Armenia got great potential to become big tourist center: Jean Yves Camus
Armenpress.am, October 21, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
It is difficult to find a person, who does not love Paris, independent of the fact if he was there or not. Having a population of more than 10 million, the city hosts over 28 million visitors annually and the conservation and development of such a giant city requires a special approach. Armenpress tried to clarify how Paris tries to overcome the modern civilization challenges, talking to the Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Paris Mayor Jean Yves Camus.
- This is your fourth visit to Armenia. As a visitor, what changes do you see?
- I first came to Armenia in 2009 and the majority of my visits are connected with the festivities devoted to the Capital’s Day. Every time the changes are obvious, carried out in the hard economic situation of the country. It is amazing that under these conditions Armenia makes every effort to develop economically. I noticed these positive changes on the way from the airport to the capital.
The improvement of the urban environment immediately caught my eyes. In the streets I began meeting English and French speaking tourists quite often.
General News on Armenia
Iran to build Hydroelectric Power Plants in Armenia
Armradio.am, October 20, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri announced that based on an agreement cut by Tehran and Yerevan, Iran will construct hydroelectric power plants in Armenia, Fars News Agency reports.
“We have agreed to launch the third power transmission line and also build hydroelectric power plants for Armenia,” Jahangiri said in a joint press conference with visiting Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan in Tehran on Monday.
He pointed to exchanges between Iran and Armenia in different areas, and said, “The value of exchanges between the two countries is around $300 million; we export gas to Armenia and import electricity from that country, but there are other goods for exchange purposes as well.”
Jahangiri noted that the two sides have also agreed to launch joint commissions to help widen the ties and exchanges.
New Vice Chair of Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues named
Panarmenian.net, October 21, 2014, https://www.panarmenian.net/
Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) has been named Vice Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
In addition to playing an active role in the Armenian Caucus, notably efforts to secure Turkey’s return of confiscated Christian Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian religious property and U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, Rep. Bilirakis also serves as the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, and as Co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Caucus, among others.
“I look forward to working with like-minded House colleagues in the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues to continue and grow the Caucus’ focus on issues of concern to the Armenian American community,” Congressman Bilirakis told FLArmenians.com.
Armenia's National Assembly four-day session continues
Armenpress.am, October 21, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
The second day of the parliamentary four days launched in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. As reports “Armenpress”, 109 Deputies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia have been registered for the session.
Usually, the issues, which have been completed the day before, are introduced to voting in the parliament, but there was only one issue discussed at the course of the October 20 session of the National Assembly,
The MPs discussed the annual report titled “On the Activity of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia and the Violations of the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in the Country for 2013”.
Previously it was reported that a working consultation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia took place on October 17. The consultation was chaired by the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Galust Sahakyan. The Information and Public Relations Department of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that 119 issues and 26 international agreements have been included in the draft decision on the agenda of the upcoming four-day session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.
RPA spokesman: Sargsyan’s decision on constitutional reform process ‘unrelated to opposition’
Armenianow.com, October 21, 2014, https://www.armenianow.com/
A spokesman for Armenia’s ruling party has dismissed assumptions that the decision by President Serzh Sargsyan to delay his opinion on the constitutional reform concept was conditioned by opposition pressure.
Presidential spokesman Arman Saghatelyan said on Friday that Sargsyan would not express his position on the concept submitted to him by the Constitutional Reform Commission on October 15 until February or March. He explained that additional political discussions were needed.
Representatives of the Prosperous Armenia Party, the Armenian National Congress and Heritage, the three parties that are strongly opposed to the planned reform and are currently in the middle of their campaign with a declared goal of ousting the current government, were quick to claim credit for the move.
General News on Karabakh
Mother of Armenian teen murdered by Azeri saboteurs demand death penalty
News.am, October 21, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
The Azeri saboteurs do not deserve to live after they murdered my son, told Karine Tsakalyan, the mother of a teenage boy Smbat Tsakalyan, who was killed by Azerbaijani saboteurs on th territory of Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Armenia News -NEWS.am reports.
The relatives and villagers of murdered teenager will be present at the trial of Azeri saboteurs, which will begin on October 27.
“They should get what they did to my baby. The gift of life in prison is too generous,” Karine Tsakalyan said. “Smbat was murdered in the forest, and they murdered him, even though they took away his money and food.”
According to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Police, citizens of Azerbaijan Shahbaz Guliyev (born in 1968), Dilham Askerov (born in 1960), and Hasan Hasanov, who was shot by law enforcement agents at the spot, illegally crossed the state border of Karabakh armed with a weapon and ammunition on June 29, 2014. The three entered the territory of the Shahumyan region of Karabakh as enemy spies to collect information and carry out espionage tasks.
NKR president offers condolences to OSCE MG US Co-chair J. Warlick
Aysor.am, October 20, 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan sent a message of condolence to the U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick, according to the press service of the president of NKR.
The message reads:
“Respected Mr Warlick.
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of your beloved mother Rose Warlick.
On behalf of the people and authorities of Artsakh and myself, I express condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
I wish you fortitude at this difficult time”.
Armen Amiryan: Coverage of the whole ultrashort wave band in Artsakh important
Armradio.am, October 20, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
Representatives of over twenty radio and TV companies of Armenia participated in the conference on “Paths of Strengthening Cooperation between Television and Radio Companies of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabagh Republic and Further Development of the Sphere” in Stepanakert.
During this second representative meeting held at the initiative of the Armenian Commission on Television and Radio and the NKR Public Services and Economic Competition Regulatory Commission Director of the Public Radio of Armenia Armen Amiryan stressed the importance of covering the whole ultrashort wave band in Artsakh. He spoke of the same issue last year, but the situation has not changed so far: Azerbaijani radio waves are reaching Artsakh without any obstacle.
Sahakian Invites Presidents of US, France and Russia to Artsakh
Asbarez.com, October 20, 2014, https://asbarez.com/128060/
The President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakian told Voice of America that he has extended an invitation to the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, the US, France and Russia, to visit Artsakh.
“We believe leaders of co-chair countries cannot achieve serious success in addressing the fate of a country and its people, without direct interaction with the people of the country,” Sahakian told Voice of America in an interview, which was featured in a 10-minute documentary entitled “Karabakh: Peaceful life Amid the Ghosts of war.”
Within the documentary, Sahakian is quoted as thanking the political leadership of those states in the US, which have passed resolutions recognizing the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh and its independence.
News from International Sources
Rouhani speaks of "bright prospects" for Iranian-Armenian Relations
Commonspace.eu, October 21, 2014, https://www.commonspace.eu/eng/
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani spoke of "bright prospects" for closer Armenian-Iranian relations, following high level talks in Tehran on Monday, with visiting Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian.
Armenian and Iranian officials spoke about the ongoing threat of terrorism posed by ISIS.
"Iran and Armenia and all regional states should join forces to fight terrorism, because security in the region will become sustainable only through collective cooperation," the official IRNA news agency reported Rouhani as saying.
"Security is a non-dividable category, and if a country suffers from terrorism, other countries will suffer too."
On Tuesday Rouhani will host new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi for his first foreign visit since taking office in September.
News on Turkey
Turkish journalist proposes re-building Ani ahead of Genocide centennial
Tert.am, October 21, 2014, https://www.tert.am/en/news/
A Turkish journalist has called for keeping the Armenian Genocide issue on the agenda ahead of the 2015 centennial of the big tragedy.
In an article published in the Star, Recep Güvelioğlu recommends focusing attention on the Armenian employment migrants in Turkey and the reconstruction of the ancient historical city of Ani.
“Ani is the center of Armenians' belief. And it is of importance for us too. Ravaged for many years, Ani is on the border of Armenia.
“As well as the [Holy Cross Church] of Akhtamar, Ani too, must be reconstructed within a short period with the involvement of international consultants and foreign development companies.
“After the revival of its constructions, this town must be open for Armenians, and they must not be required to have a visa or passport to enter here to see their spiritual values,” he says.
The Eyewitness”: 102-year-old Genocide survivor still hopes to see motherland
Armenpress.am, October 21, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
The Armenian Genocide, initiated in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I in the beginning of the previous century, is one of the biggest crimes against humanity. Advancing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the new project introduced by Armenpress news agency is dedicated to the story of the eyewitnesses and survivors of the calamity to prove the world one more time that our demand for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is fair and justified. This time the project is dedicated to the story of Arshaluys Muradyan, the resident of Aknalich Village of Etchmiadzin region, Ararat Marz. She was born in 1912. “Do you think we came here willingly? The Turks attacked and massacred and we have come here. Thanks God, we have survived”, - the 102-year-old woman starts her story with these words. To save Arshaluys, her parents put her in a cart and covered with grass.
The eyewitness remembers that many people used this “creative” method to hide their children and save them from captivity. The family reached the Eastern Armenia without losses. First they settled in Alagyaz Village and then moved to Aknalich.
“The Turks threw forty youth to the barn and lit it up. Our Armenians have seen quite cruel days from the Turks”, - said Arshaluys Muradyan.
US says PYD not same as PKK, insists on helping it against ISIL
Todayszaman.com, October 21, 2014, https://www.todayszaman.com/
A Syrian Kurdish group battling for more than a month to defend the town of Kobani on the border with Turkey is not legally same as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and the United States, a State Department official has said.
Addressing a daily press briefing on Monday, State Departmeny deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said the US understands the Turkish opposition to assisting the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Syrian Kurdish group, but added that the PYD and the PKK are different groups.
"The PYD is a different group than the PKK legally, under United States law," she said.
"We, of course, understand the fundamentals of their opposition to this, we understand the challenges they have faced with the PKK, and we understand the history and the sensitivities," she said. "We also, though, made clear to the Turks that we believe it's incredibly important to support groups like the PYD, these Kurdish fighters and a small number of non-Kurdish fighters on the ground pushing back against ISIL."
News from Azerbaijani Sources
MP Elkhan Suleymanov sends protest letter to European People’s Party
Apa.az, October 21, 2014, https://en.apa.az/xeber_mp_
Chairman of Azerbaijani Delegation to Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Elkhan Suleymanov has sent a letter of protest to the European People’s Party and the Group of EPP in the Parliamentary Assembly regarding EPP member, MEP Mr. Frank Engel’s behaviour and statements.
The letter was sent Chairman, European People’s Party Mr. Joseph Daul, Secretary General, European People’s Party Mr. Antonio López-Istúriz, Chairman, EPP Group in the European Parliament Mr. Manfred Weber and Secretary-General, EPP Group in the European Parliament Mr. Martin Kamp.
The letter says:
“I write to you in my quality as Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, currently sitting in the Group of the European People’s Party in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Chairman of the Azerbaijan Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in the European Parliament. As a fellow EPP member and promoter of EPP values and ideas in Azerbaijan, I feel it is my duty to bring to your attention and deplore the behaviour and statements of another fellow member, Mr. Frank Engel, MEP…”
European Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Baku
Contact.az, October 21, 2014, https://www.contact.az/docs/
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muzhnieks will visit Azerbaijan on October 22-24. It is stated on the Muzhnieks page on the website of the Council of Europe. The program of the visit has not been disclosed.
Prior to this Muzhnieks visited Baku in May 2013 and met with government officials and civil society. Following the visit, there was a report with recommendations to the Azerbaijani authorities. In April 2014, the report was updated in connection with the failure of their international obligations by the authorities.