Month: November 2009

TER-PETROSYAN MET AGO MONITORING GROUP MEMBERS

news.am
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

16:18 / 11/20/2009First RA President and Armenian National Congress
(ANC) leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan received AGO monitoring delegation
headed by Stelian Stoian, Permanent Representative to the Council
of Europe.

The officials discussed the current stage of Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation and recent developments in Karabakh peace process,
ANC press service informed NEWS.am.

Ter-Petrosyan drew guests’ attention to the state of democracy in
Armenia, the fulfillment of commitments to the Council of Europe,
particularly issues related to release of political prisoners,
freedom of speech and implementation of PACE resolution.

In the course of the meeting, the issues on corruption combat in
Armenia and economic situation under global crisis were discussed.

ANC Coordiantor Levon Zurabyan and central bureau representative
Avetis Avagyan also participated.

RELATIVELY SPEAKING AZERBAIJAN IS LESS IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY: ARIEL COHEN

news.az
Nov 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Ariel Cohen Interview with Ariel Cohen, Senior Research Fellow
and leading expert on Russia and Eurasian region, Institute for
International Studies, Heritage Foundation.

How do estimate the normalization of Turkey and Armenia relations
taking into account Nagorno-Karabakh problem? Will the protocols be
ratified until end of the year?

I think that the situation in the Caucasus right now is changing
very significantly very deeply changing. This is post post-soviet
development in which the position of the US is diminishing. The US was
here in the early 90-es relatively strong. Russia resisted and resented
American presence. And now US is focusing on Afghanistan, Pakistan,
relations with Iran and the Obama administration does not prioritize
South Caucasus as much as Clinton and J. W. Bush administration
did. So if vacuum is created when Russia and Turkey will step in,
in particular, Turkey. Turkey wanted to put the relationship with
Armenia on a new footing. That will include opening the border but
also other things like the discussion of the events of 1915. I think
from the Turkish point of view it makes a lot of sense.

Because otherwise it was a stuck problem that kept creating lots
of problems for Turkey. Now this new development opens at least
the chance for further resolution. Whether the protocols will be
ratified by parliaments, I don’t know. I don’t know how long is
going to take, but I am also concerned that if they ratify it puts
Azerbaijan in disadvantage. Because Turkey and Armenia will have they
own relationship, their own dynamic. In Azerbaijan will be sort of
left behind. It is also important to understand that Azerbaijan today
represents a different model than Turkey. Azerbaijan is secular and
this goes back all the way to the end of the 19 century-beginning of
the 20 century where Azerbaijan was developing as a secular republic
even before the soviet experience. Turkey is no longer secular in a
full sense like it was in Ataturk period. It has now air leadership
that emphases religion and is in the process of bringing more and more
religion in the public sphere in Turkey. It is developing very strong
relationship through the Muslim world with countries like Iran etc.

And Azerbaijan is no longer brotherhood and sisterhood relationship
which characterized this relationship until recent years, until the
AKP party got a power.

Turkey also got much closer to Russia. And what you have known is
an attempt to build a condominium between Russia and Turkey in South
Caucasus which means that the sovereignty of Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia may be diminished. Because if two strong regional players get
together there the position if not to dictate at least to strongly
influence, that comes in the region. So that’s puts Azerbaijan and
Georgia at a disadvantage. It improves the Armenia’s situation.

Because Armenia has it’s old ally -Russia. And now it is developing
relationship with Turkey. Armenia also has very good relationship
with Iran. So Armenia is a winner and Georgia and Azerbaijan are the
losers of this new development that I mentioned before.

You mentioned that US position became more and more in the region. But
some expert think that the normalization relationship between
Turkey and Armenia was US initiative and they push Turkey toward
these steps…

Apparently there is some truth in this discussion that US is
supportive of Turkish-Armenia rapprochement. Both because the US
grew other the years, second tired of this lock jam, of this stuck
situation I mean other Karabakh and between Turkey and Armenia, but
also because of domestic considerations improvement between Turkey
and Armenia plays to the domestic audiences that are interested
in opening a new page. Although there are people in US, who would
probably Armenian community, that will demand Turkey recognizing the
event of 1915 as a genocide. So because of the domestic politics,
because of the Armenian caucus in the congress, they are strong voice
supporting Turkish Armenia rapprochement and that’s also a position of
US government and of the Russian government. So far, there is some of
a competition between Moscow and Washington who takes ownership over
this achievement. But that’s not to say that I am convinced it is
going to be ratified. But some time in the future it may be ratified
and then the challenge for the US and for Turkey, and for Russia,
because Russia is interested in good relation with Azerbaijan, I hope.

Parallel process, but why the ministers of foreign affairs of the
Minsk group co-chair countries were at the signing of protocols?

In diplomacy you have a lot of times a situations were public
announcement don’t correspond with real policy and that is exactly
what I was concerned about when I was saying that Azerbaijan can be
left behind. Stuck in a situation when its territory remains occupied,
so that is a serious concern. And then the question is can Turkey
eternally and because of its historic ties with Azerbaijan can afford
to just leave Karabakh issue aside and if this was a Â"old secular
TurkeyÂ" I would say – don’t worry, they will work with you, but as I
said before, this is not the same Turkey, this is not the same policy,
this is not the same leadership. And they in my view are pursuing a
policy in which relatively speaking Azerbaijan is less important. Not
just Azerbaijan, even the US and Europe are less important and
the Islamic more are more important. And in that respect, almost
paradoxically for them, management of the Turkey-Armenia relations
becomes more important than Karabakh.

Prognosis over the resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, is it
possible this year?

I am encouraged that presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan are talking
regularly, that is good. If I compare this with the Middle East Â"peace
processÂ" the high level meetings between the two presidents and sort
of discussion seems to be more pragmatic and meetings more frequent
than in Israel and Palestinian case for example. But at the same time
I do not hear any new ideas, especially not from Armenian side. I
heard Armenian representatives recently in Washington and they stick
to the old position, the old thinking of Karabakh being independent,
of Karabakh never going back to Azerbaijan or Azerbaijan refugees
not going back to Karabakh. So this is an intransigent position, and
that makes me wonder how you going to change that and who in terms of
international community – US, Russia, Europe – are going to prevail
over the Armenian leadership to choose a peaceful track over Karabakh.

There is a famous opinion that Moscow and Washington have the key to
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The US and Russia seemed to have updated
the relations, reached an agreement, though partial, on missile
defense system. It turns out that a mutual understanding has been
reached. Is this so?

First of all, the US and Russia have not reached an agreement on
missile defense system. This is the unilateral decision of the Obama
administration not to update missile defense system in Czech Republic
and Poland. This was the advance given to Moscow to improve the
situation in the negotiations concerning START and achieve Russia’s
support with respect to Iran. I do not know whether this policy will
work or not, but I think this step is not so successful. But I do not
agree to the question. The key to the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is in Yerevan and Baku, not in Washington and Moscow. Of
course, if the elite and people of both countries want peaceful
settlement, they can achieve it, Washington and Moscow will be glad.

All the countries of the South Caucasus want peace agreement and
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, these nations are also
interested in the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Changing of the borders in the post-Soviet space is very dangerous
for all. Changing of the borders in the areas, where there are
mutual claims and conflicts, – in Ukraine, Northern Kazakhstan, or
any other place, is Pandora’s box. If the changing of the borders
begins, it should be realized by mutual consent, in accordance with
the requirements of the international law. Russia, Armenia, or any
other state has no right to change the borders unilaterally.

STATE OF KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOWS CRISIS OF WORLD DIPLOMACY – NOVRUZ MAMMADOV

news.az
Nov 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Diplomacy and policy in the contemporary world is going through crisis,
Novruz Mammadov, chief of international department at Azerbaijan’s
presidential administration, told an international conference on
security in the South Caucasus in Baku Friday.

"I think crisis is observed today in diplomacy and policy judging
from the state of the Karabakh conflict settlement", Mammadov said.

He recalled that in 1992 the US Congress adopted amendment 907 to
the Act on Support of Freedom restricting direct state assistance
to Azerbaijan.

"In the result, aggressor Armenia, received over 2.5 bn US assistance,
while the victim Azerbaijan was deprived of that help. Though everyone
knew who suffered more", Mammadov said.

"I have an impression that the West adheres to the position of
providing comprehensive assistance to Armenia, the reasons are not
specified, but it occurs like that", he said.

The official said Azerbaijan is a post-Soviet country that is closely
cooperating with the West.

"But one event drew our particular attention. In October in Zurich
the Foreign Ministers of six leading states found time to spend
several hours to attain signing of protocols between Turkey and
Armenia for opening borders. Is it more important than our conflict",
Mammadov said.

He noted that the representatives of those countries have never
gathered in this format or voiced their position.

"Those representatives of the West who came there said the settlement
proceeds well. What is the use of soothing the world community? Our
president after the next meeting with the Armenian counterpart says
the talks were ineffective, while someone in the West says the conflict
settlement is nearing its close and a progress is attained", he said.

Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan has initially declared a course of
building a jural democratic secular state. "Though there are problems,
but who does not have problems?", he said.

Mammadov complained that after verdict was passed on two young
activists "western press wrote more about it than it does about the
Karabakh conflict. Who needs that?"

He noted that there is no second more important state like Azerbaijan
in the region and the country contributes to a dialogue between the
East and West, which is also in West’s interests.

"But today justice is being defeated in the international relations",
Mammadov said.

He noted that two parties to the conflict cannot be equally right and
said Russia and the United States have differences on most political
issues though they have the same position on the Karabakh conflict.

"This is the only question on which Russia and the United States
fully agree. But Azerbaijan is a strong state capable of settling
all its problems and I do hope that in the future our partners in
the East, West, North and South will adhere to a more just position",
Mammadov said.

KARAPETYAN: OPPOSITION MOVES CLOSER TO GOVERNMENT

Aysor
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

"Armenia today meets the serious process of political integration,"
said at press conference leader of People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan.

"Traditional political forces come together while the opposition is
moving closer to government," he said adding that these processes
stand from world globalization.

In particular, the politician says that last statements of Armenian
first-sitting President Levon Ter-Petrosyan make think that some
coming-in is underway.

"Actually, today’s decision made by Administrative Court to let
Nikola Pashinyan to nominate as a deputy in Parliament, makes clear
that there is a common agreement," said Tigran Karapetyan suggesting
that Armenian National Congress will enter Armenian Parliament in 2012.

Meanwhile, the common basis can hardly be created since some unsolved
mattes stand between ANC and authorities. "I link Nikol Pashinyan’s
case and last statement of Levon Ter-Petrosyan," he said adding
that such kind developments appear as the result of the influence of
external forces.

"Certain centers have common views; any sponsored by these forces
processes could provoke great standoff against authorities,"
said Tigran Karapetyan pointing that during the discussions on
Armenian-Turkish protocols, Armenian National Congress kept silence.

"Armenian National Congress, actually, didn’t put a crimp in this
process, which is sponsored by U.S. and partly by Russia."

VLADIMIR SOCOR: "U.S. SHOULD LIFT DAMAGES ON TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS"

APA
Nov 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. "Non-solution of Nagorno Karabakh
problem for 20 years is a result of indifference by the West", said
Vladimir Socor, Senior Research Fellow of Jamestown Foundation, at the
international conference "Security challenges in the South Caucasus:
realities and prospects of the regional development" in Baku, APA
reports. The expert said the South Caucasian conflicts were inherited
from USSR and the West pursued unsuccessful policy to solve them. "The
conflicts between the communities turned into the conflicts between
the countries", said Socor. He thinks that the international law is
not implemented in the South Caucasus. Speaking about the role of
peacemaking forces in the solution to the conflicts, the expert said
NATO didn’t play its role in the South Caucasus correctly. He reminded
about the former Georgian president Edward Shevardnadze’s summons for
humanist interference in Georgia like Balkans and said NATO and U.S.

rejected this idea in 2002.

The American expert said OSCE was no able to solve the conflicts. He
also mentioned the Turkey’s initiative to restore stability
and security in the region. Speaking about the normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relations, Socor said U.S president Barack Obama
made mistake promising to Armenian Diaspora to recognize "Armenian
genocide" during his election campaign. "As the president, he can’t
keep this promise because it will ruin the relations with Turkey.

Obama looks at the calendar and sees April there and he is trying
to satisfy his Armenian voters with the opening of borders between
Turkey and Armenia to create positive dynamic".

The expert says that if the borders were opened in parallel with the
withdrawal of Armenian troops from Nagornmo Karabakh, these parallel
processes would lead to some progress. He said the processes should
be developed equal and synchronically. "The conflict solution is not
possible in a short time. If the United States uses it cards correctly,
there can be a progress. It has few cards. U.S. needs in Turkey more
than Turkey needs in it. The United States should lift the damages
on Turkey-Azerbaijan relations to restore previous relations".

The expert said this issue was expected to bring results during
Erdogan’s visit to the United States.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEETING IN RA NA STANDING COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

National Assembly of RA
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

On November 19 the Chairperson on NA Standing Committee on European
Integration Ms. Naira Zohrabyan received the Premier Counsellor of
the French Embassy to Armenia Mr. Christian Beck.

Welcoming the guest Ms. Zohrabyan highly assessed the Armenian-French
political relations, which taking into account, she expressed hope
that such high qualitative relations can also be established in the
economic sphere. In declaring the European integration as Armenia’s
foreign political priority Ms. Zohrabyan highlighted the role and
experience of France as one of the EU key countries, and expressed
hope that in this sphere the cooperation will be much more active.

Emphasizing once more in the regulation of the NK problem Armenia’s
position the Committee Chairperson highly assessed the efforts
of France as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair country in solving the
conflict through peaceful negotiation process. Speaking about the
Armenian-Turkish relations, Ms. Zohrabyan once again reaffirmed
that the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations without
preconditions is a separate process, and has no connection with
the settlement of the NK issue, which, according to the committee
chairperson, also repeatedly mentioned the Minsk Group Co-Chair.

Touching upon the issues of the regional cooperation, Ms. Naira
Zohrabyan confirmed that Armenia adhered to the adopted policy and
was for the regional cooperation over different problems, despite the
circumstance that they were consecutively impeded by the neighbouring
Azerbaijan.

Expressing his gratitude for the reception, the Premier Counsellor
of the French Embassy to Armenia Mr. Christian Beck reaffirmed the
willingness of France in the development of mutually beneficial
relations. Issues of further cooperation were also discussed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GIRO MANOYAN: ALIYEV HOSTAGE TO SITUATION HE CREATED

news.am
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

12:56 / 11/20/2009In the context of Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev’s recent statements that Azerbaijan is ready for war and
Zangezur, as well as entire Armenia, are Azerbaijani lands, no
serious positive results should be expected from the forthcoming
Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting in Munich Giro Manoyan,
Head of the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) office in Yerevan told NEWS.am.

Statements like that create a situation in Azerbaijan, which make
it impossible for President Aliyev to make any constructive steps in
the near future. "He is a hostage to a situation created by himself,"
Manoyan said. As long as Baku refuses to state that Nagorno-Karabakh
as no part of Azerbaijan can at least be considered as an option in
the settlement process, no progress should be expected. "Azerbaijan’s
stance on Nagorno-Karabakh has not changed. Rather, that state has
even taken a harder line," Manoyan said.

CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II MET WITH SYRIAN PM

news.am
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

14:05 / 11/20/2009Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II met with
Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari during his three-day
visit to the country. They discussed the clergy issues in the frames
of community, tolerance and interaction between various nations
and cultures.

In the course of the meeting Syrian Premier underlined the steps by
Government towards comprehensive development of the region and ardor
to peace establishment there.

Karekin II outlined the significant progress by Syria in numerous
fields including security, stability and national unity. Prospects
of cooperation between Armenia and Syria were also discussed.

DOES THE LOW SALARY DISTURB THE YOUNG LITERARY CRITICS?

Aysor
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

On November 19-20 by the support of the literature institute after
Manuk Abeghyan and the Union of the Armenian Writers took place
a republican scientific session dedicated to the modern Armenian
issues. This time the session was dedicated to the young literary
critics.

As one of the organizers of the session Arqmenik Nikoghosyan told in
the phone conversation with Aysor.am during the Soviet times republican
conferences of young literary critics were being held. Now they wish
to reestablish the tradition again.

According to A. Nikoghosyan on this conference applied 24 young
literary critics whose age is not above 30.

"The primary aim of our conference is to see what the young literary
critic is doing today, which are the issues of his study, which are
his problems, and the most important thing how deep is he in his
researches", – stressed Arqemnik Nikoghosyan.

He also informed that in the sphere of the literary criticism there
are very talented young people who can’t dedicate themselves to the
literary criticism completely as most of them working in M. Abeghyan’s
literature institute get 30.000 drams of salary and do parallel works
which disturbs the scientific work of the young scientists.

The Republican scientific session of young critical scientists was
organized by Arqemnik Nikoghosyan, Hrachya Saribekyan, and Gevorg
Emin-Teryan.

ANDREY NESTERENKO MAKES NEW COMMENT ON ARMENIA-TURKEY, NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROCESSES

news.am
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

Andrey Nesterenko, official representative of the RF Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, made a new comment on "the combination of the
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia-Turkey normalization processes."

NEWS.am reminds readers that at a November 17 press briefing,
Nesterenko made the following statement: "As far as we know issues
related to Nagorno-Karabakh were raised during the Yerevan-Ankara
negotiations. This range of issue must be considered in this process.

Let us hope that all the issues will be settled in conformity with the
decisions made by international organizations and meet the interests
of all the nations of the region."

NEWS.am sent the following inquiry to the Press and Information
Department, RF Foreign Office: "At a November 17 press briefing,
the official representative of the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Andrey Nesterenko stated Armenia and Turkey are discussing the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Does it mean that the OSCE Minsk
Group has been enlarged or has stopped working? What is official
Moscow’s attitude to Turkey’s involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process?"

Speaking at the RA Parliament on November 18, RA Foreign Minister
Nalbandyan refuted any linkage between the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process and Armenia-Turkey normalization. "We, OSCE MG Co-Chairs as
well as the leaders of the world powers repeatedly stated that these
are two different processes. And if certain country representatives
periodically make statements on the interconnection of the issues,
then it’s a misunderstanding, but not the official position of
these states," the Minister said. He also said that Russia should be
expected to make new statements confirming the absence of any linkage
between the Armenia-Turkey normalization and the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace processes.

The "new statement" was made quite soon. It particularly reads:

"Moscow has noticed that some Armenian media outlets raised an
alarm about the statements made by the official representative of
the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 17, 2009. Official
Moscow is claimed to have changed its stance and be linking the
Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenia-Turkey normalization processes. It was
a misunderstanding. RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly
explained Russia’s position. It has remained unchanged: two different
processes are in question.

"We welcome the Armenian-Turkish document, which determine the sides’
further actions to progress to comprehensive normalization of bilateral
relations.

"We are sure that the establishment of good neighborly relations
between Armenia and Turkey will facilitate to further steps to
strengthen peace and stability in the Transcaucasus.

"As regards the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, despite unsettled
disagreements, the sides have succeeded in agreeing on the fundamental
settlement principles.

"We see our role in contributing to this process and the sides’
finding mutually acceptable solutions to key problems, without,
however, imposing any formulas on the conflicting parties. We admit
the fact that it is the Armenians and Azerbaijanis that bear the main
responsibility for their final choice. Russia is ready to support the
solution to the problem that will be acceptable to all the parties
involved and act as guarantor for settlement if any compromise is
achieved. It is clear that a viable solution is one that would restore
peace and stability in the Transcaucasus and, in the post-conflict
period, maintain the geopolitical balance of forces there, preventing
the region from becoming an arena for international politico-military
competition."