EU ready to offer new cooperation to Armenia, says Polish envoy
Tert.am, November 17, 2014, https://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/11/17/armenia-poland-ambassador/
“In the frameworks of the European Neighborhood Policy, the European Union is building partnership and cooperation with its 16 neighbor countries in the south and east in an effort to strengthen security, stability and welfare. And Eastern Partnership, which addresses the six EU eastern partners including Armenia, is part of the European Neighborhood Policy.
“The EU offers special, privileged relations to its eastern partners. They envisage political cooperation, deepening of economic integration, facilitation of individual mobility including exchange of students and scholars, cooperation in cultural and local government sectors etc. As to what extent that cooperation will be intensive, it depends on the partner countries themselves. The higher a partner country’s integration into the EU mutual cooperation, the more the European Union’s technical and financial involvement,” he noted.
The diplomat added that the partnership will be deeper with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, the three EaP countries which have agreed to sign the Association Agreement. “That doesn’t naturally mean that the EU is not going to cooperate with the other [Eastern] partners, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. On the contrary, with the countries which have chosen a different integration format, abandoning the economic integration in the frameworks of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement, and which are member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the EU will seek possible spheres of cooperation, evaluating their significance in terms of the realization of the interests of the entire Union and its member states,” he added.
EU-Armenia Relations
Letter by Eleni Theocharous, MEP to Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission
Sent by E-mail, November 14, 2014
“…Your Excellency, I have read the statement issued by the EU on November 12, 2014 about the incident mentioned above and I consider that we can do something more. I propose to organise an ad hoc mission to examine on the ground what really happened. What is evident is that the government of Azerbaijan has violated the cease-fire and three innocent people have rather lost their lives. The EU should condemn this action and support the efforts for the solution of the problem on the basis of the right of self-determination of the people of Artsakh (article 1 paragraph 2 of the UN Charter).…”
Statement on the shooting down of Armenian military helicopter
Sajjad Karim, November 14, 2014, https://www.sajjadkarim.eu/2014/11/14/statement-on-the-shooting-down-of-armenian-military-helicopter/
Sajjad Karim MEP is currently the Chairman of the Delegation to the EU Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees.
Following the shooting down of an Armenian military helicopter resulting in the tragic loss of 3 lives Sajjad has issued the following statement:
“I express my condolences to the families of the crew members who lost their lives in the military helicopter which was reportedly shot down on Wednesday.
I would also like to express my concern for the events that surround this incident. This is the worst single incident involving military aircraft in 20 years and it is crucial, for the sake of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, that both sides show restraint.
I would urge for a transparent investigation into the incident and call all sides to respect the ceasefire.”
General News on Armenia
National Assembly approves reorganization of government structure
Aysor.am, November 17, 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2014/11/17/parliament-gov/
The Armenian parliament adopted the bill on amendments and additions to the law on reorganization of the government’s structure in the second and final readings. 70 deputies voted in favor of the bill, 6 voted against, and 31 MPs abstained in the vote.
By the amendments, a Ministry of International Integration and Reforms will be created, while Ministry of Emergency Situations and Ministry of Territorial Administration will be merged into one structure.
Constitutional Court OKs Armenian Entry To Eurasian Union
Azatutyun, November 14, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/26692504.html
The Constitutional Court upheld on Friday a recently signed treaty on Armenia’s accession to the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, paving the way for its ratification by the Armenian parliament.
In a widely anticipated decision, the panel of nine judges ruled that the treaty does not run counter to the Armenian constitution.
The more than 40-page ruling read out by the court chairman, Gagik Harutiunian, also argued that economic integration among various states is becoming the norm in the modern world. “Even developed countries are engaged in these processes and have no alternatives in the new millennium,” it said.
CSTO members agree to continue monitoring military-political situation
News.am, November 17, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/239592.html
Heads of staff of the CSTO member states' armed forces have agreed to continue regular monitoring of political and military situation during the first expanded meeting of the CSTO military committee.
The results of the monitoring will be submitted to the general commands of the armed forces of the member states every month, Russian armed forces Chief-of-Staff Valery Gerasimov said.
“Challenges and threats which the CSTO member-states are facing, have a complex character: economic, political and informational,” ITAR-TASS quotes Gerasimov. “That’s why today at the session in Yekaterinburg we agreed to continue the regular monitoring of the military-political situation”.
Armenia is represented at the meeting by Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov.
General News on Karabakh
OSCE to conduct monitoring at Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact
News.am, November 17, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/239533.html
The OSCE Mission will conduct a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the Askeran direction on Tuesday in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring will be conducted by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk and his Field Assistants Yevgeny Sharov (Ukraine) and Khristo Khristov (Bulgaria), as well as by representative of the OSCE High-Level Planning Group (HLPG) Major Vitaly Belokon (Russia).
The NKR authorities have expressed their readiness to assist in conducting the monitoring and to ensure the security of the OSCE Mission members.
Andrzej Kasprzyk to visit the vicinity of MI-24 helicopter crash site
Mediamax, November 17, 2014, https://www.mediamax.am/en/news/karabakh/12313/
Personal Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk will visit the vicinity of crash site of MI-24 helicopter shot down by Azerbaijani Armed Forces last week.
Mediamax was informed about it in the OSCE Communication and Public Relations Section which refrained from other details.
Mediamax recalls that President of Arstakh Bako Sahakyan discussed the situation on the contact line with Personal Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk in Stepanakert on November 16.
While carrying out a training flight, NKR MI-24 helicopter was shot down by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the air space of eastern sector of NK-Azerbaijan border at around 13: 45 on November 12. Azerbaijan continuously maintained tension on the crash site of the helicopter which didn't allow the Armenian side to approach the helicopter and find out what had happened to the crew.
Chairman Royce; Members of Congress Condemn Azerbaijan for Downing of Karabakh Helicopter
Asbarez, November 14, 2014, https://asbarez.com/128921/chairman-royce-members-of-congress-condemn-azerbaijan-for-downing-of-karabakh-helicopter/
Members of Congress continue condemning Azerbaijan’s latest escalation of anti-Armenian aggression, in the form of its introduction of surface-to-air missiles in a fatal attack this week on an unarmed helicopter flying over Nagorno Karabakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“The downing of an Armenian helicopter today is an indefensible aggressive action that threatens to undermine the fragile ceasefire and plunge the region back into violence,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) announced, just hours after the November 12th Azerbaijani attack. “Azerbaijan must immediately cease all such attacks and provocations and commit to concrete progress in the Minsk Group talks.”
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) noted that he was “outraged and saddened” and called for immediate U.S. action to hold Azerbaijan accountable for their action. “I encourage President Obama to formally condemn this deadly attack,” said Rep. Pallone. “I am also calling for the cessation of any military assistance to Azerbaijan and the strengthening of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which restricts aid to Azerbaijan based on its aggression toward Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia.”
Issue of helicopter downed by Azerbaijan again raised in UN
Armenpress, November 15, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/784123/issue-of-helicopter-downed-by-azerbaijan-again-raised-in-un.html
Reporter: “Of course, we are talking about all parties. But an Azerbaijani military officer murders Armenian officer during NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] disciplinary trainings in his sleep with an axe, and not only he walks free, he becomes a national hero. As Azerbaijani snipers on a regular basis murder Armenian soldiers on the border during the armistice — this is normal — as their Azerbaijani military kidnap Armenian innocent villagers and torture them to death, I think: why don't we call and why can't we call a spade a spade? We are not dealing with parties here. We are dealing with clear aggressor and victims, innocent victims. So why can't we call an aggressor an aggressor, like Azerbaijan, and call for their full responsibility, especially since we know that these countries are in peace talks and every time such things happen, it's a provocation for an answer and prolonged war.”
While addressing the question put forward, the Deputy Spokesman made another evasive statement: “Yes, thanks. I'm aware of your opinion, and I've registered that. At the same time, I've said what I had to say on this. And this is a call to all parties. We do want all parties to respect and adhere to the ceasefire, and that is where we are focusing our efforts at this point.
Armenia opposition member declares hunger strike outside OSCE office
News.am, November 17, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/239573.html
Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party Spokesperson Davit Sanasaryan, who is also a member of the opposition “Barev [Hello], Yerevan” faction at the capital city Yerevan Council, has commenced a hunger strike.
Sanasaryan informed about the aforesaid in his Facebook account.
“I am starting a hunger strike, on [Monday,] 17 November at 1:45pm in front of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, as a sign of protest to uncover the causes of the Armenian helicopter’s shooting at the Karabakh-Azerbaijan zone of contact, and the returning of the bodies of our three pilots who are killed. This is not solely the task of the MOD.
If there is an organization which I have an unconditional faith in, it is our Armed Forces.”
News from International Sources
Duke of York to meet Azeri despot Ilham Aliyev for 12th time
The Independent, November 12, 2014, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/duke-of-york-to-meet-azeri-despot-ilham-aliyev-for-12th-time-9857222.html
Prince Andrew is flying out today for face-to-face talks with the billionaire leader of Azerbaijan, The Independent can reveal – raising fresh concerns about the royal’s willingness to associate with oppressive regimes.
The Duke of York will hold a private meeting with President Ilham Aliyev during a four-day stay in Baku, despite a growing international outcry about the treatment of human rights activists in the oil- and gas-rich former Soviet state.
It was not clear last night in what capacity the Prince is visiting Azerbaijan, given that he was forced to step down as the UK’s trade envoy in 2011 when his friendship with Mr Aliyev and other controversial leaders attracted criticism.
Azerbaijan: Rights Activists on the Brink
EurasiaNet, November 14, 2014, https://www.eurasianet.org/node/70936
When Azerbaijan served as chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, it scoffed at the spirit and purpose of the organization and moved vigorously to squash all forms of free speech at home. Now that Baku no longer holds the top spot, civil society activists are worrying about what Azerbaijani authorities will do next.
All civil society actors in Azerbaijan currently are grappling with a daunting dilemma: either stop engaging in rights-related activism or pay a high price, in particular face the prospect of criminal prosecution. Dozens of activists and independent journalists remain behind bars for no reason other than engaging in rights work or tacitly promoting free speech. At the moment, the country’s jails hold at least 90 political prisoners, almost double the number in Belarus and Russia combined. These prisoners of conscience face a variety of cooked-up charges, including hooliganism, drug possession, tax evasion and treason.
German foreign minister wants to develop contacts between EU and EaEU
Vestnik Kavkaza, November 17, 2014, https://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/62236.html
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said yesterday that representatives of the EU and the EaEU needed to contact each other. Andrey Smirnov, vice president of the Eurasian Cooperation Development Fund, reminded that Russia had always been interested in dialogue. In his words, Victor Yanukovych had proposed reconsideration of signing the EU Association Agreement a year ago.
Smirnov believes that the West has shown a more pragmatic attitude towards the alliance of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia (and Kyrgyzstan joining them on January 1). In his words, Serbia, Vietnam and Venezuela showed interest. The West stopped viewing the EaEU as a revival of the Soviet Union or imperial ambitions, the expert assumed.
Vladimir Lepekhin, the director of the EurAsEC Institute, said that dialogue had started during the signing of the Minsk Protocols in September 2014. He reminded that Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander Lukashenko had taken part in the process. The success of the dialogue should reduce tensions in Ukraine and Moldova, the expert believes.
News on Turkey
The Armenian Genocide
History Channel, November 17, 2014, https://www.historychannel.com.au/tv-shows/1534/the-armenian-genocide
Watch on Monday November 17 at 9.30pm: More than a million Armenians perished between 1915 and 1916; victims of a policy of deportation and massacres. This is one of the worst genocides of the twentieth century, one of the most controversial as well, always denied by Turkey and hotly legal battles.
To understand the origin, nature and issues of the Armenian Genocide, Laurence Jourdan endeavoured to trace the massacres committed against the Armenians during the previous decades and analyse the geopolitical context that preceded and followed the course of genocide.
Throughout the film, reports and texts of Western diplomats in the Ottoman Empire at the time of the facts remarkably enlighten us on the methods used and the axes of deportations. These stories are combined with testimonies of genocide survivors still alive today and the archives of the Ottoman authorities.
Italian MP complains on Turkish Embassy’s anti-Armenian activity
Armenpress, November 15, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/784125/italian-mp-complains-on-turkish-embassy%E2%80%99s-anti-armenian-activity.html
Italian MP Romina Mura voiced a question before the country’s Government regarding the activity of the Turkish Embassy to Italy. “Armenpress” reports about this citing the personal website of the Italian MP.
Among other things, Mura underscored: “The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire will be marked next year. 1.5 million people were killed. So many years have passed now, but Turkey still continues denying that it has committed genocide and conducts the policy of putting pressure on all those, who call the elimination of the Armenian Christians a genocide. Turkey has reached a point, that it now targets Pope Francis, who called it 'the first genocide of the 20th century'.
Turkish-Armenian relations need a new game-changer
Hurriyet Daily News, November 15, 2014, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-armenian-relations-need-a-new-game-changer.aspx?pageID=238&nID=74245&NewsCatID=396
As Turkey prepares itself for the centenary of Gallipoli and chairing the G-20 summit in 2015, some other forces around the world are perhaps preparing inconspicuous scenarios to increase the duress on Turkey to “recognize” the events in 1915 as “genocide.” Turkish-Armenian relations, as well as Turkey’s bilateral relations with a number of other countries, will have to go through yet another test to overcome the 2015-syndrome.
When I think of Turkish-Armenian relations, I am inclined to characterize it as “history of missed opportunities” that has done injustice not only to the two nations, the two peoples, the two countries, but also to the whole Caucasus region. Unless there is normalization in Turkish-Armenian relations we will have serious difficulty in talking about an environment of sustainable peace and stability in the Caucasus.
PM says received strong signals from US over changing Syria policy
Today’s Zaman, November 16, 2014, https://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_pm-says-received-strong-signals-from-us-over-changing-syria-policy_364527.html
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said over the weekend that he has received strong signals from the US over its changing Syria policy, adding that Turkey and the US share more joint parameters on following an integrated strategy for both Iraq and Syria.
Addressing a group of journalists following his meeting with US President Barack Obama on Nov. 15 on the sidelines of the G-20 Leaders' Summit, Davutoğlu said there is a need for an integrated strategy so that Turkey could take on responsibility in fighting against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Davutoğlu stressed that Turkey and the US have a joint perspective over the future of Syria, saying that US officials have been saying that both President Bashar al-Assad and ISIL should go.
Erdoğan says America was discovered by Muslims, not Columbus.
Hurriyet Daily News, November 15, 2014, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-says-america-was-discovered-by-muslims-not-columbus.aspx?pageID=238&nID=74371&NewsCatID=338
America was discovered by Muslims, not by Christopher Columbus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has claimed, vowing to build a mosque "on that hill" in Cuba if the authorities of the Caribbean nation grant the permit.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the first LatinAmerican Muslim leaders summit in Istanbul on Nov. 15, Erdoğan slammed colonialism before referring to a controversial claim about the discovery of the Americas.
News from Azerbaijani Sources
Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ immediate blow to Armenia will be extremely effective and destructive – Defense Ministry
APA.az, November 17, 2014, https://en.apa.az/xeber_azerbaijani_armed_forces____immediate_blow_219083.html
“If the Armenian side once again resorts to any military operation, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ immediate blow to the invaders will be extremely effective and destructive, leading to heavy losses and destruction that they can’t forgot for a long time.
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry issued a statement in response to the statements of the Armenian side, APA reports.
It is said that the Armenian military-political regime continues issuing irresponsible statements threatening Azerbaijan.
“They, deceiving and pulling their people into provocation, pursue an aggressive policy against Azerbaijan. It’s the consequence of their wrong assessment of the existing situation in the region. The Defense Ministry officially states that the enemy should realize the importance of the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of its troops from the occupied territories and not let Armenian youth be slaughtered in vain by preventing them from the unjust war. The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan is able and ready to prevent any act of provocation by the enemy,” the statement said.