Armenia will continue dialog with EU, President says
Mediamax.am, October13, 2014, https://www.mediamax.am/en/
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said that Yerevan will continue dialog with the European Union.
The President said it in a statement on the outcomes of negotiations with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on October 12.
“As you know I have just returned from Minsk where Armenia signed the agreement on Armenia’s Eurasian Economic Union membership. We have made that decision to give a new impetus to the progress of our economy. The free mobility of goods, services, capital and workforce as well as the availability of affordable energy carriers and the introduction of common transport solutions in the Eurasian space account for new opportunities to raise the competitiveness and productivity of our economy.
But it is also highly important that our partners knew we do not set it against our dialog with the EU. It continues and will be ongoing as we have a number of common interests and shared heritage based on which we go on with democratic reforms in our country”, said the Armenian President.
EU-Armenia Relations
Armenian-German business forum held in Yerevan
Panorama.am, October 13, 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/economy/2014/10/13/forum/
An Armenian-German business forum took place in Yerevan on Monday. The event was organized by the Armenian Development Agency, with the assistance of Germany’s Embassy in Yerevan.
Head of the Economy Ministry's Investment Policy Department Vahagn Lalayan highlighted the significance of such events for the development of economic cooperation.
“Political relations between Armenia and Germany are deeper than the economic ties, so we should make every effort to expand the economic relations,” said the official.
Mr Lalayan said that in January-August 2014 trade volumes between Armenia and Germany made $300 million, marking a 28.8 percent growth as compared with 2013. Exports from Armenia to Germany totaled $106.5 million and imports from Germany made $188 million.
General News on Armenia
President Serzh Sargsyan meets Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic
Armenpress.am, October 13, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/779743/president-serzh-sargsyan-meets-serbian-president-tomislav-nikolic.html
At the invitation of President Serzh Sargsyan, President Tomislav Nikolic of the Republic of Serbia arrived in the Republic of Armenia on an official visit last night. The official welcoming ceremony of the Serbian President took place today at the RA Presidential Palace followed by a private meeting between the two countries’ presidents. Welcoming the dignitary, President Serzh Sargsyan underscored that the Armenian-Serbian friendship has deep historical roots and there has been numerous manifestations of mutual friendship throughout history which is the basis of deepening and strengthening the present interstate relations. Serzh Sargsyan expressed the hope that the visit of the Serbian President will give a new stimulus to promoting political dialogue and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Tomislav Nikolic thanked President Serzh Sargsyan for the warm reception and noted that since his election as President of Serbia, he has attached great value to developing the Armenian-Serbian relations whose current level, according to the president, is dissatisfying. The Serbian President assured that his country will make maximum efforts to strengthen the Armenian-Serbian interstate ties and deepen cooperation.
At end of the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan awarded Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic the Order of Glory in connection with his official visit to the Republic of Armenia and on the occasion of the traditional friendship between Armenia and Serbia. President Tomislav Nikolic reciprocally awarded President Serzh Sargsyan the Order of the Republic of Serbia.
Armenia is ready for imposed war – Premier
News.am, October 13, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/233802.html
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unresolved; Azerbaijan is running a militant policy by unleashing an arms race fed by petro dollars.
Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan stated the aforesaid during his talk, in Washington D.C., with representatives of the American-Armenian community.
In his words, Turkey, for its part, manifests an extremely biased approach toward the Karabakh conflict and continues to blockade Armenia.
“All these factors force us to be flexible and circumspect in foreign policy. The Republic of Armenia is committed to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but it also stands ready to duly counter an imposed war.
“Armenia-Artsakh [i.e., Nagorno-Karabakh]-Diaspora; this trinity is the sole guarantee of our success.
IFC pledges further support to Armenian governemnt
Armradio.am, October 13, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/2014/10/13/ifc-pledges-further-support-to-armenian-governemnt/
On the sidelines of his working visit to Washington, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan met with International Finance Corporation CEO Jin-Yong Cai. Highlighting the role played by World Bank Group member International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the development of Armenia’s economy, Hovik Abrahamyan stressed the need to keep up the pace of cooperation. Over USD 320 million-worth of investment projects have been implemented in our country for the last 15 years, mainly in the fields of financial markets, manufacturing and mining industries.
“Our country has carried out serious institutional and regulatory reforms to improve the business and investment environment, including with the IFC’s support,” the Prime Minister said. Hovik Abrahamyan emphasized that the inspection reform is central on the Government’s policy agenda and his government will honor its commitments in this field. He considered it important that the IFC has increased its participation in the World Bank’s ongoing partnership strategy with Armenia.
Erebouni-Yerevan: Armenia’s capital celebrates 2796th anniversary
Tert.am, October 12, 2014, https://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/10/12/erebuni-yerevan-2796/
Yerevan is celebrating its 2796th anniversary. The events will be marked in a number of communities.
The celebrations will commence under the slogan ‘Yerevan, my home’ and last for a whole day.
Guests from different countries arrived in Armenia’s capital to attend the celebrations.
The first Erebouni-Yerevan celebrations were organized in October 1968 to mark the 2750th anniversary of Armenia’s capital.
Armenia Joins Eurasian Union
Azatutyun.am, October 10, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/26631364.html
After months of delay, Armenia formally joined the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on Friday, drawing praise from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Serzh Sarkisian signed a corresponding accession treaty with Putin and Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan and Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus at a summit of the Russian-led bloc held in Minsk.
The signing of the document, originally expected in May, was, held up by the Kazakh and Belarusian leaders for apparently economic and geopolitical considerations. It was still not a forgone conclusion in the days leading up to the Minsk summit.
General News on Karabakh
Body of Armenian civilian tortured to death in Azeri prison passed to experts
News.am, October 11, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/233464.html
The body of the Armenian citizen Karen Petrosyan, tortured to death in Azerbaijani prison, was delivered to Yerevan city, Armenian News -NEWS.am reports.
According to the head of the working group of the Armenia’s Commission on POWs, Hostages and Missing Persons Armen Kaprielian, the body of Petrosyan was passed for examination to the National Scientific and Practical Centre of Forensic Medicine.
Earlier Armenian side initiated a criminal investigation on the death of Armenian citizen, civilian Karen Petrosyan, who was taken as a hostage by Azerbaijani militaries and tortured to death in the Azeri prison.
NKR President, MEP Eleni Theocharou discuss Europe-Artsakh cooperation
Armradio.am, October 13, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/2014/10/13/nkr-president-mep-eleni-theocharou-discuss-europe-artsakh-cooperation/
On 12 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received member of the European Parliament, head of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Eleni Theocharous.
A number of issues related to the Europe-Artsakh cooperation, regional processes and the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement were touched upon during the meeting.
President Sahakyan said the development of relations with Europe is among the most significant directions of Artsakh’s foreign policy and added that official Stepanakert is interested in further deepening of cooperation.
Minsk Group Co-Chairs to visit region this week
Armenpress.am, October 13, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Popov of Russia, James Warlick of the United States of America and Pierre Andrieu of France will be in the region October 14-18.
On October 17 they will be in Yerevan and will meet with President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, Foreign Minister’s press secretary Tigran Balayan told Armenpress. In all probability, the goal of the visit is preparation of the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents, which will be held in France.
The meeting of President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is scheduled to be held at the end of October in Paris. The meeting is organized on the initiative of French President Francois Hollande. During his May visits to Yerevan and Baku, Hollande invited the presidents of the two countries to Paris to discuss issues related to peaceful regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
News from International Sources
Thousands take part in opposition rally in Armenia
Huffingtonpost.com, October 10, 2014, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/
About 12,000 people have rallied in the capital of Armenia to protest a constitutional change being proposed by the president.
Protesters and leaders of Armenia's three major opposition parties, which organized Friday's rally together despite their ideological differences, also called for the resignation of the government, blaming it for a dismal economic growth.
An ad-hoc commission was set up in Armenia early this year to consider potential changes to the constitution.
President Serge Sarkisian, who is now the head of state, has proposed a change that would make the prime minister the government's top official.
The opposition claims he has done that so he could run for that job when his second and final term as president ends in 2018 and thereby potentially remain Armenia's leader.
Baku Rally Demands President's Resignation, Closer Ties With EU
Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, October 12, 2014, https://www.rferl.org/content/
Thousands of opposition supporters in Azerbaijan have attended an antigovernment rally in the capital, Baku, demanding the resignation of President Ilham Aliyev and an end to the repression of human rights defenders and civic activists.
Demonstrators also demanded closer integration between Baku and the European Union and the release of political prisoners.
The event on October 12 was organized by the National Council of Democratic Forces, a pro-democracy movement of Azerbaijan’s united opposition.
The rally was permitted by municipal authorities on condition that it was held at a stadium in a remote part of Baku.
Although the event was peaceful, organizers faced what they called “clear provocations from the authorities in order to discredit the opposition.”
Azerbaijan cracks down while chairing Council of Europe
BBC.com, October 12, 2014, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-
"We are the last of the Mohicans," says Leila Alieva. "First the government weakened the opposition, then targeted independent media, and now us - the NGOs."
Her research institute, the Centre for National and International Studies in Azerbaijan. is one of dozens of pro-democracy non-governmental organisations under investigation by the Azeri authorities. And the crackdown is taking place as oil-rich Azerbaijan chairs Europe's leading pro-democracy institution, the Council of Europe. In most cases the authorities have frozen bank accounts or launched tax inspections, forcing NGOs that received foreign grants to suspend projects. Other organisations include Transparency International, Irex, National Endowment for Democracy and Oxfam.
IREX NGO's Exit From Azerbaijan 'A Blow' Says U.S. Official
Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, October 11, 2014, https://www.rferl.org/content/
The United States says the U.S. nongovernmental organization IREX's decision to halt its work in Azerbaijan amid pressure from authorities will hurt democracy-promotion efforts in the country.
"We have greatly valued IREX's efforts to support independent, professional media and to facilitate people-to-people ties," a U.S. State Department official said in a statement to RFE/RL.
"The closure of IREX in Azerbaijan represents a blow to this important work," the official added.
IREX ceased its operations in Azerbaijan on September 30. It said earlier this year that its bank assets there were frozen due to a "criminal investigation" launched against several Azerbaijani and international NGOs.
U.S. officials "understand" IREX made the decision "following pressure from the Azerbaijani government," including "a police raid on its offices."
News on Turkey
Turkey’s blockade of Armenia is unacceptable – parliament deputy chair
News.am, October 13, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Armenian National Assembly (NA) Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, who is in Geneva, Switzerland, on a working visit, on Sunday met with Norbert Lammert, President of the Bundestag (Parliament) of Germany. The meeting was held within the framework of the 131st Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly.
They underscored the need to take steps toward the strengthening and deepening of interparliamentary cooperation, and the continuity of Armenia-European Union cooperation. Reflecting on Armenian-Turkish relations, the NA deputy chair considered unacceptable Turkey’s present-day blockade of Armenia, speaking with a neighboring country with preconditions, and denial of the fact of the Armenian Genocide. Sharmazanov also expressed his gratitude to the German parliament for passing a resolution—back in 2005—condemning the Armenian Genocide.
US says Turkey OKs use of bases against militants
Todayszaman.com, October 13, 2014, https://www.todayszaman.com/
Turkey will let US and coalition forces use its bases, including a key installation within 100 miles of the Syrian border, for operations against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Syria and Iraq, American defense officials said Sunday.
But progress in negotiations with Turkey - including Ankara's agreement to train several thousand Syrian moderate rebels - may not be enough to stop the massacre of civilians in Syria's border town of Kobani, where intense fighting continues.
The Obama administration had been pressing Ankara to play a larger role against the extremists, who have taken control of large swaths of Syria and Iraq, including territory on Turkey's border, and sent refugees fleeing into Turkey.
US officials confirmed Saturday that Ankara had agreed to train Syrian moderate forces on Turkish soil. A Turkish government official said Sunday that Turkey put the number at 4,000 opposition fighters and said they would be screened by Turkish intelligence.
Turkish PM: Government to toughen measures against street violence
Hariyetdailynews.com, October 13, 2014, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu vowed to take tougher measures to avoid street violence and vandalism, similar to those that claimed the lives of dozens of people last week, by empowering security forces.
“We will strengthen the state authority. We will review measures to this end at our Cabinet meeting. Afterwards no one will be able to dare to commit such vandalism,” Davutoğlu said in his address to the regional consultation meeting of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Oct. 13.
Week-long unrest, especially in the southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey, has shaken the entire country as at least 33 people have been killed and hundreds of others have been wounded. The incidents were a reaction by Kurdish citizens against the government’s perceived inaction toward the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane, currently under siege by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
News from Azerbaijani Sources
Prosecutor General’s Office: Travel ban on Khadija Ismayilova associated with investigation of criminal case
APA.az, October 13, 2014, https://en.apa.az/news/217545
The Prosecutor General’s Office has clarified the reasons of a travel ban imposed on RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service correspondent Khadija Ismayilova.
Spokesman for the Prosecutor General’s Office Eldar Sultanov told APA that the travel ban imposed on Khadija Ismayilova is associated with the investigation of the criminal case by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
“There is a need for her testimony as a witness, as well as her participation in other investigative actions,” Sultanov said.
Ismayilova was not allowed to leave the country while she was intending to go the Czech Republic.