Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ALTERNATIVE TO GABALA?: RUSSIA VIEWS ARMENIAN PREMIER’S OFFER AS A TRUMP CARD IN TALKS WITH BAKU
By Aris Ghazinyan

ArmeniaNow reporter
10.04.12 | 11:15

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Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said in an interview to Russian
Kommersant that Armenia is ready to discuss possible construction of a
radar station on its territory similar to Gabala station in Azerbaijan.

The Gabala Radar Station is the main part of Russia’s alert system
in case of missile attack and is located near the town of Gabala in
Azerbaijan. It is one of the nine radar stations built in the USSR.

Its detection range is around 8,000 km, which is enough to detect
missiles launched from the area of the Indian Ocean. The station
keeps a close watch over the territories of Turkey, Iraq, Iran,
India and all the Middle East countries.

After Azerbaijan gained independence and the Radar Station was
transferred into Azeri possession, Russia continued its exploitation,
but as a renter. The bilateral agreement defined the status of the
station as an information-analytical center in Azerbaijani possession
leased to Russia till 2012, with the right of prolonging the contract.

Last year it became known that Azerbaijan was planning to raise the
rent for the rent as the agreement was approaching its expiration
date. At first Azerbaijan doubled the annual rent asking $15 million
instead of the $7 million Russia had been paying for the past decade,
then raised the price to $150 million, but didn’t stop there and took
it up to $300 million per year.

Kommersant writes that the negotiations between Baku and Moscow on
the issue proved to be futile and reached a deadlock because of
Azerbaijan’s exorbitant demands. The newspaper reports that Baku
refuses to back down, and Russia’s Defense Ministry considers the
price to be inadequate and threatens to leave Gabala if Baku does
not moderate its appetite.

Last week the Armenian premier in his interview to the same newspaper,
answering a question whether “there is a chance that Armenia would
approve construction of a similar station on its territory if Russia
and Azerbaijan fail to reach an agreement on Gabala’s lease terms”,
said: “Why not?”

“If our territory is of interest from that perspective, we are ready
to discuss it,” he stressed.

Sargsyan’s words, naturally, had a strong resonance.

Russian Svobodnaya Pressa (Free press) newspaper writes: “Armenia’s
willingness to help Russia in solving the issue by as radical a method,
as placement of a similar station on its territory, will most probably
outrage Baku: it’s not enough that Moscow wouldn’t pay more money,
it would also strengthen its ties with Azerbaijan’s worst enemy.”

Ruslan Pukhov, heading the Russian Center for Analysis of Strategies
and Technologies, said in this connection: “The idea voiced by
the Armenian Prime Minister that his country is ready to discuss
construction of a new radar station on its territory analogous to
Gabala in Azerbaijan is a very powerful move. Even if the idea is
never realized, the very fact of that offer considerably strengthens
Moscow’s positions in negotiations with Baku. It will, by all means,
put pressure on Azerbaijan and will become a trump card in Russia’s
hands. By this step Armenia has helped out Russia greatly. I believe
the Kremlin will duly appreciate it.”

Another Russian expert Mikhail Delyagin, in charge of Russian
Institute of Globalization and Social Movements, commenting on
Sargsyan’s statement said: “I don’t know how much the construction
of a new station in Armenia would cost, but if Azerbaijan is asking
$300 million per year, and erecting a new radar station would cost,
say, $250 million, it’s not big money to our country at all. I would
start building just to show that Russia has its independent policies
and it’s not recommended to twist her arms, and if one still attempts
to do so, they’d lose more than win.”

From: Baghdasarian

THEY FORGET THE 164,000 VOTERS

05:45 pm | Today | Politics

Nobody can represent the issues concerning the disabled at the National
Assembly better than the disabled themselves. This is what Head of
the “Paros” Center for the Cultural and Educational Development of
the Disabled Suren Ohanyan said during a press conference today.

No political party has offered Suren Ohanyan to join the proportional
list. Even though Head of “Harmony” NGO Albert Abgaryan has received
an invitation, he has declined.

“I’m part of another team, but the offer was from another team. I
won’t betray my team,” said Abgaryan without mentioning who the offer
was from.

Albert Abgaryan is from Serzh Sargsyan’s team. He works for Sargsyan’s
administration as a lawyer, but the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)
didn’t remember him when forming the party list.

The disabled say the government and the opposition don’t fully
appreciate the strengths and capabilities of the disabled.

They say the fact that 80 percent of the polling stations aren’t
suitable for the disabled goes to show that the government doesn’t
care about their right to vote.

There are 164,000 disabled voters in Armenia, making up more than 6
percent of the population with the right to vote.

“This is a huge electoral mass that has to be used,” said Suren
Ohanyan.

From: Baghdasarian

VELVET REVOLUTION IN ARMENIA
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:09:08 – 10/04/2012

The jerk of which the Armenian political parties launched the election
campaign can get a powerful momentum and lead to the change of balance
of forces in the future parliament. Analysts are already trying to
foresee what kind of parliament we will have in a month.

The joining of the Prosperous Armenia Party to the initiative of
the opposition parties on the creation of a joint election staff has
changed the balance equalizing the forces of the ruling RPA and its
competitors. Proceeding from the current balance of forces, we should
presume that the future parliament will also be divided into the RPA
and the rest without evident majority, sure if the RPA does not resort
to the force-major, which is ruled out, because it will be the end.

Most likely, the RPA will reconcile with the loss of majority and
will try to present it as its democratic achievement.

But what will change after the political monopoly is abolished in
Armenia? First of all, the forces may change, say, Vartan Oskanian
may become the Speaker. The parliament’s rhetoric may also change,
say its position on the Armenian and Turkish relations may toughen,
talks with Iran, Russia may be initiated, which are currently a taboo
may be launched.

Perhaps, some economic laws will be revised, the incentives for large
business, but all this hardly is worth fights for the parliament. The
question is whether the fundament of the relations in Armenia will
change and whether the new parliament will lay the pavement for the
return of the power to people to base the policy on the civil demands,
for the policy to be economic and not predatory, for Armenia’s
sovereignty not to become a subject of bargaining.

There is such a chance and if Armenia misses it, it will have to
disentangle long. Since right after the parliamentary elections,
the presidential campaign will start and it should become another
proof to the absence of monopolies in Armenia.

The current system will not give up so easily, in fact, there is
a suspicion that the PAP itself is going to become a monopolist. In
this context, the deal of the last night and the sudden “marriage” are
still not ruled out. The post-election unrest, as well as post-election
announcement of impeachment to the president should not be excluded
either. Moreover, the president, in a certain scenario, may resign
to be elected again.

But if they manage to seize from the RPA hands the initiative and
force it play the general rules, the democratic mechanisms will start
operating instead of people, and then, it will really be possible to
dwell on velvet revolution in Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

FIGHTERS FOR ROBBERY DIVIDED IN TWO

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:51:32 – 10/04/2012

Today, journalists asked Ashot Manucharyan, member of Karabakh
committee about the possible return of the second president of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan.

Ashot Manucharyan noted that there are questions which are irrelevant
to be spoken about. He said that it is the same as to ask whether the
police officials who shot on March 1 and are suspected of murder could
run in elections. Manucharyan says that if one is accused of murder,
needs to either deny it, but how can one deny if there are families
and people who knows it happened. As to what that person did in the
political, cultural, scientific and other field is improper to dwell
on, said Manucharyan.

According to him, the positive part of the political process is that
the forces fighting for the robbery divided into two the clash of
which will bring to some balance which means the Armenian people will
get the possibility to fulfill other goals to be promoted by forces
out of the political field. Manucharyan says important events are
maturing out of the political field. “I think it will be better to
stop at these processes since under the balance, these processes will
become basic and the election in Armenia will not be made in a month
but Armenia will endlessly keep choosing its path in one or half a
year. The clash will bring about new possibilities but new ideas and
new figures are necessary who are in pace”, said Ashot Manucharyan.

Asked by Lragir.am whether he means the movement of the determined
citizens in the Mashtots Park, Manucharyan said that if the journalists
talk to people, they will find out that there are many people in
Armenia who believe the reason of all this is the materialist system
and we will stay in this situation unless we reject the materialist
system.

He said that he was happy with the dismantlement process, but wonders
what it gave – for the first time, the issue on the criminal property
was raised in Armenia which is the reason of the current situation
and needs to be dismantled.

From: Baghdasarian

TATUL HAKOBYAN PRESENTS HIS “GLANCE FROM ARARAT: ARMENIANS AND TURKS” BOOK

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 10, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: Tatul Hakobyan’s “Glance from Ararat:
Armenians and Turks” book presented today tells about the most
important episodes of Armenia’s first, second and third republics,
particularly relating to the Armenian-Turkish relations.

The author said he needed eight years for writing the book.

“Armenia’s history is terribly distorted. I am going to prepare three
books presenting Armenia’s history. “Soviet Armenia” book will also
be prepared for giving right picture of Armenia,” he said.

Hakobyan stressed that “Glance from Ararat: Armenians and Turks”
book comprises of three chapters. The first one presents the first
republic and the Ottoman Empire, the second tells about the years of
Cold War and the third one tells about 1988 and afterwards.

Tatul Hakobyan’s first book “Green and Black Artsakh Diary” was
published in 2008 and was translated into western Armenian, Russian,
English, Arab and Turkish languages.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA IS FOR RESOLUTION OF IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS. TIGRAN SARGSYAN

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 10, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia wants Iranian nuclear issue
be resolved through negotiations. Prime Minister of the Republic of
Armenia told the Russian Ð’Ð~Z. “We want the issue to be resolved
through negotiation which goes through diplomatic relations and
International Atomic Energy Agency direct dialogue,” said the Prime
Minister.

Prime Minister Sargsyan stated that historically Armenia and Iran
were in good relations and now as well. “We have a populous community
in Iran .Iranian Government created favorable conditions for our
counterparts, including legal ones. Taking into account all the facts,
we should step up efforts to keep our relations and ensure the future
development ” highlighted the Prime Minister.

Government head stated currently great risks exist as well as
international sanctions against Iran which block the development of
economic relations.

From: Baghdasarian

GALLUP TO CONDUCT SOCIAL OPINION POLL IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 10, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: “Gallup” social research center will
conduct social opinion poll and exit-poll in Yerevan and Armenia’s
regions relating to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia.

With this aim “Armenia” TV and “Gallup” International Association
company signed an agreement on April 10.

Speaking to reporters today executive director of Armenia TV Davit
Avetisyan said the poll will be conducted during the election campaign
and will be published not later than April 27. The exit-poll will
be conducted on the election day – May 6 – to find out the political
preferences of the voters who participated in the election.

Armenia TV has declared an open contest for all the interested
organizations. The winner has become “Gallup”.

From: Baghdasarian

SCHOOLCHILDREN TO HOLD ANTI-SMOKING EVENT IN DOWNTOWN YEREVAN

news.am
April 10, 2012 | 11:52

YEREVAN. – On the initiative a group of schoolchildren, an event
devoted to not smoking in public transport vehicles will be held on
Tuesday at 3 pm at Armenian capital Yerevan’s Northern Avenue.

During this anti-smoking campaign, the children will distribute
informational flyers and leaflets to the passersby, and will call
upon the society not to smoke and, also, not to allow the public
transport vehicle drivers-and the people around them-to smoke.

From: Baghdasarian

SPEAKER OF AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT HOPES FOR PUTIN TO KEEP ON GARABAGH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Azerbaijan Business Center
April 9 2012

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Today Chairman of Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay
Asadov has received Chairman of Russian Federal Assembly’s Federation
Council Valentina Matviyenko staying with a visit in Azerbaijan on
occasion of 20-year anniversary of Azerbaijani- Russian diplomatic
relations.

The report from Azerbaijani Parliament says that at the meeting O.

Asadov voiced hope that Russia’s newly elected President Vladimir
Putin will keep on implementation of his predecessor’s initiatives on
Armenian- Azerbaijani Nagorno Garabagh conflict arrangement within OSCE
Minsk Group and tradition of three partite summits on this problem.

At the meeting it was also noted that over 160 interstate agreements
were signed between the countries for 20 years of diplomatic relations.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN PARTY STANDS FOR CHANGING TO PARLIAMENTARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT

news.am
April 09, 2012 | 14:43

YEREVAN. – Armenia should switch from presidential to parliamentary
system, Armenian MP Armen Rustamyan announced at a press conference
on Monday presenting the pre-election program of ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

The presidential system led to the formation of a group of favorites
around the presidential chair which usurps the governmental resources,
he added.

It is necessary to establish the parliamentary form of government
in Armenia.

“We had three presidents and the situation is not changing. We must
have a government that will not be affected by the change of the
powers,” Rustamyan said.

According to him, first of all the concentration of powers in the
hands of the ruling party must be eliminated.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun is one of
the oldest Armenian political parties. It was founded in the end of
19th century.

Following the Sovietization of Armenia in 1920, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun
was banned by the Communists and its leadership exiled. The
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun officially re-emerged in Armenia after the collapse
of the USSR, in 1990.

In June 2003, the party signed a coalition memorandum with the
Republican Party of Armenia and Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law). However,
in 2009 ARFD left the coalition in protest against signing the
protocols with Turkey.

Party’s proportional list includes 85 candidates. Eight candidates
will run for an MP seat with majority system. The party’s motto is
‘Freedom, Justice, Dashnaktsutyun.’

From: Baghdasarian