Author: Kafian Jirair

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS: RESIGNATION OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN IS THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2009-07-14 13:51:00

ArmInfo. The only was to prevent bringing to life the dangerous and
fatal scenario on the Karabakh settlement is immediate resignation
of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan as well as holding
of extraordinary presidential and then parliamentary elections,
formation of the authorities which the people trust in and which will
an opportunity to fully protect national interests of the people of
Armenia against the world community’, – statement of Armenian National
Congress [ANC] regarding the latest events around the Karabakh conflict
settlement says.

The statement also says that the joint statement of the presidents
of Russia, the USA and France made on 10 July has become an important
landmark.

Moreover, they think in the ANC that the statement of the three
presidents does not disclose the renovated document which should be
put in the basis of settlement. For this reason ANC will give final
assessment later when the details of the document will be clear.

At the same time, ANC says the information in the mentioned statement,
accompanied by other official statements which were not disproved by
the Armenian authorities, gives a ground for serious thoughts. In
particular, it becomes clear that the Karabakh status is no more
discussed, and the package decision, overworked by the authorities
for over 10 years, becomes a fiction, i.e. actually, provision on the
referendum was removed from the agenda: it was replaced by indefinite
formulations.

‘It has already been a year and half the Congress is claiming about
these dangerous events. All the time, the official propaganda and
pseudo-opposition diverted the people’s attention from our signals
and tried to calm the society down saying there are no serious changes
in the Karabakh settlement process, and the status-quo will be still
preserved for a long period of time. Naturally, the world community
could not but seize such an occasion: a circumstance of illegitimacy of
the Armenian authorities and, in particular, Serzh Sargsyan, limitation
of democratic freedoms in the country, availability of political
prisoners and corruption. Based on this, the Armenian authorities had
to make serious concessions both in the Armenian-Turkish process and
in the Karabakh conflict settlement process.

Being in no confidence of the people and having no legitimacy,
S. Sargsyan made concessions to preserve their power>, ANC statement
says.

THE COURSE PURSUED BY PROSPEROUS ARMENIA IS IN NO WAY LINKED TO EX-RA PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.07.2009 17:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "If ex-RA President Robert Kocharyan intends to
return to active politics, it’s his right. This is out of all relation
with Prosperous Armenia," Press Secretary of Prosperous Armenia Party
Leader Gagik Tsarukyan, Khachik Galstyan told a news conference today.

He noted that Prosperous Armenia is an independent force and has long
been pursuing its own political course.

Khachik Galstyan emphasized that Prosperous Armenia resolutions are
passed by Party Council, headed by Party Leader Gagik Tsarukyan.

ARMENIAN CHOICE NEW POLITICAL PARTY FORMING IN RA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.07.2009 21:19 GMT+04:00

Armenia needs a new force capable to suggest fresh ideas to tackle
the urgent issues, said Armen Aghayan, head of Armenian Choice
initiative group. "The political field usually transforms after the
elections. But now, all political forces have the same views and
ideas. That is why Armenian Choice party was formed," he told a news
conference today. Commenting on the Karabakh problem, Aghayan said
that surrender of territories is inadmissible. As to Armenian-Turkish
relations, the dividing line between the two countries can’t be viewed
as the border. "A serious debate should be organized and all those
principles which have negative impact on demographic and economic
situation in Armenia renounced," Aghayan said.

CYPRUS, ARMENIA BACK ACCESSION OF "MODERN" TURKEY TO EU

Cyprus News Agency
July 7 2009

Yerevan, 7 Jul: Cyprus and Armenia are clearly in favour of the
accession of a modern Turkey to the EU, the Presidents of the two
countries said here on Monday, after talks at the Presidential Palace.

Responding to a question, at a joint press conference with his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias
[Dhimitrios Khristofias] said there are common positions on this
issue with Sargsyan.

Referring to the ongoing direct negotiations on the Cyprus question,
Christofias said there are very important issues on which there is
disagreement, adding that there is convergence on other issues.

He said there is disagreement on the participation of the island’s
two communities in government, the right to property, the presence
of the united federal Republic of Cyprus to the EU, financial issues
and the presence of 160 thousand Turkish settlers on the island.

Referring to the issue of security and guarantees, he said that "we
look forward to seeing Turkey, as a modern state, understanding that
it cannot hold the Republic of Cyprus a hostage."

Christofias said that bilateral relations in certain areas can be
enhanced, noting that meetings between entrepreneurs must take place
both in Nicosia and Yerevan and bilateral agreements must be signed
the soonest possible.

Armenia has a stable friend in the EU, a supporter on which it can
rely, President Christofias said, adding that Armenia is in dialogue
with the EU and implements plenty of programmes. Cyprus, he pointed
out, is ready to help overcome any problems in this dialogue.

Sargsyan underlined that if Turkey becomes an EU member, it will be
a country with European values "and we want such a country next to us."

President Christofias said that "we are in favour of the accession of
a modernised Turkey with a European behaviour," noting that Turkey
must not join the EU simply because it is a big country and a major
market, but it must accept and implement the accession conditions
and values of the EU.

He noted that if Turkey wants to join the EU, it cannot continue
to occupy part of an EU member state, not to recognize an EU member
state and continue to hold its ports and airports closed to Cypriot
vessels and airplanes.

Christofias welcomed the initiative of his Armenian counterpart to
smooth Armenia’s relations with Turkey and noted that Turkey is a
difficult interlocutor. He said there is no other alternative than
the peaceful settlement of disputes, but this does not mean that
either Cyprus or Armenia will abrogate their principles.

The President said that Cyprus continues to condemn the Armenian
genocide, adding that "I consider Turkish Cypriots as our brothers
and children of the same country, but our neighbouring country has
no right to impose its will."

The Armenian President said that Armenia and Cyprus support each
other’s positions on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Cyprus
question and the settlement of problems through negotiations in the
framework of international legitimacy.

He also noted that Cyprus is a friendly country which opened its
gates to the victims of the Armenian genocide and welcomed them with
open arms.

Sargsyan said that bilateral financial relations are not on the
right level, adding that "we can do plenty of things" towards further
developing these ties, adding that establishing an interstate committee
is very important.

He noted that cooperation with Cyprus gives a new impetus to
cooperation between Armenia and European structures, adding that
Armenia’s participation in the Eastern Partnership opens new horizons
for cooperation between Cyprus and Armenia.

President Christofias invited the President of Armenia to pay an
official visit to Cyprus.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have
been engaged in direct negotiations with a view to reach a settlement
of the problem of Cyprus divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and
occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TAKES CONTROL OVER RECENT INCIDENTS IN MARGANETS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.07.2009 12:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the meeting with Ukrainian Prosecutor General
Alexander Medvedko, First Deputy Interior Minister Mikhail Klyuev, and
Deputy Chair of Ukrainian Security Service Vasily Gritsak President
Victor Yushchenko insisted on the necessity of conducting speedy
investigation into 3 resonant criminal cases launched in connection
with recent incidents in Marganets. The meeting was also attended
by Marina Stavniychuk, Deputy Head of President’s Secretariat and
representative of Ukrainian President in Constitutional Court,
Ukrainian President’s press service reports.

Addressing Prosecutor General, President called on him to take control
over and provide information on the investigation into the 3 criminal
cases: Oliynyk’s violent death in Golovanevsk district, Kirovograd
region (June 16, 2009), the minor’s murder in Nikolaevsk district,
Lvov region (June 29, 2009), as well as the scuffle between Armenians
and Ukrainians in one of cafes of Marganets, Dnepropetrovsk region
(June 28). President called Alexander Medvedko’s attention to the
two cases’ being "exclusively resonant for entire society."

Mr. Yushchenko is especially concerned over the investigations into
murder cases. "I kindly request you to provide regular information
on that investigation too. I insist that we protect people. It
is necessary to hold offenders accountable," President stressed,
reported Analitika.at.ua.

WE NEED A UNIFIED APPROACH TO NATIONAL PROBLEMS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.07.2009 19:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian authorities have created such a
difficult situation, solution of which requires large resources,
Vartan Oskanian, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia said
at the pan-Armenian conference on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
Armenian-Turkish relations, PanARMENIAN.Net reports from Stepanakert.

"Current leadership of Armenia through declaration of foreign ministers
of Armenia and Turkey, on April 22, 2009, has driven a wedge in
relations between Armenia and Diaspora. Today, there is a lack of
confidence in the country, compounded by the global economic crisis. In
the presence of all these problems, a question of the unity and
capacity of all Armenians arise," Vardan Oskanian stressed. According
to him, all the Armenians of the world have to develop a unified
approach to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish relations.

MOSCOW’S MOVE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH BAKU POINTS TO SERIOUS SHIFT IN RUSSIAN POLICY: DIRECTOR OF ARMENIAN CENTER FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

Trend
July 1 2009
Azerbaijan

Director of Armenian Center for National and International Studies
Richard Giragosian especially for Trend News

In response to the recent state visit to Armenia by Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili, Enhanced Coverage LinkingMikheil Saakashvili,
during which the visiting Georgian leader was awarded a medal from
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and an honorary degree from the
Yerevan Sate University, several leading members of the Russian Duma
(or lower house of the Russian parliament) were very critical of the
Armenian authorities.

Yet ironically, there was also domestic criticism within Armenia
itself, by many who questioned the Armenian president’s decision to
"award" the Georgian leader with such "honors," while the majority
Armenian population of southern Georgia’s Javakheti region remain
subject to profound under-investment, under-development and widespread
poverty, as well as victim of Georgian policies that have failed
to uphold the most basic civic rights for the Armenian community
within Georgia.

But the Russian reaction was both sudden and surprisingly
strident.While this reaction by some Russian politicians does
not necessarily reflect any sudden negative developments in
Russian-Armenian relations, it is significant for three reasons.

First, the immediate Russian criticism of the Armenian reception of
the Georgian leader reveals more about Moscow’s continued hostility
toward Saakashvili, even now almost one year after the war between the
two countries.In this way, the primary message of the Russian response
was directed more against the Georgian leader than his Armenian hosts.

Second, the Russian response and criticism of Armenia reveals a
deeper and, for Armenia, a more disturbing trend, whereby Russia
has been increasingly arrogant and short-sighted in its treatment of
Armenia, the only reliable ally for Moscow in the region.Moreover,
Russian policy toward Armenia has been generally taking Armenian
friendship and loyalty "for granted," rather than as an expression
of a true strategic partner.And from this context, there is a danger
that Moscow will only continue to treat Armenia as a "vassal" state,
rather than as a strategic ally.

And finally, the third significant aspect of the Russian response
over Armenian-Georgian relations is the timing, especially as Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev visited Baku on his own state visit just
days after the Georgian leader was in Armenia.

This latest demonstration of Moscow’s move to improve relations
with Baku suggests that Armenia should be more concerned with a
more serious shift in Russian policy, marked by an improvement and
expansion in Russian-Azerbaijani relations and perhaps leading to a
modification in Russia’s traditionally pro-Armenian stance on regional
issues, including even the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.Thus, it is not
the Russian reaction to the Saakashvili state visit to Armenia that
matters most, but the deeper developments that the Russian reaction
to the visit has revealed.

ACTIONS OF ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES CONTRADICT TO A PARAGRAPH OF PACE RESOLUTION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.07.2009 19:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The actions of authorities contradict to one of the
paragraphs of the PACE resolution, the Ombudsman Armen Haroutyunyan
told a press conference today.

According to him, it refers to the PACE recommendation to desist from
detention of all those who voluntarily surrender to authorities by July
31. Editor-in-Chief "Haykakan Zhamanak" Nikol Pashinyan surrendered
to authorities, but he was taken into custody.

As Armen Harutyunyan stressed, he is for granting the amnesty to all,
who is involved in March 1 events, adding that the amnesty should be
applied to the National Assembly deputy Khachatur Sukiasyan. Commenting
on the reasons why the amnesty is not extended to MPs Sasun Mikaelyan,
the Ombudsman explained that the amnesty is not applied convicted
for possession of weapons.

Harutyunyan noted that this year the PACE resolution included
all last year’s resolutions, and Armenia continues to remain under
monitoring. The Ombudsman added that one of the important provisions of
the resolution is "the unacceptability of unilateral police testimony
without any further evidence".

FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN SUBMITTED REPORT FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2009

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.07.2009 12:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 80 financial organizations- related complaints
were filed to Financial Ombudsman Office in the second quarter of
2009. 49 of them were not subject to Ombudsman’s consideration,
Financial Ombudsman Press Service reported.

9 complains out of 30 were submitted in the form prescribed, 8 of
them were accepted for ombudsman’s consideration. Out of 8 complaints
considered, 2 were refused, 2 satisfied by reconciliation of claimant
and organization through Ombudsman’s intermediary. The remaining 4
are being considered.

Out of 30 complaints subject to Ombudsman’s consideration, 19 were
not submitted in written form. 2 of 19 claimants, addressed the
Ombudsman verbally, upon which Ombudsman Office employees provided
them with explanations. As a result, complaints were satisfied by
the organization without Ombudsman’s interference.

The Financial Ombudsman’s Office was set up in Armenia in accordance
with Legislation on Financial Ombudsman and launched its activities
on Jan 24, 2009.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES UNICEF REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND CIS STATES

NOYAN TAPAN
JULY 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 8, RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian met with UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director
for Central and Eastern Europe and CIS States Steven R. Allen. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department.

Expressing gratitude for the programs implemented by the office
in Armenia aimed at protection of children’s rights, solution of
educational and health problems, in this context E. Nalbandian attached
importance to the implementation of the actions plan in 2010-2015 in
Armenia. He highly assessed the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding
signed between the RA National Assembly and UNICEF, which creates
new possibilities in the issue of protection of children’s rights.