Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIA WITH ITS HISTORY AND CULTURE IS DEEPLY PRO-EUROPEAN STATE – FRENCH AMBASSADOR

February 11, 2014 | 15:09

YEREVAN. – French Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud said EU and
Armenia decided to revise the background of cooperation, taking into
account the recent developments.

French Ambassador noted that the issue of European integration has
been topical in Armenia for many years.

“The statement of Armenian President made on September 3, 2013 has
changed the situation. Nevertheless, continuation of development
and strengthening of relations with EU in all possible areas remains
on the agenda of Armenia’s foreign policy,” Reynaud said during the
debates on Armenia’s European path.

French diplomat said this was the impression of Armenian president’s
recent statements made during the visit to Czech Republic.

“France has never stopped supporting Armenia on its way and will
continue to provide assistance,” Reyanud said, adding that Armenia
with its history and culture is deeply pro-European state.

Following the talks that were held on September 3, 2013 in Moscow
between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs
Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian Economic
Union. Consequently, Armenia did not initial Association Agreement
with EU during the third Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ‘DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED’ WITH ARMENIA, UKRAINE

11.28.2013 16:00 epress.am

“The Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius marks an important step in
[the] process” of bringing the EU closer to its eastern neighbors
“by fostering stronger economic, political and cultural ties,”
said European Parliament President Martin Schulz on the eve of the
Eastern Partnership summit, according to a press release issued by
the European Parliament.

He continued: “I congratulate Moldova and Georgia on the planned
initialling of the Association Agreements with the EU. I am deeply
disappointed, however, that Ukraine and Armenia have abandoned plans
to sign the Association Agreements at the summit. It is especially
regrettable that the countries’ decisions to reconsider their choices
have been made under external pressure. We should say clearly and
loudly that the economic and political pressure exerted by Russia
against our eastern partners is simply unacceptable.

“I would like to stress that the door of association with the EU
remains open and that we will never abandon the European hopes and
aspirations of the peoples of the region.”

The Vilnius summit on Nov. 28-29 includes representatives from the EU
institutions and member states, as well as the six countries of the
Eastern Partnership: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova
and Ukraine, reports the European Parliament.

LARISA ALAVERDYAN: WITH COE MEMBERSHIP ARMENIA ENTIRELY LOST ABILITY OF HOLDING REAL ELECTIONS

February 11, 2014 | 17:13

YEREVAN. – During its 14 years of membership to the Council of Europe,
Armenia has entirely lost the ability of holding real elections,
former Ombudswoman said.

Speaking during the debates on Armenia’s European integration, Larisa
Alaverdyan said this happened with the help of CoE. The greatest
obstacle to Armenia’s way to Europe is our political culture, and in
particular the absence of the mentioned culture, she said.

“We do not notice the setback. We consider us only as derivatives
from Customs Union and Russia or EU. I am confident we must look for
problems in ourselves,” she said.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

MARGARIT YESAYAN. “THE EUROPEAN MPS WERE OFFENDED THAT ARMENIA HAS CHANGED ITS ORIENTATION.”

February 11 2014

In Strasbourg, February 5-6, the 14th session of the EU-Armenia
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee for the first time in recent
years did not pass the joint statement, which has given rise
to concern among our society. There are many interpretations of
this theme, there is also disagreement among the members of the
Armenian delegation, however, everyone seems to agree on one thing:
the European parliamentarians attitude change was associated with
Armenia’s policy change, with the statement of joining the Customs
Union. To our question whether the statement about joining the Customs
Union was indeed the cause of some tension, Margarit Yesayan, a member
of the EU-Armenia parliamentary Armenian delegation, NA MP, responded,
“From the moment when the President of Armenia stated about Armenia’s
joining the Customs Union on September 3, this was the first session of
the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, and it is natural
that there should be some tension, there should be a situation when
we would be asked and they would want to hear the answers.

Although the agenda was very full, and we had prepared speeches
about many issues and were prepared for discussions, however, it was
obvious that our European partners were mostly interested in why,
after four years of negotiations, when we were obviously going to the
EU Association Agreement, all of a sudden it was announced that we
are joining the CU. They participated in the negotiations over the
Association Agreement, they are well aware of our problems, and it
is natural that they were concerned about the issue, and there was
offensiveness and resentment in somewhere. We, naturally, tried to
remind them that it was not an unexpected decision, that our president
and other officials in various statements did not unequivocally denied
the possibility of joining the Customs Union, we recalled the statement
made by the President of Armenia once, which said “not either-or,
but and-and, that “we are ready to cooperate with the Customs Union
in economic sector, and with the European Union in democracy, human
rights, combat corruption, and introduction of real European values
systems.” To our question of whether this offensiveness caused the
session to fail, Mrs. Yesayan answered, “I have read here in the press
that the session failed, but I officially declare that no such thing
has happened. The session did not fail, two sessions took place:
on February 5 and 6, there was just a delicate difference, since
their plenary session was taking place on the same days, of course,
they also wanted to participate in it, there were not a great number
of deputies in the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. It
was the first time I attended that session, but our older deputies
told that it was also happening in the past, and there were not
very many participating MPs.” We also asked Mrs. Yesayan whether
it is true that should the head of the Armenian delegation, Samvel
Farmanyan, has displayed a diplomatic flexibility, a statement of
not violating Armenia’s interests would be accepted, as it is claimed
by opposition MPs, particularly Tevan Poghosyan from the “Heritage”
and Aghvan Vardanyan from ARF. In response, the MP said.

“Tomorrow we have invited a press conference and we will be
distributing the text of the statement and you will see, meanwhile
I will say the following, the statement consisted of three parts,
the first and second parts, which were about the Armenia-EU and
Armenia-Turkey-EU relations, did not raise any problem, we all came
to an agreement, and there was no objection. But, when it came to
Nagorno-Karabakh, the passions rose. To our surprise, the European
co-chair of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, the Czech Republic
representative, Milan Tsabernokh, abruptly announced that the version,
which he represents, should not be subjected to any change.

Although, before that, about two months ago we had sent our objections
and recommendations regarding the statement of NK-related text, but,
unfortunately, our objections were not adopted and were not found in
the text. Naturally, we could not be in favor of a text, in which the
most important and fundamental problems were left out regarding the
peaceful and negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In particular, the main principles of the Helsinki Final Act were left
out of the text, which applies to use of force, territorial integrity
and the right to self-determination.” In other words, whether there
was a consensus within the group not to sign under unfavorable
statement, in response to our question, the NA MP responded, “Yes,
there was a consensus within our group not to adopt a statement,
which does not proceed from the interests of peaceful settlement of
the conflict. Armenia’s co-chair of the Committee, Samvel Farmanyan,
said that he would not sign a statement under this format, and so it
happened. We decided that it’s better not to accept any statement than
to accept a statement, which will not contain favorable provisions.”

Melania BARSEGHYAN

Read more at:

ARTISTS BOYCOTT OPERA PERFORMANCE TO SHOW THEIR PROTEST AGAINST PENSION REFORM IN ARMENIA

by Karina Manukyan

Tuesday, February 11, 12:05

On February 10, the artists of the National Academic Theater of Opera
and Ballet after A. Spendiaryan boycotted Anush Opera to express their
protest against the mandatory accumulative pension system introduced
in Armenia. Members of the public interest group “I’m Against!” also
joined the protest. Spectators were reluctant return their tickets
and leave.

People are discontented not only at the mandatory component of the
system but also at the absurd situation following the Constitutional
Court’s decision of January 24 that suspended some provisions of
the Law on the Accumulative Pension until the Court considers its
constitutionality on Mar 28 2014. The Court suspended Article 76
stipulating responsibility for refusing to make compulsory pension
contributions or failing to do in time and Paragraph 3 of Article 86
saying that the employees covered by the system should choose a pension
fund. Nevertheless, the Finance Ministry of Armenia urges employers
to calculate and make accumulative pension payments and employees to
choose a pension fund and a manager for it. The picketers call the
given approach a robbery.

Earlier on 6 February, another large-scale protest against the pension
reform was held. Then, employees of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant
and Haypost Company joined the action of protest against the mandatory
accumulative pension system.

ARMENIA THRASHING OUT CUSTOMS UNION MEMBERSHIP ISSUES: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN, February 11. /ARKA/. Armenia is working through all issues
related to its accession to the Customs Union very quickly, Russia’s
ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volinkin said.

It is being done in seven-league strides, the ambassador said in his
interview to Armenian Public TV channel.

The ambassador said there are good specialists in Armenia who know
well what legislation and other documents are needed and how thoroughly
the issues should be studied. Volinkin noted he will be happy if this
process is completed as soon as possible.

The diplomat also said Armenia has not changed, but confirmed its
foreign policy vector. Armenia has always aimed at cooperation with
Russia and integration processes it leads, he said.

Cooperation between the two countries has significantly increased
after Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union, Volinkin said.

According to the ambassador, the foreign policy vector should be
reflected in economy as well. He said he believes the membership in
the CU will give a renewed impetus to Armenia’s economic development.

In the beginning, many experts said not having common borders with
Russia will hinder integration, but further elaborations showed this
can give certain advantages to Armenia, Volinkin said.

According to the ambassador, the economic component of Armenia’s
membership in the CU is much weightier than the political one.

Armenia’s government has released the roadmap for accession to
Russia-led Customs Union on February 3. The document includes 262
measures. -0–

– See more at:

LE CONSEIL MUNICIPAL DE LOS ANGELES A RECONNU L’INDEPENDANCE DU HAUT-KARABAGH

Publie le : 11-02-2014

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette newsletter bimensuelle sur l’actualite politique,
economique et culturelle du Haut-Karabagh mise a notre disposition
par la Representation de la Republique du Haut-Karabagh en France.

Representation du Haut-Karabagh en France

Le texte de la resolution du Conseil municipal de Los Angeles
reconnaissant l’independance et la souverainete de la Republique
du Haut-Karabagh

2014-01-30 14:16

Le Conseil municipal de la ville de Los Angeles a adopte a l’unanimite
une resolution reconnaissant l’independance et la souverainete de la
Republique du Haut-Karabagh.

Ci-dessous la traduction non officielle du texte de la resolution

Resolution : Republique d’Artsakh

Attendu que c’est un grand honneur pour nous de reconnaître la
dynamique constante de la Republique independante et souveraine
d’Artsakh ; et

Attendu que la Republique d’Artsakh a une longue et riche histoire
millenaire et occupe une place precieuse dans l’histoire et la culture
du peuple armenien ; et

Attendu que la Republique d’Artsakh a declare son independance le
10 decembre 1991, suite a une longue lutte qui, a certains egards,
continue a ce jour, que sa demande persistante d’autodetermination
a inspire plusieurs autres peuples dans la region et a ete l’un des
elements declencheurs de l’effondrement de l’Union sovietique ; et

Attendu qu’au cours des deux dernières decennies, le peuple de
la Republique d’Artsakh a fait face avec tenacite a la guerre,
aux massacres, aux privations economiques et autres difficultes
importantes ; et

Attendu que depuis plus de vingt ans la Republique d’Artsakh reste
fidèle a ses citoyens, qu’elle maintient son independance tout en
oeuvrant en faveur du changement et de la stabilite dans la region du
Caucase et organise des elections et des referendums libres et justes
qui ont ete largement reconnus comme exemplaires pour la region; et

Attendu que la ville de Los Angeles a etabli des relations d’amitie
avec la ville de Chouchi de la Republique d’Artsakh, le 24 avril 2012;

En consequence, il a ete decide qu’en adoptant cette resolution, la
ville de Los Angeles exprime son respect a la Republique d’Artsakh
et a ses citoyens et reconnait les sacrifices, le devouement et la
determination dont a fait preuve son peuple face aux epreuves intenses
; et

Il est en outre decide, que la Ville de Los Angeles presente ses
meilleurs voeux de paix, prosperite et succès continu a la Republique
d’Artsakh et ces citoyens et appelle la communaute internationale
a reconnaître dûment la Republique d’Artsakh comme un Etat libre,
independant et souverain >>.

Rappelons, que la resolution a ete presentee au Conseil municipal
par le membre du Conseil Paul Grigorian.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Representation du Haut-Karabagh en France

UN HOMME D’AFFAIRES ARMENIEN IMPLIQUE DANS LE > ARRETE EN GEORGIE

ARMENIE

Les quotidiens font etat de l’arrestation a l’aeroport de Tbilissi,
par les forces de l’ordre georgiennes, d’un homme d’affaires armenien
en cavale, Achot Soukiassian, au coeur d’une affaire de corruption,
mettant egalement en cause le PM Tigran Sarkissian et le N°2 de
l’Eglise apostolique armenienne, l’archeveque Navassard Ktchoyan.

Achot Soukiassian a ete accuse en juin dernier d’escroquerie a grande
echelle. Il aurait soutire 10,7 M USD a un autre entrepreneur armenien,
Paylak Hayrapetian, provoquant la faillite de celui-ci, via une societe
off-shore enregistree a Chypre, dont il serait le proprietaire avec
le PM armenien et l’archeveque Ktchoyan. Ces elements avaient ete
reveles a la suite de la publication d’une enquete de l’Organisation
des Journalistes investigateurs. Le PM et l’archeveque ont fermement
nie tout rapport avec cette societe off-shore, affirmant que l’homme
d’affaires Soukiassian l’avait enregistree a Chypre a leur insu. Achot
Soukiassian devrait etre extrade en Armenie dans les jours a venir. /
RFE/RL, 168 Jam, Jamanak, Hraparak

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 4 fevrier 2014

mardi 11 fevrier 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LA TURQUIE ET ISRAEL PROCHES D’UN ACCORD SUR L’INDEMNISATION DES VICTIMES DU MAVI MARMARA (ANKARA)

TURQUIE

La Turquie et Israël sont “proches” d’un accord sur l’indemnisation
des familles des Turcs tues ou blesses en 2010 lors de l’assaut par
l’armee israelienne d’une flottille qui voulait briser le blocus de
Gaza, a-t-on appris de source officielle turque.

“Nous sommes proches d’un accord”, a indique lundi a l’AFP un
responsable turc s’exprimant sous couvert de l’anonymat, ajoutant que
le sous-secretaire d’Etat aux Affaires etrangères turques Feridun
Sinirlioglu avait rencontre la semaine dernière ses interlocuteurs
israeliens pour faire avancer le dossier.

“Il ne serait pas approprie de donner une echeance pour une question
aussi delicate mais je peux dire que de serieux progrès ont ete faits
lors des dernières rencontres”, a pour sa part declare dimanche
le ministre turc des Affaires etrangères Ahmet Davutoglu. “Un pas
historique a ete franchi avec les excuses (…), un deuxième pas le
sera avec un accord sur l’indemnisation”, a estime M. Davutoglu sur
la chaîne de television A Haber. “Nous sommes dans une periode où
nos relations (avec Israël) sont les plus proches possibles de la
normalisation après l’affaire du Mavi Marmara”, a-t-il ajoute.

Longtemps allies, la Turquie et Israël se sont brouilles après
l’attaque meurtrière menee en 2010 par des commandos israeliens contre
le “Mavi Marmara”, le navire amiral turc d’une flottille affretee
par l’ONG islamique turque IHH a destination de Gaza.

Cette operation avait coûte la vie a neuf ressortissants turcs, dont
les familles ont porte plainte en Turquie contre quatre responsables
de l’armee israelienne aujourd’hui juges par contumace par une cour
criminelle d’Istanbul.

Le Premier ministre israelien Benjamin Netanyahu a formellement
presente des excuses en mai dernier mais la normalisation des relations
entre les deux pays reste suspendue aux negociations d’indemnisation,
en cours depuis plusieurs mois. Selon le quotidien israelien Haaretz,
l’Etat hebreu a offert une enveloppe de 20 millions de dollars aux
victimes turques.

mardi 11 fevrier 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

RUSSIAN EMPIRE WILL CEASE TO EXIST ON THE MAIDAN – MIHKEIL SAAKASHVILI

12:35 * 09.02.14

It is quite possible that sometime history books will tell how the
Russian Empire ceased to exist on the Maidan in Kiev, ex-president
of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili stated during his meeting with the
head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv, Patriarchate Filaret,
reports the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“It is true, this time will come, and historians will write that the
Russian Empire ceased to exist on the Maidan in Kiev. And that’s how
it will be. The people will win and I believe it would be a better
fate and future that will unite all nations,” M.Saakashvili said.

Armenian News – Tert.am