Author: nina hovnanian

ARMENIA WRAPS UP TALKS WITH EU ON FREE TRADE DEAL

Europe Online Magazine
July 24 2013

By our dpa-correspondent and Europe Online

Brussels (dpa) – Armenia concluded negotiations Wednesday on a free
trade deal with the European Union, bringing it within reach of
formalizing its closer ties with the bloc at a summit in November.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said that access to the EU market
would help Armenia “strengthen its exports, increase investment and
sustain growth.”

He added: “In the end, it will contribute to the overall stability
and prosperity of the region, and contribute to citizens’ well-being.”

The Armenian economy could gain 146 million euros (193 million dollars)
a year in the long run, while the EU economy could gain about 74
million euros, according to figures provided by the bloc.

The EU plans to initial an association and free trade agreement with
Armenia at the summit, which it will hold with six Eastern Partnership
countries in Lithuania.

Georgia and Moldova are also expected to achieve the same step, while
Ukraine hopes to become the first eastern neighbour to sign such an
agreement with the EU. However, concerns remain about its treatment
of political prisoners.

The other Eastern Partnership nations are Azerbaijan and Belarus.

ARMENIANS SAY COMPATRIOT’S MISTREATMENT REVEALS RUSSIAN PREJUDICE

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #695
July 24 2013

Fears that discriminatory attitudes in Russia will deny compatriot of
fair trial in fatal crash case.

By Gohar Abrahamyan – Caucasus

Angry protests have been held outside the Russian embassy in Yerevan
over the public humiliation of an Armenian man arrested after his
truck was involved in a fatal accident near Moscow.

Eighteen people died when Hrachya Harutyunyan’s truck collided with
a bus on July 13 near the town of Podolsk, just outside the Russian
capital.

Harutyunyan was one of dozens of survivors taken to hospital. Police
then took him from the hospital to court, where Russian television
showed him unshaven and wearing a woman’s housecoat as charges of
causing death by dangerous driving were read out.

About 20 Armenian journalists wrote to their colleagues in the Russian
Union of Journalists to complain of prejudicial coverage, such as
TV Channel One’s main news programme which repeatedly stressed his
ethnicity and said he “mumbled” during his court appearance.

Hovik Abrahamyan, speaker of the Armenian parliament, sent a letter
expressing sympathy with the crash victims and their relatives,
but underlining that the way the truck driver had been treated was
unacceptable. He said he hoped the police would investigate both the
causes of the collision and the actions of those who had humiliated
Harutyunyan.

In Armenia, many saw the incident as a reflection of racist attitudes
in Russia.

For two days in a row, more than 100 people gathered outside the
Russian embassy in Yerevan, holding up women’s housecoats and signs
saying, “We demand humane treatment for Armenian citizens,” “Housecoat
justice in Russia, stop your chauvinism” and “Here’s a housecoat,
wear it yourself”.

More than a dozen Facebook groups have been set up in support of
Harutyunyan. The most popular, intended to collect money for him,
gained almost 20,000 “likes”.

Avetik Ishkhanyan, head of the Armenian Helsinki Committee, accused
Russian officials of deliberately exploiting the tragedy.

“This is clearly a political decision, and I don’t think the law
enforcement agencies would have made this decision on their own. This
man was deliberately humiliated,” he said. “It isn’t just a slight to
our national pride, it shows Russia’s disdain for the Armenian state.”

Stepan Grigoryan, head of the Yerevan -based Analytical Centre
for Globalisation and Regional Cooperation, said the strength of
anti-immigrant feeling in Russia meant it was doubtful the suspect
would get a fair trial.

“Russia has a problem with immigrants,” he said. “There are thousands
of immigrants from various countries, and Russia is just tired of it.

This case has raised a big fuss, and the Russians are trying to use
it to provoke a wave of indignation against immigrants.”

Russian nationalism has grown under President Vladimir Putin,
often accompanied by animosity towards people from the Caucasus
and Central Asia, especially. In its ugliest form, it has generated
racist violence.

At the same time, Armenia is a long-standing ally that Moscow would
not wish to lose, given their enduring economic and security ties.

In response to the protest, the Russian embassy in Yerevan issued a
statement on July 17 expressing regret at what it said was the misuse
of a sad event to whip up anti-Russian sentiment.

“We consider it completely unacceptable to use a great human tragedy
for political ends and to undermine Russian-Armenian relations,” the
statement said. “Mercenary, politicised comments are unacceptable. The
tragedy near Podolsk has no ethnic dimension, and it will be
investigated thoroughly, impartially, carefully and impassively.”

Harutyunyan’s daughter Lilit told journalists that she was grieving
for everyone killed in the accident.

She expressed hope that if her father was convicted, he would be
allowed to serve his sentence in Armenia. Aram Vardevanyan, head of
the legal department at the office of Armenia’s ombudsman, said it
should be a straightforward matter to secure such an arrangement under
the Minsk Convention, a justice agreement involving Soviet states.

Gohar Abrahamyan is a reporter with the ArmeniaNow.com website.

RUSSIA PURSUING ITS INTERESTS – ARMENIAN EXPERTS

17:20 24.07.13

Chairman of the Political Scientists’ Union of Armenia Hmayak
Hovhinnisyan withholds comments on whether Russia is adopting
‘draconian’ laws on immigrants or is trying to interest the post-Soviet
states in joining the Customs Union, as it is clearly stating its
interest in Armenia joining the Customs Union.

“In contrast to the European Union, Russia is a sovereign state,
which does not yield to any pressure, but has its own approaches.And
no one has any right to mediate,” he said.

The Communist Party group at the Russian State Duma submitted a
bill under which all the citizens of all the post-Soviet states are
to get labor visas to have the right to work in Russia, the Customs
Union member-states – Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan – being the
only exception.

According to the Russian Migration Service, 10.5m foreign citizens
are living in Russia – 2.5m citizens of Uzbekistan, 1.1m citizens of
Tajikistan, more than 500,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan. According to the
2010 census, a total of 1,182.4 thousand Armenians resided in Russia.

“So we have to defend our citizens’ interests. And if we are to do so,
we should join the Customs Union,” Hovhannisyan. Otherwise, Armenia
and Armenian labor migrants will face an economic disaster.

On the other hand, the processes related to an association agreement
with the EU are secret as, the agreement has been “finalized” while
no one is aware of “the contents of agreements” in Armenia.

The political scientist Styopa Safaryan, who is disposed to blame
Russia for adopting certain laws, believes that the bill proposed by
the Russian communists is “a step aimed at both tempting and pressing.”

This is pressure on the labor migrants living in Russia and a
temptation for those seeking to leave.

“Russia may become as exacting as European countries,” Safaryan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

REP. SCHIFF MEETS WITH ANCA INTERNS

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) with ANCA interns

WASHINGTON-Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) met with several
interns from the Armenian National Committee of America in his
Washington D.C. office. The interns discussed their work at the ANCA
and priorities for the Armenian-American community, both in Congress
and at home. They were also given a chance to ask Rep. Schiff questions
about his work in Congress and to suggest ideas for legislation.

“I am always pleased to see young people in our country engaging
in public service and the legislative process, and am especially
impressed when they demonstrate such enthusiasm and commitment. The
experiences and professional development that internships provide
will position these students well for their future endeavors.”

“We are always pleased to create opportunities for young Armenians to
exchange ideas, discuss issues, and explore careers in public service
with Members of Congress and other key players in the Washington
policy-making community,” said ANCA Legislative Affairs Director
Raffi Karakashian.

“Our internships – as well as our ‘Capital Gateway’ public policy
job-placement program – are empowering a new generation of talented
and devoted Armenains with the knowledge, experience, and confidence
to lead our community and our cause into the future. As always,
the best investment we can ever make is in our youth.”

“I am proud to represent a large and vibrant Armenian community,
which has so enriched our nation in so many fields,” Rep. Schiff
said. “As a friend of the Armenian community, I will continue working
hard to pursue recognition for the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian
Genocide, as well as policies to ensure a better life for the Armenian
people in our communities and throughout the world.”

CONSCRIPT DIED FROM CARDIAC ARREST IN NKR MILITARY UNIT

According to reliable information received by Helsinki Citizens
Assembly Vanadzor Office, yesterday, on 23 July 2013, another conscript
died from cardiac arrest in one of the military units of NKR. The
name of the conscript and details of the accident are not known. The
RA MoD is silent and is not releasing any official information.

On July 22 another accident was reported in Haykazov Military Unit of
NKR. Narek Hovsepyan of Vanadzor enlisted in November 2012 was wounded
and died. The relatives said it was an accident. One of the relatives
assured that no signs of violence were found on the young man’s body.

17:21 24/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

EU-ARMENIA FREE TRADE AREA NEGOTIATIONS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED

YEREVAN, July 24. /ARKA/

The European Union and the Republic of Armenia today successfully
concluded negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
(DCFTA), as part of the Association Agreement between the EU and the
Republic of Armenia, the European Commission reports at its official
website.

“At the seventh and final round of negotiations – held in Yerevan –
negotiators reached agreement on the key elements of a deal which will
create a new framework for trade relations between the EU and Armenia,”
the European Commission reports. “The DCFTA will strengthen Armenia’s
economic integration with the EU by providing better market access for
European and Armenian goods and services to each other’s markets. It
will offer Armenia a framework for modernising its trade relations and
for economic development on the basis of far reaching harmonisation of
laws and regulations in various trade-related sectors. These reforms
will create the conditions for Armenia to bring key sectors of its
economy in line with EU standards.”

An independent study suggests that in the long run the Armenian
economy could gain an extra ~@146 million a year, representing a 2.3%
increase in GDP. Removing non-tariff measures is key to realising
these benefits. For its part, the EU is expected to gain by some
~@74 million.

The DCFTA will have significant impacts on Armenia’s trade. The
forecast 15.2% increase in Armenian exports and 8.2% increase in its
imports in the long run will lead improve Armenia’s trade balance in
relative terms.

The improved trade opportunities brought about by the DCFTA are
expected to bring economic benefits to both the EU and Armenia.

The Association Agreement that includes Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Area Agreement is expected to be initialed in November in
Vilnius, where European Union top officials and leaders of EU Eastern
Partnership participant countries will gather for a summit. -0—

– See more at:

BRITISH EMBASSY: ARMENIAN GIFTS FOR THE ROYAL BABY WILL GO TO LOCAL CHARITIES

14:01 24.07.2013

The British Embassy in Yerevan has placed a gift box at the Embassy
for those who would like to donate a gift for the Royal baby. The
gifts will go to disadvantaged families in Armenia.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge do not want to encourage gifts
on the occasion of the birth of their first child. Their Royal
Highnesses feel that any generosity of spirit felt by individuals
should be directed to those more in need. They would be grateful if
those wanting to offer a gift to them could be encouraged to support
a local children’s charity as a way of marking the birth,” the Embassy
said in a statement.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proudly showed the world their baby
son, a future king, before taking him home last night. They emerged
from St Mary’s Hospital in west London with their new baby son.

Walking out with their baby to cheers from well wishers, the Duchess
said it was “a special time for any parent”.

Prince William said they were “still working on a name.”

POLICE CLAIM TRANSIT PROTESTS ARE NOT “SPONTANEOUS” AND THUS ILLEGAL

10:07, July 24, 2013

The Armenian Police have issued a statement that the recent protests
in Yerevan demanding that transit fare hikes be rescinded cannot be
considered “spontaneous” in nature and that the organizers must apply
for demonstration permits in advance of any action.

It would appear that the police are trying to curb the rights of
citizens in terms of freedom of expression and assembly by painting
the protests in such a light that will allow the police to arrest
and detain protestors “according to the law”.

As it now stands, the law allows for protests up to a maximum of 100
people, but only if they are “spontaneous” in nature and do not last
for more than six hours.

The police statement claims that the protests, now into their fifth
day, are neither.

The statement ends with a call to the protestors not to hinder police
actions designed to maintain “public order” and the “constitutional
rights” of others.

NAIRA ZOHRABYAN THINKS THAT THE REPUBLICAN COUNCILORS WILL BE WISE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION OF SPECIAL COUNCIL SESSION

July 23 2013

To the question of Aravot.am whether you are going to join the action
of “We will not pay 150 drams” organized against the fare rise with
your private or service car, the secretary of Prosperous Armenia
parliamentary faction Naira Zohrabyan responded that she does not
have a personal car, should she have, she would have participated. Mrs.

Zohrabyan said that yesterday all day her young colleagues, PAP MPs
with their private cars participated in the action and transported
those citizens who defending their rights refused to pay 150 drams.

PAP MPs will still take part in the action, today. Note that yesterday
a number of people, showmen, MPs, politicians and others joined in the
action and transported citizens on their own cars. Our interlocutor
informed that, today, the PAP and the “Heritage” factions of Yerevan
City Council will be holding a collection of signatures for a special
council session. “It will be right if the Republican councilor will
not boycott the initiative, will not try to fail the quorum, they will
join to openly and publicly discuss all issues. Finally, there is a
serious contradiction between the statements of the municipality and
the government,”said our interlocutor. Note that among the reasons
for fare increase the City Hall did not mention the increase in gas
prices, and yesterday, in response to ARF’s requests, the government
gave a different answer saying that the increase in passengers fees are
directly related to the increase in the gas price.” In other words,
there are many issues that the municipality is obliged to provide
explanations. First, why the Council was not informed about the fare
rise, why a Council session is not convened, and the decision was not
presented and why there was no consultation with the council members
and so on. In addition, many economists have also presented reasonably
estimates that the gas price increase was not justified.

YerevanCity authorities should provide a clear explanation to council
fractions about what had happened. I think that it would be wise by
the council of the Republican Party fraction not to participate in the
signature collection for convening a special council session for not
providing a quorum, but if they have nothing to hide, and truly believe
that their arguments are reasonable, they should be very interested
that the special session is convened, and clear answers are given to
all the questions,”- thinks Naira Zurabyan. Nelly Grigoryan

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

LYUDMILA SARGSYAN URGES THE CAR OWNERS TO JOIN THE ACTION

July 23 2013

“I do not have a personal car, consequently, I can not be a part of
the action in this respect, but all those who have cars, I urge to
use this opportunity and enable citizens to feel the joy of being
beneficial of unity. Also, to be able to mobilize the society, to
reach the consciousness that being united and formulating a common
agenda around a problem, we will definitely achieve success “, –
said Lyudmila Sargsyan, Member of Armenian National Congress (ANC)
parliamentary faction, leader of Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
(SDHP), in a conversation with Aravot.am, answering the question
whether she was going to join the action “We will not pay 150 drams” by
her car. Lyudmila Sargsyan will join the action organized at the City
Hall and finds that people who are in town, have no right not to join
the general complaint. She believes that in the result of the actions
of a few days, people’s discontent will be expressed more and the will
of the society will be imposed to the authorities and the tariff of the
transportation will be revised. To remind that since Saturday, starting
from the fare increase in Yerevan, various actions are organized to
protest against the transport price increase. Nelly Grigoryan

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia