Author: Andres-Papazian

PENSION REFORM: CIVIC GROUP ASKS FOR NEW BILL ON MANDATORY DEDUCTIONS

Pensions | 12.06.14 | 14:37

By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter

Members of Dem.am civic campaign fighting against a law that makes
mandatory pension deductions from salaries turned to the parliamentary
non-aligned forces suggesting to install a new bill regarding the
pension reform into the Parliament agenda, which will be entirely
different from the current functioning law.

Last night Dem.am civic campaign held a “support march” in the main
streets of Yerevan in support of those who are under pressure from
their employers not to withdraw from the pension system.

On May 15 the National Assembly accepted the bill about making
amendments to the Armenian law about “Pension reform”, which was
ratified by President Serzh Sargsyan on May 26 and will remain in
power till September 30. According to the new law the citizens who
do not want to be a part of the system can submit applications to
their employers requesting not to make deductions.

However, Dem.am received various calls stating that many employers
keep their employees under pressure not allowing them to submit
applications.

“We received such calls from Brusov Yerevan State Linguistic
University, Heratsi Medical University Chaykovski Secondary school. We
have the same picture in many other schools, educational, medical and
other state institutions. There are also institutions – Yerevan State
University, Slavonic University – where the employees are allowed to
easily submit the applications,” said Dem.am campaign member Srbuhi
Ghazaryan.

Another Dem.am member, Armen Aboyan mentioned that besides harsh
pressure there are cases when they try to confuse people saying that
they will be freed from the mandatory component for two months only,
and afterwards they will have to pay again.

Participants of the march mention that particularly state system
and educational sphere workers are subjected to various pressure,
at times having to submit application of resignation together with
the application of withdrawal from the pension system.

“Support march” participants were met by Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan in front of the Government building, yet they refused to
talk to him stating that they did not come to speak, but to say that
they evaluate the government’s work as zero.

“In the new law about pension the cumulative pension fund must be set
as voluntary, otherwise our movement will speed up,” participants of
the march stated.

In front of the Government building Davit Manukyan addressed the PM
saying that they do not abide even his subjects.

“You cannot work, you lie to people. You rob the people. But people
are not stupid, are not uneducated and can demand. But we will make
you abide the citizens’ will. We will uproot the slave-mindedness
originated from Soviet times out of you,” Manukyan said.

In response to the questions the PM told reporters that applications
for withdrawal from the pension system are accepted everywhere,
and those who do not will be fired.

This week in the NA at a question-and-answer session with the
Government NA Dashnaktsutyun faction MP Aghvan Vardanyan demanded
political announcement from the government that employers who refuse
to accept applications about withdrawal from the pension system will
be penalized.

Territorial Administration Minister, vice-PM Armen Gevorgyan answered
saying that the problem is in the focus of the Government, because
they also received such calls.

“Actions directed to solving the problems related to those calls are
realized. The law will be applied the way it was accepted by the
Parliament. In either case, there has never been any instructions
against or contradicting the law made by officials,” the vice-PM
assured.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN-AUSTRIAN BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN VIENNA

YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Armenian-Austrian business forum will be
held in Vienna today, the press office of the Armenian Development
Agency (ADA) reported.

The forum is planned in the framework of the Armenian president Serzh
Sargsyan’s visit to Austria from June 10 to June 12 and is organized
by the ADA.

The event will help Armenian businessmen present their investment
and business programs, according to the report. The forum will cover
economy and investments, tourism, energy sector, agriculture and
information technologies.

A total of 34 companies engaged in various fields, including
transport/logistics, banking, construction, jewelry, gas supplies,
food industry and etc. will participate in the forum.

Armenia-Austria trade turnover amounted to $12,279,700 in
January-February 2014. -0–

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

FOR THE GAME OR FOR THE WORLD?

World Policy
June 11 2014

June 11, 2014 – 12:09pm | admin

By Adam Echelman

Over the past 30 years, FIFA has risen rapidly to become one of the
world’s most influential institutions. With World Cup venues in new
locations like Brazil, Russia, and Qatar, it seems President Sepp
Blatter is taking on an aggressive agenda that goes beyond simply
organizing soccer tournaments. Indeed, FIFA has played such a prominent
role in international affairs that Blatter fancies himself a viable
candidate for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

Critics of FIFA, however, claim that corruption charges and
commercial incentives undermine the association’s political and
social achievements. In many ways, those critics are right. The
problem lies not in FIFA’s leadership but more broadly in its sudden
and rapid expansion. By increasing its philanthropic and diplomatic
influence, FIFA has lost track of its true purpose and exposed itself
to corruption. FIFA must prioritize soccer over political opportunism
if it wants to succeed in the future.

To understand FIFA’s power, you must first understand the game. Soccer
is ubiquitous, from Syrian refugee camps to the Chinese Super League,
from street-ball to stadiums. It is the world’s most popular sport
with an estimated 270 million players and referees–making the World
Cup the largest and most popular single-event sporting competition.

With over 3.2 billion viewers (46 percent of the world’s population)
from 204 broadcasting countries, the World Cup has become a stage for
international diplomacy. Argentina exacted revenge for the Falklands
War by defeating the UK in a qualifying match; Iran and the U.S. came
together in an unprecedented show of peace over a 1998 World Cup game;
tensions over the Armenian genocide exploded as Turkey faced Armenia
on the field. In 2002, FIFA asked Japan and South Korea to co-host
the World Cup. Despite their tumultuous history and weak diplomatic
ties, both countries agreed to FIFA’s request, inaugurating a period
of unparalleled peace and exchange between the two nations–all in
the name of soccer.

The extension of the World Cup into South Africa, Brazil, Russia,
and Qatar highlights FIFA’s political growth, but it also hints at the
organization’s philanthropic mission. When choosing host nations, FIFA
often argues that the World Cup will attract business and tourists,
thereby boosting the economy. By targeting developing countries like
Qatar and Brazil–places where economic growth is paramount–FIFA has
transformed itself from a soccer organization into a development agency
where the World Cup is simply one of many tools to foster growth. In
return, FIFA asks for full tax exemptions from the host country in
“parties involved in the hosting and staging of an event.”

Brazil will lose over $248.7 million due to FIFA’s tax policies, but
ultimately, these losses dwarf in comparison to the massive profits
of hosting the World Cup; Brazil is expected to gain over $90 billion
in revenue. Of course, soccer is not a panacea. The long-term impact
of hosting the World Cup is still relatively unknown, especially in
developing countries like South Africa.

Even if long-term profits are low, the World Cup provides these growing
nations with media attention. “Sport is the biggest contributor to
nation building and social cohesion…. This is not about money; it
is about recognition,” noted Fikile Mbalula, sports minister during
the South Africa World Cup. The World Cup brings “intangible benefits.”

FIFA’s motto, “For the Game. For the World,” is representative
of the organization’s two leading expenses. FIFA spent 70 percent
of its funds on its sport between 2007-2010 but left more than 22
percent of the remaining assets for philanthropic ventures. In fact,
FIFA was one of the first organizations to create a corporate social
responsibility unit, using its endowment to support the Financial
Assistance Programme, the Goal Programme, and smaller charities like
SOS Children’s Villages.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee felt so strongly about FIFA that it
nominated the game of soccer in 2001 and former FIFA president Dr.

João Havelange in 2012. President Blatter’s recent initiative,
Handshake for Peace, suggests that FIFA will continue to increase its
humanitarian presence (as Blatter pines for the Nobel). “In setting
up the Peace Prize, Alfred Nobel wished to promote fraternity between
nations, and it is our belief that football has a central role to
play in that cause…The Handshake for Peace will be a symbol that
allows the world to see the stars of football greet and respect each
other when the match is over,” wrote Blatter in a letter.

Recent corruption scandals, however, have tarnished FIFA’s public
image. Following the Nobel Peace Prize nomination, bribery reports
against João Havelange forced him to resign entirely from FIFA
in 2013. President Blatter, although innocent in the 2013 report,
faces similar bribery charges regarding the choice of Qatar as host
country for the 2022 games. Blatter’s elections are also questionable:
he has run unopposed in his past two elections and is looking towards
a fifth term in 2015.

Over the past eight years, spending on the World Cup has skyrocketed.

Estimates indicate that Brazil will spend over $11 billion–that’s
triple the amount South Africa spent and almost seven times the amount
Germany spent. For developing countries with less robust economies,
the pressure to create lavish stadiums and new hotels seems ludicrous,
especially when FIFA refuses to pay taxes.

Still, this corruption is not necessarily inherent to FIFA. The 2014
World Cup has brought attention to a variety of problems endemic to the
organization and Brazil. Discussions of corruption, rising inequality,
and increased spending have flooded the news in weeks leading up to
the World Cup. Yet these issues are only part of the greater problem.

Soccer, as a sport, is and will always remain the same. Problems of
corruption arise as FIFA increases its social and political influence.

FIFA should continue to support charities and world peace to an
extent. But receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, issuing vague promises
of economic growth to host nations, or facilitating greater diplomacy
between countries–these endeavors lie beyond the scope of a soccer
organization. While such pursuits are honorable, they have detracted
from FIFA’s commitment to soccer. At the end of the day, FIFA must
choose whether it is “For the Game” or “For the World.”

Adam Echelman is an editorial assistant at the World Policy Journal.

From: A. Papazian

YURI KHACHATUROV: RUSSIA WILL HELP ARMENIA IN CASE OF A WAR WITH AZERBAIJAN

by Ashot Safaryan

Wednesday, June 11, 13:41

In case of a war with Azerbaijan, Russia will help Armenia, Head of
the Armenian Armed Forced General Staff Yuri Khachaturov has told
reporters.

Asked why doesn’t Russia assist Armenia as its CSTO ally in such
incidents like the latest deadly shootouts on the border with
Nakhijevan, in the area of Yeraskh, Khachaturov said. “It was just
an episode, not war. In case of war, Russia will help us.”

He recalled that Moscow supports Armenia by training Armenian officers
at the best military academies in Russia and supplying weapons and
military hardware. However, Yuri Khachaturov did not comment on the
remarks that Moscow supplies the same arms also to Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

MEMBER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT: THE AZERBAIJANI PARTY HAS BEEN DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE NOT TO LET THE ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO BAKU

by Ashot Safaryan

Wednesday, June 11, 14:05

The Armenian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will not
attend the session to be held in Baku from 28 June to 2 July, the
head of the delegation, Artashes Gegamyan, told ArmInfo correspondent.

Gegamyan has motivated his refusal by Azerbaijani sabotage actions
at the line of contact. “The promises given by the speaker of the
Azerbaijani parliament, Oktay Asadov, to the president of the OSCE PA,
Ranko Krivokapic, that they will create all the necessary conditions
for secure work of any delegation in Baku, are far from reality. We
simply need to analyze the latest incidents at the Armenian-Azerbaijani
border in Eraskh and the death of the 2 soldiers.

The murder of our servicemen does not promote decrease of tension”,
– Gegamyan said.

He also added that continuation os similar provocations leave us
to understand that the Azerbaijani party has been doing everything
possible not to let the Armenian delegation to Baku.

Gegamyan said that he sent an official letter to Krivokapic about
the refusal.

From: A. Papazian

KESSAB WAS CONQUERED WITH TURKEY’S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT, GAREGIN II SAYS

Wednesday 11 June 2014 13:51
Photo: Information system of Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the Second
said today that “Syria’s Kessab district was conquered with Turkey’s
support and direct involvement of Turkish army”.

The Catholicos said this addressing a speech at the international
meeting on “Syria Crisis: Challenges for Religious Communities”
which started at the Mother See.

The meeting hosts representatives of Christian churches of Near East,
Syria, Russia, U.S. and Europe.

“Syria crisis has sad outcomes for the lives of the Christians in
the region. It was only recently that Catholic priests and nuns were
killed and Christian families were forced to change their religion.

Syria’s Kessab district which was mostly built and inhabitted with
Armenians, was conquered by radical units with Turkey’s support and
the direct involvement of its army, and the civilians living there
were evicted. Turkey currently keeps supporting the Syrian opposition
who destroy Armenian communities in Aleppo and Damascus. Our people
fairly considers the steps taken by Turkey as a continuation of the
Genocide”, said the Catholicos of All Armenians.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA DISMISSES AZERI REPORTS ON FIGHTING IN NAKHIJEVAN

14:53 11.06.2014

Spokesman for the Armenian Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan
has dismissed the claims of Azerbaijani media that the Armenian armed
forces attacked the village of Lakatag in the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic.

Regnum agency quoted Azerbaijani media as saying that fighting was
under way in the village and residents were forced to flee their homes.

“The reports do not correspond to reality, no shot has been fired from
the Armenian side,” Artsarun Hovhannisyan told Public Radio of Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA WALKING ON A TIGHTROPE

Editorial 6-14

Mirror Spectator

By Edmond Y. Azadian

Azerbaijan and Turkey have been able to isolate Armenia from all
regional development projects by blockading its borders. While
Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Union seems to provide some
relief from that isolation, many recent developments in the region
indicate otherwise.

Russia, after having hampered major economic deals between Armenia
and Iran, at this time is trying to take Armenia under its wings
through the creation of the Eurasian Union, where, at best, Armenia
will become a silent partner, not necessarily an equal one, because
of the paucity of its resources and its Karabagh baggage. Nursultan
Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s president, seems to be more the spokesman
of the new union, rather than President Vladimir Putin himself.

After his remarks at the inaugural ceremony of the Eurasian Union,
slapping Armenia on the face figuratively on Azerbaijan’s behalf, he
has further continued his pan-Turkic campaign by inviting Azerbaijan
and Turkey to join the Eurasian Union.

Turkey’s accession seems less probable, given the fact that for
centuries it has been Russia’s rival for influence in the Caucasus.

But Azerbaijan’s case may be different. After all, it is solidly
anchored in all strategic, economic and political structures of the
west. Baku may join the union as a spoiler on behalf of the west,
very similar to Turkey’s drive to join the European Union for the
very obvious plan to weaken it. The strong US support for Ankara’s
accession to the EU derives from that very strategic move, because,
after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which created a unipolar power
structure in the world, Europe was in the process of weaning itself
from its dependence on Washington to develop a new independent pole
which could end up balancing the US global hegemony.

Azerbaijan, indeed, can play the same spoiler role in the Eurasian
Union, despite its energy deals with the West and its strategic
partnership with Israel.

At the present time, Europe is far from forming a new and independent
pole, given its crippling economic woes and recent parliamentary
elections, which introduced a self-destructive element in its
structure. Therefore, the race is between the US and the rising Russia
for the control of the Asian landmass with its abundance of natural
resources and strategic significance, per Zbigniew Brzezinski, the
former national security advisor to President Carter.

Azerbaijan may play a crucial role in this superpower chess game and
even if its leadership is not mature enough to realize that potential,
its Turkish mentor can guide it through this political maze.

The above realization seems to boost the Baku leadership’s recent
aggressive posture vis-a-vis Armenia.

Up until now, the confrontation with the Armenian forces was on the
Karabagh contact line. But in contrast, on June 5, Azeri forces made a
strategic move to create more panic in Armenia: they began hostilities
on the Nakhijevan-Armenia border. That was perhaps encouraged by
Turkish forces which were brought to Nakhijevan under the guise of
holding joint military exercises. Two Armenian soldiers were killed
and angry statements were issued by Armenia’s Defense Ministry about
“serious consequences.”

Azeris are even thinking about the unthinkable: On November 21, 2012,
the director of the Azerbaijan Center for Political Innovation and
Technology, Mubariz Ahmadoglu, stated that the bombing of Metsamor
nuclear plant in Armenia by Azerbaijan is a rather logical act within
the framework of the Karabagh war and is an even more effective step
for “the liberation” of the territories. Earlier, in February 2010,
Azerbaijan’s military expert Uzeyir Jafarov had stated that Azerbaijani
troops may use “retaliation over Metsamor.”

This situation begs for a new question: all along when Azeri forces
broke the ceasefire agreement on the Karabagh border, our strategic
partner, Russia, kept a very revealing silence, indicating that
the umbrella of Russian military presence in Armenia does not cover
Karabagh as a disputed territory. Then what about the incident on
Armenia’s border with Nakhijevan, which is not under any dispute as
far as Russia is concerned? Also, Azerbaijan has been violating the
ceasefire agreement in the Tavoush region of Armenia, again without
hearing any word of anger from Moscow.

But Russia’s actions speak louder than its silence; delivery of
sophisticated military hardward is not business as usual, as some
pundits try to convince us. Rather, it is an existential threat to
the very future of Armenia.

Adding insult to injury, Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman,
Alexander Lukashevich said at a recent press conference that
“Azerbaijan is Russia’s strategic partner in the south Caucasus”
and that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would be heading to Baku
on June 17-18 for the fourth meeting of the year. Russia has been
playing a double game at the expense of Armenia. Whether Azerbaijan
joins the Eurasian Union or not, it will remain an important factor
in determining Armenia’s fate by its other partners.

Armenian officials are optimistic that Armenia’s accession to the
Eurasian Union will also benefit Karabagh. The chairman of the National
Assembly’s Standing Committee on Financial Affairs, Gagik Minassian,
said he is confident that Karabagh will become a de facto member of
the Eurasian economic space without joining the union. He further
noted that “Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh form a common economic space
and that there can be no customs checkpoint between the two.”

Some analysts even use the analogy of Moscow’s agreement with other
unrecognized regions, such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which will
benefit from the activities of the Union through Russia. But what is
permissible for Russia may not necessarily be permissible for Armenia.

With all these external political woes, Armenia also faces
insurmountable internal problems, including economic decline,
depopulation, political stagnation and desperation.

Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian recently published an article
titled “Serge Sargisian’s Road Map for Armenia’s Destruction.” He made
some sensible and valid points but if he could overcome his rancor,
he could have a larger audience.

Surrogates of the western media campaign combined with some voices
in the diaspora call for a regime change in Armenia. However, the
west conspired to bring down the corrupt regime of Viktor Yanukovych
in Ukraine only to install another oligarch, Petro Poroshenko. The
outcome will not benefit the Ukrainian people. Any change in Armenia
will be the same — different faces, same end game.

The government, through its insensitivity to the plight of its
desperate populace, is continuing to destroy Armenia’s future, in
an inadvertent, unholy alliance with its detractors in Armenia and
the diaspora.

Armenia is walking on a tightrope. We have to watch its march with
trepidation, expecting the worst and hoping for the best.

From: A. Papazian

MESSAGES ABOUT THE UPCOMING ATTACK ON NAKHICHEVAN BY ARMENIANS – A PROVOCATION

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
June 9, 2014 Monday

Baku.07.06.14/Turan: Several electronic media published a provocative
message about the coming offensive of Armenians on Nakhichevan. In
this regard, the Ministry of Defense said that such messages are
provocative and serve the interests of Armenia, said the press service
of the Defense Ministry.

“The situation in this direction is stable and the operational
situation is under control,” the statement reads.

Note that in this direction a few days ago there was a clash,
in which both sides lost people. According to the Armenian media,
they evacuated the Yeraskh village on the border with Nakhichevan,
and the number of Armenians killed was actually five people.

In this regard, the Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan stated that
the Armenian side will take adequate steps.

From: A. Papazian

SCHOOLBOOKS ‘IGNORE DIVERSITY’ IN TURKEY

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
June 10 2014

10 June 2014 14:20 (Last updated 10 June 2014 14:23) ISTANBUL

New report claims textbooks have not kept pace with government reforms
toward Kurdish, Armenian and other minority groups

Turkey’s ruling AK Party-led reforms towards minority groups have not
been reflected in the country’s schoolbooks, a new report released
today has claimed.

‘Human Rights at Textbooks’ saw a panel of experts examine 245
schoolbooks between 2013 and 2014 for their treatment of human rights,
gender equality, secularism and education philosophy.

The findings suggest that even recently published schoolbooks are
failing to adequately reflect diversity in Turkish society.

“The current version of textbooks is behind social and political
developments in the country. When compared to past years, problems
of minorities and religious groups have been discussed more openly.

However, those discussions and development have not been reflected
in schoolbooks,” the report claims.

“Textbooks are a difficult area. We do not know how to reflect these
reforms in schoolbooks,” Kenan Cayir, assistant professor of sociology
at Istanbul Bilgi University, told an Anadolu Agency reporter.

Cayir says the difference between textbooks and current discussions is
“too wide.”

The report suggests that although the government has introduced
language classes in Kurdish, Abkhazian and Lazuri, textbooks continue
to ignore diversity in the country, adding that religious and social
minorities such as Kurds, Armenians and Jews are sidelined.

“Schoolbooks presume that everyone in the country is Muslim,” the
report says. On gender equality, the images presented in textbooks
still present women in primarily domestic roles, such as housewives.

Despite of these problems, Cayir stated that many changes have taken
place in the last ten years. “There has been progress in positive
ways,” he underlined.

The findings will be shared with the Ministry of Education.

Turkey’s AK Party has led many political and social reforms during
its 12 years of government. On political front, it has pushed aside
Turkish military’s influence on politics, implementing reforms to
reinforce the rule of law in the country.

In social areas, the party has introduced reforms to bring gender
equality in line with developed countries. It has also implemented
reforms for Kurdish and other minorities.

From: A. Papazian