Author: nina hovnanian

FIRST OMBUDSWOMAN: ARMENIA TO TAKE NO ADVANTAGES OF INTEGRATION PROCESSES, IF COUNTRY RUN IMPROPERLY

YEREVAN, September 19. /ARKA/. Larisa Alaverdyan, a former ombudswoman
of the country, commenting today Armenia’s decision to join the Customs
Union, said not a single integration process will give benefit to
Armenia, if the country is run improperly.

Armenian and Russian presidents, Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin,
made a joint statement on September 3, after they met in Moscow. It
has become known from the statement that Armenia has decided to join
the Customs Union and it intends to take part in formation of Eurasian
Economic Union in the future. The announcement came as Armenia was
poised to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union.

European officials find combination of membership in both unions
impossible.

“Independence is a hard burden of responsibility, which our political
elite doesn’t stand,” Alaverdyan said. “Mismanagement and disability
of our country’s leadership use all the advantages of a sovereign
state will leave us without any benefit.”

In her opinion, membership in any union implies handover of a part of
the country’s sovereignty to other institutions for a certain period
of time and on particular conditions, Novosti-Armenia reports.

“These conditions are an absolute proportionality and equality of the
parties, and this is doubtful in terms of the Customs Union,” she said.

She said protest sentiments in Armenia and objections to the country
authorities’ decision to join the Customs Union show that people here
have a certain idea of disadvantages of Eurasian integration, but knows
about European integration risks not so much.—-0— – See more at:

PAP LEADER HAS CLEAR POSITION ON ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS – NEWSPAPER

September 19, 2013 | 08:08

YEREVAN. – Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Chairman and businessman
Gagik Tsarukyan’s spokeswoman Iveta Tonoyan was asked about Armenia’s
decision to join the Russia-led Customs Union, Aravot daily reports.

“Tonoyan recalled that, during a meeting in September, Tsarukyan gave
an assessment that rules out ‘ambiguity’ [by saying] that Russia is
a friendly country to Armenia, the most important economic partner,
[and] strategic ally.

‘”In addition, thousands of Armenians live there, and hardly anyone
would want for Armenian-Russian relations to deteriorate. So, Mr.

Tsarukyan’s position is clear with respect to Armenian-Russian
relations.

‘”But in terms of the Customs Union, the test of time is still in
need,’ the spokeswoman remarked,” Aravot writes.

To note, following the talks that were held on September 3 in Moscow
between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs
Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union.

WILL CSTO PLANES LAND AT STEPANAKERT AIRPORT

On September 23 the presidents of CSTO members will come together
in Sochi to discuss issues relating to enlargement of the military
component of this organization. Creation of air force is one of the
priority issues. The secretary of the National Security Council Arthur
Baghdasaryan announced that the creation of CSTO forces is essential
to the security of Armenia.

Armenia thus hopes to compensate the advantage of Azerbaijan in
aviation. Armenia almost hopes that one of the air bases of CSTO will
be located in Yerevan, and Russian modern units will be brought to
Armenia under the flag of the CSTO.

However, it is questioned whether the CSTO air forces will be based
in Yerevan. There is an interesting circumstance – the airport of
Stepanakert. It was built for civil flights but Azerbaijan would not
agree on its operation, while the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are not
in a hurry to calm Azerbaijan down.

It is possible that the airport of Stepanakert is, nevertheless,
viewed as a military infrastructure. Military planes may take off
and land in Stepanakert.

The airport of Stepanakert is viewed as the missing link for foreign
intervention in the possible war to land peacekeepers in Artsakh
rapidly. Interestingly, only occupation forces may appear under that
name which will be deployed in the area of Artsakh to establish the
military and political dominance of a great power, not leaving Artsakh
to Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The area of Artsakh has geopolitical importance, and the one who
dominates there dominates the entire Caucasus and ensures a wonderful
foothold in the adjunct region. The geopolitical role of Armenia
grows considerably.

The West offers Armenia partnership, avoiding direct influence on
Artsakh and exercising control through Armenia within the framework
of the general process, values and concepts, while Russia does not
offer Armenia anything but blackmail and threats.

In this regard, the creation of the CSTO air force may actually come
one step closer to the airport of Stepanakert with all the ensuing
consequences.

In addition, it is clear why Russia prefers direct, vertical influence
in both foreign relations and domestic affairs. It is just a matter of
technology. The mechanism of horizontal influence requires civilization
achievements and technologies which are missing in Russia’s internal
and external relations, leaving no alternatives to the expired
vertical tactics.

However, expired tactics, like expired shells, are usually more
dangerous because they are ignored and treated as something
unnecessary.

By the way, two Armenian minors were killed by such shells scattered
at the polygon of the Russian military base in Armenia.

Hakob Badalyan 11:32 19/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

PUTIN POLITICS, OR HOW BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!

European Public Affairs, EU
Sept 18 2013

18 September 2013 | by Olesia Ogryzko

The Bible tells us to love our neighbours, and also to love our
enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.

-G.K. Chesterton

Hostile or not, neighbour relations are not the easiest. Especially if
the neighbour knows it better: knows the what, when and where for you.

So does Russia now. Big Brother is watching you! In this case:
the Eastern European space. The space which is not as hopeless as
this desperate East-Central Europe that after (as Mr. Putin says)
the biggest geopolitical tragedy (!) of the XX century, namely the
collapse of the Soviet Union, rushed to join the dark side – the
EU/NATO. Apparently, that side had more and better cookies to offer.

But the Kremlin will never admit that.

USSR.2.0 aka Customs Union is calling, baby!

Nonetheless, having lost these former allies, there are still a
few other fellows that can be persuaded not to make this “fatal
and suicidal” mistake. There is still hope to guide EU’s Eastern
Partnership countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Belarus) to the promising future, or shall we say back into the
future? USSR.2.0 aka Customs Union is calling, baby!

It is calling persistently, constantly and quite painfully in the
last couple of weeks. With the Eastern Partnership Summit imminently
approaching, Russia prefers sticks rather than carrots in its policy
towards its Western neighbours.

Sweet November

The summit, taking place in November in Vilnius, is of crucial
geopolitical significance not only for these six partner countries,
but also for Europe in general and, obviously, for Russia. There,
the future of the whole Eastern European dimension will be decided,
with its prospects and developments. The story around the Association
Agreement and FTA that might (or not) be signed with Ukraine, and
initialled with Moldova and Georgia will demonstrate EU’s vision of the
future of the Union: level of cooperation with the East, determination
of geographical boarders of Europe and general enlargement policy. For
the six countries concerned this will serve as a clear indicator of
whether they are welcome in the EU or not. In a negative scenario
they are likely to turn to Russia – a decision for many decades
ahead. At stake in Russia is the dominance over the last bits of
its former might, restoration of its ever fading imperial paranoia
and the successfulness of the Customs Union, which unites Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan now.

Henceforth, this upcoming event is a major milestone, forcing all
parties to prepare in their own way. Playing cool, the EU tries not to
show the fact that a successful Vilnius summit is as important for the
Union as it is for the Eastern partners. Thus, at times criticizing,
at times encouraging the “Eastern six”, the EU has kept a straight face
until recently. The partner-countries are hectically implementing all
the required reforms to correspond with EU standards, like students
feverishly completing the homework in the break before the lesson. And
Russia is doing what the logic of its political machinery tells it to
do: breaching the Helsinki Accords, WTO regulations and the Budapest
Memorandum all at once. Because Russia likes it big: if violate- then
in large amounts only. It is now pressuring the three “lucky ones”
being Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia, to dissuade them from “going West”.

Russia’s wakeup call

Russia’s art of persuasion takes the shape of economical, energy and
security threats. Let us start with the first. Creating artificial
trade obstacles, new cumbersome border checks, severe customs
restrictions, clearing detentions and unreasonable sample checks.

These actions, which Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt called
“economic warfare”, caused an almost complete (!) standstill of
Ukrainian exports to Russia – Ukraine’s major trade partner country,
by the way. Additionally, a ban on products from Ukraine’s major
confectionary producer as well as on Moldova’s wines and spirits is
still in force. As Putin’s advisor Sergei Glazyev kindly indicated,
this blockade is designed to demonstrate what will happen in the
event of signing the EU agreement.

The second threat is connected to Russia’s trump card – gas. “Energy
supplies are important in the run-up to winter, I hope you won’t
freeze” was a quite unambiguous remark to Moldova by senior envoy
Rogozin. A similar message was sent to Kyiv, consequently reminding
of the 2006 and 2009 gas supply cuts, severely hitting some of the
East-Central European countries dependant on Ukrainian transit.

The third threat deals with conflict resolutions. Both Moldova
and Armenia are facing frozen internal conflicts. Transnistria and
Nagorno-Kharabakh are their Achille’s heels, which Russia, being
a major security grantor in both cases, just could not resist. As
a result – we heard the official statement on behalf of Armenian
authorities that the country is joining the Customs Union instead of
pursuing the EU FTA pact. Thus, in geopolitical maths it is now 6-1.

EU’s response

Having gathered a critical mass of Russia’s violations (Syrian
sentiments undoubtedly contribute to Europe’s malice), the EU finally
decided to break the silence. Addressing Russia’s strong-arm tactics,
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso affirmed during
the annual state of the Union speech to the European Parliament:
“We cannot accept any attempt to limit these countries’ own sovereign
choices…We cannot turn our back on them”.

The European Parliament also decided to take action and adopted the
resolution “On the pressure exerted by Russia on the Easter Partnership
countries (in the context of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit
in Vilnius)” on the 12th September. Firmly rejecting these unacceptable
actions, the MEPs call on Russia to respect the sovereign right of the
nation states to pursue their own political aspirations. Supported by
all main parties, the text of the resolution appeals to the Commission,
Council and European External Action Service to take “concrete and
effective” measures in defence of the Union’s partners, as well as
view the developments as beyond a purely economic dimension, being
merely a cover for retaliation and political pressure. Moreover,
strong support for initialling and signing the agreement in November
with those willing and ready, has been reaffirmed.

What’s next?

As Commissioner Fule indicated, “if they [the Eastern Partnership
countries] become the subject of undue pressure because of exercising
their free choice, they can count on the solidarity [of the EU]”.

Together with EP’s resolution this is already a major political
signal. However, as we all know, actions speak louder than words. This
would be a perfect opportunity for the EU to demonstrate its capability
for crisis management and sticking to previously given political
commitments towards Eastern Europe.

Hence, having already “lost” the Armenian battle, what else is
the EU ready to sacrifice? What is the measure of “undue pressure”
for the EU to step in? And what exactly does “solidarity” imply in
this sense: another sharply-worded resolution or real sanctions? All
these questions should not be rhetorical if the EU wants the Eastern
Partnership to be its success story.

Related links:

ARMENIA DIVIDED BY CHOICE OF RUSSIA OVER EUROPE

China Post
Sept 18 2013

By Mariam Harutyunyan ,AFP

YEREVAN — A decision by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian to sign up
to a Russian-led Customs Union has slammed the brakes on closer ties
with Europe and prompted soul-searching about the future direction
of the former Soviet state.

Sarkisian’s surprise announcement earlier this month that Armenia
will sign up to the project championed by Russian President Vladimir
Putin stunned many Armenians, who see the southern Caucasus state as
part of Europe.

After lengthy negotiations, Armenia – along other ex-Soviet states
including Georgia and Moldova – had been set to pencil a free trade
deal and take the first step towards future EU integration at a
conference in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in November.

The decision to sign up to the customs union with Russia has been
met with street protests, so far small-scale, and widespread debate.

“We came here to say that we will not let this happen,” said protestor
Lusine Hovsepyan, 34, a computer programmer, at a recent demonstration
in Yerevan.

“If it’s a choice between the EU and this customs union, then we
choose the more developed, more democratic Europe.”

But security concerns over the disputed territory of Nagorny Karabakh
and pressure from long-time ally Moscow appear to have won out against
hopes of closer ties to Europe.

IRANIAN COMPANY ATTENDED ARMENIA EXPO 2013

Iran Book News Agency, Iran
Sept 16 2013

16 Sep 2013 12:25
Sayyed Mahmoud Ashraf Al-e-Taha, managing director of Sepas Industrial
Printing Company said that the center attended the Armenia Expo 2013
exhibiting its latest products.

IBNA: Managing Director of Sepas said the company presented products
like mono- to tetra-chromic and silk screen print sets in the expo.

According to Al-e Taha the expo was held from September 4-6 in Yerevan
with the presence of companies from 20 countries.

Managign director of Sepas added that the company attended Armenia’s
expo as the only producer and exporter of pad-print and silk screen
print sets.

He also mentioned that to date, Sepas has managed to export its
products and print machinery to a large number of countries in the
region and Asia Minor including the Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Lebanon,
Egypt, Bahrain, Armenia and Turkmenistan.

With over 40 years of experience in the field of print industry and
application of state-of-the-art science and technologies, Sepas
(Al-e-Taha Brothers Industrial Printing) has become the largest
producer and exporter of silk screen and print machinery of high
quality in the Middle East.

ALIYEV LAYS CLAIM TO YEREVAN, PRAISES SAFAROV

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 | Posted by Asbarez Staff

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

BAKU-Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday praised axe-murderer Ramil
Safarov as a hero and vowed to “reclaim” Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity by claiming that one day every Azeri can live in Yerevan,
Zangezur and other areas that are part of Armenia.

In a speech, that seemed more like a rant, Aliyev, who was attending
the opening of a so-called genocide museum, said: “Azerbaijan’s state
flag will wave in Shusha, Khankendi [Stepanakert] and Azerbaijanis will
live on their historical lands in the future. Our historical lands are
Irevan [Yerevan] and Zangazur regions.” The museum is dedicated to
the victims of a 1918 “massacre,” which Aliyev claims was committed
by Armenians against Azeris. The fact that a country of Azerbaijan
did not exist until 1918 seems to escape the Azeri leader.

On another note, Aliyev blamed what he called “Armenian fascism”
on the international community’s reaction to crowning Safarov a hero.

“I was condemned baselessly and so many foreign dishonest politicians
made accusations against me, because the Azerbaijani officer,
Ramil Safarov, returned [to his] homeland and I gave him freedom,”
said Aliyev.

“Even the European Parliament adopted a resolution on this issue and
condemned my actions. But even today I can say firmly that Azerbaijan
has returned its officer to the homeland, given him freedom and
established justice. But look at the world press, international
organizations, how many groundless accusations they have made against
Azerbaijan,” Aliyev said.

The Azeri leader went on to stress that all factors, including economic
and military ones, indicate that in a matter of time Azerbaijan “will
restore its territorial integrity” and reclaim its “historic lands,”
which includes the capital of Armenia, Yerevan.

“There will come a time when we live on these lands. I am convinced
of it,” said Aliyev, calling the people of Azerbaijan to action to
“bring this sacred day closer.”

HAIRIKYAN BELIEVES THAT PUTIN WANTS TO RESTORE THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE

September 18 2013

On September 14, during a meeting in Georgian village Tekali, Paruyr
Hayrikyan presented his book “To absolute democracy”. In particular,
he said,- “We all, Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijani peoples,
are the victims of the Bolshevik dictatorship. All our problems
are coming from there. We need to always realize it and understand
that when there is no mutual understanding in us, it means the the
dictatorship is ruling that is imposed on us. It is very important
for us that we take our fate in our hands. The main problem in the
post-Soviet period was that not people solve the problem, but the KGB’s
former agents, in other words, the Bolshevik Empire now continues to
exist with new rules, but the idea is still dominating. The issue
of Armenian-Georgian border is a minor problem, but someone would
like Armenians and Georgians live in peace, they managed to involve
Azerbaijanis deep in the conflict, now they want Armenians to get
into conflict with Georgians, then Armenia’s dependence on Russia
will grow. They already succeeded in doing a lot. In recent days,
all Armenians were shocked at how it turned out, we were saying that
we live in European values, we are going to Europe, suddenly, one day,
the President made a sole statement that no, we prefer Putin Russia.

It does not refer to Russia, the matter is about Putin Russia. And who
is Putin? Putin regrets that the peoples liberated from the Soviet
empire, he has repeatedly said, we were forced to call the Soviet
Union, but it was Russia, the Russian empire, and our goal is to
restore the Russian empire.” Voskan SARGSYAN

Read more at:

ARMENIA IS THE 12TH IN FRANCOPHONE GAMES

19:59, 18 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Among 54 countries participating
in the seventh Francophone Games which was held in French city Nice
Armenia gained the twelfth position. “Armenpress” was informed from
Information and public relations department of the ministry of Sport
and Youth affairs that Armenian athletes were represented in freestyle
wrestling, judo, cycling, table tennis and athletics.

Armenian freestyle wrestling team gained three golden and one bronze
medal being the second place in team table. Armenian judokas gained
two bronze medals.

Armenia took part in Francophone Games for the second time. Previous
time Armenian athletes returned from Lebanon with three silver and
bronze medals.

Armenian delegation in the Games was headed by the Minister of Sport
and Youth affairs Yuri Vardanyan.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

IN TERMS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF WEAPONS ARMENIA AHEAD OF ALL ITS REGIONAL NEIGHBORS, DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS

YEREVAN, September 18. / ARKA /. In terms of some types of weapons
Armenia is ahead of all its regional neighbors, defense minister
Seyran Ohanyan said today.

As an example, he cited Russia-manufactured S-300 air-defense systems
saying no country in the region can boast of that number of the
system as Armenia. Speaking at a meeting with students of the Yerevan
State University the minister downplayed earlier reports that Russia
delivered $1 billion worth battle tanks and other military hardware
to Azerbaijan. According to reports in the Russian media, Azerbaijani
military received over 90 T-90C tanks, around 100 armored personnel
carriers and dozens of multiple-rocket systems and artillery cannons.

According to Ohanyan, the Armenian side had been notified of the
delivery 2-3 months prior to it.

“Each country itself decides the way of its military- technical
cooperation with other countries and Armenia has no right to interfere
or try to hinder weapon sales, however, we send messages via some
organizations that when it comes to Azerbaijan it is unacceptable,
especially that Azerbaijan has been turning its defensive capabilities
into offensive ones,’ he said.

He stressed that delivery of weapons to regional countries and
cooperation with them brings them to a certain degree of control.

“The closer military cooperation between other countries and
Azerbaijan, the better our messages reach destination and the
democratic norms of control that apply to us will spread to our
enemies as well,” the minister said.

Earlier this year Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said the
country saw a dramatic increase in its arms acquisitions in the last
few years, which have offset Azerbaijan’s ongoing military build-up.

“In the last three years we have acquired as much weaponry as we did
in the previous 20 years,” Tigran Sarkisian said during a visit to
Nagorno-Karabakh. -0-

19:36 18.09.2013