Author: Janet Ekmekjian

                                        Friday, 

EU, Armenia Sign Landmark Deal


 . Harry Tamrazian


Armenia - Minister of Foreign Affair of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy Federica Mogherini sign the EU-Armenia agreement,
Brussels, 24 Nov, 2017

The European Union and Armenia signed an agreement aimed at
significantly deepening their relations at a ceremony in Brussels on
Friday held on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit.

Signatures to the document entitled the Comprehensive and Enhanced
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were put by High Representative of the
European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica
Mogherini and Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of European Council
President Donald Tusk and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian.

In her remarks after the signing of the document Mogherini said that
the CEPA "is based on our common commitment to democracy, human rights
and rule of law."

"This agreement is the first of this kind that is concluded with a
party that is also a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. It will
now be very important to implement it," the EU's foreign policy chief
said.


(From left to right) Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, Armenian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, High Representative of
the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica
Mogherini and President of the European Council Donald Tusk pose for a
photo after the signing of the EU-Armenia Agreement, Brussels, 24Nov.,
2017
Nalbandian, for his part, described the "wide-ranging and ambitious
document" as "our joint endeavor that opens a new chapter in the
bilateral relations between the Republic of Armenia and the European
Union."

"The Agreement establishes a solid legal basis for strengthening the
political dialogue, broadening the scope of economic and sectoral
cooperation, creating a framework for new opportunities in trade and
investments and increased mobility for the benefit of our citizens,"
the top Armenian diplomat said.

According to Nalbandian, "it is important that the Agreement reaffirms
the stated commitment of the European Union to support the efforts and
approaches of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the norms and
principles of international law, in particular, non-use of force or
threat of force, equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and
territorial integrity."

"Armenia is determined to further develop and strengthen a
comprehensive cooperation with the EU in all areas of mutual interest
based on this Agreement," Nalbandian stressed.

The ceremony became one of the focal points of the EU's Eastern
Partnership summit that brought together the leaders of six Eastern
European and South Caucasus nations in the Belgian capital on November
24.

Since the launch of the Eastern Partnership program in 2009 Russia has
regarded it as a potential threat to its geopolitical interests in the
post-Soviet territory.

In the case with Armenia, officials in both Yerevan and Brussels have
repeatedly stated that the deal does not contradict Yerevan's allied
relations with Moscow or jeopardize the South Caucasus nation's
membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led trade bloc
that also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Russian pressure exerted on Yerevan is widely believed to have
scuttled a more ambitious Association Agreement which Armenia and the
EU nearly finalized in 2013. President Sarkisian precluded that accord
with his unexpected decision to join the Russian-led customs union
less than three months before the planned initialing of the document.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) ahead of the
summit, President Sarkisian again denied any Russian pressure in
Armenia's dealings with the EU.

Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin told local Arminfo news
agency today that "Armenia is a sovereign nation" and "has the right
to participate in any pacts and associations that do not breach its
existing commitments."

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who also attended the
summit in Brussels, acknowledged Russia's "central role" in countries
like Armenia and Azerbaijan as she spoke to Deutsche Welle earlier on
Friday.

Unlike the Association Agreement that Yerevan negotiated but did not
sign with Brussels four years ago, the CEPA does not make Armenia part
of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area" with the EU. Still, the
350-page document commits Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic
laws and regulations to those of the European Union.



Sarkisian Hopes For `Productive' Discussions At Eastern Partnership Summit


Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (R) at the European People's Party
summit in Brussels, 23Nov, 2017

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian expressed a hope for "productive"
discussions as he spoke ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit, which
opens in Brussels on November 24.

As part of his working visit to Belgium, the Armenian leader on
Thursday attended the summit of the European People's Party (EPP),
which was chaired by EPP President Joseph Daul.

The summit was also attended by European Council and European
Commission Presidents Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, President
of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, as well as the heads of
state and government representing EPP-member countries and Eastern
Partnership-member states.

The summit's discussions focused on topical issues of Pan-European
significance and preparations for the Eastern Partnership summit,
which will focus on issues of further strengthening cooperation in the
priority spheres as defined at the Riga Summit in 2015.

President Sarkisian delivered a speech at the EPP summit, in which,
according to his press office, he addressed "the agenda of EU-Armenia
cooperation and the dynamics of relationship development, the
importance of those issues of interest to Armenia to be discussed at
the EPP and Eastern Partnership summits in Brussels, the Comprehensive
and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the
European Union, as well as inter-party cooperation-related
activities."

The signing of the CEPA, an agreement aimed at significantly deepening
EU-Armenia relations, is expected to become the main event at the
Eastern Partnership summit today.

Sarkisian is also the leader of Armenia's ruling Republican Party
(HHK), which has been a member of the EPP with an observer status
since 2012. "The HHK's cooperation with the EPP has become one of the
most important platforms for Armenia's involvement in European
politics," Sarkisian stressed in his speech.

The Armenian leader also reportedly noted the November 15 resolution
of the European Parliament that qualifies Armenia as "a country which
successfully combines its Eurasian Economic Union membership with
participation in the EU Neighborhood Strategy." In this view,
Sarkisian gave assurances that "in the future as well, Armenia will
abide by the aforementioned formula of co-existence."

In his speech President Sarkisian also expressed a hope that
"tomorrow's discussions at the EU Eastern Partnership Summit will be
so productive as to make the joint initiatives more targeted, and the
results more visible and tangible for societies."



Pan-Armenian Charity Raises More Money To Support Karabakh


US/Armenia - Annual Telethon of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund,
23-24Nov,2017

In another Thanksgiving Day fundraiser a pan-Armenian charity has
raised over $12.5 million that it plans to mostly spend on the support
of agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Hayastan (Armenia) All-Armenian Fund received the donations and
pledges of donations during its annual 12-hour telethon broadcast from
Los Angeles, USA, on Thursday.

Hayastan raised almost $15.5 million during last year's televised
fundraiser earmarked for the reconstruction of war-ravaged communities
in Nagorno-Karabakh and other local infrastructure projects.

The focus of the 2017 telethon is support for two major
agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh: the drilling of
deep-water wells and construction of irrigation networks; and the
installation of solar power stations.

As always, sizable contributions have been provided by several ethnic
Armenian businessmen from the United States, Russia and Armenia. An
anonymous Armenian-American entrepreneur made the single largest
donation of $ 2.5 million. He was followed by Russian-Armenian tycoon
Samvel Karapetian, who donated $2.25 million. Armenia's
Copper-Molybdenum Plant donated $350,000, Armenia-based wealthy
business owner Samvel Aleksanian contributed $200,000 for the cause
and the Vardanian family donated $125,000. Valex Group donated
$100,000. Several families from the United States, Iran and Armenia
provided hefty donations ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Thousands
of Armenians from around the world also made smaller contributions
ranging from a few dollars to several thousand dollars.

Hayastan has implemented over $350 million worth of projects in
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh since its establishment in 1992. The
fund's current Board of Trustees is headed by President Serzh
Sarkisian and comprises other senior Armenian state officials,
Catholicos Garegin II as well as prominent representatives of Armenian
communities around the world.

In particular, in recent years the fund has partly financed the
construction of a second 116-kilometer-long highway connecting
Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.



Armenians `With Time' Will Feel Benefits Of Agreement With EU, Says Sarkisian


 . Harry Tamrazian


Belgium -- Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian gives an interview to
RFE/RL's Armenian Service, Brussels, 23Nov2017

Armenians will feel the benefits of their new accord with the European
Union "with time", President Serzh Sarkisian said hours before the
planned signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership
Agreement (CEPA) in Brussels.

The signing ceremony due today is expected to become one of the focal
points of the current EU Eastern Partnership Summit that brings
together leaders of six Eastern European and South Caucasus countries
that are members of the program launched in 2009.

RFE/RL Armenian Service Director Harry Tamrazian, who is reporting on
the summit from Brussels, asked Sarkisian late on Thursday about what
an ordinary citizen of Armenia would get from the planned accord.

"Perhaps [ordinary citizens] will not feel its benefits immediately,
but with time they will, because we are able to carry out reforms
quickly with the help of the European Union," said the Armenian
leader.

"We don't want to invent a bicycle, there are absolute truths, and we
should be guided with these truths. But in addition to internal
freedoms, Armenian citizens will get an opportunity of free travel to
Brussels, to Paris, to other European countries."

The CEPA, which was initialed by Armenia and the EU in March, commits
Armenia to reforming its institutions and strengthening human rights
protection with the assistance of the EU. The 350-page document does
not make Armenia part of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area",
but still commits Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic laws
and regulations to those of the EU.

Some analysts believe the CEPA will also provide Armenia with an
"alternative security direction."

"The word `alternative' is not correct here," said Sarkisian when
asked to comment on such opinions. "But, of course, especially in the
case of the main challenges threatening our security, the co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group [on Nagorno-Karabakh], and especially the United
States and Russia, have the same positions, and this is one of the few
issues on which they fully cooperate, as they declare
themselves. This, of course, is an achievement for us."

In 2013, Armenia was on track to sign a more ambitious association
agreement with the EU, but several months before the initialing of the
document, President Sarkisian stated about Yerevan's desire to become
a member of a trade bloc led by Russia, which effectively aborted
plans for a deep and comprehensive free trade area with the
EU. Sarkisian announced that decision during a meeting with Russian
President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, but denied any Russian pressure
was involved.

Last week the Armenian president also met with Putin in the Russian
capital. No references to the planned EU-Armenia deal were made at
that meeting, according to official publications.

In an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am)
Sarkisian again denied that Russia has ever meddled in Armenia's
dealings with the EU.

"Soon it will be ten years that I have served as president and before
that I occupied different [government] posts. I have never heard even
half a word from any Russian leader, especially from President Putin,
that would contain any reproach in terms of our cooperation with the
European Union," the Armenian leader underscored.

Sarkisian's second and final term as president expires in April
2018. According to constitutional changes approved in a 2015
referendum, Armenia has switched to a parliamentary form of
government, which potentially creates an opportunity for Sarkisian to
continue to govern the country as prime minister. Before the
constitutional reform Sarkisian pledged not to seek a top government
post after the expiry of his presidential powers, but in his later
public statements he has been less categorical on this account.

Asked whether he had any ideas about where he will be after the end of
his presidential term, Sarkisian said: "If I had an idea, I would have
already stated about it. I will speak about it when I do have an
idea."



EaP Summit `No Platform' For Discussing Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations


 . Rikard Jozwiak


Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian in Brussels, 23Nov., 2017

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian believes that the current Eastern
Partnership (EaP) summit in Brussels is not "the right platform" where
relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be discussed and
resolved.

He said this in comments to RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent Rikard
Jozwiak ahead of the opening of the biennial event bringing together
leaders of six Eastern European and South Caucasus nations cooperating
with the EU under a program launched in 2009.

This year's summit in Brussels could also see clashes over the
gathering's final declaration, according to EU diplomats familiar with
the talks.

One paragraph concerning conflicts in the region has been left open
after both Armenia and Azerbaijan wanted specific, but conflicting,
statements on Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a draft text seen by
RFE/RL.

"Azerbaijan can push difficult language, but who will accept that?"
Sarkisian said, adding that he did not see obstructions to the final
declaration.

"I don't think this Eastern Partnership summit is the right platform
where our relations with Azerbaijan should be discussed," he added.

The Armenian leader emphasized that it is the Organization for
Cooperation and Security in Europe's Minsk Group and its co-chairs
(represented by the United States, Russia and France) that deal with
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. "The EU has extended its full supports to
the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group [co-chairs]. And we are fully
content with that," Sarkisian concluded.

The current text of the declaration reads: "The summit participants
call for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of
conflicts in the region on the basis of the principles and norms of
international law."

It adds that "the resolution of the conflicts, building trust and good
neighborly relations are essential to economic and social development
and cooperation."

EU diplomats told RFE/RL that they wanted neutral wording in the
statement and to omit any mention of specific conflicts in the Eastern
Partnership countries, citing squabbles between Baku and Yerevan over
the 2015 declaration that delayed the summit by several hours.



Sarkisian Lauds New EU-Armenia Accord


BELGIUM -- Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian arrives for an EU
Eastern Partnership summit with six eastern partner countries at the
European Council in Brussels, 

The new agreement between Armenia and the European Union is "our joint
achievement" that can become "a positive precedent for other
cooperation projects", Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian stated on
Friday as he attended an Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels.

"We consider 2017 as, indeed, one of the important milestones in the
quarter-century-long history of the relations between Armenia and the
EU, which is signified today under the framework of this Summit by
signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. It is
a comprehensive document that reflects the significant developments of
the recent period of our collaboration and defines the guidelines that
are necessary to deepen these relations," Sarkisian said, as quoted by
his press office.

The agreement known as the CEPA commits Armenia to reforming its
institutions and strengthening human rights protection with the
assistance of the EU. The 350-page document does not make Armenia part
of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area", but still commits
Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic laws and regulations to
those of the EU.

"This Agreement is not merely a legal document, but a reflection on
the wealth of values of human rights and fundamental freedoms that we
share. Important elements of the strengthening of democracy such as
rule of law, consolidation of judiciary, development of public and
social institutes, good governance are the core of this Agreement. The
efficient realization of these elements is of vital importance for our
nation in order to implement successfully the envisaged reforms. It is
exactly the development based on these shared values that ensures the
long-lasting and sustainable development for any responsible member of
the international community," the Armenian leader said shortly before
the official signing ceremony scheduled for the evening.

According to Sarkisian, the importance of the Agreement is not limited
to just Armenia-EU relations. "Many of our international counterparts
describe Armenia as a nation that brings various integration processes
closer to each other, a nation that is led by the desire to reconcile
and complement interests in the spirit of cooperation and
cohabitation, and it is something that seriously obliges us to meet
the expectation," he said.

Sarkisian went on to say that Armenia is one of those EU partners that
have managed to "almost fully implement commitments undertaken in
2015" under the Joint Declaration of the Riga Summit. "We believe that
Armenia's determination in this process, as well as the determination
of our EU partners will soon result in further bringing our societies
closer together, for which, of course, launching of the visa
liberalization dialogue would be of great significance," he said.

In his statement, Sarkisian scolded his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham
Aliyev who, he claimed, "has voiced ill-grounded accusations against
Armenia."

"As much as the Azerbaijani side may try to distort and misinterpret
the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its peaceful
settlement, the conflict has to be settled on the basis of three
principles of international law: the non-use of force or threat of
force, territorial integrity and the peoples' right to
self-determination as proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,
which is the only structure vested with an international mandate," the
Armenian president emphasized.

"The position of the international community on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is reflected in the statements issued by the leaders of the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries. In this context, any solution to
the conflict without the exercise of Nagorno-Karabakh people's right
to self-determination is simply impossible."

Armenia and Azerbaijan have reportedly been at odds over language in
the final declaration of the summit concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. One
paragraph concerning conflicts in the region had been left open for
the two South Caucasus neighbors to agree on compromise wording.

EU diplomats told RFE/RL that they wanted neutral wording in the
statement and to omit any mention of specific conflicts in the Eastern
Partnership countries, citing squabbles between Baku and Yerevan over
the 2015 declaration that delayed the summit by several hours.

The current text of the final declaration reads: "The summit
participants call for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful
settlement of conflicts in the region on the basis of the principles
and norms of international law." It adds that "the resolution of the
conflicts, building trust and good neighborly relations are essential
to economic and social development and cooperation."



Final Declaration At EaP Summit Omits Mention Of Karabakh


 . Rikard Jozwiak


BELGIUM -- A general view shows political leaders sitting at the round
table for an EU Eastern Partnership summit with six eastern partner
countries at the European Council in Brussels, 

European Union leaders and six former Soviet republics have swiftly
agreed on a final joint declaration of their Eastern Partnership (EaP)
summit in Brussels, avoiding a repeat of the squabbling between
Armenia and Azerbaijan that triggered delays at the last summit two
years ago.

The final declaration, published on the European Council's website,
does not mention any specific conflicts in the region, including the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

But it states that the "summit participants remain deeply concerned
about the continued violations of principles of international law in
many parts of the region."

It adds that they welcome "the EU's strengthened role in conflict
resolution and confidence building in the framework or in support of
existing agreed negotiating formats and processes, including through
field presence, when appropriate."

That language was enough to secure approval from Armenia and
Azerbaijan. The two neighbors, who have been locked in a decades-long
standoff over Nagorno-Karabakh, clashed over the final text of the
declaration at the 2015 summit in Riga.

The final text of this year's declaration features the same language
as the Riga declaration concerning the potential future EU accession
of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, each of which have signed
Association Agreements with the 28-member bloc.

It states that "the summit participants acknowledge the European
aspirations and European choice of the partners concerned, as stated
in the association agreements."

The EU launched the Eastern Partnership in 2009 to promote economic
integration and European values in six Eastern European and South
Caucasus countries.

The summit's main event will likely be the signing of an enhanced EU
partnership deal with Armenia. That pact, however, omits free trade
and is less ambitious than the Association Agreements secured by
Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Like those three countries, Armenia previously negotiated an EU
Association Agreement. But Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian walked
away from the deal in 2013 under apparent pressure from Russia, and
Armenia later joined the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

However, Sarkisian told RFE/RL's Armenian Service upon arrival in
Brussels on November 23 that there was no contradiction between
Yerevan's EU partnership and its EEU membership.

"By signing this agreement we're saying that indeed it is possible to
be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and also be a member of the
Eastern Partnership," Sarkisian said.

He added that he has "never heard from any Russian leader, and
especially from President Vladimir Putin, so much as a word of
reproach about Armenia's cooperation with the EU."



Press Review



Armenian media focus on the signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the European Union
scheduled at the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels on Friday.

"Haykakan Zhamanak" stresses that "the signing of the document clearly
meets Armenia's interests as it presents a serious counterbalance to
Armenian-Russian relations that pose a threat to Armenian
sovereignty." The paper at the same time warns that Armenia's failure
to sign the document this time around will spell an end to its
independent statehood and will reduce it to a "Russian province".

"Zhamanak" reports that Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria
Zakharova stated at a news briefing on Thursday that Moscow treats the
EU-Armenia agreement with respect. "It means or at least should mean a
major guarantee that the agreement will be signed," the daily writes,
adding that "however historic the new accord between Yerevan and
Brussels may be, it won't change Armenia's life automatically, but the
country should be able to benefit from the opportunities offered by
it."

In an interview with "Aravot" political analyst Suren Sargsian
excludes the possibility that some wording in the new accord could
make Armenia refuse to sign it. "There is no wording that cannot be
rephrased so as to satisfy both or all parties," he explains. In this
view, the analyst does not rule out some "ambiguous wording" that can
be interpreted differently by the two sides.

(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

MENA English (Middle East and North Africa Financial Network)
 Saturday


Number of US nonimmigrant visa denials for applicants from Armenia grows


The US refused to grant nonimmigrant visas to more than 50 percent of
applicants from Armenia, according to the official report of the US
Department of State on the number of nonimmigrant visa denials in
2017. The report indicates that 51.87 percent of appeals from Armenia
were rejected. Compared to the indicator for 2016, the number of
denials grew 5.99 percent. The countries neighboring Armenia have the
following indicators: Georgia - 61.09 percent of denials (1.73 percent
decrease), Iran - 58.66 percent (13.64 percent growth), Turkey - 17.86
percent (4.24 percent growth). The number of refusals to nonimmigrant
visa appeals from Russia grew 2.32 percent and reached 11.61 percent.
The residents of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino were
the most welcome guests for the US in 2017, and didn't receive any
refusal. These countries are followed by Cyprus (1.69 percent of
denials), Argentina (1.79 percent), Uruguay (3.19 percent), Hong Kong
(3.45 percent) and Oman (3.46 percent).

Sputnik News Service, Russia
 Tuesday 4:43 PM UTC


Armenia Granted Asylum to 22,000 Refugees From Syria - Foreign Minister



YEREVAN, October 24 (Sputnik) - Armenia has granted asylum to more
than 22,000 refugees from Syria since the beginning of the conflict in
that country, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said
Tuesday.

"From Syria alone Armenia has harbored about 22.000 refugees, on per
capita basis making our country the third largest recipient of Syrian
refugees in Europe," Nalbandian said at the 2017 OSCE Mediterranean
Conference on the refugee problems in Palermo, Italy.

This has caused a number of challenges for a country with a population
of just 3 million, which has already received hundreds of thousands of
refugees from Azerbaijan in the recent past, the minister noted.

The 110,000-strong Armenian community in Syria was considered one of
the most powerful diasporas before the beginning of the conflict in
the country. They mainly lived in Aleppo (60,000 people), Damascus
(7,000), Latakia, Kessab and Qamishli. After the outbreak of the
Syrian crisis, according to various estimates, more than 90,000
Armenians left Syria.

Syria has been engulfed in civil war since 2011, with millions of
people having to flee the country. According to the latest United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) data, a total of 5.16 million
people left Syria, with over a million of them being hosted in
Lebanon, some 600,000 in Jordan and more than three million in Turkey.