Month: February 2012

ARMENIA IS STILL SILENT ON SYRIA

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:31:06 – 13/02/2012

NATO Special Representative for South Caucasus and Central Asia James
Appaturay arrives today in Armenia. Recall last week a large group
of Russian officials were in Armenia, including the Secretary of the
National Security Council of Russia Nikolay Patrushev, who announced
about the development of the Armenian-Russian military cooperation.

Obviously these visits are related to the Syria and Iran events.

Today, Syria rejected a resolution by the League of Arab States calling
on the introduction of joint peacekeeping forces of the UN and Arab
countries, support to the Syrian opposition and economic sanctions
again Damasks. Today, the situation in Syria will be discussed in
the U.S. General Assembly.

Armenia has not reacted so far on the official level to the situation
around Syria. 2 years ago, Yerevan solemnly received Syria’s president
Bashar Asad and assured of its commitment to the Armenian-Syrian
relations. Now, when the Western community and Sunnit Arab countries
don’t hide their intention to remove Bsshar Asad, Armenia does not
issue its support to the Syrian president. But it does not voice
support to opposition either.

However, as experts assure, the fate of the Armenian community in
Syria is at stake which is alleged to have from 80 up to 150 thousand
representatives. International analytics thinks the removal of the
Alawite rule of Asad may lead to the strengthening of radical Sunnit
moods in Syria, and then the termination of the many thousand Christian
population of the country will start.

Armenia’s Consul in Syria Karen Gevorgyan said last week that the
Armenian community is safe for now. But the situation is changing
daily and no one rules out the “deployment of peacekeepers” in Syria.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated that the government
is focused on this issue through diplomatic channels ands through
direct contacts with the representatives of the community. “We will
take necessary means to support our compatriots”, said Tigran Sargsyan.

The Sunnit Turkey actively supports the movement of rebels in Syria.

It has already given shelter to the Syrian national council and Free
Army of Syria composed of Syrian soldiers who rebelled.

THE TIME OF ELECTION BRIBE
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:59:45 – 13/02/2012

The topic of the election bribes is again relevant in the mayoral
elections in Hrazdan Town. So was in the mayoral election of Yerevan
in 2009 when the Armenian National Congress accused most voters of
accepting election bribes and selling their votes.

The topic is urgent. No doubt it will be the key instrument of the
government or the pro-government forces. It already is, considering
the overwhelming charity campaign launched by the key forces in power.

The charisma and authority of one government figure or another is built
on this form of election bribe, and people love, respect and honor
one person or another for the money or assistance or pledges offered
by this person, not because this person has proposed interesting and
effective models of life and social coexistence.

It is not surprising though, considering the severe social and
economic conditions in which part of our society lives. Besides,
progressive youth is very small in the society of Armenia.

In Armenia, the youth is older than the physically old part of the
society, for objective and subjective, ethnic and cultural reasons, by
their worldview, thinking and values. In other words, the critical mass
aware of the value of its vote is not formed within the society which
would rule our charisma or temporary success built on the election
bribe or their essential influence on the outcome of the election.

In addition, emigration cannot be viewed as a cause in the sense that
the thinking part of the society emigrates. In fact, the thinking
part of the Armenian society has never been a critical majority,
simply it took the government some time to understand the “soul”
of the majority and work out effective methods of dealing with it.

Meanwhile, the opposition seems to fail to find the method of dealing
with this “critical” mass effectively to minimize the factor of
election bribes in determining the outcome of the elections.

In 2008 the results of the opposition indicated that this method was
found. For instance, Ter-Petrosyan’s proposal to clear the Augean
stables persuaded the society, and the factor of the election bribes
which was deciding in the parliamentary elections of 2007 was minimized
in the presidential elections of 2008. Then the opposition gradually
became less persuasive, which “revived” election bribes.

It is possible to accuse people who are not aware of the power of
the vote because they have degraded in mental and moral terms. In
fact, these accusations are desperate screams rather than effective
political and civil policy.

Everything depends on what the elites – ruling, political or civil –
offer to the society. The ruling elite offer money, in other words,
complicity in the present system. What do the political and civil
elites offer, and are their proposals long-term, objective and
persuasive? Perhaps the solutions must be sought for in this field.

ARAM HAMPARIAN: MATT BRYZA THE WRONG PERSON TO REPRESENT U.S. INTERESTS IN AZERBAIJAN

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 13, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: “Matt Bryza’s angry interview
confirms what we have said from the start, which is that he was the
wrong person to represent U.S. interests or advance American values
in Azerbaijan,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“While it is very regrettable that Mr. Bryza was allowed to operate
within the U.S. government for so long and with such destructive
impact as an outright apologist for Ankara and Baku, we can, at
least according to recent news accounts, take some comfort that the
American public’s interest in transparency is being better served by
his public admission that he’s now acting openly as an advocate for
foreign interests.”

“His strident attacks on American civil society voices who have
criticized his public record sadly reveal that he’s as intolerant in
dealing with the diversity of American democracy here at home, as he is
uncomfortable in challenging the lack of democracy back in Azerbaijan.”
Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:

MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: Aram Hamparian: Matt Bryza the wrong person to represent U.S.
interests in Azerbaijan

Aram Hamparian: Matt Bryza the wrong person to represent U.S.
interests in Azerbaijan

10:35, 13 February, 2012

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: “Matt Bryza’s angry interview
confirms what we have said from the start, which is that he was the
wrong person to represent U.S. interests or advance American values in
Azerbaijan,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“While it is very regrettable that Mr. Bryza was allowed to operate
within the U.S. government for so long and with such destructive
impact as an outright apologist for Ankara and Baku, we can, at least
according to recent news accounts, take some comfort that the American
public’s interest in transparency is being better served by his public
admission that he’s now acting openly as an advocate for foreign
interests.”

“His strident attacks on American civil society voices who have
criticized his public record sadly reveal that he’s as intolerant in
dealing with the diversity of American democracy here at home, as he
is uncomfortable in challenging the lack of democracy back in
Azerbaijan.”

From: A. Papazian

COALITION FORCES OF ARMENIA REAFFIRM UNITY AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 13, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: The regular sitting of the heads
of the coalition parties – Republican Party of Armenia, Prosperous
Armenia and Rule of Law – took place. Press service of the RPA told
Armenpress the heads of the parties discussed and registered their
willingness to run for parliamentary elections with their own election
lists, to compete in the atmosphere of tolerance.

The unity and consolidation of the coalition partnership, political
restriction, determination of conduction of free, fair and transparent
parliamentary elections were registered at the meeting.

NEW TURKISH UAV TO BE IN SKIES IN SUMMER

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 13, 2012 – 14:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Anka, a medium-altitude and long-endurance (MALE)
unmanned aerial vehicle designed and produced by Turkish Aerospace
Industries for more than $150 million, should be in the skies this
summer, according to the manufacturers.

However, even the Anka’s makers can’t say how effective it will be
against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants, the
purpose for which it has been designed.

Efforts to design the Anka were launched in 2004 with $150 million
for five aircraft, and 8 years later, the drone, whose name was
inspired from a mythical flying creature, has made several partly
successful test-flights.

The drone’s A version is a reconnaissance unit and the planned
B version is projected to become the UAV’s unmanned combat aerial
vehicle. The A version is ready, but it is not known if the B version
will appear soon, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Turkey has increasingly been trying to use UAVs against PKK
capabilities in an area in its southeast, bordering Iraq and Iran.

Since the end of 2007, the United States has been involved in efforts
to provide the Turkish military with active intelligence against the
PKK. Using information gathered by U.S. drones, the military has hit
PKK positions in northern Iraq several times since then.

The U.S. has agreed to a request by Turkey to transfer four MQ-1
Predator drones used for that purpose to bases inside Turkey as the
U.S. forces prepared to withdraw from Iraq, moving the four drones
to the Incirlik base inside Turkey.

Turkey separately has requested to buy four MQ-1 Predators and two
MQ-9 Reaper drones from the U.S., to which a positive response has
yet to be given since the request was made in early 2009.

EXPERT DEEMS ONE-PARTY SYSTEM DISASTROUS FOR KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 13, 2012 – 14:18 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Shift to single-party system will bring about
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in favor Azerbaijan, according
to Armenian political analyst.

“Unlike Russia, Armenia lacks resources for authoritarianism. The
further we consolidate the system in our country, the bigger will be
the threat to Karabakh resolution in favor of Azerbaijan,” head of the
Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan said.

In this context, the expert called on the authorities to accept the
changes in Electoral Code and shift to proportional system.

“Majority system cannot secure democracy in developing countries,” Mr.
Grigoryan said.

BAILED OUT: TURKS SUSPEND TENDER WITH FRENCH COMPANY OVER GENOCIDE BILL

Genocide | 13.02.12 | 11:41

Photo:

In continued backlash against the French Senate approving a bill
criminalizing genocide denial, The Turkish Aviation Board (THK)
has suspended a contract with a French company that makes parachutes.

“We launched a tender to purchase 150 parachutes some time ago, and
a French company won the tender, but we suspended the tender after
the French Senate adopted a resolution on the denial of Armenian
allegations regarding the incidents of 1915,” THK Osman Yıldırım
told an Anatolia news agency reporter. The tender is worth about
500,000 Euros.

The French Constitutional Court is now deliberating on the
constitutionality of the bill, following an appeal by 65 lawmakers.

The court is expected to make a ruling within one month.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PHOTOS: ENVIRONMENTALISTS PROTEST KIOSKS’ CONSTRUCTION IN YEREVAN PARK

epress.am
02.13.2012

On Sat. Feb. 12, local activists gathered to protest the construction
of kiosks in the strip of green space between Aram and Buzand streets
just off of Mashtots Ave. in central Yerevan. Recall, these same kiosks
recently were dismantled on Abovyan St. – only to be reconstructed
in the park adjacent to the Research Center of Maternal and Child
Health Protection (also a maternity hospital) on Aram St.

Environmentalists were protesting the destruction of trees and what
they say is illegal construction. On Saturday, they had gathered to
prevent construction from moving forward; however, workers continued
their work, occasionally throwing the wet concrete they used for
laying bricks their way.

“This is illegal construction, and we are also urging police officers
to prohibit this illegal activity and not supervise us,” said one
protestor, environmentalist Mariam Sukhudyan (pictured below).

Later in the day, protestors were joined by Heritage Party MP
Anahit Bakhshyan (pictured below, far right), Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) representative Lilit Galstyan and Green
Party of Armenia leader, Armenian National Congress representative
Armenak Dovlatyan, all of whom likewise condemned the construction.

“The interests of 3-4 people cannot be prioritized over everything
else. Regretfully, a situation has been set up in our republic
whereby we have to fight for every right. Since our citizens don’t
yet realize who they’re voting for and how we become prisoners in the
hands of that political majority, we have to enjoy the fruits of this,”
said Galstyan.

Later, activists collected signatures protesting the construction.

Many passers-by seemed willing to sign the petition and support
their cause.

The protest was still going on at 8 pm. Protestors had cordoned off
the area with green ribbon and even built a snowman for the occasion.

Despite the freezing temperatures, they wanted to spend the night
in the park; however, as police didn’t allow them to bring wood to
light a fire, they decided to go home and return the following day.

From: Baghdasarian

TIME TO REMOVE FRANCE AS KARABAKH MEDIATOR – ERDOGAN

News.Az
Mon 13 February 2012 06:56 GMT | 6:56 Local Time

The Turkish prime minister has said that France should be removed as
a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The group is the international body mediating a settlement to the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Nicolas Sarkozy has openly shown his support for the Armenian
position. Therefore, France should be removed from the Minsk Group
now,” Erdogan said in an interview with Azerbaijan’s ANS TV, Gun.Az
reported.

His comments follow the French Senate’s vote to criminalize the denial
of genocide, including the denial of Armenian claims of genocide in
1915 in Ottoman Turkey.

Through the resolution France “proved its biased position in the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and thereby lost its credibility”, Erdogan said.

He thought that USA and Russia could cope with the mediating role if
France leaves the Minsk Group.

“Of course, a decision should be reached in this protracted conflict
with the intervention of the UN Security Council. We believe that
if the US and Russia agree, a third country can be chosen. No one
has the right to cause so much agony for Azerbaijan. Nakhchivan,
Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh remain apart from each other. They are
all waiting for the resolution. And this resolution does not exist. We
hope that the resolution will be achieved and the conflict will end.”

The prime minister said that Turkey’s Azerbaijani brothers both
in France and Azerbaijan were doing their utmost to oppose what he
described as the “fabricated genocide” issue.

“Turkey and Azerbaijan should continue their unity and support not
just on this but on all issues and take no backward steps.”

BAKU RESTATES COMMITMENT TO REGAINING KARABAKH

News.Az
Wed 08 February 2012 09:24 GMT | 9:24 Local Time

A senior official has restated Azerbaijan’s position that it will
restore its territorial integrity either through talks or “other
options”.

Ali Hasanov, head of the socio-political department at the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration, said in Azerbaijan newspaper on Wednesday
that Baku was determined to see the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

He blamed what he described as the non-constructive position of Armenia
and the lack of serious pressure on Yerevan from the OSCE Minsk Group
of mediators for the failure to resolve the conflict, Gun.Az reported.

“Expectations of resolution of the conflict do not depend entirely
on us. Of course, we expect many things and these expectations are
based on international law, but unfortunately, our position is only
one side of the issue. The other side involves the non-constructive
position of Armenia and the third side – the co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group who show very weak influence and pressure.”

Hasanov set out again Azerbaijan’s position on settlement of the
conflict.

“President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated his position on this
issue. The restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is
directly connected with the Karabakh problem. Azerbaijan will restore
this integrity either through negotiations or any other options.”

The formula “any other options” often refers to the use of force.

“For us, the settlement of the Karabakh conflict means the restoration
of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Azerbaijan has always and
will always be ready to discuss any issue within this framework,”
Hasanov said.

Hasanov’s comments echo remarks by Defence Minister Safar Abiyev,
who said yesterday that since the OSCE Minsk Group had not produced
concrete results, Azerbaijan was obliged to take back the occupied
territories by other means and was, therefore, strengthening its
armed forces.

Azerbaijani officials tend to refer to resolving the Karabakh conflict
by “other means” when they are frustrated by lack of progress in the
peace talks.

The Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made claims on the
Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. In a bitter war Armenian
armed forces occupied a swathe of Azerbaijani land, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Despite a
ceasefire in 1994, no long-term peace agreement has been reached.

The nub of the conflict remains unresolved – the competing claims of
territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan insists takes precedence in
the case of Karabakh, and self-determination, which Armenia wants to
see for the Armenians of Karabakh.

From: Baghdasarian