Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIE-GEORGIE
Les relations économiques entre l’Arménie et la Géorgie de développent
croissance de 45 % en un an

Une rencontre entre le Premier ministre arménien Dikran Sarkissian et
son homologue géorgien Nika Kilaouri s’est déroulée à Batoumi
(Géorgie). Les délégations arméniennes et géorgiennes se dont
rencontrés dans la vie balnéaire pour effectuer le point sur les le
niveau des relations économiques, culturelles, touristiques ou autres
entre la Géorgie et l’Arménie. « La commission intergouvernementale en
Arménie soutient le développement des relations arméno-géorgiennes.
Nous sommes intéressés par ce processus de coopération entre nos deux
pays pour le plus grand bénéfice de nos deux peuples » dit Dikran
Sarkissian lors d’une interview. Selon Dikran Sarkissian le Communauté
européenne encouragent l’Arménie et la Géorgie à réaliser un certain
nombre de programmes en commun ainsi que des investissements
économiques et le développement des relations commerciales entre
Erévan et Tbilissi. Nika Kilaouri s’est également félicité du
renforcement des relations économiques entre la Géorgie et l’Arménie
en affirmant que chaque année ces échanges se développent à un très
grand rythme. « Les échanges économiques ont connu une croissance de
45 % cette année » dit le Premier ministre géorgien.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 20 novembre 2011,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
Nov 19 2011

Azerbaijani army violates ceasefire 150 times in one week

The Azerbaijani army violated ceasefire regime around 150 times during
the past week, the press office of the NKR Defense Army reported.

The Azerbaijani army subunits fired more than 1000 shots from
different types of firearms at the NKR defensive positions. Most
intensive ceasefire violations were recorded on November 13 and 19.
The enemy fired around 500 shots in these days alone, of which 70
shots were fired from “SVD” and “Black Arrow” sniper rifles. The
Armenian side suffered one casualty: contract serviceman Aren Simonyan
was killed by Azerbaijani sniper fire.

Besides ceasefire violations, the air defense forces of the NKR
Defense Army also fixed flights by UAVs belonging to the Azerbaijani
Air Force in enemy’s airspace.

From: A. Papazian

Panorama, Armenia
Nov 19 2011

French FM discusses Armenian Genocide issue with Davutoglu

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had a meeting with his
French counterpart Alain Juppe in Ankara. `CnnTurk’ news service said
after the meeting, the diplomats had a joint news conference, where
they presented the agenda they’ve focused on, including issues related
to Syria, Turkey’s EU membership, Armenian Genocide, etc.

Referring to Turkey’s membership to the EU, the French diplomat said
Ankara hadn’t carried out all those terms matching with the EU family
needs.

As for the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Juppe said: `The states must be
faithful to their debts with the past.’ Davutoglu answered to his
French counterpart: `We’re committed to carry out the history, but
we’re against drafts of law which make us naked. For instance French
Senate has that kind of draft of law.’

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Nov 19 2011

French FM’s statement contradicts official policy of Paris on Armenian
Genocide – Armenian MP

November 19, 2011 | 20:15

YEREVAN. – French Foreign Minister’s statement made in Turkey
contradicts an official policy of this country on the Armenian
Genocide, MP from Prosperous Armenia Party Naira Zohrabyan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

`The fact that the French Foreign Minister makes such a statement is
at least strange, taking into account the statement made by President
Sarkozy in Armenia this year. In fact, the statement of Foreign
Minister Alain Juppe directly contradicts Sarkozy’s statements. It is
also opposed to France’s position on this issue, the ratified law on
Genocide and country’s policy on recognition of the Armenian
Genocide,” said Zohrabyan.

The MP believes Armenian Foreign Ministry should ask for explanations
from the French colleagues.

`I followed the statement of French FM, he spoke on behalf of France.
Our Foreign Office should at least require further explanation.
Previously we had precedents of misunderstanding,’ said Zohrabyan.

Earlier Armenian News-NEWS.am with a reference to Turkish Anadolu
agency reported that during the joint press conference in Ankara,
French FM Juppe stated that all the major states conduct studies on
their own history.

Such studies may be conducted within the frameworks of a commission of
historians, the agency quotes Juppe. The source states that French FM
called the period of the Armenian Genocide hard both for Armenia and
for Turkey and expressed readiness of his state to organize and host
Armenian-Turkish discussions on the subject.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Nov 19 2011

Georgian President followed Armenian family’s case in court

November 19, 2011 | 15:28

TBILISI. – Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was following the
jury in the court during the hearings on brutal murder case of the
Minasyan family, which occurred 17 years ago.

The President talked to the representatives of the Minasyan family. He
stated that it was the first case with the participation of jury in
Georgia, and its fair ending was too important.

Saakashvili stated that the accused will not escape punishment. `The
truth was on your side and I was sure in it,’ the President said,
Georgia-Online reports.

Tbilisi’s court with the participation of the jury completed the
consideration of the case on the murder of the Armenian family and
announced a final verdict on Thursday.

The case concerns the murder of Nshan and Flora Minasyan, their son
Vazgen and his sister Gayane and a minor child. The defendant of the
case is Revaz Demetrashvili.

The 17-year-old case of the triple murder was solved in the beginning
of September of the current year. At that time Georgia announced three
people concerned with the case – Gregori Atarashvili, Revaz
Dematrashvili and Alexander Revazeshfili.

According to the investigation, the above mentioned men kidnapped
Vazgen Minasyaan and freed him only after his family paid $15 million
provided that during a few days they had to pay $150 million. But some
time later they decided to kill the Minasyan family members in order
to hide the kidnapping fact.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
Nov 19 2011

New options and approaches need to be discussed for settling Karabakh
conflict – expert

November 19, 2011 | 13:15

BAKU. – Aside from short-term steps toward weakening tension around
the Karabakh conflict, different options and alternatives for progress
need to be discussed, but at the same time without damaging the
process which is continuing for already seventeen years, Lawrence
Sheets, the South Caucasus Project Director for the International
Crisis Group stated, APA news agency reported.

`The current status quo is unstable for a long-term prospect.
Unfortunately, we did not see a breakthrough [at the Kazan Summit]
while the process that is continuing within the framework of the [OSCE
(Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)] Minsk Group
slowed down considerably,’ Sheets noted.

Also, the expert expressed a concern that resumption of military
operations could turn into a full-scale regional conflict.

In addition, as per Lawrence Sheets, it is also necessary to consider
the fact that the two sides now have larger quanti

From: A. Papazian

Nabucco is Dead

Nabucco is dead. BP killed it. The epic 5-country natural gas pipeline
that was to bring Caspian resources to Central Europe to lessen EU
dependence on Russian supplies was scuppered in late September by the
very same supermajor that was supposed to supply it with gas from
Azerbaijan. As an October 1 deadline approached for Nabucco and its
smaller competitors to submit their commercial transit and tariff
terms to Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz consortium – one of the holders of
the gas – BP, with a 25.5% stake in Shah Deniz, proposed its own
alternative project: the South East Europe Pipeline (SEEP).

Essentially a portion of Nabucco, it is smaller, cheaper and more
realistic than its operatic alternative. And it’s got a gas-holding
supermajor behind it. Most importantly, while Nabucco at around 30
billion cubic meters (bcm) a year was a project with three times the
capacity of natural gas immediately available from Shah Deniz, SEEP’s
capacity hovers around 10 bcm – just enough to realize the task at
hand. BP representatives have also discussed the possibility for that
capacity to expand in the future, should more gas – from Azerbaijan’s
newly confirmed Absheron field or from Turkmenistan across the Caspian
– become available. On the face of it, SEEP provides less risk
up-front and flexibility in the long run.

In some ways, this is welcome news. Although just an idea, Nabucco was
always a white elephant of sorts. It was endorsed by the European
Commission as a strategic project to help solve Europe’s energy
security woes, but it put the cart before the horse. Building transit
capacity without available resources to fill it is not the way that
pipelines are built. There were also serious concerns about its cost
(up to 20 billion USD at last estimate) and financing. Even with seed
funds from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,
(EBRD) it would have been an enormous challenge to find private sector
investment for a project of this scale in today’s economic
environment. Nabucco’s consortium, a hodge-podge of national energy
companies along its route and larger players such as Germany’s RWE,
never had the clout that even a beleaguered supermajor like BP can
bring to the table. It is perhaps not surprising that Nabucco’s
start-date was delayed at least four times over an eight-year period.

All this said, BP’s alternative may have killed off a competitor, but
it is far from the ideal project. Ironically, one of Nabucco’s
original smaller competitors is closer to fitting the bill. The
Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is also a 10 bcm project, but with the
important option of expanding to 20 bcm should gas become available.
It has strong shareholders in Statoil, E.ON Ruhrgas and EGL, so that
it won’t have to go begging for investment. The main difference is
that SEEP will terminate in Austria, whereas TAP plans to head to
Italy through Greece and Albania. A notable difference is that TAP has
laid the groundwork with transit countries and regulatory hurdles for
several years, whereas SEEP was just announced.

SEEP may well have legs. With BP’s Russian investments foundering, it
has announced that it is doubling down on commitments to develop
Azerbaijani gas and oil reserves. Having its own export pipeline fits
neatly into its new strategy. But, it will face competition from its
Shah Deniz consortium partner Statoil – also with 25.5%. As a major
shareholder in both Shah Deniz and TAP, Statoil claims there are
`Chinese walls’ between the two operations. But, it will probably take
the opportunity now that Nabucco is out of the game to push its own
realistic, cheap and flexible project.

In fact, Statoil and TAP may well be the thinking man’s horse in the
race. BP may have come back strong in Azerbaijan, but in the years
that it was focused on its Russian investments it had to deemphasize
its Caspian presence so as not to be perceived as competing with
Moscow’s Gazprom in the region. In the meantime, Statoil filled the
void and has now emerged as the player with the most influence with
the Azerbaijani government. This is of paramount importance, because
now that the four pipeline projects have submitted their proposals,
the decision lies with the holders of the gas. And, while BP and
Statoil may be majority shareholders in Shah Deniz, the nature of gas
development in Azerbaijan means that the government in Baku will have
the final say.

Alexandros Petersen is Advisor to the European Energy Security
Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

This post first appeared in Oil and Gas Journal.
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From: A. Papazian

NA disagrees with Ombudsman

01:38 pm | Today | Politics

RA Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan was at the Constitutional
Court today to appeal the compatibility of Article 1087.1 of the RA
Civil Code with three articles of the Constitution, including Articles
14, 27 and 43.

The Human Rights Defender presented his arguments, and the respondent,
that is, the representative of the National Assembly presented his
counter-arguments.

Karen Andreasyan finds that the amendments made in the RA Civil Code
in 2010 (Article 1087.1), which were aimed at decriminalizing the
concepts of “Slander” and “Offense”, have turned into an instrument
for impeding the functional application of the constitutional norms of
freedom of speech, as well as seeking, receiving and disseminating
information.

The respondent, that is, the NA believes that the order and conditions
for compensation of damage caused to the honor, dignity or fame set by
Article 1087.1 of the RA Civil Code are completely compatible with the
Constitution.

After hearing the sides, the CC went to the consultations room.

There will be additional information on when the CC will announce its verdict.

From: A. Papazian

Dink suspect father says state had hand in plot

09:31 ¢ 15.11.11

The father of one of the suspects in the Hrant Dink murder case
claimed Sunday that his son was cajoled by state officials to murder
Dink and threatened to name names.

Bahattin Hayal, the father of suspect Yasin Hayal, who allegedly
instigated the hitman Ogun Samsat to assassinate Dink, expressed doubt
that the case would be resolved in its entirety, Asbarez.com reported,
citing the Hurriyet Daily News.

`I am in full agreement with the Dink family’s lawyers. I do not
believe that the dark side of this case will truly come to light. I
cannot look at the faces of the Dink family; it gives me pain,’
Bahattin Hayal told reporters Sunday after the hearing, according to
Hurriyet.
Reportedly, minutes before the latest hearing on the Dink case,
Bahattin Hayal asked to act as a witness, saying he had important
information. His request was denied. `They warned me that I would find
myself in trouble. I told them that I had shared the truth with them,
but they forced me to change my testimony,’ Hurriyet quoted Nahattin
Hayal as saying.

The suspect’s father calimed that a high-ranking official in the
southeastern province of Mardin has frequently transmitted messages to
him through an intermediary, adding that he would share that
information with the public in near future.

Hayal said the person who coerced his son to kill Dink should reveal
the true identity of his superiors and their connections to the state.

In another development in the Dink case, there are just over two
months left until the phone records relevant to the case are to be
erased. Turkey’s Telecommunications Directorate (TÄ°B), which possesses
the records, has refused two court orders to produce the records. A
higher court order for the records resulted in TIB to issue its own
set of demands, again delaying the request.Phone records are only kept
for five years, meaning authorities must convince TÄ°B to release the
transcripts by Jan. 19, 2012, the fifth anniversary of Dink’s murder.

The Malatya deputy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party
(CHP) has accused the country’s Telecommunications Directorate (TÄ°B)
of attempting to hamper the Dink case and accusing the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) of standing behind the body’s actions.

`Nearly all state institutions are working to prolong the [trial]
process and to make [people] forget about the murder, rather than
trying to shed light on it,’ CHP deputy Veli AÄ?baba told members of
the press in Parliament.

The TÄ°B’s behavior bordered on the negligent and intentional, AÄ?baba
said, adding that he TÄ°B’s temerity comes from the fact that its
president is protected by the

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

‘INT’L COMMUNITY ON RECORD AS WANTING A SOLUTION TO KARABAKH PROBLEM’

News.az
Nov 18 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews James J. Coyle, Ph.D., Director of Global Education,
Chapman University.

Do you think that the US gave the South Caucasus region up to Russia
after the August war in Georgia? How can you explain that the US is
not as active in the region as it was to be?

Shortly after the Russians invaded Georgia, on 31 August 2008 President
Medvedyev gave a television interview in which he announced his views
on Russian foreign and security policy. In that interview, he stated
that Russia considers it a priority to protect Russians wherever they
may be, and that Russia has privileged interest in certain regions.

The Russian Duma passed the Law on Defense which gives the Russian
military the right to use military force abroad. These positions
are reiterated in the Russian Military Doctrine that was issued on
5 February 2010. Why is this important? Because Washington wants to
“reset” relations with Moscow. As a result, Washington has tacitly
conceded the South Caucasus as being an area in which Russia has
privileged interests.

The EU is very active in our region. Does this activity meets or
contradict the American interests in the South Caucasus?

The EU is a long-term ally of the United States. Most of the EU members
are also members of NATO. In general, furtherance of EU objectives is
also furtherance of US objectives. Of course, there are exceptions
to that statement and you would have to be more specific with your
question.

What do you think about Azerbaijan’s policy in the South Caucasus
and the Caspian region?

Azerbaijan’s policies are based on a seeking of cooperation with
all its neighbors. As an example, when it built the Baku to Ceyhan
pipeline, it made certain that “early oil” would go through the
Russian pipeline system. The South Caucasus and the Caspian are rough
neighborhoods, however, and sometimes national interest trumps the
desire for good relations. So, when Azerbaijan says it wants to build
a Trans Caspian pipeline to bring Turkmen gas into various Southern
Corridor pipeline projects, Azerbaijan says it can make a bilateral
treaty with Turkmenistan. Russia and Iran insist they have a veto
power over the project.

>From the US perspective, building the TCP is an essential step to
bring natural gas from the Caspian basin to the West and is therefore a
good thing–even if it ruffles the feathers of Azerbaijan’s neighbors.

They talk a lot in the West about security guarantees for Georgia
(NATO membership promises, trainings for militaries etc), but what
about Azerbaijan? Whether the West has any capacities to protect its
ally, situated in the very difficult region, from any kind of danger
from its neighbors?

Azerbaijan has stated it does not want to be part of NATO or any
military bloc. The US has the ability to provide training and support
to allies anywhere in the world. Whether it will provide these services
is based on American national security interests.

What do you think about Karabakh problem? Why does the international
community not want to deal with it?

The international community is on record as wanting a solution to the
Karabakh problem. UN General Assembly resolution 62/243 reaffirms
“continued respect and support for the sovereignty and territorial
integrity” of Azerbaijan “within its internationally recognized
borders”, and demands the “immediate, complete and unconditional
withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all the occupied territories”
of Azerbaijan.

The OSCE continues to search for a negotiated solution through the
Minsk process, cochaired by the United States, Russia and France.

From: A. Papazian