Author: Andres-Papazian

REVUE DE PRESSE N1 – 05/09/13 – COLLECTIF VAN

Publie le : 05-09-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance
Armenienne contre le Negationnisme] vous propose une revue de presse
des informations parues dans la presse francophone, sur les thèmes
concernant la Turquie, le genocide armenien, la Shoah, le genocide
des Tutsi, le Darfour, le negationnisme, l’Union europeenne, Chypre,
etc… Nous vous suggerons egalement de prendre le temps de lire ou
de relire les informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre
rubrique Par
ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc, ne sont
disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous generons chaque jour.

Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la Veille-Media : c’est gratuit !

Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans votre boîte email.

Bonne lecture.

Armenie et Japon Info Collectif VAN – – ” La ville
paisible de Glendale est devenue le centre d’une grande controverse
internationale le 9 juillet, lorsque le conseil municipal a approuve
la construction d’un memorial aux ‘femmes de reconfort’, un euphemisme
pour decrire les 200°000 jeunes femmes forcees a un esclavage sexuel
par et pour l’armee japonaise, durant son occupation de la Coree et des
pays voisins avant et pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Le conseil
municipal, après avoir entendu des temoignages contradictoires des
membres des communautes japonaise et coreenne locales, a approuve par
4 voix contre 1 l’installation d’un monument a Glendale en honneur
des ‘femmes de reconfort’. Lors de la ceremonie d’inauguration, les
conseillers municipaux Ara Najarian et Zareh Sinanyan ont exprime
leur compassion pour le sort subi par les ‘femmes de reconfort’,
car leurs propres ancetres armeniens ont souffert des atrocites de
masse en Turquie. ” Le Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction de
l’editorial du journaliste armeno-americain Harut Sassounian, paru
dans The California Courier le 5 septembre 2013.

Oradour, le geste de reconciliation qui ne libère pas de l’effroi
Info Collectif VAN – – Morceaux choisis des
diverses allocutions de Francois Hollande et Joachim Gauck a propos
d’Oradour-sur-Glane. Comment ne pas penser au discours que devra,
un jour, tenir un chef d’Etat turc, pour les crimes commis envers
les Armeniens ?

Presse armenienne : Revue du 3 septembre 2013 Info Collectif VAN –
– “Au cours des trois dernières annees, l’Armenie
a achete autant d’armements qu’au cours des vingt dernières annees/
Se trouvant au HK pour prendre part aux festivites a l’occasion
du 22ème anniversaire de l’independance du HK, le PM a declare aux
soldats, lors d’une visite aux positions avancees, qu’au cours des
trois dernières annees l’Armenie a acquis autant d’armements qu’au
cours des vingt dernières annees”. Le Collectif VAN vous presente
cette Revue de Presse parue sur le site de l’Ambassade de France en
Armenie le 3 septembre 2013.

Le rapprochement de l’Armenie avec la Russie complique ses rapports
avec l’UE Le rapprochement de l’Armenie avec la Russie devrait
compliquer ses rapports economiques avec l’Europe. L’Armenie vient
en effet d’integrer une union douanière dominee par la Russie. Une
decision qui empechera la signature d’accords de libre-echange avec
l’Union europeenne (UE), ont annonce mardi les autorites lituaniennes,
qui assument la presidence tournante de l’UE.

Le PM turc critique Poutine sur la question syrienne a la veille
du sommet du G20 Citant les recents propos du president russe selon
lesquels la Russie n’exclurait pas d’appuyer une operation militaire en
Syrie si des preuves claires prouvaient que Damas a effectivement mene
des attaques a l’arme chimique, M. Erdogan a declare que le changement
de position de M. Poutine sur la Syrie est source de confusion.

861 familles d’Armenie recoivent le droit de vivre legalement en
Turquie Malgre l’absence de relations diplomatiques entre l’Armenie
et la Turquie des centaines de familles d’Armenie ont ete autorisees
de resider legalement en Turquie.

Article du journal franco-turc Zaman – 05/09/2013 – 1 Le Collectif
VAN relaye ici les articles du journal franco-turc Zaman (equivalent
du Today’s Zaman en langue anglaise, diffuse en Turquie).

Attention : ces articles ne sont pas commentes de notre part. Il
s’agit pour l’essentiel de traductions des versions turque et anglaise
du Zaman, journal proche du parti au pouvoir (AKP). “En l’espace
de deux ans, plus de 100.000 personnes ont ete tuees en Syrie. Au
moins un demi-million de Syriens sont devenus des refugies. Le savant
syrien Muhammed Saïd Ramadan al-Bouti, qui avait ete accuse d’etre
pro-Assad et assassine le 21 mars 2013, avait raison. Il a averti que
le changement impose par les armes se traduirait par un effondrement
total du pays.”

Attaque chimique en Syrie : pourquoi l’article soupconnant les
rebelles n’est pas credible L’article poursuit en citant le temoignage
d’un homme, Abu Abdel-Moneim, dont le fils a ete charge, selon
lui, de transporter des armes mysterieuses. D’après Abdel-Moneim,
treize personnes (son fils et douze autres rebelles) ont ete tuees
a l’interieur d’un tunnel qui etait utilise pour stocker des armes
fournies par un militant saoudien, designe comme ” Abu Ayesha “,
qui dirigeait un bataillon.

Syrie: Washington assure etre en train de bâtir une coalition,
notamment avec Paris Le secretaire d’Etat John Kerry a assure mercredi
que les Etats-Unis bâtissaient une coalition internationale pour
d’eventuelles frappes militaires contre la Syrie, notamment avec la
France et des pays arabes.

Les Etats-Unis soutiennent l’integration de l’Armenie a l’Europe
“L’Armenie a reussi a negocier avec l’Union europeenne un accord
d’association et un accord de libre-echange approfondi et complet”,
a declare Heffern aux journalistes. “Les Etats-Unis ne sont pas
partie prenante de ce processus, mais nous felicitons les deux côtes
de leur succès.”

Retour de l’ambassadeur de Turquie au Caire L’ambassadeur de Turquie
au Caire, rappele a la mi-août en signe de protestation contre
la repression des Frères musulmans par les militaires egyptiens,
reprendra ses fonctions ce mercredi soir, indique-t-on de source
gouvernementale turque.

L’Armenie tourne le dos a l’Union europeenne ” La Russie a eu
recours a des manoeuvres d’intimidation avec un certain nombre de
voisins. Je pense que le president armenien est alle a Moscou et
le president Poutine lui a force la main en laissant entendre que
s’il maintenait ses aspirations euroatlantistes, en essayant de se
rapprocher de l’Union europeenne et d’avoir un accord de libre-echange
avec elle, ce serait la fin des garanties securitaires russes ” ,
avance l’eurodepute Charles Tannock.

L’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan se disputent les prisonniers de guerre
Si l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan ne sont pas en guerre, ils ne sont pas
en paix, non plus. Une treve fragile a ete mis en place depuis 1994,
quand une fin aux hostilites dans le conflit du Haut-Karabagh a ete
negociee. Depuis lors, le Karabagh a eu sa propre administration
armenienne tandis que l’Azerbaïdjan continue d’appuyer sa demande de
recuperer la region.

Retour a la rubrique

From: A. Papazian

IF ARMENIA CHOOSES RUSSIAN CUSTOMS UNION, IT CAN’T EXPECT AGREEMENT WITH EU – LINKEVICIUS

Baltic News Service / – BNS
September 3, 2013 Tuesday 3:32 PM EET

VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Should Armenia choose to join the Customs Union
being established by Russia, it will not be able to expect a Free
Trade Agreement with the European Union, the Lithuanian presidency
over the European Union (EU) Council said on Tuesday.

“It means that it will not sigh the Free Trade Agreement with the EU,
if that is the choice it makes. This revises the situation, reduces
the level of ambition regarding the integration and cooperation with
the EU,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told BNS in
comment of the statement issued by the Armenian president.

“We respect any choice made by countries, however, they will not be
able to sign both agreements due to different tariff requirements,”
the minister said.

Armenia was earlier expected to initial the Association and Free
Trade Agreement with the EU during the EU Eastern Partnership summit
in Vilnius in the end of November.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced the decision to join
the Customs Union after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

From: A. Papazian

STOP THE CUSTOM’S AGREEMENT FROM BEING SIGNED WITH MOSCOW

23:54, September 4, 2013

By Christian Garbis

Armenian citizens should not allow the customs agreement to be signed
with Russia.

Joining a still-abstract Customs Union, with Russia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan confirmed onboard, is a disaster in the making and would
the worst thing the Armenian republic ever did in its 22 year history.

It would be tantamount to entering a screeching time vortex and landing
in the dark ages, complete with the classic communist slogans pasted
across the city walls and statues being re-erected glorifying the
days of the Soviet dream. Putin’s dream is to bring it all back,
under a different guise, but all the same associated nonsense.

After 4 years of negotiations with the EU on signing the Association
Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, which
would have entered its final phase with a formal signing ceremony in
November, one man’s abrupt decision should not lock Armenia’s fate and
compromise its long-term sustainability and prospects for expanding
growth. The Armenian people themselves must decide their own future,
not someone who places his own personal interests over those of the
people he is supposedly serving.

Read Full Article in FOOTPRINTS BLOG

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA JOINING CUSTOMS UNION IS A CHALLENGE – ARTUR SAKUNTS

17:19 04.09.13

Joining the Customs Union is a challenge, an anti-constitutional step
and uncertainty for Armenian citizens, Head of the Helsinki Citizens’
Assembly Vanadzor office Artur Sakunts told Tert.am.

“What does a customs union in an area without any possibility of using
common communication channels mean? A thread running from Armenia to
Georgia, farther to this so-called customs union,” Akunts said.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has no right to speak in behalf of
Armenia and, particularly, in behalf of Artur Sakunts, he added.

Sakunts is concerned over Armenia sharing common values with Russia.

“I am much more concerned over the joint statement on the values. We
cannot have common values with Putin-led Russia, where people are
robbed of their property in broad daylight and imprisoned on trumped
up charges, where civil society is under pressure. That is, this is
an authoritarian regime, and what common values can I have with it?”

Sakunts has no doubts that Russian President Vladimir Putin exerted
pressure. However, it is Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan who made
a decision by himself, without considering his team’s opinion.

“I expect everything from Putin. He is incapable of using civilized
language given his numerous statements on various topics. I think
the problem is in Serzh Sargsyan. At his meetings with high-ranking
officials of the European Union (EU) in Brussels he states one thing,
but at his meetings in Russia he states different things, for people
not to find themselves in an awkward situation,” Sakunts said.

He is sure that the pressure exerted on Armenia has to do with the
tragic events in Yerevan on March 1, 2008. “The March 1 crime was
a state crime. Its remaining unsolved means permanent vulnerability
for both Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan, as well as the people
immediately responsible for that crime. And Russia will always make
use of this factor to exert pressure at private meetings.”

As regards Russian pressure on Armenia in the context of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Sakunts notes that any attempt to justify
Armenia’s joining the Customs Union by ‘Nagorno-Karabakh’s salvation’
is at least unreasonable behavior.

He warns that of civil society’s imminent response. “You should expect
a rather serious reaction.”

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN EXPERT: CUSTOMS UNION DOESN’T MEAN RETURN OF SOVIET RULE

September 4, 2013 – 17:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Cooperation between Russia, Armenia and other
countries of the Customs Union should demonstrate three aspects,
according to member of the Russian Civic Chamber, political analyst
Denis Dvornikov.

“First, participation and economic integration in the Union are
beneficial and effective. Second, formation and development of the
Union doesn’t mean return of the soviet rule. Third, the Customs
Union is a project of like-minded members enjoying equal rights with
a purpose to achieve economic and political advantages,” Dvornikov
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, adding that any complication and
misunderstanding might undermine the international project.

Armenia completed technical talks on a ‘deep and comprehensive
free-trade agreement’ (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set
to be signed at a summit with the EU in late November. The EU has
repeatedly stated publicly and privately that membership of the
Eurasian Customs Union – whose members are Russia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan – is “incompatible” with a DCFTA, The European Voice says.

In addition to a free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards
the signing of an association agreement with the EU, a framework
agreement on co-operation that is seen as a first step towards
political integration with the EU.

During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian
leader Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union,
with further plans to be involved in formation of EurAsEC.

Mr. Putin supported the initiative, voicing readiness to assist Armenia
in the process. He also noted that Russian Railways may invest 15
billion rubles in development of Armenia’s railway network.

The Customs Union was formed in 2010 to include of Belarus, Kazakhstan,
and Russia; Kirghizia and Tajikistan later expressed willingness to
join the Union.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt described Armenia’s intention as
a U-turn in relations with the European Union. “Seems as if Armenia
will break talks on free trade agreement with EU and integrate with
Russia instead,” he said on his Twitter account.

“Destiny of our Eastern partners is in their hands and we do care
about neighbors of our neighbors,” Å tefan Fule, the enlargement and
neighborhood commissioner, tweeted from the same event.

From: A. Papazian

NEW CLASSROOM OPENS IN SARDARAPAT COMMUNITY SCHOOL

September 4, 2013 – 17:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A modern classroom opened in a school in Sardarapat
community of Armenia’s Armavir province, with the support of
VivaCell-MTS.

The creation of the classroom with innovative solutions became possible
due to the cooperation between VivaCell-MTS, Children of Armenia Fund
and Sardarapat school.

With an electronic smart board as well as 6 new computers, the
classroom is designed for 30 students, where special mobile furniture
allows students to perform individually, in pairs, as well as in
small and large groups. Such an environment provides an opportunity
to complete different types of activities – lessons with the use of
modern technologies, class discussions and lectures, reading sessions
and games.

“If we manage to make the learning environment more attractive, we will
get the expected results within the shortest terms. Our nation’s unique
approach towards education should be targeted at preparing skilled
professionals,” VivaCell- MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.

Also this year, with the support of VivaCell-MTS, the Children of
Armenia Fund will put into operation another classroom in the Arteni
community of Aragatsotn province.

From: A. Papazian

YERGHNYAN FINDS NOT SO AGGRESSIVE INVESTMENT POLICY AS ONE OF BIGGEST FAULTS IN ARMENIA’S ECONOMY

YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. Not so vigorous investment policy is
one of the biggest faults in Armenia’s economy, Manuk Yerghnyan,
head of the Economy and Values research center, said Wednesday in
Novosti International Press Center.

“I think the country should pursue more aggressive policy to attract
foreign investments, since this is one of mechanisms for restructuring
the economy and carrying out technological re-equipment,” he said.

Yerghnyan also commented on the latest official statistical reports,
according to which $293 million has been invested into Armenia’s
economy from the outside for the first six months of this year –
34.7% less than over the same period a year earlier, and direct
foreign investments amounted to $118.1 million in Jan-June 2013 –
64.2% year-on-year decline

“This is a structural problem that emerged five or six year ago,”
he said. “Investments consist of two components, of which the biggest
is reinvestment profit. In other words, reinvestments of profits of
companies which already operate in Armenia are considered as foreign
investments. This structure has created the following situation –
when large infrastructural projects are completed, decline emerges.”

According to the National Statistical Service, Argentina was the
biggest investor into Armenian economy’s real rector in Jan-June 2013.

It built up its investments 10.4 times in Jan-June 2013, compared with
the same period a year before, to $76.1 million. Direct investments
from Argentina grew 67.2% to $8.2 million.

Other largest investors in Armenia’s economy were Russia, Canada,
Cyprus and France in Jan-June 2013. —0—

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

EXPERT: ARMENIA NOT TO GET GREAT ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM JOINING CUSTOMS UNION

September 04, 2013 | 14:09

Armenia will not get great economic benefits from joining the Customs
Union, Carnegie Center expert Alexey Malashenko said.

The decision made by Yerevan is an absolute victory of Russia in the
implementation of its project on Eurasian integration, especially
against the background of what is happening in the relationship with
Ukraine and Belarus.

Armenia’s decision was expected, given its strategic partnership with
Russia and the Karabakh issue. The status quo will not change because
of joining the Customs Union. The decision will face criticism from
the West, but it will not last long.

Vlasov noted that CSTO celebrated victory in the battle between the
Eurasian and European project. Armenian leader’s decision means that
after the recent Putin’s visit to Azerbaijan, Yerevan began doubting
that Russia will continue to act as guarantor of Armenia’s security.

The economic benefit of Armenia will be the fact that Russian companies
will finally upgrade their enterprises in the country. Now this will
be politically motivated, the expert concluded.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

CRRC: ARMENIA IS LEADING IN INTERNET USE IN REGION; 12% OF RESPONDENTS IN AZERBAIJAN HAVE NOT EVEN HEARD ABOUT INTERNET

11:13 04/09/2013 ” SOCIETY

According to the “Caucasus Research Resource Centers” (CRRC), the
level of Internet use in the South Caucasus countries, especially in
Armenia, is rapidly increasing, the article posted on the website of
the organization reads.

Thus, according to the 2012 data 44% of Armenians use the Internet
once a week or more. In 2010, this figure was equal to 28%. In the
same time, 9% use Internet once a month or even less. It is noteworthy
that there were no people left in Armenia who did not know what the
Internet was.

In Azerbaijan 19% of the population uses Internet once a week or more.

In the same time, 12% of the population still does not know what the
Internet is.

According to the CRRC, 35% of Georgian residents use the Internet
every week. 6% of respondents have not heard about the Internet at all.

The organization notes that the main Internet users are primarily
residents of capital cities aged from 18 to 35.

The lack of access to the network was given as a reason for not using
the Internet in Armenia and Azerbaijan. In Georgia the reason was
the shortage of computer.

“In addition, about a quarter of Azerbaijanis stated that they were
not interested in using the Internet,” reads the CRRC site.

The organization also inquired about the purposes for which the
respondents used the Internet. It turned out that most of the users in
Georgia, and about half of the Armenians and Azerbaijanis mainly use
such social networks as “Odnoklassniki” (“Classmates”), “Facebook”
and “MySpace”. Armenians often use Skype as well. A quarter of the
Armenians read online news. This rate in Azerbaijan equals 16%,
and in Georgia – 22%.

“Such activities as online games, dating sites, blogging, visiting
forums and shopping via the Internet are less popular in the region,”
add the authors of the research.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

“RUSSIA DOES NOT RESPECT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF ARMENIA.”

September 4 2013

According to political scientist Armen Grigoryan, visiting fellow
of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association Research Centre and the
University of Banska Bystrica, the assertions regarding the danger
of isolating NKR from Armenia are the result of Russian campaign. –
What expectations can we have from the EU Association process, in
particular, from the application of a free trade agreement? – The
EU Association Agreement can promote the long-term implementation
of reforms, which enables Armenia to take the path of building the
public life based on the Western standards. The formation of democratic
society on the basis of pluralism, the full protection of human rights
is only possible with integration into modern, progressive system.

Now, even 20 years later, it becomes possible to implement what the
Central European and Baltic countries have conducted since mid of 90s.

And particularly regarding the free trade regime, a few days ago,
a detailed analysis was published as to how much the trade volume
will increase, what social consequences it will have, and so on. The
expected results are positive. In addition, the free trade regime can
stimulate the investments, more contributing to the creation of new
jobs. Of course, it will take a lot of prerequisites, some of them
are technical, such as transferring to the European standards of food
processing. Additional funds will be allocated to the EU budget for
2014-2021 for modernization of technical upgrading, certification, and
infrastructures of the Eastern Partnership countries. Most importantly,
however, is the provision of other prerequisites that depends on us,
provision of priority of the law, immunity of property rights, in
particular, elimination of the arbitrariness of the tax authorities
in terms of reduction of corruption, elimination of oligarchy impact,
and so on. On the other hand, free trade regime will not only promote
export but also will lead to intensifying competition in the domestic
market, along with its positive impact. – There are fears that
the free trade regime will lead to the isolation of Karabakh from
Armenia. – Not only Armenia, but also Georgia and Moldova are related
to the issue of unsettlement of the conflict with regard to the free
trade. The EU requires that the partner countries ensure that the
goods manufactured in the countries not within the free trade regime
(Russia, China, etc.), for example, labeled “produced in Armenia”,
not to be exported to EU. For this reason, the partner country should,
in particular, ensure the possibility of visits by EU inspectors to
control the production capacity. Georgia and Moldova do not control
a part of their territory and some parts of the external border, and
thus can not guarantee the absence of re-export. For this reason,
the Government of Moldova is ready to install control points along
the dividing line with Transnistria, it should be noted that moving
between Moldova and Transnistria is free.

Georgia is not ready for such a step, because it can be perceived
as a de facto recognition of independence. But, maybe the EU fears
that the Russian soldiers can agree with some Georgian businessmen
to organize an export from Russia to the occupied territories, and
then from Georgia to the EU, which in the condition of customs duty
exemption could provide a big profit. This is only a guess, but in any
case the Government of Georgia should find a solution. In our case,
the situation is different, unlike Georgia and Moldova, Armenia does
not have a problem with regard to ensuring compliance with rules of
origin of products, in particular, organizing visits of inspectors. As
for the possibility of export of products from Karabakh, let us not
forget that currently the vast majority of Armenia’s export goes to
the EU, and the origin of some products theoretically possible of
Karabakh is not problematic. Because of the Association Agreement,
the assertion on danger of isolating Karabakh from Armenia are the
result of the Russian campaign, and we have to worry not about the EU,
but the policy led by Russia. – What steps can be expected from Russia,
intensification of anti-propaganda against EU integration, or other
pressures as well? – As for the campaign, for example, in Moldova
during the last three years, approximately 40 NGO was established
to specifically advocate the “Eurasian integration”, naturally,
vast resources of advocacy be directed in Ukraine. For Armenia,
it is also expected to strengthen the campaign, unfortunately, the
number of those guided by the instruction from the Russian side and
the so-called “initiators” in Armenia’s political field, analytical
frameworks is great. Because the Euro integration, everywhere there are
traces of Russian influence starting from the talks about the danger
of isolating Karabakh from Armenia up to homosexual topics. It is
also obvious that Russia does not respect the sovereignty of Armenia,
this is evidenced by the fact that a few days ago, the First Secretary
of the Russian Embassy in Armenia Alexander Vasilyev publicly called
Armenia-EU negotiations a ‘separate’, complaining of their privacy,
and also projected “hot autumn” in Armenia. In other words, the
officials in the RF think that Armenia is obligated to be accountable
to them for the negotiations led by it. Similar expression of lack
of respect for the sovereignty of the country should deserve a rough
treatment. Unfortunately, at this time, too, as well as in many other
cases, particularly in the case of supplying weapons to Azerbaijan
by Russia, the official circles of Armenia did not respond in any
way. In addition to the propaganda, other pressures, of course, are
possible. The “economic war” led against Ukraine in these days is in
front of all of us. Indeed, the campaign against Ukraine is especially
strong, because the RF realizes that if Ukraine irreversibly stands
on the way of European integration, the creation of the Eurasian
Union would become meaningless. Let’s hope that Ukraine, despite the
pressure, will sign the EU Association Agreement, opening a new era
for agreement initialing countries. It is possible to apply pressure on
Armenia in the political and economic spheres, as well as speculations
around the settlement process of Karabakh conflict. Unfortunately,
the only option that could be considered now is to that Russia will
display politeness and will relate to Armenia with respect, as well as
to the choice of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. – And does Armenia have
enough potentials to withstand the pressures, and whether the EU is
able to provide additional guarantees of security to Armenia? – First
of all, in my opinion, the EU is not even obliged to give us guarantee
of security if we do not eliminate our internal drawbacks and faulty
traditions. To resist pressures and to neutralize threats it requires a
public consensus, which is impossible to achieve unless there are false
charged convicts, and the police act of violence is continued with
new attempts to “prepare a case” against civilian activists, unless
measurements are not applied against arbitraries of the oligarchs,
and so on and so forth. We need to evaluate the available risks and
the sources thereof and develop plans on neutralization. For example,
why is the pressure possible in the energy sector, since the entire
energy sector has appeared under the management of Russians? We are
rightly complaining about the Turkish blockade, but we forget that we
also have the problem of self-isolation, it can also be called the
problem of self-blockade. A few years ago, when the Iran- Armenia
gas pipeline project was discussed, the top officials were saying,-
“We can not ignore Russia’s interests,” and finally, the pipeline
was built with a small diameter and was handed over to the Russians.

Emma GABRIELYAN

Read more at:

From: A. Papazian