Tuesday, July 4, 2017 Sarkisian Praises Armenia's `Strong' Ties With U.S. July 4, 2017 . Emil Danielyan Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian (L) and U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills plant a tree at the U.S. Embassy compound in Yerevan, 4Jul2017. President Serzh Sarkisian praised Armenia's "strong partnership" with the United States on Tuesday when he congratulated his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on America's Independence Day. "Today we can unmistakably state that in the past quarter of a century, together we have succeeded in building a close and strong partnership between our nations anchored in mutual respect and trust," Sarkisian said in a congratulatory message to Trump. He expressed hope that the two countries will "enrich the agenda of Armenian-American relations with new mutually beneficial initiatives and projects." He again thanked the U.S. for its economic assistance provided to Armenia since the early 1990s and praised Washington's role in international efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Throughout his nine-year rule, Sarkisian has sought closer ties with the United States, including in the area of defense, while maintaining Armenia's political and military alliance with Russia. He has repeatedly stated in recent years that U.S.-Armenian relations are now closer than ever before. He expressed confidence in November that they will "continue to develop dynamically" during Trump's presidency. The Armenian leader on Tuesday also visited the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan and met U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills on the occasion. The two men planted an apricot tree in the sprawling embassy compound symbolizing the U.S. independence anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of U.S.-Armenian diplomatic ties. "We hope our relationship will grow even stronger, and we are especially keen to further deepen our trade and investment ties," Sarkisian's press office quoted Mills as saying. Armenia - Prime Minister Karen Karapetian speaks at an Independence Day reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, 30Jun2017. On Friday, the U.S. mission hosted an annual Independence Day reception attended by hundreds of Armenian dignitaries, including Prime Minister Karen Karapetian and several members of his cabinet. In a speech delivered at the event, Karapetian described Yerevan's relationship with Washington as "very good, businesslike, honest and sincere." "I am very happy with it and ready to continue it," he said. Karapetian also said he hopes the two governments will work together to attract more U.S. investments in the Armenian economy. Mills spoke in February of "considerable progress" in bilateral commercial ties, pointing to multimillion-dollar U.S. investments in Armenia's energy and mining sectors. Those include a $250 million acquisition of Armenia's largest hydroelectric complex. Another private company headquartered in the U.S. state of Colorado began building last year a gold mine that will significantly increase Armenian exports of gold. Mills said last month that the South Caucasus state can attract billions of dollars in investments from U.S. energy companies if it liberalizes its energy sector. According to Armenian government data, Armenia's trade with the U.S. rose by over 32 percent to $60 million in the first five months of this year. The figure is equivalent to around 3 percent of Armenia's overall foreign trade in that period. Armenian Government To Tap Vital Lake For Emergency Irrigation July 4, 2017 . Astghik Bedevian Armenia - Lake Sevan. Ignoring serious concerns voiced by environmentalists, the Armenian parliament allowed the government on Tuesday to significantly increase this year the amount of water from Lake Sevan used for irrigation. The vast mountainous lake, which is vital for Armenia's entire ecosystem, is a key source of irrigation water supplied to the fruit-growing Ararat Valley west and south of Yerevan through the Hrazdan river flowing out of it. It also fuels the country's second most important hydroelectric complex built along the river in Soviet times. An Armenian law allows the government to use no more than 170 million cubic meters of Sevan's water annually for irrigation and power generation purposes. The government asked the National Assembly to raise that cap by 100 million cubic meters for the current irrigation season, citing decreased rainfall in 2017. Presenting a relevant bill to lawmakers, the head of the State Committee on Water Resources, Arsen Harutiunian, said that around 130,000 farmers are now risking serious water shortages that could have devastating consequences for their crops. Armenia's leading environment protection groups are strongly opposed to the urgent measure sought by the government. They say that it would reverse a more than decade-long rise in Sevan's water level seen as critical for saving its endangered ecosystem. Armenia - A sailboat on Lake Sevan. Significantly, the Armenian Ministry of Environment Protection has added its voice to these concerns, formally objecting to the proposed additional use of the lake's water. It estimates that Sevan's level would fall by 8 centimeters as a result. "[The government plans] will have an impact on the ecosystem," admitted Harutiunian. "But the problem which we are highlighting is much more important," he said, referring to the struggling agricultural sector. Harutiunian also argued that Sevan's level rose by 16 centimeters in 2015 and another 18 centimeters last year mainly because of water pumped into the lake from other rivers through two underground canals. The lake will therefore have more water than it did in 2016 even after the emergency irrigation supply, the official said before the parliament approved the bill in the first reading. Only three deputies, all of them representing the opposition Yelk alliance, voted against the measure. One of them, Lena Nazarian, said that instead of seeking a heavier use of Sevan's water the government should have cut back on a continuing waste of irrigation water. She said that the irrigation networks remain highly inefficient despite large amounts of budgetary funds that have been allocated in recent years for their rehabilitation. Harutiunian acknowledged that as much as 55 percent of irrigation water is lost before reaching farmers. Defendants, Lawyers Sanctioned During High-Profile Trial July 4, 2017 . Karlen Aslanian Armenia - Zhirayr Sefilian, an arrested opposition figure, greets supporters during is trial in Yerevan, 13Jun2017. The tense trial of Zhirayr Sefilian, a radical opposition figure, and six other men accused of plotting an armed revolt against the Armenian government continued on Tuesday in the absence of most defendants and their lawyers. Sefilian, who leads the Founding Parliament opposition movement, was arrested in June 2016 for allegedly forming an armed group to seize government buildings in Yerevan. He denies the charges as politically motivated. Sefilian and the six other suspects also kept under arrest went on trial in late May. The several court hearings on the case held to date have been marred by tense verbal exchanges between defendants and their attorneys and the presiding judge, Tatevik Grigorian. At the previous hearing held last week Grigorian ordered Sefilian's and three other defendants' removal from the courtroom for contempt of court. Their lawyers walked out of the courtroom in protest. Grigorian told them on Tuesday that their lawyers will be disqualified from the trial because of their failure to attend its last three sessions. She said they must therefore hire new lawyers or be represented by state-appointed attorneys. "I won't abandon my lawyers," responded Sefilian. "Keep your lawyers for yourself," he said before being again taken away by law-enforcement officers. "The court has no right to appoint my lawyer," said Gevorg Safarian, another arrested Founding Parliament member. "I won't authorize any other lawyer to act on my behalf." The 30-year-old judge eventually ruled that Sefilian and another defendant, Nerses Poghosian, will be represented by other attorneys picked by them. The two other defendants, she said, will get public defenders against their will. Two lawyers walked out of the courtroom after bitterly arguing with the judge afterwards. "They want to silence us and stop us from decrying abuses committed in the courtroom," one of them, Ara Papikian, told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). Sefilian's arrest came less than one month before three dozen armed men affiliated with Founding Parliament seized a police station in Yerevan. The gunmen demanded that President Serzh Sarkisian free their leader and step down. They surrendered to law-enforcement authorities following a two-week standoff which left three police officers dead. Press Review July 4, 2017 Speaking to "168 Zham," Arthur Martirosian, a Boston-based Armenian analyst, insists that Armenia's deepening relations with the European Union "does not contradict Russian interests in any way." He says that any Russian attempt to impede those ties would only whip up anti-Russian sentiment in the country. Russia should therefore take a "neutral stance" on the EU-Armenia framework agreement which is due to be signed in November, he says. "Anything that does not threaten its interests and benefits its strategic partner and ally should be approved by Moscow," adds Martirosian. "Aravot" says that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's criticism of the EU's Eastern Partnership program raised more questions about Russian reaction to the upcoming EU-Armenia deal. "It remains unclear what kind of an agreement it is and what consequences it should have for Armenia in relation to our strategic ally," writes the paper. It dismisses the Russian concerns over the Eastern Partnership. "Zhoghovurd" is unconvinced by the Armenian government's pledge to considerably cut poverty and raise the national minimum wage in the next five years. "On the contrary, the experience of the previous governments shows that [government] programs remain on paper and the same fate most probably awaits this program," predicts the paper. "They could come up with dozens of excuses such as ups and downs of the global or Russian economy." Citing official statistics, "Haykakan Zhamanak" reports that real estate prices in Armenia went down sharply in May. In particular, the paper says, they hit a five-year low in Yerevan. It says that this trend is fraught with additional lending risks for Armenian commercial banks, which often use private apartments and houses as loan collaterals. (Tigran Avetisian) 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
Author: Alex Jidarian
Health: Daphne: living with a disability in Armenia
OC Media
Vardine Grigoryan (Emma Grigoryan)
Daphne is a project from Armenia about women who have overcome hardships and challenges. Women who despite the blows of fate, despite deprivation and despair, were able to withstand their difficulties and move forward. Below is Vardine Grigoryan’s story.
At the age of ten, after losing her mother, Vardine was forced to fight alone for her rights and convince society that she had the right to live like anyone else. Looking back at her childhood, Vardine realises that she came out a winner, admitting that she has fulfilled the most ambitious dreams of her childhood, reaching greater heights.
‘In reality, there was quite a lot of negativity in my childhood. In Armenia, the attitude towards people with disabilities is terribly wrong; children are not told how to treat people with disabilities, and this stems from the perception of adults themselves’, says Vardine Grigoryan, 32.
She was born and raised in Vanadzor — a city in northern Armenia. In early childhood, she was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that she inherited from her mother. Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder which can manifest in different ways and to varying extents. Vardine’s mother did not have any visible symptoms of Marfan, that is why her disease, and particularly aortic dilation, were never identified.
‘My mother wanted to have a child very much, so she got married at the age of 34 and divorced some three or four months later. When I was born, my parents were already divorced. I know that scandals preceded my birth; they accused my mother of burdening her family with the birth of a child, especially when it turned out that the child was going to have health problems. Despite all this, my mother decided to give birth and keep me.’
Vardine’s mother, Seda, died 22 years ago, but her daughter keeps the memory of her unconditional love and affection alive. Since then, Vardine has been living with her grandmother Varduhi.
‘I remember how I used to sit on my mum’s lap even when I was already 10. She loved and cared for me very much. She gave me a unique name — Vardine — and thought that I was the only Vardine in the world. Unlike my mother, my grandma did not like encouraging me. Her general approach is very stereotypical and she looked at me through the prism of society. My grandma was ashamed of my appearance. I remember, when I was still a child, she used to walk very quickly on the street so that I could not keep up with her. She feared that people would see us together and start asking if I was her granddaughter’, Vardine recalls. ‘At the same time, she would never let anyone offend or be rude to me. Her protective instinct was an interesting one. She wanted to protect me from the entire world, but couldn’t do it in a way that I wouldn’t perceive as pressure, or an attempt to hide me.’
Unlike many children with disabilities, Vardine was able to receive an education at a regular school. However, she still remembers the terrible psychological abuse she had to endure during her daily journey to school.
‘Walking that road to school every day was terrifying, because the kids living in the next street laughed and threw stones at me… All this grew into such a huge phobia that even now, when passing by that neighborhood, I become alert. I realise that all of this is in the past, but it is still among the most traumatic experiences of my life.’
Vardine had almost all visible symptoms of Marfan syndrome. At the age of 13, she was diagnosed with spinal curvature.
‘I had to undergo three surgeries at the Masis orthopedic hospital, and the post-surgery period was terribly painful. I had to stand during classes at school. When the pain was particularly unbearable, it was impossible to sit, I had to stand up or walk’, says Vardine, who has already undergone six such surgeries.
Despite society’s stereotypical thinking, negative perceptions, and outright discrimination, Vardine found the key to moving forward: she tried to be as helpful to people as possible.
‘I thought that if I failed to do anything useful even one day: my very existence would become meaningless. People would notice that and think that I was taking up someone else’s place. I thought I had to justify my existence.’
Vardine’s love of education helped her overcome the difficulties that she encountered in her life, and she acquired good friends at school.
‘The love and positive attitude towards me was not an act of pity, but were rather based on respect. There was a general opinion at school that I was very smart, so everyone was really kind to me there. I went to school when I was only five, and they say that I used to ask my mother to take me to school even earlier. I woke up every morning and started reading my fairy tale books. They say I learned to read before actually going to school. I wanted to be an honour roll student. I always had to work better and harder, I could not afford an average performance’, she recalls with a smile.
After finishing school, Vardine entered the Vanadzor Technological College, and since she could not afford a private tutor to prepare for entrance exams, she started learning English on her own and was admitted to the Vanadzor State Pedagogical Institute’s Department of Foreign Languages.
Her hard work and thirst for knowledge helped her realise her dream and travel to the US as an exchange student. In 2005, she entered Williams College in Massachusetts and became a one-year non-degree student at the Department of Sociology.
Vardine Grigoryan (Emma Grigoryan)
‘My grandma, of course, always opposed my plans for to studying, and thought very poorly of all my initiatives concerning education. She was raised in a society where children with disabilities were hidden away or given up. While there were never any doubts about keeping me, she never believed that society’s attitude toward me could be positive. she thought learning was a waste of time for me, because no one was going to hire me anyway. Her approach was so surprising; no one I knew had achieved as much as I had. But still, she did not accept that and just wanted me to stay at home, doing nothing, she was always afraid that someone would offend me. Once, years ago, I was hanging out with some friends of mine who were dating. When they left, she said she didn’t want them to visit as again. I asked why and she said I don’t want to you to see them and suffer that you will never have anyone to love in your life’, says Vardine.
But realising herself, and getting a good education, were what she found important. Despite all this, due to her hard work, persistence and extreme willpower, Vardine managed to finish studying in the US, then returned to Armenia and worked at an NGO — Capacity and Development for Civil Society — for a year.
‘The time spent in America was the most peaceful period of my life. Even when I just walked on the streets, I felt like my spine was straighter. I forgot about my health problems. The social perception and the people’s general approach show you that you are an ordinary human being. But here, people pay a lot of attention to your physical appearance and that constantly reminds you of your disabilities, and that you fail to fit into the framework set by society’, says Vardine.
In 2009, she applied for a graduate programme and traveled to the US for two years to study Public Administration at Ohio University, .
‘I’ve had a very interesting and active student life in Ohio.’
‘When I came back to Armenia, I worked at the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly — Vanadzor as a translator for a short period.’
‘Then I became an office manager, worked on institutional development programmes, and finally became the Democracy Monitoring and Reporting Coordinator. I’ve been part of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly for six years already’, says Vardine with a happy smile.
Vardine is devoted to her work, but she admits that her happiness would be incomplete without her caring and good friends.
People with disabilities often try to embrace their situation, they almost perceive it as a punishment they deserved. But Vardine decided for herself that if you cannot put up with something, you have to change it — or at least try. She decided to replace dreams and prayers for a miraculous remission in her scoliosis with more practical actions. Two years ago Vardine met with Karapet Momjyan, the head of spinal services at Erebuni Hospital, and was able to convince him that she could survive a most difficult surgery at the age of 30. Within a few weeks Vardine was able to borrow the money she needed for the surgery. The surgery went better than expected and another one followed.
Her spinal curvature and other health issues have not fully disappeared but Vardine is convinced that this experience has helped return her strength to fight. Within two years Vardine was able to return all the money she had borrowed, and she gave the money that was donated to her to those who were in need of it.
Lara Aharonian, director of the Women’s Resource Centre, describes Vardine as someone with a strong personality and as a role model for many. She also underlines Vardine’s unparalleled sense of humor that she never loses even in the worst moments.
‘Vardine is a positive thinker and is always full of hope. I was amazed at that open-minded and resilient girl and thought how brave she was to get through so many difficulties and continuously work on herself to achieve her aspirations, in spite of all the challenges and obstacles encountered at workplace and in her life’, says Lara Aharonian.
Vardine in turn, says that whatever she does in her life, she always keeps her mother in mind.
‘I don’t know, whether subconsciously or consciously, but it turned out that my life is what my mother wished for but was unable to accomplish in her life. The greatest compliment I receive is when somebody calls me Seda by mistake. That’s when I know that everything is right’
Vardine is convinced that everyone decides for themselves how to live their life , no matter what advice others give.
‘The important thing is to not take on the role of the victim, and to live while you are alive.’
The article is a partner post written by Lilit Arakelyan. It first appeared on DAPHNE, on 28 April 2017.
Rep. Schiff, Colleagues Send Letter to State Senate Urging Passage of Bill Divesting Public Pensions from Turkish Government
Congressional Documents and Publications June 21, 2017 Rep. Schiff, Colleagues Send Letter to State Senate Urging Passage of Bill Divesting Public Pensions from Turkish Government Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) News Release Washington, DC - This week, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and nine of his Congressional colleagues from California sent a letter to California State Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin De Leon in support of California Assembly Bill 1597, which would divest California's public pension funds from investment vehicles that are owned, controlled, or managed by the Turkish government. "California has acted in the past to prohibit new investments by its pension funds in sectors that are inimical to our state's values, such as the 2015 state law mandating divestment from coal companies," the Members wrote in the letter. "The narrowly drafted AB 1597 proposal is an appropriate use of that authority, blocking future investments directly owned by the Turkish Government, such as government bonds." Rep. Schiff sent the letter along with Jackie Speier (CA-14), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Tony Cardenas (CA-29), Brad Sherman (CA-30), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Jim Costa (CA-16). "Given the recent assault on peaceful protestors in Washington, D.C. by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's personal security forces, as well as Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide, divestment by California is an appropriate response," the Members wrote. AB 1597 passed the California State Assembly on June 1st by a vote of 67-0. Full text of the letter is below: June 19, 2017 The Honorable Kevin de Leon California State Senate President Pro Tempore State Capitol, Room 205 Sacramento, CA 94249 Dear Mr. President: We write to voice our strong support for AB 1597, which would divest California's public pension funds from investment vehicles that are owned, controlled, or managed by the Turkish government. This legislation passed the Assembly on June 1st by a vote of 67-0. Given the recent assault on peaceful protestors in Washington, D.C. by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's personal security forces, as well as Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide, divestment by California is an appropriate response. We hope that the State Senate takes up and passes this legislation as soon as possible. As you are aware, the once dynamic and relatively open Turkish democracy has slid towards authoritarian rule by President Erdogan. With the recent passage, beset by voting irregularities, of a constitutional referendum, Erdogan has amassed dictatorial powers. Turkey has become the world's leading imprisoner of journalists, suppressed free speech, and has engaged in a brutal campaign to stamp out political dissent. They have recently brought that campaign to the United States. On May 16th, members of Erdogan's security detail brutally attacked a peaceful protest outside of the Turkish Embassy, causing serious injuries. Videos show Erdogan speaking to his security forces immediately prior to the attack, and observing from a distance as his armed security beat peaceful protestors. The House of Representatives recently passed H. Res. 354 unanimously, condemning this assault and calling on the Administration to hold Turkey responsible and take appropriate actions against those who carried out the attack. Finally, Turkey has engaged in a decades long campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide, expending millions of dollars to lobby against recognition of the historic fact of the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923. California has been a leader in the United States in speaking frankly about the genocide, serving as a home for tens of thousands of Armenian-Americans whose families survived the genocide to build new lives in the United States. California has acted in the past to prohibit new investments by its pension funds in sectors that are inimical to our state's values, such as the 2015 state law mandating divestment from coal companies. The narrowly drafted AB 1597 proposal is an appropriate use of that authority, blocking future investments directly owned by the Turkish Government, such as government bonds. The investments make up a small portion of the pension funds' holdings, and reallocating these resources in an orderly fashion will have no measurable impact on their fiduciary duties. We hope that the Senate acts quickly on AB 1597, and that it can be signed into law as soon as possible. Sincerely, Read this original document at: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__schiff.house.gov_news_press-2Dreleases_rep-2Dschiff-2Dcolleagues-2Dsend-2Dletter-2Dto-2Dstate-2Dsenate-2Durging-2Dpassage-2Dof-2Dbill-2Ddivesting-2Dpublic-2Dpensions-2Dfrom-2Dturkish-2Dgovernment&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=HD44gK_GTVPzlHzCg4y5FpK5Ml7huMRwypnA62X7MN0&s=D9FGk-vXgaplF9Sh9P27Z_cOPrXHC_nhaX9QsDRoqMc&e=
NATO-Russian Federation difference: why NATO ‘becomes magnet to other countries’, NATO continues to be of a great demand
Aravot, Armenia
NATO-Russian Federation difference: why NATO ‘becomes magnet to other countries’, NATO continues to be of a great demand
Regional Studies Center and Konrad Adenauer Foundation have organized a seminar for the journalists of Armenia in the frameworks of “NATO as a stabilizing power in South Caucasus: current challenges and progresses in the region” with the assistance of NATO Public Diplomacy Division.
“In the case of Georgia, the question is not “yes” or “no”, but “when”
If NATO member country has decided to attack NATO non-member country, it is not the issue of NATO member states, it is the issue of the foreign policy of the two countries”, mentioned William Lahue – Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia/ NATO Liaison Officer in South Caucasus, he spoke about Armenia-NATO cooperation: “All countries in North-Atlantic Alliance have pledged to withdraw from conflicts by peaceful means and if any ally has a military issue with his neighbor, then he actually appears under a rather big pressure by other member countries not in the sense that NATO Headquarters says – what do you do? But it is the other member countries that make requirements to that country in their bilateral relations for it to cease the actions.”
“Georgia is NATO’s very specific partner, he has unprecedented relations with the institution”, noted Mr. Lahue, highlighting Georgia-NATO cooperation pack as a very important one, through which they support Georgia in making reforms and in preparing for the membership. ““Yes” or “no” is not a question, but “when” is the question. There are a lot of things to do, of course, and the member countries strictly follow the developments in Georgia. The allies, assuredly, take into consideration how the influence can be, therefore they definitely weigh up before giving a membership invitation to countries. In the case of Georgia, the first problem was whether Georgia had made those calculations by itself. For NATO it is important that no third country bears the unfavorable effect because of a decision made by this alliance. It is also very important to remember that the country’s joining the alliance does not change the power balance, it does not presuppose troop increase and military base establishment. If Georgia becomes NATO member, it does not mean that the next day changes will take place and military presence will be in place. Surely, Georgia’s status will change, that is – Georgia will enter under the protection of the Article 5 itself, which means that Georgia will no more have concerns about Russian threat. And Russia on its part, will think twice before starting actions against Georgia, that is, when Georgia becomes NATO member that threat will disappear”, explained William Lahue.
“This was an important decision both for Baltic states and Georgia, it gives them freedom and that freedom actually is provided by a defense umbrella, opens their hands for political and economic decisions. This has a fundamental negative influence on Russia forasmuch as it makes them think what they have suggested to their neighbors for them to make such decisions as to derive from the interest of the Russian Federation. We use economic, political motivating suggestions, but the RF is not ready for that, is not ready to give anything, Russia wants to put pressure and threaten until it gets what it wants. It is natural that changes might occur in the countries neighboring Georgia, in Armenia as well. For example, it is possible for Russia to wish to strengthen its military presence. Therefore, you should be ready to give a question to the government of the Republic of Armenia – whether the government will accept the enlargement of Russian military force in here. In that case, everything will already depend on the inner decisions of the country”, noted the speaker.
Which is NATO’s power?
Why did the USSR collapse and why does NATO continue to exist? As stated by William Lahue, the answer is simple, because its members want it to exist, though they can leave the alliance at any time they want, it provides them with an important political platform, except for being a defense umbrella. “We often hear from Russia that NATO is the instrument of the US policy… certainly, it is true, yes, NATO is an instrument, but it is also an instrument of German, French, Italian and British foreign policies and it is an instrument of all the members’ policies. This is sometimes difficult for Moscow to understand. There is no voting in NATO. The great allies do not have an advantage in the institution and there is no such thing that if they want something they get it and the small countries are pressed. This is the power of this institution because every nation has a complete sovereignty and there is a complete guarantee that if a country does not agree with any decision of NATO, then NATO cannot implement it, this simultaneously makes the decision-making process in the institution difficult.”
Mr. Lahue explained that the member states, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan, use NATO for political issues. “For Georgia, NATO means a guarantee of sovereignty, and for NATO policy is the following – we believe our security and stability is enhanced and that peace and stability of the North-Atlantic space is enhanced by having more members, because once you are in NATO, you are a decision maker, a benefactor for the alliance, as well as a contributor to the alliance. So, the alliance becomes an important political tool for you, and this helps to ensure transparency and security between the members. You will notice that there has been no major war in Europe since NATO is founded following the World War II, because the member states pledge to resolve the issues peacefully. So, Russia’s presentation of the alliance as somehow this is a hostile, enemy force, poison on their border, threatening Russia, does not correspond to the reality, because for NATO to take military action against a state, all 29 countries should come to a consensus. What kind of circumstance would make all these 29 countries suddenly agree to attack another country? It is a fantasy scenario. That is not to say individual allies, it is possible for them to make a decision by themselves, without taking permission from NATO, because NATO cannot say what to do or what not to do. This is frequently a question I get regarding Turkey and Turkey’s role with his neighbors, NATO as an institution cannot put pressure on Turkey, the other allies can, and not solely regarding this issue, but, for example, regarding a lot of other issues – regarding the defense of human rights and democracy”, told Mr. Lahue, at the same time bringing another example, when Turkey wanted to buy air defense systems from China, NATO member states prevented it, because they could not agree on the accession of Chinese air defense systems into NATO’s integrated systems, because they would become defenseless against the possible actions of Chinese hackers, therefore, Turkey had to refuse. “Now Turkey negotiates with Russia to acquire air defense systems. Let them get it, it is their business, but Turkey cannot annex that system to the air defense systems of NATO’s other allies”, added Mr. Lahue. “NATO is not a sole entity, NATO is a collective of 29 entities. Of course, the US is the most influential state because it is the most influential military force and the question whether the US has an influence – yes, it does, it has economic, political influence, but it is used by other countries as well in benefit of their country, so, it is a mutually beneficial cooperation. This is why a country like Armenia wants to work with NATO based on the benefit it will get from those relations, they are relations which are built on mutual benefit.”
According to the speaker, this is a difficult question for Russia to understand as well, which builds its decision still on the basis of the Soviet political culture and continues to present NATO as an enemy, an opposing force which is not true. “It appears NATO is stronger than them? So, if they are stronger, then they are bad? Because they are not equal to them..? Russia builds its foreign policy and national security on the capacity of Russia to control the territories nearby its territories to have the power to provide the stability for Russia, consequently, their objective is to control everything happening in the neighboring countries, not to let neighboring countries make decisions on their own. While NATO sees its security in free, independent and democratic countries able to defend their interests and work with us. This is why NATO becomes a magnet to other countries, because they see a benefit, because that magnet will give them independence guarantees and they will have ensured freedom in their territory regarding the decision they make”, mentioned the Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia/ NATO Liaison Officer in South Caucasus
Emma GABRIELYAN
Armenia’s Diaspora Minister re-appointed
news.am, Armenia
Armenia's Diaspora Minister re-appointed
21:52, 25.05.2017
YEREVAN. – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Thursday signed a decree whereby Hranush Hakobyan has been re-appointed to the post of Minister of Diaspora of Armenia, the press-service of the Armenian President’s Office informed Armenian News – NEWS.am.
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Hakobyan has been holding the aforementioned office since the very establishment of the ministry in 2008.
Qui est Danielle Cazarian, candidate En Marche dans la 13e circo ?
Lyons Capitale, France
a6 mai 2017
Qui est Danielle Cazarian, candidate En Marche dans la 13e circo ?
Publié le 16/05/2017 à 17:25
© Tim Douet
Danielle Cazarian
À 52 ans, il s'agit du premier réel engagement politique pour cette chef d'entreprise et présidente du Centre national de la mémoire arménienne. Dans une circonscription où le FN à fait de très gros scores durant les deux tours de l'élection présidentielle, elle déclaré s'être engagé : "pour lutte contre le FN." Très implantée à Décines où elle est investie dans le Centre national de la mémoire arménienne, elle sera notamment opposée au député sortant Philippe Meunier. C'est Emmanuel Macron qui est arrivé en tête dans cette circonscription du Rhône, mais avec un score inférieur à sa moyenne nationale. Arrivés dans un mouchoir de poche (respectivement avec 24,31 et 23,84 % des voix), le mouvement En Marche et le Front national mettent en péril la réélection de Philippe Meunier, député sortant. Une triangulaire serait favorable aux Macronistes.
Major conference on recent Armenian archaeology to take place at UCLA
Massis Post – A major conference dedicated to the latest developments and discoveries of Armenian archaeology will take place on Saturday, May 13, 2017, in the main conference room of the Charles E. Young Research Library at UCLA. Titled “New finds, new insights: advances in Armenian archaeology over the last decade,” the day-long event is the third Hampartzoum and Ovsanna Chitjian conference on Armenian Studies, organized by the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA.
The conference will feature a distinguished roster of speakers including Boris Gasparyan, Artur Petrosyan, Dr. Arsen Bobokhyan, Dr. Miqayel Badalyan, and Dr. Mkrtich Zardayan. The speakers will be introduced by Prof. Peter Cowe, director of the Research Program for Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography and Narekatsi Chair of Armenian Studies at UCLA. Remarks will be delivered by Prof. Willeke Wendrich, Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, and Joan Silsbee, Chair of African Cultural Archaeology at UCLA.
The conference will also include a signing ceremony, during which a Memorandum of Understanding between UCLA and the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography (IAE) of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia will be formalized.
“The focus of this conference is of great importance for Armenology and the Armenian community, as traditionally there has been a serious lack of exposure to archaeology and its impact on our understanding of Armenian history,” Prof. Cowe said and continued, “Most of our research to date has been textually-based. But this needs to be balanced by the contribution of material culture – that is to say, archaeological field work – in order to provide a more rounded and comprehensive view of Armenian life. This need is all the more significant with regard to Armenian prehistory, as archaeology is our main source of knowledge about that vast era.”
Boris Gasparyan, a researcher at IAE, will present his findings about the “Initial occupation of the Armenian Plateau.” Commenting on the subject, Gasparyan said, “The area encompassing the modern Republic of Armenia lies within the Armenian Plateau and is situated at the very core of a dynamic corridor between Africa and Eurasia. As such, Armenia is critical for understanding the initial stages of human settlement and the formation of ancient civilizations in the Near East and beyond.”
Artur Petrosyan, another researcher at IAE, will speak about “Armenia from the late Paleolithic to the first complex societies.” Referring to recent archaeological discoveries in connection with the prehistoric epoch, Petrosyan said, “There has been a large gap in our knowledge of late Pleistocene and early Holocene archaeological sites. But recent excavations in Armenia have brought to light a number of important discoveries. These sites represent the earliest record of a food-production economy in the territory of Armenia, and preserve considerable architecture as well as ceramic and metal artifacts.”
With a presentation titled “Vishap (dragon) stones in the context of the Bronze and Iron Age archaeology of Armenia,” Dr. Arsen Bobokhyan, senior researcher at IAE, will speak about some of Armenia’s most intriguing prehistoric monuments. “Although vishapakars were discovered more than a century ago, their secrets are far from being deciphered,” Dr. Bobokhyan said. “Much like the khachkars (cross stones) of medieval times, vishapakars dot the prehistoric landscapes of the Armenian Plateau. To date, close to 150 examples of these monuments have been discovered.”
Dr. Miqayel Badalyan, Director of the Karmir Blur branch of the Erebuni Museum, will speak about “Recent investigations of Urartian sites in the Republic of Armenia.” Commenting on the topic, Dr. Badalyan said, “The latest results of our excavations provide new data for tackling such important questions as the downfall of the Urartian kingdom, the correlation and sociopolitical and cultural connections between the Urartians and the local people, as well as the emergence of the post-Urartian period.”
The Silk Road will be the focus of Dr. Mkrtich Zardayan, Chair of IAE’s Department of Archaeology of Ancient Armenia. “In recent years, there has emerged an array of fascinating archaeological evidence for the wide interconnection of Armenian cities with their Eastern and Western counterparts,” Dr. Zardayan said. “Such evidence sheds fresh light on the history of the formation and development of the Eurasian communication network and particularly the role of Classical Armenia within the framework of transcontinental trade and cultural exchange.” Dr. Zardayan’s conference paper is titled “Classical Armenia on the Great Silk Road: the archaeology of the economy and cultural integration of the ancient world.”
The May 13 conference, which is open to the public, will start at 10:30 am. Attendees will be provided with refreshments and lunch. Paid parking will be available in Structure 4 (221 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095) and Structure 5 (302 Charles E. Young Drive North, Los Angeles, CA 90095).
The UCLA Research Program for Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography was created through the long-term partnership of Zaruhy Sara Chitjian and the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology in 2013. The Chitjian conference series was inaugurated in 2013 with the establishment of the Hampartzoum and Ovsanna Chitjian Collection and Archives and the Research Program for Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography at UCLA by Ms. Zaruhy Sara Chitjian, in memory of her parents.
Armenia welcomes Czech resolution recognizing and condemning genocide
Armenia has welcomed the adoption of a resolution by the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide and other crimes against humanity.
“The resolution adopted by Czech lawmakers along with President Milos Zeman’s statements condemning the Armenian Genocide, are a valuable contribution of the Czech Republic to the prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity,” Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in a statement.
UN Corner opens in the city of Masis
Today the launching of a “United Nations (UN) Corner” took place in the Masis Youth (MY) Center in the city of Masis, Ararat province of Armenia organized jointly by the UN Information Office in Yerevan and the Masis Development Foundation.
The launch of this UN Corner, which is the 17th of its kind, is aimed at providing the Youth Center visitors and interested parties with access to the UN publications and other promotional and visual materials. Thus, this could help them to get acquainted with the United Nations values and objectives, its worldwide mandate and policies and its all-inclusive areas of action with diverse themes. The overall result of this can be the empowerment of youth and their involvement and action towards the achievement of the UN global agenda.
Armineh Haladjian, head of the UN Information Office in Yerevan, stressed the importance of UN corner opening in Masis: “Within our cooperation with new partners especially outside Yerevan, and having the main goal of reaching out to our main target group — the YOUTH, UN Information Office in Yerevan on behalf of UN Armenia is launching this UN Corner in Masis Youth Center. I am pleased to inform the audience here today that this Corner can be a good start to bring the members and visitors of this facility closer to the United Nations even being not physically in the UN House. We look forward to further cooperation and bilateral visits in the near future.”
In his welcoming speech, Executive Director of the Masis Development Foundation Stepan Hovhannisyan, congratulated the residents of the city on this landmark event and stated: “We highly appreciate the cooperation with the United Nations. The UN Corner, opened today, will help the youth of Masis learn more about the work of the United Nations both in Armenia and around the world. Joint educational and enlightenment projects will help the children from the Youth Center learn more about the principles of the UN work. In the activities of Masis Development Foundation and the Youth Center, we also adhere to similar values, and strive to develop in the youth an active, not indifferent attitude to the development of civil society, human rights, preservation of the environment. We hope that together we will contribute to the development and prosperity of Masis and Armenia.”
Presentation of MY Center members, screening of the “See You” animation film about the UN activities in Armenia, interactive discussion with participation of UN Development Programme and UN Population Fund staff members, followed the official part of the “UN Corner” opening. A cultural program organized by Masis youth closed the event. The participants had the opportunity to take with them promotional materials and posters about the United Nations.
Lavrov: No problem with resumption of transit of goods to Armenia through Abkhazia
Russia sees no problems with the resumption of cargo transportation to Armenia through Abkhazia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference in Sukhumi today, Eurasia Daily reports.
He said legal basis exists for resumption of transit. “It [the legal basis] can rely on the agreements reached between the Russian Federation and the World Trade Organization in 2011, when we joined it,” Lavrov said.
“We know our Armenian colleagues are interested in the resumption of transit. The President of Abkhazia said today the republic does not mind,” Russia’s top diplomat stated.
Abkhasia President Raul Khadzhimba said, in turn, that the republic is ready for resumption of cargo transportation from Russia to Armenia and is interested in it, as this will open up new perspectives for increasing budget revenues.
He said the issue can be solved ‘if the Georgian side is willing.”