Author: Andres-Papazian

BTA news agency , Bulgaria
Dec 14 2012

EU Is Concerned with Escalation of Tension in Nagorno-Karabakh:
Bulgarian, Swedish, Polish, Armenian foreign ministers meet in Yerevan

Report by Nelly Zheleva

Yerevan, December 14 (BTA special correspondent Nelly Jeleva) — “In
the name of the European Union we sent a powerful appeal not to allow
additional actions which could increase the tension in
Nagorno-Karabakh now, but to undertake quick steps to tone it down,”
Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov told a news conference Friday [14
December].

Mladenov and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt are on a tour in
Southern Caucasus. Now they are in Armenia where their Polish
counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski joined them. The first meeting on the
agenda was with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan.

The meeting also focused on the steps Armenia is to take so that at
the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in the spring next year it
may be one of the countries to sign a trade agreement with the EU.
Liberalisation of the visa regime between the EU and Yerevan was also
among the issues discussed.

To date this year some 4,000 visas of Armenian citizens travelling to
Bulgaria have been issued, particularly as organised tourists in the
summer season.

The four foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the Middle
East. There are some 8,000 Armenian refugees from Syria in Armenia,
Mladenov said. A total of 70,000 Armenian Christians in Syria have
left the conflict zones.

The stream of refugees from Syria to Bulgaria has not increased in
recent days, Mladenov specified.

From: A. Papazian

LETA, Lethuania
December 13, 2012 Thursday

Estonia ambassador to Armenia presents credentials

On Tuesday, December 11, Estonia’s new ambassador to Armenia Priit
Turk presented his credentials to Armenian President Serzh Sargsian.
Ambassador Turk resides in Tbilisi, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said
in a statement.

In the conversation that followed the presenting of credentials,
Ambassador Priit Turk and President Serzh Sargsian addressed
Estonia-Armenia bilateral relations.

Ambassador Turk confirmed that Estonia is interested in developing
bilateral co-operation with Armenia.

“For example, we could intensify economic contacts with Armenia. But
co-operation between state institutions, especially the parliaments
and ministries, could also be closer,” he said.

The Estonian ambassador also expressed satisfaction over the fact that
as of January 10 next year, Estonian citizens will be able to travel
to Armenia visa-free.

“The visa waiver will definitely help to intensify Estonia-Armenia
relations and contacts between people,” he noted.

In talking about Armenia’s progress towards the European Union,
Ambassador Turk confirmed that Estonia recognises Armenia’s reform
endeavours.

“Especially within the past year, Armenia has shown a strong desire to
move closer to the EU. This is demonstrated by the rapid progress
being made in negotiations for an EU Association Agreement. We also
believe it is important that we move towards visa facilitation with
Armenia, one of our EU Eastern Partners,” he said.

The ambassador added that Estonia remains ready to share its reform
experiences with Armenia.

“Representatives of Armenia have participated in seminars at the
Center of Eastern Partnership and studied at the Estonian School of
Diplomacy. We would like for this co-operation to continue in the
future,” said the ambassador.

During their discussion they also addressed the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and Ambassador Turk confirmed Estonia’s ongoing support for
the work of the OSCE’s Minsk group to find a peaceful solution.

Ambassador Priit Turk was born on May 27, 1976, in Kuressaare and
graduated from Tartu University with a degree in political science.
Turk has also studied at the University of Birmingham in the United
Kingdom. Priit Turk began working at the Foreign Ministry in 2003. He
has worked in the division for development co-operation, the Estonian
Representation to the UN in New York, and been the director of the
divisions of development co-operation and humanitarian aid. Priit Turk
is the Estonian ambassador to Georgia.

From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
Dec 13 2012

Armenia approves int’l risk assessment requirements for new nuclear power unit

YEREVAN. Dec 13

The Armenian government on Thursday approved the method and
requirements for Armenian-Russian joint venture Metsamorenergoatom to
build a new nuclear power unit in Armenia, Chairman of the State
Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee Ashot Martirosyan told Interfax.

This project was drafted in accordance with the Atomic Energy Agency’s
latest safety standards. It passed several international analyses in
2011 and 2012.

These requirements stipulate that geological, geophysical,
seismological and geotechnical research must be carried out at the
area where the new nuclear power unit will be built and operated.

The requirements take into account experience in nuclear power plant
operation in the U.S., as well as conclusions drawn from the Fukushima
disaster in Japan, Martirosyan said.

Metsamorenergoatom should evaluate the seismic risks at the site and
perform ground motion prediction equations. After it studies these
materials, the State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee will decide
on whether or not to clear the company to build the new nuclear power
unit. The Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Ministry will
determine the timeframes for all of this research.

The new unit is scheduled to be constructed at the site of the
currently running unit at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

“This site has periodically undergone research by international
experts since 1993, and I don’t think any unrated risks will be
detected under the new requirements,” Martirosyan said.

Russia and Armenia signed an agreement on the construction of a new
1,060 MW generating unit with a light water VVER reactor at the
Armenian NPP in August 2010. Armenia and Russia’s Atomstroyexport
(ASE) formed the 50-50 joint venture Metsamorenergoatom to implement
the project. The venture is also looking for investors for the
project.

Construction was to begin in the second half of 2012 or in 2013 and to
finish up in 2017. The cost of construction is estimated at $4-$5
billion.

In February of this year, Armenian Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Armen Movsisyan said that there are plans to build the power
unit in 2019-2020.

The Armenian NPP now has one 400 MW generating unit, the intended
service life of which ends in 2016. However, Armenia has already said
that the reactor will only be mothballed after a new one is built.

The Armenian NPP generates 46%-50% of the country’s electricity.

Eb

From: A. Papazian

NKR President meets Andrzej Kasprzyk

9:04 15/12/2012 » REGION

On December 15, NKR President Bako Sahakyan met Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk.

Issues related to the current situation along the line of contact
between NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces were discussed during the
meeting, Central Information Department at Artsakh President’s Office
reported.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

La lancinante question de la démocratisation de la Turquie

SAMEDI 15 DÉCEMBRE 2012

C’est un évènement rare qui a eu lieu à l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes en
Sciences Sociales (EHESS) ce mercredi 12 décembre, où Ragip Zarakolu
est venu donner une conférence sur la situation actuelle de son pays
en matière de respect des libertés fondamentales et notamment de
liberté d’opinion et d’expression. Cette manifestation était
conjointement organisée par la section française du Groupement
Internationale sur la Turquie (GIT) représentée par son président,
Vincent Duclert, et par le Conseil de Coordination des Organisations
Arméniennes de France (CCAF) représenté par son coprésident Ara
Toranian. Notons qu’à l’initiative du GIT, Ragip Zarakolu est proposé
depuis quelque temps pour le prix Nobel de la Paix.

De gauche à droite, Hamit Bozarslan, Vincent Duclert, Ragip Zarakolu
et Erol Özköray
Dans son introduction, Vincent Duclert a rappelé que Ragip Zarakolu a
été emprisonné du 28 octobre 2011 au 10 avril 2012 pour des
allégations fantaisistes de complicité avec un mouvement terroriste et
que son fils Deniz goûte depuis quatorze mois aux geôles du « modèle
turc tant vanté par les médias » pour avoir parlé publiquement de La
politique d’Aristote ! Depuis lors, comme il l’a lui-même évoqué,
Ragip Zarakolu est contraint de se murer dans une « protestation
muette » et se garde bien de toute déclaration qui pourrait le
renvoyer derrière les barreaux dans un pays redevenu en quelques
années la plus grande prison de journalistes du monde.

Pour mémoire, Ragip Zarakolu est un éditeur dont l’`uvre de
publication donne depuis près de quarante ans des aigreurs d’estomac
aux gardiens impavides de la politique d’Etat de la Turquie et de ses
tabous : génocide arménien, question kurde, invasion de Chypre, poids
inconsidéré des militaires sur la scène politique, etc. On peut dire
sans exagération qu’à eux seules, Ragip Zarakolu et son épouse Aysenur
depuis lors décédée ont rendu possible en Turquie la germination d’une
pensée réfractaire à la propagande d’Etat ; ou, comme l’a rappelé en
incise Hamit Bozarslan, un spécialiste de la Turquie de l’EHESS, Ragip
Zarakolu et ses éditions Belge (documents) ont puissamment contribué à
« restructurer l’ensemble des sciences sociales » dans leur pays en
faisant passer certaines problématiques du statut de « notes de bas de
page à celui d’ouvrages complets ».

Pour la circonstance, le témoignage de Ragip Zarakolu était appuyé par
celui d’Erol Özköray, un autre dissident dont le parcours politique
symbolise les lignes rouges à ne pas franchir outre Bosphore. De
conseiller politique du CHP, le parti kémaliste au pouvoir, Erol
Özköray fut brutalement réduit à néant et dut même se réfugier à
l’étranger pour avoir un jour questionné le rôle des militaires et le
caractère antidémocratique des processus politiques qui président aux
destinées de ce pays. Erol Özköray a détaillé pour les déplorer les
nombreux procès qu’il a dû endurer, les cinquante ans de prison requis
contre lui par les dignitaires de l’Etat-major qu’étaient Yasar
Büyükanit et Ilker Basbug, la fermeture de son magazine Idea Politika
et de Nokta, et surtout le lchage dont il a fait l’objet de la part
de certains intellectuels finalement bien trop proches de l’appareil
d’Etat.

Après avoir refait l’historique de la répression antidémocratique qui
sévit en Turquie depuis les années 70, MM. Zarakolu et Özköray en sont
arrivés à la conclusion que depuis près de quarante ans, l’Etat y
déploie une politique de « nettoyage académique » (academic cleansing)
après avoir mis en `uvres des politiques de nettoyage ethnique contre
ses minorités (génocide des Arméniens et des Assyro-Chaldéens de 1915
à_ 1916, massacre et expulsion des Grecs en 1921, massacres du Dersim
en 1923 et des Kurdes à partir des années 30, pogroms contre les Grecs
d’Istanbul en 1955).

Erdal Eren, étudiant pendu à l’ge de 17 ans par
la junte militaire en 1980. Un autre tabou turc
Ils ont particulièrement insisté sur l’espoir déçu qu’a représenté
l’arrivée au pouvoir de l’AKP, le parti islamiste ayant depuis lors
remplacé les formations nationalistes aux affaires jusqu’en 2002.
Evoquant une « nouvelle hégémonie », ils ont dénoncé le « contrôle de
la pensée » mis en place par les nouveaux dignitaires du régime qui
promeuvent l’Islam politique par le biais des mêmes instances que
leurs prédécesseurs utilisaient pour promouvoir le kémalisme : le
bureau du Premier Ministre, le Conseil de Sécurité Nationale dominé
par les militaires, le Ministère de l’Education Nationale (YÖK) et
celui de l’audiovisuelle (RTÜK).

Revenant sur la question précise du génocide des Arméniens, Ragip
Zarakolu a indiqué que la stratégie de l’Etat avait néanmoins changé :
les grands éditeurs turcs – tels le groupe Hurriyet ou le groupe Dogan
– ont désormais massivement investi le secteur, transformant les
sections des librairies dévolus à la question arménienne en section
négationniste. Le grand public qui était autrefois tenu dans
l’ignorance des faits est maintenant puissamment endoctriné par
Ankara, sans doute comme le seraient les Allemands actuels si Hitler
avait gagné la seconde guerre mondiale.

Parallèlement, il a indiqué qu’il n’existait aucun centre d’étude
digne de ce nom sur les phénomènes génocidaires en Turquie – qu’il
s’agisse de la Shoah, de l’Holodomor ou d’autres crimes de masse – de
peur que cela n’ouvre une porte pour évoquer le sort fait par l’Etat à
ses sujets arméniens.

Répondant à une question venue de l’assistance sur les complicités de
« mercenaires extérieurs » dont bénéficie la Turquie, Ragip Zarakolu
s’est prononcé sans ambages pour la pénalisation du négationnisme, un
appel à la haine qu’il considère ne pas relever de la liberté
d’expression.

En conclusion du débat, Vincent Duclert a interrogé les intervenants
sur le sens de leur combat et sur sa signification dans le cadre de
l’histoire politique turque. Le fondateur des éditions Belge a indiqué
en réponse qu’il luttait contre un révisionnisme historique qui – loin
de se cantonner au Génocide des Arméniens – visaient à oblitérer
l’histoire de toute l’Anatolie et de sa diversité. Concluant en citant
une impressionnante liste d’édifices historiques btis par des Grecs
et des Arméniens, dont le palais de Dolmabahçe, et sans lesquels
Istanbul ne serait pas ce qu’elle est, Ragip Zarakolu s’est
malicieusement demandé si l’Etat allait finalement les détruire pour
purifier l’histoire turque.

Ragip Zarakolu à Bruxelles le 19 décembre prochain
La venue en Europe de Ragip Zarakolu se prolongera par une autre
conférence organisée par la Fédération européenne des journalistes,
prévue à Bruxelles mercredi prochain. Elle s’inscrit dans un contexte
particulièrement sombre pour les droits de l’Homme en Turquie. Les
affaires Pinar Selek, Sevim Sevimli ou Mustafa Balbay ne constituent
que les cas les plus emblématiques de ceux qui illustrent la
formidable mansuétude dont bénéficie Ankara de la part des puissances
occidentales. A cet égard, on peut raisonnablement s’interroger sur
l’intelligence politique et sur l’intérêt à long terme qu’il y a à
soutenir un Etat dont les régimes successifs n’ont finalement rien à
envier à ceux d’autres régimes autoritaires. Ne vaudrait pas mieux, ne
serait-ce que pour la crédibilité de l’Occident, soutenir les rares
voix démocratiques de ce pays ?
Publié par Laurent Leylekian à l’adresse 09:00
Libellés : EHESS, Erol Özköray, GIT France, génocide arménien, Hami
Bozarslan, nationalisme, négationnisme, Ragip Zarakolu, Turquie,
Vincent Duclert

From: A. Papazian

CONSTITUTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR OF A STATE’S STABILITY

Tuesday, 11 December 2012 16:34

Six years ago, on December 10, 2006, the Artsakh people adopted the
Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic at a nationwide
referendum. This day can be rightfully called historic, because it
marked a new stage in the process of building the independent
statehood of Nagorno Karabakh. The adoption of the NKR Constitution
was really the most important event in the public-political life of
the Republic, which confirmed the will and determination of the
Karabakh people to continue the process of state-building based on the
fundamental human rights and freedoms.
Fairly considering the NKR Constitution as the apotheosis of the
legislative process, as just the Basic Law is the foundation of a
constitutional state’s legislation, ensuring the constitutionality of
all laws and regulating the citizens’ relations between the state and
themselves, yet we should note that its adoption was preceded by a
difficult and no less important way in 15 years. These fifteen years
comprised the September 2, 1991 proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, the referendum on the NKR independence held on December 10
of the same year, the January 6, 1992 adoption of the Declaration on
the State Independence of the Republic by its Supreme Council, the
state-building process in the conditions of Azerbaijan’s armed
aggression and the post-war rehabilitation of the Republic under the
continuing threat of the Azerbaijani authorities to unleash a new war.
Though the Constitution was adopted exactly 15 years after the
referendum on the NKR independence, it is important to note that the
Republic could not and did not want to live in a legal vacuum. Just
due to this, a legislative basis was consistently created, allowing to
regulate the relations actually in all the spheres of the
public-political life. It also included a package of adopted-in-1994
constitutional laws on the President, the Parliament, and the
Government, regulating the operation of the most important state
institutions. In other words, actually from the first days of its
state independence, the NKR people convincingly confirmed its
commitment to law and democratic values, basing the legislation of
the Republic on the universally recognized norms and principles of
international law. And it doesn’t matter that at the initial stage,
given the lack of proper experience of state-building, not all the
laws of the NKR were perfect. More important is the desire of the
Karabakh people to live by the laws of a civilized society and to
build their independent statehood in accordance with the democratic
principles and norms. It isn’t accidental that the two declarations –
on the proclamation of the NKR and on the state independence of the
Republic – later formed the basis of the current Constitution, which
proclaimed the fundamental rights and freedoms as the inalienable and
highest values, as the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace.
A Constitution, protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens and
regulating public relations, is the most important factor of a state’s
stability. We can say that our Constitution is effective, because it
practically guarantees the realization of one of its most important
provisions – to ensure the direct participation of the people in the
state management through different-level elections: presidential,
parliamentary, and municipal. Surely, the conduct of nationwide
transparent and alternative elections is, first of all, important for
the formation of legitimate power and management bodies as the most
important factor for the domestic stability and consistent
democratization of the public-political life of the Republic, but not
only for this.
In the context of the Karabakh conflict settlement, the NKR commitment
to universal democratic norms also gains foreign-policy significance
and perception; it becomes a strong argument for Nagorno Karabakh in
defending its right to the international recognition of its
independence. The recent events related to the support of the NKR
independence by the Parliaments of the U.S. states of Rhode Island and
Massachusetts, as well as the Australian state of New South Wales,
which grounded their position with the commitment of Nagorno Karabakh
to democratic principles are an eloquent proof of this. In this
regard, I would like to quote U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman who has
recently declared for the necessity of recognizing the NKR
independence: “I believe that Nagorno Karabakh is an independent
state, and that’s all. Nagorno Karabakh is a state, because that is
what its people strongly wish’.
Yes, the NKR people really seek the international recognition of their
Republic. However, the creation of the legislative basis, including
the Constitution, which provides the fundamental rights and duties of
the state and its citizens, is a necessary, but not sufficient
condition for achieving the international recognition. The respect for
law and an individual, for the democratic norms and principles
declared by the Constitution is extremely important. In this case, the
chance to join the community of civilized states will increase, and,
therefore, the prospects of international recognition of the NKR
independent statehood will approach.

Leonid MARTIROSSIAN
Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper

From: A. Papazian

Arthur Abraham can fight with anyone

17:49 AMT, December 14

WBO middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (35-3, 27 KOs) is trying to
defend his title in the upcoming bout against France’s Mehdi Bouadla,
schedule for Saturday. Abraham gave an interview to the Russian
Sportbox portal ahead to the bout.

Asked how Abraham can describe his opponent, he said that Bouadla is a
fighter; he moves ahead and desires to finish all with one attack. As
what is easier for Abraham, to attack or to defend, the Armenian boxer
said he often defends but it does not necessarily mean he does not
attack. At first he defends and later attacks.

As on how he would describe the sparring of the opponent, Arthur said
that he hits strongly but he has got used to them. In addition, there
is no difference for Abraham whom to fight with.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian FM responds to Azerbaijan’s accusations

19:42 ¢ 14.12.12

At a press conference following a meeting with his Polish, Swedish and
Bulgarian counterparts – RadosÅ?aw Sikorski, Carl Bildt and Nikolay
Mladenov ` Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian presented the issues on the
meeting agenda and commented on the statement on Nagorno-Karabakh in
Dublin.

`We have completed negotiations for facilitating visa requirements and
plan to sign relevant agreements in a few days. We also discussed the
summit to be held in Vilnius and a number of regional and
international problems. I informed my counterparts of the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.’

As regards Azerbaijan’s accusations against Armenia after the meeting
in Dublin ` that Armenia torpedoed the adoption of a five-sided
statement ` the Armenian FM said:

`I would offer you to compare the speeches by the Armenian and
Azerbaijani FMs in Dublin. You can see that the Armenian FM’s
statements are in harmony with the one by the heads of the co-chairing
states’ delegations.

`What about Azerbaijan’s minister? They are listening to themselves.
This is not the first time that a five-sided statement has failed to
be adopted. In 2010, a five-sided statement was drafted in Amlaty, but
Azerbaijan was insisting on the priority of territorial integrity over
the other principles. The result was a trilateral statement wherein
the co-chairs stressed that the three principles were a single whole,
and none of them could be viewed as superior to the others.

`This time, the Azerbaijani side did not even want to mention the
three principles ` nonuse of force or threat of force, territorial
integrity and self-determination. The result? No five-sided statement
was made, but a trilateral one was. Moreover, Armenia welcomes the
co-chairs’ statement in Dublin, and we can state the same.’

From: A. Papazian

`Crisis’ After Gagik Tsarukyan

Levon Margaryan
Comments – Friday, 14 December 2012, 11:51

Gagik Tsarukyan’s refusal to run for president, in fact, caused a
crisis in the political system, which can have quite unpleasant
consequences for Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Serzh Sargsyan. Only the
second President Robert Kocharyan can win, who still has a theoretical
chance to return. The situation has advantages for the forces that
have no real chance to win but got a good opportunity to express
themselves. However, let’s be back to the first and third presidents.
On the one hand, Levon Ter-Petrosyan who mobilized all the resources
of the Armenian National Congress to support Tsarukyan is now forced
to look for new outlets. The Congress was pleased with Tsarukyan’s
decision because it helped the ANC to avoid a split. But this joy was
mysteriously transferred to Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and it is obvious
that the ANC will require the nomination of the first president.
Another candidate will somehow cause a split, although Ter-Petrosyan
is not in the political age to gain resources for future. The previous
years of his policy were revanchist, and all the resource for the
change of government, dialogue and other things have been exhausted.
Hence, for his next coming Levon Ter-Petrosyan will need a bigger
public support than in 2008 to be able to take the power. Besides, the
government can defeat the Congress easier than the Prosperous Armenia,
which is more organized and competitive. The main platform of the
Congress was the public support, and in case of any format of
participation in elections the Congress will rely on the street. This
is deplorable in the sense that regardless of the quality of its
activities, having been left alone with the authorities, the Congress
may surrender, leaving the opposition space empty because the street
does not belong to it any more. On the other hand, Tsarukyan created
serious problems for Serzh Sargsyan, he thwarted the plans of the
“progressive” part of his team. The plan thought for a fight that
should have been completed with a victory over Gagik Tsarukyan cannot
take place. And now with competitors who do not have big ambitions
Serzh Sargsyan has a chance for a beautiful and ambitious victory over
the opponent, ensuring his legitimacy. If Serzh Sargsyan wins by the
majority of votes, his legitimacy will not be fully ensures, which is
the most important thing for him, in fact. Now the authorities have to
look for a candidate who can produce the impression of struggle or at
least its imitation. On the one hand, this is a trap as any candidate
who decides to confront Serzh Sargsyan risks only to legitimize him
and the elections. On the other hand, such a situation is a good
chance for those who are not in the “party space” to express
themselves. Tsarukyan’s participation in the elections was a chance to
compete for legitimacy and authority. In the election campaign Serzh
Sargsyan would try to show a more “progressive” quality compared with
Tsarukyan, and the opposition would try to consolidate around
Tsarukyan. Now it will have to find other ways to achieve legitimacy.

From: A. Papazian

China is willing to deepen relations with Armenia. message of
Communist Party of China to Serzh Sargsyan

14:30, 15 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: China is willing to develop
relations with Armenia contributing friendly and mutually beneficial
cooperation. As reports Armenpress this was noted in the message of
Communist Party of China during 14th congress of Republican Party of
Armenia.

It is mainly noted in the message `Dear President of Armenia and
Republican Party of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Communist Party of China
congratulates You on the occasion of 14th RPA congress and wish Your
party all the best and success in the honorable duty of Armenia’s
further development and strengthening. This year we are celebrating
20th anniversary of Armenian-Chinese diplomatic relations. During
these years the cooperation of our states has embraced such spheres as
humanitarian, economic and scientific. China is willing to deepen
relations with Your country in future’.

Representative of Communist Party of China also noted that the ruling
party, RPA, had an important contribution in the stability, economic
development of the country as well as in prosperity of Armenian
nation.

`We are willing to continue and develop these warm and mutually
beneficial relations with Armenia to promote the deepening of
cooperation between our states `he said.

From: A. Papazian