Author: Babajanian Karo

“WE CAN SEND PEACEKEEPERS TO ANY POINT OF THE PLANET”

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 5, 2012 Wednesday

BYLINE: Margarita Alekhina, Goar Karapetyan
Source: Novye Izvestia, November 29, 2012, pp. 1, 5

INTERVIEW OF GENERAL SECRETARY OF CSTO NIKOLAI BORDYUZHA; General
Secretary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Nikolai
Bordyuzha speaks about the current activities of the organization.

For beginning see the previous issue of the bulletin

Question: It is not a secret that there are disputes between other
CSTO member states too, for example, between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Nikolai Bordyuzha: They really exist and deal, first of all, with
delimitation and demarcation of borders. You know that there are
several enclaves in Central Asia where citizens of one state live on
the territory of another state but are guided by laws of their historic
motherland. There are Tajik enclaves on the territory of Kyrgyzstan,
there are enclaves of Kyrgyzstan on the territory of Uzbekistan. There
are contradictions of water-energy nature. Along with this, these
contradictions do not have any influence on participation of countries
in activity of the organization.

Question: Is the opinion that the CSTO is not as much a normal union as
combination of relations of Russia with the post-Soviet republics just?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: This is an absolutely dilettante approach! We have
rules of consensus: if one of the countries does not agree with this
or that project, decision or operation we do not implement it. How is
it possible to speak about a combination of relations if we actually
work in the same spirit? We conduct operations for migration, drugs
and information security in the same way. If we do combat training
representatives of all countries participate in the exercises. For
example, operational groups of the CSTO member states from Central
Asian region are always present at exercises in Belarus. This year,
Belarusian contingents participated in exercises Interaction-2012
in Armenia and Indestructible Brotherhood-2012 in Kazakhstan. It is
also not true that all states orient their security system only at
Russia because citizens of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan study in military
educational institutions of Kazakhstan that helps strengthening of
borders of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Question: But Kazakhstan is not such an obvious leader as Russia.

Nikolai Bordyuzha: Of course, economic capabilities of Russia are
such that it provides air to everyone. But this does not mean that we
do not have this commonness and do not have a common activity. Even
here, in the secretariat, the governing posts are occupied by citizens
of all states. There is a collective principle everywhere, at every
stage of our activity.

Question: Some experts presume that for Russia military cooperation
with Central Asian countries is a burden because for them the CSTO
is a possibility to receive preferences from Russia without giving
anything in exchange. Is this so?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: This is another, to put it soft, incompetent
position. Everyone needs allies and friends who could help in difficult
situation. Yes, it is necessary to pay for security. We will be unable
to combat drug trafficking efficiently without Tajikistan.

We will be unable to combat extremism without the CSTO member
states because very many extremist organizations work in Russia from
territory of other countries or work from Russia in Tajikistan or
Kyrgyzstan. Yes, Russia invests some money but in exchange it receives
a possibility to act in the neighboring countries.

Question: In military conflicts of the last few years the CSTO
had position of non-interference. What is its meaning as military
alliance then?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: The CSTO does not occupy position of
non-interference. This is just another matter that leaders of the
CSTO member states treat the use of troops for resolving of crisis
situations very accurately. We have experience of the 1970s, 1980s and
1990s when appearance of Soviet or Russian troops in the hot spots has
not always resulted in resolving of crises. But non-use of force does
not mean that the CSTO does not interfere into the crisis situations.

In the south of Kyrgyzstan and in South Ossetia, Russia and other
members of the organization participated in resolving of conflicts
everywhere.

Question: But they participated only politically.

Nikolai Bordyuzha: At the example of Kyrgyzstan I will explain how
we have acted. First, we provided political support. Second, we
helped the law-enforcement agencies in additional equipment of their
units with special means and special hardware. Third, we helped the
authorities of Kyrgyzstan to solve social problems that pushed people
to protests. Seeds, construction materials, money, transport and
aviation were supplied to the republic. Simultaneously, we conducted
several operations for prevention of penetration of armament and bandit
forces to the south of Kyrgyzstan, for stopping of activity of drug
groups and for control over the information environment. Yes, we did
not send the troops but we worked very actively then. Of course, it
were not our efforts that were determining in provision of stability
but there was our contribution there. Thus, the meaning of the CSTO
is use of force when it is necessary. When there is a possibility
to resolve a conflict by a peaceful way it takes political, economic
and social measures.

Question: What should happen for the CSTO to insert the troops?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: We need to be sure that national formations do not
cope with the situation. There should be an address of the legitimate
leader of the state to the CSTO and resolution of the collective
security council. In South Ossetia in August of 2008 everyone
understood that Russia had potential and capabilities to resolve the
conflict and so the matter of use of collective forces was not even
raised. Along with this, there was a statement of foreign ministers
of the CSTO member states about support of the actions of Russia for
forcing of Georgia to peace and condemning of aggression. In the 1990s
in Tajikistan it was clear that the young authorities could not provide
stability. Collective forces of Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
were used and even Uzbekistan took part in them at the first stage.

Question: Is interference of the CSTO into the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict possible?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: Several institutions work with the matters of
Nagorno-Karabakh. For example, this is the Minsk group of the OSCE.

That is why we think that additional interference of the CSTO is not
expedient and is counter-productive.

Question: What do you think about the level of interaction with
Armenia?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: I think that it is an example of quickness
in settlement and discussion of all issues. Close contact of the
secretariat of the CSTO with the council of national defense of
Armenia and its secretary Artur Bagdasaryan contribute to this
especially much. Due to his initiatives and efforts several military
industrial enterprises are established in cooperation with Russia
in Armenia. These are service centers for repair of armament and
military hardware. Information center of the CSTO has been created
and is working successfully in Armenia.

Question: Are there “weak links” in the CSTO besides Uzbekistan?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: Uzbekistan was not a weak link and it also
participated in solving of problems. But I would not speak about some
weak links. There are certain nuances and there are special positions
of the states but this is a usual matter.

Question: New tasks of the CSTO are counteraction to illegal
migration and drug trafficking and liquidation of consequences of
emergency situations. Is it possible that this will harm the military
cooperation?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: No. We have been transforming the CSTO from a
military bloc into an international security organization since 2006.

At present, every state faces a lot of problems that undermine
its stability. These are drugs, terrorism and illegal migration
and information attacks. It is not important how situation will be
destabilized or mass disorders appear in one of the CSTO countries
with assistance of bandit forces or some propaganda. It is important
that people will suffer, which means that we should counteract such
attempts.

Question: Which events are planned in the military field?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: First, these are exercises for different purposes.

Second, this is increase of potential of the law-enforcement agencies,
special services and agencies for prevention and liquidation of
emergency situations. Third, this is coordination of our efforts. We
have coordinating council of heads of anti-drug agencies that meets
two times per year, works out unified plans and adopts resolutions
on collective reaction to these or those problems. There are similar
coordinating councils for combating of illegal migration and in the
field of prevention and liquidation of emergency situations.

Question: Authorities of Russia propose development of not as much
political or military cooperation as the economic one in the form of
the Eurasian Economic Union. To which extent is this correct?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: this is correct because economy is the basis. In the
1990s there was no economy and everything collapsed then including the
army and the law-enforcement system. However, the President develops
the system of integration in general and he is also active in the
field of security.

Question: Can some new association appear on the future on the basis
of the CSTO and Eurasian Economic Union?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: If formation of the normative base for the new
Eurasian Economic Union is completed successfully by 2015 we will
have two models of further cooperation. The first model is like
in Europe: the European Union that is occupied with political,
economic and social issues separately and NATO that is occupied with
security separately. The second is uniting of the economic bloc and
the security bloc.

Question: The military bloc of the European Union acts in the countries
of Europe along with NATO. Is such forma suitable for you?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: We are in an advantageous position because we can
look at experience of the European Union and NATO and not to follow
the path of trial and error. I know about the military dimension of
the EU but I do not think that parallels in the field of provision
of security are useful.

Question: You have said recently, “The CSTO has a notion about the
external enemy.” What kind of enemy it is?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: This is a whole complex of threats. This is a
possibility of negative influence on the situation in our countries
on the part of Afghanistan. These are such traditional challenges
as drug trafficking, growing activeness of extremist and terrorist
groups, especially in Central Asia. This is the organized crime that
is striving to come to power. This is trade in people and children.

Question: Anyway, these threats are abstract. Are there certain states
that threaten us?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: I have said many times that threat of external
military conflict is small now. Countries face not these problems now.

Thirty thousand people die from drugs in our country annually. Is
this an illusory threat?

But if we speak about countries, of course, Afghanistan causes
concern, terrorist and extremist groups that are going to broaden
their activity in countries of Central Asian region are based there,
the main drug traffic comes from there.

Question: Is the CSTO prepared for departure of NATO forces from
there in 2014?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: Our main task is creation of a system of rapid
response to challenges and threats on the part of Afghanistan after
withdrawal of multinational forces from there by 2014.

Question: Is activity of the CSTO outside of the limits of the member
states possible?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: In accordance with the agreement ratified by our
countries, we can use our collective peacekeeping forces outside of the
member states of the CSTO under a mandate of the UN Security Council
if such resolution is issued by the collective security council of
the CSTO. For example, in Cote d’Ivoire.

Question: What about the Middle East?

Nikolai Bordyuzha: You drive me smoothly to the question if we will
be able to insert peacekeeping forces into Syria? If there is an
inquiry of the UN Security Council and agreement of our presidents
we will send our peacekeeping forces to any point of the planet.

[Translated from Russian]

FAMILY OF DECEASED SOLDIER: DEATH OF SOLDIER ON CONSCIENCE OF ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER

arminfo
Thursday, December 6, 13:20

Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan tries to distort facts of
the disease and the reasons of death of a soldier Arthur Kocharyan,
says the statement by the soldier’s family.

“Ohanyan told media a day before that he had been doing everything
to save the soldier since the first day of his disease, which does
not correspond to reality. But after the doctors confirmed that the
treatment is possible only abroad, the Ministry asked the soldier’s
family to find the most reasonable treatment option, promising to
cover the necessary costs. The cheapest treatment in the amount of
nearly $67,000 turned out to be available in Moscow. Upon knowing
the price, officials at the Ministry of Defense reportedly asked
Kocharyan’s family to look for sponsors, saying that they can provide
no more than 3 million Drams ($7,500). The Defense Ministry adopted
the decision to move the soldier to Moscow for treatment too late. If
Arthur Kocharyan were delivered to Moscow in early November, his life
would be saved,” the statement reads. Afterwards, the family applied
to No Silence Group, which published a relevant video. “After all,
the minister, honest at first sight, keeps saying that the Ministry
did everything necessary,” the family complains.

The family of the soldier urged President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
to draw conclusions regarding the soldier’s death that is heavy on the
Ministry’s conscience. The family promised to give a press conference
to prevent similar tragedies in future.

Armenian soldier Arthur Kocharyan who suffered from a serious blood
disease and was moved to Moscow for treatment in November, died on
December 3, “No Silence” Civil Initiative reports. Citing doctors,
the soldier’s father Romik Kocharyan told the Civil Initiative
representatives that the Defense Ministry adopted the decision to move
the soldier to Moscow for treatment too late. The disease, he said,
was detected 10 months after Kocharyan was enlisted to the army. The
diagnosis was made with a month delay.

ARMENIAN ARCHITECTS COMPLAIN TO PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH OF CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION AROUND GANDZASAR MONASTERY

arminfo
Thursday, December 6, 18:12

The Armenian Association of Architects Restoring Historical Monuments
has complained to Presidents of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Serzh
Sargsyan and Bako Sahakyan of the continued cladding of the stonewall
around Gandzasar Monastery with marble slabs.

In their letter to the Presidents the architects demand that the
activities be stopped right away.

“Stopped in 2011, following the protests of experts, the project has
now been started again, which means that certain government officials
do not care for the opinion of experts,” the architects say.

Located in the village of Vank, Nagorno-Karabakh, Gandzasar was the
residence and sepulture of the Hasan-Jalalyan family, the rulers of
the Princedom of Khachen. In XIV it was turned into the residence of
the Catholicos of Aghvanq. An inscription inside the monastery says
that it was built in 1216-1238.

ONE MORE ROMANIAN SISTER CITY WITH ARMENIA

December 04, 2012 | 17:41

The local council of Targu Ocna city in Bacau county of Romania has
decided to agree to the protocol with the community of Vayk in Vayots
Dzor marz of Armenia, and allow the Mayor of the city, Silochi Stefan
to sign a Treaty of Friendship.

The agreement to sign the treaty between Targu Ocna and Vayk has
been achieved during the visit of the Ambassador of Armenia Hamlet
Gasparyan, on November 12, 2012.

The agreement, which has been already signed by the Mayor of Targu Ocna
city, includes visits from both communities, social institutions,
communication between trade companies, development of economic
relations, environmental protection and cooperation in other spheres.

4,500 Families To Remain Without Homes With Government To Consider The Program Completed – Shirak Centre

05.12.12

Upon the completion of the 2008-2013 program on provision of apartments
to families deprived of their homes after 1988 disastrous earthquake,
4,500 families living in Gyumri shacks will still remain without
apartments.

The calculations have been made by the chairman of Shirak Centre NGO
Vahan Tumasyan, who speaking to Tert.am said they are in permanent
dispute with the Urban Development Ministry.

Tumasyan said there are two groups of homeless people in Gyumri. The
first group comprises the families registered by November 1, 2008
whose list is unchangeable and by providing apartments to 420 of them
next year the government will think that it has compensated to 3,232
families and no family has remained in the list.

“It will make 3,232 as 1,056 got apartments in 2010 and 1,756 this year
and 420 will get in 2013 but still about 1,000 families will remain
of which 400 have been rejected and the others cannot be compensated
by 2008-2013 program as they have lost not apartments but houses,”
Tumasyan said.

He said there are also 3,500 families not registered in the list
of homeless people and not considered the ones who have lost their
apartments during the earthquake which means they will not be
compensated. They are living in rented shacks and breakaway buildings.

Summing the above mentioned numbers, Tumasyan concludes that after
the implementation of the programs, next year, 25 years after the
earthquake, 4,500 homeless families will still remain in Gyumri.

SZENENHAFT TROOP TO PRESENT GRIMM BROTHERS’ TALES IN YEREVAN

18:55, 6 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Szenenhaft theatrical troop which
join the students of Yerevan State, Slavonic and other linguistic
universities will present Grimm uber Bord performances. The premier of
the performances based on the tales of Brothers Grimm will take place
in the Yerevan State Puppet Theater on December 7. As Armenpress was
informed from the troop itself this time they had chosen children’s
fairy tales of Grimm and created interesting, humorous and at the
same time critical play which events reach our days. Szenenhaft is
a project of cooperation between the countries of German language
and Armenia. It has started its activity in 2012. The students are
at the core of the project.

ARF APPLICATION ON THE AGENDA OF DECEMBER 7 SESSION OF THE ETHICS AD HOC COMMITTEE

Factinfo
12/05/2012 – 15:04

The NA Ethics Committee will discuss at the session of December 7
the questions regarding the examination of the applications of the
ARF fraction leader Armen Rustamyan and citizen M. Patvakanyan. We
were informed from the agenda of the session of December 7 published
at the webpage of the indicated Committee.

As a result of the examination the Committee will have to make a
decision on either starting an investigation on the grounds of the
application or reject it.

As ‘Pastinfo.am’ informed earlier, the NA ARF fraction referred to
the temporary ethics committee on November 28 with the request to
discuss and make a relevant decision regarding the violations of the
ethics rules provided by the Article 6.1 Section 2, Clauses a) b)
c) and demonstrated by the non-registered MPs at the extraordinary
session of the NA on November 21. The list of the MPs was attached
to the application.

It was noted in the application that the violation of the ethics
rules was the absence from the above-mentioned session. ‘Whereas, in
accordance with Article 6 Section 1 Clause a) of the NA regulatory-law
the MPs must be present at the sessions’ is stated in the application.

According to the applicant, each of those MPs hindered the
realization of the NA functions prescribed by the Constitution and
in fact contributed to the failure of the calling and holding the NA
extraordinary session prescribed by Article 70 of the Constitution.

‘Such a behavior and its organized nature can become basis to talk
about the NA inaction’.

Let us recall that at the NA extraordinary session on November 21 by
the initiative of 48 NA MPs it was expected to discuss the package
of the law projects about making changes and additions to the law on
the population state register of the RA Electoral and Criminal Codes,
the authors of which were the members of the ANC fraction. However
the session did not take place, since the quorum prescribed by the
NA regulatory-law was not ensured: only 46 MPs registered instead of
the 66 required.

Let us recall that in the light of the failure of the NA extraordinary
session the ANC fraction initiated a collection of signatures to
apply to the Constitutional Court. As the ANC fraction leader Levon
Zurabyan informed the journalists on December 4, the initiative already
collected 34 signatures instead of 27 required. The ‘Heritage’ and
ANC fractions fully singed the sample, as well as some MPs of the
‘Prosperous Armenia fraction.

The ANC intends to demand from the CC to declare Article 44 Section 4
of the NA regulatory-law, regarding holding extraordinary session of
the NA, incompatible with Articles 70 and 71 of the RA Constitution
and void.

ARMENIA’S AIRSPACE INVIOLABLE – DEFENSE MINISTER

December 05, 2012 | 15:09

YEREVAN.- Armenian Defense Minister attended on Wednesday the opening
ceremony of a military town.

Ohanyan said the ministry carries out construction work and invites
tenders every year. He said they are creating good conditions for
the servicemen.

Construction work and improvement of military service conditions are
a priority for the army and Armenia, he told reporters

“Airspace of our country is inviolable and air defense forces are
able to perform any tasks and protect the country from aggression,”
Minister said, adding that air defense forces repeatedly demonstrated
their skills during the exercise, including the CSTO drills.

ARMENIA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VOTES TO APPROVE STATE BUDGET FOR FY 2012

armradio.am
17:05 05.12.2012

The Armenian National Assembly voted 71 to 37 today to approve the
draft state budget for Fiscal year 2013. The document was supported
by the coalition factions – Republican Party and Orinats Yerkir. The
rest of the factions voted against the draft.

In the final version of the 2012 budget the revenues total 1 trillion
32 billion and 800 million AMD, the expenditures make 1 trillion,
152 billion and 600 million AMD.

ARMENIAN PM AND EURASIAN ECONOMIC COMMISSION’S BOARD CHAIRMAN REFERRED TO THE REGIONAL INTEGRATION PROCESS

13:00, 5 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan hosted the delegation headed Chairman of the Eurasian
Economic Commission’s board Viktor Khristenko. As Information and
Public Relations department of the Government informed Armenpress,
the sides have discussed the prospects of cooperation between Armenia
and Eurasian Economic Commission and its main directions.

The interlocutors dwelled on regional integration processes, including
Customs Union. Viktor Khristenko presented Armenian Executive Body
head the processes taking place within the framework Customs Union,
achievements and results, as well as issues refer to the legal field.

Speaking about European integration Prime Minister Sargsyan stated
the negotiations over Deep Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)
are currently in the process and our country has intentions to
complete it in 2013. PM Sargsyan underscored Armenia is interested
in the integration processes and considers it in the point of view
of completing it .