Author: Babajanian Karo

RUSSIA DOES NOT SET FORTH THE ISSUE OF “EITHER-OR”

August 28 2013

According to political technologist Karen Kocharyan, the West sets a
condition, the issue of choice before Armenia – Mr. Kocharyan, what
challenges can Armenia face in the coming fall? – I think there will
be external challenges related to the EU Association Agreement, the
Customs Union, in other words, with the West-Russia interrelations,
as well as with regard to the presidential elections to be held
in Azerbaijan, it is apparent that there is activeness both in the
contact line, the latest provocation with respect to the Armenian
soldier, and in the official statements and assessments raised from
there. In other words, the activeness will be expressed mostly with
such activities rather than internal political struggle. – Do you
think that the issue of the West-Russian choice will get tougher in
the future, taking into account the fact that a lot depends largely
on the decision of Ukraine than Armenia with regard to the future the
Customs Union at least at this point? – Ukraine’s case is different
in all respects, the differences are many, for example, in terms of
points of the agreement, because Ukraine does not have the Karabakh
problem. Ukraine is more self-sufficient country that Armenia, it
is a state rich in resources. Most importantly, Ukraine is headed to
signing of the Association Agreement, we are headed to initialing.

It’s another issue, yes, I agree that if Ukraine refused to sign that
agreement, other countries are of less interest to Europe, including
us. There were publications in the media regarding “either-or” and
“and-and”, and not only in the media, if I’m not mistaken, in the third
Summit of the Eastern Partnership of EPP leaders in ChiÅ~_inÄ~Cu,
the President Serzh Sargsyan, looks like, stated in his speech that
“either-or” is unacceptable when he stated that the Eastern Partnership
by its nature is an initiative aimed at creating cooperation and not
controversies, it is not directed against any state or group of states,
and this partnership is aimed at ultimately overcoming the divisive
lines. (“Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement, which is
currently being negotiated with the European Union, it will not be
fully operational after the entry into force if the Armenian-Turkish
border will remain closed. We believe that the European Union should
seriously discuss the issue of closed borders, because, in their
presence, the trade with the EU Customs Union may not be effective,”-
said S. Sargsyan). If the West sets forth the issue of “either-or”,
I think there will be problems. – And if Russia, however, still
officially announces and sets forth the issue of “either-or” before
Armenia… – Russia will not set forth the issue of “either-or”. Still
a year ago, when the former German ambassador to Armenia stated that
“it is impossible to join the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade area
agreement with the EU, and on the other hand, at the same time,
constituting a part of the Eurasian Union, or joining the Customs
Union”, Russia responded that it could be “and – and”, they are not
against “and – and”. That is to say, the West sets forth the issue
of choice more. Well, we are always used to that the Russians exert
pressure on us, set forth absurd claims before us, but in this case
it turns out that the West exerts more pressure on us with regard to
“either-or”, in other words, the West sets forth the condition and it
is clear why, because it could become a precedent for them, because
so far there is no “and – and” for them. – But this “pressure”,
“stings” are, however, clearly expressed by the Russian side, at
least so far on the level of the RF former Ambassador to Armenia,
or the Russian expert circles. – Not however, but there are serious
pressures when they point out the example of Ukraine. Of course,
there is pressure, but I think that the pressure is not for “and-and”,
but for the issue of “either-or” choice with regard to the initialing
the Association Agreement. – Mr. Kocharyan, recently the civil society
is showing activeness in various aspects, even though various doubts
were expressed about their activities, for example, the ANC believes
that the authorities in “We pay 100 drams” movement ‘have introduced
their agents’.” How do you feel about the activeness of the civilian
groups? – These are just words, there is no evidence. Well, you know,
now someone else with the same logic can say that the four years
rallies of the ANC were controlled by the authorities. Of course,
they will controvert that they were imprisoned, sent to the jail
… People, here, are also beaten, they get brain concussion. In other
words, people announcing such things must prove. – Anyway, what do you
think, will the activeness of the social groups go down, or it will
become stronger, can they even replace political forces with more
productive activities? – The social can never replace the political
processes. They are parallel processes all over the world. Should
they replace, it would be an abnormal phenomenon. I think the demand
of the times lies in the base of recent procedures, the internet,
availability and accessibility to information, which contributes to
the development of civil society. If until now it was missing, but
now civil society is developing in Armenia, which is unusual for us,
if not the outbreak of 1988, which, of course, was largely a national,
and not a civilian. Civil and political processes should proceed in
parallel. I do not clear to me as to why the political forces should
deal with the problem of the park, they can raise the issue, but it
is not a political battle. They have these tribunes, the Council,
the tribunes of the Parliament, let them raise the problems. –
How proportionate do you consider the counter reaction of the law
enforcement to the protesters a few days ago on Komitas 5 Street? –
Over the last two years, the police was keeping quite discreet, more
civil, it was not displaying such a tough attitude. I think there
were some provocations from both sides on Komitas 5. I do not want to
protect the police at all, it is clear that there are some meaningless
figures over there, who should not have anything to do with the law
enforcement, in general, and the state system. But if we consider how
civil movements are oppressed in the world, including in the most
developed western countries, they treat much more severely. If the
matter is about Argishti Kiviryan, what it means to make the man get
into the car and beat him to the point that the latter gets a brain
concussion, in other words, it is clear that they were “animals” and
not the police officers. But, in general, bringing water cannons,
rubber batons, beating, pulling, the police all over the world act
as such, let’s remember France, not to speak about the USA, try to
play a trick with a police officer. Emma GABRIELYAN

Read more at:

AUCH. DEMANDEURS D’ASILE, RUZANNA ET AVERTIS DORMENT DANS LEUR VOITURE AVEC LEURS ENFANTS

revue de presse

Deboutes de leur demande d’asile, Ruzanna et Avertis dorment dans
leur voiture avec leurs deux enfants pour obtenir le droit de rester
en France, où Ruzanna a trouve du travail. Avec l’espoir de faire
plier la prefecture.

Ruzanna exhibe sa promesse d’embauche comme un talisman. ” J’ai du
travail, je ne veux pas d’aides, je veux pouvoir louer un appartement
et faire vivre ma famille. Je veux juste pouvoir travailler. ” Et
rester en France. A ses côtes, Avertis, son mari, hoche la tete : ils
ont partage l’exil depuis l’Armenie jusqu’a Rodez, et a present Auch.

La famille Markosian est entree en France, de facon irregulière, en
2011. Elle s’est retrouvee en Aveyron, placee avec leur fille Elena
âgee aujourd’hui de 3 ans, dans un centre d’accueil des demandeurs
d’asile. C’est la qu’est ne Artur, 2 ans. Commencent les demarches
du couple pour demander l’asile en France. ” Si je rentre en Armenie,
je ne quitterai pas l’aeroport vivant, soutient Avertis Markosyan. Mon
père etait un opposant politique, il a ete lui-meme assassine par des
hommes du president de l’epoque. ” Avertis assure avoir ete frappe,
blesse a coups de couteau. Ruzanna aurait fait deux fausses couches
a la suite de tabassages en règle.

Mais leur demande n’a pas ete acceptee par la commission nationale
qui examine les cas des demandeurs d’asile. Arrivee a Auch, Ruzanna
trouve un CDD de fevrier a mai comme aide-soignante. Infirmière en
Armenie, son diplôme n’est pas reconnu en France. Elle donne toute
satisfaction : l’organisme qui l’emploie lui propose, dès le 22 mars
2013 de l’embaucher de facon definitive au terme de son CDD. Mais
cela est impossible. Entre-temps, le 26 mars, la prefecture a rejete
sa demande d’un premier permis de sejour, lui ordonnant de quitter
le territoire francais sous 30 jours. La jeune Armenienne revient a
la charge, demande l’arbitrage du tribunal administratif de Pau le
10 mai. Le 6 juin dernier, la prefecture repond une nouvelle fois
par la negative.

Privee du droit d’asile, en situation irregulière, Ruzanna ne peut
pas travailler en France. Pas plus qu’elle ne peut recevoir d’aide
des structures qui fournissent logement et soutien aux personnes en
règle avec l’administration, telles que REGAR, ou le conseil general.

Sans son emploi, la jeune femme desespère de pouvoir nourrir ses
enfants. Ils se rendent dans des distributions d’aide alimentaire, mais
n’ont aucun moyen de faire chauffer les aliments. Depuis une semaine,
” nous n’avons pas de logement, pas d’argent, alors on a decide de
dormir devant la prefecture dans notre voiture, avec nos enfants “,
explique Ruzanna, les larmes aux yeux. Les solutions proposees ne
conviennent pas au couple : une aide au retour ” mais nous serions
en danger “, ou une garde en famille d’accueil pour les enfants ”
mais on refuse d’etre separes d’eux “. Decides a forcer le barrage
administratif, les deux epoux se rendent quasiment tous les jours a
la prefecture pour faire avancer leur dossier.

Le bruit mediatique autour du couple Markosyan exaspère la prefecture.

” Le prefet n’est pas le Bon Dieu, s’exclame Christian Chassaing,
secretaire general. Il a un pouvoir d’appreciation, mais mettre
la pression n’apportera rien de plus. Si la commission en charge a
juge que rien n’a pu prouver l’argumentation de M. Markosyan, sur
le danger que lui et les siens courent en Armenie, le prefet n’a
pas a s’y substituer. ” Regrettant une ” tentative de bras de fer
“, il denonce un ” double langage ” : ” Oui, ils ont ete traites
avec humanite : pendant 2 ans, ils ont ete loges, leur dossier
examine… ” Tout en se disant sensible a cette detresse humaine,
Christian Chassaing refute toute regularisation sous la pression. ”
Accepter, c’est leur donner la place de personnes en règle “. En 2011,
il y a eu 40 demandes d’asile a Auch. Et 78 en 2012… La dernière
proposition de la prefecture – 45 jours d’hôtel avant un retour
accompagne au pays – a ete refusee vendredi par les epoux Markosyan.

LaDepeche.fr

jeudi 29 août 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LES ARMENIENS DE SYRIE DE PLUS EN PLUS INQUIETS

Conflit

Lors d’une interview par telephone avec RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am),
plusieurs Armeniens habitants en Syrie, pris au piège dans Alep,
ont declare qu’ils se preparent deja a utiliser les sous-sols de
leurs maisons comme abris si les Etats-Unis et d’autres puissances
occidentales decident d’intervenir. Alors que le gouvernement syrien
est accuse d’utiliser des armes chimiques, la Russie et la Chine ont
exprime leur soutien.

” La communaute armenienne est inquiète “, a declare Zarmig Boghikian,
une femme qui travaille dans un magazine local armenien Gandzasar.”

Nous sommes neutres mais inquiets. Les dirigeants de la communaute
armenienne disent aux gens d’etre prudents et de ne pas quitter leurs
maisons, surtout dans les prochains jours. Beaucoup de gens pensent
fuir mais c’est impossible de le faire maintenant parce que les routes
sont fermees “, a ajoute Boghigian.

Zhirayr Reisian, le porte-parole du diocèse local de l’Eglise
apostolique armenienne, a appele au calme. ” Après tout, nous sommes
les habitants de cette ville et nous faisons partie de ce pays et de
son peuple “, a-t-il dit.

Il y avait environ 80.000 Armeniens en Syrie avant le declenchement
du conflit il y a plus de deux ans. Environ 10.000 d’entre eux ont
depuis trouve refuge en Armenie, selon les autorites d’Erevan. Un plus
grand nombre d’Armeniens Syriens a fui vers le Liban. Raffi Tashjian,
un homme d’affaires base a Erevan, a laisse sa famille a Alep. ” Je
me demande ce qu’ils vont faire, pourquoi ils sont restes la-bas… ”

La plupart des ressortissants syriens d’origine armenienne sont
les descendants des survivants du genocide de 1915. Le gouvernement
armenien a jusqu’ici evite d’appeler les Armeniens de Syrie a quitter
le pays, tout en s’engageant a aider ceux d’entre eux qui veulent
s’installer en Armenie. Nikolay Grigorian, le directeur adjoint du
Service de secours armenien, a declare mercredi qu’ils n’avaient pas
prevu pour l’instant leur evacuation.

jeudi 29 août 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

UKRAINE URGES TO FINALIZE NAGORNO-KARABAKH RESOLUTION PRINCIPLES

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 28 2013

28 August 2013, 14:17 (GMT+05:00)

By Sara Rajabova

Ukraine, as the country chairing the OSCE, permanently signals
about the need to finalize basic principles for a settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, to refrain from
unilateral steps and to stabilize the situation on the troops’
contact line, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Kuchta was quoted
by Armenian media as saying.

“In addition, our country supports the efforts of the [mediating]
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to promote a peaceful solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Kuchta said.

According to him, the co-chairs have visited Kiev twice within
six months and during the visits substantial discussions were held
regarding the process of the conflict settlement.

In July, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid
Kozhara said Ukraine will be exceptionally active until the end of
this year and will be involved in the resolution of the so-called
‘frozen conflicts’.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war between
the two South Caucasus countries that displaced over a million
Azerbaijanis and ended with the signing of a precarious cease-fire
in 1994, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of
Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Peace talks brokered by the Minsk Group co-chairs representing the
United States, Russia and France have been largely fruitless so far.

The negotiations are underway on the basis of the peace outline dubbed
the Madrid Principles, also known as Basic Principles. The document
envisions a return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh
to Azerbaijani control; determining the final legal status of
Nagorno-Karabakh; a corridor linking Armenia to the region; and the
right of all internally displaced persons to return home.

PROTECTING LEBANON

Mideast Mirror
August 27, 2013 Tuesday

Jordan should do everything in its power to prevent Lebanon from
sliding towards civil strife, says Hamada Fara’neh in Jordanian
al-Ra’i

It was the same hand that bombed both Shiite South Beirut and Sunni
Tripoli [last week] writes Jordanian commentator Hamada Fara’neh in
the Amman daily al-Ra’i.

CLEAR OBJECTIVE: The objective is clear for all those who care to use
their minds and consult their consciences: to destroy Lebanon.

It could have been Lebanese who planted the Beirut and Tripoli bombs,
but they were only tools. The planners however were the enemies of a
pluralist Lebanon.

Lebanon is Israel’s opposite – and enemy – not only because it is home
to Hizbollah but also because Lebanon’s leftist, pan-Arab, and
patriotic politicians are natural enemies of Israel’s colonialist
expansionist project. Lebanon moreover is an example of religious and
ethnic coexistence, unlike Israel, a state built on racism.

Apparently, Lebanon must be punished for defeating Israel in May 2000,
repelling it in 2006, and embracing the Palestinian resistance. For
these ‘sins,’ Lebanon must be made to go the way of Syria, Libya, and
Iraq. Any Arab country that dares to stand up to Zionism and
colonialism and support the Palestinian people must be destroyed.

Lebanon is bigger than any one sect, party, or group. Lebanon has
always been a beacon of democracy and freedom while its neighbors were
up to their necks in oppression, backwardness, and tyranny. In fact,
the Arab world’s tyrants always tried to manipulate Lebanon because,
as the region’s only democracy, its free press could exercise great
influence on Arab public opinion. But they failed. Lebanon proved
itself bigger than attempts by Arab regimes to mold it to their
tastes.

Lebanon needs our help. Its failure will mark the failure of
pluralism, (Muslim-Christian as well as Sunni-Shiite) coexistence, and
partnership. It will deliver a blow to the idea that Arabs can coexist
with ethnic minorities such as the Kurds, Circassians, Armenians,
Africans, and others.

We Jordanians in particular must do all we can to protect Lebanon,
because Lebanon’s enemies are our enemies.

PROSPECTIVE AZERBAIJAN-SOUTH KOREA ARMS DEAL WOULD ALTER SOUTH CAUCASUS MILITARY BALANCE
by Alex Melikishvili

IHS Global Insight
August 27, 2013

The Azerbaijani government expressed interest in acquiring military
equipment worth approximately USD3 billion from South Korea, according
to a news report carried by the Azeri-Press Agency (APA) yesterday
(26 August). Citing Korean dailyHankook Ilbo’s source in the Korean
parliament, the APA report stated that the Azerbaijani side raised this
issue during a three-day visit by a Korean parliamentary delegation
to Baku in July. Azerbaijan’s proposed acquisitions include two
submarines, a destroyer, a transport ship, T-50 Golden Eagle trainer
aircraft, K-9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, helicopters, and
unmanned aerial vehicles. The Korean government has made no decision
about Azerbaijan’s request yet, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
recommended the Ministry of Defence to exercise “special caution and
restraint” in considering the proposal given Azerbaijan’s unresolved
conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh and the likelihood that
such a deal would alter the military balance in the region.

Significance:South Korea’s reluctance to approve the deal stems from
its unwillingness to antagonise Russia. Such a significant military
transfer would alter the military balance in the South Caucasus region,
which Russia includes within its area of vital security interest. Seoul
is also aware that supplying modern military equipment is likely
to embolden Azerbaijan to retake by force the districts occupied
by secessionist forces from Nagorno-Karabakh. However, the sheer
size of Azerbaijan’s offer is very lucrative to South Korean defence
manufacturers, who are likely to aggressively lobby the government to
approve it. For comparison, the target figure of defence exports set
by the Korean Defence Acquisition Program Administration for 2012 was
USD3 billion. Coming just a few months after receiving a large weapons
shipment from Russia, the offer to South Korea indicates Azerbaijan’s
willingness to diversify its military suppliers in pursuit of increased
defensive and offensive capabilities (seeArmenia-Azerbaijan: 19
June 2013:) The inclusion of naval assets, including submarines,
also signals Azerbaijan’s renewed focus on protecting its oil and
gas resources and associated infrastructure in the Caspian Sea.

ARS EASTERN USA ANNOUNCES 2013 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

By Contributor // August 27, 2013

The Board of Regional Directors of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS)
of Eastern USA, Inc. this week announced the recipients of the ARS
Lazarian Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarships for the school
year 2013-24.

The scholarships are based on merit, financial need, and involvement
in the Armenian community. Recipients must be of Armenian descent
and enrolled in a four-year college or university in the U.S. This
year, the ARS of Eastern USA awarded over $24,000 to 24 students from
9 states.

The ARS Undergraduate Scholarship Fund was established through the
generous donations of numerous benefactors who provided the financial
resources necessary for the ARS to assist Armenian undergraduate
students for over three decades.

In addition, the ARS George and Beatrice Lazarian Graduate Scholarship
Fund has granted hundreds of scholarships to deserving graduate
students.

The ARS, founded in 1910, is a non-profit, charitable organization
comprised of Armenians who volunteer their time and effort to
support the educational and humanitarian needs of the Armenian
people throughout the world. The ARS Eastern USA consists of 1,200
members in 32 chapters, located throughout the states east of the
Mississippi River.

Lazarian Graduate Scholarship Recipients LisaGiragosianSpeech
PathologyCalif.

AlexanderBedrosyanLawD.C.

DemitriPetrosianBusinessMass.

AniMegerdichianPhysician’s AssistantR.I.

TalinAbrimianPharmacyMass.

AniNalbandianMedicineConn.

ArmenSahakyanInternational RelationsN.J.

VatcheThomassianEconomic & Political DevelopmentN.Y.

KaianeHabeshianMedicineMass.

Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients RebeccaShahverdianSociologyMass.

NarekDshkhunyanComputer ScienceMass.

SevanMarkosianNursingMich.

InnaMirzoyanSocial RelationsMich.

MarineHovsepyanInterior DesignPa.

SananPanossianInternational StudiesCalif.

VarakBaronianTheaterN.J.

NicoleChouljianVideo CommunicationsPa.

LoreeKarkodorianPharmaceutical SciencesCalif.

ArenDabaghianPharmacyN.J.

MariamKyaruntsBiologyCalif.

HacikArslanogluCivil EngineeringN.J.

MariaYeghiazaryanBusinessN.J.

LusineYeghiazaryanHistoryN.J.

To learn more about the ARS Lazarian Graduate and Undergraduate
Scholarships, visit

CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC ASSOCIATION “OFFICERS IN RESERVE” COMPLAIN TO OBAMA BECAUSE OF AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER’S VISIT TO US

18:20 28/08/2013 ” SOCIETY

Yashar Jafarli, the head of Azerbaijani public association “Reserve and
retired officers”, appealed to U.S. President Barack Obama to express
their attitude about the visit of Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar
Abiyev to U.S., Azerbaijani news agency “Turan” reports.

The appeal states that Abiyev is in the office of Minister of
Defense of Azerbaijan for 19 years already, and he has systematically
violated the rights of military personnel and their families over
these years, has signed orders that contradict the Constitution and
laws of Azerbaijan.

Huge material damage was caused to thousands of military servicemen
and their families during seven years, as since 1998 Safar Abiyev had
issued an illegal order to reduce the threefold wage of the servicemen
in combat zones. Claims of soldiers who were trying to restore their
violated rights are rejected.

“Safar Abiyev has long refused to carry out the 20 findings of
the court which were in favor of the servicemen. During his tenure
Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev had illegally restricted the powers
of the generals in the permutation of duty stations, appropriated the
regular ranks of officers and warrant officers, and sometimes gave
illegal instructions to deprive the generals of their limited powers,”
reads the appeal.

It also reads that the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan carries out
a “Crusade” against the press, civil society, and against those who
criticize him for already several years.

Jafarli expresses his surprise about Abiyev’s invitation to that
country “which is considered the cradle of democracy.” The appeal
also states that on January 27 of this year, Colonel-General Safar
Abiyev became 63. According to Azerbaijani law the age limit for
colonel general is 63.

“That is to say there is no legal rationale for Safar Abiyev for
remaining at the post of the defense minister since January 27, 2013.

On this basis, all negotiations with him, agreements and the documents
signed cannot be considered legitimate,” Jhafarli states.

Source: Panorama.am

GEORGIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ON REMOVAL OF MINARET

19:31, 28 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS: The Georgian Orthodox Church said in
a statement that developments in aftermath of removal of minaret from
a mosque in the village of Chela in Adigeni municipality were incited
by “certain forces”, which it does not specify, for the purpose of
provoking confrontation between Muslim and Christian population of
the country, reports Armenpress referring to Civil.ge.

“Some statements made in connection to developments in the village of
Chela in Adigeni municipality make us think that certain forces want to
portray these events as an insult to religious feelings, infringement
of Muslims rights and to incite such stance among ordinary followers
of Islam,” the Georgian Patriarchate’s statement reads.

“We appeal to our flesh and blood, Muslim Georgians from the village of
Chela and to Georgian and non-Georgian Muslims from other villages and
towns: We are all children of Georgia, where even during those times
when many centuries ago our nation had to tackle invasions of various
Muslim countries, Muslims living in Georgia were not oppressed.”

“What is now happening is an attempt to incite religious strife –
somewhat similar to those processes that was tried to be developed in
[the villages of] Nigvziani, Tsintskaro and Samtatskaro,” it says.

Since November, 2012 there have been several cases in three villages
with mixed Muslim and Christian population when local Christian
community confronted Muslims and barred them to perform prayer in
houses converted into mosques. Such incidents occurred in Nigvziani in
western Georgian region of Guria, Tsintskaro in Kvemo Kartli region
and Samtatskaro in Kakheti region. Unlike those cases, no conflict
between local Muslim and Christian residents of Chela was reported.

Formally the reason for removal of the minaret was a decision by the
Revenue Service at the Finance Ministry, which said that the minaret
was removed for the purpose of its inspection to verify if the metal
construction materials, used for building of the minaret, were properly
declared when cargo was imported into Georgia from Turkey on July 14.

The Georgian Patriarchate said in the statement that the goal of “this
force is to confront Christian and Muslim population and by doing
so to discredit [the Georgian Orthodox] Church and the State and to
carry out its own goals against the background of this situation.”

“It is impossible not to see it for those who follow these
developments,” the statement reads.

“We request the Muslim leaders in Georgia to oppose provocative actions
both in Adigeni and in other parts of Georgia and not to contribute
to it,” the Patriarchate said.

Protesters in Akhaltsikhe, who were rallying outside the local police
headquarters after the minaret was forcibly removed on August 26,
agreed to disperse on August 27 after a Muslim cleric from Khulo in
Adjara arrived and called on them to stop street protest and after all
those villagers who were arrested during the removal of the minaret
were released.

Addressing to Muslim clerics in Georgia, the statement by the
Patriarchate also reads: “Today it depends on you what will be the
position of your perish towards protecting the law, the state interests
and of course religious feelings.”

“On our part, we have always been trying and will continue to spare no
effort to strengthen those good attitudes that we have towards Muslim
religious leaders and population in Georgia, as well as towards our
neighboring Muslim countries and their spiritual leaders.”

“We think that one of the prerequisites for that is to promptly
establish real reasons behind these events and to identify those who
have committed illegal acts and those who are interested in fueling
tensions. At the same time a relevant legislative base should be
created in order for everyone to know limit to their actions to
prevent escalation on religious grounds,” reads the statement of
the Patriarchate.

IN ARMENIA, MORE – AND HIGHER PAID – JOBS IS THE ANSWER

Published: Monday August 26, 2013

New AUA graduate students at orientation. AUA via Facebook

by Mihran Aroian

You just entered a coffee shop where the smell of freshly baked muffins
is wafting from the oven. You step up to the counter and order a large
to-go cup of freshly brewed coffee along with a banana-nut muffin. You
give the young clerk $10 and are rewarded with a steaming hot cup
of coffee and a freshly baked muffin. As you walk out the door, you
count your change and notice that the clerk gave you change for a
$20 bill. What would you do?

You have three choices: go back to the clerk and return the money,
leave the store and commit to yourself to pay back the money next
time you return, or enjoy the coffee, muffin, and the extra $10!

Having done this little experiment for many years with thousands of
college students in Texas, the results in the US are 60% keep the free
money, 15% promise to return the money next time they visit the store,
and 25% return the excess money to the clerk.

I have done this same experiment in Armenia with 4 classes for a total
of approximately 100 students and the results are as follows. Two
students keep the free money and 98 students return the money. That
is pretty amazing when you stop to think about it. In Armenia, where
the per capita income is far below the US, people are willing to act
more ethically. Now, we don’t know what actually happens – but nor
do we know in the US! In the US, when you ask the students why they
would keep the extra money, the answer is typically that the clerk
made the error and why should the customer be held responsible? In
Armenia, the students immediately recognize that the clerk will be
held responsible for the monetary error and the likelihood is high
that the clerk will lose his job or, at the very least, have to make
up the difference. In the US, there are a few students who recognize
this same negative outcome for the clerk.

On a very different subject, the likelihood of overt cheating (as
defined my most higher educational institutes in the US) is also very
different when compared to Armenia. I asked students in Armenia if
their friend was unable to come to class to take an exam, would they
step in and take the exam for the absent student? Although I have not
asked this question in the US, I am confident enough to know that 100%
of the students would say that this was both unethical and against
the policies of their university.

In Armenia, approximately 25% of the students said that they would take
the exam for their friend. In their mind, it had nothing to do with
cheating – since they did not personally benefit. They were simply
helping a friend who was unable to attend class. What was even more
surprising was that only a few of the students recognized that they
had signed a code of conduct that prohibited this course of action. How
could so few students recognize this behavior as unethical? How could
they not know that they had signed a commitment not to engage in such
unethical academic behavior? Why would they be willing to take such
a risk?

It comes down to wanting to help someone that they have a relationship
with that simply needs some help!

There are examples of where Armenian students and American students
were equally as convinced of unethical behavior and there were also
examples of where Armenian students were equally as confused about
unethical behavior. For example, when provided with the text in the
next paragraph, both Armenian and American students were virtually
identical in their response.

You figure out a way to use a complex financial transaction to make
your results look much better in the short run, even though you know
there is no underlying change in your company’s performance. In fact,
you know that in the future there will be significant consequences
for shareholders and other stakeholders. But, in the short run,
you’ll make a lot of money by doing this.

Virtually 100% of all students, Armenian and American, recognize this
as unethical behavior. However, there are scenarios where students from
both countries are just as unsure as to what constitutes unethical
behavior. For the most part, when actions and consequences are
black and white and clearly cause someone harm, Armenian students
are more astute as to the ethical nature of the situation. But when
it is not clear who is being harmed or what damage is being caused
to a third-party, Armenian students are more likely to engage in
such behavior.

Ethical behavior in Armenia has a very different meaning than in
America. In Armenia, if you need or want a higher course grade,
simply pay-off the professor. In America, it is unheard of! The
thought that grades can be purchased is simply not a part of the
American culture. It may happen, but not on a wholesale level.

In Armenia, low-level governmental employees earn significantly less
than the national average. This includes policemen. If you want to put
food on the table, you have to supplement your income, which can lead
to many unethical acts. Corruption in Armenia may include the wealthy
oligarch families that are overtly corrupt but it includes even the
most common of citizens – people trying to feed their families and
wanting to provide the very basics to survive and live.

We may look at Armenia and wonder how corruption becomes a part
of society yet when the average citizen has nothing to live on,
corruption becomes a way to simply survive in a society where real
jobs are scarce and survival is on a day-to-day basis.

When you travel to the smaller towns in Armenia you learn that the
only way to survive is to leave Armenia to look for work. Many of
the men travel to Russia to find work for six months in order to send
money home. They return to be with their families but what kind of a
life is it to have to leave in order to find work only to return to
be dismayed by the lack of job prospects?

Teaching business ethics to students in Armenia was a privilege
but when you put it into perspective, trying to teach ethical
decision-making in a society that is simply trying to survive is
challenging. When you see your next door neighbor surviving because
they know how the system works makes it hard to convince someone that
they should play by the rules.

When it comes down to taking care of yourself, your loved ones,
and your friends, business ethics can be a foreign concept. If you
cannot eat, why should you worry about making the right ethical choice?

What does Armenia need in order to solve so many of her problems?

Jobs, jobs, and more jobs. I want our future business leaders in
Armenia to be ethical but I also know that they need jobs. Without
the very basic necessities in life like food, water, shelter and
clothing how can we expect Armenians to work towards a higher level
business thinking?

As Armenians in the diaspora, if we want to help solve so many of
the problems that are faced in Armenia, we need to help them find jobs.

They already have too many taxi drivers earning $1.50 per trip and
paying $5 per gallon of gas. What they need are some real jobs in
manufacturing and export. Armenia needs to generate some hard currency
that can help grow the economy. Did you know that the GDP of Armenia
is only $10 billion? Vermont has the lowest GDP in the US yet it has
25% of the Armenian population and three-times the GDP of Armenia.

In the not too distant future, a new web site will be opening that
aims to help bring jobs to Armenia. This web site will allow some
of the best and brightest entrepreneurs in Armenia tap into the vast
Armenian diaspora network to find connections that are necessary to
bring their products to world markets.

For example, a small high tech company in Gyumri, the second largest
city in Armenia, has developed some of the latest and greatest
earthquake detection technology and aside from selling a few units to
the Armenian government, they do not have the connections or resources
to bring this technology to the world. As it turns out, there are
three major companies in the world that manufacture and distribute
this type of technology and are located in the US, IK, and Japan.

What are the chances that an Armenian works at one of these three
companies? Could they help this small company in Gyumri to make
introductions to either license, sell or market their technology
outside of Armenia? The chances are probably pretty high. When we can
bring the power of the diaspora network to help Armenian business,
we not only provide for opportunities of growth, jobs and prosperity –
but we also provide hope and a future for our homeland.

Mihran Aroian is an instructor at the McCombs School of Business at
the University of Texas at Austin and the McCoy College of Business
at Texas State University. For the past two summers, he has been a
lecturer at the American University of Armenia in Yerevan.