Armenian Human Rights Defender addresses UN human rights chief on Karen Petrosyan’s death case
Public radio of Armenia, 26 August 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/2014/08/26/armenias-human-rights-defender-addresses-un-human-rights-chief-on-karen-petrosyans-death-case/
RA Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Karen Andreasyan has sent a letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights Navi Pillay on the death case of Armenian peasant Karen Petrosyan, who died in Azerbaijani captivity. In his letter Andreasyan said in particular; “I express my deepest concern about the tortures and murders of Armenian captives in Azerbaijan. Particularly the case of Karen Petrosyan (who obviously had mental problems), who was humiliated and tortured by the Azerbaijani side as if he was a saboteur and was later claimed by Azerbaijan as “unexpectedly dead from a heart failure” is alarming not only for us, but for the international community as a whole.”.
General News on Armenia
No pressure placed on Armenia for speedy Customs Union accession
Arka.am, 25 August 2014, https://arka.am/en/news/politics/no_pressure_placed_on_armenia_for_speedy_cu_accession_president/#sthash.2F5AZXgm.dpuf
The allegations that Armenia has been under pressure to join the Customs Union at a breathtaking pace are not true, Sargsyan said at his meeting with young reporters at Baze-2014 youth gathering in Tsakhkadzor on Sunday.
Eurasian integration will not affect Armenia educational system – minister
News.am, 25 August 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/225515.html
The Eurasian integration will not have an impact on the educational process of Armenia, Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan noted at a press conference on Monday. Specifically, as per Ashotyan, the Bologna Process reforms will remain unchanged in the country.
Armenia and Georgia can greatly benefit from accession to EaEU and EU
Aysor.am, 25 August 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2014/08/25/manaseryan-makaryan/
The mutually beneficial economic ties between Armenia and Georgia have not been realized completely in the recent years, economist Tatul Manaseryan told reporters on Monday, adding that Armenia should enhance relations with Georgia since “we are doomed to close cooperation with Georgia.”
Armenia’s Sargsyan may sign constitutional reform concept in October
Arka.am, 25 August 2014, https://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenia_s_sargsyan_may_sign_constitutional_reform_concept_in_october/#sthash.IW7I6W63.dpuf
Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan said he will sign the constitutional reform concept this October, the presidential press office reported. The discussion process on the constitutional reform is transparent, according to the president.
Head of think-tank says the government set to cut tax evasion by 15 percent this year
Arka.am, 25 August 2014, https://arka.am/en/news/economy/head_of_think_tank_says_the_government_set_to_cut_tax_evasion_by_15_percent_this_year/#sthash.TJfwj0b7.dpuf
Tatul Manaseryan, the head of a Yerevan-based think-tank called ‘Alternative’ says the Armenian government is determined to cut tax evasion by around 10-15 percent this year.
Economist believes that Armenia can be integrated into Russian military industry
Armenpress.am, 25 August 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/773646/economist-believes-that-armenia-can-be-integrated-into-russian-military-industry.html
Economist Tatul Manaseryan calls on the Government to deepen military-industrial cooperation with Russia, taking advantage of the Western sanctions against the country. "We, for some reason, are now limiting ourselves only to the issue of increasing the export volumes of agricultural products, but this is not the limit. We must not forget the other important sectors. For example, I would call on the Government to take steps to deepen the military-industrial cooperation with Russia," reports “Armenpress”, citing Manaseryan.
Asbarez, Aztag Editors Discuss Challenges for Middle East Armenians
Asbarez.com, 25 August 2014, https://asbarez.com/126274/asbarez-aztag-editors-discuss-challenges-for-middle-east-armenians/
Recent events in the Middle East suggest that motives and geopolitical goals have changed. The situation will inevitably affect the large Armenian communities formed in the Middle East in the last one hundred years since the Armenian Genocide. But all is not against Armenians, editor-in-chief of the Beirut-based Aztag daily newspaper Shahan Kandaharian and editor of Los Angeles-based Asbarez daily Apo Boghigian told reporters in Yerevan. The ongoing instability and new developments in Middle East countries with large Armenian communities are of strategic importance for Armenians both in Armenia and the diaspora, they said.
Etchmiadzin ‘Concerned’ by Yazidi Massacres
Asbarez.com, 25 August 2014, https://asbarez.com/126271/etchmiadzin-%E2%80%98concerned%E2%80%99-by-yazidi-massacres/
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, has expressed support to His Holiness Mire-Mira Takhsin Beg, the spiritual leader of Yazidis worldwide.
French-Armenians voice support for Kurds, Yazidis
Public Radio of Armenia, 25 August 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/2014/08/25/french-armenians-voice-support-for-kurds-yazidis/
On Saturday, Aug. 23, around 600 people demonstrated in Paris to show their support to Kurds and Yazidis—victims of massacres committed by the Islamic State (IS) in Iraqi Kurdistan—and to advocate for humanitarian aid for those who were forced to flee, Jean Eckian reports from Paris.
The group included representatives from the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) and the Armenian Institute of France.
General News on Nagorno-Karabakh
Matthew Bryza: “The United Nations has no mechanism to enforce Karabakh resolution”
Vestnik Kavkaza, 25 August 2014, https://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/59208.html
One of the most informed Western experts on the South Caucasus, a former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan and former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, told Vestnik Kavkaza about his views on prospects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Armed Forces once again demonstrated high level of preparedness: NKR President
Armenpress.am, 25 August 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/773685/armed-forces-once-again-demonstrated-high-level-of-preparedness-nkr-president.html
On August 25, the NKR President Bako Sahakyan convoked a meeting of the Security Council. (…) the agenda of the meeting consisted of two block of issues, the first related to the activities carried out to improve the situation formed in the Shahoumyan region and along the Karabakh-Azerbaijani border following the escalation generated by Azerbaijan in the July-August of the current year, the results of it and further steps to be carried out in this direction; the second related to celebrations of the 23rd anniversary of the NKR proclamation.
Karabakh official: Resumption of hostilities in Karabakh will bring new victory to Armenian side
Panorama.am, 25 August 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/08/25/m-hakobyan/
The resumption of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh will bring a new victory to the Armenian side, Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Minister Movses Hakobyan says. At a meeting with reporters in Stepanakert, in response to the question of Panorama.am: “How the Armenian soldiers will respond to the enemy in case of a war,” Mr Hakobyan said that he expects nothing else and his soldiers are ready for victory. “As Defense Minister, I get prepared for war every day. My activities and the activities of my subordinates are aimed at this,” said the official.
Azeri Commandos to be Charged According to Artsakh Laws
Asbarez.com, 25 August 2014, https://asbarez.com/126304/azeri-commandos-to-be-charged-according-to-artsakh-laws/
Dilham Askerov and Shahbaz Guliyev, members of an armed group of Azerbaijanis apprehended in July in Karvachar by Artsakh authorities, will be charged according to the laws of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Artsakh Defense Army commander Movses Hakobyan said on Monday.
Poll: One in 4 Russians believes Karabakh is an independent state
News.am, 25 August 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/225475.html
Around 24 percent of Russian citizens consider Nagrono-Karabakh an independent state, the survey showed. According to the poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, 11 percent of Russians believe that this territory is a part of Armenia, and only nine percent think that it belongs to Azerbaijan. Half of the respondents found it difficult to respond.
Generation watching Armenia’s border surpasses its predecessors: Artsakh Diocese leader
Amenpress.am, 25 August 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/773674/generation-watching-armenia%E2%80%99s-border-surpasses-its-predecessors-artsakh-diocese-leader.html
The Armenian border today is watched by a brilliant generation that surpasses its predecessors, which is a sign of progress. This is how the leader of the Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan described the Armenian soldier in a conversation with the journalists who arrived in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from Yerevan."
Canadian MP calls for end to bloodshed in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone
Amenpress.am, 25 August 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/773700/canadian-mp-calls-for-end-to-bloodshed-in-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-zone.html
Harold Albrecht, Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group and Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga considers that Azerbaijani attacks in mid-August have led to a situation that threatens to destabilize the entire region.
News from Azerbaijani sources
“It is possible that Karen Petrosyan was a representant of sexual minorities, as Paris is defending him officially”, affirms Araz Alizade
1news.az, 22 August 2014, https://www.1news.az/politics/karabakh/20140822121959634.html [LINK IN RUSSIAN]
France is known to be very concerned about the protection of sexual minorities, and it is possible that Karen Petrosyan was the representative of these minorities. This is why Paris is so concerned about him, even after his death, ignoring the situation and casualties of the Azerbaijani side. This was stated in an interview with 1news.az by Araz Alizade, chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (ASDP).
International news
Sanctions to intensify Eurasian integration
Vestnik Kavkaza, 25 August 2014, https://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/59224.html
When Moscow launched an embargo on certain imports from the countries which have supported sanctions against Russia, Russian economists focused on ways of import substitution and opening new markets for the country.
“To restore broken dialogues and undermined friendships between people, it is necessary to develop humanitarian and economic contacts. As for the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, considering the Nagorno-Karabakh factor, economic issues could play a big and important role,” Denis Tyurin says. He thinks that “if politicians of Armenia and Azerbaijan give priority to increasing the living standards of the population and development of economic ties between regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, it would encourage the development of political dialogue.”
News about Turkey
Armenia’s Foreign Minister to Attend Erdogan’s Inauguration
Asbarez.com, 25 August 2014, https://asbarez.com/126259/armenia%E2%80%99s-foreign-minister-to-attend-erdogan%E2%80%99s-inauguration/
Armenia’s presidential press office announced on Sunday that the government of Armenia has received an invitation from Ankara to attend the Turkish president-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s inauguration ceremony.
Armenia to engage in Dogu Perincek case as third party
Public Radio of Armenia, 25 August 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/2014/08/25/armenia-to-engage-in-dogu-perincek-case-as-third-party/
The Armenian Government has sent an official application to the European Court of Human Rights to engage in the Dogu Perincek case as a third party, Christine Melkonyan, Press Secretary of Armenian Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan, told Armenpress. The deadline for filing an application was August 26.