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Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum 2012 – Highlights and Key Outcomes

14-12-2012

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum has issued a report
outlining the highlights and outcomes of its recent assembly, held in
Stockholm on 29-30 November.

The fourth assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
gathered over 200 civil society activists from Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine as well as representatives of
EU-based NGOs active in the region.

The Forum was opened with an address by European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Å tefan Füle, who
stressed that the process of political association and economic
integration of partner countries with the EU required strong involvement
and support from civil society. The EU encouraged governments to
establish a regular structured dialogue with representatives of civil
society, he told the forum.

The Commissioner also informed his audience of the smooth implementation
of the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility, which offers increased
financial opportunities for CSOs and the establishment of the European
Endowment for Democracy, which will also provide additional support for
those who fight for democratic causes in neighbouring countries.

Demonstrating the European Commission’s support to the civil society of
the region, Commissioner Füle led the signing of an agreement in
the amount of almost =82¬1 million to strengthen capacities of the
Civil Society Forum’s national platforms, which have been
established in all six partner countries, and announced a decision to
offer financial support to the newly established permanent secretariat,
which will assist the work of the Forum.

Füle said it was important that the Forum become more sustainable.
Aside from using the support that the EU has offered it, he recommended
that the Forum seek support from other donors to fund `concrete
actions on the ground which would contribute to the implementation of
Eastern Partnership’s goals, step up people’s support for necessary
reforms and help your governments to design and put them into
place.’

The Co-Chairs of the outgoing Steering Committee of the Forum, Jeff
Lovitt and Ihor Kogut, shared with participants the results of the
Forum’s work in the previous year, which included:

* the permanent participant status of the Forum in thematic platform
meetings;
* registration of the Secretariat of the Forum;
* successful fund-raising efforts of the Steering Committee;
* establishment of a working group on social dialogue;
* crucial steps on the preparation of the next Forum.
* For the first time in its history, the Forum will next year be
organised in one of the partner countries – Moldova.

Participants also had the opportunity to take part in one of three
parallel thematic panel sessions.

* Choosing the Leaders, Elections in the EaP Countries
* Media in a Free and Democratic Society
* Combating Corruption
* The Forum also offered a number of civil society development workshops
on a broad variety of topics, from Anti-Corruption and Road-Map
Monitoring to Visa Facilitation and Liberalisation and Female
Participation in Civil Society.

The Forum also saw the election of six Country Facilitators, ten Working
Group Coordinators, and three EU Coordinators, who will act as members
of the Steering
Committee of the Forum for a year. The
newly-elected Committee will lead the Forum in the year to come and will
work to achieve the goals identified at the Forum, the most important of
which is stepping up the civil society engagement in the practical
implementation of the Eastern Partnership. (EU Neighbourhood Info
)

Press
release

Election of new Steering Committee – full
list of names

EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – Commissioner
maps out future of Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in
Stockholm (29-11-12)

Civil Society Forum
2012

Civil Society Forum – Facebook page

EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – Eastern

Partnership Civil Society Forum takes stock of achievements and maps
future (27-11-12)

Armenian FM says Baku only audience for false Azeri statements

December 14, 2012 – 16:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azerbaijan is the only audience for Baku statements,
Armenian Foreign Minister said.
At a joint news conference with his Polish, Swedish and Bulgarian
counterparts, Rados³aw Sikorski, Carl Bildt and Nikolay Mladenov in
Yerevan, Edward Nalbandian commented on Baku’s accusations, suggesting
Armenia was to blame for non-adoption of a five-sided agreement at
OSCE Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Dublin.
In reply to Azeri accusations, Nalbandian suggested comparing Baku and
Yerevan’s statements at the Dublin meeting.
Also, the MF said, this hasn’t been the first time for Baku. “Back in
2010, at Almaty meeting, Baku declared the principle of territorial
integrity to be the only one prevailing. Eventually, a 3-sided
agreement was signed instead of a 5-sided one.”
“This time in Dublin, Azeri side yet again failed to mention all 3
principles: non-use of force, people’s right for self-determination
and territorial integrity,” Nalbandian said.

Aleppo residents are distributed with hot meals just cooked in the streets

13:19, 14 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Yakubie Armenian village located in
Idlib district, near the Turkish border, for a long time has been a
center of hot clashes before the launch of anti Government clashes
orchestrated in Aleppo. Berio National Primacy press secretary Jirayr
Reisyan informed Armenpress, driven by security reasons numerous
Armenians have quitted the village during the clashed hold between the
Government loyal forces and rebels.Mainly the old people and men have
stayed in the village and according to the latest info the village is
under the control of the opposition.

In the words of the press secretary the information about occupying
st. Anna church adjunct newly built building and surrounding areas are
not officially confirmed. Irregular phone connection in its turn also
hinders to the clarification of the information. Reisyan informs, they
will make efforts to connect with the local priest and learn correct
news about the occurring events taking place in Yakubie village.
Aleppo based facebook users inform the village habitants are in panic,
whereas the rebels say no danger threatens them.

What refers to the prevailing situation in Aleppo, Berio National
Primacy press secretary states currently the situation in the second
largest city of Syria is calm, and no sounds of shelling are heard.
Some benevolent organizations are cooking hot meals and distributing
them to Aleppo residents. Syrian Armenian Red Cross organization also
undertakes similar actions distributing meal to local Armenians once
in a week. Besides according to Reisyan free of charge bread
distribution program is being elaborated. Aleppo Syrian army
distributed free bread to the people on December 13 and 14.

Number of employed Syrian-Armenians increased

09:40, 14 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The number of the Syrian-Armenians,
who settled in Armenia, increased reaching 6500. The Head of Stuff of
the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia, Head of the
Working Group for the Syrian-Armenians Firdus Zakaryan announced this
in a conversation with “Armenpress”.

Zakaryan stated: “The majority of the Syrian-Armenians rented houses
in Yerevan, notwithstanding the number of Syrian-Armenians, who have a
whish to settle in the regions also have increased. We are ready to
provide houses and lands for them.” According to him the number of the
Syrian-Armenians, who settled in Armenia this year was about 10,500,
4000 of which have already returned to Syria, and about 50-60 families
have left for other countries.

As per the Syrian-Armenian children studying in the Armenian schools,
Zakaryan underscored that that about 270 Syrian-Armenian children are
studying the “Cilician” school. Their total number reaches 600.

Among other things Firdus Zakaryan stated that the number of the
employed Syrian-Armenians also increased. The Head of Stuff of the
Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia noted that for these
purposes they are considering ho hold another job fair jointly with
the State Employment Service Agency of the Ministry of Labor and
Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Clashes lasting more than 21 months in Syria caused the death of more
than 40 thousand people, more than four dozens Syrian-Armenians.

ARMENIE
Les routes ouvertes actuellement en Arménie malgré la neige

Toutes les routes nationales et autoroutes sont actuellement ouvertes
en Arménie a annoncé le service de presse du ministère des Transports
et de la communication.

Lundi il a neigé dans quelques régions arméniennes dont Ashotsk,
Stepanavan, Noyemberyan, Spitak, Artik, Aparan, Maralik, Talin,
Baghramyan, Armavir, Ashtarak, Yeghvard, Vanadzor, Sevan, Gavar,
Chambarak et Artashat.

Le service de presse a mis en garde contre le givre dans quelques
régions, dont le passage de Selim, dans les régions du Kotayk et de
Gegharkunik en particulier.

Les routes ouvertes à la circulation automobile sont déneigés pour
assurer la sécurité du trafic.

Le ministère des Transports recommande aux conducteurs de changer les
pneus été par des pneus hiver.

vendredi 14 décembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

DANEMARK
Le débat sur l’exposition alternative sur le génocide arménien fait
rage au Danemark

Depuis quelques jours, un débat s’est instauré dans les médias danois
à propos d’une exposition organisée par la Bibliothèque Royale du
Danemark (Copenhague). La Bibliothèque Royale de Copenhague avait
décidé en collaboration avec l’ambassade d’Arménie d’organiser
jusqu’au 15 décembre à l’université de Copenhague de cette année une
exposition intitulée : Le génocide arménien et la réaction en
Scandinavie.

Le mot de génocide a provoqué l’ire de l’ambassade de Turquie et
l’ambassadeur, qui après avoir eu une rencontre avec le directeur de
la Bibliothèque Royale Erland Kolding Nielsen, ont obtenu la
collaboration de la Bibliothèque Royale pour une exposition
alternative intitulée « Le prétendu génocide arménien ».

Cette exposition de l’ambassade turque est en préparation mais n’a pas
encore eu lieu.

Cette décision a entraîné des réactions dans la presse, dans les
partis politiques et chez des historiens. L’historien et spécialiste
des génocides au Danish Institute for Study Abroad Mattghias Bjørnlund
a déclaré au journal Kristeligt Dagblad (accessible par Internet) : «
L’ambassade de Turquie, d’Arménie et d’autres ambassades peuvent
organiser toutes les expositions qu’elles désirent, mais cela doit se
faire sans la collaboration d’institutions de recherches officielles
danoises. À partir de là, que tout le monde puisse faire son
exposition avec son interprétation de l’histoire. Par exemple, les
néonazis danois doivent avoir le droit d’organiser une exposition sur
l’Occupation allemande » ajoutant « Si l’on pense que toutes les
interprétations de l’histoire sont aussi bonnes les unes que les
autres, alors l’institution de recherches a saboté son rôle. C’était
un génocide et toute autre interprétation n’est pas vraie » .

Le directeur de la Bibliothèque Royale, interrogé sur ce sujet à Radio
Danemark, a répondu que ce n’était pas du tout comparable.

Sur le site de kristeligt Dagblad. Henrik Ertner Rasmussen, théologien
en poste à la Commission européenne du Danemark et qui a l’expérience
de plusieurs projets en Arménie, n’apprécie pas le procédé de la
Bibliothèque Royale.

Søren Espersen, député porte-parole pour les Affaires Étrangères de
Danske Folkeparti (Parti du Peuple Danois) dénonce l’affaire comme une
mise à genoux devant les Turcs : « Sans comparer les deux événements,
cela correspond à une exposition des néonazis sur l’Holocauste ».

Le 4 décembre le directeur de la Bibliothèque Royale Erland Kolding
Nielsen a déclaré « On ne peut pas faire pression sur nous, et nous
n’avons parlé de supprimer l’exposition en cours, on leur (l’ambassade
de Turquie) a seulement donné l’occasion d’exposer leur interprétation
alternative. C’est une affaire dont on discute parmi les historiens et
en tant qu’institution qui traite de tels faits de cette nature, je ne
vois pas le problème ».

La journaliste Helle Schøler Kjær, auteur du livre Témoins danois du
génocide arménien est interviewée sur le sujet et a expliqué
l’arrière-plan historique dans le journal Kristeligt Dagblad.

Le gouvernement danois (son ministre de la culture, lequel vient de
démissionner mais pas pour cette affaire) a exprimé sa confiance au
directeur de la Bibliothèque Royale. Et le porte-parole de la culture
(Mogens Jensen) a exprimé sa confiance dans la qualité de
l’exposition. le directeur de la Bibliothèque Royale s’est fait
traiter précédemment dans la presse d’islamiste de placard
(Skabsislamist) et de relativiste de la culture (kulturrelativist).

Selon Gérard Lehmann, professeur à l’Université de Syddansk au
Danemark « Cet événement a donné l’opportunité d’évoquer dans les
médias le génocide arménien et le négationnisme officiel de la
Turquie. Et la position, entre autres, de la France ».

L’Ambassadeur d’Arménie au Danemark Hrachya Aghajanyan a également
exprimé son espoir que la Bibliothèque Royale de Copenhague
n’organisera une exposition avec ce titre.

De son côté le plus grand parti de l’opposition Venstre [parti
Libéral] a demandé que le ministère de la culture interdise de tenir
un tel événement négationniste.

vendredi 14 décembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

This Unassuming MP has “Oligarchic-Sized”Assets
Grisha Balasanyan

14:40, December 12, 2012

Republican Party MP Artak Davtyan is an unassuming politician who
heads the parliament’s Standing Committee on Education, Science, Youth
Affairs and Sports.

While he may not exhibit the ostentatious trimmings of your
run-of-the-mill oligarch/legislator, Davtyan is no slouch when it
comes to financial resources.

His 2011 financial disclosure shows a mere 3.8 million AMD in revenue;
all salary.

Now to his assets. At the start of the year, Davtyan had cash deposits
of 5 million AMD and $1,160,000. At year’s end, this dropped to 3
million AMD and $60,000.

Davtyan’s wife, Anahit Gabrielyan, declared 119.2 million AMD in
revenues for 2011. She also had $100,000 in the bank.

IFFHS: Mkhitaryan short-listed among most popular players of the world

armradio.am
12:24 13.12.2012

Midfielder of the Armenian national team and FC Shakhtar and Henrikh
Mkhitaryan has been short-listed for the World’s Most Popular
Footballer Amongst Currently Active Players in 2012 vote conducted by
the International Federation of Football History and Statistics
(IFFHS) to decide the most popular football player in 2012.

The vote will run until January 3, 2013; one can support Henrikh
directly on the IFFHS website. The list of Mkhitaryan’s midfielder’s
rivals include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Radamel Falcao,
Antonio Valencia, Edin Dzeko, Francesco Totti, Tim Cahill, Lorik Zahn
and others.

ARMENIE
Malgré ses progrès, l’Arménie demeure un pays corrompu, d’après «
Transparency International »

Selon une enquête annuelle publiée par « Transparency International »,
l’Arménie et sept autres pays, dont le Mexique et les Philippines,
partagent la 105ème place sur la liste, qui compte 176 pays, par son
niveau de corruption. Elle progresse de 24 places (129ème en 2011). La
Géorgie est en 51ème position, la Turquie en 54ème, l’Iran en 133ème.
L’Azerbaïdjan a les plus mauvais résultats de la région (139ème). Le
directeur de la branche arménienne de « Transparency International » a
estimé que le tableau d’ensemble est assez triste, la corruption ayant
continué de croître à l’échelle mondiale ces dernières années. /
Rapporté par l’ensemble de la presse

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Arménie en
date du 6 décembre 2012

jeudi 13 décembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.co

Standart News, Bulgaria
Dec 12 2012

Bulgarian Foreign Minister on a Tour in Southern Caucasus

Baku
Krassimira Temelkova, reporter of Standart

Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov, his Swedish counterpart
Carl Bildt and Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski are on a
three-day tour in Southern Caucasus, starting today.

The three ministers carry a European message to Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia ? Europe is close, it is stretching out a helping hand to
the region and wants cooperation within the framework of the
initiative Eastern Partnership.

However, the Southern Caucasus countries should not forget that such a
partnership involves observation of the trade regulations, the human
rights, etc, diplomatic sources said.

Poland and Sweden are among the initiators of Eastern Partnership,
while Bulgaria is interested in the region as a Black Sea country.
During their tour, the three ministers are scheduled to meet Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia’s state elite.