Author: Kajoyan Gevork

SEYRAN OHANYAN: THE DECISIONS ADOPTED AT THE CSTO COLLECTIVE SECURITY COUNCIL IN DECEMBER 2012 WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO ADEQUATELY REACT AT ALL THE CHALLENGES AND THREATS TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE CSTO MEMBER-STATES

ARMINFO
Wednesday, June 26, 13:44

The decisions adopted at the CSTO Collective Security Council in
December 2012 will make it possible to adequately react at all
the challenges and threats to the national security of the CSTO
member-states, Armenia’s Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan said at
the opening ceremony of the political forum “Political and Security
Landmarks for Formation of the CSTO military component”, in Yerevan,
26 June.

“The year of 2012 became a period of the constructive and fruitful
work in many directions of the CSTO activity which are still relevant
today. In particular, heads of the CSTO member-states adopted several
key decisions at the December session, which foreshadowed the main
landmarks for development of the collective security system. I am
absolutely confident this will make it possible to adequately react
at all the challenges and threats to the national security of the
CSTO member-states”, – Ohanyan said.

The Second Strategic Political Forum “Political and Security Landmarks
for Formation of CSTO’s Military Component” kicked off in Yerevan on
June 26. Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, Secretary of the NAtional
Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan, CSTO Secretary General Nikolay
Bodyuzha welcomed the participants in the event.

The keynote speakers at the forum are Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bodyuzha, and Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan. The forum will over on June 27.

The event organizers are the Institute of National and International
Studies of the Armenian Defense Ministry, CSTO Secretariat, and CSTO
Institute autonomous non-commercial organization.

ARMENIA WINS PACE’S STAINED GLASS WINDOW CONTEST

12:52 ~U 26.06.13

The Armenian government has won the contest for installing stained
glass windows at Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s chamber,
a deputy foreign minister has said, denying an earlier report that
the contest was announced for repairing glasses.

In earlier comments to Tert.am, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had used the word
glass, which had given way to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

The author of the windows is the Armenian designer Arevik Petrosyan,
the deputy minister said. But he did not remember the specific amount
of money which the government has spent for making the donation.

Arevik Petrosyan is the daughter of the Armenian coinage painter
Benik Petrosyan. According to Bravo.am, the artist now creates his
pieces on organic glass, using gold and silver. The method has been
described by his daughter as a new trend in the painting art.

“CAN THE SON OPENLY ACCEPT HIS FATHER’S MISTAKES?”

June 25 2013

Asks the former OSCE MG co-chair Kazimirov noting that the junior
Aliyev is able to leave default from his father’s admonition. – Last
week, in the framework of the “Big Eight” summit in Enniskillen,
the Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries issued a
statement regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by expressing
a “deep regret” that the parties were trying to get one-sided
advantages in the negotiation process. “Application of a military
force, which results in formation of current situation of conflict
and instability, will not resolve the problem. The resumption of
hostilities would have catastrophic consequences for the region and
will lead to losses of life, destruction, growth in the number of
refugees, and a huge financial cost. We strongly urge the leaders
of all the parties to once again reaffirm their commitment to the
Helsinki principles, in particular the non-use of force and exclusion
of threat of using force, territorial integrity, equality and the
right of peoples to self-determination.”,- the statement noted. What
can this statement change in Karabakh settlement process? – Hardly it
can change something directly, concretely. But it is an accumulation
of messages, even a warning to Baku hot heads who already irritated
are dreaming about a military revenge. There reluctantly, but in any
case they understand what it means. It is important that the OSCE
leaders who are changing every year to take it into account also,
who continue to idly respond to threats that have become systematic,
which are contrary to the fundamental principles of the pan-European
organization. It’s worthy for the OSCE leaders to start thinking about
the borders of the member states, which are selectively treating with
the fundamental principles, especially contempt of such essential
principles as the exclusion of the use of force and threat of using
force. Is it compatible with a series of organization that is designed
to ensure security and cooperation in the European continent? One can
understand discontent of in Baku several concerning the occupation
of a number of regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, but they no
way want to consider it, they even ignore two factors. The first,
how did they lose the control over those regions, and whether it
was not the result of incorrect calculations made by the leaders of
the Republic of Azerbaijan during the years of war (disagreeing to
terminate hostilities, ceasefire violations, evading the initiatives
of peacekeeping mediators, etc.)? Baku persistently is talking about
occupation, incised form the reasons, it simply makes records on what
had happened, as if the situation fell down from the sky. But every
phenomenon has its reasons. Why don’t they want to go deeper into the
question of why it happened? As they say, when you yourself are “not
clean” … Can the son dare to openly admit his father’s mistakes? And
he is able to leave default from his edification. He does not even
say that the conflict should be resolved “exclusively peacefully”
as his father used to say, and not just the opposite. Secondly,
it is just he who extends the occupation to resume hostilities with
its treats. In the modern world, only arrogance and lack of common
sense may motivate to achieve liberation of the territories, with
the help of force and threat. Isn’t it clear that under the torrent
of threats the opposite side will rely more on beneficial in terms
of military, long ago established and abandoned Nagorno-Karabakh
positions? – It is known that the Ministers of Foreign Affaires
of Armenia and Azerbaijan Edward Nalbandyan and Elmar Mammadyarov
must meet in end of June to discuss issues related to preparation
in the Sargsyan-Aliyev upcoming meeting. The U.S. Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar recently said that the Minister of
State John Kerry who accepted the Foreign Ministers Mammadyarov, and
then Nalbandyan in Washington is trying to provide a certain move in
the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to move the process from
the dead point. Before the presidential elections in Azerbaijan what
do you think will it be possible to move the settlement process from
the dead point, or it will happen at the next presidential meeting? –
The pre-election situation more complicates than facilitates the way
to make a compromise. – Before meeting with the Foreign Minister of
Armenia in Washington, the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a
remarkable statement noting that not only to Armenia and Azerbaijan
should take steps for the the settlement, but also other countries
in the territory. “It is extremely important that all parties will
try to find a way out of the deadlock, which constantly keeps the
conflict in sharp and rather dangerous situation,” – announced he,
specifically pointing out that saying all parties he is referring
to not only Azerbaijan, but also in Turkey, Russia and Iran. Is it
possible to consider Turkey, RF and Iran as separate interested
parties in the regulation of NK conflict, and if it is so, what
role did they play in the settlement process, especially Russia and
Turkey? – The concept “Party” is very broad. In case of conflicts,
such formulations as “party of conflict” or “a party in the conflict,”
or the “conflicted party” are often used.” The term “interested party”
is not a precise term, it may be a side that has a direct interest
in the conflict (lower than the conflicted party), but it may be
a state that outwardly has no direct connection with the conflict,
but interested in the settlement of the conflict. Russia is certainly
interested in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in compliance
with legitimate rights and interests of all parties. Neighboring Iran
and Turkey also have certain benefits, but different interests, let’s
say original, they are incompatible with obvious interests of Russia.

Moscow has long been proved in practice its interest in the
achievements of the settlement, bringing all parties to a cease-fire,
which is already 19 years old (an entire generation of Armenians and
Azerbaijanis has grown up in the course of tensed atmosphere, but still
without bloodshed). It is strange that Kerry did not mention the United
States, which announces about its interests everywhere in the world.

Emma GABRIELYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

EUROPE WILL OFFER ARMENIA TO JOIN NATO

Europe has two options: either to convene the Eastern Partnership
summit not in November, but say, in August, or to invite the parties
to Eastern Partnership to join NATO. Otherwise, not only Armenia but
also Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia may appear in the Customs Union
and CSTO as observers.

Yesterday, minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania hinted about this
during the EU session of foreign ministers saying that it is necessary
to decide about the Eastern Partnership and do everything to ensure
Ukraine signs the Association Agreement, and Armenia, Moldova and
Georgia initialize it in November. Actually, the minister is alarming
about the threat to the initialization of the agreement.

Armenia is evidently taking up last efforts to resist to Russia’s
pressure, and not only Armenia. Yesterday, Sergey Narishkin said that
Ukraine is offered the observer status in CSTO.

The West keeps saying about the necessity of diversification as a means
to eliminate Russia’s monopoly and open ex-Soviet countries for the
world. However, diversification is meant only in terms of economy for
now. But most likely, it is time to speak about the diversification
of security. It is not ruled out that ex-Soviet countries will be
proposed a format of Association with NATO.

Europe and the U.S., after the signing of the global economic agreement
on the creation of Euro-Atlantic free trade area, will become a
unified space. And if Armenia signs the free trade agreement with EU
and becomes a member of the Euro-Atlantic economic zone, the issue
on its membership to the CSTO will arise.

Attempts to integrate post-Soviet countries into the Western military
political space have been made in Georgia. Russia managed to keep
Georgia back from NATO at the cost of a five-day war, acquiring the
status of an aggressor, expensive absorption of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia, which have become the tooth which aches all the time. But
the war in Georgia was a lesson for both the West and Russia.

Now everything is different, but still it has never gone so far and
the question of choosing between the West and Russia has never been
so serious. In Armenia, this choice is often tried to be presented as
a matter of taste. But this is not the case: there may be different
views on what color is more beautiful – red or green. But there can
hardly be two opinions as to which is better – Lada or Mercedes.

Naira Hayrumyan 11:56 26/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

PRESSE ARMENIENNE : REVUE DU 24 JUIN 2013

Publie le : 26-06-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
presente cette Revue de Presse parue sur le site de l’Ambassade de
France en Armenie le 24 juin 2013.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Revue de la presse armenienne du 24 juin 2013

I. Questions regionales

1. Le Secretaire du Conseil de Securite nationale invite a ne pas
dramatiser la vente par la Russie d’armements a l’Azerbaïdjan / Dans
un entretien a RFE/RL, le Secretaire du Conseil de securite nationale,
Arthur Baghdassarian, insiste sur le fait que la Russie a le droit
de vendre des armes aux pays tiers y compris a l’Azerbaïdjan. ” La
Russie, comme n’importe quel autre Etat, a ses interets strategiques.
Elle entretient des relations avec l’Azerbaïdjan et construit ses
relations [avec lui] en fonction de ses interets “. Selon lui, etre
le partenaire strategique de l’ Armenie ne signifie point que ce pays
ne doit pas entretenir de relations avec les pays comme la Turquie
ou l’Azerbaïdjan. M. Baghdassarian a par ailleurs annonce que Moscou
et Erevan etaient prets a signer un nouvel accord sur la defense et
la securite, en principe lors de la visite a Erevan de son homologue
russe, Nikolaï Patrouchev, du 23 au 25 juin. / RFE/RL, Hayots Achkhar

2. A partir du 1er juillet, l’Armenie assumera la presidence de
l’Organisation de cooperation economique des pays de la mer Noire/
Elle presidera cette organisation pour une duree de 6 mois, jusqu’au
31 decembre. C’est lors d’une reunion des Ministres des AE de cette
organisation a Odessa, le 21 juin, que M. Edouard Nalbandian, a pris
le relai de l’Ukraine. / Hayots Achkhar

II. Politique interieure 1. Les habitants de Erevan paieront moins
pour l’eau/ La Commission de regulation des services publics, après
avoir examine la requete de la societe ” Yerevan Djur ” (Veolia),
a fixe le prix du mètre cube d’eau a 170 drams (baisse de 4 drams
par rapport au prix actuel). Ce tarif ne concerne que la capitale, ”
Yerevan Djur ” n’assurant la distribution d’eau que dans la capitale.
Le nouveau tarif entrera en vigueur a partir du 21 juillet. Cette
baisse s’inscrit dans le cadre des engagements contractuels de Veolia.
/ Rapporte par l’ensemble de la presse

2. L’Armenie aura-t-elle son premier satellite commercial ?/ Selon
le Ministère des Transports et des Communications, l’Armenie, via
la societe Armcosmos, effectue les formalites pour obtenir un espace
reserve. Le coût total du projet est estime a environ 250 M USD. Le
gouvernement armenien espère obtenir une grande partie du financement
auprès d’investisseurs prives. / Hayots Achkhar

III. Relations exterieures

1. Le President Sarkissian en visite officielle en Pologne, le 24 juin
/ Il sera recu par son homologue Bronislaw Komorowski, le President du
Senat et le PM. La signature d’accords de cooperation dans differents
domaines, ainsi qu’ un forum d’affaires armeno-polonais sont prevus
en marge de cette visite.

IV. France-Armenie

1. L’UFAR a desormais un annuaire de ses anciens etudiants /
Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun et Hayots Achkhar accordent une abondante
couverture a la presentation de l’Annuaire des anciens etudiants de
l’UFAR en presence du President de la Fondation de l’UFAR, Arthur
Baghdassarian, et de l’Ambassadeur de France. Etaient egalement
presents le vice-president de l’Universite Lyon-3 en charge des
relations internationales, le President de la filiale Europe de l’UGAB,
Alexis Govciyan, etc. L’Ambassadeur de France a exhorte les etudiants
de l’UFAR a devenir des ” Ambassadeurs ” d’Armenie en France et de
France en Armenie. L’annuaire, destine notamment aux employeurs,
recense quasiment tous les diplômes de l’UFAR depuis 10 ans.

2. Le developpement de la cooperation educative, culturelle et
scientifique avec l’Armenie constitue une priorite forte de la
politique de la France/ C’est ce qu’a declare l’Ambassadeur de France
dans un entretien au bihebdomadaire Irates de-facto ()
consacre aux relations entre l’Armenie et l’UE, les echanges
politiques, economiques et culturels entre la France et l’Armenie,
ainsi que le conflit du HK. A ce sujet, l’Ambassadeur fait reference
a la recente declaration des Presidents des pays copresidant le Groupe
de Minsk en marge du sommet du G8. Dans cette interview, l’Ambassadeur
entend en courager davantage encore d’etudiants armeniens a poursuivre
leurs etudes dans les universites francaises, notamment dans les
disciplines scientifiques, techniques et economiques. S’agissant
du projet d’implantation de Carrefour, il y voit une contribution
notoire a la promotion de l’economie de marche en Armenie au moment
où ce pays conclut un accord de libre echange.

3. Charles Aznavour invite d’honneur du festival ” Golden Apricot “/
Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun et Azg couvrent la conference de presse des
representants des Ambassades de France, de Pologne, des Etats-Unis et
d’Allemagne pour presenter la participation de leur pays respectif
au festival de cinema ” Golden Apricot “. Cette annee, l’invite
d’honneur du festival sera Charles Aznavour. Le festival s’ouvrira
et sera clôture avec des films francais. Le jury comprendra egalement
deux Francais. La presence d’autres representants du cinema francais
a ce festival, dont des critiques, des producteurs etc. est attendue.

Redaction : Meri Hakobian

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Ambassade de France en Armenie

MEURTRE DE HRANT DINK : RETOUR EN PRISON D’UN SUSPECT IMPORTANT

Un important suspect dans l’enquete sur le meurtre du journaliste
Armenien de Turquie Hrant Dink a ete arrete aujourd’hui dans la
province des bords de la Mer Noire de Trebizonde. Son procès devra
etre recommence depuis le debut en septembre, selon une decision de
la Cour Supreme.

L’arrestation d’Ersin Yolcu a eu lieu dès lors que la Cour Supreme ait
infirme le jugement qui decidait de sa liberation de prison. Yolcu
est a present a nouveau detenu a la prison Bahcecik de Trebizonde,
en attendant son nouveau procès.

Yelcu avait ete condamne a 12 ans et six mois de prison, mais avait
ete relâche en 2010 après que la cour ait decide que les preuves de
son ” appartenance a une organisation terroriste ” n’etaient pas
suffisantes. Il etait en compagnie d’un autre suspect important,
Ahmet Iskender.

Dink, le redacteur en chef bien connu d’Agos, avait ete abattu devant
son bureau a Istanbul le 19 janvier 2007. L’executant, Ogun Samast,
âge de dix-sept ans au moment du meurtre, et Yasin Hayal, qui etait
accuse d’etre l’instigateur de l’assassinat, avaient ete declares
coupables du meurtre.

A la suite du procès qui dura cinq ans, cependant, la cour avait
juge le 17 janvier 2012 qu’elle ne voyait aucun rôle que l’ ”
etat profond ” aurait pu jouer dans le complot de l’assassinat,
en depit de serieuses presomptions sur l’implication ” indirecte ”
de plusieurs fonctionnaires et de documents allant dans ce sens.

Le jugement avait ete infirme un an plus tard par la Cour Supreme,
ce qui avait amene les juges d’instruction a reprendre leur enquete
sur le meurtre. 18 juin 2013

Dogan News Agency

Traduction Gilbert Beguian

?pageID=238&nID=49061&NewsCatID=341

mercredi 26 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

FURTHER CONTROL ON VEHICLE IMPORT FROM GEORGIA

The government is going to add another obstacle to those already
existing in the vehicle import process from Georgia.

Recall as a result of amendments to the Customs Code made in 2011 the
term for temporary import of vehicles from Georgia was reduced from
30 to 15 days. Plus, a citizen of Armenia can carry out temporary
import of vehicles only twice a year.

This amendment caused a wave of complaint of those who import cars
from Georgia. They are not few because cars in our neighboring country
are twice cheaper than in Armenia. In Georgia, the customs clearance
and registration of vehicles is also much cheaper: customs clearance
in Georgia is 5% in Armenia – 32%. This is also among the reasons why
Armenian drivers preferred driving cars with Georgian plates and not
register them in Armenia. For this they used to go to Georgia once
a month to update the temporary import status and come back to Armenia.

But the new law deprived them of this possibility. Now, the government
is undertaking other amendments changing the term “Registered in other
countries” with “Not registered in Armenia”, “Temporary import” or
“Transit”, which will enable to define which vehicles are subject to
customs clearance and which should pay the temporary import fee.

Nelli Danielyan, Pastinfo 15:33 26/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY LIGHTED CANDLE AT DIARBEKIR’S ARMENIAN SAINT KIRAKOS CHURCH

15:14, 26 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS: The Ambassador of the United States of
America to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone, in the framework of his
trip to the south and south-east of Turkey, visited Diarbekir and
lighted a candle at the Armenian Saint Kirakos Church. As reported
by Armenpress, this was published by the Turkish Haberler.com.

Speaking about his visit to Diarbekir, the US Ambassador to Turkey
Francis J. Ricciardone stated that the city has everything to become
a center for tourism. As the same time Ricciardone expressed his
satisfaction on the occasion of the termination of the collisions
in those areas and hoped that the peace will be maintained for a
long time.

Earlier the Ambassador of the United States of America to Turkey
Francis J. Ricciardone and his wife visited the Saint Cross
Church on the Akhtamar Island of Van, leaving from there with deep
impressions. After the visit the Ambassador of the United States of
America to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone shared with his impressions,
inviting other US citizens to necessarily visit Van. The Ambassador
stated that earlier he wanted to visit Van and buy a Van cat, but
then he did not have the opportunity. “I got to know that tomorrow
Americans will come to Van from Florida. We wanted to encourage them
and say how beautiful Van is”, – said Francis J.

Ricciardone. At the end of the visit the Governor of Van Munir
Karaloglu presented the Ambassador of the United States of America
to Turkey a picture of the Akhtamar’s Armenian Church

AUTHORITIES HAVE NO REPLACEMENT FOR ARMENIAN PM – HERITAGE PARTY

June 26, 2013 | 14:11

YEREVAN. – Although the matter of dismissing Armenian PM Tigran
Sargsyan is raised frequently, he remains in office to this day.

Opposition Heritage Party Vice-Chairman, capital city Yerevan Council
of Elders member Armen Martirosyan noted the abovementioned during
a press conference on Wednesday.

“Sargsyan is a bearer of western values. In fact, Armenia is on the
verge of signing a document on association with EU. And if the PM is
removed from office, the authorities will not find his replacement
with a pro-western stance,” Martirosyan said. He stressed that the
incumbent PM is a convenient official for the President.

In the opposition politician’s view, the serving PM neither has his
own political team nor particular ambitions.

“Ultimately, if the PM is dismissed, all members of the government
likewise should be removed, [and] the parliament should be dissolved,
in order to be fair,” Armen Martirosyan concluded.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

VOTE FOR ONEARMENIA’S $10,000 CULTURE GRANT WINNER

Monday, June 24th, 2013

OneArmenia’s Shift project

YEREVAN-On April 24, 2013, ONEArmenia launched it’s SHIFT Initiative
calling for anyone in the world over the age of 16 to pitch a project
under $10,000 that transforms an element of Armenian culture-be it
ancient or contemporary-into a fresh, 21st century creation. More than
60 applications were submitted and reviewed by a selection committee
and narrowed down to 6 finalists. Now the online community has the
chance to vote for the winning project via Facebook.

The 6 finalists include:

1. Nar Dos Rock Opera, which takes “She and I,” Nar-Dos’ classic
1889 short story about the fates of two people, and presents it as
a modern rock-opera.

2. Aregnazan or Magical World: a short, experimental video which
follows young, queer Aregnazan through a fantasy world away from
home where she emerges as a hero in her search for self-discovery,
love and revolution! The video is an adaptation of a popular olden-day
Armenian fairytale of the same name.

3. ‘Dear Armen,’ an experimental, dark comedy theatre production
inspired by the life of Armen Ohanian (Sophia Pirboudaghian,
1887-1976), an enigmatic Armenian performer and poet. The presentation
will engage the audience through an immersive theatrical experience
that integrates elements of traditional Armenian dance, burlesque
performance, and spoken word.

4. The Ripple Effect: a project that proposes to involve 30 students
in understanding how stories and traumas passed down from generation
to generation still have a significant effect on our thinking,
behaviors, and feelings. Participants will explore the decisions,
fears and anxieties that are currently limiting them using any art
form to express their transformation.

5. Pomegranate Skate Spot: A sculpture in Yerevan, Gyumri, or Vanadzor
modeled in the form of an open pomegranate. The sculptural form would
be designed to attract interaction by skateboarders. The skate spot
would resemble a tilted manual pad. The two matching pieces, as if
a pomegranate were cut in half, would be scaled and spaced in a way
that is fun to climb on, but mostly to skate on.

6. A Room with a View, which is a traveling 12×8 meter red chamber
within any given city that frames views of its most famous landmark.

Beginning with Yerevan’s vista on Mount Ararat, the view from within
this apparatus amplifies and captures both the city and Armenia’s
sensory complexities. The chamber allows for private moments within a
public space: a sight in the distance, a sound from the present with
a memory of the past. Formed to confront the world with the everyday,
our proposal recycles ready-mades and re-uses fabrics as triggers
for experiences.

The voting process ends on Sunday, June 30th. Please visit ONEArmenia’s
Facebook Page for more information, updates and to VOTE!

Non-profit funding platform ONEArmenia was founded in September 2012
to stand side-by-side with the change-making individuals and the
organizations they represent, using social media and crowd-funding to
involve anyone with an Internet connection in boosting projects that
are geared toward making tangible change in Armenia now. The non-profit
is based on its three-pillar commitment to global collaboration,
efficiency and transparency. This means that the ONEArmenia network
makes it possible to not only raise money for a project based in
Armenia as a worldwide community, but to also track the progress of
said project with complete access to financial information.