Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIA’S FM HOSTS DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE

12:24, 13 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan received the Deputy
Secretary General for the External Action Service (EAS) Helga Schmidt.

The Press, Information, and Public Relations Department of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress”
that at the course of the meeting the interlocutors touched upon
the entire way passed from the launch of the Eastern Partnership
and stressed that during this period the Eastern partnership became
an efficient format of cooperation and an instrument of fostering
reforms in the member states.

Among other things the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan emphasized that Armenia is intended to
continue cooperation with the EU in all possible directions. In turn,
Helga Schmidt conveyed the greetings of the EU High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and expressed
her gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia for the
reception. In addition she noted that the EU also wants to continue
the cooperation with Armenia.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

EU AND ARMENIA WILL DEVELOP NEW DIRECTIONS TO EXPAND TIES: STEFAN FULE

14:30, 13 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The EU is ready to strengthen
relations with Armenia, but new directions must be developed for it.

The EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement and European
neighbourhood policy Å tefan Fule stated this at the course of the
press conference held within the 3rd informal meeting of the foreign
ministers of the Eastern Partnership states. As reports “Armenpress”
Å tefan Fule underscored: “I don’t think that we’ll manage to develop
new directions before the Vilnius Summit, notwithstanding we are
hopeful that we’ll find some wayouts at the course of the summit.”

Among other things he noted that Armenia will not be able to pre-sign
the agreement, for which the sides have been negotiating for many
years. In addition the EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement
and European neighbourhood policy Å tefan Fule highlighted that the
Association Agreement is one package, which involves the agreement
on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and they cannot
be separated.

In the result of the negotiations on September 3, 2013 in Moscow
the Presidents Sargsyan and Putin confirmed the aim of the Republic
of Armenia and the Russian Federation in the direction of further
development of economic integration processes in the Eurasian
territory. In that context the President of the Republic of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan announced about the Armenia’s decision to join the
Customs Union and the necessity of implementation corresponding steps
for that aim and in future about participating in formation of the
Eurasian economic union. The President of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin expressed his support to the abovementioned decision
of Armenia and informed about the readiness of the Russian side to
support the process.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

ORACLE TO ESTABLISH AN EXCELLENCE CENTER IN ARMENIA

15:20 13.09.2013

Hasmik Dilanyan
Public Radio of Armenia

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Armenian
Government and the American Oracle Corporation. The document was signed
by the head of Staff of RA Government, Minister Vache Gabrielyan and
Alain Blanc, Senior Vice President of the Oracle Corporation.

Under the MoU Oracle will provide assistance to Armenia within the
framework of its educational programs. It also envisages assessment
and expansion of application of Oracle Solutions in the state bodies
of Armenia, establishment of excellence centers in Armenia, etc.

Oracle’s Senior Vice President Blanc expressed confidence that the
American company’s entry to the market will be successful, which will,
in turn, stimulate various innovation programs.

“The development of IT sector id among the priorities of the Armenian
Government,” Armenian PM Tigran Sargsyan said. “We register a 15-20%
growth in the field and we are confident that the bilateral cooperation
will give new impetus to the further development of the UT sphere
our country,” he added.

Agreement on cooperation between the Armenian side and Oracle was
reached still on December 7, 2012 during a meeting between Prime
Minister Sargsyan and heads of the American corporation in Frankfurt,
Germany.

The Oracle Company was founded in 1977 in the United States. The
company has more than 390,000 customers and its software products
are presented in more than 145 countries.

ARMENIA’S NUCLEAR PLANT WILL OPERATE UNTIL 2026 – ENERGY MINISTER

September 13, 2013 | 12:41

YEREVAN. – The activity period of the second energy unit of Armenia’s
Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) will be extended until the year
2026.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan noted the
abovementioned during a briefing with news reporters on Friday.

This statement is quite noteworthy in the context that the Government
of Armenia on Friday removed from the agenda the decision on extending
the period for the operation of the NPP.

The aforesaid decision assumed cooperation with the Rosatom Nuclear
Energy State Corporation (Rosatom) of Russia.

To note, the government wishes to extend the period for the operation
of the plant, in parallel with the construction of a new energy unit.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

TWO KARABAKHIS AND EUROPE

Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to join the Customs Union crystallized the
sole genuine conflict in Armenia – the race of two Karabakhis for
power. The price of power is again called to be Karabakh.

While a geopolitical choice was played over the past 2-3 years, the
political struggle, real for the state and the society and staged
for the government, was taking place in the vicinity of foreign
orientation. Serzh Sargsyan laid out the game, and other political
parties unintentionally became participants of the game and were
divided to pro-West and pro-Russian groups.

The criticism of of the authorities was taking place in the light of
the European choice of Serzh Sargsyan. Some opposition parties and
marginal groups directed all their efforts towards proving that Serzh
Sargsyan is leading everyone towards pervert Europe, and how he is
trying to sell Europe, spoiling his relations with Moscow. Russian
propaganda with its affiliated Armenian entities was also dealing
with this.

On September 3 this trend was ended. Serzh Sargsyan turned his back to
“pervert Europe” and passed Karabakh under Russia’s protection. The
opposition parties and the civil groups should be satisfied. In the
meantime, an interesting slogan appeared: “Integration without Serzh
Sargsyan.” It turned out that all the geopolitical and gender-related
fears, concerns about Karabakh and others were just a cover for the
struggle of the “two Karabakhis” for power.

Karabakh, its handover, not its preservation, is becoming the price
for power in this struggle. Hovik Abrahamyan who is a potential
victim of the fight of the two Karabakhis expressed the attitude
of the Armenian political class. He made a sacramental statement:
“What does Karabakh have to do with the Customs Union? Karabakh is
an independent state. First it is necessary to resolve the problems
of Armenia and then only start thinking about Karabakh.”

Denial of Karabakh was always the wish of the political circles of
Armenia. On the one hand, they think that the Karabakh issue prevents
their integration with Turkey and Azerbaijan. On the other hand,
Karabakh always used to be the “stock of gold” for trade of the
Armenian politics.

Now, it is apparently the time for denial of Karabakh, handing it over
to Karabakh under the cover of “ensuring security” (and let them do
what they want to do), holding on to power and trade with Turkey and
Azerbaijan within the Customs Union.

So could think the people who have never been good at reading maps
because a single look at the map would be enough for them to understand
that Armenia without Karabakh stops being a strategic unit.

It has lost its significance for Russia, Europe and Iran, and only
interests Turkey.

Besides, the attempts to trade Karabakh usually ended in a coup and
bloodshed. Had it been so easy to hand over Karabakh, it would have
been handed over a long time ago.

Naira Hayrumyan 11:46 13/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

SENSATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER OF ENERGY

Today the government of Armenia approved issuance of license to the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant CJSC to export nuclear substances.

The minister of energy and natural resources Armen Movsisyan stated
that there are 7 fresh nuclear fuel assemblies at the NPP which were
imported from Russia in 1979 and 1987. These assemblies had some
faults and therefore are not usable.

According to the minister, keeping the assemblies at the NPP causes
difficulties therefore an agreement was signed by Russia’s TVEL OJSC
to transport them to Russia, which requires an adequate license for
the NPP.

The minister also said that the substances will be sold to the Russian
side at 5000 USD per kg, which is cheaper because they need to be
enriched and upgraded.

12:18 13/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

Customs Union decision heralds new war – opinion

13:45 – 14.09.13

Armenia’s decision to join the Eurasian Customs Union was made under
pressure to herald a new war, according to Ashot Manucharyan, a former
member of the Karabakh Committee.

`After several years of negotiations with the European Union, Armenia
decides all of a sudden to change its position.

`The Russian pressure was unexpected on our political arena, but it
wasn’t a surprise to the forces that have authority over Armenia,’ the
politician told reporters, pointing out to the United States’
influence.

According to him, all the political decisions of Armenia are
implicitly made by the US.

Manucharyan said that the struggle will continue in future, with the
United States trying to make Armenia an EU member in an attempt to
exercise an easier control over the country. `We must be very careful.
Europe is a very important trend for us, but it shouldn’t be confused
with the European Union,’ he noted.

Armenian News – Tert.am

EXPERTS DISCUSS ARMENIA’S CHOICE OF CUSTOMS UNION

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 12 2013

12 September 2013 – 1:21pm

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said in Russia ten days ago
that Armenia will join the Customs Union. Russian and Armenian
experts gathered to discuss the choice between the Customs Union
and development of integration within the framework of the Eastern
Partnership. A summit will be organized for the latter in Vilnius in
November 2013.

Alexander Skakov, coordinator of the working group of the Center for
Studies of Central Asia, Caucasus, Ural-Volga of the Institute for
Oriental Studies of the RAS, said that both choices lacked road maps
and there were no visible prospects for appearance of any.

Vyacheslav Kovalenko, Russian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Ambassador to Georgia and Armenia (2009-2013), Director for regional
programs of the Institute for Caspian Cooperation, emphasized that both
sides had political will and there were no obstacles for development of
a road map in Russia. He noted that Russia needed to integrate Armenia
with regions and small business to boost the agricultural reform.

Kovalenko said that many Armenians were living in Russia’s South
and will most likely study in Yerevan, a city suitable for opening a
branch of the MSU. Armenia has only 100 centers offering free lessons
of the Russian language.

Alexander Markarov, Director of the Armenian branch of the Institute
of CIS States, said that joining the Customs Union would strengthen
economic and military cooperation with Armenia. Russia is the main
investor in Armenia. Small and medium business would get benefits. The
humanitarian field of Armenia would benefit from the MSU branch.

Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Institute for the Caucasus, said
that the decision to join the Customs Union was political. He noted
the role of Russian business in Armenia and popularity of the Russian
language, but he reminded that there were still problems with Georgia.

Skakov said that restoration of railway communications were a matter
of recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They are
more likely to be recognized by Brussels than Georgia. Skakov noted
another project: the road from Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi to bypass the
two breakaway republics.

Iskandaryan emphasized that Armenia will need to make the choice in
autumn. Armenia cooperated with the US, Iran, Georgia and Russia and
could not step over the security problem.

ARMENIA SEEKING CUSTOMS UNION MEMBERSHIP

Tax-news.com
Sept 12 2013

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

12 September 2013

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister has warned that Armenia’s participation
in a deep and comprehensive free trade area within the European Union
may be incompatible with its request for membership of the Customs
Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Lithuania currently holds the EU Presidency. Linas Linkevicius met
with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian earlier this week, when
the ministers discussed the request. Linkevicius stressed that further
consultations were needed to assess the situation, and cautioned that,
were Armenia to join the CIS member states’ Customs Union, the move
would “diminish Armenia’s ambitions of integration and cooperation
with the EU.”

Linkevicius added that Armenia should not take a step that could
waste what it has achieved during its five year participation in the
Eastern Partnership Agreement.

Earlier this week, Nalbandian held talks with the European Commissioner
for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy. He reiterated
Armenia’s readiness to continue its broad cooperation with the EU
in a variety of areas, and said that this would not contradict the
country’s membership of the Customs Union.

SWEDEN : ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH ARMENIA ELIMINATED FROM AGENDA

TendersInfo
September 11, 2013 Wednesday

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt considers that initialing an
Association Agreement with Armenia was removed from the agenda, noting
that he came to this conclusion together with Slovakian Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak.

Bildt wrote, “We came to a conclusion with Miroslav Lajcak that the
Association Agreement with Armenia has been removed from the agenda
now. We work with Ukraine, Moldavia and Georgia.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced a decision to join the
Customs Union and take the required practical steps towards this goal
and consequently to take part in the establishment of the Eurasian
Economic Union.

Russian president Vladimir Putin backed this decision and conveyed
Russia’s willingness to completely contribute towards this process.