Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMROSGAZPROM VA INVESTIR 37,3 MILLIARDS DE DRAMS DANS LA MODERNISATION DE SON SYSTEME

ARMENIE

ArmRosGazprom (ARG) investira 37,3 milliards de drams dans la
modernisation de son système de distribution entre 2014 et 2016,
selon un communique publie sur le site officiel de l’etablissement.

La societe a presente son programme d’investissement a la Commission
de regulation des services publics afin de demander son approbation.

En 2014-2016, la societe prevoit d’investir 13,4 milliards de drams
dans la reconstruction et l’agrandissement de l’installation de
stockage souterrain de gaz a Abovyan et 10,4 milliards de drams dans
la reconstruction du système de transport de gaz. 1,4 milliards de
drams seront utilises pour d’autres fins.

En outre, ARG veut investir 7,3 milliards de drams dans la
reconstruction et l’extension du système de distribution du gaz et
utiliser 4,7 milliards a d’autres fins.

La societe a declare son programme d’investissement vise a la
restauration, la reconstruction et la modernisation des reseaux et
l’amelioration de la fiabilite et de la securite du transport et de
distribution de gaz.

vendredi 28 fevrier 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIAN ENGINEERS & SCIENTISTS OF AMERICA
117 S Louise St. Glendale, CA 91205
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 818-547-3372
Web:

February 26, 2014
Contact: Vazgen Ghoogassian
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
AESA Office: (818) 547-3372

The Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America
install the New Council for Year 2014

(Glendale, California) – At its general membership meeting, the
Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA) introduced its new
council for the year 2014. The new executive council consists of the
following: Vasken Yardemian, President, Marina Guevrekian Ph.D., Vice
President, Mark Abajian, Executive Secretary and Armineh Khachatoorian
as Treasurer. The Councilors in large are: Aram Setian, Arin Abed,
Asbed Pogarian, Stepan Joulfayan, Argineh Shabandari, Talin Petrosian,
and Vazgen Ghoogassian.

The outgoing President, Mardy Kazarians, Ph.D., reported last year’s
activities and achievements of the organization. AESA organized formal
scientific lectures and workshop as well as the annual Science
Olympiad competition which was held at Woodbury University. The
competition, involving school-age children, was considered a great
success. These activities were well organized and attended by the
Armenian community. Kazarians mentioned that AESA had planning to
offer both mentorship services and scholarship to Armenian college
students. In addition, social activities such as mixers for the young
professionals were held in conjunction with other organizations.
Furthermore, AESA celebrated its 30th anniversary with an annual gala
banquet where it honored all AESA past presidents for their services
to the organization.

The incoming President Vasken Yardemian shared his plan and goals for
the upcoming year. `We look forward for a successful year leading AESA
to new levels of success’ stated Yardemian. `The AESA continues to
grow in strength and numbers. Our new governance and volunteer
leadership structure will continue this path as we invite all
engineers and scientists of Armenian descent to join AESA specially
the younger generation’. The AESA continues to build and develop
partnerships with other Armenian organizations to serve the Armenian
community. In addition, the AESA is investing in new programs that
will allow working with college and high school students as well as
the American University of Armenia. Yardemian mentioned that the
organization will implement the new scholarship program as well as
mentoring activities for Armenian college students both undergraduate
and graduate levels majoring in engineering and science. As a new
project, the AESA has proposed to collaborate with the College of
Science and Engineering of the American University of Armenia (AUA) by
offering workshops, seminars and short term courses related to
engineering and science. `Let’s make 2014 about creating a stronger
and better organization. We look forward to working together so that
each one of us feels proud to be part of the AESA’ concluded
Yardemian. By the end of the meeting, there was a long discussion
among its membership about the future of AESA.

Established in 1983 in Glendale, California, AESA is a non-partisan
and non-sectarian philanthropic organization focused primarily on
addressing the professional, technical and scientific needs of fellow
Armenian engineers, scientists, industrialists and architects
throughout the world. For more information, check AESA’s website at
, or contact (818)547-3372, e-mail: [email protected] >From
left to right: Talin Petrosian, Marina Guevrekian, Vasken Yardemian,
Mardy Kazarians, Armineh Khachatoorian, Argineh Shabandari. Back,
from left to right: Asbed Pogarian, Razmik Gharakhanian, Mark Abajian,
Vazgen Ghoogassian, Areg Gharabegian. Missing are Arin Abed and
Stepan Joulfayan.
()

Vazgen Ghoogassian pinning Vasken Yardemian as AESA President

TURKEY’S ARMENIANS IN CRISIS OVER PATRIARCH

Al-Monitor
Feb 27 2014

Author: Orhan Kemal CengizPosted February 27, 2014

Turkey’s Armenian community is eagerly awaiting the outcome of a
lawsuit at the Council of State, the country’s top administrative
court, that is likely to have a major impact on how the Armenian
patriarchate of Constantinope functions in the future. The legal
battle concerns who should elect the Armenian patriarch — a small
group of clergy or the broader community.

The case has pitted one segment of the Armenian community against
the Interior Ministry and other community members. It has also
exposed a serious rift that sheds light on the Armenian minority’s
reality in Turkey and the government’s strategies for controlling
the patriarchate.

The Istanbul-based Armenian patriarchate is a 553-year-old institution
that holds spiritual authority over 42 churches. Its patriarchs have
long been elected by the community.

The Turkish state’s attempts to control the patriarchate became more
systematic after the 1960 military coup. In 1961, the council of
ministers issued a decree stipulating that elections for a patriarch
must be held on a date and at a venue selected by the Istanbul
governor’s office. Every government since has sought to control
these elections.

In 2007, a tragic incident paved the way for the governing Justice and
Development Party to make one of the boldest-ever interventions in the
Armenian elections. That year, Patriarch Mesrob II, elected in 1998,
fell ill. His memory and cognitive abilities were severely damaged,
so he was unable to perform his duties.

With Mesrob disabled, two opposing views emerged in the patriarchate
on how to resolve the situation. Rather than seeking a compromise,
however, both sides submitted their requests to the Interior Ministry.

The Entrepreneur Council, considered the patriarchate’s “civilian
wing,” requested permission to elect a new patriarch. The Spiritual
Council, a group of clerics, asked the ministry to approve the election
of a “co-patriarch.”

The ministry’s decision caught both sides off-guard. Since the
incumbent patriarch was still alive, neither a new patriarch nor a
co-patriarch could be elected, it decided. Instead, an acting patriarch
should be elected. Thus, the post of “patriarchal deputy-general”
was established, a position without precedence in the history and
traditions of the Armenian Church.

Heeding the Interior Ministry’s decision, the Spiritual Council
elected its own head, Archbishop Aram Atesyan, as acting patriarch
in July 2010. The move led to serious rifts and heightened tensions
within the Armenian community.

Both applications to the Interior Ministry had sought an electoral
process — be it for a new patriarch or a co-patriarch — in which all
community members were to have voted. Instead, the “deputy-general”
was elected by a small group of clergymen.

For the Armenians, the Interior Ministry’s intervention was unjust
and contrary to their traditions. Their first reaction was to launch
a petition drive. Those arguing that the entire community should
elect the patriarch collected 5,350 signatures and submitted it to
the ministry in 2010, but to no avail.

Next, they filed a lawsuit at the administrative court, seeking
nullification of the Interior Ministry’s decision. The community’s
lawyers argued that by appointing Archbishop Aram as patriarch
deputy-general, the ministry had interfered in the Armenian community’s
internal affairs and thus violated the principle of secularism. This
is the case the Council of State is currently hearing.

The intensity of the intracommunal rift is reflected in the language
that the much-respected Armenian weekly Agos uses in reference to
Atesyan. In one headline, for instance, it depicts him as patronizing
and calls him “archbishop” to make clear it does not recognize him
as acting patriarch. The article further underscores the paper’s
rejectionist position: “In an interview with the Jamanak newspaper,
Archbishop Aram Atesyan has yet again made very controversial remarks.

His comments on various issues, such as his bid for central civilian
management, the irregularities in the foundation elections, the home
he purchased in the [resort town of] Bodrum, and the patriarchate’s
financial accounts are the latest example of his self-righteous
attitude.”

The newspaper Taraf has also reported on the community’s objections to
Atesyan. In a Feb. 15 article, “Crisis in Patriarch’s Election,” Sebu
Aslangil, one of the lawyers in charge of the lawsuit at the Council
of State, is quoted as saying, “The Interior Ministry imposed on us a
deputyship office and the patriarchate went along … Atesyan erred
in not resisting the election of a deputy, something nonexistent in
our traditions, and for having himself elected to the post.” Another
community member, Sahin Gezer, was reported as noting, “Aram Atesyan
well could have rejected the post in the face of election demands.”

So, the tragic illness of the elected patriarch, the ensuing failure
of the Armenian community to reach a compromise and their decision to
seek the state’s arbitration — in addition to the government seeing
the situation as a golden opportunity to control the patriarchate —
have together created an acute crisis that may drag on for years.

The crisis demonstrates not only the Armenian community’s problematic
relationship with the state, but also the Turkish state’s unchanging
policy of meddling and manipulation vis-a-vis its minorities despite
changing governments. It is a typical divide-and-rule tactic,
which constitutes a fragrant breach of religious freedom and serves
neither the Armenian community nor Turkish democracy. The Turkish
state’s hostility toward minorities precludes any win-win policies
in this realm.

VERHEIJEN: MKHITARYAN IS ONE OF THE BEST

14:46 27.02.2014

Armenian national team, Football, Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Armenia’s recent rise on the FIFA World Ranking was indebted to their
late surge in FIFA World Cup(tm) qualifying, which saw them finish just
three points adrift of second-place Denmark in European Zone Group B.

In May 2013, the Havakakan (national team) were down in 90th on the
global ladder, but have since risen to their highest-ever position
of 30th.

Raymond Verheijen, who helped prepare the side for the Brazil 2014
preliminaries in an assistant coach role in 2012, spoke exclusively
to FIFA.com about the country’s rise and the future prospects for
the Eastern European side.

Verheijen is renowned as an esteemed coach, having worked with
Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City as well as the Russia,
Netherlands and Wales national sides. He departed Armenia in September
2012, but kept a watchful eye out as the team impressed.

“When I joined they had a relatively young coach (Vardan Minasyan was
35 when appointed in 2009) and there were some similarities with Wales
and Gary Speed,” Verheijen said. “Young coaches are often open-minded.

Because of this and the whole environment I thought it would be good.

The other reason was that they have a very talented young squad.”

One member of that talented squad caught Verheijen’s eye and, given
the Dutchman’s pedigree, he paid Borussia Dortmund’s No10 quite
a compliment.

“Their top player is undoubtedly Henrikh Mkhitaryan,” he said. “He
is one of the best midfield players I have ever worked with. I have
worked with some very good midfield players, but the speed of his
actions is very good.”

The percentage of your potential that will be used in the game is
determined by your brain. If you can control your thoughts then you
will use much more of your potential.

Raymond Verheijen

Mkhitaryan scored three goals in Armenia’s qualifying campaign and
became his young country’s leading all-time marksman in the process.

Their group was incredibly tight, with three points separating four
teams behind winners Italy. Verheijen saw several positive factors
in the side’s efforts.

“In general I was not very surprised they came very close to
qualifying for the World Cup play-offs,” he said. “Their young
squad was definitely behind that but they also had a very equal
group. There were a lot of draws and one of the strengths of Armenia
is the counter-attack, which is good away from home. They beat Denmark
4-0 away and also did really well to draw 2-2 in Italy.”

Minasyan vacated the reins following the campaign, and Verheijen saw
a lot of potential in the former Armenia international, whose spell
at the helm was the longest of any Havakakan coach.

He said: “I think as a first step it would be good to broaden his
horizon in the eastern part of Europe. Maybe Russia, Ukraine or
Belarus, somewhere there before he makes the final step to Western
Europe. I think it would be good to do that gradual development.”

“Although he’s very young, he’s calm and stable which is beneficial
for decision-making, and obviously he was a good player so he has
knowledge and experience of the highest level. I predict a bright
future for him as long as he gets the opportunity. I wasn’t surprised
he left though – I think it was time for him to move on.”

Armenia eye breakthrough qualification

Verheijen has worked at major tournaments himself, as part of Korea
Republic’s backroom staff at three successive World Cups (2002, 2006
and 2010) as well as assisting the Netherlands (2000 and 2004) and
Russia (2008 and 2012) at the UEFA EUROs. With Armenia pitted against
Portugal, Denmark, Serbia and Albania in qualifying for EURO 2016,
will the side be lining up in France in two years’ time?

“I think they could make the finals,” said Verheijen. “While Portugal
will be number one, Armenia have already proven that they can get
close to Denmark. Serbia were in the same group as Wales in the last
qualifying group, and I’ve seen them play a few times and I don’t
think that Serbia are a lot better than Armenia.

“So I definitely think they will be in third position, to qualify for
the play-offs, and maybe even reach the second place. A lot depends
on the new national team coach.”

While the new Armenia coach is yet to be determined, Verheijen is
adamant that his focus lies on other projects for the foreseeable
future.

“One day I will go back into coaching again, maybe in five or ten
years – my advantage is that I’m only 42. Although I did all the
World Cups and the EUROs, I’m still very young.

“In the meantime my priority is to develop the WorldFootballAcademy,
working together with our ambassador Guus Hiddink. It’s very satisfying
to work with the next generation of coaches and coaches in smaller
countries, to share my experience with them.”

Despite his lack of desire to go back into club or international
coaching, the former Wales caretaker and Barcelona coach revealed some
of the techniques that he implemented during his time as assistant
with Armenia and continues to teach around the world today – one of
which he labels ‘football braining’.

He explained: “It is football brain training – training your brain
in a football context. The percentage of your potential that will
be used in the game is determined by your brain. If you can control
your thoughts then you will use much more of your potential than
when your thoughts are distracted by external factors. It’s all about
controlling your thoughts.”

If Armenia can keep their minds focused on the task in hand during
the upcoming EURO 2016 qualifying campaign, under the tutelage of
a new coach and with star man Mkhitaryan pulling the strings, then
they could reach greater heights on the FIFA World Ranking.

EDUARD SHARMAZANOV: HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TO HOST AN EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENARY

by Nana Martirosyan

ARMINFO
Thursday, February 27, 18:33

In 2015 the Hellenic Parliament will host an exhibition dedicated to
the Armenian Genocide centenary, Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of
Armenian Parliament, Head of the Armenia-Greece Friendship Group in
Armenian Parliament, told journalists on Thursday.

He summed up the results of the visit of Hellenic Parliament Speaker
Vangelis Meimarakis to Armenia and pointed out that the visit will
have a positive effect on cooperation between the two countries. “It
is noteworthy that we have come to an agreement to hold such an
exhibition in the Hellenic Parliament”, he said.

To note, during his three-day working visit to Armenia, Vangelis
Meimarakis met with President Serzh Sargsyan and a number of
high-ranking officials. The meetings covered regional problems and
the Armenian-Greek cooperation.

UE-TURQUIE : L’ACCORD SUR LA RECONDUCTION DE MIGRANTS CLANDESTINS

Publie le : 27-02-2014

Info Collectif VAN – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire ce communique de presse publie sur le site du Parlement
europeen.

Parlement europeen

26-02-2014 – 12:02

Les deputes pour l’accord UE-Turquie sur la reconduction de migrants
clandestins

Les clandestins qui migrent de l’UE vers la Turquie, ou de la Turquie
vers l’UE, devraient etre reconduits, selon l’accord de “readmission”
signe par les deux parties en decembre et adopte par le Parlement ce
mercredi. Les règles sur le retour des migrants s’appliqueraient non
seulement aux citoyens europeens et turcs mais aussi aux ressortissants
de pays tiers qui entrent dans l’UE ou en Turquie via le territoire
de l’autre partie.

“L’accord de readmission sera avantageux tant pour la Turquie que
pour l’Union europeenne. C’est desormais a la Turquie de remplir ses
obligations pour mettre pleinement en oeuvre cet accord”, a affirme
le rapporteur Renate Sommer (PPE, DE).

L’accord, adopte a main levee, fixe les obligations et procedures
pour la readmission de migrants “irreguliers” qui entrent ou vivent
clandestinement en Turquie ou dans l’UE. Il contraindrait les deux
parties a readmettre sur leur territoire des ressortissants de pays
tiers qui n’ont pas de document de sejour ou des apatrides qui sont
entres dans l’UE via le territoire turc ou inversement.

Mme Sommer a ajoute que l’accord de readmission “contribuerait
fortement a reduire l’immigration illegale dans l’UE via le territoire
turc, a lutter contre la criminalite transfrontalière, en particulier
la traite des etres humains, ainsi qu’a alleger la pression pesant
sur la Grèce et, donc, sur l’Union europeenne dans son ensemble”.

Des fonds europeens pour la surveillance des frontières

Conformement a l’accord, la Turquie recevra un soutien financier
et technique de l’UE afin de renforcer ses services de police
transfrontaliers et d’installer des equipements de surveillance aux
frontières. Cela devrait aider la Turquie a securiser ses frontières
avec les pays voisins, tels que la Syrie, l’Iran et l’Irak.

Prochaines etapes

Pour entrer en vigueur, l’accord de readmission doit encore etre
formellement ratifie par l’UE et la Turquie. Les dispositions sur les
ressortissants europeens et turcs entreraient en vigueur deux mois
après la ratification de l’accord, mais celles sur les ressortissants
de pays tiers avec lesquels la Turquie n’a pas conclu d’arrangements
bilateraux s’appliqueraient seulement trois ans plus tard.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Parlement europeen

ANALYSE : LE TRIOMPHE DE EUROMAIDAN EN UKRAINE ET L’ARMENIE DANS TOUT CELA ?

ARMENIE

Les developpements en Ukraine et de leurs eventuelles consequences
pour les autres pays post-sovietiques sont en cours de discussion
ces jours-ci. Ce qu’on a appele Euromaidan, des manifestations
de rue continues a Kiev et ailleurs en Ukraine contre la decision
d’abandonner un accord d’association avec l’Union europeenne qui ont
commence en novembre dernier, a conduit a l’eviction du president
Viktor Ianoukovitch et l’arrivee d’un nouveau pouvoir apparemment
pro-UE en Ukraine.

Les medias occidentaux ne comprennent pas que les manifestations de
l’Ukraine pourraient s’etendre a la Russie et se retourner contre son
leader Vladimir Poutine, l’architecte de l’Union eurasienne vu comme
un rival des projets d’integration europeenne qui avaient ete offerts
a un certain nombre de pays post-sovietiques, y compris l’Armenie.

Les experts disent aussi que si l’Ukraine met fin a ses accords
economiques et militaires actuelles avec la Russie, cela pourrait
conduire a l’echec de l’Union eurasienne de Poutine auquel l’Armenie
souhaite adherer après l’abandon de manière inattendue du processus
de signature d’un accord d’association avec Bruxelles en septembre
dernier.

Recemment, le Premier ministre armenien Tigran Sarkissian a declare
que les preparatifs en vue de l’adhesion de l’Armenie a l’Union
douanière ont ete realisees a 50 pour cent. Un accord sur l’adhesion de
l’Armenie au bloc commercial actuellement compose de la Russie, de la
Bielorussie et du Kazakhstan devrait etre signe en mai avec un accord
sur la creation de l’Union eurasienne. Cependant, il y a maintenant
des doutes serieux que les accords soient signes dans les temps.

Le president bielorusse Alexandre Loukachenko a parle la semaine
dernière. Il a dit qu’il y avait des doutes que le calendrier soit
respecte et a appele a des efforts pour s’assurer que les accords
soient signes dans les temps. Cependant, les developpements en Ukraine
peuvent bouleverser tous les plans.

En particulier, si l’Ukraine signe un accord d’association avec l’UE,
revise ses contrats gaziers avec la Russie et tente de denoncer
l’accord sur la base navale russe de la mer Noire, cela va changer
fondamentalement la position de la Russie. Surtout si le Kirghizistan
ne signe pas l’accord sur l’union douanière et que les economies des
membres actuels de l’UD continuent a baisser rapidement comme cela
a ete le cas au cours des dernières semaines.

Igor Mouradian analyste politique estime que l’Occident n’arretera pas
ses tentatives pour etablir des relations plus amicales avec l’Armenie,
malgre les efforts des dirigeants russes d’isoler l’Armenie des projets
regionaux. L’Occident propose des projets favorables a l’Armenie afin
de diversifier son economie orientee vers la Russie.

Et il y a deja de tels projets – l’achat par une societe americaine
de la cascade Vorotan de centrales hydroelectriques et l’offre d’une
compagnie (probablement chinoise ou americaine) qui a l’intention
d’investir dans la construction d’un chemin de fer Iran-Armenie
. Les investisseurs britanniques, americains et allemands envisagent
d’accroître leur presence dans le secteur de l’exploitation minière
de l’Armenie, et a cet effet ils ont convoque une grande conference
internationale a Erevan debut mars. Il y a aussi d’autres signes que
l’Occident > l’ Armenie de projets lucratifs.

Certains experts ne comprennent pas non plus la cooperation plus
etroite entre l’Armenie et l’OTAN. Il y a une certaine cooperation deja
maintenant car les militaires armeniens participent a des missions de
maintien de la paix dirigees par l’OTAN, cependant, l’Armenie a encore
declare qu’elle est membre de l’Organisation du Traite de securite
collective et, en fait, ne peut pas travailler plus etroitement avec
l’ OTAN.

La diversification des systèmes commerciaux, de l’energie et de la
securite pourrait permettre a l’Armenie de diminuer sa dependance
envers la Russie et de reconsiderer sa participation dans les Unions
d’Eurasie et autres. Evaluant cette possibilite en Armenie beaucoup
disent que les Armeniens ne sont pas les Ukrainiens et ne sont pas
prets a aller a l’encontre du Kremlin pour defendre leur souverainete
au prix de leur vie. Commentateur a Kentron TV Armen Dulyan, par
exemple, affirme que les dirigeants armeniens ont pris la bonne
decision le 3 Septembre, abandonnant l’integration europeenne.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

25 February, 2014

ACNIS Hosts Conference on International Integration Processes

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) today held a roundtable discussion on “The Eastern Partnership
and Customs Union: International Integration Projects or Geopolitical
Competition?” The meeting brought together representatives from the
diplomatic community in Yerevan, leading policy analysts, political
figures, and members of the press.

Raffi K. Hovannisian, ACNIS founder and president, welcomed the
audience with keynote remarks, and wished the participants fruitful
deliberation. “With today’s strategic offering, ACNIS enters its 20th
year of public service and commitment to the cause of objective,
multi-disciplinary research, analysis, and national discourse for the
betterment of Armenia and the deepening of its democracy, rule of law,
and sovereignty,” he said.

Welcoming the guests with an opening speech, ACNIS director Manvel
Sargsian underscored the need for public debates on the matter at
hand. “Armenia’s choice between signing the EU Association Agreement
and entering the Customs Union evoked concerns all over the world, and
particularly in those countries, whose interests are closely linked
with the afore-mentioned projects. Armenia is one of those
countries,–hence comprehensive, multi-disciplining assessments of the
processes taking place are of vital significance for us.”

The day’s first speaker was governance expert Harutyun Mesrobyan, who
described Armenia’s decision to access the Customs Union as a serious
challenge to the state’s sovereignty and security. “By accessing any
union, we will become uncompetitive. It is simply amazing why
Armenia–neighboring Iran with its vast resources–does not make any
use of it and is knocking at doors of the North and the West. The
impression is that we do need a state but we are looking for any
available protector,” Mesrobyan underscored.

In his intervention, leading economist Dr. Tatoul Manasserian assessed
the advantages and disadvantages of the Customs Union. According to
him, Armenia’s membership in the Customs Union may bring more economic
harm than good if the procedure of customs clearance is not clarified.
“I appreciate the very positive cooperation, but along political
decisions, we need to be able to make correct economic calculations so
that the budget could avoid any gaps caused by not cleared customs.”
On the other hand, Manasserian stressed that at current stage it is of
vital importance to solve the Abkhazian railroad issue with assistance
of the strategic partner “which will create more favorable conditions
for businesses to develop trade and economic relations with the
outside world.”

In his turn, Yerevan Press Club president Boris Navasardyan–in light
of Armenia’s “official” decision to enter the Customs
Union–contemplated the prospects of the nation’s facing restrictions
upon its democratic freedoms. “By choosing the Eurasian direction, we
are entering a system where the other three members do not meet the
minimum threshold of democracy–freedom of assembly and freedom of
access to Internet–that Armenia has already reached. Therefore, the
model prevailing therein will have a negative impact on our value
system. If Armenia signs the agreement on accessing the Customs Union,
it will become monopolistically dominated by one country. Armenia has
never experienced such isolation over the course of its modern
history,” Navasardyan mentioned.

The presentations were followed by a series of questions and answers,
and featured a lively exchange with the audience. The roundtable
participants also included writer and blogger Marine Petrosyan,
political analysts Mikayel Zolyan, Nikita Zarobyan, and Edgar
Vardanian, civic activist Zarouhi Hovhannisyan, expert Khachik
Harutyunyan of Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center in
Armenia, head Arthur Avtandilyan of Free Democrats Party Policy
Analysis Center, and others.

———————————————————————–
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is
a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan,
Armenia. As an independent, objective institution committed to
conducting professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to
raise the level of public debate and seeks to broaden public
engagement in the public policy process, as well as fostering greater
and more inclusive public knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the
institutional initiative of Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first
Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past 20 years, ACNIS has
acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source of professional
independent research and analysis covering a wide range of national
and international policy issues.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit

CUSTOMS UNION: ARMENIA MAKES DEMANDS WHILE THE SUN SHINES

EurasiaNet.org
Feb 25 2014

February 25, 2014 – 1:19pm, by Giorgi Lomsadze

With Ukraine now a lost cause for the Customs Union, Russia’s Vladimir
Putin has checked in with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian
to see how Armenia’s plans to join the Customs Union are coming along.

For Russia, Armenia is a poor substitute for Ukraine, but still a
victory in Moscow’s efforts to assert its broader economic clout
through the trade bloc.

Prime Minister Sarkisian seems to have seized on that status to lodge
a request with Moscow to keep the investments coming and to underwrite
some of the legal and institutional changes that Armenia needs to
meet the upcoming trade club’s membership rules by 2015. Yerevan also
needs resources to keep selling Armenians on the idea of pushing the
country into what many claim will be an economic throwback to the USSR.

And it may need more than that. On February 24, ex-President Robert
Kocharian sounded off against the way Yerevan will waltz through the
door of the Customs Union. Believed by many to be positioning himself
for a potential political comeback, Kocharian increasingly has been
taking aim at Sarkisian’s economic policies.

How far Kocharian could go with this is unclear. Memories of the
2008 bloodshed under his administration do not endear him uniformly
to Armenian voters. But his choice of topic could add at least some
fuel to the fire.

Angry over Russia tightening the screws on migrant workers and not
lowering gas prices and watching the desperate efforts in Ukraine
to keep Moscow at arm’s length, many Armenians have strong second
thoughts about Putin’s Customs Union. There is also growing anger
with various local economic policies that, some analysts believe,
may at some point snowball into a larger, anti-government movement.

To be clear, despite such disgruntlement, no EuroMaidan is expected
anytime soon in Armenia. But, as Ukraine showed, in the ongoing game
of checkers between the pro-EU and pro-CU camps in the Eurasian region,
the players’ pieces can indeed move anywhere at any time.

SUMGAIT-88. PART 1: DREAM OF HEAVEN BRINGING HELL

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 25 2014

25 February 2014 – 11:26am

Azerbaijan and Armenia associate February of modern history with
the tragic events of Sumgait and Khojaly. As time goes, there are
fewer and fewer witnesses of the events left, but the question why
the tragedy happened remains. Vestnik Kavkaza experts will describe
details of the horrifying events of February 1988 this week.

In the 1980s, the USSR made its most flagrant civilizational mistake:
it was tempted with promises of heaven on earth. The Russian Social
Democratic Labour Party was charmed with the idea of heavenly
communism, only to be later replaced with another one after decades
of bloodshed and hard work.

Perestroika, collapse of the USSR and the bloody events depicted in
the article could have been avoided if it were not for the idea of
a capitalist heaven in the hearts of people. The state ideology of
the early 1980s was failing to satisfy needs of its citizens. The
Cold War started after WWII could only end with either socialism or
capitalism winning.

Mikhail Gorbachev started his reign on March 11, 1985, believing in
the American Dream. Unlike his predecessors, he was a gullible and
naïve leader who thought that scrapping totalitarian ideology for
the sake of European democratic values would end hostilities and make
the USSR part of the world society.

The West had no intentions to make friends, it was only worried about
own security which could only be strengthened by weakening or better
destroying the Soviet Union. The divide and rule principle was taken as
the basis and served under the cover of “heavenly” ideals of Western
democracy. The ethnic problem was the perfect tool for a coup in the
multiethnic Soviet Union where all nationalities were equal.

Nationalism as a mass movement cannot be born by its own, it is a
political instrument, sort of a scalpel, that cuts the body of the
country into any number of pieces. Organized and idea-firm nationalists
convinced in their superiority are few in numbers, but they are always
under surveillance of special services and cannot do harm under a
strong government. However, they become the blade of the scalpel in
the hands of players of local and global politics.

The scalpel hit Sumgait on February 27-29, 1998.