22 YEARS The #7 Noah’s Ark (1095) 29 February 2016 Published Since 1993 Weekly Newspaper HIGHLIGHTS ÜáÛÛ³Ý î³å³Ý ß³μ³Ã³Ã»ñà (³Ý·É. / ýñ³Ýë.) RPA, ARF sign agreement on political cooperation Armenia - The ruling Republican Party and Armenian Revolutionary Federation sing a power-sharing agreement, Yerevan, 24 Feb 2016 see page 3 In This Issue Tigran Sargsyan, Nursultan Nazarbayev Noyan Tapan Video Studio discuss EEU development p.5 is offering professional video and photography for indoor RA, UN sign agreement on Customs Facilita- and outdoor events such as weddings, birthday parties, tion in Humanitarian Assistance p.7 official events, seminars and conferences. Tel: 060 27 64 62 Address: Isahakyan 28, 3rd floor, Yerevan 0009 Bundestag to vote on new Armenian Genocide bill before April 24 p.10 Russian-Turkish relations can be impro- Noyan Tapan Printing House ved when RA border the Armenia p.15 is offering coloured and black and white offset and digital The New Thermal Energy Accumulators Cre- printing of books, brochures, booklets, journals, etc with ated by Armenian Engineers can promote high quality and low prices Tel: 060 27 64 62 the Development of Armenia's Economy p.20 Address: Isahakyan 28, 3rd floor, Yerevan 0009 29 February #7 (1095) 2016 2 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights Conflicts impede sustainable development, Armenian FM This is a reality. But there is another reali- ty as well. Some protracted or frozen con- flicts may continue for decades on the ter- ritories inhabited by people whose aspira- tions to achieve sustainable development goals are as legitimate as for anyone else. Pending settlement to the final legal status of certain territories, particularly those which are subject of negotiations under Statement by Edward Nalbandian, and self-determination of peoples, can agreed format of conflict resolution, should Foreign Minister of Armenia at the enormously contribute to the prevention not be used as an excuse to violate the UNDP 50th Anniversary Ministerial efforts. If there is anything that history legitimate right of the people to develop- Meeting teaches us, is that there is a direct linkage ment. After all, "Leave no one behind" Preventing Violent Conflict, Building between the brutal hindrances of the right- commitment is not about invoking a justi- Peaceful Societies ful exercise of human rights and violent fication for exclusion but finding ways for Ladies and Gentlemen, conflicts. Usually the countries, which are inclusion. The international community The UN Charter guides the member disrespecting the fundamental right of peo- should find ways to ensure involvement of states to take effective collective measures ples to self-determination, are also grossly the people from conflict areas in the inter- for the prevention of threats to peace. Over violating human rights. national cooperation aimed at achieving the years the concept of prevention has In its Agenda 2030 the international sustainable development goals. The opera- been gradually and effectively occupying community has once again reaffirmed the tion of the international organizations and an important space in the international inter-connection between sustainable agencies, such as the UNDP and others efforts of building peace and security. development, peace, human rights and the also should not be anyhow restricted for However, conflicts continue to emerge and rule of law. The UNDP, with its extensive the people of the conflict areas. many of them turn violent with increasing- presence in the field has been duly recog- It is important to transform the chal- ly higher human cost, consuming signifi- nized within the UN system as an impor- lenge imposed by conflicts to an opportu- cant resources of the international commu- tant contributor to the function of preven- nity of establishing positive agenda of part- nity and thus attracting stronger focus to tion and early warning. Identifying, report- nership including through genuine confi- the improvement of the prevention capabil- ing and reacting to deteriorating human dence building among parties to the con- ities. rights situations is amongst the key func- flict. All people have universal aspiration It goes without saying that the unam- tions of the field missions to detect early for security and development. Common biguous implementation of the internation- signs of fueling instability. economic or environmental projects al commitments, in particular those Ladies and gentleman, among parties to the conflict can entail first enshrined in the UN Charter on developing The link between global security and steps towards building trust and confidence friendly relations among nations based also development is beyond doubt. Conflicts and what is more important, a common on respect for the principle of equal rights may impede the sustainable development. vision of peace. Perspectives of Armenian-Austrian cooperation discussed at the President's Office President Serzh Sargsyan held con- The President reminded that Austria was sultations on February 26 on Armenian- one of the first to respond after the devas- Austrian relations, the ongoing programs tating earthquake of 1988. and the perspectives of development. President Sargsyan said Austria is Arman Kirakosyan, Armenia's extremely important to us for its rich Ambassador to Austria and the country's experience of development in the fields representative to a number of internation- of information technologies, medicine, al organizations accredited to Vienna, tourism and infrastructures. presented a report. "I think we have good chances of "Austria is a friendly country, a devel- increasing the Austrian investments in could provide wide opportunities as a oped country and we are building our Armenia, especially in the field of indus- member of the Eurasian Economic relations, taking note of the joint historic try, as there are a number of powerful Union," the President said, adding that path., i.e. we develop our relations on the companies in Austria investing in differ- "we are ready to create favorable condi- basis of firm historic grounds," he said. ent countries of the world, and Armenia tions for any serious investor." 29 February #7 (1095) 2016 The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 3 RPA, ARF sign agreement on political cooperation The ruling Republican Party of Ashotyan, is neither about a post-election served as education minister in the past, Armenia (RPA) and the Armenian coalition or a pre-election bloc, but con- replaced Armen Ashotyan, an HHK Revolutionary Federation (ARF, cerns "long-term cooperation" that pro- deputy chairman who signed the agree- Dashnaktsutyun) have formally agreed on ceeds from the party's national ideologies ment on behalf of the ruling party. political cooperation that will also give and shared statesmanship and follows The ARF was part of several coalition- ARF members representation in the changes in the Constitution that have been al governments in Armenia since 2003. Armenian government. advocated by both forces. The last time it participated in the RPA- An agreement on such cooperation Under the current power-sharing deal dominated government was after the 2008 was signed by deputy chairman of the the ARF has got three ministerial posts in disputed presidential election. The party RPA Armen Ashotyan and representative the government. espousing the national and socialist ideol- of the ARF Supreme Body Aghvan Artsvik Minasyan was appointed as ogy, however, quit the government a year Vardanyan at the Presidential Palace on minister of economy, while two other later over the Sargsyan administration's February 24. prominent Dashnaktsutyun members, policy of rapprochement with Turkey. President Serzh Sargsyan, the leader Davit Lokyan and Levon Mkrtchyan, will As an advocate of a parliamentary of the RPA, and another senior ruling take over as ministers of local government form of government, the ARF was among party member, Prime Minister Hovik and education respectively. Dashnaktsut- the political forces that backed the rele- Abrahamyan were present at the signing yun representatives will also run the vant constitutional reform initiated by ceremony, as were the ARF's Armen northwestern Aragatsotn and Shirak Sargsyan and approved in last year's refer- Rustamyan and Hrant Markarian. provinces. endum. Since then, the ARF has also The document, according to Levon Mkrtchyan, who has already as sought a role in implementing the reform. Vardges Gaspari freed after protests Government officials have denied any political motives behind his arrest. They have also said that they will not intervene in the high-profile case. Armenia's Court of Appeals, mean- while, ordered the investigators to release Gaspari from custody pending a lower court verdict on the case. The maverick activist was set free before attending a fresh hearing in his trial later on Friday. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Gaspari said that he continues to consid- er the Armenian police "murderers" because of their role in the 2008 post- Amid growing uproar from opposi- Nubarashen prison. Investigators' deci- election violence in Yerevan, which left tion leaders, civil society members and sion to subject him to a psychiatric exam- ten people dead and dozens of others independent media, an Armenian court ination earlier this week only added to the wounded. ordered on Friday the release of a promi- outrage. nent activist who frequently stages lone Around two dozen members of the protests against the government. Armenian parliament signed a petition The Iranian-born activist, Vardges demanding his immediate release. Gaspari, was arrested on February 19 for Several youth activists lay down on the allegedly shouting abuse at the judge pre- ground in front of the presidential admin- siding over his ongoing trial on charges istration building in Yerevan on of insulting a police officer. Law-enforce- Wednesday and Thursday, imitating ment authorities also cited Gaspari's fail- Gaspari's trademark method of protesting ure to attend court hearings in the trial. against government policy. Police officers have had to literally carry him from his home to a court house in Yerevan ahead of every hearing.