Author: Babajanian Karo

US STATE OF MAINE PASSES RESOLUTION CALLING US PRESIDENT OBAMA AND CONGRESS TO RECOGNIZE NAGORNO KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

Global Post April 11 2013

The US State of Maine legislature has passed a resolution calling the
US President and Congress to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan’s
Nagorno Karabakh region occupied by Armenia.

APA reports quoting the website of Maine legislature that the
resolution was introduced by Congressman Scott Hamann and is supported
by members of the House of Representatives Andrew Gattine and Sara
Gideon. Earlier, similar resolutions were also adopted by the states
of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

EEC, ARMENIA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION

Belarusian Telegraph Agency, Belarus
April 11 2013

MOSCOW, 11 April (BelTA) – The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC)
and the Armenian Government signed a memorandum of cooperation. The
document was signed during a meeting between the EEC Board Chairman
Viktor Khristenko, EEC Minister for Integration and Macroeconomics
Tatiana Valovaya and Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan in
Yerevan on 10 April, BelTA learnt from the EEC press service.

The parties shall hold consultations, conferences, seminars with the
participation of representatives of the business communities of the
member states of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space and
Armenia on matters of mutual interest. The parties will also cooperate
through the preparation of analytical and other reviews.

Participants of the meeting discussed the Customs Union operation
principles, existing norms and rules, in particular in technical
regulation. Viktor Khristenko stated that Armenia is an important
partner of the Customs Union and, therefore, the EEC overriding task
is to make the commission’s activity maximum clear for the Armenian
authorities.

According to the press service, during Viktor Khristenko’s visit to
Kyiv on 10 September 2012 two memorandums were signed between the
EEC and the Government of Ukraine: on cooperation in trade and on
cooperation in technical regulation.

WHAT’S NEXT AFTER THE KURDISH ISSUE: SYRIA AND ARMENIA?

Global Post
April 11 2013

When terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) leader
Abdullah Ocalan called on the PKK to lay down arms during the Nevruz
festivities in Diyarbakir, debates about the settlement process
became hotter and many people started to put forward the idea that
the settlement of the PKK issue will play into Turkey’s hands in both
domestic and foreign policy in the short term. The expectation that
having solved its 30-year-old terror problem through peaceful methods,
Turkey will be able to solve its foreign policy issues with a new
momentum is closely associated with the interests of not only Turkey,
but also of neighboring countries and international organizations.

It is thought that, in addition to the new process launched in
connection with the Kurdish issue, solution processes concerning the
ongoing Syrian crisis and the frozen normalization initiative with
Armenia are on the government’s agenda. The problems Turkey has been
wrestling with at great cost in connection with the Syrian crisis are
appreciated by the Western countries, but they have so far failed to
come up with a strategy for a solution. It is hard to guess how the
call on the PKK to withdraw from Turkey will affect Turkey’s Syria
policy, but Turkey has to develop a foreign policy that supports
common interests in connection with the Kurdish entities that are
growing stronger within the context of the “Greater Middle East”
fancies. On the other hand, solving the Syrian issue in the shortest
time possible and in the interests of Turkey will further boost the
progress made on the Kurdish issue. This would also show that Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s frequently criticized “zero problems and
maximum cooperation” formula is not a political move doomed to failure.

Another thing that will ward of unfair criticisms hurled at Turkish
foreign policy in the short term and will dispel Turkey’s image
as a country that is in eternal conflict with its neighbors is the
process of normalization with Armenia. According to the dissident
groups inside Turkey who stick to the Turkey-centric perspective,
the Armenian economy is failing and therefore, Turkey should maintain
policies to preserve the status quo and never make compromises.

However, from an external perspective, it is clear that Turkish
foreign policy has failed in connection with the Armenian issue and
Turkey’s image as a country that refrains from making peace is making
more and more people perceive Turkey as wrong even when it is right.

Therefore, Turkey must take radical steps on the Armenian issue as
it did with regard to the Kurdish issue in order to ensure peace in
the region and carve itself more room to maneuver in the international
arena, particularly in the context of the approaching 100th anniversary
of the 1915 incidents. Approaches that dispense with old habits will
shake up the status quo and make the Turkish economy stronger in the
Caucasus region and give Turkish foreign policy an advantage in the
same region.

Turkey’s normalization with Armenia to undermine influence of Russia
and Iran

Today, Russian analysts noted that Turkey’s influence in the Caucasus
was thwarted thanks to its freezing of ties with Armenia and in place
of Turkey, Iran and other regional players are increasing their
influence in the Caucasus. They also voice concerns that Turkey’s
normalization of relations with Armenia will undermine Russia’s and
Iran’s influence in the region. Stressing that it is worrying to
see increased anti-Russian and anti-Iranian sentiments in Armenia,
these analysts maintain that the Armenian opposition that advocates
good ties with Turkey is doomed to fail. Indeed, the opposition groups
are growing stronger in Armenia and accuse the Armenian government of
making the country a satellite of Russia and they are worried about
the increasing Iranian influence in the country. In this context,
the Dashnak Party harshly criticized the Armenian government for
leasing a parcel of grasslands in Syunik province to Iran, noting
that they don’t need the agricultural tools Iran will provide as rent.

Armenia has no choice but to develop its economic and military
ties with Russia and Iran and its increasing dependence on these two
countries is posing a threat to Turkey’s security as Russia reinforces
its military presence near Turkish borders. As new Defense Minister
of Russia, Sergey Shoigu stressed during his visit to Armenia on the
21st anniversary of the founding of the Armenian army, Russia sees
its military presence in the region as indispensable.

Turkey’s normalization processes, as well as the joint actions it
will adopt in cooperation with Baku surrounding the centennial of the
events of 1915, are of crucial importance. Yet Baku should be more
constructive, instead of reacting to every step Turkey takes in the
normalization process. For instance, Azerbaijan should motivate Turkey
instead of hurling harsh criticism regarding the initiative to launch
flights between Yerevan and Van in April, which was then aborted,
like previous initiatives. Turkey has never ceased to disapprove of
or criticize the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, and in this
context, it shut down its border crossings in response. Like this
policy, Baku’s Nagorno-Karabakh policy has also failed to produce any
result. For this reason, stereotyped criticisms of Turkey’s moves
to reinforce its presence in the region are doing harm to Turkish
foreign policy. Different approaches should be adopted and the old
and failing policies should be avoided.

The first thing to do in the current atmosphere of the settlement of
the Kurdish issue is to correctly analyze the developments that are
of close interest to Turkey and to identify and take the necessary
steps at once. Only in this way can Turkey implement the successful
policies that would ward off the criticism voiced by western countries
and opponents against Davutoglu’s zero problems formula.

FOR THE FIRST TIME AN ARMENIAN PAVILION AT THE LONDON BOOK FAIR.

The London Book Fair is opening its doors on 15 April, 2013 in Earl’s
Court, London.

The Pavilion will provide a valuable platform, which has never been
made available in this format before for the exhibitors and visitors
from around the world, allowing them to network with global publishing
communities. The Armenian Community and Church Council of Great
Britain (), with the support of the Armenian Embassy
in London and the Ministry of Culture in Armenia, has facilitated
the participation of the Armenian authors and publishers from Armenia
and the Diaspora at the London Book Fair event.

The London Book Fair is one of the world’s most prestigious events
and as such it is an excellent opportunity for Armenian authors and
publishers to showcase the Armenian culture and heritage through
books and writings, which form part of a long standing tradition
and culture. Last year Armenia was celebrating the 500th anniversary
of the Armenian Printing, since the first Armenian publisher Hagop
Meghapart established his printing house in Venice (1512), producing
the first printed book “Urbatagirk” in Armenian language. Armenia’s
participation in the London Book Fair is a natural continuation of
that celebration and will mark another milestone in the advancement
of Armenian literary world, establishing a long term collaboration
and cooperation with the outer world.

The Armenian Pavilion will host Armenian publishers and authors from
Armenia, United Kingdom, Lebanon and the United States of America.

Participants include:

Bookinist LTD (Armenia) Zangak Publishing House (Armenia)
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Printing House (Lebanon) Armenian
Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin Printing House (Armenia) Areg Publishing
House (Armenia) Edit Print LLC (Armenia) Hamazkayin Printing&
Publishing House (Lebanon) Rouben Galichian (UK) Nouritza Matossian
(UK) Rev. Dr. Vrej Nerses Nersessian (UK) Nouneh Sarkissian (UK &
Armenia) Armenian Institute (UK) Prof. Peter Balakian (US) – Books
only Richard Hovannisian (US) – Books only

The Armenian Pavilion will have the finest collection of hard-copy and
electronic books ranging from children’s literature, fiction, religion,
culinary recipes, and language learning material to historical books,
including the Armenian Genocide and unveiling of historical truth by
Rouben Galichian in his “Clashes of Histories in the South Caucasus”.

The key visitors will include literary agents, publishers, booksellers,
library and information professionals, production, distribution,
technical and creative professionals. The event will also hold
educational seminars, conferences and workshops for the attendees. The
London Book Fair will conclude on 17 April 2013.

By Zepyur Batikyan/ACCC of GB

MARCH ALONG BAGHRAMYAN AVE RIGHT, BUT RISKY STEP – PETROS MAKEYAN

22:29 ~U 12.04.13

Chairman of the Democratic Homeland party Petros Makeyan made a speech
at a rally Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian held in Yerevan’s
Freedom Square on Friday evening.

On April 9, all the people, first of all Armenia’s authorities,
could see 90% of Armenia’s people demanding resignation of the ruling
administration.

“On April 9, the authorities were frightened. That morning
New Armenia’s inauguration showed disobedience to the ruling
administration,” he said.

With respect to the events on April 9 evening, he said that it was
the right, but risky, step to march up Baghramyan Avenue. But that
step proved the ruling regime was unable to break the Armenian
people’s will.

“However, the people realized we were unable to get rid of the ruling
regime on April 9. But we come here to struggle and lay the foundations
for our further activities aimed to overthrow the regime,” he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARMENUHI HOVANNISIAN LOST HER SHOES DURING STANDOFF WITH POLICE – VIDEO

A1Plus.am
07:25 PM | APRIL 12, 2013 | POLITICS

Addressing the people gathered at Freedom Square, Raffi Hovannisian’s
spouse Armenuhi Hovannisian said during her husband’s ‘inauguration’
on April 9 she was wearing her best shoes which she lost during the
standoff with the riot police. She regrets losing her favorite shoes.

Armenuhi Hovannisian says she has sworn twice in her life. “The first
one was when I married Raffi Hovannisian and vowed to be at his side
until death. The second time I swore an oath was on April 9 and I
am glad to have taken the oath together with you, my dear people,”
she said.

RAFFI: FORGIVE MY TOUGH WORDING, YOUR ALL THE SAME KIND

Arriving at the Freedom Square in a suit and tie, Raffi Hovannisian
took the flag from the stage and put it downstairs, closer to the
rally participants.

“And the inauguration that our people performed on April 9, we will
bring it into being till Moscow, Washington, Brussels and Yerevan.

Compatriots, remember our oath. I pronounced the oath, that no
deserter, no opportunist, no perjurer, no scoundrel but the Armenian
people took an oath to head for victory, and the world will have to
recognize,” Raffi Hovannisian said.

He noted that they do not recognize and do not accept Serzh Sargsyan’s
false oath and falsified election.

“I could have made lots of mistakes from February 18 to April 9 but
I promised one thing that I will go all the way for the victory and
there will not be a drop of blood,” Raffi Hovannisian said. He noted
that everyone has a right to criticize him but shame on those who were
not in the street on April 9 and were sitting in their party offices,
those who wanted to benefit from his one-hour absence and wanted to
be people’s leader, he said.

This is not a one-hour struggle, it will last for months, and the
movement will go to Gyumri, Vanadzor, Syunik, the regions, and we will
not let the government alone until our victory, Raffi Hovannisian said.

This government and the fake oppositions will resign because the
Armenian people won. Dear compatriots, forgive my tough wording but
those who say political corpse are all the same kind. I have assumed
this responsibility and I will carry it till the end of my life,
he said.

20:40 12/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

UN NOUVEAU SIGNE QUE L’ARMENIE NE SOUHAITE PAS L’UNION DOUANIÈRE AVEC LA RUSSIE

L’Armenie a signe un memorandum d’entente non contraignant avec
l’Union douanière de la Russie, le Kazakhstan et la Bielorussie
qui n’implique pas son appartenance au bloc commercial dirigee par
la Russie et que Moscou espère etendre a d’autres anciens Etats
sovietiques.

Le memorandum signe mercredi a Erevan par le Premier ministre Tigran
Sarkissian et Viktor Khristenko, chef russe de l’organe executif de
l’union, apporte une indication supplementaire sur le fait que le
gouvernement armenien n’a pas l’intention d’adherer a l’Union.

Le document rendu public par le gouvernement jeudi dit seulement
que l’Armenie et l’Union douanière chercheront a ” developper
l’interaction” dans des domaines tels que la “simplification des
procedures de negociation “, la securite alimentaire, les normes
sanitaires et la certification des produits.

Ces objectifs sont censes etre traites par la tenue de conferences,
de seminaires et autres forums economiques. Les signataires ont
egalement l’intention de trouver d’autres mecanismes pour un “echange
d’informations d’interet mutuel.” En outre, Sarkissian et Khristenko
se reuniront pour evoquer des questions liees au commerce au moins
une fois par an.

” Ce protocole n’est pas un traite international et n’entraîne pas de
droits et d’obligations regies par le droit international “, indique le
document. Il n’implique aucune obligation financière ” des signataires

Le president Serge Sarkissian avait annonce la signature imminente
de cette note lors d’une conference de presse le mois dernier. Il
a insiste sur le fait que la Russie n’exercait pas de pressions
sur l’Armenie pour adherer a l’Union douanière, contrairement aux
speculations des medias en la matière.

” Les membres de l’union douanière n’expriment pas une volonte de cette
nature. Du moins, je n’ai pas releve un tel desir par rapport a nous
“, a declare Sarkissian.

Moscou ne fait pas mystère de ses espoirs pour finalement etendre
l’Union eurasienne au bloc des anciennes republiques sovietiques. Les
presidents des deux chambres du parlement russe en avait promu l’idee
lors de visites separees a Erevan en juillet l’annee dernière.

Les fonctionnaires armeniens et Tigran Sarkissian, en particulier, ont
a plusieurs reprises fait valoir que l’absence de frontières communes
avec la Russie, la Bielorussie et le Kazakhstan rendait l’adhesion de
l’Armenie a l’union douanière très problematique. Khristenko interroge
sur cet argument en decembre avait repondu en citant l’exemple de
l’enclave russe de Kaliningrad prise en sandwich entre la Pologne et
la Lituanie.

Pourtant, le president russe Vladimir Poutine a semble reconnaître que
l’absence de frontières communes compliquait l’adhesion armenienne a
l’issue d’un entretien avec Serge Sarkissian au Kremlin en août. Il
avait alors declare qu’ils avaient convenu de creer un groupe de
travail mixte intergouvernementale qui etudierait d’autres possibilites
d’integration de l’Armenie avec l’Union douanière. Les deux dirigeants
ont discute de la question lors de discussions ulterieures tenues
plus tard, en 2012 et en mars 2013.

Les analystes ont convenu jeudi que le memorandum signe par le Premier
ministre armenien et Khristenko ne contraint pas Erevan a adherer a
cette Union. ” Il ya des questions qui entravent objectivement notre
adhesion a l’Union douanière”, a declare Alexander Markarov, chef de
la branche armenienne de l’Institut, base a Moscou CEI. “Cela dit,
il est possible et necessaire de trouver des formats qui permettent
de cooperer avec l’Union douanière et, si necessaire, de developper
des formats bilateraux russo-armeniennes [].”

Un autre expert, Richard Giragosian, a minimise l’importance de
ce document. “Il s’agit plus d’un message a la pression russe sur
les autres anciennes republiques sovietiques et beaucoup moins sur
l’Armenie,” a declare Giragosian declare a RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am). Il
a affirme que la pression russe est principalement destinee a
l’Ukraine.

L’Ukraine et l’Armenie ont montre un fort interet a signer des accords
d’association avec l’Union europeenne qui conduirait a la creation
d’une ” zone de libre-echange approfondi “, ou DCFTA, avec le plus
grand et le plus riche du marche unique du monde. Les fonctionnaires
de l’UE avaient declare mis en que l’adhesion a l’Union douanière
“n’est pas compatible” avec le DCFTA.

Les fonctionnaires armeniens et l’Union europeenne avaient annonce
le mois dernier que l’accord d’association de l’Armenie avec l’Union
europeenne devrait etre finalise d’ici novembre.

vendredi 12 avril 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

RUSSIAN AIR FORCE APPROVES FUTURE STRATEGIC BOMBER DESIGN

April 11, 2013 – 20:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Russian Air Force has approved the conceptual
design and specification of its future PAK-DA strategic bomber,
paving the way for development of components for the aircraft, Air
Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Thursday, April 11,
according to RIA Novosti.

“The development of the aircraft is going as planned. The outline of
its design and characteristics has been approved and all relevant
documents have been signed allowing the industry to start the
development of systems for this plane,” Bondarev said at a meeting
with Russian lawmakers.

The PAK-DA (meaning future long-range aircraft) project has been in
the works for several years but was given the formal go-ahead by the
Russian leadership last year. It is due to replace Russia’s aging
fleet of 63 Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear and 13 Tu-160 Blackjack strategic
bombers in the next decade.

According to recent reports in the Russian media, citing defense
ministry sources, the Tupolev design bureau has won the PAK-DA
development tender with its concept for a subsonic aircraft with a
“flying wing” shape which provides superior “stealth capabilities.”

The Defense Ministry insisted that the PAK-DA should be equipped with
advanced electronic warfare systems and armed with new nuclear-capable
long-range cruise missiles in addition to a variety of high-precision
conventional weapons.

The new bomber is expected to go in production by 2020 and will be
built at a new aircraft assembly line at Russia’s Kazan plant (KAPO),
according to defense ministry officials. The same plant previously
built the Tu-95MS and Tu-160.

ANOTHER SETBACK IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

ARMENIA, EDITORIAL, TURKEY | APRIL 11, 2013 12:54 PM

By Edmond Y. Azadian

Turkey has become a big player in regional politics and the scope of
its foreign policy not only covers the Middle East and the Caucasus,
but it has extended far beyond those geographic areas to include the
Balkans and Europe (via its NATO affiliation) and even China. Indeed,
Turkey’s prime minister is not only the champion of the Palestinian
cause, in order to lull the Arab world into delusions, but he has
come out on as the champion of Uyghur rights in China.

Uyghurs are a restless Moslem minority, most of the time in conflict
with the Chinese authorities. During one of the recent ethnic
flare-ups, Prime Minister Erdogan accused the Chinese government of
perpetrating genocide against the Uyghurs.

Erdogan’s pronouncement certainly did not scare the mighty Chinese
government, but perhaps it helped to push China closer to Armenia –
a true victim of genocide, perpetrated almost a century ago by the
Turkish government.

On the chessboard of the politics of the Caucasus, Armenia, with its
size, is not a challenge for Turkey. But history weighs too heavily on
Turkey’s strategic planning. Another factor, which Turkey has to take
into account, is not Armenia’s size nor its military capabilities,
but its alliances in the continuing cold war in the region.

Since Turkey is an unreliable partner for its allies, it has
to invent and re-invent various deceptive policies, to fool its
allies for a while, while consolidating long-term plans on the
ground. One of those deceptions was the apology game with Israel,
its long-term strategic ally in the region. Although Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu extended an apology to Turkey for the raid on the
Mavi Marmara and promised to compensate the families of the Turkish
victims, Israel’s political circles do not believe that Turkey will
make good on its end of the bargain.

Efraim Inbar has written a seething article about the apology game
in the Jerusalem Post, under the title, “Israel’s Apology to Turkey
Was a Mistake.” The journalist states that “the Israeli apology will
hardly stop Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s regular
Israeli-bashing rhetoric. Nor has it secured a clear Turkish commitment
for the resumption of full diplomatic relations.”

At this time in Turkey’s domestic policy, the Kurdish minority has
been facing such a deception policy. While the Kurds are laying down
their arms, in view of the administration’s demonstrative negotiations
with their jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, no concrete commitments
have been announced by Ankara.

Armenia has suffered the brunt of Turkey’s deceptive policy over the
last two decades. In flagrant violation of the international law,
Turkey has blockaded Armenia since 1994. And there is no power on
earth to even chide Turkey for that lawless behavior.

Yet Turkey continues to tempt and tease the international community
that it is about to take an initiative towards establishing peace
and stability in the region. The first farce in that direction was
Foreign Minister Davutoglu’s “zero problem with neighbors” policy,
which soon proved to be nothing more that empty rhetoric. Yet Turkey’s
“good intentions” never reverberated around the word. Even world
leaders encouraged Turkey’s neighbors to take advantage of the
historic opportunity.

One expression of Turkey’s “good intentions” were the Protocols,
supposed to become the crown jewel of former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, who rushed to Switzerland to witness the historic
breakthrough. True to its deceptive nature, Ankara never ratified
the Protocols, but benefitted tremendously by the commotion it created.

The most recent incident was the cancellation of the planned
twice-weekly chartered flights from Yerevan to Van. Although outwardly
a positive move, the plan was of dubious nature for Armenia. It was
necessitated primarily for the economic isolation of Eastern provinces
in Turkey (historic Armenia).

There was mounting pressure by the governors of the region to open the
border with Armenia to allow some economic activity. Ankara’s intention
was to punish Armenia with its blockade. In the meantime it punished
the population on the other side of the border, but that did not bother
policy planners in Ankara because that population happened to be mostly
Kurds. For the Armenians, the 45-minute flight would afford them the
opportunity to visit their ancestral lands, but economically it would
present a drain on Armenia’s economy, since cheap flights to Antalia
had already forced out the competition in resort areas of Armenia and
Georgia. However, the plan inspired an aura of positive sentiments, a
hope that Armenian-Turkish relations are inching toward a better place.

The first flight was scheduled to take place on April 3, but a decision
was made on March 30 by the Turkish side to cancel the flights, which
were to operate by a private charter company. That company has not yet
commented on the cancellation of the flights, but other indications
emerged to prove that the cancellation was due to Azerbaijan’s
pressure. Indeed the spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry,
Elman Abdullayev, has publicly thanked Ankara for the cancellation. He
has further commented, “In the present condition, the position of
brotherly Turkey is critically important. It is important that Turkey
exert pressure on Armenia. We always see Turkey’s contribution to
that affect and we are thankful for that.”

Perhaps Turkey never intended to allow those flights, but the
announcement reaped some dividends for Ankara; to begin with, it once
more demonstrated Turkey’s “good intentions” on the political markets.

Second, out of nowhere it offered a free victory for Azerbaijan,
against some political and business rewards. Together, Ankara and Baku
enjoyed the satisfaction knowing they gave a slap to Armenia’s face.

Azerbaijan is not hiding its intentions against Armenia. Baku’s plans
are to wipe Armenia out of the region. Aliyev himself has arrogantly
announced that their intention is to continue the “liberation” of 20
percent of its territory “occupied” by Armenia. He has announced time
and again that Armenia has been sitting on historic Azeri territory.

He has also boasted several times that Baku was successful in isolating
Armenia and leaving it out of all regional development plans, including
rail and energy networks. This illegal plan is being implemented with
the collusion of the great powers in the West and Russia.

When Azerbaijan threatens the very existence of Armenia, no restraining
rebuke is heard from the UN headquarters nor its major world capitals.

Each time Azerbaijan violates the ceasefire agreement, the Minsk Group
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
tasked with solving the Artsakh impasse, issues a polite warning to
both sides to refrain from escalating the explosive situation.

The cancellation of flights may seem an insignificant, singular act,
but it is the symbolic expression of a broader policy of stifling
Armenia out of existence.