Armenia MFA: Lack of international community’s proper reaction to Lapshin’s extradition to Azerbaijan has inspired Baku
13:45, 05.06.2017
The lack of international community’s proper reaction to blogger Alexander Lapshin’s arrest and subsequent extradition to Azerbaijan has inspired Baku.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia, Tigran Balayan, wrote about the aforementioned on his Twitter account.
He noted this reflecting on the statement by Maja Kocijančič, Spokesperson for the European Union External Action Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, regarding “the reported abduction and illegal detention of Azerbaijani nationals residing in Georgia.”
“The lack of proper reaction by international community on Lapshin’s arrest & extradition to Azerbaijan inspired Baku,” Balayan tweeted and posted Kocijančič’s statement.
The Russian Supreme Court ruled, on May 15, to revoke the registration of the All-Russia Azerbaijanis Congress (ARAC), the largest and most influential Azerbaijani Diaspora organization in Russia. The initial decision came on March 9, at the request of the Russian Ministry of Justice, which alleged the ARAC was not in compliance with legal requirements (APA; TASS, May 15; Abc.az, May 16). Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II sent welcoming messages to the Congress when it was founded back in 2001. President Putin also attended the II Convention of the ARAC in 2004 (Kremlin.ru [1], [2], [3] January 19, 2004; October 19, 2004; Vakrf.ru, accessed May 22, 2017).
The liquidation of the ARAC’s registration foreshadows the possibility of further acts to follow concerning Azerbaijanis living in Russia, particularly the hundreds of thousands of labor migrants who send remittances back to Azerbaijan. This scenario must be viewed in light of Moscow’s push to expand the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)—Russia’s political project to institutionalize its grip on post-Soviet countries under an economic guise (see EDM, October 4, 2013; May 9, 2014; March 2, 2015; March 2, 2016; Kennan-russiafile.org, April 13, 2017).
Moscow has a long track record of using labor migrants as leverage against its post-Soviet neighbors, including Azerbaijan. Remittance flows provide Moscow with political influence over these countries, which the Kremlin routinely uses as a bargaining chip on various issues (see EDM, November 10, 2011; July 6, 2015; September 15, 2015; EurasiaNet, March 27, 2017). National governments are forced to take this factor into account for fear of a mass return of labor migrants from Russia, which could heighten the unemployment rate and social tensions at home. And now, Azerbaijani labor migrants may become useful to Moscow as it seeks to draw Baku into the EEU.
Indeed, back in 2013–2014 Russia specifically used the threat of expelling guest workers as an instrument of leverage against Azerbaijan (APA, November 22, 2013; Interfax, October 22, 2013; Unikal.org, January 16, 2014). Then, Azerbaijan was preparing to hold presidential elections and simultaneously negotiating an association agreement with the European Union. Ultimately, Baku refused to sign the association agreement with the EU in 2015. Now again, the Kremlin is apparently boosting its efforts to expand the EEU ahead of the 2018 presidential elections in Azerbaijan and just as Baku has started negotiations to upgrade its relations with the EU. However, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has made it clear that Baku is not interested in joining any union, at least for now (see EDM, March 24).
The sudden mass return of labor migrants from abroad would be a serious burden and social inconvenience for Azerbaijan, particularly at this time of economic constraints and low oil prices. No exact statistics exist as to the actual number of Azerbaijanis living and working in Russia (Caucasus Analytical Digest, December 3, 2013; BBC—Azerbaijani service, November 1, 2013). Various sources put the figure at between 600,000 and one million, while a few estimates even point to two million Azerbaijanis working in Russia. Many of those are not Russian citizens and work there temporarily as guest workers. Remittances from Russia to Azerbaijan totaled $739 million in 2016, which actually represents a drop from previous years (Azadinform, April 7, 2017). Sources of Russian pressure on the Azerbaijani expatriate community comes in a variety of forms. On February 13, for example, hundreds of Azerbaijani migrants were detained by the police in the Russian city of Derbend (Mia.az, February 13). This incident was followed by dozens of trucks carrying agricultural produce from Azerbaijan being held up at the Russian border in March (Xezer TV, Medianews.az, March 24).
Moscow’s toolbox for coercing Baku includes not only instruments for controlling labor migrants and blockades of food imports (see above) but also the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Karabakh. Of those, the Karabakh conflict is the most serious since another large-scale breakout of armed violence could have significant consequences for Russia itself, particularly in the North Caucasus. Hence, at this stage, the other options are still more convenient and safer to employ for Moscow as it seeks to push Baku into the Russia-centric Eurasian Economic Union.
Russian political analyst Evgeny Mikhailov attributed this month’s decision to de-register the ARAC to efforts of the Armenian lobby in Russia (Trend May 15, 2017). However, according to many Azerbaijani experts, the decision was also driven by the Russian government’s discontent over Azerbaijan’s independent policies—including its large, multinational infrastructure and transportation projects such as the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railroad, all of which bypass Russia (Strateq.az, May 15; Azpolitika.info, Musavat, May 16; A24.az, April 4; Amerikanin Sesi, April 13).
The tensions along the Moscow-Baku axis are developing while Azerbaijan’s relations with Europe are far from perfect. And it is difficult to predict whether the Donald Trump White House will pursue a more active policy toward the South Caucasus than his predecessor. All these factors make Baku more vulnerable in the face of Moscow’s assertive pressure. Despite its constraints and internal weaknesses, however, Azerbaijan continues to sound quite defiant; it will, therefore, likely not be an easy task for Russia to pull Azerbaijan into a much closer orbit despite the mounting pressure on the Azerbaijani diaspora.
The spokesperson for the Azerbaijani foreign ministry, Hikmet Hajiyev, declared that the de-registration of the ARAC will negatively impact Azerbaijani-Russian relations (Azertag, May 16). But that said, Moscow also will have to consider that, over the past few years, the Azerbaijani government has become more mature in dealing with external pressure and threats that have a domestic dimension. The recent detection and arrest of a group of Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians collaborating with and passing classified information to Armenian intelligence is a case in point (Azernews, May 7).
The All-Russia Azerbaijanis Congress is now appealing the decision of its de-registration, and the appellate court may overrule the Supreme Court’s decision. But even in that case, the incident nevertheless represents a Russian shot across Azerbaijan’s bow.
Aravot, Armenia
Azerbaijan kills soldiers accused of spying for the Republic of Armenia
Politician Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan touched upon the recent
sensational spy scandal in Azerbaijan. Let us remind, that about four
dozen soldiers were arrested, accused of spying for the Armenian side.
“They were killed in unknown circumstances by law enforcement bodies,
and were buried in close coffins, without any explanations what had
happened to them”, the politician informed about the latest news
available in Azerbaijani media.
He also noted that the Defence Minister of Azerbaijan and the Chief of
the General Staff are in competition trying to neutralize each other’s
personnel by accusing them of spying in favor of the Republic of
Armenia. “There is also some information that the arrested officers
were planning an armed rebellion”. Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan believes
that the arrest of the officers is also connected with the fact that
they refused to participate in the border incidents provoked by
Azerbaijan in January-February.
Luiza SUKIASYAN
Aravot, Armenia
Sema Moritz: Hrant Dink not first intellectual killed in Turkey
In the response to the question of “Aravot.am” what has changed in
Turkey after the death of the editor-in-chief of “Agos” Hrant Drink,
famous Turkish singer Sema Moritz answered: “Hrant Dink is not the
first intellectual killed in Turkey, but one of many. The death of
Hrant Dink showed Turkish people that we could embrace each other and
share the pain over a loss of a beloved person in the country”.
Note, that Sema Moritz, after reading a book about Armenian compositor
Garnik Karmiryan embarked on a new album.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
The pop icon recently rocked the Billboard Music Awards with some of her greatest hits
By Rebecca Pinnington
22nd May 2017,1:43 pm
POP legend Cher has still got it even at 71 years old.
The star wowed the audience at the Billboard Music Awards with a crowd-pleasing performance of two huge hits, Believe and If I Could Turn Back Time, looking and sounding as amazing as ever, before receiving a prestigious Icon Award, recognising her epic career.
Getty Images
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Iconic singer Cher performs at the Billboard Music Awards 2017
Here’s all you need to know about the living legend.
Cher is an enormously successful recording artist and icon of 1980’s and 1990’s pop-rock music. Her songs have hit no. 1 in over 20 countries and her music is still beloved by listeners old and young.
She was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in 1946 to an Armenian-American father, John, and model and actress mum Georgia Holt.
After her parents divorced, Cher moved to California with mum Georgia, who was playing small roles in TV series. Her mother managed to land the star some small roles, but Cher never thought she would be famous. She later said: “I couldn’t think of anything that I could do … I didn’t think I’d be a singer or dancer. I just thought, well, I’ll be famous. That was my goal.”
Fortunately, Cher did have her singing talent to make her famous, and was a staple of popular music for decades, switching between genres to make her music successful with a massive audience.
As well as an iconic singer, Cher is an acclaimed actress. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 1984 film Silkwood, then in 1988 won Best Actress for her main role in Moonstruck.
She has two sons: Chaz, by first husband Sonny Bono, and Elijah Blue, by Gregg Allman.
Getty Images
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Cher performs If I Could Turn Back Time at the Billboard Awards
Cher has sold over 100 million records over her 53 year career, and is best known for huge hits like Believe, If I Could Turn Back Time, Gypsies Tramps & Thieves, and the Shoop Shoop Song.
1998 hit Believe was a huge club smash, and was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Dance Recording, winning the latter.
But the pop diva actually HATES a lot of her best-known music. She revealed: “I’m not a Cher fan.
“I just don’t think my aesthetic taste lies in that direction.”
She branded 1998 smash Believe — No 1 in 23 countries — "a nightmare" and said she stormed out of the recording studio.
She dismissed 1995 album It's A Man's World — which included her hit Walking In Memphis — as "crap", adding: "I didn't like any of it."
Cher said she wanted to make songs like Joni Mitchell but since the 1970s had been given ones she didn’t like.
She once fought her label’s bid to make a dance album until chief Rob Dickins told her: "I'm going to send you some songs. When you like them, tell me."
She also blasted her hits Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves, Half-Breed and Dark Lady.
But Cher reckons 1989's If I Could Turn Back Time was "OK", adding: "By that time, I figured out I wasn’t going to be the Eagles."
Cher wowed audiences with her joyful performance at the Billboard Music Awards, wearing a silver dress that featured diamante bands which barely covered her breasts and her crotch.
Underneath the raunchy gown, she wore nipple pasties and fishnet tights to preserve her modesty.
She then delighted fans when she changed into a throwback black one-piece for If I Could Turn Back Time that looked just like the one she wore when the single was first released in 1989.
He said: "At what point do Cher's outfits become inappropriate? She's 70."
Co-host Susanna Reid said: "Oh yes because you have a cut off don't you? What is it… 59?"
Piers clarified it was 56, before highlighting Cher's silver outfit, which made it look like the singer was not wearing a bra. Piers said: "That one in particular, come on Cher for goodness sake love."
But Kate Garraway, who was sitting on the other side of the 52-year-old, replied: "She's on stage! It's not like she's in the supermarket, it's different rules surely?"
Never one to back down, Piers continued: "She's a grandmother, it's like for goodness sake put it away, grow old gracefully, put them away."
Cher is worth an estimated $320 million, equivalent to just under £250 million.
She is believed to earn roughly $28 million a year, and owns a $45 million Malibu mansion as well as other properties. Her old home in Venice Beach, California, recently sold for $1.8 million.
As one of the highest selling recording artists of all time, and as Oscar winning actress, it shouldn't come as a surprise to learn that Cher is well-off.
Sonny and Cher were married from 1964-1975. After that marriage, Cher went on to marry Gregg Allman, a musician, but divorced him in 1979.
Sonny and Cher met in 1962, when she was 16 years old and he was 27 – 11 years her senior. Sonny was working for a record producer and brought Cher in as a backing singer before they started performing together.
Their marriage was reported in 1964, however in his biography Sonny says this was never an official legal marriage until their son Chaz was born in 1969.
After a string of hits like I Got You Babe and The Beat Goes On, they ended up doing a variety show together on US TV. However the show fell apart during their very public divorce in 1975.
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The General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia has given the AMC Airlines a permit to operate Hurgada-Yerevan- Hurgada, Sharm El Sheikh-Yerevan- Sharm El Sheikh and Hurgada-Yerevan-Sharm El Sheikh flights.
The Hurgada-Yerevan-Hurgada flights will be operated from June 18, 2018. The flights in Sharm El-Sheikh-Yerevan-Sharm El Sheikh direction are expected to start from September 24, 2017, while Hurgada-Yerevan-Sharm El Sheikh flights will be operated starting from September 17.
The Air Cairo Airline will also operate weekly flights from June 20 to October 28 in Hurgada-Yerevan-Hurgada direction.
The air company is also planning flights in Sharm El Sheikh-Yerevan-Sharm El Sheikh direction between June 22 and October 28.
South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in has been sworn in, vowing to address the economy and relations with the North in his first speech as president, the BBC reports.
He said that he would even be willing to visit Pyongyang under the right circumstances.
Mr Moon took his oath of office in Seoul’s National Assembly building a day after his decisive win.
The former human rights lawyer and son of North Korean refugees is known for his liberal views.
Mr Moon has also vowed to unify a divided country reeling from a corruption scandal which saw his predecessor, Park Geun-hye, impeached.
In his inauguration speech, Mr Moon said he would “do everything I can to build peace on the Korean peninsula”.
“If needed I will fly to Washington immediately,” he said. “I will also go to Beijing and Tokyo and even Pyongyang in the right circumstances.”
He added that he would have “serious negotiations” with the US and China over the controversial deployment of anti-missile system Thaad.
Is ‘s solo effort at Sunderland our Goal of the Month for April?
Watch the contenders here:
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
Armenian captain could win another award for his left-foot finish against Sunderland. April witnessed some excellent goals from Manchester United’s first team, Reserves and Academy sides, and voting is now open on
Marcus Rashford has a pair of important efforts in the Goal of the Month poll – the opener in probably the best game of the period, United’s 2-0 home win over Chelsea, and the extra-time winner as the Reds eventually overcame Anderlecht to reach the Europa League semi-finals.
The shortlist includes submissions from the same game at Sunderland: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s excellent shot on the turn from the edge of the area and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s left-foot finish across the Black Cats’ acclaimed young goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.
The only overseas entry in this month’s poll comes next, with Matthew Olosunde marking his return to his native United States by scoring a cracker in the Dallas Cup for the Reds’ Under-19 team.
After Rashford’s brace, two strikes from United’s Under-18s are separated in the shortlist by Anthony Martial’s stunning counter-attack at Turf Moor when he broke from inside his own half, outran Burnley’s Joey Barton and played a one-two with Ander Herrera before sweeping the Reds ahead.
Either side of Martial’s effort, one can see Zak Dearnley bursting down the left flank at The Cliff to roll the ball in at West Ham’s near post and Callum Gribbin’s sweet left foot firing in the first of United’s five goals as Reading were defeated 5-2 at home on Saturday.
Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award winning writer William Saroyan wrote in his short story “The Armenian and the Armenian” –
“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia. See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.”
Those immortal words closed the recently-released film “The Promise,” which centers around the Armenian genocide in 1915. They also adorn the left arm of Real Salt Lake and Armenian National Team forward Yura Movsisyan.
Last week, as the film premiered across the U.S., Movsisyan hosted RSL at a private screening. Afterword, he spoke about the film’s historical importance, his reaction and the words that he had tattooed on his arm nearly a year ago. The club’s presents an interview with Yura Movsisyan.
“That quote defines and explains everything about the Armenians. We’re a fighting nation. We’re a nation that survived a genocide. Our victory will be to survive. For me, that has the best meaning in the world to have that quote engraved in my body. It means everything. It defines us and defines me as a person and who I am. And it defines our nation and our race. That’s the theme of the movie and it’s who we are.”
“With the worldwide release of The Promise, it’s finally a big movie about the reality of the genocide that happened 102 years ago. Everybody has heard and read some stuff, but this is an opportunity for everybody to actually see the reality. It’s definitely special because us Armenians have always fought to get it recognized. It’s every Armenian’s duty to let it be known. To have a picture with so many great actors and an Oscar-winning director film the movie … it can’t get bigger than this worldwide. It’s about time people started understanding and learning about it. These are the things we are seeing today – genocides.”
“When you are a kid and you are being raised, you are told the stories. You are a survivor of a genocide. Our duty is to make other people aware of what our history is. It’s not just a small little country in Eastern Europe. It’s a country that has seen a genocide. You win by surviving and staying alive and telling others. It’s great to see a lot of my friends and teammates come out and learn something new. So it’s definitely special for me. Once people learn about it, they will be more educated about Armenians. And it isn’t just about the Armenian genocide. It’s learning about history and letting people know that these things are happening today. It can help the world out.”
“It’s tough. You might know the story and the history, but every time you get reminded of it, it gets tougher and tougher – and heavier. I think they did a fabulous job. They put everything out there – the emotions and the reality. But we still had that spirit to fight to survive and fight to help each other and save whoever we can. That’s a big part of this movie and a big part of defining who we are.”
“It’s been 102 years that half of the world hasn’t recognized the genocide. We’re still fighting for it. We didn’t just move on – we’re always going to fight. I always had to fight to reach the level that I’ve reached in life. I didn’t have much, but I became a pro in a country of 300 million people. I didn’t have any other goals but to be a professional. That’s the fighting spirit that we have. Nothing’s ever been handed to us. Everything we’ve had to do has been done the hard way. That’s the way it is for us and we embrace it.”
“Any Armenian who meets a fellow Armenian, no matter where in the world, you become close. You just have that very warm, welcoming reaction. We only had ourselves to protect each other and everybody is part of that lineage. We are the grandchildren or great-grandchildren of genocide survivors or of people that were killed. It’s an automatic that we are welcoming and warm toward each other.”
The Promise is in theaters now. All proceeds from the film will be donated to various non-profit groups, with a focus on humanitarian and human rights groups.