Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIA RECEIVES EU TRADE SUPPORT
Tatiana Smolenskaya

Tax-news.com

Sept 5 2012

The European Union has announced EUR60m (USD75.4m) in funding for
Armenia to support the implementation of a new free trade agreement,
and ongoing judicial reform.

Free trade negotiations officially commenced on February 29, 2012,
aimed at improving trade relations between the two territories.

Armenia already benefits from preferential access to the European Union
market through the EU Generalized System of Preferences. As a result of
this arrangement, taxes on cross border trade and already significantly
reduced. The pact will therefore focus mainly on the removal of
prohibitive trade regulations and other non-tariff barriers to trade,
although it may also include additional import tax reductions.

Funds granted to Armenia will support authorities with preparations
towards, and the implementation of, the Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Area, which is being negotiated alongside additional agreements
including a visa facilitation and re-admission agreement. The funds
will also be used to provide training and export advice to national
institutions, and to establish education facilities to train local
laywers, judges and prosecutors to support Armenia in its efforts
towards judicial reform.

The European Union said the package aims to allow Armenia to fully
maximize the benefits it can derive from the new opportunities a free
trade agreement presents.

Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan
Fule stated: “This is a further sign of the strengthening of our
political and economic ties. Launching DCFTA negotiations is one
more step towards closer economic integration which is one of the
cornerstones of our relations with countries of Eastern Partnership.”

Bilateral trade in goods amounted to EUR960m in 2011.

ARMENIA MUST DEMAND KARABAKH RECOGNITION, SAYS HOVANNESIAN

asbarez
Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

Vahan Hovannesian

YEREVAN-Armenia must always demand the recognition of the Karabakh’s
independence, said Armenian Revolutionary Federation parliamentary
faction member Vahan Hovannesian in an interview with “Martik (People)”
news agency on Monday.

He added that under the current situation, it is imperative to advance
the international recognition of Karabakh, referencing Friday’s
decision by Hungary to extradite axe murderer Ramil Safarov back to
Azerbaijan, where he was pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev. In 2004,
Safarov brutally murdered Armenian Army office Lt. Gurgen Markarian.

On Tuesday, the Heritage party’s parliamentary faction submitted a
draft resolution calling for the recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic.

Former President Robert Kocharian also called for Armenia to recognize
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

“The actions of Azerbaijani authorities are not surprising. This
is a hasty manifestation of anti- Armenian policy that country
has long been cherishing. Let’s remember Sumgait, the Armenian
massacres in Baku and the ‘alley of martyrs’ perpetuating the memory
of pogrom-instigators. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic cannot exist
within the composition of Azerbaijan,” said Kocharian/

“People in Azerbaijan are so deeply absorbed in hatred against
Armenians that they have already forgotten about the limits of morals.

The decree on granting pardon to a killer is the best evidence of
all arguments of the people of Karabakh in favor of independence,”
added Kocharian.

The former president said that if Hungary truly feels betrayed by
Azerbaijan, then it must immediately recognize Karabakh’s independence.

ARMENIA 3-1 UZBEKISTAN AT WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 5, 2012 – 22:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian men’s team scored a 3-1 victory over
Uzbekistan in the 8th round of World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul,
Turkey.

Playing with black pieces, Gabriel Sargissian defeated Andrey Kvon,
thus bringing an important point for the Armenian team.

In other games, Vladimir Akopian scored a win against Marat Dzhumaev,
while Levon Aronian and Sergei Movsesian tied the matches against
Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Anton Filippov respectively.

THE SAFAROV AFFAIR COULD BE THE KEY FOR UNLOCKING THE KARABAKH DEAD LOCK

The Safarov affair has sailed up as a bizarre breach of international
agreements, where the rule of law can evidently collapse once it
crosses borders. Hungary insists that the extradition was carried out
according to international laws and that they had received assurances
from Azerbaijan.

Budapest also refutes any connections to the promised Azerbaijani
billion Euro purchase of Hungarian state bonds. Had it not been
for the extraordinary nature of the brutal killing – hacking a
“Partnership for Peace” colleague to death while he was sleeping –
the international community might have looked the other way. However,
it was impossible to do so.

Neither EU nor other major players have, yet, made any demands
towards the regime in Baku to uphold the law breached. They have
been some condemnation of the Azerbaijani President’s pardoning,
but the emphasis has rather been on calls to Azerbaijan and Armenia
to restrain their statements so that the fragile situation in the
region is not destabilized any further. With other words, put a lid
on it till it blows over. It is up to Yerevan to prevent this from
happening. This means that Armenia should not waste efforts and energy
on reprimanding Hungary. Armenia neither wants to alienate Hungary
nor can Hungary reverse any of the happened events.

This whole incident could very much be the well-needed turning point
of the Karabakh conflict. That is if Yerevan plays its cards well. No
sensible individual could at this moment even hint on the alternative
of putting the Armenian populated Nagorno-Karabakh under Azerbaijani
rule, not when the sentiments of the Baku are this evident. Baku,
on the other hand, could no longer go to a negotiation table and
assert that they are sincere in guaranteeing the safety of Karabakh
Armenians and their equality as citizens within Azerbaijan.

Let it be said that the displayed sentiment by official Baku can
impossibly be that of the entire Azerbaijani society. The common
sensible person on the street must realize that an ax murderer,
convicted rightfully for his confessed crime, should not be freed,
promoted, celebrated and elevated to hero. Notwithstanding, this is
unfortunately the prevailing atmosphere in a totalitarian Azerbaijan,
where the regime has not much of tolerance towards its own (read
ethnic Azerbaijanis) dissidents, saved that of a rogue population,
who has fought a bitter war with the central government and demands
its right to self-determination. This intolerance has constantly been
pointed out by the Armenian side, but now Baku has staged it in an
undisputable manner.

So, the ball is in Yerevan’s court. Reading the course of the events –
from the murder to the extradition and the pardoning and celebration
of Safarov – the international community cannot but agree that putting
Karabakh under Baku’s rule is not an option. At least if they don’t
strive for a rapid ethnic cleansing of Karabakh from its Armenian
population.

However, as always, the realpolitik always prevails. In a week or
two, EU and USA will try to slowly but surely abandon this whole
inconvenient affair for securing the delivery of the much needed gas
and oil from Azerbaijan.

It is no secret that Armenia has been on the defensive during the
past years, military as well as diplomatically. It was not only the
conquered military positions that were in defensive position, but with
increasing incomes from the Azeri oil and gas revenues, Armenia has
been outdistanced diplomatically by Azerbaijan on the international
arena as well. The energy resources have granted Azerbaijan everything
from a non-permanent sit in the UN Security Council to a victory in
the Eurovision Song Contest. Now, the Safarov affair has removed any
doubts about the real attitude of Baku towards the Armenian population
and at the same time provided the opening for a diplomatic offensive.

This might very well be the leverage which Yerevan and Stepanakert
need to once and for all break the decade long dead lock in the
conflict by pointing to the inevitable solution of the conflict.

Stepanakert’s right to self-determination, as envisaged in the Madrid
Protocols, must be enforced in order to bring this conflict to a
closure. For that, Stepanakert must be recognized as a legitimate
partner at the negotiation table and allowed back as they were in
the beginning of the negotiation process. The events of the past week
simply do not leave room for any other solution.

Vahagn AVEDIAN

Chief Editor, Armenica.org

05.09.12, 16:50

ALIYEV FACES GROWING CRITICISM FOR PARDON

Radio Free Europe
Sept 3 2012

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev faces growing international
criticism for pardoning an Azerbaijani army officer who was sentenced
to life in prison for the 2004 ax murder of an Armenian military
officer.

Ramil Safarov was sentenced in 2006 by a Budapest court after
confessing to the murder of Armenian Army Lieutenant Gurgen Margarian
while the two were attending a language course organized by NATO’s
Partnership for Peace program.

Margarian was killed in his dormitory room in Budapest while he
was sleeping. A postmortem examination later concluded that Safarov
smashed Margarian’s face with an ax 16 times, nearly severing his
head from his body.

Hungarian police said Margarian was also stabbed several times in
the chest.

Hungary says it returned Safarov to Azerbaijan on August 31 after
receiving assurances from Baku his prison sentence would be enforced.

But Aliyev issued a presidential pardon for Safarov upon his arrival
in Baku.

Armenia has formally protested and suspended diplomatic ties with
Hungary.

In Paris, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group with the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) announced on September 3
that they have met separately with the foreign ministers of Armenia
and Azerbaijan to discuss Safarov’s pardon.

Damaged Trust

In a statement, the diplomats said they had told Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov that the pardon and attempts in Azerbaijan
to glorify Safarov’s crime have damaged efforts to peacefully resolve
the conflict between Baku and Yerevan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

As a result, they said, trust between the two sides also has been
damaged.

Among those attending the talks with Mammadyarov were Russia’s
ambassador Igor Popv, U.S. ambassador Robert Bradtke and French
ambassador Jacque Faure — as well as the OSCE chairman-in-office,
Andrzej Kasprzyk of Poland.

Separately on September 3, Russia’s Foreign Ministry that Safarov’s
release and pardon contravenes international efforts aimed at easing
tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In Brussels, Maja Kocijancic — a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy
chief Catherine Ashton — also expressed concern about the presidential
pardon.

Kocijancic stopped short of criticizing Hungary’s decision to return
Safarov to Azerbaijan, but she indicated that EU leaders in Brussels
were “in touch with the Hungarian authorities.”

“We are closely following the situation and are in contact with
the relevant sides to obtain more information,” she said. “And
we are particularly concerned with the possible impact that these
developments might have on the wider region and, therefore, we call
on Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise restraint on the ground and
in public statements in order to prevent any kind of escalation of
this situation.”

Sovereign Bonds

Kocijancic also avoided commenting on Armenia’s decision to suspend
diplomatic relations with Hungary in response to what Yerevan suspects
was a secret deal between Hungary and Azerbaijan.

Safarov was sent back to Baku just a week after a Hungarian business
newspaper reported that Azerbaijan could lend Hungary up to 3 billion
euros by buying a specially-issued sovereign bond denominated in
Turkish lira.

Reuters also reported earlier in August from Istanbul that Hungary
was in talks with Turkey and Azerbaijan about issuing sovereign bonds
in local currencies.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban’s spokesman Peter Szijjarto denies
any connection between Safarov’s release and the possible sale of
Hungarian bonds.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Ministry state secretary Zsolt Nemeth
summoned Azerbaijan’s ambassador, Vilayet Guliyev — saying Hungary
considers the pardon “unacceptable.”

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has urged the international
community to respond with “clear and unequivocal actions,” saying
“half measures and empty talk are not acceptable.”

ARMENIA READY FOR WAR WITH AZERBAIJAN AFTER KILLER PARDON

Press TV
Sept 3 2012
Iran

Armenia has expressed readiness for a war with its arch-foe, the
Republic of Azerbaijan, after Baku pardoned and promoted an Azerbaijani
officer who axed an Armenian soldier to death.

“We don’t want a war, but if we have to, we will fight and win. We
are not afraid of killers, even if they enjoy the protection of the
head of state,” Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian said in a statement
late on Sunday.

“They (Azerbaijanis) have been warned,” he said, calling Azerbaijan a
country where “illicit orders set free….[a person] who kills people
only because they are Armenians”.

Last week, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev immediately pardoned
military officer Ramil Safarov after he was extradited from Hungary,
where he had been serving life in prison for hacking Armenian officer
Gurgen Margarian to death at a military academy in Budapest in 2004.

The two servicemen were attending English-language courses organized
by NATO at the time.

Safarov was given a hero’s welcome, promoted to the rank of major,
given a house and eight years’ worth of back-pay after returning
to Azerbaijan.

On August 31, Armenia broke off diplomatic ties with Hungary after
Safarov was sent back to his homeland and, despite assurances,
immediately pardoned and freed.

Sarkisian said Armenia was “halting diplomatic relations and all
official ties with Hungary.”

Protesters in the Armenian capital of Yerevan also threw tomatoes at
the building housing Hungary’s honorary consulate, and tore down the
Hungarian flag.

Azerbaijan and Armenia are ex-Soviet neighbors that have been
stranded in a long-standing conflict over the mountainous territory
of Nagorno-Karabakh, where they fought a war in the 1990s.

ARFD: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE TO EXTRADITION OF RAMIL SAFAROV WAS BELATED

arminfo
Tuesday, September 4, 17:02

Armenian president’s response to extradition of Ramil Safarov was
harsh but belated, Aghvan Vardanyan, Head of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party’
faction told media, Tuesday. Only Washington immediately responded
Serzh Sargsyan’s statement on extradition and pardoning of the
Azerbaiani officer Ramil Safarov, who decapitated Armenian officer
Gurgen Margaryan, which is evidence of Armenia’s low international
image.

“Our problems in the world arena will be neglected unless we are an
influential country in the region,” he said.

Vardanyan does not expect any adequate response by the international
community to extradition and pardoning of Safarov, because over the
last 150 years the world community has been guided with dual standards
and criteria.

On August 31 the Armenian authorities adopted a decision to suspend
diplomatic relations and official contacts with Hungary. President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan made public the decision at a special meeting
with the heads of diplomatic missions on Friday after the Hungarian
authorities extradited Azeri officer Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced
by a Hungarian court to life in jail for killing sleeping Armenian
officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe in Budapest in 2004. Both the
officers were undergoing an English language course under the NATO PfP
program. The same day after Safarov’s extradition, Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev decreed to pardon the criminal. The Hungarian Foreign
Ministry declared that they extradited Safarov only after receiving
relevant guarantees of official Baku that the criminal will continue
serving his sentence in Azerbaijan.

ARMENIAN FM: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S TOLERANCE TOWARDS AZERI REGIME WILL GIVE BIRTH TO NEW “SADDAM HUSSEINS”

arminfo
Tuesday, September 4, 17:14

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan met on Tuesday with the
international relations students of Yerevan State University.

The press service of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry reports that Nalbandyan
informed the future diplomats of Armenia’s approaches to a number of
regional and international issues.

Concerning the Ramil Safarov case, he said that the Azeri authorities
did their best to get their criminal back, but the Hungarian
authorities kept dismissing their requests.

Nalbandyan wonders what might have happened to the Hungarian
authorities. “How could they believe the delusive promises of
Azerbaijan, a country where Safarov has become a national hero!? The
Azeri authorities are trying to bring their internal corruption to
an inter-state level,” the Armenian FM said.

He said that well aware of Azerbaijan’s attempts to bring Safarov
back, the Armenian authorities kept contacting with their Hungarian
colleagues, and every time the latter assured that Safarov would not
be returned.

In Nalbandyan’s opinion, Azerbaijan is cynically defying the world
community’s opinion, while the latter’s tolerance towards the Azeri
regime may give birth to new “saddam husseins.”

ARMENIA’S OPPOSITION UNLIKELY TO HAVE UNITED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ARF-D REP SAYS

tert.am
04.09.12

Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun
(ARF-D) Aghvan Hovsepyan said he does not think the Armenian opposition
will run for presidency with one united candidate.

“I do not think Armenia’s opposition will have one candidate as what
we call “opposition” is extremely mixed and different in Armenia,”
he told the reporters today.

The ARF-D member said their party has singled out a group of issues
Armenia is facing today and should solve if it wants to become a
normal state.

He said there are 4-5 such issues which the ARF-D will soon circulate
and conduct political discussions.

Until these issues are not solved it is senseless to speak about
persons wanting to run for presidency.

STEPS TO BE WORKED OUT TO MAKE HUNGARY, AZERBAIJAN FEEL THEIR MISTAKE – NAGORNO KARABAKH PRESIDENT’S SPOKESPERSON

tert.am
04.09.12

Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s recognition by Armenia will mean there
is no sense to continue the negotiations, Davit Babayan, spokesperson
for NKR president, political scientist, told Tert.am.

He said Armenia has always been stating about its readiness to
recognize the NKR’s independence and needs corresponding circumstances
for doing it. “Armenia is also working toward international recognition
of the NKR,” he said.

Speaking to RFE/RL on September 3, Davit Babayan said that the best
way for Hungary to expiate its guilt will be the recognition of
Artsakh’s independence.

Heritage party member Stepan Safaryan has been stating during the
recent days that it is the best political moment for Armenia to
recognize Artsakh’s independence.

Davit Babayan said Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are working out
steps aimed to make Hungary and Azerbaijan feel their mistake and
its consequences.

NKR president’s spokesperon said the steps of the two Armenian states
must result even in suspension of Azerbaijan’s membership to the
UN as well as freezing relations with that country by a number of
international organizations.

Commenting on the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, who
expressed their deep concern and regret for the damage the pardon and
any attempts to glorify the crime have done to the peace process and
trust between the sides, Babayan said Minsk Group is not a “separate
establishment” and if US President Barack Obama makes tough statement,
it means the US co-chair too adopts strict stance.