Month: November 2009

COMPOSER SEDRAK YERKANYAN TO CELEBRATE THREE JUBILEES ON NOVEMBER 28

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 16:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 28, Komitas’ Chamber Music Hall will host
the celebration of pianist, composer and conductor Sedrak Yerkanyan’s
50th jubilee, as well as 40th anniversary of his creative work and
15th anniversary of his work in Tagharan Early Music Ensemble.

The jubilee concert will feature Sedrak Yerkanyan’s "Ancient Armenian
wedding songs: 2nd volume" composition.

According to the composer, Armenian wedding songs were based on
the principles of ancient Armenian music composition as well as
professional criterions, worked out by the great Komitas.

National Armenian music fans are invited to visit, with the concert
held on a free entrance basis.

POSSIBILITY OF A NEW WAR IN KARABAKH IS MINIMAL

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Stanislav Chernyavski News.Az interview with Stanislav Chernyavski,
chief of the Center of Post-Soviet Studies under MGIMO.

What do you think is the main problem in the resolution of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict?

I would like to speak of the prehistory. In late 1993 Azeri troops
started successful attack at all fronts. The attack failed in January
1994. In March Russia offered its mediatory services. An oral agreement
on ceasefire was reached in Bishkek on 12 May 1994 just after Heydar
Aliyev’s visit to Great Britain where he expected London to support
Azerbaijan. But it did not happen. The sides concluded an agreement on
ceasefire that was not confirmed in any document. After it, the case
was transferred to the OSCE’s Minsk Group. The CIS interparliamentary
assembly ceased to be a mediator and Russia ceased to be the only
mediator. In the result, the talks came to a deadlock.

Does it mean that today the success in negotiations depends on mutual
understanding between Russia and the United States?

No I do not think so. Primarily, it depends on mutual understanding
between the ruling elites of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Meanwhile, Baku continues voicing dissatisfaction with the mediators’
position saying ‘Agree yourself and we will support any agreement’. If
the parties could agree, they would have done this without mediators.

This was especially stated by chief of department of foreign ties
under presidential administration Novruz Mammadov at a conference on
security in the South Caucasus held in Baku.

Novruz Mammadov, whom I respect greatly, has more ground to say so.

But I have no such grounds.

How did last year’s war in Georgia influence the Karabakh settlement:
has it been a stimulus or complicated it?

It has no influence at all. I, like everyone in Russia, regret much
about the conflict with Georgia. But this paradoxical situation was
inevitable. On the one hand, there were too many people with Russian
passports in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Russia was responsible
for them. On the other hand, attacks on peacekeepers occurred. When
Georgian started to kill people, Russia had no other way out. It was
obliged to take steps. Thus, Russia did not intend to attack Georgia.

I am not a president but I can guarantee this. We were not going
to attack.

Is the resumption of war in Karabakh possible?

It is difficult to say. I think the possibility of a new war is
minimal, if not zero.

There is an opinion that the keys to the Karabakh conflict lie in
the Kremlin.

I do not agree with this. The post-Soviet elites are so powerful
now that they settle all their national, international and interstate
issues independently. And no elite would make concessions contradicting
to its sovereignty for the sake of any other state. This is a matter of
Azerbaijanis and Armenians. I think both parties should involve their
diasporas more actively. Both Diasporas are strong, they should be
involved, they should realize that both countries will have economic
benefits from reconciliation. Population will benefit and settlement
of most social issues will be facilitated. Both countries and the
whole region will benefit and it is incorrect to say that the keys
to the settlement lie only in Moscow or in Washington.

ARMEN ASHOTYAN: REDUCED NUMBER OF ARMENIAN STUDENTS IN RUSSIA CAUSED BY INEFFICIENT SELECTION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 17:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Embassy in Russia hosted a meeting
of the RA minister of education and science Armen Ashotyan with
representatives of the Armenian youth in Russia. As the press office
of the Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR) reports, the meeting was
attended by the Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan, vice
president of the Union of Armenians of Russia Levon Mukanyan, Armenian
sunday schools’ teachers, students of leading universities in Russia.

During the meeting, Armen Ashotyan dwelled on the prospects of
education development, focusing on the quality of education in the
country. According to him, about 6 thousand 500 foreign students
study in higher educaitonal institutions in Armenia and this number
will grow.

According to the minister, the reduction of the number of Armenian
students in Russia has been mainly caused by inefficient selection.

TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN: OPENING OF TURKEY-ARMENIA BORDER IS IMPOSSIBLE

Today
s/57691.html
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with member of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly
(parliament), Nationalist Movement Party Deputy Chairman Mehmet
Shandir.

Day.Az: The U.S. and the European Union reportedly put pressure on
Turkey to ratify the Turkish-Armenian protocols. Will Turkey be able
to stand pressure?

Mehmet Shandir: Despite all the pressure, the NMP will further assert
Azerbaijanis’ interests in Turkey. Azerbaijanis need not worry about
it. It is impossible to open Turkish-Armenian border and establish
good relations between the countries until complete withdrawal of
Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories.

The protocols were signed under pressure from the U.S. and the EU.

These protocols will not be ratified till Armenian occupation
is put an end. The government has sent these protocols to the
parliament. But the NMP would not discuss these protocols in the
foreign affairs commission and bring up them for the parliamentary
debates. We will closely watch the implementation of the promises
of the Turkish Republic to Azerbaijanis. No reason can not call the
Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship into question.

Q: The American and Armenian media are discussing the possibility of
U.S. recognition of the "Armenian Genocide" in the case of Turkey’s
refusal to ratify the protocols. What measures will Turkey take if
it happens?

A: Recognition of "Armenian genocide" by the United States does
not mean anything for Turkey. Recognition of any country except
Turkey does not play any role. These claims are directed against
Turkey who will pay tribute is in the worst case. Recognition of a
third country may hurt us, but not replace the truth. Only Turkey’s
recognition plays a role in this issue. Turkey will never recognize
the "genocide." No one will force us to do so. Even the pressure by
world powers such as the U.S. and the EU will not force us to call
our grandparents killers. The Turkish nation has never in its history
committed genocide against any people. The government does not provide
decent resistance to outside pressure and makes concessions.

Q: Nearly 50,000-60,000 illegal Armenian migrants work in Turkey. The
authorities immediately expel illegal migrants from other countries.

But why there are different rules for Armenians?

A: This is a wrong policy. Turkey has unemployment of more than 15
percent. It is not a wise step to turn a blind eye to illegal foreign
labor force in such circumstances. But it is not so important,
because Turkey is not closing its doors to people who come for a
piece of bread, and does not involve politics in this issue. The more
important for us is end to occupation of Karabakh and continuation
of Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship.

Q: What is NMP vision of resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

A: The Karabakh conflict is a problem of international level. Solution
to this problem without support of international community seems to
be impossible. Turkey should closely watch activities of the OSCE
Minsk Group and not only contribute to the solution of this problem.

Turkish-Armenian protocols can be implemented only after the resolution
to the Karabakh problem.

We demand the Turkish government to fully use the Turkish-Armenian
protocols for a just solution to the Karabakh conflict. We propose
a new version of the Turkish-Armenian protocols. Ending Karabakh’s
occupation stands in fore front in our new version, then denial
of the Armenian territorial claims against Turkey and only after
this establishment of bilateral relations. Armenians may have every
attitude to such an option. It’s their problem. But, we are aware
of the seriousness of the issue and will impede by any means the
implementation of protocols different of ours.

Q: Some Turkish media have recently competed in a demonstration of
love for the Armenians. How are sincere these feelings?

A: These media outlets make a grave mistake. These are false
statements. Their authors do not really understand what they
say. Our media are independent. Each of them approaches this issue
from standpoint of their interests. Such cases require us to be more
cautious. We can get a blow from a quite unexpected direction. Not
views of the Turkish media, but that of the Turkish nation are
important. The Turkish nation will never abandon its brotherhood with
Azerbaijan for the sake of dubious relations with Armenians. It will
never accept the Armenian claims against Turkey and Azerbaijan.

ARAKEL MIRZOYAN CROWNED 2009 WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING VICE CHAMPION

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Arakel Mirzoyan, son of the legendary champion Oksen Mirzoyan, took
silver in World Cup Championship in South Korea and was crowned as
2009 World Weightlifting Vice Champion.

Armenian athlete has entry total weight of 334kg, 12kg lower than
gold winner China’s athlete Lyaao Xui. Indonesia’s athlete took bronze
(entry total: 330 kg).

Today participants from Armenia have a rest, while tomorrow we expect
Tigran Martirosyan to join the contest.

ALEXANDER ZINKER: EXTRAVAGANT STATEMENTS OF TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN NOT SURPRISING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 17:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tensions between Israel and Turkey were revealed
in September, after Turkey banned the Israeli Air Force to take part
in NATO air exercises. And after broadcasting by one of the Turkish
government channels the anti-Israeli serial, showing "atrocities" of
Israeli soldiers, tensions escalated into conflict, Alexander Zinker,
Director of the Institute of East European countries in Tel Aviv,
ex-Knesset member told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"Therefore, extravagant statements of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
that he prefers meeting with Sudan’s President who is accused in crimes
against humanity, rather than with the Prime Minister of Israel,
are not surprising. "The refusal to play an Israeli national anthem
at the official sports event is in the spirit of Turkey’s new Middle
East policy," the Israeli political scientist believes.

NETHERLANDS FIRST, RUSSIA SECOND AT JUNIOR EUROVISION

Kyiv Post
Nov 23 2009
Ukraine

Today at 10:22 | Interfax-Ukraine Ralf Mackenbach of the Netherlands
has emerged victorious from the 2009 Junior Eurovision song contest,
which has ended in Kyiv.

The 14 year-old Dutch singer of a song, "Click Clack," scored 121
points.

Katya Ryabova of Russia and Laura Hayrapetyan of Armenia share second
place, and each of them scored 116 points.

Ten year-old Laura Omloop of Belgium is in third place with 113 points.

Andranik Aleksanian of Ukraine is in fifth place and 13 year-old
Yura Demidovich of Minsk, Belarus, is in ninth place. Yura’s song,
"The Magic Rabbit," has gained enormous blog popularity.

Minsk will host the Junior Eurovision 2010 song contest.

MSU SUBSIDIARY OPENING IN YEREVAN AGREED ON

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 17:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Moscow State University subsidiary opening in Yerevan
was discussed at RA Minister of Education and Science, Armen Ashotyan’s
visit to Moscow, Russian Armenian’s Union press service reported.

"The project, if implemented successfully, will significantly raise
educational level in Armenia," Armen Ashotyan noted.

A work group will be formed in near future for detail development of
practical steps on MSU subsidiary opening.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS APPRECIATED THE TALKS

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have positively appreciated
the 6th round of the negotiation regulation of the Karabakh conflict
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents Serzh Sargsyan and
Ilham Aliev.

"The talks which lasted for almost 4 hours were constructive. At the
same time, some issues still remain open.", – reads the statement of
the co-chairs in the OSCE site.

In the statement also is mentioned that the two presidents, S.

Sargsyan and I. Aliev, engaged in a detailed and in-depth discussion
of the most important unresolved points in the Co-Chairs’ proposals.

The Presidents instructed their foreign ministers to continue working
with the Co-Chairs on these matters. As a next step, the Co-Chairs
are organizing a working session with the two ministers in advance
of the OSCE Ministerial Council, which will take place on December
1-2 in Athens.

VLADIMIR ZAKHAROV: AZERI PRESIDENT IS INHUMAN PERSONALITY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The only progress in Armenian and Azeri Presidents’
recent meeting was Azeri leaders’ attempt to coerce Armenia into
concessions by bellicose statements on possible war. But as we see,
that didn’t happen, Vladimir Zakharov, deputy director of the Caucasus
Research Center at the Moscow State University of International
Relations (MSUIR), told PanARMENIAN.Net. He also referred to Russian
FM Sergey Lavrov’s statement on impossibility of any conflict. "Azeri
President’s statements are intended for the West. Armenia gives no
ground for resuming war," Russian expert said.

Besides, he noted that children in Azerbaijan are instilled with hatred
for Armenian from kindergarten. "All that is governed by Azerbaijan’s
ruling top class. Aliyev could suspend the process but refused to
do to gain an extra advantage. His wants to be an eternal leader,"
Zakharov stressed, adding that "Azeri President always demonstrates
his aggressive rhetoric. He is an inhuman personality."