EuFoA’s Pick of the Day
Basque Parliament recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh self-determination
Times.am, 12 September 2014, https://www.times.am/?p=46402&
On Friday, September 12, 2014, a European Union regional parliament has, for the first time in history, adopted a motion supporting the self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh following several official visits to the region that were organized by European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) and the commitment of EuFoA contacts' network.
The motion adopted today by the Basque Parliament praises the strong determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh people in their choice for democracy, despite the hard and difficult situation. In addition, it states that Karabakhi people have the right to decide their own future, namely their self-determination, which is the fundamental element in any negotiation for the final settlement of the conflict. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of Nagorno-Karabakh's participation in the OSCE Minsk Group conflict resolution negotiations.
EU-Armenia Relations
Armenia defense minister and UK ambassador discuss military collaboration
News.am, 13 September 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan on Friday received British Ambassador Katherine (Kathy) Jane Leach. They conferred on bilateral cooperation in the defense sector, and NATO-format defense cooperation, especially within the framework of the new formats which NATO has initiated at its recent summit in Wales.
National Assembly hosts students of University of Antwerp
Armenpress.am, 12 September 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
On September 12 the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Artak Davtyan met with Lilian van Hoff, Professor of the University of Antwerp of Belgium and a group of students. The students came to Armenia with an exchange program of Yerevan State University and the University of Antwerp.
General News on Armenia
Armenia, World Bank discuss implementation of joint programs
Public Radio of Armenia, 12 September 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received the delegation headed by Henry Kerali, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus. The Prime Minister hailed the cooperation between the World Bank and Armenia and reminded that the parties are currently implementing 15 programs with a total volume of $518 million. “We want to raise our cooperation with the World Bank to a qualitatively new level and intensify the bilateral cooperation with a view of implementing new programs,” Hovik Abrahamyan said.
Belarus official: Armenia's accession will be announced in Minsk
News.am, 15 September 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Belarus is doing everything so that the draft agreement on Armenia's accession to Eurasian Union could be ratified in Minsk on October 10, Belarus Deputy Speaker Viktor Guminsky said in a conversation with the Armenian News-NEWS.am and RFE/RL correspondents. It is supposed that Armenia's joining Eurasian Union will be announced in Minsk, he added.
Russian Arms Exporter Offers More Deals To Azerbaijan
Azatutyun.am, 13 September 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
Russia will complete the ongoing delivery of about 100 T-90 tanks to Azerbaijan early next year and is ready to modernize older tanks used by the Azerbaijani army, according to a senior Russian defense industry official.
Views on Armenia Constitutional reforms
News.am, 13 September 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Ruling Republican Party of Armenia National Assembly (RPA NA) Faction member Mkrtich Minasyan believes that the four non-government NA factions (Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Heritage) will never express a shared view on the Constitutional reforms.
Armenian Police Practice Crowd Dispersal
Azatutyun.am, 15 September 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
The chief of the Armenian police warned opposition groups against destabilizing the political situation in the country with “unlawful” actions as his forces trained to use force against anti-government protesters over the weekend.
U.S. Senate to consider candidacies of its ambassadors to Armenia and Azerbaijan
Armenpress.am, 13 September 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
USA’s relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan will be in the focus of attention of the U.S. Senate next week. The Foreign Relations Committee will consider on September 17 the candidacies of the US Ambassadors to Armenia and Azerbaijan nominated by President Barack Obama.
Vatican confirms Pope's visit to Turkey end of November
PanArmenian.net, 12 September 2014, https://www.panarmenian.net/
ope Francis will visit Turkey at the end of November, traveling to a country on the front lines of the Islamic militant surge that has forced tens of thousands of Christians to flee their homes, the Associated Press reports.
Armenian Greco-Roman wrestlers back home with two gold medals
Public Radio of Armenia, 15 September 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
The national team of Greco-Roman wrestlers returned to Armenia today. Armenia won two gold medals at the World Wrestling Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
General News on Nagorno-Karabakh
NKR Foreign Minister highly appraises Motion about NKR right to self-determination adopted by Basque Country Parliament
Armenpress.am, 13 September 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
During the meeting, Karen Mirzoyan briefed on the processes of state-building in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the international recognition of Artsakh, as well as the current stage of the peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Karabakh. The sides exchanged views on the possibilities and prospects for cooperation between the legislative bodies of Artsakh and the Basque Country.
Survey: 90% of Armenians confident in the army
News.am, 12 September 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
More than 50 percent of respondents are confident that the Armenian Armed Forces and Karabakh Defense Army gave a decent response to the Azerbaijani side, the survey showed. Overall, 90 percent of respondents are confident in the Armenian army.
Belarus supports peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict – parliament
News.am, 13 September 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Armenian National Assembly (NA) Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, who is also co-chair of the Armenia-Belarus Interparliamentary Cooperation Committee, on Saturday, received Belarus NA House of Representatives Vice-Speaker Viktor Guminsky, who likewise is co-chair of the aforesaid committee.
Sharmazanov praised bilateral relations noting that the parliamentary format is an important platform for the development of bilateral strategic relations.
ECHR processes request for interim measure to return remains of Karen Petrosyan
Panorama.am, 15 September 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/law/
On 10 September 2014, a working group representing the family of Karen Petrosyan, an Armenian civilian killed under Azerbaijani custody, has applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) with a request under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, requesting the ECHR to intervene in this case with interim measure of indicating the respondent state, Azerbaijan, immediately to return the remains of Karen Petrosyan to his family, taking all relevant and necessary steps to return the body in a dignified state, the Foundation Against the Violation of Law (FAVL) told.
220 ceasefire violations by Azeri side reported September 7-13
PanArmenian.am, 15 September 2014, https://www.panarmenian.net/
220 ceasefire violations by Azeri side were reported at the line of contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces from September 7-13.
News from Turkey
Turkish EU Minister calls for new era in relations with Armenia
Daily Sabah, 15 September 2014, https://www.dailysabah.com/
Turkey's EU Minister Volkan Bozkır said that Turkey did its share to promote relations with Armenia and that everyone needs to live together by avoiding the mention of what happened in the past.
While paying a visit to Lisbon, Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır touched upon normalizing ties between Turkey and Armenia in regard to the mood of optimism witnessed in the last few months.
News from Azerbaijani sources
OSCE hopes for intensified negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Trend.az, 15 September 2014, https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/
OSCE hopes that the parties to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will engage in the intensified process of negotiations, Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office told Trend on Sept.15.
Kasprzyk underscored that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter urged the conflicting parties to be engaged in this process during his recent visit to the region.
Rasim Musabekov: Nobody cares about Armenia
News.az, 13 September 2014, https://news.az/articles/
Interview with MP, political scientist Rasim Musabayov.
Demographic crisis suffocates Armenia
AzerNews.az, 15 September 2014, https://www.azernews.az/
Armenia is watching a sharp decrease in the natural growth of population, as the growth rate has dropped by 4.5 times in the country since 1990s.
"The current population statistics promise a cut of the country's population by half until 2030," an official health representative said on September 12.
Azerbaijan, Romania to discuss bilateral cooperation prospects
Trend.az, 15 September 2014, https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s official visit to Romania has started, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry said Sept. 15. Mammadyarov will discuss the prospects of Azerbaijani-Romanian bilateral relations, the report says.