Author: nina hovnanian

TBILISI HELPS DEFEND YEREVAN FROM MOSCOW

The prime minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili has stated recently
that Georgia has made its choice to join NATO and the EU, and this is
the choice of the Georgian people which no leader can change. Recently
Georgia has hosted NATO Secretary General Rasmussen.

The statements of the Georgian prime minister are interesting from
the point of view of developments relating to Armenia. Recently it
has been clear that the moment of truth is approaching, and Yerevan
must make up its mind on the choice between signing an Association
Agreement with the EU or joining the Customs Union. The Russian
pressure is intensifying both externally and internally.

In this situation Bidzina Ivanishvili sees an excellent chance to
build its relations with the West. The point is that recently the
Western policy is evidence to a tendency and moods of change of the
key partner in the Caucasus. After Saakashvili Georgia was the key
partner of the West in the South Caucasus but in the following years
Washington and Brussels realized that the partner does not have the
full potential that would allow shifting partnership to a strategic
level. The South Ossetian war indicated that the level of partnership
between Georgia and the West was not strategic, so answerer 1 was
Georgia and its president. Saakashvili was unable or unwilling to
assume a serious political role. He preferred financial benefits from
the anti-Armenian moods of Turkey and Azerbaijan. Saakashvili chose
money, leaving the heavy load of politics on Armenia.

It was crisp and clear to the West that due to the prospect of
resolving strategic issues with Georgia the region could be startled
by Turkey and Azerbaijan. Washington and Brussels understood that
only Armenia could be a strategic partner judging by the priorities
and challenges of the two Armenian states.

Mildly speaking, it is hard to tell that the current Armenian
government has achieved this understanding. There may be an intuitive
understanding which is not sufficient to treat the state interests
appropriately. However, not the government of Armenia but Armenia is
the current partner of the West. The West is loyal to the Armenian
government because the West has not been able to find an appropriate
partner that would be able to tackle challenges with conceptual
approaches.

Nevertheless, it is clear that the West now makes a bid on Armenia.

However, questions occur because the Armenian government is guided by
its personal interests, not a comprehensive strategic understanding
of the national interest. Therefore, the West has doubts that official
Yerevan may step back as the Russians have launched an offensive.

Bidzina Ivanishvili understands how favorable this moment is to make
the West believe in Georgia. At the same time, Tbilisi will blackmail
Moscow to make it more lenient in the process of normalization of
relations unless the Kremlin wants to be left out of the game for
Georgia.

Nevertheless, Ivanishvili may be helpful to Armenia by distracting
Moscow. Moscow thinks it already has Georgia in its pocket and has
deployed all its resources for a campaign against Armenia.

Ivanishvili’s steps will make Moscow stop and look back.

Georgia is as important to the Kremlin as Armenia from the point of
view of regional tendencies. In Armenia Russia will become an island
even if it succeeds preventing Yerevan from further integration with
the EU. In other words, Armenia may become a Russian outpost.

Meanwhile, in the 21st century keeping its influence on an outpost
is the same as keeping a fly in the lion’s cage.

Hakob Badalyan 17:44 27/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ARMENIA EQUIPPED WITH SUPERIOR ARMS THAN AZERBAIJAN: ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN

15:45, 27 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS: The military equipment purchased by the
Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia is qualitatively superior to
that of Azerbaijan. This was stated by the Secretary of the National
Security Council of the Republic of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan at
the meeting with the journalists held on June 27. Arthur Baghdasaryan
added that the ammunition of the rival has some concern elements in
it, but the issue is in the center of attention.

The Secretary of the National Security Council of the Republic of
Armenia stated that the Armenian-Russian military cooperation and the
arms supply continues unobstructed and the recruitment of new weapons
and techniques of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia will
be carried out in the future as well.

The Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha noted that the steps made in the direction
of the formation of the Armenia’s national security system by the
Armenian authorities and the efforts of the CSTO administration prove
that the current system enables to speak about quite a high level of
the Armenia’s security.

The Republic of Armenia is one of the most active members of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization. The bilateral relations
of Armenia and the Organization are on a high level and continue
developing

n-azerbaijan-arthur-baghdasaryan.html

ARMENIA’S EX-OMBUDSMAN CRITICAL OF VAHE AVETYAN MURDER TRIAL

16:08 ~U 28.06.13

With respect to the Vahe Avetyan murder trial, Armenia’s ex-Ombudsman
Larisa Alaverdyan has the impression that the facts are being concealed
the way Azerbaijan is concealing the facts of the Armenian massacre
in Sumgait.

“Besides a grave crime, a heavy social, moral and legal blow is
being delivered,” Alaverdyan said at a press conference on the first
anniversary of the military surgeon Vahe Avetyan’s murder.

Gurgen Chukaszyan, a member of the Preparliament Secretariat and of
the Vahe Avetyan action group, stated that a public justice tribunal
will henceforth launch its activities.

“To prevent the current judicial system’s further activities aimed
to incite society to move toward disastrous gibbet law,” he said.

The tribunal will register crimes committed by government officials or
representatives of Armenia’s ruling circles and make their political
and legal assessments.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan awarding Ruben Hairapetyan, owner of
the Harsnaqar restaurant (where Vahe Avetyan was mercilessly beaten up
to die in hospital later) was nothing but mocking at Armenia’s society.

In this context he recalled the deadly incident in Goris, which
involved Syunik Governor Surik Khachatryan. Like in the Vahe Avetyan
murder case, the investigatory body is trying to anticipate the
investigation results. Chukaszyan pointed out that the day after the
incident Military Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan stated that the Syunik
government was not present.

ARMY ELIMINATES JABHAT AL-NUSRA TERRORISTS IN SEVERAL AREAS, SOME NON-SYRIANS

Jun 28, 2013

Cities, (SANA)- Units of the armed forces destroyed Jabhat al-Nusra
terrorists gatherings and hideouts with all the weapons and ammunition
inside them , killing all the terrorists inside them in several areas
in Daraa and its countryside.

A military source told SANA that a number of terrorists were killed in
al-Hammadin neighborhood near the national hospital and al-Ssad road,
among them two snipers and heavy machineguns were destroyed.

The source added that two Jordanian terrorists, Anwar Jaber al-Salman
and Dawoud Ahmad Dawoud were among the dead.

Terrorists Anas Abdul-Haq, Mohammad Ahmad al-Masalmeh, Fayez al-Ashmar,
Mohammad Omran Shlash, Malek Mansour al-Masalmeh, Salami Marzouk
Bajhish and Abdullah Ahmad Bayzid were also identified among the dead.

A unit of the armed forces inflicted heavy losses upon the armed
terrorist groups, killing and injuring their members in the villages
and towns of al-Shabraq, Saisoun and Tafas, and destroying their
weapons, the source said.

Meanwhile, units of the armed forces destroyed Jabhat al-Nusra
terrorists’ gathering in the villages of Katf al-Rumman and
al-Ferinlouq reserve, killing and injuring a big number of terrorists
including non-Syrians.

Terrorists Abdul-Qader al-Shishani, Maher al-Sheikh Ali and
Abdul-Rahman al-Hajji were identified among them, a military source
told SANA.

The source added that Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists’ gatherings were
also destroyed in al-Rabiaa and al-Shourok villages as a mortar and
heavy machinegun were also destroyed.

A number of terrorists, some of them are non-Syrians, were also killed,
among them, the Chechen terrorist Omar al-Dakhel, Saudi terrorist
Osman al-Zamili, and Abdul-Rahim al-Bahraini, Ahmad al-Abdullah and
Mohammad Abdul-Rahman.

Army units restore security and stability to al-Qaryatin city in
Homs countryside

Units of the armed forces restored security and stability to
al-Qaryatin city in the eastern countryside of Homs, after destroying
the last terrorists’ gatherings in it.

An official source told SANA reporter that the army units discovered
a number of tunnels which were used by terrorists for hiding and
mobility, in addition finding several vehicles which were used by
terrorists to attack the city and the citizens.

The source pointed out that the army units dismantled several explosive
devices planted by terrorists inside the citizens’ houses.

Terrorists’ dens and gatherings destroyed in Homs countryside

Units of the Armed forces targeted terrorists’ dens and gatherings
in several areas in Homs countryside, killing and injuring scores of
terrorists, in addition to destroying their equipment.

A military source told SANA reporter that the army units destroyed
a terrorists’ den and explosive devices and rockets factory to the
south of al-Rastan castle, in addition to cutting the supply road of
terrorists between Talbisa and al-Ghanto towns.

The source added that another army unit targeted terrorists’ gatherings
in Taldo, Kfer Kalla and Talas in al-Houla area, inflicting heavy
losses upon them.

Army units tighten control over Bus Station in Harasta

A unit of the armed forces clashed with members of an armed terrorist
group who were positioned inside the Bus Station in Harasta district
in Damascus Countryside, inflicting heavy losses upon them.

An official source told SANA that an army unit killed all terrorists
inside the Bus Station and tightened control over it.

Terrorists killed in Damascus Countryside

Units of the armed forces continued hunting the armed terrorist groups
in several villages and towns in Damascus Countryside, killing and
injuring a number of terrorists.

An official source told SANA that the army units carried out
successful operations in Zamalka and Erbein which resulted in the
killing of several terrorists, including Mohammad al-Yabroudi and
Mohammad Karnaba, while another army unit killed and injured several
terrorists at al-Saraya Park in Douma city.

The source added that another army unit killed all members of an armed
terrorist group in Ein Tarma, while another army unit destroyed a
terrorists’ warehouse full of weapons and ammunition in al-Shaifounia
farms in Douma city and killed the terrorists inside it, including
Mohamd Eyoun and Bassel al-Nabki.

The source pointed out that other army units pursued terrorists in the
farms surrounding al-Baharia and Deir Salman and destroyed a mortar
and a heavy machinegun, in addition to killing a number of terrorists.

In the mountains overlooking Halboun town, the army operations
are still ongoing and resulted in killing and injuring a number of
terrorists, including Abu Khatab al-jazawi.

Army units eliminate terrorists in Idleb countryside

Units of the armed forces killed a number of terrorists, including
non-Syrians in several villages and towns in Idleb countryside,
destroying their weapons and equipment.

A military source told SANA that the army units killed a number of
terrorists in Saraqib, including 4 Iraqis and destroyed a terrorists’
den in Binish along with the weapons and ammunition inside it.

The source added that other army units destroyed terrorists’
gatherings in al-Za’ynia, Dama, al-Taybat, al-Allia, al-Bashiria,
Bsanqul, Maartmsarin, Saqraja, Maart al-Nouman and Kfer Noboul.

The source pointed out that the army units inflicted heavy losses
upon terrorists in Kfer Shlaia and in the area surrounding the Central
Prison in Idelb, in addition to destroying 4 heavy machineguns.

An official source added that other army units killed and injured
scores of terrorists, including non-Syrians, in addition to destroying
their weapons and equipment.

Army units inflict heavy losses upon terrorists in Aleppo and its
countryside

Units of the armed forces carried out a series of special operations
against terrorists’ dens and gatherings and destroyed their weapons
and equipment in Aleppo and its countryside.

An official source told SANA that the army units killed a number of
terrorists in the area surrounding Minnigeh Airport and destroyed
terrorists’ weapons and ammunition on Tinib-Tatamrash road.

The source added that an army unit killed several terrorists in the
area surrounding the Central Prison.

The source pointed out that another army unit destroyed a locomotive
loaded with weapons and ammunition and killed all terrorists inside
it near al-Mansour Gas Station.

Other army units carried out special operations against terrorists
and destroyed their gatherings near Azaz hospital and the Post Office
in Abtin village.

In Aleppo city, an army unit killed scores of terrorists to the east
of the scientific research building and at al-Haydaria roundabout,
while another army unit destroyed terrorists’ dens in Karm al-Maysar
and al-Sakhour areas.

Army units eliminate terrorists in Daraa and its countryside

Units of the armed forces continued hunting armed terrorist groups in
Daraa al-Balad, al-Saad and al-Mokhaim neighborhoods and al-Naymma,
Nasib and Saida towns in Daraa.

An official source told SANA that the army units carried out operations
against terrorists’ dens and gatherings, killing and injuring several
terrorists.

Atallah al-Masalima, Mohammad Shlash and Badia’a Abdurrahman al-Awad
al-Mahamid were identified among the dead terrorists.

The source pointed out that the clashes took place when the armed
terrorist groups attacked a number of border checkpoints to the
south of Daraa near al-Ramtha city, adding that the attack resulted
in the killing and injury of several terrorists, including Kinan
Zaid al-Mahamid

B. Mousa / F. Allafi

APPEAL COURT HEARS SUIT FILED BY OSTINVESTOR
Kristine Aghalaryan

Today’s Court of Appeals session involving the suit filed by
Ostinvestor against Gagik Tsarukyan’s Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka
Factory (YABWV) had to be rescheduled for July 12 due to a scheduling
conflict.

The court managed to ask Ostinvestor attorney Davit Danielyan a few
questions pertaining to the case which dates back several years.

Ostinvestor argues that it was swindled out of its shares in YABWV
through a 2008 stock consolidation.

The company had spent 184 euros per share and thus wound up paying
279,680 euros for its original 1,520 shares.

On March 27 of this year, a lower court in Yerevan ordered YABWV to
pay Ostinvestor, 14.8 million AMD ($36,662) in compensation.

Following this decision, Ostinvestor CEO Stefan Laxhuber told Hetq,
“~SWe are very disappointed and are currently discussing the verdict.”

THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF ILLINOIS HOSTS EVENT FOR CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL GRIMM

12:42, 28 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian National Committee of
Illinois hosted a community reception for Congressman Michael Grimm,
Republican Co-Chairman of the Congressional Armenian Caucus. The
event was attended by members from the broad cross-section of the
Chicago ArmenianAmerican community, reports Armenpress citing the
ANC of Illinois.

ANC of Illinois Chairman Claude Ohanesian hosted the event, which was
an opportunity for the local community to get to know the new Co-Chair,
now in his second term. When Grimm first ran for Congress, he defeated,
with the assistance of the ANC of NY, one of the strongest friends
of Turkey in the U.S. House of Representatives, Michael McMahon.

At the reception, Rep. Grimm spoke about issues important to the
Armenian American community, including a truthful and just resolution
of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s return of Church properties
stolen during and after the Genocide, the economic well being of
Armenia, including increasing trade between the US andArmenia, and
self-determination for the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

“I look forward to continuing my service as the Co-Chairman of the
Armenian Congressional Caucus and to the opportunity of being appointed
to the House Foreign Affairs Committee if a vacancy occurs.

If considered, I would then be in an even better position to advance
Armenian issues, which includes working with Committee Chair Rep. Ed
Royce (R-CA-39) on House Resolution 227,” Rep. Grimm shared with
the crowd.

Rep. Grimm is an original co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Truth
and Justice Act (H.Res.227), and he has proven himself as a vocal
and effective advocate of Armenian issues.

“Congressman Grimm has a proven track record of success among Armenian
Americans. He is a defender of justice and works hard to make our
community’s views and values a priority for the United States. We
look forward to continued collaboration with him as he pursues new
and increasingly influential roles in Congress,” said ANCA Chairman
Ken Hachikian.

MP IN YEREVAN SAYS GEORGIAN ARMENIANS WANT ‘DIARCHY’ TO END, STILL EXPECT IVANISHVILI TO DELIVER

NEWS | 28.06.13 | 09:31

Photolure

Tachat Vardapetyan
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

Georgian Armenians expect Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili to show
‘more realistic’ approaches to solving their problems, said a senior
member of the Union of Georgian Armenians based in Yerevan.

MP Tachat Vardapetyan, the co-chairman of the Union, says clarity in
Georgian politics will be introduced after the presidential election
due in October as the atmosphere of diarchy does not suit Georgia’s
interests.

Ivanishvili’s party won in last year’s parliamentary elections beating
President Mikheil Saakashvili’s ruling party. Ivanishvili then was
appointed prime minister, who holds more power than the president
under Georgia’s reformed constitution.

“The Ivanishvili government still has work to do, and if his political
party is also successful in the presidential elections, changes that
he has promised must be more significant,” says Vardapetyan, who
believes that regardless of who is in power in Georgia Armenia needs
to have warm relations with this neighboring country, while Georgian
authorities need to create favorable conditions for ethnic Armenians.

According to Vardapetyan, it is crucial for Armenia to have good
relations with Georgia, since Georgia is the only Christian country
bordering Armenia and is it only gateway to the world.

According to official figures, nearly 250,000 Armenians live in
Georgia today, but unofficial estimates put their number at 460,000.

While the share of Armenians in the total population of Georgia has
been shown as decreasing – from 8 percent in 1989 to 5.7 percent in
the early 2000s, the problems of the Armenian community do not seem to
become fewer despite promises from successive Georgian governments.

Vardapetyan says that the Ivanishvili party enticed Javakhk Armenians
and Armenians in the rest of Georgia with its pre-election promises.

Vardapetyan says he does not want to jump to conclusions as to whom
Georgian Armenians and, in particular, Armenians in the predominantly
Armenian-populated Javakhk province of Georgia, will support in the
October ballot, but says that the Ivanishvili government has a high
rating today.

“Under Saakashvili’s rule they saw both positive and negative changes,
but as far as cultural, linguistic and religious issues are concerned,
Armenians in Javakhk are likely to pin their hopes on the newly
elected government and the promises that have been voiced and
reaffirmed by Ivanishvili during his visit to Yerevan back in
January,” says Vardapetyan, adding that among Ivanishvili’s promises
is also the one on the opening of a railway connecting Armenia and
Javakhk, which will bring Armenia out of the blockade.

Addressing Javakhk emigration problems, Vardapetyan says emigration
was high particularly during the first years of Georgia’s
independence, while recently Javakhk has seen a period of revival as
“some of Javakhk’s prominent sons have been making investments in
their homeland, trying to rebuild it.”

“Investment and charitable programs are being implemented in Javakhk,
new productions are being set up, Armenian churches are being restored
at a fast pace, which is very important for Javakhk,” says
Vardapetyan.

ANCA WELCOMES BROAD BACKING FOR JAMGOCHIAN MARYLAND CAMPAIGN

June 25, 2013

BETHESDA, Md.-On June 17, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair
Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) joined an enthusiastic crowd of more than a
hundred Maryland community leaders and activists in a strong show of
support for House of Delegates candidate Hrant Jamgochian’s fundraising
kick-off, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Greater Washington.

jamgochian group ANCA Welcomes Broad Backing for Jamgochian
Maryland Campaign Hrant Jamgochian and Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Frank Pallone were joined by a growing and diverse group of
Armenian-American and local area voters at the campaign’s fundraising
kick-off hosted by Nancy Greenspan.

The reception, graciously hosted by Nancy Greenspan at her Bethesda
home, was an opportunity for area voters and supporters, including
a diverse cross-section of the local Armenian-American community,
to stand with Jamgochian’s campaign and support his positions on a
broad range of local and state-wide issues, ranging from healthcare
and education to the environment and economy.

“We’re pleased to see Hrant in the lead as the front-runner in this
race, and proud to support his campaign every step to victory,”
said ANCA Greater Washington Chairwoman Sevan Kolejian. “We look
forward to helping Hrant spread his message to Maryland voters and to
playing our part in electing Maryland’s first-ever Armenian American
to state-level office.”

In remarks voicing his support for the campaign, Pallone cited his
own long and productive working relationship with him on healthcare
issues, saying that Jamgochian “is an extraordinarily respected and
strong voice on patients’ rights and works tirelessly in the non-profit
sector to advance healthcare rights to the most vulnerable members of
our society. As the Ranking Member in the House Energy and Commerce
Health Subcommittee, I can tell you that Hrant has got it right when it
comes to good democratic values and a true commitment when it comes to
access affordability and quality of care for all Maryland residents.”

“This election is about values, and communicating those values to
our neighbors,” Jamgochian explained. “We believe in protecting the
most vulnerable members of society, in fostering an affordable and
accessible educational system, and in an economy where people pay
their fair share and we are able to find jobs in the fields we have
spent years preparing for.”

On hand to lend their assistance to the Jamgochian campaign were
three of this year’s ANCA Leo Sarkisian summer interns: Manoug
Alemian, Taleen Lachinian, and Tamar Purut. “Hrant’s enthusiasm and
commitment to community outreach and empowerment was inspirational,”
said Lachinian, who had met Jamgochian and his wife, Lenna, the day
before at the Soorp Khatch Armenian Church Father’s Day Picnic. “We
need more Armenian Americans in elected office, and it’s encouraging
to see dedicated professionals like Hrant devoting their lives to
public service.”

To learn more or to support the Hrant Jamgochian for Maryland State
Delegate campaign, visit

SAFRASTIAN: TURKISH PREMIER MAY STRAIN RELATIONS WITH SYRIA

Thursday,June 27

The protests in Turkey can be described as massive riots against the
government, with various strata of society, mainly youths, being
involved in those protests, Director of the Institute of Oriental
Studies of Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences, Turkologist Ruben
Safrastian told the correspondent of Aysor.am.

In his opinion, it is too early to draw conclusions about the internal
situation in Turkey. “We can expect the formation of a new political
force,” Safrastian said.

Commenting on the situation in Turkey, he stressed one important
circumstance that has attracted scant notice.

“Prior to the protests, maps of a new Turkey, so to speak, appeared
in the Turkish press. The northern areas of Syria were indicated as
part of Turkey on those maps. In other words, these issues are under
discussion in Turkey,” the expert on Turkey noted.

According to him, one should not be surprised if Turkey starts
implementing a tougher policy, in particular, regarding Syria. “It is
very likely that Prime Minister Erdogan will soon strain relations
with Syria in order to distract people’s attention from Turkey’s
domestic problems,” Safrastian said.

As regards the relations between the Turkish president and the
prime minister and the disagreements between them, the expert noted:
“Yes, Abdullah Gul has adopted a softer stance and there is also a
difference in their approaches. The reason here is personal. Erdogan
is a charismatic person and has no intention of obeying anyone,
including the Turkish president”.

Let us remind you that streets protests began in a number of
Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, and Izmir in late
May. The protests started as a sit-in at Istanbul’s Taksim Gezi Park
against the park’s demolition, but rapidly grew into anti-government
demonstrations. The police use violence against protesters. 5 people
have been killed in clashes, over 5,000 were injured.

RUSSIAN AIR BASE IN ARMENIA TO BE MODERNIZED

June 27, 2013 | 13:56

YEREVAN. – In the case of a need to defend the territorial integrity
and sovereignty of the CSTO member states, the collective air force
will contribute to the actions of the national armies.

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General
Nikolay Bordyuzha noted the aforesaid during a press conference in
Armenia’s capital city Yerevan on Thursday.

He added that all existing components will unite, and the special
operation and the collective aviation forces will complement them.

“They comprise separate subdivisions of the national armed forces.

First, they are called to ensure the transfer of the subdivisions.

Second, to provide military assistance,” the CSTO chief stressed.

In his turn, Armenia’s National Security Council Secretary Arthur
Baghdasaryan stated that they are also discussing the matter of
modernizing the Russian air base in Gyumri city.

“The air defense system, the102nd [Russian military] base [in the
city], [and] Russia’s border troops will be modernized and reequipped,”
Baghdasaryan noted.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am