Author: Kanayan Tamar

TURKISH FM INVITED TO ARMENIA

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2013

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:

The Armenian side has invited Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
to a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council, to be held
in Yerevan on December 12, Turkish TV channel Haber7 reported today.

According to the information, the final decision about Davutoglu’s
participation at the meeting will be made following the one with
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Vienna.

Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan
held a meeting in Vienna on November 19. The issues related to the
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were
discussed at the meeting.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP: EXPECTATIONS AT VILNIUS SUMMIT

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 20 2013

20 November 2013 – 10:51am

By Orkhan Sattarov, head of the European Bureau of Vestnik Kavkaza

Less than a week is left before the start of the summit of the Eastern
Partnership, a program of the European Union to develop ties with
post-Soviet states. Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Georgia want fast political association and further economic
integration with the EU, but each has its own intensity level.

Professor Gunter Verheugen, ex-Vice President of the European
Commission and one of the architects of the European Neighbourhood
Policy, has described his vision of prospects of each partner.

Azerbaijan

“Azerbaijan shows great interest in cooperation with the EU, just as
the EU is interested in close partnership with Azerbaijan. However,
the strategic partnership should not be limited by cooperation in
the field of energy,” said Ferheugen. According to him, full-fledged
strategic partnership should include modernization of the political
system, economy and transfer of values. The problem of energy should
not be separated from the range of other fields of cooperation.

Ferheugen has given a skeptical evaluation of the chances for
Azerbaijan and the EU to sign an agreement on formation of a deep
and all-encompassing trade because Azerbaijan is not a member of the
WTO for its own reasons. In Verheugen’s point of view, participants
of the Vilnius summit will need to find an intermediate solution
for all fields of cooperation. Only then should they make any step
towards signing an association agreement. At this stage, they could,
for example, simplify the visa regime between the EU and Azerbaijan.

Verheugen noted serious political problems in Azerbaijan, namely the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to the professor, the EU always
bases on the principle of territorial integrity of states. This is
valid for Azerbaijan in the context of the Karabakh conflict. The
European Union correlates its actions with principles of the Helsinki
Accords of 1975. States refrain from using force and forced changes
of borderlines. Verheugen urged the EU to be more active in settling
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia

It seemed this summer that Yerevan and Brussels would sign the
association agreement in Vilnius. However, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan announced plans to take the Eurasian integration path, not
the European one, after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin in September. In the words of Verheugen, “Armenia announced its
determination to join the Customs Union, which is in fact a refusal to
sign an association agreement with the European Union. Thus, there are
no prospects for Armenia to sign an agreement on formation of a deep
and all-encompassing free trade zone between Armenia and the EU. The
outlined programs for support of Armenia are pointless now. At the
same time, it would be wrong to ‘punish’ Yerevan. They need to come to
understanding of the new format of cooperation with Armenia, sending
it a signal that the EU wants to continue the dialogue with the state.”

Belarus

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will not fly to Vilnius.

Instead, he is sending an official from the Belarusian Foreign
Ministry. “There has been no serious progress in the dialogue with this
country so far. There is direct dialogue with the NGO sector, not the
government. In this context, Belarus, despite the problematic relations
between Brussels and Minsk in the political layer, becomes a more
important trade partner of the EU every year. Moreover, membership of
Belarus in the Customs Union makes the country a window for Europe in
the context of cooperation of the EU and the CU,” Verheugen believes.

Europe has urged the Vilnius summit to be used to unblock relations
with Minsk. The EU imposed sanctions against Belarus for ‘violation
of human rights and persecution of opposition’. No intentions to use
the summit to improve relations with Minsk have been confirmed.

Georgia

Georgia will be represented by new President Georgy Margvelashvili in
Vilnius. He plans to sign the association agreement with the EU. But
how will the events evolve then is unclear because observers do not
rule out harsh steps of new Georgian authorities against the old ones.

If ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili goes to jail, Tbilisi may have
problems with the EU, like Ukraine with Yulia Timoshenko. Nonetheless,
according to Verheugen, “The EU and Georgia go step-by-step towards
signing the association agreement. It will be signed in Vilnius.” Yet,
the politician expressed surprise that the term selective justice is
used for Georgia the same way as with Ukraine.

Moldova

Moldova has the best chances for association with the EU. “In case
of Moldova, signing of the association agreement is very expectable.

There are high chances that the visa regime will be simplified by
the end of the year,” stated Verheugen. Thus, Kishinev would be the
first to gain the right for visa-free visits to Europe.

Ukraine

The signing of the association agreement with Kiev should be the
highlight of the Vilnius summit. According to Verheugen, “there are
technical prerequisites for signing of the association agreement with
the EU. At this moment, questions of Brussels come down to whether the
critical remarks found satisfactory solutions. In 2013, Kiev managed
to achieve significant progress in the field of legal statehood.

Despite the fact that most members of the EU are optimistic about
signing of the association agreement with Ukraine in Vilnius, the
problem of Yulia Timoshenko and related criticism of Kiev for selective
justice has not found a solution yet. Berlin made a mistake when it
tied long-term prospects of its eastern policy with the problem of
one person, Yulia Timoshenko.”

Verheugen condemned the ‘gas lever’ Russia used against Ukraine in
order to keep Kiev away from signing the EU association agreement. “We
cannot afford new trade wars in Europe,” assumes Verheugen. Still, the
German professor noted the need to develop normal working relations
between Brussels and Moscow. In his words, the European Union should
interest Russia in constructive cooperation. Without Russia, there is
no solution to conflicts in member-states of the Eastern Partnership.

Formation of common geoeconomic space from Dublin to Vladivostok is
not an illusion, it is a real prospect that needs maximum efforts
from both Russia and the EU.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH MATRICULATION OF FIRST EVER UNDERGRADUATE CLASS

Sacramento Bee, CA
Nov 20 2013

New undergraduate program drastically broadens the scope of the first
and only American-accredited University in the former Soviet Union.

By American University of Armenia

YEREVAN, Armenia, Nov. 19, 2013 — /PRNewswire/ — Marking a monumental
step forward for the intellectual discourse between the United States,
Armenia, and the culturally diverse region that surrounds it, the
American University of Armenia proudly announces the matriculation
of its first ever undergraduate class.

For the last 20 years, the American University of Armenia has offered
a comprehensive American graduate education to a global community of
students, promoting the universal values of academic excellence, free
inquiry, integrity, scholarship, leadership and service to society.

Accredited through the prestigious Western Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC), the American University of Armenia is the first and
only American-accredited University in the former Soviet Union.

With the creation of its groundbreaking new undergraduate program,
the university aims to expand its role connecting young minds from
all over the world, and empowering them to become the next generation
of leaders in Armenia.

“Seeing these young undergraduate students exploring the campus and
attending classes for the first time has been a profoundly moving
experience for all of us,” said Bruce M. Boghosian, president of the
American University of Armenia. “We have always strived to enhance
intellectual and cultural bonds between students and faculty from
across the world. We are proud to see that happening on our campus
every day, and we know that our new undergraduate program will help
us make our educational experience even stronger.”

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia offers a broad
slate of graduate – and now undergraduate – programs, including in
Business and Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and
Engineering, Public Health and the Environment.

In addition, the university engages actively in philanthropic efforts
across the region that are giving underserved students access to
educational resources; empowering entrepreneurs to start businesses and
create jobs; helping to protect endangered regional wildlife habitats;
and contributing to many other critical efforts.

The American University of Armenia was founded in 1991 through a
unique partnership with the University of California, the U.S. Agency
for International Development, the Armenian General Benevolent Union
and the Armenian government.

For more information about the American University of Armenia, visit
us online at

SOURCE American University of Armenia

SHARING OWNERSHIP OF ARMENIA’S SOCIAL ISSUES

Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

Volunteers plant trees in Dzidzernagapert, Armenia, as part of the
SunChild environmental project (Photo: FPWC)

BY VARANT MEGUERDITCHIAN

Landlocked, blockaded and permanently under threat of attack from
hostile neighbors, the Republic of Armenia faces a multitude of
national security issues. These issues are further perpetuated by a
myriad of social concerns relating to health, education and poverty;
arising from a government wrought with corruption, a business
environment dominated by oligarchs and a serious emigration problem.

But all is not doom and gloom. For the most part, Armenia’s social
problems have been tackled by individual and group-run Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) which have done their collective utmost to serve
the needs of the country and the people. Coupled with this have been
the generous donations of Armenians in Armenia and across the globe
who have assisted in funding NGOs in Armenia. Despite this generosity
however, NGOs face an uphill battle to fund the projects that will help
Armenia make the transition from a developing to a developed nation.

In the absence of good government and with NGOs constantly limited by
budget constraints, a more sustainable solution to some of Armenia’s
social challenges is necessary. One solution is Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR).

CSR is regarded by experts as an evolution in political and social
development.

After a protracted global battle ensued through much of the 20th
century between the virtues of socialism and economic liberalism,
by the 1990s economic liberalism and the rule of market forces had
ultimately prevailed. Public enterprises were privatized, taxes were
reduced, barriers to trade were removed and governments were no longer
responsible for economic growth. Rather, the economic prosperity
of a nation was dependent on markets and the entrepreneurship of
its citizens.

But after privatizing state assets and relinquishing responsibility
of economic performance, governments also saw a reduction in their
ability to cater to and fund the social needs of their citizens. This
is where CSR comes in. While governments are not absolved of social
responsibility, corporations as the key beneficiaries of economic
liberalism, now bear some responsibility for social improvement.

Broadly, CSR refers to the behavior of organizations as they relate to
human rights, the environment, labor conditions, communities, consumer
rights and social policy. CSR is increasingly becoming a focus area for
governments and businesses across the globe. Sponsored by the United
Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Global Summit
on Social Responsibility was held in Quito, Ecuador. The event provided
an international platform to debate various social responsibility
issues, contributing to the enhancement of competitiveness and the
promotion of socially responsible corporations, cities and states.

Many corporations in Armenia have been criticized for their lack of
ethics, monopolization of markets and disregard for consumer rights.

Businesses avoid tax payments, provide employees with only minimum
wages and create barriers to market entry for competitors through
unethical means. The 2009 OECD Anti-Corruption Network Report
identified these practices as a “major obstacle to business development
in Armenia”. Similarly, in 2012 the International Crisis Group reported
that the influence of oligarchs in Armenia “increases a propensity
for corruption, undermining economic growth and the development of
effective economic institutions”.

Despite the commonality of unethical business practices, a handful of
corporations in Armenia are demonstrating genuine socially responsible
behaviors. Tufenkian Artisan Carpets which operates in Armenia, refuses
to hire any employee under the age of 18, utilizes environmentally
friendly production processes and pays competitive wages. The
company and its diasporan owner, James Tufenkian, make significant
contributions to protecting the communities in which they operate.

Operating in accordance with a set of social principles, Vivacell is
another corporation making a difference to social issues in Armenia.

With a commitment to ethics and human values, Vivacell supports the
National Center for Oncology, the SunChild International Environmental
Festival and operates a neonatal medical program to support young
mothers and families in regional Armenia. The Lebanese-born Armenian
CEO of Vivacell, Ralph Yirikian has driven the company to be a
profitable and socially responsible corporation.

While many businesses in Armenia have operated unethically and
with impunity, some enterprising diasporans have demonstrated that
businesses can make a social difference and still turn a profit
in Armenia.

CSR presents a unique opportunity for diasporans who have an interest
in operating businesses in Armenia. By employing socially responsible
behaviors in their Armenian business operations, business leaders can
contribute to the improvement of the country’s social situation just
as Tufenkian and Yirikian have successfully done.

The public and diasporans visiting Armenia also have the power to
influence and shape business practices by supporting those enterprises
which operate and behave in an ethical manner. Support for socially
responsible corporations will lead other enterprises to operate
ethically in order to remain competitive and ultimately improve the
business culture in Armenia.

Varant Meguerditchian recently presented on the topic of “the public’s
ability to shape the ethical behavior of governments and organizations”
at the Global Summit on Social Responsibility sponsored by the United
Nations Institute for Training and Research in Quito, Ecuador.

Meguerditchian is the former executive director and president of the
Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Australia. He currently works as
a government relations professional in Sydney. He holds undergraduate
and graduate degrees in politics and business administration and
is currently completing his second master’s degree in international
relations.

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN NUCLEAR SECURITY SPHERE

20:36, 19 November, 2013

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. An agreement on cooperation in
the sphere of nuclear security will be signed between Armenia and
the Russian Federation. The suggestion to sign this agreement was
made by the Russian Federation. As “Armenpress” reports citing the
official webpage of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the
question on that issue is included in the agenda of the session of
the Government of the Republic of Armenia, which is scheduled to be
held on November 21.

Signing the agreement will give an opportunity to cooperate in the
spheres of safe exploitation of nuclear power blocks, development
of the infrastructure of nuclear security within the framework of
the project of building a new nuclear power plant in the Republic
of Armenia according to a Russian project, creation and proper
maintaining of efficient protection means from possible radiation
risks in Armenia’s nuclear energy objects.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA AGREE TO DISCUSS PEACE SETTLEMENT: OSCE

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Nov 19 2013

VIENNA – Agence France-Presse

Armenian president Serzh Sarkisian speaks during a press conference.

Sargsyan and Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev met in the Austrian capital
Tuesday for the first time in two years. AFP Photo

The presidents of arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed Nov. 19
to discuss a peace settlement over the disputed region of Nagorny
Karabakh, the European security body OSCE said.

“The presidents agreed to advance negotiations toward a peaceful
settlement… They agreed to meet again in the months ahead,” the
OSCE said in a statement after the two leaders met in Vienna.

Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev met in the
Austrian capital Tuesday for the first time in two years, hosted by
the OSCE’s so-called Minsk Group, which has been spearheading attempts
to negotiate a solution to the conflict.

The foreign ministers of the two countries will now work with the
heads of the Group — the ambassadors of Russia, France and the United
States — “to build on the work to date with the aim of intensifying
the peace process,” the OSCE said.

Working sessions will be held on the sidelines of an OSCE conference
in Kiev on December 5-6. The Minsk co-chairs were also to visit the
region this year.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a festering decades-long feud
over the breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh and frequently exchange
sniper fire across the volatile frontline.

Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan
in a war that killed 30,000 people in the 1990s.

Despite years of negotiations since a 1994 ceasefire, the two sides
have still not signed a peace deal.

The last meeting between the two leaders took place in January 2012
in the Russian resort of Sochi.

Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force
if negotiations do not yield results, while Armenia has vowed to
retaliate against any military action.

November/19/2013

AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS MEET IN VIENNA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 19 2013

19 November 2013 – 2:26pm

Armenian and Azerbaijani President Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev
have started their meeting at the Palais Coburg Hotel in Vienna
under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, said Arman Sagatelyan,
RIA Novosti reports.

The talks will last for two hours. This will be their first meeting
in over two years.

Armenian and Azerbaijani President Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev
have started their meeting at the Palais Coburg Hotel in Vienna
under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, said Arman Sagatelyan,
RIA Novosti reports.

The talks will last for two hours. This will be their first meeting
in over two years.

CALL FOR DEVELOPING NOURDOUZ IN AFTZ

Zawya.com, Middle East
Nov 19 2013

Nourdouz border region can inject fresh impetus to Iran’s exports to
Armenia and help develop Aras Free Trade Zone (AFTZ).

Mohsen Arab-Baghi, the managing director of the zone, made the remark
in his visit to the region that borders Armenia, IRNA reported.

Arab-Baghi also said parts of the railroad network along the border
have been launched, noting that efforts should be made to establish
transportation systems and warehouses in the region.

“Investment and development of transportation networks will bring
economic prosperity to Nourdouz region,” he said.

Located in AFTZ, Nourdouz extends over 240 hectares.

MONSIGNOR ANDON ATAMIAN’S BOOK FETED IN DETROIT

ARTS | NOVEMBER 18, 2013 5:14 PM
________________________________

DETROIT – On Wednesday, October 23, the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian
School, the Cultural Society of Armenians from Istanbul (CSAI) and
the Tekeyan Cultural Association of Detroit jointly organized a book
launch ceremony honoring Monsignor Andon Atamian, pastor of St. Vartan
Armenian Catholic Church, on the occasion of the publication of his
book, Gaydz yev Ambrob.

A capacity audience attended, among them guests from Montreal and
Toronto.

Dr. Nadya Sarafian served as the emcee. Anahid Toumajan read excerpts
from the book, while Edmond Y. Azadian made an in-depth presentation
of the book, both in Armenian and in English.

In his comments, Azadian said that Atamian’s book, at 254 pages, is
titled Lightening and Thunder. Although it is a threatening title,
he said, the content is most soothing and comforting because its
lightening serves only to illuminate the human soul and the thunder
dispatches his prayers to the Almighty. It is a book penned by an
inspired orator to inspire his readership, he added.

The book is divided into three sections. In the first section the
author delves into the complex misery of the Armenian people, touching
almost all subjects: Mesrob Mashtots – creation of the alphabet;
the Genocide; the resurrection of the independent republic; continued
denial of the genocide by Turkey, etc.

The second part covers moralistic and religious topics: human
condition, dilemmas in life and man’s relations with his creator.

Atamian never contrasts his devotion to his creator with his commitment
to his Armenian heritage.

The writer never pays lip service to moral values; he implements them
in his daily life and he partakes them with the youth. His message
is extremely convincing because he is sincere and he speaks from the
heart, according to Azadian.

The last section of the book is dedicated to Iraq, once was a
prosperous country which has since been reduced to ashes. Said Azadian,
“he communicates with the remnants of the Armenian community decimated
and tormented, with their churches destroyed, their lives scattered.”

He noted, “All in all, it is an inspirational book by an inspired
pastor, addressed to the readers who wish to live morally healthy
lives.”

Atamian gave the concluding remarks, which were very emotional. He
thanked the speaker, the program participants and the enthusiastic
audience. Then the clergy joined the author to baptize the book
in wine. Following the Kinetson, the women of the CSAI presented a
lavish buffet.

– See more at:

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS INTENDS TO LIQUIDATE PAY PARKING LOTS IN YEREVAN

by Nana Martirosyan

ARMINFO
Monday, November 18, 18:19

The video cameras and speed recorders in Yerevan’s streets are
inefficient, because the number of road accidents has not only failed
to decline, but also has grown even more, says the Armenian National
Congress’ statement sent to ArmInfo.

“The goal of the unreasonably high penalties for violation of traffic
rules, as well as the pay parking lots is to rob the average citizens
and to make the privileged stratum even wealthier. Taking into account
the publications that the ruling regime is behind the cameras and
speed recorders, as well as the fact that these publications have not
been refuted, one can state that this business provides the ruling
regime representative with surplus profit”, the statement says.

That being said, the Armenian National Congress suggests liquidating
the pay parking lots, reducing the penalties for traffic rules
violation 5-fold and transferring 70% of the penalty funds to a special
account to subsidize the public transport fare. The ANC will include
these suggestions in its party program.