Author: Badalian Vardan

HEAD OF THE ICRC DELEGATION: 1915 EVENTS MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN

20:47, 08.04.2015
Region:World News, Armenia
Theme: Politics, Analytics

Interview of Sarah Epprecht, head of the ICRC delegation in Armenia,
in connection with the upcoming centennial anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.

What is the ICRC’s position on the massacre of the Armenian people
in the Ottoman Empire?

The events that occurred a century ago are without doubt tragic
and still provoke strong feelings. From a humanitarian perspective,
it is a tragedy.

In line with our mandate, we prefer to focus on the importance of
remembering the tremendous suffering and loss of life endured by
countless Armenians under Ottoman rule. We see this year’s centennial
commemoration as a time to recognize the need to strengthen respect
for human dignity and highlight the importance of efforts to prevent
such tragedies from happening again anywhere in the world.

How does the ICRC classify the events in legal terms?

We are aware that there is a lot of interest in ascertaining which
countries or organizations officially recognize as genocide the
terrible events that took place under Ottoman rule. However, as a
neutral and independent humanitarian organization, the ICRC does not
take part in such debates.

The ICRC is an international humanitarian organization with a history
of working in situations of violence that stretches back 150 years.

What efforts did the ICRC make to assist the Armenian people back then?

One hundred years ago, the ICRC was not yet the organization that it
is today. Unfortunately, at that time, we did not have the extensive
field presence and proximity to victims that now characterizes our
work. The situation at that time made direct assistance impossible.

Nevertheless, in the years that followed, the ICRC focused on providing
relief to Armenian children. It coordinated the efforts of a number
of organizations to help children in Armenia who were suffering from
the effects of the First World War.

The ICRC has an extensive archive of different types of documents
dating back a long time. Does it contain information about those
terrible events?

The ICRC archives from that time are open to the public, so they can
be consulted by anyone who is interested. The resources to be found
there reflect the ICRC’s historical position and actions, which
stemmed from its deep concern about the massacre of the Armenian
people in the Ottoman Empire.

NAIRA ZOHRABYAN: WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF GAZPROM ARMENIA EMPLOYEES DECIDE TO RELAX IN LUXURIOUS HEALTH RESORTS? (VIDEO)

13:27 | April 8,2015 | Politics

The National Assembly is continuing the discussion of the conclusion
of the NA interim commission studying the gas supply system.

Head of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK faction Naira Zohrabyan
spoke about the costs of images and plants of the document which are
included in the price of gas sold to consumers.

“Can you imagine what might happen if employees of Gazprom Armenia
CJSC develop their their aesthetic tastes and declare that they want to
have a rest in health resorts which are decorated with the pictures of
Titian and Renoir, especially given the fact that their pink colours
have a relaxing effect on viewers. This is a real plunder which is
not appropriate to a political force.”

Speaking about the framework agreement reached in Lausanne last week
on curbing Iran’s nuclear program for at least a decade which forced
Iran to make drastic cuts to its nuclear program in return for the
gradual lifting of sanctions, the BHK leader said, “Serious prospects
open for finding transit routes to export gas to Europe through the
cooperation between Iran, Georgia and Armenia. The question is whether
Armenia is constrained by an infamous vassal treaty with Russia by
2043. WE are given a unique opportunity and we should not miss it,
otherwise we shall make a major political mistake.”

ARTUR SAKUNTS: THE SAME CAN HAPPEN TO ANY POLITICAL FORCE THAT WILL SEEK CHANGE OF POWER (VIDEO)

16:31 | April 8,2015 | Politics

Didn’t the law enforcement agencies violate human rights by arresting
seven members of the opposition Founding Parliament group?

“I shall refrain from making any comments as the investigation is in
progress,” Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan said on Wednesday.

Asked how he assessed the arrest as a lawyer, Mr Manukyan said, “From
the legal point of view, I shall assess it as the man who serves as
Minister of Justice.”

The minister does not see a violation of the presumption of innocence
while the Investigative Committee of Armenia said yesterday it
prevented possible ‘mass disturbances’ during public events scheduled
for April 24 – the day when Armenians will be commemorating the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

“No names are given,” said Mr Manukyan.

Human rights activist Artur Sakunts says the arrest of the opposition
activists is ungrounded and the charges are fabricated. “They arrested
the people who, according to Serzh Sargsyan, are key figures in the
movement that is demanding his resignation,” he said.

Mr Sakunts says Serzh Sargsyan is doing everything to retain his power;
he is even applying violence and force against public.

“Today they are trying to intimidate the Founding Parliament. Tomorrow
it can be the Civil Contract or some other political force that will
seek a change of power,” he added.

ARMENIA’S INTERNATIONAL RESERVES AT ABOUT $1.5BLN BY END Q1 – NEWSPAPER

08.04.2015 15:45

YEREVAN, April 8. /ARKA/. Armenia’s gross international reserves will
amount to about $1.5 billion by the end of the first quarter 2015,
Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Time) says referring to the press office
of the central bank.

Hence, the international reserves will still be in line with the
international practices and will be sufficient for covering the imports
and the servicing of short-term (up to one year) commitments for more
than five years.

According to the newspaper, the regulator expects the international
reserves to be replenished by about $510 million in 2015, of it about
$300 million through second euro bond issue, and the remaining part
from other receipts.

At the same time, the foreign debt load is expected to decrease
substantially, by about 30%.

The newspaper says the number of commercial banks’ foreign currency
accounts in the central bank is expected to increase due to the
regulator’s recent actions to replenish commercial banks’ capital
and to promote forex inflow.

The reduction in reserves by $762 million during 2014 was facilitated
by a number of factors, particularly by decrease of $305 million in
balances on foreign currency correspondent accounts, external debt
servicing worth about $260 million and the central bank’s sale/purchase
deals worth $310 million to ensure financial stability and to curb
the inflation, says Haykakan Zhamanak. -0-

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN TO ATTEND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MASS IN VATICAN

17:38, 08 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Italy tonight, where
he will have meetings with high-ranking officials, President’s Press
Office reported.

President Sargsyan will visit the Vittoriano Museum of Rome to watch
the “Armenia: People of Ark” exhibition dedicated to the Armenian
Genocide centennial.

On April 11 the President will participate in the Mass to be celebrated
by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, and Cardinal Sepe at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of
Naples. As part of the ceremony the copy of one of the cross-stones
of Jugha will be unveiled in memory of the Armenian Genocide.

In Italy President Sargsyan is expected to meet with the Director
General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

On April 12 Serzh Sargsyan will visit Vatican, where he will
participate in the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Pope Francis will
celebrate to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENIAN CEMETERY DESECRATED IN ANKARA

April 8, 2015 – 16:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – “Treasure hunters” in Ankara destroyed an ancient
Armenian cemetery, with human bones strewn everywhere, according to
Hye Tert.

The cemetery is also used as a picnic venue. The cemetery was the only
reminder of the Armenian presence in Ankara’s district of Sincan. A
while ago, the city municipality moved some of the well-preserved
tombstones to the municipal park to create an “open air museum.”

Later, the tombstones were removed, and reportedly sent to the Museum
of Anatolian Civilizations.

Several years ago, the cemetery was fenced, yet the measure proved
useless. The fence was broken down, with the graves desecrated by
treasure hunters.

FIVE COUNTRIES SEEK TO CARRY OUT RUSSIA’S TURKISH STREAM PROJECT IN EUROPE

(c) Sputnik/ Igor Zarembo
BUSINESS
14:48 08.04.2015Get short URL
40430
Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey seek ways to diversify
routes and channels of natural gas deliveries to Europe through Turkey,
according to a declaration foreign ministers of the five countries
signed in Budapest on Tuesday.

(c) AP PHOTO/ PETR DAVID JOSEK Turkish Stream May Bring Energy Security
to Europe – Senior Greek Official The declaration paves the way for
the five countries to participate in the project based on the so-called
Turkish Stream gas pipeline, according to the Kommersant newspaper. The
Russia daily added that Austria could also join the venture.

The Turkish Stream pipeline is an alternative to the South
Stream, which Russia terminated in December 2014, citing Brussels’
opposition to the project. The pipeline with an annual capacity of
63 billion cubic meters will deliver gas to Turkey via a gas hub on
the Turkish-Greek border for further distribution to consumers in
southern Europe.

The declaration reflects only political intent. The five countries
and companies interested in the project will have to convene again
on multiple occasions to discuss details of the venture. The next
ministerial meeting is expected to take place in July but bilateral
talks will start earlier.

The first leg of the Turkish Stream pipeline is scheduled to be
completed by the end of 2016.

Gas talks could become on the key issues during talks between the
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who is on a two-day visit to
Moscow, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(c) AP PHOTO/ MURAD SEZER, FILE Putin, Tsipras to Discuss Connecting
Greece to Turkish Stream If the countries decide to take part in the
Turkish Stream project, Gazprom will have an opportunity to deliver
gas to Europe bypassing Ukraine without drastically altering existing
deals with the customers, Kommersant pointed out. But it has other
implications too.

Cordial relations with current and aspiring EU members, who try to
carry out independent foreign policy, are of high value to Russia
against the background of Moscow’s current relations with the West.

The European Commission will likely be against any joint ventures,
focusing on Russian gas. The EC is developing legal mechanisms, which
will allow it to block any intergovernmental agreements and business
contracts deemed harmful for the EU energy security.

Read more:

Armenia to receive third $17 million disbursement of IMF in June

YEREVAN, April 8. / ARKA /. Speaking at a news conference today
the chief of IMF Mission in Armenia, Mark Horton, said Armenia will
receive the third disbursement of $17 million under IMF’s Extended
Fund Facility (EFF) program in June.

The extended arrangement for SDR 82.21 million (about US$119.1 million)
was approved on March 7, 2014. The money will be disbursed in seven
tranches, Mr. Horton said.

He said the first review of Armenia’s economic performance under the
three-year program was completed on December 22, 2014 enabling the
release of SDR 11.74 million (about US$17 million), bringing total
disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 23.48 million (about
US$34 million).

He said the IMF submitted to the Armenian government several proposals,
the discussion of which will be completed within the next 2-3 weeks,
and the results will be submitted to the IMF Board meeting in June.

He said one of the proposals calls for increasing capital spending
by 1% of GDP. According to him, the IMF does not fund capital
expenditures, but nevertheless, the Armenian government is working
with international financial institutions and other organizations in
order to find the necessary funds.

Mr. Horton also noted that some other proposals submitted to the
government are about transport communications and renovation of
Armenian schools buildings which do not meet seismic standards.

Mr. Horton said if these projects are implemented successfully, the
IMF can provide the Central Bank of Armenia this year with additional
$35 million. -0-

PREZ ON NKR: PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT CHALLENGED BY AZERI AGGRESSION

KARABAKH | 07.04.15 | 14:53

NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Armenian officials once again spoke about Baku’s deconstructive moves
and their consequences in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, and added
that they share co-chairs opinion – we must prepare the people not
to war, rather to peace.

In a television interview on Monday, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
reiterated his government’s position that the only viable solution to
the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan is through negotiations based on
the seven-year old agreements outlined in an OSCE Minsk Group document.

The president told Rosia 24 channel’s “Opinion” program that the
Armenian position is routinely challenged by aggression instigated
by Azerbaijan in border fighting that has intensified over the past
several months.

“Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani government does the exact opposite
(than negotiate). We all witnessed the tense situation which started
last summer,” the president said underlining that outside monitors
blame Azerbaijan.

At the same time, Sargsyan addressed the probability of restarting
war in Karabakh, saying that he “is personally afraid of war, but
not afraid of fighting”.

Sargsyan’s position was echoed by his Minister of Foreign Affairs,
as Euard Nalbandyan told “International Relations”:

“The co-chairs have always worked on and still continue developing
mechanisms for stabilizing the ceasefire regime, investigating
ceasefire regime violations and occurrences, withdrawing snipers,
with clear suggestions on other means of trust.

However Azerbaijan shows complete ignorance toward those suggestions
and initiatives of mediators with international society mandate.”

According to Nalbandyan, Azerbaijan is focused on the capabilities it
possesses for overcoming Armenia through military means. He charges
that Azerbaijan wants to see the Minsk Group solution fail and have
other international bodies negotiate peace.

“All this is covered by active provocation both on the contact line
with Artsakh and Armenia,” Nalbandyan said.

Meanwhile, it was learned Tuesday that another Armenian casualty has
occurred. Senior officer Hayk Keshishoghliyan, 42, was shot dead at
an undisclosed post in northeast Karabakh.

James Warlick, the American cochair of the OSCE Minsk Group, meanwhile,
said to Azerbaijan’s APA news agency: “We are hopeful that the sides
will respect the ceasefire during upcoming holidays, commemorations,
and international events in the region.”

The diplomat said the presidents of both Armenia and Azerbaijan had
assured the mediators that they will not initiate military action
along the Line of Contact or the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

“While we have no means to monitor or verify these commitments, such
stability would create a more positive dynamic for negotiations. We
expect the next meeting of the Presidents to take place later this
year. We are exploring possibilities to meet with both foreign
ministers in order to frame the discussion between the presidents,
as well as dates for our next trip to the region,” Warlick noted.

ARMENIA STANDS FOR COORDINATION OF FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES WITH RUSSIA – PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, April 7. /ARKA/. Yerevan has always favored foreign policy
coordination with Russia, Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan said in
his interview to Rossiya 24 TV channel.

When asked whether or not Moscow could count on its closest neighbors
and team-mates as concerned the international and geopolitical issues,
Sargsyan said it was a rhetorical question.

“When we join unions, we undertake obligations. Apart from the
relations we had with Russia, with the Russian people during the
centuries, we have formalized these relations. Hence, we have always
supported, first, the integration processes, and, the second, the
coordination, including that on the foreign policy. And I believe, at
least so far, there has been no case of us having tried to bypass our
direct obligations,” Sargsyan said, as cited by Novosti-Armenia. -0–