Author: Badalian Vardan

PALLONE HOSTS FAREWELL MEETING WITH ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES

PolitickerNJ
June 25 2014

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06),
co-chair of the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus, hosted a
farewell meeting with Tatoul Markarian, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United States.

Ambassador Markarian has been stationed in Washington for the last
nine years.

“Ambassador Markarian has dedicated his life to public service and the
people of Armenia, said Congressman Pallone. “Throughout his tenure
in Washington, he has been a powerful advocate for Congressional
recognition of the Armenian genocide, and foreign aid assistance to
both the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Armenia.”

Tatoul Markarian was appointed Armenian Ambassador to the United
States on March 19, 2005. Prior to assuming this position, Ambassador
Markarian served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenian
coordinator for the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue as well as
the NATO-Armenia Political-Military, Special Representative of the
President of Armenia for Nagorno Karabakh negotiations and as Advisor
to Foreign Minister. Before joining the Armenian Foreign Service,
Ambassador Markarian served in newly-independent Armenia’s legislative
and executive branches.

“I am proud of the work we have been able to accomplish with Ambassador
Markarian. I wish Ambassador Markarian and his family well and I look
forward to continuing the important U.S.-Armenian relationship with
the next Ambassador for many years ahead,” added Pallone.

ANALYSIS: WTO TERMS AND ARMENIA’S EURASIAN INTEGRATION; NEW OBSTACLES ARISE

ANALYSIS | 25.06.14 | 11:31

Photo:

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

RELATED NEWS

Russian deputy PM: Armenia to compensate WTO partners for Eurasian
integration

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who visited Yerevan on June
22-23, did not indicate any date of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian
Economic Union (EEU). He cited the fact that it was on June 23 that
in Sochi consultations were held on the issue of Armenia’s membership.

“Hopefully, good news reaches us from Sochi,” the top Russian diplomat
said in Yerevan.

Meanwhile, consultations of the Eurasian Economic Commission in the
southern resort city in Russia were conducted with the participation
of deputy prime ministers of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The
main issue was the forthcoming signing by Ukraine of an Association
Agreement with the European Union and the future relations between
the EEU and Kyiv. In the official statement issued on the results of
the meeting it was only said on the part of Armenia that the issue
of Armenia’s joining the EEU had been discussed.

No representative from Armenia participated in the meeting. First
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Igor Shuvalov stated that Armenia’s
accession to the EEU would entail talks on compensation for its World
Trade Organization (WTO) partners. It looks like a statement about
the impossibility of Armenia’s accession, at least for the time being.

Armenia is a member of the WTO since 2003, Russia joined the
organization in 2013, and Kazakhstan and Belarus are not members of
this organization. Kazakhstan has already submitted its application,
but has received no reply yet. The customs duties in WTO-member
countries are significantly lower than those that exist in the Customs
Union member states. And in the event of Armenia’s entry into the
EEU it will have to pay compensation to other WTO members.

Most likely it was confirmed during Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s
visit to Tbilisi on June 20. Georgia is a member of the WTO since
2000, and now a free privileged customs regime is being applied
between Armenia and Georgia. But it will be canceled after the June
27 signing by Georgia of an Association Agreement with the EU and in
the case of Armenia’s accession to the EEU.

There are more and more obstacles arising to Armenia’s accession to the
Russian-led trade bloc. Earlier, on May 29, in Astana, Kazakhstan’s
President Nursultan Nazarbayev set a condition to Armenia citing a
demand from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that Armenia should
enter the EEU only within its internationally recognized borders,
in other words, without Nagorno-Karabakh. President Sargsyan has
already confirmed that it will be so, although some analysts and
ordinary citizens found unacceptable the separation of Armenia and
Karabakh even by a customs checkpoint.

But apparently, Sargsyan knew that there were more serious obstacles,
in particular, the position of Georgia, which today is the only transit
country for Armenia. Georgia has no reason to help Armenia and Russia
to strengthen their alliance, and, apparently, it was made clear to
the Armenian leader during his recent visit to Tbilisi.

No one knows yet what compensation Armenia will have to pay to
WTO-member countries, but it is obvious that Yerevan will have
neither means nor desire to pay for membership in the EEU that in
economic terms promises only losses. The benefit from this union for
Armenia is only in terms of security and stability that Russia uses
to blackmail Armenia and prevent its Euro-Atlantic integration.

But in order “not to anger” Russia, Armenia does not necessarily
have to join the EEU, all it needs is to periodically state that
it has chosen the path of Eurasian integration and close relations
with Russia. The main thing is that Armenia continues to block the
regional communications lobbied by the West and Iran and stop short
of challenging Russia’s monopoly.

RUSSIA INTERESTED IN RAPID SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend, Azerbaijan
June 24 2014

Bilaterally and as a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk
Group, Russia is interested in the rapid settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov said on June 23, News-Armenia reported.

“There is a basis for solving the problem,” Lavrov said at a joint
press-conference with Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian on
June 23. “There are principles and it is important that they are
consistent. It is necessary to work out the actual implementation
parameters and the sequence of settlement.”

Lavrov said that Russia will seek to continue a direct dialogue
between the presidents.

“Russia will support any efforts that will bring a solution to the
conflict,” he added. “The French colleagues promote ideas that will
allow implementing all principles of the settlement.”

Lavrov also stressed that Russia is ready to exert every effort.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

ITALY’S DARMIAN LIVING THE DREAM

Fifa.com
June 24 2014

As Italy revelled in their opening 2-1 victory against England, one
question kept recurring among their vanquished Group D rivals: “Who
is Matteo Darmian?” The full-back was one of the stars of the show,
yet he had seemed to come out of nowhere to help La Squadra Azzurra
kick off with a win. Perhaps the real question ought to be why such
a versatile, gifted defender, and a rare gem in a tough position to
fill, had been allowed to slip through so many nets since turning
professional in 2007.

“If you’d told me eight months ago that I’d be playing in the
World Cup, I would have burst out laughing,” commented the quiet
24-year-old, who is almost the polar opposite of the stereotypical
modern footballer. “It was a childhood dream, but, honestly, I
didn’t think I’d get here. Since getting my first call-up, though,
I’ve given everything while staying humble. I want to make the most
of this opportunity.”

Born to a family with Armenian roots in the Lombardy town of Legnano,
Darmian got his first taste of the game like so many local youngsters:
by wearing his shoes out and putting holes in his trousers on the
main square in Rescaldina, where his father coached the local football
team. His first real break came when he was spotted by Beniamino Abate,
a former goalkeeper tasked with scouting Lombardy for young talent
by AC Milan. Coincidentally, Abate is also the father of Rossoneri
defender Ignazio Abate, Darmian’s direct rival for a starting berth
with La Nazionale.

Long before Brazil 2014, Darmian entered Milan’s youth academy at
the age of 14. His Serie A debut followed three years later on 19
May 2007, when Carlo Ancelotti sent him on from the bench to replace
Giuseppe Favalli against Udinese. The newcomer initially operated in
the centre of defence before gradually being used more regularly on
the right, and he soon displayed similar effectiveness at left-back
as well. But while that versatility ought to have added to Darmian’s
value, his career was already beginning to unravel.

Torino turnaround Nobody at Milan could fault Darmian, particularly
given his excellent technique and impressive bursts of speed, but
he simply did not fit into the club’s plans. In five seasons between
2006 and July 2012, he made just 15 Serie A appearances, with much of
that period spent on loan at Padova, Palermo and Torino. He refused to
let his head drop, however, not least since he remained a regular for
Italy at various youth levels until 2009, and he focused on redoubling
his efforts.

Further disappointment nonetheless lay in store, and in summer 2012
Milan decided to release him permanently to Palermo – who immediately
passed him on to Torino.

“If I’m in Brazil now, it’s largely thanks to Torino coach Giampiero
Ventura and President [Urbano] Cairo, who really wanted me, and the
exceptional atmosphere at the club,” explained Darmian following the
England match. “If that hadn’t been the case, I never would have had
a chance like this.” As it was, he was able to find stability with
I Granata and rapidly forged an understanding with his team-mates,
especially fellow Italy internationals Alessio Cerci and Ciro
Immobile. The conditions were right for him to blossom at last.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli duly took note and, keen to evaluate
promising young players, he called Darmian up twice for a series of
trials. “Not only did he show great enthusiasm, he quickly understood
what I was looking for in that position,” noted Prandelli. The praise
has not abated since, though Darmian rejects the suggestion that he
resembles a certain Paolo Maldini at the same age. “When I was younger,
I got a chance to train with him. It’s too flattering a comparison for
me. It’s too early.” Neither is he letting his head be turned by bigger
clubs, refusing to listen to several offers from prestigious outfits.

For now, Darmian is fully focused on the task at hand as he lives
a dream-come-true experience in Brazil. And that dream could well
continue yet if Italy secure at least a point against Uruguay.

RF, ARMENIA FMS POINT TO UPWARD DYNAMICS OF INTERACTION IN VARIOUS SPHERES

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 23, 2014 Monday 08:48 PM GMT+4

YEREVAN June 23
– Russia and Armenia develop interaction as allied countries,
specifically in the political, economic, military-technical,
humanitarian, inter-parliamentary and inter-regional spheres, Armenian
Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandian said, summing up results of his
talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov here on Monday.

“Russia is the key foreign economic partner of Armenia,” the republic’s
top-ranking diplomat said, adding, “In 2013, Russian-Armenian trade
grew by more than eight percent to almost 1.445 billion U.S. dollars.”

“Russia is an important investor in the economy of Armenia. Overall
investments exceed 3.2 billion U.S. dollars. Now, 1,280 JVs with
participation of Russia’s capital are operating in the republic,”
Nalbandian said, “We have new ideas, new projects. The sides are
doing their best to implement them.”

“We are satisfied with the fact of successful activities of
the intergovernmental commissions on economic cooperation, on
military-technical interaction, and on cooperation,” the Armenian
foreign minister said, pointing to upward dynamics in the development
of contacts between regions. “About 70 Russian regions have partner
relations and develop interaction with regions of Armenia,” he said.

The two ministers also discussed problems of Armenians (staying in
Russia), which they faced after the changed to the Russian migration
legislation become effective..

ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO EEU REQUIRES TALKS WITH WTO ON COMPENSATION – SHUVALOV

Interfax, Russia
June 23 2014

Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) requires
negotiations with the World Trade Organization (WTO) on compensation
for WTO partner-countries, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor
Shuvalov told journalists after Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC)
session in Sochi on Monday.

“If Armenia successfully joins our format, signs an agreement and
ratifies it, then Armenia will need to begin talks with the WTO on
compensation,” he said.

Shuvalov said that Armenia would have to join the single customs
tariff that is in effect on the territories of Russia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan. “This will differ from Armenia’s commitments that it
adopted within the framework of the WTO. Given that the situation
for Armenia’s partners is changing, Armenia will need to follow WTO
procedure and begin talks with its partners,” the first deputy prime
minister said.

Before the end of this week, major issues on Armenia’s accession
to the EEU must be considered. As expected, an agreement should be
prepared for signing by July 1. “Today we discussed concrete issues
that need to be hammered out,” Shuvalov said.

Talks with the WTO will concern compensations by Armenia related to the
fact that for several goods customs duty rates, agreed on when Armenia
joined the WTO, are lower than the single customs tariff that is to
be applied by members of the current Customs Union and the future EEU.

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PUTIN, ALIYEV DISCUSS KARABAKH ISSUE IN PHONE CONVERSATION

Interfax, Russia
June 23 2014

During a phone conversation with Azeri President Ilhom Aliyev, Russian
President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia will continue providing
all possible assistance in the search for a peaceful solution to the
Karabakh problem, the Kremlin press service reported on Monday.

“The leaders of the two countries pointed out the high level of
Russian-Azeri cooperation and spoke in favor of its further increase.

During an exchange of opinions on the Nagorny Karabakh settlement,
the Russian president confirmed his readiness to provide all possible
assistance to the search for a peaceful solution to the problem,”
the report says.

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CONFLICTING DOCUMENTS ON DISMANTLING OF AFRIKIAN’S HOUSE (VIDEO)

19:45 | June 23,2014 | Social

A little while ago the Ministry of Culture has issued a statement
that the dismantling of the Afrikian’s House in Yerevan is illegal
and must be discontinued.

The activists gathered near the building handed a copy of the document
to the construction manager, demanding to halt the demolition.

SYRIA CRISIS: ARMENIAN WOUNDED IN ALEPPO SNIPER ATTACK

09:35 * 24.06.14

An ethnic Armenian was wounded by a sniper bullet in Syria’s economic
capital, Aleppo, on Monday.

The local Armenian weekly Gandzasar reports on its Facebook page that
the attack occurred in the city’s Ramuse district. The wounded has
been hospitalized and has undergone a surgery.

The Armenian-populated Nor-Kyugh neighborhood has again come under
missile attacks.

The situation was relatively calm in the city in the recent days,
but the shortage of water is again reported to be a major problem
for the population.

The Aleppo residents use water dug out from the wells of church-,
school- and mosque-yards, but that water is said to be unfit for
drinking.

Numerous cases of water poisoning are reported.

Armenian News – Tert.am

BAD NEWS FOR ARMENIAN MIGRANT WORKERS

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
Comments – Tuesday, 24 June 2014, 10:28

Armenia’s membership to the Eurasian Economic Union will hardly
address migration issues, Gagik Yeganyan, the head of the State
Migration Service has announced. He said integration with the Union
implies free movement of goods and labor. However, we and Russia have
different perceptions of free market, Yeganyan thinks, suggesting that
Moscow will impose limitations within the Union one way or another.

This means that one of the key arguments of supporters of Eurasian
integration in Armenia on facilitation of free movement of migrant
workers in Russia loses its meaning. Although it has been stated
that the agreement on free movement of migrant workers was regularly
announced to be signed before the membership of Armenia to the Customs
Union, Russia and Armenia would not reach an agreement.

What unacceptable conditions is Russia setting? It is not hard to
guess. First, Russia offers migrants simplified naturalization after
renouncing Armenian citizenship, not free movement.

Most importantly, however, if Russia grants Armenian migrants certain
privileges, they will stop being Moscow’s hostage and blunt tool
used for negotiations with Armenia. And Moscow is reluctant to lose
this weapon unless there is threat that Armenia will escape from the
pro-Russian space.

Gagik Yeganyan’s statement comes against the background of several
developments that reduce the chance Armenia will join the Eurasian
Union. The Georgian foreign minister Maya Panjikidzeh announced after
her meeting with Serzh Sargsyan that the Association Agreement signed
by Georgia will not affect its relations with neighbors but some
technical issues may arise.

This means that free economic relations between Armenia and Georgia
will be revised, such as the supply of Russian gas to Armenia via
Georgia. It is not accidental that the ruling party of Armenia is
considering buying gas from other countries. It may be done under
Russian guidance though which wants to bypass Georgia and buy gas
from Iran and sell in Armenia at a price that it will set.

Apparently, Russia would not agree to not boost customs duties on
goods imported to Armenia. In this connection, Serzh Sargsyan has
announced that customs duties will rise gradually, not at once. Are
the Armenians supposed to be grateful for this?

The Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is in Armenia. Have they
found answers to questions that Armenia has or did it all end up in
a show of Russian military planes?

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