Author: Babajanian Karo

ARF-D Discusses Wide Range Of Issues With Japanese, British and EU Officials

March 14, 2012

On March 9, 2012 Ara Nranyan, Head of the Armenia-Japan friendship
group and Lilit Galstyan, both members of the ARF-D Parliamentary
Faction had a meeting with Minister Plenipotentiary Keydzi Idei who
serves as Deputy Head of Japan’s foreign mission to the Russian
Federation.
The interlocutors discussed about the development perspectives of the
Armenia-Japan bilateral relations and the necessity of developing the
parliamentary format. Furthermore, they exchanged views on regional
issues such as the Mountainous Karabakh conflict’s settlement and the
Armenian-Turkish relations.
The ARF-D MPs expressed their gratitude for the support given by Japan
in various fields, to Armenia. Galstyan and Nranyan assessed the
importance of Japanese corporations investing in Armenia as well as
the participation of Japanese organizations in the strategic planning,
taking place in Armenia. Among other topics, both sides examined ways
of cultural and educational cooperation between the two states and the
need to deepen the armeno-japanese interparliamentary collaboration.
They all welcomed the prospect of opening embassies in their
respective countries. Finally, both agreed to continue the efforts of
developing the bilateral relations.

On the same day, ARF-D Bureau member, Vahan Hovhannesyan and Giro
Manoyan, Director of the International Secretariat, welcomed Katherine
Leach the newly appointed Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland and Naira Soultanyan, Political Officer
at the ARF-D Bureau “Kristapor Mikaelyan” premises.
During the meeting that lasted more than an hour, the sides discussed
about the upcoming, May 6 parliamentary elections, the Armeno-Turkish
relations and the Mountainous Karabakh conflict. Hovhannesyan and
Manoyan elaborated on the ARF-D views and political developments’
assessments.
The ARF-D representatives thanked Ambassador Leach for visiting the
premises and on behalf of the party, wished her good luck on her new
assignment.

On March 14, 2012, ARF-D Bureau Chairman Hrant Margaryan, Bureau
member Levon Lazarian and Director of the International Secretariat
Giro Manoyan welcomed the Head of EU Delegation in Armenia, Ambassador
Traian Laurentiu Hristea, the Head of the Political, Economic, Press
and Information Section, First Counsellor Ïnno Simons and Political
Officer Andrej Didenko, at the “Kristapor Mikaelyan” premises. The May
6 parliamentary elections were the main item they discussed about. The
ARF-D representatives presented the party’s positions on several
matters. They also agreed with the Ambassador’s suggestion, to include
ARF-D in the series of meetings to be held in the future with EU
member-states’ Ambassadors.

“Court” of green activists rules dismantling pavilions in Mashtots
Park within a 10-day period

arminfo
Saturday, March 17, 21:32

On March 17 the “court” of civil initiatives ruled that the
Municipality of Yerevan should start improving the Mashtots Park in
line with the general outlay of
Yerevan and should dismantle the trade pavilions within a 10-day
period. The verdict was presented by Arthur Grigoryan, member of the
Save Teghout initiative group.

To recall, on March 15 the Government of Armenia approved the draft
decision “On granting authorization to Yerevan Mayor” under which
Mashtots Park in Yerevan will be parceled out for development purposes
for 3 years. After expiry of the given term, the commercial pavilions
in the park will be liquidated for implementation of the Old Yerevan
project.

The green activists protested against the decision of the Government
and stated their willingness to continue the protest actions in the
park until the pavilions were dismantled.

Armenian Military Police assigns investigation on beating soldier

news.am
March 17, 2012 | 12:35

The chief of Armenia’s Military Police has assigned an investigation
in order to find out the truth concerning information stated in an
announcement spread by Armenian youth initiative `We shall not keep
silence’, the spokesperson of the Minister of Justice Davit Karapetyan
told the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am commenting on the statement
in which it is stated that soldier Arsen Grigoryan was cruelly beaten
in the Military Police, taken to the unit in that condition and sent
to Sevan.

According to him, the information which had appeared in the media
stating that the condition of Arsen Grigoryan has gotten bad
unexpectedly and he has been removed to the military hospital is not
true.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am had informed earlier, `We shall not keep
Silence’ youth initiative spread a message stating that a scandalous
incident has occurred in the Armenian Military Police on Thursday.

The statement reads:

`One month ago (pay attention to this fact) because of a fight several
soldiers were detained and taken to the Military Police, were they
were beaten up.

A soldier called Arsen got the worst injuries and in order `to
silence’ him he was taken back to the military unit and was sent back
to his hometown Sevan. He was ordered not to tell anyone about the
incident.

The most disgusting part of this incident is that the commander of the
military unit agreed to take the injured soldier and send him back in
order not the exacerbate relations with the military police.

Asren was connected with the fight one month ago just as a victim.’

ARMENIA AND GERMANY HAVE BUILT CLOSE RELATIONS: GERMAN FM SAYS

/ARKA/
MARCH 16, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. Over the past 20 years Armenia and Germany
have built close and eliable relations, German Foreign Minister Guido
Westerwelle said today in Yerevan during a joint press conference
with Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian.

“I am very glad to be here for the first time as minister of foreign
affairs. This is a wonderful opportunity, as we are going to mark 20
years of diplomatic relations with Armenia, and we want to celebrate
this anniversary at a proper level,” Westerwelle said.

He said Germany will contribute to the development of Armenia as a
state of law “because it will increase investments and strengthen
its economy.”

Westerwelle said that Germany also supports the deepening of relations
between Armenia and the EU. Edward Nalbandian for his part said that
over 20 years both countries have made significant progress in the
development of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

“The trade turnover between our countries amounted to about $400
million, we are also expanding the legal framework and have signed
30 documents,” he said.

Germany’s foreign minister arrived in Armenia at the invitation of
his Armenian colleague. He is scheduled to also meet with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan. His itinerary includes also a visit to
Armenian Genocide Memorial to remember the victims of the 1915
genocide.

RECOGNITION OF THE NKR DE FACTO INDEPENDENCE CAN BECOME AN ALTERNATIVE
Ruzan Ishkhanian

Thursday, 15 March 2012 10:51

Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Vahram
ATANESIAN presented the report ‘Nagorno Karabakh as an Entity Balancing
the Geopolitical Interests in the South Caucasus’ at the International
Conference recently held at the NKR National Assembly.

Presenting the Artsakh Republic as an independent military-political
entity in the region, the speaker justified its role, viewing it as
the only possibility of maintaining the balance and preventing any
radicalism in the forces’ correlation.

The Karabakh Movement is the outcome of the ‘revaluation’ policy of
the past century 80-90s in the Soviet totalitarian system. To suppose
that it would have been possible to convene a session of the Regional
Soviet in Stepanakert and adopt a resolution without ‘perestroika’
and ‘glasnost’ means to display disrespect towards all the devotees
of the anterior period. It isn’t justified, first of all, from the
historical viewpoint. The Azerbaijani party’s inadequate response
to the issue disclosed the non-proportionality of the geopolitical
compromises between the Soviet Union and the West.

In his report, Vahram Atanesian cited Arif Yunusov’s research of
‘Islam in Azerbaijan’, where the realities prove that ‘informal’,
‘shadow’ Islam was widely spread in the 70-80s of the last century
in the neighboring republic, to which tribute was paid also by the
communist elite. Simultaneously, Pan-Turkism was viable in Azerbaijan.

“If we compare the situation with the public sentiment in NK in the
same period, which were quite conservative, then the Azerbaijani
party’s response to the nationwide outburst in Artsakh in 1987-1988
should become perceptible”, emphasized the Artsakh political
scientist. “Turkey believed that under the cover of the so-called
proletarian internationalism the decades-old brutal struggle against
the Artsakh national self-consciousness had given its results. It
was one of the motivations that official Baku had initially hinted
that the debate on the status of Nagorno Karabakh was not so much
ideological as military-geopolitical”, he noted. It is senseless to
blame the Russian Bolshevik Government for this: under the existing
circumstances it was obliged to give preference, as it was said that
time, to the implementation of permanent proletarian revolution in
the East. The Bolshevik delusion of a ‘speedy victory’ at similar
revolution in the beginning of the last century was accepted by Europe
and the United States with mercenary tolerance towards Turkey – a
policy, to which the European system of values, including justice and
charity, was sacrificedâ~@~K. It is though shocking, but a fact that,
unconditionally accepting all the horrors of violence exerted against
the Armenian people in Turkey in private observations and assessments,
no Western European statesman refused to sign the Lausanne Treaty. The
same is equally attributable to Bolshevik Russia.

The Karabakh Movement was an outcome of perestroika, but, according to
the political scientist, it could also become a victim of the changed
geopolitical competition. On the opposite side, this is what Gorbachev
said, “Karabakh was a stab in the back of perestroika”. Moscow appeared
to underestimate the geopolitical importance of the century-old
confrontation between the Azerbaijani nationalism and Armenian claim.

Does the modern world propose any system of existence with Azerbaijan,
in which Nagorno Karabakh can maintain its identity? V. Atanesian’s
answer was unequivocally no. And it is immoral that Nagorno Karabakh’s
150-thousand population is treated the same way as a similar-size
condominium in New York, Paris or Moscow. This means to disregard
the world history from a ‘gentleman’s height’, and opposing to such
treatment can only be general hatred. Geopolitical competition, as in
the past, is taking place on the orientation of the Middle East. The
analysis of two world wars, the Euro-Atlantic alliance race, and
the post-cold-war conflicts brings to the famous formulation: ‘East
is East and West is West’. So, incompatible cannot be combined. The
border between the East and the West in the South Caucasus passes
through the contact-line between the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani
armed forces. This is a contact-line between pacifism and militarism.

The vacuum that was formed in the South Caucasus with the Soviet
Union’s collapse would have been devastating for Europe and the whole
territory of the former Soviet Union if it hadn’t been ‘dispersed’
by the current Karabakh-Azerbaijani military-political balance. There
was and is no other solution than repression of Azerbaijan’s regional
ambitions, because otherwise the South Caucasus would or will become
a new, Turkey-headed power center in the Middle East region, under a
physical contact with Central Asia. And the new center’s ambitions
for that huge military geopolitical and raw materials region will
make impossible the peaceful chance of balancing by the European,
Russian or Chinese factor. So, which is the fruitful system now to
serve a restrictive factor in the region? V. Atanesian’s conclusion
is as follows: ”The current situation is that the status quo in the
Karabakh-Azerbaijani military-geopolitical confrontation zone is the
only effective system, around which the world power centers are still
able to find a common ground for mutual deterrence and balance. And it
is not accidental that the Nagorno Karabakh problem is the only one in
the international policy agenda, in the settlement process of which,
though formally, but are equally involved Russia, the USA, and France.

The latter’s mediation is identical to the EU considerations.

There is no doubt that the NKR represents a military-political entity
in the South Caucasus region. The future role of the NKR in the South
Caucasus, with its 20-year-old independence, is conditioned by the
increase in the level of its political and economic self-sufficiency.

This is the authorities’ priority issue, which is supported by the
centers interested in maintaining stability in the Middle East.

It is at the same time the only way to maintain the balance and
to prevent any radicalism in the powers’ ratio. And an alternative
to changing the situation via foreign intervention could become the
recognition of the NKR de facto independence by a country or alliance
concerned, with the supposed and quite new geopolitical rearrangements.

ARMENIA NEEDS TO INTEGRATE INTO NATO
Siranuysh Papyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:07:33 – 16/03/2012

Interview with Arthur Sakunts, Head of Vanadzor office Helsinki
Association, member of Army in reality initiative on Armenia-NATO
relations

Mr. Sakunts, the Armenian programs implemented with NATO, according
to the Defense Minister of Armenia, are of systemic nature and are
related to the defense reforms in Armenia. Are these reforms realistic?

This is the only chance in the process of implementation of reforms
in the Armed Forces of Armenia since there is no other possibility of
fulfilling reforms. The CSTO is built on the Russian military model
and has nothing to propose even to its country of origin – Russia.

There is much concern, over the situation, many deaths and corruption
in the Armed Forces of Russia. In this sense, it cannot be an
alternative, this is just the continuation of the Soviet model. In this
sense, NATO is the only alternative the only possibility. For example,
the model of participation of NATO International Peace Forces mission
which is the result of the internal military atmosphere, the behavior
and mission.

Seyran Ohanyan has recently met with NATO leadership and discussed
the reforms in the Armed Forces of Armenia. Have you recorded any
progress in this sphere? Is there wish to carry out reforms or they
are of formal character?

All the talks on reforms by the defense minister are only talks. The
situation is not changing moreover, it is more complicated now and
the challenges which I’ve publicly raised on the provision of number
in the Armed Forces, preservation of disciplinary rules, dominance of
law, reduction of death cases, breach of regulatory relations, we have
no progress in this relations. Saying that reforms are carried out is
more like a diplomatic statement than reality. In the end, in terms of
the military planning, NATO supposes for a very open planning, while
here we have no idea of the criteria of determining the number of the
armed forces and equipment. NATO has clear measurements, while we fail
to solve issues relating to the Internal Disciplinary Code. For two
years they say it will be adopted, but it has not been adopted by now,
even the principles on the human rights or protection of soldiers’
rights and human behavior towards them are not ensured. All this
fits the rough hierarchic subordination system. In other words,
the minister of defense can’t present an argument proving reforms
are being carried out, while statements that reforms are necessary
mean nothing unless the reforms are held.

Does the membership to CSTO give us any security guarantees? Is it
right to refuse it?

CSTO will give us nothing, CSTO will give nothing even to the Russian
Armed Forces. Looking at the CSTO member countries, you can see all
of them are authoritarian. We saw the use of the Armed Forces for
internal issues. They are even discussing now the use of CSTO forces
for crisis situations in the member counties of the organization. This
means that the CSTO has nothing to propose in terms of democracy
and security but only ensures power guarantees to the authoritarian
governments. It is not directed to the peace, to resisting all the
challenges of the world, but to the strengthening of mechanisms to
solve internal political issues. In this sense, Armenia needs to
liberate and integrate into NATO, since this is the most important
security guarantee of Armenia.

NATO is an example of solution of global issues. For this, I think
Armenia needs to take NATO as it main security guarantor.

FRENCH SOLDIERS SHOT DEAD BY MYSTERY GUNMAN

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 16, 2012
MONTAUBAN

MONTAUBAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS: Two French soldiers have been shot
dead and a third seriously injured by a gunman on a scooter in broad
daylight in southwestern France, reports Armenpress citing Euronews.

The men, who were in uniform, were in the process of withdrawing
money from a cash machine in the town of Montauban. Police say the
gunman wore a helmet with the visor pulled down.

The third soldier was said to be in a critical condition in hospital.

“We heard gunfire, you now, like from an automatic weapon. Three
small bursts,” said one witness.

“I saw two men on the ground, with someone giving some forceful heart
massage using their fists,” said another man.

The attack came days after a 30-year-old soldier in civilian clothes
was shot dead in the nearby city of Toulouse.

The motive for the shootings is unclear. Police said they believed
the gunman in Thursday’s attack had been waiting for his victims.

The French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said, from the scene in
Montauban, that he did not think the French army was being specifically
targeted.

CANADIAN POLITICIAN COMMEMORATES HRANT DINK

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 16, 2012 – 09:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Earlier this month, Michael Coteau, member of
provincial parliament for Don Valley East, made a statement in the
Ontario Legislative Assembly honoring Turkish-Armenian journalist, the
late Hrant Dink, the Armenian National Committee of Toronto reported.

“The Armenian National Committee of Toronto is glad to have MPP
Michael Coteau help us honor the life of Hrant Dink,” said Mr. Jack
Tchakmakian, chair of the ANCT. “The Armenian community in Toronto
continues to mourn the life of Dink, who was an important voice for
minority rights in Turkey,” he added.

“The date January 19 this year marked the fifth anniversary of the
assassination of Turkish Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink. Hrant
Dink was an internationally respected journalist, intellectual and
prominent Armenian voice in Turkey. He is most famously recognized
as the editor-in-chief for the Turkish Armenian newspaper Agos,” Mr.
Coteau said.

“During his distinguished career, Mr. Dink was outspoken against the
state, pointing out the fact that the Ottoman Empire committed genocide
against the Armenian population in 1915, which resulted in the deaths
of 1.5 million Armenians. Because he spoke truth to power, Dink was
arrested multiple times. In 2007, Dink was assassinated outside of
the Agos newspaper office by a 17-year-old ultra-nationalist.

“Nearly five years later, the trial of his murdered was brought to a
close this January. While the youth was convicted to a life sentence in
June 2011, many in the Armenian community continue to raise questions
about the original investigation.

“I stand alongside the Armenian community in my riding on Don Valley
East, throughout Ontario and abroad, as they continue to commemorate
Dink’s life. Together, let us stand with the Armenian community. We
stand against genocide. We stand in support of freedom of speech
for all, especially journalists, who contributions to democracy are
invaluable,” he said.

On January 19, 2007, Dink was shot outside the Agos newspaper offices
in Istanbul, where he served as editor-in-chief, by a 17-year-old
Turkish nationalist. This year marks the 5th anniversary of Dink’s
assassination.

OLIGARCHY’S DIGNITY
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:52:15 – 16/03/2012

Yesterday, MP Ruben Hayrapetyan, the president of the Armenian Football
Federation said that the president had instructed him to focus on the
development of football while commenting on his decision not to run
for parliament. Perhaps he thought that it would sound more dignified
to say so than to say the the president forbids him to run.

This statement describes the essence of the criminal hierarchy in
Armenia. This hierarchy is based on criminal rules which suppose
vertical subordination, where even a kingpin has a kingpin. It is
not a shame to acknowledge their subordination to the kingpin. On the
contrary, it is dangerous to claim that you are an independent person,
and you are not in the hierarchy.

In this system, human dignity built on equality is viewed in terms of
your place in the hierarchy. If they trample on dignity from “above”,
it is not a shame, it is even necessary. But if an equal person,
or even worse, a lower representative of the hierarchy offends your
dignity, you can defend it by force.

The hierarchy supposes for the institutionalization of inequality. In
the meantime, the Constitution and simple logic is that all the
relations need to be built on equality. Equality does not mean there
should be no subordination. Equality is clear and precise definition
of rights and duties. In Armenia, equality has been distorted so that
even the greater part of the population acknowledges there is always
someone who can dictate their rules.

The result is a situation where people undergo humiliation and
exploitation because they think the strong have the right to
humiliate. They do not even try to fight, and any attempt to defend
their rights is viewed by the hierarchy as a plot.

In order to fulfill reforms and enable transformation it is necessary
to change the hierarchic thinking of the ruling elite. Judging
by Ruben Hayrapetyan’s statement, this change will not take place
voluntarily. He is not even ashamed to acknowledge that he obeys
the will of another person, even if he is the president. Even Tigran
Sargsyan states he is implementing Serzh Sargsyan’s task in an attempt
to “justify” fulfillment of his own obligation. The same is happening
in the army, in government institutions, in the regions. Everyday
life is based on criminal hierarchy. The same is happening in the
opposition which delegates the right to form the party list to a
person, acknowledging his incontestable right to decision making.

If a person has a different attitude to his own dignity, believing
that someone has the right to trample on it, he can never treat the
rights and dignity of others with respect.

KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS STALLED BECAUSE OF AZERBAIJAN: NALBANDIAN

epress.am
03.16.2012

Germany is in favor of and supports the normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations and hopes that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be
resolved peacefully in the OSCE Minsk Group format, said Germany’s
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in a joint press conference with
his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian (pictured) in Yerevan today.

To a reporter’s question on the reason for the lack of progress in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the Armenian foreign minister
said during several meetings with the Minsk Group co-chairs there has
been much preparatory work aimed at principles to reach consensus,
but when the parties were to arrive at an agreement, Azerbaijan
proposed ten changes, which is why the process has stalled.

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Germany considered the 20 years
of diplomatic relations between their two countries to be positive.

Westerwelle mentioned that Germany supports the development of
Armenia-EU relations, and legal and economic relations in Armenia.

Recall, Westerwelle, in Baku earlier this week, also praised relations
between Germany and Azerbaijan.

“Azerbaijan is an important strategic partner of Germany. The two
countries successfully cooperate in the political and economic spheres,
particularly in the energy sector,” the German foreign minister said,
Azerbaijani press reported.