Author: Andres-Papazian

AZERBAIJAN CAN NO LONGER COVER UP ITS ANTIDEMOCRATIC SITUATION WITH “CAVIAR” POLITICS – ARMENIA DELEGATE TO PACE

June 26, 2014 | 00:04

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s hysterical reaction at the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) session was
natural, since he did not have a clear answer to the European MP’s
query as to why journalists and bloggers are deprived of their liberty
in Azerbaijan.

Non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party National Assembly Faction
Secretary Naira Zohrabyan, who is also a member of the Armenian
delegation to PACE, told the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“It was apparent that this PACE session would be held with
accusations against Azerbaijan, and I had noted that, after Russia,
the international organizations will seriously deal with Azerbaijan,”
she added.

As per Zohrabyan, it is obvious that Azerbaijan will no longer be
able to cover up this antidemocratic situation with “caviar” politics.

Consequently, the mood at the PACE session was anti-Azerbaijani.

“I believe it is understandable that the Armenian delegation’s decision
was very accurate to discuss the questions with the European colleagues
and to pose the questions to Aliyev and [Azerbaijani FM Elmar]
Mammadyarov with their help,” Naira Zohrabyan specifically noted.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

168 ZHAM: ARMENIA MUST DEMAND THAT RUSSIA BE MORE RESPECTFUL – RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN

10:47 * 26.06.14

Azerbaijan does actually show political will, but in the wrong
direction, Richard Giragosian, Founding Director of the Regional
Studies Center (RSC), told the newspaper on returning from Baku.

According to him, the political will in question is based on a
maximalist approach – nothing but Azerbaijan’s full control of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Diplomatically, Giragosian is not too optimistic,
and Azerbaijan’s diplomatic strategy is neither diplomacy nor strategy.

The Armenian delegation stayed at the same hotel with Russian FM
Sergei Lavrov. However, more alarming is the fact that the Russian
FM was accompanied by Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor
Popov. That means the Nagorno-Karabakh problem was on the agenda
of the Russian and Azerbaijani FMs’ talks. Besides, two Russian
officials involved in arms supplies to Azerbaijan were accompanying
the Russian FM.

“Armenia must demand that Russia be more respectful,” Gigagosian said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER: “WE CAN DESTROY ANY MILITARY FACILITY AND RESIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT IN ARMENIA”

APA, Azerbaijan
June 25 2014

[ 25 Juny 2014 11:48 ]

“Our soldiers and officers immediately take and will further take
revenge of their killed fellow soldiers”

Baku. Hafiz Heydarov – APA. Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel
General Zakir Hasanov commented on recent incidents on the contact
line, APA reports.

The Minister said in his interview with Azerbaijan newspaper that
today Azerbaijan is in a state of war with Armenia and though more
than 20 years passed since the ceasefire was declared, the Armenian
side, violating the international laws, keeps our territories under
its occupation, is continuously violating the ceasefire and its
reconnaissance and sabotage groups are trying to attack our posts
on the frontline. “The enemy snipers are firing at our military
servicemen, civilians and damaging our facilities and agricultural
areas. We should respond to the enemy in the same way and we are doing
it. I want you to be absolutely sure that our armed units immediately
respond to them and the enemy suffers losses. Our soldiers and officers
immediately take and will further take revenge of their killed fellow
soldiers”, he said.

The Minister said along with the constant violation of ceasefire on
the contact line of troops, Armenian armed units are firing on the
border regions, villages and settlements of Azerbaijan, wounding
and killing civilians: “We are very concerned about it. They are
mainly firing on the Azerbaijani residential settlements in Gazakh,
Aghstafa, Tovuz, Gadabay and Dashkasan regions from their posts
located in Ijevan, Noyemberyan, Berd and Krasnoselsk regions of
Armenia. The enemy aims to expand the occupied zone and demonstrates
its aggressive appearance. However, international organizations remain
silent. We can also act as Armenia, destroy any military facility and
residential settlement in this country. We have all the opportunities
for doing it. However, the principles of humanity and our people’s
higher feelings of humanity keep us from doing it. What is the fault
of civilians, children, women and old people?

Hasanov called on the international organizations: “We draw attention
of Europe, the world, international human rights organizations, OSCE,
European Union, PACE and UN Security Council to this issue once again.

We demand to put an end to the tyranny of Armenia. We demand the
withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan. As the situation become tense on the frontline, citizens
wishing to go to war appeal to the Defense Ministry. It arises from
our people’s hatred for the enemy and wishes to liberate our lands.

Holding large-scale exercises with the use of modern methods at all
levels in the formation and units of the Armed Forces is a warning
to the enemy and it has become military way of life for us.

I want to assure our people that the personnel of the Armed Forces
are capable of fulfilling the task guided by the idea – “Azerbaijan
will not permit the establishment of a second Armenian state in
its historical lands” of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr. Ilham Aliyev and
we have all the opportunities for doing it”, said Minister Hasanov.

From: A. Papazian

CSTO AVIATION FORCES WILL BE FORMED BY YEAR’S END – SECRETARY GENERAL

June 25, 2014 | 15:51

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Aviation Forces
may be formed by end of the year and, also, special forces will be
formed within the organization–in which Armenia is a member–to
combat cyber threats.

CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha told the abovementioned to
Belta news agency of Belarus.

“We realized that means are necessary to transport the forces, which
are formed within the CSTO and are members in its troops, to their
place of operation. That’s why it was deemed appropriate to form
the CSTO Collective Aviation Forces,” Bordyuzha said, reported RIA
Novosti news agency of Russia.

The CSTO chief added that the objective of the CSTO Special Operations
Forces will be to ensure assistance to the armed unit’s activities
within the organization.

“Such special subdivisions can counter cyber attacks,” Nikolay
Bordyuzha noted.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

HRAPARAK: TIGRAN SARGSYAN ON THE WAY TO AMBASSADORIAL APPOINTMENT

09:03 * 25.06.14

The paper says it has learned from sources that the agrement on
appointing ex-Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan Armenia’s ambassador to
the US has been already transferred to Yerevan.

A subsequent presidential decree was due on Tuesday, according to
the paper.

“Though the US normally delays agrement transfer procedures, the
process was considerably speedy this time. Even its own ambassadors’
appointment to other countries lasts quite long, as was the case with
Armenia and Azerbaijan,” says the paper, commenting on the report.

It notes further that Sargsyan has moved out from
a government-allocated private house and now resides in his own
apartment in Yerevan’s Charents street.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

REORGANIZATION AND REJUVENATION

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator
Editorial 6-28

By Edmond Y. Azadian

As tragic as it is, the depopulation of Armenia and the subsequent
settlement of those leaving the homeland in the US and other diasporan
nations, come to prove how vulnerable maintaining that identity is
in the host societies. On the other hand, the diasporan communities
have survived in alien lands for centuries and despite their losses
to assimilation; they have survived, because they have developed a
mechanism of self-preservation.

Armenian organizations in the diaspora have served as sanctuaries of
Armenian identity — the churches, the schools, the press and media,
the relief and cultural organizations — have interacted with each
other to weave a safety net for the preservation of Armenian heritage,
which in turn has nourished that identity.

Competition between the organizations has also fueled vitality,
as long as it has been kept away from destructive forces.

We have to recognize and give due credit to all organizations which
have contributed to the preservation of our heritage. One such
organization has been the Tekeyan Cultural Association, which held
its 33rd convention in its New Jersey center over the past weekend.

Delegates and members congregated representing chapters in the US
and Canada. A sense of euphoria permeated the atmosphere, because
the participants had waited far too long to come together, to share
their experiences and chart the course for future actions.

The TCA conventions traditionally are held biannually, but the June
20-21 convention was held after a three-year hiatus.

It is no secret that the organization experienced some turbulence in
the recent past which affected its normal operation.

Where there is smoke, there is fire, as the adage goes, but the
organization was able to rise above the malevolent actions of some
ill-wishers by continuing its cultural and educational missions
relentlessly.

The Tekeyan Cultural Association and the ADL move forward in
lockstep, in their realm of activities and structure. Disruption in
one organization, however, spills over the other. The ADL is a truly
democratic organization and unless a member is a democrat in sprit,
he or she can abuse the system very easily. The organization does
not exercise militaristic control like some others, to curb internal
dissent.

The conspiracy that upset the twin organizations pursued specific
goals; one was to neutralize the organization in Armenia as a political
force and the other was to seize control its assets. And indeed,
the organization’s real estate holdings on the West Coast, Middle
East and Armenia was compromised. But the structure of the TCA US
and Canada was such that all assets ultimately were kept intact and
fiscal responsibility was observed.

The TCA of US and Canada owns and operates centers and schools in
North America. Additionally, it sponsors five schools in Armenia and
Karabagh through its Sponsor a Teacher Program. Its chapters carry
artistic and cultural activities in their respective communities and
they have left their indelible mark and impact in those communities
as ambassadors of Armenian culture.

The 33rd convention, hosted by the New York/New Jersey Chapter,
became a turning point to motivate the chapters and members to embrace
even more challenging goals and projects. The host chapter was the
most active one throughout the organization through its multifaceted
activities. It was also an inspiring guide to other chapters.

The convention also proved that accountability continued to remain
the core of its performance and source of public confidence.

The Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Central Board is composed of 10
life members and three elective members, elected or re-elected at
every convention.

Some had questioned the structure and whether it was democratic
enough. But experience proved that it was the most viable system to
maintain stability, to assure the safety of its assets and to provide
a forum for change.

During the convention, three younger members came to replace the
retiring members. In time, those rotating members have the opportunity
to replace life members and the process of the rejuvenation of the
organization can thus continue smoothly.

The delegates attending the convention were gratified to find out
the performance of the organization, despite challenging times. They
were inspired and their inspiration will be contagious for the other
members in their respective communities.

The convention weekend culminated in an elegant banquet attended
by members and friends of the ADL and TCA. The attendance was even
broader, to include the representatives of many diverse organizations.

The banquet, with its outstanding program, was a tribute to one of the
hardest-working leaders of the organization, Hagop Vartivarian. The
attendance and the speeches came to prove that his activities and
his leadership extend far beyond the scope of a single organization
to have their impact throughout the community.

The impression of the evening will remain for a long time and motivate
the members and friends of the organization to strive even higher
and reach their cherished goals.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIA BACKS ARMENIA’S INVOLVEMENT INTO EURASIAN INTEGRATION – LAVROV

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 23, 2014 Monday 02:49 PM GMT+4

YEREVAN June 23

– Foreign Ministers of Russia and Armenia, Sergei Lavrov and Edward
Nalbandian, have discussed Yerevan’s participation in Eurasian
integration and cooperation within international structures.

“Russia upholds Armenia’s involvement in Eurasian integration. We
discussed cooperation in different international organisations,
including within the U.N., the Council of Europe, the CIS, the OSCE
[Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe] and the CSTO
[Collective Security Treaty Organisation],” Lavrov told a news
conference on Monday.

“Russia and Armenia maintain strategic partnership that is based on
centuries-long friendship, mutual assistance and good-neighbourliness.

This is an important factor for ensuring stability of our states and
maintaining regional stability,” Lavrov said.

“The high-level regular and trust-based dialogue gives an impetus to
our multilateral relations. Today we’ve discussed the implementation
of the agreements, reached in the course of Russian President Vladimir
Putin’s visit to Yerevan last year and at the meeting between our
presidents in Moscow on May 8,” he said.

“We’ve coordinated the steps at the bilateral level and within the
CSTO and the CIS over the 100th anniversary of World War I and the 70th
anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War,” Lavrov said.

“We praise the work of the intergovernmental commission for trade and
economic cooperation. The similar commission for military-technical
cooperation operates. Recently the inter-parliamentary commission has
met. We expect the Armenian speaker to arrive in Moscow in early July,”
he said.

“We believe that the strengthening of inter-parliamentary relations
will facilitate further development of cooperation,” Lavrov said.

“Trade turnover between Russia and Armenia increases. The figures,
cited by Edward Agvanovich [Nalbandian] – over 10% per year, are
serious,” he said.

“Russia’s investments in the Armenian economy reach over $3 billion.

Many Russian companies – Gazprom, Russian Railways, VTB, Inter RAO
EES and others work in Armenia,” Lavrov said.

From: A. Papazian

SPEECH BY RF FM LAVROV DURING JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH RA FM NALBANDIAN

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
June 23, 2014 Monday

SPEECH BY THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEY LAVROV, AND HIS ANSWERS
TO QUESTIONS FROM THE MASS MEDIA DURING JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
SUMMARISING THE RESULTS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, EDWARD NALBANDIAN, YEREVAN,
23 JUNE 2014

MOSCOW, Russia

The following information was released by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation:

Edward Agvanovich,

Our relations with Armenia are relations of allies, strategic
partnership relations, which are based on age old traditions of
friendship, neighbourliness and mutual help. In this we see an
important factor of ensuring favourable conditions for the development
of our countries and maintenance of regional stability.

A regular and trustworthy dialogue at summit level provides the
necessary impetus for our multifaceted ties. Today we have discussed
the course of the implementation of the agreements, which were reached
during the visit of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir
Putin, to Yerevan in 2013 and the meeting between the presidents of
our two countries on the 8 May in Moscow in the context of conducting
CSTO events, including those devoted to the anniversary of Victory
in the Great Patriotic War.

We coordinated our bilateral steps and advances within the framework
of the CIS, CSTO regarding the memorable events related to the
anniversaries of the First World War and the Great Patriotic War,
which will be celebrated in the forthcoming years. A respective
decision within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent
States was taken in this regard. Russia and Armenia will actively
participate in the organisation of these events.

We note the dynamic work of the Intergovernmental Commission on
Economic Cooperation. A respective commission is also functional for
military and technical cooperation. Just recently, there was a session
of the Inter-parliamentary commission for cooperation between the
Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia in Nizhny Novgorod. At the very beginning
of July, we are expecting the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament,
Georgy Saakyan, to come to Moscow. We believe that the reinforcement
and extension of inter-parliamentary ties will contribute to the
further development of our relations. We are interested in this.

The Armenian Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian, has just provided
sufficiently impressive numbers – the growth in turnover of 10% per
year. This is serious in the current market situation. The Russian
capital investment into the Armenian economy is 3 billion US dollars.

Russian business leaders are working in Armenia: OAO Gazprom, OAO RZD,
OAO VTB, OAO Inter RAO EES, OAO Russian Aluminium, OAO AFK System
and many others.

70 constituent entities of the Russian Federation are involved in
economic and cultural ties with Armenia. This is another confirmation
of our close cooperation.

Today we have considered issues of Armenia’s involvement into Eurasian
integration processes. Russia supports this actively. We discussed
cooperation in various international organisations, including the UN,
the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation,
as well as cooperation of foreign policy efforts within the ambit
of the CSTO and foreign policy consultations within the framework of
the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Of course, we touched upon the situation in Ukraine. We believe that
there is no alternative to an immediate cease-fire, which should not
only be announced, but should be implemented in practice, and the main
point is there is no alternative to the beginning of a true nation-wide
dialogue with participation of all the regions to ensure rights and
interests of each and all Ukrainian nationals. Russia, like Armenia,
supports the current efforts to launch the negotiation process or
create conditions for its prompt start. Russia makes a direct and
interested contribution to these efforts. We are not guided by any
geopolitical ambitions. Of course, our priority is to save human lives,
including Russian journalists who continue to die.

We considered the issues related to the events in the Middle East
and North Africa. Syria and Iraq are countries of serious interest
for Russian and Armenian compatriots, and, of course, we wish to have
peace and tranquillity there. We still have not reached this.

Unfortunately, the terrorist threat is extending, emphasising again
the importance of not putting in place an artificial task of regime
change in such situations (for example, like in Syria), but like in
any other conflict to think about the people, their security and the
prevention of civilian. If we proceed from this, we will understand
that terrorism is the main threat in the Middle East and North Africa.

This concerns Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and other countries where
the “international terrorist” is attempting to penetrate. If we
all confirm the priority of counter-terrorism efforts and join for
effective fight against this common threat, I am convinced that the
issues related to the political settlement of conflicts, will be
resolved in an easier way.

We discussed the topic of the Nagorny Karabakh settlement. Russia,
both bilaterally and as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, is
interested to settle this conflict as soon as possible. We believe
that there are foundations for the resolution of this problem – I
mean the principles fixed in the statements by Presidents of Russian,
the United States and France in the last four or five years. The main
thing now is to agree on parameters of the practical implementation
of these principles and the consistency of the steps which should be
undertaken in this direction. The three co-chairs are working on this.

Russia, as one of the contributors aspires to continue the direct
dialogue between the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the
President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, which renewed at the end of 2013,
and to assist in finding the outcomes for unsettled issues.

We are satisfied with the results of the negotiations. I thank my
Armenian friends and hosts for their traditional hospitality. We are
waiting for another visit of Edward Nalbandian to Moscow.

Question (addressed to Edward Nalbandian): Taking into consideration
the good relations, which have established between Russia and Turkey
lately, can Russia contribute to the improvement of Turkish-Armenian
relations?

Sergey Lavrov (adds after the words of Edward Nalbandian): Why are you
asking the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs what Russian can do?

In the period before the signature of Armenian-Turkish protocols and
after that we expressed our willingness to make our contribution in
the forms, most appropriate for Armenia and Turkey. There were ideas
to implement infrastructure projects, including railway projects,
which could connect people, countries and the adjacent regions. All
this remains in force, but, of course, the first role belongs to
the two countries, signatories of those protocols. We are ready to
contribute to their implementation in any possible way.

Question (addressed to Edward Nalbandian): During his visit to the
region, in particular to Yerevan, the President of France, Fran ois
Hollande, proposed an initiative to conduct a meeting between Armenian
and Azerbaijani leaders in Paris. Some time ago, your Azerbaijani
colleague expressed an opinion that he needs details about this
meeting. Would you please comment on what he meant?

Sergey Lavrov (adds after the words of Edward Nalbandian): Russia
supports any efforts, which will lead to the resolution of this
conflict or end it. We believe that our French partners from the
“troika” of the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group promote the ideas
which will allow the transfer of the principles agreed between
co-chairs at summit level into practice. Russia is also ready to make
a contribution to these efforts. In any case, the more regular the
meetings are between presidents the more dynamic the negotiation
process will be, of course, taking into account some preliminary
preparations.. We are all for this.

Question: In March-April of this year you made statements that
federalisation will be a political resolution for the crisis
in Ukraine. In your opinion, how will potential outlines of this
federalisation look like? Could it be the creation of a South-Eastern
Autonomous Republic? If, according to diplomats, not pro-Russian
forces, but supporters of this federalisation, insurgents are acting
in the South-East, then how can you explain that Alexander Borodai
and Igor Strelkov-Girkin are quite closely related to the Russian
political establishment?

Sergey Lavrov: As to the ties within the political establishment,
I think that I can answer in an easy way. All this establishment has
its’ roots back in one country – the USSR. Therefore, you should not
doubt the close ties which exist. It is a fact.

As to federalisation, I will allow myself to correct you. I
constantly emphasise that this process can be called federalisation,
decentralisation, other variants can be invented – for example,
there is an English term “devolution”. The main thing is to ensure
the beginning of the negotiation process.

Ukraine is experiencing the deepest crisis of the national identity.

Nobody disputes this. It is clear that it will be impossible to
just suppress one part of the country and to make it subordinate
to the other part. But even if this happens, this will not let
us achieve a sustainable settlement. This can be reached through
direct negotiations only. During these negotiations, it can be
understood what federalisation, decentralisation or any other term
means, because this term should instil such order in the country,
which will guarantee rights and freedoms of each and every national,
who live in any Ukrainian region. In actual fact, this is it.

Therefore, the efforts, which are being undertaken right now, which
were announced yesterday and today (we support them actively), are
aimed at starting if not direct, but initially a mediated dialogue,
between the Kiev authorities and the South-East of Ukraine. I am
convinced that subsequently we will need to start direct negotiations,
within the framework of which the parameters of the state order of
Ukraine, including the status of regions inside the Ukrainian state,
should be agreed.

From: A. Papazian

ZHOGHOVURD: EX-ARMENIAN NATURE MINISTER ABUSED POWER WHEN IN OFFICE

10:04 * 24.06.14

The paper says it has learned from “well-informed sources” that Aram
Harutyunyan, the former minister of nature protection who is now the
governor Kotayk, contributed to his private business’ growth at the
expense of his former staff.

The paper claims that the ex-minister instructed his employees to
celebrate all kinds of occasions (birthdays, weddings etc.) in a
restaurant-complex belonging to him. Harutyunyan is even said to
have asked the staff to spend their daily breaks at the restaurant,
promising not to reprimand anyone in case of showing up late for work
after the lunch.

The paper says it was interested to know whether the incumbent regional
governor is going to use the same policies in relation to his current
staff but adds that its attempts didn’t succeed as Harutyunyan never
answered the subsequent calls.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

ZHAMANAK: FOUR NON-GOVERNMENT FACTIONS BECAME A DECORATION – SAFARYAN

10:06 24/06/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Heritage Party secretary Stepan Safaryan, commenting on the amended
pension law, told Zhamanak’s correspondent: “The approval of the law
in this form on the instruction of Hovik Abrahamyan’s government bears
evidence to the fact that there has never been a goal to change the
government and its policy.”

He expressed a conviction that the “four non-government factions
became a decoration for reshuffles within the government.”

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian