Author: Kanayan Tamar

AZERBAIJAN TURNS TO INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF RED CROSS OVER TRANSFER OF ARMENIAN CITIZENS

Trend, Azerbaijan
March 19 2013

The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons
appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in
connection with the transfer of Armenian citizens detained while
crossing the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops,
ICRC Baku Office’s Public Relations Department head Ilaha Huseynova
told Trend on Tuesday.

She said the ICRC will fulfil its mission on the transfer of the
Armenian citizens in accordance with a mandate.

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces detained two Armenian citizens who were
crossing the border between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the
Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said earlier.

Resident of the village of Doveh in the Noyemberyan region, Karian
Durmush was detained on March 16 at 16:50 as well as resident of the
village of Aygovid, in the Ijevan region Anaid Shamazasovna on March
17 at 16:20 while crossing the border between Azerbaijani and Armenian
troops while heading towards the Azerbaijani Gazakh region.

The detainees have been handed over to the State Commission on
Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons. At present, the cause
of the incidents are being examined.

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.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SEES NO POINT IN RECOGNIZING NAGORNO-KARABAKH

, Turkey
March 19 2013

Sargsyan commented on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the resolution
process at a press conference on Tuesday.

World Bulletin / News Desk

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said on Tuesday in the
Armenian capital Yerevan, it would not bring any benefit for Armenia
to recognize occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sargsyan commented on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the resolution
process at a press conference on Tuesday.

When reminded about the requests in the Armenian public opinion towards
“recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence,” Sargsyan stated that
“it would not bring any benefit for Armenians neither in Armenia nor
in Karabakh.”

Sargsyan noted that the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence
would halt the resolution process led by the Minsk Group of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for over
20 years.

“This step could hit the co-chair countries in the Minsk group like
a slap in the face. If a war breaks out, we cannot fight against the
whole world. Such a decision would ruin our weight in the international
area. Our citizens would not probably benefit from it,” said Sargsyan.

Sargsyan added that recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence
is possible only if Azerbaijan starts a war.

ARMENIAN EX-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SPEAKS OF SUPPORTERS’ ‘GOOD PROPOSALS’

TERT.AM
20:53 ~U 20.03.13

Garegin Chugaszyan and Zhirair Sefilyan are presenting good proposals,
Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian stated at the 4th meeting
of the civil council in Freedom Square.

He intends to elaborate on the issue at a rally after the council’s
10th meeting, scheduled for next weekend.

Mr Hovannisian is unaware of the Armenian authorities’ official
statements. “I responded to Mr Sargsyan’s statements yesterday, and
there is no need for any comments now. I am going to say everything
at the Friday rally,” Mr Hovannisian said.

“For many years President Sargsyan has mixed himself with the state,
the population, Garegin Nzhdeh and he must be held responsible for
this. The population won the February 18 presidential election,
and we must translate this victory into reality. Let them have the
dignity to come of Freedom Square and see the people’s qualities,”
Mr Hovannisian said.

He, his supporters and Armenia’s people are one force. “The authorities
will turn into minority because the people will come to power,”
Mr Hovannisian said.

The civil council is to hold its 5th meeting in Freedom Square,
with Heritage Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan and party member David
Sanasaryan to conduct the meeting.

THE ONLY RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR LACK OF PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS OF NAGORNO- KARABAKH CONFLICT IS AZERBAIJAN. EDWARD NALBANDIAN

19:35, 20 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijan is the only responsible
party for lack of progress in the Karabakh negotiation process and
for maintenance of the status quo. The international community and
Co-Chairs are well aware of this, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian said. As reports Armenpress, Minister Nalbandian responded
to the Armenian News-NEWS.am question regarding Azerbaijani officials’
claims that Armenia is responsible for the status quo and Yerevan
must make unilateral concessions.

“If Azerbaijan is in fact interested in changes in status quo, they
should have given consent to the proposals of the Co-Chairs instead
of rejecting them over the last few years.

Of course, Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be rivals in the fields
of democracy, tolerance, human rights, economic freedom, freedom
of expression and media as well as other fundamental aspects of our
society. The logic and orientation of our states and societies are
oppositely different,” he said.

The Minister noted that Azerbaijan is strengthening authoritarian
regime, while Armenia is strengthening democracy. It is clearly seen
in the assessments and rankings issued by the international agencies.

“There is a huge difference between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said.

Azerbaijani officials believe they can buy reputation, friends, and
erect monuments, push forward questionable resolutions and present
this to the Azerbaijani society as an achievement and as proof of
high reputation.

“It is not the money and caviar that helps to build international
reputation. We have recently witnessed what happened with not less
rich and self-confident authoritarian regimes,” Nalbandian added.

ENP COUNTRY PROGRESS REPORT 2012 – ARMENIA

11:31, March 21, 2013

The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published on 20 March 2013 the
annual “neighbourhood package”, consisting of a joint communication
(“Towards a Stronger Partnership”) making an assessment of the ENP
implementation in 2012, a report on the “Partnership for Democracy and
Shared prosperity” with Southern Mediterranean, an Eastern Partnership
progress report, 12 country reports (on developments in 2012 and with
a set of recommendations for the future), including one on Armenia,
and a statistical annex.

There was intensified EU-Armenia political dialogue in 2012.

Significant progress was registered in negotiations of an EU-Armenia
Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Area. Armenia continued to implement sound macro-economic policies
and structural reforms. It further progressed also towards meeting
the objectives of the Action Plan in the area of poverty reduction
and social cohesion. While 2012 Parliamentary election and February
2013 Presidential election was generally transparent and there
was a serious effort to address issues related to human rights and
fundamental freedoms, further work needs to be done, especially in
the implementation and enforcement of legislation.

Armenia addressed some of the key recommendations contained in the
last year’s ENP progress report. It prepared a roadmap to improve
the electoral process, adopted a National Human Rights Strategy and
took some measures to fight corruption, to reform the judiciary and
public administration, and to advance sectoral reforms and regulatory
approximation to the EU acquis. Progress is needed also on other
key recommendations. On the basis of this year’s report and with a
view to sustained implementation of the ENP Action Plan in 2013,[1]
Armenia is invited to:

Further address the shortcomings identified by the OSCE/ODIHR
concerning the May 2012 parliamentary elections and February 2013
presidential elections, by implementing all OSCE/ODIHR recommendations,
including changes to the legislative framework after the presidential
elections.

Fully investigate the deaths that occurred during clashes following the
March 2008 presidential elections and the allegations of ill-treatment
in police custody and violation of due process.

Step up efforts with Azerbaijan to reach agreement on the Madrid
Principles, in accordance with the commitments made by the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the Minsk Group.

Ensure unimpeded access to representatives of the EU to Nagorno
Karabakh and surrounding regions in support of conflict transformation
activities in full complementarity with the Minsk Group activities.

Promote an environment conducive to progress in conflict settlement,
encourage and support related peace-building activities.

Ensure implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy, formulate,
adopt and implement the related Action Plan.

Adopt amendments to the legislation on broadcasting in compliance
with the recommendations of the OSCE and the Council of Europe,
and ensure pluralism in the broadcasting media.

Finalize the draft law on Conscience and Religious Freedoms, in
line with international standards, as well as the legislation on
alternative civilian service, in conformity with Venice Commission
and OSCE recommendations.

Adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, including further
steps leading to the harmonization of legislation with the EU acquis
in the areas of gender equality and non-discrimination.

Intensify the prevention of and the fight against corruption, including
implementation of laws adopted in 2012 and reinforcement of capacities,
independence and transparency of the State Commission on the Ethics
of High-Ranking Officials.

Strengthen the implementation of governance reforms, including measures
to reform the law enforcement and judicial sectors (especially to
increase public trust in and the independence of the judiciary, improve
the training of judges and review the code of criminal procedure).

Continue the reform of public administration, in particular through
strengthening merit-based career and pay paths in the civil service,
strengthening institutional capacity of local governments and
continuing with reform of the public finance management sphere.

Continue to advance sectoral reforms and regulatory approximation
to the EU acquis in trade and trade-related areas, in parallel to
the ongoing negotiations on a DCFTA, in particular in the areas of
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade,
Intellectual Property Rights and Customs.

Enhance efforts to provide for a competitive economic environment,
including through improvements in contract enforcement, ease of paying
taxes and trading across borders.

Work towards the earliest possible closure of the Medzamor nuclear
power plant and adopt a detailed decommissioning plan for this plant,
taking into account the result of the 2012 stress tests report.

Reforms initiated, carried out successfully, or delayed during
2012 in the different areas of cooperation between the EU and
Armenia are described in the annual country report. Some of the
issues reported deserve special attention. The Armenian authorities
delivered relatively transparent parliamentary elections in May
2012 and presidential elections in February 2013. Freedoms of
assembly, expression, and assembly were generally respected but media
independence remained insufficient. There was limited action against
high-level corruption. The current framework of cooperation between
government and civil society remains insufficient.

Negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict regrettably slowed down in 2012. Three
negotiation rounds on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
(DCFTA) were concluded. The Visa Facilitation Agreement was signed
in December. Armenia adopted a decree that lifts the visa obligation
for EU Citizens as of January 2013. An increasing number of Armenian
students and researchers benefited from different European programmes
in the education area.

EU-Armenia – BACKGROUND

THE POLICY

The European Neighbourhood Policy governs the relations between the
EU and Armenia. Since 2009 the EU implements the Eastern Partnership,
the Eastern dimension of the ENP framework, aiming at substantially
upgrading engagement with the six Eastern neighbours via:

a Bilateral track, whose objectives include the establishing of
Association Agreements with Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas,
once conditions have been met, as well as progress on visa and mobility
issues, and a Multilateral track (i.e. intergovernmental platforms
and Flagship Initiatives).

This approach allows for gradual political association and deeper
economic integration.

FACTS AND FIGURES

1999: Entry into force of the EU-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement.

2006: Approval of the EU-Armenia Action Plan.

2009: EU Advisory Group to Armenia (financed by the EU) started its
activities with the aim of supporting the Armenian authorities in
the implementation of the key areas of the ENP Action Plan

2009: Neighbourhood Investment Facility committed EUR 14.6 million in
grants and technical assistance for two projects in the transport
sector. Armenia is also eligible for three regional projects,
committing EUR 24 million in the energy and financial sectors

2007-2010: The ENPI[2] envelope for Armenia stands at EUR 98.4 million

2010: Launch of the Association Agreement negotiations with the EU

2011-2013: The new National Indicative Programme (NIP) 2011-13 for
Armenia was adopted in March 2010 and has a budget of EUR 157.3
million. The programme is geared towards supporting the achievement
of key policy objectives as outlined in the EU-Armenia Action Plan
and pursues three priorities: (1) democratic structures and good
governance, (2) trade and investment; regulatory alignment and reform,
and (3) socio-economic reform and sustainable development.

2011: Establishment of the EU-Armenia Mobility Partnership.

2011: Armenia became observer of the Energy Community.

2012: Launch of negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Trade Area
(DCFTA)

2012: The EU and Armenia signed the Protocol to the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement on the general principles for the participation
of Armenia in EU programmes.

2012: The EU and Armenia signed the Visa Facilitation Agreement.

More info at:

[1] The Action Plan should be replaced by the Association Agenda in
the course of 2013.

[2] the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument

HAS SERZH SARGSYAN FORGOTTEN THAT DEPUTY MINISTER ASRYAN INSULTED THE AZERI PRESIDENT?

March 20 2013

President Serzh Sargsyan stated during a meeting with journalists
on March 18: “People in power cannot insult anyone, even the Azeri
President. It is not allowed, it is impermissible. What does personally
insulting the American, Russian, and French Presidents mean? How can
one do that?” Yet Khachik Asryan, a member of the Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA), the leader of the Armenian Eagles patriotic NGO, and a
Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, made offensive statements
about Azerbaijan. For example, with regard to the extradition of
murderer Ramil Safarov, he called Aliyev “bastard” and condemned his
decision to pardon Safarov. K. Asryan stated: “Realizing quite well the
hatred of little Ilhams and Safarovs toward Armenians, realizing at the
same time their frightened actions, defeatist and dead specimens, the
leadership of the Armenian Eagles patriotic NGO states that despite the
show made of today’s pardon, the Armenian Eagles is always consistent
in destroying the actions of the rogues who damage the dignity of the
Armenian people, their development, and the security of the Armenian
statehood’s borders.” In response to the insults hurled by Azerbaijan
at the Republic of Armenia at the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly,
K. Asryan called Aliyev “defective Aliyev” and gave him 5 days’ time
to apologize to the victorious Armenian people of Aryan ancestry
for calling them Fascists and occupants. K. Asryan wrote: “If Ilham
Aliyev doesn’t satisfy the Armenian Eagles’ demand in 5 days’ time,
then the fuehrer of the pack of Azeri wolves will have to declare war
on Armenia in the following 5 days, otherwise, Sultan Ilham Aliyev will
be not only the most cowardly and disgusting president of Azerbaijan,
but also the most desired dancer of the Azeri harems to not only us,
but also to different peoples of the planet Earth.”
inquired of Mr.

Asryan whether he didn’t fear that his insulting statements about
Azerbaijan would be considered as deviation from the Armenian
President’s political line. K. Asryan replied: “Being a state official,
a deputy minister, for around 6 years, being a statesman, adhering
to patriotic ideas, I have never taken any action against President
Serzh Sargsyan’s political line. Let me surely state also that being
the founding chairman of the Armenian Eagles patriotic NGO, I myself
have always responded on behalf of the Armenian Eagles’ leadership to
the offensive, false, impudent, and aggressive statements of people,
including the made-up president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, which were
against the Armenian, the Armenian people, and the Armenian statehood
and offended the dignity of every one of us.” Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

SECRET WITNESS SPEAKS ABOUT GENDARMERIE’S INVOLVEMENT IN HRANT DINK’S MURDER

TERT.AM
21.03.13

The secret witness in the Agos editor-in-chief Hrant Dink’s murder
case with codename Baris has given testimonies.

The Turkish-Armenian Agos paper based in Istanbul says the witness has
claimed that the murderer Ogun Samast had links with the leadership
of Istanbul gendarmerie which assisted him in the murder.

He also claimed that Giresun Gendarmerie Regional Commander Gen.

Dursun Ali Karaduman played a role in the assassination. He claimed
that the initial plan was to take Samast to Azerbaijan through Artvin’s
Hopa district after the murder. The secret witness claimed that
gendarmerie intelligence units had been monitoring Dink since 2003.

The secret witness claimed that Samast was accompanied by an officer
from the Trabzon Gendarmerie Command on his way to Istanbul, where
his accommodation needs were met by another officer. The officer from
Trabzon also surveyed the Agos office. He said a Gendarmerie officer
bought a bus ticket to Artvin.

Samast also had two GSM cards on him that day, but these were
later destroyed. He claimed that the two cards were seized by the
gendarmerie shortly after Samast was captured and put in prison. “The
murder weapon was also changed. The gun they found on Samast and the
one that was used in the murder aren’t the same guns,” Baris said.

According to the secret witness, retired Gen. Veli Kucuk, a prime
suspect in the trial regarding the clandestine coup-plotting gang
Ergenekon and retired Col. Ali Oz, formerly head of the Trabzon
Gendarmerie Command, as well as Giresun Regional Gendarmerie Commander
Karaduman also played a role in the murder. Oz is already a suspect
in the Dink investigation. Other secret witnesses have indicated that
he warned gendarmerie officers who had to testify in the trial to
“not talk.” Secret witness BarıÅ~_ said Kucuk and Karaduman often
had meetings.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES THE KURDISH COMMUNITY OF ARMENIA ON NAVROZ

12:14 21.03.2013

Dear representatives of the Kurdish community of Armenia,

I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of Navroz.

Let this beautiful spring holiday bring happiness to our entire
Kurdish community. I wish you success in your work, cultural and
other achievements.

We are proud with the Kurd citizens of our country and their success.

We are also aware of the problems which are present in your as well
as many other citizens’ lives. Be assured that they will be solved
in the context of our country’s social and economic advancement and
that the state is attentive toward and interested in the development
of all communities residing in Armenia.

I once again congratulate you on the occasion of Navroz and wish you
peaceful skies and success.

LET THEM DECLARE TIGRAN SARGSYAN LIFELONG PM – PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY REP

TERT.AM
12:10 ~U 20.03.13

If the ruling Republican party and its leader are satisfied with the
social-economic condition in the country, it’s their business, they
may not change the government and the PM, secretary of the Prosperous
Armenia party faction Naira Zohrabyan said speaking to Tert.am.

“If they find that the ongoing shameful social-economic policy, that
has brought the country close to disaster and to the economic deadlock,
is satisfactory and believe in their 7% economic growth, which does
not have any reflection on the livelihood of Armenia’s citizens, but
are just figures, a common balloon under which there is no welfare of
a citizen, Prosperous Armenia has said – let them make constitutional
reforms and attach the office of the PM namely to Tigran Sargsyan and
declare him lifelong PM,” Naira Zohrabyan stated, asked to comment on
Serzh Sargsyan’s remark that no changes are expected in the government.

The MP stressed that she managed to familiarize with some parts
of president’s interview, but if there was such a message, it is
exclusively the affair and right of ruling force.

Zohrabyan said the PAP never forwards issues of personalities, it
has no issues with persons, but it has an important issue to make
the country develop in a right way.

“This government, this PM has taken the country to a deadlock. This
is our assessment,” Naira Zohrabyan said, joking that if they are
satisfied with the situation they even may make changes in the law on
Cultural Preservation and declare the government Permanent Cultural
Heritage and keep it for good.

Asked whether the PAP is passive in the discussions of the open
civil forum in Liberty square which was discussing constitutional
amendments, Naira Zohrabyan said there is no passivity. “Today I am
going to present to the NA chairman our ideas of possible extraordinary
sitting the core issue of which will be improvement of the Election
Code based on the 100% proportional election system and a number of
other proposals which I am going just now present to the NA chairman,”
she said.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D), Prosperous
Armenia and Armenian National Congress factions discussed with the
NA speaker the issue on convening extraordinary sitting.

1000 RUBLES WORTH AMD TO BE COMPENSATED FROM USSR SAVINGS BANK DEPOSITS IN ARTSAKH

10:13, 20 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS: The USSR Savings Bank deposits in
Artsakh are scheduled to be compensated with ratio thousand rubles
– AMD 25 thousand. “This stage stipulates compensation of 1000
rubles from savings-account book. The remaining amount is set to be
compensated in the next stage,” Artsakh Bank, Tigranakert Branch Head
Seyran Danielyan told Armenpress. The head of the branch stated for
receiving the compensation the citizens must submit savings-account
book and passport; the compensation is being carried out in accordance
with the bank archive data. In the words of Danielyan, the citizens
must at least be somehow compensated.

In a conversation with “Armenpress” the Artsakh President Press
Secretary Davit Babayan stated that the decision to compensate the
USSR Savings Bank deposits has been circulating in Artskah for more
than 10 years. The new decision stipulates compensation of deposits
of the citizens born before 1974.

On 12 March Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree
of preliminary compensation of devalued since the year of 1993 deposits
of NKR citizens in “Artsakh Bank” Closed Joint Stock Company.

According to the decree from the financial means allocated within the
frameworks of the law “On 2013 State Budget” the Government has been
entrusted to provide preliminary compensation of deposits belonging
to citizens born before 1974 as well as citizens perished during the
defense of the NKR and individuals of first disability group.