Category: 2018

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
Edmond Marukyan: "Lusavor Hayastan"`s main goal is to build a European
state model in Armenia
Yerevan February 17
Ani Mshetsyan. The main goal of the "Lusavor Hayastan" party is to
build a European model of the state in Armenia. This was stated by the
chairman of the party, the deputy of the Parliament of Armenia from
the block "Elk" Edmond Marukyan on February 17 at the 2nd congress of
the "Lusavor Hayastan" party.
Edmond Marukyan said that taking into account the main problems facing
the Republic of Armenia, the party once again confirms that the main
guarantor of Armenia's long-term security and overall development is
the construction of a European model state. In this regard, he
presented a document that should be adopted at the congress. "At this
congress, we must adopt a document called the Manifesto of the Rule of
Law, which is essentially the continuation of the program adopted by
our party on December 12, 2015. The main thing for us is to establish
the rule of law for building democracy," he stressed.
Marukyan also talked about the achievements of the party in recent
years. The MP noted that over the past 2 years the party has come a
long way and registered a number of major victories, including the
formation of the Elk faction, the participation of party
representatives in the elections to the Armenian parliament, the
Council of Elders of Yerevan, as well as local self-government bodies.
Speaking about the "Elk" faction, the MP noted that the way of the
bloc's representatives was thorny and difficult. "Our main goal is to
create a strong Armenia and ensure the freedom of citizens, we remain
committed to our principles and will do everything possible to ensure
that the "Elk" Alliance is able to withstand all the challenges that
have come our way, as our motto:" Through the thorns to the stars ",
the politician noted.
Marukyan also noted that a big role in the life of the party is played
by cooperation with European structures on the pan-European and
international arena. Today the party closely cooperates with the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), and seeks to
become a member of this organization. He also stressed cooperation
with other international funds.
The politician also turned to the domestic political situation in
Armenia. Marukyan noted that after the constitutional amendments the
system of distribution of power in Armenia has not changed. "The
winners get everything, and the loser - nothing. The authorities are
mainly engaged in imitating processes and do not commit any steps
aimed at the development of our state," said the deputy.
According to Edmond Marukyan, in fact, the republic passes from the
presidential system of government to the form of government of the
prime minister. "The constant reproduction of the power of the same
person and the complete absence of confrontation is a serious problem
for the establishment of democracy in our country, which becomes the
greatest threat to statehood," he stressed and announced that
representatives of the Elk faction demanded the implementation of all
Constitutional orders. In conclusion, Marukyan said that
representatives of the "Lusavor Hayastan" party consider themselves an
integral part of the global liberal family and will do everything
possible to build liberalism in Armenia.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
Armenian president schools Azeri delegate on history at Munich
Security Conference
MUNICH, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict can be
settled only in case of the Azerbaijani leadership refusing from its
unrealistic expectations, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in
response to a question from an Azeri delegate at the Munich Security
Conference.
The Azeri delegate was even interrupted by the panel discussion’s
moderator, because the lengthy question started to resemble more of a
political statement.
“Let me ask you a rhetoric question – if the leader of your country is
making territorial claims towards Yerevan this year, when in October
we will mark the 2800th anniversary of the city’s foundation, how can
the NK conflict be resolved? You want to live free, you want to live
in Karabakh, I reassure you that the people of Nagorno Karabakh also
want to live free, and they want to live on their historic
territories, where their legacy has a history of thousands of years.
They don’t want you destroying this legacy”, the President said.
The President noted that everybody is aware of the reasons why certain
territories surrounding NK are under the control of Artsakh’s defense
forces. In addition, the people of NK expressed their desire to live
independently through a referendum during the collapse of the Soviet
Union, while the then-authorities of Azerbaijan attempted to obstruct
the legitimate and lawful desire of the people of NK through force.
The President also mentioned that during that time the EU displayed a
very positive attitude and accepted the self-determination right of
NK.
“I hate war, but we had to provide a security zone in order to protect
ourselves. We are ready for a peaceful settlement of the conflict if
the Azerbaijani leadership displays reasoning and sits at the
negotiations table. This issue can be solved through mutual
understanding and mutual understanding only”, the President said.
The Armenian President stressed the 2800 year old history of Yerevan,
the Armenian capital. “The Armenian people are living on their
historic land for at least 5000 years, the Azerbaijanis and other
peoples who God knows when started identifying themselves cannot break
the will of the Armenian people”, the President said.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
Sargsyan cites Turkey's lack of political will as chief impediment for
establishing relations
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenia does not resort to the
language of preconditions, but equally, Armenia shall never accept
preconditions put forth by anyone, President Serzh Sargsyan said in
remarks delivered at the Munich Security Conference during a panel
discussion titled In or Out? The Countries In Between Russia and
Europe.
The President said that during the Cold War Armenia was on the border
of one of the two rival blocks. “Thirty years have passed since the
fall of the Berlin wall, but Turkey still continues to keep the border
with Armenia closed. It seems that the clock stopped ticking there.
I am convinced that Armenia has taken all the possible measures in
order to overcome that impasse. I initiated a process of normalization
of the relations between Armenia and Turkey, which could have created
new opportunities for both of our nations and the region at large.
Nevertheless, the Protocols that Armenia and Turkey had signed back in
2009 remained on the paper. Turkey not only failed to ratify these
documents, but also came up with preconditions that had no connection
whatsoever with the Protocols. It was nothing but a failure to take
advantage of the historic opportunity.
Is Azerbaijan preventing Turkey from establishing relations with
Armenia, as many are trying to convince us? No, it is not the case.
The chief impediment is the lack of political will on the part of the
Turkish leadership. I believe you may be aware that many
representatives of the Armenian diaspora were not too happy about that
decision of ours. It was natural, as they were successors of survivors
of the Genocide and of homeland dispossession. I travelled around the
globe back then, met with our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora,
community after community, and discussed with them this very sensitive
issue.
Have the Turkish leaders displayed such political will? Have they been
faithful to the commitments they had signed up to?
We cannot wait eternally for Turkey's response. The Protocols were
negotiated under the existing circumstances. If Turkey desires to
await other circumstances and only then to ratify the Protocols, then
it is profoundly mistaken. Under potential new circumstances, a new
document is to be negotiated. Armenia does not resort to the language
of preconditions, but equally, Armenia shall never accept
preconditions put forth by anyone”, the Armenian President said.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
Munich Security Conference - Armenia's foreign policy praised by Russia, EU
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s experience of cooperation
with the EU and membership to the EEU has been praised during the
Munich Security Conference.
Armenia’s experience was hailed both by Russian and EU representatives.
During a panel discussion attended by Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, Konstantin Kosachev Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the Federation Council of Russia emphasized that Armenia’s
membership to the Eurasian Economic Union and signing of a new
agreement with the European Union is an excellent example on how
problems can be solved.
“This is a very good experience. Generally this is the first similar
experience”, Kosachev said.
He stressed that they are proud of Armenia, a country which was able
to record progress without creating problems for itself in terms of
cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union.
Kosachev emphasized that the Eurasian Economic Union is a new
structure, which is developing and creating wide opportunities for
member states, and emphasized that he would be happy to see a better
cooperation between the EEU and the EU.
Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement
Negotiations of the European Union said that Armenia’s experience is a
good example – directions of cooperation must be agreed upon, if the
country has a cooperation agreement with another international
structure.
“Therefore not everything is possible. We must take into consideration
agreements with other partners as well. Therefore the agreement
between Armenia and the European Union differs from the free and
comprehensive trade agreement by its content. This all must be
analyzed. It took us 2 years to specify the directions where we can
cooperate”, Hahn said. The EU official also mentioned that they want
to cooperate with the EEU.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
Sargsyan blasts Aliyev's latest statement as 'delirium' at Munich
Security Conference
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan’s position regarding the
Nagorno Karabakh issue is a flagrant violation of the Helsinki spirit.
It is particularly evident in the recently-launched election campaign
in Azerbaijan, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in remarks at
the Munich Security Conference during the In or Out – The Countries in
Between Russia and Europe Panel Discussion. The President noted how
his Azeri counterpart recently went as far as uttering territorial
claims for Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, calling it a historically
Azerbaijani territory.
“[It’s]nothing but delirium - which can have serious consequences if
Europe turns a blind eye to it.
The Nagorno Karabakh issue must be resolved as soon as possible, and
by peaceful means. This mission of ours is led by the Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group, namely the Russian Federation, France, and the
United States of America.
The three principles of international law – non-use of force or threat
to use force, peoples’ equality and right to self-determination, and
territorial integrity – have been proposed by them as the cornerstones
of the peace process. The European Union in turn has reiterated on
numerous occasions that it supports the efforts and proposals of the
Co-Chairs. The efforts to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh issue can serve
as an example of how Russia, the EU, and the US can positively
coordinate their positions for the benefit of international peace and
security. We desire to see more frequent manifestations of such common
positions. It is especially important, since conflicts in all corners
of the world are increasing and expanding. We are concerned by the
sweeping changes taking place in the Middle East and elsewhere, which
are accompanied by never-ending wars. We are concerned by the state
failure and disintegration of a number of countries. We need to think
of cooperative, comprehensive, and indivisible security, so as to
effectively respond to those challenges. This is the only possible and
realistic way to overcome the current crises,” the President said.