Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIAN POLITICIAN PREDICTS HEATED WINTER TENSIONS

16:25 ~U 15.01.14

The cold January of 2014 may see heated developments in the form
of civil disobedience campaigns, according to Andrias Ghukasyan,
a former presidential candidate.

Speaking to Tert.am, the politician said that the higher cost of
living, imposed upon the population through increased electricity
and natural gas prices, may stir up a wide social unrest leading to
serious exacerbations.

“This is a serious social situation, which may have political
implications. Inert though our society is, its ability to tolerate
this economic burden is not inexhaustible. So there is the point where,
I am sure, they will demonstrate their activeness,” he noted.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MP DENIES RUMORS ABOUT BEING OFFERED POSITION

January 15, 2014 | 10:27

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party National Assembly
(NA) Faction member Tevan Poghosyan, who recently submitted to the
NA speaker his petition to renounce his parliamentary seat, denied
the rumors about him being offered a position.

“Haykakan Zhamanak [daily] disseminated ‘information’ that as if
I announced about giving up the mandate as an MP because I will be
receiving a position. I declare that the publicized [information]
has nothing to do with reality, [and] I believe [with] logic, too,”
Poghosyan wrote on his Facebook account

The aforesaid daily had written that the opposition MP could receive
a position in a foreseeable future, and according to some information,
Tevan Poghosyan has gladly agreed to this offer.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
(former C.D.C.A. Europe)
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 BRUXELLES
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :

ANC Belgium meets the Swiss Ambassador in Brussels

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January 15, 2014, Brussels: Today, a delegation of the Armenian
National Committee of Belgium (ANC Belgium) paid a visit to the
Ambassador of Switzerland to Belgium, His Excellency Benedict de
Cerjat in the presence of attaché Mrs. Ursina Eggenschwiler. The
delegation asked the Ambassador to submit a request of the ANC Belgium
to his government in Switzerland to appeal against the ruling of the
European Court for Human Rights on the Perincek vs. Switzerland case
as of December 17, 2013.

The Armenian National Committee presented to Ambassador de Cerjat the
main points and arguments of Perincek vs. Switzerland case on the
grounds of which the verdict of the Federal Court of Switzerland was
appealed against. The Ambassador was informed about the general
circumstances of the case, the position of the Armenian people as well
as on the necessity for this ruling to be appealed against. It was
also mentioned that Perincek went on purpose to Switzerland, to effect
his declarations, calling the Armenian Genocide an `international
lie’, to challenge Switzerland’s respective law.

Such a ruling, being the first legal court decision classifying the
denial of Armenian Genocide to the right of freedom of expression, on
the eve of 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide paves the way,
mainly through contradictions and groundless announcements, towards
not only anti-Armenian rhetorics, but empowers Turkish extremist
movements in Europe and elsewhere, hampering the calls for justice and
the basic principles for reconciliation.

The Armenian National Committee has expressed its readiness to support
Switzerland by any means to the process of appealing. Switzerland
should appeal against the abovementioned ruling based on its
fundamental principles of democracy and justice in order to have the
opportunity that such a disorienting decision adopted against the
Armenian people to be corrected. Switzerland should protect its
legislation from anyone’s objectives to provoke hatred and racism.

At the end of the meeting the delegation of the ANC Belgium assured
the Ambassador that he will be kept informed on the developments of
the issue, expecting that Switzerland will appeal against the
abovementioned ruling.

Armenian National Committee, Belgium

THE HOUSING CONUNDRUM: SYRIAN ARMENIANS IN ARMENIA

By Sarkis Balkhian // January 14, 2014 in Featured, Headline, Special Reports

Special for the Armenian Weekly

“My father passed away a few years before the beginning of the
conflict. My mother works as a cook for 12 hours a day, while my
14-year-old brother attends school,” says Daron, 16, a Syrian-Armenian
waiter in Yerevan. “I can’t go to school because I have to support
my family.”

‘New Aleppo’ district plan

The 34 months of the Syrian crisis has resulted in 120,000 deaths, 7
million internally displaced persons (IDP), and 2.3 million refugees.1
Although the situation of the refugees across the Middle East, or
even in certain European states like Bulgaria,2 is drastically worse
than the circumstance of the Syrian Armenians in Armenia, nonetheless
those who have resettled in Armenia are also facing numerous economic,
social, and legal challenges.

According to the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora, more
than 16,000 Syrian Armenians have entered the country since the
beginning of the crisis in March 2011, and more systematically with
the beginning of the armed conflict in Aleppo in July 2012.

Nearly 11,000 continue to reside in Armenia (including in the Nagorno
Karabagh Republic). The vast majority of the 5,000 who left Armenia
have returned back to their homes in Syria,3 while a small number of
people have become refugees in Europe and other parts of the world.4
Due to financial constraints, more than 70 percent of the population
has not been able to purchase apartments. This housing situation has
been the primary obstacle to the integration of Syrian-Armenians
in Armenia. Whereas for the past 17 months, numerous local and
international organizations have provided stipends for rent or
housing in shelter homes, an inclusionary housing solution has yet
to be developed.

Housing programs and projects

In the early stages of the Syrian-Armenian migration to Armenia, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) provided monthly stipends
of $100-150 to support individuals and families with their rental
fees for a period of 3 months.5

The Armenian Caritas (Armenian Catholic Church) in Yerevan has
sheltered more than 45 of the most needy at its center, and
has provided them with food and other forms of assistance.6 Most
recently, on Nov. 27, 2013, the head of its Department for Migration
and Integration announced that the organization would be allocating a
significant portion of the 270,000 euros received from the Austrian
government, via the Austrian Red Cross, toward the leasing expenses
of 100 families for the next 6 months.7

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) “Help Your Brother”
program has provided more than $32,000 to the “Kashatagh” foundation,
to aid the construction and renovation of homes in the Kashatagh region
of Karabagh, where more than 35 Syrian Armenians currently reside.8
The Tufenkian Foundation, the Assistance to Self-Determined Artsakh
Charitable Foundation, and other organizations are also supporting
resettlement efforts in Karabagh.9

In Yerevan, “Help Your Brother” is planning the construction
of apartment buildings in the Davtashen district. Two-hundred
Syrian-Armenian families will be able to purchase apartments there
at minimal cost by submitting applications at the “Help Your Brother”
headquarters in Yerevan.10

Through the relentless efforts of the Minister of Diaspora, Hranush
Hakobyan, and the order of President Serge Sarkisian, the government
approved the construction of the “New Aleppo” district in Ashtarak
city. On July 23, 2013, the Ashtarak City Council allocated more than
11 acres of land to the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenian
Issues NGO for the “New Aleppo” housing project.11

As of December 2013, more than 300 Syrian-Armenian families had
submitted registration forms to the Center for Coordination of
Syrian-Armenian Issues, and have expressed a willingness to pay up
to 50 percent of the construction cost for the apartments.12

On Dec. 9, 2013, the final plan for the “New Aleppo” district was
presented by Vahe and Gohar Tutunjians, the co-presidents of the
Pan-Armenian Association of Architects and Engineers. According
to the initial estimates, the project will cost around $30 million
and will feature 22-30 apartment buildings, swimming pools, garages,
playgrounds and other amenities. Most importantly, it will house more
than 500 Syrian-Armenian families.13

Analysis and conclusion

“We came to Armenia with only a few thousand dollars, which has long
run out,” explained Daron. “My mother makes $300 per month. I make
around $400-500 while working up to 70 hours every week. The most
we can save up each month is around $150 because we have to pay $200
for rent.” Daron is neither the norm, nor the exception.

Having worked with the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenian
Issues for almost a year, and due to my current involvement with
the Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable Organization, I estimate that at
least 15-20 percent of the Syrian Armenians in Armenia do not have
sufficient funds to purchase apartments.

According to the most recent data, more than 250 individuals are
awaiting access to free-of-charge shelter homes in Armenia, while 200
are currently being housed in shelters that do not comply with the
“Adequate Standards of Living” set fort by Article 25 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 11 of the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

I have been an advocate (albeit, with some reservations) for the
construction of an Aleppo neighborhood in Armenia since the beginning
of the process. However, in its current form, the “New Aleppo”
district does not represent the spirit or vision of its mastermind.

In May 2011, Ani Balkhian, a founding member of the Center for
Coordination of Syrian-Armenian Issues and the current president
of the Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable Organization, introduced the
initial plan for “New Aleppo” during the All-Armenia Fund meeting in
Yerevan. She made a verbal proposal then to President Sarkisian. In
August 2011, via the Armenian Consulate in Aleppo, she sent a formal
written request to the president requesting government-designated
land for the construction of an Aleppo Neighborhood.

The initial plan for the project was to induce a Syrian-Armenian
mass-migration to Armenia by allocating apartments at construction
cost. However, for reasons yet unknown, the plan never materialized.

After the establishment of the Center for Coordination of
Syrian-Armenian Issues, Balkhian reintroduced the idea and, in October
2012, through the Ministry of Diaspora, a second written proposal
was sent to the president.

More than two years after the initial proposal, the final plan for
“New Aleppo” has been developed and will, as hitherto mentioned,
feature 22-30 apartment buildings. On Dec. 7, 2013, the Center
for Coordination of Syrian-Armenian Issues, on its Facebook page,
announced that “individuals seeking apartments in the ‘New Aleppo’
district need to submit their applications at the organization’s
headquarter…transfer $5,000 to the organization’s bank account and
sign a preliminary agreement document.”14

There are certain social and financial flaws with the current state
of the “New Aleppo” district. In fact, my initial concerns over this
project have been validated on both fronts.

Contrary to the Armenian Diaspora in Russia, Europe, the United
States, and even Lebanon, Armenians have lived a marginalized life in
Syria. Due to religious and cultural reservations, as well as valid
fears of assimilation, Armenians had isolated themselves from the world
around them. The churches, sports clubs, cultural institutions, and
schools were used as a fortress to defend Armenian-Christian identity
in Syria. In Aleppo, especially, most Syria-Armenian children who
attended Armenian schools were not even accustomed to speaking Arabic
until the ages of 12-15.

Today, most Syrian Armenians in Armenia have continued the same
secluding and ghettoizing strategies of self-isolation. This is not due
to their fears of the local Armenian population, but because they are
subconsciously programmed to operate this way. Even the amenities to be
included within the “New Aleppo” project–swimming pools, playgrounds,
etc.–will further contribute to the isolation of Syrian-Armenians
from the local society, and slow down their integration process.

On the financial front, in August 2011, most Syrian Armenians were
able to purchase apartments in the “New Aleppo” district by procuring
funds through the sale of real estate or other assets in Syria. Now,
however, at least 15-20 percent do not have access to $5,000 to use
as a down payment, nor are they capable of contributing 30-50 percent
of the construction cost.

I, for one, do not understand the logic behind investing funds for
amenities–that were non-existent in the neighborhoods of “Old Aleppo”
(Meedan, Sulamaniye, Villat, Azizie)–while so many remain excluded
from this initiative.

It is my belief that any housing project that seeks to provide
durable shelter solutions for Syrian Armenians should be founded on
the principle of inclusion rather than exclusion. It should first and
foremost address the needs of the most vulnerable Syrian Armenians,
rather than solidifying the bourgeois status of the middle class.

Although I welcome any housing initiative that ensures the
complete resettlement of Syrian Armenians and contributes to their
full integration in Armenia, the current plan of “New Aleppo,”
unfortunately, does not address the needs of the most vulnerable of
the population. It is simply unacceptable.

Finally, as a Syrian Armenian myself, I would like to express my
gratitude to the president, the Ministry of Diaspora, the Armenian
government, and local and international organizations, businesses,
and foundations for their support in both Armenia and Syria. The
criticisms presented in this piece are not intended to discourage any
organization or to undermine any program or project. Rather, they aim
to represent the voice of the voiceless and the face of the faceless,
like Daron, and encourage organizations to operate based on the visions
of the late Nelson Mandela: “Let there be justice for all. Let there
be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.”

Notes

[1] See

[2] See

[3] See

[4] See

[5] See

[6] See

[7] See

[8] See

[9] See

[10] See

[11] See

[12] See

[13] See

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UAE ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS MEETS ARMENIA’S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

Qatar News Agency
January 13, 2014 Monday 4:35 PM EST

Abu Dhabi, January 13 (QNA) -Khaled Ghanem Al Ghaith, Assistant Foreign
Minister for Economic Affairs, met here on Monday at the Ministry’s
headquarters, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Manassarian,
now visiting the UAE.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the bilateral relations
and ways to enhance them in the economic, trade and investment domains
in the best interest of the two countries, in addition to issues of
mutual interest.(QNA)

Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the U.A.E., Gegham
Gharibjanian attended the meeting.

MD

WILL NKR REFUSE THE URGES TO RETURN TO THE TABLE OF NEGOTIATION?

Former Foreign Minister of NKR, Arman Melikyan, believes that in the
coming months we will still continue to be helpless and vulnerable as
a society. – In late 2013, during the visit to the region, the Minsk
Group co-chairs stated that Nagorno-Karabakh’s return to the table
of negotiation does not have an alternative. So far, all statements
about it were more cautious or with reservations. Do you believe
that the Karabakh conflict will enter into another active phase in
2014? – For years, it is said about inevitable prospect of returning
Nagorno-Karabakh to the table of negotiation, however, we have to be
realistic and understand that this return does nowise mean that the
conflict settlement process is no more problematic. It is ruled out
that a situation could be created when the only decent way out for
Artsakh would be the refusal of the common claim by intermediaries,
Armenia, and Azerbaijan, to return to the table of negotiation. –
The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh was actively discussed under Armenia’s
CU accession, in particular, with regard to building a customs
station. The former Russian Ambassador to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko
made quite a remarkable statement. In response to the question of
what Nagorno-Karabakh’s status will be if Armenia joins the Customs
Union, whether it will also join the Union, or a checkpoint will
be built between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the Ambassador said
that it depends on Armenia. “The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not an
easy task because of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia faces a
problem, if Armenia recognizes NKR, then the NK membership issue will
be discussed, if not, Karabakh’s membership to the Customs Union will
be a provocative step by us towards the Azerbaijani side. Russia,
here, has a radical position, which it follows in the process of
years to maintain peace in the region”. To the observation whether
we can conclude that in every case a checkpoint will be built at the
borders between the two countries, Vyacheslav Kovalenko expressed
his conviction that if the parties conduct a skillful discussion
of the issue, they will come to a decision. How to perceive this
position? Won’t the Nagorno-Karabakh recognition result in adventurism
by Armenia? – Let’s start that it is still unclear when and under
what conditions Armenia will become a full member of the CU. However,
it should not be ruled out that Armenia would be imposed to build
checkpoints on the border with Artsakh; it will depend on possible
changes in the Russian-Azerbaijani relations. Even when building
checkpoints, I do not think that these checkpoints will operate in
full. At the same time, their existence for Artsakh authorities will
provide a fundamental reason to operate appropriate customs stations
at the checkpoints on the border with Iran, as well. Russia’s regional
and strategic interests demand Armenia to become a member of the CU,
and the Western Community, in its turn, did everything for Russia’s
desire to come true and to present it at least as a voluntary decision
adopted by the authorities of Armenia, which is based on, among other
factors, the worldview identity of Armenian and Russian elites. I say
this to avoid of having the illusion that there was another option,
but was not used due to intrigues of “internal enemy”. Now about
what was said by Kovalenko. Two or three times a year, “Heritage”
is trying to make a law out of his advice at the National Assembly
level, however, I think we need Armenia’s recognition process of
Karabakh, if we want to have a diplomatic and political solution to
the matter. In other words, with launching this process, we, in fact,
will form a formal bilateral format operating parallel to the talks
proceeding in the framework of the Minsk Group that will enable to
transform new sound and required weight to the Artsakh political,
humanitarian, economic, and territorial requirements. – In your
opinion, what challenges are expected to Armenia and NGR in this
regional complex tangle? Do we still have the resources to confront
the challenges, in general? – The challenges are serious and they will
be mostly related to external factors. The level of conflicting will
grow in our region, and under Armenia’s internal weakness, this is
a problematic process. The resource for confronting is available,
and it’s not small, but it will be displayed only if different
parts of our community, who, today, are hostile to each other, will
find a path to regain mutual trust. Actually, it is business of the
political elite, the authorities; however, presently, I do not see
even the minimum ability and desire of the authorities to solve the
problem. This means that for at least the next few months we, as a
society, will be helpless and vulnerable. Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at:

NEW TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS TO BE POSED FOR ARMENIA’S SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS

January 14, 2014 | 11:11

YEREVAN. – Starting from late 2014, new technical requirements will be
posed to the equipment installed in Armenia’s small hydropower plants
(SHPPs), “EcoLur” NGO reports.

The requirements will be binding for the newly constructed,
rehabilitated, and re-equipped SHPPs, alike.

The technical requirements will be based on the results of examining
the international track-record, says the Government of Armenia 2014
Action Plan.

Under this source, the standards of the International Electrotechnical
Commission will be applied, and they will be implemented once the
executive branch of power adopts, in the third week of November 2014,
the Armenian Government draft resolution “On establishing technical
requirements posed to equipment installed in small hydropower plants.”

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

AFTER DELIBERATING FOR 3 HOURS, COURT PROLONGS KARABAKH WAR VETERAN’S DETENTION

01.14.2014 12:54 epress.am

The Court of First Instance of Qanaqer-Zeytun Communities of
Yerevan, presided over by Judge Robert Buniatyan, today approved the
investigator’s request to postpone Karabakh War veteran, Reserve
Colonel Volodya Avetisyan’s pre-trial detention by two months,
Avetisyan’s attorney, Ara Zakaryan, informed Epress.am. This is the
third time the accused’s time in detention is extended.

Recall, Avetisyan is one of the leaders of the struggle to improve
the socioeconomic situation of Karabakh War veterans that began
in May. He organized sit-ins at Liberty Square and organized war
veterans’ visits to the regions. According to him, his struggle
is political and the accusations against him are fabricated. Note,
he is being accused of corruption and fraud.

According to Zakaryan, the investigator brought forth no justifications
as to how Avetisyan can interfere with the investigation if he is
released.

In addition, the attorney said in court that the investigator is
not diligent in investigating the case, and consequently, it is
being unnecessarily prolonged, while Avetisyan continues to remain
in detention.

The court session concluded at 7:30 pm. The court deliberated for
more than 3 hours, and the decision was made public at 10:30 pm.

Nevertheless, the court, sustaining the investigator’s motion, noted
in its decision that it accepts that the investigator has not worked
diligently. Taking this into consideration, the defense is perplexed
as to why the court sustained the motion then.

Zakaryan is preparing to appeal the ruling.

Note, after Avetisyan’s arrest, the RA Ministry of Defense
investigative body issued the following statement: “Avetisyan,
engaging in deceit and abuse of trust, usurped $2,000 USD from citizen
H. Zakaryan under the pretense of assisting H. Zakaryan’s grandson in
the matter of obtaining an exemption from mandatory military service.”

PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA DEMANDS IMPLEMENTATION OF ARMENIA’S ROAD MAP ON ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION WITHOUT ANY DEVIATIONS

by Alexandr Avanesov

ARMINFO
Tuesday, January 14, 16:58

Armenian Prime Minister presided over a government discussion on the
process of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and participation
in the Eurasian Economic Area, the government press-service told
ArmInfo, Tuesday. The heads of relevant working groups reported on the
measures taken in line with the ‘road map.’ Tigran Sargsyan charged
the heads of the given groups to strictly observe the requirements
of the ‘road map’ and report on emerging problems.

To recall, on September 3, 2013 in Moscow the Presidents Serzh Sargsyan
and Vladimir Putin confirmed the aim of the Republic of Armenia and the
Russian Federation in the direction of further development of economic
integration processes in the Eurasian territory. Afterwards, the two
presidents signed joint statements, amid Yerevan’s three-year-long
negotiations for the EU Association Agreement, including DCFTA.

The Customs Union has been created within the Eurasian economic space
for trade and economic integration of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia
on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2011. CU is
one of the biggest integration unions in the world with a population
of 170 mln people and GDP of $2.7 trillion.

ARMENIAN CONSTRUCTION SLASHED FURTHER BY 8.5 PERCENT IN 2013

YEREVAN, January 14 . / ARKA /. Construction in Armenia in January-
November 2013 slashed by 8.5 percent from the year before to 356.5
billion drams, according to the latest numbers released today by the
National Statistical Service.

Of that amount 98.8 billion drams or 27.7% of the total construction
amount was financed by individuals. That amount was up 20.2 % from
the year before.

Some 156.27 billion drams worth construction or 43.8% of the total
volume (down 18.7%) was financed by companies and organizations, 8.7
billion drams or 2.5% (an increase of 30.7 %) was funded by charity
donations, 55.7 billion drams or 15.6% (down 8% ) was financed by
the government and 8.7 billion drams or 2.5% (a decline of 45.2 %)
by communities.

Some 28.2 billion drams or 7.9% (down 13.3%) worth construction was
financed by loans from World Bank, EBRD, the Asian Development Bank,
the German Development Bank (KfW) and others. ($ 1 – 408.16 drams).

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