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