Author: Kajoyan Gevork

VARTAN OKANIAN: MUCH IS AHEAD

14:58 27/12/2012
Story from Lragir.am News:

Former foreign minister, MP from Prosperous Armenia party Vartan
Oskanian posted on his Facebook page.

He wrote that for him 2012 was remarkable for two events: his return
to politics and the criminal case launched by the National Security
Service against him. He says that he has nothing to add to what
he already said in connection of both events, but added that he
has always been led by the aim to contribute to the establishment
and development Armenia’s statehood. “If I didn’t justify someone’s
expectations, I ask for their understanding. But I want to say life
continues and much is ahead”, wrote Oskanian.

Vartan Oskanian wished all the best to everyone in the coming 2013.

MOSCOW, ANKARA DISCUSS THE KARABAKH ISSUE

14:40 27.12.20120

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin received Turkey’s
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Aydın Adnan
Sezgin on December 27.

During the meeting the parties discussed the situation in the South
Caucasus, including the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and issues related
to bilateral relations.

ACTIVITY OF RUSSIAN CONTACT AND BLIZKO PAYMENT SYSTEMS CANCELED IN ARMENIA

news.am
December 26, 2012 | 17:15

YEREVAN. – The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) cancelled the activity
of two Russian settlement and payment systems, CONTACT and BLIZKO.

According to the CBA press release, the Russlavbank, which is the
settlement and payment system-operator for the CONTACT in Armenia
without providing any explications has violated several points in
the contract concluded with several Armenian banks and did not allow
their access to the settlement and payment system.

At the same time and based on the same reason, the CBA cancelled the
activity of another Russian company BLIZKO, as the latter failed to
preserve demands by the CBA since 2006.

Earlier, the CBA has cancelled the activity of two other Russian
companies, including the Migom and the Zolotaya Korona.

HRAPARAK: ARMENIA’S PREMIER WOULD CANVASS FOR HIS PRESIDENT IF…

26.12.12

Emptied political arena and retreated political opposition brought
peace to Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

Armenia’s idle premier is now visiting different presentations. The
premier once cut the ribbons at the opening of rock clubs, and it is
the turn of websites now.

“We’ll not be surprised if Mr Tigran Sargsyan will put articles on
the websites. Yesterday, Armenia’s premier, who is also chairman
of the Ararat diocese, attended the presentation of the re-designed
website

“Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan attended the ceremony as well. However,
if Armenia’s incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan had serious rivals,
the premier would have to travel about rural communities and, giving
promises, canvass for his president,” the newspaper writes.

EU IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ARMENIA, SAYS HERITAGE REP.

TERT.AM
26.12.12

Stepan Safaryan of the opposition Heritage party says their pro-Western
policies, declared in an open manner, do not imply the party has the
West’s approval.

The politician considers the EU integration to be the right choice for
Armenia, which he says, does not absolutely mean being anti-Russian.

“That’s not absolutely the case. The Heritage plays in an open court,
without assuming airs or concealing its orientation toward the future,”
he told Tert.am.

Safaryan believes that Russia and West’s efforts to win over Armenia
have turned quite serious. “Perhaps, serious manifestations are not
appropriate at the moment, but they are persistent from both sides,”
he said, pointing out to different Russian and EU officials visits
to Armenia this year.

“The content is clear for realizing that they are indifferent to
Armenia,” Safaryan added.

The Heritage member thinks the authorities are going to face a tough
time. “As the time will be difficult for maneuvering, there will be
pressures,” he noted.

Safaryan, who is a former lawmaker of the Heritage party, thinks the
authorities only pretend they have approval from all sides.

JAPANESE TRAVELER, WHO WAS TO RIDE ACROSS ARMENIA, DIES

NEWS.am Sport
December 26

Well-known Japanese traveler Haruhisa Watanabe, who was preparing
to ride with a bicycle across all CIS countries, died in Russia’s
Murmansk Oblast (Region) as a result of a traffic accident.

According to preliminary data, he was run over by a vehicle, the
FlashNord source at the law enforcement agencies informs.

Watanabe had commenced his trek in June 2012
from China, and his itinerary was as follows:
Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Armenia-Turkey-Russia.

ARF-D RULES OUT SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT-BACKED CANDIDATE IN ARMENIA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

tert.am
26.12.12

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) does not
rule out any way of guiding its supporters in the 2013 presidential
election in Armenia.

The only thing the party rules out is supporting the government-backed
candidate, Aghvan Vardanyan, Secretary of the ARF-D parliamentary
group, told journalists on Wednesday.

One more option is voting against all the candidates, he said.

Armen Rustamyan, Head of the ARF-D parliamentary group, said that
the party clearly named its preferred candidate.

“That would have been our candidate. So we do not have great
expectations, and it is too early to announce our support for any
candidates. Let us see the candidates’ behavior and further development
and then we will decide on our further steps,” he said.

He disagrees with opinion that the ARF-D may support Heritage party
Chairman Raffi Hovannisian as he agreed with the ARF-D-presented
7-point agenda.

“Not only Raffi Hovannisian, but also many others agree with this
agenda. That will not be the end, and February 18 will be followed
by February 19. Even if this candidate does not win, we will move on
the basis of their platform,” Mr Rustamyan said.

Mr Vardanyan, in turn, explained the ARF-D’s decision not to nominate
its own candidate. The primary reason is the corrupt election practice
in Armenia, as well as shadow economy.

The second reason is that an opposition front failed to be formed.

Also, participating in the elections when results are pre-determined
would mean following the pre-constructed scenario, whereas the ARF-D
is an independent force.

As to why the ARF-D is not boycotting the elections, Mr Vardanyan
said: “We are a political force and have no right to discredit the
institution of elections.”

Arsen Hambartsumyan, an ARF-D Supreme Body member, said that the lack
of conviction and honesty failed them to unite.

“Publicly approving an allegedly secret agenda and simultaneously
holding open discussions on supporting certain candidates is
unacceptable to us,” he said.

Mr Rustamyan noted that the opposition’s only mistake is that it is
unable to unite.

The speakers are unanimous that Armenia’s authorities will not have
to make huge efforts to rig the 2013 presidential election.

WHY ARFD DIDN’T BOYCOTT

Story from Lragir.am News:

15:44 26/12/2012

Though the ARF does not nominate anyone for president, it will not
keep away from the electoral processes. On the contrary, it will make
sure that the candidates take into account the public opinion on the
seven points of the ARF program. MP Armen Rustamyan, ARF, said they
will actively participate in the election processes.

According to him, this election will serve its aim only in case people
are convinced that something will change. To achieve this purpose,
it was necessary to unite the opposition, which, unfortunately,
did not happen.

The secretary of the ARF parliamentary group Aghvan Vardanyan said
that boycott would be meaningful only if the other forces joined
it which is not realistic. He said that they could not defame the
electoral mechanism of Armenia with their boycott.

Member of the ARF Supreme Council Arsen Hambardzumyan underlined
that one must run for president if there are chances to win, while
the split opposition makes it unreal to defeat the incumbent president.

The ARF does not rule out supporting any of the presidential candidates
except Serzh Sargsyan.

Aghvan Vardanyan says during the election campaign they will guide
their supporters in their choice.

NEW U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ENDS BUSH LEGACY

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 26, 2012

Senator Kerry is likely to be succeeded by Senator Robert Menendez
as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

U.S. President Barack Obama decided to fully refresh his
administration, with Senator John Kerry (D-MA) nominated as the
Secretary of State and Chuck Hagel, former Republican Senator from
Nebraska as the Secretary of Defense. Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner and, perhaps, Attorney General Eric Holder will also be
replaced.

Obama’s nomination of his next Secretary of State put an end to George
W. Bush’s legacy. Hillary Clinton and diplomats of the old “Wilson”
school she surrounded herself with kept talking about the historical
mission of the U.S. and the need to disseminate U.S. values. Meanwhile,
the American society has long ceased to demonstrate enthusiasm about
such considerations. Unlike Clinton, Rice, and Albright Senator Kerry
believes that diplomacy can achieve anything, and military force Bush
father and son were so keen on, is not necessary at all. These two
brought the U.S. into long-term interreligious and interethnic clashes,
from Afghanistan to Iraq. The current administration will hardly
insist on an intervention into Syria or even launch of hostilities
against Iran.

Meanwhile, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) hailed
the nomination of Senator Kerry as the Secretary of State.

“We welcome President Obama’s nomination of Senator Kerry – a
legislator with a three decade-long record of support for Armenia and
a legacy of advocacy for the foreign policy priorities of Armenian
Americans – as our nation’s next Secretary of State,” ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian said. “We look forward to continuing to
work constructively with Senator Kerry, now in his new role at the
Department of State, as we seek to lift Turkey’s gag-rule on American
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, strengthen U.S.-Armenia ties,
and put in place freedom-based solutions that provide security to
the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh,” Hamparian stated.

The Armenian community has certain hopes for Senator Kerry; however,
a key factor is the Secretary of State will not necessarily be a
supporter of the Armenian Diaspora. Kerry will hardly try to please
Baku the way his predecessors did; nor will he ruin relations with
Turkey for the sake of Armenia and recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Time will show, though; predicting the moves of the new
administration is not an easy task.

Senator Kerry was first elected to the Senate in 1984. He succeeded
now-Vice President Joe Biden as Chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee in 2009. Over the years, Senator Kerry has been a
strong advocate for Congressional affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
cosponsoring many resolutions to end U.S. complicity in Turkey’s
denial of this still unpunished crime. As a member of the Foreign
Relations Committee, he pressed ambassadorial nominee to Turkey,
Francis Ricciardone about U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide and
Turkey’s blockade of Armenia. He is not currently a cosponsor of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution.

In the early 1990s, Senator Kerry was a vocal leader in support
of Senate adoption of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act,
which restricted U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan until it lifted its
blockades and stopped its aggression against Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. Earlier this year, Chairman Kerry was “shocked and appalled”
at Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s pardon, praise and promotion
of convicted Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov.

Senator Kerry will likely be succeeded by Senator Robert Menendez as
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ANCA reports.

“Odnako” magazine quotes U.S. political scientist Harlan Ullman as
saying that all key positions related to foreign policy are now given
to senators who have once slammed the policy of George W. Bush.

“Obama-Biden-Kerry-Hagel link can work very smoothly and produce a
real coup,” Ullman said.

“During Obama’s first term, the U.S. already started to yield
its positions on the world arena. “One power cannot dominate the
world, and those criticising the U.S. for a unilateral approach
should overcome the anti-Americanism which had too often justified
collective inaction,”” the U.S. president declared at a UN General
Assembly meeting in 2009. Many experts are now comparing the United
States with the British Empire during its decline, when London started
shifting a part of its responsibility for global issues off to other
players,” Ullman said.

John Kerry is an American aristocrat, heir of the Forbes family. The
first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony John Winthrop is a direct
Kerry forbear. Kerry studied at Yale University and was member of the
influential Skull and Bones secret society. His second wife Teresa
Heinz is owner of a food empire with assets worth more than $3 bln.

Kerry chaired the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs from
1991 to 1993. In 1994 the Senate passed a resolution, sponsored by
Kerry and fellow Vietnam veteran John McCain that called for an end
to the existing trade embargo against Vietnam; in 1995, President Bill
Clinton normalized diplomatic relations with the country of Vietnam.

Kerry has advocated China’s accession to WTO and once said at
the Congress that the Chinese top officials, despite maintaining
authoritarian traditions, have nothing in common with the “Red
Plague”. To this, Republican Jesse Helms responded: “You may call it
whatever you wish, but a duck will always remain a duck.”

Karine Ter-Sahakian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH IS ATTRACTING MORE AND MORE TOURISTS

December 26, 2012

Gandzasar monastery, a place of national heritage, is the most
visited sites of Azerbaijan – Nina Stossinger / Flickr / CC In 2012,
Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenian separatist enclave, independent de facto
since the cease-fire in 1994) attracted 15,000 visitors, 40% more
than in 2011. According to the Russian site on the Caucasus Kavkazski
Ouzel , this success is due to “active advertising of the region
in international exhibitions, as well as brochures on the region in
several languages and on the Internet site.” Among the most visited
monuments include the monasteries of Gandzasar, and Amaraz Dadivank
and Archaeological Remains of the Armenian town of Tigranakert. In
addition, the origin of tourists is diverse: they come from Europe,
the United States, Israel, Russia, Singapore, Latin America and
Australia.People who visit Nagorno-Karabakh without the permission
of Baku is considered persona non grata in Azerbaijan karabakhie
administration accepts the demand of tourists, not to mention passing
on their passports in the enclave.