PACE President wants to visit Armenia
Panorama.am, September 29, 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed a wish to pay a visit to Armenia.
“When I decided to visit Azerbaijan, I immediately said that I will also visit Armenia,” Anne Brasseur told a Panorama.am correspondent in Strasbourg.
“The duty of the PACE President is to understand the context of the problems. I constantly need to listen to both sides, in this case, of course, to both Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Ms Brasseur said, adding that the date of the visit has not been set yet.
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed a wish to pay a visit to Armenia.
“When I decided to visit Azerbaijan, I immediately said that I will also visit Armenia,” Anne Brasseur told a Panorama.am correspondent in Strasbourg.
“The duty of the PACE President is to understand the context of the problems. I constantly need to listen to both sides, in this case, of course, to both Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Ms Brasseur said, adding that the date of the visit has not been set yet.
EU-Armenia Relations
Greek President pays tribute to the memory of Armenian Genocide victims
Armradio.am, September 29, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
President Karolos Papoulias of the Hellenic Republic has arrived in Armenia today for a two-day state visit at the invitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
The Greek President visited Tsitsernakaberd to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.
Within the framework of the visit, the Greek President will hold meetings with President Serzh Sargsyan, the President of the RA National Assembly Galust Sahakyan and Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.
A signing ceremony of documents aimed at strengthening and deepening the Armenian-Greek relations will take place in the RA Presidential Palace followed by the joint press statement of President Serzh Sargsyan and President Karolos Papoulias on the results of the negotiations.
General News on Armenia
President praises activities by UN Office in Armenia
News.am, September 29, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Monday received Helen Clark, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The President gave a high assessment to the activities by the UN Office in Armenia, and over the past more than twenty years. Sargsyan noted that the office had done a considerable work with respect to the reforms implemented in Armenia, the ensuing progress, and the carrying out of development programs in numerous communities in the country. The President also highly appreciated Clark’s personal contribution.
Armenia to join EEU in 2015: Anna Sysoeva
Armenpress.am, September 29, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
Armenia may become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union on January 2 2015. Armenpress reports that Anna Sysoeva, the deputy director of the department for cooperation with Customs Union agencies and economic cooperation with CIS countries of Russian Ministry for Economic Development, stated about it at the session on September 29.
“The agreement’s ratification is being done synchronously, but it cannot be done simultaneously and in a day,” she said, adding that Kazakhstan will ratify the agreement on October 2 and Belarus on October 7.
“On the whole we expect that on October 10 when the presidents will meet in Minsk, we will prepare a statement for them to the effect that all the three countries completed the ratification and are ready for the agreement’s taking effect on January 1, 2015,” she noted.
7th ArmTech Conference Opens in New York
Asbarez.com, September 29, 2014, https://asbarez.com/127399/7th-
Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian opened the seventh ArmTech 2014 conference on high technology in New York City, the presidential press office reported.
The conference provides a platform for discussing, planning and implementing policies that help maintain economic and technological achievements in Armenia, the president said.
The event also helps reveal new business ideas and investment opportunities, establish new links and a professional network, and strengthen the existing business ties in tech industries between Armenia-based and international organizations, Sarkisian said.
According to the president, all this helps enhance the country’s rating as a most developing country in the field.
Speaking on Sunday at the opening of the conference, Sarkisian said that in recent years Armenia has made substantial progress in the sphere of high technologies and has sustained an average 22-25 percent annual growth rate in that sector.
Tsarukian’s Party Speaks Of Fresh Elections
Azatutyun.am, September 29, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) has moved closer to publicly demanding regime change in the country during its ongoing nationwide rallies staged jointly with two established opposition parties.
The BHK, the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and the Zharangutyun (Heritage) party took their anti-government campaign to Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province at the weekend, holding two rallies in the towns of Sisian and Kapan.
“You may be wondering what prompted the trio to unite, launch a process and hold rallies in the regions and in Yerevan soon now that no [regular] elections are coming up. True, no elections are coming up, but it’s possible to force [snap] elections,” Vartan Oskanian, a senior BHK figure, told hundreds of demonstrators in Kapan.
Armenian fair vendors waiting for parliament measure over controversial law
Tert.am, September 30, 2014, https://www.tert.am/en/news/
While Armenia's National Assembly is conducting its regular session today, a crowd of fair vendors has gathered outside, waiting for a final decision on the controversial tax circulation law.
The protesters are determined to wait until the end of the debate.
They had earlier conducted a protest in front of the Government, calling for urgent efforts to recall the measure.
October 1 is the effective date of the proposed law. Under a new amendment, the circulation tax will be reduced to one from 3.5 percent for small and medium enterprises, and family businesses. The law will further oblige entrepreneurs to introduce clarity into documentation procedures.
During the protest on Monday, four opposition lawmakers approached journalists at the protest site to declare their intention of conducting a special session today.
General News on Karabakh
Aliyev’s order: Azeri initiative to arm civilians near border seen more as propaganda ploy in Armenia
Armenianow.com, September 30, 2014,https://www.armenianow.
Azerbaijan’s initiative to arm civilians living at the border with Armenia and along the line of contact with Nagorno-Karabakh, according to an Armenian military expert, is aimed at letting people in borderland communities feel more secure and at expanding the army’s combat possibilities, but in reality it will have only a negligible effect, while disproving the myth propagandized by Baku for years about the “weak Armenian Army”.
Last week, Azerbaijani media published the text of the order by President Ilham Aliyev on measures aimed at “strengthening the protection of the country’s borders”. Under the order, measures need to be taken “to form volunteer patrol teams that will consist of residents of the areas adjacent to the line of contact between the armed forces of the Azerbaijani Republic and the Republic of Armenia.”
David Jamalyan, an advisor to Armenia’s defense minister, thinks that this is one of the steps to prepare Azerbaijan’s society psychologically for a possible war. According to him, it is not new that in recent years Azerbaijan’s military and political leadership has been getting ready for a war both in the military and moral-psychological dimensions.
“This way an attempt is made to create an additional combat resource for the Azerbaijani army in case of war. I don’t think, however, that it can significantly improve the combat efficiency of the Azerbaijani army. Besides, our state border security is reliable,” Jamalyan told ArmeniaNow, adding that by such steps official Baku, maybe unwillingly, creates an atmosphere of fear among its own population in relation to the Armenian armed forces, at the same time undermining confidence in the Azerbaijani army.
Trial of Azerbaijan saboteur that killed Armenian boy to be held in Stepanakert
News.am, September 30, 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
The investigation is still in progress into the case of sixteen-year-old Smbat Tsakanyan, who was brutally killed in July by Azerbaijani saboteurs in Karvachar Region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).
NEWS.am was informed by the NKR capital city Stepanakert seat of the NKR First Instance General Jurisdiction Court that they will be hearing this case, the respective sanction is issued, but the criminal investigation is not yet completed.
Armenia Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan had told reporters that, according to initial hypothesis, the boy was killed by the last detained member of the Azerbaijani sabotage team which had infiltrated into Karvachar on July 11.
Azerbaijan not ready to solve the Karabakh issue: Armenian FM
Armradio.am, September 29, 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
On September 29 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Helen Clark, UN’s Deputy Secretary General and UNDP Administrator.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the UNDP mission in different parts of the world, referred to the results of joint programs, the future projects.
The parties discussed the urgent issues on international agenda and the role of the UN in their resolution. The UNDP Administrator hailed Armenia’s participation in peacekeeping activities.
The meeting of the Armenian Foreign Minister and the UNDP Administrator was followed by a joint press conference.
“Azerbaijan is trying to transfer the negotiation process on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict to different platforms, where there is no deep understanding of the issue. This is yet another proof of the fact that Azerbaijan is not ready to solve the issue. It’s not ready for a solution on the basis of the norms and principles of international law reflected in the five statements adopted by the heads of Minsk Group co-chairing countries,” Minister Nalbandian said.
PACE Armenian delegate accuses Azerbaijan of subverting Karabakh negotiations
Armenpress.am, September 29, 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
The member of the Armenian delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party faction of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Naira Zohrabyan accused Azerbaijan of intending to subvert the negotiation process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Armenpress reports that Zohrabyan stated: “Azerbaijan is aiming at subverting the negotiation process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and starting a new process parallel to the internationally adopted format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. This is the strategy of Azerbaijan. Why does Azerbaijan want to get rid of the working OSCE format? The answer is obvious: Azerbaijan is getting ready for a war. To understand the real aims of that country, it is enough only to listen to the militant and anti-Armenian statements of the high ranking officials or just follow the dynamics of the military budget growth of the country, which is implemented violating the international arms control regimes and obligations”, - said the deputy.
Artsakh parliament speaker receives Francois Rochebloine
Aysor.am, September 30, 2014, https://www.aysor.am/en/news/
Speaker of the parliament of Artsakh Ashot Ghulyan on September 29 received the member of the French National Assembly, chairman of France-Artsakh Friendship Group Francois Rochebloine, the press service of Artsakh parliament reported.
The further programs of France-Artsakh Friendship Group and the development of relations in the parliamentary format were discussed at the meeting.
Ashot Ghulyan stressed the importance of regular visits by French legislators to Artsakh, creating an opportunity to present objective information about the Nagorno Karabakh Republic from international parliamentary rostrums.
F. Rochebloine said that during their visits they see the reality and become a kind of representatives of the NKR in Europe.
Armenia-Turkey
Yerevan Sets No Deadline On Armenia-Turkey Accords
Azatutyun.am, September 29, 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
Senior Armenian officials declined to clarify on Monday when President Serzh Sarkisian could act on his renewed threats to effectively invalidate Armenia’s 2009 normalization agreements with Turkey.
Sarkisian again denounced Ankara for linking their ratification by the Turkish parliament to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict when he addressed the UN General Assembly in New York last week. He said his administration is now “seriously considering recalling the Armenian-Turkish protocols from the parliament.”
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian was unwilling to speculate about possible dates for such a recall. “If that already happened, the president of the republic may have announced it,” Nalbandian told reporters. “But he said what he said. We have nothing to add to that yet.”
Aram I to Demand Lands from Turkish Court Next Month
Asbarez.com, September 29, 2014, https://asbarez.com/127387/
The Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church intends to officially apply to the Constitutional Court of Turkey in October regarding a legal claim for the return of the residences and estates of Sis, located in the territory of the historical Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Aram I explained his plans in an interview with the Greek-Armenian community’s periodical, Azad Or, during a working visit to Athens.
Aram I explained that in the case that Turkey’s Constitutional Court does not approve the claim, the Holy See of Cilicia will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. “We will not wait for positive approaches by Turkey and are ready to go to the end and apply to the ECHR,” the Catholicos said.
“This certainly does not mean that efforts on the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be abandoned, but recognition should provide for compensation. If we do not make this step, we will soon appear in quite a closed circle. Recognition – what next? What will happen after that? It is necessary that Hay Tad comes out of this closed circle,” said Aram I.
News from International Sources
Azerbaijan Doesn't Want To Be Western: The Rhetoric and Reality of Baku's Grand Strategy
Foreignaffairs.com, September 26, 2014, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/
There may be no trust between Azerbaijan and Russia, but there is an implicit understanding. After all the two countries share basically the same political model: national wealth is channeled through the state on the basis of energy revenues, and the small elite that pool most of the income also control the media, and intimidate and oppress the opposition. Legislation, such as new laws restricting the rights of non-governmental organizations, has the habit of being enacted in Russia first and then passed in Azerbaijan in an almost exact carbon-copy a few months later. (President Obama singled out Azerbaijan as an oppressor of NGOs in his speech at the Clinton Global Initiative on September 23.)
Baku has organized a crackdown against any citizens thought capable of even contemplating a Maidan-style protest in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s jails now hold an estimated 98 political prisoners, many of them the country’s bravest pro-Western activists.
The increasingly aggressive posture of the Azerbaijani government has the potential to destabilize not just the country itself, but also its wider neighborhood. In part this is because the assault on the pro-Western opposition has ceded ground to adversaries of a more militant variety. There are reported to be several hundred Azerbaijani radical Sunnis fighting with ISIS who can be expected to return home at some point.
In part this is because Azerbaijan is ever more aggressively provoking its unresolved conflict with Armenia over Nagorno–Karabakh. Baku has used its oil wealth to fund a massive re-armament drive. Over the past five years, Azerbaijan has bought offensive weapons -- attack aircraft, artillery systems, surface-to-air missiles, and drones -- from Israel, Pakistan, and Russia. Its military budget now stands at $4 billion a year, a figure equal to rest of the Armenian state budget.
There has also been an escalation of rhetoric. The Azerbaijani leadership has officially declared Armenia an enemy. In August, Aliev took to Twitter to issue a barrage of 57 bellicose tweets, telling the Armenians, “The flag of Azerbaijan will fly in all the occupied territories.”
Human Rights Watch Warns About Turkey's "Authoritarian Drift"
Eurasianet.org, September 29, 2014, https://www.eurasianet.org/
Critics of Turkey's Justice and Development Party (AKP) government have for years been warning that the country, under the leadership of now President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has taken an authoritarian turn after several years of reform-minded action. Supporters of the AKP and Erdogan, meanwhile, have denied the charge, accusing the critics of being disgruntled supporters of a previous status quo who are simply upset with seeing their once privilaged position in society disappear.
A new report issued today by Human Rights Watch goes a long way towards settling this debate, accusing the Turkish government of "taking far-reaching steps to weaken the rule of law, control the media and Internet, and clamp down on critics and protestors." From HRW'sreport:
“Turkey is undergoing a worrying rollback of human rights. In office for twelve years under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—elected president in August 2014—the ruling Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) has shown increasing intolerance of political opposition, public protest, and critical media. Over the past nine months, in an effort to stifle corruption investigations, the AKP government has sought to curb the independence of the judiciary and weaken the rule of law. The erosion of human rights through limitations on media freedom, clampdown on protest, and further loss of trust in Turkey’s politicized criminal justice system have deepened political polarization in the country.”
News from Azerbaijani Sources
Armenia’s dictatorial regime unable to clearly see modern world's realities
Trend.az, September 30, 2014, https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/
The main threat to regional security is Armenia’s aggressive policy against Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at an expanded meeting within the fourth Caspian Summit in Astrakhan (Russia) Sept. 29, Russia 24 TV channel reports.
The president reminded that Azerbaijan's native land Nagorno Karabakh and seven other adjacent regions of the country are under Armenian occupation for more than 20 years.
“As a result of Armenia’s ethnic cleansing policy against Azerbaijanis, more than one million people became refugees and IDPs," he said.