Writing in “Azg” ahead of her visit to Yerevan, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni says Armenia plays a “key role” in regional security and welcomes the Armenian government’s efforts to improve relations with Turkey. Bakoyanni, who is also the OSCE’s current chairperson-in-office, says the organization is ready to help Armenia implement more electoral reforms. “The OSCE and Armenia should also continue to work together in promoting freedom of speech and assembly,” she says.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” claims that the Council of Europe has set about “identifying the real organizers of the March 1” violence in Yerevan. It says all eyes are now on ad hoc commission of the Armenian parliament led by deputy speaker Samvel Nikoyan. “And he has not yet decided how to act,” says the paper, adding that an ambiguous report by the commission would not satisfy the Europeans.
Vladimir Karapetian, a foreign policy spokesman for the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), tells “Zhamanak” that Armenia has had many more losses than gains during its continuing dialogue with Turkey. “Armenia has lost its freedom to manage its foreign policy with regard to Turkish-Armenian relations,” says the former Armenian Foreign Ministry official. “That is, despite his preconditions there is no way Serzh Sarkisian can not go to Turkey [in October] to watch the football game [between the two countries’ national teams.] … Serzh Sarkisian’s failure to go there would free Turkey’s hands in various international bodies.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says political parties’ response to a cooperation “platform” proposed by HAK leader Levon Ter-Petrosian will finally determine “who is in opposition in Armenia and who isn’t.” “More specifically, if a particular political force agrees with 50 percent of the 12 points put forward [by Ter-Petrosian] and disagrees with the rest, it will mean that it is in opposition by 50 percent,” says the paper. It says Ter-Petrosian may not manage to “broaden the opposition front” but he will at least bring more clarity to the political arena.
“Kapital” reports that the volume of cargo shipments to and from Armenia fell by 16.3 percent in the first five months of this year. The paper also quotes the director of one of the local cargo firms, Makar Arakelian, as saying that Russia’s state railway company, RZhD, has gained control over a rail ferry service between the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti and Russia’s Port-Kavkaz. Arakelian is worried that RZhD, which also runs Armenia’s rail network, will thus have a monopoly on freight traffic between Armenia and Russia.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” claims that the Council of Europe has set about “identifying the real organizers of the March 1” violence in Yerevan. It says all eyes are now on ad hoc commission of the Armenian parliament led by deputy speaker Samvel Nikoyan. “And he has not yet decided how to act,” says the paper, adding that an ambiguous report by the commission would not satisfy the Europeans.
Vladimir Karapetian, a foreign policy spokesman for the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), tells “Zhamanak” that Armenia has had many more losses than gains during its continuing dialogue with Turkey. “Armenia has lost its freedom to manage its foreign policy with regard to Turkish-Armenian relations,” says the former Armenian Foreign Ministry official. “That is, despite his preconditions there is no way Serzh Sarkisian can not go to Turkey [in October] to watch the football game [between the two countries’ national teams.] … Serzh Sarkisian’s failure to go there would free Turkey’s hands in various international bodies.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says political parties’ response to a cooperation “platform” proposed by HAK leader Levon Ter-Petrosian will finally determine “who is in opposition in Armenia and who isn’t.” “More specifically, if a particular political force agrees with 50 percent of the 12 points put forward [by Ter-Petrosian] and disagrees with the rest, it will mean that it is in opposition by 50 percent,” says the paper. It says Ter-Petrosian may not manage to “broaden the opposition front” but he will at least bring more clarity to the political arena.
“Kapital” reports that the volume of cargo shipments to and from Armenia fell by 16.3 percent in the first five months of this year. The paper also quotes the director of one of the local cargo firms, Makar Arakelian, as saying that Russia’s state railway company, RZhD, has gained control over a rail ferry service between the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti and Russia’s Port-Kavkaz. Arakelian is worried that RZhD, which also runs Armenia’s rail network, will thus have a monopoly on freight traffic between Armenia and Russia.
(Aghasi Yenokian)