Author: Andres-Papazian

NO CHANGE IN ARMENIA-NAGORNO-KARABAKH CUSTOMS STATION SITUATION – ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN

14:57 * 16.10.14

Political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan commented on Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev’s statement on compromise-based signing on the
treaty on Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union.

Nothing of the kind, Mr Iskandaryan told a press conference on
Thursday.

“Russia-Kazakhstan relations account for that statement. All the
signatories are well aware of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union
within its present-day boundaries, with no Karabakh-related problems.”

With respect to the possibility of a customs station between Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh, the expert said that a customs stations is
actually operating.

In fact, it would be naïve to think that Russia or Kazakhstan could
exercise customs control there.

“As to the claims that Armenians in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh may
not be allowed to transport their goods through the customs stations,
it is a joke.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO STEP UP CONTROL OF GROUND WATERS

YEREVAN, October 16. / ARKA /. The Armenian government on Thursday has
approved a program for the development of the national observational
network for monitoring of groundwater resources.

Nature protection minister Aramais Grigoryan said the purpose of the
program is to improve the evaluation of qualitative and quantitative
changes in ground waters and to ensure their protection and rational
management.

He said due to the shortage of manholes it is difficult to assess
qualitative and quantitative changes in groundwater and to ensure
their protection and good management.

He said this year 19.4 million drams have been spent on the monitoring
of 70 manholes in the national network.

He added that the program calls for increasing the number of manholes
in the national network to 128. He said this will cost 44 million
drams. ($ 1 – 410.76 drams). -0–

From: A. Papazian

RESIDENTS LEFT WITH NO COMPENSATION FOR DEMOLISHED HOUSES PROTESTING OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT BUILDING

YEREVAN, October 16. /ARKA/. A spontaneous protest is being held
by Yekmalyan street private sector residents outside the government
building in Yerevan, an ARKA reporter says.

The territory of the private houses was said to be of public interest:
the houses were demolished in 2008, and a new building was to be
built instead. The residents were promised to be paid compensations
or to get apartments in the new building.

The protesters say the new building is not there yet and no
compensation has been paid to them. They demand a meeting with the
premier to discuss how the problem can be solved.

The protest started in the morning, but no government official has
approached the protesters so far. After the government meeting,
protesters attempted to block the traffic in Tigran Mets street,
but the police prevented the attempts.

A government representative came out to the protesters and suggested
them discussing the matter at the reception, but they refused to do it,
gathered again at the entrance and demanded a meeting with the premier.

About 20-30 people take part in the protest now. The police try to
push the protesters back from the entrance. Medical aid was provided
to a protester feeling sick. -0–

From: A. Papazian

ZARUHI POSTANJYAN 8-POINT AGENDA NOT DISCUSSED AMONG HER PARTY OR THE TRIO

10.15.2014 15:14 epress.am

The Trio(three non-ruling political parties) must form a united agenda,
which still does not exist, said Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjyan
during a press conference. “After the next rally, we would need to
wait and see what’ll happen,” said the MP.

According to Postanjyan, she presented an agenda with her personal
observations and suggestions; however, so far it has not been discussed
within the party or the Trio. The MP says the agenda consists of
8 points, in which the first point relates to the resignation of
Serzh Sargsyan.

Postanjyan says that the Heritage Party is involved in the process
in order to reach systematic changes.

“The platform and the people need to cooperate in their actions, and
those who exercise the people’s demands will remain on the platform,”
she said.

Postanjyan noted that she had heard the authority’s demands via the
Prosperous Armenia Party members, however, there have not been any
concrete steps taken until today.

The Trio consists of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), Heritage
Party, and Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK). The three political
parties have organized rallies across Armenia over the past month and
on October 10, held a rally in Yerevan’s Liberty Square. During the
rally, the political party leaders spoke of regime change and a vague
political path to achieving the removal of the current government. The
rally could be considered to be the largest (in size) in recent years.

The next rally will be organized on October 24.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA FACING THREAT OF LOSING DRINKING WATER: ECOLUR

11:16 | October 16,2014 | Social

The new residential areas in Armenia may get deprived of their
drinking water, which include a number of residential areas in Artik,
Akhuryan, Maralik, Armavir, Vgharshapat and Ararat. The reason is
the irrational use of underground freshwater, which will result
in mineral waters getting mixed with freshwater thus making it non
usable for drinking. Irrational works have already made the springs
of Sev Jur disappear, the same threatens to the underground springs
in Verin Akhuryan, Katnaghbyur, Aparan and Quchak.

This alarm signal will be beaten at the governmental meeting to be
held on 16 October – when approving “Development Program of National
Observation Network for Monitoring of Underground Water Resources in
the Republic of Armenia” document. The program says that 96% of the
drinking water supply is implemented due to the groundwater, which is
also used for other economic purposes such as irrigation, industry,
fish farming etc. “In 2009-2013 from 18 to 18.42 million AMD was
planned for monitoring 70 observation sites in the national network.

These funds don’t include the rehabilitation, recovery costs, costs
of equipping them with needed meter devices and transportation
costs (essential changes in petrol price). The program sets out
128 observation sites, which annually need around 344,706 AMD for
maintenance costs and hydrogeological studies or a total of 44,122,447
AMD,” the program says.

EcoLur

From: A. Papazian

GIGNAC STARS AS FRANCE BEAT ARMENIA

Yahoo News
Oct 14 2014

October 15, 2014, 6:23 am
AFP

Yerevan (AFP) – Andre-Pierre Gignac marked his first start for France
in more than four years with a goal and two assists as the Euro 2016
hosts eased to a 3-0 friendly win in Armenia on Wednesday.

Gignac set up goals for Loic Remy and substitute Antoine Griezmann
either side of converting a second-half penalty in Yerevan as Didier
Deschamps’ side followed up their 2-1 friendly win over Portugal at
the weekend with a comfortable victory.

Deschamps made eight changes to his starting line-up from that win on
Saturday, with goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, Raphael Varane and Blaise
Matuidi the only players to keep their places.

Karim Benzema, who had picked up a knock against Portugal, was dropped
to the bench to allow Marseille striker Gignac, the leading scorer
in Ligue 1, to start for Les Bleus for the first time since the 2-1
defeat to South Africa in the last match of their disastrous 2010
World Cup campaign.

And on the occasion of his 19th cap, Gignac did not disappoint,
ensuring that he should remain part of Deschamps’ future plans,
although the player himself refused to get carried away.

“The competition for places in attack is ferocious. I don’t think I
scored any points tonight particularly,” he said.

“But compared to my last call-up (for a World Cup qualifier in Georgia
last year), where I was too timid, I showed greater responsibility. I
had told myself this was maybe my last chance.”

Gignac needed just eight minutes to make his presence felt, controlling
a long diagonal ball from Jeremy Mathieu and crossing from the right
side of the box for Chelsea forward Remy to tap in at the back post.

The 28-year-old almost got his name on the scoresheet eight minutes
before the interval when he was left with just the ‘keeper to beat
six yards from goal, but the veteran Roman Berezovski got down well
to save.

Nevertheless, against an Armenia side deprived of Borussia Dortmund’s
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and several other leading players due to injury,
the chances kept coming for the visitors in the second half.

When substitute Paul Pogba’s weaving run into the area was
ended unceremoniously by Varazdat Haroyan, Gignac stepped up to
send Berezovski the wrong way from the spot and score his first
international goal in exactly five years since netting in a 3-1 defeat
of Austria.

Remy and Gignac both had opportunities to add to the lead before the
latter’s long through ball was picked up by Griezmann, who rounded
replacement ‘keeper Gevorg Kasparov to complete the win.

France are next in friendly action in November, when they entertain
Albania and Sweden, while Armenia, who are yet to win in Euro 2016
qualifying Group I, go to Portugal next month.

From: A. Papazian

POLITICS: KARABAKH QUESTION CLOUDS ARMENIA’S EURASIAN UNION ACCESSION

IPS – Inter Press Service
October 11, 2014 Saturday

by Marianna Grigoryan /eurasianet *

YEREVAN, Oct 11 2014

Armenia has finalized its accession to the Russia-led Eurasian Economic
Union, an intended regional counterweight to the European Union. But
while Armenian and Russian officials focus on future prosperity, some
Armenian observers believe membership in the bloc could exacerbate
Armenia’s security challenges.

During an Oct. 10 meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council,
held in Minsk, Belarus, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed
that Armenia would be formally admitted to the Eurasian Economic Union
(EEU) when it launches on Jan. 1, 2015.

The Armenian government approved the draft text of the accession
agreement in early October, Armenian media reported. The EEU will
be an outgrowth of the existing customs union among Russia, Belarus
and Kazakhstan.

Armenian political analysts greeted the accession announcement with
mixed feelings, in part because the final text of the pact has not
been subjected to public scrutiny. There is particular concern about
the pact’s ramifications for Armenia’s relationship with the Nagorno
Karabakh territory, an enclave inhabited by ethnic Armenians who
aspire to gain international recognition of their de-facto independence
from Azerbaijan.

A draft released earlier this year implied that a customs post would
be established between Armenia and Karabakh. Local economists say that
such an economic barrier would paralyze Karabakh’s economy since the
territory depends on Armenia as its primary market for its limited
selection of exports.

Beyond the potential economic ramifications, many Armenians would see
the establishment of a customs regime as tantamount to the cutting of
cultural ties with Karabakh, an act that could leave the territory –
and, consequently, Armenia itself – vulnerable to possible Azerbaijani
aggression.

“Currently, we have no expectations with regard to security. We see
only threats,” commented Aghasi Yenokian, director of the Armenian
Center for Political and International Studies, a Yerevan-based
think-tank.

Over the past year, Armenian officials have said repeatedly that
Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union takes into account
security guarantees for both Armenia and Karabakh, but no proof of
this has been offered.

As a result, uncertainty continues to swirl around the future of the
Armenia-Karabakh trade relationship. Two of the EEU’s three members,
Belarus and Kazakhstan, are on record as categorically opposed to
allowing Armenia to share the bloc’s trade advantages with Karabakh,
which none of the members recognize as a country independent from
Azerbaijan.

In Minsk, however, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev stated
that a “compromise” had been reached “on a delicate question within the
borders by which Armenia will be joined to our union,” the ITAR-TASS
news agency reported.

Details were not immediately available.

Members of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia contacted by
EurasiaNet.org declined to comment on the challenges that EEU
membership could pose for Armenia’s ties with Karabakh.

“There is a very complicated period awaiting us, taking into account
the somewhat unfriendly attitude of the EEU to Armenia, particularly
on the part of Nazarbayev and [Belarusian President Alexander ]
Lukashenko,” commented Styopa Safarian, director of the Armenian
Institute of International and Security Affairs.

President Sargsyan, a native of Karabakh, does not, however, appear to
share such worries. Congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin
on his Oct. 7 birthday, Sargsyan stated that Putin’s “consistent
efforts” for a peaceful resolution of the 26-year Karabakh conflict
with Azerbaijan, and his support for Armenia’s EEU membership “deserve
the deepest appreciation.”

Opposition parties have also adopted conciliatory stances toward
Russia, observers note. This fact leaves some analysts glum; to them,
it means the political class is unlikely to push hard to promote
Armenia’s interests within the EEU.

“The opposition and the authorities do their best not to make the
Kremlin angry,” said Styopa Safarian, the analyst and former member
of the opposition Heritage Party. “This situation is not encouraging
at all.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA LOST 0:3 TO FRANCE IN A FRIENDLY HELD IN YEREVAN.

21:49, 14 Oct 2014

Mathieu stepped up from the back and clipped a great diagonal pass in
behind the defence for Gignac. He drilled the ball into the centre
where Loic Remy was waiting to sweep it into the back of the net on
the 7th minute.

On the 55th minute Andre Pierre Gignac sent keeper Roman Berezovsky
the wrong way, slotting his penalty into the bottom corner.

Antoine Griezmann made it 0:3 on the 83rd minute.

The teams played a total of three times before today’s matvh, but
the last time they met was in 1999 when France beat Armenia 3 –
2. France also won on the other two occasions that they played,
both times they won 2 – 0.

From: A. Papazian

ARTSAKH STATE UNIVERSITY AND BELGIUM’S CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LEUVEN HAVE SIGNED A DECLARATION OF COOPERATION

Lragir.am
Society – 14 October 2014, 18:00

Applications for 2015/2016 Chevening Scholarships in Armenia are now
open, and will close on 15 November at 23:59 GMT

On October 13, the Artsakh State University and Belgium’s Catholic
University of Leuven signed a Declaration of Cooperation in
Stepanakert.

The Declaration was signed in the NKR by Rector of the Artsakh State
University Manush Minasyan and in Belgium – by Rector of the Catholic
University of Leuven Rik Torfs.

The Catholic University of Leuven was represented in Stepanakert by the
University Honorable Rector, Professor, member of the Europe-Armenia
Advisory Committee, Bernard Coulie.

The ceremony of signing was also attended by Chairman of the NKR NA
Ashot Ghulian, Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan, as well as member
of the European Parliament, President of the EU-Armenia Friendship
Group Eleni Theocharous, political advisor to a MEP, International
Law and European Studies Doctor Ioannis Charalampidis and Chairman
of the ARFD Hay Dat Committee Gaspar Karampetian.

“Another page is added to our University’s rich history of
international cooperation – it is the signing of the Declaration
between the Artsakh and Belgian Universities, which will give a new
impetus to the University’s scientific and educational development.

Today, we have over two dozens of international agreements, but this
is the first agreement with a European University, which will allow
to expand the activities in this region too”, Rector of the Artsakh
State University Manush Minasyan said.

In turn, Bernard Coulie emphasized that the University of Leuven is
one of the world’s oldest and unique universities, where a 200-year-old
Department of Armenian Studies is operating.

“I am confident that we can establish cooperation in various fields.

The Declaration is a possible way for Artsakh and the Artsakh
University to be recognized in Europe. The very fact that there is
such a University in Artsakh testifies that the local authorities
pay great importance to education”, he said.

Eleni Theocharous and Ioannis Charalampidis stressed that education
is the best way of leading the NKR out of the isolation.

At the end of the meeting, Ioannis Charalampidis and Bernard Coulie
were granted the honorable degrees of Professor and Doctor of the
Artsakh State University for their outstanding achievements in the
scientific and educational spheres and establishments of scientific
relations between the Artsakh State University and the Catholic
University of Leuven.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT VICE-SPEAKER MEETS WITH AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT’S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER

17:43 * 14.10.14

Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, who is on a
working visit to Geneva, had a meeting on Monday with Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Parliament of Australia, Bronwyn Kathleen
Bishop, on the sidelines of the 131st session of the Assembly of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Mr Sharmazanov noted that inter-parliamentary cooperation plays its
role in the development of inter-state relations. Mutual visits could
be a good basis for the expansion of inter-parliamentary relations.

On her part, Ms Bronwyn Bishop stressed the development of
Armenian-Australian parliamentary cooperation.

Mr Sharmazanov commended Australia’s balanced position on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He expressed his gratitude to the Parliament
of New South Wales for recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence
and the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to self-determination in 2012.

Also, in 1997, the Parliament of New South Wales approved a resolution
condemning the Armenian Genocide. In this context, Mr Sharmazanov
expressed hope that the Parliament of Australia will discuss the
issue of condemning the Armenian Genocide.

From: A. Papazian