Author: Kanayan Tamar

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND STOPS RAISING FUNDS IN RUSSIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 10 2014

10 December 2014 – 1:45pm

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has not organized the annual
fund-raising in Moscow this year. The Fund opened an Armenian
cathedral in Moscow on September 17, according to an agreement of
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan with local businessmen of Armenian
origin. Hayastan collected $12.35 million for its construction,
Epress.am reports.

Donations worth a total of $12.399 million were collected in Europe
this year and $77,000 in Lebanon on Thursday.

WHY IS TURKEY DEMINING BORDER WITH ARMENIA?

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 10 December 2014, 23:30

Today the foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia met in
Kars. The meeting is passing under new realities, namely development
of new pipelines, Russia’s attempts to improve its relations with
Turkey and the EU plans to thwart the Russian-Turkish alliance.

Today the prime minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron visited
Turkey in an attempt to involve Turkey in more active fight against
the Islamic State. Yesterday Federica Mogherini, High Representative
of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, was in
Ankara too. The EU promised to do everything to accelerate Turkey’s
membership to the Union. A few days ago Putin also visited Turkey.

Like 100 years ago, Turkey is at the same time the most likely
candidate for strategic “tearing to pieces” and the most desirable
tactical partner. 100 years ago the Ottoman Empire had lost half
of its territories but was able to keep the core of its territories
thanks to tactical diplomacy.

Currently Turkey is trying to protect its integrity and strengthen its
defense and therefore can be allies with anyone. Russia could be a good
match for Turkey in case Ankara feels too much pressure from the West.

One of the tools of pressure is the Armenian issue, and if Ankara
feels that Russia can eliminate this issue, it may make a compromise
with Russia. For example, Turkey is said to have recently announced
bidding for demining the borders with Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Why is Turkey demining the border with Armenia? Is there a preliminary
agreement on opening the Armenian-Turkish border after the membership
of Armenia to the Eurasian Union? In fact, after membership Turkey will
border with the Eurasian Union, not Armenia. The fate of this border
will be determined by the Eurasian Commission, especially if Ankara
agrees to create a free trade area with the Eurasian Economic Union.

Interestingly, according to the Turkish press, Turkey may leave the
EU Customs Union. This sounded like a warning to the West and Cameron
immediately left for Turkey.

Notably, speaking about improvement of relations with Russia, Turkish
experts note that trade is hindered by too high customs duties set
by Russia. It is not known whether Putin promised in Ankara to review
the duties but obviously the Armenian-Turkish border may soon become
an indicator of Turkey’s strategic choice.

ARMENIAN AND KAZAKH PRESIDENTS DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION WITHIN EEU

YEREVAN, December 10. / ARKA /. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
had Wednesday a telephone conversation with his Kazakh counterpart
Nursultan Nazarbayev to discuss Armenian-Kazakh relations and
cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union, Sargsyan’s press
service said.

On December 4 by a vote of 103 to 7 and one abstention the National
Assembly of Armenia ratified the agreement that makes the country
a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. The other members of the
Russia-led trade bloc are Kazakhstan and Belarus.

The agreement was endorsed by 5 of the six factions in the Armenian
parliament. The only party that voted against was Zharangutyun
(Heritage) of former foreign minister Raffi Hovhanisyan. The agreement
comes into force on January 1, 2015. -0-

GEORGIAN, TURKISH, AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN KARS

15:30 * 10.12.14

The foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey are meeting
in the eastern Turkish city of Kars on December 10, RFE/RL reported.

It is the fourth trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of the three
neighbors since the launch of this format in 2012.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said last week that the trilateral
meetings “contribute to the development of common understanding in
all areas on the basis of mutual interest, and to the consolidation
of regional stability and security.”

Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili arrived in Ankara on
December 9 and discussed bilateral ties with her Turkish counterpart
Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Their Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, will join them in
Kars later on December 10.

Neighboring Armenia, whose ties with Azerbaijan and Turkey are severely
strained, is not part of the group.

With reporting by civil.ge

ARMENIA, WORLD BANK REITERATE WILLINGNESS TO MAINTAIN COOPERATION

15:23, 10 Dec 2014

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received today the World Bank
delegation headed by WB Country Manager for Armenia Laura E. Bailey.

The parties discussed issues related to the current state of the
Armenian economy and the perspectives of development, Armenia’s
monetary and tax and budgetary policy.

They attached importance to the implementation of economic policy
in line with the global and regional economic realities and the
changing state of the international market, as well as creation of
a corresponding economic environment.

The parties reiterated the willingness to maintain cooperation in
the above-mentioned directions.

SOIL MANAGERS GETTING NEARER AND NEARER TO LAKE SEVAN

16:32 December 09, 2014

EcoLur

The Nature Protection Ministry issued a positive opinion to the
geological prospecting of Masrik gold mine, Gegharkounik Region,
submitted by “Alluvial Gold Mining” CJSC.

Masrik River flows into Lake Sevan, which is under the negative impact
of Sotq gold mine and the river water is of poor quality, category 4.

The requirements of the environmental expertise don’t mention
anything about the river. It only mentions that in case red-listed
plants and animal species are detected, the company shall be guided
by RA Government N71-Õ~F and N72-Õ~F dated on 29.01.2010, while the
issue of the fertile land will be used in line with the governmental
resolution N 396-Õ~F dated on 08.09.2001.

Nevertheless, neither the project, not the announcement about the
public hearings was displayed on the official website of Nature
Protection Ministry, while Article 26(1) of RA Law “On Environmental
Impact Assessment and Expertise” says, the expertise processed shall
undergo public notification and discussion to ensure public awareness
and participation, while the other clauses of the law says that the
competent body is in charge of the notification (Nature Protection
Ministry), the initiator and the local government bodies of the
territorial administration at least seven days before the hearings.

The geological prospecting works will be conducted in the northern –
eastern part of Gegharkounik Region, in the area of Verin Shorzha
community.

The average gold concentration in Masrik will account for 302.5 mg/m3.

NILS MUIZNIEKS AND THORBJøRN JAGLAND CONDEMN AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES FOR KHADIJA ISMAILOVA’S ARREST

12:20 10/12/2014 ” SOCIETY

Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks condemns Azerbaijani
authorities for the arrest of the journalist. In his statement made
on December 9, he said that the fact of arrest of Khadija Ismailova, a
well-known journalist and long-term partner of his office, confirms its
concern that human rights defenders and other civil society activists,
who cooperate with the Council of Europe, are repressed in Azerbaijan.

“I strongly condemn her arrest and consider it as another manifestation
of a selective use of criminal law against those who criticize the
government,” said Nils Muižnieks, stressing that in just a few hours
before her arrest Ismayilova contacted the office of the Council of
Europe on a case of another journalist.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland, condemns
the arrest of the journalist and demanded her immediate release.

“There was no need for this arrest. This is a bad message to
Azerbaijani civil society and the international community. This is an
indicator of how difficult the conditions are for the independent media
and civil society in the country, and is contrary to international
obligations undertaken by Azerbaijan,” he said in his statement on
9 December.

On December 5, morning, well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija
Ismayilova was detained after being questioned at the prosecutor’s
office. Baku Sabail District Court made a decision to detain her for
two months. She was charged with incitement to suicide. If the fault
of the journalist is proven, then she can be punished by a term of
3 to 7 years in prison. Khadija Ismayilova has become the target of
attacks of the government for her journalistic activities. Ismayilova
is an author of a number of journalistic investigations of corruption
in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. In recent years, she is
conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of “Radio Liberty”.

RUSSIAN ARMENIANS HAVE NOT DONATED TO HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND: HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK

12.10.2014 11:55 epress.am

A fundraising gala annually organized in Moscow for the Hayastan All
Armenian Fund did not take place this year according to the Haykakan
Zhamanak daily. The Fund’s press service informed the paper that the
reason was “the Russian Federation’s apparent situation.”

“This is the first such incident that has taken place in the past few
years. It’s true that last year the gala was not officially organized,
but on the day (September 17) of the opening of the Moscow Diocese of
Holy Transfiguration, Serzh Sargsyan and NKR President Bako Sahakyan
managed to reach agreements “on their feet” with the Russian-Armenian
businessmen and the Hayastan All Armenian Fund last year received
$12,350,000 just from Russia alone,” writes the paper.

This year during both the Los Angeles based annual Televised Telethon
and the Pan-European Phoneathon $12,399,550 was donated and pledged,
while $77,500 was donated from Lebanon last Thursday from a Radiothon
in Lebanon.

NUCLEAR HINTS TO ARMENIA

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 10 December 2014, 00:25

Russia has signed an agreement with Hungary on the construction of
two new generating blocks of the NPP in this country. The price of
the agreement is not mentioned but Hungary is the next country where
Russia commits to construction of a new NPP. Russia has a 20 billion
dollar program with Turkey to build a NPP.

Most probably, Azerbaijan will be the next country after Hungary, as
a few months ago the officials of this country hailed the prospects
of cooperation with Russia over nuclear energy after Putin’s visit
to Azerbaijan.

Currently, Moscow is focused on Hungary whose Prime Minister Viktor
Orban is Putin’s partner and EU’s outcast. Putin is lending Orban a
hand for his controversy with Brussels.

Nuclear assistance to Azerbaijan after Hungary will be expected
provided the assistance for Ramil Safarov’s extradition from Hungary
to Azerbaijan. Budapest and Baku did this job with the help of the
Russia-based tycoon, Putin’s classmate Ilham Rahimov.

Hence, it will be symbolic if Russia builds a NPP in Azerbaijan after
building one in Hungary.

Meanwhile, the Armenian-Russian agreement to build a new NPP in Armenia
is withering; Moscow only lends 270 million and awards 30 million to
prolong the operation of the Armenian NPP. The project of the new
NPP which was announced by Serzh Sargsyan in October 2008 has been
successfully frozen to the joy of Turkey and Azerbaijan which are
openly acting against the construction of the new NPP of Armenia.

Apparently, this is Turkey’s condition to make a deal with Russia
on the construction of an NPP worth billions of dollars. Instead,
Russia does not help Armenia to build a new NPP.

In the beginning, the United States and France were interested in
building a new NPP in Armenia. The French president Nicolas Sarkozy
made some statements in 2011 about seconding a working group to
Armenia to study the possibility for the participation of France.

However, France has apparently found out that since Russia’s hand is
on the new Armenian NPP project, France has no chance to participate.

Neither does anyone else because Russia does not intend to build a
new NPP in Armenia. And Armenia does not have a government to have
a new NPP.

DEBAT AU PARLEMENT SUR L’ADHESION A L’UEE : LES MANIFESTANTS A L’EXTERIEUR, A L’INTERIEUR QUELQUES LEGISLATEURS DEFI LE TRAITE D’ADHESION

ARMENIE

Alors que les legislateurs discutent du traite sur l’adhesion de
l’Armenie a l’Union economique eurasienne (UEE) cette semaine,
des dizaines de citoyens se sont rassembles devant le bâtiment du
Parlement demandant aux deputes de voter contre l’accord de Poutine
“, sinon “ce timbre sera toujours sur leur front >>.

Membre de l’initiative Choix Europeen, la journaliste Gayane Arustamyan
a averti les deputes presses a l’Assemblee nationale