Category: 2019

                                        Tuesday, 
French Ex-PM Joins Armenian Investment Fund
France -- Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, 11Jun2009
Dominique de Villepin, a former French prime minister, has been appointed to 
the governing board of a newly established Armenian government fund tasked with 
attracting foreign investment in Armenia.
The Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) said on Tuesday that the 
appointment is part of its efforts to bring together a “world-class Board of 
Directors” that will help it achieve its goals.
“The appointment of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin sets the bar very 
high,” ANIF’s executive director, Davit Papazian, said in a statement.
Papazian described Villepin as an “ally” of Armenia. He indicated that the 
appointment was recommended and facilitated by President Armen Sarkissian.
"Joining ANIF's Board of Directors begins an exciting new journey,” the 
statement quoted Villepin as saying. “Like France, Armenia has recently lived 
through a significant rejuvenation of its political landscape.”
Villepin, 65, served under France’s former President Jacques Chirac as his 
chief-of-staff, foreign minister and ultimately prime minister from 2005 and 
2007. He is famous for announcing Chirac’s refusal to join the 2003 U.S. 
invasion of Iraq in an impassioned speech at the United Nations. ANIF mentioned 
the “momentous speech” in its statement.
The Armenian government set up ANIF in May. It said the fund headed by Deputy 
Prime Minister Tigran Avinian will provide advice and assistance to foreign 
investors interested in Armenia. Economy Minister Tigran Khachatrian said it 
will likely focus on investment projects exceeding $10 million.
ANIF says on its website that it will also “co-invest alongside top global 
investors and industrial partners in large-scale projects” to be implemented in 
“crucial sectors of the Armenian economy and infrastructure.” In June, the fund 
signed a “cooperation agreement” with a similar agency operating in Russia.
Armenia Introduces Tougher Penalties For Illegal Logging
        • Susan Badalian
Armenia -- The Shikahogh forest preserve in Syunik province, September 4, 2018.
The upcoming entry into force of a bill criminalizing illegal logging in 
Armenia will put the government in a much stronger position to stop the 
country’s deforestation, Environment Protection Minister Erik Grigorian said on 
Tuesday.
Armenian law has until now envisaged only fines for the practice that has been 
widespread since the 1990s. A package of amendments to the criminal and 
administrative codes unanimously passed by the National Assembly earlier this 
month made it a crime punishable by two years in prison in cases where damage 
caused to forests exceeds 100,000 drams ($210).
Individuals illegally cutting a smaller number of trees for a second time will 
also face imprisonment. In addition, the amendments, which will take effect 
next week, will introduce criminal liability for “collective logging” not 
authorized by relevant authorities.
“This will have a substantial impact on illegal logging and we will see in the 
coming year how many people stop using wood as a source of heating,” Grigorian 
told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. He predicted that firewood will become much 
more expensive than it is now.
“The existing legal rules have left many loopholes for people to periodically 
cut trees and get away with that,” argued the minister.
Armenia -- Environment Protection Minister Erik Grigorian speaks to RFE/RL, 
Yerevan, .
Nazeli Vartanian, who runs the non-governmental organization Forests of 
Armenia, disagreed, saying that many poor residents of small towns and villages 
located near forests have not been able pay the existing fines. This has not 
prevented them from cutting trees on a regular basis, Vartanian said. She 
suggested that they will ignore or revolt against the heavier penalties.
Grigorian countered that poverty cannot be an excuse for not punishing such 
people. He also argued that much of the illegal logging in Armenia has been 
done by organized groups linked to the underworld or corrupt government and 
security officials.
In its drive to protect the country’s endangered forests, the minister went on, 
the government will not only enforce the new penalties but also deploy more 
forest guards and step up logging inspections.
Government efforts to curb logging have already met with fierce resistance in 
the northern Tavush province. Hundreds of local residents rallied and blocked a 
major highway there last week in protest against the crackdown. More than a 
dozen of them were arrested after clashing with riot police.
Following the unrest, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian ruled out any concessions 
to “the organizers of illegal logging” and pledged to end the practice “in the 
most resolute manner.”
Grigorian acknowledged that the crackdown could spark more protests in this or 
other parts of Armenia.
Armenia Offers Closer Ties To New UK Leader
U.K. -- Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks after being announced as the new 
leader of the Conservative Party in London, 
President Armen Sarkissian expressed Armenia’s readiness to forge closer ties 
with the United Kingdom in a message to its incoming new Prime Minister Boris 
Johnson sent on Tuesday.
Sarkissian was quick to congratulate Johnson on winning the leadership of the 
ruling Conservative Party.
“Armenia is interested in establishing a new kind of cooperation with the 
United Kingdom in areas of mutual interest and is prepared to take necessary 
steps in that direction,” he wrote. He said hopes the two nations will achieve 
closer “multi-sectoral partnership” through a “constructive dialogue.”
Sarkissian lived and worked in London, including as Armenian ambassador to 
Britain, for nearly three decades prior to becoming Armenia’s largely 
ceremonial head of state in April 2018. He received British citizenship in 2002 
but renounced it about a decade later.
Sarkissian also established a friendly rapport with Britain’s Prince Charles. 
The two men jointly raised funds for charity projects in Scotland and Armenia.
Johnson will formally replace Theresa May as prime minister on Wednesday. The 
former British foreign secretary made headlines in May 2018 after being tricked 
by a Russian prankster posing as Armenia’s newly elected Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian. Their 18-minute phone conversation was posted on the Internet and 
widely circulated by international media.
In that audio, Johnson described as “remarkable success” Pashinian-led mass 
protests that toppled Armenia’s previous government. “You can definitely count 
on the UK,” he told “Pashinian.” “I admire your vision and what you are trying 
to achieve.”
Press Review
“Haykakan Zhamanak” suggests that although most Armenians remain largely 
supportive of their government there has been a “certain rise in social 
tension” in Armenia exposed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s recent visits 
to the country’s regions. The paper edited by Pashinian’s wife, Anna Hakobian, 
accuses opposition media of “skillfully exaggerating” the increased public 
discontent.
“They are succeeding in doing that because there is a certain gap between the 
people’s and the authorities’ ideas about the future of the state and the 
government’s functions,” it says. “If, for instance, a businessman had promised 
people 300,000 drams [in monthly wages] but actually pays them 100,000 drams or 
if enterprises suffer because of monopolies or if investments are delayed 
because of a sloppy bureaucrat or if banks fail to provide low-interest loans 
promised by them, people may stage protests and block roads. In those cases, 
the government does need to take serious action and immediately step in. But 
what is happening now has nothing to do with that.” The paper claims that 
Armenia’s former rulers are now “using their huge funds and immense experience 
of misleading people” to stir up protests against the current government.
“Zhoghovurd” slams “representatives of the judicial branch” for putting up 
“resistance” to the Armenian authorities. The paper says that judges who 
routinely executed orders issued by Armenia’s former presidents are now 
stressing the importance of judicial independence. It singles out Hrayr 
Tovmasian, the chairman of the Constitutional Court, for criticism, saying that 
his latest public response to harsh criticism voiced by Pashinian contained 
“elements of abuse of power.” “The chairman of Armenia’s Constitutional Court 
dares to hit back at Armenia’s prime minister, spicing up his words with 
admonitions, advice and warnings,” it says.
According to Lragir.am, a parliament deputy from the opposition Bright Armenia 
Party (LHK) has rung alarm bells over huge lines of car importers formed at 
Armenia’s main border crossing with Georgia. The publication adds its voice to 
the lawmaker’s criticism of the perceived slow work of Armenian customs 
officers.It urges the customs service to deploy more staff at the Bagratashen 
checkpoint.
(Lilit Harutiunian)
 
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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