Author: Badalian Vardan

GENERAL MOTORS
Haik Aramyan

11:05 31/01/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

During the visit of the Russian minister of defense Shoygu and CSTO
Secretary General Borduzha areas and timing of military economic
cooperation were defined. Agreement was reached to produce Russian
military Kamaz truck spare parts in Armenia.

It is remembered that at the end of 1990s General Motors was said to
set up a plant in Armenia. At that time the representative of General
Motors to the CIS was Levon Hairapetyan.

The Russians quickly prevented it. The ex-mayor of Moscow Luzhkov
rushed to Armenia together with the director of Moskvich and signed an
agreement on setting up a plant of spare parts in Yerevan. At that
time, Luzhkov had a tremendous plan of revival of Moskvich cars, even
some new models were produced. However, enthusiasm died right away,
and the agreement remained on paper. After all, it is possible to
revive anything by Moskvich cars.

However, it was the secondary issue because the primary one was to
block the way of General Motors to Armenia with the help of Luzhkov’s
car campaign. It is hard to tell what role each had and how interested
the “participants” were. Eventually, General Motors set up its plant
in Russia, while Armenia suffered both politically and economically.

By the way, General Motors is not just industry but the symbol of the
Western hi-tech civilization. The Russians would never allow this
symbol to Armenia. And Moskvich was used to show the Armenians to
their place.

Kamaz is not Moskvich, of course. Kamaz team wins Paris-Dakar almost
every year but it does not boost serial production and export.

Nevertheless, Kamaz is a good car, the best in the region. If the
agreement on the production of Kamaz spare parts is brought into
being, it will indicate the willingness of Russians to change the
nature of relations with Armenia. These relations are still far from
hi-tech but quite bearable considering the nature of the Armenian
elite. For the time being, the Russians and Armenians are not capable
of more.

ARMENIANS TO ESTABLISH ‘GENOCIDE’ MEMORIAL COMPLEX IN SEVRES

30 January 2013 /TODAY’S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL

An initiative of the Armenian diaspora in France plans to establish
an “Armenian genocide” memorial complex among the buildings of the
Mekhitarist Congregation’s Samuel-Murad School in the Sevres district
of Paris, known as the place where the Ottoman Empire signed a peace
treaty with the Allies in 1920 following the end of World War I.

The project is to be carried out by the Sevres 2015 Association in
Paris and will include a museum as well as a center for research
and lectures.

“The goal of our project is to institutionalize the Armenian presence
and experience in Sevres,” said Jirair Gergerian, the president of
the Sevres 2015 Association.

The project will begin with the establishment of an independent
foundation that will be provided with the congregation’s lands,
located in the Armenian-populated communities of Paris. The memorial
will open on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the so-called
‘Armenian genocide’ in 2015.

Armenians claim that the 1915 killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians
as the Ottoman Empire broke up was the 20th century’s first genocide,
and several European countries have recognized the massacres as such.

Switzerland has convicted people of racism for denying the genocide.

But Turkey asserts that there was no systematic campaign to
kill Armenians and that many Turks also died during the chaotic
disintegration of the empire. It also argues the death toll is
inflated.

L’ENTREE DE CERTAINS OLIGARQUES ARMENIENS AUX ETATS-UNIS SERAIT-ELLE EMPECHEE DEPUIS LES EVENEMENTS DE MARS 2008

Selon les informations de Jamanak, depuis les evenements de mars
2008, les Etats-Unis refuseraient de delivrer des visas d’entree
a certains oligarques armeniens, dont Samvel Alexanian, Rouben
Hayrapetian, president de la federation de football, Mher Sedrakian,
Levon Sarkissian etc. Jusqu’a une date recente, l’entree de Gaguik
Beglarian, ancien maire d’Erevan et actuel Ministre des Transports, aux
Etats-Unis aurait ete empechee. D’après les informations du quotidien,
il n’est pas exclu que, suite aux elections presidentielles, Washington
et Bruxelles etablissent une liste de fonctionnaires et oligarques
dont l’entree aux Etats-Unis et dans les pays de l’UE serait interdite.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 24 janvier 2013

jeudi 31 janvier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

RUSSIE ET ARMENIE PARLENT COOPERATION MILITAIRE

Le ministre russe de la Defense en visite en Armenie Medvedev promet
de soutenir l’Armenie Armenie : la presence militaire russe est voulue
(officiel) Armenie : elargissement de la zone de responsabilite des
militaires russes (president) Caucase : la base militaire russe en
Armenie renforce la paix (experts)

Le ministre de la Defense russe Sergueï Choïgou et son homologue
armenien Seyran Ohanian ont evoque mardi a Erevan la securite regionale
et internationale, ainsi que plusieurs aspects de la cooperation
militaro-technique bilaterale, rapporte le correspondant de RIA
Novosti a Erevan.

“Nous avons egalement etudie plusieurs questions relatives au
stationnement de la base militaire russe”, a fait savoir le ministre
armenien a la presse a l’issue des entretiens.

Il s’est declare persuade que la visite de M.Choïgou donnerait un
nouvel elan au developpement des relations russo-armeniennes dans le
domaine militaire.

Le ministre russe de la Defense, qui se trouve en visite officielle
en Armenie depuis lundi 28 janvier, avait ete auparavant recu par le
president Serge Sargsian. Mardi, M.Choïgou devrait visiter la 102e
base militaire russe situee dans la ville de Gyumri (nord-ouest).

EREVAN, 29 janvier – RIA Novosti

jeudi 31 janvier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

UN MEMORIAL DU GENOCIDE A PASADENA PRODUIRA 1,5 MILLION DE GOUTTES DE LARMES PAR AN

Le memorial dedie au genocide armenien qui sera place a Pasadena
(Californie) et retenu par un comite cree pour l’occasion est le projet
de Katherine Menard. Ouvre empreinte ” d’emotion et convaincante,
elle sensibilisera egalement les jeunes ” dirent les membres du
comite. Le memorial represente une fontaine en pierre surmontee de
trois colonnes reunies a leur extremite et duquel toutes les trois
seconde coule une goutte d’eau representant les larmes. Les larmes des
victimes du genocide armenien. En une annee, 1,5 million de gouttes
de larmes couleront ainsi du memorial. ” L’art doit servir les causes
et mettre a jour les pages sombres de l’Histoire de l’humanite ” dit
l’artiste dont l’~uvre sera placee a Pasadena avant le 24 Avril 2015.

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 31 janvier 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

BBC REFERRED TO UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

21:28, 30 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS: BBC has referred to upcoming
presidential elections in Armenia. As reports Armenpress, BBC noted
that there would not be a tough competitiveness during February 18
elections and that incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan is the favorite.

Leader of “Heritage” party Raffi Hovhannisyan is willing to recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh in case of being elected. That could become an
important issue for discussion during pre-elections campaign as
Armenian authorities prefer another country to recognize NKR first.

There are no other disagreements between candidates over external
and internal policies of Armenia. Former Prime Hrant Bagratyan is
paying special attention to economy of Armenia. Therefore, independent
experts have unanimously noted that incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan
is more likely to with elections than any other candidate,” BBC writes.

Afterwards British source presents nominated candidates and reminds
that youngest candidate, economist and businessman Andrias Ghukaysan
has declared hunger strike demanding CEC to eliminate incumbent
President Serzh Sargsyan from presidential race.

BBC reminded that several parties didn’t nominate any candidate,
highlighting absence of candidacy of First President Levon
Ter-Petrosian and leader of “Prosperous Armenia” party Gagik
Tsarukyan. Central Electoral Commission has recorded 8 candidates.

AZERBAIJAN SERIOUS ABOUT AIR SPACE DEFENSE

30 January 2013 – 7:00pm

The recent statements concerning Azerbaijani air space are not jokes,
the country’s defense ministry underlines. That is the body’s official
response to the CSTO chief’s statement.

Nikolay Bordyuzha, the secretary general of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization, said yesterday the statement saying that
Azerbaijan will down planes flying over Karabakh without its official
permission was probably a joke or was misinterpreted.

Azerbaijan is serious about defending its air space, the defense
ministry’s spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu says.

“It is not a joke. We will take all the necessary measures in case
of unauthorized flights over our territory,” he said.

BAKU: NOT A PLACE FOR PROTESTS?

January 28, 2013 – 11:29am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

“Arrested. In a bus with great people,” tweeted dissident Azerbaijani
blogger Emin Milli, after riot police chased, beat and hustled
protesters away from downtown Baku on January 26.

The Baku authorities have spared no effort to pound, quite literally,
into residents’ heads that the center of the Azerbaijani capital is
not the place to protest; rather, it is a stage for the government’s
various promotional campaigns, be it mega-pop concerts or international
thought-exchanges. . . past, present or future. Leave the protests,
please, to the outskirts.

But some have difficulty keeping the distinction straight. On January
26, just as President Ilham Aliyev, according to the Azerbaijani state
news agency AzerTaj, was allegedly negotiating about bringing Davos
to Baku (World Economic Forum spokespeople were not available for
confirmation — ed), a Facebook-organized rally in the city to show
support for rioting residents of the northwestern town of Ismayili
risked stealing the show.

With such high aims as Davos (and the European Olympics) in mind,
the Azerbaijani government has very little patience these days for
protesters. Police troops crushed the Ismayili uprising, which had
been touched off by the reportedly thuggish behavior of the regional
governor’s son; in Baku, police chased and herded supporters of the
Ismayili rioters away from the downtown area, and showered media
with similar attention. Among the arrestees were the usual suspects:
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Khadija Ismayilova (who also
has written for EurasiaNet.org) and activist Emin Milli.

Unaccustomed to such manifestations of public anger, Azerbaijani
officials are still wiping the sweat off their brows. One presidential
advisor declared that “hostile powers” are trying to sow discord and
chaos in Azerbaijan, but have been defeated. “Let nobody forget that
the state created with the honorable efforts of the national leader
Heydar Aliyev [President Ilham Aliyev’s father –ed] is a strong
state that can push back any destructive force,” declared security
and law enforcement advisor Fuad Alekserov, APA news agency reported.

In other words, the floor is clear in central Baku for mega-pop
concerts, business pow-wows and international sports events. As for
protests against the government and calls for justice, that’s what
the suburbs are for.

RUSSIAN COMMANDER: AZERBAIJAN IS BLUFFING ABOUT DOWNING KARABAKH FLIGHTS

January 30, 2013 – 8:33am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

If the weather and Azerbaijan cooperate, we’re repeatedly told,
passenger planes will soon take off from the separatist airstrip of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Any passengers, though, will probably be uneasily
shifting in their seats with every shake or rattle, trying to figure
out whether their plane has encountered turbulence or is dodging
Azerbaijani missiles.

If it’s any reassurance for those prospective passengers, a top Russian
general thinks that Azerbaijan is just kidding about its threats to
knock down the planned flights from the breakaway territory. “It is
either an unsuccessful articulation of thoughts or an unfortunate
joke,” asserted Nikolai Bordyuzha, the secretary general of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russia’s response
to NATO, while on a trip to Yerevan. “I don’t take this information
seriously.”

Committed to reclaiming Karabakh and the adjoining occupied
territories, and returning tens of thousands of IDPs, Baku threatened
to gun down any planes from the newly renovated airport outside the
Karabakhi capital Stepanakert (known to Azerbaijanis as Khankendi),
and said it has the full right to do so. Armenia threatened to respond
in kind, and the Caucasus again got filled with the threat of war.

Cue Russia. Armenia is part of the CSTO, which vowed to protect,
honor and cherish its members in good times and bad.

But the Azerbaijanis told Bordyuzha that they can match words with
intentions, and again accused Moscow of siding with Armenia in
the conflict over breakaway Karabakh. “Azerbaijan is not joking,”
said Azerbaijani foreign ministry spokesperson Eldar Sabiroglu,
1news.az reported.

Yet even if Azerbaijan finds a universally acceptable legal
justification for attacks on Karabakh flights and won’t be deterred by
Armenian retaliation or international reaction, it is highly unlikely
to risk an all-out confrontation with Moscow, some observers believe.

Particularly in an election year. Meanwhile, Moscow, in some way,
may be attempting to put a lid on the enthusiasm of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan, a Karabakh native, for the flights. Citing anonymous
Russian defense ministry sources, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported that a
recent delegation to Yerevan had advised against civilian flights from
Karabakh, and had emphasized Armenia’s pending military cooperation
agreement with Moscow. That said, whether or not the Russian
reassurance or recommendations will cool hot heads remains a toss-up.

Failing all else, passengers on any Karabakh flight might want to
take an extra minute to locate the security exits.

USAID TO PROVIDE $32 MILLION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA

tert.am
30.01.13

USAID Mission to Armenian director Karen Hilliard told Armenia’s PM
Tigran Sargsyan that the US Government wants to sign a contract with
the Armenian government costing $32 million for the implementation
of democratic and management reforms in the country.

According to the government’s press service, Hilliard told about it
while presenting the five-year long strategy of assistance to Armenia
worked out by the USAID.

The director of the Armenia office said the goal of the assistance
will be to promote the formation of more competitive, effective
management system, increase the volume of foreign investments,
develop and reinforce civil society and fighting against corruption.

Within the framework of the agreement USAID is planning to provide
financial means to Armenia to assist the country in the implementation
of democratic and management reforms.

“It is a new level of cooperation between our two countries that
may become a precedent for the regional countries as well because
we are not implementing such program with any of other countries,”
Hilliard said.

US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said that with it Armenia and
the USA will enter new phase of cooperation.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan welcomed USAID’s new project and noted
that Armenia is ready for the expansion of bilateral cooperation. The
contract is expected to be signed by March 31.