Author: Babajanian Karo

HAYPOST REOPENS POST OFFICE OF GARNI VILLAGE, KOTAYK PROVINCE

16:29 12/02/2013 » SOCIETY

On 12th February the official reopening ceremony of completely
modernized post office in Garni village, Kotayk Province, took place.

The ceremony was attended by Ashot Vardanyan, Head of Garni village,
Juan Pablo Gechidjian, Trust manager of “Haypost”, the management of
“Haypost” CJSC as well as the residents.

Creation of equal conditions for the residents of villages to have
access to the same services as in the capital city is a top priority
for Haypost.

Each modernized post office including the front and back offices is
capitally renovated. The new image developed for HayPost is reflected
in every post office, which is completely refurnished and rebranded
according to the new image. Along with construction and exterior design
works, the working standards and infrastructure have been also updated
and changed; new computers and equipment that meet current programs
have been installed. Postal offices are equipped with modern security
systems and video recording equipment.

The modernized post offices provide services with modern IT
technologies, state-of-the-art software and on-line connection to
the head office, which allows providing faster and efficient postal,
financial and commercial services to the residents of Garni.

Haypost plans to modernize 60 post offices and branches in 2013,
including 8 post offices in Yerevan and 52 in the regions.

By reorganizing and modernizing the structural, functional, courier
and commercial schemes, “HayPost Trust Management” intends to make
“HayPost” the leading national postal operator in the region, company’s
press service reports.

Source: Panorama.am

IRANIAN ENVOY REMINDS AZERBAIJAN WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1918

February 12, 2013 – 15:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iran stands ready to cooperate with Armenia in
the fields of economy, politics and culture, Iranian ambassador to
Armenia said.

As Mohammad Rayeesi told a news conference, the embassy cooperates
with the ministry of culture to include Yerevan’s Blue Mosque in the
list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The envoy further noted that Iran’s two Armenian churches have already
been listed among UNESCO sites.

“Iranian people will be glad to receive Armenian support to recognize
tar (lute) as an Iranian musical instrument, despite Azerbaijani claims
suggesting it originated in Azerbaijan. Tar appeared centuries ago,
while Azerbaijan was established only in 1918,” Ambassador Rayeesi
said.

MAYOR OF ARMENIAN TOWN DOES NOT RECEIVE RAFFI HOVANNISIAN

NEWS.AM
February 12, 2013 | 12:40

AKHTALA.- Mayor of Akhtala town in Armenia’s north did not meet with
presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian who is in the region for
his election campaign.

Hovannisian toured a small town near Armenia-Georgia border, making
stops to talk to the residents, Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent
reports from Lori Region.

Entering municipality building, Hovannisian found the room of Mayor
locked, candidate said.

None of the municipal officials previously refused to meet with the
presidential candidate.

KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE SETTLED PEACEFULLY – IRAN’S AMBASSADOR

NEWS.AM
February 12, 2013 | 14:10

YEREVAN.- Iran is confident that Karabakh conflict must be settled
peacefully, Ambassador Mohammad Raiesi told reporters in Yerevan.

Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia said it is necessary to rule out any
possibility of creating tension during the Karabakh peace process.

“The problem cannot be solved by force. International principles and
norms must prevail in talks. Karabakh issue must be settled within
the framework of international law,” he said on Tuesday.

Mohammad Raiesi is confident that any conflict can be settled, if
the parties are adhering to international principles and norms.

Asked what Iran can offer if engaged as a mediator, Ambassador pointed
at good relations both with Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“All our neighbors are equal for us, we are trying to establish good
relations with all. However, we have strategic relations with some
neighbors, including Armenia. Therefore, nothing can influence our
principle viewpoint on the issue,” he added.

AZERBAIJAN NEVER CAN ANNEX WEST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE OF IRAN – IRI AMBASSADOR

NEWS.AM
February 12, 2013 | 13:39

YEREVAN.- A small country can never annex a part of the country which
is superior to its territory geographically and in terms of population,
Iran’s Ambassador said.

Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Reisi responded to a question
about Azerbaijan’s constant statements about intention to annex West
Azerbaijan province of Iran. He recalled that Azerbaijan as a state
was founded only in 1918.

“Population of West Azerbaijan exceeds the population of the Republic
of Azerbaijan. Western and Eastern Azerbaijan provinces are important
regions for Iran and are integral parts of the Islamic Republic’s,”
diplomat told reporters on Tuesday.

KHORANASHAT MONASTERY IS CRUMBLING

Tuesday, February 12, 14:06

The Let’s Not Be Silent youth initiative group is warning that
Khoranashat Monastery (XIII) in Armenia’s Tavush region is crumbling.

“Nobody is taking care of the building. The Armenian Government does
not realize how important it is to hand down our historical heritage
to the generations to come. As regards Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II, it seems he has no time to care for some monasteries far
in the highlands. What he cares for is his own residence – a new
complex he is building in the center of Yerevan,” the group says.

In the latest issue of its False Values special series, the group
depicts the crumbling monastery against the background of the active
construction of the new residence of the Caholicos.

ARMENIA’S KARINE KAZINIAN WAS REAL MARGARET THATCHER, SAYS UK BLOGGER

TERT.AM
11:15 ~U 12.02.13

The untimely death of Karine Kazinian’s, Armenia’s Ambassador to
the United Kingdom, appeared to be a major shock to many, including
both Armenians and foreigners who personally knew the diplomat. The
British blogger Iain Dale, who met Kazinian in 2009, has left a blog
story about her, which we present below:

I had the pleasure of having an uproarious chat with the Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister, a lady called Karine Ghazinyan. She’s only
been in the job six months, having previously been Armenian Ambassador
to Rumania and Germany. Armenian Ministers are not politicians –
they are appointees by the Prime Minister. She was the most untypical
diplomat I have ever met – a real Margaret Thatcher in the making
if ever I saw one. She also had a good line in jokes from the Soviet
era…

Both the American and Soviet constitutions guaranteed freedom of
speech. The difference was that the American constitution guaranteed
freedom after the speech. Boom boom. And… Damn, I can’t remember
the other one.

Back in 2011 she was appointed Armenia’s Ambassador to the UK, and
helped transform relationships between our two countries.

Anyway, I got an email this afternoon from my friend Dan Hamilton,
which rather rocked me.

I wanted to drop you a note to let you know that your excellent
description of my late friend “Karine Kazinian” (sometimes written as
“Ghazinian”) as an “Armenian Margaret Thatcher” was mentioned at her
memorial service on Thursday evening. It was one of the few happy
points in what was an horrendously difficult and sad evening. It’s
still hard to believe we won’t see her again – but I thought you’d
appreciate knowing.

DAVID BOYAJIAN’S LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF HETQ

10:56, February 12, 2013

I attended a presentation by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John
Heffern during his December 2012 speaking tour of Armenian American
communities.

This is not the first time that the Diocese, Prelacy, and other
organizations have, in effect, given diplomats and others free reign
to propagandize and abuse us.

Like other U.S. ambassadors to Armenia, such as Marie Yovanovich and
John Ordway, who also gave solo presentations, Mr. Heffern refused to
acknowledge the Armenian genocide, was deceptive concerning U.S. goals
in the Caucasus, and generally failed to provide honest responses to
the audience’s questions.

Allowing a speaker to mislead, frustrate, and demoralize a segment
of the audience is a disservice to Armenian Americans and their vital
concerns. Such events must not, therefore, be repeated.

Implicitly pro-Turkish officials such as Mr. Heffern should be invited
to speak only as part of a panel in which assertive, geopolitically
knowledgeable Armenian Americans participate.

In this way, the Armenian panelists can not only provide their own
views but also vigorously challenge the official’s claims when the
latter tries to hoodwink the audience or sidestep a question.

Both young and old Armenian Americans, especially those who may
not be politically well-informed, would benefit greatly from such a
balanced event.

The problem pertains not just to officials such as U.S. ambassadors. I
think back to those such as David L. Phillips, a U.S. State Department
consultant who headed the so-called Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission (TARC).

Several years ago, an Armenian American organization invited him to
speak. Phillips misinformed the audience by claiming, for instance,
that Armenians had no right to genocide reparations.

Our organizations must stop providing uncontested platforms for
what are, in essence, pro-Turkish propagandists, regardless of how
“prestigious” the latter may be.

If such a propagandist is unwilling to face knowledgeable Armenian
Americans in a fair panel discussion, he or she ought to be turned
away.

Sincerely, David Boyajian Belmont, MA February 11, 2013

Iranian state TV taken off air in N. America

21:35 – 09.02.13

Iran’s state-run news network Press TV has been taken off air in North
America, the English-language television station has said on its
website.

The channel said on Saturday that it had been dropped from the Galaxy
19 satellite platform that allowed it to broadcast in the United
States and Canada, without saying when it was dropped, Al Jazeera
reports.

The state-owned, 24-hour network broadcasts world news and
pro-government views beyond Iran’s borders.

The network called the move “another flagrant violation of freedom of
speech”.

It said the move was part of Western sanctions imposed on Iran over
its disputed nuclear programme, which the West fears is aimed at
producing nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear
activities are aimed at peaceful purposes.

Intelsat, the Luxembour-based company which owns Galaxy 19, has not
commented on its decision.

New sanctions announced by the US Treasury Department this week
blacklisted the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and its
director, Ezatollah Zarghami, which oversees Iran’s broadcast
channels.

In October, the Paris-based Eutelsat, one of Europe’s leading
satellite providers, cut Iranian state television and radio broadcasts
to comply with tougher European Union sanctions on the Islamic
Republic.

The Eutelsat decision hit 19 channels provided by IRIB, including
Press TV.

GEORGIA’S PM: SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY CAN BE REOPENED

By Eka Janashia (02/03/2013 issue of the CACI Analyst)

During a visit to Armenia on January 17, Georgia’s Prime Minister
Bidzina Ivanishvili opened for restoring the South Caucasus railway
(SCR) connecting Armenia to Russia via occupied Abkhazia. Ivanishvili
said that the issue can be resolved despite the troubled relations
between Moscow and Tbilisi if all engaged parties are willing to do
so.
The new Georgian government first aired the possibility of reopening
the SCR in November, much to the irritation of Baku which considers
the initiative as a challenge to its national interests. Azerbaijan’s
opposition and Abkhazia’s negative response to the proposal induced
the Georgian government to temporarily downplay the issue. However, a
statement made by the Georgian PM a month later triggered new concerns
in Baku. At that time, Ivanishvili questioned the economic value of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway (BTKR) for Georgia at an early stage of
its operation. He said that BTKR – a project that links Georgia and
Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey – may decrease the cargo turnover at
Georgia’s Black Sea ports.
Ivanishvili’s remarks induced Georgian and Azerbaijani media to
provide extensive coverage of the BTKR issue ahead of the Georgian
PM’s visit to Baku. In Azerbaijan, however, Ivanishvili had to
acknowledge that he had made `hasty’ and `politically flawed’ comments
on BTKR and that he should not have talked about it publicly but
should have discussed it privately with Azerbaijani authorities.
Nonetheless, the statement Ivanishvili made in Yerevan about the
possibility of restoring the SCR renewed the debate over railways.
Commenting on Ivanishvili’s statements, President Mikheil Saakshvili
said that they held alarming connotations. Since the BTKR would likely
reduce the viability of Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway, Saakashvili
said Russia could be expected to make far-reaching efforts to
challenge the project, though it should not do so through the Georgian
government itself.
Another problem related to reopening the SCR, according to
Saakashvili, is the fact that Russia is in control of both the Abkhaz
and Armenian segments of the railway and such a move on Georgia’s part
would indirectly acknowledge Russia’s right to the Abkhaz railway and
facilitate Moscow’s efforts to legitimize its occupation of Abkhazia.
`Georgia should not take a single step that will contribute to it,
unless the de-occupation of Abkhazia is fully resolved; or this issue
can be resolved in parallel with the de-occupation of Abkhazia and can
be discussed as part of the de-occupation,’ Saakashvili said.
Saakashvili maintained that Tbilisi does seek good relations with
Yerevan though not at the expense of Georgia’s strategic interests.
Saakashvili lamented that Ivanishvili’s statement on the BTKR had
already complicated the country’s relations with Turkey and resulted
in a suspension of Turkish investments. Any problem emerging in
Georgia’s ties with Ankara would amount to losing Georgia’s historic
chance to join NATO, he said.
Meanwhile, Sokhumi has seemingly changed its stance regarding the
restoration of SCR. Whereas in November, the Abkhaz government
categorically stated that such ploys would never lure Sokhumi into the
political and diplomatic traps set by Tbilisi, at this time it clearly
softened its tone. On January 18, the breakaway region’s president
Aleksander Ankvab said that `If there are concrete proposals [on
restoring the SCR] then we will sit down and discuss them together.’
Though it is not clear whether the SCR will be actually restored any
time soon, the continued discussions over it, especially when framed
as a competitor to the BTKR, raises questions regarding the future
viability of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey (AGT) transportation axis.
In fact, apart from the economic benefits of BTKR, it also represents
a geopolitical endeavor to boost integration between the AGT countries
and reduce Russia’s role as the major transit country between Europe
and China. Moreover, after the BTKR will be commissioned this year,
Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries will not be depend on the
Iranian Razi-Sarakhs railway for trade transit to Europe.
The BTKR project is thus intended to bring the region more autonomy
vis-à-vis both Iran and Russia. However, especially in light of
Moscow’s proposed Eurasian Union, Russia will plausibly seek to
challenge the project via efforts to undermine unity among the AGT
states that is grounded in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects.
Whereas the SCR does not directly overshadow the BTKR perspectives, it
slams Azerbaijan’s interest in marginalizing Armenia, fuels tension
between Tbilisi and Baku and hence provokes AGT disunity. In this
context, the questions Ivanishvili has raised regarding the benefits
generating from the BTKR and the possibility of restoring the SCR
could weaken the existing confidence between the AGT states and may
trigger realignment in the region.