Emil Danielyan

Emil Danielyan is a journalist and political analyst based in Armenia’s capital Yerevan. He works for the Yerevan bureau of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and also writes regularly for a number of Western analytical sources . His main areas of interest are Armenian politics and economics, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish-Armenian relations and regional security issues. Danielyan holds a Master’s degree in political science from the American University of Armenia.

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    Articles by Emil Danielyan

    Armenia Steps Up European Integration Drive

    Armenia appears to be intensifying integration into the European Union, despite Moscow’s unease over the growing EU presence in its former Soviet backyard. The authorities in Yerevan are particularly keen

    Armenia Plans More NATO-Backed Defense Reforms

    In the latest manifestation of its delicate balancing act between Russia and the West, Armenia has announced plans for a further reform of its armed forces stemming from its growing

    Armenia Passes International Nuclear Safety Test

    A team of international inspectors acting under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given a largely positive assessment of the operational safety of Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear

    Armenia Displays Sophisticated Air Defense Systems

    After several years of silence on the issue, Armenia has officially confirmed the existence of the sophisticated Russian-supplied S-300 air defense system in its military arsenal and demonstrated this by

    Moscow Pushes New Armenian-Azerbaijani Peace Deal

    Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, has expressed “moderate” optimism about a near-term resolution of the Karabakh conflict after hosting yet another meeting of his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts. The talks held

    Armenia, Iran Forge Ahead With New Energy Projects

    Armenia and Iran are pressing ahead with the long-awaited implementation of fresh joint energy projects that will cement closer ties amid Tehran’s deepening standoff with the West. The two neighboring

    Russia Boosts Military Alliance With Armenia

    Russia and Armenia have agreed to deepen their already close military ties, signing a deal that will strengthen Russian influence in the South Caucasus and could have profound implications for

    Armenian Economy Recovers Faster Than Expected

    Armenia’s economy is emerging from its first major downturn since the early 1990’s faster than expected, helped by similar recovery globally. Official statistics show that it expanded by 6.7 percent

    Iran’s Nuclear Crisis Causes Unease in Armenia

    Armenia is watching, with unease, the latest developments in neighboring Iran’s standoff with the international community over its controversial nuclear program. The new, harsher sanctions imposed by the UN Security

    Frustrated Armenia Freezes Accords With Turkey

    Armenia has suspended the universally welcomed process of normalizing its relations with Turkey, after months of frustration with Ankara’s linkage between its successful completion and a resolution of the Karabakh

    Armenian Economy Emerging From Recession

    Armenia appears to be emerging from its first economic downturn in over 15 years, which was triggered by the global financial crisis. The latest macroeconomic data released by authorities in

    Turkish-Armenian Deal Threatens To Unravel

    Armenia and Turkey have moved to the brink of reversing a universally welcomed thaw in their relations, with differing interpretations of a landmark fence-mending agreement signed in October 2009. Yerevan

    Armenia Debates Landmark Deal With Turkey

    Yerevan's fence-mending agreements with Ankara, which are expected to be signed by October 14, have generated lively and bitter debates among Armenia's leading political groups. Although many of them have

    Armenia and Turkey Inch Closer to Normalization

    Armenia and Turkey, after an impasse lasting several months, have made further significant progress in their dialogue welcomed and facilitated by the international community. The governments of the two neighboring

    Yerevan and Tehran Strengthen Economic Cooperation

    Armenia and Iran have agreed to deepen their already close relationship by pressing ahead with several large-scale commercial projects, mostly related to energy supplies. The two neighboring states formalized these

    Turkish-Armenian Dialogue on the Verge of Collapse

    The nearly year-long negotiations between Armenia and Turkey look set to prove fruitless after Ankara has revived its long-standing linkage between the normalization of bilateral ties and a resolution of

    World Economic Crisis Drags Armenia into Recession

    The global economic crisis is taking an increasingly heavy toll on Armenia, forcing its government to devalue the national currency, cut budgetary spending, and seek hundreds of millions of dollars

    Armenia Debates an Elusive Peace with Azerbaijan

    Faced with a growing outcry from nationalist groups opposed to major concessions to Azerbaijan, Armenia’s leadership is scrambling to clarify its policy on the unresolved Karabakh conflict to the domestic

    ARMENIA, TURKEY INCH TOWARD RAPPROCHEMENT

    Months of confidential diplomatic contacts and exchanges of unusually cordial statements have left Armenia and Turkey on the verge of an historic rapprochement that would have far-reaching ramifications for regional

    TURKEY OFFERS “DIALOGUE” TO ARMENIA

    Turkey has offered to enter into a “dialogue” with neighboring Armenia that would aim at improving the historically strained relations between the two nations. The diplomatic overtures have prompted a

    NEW ARMENIAN LEADER FORMS CABINET

    On April 22 Armenia’s new President Serzh Sarkisian completed the formation of his cabinet comprising representatives of four political parties and key loyalists of his predecessor Robert Kocharian. The appointment

    KARABAKH PEACE IN QUESTION AFTER ARMENIAN VOTE

    Armenia’s post-election political crisis and Azerbaijan’s apparent attempts to take advantage of it are dealing a serious blow to international mediators’ hopes for a near-term solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

    DOES MOSCOW BACK ARMENIA’S EMBATTLED LEADERS?

    As the outcome of Armenia’s upcoming presidential election looks increasingly unpredictable, Russia is exercising unusual caution in backing a transfer of power from outgoing President Robert Kocharian to his chief

    YEREVAN REPORTS DOUBLE-DIGIT GDP FOR 2007

    Armenia’s economy appears to have expanded at a double-digit rate for the sixth consecutive year in 2007 despite the unresolved conflict over Karabakh and the resulting high cost of the

    SOARING TRADE BOOSTS RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN ECONOMIC TIES

    Armenia’s trade with Russia has increased dramatically this year, paralleling the growing Russian economic presence in the country, which has sparked concerns about Armenia’s economic independence and even national security.

    ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT OPPOSITION UNDER FIRE AFTER KEY VOTE

    The two opposition parties represented in the Armenian parliament are facing embarrassing accusations of secret collaboration with the government after effectively acquiescing to the reappointment of the country’s top prosecutor.

    ARMENIA DEEPENS ECONOMIC TIES WITH IRAN

    Armenia and Iran have agreed to give new impetus to their bilateral relations and press ahead with the implementation of more multimillion-dollar energy projects. The agreements were announced in Yerevan

    ARMENIAN PARTY OF POWER WINS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

    Armenia’s main “party of power” scored a landslide victory in the May 12 parliamentary elections that were essentially recognized as legitimate by the West and significantly boosted Prime Minister Serge

    MOSCOW SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN POWER HANDOVER

    With less than a month to go before Armenia’s crucial parliamentary elections, Russia has signaled its support for an anticipated handover of power from Armenian President Robert Kocharian to newly

    ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER REPLACES DECEASED PRIME MINISTER

    Armenian President Robert Kocharian has appointed his longtime influential associate, Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian, as prime minister, formalizing the latter’s status as Armenia’s second-most powerful leader. The appointment, officially announced

    ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RACE KICKS OFF

    Armenia’s parliamentary elections have officially been scheduled for May 12, ushering in the traditional period of political upheaval that has defined just about every poll held in the country since

    RUSSIA SET TO EXPAND ECONOMIC PRESENCE IN ARMENIA

    Russia looks set to enhance its already strong economic presence in Armenia by capitalizing on Armenian President Robert Kocharian’s apparent desire to secure his political future with the Kremlin’s backing.

    ARMENIA’S GREEK-OWNED TELECOM OPERATOR PUT UP FOR SALE

    Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) is pressing ahead with the surprise sale of its commanding share in Armenia’s national telephone company, ArmenTel. Four companies and consortiums, two of them Russian,

    ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GEARS UP FOR PRESIDENCY

    Armenia's second most powerful official, Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian, is eliminating the last remaining doubts about his intention to succeed President Robert Kocharian after the latter completes a second five-year

    ARMENIAN SPEAKER OUSTED FROM RULING COALITION

    Armenia's President Robert Kocharian has banished one of the three political parties represented in his government after it appeared to threaten his reported plans to hand over power to a

    U.S. ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW AID PACKAGE FOR ARMENIA

    The United States has officially committed itself to providing $235.65 million in additional economic assistance to Armenia, in a further indication of its deepening ties with the South Caucasus country.

    ARMENIA ADOPTS LANDMARK BUDGET FOR 2006

    On November 11 Armenia's parliament approved the national budget for next year. The budget volume is due to exceed $1 billion for the first time in the country's post-Soviet history.

    U.S. CONTINUES LARGE-SCALE ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

    Reflecting the influence of the Armenian community in the United States, the U.S. Congress is blocking yet another attempt by the White House to sizably cut long-running American assistance to

    KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS AGAIN IN LIMBO

    The long-running international efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict are again facing an uncertain future following the cancellation of the next and potentially decisive round of talks between Armenia and

    ARMENIA: THE HIGH ROAD OR THE LOW?

    By Emil Danielyan Armenia will hold its third presidential election in six years on February 19. The event will demonstrate whether the country has made any progress toward democracy or

    A LOOK BACK AT ARMENIA SINCE TER-PETROSIAN

    By Emil Danielyan Levon Ter-Petrosian is the man who led Armenia to independence from the Soviet Union and presided over an era of dramatic upheaval. Strong and assertive, he never

    REASONS FOR ARMENIAN TENACITY ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

    By Emil Danielyan For most foreign politicians and observers, it is primarily the Armenian side which should have a vital interest in making serious concessions to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh