Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

IT’S EARLY TO TALK ABOUT RESTORING ABKHAZIAN RAILWAY, GEORGIAN PM SAYS

YEREVAN, July 3./ARKA/. The Abkhazian railway will definitely
re-open, but as of now it is too early to speak about it, Georgian
prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili told reporters on Wednesday,
Novosti-Armenia reported referring to RIA Novosti.

“Of course, the railway should open, and it will. This railway will
improve the relations with the Abkhazians and economy. But very often,
what is good for economy is bad for politics. I think, this issue is
too politicized. The restoration of the railway may occur when this
issue doesn’t raise so much ado anymore,” Ivanishvili said.

Late October 2012, reintegration minister of Georgia Paata
Zaqareishvili declared that the Georgian authorities were ready to
restore the railway connection with Russia. The experts estimated
this initiative at over 1.8 billion rubles.

During his visit to Yerevan in January 2013, Ivanishvili said
the Abkhazian railway might be restored after Georgia and Russia
agree on a number of issues. The railway was closed following the
Georgian-Abkhazian conflict of 1992-1993.

In response to this, Georgian president Mikheil Sahakashvili said
the restoration of the Abkhazian railway was primarily within the
interests of Russia rather than Georgia, and that issue would be
considered after the territorial integrity of Georgia is confirmed,
“as if Georgia restores the railway, it will actually mean we have
legitimized the recognition of Abkhazia by Russia.”-0-

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

‘WE AND OUR REGION’ PROJECT: CULTURAL DAYS OF ARAGATSOTN TO TAKE PLACE IN GYUMRI

12:10 03/07/2013 ” CULTURE

Cultural Days of Aragatsotn province of Armenia will take place in
Armenia’s second-largest city of Gyumri on July 3 and 4 as part of
‘We and Our Region’ project, Armenian Culture Ministry has told
Panorama.am.

More than 40 youths from 11 cultural institutions of Ashtarak,
Aparan, Talin, Oshakan, Ujan, Voskevaz, Sasunik, Aragatsavan and Kosh,
Aragatsotn province, are involved in the project.

An exhibition of paintings and decorative applied works will be
organized within the framework of the Cultural Days of Aragatsotn. A
gala concert of musicians and dancing ensembles from Aragatsotn will
take place at the end of the program.

This year, Gyumri will be the host city of Cultural Days due to its
title of CIS Cultural Capital City for 2013.

‘We and Our Region’ project was launched by Armenian Culture Ministry
in 2008. The project aims to boost cultural life in Armenian provinces
and to contribute to cultural cooperation between the provinces
and Yerevan.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

LESS ARMENIAN OFFICIALS ATTEND US INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT THIS YEAR

12:25 ~U 03.07.13

The traditional Independence Day celebration, held annually by the
US Embassy in Yerevan, saw fewer Armenian officials, activists and
public figures this year.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and President of the National Assembly
Hovik Abrahamyan did not attend the Tuesday reception ceremony devoted
to the 237th anniversary of US Independence, Tert.am has learned
from the Embassy’s press office. Instead, other cabinet members and
lawmakers from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia participated
in the event together with Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and First
Lady Rita Sargsyan.

As for Prosperous Armenia party (PAP, which was formerly in the
governing coalition), only its leader, Gagik Tsarukyan, and secretary
of its parliamentary faction, Naira Zohrabyan, were in attendance.

Former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan (who now represents the PAP
faction in parliament) was not present either, though he was reported
to be in Armenia.

The event was also attended by members of the parliamentary opposition
and extra-parliamentary parties.

According to a press release by the Embassy, Ambassador John Heffern
and FM Edward Nalbandian expressed high esteem of the US-Armenian
relations in their speeches.

The ambassador considered the maintenance of strong bilateral ties
a major development for this year. He particularly stressed the
importance of deepening economic relations, increasing the volumes
of investments and improving the business environment.

The diplomat welcomed the different organizations, individuals and
groups collaborating with the embassy, encouraging them to continue
the joint efforts.

The participants enjoyed country music by the Imagine Band group,
and country dance performances by the choreographic ensemble Nane.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

ARE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS SPOILED AGAINST PUTIN?

The feeling is that Russia is intentionally doing everything
to ruin its relations with Armenia. Igor Muradyan, for example,
thinks that a group of people in the Russian leadership is pursuing
the aforementioned goals, perhaps in order to prove the failure of
Putin’s foreign policy.

Anyway, this group seems to be close to its goal. All the recent
initiatives of Russia caused protests in Armenia. Like never
before, Armenians are sure that Russia is isolating Armenia from all
regional projects, Russia seizes all the infrastructures of Armenia,
it initiates a race of armaments in the region which will lead to a
new war. They are saying now that Russia has sold to Azerbaijan the
most terrible mass destruction weapon – Smerch.

Does Russia really want to ruin its relations with Armenia? Does Russia
have a common policy for Armenia? The impression is that everything is
done chaotically, proceeding from the interests of different groups
in Moscow. If Russia had a common policy for Armenia (it also means
a common policy for the larger region of Minor Asia), it would try
to strengthen Armenia instead of causing disgust towards Kremlin.

In Armenia, in answer to Russia’s policy, specific proposals are made,
such as withdrawal from the CSTO, demand to withdraw Russian military
bases from Armenia, abolish the agreement on strategic partnership
and nationalize infrastructures which now belong to Russia. There
is also a proposal to announce willingness to join NATO and the EU,
settle relations with Iran and put forth territorial claims to Turkey.

These proposals which are now voiced at the level of some politicians
and experts are gradually becoming logical answers to Russia. Moscow is
used to “unilateral” dependence of Armenia on Russia. It is believed
that Yerevan cannot present any claims to Moscow. But this is a
wrong opinion. Perhaps, claims have already been made, otherwise the
monsters of Russian military diplomacy Patrushev and Bordyusha would
not bother to visit Armenia.

The public opinion in Armenia is challenging Russia. If five years ago
over 90% of the Armenian population supported relations with Russia,
2 years ago 75%, recent studies found out the current percentage is 61.

It is not due to the pro-European policy of Armenia but the mediocre
policy of Russia, or rather the lack of policy altogether.

Another similar step, and it will be hard to save the relationship
between Armenia and Russia. It is already in danger. Questions are
asked to Russia from Karabakh which used to be the stronghold of the
Kremlin policy in the region.

Hardly anyone in Armenia would like to cut ties with Russia, and
the Russian leadership will hardly bring the matter up. Though,
unfortunately, the current steps of the Russian leadership do not seem
capable of rational assessment of the situation. But everyone needs
to understand that if relations between Armenia and Russia are ruined,
responsibility will be on the Kremlin and its current leadership.

Naira Hayrumyan 12:06 03/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

From: Baghdasarian

TIGRAN SARKISSIAN ACCUSE DE CORRUPTION

Le procureur general, Aghvan Hovsepian, a demande a son homologue
chypriote grec, mardi 2 juillet 2013, de l’aider a enqueter sur une
affaire de fraude : le Premier ministre Tigran Sarkissian serait
accuse de corruption.

L’affaire decoule du detournement presume par l’homme d’affaires,
Ashot Sukiasian, de quelques millions de dollars investis par un autre
entrepreneur, Paylak Hayrapetian. Sukiasian a ete accuse d’avoir vole
de l’argent par le biais d’une societe de Chypre.

La societe, Wlispera Holdings, est officiellement co-detenue par
Hayrapetian, ainsi que par Sarkissian et un religieux armenien
controverse. Sarkissian affirme qu’il a ete enregistre en son nom a
son insu.

Petros Clerides, le procureur general de Chypre, a ecarte la
possibilite d’un tel enregistrement frauduleux lors d’une interview
a RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am). Clerides a assiste lundi a une reunion
des principaux procureurs des Etats d’Europe et ex-URSS et a parle
separement a Hovsepian. Les deux hommes ont tenu une autre reunion
mardi.

Selon Sona Truzian, le porte-parole du Procureur general, Hovsepian a
remis a Clerides une lettre : ” Nous esperons que nous aurons bientôt
des reponses “.

mercredi 3 juillet 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

COOPERATION ENTRE L’ARMENIE ET LES ETATS-UNIS

” Les relations entre l’Armenie et les Etats-Unis sont de plus en
plus etroites “, a declare le president Serge Sarkissian mardi dans
une lettre adressee au president americain Barack Obama.

” Ces dernières annees, le partenariat entre nos pays a a ete
considerable, nous avons atteint un niveau sans precedent de
cooperation dans differents domaines. Les Etats-Unis nous soutiennent
et nous voulons continuer a cooperer “, a ecrit Sarkissian. Ce dernier
s’est egalement rendu a l’ambassade americaine a Erevan. S’adressant
a l’ambassadeur John Heffern et d’autres diplomates americains, il a
annonce qu’il considère ces liens etroits avec les Etats-Unis comme
” une aubaine ” pour le developpement economique de l’Armenie et de
la securite regionale. ” Il est donc tout naturel de renforcer ces
relations “, a-t-il ajoute lors d’un discours. ” Notre première
priorite ici en termes de renforcement de nos relations, c’est
l’economie … ” , a declare pour sa part Heffern.

Sarkissian a cherche a resserrer ses liens avec Washington tout au long
de son mandat. Obama a donne un enorme coup de pouce a la legitimite
internationale de Sarkissian quand il a felicite ce dernier pour
avoir remporte un second mandat lors de l’election presidentielle en
fevrier. ” Votre reelection est une opportunite pour faire avancer la
relation entre nos deux pays “, a declare Obama. Sarkissian n’avait
pas recu de message de felicitations du predecesseur d’Obama, George
W. Bush, lors de son election en 2008.

mercredi 3 juillet 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARKADY KARAPETYAN: “RUSSIA IS PREPARING NEW ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

APA, Azerbaijan
July 2 2013

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. “Russia is preparing a new genocide
against Armenia,” said first commander of Karabakh separatists
Arkady Karapetyan in his interview with “Karabakh-open” portal while
commenting on large arms sale by Russia to Armenia.

These arms aim to annihilate thousands of Armenians: “I don’t believe
that by selling weapons Russia is trying to maintain the balance in
Transcaucasia, on the contrary, it is boosting tension. It rather
balances the Russian military base which does not belong to Armenia.

I’m concerned over the acquisition of Smerch rockets by Azerbaijan.

Can you imagine what will happen if Smerch is used against Khankendi?

Thousands of people will die.”

Karapetyan said that Russia sells its T-72 tanks to Armenia and T-90
tanks to Azerbaijan: “Why aren’t they selling Smerch rockets, airplanes
and other types of weapons to us in order to keep the balance?”

Touching on Iskander ballistic missiles imported to Armenia, Karapetyan
noted that these missiles have been provided to the Russian base:
“If they gave them to us and trained local staff, that would
be different. Second, for example, Iskanders will be launched at
headquarters which may have been already dislocated during the war,
while Smerch is a direct threat to the population. One volley of
this missile will destroy 67 hectares. I think brotherly Russia is
preparing the Armenian genocide. I think when they say that it is
necessary to ensure the security of Armenia they mean the territories,
not people. State is not business, it is a higher value. Russia should
finally decide if it is a businessman or a serious state.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA WEIGHS FOREIGN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #693
July 2 2013

Some experts warn of dangers of getting too close to Moscow, others of
abandoning its protection.

By Vahe Harutyunyan – Caucasus

Armenia is under mounting pressure to choose between two different
directions – pursuing closer economic ties with the European Union, or
joining a customs union with other former Soviet states. Analysts in
the country warn that either choice could pose significant risks.

On June 24, Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan became the first senior
Armenian official to say it would make economic sense to join the
Customs Union, a grouping that currently consists of Russia, Belarus
and Kazakstan. He told the Regnum news agency that membership would
allow Armenia to buy natural gas and nuclear fuel at cheaper prices.

Of the other former states, Kyrgyzstan is hoping to join the Customs
Union next year and Tajikistan has also expressed an interest in
becoming a member. Moscow is hoping that the free-trade bloc will
become the basis for the Eurasian Union, a broader project which it
plans to launch in 2015. At this point, the Eurasian Union is still a
fairly vague concept, which Western officials see as an attempt by the
Kremlin to regain some of its lost influence.

Meanwhile, Traijan Hristea, head of the EU delegation in Armenia, told
journalists on June 24 that negotiations on a free trade deal were
almost completed. He said only a few technical matters needed to be
resolved before the agreement could be signed at a summit in Vilnius
in November.

However, any decision to move towards the Customs Union could derail
hopes of free trade and simplified visa arrangements with the EU.

“The European Union cannot sign a deep and comprehensive free trade
agreement with a country that is a member of the Russia-initiated
Customs Union,” Elmar Brok, chairman of the European Parliament’s
foreign affairs committee, said in an interview with RFE/RL in March.

“Not only Armenia, but other member states of the Eastern Partnership
project must make the choice.”

The Eastern Partnership links the EU with Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and current Customs Union member Belarus.

Speaking as US Secretary of State last December, Hillary Clinton,
expressed concern about Moscow’s intentions.

“There is a move to re-Sovietise the region,” she said at a meeting in
Dublin. “It’s not going to be called that. It’s going to be called
Customs Union, it will be called Eurasian Union and all of that. But
let’s make no mistake about it. We know what the goal is, and we are
trying to figure out effective ways to slow down or prevent it.”

Kremlin officials deny there is any master plan to restore Russian
dominance over the old Soviet Union, but analysts in Armenia say the
gas price hike, as well as a recent Russian arms sale to Azerbaijan,
are part of a deliberate policy of pushing Armenia to enter the
Customs Union.

The Russian-controlled monopoly firm that holds a monopoly over
natural gas sales in Armenia is raising its prices by 18 per cent from
July, in a move that will drive up electricity prices by an estimated
27 per cent. The steep increase has caused serious concern among
ordinary people – especially the third of the population who live in
poverty – as well as among businessmen concerned at its wider economic
effects. (See Gas Equals Power in Russian-Armenian Relations.)

Armenia has always seen Russia as a close ally, and Moscow maintains a
military presence in the country. In June, however, the Moscow
business daily revealed that the Russians were supplying tanks,
artillery and light armoured vehicles to Azerbaijan, a country that
Armenians have viewed as a threat since the Nagorny Karabakh war ended
in a fragile truce arrangement in 1994.

Commenting on the arms sales, Ruben Mehrabyan of the Armenian Centre
for Political and International Studies said, “It’s no secret that
Armenia is practically in a state of war with Azerbaijan, and the
Kremlin is doing this to demonstrate the leverage it has, and what it
can do in the region.”

Mehrabyan sees closer integration with the Moscow-led economic
grouping as a risky unknown.

“For Armenia as for any other country in the post-Soviet space, the
Eurasian Union presents a serious threat,” he said. “We can’t discuss
integration with this union since we don’t know what values it is
going to be based on. It might involve hierarchical obedience to
Moscow.”

Other analysts, however, say that if there is a choice to be made, it
has to be Russia.

“Relations with Europe and the United States cannot give Armenia what
it gets from relations with Russia,” Sergei Markedonov, a Russian
political analyst with the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies, said in an interview with the 1in.am web site. “It’s only
thanks to relations with Russia that Armenia is able to maintain
parity in the arms race with Azerbaijan, which possesses oil and gas
reserves. Europe and the United States don’t offer Armenia that
possibility.”

Aram Sargsyan, the last leader of Soviet Armenia and now head of the
small Democratic Party, said national security was by far the most
important issue, so that the partnership with Russia would always
trump any other.

“Armenia has signed a strategic partnership deal with Russia and
joined the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, which includes an
obligation to defend our country’s borders. The United States and the
European Union have not undertaken such an obligation,” he said. “And
that’s the key issue for us, as we border on Azerbaijan on the one
side, while on the other there’s Turkey, which has kept its frontier
closed for the last 20 years and refuses to recognise the Armenian
genocide of 1915.”

Artak Zakaryan, chairman of parliament’s foreign affairs committee and
a member of the ruling Republican Party, denied that Moscow was
putting any pressure on Armenia to join the Eurasian Union. Instead,
he told IWPR, that the government wanted to develop a “multi-vector”
foreign policy.

“We are of course closely monitoring the development of the Eurasian
Union situation. But it’s too early to draw any firm conclusions or to
set ourselves any goal,” Zakaryan told IWPR. “Armenia has not taken a
decision to enter the Eurasian Union. Yerevan is only looking into the
possibility of joining at the moment.”

Vahe Harutyunyan is a freelance journalist in Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

ANC-RI HOLDS DINNER MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN LANGEVIN

July 2, 2013

The Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Rhode Island has begun a
“summer district outreach” initiative to reach out to its federal
delegation. On June 24, a dinner meeting with Congressman James
Langevin and representatives of the ANC-RI took place on Providence’s
Historic Federal Hill.

Langevin, a Democrat, represents Rhode Island’s second district, and
has been a long time supporter and friend to the Armenian community.

He has received the ANC-RI’s endorsement in every election since being
elected in 2000. He is a ranking member of the House Armed Services
Committee, and serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence.

The June 24 discussion centered on U.S. recognition of the genocide,
including H.Res. 227-the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice
Resolution, currently before the House-as well as aid to Armenia and
Artsakh. The ANC-RI briefed the Congressman on the committee’s upcoming
initiatives and programs, and preparation for the 2014 election cycle.

“I want to thank the Armenian National Committee of Rhode Island
for a lively dinner discussion and for their continued support,”
said Langevin. “As we approach the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, it is important that we reflect on that tragedy and recognize
the strong spirit of the Armenian community. I hope my colleagues
in the House will approve the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice
Resolution this year.”

From: Baghdasarian

HEAD OF PROSHYAN VILLAGE COMMUNITY COMMEMORATED

21:16 ~U 02.07.13

A candle lighting ceremony was held on Tuesday in front of the Proshyan
village administration in commemoration of the head of the village
community Hrach Muradyan, who was murdered three months ago.

The locals told Tert.am that Hranch Muradyan, who was a Karabakh war
hero, planned the construction of a museum of the perished freedom
fighters that had lived in Proshyan. A khachkar (cross-stone) has
been brought to the ceremony, which will be set up atop Mount Aragats.

Attending the commemoration ceremony were also Hrach Muradyan’s
companions-in-arms, Chairman of the Supreme Body of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) Armen Rustamyan,
members of the ARF-D parliamentary group Artsvik Minasyan, Aghvan
Vardanyan and others.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian