Author: Kanayan Tamar

EURASIAN UNION: OUTLOOK OF YEREVAN

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 2 2014

2 June 2014 – 9:57am
By Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza

The presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed the Treaty
of the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) at the end of a session of
the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana on May 29. President
Serzh Sargsyan (Armenia) asked members of the EaEU to set terms for
Armenia to join the organization before June 15.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that Armenia will
have joined the EaEU by July 1 on condition of resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Nazarbayev noted that the leaders of Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan had received a letter from the Azerbaijani
president the previous day. The letter emphasized that the WTO norms
Armenia had adopted were in force only within the borders recognized
by the UN: You have joined the World Trade Organization the same
way, there is a precedent,” the Kazakh president told his Armenian
counterpart. Thus, Armenia was offered to join the EaEU without
Nagorno-Karabakh. The Kazakh leader’s statement was doubtlessly
made in accordance with the opinions of the presidents of Russia and
Belarus. Armenia has not reacted to the statement in any way.

Back in December 2013, Nazarbayev approved the road map for membership
in the Customs Union (CU) for Armenia, though he warned that Kazakhstan
will sign the road map with a special view because the borders of the
Customs Union had not been fixed due to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

It is noteworthy that functionaries have been making optimistic
declarations for six months that Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh were
a common economic space and the presence of customs offices on the
border of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh was out of question.

“Nagorno-Karabakh and we will be a single territory. No other
formulation can be given in this issue,” Prime Minister Ovik Abramyan
has recently said.

On May 31, at a meeting with representatives of youth organizations
of the Republican Party, the president declared contrary views. In his
words, there were no obstacles for membership of Armenia in the EaEU.

“What Nazarbayev said was unpleasant, but it would not harm us.

Initially, it was wrong to talk about the borders. What borders are we
talking about? The Karabakh dispute is not an issue of the EaEU. Who
said we were joining the EaEU together with Nagorno-Karabakh? It has
never happened and will never happen because Nagorno-Karabakh is not
part of Armenia, according to our law.”

This provokes two questions: why did the Armenian leader, who is so
confident that the EaEU cannot set borders, not address the statement
to his Kazakh counterpart, and why has Sargsyan suddenly changed his
attitude after assuring the public that Armenia would join the EaEU
without Nagorno-Karabakh?

The answer to the questions can be found in a statement by Vagram
Bagdasaryan, the head of the parliamentary faction of the Republican
Party. He said that Serzh Sargsyan’s actions were harmonized with
superstates. In this context, harmonization is most likely pressure.

The controversial steps of the Armenian president show that he is
trying to hold on to power by supporting Russia, a state interested
in seeing Armenia in the EaEU.

On the other hand, apart from the declarations of the president and
his Republican Party, Armenia has a public and a parliament, where
the government controls about 55-56 out of the 131 members. A bigger
problem is the president’s backers, many of whom were on the front
lines of the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Notably, Armenia has not joined
the CU or the EaEU, despite all the declarations of striving to sign
the membership treaties.

FAAE: Artsakh must make a statement on joining Armenia

by Nana Martirosyan

Friday, May 30, 13:57

Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe (FAAE) urges the authorities
of Artsakh to come out with an initiative of joining Armenia, FAAE
says in a statement.

“The meeting on establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union,
particularly, the stances of the EAU leaders, showed that Armenia has
no authority with those countries and the threat of losing Artsakh is
growing with every minute,” the FAAE says. It calls for adequate
response to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s statement on the
need to create customs points between Armenia and Artsakh. In this
light, FAAE urges Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Artsakh
President Bako Sahakyan to make a joint statement on Artsakh’s joining
Armenia.

To recall, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on the heels of a
Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan,
Thursday, that Armenia is ready to sign the Treaty on Eurasian
Economic Union before June 15. President of Russia Vladimir Putin
said that the document can be signed no sooner than on 1 July, as
Armenia is yet to fulfill some commitments. President of Kazakhstan
Nursultan Nazarbayev, in turn, said Azerbaijan claims that Armenia can
join the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) within the same borders it
joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). We have received the
Azerbaijani president’s letter saying that Armenia joined WTO with a
reservation that the provisions must apply to the territory of Armenia
within its international borders recognized by the UN. It is an issue
for discussion,” the Kazakh president said. President of Armenia made
no statement in response.

‘4D7950-E7E1-11E3-88B60EB7C0D21663

Homenetmen Australia marches to commemorate Armenian Independence – Photos

Caroline Geroyan
armenia.com.au | Monday, 26 May 2014

Homenetmen Australia Scouts and Armenians outside of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, Sydney

On Sunday the 25th of May approximately 140 Armenian Homenetmen
Australia Scouts, as well as a large number of Armenian-Australians
marched from the Armenian Apostolic Church, in Macquarie Street,
Chatswood, to the Armenian Cultural Centre in Willoughby. This event
was to celebrate the first Republic of Armenia, which was announced on
the 28th May, 1918, after successful battles in Sartarabad,
Gharakilise and Pash Abaran.

Before the commemorative march, the church was filled with proud
Armenians, some of whom participated in Holy Mass and undertook Holy
Communion. Bishop Haigazoun Najarian also blessed the Homenetmen
Australia Scout members, emphasising the key role that Homenetmen
plays in maintaining the strong Armenian culture and traditions that
are carried out within the Australian diaspora.

As well as the scouts, numerous representatives from the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Australia and affiliates of various
fellow sister regional organisations took part to show their
commitment and support.

The scout group created much momentum and awareness as they marched
honourably and with their heads held high throughout the streets of
Sydney. Once at the cultural centre, the separate scout chapters,
including Homenetmen Antranig, Ararat and Navasart performed
commemorative piece honouring Mayis 28 (May 28).

Despite the short tenure that the Armenian Independence which was
attained in 1918 endured, this momentous phenomenon marked the first
time that this small country stood on its own as a sovereign nation.
The honourable legacy that was left behind still resonates within each
and every “Homenetmenagan” and Armenians across the world, which was
evident through the scout members and the .

Partratsir Partsratsoor (rise and let rise).

Scouts Performing at the Armenian Cultural Centre, Sydney

Armenians outside the Armenian Apostolic Church, Sydney

Vache Kahramanian officially launches his candidacy for Willoughby
Council’s Sailors Bay Ward

Caroline Geroyan –
armenia.com.au | Saturday, 31 May 2014

Sydney – Vache Kahramanian truly is the man of the moment. As
someone who was born and bred in Willoughby, he feels that it is time
that he not only gives back to the area that he loves so much, but
time to make a difference, which drove his decision to run for council
in the upcoming June 14 by-election.

“I was a Willoughby son, a Willoughby student, a Willoughby
professional and now a Willoughby husband, a Willoughby ratepayer, a
Willoughby shopper and a Willoughby diner.”

Kahramanian will be contesting the vacant Willoughby City Council seat
in the electorate’s Sailors Bay ward, with polling day being Saturday
June 14th, 2014.

The official campaign launch event was on the 29th of May 2014, at the
Northbridge Golf Club on Sailors Bay Road. This event came about 2
weeks after Kahramanian made his decision to run.

“We have hit the ground running,” Vache says of himself and his campaign team.

“By Friday 30th of May I would have door knocked 1300 homes across
Northbridge, Castlecrag, and Willoughby which has included a new pair
of shoes along the way. And by Sunday we would have distributed
distributed over 12,000 pieces of material across the Sailors Bay
Ward.”

Among the various supporters who attended Kahramanian’s launch party
were current Councillors, and the NSW Member for Willoughby, Gladys
Berejiklian, a fellow Armenian-Australian.

“I know making a difference matters to Vache,” Berejiklian said. “It
has mattered to him and motivated him in everything that he has done
in his community activities and now this is the next step in his
contribution to the broader community.”

Berejiklian also commented on Vache’s background as a certified
practising accountant, and how the experience that he has acquired
through working with global firms such as Pricewaterhouse Coopers will
help with the tribulations that are currently facing the council.

“Willoughby Council has challenges regarding infrastructure, a lot of
challenges regarding growth and these are all issues that councils
have to deal with on a daily basis. I know Vache will embrace these
issues with vigour and with enthusiasm.”

Also at the event was Armenian Bishop Haigazoun Najarian, who
officially closed the launch event by blessing the Vache for Sailors
Bay campaign.

Armenia TV (Australia) kicks off with a massive 1,500 views, releases Episode 3

armenia.com.au | Friday, 30 May 2014

SYDNEY: Armenia TV has quickly become a hit among
Armenian-Australians, with the first two episodes of the programs
receiving over 1,500 combined views on YouTube.

Armenia TV, a product of Armenia Media Inc., is Australia’s premiere
regular television program broadcasting news, views, interviews,
reports and events to the Armenian-Australian community and the
Armenian community at large.

In Episode 1, which received over 600 views, there was a live
interview with Harut Sassounian and coverage from Australia’s Armenian
Genocide Commemoration.

In Episode 2, which received over 900 views, there was a live
interview with Vahe Berberian and coverage from Galstaun College’s
#SAVEKESSAB Fundraiser.

Armenia TV has now released Episode 3.

Highlights in this episode include:
– A Special Report of the Homenetmen Australia March, dedicated to the
96th Anniversary of Armenia’s first independence day;
– A Special Report from Hamazkaine Hagop Baronian Theatre Group’s
“Verchin Tadasdane” play;
– A Special Report of Galstaun College’s Kindergarten Open Day;
– A song dedicated to the 107th anniversary of Kevork Chavoush’s passing;
– News in English;
– News in Armenian;
– Music Videos;
– More!!!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO WATCH IF YOU DON’T SEE IT BELOW.

‘Be free without tobacco’ concert in Yerevan’s Lovers Park

11:33 * 01.06.14

The concert ‘Be free without tobacco’ took place in Yerevan’s Lovers
Park on May 31.

The concert was organized by the ‘Be Informed’ NGO and Youth
Foundation of Armenia (YFA).

The performers – Hasmik Karapetyan, Narine Dovlatyan, Kim Grigoryan,
DJ Serjo, DJ Vakcina, The Band, DerHova, Eva – urged people not to
start smoking.

“Our aim is to inform people of the harmful effects of smoking and
ways of breaking the habit. But we are also advocating a healthy
lifestyle,” said DJ Vakcina.

X-Factor winner Kim Grigoryan has a 9-year smoking experience.

“I have told my sweetheart I am going to give up smoking now because
this habit will first of all cause harm to my baby,” she said.

EGLISE ARMENIENNE
Armavir a inauguré l’église Sourp Krikor Narégatsi, la première église
de la ville

Hier le président arménien a assisté à Armavir, à l’inauguration de
l’église Sourp Krikor Narégatsi (Saint Grégoire de Narèg). La première
pierre de cette basilique avait été posée en 2012 en présence du
l’évêque Sion Atamian, le représentant de l’Eglise arménienne à
Armavir.

L’église Sourp Krikor Narégatsi à Armavir (Arménie)

L’église qui est l’oeuvre de l’architecte Mikhaïl Mkrdtchian a été
financée par le bienfaiteur Karen Mkrdtchian. Ce dernier a confié
qu’il avait fait il y a 16 ans déjà le voeu de construire cette église
et que c’était le rêve de sa mère de disposer d’une église dans la
ville d’Armavir où Karen Mkrdtchian est né avant de s’installer et
faire fortune à Saint Petersbourg (Russie). Le père Sion Atamian a
offert au généreux bienfaiteur, la médaille Sourp Krikor Loussavoritch
(Saint Grégoire l’Illuminateur) de l’Eglise arménienne tandis que
Roupen Khlghatian le maire d’Armavir lui attribuait le titre de
Citoyen d’honneur de la ville. La ville d’Armavir qui ne disposait pas
d’église jusqu’à ce jour pourra désormais marier ses jeunes qui se
déplaçaient souvent à Yerevan pour leur mariage. (photos News.am)

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 1er juin 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

AVAZ HASANOV: BY ELIMINATING EXPERTS ON KARABAKH THE AUTHORITIES HELP ARMENIANS

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
May 24, 2014 Saturday

Baku/24.05.14/Turan: The arrest of the journalist Rauf Mirkadirov and
ensuing requirements for NGO leaders to cease contact with Armenian
colleagues , caused confusion in the Azerbaijani society. Civil society
does not know how to be – to continue previous work or to stop it in
order to avoid danger.

Head of the Society for Humanitarian Research Socity, Avaz Hasanov,
tried to give answer to these questions:

Question: At a joint press conference of presidents of Azerbaijan and
France , foreign journalists asked about the reason for the arrest
of the journalist Rauf Mirkadirov and the persecution of the human
rights activist, Leyla Yunus. The essence of the answer was that it
is an internal affair of Azerbaijan. What do you think about this?

Answer: Lately it has become a trend to believe that human rights are
an internal affair of state. This was said by the President of Syria,
President of Morocco, and others wanting to distort the principle of
unlimited human rights specified in international conventions. They
want human rights to be regarded as an internal affair of state.

I believe that human rights is an unlimited value, and Azerbaijani
legislation should be harmonized with international law, in accordance
with the Convention on Human Rights which Azerbaijan joined .

Of course, our government does not want to be criticized about it. In
the past 10 years, Ilham Aliyev said that as long as the social
situation of people which is an economic component of the state is
not improved, the economy is not developed, the living standard is
nor improved, it is early to speak about human rights in Azerbaijan.

I am sure that if the government be more attentive to human rights,
it would be possible to create a guaranteed welfare state. It is
impossible to bring people to the streets and cause massive protest in
the state that provides all the rights of the people. Our population
is not protected from anything: 20% of our lands were seized, and
people believe that the state violates all of its rights.

Question: The society discussed the arrest and prosecution of
R.Mirkadyrov and L.Yunus . You know these people, you worked with
them. Rauf told from the detention facility that he was arrested by
order of Russia.

A journalist Azer Rashidoglu, questioned on this business said there
will be more arrests. L.Yunus said that the arrest of Mirkadirov was
organized to eliminate civil society in Azerbaijan. Can Mirkadyrov
be Armenian spy?

Answer: While in prison , Mirkadyrov told through a lawyer: those who
put me in jail , will answer for it before God. This means that Rauf
is completely innocent.

It is difficult to find another in journalist in Azerbaijan who would
drove our opponents into a corner like Mirkadyrov, and who is so much
read and quoted abroad. Former Russian diplomat , a pro-Armenian
political scientist Kazimirov, posted three articles per every
publication of Rauf.

I read “The Mirror” only because of Mirkadirov and his articles about
Karabakh. He is the only journalist who skillfully used the available
literature on the subject.

I cannot say that I knew Mirkadirov very well. Twice I was with him at
the conference. But I can say that the charges of espionage is absurd.

He was arrested because he was at the wrong time in the wrong place:
living in Ankara he criticized Erdogan. I read the status of a Turkish
journalist tweeted that Mirkadyrov is a sharp critic of Erdogan,
and raises the dirty facts about his party.

Mirkadyrov also sharply criticized Putin, despite the fact that the
“Mirror” is quite balanced newspaper. His last 10 articles ( “Putin and
Hitler” and others) show that Rauf was arrested by the order of Russia.

But I wonder who he interfered in Azerbaijan. He very correctly wrote
about Ilham Aliyev , never touched the ruling family , adhere to
ethical standards. If this country arrested people for criticizing
Aliyev, then many people would be arrested.

Q: Probably the investigation wants to identify Mirkadirov’s links with
L.Yunus that works closely with the Armenian human rights activist
Laura Baghdasaryan. There were searches in the offices of Yunus,
and her partner Matanat Azizova.

Answer: I think his articles written by order of human rights
organizations , will be put forward as evidence for the prosecution,
despite Rauf used only open facts in his artciles.

We – human rights activists, appealed to the President with request
to punish those who have provided a rough pressure on the couple Yunus.

Question: Are the arrests of members of civil society possible?

Answer: Maybe I’m wrong, but my 20 years of experience in the Civil
Society tells me that arrest of NGO members is not possible. They
put pressure on NGOs without state registration. At the time, the
government passed a law on the inadmissibility of unregistered NGOs,
and now wants to say that without state registration, NGOs will
not work.

If you remember, when Ruslan Bashirli and members of NIDA were
arrested and accused of spying, the TV showed for days and nights
their testimony and secret video. A month passed since the arrest of
Rauf, and the authorities keep complete silence. That is, there is
no evidence of his guilt.

It is possible that his analytical reports written by request of the
organizers of the project will be used as the “evidence.”

Question: The arrest of Rauf was the reason for the government
to require the Azerbaijani NGOs to end the relationship with their
Armenian colleagues. And at the same time, the OSCE Minsk Group again
put forward the principle of settlement, part of which is contacts
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities. Official Baku has
adopted this plan, then how to understand the ban on contacts with
Armenians?

Answer: We do not have enough competent experts on the Karabakh issue
to imprison some of these people. I do not know even mid-level experts
in the power capable of responding to the Armenians. I remember a
few people representing power, which can be delegated to the forum
at any level with the participation of Armenians.

Our lobbyists abroad are populists who are not able to say more than
two sentences to an international audience. So why do the authorities
eliminate such experts? Do they want to help the Armenians? -0 –

WHY BRITISH AWKWARDNESS CAN MAKE IT TOUGH HAVING A FOREIGN NAME

New Statesman, UK
May 30 2014

>From being given a curious stare to having your CV overlooked, having
an ethnic name can bring out the worst in British awkwardness.

by Anoosh Chakelian

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation published its reaction this week to the
recent British Social Attitudes Survey results, concluding that racial
prejudice is “bad economics”. The piece also remarks upon a DWP study
that showed people with “names associated with ethnic minority groups”
were almost a third less likely to be called for a job interview than
someone with a ‘White British’ name.

In fact, there are examples of people changing the name they put at
the top of their CVs in order to aid them in their job hunts. Only
last year, Virgin Atlantic was taken to an employment tribunal by a
man called Max Kpakio, who claimed they had turned him down because
of his name, as they accepted him when he reapplied under the name
“Craig Owen”. (Although he eventually lost the tribunal, because he’d
changed more than just his name on the second application).

As someone without a ‘White British’ name – though, as it’s Armenian,
I suppose it is the very definition of Caucasian – this brought to
mind the various implications of having a foreign name in modern
Britain. Among decent people, these are mainly socially awkward,
often superficial, repercussions, but it’s easy to see how they could
filter up to a prospective employer’s mindset. It’s the British
propensity for wanting an easy life. A seemingly innocuous, often
endearing attitude. But not when it means avoiding someone because
their name’s a bit funny.

First, pronunciation. This is a factor that plays out a splurge of
Britain’s neuroses in one botched jumble of syllables. Working out
how to converse with a stranger, while constantly feeling on the
brink of offending them. With different accents involved. It’s just
one big two-way apology.

Because if we’re going to start a conversation with someone new
– already a highly unsavoury idea for many of us, let’s admit –
a supposedly difficult name makes this minefield even trickier
to navigate. And then we have to make sure we remember the name in
question, as it would be unthinkable to slip into terms of endearment
(“Mate”) or the weird gender-political mess of “Sir” and “Miss”
– these options are conveniently anonymous, but too despicable to
contemplate for a decent professional human person.

And then once you’ve met someone with a foreign name – particularly
if you’ve read it rather than heard it from the scary, cosmopolitan
horse’s mouth – how to ensure you pronounce it correctly? We couldn’t
possibly ask. That would require a potentially awkward conversational
opener. So people generally just go for it, eyes forward, resolutely
spluttering through each impossible syllable, or avoid the issue
completely.

I’ve encountered this problem of politeness in all sorts of contexts:
missing a doctor’s appointment for not recognising my mispronounced
name being called; a family I stayed with on holiday consistently
calling me “Louche” for the entirety of my stay (when I hadn’t
once lounged on their chaise longue); the presenter on Radio 5 Live
soldiering through an interview repeatedly addressing me as “Anoosh
Shake-a-Line”. Which is not how it’s pronounced, but meant a more
amusing 10.45pm weekday news slot for my listening friends, at least.

Essentially, it’s the conversational equivalent of when BBC newsreaders
take a deep breath and just power through those ambiguously pronounced
names that crop up from time to time. Boko Haram. Sven-Goran
Eriksson. Gaddafi. Farage.

But mispronunciation isn’t the biggest problem. It’s usually by the
politically correct and polite people who just want to say your name
with minimal fuss; their hearts are in the right place, even if their
diphthongs aren’t. No. It’s the “oo-er, that’s exotic” aspect that’s
worse. Because introduce yourself to someone with perhaps more Ukippy
credentials than you’d hope, and you’ll usually receive the response:

“So where are you from?”

To which I take great pleasure in replying “London”, and watching
them nod bemusedly, their eyes betraying insurmountable confusion
that I haven’t regaled them apologetically with tales of a journey
from the harsh plains of Anatolia to Zone 3.

These irritating, occasionally vaguely xenophobic, social implications
of having a foreign name in Britain aren’t nearly as bad as being
declined for a job interview on account of it. But it’s worth
remembering that awkwardness in conversation could easily translate
to awkwardness in considering CVs. And that, mate, is discrimination.

ARMENIA AND KYRGYZSTAN TO JOIN EURASIAN UNION WITHIN MONTHS

Tengrinews, Kazakhstan
May 30 2014

Friday, 30.05.2014, 15:30

Armenia and Kyrgyzstan have vowed to join the Eurasian Economic Union
of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus this year, Tengrinews reported from
the Supreme Eurasian Council in Astana.

During the meeting Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan asked “to set
a deadline for signing a treaty on Armenia’s joining the Eurasian
Economic Union to June 15 this year”. He continued by saying that it
will take only 2 or 3 days “to find on mutually acceptable terms that
would satisfy both us and our partners”.

Sargsyan expressed hope that the signing of the Treaty establishing
the Eurasian Union also signified the beginning of its future
enlargement. On his part, Armenia’s president promised to do everything
possible to bring forward the issue of joining the Union to the
national parliament.

Another post-Soviet state – Kyrgyzstan – also hopes to join the Union
in the near future. The country’s president Almazbek Atambayev said
that it was impossible for him to declare “as did his excellency
President Sargsyan that all questions will be solved in a matter of
days”. He, nevertheless, said that Kyrgyzstan hoped to “meet the new
year in the same union” with its larger neighbors. The president also
said he was hoping to receive support both from the Kyrgyz parliament
and the member-states of the new Union.

Atambayev also noted that integration with the Eurasian Union is
a significant decision it terms of selection of direction of the
country’s economic development. At the same time, he stated that
“the member-states of the Union are not only our economic partners,
but above all, they are congenial nations that shar a common history
and have no language barrier”.

Commenting on Armenia’s and Kyrgyzstan’s intention to join the
Eurasian Economic Union, Putin said: “The attitude of our colleagues,
both Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan is serious, pragmatic and based on their
national interests. It is a clear desire to achieve the set milestones
and rely on our joint efforts. We will support and facilitate this
process.”

The president of Belarus Lukashenko declared that as long as the
countries reached the appropriate level of readiness and fulfilled
all the conditions, they were welcome to join the Union: “I think we
will be delighted to accept these countries into our ranks”.

However, there were sensitive chords struck during the meeting.

Nazarbayev asked Armenia’s president to consider the position
of Azerbaijan on the issue. Nazarbayev reminded that Azerbaijan
sent a letter requesting to accept Armenia into the union with a
reservation that regulations of the unions will be in effect only at
the internationally recognized territory of Armenia, in particular
that recognized by the UN.

Azerbaijan’s worries arise from the territorial dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh – an ethnically dominated Armenian enclave within
the Azerbaijani territory.

Reported by Asel Satayeva and Altynai Zhumzhumina, writing by Dinara
Urazova