Author: Ophelia Vardapetian

                                        Tuesday, 

Azerbaijan Accused Of Blocking More Truce Monitors In Karabakh


        • Sargis Harutyunyan


Armenia - OSCE observers escorted by Armenian army officers monitor the 
ceasefire regime in Tavush province bordering Azerbaijan, 16Feb, 2017

Armenia accused Azerbaijan on Tuesday of refusing to honor a recent 
Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement to expand an international mission monitoring 
the ceasefire regime in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

According to the U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the OSCE Minsk 
Group, the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers reached the agreement “in 
principle” at their January 18 meeting in Krakow, Poland.

The Russian co-chair, Igor Popov, specified later in January that the deal 
would allow the OSCE to hire seven more members for its small truce-monitoring 
team. He said the conflicting parties and the mediators still need to work out 
“some technical details” of this arrangement.

“We agreed to the co-chairs’ proposal to enhance the capacity of the team of 
the personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, and that was 
announced by the co-chair countries and Armenia,” Foreign Minister Edward 
Nalbandian said on Tuesday. “Azerbaijan is still refusing to make any reference 
to that agreement and to honor that agreement.”

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijani already agreed to the expansion of 
the OSCE team when they met in Vienna in May 2016. The team led by Andzrej 
Kasprzyk consists of a small number of officials who regularly travel to 
Karabakh and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border to briefly monitor the parties’ 
compliance with truce agreements reached in 1994 and 1995.

Azerbaijan officially stated in March 2017 that it will not allow the OSCE to 
deploy monitors on the Karabakh frontline “in the absence of withdrawal of the 
Armenian troops from the occupied territories.” Baku has been just as reluctant 
to allow international investigations of truce violations there, which were 
also agreed upon in May 2016.

Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev pledged to intensify the peace 
process and bolster the ceasefire at their most recent meeting held in Geneva 
in October 2017. Their foreign ministers held follow-up negotiations in 
December and January.

The U.S., Russian and French mediators visited Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert in 
early February. They said in a joint statement that the warring sides pledged 
to “continue intensive negotiations.”

Aliyev is seeking a fourth term in office in a snap presidential election 
slated for April 11. The ballot will be held two days after Sarkisian completes 
his second and final presidential term. Sarkisian is tipped to become prime 
minister immediately after Armenia is transformed into a parliamentary republic 
later in April.




Sarkisian’s Continued Rule Legitimate, Says Ally


        • Karlen Aslanian


Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian visits a bookstore in Yerevan,19Feb,2018

President Serzh Sarkisian never promised that he will not become Armenia’s 
prime minister after serving out his final presidential term next month, 
according to a parliament deputy representing his Republican Party (HHK).

Samvel Farmanian said Sarkisian only stated in 2014 that he will “not aspire” 
to the post of prime minister if the country switches to a parliamentary system 
of government. That did not constitute a pledge to quit power on April 9, said 
Farmanian.

Sarkisian downplayed his 2014 statement as he gave last week the strongest 
indication yet that he will take over as prime minister later in April. He said 
his political opponents are taking that statement “out of context.”

“I still do not aspire to the post of prime minister,” the outgoing president 
claimed on March 19.He added, though, that he may well remain in power due to 
grave security challenges facing Armenia.

The remarks only fueled more opposition claims that Sarkisian is not keeping 
his word. Farmanian sought to disprove them, saying the president had never 
explicitly said that he will not serve as prime minister.

“For example, I can assure you that I myself had not aspired to be a National 
Assembly deputy but I became one as a result of circumstances and decisions 
stemming from the reality,” the pro-government lawmaker told RFE/RL’s Armenian 
service (Azatutyun.am).

Farmanian also insisted that the ruling HHK has a legal and moral right to 
install its top leader as prime minister because it won Armenia’s last 
parliamentary elections held in April 2017. “We have a parliamentary majority 
and that majority has the constitutional prerogative to nominate a prime 
minister,” he said.

These assurances are unlikely to convince the Armenian opposition and other 
critics of the Sarkisian administration. Some opposition groups have announced 
plans to stage next month street protests against Sarkisian’s continued rule.



Press Review



“Zhamanak” laments the abrupt end of the “intrigue” that surrounded President 
Serzh Sarkisian’s political future until his comments on Armenia’s next prime 
minister made last week. “There has objectively emerged a situation in Armenia 
where there are no alternative agendas or resources for forming resistance 
centers inside and outside the government,” writes the paper. “On the one hand, 
this keeps Armenia away from upheavals. On the other, it condemns Armenia’s 
political system to stagnation.”

“Hraparak” looks at the political “vacuum” expected during the period between 
the April 9 end of Sarkisian’s presidency and his widely anticipated 
appointment as prime minister slated for April 17. The paper is skeptical about 
some opposition forces’ hopes to take advantage of that situation. It argues 
that Armenia will have a new president and a functioning parliament, both of 
them loyal to Sarkisian, in that period. “After all, [political] processes have 
never followed a legal pattern and governance has never been formal in 
Armenia,” it goes on. “Instead, unwritten laws have taken precedence.”

“Zhoghovurd” says that Serzh Sarkisian’s decade-long rule has been bad for 
Armenia’s economy and living standards. The paper cites official statistics 
showing that Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product was last year worth less in 
dollar terms than in 2008. It also argues that the country’s population has 
shrunk by over 257,000 in the past ten years.

(Lilit Harutiunian)


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

The Guardian(London)
February 4, 2018 Sunday 10:30 PM GMT


Henrikh Mkhitaryan's verve gives Arsène Wenger positive buzz

In his first Arsenal home game, the new signing's partnership with
Mesut Özil created a feelgood factor that lifted the team

by Amy Lawrence at the Emirates Stadium



When Mino Raiola mischievously suggested "Sánchez is part of the Mikhi
deal, not the other way round", the general consensus was to raise
eyebrows at the brash machinations of the agents' world. It is fair to
say most people felt the Alexis Sánchez-Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap was
weighted more favourably for Manchester United.

The way Mkhitaryan introduced himself to thousands of new admirers
with eye-catching elan in the north London downpour did make you
wonder, though. The equality of the swap suddenly felt like a much
more interesting and nuanced question. Arsenal's new No 7 added such
value to the team, not only in the hat-trick of assists and generally
impressive mixture of deft touches with determined attitude, but also
in the way he opens up the path to play differently, based around a
double creative pivot with Mesut Özil.

Related: Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey goes on hat-trick rampage against Everton

A blur of one-touch passing and free-form movement, with the front
players switching positions fairly effortlessly, bludgeoned Everton's
gameplan. For all the excitement to see the record signing
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang show flashes of speed and dink a debut goal,
Mkhitaryan left a deep impression on the game, which suggests Arsenal
have recruited the Dortmund version, full of verve and instinct,
rather than the Manchester United version, who by the end looked like
a man in need of a pick-me-up.

What Arsène Wenger describes as the "positive swing" of a big transfer
looks like it is working both ways. Arsenal responded to the feelgood
factor of two exciting new faces. The winter signings look energised
by their new challenge and environment. Aubameyang had only two
45-minute sessions, so will hope to become more dominant. Mkhitaryan
clicked so readily into it he looks instantly like an important team
component.

He had the freedom to pop up in all sorts of positions and there was
something about his presence that reminded Wenger of the much-missed
Santi Cazorla. "There are similarities there. I wish. Santi was an
exceptional football player. But he for sure has the technical level
to play in our team."

If there was a lack of trust shown to him by José Mourinho, Wenger is
only too delighted to give Mkhitaryan plenty of it: express yourself,
enjoy yourself, be yourself, show how much you love football. By way
of explanation, Wenger tried to put across the essence of Mkhitaryan's
footballing charisma: "I met Mkhitaryan before he came here because I
liked always his game. He's a player completely focused on football,
dedicated totally to the game, and comes from a country, Armenia,
where you need special character to become a great football player.
That's why he looks happy to play football because he just loves it."

Wenger seemed a little rueful that he did not sign Mkhitaryan when
they were close to a deal 18 months ago, to team up with the man he
would replace at Arsenal. "We could have had both, maybe," he said.

Arsenal's new attacking foursome quickly turned into a five as Aaron
Ramsey sprinted forward in search of goals - but it is a risky policy.
Against more dangerous opponents than a vapid Everton team who were so
easily bamboozled, spaces in midfield and defensive shakes are still
there to be exposed. Everton were not really in a fit state to test
Arsenal too much, although they did improve when the younger
substitutes came on.

While the 5-1 win ensured it was a day for Arsenal to celebrate new
signings, Everton were not able to emulate that positive swing at all.
Sam Allardyce does not feel Cenk Tosun is ready to start difficult
games and felt it best to put his arm around Theo Walcott. "I
protected him in the end," he said. "We weren't going to come back and
get a result and the last thing I want him to do is fatigue and pull a
muscle. I put the younger lads on, who actually did better than the
older lads. I thought Tom Davies and Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] did a lot
better than the 11 lads who were on the pitch before them."

A day to forget for Everton. The start of a new cycle for Arsenal?
"Let's not predict too far ahead," Wenger said, mindful of the north
London derby on Saturday. "Let's see how we go into the next game.
It's a better test. If I tell you the same, I have a positive mood
after the next game, we'll say yes, and be positive until the end of
the season."