Author: Badalian Vardan

ANALYST: ARMENIANS PREFER RUSSIA OVER EU

SOCIETY | 05.09.13 | 16:22

Photolure

By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

A well-known sociologist of Armenia concludes that if a referendum were
held on joining the Customs Union (as announced by President Serzh
Sargsyan Tuesday), the majority of citizens would have definitely
voted for it, because, he says, decades of studies and surveys show
that the people of Armenia support deepening relations with Russia.

Director of Sociometer Sociological Center Aharon Adibekyan told the
press on Thursday that the center has been carrying out studies since
the 1990s to establish which country or political union Armenia should
cooperate with and Russia has always held the top position on the list.

“It has never dropped below 40 percent, never exceeded 55 percent. The
European Union always came second, followed by Iran and the United
States. In terms of remittances, last year out of the total $1.7
billion $1.47 billion came from Russia, which makes 85.6 percent.

Every sixth or seventh family lives off the money sent from Russia,”
he says, adding that between 1988 and 2011, 34 percent of general
$16.5 billion investment in Armenia was by Russia, which makes 42.5
percent of direct investment, while the share of those 12 countries
of the European Union which made tangible investment in Armenia is
only 20 percent in general and 25 percent in direct investments. The
USA’s share is 3 percent.

“If the European Union wants to see Armenia as its friend, it has to
found a business with us, so that we can understand that partnership,
but the issue remains in the political domain. They say come and
befriend us, then we will try to help you, meanwhile Russia, as our
ally historically, has been fulfilling that mission,” says Adibekyan,
adding that there are 1.5 million Armenians officially residing
in Russia and it is only natural that President Vladimir Putin is
interested in attracting those votes to support him.

However, Adibekyan says that Russia, as opposed to Europe, is a
technologically less developed country, if we put aside the strategic
and space fields, hence cooperating with it will make Armenia lag
behind technologically and will only be able to sell its products
in Russia.

According to him, speaking in chess terminology, this is a mutual
political “zugzwang”, meaning when both parties take steps because
the situation on the game board is such that other steps might lead
to bitter defeat.

ARMENIAN NAVY BAND TO HOLD CONCERTS IN YEREVAN (PHOTOS)

SEPTEMBER 5, 15:37

Armenian Navy Band will perform on September 21, 22 and 23, at Mezzo
club of Armenia’s capital city Yerevan.

The avant-garde folk-jazz band is led by renowned Armenian avant-garde
musician, songwriter and numerous instrument player Arto Tuncboyaciyan,
who has won a Grammy Award for “Best New Age Album.”

To note, aside from the Armenian Navy Band founder Arto Tuncboyaciyan,
its other members likewise are distinguished musicians.

One of the leading musicians is Armen Usunts, who is the founder and
head of Time Report ethno-jazz-rock band and is considered the best
saxophone player; he also heads the Armenian State Jazz Orchestra.

Vahagn Hayrapetyan is the best jazz keyboardist, one of the best pupils
of the great American pianist Barry Harris, who had given numerous
concerts in America, Russia, and in the East. He has recorded two
albums with American musicians and released them in the US.

Arman Jalalyan is the region’s only drummer who has the official
status of Yamaha Artist.

Bassist Vardan Arakelyan is one of the best musicians in his specialty
in Armenia.

Duduk player Vardan Grigoryan is a student of world-renowned Armenian
musician and composer, duduk master Djivan Gasparyan, and he performs
with numerous Western musicians.

Norayr Kartashyan is a musician that performs on folk wind
instruments. His works can be heard in the soundtrack of Ararat,
the acclaimed movie by Canadian-Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan.

IT’S NOT OFTEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS ‘ARMENIAN SUPERSTAR’ – THE MIRROR

September 5, 2013

The Mirror summed up the summer’s transfer window, presenting the
most expensive moves of 2013.

One of the key transfers mentioned by the newspaper is Henrikh
Mkhitaryan’s move to Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s not often you hear the words ‘Armenian superstar’, but Henrikh
Mkhitaryan’s move from Shaktar Donetsk to Borussia Dortmund for £23.8m
certainly raised the Armenian’s profile,” the Mirror writes.

Last week Mkhitaryan scored his first two goals in Bundesliga and
was recognized the best player of Round 4.

NEWS.am Sport

ABOUT 15 MEN WITH STICKS ASSAULTED PARTICIPANTS OF CITY HALL SIT-IN

About 15 people with sticks beat participants of the sit-in in front
of the City Hall. The incident took place on Mashtots Avenue, near
the bowling club. Arman Alexanyan and another two were able to escape.

They were walking away from the City Hall when the assaulters went up
to them and asked them why they were at the City Hall. The young men
recognized them, they had seen them before near the City Hall. The
others were skinheads with black clothes, they looked like bodyguards.

Arman got some injuries around the head. When Vahagn, an activist,
alerted the police, they said let the guys catch them and take them
to the police station.

The police are not taking any action while some hooligans are
threatening the life and health of the citizens.

11:22 05/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

EU: “WE LOOK FORWARD TO UNDERSTANDING BETTER FROM ARMENIA WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE”

by Alexandr Avanesov

ARMINFO
Thursday, September 5, 11:50

“In July this year, after three and a half years, we finalised the
negotiations of the Association Agreement (including a Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia. This agreement would
allow Armenia with the EU?s support, to drive forward a programme
of comprehensive modernisation and reform based upon shared values,
political association and economic integration,” says the European
Commissionm in a statement disseminated on September 4.

Further in the statement: “We take note of Armenia’s apparent wish
to join the Customs Union. We look forward to understanding better
from Armenia what their intentions are and how they wish to ensure
compatibility between these and the commitments undertaken through
the Association Agreement and DCFTA. Once this consultation has been
completed, we will draw our conclusions on the way forward. We want
to underline once again that AA/DCFTA is a blueprint for reforms
beneficial for all and not a zero-sum game and could be compatible
with economic cooperation with the members of the Commonwealth of
Independent States.”

Armenia was expected to sign an Association Agreement with EU at the
upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. However, on September
3 in Moscow, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed Armenia’s
intention to join the Customs Union and the process of the formation
of the Eurasian Union. Vladimir Putin supported Sargsyan’s decision
and promised to contribute to Yerevan’s accession to the Customs
Union in every possible way.

The Customs Union has been created within the Eurasian economic space
for trade and economic integration of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia
on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

AZERI FORCES OPEN FIRE AT ARMENIAN BORDER VILLAGES

12:16 05/09/2013 ” SOCIETY

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said yesterday
that Azeri forces opened fire at the Armenian border villages of
Movses and Aygepar, damaging a civil vehicle.

Azeri media reported today that allegedly a civilian was injured by
Armenian bullet.

Speaking to Panorama.am, Artsrun Hovhannisyan called the Azeri reports
misinformation.

According to him, Azerbaijan aims to distract the international
community’s attention from its aggressive acts and therefore spreads
such statements.

Hovhannisyan noted that after Azerbaijan opened fire at Armenian
villages, the Armenian servicemen keeping vigil opened fire in response
at Azeri military posts in order to silence the enemy.

He added that Armenian servicemen “never open fire at civilians and
settlements,” therefore he says for sure that Azerbaijan spreads
misinformation.

Source: Panorama.am

LES ARMENIENS DE BOSTON SOULEVENT 1,3 MILLION DE DOLLARS POUR QUE LES ARMENIENS DE SYRIE S’INSTALLENT AU KARABAGH

USA

La communaute armenienne de Boston a souleve 1,3 million de dollars
pour que les Armeniens de Syrie puissent commencer une nouvelle vie
au Karabagh.

Les fonds seront transferes a travers la fondation Ari et seront
alloue pour acheter du betail et pour la construction de ferme a
declare le coordonnateur du programme Suren Grigorian.

” Le seul problème est la mise a disposition de terres. Les nouvelles
communautes doivent avoir au moins un hectare. Nous vouloir tenir
des negociations avec le gouvernement du Haut-Karabagh ” a-t-il dit.

Trente familles ont ete reinstalles dans la region de Kovsakan.

jeudi 5 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LA RENOVATION DE ” PAK SHUKA ” EST ILLEGALE DISENT LE MINISTERE DE LA CULTURE ET DES MANIFESTANTS

ARMENIE

Les passions autour du vieux marche ” Pak Shuka ” (marche couvert)
construit il y a 60 ans au c~ur d’Erevan, ont degenere en un
affrontement entre ceux qui veulent voir le site maintenu comme point
de repère culturel, et ceux qui soutiennent sa transition vers une
supermarche moderne et une source d’emplois

Ceux qui soutiennent le developpement par le proprietaire de
l’immeuble, membre du Parlement Samvel Alexanyan, exigent que les
membres de l’initiative sociale ” liberer le marche de l’oligarque
” s’arretent d’entraver la construction.

La manifestation contre la reconstruction du marche a recu une autre
impulsion après que le journal de l’opposition Haykakan Zhamanak
ait publie un article affirmant que l’interieur est meconnaissable,
transforme en centre commercial ” blanchi “, un deuxième etage a ete
ajoute, un escalator installe et que le 15 septembre un autre magazin
de la chaîne de supermarches devait s’ouvrir.

Avant le vice-ministre de la culture Arev Samuelyan a fait une
declaration que le ministère n’avait pas permis une construction dans
le marche couvert et n’avait pas approuve de plan architectural.

” La construction est illegal. Le ministère s’est constamment exprime
cette question et a agi dans les limites de son autorite “, dit-elle.

” Nous avons envoye de nombreuses lettres a tous les organes en charge
de la question “.

L’Architecte Sashur Kalashyan a dit que la mairie avait promis de
demanteler les structures illegales et de punir les malfaiteurs,
mais après avoir vu l’interieur du marche, il est evident que le
caractère aime du bâtiment a ete complètement change.

” La municipalite a clame que la construction a l’interieur du marche
avait ete suspendue et le bâtiment etait sous son contrôle. Cependant,
maintenant les nouvelles sont qu’il ouvrira dans deux semaines.

Qu’est-ce que ca veut dire ? ” se demande l’architecte.

Le groupe d’initiative ” Liberez le marche de l’oligarque ” a trois
exigences : tenir le proprietaire responsable face a ce que la loi
prevoit, lui faire payer les compensations pour les dommages causes
au monument et retablir son interieur original, ce qui implique le
demantèlement des structures illegales, la restauration du monument
a son etat initial. Ils reclament egalement de suspendre les droits
du proprietaire d’utiliser le monument et de mener toute activite
economique dans ses locaux jusqu’a ce que les exigences enumerees
ci-dessus soient remplies.

Le coordinateur du groupe Garegin Chugaszyan a dit si les exigences
cotees sont pas remplies, le proprietaire devraient etre legalement
depouille de son droit de propriete.

Pendant ce temps, lundi des centaines de partisans d’Alexanyan
se sont rassembles près du marche – c’etaient des employes des
supermarches de la ville d’erevan situes dans differents quartiers
de la capitale armenienne – armes de drapeaux tricolores : portant
des affiches où il etait inscrit ” Oui a de nouveaux emplois ” et
scandant ” Alexanyan-philanthrope “. De l’eau et dles jus leur ont
ete distribues tout au long de la manifestation.

Les activistes civils ont rallie le Parc Mashtots dans le meme temps
afin de ne pas etre près du marche en raison de problèmes de securite
– le nombre de policiers sur place etait loin d’etre suffisant pour
eviter un affrontement et si cela devait arriver s’ils auraient
disparu.

” Est-ce qu’ils voulaient un clash, je ne peux pas le dire, mais les
evèments l’indiquent. Ils sont venus en grand nombre, et la police
n’a pas pu les tenir ” a dit Yeghia Nersisyan, l’un des militants. ”
Pour combien de temps Alexanyan pourra garder ses employes en grève
et les amener sur le lieux du marche ? ”

Le mediateur des droits de l’homme Karen Andreasyan a publie
une declaration que la police devrait s’occuper de la question du
marche couvert, plutôt que les ministères ou l’hôtel de ville. C’est
sans doute que la construction est illegale et que les ministères
du developpement urbains et celui de la culture ainsi que des
representants de l’hôtel de ville d’Erevan ont declare a plusieurs
reprises.

Par Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow

jeudi 5 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

L’ECRIVAIN TURC D’ORIGINE KURDE YACHAR KEMAL A RECU LA MEDAILLE ” KRIKOR NAREGATSI ”

DISTINCTION

Une delegation armenienne s’est rendue au domicile de l’ecrivain Turc
d’origine kurde Yachar Kemal dans le quartier Vanikoy d’Istanbul pour
lui remettre la medaille ” Krikor Naregatsi “. Cette medaille lui est
decernee par le Ministère armenien de la Culture. Seyranouhi Keghamian
representait le Ministère lors de cette remise de la medaille. Elle
etait accompagnee du depute au Parlement armenien Arakadz Ajhoyan
ainsi que les representants du Congrès des Armeniens d’occident Vahan
Melikian et Sevag Ardzrouni. Lors de cette ceremonie de remise de la
medaille, Yachar Kemal a dit ” sur ces terres, de grandes douleurs et
des massacres se sont deroules. Neanmoins il y a des efforts humains
qui essaient de sortir de ce mal. Parmi ces efforts notons ceux qui
tentent de sortir de la haine et tendre a la paix “. Rappelons que
Yachar Kemal a ete ainsi medaille pour sa position jugee respectueuse
et positive envers les Armeniens et leur heritage culturel. Il etait
en 1951 parmi ceux qui denoncaient la destruction par les autorites
turques, de l’eglise armenienne Sainte Croix a Aghtamar.

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 5 septembre 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

CUSTOMS UNION VS. EU: ARMENIA’S WRONG CHOICE

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013

Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 4 / Trend /

Trend commentator Elmira Tariverdiyeva

Looking at Yerevan’s rushing between Russia’s initiative on the Customs
Union and an agreement on the association and free trade zone with
the EU, one can recall the parable about a donkey which could not
choose which one of two haystacks and died of starvation.

Although the donkey made a choice in this situation, this does not
testify to the fact that it will survive. The fact is that from the
legal point of view it is impossible to be a member of the Customs
Union and to have an agreement on association and free trade with
the EU. This means that Yerevan lost considerably again.

The fact that Armenia will try to placate Russia was obvious.

Relations between the two countries have recently weakened because
Yerevan began establishing trade relations with the EU. An agreement
on the association and free trade zone between the EU and Armenia
was to be initialled at Vilnius during the upcoming November summit
which of course will slightly improve the deplorable situation of
the country’s people.

Armenia, along with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, quite actively were
moving in the direction of initialling the Association Agreement in
Vilnius. Brussels has recently even recognised Armenia as a leader
of the programme in terms of reforms.

However, the Armenian authorities are completely indifferent about
the living conditions of the people, but the Russian leadership’s
attitude to them personally is important. Yerevan is even more upset
that relations between Baku and Moscow for many years remain friendly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Azerbaijan
confirmed this.

Judging by the Armenian president’s press service information, as soon
as the Kremlin confirmed Putin’s visit to Baku, Sargsyan started to
pack his bags to fly to Moscow.

But the Armenian leader voiced his consent to join the Customs Union
and at the same time sacrificed the relative prosperity of Armenian
people.

The fact is that Armenia having no border with Russia, will gain
little from joining the Customs Union. In fact, there is no economic
feasibility for Armenia as a result of joining the Union. But one can
understand the political implications of Yerevan’s actions. Yerevan’s
logic is very simple – old friends and old wine is best.

So, if one agrees with Moscow’s initiative, one can save friendship
with a long-time ally and partner. Alas, Armenia has no idea about
the balance policy, so the country’s rushing about is fully justified.

Well, a poor and a dependent country conflicting with its neighbours
cannot be independent. In this case, it is necessary to bend or yield
even in the issue of its own national interests.

As for Russia, Moscow needs poor little Armenia in the Customs Union
only for political, rather than economic participation.

In this case, the Armenian president’s team knew about the risks. The
internal situation will deteriorate after Sargsyan’s decision and
will turn against him.

The fact is that on the one hand Sargsyan’s team tried to succeed in
the process of European integration. Now, the authorities will have
difficulty to explain why Armenia joins the Customs Union instead of
signing an association agreement and why ordinary people again became
a bargaining chip in the bid for the big neighbour’s good attitude.