Survey: Majority of Armenians for even development of relations with EU and Russia
Mediamax.am, October 06, 2014, https://www.mediamax.am/en/
The majority of the Armenian population (51%) believes Armenia should evenly develop relations with both the EU and Russia.
The phone survey conducted in the entire territory of Armenia by Civilitas Foundation in June 2014 comes to prove it; the results of the survey were presented during “What Do We Know about Our Foreign Policy Options” discussion in Yerevan, Mediamax reports.
As a result of the survey, the Armenian society is informed about the process of Armenia’s Customs Union membership better than about negotiations over the EU Association Agreement, which lasted over three years. 65% of the Armenian population has heard about the process of the EU Association Agreement, while around 80% of the population is aware of the Customs Union membership.
27% of respondents have no idea which will be their greatest benefit if the EU strengthens relations with Armenia, while 15% believe Armenia will not benefit in any way. 7% of respondents stated opportunity to enter the European market, 5% mentioned the opportunity to enter Europe without entry visa and 5% - the opportunity to become a more democratic state.
The phone survey was carried out in Yerevan and all Armenian regions on June 19-22, 2014, among around 1000 people who have landline network; the phone numbers were picked randomly.
The survey was drawn up by Civilitas Foundation and reviewed by international experts.
General News on Armenia
E. Nalbandyan receives CoE Human Rights Commissioner Muiznieks
Aysor.am, October 07, 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan received today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks, Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
Nalbandyan stressed the important role that the Council of Europe, in particular the CE Commissioner for Human Rights, plays in the protection of human rights in Council of Europe member states.
“As regards human rights protection, we consider it important to cooperate with the Council of Europe and other international organizations. Armenia has ratified all the major documents of the UN concerning human rights and carried out reforms in that field,” Minister Nalbandyan said.
Nils Muizniels thanked the foreign minister for the reception, saying that he arrived in Yerevan with a rich working agenda aiming to deepen efficient cooperation of Armenia with various human rights organizations.
Nalbandyan and Muiznieks made a positive assessment of the implementation of Armenia-Council of Europe Action Plan for 2012-2014.
Armenia disappointed by silence of strategic allies in CSTO
News.am, October 06, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received on Monday the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha, Armenian News -NEWS.am reports.President Sargsyan welcomed the Secretary General Bordyuzha, whose visit to Armenia is related to the recent escalation of tensions observed at the borders of the CSTO member states, including the tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in August and escalation in contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Serzh Sargsyan added that, unfortunately, the Azerbaijani side’s provocative actions undermine the fragile security in the CSTO responsibility zone. Furthermore, Armenian president stressed that Azerbaijan’s constant attempts to break the cease-fire oppose the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue.
Sargsyan expresses gratitude to Putin for support to Armenia’s membership to Eurasian Union
Mediamax.am, October 07, 2014, https://www.mediamax.am/en/
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation on the occasion of his birthday today.
The message reads:
“Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,
Please, accept my cordial congratulations on the occasion of your birthday and my warmest wishes for succeeding in serving Russia.
I am sure that your rich experience of state and political activity, adherence to principles and persistency to pursue predefined goals will continue to strengthen the Russian statehood.
Armenians honor your personal contribution to multiplying the age-old friendship traditions of the peoples of our countries rooted in firm strategic collaboration. In that context, I attach great value to our personal relationship which certainly give a new stimulus to consistent promotion of the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership…”
Tsarukian’s Party Calls For Regime Change
Azatutyun.am, October 06, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) for the first time explicitly added its voice to opposition calls for President Serzh Sarkisian’s resignation on Monday as it continued to prepare for a major anti-government rally in Yerevan.
Naira Zohrabian, a senior BHK member and Tsarukian aide, announced a further toughening of the party’s stance at a rally held jointly with the Zharangutyun and Armenian National Congress (HAK) parties in the northern city of Vanadzor.
“The three forces standing on the podium may have differences on various issues but we are united on one issue: this government has led the country to ruin; this government has left the country in deadlock; and this government must go. This is our common political agenda which has brought together the three political forces,” Zohrabian told about 1,000 people that gathered in Vanadzor’s central square.
Syrian war: Armenian district in Aleppo hit by napalm bombs
Panarmenian.am, October 06, 2014, https://www.panarmenian.net/
Napalm is a mixture of a thickening/gelling agent and petroleum or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device.
Syrian rebels have thrown napalm bombs at the Armenian-populated Nor Gyugh district in Aleppo, Kantsasar newspaper reported. The paper says Turkey is involved in the continuous destruction of the Armenian districts. Napalm is included in the list of prohibited weapons.
Armenia seeks mutually beneficial relations with Georgia
News.am, October 06, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Armenia wants mutually beneficial and useful relations with Georgia.
National Assembly (NA) Speaker Galust Sahakyan, who is in Georgia for an official visit, stated the aforesaid Monday, following his talk with chairperson David Usupashvili of the Parliament of Georgia.
“It is a great honor for me to be in Georgia on a visit. I have already met with representatives of the [Georgian] parliament. I hope we will take effective decisions which will bring mutual benefit.
“I would like to thank Usupashvili, and I hope that, with productive activities, we will achieve very positive results,” Sahakyan stated, in particular.
In addition, the NA leader invited the Georgian MPs to Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan.
Government Offers Concessions To Traders
Azatutyun.am, October 06, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
The Armenian government moved to make concessions to scores of angry market traders on Monday in response to their continuing street protests against new taxation rules introduced by it.
Prime Minister Abrahamian instructed Finance Minister Gagik Khachatrian to draft relevant legal amendments after holding two more meetings with leaders of the traders in the space of several hours. Khachatrian also met them separately.
The four representatives of the protesters announced after the talks that they reached a compromise agreement relating to recent changes in an Armenian law on turnover tax, which is levied from businesses with annual sales of up to 58 million drams ($140,000). The latter pay no other taxes.
The World Comes to Dilijan: College opens with 96 international students
Armenianow.com, October 06, 2014, https://www.armenianow.com/
Juan Friedens from Portugal, Yelena Vasilyevna from Murmansk, Veronika Fugl from Germany, Lina Sim from Malaysia, Alina Khachatryan from Masis are among the 96 students studying at Armenia UWC (United World Colleges), at the new UWC Dilijan, one of the schools among a world chain of colleges, which opened its doors to various nations’ representatives in August.
Juan from Portugal said that he had heard of Armenia, knew where it was on the map, but not more.
“I had an opportunity to go to Canada, or Germany, but I chose Armenia, because it is very different from my country by culture, traditions and lifestyle. I am interested in various cultures of the world, Armenia as well. Knowing other cultures is very useful. It’s been more than a month that I am here, but I can surely claim that I made a correct decision. I love Dilijan,” he said.
96 students from 48 countries arrived in Dilijan on August 16-18, and they, according to the program, will spend the first two years of their studies here. UWC Dilijan College is an international joint educational complex for students from more than 50 countries.
General News on Karabakh
Karabakh President meets ARF Dashnaktsutyun party members
Armenpress.am, October 06, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
On October 6 the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan visited the southern wing of the republic and met a group of members of the ARF “Dashnaktsutyun” party leadership headed by representative of the party’s bureau Hrant Margaryan. The Central Information Department of the Artsakh President’s Office informed Armenpress that the President Sahakyan signified the participation of Armenia and the Diaspora in realizing different programs in Artsakh noting that such an approach had been among the most important guarantees of our republic's socioeconomic progress.
Vice-premier Arthur Aghabekyan and other officials accompanied the President.
News from International Sources
China, Brazil May Face Renewed EU Duties on Aluminum Foil
Bloomberg.com, October 06, 2014, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/
The European Union threatened to renew tariffs on aluminum foil from China and Brazil for another five years while letting lapse a similar levy against Armenia.
The EU said it would examine whether to re-impose the duties as high as 30 percent on Chinese and Brazilian aluminum-foil exporters such as Shanghai-based Alcoa Aluminum Products Co. and Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio.
News on Turkey
Syrian Christians take shelter in Istanbul church
Harriyetdailynews.com, October 07, 2014, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.
A group of Syrian Christian refugees has taken shelter in an Istanbul church, returning to Turkey almost 100 years after their ancestors were forced from Anatolia by the Ottoman Empire.
The Meryem Ana (Mother Mary) Church of the local Syriac community in Istanbul’s Samatya neighborhood is also hosting Syrian Armenians and Berbers. Turgay Alınışık, the manager of the foundation for the Syriac community, told Hürriyet that the number of refugees taking shelter in the church was constantly changing. The church provides refuge for all, regardless of their religion or sect, Alınışık added.
Said, an Armenian Catholic refugee at the church, told Hürriyet that his grandfather was among those who were deported to Syria by the Ottomans in 1915 from the southeastern Turkish town of Kızıltepe.
ISIL moves into south west of Syrian Kurdish town
Todayszaman.com, October 07, 2014, https://www.todayszaman.com/
slamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters advanced into the south west of the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani overnight, a monitoring group said on Tuesday, taking several buildings to gain attacking positions from two sides of the city.
Two ISIL flags were still visible over the eastern side of Kobani, Reuters journalists viewing from across the nearby Turkish border said. Sporadic gunfire could be heard.
More than 2,000 Syrian Kurds including women and children were evacuated from the town, a member of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) said on Monday. The al Qaeda offshoot has ramped up its offensive in recent days against the mainly Kurdish border town, despite being targeted by US-led coalition led air strikes aimed at halting its progress.
Biden’s Apology to Erdogan Reinforces the US Policy of Succumbing to Turkey
Asbarez.com, October 06, 2014, https://asbarez.com/127633/
On Monday morning, news of ISIS militants’ advance on Kobane near the Turkey-Syria border flooded the media, with some citing eyewitness accounts that ISIS has planted its flag atop the hilly area, with the local Kurdish population fighting for its life and against the ISIS militants.
So where was the United States’ trusted ally Turkey in its pledge to help the so-called international effort led by the US to topple the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which now goes by the name of Islamic State?
We can say one thing: The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was, most likely, gloating because a day before he had received an apology from Vice-President Biden, who told the truth by revealing Turkey’s—and Erodgan’s—role in the advancement of ISIS in the region.
While speaking to a group of students at Harvard, Biden discussed the US strategy/policy in the region and expressed that Erdogan had admitted Turkey’s errors in allowing militants to freely roam its border. This comment angered Erdogan, who demanded an apology from Biden and threatened that “he [Biden] will be history for me if he has indeed used such expressions.”
US Congress urged to vote on Turkey Christian churches accountability act
Armenpress.am, October 07, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
The Armenian National Committee of America launched a national campaign on returning the Armenian churches in Turkey. It appeals to the Armenians to unite and call the House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on National Call-In Day - October 7th urging him to promote religious freedom by scheduling a vote on H.R.4347, the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act, providing for the return of the Armenian churches to the real owners, Armenpress reports.
H.R.4347 is a bipartisan religious freedom bill that calls upon the Administration to report annually to Congress about Turkey's progress in returning stolen Christian properties. H.R.4347 represents a principled and practical American stand for the right of Christians in present-day Turkey to practice their faith in their own houses of worship. H.R.4347 enjoys broad bipartisan support. It was introduced by Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
On June 26th, after an extensive mark-up, it was overwhelmingly adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee. It builds upon H.Res.306, which was adopted by the House of Representatives on December 13, 2011. H.R.4347 is consistent with the spirit of recent public statements by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Kerry calling for Turkey to restore religious properties.
The Turkish Embassy has essentially been alone in aggressively attacking H.R.4347, reflecting newly elected Turkish President Recep Erdogan's growing intolerance and discrimination toward Christians, Jews, and other ethnic and religious minorities.
Big Armenian Diaspora bears witness to 1915 Genocide – German Inter-Church Council
Tert.am, October 07, 2014, https://www.tert.am/en/news/
In the run-up to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the German Inter-Church Council has called upon the churches across the country to commemorate the victims of the tragic massacres.
In an official statement adopted after its annual assembly in Magdeburg, it has stressed the importance of respecting the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians, noting that the heinous crime against humanity has to date left its heavy imprint on the world history.
“In 2015, we are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. From 1915 until 1922, one and a half million Armenians were killed, and hundreds were displaced from home (the present-day Turkey) and exiled. The 6 million Armenian Diaspora scattered around the globe is the visible testimony of that Genocide.
“One centennial has passed, but what happened has left its heavy imprint not only on the Armenian people but also the international community. Even if there are no survivors today, the recognition of that grief and injustice continues to remain actual.”
News from Azerbaijani Sources
Media should do more for conveying Azerbaijan’s fair position to world
Today.az, October 03, 2014, https://www.today.az/news/
Azerbaijan's fair position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be conveyed to the international community.
First Deputy Director General of ITAR-TASS news agency Mikhail Gusman voiced this while talking to Trend Agency on October 3.
"My Azerbaijani colleagues, country's media is doing a lot to bring the just position of Azerbaijan to the world. But I think that the Azerbaijani media should do more so that this position in the face of such a strong informational confrontation could be more understandable, more clearly conveyed and to voice more truth about the situation emerged in Azerbaijan occupied territories," Gusman said.
He further added that integer younger generation has already grown up after the war, so it is very important that a fair demand for the release of the occupied territories was clearly conveyed to the global community.