Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

CHINA’S PRESIDENT ACCEPTS INVITATION TO VISIT ARMENIA

19:02, 25 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

On a state visit to the People’s Republic of China, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Upon the conclusion of a high-level meeting the leaders of the two
countries signed a joint declaration on further development and
deepening of cooperation and relations between Armenia and China.

The parties pledged to continue the relations based on mutual respect,
equality and reciprocal interests, expand the cooperation in the
political, commercial-economic, humanitarian and other spheres for
the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.

The Armenian party reiterated its support for China’s policy, and
expressed its stance against the independence of Taiwan. Armenia
reiterated it would establish no ties with Taiwan, as it sees Taiwan
as an integral part of China.

The Chinese party, in turn, expressed its support for the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict on the basis of the basic
principles of the UN Charter and the universal norms of international
law.

Xi Jinping accepted Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to pay a state visit
to Armenia. The date of the visit is yet to be determined.

Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:

MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: Chian’s President accepts invitation to visit Armenia

Chian’s President accepts invitation to visit Armenia

19:02, 25 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

On a state visit to the People’s Republic of China, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Upon the conclusion of a high-level meeting the leaders of the two
countries signed a joint declaration on further development and
deepening of cooperation and relations between Armenia and China.

The parties pledged to continue the relations based on mutual respect,
equality and reciprocal interests, expand the cooperation in the
political, commercial-economic, humanitarian and other spheres for the
benefit of the peoples of the two countries.

The Armenian party reiterated its support for China’s policy, and
expressed its stance against the independence of Taiwan. Armenia
reiterated it would establish no ties with Taiwan, as it sees Taiwan
as an integral part of China.

The Chinese party, in turn, expressed its support for the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict on the basis of the basic
principles of the UN Charter and the universal norms of international
law.

Xi Jinping accepted Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to pay a state visit
to Armenia. The date of the visit is yet to be determined.

From: Baghdasarian

ZHOGHOVURD: ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT TO ALLOT NEW TERRITORY TO RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE

11:38 * 25.03.15

Armenia’s government plans to allot new territories to the Russian
military base in Armenia.

A relevant draft decision is on the agenda of the cabinet meeting on
March 26.

The territory adjacent to Cantonment 9 in Lalayan Street is expected
to be provided to the Russian military base.

According to the document, the Russian military base has 22 cantonments
in Armenia, with 11 of them in Gyumri and nine in Yerevan.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE : LA CULTURE POUR SE SOUVENIR

REVUE DE PRESSE

En l’honneur de la commemoration du centenaire du genocide armenien,
la deputee-maire des 11e et 12e arrondissements de Marseille, Valerie
Boyer, a presente ce lundi, a travers une conference de presse,
les projets organises ou soutenus par la Mairie de secteur.

Une conference qui s’est tenue en presence d’associations armeniennes,
lesquelles se sont investies dans l’elaboration d’evenements d’ordre
principalement culturel, si l’on en juge la programmation annoncee
du 13 mars au 08 octobre 2015 : spectacles, concerts, expositions,
festivals…

Valerie Boyer, “princesse armenienne”

À l’initiative de la proposition de loi sur la penalisation de
la negation du genocide armenien adoptee fin-septembre 2011 par
l’Assemblee Nationale, la maire du 6e secteur a une fois de plus
exprime son soutien a cette cause qui l’anime depuis plusieurs annees
a present.

Didier Parakian, adjoint au maire de Marseille et engage dans le combat
de reconnaissance du genocide (lui-meme etant d’origine armenienne),
n’a pas tari d’eloges dans son discours a l’egard de Valerie Boyer.

“L’implication de la ville entière”

En guise de presentation, celui- ci l’a decrit comme la femme qui
“redevient sa princesse armenienne”, tant son engagement est louable.

Bien que la grande majorite des manifestations culturelles soit
localisee dans les 11e et 12e arrondissements, Valerie Boyer precise
toutefois que “d’autres manifestations auront lieu dans Marseille,
ce qui montre l’implication de la Ville toute entière dans cette
commemoration”.

À citer par exemple, l’exposition “100 portraits d’exil ou la quete
d’identite des refugies armeniens”, par le Fonds ARAM (Association
pour la Recherche et l’Archivage de la memoire Armenienne) prevue du
19 mars au 27 septembre 2015, au musee d’Histoire de Marseille.

Finalement, deuxième communaute la plus importante de France après
Paris, les Armeniens constituent environ 10% de la population. Un
motif alors logique pour y consacrer une mobilisation de la Ville
dans son ensemble.

mercredi 25 mars 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ANALYSIS: ARMENIAN RULING PARTY’S ‘PRO-RUSSIAN WING’ HINTS AT RISKS OF “SPOILED” RELATIONS WITH MOSCOW

ANALYSIS | 25.03.15 | 10:41

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

Talking to reporters recently, odious Armenian MP and ruling Republican
Party member Seyran Saroyan hinted that the relations between Russia
and Armenia may be “marred”.

Asked to comment on President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement that the
supplies of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan may adversely affect the
Armenian-Russian relations, the retired general said: “And what has
changed since he said that? Have the Russians stopped selling weapons?

You cannot put things right by statements only. And now we have
spoiled our relations also with the Russians and so what.”

Some analysts believe that there is no consensus within the Republican
Party regarding relations with Russia and that the party’s pro-Russian
wing is fairly strong. In informal conversations many Armenian
politicians say that Armenians should stick to the Russians, while
the rest “are not our friends”.

However, among the ruling elites there are also supporters of balance
and diversity in relations and it must have been these elites that
for three years “persuaded” Sargsyan to negotiate with the European
Union on the Association Agreement.

Analysts believe that now the influence of the pro-Russian faction in
the Republican Party on Sargsyan is somewhat getting reduced because
Armenia’s excessive loyalty to Russia is already leading to negative
results in the economic sphere as well as in the sphere of security.

Tensions at Armenia’s borders with Azerbaijan and around
Nagorno-Karabakh have only increased since the country’s formal
accession to the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union at the beginning
of this year. And, as Sargsyan himself put it, the Armenian soldier
standing at the border is aware that they [Azerbaijani forces] want
to kill him with weapons of Russian make.

After in September 2013 Sargsyan announced in Moscow about Armenia’s
joining the Eurasian Economic Union, more obstacles and potholes
began to appear in the Armenian-Russian relations. This is primarily
the question of Russian arms sales to Azerbaijan, which has managed
to debunk the myth of Russia’s “brotherhood” among the Armenian public.

The January 12 massacre of a seven-member Armenian family in Gyumri,
of which the soldiers of the 102nd Russian military base is accused,
was a further blow to this relationship.

Russia has refused to transfer the accused, Valery Permyakov, to
Armenian law-enforcement authorities. But so far the ruling party in
Armenia has tried not to “burn bridges” – on March 24 the Armenian
Parliament held a vote on the bill on the transfer of Permyakov to
Armenian justice, but the Republican majority opted out of the vote
and the bill thus failed.

Apparently, the parliamentary majority does not want to scandalize
the situation until April 24, waiting to see if Russian President
Vladimir Putin comes to Armenia on that day that will commemorate the
Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. (In a recent interview with the
Sputnik-Armenia radio station, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan
Volynkin said that President Vladimir Putin will visit Armenia and
that his visit “will raise the level of the event”.)

And this is the third obstacle in the Armenian-Russian relations. The
Russian-Turkish ligament that has, in fact, ruled Armenia for the
past 100 years is close to a new milestone. Either Russia, in spite
of its friendship with Turkey, joins the Armenian demands to Turkey,
or it admits that Armenia is not a priority for it, which may be
followed by Yerevan’s claims to Moscow.

However, the same experts argue that the Armenian government will
not have the sufficient will and the “pro-Russian faction” in the
Republican Party will win again, especially that it is represented
by generals who openly acknowledge their weakness before Russia.

“The strong always blames the weak,” General Saroyan said. But he
added that once the Russian weapons sold to Azerbaijan will be turned
against Russia.

From: Baghdasarian

OVER 200 POLICE CADETS IN YEREVAN JOIN THE RANKS OF ABMDR (ARMENIAN BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRY )

March 25, 2015

A total of 233 young police cadets at the Police Academy of the
Republic of Armenia joined the ranks of the Armenian Bone Marrow
Donor Registry (ABMDR).

The cadets joined the registry as potential bone marrow stem cell
donors, during recruitment drives that were held on the premises of
the Police Academy, in Yerevan, on March 17 and 24. The drives were
led by ABMDR executive director Dr. Sevak Avagyan and ABMDR medical
director Dr. Mihran Nazaretyan.

“It was marvelous to see the cadets’ enthusiasm and spirit of
volunteerism during the recruitments,” Dr. Avagyan said.

“In addition to the cadets of the Police Academy, hundreds of men and
women serving in Armenia’s armed forces as well as first responders
have joined the ranks of ABMDR this year and in the recent past,
bringing their practical support to the registry’s life-saving
mission,” said Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of ABMDR. “By joining
our organization, these dedicated service men and women are setting
a wonderful example for Armenian youths everywhere.”

As Dr. Avagyan thanked the leadership of the Police Academy and the
cadets for making the recruitments a great success, he announced that
the recruitment drives at the academy will become an annual tradition.

About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians
and non-Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related
illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone
marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited
over 26,000 donors in 24 countries across four continents, identified
2,482 patients, and facilitated 20 bone marrow transplants.

From: Baghdasarian

U.S.-BASED ARMENIAN THINK TANK SLAMS YEREVAN OVER EUROBOND ISSUANCE

ECONOMY | 25.03.15 | 10:37

Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), a Washington-based group of Armenian
economists, political scientists, journalists, legal experts and
others, considers the recent issuance of Eurobonds by Armenia’s
Government “irresponsible” and “damaging for the country”.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the PFA suggested that Armenia
needs economic reforms rather than issuance of expensive foreign debt,
something that it believes will result in “even bigger losses”.

Last week, the Armenian government issued its second Eurobond worth
$500 million at a yield of 7.5 percent. The 10-year dollar bonds
were sold in international financial markets through Deutsche Bank,
HSBC and JP Morgan on Thursday.

In approving the measure in January the Cabinet led by Prime Minister
Hovik Abrahamyan cited the need to finance Armenia’s budget deficit
and “neutralize” the Russian recession’s spillover effects on the
Armenian economy.

But the PFA has criticized the Armenian government for the move and
its “desire to avoid policy changes”.

“Deep reforms are needed to move Armenia’s economy from an imminent
collapse. Issuing expensive foreign debt and attempting to pay one’s
way out of the crisis will only delay the inevitable and result in
even bigger losses for consumers, banks, and the sovereign balance
sheet,” the organization’s Executive Board said.

The PFA, which is known to question the legitimacy of the current
Armenian government and alleges large-scale government corruption
in Armenia, also called on the international community and capital
market participants “to cease funding the regime in Yerevan”.

“Future democratic governments of Armenia will have every reason
to declare these debts illegitimate and stop servicing them,”
it concluded.

The Armenian government carried out the first dollar bond issuance in
September 2013, raising $700 million at a yield of 6.25 percent. It
was then touted as a successful operation.

From: Baghdasarian

GAGIK KHACHATRYAN IS FORCING HIS FRIEND INTO BANKRUPTCY (VIDEO)

19:56 | March 24,2015 | Politics

Director of “Tigran Mets” publishing house Vrezh Markosyan has no
trouble that the tax authorities will follow him as it happened with
Ashot Aghababyan and Hakob Hakobyan, “When they come, we will know
at that time.”

He doesn’t think that he needs to get along with the authorities,
he will try to be a conscientious taxpayer. But the statistics show
that the Armenian budget has problems with money, investments and
exportations have decreased drastically, “I don’t think that the
statistics are so accurate.

The beer factory belonging to the Republican Party member Hakob
Hakobyan was fined more than 650 millions AMD, “There is nothing
deliberate.”

Mr. Hakobyan is the close friend of the Minister of Finance Gagik
Khachatryan. And in fact, his friend is forcing the co-owner of
“Yerevan beer” company into bankruptcy, “Of course we will go bankrupt,
we just cannot pay such amount of money.”

Mr. Hakobyan doesn’t agree that the authorities are following the
big business in order to fill the budget, as there are no small and
medium-sized businesses in Armenia anymore, “We don’t have saved
money so that one can take it into the budget.”

In general, BHK faction member Lyova Khachatryan isn’t delighted
with our tax authorities, they misapply the inspections, but in
the absence of small business, they have no alternative, “And as
transfers and fines form our budget, every day they must check our
business entities up to the last one.”

Mr. Khachatryan has many entrepreneur friends, who went bankrupt. They
left Armenia, as they can do nothing against the wrong economic policy
of the authorities, “The number of entrepreneurs has decreased compared
with last year, the number of population and the number of transfers
have also decreased and the amount of taxes has remained the same.”

The Republican Party member Sukias Avetisyan isn’t surprised. Tax
inspections are commonplace, “It doesn’t matter who is the owner of
the organization.”

The lawmaker explains that just for that reason they wanted to document
the turnovers of small and medium-sized businesses, “You have seen
that small and medium-sized businesses complain “start from the big
businesses, why are you starting from the small ones?”

Sukias Avetisyan accepts that internal and external turnovers have
decreased. But it has happened in the whole world and only China
recorded economic growth last year.

From: Baghdasarian

ARAVOT: ARMENIA SHOULD NOT HAVE ‘SMALL NATION’ COMPLEX

10:44 * 24.03.15

Below is an excerpt from the newspaper’s editorial:

The Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh presidents’ meeting in Astana,
without Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s participation, as well
as Vladimir Putin’s statement on a common currency, caused Armenian
analysts to think that Armenia is going to be “expelled” from the
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

“I would be happy if ‘expelling Armenia’ would become a reality,
but I think the comments are superficial.

The fact is that Armenia has an insignificant role in this union
as compared with that of the ‘founding states’, as Mr Lukashenko
calls them.

“If German and French leader meet to discuss the European Union’s
problems among other issues and did not invite Estonia to a meeting,
I do not think Estonia would get a complex because that state is
equally represented at all the events of the EU structures.

“I do not think the ‘initial positions’ are as equal in the EEU’s
case the as in the EU’s case. But Armenia should not develop a
‘small nation’ complex because of an unofficial meeting in Astana. As
regards a common currency, even if Kazakhstan and Belarus were ready,
the process requires at least five years.

“However, the ‘founding states’ except for Russia have never expressed
such willingness.”

From: Baghdasarian

HEIDI HAUTALA: IF TURKEY RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, IT WILL OPEN DOORS FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

by Tatevik Shahunyan

Tuesday, March 24, 14:29

If Turkey recognizes the Armenian Genocide, it will open doors for
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Euronest PA Co-President
Heidi Hautala told ArmInfo.

Hautala said the European Parliament and the Euronest PA have done
much to assist Armenia in achieving international recognition of the
Genocide and making Turkey recognize that crime against humanity. If
this finally happens and Turkey recognizes the Genocide of Armenians,
it will open doors for peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict,
she said. Hautala is sure that one beautiful day Turkey will recognize
the Genocide against Armenians.

Heidi thinks the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations in April
2015 will draw the world community’s attention to that issue and,
maybe, then Ankara will recognize its own history under international
pressure.

As for the Karabakh conflict and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s
statement at the Euronest PA Session saying that the principle of
the people’s right to self-determination has begun to dominate over
other principles, Heidi Hautala said: “In Europe the principle of
the people’s right to self-determination has really began to dominate
over others.”

Euronest PA and EPP have lately recognized and condemned the Genocide
of Armenians. The first country to recognize that crime against
humanity was Uruguay. Genocide of Armenians has been recognized
by 43 United States as well as by 23 countries, including Canada,
Argentina, Switzerland, Russia, Belgium, France, Poland, Slovakia,
the Netherlands, Greece, Cyprus, Vatican, Sweden, Lithuania..

Swizterland, Slovakia and Greece have even passed laws criminalizing
denial of the Armenian Genocide. France is preparing a similar bill.

The Genocide of Armenians was recognized also by the CoE, European
Parliament, the UN Subcommittee to prevent discrimination and protect
minorities, the UN Committee for Military Crimes, the World Church
Council, as well as New South Wales, San- Paolo, Seara and Parana
(Brazil), Wales, Schotland and Northern Ireland, the Basque Country,
Catalonia, Balearic Islands (Spain), Quebec, Kyev, Uzhgorod, Izyum.

Goloseevskiy region (Ukraine), Crimea. Turkey still denies the genocide
of 1,5 million Armenians in 1915-1923.

From: Baghdasarian

THAT’S NOT A GOOD SIGN

Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview – 24 March 2015, 13:04

Interview with Gaidz Minassian, expert in French Center for Strategic Studies

A few days ago Serzh Sargsyan expressed his concerns about the sale of
Russian weapons to Azerbaijan which was followed by border tension. Do
you see a link between these two events?

Indirectly, there is a link, directly, I don’t think so, because the
incidents at the border cannot be organized overnight, it would take
some time because the Azerbaijanis cannot be aware of the Armenian
president’s agenda and statements beforehand. I don’t think there
is a direct link. The Azerbaijanis are doing everything to spoil
relations between Russia and Armenia. They use every opportunity and
Russian weapons to cause issues between Russia and Armenia. This is
the reality.

How would you explain why Serzh Sargsyan had not been invited to
Astana to discuss issues relating to the Eurasian Economic Union with
other three member states? Don’t they consider Armenia an EEU member
or maybe a lot of things have changed in the foreign policy of Armenia?

There are no important changes in the foreign policy of Armenia. I
am surprised that the Armenian president was not attending the Astana
summit of the EEU member states, and that’s not a good sign. Armenia
has hardly joined this union and now it was not invited to the summit.

This question needs to be asked to the Armenian government. I think
Armenia is doing everything to have good relations with Russia and
the EU. In other words, the stronger the tension between Russia
and the EU, the worse it will be for Armenia, and the better these
relations, the better it will be for Armenia. At this moment, it is
not known whether Armenia will attend the Eastern Partnership summit
in Riga and whether the political part of the EU-Armenia Association
Agreement will be signed, considering that Armenia is mostly busy
with the preparations of the Centenary of the Genocide.

European officials attending the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in
Yerevan noted that Armenia which is already a member of the EEU should
suggest the extent to which it wants to cooperate with the EEU. Does
this mean that Europe has a softer approach and accepts the “both”
policy adopted by Armenia. Is it possible?

Armenia has already joined the EEU, and what we hear from the side
of Europe, we can hear that from Riga, Poland, as well as the head
of the EU Delegation to Armenia, does not mean that the leading
EU member states agree to the idea of signing a new agreement with
Armenia. Many people may express their opinions but the decisions are
made by Germany, France and the United Kingdom. If the key officials
of these countries announce that such an agreement must be signed with
Armenia, we will be sure that such an agreement will be signed. France
and Germany conduct a responsible policy on Russia but there are EU
member states, such as the Baltic States and Poland which conduct
a radical policy on Russia. These countries are afraid of Russia’s
influence and they are doing everything to withdraw the ex-Soviet
states from Russian influence, and they use the opportunity to make
relevant statements.

In your opinion, does Armenia have a future in the EEU, considering
the problems facing Russia, as well as the reluctance of Kazakhstan
and Belarus to welcome Armenia to the EEU.

I would put this question with a different wording. Is there hope
that the EEU will survive as an organization. After the collapse
of the Soviet Union the Russians created another union which did
not achieve any results. Why would be believe that the EEU will be
established and have a future?

I don’t believe that this union will have a free, quiet and positive
future. Surely, Belarus, Kazakhstan will do everything to retain their
sovereignty, and we don’t know what Putin is going to do. Now they want
to have a common currency. Let’s wait and see what they will achieve.

However, Armenia seems to be left out of this currency zone. What is
the reason?

I don’t know, we need to ask the Armenian government whether Armenia
is dissatisfied with this union, whether Armenia can express its
dissatisfaction with not attending that summit. These questions must
be addressed to the Armenian government which has announced that
Armenia has nothing to do with the meeting in Astana. On the other
hand, there is nothing important there because Nalbandyan is so fond
of such meetings which do not produce any results for Armenia.

More importantly, very interesting things are happening in the region.

In particular, Serzh Sargsyan resists Russia, expecting new external
developments. Besides, Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey oil and gas
cooperation is considered, and it is interesting to see how Russia
will react to them.

From: Baghdasarian