Month: August 2008

FIRST OLYMPIC DELEGATION OF ARMENIA LEAVES FOR BEIJING

Noyan Tapan

Au g 2, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The first Olympic delegation of Armenia
left for Beijing on July 31. The delegation is composed of sportsmen
(judo, shooting) and their coaches. The others will leave for China
on August 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7.

The Armenian delegation is headed by the President of the National
Olympic Committee of Armenia (NOCA) Gagik Tsarukian. The chief
commissioner is the Vice President of NOCA Derenik Gabrielian. The
delegation is also composed of the RA minister of sport and youth
issues, NOCA Secretary General Armen Grigorian, heads of various
sport departments, doctors and reporters.

During the opening ceremony, former Olympic champion, the best
Armenian sportsman of the 20th century Albert Azarian will be Armenia’s
flag-bearer.

The Armenian president Serzh Sargsian sent a message to Armenian
sportsmen – participants in Beijing Olympics. He will be present to
watch their participation in various competitions in Beijing.

25 Armenian sportsmen and sportswomen will represent 8 kinds of sports
during the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing on August 8-24:

weightlifting – Ripsime Khurshudian (75 kg), Tigran G. Martirosian
(69 kg), Gevorg Davtian (77 kg), Ara Khachatrian (77 kg), Tigran
V. Martirosian (85 kg), Edgar Gevorgian (85 kg),

boxing – Hovhannes Danielian (48 kg), Hrachik Javakhian (60 kg),
Edward Hambartsumian (64 kg), Andranik Hakobian (75 kg),

freestyle wrestling – Martin Berberian (60 kg), Suren Markosian
(66 kg), Harutyuan Yenokian (84 kg),

Greco-Roman wrestling – Roman Amoyan (55 kg), Karen Mnatsakanian (60
kg), Arman Adikian (66 kg), Arsen Julfalakian (74 kg), Denis Forov
(84 kg), Yuri Patrikeyev (120 kg),

judo – Hovhannes Davtian (60 kg), Armen Nazarian (66 kg),

athletics – Melik Janoyan (javelin throwing), Ani Khachikian (race),

swimming – Mikael Koloyan,

shooting – Norayr Bakhtamian.

MEET THE IMPERATIVES AND CHALLENGES OF THE TIME
Georgy Petrossian

Minister of Foreign Affairs
2008-07-23 11:56
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

NKR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS 15

The Declaration of September 2, 1991, on Proclamation of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, and the nation-wide Referendum of December 10,
1991, initiated the establishment of highly important state institutes,
including the organization which was to pursue the country’s foreign
policy. Up to 1993, foreign-policy functions were implemented by the
NKR Supreme Council’s Commission on Foreign Relations.

In the summer of 1993, when hostilities between Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh were still going on, negotiations between the representatives
of the conflicting parties were held within different formats,
including the CSCE Minsk Group, established in 1992 (OSCE since
1994). Thereupon, an urgent need for a foreign-policy agency emerged,
called to present and defend in full the young republic’s interests
on the diplomatic arena.

On July 23, 1993, the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established
by a decree of the Chairman of NKR State Defense Committee.

During the years of its existence the NKR Foreign Ministry has become
one of the most important links in state-building and strengthening
the democratic foundations of the society’s development.Achieving
international recognition of its factual independence still remains
the main task of the NKR foreign policy and there are all the necessary
political, historical and legal grounds for this.

The Nagorno Karabakh people have exercised their right to
self-determination. Many presently independent states have emerged
after the break-up of former empires. Nagorno Karabakh has never
been a part of independent Azerbaijan, but was annexed to the
Azerbaijani SSR, a part of the USSR, by an arbitrary decision of
J. Stalin. The proclamation of the NKR independence was carried out in
full compliance with the international law and the USSR legislation,
existing at that time. The initiation of the process of restoring
the independent Karabakh statehood (NKAO per se was also a form of
statehood, only with limited sovereignty) came on September 2, 1991,
at a joint session of the Nagorno Karabakh Regional Council and
the Council of People’s Deputies of the Shahoumian district, which
proclaimed the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The Declaration "On State
Independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic" adopted on January 6,
1992, by the newly-elected NKR parliament of the first convocation,
became the finale in the proccess of restoring the Karabakh statehood.

The NKR has proved its right to existence by means of successful
building of its statehood. It has held several presidential and
parliamentary elections, which according to foreign experts and
observers met the democratic standards. We also witnesses the
development20of the civil society. There is no case of a nation to
voluntarily renounce its 20-year independence. There is already a
generation, which considers itself as the embodiment and guarantor
of this statehood. Today, we speak about the irreversibility of the
changes that occurred in the people`s consciousness.

One of the most important priorities of the NKR Foreign Ministry
and one of the basic directions of its activity is also the peaceful
settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi conflict.

On May 5, 1994, the Bishkek Protocol was signed under the aegis of the
CIS inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and already on May 12, a Cease-fire
Agreement was reached through the mediation of the Russian Federation,
undersigned by official representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh.

Simultaneously, negotiations were held within the OSCE Minsk Group
on the level of experts of the Foreign Ministries of Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan. In addition, a number of bilateral meetings
between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, including contacts on the
front line on different levels took place. Only in 1993, official
Baku made 10 agreements on termination of hostilities, cease-fire or
its extension just with the Nagorno Karabakh leadership.

No less a factor for the maintenance of the cease-fire is the fact
that already for more than 14 years the Office of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office regularly conducts
monitorings of Line of Contact (LoC) between the Karabakh and
Azerbaijan armed forces, controlled by the conflicting parties without
peacekeeping forces.

>From May 1997 to November 1998, the co-chairing countries of the OSCE
Minsk Conference – the United States, Russia and France, have thrice
put forward new proposals on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. The first two plans of the OSCE MG were accepted
by both Azerbaijan and Armenia but rejected by Nagorno Karabakh. The
third proposal, which was based on the the concept of "common state"
and provided for the comprehensive settlement of the conflict by
means of resuming negotiations without preconditions and provided an
opportunity to exercise the NKR people’s right to self-determination,
was accepted by the NKR and Armenia, but rejected by Azerbaijan.

During the past years, meetings and consultations have been conducted
under the auspices of the OSCE MG Co-chairs between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents and foreign ministers, at which the basic
principles of the NK conflict settlement have been discussed. The
position of the Karabakh party is that the agreements must first
of all solve the issues concerning the reasons of the conflict (the
political status and security of Nagorno Karabakh), and then – issues
related to the consequences of the conflict (controlled territories,
refugees, restoration of communications, etc).

There is20an urgent need for resuming in the nearest future full-format
negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE MG with the obligatory
participation of NKR.

Currently, more and more international organizations interested in the
conflict settlement have come to the conclusion that it is necessary
to search for ways of the conflict resolution in the political and
legal plane.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic pursues its own foreign policy, enters
into relations with other countries and international organizations,
sends its envoys for participation in international and regional
conferences. The Nagorno Karabakh state has de-facto established itself
and today many officials from other countries, politicians, experts,
international organizations acknowledge this fact. In September
2005, sixty United States congressmen sent a message to President
George Bush, which said: "The Nagorno Karabakh Republic fully meets
the international criteria of statehood. For the 14 years of its
independence Nagorno Karabakh has proved that it can be a reliable
partner for the international community".

The NKR has its Permanent Representations in key countries and regions,
through whcih the connection of our republic with the countries of
the world is provided. In addition to the implementation of political
functions, the Representations facilitate the attraction of investments
in the NKR economy, relations with the Armenian Diaspora, realization
of humanitarian programs in the NKR. The consular services defend
the NKR citizens’ interests abroad.

The MFA central staff and the republic’s Permanent Representations in
foreign countries continue the efforts of presenting the real image
of Nagorno Karabakh, where democratic values and human rights are
the cornerstones on the way of the NKR`s establishment as a country,
enjoying full rights. In this respect, the work done by the Foreign
Ministry at the parliamentary, presidential and local elections, in
particular, ensuring the presence of international observers deserves
attention. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directly
involved in the process of creating a democratic, legislative field
in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The years of independence have been marked with the active involvement
of the civil society in the country’s life. We are encouraged by
the development of the NGO sector. The reports on Nagorno Karabakh
by different international organizations on human rights, as well as
the reports by international observers are evidence of the positive
results of the activity in this sector.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rendered assistance to more than
10 international organizations accredited in the NKR. Currently,
the NKR MFA cooperates with organizations such as the OSCE, ICRC,
The HALO Trust, etc.

Today we live one of the most responsible and critical periods of
the centuries-old history of our peop le. The Nagorno Karabakh
diplomacy must fully meet the imperatives and challenges of the
time. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be settled by means of
peaceful negotiations on the basis of such principles which would
ensure the inviolability of the Nagorno Karabakh people’s right to
self-determination and security. This is our nation’s will and the
position of the NKR authorities.

PAPERBACK CHOICE

Daily Telegraph
03/08/2008
UK

Nicholas Bagnall and Katie Owen review new paperbacks

More paperback reviews God’s Architect by Rosemary Hill

Here is a fully researched and highly readable life of the Roman
Catholic architect responsible for Big Ben and three cathedrals as
well as for a host of Gothic Revival churches, though he died in 1852
at only 40. It was his dissolute life (probably giving him syphilis)
that killed him so early; yet he had put more into those years than
most people achieve in a normal life-span.

This fine biography, well illustrated, does an extraordinary man full
justice, not forgetting the sordid side of his character as well as
his genius. NB

Pistols at Dawn by Richard Hopton

Duelling was always illegal, but honour mattered more than the law,
we read in this intriguing history. Afterwards, friendship could
be resumed. The duellists often seem to have been very bad shots,
and I wonder why more did not get killed, accidentally or deliberately.

In the famous duel in 1809 between Canning and Castlereagh, recounted
here, Canning (who didn’t even know how to cock a pistol) merely got
shot in the thigh, and honour was served; the feeling remains that
contestants often missed on purpose. NB

Mrs Woolf and the Servants by Alison Light

Like all her class, and despite her advanced views, Virginia always
had servants, and Alison Light is good on her relationships with them.

This charming book is as much about Bloomsbury as about the people who
kept the Woolfs’ life smooth. Some members of this spoilt professional
class couldn’t boil an egg.

Light offers admirably detailed accounts of the servants, especially
of Nellie the cook, towards whom Virginia veered between exasperation
and genuine fondness, and Sophie Farrell, the Stephens’s cook. NB

One to Nine by Andrew Hodges

Andrew Hodges, a sprightly and elegant writer, starts this book about
mathematics with an easily intelligible and beguiling reference
to Jane Austen, calls Orwell a grumpy old man, and tends to begin
chapters with a quickly digestible witticism.

The one on Six, for example, starts: ‘For Latin lovers, Six is sex,
and in soixante-neuf, even the numeral is erotic’, and so on.

But this book is not for the innumerate: we are soon deep into
questions such as: ‘Why is 12 x 12 =144 true in octal notation?’ and
the number of possible positions in a Rubik’s cube. NB

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling

School is well and truly out in the seventh and final instalment of
J. K. Rowling’s series.

Harry, now 17, and his friends have left Hogwarts to embark on
a frightening expedition in search of ‘horcruxes’ (fragments of
his arch-enemy Voldemort’s soul), while being hunted down by Death
Eaters. Rowling proves as skilful a storyteller as ever as she keeps
readers (adults as well as children) on tenterhooks as to whether
Harry will survive the ultimate show-down, and neatly draws together
all the strands of this phenomenally successful saga.

KO

Skylark Farm by Antonia Arslan

A cry of anguish as well as a loving tribute to her ancestors, this
‘novel’ is Antonia Arslan’s dramatic account of the decimation of
her family in the 1915 Armenian massacre in Anatolia. Her narrative
(well translated by Geoffrey Brock) is both intimate and epic in tone,
as an idyllic yet tense prologue leads inexorably to the graphically
described killings of the male family members at their farm.

These horrors are mitigated by the bravery of the female survivors
in their exodus to Aleppo in Syria. It is a powerfully emotive read.

AZERBAIJAN OUTLAWS WESTERN UNION AND MONEYGRAM SYSTEMS OVER FINANCIAL TRANSFERS TO KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2008 17:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The National Bank of Azerbaijan (NBA) instructed
the republic’s banks to suspend cooperation with Western Union and
MoneyGram transfer systems over "continuous illegal activities with
Nagorno Karabakh."

Earlier, the National Bank of Azerbaijan warned the companies "against
making transfers to Nagorno Karabakh," Interfax reports.

Day.az portal has recently published several articles to inform that
residents of Nagorno Karabakh receive transfers through Western Union
MoneyGram systems.

Due to similar information in Day.az, Migom system has already
suspended its transfers to Karabakh.

RELIGIOUS MINORITIES LEADING NORMAL LIVES IN IRAN: CHRISTIAN MP

Tehran Times
Aug 3 2008
Iran

TEHRAN — MP Yonatan Bet Kolia, the representative of the Assyrian and
Chaldean Christian communities in the Majlis, said on Saturday that
religious minorities live in peace in Iran and are free to perform
their religious ceremonies.

The MP also said the Iranian officials are committed to an equal
treatment of minorities in the country.

The Christian lawmaker went on to say that religious minorities are
ready to defend their country in the face of any foreign threat.

"They (minorities) are prepared to defend the country against any
external attacks as they did so during the (1980-1988) Sacred Defense,"
Kolia said in the opening ceremony of the eighth Tamuz Festival in
Uremia, northwest Iran.

200 athletes from Armenia, Georgia, Iraq and Syria have participated
in the festival. The festival is scheduled to last for ten days

NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR FOR ARMENIA APPROVED BY SENATE

Hurriyet
Aug 2 2008
Turkey

The U.S. Senate confirmed the Bush administration’s nominees as
ambassadors to Armenia after a delay by lawmakers who were unhappy
with Marie Yavonavitch’s refusal to accept so-called "genocide" claims.

Armenian-American groups sought to force the adminsitration to change
its policy on the 1915 incidents.

Yovanovitch stuck clearly in the hearing to U.S. policy not to label
the incidents as "genocide".

Last year, the White House withdrew its nomination of career diplomat
Richard Hoagland after one lawmaker blocked it in an objection to
that policy. The post had remained vacant for two years.

Armenia, with the backing of the Diaspora, claims up to 1.5 million
of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in 1915. Turkey
rejects the claims, saying that 300,000 Armenians along with at least
as many Turks died in civil strife that emerged when the Armenians
took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia.

US CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MINSK GROUP SPOKE FOR REFERENDUM ON STATUS OF NAGORNO GARABAGH OF AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan Business Center
Aug 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The United States has developed a new scheme of
settlement of Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict for Nagorno Gagabagh.

Mathew Braiza, US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, spoke (according
to bbcrussian.com) for holding of a referendum at which the region’s
residents could define their future.

"The issue (Nagorno Garabagh status) will be defined by voting of
people living there. I mean Garabaghs themselves," Mr. Braiza said
commenting results of the Minsk Group session with participation of
foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"We propose withdrawal of Armenian troops from seven regions around
Nagorno Garabagh and bringing in international peacemakers to provide
return of IDPs and refugees, creation of corridor to connect Armenia
and Nagorno Garabagh and process of voting for definition of the
future of Nagorno Garabagh," Mr. Braiza said.

Simultaneously, he admitted that "they don’t known when it occurs".

The Russian co-chair of Minsk Group, Yury Merzlyakov, stated on
Friday to journalists that the Minsk Group operates normally and the
conflict parties – Armenia and Azerbaijan are inclined constructively
in respect to each other.

Following the Garabagh conflict Armenia occupied 20% of Azerbaijani
territory. Since ceasefire regime has been operating between the two
countries since 1994.

ARMENIA CANNOT RIVAL WITH AZERBAIJAN: AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT

Trend News Agency
Aug 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 August / Trend News corr. A.Aliyev / Azerbaijan’s
President Ilham Aliyev believes Armenia cannot rival with Azerbaijan
in no circumstances. "Azerbaijan’s opportunities are improving as
compared to Armenia’s. The country cannot rival with Azerbaijan,"
President Ilham Aliyev said at the fourth convention of the governing
New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) on 2 August.

According to President, Azerbaijan has strengthened economically and
become an important member of the world since the ceasefire agreement
was signed with Armenia. "No project can be implemented in the region
without Azerbaijan’s participation. There are issues of Azerbaijan’s
interest on the negotiation table. These issues include liberation
of Azerbaijani lands from occupation and repatriation of Azerbaijani
refugees," said Ilham Aliyev.

President said Armenia orally accepted these principles. Head of
the state stressed that Azerbaijan would not give independence to
Nagorno-Karabakh and the conflict can be solved only on the bases of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BITTERNESS EMERGES IN ANTI-HATE CAMPAIGNS
By Stephanie Vosk

Cape Cod Times
rticle?AID=/20080802/NEWS/808020312
Aug 2 2008
MA

MASHPEE — Her father’s fiancee was shot and killed in front of him.

And her mother was only 11 years old when her parents, siblings,
and grandmother were deported, joining the 1.5 million victims of
the Armenian genocide.

Links Did you know that Armenians live on Cape Cod and enjoy a
rich history? Take our quiz to learn more about their culture and
heritage. (Sources: Cape Cod Times archives, ) That
history from the era of World War I has became part of Shahkeh Yaylaian
Setian’s psyche, pushing her to delve into the topic in an academic
way, to better understand the atrocities committed against her family.

Now, Setian and her supporters are trying to convince Mashpee town
officials to denounce the No Place for Hate anti-discrimination
program. Setian believes the program’s overseer, the Anti-Defamation
League, does not fully acknowledge the existence of the Armenian
genocide.

"If they consider themselves to be supporters of human rights, then
they should take a position against anyone or anything that violates
human rights," said Setian, 75, a retired educator who is currently
working on a book about Muslims who helped save Armenians during
the genocide.

Although there is no exact number known, there are believed to be
hundreds of Armenians living on the Cape, according to Setian. The
Mashpee town park plays host to a vigil each year to remember the
genocide, and a group of Armenians is working to build a church and
community center near Mashpee High School.

Setian is also petitioning Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
to stop sponsoring Anti-Defamation League programs for the same reason.

The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 to fight prejudice
against Jewish people. The group actively fights bigotry and works
to protect civil rights.

For years, the league refused to call the mass killings of Armenians
at the hands of the Turks between 1915 and 1918 a genocide, a position
it clarified last year.

The Turkish government maintains that the deaths during and after
World War I were a result of war, not a targeted ethnic cleansing
or genocide.

"We historically have called it massacres and atrocities," said
Jen Smith, associate regional director for the New England league
office. "When there was discussion about that language and it became
something that came to the organization’s attention in a profound way,
we did change our position, and we now refer to that tragic history
of that period of time as genocide."

The No Place for Hate program was founded in New England about 10 years
ago to help cities and towns to promote respect for differences while
encouraging residents and officials to speak out against intolerance.

Last summer, the issue heated up in Watertown, home to a large Armenian
community. Town councilors voted on Aug. 14, 2007, to revoke the
town’s participation in the No Place for Hate program. Several other
towns soon followed.

On Aug. 21, 2007, national league director Abraham Foxman issued a
statement regarding the league’s change of heart about the Turkish
government’s actions, saying "that the consequences of those actions
were indeed tantamount to genocide."

But in the same statement last summer, Foxman said the league would
not support a then-pending congressional resolution to officially
acknowledge the historical event.

"We continue to firmly believe that a congressional resolution on
such matters is a counterproductive diversion and will not foster
reconciliation between Turks and Armenians and may put at risk the
Turkish Jewish community and the important multilateral relationship
between Turkey, Israel and the United States," the statement said.

By describing consequences, however, Setian said the league is saying
the killings were not intentional, but merely a fallout from civil
unrest.

In November, the New England league office sent a letter to No Place
for Hate communities — of which there are at least five on the Cape
— explaining the national commission’s decision to take no further
position on the issue and urging them to remain in the program.

But in April, the Massachusetts Municipal Association voted to end
its sponsorship of the program. It had earlier urged the league to
further clarify and strengthen statements recognizing the genocide
and to support the congressional resolution.

Setian presented her views to the Mashpee Board of Selectmen
last week. The board referred the issue to the affirmative action
committee, hoping to hear a recommendation from that group before
making a decision, Selectman Theresa Cook said.

The board hopes to reach a decision by September, she said.

While Mashpee is discussing the idea of getting out of the program,
Sandwich wants in.

An initial planning meeting was held in that town in June, and while
individuals have discussed the Armenian genocide issue, it has not
been brought to the group yet, said Jacqueline Fields, chairwoman of
the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission and a Sandwich resident.

"Whatever the statement was — denying it or ignoring it or qualifying
it as something other than a genocide or a holocaust — is not a
position that I would support," Fields said of the Anti-Defamation
League’s original stance. "However, it is not a reason for individuals
to withdraw from No Place for Hate."

"ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI NEGOTIATIONS BASED ON LONG-TERM EFFORTS OF BOTH SIDES" – ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Trend News Agency
Aug 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Russia, Moscow, 2 August / Trend News corr. R.Agayev / The
Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations to regulate the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict are based on the long-term efforts of both sides rather than
on the proposals made by the mediators in Madrid, Edward Nalbandyan,
Armenian Foreign Minister, said.

"The matter does not concern the Madrid proposals. If the matter
concerned Madrid proposals we would not meet today," Nalbandyan
said in the briefing answering to the questions of Trend News and
commenting the recent meeting with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov.

The proposals made by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in Madrid
in November 2007, lay on the negotiations table. The Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents proposed both foreign ministers to continue
discussions within the framework of the proposals. "These proposals
are the results of long-term efforts through co-chairs’ assistance. We
have been working over these proposals," the Armenian Minister said.

The Madrid proposals, according to Mammadyarov, mean a complex of
issues gathered in Prague several years ago. As a result of the Prague
process we came to a conclusion to solve the issues stage by stage.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.