Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ZURICH PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF SWITZERLAND STARTS PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REGARDING TURKISH MINISTER WHO SAID “THERE WAS NO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

APA
Feb 6 2012
Azerbaijan

Armenian community in Switzerland appeals to prosecutor’s office
regarding Egemen Bagis

Baku – APA. Zurich prosecutor’s office of Switzerland has started
preliminary investigation regarding Turkish Minister for EU Affairs
Egemen Bagis, APA reports. Armenian community in Switzerland appealed
to the Prosecutor’s Office after Egemen Bagis said in Zurich last
week “There was no Armenian genocide. Let them come and arrest me
for my words”.

Zurich prosecutor Christine Braunschweig told Turkey’s Dogan news
agency that they had launched preliminary investigation.

“Last week we received an application. The application said that
Egemen Bagis violated article 261 (racism) of the Criminal Code of
Switzerland. Our Prosecutor’s Office passed a decision to carry out
preliminary investigation. We will investigate whether Egemen Bagis
said this or not. We will determine whether he has diplomatic immunity
or not. If the investigations find out that the law was violated and
he has no diplomatic immunity we will launch criminal proceedings,”
he said.

Egemen Bagis said he will comment after the preliminary investigation
is over.

OSCE MISSION TO MONITOR LINE OF CONTACT BETWEEN KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES

news.am
February 07, 2012 | 14:25

STEPANAKERT.- The OSCE mission will hold a regular monitoring Wednesday
in the line of contact between the Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijani
armed forces.

>From the Karabakh side the monitoring will be conducted by
Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office Hristo Hristov and Marius Puodziunas, as well
as representatives of Karabakh Foreign Ministry.

Field assistants of the Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman
Antal Herdich and William Prior will monitor the line of contact
from the Azerbaijani side, Karabakh MFA press service informs Armenia
News-NEWS.am.

WHO HINDERS MINISTER OHANYAN
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:50:29 – 07/02/2012

“Non-combat deaths continue to plague the army and a related pattern
of ‘hazing’ (the bullying or humiliation of conscripts), abuse and
other unacceptable behaviour has sparked concern over a breakdown in
military discipline and proper command conduct,” state the experts of
Oxford Analytica. They note that this may subvert the military reform,
as well as affect the balance of forces in the region.

At the same time, the British experts note the existence of two wings
in the armed forces. One is the wing that supports reforms, systemic
change, with Minister Seiran Ohanyan at its head. The other wing is
the so-called conservative wing of the representatives of the old
generation who oppose reforms.

The fact that the plight in the army has appeared in the focus of an
international analytical center is evidence that the armed forces
of Armenia are more than just an official occasion for Armenia to
feed the Armenians with patriotic pathos. The Armenian forces in the
region have more serious tasks and mission than just being a dried
butterfly between the pages of the textbook of patriotism.

In Armenia this must be recognized in a broad social and political
scope to shape an attitude to the army.

However, it is also obvious that instead of generating this
understanding the Armenian government does everything it can to
keep the army away from this understanding and keeping it as a mere
subject of toasts. The reason is that the main mission of the army is
to act as a tool to support the government of Armenia, either through
physical deployment or propaganda.

At least, the stance of official Yerevan does not allow supposing
the opposite. And this continues to take lives of young citizens of
Armenia. To measure this with statistics is equal to insanity.

The British experts state that the so-called conservative wing in the
armed forces hinders the defense minister Seiran Ohanyan and the new
generation of military officers to carry out successful reforms. The
British experts wonder whether President Sargsyan will support the
minister of defense to face this serious challenge.

The British experts do not specify who the representatives of the
conservative wing are. Meanwhile, it is high time to name these
people. Who are these people, what division are they in, who opposes
to the minister, and whom does Serzh Sargsyan’s silence support?

This is certainly an issue for Minister Ohanyan to address, rather than
the British experts. It is obvious that he has become the target in the
tragedies happening in the army. And it is something normal because
Seiran Ohanyan is the minister of defense and he is responsible for
the lives of the young conscripts.

However, it is also clear that the army has its structure with
important divisions, such as the General Staff which is responsible
for the operations of the army. However, the responsibility of the
General Staff is never brought up. And the chief of the General Staff,
presently Yuri Khachaturov, is appointed by the head of state.

Consequently, the problem is there. Does Khachaturov hinder Ohanyan?

If yes, why does Ohanyan fail to express himself and resort to public
support to force Serzh Sargsyan to carry out a reshuffle? If not,
it is not true that Seiran Ohanyan is the leader of the reformist
wing in the army. Because if the General Staff and the ministry of
defense are not opponents regarding the reforms, it is difficult to
imagine what can subvert the success of these reforms.

It is possible that Seiran Ohanyan is restrained by Serzh Sargsyan
who is reluctant to start a reshuffle on the eve of the elections and
enter into a conflict with the generals ridding of which is a vital
need for the army.

The British experts think that Serzh Sargsyan runs a risk anyway
because unsolved problems in the army may mobilize a great number of
forces in the pre-election stage, from right nationalists to liberal
democrats.

EXPERT: KOCHARIAN’S COMEBACK WILL SHAPE MULTIPOLAR POLITICAL SYSTEM

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 6, 2012 – 12:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia is in need of a multipolar political system
that would secure balance of power and parliamentarianism, Armenian
political scientist said.

Levon Shirinyan told a press conference that former President of
Armenia Robert Kocharian’s comeback will foster development of the
above-mentioned system.

The expert further attached importance to formation of a new political,
economic and ideological elite in the country as a result of free
elections.

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT CALLS TO FIGHT AGAINST AZERBAIJAN’S DISTORTION POLICY NOT WITH STATEMENTS BUT CONCRETE STEPS

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 6, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: It is necessary to fight against
Azerbaijan’s distortion policy not with statements but concrete steps,
chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Samvel Nikoyan said today
in response to the question of ARF MP Armen Rustamyan why the NA is not
discussing the statement on subjecting Azerbaijan to responsibility
for its attempts to settle Nagorno Karabakh in a military way,
distorting the essence of the conflict, impeding the peace talks.

“I share your concern expressed in this statement, I think all the MPs
here agree with it. There is no issue connected with the content,”
Samvel Niloyan said. He also voiced opinion that such document must
be adopted at more efficient time.

UNITY OF ARMENIA’S “FREE DEMOCRATS” AND “HERITAGE” PARTY IS THE DEMAND OF SOCIETY, KOKOBELYAN BELIEVES

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 6, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: Unity of “Free Democrats” and
“Heritage” party is the demand of the society, chairman of the “Free
Democrats” party Khachatur Kokobelyan told news conference February 6.

He said “Heritage” is a party in which they see ideological
commonality. “In near future the two parties will present the responses
to all the questions connected with their unity. A political will
should be displayed for cooperating together,” Kokobelyan said.

He said he does not imagine alliance with ARF as they are in different
ideological platforms. The cooperation will be established with all
those stakeholders who have clear ideas.

Kokobelyan informed that the party is planning to hold its congress
in the period between March 2-10.

THE START OF NEGOTIATIONS ON DCFTA AGREEMENT TO BE ANNOUNCED DURING ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO BRUSSELS

Noyan Tapan – News from Armenia
2012-02-06 13:29:45 | | Politics

The works realized in Armenia for starting the negotiations on the
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement with the European
Union (DCFTA) will be given a final assessment on February 5.

Armenian Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan said this during the
discussions with the Armenian Prime Minister on January 30.

“The meeting aims to discuss the course of fulfillment of our
commitments to the EU. We are preparing the Armenian President’s visit
to Brussels within which the start of negotiations on the agreement
(the undertaken commitments are the precondition to the agreement)
will be announced.

First of all, we should discuss the package of legislative amendments
in the parliament which was adopted at the first reading and concerns
the standardization and metrology. We should adopt these laws at the
second and third readings”, noted Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

Tigran Davtyan said that the approved measures were mostly implemented
in four areas – reforms in the sphere of eliminating technical
hindrances of trade, sanitary, rights of intellectual property and
general coordination.

RUSSIAN FIRST DEPUTY PM VICTOR ZUBKOV DUE IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
06.02.2012 13:54

First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Victor Zubkov will pay a working
visit to Yerevan February 6-7 at the invitation of Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan. Issues of economic cooperation will be
discussed within the framework of the visit, RIA Novosti reports.

Zubkov is expected to meet Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

The Deputy Prime Minister will be accompanied by Transport Minister
Igor Levitin, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Commission on Economic
Cooperation. The latter will meet Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,
the Armenian Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission.

Upon the outcome of the visit the parties are expected to sign the
concept of long-term cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and
the Russian Federation by 2020.

Victor Zubkov’s visit opens the series of Armenian-Russian
consultations. Secretary of the National Security Council of Russia
Nikolay Patrushev and Director General of “Rosatom” Sergey Kirienko
are also due in Yerevan this week.

LA GEORGIE EST SALUEE POUR SA LUTTE CONTRE LA CORRUPTION DANS LES SERVICES PUBLICS
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 6 fevrier 2012

La strategie deployee par la Georgie pour combattre la corruption dans
les services publics s’est revelee particulièrement efficace ; elle
pourrait etre adaptee et appliquee dans des pays qui, devant aussi
faire face a une corruption generalisee, rencontrent des problèmes
comparables. C’est ce qu’indique un nouveau rapport de la Banque
mondiale rendu public aujourd’hui et intitule Fighting Corruption in
Public Services : Chronicling Georgia’s Reforms.

” La corruption est parfois consideree comme endemique, comme un
element de la culture locale traditionnelle, et elle apparaît par
la-meme inevitable, explique Philippe Le Houerou, vice-president pour
la Region Europe et Asie centrale a la Banque mondiale. La Georgie a
montre que l’on pouvait briser le cercle vicieux de la corruption et,
par des reformes appropriees et decisives, lui substituer un cercle
vertueux. ”

Depuis la Revolution des roses, fin 2003, les efforts entrepris par
la Georgie pour s’attaquer a la corruption dans l’administration ont
ete couronnes de succès. Cependant, les ressorts de cette reussite
ont ete jusqu’ici peu documentes. Quels ont ete les traits marquants
de la lutte contre la corruption en Georgie ? Les resultats obtenus
a ce jour seront-ils durables ? Et cette methode georgienne peut-elle
etre reproduite ailleurs ?

Le rapport de la Banque mondiale s’est attache a repondre a ces
questions en procedant a des etudes de cas constituees a partir
des donnees d’un certain nombre de services publics specifiques
(police de patrouille, administration fiscale, douanes, secteur de
l’electricite, reglementation des entreprises, registres civils et
publics, examens d’entree a l’universite et services municipaux) ;
une serie d’entretiens a egalement ete menee auprès de fonctionnaires
encore en exercice ou non. Ce rapport analyse aussi le cadre de
responsabilite qui regit les relations entre l’Etat, les prestataires
de services publics et les usagers.

Jusqu’en 2003, la corruption etait presente dans quasiment tous
les aspects de la vie quotidienne en Georgie. Il fallait verser un
pot-de-vin pour acceder a la plupart des services publics, qu’il
s’agisse d’obtenir un permis de conduire ou un passeport, de faire
enregistrer un bien, de creer une entreprise, de construire une maison
ou encore d’etre admis dans une universite d’Etat. À partir de cette
annee charnière, les mesures engagees au titre de la politique de
” tolerance zero ” du gouvernement ont spectaculairement reduit
le nombre des paiements non officiels dans de multiples services
administratifs. C’est ainsi qu’aujourd’hui, la plupart des indicateurs
se rapprochent de ceux des pays de l’Union europeenne plus avances.

” Cette publication recourt a une approche objective qui s’appuie
sur des etudes de cas factuelles pour retracer la manière dont a ete
combattue la corruption dans certains services publics, explique Asad
Alam, directeur regional des operations de la Banque mondiale pour
le Sud-Caucase et auteur principal du rapport. Elle s’attache tout
particulièrement a rendre compte de la conception et de l’application
de ces reformes, en cherchant a faire la lumière sur le processus de
decision, sur les arbitrages operes par les autorites, ainsi que sur
le sequencage et les complementarites des diverses reformes. ”

Les etudes de cas font apparaître dix facteurs qui ont preside
aux reussites de la Georgie a ce jour : exprimer une forte volonte
politique ; asseoir tôt la credibilite ; lancer un assaut frontal ;
attirer de nouveaux agents ; limiter le rôle de l’Etat ; adopter des
methodes non conventionnelles ; veiller a une coordination etroite
; adapter l’experience internationale aux conditions locales ;
tirer parti de la technologie et faire un usage strategique des
communications. Si nombre de ces facteurs peuvent sembler evidents,
ce sont l’ampleur, l’audace, le rythme et le sequencage des reformes
qui font la specificite de la strategie georgienne.

En outre, le rapport dresse l’agenda des reformes institutionnelles
qu’il reste a operer afin de perenniser les resultats de la lutte
contre la corruption en Georgie, avec notamment la mise en place d’un
système solide de poids et de contrepoids. Il souligne egalement que,
meme si les conditions initiales, la nature du problème de corruption
et l’economie politique sont propres a chaque pays, bien des aspects
de la strategie georgienne peuvent etre reproduits dans d’autres pays.

L’exemple de la Georgie met a bas l’idee d’une ” corruption culturelle
” et donne de l’espoir a tous les decisionnaires, fonctionnaires et
citoyens qui, dans de nombreux pays, aspirent a l’assainissement des
services publics.

ARMENIAN DAVOS AS ALTERNATIVE TO WORLD DAVOS

/ARKA/
FEBRUARY 6, 2012
TSAKHKADZOR

TSAKHKADZOR, February 6. /ARKA/. The ninth international economic
forum, Bridge, was launched Saturday in the Armenian resort of
Tsakhkadzor.

The key topic of this forum that is also called Armenian Davos is
The New Mentality of the New Reality.

Sessions, round-table discussions, conferences, presentations and
BRIDGE AWARD ceremony will be held as part of the forum.

What Armenia Has Lost in Distant Davos?

Armenia didn’t attend the World Economic Forum held recently in Davos.

Explaining this, Armenian Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan said that
presence of Armenia’s representatives, first of all, depends on
the agenda of the forum. It is important how much the issues under
discussion have in common with Armenia.

Finding Armenia’s presence there senseless, the minister said that
if country’s delegation attended this forum, it would be just a
pro-forma presence.

“Nevertheless, we keep watch on developments and discussions at various
economic forums,” he said. “Fortunately, up-to-date telecommunication
means provide comprehensive information about every event.”

Armenia Keeps in Touch with Latest Developments in World Economy

The agenda of “Armenian Davos” is focused on developments inside
Armenia and outside of it.

The minister thinks that 2012 will be an interesting year in terms
of global economic developments and processes in the global economic
system and the world’s largest economies, such as US, EU and CIS
economies.

The global economic crisis that reached its peak in 2008 to 2010 has
substantially changed Armenia’s approaches and perception of economic
values and economic policy’s agenda.

“It doesn’t mean that global economic approaches have changed –
it means that certain specification has been made”, he said.

Davtyan hopes that the global economy just reached an important stage
and that economic and political efforts will produce positive results
and current temporary risks will subside.

“Certain positive signs, which emerged recently, give grounds for hope
that adverse outlooks are exaggerated and that everything will be OK.”

It isn’t a secret that Armenia’s economy is closely connected with
European system – about 50% of its exports are sent exactly to European
countries. That is why, he said, developments in Europe have direct
impacts on Armenian economy.

“This crisis is mainly due to sovereign debt problems,” he said.

“However, as we see, political and economic authorities of the
European Union are making every effort, and I think the situation is
under control.”

The minister is very optimistic about the situation, since he is
convinced that developments will be predictable and that it will be
possible to put things right soon.

Let Those Unable to Help Us Not to Disturb Us at Least

The minister said that the bulk of the challenges Armenia faces now
are coming from abroad. He is convinced that if no adverse factors come
from the outside, Armenia will be able to ensure positive developments
in its economy with own efforts alone.