Author: Babajanian Karo

APA, Azerbaijan
Oct 26 2013

No questioning of Azeri election outcome despite criticism – US envoy

The US ambassador in Baku has said that a critical statement made by
his country does not question the result of the 9 October presidential
vote in Azerbaijan, and Washington looks forward to cooperation.

Richard Morningstar made the remarks in an interview with Baku-based
pro-government APA news agency, video and transcript of which the
agency’s website published on 26 October.

The ambassador was referring to a statement by a senior US official on
10 October that said that the Azerbaijani election fell short of
international standards.

“We stand for out 10 October statement regarding the election. At the
same time, the statement we issued does not question the result of the
election,” he said.

The ambassador said his country looks forward to cooperating with
President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani government on a number of
issues, including democracy, Azerbaijan’s conflict with Armenia over
breakaway Karabakh, geopolitical issues, the anti-terror fight and
energy and economy diversification.

He also said the USA hopes very much that Azerbaijan will continue to
cooperate with the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and that Baku will make moves towards “respectful
preservation of and support for democratic principles and values” in
this country.

BBCM note: A report by OSCE/ODIHR election observers slammed the 9
October vote as “seriously flawed” – an assessment the USA agreed
with. This caused an angry reaction on part of the Azerbaijani
authorities. The country’s Central Electoral Commission even said it
recommended that the government reassess its future corporation with
ODIHR.

Several days later followed a diplomatic fall-out between Azerbaijan
and the USA, which started after a meeting between the country’s
former defence minister, Safar Abiyev, and Morningstar over remarks,
attributed by the ministry’s press service to the ambassador and later
denied by the embassy, that “criticism of the presidential election
results does not affect its outcome. Ilham Aliyev is the winner”.

At the same time, the head of the Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev, told media that the Washington had
urged Baku to give the opposition candidate, Camil Hasanli, 25 per
cent of the votes in the election and keep 74 to 75 per cent of the
votes – a statement the embassy denied as well.

[Translated from Azeri]

Georgian PM promises not to try to jail Saakashvili

By Margarita Antidze and Timothy Heritage
TBILISI | Fri Oct 25, 2013 4:43pm EDT

(Reuters) – Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, hoping to
ease fears of instability, says he will not try to jail President
Mikheil Saakashvili when his rival steps down after Sunday’s election.

In an interview with Reuters on Friday, he reaffirmed a plan to quit
as the former Soviet republic’s premier in the weeks after Sunday’s
vote and revealed he would nominate a member of his government to
replace him, but gave no name.

Opinion polls suggest Georgy Margvelashvili, an Ivanishvili ally, will
win Sunday’s vote, a result that should improve prospects for
stability after years of upheaval in a country crossed by pipelines
carrying Caspian oil and gas to Europe.

But two European Union ministers expressed fears this week that
Ivanishvili might take revenge on Saakashvili for blocking government
decisions for months, by pressing for him to be prosecuted.

“The Europeans and Americans … are giving us friendly advice, which
I agree with: that it would not be in the country’s interests if our
president goes to jail,” Ivanishvili said in his glass and metal
residence overlooking the capital Tbilisi.

He said Saakashvili, catapulted into power by a bloodless revolution
in 2003, could face questioning by police when he leaves office and
loses immunity from prosecution.

But Ivanishvili said he would not push for an arrest, adding: “It’s
bad if a country’s president might go to jail.”

EU CONCERNS

He did not say what Saakashvili might be accused of, although he has
previously suggested he might be asked about the death of a former
prime minister, Zurab Zhvania, who was poisoned by fumes said to have
come from a faulty heater.

His comments were clearly intended to appease two EU foreign
ministers, Sweden’s Carl Bildt and Poland’s Radoslaw Sikorski, who
urged him in Tbilisi last week not to take revenge on his rival though
the courts.

Ivanishili predicted Margvelashvili would win 60 percent of votes on
Sunday – enough to avoid a run-off. Saakashvili cannot seek a third
five-year term because of constitutional limits.

He said his government had run the South Caucasus country of 4.5
million well since his Georgian Dream coalition defeated Saakashvili’s
party in a parliamentary election last October.

“The election will be a good confirmation of that,” he said, leaning
back in his chair and looking relaxed in a casual blue sweater with an
open-necked shirt and jeans.

Ivanishvili, now 57, entered politics two years ago because he was
frustrated with Georgia’s course under Saakashvili.

At the time, few people in Georgia knew what he looked like but most
knew of his fabulous business fortune, albino sons, private zoo with
penguins and zebras, and art collection including works by Picasso,
Matisse and Renoir. Forbes magazine has put his wealth at about $5.3
billion.

READY TO STEP ASIDE

Ivanishvili managed to unite the opposition. Saakashvili, meanwhile,
had lost popularity after failing to carry out all the reforms he had
promised, and had dragged Georgia into a disastrous five-day war with
Russia in 2008, from which Moscow emerged in control of two rebel
Georgian regions.

Ivanishvili said Saakashvili, 45, had no political future in Georgia.
But he also confirmed that he himself would carry out a promise he
made when becoming a politician to step aside when his job was done:
“I’ve done what I had to do.”

He listed his achievements as changing the political landscape,
constitutional reforms and launching healthcare, agriculture and
private insurance reforms.

Critics say he has achieved little and the faltering economy has not
improved, but Ivanishvili scoffed at this.

He declined to say who would be the next prime minister – the most
powerful position in Georgia since the constitutional changes – but
said he would name his candidate on November 2.

“It will be a member of the cabinet, one of the ministers, a member of
our team,” he said.

The president will propose the nominee to parliament for approval
after the inauguration, expected on November 17.

“On November 19 or 20, we’ll get a new cabinet and prime minister and
I’ll be free (to go) after that,” Ivanishvili said.

Opponents say Ivanishvili may still try to call the shots behind the
scenes, and suggest this would be unconstitutional.

“I will not allow myself to ask questions or give orders from the
wings,” he said. “If they (the government) want to, they will ring me.
That’s okay at the start, but it will gradually happen less and less.”

(Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Bitter feud dominates Georgia election

25 October 2013 Last updated at 18:12 GMT
By Rayhan Demytrie BBC News, Tbilisi

Bidzina Ivanishvili: Georgia’s “first European-style election”

There might be 23 candidates in Sunday’s presidential election in
Georgia but in recent months two men already in power have been
dominating the country’s politics. And both are about to step down.

They face each other from their palaces on opposite sides of the River
Kura, which flows through the capital Tbilisi.

One is the glass-domed structure of the country’s President Mikheil
Saakashvili, the second is an ultra-modern steel and glass mansion –
the residence of the country’s billionaire Prime Minister Bidzina
Ivanishvili.

Mr Ivanishvili took office last year after his Georgian Dream
coalition defeated President Saakashvili’s allies in a parliamentary
election.

But there is very little face-to-face interaction between the two
leaders, and their public statements are full of bitterness towards
each other.

Rights ‘abuses’

In the West, President Saakashvili is known as a man who brought
democracy to Georgia, which has been plagued by political violence
since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

But Mr Ivanishvili refers to the outgoing president as a “liar” and a
“dictator”.

The election campaign has been dominated by rivalry between the
outgoing president and outgoing prime minister

“He said one thing to the outside world, and did totally different
things inside the country,” Mr Ivanishvilli told the BBC from his
residence.

“Under Saakashvili, abuses of people’s rights inside Georgia were
widespread. Anyone could have been targeted and sent to jail. Prisons
were overcrowded. Properties were illegally confiscated,” he said.

Addressing a group of students on Thursday, Mr Saakashvili said he and
the prime minister had nothing in common.

“I and Prime Minister Ivanishvili are from different planets, or to
put it more correctly I am from this planet, from this country… We
represent two different Georgias.”

Since coming to power in the bloodless 2003 “Rose Revolution” Mr
Saakashvili has implemented reforms which helped root out corruption.

He cut bureaucracy and improved public services in the Caucasus
republic, where poverty remains widespread.

The World Bank in a report in 2012 suggested Georgia’s experience in
fighting corruption could be exemplary for other nations facing
similar problems.

At a recent UN General Assembly meeting, Mr Saakashvili said he was
proud of Georgia’s accomplishments during his 10 years in office.

‘Elite’ corruption

But the country’s prime minister has dismissed these achievements.

President Saakashvili sees himself as the man who eliminated corruption

“Corruption was eradicated among the police, his government was proud
of this for years. But later, they used the police force to commit
violence against people. So we can’t say it was an achievement,” says
Mr Ivanishvili.

“The biggest achievement, I would say, was the improvement of tax
collection. Money started flowing into the state budget. But the
budget was then abused – so this also cannot be counted as an
achievement.”

His allegations of “elite” corruption have led to a number of arrests
and investigations of former officials from Mr Saakashvili’s
administration.

Mr Ivanishvili, who credits his own government with establishing a
transparent judicial system, does not exclude the possibility that Mr
Saakashvili could also find himself under investigation once his
presidential immunity is lifted.

“The process of restoration of justice is continuing, therefore such a
probability cannot be ruled out,” he said.

Behind the scenes

In August, he announced that he would step down before the end of the year.

Prime Minister Ivanishvili says he has brought money flowing into the budget

“When I entered politics I said that I would stay for two or three
years, accomplish my set goals and leave. Well, it took me less than
three years. I put the country on the right path and no-one can
reverse this process.”

Following Sunday’s vote, constitutional amendments introduced in 2010
will come into effect that significantly reduce presidential powers.

Georgia in effect will become a parliamentary democracy.

But even after Mr Ivanishvili steps down there are concerns he could
still run the country from behind the scenes, especially if his chosen
presidential candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili – ahead in the opinion
polls – wins.

Mr Ivanishvili has not yet named a successor as prime minister.

The presidential candidate of Mr Saakashvili’s United National
Movement (UNM), Davit Bakradze, is a former parliament speaker who
accuses the ruling coalition of failing to deliver on its promises.

AZERBAIDJAN
Azerbaïdjan : hausse des revenus et boom des charlatans

Alors que l’Azerbaïdjan s’enrichit grce à l’énergie extraite du
sous-sol et de la mer, les charlatans de la nation font fureur.

Dans une enquête nationale menée plus tôt cette année par le Centre
pour le développement économique et social basé à Bakou, un think-tank
indépendant internationalement reconnu, environ un quart des 500
personnes interrogées ont déclaré avoir visité un médium, chaman,
diseuse de bonne aventure ou astrologue en 2012 .

Sur la base de renseignements des sondés, le Centre estime que la
bagatelle de 160 millions de manats, soit environ 203 millions de
dollars avaient été dépensés pour ces services. Le montant se
distingue, en considérant que l’Azerbaïdjan a une population d’environ
9,6 millions de personnes. « C’est trois fois plus que les dépenses du
budget annuel du gouvernement sur le maintien de l’administration
présidentielle ou quatre fois plus que les dépenses du système
judiciaire », selon le directeur du Centre, l’économiste Vugar
Bayramov.

Tout au long du Caucase du Sud, ainsi que dans les environs de la
Russie, de l’Iran et de la Turquie, la divination a longtemps
prospéré, quelle que soit l’attitude du gouvernement ou les
restrictions religieuses. Mais l’augmentation des niveaux de revenu au
cours de la dernière décennie en Azerbaïdjan semblent avoir fourni un
coup de pouce à de telles pratiques selon Vugar Bayramov.

Selon les données du gouvernement, le revenu moyen en Azerbaïdjan a
augmenté de 2,9 fois depuis 2003 et s’élève maintenant à 517,6 manats
(659,70 $) par mois. « Les gens ont plus d’économies à dépenser pour
les services de médiums. Pendant ce temps, beaucoup de problèmes de
bien-être social rendent les gens [en manque de confiance] à propos de
l’avenir » a commenté Vugar Bayramov. La faible confiance dans l’état
du système de santé , par exemple, pousse « plus de gens à se diriger
vers des guérisseurs pour résoudre » leurs problèmes de santé, a-t-il
dit. Les autres problèmes répandus, tels que le chômage (le taux
officiel est de 5,1 pour cent, mais les estimations officieuses sont
de l’ordre de 10%) ou de faibles niveaux d’éducation, jouent également
un rôle. Un voyant interviewé par EurasiaNet.org est d’accord avec
l’évaluation de la valeur économique du secteur de la divination. «
Vous ne pouvez pas imaginer à quel point ces pratiques sont répandues
en Azerbaïdjan a déclaré le voyant gé de 41 ans et qui a donné son
nom de Kenan M. « Les gens ne paient et paient beaucoup » a-t-il dit.
« Par conséquent, [les clients] attendent des résultats ».

Les prix sont négociables, en fonction de la réputation du voyant et
de la propre situation financière du client et de la « portée du
travail » a continué Kenan M. Une seule visite à un voyant
azerbaïdjanais ordinaire peut varier de 50 à 1000 manats (environ 64 $
à 1275 $). Une séance avec un célèbre voyant azerbaïdjanais, comme
celui basée à Moscou Zireddin Rzayev, peut monter jusqu’à 10000 manats
(12700 $), selon les dires populaires. Les annonces publicitaires dans
les journaux l’attestent, le sort contre ses rivaux, connus sous le
nom de Jaadu, est un service particulièrement demandé sur ce marché.
Un journal hebdomadaire de Bakou dispose d’une section spéciale pour
ces annonces, une publicité d’un « magicien noir », promet – pour les
femmes seulement – des charmes d’amour et de « vengeance sur les
ennemis », plus de protection contre « le mauvais `il, les sortilèges,
la magie et autres choses ».

La plupart des clients, selon Kenan M., sont, en effet, des femmes,
entre18 et 32 ans, qui viennent chercher le concept hindou de l’amour,
du mariage (un événement fortement encouragé par les femmes à travers
le Caucase) ou « pour ouvrir leurs chakras » d’énergie vivifiante.
Alors que la rumeur veut que de hauts responsables du gouvernement
azerbaïdjanais et des membres de leur famille font également
l’utilisation régulière de diseurs de bonne aventure, ces informations
ne peuvent pas être justifiées. « Il y a des médiums qui fournissent
des services à l’élite, mais ils font profil bas et peu de gens savent
à leur sujet » a commenté Kenan M. Être circonspect quant à une
sollicitation dans les médiums ne se limite pas à l’élite seule.
Plusieurs jeunes femmes laïques ont beaucoup de connaissances
détaillées sur les noms, les services et les prix des différents
médiums mais ont nié en avoir jamais rencontré un. La pratique
musulmane azerbaïdjanaise en général s’abstient totalement de la
lecture de la bonne aventure, que le Coran définit comme un péché.
Shahin Hasanly, un imam populaire à la mosquée Meshadi Dadash de
Bakou, a déclaré qu’il n’a pas encore abordé la question avec les
croyants malgré que le statut de divination est « un grand péché »
clair.

Les résultats du Centre pour l’étude du développement économique et
social « montrent quelle est l’ampleur des problèmes moraux de notre
société ces jours-ci », a-t-il ajouté.

Un psychologue qui travaille au Centre de crise pour les femmes basée
à Bakou, une organisation non gouvernementale, soutient, cependant,
que les sollicitations des diseurs de bonne aventure n’ont rien
d’inhabituel et continueront tant que les problèmes existent.

« En tout temps et partout, les gens ont cru aux chamanes, diseuses de
bonne aventure, aux magiciens et aux lieux saints`, a commenté Azad
Isazade. « [L]’intérêt pourrait augmenter ou diminuer. Mais il a
toujours existé ».

Note de la rédaction :

Shahin Abbasov est une journaliste freelance basée à Bakou.

eurasianet.org

dimanche 27 octobre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

FRENCH ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN URGED TO INVEST IN THE MOTHERLAND

17:56 25.10.2013

Anna Nazaryan

The conference of Armenian businessmen and investors from France
was held in Yerevan today. The conference featuring 40 Armenian
businessmen from France and 50 businessmen from Armenia was jointly
organized by the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Diaspora,
the Yerevan City Hall, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(CCIFA) and Armenia’s Economic Development Forum (FEDA).

Armenian Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan urged French Armenian
businessmen to invest in the Motherland. She noted that the investments
would contribute to poverty reduction and prevention of migration.

Mayor of Marseille Jean-Claude Gaudin noted that a number of
businessmen have arrived in Yerevan, which is an evidence of warm
relations between Marseille and Yerevan. The presence of French
companies means that the investment climate is good, he said. The
Mayor added that the conference is a good opportunity for businessmen
to search for new ways of cooperation.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Tigran Harutyunyan said the
conference could boost the Armenian-French relations in the economic
field. He added that Armenia has an open-door policy targeted at the
development of favorable investment and business climate for foreign
entrepreneurs.

“SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL FOOD” PROGRAM TO LAUNCH IN ARMENIA

11:41, 26 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS: The Government of the Republic of
Armenia restores the tradition of providing safe and sustainable food
to the secondary schools. The first testing schools of the Republic
are those of Vayots Dzor Marz, where the schoolchildren will be fed at
schools since January 2014. The Head of the Department for Development
Programs and Monitoring of the Ministry of Education and Science of
the Republic of Armenia Robert Stepanyan informed Armenpress that
since January 2014 the program “Sustainable school food” will launch
in Vayots Dzor Marz and then will continue in Syunik and Ararat Marzes.

According to Robert Stepanyan, in the framework of the program the
food will be provided to schools by the means of the state budget.

“The program includes only the students of the elementary grades. Every
day 140 drams will be provided for the food of each pupil of the
secondary school”, – said the Head of the Department for Development
Programs and Monitoring of the Ministry of Education and Science of
the Republic of Armenia.

ANALYST: HOW DO YOU IMAGINE TURKEY’S AND ARMENIA’S JOINT ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION? – NEWSPAPER

October 26, 2013 | 08:58

YEREVAN. – Zhamanak daily spoke with Russian political analyst Sergey
Markedonov of the Center for Strategic and International Studies
inWashington, DC.

“He said neither the Customs Union nor the Eurasian Union enjoy a
definite treatment; different countries have different expectations.

‘”Such a unit may perhaps exist solely within the framework of the
[ex-]USSR,’ he noted.

“In his view, the decisive thing in Armenia’s case [concerning
accession to the Customs Union (CU)] will be what arguments will be
used in the outcome, and what will be more substantial.

“To the query as to whether Armenia’s matter could be temporarily
put off, he responded that this likewise cannot be ruled out.

“Sergey Markedonov said the RF [i.e., the Russian Federation] will
endeavor so that a severe refusal would not be made in this situation,
[and] it will attempt to evade [giving] unequivocal answers.

“Reflecting on the proposal to include Turkey in the CU, he said,
‘That is ruled out, and that’s that!’

‘”Turkey is a NATO member, and this already is a weighty argument. One
day Turkey will arrive upon European integration. How do you imagine
Turkey’s and Armenia’s joint accession to the Customs Union, when
Turkeyand Armenia have closed borders?'” Zhamanak quotes as saying.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

HRAPARAK: GYUMRI MAYOR’S BODYGUARDS BEAT UP ELECTRICIAN?

11:57 26/10/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

The incident that happened during the Gyumri City Day celebrations
on October 13 had an unpleasant continuation. For technical reasons,
a power outage occurred while Gyumri mayor Samvel Balasanyan was
delivering his speech and his bodyguards beat up the electrician who
was on duty at that time. Balasanyan’s spokesman, however, denied this.

According to Hraparak’s sources close to Gyumri municipality, the
bodyguards attacked Harut, who is working as an electrician at the
Drama Theater, and beat him up. The mayor was not satisfied with
the punishment and wrote to the Culture Minister asking to sack
the electrician.

BERNARD DEBRE PERSONNELLEMENT TRES OPPOSE L’ENTREE DE LA TURQUIE AU SEIN DE L’UNION EUROPEENNE

FRANCE

Cela fait plusieurs annees que l’on parle de l’entree de la Turquie
au sein de l’Union europeenne. J’y suis personnellement très oppose
et ceci pour plusieurs raisons.

La première est que nous sommes deja 28 Etats dans l’UE et qu’il est
difficile d’y voir clair. Le nombre de pays, les differences entre
chacun sont telles qu’il est difficile d’avoir une action efficace. 28
pays, c’est deja trop. Il est vrai que seuls 18 pays font partie de
la zone euro.

La deuxième raison est que la Turquie n’est manifestement pas
europeenne. Elle est en train de se debattre actuellement entre des
democrates et des islamistes qui semblent prendre le dessus.

Imagine-t-on aujourd’hui un grand pays comme la Turquie, islamiste,
integrer l’UE ? Faut-il rappeler les manifestations de la place Taksim,
les morts, la repression. Ces simples rappels montrent encore une
fois l’impossibilite pour la Turquie d’integrer cette union.

La troisième raison est que la Turquie, grand pays, ancien empire,
devrait plutôt se tourner vers le Machrek, le Caucase et eventuellement
le Maghreb. Il faudrait que ce pays, s’il arrive veritablement
a redevenir totalement democrate, puisse devenir un des elements
stabilisateurs de cette region si devastee.

Pour toutes ces raisons, la France aurait dû, devrait et devra
s’opposer a cette entree. Il est important qu’il demeure des liens
très etroits avec l’ancien Empire ottoman, mais de la a l’integrer,
il y a un pas qu’il ne faut pas franchir.

Blog de Bernard Debre – 24/10/2013

samedi 26 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TO TIGHTEN GRIP UPON USAGE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

YEREVAN, October 25. /ARKA/. A bill implying a stronger control
over GMO usage was put on the Armenian National Assembly’s floor on
Friday again.

Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan, presenting the bill to
lawmakers, stressed its importance saying that certain mechanisms
are needed for keeping GMO usage under control.

“Any genetically modified organism may be harmful to human health and
life, and therefore we must regulate this matter – the bill is aimed
at this,” he said. “The ministry wants to put together opinions and
experience of respected international laboratories, but their work
is not satisfactory now.”

The minister said people have a right to know what products they
consumed. He said to put things right it is necessary to improve laws.

Harutyunyan called on MPs to voice their proposals.

Artashes Ziroyan, chief of the nature protection ministry’s division
in charge of management of bio resources, on his side, said that
the bill proposes mechanisms which will leave no room for adverse
impacts of GMOs on environment, bio diversity and human health or
will lessen them.

He stressed that many experts had been involved in development
of this bill . The bill was passed by the National Assembly
at the first reading on October 21. —0—- – See more at: