Author: Badalian Vardan

“ARMENIA SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE HER OWN COURSE”

March 13 2013

According to Simon Fraser, the Permanent Under-Secretary of the
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Armenia is an important
player in the region.

* Mr. Fraser, do reforms that are carried out in Armenia make
our country closer to the European Union in terms of political
association and economic integration within the framework of the
Eastern Partnership, in your opinion, and is Armenia making progress
in this regard, in your opinion?

* I very much support the progress Armenia is making in building
its relationship with the European Union through the Association
Agreement negotiations and as part of that, negotiations on a free
trade agreement. I think a lot of good progress has been made, and
we hope that we will make further significant progress before the
Vilnius Summit in November. I hope that that process will support the
internal economic reform agenda within Armenia, just as the internal
economic reform process helps us advance the negotiation. So they
should be mutually reinforcing.

* There are two documents of strategic importance to Armenia on the
negotiating table with the European Union – the Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Agreement and the Armenia-EU Association Agreement. I
would like you to tell our society what Armenia will gain from those
programs. 

* As a general benefit, which is that through these negotiations
Armenia will come closer to the European Union with everything that
the European Union stands for in terms of governance, strengthening
democracy, as well as economic progress. And I think that’s important
for Armenia and important for the European Union, and it will help
us work together on issues involving security and stability in the
region, where we have a common interest, and then there will be more
specific benefits. So, for example, through these negotiations, it
should be possible to increase economic activity and trade to bring
more investment into Armenia, to improve some of the procedures,
for example, in the area of customs, so that there is a great flow
of goods and economic benefits. 

* Mr. Fraser, you talked about the possible advantages, benefits
for our country in the EU direction, but Armenian experts have
been discussing for a few months now the possibilities of Armenia’s
membership in the Eurasian Union and Customs Union proposed by the
Russian President; former and current ambassadors accredited in the
Republic of Armenia – the German Ambassador to Armenia, the current
Polish Ambassador – have talked about this issue. How urgent the issue
of membership of former Soviet republics, Armenia in particular,
and generally choosing between the EU and the Eurasian Union is,
in your opinion? 

* I think Armenia rightly wants to have a stronger relationship with
the European Union. But Armenia also has – and I absolutely recognize
this – a strong and important relationship with Russia.

And it’s for all sovereign countries to choose better relationships.

The key thing, I think, in relation to the trade and customs agreements
is that access to the European Union market of 500 million people,
which is the biggest market in the world, is a valuable prize. And
it’s important that whatever agreements you enter into with different
parties have to be compatible with each other. I am not an expert
on the detail of these agreements, but I have been told that it
is not compatible to be a member of the Customs Union and the Free
Trade Agreement with the European Union, so that needs to be studied
carefully. So that’s a technical issue, but, in general, we would
like Armenia to have good relations with all her neighbors. 

* Nonetheless, Russia’s aspirations in the South Caucasus, given its
influence, are obvious; so there is a political component here too. *
Clearly, Russia has interests and influence in this region, and that
is to be expected. I think it’s important that the countries in the
region like Armenia are able, have the freedom to choose their own
course and partnerships, but, of course, you have to take account of
the realities. I don’t want to talk about history, and I don’t want
to talk about, comment on Russian policy, but I think it’s important
that the European Union makes an offer to countries of the region,
which is attractive and supports their growth and development. But
we shouldn’t see it as a zero-sum game, either the European Union or
Russia. And of course, the European Union’s relationship with Russia
is really important as well. 

* Mr. Fraser, after the 2008 presidential election, Serzh Sargsyan
initiated “football diplomacy” aiming at normalizing the Armenia-Turkey
relations. Those protocols have not been implemented; they are still
pending. There is no significant progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement. A few days ago, a presidential election took
place in Armenia, now what can the Armenian government offer to the
international community, in terms of regional development? 

* Armenia is clearly an important player in a number of regional
issues; first of all on Nagorno-Karabakh, we do hope that the Minsk
Group can move forward. I know that there has been perhaps not as much
progress recently, as people would wish. I think we have to continue
to support, as I said earlier today, a settlement, which respects
the Helsinki Principles and the legitimate concerns of the different
parties. Obviously, in any solution of such a problem, there has to
be an element of compromise, and the task of the Minsk process is to
find that area of compromise. And similarly, in the case of Turkey,
we very much supported the 2009 protocols, and we would like to see
them implemented. I think there is an interest for both Armenia and,
frankly, for Turkey in taking this forward. So I hope that you will
continue to pursue that even if you find the progress disappointing
in that area. I realize it’s not entirely in Armenia’s hands, because
there are developments in Turkey, which will influence the progress
of this, but, of course, there are big benefits that could flow from
it, in terms of regional stability, if you like, but also potential
economic benefits. But I recognize these are very difficult challenges,
and we need to support you in seeking to make progress. 

* During your briefing in Yerevan, you talked about economic programs
within the framework of the Armenia-United Kingdom relations; you
attached particular importance to the issue of your country’s support
to British companies, encouraging new investment. Mr. Fraser, what was
the reason for the British side’s willingness to enhance relations
with Armenia, what contributed to that? * It’s a part of a broader
initiative in our diplomacy, which is to focus very much on supporting
trade and investment, which reflects the economic difficulties that
we ourselves are confronting. So, basically, where there’s a good
market, we should go to that market. So you have a market here with
very skilled people, you have some assets, some sectors, where you’re
strong; for example, in mining, in agriculture, in IT, increasingly,
you have big opportunities. You have a young and dynamic population
who’re looking out. So I think it’s great that British companies
should be looking for opportunities, and it’s the responsibility of
the British government to support them. 

Emma Gabrielyan 

Read more at:  

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

HEAD OF “HAY DUT” YEREVAN OFFICE: THE ELECTION OF CARDINAL JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO OF ARGENTINA AS A NEW PONTIFF OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WILL UNDOUBTEDLY PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN ISSUE

ARMINFO
Thursday, March 14, 13:10

The election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as a new
pontiff of the Catholic Church will undoubtedly promote development
of the Armenian issue at the world arena, the head of the “Hay Dut”
Yerevan office, Kiro Manoyan, told Arminfo correspondent.

“However, one thing is to be a cardinal and quite another thing is
to be the Pope. Nevertheless, I think that he will go on holding his
position regarding the given issue”, – Manoyan said.

To note, the Armenian community in Argentina, a predominantly
Catholic country, took the news with joy, with its members saying that
Archbishop Bergoglio has always been in friendly ties with them and
participated in different events dedicated to the Armenian Genocide,
attended a liturgy conducted by the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Seven years ago the archbishop publicly demanded that Turkey admit
the Ottoman-era Genocide of Armenians.

RUMANIAN REFEREE TO SERVE ARMENIA-CZECH REPUBLIC FOOTBALL MATCH

13:04, 14 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS: Rumanian referees staff is scheduled
to serve World Cup Qualifying Armenia- Czech Republic match. As
Armenpress reports citing FIFA official web site, chief referee:
Pavel Balaj , Assistant Referee 1: Cristian Nica, Assistant Referee
2:Sebastian Gheorghe , fourth official: Alexandru Tudor.World Cup
Qualifying Armenia- Czech Republic match is due in Yerevan, on March
26, at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.

REPORT CLAIMS RUSSIA’S COMMUNIST PARTY WON 2011 POLLS

02:14 14/03/2013

MOSCOW, March 14 (Marc Bennetts, RIA Novosti) – The announcement
of a report casting fresh doubt on the results of Russia’s 2011
parliamentary polls drew a dismissive response from the pro-Kremlin
ruling party and the country’s top election official on Wednesday,
while also causing a flurry of speculation about motives, as the study
reportedly emerged from a think-tank headed by an official close to
President Vladimir Putin.

“The officially announced results are unreliable. United Russia did not
take first place,” Stepan Sulakshin, the author of the Moscow-based
Governance and Problem Analysis Center’s report, told the RBK Daily
newspaper in comments published late on Tuesday. “The Communist Party
took first place.”

Sulakshin said the United Russia party had gained 20-25 percent
of the vote at the 2011 State Duma polls, compared to the official
figure of 49 percent, while the Communists had gained 25-30 percent,
significantly more than the 19 percent announced by election officials.

Sulakshin could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. A spokesperson
at the think-tank, where is he is director, said he was “on a business
trip,” and no one else at the center could comment on the report,
which has not been released to the public. The Kommersant newspaper
said the report came out of a seminar that took place in the fall of
2012, and its findings were based on “mathematical” methods.

Widespread allegations of vote fraud in favor of then Prime Minister
Putin’s United Russia party at the December 4, 2011 parliamentary
elections triggered the largest anti-government demonstrations since
the fall of the Soviet Union.

Unlikely Critic

The think-tank responsible for the potentially explosive report is
run by an unlikely government critic: Russian Railways chief Vladimir
Yakunin, an alleged former KGB officer widely seen as a member of
Putin’s inner circle.

However, a source within Russian Railways told RIA Novosti on Wednesday
that Yakunin had not been involved in the drawing-up of the report. The
source was unable to say why news of the report had only been made
public more than a year after the elections, but denied it was part
of a rumored Kremlin plan to call snap parliamentary polls.

Russia’s respected Kommersant newspaper said earlier this year, citing
United Russia sources, that the Kremlin could disband parliament –
hit by a number of alleged corruption scandals involving lawmakers
in recent months – in a bid to save Putin’s declining ratings.

Putin stepped down as head of United Russia last May, when he handed
over stewardship of the party to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. But
commentators suggest he remains closely linked in the eyes of the
public to the party, which was successfully branded “the party of
crooks and thieves” by opposition figurehead Alexei Navalny.

An opinion survey released earlier this week by the IA Rex pollster
found that that in a survey of 396 political analysts, 22.5 percent
believed in the likelihood of early elections to the State Duma,
while a similar proportion did not rule out the scenario.

Other political analysts suggested on Wednesday the report had been
issued in a bid to differentiate Putin from United Russia in the eyes
of the electorate.

“There are a group of zealous guys in that center who believe it is
necessary to distance Putin from United Russia – to deflect everything
negative onto the party,” respected political analyst Evgeniy Minchenko
told Kommersant.

Lilia Shibanova, head of the independent election watchdog Golos,
speculated the report could be part of what she dubbed “Kremlin games”
that could see the creation of a new pro-Kremlin party to replace
the increasingly discredited United Russia.

Political Reaction

“The data in the report have been plucked from thin air,” a senior
United Russia official, Konstantin Mazurevsky, told RIA Novosti. “They
don’t match the analytical data. Enough other elections have been held
since then, including regional ones, whose results have answered any
questions and disprove the report.”

The head of Russia’s Central Elections Commission, Vladimir Churov –
dubbed “the wizard” by opposition figures after the 2011 polls over
allegations he had conjured up an unlikely victory for United Russia
– also hit out at the report, suggesting its author seek psychiatric
assistance. Churov, an unabashed Kremlin loyalist, has frequently said:
“Churov’s first law is – Putin’s always right.”

Reaction from the Communist Party was surprisingly muted. There was
no reaction from veteran party head, Gennady Zyuganov. Calls to the
party’s press office went unanswered as of late Wednesday afternoon.

Vadim Solovyev, the Communist Party’s top lawyer, told journalists
the party had also estimated it took around 30 percent of the vote
at the 2011 polls. He said the party had not contested the results in
court because it did not believe its appeal would get a fair hearing.

The Kremlin has not officially commented on the news of the report,
but an administration source told RIA Novosti that anyone dissatisfied
with the election results should file complaints with the courts,
and “not write reports.”

“The courts have frequently simply rejected complaints about the
December 2011 polls,” noted Shibanova, the head of Golos.

Putin’s Victory ‘Legitimate’

The report apparently also examined Putin’s victory in presidential
elections last March, which saw him return to the Kremlin for a
controversial third term after a four-year hiatus as prime minister.

“Putin, unlike United Russia, is legitimate,” Sulakshin told RBK.

“Fifty-two percent voted for him – zealous officials handed him another
13 percent.” Putin took 63.6 percent of the vote at last year’s polls,
but Sulakshin did not explain the mathematical discrepancy.

“Putin needed an honest victory,” he added. “And so he gave the order
to carry out honest elections.”

Anything over 50 percent of the vote at the March 2012 elections
would have been enough to hand Putin victory in the first round.

RUSSIA NOT FORWARDING ALTERNATIVE TO ARMENIA, WHILE EU SAYS ‘EITHER WE OR THEY’ – ASHOT MANUCHARYAN

TERT.AM
10:30 ~U 14.03.13

Russia’s authorities have not put a choice in front of Armenian
authorities and offered to become both member of the Customs Union
and be engaged in the European Union integration programs.

Former member of the Karabakh Committee Ashot Manucharyan voiced
opinion that instead Russia will supply gas with interior-Russian
prices for Armenia.

Ashot Manucharyan said taking into consideration the war between the
West and Russia for Armenia it becomes clear that each powerful force
comes here with its package of demands.

“There is one difference in these packages with the Russian being
more perceivable in respect that they offered be a member of Customs
Union and be engaged in the European Union’s works in a format of a
resolution, while the EU which does not offer membership to Armenia
says ‘no’, ‘either we or they,” he said.

Manucharyan said our political forces are trying to confuse us, but
the majority of them are pro-western, supporters of the European
direction with the only reason of it being the essentially larger
amount of finance, technological literacy of Europe as compared
with Russia. “Thus, it is not a political issue, they are circles
fighting for economic sources and are ready for everything for it. We
knew that the oligarchs are so and the political forces are less so,
while they are doing just the same,” Manucharyan said.

In case of Russia, the speaker also pointed out Armenia’s security
guarantee factor. “The security guarantee by Russia is the most
reliable. Britain has been speaking about security recently. It
was fantastic. Today a number of papers are speaking about Britain,
while it is the country that has created a new genocide machine in
our neighborhood. A Baku regime has been created in our neighboring
territory that has formed an anti-Armenian machine. We must believe
our eyes and not ears. Britain, Israel and the USA are the first
responsible for it with Britain being the first. What guarantees can
they speak of?” Manucharyan said.

He also criticized Russia for selling A310 jets to Azerbaijan, which
he says, proves that Russia is not the same any more.

AZERBAIDJAN : UN JOURNALISTE CONDAMNE A NEUF ANS DE PRISON

Publie le : 14-03-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette information publiee sur le site des Reporters
Sans Frontières le 13 mars 2013.

Reporters Sans Frontières

Azerbaïdjan

Un journaliste condamne a neuf ans de prison : RSF denonce un
avertissement pour les medias a l’approche de l’election presidentielle

Publie le mercredi 13 mars 2013.

Reporters sans frontières denonce fermement la condamnation a neuf
ans de prison d’Avaz Zeynalli, redacteur en chef du journal Khural.

Le 12 mars 2013, le tribunal pour les delits aggraves de Bakou
(capitale) a condamne Avaz Zeynalli a neuf ans de prison pour ”
corruption a grande echelle ” (article 311.3.3 du code penal), ”
extorsion de fonds ” (article 311.4), ” non-execution d’une decision
judiciaire ” (article 306) et ” evasion fiscale aggravee ” (article
213.1). Le journaliste devra en outre verser 4 076 AZN (environ autant
d’euros) au Tresor public, en dedommagement des ” dommages causes “.

Le journaliste a ete inculpe sur la plainte d’une ancienne deputee
du parti au pouvoir, Gular Akhmedova, qui n’a pas pris part aux
audiences. Elle-meme fait aujourd’hui l’objet d’une enquete pour ”
corruption “. Aucune preuve tangible n’est venue etayer les charges
retenues contre Avaz Zeynalli.

” Cette condamnation vient clore un procès marque par le mepris des
droits de la defense. Avaz Zeynalli, malade, sera reste en prison
près d’un an et demi avant de connaître sa peine. L’instruction a
ete menee a charge sur un dossier monte de toutes pièces. Dans ces
conditions, le verdict prononce contre le journaliste a tout d’une
vengeance politique et d’un avertissement a l’egard des medias en
amont de l’election presidentielle d’octobre 2013. Si elle veut faire
la preuve de son independance, la justice doit casser en appel ce
jugement inique “, a declare Reporters sans frontières.

Khural a fait l’objet de nombreuses procedures judiciaires qui
ont abouti a la saisie de tout l’equipement de la redaction. Le
journaliste avait ete arrete en octobre 2011, peu après la publication
d’un article très critique a l’egard du president de la Republique,
Ilham Aliev. Malgre de serieux problèmes de sante, ses demandes de
remise en liberte conditionnelle ont toutes ete rejetees, et il a
fait l’objet de diverses brimades et de privations de ses droits.

Journalistes, blogueurs et defenseurs des droits de l’homme font
face a des pressions de plus en plus fortes en Azerbaïdjan, situe
a la 156e sur 179 pays dans le classement 2013 de la liberte de
la presse realise par Reporters sans frontières. Encadrement des
ONG, contrôle d’Internet, criminalisation des manifestations non
autorisees… a l’approche de l’election presidentielle prevue cet
automne, les lois liberticides se succèdent. Le 7 mars 2013, trois
blogueurs d’opposition ont ete arretes en amont d’une manifestation
a Bakou. Le journal d’opposition Azadlig est menace d’etouffement
par des amendes astronomiques.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Reporters Sans Frontières

DES QUARTIERS POURRAIENT ETRE CONSTRUITS DANS TROIS VILLES POUR LES SYRIENS D’ORIGINE ARMENIENNE

A l’initiative du Ministère de la Diaspora, des quartiers pourraient
etre construits dans trois villes pour les Syriens d’origine armenienne
venus s’etablir en Armenie/ Les villes concernees sont Achtarak,
Etchmiadzine et Massis, toutes proches d’Erevan. / Hayots Achkhar

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 7 mars 2013

jeudi 14 mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.co

U.S. AMBASSADOR: AZERBAIJANI LAW ENFORCEMENT VIOLATES RIGHTS OF DETAINED ACTIVISTS

14:50 13/03/2013 ” SOCIETY

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard
Morningstar made a statement in connection with the last protest
in Baku, noting that the law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan had
violated the rights of the detained activists.

According to the Azerbaijani news agency “APA”, in the statement of
the U.S. Ambassador was expressed the attitude towards the last protest
held on March 10 in Baku: “I have seen media reports that authorities
arrested several youth activists in the days preceding the March 10
public demonstration in Baku’s Fountain Square. Then, contrary to
internationally recognized standards, the authorities had three of
these activists give televised confessions for alleged crimes.”

The ambassador of the United Stated said that police used water
cannons and rubber bullets to break up groups of peaceful participants
in the protest. “I am confident that Azerbaijan can reach its great
democratic and economic potential, but only if the government respects
the right of peaceful protest, promotes the rule of law, and engages
in a meaningful dialogue with citizens to address legitimate public
concerns,” he said.

According to the Azerbaijani news agency “Turan”, the three activists
of “NIDA” who were arrested on the eve of the rally of March 10 are
pressed. Thus, parents of the arrested refused to have the service
of the independent legal lawyers. Lawyer Asabali Mustafayev does not
exclude that this was due to the pressure of the investigation.

“Turan” reminds that activists of “NIDA” Bakhtiyar Guliyev, Shaheen
Novruzlu and Mamed Azizov were arrested on the evening of 7 March and
MNS accused them of possessing “Molotov cocktails” and drugs. On March
9, these activists were put under arrest for 3 months. On March 9 at
the evening video footage of interrogations of the arrested activists
were shown on the Public Television of Azerbaijan. They confessed
saying that members of the organization were going to show a “violent
resistance to the police.”

However, members of the Board of NIDA held a press conference
expressing confidence that the prisoners are under pressure and at
the same time denied claims of plans of violent methods of struggle.

On March 10, in Baku, a mass protest against the deaths of soldiers
in the army in non-combat situation was held. The rally was dispersed
by the police; at least 60 people were detained. According to the
opposition party “Musavat”, detainees were beaten and gassed in the
bus. Baku police also detained a number of parents of soldiers who
were dragged on the asphalt. On the eve news agency “Turan” provided
information that the authorities were going to use LRAD (Long Range
Acoustic Device) during Sunday’s protest in order to disperse the
demonstrators.

Source: Panorama.am

PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE SAYS IT’S REVIEWING LETTER OF OSCE OBSERVER AHERN
GRISHA BALASANYAN

13:01, March 13, 2013

It appears that a letter written by Dermot Ahern, a former Irish
Foreign Affairs Minister who served as an OSCE election observer for
the February 18 presidential election in Armenia, has finally prompted
a reaction by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

In the letter, addressed to Armenian Bar Association Chairman Garo
Ghazaryan, Ahern writes about the fraud he witnessed on election day,
particularly in Precinct 26/1.

The Constitutional Court of Armenia is now reviewing a petition by
Raffi Hovannisian and former candidate Andreas Ghoukasyan to have
the vote annulled dut to widespread fraud and other violations.

Today, the Court raised the issue of Ahern’s publicized letter,
saying that it “refers to the fact that laws were violated.”

In response, Prosecutor General representative Koryoun Piloyan told
the court that his agency was following up on the matter and that
the letter had been sent to the regional attorney.

Piloyan said that no word had been received from the local election
board.

GREAT CONFRONTATION IN ARMENIA

HAKOB BADALYAN
12:09 13/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The visit of the UK deputy foreign minister Simon Fraser to Armenia
passed unheeded amid domestic developments and Serzh Sargsyan’s visit
to Moscow. Meanwhile, this visit could be an interesting link of the
domestic and Moscow process in a long-term strategic perspective.

Simon Fraser made interesting statements in Armenia but it is
worthwhile to remember what preceded his visit. It was preceded
by the UK Prime Minister Cameron’s congratulation containing an
unprecedented statement. Cameron conveyed the commitment of the UK
to support internal reforms and security of Armenia.

The status of guarantor of security was traditionally with Russia,
and the West has always displayed diplomatic cautiousness. From this
point of view, the statement in the UK Prime Minister’s congratulation
was a vivid precedent, especially considering that the UK fulfils
the function of NATO representative to Armenia.

The Armenian visit of Simon Fraser is unprecedented because it is hard
to remember when the UK deputy foreign minister visited Armenia last
and expressed interest in making investments in Armenia. Moreover, the
interest of a British mining company was specifically mentioned. This
is important not only in terms of economy but also political strategy.

Mining is a so-called “elite political” business in the world. There
are no accidental people there. Such is the situation in Armenia.

Mining is the most politicized and at the same time mysterious branch
of the Armenian economy where tens and maybe millions of dollars are
circulated in the shadow. The Armenian mining shadow worries even
the international financial organizations which are usually positive
about the economic policy of the Armenian government.

In other words, mining is one of the important corners of the Armenian
economic and political kitchen and the aspiration of the UK to get
to this corner indicates interesting tendencies.

Most probably, a new big actor appears on the small Armenian platform
of global politics. Or, perhaps it would be more precise to say that
the UK is trying to formalize its presence on this platform. It is hard
to tell the reason. At least, this process indicates considerable
change, considering the historical role of the UK in the global
political processes.

The historical dimension and expertise are not just literary devices
but practical political circumstances. The West-Russia confrontation
for Armenia is entering into a crucial stage where every detail is
important. In this sense, the UK is a valuable actor of the western
community considering the centennial race-confrontation between Russia
and the British empire in the global political arena.

Over time new actors have appeared on this arena who are more dominant
factors, such as the United States or France which is traditionally
considered Armenia’s geopolitical protector but Great Britain has
irreplaceable experience of resistance to the Russian pole.

By the way, many years ago the Russian TV commentator Mikhail Leontief
produced a series of films on the British-Russian confrontation in
the past few centuries of the world history.

On the Armenian platform of the global confrontation, in this period
when geopolitical bets grow, the Western pole apparently needs the
British experience.