Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIAN LABOR MINISTER REFRAINS FROM ANSWERING QUESTION ON PENSION REFORM

February 03, 2014 | 15:36

YEREVAN. – Armenian Labor Minister said honest employers comply with
the labor and pension legislation not because of the fear of sanctions.

Artem Asatryan addressed the lawmakers during the parliamentary
debates on amendments to Labor Code.

Changes proposed by the deputies of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia create an opportunity for undocumented workers to protect
the rights of the registration seniority.

The MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) Nikol
Pashinyan expanded the questions asking to clarify the extent to
which a new pension reform is functioning after the decision of the
Constitutional Court on January 24.

In response, Labor Minister Artem Asatryan repeated thesis of honest
employers, adding that pension reform is valid for those who have
already chosen the private pension fund and started making payments
both mandatory and voluntary ones.

The Minister did not answer the question whether the duty to pay to
pension funds falls only on those who have already been engaged in
the system.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
January 31, 2014 Friday

Border violence while negotiating: US analyst says, strategic
acceleration of tensions might be a tactic?

Washington last week reinstated an urge towards Baku and Yerevan to
refrain from the use of threat or force. Meantime in Paris, MG
Co-chairs discussed the prospect of a peaceful, negotiated settlement
in their meeting with Azerbaijani-Armenian foreign ministers,
according to the MG statement. The presidents (Aliyev, Sarkisyan) are
due to hold next round of talks in the coming weeks.

Dr. Thomas Fiutak, a UN analyst and founding member of the New
York-based Mediators Beyond Borders, International policy resolution
think-tank, commented on recent developments around the conflict,
especially a weeklong escalation of violence in the line of contact,
in an interview with TURAN’s Washington DC correspondent.

Q. As tension along the front line has escalated dramatically over the
last couple of days, at the time when peace process seemed to have
gotten back on its feet, some worry that violence might underline the
risk of a conflict…

Why do you think this is happening now?

A. The first principle to recognize in these types of negotiations to
distinguish the conflict from the disputes associated with it.
Strategic acceleration of tensions is a tactic used to influence the
dynamics of the negotiation that will shape the management of the
historical conflict.

While there may be externalities at play here, this increased tension
may signal the rising significance and possible secure management of
this conflict, which would force those who would use force to see
their options reduced, while those in negotiation having found
increased options. That would disaffect the previous sway that
violence had.

In any case, uncertainty is the ally of those who would press their
power to gain an advantage. One rationale for the increased violence
is that there is growing clarity in the cementing of nonviolent
options proposed and activated in the recent peace accord.

Q. How can the rhetoric ceasefire hold in the coming months, as the MG
Co-chars are trying to begin a new chapter of negotiation?

A. Ceasefire is a deflecting point in the conflict from escalation to
descalation. Those of violence may attempt to test the resolve of
those who champion nonviolent options. The key for the decision makers
of the ceasefire is to keep their eye on the larger conflict and its
management without the fantasy that this historical conflict can be
resolved, in the sense that it evaporates into nonbeing.

Violence is intended to shape the short-term dynamics of the conflict.
Negotiation is intended to rework the conflict into a manageable and
nonviolent future.

Q. Should international peacekeepers be involved in the conflict zone,
in case the tension reaches an uncontrolled point?

A. If international peacekeepers are used, the question that needs to
be addressed is who do they protect and what options do they have to
protect those in harm’s way..?

Q Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan met in Vienna in November for the
first time in two years and another meeting is due next month. What
differs the current dialog from Sochi/Kazan process that failed in
2012? What are the prospects to carry the negotiation further towards
the settlement?

A. These questions are of some interest but the main question is how
do these two peacemakers stay in continuous contact and interaction so
that the true interests of both and the countries they lead are
directly relayed rather than by intermediaries who may not reflect at
its heart these interests. All past negotiations are prologue.

Q. As the negotiation process is closed to the public, what should be
the first step or any sign that would handicap the real progress in
it?

A. There are always the real and apparent negotiation routes. It is
important to keep these in parallel accepting that confidentiality is
absolutely necessary but that confidence by the public will grow if
they know there are dedicated points of interaction of these processes
at which point the public will be more informed.

What will threaten any negation is when the publics who will be
affected see no opportunity to voice their interests.

Q. Secretary Kerry last year made clear that the US sees a serious
commitment to substantial talks as the Administration was prepared to
invest more resources in supporting it. What do you think the US could
do to facilitate the process and encourage both sides to the long-term
peace?

A. Provide real and apparent balance of support.

AlakbarRaufoglu Washington, DC

From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
Jan 30 2014

Yerevan expects from Baku constructive approach to Karabakh – Sargsian

YEREVAN. Jan 30

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved unless Azerbaijan
abandons its belligerent rhetoric, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian
said.

“Conflict resolution is impossible unless the Azerbaijani side
abandons its belligerent rhetoric, arms race and provocative actions.
The time has come for Azerbaijan to demonstrate a constructive
approach for a purely peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Sargsian
told a press conference held jointly with Czech President Milos Zeman
in Prague on Thursday.

The press conference was broadcast on the Internet.

On the issue of a peaceful and long-term resolution of the Karabakh
problem, Yerevan “is expecting an impartial approach from the
international community, or at least its willingness not to harm the
process,” the Armenian president also said.

kk cm

From: A. Papazian

Asharq Alawsat (English)
January 31, 2014 Friday

Iran-Turkey Relations: Between Competition and Cooperation

Istanbul,
Asharq Al-Awsat

-Following Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to
Tehran earlier this week, it appears that relations between the two
regional powers are once more on the rise. This rapprochement follows
a cooling of ties as a consequence of the ongoing Syrian conflict in
which the two regional powers are backing different horses. Erdogan’s
visit to the Iranian capital concluded with the establishment of a
Turkish-Iranian high-level cooperation council, in addition to mutual
pledges to extend bilateral trade over the coming year.

“I hope 2014 will be a milestone year for both countries and that we
reach a 30 billion US dollar trade volume by the end of 2015,” Erdogan
said from Tehran, adding that he views Iran as his “second home.”
While Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham affirmed:
“Our relations with Turkey have entered a new phase and we hope this
trend continues. Besides serving the interests of the two countries,
we hope our dialogue [with Turkey will] serve regional interests as
well.”

Both Iran and Turkey’s imperial legacy of rivalry continues to
influence the state of diplomatic relations today. With the collapse
of the Ottoman Empire and the ascent to power in Turkey of the
secularists under the leadership of Mustafa Kamal Atatürk, relations
between Iran and Turkey began to blossom. On April 22, 1926, Turkey
and Iran signed their first official “treaty of friendship” in Tehran.
A few years later, the first official border treaty was signed between
the two powers, an officially bilateral agreement on the demarcation
of the Iranian-Turkish borders which had remained virtually unchanged
since the 15th century.

Following the Second World War, the countries grew closer in the face
of “the Soviet threat” and stood as bulwarks against Communist
expansion in the region. During this period, secularist Turkey and the
Shah’s Iran forged an alliance with the United States, developing
their military capabilities and securing greater dominance in their
respective regions. However, change was on the horizon.

The period of 1979-1980 was one of great change in the region, not
least for Iran and Turkey. Iran witnessed the end of the Pahlavi
dynasties and the birth of the Islamic Republic, which promptly took a
confrontational stand against the US and its allies. As for Turkey,
military officer Kenan Evren led a military coup in 1980, taking over
the state. As a result, Iranian-Turkish relations experienced a period
of détente following these political upheavals. Bilateral relations
recovered somewhat during the Iran-Iraq War, with Tehran making
overtures to Ankara for economic relief.

In comments to

Asharq Al-Awsat

, Mehmet Sahin, a professor of international relations at Turkey’s
Gazi University and an expert on Iranian affairs at Ankara’s Institute
for Strategic Thinking, affirmed that relations between Iran and
Turkey were significantly affected by the events of 1979 and 1980. He
added that since the Islamic Revolution, relations between Tehran and
Ankara have remained at a historically low level.

“This stems from two reasons: first, the historical political struggle
between the two countries, and second, the disturbance that the
success of the Iranian revolution caused for countries in the region,
especially Turkey,” Sahin said.

Linking the Islamic Revolution with the subsequent military coup in
Turkey, Sahin described the birth of the Islamic Republic as the
“direct cause” for Kenan Evren’s coup.

A new regional conflict between Iran and Turkey broke out following
the collapse of the Soviet Union and the ensuing chaos that governed
this period, with each country attempting to secure and expand its own
regional influence. Turkey rushed to sign several economic and
cultural agreements with post-Soviet States while tensions between
Tehran and Ankara escalated over Azerbaijan and Armenia.

After the Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) rose to power
in Turkey in 2002, relations between Tehran and Ankara improved
considerably over the past decade, but remained captive to low-level
sectarian dissonance.

Dr. Naseeb Hateet, a Lebanese expert on Iranian affairs, affirmed that
Tehran had sought to neutralize the growing influence of Sunni
political Islam in the region, putting an end to the traditional
Sunni-Shi’ite strife, at least on a political level. This was largely
out of self-interest, as this phenomenon had begun to affect Iran’s
role and position in the region. It was this need that ultimately
prompted the Turkish-Iranian rapprochement.

Speaking to

Asharq Al-Awsat

, Hateet said it was the twinned attraction of an Islamist party
ruling a secular political system that prompted Iranian interest in
strengthening its ties with Turkey.

Although this rapprochement has witnessed a significant step-back
following the Syrian crisis, political experts have warned against
overstating the Iranian-Turkish rift.

“The geopolitical situation in the Middle East may change, but there
will always be agreements between countries on the basis of shared
interests regardless of differences in opinion on a particular topic
or dilemma. For this reason, I believe that the closer Iran grows to
the West, the more likely it will abandon some of its stances on Iraq,
Lebanon and Syria. Iran will sell out Syria to the West if an
agreement and reconciliation can be reached, particularly as Iran is
experiencing its own economic problems,” Hateet said.

The most recent step in the Turkish–Iranian diplomatic dance appears
to demonstrate that relations between Tehran and Ankara are waxing,
not waning. Following last year’s historic Geneva nuclear agreement
between Tehran and the P5+1 group of states-the five permanent members
of the UN Security Council, plus Germany-Iran appears to be taking a
less intransigent diplomatic line, even taking into account its
involvement in Syria. As for Erdogan, he is in dire need of a
diplomatic victory, particularly in light of the numerous domestic
challenges currently facing his government, not least the ongoing
graft scandal. Erdogan was tellingly accompanied by Turkey’s economy
and energy ministers in this week’s visit to Iran, and a number of
non-political agreements were signed between the two sides.

“I would like to mention specifically, and to express my satisfaction
with, the agreement we signed on the preferential trade area,” Erdogan
said this week, adding that Ankara is set to announce an increase in
the volume of oil and gas imports from Iran in the coming days.

“Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s relations with
neighboring countries, particularly Iraq, Syria, and Egypt, have been
damaged following recent events. This means that Iran is the only
potential regional ally for Turkey,” Hateet said.

Hateet informed

Asharq Al-Awsat

that there is clear Turkish interest in responding to Iranian
overtures, adding that, at this point, Turkey needs Iran more than
Tehran needs Ankara. In this case, it is extremely likely that the
forthcoming period will see Turkey and Iran strengthening their
bilateral relations, despite any lingering issues over the Syrian
conflict.

President of Turkey’s Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies, Dr.
Saban Kardas backed this reading of events. He told Asharq Al-Awsat:
“Despite the differences in opinion between Turkey and Iran on some
regional issues, they are compelled to cooperate with one another by
virtue of the fact that they are neighbors, and based on their own
relations with other neighboring countries.”

In view of all of this, Kardas said that he believes that Iran and
Turkey are “destined to cooperation.”

“Turkey needs Iran as much as Iran needs Turkey. They are the
strongest countries in the region, economically and geopolitically.
They are both smart enough to approach their relationship from areas
of agreement, not from areas of contention.”

This concept was echoed by the Iranian Foreign Ministry earlier this
week. “As two neighbors and Muslim countries, Iran and Turkey enjoy
many commonalities and many cooperation opportunities,” said Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham. Therefore, while
political ties between the two countries have waxed and waned in the
recent period according to national interests, economic cooperation
has held steady. Iranian officials estimate that trade between the
countries stood at 22 billion dollars in 2012, dipping to around 20
billion dollars in 2013, and rising to 30 billion dollars by the end
of 2015.

Turul Ismail, a professor at Ankara’s TOBB University of Economics and
Technology, acknowledged that while modern relations between Iran and
Turkey have always been in a state of perpetual motion, vacillating
between confrontation and cooperation, both sides have always erred on
the side of cooperation.

In exclusive comments to

Asharq Al-Awsat

, Ismail said: “The two countries bear the same geopolitical
importance but are characterized by different forms of government, and
so it is only natural that there would be some rivalry. However, as
Turkey is the gateway to the West and Iran is the gateway to the East,
these two countries need each other.”

“Therefore, and regardless of the competition or rivalry between the
two countries, Iran and Turkey are destined to cooperation. We could
describe this situation as ‘cooperation amid competition.'”

From: A. Papazian

Riot in Azerbaijan will be more dramatic than in Ukraine: Predicts
ex-speaker Rasul Guliyev

20:04 27/01/2014 » REGION

If the Azerbaijani authorities will not get a lesson from the
Ukrainian events and will not start real reforms, then Azerbaijan may
face more dramatic and tragic events, on his Facebook page stated the
exiled, ex-speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Rasul Guliyev.

According to him, elections in Ukraine, unlike Azerbaijan, were held
democratically, though they were accompanied by certain disorders.

“The presidents left their opponents behind with a maximum margin of 5
percent. Ukrainian government is not mired in a total corruption as
Azerbaijan. Therefore, if a chaos starts in Azerbaijan, it will result
in an uncontrolled energy flow which will sweep from his path away
merely everything,” writes Guliyev.

Ex-Speaker noted that the Azerbaijani people do believe neither the
authorities nor the opposition. “The same people are in opposition and
in power for more than 20 years,” Rasul Guliyev said.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

Los Angeles Daily News
Feb 2 2014

Snow comes to Glendale at Winter Wonderland festival

By Kelly Goff, Los Angeles Daily News
Posted: 02/01/14, 5:27 PM PST | Updated: 2 hrs ago

Little Aram Melikyan smiled, touching the cold snow. It was just the
first time the 2-year-old had seen it.

But Aram wasn’t in Lake Tahoe or Mammoth or any of the other
snow-capped resort towns that dot the state – he was in Glendale.

“He really enjoyed it. He was even throwing some snowballs at mom and
dad,” said Aram’s mother, Liana.

The family was one of hundreds that turned out Saturday for the first
day of the third annual Winter Wonderland Festival at St. Mary’s
Armenian Apostolic Church. With carnival rides, games, homemade
Armenian food, a talent show and, of course, 28 tons of snow, the
event benefits social service programs run by Armenian Relief Society
of Western USA.

“Through this, we are introducing the Armenian community to the
community,” said Lena Bozoyan, chairwoman of the organization. The
two-day event is volunteer-run, and much of the event cost was
defrayed by sponsors including Glendale Memorial Hospital, Forest
Lawn, Zerlian Bakery and Porto’s Bakery and Cafe.

The Armenian Relief Society works within the Armenian community to
offer language courses, job development and immigration assistance its
five Los Angeles-area service centers. It also operates Saturday
school classes at several local community centers to teach the
Armenian language and cultural history.

“Many people in the community are refugees, so they need assistance to
figure out where to go, how to get things done. Even just reading mail
sometimes,” Bozoyan said. “And for the families that cannot afford
private schools, the Saturday schools make it so the children can
learn our language and our traditions.”

The group hosted an Armenian Festival for more than a decade at the
church, but three years ago moved toward the Winter Wonderland theme,
marketing the event of local families through schools and social
media.

“Next year we may try to do both events, but space them out through
the year,” said Carmen Libaridian, one of the event organizers. “But
when we did this for the first time, it was instantly a hit, and drew
all kinds of people in the community. Especially for some of the
children, who have never seen snow and whose families don’t have
enough money to take them up to the mountains to see it there.”

Seda Khojayan, chairwoman of the organizing committee, said the event,
also including live entertainment, and both a talent show and fashion
show, is about bringing families together.

“Look,” she said, pointing a dozen of people laughing and sledding in
the snow, with a long line of people waiting their turn. “Everybody
loves it. There’s the grandparents, the parents, the children. It’s
great.”

The festival runs on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s
Armenian Apostolic Church at 500 S. Central Ave. in Glendale. A one
day pass is $3, with tickets for the snow area and rides sold
separately.

From: A. Papazian

Press TV, Iran
Feb 1 2014

Syria Christian leaders: Stop supporting militants

Syria’s top Christian leaders have called on the US to stop supporting
Syria militants as conditions continue to worsen for the religious
minority in the crisis-hit Arab country.

Leaders of five Christian denominations have called on the US
government to change its policies and stop calling the militants
“freedom fighters.” They are also urging Washington to put pressure on
countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey to stop sending foreign
militants into Syria.

The group comprises of Reverend Adeeb Awad, vice moderator of the
National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, Bishop Elias Toumeh,
representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the
East, and Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Church of
Damascus.

They are joined by Reverend Riad Jarjour, Presbyterian pastor from
Homs, and Bishop Dionysius Jean Kawak, Metropolitan of the Syrian
Orthodox Church.

It is the first delegation of its kind to visit Washington since the
Syria crisis began three years ago, and its five members represent key
different Christian communities in the country.

Stories by the five top leaders in the American Time magazine
highlight the horrors that Christians are facing in Syria amid the
worsening situation in the Middle Eastern country.

The bishops’ accounts are similar to other stories of violence against
Syrian Christians during the conflict which has claimed at least
130,000 lives over the past three years.

Syria is home to some 1.8 million Christians, who account for about 10
percent of the country’s population. The religious minority has been
subjected to numerous attacks by extremist groups since the outbreak
of violence in the country in March 2011.

MRS/NN/AS

From: A. Papazian

ITAR-TASS, Russia
February 2, 2014 Sunday 02:39 AM GMT+4

Joint co in Armenia to assemble Russian helicopters, vehicles

YEREVAN February 2

Assembly and repair of Russian helicopters and vehicles will be
organized in Armenia, the Secretary of the republic’s National
Security Council, Artur Bagdasaryan, said on Saturday.

Along with KamAZ-Armenia, the Security Council will support setting up
of UAZ-Armenia and Mi-Armenia joint companies, which will become
regional centres to assemble, repair and service military and civil
helicopters and vehicles, he noted.

The Armenian Security Council will also continue working with
Roscosmos to have a joint company. The Russian space agency’s chief
will arrive in Yerevan in early March, and during his visit, an
intergovernmental agreement will be signed, Bagdasaryan added.

Stepanavan airport in northern Armenia is being restored and
re-equipped to be used for aircraft of the emergencies ministries of
Armenia, Russia and other countries of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization.

In accordance with an agreement and in coordination with the security
councils of Russia and Armenia, the Byurakan astrophysical observatory
of the republic’s National Academy of Sciences is being modernized,
the secretary said. Last year, the observatory received technological
equipment worth five million euros. New large telescopes will be
delivered this year.

This will return its former authority and power to the observatory,
Bagdasaryan believes.

An international astronomic centre will be set up in Byurakan in the
future, as Armenia has all conditions to step up scientific
astrophysical research, he said, adding it was an issue of security,
science development and the authority of the country, which always was
distinguished for its scientific achievements in astronomy.

The work will continue, together with Russian specialists, to
modernize the unique Garni geophysical observatory. “We plan to set up
a joint company to use the scientific centre, Bagdasaryan said.

Armenia and Russia will become the first countries in the CSTO to have
national centers for cyber security and fight against cyber crime, the
SC secretary noted.

The CSTO Academy will begin working in Yerevan on September 1. It will
become a very good platform to raise Armenia’s international
authority, Bagdasaryan believes. In addition, together with the CSTO,
an international strategic forum on security will be held here every
year, he noted.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE
L’Arménie risque de faire face à des problèmes au sein de l’OMC lors
de l’adhésion à l’union douanière

L’Arménie risque de faire face à des problèmes au sein de
l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC) lors de son adhésion à
l’Union douanière, indique une étude du centre de recherche sur
l’intégration de la Banque Eurasiatique de développement (EDB)
intitulé >.

Les auteurs de l’étude disent que la politique tarifaire des
importations pondérée utilisée pour l’Arménie est l’une des plus basse
de celle utilisée par les pays membres de l’OMC – au taux préférentiel
de 2,7% (contre 7,6% en 2013, 6,9% en 2014 et 6% en 2015 dans l’Union
douanière)

L’EDB croit que des négociations commerciales seront nécessaires pour
résoudre ce conflit, avec l’Union douanière.

Pourtant, selon l’étude, l’intégration de l’Arménie dans l’Union
Douanière donnera un certain nombre d’avantages structurels qui
pourront renforcer la position économique de l’Arménie et améliorer sa
stabilité.

dimanche 2 février 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

We cannot expect impossible things from OSCE Minsk Group – Arthur Baghdasaryan

February 01, 2014 | 14:43

YEREVAN. – We cannot expect from the OSCE Minsk Group doing impossible
on Karabakh issue, sectary of Armenia’s National Security Council
said.

Arthur Baghdasaryan emphasized that the mediators will never openly
criticize Azerbaijan.

“Of course, we are very concerned about the situation on the border,
and an adequate response from the international community. But the
role of the Minsk Group is not to condemn the actions of one of the
parties, but to create an atmosphere for negotiation between them. MG
will not openly and sharply criticize any of the parties. We can only
expect condemnation of the use of force or threat of force. Of course,
we would like to see tougher statements, but we have to be pragmatic,”
Baghdasaryan told reporters.

Nevertheless, he said Armenia must regularly draw attention of the
international partners to dirty tricks that official Baku is trying to
use in order to form favorable public opinion inside Azerbaijan.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am
News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian