Author: Badalian Vardan

Armenian PM still silent on Customs Union matter – newspaper

September 07, 2013 | 08:18

YEREVAN. – Considering Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s
earlier statements on the Customs Union, Haykakan Zhamanak daily had
forwarded a set of questions to the government several days ago, the
daily reports.

`[But] they have not yet responded to the queries as to whether the PM
is prepared to hand in his resignation, how the PM comments on the
contradiction between the statements Armenian senior officials made in
the past and [President Serzh] Sargsyan’s [recent] announcement made
in Moscow, and whether the [Armenia-]EU Association Agreement can
still be initialed in Vilnius, [Lithuania, where the Eastern
Partnership summit will be held in November],’ Haykakan Zhamanak
writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Armenia, Ukraine face similar problems: expert

September 7, 2013 – 12:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia’s intention to join the Customs Union
resembled the situation in Ukraine, a political analyst said.

`On the one hand, both countries are bound with Russia. On the other
hand, both are strongly attracted by the European values, or at least
say so. In both countries, the public opinion is divided, some
standing for close cooperation with Russia and some striving for
Europe. Furthermore, both countries are under pressure of Russia and
European Union, each trying to tip the scale,’ Mikhail Beletskiy said.

According to him, unilateral orientation to the West or Russia can
result in serious losses. `For Ukraine, it can be a complete collapse
of economy. Armenia can face even a greater loss if Nagorno Karabakh
is transferred to a hostile neighbor state. Under the circumstances,
Armenia could nothing but strengthen the union with Russia, which is
its own real ally in the region,’ the expert said.

`As a result, Ukraine and Armenia, although still trying to pursue a
two-vector policy, have chosen different paths. Ukraine preferred the
European Union as the main direction, with some limited cooperation
with the CIS member states while Armenia is headed for Russia. Time
will show which of the decision was right,’ he said, according to
AnalitikaUA.net.

Armenia completed technical talks on a `deep and comprehensive
free-trade agreement’ (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set to be
signed at a summit with the EU in late November.

In addition to a free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards the
signing of an association agreement with the EU, a framework agreement
on co-operation that is seen as a first step towards political
integration with the EU.

During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian
leader Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union,
with further plans to be involved in formation of EurAsEC.

Putin supported the initiative, voicing readiness to assist Armenia in
the process. He also noted that Russian Railways may invest 15 billion
rubles in development of Armenia’s railway network.

The Customs Union was formed in 2010 to include of Belarus,
Kazakhstan, and Russia; Kirghizia and Tajikistan later expressed
willingness to join the Union.

The reaction of European officials continues to be diverse.

When in St. Petersburg to attend the G20 summit, European Council
President Herman Van Rompuy said that Armenia, Moldova, and, if
possible, Ukraine will hopefully sign the Association Agreement at the
Vilnius Summit in November 2013.

`This is a political agreement. The Agreement would allow Armenia to
go through comprehensive change both politically and economically.
Therefore, after getting the news about Armenia’s plans of joining the
Custom’s Union the EU expects to hear from Armenia what her further
plans are. We have not received official explanations from Armenia,
yet we don’t think this is a zero sum game and the same refers to
Ukraine. Some benchmarks will be necessary to meet. There are some
outstanding issues but we hope to see results in Vilnius. We are still
engaged with these countries and still expect to sign the Association
Agreements,’ he said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, said that the European
Parliament is not going to initialize either the Associated Agreement
or the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia, as it’s
not compatible with membership in the Customs Union.

Putin’s hint at possible agreement with Azerbaijan became determinant
for Sargsyan’s decision to join the Customs Union

ArmInfo’s Interview with Thomas de Waal, Senior Associate in the
Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace, author of the book Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through
Peace and War

by David Stepanyan

Saturday, September 7, 14:55

Earlier you said that Vladimir Putin’s visit to Azerbaijan hinted that
Armenia would inevitably join the Customs Union. Can one say after the
Putin-Sargsyan meeting in Moscow that Yerevan has taken the hint? What
role has Karabakh played in this decision?

I think that Vladimir Putin’s broad hint that Russia can easily agree
on a range of issues with Azerbaijan was a determinant factor for
Armenian President Sargsyan’s decision on Armenia’s membership of the
Customs Union. Even the smallest threat of losing Russia’s military
protection seemed too fearful to Yerevan. Another matter that what
happened in Moscow was a result of Armenia’s insufficiently flexible
policy of many years towards Russia and Europe. It was not hard for
Yerevan to stay economically dependent on Russia for long years,
though, the country’s leaders should have realized that the country
would sooner or later have to pay a political price for that. The
administrations of both Serzh Sargsyan and ex-president Robert
Kocharyan allowed takeover of Armenia’s economy by Russia, which
helped them retain political control over Armenia. When Serzh Sargsyan
tried to revise that deal with great caution, he had no options left.

Does Armenia’s membership of the Customs Union mean automatic
maintenance of the status quo around Karabakh for years to come given
the military balance of the Karabakh conflict parties? The Kremlin
sells weapons worth billions to Azerbaijan and ‘compensates’ for that
with delivery of weapons to Armenia on preferential terms. How
successful is the Kremlin’s policy?

Russia is interested in either preserving the status quo in the
Karabakh conflict or settling it without any painful efforts. The
Russian authorities try their best to preserve the military balance.
Meanwhile, it would be wrong to say that Russia can keep the situation
in the Karabakh conflict zone fully under control. Never before has
Moscow controlled the situation around Karabakh. And now, the decision
to either unleash conflict or maintain the status quo rests upon
Azerbaijan, first of all. The arms race between Armenia and Azerbaijan
and new stockpiling of arms make both the countries realize that
dancing on a volcano is becoming more and more dangerous. On the other
hand, the arms race means that any new conflict will quickly get out
of control.

Despite Armenia’s willingness to join the Customs Union, the
Association Agreement with the EU has not been cancelled yet. Has the
EuroAtlantic community got any levers to use the Karabakh conflict to
exert pressure on Yerevan at the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit
in Vilnius?

No, it has not. Actually, the EU is, first of all, a technical and
bureaucratic union. I am sure that most Europeans engaged in the
Eastern Partnership little communicate with the Minsk Group and have a
very general idea of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

It appears that Baku places its stake on economic growth,
particularly, on sales of energy resources. It connects the Karabakh
conflict settlement with its further strengthening in the
international arena. How grounded are these aspirations?

Certainly, now Azerbaijan is stronger and wealthier than it was 20
years ago during the Karabakh war. This gives Baku a new profile and
an opportunity to promote itself more efficiently and to use the
international structures to lobby the Azerbaijani stance in the
Karabakh conflict. The new status of Azerbaijan creates many problems
for Armenia, because Baku successfully blocks any attempts to
recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an international subject. However,
Armenians, for their part, are capable of hurting Azerbaijan by simply
maintaining the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh and around it.
Therefore, I have repeatedly qualified the current situation as a
suicide pact.

Iran has repeatedly made it clear that in case of foreign
interference in the Syrian conflict it will take retaliatory measures.
Won’t U.S. President Obama’s decision on military strike against Syria
lead to a large-scale war in the region? What consequences will it
have in the South Caucasus?

Of course, the escalation of the conflict in Syria will have a
negative impact on the neighboring countries. However, I foresee no
direct consequences for the South Caucasus. From the political point
of view, the South Caucasus countries are a long way from the Syrian
conflict. By the way, Iran itself has enough problems and it is not
interested in destabilization in its northern neighboring countries.

Georgia has taken no decision on opening of the Abkhaz railroad section, MP says

by Alexandr Avanesov

ARMINFO
Saturday, September 7, 13:47

ArmInfo-Black Sea Press. The issue of opening of the Abkhaz railway
section has been discussed in Georgia, but the Government has made no
such a decision, parliamentarian Viktor Dolidze told Imedi TV company
on September 6.

Earlier on Friday Secretary of the Armenian National Security Council
Artur Baghdasaryan said that Georgia, like the de facto authorities of
Abkhazia, had given its consent to the opening of the Abkhaz railway
section. He said that the issue, which is of strategic importance to
Armenia’s economy, had been discussed during the Sept 3 meeting of
Armenian and Russian Presidents, Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin.

“I do not know in what context Mr. Baghdasaryan said this. I am aware
that they are thinking of economic projects and development of the
railway facilities in Abkhazia, but you know that such a decision is
out of question. It’s one thing to consider and discuss the issue, and
it is another thing to make such a decision at the governmental level.
There is no such a decision”, Dolidze said.

At the spring session of PACE on April 23, Georgian Prime Minister
Bidzina Ivanishvili said that the Abkhaz railway section would open in
the long-term outlook but this would happen with due regard for
Georgia’s interests.

Father of Gurgen Margaryan gets worse after surgery

by David Stepanyan
Saturday, September 7, 13:56

Artush Margaryan, the father of Gurgen Margaryan, an Armenian officer
murdered by Azeri Ramil Safarov in Budapest in 2004, got worse after a
surgery.
Margaryan’s doctor told 168 Zham newspaper that the crisis is due to
problems with blood flow in the man’s brain.

Artush Margaryan attempted suicide on Sept 5 by stabbing himself in
the stomach. The police found a kitchen knife on the scene. Margaryan
was sent to the Malatia Medical Center and underwent surgery.

Eight years after being sentenced by a Hungarian court to life in jail
for killing Margaryan, Azeri officer Ramil Safarov was extradited to
Azerbaijan. The same day Azeri President Ilham Aliyev decreed to
pardon the criminal.

ARGENTINE-ARMENIANS TO GIVE PROTEST WELCOME TO TURKISH PM

12:37 07.09.13

Ahead of the Turkish prime minister’s visit to Argentine, the Armenians
in the country are arranging a rally as a sign of protest against
his denial policies in relation to the Armenian Genocide.

The Buenos Aires-based Armenian Youth Union has issued a statement,
calling upon the community to take to the street for the protest.

“[Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, who pursues denial policies is coming to
Argentine to [negotiate plans for] Olympic games. We are inviting all
the Armenians from Turkey to the rally to demand justice,” they say.

Armenian News – Tert.am

LA VENTE DU COCA-COLA ET DU CHEWING-GUM INTERDIT DANS LES ECOLES D’EREVAN

ARMENIE-CONSOMMATION

La vente de sodas continuera cette saison scolaire a etre interdite
dans les ecoles d’Erevan. Arman Edoyan l’adjoint de la Mairie d’Erevan,
charge du commerce et des services a informe la presse que la vente de
ces boissons ne sera pas autorisee dans les etablissements scolaires
de la capitale. ” Nous avons interdit la vente du coca-cola, du
chewing-gum et des graines de tournesol dans nos ecoles. Il n’y a
pas de place pour ces produits dans les ecoles et je pense que les
parents des elèves sont d’accord avec moi ” dit Arman Edoyan lors
d’une conference de presse. Et d’ajouter ” il est etonnant que lors
des cours, nous exigions aux elèves de ne pas mâcher leur ching gums
et dans le meme temps dans ces ecoles on vendait du chewing-gum “.

Desormais, une liste de produits de consommation autorisees a vendre
dans les ecoles est dressee a l’interieur de chaque etablissement
scolaire. Des sandwichs presentes dans des emballages adequats ainsi
que de l’eau et des jus de fruits seront ainsi autorisees a la vente
dans les ecoles.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 7 septembre 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

SOCCER-ARMENIA STUN CZECHS WITH INJURY-TIME WINNER

Yahoo Sports
Sept 6 2013

PRAGUE, Sept 6 (Reuters) – Armenia scored in injury time to beat the
Czech Republic 2-1 in their World Cup Group B qualifier on Friday,
severely denting the home side’s chances of making the finals.

The Czechs looked like they had salvaged a draw whenTomas Rosicky’s
long-range shot deflected into the net off a defender to level at
1-1 in the 70th minute.

But Gevorg Ghazaryan latched onto a pass deep in Czech territory in
injury time and found the net with a shot that bounced off keeper
Petr Cech and past a sprawling Michal Kadlec who was unable to clear
his lines.

“We had a good start and a bad end,” Czech coach Michal Bilek told
reporters.

The Czechs dominated possession but paid the price for squandering a
clutch of quality chances in a match that highlighted the home side’s
inability to finish.

Armenia took an early lead when a defensive error gifted the visitors
possession in front of goal and Karlen Lazarian’s fierce drive into
the top corner gave a diving Cech no chance.

The home side started the game brightly with midfielderPetr Jiracek
firing over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

Armenia keeper Roman Berezovski, who was forced off through injury
in the second half, also had to punch away a Tomas Sivok header later
in the first half.

Italy, who play Bulgaria later on Friday, top the group on 14 points
after six games, with their opponents second on 10.

Armenia have moved level with the Czechs in third on nine points
after seven games. (Reporting by Michael Kahn,; Editing by Toby Davis)

;_ylt=A2KJNF93JCpSCXEAiLXQtDMD

VLADIMIR AVETISYAN AND D’BLACK BLUES ORCHESTRA TO GIVE CONCERT IN STEPANAKERT

19:01 06/09/2013 ” CULTURE

On September 8, D’Black Blues Orchestra will give a concert in
Stepanakert. Well-known Russian businessman Vladimir Avetisyan is
the soloist.

Vladimir Avetisyan is the owner of Volgopromgaz holding. For many
years he was member of the Board, Deputy Chairman of the Board, and
Managing Director of UES of Russia (Russian Open Joint Stock Company
for Power and Electrification). He had a direct participation in the
reforms of electro-energetics in Russia and in the establishment
of new market energy companies. At present, Vladimir Avetisyan is
Adviser to Director General of Rostec State Corporation, and member
of the Central Council of the Union of Machine-Builders of Russia.

Vladimir Avetisyan and D’Black Blues Orchestra will present the
show Claptomania based on popular compositions from the repertoire
of legendary British blues musician Eric Clapton. The group is
international in composition bringing together musicians from five
countries: Russia, the US, France, Switzerland and Spain.

Blues fans note in particular the high audio quality of D’Black Blues
Orchestra concerts.

The band tours with its own equipment, and sound engineers do a
world-class job.

D’Black Blues Orchestra tours to Russia, Great Britain, Switzerland,
Spain, Ukraine, Moldavia, China, Scandinavian and Baltic states,
as well as to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh were of great success.

During D’Black Blues Orchestra’s tour in London, Eric Clapton donated
his guitar to Vladimir Avetisyan in appreciation of his contribution
to Crossroads Fund. (founded by Eric Clapton, in 1997).

Source: Panorama.am

FITCH ASSIGNS ARMENIA’S POTENTIAL UPCOMING USD-DENOMINATED NOTES ‘BB-(EXP)’ RATING

YEREVAN, September 6. /ARKA/. Fitch Ratings has assigned the Republic
of Armenia’s potential upcoming USD-denominated notes an expected
‘BB-(EXP)’ rating, the press office of Fitch reports.

The final rating is contingent on the receipt of final documentation
conforming to information already received.

The expected rating is in line with Armenia’s Long-Term foreign
currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘BB-‘. The Outlook on the
rating is Stable.

In May 2013, Armenian government approved the concept of the emission
of first Eurobonds, which is expected to amount to $500 million. Their
maturity term is 10 years.

On August 8, 2013, Armenian government approved the signing of
agreements with some companies which will be underwriters of the
first issue of Eurobonds. Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, HSBC Bank
plc and J.P.Morgan Securities plc are among them. —0—

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