Armenia, EU To Discuss New Formats Of Cooperation
Azatutyun.am, October 01, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
Armenian and European Union officials will meet soon to try to work out a new legal framework for bilateral relations that would not contradict Armenia’s upcoming membership in a Russian-led alliance, officials said on Wednesday.
According to Traian Hristea, the head of the EU Delegation in Yerevan, the two sides are planning “brainstorming” sessions on new formats of their cooperation in the new geopolitical environment.
“The discussions are in the preparatory stage, and we are working with our Armenian partners,” Hristea told reporters. “Very soon we will have a bilateral meeting aimed at preparing a new package of proposals.”
The EU official declined to give concrete dates for such talks. “I think the most important thing will be their substance, rather than the deadline,” he said.
Armenia’s First Deputy Economy Minister Garegin Melkonian confirmed that Yerevan and Brussels are trying to chart a new course one year after the collapse of an Association Agreement negotiated by them. He said they will open talks on the matter by the end of this year.
EU-Armenia Relations
SME trade finance instruments at focus of EBRD conference in Yerevan
Panarmenian.net, October 01, 2014, https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/183002/
Yerevan is hosting a trade finance conference organized by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in cooperation with the European Union (EU) to increase awareness and facilitate better access to trade finance instruments for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Armenia. During the two-day event, internationally renowned industry experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by local entrepreneurs in accessing trade finance in Armenia, EBRD website said (https://www.ebrd.com/pages/
Mike Taylor, EBRD Director for Financial Institutions in Central Asia, Caucasus and Mongolia, opened the conference Wednesday, October 1, welcoming and addressing the conference participants.
“The EBRD remains a committed partner in Armenia, paying special attention to supporting local SMEs, which play a leading role in the development of the trade sector. We would like more companies to be fully aware of all the financing options available to them and be in a position to use those alternatives,” said Mike Taylor. “I would also like to thank the EBRD’s long-standing partner banks, Armeconombank and Ameriabank, the lead sponsors of this event, who have greatly contributed to improving access to available trade finance for SMEs,” he continued.
France condemns blasting of Armenian Church in Deir ez-Zor
News.am, October 01, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Foreign Minister of France issued a statement condemning blasting of Armenian Church in Deir ez-Zor, Syria.
“I condemn the destruction of Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Deir ez-Zor which is of great importance for the Armenian community. France welcomes the statements of religious leaders about the need for tolerance and respect for the holy sites,” Laurent Fabius said in a statement.
He noted that national heritage in Syria and Iraq is threatened, while negligent attitude towards the duty to protect cultural heritage is seen as a military offense which should be punished by the International Criminal Tribunal.
General News on Armenia
Injighulyan: They threatened to shoot if I wished to return to Armenia
News.am, October 02, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Armenian military serviceman Hakob Injighulyan, who was held captive in Azerbaijan for more than a year, is grateful to the international organizations and the foreign countries for assisting in his release from captivity. Injighulyan, who returned to Armenia from a third country in the early morning hours on Thursday, told the numerous media representatives, who had come to the airport to meet him, about his ordeals while in captivity. He stressed that the decision to return to his homeland was his own, and added that he plans to carry out the remaining nine months of his military service.
He said that he is in “good” health condition.
Injighulyan spoke about the pressures he was subjected while in Azerbaijani captivity.
“They were saying: ‘If you don’t do as we say, you’ll share the fate of the [Armenian] shepherd [i.e., Manvel Saribekyan, who died in prison in Azerbaijan],’” he noted.
He added that the “interview,” which he had given shortly after being captured, was given under threat, and that the Azerbaijanis also attempted to get information from him.
Government approves Armenia’s EEU membership agreement
Mediamax.am, October 02, 2014, https://www.mediamax.am/en/
At today’s session, the Armenian government approved the draft agreementon Armenia’s “joining the Agreement on Eurasian Economic Union signed on May 29, 2014”.
Presenting the draft agreement at the governmental session, Deputy Finance Minister Suren Karayan said that the draft, Armenia joins the agreement on the EEU as well as other international agreements that were signed within the framework of the establishment of the legal-contractual base of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space, and are part of the EEU right.
“Armenia becomes EEU member after the agreement comes into effect. The agreement also envisages issues related to the fulfillment of the decisions adopted in the Customs Union and Common Economic Space and improvement of relations and settlement of disputes with the World Trade Organization”, the Deputy Minister noted.
Opposition Demands ‘Addressed By Government’
Azatutyun.am, October 01, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
The Armenian government officially responded to a list of opposition demands on Wednesday ahead of an unprecedented joint rally planned by the country’s leading parties challenging President Serzh Sarkisian.
The government claimed to have fully or partly met some of the 12 demands that were issued by the Prosperous Armenia (BHK), Dashnaktsutyun and Zharangutyun parties as well as the Armenian National Congress (HAK) in June. It cautiously rejected the other ones, saying that their fulfillment is not feasible or requires more time.
The four parliamentary parties demanded, among other things, that President Serzh Sarkisian’s administration explicitly halt a controversial pension reform, cut taxes for small businesses, sharply increase subsidies to farmers, keep public transport fares unchanged and break up de facto economic monopolies. They also sought amendments to the Electoral Code mandating the conduct of parliamentary elections only on a party-list basis and introducing what the opposition regards as a crucial safeguard against vote rigging.
Armenia climbs in Global AgeWatch Index to rank 40th
Panarmenian.net, October 01, 2014, https://www.panarmenian.net/
The Global AgeWatch Index was published October 1, ranking 96 countries according to the social and economic wellbeing of older people. Armenia took the 40th spot up from 51st place in last year’s ranking, Helpage International webpage said.
Globally Norway (1) tops the Index this year, closely followed by Sweden. Apart from Japan (9) all the top 10 countries are again in Western Europe, North America and Australasia. Five new countries have been added - Bangladesh, Iraq, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia.
In the Index, Ukraine dropped to 82nd spot from 66th last year, with senior Ukrainians’ health and living conditions showing significant decline, the report said.
Among ex-Soviet countries, Estonia made it to top 20, followed by Georgia (28), Latvia (35), Armenia (40), Kirghizstan (49), Lithuania (60), Tajikistan (61), Belarus (64), Russia (65), Moldova (74), Ukraine (82).
Parliament Rejects Opposition Bill On Emergency Rule
Azatutyun.am, October 02, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
The National Assembly rejected on Wednesday an opposition proposal to ban President Serzh Sarkisian from using Armenia’s armed forces to enforce a possible state of emergency.
Deputies from the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) proposed corresponding amendments to a law that gives such authority to the president of the republic. The law was enacted in 2012 four years ago after a deadly post-election crackdown on HAK leader Levon Ter-Petrosian’s opposition movement.
Ten people were killed and more than 100 others wounded as security forces ended nonstop protests held by Ter-Petrosian supporters against alleged vote rigging during the handover of power from President Robert Kocharian to Sarkisian. Kocharian ordered Armenian army units into Yerevan after declaring a state of emergency during the unrest. The HAK considers that move unconstitutional.
Aleppo’s Armenian-populated district rocked by blasts
Panorama.am, October 02, 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/
Extremist forces fired a homemade rocket at Nor Kyough Armenian neighborhood of Aleppo on Wednesday, Gandzasar Weekly said in a Facebook post.
A young Arab man was killed and two Armenians, Sh. Shahinian and A. Solakian, were injured. Their condition is said to be not serious, said the source.
General News on Karabakh
Armenian military servicemen shot dead by Azerbaijani sniper
Mediamax.am, October 02, 2014, https://www.mediamax.am/en/
At around 21:15 yesterday, military servicemen Davit Navasardyan died of a head injury as a result of the sniper’s shot from the Azerbaijani side in one of combat positions of N military unit of NKR Defense Army.
A criminal case is initiated on the incident as a murder on motive of national hatred, the press release of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Armenian Investigation Committee reads.
Karabakh hands over Azerbaijani soldier’s dead body
Armenpress.am, October 02, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
The authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, showing good will and adherence to the Geneva Convention requirements, with the assistance of the representatives of the Stepanakert Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross, handed over to the Azerbaijani representatives the dead body of the third member of the subversive group of the rival H. Hasanov, who penetrated in the Shahumyan Region of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and was neutralized and killed after showing armed resistance during the arrest.
The State Commission of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People told Armenpress that the handing over process took place at 11:30 local time on October 2 nearby the Bash Qarvend Village located on the border between the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
British MP appointed PACE rapporteur on Karabakh issue
Armenpress.am, October 02, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
The UK Member of Parliament Robert Walter has been appointed a rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the escalation of the situation in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Armenpress reports that at the same time Robert Walter is the head of the British delegation at PACE.
Another candidate for the position of the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council ofEurope (PACE) on the escalation of the situation in Nagorno Karabakh Republic was the former French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Jean Claude Mignon, who did not finally get the position.
Armenia-Karabakh customs checkpoint is ruled out – Artsakh government
News.am, October 02, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan stated the aforesaid during his talk at Artsakh State University.
In response to a query on whether a customs checkpoint will be set up between Armenia and the NKR when Armenia joins the Eurasian Economic Union, Harutyunyan specifically stressed:
“Let me give two answers. First, having a customs checkpoint between the NKR and Armenia is ruled out.
“Incidentally, there are people who fail to differentiate between the present-day control points and the customs checkpoints, in the case when their function is to oversee passenger transportation and circulation of products.
“Second, it’s impossible to have a customs checkpoint [between the NKR and Armenia], since this means border control by border guards, whereas there are dozens of roads between the NKR and Armenia, [and] whose control is technically impossible.”
L. Alaverdyan: Azerbaijan made political sabotage against us in PACE
Aysor.am, October 01, 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/
The Armenian side should form such opinions in international organizations that will later serve its interests, the first Armenian Ombudsperson, chairwoman of the Fund against Violation of Law Larisa Alaverdyan said at a press conference today when commenting on the report “Growing Tensions in Nagorno Karabakh and Other Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan” presented at the PACE earlier.
In her words, parliamentary diplomacy should be full of initiative and the work should start before a session of the PACE.
“The adoption of that report will mean that a delegation will visit Nagorno Karabakh to conduct an investigation, while the recent incident with Azerbaijani saboteurs will be presented as if “they went for a walk in territories belonging to their country, but they were attacked by separatists and so they had to defend themselves,” L. Alaverdyan said.
She stressed that the Armenian side should be proactive in the PACE, rather than to wait for Azerbaijan to start an initiative with the assistance of representatives of some country or other.
“It is political sabotage and its aim is to demonstrate once again that Azerbaijani citizens have the right to move freely in those territories, but they are banned from doing it by illegal authorities, as Azerbaijan claims,” L. Alaverdyan said in conclusion.
News from International Sources
Azerbaijani Journalist Fears Arrest As Part Of Continuing Crackdown
Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, October 01, 2014, https://www.rferl.org/content/
An Azerbaijani investigative journalist has been told that she faces arrest upon her return to Baku from a trip to meet with members of the Parliamentary Assembly of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.
Khadija Ismayilova, who is known for her extensive reporting on the business interests of the family of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and who hosts a daily program for RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, said a criminal libel case has been opened against her and she has been ordered to appear in court on October 3.
"I have been warned that, upon returning from my trip, I will be facing arrest and maybe this is another way to warn me," she told RFE/RL in a telephone interview. "I believe they want me either not to go back to Azerbaijan or to be scared and not be loud about things in Azerbaijan. They have to understand that this is not the way to deal with me."
News on Turkey
Turkey’s Erdogan speaks on relations with Armenia
News.am, October 02, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey favors peace in relations with Armenia.
Speaking at the official opening of the new legislative year of the Turkish parliament, Erdogan also reflected on the Karabakh issue and relations with Armenia, reported NTV television of Turkey.
“We [, Turkey,] exhibit a completely principal, objective, peace-advocating, and constructive position in the Cyprus issue, elimination of the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, [and] relations with Armenia and the events [that occurred] in 1915,” the Turkish president stated.
ISIL presses assault on Syrian border town, upping pressure on Turkey
Todayszaman.com, October 02, 2014, https://www.todayszaman.com/
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants pushed on with their assault on a Syrian border town on Thursday despite coalition air strikes meant to weaken them, sending thousands more Kurdish refugees into Turkey and dragging Ankara deeper into the conflict.
The jailed leader of the terrorist group Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has warned that peace talks with the Turkish state would come to an end if ISIL was allowed to carry out a massacre in the predominantly Kurdish town of Kobani, pressuring Ankara to act.
ISIL fighters have taken control of hundreds of villages around Kobani, beheading civilians in a bid to terrorize villagers into submission, and have advanced to within kilometres of the town on three sides.
US led forces, which have been bombing ISIL targets elsewhere in Syria since last week, hit a village just south of Kobani on Wednesday and further strikes were heard overnight, Kurdish sources in the town said.But they seemed to do little to stop ISIL's advance.
News from Azerbaijani Sources
Azerbaijani, Turkish air forces conduct live fire exercises
Trend.az, October 01, 2014, https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/
The air forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey conducted live fire exercises Oct. 1 as part of joint drills. The exercises were supervised by Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, according to the website of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani minister today visited the landfill, where the flights of aircraft were carried out. The MiG-29 and F-16 fighter jets, simulating conventional aerial combat, performed various manoeuvres and practical training and combat flights. The MiG-29 fighters conducting live fire exercises on destroying ground targets supported the F-16 fighters. The minister said the drills are being carried out under the instruction of Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander of Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev.
Azerbaijani Ambassador addresses Financial Times over article on Karabakh
News.az, October 01, 2014, https://www.news.az/articles/
Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United Kingdom Tahir Taghizadeh sent a letter to Financial Times newspaper regarding the article about the Nagorno Karabakh, APA reports. The letter says:
“Sir, Further to your article “Valuable partner in energy ambitions” (Turkey and the World, FT Special Report, September 21), I am writing to raise my concern about the mentioning of Nagorno-Karabakh as a disputed enclave. It is of utmost importance that things are called by their names.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an internationally recognized part of the Republic of Azerbaijan that is currently under the military occupation of Armenian armed forces together with seven adjacent regions.
What exists in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding occupied territories is an unrecognized separatist regime and should be called as such. To call it a “disputed enclave” plays into the hands of the separatist regime which strives to gain international legitimacy.