The parliamentary faction of the opposition Armenia alliance on Monday held a meeting, chaired by the alliance leader, Robert Kocharyan.
They discussed the situation in the country, the activities, as well as the further strategy and tactics of the opposition faction, the bloc said in a statement.
"Issues related to the rally to be held in Liberty Square on November 9 were also discussed separately,” it noted.
Roma head coach Jose Mourinho spoke about the Armenian national team and Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the club's press service reports.
“I understand what you are saying but Mkhitaryan is doing well. Mkhitaryan is no longer a kid, he played against Napoli and I took him out against Cagliari. I needed depth with El Shaarawy whom I like very much.”
“I won’t tell you if he will play tomorrow. Fuzato for me he is a very loyal player and he has not played even a minute. If he will have to play someday it’s not a problem. Loyal yes, important to us, yes.”
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On October 15, the Armenian premier visited Moscow and agreed to the opening of a railway from Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave and then onto Turkey via Armenia’s southernmost region of Syunik. The proposed development will also benefit Armenia, through the opening of a rail link to Russia and Iran through Azeri territory. This seems to be a good bargain for Azerbaijan but especially for Armenia; for three decades, the country has been locked in geo-economic isolation, sandwiched between the closed borders of Turkey and Azerbaijan, and dependent on Russia and Iran.
For Azerbaijan, it answers dilemmas raised by its recent standoff with Iran, a neighbor openly unhappy that last year’s second Nagorno-Karabakh war has greatly increased the influence of Turkey. Rather than be dependent on Iranian routes, Azerbaijan will now have a shorter link to its exclave and to Turkey.
Which brings us to the biggest winner: Turkey. While the West is re-thinking its position in the wider Black Sea region, Turkey has been actively involved in the South Caucasus both by choice and necessity. It has achieved significant results, disrupting the regional status quo both through its involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and by offering alternative transportation routes to South Caucasus states with limited connectivity.
This started in the 1990s, when Turkey worked with Georgia and Azerbaijan to undermine Russia’s centuries-long monopoly on the region’s railway and road connections by pioneering east-west links.
Turkey’s grand strategy to open up the South Caucasus has developed since the second Nagorno-Karabakh war and seeks improved connections to Azerbaijan beyond the Georgia route. Armenia is critical here. Humiliatingly beaten in 2020, it has so far opted to view its post-war status in terms of realpolitik.
Circumstances are ripe for Armenia to break the blockade imposed since its victory in the first Nagorno-Karabakh war of the 1990s. With Azerbaijan now victorious, the major problem haunting potential Armenian-Turkish reconciliation has been at least partially removed. An earlier attempt to resolve this, in 2008-2009, broke down because the Azeris would not agree while Nagorno-Karabakh was under Armenian military occupation. Now however there is progress. For instance, Turkish and Azeri air carriers are allowed to use Armenian airspace. There are also rumors of further agreements in the works on border demarcation.
Armenia has also toned down the rhetoric around Nagorno-Karabakh, which signals some acceptance, at least for now, for rapprochement and the rejection of a radical irridentist policy. Better ties with Turkey would also mean a lower likelihood of military confrontation and could represent a tacit agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan of an emerging status quo acceptable to all parties.
This is a significant — and unheralded — opportunity for the region. Normalizing bilateral ties would create the basis for economic cooperation for Armenia and Turkey, neighbors with a bleak history but also with common interests, like improved trade. Progress could ultimately lead to the opening of the 300km-long (186 mile) border. Of course, agreement is one thing and implementation is another. Mutual distrust and potential interference by outside powers, as well as by nationalistically charged elements of the population, could limit the momentum behind the potential improvement, or even reverse it.
A longer-term perspective is important here. The rail agreement would offer Turkey yet another major route to penetrate the South Caucasus and reach further east to the Caspian Sea. On the surface, other powers such as Russia and Iran would also gain from improved connections. Both would have additional routes to Armenia. This is a win for Iran, which has largely been excluded from post-war developments, but it is unclear how it fits Russia’s plans; a largely sealed-off and isolated South Caucasus handed the Kremlin powerful leverage in the region. A Turkish-led reopening would reduce it.
The South Caucasus, the traditional meeting point of Europe and Asia, is now working to restore its historic connections to the wider world. Indeed, geographically the region has greater links to the south and west, including the Middle East, than to Russia, which lies beyond the formidable barrier of the Caucasus mountains.
Turkey’s and to a limited extent Iran’s inroads into the South Caucasus are instrumental in this process. Russia’s nearly two century-long domination over the region is coming to an end — the only viable instruments in the Kremlin’s hands are its spies and its soldiers, currently camped in Russia’s military bases in the occupied Georgian territories, plus units in Armenia and some peacekeepers between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Turkey’s strategy, fitting the ambitious regional agenda of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, may be an irritant to Russia but it is far more digestible than broader NATO engagement.
In an age of US-China great power competition and tensions between the US and European Union (EU) member states like France, the West has neither the desire nor the unity for greater involvement in hotspots like the South Caucasus. For now, at least, the region must focus on the neighborhood.
11:16,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers observed a moment of silence to commemorate the victims of the 1999 October 27 parliament shooting.
Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan proposed lawmakers during the session to hold the moment of silence.
The five perpetrators, which include Hunanyan’s younger brother and uncle, were sentenced to life in prison in 2003.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
18:17,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received NATO Secretary General's Special Representative Javier Colomina Píriz.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, PM Pashinyan congratulated Mr. Piriz on his appointment to the important post and expressed hope that his visit will provide an opportunity to discuss the situation in the South Caucasus region, assess the opportunities and problems of the Armenia-NATO partnership. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the situation in our region is rather tense, and Armenia is making efforts to manage it best. According to the Prime Minister of Armenia, there are problems in the region that are waiting for their solution. "The comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is a priority for us, the opening of regional communications is also important," the PM said, expressing hope that it will be possible to achieve results in these areas.
Prime Minister Pashinyan highlighted the political cooperation with NATO and getting acquainted with the latter's ideas on further partnership.
Javier Colomina Píriz noted that NATO also attaches importance to the ongoing partnership with Armenia, and the purpose of his visit is to discuss issues and opportunities for further cooperation with Armenian partners, to assess the situation and prospects in the region. Mr. Piriz noted that NATO highly appreciates the activities of the Armenian peacekeepers in Kosovo, who carry out their mission at a high level. The NATO Secretary General's Special Representative added that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization attaches importance to the establishment and strengthening of peace and stability in the South Caucasus and is ready to contribute to solving this issue through cooperation with the countries of the region.
Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that the participation of Armenian peacekeepers in ensuring international security is important for Armenia and expressed confidence that they will continue their mission in the best possible way. The Prime Minister also referred to the processes taking place in our region, emphasizing that the issue of ensuring the return of Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan directly affects the regional situation. Nikol Pashinyan expressed hope that in this regard it will be possible to reach a solution in the near future.
During the meeting the sides exchanged views on Armenia-NATO partnership and further cooperation.
09:59,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Rustam Badasyan hosted US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy, the Committee said in a news release.
The SRC Chairman introduced the Ambassador on the Committee’s agenda of reforms of the coming year, highlighting the upgrading of border customs checkpoints, the commitment of making the customs formulation procedures completely electronic, as well as the training of customs officers, etc.
Rustam Badasyan highlighted the constant support provided by the US government for the customs and tax administration sectors.
The US Ambassador expressed readiness to provide practical support for the implementation of reforms of mutual interest.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
H. Roger Tatarian (From Fresno Bee archives)
In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the Fresno Unified School board decided to rename the city’s Fokner Elementary School after renowned journalist and Fresno native H. Roger Tatarian, becoming the first school in the city to be named after an Armenian-American.
The grassroots effort to rename the school began five months ago, when the Armenian community in Fresno petitioned to have Fresno Unified’s newest school campus be named after Tatarian. Instead, the school board voted to name that campus after philanthropists Francine and Murray Farber, who have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to local education causes, the Fresno Bee reported.
The Forkner Elementary School was a second choice by the Armenian community, and despite opposition by the school community, the school district voted for the name change.
“The ANCA Central California thanks the Fresno Unified School District Board of Trustees on naming a school after Roger Tatarian,” said a statement by the local Armenian National Committee of America chapter.
According to the Fresno Bee, on the same night the school board cast its vote in May, Fresno author and journalist Mark Arax suggested renaming Forkner Elementary School for Tatarian and noted namesake J.C. Forkner’s racist history. Arax researched Forkner extensively and wrote about him in his latest book, “The Dreamt Land,” where he chronicles the racist past of Forkner’s developments and discrimination against Armenians and communities of color. Forkner is known chiefly for developing Fig Garden, which spans 12,000 acres.
Speaking before the board Wednesday, Arax again described Forkner as “the most consequential racist” in the city’s history who affected “countless” families, reported the Fresno Bee.
Tatarian has had a storied career as a journalist, educator and author, with an impact on his native Fresno.
After graduating from Fresno State in 1938 with a political science degree, Tatarian began his journalism career at the United Press International, said the Fresno Bee. During his 34 years at UPI, he was in leadership positions worldwide, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, London, Rome, and Washington, D.C. — ultimately becoming the wire service’s editor in chief.
After retirement, he taught journalism at Fresno State for 15 years and served as a consultant for various newspapers, including the Fresno Bee, where he also wrote a regular column.
Tatarian passed in 1995 at the age of 78. A year later, a book of his essays was published, “Day of Mourning, Day of Shame.” Fresno State established the Roger Tatarian Journalism Grant and the Roger Tatarian Endowed Chair in Journalism in his honor, reported the Fresno Bee.
Tatarian was awarded the Elijah Parrish Lovejoy Award and was named a fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi. He was also among the first to be inducted into the New York SPJ Hall of Fame.
An exhibition titled "We will be back:Saved pieces" will open in Europe-Artsakh Hotel in capital city of Artsakh Stepanakert on October 11. The exhibition will feature cultural and spiritual values saved during the thirst Karabakh war saved from the Azerbaijani occupation.
The exhibition which is organised by The Public Council of Cultural Heritage and Artsakh Republic's Historical Environment Protection Service NCSO, will run through November 11.
11:18, 7 October, 2021
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of birthday, the Armenian President’s Office said.
“Armenia highly values you and your significant contribution to the development of cooperation between our countries and the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.
I am sure that the allied relations, which are based on centuries-old brotherhood and mutual trust between our peoples and are directed for the future, will continue contributing to the promotion of bilateral agenda and the practical exercise of cooperation potential”, the Armenian President said in his letter.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan