Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT FINALIZES GAS DEAL WITH RUSSIA AMID MORE CONCERNS ABOUT ENERGY SECTOR PROSPECTS

ANALYSIS | 17.01.14 | 11:11

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

On January 16, the Armenian government approved the agreement on
transferring to Russia’s Gazprom the remaining 20-percent stake
in local gas distribution subsidiary ArmRosgazprom and instructed
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan to sign the
agreement with the Russian gas giant.

The agreement has drawn extremely negative reactions and evaluations
as well as some public discontent in Armenia. Four of the six
parliamentary forces boycotted the vote on it in the National Assembly
late last year. But the majority represented by President Serzh
Sargsyan’s ruling Republican Party and its junior coalition partner,
Orinats Yerkir, still voted to ratify it. Under the agreement, until
2043 Armenia loses the right to make laws or adopt other acts related
to buying, selling or transiting natural gas.

It is this point of the agreement that is viewed as particularly
discriminatory. In his latest interview Armenia’s former president
Robert Kocharyan stated that exclusive rights have been granted to the
Russian monopoly. “And this is happening when the oil and gas industry
in the world and, in general, the world energy sector have entered a
period of dynamic changes. Already in the foreseeable future this may
require a change in legislation, a serious upgrading of approaches
in energy matters. Will the energy sector of the country not become
hostage to this agreement?” wondered Kocharyan in his remarks.

Changes are, indeed, taking place in regional and world energy
markets. In particular, the strengthening of relations between Iran and
the West, the removal of a number of sanctions against Iran have led
to a bitter bargaining for the transportation and transit of Iranian
oil and gas. Armenia could become the shortest transit route for it,
but because of agreements with Russia official Yerevan has had to
turn down Tehran’s gas-related proposals. In particular, there was
a polite rejection when the Iranian ambassador to Armenia officially
declared that Iran is ready to sell natural gas to Armenia at prices
lower than Russian.

It is not known whether there was a proposal regarding the transit of
natural gas through Armenia, but experts have discussed this option as
well. But now analysts say that even if Iran decides to implement this
transit through Armenia, it will have to negotiate not with Yerevan,
but with Moscow that has exclusive rights in Armenia.

Iran’s foreign minister was in Moscow yesterday. According to official
reports, he discussed trade and economic cooperation with Russian
President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. State Department had expressed
concern over the possibility of Russia’s buying 500 barrels of Iranian
oil a day with a view to reselling this oil. However, the Iranian
side said that this issue was not on the agenda of the talks.

For many years now Iran and Armenia have been trying to lay an oil
pipeline, but for some reason this project has been delayed. Until
now, Russia has not been a monopolist in the oil market of Armenia,
but it was recently announced that Russia’s Rosneft planned to enter
the Armenian market. Experts say that the Russian oil corporation may
become a monopolist oil trader in Armenia. And it is possible that
if Russia and Iran manage to agree on the purchase of oil, Armenia,
or rather its territory, will also be involved in this deal and the
pipeline will finally be constructed.

RUSSIA FORMS HELICOPTER SQUADRON FOR ARMENIAN BASE

Mi-24P helicopter

© RIA Novosti. Ilya Pitalev
16:26 17/01/2014

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in 2014 Russia to Spend $650Bln on Arms Purchases by 2020

Multimedia

Mi-24 attack helicopter. INFOgraphics

MOSCOW, January 17 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian military has formed a
helicopter squadron to strengthen its air contingent at the Erebuni
air base in Armenia, the press service of Russia’s Southern Military
District said Friday.

Russia’s 3624th Air Base at the Erebuni airport in Yerevan currently
hosts at least 16 MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jets operating under the
framework of air defense agreements concluded between the members of
the Commonwealth of Independent States.

“The Russian air contingent [in Armenia] will be strengthened with
Mi-24P attack helicopters, Mi-8MT and Mi-8SMV military transport
helicopters, which will be used for ground support and transportation
of the [Russian] troops deployed in Armenia,” the press service said
in a statement.

© RIA Novosti.

Mi-24 attack helicopter

The Mi-24P (Hind-F) is a gunship version of the famed Russian attack
helicopter armed with a side-mounted 30-mm GSh-30K twin-barrel cannon,
while the Mi-8SMV (Hip-J) is an airborne jamming platform with
“Smalta-V” system, designed to protect ground attack aircraft from
enemy air defenses.

The personnel of the squadron are undergoing specific training at an
airbase in Rostov-on-Don.

The helicopters will be gradually deployed at the Erebuni base through
2014, the press service said.

Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Ara Nazaryan said in November last
year that the Russian squadron at the Erebuni base would comprise
18 helicopters.

The Erebuni air base is part of Russia’s 102nd military base located
in Gyumri, near Armenia’s border with Turkey.

The 102nd base has been deployed in Gyumri since 1995 under a
bilateral treaty that was extended in 2010 from 25 to 49 years,
ensuring a Russian military presence in Armenia through 2044.

VIVACELL-MTS STATED IT NEVER LIMITED ITS EMPLOYEES’ FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Friday 17 January 2014 12:26

Ralf Yirikyan

Yerevan /Mediamax/. VivaCell-MTS made a statement today strongly
denying the rumors that the company allegedly didn’t allow its
employees to take part in the protests against mandatory funded
pension system.

“VivaCell-MTS has never limited its employees’ freedom of expression
as set by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

Taking into account the mistrust of our employees as well as the
public toward mandatory funded pension system, the company proposed
to make the introduction of the system voluntary but not mandatory
and the relevant letter was sent to the Armenian government.

Given the fact that no changes were made in the law “On Funded Pension
System”, the company made a decision to compensate the sums of the
mandatory funded pension to its employees.

The decision of compensation is an internal and independent one,
it should be considered solely from the viewpoint of the company’s
policy to support their employees staying committed to the value
system adopted from the very first day of its operation.

VivaCell-MTS condemns all the statements which attempt to harm the
company’s reputation through dissemination of false and misleading
information”, the statement reads.

ISTANBUL-ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHER IN HOSPITAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

11:27 ~U 17.01.14

In Istanbul-Armenian photographer has been moved to a hospital
intensive care unit with symptoms of labile blood pressure.

According to the Anadolu news agency, Ara Guler has been suffering
from renal disorders for quite a long time. He undergoes a dialysis.

He went to hospital for his regular therapy on Thursday but was later
taken to the emergency department after the blood pressure problem
was observed. The dialysis continues at the intensive care unit.

FRENCH-ARMENIANS TO PROTEST HOLLANDE’S TURKEY VISIT

13:48 ~U 17.01.14

The Armenians of France are holding next Saturday protest
demonstrations to express their anger at President Francois Hollande’s
state visit to Turkey later this year.

Speaking to Tert.am, a member of the French-Armenian Associations’
Council, Vazgen Eskijian, unveiled the plan of protests, saying
that their campaign is directed against Turkey’s denialism of the
Armenian Genocide.

“Truly, the good-for-nothing president of France is carrying out
a state visit to Turkey together with high-ranking ministers and
businessmen to sign cooperation agreements in different fields and
spheres,” he told our correspondent.

The activist, who heads the Ramgavar Democratic Liberal Party’s French
regional council, said no leader of France has been on a state visit
to Turkey in the past 20 years.

The protests will be held in the French capital, Paris, and the cities
of Lyon and Marseilles.

“We’ll protest in front of those cities’ municipalities against
this state of Turkey which is the successor of the Ottoman Empire,”
Eskijyan added.

Ahead of the Armenian Genocide centennial, the French-Armenians are
planning different events, the activist said, adding that they will
start from February 3 and last until November 2015.

FROM DEMONSTRATION TO REBELLION – OPINIONS ON PENSION REFORM PROTEST

12:50 ~U 17.01.14

The upcoming public protest against the compulsory pension funds is
believed to be either a good start of a social rebellion or at least
a big challenge to the ruling authorities.

The political engineer Karen Kocharyan says the effectiveness of
the event greatly depends on the number of people who will join it,
while Vardan Hakobyan, a conductor affiliated with the Pre-Parliament
group, does not rule out the possibility of a rebellion. The political
analyst Hmayak Hovhannisyan says he considers the plan “a serious
challenge to the authorities”.

Speaking to Tert.am, Kocharyan said he doesn’t think the nature of a
rebellion has to do with its effectiveness. “It doesn’t matter whether
it is a social, political or civil rebellion. Its effectiveness
depends on the number of those gathered in the square,” he said,
adding that it is very important for more genuinely interested in
the campaign to be in the square (instead of those taking a bribe to
attend a public event).

The expert said he isn’t sure yet whether the non-coalition
parliamentary factions (the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaksutyun) who proposed the idea of the protest will
be really consolidated.

The non-ruling forces and the civic group “I am Against” are rallying
in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Saturday to protest against the
controversial reforms which make 5% salary deductions for pension
funds compulsory for all Armenian citizens born after 1974. The
reforms went into effect on January 1.

The Pre-Parliament activist said their group is also joining the rally
which he expects to see a consolidated campaign among the organizers.

“I wouldn’t rule out a social rebellion, but I don’t think a social
rebellion is the right solution. I don’t think it will help our
country out without any shocks. Perhaps a few people will be punished
or sacked from office as a result, but I don’t expect it either. As our
authorities have proven, they are not ready for any mutual concession,”
Hakobyan said.

The activist added that the civilian rebellion may to turn into a
political campaign in case of a consolidation offering a serious plan
of actions.

“I think we will achieve a result in a campaign that will see everybody
arrive at the conclusion that the problem is systemic. Once everybody
reaches that conclusion, we will really have serious results.”

Hakobyan said he regrets that the parliamentary forces seek a solution
within the system (in the parliament and courts) which he considered
fledged.

“I am arriving at the conclusion that by remaining within the system,
they are feeding it, contributing to the ratification of all those
anti-constitutional and anti-human laws. They have to assist in the
movement in a global sense. But if they remain players in these games,
these processes will continue,” he added.

Commenting on his expectations, Hmayak Hovhannisyan said he finds
a social protest very likely in the light of the increasing natural
gas prices and inflation rate.

“The social background is very ponderous in such circumstances, with
the discontent being very big. And the [proposal of the] parliament’s
non-ruling forces adds to all this. This is a serious challenge to
the authorities, so if those forces take necessary steps, trying
to make a maximum use of the existing potentials, that will pose a
bigger threat to the authorities,” he explained.

The expert said at the end that he is doubtful if the four
parliamentary forces will choose that option or restrict themselves
to what he called a single demonstrative protest.

Armenian News – Tert.am

France
Relations étroites entre les Renseignements et la Confrérie Gülen ?

Le Tsunami généré par le Mouvement Gülen qui s’abat sur les rênes du
pouvoir turc n’augure rien de bon pour le futur candidat à la
présidentielle d’août 2014 malgré les efforts déployés à assainir la
situation intérieure de la Turquie.

En France, le mouvement musulman turc Gülen a implanté une de ses
écoles privées en banlieue parisienne. Prônant un enseignement laïc,
le mouvement espère s’installer durablement et lever les suspicions
qui pèsent sur lui.

À Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, à moins de 20 kilomètres au sud de Paris,
une école pas tout à fait comme les autres a ouvert ses portes en
2009. L’établissement EducActive est la première implantation en
France de la confrérie musulmane Gülen, un mouvement sociétal et
religieux turc. Cette école alternative assure prôner un enseignement
basé sur `la bienveillance` et sur `les relations étroites entre
professeurs et élèves`.

`Dans notre école, les élèves se sentent à l’aise, on les aime`,
annonce fièrement Abdurrahman Demir, le directeur général de l’école –
qui englobe le primaire, le collège et le lycée. Ici, pas de cours de
religion, ni de port du foulard, mais le port de l’uniforme :
l’établissement revendique sa laïcité. `Nous nous conformons à la
société française.`

L’établissement privé n’est pas sous contrat avec l’État, bien qu’il
en ait `fait la demande`, mais directeur et enseignants affirment
suivre les programmes de l’éducation nationale. `L’école ne reçoit
jamais la visite d’inspecteurs, car ils n’ont pas le temps`, explique
Abdurrahman Demir. L’établissement, d’une capacité maximale de 240
élèves, attire des enfants et des adolescents de milieux sociaux
aisés, notamment en raison de frais de scolarité élevés – 3 700 euros
annuels en primaire, 4 700 euros au collège et 5 200 euros au lycée.
Mais ce sont surtout les dons privés, venus majoritairement de Turcs
sympathisants du mouvement Gülen, qui financent l’établissement.

Lire la suite ICI

« L’influence exercée par les adeptes de Fethullah Gülen repose en
grande partie sur l’impressionnant réseau d’écoles, dirigées par la
confrérie en Turquie et dans le monde entier. C’est d’ailleurs le
projet du gouvernement d’Ankara de supprimer ces écoles, les dershane,
très rentables pour la confrérie, qui a mis le feu aux poudres.`, note
Tudor Tepeneag pour RFI.

Voir aussi l’article Geopolis – lien plus bas

samedi 18 janvier 2014,
Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

AZERBAIDJAN
Ré-écriture de l’histoire : La nouvelle liste des victimes azéries se réduit

Les autorités de l’Azerbaïdjan ont publié une liste officielle des
pertes lors de la guerre du Karabagh, dont le nombre est inférieur à
celui indiqué précédemment. Le site officiel de la conscription, de la
mobilisation de l’Etat d’Azerbaïdjan a publié les données selon
lesquelles 11 557 soldats de l’armée azérie ont été tués dans la zone
de conflit, à la frontière de l’État de l’Arménie et de l’Azerbaïdjan,
y compris dans le secteur Arménie-Nakhitchevan en 1991-1994.

Cependant, le site russe Lenta.ru russe a écrit qu’avant de signer le
régime de cessez-le-feu dans les années 1990 les fonctionnaires de
l’Etat azerbaïdjanais ont fait connaître des chiffres différents, en
particulier, en Octobre 1993, au cours de sa rencontre avec le
président iranien Hashemi Rafsanjari, le président azerbaïdjanais
Heydar Aliyev a parlé de 11 000 victimes militaires , tandis qu’une
semaine plus tard, le même Aliyev a cité le nombre de 16000 dans une
interview à la télévision azérie.

Des années plus tard, cette fois le fils d’Aliyev, actuel président de
l’Azerbaïdjan Ilham Aliyev, a parlé d’environ 12000 à 15000 soldats
azéris morts, tout comme en Février 2007, un certain nombre d’ONG et
d’experts azéris ont rapporté de 24000 morts et 4000 disparus.

Plus tôt, la partie arménienne a publié des données sur les pertes
militaires de la guerre du Karabagh, selon lesquelles les forces
armées de l’Arménie et l’armée de défense du Haut-Karabagh et les
détachements d’autodéfense engagés auraient eu 6500 victimes
militaires pendant la guerre.

Le conseiller du ministre arménien de la Défense Davit Jamalyan a dit
à ArmeniaNow que la réduction du nombre de victimes du côté azéri est
une autre étape visant à réécrire la biographie d’Heydar Aliyev,
proclamé comme un leader national.

« Depuis le début de sa présidence jusqu’à la trêve, Aliyev avait
rassemblé de nouvelles recrues quatre fois et c’était pendant son
mandat même que le pays a connu le plus grand nombre de pertes, donc
cela doit être considéré dans le contexte des tentatives de réécrire
son dossier , surtout maintenant qu’aucun effort n’est épargné pour
façonner son image d’une génial général de l’armée » a dit Jamalyan,
ajoutant que le nombre publié est très loin de la réalité et que
l’Azerbaïdjan a subi de fortes pertes dans la période entre
Janvier-Mars 1994 à la suite de l’échec de l’agression azérie dans la
région de Karvatchar (ancien Kelbadjar).

L’analyste politique Tigran Abrahamyan a dit à ArmeniaNow que d’année
en année, les autorités azerbaïdjanaises continuent de faire chuter le
nombre officiel de participants à la guerre du Karabagh afin de
résoudre deux problèmes à la fois : d’abord, l’état coupe directement
les prestations pour les familles des victimes de la guerre ;
deuxième, une tentative est faite pour cultiver une idée parmi la
nouvelle génération que pendant la guerre l’Azerbaïdjan, en fait, n’a
pas souffert de pertes importantes.

« Malgré l’insistance des pays médiateurs de préparer les deux nations
pour la paix, plutôt que la guerre, l’Azerbaïdjan est en intensive
préparation à la guerre. Et cela peut être observé non seulement dans
l’acquisition d’une quantité gigantesque d’armes et d’armement, mais
dans la préparation mentale de sa société pour la guerre. Les
autorités tentent de convaincre la nouvelle génération que leur armée
est l’une des meilleurs au monde, et que dans les circonstances
données, il serait, naturellement, plus facile de gagner, parce que
même pendant la guerre précédente, quand l’armée était encore jeune et
non-viable, ils n’ont pas eu beaucoup de pertes » explique l’analyste.

samedi 18 janvier 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

PRESS RELEASE
Date: January 14, 2014

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Email: [email protected]
Web:

ANNIE TOTAH HONORED BY NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC, CATHOLICOS KEREKIN II AT
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY BRIEFING & RECEPTION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last month, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
honored Armenian Assembly board member Annie Totah with its Medal of
Gratitude at the Assembly’s annual holiday briefing and reception at the
Embassy of Armenia, reported the Assembly. Robert Avetisyan, Nagorno
Karabakh Representative to the United States, presented the medal to Totah
on behalf of his government. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) also presented Annie Totah with an
encyclical from His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II. Organized by the
Assembly’s Capital Regional Council, the annual event has become a
tradition for the Armenian American community of the greater Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area for over a decade and brought together local
community leaders, dignitaries, religious leaders and a broad cross-section
of friends and members of the Armenian Assembly of America.

`I am honored, humbled and moved by the medal bestowed upon me by
President Bako Sahakyan of the Republic of Artsakh,’ stated Annie
Totah. `I’m happy that I have been able to bring in my share to help
in the struggle of independence of Artsakh. And I will continue to do
so, and I think it is every Armenian man and woman’s responsibility to
help with the challenges being faced by NKR,’ Totah said. She shared
her passion for a democratic and prosperous Artsakh stating, `I am a
believer that with optimism, with hard work and perseverance, we will
be able to achieve our goals and realize our dreams of having the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh recognized internationally.’ `Once this
is done, the sky will be the limit of all the good things we will be
able to bring into and for NKR,’ Totah said.

In 2013, six U.S. States recognized the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, including Totah’s home state of Maryland.

The NKR government awards the “Gratitude” medal to individuals,
organizations and collectives for significant contribution in restoring and
developing economy, science, culture, and social spheres of the NKR as well
as for defending and promoting international recognition of the Republic.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian gave the opening invocation and read an
encyclical (Gontak in Armenian) from His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II
on the occasion of Totah’s commendation. Armenian Assembly intern alumnus
Aram Gavoor, Esq. (class of 2003) served as Master of Ceremonies for the
evening. In addition to the awards ceremony, the program featured remarks
from Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States H.E. Tatoul Markarian,
Nagorno Karabakh Representative Robert Avetisyan, Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny, and Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian. Assembly Capital
Regional Council member Naira Babayan provided a wonderful Armenian and
classical music performance on the piano. Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan of St.
Mary Armenian Church of Washington, D.C. also read a letter from Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church
before providing the evening’s closing benediction.

The Armenian Assembly’s annual holiday briefing and reception in
Washington, D.C. is organized by the Assembly’s Capital Regional Council,
namely Clara Andonian (co-chair), Doris George (co-chair), Alice Hanessian,
Seta Gelenian, Nadya Carson, Anahid Ghazarian, Nora Maghrablian, Shirley
Mikaelian, Margie Satian, Naira Babayan, and Anahid Kalayjian.

`We’re delighted to see so many new and familiar faces at our annual
capital gathering,’ stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. `We
especially appreciate our hosts, our Capital Regional Council team, and the
entire Assembly family as we continue to grow and strengthen the bonds
between our local community and the homeland,’ Ardouny said.

Photographs from the Assembly’s annual briefing and reception are available
on the Assembly’s Facebook page here.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR# 2014-02

Photo Caption 1 (L-R): Yeretsgin Anahid Kalayjian, Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Annie Totah, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, Rev. Fr. Hovsep
Karapetyan, Robert Avetisyan, Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, Bryan Ardouny
and Aram Gavoor, Esq.

Photo Caption 2: Annie Totah with NKR Representative Robert Avetisyan.
Photo Caption 3: Annie Totah with Archbishop Vicken Aykazian.

Available online:

ARMENIAN IDENTITY MUST BE RESPECTED – PARAVON MIRZOYAN

21:48 ~U 15.01.14

Director of the National Gallery of Armenia Paravon Mirzoyan is
concerned over the current situation in Armenia, which, according to
him, is the result of misgovernment.

“Everything’s got mixed in the country. But they must think about the
people. Each citizen must see his or her future only in the Homeland,”
Mirzoyan told Tert.am.

As regards Armenian ex-president Robert Kocharyan’s criticism of the
country’s government, Mirzoyan said that he has the right to discuss
the situation in the country and even to give advice.

Speaking of the ways out of the critical situation, he noted that
this question must be put to the “top leadership.”

“I can only say that the country needs efficient government.

Everything must be coordinated. There must not be a situation when
ones can and others cannot.”

As to Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, Mirzoyan said that
Armenia had no alternative.

“We cannot always make independent decisions. We are a small country
and we had no alternative. I attach great importance to ties with
Europe and to cooperation with the other CIS member-nations. You
should not forget that Russians defend one of our sides.”

Armenian News – Tert.am