L’AZERBAIDJAN ET LA TURQUIE DEVRAIENT EXPOSER LES MENSONGES DES ARMENIENS AFFIRME AFLATUN AMASHOV
AZERBAIDJAN
L’annee 2015 sera encore plus importante pour les medias de
l’Azerbaïdjan et de la Turquie, a declare le president du Conseil de
la presse Aflatun Amashov, s’exprimant a Bakou lors d’une conference
internationale sur le thème
SUSPECT IN GYUMRI MURDER CASE MAY FACE TRIAL IN ARMENIA
12:03 * 13.01.15
The Russian serviceman held as a main suspect in yesterday’s brutal
murder in Gyumri may be tried in Armenia.
Speaking to Tert.am, an advisor at the General Prosecutor’s Office,
Christine Melkonyan, said that Russian and Armenian law enforcers
are now considering the possibility of conducting the prosecution in
the country.
The serviceman, Valery Permyakov, is in Gyumri’s 102nd military base
after being caught on the border, said Sona Truzyan, a spokesperson.
“Representatives of the Russian Investigative Committee are in
Armenia. They have carried out initial investigative operations with
the suspect’s involvement; he was interrogated, and joint investigative
procedures followed. A deputy head of the investigative committee,
Vahagn Harutyunyan, was present during the interrogation.
The suspect gave a testimony on the incident that followed his
desertion of post,” she told our correspondent.
The deadly incident left six family members killed; a six month-old
infant, who was the only survivor, is now reported to be in hospital
in a critical condition.
Permyakpov, who is a Russian citizen, faces a criminal proceeding
over desertion and murder in accordance with the Russian legislation.
BLEAK: DRAM CONTINUES TO DEVALUE AND PRICES INCREASE
ECONOMY | 13.01.15 | 15:51
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By Sara Khojoyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
The Armenian government has no economic tools to fight against
the problems threatening the country’s economy as a result of the
devaluation of the dram, some experts say.
At the end of 2014, the government stabilized the currency rate at
450 AMD/dollar after it had reached 550/$1 in November. But the dram
continues to devalue, as it sold at 474/$1 on January 12.
According to economist Vilen Khachatryan, the dram devaluation
will continue, conditioned by economic developments in the world,
particularly because of the drop in oil prices, and as long as
Armenia imports more than it exports this will be a big problem for
the country.
“Until we reach the point when our Balance of Payment is less negative,
i.e. we start exporting more, it will be very difficult to avoid such
phenomenon in our economy,” the economist told ArmeniaNow.
It is noteworthy that in the very beginning of the AMD devaluation
marathon, in December, the Central Bank gave importance to the process
especially in terms of boosting export; however, Khachatryan is sure
that there was no increase of export volumes.
“It would be good if it stays on the same level,” the expert said. “We
must produce in order to export; the production potential of our
country currently is what we have. The amount of export might be the
same, but in terms of numbers – the sum, the export, there might even
be a decrease.”
Khachatryan’s conclusions are based on the drop of international market
price on materials exported from Armenia, such as steel and molybdenum.
Opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) Party representative,
economist Vahagn Khachatryan does not see possibilities for export
growth either.
“It does not happen on its own. It needs time, because production
must be developed and proper technologies bought,” the economist
told ArmeniaNow.
“In a country like Armenia where import is three times more than the
export, this situation means inflation,” he added.
In the previous year inflation in Armenia formed 4.6 percent,
three percent of which was recorded in December only, the National
Statistical Service (NSS) informed.
In mid-December, 2014, when AMD drastically fell, prices for numerous
consumption goods went up, and although Armenian Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan personally visited supermarkets and stabilized the prices,
according to the citizens, prices for goods of first necessity like
bread, butter and sugar grew by 5-15 percent.
According to Khachatryan, the country does not possess the resources
which could help Armenia to withstand the consequences of the
devaluation of the currency.
“We have no export, transfers already in November-December showed bad
indexes, no investments are made, and there is no more opportunity to
borrow,” the economist said adding that after the 2009 crisis foreign
debt of Armenia grew from $1.5 billion to $3.8 billion.
According to Central Bank data, the total amount of transfers made to
Armenia in November of 2014 formed about $142,000, while during the
same period of 2013 it was $204,000. According to evaluation, transfers
decreased mostly because of economic problems in Russia, because 80
percent of transfers are made from Russia, by migrant workers.
“There are no economic solutions for the created situation, and
the current political system has expired itself already,” Vahagn
Khachatryan added.
ARF-D TO NEGOTIATE WITH GOVERNMENT OVER CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
16:07 * 13.01.15
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF) is going
to conduct negotiations with the government over the constitutional
reforms, which it considers very important.
At a news conference on Tuesday, a member of the party’s Bureau,
Armen Rustamyan, said that they are ready to hold consultations with
the authorities and all other interested sides over the issue.
“The next round includes the consultations with the president; in the
following round, it will go to the National Assembly. We need to have
the political parities’ clear approaches at the debates,” he explained.
Rustamyan said he finds that the constitutional reform concept
reflects all the necessary approaches and viewpoints, adding that
the existing resources do not establish sufficient grounds for a full
government change.
The politician said further that he sees an identity between the
ruling regime and the state. “Our basic task is to make clear to
the state the questions on the domestic level have to do with the
Constitution. If we are not able to see the link between the problems
and the Constitution, we will go in the wrong direction,” he said.
“Whatever is good in the Constitution has to be carried out not
just be declared. It is important to ensure checks and balances,
separating the branches of power,” he added.
Asked to what extent they are confident that the referendum would
be without frauds, Artsvik Minasyan, another member of the party,
stressed the importance of creating restrictive mechanisms.
He further elaborated on the clauses considered acceptable to ARF-D.
“The first clause in the document addresses changes in the government
system, government-building, the formation of an independent judiciary
and the authorities of the indirectly elected president. The fifth
clause addresses the electoral system. Of importance are also the
Central Election Commission’s authorities which are also included in
the concept,” he explained.
ANTI-ARMENIAN TALAT PASA COMMITTEE BARRED FROM ENTERING ATHENS
11:45, 12 Jan 2015
The Talat PaÃ…~_a Committee, a Turkish nationalist organization aiming
to counter recognition of the the Armenian Genocide, has been refused
entry to Athens, where it had gone to issue a statement in protest
at a recently approved Greek bill, Horizon Weekly reports.
The members of the committee left for Athens on Jan. 9 with the aim
of making a statement in front of the Greek Parliament.
The committee wanted to protest and demand the withdrawal of a
controversial bill approved by Greece’s parliament in September that
stiffens penalties for racially motivated crime and criminalizes the
denial of genocide and war crimes.
The delegation of 13 people was intercepted by police at the airport
and prevented from entering the city for “security reasons.” They
were sent back to Turkey on the next flight.
The Greek Parliament adopted by a vote of 54 to 42, on Sept. 9, 2014,
an anti-hate crime law — Combating Discrimination, Xenophobia, and
Racism — making it illegal to deny the Jewish Holocaust, and genocides
recognized by international courts or by the Greek Parliament, i.e.,
the genocide of Pontus Greeks, the genocide of Asia Minor Greeks,
and the Armenian Genocide. Those violating this new law would be
fined up to 30,000 euros, and imprisoned for up to three years.
The Greek law stems from the European Union’s 2008 “Framework
Decision against Racism and Xenophobia,” which urged all EU states
to adopt laws that punish racism, xenophobia, denial of genocide,
crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
DISCUSSION OF ARMENIA’S GEOPOLITICAL STANDPOINTS IN DIASPORA
25.12.2014
Anna Zhamakochyan
Senior Expert at the Noravank Foundation’s Center for Information Studies
In the recent years the Republic of Armenia (RoA) has been involved in
geopolitical integration processes. Since 2010 the RoA was involved
in the negotiation process for Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Agreement with the EU, while in 2013 the RoA president announced
about Armenia’s readiness to join the Customs Union of Russia,
Kazakhstan and Belarus (and in future also the Eurasian Union). In
such situation the intra-public discussions are important in grasping
and defining our ideas about the vision for development of the country
and achieving a public partnership and agreement for at least the main
directions for the country’s future and fundamental values. Given
the factor of Armenian Diaspora, apart from discussions occurring
inside Armenia, the opinions and standpoints of various segments of
Armeniancy regarding Armenia’s future position and role are also
important. It is pertinent to study the Armenia-Diaspora dialogue
and Diaspora’s involvement in discussions on the future of Armenia
and related political problems. This article presents a generalized
review of the data obtained by a study1 of 18 Diaspora media2.
In the discourse of Diaspora’s media on Republic of Armenia’s
geopolitical orientations, it is visible that the discussions on
integration processes of the Republic of Armenia are mostly based on
opinions and comments found in the media-space of Armenia.
The decision to join the Customs Union and later also the Eurasian
Economic Union has been discussed in Diaspora media both in positive
and negative lights, in terms of RoA national interests, impacts
on economy, energy and security issues. At the same time it has to
be noted that among the materials of Diaspora media dedicated to
political/economic developments in Armenia there are very few expert
analyses. The circulating materials are more descriptive in nature,
and sometimes are simply emotional.
It has to be noted that regardless of the pro or con stance on the
policy of integration adopted by the RoA, the Customs Union as an
ideologeme is usually perceived in the media-texts not as an idea of
a union between members or equal entities, but rather is directly
associated with Russia, sometimes even with the personality of the
Russian president. The discourse of groups expressing themselves
for and against RoA membership in Customs Union is most clearly
manifested in several key topics, such as security of the RoA and NKR,
socioeconomic situation and development (including energy problems)
in Armenia, and concerns over the RoA sovereignty loss.
By and large, the membership in the Customs Union is viewed not so
much in perspective of its positive effects, but in the context of
averting the negative ramifications in case of non-membership. This
is especially evident in the ideologized and value-ascribed notion of
“security” for the RoA and NKR. Generally, the process of Armenia’s
integration in CU/EEU is expected to maintain the “status quo” both
in the areas of security and economy/energy. Consequently, adoption
of this geopolitical course by Armenia is often viewed as the “least
of all evils”.
The media-image of Russia is mostly that of an “inevitable ally”,
the relations with which are highly asymmetric and which may easily
wield leverages to achieve desirable effects. Interestingly, the
rules of the game and such relationships between the entities are
not seen as something that may change. Hence, the military, political
and economic future of Armenia is contemplated in the context of this
situation and is viewed in relation to Russia and its projects. The
membership in EU is looked upon as something unrealistic/illusional,
or is considered only in the domains of cultural, civilizational,
legal, social, and values developments, leaving out the military one.
If one reviews not only articles related to the researched topic,
but also the general media coverage, then it can be noted that the
traditional agenda of the Diaspora formed around the matter of the
Armenian Genocide continues to reflect this main issue and those
associated to it. It is mainly the relations with Turkey that get local
in the Armenia-Diaspora future prospects. Hence, the Armenian-Turkey
relations and their possible developments are a dominating topic in
analytical publications. As a result, as far as the internal political
problems and/or external challenges of Armenia are concerned, Diaspora
mostly assumes the role of a distant observer.
Thus, the Armenia-Diaspora relations appear to remain in
“stereotypical” frames of the Genocide, lost homeland, traditional
Armenian culture and genetic memory. Such models of viewing each other
in no way help modernizing the relations and noticing the changes
that occur in Armenia and various segments of Diaspora. Moreover,
they prevent timely assessment of pending urgent problems, and
building a common discourse arena. Perhaps, this is the reason
why during a research often a general feeling appears that one is
dealing with archives. For instance, the Moscow-based ”Ã~]þõò
Ã~ZþòÑ~Gõó”, often uses media language that abounds with
unequivocal veneration of “force”, mythologized glorifications,
and “must be done” formulations. The traditional Diaspora media,
especially the cultural and community oriented mass media, often leave
an impression of archived material, because there so are numerous
references to the past. The contexts of the past and present are often
hardly differentiated: the history is not presented with a due regard
to its place and time. Consequently, viewpoints of Diaspora on many
issues (including future prospects of Armenia) are substantiated
by mythologized perceptions and remain in the purely emotional
domain. Perhaps, this is a manifestation of a common “mythological”
thinking, which can be observed in Armenia, too.
In this respect, among the researched media Asbarez.com, Masis
Weekly and ”ԱլՔO~D” differ significantly from others, where the
“rational” political language is a norm, especially with regards to
the issue of the RoA integration.
As for the survey we conducted with 20 Diaspora experts regarding
their opinions on the RoA integration policies, most of them found
it desirable to have “deep cooperation” with both CU/EEU and EU, but
“not full membership” in either.
Characteristically, in the expert opinions an evident relation can
also be traced between the expressed viewpoints and experts’ country
of residence. In particular, the opinions of ethnic Armenian experts
that are Russian residents or nationals differ from others. Given
this circumstance, some questions were viewed from the perspective of
the experts’ country of residence. CU/EEU membership prospects for
Armenia’s future were one thing for which the experts’ perceptions
were clearly different depending on the groups of their permanent
residence countries. For instance, the overwhelming general majority
considered that after joining the CU/EEU, the chances for sustainable
development of the country, its attractiveness for Diaspora as a place
to live and invest, and peaceful resolution of the Karabakh problem
would be less likely or unlikely. Similarly, Armenia’s chances of
becoming an influential country in the region were seen as less
likely in such case, while the chances of the country to remain in
the same sociopolitical condition were assessed to be high. However,
very few of the experts living in Russia shared this opinion. They
have been mostly a lot more optimistic about the expectations from
Armenia’s membership in CU/EEU. They anticipated that after joining
the CU/EEU the future Armenia will have high chances of becoming
a sustainably developing country, attractive for Diaspora to move
to and invest in, better chances to resolve the Karabakh problem
favorably for Armenians, as well as although somewhat smaller, but
still a likelihood for sociopolitical changes to come.
The balanced approaches of Armenian Diaspora’s public figures and
experts in the West regarding RoA integration processes are evidenced
not only by our research, but also by their publications. For example,
after the agreement to join the Eurasian Economic Union was signed on
October 10, 2014, Harut Sassounian, Publisher, The California Courier
() published an article3, where he viewed
the RoA-RF relations in the context of “geostrategic and economic
interests” and “realities”. He noted that there are some “compelling
reasons for Armenia’s decision to join EEU”, at the same time adding
that “no one should conclude that Yerevan has to remain exclusively
in the Russian economic zone.” He also calls on the West to help
reduce Armenia’s dependence on Russia by applying tax privileges
and other incentives: “Western countries would be better served to
use carrots rather than sticks to help steer Armenia toward a more
balanced relationship between East and West.”
In summary, the results of the research of a segment in Diaspora
media and a survey of some experts/community leaders show that the
expectations of Diaspora for improvement of socioeconomic situation
in Armenia are not high with regards to Armenia’s membership in CU/EEU.
On the other hand, generally it is considered that this membership will
help maintain the status quo in Armenia and the region, will increase
the security of the RoA, which however, does not imply any significant
positive effect in resolving the problem of Karabakh conflict.
1 The study includes a quantitative content analysis of thematic
articles published in September-December 2013 in 18 Diaspora
mass media a qualitative analysis of the articles published in
January-October, 2014 and a remotely conducted survey of 20 Armenian
Diaspora experts. The results will be published in December 2014 as
a book. The field investigations and primary analysis of the study
were conducted by by Arpi Manusyan, Diana Galstyan and Lilit Hakobyan,
experts of the Noravank Foundation’s Center for Information Studies.
2 The fillowing mass media were studied: ”ԱլՔO~D”,
”ԼոO~Bյս”, ”ԱO~@աO~Dս” weekly, ”Ազդակ”,
”ԱO~@ձագանգ”, Gibrahayer (Armenian Cypriots)
weekly, ”Ազատ O…O~@”, ”ԳանձասաO~@” weekly,
”ԵվO~@Õ¸ÕºÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¡Õ¶Õ¯Õ¡Õ Õ¡Õ´Õ½Õ¡Õ£Õ”O~@ ”Õ~UO~@Õ¥O~@”,
”ԱÕÂÕ¡Õ¬O~AÕÂÕ¡ÕµÕ” Õ¿Õ¥Õ²Õ¥Õ¯Õ¡Õ¿Õ¾Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¯Õ¡ÕµO~D”,
”Õ~@Õ¸O~@Քզոն” weekly, ”Ã~]þõò Ã~ZþòÑ~Gõó”,
”Ã~UÑ~@úÑ~@ðüðÑ~A”, Analitikaua.net, Nouvelles d’Arménie,
”Õ~@Õ¡ÕµO~@Õ¥Õ¶Õ”O~D”, ”Õ~DասՔս” weekly, Asbarez.
3 The article can be found at
“Globus” analytical bulletin, No. 11-12, 2014
Return ________________________________ Another materials of author
ARMENIA’S VALUE ORIENTATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF INTER-CULTURAL
RESEARCHES[29.07.2013] CONTENT ANALYSIS AS A METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
OF MEDIA-TEXTS[23.05.2011] INFORMATION POLICY OF THE AZERBAIJANI
ARMENIAN-LANGUAGE TV CHANNELS[17.03.2011] ANTI-ARMENIAN INFORMATION
POLICY OF AZERBAIJAN[09.11.2009]
UNE VIOLENCE PAS SI ALEATOIRE EN ARMENIE
ARMENIE
Les groupes de l’opposition en Armenie ont accuse le gouvernement
d’avoir ordonne des attaques contre leurs membres. Les autorites
on dit qu’elle n’ont rien a voir avec la vague de violence, mais
les analystes avertissent que la laide humeur conflictuelle va
inevitablement exacerber les tensions politiques.
La vague d’attaques a commence a la fin de Novembre lorsque sept
voitures appartenant a des personnalites de l’opposition ont ete
incendies dans la capitale Erevan. Les incendiaires n’ont pas ete
dissuades par le fait que l’une des voitures etait garee en face de la
station de police de la ville et une autre etait en dehors des locaux
du detachement de securite qui protège le Parlement armenien. Six des
sept voitures appartenaient a un groupe anti-gouvernemental appele
pre-Parlement, qui avait l’intention d’organiser des manifestations.
“C’est une vrai terreur”, a declare Gagik Sarukhanyan, un membre du
groupe. >. Les incendies criminels ont ete suivis
par les agressions physiques sur sept personnes au cours des trois
semaines suivantes. Parmi les victimes figuraient des membres des
partis d’opposition, des militants d’ONG et d’anciens combattants de
la guerre du Haut-Karabagh du debut des annees 1990.
La première attaque, le 27 novembre, etait contre un membre de
pre-Parlement Gevorg Safaryan. Le 8 decembre et 10 decembre, des
hommes masques ont agresse Manvel Eghiazaryan, Razmik Petrosyan et
Suren Sarkissian, tous membres de l’Union des anciens combattants,
un groupe d’opposition nouvellement forme compose d’ex-combattants
du Karabagh.
Le 11 decembre, un membre du parlement Aram Manukyan a ete attaque
près de sa maison et a dû passer plusieurs jours de convalescence a
l’hôpital. Manukyan est secretaire parlementaire du parti d’opposition
le Congrès National Armenien (ANC). La meme chose s’est produite le
lendemain pour Ashot Piliposyan, qui dirige la branche ANC du parti
dans la ville de Razdan.
Vaginak Shushanyan, un militant des droits civiques bien connu qui
a pris part a une manifestation devant le bâtiment du gouvernement a
Erevan pour appuyer une enquete sur les attaques anterieures, a ete
lui-meme agresse et grièvement blesse par deux hommes.
Les partis d’opposition representes au Parlement, dont trois
ont recemment forme une coalition appelee le Mouvement national,
ont publie une declaration exhortant le gouvernement a traquer et
poursuivre les auteurs et leurs complices dans la serie d’attaques.
Les analystes notent que la vague d’attaques intervient a un moment ou
l’activite politique s’est accrue. La prochaine election parlementaire
ne se deroulera qu’en 2017, avec l’election presidentielle l’annee
suivante ou Serge Sarkissian n’est pas admissible a se presenter a
nouveau. Mais la coalition au pouvoir est deja confrontee a un defi
de montage d’une opposition plus large mieux organisee. L’ANC et le
parti Heritage ont fait equipe avec le deuxième plus grand parti au
parlement, le parti Armenie prospère dirige par Gagik Tsarukyan,
qui etait au cours des dernières annees, un partisan du president
Serge Sarkissian.
Le nouveau bloc, appele le mouvement national, vise la mise en place
dans toute l’Armenie de permanences et le recrutement de partisans,
y compris chez les ex-combattants qui ont rejoint l’Union des anciens
combattants. Les gens qui ont combattu dans le conflit du Karabagh
contre l’Azerbaïdjan ont beneficie du respect et d’une influence
politique en Armenie depuis la treve de 1994 et leur soutien a ete
un facteur important dans la decision lors des elections. L’emergence
de l’Union des anciens combattants en tant que force de l’opposition
alignee sera donc un sujet de preoccupation pour le gouvernement. “Les
autorites ont recours a des actes de terrorisme, et il est evident que
leur but est d’essayer de briser le pouvoir d’expansion du Mouvement
National >> a declare Levon Zurabyan, chef du groupe parlementaire
de l’ANC. Le Parti republicain au pouvoir a affirme que les autorites
n’etaient pas derrière les attaques.
> a declare le vice-president Eduard Sharmazanov, un
membre du Parti republicain. .
Deux des anciens combattants du Karabagh qui ont ete attaques,
Eghiazaryan et Petrosyan, ont dit que peu de temps avant de faire ces
remarques, Yeranosyanhad les a rencontre dans un restaurant et leur a
dit de cesser de soutenir l’opposition. Ils ont refuse, et quelques
minutes après avoir quitte le restaurant, ils ont ete attaques par
une bande de jeunes hommes.
Yeranosyan a refuse de confirmer ou d’infirmer si la rencontre a eu
lieu. Il a ete reprimande pour ses commentaires dans les journaux
par son superieur, le chef des forces de police Vladimir Gasparyan,
mais les partis de l’opposition parlementaires sont a la recherche
de son licenciement.
Yeranosyan semble imperturbable. Depuis, il a donne une autre interview
au meme journal disant qu’il s’en tenait a sa parole et va > de toute personne qui parlera sur le president.
Avetik Ishkhanyan, le chef du Comite Helsinki d’Armenie, a dit que
l’absence d’une reponse officielle est preoccupante. > a declare Ishkhanyan.
THOMAS DE WAAL: ACCUSATION OF AZERBAIJANI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS FOR COOPERATION WITH ARMENIANS IS THE ONLY WAY TO DISCREDIT THE
14:45 12/01/2015 >> SOCIETY
Over the past year and a half, the government of Azerbaijan has taken
an increasingly nasty, authoritarian, and anti-Western character,
writes Thomas de Waal, the senior associate for the Caucasus at the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the article titled “A
free-thinker loses his freedom in Azerbaijan” which is dedicated to
the Azerbaijani scientist Arif Yunus. The latter celebrates his 60th
birthday in prison. The article is published on the Open Democracy
site.
“Along with Arif and Leyla Yunus, several other well-respected
scholars, journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists, have been
put in jail on spurious charges. In the vocabulary of the Soviet Union,
all of these people can be characterised as dissidents,” Thomas de
Waal writes and recalls that on August last year after the house
arrest Arif Yunus was kept in an isolation cell in the prison of the
National Security Agency, the successor to the KGB. He is unable to
receive visits or letters.
He is also one of the few Azerbaijanis who actually went to Armenia.
Like many other natives of Baku, Yunus had an Armenian mother, but
unlike most he chose not to hide it.
“The charge of collaboration with the Armenians levelled against
Arif and Leyla Yunus is probably just a pretext, a way of blackening
their names in the eyes of the public. The Armenian card is also being
played against Rauf Mirkadirov, a well-known journalist and columnist,
who was arrested last April on similar charges after making one visit
to Armenia. The main reason for their arrests is probably Leyla Yunus’
human rights work,” notes de Waal.
In his article he presents Arif Yunus’ scientific and journalistic
activities, as well as turns to the unpublished collection of
first-person stories and anecdotes. He tells, for example, the tale
of the traffic policeman outside the town of Shemakhi who retired
but still parked his car in his customary spot by the roadside and
took bribes from passing motorists — who moreover gave them quite
willingly. The collection also presents a story of how President Heidar
Aliyev was given a library card to the new US library in Baku by then
American ambassador Richard Kauzlarich. Arif understood both sides
of the story: Kauzlarich who believed he was making a nice gesture,
Aliyev who was offended that he was being treated as though he was
any other citizen of Azerbaijan.
According to de Waal this irreverent and affectionate vision of
the real Caucasus does not fit with the scrubbed marble-clad Dubai
lookalike that the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to make of
their country, with international events like the Eurovision Song
Context or European Olympics.
“Azerbaijan’s leaders evidently believe that this virtual reality must
be defended from all questioning and scrutiny. That is the main reason
that they have now shut down the major source of independent news,
the US-funded radio station, Radio Liberty,” notes Thomas de Waal.
KIM KARDASHIAN GETS FIRST SOLO VOGUE COVER
17:38 * 12.01.15
Kim Kardashian — who became one of the fashion world’s most ubiquitous
figures in 2014 — tweeted that she was “up all night redoing [her]
whole wardrobe with Kanye [West]” and that she has a “new vision”
for 2015, Fashionista.com reported.
Vogue Australia tapped Kardashian (or as the magazine calls her,
KKW) to be the cover star of its February 2015 issue, which was
officially released on Monday. With styling by Fashion Director
Christine Centenera — the very editor who once consulted on West’s
ill-fated clothing line — Kardashian id said to look ethereal in
her beachside portraits by Gilles Bensimon.
g
PUTIN CONVINCED YEREVAN AND MOSCOW WILL INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN RUSSIA-ARMENIA PARTNERSHIP
YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. Russian President Vladimir Putin,
congratulating his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan on Christmas
and New Year holidays, expressed confidence that Yerevan and Moscow
will intensify their efforts to strengthen partnership between their
countries.
The Russian president was quoted by Kremlin’s official website as
saying that 2014 was a quite effective year for Russian-Armenian
relations.
Stressing the importance of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian
Economic Union, Putin said it will give a strong impetus to cooperation
between the two countries in various areas.
The Eurasian Economic Union treaty, signed by Russia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan on May 29 in Astana, took force on January 2, 2015. Armenia
signed its accession agreement on October 10, 2014. The agreement is
already ratified by Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh parliaments.
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