Author: Andres-Papazian

CSTO member countries to participate in UN peacekeeping missions

12:59, 29 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: The Secretariat of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the UN Department for
Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) signed a cooperation memorandum on
conflict prevention and peacekeeping activities. The documents was
signed by the CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha and the UN
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous as
was reported by Armenpress, quoting ITAR-TASS.

The parties announced that they intended to foster the extended and
active cooperation in peacekeeping processes, thus encouraging the
participation of the CSTO member countries in the UN peacekeeping
missions, strengthening the cooperation in the personnel training of
the peacekeeping forces of the CSTO members.

The issue on organizing joint events, consultings and exchange of
documents, proposals and experience related to the peacekeeping
activities was agreed as well, for which contact persons would be
assigned to provide for efficient cooperation.

The signing of the memorandum was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, who was present at
the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, where general political
issues were discussed. “I am sure that this memorandum will foster the
efficient cooperation between the parties in public security and
stability issues”, – stated Sergey Lavrov.

The Collective Security Memorandum involves Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. In june 2012 Uzbekistan
suspended its membership in the Collective Security Treaty
Organization.

In the framework of the UN General Assembly session a working meeting
was held between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member
countries. They discussed the agenda subjects of the General Assembly,
as well as other issues, which were important for the Organization,
including the prevention of the nuclear weapons spread, the situation
in Afghanistan, as well as the strengthening of cooperation between
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the United
Nations Organization.

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From: A. Papazian

Non-existent Hungarian economy
Will Aliyev’s money save Hungarian economy? Or maybe Azerbaijan just
teased it with a carrot instead of paying?

Starting August 31, Hungary has become a target for Armenia’s close
attention. For quite a while, Armenians wondered how they could sell
the murderer, even for a large sum of money. The media reports, blogs
and the official website of the Hungarian government and Prime
Minister Viktor Orbán present quite a dismal picture of Hungary’s
economic situation.

September 29, 2012

PanARMENIAN.Net – So, the national companies: the national MALEV air
company was sold and resold several times and finally went
bankrupt.Ganz Mavag, the largest machine factory which manufactured
steam locomotives, rail vehicles, locomotives, buses, etc since 1870,
used to export its production to USSR, Canada, Switzerland, Italy,
Romania, Egypt, India, Yugoslavia, Korea and other countries. The
company, now owned by Austria, is ruined. Its production departments
are now used by country’s largest Chinese market.

Ikarus, the famous bus manufacturer founded in 1895, was shut down in
2007. In 2010, they tried to re-launch the factory; however, Hungary
today purchases buses mostly in China.

MAV, the Hungarian national railway company (1869) is now divided into
passenger and freight transport units. The cargo division, most
profitable one, is currently a privately held one, while the
unprofitable passenger transport unit is owned by the state. Earlier,
cargo transportation provided subsidies for passenger trains; now,
railway communication to remote settlements is either cut or shut
down.

BKV, the public transport company of Budapest established in 1968,
will soon be split and privatized. A French company will undertake
construction of a new station of Budapest subway, once built by Soviet
specialists. The price is already three times higher than the Russian
cost estimate. Hungary got EU funding for this; the money was spent,
with no station built so far. Meanwhile, the credit should be returned
in two years… In addition, they somehow managed to construct only…. 1
km of the highway worth $1 bln. 30% of money was spent on `legal
consultancy’, namely compilation of a contract and `legal resistance’.

The Herend Porcelain Manufactory (1826), a manufacturing company
specializing in luxury hand painted and gilded porcelain, the dishware
supplier of the British Royal Court, is still operating. Zsolnay
(1853), a Hungarian manufacturer of porcelain, is in fact ruined. The
production departments once supplied dishes to IKEA, and were shut
down later.

RABA, a truck and engine manufactory is closed. Some capacities are
liquidated, other are partially transferred to Suzuki, Audi and
Mersedes assembly units. Also, Mersedes got such tax benefits that,
according to independent experts, dismissing them would be cheaper
than maintenance.

Gedeon Richter, the widely known pharmaceutical plants were given back
to their previous, `pre-Socialist’ owners. In 2010, previous owners
sold the company to the Swiss Prelegem. Currently the new owners are
transferring the production to neighbouring Slovakia because of tax
considerations.

The famous Hungarian eco-friendly agriculture is actually ruined. Some
of the local milk processing units were purchased by Danon, others
were shut down. Meanwhile, the milk is largely imported from Poland,
watermelons from Spain, tomatoes, along with other vegetables are
brought from Spain and Turkey; garlic is imported from China, while
meat and chicken come from Argentina and Brasil.

PIC, one of the two internationally known sausage factories which used
to supply production to Europe and the U.S., is currently
`naturally’owned by Austria. The second one, HERTZ, went bankrupt and
was shut down, being a rival company. The famous Hungarian home-made
sausages are now mostly produced in Slovakia. All 9 sugar
manufactories are closed.

GLOBUS, agricultural export company widely known in Eastern Europe was
also purchased by French Bonduelle; the national brand was immediately
dismissed. Same was the case with MOL. The Hungarian oil and gas
company changed several owners; `Surgutneftegaz’ bought a share from
the Austrian company and refused to register them as stockholders.
Then stock was redeemed from the Russian oil company. The nationalist
government spent nearly all pension fund money to buy MOL. Due to the
lack of own oil fields and totally devastated economy, the petrol
prices in Hungary hit highest in Europe. Instead, up to 80% of
vehicles carried `Great Hungary’ stickers.

Viktor Orbán heads the Nationalist Party of Hungary. His father was a
Gipsy and mother was of Jewish descent. Orbán is married to Anikó
Lévai. Anyway, writing about Orbán is dull and not interesting. The
question is, whether Aliyev’s money will save the Hungarian economy?
And a second one – did Azerbaijan really pay, or just teased it with a
carrot?

Karine Ter-Sahakian

From: A. Papazian

Ed. Nalbandyan continues meetings with various officials

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan is in New York
to participate in the 67th session of the UN General Assembly. In
frame of the visit Mr. Minister had also some visits with various
officials. Press service of Armenian MFA informs about this.

Edward Nalbandyan met Secretary General of the European Council
Thorbjørn Jagland. During the meeting the sides discussed the
preparations of the Armenian presidency for the next year and the main
priorities, Armenia-CE cooperation program.

Speaking about Azerbaijani murderer Ramil Safarov’s extradition
freedom CE Secretary General underlined that it was unacceptable.
Armenian and Russian MFAs Edward Nalbandian and Sergey Lavrov
discussed the bilateral relations and main issues of bilateral
interest.

Safarov’s case was also on agenda. NK issue settlement was touched upon as well.

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zanier and Armenian MFA discussed NK
issue settlement.

Iranian and Armenian MFA discussed a range of issues of bilateral
interest and referred to the regional and international developments.

29.09.12, 12:16

From: A. Papazian

New Armenian police website launched with OSCE support

28-09-2012 17:42:34 | Armenia | Human Rights

The new official website of the Armenian police, which was developed
with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, was launched on 28
September 2012.
The updated website, , aims to provide greater
transparency about the work of the police and enhance police-citizen
interaction. The website provides a comprehensive overview of daily
police activities, the police budget, vacancy announcements and
information about police structures, reforms and the new police
education system, as well as police-run TV programmes, newspaper and
radio.
The website provides a map of Armenian police district departments
with relevant information. Citizens will be able to find information
about their community policing officers as well as access various
forms to be filled out. A hotline number makes it possible to promptly
inform the police of problems that citizens might encounter while the
`Support to citizens’ section of the website enables citizens to
report violations and misconduct of police officers to the police
internal oversight body. It also provides comprehensive
security-related information.
The OSCE Office in Yerevan has assisted the Armenian Police in
introducing community policing, reforms in police education and
effective public order management.

– Human Rights
News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan

From: A. Papazian

Arabs realize US establishing democracy but controlling region – Russian expert

news.am
September 28, 2012 | 22:18

MOSCOW. – The Arab world has been brewing a protest against the U.S.
policy in the Middle East, while the `Innocence of Muslims’ movie
intensified the situation, Russian expert Mikhail Alexandrov told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to the expert, the anger of the Arab world is not so much
against Europe as the U.S.

`After all they have realized that the U.S. interfere their domestic
affairs not desiring to establish democracy but they simply aim to
control the region,’ he stated.

To note, mass protest actions were held in the world due to the
screening of the movie, while the U.S. Ambassador was murdered in
Benghazi, Libya.

From: A. Papazian

TBILISSI
Bidzina Ivanichvili, le milliardaire qui veut diriger la Géorgie

Fils de mineur aujourd’hui milliardaire, l’opposant Bidzina
Ivanichvili, qui se présente aux élections législatives en Géorgie, a
décidé de mettre sa fortune au service de ses nouvelles ambitions
politiques dans ce petit pays du Caucase toujours miné par la
pauvreté.

Réservé, de petite corpulence, cet homme qui tranche avec son rival
flamboyant et à forte carrure, le président Mikheïl Saakachvili, est
le plus riche de Géorgie et figure au 153e rang dans le classement
2012 des milliardaires du magazine Forbes, avec une fortune estimée à
6,4 milliards de dollars (cinq milliards d’euros).

Alors qu’il s’est lancé en politique il y a un an à peine, il a réussi
à fédérer derrière lui une opposition jusqu’alors très divisée et
manquant de moyens financiers, qui se présente au scrutin du 1er
octobre au sein d’une coalition sous la bannière du `Rêve géorgien`.

Ses chances de victoire se sont accrues depuis la révélation la
semaine dernière d’un scandale de tortures dans une prison de Tbilissi
qui a poussé deux ministres du gouvernement à démissionner et assombri
les perspectives pour le parti au pouvoir.

Marié et père de quatre enfants, Bidzina Ivanichvili a bti sa fortune
en Russie dans le chaos des années 1990, qui a permis à certains de
s’enrichir grce aux privatisations de fleurons de l’époque
soviétique, effectuées dans des circonstances troubles.

Avec un partenaire russe, Vitali Malkine, il a commencé à vendre des
ordinateurs puis a fondé la Banque de crédit russe, tout en achetant
des parts dans des entreprises minières et métallurgiques, qu’il a
revendues ensuite. Aujourd’hui, il investit en Bourse en Europe et aux
Etats-Unis.

M. Ivanichvili a dépensé des centaines de millions de dollars pour
faire restaurer son village natal et plusieurs monuments, thétres,
musées et écoles en Géorgie, il a fait construire la plus grande
église orthodoxe du pays et a même acheté de nouveaux uniformes pour
l’armée.

Il est la cible de multiples attaques

Amateur d’art, il s’est fait btir une immense résidence futuriste à
Tbilissi, un btiment de verre conçu par l’architecte japonais Shin
Takamatsu, qu’il a décoré d’oeuvres d’artistes contemporains tels que
Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst ou Roy Liechtenstein. En 2006, il a acheté
la toile `Dora Maar au chat` de Pablo Picasso pour 95 millions de
dollars.

Malgré ces largesses, le milliardaire était relativement inconnu du
grand public avant de faire son entrée dans le paysage politique
géorgien.

Il est depuis la cible de multiples attaques.

Alors que ses concurrents l’accusent d’être proche du Kremlin, il
insiste sur sa volonté de voir la Géorgie rejoindre l’Otan et l’Union
européenne. Il a même récemment vendu tous ses intérêts en Russie.

En octobre 2011, il s’est vu retirer la citoyenneté géorgienne au
motif qu’il ne pouvait pas avoir la double nationalité après avoir
obtenu un passeport français. M. Ivanichvili, mariée à une Française,
a vécu en France.

Toutefois, face aux critiques provoquées par cette décision, le
Parlement géorgien a adopté une loi autorisant les citoyens de l’Union
Européenne ayant résidé en Géorgie à titre permanent durant les cinq
dernières années à se présenter aux élections.

M. Ivanichvili a aussi été condamné à des amendes de plusieurs
millions de dollars pour avoir enfreint la loi électorale.

Il a récemment menacé M. Saakachvili, qu’il accuse d’autoritarisme, de
manifestations de masse en cas de fraudes lors du scrutin.

S’il emporte ces élections législatives, il affirme que s’il devient
ensuite Premier ministre, il quittera ses fonctions au bout de deux
ans et laissera le gouvernement aux mains de ses alliés de la
coalition, suscitant des inquiétudes sur la stabilité politique à long
terme du pays.

samedi 29 septembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE
Les experts soutiennent que l’Arménie peut garantir 9 pour cent de
croissance économique

L’économie de l’Arménie a des réserves inexploitées pour garantir les
9 à 10 pour cent de croissance du PIB cette année, selon Tatul
Manaserian, le chef d’un groupe de réflexion Alternatif.

« D’abord les tendances du premier quart de l’année, aussi bien que la
croissance prévue dans les secteurs de l’agriculture et du tourisme
suggèrent que les 7 pour cent de croissance projetée par le
gouvernement sont modestes » a-t-il dit lors d’une conférence de
presse.

Selon le Service National de la Statistique d’Arménie, le secteur de
la construction est en hausse de 55,6 % en mai par opposition à avril.

samedi 29 septembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

REVUE DE PRESSE
Rousseau : « Je pris l’habit arménien »… un documentaire raconte pourquoi

Film/objet.Le philosophe portait l’habit arménien pour des raisons de
santé. Projection demain à Lyon. Accès libre.

Comment est venue l’idée de ce documentaire autour du manteau arménien
de Jean-Jacques Rousseau ?

Patrick Cazals, réalisateur : En faisant des études de philosophie et
de cinéma, j’avais vu des gravures de Rousseau dans cette tenue. En
cette année du tricentenaire, c’était une piste pour un cinéaste à
l’affût d’un angle décalé.

Pourquoi s’habillait-il ainsi ?

Il avait rencontré le fils d’un tailleur arménien. Il était atteint de
la maladie de la pierre (calculs rénaux), cette tenue lui permettait
d’être régulièrement sondé sans se déranger.

Il avait aussi vu, au Procope, les serveurs qui servaient le café,
habillés de cette façon.

Quand l’a-t-il porté ?

Cela correspond à sa période d’exil, entre 1760 et 1770 de
Montmorency, à Môtiers- Travers et à l’île Saint-Pierre en Suisse, et
à la ferme de Montquin, à Maubec (Isère). Vêtement d’errance, mais
outil de confort, il était bien accepté partout, sauf en Isère, la
population a été déroutée et agressive.

Il était très exigeant dans sa confection ?

Il existait une version hiver et été. Il demandait des échantillons de
tissus à ses deux protectrices : Mme De Luze et Mme Boy de la Tour
(propriétaire du chteau de Rochecardon à Saint-Didier-au-Mont-d’Or).
Il était maniaque et précis. Dans les Confessions 12, il le décrit et
précise même que le pasteur l’autorise à le porter au temple.

Vous l’avez fait reconstituer ?

Oui, avec Daniel Saadetian, tailleur spécialiste des costumes de
thétre et de chasse à cour. Dans le film, on suit les étapes de sa
fabrication. On a remplacé les fourrures (martre et lapin par du
synthétique pour des raisons de coût), et le reste est en laine et la
robe intérieure en indienne. Tous deux seront présents demain soir
pour ce nouveau concept de film/objet basé sur des extraits d’`uvres,
de compositions musicales, de gravures, manuscrits et portraits,
tourné sur les lieux où Rousseau écrivit ses textes majeurs.

Quels étaient les liens de Rousseau avec l’Orient ?

Il avait de profondes attaches. N’oublions pas que son père était
parti à Istanbul où il était horloger du sultan et que son grand-oncle
avait été ambassadeur de France en Iran où il est enterré.

samedi 29 septembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 28 2012

Georgia, USA to discuss danger emanating from Russian military base in Armenia

Georgia, Tbilisi, Sept. 28 /Trend N. Kirtskhalia/

Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze and US Deputy State
Secretary Bill Burns discussed the danger emanating from a Russian
military base in Armenia.

“The situation in the region regarding the concentration of Russian
military forces in North Caucasus and their transfer to Gyumri which
endangers the region, was discussed,” Vashadze stated.

The upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia, along with the
situation in the Caucasian region and issues of cooperation within
international organisations were also the subjects of negotiation
during the meeting.

The parties also discussed the participation of international observer
missions in the election process.

Russian military base number 102, has been situated in the Gyumri
region in the north of Armenia since 1995, which is on combat duty
under the auspices of the CIS air defence system. The base operates
under the command of Russian troops of the North Caucasus Military
district of RF.

The base is equipped with SA-10 zenith rocket complexes and MiG-29
fighters. The number of troops at the base amounts to 5000.

From: A. Papazian

Vetsnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 28 2012

The coach managed to turn us, athletes of different nationalities,
into a single family

Interviewed by Sergey Lazarian, Yerevan. Exclusively for VK

Judo wrestler Arsen Galstyan became the first Olympic Champion of the
Russian national team at the Games in London. Before his triumph in
the UK capital, there were no Russian judo champions. Arsen,
performing in the under 60 kg weight category, managed to beat Hiroaki
Hiroaka of Japan. The representative of the country where judo
originates from lost the match in the 41st second.

Arsen Galstyan was born in the village of Nerkin Karmir Akhpyur in the
Shamshadinsky District of Armenia (Tavush Region) on February 19,
1989. The village is located on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan
and suffered losses during the conflict in the early 1990s. The
Galstyan family moved to the Russian city of Maikop in 1997 and then
the village of Giaginskaya in Adygeya. Yakub Koblev, founder of the
sambo and judo school in Maikop, noted the skinny boy and showed him
the way of judo. Arsen started training under the supervision of Igor
Romanov. Galstyan lives and trains in Krasnodar today, representing
both Russian regions at international competitions. He is also
studying at the sports department of the Kabardino-Balkarian State
University. Galstyan is considered a national hero in Armenia. He
recently visited his native village where a local school has been
named after him and met the president of Armenia, the sports minister,
the head of the Judo Federation and a VK correspondent.

– Arsen, at what age did you start judo training?

– At the age of 9. It was difficult to choose the discipline. I was
split between football and judo. The football addiction comes from my
father who was a professional player for various teams. I quit my
training twice, but my older brother Tigran convinced me to continue
attending the section. Tigran is a sports master, just like my younger
brother Arman.

-What was the road to Olympic gold like?

– It took me a long path towards that day, but my dream came true
eventually. I was worried about my shoulder and knee injuries before
the Olympic Games. I was trying to pay as little attention to pain as
possible and concentrate on wrestling. My only goal was to become the
first. This is the idea I had every time I was wrestling on tatami.
When I was wrestling with a Korean in the quarter-final, I only passed
on activity and wrestled with Uzbek Rishod Sobirov in the semi-final.
When I used my final technique against the Japanese (number 1 in the
rankings), the judges called me the winner. It was an indescribable
feeling.

– You returned to Krasnodar from London. How did Kuban welcome the
Olympic champion?

– It was great. I was welcomed by several delegations at the airport,
officials of Armenian and Adygeyan national public organizations of
the region, officials of the Ministry for Physical Education and
Sports of Kuban and the regional directorate of the federal service
for corrections (Arsen works as a junior inspector of the security
section of detention center N1 in the Krasnodar Territory). My parents
and brothers, numerous relatives and friends arrived from the village
of Giaginskaya, where I grew up. The coach and I were greeted with
applause. Actors in Cossack costumes offered bread and salt, friends
performed the Armenian national dance with me.

– Besides the official prizes Olympic champions get, how was your
victory awarded?

– Yes. Governor of Kuban Alexander Tkachyov paid a prize of 3.5
million rubles. Moreover, the Krasnodar construction company
sponsoring me for a long time gave me and my parents two apartments in
Krasnodar, as well as a new car.

– The Russian national team in London was a sensation, winning five
medals, three of which are golds. What is the reason for such
progress?

– Chief coach Ezio Gamba. The Italian specialist has been working with
us since 2009. Russia has an international team with representatives
of different nationalities. Gamba managed to consolidate us,
practically turning us into a family. When you feel a friendly
shoulder, it is easier to perform, easier to prepare for victory. This
is where our outstanding result comes from.

– Vladimir Putin is interested in judo. Would you like to meet him on tatami?

– We already have. A few years ago on New Year’s Eve, the national
team was planning to visit Putin. We talked, we had joint training. We
wrestled each other once: we shook a little, trained throws. He has
very strong hands, by the way. Putin suggested I show a special move.
I chose a throw over the back from the knee. That is all. The press
exaggerated the episode. It was simple training of judo wrestlers. I
am proud that I was training in the same type of sports as the
president. Putin said before the London games that he believed in us
and we did not let him down.

– Arsen, is there any time left for anything other than judo?

– Hardly. I spend about 300 days a year training and competing. There
is not enough time for personal life, as you see. I like to watch
movies, listen to nice music in my free time.

– You have reached the top of your career. What next?

– I will have a little break and then start training again. I have not
been a world champion yet. Besides, I was to wrestle at the Games of
2016 in Rio de Janeiro. I am young and I have a lot of time.

From: A. Papazian