Armenia, Austria set to boost cooperation
Panorama.am, 8 September 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/
Austria will find a way to support Armenia in cooperating with its important regional ally, Russia, and at the same time in enhancing its cooperation with the European Union, Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz said at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.
EU-Armenia Relations
ANCA always keeps France’s eyes open for Nagorno Karabakh issue
Armenpress.am, 8 September 2014, https://armenpress.am/eng/news/
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) considers the year of 2015 significant both with regard to referring to the Armenian Genocide and finding ways to resolution of the Karabakh conflict. ANCA representative Murad Papazyan told Armenpress that they carry out a continuous work geared towards making Karabakh a negotiating party. “Karabakh should get involved in the negotiations no matter in which format and should express its view. I think France is not against it,” said Murad Papazyan.
French MP supports bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial
News.am, 8 September 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
French MP Bruno Le Roux said he is committed to the values of France president on adoption of a law criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial.
General News on Armenia
Armenian FM: NATO showed selective approach to international law
News.am, 8 September 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian believes the provision of the NATO final declaration contradicts approaches of the OSCE Minsk Group.
NATO has repeatedly stated that it is not engaged in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Nalbandian said during a joint press conference with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz.
Baku pleased with NATO ‘Support’ On Karabakh
Azatutyun.am, 6 September 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
The Azerbaijani government has commended NATO for reaffirming its declared support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at its latest summit held in Wales.
Russian-Armenian Military Drill Targets ‘Ottomania’
Asbarez.com, 5 September 2014, https://asbarez.com/126676/
Russian and Armenian troops simulated on Friday a joint operation against an imaginary enemy dubbed “Ottomania” by their commanders on the third day of their joint exercises held in central Armenia.
Life in Kessab slowly returns to normal
Panorama.am, 8 September 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/
The situation in Syria has not changed and remains unpredictable, Lusine Stepanyan, head of Armenian community department of Middle East at the Armenian Diaspora Ministry, told Panorama.am.
Armenia Drops In Global Competitiveness Rankings
Azatutyun.am, 5 September 2014, https://www.azatutyun.am/
Armenia’s economy has become slightly less competitive over the past year due to lingering problems with the rule of law and unequal conditions for doing business, according to an annual global survey.
Armenia ranks 85th in the latest Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) of 144 economies compiled by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), down from 79th place it occupied last year and 82nd in 2012.
Armenia’s action plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to be ready for government in 2015
Arka.am, 8 September 2014, https://arka.am/en/news/
The national action plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be submitted to the government for approval in 2015, Armenia’s Minister of Ecology Aramayis Grigoryan said
Armenian Church on Akhtamar Island hosts fifth service
Public Radio of Armenia, 8 September 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
The fifth annual Divine Liturgy on the Akhtamar Island’s famous 10th-century church was held on Sept. 7, with the participation of Christians from Turkey and around the world, the Hurriyet Daily News reports. The church was reopened to occasional prayers in 2010 after a hiatus of nearly 100 years.
General News on Nagorno-Karabakh
Karabakh cannot be obstacle to Armenia’s accession to EaEU – Nalbandian
Panorama.am, 8 September 2014, https://www.panorama.am/en/
I assess as positive the negotiations on Armenia’s entry into the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) and the results will become visible soon, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at his joint press conference with visiting Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz.
Karabakh: Azeri teen taken prisoner after crossing line of contact
ArmeniaNow.com, 8 September 2014, https://armenianow.com/
Authorities in Stepanakert say a citizen of Azerbaijan has been taken prisoner by Nagorno-Karabakh frontline troops after crossing the line of contact under yet unclear circumstances and appearing in the territory controlled by ethnic Armenian forces.
Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire 200 times last week
Public Radio of Armenia, 8 September 2014, https://www.armradio.am/en/
According to the data of the NKR Defense Army, about 200 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan from August 31 to September 6.
Thomas de Waal: Hostile rhetoric primarily comes from Azerbaijan
News.am, 8 September 2014, https://news.am/eng/news/
If we exclude the tragic moments, Armenia and Azerbaijan have mutual interests to work for a shared future. British analyst Thomas de Waal, a senior associate at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment, specializing primarily in the South Caucasus region, told the aforesaid at a press conference on Monday.
News from International Sources
Armenia rejects request to reopen 250-year-old mosque
WorldBulletin.net, 8 September 2014, https://www.worldbulletin.net/
Armenia has rejected a request to open up a mosque for the performance of Friday prayers by a Turkey-based non-governmental organization.
News from Azerbaijani sources
Armenia supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
News.az, 8 September 2014, https://news.az/articles/
An unusual situation has established around the declaration of the NATO summit in Newport (Wales): The Alliance, in fact, forced Armenia to support Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
Meeting of Azerbaijani, Armenian presidents emphasizes need to sign big peace agreement
Trend.az, 8 September 2014, https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/
The importance of signing a great peace agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh was emphasized during the recent meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Wales, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a briefing in Baku on Sept.8.
Parliament of Sudan recognizes Khojaly genocide
Trend.az, 8 September 2014, https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/
The parliament of Sudan has adopted a decision to recognize the Khojaly genocide, the department head of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told reporters on Sept.8. "The document adopted by the country's parliament assesses the Khojaly genocide as a crime against humanity" he added.
Oligarchy preaching social intolerance in Armenia
Azernews.az, 8 September 2014, https://www.azernews.az/
(...) Corruption, oligarchy and tyranny remain the major impediments to the development of Armenia. Lack of sovereign foreign policy is another challenge for the post-Soviet country, which faces public protests.
News from Turkey
Julian Assange : ‘Censorship in Turkey linked to past blackouts on minorities'
Today’s Zaman, 7 September 2014, https://www.todayszaman.com/
It is not surprising that Turkey, which has in the past used censorship against Armenians and Kurds, is now experiencing censorship as restrictions on free speech used against one group are doomed to spread to others, Julian Assange of WikiLeaks fame has said.