Azerbaïdjan : Le Kremlin va-t-il réactiver ses vieux trucs ?

AZERBAIDJAN
Azerbaïdjan : Le Kremlin va-t-il réactiver ses vieux trucs ?

La Russie veut-elle la chute de l’administration du président Ilham
Aliyev en Azerbaïdjan en soutenant un nouveau groupe de lobby issu de
la diaspora. Les fonctionnaires et les analystes à Bakou croient que
le Kremlin tente de trouver un moyen de se mêler des affaires
intérieures de l’Azerbaïdjan.

La nouvelle organisation est appelée l’Union des organisations
azerbaïdjanaises de la Russie (UAOR). Les médias Azerbaïdjanais l’ont
surnommé « L’union des milliardaires » en raison de l’appartenanceen
son sein de fantastiques riches d’origine Azéris. Parmi les dirigeants
du groupe figurent au premier plan le promoteur immobilier /
détaillant Araz Agalarov, le père du beau-fils du président Ilham
Aliev, le chanteur pop Emin Agalarov ; le magnat Telman Ismayilov,
propriétaire du groupe touche-à-tout AST ; Iskender Khalilov,
propriétaire de l’entreprise ISR Trans et Vagit Alekperov, président
de la société LUKOIL.

Ces hommes, généralement considérées comme proches à la fois du
Kremlin et du Président Aliyev, sont contrebalancés par quelques
leaders dont la loyauté va au président russe Vladimir Poutine.
Ramazan Abdoulatipov, ancien ambassadeur de Russie au Tadjikistan, est
d’origine du Daghestan et président de la République du Daguestan en
Russie, qui borde l’Azerbaïdjan. Un autre copain du Kremlin est le
magnat Soyun Sadigov, azéri de Géorgie qui a travaillé pour le KGB
dans les années 1980. Sadigov est aussi l’ancien chef de
l’organisation de la diaspora AzerRos et l’un des fondateurs du parti
pro-Poutine Unité nationale russe.

De longue date le proche d’Aliyev Abbas Abbasov , qui a servi comme
premier vice Premier ministre de 1992 à 2006, préside le nouveau
groupe.

Comme un amant éconduit, les dirigeants azerbaïdjanais ont mal pris le
fait que les fondateurs de l’UAOR aient abandonné le Congrès pan
russo-azéri , une organisation considérée comme fiable sous la coupe
de Bakou, afin de créer ce nouveau groupe. En octobre dernier, le
Comité d’Etat pour le travail avec la diaspora a dénoncé l’UAOR,
avertissant que cela pourrait diviser la diaspora Azerbaïdjanaise en
Russie forte de plus de 2 millions de personnes.

Contrôlées par le Gouvernement azerbaïdjanais les médias ont emboîté
le pas au comité état, en publiant des articles qui impliquent une
supposée intention de l’UAOR de saper l’autorité du Président Aliyev.
Le raisonnement est que seul le Kremlin pourrait être capable de faire
en sorte qu’autant de milliardaires de russie se joignent à une telle
organisation a écrit un éditeur pour 1news.az. Le président géorgien
Mikheïl Saakachvili, ancien ennemi de Poutine, est devenu la figure de
proue de l’affirmation selon laquelle la Russie a des intentions
malveillantes. Il a déclaré aux journalistes le 28 février après un
voyage à Bakou, que le complot de Moscou vise à renverser le
gouvernement azerbaïdjanais, et qu’il utilise les Russes d’origine
azérie à savoir, Sadigov et Lukoil Alekperov afin d’atteindre ce but.

Pour de nombreux Azerbaïdjanais l’absence d’une réponse publique de
Bakou à propos de Saakashvili a fait penser à un vieux proverbe azéri
qui dit « je dis à ma fille de faire en sorte que ma belle-fille
entende ». En d’autres termes, Aliyev a voulu offrir un message à
Poutine et Saakachvili a été utilisé à cette fin.

L’apparence de l’UAOR n’est peut-être pas surprenant, étant donné
qu’au cours des dernières années, les relations entre l’Azerbaïdjan et
la Russie n’ont cessé de se dégrader. La Russie a choisi de ne pas
renouveler son bail sur la station radar de Gabala et a perdu sa
présence militaire en Azerbaïdjan. Le président Aliyev a déclaré que
l’opération ne convenait pas aux intérêts de Bakou.

Aliev a également déclaré que Bakou n’a aucun intérêt à se joindre à
l’Union économique eurasienne , une organisation activement promu par
Poutine. Les négociations dans l’impasse entre l’Azerbaïdjan et
l’Arménie concernant un accord de paix au Haut-Karabagh – un processus
dans lequel la Russie, un fidèle allié arménien, est l’un des
coordinateurs – ont ajouté à la tension.

Aliyev, qui dans le passé se réunissait avec l’ex-président russe
Dmitri Medvedev au moins deux fois par an, est le seul membre de la
Communauté des États indépendants qui n’a pas encore eu de réunions
avec Poutine depuis son retour à la présidence en 2012.

De nombreux analystes basés à Bakou contestent l’idée que UAOR est un
« projet du Kremlin » visant à renverser Aliyev. « Bien sûr, le
gouvernement russe pourrait montrer un certain intérêt pour elle, ce
qui est naturel » a déclaré l’analyste politique Rasim Agayev. « Mais
dire que le Kremlin a pris des mesures contre les autorités
azerbaïdjanaises n’est pas sérieux ».

Vafa Guluzade, un ancien haut conseiller en politique étrangère du
Président Heydar Aliyev, a ajouté que le Kremlin aurait pu créer
l’UAOR pour faire pression sur Bakou, mais pas avec le moindre
objectif immédiat à l’esprit. « Je vois cela comme une forme de
pression et d’intimidation contre le gouvernement azerbaïdjanais, qui
pourrait être utilisé lorsque Poutine en a besoin », a déclaré
Guluzade.

Le député Asim Mollazade, chef du parti pro-gouvernemental des
réformes démocratiques, estime également que la Russie utilise le «
soft power », par l’intermédiaire des médias, des partis et des
organisations non gouvernementales, pour faire pression à la fois sur
Bakou et Tbilissi afin de rejoindre la ligne du Kremlin, en
particulier dans le domaine de l’énergie. Moscou cherche désespérément
à conserver une position dominante en ce qui concerne
l’approvisionnement en gaz naturel vers l’Europe.

« Je ne pense pas que la Russie a des plans précis concernant un coup
d’État en Azerbaïdjan, mais après l’accord [avec la Turquie] à propos
de la construction du gazoduc Trans-anatolienne … qui a été signé,
la situation dans la région est proche de ce qu’elle était lorsque
l’oléoduc Bakou-Tbilissi-Ceyhan était en cours de construction », a
commenté Mollazade cité par News.az. Le scénariste Rustam Ibrahimbekov
(son actif le plus important est `Burnt by the Sun`) est un autre
membre de l’UAOR. Il affirme que le groupe n’a aucune loyauté
particulière vis-à-vis de Moscou ou de Bakou, et il a exprimé sa
surprise face à la réaction officielle de Bakou.

Les milliardaires de l’UAOR n’ont pas jugé nécessaire de « demander la
permission des autorités azerbaïdjanaises de créer quelque chose, car
ils sont citoyens de la Russie » a dit Ibrahimbekov à EurasiaNet.org.
La réaction de Bakou est « étrange », a-t-il ajouté.

« Ce n’est pas un projet du Kremlin et ce n’est pas contre Ilham
Aliyev » a souligné Ibrahimbekov. Dans des observations à l’Agence
Turan News fin de l’année dernière, il a expressément cherché à
dissiper les notions de `scénario géorgien` qui pourrait se jouer à
Bakou. Il faisait allusion à la victoire électorale parlementaire en
octobre de la coalition dirigée par Bidzina Ivanishvili, un
milliardaire qui est revenu de la Russie pour contester le parti de
Saakachvili le Mouvement national uni. L’UAOR ne contient pas
quelqu’un qui pourrait devenir un « Ivanishvili Azerbaïdjanais », a
insisté Ibrahimbekov.

Rasim Agayev estime que le débat « hystérique » sur l’UAOR dans les
médias contrôlés par le gouvernement reflète simplement « le désir des
autorités d’avoir un contrôle total sur tout, même à l’extérieur de
l’Azerbaïdjan ».

Note de l’éditeur :

Shahin Abbasov est une journaliste indépendante basée à Bakou.

EurasiaNet.org

dimanche 9 juin 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Trade center employees protesting outside government

Trade center employees protesting outside government

03:56 pm | Today | Social

Employees of Kilikia trade center have gathered outside the government
building, asking the government to help them figure out the reasons
behind closure of the trade center.

The angered salespeople say police officers looked in a week ago and
expelled them from the booths. They produced the corresponding court
decision and said the vendors were working on the site illegally. The
participants of the protest say they received a license on May 18,
2013, which was issued for an indefinite period of time. The employees
believe that they were illegally evicted and the main reason is that
they want to start a new business there.

Alexander Ghazaryan, Head of the Department for Letters and
Complaints, came out to talk to the aggrieved employees. He said that
the government cannot appeal the court’s decision. However, he agreed
to receive two employees to discuss the matter with them. Discussions
are underway.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.a1plus.am/en/social/2013/06/07/kilikia

Speech Delivered to the UN Donor Conference on Syria on June 7

Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontiers
June 7 2013

Speech Delivered to the UN Donor Conference on Syria on June 7

Mego Terzian, President, MSF-France

JUNE 6, 2013

Six months after the first international donor conference for Syria,
humanitarian aid is failing. Security and living conditions have
deteriorated dramatically. The population living in areas controlled
by opposition groups have almost no access to official international
aid. Across the country, there are enclaves surrounded by intense
fighting, where virtually no aid is reaching the people trapped
inside.

While international attention has focused on chemical weapons, our
teams on the ground are seeing that it is above all the bombing, the
consequent displacement of millions of people, and the targeting and
collapse of the Syrian health system that are causing the largest
number of deaths.
.
We can attest to the immense needs in the north of Syria, where MSF
operates five health facilities in opposition-held areas. Already this
year, in addition to carrying out thousands of surgical procedures, we
have vaccinated nearly 70,000 children against measles and delivered
almost a thousand babies, as women have lost access to maternal care.
We are providing treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis and typhoid, as
well as other communicable diseases and chronic illnesses such as
hypertension and diabetes.

Yet given the scale of need, what MSF is doing is extremely limited.
Most aid in the country is coming through Syrian solidarity networks,
but they are struggling in the face of massive medical needs. Their
medical assistance is focusing primarily on providing treatment to the
war wounded.

But what of the pregnant women? And the sick? The Syrian medical
networks need more support.

The medical imperative is to meet critical health needs, wherever they may be.

We are doctors and nurses striving to fulfil that imperative
impartially. But, under the current circumstances, we cannot work to
our maximum capacity.

Medical assistance is being targeted; people in Syria today are
risking their lives in seeking and providing healthcare.

We negotiate access with all parties, but we have yet to receive
official authorisation to work in Syria.

Restrictions on the delivery of aid within the country are increasing.
Humanitarian personnel who cross front lines risk being shot or
kidnapped.

So if the aid arriving through neighbouring countries is stopped, a
lifeline into Syria will be severed. Millions of Syrians will be left
without medical services.

Neighbouring countries must continue to allow the flow of essential
medicines, medical supplies, and medical personnel into Syria.

Borders must also remain open to allow refugees to escape. In Iraq,
the last remaining open border crossing, at Rabi’a, is now closed.
Thousands are stranded inside Syria, along a sealed border more than
800 kilometres long.

In countries bordering Syria, MSF teams are witnessing overcrowded
hospitals and poor access to healthcare for refugees and a growing
number of local residents. Official aid is dwindling in Lebanon, for
example, yet tens of thousands of refugees have still not been
registered by the United Nations. Without registration papers, these
people are not eligible for most aid, including health services.

An immediate international financial effort is vital to support public
health services in host countries and improve the living conditions of
refugees.

All actors represented here today hold the key to increasing
lifesaving assistance in Syria, wherever there is need, and to
improving the living conditions of people fleeing to neighbouring
countries. Yet the reality is that the official international aid
system is not working.

We must – and we can – find other solutions.

Donors must increase funding through the aid channels that are able to
provide effective humanitarian assistance, even if those channels are
not part of the official aid system.

Neighbouring countries must lighten administrative procedures to
facilitate the delivery of urgent aid.

Finally, we must reiterate that warring parties must refrain from
attacking health structures and respect the safety of humanitarian
convoys. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to access to all victims of
the conflict, whether by crossing front lines or crossing borders.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/publications/article.cfm?id=6808&cat=speech

Mr. & Mrs. Nourian Named Navasartian Honorary Presidents

Mr. & Mrs. Nourian Named Navasartian Honorary Presidents

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Alin Nourian

EAGLE ROCK, Calif.- Homenetmen Western United States Regional
Executive Committee is pleased to announce that Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis
and Alin Nourian will be the Honorary Presidents at this year’s
Navasartian Games.

As long time avid supporters of Homenetmen, Sarkis and Alin Nourian
were very gracious to accept this important role of Honorary
Presidents.

Homenetmen Western United States Executive Committee would like to
thank the Nourian Family and extend its warmest gratitude and wishes
to its Homenetmen family.

Please stay informed on this year’s Navasartian Games and events by
visiting navasartiangames.com and by downloading Homenetmen’s new app.
on your smart phones and tablets.

From: A. Papazian

http://asbarez.com/110554/mr-mrs-nourian-named-navasartian-honorary-presidents/

Yerevan Mayor unaware of new transport fares?

Yerevan Mayor unaware of new transport fares?

04:46 pm | Today | Politics

Taron Margaryan officially assumed office as Yerevan Mayor at today’s
siting of the Yerevan City Council. After the sitting, Mr Margaryan
answered journalists’ questions.
Asked whether the hike in gas and electricity prices will lead to the
increase in transport fees, the mayor said specialists are making
calculations to understand whether the gas tariffs will cause rise in
transport tariffs or not.

“As soon as the calculations are over we will come up with a
statement,” said Taron Margaryan.

At the request of journalists, Yerevan Mayor also spoke about the
reconstruction of Republic Square and the tender announced by the
municipality for the renovation.
“On Monday we shall announce new tenders for the reconstruction of
French and Brazilian parks in Yerevan, as well as a number of squares
on the outskirts of the capital. We need to hear architects’ opinion.
It does not mean that we shall start reconstruction immediately after
receiving an opinion. One need not always seek bad things in
everything. The contest may not give the desired results. Our co-
citizens might oppose the suggested projects. I assure you that we are
going to consider our citizens’ opinion as well. Tenders are announced
to hear public opinions,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2013/06/08/taron-margaryan

Yerevan Municipality Dismantles Illegal Sections at Pak Shouka

Yerevan Municipality Dismantles Illegal Sections at Pak Shouka Construction Site

16:31, June 7, 2013

The Yerevan Municipality’s Department of Urban Construction and Land
Monitoring said today that staffers had overseen the dismantling of
portions of building columns at the Pak Shouka that were in violation
of the building permit granted the developer.

The on again off again construction at the historic covered market in
downtown Yerevan has been under intense public scrutiny since the site
was sold to MP Samvel Aleksanyan.

The municipality says that the columns were dismantled to prevent the
construction of a multi-storied structure.

Over the past few weeks there have contradictory statements from
government officials as to what is being built on the site and which
agency is ultimately responsible for monitoring the construction.

Readers wanting to know more can see: `Minister of Culture Poghosyan:
Passing the Buck on the `Pak Shouka’

From: A. Papazian

http://hetq.am/eng/news/27152/yerevan-municipality-dismantles-illegal-sections-at-pak-shouka-construction-site.html
http://hetq.am/eng/news/26379/

BAKU: Ambassador: US hopes for meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian p

Trend, Azerbaijan
June 8 2013

Ambassador: U.S. hopes for meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents in near future

8 June 2013, 11:37 (GMT+05:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 8 / Trend S. Ahmedova/

The U.S. hopes for the meeting of presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
on the regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in near future, the
U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar told journalists on
Saturday in Baku.

“The U.S. is interested in the resolution of the conflict, what also
was confirmed in a recent statement of the Secretary of State John
Kerry, and continue to actively cooperate with both sides of the
conflict,” the ambassador said.

The OSCE Minsk Group again could not bring the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia to the negotiating table to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

As a diplomatic source from one of the Minsk Group delegations told
ITAR TASS, the next round of talks planned for June 12 in Salzburg
will not take place.

According to the source’s predictions, “it will be possible to talk
about such a meeting no earlier than at the end of Summer – beginning
of Autumn”.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since
1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding
districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. – are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: A. Papazian

BAKU: Ambassador: John Kerry very interested in NK settlement

APA, Azerbaijan
June 8 2013

Ambassador: `John Kerry is very interested in the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and actively contacting with both parties’

[ 08 Juny 2013 11:32 ]
`I am very hopeful and confident that at some point in non distant
future the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet’

Baku. Shamil Alibeyli – APA. `US Secretary of State John Kerry is very
interested in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
actively contacting with both parties,’ US ambassador to Azerbaijan
Richard Morningstar told journalists while commenting on the
statements of former U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza on the importance of building confidence between Azerbaijan and
Armenia and the role of the US Department of State or John Kerry in
confidence building.

The ambassador noted that Kerry is trying to move Nagorno Karabakh
conflict towards resolution: `He met individually last week with
ministers of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan as well as Armenia. He is
very interested in this process and I know that there will be progress
in resolution.’

Commenting on the fact that Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia won’t
meet in Salzburg, June 12, the ambassador said: `I think we have to
ask them but I am very hopeful and confident that at some point in non
distant future the presidents will meet.’

From: A. Papazian

Initiative group to dispute increased gas prices in court

Initiative group to dispute increased gas prices in court

02:02 pm | Today | Social

“Let’s prevent the hike in natural gas tariffs” initiative group is
calling for public disobedience.

Civil initiative activist Silva Adamyan says she has worked at
ArmRusGasProm for seven years and knows how the company is trying to
deceive its customers.

“Employees of ArmRusGasProm will look in and persuade you to sign an
agreement with the company, thereby receiving your consent to the
increased gas prices,” she said advising people not sign the
agreement.

Andrias Ghukasyan, another member of the initiative, says the society
showed a neutral stance on the issue , with no political party
reacting to the gas price hike.

“After the election, our citizens are disappointed with the struggle
against the acting regime. Many of them are considering the
possibility of migration,” he said.

Asked why they did not join the Armenian National Congress when the
latter was struggling against the gas price increase, Mr Ghukasyan
said, “I welcomed their move but the political domain was paralyzed
then. However, our deputies did not express a clear stance at that
time either.”

Activist Ani Kaghinyan says that she has personally invited opposition
forces to join their action. “No one has responded to this moment. Our
working team of eight is currently working alone. Next week, we are
going to appeal to the Administrative Court against the increased gas
prices.”

Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission decided on Friday to
set the gas price at AMD 156 per cubic meter against AMD 132 for users
consuming less than 10,000 cubic meters.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.a1plus.am/en/social/2013/06/08/gaz

Armenian MOD hosts new Russian ambassador

Armenian MOD hosts new Russian ambassador

June 08, 2013 | 15:00

YEREVAN. – Minister of Defense, Seyran Ohanyan, on Saturday received
the Russian Federation’s newly appointed Ambassador to Armenia, Ivan
Volinkin, in connection with the Volinkin’s assumption of his
diplomatic mission in Armenia.

Giving a high assessment to the level of Armenian-Russian relations in
the defense sector, the interlocutors expressed their confidence in
the prospects for the development of cooperation between the two
strategic ally countries, the Armenian MOD press service informs.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian