Month: November 2009

CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL TO PAY TWO-DAY VISIT TO ARMENIA

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha will pay two-day visit
to Armenia, said spokesman of CSTO Public Relations Department and
informational support in Armenia.

Nikolai Bordyuzha will meet with Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan
and Secretary of the National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan,
and will participate in Roundtable on "The Collective Security Treaty
to provide Caucasus with stability and security" which will be held
on November 24.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN FORCES FROM KELBAJAR NOT DISCUSSED IN MUNICH

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 17:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Baku’s statements that Armenian and Azeri Presidents’
discussion in Munich focused on Armenian forces’ withdrawal from
Kelbajar, a factor that may allegedly enable Turkey to ratify the
Protocols signed, is pure disinformation. Leaders did not touch on
such issue, said RA President’s Spokesman Samvel Farmanyan.

"Armenia is already accustomed to hearing so-called reliable sources’
reports following each meeting between Armenian and Azeri leaders. It
has been several times announced that a key issue in Karabakh peace
talks is Nagorno Karabakh status. All other questions bear indirect
nature," the Spokesman noted.

KARABAKH CONFLICT INFLUENCES EUROPEAN SECURITY

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Andrew C. Kuchins News.Az interviews Andrew C. Kuchins, director and
senior fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at the Centre for
Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

The Azerbaijani leadership thinks a resumption of the Karabakh war
is realistic. Do you think the threat of a new war is great?

A war between Azerbaijan and Armenia will become a direct threat to
European security. This became obvious especially after last year’s
war between Russia and Georgia. Therefore, though the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict seems to be of regional concern, its influence on European
security is undoubted, considering the importance of the region and
regional countries for Europe.

Baku accuses the European community of closing its eyes to the
Karabakh conflict. Do you agree with this position and, if so, what
is the reason for this indifference?

I understand the disappointment of the Azerbaijani party as the
conflict has not yet been settled, although more than 15 years have
already passed. But I can’t say the world community, in particular,
the West, does not do anything at all. They merely abstain from
direct intervention in this complicated problem. The main issue is
that the Armenians do not want to change the status quo. Moreover,
Russia is also involved in this matter.

What do you mean when you say "Russia is involved"?

I think Russia has no real interest in the settlement of this
conflict. And I do not agree with the statement voiced at the recent
Baku conference on security in the South Caucasus that there is
no difference between Washington and Moscow’s positions on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

You mentioned the implications of war in Georgia. What conclusions
has the West drawn from this war?

Indeed, the war in Georgia was a wake-up call for most parties,
especially in the West that realized the threat of frozen conflicts.

This has become a stimulus for the settlement of similar problems. We
see more action, we see signs of advancement in conflict settlement.

You doubt the mediation role of Moscow, although the Moscow declaration
was the first document signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia throughout
the negotiation process and this was done in Moscow with the mediation
of President Medvedev.

This is merely a declaration.

Do you expect the resolution of the Karabakh conflict anytime soon?

I don’t think it will be settled next year. Perhaps, this will happen
in three to five years. It would depend on Russia’s understanding of
the importance of the resolution. But I do not think that key figures
in the Russian leadership think so.

NEW WAR NOT EXPECTED IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 18:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Despite the Azerbaijani President before his
meeting with Armenian President in Munich said about possibility of
hostilities, I do not think such scenario is realistic. I think that
Aliyev was rather trying to frighten the organizers of the meeting
to secure their pressure on the President Serzh Sargsyan, " Alexander
Zinker , Director of the Institute of East European countries in Tel
Aviv, ex-Knesset member told PanARMENIAN.Net.

In his opinion, the international community will not allow to unleash
another war in the South Caucasus. Moreover, it was particularly
Russian-Georgian military confrontation showed that complicated
national and territorial issues cannot be solved only in military way.

"Therefore, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan should be prepared
to phased approximation in all matters of confrontation. The outcomes
of the Munich meeting were rated by experts as positive, " Mr. Zinker
stressed.

LARISA ALAVERDYAN: STATEMENTS OF AZERBAIJAN BEEN PLAYED OUT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 18:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I do not understand what progress can we speak about
if, after a 4-hour meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in
Munich, the sides made only statement which really says nothing,"
Secretary of the Heritage parliamentary faction Larisa Alaverdyan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

According to Larisa Alaverdyan, "the real negotiations over the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement will start when Artsakh will take a direct
part in them, "the secretary of the Heritage faction stressed.

Statements of Azerbaijani side over Nagorno Karabakh settlement in the
framework of territorial integrity of the country have been played out,
Larisa Alaverdyan said. According to her, the Armenian side should
demonstrate to the international community that the NKR was formed
not on the territory of Azerbaijan, and to raise the issue of 400
thousand Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan. "We must always remember
that in international law the position of Armenia is incomparably
more powerful than that of Azerbaijan," Larissa Alaverdyan stressed.

VLADIMIR ZAKHAROV: TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN MAKE A SHOW FOR ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 18:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Turkish-Azerbaijani ties are quite close and
serious. Never believe any statement saying there is certain coolness
between two states," said Vladimir Zakharov, deputy director of
the Caucasus Research Center at MSUIR. According to him, Turkey
and Azerbaijan are staging theatre for Armenia. "They are changing
their roles by every day," expert noted, stressing the importance
of Turkey’s making apologies to Armenians. "Turkey should follow
Germany’s example," he said.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL PLACED IN PARK

Twin Falls Times-News
Nov 23 2009
Idaho

Photo: Tim Campbell, left, and Martin Babayan place a granite memorial
stone at Twin Falls City Park on Saturday. The stone serves as a
tribute to those who died in what has become known as the Armenian
Holocaust and to honor Armenian refugees who now contribute to the
community. (JOHN PLESTINA/ Times-News) .

..Liyah Babayan envisioned an Armenian Genocide memorial in Twin Falls
to serve as a permanent tribute to those who died in what has become
known as the Armenian Holocaust and to honor Armenian refugees who
now contribute to the community.

The 26-year-old Babayan, who came to Twin Falls from Armenia with her
family when she was 11, spent much of this year lobbying and raising
money for the granite memorial that was placed at Twin Falls City
Park on Saturday. Armenian refugees planted a flowering pear tree
beside the granite stone.

The memorial is a permanent reminder that the Turks killed between
one-million and 1 1/2-million Armenians between 1915 and 1918 that
were living in what was then the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey).

"It really means a lot to my parents and my grandparents," said
Babayan, now a U.S. citizen who witnessed the fall of the Soviet
Union as a child in Armenia, then a part of the Communist union of
16 nation states.

Now pregnant and expecting a baby in December, Babayan said she knows
her child will not experience atrocities as an American.

"We have rooted ourselves in this community. I grew up here. We
own a business in Twin Falls," Babayan said, adding that many other
Armenians who came to Twin Falls as refugees are today United States
citizens and contribute to the community.

"The Armenian American community in Twin Falls donated the tree and
plaque," she said.

Babayan approached Twin Falls Mayor Lance Clow early this year with
a petition requesting the memorial.

"He let me know that it might be an obstacle to place this type
of plaque and memorial on city property," Babayan said, explaining
that the city wants plaques to commemorate events that have direct
historic ties to the Twin Falls community. "The memorial commemorates
a historic event that happened overseas."

She explained that the memorial brings awareness to why Armenian
refugees are in Twin Falls.

The Twin Falls City Council approved the memorial in September by a
4-3 vote after considerable debate.

MUNICH MEETING RESULTED IN NO ESSENTIAL PROGRESS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian and Azeri Presidents’ recent meeting in
Munich did not lead to essential progress. Intensive discussions in
Sargsyan-Aliyev format lasted over 3.5 hours, says Russian "Vremya
Novostei" in an article titled "Muncih for Baku and Yerevan".

According to newspaper’s report, determination of Nagorno Karabakh’s
final status, as well as other issues included in negotiation agenda
should be put to referendum.

BERNARD FASSIER: SOME IMPORTANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN REACHED

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents have made an "important progress"
in talks about Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday, but some difficulties were
identified, as France’s OSCE mediator Bernard Fassier announced.

"Some important progress has been reached," he told journalists after
four-hour long negotiations which were held on Sunday in Munich.

According to Bernard Fassier, OSCE co-mediators will prepare the next
meeting between Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan and Azerbaijani
leader Ilham Aliev, but without specifying when and where it would
take place.

THE JOY AND APPRECIATION REFLECTED ON THE FACES OF OUR PEOPLE ARE SUFFICIENT "MOVING FORCE"
Appo Jabarian

Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine

On November 26 Thanksgiving Day, Armenia Fund will host a worldwide
international telethon to reach Armenian and non-Armenian audiences
across the globe through cable, satellite, and internet networks.

This 12th annual telethon is the continuation of a tradition that is
fueled by the unrelenting support and solidarity by Armenia-Artsakh’s
friends everywhere!

Recently, Appo Jabarian, Executive Publisher and Managing Editor of
USA Armenian Life Magazine, held an interview with Ara Aghishian,
the Armenian Fund’s Western Region affiliate’s President.

Mr. Aghishian was unanimously elected by the Corporate Board of
Armenia Fund to the post of Chairman/ President on Thursday, March 26,
2009. He has been Vice President of the Fund since 2001.

Below is the text of the interview:

USA Armenian Life Magazine: Recently several major Armenian-American
organizations in the Western U.S. have made a joint appeal to their
members to be in solidarity with the upcoming Armenia Fund Telethon
’09. How do evaluate that action?

Ara Aghishian/Armenia Fund:The Joint Appeal signed by the major
Armenian organizations is a reflection on how united and unified we
can be when it comes to helping our brothers and sisters in Armenia
and Artsakh. I view it as a sharing of unity among all sectors of the
Armenian Community in the Diaspora, to show to the world, once again,
that we are United and we stand behind our people in the Homeland.

USA Armenian Life: Why is Shushi the main objective for Armenia Fund’s
’09 Telethon?

Ara Aghishian: Historically, Shushi was a key City playing important
civic, cultural, economic, and social role in Artsakh. Today, the
Board of Trustees of "Hayastan" All Armenian Fund decided that it
is time to start the rehabilitation and re-structuring/re-building
this important city, by providing drinking water systems, re-building
hospitals, schools and other infrastructure necessities.

USA Armenian Life: Does Shushi Project serve certain long-term economic
plans for Armenia-Artsakh?

Ara Aghishian: Shushi project is a long term project, but we have to
start somewhere. By making Shushi the theme of Telethon "09, we are
embarking upon a project which, in time, will create significant job
opportunities and will enhance the lives of the people, which will
have tremendous positive economic impact overall.

USA Armenian Life: What’s the fundraising target for Armenia Fund’s
’09 Telethon?

Ara Aghishian: There are no "dollar figure" targets for any
Telethons, past, present or future. We are hopeful that Armenians
and non-Armenians will join forces and come together on Thanksgiving
Day and actively participate by donating whatever they can to this
year’s Telethon.

I will not accept the "economic crisis" as an excuse to turn our back
to the people of Armenia and Artsakh. I think if we have continued our
life styles, continued our travels and extracurricular activities,
during these "tough economic times", we can certainly donate to
Armenian Fund during the Telethon of 2009.

USA Armenian Life: It was learned that there has been a pledge
from Samvel Karapetyan of Yerevan. Can you please elaborate on that
impressive donation, and for what purpose/project(s) the proceeds
are going to be devoted?

Ara Aghishian: Mr. Samvel Karapetyan has made significant donations
to Armenia and Artsakh, and he did this year also during the Gala
recently held in Moscow. The amount of his donation and its purpose
will be revealed during the Telethon.

USA Armenian Life: What percent of last year’s Western U.S. pledges
were collected?

Ara Aghishian: As far as the Western U.S. pledges are concerned,
I can comfortably say that more than 90% of last years’ pledges have
been collected.

USA Armenian Life: How would you respond to those who question the
verifiability of the accounting of the Armenia Fund?

Ara Aghishian: I welcome those questioning the accounting to either go
"on line" and access the official filings/Tax Returns of Armenian Fund,
also review the Annual Financial Report which is also available,
and the audited report of Grant Thornton is also available as it
relates to the international accounting of Armenia Fund.

USA Armenian Life: To what extent was last year’s Telethon proceeds
have impacted the quality of life in Armenia’s rural areas and
villages?

Ara Aghishian: When I was in Armenia in May of 2009, this year,
we visited the projects implemented and completed by Armenia Fund,
as well as the projects that are still in progress. The conversations
we had with the people who now have drinking water, gas, new schools,
hospitals, clinics, were very touching as to how their day-to-day
lives have improved tremendously through the projects done by Armenia
Fund. The joy and appreciation reflected on their faces are sufficient
"moving force" to encourage us to continue this most valuable endeavor,
to improve the lives of our people in Armenia and Artsakh.