Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN VERSION OF MAGNITSKY LIST? – NEWSPAPER

January 24, 2013 | 08:17

YEREVAN. – Following the March 1, 2008 tragedy in Armenia’s capital
city Yerevan, the US still maintains its entry ban into the country
by several Armenian officials, Zhamanak daily reports.

“According to Zhamanak’s information, [ruling Republican Party (RPA)
MP and businessman] Samvel Aleksanyan, [RPA MP] Mher Sedrakyan,
[Football Federation of Armenia President and businessman] Ruben
Hayrapetyan, [businessman] Levon Sargsyan [aka Lyov of the flour mill],
and [several] others still are banned from entering the US.

Until recently, Transport and Communication Minister Gagik Beglaryan
[likewise] was unable to receive a visa to US, but his US entry ban
was lifted ahead of the Armenian government’s visit to US.

According to our information, Washington and Brussels could publicize,
just like the example of the Russian ‘Magnitsky List’ [and] following
Armenia’s [forthcoming] presidential election, the names of several [of
Armenia’s] officials and oligarchs that will be deprived of the right
to be issued a visa to visit the US and EU countries,” Zhamanak writes.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MEETS WITH HEAD OF THE PACE OBSERVATION MISSION

20:53 ~U 24.01.13

One of the candidates in the upcoming presidential election in Armenia,
Arman Melikyan, has held a meeting with Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini,
Head of the PACE Observation Mission.

Mr Melikyan voiced his concern over the fact that the ~Spolitical
circumstances obviously show that the Armenian citizens enjoying the
voting right ~V at least 500,000 votes ~V will prove to be in the
authorities~R favor.~T

Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini received a package of documents ~V Mr
Melikyan~Rs letter to Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission
(CEC) and copies of the CEC~Rs decision, as well as a statement by
Mr Melikyan~Rs election campaign staff.

Mr Melikyan noted that the CEC rejected the proposal for publishing
the information on the Armenian citizens that left Armenia.

Mr Melikyan also informed Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini that he will
in no way apply to Armenia~Rs judicial system as no justice can be
expected in Armenia.

Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini assured Mr Melikyan that the PACE
Observation Mission is ready to settle all the controversial issues.

AMB. “STEPHENS WAS RUNNING GUNS”

Gen. Boykin’s Claims U.S. Gun-Running to Syrian Rebels Through Benghazi

By Billy Hallowell

You can watch Boykin’s interview, during which he made these
statements, below:

January 24, 2013 “CNS News” — The CIA is claiming that retired Army
Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin is incorrect in alleging that it’s possible
that the U.S. was considering offering support or already in the act
of supporting Syrian rebels with weapons via Benghazi, Libya. Boykin,
who had an esteemed career as a commander of the U.S. Special Forces
Command, the deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence and
as a CIA staffer, made his comments during a recent video interview
with CNS News.

On Tuesday, a CIA spokesperson told the same outlet that Boykin’s
“assertions are both baseless and flat wrong.” The general has
publicly wondered why U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens was in Benghazi
on Sept. 11 – the day that an attack on the consulate inevitably
killed the American diplomat. The former special forces commander
has posited that an operation to assist Syrian rebels might explain
Stevens’ presence in the city.

“Then what was Stevens doing there on September 11 of 2012?,” Boykin
said in an exchange with CNS News. “More supposition was that he was
now funneling guns to the rebel forces in Syria, using essentially
the Turks to facilitate that. Was that occurring, (a), and if so,
was it a legal covert action?”

Here, Boykin is referring to the fact that Stevens, who was residing
in Tripoli after being sent back to Libya as ambassador in May 2012,
had gone to Benghazi on Sept. 10 – the day before the attack.

There were only five State Department mission employees in Benghazi at
the time of Stevens’ arrival on Sept. 10. While the ambassador brought
two security personnel with him, one left on the morning of Sept. 11,
leaving six personnel and then Stevens, himself.

Boykin, who said he could not prove that a Syrian mission was on the
table, noted that he had information that led him to believe that
this might be the case. When asked by CNS why a “skeletal group”
of State Department officials was present in Benghazi at the time,
the former commander expressed his theory.

“Well, I think that they were anticipating that they would eventually
be given a directive to support the Syrian rebels and that that would
be the hub of that activity,” Boykin said. “So, I think they kept
the facilities open, they kept them functioning, they had somebody
there that had to be there because of the communications equipment,
because of the potentially classified material that was still there.”

He went on to say that he believes the personnel stayed there in
anticipation of helping the Syrian rebels, nothing that “they’d
probably been given a heads up on that.” Boykin claims that he has
information that corroborates a Syrian rebel support program. If,
indeed, this is the case, he said that he has no problem with such
a mission, pending it was done legally.

However, Boykin noted that if the program ran without following proper
protocol (notifying Congress about the mission), then he would take
issue with it. In such a case, he said that an operation moving
under such parameters would be “outside of the way America should
be functioning.” And if Congress was notified, Boykin believes the
American people deserve to know the details.

“In the context of why Ambassador Stephens was there that day, I
think that the American public needs an explanation,” he told CNS,
noting that he doesn’t believe that the exact details of the covert
mission need to be released – just the general sentiment. “And if
that explanation is that he was there to meet with the Turkish General
Counsel who was helping to facilitate the flow of arms, then I think
that needs to come out.”

Following the CIA’s claims that Boykin’s statements on the Syrian
matter are “baseless and flat wrong,” Boykin responded, seemingly
doubling down on his stance.

“I believe there must be an explanation for why the ambassador was
there on 9/11,” he told CNS. “I believe there has been significant
information that has come out recently calling into question whether
the ambassador was either involved in or making preparations for
supplying material to the Syrian resistance forces.”

(H/T: CNS News)

PACE REPORT: THE LACK OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY IS A CONCERN IN AZERBAIJAN

On January 23 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) decided to continue the monitoring of the country’s obligations
and commitments. PACE official web-site writes about this.

According to the adopted text, based on the report by Pedro Agramunt
(Spain, EPP/CD) and Joseph Debono Grech (Malta, SOC), since its
accession Azerbaijan has made progress with regard to the establishment
of the legislative framework in some areas crucial for the functioning
of democratic institutions but, regrettably, “restrictive application
or violations of some laws are resulting in growing concern with
regard to the rule of law and respect for human rights”. The lack of
independence of the judiciary is a concern too, “where the executive
branch, in some particular cases, continues to exert influence on it”.

Since Azerbaijan’s accession to the Council of Europe, not a single
parliamentary or presidential election has fully met democratic
standards. According to the Assembly, “a number of shortcomings and
deficiencies in the electoral process, in particular with regard to
the electoral code, the composition of the electoral commissions,
candidate registration, observers and the complaints and appeals
procedure, must be addressed in time for the next elections”.

Concerning the functioning of pluralist democracy, some well-known
Azerbaijani opposition parties are not represented in parliament,
the ruling party is the only one which is eligible to establish a
political group and “regrettably, there is no political dialogue”
with the opposition parties outside parliament.

The situation with regard to basic freedoms, including freedom of
expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association, “is
preoccupying”. The Assembly expressed its alarm at reports by human
rights defenders and domestic and international NGOs about the alleged
use of so-called fabricated charges against activists and journalists.

“The combination of the restrictive implementation of freedoms with
unfair trials and the undue influence of the executive, results in
the systemic detention of people who may be considered prisoners of
conscience,” the adopted text underlines.

Recently adopted amendments to the Criminal Code and the Administrative
Code, which have increased penalties for the organisers of, and
participants in, “unauthorised” gatherings, also raise concern, as do
alleged cases of torture and other forms of ill-treatment at police
stations, during the investigation period and in penal institutions,
as well as the impunity of perpetrators.

Finally, despite the progress achieved in the introduction of a
legislative framework aimed at fighting corruption and organised
crime, the main challenge lies in “the effective application of
that legislation”.

24.01.13, 10:19

SERZH SARGSYAN VISITED HOUSE-MUSEUM OF PARUYR SEVAK

20:11, 24 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: Incumbent President of Armenia,
presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan continues his pre-election
meetings. As reports Armenpress, RPA candidate had meetings with voters
of Jermuk, Vayq, Malishka, Eghegnadzor, answered their questions,
presented his pre-election program, as well as spoke about prospective
spheres for Vayots Dzor region which were agriculture, tourism and
health care.

In Jermuk city of the region, Serzh Sargsyan had meeting with regional
and municipal authorities, as well as representatives of local health
resorts, hotels, service sector organizations.

Within the frames of his pre-election visit to Vayots Dzor RPA
candidate visited Zangakatun, birthplace of Paruyr Sevak, laid flowers
on the tomb Armenian poet on the occasion of his birthday as well as
visited house-museum of Paruyr Sevak.

AGREEMENT SIGNED ON ARMENIA – IRAN RAIL LINK

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Written by Keith Barrow

Armenian trains now run only as far as Yeraskh on the former through
route between Yerevan and Jolfa, Iran. The construction of the
Armenian Southern Railway will restore rail links between the two
countries. Jan Pešula

A tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed in Yerevan on
January 24 concerning the construction of the Southern Armenia Railway,
which will form part of a new north-south corridor linking the Black
Sea and the Persian Gulf.

The agreement was signed by representatives of Dubai-based investment
fund Rasia FZE, Russian Railways (RZD) subsidiary South Caucasus
Railway (SCR), and Armenian minister of transport and communications
Mr Gagik Beglaryan. The ceremony was also attended by government
officials, ambassadors, and fund managers from Armenia, China, Russia,
UAE, and Iran.

The MoU covers the construction of both a 316km railway linking Gavar,
50km east of Yerevan near Lake Sevar, with the Iranian border near
Meghri, and a 110km highway in the southern province of Syunik. The
total cost of the two projects is expected to be around $US 3bn.

In 2012 Rasia FZE signed two concession agreements with the Armenian
government to develop these projects on a PPP basis. The concessions
set deadlines for completing feasibility studies, engineering design,
project financing, and construction, and both have an operating term
of 30 years with an option for a 20 year extension. Feasibility
studies began at the end of December, and Rasia FZE has appointed
China Communications Construction Company as the “lead member of the
development consortium” for the project.

The line will be operated by SCR, which was awarded a 30-year operating
concession for Armenia’s 1520mm-gauge national network in February
2008. During the ceremony, Mr Victor Rebets, general director of SCR
said RZD has invested more than Drams 90bn ($US 225m) in its Armenian
operations since it won the concession.

At present the only rail connection between Armenia and Iran is the
line which passes through the autonomous region of Nakhchivan, an
exclave of Azerbaijan. However, because the border between the two
countries is closed the line from Yerevan is operational only as far
as Yeraskh.

ARMENIA TO ASSUME PRESIDENCY OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE

17:08, 24 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: Armenian will assume the presidency
of Council of Europe in May, 2013. As reports Armenpress, during
January 24 interview with journalists Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian has highlighted it’s a very honorable, but at the same time
responsible mission. “We are preparing our priorities for that period,
special program is being carried out and will be presented in April,”
Armenian MFA said, adding that in order to get acquainted with the
program Secretary General of Council of Europe would visit Armenia
in April.

In 2013 Armenia will also assume the presidency of Black Sea Regional
Commission. Edward Nalbandian informed that the meeting of Foreign
Ministers of Eastern Partnership and EU representatives was scheduled
for 2013 in Armenia.

Armenia established diplomatic relations with 4 countries during 2012,
which was a year full of mutual visits, agreements and 105 signed
international documents.

IRNA: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS PROMOTION OF TIES WITH IRAN IMPORTANT

17:02 24/01/2013 ” REGION

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said Thursday that his country
attached great importance to expansion of relations with Iran, Iran’s
state-run news agency IRNA reported.

Addressing people in the city of Meghri where he went for his
presidential election’s campaign, Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia would
continue efforts to promote bilateral cooperation with Iran, IRNA said.

President Sargsyan further appreciated Tehran for its effective
bilateral cooperation with Yerevan during the past years.

Referring to a 316-km railroad project between Iran and Armenia,
President Sargsyan said it was a strategic project for Yerevan.

The project was estimated to be completed with a three-billion-dollar
budget, the Iranian website said.

Source: Panorama.am

BAKU’S DESTRUCTIVE ACTIONS SLAMMED BY INT’L COMMUNITY – FM

January 24, 2013 – 16:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The year 2012 has confirmed Armenia’s strategy in
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement to enjoy international community’s
support, with OSCE Minsk Group statements to prove the fact, Foreign
Minister said.

As Edward Nalbandian told a January 24 news conference, “Azeri
violations of ceasefire and provocative actions along the line
of contact with Artsakh and at the border with Armenia seriously
undermined the Karabakh peace process, also threatening regional
security and stability.”

According to the Foreign Minister, Baku’s destructive actions were
given negative response by the international community, as was the
release and heroization of Azeri axe-murderer Ramil Safatov.

ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN TIES ACTIVELY DEVELOPED IN 2012 – ARMENIAN MFA

news.am
January 24, 2013 | 15:25

YEREVAN. – The Armenian-Georgian relations developed actively and
numerous mutual visits were conducted between the two countries in
2012, the Armenian MFA 2012 Report states.

The Armenian and Georgian presidents met in Armenia’s capital city
Yerevan on November 30. On March 17 and July 10, Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian paid working visits to Georgia. On July 14,
Georgian FM Grigol Vashadze visited Yerevan. Also, the two FMs held
several talks within the framework of multilateral conferences.

In addition, Armenia’s Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan,
Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan, Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan, and Diaspora Minister Hranush
Hakobyan likewise paid visits to Georgia in 2012.