Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIA SMELLS TEARS AND BLOOD

Armenia has been ranked among semi-authoritarian states by the Freedom
House annual report. Now that all political parties in Armenia are
exhausted, how will this gap be filled?

I’m just back from my business trip to Australia and I’m shocked by
the culture of developed countries. In the evening, I opened Armenian
news with the fear of finding another disgusting news and unbridled
cynicism.

Armenia smells tears, blood and despair. Each of our days is heavy
and full of suffering, conspiracy, failure.

Why is it possible to value the individual in a country with a
population of 40 or 60 million but the individual is worth nothing in
a country with 2.5-3 million people? The role of the latest elections
and the opposition in the lack of perspectives in our country is big.

A great part of the society was almost sure that the forces, willing
to change Armenia and worry for the future of the country will unite.

The small civil initiates are unable to change the situation, just
like the political parties, while the reforms in the agenda of the
government have only a verbal value.

What in your opinion is the aim of the scandalous report of the
Control Chamber? Do they want the prime minister’s resignation?

During my five years in parliament I saw a lot of similar reports. The
picture has not changed – the budget is wasted, stolen, and no one is
punished. How do they build villas costing millions of dollars? With
what money? Everyone knows. And if now public opinion is being formed
then there is the relevant order. I don’t think this is related
to internal governmental reforms. Almost everyone is right in their
diagnosis but no one has the political will and political intellect to
change the situation. Cancer has destroyed morality and values of our
society. In 22 years we have failed to build a dignified country. Both
the opposition and the government understand this, but no one knows
how to change. Our failures are hereditary, multi-vector, involving
the geopolitical unsolved issues and the internal political immune
system of Armenia and the destruction of institutes. For me the index
of an unsuccessful country is the increasing number of emigrants.

Unfortunately, many ideas were born in this state of bankruptcy but
many institutions have devaluated such as the parliament, the judicial
system, the family, the church. This is elimination of values from
family to school. We need reincarnation of values and people who
really believe those values and are devoted to them and are able to
carry out a change of generation.

Perhaps women could come to form government.

Women have an important role in politics. The ground of all failures of
Armenia is the civilization clash. Armenia is said to be a democratic
country but we are following the eastern rules. Though we are a
country which has had its contribution to the creation of the European
civilization, we are now looking at Eastern trash, such as corruption,
adulation, conspiracy, stubbornness.

I attach importance to the role of the individual as a leader,
introducer of values, but I also underscore work with the society. We
have no other choice but democracy.

As to women in politics, I think they are more honest, perhaps less
prudent, they don’t retreat and are devoted. After all, the stirring
wheel of our country has been in the hands of men for these 22 years,
and unfortunately they failed.

Siranuysh Papyan 11:11 28/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

CSTO CHIEF SPEAKS ON AZERBAIJAN’S BELLIGERENT STATEMENTS

YEREVAN.” There is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem.

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General
Nikolay Bordyuzha stated the abovementioned during a press conference
in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan on Thursday, commenting on the query
about the bellicose statements that regularly come from Azerbaijan.

“I believe solely the peace talks and a mutual agreement will allow to
resolve this conflict; there are no other options for a resolution,”
Bordyuzha stressed.

In his words, the developments in the Caucasus come to prove yet
again that it is very easy to start a conflict, but, subsequently,
it is very difficult to bring everything back to its course.

“Unfortunately, we have lived this in the [19]90s. [But] I believe some
politicians have forgotten this bitter experience. I repeat once again:
There is only a peaceful solution to the [Nagorno-]Karabakh conflict,”
the CSTO chief noted.

He added that the CSTO oversees the climate concerning this conflict
and follows it very carefully.

“But the [OSCE] Minsk Group is engaged in the settlement [of the
conflict],” the organization’s secretary general recalled, adding
that he is against interfering with the existing format.

“The leaderships of the two countries [i.e., Armenia and Azerbaijan]
and the OSCE Minsk Group are engaged in the quest for a mutual
agreement,” Nikolay Bordyuzha concluded.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN: CSTO WILL CREATE COLLECTIVE AIR FORCES

15:41 27/06/2013 ” POLITICS

Secretary of Armenian National Security Council (NSC) Arthur
Baghdasaryan and CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha signed today
an agreement to further expand cooperation between Armenia and CSTO.

The agreement includes complex measures aimed at ensuring the security
of Armenia, Arthur Baghdasaryan told reporters.

Also, the agreement envisages further expansion of military cooperation
as collective security forces will be created in the South Caucasus
and Armenia is the only country in the South Caucasus which is a
member of CSTO, Baghdasaryan said.

“Collective Air Forces will be created, the rapid response units will
be equipped with new armament, a mechanism of permanent dialogue will
be established between special services and law enforcement bodies,
in particular, cyber security centers will be opened in CSTO member
countries as well as measures will be taken to develop our military
infrastructures, namely, new military industrial enterprises will be
established,” the NSC Secretary said.

Source: Panorama.am

TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD OPERATING IN SYRIA – CSTO CHIEF

June 27, 2013 | 14:33

YEREVAN. – There is no military solution to the Syrian crisis,
Secretary General of the CSTO Nikolay Bordyuzha said.

He expressed concern over some states’ support for the armed opposition
groups, which include extremist and terrorist organizations. On the
side of the opposition, unfortunately, there are representatives of
the terrorist organizations from around the world, he said during
the Thursday press conference in Yerevan.

He stressed that it is unacceptable to supply the opposition, which
consists of terrorists, with weapons. Bordyuzha said some natives
of the CIS are trained in militant camps in Afghanistan, then part
of them stays there and gets “a combat experience” in the operations
against the NATO forces.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

MOSCOW IS GETTING READY FOR CAUCASIAN WAR

Armenian advocates of the Russian “business” of selling weapons to
Azerbaijan ground the Caucasian “marketing” of the Kremlin by the
loyalty of the “Russian spirit” to the parity between forces in the
region. They say Moscow, selling offensive weapons to Azerbaijan,
gives us cheap weapons. Not only Moscow, with its commissioners sent to
Yerevan, looks at the issues as business, but also those in Yerevan,
who are engaged in “commissioning” Moscow. A new business development
model will soon be worked out on importing cheap weapons from Russia
and selling at higher prices to Azerbaijan. Armenia will be able to
get armed free of charge after a couple of successful deals.

But before that the second Artsakh war will happen because unlike
Armenia, Azerbaijan won’t let Moscow swindle it. Moscow knows this,
so it is selling modern weapons to Azerbaijan. Moscow’s aim is not
business and not regional parity, but it aims at controlling the
regional war.

This is why Russia did everything to be the first country among those
selling weapons to Azerbaijan. The tale about regional balance is only
for the clients of the Armenian-Russian business center. In reality,
Moscow arms both Armenia and Azerbaijan not to allow Israel doing it
otherwise in case of war it will have to share the control package
with Israel or the U.S.

Whoever controls the war, which is becoming more and more certain,
will most probably control its outcome. The first lever of control is
the armament – whose armament will be used in the. In case of Armenia,
the armament is totally Russian with a few exceptions. In case of
Azerbaijan, Moscow wants to sell as many weapons to Azerbaijan as
possible before the war, to prevail over the other weapon suppliers.

It comes out that Baku is paying more for Russian control than
Armenia. The point is about money. The one who pays, orders the music,
as Russians say. This is why they have been repeating for already
several days in Yerevan that this is just business in order to calm
Armenia down. In reality, the Kremlin warns Armenians that it will
be led by the fact who will pay more for the desirable control.

JAMES HAKOBYAN 15:06 27/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

MERKEL TELLS TURKEY EUROPEAN VALUES ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE

June 27, 2013 – 12:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday,
June 27, she welcomed an agreement to reopen talks with Turkey about
joining the European Union but warned in the light of the crackdown
on Turkish anti-government protests that democratic values were
non-negotiable, according to Reuters.

Merkel told the German parliament that the agreement this week to
make progress in Turkey’s application for membership conditional
on respect for human rights and political reform meant the EU was
“not acting as if nothing had happened”.

“This outcome makes it clear that Turkey is an important partner but
that our European values of the freedom to protest, freedom of opinion,
the rule of law and religious freedom, are always valid and are not
negotiable,” said Merkel.

HELSINKI PRINCIPLES IGNORE ARTSAKH’S RIGHT TO INDEPENDENCE
By Michael Mensoian

June 27, 2013

In an aside to the June 17-18 meeting of the Group of Eight (G8)
Industrialized Nations in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Presidents
Barack Obama (U.S.), Vladimir Putin (Russian Federation), and Francois
Hollande (France) reaffirmed their support of the Helsinki Principles
as the basis for a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh
conflict. The three leaders lamented the fact that “…the parties
have continued to seek one-sided advantage in their negotiation
process,” adding that “the use of military force…will not resolve
the conflict.”

They then appealed to both sides “…to refrain from any action
or rhetoric that could raise tensions and lead to an escalation of
the conflict.”

To make such statements while ignoring the continuing build-up of the
Azerbaijani military into the largest offensive force in the South
Caucasus shows a serious disconnect from reality. The three leaders,
and their respective co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group monitoring the
negotiations, continue to ignore the constant threats by President
Ilham Aliyev to use force to resolve the conflict, as well as the
virulent anti-Armenian rhetoric and actions coming from Baku.

Against this backdrop the leaders have the temerity to stress the
importance of the Helsinki Principles as the basis for continued
negotiations, especially those principles “…relating to territorial
integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of people.”

Territorial integrity, which is the key principle, nullifies the
principles of equal rights and self-determination if these principles
properly refer to the right of a people to declare their independence.

If not, then the only way by which equal rights and self-determination
can co-exist with the principle of territorial integrity is
by interpreting these principles to mean the granting of local
autonomy to the Karabagh Armenians under the political jurisdiction
of Azerbaijan. This solution would ignore the independence that
the Artsakh people have (1) unanimously declared, (2) defended in
a war brought on by Azerbaijan, (3) maintained for two decades, and
(4) have the right to be recognized. Maintaining that Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity negates the legal right of the Karabaghtsis
to their independence, as well as their moral and inalienable right
to free themselves from the oppressive rule by a government that has
discriminated against them and their culture for 70 years.

The Helsinki Principles are supportive of Azerbaijan’s interests.

Using these principles as guidelines leaves nothing substantive to
be negotiated, nothing that would advance the needs and interests of
our brothers and sisters in Artsakh.

PRINCIPLE 1 requires the return of all liberated territories to
Azerbaijan. These liberated territories are absolutely vital to
Artsakh’s security and its ability to function as an independent
state. The occupation of these liberated territories by Azerbaijan
would make the Nagorno-Karabagh districts of Artsakh an enclave,
isolated from Armenia and shorn of its security zone. The districts
of Artsakh comprising Nagorno-Karabagh will have lost their defensive
perimeter.

PRINCIPLE 2 addresses the right of displaced people and refugees
to return to their original place of residence. This is an internal
issue that Baku has refused to ameliorate. The abysmal human rights
record of the Azerbaijani government has been citied time and again by
international watchdog organizations. Given the Azeri government’s
long-standing discrimination of its Armenian citizens and its
actions to destroy Armenian cultural artifacts, few Armenians would
be interested in returning to any former places of residence under
Azerbaijani jurisdiction. Those Azeris who have been displaced-their
numbers inflated by Azerbaijan-are victims of a devastating war
initiated and sustained by their own government, which is using them
solely for political purposes vis-a-vis a Karabagh solution.

PRINCIPLE 3 would address the need, which is presently unnecessary,
to put in place safeguards to guarantee the security and the right
of self-government by the Artsakh Armenians during an interim
or transitional period. Essentially, the Armenian negotiators are
expected to negotiate away Artsakh’s present ability to protect itself
in return for a guarantee of protection by a third party as provided
for in Helsinki Principle 4. How much sense does this make? Artsakh
is already providing for its security through its own military force
and support from Armenia. As it is, Azerbaijan continually flaunts
the ceasefire they agreed to by repeated incursions along the Line of
Contact (LoC), which has resulted in the murder of multiple Armenian
military personnel. To trust Azerbaijan would be beyond foolhardy;
its record during the past two decades is confirmation enough of
its duplicitousness.

PRINCIPLE 4 would address the security issue made necessary if
the Helsinki Principles govern the negotiations. An international
peace-keeping force under the aegis of the United Nations or the
OSCE would be responsible for maintaining Karabagh’s security. This
is as ludicrous as it comes. Peace-keeping forces have no authority
beyond reporting violations by either side. They purposely are not
given the authority to intervene, nor do they have the capability
to prevent violations. Should Azerbaijan move forces into areas
prohibited to it, the peace-keeping force would simply move aside,
observe, and file a useless report that would change nothing on the
ground. Confrontation and prevention are not within the scope of their
responsibilities. Why the Minsk co-chairs would expect the Artsakh
Armenians to render themselves defenseless and then dependent upon a
peace-keeping force for their protection defies logic. How can this
be offered as a viable option?

PRINCIPLE 5 would address the need to guarantee a secure corridor
linking Karabagh with Armenia. This presumably would be the present
Lachin Corridor that is already secured by Karabagh’s military forces.

Principle 1 requires the occupation by Azerbaijan of the liberated
territories; this means that the already secured Lachin Corridor
highway that passes through Armenian liberated territory would
become an unsecured corridor that will need to be protected by an
international peace-keeping force. How senseless is this? As it is,
this solitary link is already vulnerable to Azeri missile and air
attack. Its vulnerability would only increase if Azeri forces occupied
the liberated territories through which the corridor passes. Presently
a second highway will be expanded and improved beginning in 2014
that links Vartenis in Armenia to the Martakert district in northern
Karabagh. Sections of the road are currently a morass of mud and
impassible during the rainy season. This northern road will pass
through the liberated Kashatagh region and be secured by Armenian
forces. It will be economically and militarily significant to Artsakh’s
security and future development. This much-needed second highway would
be impossible if the Azeri are occupying the liberated territories.

PRINCIPLE 6 will presumably set up the mechanism for a plebiscite to
be held sometime in the future to determine the political status
of the Artsakh districts (excluding Shahoumian) that comprise
Nagorno-Karabagh. If the Helsinki Principles have determined the
course of negotiations, the liberated territories have already been
occupied by Azerbaijan. What remains to be negotiated with respect
to the plebiscite is when it will take place; who will be eligible
to vote; how will it be administered; and what the options are to be
voted on. For the Karabagh Armenians, the best option they can hope
for is being granted limited local autonomy as an enclave within
Azerbaijan. If this is where negotiations will ultimately lead us,
then we have already turned a hard-won victory into defeat.

This was an objective analysis of the Helsinki Principles, as they
would affect Artsakh if applied. Yerevan is either constrained by
Russian interests or is unwilling to pursue an aggressive diplomatic
policy in support of Artsakh’s independence. However, there should
be no constraint for any political party or coalition of parties
in tandem with the government of Artsakh and Armenian Diasporan
organizations to vigorously support an aggressive independence policy.

Will it be said years later that some 7,000 azatamartiks sacrificed
their lives in vain?

This is the first political victory that Armenians have won since the
genocide, when our nation faced near annihilation. It is the first
victory that gives credence to Hai Tahd. It is the first victory
that provides our people with some measure of justice. However,
it is a victory that has not yet been completed.

BELATED CONSPIRACY HINTS

Prime minister rendered the usually monotone sessions of the government
serious political processes. This is the second consecutive session
when he makes political statements. One week ago Tigran Sargsyan
dwelt on the revelation of the Control Chamber and actually gave
a political assessment to it. In other words, Tigran Sargsyan had
launched a counterattack at the last week’s session of the government.

At today’s session he continued the counterattack which seems to
become interesting.

The point is that Tigran Sargsyan’s counterattack is directed
against the government. He said that the protests in front of the
government are determined by the fact that middle-level officials
tell these people that they are unable to solve the issues but only
the government. Premier says these middle-level officials are either
incompetent or they send the protesters to the government on purpose.

He said he will submit to the relevant ministries the complaints that
the government reaches.

Apparently, Tigran Sargsyan is led by the Russian saying “hit your
people, so the others will be afraid”. But, at the same time, Tigran
Sargsyan is trying to separate his people from the others in the
government, in order words to clear the government, which does not
belong to him.

At last week session of the government, Tigran Sargsyan told the
ministers that the allegations on misappropriations are directed to all
of them and everyone should answer. Actually, Tigran Sargsyan raised
the issue on who is with him and who is not one week ago hinting that
he is not going to answer for all of them. Tigran Sargsyan is ready
to answer to “his ministers”. In his interview to RFE/EL Armenian
service he didn’t spare efforts to justify the outrageous deal of bio
toilets. The reason is perhaps the fact that the idea of the deal
belonged to Nerses Yeritsyan, who is considered a member of Tigran
Sargsyan’s team and the idea was realized by another member of the
premier’s team – Tigran Davtyan.

Currently, prime minister is hinting that there are middle-level
officials who provoke the protest actions held in front of the
government directing all questions to him. In addition, premier stated
that this may be done on purpose. In other words, Tigran Sargsyan
does not rule out some conspiracy against him is being prepared in
the ministries. Now it is clear why Tigran Sargsyan wants to find
out which of the ministers are with and against him.

The government of Armenia is formed within large internal agreements.

In other words, Tigran Sargsyan is appointed prime minister and
though according to the Constitution, it is up to him to present
the candidates for ministers to Serzh Sargsyan, in reality, Tigran
Sargsyan has no bigger role in the formation of the government than
power clans. I mean there can be ministers within the government which
are not controlled by Tigran Sargsyan and with whom he has quite tense
relations. All prime ministers of Armenia have been in such situations
having uncontrollable and undesirable ministers within the government.

Tigran Sargsyan may be an exception in terms of making this issue
public through political statements. It is hard to say whether the
reason is that his position is strong or that he has nothing to lose,
but it seems that the only one statement of the premier lacks his
conversations were spied and the situation will be adequate to the
modern history of Armenia, or also world history.

Though, by and large, the situation reminds the Middle Ages because
the Armenian government is full of intrigues and conspiracies used in
palatial life. Prime minister is alarming about conspiracies against
him, but these signals are late because the society speaks and judges
by concrete names and facts.

HAKOB BADALYAN 13:49 27/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ZHOGHOVURD: GURGEN YEGHIAZARIAN QUITS SDHP

Thursday,
June 27

‘Zhoghovurd’ paper writes citing its sources that former deputy
minister of national security Gurgen Yeghiazarian has quitted the
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP). Moreover, Yeghiazarian lost
touch with that party long ago. The newspaper’s correspondent failed
to reveal the reason of Yeghiazarian’s withdrawal from the party as
he didn’t answer the phone.

“It should be mentioned that the ex-deputy minister of national
security of Armenia joined SDHP during the heyday of the national
movement when joining the movement led by Levon Ter-Petrosian was a
matter of honor. Many dwarf parties established themselves thanks to
that movement,” the paper notes.

TODAY, 12:35

Aysor.am

ON 27 JUNE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN SENT A CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO THE STAFF OF THE “AZAT ARTSAKH” REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER.

Thursday, 27 June 2013 11:01

The letter runs as follows:

“Dear Friends,

I cordially congratulate you and all the readers of our republican
newspaper in connection with the 90th memorable jubilee of its
creation.

Since the very moment of its creation the “Azat Artsakh” has always
been with its people, expressed their concerns and aspirations, being
transformed into their mouthpiece in the time of ordeal. I would
like to a special emphasize on its key role in the modern stage of
our national-liberation struggle, which was a unique kind of heroism
and feat that deserves the highest appreciation.

Passing a long way, the newspaper continues to occupy a worthy place
in the public and political life of our republic. I am confident that
further developing the accumulated rich experience and decade-long
traditions the “Azat Artsakh” will henceforth remain loyal to its
primary purpose – to serve its people and its country, to reveal
problems and concerns the people face in everyday life, represent
and protect the interests of the Artsakh Republic.

I congratulate you once again and wish you peace, robust health and
great success in your work and private life.