Author: Frangulian Shushan

The Independent - UK
January 1, 2018 Monday
Is Mourinho to blame for Mkhitaryan's woes?
by LAWRENCE OSTLERE
Henrikh Mkhitaryan stared after the ball, his eyes narrowing as it
bounced. Manchester United had been on a breathless counter-attack,
Marcus Rashford's legs in fast-twitch mode as he dribbled at two
remaining Southampton defenders. He had sprayed a pass left to
Mkhitaryan before sprinting to the penalty area, urging for a return
which never arrived.
What followed instead was a wild cross, landing 30 yards from its
target. Mkhitaryan briefly stood still on the Old Trafford pitch and
watched the ball run away towards a tower of supporters groaning and
cursing. He seemed to analyse, before jutting his tongue into his
cheek a little rebelliously and turning away. We can't know what
Mkhitaryan was thinking at that moment, 20 minutes into Saturday's
goalless draw, but it looked like the face of a man who was thoroughly
fed up.
The Armenian has been a peripheral figure this season and looks likely
to depart in January, perhaps returning to Borussia Dortmund, only 18
months after he was announced as one of Jose Mourinho's first
statement signings. Which raises a question - how has it come to this?
Mkhitaryan arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2016 for £30m - a
sizable sum before PSG's Neymar apocalypse. At 27 he was at the height
of his powers, the reigning Bundesliga players' player of the year
switching to the Premier League. At his unveiling Mourinho hailed a
versatile goalscorer with the ability to create chances and goals,
blessed with athleticism and intelligence - in short, the complete
supporting forward.
He has shown glimpses of that brilliance in the intervening season and
a half, enough to know that the player who starred in Shakhtar
Donetsk's irresistible title-winning team and ripped through defences
in Germany has not simply evaporated away.
But he is also thoughtful and astute, a polyglot who studied economics
and law; he has spoken of the importance of his father and idol,
Hamlet, a successful striker whose death at 33 had a profound impact
on the seven-year-old Henrikh. Mkhitaryan gives the impression of
holding a talent to be nurtured, to be coaxed rather than demanded. It
is clear he has it within him to play at United's level; what is less
clear is whether Mourinho has it within himself to rouse it.
In the days after Mourinho's second Chelsea reign ended in the sack,
Jon Obi Mikel gave a revealing interview. He was asked how the new
manager, Guus Hiddink, had positively impacted the squad. "It's the
way he communicates with the players," the midfielder responded.
"Maybe that's what the players felt they didn't get from the previous
manager. Sometimes players - not just because they're not playing -
you need to communicate with them. You need to speak to them and don't
just ignore them because players like to be communicated to."
Mikel conjures an image of an unapproachable manager, a far cry from
the story Frank Lampard tells of the day Mourinho told him in the
shower that he was the best midfielder in the world and he believed
it. That was 2005, and somewhere along the way Mourinho changed. It is
hard to pinpoint an exact moment, but his return to English football
has felt altogether different; the manager who emotionally embraced a
crying Marco Materazzi on his departure from Inter seems some distance
away now - would any player shed tears for this Mourinho?
Perhaps Mkhitaryan is to blame for his own struggles. Perhaps he
failed to adapt - but it was Mourinho who said his new signing was a
perfect fit for the Premier League. Perhaps Mkhitaryan hasn't tried
hard enough - but this is a player with a reputation for an
exceptional work ethic, whose former manager Jürgen Klopp once said:
"There's a reason why the world's best chess players come from Armenia
like Mkhitaryan. They're thinkers, they're hard workers, they graft."
Managers have been letting players falls by the wayside for years and
this is nothing new for Mourinho, who has experienced relationship
breakdowns far more damaging than this one. But it does not reflect
well that one of his marquee signings is already on the verge of
departing in failure, the Old Trafford groan ringing in his ears,
looking forlorn and fed up.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Friday
Armenian President: NSS should work as a good clock mechanism - 24
hours 7 days a week
Yerevan December 22
Marianna Mkrtchyan. The National Security Service of Armenia should
work as a good clock mechanism - 24 hours 7 days a week. This was
stated by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the solemn
meeting dedicated to the Day of the National Security Officer.
The president stated that in the rooms of the staff of the structure
the light burns until late in the evening. And, in this context, he
added that he is perfectly aware of everything, since he is focusing
on issues related to the national security of the country. "I am sure
that the NSS staff fulfill their obligations with high responsibility
and professionalism. Our course, our steps to confront the existing
challenges were consonant with positive results, but we should not be
satisfied with the achievements in the sphere of National Security .It
is obvious that internal and external challenges are not are reduced,
but on the contrary they become more multifaceted and sometimes even
disguised, "the Armenian leader said, and in this context stressed
that the current international and regional military-political leader
The situation remains tense.
According to him, Armenia is involved in this large-scale and
consolidated process, both from the point of view of ensuring its own
security and ensuring guarantees of cooperation with other states with
partners.
At the same time, the Armenian President stated that due to timely
operational intelligence activities, the employees of the Organs
managed to prevent both terrorist threats and closely related criminal
manifestations. He also added that international experts, in the
coming years, do not predict a decline in terrorist threats. "From
this point of view, Armenia has always been considered a relatively
safe country, but we can not exclude that in connection with our
geopolitical situation, specific external environment and increasing
tourist flow, there will be forces that will try to encroach upon
Armenia's security. The fight against this evil in parallel with
vigilance is necessary to work closely with our allies and other
interested services. Our country will be open and tourism is one of
the key directions for the development of our economy Moreover, the
process of liberalizing the visa regime with a number of countries
will be of a long duration, therefore, you should always stay awake, I
believe that you must triple your efforts in the anti- terrorist
sphere and periodically improve methods and means of combating
terrorism, "he said. Sargsyan. At the same time, he stressed that one
of the priority issues on the agenda of the upcoming legislative body
will be a review of the current strategy to combat terrorism - with a
view to modernizing it, harmonizing with current needs and giving it
flexibility.
At the same time, the Armenian leader stressed that the experience of
combating one of the types of terrorism - cyber terrorism - showed
that the threats coming from this sphere also do not become less,
moreover, they show that it is necessary to take the problems of cyber
security more seriously, taking into account the importance , which is
acquired in the ordinary life of information and telecommunications
technology. According to him, this sphere is one of the leading in the
Armenian economy, where there is a serious potential and prospects.
"We have to protect both the physical and digital infrastructures of
our country from criminal forces, only in 2017 you stopped 1.5 million
attempts to hack and attack information structures and official
websites of government agencies. And we certainly are not talking
about microproblems. We are going to look for simple solutions,
restricting freedom of speech or the right to disseminate information.
In Armenia there will be no Internet censorship. I am convinced that
the society in Armenia is so mature that it can solve these
microproblems through self. National security structures must act
within international law and international best practice ", - he said,
and in this context the added importance of international cooperation
on this issue.
The Armenian leader also stressed the importance of providing the
information and communication infrastructure at the micro level.
According to him, the state databases and networks should be protected
in the best way, the interest to which from external criminal forces
is inevitable. Sargsyan believes that such encroachment can be both
from the countries-opponents and organized terrorist groups, and from
the part of individuals, so to speak, "partisans".
At the same time, the Armenian leader stressed that one of the
priorities of the National Security Service of Armenia continues to be
the increase of intelligence and counterintelligence activities.
According to him, it is necessary to work both inside the country, and
maybe abroad. "Summing up the results in this area allows us to talk
about success with some satisfaction, while the existing
military-political situation, the intelligence activity of the main
enemy and the constantly developing communication technologies force
us to be constantly vigilant." Threats that have a qualitatively new
essence require balanced measures of counteraction, "the Armenian
leader said.
He highly appreciated the work done to protect the state borders, and
stated that thanks to the vigilance of the border guards in this area,
positive results are fixed year after year.
At the same time, Sargsyan stated that in recent years the number of
attempts of illegal crossing of the state border by foreigners has
been increasing. "The increase in migration due to regional and global
processes makes it possible to predict that for the transition from
one country to another, different individuals and organizations will
seek new directions for illegal migration. This will also cause
unhealthy interest in our state with the Ministry of Defense and the
Police, to eliminate possible omissions that could facilitate illegal
border crossing, "he said. In Sargsyan's opinion, it is necessary to
take into account that in this matter the slightest omission can be
used by the enemy to carry out sabotage and reconnaissance
penetration.

                                        Friday, 
EU, Armenia Sign Landmark Deal
 . Harry Tamrazian
Armenia - Minister of Foreign Affair of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy Federica Mogherini sign the EU-Armenia agreement,
Brussels, 24 Nov, 2017
The European Union and Armenia signed an agreement aimed at
significantly deepening their relations at a ceremony in Brussels on
Friday held on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit.
Signatures to the document entitled the Comprehensive and Enhanced
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were put by High Representative of the
European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica
Mogherini and Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of European Council
President Donald Tusk and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian.
In her remarks after the signing of the document Mogherini said that
the CEPA "is based on our common commitment to democracy, human rights
and rule of law."
"This agreement is the first of this kind that is concluded with a
party that is also a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. It will
now be very important to implement it," the EU's foreign policy chief
said.
(From left to right) Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, Armenian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, High Representative of
the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica
Mogherini and President of the European Council Donald Tusk pose for a
photo after the signing of the EU-Armenia Agreement, Brussels, 24Nov.,
2017
Nalbandian, for his part, described the "wide-ranging and ambitious
document" as "our joint endeavor that opens a new chapter in the
bilateral relations between the Republic of Armenia and the European
Union."
"The Agreement establishes a solid legal basis for strengthening the
political dialogue, broadening the scope of economic and sectoral
cooperation, creating a framework for new opportunities in trade and
investments and increased mobility for the benefit of our citizens,"
the top Armenian diplomat said.
According to Nalbandian, "it is important that the Agreement reaffirms
the stated commitment of the European Union to support the efforts and
approaches of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the norms and
principles of international law, in particular, non-use of force or
threat of force, equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and
territorial integrity."
"Armenia is determined to further develop and strengthen a
comprehensive cooperation with the EU in all areas of mutual interest
based on this Agreement," Nalbandian stressed.
The ceremony became one of the focal points of the EU's Eastern
Partnership summit that brought together the leaders of six Eastern
European and South Caucasus nations in the Belgian capital on November
24.
Since the launch of the Eastern Partnership program in 2009 Russia has
regarded it as a potential threat to its geopolitical interests in the
post-Soviet territory.
In the case with Armenia, officials in both Yerevan and Brussels have
repeatedly stated that the deal does not contradict Yerevan's allied
relations with Moscow or jeopardize the South Caucasus nation's
membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led trade bloc
that also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Russian pressure exerted on Yerevan is widely believed to have
scuttled a more ambitious Association Agreement which Armenia and the
EU nearly finalized in 2013. President Sarkisian precluded that accord
with his unexpected decision to join the Russian-led customs union
less than three months before the planned initialing of the document.
Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) ahead of the
summit, President Sarkisian again denied any Russian pressure in
Armenia's dealings with the EU.
Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin told local Arminfo news
agency today that "Armenia is a sovereign nation" and "has the right
to participate in any pacts and associations that do not breach its
existing commitments."
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who also attended the
summit in Brussels, acknowledged Russia's "central role" in countries
like Armenia and Azerbaijan as she spoke to Deutsche Welle earlier on
Friday.
Unlike the Association Agreement that Yerevan negotiated but did not
sign with Brussels four years ago, the CEPA does not make Armenia part
of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area" with the EU. Still, the
350-page document commits Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic
laws and regulations to those of the European Union.
Sarkisian Hopes For `Productive' Discussions At Eastern Partnership Summit
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (R) at the European People's Party
summit in Brussels, 23Nov, 2017
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian expressed a hope for "productive"
discussions as he spoke ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit, which
opens in Brussels on November 24.
As part of his working visit to Belgium, the Armenian leader on
Thursday attended the summit of the European People's Party (EPP),
which was chaired by EPP President Joseph Daul.
The summit was also attended by European Council and European
Commission Presidents Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, President
of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, as well as the heads of
state and government representing EPP-member countries and Eastern
Partnership-member states.
The summit's discussions focused on topical issues of Pan-European
significance and preparations for the Eastern Partnership summit,
which will focus on issues of further strengthening cooperation in the
priority spheres as defined at the Riga Summit in 2015.
President Sarkisian delivered a speech at the EPP summit, in which,
according to his press office, he addressed "the agenda of EU-Armenia
cooperation and the dynamics of relationship development, the
importance of those issues of interest to Armenia to be discussed at
the EPP and Eastern Partnership summits in Brussels, the Comprehensive
and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the
European Union, as well as inter-party cooperation-related
activities."
The signing of the CEPA, an agreement aimed at significantly deepening
EU-Armenia relations, is expected to become the main event at the
Eastern Partnership summit today.
Sarkisian is also the leader of Armenia's ruling Republican Party
(HHK), which has been a member of the EPP with an observer status
since 2012. "The HHK's cooperation with the EPP has become one of the
most important platforms for Armenia's involvement in European
politics," Sarkisian stressed in his speech.
The Armenian leader also reportedly noted the November 15 resolution
of the European Parliament that qualifies Armenia as "a country which
successfully combines its Eurasian Economic Union membership with
participation in the EU Neighborhood Strategy." In this view,
Sarkisian gave assurances that "in the future as well, Armenia will
abide by the aforementioned formula of co-existence."
In his speech President Sarkisian also expressed a hope that
"tomorrow's discussions at the EU Eastern Partnership Summit will be
so productive as to make the joint initiatives more targeted, and the
results more visible and tangible for societies."
Pan-Armenian Charity Raises More Money To Support Karabakh
US/Armenia - Annual Telethon of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund,
23-24Nov,2017
In another Thanksgiving Day fundraiser a pan-Armenian charity has
raised over $12.5 million that it plans to mostly spend on the support
of agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Hayastan (Armenia) All-Armenian Fund received the donations and
pledges of donations during its annual 12-hour telethon broadcast from
Los Angeles, USA, on Thursday.
Hayastan raised almost $15.5 million during last year's televised
fundraiser earmarked for the reconstruction of war-ravaged communities
in Nagorno-Karabakh and other local infrastructure projects.
The focus of the 2017 telethon is support for two major
agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh: the drilling of
deep-water wells and construction of irrigation networks; and the
installation of solar power stations.
As always, sizable contributions have been provided by several ethnic
Armenian businessmen from the United States, Russia and Armenia. An
anonymous Armenian-American entrepreneur made the single largest
donation of $ 2.5 million. He was followed by Russian-Armenian tycoon
Samvel Karapetian, who donated $2.25 million. Armenia's
Copper-Molybdenum Plant donated $350,000, Armenia-based wealthy
business owner Samvel Aleksanian contributed $200,000 for the cause
and the Vardanian family donated $125,000. Valex Group donated
$100,000. Several families from the United States, Iran and Armenia
provided hefty donations ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Thousands
of Armenians from around the world also made smaller contributions
ranging from a few dollars to several thousand dollars.
Hayastan has implemented over $350 million worth of projects in
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh since its establishment in 1992. The
fund's current Board of Trustees is headed by President Serzh
Sarkisian and comprises other senior Armenian state officials,
Catholicos Garegin II as well as prominent representatives of Armenian
communities around the world.
In particular, in recent years the fund has partly financed the
construction of a second 116-kilometer-long highway connecting
Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.
Armenians `With Time' Will Feel Benefits Of Agreement With EU, Says Sarkisian
 . Harry Tamrazian
Belgium -- Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian gives an interview to
RFE/RL's Armenian Service, Brussels, 23Nov2017
Armenians will feel the benefits of their new accord with the European
Union "with time", President Serzh Sarkisian said hours before the
planned signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership
Agreement (CEPA) in Brussels.
The signing ceremony due today is expected to become one of the focal
points of the current EU Eastern Partnership Summit that brings
together leaders of six Eastern European and South Caucasus countries
that are members of the program launched in 2009.
RFE/RL Armenian Service Director Harry Tamrazian, who is reporting on
the summit from Brussels, asked Sarkisian late on Thursday about what
an ordinary citizen of Armenia would get from the planned accord.
"Perhaps [ordinary citizens] will not feel its benefits immediately,
but with time they will, because we are able to carry out reforms
quickly with the help of the European Union," said the Armenian
leader.
"We don't want to invent a bicycle, there are absolute truths, and we
should be guided with these truths. But in addition to internal
freedoms, Armenian citizens will get an opportunity of free travel to
Brussels, to Paris, to other European countries."
The CEPA, which was initialed by Armenia and the EU in March, commits
Armenia to reforming its institutions and strengthening human rights
protection with the assistance of the EU. The 350-page document does
not make Armenia part of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area",
but still commits Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic laws
and regulations to those of the EU.
Some analysts believe the CEPA will also provide Armenia with an
"alternative security direction."
"The word `alternative' is not correct here," said Sarkisian when
asked to comment on such opinions. "But, of course, especially in the
case of the main challenges threatening our security, the co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group [on Nagorno-Karabakh], and especially the United
States and Russia, have the same positions, and this is one of the few
issues on which they fully cooperate, as they declare
themselves. This, of course, is an achievement for us."
In 2013, Armenia was on track to sign a more ambitious association
agreement with the EU, but several months before the initialing of the
document, President Sarkisian stated about Yerevan's desire to become
a member of a trade bloc led by Russia, which effectively aborted
plans for a deep and comprehensive free trade area with the
EU. Sarkisian announced that decision during a meeting with Russian
President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, but denied any Russian pressure
was involved.
Last week the Armenian president also met with Putin in the Russian
capital. No references to the planned EU-Armenia deal were made at
that meeting, according to official publications.
In an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am)
Sarkisian again denied that Russia has ever meddled in Armenia's
dealings with the EU.
"Soon it will be ten years that I have served as president and before
that I occupied different [government] posts. I have never heard even
half a word from any Russian leader, especially from President Putin,
that would contain any reproach in terms of our cooperation with the
European Union," the Armenian leader underscored.
Sarkisian's second and final term as president expires in April
2018. According to constitutional changes approved in a 2015
referendum, Armenia has switched to a parliamentary form of
government, which potentially creates an opportunity for Sarkisian to
continue to govern the country as prime minister. Before the
constitutional reform Sarkisian pledged not to seek a top government
post after the expiry of his presidential powers, but in his later
public statements he has been less categorical on this account.
Asked whether he had any ideas about where he will be after the end of
his presidential term, Sarkisian said: "If I had an idea, I would have
already stated about it. I will speak about it when I do have an
idea."
EaP Summit `No Platform' For Discussing Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations
 . Rikard Jozwiak
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian in Brussels, 23Nov., 2017
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian believes that the current Eastern
Partnership (EaP) summit in Brussels is not "the right platform" where
relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be discussed and
resolved.
He said this in comments to RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent Rikard
Jozwiak ahead of the opening of the biennial event bringing together
leaders of six Eastern European and South Caucasus nations cooperating
with the EU under a program launched in 2009.
This year's summit in Brussels could also see clashes over the
gathering's final declaration, according to EU diplomats familiar with
the talks.
One paragraph concerning conflicts in the region has been left open
after both Armenia and Azerbaijan wanted specific, but conflicting,
statements on Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a draft text seen by
RFE/RL.
"Azerbaijan can push difficult language, but who will accept that?"
Sarkisian said, adding that he did not see obstructions to the final
declaration.
"I don't think this Eastern Partnership summit is the right platform
where our relations with Azerbaijan should be discussed," he added.
The Armenian leader emphasized that it is the Organization for
Cooperation and Security in Europe's Minsk Group and its co-chairs
(represented by the United States, Russia and France) that deal with
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. "The EU has extended its full supports to
the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group [co-chairs]. And we are fully
content with that," Sarkisian concluded.
The current text of the declaration reads: "The summit participants
call for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of
conflicts in the region on the basis of the principles and norms of
international law."
It adds that "the resolution of the conflicts, building trust and good
neighborly relations are essential to economic and social development
and cooperation."
EU diplomats told RFE/RL that they wanted neutral wording in the
statement and to omit any mention of specific conflicts in the Eastern
Partnership countries, citing squabbles between Baku and Yerevan over
the 2015 declaration that delayed the summit by several hours.
Sarkisian Lauds New EU-Armenia Accord
BELGIUM -- Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian arrives for an EU
Eastern Partnership summit with six eastern partner countries at the
European Council in Brussels, 
The new agreement between Armenia and the European Union is "our joint
achievement" that can become "a positive precedent for other
cooperation projects", Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian stated on
Friday as he attended an Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels.
"We consider 2017 as, indeed, one of the important milestones in the
quarter-century-long history of the relations between Armenia and the
EU, which is signified today under the framework of this Summit by
signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. It is
a comprehensive document that reflects the significant developments of
the recent period of our collaboration and defines the guidelines that
are necessary to deepen these relations," Sarkisian said, as quoted by
his press office.
The agreement known as the CEPA commits Armenia to reforming its
institutions and strengthening human rights protection with the
assistance of the EU. The 350-page document does not make Armenia part
of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area", but still commits
Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic laws and regulations to
those of the EU.
"This Agreement is not merely a legal document, but a reflection on
the wealth of values of human rights and fundamental freedoms that we
share. Important elements of the strengthening of democracy such as
rule of law, consolidation of judiciary, development of public and
social institutes, good governance are the core of this Agreement. The
efficient realization of these elements is of vital importance for our
nation in order to implement successfully the envisaged reforms. It is
exactly the development based on these shared values that ensures the
long-lasting and sustainable development for any responsible member of
the international community," the Armenian leader said shortly before
the official signing ceremony scheduled for the evening.
According to Sarkisian, the importance of the Agreement is not limited
to just Armenia-EU relations. "Many of our international counterparts
describe Armenia as a nation that brings various integration processes
closer to each other, a nation that is led by the desire to reconcile
and complement interests in the spirit of cooperation and
cohabitation, and it is something that seriously obliges us to meet
the expectation," he said.
Sarkisian went on to say that Armenia is one of those EU partners that
have managed to "almost fully implement commitments undertaken in
2015" under the Joint Declaration of the Riga Summit. "We believe that
Armenia's determination in this process, as well as the determination
of our EU partners will soon result in further bringing our societies
closer together, for which, of course, launching of the visa
liberalization dialogue would be of great significance," he said.
In his statement, Sarkisian scolded his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham
Aliyev who, he claimed, "has voiced ill-grounded accusations against
Armenia."
"As much as the Azerbaijani side may try to distort and misinterpret
the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its peaceful
settlement, the conflict has to be settled on the basis of three
principles of international law: the non-use of force or threat of
force, territorial integrity and the peoples' right to
self-determination as proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,
which is the only structure vested with an international mandate," the
Armenian president emphasized.
"The position of the international community on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is reflected in the statements issued by the leaders of the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries. In this context, any solution to
the conflict without the exercise of Nagorno-Karabakh people's right
to self-determination is simply impossible."
Armenia and Azerbaijan have reportedly been at odds over language in
the final declaration of the summit concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. One
paragraph concerning conflicts in the region had been left open for
the two South Caucasus neighbors to agree on compromise wording.
EU diplomats told RFE/RL that they wanted neutral wording in the
statement and to omit any mention of specific conflicts in the Eastern
Partnership countries, citing squabbles between Baku and Yerevan over
the 2015 declaration that delayed the summit by several hours.
The current text of the final declaration reads: "The summit
participants call for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful
settlement of conflicts in the region on the basis of the principles
and norms of international law." It adds that "the resolution of the
conflicts, building trust and good neighborly relations are essential
to economic and social development and cooperation."
Final Declaration At EaP Summit Omits Mention Of Karabakh
 . Rikard Jozwiak
BELGIUM -- A general view shows political leaders sitting at the round
table for an EU Eastern Partnership summit with six eastern partner
countries at the European Council in Brussels, 
European Union leaders and six former Soviet republics have swiftly
agreed on a final joint declaration of their Eastern Partnership (EaP)
summit in Brussels, avoiding a repeat of the squabbling between
Armenia and Azerbaijan that triggered delays at the last summit two
years ago.
The final declaration, published on the European Council's website,
does not mention any specific conflicts in the region, including the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
But it states that the "summit participants remain deeply concerned
about the continued violations of principles of international law in
many parts of the region."
It adds that they welcome "the EU's strengthened role in conflict
resolution and confidence building in the framework or in support of
existing agreed negotiating formats and processes, including through
field presence, when appropriate."
That language was enough to secure approval from Armenia and
Azerbaijan. The two neighbors, who have been locked in a decades-long
standoff over Nagorno-Karabakh, clashed over the final text of the
declaration at the 2015 summit in Riga.
The final text of this year's declaration features the same language
as the Riga declaration concerning the potential future EU accession
of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, each of which have signed
Association Agreements with the 28-member bloc.
It states that "the summit participants acknowledge the European
aspirations and European choice of the partners concerned, as stated
in the association agreements."
The EU launched the Eastern Partnership in 2009 to promote economic
integration and European values in six Eastern European and South
Caucasus countries.
The summit's main event will likely be the signing of an enhanced EU
partnership deal with Armenia. That pact, however, omits free trade
and is less ambitious than the Association Agreements secured by
Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Like those three countries, Armenia previously negotiated an EU
Association Agreement. But Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian walked
away from the deal in 2013 under apparent pressure from Russia, and
Armenia later joined the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
However, Sarkisian told RFE/RL's Armenian Service upon arrival in
Brussels on November 23 that there was no contradiction between
Yerevan's EU partnership and its EEU membership.
"By signing this agreement we're saying that indeed it is possible to
be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and also be a member of the
Eastern Partnership," Sarkisian said.
He added that he has "never heard from any Russian leader, and
especially from President Vladimir Putin, so much as a word of
reproach about Armenia's cooperation with the EU."
Press Review
Armenian media focus on the signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the European Union
scheduled at the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels on Friday.
"Haykakan Zhamanak" stresses that "the signing of the document clearly
meets Armenia's interests as it presents a serious counterbalance to
Armenian-Russian relations that pose a threat to Armenian
sovereignty." The paper at the same time warns that Armenia's failure
to sign the document this time around will spell an end to its
independent statehood and will reduce it to a "Russian province".
"Zhamanak" reports that Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria
Zakharova stated at a news briefing on Thursday that Moscow treats the
EU-Armenia agreement with respect. "It means or at least should mean a
major guarantee that the agreement will be signed," the daily writes,
adding that "however historic the new accord between Yerevan and
Brussels may be, it won't change Armenia's life automatically, but the
country should be able to benefit from the opportunities offered by
it."
In an interview with "Aravot" political analyst Suren Sargsian
excludes the possibility that some wording in the new accord could
make Armenia refuse to sign it. "There is no wording that cannot be
rephrased so as to satisfy both or all parties," he explains. In this
view, the analyst does not rule out some "ambiguous wording" that can
be interpreted differently by the two sides.
(Tigran Avetisian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

`                                       Wednesday, 
3 Armenian Soldiers Killed, One Wounded In Anti-Tank Mine Explosion In
Karabakh
Armenia - An Armenian soldier on combat duty on the border with
Azerbaijan, 30Dec2015.
Three servicemen of Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian army have been
killed and another one was seriously wounded in a mine explosion
reported at one of the military units stationed in the northeastern
direction of the line of contact with Azerbaijan's armed forces.
Nagorno-Karabakh's Ministry of Defense said the incident occurred on
Tuesday evening. It identified the killed servicemen as 22-year-old
leutenant Gegham Zakarian, 19-year-old private Sargis Abrahamian and
20-year-old private Sargis Melikian.
Nineteen-year-old private Narek Hoveyan is currently being treated by
doctors, his condition is assessed as heavy, the source said.
"Investigation is underway to establish the circumstances of the
incident," the Nagorno-Karabakh military said.
Armenia's Investigation Committee also said that one of its units is
investigating the circumstances of the Karabakh servicemen's death.
In a statement it said that the servicemen were blown up by an
anti-tank mine while carrying out engineering work.
The Investigation Committee said a criminal case has been instituted
on the hallmarks of a penal code article dealing with "breach of rules
for handling weapons, ammunition# that negligently caused the death of
two or more persons."
Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovannisian also confirmed
that the case was not a consequence of "direct enemy impact".
The latest deadly incident in Nagorno-Karabakh comes shortly after a
regional tour by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who visited
Baku and Yerevan on November 19-21 for talks with the political
leaderships of Azerbaijan and Armenia that also focused on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
Armenian Government To Subsidize New Water Tariff Rise
 . Anush Muradian
Armenia -- A session of the Public Services Regulatory
Commission. 22Nov., 2017
A public utilities regulator has approved a second water tariff rise
within just over a year sought by a French company that became
Armenia's single operator in late 2016. This time, however, the
increase will be subsidized by the Armenian government for a year.
The French company, Veolia Djur, had formally asked the Public
Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) to raise the tariff from 180
drams to 194.3 drams (some 40 U.S. cents) per cubic meter for the vast
majority of consumers. The PSRC on Wednesday decided to partly satisfy
the French company's request.
Garegin Baghramian, the head of the PSRC's Tariff Policy Department,
said the water tariff will be increased by 11.4 drams - to 191.4 drams
per cubic meter. (According to the current exchange rate, one
U.S. dollar is about 485 Armenians drams). The new tariff will become
effective from January 1, 2018.
On November 2, Prime Minister Karen Karapetian instructed the State
Water Committee (SWC) head to submit a proposal to the government on
how to keep the existing retail water tariff if a new rise is
approved.
At today's session of the PSRC a representative of the SWC and the
Commission's head announced that the government will fulfill its
promise and during 2018 consumers in Armenia will continue to pay 180
drams per cubic meter of water.
"The difference between the current tariff and the tariff to be
applied from January 1 should be subsidized at the expense of lease
payments," said Armen Sergoyan, head of the SWC's Water Supply and
Drainage Systems Department.
PSRC Chairman Robert Nazarian said: "Certainly the tariffs for our
consumers will remain at the same level as they are today. I think the
State Water Committee will submit a relevant draft decision to the
Government at one of its upcoming sessions and it will be adopted."
The regulators already sanctioned a nearly 6 percent rise in the water
price last December. The PSRC head told Veolia Djur representatives at
that time to "operate in a way that will preclude further tariff
increases." He said the Armenian subsidiary of France's Veolia utility
group must specifically crack down on "illegal water consumers."
Veolia Djur General Manager Christian Lefaix was also present at
today's meeting. Addressing him, Nazarian noted that there are
numerous shortcomings in terms of water consumption volumes, which
have also been revealed as a result of a relevant monitoring. "I
should ask Mr. Lefaix today to use all his reserves and potential in
this direction and do everything possible so that we do not raise the
tariffs due to the volume of water consumption," the PSRC head said.
Armenia's drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities are run
by Veolia in accordance with a 15-year management contract which it
signed with the Armenian government in November last year.
Before that the French company for a decade managed the water and
sewerage network of Yerevan. It significantly improved water supply in
the Armenian capital in that period not least because of capital
investments made in the aging network.
In a November 2016 statement, Veolia said that it will attract $200
million in funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development and the German development bank KfW over the next four
years for similar infrastructure upgrades across the country. "By 2030
the entire population of Armenia will thus be supplied with drinking
water [around the clock] thanks to Veolia," said the statement.
Armenian Students, Officials Hold `Roundtable' On Military Service Law
 . Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - Participants of a roundtable discussion on the new law on
military service observe a minute of silence in honor of killed
soldiers, Yerevan,22Nov,2017
Leaders of a student movement against controversial restrictions of
the right to draft deferments have met with Armenian parliament
members and government officials on Wednesday in a `roundtable
discussion' that was promised to them in exchange for the halt in
their street protests last week.
The restrictions sought by the Ministry of Defense were approved by
the Armenian National Assembly on November 15 and will become law upon
signing by President Serzh Sarkisian.
Under the legislation, in order to get a draft deferment all male
students who want to pursue their studies must sign contracts with the
Ministry of Defense and agree to serve three years in the military
after completing their studies at the location chosen by the
Ministry. Otherwise, the legislation stipulates, the students will be
drafted to the army once they attain the age of 18 to serve for two
years.
Critics of the legislation argue that the measure will discourage
students from pursuing scientific careers and will eventually harm the
development of science in the country. Proponents of the law,
including Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian, see no such risks. They
point out that the law will give a fairer treatment to all students
and will reduce corruption by closing a key loophole to avoiding
compulsory military service.
Armenia - University students protest in Yerevan against government
plans to abolish military draft deferments, 7Nov2017.
David Petrosian, one of the leaders of the student group, "For Science
Development", that spearheaded weeklong rallies and a boycott of
classes that involved hundreds of students from Yerevan State
Universities as well as some other schools of higher learning, told
lawmakers and representatives of the ministries of defense and
education today that instead of "taking the university to the army"
they suggest "bringing the army into the university."
In particular, students came up with two proposals that still need to
be discussed by government representatives and lawmakers. They
recommended that the government work out a flexible draft deferment
policy that will help develop the science and education system, will
ensure the continuity of the education process and at the same time
will exclude corruption.
Petrosian also proposed that students be engaged in military service
during their bachelor's degree studies in universities.
"We distribute 18-month-long service during the four-year bachelor's
degree studies, and we get about four months of service during a year
with two-month periods. This allows us not to take the university to
the army, but to bring the army into the university. The principle of
the continuity of students' education will not be violated and at the
same time students will participate in the service. It means that for
four years students will be in service, at the same time they will
continue their education in the university," Petrosian said.
Deputy Defense Minister Artak Zakarian noted that the proposed type of
service is now applied in Switzerland, which he said is a country
where there is no threat of war.
As for master's degree studies, students suggest that military service
be continued for six more months during post-graduate studies.
The general approach shown by government representatives was that the
problem is not connected with the law, which was adopted in parliament
last week, and that all issues should be regulated by government
decisions and sub-legislative acts.
"We can state that there is a problem and that the discussion has been
a successful one, because we hear each other, because from both sides
there are common approaches and the desire to give a more
comprehensive and full solution to the problem. And these mechanisms
are now to be set out in government decisions and sub-legislative
acts. Let's start to work with the government together to make your
recommendations documented so that they can be reflected in government
decisions and sub-legislative acts. This is my suggestion. The ball is
in the government's court now," said Deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard
Sharmazanov, who represents the ruling Republican Party of Armenia.
Among those participating in the discussions was also Armenia's
Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtchian.
Before the start of the roundtable its participants observed a
minute's silence in honor of three Armenian servicemen who were killed
in an anti-tank mine explosion while carrying out engineering work in
Nagorno-Karabakh last night.
Tashir Considers Construction Of Hydro-Power Plant In Southern Armenia
 . Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia -- Vice President of Tashir group Karen Darbinian. 22Nov.,
2017
The Tashir group of companies, which has pledged to invest $872
million in Armenian electricity grids in the next ten years, is going
to make large-scale investments also in the electricity generation
sector, a representative said.
Besides a hydro-power plant in Shnogh, which is in the northeast of
Armenia, the company considers the possibility of building an HPP also
in Meghri, which is in the extreme south of the country.
At a press conference on Wednesday Tashir's Vice President Karen
Darbinian did not give further details regarding the possible
hydro-power plant construction in Meghri. "This is at the stage of
discussions. It is very likely that in the future Tashir will make
investments also in the field of electricity production," he said.
On November 13, Tashir announced that on the river Debed it will build
a 120 MW hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of up to 460
million kilowatts per year, which will provide about 6 percent of
Armenia's total demand in electricity.
Tashir Group, which is owned by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel
Karapetian, owns the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) and the
Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant, which it acquired from the Russian Inter
RAO Company in October 2015. Besides, Tashir, in fact, also owns
Armenia's largest solar power plant, Arexim, with a capacity of 0.5
MW, which was inaugurated in the Armenian town of Tsaghkadzor in
September.
In August, by the government's decision, the High-Voltage Electric
Networks state company was handed over to the management of Tashir for
a period of five years with the possibility of prolongation. Due to
this company it is possible to export large volumes of electricity
from Armenia or to import electricity to the country.
In this regard, Darbinian said: "No specific strategy has been
outlined yet, but, of course, we will also be engaged in export. The
export of electricity is a very important factor for Armenia in terms
of energy security."
As for the investment of about $900 million in the ENA, the company
says it will be made during a period of 10 years, by 2028. Tashir says
it will attract half of the sum from the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank and the
Eurasian Development Bank. The other half will be provided from
Tashir's own means.
According to Darbinian, 80 percent of the equipment needed for the
modernization of the ENA will be produced in Armenia, and Tashir will
invest about $100 million to establish relevant enterprises. He said
that two years ago when Tashir took over the ENA, losses in the power
grid made 13.3 percent. Now, he said, they have been reduced to 8.7
percent.
According to ENA Director General Karen Harutiunian, about a thousand
jobs will be cut as a result of the modernization of the network that
currently employs about 7,300 workers. Over the past two years 900
workers were also discharged from the ENA, but the company kept paying
100 percent of their salaries for the first year and 50 percent of
their salaries for the second.
Press Review
Armenian media analyze the statements made during yesterday's joint
press conference of the Armenian and Russian foreign ministers, Edward
Nalbandian and Sergei Lavrov, in Yerevan.
"Past" writes: "In fact, the Russian side has come to a point where,
unable to get a solution according to its own scenario, it has decided
to revert to an old status quo, which is to `freeze' the conflict
until it is again suitable for it to deal with the matter." The paper
suggests, however, that it will not be possible to return at least to
the point that existed before April 2016 when the deadliest
Armenian-Azerbaijani fighting since the 1994 ceasefire took place.
"Zhamanak" suggests that with its trilateral interaction with Turkey
and Azerbaijan in recent years Russia has sought a new situation in
the Karabakh settlement process, expecting to deploy in the conflict
zone a Russian or Russian-led peacekeeping force. "But either
Azerbaijan hurried with the April 2016 war or the Armenian armed
forces proved much more combat-ready than Moscow and Baku thought, and
the matter did not go as far as the deployment of Russian
peacekeepers," the daily concludes.
"Haykakan Zhamanak" writes: "Armenian media and expert circles readily
picked up on Lavrov's statement that there is no cause for `too much
optimism' over a speedy resolution of the conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh. This was perceived as a statement made in favor of
preserving the status quo. Lavrov's statement in Baku that Russia, the
United States and France have the same position in the Karabakh
settlement was perceived the same way. But the paper reminds its
readers that the last time the international mediators lost their
optimism as a result of which they for a long time could not organize
direct talks between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, a
large-scale Azerbaijani offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh happened."
(Elen Chilingarian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org