Author: Badalian Vardan

Council of Europe launches Action Plan of 15 million Euros in Armenia

12:04, 7 July, 2012

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS: – The Council of Europe will launch a
three-year action plan on 12 July in Yerevan to support Armenia’s
agenda for reform in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and
democracy.

Armenpress was informed from the office of Council of Europe in
Yerevan that the new plan will cost 15 million to implement. It will
focus action on effective implementation of the European Convention on
Human Rights, strong democratic institutions and procedures at
national, regional and local level, and better participation of key
social and civil actors in public decision-making process.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, will
open the launch conference. The Director General of Programmes and
Deputy Secretary General elect of the Council of Europe, Gabriella
Battaini-Dragoni, will present the action plan.

Armenia joined the Council of Europe in 2001 and will chair the
Committee of Ministers from May to November 2013.

Armenians of Homs could save the school archive and church calendar

18:10, 6 July, 2012

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS: In the Syrian city Homs almost two months
ago by Syrian rebel militants were occupied Armenian school and
church. Up to today they remain under the control of rebel militants.

Armenpress was informed by a representative of Armenian community in
Syria Nazareth Elmajyan that on the imitative of Armenian community of
Homs and due to their efforts it was possible to take out from the
occupied Armenian school and church the church calendar and school
archive. There is also information that the rebel militants live in
the first floor of the church and the church in sow closed.

Earlier there was information that the armed rebels had occupied
Armenian school and church named `Isahakyan’ which are owned by
Armenian community of the city which after being stolen serves for the
rebel militants as a hospital, hotel or vacation place.

Concept of NATO Development Isn’t Complete

Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:44:33 – 06/07/2012

Now after the NATO summit in Chicago with which so many hopes were
linked and which certainly had a big role in forming a global system
of security, it is clear that important problems persist which will
not be resolved in the nearest future. Apart from such issues as the
use of new weapons, establishment of a common structure of command,
adoption of the principles of NATO policy, primarily in the regions
and relating to crises, the issue of partnership remains open.

In other words, involvement of new partners beyond NATO membership is
concerned. In fact, the issue of geopolitical positions, creation of
geopolitical reference points, promotion of new positions, first of
all in Eurasia, Central, South and Southeast Asia, other regions are
up.

Judging by different publications and pronouncements of experts `new’
Atlantic sets may emerge. It should be noted that these `new’ Atlantic
sets have introduced an important doctrine `of marking the borders of
the free world by 2050′. Presumably, the formal NATO enlargement is
meaningless under obvious transformation of the alliance and emergence
of new power centers around France and Germany and formation of
European armed forces. It would be more productive to involve new
partners, as well as expand functions, missions and zones of
responsibility of the alliance than to enlarge NATO but it will be
tough to solve these practical and institutional issues.

Therefore, it is thought more important to outline the geopolitical
zone in the framework of which normative Western values will be
developed. This zone is marked clearly – all the states of Europe,
including Russia, Ukraine, South Caucasus, as well as Turkey. It is
assumed that they will stop at this point till 2050 since bigger
ambitions will not allow developing fully the `free world’. It is
presumed that this super region of North Atlantics must be taken under
full control by 2015.

Different ideas on NATO enlargement towards North Africa and the Near
East are exotics. Most probably, the issue of enlargement of the NATO
area of responsibility and membership beyond the European region which
would mean violation of UN provisions on globalization.

Russia is given the role of an important partner to fight
international threats, retaining the functions of an energy and raw
material supplier, conserving the R&D potential in the county.

It is taken into account that the order and norms of NATO policy is
not in line with excess enlargement of the alliance. Sufficient
integration of the outlined space will eliminate the need for NATO
enlargement. There is reason to note that this doctrine is understood
in actual political sets of the United States. Experts, apologists and
projectors of NATO development are aware that the `generation’ of a
list of partners will cause a number of problems because apart from
political statements on readiness for cooperation few countries are
sincerely committed to supporting the alliance in implementing its
goals.

The majority of such desirable partners take a symbolic part in NATO
actions and they would like to be consumers of security. This concerns
the countries of the South Caucasus who were enthusiastic about
cooperation with NATO, whereas they are not even able to respond to
challenges of the issue of Iran.

Currently the United States and NATO are scrutinizing the usefulness
of states of Central Asia who have been less useful so far than the
Caucasian states. Effective military cooperation with the Arab states
will not even be considered. Apart from this, the problem of Turkey is
coming to the foreground which will be a source and factor of an acute
crisis in transatlantic relations.

Besides, one should keep in mind that the new members of the alliance
in Central and Eastern Europe were less useful to achievement of
practical goals. The question is who will fight once the plans of
establishment of a global system of security are approved? Only the
U.S. army mercenaries? In addition, these characteristics of NATO
members are copied by CSTO.

Hence, the Americans will have to fight (mostly those of Latin
American origin and dreamers of southern states), as well as the
Russians (half of them non-Russians).

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 4 2012

European Council president: Settlement of Karabakh conflict remains
priority issue for EU

The settlement of the Karabakh conflict remains a priority issue for
the EU, European Council president Herman Van Rompuy said at a joint
press conference with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on July 4,
News.am reported.

He stressed that mutual trust of the parties is necessary for a
solution, noting the inadmissibility of the incidents at the contact
line and expressing condolences to the families of those who died.

“The conflict must be resolved only through peaceful negotiations.
This will allow it to change the status quo and only that way can
peace and stability prevail in the region. The EU for its part
reaffirms the statement of the co-chair state heads of the OSCE Minsk
Group made recently in Los Cabos,” Van Rompuy said.

He said the parties to the conflict must respect an agreement on
compliance with the cease-fire and to refrain from militaristic
rhetoric. “The EU for its part is ready to assist with this action,”
Van Rompuy said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. – are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

Al-Ba’th (Syrian Ba’th party-owned newspaper) , Syria
June 27 2012

In Front of the Turkish Brothers

by Dr Abd-al-Latif Imran
[Translated from Arabic]

Yesterday, you heard, and we, too, heard a host of fallacies that are
no secret to both of us, which Mr Erdogan spoke about while he was
suffering from stress and loss at the Turkish parliament.

We used to love that man, just like you did. He did not leave even a
narrow space for truth, honesty, loyalty and hope. Yesterday, the
decision of NATO in Brussels let him down. He, and his foreign
minister who went too far in embroiling him and embroiling Turkey in
wrangling and policies that are useless, should have known that NATO
leaders have stressed time and again the difficulty and danger of
military intervention in Syria. He should also have realized the
previous disappointment by the West when he exerted great efforts for
his country to join the European Union. His efforts were not only met
with rejection, but also with something more difficult.

The sultan was very tense, and this is a normal result. He insulted
Turkish journalists and analysts and researchers and told them that
their pens were sold and that they were devils who remained silent
about the truth. He quoted a political statement by Imam Ali, who gave
those who opposed his opinion more cruel and ugly descriptions, which
you know about.

Mr Erdogan: You cried for help from NATO when you lost a plane and you
almost lost another as a result of a mistake that you committed, but
you did not cry for help from it when Israel attacked the free men of
Turkey in the Freedom Flotilla on 31 May 2010 and killed them unjustly
and treacherously because the West realized that you performed in a
comedy with Peres at the Davos conference in 2009.

This is why large segments of the Turkish people yesterday said that
what you are doing is “a dirty game supported by Israel and the West
and Qatar, and this is not your first provocative step. There are
previous steps, such as housing gunmen from various nationalities at
training camps and supporting them with money and weapons against the
friendly and brotherly Syrian people. The policy of your party has led
Turkey to the point of a military clash. This is a natural outcome of
an impaired foreign policy. There is no need for this mobilization in
the line of hostility towards Syria as a risk equals suicide, and you
are creating fake enemies and friends in a state of confusion and
loss.”

Brother Turks: Yesterday, Erdogan said that Damascus for him is like
Istanbul, and the same goes for the other Turkish and Arab cities. You
know, and we know, this messenger trend that the roaming sultan took
to the Arab League on 13 September 2011, in which he delivered a
sultan-inspired, [Muslim] Brotherhood speech that provoked Islam and
the Arabs and the West. It becomes more painful when we all know for
sure that the man is implementing a reactionary Western policy in the
region that hurts the national and Islamic resistance because this
emanates from a functional position that ultimately serves Israel. He
got lost while escalating against it and thus fell into the trap of
arbitrary investment of overlapping cards by which he hurt the Turks,
Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, and Persians. Who is going to benefit from
this?

How can someone who makes the Syrian people bleed and spoils their
coexistence be concerned about them? How can that person be an honest
adviser when he is destroying the Adana agreement of 1998, which was
developed and documented between 2009 and 2010? He has also destroyed
what was accomplished of the announcement to set up a high-level
strategic cooperation council on 16 September 2009 and the signing of
51 agreements for great cooperation between the two countries in 2010.
All of a sudden, he woke up weeks later to realize that the Syrian
Government does not enjoy sufficient popular confidence. Then, he
started shouting in an improper way against the established and
accomplished relations of brotherhood and cooperation between the two
peoples.

Let us together examine the fallacies that Erdogan is seeking to
establish after we learn that the volume of trade exchange in 2010
between Syria and Turkey was many times more the volume of exchange
with Iran, and the figures tilt in favour of Turkey by a large
percentage.

You do not forget, and we do not either, the days of clear air when
the Syrian political leadership realized the dangers of international
alliances and polarization against our common issues. So it put the
heaviest regional and international cards in the Turkish bag after
succeeding in transferring them from the international community,
especially the track of peace in the region. It thus gave precedence
to Turkish sponsorship and made Turkey an important strategic weight
in regional integration and stability. It gave Turkey a free penalty
kick, but Erdogan missed it and Davutoglu spoiled it. Both men created
an internal Turkish rift and a regional Turkish-Syrian rift.

The whole world realizes today that the alleged spring has become a
chance to attract Al-Qa’idah and the jihadist and Salafi fighters and
that Turkey is supporting those people. It formed, trained, and armed,
with Qatari-Saudi funding, the so-called Free Army and facilitated the
entry of terrorist elements from different nationalities. The
objective of this is not freedom, reform, or peaceful rotation of
power, but to settle a reactionary and Atlantic score with a skilful
regional player, which has remained, and will remain, strong,
principled, and honest. It is Syria, with the strong bond between its
people, army, and political leadership. In spite of the crisis, more
than two thirds of the peoples of the earth stand with it, while
Erdogan is pushing Turkey into an Arab and regional loss and gamble.

Targeted News Service
July 4, 2012 Wednesday 12:53 AM EST

Opening Address by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European
Council, to Civil Society Forum ‘Armenia in Europe’

BRUSSELS

The European Union’s European Council issued the following opening
address by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy:

It is a pleasure for me to be in Yerevan today and to be here at this
event. I am looking very much forward to listening and exchanging
views with you.

I am glad to see that the theme of “Armenia in Europe” attracts such
attention from civil society organisations in Armenia. If there is one
message I want to leave you with today, it is the following – the
joint project of bringing Armenia closer to the EU will only work and
will only meet its potential if it is understood and supported by
citizens. And here you have a critical role to play.

First, couple of words on how I see the developments in Armenia,
something I will also discuss with President Sargsyan later today.

Armenia’s commitment to reforms based on the core values of the
European Union, and geared at approximating to the standards and norms
of the EU is very welcome. This is clearly a strategic choice made by
Armenia.

I will encourage President Sargsyan, as I will encourage your
parliamentarians, to let Armenia continue on the path towards
strengthening its democratic institutions, to promote transparency, to
root out corruption and to respect Human Rights and the rule of law,
including the right to free speech and press. Armenia is on the right
track, even if there is still work ahead.

I will also point out that the European Union is prepared to support
Armenia. The stronger the commitment to pursue genuine reform and to
uphold our shared values, the more you will be able to count on the
EU.

In this context, The European Union welcomes the efforts which the
Armenian authorities made to deliver more competitive and transparent
parliamentary elections. This was an important step forward, although
there still are some issues that will need to be addressed, as
identified in the Final Report by the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation
Mission. We trust that these issues will be addressed before the
upcoming Presidential elections.

Where does the Civil Society come in to the picture? I can only stress
the importance you play as a force in the reform process.

Let me underline three main areas which are intimately linked and
where your role is essential also when it comes to serving the cause
of relations between Armenia and the EU: monitoring the progress of
reform, encouraging accountability, and deepening expertise.

First, let me begin with monitoring the progress of reform. At the
heart of the relation between Armenia and the EU we have a common set
of goals and commitments. We depend to a great extent on civil society
to map progress on these agendas, whether on human rights, press
freedom, higher education reform or any other area.

We should not forget that these inputs cover economic as well as
political domains: your work is absolutely fundamental to our
understanding of areas such as the business and investment climate or
the tax system. Your efforts feed each year into our own progress
reports.

The second point I wished to stress is encouraging accountability –
this means being a voice for citizens and keeping them informed, in
particular those from groups that are marginalized or
under-represented in civil discourse. Let me give an example: to
ensure the full respect of minority rights, we need direct lines of
communication with the minorities themselves, through trusted and
reliable representatives who can articulate their social, economic and
political needs.

Third, ladies and gentlemen, is the development of expertise. We are
setting up dialogues, supporting reforms and providing financial and
technical assistance on a great number of fronts, from the
environment, to agriculture, to public health.

In order to succeed, we need constant advice on the state of
legislation and institutions here in Armenia, on the challenges to
bringing them closer to the norms and standards of the EU, and on the
worries and concerns which citizens may have. Much of this expertise
resides among ecology organizations, patients’ organizations, media
monitoring bodies and

so on – and we need it if the priorities for our cooperation are to be
realistic and focused on the needs of citizens.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are three among the many reasons why civil
society matters to us – we expect a lot from you and in return you
have the right to expect something from us in terms of recognition and
support.

Let me start with recognition: in its approach to the region, as part
of our “Eastern Partnership”, the European Union has aimed from the
very beginning to reach out beyond governments – to civil society, to
national parliaments, to regional and local authorities. A Civil
Society Forum has been established: its basic objectives are to
support civil society

organisations, promote contacts among them and to facilitate their
dialogue with the authorities.

Since its creation in 2009, the Forum has become an integral part of
the Eastern Partnership, helping to turn commitments into concrete
results throughout the region.

Here in Armenia recognition is also important. I am glad that several
meetings have taken place between the Civil Society Forum National
Platform and representatives of the government. We need to build on
this to achieve a systematic and continuous dialogue – that is the
only way to progress from formality to substance.

Recognition by government is of course also very important, as is the
respect for the independence of civil society when it brings messages
which are uncomfortable or unwelcome.

I also mentioned the right for civil society to expect our support. We
will continue to provide financial assistance directly to civil
society organisations, in all the areas where we are engaged.

As I draw to a close let me underline the vital role of civil society
in achieving genuine reforms and democratisation. The greater the
engagement of civil society, the stronger democracy will be, in terms
of political pluralism and a reliable system of checks and balances.

Ladies and gentlemen, in my address to Parliament one of my core
messages will be that Armenia’s fulfillment of its enormous potential,
including in the political association with the EU, depends upon
achieving medium to long-term stability and predictability. This can
only be achieved by eliminating the threat of conflict, and addressing
the consequences of

previous conflict as well. Here also civil society has an important
role to play, by encouraging and serving the peaceful resolution of
the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The assessment I have often received is that public perceptions,
expectations and fears relating to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process
are disconnected from the interactions between political leaders at
the negotiating table. Without fully involving that the societies
affected by the conflict in the peace process, this phase of the
negotiations could fail, with serious impact for long-term stability
in the region.

To conclude, ladies and gentlemen, you have a vital role to play in
the reform and peace processes of Armenia. My presence here today
shows you, I hope, that at the very highest level in the EU we rely on
you and we look to you for support. In all areas your help can make a
crucial difference, in particular in monitoring commitments and
results. We count on you to hold our upcoming bilateral agreement to
the highest standard – its success depends also on your involvement!

ANC Europe Urges OSCE to Take Action Against Azerbaijan

Thursday, July 5th, 2012
by Asbarez

European Armenian Federation’s President, Kaspar Karampetian
BRUSSELS – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe on Thursday was scheduled to consider a
report for the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security,
titled `The OSCE: Region of Change’, to be represented by Lithuanian
rapporteur Vilija Aleknaite Abramikiene.

`The OSCE: Region of Change’ report tackles issues of security,
defence, conflicts, threats, conventional arms control, cyber-security
and other relevant issues.

The report makes a special mention to the unresolved or protracted
conflicts, and specifically mentions that the `Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict continues to cost lives along the line of contact, and
tensions in this region are still extremely high. The Co-Chairs of the
Minsk Group, together with the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
are working on developing a plan for peace, and it is now mainly up to
these parties to work to resolve the conflict and reach an agreement.
An important first step is to ensure that the ceasefire agreement is
being respected and that snipers are withdrawn’.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD)
once again reiterates its long and firm standing position that snipers
have to be withdrawn from the line of contact, as a confidence
building measure. The leadership of the Republic of Armenia have
agreed to this, but Azerbaijan’s refusal of doing so is claiming an
increasingly number of innocent lives. The European Armenian
Federation once again demands from the OSCEPA to have a strong stance
on this issue and call on the Azerbaijani President to do so, and pull
the snipers away from the line of contact.

The report also mentions, that `it is also vital that full
investigations are conducted when conflict-related incidents occur.
The joint statement by the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries and the
Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, issued in Vilnius on 7
December 2011, reaffirmed the importance of reaching a peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’.

European Armenian Federation’s President, Kaspar Karampetian states
that `we demand a strong action from the OSCEPA in investigating
Azerbaijan’s acts of diversion attacks, especially in regard to
attacks against the Republic of Armenia, like the ones we witnessed
last month, on the day of OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, US Secretary of
State, Hillary Clinton’s visit to the region, and only a few hours
before her arrival to Armenia’.

`We will follow those issues closely with the OSCEPA, and also follow
the issue of conventional arms control and confidence building.
Azerbaijani adventurism endangers the ceasefire and draw the region in
renewed fighting. Azerbaijan needs to avoid such acts of violence if
it is genuinely concerned in peace, security and co-operation in the
region. Armenia has shown goodwill by numerous times, now it is
Azerbaijan’s time’, concluded Karampetian.

Armenian, who was punished for crime committed by someone else, to
receive 30,000 compensation for moral damages – newspaper

news.am
July 06, 2012 | 08:08

YEREVAN. – The European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) ruling – that is,
30,000-euro compensation for moral damages – in the `Poghosyan and
Baghdasaryan vs. the Rep. of Armenia’ case will enter into force as of
this September, Aravot daily writes.

`By the way, the petitioner had demanded 280,000 from the ECtHR.

Armen Poghosyan, who was charged for the rape and murder of a small
child, was sentenced to fifteen years. [But] After serving 5.5 years,
he was released because it was found out that he was imprisoned
instead of another criminal.

Poghosyan made [formal] complaints, for years on end, [to the fact]
that he was not the one who had committed this crime, but they did not
believe him until when the real criminal confessed his crime.

Armen Poghosyan and his mother, Mrs. Baghdasaryan, had asked from the
European Court for compensation for moral damages, and not for
material [damages], which the Armenian courts had denied.

To note, Poghosyan is the first petitioner who asks the ECtHR for
money for compensation for moral damages,’ Aravot writes.

Heritage rep. calls for efforts to sack notorious figures from parliament

tert.am
15:52 – 06.07.12

The society has to take appropriate measures to make people like
[Republican MP and multi-millionaire businessman] Ruben Hayrapetyan
resign from parliament, Zaruhi Postanjyan, a lawmaker of the
opposition Heritage party, finds.

As she told reporters on Friday, it is very important the people like
Hayrapetyan avoid representing the Armenian society in parliament.

`This has to be an on-going process. Ruben Hayrapetyan is not the only
one in the National Assembly,’ she said, adding that individuals like
him should have nothing to do with the legislative work.

It comes after military doctor Vahe Avetyan was mercilessly beaten at
the Harsnaqar restaurant owned by the Republican lawmaker. One of the
security guards involved in the scuffle was later claimed to be
Hayrapetyan’s personal bodyguard. Avetyan died in hospital last Friday
after remaining unconscious for twelve days. The incident sparked a
major protest, with different activists’ groups calling for a fair
punishment against the perpetrators. Hayrapetyan, who is also the
president of the Football Federation of Armenia, later declared his
intention to quit his seat in parliament. He submitted his resignation
notice to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The Heritage MP noted that Hayrapetyan decided to lay down his mandate
amid a public outrage.

`This is the first ever case that an official has resigned under
public pressure. Perhaps, it wasn’t his own decision. and he did not
write the statement, but he put his signature below it. That stemmed
from a public demand. We must be a society demanding responsibility
from everyone and never restricting ourselves with one person or one
case,’ she added.

Member of Constitutional Court: Main law of Armenia does not provide
protection of human rights and freedoms

arminfo
Thursday, July 5, 21:35

Armenia needs constitutional reforms, a member of the Constitutional
Court Feliks Tokhyan said at today’s press-conference.

He also added that Constitution has not been functioning normally in
Armenia, in particular, the norms which provide protection of human
rights and freedoms, and independence of the legal system. He also
added that absence of independent legal system affects the rates of
the economic growth.