OSCE monitoring passed without incidents
Armenpress, 18 November 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/784396/
On November 18, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission conducted a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the Askeran direction. (…)
The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule. No violation of the cease-fire regime was registered. From the Karabakh side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.
EU-Armenia Relations
OSCE Office helps strengthen civil service integrity and accountability in Armenia
Armenpress, 17 November 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/784297/
Training on integrity, transparency and reduction of corruption risks in public administration was held for some forty high-level representatives from Armenia’s government institutions and regional self-government bodies on10-15 November 2014, in Aghveran, Kotayk region. The training was held by the Union of Armenia's Government Employees NGO with the OSCE Office in Yerevan support and in partnership with the Civil Service Council of Armenia.
Armenpress reports that Naira Gyulnazaryan, anti-corruption projects coordinator at the OSCE Office in Yerevan said: “Integrity, skillful and fair work of civil servants is essential for effective public administration and we hope our joint efforts will promote efficient and accountable governance in Armenia.”
The training focused on the principles of integrity in civil service, accountability, ethics, conflict of interest, public relations, and case studies on civil servant engagement in decision making process.
General News on Armenia
Armenia among countries with lowest rates of modern slavery
Armenpress, 18 November 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/784333/
The Walk Free Foundation (WFF), an Australia-based NGO has published the annual global slavery index, where Armenia occupies the 116th position (10,700 men) among 167 countries, thus recording the best rates in the entire region. Turkey occupies the 28th place; Azerbaijan is the 77th, Iran 16th, while neighboring Georgia comes the 105th.
As reports “Armenpress”, the countries with the highest numbers of people in modern slavery are India, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Taken together, these countries account for 71 percent of the estimated 35.8 million people in modern slavery.
Russian government commission backs bill on Armenia’s accession to EEU
Arka, 18 November 2014, https://arka.am/en/news/politics/russian_government_commission_backs_bill_on_armenia_s_accession_to_eeu/
The Russian government commission on lawmaking approved the bill about ratification of the agreement on Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the cabinet website reported on Tuesday.
The bill was proposed by the foreign ministry and the ministry of economic development and is expected to be considered at a government sitting.
The entry of the treaty into force will ensure Armenia’s involvement in the EEU as from January 2, 2015, and will allow reducing list of exceptions and limitations to mutual access to member-countries’ markets, says the report cited by Novosti-Armenia referring to RIA Novosti.
Three to Tango?: Opposition bloc signals ‘common agenda’ despite differences on strategies
ArmeniaNow, 18 November 2014, https://armenianow.com/news/politics/58573/armenia_politics_opposition_government_trio
Members of the three parties making up the so-called “non-governing” trio say their differences over strategies and terms of anti-government struggle do not prevent them from having a common agenda and calling a special session of parliament to discuss their proposal for amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code.
The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and Heritage demand that the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) agree to amending the Electoral Code in a way that would abolish the current mixed system of representation, including elections by party lists and from single-member constituencies, in favor of a 100-percent party-list ballot. The non-governing forces also want lists of voters who go to the polls to be published after the vote, something that the government insists violates the principle of secret ballot.
We work transparently – Armenia Police
News.am, 18 November 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/239713.html
The Police of Armenia are working towards ruling out the likelihood of forcible interrogation of suspects.
Deputy Chief of Police Vardan Yeghiazaryan stated the abovementioned at Tuesday’s parliamentary hearings.
Armenian-Kurdish Relations Is A Strategic Necessity
Asbarez.com, 17 November 2014, https://asbarez.com/128973/
Inadvertent avoidance of the obvious in a country’s external affairs is sheer incompetence. Deliberate evasion of the same is mere stupidity. This equation may well explain Armenia’s nonchalant attitude toward Kurdistan and the Kurds.
The obvious that is being avoided or evaded in Armenia’s external affairs is the fact of the rising empowerment of the Kurdish national movements spreading over eastern Turkey, northern Iraq and northeastern Syria. Armenia and Armenians can only ignore this geopolitical reality at the peril of their national interests. (…)Both Armenians and Kurds missed many opportunities to work together in protecting their collective interests against the Ottoman chicaneries. However, they sometimes did cooperate.
Armenia Wins 3rd Place in Junior Eurovision
Asbarez, 18 November 2014, https://asbarez.com/128961/
Vincenzo Cantiello of Italy became the winner of the 2014 Junior Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, with Armenia’s Betty taking bronze. (…) The runners-up were Krisia, Hasan, and Ibrahim from Bulgaria with “Planet of the Children” and Betty from Armenia in 3rd place with “People of the Sun.”
Armenia got 12 points from Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia and Malta.
General News on Karabakh
‘Day of Retribution Will Come,’ Sarkisian Says
Asbarez.com, 17 November 2014, https://asbarez.com/128939/
On Monday, on the third day of his working visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian, in company of Artsakh’s President Bako Sahakian, observed the Armenian and Artsakh armed forces’ joint operative-tactical military exercises at the Tigranakert Military Training Center, dubbed “Unity 2014.”
A tank biathlon competition was demonstrated during which the best participant in shooting and other categories was awarded. The Presidents of the two Armenian republics observed the exercises from an observation tower followed by an award ceremony dedicated to the servicemen actively involved in the military exercises and military service. Sarkisian congratulated the participants of the military exercise for demonstrating courage and high fighting abilities in the imitated battle and the successful implementation of these large-scale military exercises.
In his speech, Sarkisian told the officers and soldiers in attendance, “We all remember everything, and the day of retribution will come,” referring to the downing of an unarmed Artsakh Mi-24 helicopter by Azeri forces that resulted in the death of three Armenian servicemen.
Artsrun Hovhannisyan reminds Azerbaijan about Geneva Convention 15th article
Armenpress, 17 November 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/784306/
The Spokesperson of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan reminds the Azerbaijani authorities that besides the military actions, the rules on treating the wounded and dead people are also important.
Armenpress reports that the Spokesperson made a note in his Facebook profile about it, emphasizing that the international humanitarian law provides for the rules of treating with the wounded and dead people.
“In particular, we remind the leadership of the Azerbaijan’s army that the 15th article of the Geneva Convention, adopted in 1949, clearly defines: “Every time and especially the sides, conflicting after the war, should make every effort to find and gather all the wounded and ill people, protect them from robbery and ill-treatment, as well as search for the dead and protect them from being robbed”. This is just from the humanitarian point of view”, - wrote Artsrun Hovhannisyan.
Russian weapon may have been used in downing Armenian helicopter, says Karabakh Defense Minister
ArmeniaNow, 18 November 2014, https://www.armenianow.com/karabakh/58561/armenia_karabakh_helicopter_russian_weapon_defense_minister_movses_hakobyan
According to preliminary data, Azerbaijani forces used a Russian weapon in shooting down the Armenian Mi-24 military helicopter on November 12, Karabakh Defense Minister Movses Hakobyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Despite being Armenia’s closest political and military ally as well as a mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process, Russia is, at the same time, one of the largest suppliers of weapons to Azerbaijan. It is estimated that Moscow has sold modern types of weapons, including heavy materiel, worth around $4 billion to Baku in the past few years.
No progress in efforts to approach downed helicopter – Armenian Defense Ministry
Panorama.am, 17 November 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/popular/2014/11/17/a-hovhannisyan/
The Armenian side is still unable to approach the downed MI-24 helicopter, Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan told Panorama.am. Asked if Azerbaijani forces continue firing at the crash site of the helicopter, the spokesman said that in general, the situation is tense. According to Hovhannisyan, the Artsakh authorities are working with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, but these efforts have yielded no result so far.
Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire 800 times last week
Public Radio of Armenia, 17 November 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/2014/11/17/azerbaijan-violated-the-ceasefire-800-times-last-week/
According to the data of the NKR Defense Army, about 800 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan from November 9 to 15. The rival fired over 7,000 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions. Besides the above-mentioned ceasefire violations, on November 12 the Azerbaijani armed forces shot down a Mi-24 helicopter of the NKR Air Force at the eastern section of the Line of Contact.
News from International Sources
Escalation in the zone of the Karabakh conflict: a glance from Turkey
Vestnik Kavkaza, 17 November 2014, https://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/62261.html
The recent escalation in the zone of the Karabakh conflict connected to the downing of the Armenian military helicopter on November 12 remains in the center of attention of the sides of the conflict and of neighboring Turkey. Turkish experts and politicians in interviews with VK commented on the situation.
Iran to Build Hydroelectric Power Plant in Armenia
Fars News, 17 November 2014, https://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930826000727
"The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for building a hydroelectric power plant in Armenia has been finalized and the Iranian companies will start construction of the power plant soon," Chitchian said in Tehran on Monday.
Elsewhere, he noted the hi-tech and international reputation of Iranian water and power firms, and said Iranian water-management and power plant construction companies are active in 41 world states and even export a large amount of related products to other countries.
Iran and Armenia have taken major strides towards widening and deepening of their relations in recent years, particularly in the economic sector.
News from Azerbaijani Sources
Head of State Commission’s working group: Armenians forced Azerbaijani captives to demolish their compatriots’ graves
APA, 18 November 2014, https://en.apa.az/news/219123
“Some Armenian officers have built houses of gravestones and live inside” The Academy of Public Administration under the President of Azerbaijan has hosted an event on the subject “The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: The world must know the truth”, APA reports. Head of the Working Group of the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, Firudin Sadigov said international law criticizes wars.
State Committee: If necessary, Azerbaijan will allow to take bodies of downed Armenian helicopter pilots
APA, 18 November 2014, https://en.apa.az/xeber_state_committee__if_necessary__azerbaija_219125.html
“If necessary, Azerbaijan will allow to take the bodies of the downed Armenian helicopter pilots”, Head of the Working Group of the State Commission on Prisoners of War Hostages and Missing persons Firudin Sadigov said while addressing the event on the subject “The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: The world must know the truth”, APA reports.
Speaking about the helicopter incident, Sadigov mentioned that the helicopter was shot down in the territory of Azerbaijan.
“The bodies were left there, and weren’t taken by any side. “Armenians implore Andrzej Kasprzyk, but he doesn’t have such authority. If necessary, Azerbaijan will allow it”, he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to exercise restraint
Trend, 18 November 2014, https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/karabakh/2334124.html
China hopes that the sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can keep calm and exercise restraint so as to avoid escalating the situation, and resolve the issue through consultation and dialogue, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said at a briefing on Nov.18.
He was commenting on the recent incident on the line of contact of Azerbaijani and Armenian armies.
Hong Lei also expressed hope that OSCE Minsk Group will play a constructive role in this issue.
Armenia breaches ceasefire with Azerbaijan
AzerNews, 18 November 2014, https://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/73349.html
Armenian Armed Forces have broken ceasefire with Azerbaijan 24 times in numerous positions over the past 24 hours, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on November 18.
Armenian armed forces, located in the village of Mosesgekh of Armenia’s Berd district, opened fire at the positions of Azerbaijani armed forces located in the village of Alibayli of the Tovuz district.
Also, Azerbaijani positions, located in the village of Qizilhajili of the Qazakh district, took fire from the positions located in the Berkaber village of Armenia’s Ijevan district.
Azerbaijani positions also took fire from the positions located near the villages of Yusifjanli, Sarijali of the Aghdam district, Ashagi Veyselli of the Fizuli district and Kuropatkino of the Khojavend district.
Azerbaijani positions also underwent fire from the positions located at the nameless heights of Goranboy, Fizuli, Khojavand districts.