Author: Babajanian Karo

OFFENSIVE PREPARED IN ARMENIA
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:29:08 – 25/07/2012

The issue of the Eurasian Union seems to become always more relevant
on the Armenian social-political agenda, since a Russian propaganda
attack is being worked out to promote the Eurasian Union idea.

The basis for this attack has been prepared by the Speaker of the
Russian State Duma Sergey Narishkin in Yerevan stating that the
confrontation of the Eurasian Union and the European Union is false
and artificial, since the Eurasian Union is a structure aimed at
integration into the European Union.

So, he formed the background for the Russian attack which will be
launched by Putin in Armenia. Narishkin’s political statements tried
to prevent any confrontation with the European Union, any dilemma,
creating a field for unilateral discussions.

This is a resourceful trick when at the beginning it is stressed
that it does not contradict to the European Union and the European
integration, and later on the discussion on the positive and negative
prospects of the Eurasian Union are imposed. No doubt, Russia’s
strategic issue relating to this question is just to eliminate any
comparison with the European Union, while if after, negative opinions
on the Eurasian Union prevail anyway, it is not a problem for Russia.

They could be targets for the next propaganda phase, moreover,
the union is planned to form in 2015. Before, Moscow will manage to
fulfill several propaganda stages and “clean” the opposition.

Taking into account the fact that the pro-Russian moods, though they
are decreasing, are still much in Armenia, it will not be difficult
for Russia to gradually clean the retort.

Moreover, quite influential forces will be Russia’s allies, which
have big media and propaganda resources. Say, the Prosperous Armenia
Party is going to attend the dissemination of the information and
the discussion. It is the second large force in Armenia in terms of
resources and scales. PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan is the Chairman of
the Armenian-Russian NGOs union, which assumes the task of spreading
the idea on the Eurasian Union in Armenia.

The RPA is engaged in providing platforms for Russia in the propaganda
field. It has been recently stated that a conference with the
participation of Yedinaya Rossia dedicated to the creation of the Club
of CIS ruling parties will be held in Yerevan. No doubt this club will
be one of the channels of propaganda in favor of the Eurasian Union.

What can be opposed to this expansion? Naturally, there will be
frameworks which will try to express a different opinion and show the
dangers and threats hidden under the beautiful statements. Heritage,
Free Democrats and the Republic parties also will try to ensure the
existence of a different opinion. But it is uncertain what position
the Armenian National Congress will assume.

The position of the Republican Party is also interesting. On the
one hand this party supports Euro integration, on the other hand,
it creates propaganda platforms for Yedinaya Rossia.

It is clear that the authorities can’t oppose to Russia and refuse
supporting it roughly. On the other hand, the public opinion may be
decisive in this case, and Moscow, having the support of a series
of political groups, and the prevalence of pro-Russian moods in
the society, may exert pressure making the power and even Europe
reconcile with the reality that the European family will have to
wait long for Armenia, which will go there only hand in hand with the
“elder brother”.

In this case, the Armenian authorities may expect risks from the West.

The Armenian power used to get sheltered from the Western risks with
the help of the Russian umbrella. But now, serious political and
social, information and technological changes are happening in the
world which change the societies and raise the issue on the necessity
to change the behavior of the elite. Under the influence of these
changes, new public processes are underway in Armenia which don’t
allow the Russian umbrella open like it has always happened.

Sure, the possible prospect of progress of stoppage of the Eurasian
Union idea does not mean the West will seize relations with Armenia.

It will continue working with the Armenian authorities taking into
account some objective realities. Just, the Armenian power will no
more be considered a partner of reforms policy. In the external sense,
the reforms will go on but the power, in particular Serzh Sargsyan,
will be considered an object of reforms and not a subject. This
circumstance can’t but have consequences despite the time and distance.

IRAN’S ATTORNEY GENERAL TO VISIT ARMENIA

news.am
July 25, 2012 | 17:45

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan received on
Wednesday the newly appointed Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Raiesi,
Prosecutor General’s Office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Hovsepyan expressed hope that positive experience of close cooperation
established between the Office and the Iranian Embassy will serve
for a basis for broader cooperation during Ambassador’s tenure. The
sides discussed issues on cooperation in legal field, in particular,
drug trafficking and smuggling.

The Ambassador thanked for the warm reception and emphasized the
importance of close mutual cooperation in fight against crimes. He also
said that Iran’s Attorney General will visit Armenia this year, which
will open a new chapter in Armenia-Iran cooperation in legal field.

ELECTION WRONGDOINGS REPORTED IN THREE REGIONS OF KARABAKH

tert.am
25.07.12

The elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic saw massive
frauds in three regions, according to the proxies of Vitaly Balasanyan,
the main challenger of the country’s re-elected president in the July
19 polls.

The ex-presidential runner has said in a statement that Bako Sahakyan
garnered almost 100% votes in the regions of Kashatagh, Shahumyan
and Hadrut.

The video footage below shows how election commission members Nor
Erkej, a village in the Shahumyan region, organizean open voting.

OSCE MONITORING IN ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI BORDER PASSED WITHOUT INCIDENTS

ARMENPRESS
25 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS: According to the mandate of personal
representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-office on July 25 the
next observer mission was held on Armenian-Azerbaijani border. From
Armenian-Azerbaijani border the reporter of Armenpress informs that
from Armenian side the observer mission was held near the village
of Aigepar in Tavush region. From Azerbaijani side it was held near
Alibeyli village of Tovuz region.

>From Azerbaijani side the observer mission was implemented by field
assistants of Special representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-office
William Pryor and Hristo Hristov.

>From Armenian side the monitoring was carried by personal
representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk
and his field assistants Antal Herdic and Irji Aberle.

The representatives of two sides which carried the monitoring agreed
to secure the keeping of cease-fire regime.

The monitoring which was carried in distance of 300 meters lasted 6
minutes from 11:23 to 11:29.

AN ITALIAN EXPERT URGES “CALL” THE TOURISTS TO SYUNIK BY THE INTERNET

ARMENPRESS
25 July, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS: Syunik province has great opportunities
for the development of ecotourism. This tendency is mostly observed
in the north of the province, Tatev, whereas wild nature , historical
and cultural monuments in the southern parts of the province can also
serve a basis for the development of tourism , Armenpress reports.

Italian expert Nadyan Paskual , the interim consultant of USA
International Development Agency (USAID) ,” Enterprise development
and market Competitiveness” program and OSCE programs Syunik Office
carried out studies and identified tourism development opportunities.

The Italian expert considers there is still a great deal of work to be
done to boom this particular type of tourism. For that aim first of all
it is necessary to carry out road rehabilitation works, develop tourism
information services, increase the ability of the residents aimed at
cooperating by foreign language. Reportedly tourism development in
its turn will boost local business, especially the private sector.

The project launched by the support of OSCE also stipulates organizing
training courses with the participation of hotel complexes, restaurant
employees and guides.

” I enjoyed my visit to Syunik province, I had not the least idea
about the area since the day of my arrival” Italian expert noted.

Nadya Paskual stated it is necessary to develop tourism by the
internet, “call” the tourists by attractive and saturated information:
the information about Syunik ” miracles” is too meager.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN EFFECTUE UNE VISITE EN FRANCE LES 24 ET 25 JUILLET

Publie le : 25-07-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette information publiee sur le site du Ministère des
affaires etrangères et europeennes le 24 juillet 2012.

Legende photo: Laurent Fabius et Edward Nalbandian (24.07.12) Photo :
F. de la Mure

Ministère des affaires etrangères et europeennes

Armenie – Entretien du ministre des Affaires etrangères et de la
ministre chargee des Francais de l’etranger avec M. Edward Nalbandian
(24 juillet 2012)

Le ministre des Affaires etrangères de la Republique d’Armenie, M.
Edward Nalbandian, effectue une visite en France les 24 et 25 juillet
2012. Il sera recu par le ministre des Affaires etrangères et la
ministre deleguee chargee des Francais de l’etranger, ainsi que par
la presidente de la commission des affaires etrangères de l’Assemblee
nationale.

Cette visite sera l’occasion de souligner l’importance de la
relation franco-armenienne et de donner une nouvelle impulsion a
notre cooperation.

Les deux ministres evoqueront les negociations en cours pour trouver
un règlement pacifique au conflit du Haut-Karabagh, le renforcement
des echanges bilateraux, notamment dans le domaine economique, ainsi
que la situation regionale dans le Caucase du sud et au Moyen-Orient.

Lire aussi:

Fabius : langue de bois et langage des signes ?

Ankara decidera de la politique interieure de la France

Qui denoncera le Goulag turc ?

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Ministère des affaires etrangères et europeennes

LE PRESIDENT DE LA DOUMA VEUT DEVELOPPER LES LIENS ECONOMIQUES AVEC L’ARMENIE
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 25 juillet 2012

Le president de la Douma de Russie, Sergueï Narychkine, a promis
de developper des liens economique et politique avec les autres
anciennes republiques sovietiques lors d’une visite officielle
en Armenie mardi 24 juillet 2012. Sergueï Narychkine a parle d’un
projet eurasien avec le president Serge Sarkissian et d’autres hauts
fonctionnaires armeniens. ” Le leadership de la Republique d’Armenie
suit attentivement le developpement de ce projet eurasien et cherche
a determiner sa place dans ce projet, sachant que la zone eurasienne
permettra de developper des relations economiques “, a-t-il declare
aux journalistes après la pourparlers.

Narychkine semble se referer a l’idee d’une Union eurasiatique,
dirigee par la Russie, avec les anciennes republiques sovietiques.

Cette idee a ete presentee par le president Vladimir Poutine l’annee
dernière. M. Poutine a declare que cette union serait construite autour
de l’actuelle union douanière de la Russie, de la Bielorussie et du
Kazakhstan. Narychkine a declare que le commerce entre les trois pays a
bondi de 3% l’an dernier grâce a l’union douanière. Cette augmentation
montre que les efforts visant a mettre en place un espace economique
commun dans l’ex-Union sovietique portent leurs fruits.

Le gouvernement armenien a explicitement exclu l’adhesion a l’union
douanière, en faisant valoir que l’Armenie n’a pas de frontière
commune avec l’un de ses Etats membres. Les sources officielles
armeniennes n’ont fait aucune mention specifique de l’union dans
les communiques de presse sur les reunions avec le president Serge
Sarkissian, le Premier ministre Tigran Sarkissian et le president
du parlement Hovik Abrahamian. L’administration de Serge Sarkissian
s’est engagee a poursuivre ses relations avec la Russie parce que
cette dernière est la pierre angulaire de la securite de l’Armenie.

Narychkine a fait l’eloge du developpement du commerce russo-armenien
et a souligne le fait que la Russie est le partenaire de l’Armenie et
le premier investisseur etranger. Il a egalement note avec satisfaction
qu’il a recu l’assurance du Parlement armenien pour un accord de
libre-echange qui a ete signe par la Russie, l’Armenie et six autres
ex-Etats sovietiques a Saint-Petersbourg en octobre dernier.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTY BLAMES VERDICT AGAINST ACTIVISTS AS ‘ILLEGAL AND BRUTAL’

Vestnik Kavkaza
July 25 2012
Russia

Opposition Republic party’s political council issued a statement on
the verdict against the activists of the opposition Armenian National
Congress bloc, News.am reports.

The ruling regime continues its political persecution and the policy
encouraging law enforcers’ violence, the statement says.

A verdict against activists of the opposition Armenian National
Congress bloc was delivered last Friday.

Tigran Arakelyan was sentenced to six years, Artak Karapetyan to three,
Sargis Gevorgyan and Davit Kiramijyan to two years in jail.

The party labeled the verdict as “illegal and brutal” calling the
activists “victims of political persecution.”

MORE ARMENIANS FLEE SYRIA AMID FIGHTING IN ALEPPO
Naira Bulghadarian

Armenialiberty.org

July 25 2012

Ethnic Armenians continued to flee Syria on Wednesday as heavy fighting
intensified in Aleppo, the country’s second largest city and economic
and cultural center of its 80,000-strong Armenian community.

About 170 of them arrived in Yerevan on board a Syrian Air aircraft
early in the morning. The plane flew back to Aleppo shortly afterwards
as Syrian government troops reportedly massed around the city partly
controlled by rebels.

News reports citing Syrian opposition sources said that the Syrian
army pounded rebel fighters there with artillery and attack helicopters
throughout Tuesday. According to Reuters, the rebels battled government
forces by the gates of the historic old city.

“When we reached the airport the situation was very chaotic. There
was gunfire,” said Tsovinar Khangikian, an Armenian woman from Aleppo
who arrived at Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport together with her sister
and their children.

â~@~Kâ~@~K”Until now things were fine. There were some problems around
[Aleppo] but things were quiet in the city,” she told RFE/RL’s Armenian
service (Azatutyun.am) before bursting into tears.

“We have fled shelling,” said Khangikian’s tearful sister. “We
have come here to take some rest and then return and carry on with
our life.”

Both women said they left their husbands behind to look after their
properties in Aleppo.

Speaking on camera, other Aleppo Armenians painted less dramatic
pictures of the crisis in Syria. “We are having hard but not
catastrophic times,” said one man. “Our army is strong.”

Officials from the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora were for the first
time on hand to give the arriving Syrian information booklets and
asking them to fill out questionnaires on their personal data and
the length and purpose of their stay in Armenia.

About 100 other Syrian nationals, virtually all of them ethnic
Armenian, boarded Syrian Air’s return flight to Aleppo despite the
apparently worsening situation in and around the city. About half
of them were young people who travelled to Armenia two weeks ago to
participate in a festival organized by the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU), a leading Diaspora charity.

Margarit Avetian, another returning passenger, left Syria early this
month to receive Armenian citizenship. “The situation seems to be a
bit worse than it was before we came to Armenia,” she told RFE/RL’s
Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

Avetian got her Armenian passport after what she described as
a bureaucratic hassle in Yerevan. “The bottom line is that I got
it. I’m pleased and proud to have a passport,” she said, adding that
she and her relatives are increasingly contemplating a permanent move
to Armenia.

According to immigration authorities in Yerevan, some 6,000 Syrian
Armenians have applied for Armenian citizenship since the start of a
popular uprising against President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in early
2011. Some of them are thought to have already taken refuge in their
ancestral homeland. There is no government data on the number of such
persons, though.

Hampig Shimshirian, a businessman from Damascus, also arrived at
Zvartnots on Wednesday. Shimshirian said he owns a clothing factory
and two houses in the Syrian capital and is now planning to stay
in Armenia with his family for good. “We always wanted to settle in
Armenia and the war has accelerated our move,” he explained.

Harut Kakajian, another businessman, imported Chinese toys to Syria
and neighboring Lebanon before settling in Yerevan with his family
last week. “Business [in Syria] has come to a halt,” he said. “There
are goods but nobody buys them.”

Kakajian acknowledged that doing business and finding other work in
Armenia is also challenging. “If there were jobs here there would be
more people moving here,” he said.

The Armenian government is being increasingly accused by domestic
opposition and other groups of providing little assistance to Syria’s
Armenian community and especially its members relocating to Armenia.

Government officials reject the criticism.

“Relevant government bodies are prepared to provide all kinds of
assistance to those Armenians who come to Armenia,” insisted Firdus
Zakarian, head of a Ministry of Diaspora task force that was set up
recently to deal with the refugee influx.

â~@~Kâ~@~KSpeaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian service on Tuesday, Zakarian
dismissed opposition calls for the government to make contingency
plans for evacuating Syrian Armenians en masse. He said such an
operation could only spread panic in the community. The situation in
Syria still does not warrant an Armenian exodus, the official said.

Still, Zakarian’s ministry did ask the Armavia national airline last
week to increase the frequency of its weekly Yerevan-Aleppo flights
and lower the price of their tickets. Armavia replied that it is
ready to do that if it receives financial support from the government.

Also last week, Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobian met with
representatives of major Diaspora Armenian charities, including the
AGBU, to discuss ways of helping the Syrian Armenians. According to
Zakarian, they expressed readiness to provide financial and other
assistance.

ARMENIA CONTENT WITH COOPERATION DYNAMICS WITH RF – SPEAKER

ITAR-TASS
July 24, 2012 Tuesday 01:23 PM GMT+4
Russia

Armenia is “pleased with the dynamics of the development of strategic
and allied cooperation with Russia in all spheres,” speaker of the
republic’s Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan said, welcoming the delegation
of the Russian State Duma lower house of parliament, headed by the
house chairman Sergei Naryshkin.

“The parliamentary dimension is an important element of the
Armenian-Russian relations,” the speaker stated, expressing readiness
of the Armenian side “for the most active and constructive work with
our Russian colleagues.” “Our lawmakers have all the conditions,
and most importantly, the desire and disposition for that, the more
so that parliamentary elections have already been held in Russia and
Armenia,” said Abrahamyan.

“Our relationship at the interstate level has a special nature, and
this factor determines the quality of inter-parliamentary cooperation
between the National Assembly of Armenia and the Federal Assembly of
Russia,” the head of the Armenian parliament pointed out.

Hovik Abrahamyan is certain that the results of Sergei Naryshkin’s
visit to Yerevan “will directly affect the further deepening
of Armenian-Russian cooperation.” “In recent years, the level of
parliamentary relations of our countries has increased significantly,
and bilateral inter-parliamentary contacts have become intense,”
said Abrahamyan. “Meetings at various levels and, above all, between
the chairmen of our legislative bodies, largely contribute to this.”

The speaker recalled that a delegation of the Russian Federation
Council upper house of parliament, headed by speaker Valentina
Matviyenko has recently paid an official visit to Yerevan, and now
a major delegation of the State Duma has come here. “Such high-level
meetings provide ample opportunities for the discussion of the further
development of inter-parliamentary cooperation,” Abrahamyan said.

The speaker particularly stressed “the importance of the
Inter-parliamentary Commission on Cooperation between the National
Assembly of Armenia and the Federal Assembly of Russia.” According to
him, “thanks to the commission’s long years of work, parliamentary
relations between Russia and Armenia have acquired a more systemic
nature and created the legal framework serving the whole range” of
Armenian-Russian intergovernmental cooperation. Hovik Abrahamyan
is “confident that the new membership of the Inter-parliamentary
Commission will successfully continue its mission.”