First Nagorno-Karabakh Group announced in the European Parliament
Armradio.am, October 16, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
On 15 October 2014, the European Parliament Nagorno-Karabakh Group was presented with the assistance of European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA), aiming to support civil society and democratic governance, as well as European values within Nagorno-Karabakh. Following the French and Lithuanian parliaments that have already established similar groups, members of the European Parliament are creating the first international group, spanning over national borders.
Several Members of the European Parliament have committed to the group’s membership, with MEP Frank Engel from the EPP Group heading it.
With nationally diverse members from various European political families, the Nagorno-Karabakh Group will facilitate contacts between EU officials and CSOs with representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh at all levels, including civil society and will also promote study visits to the region. The informal group is also concerned with Nagorno-Karabakh’s representation and presence for NK in international forums and EU programs.
EU-Armenia Relations
Nalbandyan and Fournier discuss Armenia-EU relations
Aysor.am, October 16, 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan received today Eric Fournier, Head of the Continental Europe Department of French MFA who arrived in Yerevan to participate in consultations between the Foreign Ministries, Armenian MFA said.
Welcoming the guest, Nalbandyan expressed satisfaction with the existing high-level Armenian-French bilateral relations, underlining that it serves as a solid basis for further strengthening and expanding of multi-dimensional cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting the sides touched upon issues related to the development of bilateral relations and coopeartion of international organizations.
They exchanged views about urgent issues of international and regional agenda.
The sides also discussed Armenia-EU relations and cooperation in this framework.
The agenda of the meeting also included questions concerning promotion of cooperation in the framework of the Francophonie Organization.
General News on Armenia
Armenian Commission Urges Switch To Parliamentary Republic
Azatutyun.am, October 15, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
An ad hoc commission on constitutional reform set up by President Serzh Sarkisian has officially advocated Armenia’s transformation into a parliamentary republic with a powerful prime minister and largely ceremonial head of state.
The commission made a case for radically changing the country’s “overcentralized” government system in the final version of its reform “concept” that was submitted to Sarkisian and made public on Wednesday. It also publicized a positive assessment of the 49-page document made by legal experts from the Council of Europe.
Sarkisian is now expected to hold consultations with leading political parties before deciding whether the commission should start drafting concrete amendments to the Armenian constitution along the lines of its recommendations.
Red Line?: Non-governing forces reiterate opposition to constitutional reform after publication of concept
Armenianow.com, October 16, 2014, https://www.armenianow.com/
Despite mostly positive conclusions from international organizations, such as the Venice Commission that considers Armenia’s planned constitutional amendments “valuable” and having a “reliable basis”, most of the country’s opposition forces are up in arms against the reform.
It is also noteworthy that at one recent non-scientific survey conducted by the A1 Plus news website shows that 80 percent of respondents also opposes the changes.
Only one parliamentary minority party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), still refrains from finally evaluating the reform. Last spring Dashnaktsutyun joined the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), Heritage and Armenian National Congress in an informal bloc popularly known as Quartet that later presented a list of a dozen demands to the government. But in the matter of constitutional amendments Dashnaktsutyun disagreed with its partners and did not engage in the holding of rallies during which the planned constitutional changes are one of the key subjects of criticism. Dashnaktsutyun said it would present its view after the concept of the reform was published.
According to the concept that was published on Wednesday, the powers of the president are to be curtailed, but not in favor of the Parliament but in favor of the Government, representative of the Constitutional Reform Commission, constitutional law expert Vardan Poghosyan said.
Armenia's Deputy PM resigns
Armenpress.am, October 16, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the Minister of Territorial Administration of the Republic of Armenia Armen Gevorgyan introduced an application on resignation and will continue his activity in the private sector. As reports “Armenpress”, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan stated about this at the course of the session of the Government.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan expressed his gratitude to Armen Gevorgyan for the joint activity and wished him success. In turn, Armen Gevorgyan also thanked the Governement of the Republic of Armenia for understanding his decision. Gevorgyan expressed this gratitude to his colleagues and representatives of international structures for the cooperation.
3 non-government parties to meet today
Panorama.am, October 16, 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/
Representatives of the three non-government factions of the National Assembly – Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress and Heritage – will convene a meeting today to discuss issues related to the upcoming four-day session of the parliament, Prosperous Armenia faction secretary Naira Zohrabyan told Panorama.am. She stressed that the meeting will not address the upcoming rally of the opposition factions.
The meeting will take place in Prosperous Armenia faction.
The next opposition rally is scheduled for October 24.
Armenia Premier to travel to Iran
News.am, October 16, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Hovik Abrahamyan will head for the Islamic Republic of Iran on an official visit, and for the first time as Prime Minister of Armenia, the Armenian News-NEWS.am’s sources have informed.
We also have learned that the visit is slated for October 20 and 21.
In addition, several meetings are planned with Iran’s senior officials. Specifically, Abrahamyan will meet with the country’s president and parliament speaker.
Yerevan Fears More Fallout From Sanctions Against Russia
Azatutyun.am, October 15, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
Western economic sanctions imposed on Russia could have growing spillover effects on the Armenian economy unless they are lifted soon, Economy Minister Karen Chshmaritian warned on Wednesday.
“The sanctions may become more sensitive in terms of their impact [on Armenia] if they are not reversed,” he said. “We all should hope that these issues will be settled.”
The Russian economy is currently inching towards recession due, in large measure, to the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union because of Moscow’s role in the bloody conflict in Ukraine. Vital remittances sent home by hundreds of thousands of Armenian workers in Russia have already decreased in the last few months as a result.
OSCE presents report on process of Armenia’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting
OSCE Yerevan, October 16, 2014, https://www.osce.org/yerevan/
An OSCE-supported report detailing Armenia’s switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting was presented today in Yerevan. The report notes that while the technical preparations are going to schedule, not enough effort has been invested in raising public awareness and that the criteria for distributing decoders to vulnerable families is not clear.
The report, which was produced by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE) with support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, analyzes the implementation of the Government’s Action Plan on Transition from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting. Armenia committed to digitalization by July 2015.
The report covers three aspects of the digital switchover: legal, technical and social. It identifies many gaps in Armenia’s broadcast legislation. These include the absence of legal provisions elaborating on the conditions for licensing of private multiplexes as well as uncertainty regarding various broadcast technologies and the impact it may have on media freedom in the country.
General News on Karabakh
Tigran Balayan: Elaboration of NK peace agreement is only possible after concerting upon key principles
Mediamax.am, October 15, 2014, https://www.mediamax.am/en/
Beginning elaboration of the peace agreement on Nagorno Karabakh conflict will only be possible after the principles of peaceful settlement are concerted upon.
Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tigran Balayan told Mediamax correspondent about it commenting on the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov according to which Azerbaijan is ready to set to working at a major peace agreement.
''It seems that Azerbaijani officials think that if they repeat some unreal ideas aloud they will become more convincing'', stressed Tigran Balayan.
The Foreign Ministry official representative recalled that Armenia and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have repeatedly stated that first they need to finish the harmonization of principles of the peaceful settlement and only then start elaboration of the agreement.
News from International Sources
White House plans exhibition of rug linked to Armenian genocide
Los Angeles Times, October 15, 2014, https://www.latimes.com/nation/
A historic rug tied to the Armenian genocide will go on display at the White House Visitor Center in November after several failed attempts to display the piece.
The Ghazir rug was created by orphans of the genocide and presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1925. It will be featured alongside other artifacts in an exhibition highlighting gifts to the United States from groups that have benefited from American humanitarian aid.
“The rug … is a reminder of the close relationship between the people of Armenia and the United States,” National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement announcing the exhibition.
U.S. Alarm Over Detained Azeri Activist
Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, October 16, 2014, https://www.rferl.org/content/
The United States has expressed alarm over the continued pre-trial detention of a leading human rights defender in Azerbaijan.
The U.S. State Department also said Leyla Yunus was not receiving medical attention despite her deteriorating health.
In a statement, spokesperson Jen Psaki urged authorities in Baku to release those detained for exercising fundamental rights, starting with those with serious medical conditions, including Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif.
Leyla Yunus, a 57-years-old fierce critic of Azerbaijan's poor rights record, was arrested on July 30. She was charged with high treason, spying for Armenia, illegal business activities, documents forgery and fraud.
New political situation created in Armenia
Vestnikkavkaza.net, October 15, 2014, https://vestnikkavkaza.net/
This autumn, forces united by a strive to switch the government have entered the political life of Armenia. The opposition quartet is making radical demands again. Dashnaktsutyun left the quartet but it was replaced by the People’s Party of Armenia (PPA) headed by lawmaker Stepan Demirchyan.
At protests in regions and then in Yerevan on October 10, oppositionists were speaking about the need to switch and government and make radical changes.
“The country is in a unique situation when the government was left in solitude, and opposition united. If people rise and make us switch the government, it would become a reality, assumes Armen Martirosyan, vice president of the Heritage Party.
Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia fraction Naira Zograbyan said that 300-400 people were leaving the country every day. In her words, the government created such living conditions that many people commit suicide.
News on Turkey
White House urges Turkey to acknowledge painful elements of its past
Armenpress.am, October 16, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
After Rep. Adam Schiff reported Wednesday that the White House will be exhibiting the Armenian Orphan Rug in November, a senior Obama Administration official told Asbarez in an email that the “President and other senior Administration officials have repeatedly acknowledged as historical fact and mourned the fact that 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, and stated that a full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in our all interests, including Turkey’s, Armenia’s, and America’s.”
As reports “Armenpress” citing Asbarez, among other things, the official added: “One of the principles that has guided the Administration’s work in this area, and in atrocity prevention more broadly, has been that nations grow strong by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of their pasts, and that doing so is essential to building a foundation for a more just and more tolerant future.” This clarification by the White House was made to Asbarez after an initial statement that merely stated that the rug “is a reminder of the close relationship between the people of Armenia and the United States,” and that it was presented to US President Calvin Coolidge “in recognition of the humanitarian assistance rendered by the American people to displaced Armenian orphans,” without emphasizing how the orphans came to be and failing, once again, to characterize the events of 1915 to 1923 as Genocide. The announcement about the November exhibit rightfully prompted the Armenian National Committee of America to call on President Obama to characterize the rug in its proper manner.
Turkey mayor accuses Kurdicized Armenians of causing chaos in country
News.am, October 16, 2014 https://news.am/eng/news/
Melih Gökçek, who is the mayor of the Turkish capital city of Ankara, has written a tweet which incites enmity towards Armenians, and which has caused a stir in the social websites.
Gökçek considered as “atheist Armenians” those Kurds who came out to protest the Islamists’ attack on Kobani, the Syrian city on the Turkish border and which is the capital of the Kurdish autonomy.
“But this does not apply to my Armenian brothers,” the Ankara mayor tweeted, in particular.
And to prove the truthfulness of his words, Melih Gökçek posted a video, where several PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) militants imitate a prayer service by an imam (Islamic prayer leader) while the other militants laugh.
Draft bill rolls back reforms with sweeping powers for police, courts
Todayszaman.com, October 15, 2014, https://www.todayszaman.com/
In a move that will take Turkey back to the 1990s when emergency rule had been widely applied across the country with a widespread violation of rights and freedoms, a group of lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) submitted a draft judiciary bill to Parliament late on Tuesday night that will empower the police and prosecutors with sweeping powers in search, seizure, detention and arrests, while significantly restricting the rights of the defense for suspects.
The 35-article, government-endorsed bill envisages drastic changes in the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and the Code on Criminal Procedure (CMK) as it represents a major regression on judicial reforms the government has completed in line with the European Union accession negotiations.
The bill severely restricts the right of suspects and their attorneys to acquire information about the details of legal proceedings brought against them during the course of an ongoing investigation. The lack of access by the defense to the investigation file against their clients either in the questioning by the police or the prosecutor or during the arraignment hearings will hamper the right to a fair trial and violate due process. The defense will only be able to see the evidence against suspects when the indictment is prepared and accepted by the court.
Turkey outlines locations for potential safe zone in Syria
Harriyetdailynews.com, October 16, 2014, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.
Turkish Prime Minister Davutoğlu has told Al-Jazeera Arabic that ‘safe zones’ against ISIL on Syria’s border with Turkey should protect ‘areas with populations over a certain density,’ marking a large region from the Mediterranean to Iraq’s border.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has clarified the locations of possible internationally sanctioned safe zones near Syria’s border with Turkey, outlining a line stretching from the Mediterranean to Iraq.
“The buffer zone we mean here is not a military definition, but a humanitarian safe zone under military protection,” Davutoğlu said in an interview with Al-Jazeera Arabic on Oct. 15.
After noting that safe zones should protect “areas with populations over a certain density,” the Turkish PM mentioned the need to connect the Turkish border with northern Latakia, “certain areas in al-Hasakah,” as well as Jarabulus, Ayn-al Arab (Kobane), Tel Abyad, Idlib and Afrin to protect Syria’s Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens.