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FOREIGN POLICY IN 2014: TENSIONS IN KARABAKH, EEU MEMBERSHIP, NO PROGRESS IN TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS
POLITICS | 26.12.14 | 11:16
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/59654/armenia_2014_foreign_policy_events
RELATED NEWS
Paris Meeting: Hollande-hosted Armenian-Azeri talks differ from other
rounds of Karabakh negotiations
Putin signs Armenia's Eurasian Union deal
Sargsyan invites his Turkish counterpart to Armenia on Genocide
Centennial Day
2014 has become a crucial year for Armenia in terms of foreign policy
developments. It was marked by escalation of tensions in the Karabakh
conflict zone in summer against the background of Armenia's moving
towards membership in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
On the year marking the 20th anniversary of Karabakh ceasefire the
situation along the Line of Contact in the conflict zone almost got
out of hand amid repeated Azeri incursions and commando raids in late
July-early August. Azerbaijan lost dozens of troops in its attempts to
break Karabakh defenses at some sections of the heavily militarized
frontline, and the Armenian side also suffered several casualties
in repulsing the attacks. Relative calm came only after a Russia
President Vladimir Putin-mediated meeting between the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan on August 10.
With the next three months or so Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev
would meet two more times (on September 4, upon the initiative of U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry, and on October 27 - upon the initiative
of French President Francois Hollande) and when it seemed that progress
in the peace talks was as tangible as ever, within days after the Paris
talks, on November 12, the Azerbaijani side shot down an Armenian
helicopter, which, according to the Armenian side, was operating a
training flight along the Line of Contact with Azerbaijan.
The Armenian side managed to recover the bodies of the three pilotswho
were killed in the incident only due to a special operation in no man's
land 10 days later. This became the most serious incident after the
1994 ceasefire and the international mediators voiced concern over
increased violence in the conflict zone.
Tensions at the border with Azerbaijan also remained high throughout
the year as Armenia was completing its process of membership in the
EEU. Some experts also blamed Russia for the tensions considering
that Armenia's number one military and political ally continued to
sell weapons to Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, another hotly debated topic in Armenia was whether there
will be a customs checkpoint at the border between Armenia and
Karabakh after Armenia's become an EEU member. Authorities in both
Yerevan and Stepanakert deny any such checkpoints will be installed.
On October 10, Armenia finally signed the treaty to formally accede
to the EEU, an emerging trade bloc of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
And in late December Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law
according to which from January 2, 2015 Armenia will become a full
member of the Union.
Towards the centennial of the Armenian Genocide the year was full of
preparations for the commemorations to take place on April 24, 2015.
Meanwhile, on April 23, 2014, the eve of what was marked by Armenians
around the world as the 99th anniversary of the first genocide of
the 20th century committed by Ottoman Turkey, the-then Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a first-of-its-kind statement on
the "Armenian Issue" addressing "shared pain" endured during the
"1915 events" and expressing condolences on behalf of the Turkish
state to the grandchildren of Armenians who lost their lives "in the
context of the early 20th century."
In what was perhaps a response to Erdogan's statement, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan officially invited his Turkish counterpart
to Armenia for the anniversary of the Genocide on April 24, 2015.
Erdogan, who was elected president of Turkey in August, has not yet
replied to the invitation.
Meanwhile, on November 26, both chambers of the Plurinational
Legislative Assembly of Bolivia unanimously passed a resolution
recognizing the Armenian Genocide and condemning its denial. In
September the Greek Parliament adopted a bill criminalizing the
rejection of the Genocide.
From: A. Papazian
POLITICS | 26.12.14 | 11:16
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/59654/armenia_2014_foreign_policy_events
RELATED NEWS
Paris Meeting: Hollande-hosted Armenian-Azeri talks differ from other
rounds of Karabakh negotiations
Putin signs Armenia's Eurasian Union deal
Sargsyan invites his Turkish counterpart to Armenia on Genocide
Centennial Day
2014 has become a crucial year for Armenia in terms of foreign policy
developments. It was marked by escalation of tensions in the Karabakh
conflict zone in summer against the background of Armenia's moving
towards membership in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
On the year marking the 20th anniversary of Karabakh ceasefire the
situation along the Line of Contact in the conflict zone almost got
out of hand amid repeated Azeri incursions and commando raids in late
July-early August. Azerbaijan lost dozens of troops in its attempts to
break Karabakh defenses at some sections of the heavily militarized
frontline, and the Armenian side also suffered several casualties
in repulsing the attacks. Relative calm came only after a Russia
President Vladimir Putin-mediated meeting between the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan on August 10.
With the next three months or so Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev
would meet two more times (on September 4, upon the initiative of U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry, and on October 27 - upon the initiative
of French President Francois Hollande) and when it seemed that progress
in the peace talks was as tangible as ever, within days after the Paris
talks, on November 12, the Azerbaijani side shot down an Armenian
helicopter, which, according to the Armenian side, was operating a
training flight along the Line of Contact with Azerbaijan.
The Armenian side managed to recover the bodies of the three pilotswho
were killed in the incident only due to a special operation in no man's
land 10 days later. This became the most serious incident after the
1994 ceasefire and the international mediators voiced concern over
increased violence in the conflict zone.
Tensions at the border with Azerbaijan also remained high throughout
the year as Armenia was completing its process of membership in the
EEU. Some experts also blamed Russia for the tensions considering
that Armenia's number one military and political ally continued to
sell weapons to Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, another hotly debated topic in Armenia was whether there
will be a customs checkpoint at the border between Armenia and
Karabakh after Armenia's become an EEU member. Authorities in both
Yerevan and Stepanakert deny any such checkpoints will be installed.
On October 10, Armenia finally signed the treaty to formally accede
to the EEU, an emerging trade bloc of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
And in late December Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law
according to which from January 2, 2015 Armenia will become a full
member of the Union.
Towards the centennial of the Armenian Genocide the year was full of
preparations for the commemorations to take place on April 24, 2015.
Meanwhile, on April 23, 2014, the eve of what was marked by Armenians
around the world as the 99th anniversary of the first genocide of
the 20th century committed by Ottoman Turkey, the-then Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a first-of-its-kind statement on
the "Armenian Issue" addressing "shared pain" endured during the
"1915 events" and expressing condolences on behalf of the Turkish
state to the grandchildren of Armenians who lost their lives "in the
context of the early 20th century."
In what was perhaps a response to Erdogan's statement, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan officially invited his Turkish counterpart
to Armenia for the anniversary of the Genocide on April 24, 2015.
Erdogan, who was elected president of Turkey in August, has not yet
replied to the invitation.
Meanwhile, on November 26, both chambers of the Plurinational
Legislative Assembly of Bolivia unanimously passed a resolution
recognizing the Armenian Genocide and condemning its denial. In
September the Greek Parliament adopted a bill criminalizing the
rejection of the Genocide.
From: A. Papazian