Author: Andres-Papazian

L’ACCORD ENTRE L’UE ET L’ARMENIE SERA SIGNE EN NOVEMBRE PROCHAIN

Selon le Commissaire europeen a l’Elargissement et a la Politique
europeenne de voisinage, Stefan Fule, l’Union europeenne et l’Armenie
devraient conclure leur accord d’association en novembre prochain. S.

Fule a rencontre le president Serge Sarkissian, le Premier ministre
Tigran Sarkissian et le ministre des Affaires Etrangères Edouard
Nalbandian pour discuter des preparatifs du sommet de l’UE qui se
tiendra a Vilnius. Fule a confirme que l’Armenie et l’UE sont en voie
de conclure cet accord dans la capitale lituanienne.” Nous allons
nous mettre d’accord sur les deux dernières questions. Je n’ai aucun
doute a ce sujet “, a-t-il declare a RFE / RL

Depuis ces negociations avec l’UE, l’Armenie serait en porte-a-faux
avec la Russie qui semblerait lui mettre la pression. Fule a insiste
sur le fait que l’accord d’association n’entravera pas la poursuite
du developpement des relations de l’Armenie avec la Russie.

Fule a egalement appele les autorites armeniennes a faire plus
d’efforts pour reformer les systèmes politiques et economiques du pays.

Un autre haut fonctionnaire de l’UE a declare que les dirigeants
armeniens ont reaffirme leur attachement a ces reformes et que
Bruxelles demeure ” optimiste ” quant a leur mise en ~uvre. Les
groupes d’opposition armeniens ont cependant denonce la corruption du
gouvernement. Contrairement a l’UE, ils sont aussi très critiques sur
la facon dont les autorites armeniennes ont organise les elections
presidentielles et legislatives. Fule devrait se reunir avec les
dirigeants de l’opposition a Erevan ce jeudi.

jeudi 11 juillet 2013, Laetitia

From: A. Papazian

RESIDENTS OF VOLGOGRAD: “WHO IS HEYDAR ALIYEV FOR RUSSIA TO ERECT HIM MONUMENT IN CENTER OF VOLGOGRAD?”

18:06 10/07/2013 ” SOCIETY

“Baku Park” is planned to be installed in Volgograd, at the expenses
of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The main attraction of the park will be
the monument dedicated to the former President of Azerbaijan, and the
father of the current president of the republic, Heydar Aliyev. The
inhabitants of the city didn’t approve of the initiative, reports
the Volgograd based V1.ru site.

As the portal notes, most observers are inclined to the opinion that
the place for founding “some particles of Baku” in Volgograd is chosen
so poorly.

Thus on 5 June, in the Culture and Rest Central Park of Volgograd
solemn ceremony was held which announced the beginning of the
construction of the park. At the foundation of the future park an
agreement capsule was laid which was signed between the Government
of Volgograd region and Heydar Aliyev Foundation. According to the
agreement the fund will improve the park by its own means. As the
director of Central Park Andrey Zharkov stated, the presentation of
the project is scheduled for September 2013.

“The news that appears in Central Park of Volgograd there will be
another park called “Baku Park” was perceived very ambiguous by the
citizens of Volgograd. For example, the architect Andrey Chuykov
believes that the emergence of such a facility in the center
of Volgograd would not only create political discord and urban
development, but would also make the social tension in the region
growth,” reads the site.

The architect believes that this is very ill-conceived and
short-sighted move. “Central Park of Volgograd is not the place that
can be reshaped into Baku branch without asking the opinion of the
inhabitants of Volgograd. This is a big mistake,” said Chuikov.

A similar view shares political scientist Konstantin Glushenok.

“All that is happening today about the Central Park, bring many of
Volgograd inhabitants into indignation. I have the feeling that we
are in a theater of absurd. First of all, such decisions should be
admitted solely on interstate level. And secondly, who’s Heydar Aliyev
to Russia to erect him a monument in the center of Volgograd? We have a
lot of heroes whose names are still waiting for perpetuating. We should
honor our heroes, and not to erect monuments to foreign presidents,”
said the political scientist.

Monument to Heydar Aliyev which was installed in one of the central
parks of Mexico City in August 2012 caused bewilderment among the
residents. Azerbaijan has spent about $ 5 million on the reconstruction
of two parks in Mexico City, after which it was allowed to install a
monument there. Several protests were held in the capital of Mexico
during which the participants claimed they did not want to see the
statue of a dictator, who had ruled thousands of miles away from
their country, next to the monuments of their heroes.

As a result, the special commission recommended that the authorities of
Mexico deinstalled the statue of former Azerbaijani President Heydar
Aliyev, noting that the government made a mistake by taking money
and allowing the foreign government to decide which political and
historical figures should be honored publically in the Mexican capital.

In mid-January, Foreign Ministry of Mexico has given absolute freedom
to the government of Mexico to make up a decision concerning the
controversial statue of Aliyev. In his turn, the Azerbaijani Ambassador
to Mexico Ilgar Mukhtarov told that the Embassy has decided to appeal
to international organizations for the solution of the problem. The
Legislative Assembly of Mexico addressed to the government of Mexico
with a call to dismantle the statue. In late January, the monument
was dismantled and taken to a warehouse.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

GENOCIDES AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF GLOBAL DEMOCRACY

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 10 2013

by MARKAR ESAYAN

The anniversary of the genocide carried out in Srebrenica on July 11,
1995, brought to my mind the fact that the 1990s were actually very
ominous years.

I don’t know if this had something to do with the imminent end of the
Cold War or with the nearing disintegration of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR); I don’t want to speculate about it.

In 1994, 800,000 Tutsis and dissident Hutus were brutally massacred
in less than three months in Rwanda. They had brought cheap machetes
from China for Hutu to use to kill Tutsi because machetes were cheaper
than guns. The resulting violence was so brutal that no one could
believe it to be true. It was unfortunate for me that I had to watch
videos of the Rwanda massacre for a long article. I couldn’t get rid
of those images for months.

I couldn’t understand the brutality inflicted by human beings on other
human beings. All this malice comes from the dark nature of human
beings that we fail to understand. The soldiers who were exhausted
from killing people would cut the Achilles tendons of their victims and
smoke a cigarette while resting next to them and then resume killing.

The seeds of violence planted by Belgium and France in that country
yielded their poisonous product in 1994: genocide. The West currently
avoids criticizing the coup in Egypt; yet, it has committed so many
sins related to democracy and even crimes against humanity! The
“divide and rule” mentality of colonialism that disrupted the social
fabric in every country it touched continues to claim lives, as seen
in the Palestinian issue and it seems it will claim many more lives
in the future.

The Srebrenica genocide occurred in the heart of Europe and before
the very eyes of Dutch soldiers. Europe, the UN and the world just
sat and watched this massacre until the US shelled the region. The
same applied to Rwanda.

The 1990s were nightmarish years for our country, as well. The state
had delegated the solution of the Kurdish and Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK) issues to groups of murderers established under the control of
the army, such as JÄ°TEM — a clandestine gendarmerie intelligence
unit established in the late 1980s to counter ethnic separatism in
the Southeast. These clandestine networks would abduct people in broad
daylight in big cities and they would execute them in the rural areas.

Former PKK members would be used to help commit these executions,
while at the same time poor Kurds were paid salaries to fight the PKK.

Thus, the same village would be raided alternately by the PKK and
the state. The number of unresolved murder cases from that era
exceeds 17,000.

We led normal lives as this violence in Rwanda, Bosnia and in our
own country continued. We were unaware of most of it. Or, different
stories were told to us. It seems the country’s eastern provinces
belonged to a different world. Kurds were evil and separatist and
they deserved everything they got.

We Armenians say the following about the disaster of 1915: “Let those
days go and never come back.” This is really the case. All victims
of genocide are a single nation regardless of their religion, race
and gender. I think this also applies to the perpetrators of these
genocides. For this reason, we need to develop a new awareness and
morality around the globe so that those days never come back. Our duty
should be to learn the truth and not to turn our back on the facts,
to proactively initiate developments and global movements and force
governments to take action.

Currently, Egypt is under military rule. The army is killing people.

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has killed more than 120,000
civilians. Muslims of Arakan and Christians of Nigeria are being
killed. China is massacring Uighur Turks at every opportunity. There
are many more massacres like this. And we lead our daily lives as if
nothing is happening. We still discuss whether or not we should call
the Egyptian developments a coup or Assad a dictator.

“There are democratic problems in Turkey,” we say. Of course there
are. But it is not only Turkish democracy, but the global status of
democracy that is sounding an urgent alarm. The world needs a new
definition of democracy or a new dimension of democracy.

Are the tyrannical rules of Realpolitik unchangeable? Aren’t better
humanitarian policies possible?

I think they are possible, beneficial and profitable. The oft-parroted
assertion that this is not the case is the biggest lie in the world.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA BRACES FOR GAS-FIRED INFLATION HIKE

Business New Europe
July 10 2013

bne
July 10, 2013

Armenia is preparing for a sharp inflation hike as consumer prices
are already reported to be reacting to the large increase in energy
tariffs implemented on June 7. That move was in turn motivated by
the recent hike in the price of Russian gas imports.

Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Committee (PSRC) approved the
tariffs increases last month, after Gazprom said it would raise
the price of gas by 18% starting in July. The Armenian regulator
ordered gas tariff price put up by 18.2%. The large share of Armenian
electricity generated at gas-fired power stations means electricity
bills have increased 26.7%.

According to local press reports, food prices have been quick to
respond. Bread, for example, is already more expensive in the regions
and the suburbs of the capital Yerevan. Although prices have so far
remained constant in the city itself, bread producers say prices are
also set to increase there, News.am reports.

The Russian price hike is widely seen as an attempt to press Yerevan –
one of its closest allies in the region normally – to drop its pursuit
of an EU Association Agreement, and join the Moscow-led Customs Union
instead. Gazprom is at the centre of a similar campaign in Ukraine.

Given Armenia’s high poverty level, the move was politically unpopular,
and even sparked a small protest against the Russian embassy in
Yerevan. However, Armenia remains reliant on Russian gas.

Although it has said it will look for alternatives, its option remain
limited, with the leading candidate Iran charging even more.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA MAY HAND GAS MONOPOLY TO RUSSIANS

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #694
July 10 2013

Controversy as government considers ceding total control of gas
distribution and sales network.

By Marianna Ghahramanyan – Caucasus

Opposition politicians in Armenia are furious that the government
is considering handing over its remaining stake in the natural gas
monopoly to the Russian corporation Gazprom.

The share transfer is meant to secure concessions on the higher gas
price now charged by ArmRusGazprom, a joint venture in which Gazprom
holds an 80 per cent stake.

The opposition warns that the deal will cede all control of energy
supplies to Russia, and is an ill-considered move by a government
that failed to anticipated the price rise.

News of the share giveaway came from Armenian energy minister Armen
Movsisyan, who spoke to RFE/RL on June 17 after meeting Gazprom’s
chief executive Alexei Miller in Moscow.

“We have discussed handing the shares to Gazprom. We will of course
find a proportionate, proper way to obtain something from them in
return,” the minister said.

Movsisyan had earlier said that Armenia was asking Gazprom to grant
a 30 per cent discount on the gas it supplied.

Speaking on June 28, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov confirmed
that in exchange, the Russian gas supplier would consider cutting
the prices it charged Armenia.

Retail gas price increases coming into force on July 7 mean that
consumers are now paying 156 drams, 40 US cents, per cubic metre,
up from 132 drams. That is far lower than the 221 drams Gazprom
is charging, as the Armenian government is softening the blow by
subsidising the retail price.

Because many power stations are fuelled by gas, electricity prices
have gone up as well, and the increase is predicted to affect consumer
prices across the economy. (See Gas Equals Power in Russian-Armenian
Relations.)

Khosrov Harutyunyan, who belongs to the governing Republican Party and
sits on parliament’s budget committee, insisted that the government
had taken steps to reduce the impact on consumers both by subsidising
gas prices and by raising the minimum wage.

“You have to acknowledge that,” he said. “Of course these steps aren’t
enough; one can always demand more. However, the government is taking
steps that can be implemented effectively,” he said.

Harutyunyan downplayed the possible loss of the government’s remaining
stake in ArmRosGazprom, saying, “If 80 per cent of the shares already
belong to Gazprom, you must agree that this 20 per cent doesn’t play
an important role,” he said.

Opposition politicians accused the government of doing nothing to
prepare for the price rises even though it had known they were coming
for the past two years.

“The government loves to talk about a diversified economy and about
alternative energy, but we are losing everything,” Vahagn Khachatryan,
a parliamentarian from the Armenian National Congress. “The whole
gas saga can be seen as the collapse of government.”

Artsvik Minasyan of the Dashnaktsutyun party said the country was
becoming ever more reliant on Russia for its energy supplies.

“The government is not exploiting the potential of alternative energy
sources, nor is it ensuring a diversification of the gas market. We
could be using Iranian gas, but the government sees the problems
associated with that as insurmountable,” he said.

Harutyunyan agreed that alternative energy might offer solutions. He
said that part of the share transfer to Gazprom must included a
promise not to raise prices again for the next five to seven years,
giving the government a window to look for other energy sources like
hydroelectric, solar and geothermal power.

He said hydroelectric schemes alone could potentially deliver
22 billion kilowatt hours a year, whereas at the moment they were
contributing under a fifth of total domestic electricity production,
which stands at eight billion kilowatt hours annually. The rest is
generated by gas-fired and nuclear power plants, both running on
imported fuel.

ArmRosGazprom owns the pipeline from Iran as well as the one coming
from Russia via Georgia.

Minasyan argues that Armenia could make more use of a contract with
Iran to supply gas for the Yerevan power station. Actual imports from
Iran only amount to a third of the volume envisaged in the contract.

Hayk Balanyan, an energy expert at Yerevan’s Institute for Geopolitics
and Geoeconomics, said that while the Iranian pipeline could partly
offset Armenia’s increasing reliance on Russia-supplied gas, it
could not replace it. For one thing, the pipeline did not have enough
capacity, and for another, Iran appeared to have promised far more
gas than it was able to deliver.

“You get the impression that the situation isn’t transparent. It
isn’t clear what’s going on there,” he said.

Balanyan concluded, “People need to obtain real gas at accessible,
sensible prices. Gas that doesn’t exist only on paper, ant that doesn’t
come at prices that make it more sensible to go out and chop down a
tree.” The reference is to the extensive logging for firewood that
accompanied past energy shortages.

Movsisyan has indicated that a decision on the ArmRosGazprom share
transfer is likely to be finalised by the end of this year.

Marianna Ghahramanyan works for Armnews TV.

From: A. Papazian

AMANDA PAUL – HOPE OF RUSSIA

The Regnum, a highly popular mass media outlet though distinguished
for strange behavior, which continues to perform the role of the
information resource and tool of the foreign policy of Russia,
has published an article by Guy Borisov entitled ~SEurope
Losing Interest in Armenia But ~SShifting Arrows~T at Moscow?~T

It states that the initialing of the Association Agreement
with the EU during the Eastern Partnership Summit may not
take place. In addition, it refers to Amanda Paul, head of the
analytical program on Turkey, Ukraine, Cyprus, South Caucasus
and Eurasian affairs of the European Political Center which also
cooperates with the political research institutions in Istanbul.

Amanda Paul is a well-known expert on Turkey in the area of analytic
studies in Europe, and at the same time she is known for her close
relations with Turkish politicians, apparently she is a key participant
of the lobby of Turkish interests in Europe. (It is well-known to
poorly informed Armenian and non-Armenian political and analytical
sets in European countries.)

Amanda Paul states that Russia is making pressure on the EU or on
Armenia with a view to thwarting the signing of the agreement. But
why is focus on the pronouncements of Amanda Paul who represents and
protects the interests of Turkey equally with Turks.

The point is that all the pronouncements of Amanda Paul in this
article are highly intuitive and deliberative rather than informative.
Besides, it should be noted that in May 2013 we had another opportunity
to talk to her in Brussels, and the idea that Russia may make efforts
to pressure the EU and Armenia with a view to thwarting the signing
of this agreement was presented by her thoroughly to several dozens
of officials and experts of the EU, NATO and think tanks.

We shared analogical thoughts with politicians and analysts in Moscow
earlier this year. Could Amanda Paul refer to Armenian analysts?
Besides, it should be noted that in innumerable conversations in
Brussels, as well as London and Paris we did not hear any doubts
about expectations relating to the signing of the agreement between
the European Union and Armenia in November 2013.

In addition, the level of conversations was such that apparently the
only thing left for Amanda Paul to do was to ask Jose Manuel Barroso to
confirm the information because high-ranking EU officials responsible
for the affairs of the South Caucasus, Moldova and Ukraine did not
doubt success of signing of this agreement. One may assume that the
European policy has undergone ~Sdrastic changes~T over the past six
weeks, as well as Russia has made significant efforts to thwart the
policy of the European Union.

Madam Amanda Paul also expresses doubt that this agreement has a
meaning because Armenia lacks communication with Turkey which is
not likely to lift the blockade. It is also informed (it is not
clear whether again Amanda Paul is referred or it is a free flow of
deliberations): ~SNothing has been heard about the call for a donor
conference for Armenia during which it had been planned earlier
to collect about 1.5 billion euro for Yerevan as a ~Sprize~T for
rapprochement with Europe. It may also indicate loss of interest of
Brussels in rapprochement with several ~Sproblematic~T countries of
the ~SEastern Partnership~T. In addition, they seemed likely to blame
Russia for possible failure of plans on initialing the Association
Agreement in Vilnius, explaining all this as ~Sobstacles set by
the Kremlin~T.~T

Such an expert as the ~Sheavy artillery~T of Russian analytics Sergey
Kurginyan was not sufficient. They already need the help of Turkish
agents.

Hence, the Russians have found important arguments and followers of
relevant ideas in the face of a pro-Turkish analyst. Isn~Rt it better
to cite Turks? That would have been more argumentative. As assumed
earlier (there was a publication about it), the best partner to Russia
in terms of blocking rapprochement of Armenia with NATO and the EU is
Turkey. There are no new ideas, what~Rs the point of having any? The
old Russian-Turkish policy of suffocation of Armenia is still relevant.

Igor Muradyan 15:05 11/07/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA MAY POST 5.1% ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2013, 5.3%-2014 AND 5.5% – 2015-2016: IMF OUTLOOK

YEREVAN, July 11./ARKA/. International Monetary Fund anticipates a
5.1-percent economic growth for Armenia in 2013, 5.3-percent growth
-in 2014 and 5.5 percent -2015-2016, IMF Mission Chief to Armenia
Mark Horton told ARKA Thursday.

Given the increase in gas and electric power tariffs, the IMF will
review its forecasts for Armenia, according to Horton.

World Economic Outlook for April forecasted 4.5-percent and 4.1-percent
GDP growth in Armenia in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Armenian regulator confirmed the new tariffs for natural gas and
electric power which got effective since 7 July. The tariff for
those consuming up to 10,000 cubic meters per month has risen to
156,000 drams ($376) from previous 132,000 drams ($318) per 1,000
cubic meters. Those consuming over 10,000 cubic meters will now
pay 277 dollars instead of previous 243 dollars. The new day-time
electricity tariff will be 38 drams per 1kWh (including VAT) instead
of the current 30 drams, and night-time tariff -28 drams (including
VAT) instead of the current 25 drams.

The state expenditures program for 2014-2016 expects a 6.9-percent GDP
growth in 2014, about 10-percent growth in 2015, and 11 percent -2016.

GDP growth in 2012 was 7.2%, in 2013 it is predicted at 6.2%. Armenian
President instructed the government to reach a 7-percent economic
growth in 2013.-0-

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE SUBMITS 4 REPORTS TO POLICE AS IT STUDIES CONTROL CHAMBER’S ANNUAL RECORDS

YEREVAN, July 11./ARKA/. As of 10 July, State Interests Protection
division of Prosecutor General’s Office submitted four reports to
the Police Central Investigatory Unit as it studied the records of
Armenia’s Chamber of Control for 2012.

The reports particularly related to education programs center,
transport projects office, water economy projects office and Arpa-Sevan
tunnel reconstruction office, the prosecutor general’s office said
Thursday.

The additional results of the studies will be available later. The
annual records of Armenia’s Chamber of Control are still being studied.

On 13 June Armenia’s Chamber of Control reported to the parliament
about the budget expenditures in 2012. The document revealed serious
violations and embezzlement of public funds in urban development and
state procurement spheres. Head of Control Chamber Ishkhan Zaqaryan
also noted the situation remains the same in many spheres, and from
year to year the same violations are detected there.

Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan defined the recent statements
of Ishkhan Zaqaryan, head of the Chamber of Control, as wrong
and short-sighted. Appealing to prime minister Tigran Sargsyan,
the president recommended him to instruct the chiefs of different
divisions to probe into the problems appropriately. The ministers
have already submitted the reports to the government over the issues
defined by the Control Chamber.-0-

– See more at:

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN FM, EU COMMISSIONER HAIL PROGRESS IN BILATERAL RELATIONS

13:49 10.07.2013

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received EU Commissioner
for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Å tefan Fule.

Greeting the guest, Minister Nalbandian noted that serious progress
has been registered in the Armenia-EU relations over the past years.

He expressed gratitude for EU’s continuous support to the reforms
in Armenia.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the negotiation process
within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

Commissioner Fule hailed the positive developments in the Armenia-EU
relations, underlining that Armenia is one of the forerunners of
the Eastern Partnership Program and reiterated the EU commitment to
maintain the support to the process of reforms.

Å tefan Fule voiced hope that the Association Agreement and the
Agreement on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area would be pre-signed
during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.

The parties stressed the importance of ratification of the visa
facilitation and readmission agreements.

In the context of the Armenian presidency of the CoE Committee of
Ministers, the interlocutors attached importance to the cooperation
between the European Union and the Council of Europe.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN ANTI-HAIL STATIONS TO BE ASSEMBLED IN KARABAKH AND GEORGIA

July 10, 2013 | 00:25

“Barva” Innovation Center of Armenia plans to open anti-hail station
assembly workshops in Nagorno-Karabakh and in Georgia, Center Chairman
Aram Vardanyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In his words, the center received an order for 72 new such stations
from the Nagorno-Karabakh Rescue Service.

“We are preparing to set up a workshop in [Nagorno-Karabakh capital
city] Stepanakert and the other in Georgia, where we also export our
stations,” Vardanyan said.

In his words, three such anti-hail stations are already operating in
the Kakheti region of Georgia.

“We plan on intensify cooperation with Georgia, since there is a
considerable need for anti-hail stations in the agrarian regions of
the country,” Vardanyan stated.

He added that they plan to open the anti-hail station assembly
workshops in Nagorno-Karabakh and in Georgia within the year.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian