Impossible to Ensure European Security ‘Without Cooperation With Russia”

May 27, 2016 By administrator

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras in an exclusive interview with Sputnik said that European security cannot be achieved without Russia.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ensuring security in Europe without dialogue and cooperation with Russia is impossible, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told Sputnik.

“European security cannot be achieved without cooperation and dialogue with Russia,” Tsipras said.

He also said that Europe cannot move forward while caught in a vicious circle of sanctions, militarization and Cold War rhetoric.

“I don’t believe that we can move forward or ensure compliance with international law while caught in a vicious circle of sanctions, militarization and Cold War rhetoric,” Tsipras said.

Moreover, the Greek Prime Minister called on the EU to resume talks on easing the EU visa regime for Russian nationals.

“We overcame all the difficulties that arose due to changes in the issuance of Schengen visas, strengthened the work of our consulates in Russia by attracting dozens of new employees, and we are ready to meet the high demand of Russian nationals for travel to Greece. At the same time, I find it necessary, as I have already mentioned at a European level, that dialogue is relaunched on easing the visa regime for Russian citizens,” Tsipras said.

Armenia outpaces some European countries in Press Freedom Index

April 20, 2016 By administrator

210660 The print media are diverse and polarized in Armenia, investigative journalism prospers on the Internet, but pluralism lags behind in the broadcast media, Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday, April 20, in this year’s World Press Freedom Index.

World press freedom deteriorated in 2015, especially in the Americas, the advocacy group said as it warned of “a new era of propaganda.”

Having registered “a mix success,” Armenia took the 74th spot among 180 nations; the country ranked the 78th last year.

“In the crucial transition to digital TV in Armenia, a future space for critical broadcasters will depend on the impartiality of the frequency bidding process,” the report said.

“Police violence against journalists still goes unpunished but the Ilur.am news website and the Hraparak newspaper won an important legal victory in October 2015 when the constitutional court issued a ruling upholding the confidentiality of journalists’ sources.”

Interestingly, Armenia outpaces some southeastern European countries in the rankings, including Bulgaria (113), Cyprus (81), Greece (89), Macedonia (118), and Montenegro (106).

According to the Index, Georgia ranks the 64th, Turkey took the 151th spot, followed by Azerbaijan and Iran, which rank the 163th and 169th, respectively.

Three north European countries head the rankings. They are Finland (ranked 1st, the position it has held since 2010), Netherlands (2nd, up 2 places) and Norway (3rd, down 1). The countries that rose most in the Index include Tunisia (96th, up 30), thanks to a decline in violence and legal proceedings, and Ukraine (107th, up 22), where the conflict in the east of the country abated.

Related links:

2016 World Press Freedom Index

The More Crime Turkey Commit the more rewarded “€3bn for Turkey over migrant crisis”

November 24, 2015 By administrator

The European Commission has approved allocation of €3 billion (US$3.2 billion) for Turkey as part of efforts to solve the migrant crisis, TASS reported. The funds will start to be allocated on January 1, 2016, according to a commission statement published on Tuesday. The setting up of a Turkey Refugee Facility “translates our intentions into concrete actions,” said European Commission First-Vice President Frans Timmermans. “This money is about providing support to further improve the daily lives and socio-economic conditions of Syrians seeking refuge in Turkey.”

Azerbaijan European leaders ignore opening of Baku games

June 12, 2015 By administrator

Leaders of the European countries ignored opening of the first European Games in Baku.

The opening ceremony will be attended by the presidents of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Montenegro, Turkey, chairman of the presidium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Regents of San Marino, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Prince of Monaco Albert, contact.az reported.

UK sent to the ceremony its Foreign Secretary for Relations with Parliament Tobias Evlud, and the Czech Republic will be represented by the head of the House of Deputies Jan Gamacek.

Thus, the leaders of the countries of Western Europe, except the leaders of dwarf states, have ignored the ceremony of the European Games.

European Parliament Report Calls on Turkey to Recognize Armenian Genocide

June 11, 2015 By administrator

European Parliament members vote

BRUSSELS—The Plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (France) adopted the 2014 Turkey progress report on Wednesday calling on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, reported the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy.

The report in general records a negative review on Human Rights situation in Turkey, freedom of expression, decline in democracy, worries on minority rights, aggressive attitude against Greece, and refusal over the existence of the Republic of Cyprus.

The report greets the wide participation at the elections of 7 June 2015 in Turkey, and the presence of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in the newly formed parliament. Moreover, the report welcomes the sheltering of 1,600,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey.

The preamble of the report mentions: ‘having in regard the European Parliament resolution on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide’. After Turkey becoming a candidate country to the EU in 2005, the Armenian Genocide stopped being an issue in the reports. It should be noted, that in the above mentioned resolution there is the explicit call on Turkey to reconcile with its past and recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Article 49 repeats the call to Armenia and Turkey to establish diplomatic ties and open the border between the two countries without preconditions.

President of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) Kaspar Karampetian welcomed the call to Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, as well as to open the border without preconditions. Karampetian stressed the fact, that the European Parliament once again showed, that it doesn’t succumb to Turkish pressure, recalling, the threats by Volkan Bozkir, EU Minister and chief negotiator of Turkey, that Turkey will not accept the report, if there will be any reference to the Armenian Genocide. Rapporteur Kati Piri (Socialists and Democrats, the Netherlands) already reacted, saying that the European Parliament can’t deny documents which have already been adopted.

The report, leaves Turkey’s accession to the EU open; a political process that is getting harder and harder over the years.

Ankara Warns European Parliament about Mentioning Armenian Genocide

June 1, 2015 By administrator

Turkey’s EU Minister Volkan Bozkir

ANKARA—Turkey’s EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkir, speaking to journalists after talks with the European Parliament’s (EP) Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri, said that Ankara would declare the EP’s upcoming progress report for Turkey “null and void” if it mentions anything about the Armenian Genocide, the Daily Sabah reports.

Bozkir made the threats while referring to the European Parliament’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide in April this year. He also emphasized that this would be the first time that Turkey rejects a progress report by the EP.

The EP in April adopted a resolution that urges all EU member states and Turkey to recognize the 1915 massacre and exile of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. Turkey continues to deny the Armenian Genocide, defying the consensus of most Western historians.

Bozkir also added that the EP should avoid mentioning Turkey’s Kurdish nationalist PKK party, who have advocated for greater rights and independence for Turkey’s Kurds. Bozkir revealed that his main concern was the EP’s planned declassification of the PKK as a terrorist organization. He warned: “If there is any reference to the removal of the PKK from the black list in the EU, it is impossible for us to accept the report.”

He further added that Turkey will not accept the report if it hinders continuation of the negotiation process and implied an end to the EU’s economic contributions to Turkey.

He said that this year’s progress report is yet to be announced even though it should have been published two months ago and added: “The report is getting more complicated with changing proposals as 420 proposals have been requested.”

Turkey has been a candidate country to join the EU since 1999. Negotiations for the accession to the EU began in 2005. Turkey must comply with 35 policy areas, or chapters, setting out reforms needed to become a member.

Youth of the European People’s Party approves resolution on Armenian Genocide

May 18, 2015 By administrator

The 10th Congress of the Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP) approved a resolution recognizing and condemning the genocides of Armenians, Pontic Greeks, and Assyrians.

The document reads, in particular:

“The youth wing of the European People’s Party urges the member states of the EU and the European Council, as well as the international organizations, to recognize and restore the historical reality in memory of the victims of the genocides of the Armenians, Pontic Greeks and Assyrians. All the interested sides recognize the genocides of the Armenians, Pontic Greeks and Assyrians and adopt April 24 and May 19 as the remembrance days of the Armenian Genocide and the Genocide of Pontic Greeks respectively.”

Chairman of the youth organization of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) noted that the resolution, which had been submitted by the Greek delegation, was unanimously approved.

BREAKING NEWS: European Parliament Adopts Bill Urging Turkey to #RecognizeGenocide

April 15, 2015 By administrator

European Parliament building in Brussels

BRUSSELS—The European Parliament on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide by “coming to terms with its past.

The joint text – agreed by parliament groups on Tuesday– also calls on “those EU member states that have not yet done so and EU institutions to recognize it”.

The resolution states that Turkey should “start a genuinely transparent public debate with a view to recognizing the genocide.”

The resolution also urges Turkey to “normalize relations … with Armenia.”

Turkey’s Permanent Delegation to the EU immediately responded by tweeting: “In its latest resolution the EP has once again been successful in alienating Turkey and the Turkish people. It acted as prosecutor, judge & jury.”

The European Parliament urges EU Member States to recognize the Armenian Genocide

March 13, 2015 By administrator

The European Parliament (EP) called on Thursday, March 12 member states of the European Union (EU) to recognize the Armenian genocide as we approach the 100th anniversary of the crime.

The European Parliament adopted the 2013 annual report on human rights and democracy in the world and the EU policy in this area. Article 77 of the adopted report says “the approach of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, invites all Member States of the Union to recognize the legal terms and encourages them and the European institutions, to continue to promote recognition; “

Section 129 of the report also mentions the fate of the Apostolic Armenians and other Christian minorities in the Middle East. The article “calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that religious minorities are respected in the world and especially in the Middle East where Christians, such as Catholics, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic and Yezidis and Muslim minorities are persecuted by EIIL and other terrorist groups; “

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) welcomed the report. “We expected this report for some years now, when the Special Representative of the European Union for Human Rights was established to promote the values of the European Union in the negotiations, Whether on foreign policy, trade, energy or other cooperation with third countries, “said the EAFJD in a statement.

“We welcome and support this resolution unequivocally, particularly in this centenary year of the Armenian Genocide, in particular paragraph 77 … We expect the EU to put pressure on Turkey to recognize that thus it officially the Armenian genocide it committed, “adds EAFJD.

The EAFJD also stressed the importance of the resolution, which protects all vulnerable groups, minorities and people “in these times of racism, xenophobia, and crisis in the Middle East, in the European neighborhood and the world whole. “

The adoption of the report was also welcomed by European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA). In a statement issued immediately after the adoption, the Director EuFoA Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa, said: “After a long pause, the European Parliament reaffirmed its position on the Armenian genocide, and again reiterates that genocide and their negations are a human rights issue. During this special year, we are grateful for this strong signal of European solidarity with the Armenian people. “

European press criticizes Turkish PM’s Davutoğlu presence at Hebdo march

January 12, 2015 By administrator

Several prominent columnists from major European newspapers have criticized the presence of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu at a march, commemorating those killed during last week’s attack at the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo on Jan. 7, citing Turkey’s worsening track record in terms of press freedom.

John Lichfield, a columnist for The Independent, wrote in an article on Sunday that, “the presence of leaders of countries known for repressing freedom of speech caused consternation among left-wing commentators and human rights groups in France.”

Lichfield stated that Turkey came 154th out of 179 countries in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index 2014, coming behind Russia, Gabon and Hungary, pointing out that the government in Turkey has recently engaged in a sweeping campaign of arrests of critical and independent-minded journalists.

The article, titled: “Paris march: Political divide exposed as politicians who repress freedom of speech join rally,” spoke about Prime Minister Davutoğlu as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President Ali Bongo of Gabon as leaders deemed to repress freedom of speech and media independence in their countries.

Le Monde’s Renterghem: Why not Assad?

Another article critical of Davutoğlu’s visit to the Charlie Hebdo demonstration, in the French daily Le Monde, also listed the Turkish prime minister as one of the leaders of the states it considered to be doing very badly in terms of media freedoms and freedom of speech.

The article in Le Monde stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently came under the spotlight for a massive wave of arrests against media which are in opposition to his government, citing the operations made against the Zaman daily and the Samanyolu Broadcasting group.

Le Monde reporter Marion Van Renterghem took to her social media account to criticize the leadership turnout at the march by writing: “Netanyahu, Lavrov, Orban, Davutoğlu, Bongo at the press freedom demo. Why not Bashar al-Assad?”

Guardian: Turkey is harsh environments for journalists

Mark Tran, from the UK newspaper The Guardian, also wrote of the Turkish prime minister’s visit to the march in solidarity with the French people and in remembrance of the Charlie Hebdo attack victims.

Tran’s article on Sunday, titled, “Presence at Paris rally of leaders with poor free press records is condemned,” also underlines that Reporters Without Borders singles out the leaders of Egypt, Russia, Turkey, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates “as being responsible for a particularly harsh environments for journalists.”

The article in the Guardian, states; “Nearly 70 journalists are being prosecuted in Turkey for referring to corruption allegations against close associates of the former Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is now the president.”

French news outlet France 24 also commented on the turnout of the leaders at the protest again citing the Press Freedom Index. The headline of the category examining Turkey was; “Turkey – PFI Ranking: 148. Represented by Ahmet Davutoğlu, Prime Minister”, highlights the country’s poor PFI score.

“Turkey has also imprisoned newspaper editors for their alleged links with Fethullah Gülen, an influential Muslim cleric currently the subject of an arrest warrant after being accused of plotting to overthrow the Turkish government.” read the article written by Alexandre Capron.