Author: Babajanian Karo

STEFAN FULE: EU HAS A CLEAR GOAL OF FORGING DEEPER RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

19:26 10.07.2013
Armenia, EU

Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood
Policy, had a public meeting with students, civil society media and
think tanks in Yerevan, Armenia. Commissioner Fule’s remarks at the
meeting are provided below.

Chairman, Distinguished Guests,

I am delighted to have the opportunity to address you today. It
is always a pleasure to visit Armenia, and to see the roots of a
flourishing culture which has had such an impact across the globe.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the increasingly fast-paced
globalisation brings new opportunities; opportunities that go well
beyond countries simply seeking to survive, prosper, or furnish
citizens with jobs and ensure that their basic needs are met.

Globalisation reaches well beyond this: it creates conditions to unlock
and fulfil the creative potential inherent to each of us individually,
and aggregated in societies – civil and political.

To fulfil this unique potential we need a vision. And we need
instruments – essentially a roadmap – to reach it. But in this
increasingly interdependent world, even that may not be enough –
what we all need are partners who share and understand our vision, and
with whom we can agree on joint instruments, a joint roadmap. Partners
who are predictable, reliable and have shared rules of the game.

I believe we are at a significant moment in European Union-Armenia
relations. We are developing a partnership which is both wider and
deeper than it has been up to now. We are very close to finalising
our Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Area. I am confident that this will bring concrete benefits
and new opportunities to all citizens.

In addition to offering an important trade partnership with the EU –
a market with 500 million consumers, the Agreement addresses many
concrete issues which affect everyday life. As a result, for example,
consumer protection, both in terms of product safety and value for
money, or road safety, or air quality are improved. What is more,
it will also strengthen the links between the people of Armenia and
the people of Europe.

For the European Union, partnerships are not only about economics,
business and regulatory frameworks. If we are serious in implementing
our commitments, as we should be, our political and trade relations
will become much stronger: through the regulatory convergence of our
partners with the European Union and the effective sharing of values.

Human rights, democracy and fundamental freedoms will be so-called
“essential elements” of our new Agreement, in other words the absolute
core that both sides must respect and promote.

The Association Agreement, and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Area which it includes, have taken a long time to negotiate. We have
worked with our Armenian partners to define a set of reforms which
will not only open up new opportunities in terms of market access,
mobility and co-operation, but which will allow Armenia to exploit
those opportunities with strengthened state institutions, labour
market, and infrastructure.

One of the reasons I am so keen that we complete our negotiations is
so that we can prepare the Agreement in its final form and share the
contents with citizens – I do believe that it will open a new chapter
not only in European Union-Armenia relations but also in Armenia’s
own development.

And we are ready not only to provide financial support of our own,
but to encourage other international donors to support reform projects.

This can be a foundation for solid medium-term planning, focusing on
a common set of goals and under government leadership.

Let me add a couple of words on the broader context of our
partnership. As you know, EU-Armenia relations are developed through
the Eastern Partnership, that is to say the Eastern dimension of
the European Neighbourhood Policy. This policy framework is of great
value both to the European Union and also its partners because it is
allowing us to bring our relationships to a new level.

In addition to the political aspects of our dialogue with and between
our Eastern partners, there is also very practical sectoral cooperation
that is underway, in areas ranging from transport to education. In
September this year for instance, your beautiful country will host
an informal dialogue of Eastern Partnership ministers of education,
which Commissioner Vassiliou and I will attend. There we will jointly
seek to further enhance opportunities for cooperation between the EU
and our partners on higher education.

Ultimately, the Eastern Partnership allows our partners to join forces
with the European Union politically and economically. And jointly,
the European Union and its partners will be in a better position
to face the challenges and opportunities. Needless to say, I see a
strong case for participation in a multilateral format of this sort
for a country with no access to sea, whose borders with two of its
neighbours are currently closed.

Let me also use this opportunity to dispel a myth: The Eastern
Partnership, some say, uses a one-size-fits-all-approach leading
to uniform relationships in which the individuality of each of the
partners gets lost. However, exactly the opposite is true: While we do
use a common tool box, including mobility, approximation to European
Union standards and values, we work with partners to find tailor-made
solutions. Differentiation is a key concept in the Eastern Partnership,
and Armenia is no exception.

During my visit I have been discussing with government,
parliamentarians and civil society how to address some of the main
priorities in our current relations. Let me mention six of them.

Democracy: good progress has been made, but we should continue work to
implement all recommendations made by the OSCE after recent elections,
including changes to the legislative framework.

Human rights: we should ensure effective implementation of the National
Human Rights Strategy, which is a basic building block for the shared
values we want to encourage in our Association.

Fundamental freedoms: to give one example, legislation on broadcasting
needs to be modernised in compliance with the recommendations of the
OSCE and the Council of Europe.

Equality: where steps need to be taken harmonise legislation with
the European Union acquis in the areas of gender equality and
non-discrimination.

Intensifying the fight against corruption: this is a cross-cutting
issue with an impact on every aspect of national development.

Reforming governance and strengthening institutions: central among
these would be measures to reform the law enforcement and judicial
sectors, especially to increase public trust in the independence of
the judiciary, to improve the training of judges and to review the
code of criminal procedure.

I cannot end today without a word on the conflict. I know this is a
painful and difficult subject but it is one that the European Union
cannot hide from, either in Baku or here in Yerevan. I urge Armenia
to step up efforts with Azerbaijan to reach an agreement on the Madrid
Principles, in accordance with the commitments made by the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the Minsk Group. We will continue
to provide assistance to encourage progress in conflict settlement,
and to support related peace-building activities.

Let me conclude my remarks by underlining that the European Union has
a clear goal of forging deeper relations with all Armenians, across
the political spectrum, from business, from civil society and among
the population. In other words: an inclusive partnership.

The EU model of development and integration operates on the basis of
“what you see is what you get” – in terms of setting clear goals in
the different areas of co-operation: what we expect from Armenia and
what the European Union should be offering in return. One of the key
strengths of this model is that it makes the progress of our relations
and of key reforms easier to visualise and easier to monitor, and
the result is an important boost for accountability. That means all
of you will have a role to play in making it a success. We are in
this together.

The vision I mentioned earlier is a vision of Armenia’s modernisation
and the fullest use of all its potential; a vision which will
strengthen Armenia and its positive impact in the globalised world;
a vision that will through this unique partnership also strengthen
the EU. It is a win-win for all, the EU and Armenia but also its
direct and further removed neighbours, irrespective of their size.

ZHAMANAK: SAMVEL ALEXANYAN CONSTRUCTING NEW BUILDING NEAR MALATIA FAIR

10:06 10/07/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

Zhamanak reports that businessman MP from RPA Samvel Alexanyan visited
yesterday the construction site of a large building near Malatia fair
and watched the construction process.

The paper failed to find out what he is building. It is not ruled out
that the businessman MP is building a larger Yerevan City supermarket,
the paper says.

Source: Panorama.am

4.1% OF ARMENIA IS LANDSLIDE AREA

July 10, 2013 | 02:43

YEREVAN. – The total area of Armenia’s landslide areas is 1,216 square
kilometers, which make up 4.1 percent of the country’s total area.

The aforesaid is noted in the Landslide Disaster Management concept,
which the Ministry of Emergency Situations has submitted for Government
approval.

A total of 233 communities in Armenia are located in the landslide
hazard areas, where hundreds of homes, communication links, and
numerous other living facilities are damaged.

In line with the Japan International Cooperation Agency data in 2004,
the direct damage which landslides have caused to Armenia’s social and
economic buildings is about 19.4 billion drams (approx. $46,729,380),
whereas the potential damage is estimated at 24 billion drams (approx.

$57,809,540).

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

REVUE DE PRESSE NO2 – 09/07/13 – COLLECTIF VAN

Publie le : 09-07-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance
Armenienne contre le Negationnisme] vous propose une revue de presse
des informations parues dans la presse francophone, sur les thèmes
concernant la Turquie, le genocide armenien, la Shoah, le genocide
des Tutsi, le Darfour, le negationnisme, l’Union europeenne, Chypre,
etc… Nous vous suggerons egalement de prendre le temps de lire ou
de relire les informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre
rubrique

Par ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc,
ne sont disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous generons
chaque jour. Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la Veille-Media : c’est
gratuit ! Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans votre
boîte email. Bonne lecture.

Erdogan fait la police en Europe Info Collectif VAN –
– Le 28 novembre 2000, Ismail Cem, ministre
turc des Affaires etrangères du gouvernement de coalition precedant
l’arrivee au pouvoir de l’AKP (qui n’existait pas encore), etait venu
vanter devant le Parlement europeen, les progrès de son gouvernement
en matière des droits de l’homme au moment meme où des milliers de
prisonniers politiques observaient une grève de la faim “jusqu’a la
mort” contre les tortures dont ils etaient victimes.

Durant une action militante eminemment banale, Bahar Kimyongur,
a cette occasion, contente de lancer quelques tracts et de scander
quelques slogans a l’attention du public venu l’ecouter. Malgre cela,
un mandat d’arret international a ete lance par la Turquie, qui vaut
depuis 13 ans des arrestations repetitives a ce jeune Belgo-Turc. La
dernière en date ayant eu lieu en Espagne. Voici le compte-rendu de
Bahar Kimyongur d’une situation ubuesque et inquietante. Au-dela
de la soumission inacceptable de nos gouvernements europeens a un
diktat turc, constatons la continuite singulière entre la mentalite
repressive des Kemalistes et celle d’Erdogan…

Collectif VAN : l’ephemeride du 9 juillet Info Collectif VAN –
– La rubrique Ephemeride est a retrouver
quotidiennement sur le site du Collectif VAN. Elle recense la
liste d’evenements survenus a une date donnee, a differentes
epoques de l’Histoire, sur les thematiques que l’association suit au
quotidien. L’ephemeride du Collectif VAN repose sur des informations
en ligne sur de nombreux sites (les sources sont specifiees sous
chaque entree). “9 juillet 1860 — Massacre de Damas: les chretiens
maronites de Damas sont extermines dans la nuit avec la complicite du
gouverneur turc de Syrie. La population musulmane ne supporte plus
l’hegemonie economique et financière des chretiens qui detiennent
les postes officiels et administratifs les plus eleves. A la tete des
secteurs d’activite les plus florissants telle que l’industrie de la
soie, les chretiens alimentent les rancoeur depuis plusieurs siècles.

Les massacres font entre 4000 et 6000 victimes. Le quartier chretien
est pille et brûle. Les survivants prendront la route de l’exil
notamment vers Beyrouth et Alexandrie. Napoleon III enverra un
corps expeditionnaire francais commande par Beaufort pour assurer la
protection des chretiens en route vers le Liban.”

Article du journal franco-turc Zaman – 09/07/2013 – 1 Le Collectif
VAN relaye ici les articles du journal franco-turc Zaman (equivalent
du Today’s Zaman en langue anglaise, diffuse en Turquie).

Attention : ces articles ne sont pas commentes de notre part. Il s’agit
pour l’essentiel de traductions des versions turque et anglaise du
Zaman, journal proche du parti au pouvoir (AKP). “La Turquie reste
une societe divisee. Les acteurs politiques parlent fièrement de
“leurs” foules de fidèles partisans. ”

Nouvelles manifestations a Istanbul autour du parc Gezi La
contestation, qui a dure près de deux semaines, est nee de la
repression, le 31 mai, d’un mouvement de protestation contre un projet
de renovation du parc. Quatre personnes ont perdu la vie et 7.500 ont
ete blessees dans ces evenements, selon l’Association medicale turque.

En sourdine depuis la mi-juin et une intervention musclee de la police,
le mouvement de contestation a donc connu un nouvel episode ce soir.

La police turque empeche un rassemblement au parc Gezi Les forces de
l’ordre sont par la suite intervenues au canon a eau pour disperser
plusieurs milliers de personnes marchant vers la place Taksim, qui
jouxte le parc, puis jusque tard dans la soiree au gaz lacrymogène
contre de petits groupes de manifestants. Le mouvement Taksim, qui
rassemble partis politiques et ONG, a declare que plus de 80 personnes
avaient ete interpellees par la police. Une personne gravement blessee
a ete hospitalisee pour une hemorragie cerebrale.

Le livre ” Les Armeniens et les Turcs ” a ete publie en anglais Une
traduction en anglais d’un livre de 400 pages du journaliste et expert
Tatul Hakobyan Armeniens et Turcs, de la guerre a la guerre froide a
la diplomatie a ete publie a Erevan en Avril 2013. Ce travail, qui
porte sur les relations armeno-turques depuis 1918 a la diplomatie
du football , est le resultat de huit annees de recherche, d’analyse
et voyages par l’auteur, qui est un expert de la Fondation Civilitas
a Erevan et correspondant de plusieurs journaux armeniens en Armenie
et en Diaspora.

General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, dissident rwandais Jusqu’a sa
defection, en 2010, il a ete l’un des hommes cles du regime rwandais
et en connaît beaucoup de secrets. Aujourd’hui, le general Faustin
Kayumba Nyamwasa est refugie en Afrique du Sud. Est-il pret a cooperer
avec la justice francaise.

Un Sommet armeno-azerbaïdjanais ” annule ” Les presidents de l’Armenie
et de l’Azerbaïdjan devaient se reunir le mois dernier conformement
a un accord conclu avec les mediateurs internationaux a declare
l’ambassadeur de France a Bakou. ” Une reunion des presidents armenien
et azerbaïdjanais prevue pour juin n’a pas eu lieu ” a declare pascal
Meunier cite par des agences de presse azerbaïdjanaises et russes.

Un genocidaire rwandais condamne en Suède Un tribunal suedois a
condamne jeudi a la prison a vie un Hutu rwandais naturalise suedois
pour son rôle dans le genocide de 1994 contre les Tutsis. C’est la
première fois que la justice suedoise rend un verdict de ce genre.

Karabagh : L’Azerbaïdjan recherche le soutien du Pakistan Alors que la
Turquie reste le principal partenaire strategique de l’Azerbaïdjan,
a Bakou des fonctionnaires prennent des mesures pour ameliorer les
relations avec le Pakistan. La pression diplomatique fait partie du
plan de Bakou afin de renforcer sa main dans ses efforts sur l’avenir
du Haut-Karabakh.

Soudan: la situation au Nil Bleu Alors qu’il est difficile de se
rendre dans le Nil Bleu, l’ONG International Crisis Group est allee
aussi bien dans les zones rebelles que gouvernementales, et vient
ainsi de publier un rapport detaille sur la situation.

Retour a la rubrique

LE GéNOCIDE ARMéNIEN ET LE DIALOGUE TURCO-ARMéNIEN

Publié le : 10-07-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cet article de Hilda Tchoboian, conseillère Régionale
Rh̫ne-Alpes, publi̩ sur le site Repair РR̩parer le futur [ONG Yerkir
en partenariat avec Anadolu Kultur] le jeudi 13 juin 2013.

Légende photo: Les présidents turc (Abdullah Gul) et arménien (Serge Sargsian)

Repair РR̩parer le futur

jeudi 13 juin 2013

Débat : Avant et après Hrant Dink
Point de vue de la Diaspora Arménienne

Un dialogue “cache-négationnisme” est forcément voué a l’échec

Hilda Tchoboian, conseillère Régionale Rhône-Alpes

Née a Alep, en Syrie, Hilda Tchoboian fait ses études en France. En
1978, elle prend la direction de la Maison de la Culture arménienne de
Décines (France) jusqu’en 2010, tout en militant en faveur de la
reconnaissance du génocide des Arméniens par les instances
internationales (ONU, Parlement européen). Présidente de la Fédération
Euro-Arménienne pour la Justice et la Démocratie basée a Bruxelles de
2002 a 2011. Elle a été consultante auprès du Haut-Commissariat des
Nations unies aux Droits de l’Homme.

Le dialogue entre Turcs et Arméniens a indiscutablement été, ces
dernières années, un des faits marquants de leurs relations dont la
nature et le statut ont marqué un tournant. Cependant, aussi
spontanées qu’apparaissent ces initiatives, l’observation attentive du
discours dominant de ce ” dialogue ”, et l’examen des relations
turco-arméniennes depuis plus d’une dizaine d’années, montrent
clairement qu’il s’agit d’un processus pensé et maîtrisé par le
pouvoir turc. Celui-ci a ainsi réussi a déléguer a la société civile
le traitement d’une question plus qu’embarrassante, qui encombre
depuis une vingtaine d’années ses relations avec les pays occidentaux,
et en premier lieu perturbe son adhésion a l’Union européenne. Le
processus de dialogue mis en place vise a désamorcer les
revendications légitimes de reconnaissance et de réparations portées
par la collectivité arménienne en Diaspora comme en Arménie. A la
veille de chaque décision internationale touchant les intérêts de la
Turquie, une nouvelle initiative de dialogue est initiée par la
Turquie. Et a chaque fois, le dialogue turco-arménien a nourri une
nouvelle stratégie turque d’évitement du Génocide des Arméniens, sans
toutefois remettre en cause la politique étatique négationniste
structurée, renforcée et étendue géographiquement.

Du côté arménien les motivations des dialoguistes ne relèvent pas de
la réflexion politique mais plutôt des sentiments d’humanité. 0n
remarque aussi une certaine lassitude devant l’impasse créée par le
négationnisme turc, avec parfois une recherche de nouvelles voies pour
se débarrasser d’un fardeau psychologique. En revanche, de nombreux
exemples donnent a penser que certains dialoguistes turcs considèrent
le dialogue avec les Arméniens comme une négociation, une transaction
qui ne peut fonctionner que grâce aux concessions qui s’imposent de
manière égale aux deux parties. On le sait, une transaction a le
devoir d’aboutir a une solution gagnant/gagnant qui caractérise toute
négociation réussie.

Ainsi, pour dialoguer, il faut respecter la dignité et les convictions
de l’interlocuteur turc en légitimant l’éducation négationniste qui
fait partie de sa formation. Pour preuve, l’ouvrage commun d’Ahmed
Insel et de Michel Marian Dialogue sur le tabou arménien, qui relate
le cas emblématique de l’écrivain Ahmed Insel, intellectuel turc
francophone, brillant et médiatique, qui tente d’expliquer son refus
du terme ” génocide ” comme une émanation de son éducation recue dans
une famille kémaliste et nationaliste.

Si, pour certains dialoguistes, l’objectif sous-tendu est de trouver
un terrain d’entente sur la réalité même du Génocide, on comprend
alors la raison du rejet du terme de ” génocide ” remplacé par des
termes acrobatiques tels que le ” G word ”. La règle est de substituer
a la reconnaissance publique des termes qui relèvent du domaine du
privé : le texte de la campagne d’excuses auprès des Arméniens en est
l’exemple l’édifiant : ” Ma conscience ne peut accepter que l’on reste
indifférent a la Grande Catastrophe que les Arméniens ottomans ont
subie en 1915, et qu’on la nie. Je rejette cette injustice et, pour ma
part, je partage les sentiments et les peines de mes sŔurs et frères
arméniens et je leur demande pardon ”. On ne peut pas nier le courage
des initiateurs de cette campagne compte tenu de l’atmosphère délétère
bien connue en Turquie de racisme et de violence généralisée envers
les Arméniens. Cependant, les mots surlignés ci-dessus mettent en
évidence la volonté délibérée de supprimer le Génocide du domaine
publique et politique, ce qui donne a l’ensemble du texte un caractère
incompréhensible lorsqu’on évoque la demande de pardon.

Des questions restent alors en suspens :

– Qui doit demander pardon pour un crime d’Etat ?

РQui a le droit de pardonner dans un cas de crime de g̩nocide ?

Quant au pardon, c’est un concept très ancien. Si l’on doit appeler
pardon les gestes de réconciliation par lesquels la victime accepte de
cesser de vouloir se venger, il se retrouve partout où un prix du sang
est accepté. On peut distinguer le ” pardon-transaction ” du ”
pardon-renoncement ” pour l’offenseur qui avoue sa faute et se
repentit. Le pardon est un don qui délie d’une faute passée. Il libère
le futur de la lourdeur du passé.

Ainsi, deux traditions occidentales du pardon se contredisent :

– D’une part, on ne peut pardonner que si le coupable avoue, demande
pardon, se repent et donc change. Mais alors celui qui s’expose ainsi
est déja dans une certaine mesure un autre. On ne pardonne donc pas le
coupable en tant que tel.

– D’autre part, le pardon s’accorde comme un geste gratuit et
généreux, une grâce absolue, sans échange ni contrepartie attendus,
sans repentir ni demande de pardon. Il est alors accordé au coupable
en tant que coupable. C’est le pardon dans toute sa pureté.

Quel est le statut d’une demande de pardon qui évite soigneusement de
nommer les coupables et l’objet du pardon ?

En l’absence de ces précisions qui clarifient et qualifient l’acte, on
ne peut classer cette demande dans aucune des deux catégories que les
philosophes du pardon nous offrent :

– Le coupable implore le pardon de sa victime et prouve qu’il a changé, ou

– L’acte de pardon gratuit.

En revanche, ce sont les Arméniens qui ont remercié les auteurs turcs
qui présentent toutes les caractéristiques du pardon unilatéral, sans
contrepartie, en l’absence d’une véritable demande de pardon.

Genèse :

C’est en 2001, a la suite des succès remportés par la diaspora
arménienne en 2000 (reconnaissance par le Sénat francais, le Parlement
italien, le Vatican, premier rapport sur la Turquie du Parlement
européen demandant a la Grande Assemblée turque de reconnaître le
Génocide, vote avorté in extremis au Sénat américain par
l’intervention du président Clinton), que les services du ministère
des Affaires étrangères ont proposé au gouvernement turc, apparemment
avec l’aide de conseillers américains, une nouvelle approche pour
désamorcer les revendications grandissantes de reconnaissance du
Génocide des Arméniens : le dialogue.

Financée par le Département d’Etat américain, présidé par David
Philips, est née la Commission de réconciliation turco-arménienne
(CRAT), réunissant d’anciens diplomates, des universitaires et
personnalités turques et arméniennes d’Arménie et de Diaspora. La
Commission préconisait des échanges entre les deux sociétés civiles
dans les domaines des médias, de la culture, de l’économie, de
l’éducation, du partenariat entre femmes arméniennes et turques, de
leaders arméniens et turcs ; seul était exclu le thème du Génocide des
Arméniens. Dans la CRAT, comme dans la demande de pardon en 2008,
quelques déclarations en marge des initiatives ont confirmé la vision
machiavélique de la partie turque.

Ozdem Sanberk, ancien diplomate turc, a propos de la CRAT : ” Aussi
longtemps que nous dialoguons avec les Arméniens la question du
génocide ne viendra pas a l’ordre du jour du Congrès américain ”.

Baskin Oran a propos de la demande de pardon : ” Le Premier ministre
devrait prier pour notre campagne. Les Parlements du monde entier
étaient en train d’adopter des résolutions. Maintenant, ils
arrêteront. La Diaspora s’est adoucie. Les médias internationaux
commencent a ne plus utiliser le terme de génocide ”. (Milliyet
19.12.2008). De plus, plusieurs membres turcs du TARC ont démissionné
lorsqu’a la demande des membres arméniens le Centre international pour
la Justice transitionnelle (ICTJ) a été saisie sur l’applicabilité de
la Convention de 1948 au cas du Génocide des Arméniens.

Si l’on veut lui donner le sens d’une réconciliation, il manque au
dialogue turco-arménien au moins deux éléments essentiels qu’on
retrouve dans tous les cas précédents de processus de réconciliation
dans le monde, de l’Afrique du Sud a l’Argentine, en passant par le
Pérou, l’Australie et le Togo : la Vérité /Reconnaissance, et la
Justice /réparations. Aujourd’hui, un dialogue ” cache-négationnisme
”, exploité pour les intérêts stratégiques de l’Etat turc est
forcément voué a l’échec.

Même si le chemin est long pour la reconnaissance, les intellectuels
turcs devraient s’engager dans le sillage des Zarakolu, Sait Cetinoglu
et autre Dogan Ozguden qui prennent des risques importants mais dont
la quête de justice inspire confiance.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Repair РR̩parer le futur

PETER KOUTOUJIAN MEETS WITH ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013

Peter Koutoujian joined members of Armenian organizations for lunch
at the Armenian-American Social Club in Watertown on Monday

WATERTOWN-Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian sat down with the
editorial team of The Armenian Weekly and representatives of Armenian
American organizations in Watertown yesterday to share the views and
values that motivated this veteran public servant to run for the 5th
District Congressional seat recently vacated by Rep. Edward Markey
following his successful Senate bid, reported Armenian National
Committee of America-Eastern Region (ANCA-ER).

“I am proud of my Armenian heritage and of my record of accomplishments
on behalf of the Armenian community and all the communities I
represent. I look forward to continuing that promise of hard work and
commitment if elected to Congress, and I thank the Armenian National
Committee of America’s tremendously warm endorsement,” Koutoujian said.

The ANCA has been an early and vocal supporter of Koutoujian’s
congressional bid, citing his years of service to the Commonwealth
from prosecutor, to State Assemblyman and, now, Middlesex County
Sheriff. “His leadership in Massachusetts and in the Armenian
American community has been steadfast and inspiring, and he has the
ANCA’s full backing in this election process and beyond,” explained
ANCA National Board member Stephen Mesrobian in the ANCA’s July 3rd
endorsement statement.

Following his in-depth interview with the Armenian Weekly, Koutoujian
joined representatives of the ANCA, Armenian Relief Society (ARS),
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Homenetmen, Hamazkayin,
and others for lunch at the Armenian-American Social Club in Watertown.

Koutoujian’s leadership on community concerns extends throughout the
Massachusetts’ 5th district, which includes the towns of Belmont,
Lexington, Waltham and Watertown – each with large and vibrant
Armenian-American presence.

He emphasized the fact that this election will have low voter turnout
and the importance of registering new voters, especially Armenian
Americans, who can help him claim victory in a few months.

“We’re pleased to see Mr. Koutoujian actively seeking communication
with our core Armenian organizations, including the ANCA-ER,” said
ANCA-ER Executive Director Michelle Hagopian. “He has a longstanding
track record of public service and loves his community, and we’re
going to work hard to make sure he is elected to Congress come fall.”

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER AWARDS US EMBASSY OFFICIAL

July 09, 2013 | 19:20

YEREVAN. – Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan on Tuesday received
the military attache of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, Jeffrey Stimpson
and outgoing Chief of Office of Defense Cooperation of US Embassy,
Major Shawn Kyle, at the completion of the last mission.

He welcomed the guests and thanked outgoing chief of office for the
contribution to defense cooperation between Armenia and the United
over the past three years.

Seyran Ohanyan awarded Shawn Kyle a medal for military cooperation
of the Armed Forces of Armenia.”

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS ONE OF PREREQUISITES FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP

July 10, 2013 | 17:46

YEREVAN. – Good relations with neighbors are one of the prerequisites
for Turkey’s EU membership, EU Commissioner said in Yerevan.

Å tefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Policy, said the Union urges Turkey to continue efforts
in this direction.

He express hope this will be a good year in terms of relations with
the EU and will register stable momentum in relations. On the one
hand, they got closer to signing the readmission agreement, on the
other – to the launch of dialogue on visa facilitation.

The Union hopes that positive momentum will affect Turkey’s relations
with neighbors in a good manner, EU Commissioner added.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

HRANT MARGARIAN: PRIME MINISTER DECLARED WAR ON DASHNAKTSUTYUN

Wednesday,July 10

Prime Minister openly stated that he declares war on
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, representative of the Bureau of ARFD Party Hrant
Margarian told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Armenian service.

In his words, as part of that war, the prime minister orders ‘dirty
gossip’ about ARFD in the press.

It should be mentioned that some media outlets wrote about serious
discontent within ARFD party, in particular, about attempts to remove
Hrant Margarian from his position as head of the ARFD Bureau.

Asked by RFE/RL if party members are displeased with him, Margarian
replied that there were some problems, particularly the party members
were displeased the ARFD results in the recent elections to Yerevan
Council of Elders, but the problems have been solved.

“Such press reports have nothing to do with reality. Efforts are
being made from outside to find a rift in ARFD and create problems,”
Margarian noted, explaining that the matter concerns the prime
minister.

“After the criticism (by ARFD) of incoherent economic activities,
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan openly stated he declares war on
Dashnaktsutyun and the dirty information resembling dirty gossip is
his doing. A weak person is trying to solve issues by such means,”
Hrant Margarian said.

In his words, ARFD neither is fond of the prime minister nor hates
him, but he is a “failed” prime minister and for that reason he uses
such methods to deal with his problems.

Asked by RFE/RL where the prime minister said that he would declare
war, Margarian said: “In his circles, he knows where he declared
that”. He stressed that they have reliable information about it.

In response to the question about what methods the ARFD will use
to confront in that war, Margarian noted that the war will harm the
prime minister, rather than ARFD.

As regards the offshore scandal linked to the prime minister’s name,
Hrant Margarian said an assessment was already given, while Tigran
Sargsyan’s explanations put the prime minister himself in a ridiculous
position.

He expressed confidence that the prime minister should be dismissed,
and ARFD has repeatedly said that.

‘If we don’t want to kill the last gleam of hope in the country,
this is the minimum step to be taken. It is necessary to dismiss not
only the premier, but also many others.”

When asked if they demand the president’s resignation as well,
Margarian said: “The president’s change depends on popular will”.

The prime minister’s spokesman rejected those accusations against
Tigran Sargsyan, saying that the head of the government didn’t declare
any war on ARFD.

‘The prime minister greatly respects all the traditional parties”.

The prime minister’s spokesman Harutyun Berberian, commenting on the
abovementioned statements of Hrant Margarian, said: “First of all,
we wonder what war Mr. Margarian is talking about?”

“We don’t agree with the assessment of the economic policy. If such
assessments aim to attract attention, it is another matter,” the
spokesman said.

NATO POLICY ON CSTO

The first question that occurs after such statement of the issue is
whether there is a NATO policy on CSTO.

Since the establishment of CSTO the Americans have had a rather
critical position on this organization. One remembers a quite radical
pronouncement by Madeleine Albright as a retired political scientist
at Brookings Institute, questioning the existence of this bloc,
and highlighted the absence of a fundamental concept.

It should be noted that most American and European political
scientists followed this statement and supported the thought of the
ex-secretary of the U.S. Department of State. At the same time, the
CSTO and primarily Russia responded to this treatment by accelerating
development of relations inside the bloc, as well as institutional
and military capacity. Over the past few years CSTO has taken big
steps at implementation of declarative intentions.

Simultaneously, the West, first of all NATO, had controversies over
their attitude to CSTO. The United States and the United Kingdom are
trying to thwart the existence of CSTO, developing their relations
with the countries of Central Asia and Armenia. In addition, political
intentions are referred to that any support to CSTO would boost the
influence of Russia on the post-Soviet states, including the support
of totalitarian and not so very democratic regimes.

However, neither the United States, nor the United Kingdom is
trying to boost pressure on any of these states with a view to
destroying CSTO. This policy is linked not only to reluctance to boost
confrontation but also the understanding of localization and regional
restrictions of this bloc which does threaten the West and NATO.

At the same time, France and especially Germany were also indifferent
to CSTO. Unlike the position of France and Germany on NATO enlargement
when both countries of continental Europe take into consideration
Russia’s position, in regard to CSTO France and Germany are more
categorical. Aiming at forming an area of economic influence in
Eurasia, Germany is not interested in such significant growth of
influence of Russia in this super region. Besides, the participation
of Belarus in CSTO leads to relative threat to Germany’s national
interests and its partners in the Baltic and Black Sea region.

Hence, unlike other issues, the leading members of NATO totally agree
on the problem of CSTO.

Nevertheless, NATO’s position on CSTO is in line with the policy of the
alliance on Russia. In other words, NATO is trying to subject Russia
and CSTO to the Western community. In addition, this policy is shared
by the European Union trying to form a scheme of European security
on the basis of NATO (despite resistance and provocations of Turkey).

The United States and NATO need Russia and CSTO for the purpose
of security and defense in the regions of Central Eurasia on which
depend not only NATO’s possibilities but also alleviation of tension
in relations with Russia. NATO supposes some “conservation” of
institutional relations with new partners, limiting them to IPAP and
previous programs, as well as special commitments to a few countries
of Eastern Europe but in regard to real defense issues relations with
new partners will have real development. This statement lies at the
basis of the attitude of NATO to CSTO, i.e. integration of Russia
and CSTO in the global security system.

Igor Muradyan 17:54 10/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News: