NA President’s Message To "Holy Cross 2012" Festival Participants

NA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE TO “HOLY CROSS 2012” FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS

ARMENPRESS
16 July, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, July 16, ARMENPRESS: The National Assembly President of the
Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan sent a message to the “Holy Cross
2012” Armenian Art Festival participants; the Armenian NA Public and
Media Relations Department informed “Armenpress”.

The message particularly reads: “Dear compatriots, I welcome the “Holy
Cross 2012” Armenian Art Festival. It is important that the festival
is being held for the third time and is a nice tradition to not only
unite the Crimea, but also the whole Ukraine Armenians. I praise the
purpose of the festival: the restoration of spiritual values among the
Armenian youth, as well as the campaign of our national traditions
and rituals. During the festival creative, friendly and business
relations are formed between our compatriots and festival foreign
participants. I wish success, creative achievements and festival
goals realization to the organizers and participants of the festival.

The pilgrimage-festival is held with the sponsorship of the Armenian
diocese in Ukraine and the Crimean spiritual leader.

Hollande Rejects French Historian’s Call To Abandon Armenia Genocide

HOLLANDE REJECTS FRENCH HISTORIAN’S CALL TO ABANDON ARMENIA GENOCIDE BILL

news.am
July 14, 2012 | 23:12

President of France Francois Hollande had a dinner with French
historians at Elysee Palace on July 6.

One of the issues discussed during the event with the participation of
prominent historians Colette Beaune, Michelle Perrot, Michel Winock,
Benjamin Stora, Jean-Francois Sirinelli, Jean-Noël Jeanneney, Pascal
Ory and Pierre Nora was the Armenian Genocide bill, Nouvelles d`Armenie
writes referring to L’Express magazine.

The magazine said historian Pierre Nora, known as supporter of genocide
denial, “tried to dissuade the President but in vain. Three days later
the President said he had not given up the idea of criminalizing the
denial of the Armenian Genocide.”

7 Armenians Are Among New List Of Russian Flood Fatalities

7 ARMENIANS ARE AMONG NEW LIST OF RUSSIAN FLOOD FATALITIES

news.am
July 16, 2012 | 13:38

The Russian authorities have publicized the new list of those
persons who lost their lives as a result of the flood that ravaged
the Krasnodar Krai’s (federal subject) Krymsk city.

And this list includes these seven Armenians:

Susanna Buyuklyan, Zaven Davtyan (born in 1968), Tevos Davtyan,
Iulitta Kapustyan, Tatiana Medolyan, Hovhannes Shahbazyan, and Lydia
Shahbazyan.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the July 7 floods inundated
close to 5,000 homes in the Krai’s three cities-Gelendzhik, Krymsk,
and Novorossiysk-and several villages. And according to latest data,
a total of 171 persons died-159 in the Crimean Oblast (Region), 2 in
Novorossiysk, and 10 in Gelendzhik. And close to 24,000 people were
affected by the floods.

Pap Returned Congress’ Debt

PAP RETURNED CONGRESS’ DEBT
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:00:39 – 16/07/2012

By failing the motion to call an extraordinary meeting of parliament
on the case of Harsnakar Prosperous Armenia returned its debt to the
Congress owing since the parliamentary elections.

The Armenian National Congress, announcing about the initiative and
knowing very well that the PAP would not join it, sent the latter
into a tough situation. The PAP’s excuse is that its MPs were abroad
to make the situation even worse for the party.

But at the same time, the Prosperous Armenia claimed responsible for
the failure of the motion that was so unpleasant for Ruben Hayrapetyan
and the ruling party, releasing the Congress of accountability.

So the PAP returned the responsibility which the Congress had claimed
for the PAP in the parliamentary elections by covering up vote buying
by the PAP, referring to the lack of facts.

With or without facts, almost everyone knows what happened. But the
Congress kept ignoring the “needle” of the PAP, even needles that
were as big as tractors.

Now the PAP thanks the Congress and returns the debt by claiming
responsibility.

But the Congress and the PAP are not equal yet since the Congress
still accounts for the PAP apparently for the sake of the tradition.

The point is that the Congress does not dare say the PAP is responsible
for what happened because it is evident that the PAP thwarted the
motion for an extraordinary meeting of parliament.

But apparently the Congress didn’t care for the session. Frequent
rumors and assessments make it clear that the Congress has nothing
to tell the oligarchs but they have something to tell the Congress.

The best option for the society would be if everyone said what they
know about everyone. The more dirt floats, the easier will be to
clean it up.

The more and faster the political field of Armenia stuck in deals
is revealed, the more the Armenian society will rid of stereotypes
and myths and wrong perceptions, illusions related to the current
political class which may bring into being a new political class
based on civil values not in words but in thinking and psychology.

http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments26858.html

World Best Woman Chess-Players To Gather In Jermuk

WORLD BEST WOMAN CHESS-PLAYERS TO GATHER IN JERMUK

ARMENPRESS
16 July, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, July 16, ARMENPRESS: World best woman chess-players will
participate in Women’s Chess Grand Prix 5th round tournament on July
17, Jermuk, the Chess Federation of Armenia informed “Armenpress”.

Chinese Hou Yifane, Tszyuy Ventszyaye, Juan Lufey, Chzhao Syueye,
Indian Humpy Koneru, Ukranian Kateryna Lahno, Georgian Nino Khurtsidze,
Russians Nadezhda Kosintseva and Yevgenia Kovalevskaya, Mongholian
Mongholtul will participate in the tournament.

The Grandmasters Elina Danielyan and Lilit Lazarian represent
Armenia in this tournament. Lazarian will replace Russian Alexandra
Kostenyuk, who is unable to participate in the tournament because of
health problems.

Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious tournaments held under the
auspice of the International Chess Federation.

70 Ans Apres : Commemoration De La Rafle Du Vel’ D’Hiv’

70 ANS APRES : COMMEMORATION DE LA RAFLE DU VEL’ D’HIV’

Publie le : 16-07-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a prendre connaissance du programme des commemorations marquant
le 70e anniversaire de la Rafle du Vel’d’Hiv publie sur le site de
la Fondation pour la Memoire de la Shoah.

Legende photo: les autocars stationnes en face du Vel’d’Hiv a Paris

Fondation pour la Memoire de la Shoah

Commemorations

Dim. 22 juillet 2012 – Dans le cadre de la “Journee nationale a la
memoire des victimes des crimes racistes et antisemites de l’Etat
francais et d’hommage aux Justes de France”, une ceremonie se tiendra
dimanche 22 juillet 2012 au monument commemoratif de la rafle du Vel’
d’hiv’ a Paris. Elle marquera le 70ème anniversaire de ce qui fut
la plus grande rafle de Juifs organisee sur le territoire francais
durant la guerre. D’autres commemorations sont egalement organisees
partout en France.

*********************************

La rafle du Vel’ d’hiv’

Les 16 et 17 juillet 1942, 1129 hommes, 2916 femmes et 4115 enfants
ont ete arretes par la police francaise et enfermes dans l’enceinte
sportive du Velodrome d’hiver.

Simultanement 1989 hommes et 3003 femmes, couples sans enfants et
celibataires, etaient arretes et enfermes dans le camp de Drancy.

Dans les camps de Beaune-la-Rolande et Pithiviers, les enfants en
bas-âge – environ 3000 – ont ete brutalement separes de leurs parents
qui furent deportes les premiers. Les enfants furent transferes a
Drancy et deportes entre le 17 et 31 août 1942.

La quasi-totalite des 13 152 rafles furent deportes.

*********************************

Ceremonie officielle

– Dimanche 22 juillet 2012, 9h30

En presence du President de la Republique

Monument commemoratif de la rafle du Vel’d’Hiv Place des martyrs juifs
du Vel’ d’Hiv’, Quai de Grenelle, 75015 Paris Metro Bir Hakeim (L.6)

*********************************

Ceremonie des Fils et Filles des Deportes Juifs de France

– Lundi 16 juillet 2012, 18h

Devant la plaque commemorative situee a l’emplacement de l’ancien Vel’
d’Hiv’ 10, boulevard de Grenelle, 75015 Paris Metro Bir Hakeim (L 6)

*********************************

Ceremonie aux Milles

– Dimanche 22 juillet 2012, 9h30

Wagon-Souvenir des Milles, Chemin des Deportes Sur le site de l’ancien
camp d’internement 13547 Les Milles – Aix-en-Provence

*********************************

Ceremonie a la Maison d’Izieu

– Dimanche 22 juillet 2012, 16h

Maison d’Izieu 70 route de Lambraz, 01300 Izieu

*********************************

Ceremonie a Orleans

– Dimanche 22 juillet 2012, 10h

Place de la Republique

Le Cercil sera ouvert a l’issue de la ceremonie jusqu’a 12h puis de
14h a 18h. A 15h, une visite speciale sera commentee par Mme Helène
Mouchard-Zay, Presidente du Cercil.

Cercil – Musee-memorial des enfants du Vel d’Hiv’ 45, rue du
Bourdon-Blanc, 45000 Orleans

*********************************

Ceremonie a Gurs

– Dimanche 22 juillet 2012, 17h30

Memorial du camp de Gurs Impasse d’Ossau, 64190 Gurs

*********************************

Ceremonie a Bordeaux

– Lundi 16 juillet 2012, 12h

Memorial de la Deportation Fort du Hâ, 33000 Bordeaux

Des ceremonies marquent cette journee nationale de commemoration
dans tous les departements francais. Les autorites officielles y sont
representees et les associations de memoire invitees.

*********************************

Exposition a la Mairie du 3e arrondissement de Paris

Le 3e arrondissement pendant l’Occupation Archives de la Prefecture
de Police de Paris – Jusqu’au samedi 15 septembre 2012 Mairie du 3e
arr. – 2, rue Eugène Spuller, 75003 Paris Plus d’information

*********************************

Manifestations dans le 11e arrondissement de Paris

Exposition – Les Juifs de France pendant la Shoah Realisee par le
Memorial de la Shoah – Jusqu’au vendredi 20 juillet 2012 Mairie du
11e arr. – 12, place Leon Blum 75011 Paris Plus d’information

*********************************

– Lundi 16 juillet 2012

19h30 – Ceremonie devant les plaques commemoratives des rafles.

Gymnase Japy.

20h45 – Projection du film La Rafle de Rose Bosch – Entree libre

***************************

A lire sur ce sujet

– Chassez les papillons noirs, le recit de Sarah Lichtsztejn-Montard
paru dans la Collection Temoignages de la Shoah (FMS / Le Manuscrit).

Sarah Lichtsztejn-Montard raconte dans ce livre comment, avec
sa mère, elle s’est evadee du Vel’ d’Hiv’ au premier soir de la
rafle, le 16 juillet 1942, comment une denonciation les precipita
en mai 1944 au coeur de la tourmente nazie : a Drancy, dans l’enfer
d’Auschwitz-Birkenau puis au camp de Bergen-Belsen où elles seront
liberees le 15 avril 1945.

– Annette Muller, la petite fille du Vel d’Hiv, temoignage publie
par le Cercil en 2009 (Preface de Serge Klarsfeld).

Internee a Beaune-la-Rolande après la rafle de juillet 1942, Annette
Muller connaît le sort terrible des milliers d’enfants juifs internes
dans les camps du Loiret. Elle echappera a la deportation grâce a son
père. Illustre de documents d’archives, cet ouvrage est accompagne
de contributions historiques.

– Discours de Jacques Chirac prononce en 1995 lors de la ceremonie
commemorant la rafle des 16 et 17 juillet 1942.

Allocution au cours de laquelle le President de la Republique a reconnu
officiellement la responsabilite de la France dans la deportation
des Juifs.

– Brochure ecrite par Adam Rayski et editee par la Mairie de Paris
a l’occasion du 60ème anniversaire de la rafle du Vel’ d’Hiv’. (pdf,
43 p.)

– Dossier sur la rafle du Vel’ d’Hiv’ ecrit par l’historien Michel
Laffitte et publie sur le site de l’Encyclopedie en ligne des violences
de masse. (pdf, 11 p.)

Lire aussi:

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Fondation pour la Memoire de la Shoah

http://www.collectifvan.org/article.php?r=0&id=65612
http://fr.ejpress.org/article/45575
www.collectifvan.org

Communique De L’organisation " Aravni "

COMMUNIQUE DE L’ORGANISATION ” ARAVNI ”
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
lundi 16 juillet 2012

Ainsi que nous en temoignons depuis plusieurs mois, l’organisation ”
Aravni ” connaît des hauts et des bas, mais en prenant soin de garder
la direction de ses objectifs. C’est ainsi que ces deux derniers
mois ont vu la fin du fonctionnement du centre de Shoushi tel qu’il
fonctionnait. Ceci en raison d’une grogne très forte de certains
voisins incommodes par la forte affluence dont nous temoignions
precedemment. Le centre existe toujours mais nous en avons reduit
l’accès aux seules personnes deja membres, donateurs ou benevoles de
l’association. L’idee de salle informatique ouverte pour tous n’existe
plus, peut-etre que nous aurons la possibilite dans les mois a venir
de retablir un tel accès dans un local mieux approprie. Cela dependra
de nos finances… Independamment de tout cela, nous avons realise
la renovation d’une salle de l’appartement occupe pour pouvoir y
organiser des reunions. En compensation du travail effectue, nous
avons fourni les materiaux de construction manquant a notre macon
pour qu’il puisse lui-meme aussi renover une pièce de son appartement.

Parallèlement, nous avons publie un livret intitule ” Projet Artsakh
“, demarre la preparation d’un site internet sur Monte Melkonian
et lance un nouveau site () qui presentera a terme le
contenu fusionne et très largement augmente des trois sites que nous
gerions jusqu’a present. C’est ainsi que le centre qui se voulait
culturel est devenu d’information et de documentation sur l’Artsakh.

D’ores et deja, existe en trois langues (armenien,
anglais et francais) sur la base de six sections (” Artsakh “, ” Aravni
“, ” Tourisme “, ” Humanitaire “, ” Investissements ” et ” Installation
“) où seront presentes des dossiers complets par thème et qu’il ne nous
reste plus qu’a mettre en ligne au cours des prochaines semaines…

En parallèle, a Erevan, l’organisation ” Aravni ” commence a se
structurer etape par etape. Le groupe existe, ne manque plus qu’un
leader motive par la coordination des travaux. Nous acceptons les
candidatures spontanees…

Realisations et evènements

Mai : Renovation et ameublement d’une salle de reunion pour 10-15
personnes.

Mai : Fourniture des materiaux de construction manquant a notre macon
pour qu’il se -renove une pièce de son appartement en quasi-ruine.

Mai : Publication du ” Projet Artsakh ” :
?l=fr&p=artsakh&a=projet_artsakh.htm Juin : Mise en ligne du site
internet Juin : Après le site sur Artour Mkrtchian mis
en ligne 2010, lancement de la preparation d’un site internet dedie
a Monte Melkonian qui sera publie l’annee prochaine. Première etape
en cours : rassemblement des archives.

Juin : Traduction puis mise en ligne sur notre compte youtube de
l’interview traduit d’une habitante du village de Dzaghkaberd (region
de Kashatagh).

Projets

Fonds de garantie ” Norashen ” : Notre organisation garantie son
financement a long terme grâce a ce fonds que nous avons ouvert en
decembre dernier avec $2500. Merci de participer a l’augmentation de
son capital.

Site internet sur Monte Melkonian : La preparation de ce site dans
des conditions ideales necessite la prise en charge de frais de
transport (pour recuperer des archives eparpillees), de saisie de
centaines d’articles, le rafraîchissement de centaines de photos, la
digitalisation d’au moins une dizaine de livres, etc. Vos contributions
volontaires et financières sont bien sûr les bienvenues.

Merci pour vos participations sachant qu’en tous les cas, nous
realiserons ce projet avec les moyens dont nous disposons. Mais ce
serait mieux avec un peu plus…

Representation de l’organisation ” Aravni ” a l’etranger : Plus
que l’organisation, ce qui nous importe le plus, c’est de mettre en
place des structures de representations permanentes de la societe
civile d’Artsakh a l’etranger avec un triple objectif : representer
les interets de la population et des ONG d’Artsakh, mise en ~uvre et
conduite de partenariats culturels a long terme et enfin developpement
des echanges economiques. Les personnes motivees a differents niveaux
par un tel engagement sont invitees a prendre contact avec nous.

Armen Rakedjian, President de l’organisation “Aravni”

Pour des precisions et plus de details, n’hesitez pas a visiter nos
sites internet et a nous contacter : Sites internet : ,
facebook et youtube

cliquer sur le document pour agrandir

www.aravni.net
www.aravni.net
www.aravni.net/index.php
www.aravni.net
www.aravni.net

Liberation De La Politologue Busra Ersanli

LIBéRATION DE LA POLITOLOGUE BUSRA ERSANLI
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
lundi 16 juillet 2012

Le 13 juillet, le tribunal de Silivri a ordonné la libération de
Busra Ersanli, politologue a l’université stambouliote de Marmara,
et de 15 autres prévenus, Kemal karagöz, Kazım Å~^eker, BuÅ~_ra
Beste Onder, CanÅ~_ah Celik, Erdogan Baysan, Medeni Demirkapu, Zekiye
Ayık, Cuneyt Ozil, Birgul Arvas, Suna Varsak, İbrahim Ethem Yıldız,
Mehmet Sııdk Kumek, Ugur TaÅ~_demir, Nizamettin Ozmen et Mustafa
İpek, dans l’attente du verdict de ce procès.

Alors que l’éditeur Ragip Zarakolu avait déja été liberé en avril,
son fils Deniz Zarakolu n’a pas encore été mis en liberté.

La cour a indiqué avoir pris cette décision au vu des preuves a sa
disposition et du temps déja passé par les prévenus en détention
provisoire, selon la chaîne de télévision NTV.

Commentaires de notre correspondant a Istanbul

“C’était un procès de la Commedia dell’arte. Mais il y a eu bien
sÔr beaucoup de drames personnels et humains dans cette comédie de
justice. J’ai pu dialoguer avec une dizaine de famille avant l’annonce
de la décision. Chaque famille avait une histoire très dramatique
a cause de ces inculpations. Toutes a pleurer : Paralysie du père,
paralysie de la mère, accouchement prématuré, crise cardiaque, etc.

Comment ne pas respecter et aimer ces gens, ces Kurdes ?

Dehors a la suite de la décision des femmes se sont évanouies ;
d’autres femmes ont eu des crises de nerfs. L’après midi seul la
presse avait le droit de participer a l’audience, bien sÔr avec les
avocats et les détenus. Les familles attendaient les journalistes
avec beaucoup de tensions et d’espoirs aussi. J’ai pu donner la
bonne nouvelle a trois familles. Vous ne pouvez pas imaginez
la scène. Des dizaines d’autres m’ont entouré pour demander
la nouvelle de leurs proches. Mais je n’avais pas noté tous les
noms des personnes libérées. Le regard de ces gens étaient très
touchants ; ils voulaient seulement la liberté de leur proche qui
étaient innocents. Finalement moi aussi j’ai craqué dans un coin
j’ai pleuré quelques minutes pour évacuer.

On voit très bien que tout une peuple est en état de révolte contre
l’Etat central. Il ne s’agit pas seulement d’une guérilla au fin
fond du Kurdistan. Les gens sont déterminés, très conscients et
très politisés. La prochaine audience aura lieu en octobre prochain.

Maintenant il reste Deniz Zarakolu, Ayse Berktay, et les autres a
faire libérer la prochaine fois.”

Ersanlı a été arrêté le 1er Novembre 2011 et est restée en
détention pendant plus de 8 mois. Elle fait face a de lourdes
accusations et encours de 19 a 38 ans ans d’emprisonnement. Parmi
les charges, Busra Ersanlı est accusée d’être ” chef de file
d’une organisation terroriste armée ”, de ” propagande d’une
organisation terroriste ” et ” violation de l’article 2911 sur le
droit de réunions et manifestations ”.

” Un nombre important de ceux qui sont jugés dans ce cas sont de
la BDP (parti kurde) Nous sommes extrêmement heureux d’avoir été
libérés.

Mais nous sommes tristes de laisser nos amis restés derrière nous”,
a-t-elle déclarée a sa sortie de prison.

Balkan Opportunities Lost And Gained

BALKAN OPPORTUNITIES LOST AND GAINED
By Nikos Konstandaras

Kathimerini

July 12 2012
Greece

Last week, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev paid an official visit
to Greece. Since we sank into our crisis, very few heads of state
have come to Athens (with only the Armenian and Ukrainian presidents
visiting last year), but the Bulgarian president’s stay did not
receive much publicity. This indicates the good level of relations
between the two neighbors, who are also both members of NATO and the
European Union. But it is also evidence of how our obsession with the
crisis and its consequences does not allow us to see beyond our daily
drama to the joint potential that we could share with our neighbors.

Until recently, things were very different. Then, every contact between
Greece and Bulgaria was a notable event – without our going all the
way back to the hostilities of the Balkan Wars and WWII. For most of
the second half of last century, Greece found itself on the western
side of the Iron Curtain while Bulgaria was in the Soviet bloc. They
were in different worlds, with Greece enjoying the prosperity that
the socialist countries would wait a long time to approach.

And yet, when in March 1987 Greece and Turkey suddenly came to the
brink of war over a dispute in the Aegean, then Foreign Minister
(now President) Karolos Papoulias flew to Bulgaria for talks with
the Communist leadership. The dramatic move made a great impression
internationally, underlining that at a moment of crisis with a fellow
NATO ally, Athens trusted a member of the Soviet bloc more than its
“official” allies. Not many years earlier, our allies the Turks had
invaded Cyprus – and mighty NATO had proved incapable of dislodging
them or punishing them. By dispatching Papoulias to Sofia, Prime
Minister Andreas Papandreou wanted to stress his suspicion of Greece’s
allies and to show that Athens considered Bulgaria a better friend
than its nominal allies. He also wanted to show off the “non-aligned”
foreign policy that was his PASOK party’s flag.

For years, Greece was in the privileged position of being the only
country in the region to be both in NATO and the EU. It could improvise
in its political relations with neighbors who had in the past hosted
significant Greek populations and commerce but were now in a different
geopolitical camp. The USA and other allies put up with this because
Greece was a key member of NATO’s southeastern flank.

However, despite all the flashy moves, Greece was slow to exploit
its commercial advantages in the region.

Today, when we find ourselves in crisis and our neighbors are also
partners, the Balkans should be a priority for the development of
economic ties and for relations of true friendship.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite3_1_12/07/2012_451882

Armenia And Iran Agree To Boost Security Co-Operation

ARMENIA AND IRAN AGREE TO BOOST SECURITY CO-OPERATION
BY: Lilit Gevorgyan

Global Insight
July 12, 2012

Armenia and Iran hailed the conclusion of a security co-operation
agreement aimed at improving common border security and combating
organised crime.

Strategic and Security Ties

Armenia Police Chief Lieutenant-General Vladimir Gasparyan urged
the Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar to implement
the agreement signed on 10 July during his visit to the Armenian
capital Yerevan. The security deal spells out areas of bilateral
collaboration, including the fight against organised crime, drug
smuggling and strengthening the common border.

Mohammad-Najjar’s visit was not only about specific security issues
but to bring a message to Yerevan that Iran is interested to expand
its commercial and energy ties with its neighbour. During his meeting
with Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsesyan, the Iranian minister
emphasised “bright prospects” for Armenian-Iranian ties, adding that
“Iran considers no limit for promoting ties with Armenia”. The Islamic
Republic’s representative said that his country is ready to elevate
relations with Armenia, “the brother and friend country to the highest
level.” Armenia highlighted a positive trend in bilateral trade,
currently at USD300 million annually. Both parties aim to triple this
figure in the next two years.

Iran’s Drug Trafficking Problem

Iran has long taken the issue of drug trafficking seriously and it is
one of the few areas of major multilateral co-operation between the
Islamic Republic and its Sunni Arab neighbours. An agreement with
Qatar facilitating increased co-operation on counter-narcotics and
counter-terrorism operations was signed in Tehran on 10 April, despite
the often tense bilateral relations between the two (seeIran – Qatar:
12 April 2012:). Despite stringent penalties for drug traffickers,
frequently the death penalty, the 2011 US International Narcotics
Control Report noted that approximately 40% of Afghani opium is
transited through Iran. Moreover, 2.4% of the adult population are
classed as drug-dependent opiate users. Iran has long sought to
gain better control of its long eastern borders with Afghanistan
and Pakistan and blames its neighbours’ respective governments for
their failure to establish security within their territory. However,
this overlooks the lawlessness prevalent within much of Iran’s border
regions, not least in Sistan-Baluchestan where much of the populace is
resentful of the regime and central authority is widely flouted. For
Armenia, close relations with Iran appear to come with a cost of
increased drug trafficking that the recent agreement is expected to
help to combat.

Carefully Designed Relations

On the surface, Armenia and Iran have little in common and hence their
strong partnership could be puzzling for some observers. Armenia’s
heritage as the first Christian nation in the world has not deterred
the Islamic Republic from forging close relations with Armenia.

Neither has it been deterred by the fact that for over 22 years
Armenia has been locked in the currently frozen armed conflict with
neighbouring, predominantly Shi’a Muslim Azerbaijan, over the status
of the mainly ethnic-Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Geopolitical and historic factors have united the two neighbours, which
have learned to avoid uncomfortable issues and instead concentrate
on bilateral relations that date back to pre-Christian times. Iran’s
small but influential Armenian community, created with the efforts of
Iran’s former rulers over two centuries ago, has served as a bridge
for developing commercial relations between the two countries after
Armenia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

When it comes to its four neighbours, Armenia’s choice is limited. For
two decades now Armenia’s longest borders with Turkey in the west
and Azerbaijan in the east have been closed, as the two ethnic kin
countries have imposed a blockade on Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. As
such Iran and Georgia remain the only two countries for the landlocked
country and its economic survival, especially in the early 1990s during
the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Armenia’s economic blockade and precarious
state of Russian energy supplies via Georgia has prompted Yerevan to
start energy collaboration with Iran. A gas pipeline connecting Iran
with Armenia has been built and is currently operational. Under the
2004 contract, Armenia gets two million cubic metres of natural gas
per day from Iran.

Armenian foreign policy orientation had been changing throughout
the past two decades, marking periods of closer ties with the West
or Russia but relations with Iran have been remarkably stable and
positive. Armenia has refrained from taking a position on the issue
of the Iranian nuclear programme. Iran at the same time has equally
abstained from commenting on its northern neighbour’s contribution to
NATO military operations in Afghanistan, or the presence of Armenian
peacekeepers in Iraq. There is also a general understanding that
currently on the geopolitical issues that divide Iran and the West
if Armenia has to take a stance it would be similar to the Russian
position.

Outlook and Implications

Armenian-Iranian relations appear to have their own dynamics which
is somewhat detached from Iran’s overall problematic relations with
the West. However, these ties cannot be immune to the deterioration
in Iran’s relations with the West. Armenia is nervous about the
increasing sanctions on Iran and worst of all, of a potential military
strike against the country as it may destabilise the already volatile
region. Because Armenia has very few options in terms of its economic
partners and transport routes connected with the rest of the world, it
has thus far made a successful case for its close economic relations
with Tehran. It is unclear how Armenia can maintain these relations
and develop them if the sanctions against Iran become more stringent.

Iran is keen to develop relations with neighbouring and regional
states to demonstrate the regime’s strength and influence in the
face of stringent international sanctions. This strategy has become
increasingly pronounced in Iraq, where ties with the administration
of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki are particularly strong and Iranian
support proved vital for his construction of a coalition government in
2010 (seeIran – Iraq: 10 May 2012:). Nevertheless, US and EU sanctions
are taking a heavy toll on the Iranian economy, with the population
suffering from rampant inflation and a depreciating currency. Under
tough US sanctions, foreign institutions dealing with Iran’s central
bank will be blocked from the US financial system, and countries
importing Iranian oil will face further sanctions. Despite Iranian
rhetoric that these sanctions will not affect its oil exports,
they are likely to halve from last year’s levels, affecting state
revenues by more than USD3.4 billion per month. Moreover, increased
production in Saudi Arabia and Iraq is making up for the absence of
Iranian hydrocarbons from global energy markets, preventing a spike
in oil prices.

Aside from economic concerns, security is also a major issue for
Armenia. This refers not only to organised crime and drug trafficking
but much wider problems again linked with Iran’s stained relations
with the West. Iran’s problems with Azerbaijan have pushed Yerevan
and Tehran closer. Although both Azerbaijan and Iran are mainly
Shi’a Muslim countries there are a number of divisive issues that
have fraught bilateral relations. Firstly, Azerbaijan has become
increasingly vocal about its territorial claims on the homonymous
region in Northern Iran. Baku’s claims are populist at best and
are unlikely to succeed. Still, this unnerves Iran, which had long
questioned the adoption of the name Azerbaijan by the Soviets in the
first place. Disagreements remain over the hydrocarbon-rich Caspian
Sea maritime border demarcation. But the most worrying development
for Iran has been the close relations between Azerbaijan and Israel,
especially after Azerbaijan confirmed a USD1.6-billion arms supply
deal with Israel (seeAzerbaijan – Israel: 27 February 2012:). The
deal was followed by unconfirmed reports that Azerbaijan may provide
its airfields to Israel against potential military anti-Iranian strike.

Given a number of geopolitical and historic factors, Armenian-Iranian
relations are likely to remain strong. If Iran’s standoff with the
West worsens Armenia will probably seek damage control from potential
fallout by adopting a neural position. For increasingly isolated Iran,
politically neutral Armenian remains an attractive political partner.