Author: Kajoyan Gevork

RUSSIAN AIRBORNE TROOPS TO TAKE PART IN INTL EXERCISES IN 2012

Interfax
Jan 10 2012
Russia

The Russian Airborne Troops plan to hold a series of joint drills
with foreign military in 2012, said Airborne Troops Commander Lt. Gen.
Vladimir Shamanov.

“International cooperation will be broadened further. Joint war games
will be held in 2012 by Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian mechanized
infantry units. Russian paratroopers will participate in them at the
invitation of the Ukrainian Land Forces commander,” Shamanov said,
according to a statement received by Interfax-AVN.

Concurrently, a joint drill will be held in Russia’s Tula region with
Ukrainian paratroopers under a plan of cooperation with the Ukrainian
airmobile forces.

The Russian Airborne Troops in conjunction with the Collective
Operational Reaction Force will participate in a series of
international drills in 2012 within the framework of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty
Organization. One of them will take place in Armenia.

Shamanov said talks have been held with the U.S. military recently
on a joint counter-terror drill.

“Our specialists will go to the United States next year and spend a
week there practicing interoperability in tackling terror threats,”
Shamanov said.

“We will continue broadening the scope of the Russian Airborne Troops’
participation in international military exercises,” he said.

The Airborne Troops’ participation in the Center-2011 strategic
maneuvers was the largest event last year and it involved the 98th
airborne division and the 31st air assault brigade. The command-post
drill unfolded in Tajikistan. As part of a coalition grouping,
encompassing the Tajik, Kazakh and Armenian military, Russian
paratroopers practiced techniques of dealing with terror threats, and
planning and conducting operations to localize and destroy criminal
armed groups, said Shamanov.

CURRENT SYSTEM OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA ALLOWS THE AUTHORITIES TO MAINTAIN PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY EVEN IN CASE OF A CLEAN SWEEP OF OPPOSITION

arminfo
Wednesday, January 11, 18:07

In the current system of parliamentary elections in Armenia, the
opposition will find itself in the parliamentary minority even in
case of its clean sweep. Thus, if 70% of the voters vote for the
opposition, this will provide the opposition with 63 mandates, and
the coalition will have 27 mandates, but if we add to this figure
the majoritarian seats, which traditionally fall to the pro-power
politicians and oligarchs, then the number of the coalition’s mandates
will reach 68, Alexander Arzumanyan, ex-foreign minister of Armenia,
ex-representative of the oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC),
and currently member of the recently created party of Free Democrats,
said at today’s press conference.

He said that the present order of election to parliament (41
majority seats and 90 proportional seats) is the key mechanism of
electoral fraud. Arzumanyan thinks that the proposal of Heritage and
Dashnaktsutyun parties to switch to a 100% proportional system is
necessary and well-timed.

For his part, Artak Davtyan, MP from the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia, said that the switch from one system to another should not be
considered as a solution to the problem. Referring to the experience of
other countries, which have switched to the 100% proportional system,
Davtyan stressed that in this case a weak government is formed,
the ties with the voters are much weaker, and the representation of
the regions is also weak. In case of Armenia, the given system will
lead to prevalence of party interests over the state interests. “For
instance, Russia has witched to the proportional system, but the recent
parliamentary election followed by mass protest actions demonstrated
the inconsistency of the system”, Davtyan said.

The MP added that the changes proposed by the opposition should be
introduced with due regard for the voters’ opinion, i.e. such issues
should be put to referendum. Given that only 4 months are left before
the parliamentary election, the prospects for the switch to this
system seem to be vague.

To recall, in a press statement on Dec 27 the opposition Armenian
National Congress expressed its solidarity with the Heritage and ARFD
parties’ initiative to shift to 100% proportional electoral system.

The ANC believes that this shift will make elections in Armenia fair
and transparent and is ready to cooperate with any party to this end.

Heritage and ARFD believe that by approving their initiative the regime
will prove its commitment to create an atmosphere of tolerance and
consolidation before the elections. According to the current electoral
system, 41 of the 131 parliamentary seats are majoritarian, while 90 –
proportional. The opponents say that lots of “neighborhood leaders”
get into the parliament due to this system.

NEW SHIFT OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN AFGHANISTAN TO DEPART FOR GERMANY

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 11, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS: A new shift of Armenian peacekeepers
carrying out peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan will depart for
Germany in the evening of January 11. The division of the Armenian
peacekeepers will get one-month corresponding training under German
command and will participate in exercises, Press Secretary to Armenian
Defense Minister Davit Karapetyan told Armenpress. The shift will
settle in Kunduz in February.

By the way, the information that a shift of peacekeepers arrives
today in Yerevan from Afghanistan is untrustworthy.

The 41-member platoon of the Armenian peacekeepers, which has been
carrying out mission since 2010, goes on meeting its commitment in
Kunduz Airport. Armenian peacekeepers also carry out mission in Kosovo.

Participation of the Armenian peacekeeping division in the missions
makes the country one of the active, though modest players of provision
of international security. That circumstance is highly assessed by
the country’s partners, which is manifested through showing of expert,
consulting and financial support to Armenia.

EXPERT SAYS TOURISM RAPIDLY DEVELOPING IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
January 11, 2012 – 16:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Tourism in Armenia is rapidly developing, according
to head of the Armenian Association of Travel Agents.

As Marine Kpryan told a press conference, the number of tourists
totaled 689.000 in 2010 against 45.000 in 2000, citing the statistics
of the past 10 years.

She further noted Armenian tourists’ preference to celebrate New Year
in such warm countries as the UAE and Jordan, with reduced number of
those wishing to spend the holidays in Egypt.

MOTHER SEE CALLS ON GEORGIA TO SAVE ARMENIAN CHURCH FROM DESTRUCTION

Tert.am
11.01.12

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has called on Georgia to take immediate
steps to prevent the final destruction of the Tbilisi-based church
Saint Nshan that was pulled down partly due to a fire.

In a statement issued on Wednesday the Holy See also called on Georgia
to preserve the Armenian cultural heritage in its territory.

“The Supreme Spiritual Council calls on Georgian authorities to take
immediate actions so that to save the Armenian Saint Nshan Church
from destruction,” read the statement.

It also called on Georgian to give heed to the request of the
Georgian-Armenian community and return them the Armenian churches.

SERZH SARGSYAN SENDS A LETTER OF CONDOLENCES ON THE DEMISE OF GEVORG VARTANIAN

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 11, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS: On January 11, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences on the demise of
distinguished intelligence agent of Armenian descent, hero of the
Soviet Union Gevorg Vartanian. In the letter addressed to Gevorg
Vartanian’s spouse Gohar Vartanian, other members of his family,
relatives and friends, the President mentioned that Mr. Vartanian
was a man with great soul, a man, who devoted all his life to serving
his Homeland, president’s press service informed Armenpress.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, Gevorg Vartanian has always kept contact
with Armenia, supporting our country during the difficult years of war,
promoting consolidation and strengthening of the Foreign Intelligence
Service with his advices and support. The head of the republic said the
name of the great patriot will be conveyed to the upcoming generations.

Vartanian was born in Nor Nakhichevan (currently Rostov-on-Don). His
father was a Soviet intelligence agent as well and was sent to Persia
(presently Iran) on 1930, where he worked for 23 years under a cover
of a wealthy merchant. Gevork Vartanian was not even 16 when he went
into intelligence. In 1955, he graduated from the Institute of Foreign
Languages, Yerevan. He is primarily responsible for thwarting Operation
Long Jump, concocted by Adolf Hitler, headed by Ernst Kaltenbrunner,
and led by Otto Skorzeny, which was an attempt to assassinate Stalin,
Churchill, andRoosevelt at the Tehran conference in 1943.

MANSION OF FAMILY MURDERED OVER 12 YEARS AGO GOT ROBBED IN ARMENIAN CITY

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
January 10, 2012 | 20:09

GYUMRI. – On New Year’s Eve an empty mansion of a family murdered over
12 years ago was robbed in Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri.

Back in 2002 black market member Rafik Ananyan (Diamond Raf) and his
family were shot in that mansion in broad daylight.

“Rafik was murdered in the basement, his wife was murdered on the
threshold and their daughter was murdered in bed,” the citizen,
who has been taking care of the house with her brother after the
incident, informed.

The reason of the massacre is still unknown and there have not been
any accusations or arrests concerning the criminal case.

According to the witness, while she was returning home in the evening
of December 31 she noticed that the gates of the mansion were wide
open.

“At first I thought that it might be my brother, I called for him
but he did not answer. It came out that he was not there,” she said.

It is interesting that neither the woman nor her brother reported
about the incidentto the police.

KARABAKH ENTERED 2012 WITH STRONG MILITARY-POLITICAL POTENTIAL – EXPERT

Tert.am
11.01.12

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) should not lose an inch of its
territory, a political analyst has said.

“The NKR entered 2012 with a strong potential. It is mighty,
powerful and will not tolerate any mutual concession or the loss of
a single inch. All the rest is a matter of time,” he told reporters
on Wednesday.

Addressing Armenia’s domestic political situation, the expert stressed
the importance of raising people’s intellectual level.

“It is necessary to bring new forces to the political arena. Armenia
needs a change of intellectual and military elite. We need to forget
a little but about bloody battles and live more with our culture,
enhancing the level of our education”.

LEVON SHIRINYAN: ARMENIA AND NAGORNO KARABAKH SHOULD BE PROVIDED SECURITY GUARANTEES
Anna Balyan

“Radiolur”
11.01.2012 17:00

The bill that outlaws the denial of the Armenian Genocide is a gentle
European document, which pushes forward Europe’s policy, without laying
any responsibility on Turkey, political scientist Levon Shirinyan told
a press conference today. He considers that Armenia has to demand to
include a point in the document on provision of security guarantees
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

All European bills on the Armenian Cause have the same logic, and
reflect the interests of Europe rather than Armenia, Levon Shirinyan
said. He recalled the resolution of the European Parliament on the
Armenian question, which posed the Armenian Genocide recognition
as a precondition for Turkey’s accession to the EU, noting at the
same time that the present Turkey cannot be held responsible for the
tragedy experienced by the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire.

To avoid the reoccurrence of the bitter history in the future, the
political scientist advises to include several points in the document
that will provide security guarantees to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Levon Shirinyan says the security guarantees are necessary to Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh, since becoming stronger, Turkey will think of
where to use its force. Turkey with its aggressively growing demography
and the psychology of an invader could not but worry Europe, the
political scientist says, adding that this comes to explain Europe’s
attempts of exerting pressure on Turkey through different means.

According to him, Turkey is also aware that these are attempts to
turn the country out of Europe. Shirinyan says it’s important for
Armenia not to become the victim of a recurrent political game and
to defend the national interests.

ECONOMIC TIES DO NOT CORRESPOND TO THE LEVEL OF POLITICAL RELATIONS, AMBASSADOR SAYS
Artak Barseghyan

“Radiolur”
11.01.2012 18:18

The commodity turnover between Armenia and Kazakhstan made $9
million in 2011, which does not correspond to the existing potential,
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Armenia Ayimdos Bozzhigitov told a press
conference in Yerevan today. According to him, the trade through
third countries reaches nearly $300 mln.

“There is a constructive political dialogue between the two countries.

However, the same cannot be said about the economic ties. The
difficulties here are connected with the absence of direct transport
links. Very often the two countries have to conduct trade through a
third country like Russia, Georgia, Iran and Romania. We export oil
products, wheat and metals to Armenia and import drinks and stone
crushing machines,” the Ambassador said.

According to official data, about 25 thousand Armenians live in
Kazakhstan today, although the heads of community speak about 100
thousand.

Ambassador Bozzhigitov said “Kazakhstan keeps neutrality on the
Karabakh issue, although Azerbaijan is ethnically a brotherly country
and Armenia is a partner state within the framework of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization.”