Category: 2023

A warm welcome or an act of domination? News reporting of Armenia-Turkey relations

Andranik Taslakhchian
UK –

Kübra Zeynep Sarıaslan, a visiting fellow in Contemporary Turkish Studies at LSE’s European Institute, explains the challenges for independent journalists in Turkey posed by the visit of an Armenian leader, and how the principles of peace journalism can be a useful approach on such occasions..

May 2023 was a very long month for Turkey. Presidential elections lasted the whole month due to the run-off. When Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was re-elected at the end, many world leaders lined up to congratulate him, and many countries seem to have expectations from post-election Turkey and its new and former leader Erdoğan. Among these were countries of the South Caucasus, a region often in the world spotlight for its conflicts and military activity. The prime minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, and the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, already have close ties with Erdoğan. However, it was breaking news to all news outlets in Turkey that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was also going to attend the ceremony. For independent journalists in Turkey, the visit of an Armenian leader to Turkey after more than a dozen years was an interesting test.

Although it is a neighbouring country with historical significance, Armenia is not a country that journalists in Turkey follow very closely, not even those who cover news about the larger region. Besides, the lack of mutual trust between political authorities hinders journalistic relations. When I talked to a journalist working for the foreign desk of an independent news outlet in Turkey, he said that he had repeatedly asked for a meeting with Pashinyan within last couple of years, but so far, he was neither refused nor accepted. He said this has something to do with trust: “I don’t think it is easy for them either. When an Armenian prime minister talks to a Turkish newspaper, one wrong word coming from his mouth will be a problem…”

Pashinyan, a journalist himself, led the Velvet Revolution in 2018 and then led the new government that ousted Armenia’s long-time rulers. He was re-elected with popular support as a prime minister after snap elections in 2021, even though Armenia was defeated under his administration during the 44-day war with Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020. However, Pashinyan set Armenia’s priorities as economic development, sustainable stable relations with neighbours, and democratization of society, rather than global recognition of the Armenian genocide and the maintenance of Armenian sovereignty in Nagorno-Karabakh. Due to these political decisions, as well as his open criticism of the stigmatisation of both Turkey and Turks, Pashinyan has been the target of domestic opposition for some time. Turkey and Armenia have been holding talks for some time to normalise relations. As a result of these contacts, there is a possibility that the two countries are very close to diplomatic recognition for the first time since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Pashinyan’s decision to accept Erdoğan’s invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony shows that Pashinyan is committed to the political position he has pursued so far.

However, the pro-Erdoğan Turkish media covering Pashinyan’s visit fed into the existing political pressures with inflammatory and speculative coverage that might, as feared, put Armenia’s current government in a difficult position. In recent weeks, during a press conference on the ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan, Pashinyan had said that Armenia was ready to recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, including Nagorno-Karabakh, but that the rights and security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians should be discussed through the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue. State owned Anadolu Agency reported this statement as it is in English, but did not include the conditions on the rights and security of the Armenians in Turkish version of the news. This is already a fault for journalistic ethics yet not very surprising when it comes to conventional media in Turkey nowadays. What about independent media?

Relations between Armenia and Turkey are complicated by the tragic history of the 1915 genocide and the Turkish government’s denial of it, the absence of diplomatic links, a closed land border and politically fostered mistrust and hostility between the communities. There have been several attempts at the state level to normalise diplomatic ties over the last three decades, but none of these have had any meaningful impact. On the other hand, civil society in both countries, especially since the mid-2000s, has tried to improve relations in various fields, including journalism. In this process, peace journalism appeared as a useful tool for conflict transformation, pointing out that reporting in favour of peace is a political and ethical option and underlining that contextual pressures and constraints can in fact be overcome even through individual editorial choices.

Independent journalists define their editorial policy as reporting in a more pro-peace, solution-oriented way rather than something that will further fuel that polarisation. However, in the Turkish news media environment, such editorial choices are possible only through financial independence. In the past years, many opposition journalists have lost their jobs due to political pressure on media owners who have close business ties with the government. Yet dissident journalists experimented with unconventional financial models and have built several independent news media outlets. Utilising the possibilities of online journalism that has been already replacing conventional journalism, journalists working for independent news media report on marginalised people and groups in Turkey whose representations are not available on popular news outlets, and feed alternative public spheres interested in stories represented from various angles and with depth.

Yet, many journalists working for independent news media in Turkey, are not very much aware of the independent news media elsewhere, especially in small countries like Armenia. A journalist from Turkey explains what sources they use while reporting on Armenia: “Armenia is in our foreign news category like any other country. We talk about it in the same way as we talk about it in any other country. When the local media give the number of troops differently, we give it as ‘Armenian media said this, Azeri media said that, and Reuters said that.'” But Armenian independent journalism remains in the margins of information sources for journalists in Turkey. The result of following foreign news predominantly from third sources – even if these sources are the world’s leading news agencies – can be misleading for journalists in Turkey and, naturally, for their audiences.

An example of such confusions is the circulation of a short clip from Erdoğan’s inauguration ceremony on Twitter. The clip shows a newspaper columnist greeting Pashinyan with a handshake and saying, “do not feel yourself alone, you have friends in Turkey”. Meanwhile, the newspaper where this columnist works, a pro-government newspaper with an openly ultranationalist and militarist tone, released a video on its YouTube channel representing Pashinyan’s visit as a one-sided initiative as if he had not received the invitation from Erdoğan and with a subtext that demonises Armenians living in diaspora communities. This video alone hints that there is more than a benevolent gesture in the handshake clip, but some independent journalists celebrated it and congratulated the warm gesture shown towards the antagonised leader of the neighbouring country, which signals a failure in diplomatic reporting.

Armenia is not a “complete stranger” to Turkey – and vice versa. While the Turkish state’s relations with the Armenian state are followed with great curiosity and interest in Armenia, it may seem unfair to expect the same curiosity and interest from Turkish journalists who are dealing with an extremely dynamic and intense agenda of domestic politics. Still, journalists who cannot read between the lines when an Armenian Prime Minister visits Turkey after 14 years cannot take on the task of building the language of peace at a time when peace journalism is most needed in today’s polarised societies.

Following independent news sources that provide in-depth information on their subject of interest could be a good first step for independent diplomacy journalists who genuinely support peace.

The research that resulted in this paper has been funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation. This post does not represent the position of the Media@LSE blog nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Kübra Zeynep Sarıaslan is a visiting fellow at the LSE Turkish Studies and at the University of Cambridge. She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Zurich (Switzerland).

Comments from Baku on second round of Azerbaijan-Armenia negotiations in Washington

Vardan Badalian
  • JAMnews
  • Baku

Negotiations in Washington Armenia-Azerbaijan

“After a three-day negotiating marathon in Washington, at least some document should be published. Because this is the second such marathon in the United States, and if this time, as after the first similar negotiations, there is no signed statement, no serious agreements are reached, this could lead to the anger of Washington,” Natig Jafarli said of the talks starting today in Washington by Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

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“We expect negotiations to start on Tuesday and continue until Thursday this week.

Secretary Blinken will be meeting with the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and we will have more details during the week. We continue to believe that peace is within reach, and direct dialogue is the key to resolving outstanding issues and achieving a sustainable and dignified world,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said during a briefing.

Press release war – Sometimes several times a day, the Azerbaijani and Armenian defense ministries report skirmishes at the border

“It is necessary to publish at least the theses of the “road map” of integration”

“After a three-day negotiating marathon in Washington, at least some document should be published. Because this is the second such marathon in the United States, and if this time, as after the first similar negotiations, there is no signed statement, no serious agreements are reached, this could lead to the anger of Washington,” Natik Jafarli said.

According to him, so far it is clear that Armenia is hindering the achievement of agreements:

“Companies in this country are already subject to sanctions because of Russian assistance, but if Armenia interferes with peace, it may face even more serious pressure.”

Jafarli called the situation around Khankendi (Stepanakert) and the issue of integration and security of the Armenian population of Karabakh the weak point of Azerbaijan in the negotiations:

“After the end of the victorious 44-day war, we repeatedly publicly appealed to the government with a warning that we were late with this issue, we should at least publish the theses of the integration roadmap. If the authorities want to resolve this issue without changing anything, we may face unfair pressure in a situation in which we are absolutely fair.

The roadmap should include changes to the Constitution, local self-government, the creation of an elected mayor, the transformation of 14 economic regions into administrative-territorial units, fair elections and the election of a government in parliament. In a word, fundamental reforms.

There is no other way, with the delay of time this issue will not be resolved by itself. And fundamental reforms can open up new prospects for our country.”

“It has to happen either in Washington or in Brussels”

According to political scientist and head of the Atlas analytical center Elkhan Shahinoglu, Moscow now has no prospects for real mediation:

“If progress is made in the negotiations and the parties get closer to signing a peace treaty, this should happen either in Washington or in Brussels.

While the Kremlin is preoccupied with its own problems, the parties are obliged to make maximum use of the mediation services of the United States and the European Union. This is in favor of both Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

Negotiations in Washington Armenia-Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani experts believe that in connection with the closure of the Lachin checkpoint, “all claims of the Armenians of Karabakh should be addressed to Armenia”

“The rhetoric of the parties towards each other has not changed much”

“It is still too early to talk about reaching a final peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Despite the progress in the negotiation process, the rhetoric of the parties towards each other has not changed much,” political observer Agshin Kerimov said.

“We must take into account the fact that Armenia in our region is an instrument in the hands of others, and plans for it are not divorced from the historical context. There may be some changes in strategic plans, but historical goals remain an obstacle to reaching a peace agreement.

Even if Baku and Yerevan agree on a common denominator, I don’t think the tension will subside. The big forces that exist in our region are more focused on the principle of “govern in a safe way” and not on the general welfare of the countries of the region.”

Russian media, citing a “diplomatic source”, reported that Washington is forcing representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh to agree to a meeting with the Azerbaijani side.

“Azerbaijan’s main goal is to remove obstacles to a peace treaty”

Before the talks in Washington, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ruben Rubinyan talked about three conditions for signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan:

* Fixing a specific map taken as the basis for the countries’ recognition of each other’s territorial integrity.

* Solving the problem of the rights and security of the [Armenian] population of Karabakh.

* Introduction of guarantees for the fulfillment of the agreement between Yerevan and Baku.

“We must pay tribute to Rubinyan. So far, he is the only one in the leadership of Armenia who can clearly formulate Armenia’s negotiating position,” political observer Farhad Mammadov said, commenting on the words of the vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament.

“All this, of course, is relevant for negotiations, but it is already clear that without resolving open issues on Armenia’s involvement in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan (the remnants of the Armenian Armed Forces in Karabakh, resource support and the rejection of slanderous activity on international platforms), all of these topics have no prospects for constructive solutions.

I think Azerbaijan’s main goal is to remove obstacles to a peace treaty. Armenia still has a chance to constructively approach the process of leveling obstacles.”

Negotiations in Washington Armenia-Azerbaijan

https://jam-news.net/negotiations-in-washington-armenia-azerbaijan/

Travel: 8 Reasons To Visit Spectacular Yerevan, Armenia

Hambik Zargarian
ULRIKE LEMMIN-WOOLFREY
If it wasn’t for my quest to see a few select places along the Silk Road this year, I have to admit that I would have been hard-pushed to find Yerevan on the world map. I am quite embarrassed about that because not only is Yerevan one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, but I also heard much about its border issues with Azerbaijan and Turkey, yet I’d never bothered to learn more.

Arriving in Yerevan, located to the south of the country which borders Georgia (the only open border), Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran, it was pretty much love at first sight. The weather was sunny but the imposing Mount Ararat with its two peaks was snow-capped, making it look even more volcanic. The tree-lined streets were filled with people strolling along and sitting in cafés, and there was art and architecture waiting to be discovered at every corner.

There is so much history evident everywhere, as well as a strong national pride. Here are my personal reasons why you should be putting Yerevan on your “to-travel-to” list.

I know, I know. Really, the number one spot should have been taken by something historic, but bear with me. The first place everybody visiting Yerevan should go to first is the Cascades Complex. This is a set of steps, an incredible 572 of them, leading up the side of a hill, and once at the top (don’t worry, you can take the escalators within the Cafesjian Center for the Arts next to the steps) the views are incredible. Yerevan spreads out below you and Ararat fills the horizon. The step complex is typically Soviet in style, with fountains and sculptures all the way up.

At the bottom of the Cascades, you’ll find the wonderful sculpture park, part of the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. World-class artists are represented here, all part of a private collection made available for the city to enjoy. The art center itself is a marvelous construction of what would normally have been a boring set of escalators leading up the hill. Instead, it has been cleverly utilized as a quirky gallery space.

There are some fantastic museums in the city, with the Genocide Museum — which consists of a museum, the eternal flame, and the imposing Tsitsernakaberd Memorial — leading the pack. It is the most insightful and powerful of the museums but a must-see to understand the country and its people. 

On Republic Square, there is the State Museum of Armenian History, showcasing finds dating back from the Stone Age to more modern cultural heritage such as local carpets. In the same building, you have the National Art Gallery, always running temporary exhibitions by local artists with an amazing array of superb talent on display. The modern art museum had a Banksy exhibition when I visited and generally has mold-breaking contemporary art in its rooms.

If you want to stay in the heart of the city, I can recommend the Marriott Armenia Hotel right on Republic Square. With its museums, fountain, and Government House, the square is a site for celebrations as well as demonstrations. It is beautiful, and from the hotel’s windows, you have the chance to see Republic Square in the changing daylight and all lit up at night when it is stunning. It is a truly great spot for a hotel, with absolutely everything in Yerevan within walking distance.

This 18th-century Persian Shia Mosque, also known as the Persian Mosque or the Mosque of Shah, is the last mosque operating in the whole of Armenia. It’s a reminder that Armenia was the first country in the world to embrace Christianity as a state religion. Maybe not quite as striking as the mosques of Isfahan or Samarkand, but its blue and green tiled exterior is beautiful, as is the little garden it is located in.

As I already mentioned, walking around Yerevan, you’ll stumble across restaurants and cafés everywhere. They have plenty of outdoor seating, making the most of the warmer months with people lingering over coffee and enjoying the green spaces. The green areas between the Armenian National Opera, Ballet Theatre, and Cascade Complex are filled with great outdoor cafés, as are the sides of the sculpture park.

Head along Moskovyan Street for an international selection of cuisines and types of restaurants. From wine bars to fine dining, street food to relaxed student hangouts, it’s all there. Must-try foods include all things lamb and eggplant, plus the lovely fresh flatbread called lavash, which is baked in clay ovens and stuffed with all sorts of things. For a wide variety of foods and some local entertainment, try Sherep Restaurant just off Republic Square next to the Marriott. Hugely popular with locals, make sure you book ahead.

You always need a souvenir to bring back and there is no better place to search out some local arts and crafts than the open-air Vernissage Market — a short walk from Republic Square. Here, you’ll find a wide range of traditional Armenian crafts, souvenirs, artwork, jewelry, and antiques. It’s a great place to explore and purchase unique items, with blood-red ceramics featuring locally grown pomegranates, a firm favorite.

What really struck me is the fact that everywhere in Yerevan, as well as outside the city limits, there are huge pictures of Armenians who live abroad. These individuals have helped their country with money or celebrity status to either build infrastructure, restore historic sites, donate art, or simply help out with some funds for the people. 

From Charles Aznavour to Cher, and even the Kardashians, all have Armenian roots. And here is something I learned about how to spot someone with Armenian roots: the names all end in –ian, –jian, or a similar derivative. I spent a long time looking at the names of the artists in the Art Gallery and loved that there is such an easy way of connecting, wherever you find yourself.

However lovely, Yerevan should never be just a city trip. The true beauty of Armenia lies outside of the city limits. A mountainous country with huge peaks, high lakes, and mountain passes, everywhere you look, ancient monasteries are perching atop cragged hills. Probably the closest and most impressive monastery is Khor Virap Monastery, situated near the border of Turkey. Khor Virap offers breathtaking views of Mount Ararat. This little monastery, originally dating to the 600s (with the current church dating to the 1600s), is a significant religious site. It’s the place where St. Gregory the Illuminator — the Patron Saint of Armenia and reason behind Armenia embracing Christianity — was imprisoned.

A natural beauty is Lake Sevan, located about 37 miles northeast of Yerevan. Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. On its shores lies the Sevanavank Monastery, but the lake is lovely just for its serenity and mountainous fringes. If you are also looking for Silk Road sites, the Orbelian’s Caravanserai not far from the lake is a must. The former overnight resting point during travel along the Silk Road, weary merchants had a chance to sleep, have their animals looked after, and meet other travelers along the way, while doing a bit of business as well.

For a way to see two countries at once, why not get a driver to take you across the border to Tbilisi in Georgia, a mere 4-hour drive from Yerevan?

Armenia General Staff initially denied information from Nagorno Karabakh during war before eventually confirming – PM

Maral Takmazian

 12:51,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Information provided by the Nagorno Karabakh President during the 2020 war was initially being denied by the military leadership of Armenia before eventually being confirmed, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on June 27.

“I want to be clear, I am not saying that practically the information given by the General Staff [of Armenia] turned out to be untrue. I am saying that there’ve been dozens of cases when the President of Nagorno Karabakh called and said that the situation had changed in a given area , and when I tried to verify this information from the Ministry of Defense [of Armenia], I was told that this information was untrue, but some time later they were forced to admit that it was indeed true,” Pashinyan said at the parliament selection committee on the 2020 war.

Intelligence reported 30% risk of war before intercepting Turkish F-16 audio in September 2020

Antranik Varosian

 13:05,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan revealed to lawmakers that Armenian intelligence was reporting a 30% probability of war before September 25th, 2020. But on September 25, two days before Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno Karabakh in what became known as the 44-Day War, Armenian intelligence agencies intercepted a communication between pilots of Turkish F-16 fighter jets which prompted an increased combat readiness level.

Pashinyan testified at the parliament select committee on the 2020 war on June 27.

Then-Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces General Onik Gasparyan has testified that on September 25, 2020, the Armenian intelligence agencies intercepted audio of the radio communication between Turkish F-16 pilots, who were discussing participation in an important event on the forthcoming Sunday. Gasparyan said this prompted authorities to gradually increase the combat readiness level of the military.

Parliament select committee Chair Andranik Kocharyan asked Pashinyan whether he had been briefed on the intelligence report in 2020. “Since I was elected prime minister in May 2018 and began to receive intelligence briefings, the NSS intelligence was always warning about the probability of war,” Pashinyan said, adding that different timeframes of possible attacks were being mentioned.

The information has always been available, and analysts have spoken about this, Pashinyan said.

Speaking about the September 25 report, Pashinyan said: “That information was reported to me, but I remember it mentioning tomorrow. But how likely was war according to our institutions before that moment? The assessment was 30%. And this assessment wasn’t only based on intelligence, but also other data, including based on contacts with international partners. I received another briefing also, that there is a 30% risk of war and that it could be a psychological pressure on the political authorities to resort to disproportional concessions.”

Human rights organizations call for immediate release of Armenian POWs – MFA spox

Christine Harutyunian

 13:01,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan has published a statement on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, addressing also the Azerbaijani torture and inhuman treatment of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian detainees.

Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan tweeted an excerpt from the statement : “Special reference should be made to Azerbaijan’s policy regarding torture & inhuman treatment of Armenian POWs & civilians held in Azerbaijan.”

“Human rights organizations also called for immediate release of all Armenian POWs,” Badalyan added.

ANIF could be an incredible useful tool to bring international ESG standards into Armenia – Isidoro Lucciola

Markos Nalchajian

 13:19,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. ANIF has already participated in several successful financing activities even though it’s only been four years since it was established, ANIF Member of the Board of Directors Isidoro Lucciola told ARMENPRESS.

Mr. Lucciola joined the Board of Directors of Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) as an Independent Member in 2019, the same year ANIF was launched.

ANIF’s mission is to support and empower Armenia’s economic development potential by to consolidating and effectively managing the ownership of Armenian state-owned enterprises, promoting export growth and investments in Armenia by providing co-financing in large-scale projects at their initial stage of development.

Lucciola, a pre-eminent Italian banker and entrepreneur, told ARMENPRESS in an interview that there is still a lot that needs to be done but if ANIF and Armenia continue to follow this path, a lot of other great opportunities for new successful stories will open up in many more different sectors.

– Mr. Lucciola, please tell us, what is the connection between you and Armenia and, in this context, how did your cooperation with Armenian National Interests Fund begin? How did you become a member of the ANIF Board of Directors?

 

I have always been charmed by this part of the world and especially by Armenia. Its history, its culture and its people continue to be an incredible source of inspiration for me, when it comes to the cohesion and resilience of the Armenian community. During the course of my life, I have had the fortunate chance to know several Armenians around the world and to observe how smart, thoughtful and strong they are. Not to forget also the multiple historical and cultural connections between Armenia and my country, Italy. This is why I accepted without hesitations the proposal David Papazian made me in 2019. Joining the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Interests Fund has turned out to be an amazing opportunity to learn even more about Armenia and to do something really meaningful for this country. I suppose that my experience, both in managing an Italian development government-owned entity and in arranging investments of several international Sovereign Wealth Funds, has been a choice criterion to receive the invitation to join ANIF.

 

– How important is the role of sovereign wealth funds in the modern world for the economies of countries? Is it attracting of the investments, economic empowerment or something else?

 

Nowadays sovereign wealth funds play a fundamental role in modern economies. ANIF credibility and seriousness is evident when we look at all the amazing people Mr. Papazian has chosen to be part of this project. In this sense, the whole staff has clear in mind the goal of a sovereign wealth fund: to strategically develop and shape its own country’s economy while increasing the population’s well-being. To do this, some of the possible strategies include helping the country prioritize development clusters and shape the investment agenda, being an intermediate between the government and the investors and having a financial stake on the table. Following these steps is really helpful also in the case of potential foreign investors that still know little about Armenia.

 

– Mr. Lucciola, what investment opportunities do you think Armenia has? What kind of attractiveness and offer does it have from an investment perspective?

 

I really believe that investing in Armenia is a great opportunity in a plethora of sectors because, apart from everything else, your human capital is what makes you so much valuable. Starting from this powerful asset and considering the improvements in the political risk and in the economy, more visibility on the international investment environment could be the boost the country needs. In this sense, I strongly reckon that, project after project, Armenia will be recognized as a place to be.

 

– Within this context, what is the role and importance of ANIF in Armenia?

 

As I already said, one of the essential premises to secure ANIF’s role in Armenia is to showcase the country as a safe, promising and successful place to invest. Even though I may be taking sides, I strongly believe that several of ANIF’s projects can and will serve this purpose. On top of that, I must refer again to the incredible and highly skilled team who is helping ANIF paving the way for successful investments while always being a partner for foreign investors who seek professional expertise, support and the comfort of having the state’s stake in a joint venture.

 

– ANIF has been engaged in activities for some time and has already managed to implement successful projects. How would you rate ANIF's activities?

 

Even though we are talking about a quite brief period of time, ANIF has already participated in several successful financing activities. Just to mention one of them, Armenia is going to have its first industrial size solar plant developed thanks to the joint venture between ANIF and Masdar signed in 2020. Another fortunate project is Fly Arna, the national airline born in 2021 thanks to an agreement with Air Arabia furnishing the aircrafts. In these and in many more other activities, ANIF’s contributions has been enhanced by some of the smaller scale local businesses financing the projects who have brought international names to the country. Obviously, there is still a lot that needs to be done but I think that, if ANIF and Armenia continue to follow this path, a lot of other great opportunities for new successful stories will open up in many more different sectors (e.g. medicine and entertainment).

 

– The International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) has awarded Armenian National Interests Fund the status of an associate member. What kind of opportunities will this give Armenia?

 

In answering this question, I must underline that Sovereign Wealth Funds, with direct assets under management exceeding 12.4 trillion US dollars, can now be considered the most influential institutional investors in global financial markets and their activism is growing. They have the main mission of developing the economy of their country and generating wealth for future generations. Being appointed associate member of IFSWF, a growing international influential institution, give not only visibility to ANIF and Armenia but also the opportunity to share best practices and create further connections for co-investments. However, the associate membership represents both a success and an obligation for ANIF to do even more to gain the full membership, continuing on the path taken by ANIF of sustainable and “impact” investments as the ones we mentioned before.

 

– There is also a sustainability event organized by the IFSWF ANIF attended last month in Italy and you were also present. Is sustainability important for the agendas of the sovereign funds?

 

It is, indeed. Just consider the IFSWF’s event topic: “The Sustainability Footprint of Sovereign Wealth Funds”. Sustainability is a real goal for the Sovereign Wealth Funds. They are the most active players in supporting initiatives to combat climate change globally, by reducing emissions and developing renewable energies and innovative technologies, and to improve the social impact through the adoption of increasingly selective investment criteria in terms of sustainability. The activity of sovereign institutional investors with a long-term vision, not innately attracted by the glitter fashion of greenwashing, it is leading them to be more effective than governments in terms of effective adoption of policy for the virtuous management of all ESG areas. ANIF is promoting sustainable investment and it is also committed to push and help the businesses it invests in to comply with the ESG best practice. I also believe that there is still a lot to be done in this sense, but I am also confident that ANIF could be an incredible useful tool to bring the international ESG standards into the country. The global supply chain scrutiny is becoming stricter and stricter on ESG topics and Armenian business partners need to catch up quickly in being compliant with the relevant criteria. For this reason, it is evident that ANIF’s responsibility in promoting and supporting the endorsement of sustainability for a better Armenia is huge but also possibly leading to an enormous success.

Bordeaux inaugurates Armenian cross-stone

Tambiyan Samvel

 14:12,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. An Armenian cross-stone was inaugurated on June 25 at a public park in central Bordeaux.

The ceremonial inauguration was attended by Bordeaux Mayor Pierre Hurmic, the Armenian consul-general to Lyon Narine Nikolian, officials from Nouvelle-Aquitaine, members of the Armenian community of France and the representative of the Diocese of France of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Nikolian thanked the French government for recognizing the Armenian Genocide and supporting Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), and noted the historic decision by President Macron on pantheonizing Missak Manouchian.

The cross-stone is dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the martyrs of Nagorno Karabakh and the Armenians who died for France.

BTA. European Parliament to Vote on New Call for Bulgaria, Romania’s Accession to Schengen

Garnik Tadevosian

 14:21,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS/BTA. At its last sitting in Strasbourg before the summer recess, the European Parliament will vote in early July on a new call for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen. This was decided on Tuesday by the parliamentary committee on petitions.

The decision was adopted with 25 votes in favour, no votes against and no abstentions. MEPs are expected to call on the EU Council to approve the accession of the two countries to Schengen by the end of the year.

Bulgaria and Romania have met the requirements, the draft resolution states, expressing regret that on December 8, 2022 EU countries did not reach unanimity. It adds that Schengen enlargement would have made the EU stronger.

The fact that Romania and Bulgaria are still outside Schengen creates a significant social and economic burden for businesses and citizens in both countries, the document states. Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania are discriminated against as they face delays, bureaucratic difficulties and extra costs when travelling or doing work abroad compared to their counterparts from other EU countries. Delays due to waiting at borders by Romanians and Bulgarians can last from several hours to days, compared to the 10 minutes it takes to cross EU internal borders without checks, and this further worsens working conditions for freight drivers, the text reports.

It adds that the restrictions affect the single market and impede the free movement of goods between EU countries, cause damage to the environment and run counter to environmental protection objectives. The health of drivers, customs officers and people living near border crossings is threatened by increased pollution from the thousands of vehicles waiting to cross the border every day. Every year, 46 000 tons of carbon dioxide are released because of this, the document says.

It calls on the European Commission to assess the additional costs and environmental damage that Romania and Bulgaria have suffered since June 2011 because of their refused Schengen entry. According to the document, the Commission should assess the possibilities for financial compensation. It explains that the issue is being used for anti-European propaganda, including Russian propaganda, and is undermining the EU's ability to promote its values and good governance abroad.

According to the Commission's assessment, Bulgaria and Romania are ready to join Schengen, and the European Parliament has repeatedly supported their accession, most recently in a resolution on 5 October 2022 and a debate on December 14, 2022, the European Parliament said in a statement.

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