Author: Kalantarian Kevo

A DO-IT-YOURSELF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN MEDIATION IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Published on Monday, 15 December 2014 13:50Category: Articles and
CommentaryWritten by Jon Inarritu and Urko Aiartza

A fatal ceasefire violation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict took
place on November 12th 2014 when Azerbaijan forces shot down an
unarmed helicopter from the unrecognised republic, killing all three
crewmembers. As a result, unprecedented tensions rose between the
sides, with Azerbaijan prohibiting the recovery of the three bodies,
which came down in the so-called “no-man’s land”, alarming the
international community.

Just weeks earlier, under the auspices of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group, the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan, met in Paris
reaffirming their mutual willingness to settle the conflict peacefully.

The ceasefire agreement between Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan and
Armenia was signed in 1994 and the OSCE with its Minsk Group became the
only accepted framework by all sides and the international community
to settle this apparently frozen conflict. To this day, it is the
only self-regulated ceasefire in the world. However, hostilities and
regular casualties keep the conflict alive, with the number of deaths
rocketing this summer to the highest figure since the truce.

The OSCE Minsk Group and most of the international community again
chose a very mild language referring to the downing of the helicopter.

This avoidance of the obvious facts reinforces what Azerbaijan believes
is the right way to act, which includes regular shelling, ceasefire
violations and continuous threats. Therefore, Aliyev’s regime also
felt correct in its decision to deny access to the crash site for
the Red Cross and the OSCE Minsk Group to recover the bodies.

Such an irresponsible attitude could have easily led to severe
consequences.

Finally, the Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army launched a risky operation
and successfully recovered the three bodies registering no casualties
during the operation and thus avoided any further escalation.

A different response could have been expected, but the Nagorno-Karabakh
Defence Army limited itself to recovering the bodies, avoiding
retaliation. Paradoxically, it was this military operation that
prevented a full-scale war this time, with catastrophic consequences
for both for the region and the western oil-dependent economies. No
one can assure that we will be this fortunate next time.

In this context, the international organizations’ wordings, such
as the European Union, the OSCE, and others, “…calling on both
sides…”, “…appeal to the sides to avoid steps…”, seem all the
more inadequate.

The international community should use a more explicit language,
as it can otherwise generate further frustration and – what is
even more dangerous – the feeling of unfairness, abandonment and
resignation, paving the way for what exactly we are trying to avoid:
a do-it-yourself solution.

We are hopeful that the tragic loss of these three lives has helped
everyone understand that especially in diplomacy; it is also important
and has advantages to call things by their name.

Jon Inarritu is a Basque Member of the Spanish Parliament.

Urko Aiartza is a Basque Member of the Spanish Senate.

EXHIBITION OF ARMENIAN ART IN BEIRUT

13:16, 16 Dec 2014

A man with cloven hoofs in place of feet and a clay pot on his head
sips liquor from a martini glass while riding on the back of a giant
fish with legs. A smart black dress and shoes are inhabited by a
single human hand, but no torso, head or limbs. These are just two
of the surreal sights that await visitors to the Beirutjewelry souks
this month. The Yerevan-based Arame Art Gallery is holding its fourth
consecutive exhibition of Armenian art in the two-story gallery
that faces onto the main square. Entitled “Beauty in the Palm,”
the exhibition is showcasing close to 100 paintings, drawings and
sculptures by 23 artists, the Daily Starreports.

Michael Vayejian, the gallery’s Middle East representative, spoke to
The Daily Star about the gallery’s aims, explaining that they select
the best and brightest of Armenia’s 2000 registered professional
artists, representing them at home and at numerous exhibitions
overseas.

The gallery launched a branch in Gemmayzeh in 2011, which is open by
appointment, but Vayejian explained that the annual Beirut show is
an important event.

“According to our experience Lebanese people appreciate art,” he said.

“If the events were not successful we wouldn’t have done them for four
consecutive years. Also Beirut is a place that opens new horizons for
the Arab countries. We know that the situation in Lebanon is not that
good but at the opening there was more than 300 people.”

Though focused on paintings, the show is remarkably broad in
scope, including abstract, figurative, surrealist, hyperrealist
and impressionist work by well-established artists, as well as
up-and-coming youngsters. The intention was to showcase as wide a
variety of styles and approaches as possible, Vayejian explained.

The overwhelming impression is one of vivid color – many of the
artists work with rich jewel tones, which transform the gallery into
a seasonal haven of warm, festive hues.

This year the gallery is showing artists whose work proved popular
at previous editions, as well as a selection of new names. Among
these is Daron Mouradian, whose surreal oil-on-canvas works capture
dreamlike scenes, like the man riding the fish.

Mouradian’s skill with a brush means his bizarre visions take on
an unusual life and depth. In “The Hero,” he captures a man with a
large nose, curled moustache and pointed goatee. His long dark hair
streams out behind him as he sits astride an old-fashioned rocking
horse whose rockers rest on a coiled beast, somewhere between a
serpent and a dragon.

Other noteworthy artists on show this year include Jean Carzou
(born Garnik Zouloumian in Aleppo in 1907), who took part in more
than a hundred exhibitions worldwide before his death in 2000. In
“Beauty in the Palm,” visitors can feast their eyes on several works
of lithography, in which the artist pairs sketchy black landscapes
with warm washes of blue, orange and yellow.

Jean Jansem (born Hovhannes Semerjian in Turkey in 1920) passed away
last year. He is represented in this show by a series of lithographs
and drawings on paper, capturing reclining women clad in frilly
dresses that evoke the petals of a daffodil.

A more somber note is struck by Ruben Grigorian, whose black-and-white
hyperrealist works, among them the empty dress and shoes, capture
eerie scenes in such painstaking detail that they appear to leap off
the canvas.

“Beauty in the Palm” continues at the Beirut Jewelry Souks until
Dec. 30.

LES PRIX DES POMMES DE TERRE D’ARMENIE POURRAIENT AUGMENTER JUSQU’A 300 DRAMS PAR KILO

ARMENIE

Les prix des pommes de terre pourraient s’elever a 300 drams par
kilogramme en Armenie en raison de mauvais rendement a declare le
president l’association agraire et paysanne d’Armenie Hrach Berberyan.

Les prix actuels varient entre 150 et 250 drams par kilo.

Un rendement relativement faible est enregistre dans la region du
Shirak et les cultures ont failli complètement dans d’autres fermes
en raison de problèmes d’irrigation qui ont ete causees par un
fonctionnement inefficace des reservoirs d’eau et les detournements
par les centrales hydroelectriques et les fermes piscicoles de l’eau
d’irrigation pour leurs fins a declare Hrach Berberyan lors d’une
conference de presse.

L’Association agraire et paysan d’Armenie a l’intention de proposer
au gouvernement la creation d’une commission speciale pour faire face
aux restrictions a la consommation de l’eau par des piscicultures
en particulier.

Les exportations de pommes de terre seront plus faibles cette annee
par rapport a 2013, lorsque 45000 tonnes ont ete recoltees.

mardi 16 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIAN LABOR MIGRANTS PLANNING TO HEAD TO RUSSIA SHOULD BE AWARE OF CHANGES IN ITS IMMIGRATION LAW

YEREVAN, December 16. / ARKA /. A senior official of Armenia’s State
Migration Service has urged today Armenian labor migrants planning to
head to Russia to learn about latest changes made to its immigration
laws.

Speaking at a news conference Marina Alaverdian, head of the migration
policy of the agency, said a set of recent changes made by Russian
parliament to its immigration law ban the entry of some Armenian
citizens to that country.

According to Armenia’s State Migration Service, in the first quarter
of 2014 some 230,000 citizens of Armenia were registered by Russian
Federal Migration Service at their place of staying, another 15,000 had
permanent residence permits and over 10,000 acquired the citizenship
of Russia.

She also said the treaty on Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian
Economic Union (EEU) entering into force on January 1, 2015,
allows citizens of Armenia to enter the territory of the Russian
Federation and work there without work permits if they have employment
contracts. According to her, the rights of citizens of Armenia are
equaled to the rights of Russian citizens.

The National Assembly of Armenia on December 4 ratified the agreement
on the country’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. It was
also ratified by Russian parliament on December 10. Kazakhstan and
Belarus are expected to do so by the end of the year.-0-

LES ATTAQUES A L’ENCONTRE DES ANCIENS COMBATTANTS SONT DES ACTES D’INTIMIDATION

ARMENIE

Deux recentes attaques a l’encontre d’anciens combattants du Karabagh
ont souleve la speculation qu’il y a une tentative organisee d’annuler
l’opposition au gouvernement actuel.

Le 8 decembre Razmik Petrosyan qui a dirige l’equipe >
pendant la guerre et Manvel Yeghiazaryan, chef d’escouade “Arabo”
ont ete attaque dans un restaurant quand ils ont ete approches par
des hommes qui avaient entendu leur conversation anti-gouvernement.

Razmik Petrosyan a dit que l’altercation n’etait pas simplement
un hasard, mais une tentative d’intimider ceux qui s’opposent au
gouvernement.

> du president Serge Sarkissian et que la
mention de Sedrakyan etait tout simplement une distraction.

Lors de la Journee internationale des droits de l’homme le chef de
la police Vladimir Gasparyan a parle de l’incident en disant que le
fait que les combattants de la liberte a travers les journaux parlent
est surprenant.

> a dit le chef
de la police.

Manvel Yeghiazaryan a dit qu’il n’etait pas un clown pour aller a la
police et lui demander de resoudre son problème.

Plus tard, Suren Sarkissian a rapporte son incident a la police, et une
enquete a ete lancee. Une enquete sur les attaques sur Yeghiazaryan et
Petrosyan a ete lances seulement base sur les publications des medias.

Le president du Comite Helsinki Avetik Ishkhanyan a dit que tout cela
est pris en charge par le climat d’impunite.

Les representants des partis non-gouvernementaux de l’Assemblee
nationale ont fait des commentaires critiquant l’incident et exigeant
une punition immediate.

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN

ArmeniaNow journaliste

mardi 16 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIAN DEFENSE CHIEF VISITS MILITARY POSTS IN KARABAKH

NEWS | 16.12.14 | 13:42

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, who is on a visit to the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), on Tuesday visited the military
posts located in the eastern direction.

According to the Armenian Defense Ministry press service, on the trip
Ohanyan was accompanied by Defense Army commander, Lieutenant-General
Movses Hakobyan.

The two defense chiefs reportedly got familiarized with the
conditions of military service, engineering work conducted to raise
the security of the personnel, combat duty, the combat readiness and
moral-psychological state of servicemen as well as inquired about
their living conditions.

EU AMBASSADOR PLEDGES CONTINUED COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

14:55 * 16.12.14

The EU ambassador to Armenia said Tuesday that the Union respects
all its partners’ decisions and choices to join different trade blocs
and promised to continue cooperation with Armenia after the country’s
accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

Trajan Hristea said that though September 3, 2013 decision (President
Serzh Sargsyan’s statement announcing a political U-turn) came as a
surprise to the EU, its institutions fully considered the its reasons,
thinking of future ways of developing the partnership.

The diplomat said he hopes that discussions will help reach a
consensus, adding that the future trends of cooperation were agreed
upon at the EU Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius (Lithuania)
last year.

He said that the past year was a period of important developments,
with the sides demonstrating willingness to continue trade cooperation
and partnership in sectors of mutual interest.

Describing Armenia as the third key trade partner for the EU in both
the exports and imports, Mr Hristea noted that the EU remains the
major investor in the country.

The ambassador said that the mutual partnership will continue in
both the trade sector and human rights protection. He also promised
continued efforts in the development of rural communities, and civil
society-building.

He added that the Union did not enforce any sanctions in Armenia after
the September 3 statement that marked a major shift in the country’s
foreign policy line after over three years of negotiations over the
Association Agreement.

Addressing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ambassador said that the
Union has always backed the current format of negotiated settlement
of the land dispute.

Asked to comment on the recent acts of violence against opposition
representatives, Mr Hristea said only that the corresponding circles
have taken the fact into consideration. But he refrained from any
evaluation, promising that the EU will soon make a joint statement
with partners to address the incident.

LA FAIBLESSE DU DRAM BLÂMEE POUR LA HAUSSE DES PRIX DES ALIMENTS

ARMENIE

Les augmentations de ces dernières semaines des prix des denrees
alimentaires cles en Armenie sont la consequence inevitable d’une
depreciation importante de la monnaie nationale, le dram, a declare
l’organisme en charge de la lutte contre les monopoles.

Artak Shaboyan, le president de la Commission d’Etat sur la protection
de la concurrence economique (SCPEC), a declare que l’organisme
de reglementation n’a jusqu’ici trouve aucune preuve de grands
importateurs de produits alimentaires qui abusent de leur position
dominante sur le marche.

> a declare Artak Shaboyan
au Premier ministre Hovik Abrahamian et aux membres de son cabinet.

Artak Shaboyan s’est adresse a la reunion du cabinet afin de presenter
les resultats de la surveillance continue de la SPEC des prix a
la consommation, qui a commence après que le dram ait commence a
s’affaiblir contre le dollar americain il y a un mois. Selon lui, les
prix des produits importes tels que la farine, le sucre, la volaille,
les oeufs, le beurre et l’huile de cuisson ont augmente de 2 a 13 pour
cent. Le dram s’est affaibli de plus de 11 pour cent par rapport au
dollar durant cette periode.

Les entreprises laitières armeniennes ont egalement augmente leurs
prix, citant un dram plus faible. Artak Shaboyan a fait valoir qu’ils
importent de grandes quantites de lait en poudre dans les mois d’hiver
en raison d’une baisse saisonnière de la production nationale de lait.

Artur Javadian, le gouverneur de la Banque Centrale d’Armenie
(CBA), a declare plus tôt cette semaine que les hausses de prix vont
probablement faire augmenter les prix a la consommation jusqu’a 2
points de pourcentage. Mais il a affirme que le taux d’inflation
annuel restera au sein de la cible de 4 pour cent.

Babken Tunian, un journaliste economique a >, a declare
que l’inflation accrue est deja reduit le pouvoir d’achat de la plupart
des Armeniens. >.

mardi 16 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIAN CITIZENS’ COMPLAINTS TO ECHR CLAIM EURO 15.26M COMPENSATION

12:51 * 15.12.14

The institute of the Armenian Government’s Accredited Representative
at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is marking its
10thanniversary.

On this occasion, the institute has organized a conference on European
human rights standards and effective protection of human rights.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General and Armenian Government’s Accredited
Representative at the ECHR Gevorg Kostanyan made an opening speech.

According to him, the Accredited Representative’s mission is to
promote the adoption of European human rights standards by the country.

“According to the ECHR data, over 2,000 complaints against Armenia
were filed from 2000 to November 1, 2014. As of November 1, forty-nine
verdicts were passed,” Mr Kostanyan said.

By November 1, 2014, the complainants had claimed EURO 15,260,000
compensation, with only EURO 574,000 actually paid. Mr Kostanyan gave
assurances that the whole amount will gradually be paid.

President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Gagik Harutyunyan
said that Armenia’s Constitution allows any citizen to apply to
international bodies to protect his or her rights.

Armenia’s Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan said that protection
of human rights is each civilized state’s task.

“In fact, there is no area of life that would not have to do with the
European Convention on Human Rights. However, the European Court of
Human Rights is facing serious challenges,” he said.

Oleksandr Pavlyuk, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Armenia,
noted that the government must remedy the situation in conformity
with the ECHR verdicts.

Alvina Gyulyumyan, former ECHR judge from Armenia, said that the ECHR
has over the period under review been cooperating not only with the
Armenian Government’s Accredited Representative, but also with the
Chamber of Advocates.

“It is noteworthy that the recorded violations have never recurred,”
she said. In some cases, the injustice was remedied even before the
ECHR returned its verdict.

L’ANNEE EST TERMINEE POUR HENRIKH MKHITARYAN BLESSE SAMEDI

FOOTBALL-CHAMPIONNAT D’ALLEMAGNE

La malchance continue de poursuivre Henrikh Mkhitaryan ! Samedi lors
de la 14e journee du championnat d’Allemagne opposant Hertha Berlin au
Borussia Dortmund, l’international armenien s’est une nouvelle fois
blesse a la 30e minute du match. Henrikh Mkhitaryan souffre d’une
dechirure a la cuisse droite. Il sera eloigne des terrains pour les
six prochaines semaines. Ainsi Henrikh Mkhitaryan ne prendra pas part
aux deux prochaines rencontres de la Bundesliga en decembre.

L’international armenien pourra toutefois esperer revenir sur les
terrains pour la phase retour du championnat, fin janvier.

Krikor Amirzayan

lundi 15 decembre 2014, Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com