Armenia’s Decision To Join Customs Union Not Secret To EU – National

ARMENIA’S DECISION TO JOIN CUSTOMS UNION NOT SECRET TO EU – NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SEC

14:57 06.09.13

Secretary the National Security Council of Armenia Artur Baghdasaryan
told journalists on Friday that Armenia’s decision to join the Customs
Union was not a secret and Armenia’s European partners were informed.

Baghdasaryan reported detailed information on Armenia’s exports to
European and to the Customs Union – the latter exceed the former. He
also pointed out that 2.5 million Armenians are residing in Armenia.

The most important is Russia’s role in Armenia’s national security,
Baghdasaryan added.

“We should take a comprehensive view of the problem. Consolidating
our security is in our country’s interests, and Russia assumed
great responsibility for that. We need to diversify our economy,
and Moscow assumes this responsibility under the document. Concrete
large-scale programs will be implemented and relevant agreements have
been reached,” he said.

Armenia should try to continue its political cooperation with the
European Union (EU) and adopt European values. “We should translate
association into reality. Further negotiations will show the rest,”
Baghdasaryan said.

“I can officially state that our European partners were informed. It
was not a secret,” he said.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan submitted the two documents signed
in Moscow to the Council’s meeting on Thursday.

“That was not the first discussion. We used to discuss Armenian-Russian
relations, prospects of cooperation with the EU and any other
international problems. The press was regularly informed,” Baghdasaryan
said.

Not having a common border with the Customs Union is not an obstacle
for Armenia. There are precedents in international practice.

“We pay for crossing the border and we will have to pay if we join
the EU. We go through Georgia and will have to pay just as we have
so far done,” Baghdasaryan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Accusations By Activist: Editor Claims Police Out Of Line Against Pr

ACCUSATIONS BY ACTIVIST: EDITOR CLAIMS POLICE OUT OF LINE AGAINST PROTESTERS

NEWS | 06.09.13 | 15:59

Photolure

By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

An activist who has been detained several times during the recent
frequent acts of protest in Yerevan says the police is acting in
a systemized and pre-arranged manner and that all this is just the
beginning.

Armenia Today editor, civil activist Argishti Kiviryan, facing one
criminal and three administrative charges, told the press on Friday
that “the regime in Armenia is using its two main pillars – the police
and the criminal world – in an attempt to break the recently shaped
active civil wave” and that “the authorities detect danger in this
civil involvement”.

He claims that the total of around 100 activists have been detained and
taken to various police stations as a result of the recent protests
against the raise of public transport fare, private parking lots,
the construction on Komitas street and Armenia’s membership in the
Customs Union. In the majority of cases administrative motions were
filed against them.

“I have no guarantees today that while walking in the streets of
Yerevan some police officer won’t approach me and subject me to some
kind of violence. The recent cases of steps taken against me are
a proof of that. I am dealing with political persecution in terms
of my professional and public activities. It can’t be defined as
anything else,” says Kiviryan, predicting that tougher processes are
yet to come.

He says that three times during the past month he has been taken to
the police station – first on August 5 from the vicinity of the city
hall, then on August 24 he got detained during the protest against
the construction on Komitas street, and on September 4 during the
rally against Armenia joining the Customs Union held on Baghramyan
Avenue, when ten others had gotten detained earlier and he had gone
to Arabkir police station as a representative of Armenia Today news
agency to find out what was happening. He claims that the detentions
were accompanied with violence, but no criminal cases were filed.

The police issued a statement today responding to media reports
about assaults against civil activists in recent days and alleged
inaction from police. It said such allegations were groundless,
giving assurances that investigations are being conducted regarding
every case. It also urged witnesses to come forward to help police
with the investigations guaranteeing confidentiality of the informers.

http://armenianow.com/news/48282/yerevan_protests_customs_union_armenia_police

Customs Border Between Armenia And Nagorno-Karabakh Ruled Out: Forei

CUSTOMS BORDER BETWEEN ARMENIA AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH RULED OUT: FOREIGN MINISTRY

YEREVAN, September 6. /ARKA/. Establishing a customs border between
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is ruled out, deputy head of Armenian
foreign ministry Shavarsh Kocharyan told reporters Thursday.

“For us Karabakh is the red line which we will never cross, and
naturally, a frontier between Armenia and Karabakh is ruled out”,
he said.

Kocharyan said Armenia never ruled out its accession to the Customs
Union, but had negotiated with the Eurasian Commission and the Russian
side to solve a number of problems obstructing the process.

“In particular, one of the key problems was that there is no common
border between Armenia and Customs Union countries. As a result of
multi-lateral negotiations we concluded it is beneficial to Armenia”,
he said.

The deputy foreign minister said the negotiations helped find solutions
to compensate for Armenia’s possible losses from the membership under
the condition of no common border with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

“You will have an opportunity to get a full idea about benefits of
accession to the customs union for Armenia”, Kocharyan said.

Tuesday, after the negotiations between Armenia’s and Russia’s
presidents, a statement was made saying Armenia intends to enter
the Customs Union and participate later in formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union. -0–

– See more at:

http://arka.am/en/news/politics/customs_border_between_armenia_and_nagorno_karabakh_ruled_out_foreign_ministry/#sthash.21wRL9Iu.dpuf

Armenian Army Draws Out Scenario For Counter-Attack Towards Nakhiche

ARMENIAN ARMY DRAWS OUT SCENARIO FOR COUNTER-ATTACK TOWARDS NAKHICHEVAN
by David Stepanyan

Friday, September 6, 13:15

The military units of the Armenian Armed Forces deployed at the
Nakhichevan direction of the state border, have been carrying out
large scale military exercises.

On 23 August Azerbaijani subdivisions inflicted fire damage from
the Nakhichevani direction of the border to Agarak. As a result, one
serviceman of the Armenian army was killed and another one – wounded.

As press-service of Armenia’s Defence Ministry reported, the military
units and subdivisions of all types of troops are taking part in
the exercise, which will last for 7 days. The exercise are headed
by the commander of General Headquarters of Armenian Armed Forces,
Colonel-General, Yuri Khachaturov. Armenia’s Defence Minister Seyran
Ohanyan visited the exercise zone on 4 September to inspect the
process of the exercise holding.

To note, they were preparing the exercise since 3 September.

Press-secretary of Armenia’s Defence Ministry, Artsrun Hovannisyan,
proved the fact of holding of the exercise but refused to give the
information in details.

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=F0851C20-16D4-11E3-B25D0EB7C0D21663

UN Torture Prevention Body Concludes Armenia Visit; Set To Publish F

UN TORTURE PREVENTION BODY CONCLUDES ARMENIA VISIT; SET TO PUBLISH FINDINGS

;-set-to-publish-findings.html
15:17, September 6, 2013

The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture concluded
its first visit to the Republic of Armenia today.

The purpose of the visit, which took place from September 3-6, was
to provide advice and technical assistance to the Armenian National
Preventive Mechanism (NPM).

The NPM is the mechanism for the prevention of torture, in conformity
with article 11 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The Subcommittee devoted most part of its visit to a capacity building
exercise of the Armenian NPM, through substantive meetings with the
Torture and Violence Prevention Division of the Human Rights Defenders
Office and the Torture Prevention Expert Council, as well as a number
of joint visits to places of deprivation of liberty. UN experts had
the opportunity to assess first-hand the needs and current challenges
of this Armenian organ for the prevention of torture and ill-treatment.

At the conclusion of the visit, the head of the delegation stated:

“The SPT held working meetings with State authorities, civil society
and, particularly, the Armenian NPM, and joined the latter in its
visits to several places of detention. The SPT recognizes the steps
Armenia has made regarding the prevention of torture, and will advise
on measures necessary to further this task. In the adoption of these,
the SPT remains available to provide the Republic of Armenia and its
National Preventive Mechanism all relevant support and advice”.

The Subcommittee will submit separate, confidential, reports to
the Government of the Republic of Armenia and to the Armenian NPM,
containing its observations and recommendations arising from the visit.

The SPT delegation to the Republic of Armenia consisted of the
following members: Ms. Mari Amos (head of the delegation), Mr. Miguel
Sarre Iguiniz, and Mr. Víctor Madrigal-Borloz.

Photo – Head of Delegation Ms. Mari Amos

http://hetq.am/eng/news/29152/un-torture-prevention-body-concludes-armenia-visit

Baghdasaryan: Entry Into Customs Union Does Not Hinder Signing Assoc

BAGHDASARYAN: ENTRY INTO CUSTOMS UNION DOES NOT HINDER SIGNING ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH EU

13:21 06/09/2013 ” POLITICS

Armenia’s entry into the Customs Union does not hinder signing the
Association Agreement with the European Union because we have done a
big work with the European Union in the past years, Armenian National
Security Council (NSC) Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan told reporters
in Yerevan.

The NSC Secretary reminded that Armenia and Russia have an important
agreement which includes 3 key points: extension of Russian military
base deployment in Armenia, Russia assumes to ensure security of
Armenia alongside Armenia, and Russia defends Armenia-Iran and
Armenia-Turkey borders.

“One of the peculiarities of the declaration signed in Moscow is
that Russia will intensify its involvement in the development and
diversification of Armenian economy. As a proof of this, we will soon
see new programs and projects,” Baghdasaryan said.

Source: Panorama.am

Un Militant De L’opposition Arrete Pour " Assault "

UN MILITANT DE L’OPPOSITION ARRETE POUR ” ASSAULT ”

ARMENIE

Un militant de l’opposition armenienne a ete place en detention
provisoire lundi sur des accusations de voies de fait contre un
agent de police au cours de manifestations de rue contre un projet
de construction controverse a Erevan.

Dmitry Harutiunian, un membre d’un mouvement d’opposition appele
” Preparlement “, etait parmi plusieurs dizaines de militants qui
ont rejoint les residents du district d’Arabkir au nord d’Erevan en
essayant d’arreter ce qu’ils appellent la construction illegale d’un
immeuble residentiel dans leur quartier.

La police antiemeute a utilise la force après avoir bloque une
rue adjacente, le 24 août. Vingt-six militants ont ete arretes sur
place et relâches quelques heures plus tard. La construction a ete
effectivement suspendue dans les jours suivants.

Dmitry Harutiunian a ete arrete durant le week-end dans une maison de
campagne appartenant a ses parents. Il a ensuite ete accuse d’avoir
inflige des blessures ” dangereuses ” a l’un des policiers. La
procedure penale engagee contre lui est base sur le temoignage donne
par ce policier et un autre agent de la police. Le militant âge de
32 ans et ses avocats affirment que les accusations sont infondees.

Un tribunal du district a Erevan a permis a la police de garder
Harutiunian en etat d’arrestation provisoire pour un maximum de deux
mois. Les avocats d’Harutiunian ont dit qu’ils allaient faire appel de
la decision. Le tribunal a egalement rejete leur appel de le liberer
sous caution.

vendredi 6 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

Une Annee De Memoire Et De Douleur : Se Rappeler Les Militaires Tues

UNE ANNEE DE MEMOIRE ET DE DOULEUR : SE RAPPELER LES MILITAIRES TUES EN 2012 DANS UNE EMBUSCADE A LA FRONTIERE A BERD

ARMENIE

Depuis un an, Luiza, deux ans et demi ne voit son papa que dans une
photo. La petite fille parle a l’image chaque matin, mais les souvenirs
de son père s’estompent avec chaque jour qui passe. Ce qui pousse
a la place est le besoin d’amour paternel et un sentiment de deuil
pour un parent perdu. ” Mon papa est alle a Erevan pour m’apporter
un peu de jus “, dit la petite fille tandis qu’elle câline et fait
des baisers au portrait dans un cadre noir. Le père de Luiza, Aram
Yesayan, etait l’un des trois militaires qui ont ete attaques et tues
par un important commandos d’azeris dans une importante violation de
la frontière en avril 2012. L’attaque s’est produite dans la section
nord-est de la frontière armeno-azerbaïdjanais, non loin de la ville
où les familles des militaires contractuels vivent.

Beaucoup dans cette zone frontalière sont convaincus que, au prix de
leur vie Aram Essayan 25 ans, David Abgaryan 28 ans et Archak Nersisyan
21 ans ont empeche une tragedie que les infiltres lourdement armes qui
auraient fait plusieurs victimes, y compris des civils, sauf qu’ils
ont rencontre des militaires armeniens qui ont combattu l’ennemi.

Les habitants de la ville de Berd dans la province de Tavush
en Armenie, servent dans l’armee sur une base contractuelle et
allaient jusqu’a leur avant-poste militaire pour le service cette
nuit fatidique.

Svetlana Poghosyan la mère d’Archak Nersisyan raconte l’incident dans
lequel son fils a ete tue.

” Quand une grenade a main a ete lance sur la voiture Archak a reussi
a sortir et commencer a engager l’ennemi, meme s’il n’avait pas
d’arme. Un enqueteur a dit plus tard qu’il avait ete crible de plus
de 60 balles en dessous de sa taille. Quand son corps a ete retrouve
il avait allume son telephone, car il avait telephone a quelqu’un
pour l’avertir de l’attaque. Il avait des pierres dans sa main comme
s’il avait combattu les commandos armes. Mais que pouvait-il faire
avec ces pierres ? ” se demande la femme de 44 ans ajoutant que des
cordes, des masques et des cartes ont ete retrouves sur les lieux
par les enqueteurs, ce qui montre que le passage du vehicule avec
des militaires armeniens n’etait pas la première cible des assaillants.

” Ce qu’ils avaient dans leur esprit n’etait pas les enfants [les
militaires], ils etaient venus pour une autre mission – que ce soit
pour capturer le poste ou garder le village d’Aygepar sous le feu,
ou entrer dans le village de Movses. Ils ont juste trebuche sur les
gars … Comme on dit, chaque malheur a sa bonne partie “, dit la mère.

Archak s’est marie cinq mois seulement avant sa mort. Après un service
militaire obligatoire de deux ans, il est retourne dans son village
natal de Berd et s’est enrôle pour le service via des contrats, ce
qui est probablement le metier le plus populaire et le mieux paye
dans les zones limites de l’Armenie.

Sa mère a dit qu’il a epouse une femme qu’il aimait en decembre 2011
et avant que les parents de la femme ont convenu d’un mariage, il a
dû s’enfuir avec elle et a vecu absent pendant quelques semaines. ”
Ils etaient une bonne famille “, se souvient Svetlana Poghosyan alors
qu’elle montre la chambre d’Archak où tout reste impassible depuis
sa mort.

Le seul ajout est les photographies cerclees de noir d’Archak sur la
table que lui-meme avait faites. Son uniforme militaire et seulement
un smoking qu’il portait pour un bal et plus tard pour le mariage
sont conserves avec soin dans une garde-robe. La veuve d’Archak qui
a 20 ans est retournee dans la maison de son père mais quand elle se
rend frequemment dans la famille de son defunt mari, elle ne peut pas
parler de lui, car elle commence a s’etouffer a chaque fois submerge
par une maree d’emotions.

Ailleurs dans la ville Asya Badalyan 25 ans veuve de David Abgaryan
a eu a la fois la plus grande perte et l’acquisition de la vie au
cours de la dernière annee.

” Nous etions maries depuis six ans, mais ne pouvions pas concevoir
un enfant. Il a ete très bon et un bienveillant mari. Notre seul reve
etait d’avoir un bebe et quand il a appris que finalement j’etais
enceinte, il a dit qu’il irait faire son devoir et puis revenir et me
prendre a Erevan pour un examen. Il est parti et n’est jamais revenu
“, dit Asya, qui a donne naissance a un petit garcon, sept mois après
la mort de son mari.

Le fils d’Asya est ne le 5 decembre, jour de l’anniversaire de son
père, et elle l’a nomme David, aussi.

” Je vais etre a la fois mère et père pour David Junior. Desormais ma
vie n’est que pour lui, je ferai tout pour qu’il ait tout ce qu’il
faut, je lui dis toujours que son père est un heros “, dit la jeune
mère .

Une autre jeune femme, qui a perdu son mari dans l’attaque azerie
l’an dernier, travaille a la boutique d’un boulanger dans le centre
Berd où elle tente en vain de mettre fin a sa douleur dans le parfum
des pâtisseries. Mais l’endroit lui rappelle constamment son Aram,
qui avait aussi l’habitude d’y travailler.

C’est dans cette pâtisserie que Meline Hovhannisyan 21 ans et son
futur mari Aram Yesayan se sont rencontres.

” Il etait le chef, et je faisais des pâtisseries. Il avait six ans
de plus que moi. La première fois qu’il m’a vu, il m’a regarde. Il a
avoue son amour pour moi. Puis nous avons eu une relation et finalement
nous nous sommes maries “, se souvient en larmes Meline.

La femme au regard d’enfant vit deja comme une veuve avec la grande
famille de son defunt mari.

” Mon mari aimait mes cheveux longs, je vais donc jamais me couper les
cheveux. Il etait très strict, très jaloux, mais il etait aussi très
gentil et extremement attentionne. Je me sens mieux dans la maison de
mon mari que chez mon père. C’est ma maison et la maison de mon enfant
“, dit la veuve d’Aram Yesayan, qui elève sa fille Luiza aujourd’hui.

Le 27 avril 2013 a ete le premier anniversaire de la mort des trois
militaires. Leurs familles, comme ils l’ont fait a plusieurs reprises
au cours de l’annee, ont de nouveau marcher jusqu’au cimetière perche
dans Berd. . .

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN

ArmeniaNow

vendredi 6 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

BAKU: Armenians To Modernize Air Defense System In Azerbaijan’s Terr

ARMENIANS TO MODERNIZE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM IN AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY THEM

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2013

[ 05 September 2013 13:17 ]

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov-APA. Armenians will modernize air defense
system in Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by them.

APA reports citing Armenian media that modernization in the main air
defense system in Nagorno Karabakh will be started by the year-end.

It is reported that modernization is mainly needed in radar stations.

Recently, Armenians announced that they would modernize S-300 systems.

Experts think as S-300 complexes of Armenians are old modifications,
they do not meet the requirements of advanced air defense systems.

Armenian Captive’s Letter Passed To His Family

ARMENIAN CAPTIVE’S LETTER PASSED TO HIS FAMILY

13:56, 5 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: The letter of the Armenian
serviceman, kept as a captive in Azerbaijan, has been passed to his
family by the representatives of the Baku Office of the International
Committee of the Red Cross. This was reported to Armenpress by Arman
Injighulyan, the cousin of Hakob Injighulyan. “The letter only says
that he feels well and has no problems”, – said Arman Injighulyan.

Concerning the negotiations on the return of Hakob to the motherland,
Arman stated that no news is available for the moment.

Earlier the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran
Ohanyan stated that Armenia will assist Hakob Injighulyan to recover
psychologically and return to the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Armenia to continue his military service. “Unfortunately, the lack
of the state ties with the Republic of Azerbaijan does not allow us
to use all our potential and we have to connect with Hakob via the
international organizations. We will continue working in that direction
to return Hakob Injighulyan to the motherland”, – said Seyran Ohanyan.

Previously the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army informed that
Hakob Injighulyan, born in 1991, at about 03:00 at night of August
7-8 during his service did not manage to orient in the territory and
crossed the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border and appeared on the territory
protected by the rival’s troops. On August 8 the Armenian Office of
the International Committee of the Red Cross applied to the ICRC Baku
Office on the incident. Recently Hakob Injighulyan gave an interview to
one of the Azerbaijani TV channels. On August 20 the delegation of the
ICRC Baku Office met with Hakob Injighulyan and passed him a letter
from his family. In general the information provided concerning the
meeting was quite brief. It is known only that the Armenian serviceman
as well transferred a letter to his family.

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/731825/armenian-captive%E2%80%99s-letter-passed-to-his-family.html