agreement and
the document can’t be divided. Can we say that Armenia and EU are
negotiating something very similar to the “political part” of the
former Association Agreement?

– The negotiations about new legal framework have not been formally
launched. In order to start to the negotiations the so called
“scoping exercise” should be completed and the new EU mandate should
be approved. We support the start of negotiations on the new legal
framework by the Riga Summit.

– During your news conference in Yerevan in December 2014 you said that
the Riga Summit will focus on development of “individual relations”
with each Eastern partner. How do you see this “individual approach”
for Armenia?

– The development of the EU Eastern Partnership initiative is an
important priority of the Latvian presidency. The Riga Summit should
send a signal that the European Union has clear interests in the
strengthening and continuation of the Eastern Partnership. The Riga
Summit will also take stock of the fulfilment of objectives set by the
Vilnius Summit and provide a preliminary assessment of implementation
of the Association Agreements.

Edgars Rinkevics and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow,
January 12, 2015 Photo: REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

The process of visa liberalisation with the Eastern Partnership
countries which comply with the criteria should be taken forward. The
EU, while pursuing the Eastern Partnership policy, should be looking
at the individual interest of each EaP country and their readiness
to cooperate with the EU.

– During past years Armenia and EU have been discussing issue of
organizing Donors’ Conference for Armenia. Can we say that this idea
is excluded from the agenda?

– The EU is ready to continue to assist Armenia’s efforts to carry
on the launched political, social and economic reforms. For 2014-2017
this will amount to between 140 and 170 million EUR, focused on private
sector development, public administration and justice sector reform.

– Armenian government on many occasions reaffirmed readiness to start
visa free regime negotiations with EU. When will it be possible to
start these negotiations?

– Latvia welcomes the entry into force of the EU-Armenia Visa
Facilitation and Readmission Agreements. We have always encouraged
the Armenian Government to continue the effective implementation of
these Agreements. It is one of the crucial conditions to start a visa
free regime negotiations with the EU. I would not currently set any
dates or deadlines.

– People-to-people contacts are one of the key elements and principles
of cooperation in the framework of Eastern Partnership. How do you
imagine further dialogue between civil societies of Armenia and
Azerbaijan after recent abuses and crackdowns against civil society
in Azerbaijan?

– We believe people-to-people contacts are one of the most important
elements of the Eastern Partnership. Latvia supports people-to-people
contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan which is important for building
the trust.

The respect of fundamental values such as democracy, the rule of
law, human rights and good governance is one of the key issues in
the EU dialogue with Eastern Partnership countries. These issues are
constantly being raised during the meetings with the officials from
Eastern Partnership countries. The European Union will continue to
follow the developments in these areas.

– Please tell if the South Caucasus with its unresolved conflicts
will be among the priorities of Latvian Presidency’s of the Council
of the EU? If yes, what real steps EU can do besides stating that it
“fully supports” the OSCE Minsk Group efforts?

– We, as the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, support
the negotiations mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed
at settling the conflict. We believe it crucial to maintain direct
high-level contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan in a conflict
settlement process. Efforts to reach the conflict settlement should
be continued and Latvia supports them.

Latvia is convinced that Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be resolved
only by using peaceful means taking into an account the basic
principles of international law. The sides should show restraint and
avoid any actions or statements which could escalate the situation.

Ekaterina Poghosyan talked to Edgars Rinkevics

– See more at:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THOMAS DE WAAL: “GREAT CATASTROPHE” IS A VERY POWERFUL TERM

February 2, 2015 10:56
EXCLUSIVE

Mediamax’s interview with Thomas de Waal, Senior Associate at the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

– First of all, let me congratulate you with your new book “Great
Catastrophe: Armenians and Turks in the Shadow of Genocide”. What is
the main message of your book and who you consider the main audience:
Turks and Armenians, or the Western world?

– Thank you. The starting-point for all my books is in identifying a
“gap in the literature” that I believe needs to be filled. In the case
of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-16, there has been some very good
writing in recent years by academic historians about what happened and
why. I am thinking of the work of Donald Bloxham, Raymond Kevorkian,
Taner Akcam and others. Ronald Suny is about to publish a new book
which looks excellent. However, much less has been written about the
aftermath and politics of the issue and the way it has changed over the
last 100 years. I am thinking of the struggles in the Armenian diaspora
about the Soviet Union, Stalin’s territorial claims against Turkey
in the 1940s, the terrorism of the 1970s and the Turkish response,
the re-awakening and demonstrations of 1965. In particular, over the
last 12 years an enormous amount has happened in Armenian-Turkish
relations much of it very positive. I write about my trips to Turkey,
the “Armenian opening” in Diyarbakir and the re-discovery of oral
histories and Islamicized Armenians. So I wanted to write a book that
reflects on all those issues.

Who is the book for? Anyone who takes an interest in the whole complex
of Armenian-Turkish relations. Also, anyone who is interested in a
bigger question that cuts across morality and politics, “What do we
owe to the past and those who suffered? What do we need to remember
and honor and when should we let go?”

– Are there any plans to translate the book to Armenian and Turkish?

– A respected Turkish publisher, Iletisim, is working on a Turkish
version of the book. Obviously I would be delighted to see an Armenian
version too, but there are no proposals at the moment. I think there
are a lot of information and episodes in the book which are little
known to both Armenian and Turkish readers.

– When naming the book “Great Catastrophe” you meant “Medz Eghern”
– how the Armenians call the Genocide?

– Yes, that is right. One question I wanted to investigate in the book
was about the naming of the catastrophe that the Armenians suffered
in 1915-16. “Great Catastrophe” seems to me a very powerful term. I
know that there are other Armenian words as well and that Marc
Nichanian likes to use the word “aghed”. The Turkish intellectual
Cengiz Aktar also calls the Armenian Genocide the “Great Catastrophe
of all Anatolia”.

– In your recent piece in the Foreign Affairs you have suggested that
Armenians focus too much on the “G-word”. Do you think that Armenians
could make better use of President Obama’s usage of “Medz Eghern” term?

– When beginning my work, I set myself to answer two research
questions. First, “When, how and why did the catastrophic trauma
that Armenians called ‘Medz Eghern’ come to be called the ‘Armenian
Genocide?'” Second, “How come that usually the first question people
ask when the issue comes up about the destruction of the Ottoman
Armenians is ‘Was it genocide?'” I do find it a bit strange that for
most people this has become the question remind people that there
are other big questions to be asked and answered.

– Don’t you think that there is too much hypocrisy around this issue?

Everybody in the West accepts that more then 1 million Armenians were
killed in 1915 and it obvious that such a massacre was a planned
operation against particular nation. So, everybody agrees that it
was genocide by a definition, but prefers to name it with other terms.

Don’t you think that this hypocrisy makes Armenian angry and unable
to fix their attention on other conceptual issues?

– I understand that Armenians get angry about this. The Turkish
Republic didn’t carry out the killings but it has suppressed the
history of what happened-although that has begun to change. And
most scholars, starting with Raphael Lemkin, who have studied the
history, agree that what the Ottoman state did to the Armenians fit
the category of “genocide,” the word Lemkin invented in 1944. As I
say, I also use the term “Armenian Genocide.” It’s become a standard
scholarly term and I prefer to be on the side of those who use it,
including many Turks, rather than those who do not.

Having said that, I wrote the book and also the Foreign Affairs essay
in part to invite Armenians and others to consider the negative
side of the word “Genocide.” The term has become very politicized
and there are endless legalistic arguments about the meaning of the
definition used in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention
of Genocide. It is used as a political term of abuse and numerous
ethnic groups aspire to call their historical suffering “genocide.” In
my view all this hullabaloo throws up a barrier to ordinary people
understanding the human story of the Medz Eghern and to ordinary Turks
recognizing it. So, yes, there is a certain logic to the use of the
“genocide” word but it’s also, in view, a rather cold legal ugly term.

It is somewhat equivalent to a man whose grandparents were murdered
going around and telling friends and families and strangers “My
grandparents were the victims of homicide.” Correct, but not so
conducive to getting them to listen to your story.

– What you think – what went wrong with the Turkish-Armenian protocols
process? Armenians miscalculated the situation and were tricked by
the Turks who just wanted to gain time and were not going to normalize
the relations? Or the Turks underestimated the level of Azerbaijan’s
influence on them? Or something else?

– I think everyone miscalculated a little. One part of the worldwide
Armenian community and one part of Turkey – the Armenian government
and one half of the Turkish government-wanted to normalize relations,
open the border and work on the problems from a position of greater
trust. But others were skeptical or fearful–I am thinking of many
Diaspora Armenians, some Turks, and Azerbaijan above all. And the
negative voices prevailed. I talked to most of the people involved
in the negotiations that began in 2007. The Swiss mediators did a
very professional job. The United States government pressed hard,
but I think it’s clear now that the Americans should have devoted
many more resources to persuading the doubters of the value of the
Protocols-and in the first place Azerbaijan, which played the key
role in blocking the deal.

– Armenian President needs to make a tough decision before April
24, 2015. One option is that he calls off the Armenian signature
under the protocols – and this move will be hardly welcomed by the
Western partners and U.S. in particular. Another option – he keeps
the protocols while understanding Turkey will not ratify them for
another 5 years. It seems that Turkey wins in both cases and Armenia
gets nothing. What you think? Or maybe you see some third option?

– I believe that President Sargsyan gains more internationally
by keeping the Armenian signature on the Protocols than he does by
revoking it. But of course he is a politician and he will use the fact
that he can revoke the document to win some leverage. It should not be
forgotten that the 2015 centenary puts pressure on Turkey to take some
constructive steps. I hope we can see some progress on some symbolic
issues – Armenian churches in Anatolia, the renaming of monuments and
street-names-as well as some practical ones, such as the laying of a
fiber-optic cable to the Armenian border. We should not forget that
there are many people in Turkey who still want a normalization of
relations with Armenia–and some of them are still in the government.

If the Armenian-Turkish wall cannot be pulled down all at once,
efforts can at least be made to take it down brick by brick.

– What you think about Russia’s role in Turkish-Armenian process?

Sergey Lavrov was present together Javier Solana, Hillary Clinton
and others during the protocols signing but it seemed that Russian
was not very much involved in the preparation process. And what is
Russia’s position today regarding Turkish-Armenian relations given
the fact of Putin-Erdogan rapprochement.

– I think the Russian government basically played “both sides”
on this issue. They saw benefits from a successful Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement, especially economic ones for the Russian-owned companies
in Armenia. But the failure of the Protocols process also enabled
them to strengthen the military alliance with Armenia.

Ara Tadevosyan talked to Tom de Waal

– See more at:

PARTY PLANS: PAP CALLS FOR DISCUSSION ON POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS

NEWS | 04.02.15 | 16:02

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Armenian National Congress (ANC) will not participate in a Thursday
conference called by Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), however the major
oppositional party says its absence from the meeting does not mean
it has philosophical differences or problems with the direction of PAP.

In late December PAP headGagik Tsarukyan called for the conference
to discuss current political and economic situations in the country.

Tsarukyan spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan on Wednesday told ArmeniaNow
that more than a dozen non-political forces, NGOs, civil initiatives,
political analysts, and economists are invited.

Still in December ANC spokesperson, Arman Musinyan said Tsarukyan
and the PAP, besides the oppositional troika, are holding a series
of consultations with representatives of other political forces,
NGOs and civil initiatives, and the conference is another such event.

“What refers to our participation, we cooperate with the PAP and hold
consultations in bilateral and troika formats,” Musinyan said, and
this was once again confirmed by ANC member LevonZurabyan on Wednesday.

The third member of the oppositional “troika”, Heritage, will
be represented at the conference by party deputy president
ArmenMartirosyanand faction head Ruben Hakobyan.

“I cannot specify our expectations, but we will go to introduce
our approach, how we see solutions of problems in this situation,”
Martirosyan said.

In response to ArmeniaNow’s question whether the conference will
activate opposition actions, Martirosyan said that it is a stage of
internal discussions in opposition, but he thinks that soon it will
be time to start public protests.

From: A. Papazian

A NEW EPIDEMIC IS AT ARMENIA’S DOORSTEPS, SAYS ATG

February 3, 2015

ATG workers inspect grape vines in Armenia.

YEREVAN–A major agricultural catastrophe is lurking in Armenia.

Armenia’s centuries old grape and related industries are in danger of
losing their productivity, potentially impacting the livelihood of
thousands of families and causing a major loss of export potentials
and income to the entire country – reports Fresno, California-based
Armenian Technology Group, Inc. (ATG).

Armenia’s Ararat Valley — where the vineyards date back to
the biblical times — is infected by the phylloxera nematode,
a microscopic louse that attacks the roots of grape vines. The
infestation is severely diminishing the grape-root system’s ability
to absorb needed water and nutrients to sustain the vine.

“Phylloxera is the nemesis of the grape industry,” said Varoujan Der
Simonian, Executive Director of ATG. “Once a vineyard is infected by
the louse it can destroy it fairly rapidly, and then spread naturally
to others nearby.”

In Ararat Valley, the destructive nematode appeared few years ago, in a
small family vineyard. The locals considered it as a single incident,
ripped up and burned the vines and thought that would control the
disease. However, similar to the Europeans’ in the early 1900’s,
their attempt to eradicate the louse failed!

In 2013 phylloxera appeared in another vineyard in Ararat Valley. The
field was quarantined to contain the louse, but the attempt had
failed as well. As of December 2014 phylloxera has already spread
to a 40 mile radius, and infected at least eight different vineyards
located in Armavir region. Based on a data obtained from the Ministry
of Agriculture in Armenia, It has been identified in vineyards in
Aghavnatoun, Arevadem, Aygek, Artamed, Kayi, Norapat, Noraket and
Mayisian villages.

If the spread of the disease continues at its current pace, within the
next 5 to 10 years farmers in Armenia might lose all their vines,
be forced to rip them out and replant their vineyards with new
phylloxera-resistant vines.

Importing and propagating plants is prohibited in Armenia without
the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture — very much like in
other developing countries.

On January 30, Sergio Karapetyan, Ministry of Agriculture announced
that “Armenia must develop phylloxera-resistant plants.”

“We are exploring the options with the [Ministry of Agriculture],
to prepare the foundation for a phylloxera-resistant grape nursery at
a secluded location” said Der Simonian. “It is not possible to clear
the fields form the louse. Farmers cannot fight this epidemic alone;
we have to supply them with phylloxera-resistant plants to help them
rejuvenate their vineyards.”

The livelihoods of thousands of already stressed farm-families in
Armenia are at high risk of being ruined. These farmers are the
ones who work hard year-long to supply grapes to the centuries-old
Armenian wine and cognac [brandy] industries. As a result, these
income-generating producers and exporters are also on the verge of
not only environmental, but also economic collapse.

During the 19th century Phylloxera infestation become and epidemic
throughout France and most of Europe, destroying some two-thirds
of the continent’s vineyards, and by 1900’s some 70% of the vines
in France were dead -the livelihoods of thousands of families were
ruined. The danger is no less in US! In the 1990’s Phylloxera attacked
California’s main wine region causing about two thirds of the vineyards
in Napa Valley to be replanted. Phylloxera has also devastated many
vineyards in Oregon, whose owners had hoped that the louse wouldn’t
infest the virgin soils.

ATG is soliciting contributions for this purpose. Tax-deductible
contributions could be mailed to ATG P.O. Box 5969, Fresno CA 93755.