Israeli lawmakers on May 23 approved a motion to hold a plenary debate on “recognizing the Armenian genocide,” as relations between Israel and Turkey continue their downward spiral.
While such a motion would not be considered an Israeli government move, it could worsen already tense ties with Turkey, which has accused Israel of “Nazism” over its killing of some 60 Palestinians on the Gaza border, Agence France-Presse reported.
Ahead of the vote on holding the discussion, Tamar Zandberg of the left-wing opposition Meretz party said the timing of her motion had nothing to do with the rise in tensions with Turkey.
“Time and again this issue has fallen victim to political disputes. Not recognizing the Armenian genocide is a moral stain on Israel,” Zandberg said.
A plenary discussion “would be a significant measure to the moral message Israel is sending the entire world,” she said.
The motion was approved 16-0, although a date for the plenary discussion has yet to be set.
Meretz has since 1989 tried to approve recognizing the century-old Turkish mass killings of Armenians beginning in 1915 as a “genocide,” with Israeli governments rejecting the efforts because of ties with Turkey.
Relations collapsed over the deadly storming of a Gaza-bound Turkish air ship by Israeli commandos in 2010, until a 2016 agreement normalized ties.
Violence on the Gaza border that resulted in the deaths of 60 Palestinians last week and the transfer of the US embassy to the disputed city of Jerusalem prompted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to lash out at Israel, accusing it of “state terror” and “genocide.”
Erdoğan also chaired a summit of Muslim leaders at which he compared Israel’s actions to the Nazi persecution of the Jews in the Holocaust during World War II.
Ankara recalled its ambassador to Israel before expelling the Israel envoy and consul general, with Israel ordering the Turkish consul in Jerusalem to leave.
The Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their people were killed during World War I as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart, with almost 30 countries to date having recognized the killings as genocide.
Turkey strongly denies the genocide charge, arguing that 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians sided with invading Russian troops.
Turkey, Armenia, Israel, genocide, Ottoman, World War I, Knes
It has been only 27 years since the Republic of Armenia gained independence from the former Soviet Union. Armenia is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus.
Two of its four neighboring countries, Turkey and Azerbaijan, have closed their borders with Armenia, leaving Georgia and Iran as its only two open borders to the outside world.
In recent weeks, tens of thousands of young demonstrators took to the streets of Yerevan, Armenia, in a mostly jubilant and joyful atmosphere, demanding government change and the resignation of the prime minister, who stepped down after being in office for only a few days. On May 8, the parliament elected the 42-year-old opposition leader, Nikol Pashinyan, as the country’s new prime minister.
It is remarkable that the transition of power from the ruling party, which was in place for 10 years, to the popular movement happened without bloodshed despite several days of intense protests and demonstrations.
This is a great democracy lesson to be shared around the world, and I hope it will have a ripple effect in the region particularly, with Armenia’s neighbors that have thousands of their citizens in jails for their political activism.
On May
14 the United States officially opened Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, 70 years to the day that
President Truman recognized Israel as an independent country, making the United
States the first nation to do so. The White House has proclaimed that “announcing Jerusalem
as Israel’s capital is simply a recognition of reality.”
The Reuters informs, that “the inauguration of the
embassy, after Trump outraged the Arab world and stoked international concern
by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December, was hailed by Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “glorious day”. Thanking Trump for
“having the courage” to move the embassy, Netanyahu said: “This is a great day.
A great day for Jerusalem. A great day for the state of Israel. A day that will
be engraved in our national memory for generations.”
Meantime, the
U.S. move has sparked mass protest among Palestinians. ABC News reports, that “protesters began amassing at the
Gaza border ahead of the embassy ceremony.” According to the Palestinian
authorities, “more than 60 people, including eight children, were killed by the
Israeli military in Palestinian protests that erupted Monday along the Gaza
border as the U.S. opened its new embassy in Jerusalem.”
The Independent writes, that “while the shooting of
mostly unarmed Palestinian protesters at the Gaza border fence received
widespread international condemnation, criticism within the US was muted.
The U.S.
Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, addressing the UN Security Council on Tuesday
said Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, was responsible for the
deaths and injuries. “Let’s remember that the Hamas terrorist organization has
been inciting violence for years, long before the United States decided to move
our embassy.” She added: “This is what is endangering the people of Gaza. Make
no mistake, Hamas is pleased with the results from yesterday.” She has also
claimed, that “no country would act with greater restraint than Israel.”
According to the results of the first quarter, we have 16.1 percent economic growth. Male
Harutyunyan
The performance of the previous year's budget was presented to the Parliament for discussion
Stepanakert-Shushi ropeway, modern children's attractions in the fortress city
park. the state minister spoke about new projects
ArPU professors and students met with high school students
The Minister of Finance presented the expenditure of last year's state budget
priorities
Last year, own revenues provided by the state budget increased.
Minister of Finance
Armenia is determined to continue the active cooperation with the EAEU partners, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan announced at the expanded format session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. He reminded that a peaceful change of power took place in Armenia and the program of the new Government does not foresee changes in foreign policy directions. “I reaffirm Armenia’s full commitment to its international obligations, including those in the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union”, Pashinyan said.
He noted that the discourse over the EAEU inside the Armenian public is conditioned by the fact that the solution of administrative issues, switching to new and common regulatory mechanisms, as well as the existence of different obstacles do not justify the expectations of business to receive immediate and tangible results.
“I think that the joint efforts of the EAEU member states and the commitment to record visible results every day will reduce the volume of such discourses”, Pashinyan said, emphasizing that Armenia is interested in that. “First of all it’s necessary to ensure rise in trade and economic cooperation, to put the emphasis on new and high technologies, ensure equal conditions for business entities in practice and find solutions to the issues that directly impact on the quality of life. Finally, if economic indexes are not felt by citizens, they become statistics”, the Armenian Premier said.
The Seismic Protection Survey Seismological Network of Armenia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations registered a 4.1-magnitude earthquake at northern latitude 39.810° and eastern longitude 43.170° geographic coordinates – 18km north-east off the Turkish city of Agri – at the depth of 10 km.
The quake struck the Turkish city at 10:18 p.m. Yerevan time on Sunday, May 6, the ministry told Panorama.am.
The tremor measured magnitude 5-6 points at the epicenter which was some 80-85 km away from the state border of Armenia.
The jolts were also felt in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, with magnitude 2-3.
Armenia president calls to display civic responsibility and vigilance Armenia president calls to display civic responsibility and vigilance
12:27, 01.05.2018
YEREVAN. – President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian urged to display civic responsibility and vigilance on the day when Armenian parliament is electing new Prime Minister.
In his statement issued on Tuesday, President Sarkissian said all eyes of Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora are on Yerevan now.
President called on the deputies, political forces, state institutions and all others to make any action of step in accordance with the Constitution and for the benefit of the state and the people.
Armenia unrest: Protesters rally after leader detained
Thousands of anti-government protesters have rallied defiantly in the Armenian capital Yerevan after riot police seized their leader.
Nikol Pashinyan was arrested after televised talks with Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan collapsed.
In a tense exchange, the opposition MP insisted the PM should quit and Mr Sargsyan accused him of “blackmail”.
The opposition object to Mr Sargsyan clinging to power after serving two consecutive terms as president.
He was elected to the post by parliament on Tuesday, fuelling anger on the streets.
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As well as Mr Pashinyan, two other opposition politicians and some 200 demonstrators have been held, leaving the protest movement without political leadership.
The EU, which has a partnership agreement with Armenia, called on all sides to “show restraint and act responsibly”.
Armenia country profile
By Rayhan Demytrie, BBC News, in Armenia’s capital Yerevan
Armenia’s biggest square is full of protesters. The detention of Mr Pashinyan and other opposition leaders did not stop protesters from turning up. They are holding placards that read “I am Nikol” and chanting his name, along with another slogan, “Serzh go”.
University student Elina Isahanyan, wrapped in the Armenian flag, says she has been participating in the protests for nine days.
“My friends and I are not attending classes. This is our way to show to this new government that we want change,” she says.
“We are peaceful and we don’t want any violence. We don’t want the police to be against us.”
Buses loaded with police in flak jackets can be seen in the streets leading up to the square. The justice ministry issued a warning reminding citizens that the police have the right to disperse demonstrations regardless of the nature of the protests.
Protests against Mr Sargsyan have been held in other parts of Armenia – the second largest city of Guymri and the city of Vanadzor.
Mr Pashinyan was previously jailed over his part in protests against Mr Sargsyan in 2008. He recently described the campaign he leads as a “velvet revolution”, referring to the peaceful protests in 1989 that ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia.
He met Mr Sargsyan at a hotel in Yerevan on Sunday morning, in the presence of dozens of journalists.
The exchange was brief. After the prime minister said he was glad his rival had “responded to my numerous appeals to negotiate”, Mr Pashinyan struck an uncompromising note.
Image copyrightAFPImage caption PM Serzh Sargsyan denounced Mr Pashinyan’s “blackmail” before aborting their meeting
“I think there is a misunderstanding,” he said. “I have come here to discuss the terms of your resignation and the terms of a peaceful and smooth transition of power.”
Mr Sargsyan said that “this is not a dialogue, this is blackmail” and left.
Image copyrightReutersImage caption Scuffles broke out between police and protesters on Sunday
Addressing the assembled reporters afterwards, Mr Pashinyan called on his supporters to continue their protests, which have continued for more than a week.
He was detained shortly afterwards, as riot police using stun grenades dispersed protesters.
Image copyrightAFPImage caption Masked police have been holding back the crowds
His supporters then gathered outside a police station where they believed he was being held before they set off towards the capital’s central Republic Square.
He has been accused of failing to address continuing tensions with Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as widespread poverty at home.
His government has also been criticised by the opposition for its close ties to Russia, whose leader Vladimir Putin also moved between the positions of president and prime minister to maintain his grip on power.
While he was president, the country shifted from a presidential system to a parliamentary republic, vesting real power in the office of the prime minister.
He stood for prime minister despite promising he would not.
Image copyrightAFPImage caption Here Serzh Sargsyan’s face is scored out on a poster
His supporters argue that the tough veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war with Azerbaijan in the late 1980s has provided the national security Armenia needs.
Serzh Sargsyan, who served as president from 2008 until this year, has been left largely unchallenged for years because of a lack of clear rivals and alternatives, Armenian affairs analyst Richard Giragosian tells BBC News.
“Pashinyan was the exception with his unique combination of charisma with a good sense of street politics, which only makes this current confrontation more serious.” he says.
The power of the ruling Republican Party is potentially even more dangerous as it “undermines the necessity for consensus and compromise”.
“The real question now is what lies ahead. After such polarisation and dissent, the launch of parliamentary politics seems destined to fail, undermined by an inherent lack of trust or public confidence.”
However the crisis plays out, “there is little or no foreign policy dimension”, he adds. “It is not about Russia and not about Europe. It is local politics and economics.”
Population 3.1m
Area 29,743 sq km (11,484 sq miles)
Major languages Armenian, Russian
Major religion Christianity
Life expectancy 71 years (men), 77 years (women)
Main exports Diamonds, machinery, foodstuffs
The small landlocked country saw an economic recovery last year, the World Bank reports.
However, it is vulnerable to developments in Russia, its biggest trading partner after the EU and a major destination for its migrant workers.
At the moment, 84 people have been brought to different divisions of the Yerevan Police Department. This was reported by Ashot Aharonyan, head of the Public Relations and Information Department of the RA Police.
According to him, administrative proceedings were initiated against 30 of them, they were released. 54 persons were presented to the investigative body on suspicion of committing a crime.
To remind, as of 12:00 in the morning, the number of those detained was 66.
Alain Simonyan, a member of the Police Department, was also wounded and taken to hospital in Massiv. Mariam Margaryan, the wife of Allen, informed this on her Facebook page.
“Alen was taken to Massiv’s hospital and was injured due to the grenades exploded. Nikol and his followers are in the first line, the situation is tense. They were preparing to shoot people and make them go back; that’s why Sharmazanov was confident that he would go quietly to the National Assembly yesterday. But the people do not leave,” he wrote.