Category: 2018

TASS, Russia

April 2 2018

The Hill, DC

April 2 2018

 

 

 

By Stephen Blank, opinion contributor — 04/02/18 06:30 AM EDT 75

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill

 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpNew York Magazine cover depicts Trump as a pigGOP lawmaker: Republicans ‘would be well advised to get ready’ for Dem wave in midtermsTech giants brace for sweeping EU privacy lawMORE’s new national security team is primed to strike at Iran and its interests. The administration’s attacks on the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have already aroused considerable controversy and apprehension in Europe, Russia, and China, not to mention Iran. But a diplomatic assault on that agreement is by no means the only option open to Washington.

 

If the administration intends to isolate Iran it can also act to undermine Iran’s ties in the Caucasus, particularly with Armenia and Azerbaijan. These relationships are critical for Iran since those countries sit astride its northern and western borders. Armenia is a partner to Iran in every sense and dependent upon it. Thus to the extent that Washington can simultaneously bring to bear both “carrots and sticks” upon those governments, it can advance its own interests in the Caucasus, and strike at Iran and at its Russian partner as well.

 

This might be easier than it sounds. For years Azerbaijan and Iran were consumed by mutual suspicion and Azerbaijan is still mistrustful of Iran despite the fact that bilateral ties have improved since 2012. At that time Iranian terror plots against both Baku and Israel were uncovered leading to a crisis in the relationship.

 

 

 

Iran regards Azerbaijan as a platform for stirring unrest among its huge Azeri minority, a renegade Shiite state that is far too chummy with Israel and the United States and in many respects an energy-exporting rival. Yet, under pressure from Washington, it has to shore up its northern border and endeavor to keep Baku from moving too close to Washington.

 

Armenia, on the other hand, precisely because of its enduring antagonism with Azerbaijan is quite close to Iran, which supported it throughout its independence and in the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Armenia has also joined with Iran in major infrastructure and economic projects. This was meant to alleviate the pressure imposed by Turkey in its blockade of Armenia due to the war with Azerbaijan. As a result, Armenia is not only a client state of Russia that hosts major Russian military bases and infrastructure, it also is Iran’s main partner in the Caucasus. Nevertheless, it cannot afford to burn bridges with the West and is still seeking to expand its sphere of discretion in its foreign relations with Western states.

 

Thus the way is open to the administration to combine incentives with pressure and even more desirable to help bring peace to the Caucasus to minimize Moscow and Tehran’s mischief-making there. By taking a serious role in the search for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh and by judiciously brandishing both benefits and penalties the administration can enhance U.S. presence in the region. Trump can also advance U.S. interests by aligning both of the states closer to Washington and distancing them from Tehran and possibly Moscow as well.

 

From past Iranian statements, we know there is a concern in Tehran about a possible U.S. military or intelligence presence in Azerbaijan. Washington can enhance its leverage upon Armenia and may be able to shake the Armeno-Iranian relationship to a discernible degree by combining threats and offers it.

 

Moreover, it desirable for the U.S. to advance its presence in the Caucasus for its own sake apart from the region’s relevance to the Middle East or specifically to Iran and/or Georgia. It is in Washington’s interest to expand energy supplies coming from the Caspian to Europe through the Caucasus. Greater U.S. engagement in the Caucasus also reduces Russian pressure in Turkey and provides a basis for advancing the troubled U.S.-Turkey alliance.

 

A fundamental point here is that the U.S. cannot advance its interests or its values of democracy and good governance — which both Armenia and Azerbaijan fall short of achieving — without demonstrating a robust, enduring, and credible interest in their security agendas. Otherwise, there is no reason for those governments to take our interests seriously, not to mention our values seriously.

 

There is a potential “trifecta” here. By strengthening our interest and ability to engage in the Caucasus with Armenia and Azerbaijan not only can we help promote peace and potentially better governance for which peace is a precondition. We can also reduce Russian and Iranian influence in the Caucasus and neighboring areas. Admittedly, the U.S. has many other interests and priorities. But if we are indeed looking to bring pressure to bear upon Tehran we could do much worse than start here.

 

Stephen Blank, Ph.D., is a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, focused on the geopolitics and geostrategy of the former Soviet Union, Russia and Eurasia. He is a former professor of Russian National Security Studies and National Security Affairs at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College. He is also a former MacArthur fellow at the U.S. Army War College.

 

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)

April 1, 2018 Sunday

 

 

Damascus, SANA – Delegated by President Bashar al-Assad, Speaker of the People’s Assembly Hammoudeh Sabbagh visited on Sunday the heads of Christian denominations in Damascus who follow the Gregorian calendar, and conveyed to them congratulations of President al-Assad on the occasion of Easter.

 

Speaker Sabbagh visited Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church Joseph Absi, Parish Priest at the Chaldean Catholic Church of St. Teresa Father Malek Malos, Syriac Catholic Church Archbishop Elias Tabi, Armenian Catholic Bishop of Damascus Jospeh Arnaouti, Pastor of the Evangelical Church of Damascus Rev. Boutros Zaour, Archbishop of the Maronite Church Bishop Samir Nassar , Parish Priest at the Latin Monastery in Damascus Father Bahjat Karakash, and Armenian Orthodox Bishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian.

 

For their part, the clergymen expressed their deep appreciation of President al-Assad’s gesture which coincides these days with the great victories achieved by the heroes of the Syrian Arab Army, beseeching God to preserve Syria and its people.

The Sun, UK

April 2 2018

The Armenian Weekly

April 2 2018

By Weekly Staff on April 2, 2018

Panorama, Armenia

April 2 2018

ArmenPress, Armenia

Accusing Armenians of anti-Semitism is obvious provocation, says president of Jewish community

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Accusing Armenians of anti-Semitism is an obvious provocation, Rima Varzhapetyan – president of the Jewish community of Armenia told ARMENPRESS, commenting on the poll results of Pew Research Center (PRC) – an American NGO- which alleged that among Central and Eastern Europe, residents of Armenia are most intolerant towards Jews.

“I’ve read it and I was genuinely surprised. Certainly there can be cases based on household issues, but in general this can’t be true. I believe this is a provocation. I’ve been in numerous countries and I’ve never felt anti-Semitism from Armenians. On the contrary, the Jewish community of Armenia has worked with Armenians, has always been part of joint projects. We are living here for many years and no problems have ever happened,” she said.

Varzhapetyan emphasized that the Jewish community of Armenia has all necessary conditions and opportunities for preserving culture and language.

PRC published the abovementioned results based on polls conducted in 18 countries of Central and Eastern Europe from June 2015 to July 2016.

English –translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan

ArmenPress, Armenia

Hotels, tourism executives all geared-up as La Francophonie events expected to bring 5000 visitors to Armenia in October

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Nearly 5,000 visitors are expected to arrive in Armenia for the La Francophonie events in October, Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, chairman of the state tourism committee, told reporters during the grand opening of a new luxury hotel in Yerevan – The Alexander.

“Today the hotel rooms are listed, we have also taken into account Tsakhkadzor and Aghveran. We are ready to receive the guests. Our role as the tourism committee is to ensure their leisure during their stay in Armenia. We have a very interesting program, buses will depart in several directions from Republic Square twice in the mornings and evenings”, she said.

She mentioned that tourism visits tripled during the past 10 years in Armenia.

Today, there are more than 540 hotel businesses in Armenia, 40% of which are located in Yerevan.

“A demand for this kind of hotel exists in Armenia today. As you know we are actively working for entering new markets, we targeted Arab countries, and Arab tourists attach great importance to hotel conditions”, she said.

The grand opening of The Alexander, a luxury hotel of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, a subsidiary ofMarriott International, took place Saturday in downtown Yerevan. The hotel is part of The Luxury Collection.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan attended the inauguration ceremony. Numerous guests including politicians and businessmen were in attendance.

The construction of the nearly 60 million dollar hotel began back in 2014. The Alexander is one of its kind in terms of class in Armenia. The hotel can host up to 230 guests at once, with rates ranging from 400 dollars up to nearly 3800 dollars.

Businessman and philanthropist Sergei Hambardzumyan, the founder of the hotel, told reporters that this is a significant day for him. “Armenia and Yerevan deserve to have the best hotels. Making investments in my country is a significant event for me. Where else can we invest our money if not in our country. I get pleasure in investing in Armenia,” he said.

The name of the hotel is no coincidence, and Hambardzumyan told reporters about the personal story behind it.

“We expected an Alexander to be born in our family, but only girls were born. Upon discussing how to name the hotel, Alexander was suggested”, he said, adding that Alexander is also his father’s name.

The current 144 jobs are planned to be increased to 170 with an average salary of nearly 600 dollars. The hotel offers all kinds of facilities ranging from a SPA center, a gym, pool, beauty salon, a bar and a restaurant, as well as five conference halls.

A French chef has been brought in to serve the very best of French cuisine.

JeanCadars, general manager of The Alexander, told reporters that they expect numerous guests as part of the La Francophonie year.

“Welcome to this hotel. We are proud to open the hotel of The Luxury Collection world famous hotel chain. It will contribute to the development of tourism. Major events are expected in Armenia this year, with many guests being expected. The quality of service which we offer here, in my opinion, is unique”, he said.

European Union News

Saturday

 

 

 

Brussels: Public Register European Parliament has issued the following document:

 

(English version)

Question for written answer E-000007/18

to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)

 

Louis Michel (ALDE)

(3 January 2018)

 

 Subject: VP/HR — Latent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan — Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) investigative mechanism

The conflicts within the OSCE area, especially the one between Armenia and Azerbaijan, are a matter of great concern. The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is particularly alarming, as far from being a frozen conflict, it remains a latent conflict. The ‘Four Day War’ that began in early April 2016 has raised awareness of the unsustainability of the status quo as well as the need to move forward, both by stabilising the situation on the ground through the adoption of confidence-building measures and by holding substantive discussions for a peaceful and durable resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

 

 The OSCE and EU have gradually been able to cooperate successfully in crisis and conflict management.

 

 How does the EU support the OSCE in its request that concerned parties ensure the full implementation of the investigative mechanism with regard to violations of the ceasefire taking place on the line of contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan?

 

 The European Neighbourhood Policy allows the Union to directly intervene in a domain that was until recently restricted to the OSCE, particularly in ‘frozen’ conflicts in Transnistria and the Caucasus (Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia).

 

 How does the European Union intend to assist in enforcing the ceasefire?

 

 Answer given by Vice-President Mogherini on behalf of the Commission

 

 (15 March 2018)

 

 The status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unsustainable. Conflict resolution can only be an outcome of substantive, peaceful negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

 

 The EU supports the efforts of the Co-Chairs of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group toward peace, which is the only internationally recognised format for the task. The EU welcomes the Co-Chairs’ revised concept paper on the expansion of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, which would increase the number of monitors on the ground. It is encouraging that the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed in principle to this expansion in Krakow on 18 January 2018. Once finalised, it would be the first security-related confidence-building measure implemented after the agreements between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the summits in Vienna and St Petersburg in 2016 and Geneva in 2017. Other decisions agreed at those summits, including on an incident investigation mechanism, should also be implemented.

The EU continues, particularly through its Special Representative, to support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, inter alia by regular meetings with the leaderships of Armenia and Azerbaijan, where the EU messages are reinforced. The EU also funds the European Partnership for the Peaceful Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (EPNK) initiative to facilitate people-to-people contacts between the sides to overcome the divide, which can contribute to conflict transformation.

ArmenPress, Armenia

Armenian State Symphony Orchestra gets standing ovation and multiple encore requests after Hamburg performance

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra delivered a concert March 28 in Hamburg’s ElbphilharmonieHall. The Orchestra and cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan performed SymphonyNo.2by Aram Khachaturian and the Cello Concerto of contemporary composer Eduard Hayrapetyan.

Sergei Smbatyan, artistic director and conductor of the Orchestra, told ARMENPRESS that it is very important to perform modern and classic Armenian music in Elbphilharmonie, one of the world’s most demanded and popular halls.

“Eduard Hayrapetyan composed a Cello Concerto specially for this concert. It is wonderful when foreign audiences see the rich and unique traditions of Armenia in the music area”, he said.

“All tickets were sold out several months before the concert, we received a standing ovation after the performance and the audience was demanding an encore for several times”, he said.

English –translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan