Monday, New Armenian Body Tasked With Implementing Deal With EU Belgium - EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian sign the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement in Brussels, 24Nov2017. President Serzh Sarkisian set up on Monday a high-level commission tasked with ensuring Armenia's compliance with a landmark agreement signed with the European Union late last month. The commission will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielian and comprise the ministers of foreign affairs, finance, economic development and justice as well as nine other senior officials, among them an aide to Sarkisian and a deputy chief of the Armenian police. A presidential decree said that the ad hoc body will approve reforms and other measures stemming from the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and monitor their implementation. It will also "coordinate" CEPA-related cooperation of Armenian government agencies with relevant EU institutions. The commission will meet at least once in three months, according to the decree. The CEPA was signed by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, in Brussels on November 24. Mogherini said the agreement "will broaden the scope of our relations." "It will now be important to implement it in full so it can deliver its full benefits," she added at the ceremony attended by Sarkisian, Under the 350-page deal, the Armenian government is to implement political reforms aimed at democratizing the country's political system and boosting human rights protection. It must also gradually "approximate" Armenian economic laws and regulations to those of the EU. Yerevan will regularly report to Brussels on "the progress made with regard to approximation" specified by several annexes to the agreement. Toxic Leak From Armenian Mine `Investigated' . Anush Muradian Armenia - Environment Protection Minister Artsvik Minasian speaks at a news conference in Yerevan, 25Feb2017. A government agency is investigating a toxic waste spill from a copper mine in northern Armenia that reached a nearby community earlier this month, Environment Protection Minister Artsvik Minasian said on Monday. The leak occurred at a tailings dump of a privately owned company operating the old mine. It sent a stream of industrial waste flowing to some parts of the nearby small town of Akhtala, including the courtyard of a local school and an adjacent park. They were not cleaned up for at least ten days. Local residents said last week they fear that the foul-smelling substance is rich in hazardous heavy metals and therefore poses serious risks to their health. "It is abnormal when the first reaction to such situations is not very rapid," Minasian told a news conference, criticizing the company. "That is why we are now carrying out systemic changes [in environment protection.]" Minasian said a new environmental inspectorate set up by the government is now "meticulously examining" the causes of the Akhtala accident. He urged the media not to blame anyone before the end of the inquiry. Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) on December 21, a representative of the Akhtala mining firm blamed the spill on a leaky pipe. He also denied that the waste contains heavy metals. A local environmental activist claimed the opposite, however. Minasian said that the government is planning to enact new legislation that will set tougher environmental requirements for mining companies. In particular, he said, they will have to come up with more detailed plans for ensuring the safety of their tailings dumps that have long been a key source of mining-related concerns voiced by Armenian ecologists. Russian-Armenian `Crime Figure' Blacklisted By U.S. . Sisak Gabrielian Russia -- Russian-Armenian businessman Ruben Tatulian, 8Apr2014 A holder of an Armenian diplomatic passport is one of 10 Russian nationals that have been blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department for allegedly leading a major organized-crime syndicate. The department's Office of Financial Assets Control (OFAC) imposed financial sanctions on those individuals as well as two entities late last week, accusing them of involvement in "serious transnational criminal activities." It described them as leaders of the syndicate known as "Thieves-in-Law," which is also a widely used Russian term to describe powerful organized-crime figures. "Today's action generally prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or other transactions with these individuals and entities, and freezes any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction," the OFAC said in a statement. The blacklist includes Ruben Tatulian, an ethnic Armenian wealthy businessman based in the Russian city of Sochi. According to the Treasury Department, he has provided "material support" to the Thieves-in-Law. "In 2010, Tatulian was appointed as the `overseer' of the Sochi, Russia Thieves-in-Law operation run by a senior Thief-in-Law," said the OFAC statement. "In 2015, Tatulian was detained as a participant at a meeting of Thieves-in-Law in Sochi along with Zakhary Kalashov; one of at least two instances in which Tatulian was detained at a meeting of Thieves-in-Law." "In addition, on more than one occasion, Tatulian has assisted Thieves-in-Law who encountered legal problems," it added. Earlier this year, some Armenian media outlets referred to Tatulian as a crime figure nicknamed "Robson" who holds an Armenian diplomatic passport. Armenia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Tatulian has such a passport. But it declined to clarify why and how he had received it. The ministry promised on Monday that it will again comment on the issue soon. Tatulian was among three dozen Russian-Armenian entrepreneurs who issued a joint statement in January voicing support for Prime Minister Karen Karapetian. They also pledged to join an investment fund which one of them, the Moscow-based billionaire Samvel Karapetian (no relation), set up with the stated aim of financing various business projects in Armenia. A spokesman for Prime Minister Karapetian insisted on Monday that Tatulian is not a member of the fund called the Investors Club of Armenia (ICA). "Secondly, the prime minister is not obliged to know all members of the club personally," Aram Araratian told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). Asked whether the Armenian government would welcome any investments from Tatulian, Araratian said: "I repeat: as far as I know, that person is not a member of the Investors Club of Armenia." The official also downplayed Karen Karapetian's ties to the investment fund. "True, it was set up at Karen Karapetian's initiative," he said. "But it's a separate structure. It's not part of or subordinate to the government. Therefore, we have no authority to decide who can join it and who cannot." Sarkisian Chides Protesting Students . Sisak Gabrielian Armenia - President Serzh Sargsyan speaks at Yerevan State University, 25Dec2017. President Serzh Sarkisian criticized on Monday youth activists protesting against his government's decision to essentially abolish temporary exemptions from military service that have long been enjoyed by many students of state-run universities. Speaking at Yerevan State University, he indicated that the government will not scrap a corresponding bill passed by the Armenian parliament last month despite a series of protests staged by several hundred students. "No matter how much students tell us to publicly ask citizens of the Republic of Armenia to take pity on us and defend the homeland, we will not do such a thing because the homeland is not only ours, the homeland is everyone's," Sarkisian said in a clear reference to the organizers of the protests. "We have no problem with student activism," he went on. "We have no problem with listening to any proposal. But I believe that now is the time for each of us to perform their duties first and only then teach others how they should perform their duties." One of the protest leaders, Yuri Avagian, rejected the criticism. He argued in particular that he and some of the other student leaders have served in the Armenian army. Avagian also said that the government rejected all major proposals submitted by the protesters during discussions held last month. Avagian and another student activist, Davit Petrosian, went on a short hunger strike last week in a bid to renew their campaign against the bill. Avagian said on Monday that the campaign will continue. But he could not say what forms it will take. Draft-age male students having government scholarships have until now been allowed to perform the two-year military service after completing their undergraduate or graduate studies. Under the amended law, draft deferments will be granted only to those students who will agree to undergo parallel military training and serve in the Armenian army as officers for three years after graduation. Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian, the main author of the controversial bill, said during parliament debates in October that it will close a key loophole for evading military service and reduce "corruption risks" among military and university officials. The protesting students, backed by the opposition Yelk alliance, say the new rules will prevent many students from becoming scientists or scholars. Press Review (Saturday, November 23) A U.S. political analyst, Paul Goble, tells "168 Zham" that the West is interested in expanding its relations with Armenia even though it regards the latter as a Russian "satellite." "Armenia can use that to its advantage," he is quoted as saying. "Armenia signed a deal with the European Union, demonstrating that it is trying to balance its foreign policy, which is a positive message to the West." At the same time, Goble points out that the new U.S. national security strategy adopted by President Donald Trump regards Russia and Iran, countries with which Armenia has close ties, as threats to the United States. "It means that the U.S. will be pursuing a special policy towards these two countries, which will affect Armenia's economic ties with Russia and Iran," adds Goble. "But these risks can be minimized with right policies." "Zhoghovurd" criticizes government plans to ban imports of right-hand drive vehicles to Armenia, which have triggered protests by some owners of such cars. The paper claims that such a measure would contradict Armenian constitutional norms regarding property rights. It says that the Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communications failed to examine these norms before announcing its controversial plans. It also notes that Transport Minister Vahan Martirosian denied such plans until recently. "People spend too much time trying to convince each other of something, to find `killer' arguments and to prove themselves right in disputes," writes "Aravot." "That is a totally meaningless exercise." The paper draws parallels with online bitter exchanges between Armenians and Azerbaijanis involving insults. "Isn't it better to strengthen your own state, economy and army instead of wasting time on such debates?" it says. "The same logic is applicable to internal debates." (Anush Mkrtchian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org