Armenian News... A Topalian 13 editorials

AHVAL

Oct 30 2019

Turkey’s Erdoğan says U.S. Armenian genocide recognition an insult 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday condemned the U.S. House of Representatives’ recognition of the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire a century ago as genocide, calling it an insult to his nation.

The House vote on Tuesday coincided with the anniversary of the 1923 foundation of the Republic of Turkey on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and comes amid anger in Congress over the Turkish offensive in northeast Syria that President Donald Trump facilitated by withdrawing U.S. troops from the area and ending support for Syrian Kurdish forces that fought Islamic State.

Erdoğan said a group of U.S. politicians who had been working for 20 years to push for the recognition of the genocide had exploited the negative mood against Turkey.

“This step taken has no value. And we do not recognise it,” said the Turkish president. “We see such an accusation as the greatest insult made to our nation.”

Erdoğan said the Turkish parliament was working on a statement against the U.S. House of Representatives.

“A country whose history is filled with stains of genocide, slavery and exploitation has no right to say something or to lecture Turkey,” Erdoğan said. 

The House of Representatives also passed a bill on Tuesday calling for sanctions on Turkey over its military operation in Syria, which will now go to the Senate for approval.

“We strongly reject it,” Erdoğan said, adding that the bill targeted himself, his family and ministers.

Erdoğan said the bill was based on accusations made by the Gülen movement, a secretive Islamist group formerly allied to the ruling party that Turkish leaders accuse of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016. The president said the United States had failed to review Turkey’s request to extradite the movement’s U.S.-based leader, Fethullah Gülen. 

“Either you will hand him over to us, or from now on you should not expect us to extradite a criminal in relation to the agreement for bilateral extradition of criminals,” he said. 

Erdoğan also indicated that the bill could have an impact on his plans to visit Washington on Nov. 13.

“I have not decided yet, there are still question marks,” he said when reporters asked whether he would cancel his visit to the United States.

Panorama, Armenia

Oct 30 2019

Paylan: Only Turkish parliament can heal Armenian people's wounds

Istanbul-Armenian MP Garo Paylan representing the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has addressed the US House’s passage of a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

In a tweet on Wednesday Paylan stressed that after dozens of parliaments the US House voted overwhelmingly to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

“Our grief has become the subject of discussions in others parliaments, since my country has been denying the Armenian people’s Medz Yeghern for 105 years,” the MP tweeted. “The only parliament that is able to heal the Armenian people’s wounds is the Turkish Majlis which I am a member of,” he stressed. 

Armenpress.am

30 October, 2019

Israeli politicians call for recognition of Armenian Genocide after US House vote

Two prominent Israeli politicians are calling for recognition of the Armenian Genocide after the US House of Representatives adopted the H.Res.296, The Times of Israel reports.

“The US House of Representatives vote to recognize the Armenian Genocide is a vote for historical truth and justice. Turkey cannot be allowed to intimidate the world into denying genocide. I will continue to fight for Israeli recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” tweeted lawmaker Yair Lapid, the co-leader of the Blue and White political alliance of Israel.

Earlier in April Lapid was strongly advocating for a Knesset bill recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which however failed to pass.

Citing what he called Israel’s “moral and historical responsibility,” he tweeted in April that it was time for the government “to officially recognize the Armenian genocide and stop folding in the face of Turkish pressure.”

Ex- Likud minister MK Gideon Sa’ar also called for recognition, tweeting on Wednesday that he “welcome[d] the moral and principled stance of the US House of Representatives in recognizing the mass killing of #Armenians 100 years ago as #genocide. Israel should make similarly clear its recognition of this terrible atrocity.”

The Times of Israel notes that there are individual lawmakers in the Knesset who support recognition.

In 2016, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein urged Israel to recognize the Armenian genocide.

“The issue of recognition of the Armenian genocide is raised every year in the Knesset, usually in the form of proposed legislation rather than a call for a debate, and has been knocked down by sitting governments annually since 1989, when MK Yair Tzaban first brought it to the floor. Israel’s refusal thus far to formally recognize the Armenian slaughter as genocide is based on geopolitical and strategic considerations, primary among them its relations with Turkey”, the Times of Israel wrote.

The Armenian foreign ministry welcomed the US House passage of the resolution, which “is of profound significance in that it resolves to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance, to reject its denial and encourage the education and understanding of the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 as a definitive example of genocide of the 20th century”.

Shortly after the US House of Representatives adopted the resolution, Turkey strongly criticized the move, and President Erdogan declared that the Turkish parliament will respond to the vote.

Ankara also summoned the US ambassador over the adoption of the resolution.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenpress.am

30 October, 2019

Armenia expresses "profound" gratitude to US House for "determined and impressive" vote of H.Res.296

Armenia welcomes the adoption of House Resolution 296, affirming the US record on the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“This Resolution is of profound significance in that it resolves to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance, to reject its denial and encourage the education and understanding of the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 as a definitive example of genocide of the 20th century. 

Back then the people and the leadership of the United States took outstanding efforts in response to the atrocities against Armenians, in rescuing and assisting survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Today the United States is home to a strong and vibrant Armenian American community, proud citizens of their homeland, contributing remarkably to its successes and well-being, and to the friendship between our two nations. This Resolution manifests tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, demonstrates respect to their dignity and signifies endurance of their survivors.

Armenia profoundly thanks members of the US House of Representatives for their determined and impressive vote on House Resolution 296, which is an evidence of their overwhelming commitment to truth, justice, humanity and solidarity and to universal values of human rights.

This Resolution is an important contribution to international efforts aimed at preventing new genocides and mass atrocity crimes anywhere in the world, which continue to shatter the conscience of humanity in the present. It is a powerful message against the scourge, the denial and the justification of genocides as it underlines the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern day crimes against humanity.

Today we also reiterate our deep gratitude to all other nations across the world for their previous actions in recognition of the Armenian Genocide. 

Armenia remains firmly committed to work closely with all its international partners towards consistently and resolutely constructing solid foundations and capacities for prevention of genocides and massive violations of human rights,” the ministry said.

On October 29 the US House of Representatives adopted the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.296) by a vote of 405 to 11 with 3 voting present.

Trend.az

30 October 2019

Azerbaijan considers resolution by US House of Reps on “Armenian genocide” biased

Azerbaijan considers resolution No. 296 of the US House of Representatives on the fictional Armenian genocide biased and unfair, Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said, Trend reports Oct. 30.

Hajiyev noted that this resolution has no political, legal and historical basis, and was adopted as a result of the efforts of pro-Armenian lobby groups.

The department head added that the events that occurred at that time should be studied not by politicians, but by historians.

“Armenia and the circles of the Armenian lobby have turned the fictional Armenian genocide into an object of political speculation,” Hajiyev said. “Thus, they want to hide the crimes committed by Armenians in the South Caucasus and in other regions. Therefore, Armenia doesn’t accept Turkey’s proposal to investigate those events by a joint commission. Falsification of history, attempts to rewrite history and its use for the purpose of political pressure are unacceptable.”

 

Armenpress.am

30 October, 2019

Azerbaijan opens cross-border gunfire at Armenian villages, military positions in Tavush Province

The Azerbaijani military has opened cross-border gunfire in the direction of civilian settlements and military positions of Armenia in the Tavush Province overnight October 29-30 and early Wednesday morning, according to Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan.

“Yesterday night and today early morning the adversary fired from various caliber weapons in the direction of several villages and combat positions in Tavush. The adversary went silent after a responsive fire,” he said, adding that there are no injuries in the Armenian side.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

The Economist

Oct 31st 2019  Print Edition

A long march

The House votes to recognise the persecution of Armenians as genocide

The move comes as US-Turkish relations hit a low

United States

For armenian-americans, it was a moment of vindication. After decades of campaigning for their country to acknowledge their forebears’ agonies, news came that the House of Representatives had voted by 405 to 11 to recognise as genocide the persecution of the Armenians launched by the Ottoman empire in 1915. “I’m so happy, I can’t get over it,” said Aram Garabedian, an 84-year-old activist from Rhode island.

Since at least the 1970s, Congressional battles over how to characterise the Armenians’ suffering have been a perennial feature of American politics. The House passed a similar resolution in 1984 but successive administrations have laboured to dissuade legislators from using the g-word for fear of alienating Turkey, an American strategic partner.

Yet when relations with Turkey are at a low ebb because of its incursion into Syria, the energy needed to push back seems to have sapped. House Resolution 296 asserted that America had already, through a series of officially supported gestures and initiatives over the past century, recognised the genocidal nature of the Ottoman Turkish actions.

What is not in doubt is that in spring 1915, as they were locked in war with Britain, France and Russia, the Ottoman authorities ordered the relocation of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in conditions that many were doomed not to survive. Some victims were killed by Turkish and Kurdish armed bands while some perished as they were marched in horrific conditions.

Most historians of mass killing, including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, agreed that this episode amply meets the criterion laid down by the UN convention on genocide of 1948. This defines the ultimate crime as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group” whether through outright killing of “inflicting…conditions of life” designed to bring about their destruction.

Some Western governments share the official Turkish view that the intention to bring about death on a huge scale remains unproven, or that the context of terrible suffering on all sides should be factored in. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the vote as the “biggest insult” to his people.

In the short term, the vote looks very likely to play into Mr Erdogan’s hands, as he drums up defensive feelings among his compatriots and stokes their suspicion of a Western world whose intentions, he says, have always been malign. “This is a resolution which is doomed to be misused,” predicted Brady Kiesling, a former American diplomat who has served in Armenia.

Armenpress.am

November 1 2019

Healthcare spending to increase 21,7%

Healthcare spending will be increased 21,7%, Minister of Finance Atom Janjughazyan told lawmakers at parliamentary committee debates of the 2020 state budget.

“It is expected that under the 2020 state budget 109 billion drams will be allocated to healthcare, around 21,7% or 19,4 billion drams more than in 2019,” he said.

Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan said in 2020 the healthcare policy will be directed at strengthening public health services, disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Panorama, Armenia

Oct 30 2019

Armenian-British cooperation continuously developing– defense minister

Defense Minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan received on Wednesday Chargé d’Affaires at British Embassy Yerevan Alison Chick and the newly appointed military attaché, Deputy Colonel Anthony Bromwell.

As the ministry said in a press release, Minister Tonoyan highlighted the Armenian-British cooperation in the defense sector that covers multiple directions ranging from consultations at strategic level to military education and combat preparedness. Minister Tonoyan added the ongoing cooperation is at the high level and continuously develops.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on a range of topics of mutual interest, the source said.

Aysor, Armenia

Oct 31 2019

USA increases assistance to Armenia by 40%: U.S. Ambassador

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received today U.S. ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy, U.S. Department of State Director of the Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts Cheryl Fernandes, USAID Armenia Mission Director Deborah Grieser and others, government’s press service reports.

Welcoming the guests, Armenia’s prime minister thanked for the adoption of the Resolution by the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the Armenian Genocide, noting that it is a powerful step toward establishment of historic justice and is of big significance for all Armenians, heirs of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Referring to the Armenia-USA cooperation Pashinyan noted that the Armenian government has an ambitious program of democratic reforms and is consistent in bringing it to life with the assistance of international partners and USA.

Lynne Tracy, in her turn stated that the USA is interested in further development of effective partnership with Armenia. Ambassador Tracy said in the sidelines of the Armenia-USA cooperation program in 2019 the USA has increased the assistance to Armenia by 40% as compared with the past year and proposed discussion of opportunities to use the assistace for Armenia’s democratic and economic development.

During the meeting the participants also discussed wide-range of issues on Armenia-USA partnership, referred to the cooperation opportunities in judicial, anti-corruption, economic sectors.

RFE/RL Report

October 31, 2019

Fresh Foreign Loans To Cover Armenian Budget Deficit

The Armenian government announced on Thursday that it will receive almost $146 million in fresh foreign loans soon to finance about half of its budget deficit projected for this year.

The government formally approved lending agreements with Germany’s state development bank KfW and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a weekly session chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. It said KfW will lend it 40 million euros ($44 million) while the Manila-based ADB will provide two other “budgetary support loans” worth a combined 45.6 million euros.

According to Deputy Finance Minister Karen Brutian, the cabinet will approve next week a similar agreement with the World Bank to secure a 45.8 million-euro loan before the end of this year.

“All these funds will be channeled into financing the budget deficit envisaged by the state budget: namely, financing budgetary expenditures,” Brutian told cabinet members.

Armenia’s 2019 fiscal deficit is projected at roughly 150 billion drams ($316 million), a sum equivalent to around 2.5 percent of GDP.

Armenia was even more dependent on external budgetary loans in the 1990s and early 2000s. Such low-interest loans make up a large part of the country’s public debt which totaled $6.54 billion as of September 30.

Brutian said the debt will reach $6.94 billion, or 50.3 percent of GDP, at the end of this year. The debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 51.3 percent last year, 

stressed the official.

Pashinian welcomed the decreased relative debt burden, saying that his government has room for more borrowing that could potentially finance “mega projects” considered by it. He shed no light on those projects.

Pashinian already mentioned the “mega projects” relating to the construction of roads, water reservoirs and other public infrastructure after visiting Brussels in March. He said the European Union is ready to co-finance them with the Armenian government. The government may have to seek more foreign loans for that purpose, he said.

Armenpress.am

31 October, 2019

Unemployment rate drops in Armenia

The State Employment Agency of Armenia released data according to which as of October 1, 2019 the number of job-seekers is 83.3 thousand, which increased by 1.3% compared to the same period of 2018, and by 2% compared to the beginning of the year, Zaruhi Batoyan, minister of labor and social affairs, said on Facebook.

As of October 1 the number of unemployed people comprised 74.3% of the job-seekers or 61.9 thousand people. From the beginning of the year 10.196 vacant, non-repeated positions were collected, 281 of which are new jobs.

As of October 1, 9.120 job-seekers were employed, 1504 of them via the programs ensuring stable employment.

According to the Statistical Committee, the unemployment rate in the 2nd quarter of 2019 comprised 17.7%, against the 20.2% of 2018.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenpress.am

1 November 2019

Healthcare spending to increase 21,7%

Healthcare spending will be increased 21,7%, Minister of Finance Atom Janjughazyan told lawmakers at parliamentary committee debates of the 2020 state budget.

“It is expected that under the 2020 state budget 109 billion drams will be allocated to healthcare, around 21,7% or 19,4 billion drams more than in 2019,” he said.

Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan said in 2020 the healthcare policy will be directed at strengthening public health services, disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan