Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 25 2014

France seeks to put Turkish ties back on track

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Barçın Yinanç[email protected]

French President François Hollande is set to embark on a landmark
visit to Turkey, becoming the first Gallic head of state to make a
formal trip to the country in 22 years for a visit designed to repair
the nations’ frayed ties.

Paris appears set on putting relations back on track and tapping
Turkey’s economic potential, as the visit will feature the signing of
a number of agreements on cooperation in various fields.

The visit comes after difficult years in bilateral ties under the
presidency of Hollande’s predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, whose strong
views against Turkey’s bid for European Union membership strained
relations between the two capitals.

Although Turkey excluded French companies from giant projects whenever
possible, economic relations were not seriously affected, as France
remained one of the biggest investors in Turkey. But France `
currently the sixth biggest investor in Turkey ` would like to make
full use of the economic potential it sees in Turkey.

France’s interests include energy, infrastructure and transportation,
with a special focus on air travel and railways. Turkish Airlines is
one of the important most important clients for Airbus, while a
Japanese-French alliance led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and
France’s Areva will build Turkey’s second nuclear power plant. The
growth of the Turkish middle class also appears to have raised the
appetite of the French business community, as there is increasing
interest in the agriculture and health sectors.

In order to improve the political climate with Ankara to clear the way
for increased economic cooperation, Hollande will try to dispel the
image that France is blocking Turkey’s EU accession.

Paris believes that the approach endorsed by Sarkozy, who blocked
entry talks on five chapters, has not proved effective and that
maintaining a dialogue between Turkey and the EU will ensure that the
union can continue to encourage a continuation of reforms.

Despite the optimism, there are question marks among opinion makers in
Paris about the timing of the visit, as the Turkish government is
under criticism for what is perceived as undemocratic steps to cover
up corruption charges.

Ultimately, the talks seem likely to continue on from Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an’s discussions in Brussels this past week, with
Hollande expected to again urge respect for the rule of law and the
democratic separation of powers.

Hollande is expected to endorse German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
maxim to remain loyal to prior commitments to the EU. As elections for
the European Parliament approach, the Élysée Palace has given the
message to Turkey skeptics in France that the process will be very
long and open-ended and that the decision will ultimately be made by
the citizens of Turkey and Europe ` an indication that there will be
referenda prior to Turkey’s entry.

While France has already made a gesture by lifting its veto on one of
the accession chapters last November, it remains unclear whether
Hollande’s messages will convince Ankara, since Paris has put the ball
in the EU’s court in terms of the remaining chapters.

Sarkozy had blocked talks on economic and monetary policy, agriculture
and rural development, regional policy and coordination of structural
instruments, institutions and financial and budgetary provisions.
France lifted its veto talks on the regional policy chapter last year,
while the blockage on agriculture and rural development stems not only
from France but also from a European Commission decision made in
reaction to Turkey’s refusal to allow Greek Cypriot ships to use its
ports.

Developments in Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and Cyprus will be the main
items on the agenda as Hollande will hold separate talks with
President Abdullah Gül and ErdoÄ?an. Hollande will also meet Kemal
KılıçdaroÄ?lu, the head of the main opposition party Republican
People’s Party (CHP).

The Armenian question will also be raised during the talks ahead of
the Armenian community’s efforts to commemorate the centenary of what
they and many others around the world term a genocide, the World War
I-era mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.

Hollande and his ministers could also raise the case of Pınar Selek, a
41-year-old academic who, despite being cleared three times of
complicity in a 1998 explosion in Istanbul, was sentenced to life
imprisonment by a Turkish court in January 2013. Representatives of
French civil society have called on Hollande to raise the subject
during his visit. Selek is currently living in exile in France.

After holding talks in Ankara, Hollande will go to Istanbul to deliver
a speech at Galatasaray University. Accompanied by French business
leaders, he will participate together with Gül in an economic forum
during which he will also meet members of the Turkish business
community, as Paris is interested in seeing more Turkish investment in
France.

Seven ministers will be accompanying Hollande, including Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius; External Commerce Minister Nicole Bricq;
Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg; Ecology, Sustainable Development
and Energy Minister Phillipe Martin; Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le
Drian; Higher Education Minister Geneviève Fioraso and Agriculture and
Forestry Minister Stéphane le Foll.

January/25/2014

War situation with Azerbaijan resumes – Armenian ex-presidential candidate

January 25, 2014 | 11:29

YEREVAN. – The war situation with Azerbaijan is resuming, whereas
Armenia’s ally, Russia, does not manifest itself in any way.

Opposition National Self-Determination Union (NSU) Chairman,
ex-presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan stated the aforesaid at a
press conference on Saturday.

In the words of the NSU leader, Armenia is at an impasse.

`If they [i.e., Russia] were saying that, `If fighting breaks out in
Artsakh [i.e., Nagorno-Karabakh], we cannot take part,’ now, however,
the fighting is with Armenia. It turns out that the [Russian] military
base [in Armenia] basically does not serve its purpose,’ Hayrikyan
said, and added that this likewise creates an impasse.

In his words, the situation is at an impasse also because if the war
resumes and Russia partakes in it, Armenia will have an
ally – Russia – whom the whole world hates.

`The world will automatically sympathize with Azerbaijan; this is the
other impasse,’ Paruyr Hayrikyan concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

AZERBAIJANI NEW DM WANTS TO SHOW HIS WORK TO ALIEV -EXPERT

12:40 / 23.01.2014

The situation on the border and not only in Karabakh but Armenia as
well has become tensed, political analyst Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan
told the reporters on Thursday, adding that the Azerbaijanis become
more aggressive in January as they consider that the soviet army
should have allowed to massacre the last Armenian.

The political analyst said that there are days in the year on which
Armenians must be more careful. He said that February 26, May 9,
September 21 are the days of their hysteria.

“Besides we must know that Azerbaijan’s defense minister has been
replaced and the current one is a policeman giving police-style
instructions. This time the attack was more extensive. Probably the
new minister wants to show his job to Aliyev. But they do not have
chances and in case of response they surrender,” he said.

The expert said that according to the information of their company
though Azerbaijan has not recognized any victim, but four soldiers
were killed in Martakert direction and three in Hadrut. He said that
the number of wounded is 20-30.

“Unfortunately we have lost Armen Hovhannisian. There are no other
victims. Ours were soldiers from 18-20 and what happened showed the
degree of their preparedness,” he said.

As to the response of the OSCE Minsk group, Melik-Shahnazaryan said
that they told blood should not be shed. “These are not words directed
toward the settlement of the issue, but for not resuming war. They do
not care whether one or seven soldiers will die, they do not want war
resume in the region and oil and gas pipes not be damaged,” he said.

Nyut.am

BEAR CUB SAVED BY WWF-ARMENIA SETTLES IN SHIKAHOGH RESERVE

by Karina Manukyan

Wednesday, January 22, 09:17

The bear cub saved by WWF – Armenia settles in the Shikahogh reserve.

The bear cub was found in 2012. The WWF Armenian Office with the
support of its German colleagues built a temporary shelter for
the animal and hired a vet. Nursing the bear cub for 8 months, the
specialists let it free in July 2013 attaching a radio neck collar
to its neck.

Talking to ArmInfo, Head of WWF- Armenia Karen Manvelyan said the
bear cub called Masha spent the autumn in the Shikahogh reserve and
hibernated in December. In March-April, environmentalists will be
tracking the bear throughout the reserve.

Earlier Manvelyan said that the data received from the radio neck
collar could be used in a research.

IN 2013 ARMENIA SELECTED AS FOCUS STATE FOR USAID SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIP

January 22, 2014 | 16:32

YEREVAN. – Armenia was selected as one of 20 focus countries for
the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Science,
Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships, says the report issued by
Armenian Foreign Ministry as a result of 2013.

The report inidcated deepening of Armenia-US partnership in 2013. In
particular, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian paid a visit
to Washington during which he met with Secretary of State John Kerry.

During the meeting, the sides reached agreement to deepen bilateral
cooperation and to launch a visa liberalization process.

U.S.- Armenia joint economic task force met in Washington and welcomed
the new $180 million investment in Armenia’s hydropower sector by
the U.S. company Contour Global.

On September 18 a delegation of California Assembly visited Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

HAYK GEVORGYAN. “ARMEN MOVSISYAN LOOKS LIKE A “GAZPROM” REPRESENTATIVE IN ARMENIA”

January 21 2014

“Armen Movsisyan looks like a “Gazprom” representative in Armenia, the
employee”, such opinion was expressed by Hayk Gevorgyan, commentator
on economic issues of “Haykakan Zhamanak” (The Armenian Times)
daily, in conversation with Aravot.am, referring to the statements
on gas agreement made by Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan. Recall that
Armen Movsisyan, in an interview with Tert.am, made such a statement,
“As for the validity period of the agreement until the year 2043, it
corresponds to the length of time during which the “Gazprom” must be
able to bring its investments back, which are related to acquisition
and rehabilitation of the 5th power unit, pipeline construction,
expansion of gas distribution internal network. At the same time,
it should be noted that “Gazprom” is now using such an approach
in negotiations with all partners, which is due to the changes of
international energy market, and Russia’s gas supply conditions. The
policy and times change must also be taken into account in this
sector.” Hayk Gevorgyan thinks it’s a classic that if you are doing
investments in somewhere, you make preliminary estimations on how
many years later you will get the money back. But at the same time,
he stresses, “Gazprom” is a dark structure. It is impossible to
precisely calculate its numbers, costs, and revenues regarding the
investments to bring it back in 2043. “Armrusgasprom” is “Gazprom’s”
subsidiary company in Armenia, which is a terribly inefficient
structure, as it buys gas for $ 189 and sells by 380, and even under
these terms, it works with a loss. And the citizens of Armenia pay
for this inefficiency. It’s an absurd.” Hayk Gevorgyan notes that
even anecdotes are born regarding unproductive work of “Gazprom”.

Nevertheless, economic commentator concluded, “To think that it
will make so much investment until 2043 to bring these costs back,
is absurd.” Ara Martirosyan, economic commentator of “AZG” daily
newspaper, does not agree with this opinion. He notes, “ArmRusGasprom”
is not a structure working ineffectively. It made investments, and now
Armenia has 97 percent of gasification. So, even if it loses, we win,
we receive a country with gasification and investments. I do not think
that “Gazprom” management is inefficient; it is nonsense. “Gazprom” is
a whole state in Russia. As for the investments, any businessman that
is making contribution, the consumers should pay for its product to
bring investments back and the organization will receive revenues. It
looks like a planned economy; it is different in the market economy.”

Tatev Harutyunyan

Read more at:

A HELICOPTER SQUADRON WAS FORMED AT THE RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 20, 2014 Monday

A squadron of army aviation that included helicopters Mi-24P,
Mi-8MT and Mi-8SMV was formed in the Southern Military District for
fulfillment of tasks in Armenia. A squadron of army aviation of the
command of Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Southern Military
District was formed at the Russian aviation base located at military
airfield Erebuni in Armenia. Previously, the aviation group of the
Southern Military District in Armenia was armed with a squadron of
MiG-29 fighters that fulfilled air defense tasks in the interests of
the united air defense system of the CIS. At present, pilots fulfill
tasks of coordination of the crews and perform flights at the base
of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces Command in Rostov-on-Don. It
is planned to supply helicopters of Erebuni airfield in 2014.

Source: Oruzhie Rossii (in Russian), January 17, 2014

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO HONOR KILLED SOLIDER ARMEN HOVHANNISYAN

January 21, 2014 | 19:55

YEREVAN. – A candlelight vigil was organized to honor the memory
of Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisyan who was killed at the line of
contact. The candles were lit outside Armen’s house in Yerevan.

The candlelight vigil was organized by Facebook initiative to honor
the hero.

On the night of January 20 the diversionary teams of Azerbaijan had
attempted to carry out a simultaneousacts of sabotage at the line of
contact between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces.

As a result of the ensuing skirmish, Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisyan
was killed at the military position located in the northeastern
direction, and from the gunshot wound he sustained from the adversary.

Amen Hovhannisyan was awarded posthumously.

SERGEI LAVROV: “WE CAN NOT DO WORK FOR AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA”

APA, Azerbaijan
Jan 21 2014

[ 21 January 2014 13:09 ]

“Everything depends on the conflicting parties”

Moscow. Farid Akberov – APA. “The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents in Vienna is encouraging, but everything depends on the
conflicting parties,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
at the press conference in Moscow, APA reports. He said that like
other mediators Russia is trying to assist in the dialogue on
the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict: “The co-chairs
have certain preparations, the parties don’t reject it, but demand
additional efforts in order to come to an agreement. We are ready to
assist, but we can not do this work for them. ”

The minister noted that first of all, progress in the negotiations
depends on the parties.

HEAD OF EU COUNCIL: NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE RESOLVED WITHIN INTERNATIONAL LAW

Trend, Azerbaijan
Jan 21 2014

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.21
By Sabina Ahmedova – Trend:

As an OSCE participating state and as the country currently holding
the EU Presidency, Greece fully supports the Minsk Group’s efforts
to mediate the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
through a solution that is acceptable to both of the parties concerned
in the dispute, Evangelos Venizelos, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister of Greece, which presides over the EU Council in the first
half of this year, said in an interview with Trend on Jan.21.

The peaceful resolution of disputes is a fundamental principle of
Greek foreign policy, and it is also a European principle, Evangelos
Venizelos said, adding that this means resolutions that respect
international law and national sovereignty.

The European Union has a special interest in the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, and this interest was reflected in the
appointment of a European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for
the Southern Caucasus, the minister said.

“In this context, the EUSR can act in a supporting and complementary
role to the OSCE Minsk Group to defuse tension and create an
environment conducive to progress towards resolution of the dispute,”
Venizelos said.

The minister went on to say that within both the OSCE and the EU,
Greece pursues its role as an honest and impartial facilitator backing
all initiatives aimed at resolution of the dispute.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since
1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding
districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the THE OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.