Interfax - Russia & CIS Military Newswire Monday 2:20 PM MSK Azerbaijani FM complains about Syrian Armenians settling in Karabakh at meeting with Vatican secretary BAKU. Feb 12 Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov informed Msgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, about the Karabakh settlement process at a meeting in Baku on Monday. Armenian refugees from Syria are illegally settling in Nagorno-Karabakh, Mammadyarov said. "The policy of settlements on the occupied lands and attempts at wittingly changing the demographic composition [of the population] flagrantly violate international law," Mammadyarov said. He informed Gallagher about the Karabakh settlement process and Baku's stance. The sides expressed concern about increasing racism, xenophobia, ethnic and religious hate, and the aspiration to give a political coloring to conflicts, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Author: Varazdat Torgomian
Azerbaijani Press: OSCE MG co-chairs urges Karabakh conflict sides to reduce tensions
Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 11 2018
21:23 (UTC+04:00)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 11
Trend:
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group has called on the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to take additional steps to reduce tensions.
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, met with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Feb.7 and President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan on Feb.9, reads the statement issued by the OSCE MG on Feb.11.
In both capitals, they also held consultations with the respective Foreign Ministers. The Co-Chairs also travelled to Nagorno-Karabakh on Feb. 9-11 and visited specific locations in the Zangelan, Kubatly, Agdam, Lachin, and Kelbajar districts, reads the statement.
“The Co-Chairs underscored the importance of fulfilling, in good faith, all commitments undertaken during the October 2017 Summit in Geneva and at previous summits, in particular, Vienna and St. Petersburg,” reads the statement.
The Co-Chairs also expressed deep concern over the recent loss of life on the Line of Contact. The Co-Chairs called upon the sides to take additional steps to reduce tensions, as agreed in Geneva, and to respect the ceasefire, as well as to refrain from inflammatory statements and provocative actions.
“The Co-Chairs reiterate their commitment to helping the Sides find a peaceful solution to the conflict based on the core principles of the Helsinki Act, including the non-use of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples,” reads the statement.
The Co-Chairs welcomed the parties' expressed intention to continue intensive negotiations, taking into account the current electoral period.
President fires deputy Police Chief
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Official
Politics
President Sargsyan has signed an order dismissing Gagik Hambardzumyan from the post of deputy Police Chief of Armenia, the president’s office said.
Serzh Sargsyan’s speech at the Januaryn session of the PACE (video)
Serzh Sargsyan today in Strasbourg participated in the winter plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe where he made a speech and answered to the questions of the parliamentarians.
Serzh Sargsyan’s speech at the Januaryn session of the PACE
Honorable President of the Parliamentary Assembly,
Honorable Secretary General,
Distinguished Members of the Assembly,
At the outset, I would like to warmly greet and congratulate you, distinguished Mr. Nicoletti, on assuming the high office of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. You have indeed embarked upon this mission in rather challenging times. I strongly believe that your extensive experience and strong personal qualities are exactly what is needed for the future success and reputation of our organization. I also wish to commend Mrs. Kyriakides for her excellent performance in the capacity of President of this Assembly.
The last time I had the honor to speak from this high podium was in 2013, when Armenia held the Chairmanship in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. That mission served as a key landmark in our integration within the larger family of the Council of Europe. I trust we met the expectations while carrying out that mission.
Tomorrow is January 25—the day on which we acceded to the Council of Europe exactly 17 years ago. At the time of joining this Еurope-wide structure, we were fully aware of the path that lay ahead of us. We were also fully aware that building and strengthening democracy would not be easy without the support and direct involvement of the Council of Europe structures. Indeed, through political will and joint constructive engagement, we managed to overcome numerous obstacles and to achieve profound reforms.
As I stand before this Assembly today, I can proudly state that we have honored the main commitments assumed towards the Council of Europe in terms of Armenia’s democratization. This is not merely our assertion. Our achievements in consolidating the democratic institutions have been recognized by the monitoring reports of the Council of Europe’s bodies. We firmly continue the efforts of joining the Europe-wide legal frameworks: the number of conventions Armenia has already signed up is close to 70. For us, this process is not simply about honoring the commitments that we undertook. In doing so, we are primarily implementing our own credo and our own convictions. We shall continue in that same vein. Moreover, our country’s progress on the path of reforms will get a new momentum and accelerate in April, when the amendments to the constitution will enter into full force, and when we will embark upon the implementation of activities envisaged by our Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
Any democracy is a living organism. Throughout our quarter-century-long efforts in State-building we aimed at nourishing this very organism. We have been fully conscious that democracy constantly requires attention, review, and advancement; it cannot afford a standstill, and must keep up with the rapidly changing times in order to remain viable. Along the lines of this logic, we undertook constitutional reform in Armenia, which received wide-ranging support of the Council of Europe.
The process will be completed in April with a clear vision of strengthening the three pillars of the Council of Europe—the rule of law, protection of human rights, and democracy. We chose a transition to a parliamentary form of government as the most suitable path for strengthening democracy in our country. I announced the launch of the process back in 2013 when I spoke from this high podium before this Assembly.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since our accession to the Council of Europe, we have heard both encouragement and criticism from our partners. I have no doubt that both have helped Armenia’s progress.
Throughout this time, we have closely cooperated with the Venice Commission, based on the expert opinion of which we refined the constitutional reforms package. In an atmosphere of mutual trust, this efficient engagement continues up to date—through a process of implementing numerous new legislative solutions under the reformed Constitution. It was best manifested in the deliberations on Armenia’s new Electoral Code, which resulted in the adoption of a transparent and inclusive process with participation of various political actors across the board. We opted for something unprecedented— stipulating by law the demand to published the signed lists of voters after the election. As you are aware, this practice is not common, especially in light of personal data protection concerns. However, we decided and we did it, in order to secure greater public trust in the elections.
The new Electoral Code clearly proved its viability in the 2017 April parliamentary election, which was observed by a large number of invited observation missions, including a delegation of this Assembly.
It is important to underline that the new Electoral Code also resulted in allocation of a certain number of seats in the National Assembly exclusively for the representatives of the national minorities. It was yet another step towards achieving governance that is more inclusive.
We are currently reforming our judicial, criminal, and criminal procedure codes, as well as the Referendum Act and the Constitutional Court Act. We are well aware that only effective, independent, and free from corruption risks judiciary can safeguard the rule of law.
In this context, we appreciate the important role of the European Court of Human Rights, the jurisprudence of which plays an essential role in enhancing the quality of justice in our country. We have implemented a number of legislative reforms and improved the legal practices on the basis of the ECHR jurisprudence. These are important steps for consolidation of the human rights protection in our country. These efforts have not gone unnoticed: the Republic of Armenia is a leader among the Council of Europe member States in terms of the proper and persistent implementation of the judgments of the European Court.
We are convinced that proper protection of human rights and consolidation of democratic values cannot be effective without a relentless fight against corruption. It must be prioritized at all social and political layers. Armenia has contemplated a qualitatively new toolkit in this respect: in mid-2017, the National Assembly unanimously adopted a number of Acts that create a first-ever national entity for the prevention of corruption in line with all international standards. The entity will get effectively functioning in 2018, and the Parliament will elect its members. The anti-corruption package also resulted in the adoption of the Act on whistleblowing and protection of whistleblowers. We also criminalized illegal enrichement. We are determined and committed to continue our systematic and persistent efforts towards elimination of the evil of corruption day in and day out.
Distinguished Members of the Assembly,
Since accession to the Council of Europe, our country has born profound responsibility for honoring our obligations and respecting our collective commitment to the fundamental values of this organization.
However, in recent years, we have witnessed an unfortunate and unprecedented crisis of values in this organization: through their irresponsible conduct, to say the least, some MPs have acted contrary to the core mission of the Council of Europe and inflicted heavy damage upon the organization’s reputation. The greater family of the Council of Europe thus faced perhaps the most serious challenge since its foundation, as cases of bribing Assembly members and resulting dishonest voting were exposed.
Since 2014, a number of politically biased and egregious reports and resolutions triggered a sharp change in the attitudes of Armenian society towards this Assembly. However, these revelations justify the hopes that such corrupt practices are short-lived. Eventually, they will rise to the surface, stamping out resolutions thus adopted, and discrediting the individuals and powers that back them. I am convinced that the report of the independent inquiry body looking into the exposed instances of corruption will eradicate those defective practices and help to strengthen the member States’ trust in our organization.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Upon accession to the Council of Europe, Armenia also undertook a commitment to pursue efforts to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict by peaceful means only and to use its influence over Artsakh to foster the solution to the conflict. Although the Council of Europe is not a conflict resolution platform, I believe it is appropriate to briefly touch upon the issue in light of our aforementioned commitment.
Exactly 30 years ago, on the surface, everything could possibly seem calm and peaceful in Artsakh. However, the surface image was deceiving. We had never put up with Stalin’s decision to annex Artsakh to Azerbaijan.
Throughout all those years, the people of Artsakh were extremely anxious because the Baku authorities did their best to drive Armenians out of their historic cradle. According to the 1926 census, Armenians accounted for over 90 percent of Artsakh’s population; as a consequence of the Baku policies, the percentage had declined to just 77 percent of the population by 1988. I myself was among the Artsakhtsies that were worried about these developments.
In February 1988, the Artsakhtsies rose against the Baku policies and tried to exercise the Artsakh people’s right to self-determination in a peaceful way. I was at the forefront of the uprising. The Parliament of Artsakh took the decision, and people went out for peaceful rallies. Azerbaijan’s reaction was not simply a negative one. Azerbaijan’s reaction was the massacre of Armenians living in the town of Sumgait hundreds of kilometers away from Artsakh. It was an act of revenge against Armenians for the decision adopted by Artsakh.
One side of the scale had a parliament’s decision and a peaceful demonstration, and the other had violence and massacres. Everyone who needs to deal with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution must clearly comprehend this fact.
Hence, all attempts to put the parties of the conflict on the equal footing are inherently futile. Such an equation is nothing but false impartiality. It is an equality sign between the perpetrators of the Sumgait massacre and its victims. On February 27, we shall commemorate the victims of the Sumgait massacre.
The massacres went on to become the state policy, as Azerbaijan unleashed a war aimed at the complete annihilation of the Armenian population of Artsakh. Given the deficit of justice and the threat of extermination, Artsakh had no other choice but to resort to self-defense. Yet again, I was at the forefront, and I have never had the slightest regret about the choice I made then.
The time is ripe for the resolution of this conflict. It requires strict respect for the established ceasefire regime and honoring all the agreements reached in the past. Settlement must be peaceful and overcome the deficit of justice. No matter where I find myself, I will always be at the forefront for this matter as well. The parties shall assume joint responsibility for the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and find a compromise solution, a middle ground settlement.
The negotiation process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs is the only internationally agreed format for the resolution of this conflict. The international community, including Council of Europe, has reiterated its support to this format on numerous occasions. The commitment undertaken by Armenia and Azerbaijan requires a joint and concerted effort of all the parties to the conflict.
However, Azerbaijan is obviously not ready for it. The aggression that Azerbaijan unleashed against Artsakh in April 2016 was characterized by egregious violations of the international humanitarian law against the peaceful civilians and prisoners of war. It struck a heavy blow upon the negotiation process by reawakening dreadful memories of the Sumgait massacres.
Unfortunately, this Assembly has at times allowed developments that turned a blind eye to the aforementioned facts, watering the mill of those who are not interested in peaceful settlement of the conflict. I call upon all the members of this Assembly to apprehend the potential negative consequences of a careless or biased language for the fragile stability in Artsakh.
Facing a permanent threat of war, Artsakh continues to build democracy and to promote respect for human rights. In all of these initiatives, Armenia will continue to provide full support to Artsakh. Armenia will tenaciously defend the rights and interests of Artsakh and help to strengthen Artsakh’s security. As the Secretary General of the Council of Europe has rightly noted, there must be no grey zones in Europe when it comes to the protection of human rights. I hope that in the not-too-distant future, this organization, too, will stand by the side of Artsakh with all of its expertise. A person living in Artsakh deserves it; the people of Artsakh have long earned this right.
The protection of human rights is a priority for the Artsakh government: as to the fundamental documents of the Council of Europe, Artsakh unilaterally subscribed to the European Convention of Human Rights back in 2015 and undertook to implement it fully. Commendably, Nagorno Karabakh has achieved all of this on its own, without tangible support from any international organization. It proves once again that in Artsakh respect for and protection of human rights are not mere words, but a conscious and determined choice.
Artsakh cannot stay out of the international processes simply because Azerbaijan is opposed to it. The authorities of Azerbaijan commit flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms—not least the criminal prosecution of opposition figures and even their abduction from the territory of another country.
This brings me back to the work of the European Court of Human Rights: the ECHR has examined applications by Azerbaijani citizens that are also related to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I understand that the ECHR takes up these issues with the purpose of precluding “grey areas” and safeguarding human rights throughout Europe. Nevertheless, political language and assessments in the decisions of the ECHR can have direct negative impact on the negotiation process. Therefore, it is necessary for the ECHR to exercise extreme caution in its assessments and avoid any political language.
Distinguished Members of the Assembly,
Our national economies are more vulnerable than ever in the face of present-day global challenges. As a result, welfare and prosperity are at the center of public attention. The challenging realities in our region in their turn undermine the economic growth potential. Therefore, we aspire to make the best use of all available resources, including the opportunities availed to us by integration structures.
Five years ago, in 2013, shortly after Armenia’s decision to accede to the Eurasian Economic Union, many people, including a number of them in this Assembly, expressed skepticism towards Armenia. However, Armenia proved her ability to combine engagement in different integration structures and even to serve as a role model of cooperation. On this day two months ago, on November 24, on the margins of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, Armenia and the European Union concluded a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, which contemplates a completely new quality of engagement. Armenia’s fully-fledged integration in the Eurasian Economic Union was not an obstacle for that matter in any way or shape.
Today, we actively continue to extend our international engagement in various other directions. The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie is a case in point; that is for us a unique platform of engagement in terms of both language and culture, as well as for promotion of human rights. Armenia will have the honor to host the 17th Summit of la Francophonie in October 2018 in Yerevan.
The motto of the summit will be “Vivre ensemble/Living Together,” and a pact with the same name will be adopted for strengthening human rights and intercultural and interreligious dialogue. For us, it is not simply a motto: the Armenian nation knows the price of hate speech, intolerance, and discrimination, and we fight against such practices on all possible platforms.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Next year, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe. It is a crucial landmark for our greater family, which has been fighting for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe for almost seven decades now. An organization created by only 10 States, it now unites 47 States of the European Family with a population of 820 million. I consider this to be an enormous achievement that should be cherished; no effort should be spared in building a positive agenda and further enhancing the role and significance of this organization.
The mission of the Council of Europe, however, extends beyond this. The organization has a great role to play in political as well as civilizational terms. I believe that the organization needs a further stimulus in redefining its role and significance in Europe-wide political architecture. Contemporary mechanisms and arrangements are truly wanted by our societies in order to increase this Organization’s effectiveness. For quite some time now, we are closely following the commendable process of reforms initiated in the Council of Europe by the Secretary General.
Armenia supports the idea of convening a 4th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. I believe it will be a good opportunity for identifying the most pressing problems of our continent and revisiting the vision of a stronger and more inclusive Europe. I am confident that the founders of the Council of Europe should have been very proud about the fact of uniting 47 countries of Europe under one roof. This is an achievement the importance of which should not be underestimated; this unity needs continuous support from all of us.
Armenia stands ready for the persistent journey towards a more mature form of engagement and cooperation. Armenia stands ready to contribute by all means at its disposal to the success of the Council of Europe—our shared home of democracy and the rule of law.
Thank you.
(see videos)
Turkish press: ISIL nightclub attack victims commemorated on first anniversary in Istanbul
- January 01 2018 12:53:00
Victims of an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attack on a nightclub were commemorated on its first anniversary in Istanbul on Dec. 31, 2017.
A ceremony was held in front of the Reina nightclub in Ortaköy to commemorate the 39 people killed in the ISIL attack carried out by Uzbek-origin jihadist Abdulkadir Masharipov in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2017, with the participation of high-level officials, the relatives of those killed and citizens.
Consul generals of several countries also were among those who attended the ceremony as most of the victims of the attack were foreign revelers besides Turkish citizens.
A total of 39 people were killed and another 79 were wounded when Masharipov opened fire on the revelers last year.
He was captured on Jan. 16, 2017, 15 days after being on the run, in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district. At least 2,000 police officers took part in raids in 152 different addresses to capture the jihadist.
While the attack case includes 57 suspects, of whom 56 are under arrest, Masharipov faces 40 aggravated life sentences over “attempting to abolish the constitutional order,” “intentionally killing 39 people,” “intentionally attempting to kill 79 people,” “being a member of a terrorist organization,” and “buying and possessing arms,” in addition to up to 2,397 years in jail.
During the ceremony organized by the Beşiktaş Municipality, pictures of those killed covered in Turkish flags were placed in front of the door of the now-closed Reina nightclub.
Canada Consul General Ulric Shannon, Egypt Consul General Nermeen Afifi Metwally and Palestine Consul General Abdalkarim Al-khatib were among the high-level attendants of the ceremony, in addition to Austria Consulate Assistant Felix Bigl, Levon Zekiyan of the Apostolic Administrator of the Armenian Archeparchy of Istanbul, Ortaköy Synagogue Chief Rabbi Rav Naftali Haleva and Father Pasios, who attended the commemoration on behalf of the Greek Patriarchate.
After wreaths were laid in front of Reina’s entrance, Muslim, Christian and Jewish clerics made prayers of the three different religions.
Speaking during the ceremony, Tarık Arık, who lost his brother in the attack, said a Muslim can’t kill another Muslim, while adding that ISIL “doesn’t have anything to do with religion or Islam.”
“I want to shout, but I can’t do anything other than speak here. We’re very sad. It’s wrong for a human being to do this to another. People can drink alcohol and have fun. What’s that to you? How can you pay for this in the afterworld? No. A Muslim doesn’t even hurt an ant,” Arık said.
Among those who laid wreaths were one of Reina’s partners, Ali Ünal, and Beşiktaş Mayor Murat Hazinedar.
“I once again condemn this terror attack. The 39 people killed in the attack are very dear to us no matter what their religions are or where they are from. Here, people who chose our country to celebrate the new year and who were guests of Beşiktaş, were killed,” Hazinedar said.
After the attack that shocked Turkey in the early hours of 2017, Reina was demolished on May 22, 2017.
Azerbaijan Wrestles with Rising Iranian Influence
Lobe Log
Dec 31 2017
by Zaur Shiriyev
Azerbaijan’s government is growing increasingly concerned about what it sees as growing Iranian manipulation of the country’s Shia Muslim believers.
Azerbaijan’s security services recently presented senior government officials with a report describing how Iran has “increased its capabilities in Azerbaijan’s regions,” one analyst close to the government told EurasiaNet.org. “Many more people are now under Iran’s influence, and this has sounded alarm bells inside the government,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In 2013, Azerbaijan relaxed restrictions, in effect an informal ban, on religious figures linked to Iran on preaching in public. This tactical embrace of Shiism was aimed at stemming the flow of Azerbaijanis joining ISIS and fighting in Syria and Iraq, a trend that Baku believed was inspired by a rise in hardline Sunni tendencies.
But now it appears the policy is having unintended consequences, resulting in what authorities believe is increased control by Iran over Shia practice in Azerbaijan. According to official data, 22 of the 150 Shia madrassas in the country are “under the control of Iran,” wrote Kenan Rovshanoglu in a recent report for the Azerbaijani news agency Turan.
Many secular Azerbaijanis have been alarmed by the increasing visibility of Shia practices in the country. During the Ashura celebrations in September in Baku, some children participated in the ritual, which involves self-flagellation. “When I saw children, who do not have a real understanding of religion, wearing hijab and attending Ashura ceremonies, I thought they are going to become kamikazes to be sent in the future to Syria,” said MP Zahid Oruc.
In response, in early October, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan proposed legislation that would prohibit children from taking part in Ashura commemorations and similar religious rituals. The legislation has not yet been voted on.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appeared to publicly criticize the proposed law during a November meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Tehran. “We should appreciate this great opportunity and the glorious mourning ceremonies of the Shiites in Azerbaijan, because they will strengthen the identity of Azerbaijan’s nation and country,” Khamenei said.
Azerbaijan, however, has been wary of publicly calling out Tehran. The two countries have had uneasy relations since Azerbaijan gained independence in 1991, as Baku fears Iran’s religious influence and Tehran is concerned about Azerbaijan’s potential influence over the large ethnic Azeri population in northern Iran. Each also has close ties to the other’s biggest enemy: Azerbaijan with Israel, and Iran with Armenia.
Since President Hassan Rouhani’s coming to power in 2013, Iran has been forced to recalibrate its relations with Azerbaijan. Official bilateral contact has increased dramatically since then, with the two sides signing more than 20 cooperation agreements in the economic sphere.
In one project that would have been unimaginable before 2013, Azerbaijan has provided a loan to build a 100-mile stretch of a railroad in Iran, from the Azerbaijani border to the city of Rasht, part of the North-South Transport Corridor. Baku hopes that the initiative can derail plans to develop rail links between Iran and Armenia.
The government has not publicly claimed that Iran influenced the Ashura commemorations, but one official, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Gunduz Ismayilov, pointedly said that “there are some forces in Azerbaijan who seek to bring political elements into Ashura commemorations in the country.”
In early December, the government-connected website Haqqin.Az published an article accusing Iran of trying to recruit Shia pilgrims visiting the holy city of Karbala in Iraq. The article claimed that 30,000 Azerbaijanis visited Karbala for Ashura this year, an increase of 33 percent over the previous year.
The article also alleged that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard and its associated Shiite militia, “Hasdi Shabi,” have recruited Azerbaijanis to gather intelligence and conduct anti-government propaganda against Baku. Some of the propaganda, the article claimed, was focused on Nardaran, a center of Shia conservativism in Azerbaijan.
In 2015, security services carried out a series of raids in Nardaran, arresting religious activists they accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Azerbaijan’s authorities also believed that Nardaran’s religious leaders were under Iranian influence, and that after the operation, that influence has been curbed. The Iranian propaganda, the Haqqin article said, criticized the Nardaran events as an “infringement of rights and persecution of Shias.”
Some in Baku question the government’s focus on Iran’s influence over it Shia. “It would be too easy to claim that all the people who went to Iraq for holy visits end up under Iran’s influence,” one mid-level government official told EurasiaNet.org on condition of anonymity. The official added, though, that “falling under the influences of foreign intelligence is much easier there than anywhere else.”
The official suggested that more Azerbaijanis visiting Iraq and Syria are recruited by ISIS: The number of Azerbaijanis joining ISIS has been on the rise in the last two years, and last year 151 people were stripped of their Azerbaijani citizenship for fighting in the ranks of terrorist organizations. “This is the main threat,” the official said.
Another article, by a government think tank, the Center for Strategic Studies (SAM), also appeared to speak to Baku’s concerns about Iran, this time about its relations with Armenia.
The unsigned article raised eyebrows among Baku’s foreign policy community, both for its tone – reading more like an official statement than a piece of analysis – and its language. It was published in Azerbaijani, instead of Russian and English, suggesting the topic wasn’t SAM’s usual international audience, but a message to the Iranian government via its embassy in Baku.
The piece criticized increasing contacts between Tehran and the de facto authorities of Nagorno Karabakh, whom Baku regards as a separatist regime on Azerbaijani territory. It described recent appearances of Karabakh officials in the Iranian media and the publication of two books on Karabakh. And it highlighted a November 15 conference in Iran devoted to Karabakh. “The Iranian International Studies Association, one of the founders of which is the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarifi, has created a kind of platform for the conduct of anti-Azerbaijani propaganda by Armenian scientists,” the author wrote.
While Azerbaijani criticism of Iran-Armenia relations is not new, it appears to have reached a new level, one analyst with close links to the Azerbaijani government told EurasiaNet.org, speaking on condition of anonymity. Baku is unsure why Tehran is emphasizing ties with the de facto Karabakh authorities, and fears that it will serve to legitimize them in Iran and create sympathy for them, which Baku regards as a threat to its interests, the analyst said.
Photo: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (C) meets with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in March 2017
Zaur Shiriyev is an Academy Associate at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House). Republished, with permission, from .
http://lobelog.com/azerbaijan-wrestles-with-rising-iranian-influence/
Jonni Melikyan: ‘The president’s visit to Georgia may become a turning point’
Aravot, Armenia
Dec 28 2017
Jonni Melikyan: 'The president's visit to Georgia may become a turning point'
[Armenian News note: the below is translated from the Russian edition of Aravot]
Expert in Georgia issues Jonni Melikyan has described [Armenian] President Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Georgia as positive and constructive.
He noted at the press centre of the Armenpress [news agency] yesterday [27 December]: "There are preconditions that can turn this visit into a turning point". He noted that multilateral meetings were held and they also encompassed the spheres of economy and security and almost all aspects of relations between the states were discussed. "However, a lot depends on the reaction of the Georgian side," he added.
Melikyan gave a positive assessment to the fact that according to the data of 11 months of the expiring year, the trade turnover between Armenia and Georgia increased by 24 per cent. He stressed that it was mostly exports that increased, while imports diminished. Seven million tourists from various countries visited Georgia in the expiring year and 1.5 million of them were Armenians. Jonni Melikyan stressed that it was an important index for Georgia in financial terms.
Jonni Melikyan noted that it was important for the development of relations between the two countries to implement a single programme of operating as transit countries. He said that President Serzh Sargsyan's statement on the creation of joint enterprises was important. He expressed confidence that the Georgian side should take an interest in it, as the market of the EEU [Eurasian Economic Union, of which Armenia is a member] was important for it and Armenia was a EEU country that was the closest to it [Georgia].
The expert also said that it was important to end the practice of voting against each other in international organisations. President Serzh Sargsyan also spoke about this. Mr Melikyan recalled that there was such an agreement from the 1990s, but it was broken during the years of [former Georgian President] Mikheil Saakashvili's tenure. Voting against each other in international organisations often creates obstacles in relations between the states.
"I do not know, whether the issue was discussed or not, but it would be good if the demarcation of the border were completed. Georgia now has determined border only with Turkey," the speaker said, adding: "The coming year, 2018, may become a year full of new approaches and new energy in Armenian-Georgian relations".
Considering Armenian-Georgian relations in the context of the agreement signed with the EU, Jonni Melikyan said that he did not think this could change a lot.
The expert in Georgia issues also touched on the likelihood of using routes alternative to the Lars [checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border that Armenian cargoes and passengers pass on their way from Armenia to Russia], in particular, the Abkhaz railway line [in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia]. He believes that the Armenian side's position must be that the process should unfold without any preconditions.
Speaking about problems in Javakhk [Georgia's predominantly ethnic Armenian-populated Javakheti region], he noted that there were social problems in other Georgian regions, too: "The Armenian side may say that it can make certain investments, but they are Georgia's domestic problems and they cannot do more". Incidentally, the speaker stressed that according to the new Georgian constitution, the Georgian side cannot strip citizens with dual citizenship of Georgian citizenship.
Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan reportedly under Inter Milan’s radar
Pan Armenian, Armenia
Dec 30 2017
– 11:54 AMT
Henrikh Mkhitaryan reportedly under Inter Milan's radar
Inter Milan are carefully following Henrikh Mkhitaryan's situation at Manchester United, according to Sky in Italy.
United boss Jose Mourinho confirmed in November that the Armenia international attacking midfielder had been dropped because he was unhappy with the player's performances.
He has not started a Premier League game for United since the defeat at Chelsea on November 5 but played the entire second half in the 2-2 draw with Burnley last time out.
Sky in Italy believe Mkhitaryan is one of a number of players Inter are looking at including Gerard Deulofeu at Barcelona and Javier Pastore at Paris Saint Germain.
Deulofeu, who has not played for the Spanish club since November and not started a La Liga game since October, is not considered part of Barca boss Ernesto Valverde's plans and is available for loan in January.
Inter director Piero Ausilio recenty said of Pastore. "We have to understand what Paris Saint-Germain want to do.
"I don't think anyone can argue with his quality. We have to understand what PSG want to do. He is an important player, we are pleased that he sees Inter as a possibility, but it's premature to talk about anything else."
L’Arménie et l’Espagne animent la scène du12e FestivAlgérie
Algérie Presse Service–Algérie
22 déc. 2017
L'Arménie et l'Espagne animent la scène du12e FestivAlgérie
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ALGER – Le 12e Festival international de musique andalouse et des musiques anciennes (FestivAlgérie) s'est poursuivi jeudi à Alger, avec trois prestations de qualité, qui ont mis en valeur les patrimoines culturels de l'Algérie, l'Arménie et l'Espagne, devant un public relativement nombreux.
Durant trois heures de temps, la scène de l'Opéra d'Alger Boualem-Bessaïh a été animée, au 2e soir du 12e FestivAlgérie, par trois programmes judicieux, brillamment rendus par la chanteuse andalouse Manal Gherbi avec l'Arménienne Ana Arzumanyan, soutenues par Khalil Baba Ahmed et son ensemble, le "Trio Templier' d'Espagne et Hasna Hini et son orchestre.
Les artistes à l'affiche ont proposé, une fusion palpitante des genres, algérien et arménien, suivie d'un brassage culturel franco-cubain qui a servi la tradition espagnole et un répertoire de chansons andalouses qui a mis en valeur le patrimoine culturel algérien.
"Mystique muse au fil du temps", une immersion au plus profond de soi pleine de créativité, conçue par le maestro Khalil Baba Ahmed, a réuni les voix cristallines de Manal Gherbi et Ana Arzumanyan, dans des partitions qui ont permis la rencontre entre le chant classique andalou, servi par les cadences du "Mouwachah" oriental, et les airs du terroir arménien.
Soutenues par un orchestre-fusion, aux sonorités classiques et traditionnelles de 18 musiciens, les deux chanteuses, au charisme imposant, se sont succédé, sous le rythme des applaudissements, interprétant chacune, un bouquet de pièces renvoyant à ses origines culturelles, sur un fond musical qui a permis la transition.
There is risk of snow leakage
According to information received from the RA Consulate General in Rostov-on-Don, Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations installed tents, field kitchen, provided the RA citizens, gathered in Upper Lars checkpoint, with hot meals and other necessary assistance. The head of the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia in Rostov-on-Don is also in the checkpoint, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reports.
In Georgia, at the Kazbegi checkpoint, snow removal is still going on. According to preliminary information, there is a risk of snow leakage, so additional information will be provided.