Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Russia preparing ‘final assault’ to take back Georgia
By F. Michael Maloof
03/07/2015

WASHINGTON — As the focus of world attention remains on ISIS,
Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine and other countries that once
comprised the Soviet Union are receiving little notice, particularly
Moscow’s designs for Georgia, which will have ramifications for the
entire Caucasus region.

`Russia might be preparing for a final assault on Georgia which
certainly may include overt military pressure,’ said Vasil Rukhadze of
the Washington, D.C.-based think-tank Jamestown Foundation.

One of the reasons Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking
critically at Georgia is that it has sought to join the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, or NATO, and continues to seek membership despite
Kremlin warnings.

Putin’s moves into Ukraine and now the threats toward Georgia are to
maintain a buffer between the NATO countries and the Russian
Federation. Putin has been critical of NATO’s `eastward expansion,’
such as in the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia,
where a significant number of ethnic Russians reside.

There also are mounting concerns that Moscow has targeted Estonia,
because of its weak economy and political uncertainty, to force the
country, along with the entire Baltic to leave NATO and rejoin its
Eurasian Union.

For now, however, the immediate concern after Ukraine is Georgia, with
Russian troops occupying the two Georgian breakaway provinces of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

`Russia’s recent activities in Georgia strongly suggest where the
Kremlin may wish to move forward next, should Russia prevail in the
Ukrainian war and succeed in dismembering this country or ensuring
Kiev’s forced subjugation back into the Russian `sphere of privileged
interest,’ he said.

The Russians are all but prepared to annex Abkhazia, now that Russian
President Vladimir Putin has ratified the so-called `Alliance and
Strategic Partnership Treaty’ with that region.

Russian troops occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the 2008
Russian invasion of Georgia, which lasted five days. Russian troops
have never left.

At the same time, Moscow is working, in effect, to annex South
Ossetia, much as it did Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula last year, with an
Abkhazia-type Alliance and Strategic Partnership Treaty.

Some regional observers say Russia’s 2008 advance into Georgia and
takeover of its two breakaway provinces was just a warm-up to annex
the Crimean Peninsula.

Now, the rest of Ukraine, especially in the East, is looking at the
specter of Russia being called in to protect ethnic Russians there,
much as it did in Crimea.

Russia’s treaty with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which the
international community still regard as part of Georgia, underscores
the priority it holds in regaining its hold on Georgia and the
overarching importance the Caucasus holds for Moscow.

`Needless to say, Russia does not intend to give up anything in
Georgia and the Caucasus,’ Rukhadze said. `Quite to the contrary, the
Kremlin is actually consolidating, and rather successfully so, its
position in the region.’

He said that after Ukraine, Georgia is perhaps the former Soviet
republic that has been `vigorously’ resisting membership in the
Russian Eurasian Economic Union, which is supposed to be the economic
counterpart to the West’s European Union.

In Rukhadze’s view, the Eurasian Economic Union is nothing more than a
cover for Putin to resurrect the Soviet Union.

`So, by subduing Georgia, Putin will be able (to) obtain the last
highly important piece to complete his Eurasian integrationist
project,’ Rukhadze said.

But Putin has other strategic designs for the region, which would give
him access to one of the major oil and natural gas pipelines outside
Ukraine to provide energy to Europe.

It also would give Russia a long-sought direct land link to Armenia,
which Rukhadze describes as a `key satellite’ in the South Caucasus
region.

The landline would permit Moscow to resupply its only military base
outside the Russian Federation, a request it has made to the Georgian
government that consistently has been rejected.

With such a land-link directly from the Russian Federation into
Armenia, Moscow would geographically isolate Azerbaijan from the West,
which then would prompt that country’s `inevitable return to the
Russian orbit,’ Rukhadze said.

Neither Georgia nor the West seem to be prepared to respond to the
prospect of a Russian takeover in Georgia, establishing a landline
into Armenia and moving Azerbaijan back under Moscow’s influence.

`As a result, once Russia strikes, [the West is] likely to be caught
by surprise, as was the case when Russia annexed Crimea and launched
the war in eastern Ukraine,’ Rukhadze said.

`Hence, Russia’s every step in Georgia and in the entire Caucasus
region will need to be carefully analyzed and counterbalanced,’ he
said.

`Failure to do so, as recent history has already shown, may yield
far-reaching, devastating results.’

JAVAKH NEWS LAUNCHES ARMENIAN EDITION

12:12, March 6, 2015

Yesterday saw the launch of an Armenian edition of Javakhk News.

The site is run by the Open Borders, an NGO created last year by
reporters in Javakhk.

The aim of the site was to offer a news service, in Armenian and
Georgian to the area. Instead the site offers news in Armenian and
Russian.

Open Borders says the site, financed and technically assisted by the
United States National Endowment for Democracy and the Czech social
and ecological NGO NESEHNUTÍ .

Javakhk News currently has an editor, manager, three reporters,
and a correspondent in Ninotzminda.

TURKISH PRESIDENT ERDOGAN FINED FOR CALLING PEACE STATUE A ‘MONSTROSITY’

06/03/2015 | 13:19

OPEN GALLERY 1The ‘Monument to Humanity’ was demolished by local
officials after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed is
dislike of the piece

An Istanbul court has ordered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to
pay EURO 3,500 to an artist after the politician called his sculpture a
“monstrosity.”

Mehmet Aksoy’s ‘Monument to Humanity’ featured two human figures
towering 30 metres above the eastern city of Kars, and was designed
to symbolise reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia.

But Mr Erdogan made his feelings towards the piece clear in 2011,
when, as Prime Minister, he visited the site and suggested it should
be removed as it was being erected in the eastern city of Kars.

His comments prompted local authorities there to dismantle the artwork.

Aksoy subsequently sued Erdogan for “insult” to his work, the Anadolu
Agency reported.

During the trial, the Turkish Language Association argued in court
that the word Mr Erdogan used – “ucube”, meaning monstrosity or freak –
is not an insult, but rather means “very strange and very ugly”.

However, the court has now ordered Erdogan to compensate Aksoy for
the mental anguish caused.

Relations between Turkey and Armenia have long been strained over
the mass killings of Armenians under Ottoman rule, which mean the
two nations have no diplomatic ties.

Next month marks the 100th anniversary of the start what experts call
the Armenian Genocide – a term the Turkish government rejects.

The death toll of the tragedy is disputed, as Armenians say 1.5
million died, but Turkey estimates the total to be 300,000.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS TO BE MAINSTREAM OF POLITICAL PROCESSES IN ARMENIA THIS YEAR – MP

13:37 * 06.03.15

In an interview with Tert.am, Tevan Poghosyan, an MP of the Heritage
party, spoke of the process of constitutional reforms.

According to him, constitutional reforms are not an end in itself.

They are only a means. Since the pro-European camp is not full-fledged
yet, the reforms are going to be the mainstream of political processes
during the following months if not throughout the year.

The Prosperous Armenia party’s congress on Thursday clarified the
political changes that have been taking place in the last few weeks.

Asked to comment on the congress’ decisions and the current political
situation, Mr Poghosyan said:

“I think the Prosperous Armenia party is a zealous, capable and
efficient team. Naira Zohrabyan has repeatedly proved her ability
to be a political leader – both in Armenia and at the international
level. And I am sure she is going to do even more. I am willing to
cooperate with the team over all the issues in the context of common
approaches.”

As regards the current political situation, two different opinions
are impossible. Armenia needs an alternative ideology of the country’s
development, which would be able to make a bid for a different future
for Armenia.

“In this respect, political forces and figures deciding in favor of
Europe must unite,” Mr Poghosyan said.

Speaking of the role of constitutional reforms and the Heritage
party’s approach, he said:

“I am not authorized to speak on behalf of the Heritage party. I can
only tell you my personal opinion. Constitutional reforms are not an
end in itself. They are only a means. Since the pro-European camp is
not full-fledged yet, the reforms are going to be the mainstream of
political processes during the following months if not throughout the
year. And remaining outside it means remaining outside the mainstream.

I think we can have a Constitution that will meet European standards
provided we carry out serious work – especially with respect to human
rights and an independent judicial system.”

As regards a government system, Mr Poghosyan has fears about
Armenia’s national security if Armenia favors parliamentary system,
as well as about a balance of power and democracy if Armenia favors
a presidential system.

KARABAKH SAYS SEVEN AZERI SERVICEMEN WERE KILLED OVERNIGHT

13:21, 06 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

About 80 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were
registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan last night. The rival fired more than 4,500
shots from weapons of different caliber in the direction of the
Armenian positions.

The adversary also used large caliber weapons as they fired in the
direction Shahumyan. The Armenian forces had to resort to response
actions to pressure the activeness of the rival, as a result of which
at least three Azeri soldiers were killed.

The NKR armed forces also undertook preventive measures in the
northeastern part of the line of contact. According to confirmed data,
four soldiers of Azeri Special Forces were killed.

The Armenian side incurred no losses, the NKR Defense Ministry said.

The front troops of the Defense Army confidently continue with their
military duty all along the line of contact.

ARMENTEL’S MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS GREW BY 12 PERCENT IN 2014 TO 770,000- CEO

YEREVAN, March 5. / ARKA /. ArmenTel telecom’s CEO (trading as Beeline)
Andrei Pyatakhin said today the number of its mobile subscribers
increased by 11.9% in 2014 to over 770,000. He specified that at the
end of 2013 their number stood at 688,000.

Presenting today the financial results and key achievements of the
company in 2014 Pyatakhin said

the outflow (of subscribers) in the fourth quarter of 2014 was 10.9%,
which was 1.5% less than in the same period of 2013.

ArmenTel is owned fully by Russian VimpelCom. It provides fixed and
mobile telephony and high-speed Internet. -0-

WHY YERVAND ZAKHARYAN CLOSED DATA ON SOIL?

10:47 March 04, 2015

Pan-Armenian Environmental Front

The Pan-Armenian Environmental Front (PEF) has sent a written enquiry
to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan, where
they demanded to post some information on the official website of
the ministry or to provide this information to them. Particularly the
volumes of mined ore, metals and accompanying components for 2002-2014,
as well as the results of the inspections carried out in the companies
in charge of mine development.

Nevertheless, the Ministry, without any grounds, rejected to post
this information on the website or to provide the information. The
official letter says that according to different articles of RA Code
on Subsoil such information is regarded as geological information
and can’t be disclosed without the soil manager’s consent, which has
no comparison with the legislation and violated the right to receive
environment-related information.

We think that the ministry has grossly violated public right to
receive information and have applied to the Ombudsman’s office in
this regard. A question arises: why Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Yervand Zakharyan closed the data on soil and what he has
to hide from public.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL TO BE ERECTED IN COSTA MESA

16:06, 6 March, 2015

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. A memorial dedicated to the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be erected at St. Mary
Armenian Apostolic Church in Costa Mesa, California. As reports
“Armenpress” citing Daily Pilot, the opening ceremony will be held
on March 8. On March 8, after the dedication, the church will hold
a commemorative ceremony at Orange Coast College’s Robert B. Moore
Theatre. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese
of the Armenian Church, will lead an invocation and benediction,
and speeches and musical performances will round out the program.

The diocese has recently undertaken a similar project, dedicating
the Holy Martyrs’ Monument in January at its headquarters in Burbank.

Other commemorative events are planned around Southern California in
the coming months, including “LIFE:100,” an art exhibit at the Brand
Library & Art Center in Glendale, and LA2DC, a genocide-awareness
cycling and running marathon from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.

Will the commemorations this year make a difference — especially
for those who have refused to budge in the past? Tashjian, who has
served as St. Mary’s pastor since 1992, hopes so.

“I only pray, as a priest, that the government of Turkey, once and for
all, will recognize and do justice to the deceased Armenian citizens
of Turkey,” he said. “This is my prayer and wish, and I hope I see
that in my lifetime.”

Among other things, the Daily Pilot reported: “When Moushegh
Tashjian was growing up, his father never spoke to him much about his
experience surviving the Armenian genocide. But he and his siblings
heard harrowing stories about it from their grandmother.

Actually, she wasn’t their real grandmother — something Tashjian
only realized as he grew older. His father’s mother had perished in
the Turkish government’s campaign, which began during World War I
and, by typical estimates, left 1.5 million dead. After Tashjian’s
grandmother died, his grandfather married a woman who had lost two
husbands and three children in the forced marches across the desert.

Hearing her accounts as a child, Tashjian — now the pastor of St. Mary
Armenian Apostolic Church in Costa Mesa — felt hatred toward those
who had victimized his family and others.

Only in later years, he said, did he let that attitude slip.

“As a young child, as a young boy, I would picture a Turk with
the Ottoman-style clothing, with fez, with, what do you call it,”
he said, drawing the shape of a robe with his hands as he sat in the
community room of St. Mary last week. “And with a sword. And I would
see pictures of Turks slaughtering Armenians. They were everywhere.

“And, of course, yeah we wanted justice. And we still do.”

On March 8, the Eastside church will dedicate the Genocide Centennial
Monument, a sculpture that features a pair of white marble pillars
connected by a cross, set on a black granite base where a small
fountain, flame and garden will eventually reside.

The church formed a remembrance committee and called for artists to
submit designs. Nearly a dozen entries came in, and Harout Joulhaian, a
Burbank resident who sometimes attends St. Mary services, got the nod.

Joulhaian, who grew up in Syria and moved to the United States 10
years ago, was partly inspired by his grandparents, who survived the
genocide. In crafting his design, he aimed for a mixture of somberness
and hope.

“The fountain and the flame and the black granite represent the
memory of our tragic past and symbolize the life and immortality of
the 1.5 million Armenians,” Joulhaian said. “And the white two pillars
symbolize our new generation and the bright future, which is that we
are living now in this free country and we can express our feelings.

These two white pillars are attached with the cross, which symbolizes
our Christian faith and belief.”

St. Mary’s congregation raised money to pay for the monument, which
Tashjian estimated would cost between $50,000 and $60,000. Some members
of the church donated construction work for free; contractors will
do the rest.”

NON-FOOD PRICES IN FEBRUARY 2015 INCREASE BY 0.7% FROM JANUARY-NATIONAL STATISTICAL SERVICE

YEREVAN, March 6. / ARKA /. Non-food prices in February 2015 increased
by 0.7% from January, according to the data of Armenia’s National
Statistical Service (NSS).

The rise was driven by an increase in the prices of horticultural
products – 1.3%, stationery goods-1.3%, kitchen utensils – 1.4%
textiles-1.6%, gold products – 1.7%, furniture- 1. 8%, rugs- 2.1%,
personal goods 2.8%, medicines- 3%, cleaning materials- 3.1%, consumer
electronics- 3.4%, building materials – 4.7% and beauty products – 5.1%

At the same time, prices of fuel dropped by 2.9%, prices of
recreational goods fell by 1.3%, prices of clothing and embroidery
decreased by 0.7% and footwear by 0.2%.

The prices for foodstuffs in February 2015 were 0.7% lower than in
January. NSS said.-0-

ARMENIA-EU: OFFICIALS SAY NO TALKS ON NEW AGREEMENT UNDERWAY AHEAD OF RIGA SUMMIT

ANALYSIS | 06.03.15 | 10:35

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

The Eastern Partnership summit will take place in Riga, Latvia, in May,
but Armenia has not yet restarted its negotiations with the European
Union with a view to concluding a new agreement.

The EU itself has not yet decided how it should approach the problems
of the Eastern Partnership Program participants.

Armenia’s First Deputy Minister of Economy Garegin Melkonyan stressed
that only “specialized discussions” are being conducted with the EU.

“No negotiating process is now being conducted with the European Union,
the matter only concerns specialized discussions. These are discussions
about the direction, the scope of areas of further cooperation and
the formation of common points of view,” said the deputy minister.

Meanwhile, on March 5, the EU held consultations on the crisis in
Ukraine, during which the need “to ensure greater coherence between
the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and the EU’s relations with
Russia and partners in Central Asia” was stressed. The European
Commission said that the new edition of the ENP will be ready by fall.

Meanwhile, many experts blame the Brussels authorities for not taking
into account the possible reaction of Russia to expanding EU influence
when it began promoting the integration of “Eastern partners” –
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine.

Russian politicians and experts recently began to say that the EU
may agree to discuss issues connected with the European association
of former Soviet republics with Russia. Until now, the EU leaders
rejected this possibility, considering that Russia does not have the
right to interfere in the affairs of sovereign post-Soviet countries
and the EU. But Moscow has consistently promoted the idea of creating
a large alliance between the EU and the Eurasian Union. The EU has
not recognized the Eurasian Union yet.

Armenia, which was to have signed an association agreement with the EU
in November 2013, about two months before announced its intention to
join the Russian-led Eurasian Union. Since then, negotiations within
the framework of the Eastern Partnership Program have not resumed. In
Ukraine, this process resulted in a large-scale war, and Armenian
experts say that if Yerevan had signed the EU Association Agreement
the country would have inevitably been plunged into war, too.

At the same time, after joining the Eurasian Economic Union from
January 2, 2015, Armenia more and more often has to turn to Europe
and the United States for assistance, because the economic situation
in Armenia is close to critical. The Fitch agency said that Ukraine
and Armenia experienced the greatest knock-on effects of the Western
sanctions imposed against Russia. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
Eric Rubin stated that his country would help Armenia overcome the
effects of the sanctions imposed on Russia. Europe has not yet declared
about a similar approach.

However, as Armenia’s Minister of Economy Karen Chshmaritian said,
Armenia is trying to diversify its exports and direct them towards
Europe and the Arab countries. Statistical data on exports in January
show that at least on paper the amount of goods exported by Armenia
to Russia during the period in question decreased by 99.9 percent,
while exports to European and Arab countries grew significantly.