Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARF STATEMENT ON ARMENIA JOINING CUSTOMS UNION

Wednesday, September 4th, 2013
ARF

YEREVAN-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of
Armenia on Wednesday issued an announcement regarding Armenia’s
decision to join the Russian-led Eurasian Customs Union.

Below is the English translation of the announcement:

The announcement in Moscow, of Armenia’s decision to join the Customs
Union was as much a landmark as it was a decision dictating great
responsibility for the future of Armenia. It is possible to assume that
at some point, considering the geopolitical state and developments,
Armenia would join the Customs Union initiated by its strategic ally
and would be included in the process of the formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union.

But the fact of the matter is that until the announcement in Moscow,
the authorities of the Republic of Armenia had not conveyed the
necessary information both to the public and to the political forces.

Furthermore, Armenia’s membership in a Customs Union with which
Armenia does not share borders was regarded as impossible by the
authorities. For years the authorities negotiated with the European
Union about joining the Free Trade Zone and were on the brink of
finalizing the EU Association Agreement.

We can assume that the main reasons for the unexpected decision by
the President of the Republic of Armenia in Moscow were security
concerns related to Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This
is an additional responsibility that at this stage will affect the
national and state foundations.

The President’s decision has raised numerous questions within the
public.

For us, any given economic integration must provide guarantees for
the preservation and strengthening of the security of the Republics
of Armenia and Mountainous Karabakh and for the integration and
development of their economies. The issue of the Customs Union must
be also conditioned by these basic principles.

The joining in the Customs Union must not block the continuation
and expansion of Armenia’s efforts toward the European vector, in
particular the process of our country’s socio-political integration
with the European Union. In addition, the decision made in Moscow
cannot take out of the agenda the necessity of realizing systemic
reforms in the country and of creating with joint forces a national,
democratic, fair state.

We demand from Armenia’s authorities to inform the public and include
the political parties in the decision making process before taking
similar, fateful decisions about our country. Now that the process
of joining the Customs Union shall begin, it is necessary to respect
this modus operandi.

ARF-D Supreme Council of Armenia

CUSTOMS UNION FORMAT TO INCREASE ARMENIA’S ASSISTANCE TO KARABAKH – OPINION

15:51 04.09.13

An Armenian political analyst said Wednesday that a membership in
the Customs Union will offer Armenia’s better chances to assist
Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Yesterday’s meeting does not signal a face-about in the Armenia-Europe
relations. And the president’s statement reflects that,” Sergey
Minasyan told reporters, noting that Armenia will continue the
simultaneous partnership with the EU and the Eurasian Partnership.

Addressing President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement and the agreements
signed in the Russian capital, the expert noted that they stem first
of from Armenia’s national security interests.

According to him, the statement is of a political significance for
Armenia, with the authorities being very well conscious of the timing.

Minasyan said the country’s membership in the Vilnius summit (where
the country is expected to initial the EU Association agreement)
later this year will be very interesting in this context.

As for European officials’ reaction, he said they are well aware that
the Armenia is seriously negotiating with Russia over the issue.

“Armenia’s political statement is clearly the step which is made
in an attempt to also offer assistance to Russia. In the meantime,
Russia has to realize that the strategic ally’s move in a format
that would also allow for a cooperation with Europe,” he said, citing
security considerations as a major factor pushing Armenia to accept
the Customs Union proposal.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTY SLAMS CUSTOMS UNION MOVE

17:45 ~U 04.09.13

The Armenian authorities’ decision to join the Russian-led Customs
Union was an anti-state measure, the opposition Free Democrats party
says in a statement criticizing the move.

The members of the party consider the decision a major threat to
Armenia’s sovereignty. and a restriction on the country’s future
prospects of development.

“This decision of the Armenian authorities was an anti-state move
which implies a return to the renewed imperial system. We consider
this process an anti-constitutional step given that Article 1 of
Armenia’s Constitution declares the Republic of Armenia as a a
sovereign, democratic, social state” with Article 114 saying that
“Articles 1, 2 and 114 of the Constitution may not be amended.

“We find the steps towards shadowing Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh’s
security unacceptable,” say the Free Democrats.

ARMENIAN LANGUAGE TEXTBOOK PUBLISHED IN BAKU

09:44, 4 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: A book on the Armenian language
studies “Armenian for beginners” is being prepared to be published
in Baku. As reported by Armenpress, azadlig.info was informed about
it from its source.

According to the source, the textbook will be published by the end of
September and be distributed to the educational institutions, mainly
to the Baku State University, where an Armenian Studies Department
has been recently established.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

EU EXPECTS ARMENIA TO CLARIFY CUSTOMS DEAL WITH RUSSIA

Topic: Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

© RIA Novosti. Valeriy Melnikov
20:53 04/09/2013

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Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

BRUSSELS, September 4 (RIA Novosti) – The European Union is waiting
for Armenia to provide clarification of its decision to enter
the Moscow-led Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan,
a spokeswoman for the EU foreign policy chief said Wednesday.

Yerevan is currently choosing between EU and Eurasian integration. The
country is to preliminarily sign an association agreement and a
free-trade deal with the European Union during the November 2013 EU
and Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius. The deals with Russia and
Europe are mutually exclusive.

Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Catherine Ashton, told journalists that Brussels
needed clarification from Yerevan in order to evaluate potential
consequences of Armenia joining the Customs Union.

The presidents of Armenia and Russia, Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin, announced after bilateral talks on Tuesday that Armenia was
ready to join the union, expected to be developed into a broader
economic community uniting post-Soviet states.

EUROPEAN UNION SEEKING “CLARIFICATION” FROM ARMENIA ON ITS PLAN TO JOIN THE RUSSIAN-LED CUSTOMS UNION

YEREVAN, August 4. /ARKA/. The European Union is seeking
“clarification” from Armenia on its plans to join the Russian-led
Customs Union and remains committed to advancing ties with its eastern
neighbors, a spokeswoman for Catherine Ashton, EU’s foreign policy
chief, said Wednesday.

Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan said Tuesday after talks with
Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow that Yerevan had decided
to join the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, as well
as the proposed Eurasian Economic Union strongly promoted by Russian
President Vladimir Putin.

The decision means Armenia is unlikely to be able to sign the
Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
(DCFTA) agreement with EU, slated originally for November in Vilnius.

“We are seeking further clarification from the Armenian side,”
spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said. “Then we will be able to assess the
implications.” She said the EU is “firmly committed to the Eastern
Partnership” agenda of closer ties with eastern neighbors “and we
hope it is the same with our partners.”

The EU was expected to make a fuller statement on Armenia’s surprise
move later Wednesday. —0–

– See more at:

VICE SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT KEPT IN MIND OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS WHEN DECIDING TO JOIN CUSTOMS UNION
by Ashot Safaryan

ARMINFO
Wednesday, September 4, 16:47

The President of Armenia kept in mind our national interests when
deciding to join the Customs Union, Vice Speaker of the Armenian
Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov told ArmInfo on Wednesday.

He said that there is nothing extraordinary in Serzh Sargsyan’s
decision. “Our authorities have repeatedly said that they are going
to deepen their strategic partnership with Russia, particularly,
in the framework of Eurasian structures,” Sharmazanov said.

He said that in his speech on Tuesday Sargsyan said that accession to
the Customs Union does not mean refusal to continue the dialogue with
the EU. “We are not guided by ‘either or’ or ‘both’ principles. In
the last years we have strengthened our relations with the EU and
have jointly reformed a number of spheres,” Sharmazanov said.

MAJOR GENERAL I. MATEVOSIAN APPOINTED COMMANDER OF 5TH ARMY CORPS

Wednesday,
September
04

By a decision of President Serzh Sargsyan, Major General Ishkhan
Matevosian has been appointed commander of the 5th army corps of
Armenian Defense Ministry.

According to the presidential press service, in this connection I.

Matevosian has been relieved of his position as the head of Combat
Training Department of the Armed Forces of Armenia.

TODAY, 16:16

Aysor.am

PRESIDENT’S DECISION TO JOIN CUSTOMS UNION WAS RATIONAL – PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY MEMBER

September 04, 2013 | 11:12

YEREVAN. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to join the
Customs Union was rational.

Non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party member, economist Vardan
Bostanjyan told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am commenting on
Tuesday’s talk in Moscow between the presidents of Armenia and Russia.

“The main objective must be the security of Armenia and, naturally,
of Nagorno-Karabakh. We should be guided by this,” Bostanjyan said.

He added that there are several factors which predetermine Armenia’s
choice.

In addition, as per the economist, despite the attempts to bring
Armenian standards into line with the European ones, the products
made in Armenia cannot cause breakthrough in the European market,
at least in the first years.

“The main market of our export sales is Russia,” he stated.

Also, according to Bostanjyan, Armenia’s migrant workers, who send
money from abroad, primarily work in Russia.

“Considering these factors, we need to confess that the President
of Armenia made a decision that is the most appropriate to the
circumstances.

“[But] at the same time this does not mean that we cannot accept all
that is contemporary and desirable, which European integration will
give to our country,” Vardan Bostanjyan concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

LEVON BARSEGHYAN. “THE CRIMINAL WORLD AND MILITIA WORLD ARE INTERTWINED…”

September 4 2013

Aravot.am asked the Chairman of Gyumri Journalists’ Club “Asparez”
Levon Barseghyan to evaluate the actions of two senior police officers
who were trying to cut the so-called bread of the thieves, were
getting ready to rob the “Rubin” jewelry store located in the center
of Gyumri. “I think I have once explained that the police trying
to rob could not know that the territory is video-audio recorded
and controlled, nevertheless they did it. So, I think that they
had a guarantee from somewhere, in some way that the device will be
switched off. This is a logical judgment, may be I am wrong, and the
investigation is required to clarify the circumstances also, because
people with 10-15 years of experience in the police world can not go
to such absurd things knowing that it is video recorded. So, either
they have turned it off, or they thought that it was off, so they were
given a guarantee that it was turned off. It is not ruled out that they
hide a lot. The intertwined of the criminal world with law enforcement
since Dzerzhinsky times was normal until the end of the Soviet, and
then who said that there something has changed fundamentally. There
are prisoners, whose doors are always open, there are prisoners who
never eat the bread of the prison, they eat what is brought and bought
from outside, the systems is such to carry information back and forth,
and so on and so forth. These two worlds are intertwined together, the
criminal world and militia world. It was not a big surprise for me to
learn that police officers were apprehended for robbery of the store,
the world is so intertwined that with that their general swaggeringly
speaks. That man is unaware that we were saying for years that there
is weapon, a hostility between such-and-such families in the city,
they are waiting until those weapons work, shoot each other, and then
go and collect the dead bodies. We’ve talked about it many times, for
years, but these people do not make preventive measures, or do not do
at that level what should be. Perhaps, such clashes, bloody incidents
are beneficial, perhaps this is in the means of their struggle,
perhaps they have watched a few American films, they have thought that
this is the best solution, let them squabble each other and leave,”
– said the Chairman of “Asparez” club. He also said that none of the
owners of the weapons seized in Gyumri so far has been prosecuted for
possession of illegal weapons. “They had allegedly seized 30 weapons,
they showed, made a show, the word seized prompted me that they have
forcibly taken. I have sent inquiry, I have ask how many criminal cases
have you filed regarding such seizures and confiscations, they say,
no one, they have voluntarily delivered to us. We have the list as if
this-and-this person from this-and-this place has delivered, we know
very well that it is forcedly taken weapon, but you have not filed
any criminal case, hey friend. In other words, you, at your own, are
applying some quasi-judicial methods in the law enforcement system;
you find that you solve the problem like that, as if collecting
weapons. Whereas, if you have found-seized, and confiscated, you
must initiate a criminal case for illegal possession of weapons. No,
he says that the man has voluntarily delivered; he is relieved of
the responsibility. How did it happened that he delivered? Well,
I do not understand why didn’t they deliver it to me, but to you,
Vova Gasparyan?” – asks Levon Barseghyan.

Nune AREVSHATYAN

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