Author: Badalian Vardan

RUSSIAN STATE DUMA RATIFIES ARMENIA’S EAU ACCESSION TREATY

Cihan News Agency, Turkey
Dec 10 2014

MOSCOW – 10.12.2014 13:43:20

The Russian State Duma ratified the treaty of Armenia’s accession
to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) at the meeting Dec. 10, RIA
Novosti reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted the bill on the treaty
ratification to the State Duma.

In May Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed and ratified the agreement
on establishment of the EAU starting from Jan. 1, 2015.

An agreement on Armenia’s joining the EAU was signed in Minsk,
Belarus on Oct. 10.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) is an economic union, which is being
created as part of the Eurasian integration on the basis of the Customs
Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus starting from Jan. 1, 2015.

ARMENIA SHOULD BECOME KNOWLEDGE- AND TECHNOLOGY-SUPPLYING COUNTRY

YEREVAN, December 10. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan,
speaking Wednesday in Yerevan at a forum focused on economic rights,
said Armenia should become a knowledge- and technology-supplying
country.

he said.

The premier said this very approach will ensure stable development
to Armenia and will make it possible to use the country’s capacity
and economic rights to their full extent.

Abrahamyan also stressed that one of the Armenian government’s
objectives is to improve living standards and that the government
has announced citizens’ welfare among its top priorities. —0—–

BETWEEN PEACE AND POVERTY: FREEDOM FIGHTER’S FAMILY LIVES IN ABJECT POVERTY (VIDEO)

18:27 | December 10,2014 | Regions

Karabakh war veteran Ararat Kirakosyan was involved in combat
operations since 1993. The freedom fighter participated in the
battles for the liberation of Artsakh and protection of Armenian
borders. He was one of the young people of the Akori regiment who,
without hesitation, went to the front to defend their homeland.

Many died in the war, others developed health problems. The wounds
and injuries received during the war put Kirakosyan onto a wheelchair
for life. The family today leads a quiet life but lives in extreme
poverty, forgotten and neglected by everyone.

Details are available in the video of Ankyun +3 TV

ILLEGAL TREE FELLING CONTINUES IN DILIJAN NATIONAL PARK (PHOTO)

14:55 December 08, 2014

EcoLur

>From 17.11.2014 to 25.11.2014 the employees of ‘Dilijan’ National
Park SNCO detected and drew up 8 acts of forest violaion for illegal
felling of 19 trees.

KARINE DANIELYAN POINTS AT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF 2014

by Karina Manukyan

Wednesday, December 10, 16:36

The condition of Lake Sevan and the depressing subsurface water table
in Ararat Valley are the key environmental problems for Armenia,
Karine Danielyan, Head of the

Association For Sustainable Human Development, said at a press
conference on Wednesday.

The expert recalled that in early 2014 a 3cm negative balance was
fixed in the lake. The situation even deteriorated within a year:
as of 1 Dec 2014, the negative balance was 7cm.

Danielyan said that earlier the water rise in Lake Sevan had a positive
effect on the water quality. Now the lake self-purification processes
may turn around. So, the constantly changing level of the Sevan may
be very dangerous for the lake.

As regards Ararat Valley, the subsurface water table dropped by several
meters because fish farms received permits for water utilization. To
stabilize the situation, the state started closing the illegal artesian
wells in 2013. In addition, the maximum water release from Lake Sevan
has been increased this year.

Danielyan pointed out that the situation in Ararat Valley needs to
be stabilized. Otherwise, the risks of desertification will grow.

Earlier Levon Azizyan, representative of the Armenian Ministry of
Emergency Situations, said that in late 2014 the negative balance
in Lake Sevan would be 9-12cm. In different years the water level
in the Sevan rose by an average of 45cm during the spring flood. For
instance, in 2013 the water level rose by 40cm. This year, however,
he level rose by 25cm only.

ARMENIAN DRAM DEPRECIATION CAUSE OF EGG PRICE RISE – SERGEY STEPANYAN

16:12 * 10.12.14

The depreciation of the Armenian dram accounts for the rise in egg
prices, Chairman of the Union of Poultry Breeders Sergey Stepanyan
told Tert.am.

The price for imported food and medicines for birds has risen along
with USD appreciation.

“However, natural price rise, which is forecast by the Central Bank,
can be coped with. We can get ready for the price rise, which is
normally gradual,” he said.

“This summer, we could not reduce the egg price because of damage. But
we could reduce the poultry meat price. In contrast to other domestic
producers, we had planned to reduce prices before the New Year,
but we could not because of the USD appreciation,” Mr Stepanyan said.

As to the possibility of further price rise, he said that it depends
on AMD stability, but the Central Bank of Armenia does not make any
relevant statements.

INDEPENDENT AZERBAIJANI TV CHANNEL MEYDAN TV IS CLOSED TO ENSURE SAFETY OF ITS EMPLOYEES

14:12 10/12/2014 >> SOCIETY

On 9 December the Azerbaijani online channel “Meydan TV” announced
the termination of its activities and closing of its office in Baku,
Azerbaijani news agency Turan reports.

The given reason is “stifling free speech and expression in Azerbaijan,
pressure on independent media.” “Meydan TV” stated that this step is
to ensure the safety of its employees,” the statement reads.

Note that this channel was created a year ago, with the financial
support of the European Endowment for Democracy (the structure of the
European Union.) The head office of the channel is located in Berlin.

Its creator is Emin Milli (Abdullayev), a former political prisoner,
who emigrated from Azerbaijan.

The authorities have accused the channel of spreading “lies and
slander” about Azerbaijan for many times. Last time these accusations
were made in the article by Ramiz Mehdiyev.

On December 5, morning, well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija
Ismayilova was detained after being questioned at the prosecutor’s
office. Baku Sabail District Court made a decision to detain her for
two months. She was charged with incitement to suicide. If the fault
of the journalist is proven, then she can be punished by a term of
3 to 7 years in prison. Khadija Ismayilova has become the target of
attacks of the government for her journalistic activities. Ismayilova
is an author of a number of journalistic investigations of corruption
in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. In recent years, she is
conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of “Radio Liberty”.

SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE: ANOTHER ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARY MEETING HELD WITHOUT INTERPRETATION

News | 10.12.14 | 12:20

By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter

Another meeting of the Armenian-Russian Friendship Parliamentary Club
took place in Yerevan. This time it was called “Armenian Membership
in Eurasian Economic Union (EEU): Reaction to Global Challenges”.

Like the previous one it was held exclusively in Russian which
again gave rise to the language debate. Armenia’s law requires that
translation be provided for events taking place in a foreign language
and hosted in government offices.

Last summer at a parliamentary meeting with a group of Armenian
lawmakers in Yerevan Dmitry Kiselev, a host of a Sunday prime time
TV news show on the Russian State Television prime, who is described
by many as the Kremlin’s main mouthpiece, complained about the fact
that the Russian language and culture were “not duly” respected in
Armenia and essentially called for changing the language law to give
the Russian language the status of the state language. Russia’s former
ambassador to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko, meanwhile, demanded that
the Russian language in Armenia be given the status of the second
state language.

Although during the meeting head of the Armenia-Russian Friendship
Parliamentary Club Argine Tumanyan said that the state language in
Armenia is Armenian, however because of time constraints speeches
will be made in Russian only.

Speaking in Russian, Armenian MPs once again confirmed that Armenia’s
membership in the EEU stems from the country’s interests. Addressing
the vote on the ratification of the EEU membership treaty at the
National Assembly they said that the vote outcome (103 “for”, 7
“against” and 1 abstention) reflect the public opinion.

Senior Research Fellow at the Center for the Caucasus and Regional
security, Caucasus Cooperation Company Director Nikolay Silayev
addressed the speculation that by EEU membership Armenia loses
its sovereignty, saying, “We have studied integration processes in
different countries and have come to the conclusion that a country
loses its sovereignty in any integration. As compared to other
integration unions the EEU has one advantage – the launch is ahead
of it, it is just being formed.”

According to Silayev, any integration implies sovereignty loss,
and Russia is no exception.

“It is difficult to say now what the restriction will be, but there
are many versions of integration in the world, and we will choose
one of them,” he said.

Advisor to the Speaker of the State Duma Mikhael Krotov said that
Armenian sovereignty would have been limited by the EU Association
Agreement, not by EEU membership. According to him, the EEU is the
alternative to the European Union, if Europe does not unite its money
and technology with Kazakhstan, Russia, it will become uncompetitive.

“We want to integrate with Europe but as an equal with an equal. We
want Armenia to have that opportunity as well together with Russia and
Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, it cannot do so on its own,” Krotov said.

Deputy head of the Committee for CIS, Eurasian Integration and
Compatriots Affairs of the Russian State Duma Oleg Lebedyev told
reporters that it is not yet decided whether there will be a customs
check point between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

“After the EEU treaty ratification, in 2015 all foreign ministers
will gather and discuss that question,” he said.

Besides Russia and Kazakhstan the EEU also includes Belarus.

Kyrgyzstan also aspires to become a member of the emerging economic
grouping.

GERMAN MEDIA ON HENRIKH MKHITARYAN

11:28, 10 December, 2014

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. A number of German media outlets
reflected on the play of the midfielder of the Armenian National
Football Team and Borussia Dortmund Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s play in
the club’s most recent match against RSC Anderlecht. One of the most
prominent German periodicals Kicker stated: “Mkhitaryan was busy all
the time, but he missed from the beneficial position every time.”

“Actually Mkhitaryan was doing everything right on the field. He was
taking the ball away from the opponent, rushing to another attack.

Mkhitaryan was engaged in the struggle all the time. In this match
there were many moments Mkhitaryan could score a goal, but he again
failed to use his chances,” Der Westen underscored.

Borussia Dortmund have secured top spot in Group D of the UEFA
Champions League after a 1-1 (0-0) draw with third-placed RSC
Anderlecht. Arsenal, their rivals for top spot, won 4-1 in Turkey
against Galatasaray to qualify as runners up for the round of the
last 16.

65,851 at the Signal Iduna Park saw Ciro Immobile give the Black and
Yellows the lead on 58 minutes but the Italian and Mkhitaryan missed
a number of chances to add a second and that carelessness was duly
punished when with six minutes to go, Mitrovic equalised for the
Belgian visitors.

Whilst Borussia Dortmund came into the game already assured of a
place in the next round, a point was essential to ensure that they
went through as group winners. The Belgians arrived with third spot
assured. Nonetheless BVB went into the game with a good attitude which
meant that the game was played with a certain passion with Anderlecht
protecting a decent Champions League record this season.

Jurgen Klopp made six (!) changes to the team that had beaten TSG
Hoffenheim 1-0 at the weekend; Erik Durm (for Piszczek), Matthias
Ginter (for Hummels), Kevin Grosskreutz (for Aubameyang), Shinji
Kagawa (for Bender) und Ciro Immobile (for Adrian Ramos). Kehl also
made room for Nuri Sahin allowing him his first start for months
and the chance to play again in midfield with Ilkay Gundogan. Marcel
Schmelzer, contesting his 35th game in the competition captained the
side which had Langerak in goal. Whilst Mats Hummels had to sit out
the game with back problems, Jakub Blaszczykowski took a place on
the bench for the first time since September.

Both teams adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation with BVB pressing very
high up the field in the shape of Kagawa and Immobile. The guests,
on the other hand, preferred to let BVB come on to them with nine
behind the ball (just Mitrovic stayed up). Gundogan and Sahin played
together in holding midfield for the first time allowing Mkhitaryan
to forage forward down the left, Grosskreutz on the right and Kagawa
down the middle.

Just as in the game against Arsenal Erik Durm was on the right
wing-back position.

The first half was evenly contested. The Belgians defended deep and in
a disciplined fashion relying on counter-attacks to pose a threat. The
first big opportunity of the game was created by a driving run by
Mkhitaryan and a fine lay off to Kagawa. The midfielder looked up and
saw Immobile only for the Italian’s shot on the turn saved by Proto
in the Anderlecht goal.

Not too long after BVB had Langerak to thank for keeping it all square
when he charged down a Mitrovic effort when the striker was through on
goal. With temperatures around freezing, the fans were kept warm by
a game in which both sides had chances to score. Immobile was always
at the centre of things for BVB but just on the half hoyr mark the
striker’s shot from an acute angle was well parried by Proto. Two
minutes later the ‘keeper also denied Mkhitaryan.

Just before the break the visitors almost took the lead when Acheampong
charged down the left and crossed onto the head of Mitrovic. The
Serbian duly cushioned the ball into the path of Kjestan but his
shot ballooned high over the bar. At the half-time whistle BVB had
had six shots on goal to the visitors four and enjoyed the majority
of possession (69%). But the scoreline pretty accurately reflected
the game.

After the break it was all a little different. Now BVB dominated
proceedings pressing much more effectively and, after Kagawa had
slipped a shot wide on 47 minutes and Mkhitaryan done the same two
minutes later, a fine move down the middle of the park involving
Gundogan,

Kagawa and Sahin allowed Immobile to skip a challenge and steer the
ball beyond Proto’s outstretched left hand and into the net.

Anderlecht seemed content to defend and prevent going further behind
and on 75 minutes with the statistics showing BVB 15-5 ahead on goal
attempts, Immobile had the chance to add a second but took too long
over the ball and was thwarted by Proto.

With ten minutes to go Mkhitaryan was unlucky when his effort from 18
yards squirmed wide, then again two minutes later, the same man was
denied by Proto. Amazingly, the Belgians then contrived to go down the
other end and equalise with their first noteworthy shot when a van den
Borre cross allowed Mitrovic to nod home to make the final score 1-1.

ST. PETERSBURG ARMENIANS URGE TO CRIMINALIZE GENOCIDE DENIAL

December 10, 2014 – 15:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The St. Petersburg Armenians regional NGO issued an
official statement to Russia’s State Duma urging to introduce clauses
criminalizing public denial of the Armenian Genocide into legal acts.

As St. Petersburg Armenians Bulleting toldPanARMENIAN.Net the articles
will supposedly be introduced into Russia’s Criminal Code, Procedural
Criminal Code, and Administrative Violations Code.

On April 14, 1995, Russia’s State Duma adopted a resolution condemning
the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1922, expressing
sympathy to the Armenian people and recognizing April 24 as a day of
remembrance for the victims of the Genocide.

The Parliament of Greece on September 9, 2014 adopted a bill that
criminalizes the denial of the Armenian Genocide and other crimes
against humanity.

Greece becomes the third European country after Switzerland and
Slovakia to adopt such a measure.

The bill known as “Fight against Xenophobia” envisions bringing
criminal charges for denial of the genocides of not only Jews, but
also Armenians and Pontus Greeks. The bill stipulates heavy fines
and imprisonment terms for individuals who publicly deny genocides
and other crimes against humanity that are recognized by the Greek
Parliament and international courts.