EuFoA’s Pick of the Day
Charge d’Affaires: EU will go on supporting legal framework in Armenia
News.am, December 10, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/243440.html
Legal framework is a priority area for the assistance of the European Union to Armenia, Dirk Lorenz, Charge d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Armenia, said in Yerevan on Wednesday.
Speaking at the roundtable organized by the Ombudsman of Armenia to mark the International Human Rights Day, he told that the EU has provided a significant assistance to Ombudsman’s office.
On the whole, the economic relations between Armenia and the EU remain sound: the country is one of the beneficiaries of the GSP+ system of trade preferences. It allows about 2/3 of product categories to enter the EU market, wholly or partially exempt from customs duties. The EU welcomes the efforts of Armenia to build up a sustainable quality framework, for the domestic production to be eligible to enter the European Union.
He reminded that the EU has pledged to allocate 140-170 mln euro of assistance to Armenia for 2014-17. The priorities for assistance are the judiciary system, public administration and private sector development.
“Here, no progress can be made without an independent judiciary system and strong competition rules. A lot has been achieved but we shouldn’t be shy to say there is room for improvement”, he told.
Another area of cooperation is border management between Armenia and Georgia. Seamless procedures of movement of goods and people through these two neighboring countries significantly increase opportunities for business to the benefit of both countries, Lorenz added.
EU-Armenia Relations
Lithuanian Foreign Minister due in Armenia for a working visit
ArmRadio, December 11, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/2014/12/11/lithuanian-foreign-minister-due-in-armenia-for-a-working-visit/
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics will arrive in Armenia on December 12 for a working visit at the invitation of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
Within the framework of the visit Edgars Rinkevics will meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Chairman of the National Assembly Galust Sahakyana nd Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries will be followed by a joint press conference.
General News on Armenia
Armenia, World Bank reiterate willingness to maintain cooperation
ArmRadio, December 11, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/2014/12/10/armenia-world-bank-reiterate-willingness-to-maintain-cooperation/
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received today the World Bank delegation headed by WB Country Manager for Armenia Laura E. Bailey.
The parties discussed issues related to the current state of the Armenian economy and the perspectives of development, Armenia’s monetary and tax and budgetary policy.
They attached importance to the implementation of economic policy in line with the global and regional economic realities and the changing state of the international market, as well as creation of a corresponding economic environment.
The parties reiterated the willingness to maintain cooperation in the above-mentioned directions.
U.S. visa to be issued for 10 yearperiod
ArmenPress, December 11, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/787400/us-visa-to-be-issued-for-10-year-period.html
The Government of the Republic of Armenia established a nonvisa regime for the citizens of the United States of America to Armenia since January 1 2015. In its return the USA will deliver 10year multiple entry visas to some circles of the Armenian citizens. Armenpress reports that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian stated at the session of the Government that the nonvisa regime for the U.S. citizens is conditioned by the 28 thclause of the actions plan signed in the result of the ArmenianAmerican intergovernmental session, according to which “the both sides will finalize the visa issue, establishing free visa regime for the U.S. citizens and a 10year multiple entry visa regime for the Armenian citizens”.
The Minister stated that since January 1 2015 the representatives of wide circles of the Republic of Armenia will be able to get a 10year entry visa to visit the USA.
Prime Minister Abrahamyan to pay official visit to Georgia
Aysor.am, December 11, 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2014/12/10/Prime-Minister-Abrahamyan-to-pay-official-visit-to-Georgia/883483
A delegation led by Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan will leave for an official visit to Georgia on December 11, the press office of the government reports.
During the visit H. Abrahamyan will meet with Georgian President Georgy Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. He will also visit Armenian churches in Tbilisi and meet representatives of the Armenian community.
Armenia appoints member in CIS Economic Council
Tert.am, December 11, 2014, https://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/11/vache-gabrielyan/1532864
The Armenian cabinet on Thursday pased a decision to appoint a member in an economic organization of former Soviet republics.
Vice Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan will represent the county in the Commonwealth of Independent States’ Economic Council, replacing Armen Gevorgyan, his predecessor who quit office in October.
Armenian and Kazakh presidents have phone conversation
Aysor.am, December 11, 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2014/12/10/Armenian-and-Kazakh-presidents-have-phone-conversation/883484
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had today a phone conversation with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, according to the presidential press service.
The two presidents discussed issues related to the agenda of Armenian-Kazakh bilateral relations as well as cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Currency Curve: Dram weakening continues amid CB’s “new approach”
Armenia Now, December 11, 2014, https://www.armenianow.com/economy/59244/armenia_dram_dollar_currency_rate
The Armenian dram continued to fall against major international currencies on the third day of application of a new “approach” adopted by the Central Bank (CB) to stabilize the financial market.
On Monday, the CB announced that it will sell fixed amounts of dollars to Armenian commercial banks and publicize information about those transactions on a daily basis. Its governor Artur Javadyan said the next day that the move is aimed at dealing with “speculative” currency trading and will result in the stabilization of the currency market by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, after Wednesday’s trading the average exchange rate of the Armenian dram settled at 457.31/$1, which is up by AMD 2.23 from Tuesday. The exchange rates for one euro and one British pound were AMD 566.65 (up by AMD 4.81) and AMD 716.65 (up by AMD 4.81), respectively.
The Armenian dram that had traded at around 410 per U.S. dollar for a durable period of time began to show signs of weakening in late November. It lost up to 10 percent of its value in the following weeks.
Opposition Parties Promise New Action Plan
Azatutyun, December 11, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/26736138.html
Three leading opposition parties assured thousands of supporters rallying in Yerevan on Wednesday that they will soon publicize a plan of further joint actions aimed at achieving “regime change” in Armenia.
“The popular movement will soon present a program of joint actions, including mass public gatherings, aimed at expediting complete regime change in Armenia and establishing a government of the people through pre-term free and fair elections,” Levon Zurabian, a senior member of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), said in a speech delivered in Liberty Square.
The HAK and the Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and Zharangutyun (Heritage) parties held the rally there to mark International Human Rights Day more one month after their most recent anti-government protest. They have yet to shed light on the future of their joint push for power announced in September.
Levon Ter-Petrosian and Gagik Tsarukian, the top leaders of the HAK and the BHK respectively, were conspicuously absent from the latest demonstration. Zharangutyun’s Raffi Hovannisian attended it but avoided addressing the crowd before it marched through the city center. Hovannisian said he is still awaiting Ter-Petrosian’s and Tsarukian’s responses to his calls for the opposition trio to draw up a specific “common agenda.”
General News on Karabakh
Increased tensions reported along Armenia-Azerbaijan border
Tert.am, December 11, 2014, https://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/11/artsrun-hovhannisyan/1532791
Armenia’s eastern border was under increasingly active gun attacks from Azerbaijan overnight, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense says.
“The gunshots increased in number from 30-40 to about 200,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan told Tert.am, when asked to comment on the situation in border zones.
According to him, Armenian side reacted to the attacks only upon necessity.
Adam Schiff Condemns Killing of Karabakh Soldier by Azeri Forces
Asbarez, December 10, 2014, https://asbarez.com/129741/adam-schiff-condemns-killing-of-karabakh-soldier-by-azeri-forces/
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Tuesday condemned the killing of an Artsakh Defense Army soldier on Monday by Azeri forces along the border.
“The killing of yet another Karabkh soldier by Azeri forces is the latest outrage perpetrated by Baku against the Armenian people and I extend my condolences to the family and colleagues of the dead soldier,” Schiff said.
“This unprovoked and deadly violence against the people of Artsakh and its people must stop. Yesterday’s incident comes only weeks after Azerbaijan shot down an unarmed NKR helicopter that was operating inside the airspace of Nagorno Karabach and should serve to spur the Minsk Group to redouble its efforts to mediate a peaceful solution to a standoff that could erupt at any moment.”
“I also urge Secretary of State John Kerry to take this issue up with the Aliyev regime as soon as possible and before more innocent lives are lost,” Schiff said in his statement.
19-year-old Artsakh Defense Army serviceman Garik Ispiryan was shot dead on Monday by Azeri forces firing in the direction of Armenian positions at the eastern section of the border between Artsakh and Azerbaijan.
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to hold meeting in Berlin
News.am, December 11, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/243519.html
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will hold a meeting in Berlin, American Co-Chair James Warlick tweeted.
The Co-Chairs will be meeting with German officials to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh.
Earlier this month the mediators held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
News from International Sources
Daily Press Briefing, Jen Psaki
US Department of State, December 10, 2014, https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2014/12/234934.htm#AZERBAIJAN
QUESTION: Azerbaijan.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Do you have any more information about the detained journalist, Khadija Ismayilova, and/or U.S. Government communications with authorities in Baku about her case?
MS. PSAKI: I don’t know that I have more information. I’m happy to reiterate. I don’t know if any of this is new because I haven’t spoken about this in a couple days, but let me reiterate and see where we are. We’re concerned – we’re very concerned by the arrest and pretrial detention of Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova. We’re deeply troubled by increased restrictions on civil society activities, including on journalists, in Azerbaijan. We are increasingly concerned that the government is not living up to its international human rights commitments and obligations. We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to respect the universal rights of its citizens and allow them to freely express their views.
Pressure on Ilgar Mammadov’s lawyer is unacceptable
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, December 10, 2014, https://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=5347&lang=2&cat=15
“I have learned today that Khalid Bagirov, the lawyer of Azerbaijani civil society activist Ilgar Mammadov, has had his licence to practice suspended. Against the background of increasing intimidation of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan, such clear pressure on independent lawyers defending civil society activists is unacceptable,” said Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).I also take this opportunity to highlight that Mr Mammadov remains in prison, notwithstanding the final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg that his detention was against the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights. Therefore, I once again call on the Azerbaijani authorities to free Mr Mammadov without further delay and to refrain from targeting civil rights activists and their lawyers.”
Turkey: Security Bill Undermines Rights
Human Rights Watch, December 11, 2014, https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/12/11/turkey-security-bill-undermines-rights
The Turkish government’s proposed expansion of police powers to search and detain and for the use of firearms would undermine human rights protections. A number of the proposals in a draft security bill would circumvent the role of prosecutors and judiciary in ways that directly undercut safeguards against the arbitrary abuse of power.
On December 2, 2014, Turkey’s Parliament passed a separate law that also widened police and court powers. The new security bill, published on the parliamentary website on November 25, would stiffen penalties for people involved in some protests and allow provincial governors to instruct police to focus on particular crimes and perpetrators, seemingly usurping the role of prosecutors and judges. Its introduction followed violent protests in southeastern Turkey on October 6 and 7 that left up to 50 people dead.
“The government has already pushed problematic new police measures through parliament, and now it wants to give itself even greater security powers,” said Emma Sinclair-Webb, senior Turkey researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Parliament should put the brakes on and ensure that this bill protects human rights as well as public safety.”
News on Turkey
Bar associations and lawyers slam gov’t over laws limiting rights
Today’s Zaman, December 10, 2014, https://www.todayszaman.com/national_bar-associations-and-lawyers-slam-govt-over-laws-limiting-rights_366629.html
A group of lawyers and the head of certain bar associations gathered in front of the Constitutional Court building to criticize the government for enacting laws limiting basic freedoms and rights and declare support for the top court, which has recently been reconsidering key laws passed by Parliament.
Marking International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10 in front of the court on Wednesday, the lawyers drew attention to the role that the court has recently undertaken in its handling of several highly controversial laws that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has passed in Parliament. One is a 35-article judiciary package that has been criticized for damaging the rule of law and empowering the police force's authority.
Turkish opposition slams government during budget talks
Hurriyet Daily News, December 10, 2014, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-opposition-slams-government-during-budget-talks.aspx?pageID=238&nID=75475&NewsCatID=338
Opposition parties have criticized the government over its targets during budget talks in Parliament, asking it to reveal spending details.
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has called on the government to explain where taxpayers’ money is going and how the budget is being used.
Speaking to Parliament on Dec. 10, Kilıçdaroğlu questioned whether the government was preparing the budget according to the law, and asked if the budget had ever been declared within the time limit since 2006.
“Should mid-term programs not be released in the first week of September? This year's has still not been released yet,” the CHP leader said, calling on the government to explain why.
Kılıçdaroğlu also drew attention to the government’s efforts to “escape” from giving the financial accounts of a number of ministers to the Court of Accounts.
Majority of educated women victim of violence in Turkey, survey reveals
Hurriyet Daily News, December 10, 2014, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/majority-of-educated-women-victim-of-violence-in-turkey-survey-reveals.aspx?pageID=238&nID=75473&NewsCatID=509
A large majority of Turkish women who work in white-collar jobs and have a university degrees say they have been exposed to some kind of violence at least once in their life, according to a recent survey conducted by the Business Against Domestic Violence-BADV project.
A total of 75 percent of female respondents who work in white-collar jobs and are university graduates said they were exposed to violence at least once in their lives, according to the survey, which was conducted by the Sabancı Univeristy’s Corporate Governance of Turkey with the support of the Dutch government’s Matra fund and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The survey revealed that 8 percent of women were exposed to "physical violence," while 17 percent said they were exposed to "economic violence." Forty percent of respondents said they were exposed to "psychological or emotional violence" while 35 percent said they were exposed to "violence in society" at least once.
News from Azerbaijani Sources
Zakir Hasanov meets officer personnel
News.az, December 11, 2014, https://www.news.az/articles/karabakh/94220
Azerbaijan can restore its territorial integrity in a military way. The statement came from Defense Minister, colonel-general Zakir Hasanov speaking at the Center of Education and Training of Armed Forces at the meeting with the officer personnel of the human rights, military lawyers, attendees of the psychological courses, as well as the professor and teaching staff of the humanitarian chairs of special educational facilities, Oxu.Az reports with reference to the news service for the Defense Ministry.
The Minister specially noted that work to improve social conditions of the personal staff of the Armed Forces is currently underway in most regions. Works on major construction and repair are underway, household and economic activity in military units is changing, modern equipment and hardware are bought.
Hasanov noted that the trust shown by the country's leadership lays a great responsibility on the personal staff. He noted that everyone must feel responsibility for execution of the duty on the soonest liberation of the occupied lands.
The minister expressed confidence that the territorial integrity of the country will be restored in a military way, informed the officers, as well as the HR employees, military lawyers and psychologists about their duties, set recommendations and instructions on raising the education and moral and psychological training of the personal staff to the level of modern requirements.
BP to cut down staff in Azerbaijan-based office
Apa.az, December 11, 2014, https://en.apa.az/xeber_bp_to_cut_down_staff_in_azerbaijan-based_220239.html
BP is to spend $1bn on making job cuts next year.
Agshin Rafigoglu - APA-Economics. BP is to spend $1bn on making hundreds of job cuts over the next year in response to the continued slump in global oil prices, the Guardian reported.
According to Chief Executive Bob Dudley, it will be in the systems that support our operations and where BP has a significant corporate presence, so the US, the UK, Azerbaijan, Germany.
Company insiders said the cuts will hit every area of the business, although one said they were “unlikely to affect people on the platforms.
Head of Press service of BP-Azerbaijan Tamam Bayatli said this issue will be commented on in a short-run: “I’m at the meeting now. I’ll contact with you”.
Azer Gasimov: ‘I again urge the US State Department to focus attention on apparent and flagrant violation of democratic principles in its country’
Apa.az, December 11, 2014, https://en.apa.az/news/220258
- Spokespersons of the U.S. Department of State and European Union, heads of the Council of Europe and PACE issued statements regarding Khadija Ismayilova’s case. We would like to know your opinion on the matter.
- I regard these statements and speeches made by representatives of some international organizations and the U.S. Department of State as a continuation of a biased and double-standard campaign conducted against Azerbaijan basing on no facts or reality.
Representatives of European structures are trying to distract the international community's attention from their problems at a time when Europe is experiencing economic crisis, as well as violation of human rights, racial discrimination, fascist tendencies are increasing and attacks against multiculturalism intensifying in Europe.
As for the speech by the U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, I would like to draw attention to her answers to the questions about Khadija Ismailova. She has once again demonstrated the lack of professionalism using trite phrases not reflecting the reality in her both statements over the last ten days.