Author: nina hovnanian

WHO IN RUSSIA WANTS A SCANDAL WITH ARMENIA?

Armenia expects to build up its relations with NATO and the European
Union, as well as maintain its current relations with Russia and CSTO.

In addition, no political group in Armenia is trying to inflate this
issue and accompany this policy with anti-Russian attacks unlike
Georgia over the past twenty years.

A lot has changed in the Eurasian Union, and confrontation of new
partners with Russia is considered an absolutely meaningless and
undesirable component of the integration process.

Armenia is trying to demonstrate smooth and developing relations with
Russia as a factor of rapprochement with the Western community.

Nevertheless, Russia continues the campaign of criticizing the policy
of Armenia, and all kinds of activists of propaganda and political
commentaries are involved in this.

Obviously, a scandal is plotted which will trigger break-up of Russia
and Armenia, in other words, Armenia will be squeezed out of economic
and strategic relations which were set up for two decades. Who wants
a scandal and break-up?

One can assume that a significant part of the establishment
is generating failures in Vladimir Putin’s foreign and internal
policies as factors for his removal from government. Those who say
that establishment betrayed Putin are right but the issue is whether
the Russian establishment has ever been loyal to Putin and recognized
him as a leader.

The well-known organizations which provided the base support to
Vladimir Putin have underwent transformation over the past two decades
or rather decay. “Armenia” is a convenient topic for a significant
intrigue with a view to “reform” of the Russian government, notably
the president administration, ministry of foreign affairs and ministry
of defense.

Loyal Armenia’s escape from Russia’s orbit is a key indicator of
failure of Russia’s foreign policy. Everything is logical though
ugly were there not such an intrigue as the well-known coupling of
the Russian establishment with the Western community. “The Russian
elite are not only trying to be pro-European but also pro-American”,
as well as leading Russia under Western influence. This modernized
traditional malice may pose the main risk for Armenia.

However, there are more specific objectives apart from this goal,
first of all those relating to the military industry which takes stake
in supply of weapons to Azerbaijan which has been curtailed recently.

Besides, the Russian energy companies think that due to the policy of
Russia they lost their access to oil and gas sector in Azerbaijan. One
should not forget about hopes for more supplies of weapon to Turkey.

On top of all, the Russian intellectuals who are kept in the blackbody
by the Russian government have made up their mind to make money on
lobbying the interests of Azerbaijan and Turkey at a significant scale.

(By the way, the participants of information pressure on Armenia are
calling to intensify Armenian lobby in Moscow, apparently with the
purpose of making profit from two sources.)

The Armenian political forces are not quite willing to participate
in this game. They apparently understand that this intrigue is none
of their business. This situation demonstrates the lack of readiness
of the Armenian elite to meet this kind of politics in the foreign
environment. The Yerevan-based rally politics is not the best “school”
for political education. It is self-deception.

Igor Muradyan 19:46 06/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ARMENIA TO HAVE THREE LARGE AIR CARRIERS

June 06, 2013 | 14:59

YEREVAN. – Armenia will gradually liberalize its air space and
simultaneously contribute to the domestic airline companies’
establishment in the aviation market.

The Government of Armenia on Thursday adopted the concept for the
liberalization of the country’s air transport sector.

The government does not intend to sponsor domestic airline companies,
and exceptional conditions will not be created for them. But
since these companies are not yet established in the market,
it is too early to speak about switching to an open skies policy,
the Government-Affiliated General Department of Civil Aviation Head
Artyom Movsisyan told news reporters.

It is planned to hold a contest in three directions and give three
domestic airline companies the opportunity to conduct flights abroad.

The first direction includes CIS cities, and the second and third
directions will be toward Europe and the Middle East, respectively. In
addition, all three airline companies will be given the opportunity
to conduct flights to Moscow.

The respective licenses will be issued for a five-year term.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

GAGIK MINASYAN: ARMENIA IS ALREADY IN CUSTOMS UNION WITH NKR

16:58 06/06/2013 ” TOPIC OF THE DAY

Armenia is already in customs union with another state – NKR, Gagik
Minasyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and
Budgetary Affairs of the Armenian National Assembly, told reporters
today when commenting on Armenia’s possible membership to the Customs
Union.

“Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which are members of the Customs
Union, have close ties with Armenia, particularly within CSTO. Russia
is an allied country to Armenia, and membership to the Customs Union
is interesting in this respect. It has both negative and positive
sides. There are several problems in it. Armenia is already in
so-called customs union with another state – NKR. We have no customs
border with NKR, our economy is more than integrated, we have the
same currency, and in view of all this, we should ask ourselves
whether we are ready to have customs border with NKR. Of course we
are not ready for it. It is only possible if NKR is also invited to
join the Customs Union. It is not realistic to become a full member
of the Customs Union until this issue can be solved,” Minasyan said.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIA’S NATIONAL SQUAD IS 89TH

June 6, 2013

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced
Thursday its new world ranking for the national teams.

In line with the current standings, Armenia’s squad moved up one
place from the previous ranking and is now ranked 89th.

But there are no changes in the top three. The reigning world and
European champions, Spain, continue to top the ranking; they are
followed by Germany and Argentina, respectively.

Armenia’s 2014 World Cup qualifier group opponents, the Czech Republic,
climbed to 24th, Italy remained eighth, Denmark likewise stayed at
20th, Bulgaria moved up to 46th, and Malta climbed to 156th spots.

NEWS.am Sport

WORLD-FAMOUS OPERA SINGER MONTSERRAT CABALLE VISITS OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES

Trend, Azerbaijan
June 5 2013

The “president” of the unrecognized “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”
Bako Sahakyan received world-famous opera singer Montserrat Caballe,
Armenia Today reported.

Caballe’s concert will take place at the National Academic Theater
of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan on June 9.

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.

ECHECS : ARONIAN CONSERVE SA DEUXIEME PLACE DANS LE CLASSEMENT DE LA FIDE

Levon Aronian grand maître armenien a conserve son statut de deuxième
meilleur joueur du monde dans le dernier classement publie par la FIDE.

La liste des meilleurs joueurs devoilee le 1er juin montre Aronian
ayant une cote de 2812, derrière le premier Grand maître Magnus Carlsen
avec 51 points d’avance. Le russe Vladimir Kramnik est le seul autre
joueur a avoir un courant nominal au-dessus de 2800, faisant de lui
le troisième joueur le plus fort du monde a l’heure actuelle.

Le dernier classement du Top 100 des joueurs de la FIDE ()
comprent egalement les grands maîtres armeniens Sergei Movsesian
(position 48 ; note 2699), Vladimir Akopian (position 55 ; note 2691)
et Gabriel Sargissian (position 72 ; note 2671).

La liste du Top 100 des joueuses de la FIDE comprend deux grands
maîtres armeniens : Elina Danielian (position 28 : classement 2475)
et Lilit Lazarian (position 31, note 2466).

jeudi 6 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

SERGE SARKISSIAN EVOQUE LE FUTUR DECLIN DE L’AZERBAIDJAN

” L’Azerbaïdjan ne sera plus une puissance economique dans les
prochaines annees en raison de la diminution des revenus du petrole et
un enorme gaspillage de l’argent public “, a declare le president Serge
Sarkissian mercredi.” L’image de la region changera totalement d’ici
trois ou quatre ans, et nous devons etre prets a cela “, a-t-il dit
lors de l’ouverture d’une session ordinaire du Conseil de la securite
nationale de l’Armenie. ” Les experts anticipent deja le fiasco
inevitable azerbaïdjanais dans les deux ou trois prochaines annees. ”

La production de petrole en Azerbaïdjan, l’epine dorsale de l’economie
nationale, est en voie de diminuer pour la troisième annee consecutive,
après une decennie d’expansion qui a fait gagner des dizaines de
milliards de dollars au pays. Une partie de cet argent a ete depensee
pour un renforcement des capacites militaires.

Sarkissian a affirme que le regime du president Ilham Aliyev
devra egalement de plus en plus faire face a des manifestations
anti-gouvernementales dans les prochaines annees, malgre
l’emprisonnement de ses adversaires politiques. ” Les jeunes
azerbaïdjanais avaient peur mais ils sont en train de discuter…Et
demain est très proche. ”

Le leader armenien a indique que ses commentaires sont une reponse
aux declarations d’Aliyev au sujet de l’ ecart de richesse entre
l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan.

Aliyev a declare a plusieurs reprises que son pays finira par forcer
les Armeniens a faire des concessions serieuses parce qu’il possède
l’une des economies les plus importante du monde.

Sarkissian a affirme que l’economie armenienne a augmente beaucoup
plus vite que l’Azerbaïdjan en 2012 et poursuivra son expansion dans
les annees a venir.

jeudi 6 juin 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

ERDOGAN AND HIS ARMENIAN PROBLEM

Hurriyet, Turkey
June 6 2013

GERARD J. LIBARIDIAN

When the AKP and Erdogan came to power in Turkey in 2002, there
were reasons to think that they would correct the state policies
for dealing with history, particularly regarding the treatment of
Armenians by the Ottoman government during the First World War.

Since their political philosophy is derived mainly from religious
concepts rather than secular statism and nationalism, Erdogan and
the AKP could have denounced those policies outright. In fact they
could have pointed out that it was extreme statist and nationalist
ideology, rather than Islam, that was responsible. He could have saved
that dimension of Ottoman legacy that was tolerant by rejecting the
extremist policies of the wartime Committee of Union and Progress
(CUP) government as inimical to Islamic values; and if CUP policies
can best be characterized as genocide, so be it.

When Erdogan came to power, he was much more open in his treatment
of the Armenian issue; he wanted to leave history to historians. This
was an opening, since the Turkish state had always dictated historical
narratives down to every schoolbook.

The two protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia in October 2009 that
aimed at the normalization of relations between the two countries
had an indirect but clear reference to a joint study of the genocide
issue. It appeared that Erdogan, with support from Gul, wished to
move forward.

Even more significantly, in 2011, Erdogan apologized for the massacre
of civilian Kurdish subjects in 1938 and 1939 in Dersim/Tunceli. The
idea and gesture of an apology itself are more important than the
details. No Turkish leader had ever apologized for an atrocious policy
or crime that the Ottoman or Turkish state had ever committed against
its own subjects. Additionally, Erdogan or Davutoglu have used the
term genocide for situations that are far less sinister than what
happened to Armenians in 1915.

Hence, instead of denying genocide, Erdogan could have opted for
another method: The genocide of the Armenian people was committed
by the CUP in power. And in committing that crime, the CUP was not
acting as a Muslim government but rather as primarily a power-hungry
clique that had taken over the government illegally in the name of a
particular vision and used religion only to help make their policies
work and “seem” sanctioned by the dominant religion, Islam. This is
a perfectly legitimate political argument as well as a historically
valid one.

Prime Minister Erdogan could have made that argument and resolved an
extremely thorny issue; he would have gained international respect
both from governments and from civil societies in a large number
of countries it relates to. But that is not what has happened, not
yet anyway.

By declaring that Muslims, by definition, could not commit genocide –
as was the case regarding Sudan and Darfur – Erdogan might have thought
he was saving Islam. In fact, by exempting authors of genocide who
happen to be Muslims from that charge, Erdogan is making critical
discussion, and historical analysis, irrelevant; and in doing so,
he is creating more problems for the religion he is trying to save.

However, this is not first time that blinders have covered the eyes
of a Turkish leader – no matter how liberal or reformist. The Armenian
issue is, indeed, the blind spot of Turkish leaders’ vision.

When CUP came to power in 1908, it had two options. The first was
dealing with the social and economic issues raised by Armenians. The
second option was to see the Armenian Question as a foreign plot,
therefore, subject to justifiable repression. The Young Turks started
with the first and ended up opting for the second. The result was
what happened in 1915.

When Erdogan came to power, he too had options: he could have seen the
Armenian issue as a matter integral to Ottoman and Turkish history,
a revision of which history being necessary to better pursue the
democratization of the country; or, to continue the state policies
on this issue as if it is a foreign-inspired conspiracy fueled by
imperialists’ designs to break up Turkey.

Erdogan gave signals opting for the first; the question is, has he,
too, ended up with the second option?

* Gerard J. Libaridian is a historian who served as senior advisor
to the first president of independent Armenia, between 1991 and 1997.

This article is an abbreviated version of the original article
published in Turkish Policy Quarterly (TPQ).

June/06/2013

INTRODUCING LIVERPOOL TARGET, HENRIKH MKHITARYAN

Football Magazine, UK
June 5 2013

Author: Marcus Banks

Brendan Rodgers has identified Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Henrikh
Mkhitaryan as his number one target. The Northen Irishman has scouted
his target for months in a similar way he scouted Brazilian midfielder
Phillipe Coutinho. He is willing to spend around £20 million to land
his man.

But who is the Armenian international that could be gracing the
grasses of Anfield soon?

NAME: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
AGE: 24
CLUB: Shakhtar Donetsk
NATIONALITY: Armenia
POSITION: Playmaker

It is believed the Reds will move for the midfielder disregarding
whether Luis Suarez departs the club or not. Also, they are not
deterred by the £22 million price tag.

Mkhitaryan was courted by some of Europe’s top clubs such as Chelsea
and Barcelona and the Anfield club have firmly registered their
interest after the 24 year old netted 25 goals in the Ukrainian league
despite playing as a midfielder.

Fenway Sports Group are also behind Rodgers in his pursuit of the
Armenian as they look to bolster their attacking options for next
season with Luis Suarez potentially exiting the club and with Daniel
Sturridge likely to miss the opening of the season with a ligament
injury.

With Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva behind him, Mkhitaryan will be
given the freedom to excel in Liverpool’s midfield. Alongside
Coutinho, he can provide the creative core for Liverpool’s attackers
to perform. The Merseyside club are expected to complete the signing
of Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas in the coming days. Liverpool are
confident that they can wrap up a deal despite not playing European
football next campaign.

FIVE FACTS ABOUT HENRIKH MKHITARYAN

1) He was one of the highest scoring midfielders in Europe last
season, bagging 25 goals and ten assists from all performances in the
Ukrainian league.

2) Mkhitaryan has 36 caps for Armenia at international level with ten
goals. He’s also represented his country at Under-17, Under-19 and
Under-21 level.

3) He has won Armenia’s Player of the Year award back-to-back over
2011 and 2012. He also won the award in 2009.

4) His record of team honours is quite prolific for a player of such a
young age. In total he’s won 14 trophies with senior clubs Pyunik
Yerevan and Shakhtar Donetsk.

5) He is well connected in the world of professional football, as his
mother works for the Armenian Football Federation and his sister works
at UEFA

Liverpool’s owners are not afraid to spend big on top players, as long
as they can maintain a sustainable business model for the future.

Mkhitaryan could be the first big signing of a summer in which
Liverpool must strengthen.

HOW A DIFFICULT BEGINNING HAS MADE HENRIKH MKHITARYAN INTO ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP TALENTS

Mirror, UK
June 5 2013

The Armenia and Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder could be off to Anfield
this summer, so why not learn more about him?

At the end of the 2011/12 season Henrik Mkhitaryan told the Ukrainian
press that they had just witnessed his best season as a professional
footballer. Shakhtar Donetsk had once again seen off the perpetually
insufficient challenge of Dynamo Kyiv and the Armenian international
had caressed, dinked and brushed his way to fourteen goals.

A year later Mkhitaryan ended the 2012/13 season with thirty goals
in all competitions, a league and cup double, and the longing glances
of much of Europe’s footballing elite. Not forgetting those caresses,
dinks and brushes.

Now, aged twenty-four, and in position as one of Europe’s brightest
talents, the midfielder is surrounded by a barrage of conflicting
reports, each with their own sprinkling of Mkhitaryan ‘quotes’
to support.

What does seem clear, despite jostling with PR-driven ‘will he,
won’t he’ that most of us got over post Cole-Gallas, is that the
time is ripe for a move, both in terms of career progression and his
exquisite ability.

A midfielder he may be, with the player himself recently asserting
that he’s ‘not a forward’, the three-time Armenian player of the year
most definitely has a large quantity of the proverbial ‘it’.

Stealthily shadowing the main striker in Shakhtar’s fluid 4-2-3-1/4-3-3
formation the midfielder fuses a combination of excellent vision,
a speedy nip around the surface and the oh so Lampard-like ability
to appear, poised, in-and-around the penalty area as the ball
drops. Differences with Lampard abound, though, with Mkhitaryan able
to slot into the false nine position so adored by today’s Borussia
Dortmund-loving hipsters.

This footballing talent has, as his history suggests, followed a
steadily linear progression from excelling as a seventeen year-old
at FC Pyunik in Armenia.

Progress, it seems, has been a byword for Mkhitaryan’s career.

A debut season in 2006, an establishment in the Pyunik first team
in 2007 and the double prize of top scorer and Armenian player of
the year in 2009. The narrative, though, doesn’t end there, with a
move to Ukraine and Metalurg Donetsk in 2009, being named the club’s
youngest ever captain in 2010 and then, shortly into the 2010/11
season, moving across Donetsk to Shakhtar for [email protected] million.

The development at Shakhtar followed the now characteristic path,
culminating in this season and goals (26) in 83.9% of his league games
(31).

That rather linear path, seemingly destined to end with a move to
Western Europe this summer, hits one jagged spot with the pleasant
tale of four months spent training with Sao Paulo in Brazil in 2003.

The beach-based trip encompassed the second time that Mkhitaryan had
spent significant time away from Armenia, moving to France a year
after his birth as his father, also a footballer, signed for French
lower-tier side Valence.

The steady and progressive footballing strides taken by Mkhitaryan
are offered in stark contrast to the debilitating blow dealt by the
death of his father, aged thirty-three, due to a brain tumour in 1996,
resulting in a move back to Yerevan.

The twenty-four year-old, multi-lingual and multi-talented, evidences
the maturity of a man well experienced and travelled, both in life and
in football. Whichever team benefits from his next travels, Liverpool
or otherwise, will have captured a player with the potential to sit
at football’s very top table.

Mkhitaryan, though, always one for progression and yearly development
refuses to be drawn on his dream move, intimating that as a child he
wasn’t too fond of Barcelona or Bayern Munich as “with age, tastes
change. And there are no reasons to name just one thing that brings
you joy”.

For more on why Mkhitaryan is closer than ever to Shakhtar , watch
our Football Spy video