Month: February 2012

AZERI OPPOSITION PLANS PROTESTS AHEAD OF EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

ANS TV
Feb 18 2012
Azerbaijan

[translated from Azeri]

[Presenter] The [opposition umbrella group] Public Chamber has stated
it intends to stage protests to demand the release of political
prisoners as a precondition for the government when the preparations
are under way for the Eurovision song contest scheduled for May
in Baku. The [pro-government] Motherland Party and [the ruling]
New Azerbaijan Party have described this step of the opposition as
a blow to interests of Azerbaijan.

[Correspondent] The Public Chamber is preparing to stage protests
to demand the release of those whom it calls political prisoners in
the run-up to the Eurovision song contest. The Public Chamber states
that if their demands are not met, they will take steps to persuade
thousands of journalists to visit the country to cover the song
contest only and speak about political prisoners and corruption. The
appearance of protesters in front of journalists by wearing shirts
with pictures of the so-called political prisoners is also part of
the plan. A member of Public Chamber, Panah Huseyn, has told ANS TV’s
“Aciq Sohbat” (Open Talk) talk show that the Public Chamber is not
against the holding of the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan.

However, in order to ensure that this event is held in a normal manner,
the authorities should take steps to release persons being considered
as political prisoners.

[Panah Huseyn] [If someone] is being kept in prison without any facts
and argument, based on some repressive purpose, we cannot remain
silent about this as we also have hearts. This does not correspond
to both the interests of Azerbaijan and the interests of the event
to be held in the country.

[Correspondent] It should be recalled that the Public Chamber has
not made a final decision to this effect yet. But some leaders of
the political parties have spoken against their plan. The chairman
of the Motherland Party, MP Fazail Agamali, believes that the Public
Chamber’s preconditions for the government is wrong.

[Fazail Agamali, chairman of the Motherland Party] The attempts to
compare the song contest with rallies and people whom the Public
Chamber calls prisoners of conscience and raising this topic today
are not understandable.

[Correspondent] The executive secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party,
Ali Ahmadov, describes the Public Chamber’s intention as a blow to
the interests of Azerbaijan. According to him, if someone opposes
the holding of the song contest in Azerbaijan, it means that he is
in the same position with Armenians.

[Ali Ahmadov, executive secretary of the New Azerbaijani Party] It is
difficult to imagine the second one who had no desire for the holding
of the song contest in Azerbaijan as much as Armenians. In that case, I
consider that there is no difference between the attempts of Armenians
and attempts of those in Azerbaijan who are trying to prevent the
conduct of the song contest in the country or cast a shadow on it.

[Passage omitted; a vox pop held among Baku residents]

[translated from Azeri]

MILITARY PROSECUTOR: FRENCH LAW ON GENOCIDE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND BARELY LEGAL

Trend
Feb 22 2012
Azerbaijan

The law criminalising the denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide”
adopted by the French Senate is far from legal standards and is
politically motivated, military prosecutor Khanlar Veliyev told
reporters on Wednesday.

He said this law violates the international principle of the court’s
justice, creates the possibility of criminal prosecution of citizens
for their comments and opinions which does not correspond to the
world of jurisprudence.

“Amazingly, that at a time when hundreds of witnesses of the Khojaly
tragedy are alive, there are numerous photos and videos, including
those taken by representatives of foreign media of the crimes committed
by Armenian fascists in Khojaly, Garadagly and other towns and villages
of Azerbaijan remain hidden, but attention to events taken place a 100
years ago and unconfirmed by evidence such attention is being paid,”
the military prosecutor said.

He said that even if we leave aside the legal aspect of this problem,
it should be noted that the fact of the so-called “Armenian genocide”
in Turkey is not only denied by modern scholars, it was absolutely
denied by reputable researchers also immediately after World War I.

Victorious countries in World War I and specifically the UK Attorney
General’s Office, conducted an investigation in many countries into
cases of more than a 100 Turks, whom Armenians accused of committing
genocide. Investigations held by the UK General Prosecutor’s Office
during two years into Caucasus, Iraq, Egypt and other countries,
found no legally justified evidence of killings of Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire and on June 29, 1921 it ruled there were no grounds
for criminal prosecution on these events.

“This decision of the British General Prosecutor’s Office not only
provides a basis to declare that there was no genocide of Armenians,
but also debunks all of their claims. The paradox is that during
the famous clashes of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire more Turks than
Armenians were killed. However it is still not recognised because of
the existence of double standards,” Mr Veliyev noted.

REPRESENTATIVES OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS DISCUSS WAYS OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Trend
Feb 22 2012
Azerbaijan

The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals has been held
in Moscow today.

The ways of peaceful settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were discussed at the meeting, rector of
the Azerbaijan National Conservatory Siyavush Karimi, who participated
in the meeting, told Trend.

He said that the details of the meeting will be announced after the
Azerbaijani delegation returns home.

Besides Karimi, Rector of the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Baku Music Academy,
USSR People’s Artist Farhad Badalbeyli, Rector of the Baku Slavic
University, professor Kamal Abdulla, Director of the Muslim Magomayev
State Philharmonic Hall Murad Adigozalzade represented the Azerbaijani
delegation that took part in the meeting of intellectuals.

The meeting was held at the initiative of Russian President’s Special
Representative for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi.

Moreover, Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, former
Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan attended the meeting.

This is the third meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding negotiations to resolve the dispute.

Armenia has failed to implement UN Security Council resolutions
stipulating the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.

NEXT MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS TO BE HELD AT EDITORIAL OFFICE OF THE ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA TODAY

APA
Feb 22 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. The next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals
will be held today at the editorial office of the Rossiyskaya gazeta,
said Mikhail Shvidkoy, Special Representative of the Russian President
for International Cultural Cooperation, in his article published in
the Rossiyskaya gazeta, APA reports.

The author says that it is the first meeting between the intellectuals
of the two nations after the four-year break.

“The four-year break can not be accidental. Though there has not
been a break in the diplomatic intercourse, it has been impossible
to continue the humanitarian dialogue initiated by Polad Bulbuloglu
and Armen Smbatyan, who were culture ministers of the two countries,
and then the ambassadors of these countries to Russia,” he said.

“Compromise is not the sign of weakness, it is the sign of power. The
sign of intellectual power. The decision to launch dialogue on the
humanitarian level gained an impetus after the Sochi meeting of
Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents,” he said.

APA reports that though the members of the Azerbaijani delegation
that will attend the meeting are not publicized, it is known that
rector of Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, people’s
artist Farhad Bedelbeyli will attend the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

COMPOSITION OF AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION ATTENDING MEETING WITH ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS IN MOSCOW KNOWN

APA
Feb 22 2012
Azerbaijan

Moscow, Farid Akbarov – APA. The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
intellectuals in Moscow is being continued at the Central House
of Literature.

APA’s Moscow bureau reports that after the meeting held at the
editorial office of the Rossiyskaya gazeta, the delegations of two
countries came to the Central House of Literature. The meeting is
being continued.

The composition of the Azerbaijani delegation attending the meeting has
been known. Rector of Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli,
people’s artist Farhad Bedelbeyli, rector of Baku Slavic University,
Professor Kamal Abdulla, rector of Azerbaijan State National
Conservatory Siyavush Kerimi, director of the State Philharmonic Hall
Murad Adigozalov are representing Azerbaijan at the meeting.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, Armenian former
Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan, Special Representative of the
Russian President for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail
Shvidkoy are also attending the meeting.

The news about the meeting was publicized by Mikhail Shvidkoy, Special
Representative of the Russian President for International Cultural
Cooperation, in his article published in the Rossiyskaya gazeta. It
is the third meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS DECIDE TO MEET IN MAY

APA
Feb 22 2012
Azerbaijan

Mikhail Shvidkoy: “Today’s meeting in Moscow was held in very positive
atmosphere”

Moscow. Farid Akberov- APA. Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals will
hold their next meeting in May, Special Representative of the Russian
President for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Svidkoy told
APA correspondent. He said the meeting between the intellectuals of
both countries at the editorial office of Rossiyskaya Gazeta today was
positive. “The meeting was held in very positive atmosphere. I can’t
say what issues were discussed at the meeting, but it was decided to
hold such meetings frequently. The sides decided to hold next meeting
in this format in May”. Shvidkoy didn’t say where the next meeting
will be held.

From: Baghdasarian

FARHAD BEDELBEYLI: THE MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS WAS HELD IN NORMAL ATMOSPHERE

APA
Feb 22 2012
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani and Armenian embassy in Russia will issue a joint statement
on the meeting

Moscow, Farid Akbarov – APA. “The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
intellectuals was held in normal atmosphere, Azerbaijani and Armenian
ambassadors to Russia also attended the meeting,” Rector of Baku
Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, people’s artist Farhad
Bedelbeyli, who attended the meeting, told APA’s Moscow correspondent.

He said the participants of the meeting will not give detailed
information about the discussions.

“We decided not to give information about the meeting. The embassies
of the two countries will issue a statement. I can only say that
it was decided to continue such meetings. The meeting between the
intellectuals has not ended, the discussions will be continued in
the evening,” he said.

The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals has been held
today at the editorial office of the Rossiyskaya gazeta. Rector of
Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, people’s artist
Farhad Bedelbeyli, rector of Baku Slavic University, Professor Kamal
Abdulla, rector of Azerbaijan State National Conservatory Siyavush
Kerimi, director of the State Philharmonic Hall Murad Adigozalzadeh
are representing Azerbaijan at the meeting.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, Armenian former
Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan, Special Representative of the
Russian President for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail
Shvidkoy are also attending the meeting.

Mikhail Shvidkoy told APA’s Moscow correspondent that the next meeting
of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals will be held in May. He
did not say where the meeting will be held.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI EMBASSY IN RUSSIA ISSUES STATEMENT ON MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS IN MOSCOW

APA
Feb 22 2012
Azerbaijan

Moscow. Farid Akbarov – APA. Azerbaijani embassy in Russia has issued
a statement on the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals
in Moscow.

The embassy told APA’s Moscow bureau that taking into account the
recommendations made at the meeting of Azerbaijani, Armenian and
Russian presidents in Sochi on January 23, 2012, the meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals was organized in Moscow within
the framework of the development of humanitarian relations.

Representatives and ambassadors of the two countries participated in
the opening performance of the Musical Theater headed by Mikhail
Shvidkoy, Special Representative of the Russian President for
International Cultural Cooperation. Chairman of the Russian State Duma
Sergey Narishkin, famous art and culture figures, representatives of
the diplomatic corps in Moscow attended the event.

The delegations also held a meeting at the Public Chamber of
the Russian Federation. Rector of Baku Music Academy named after
Uzeyir Hajibeyli, people’s artist Farhad Bedelbeyli, rector of Baku
Slavic University, Professor Kamal Abdulla, rector of Azerbaijan
State National Conservatory Siyavush Kerimi, director of the State
Philharmonic Hall Murad Adigozalzadeh and Azerbaijani Ambassador to
Russia Polad Bulbuloglu represented Azerbaijan at the meeting. Rector
of State Theater and Cinematography Institute Armen Mazmanian,
parliamentarian Germine Nagdalian, editor-in-chief of Aravot newspaper
Aram Abramyan, director of Rolan Bykov Foundation Nune Manukyan and
Ambassador Oleg Esayan represented Armenia. Mikhail Shvidkoy, first
deputy chairman of the Public Chamber Mikhail Ostrovskiy, head of the
Public Chamber’s working group on international cooperation and public
diplomacy Alexander Sokolov, member of the Russian Public Chamber’s
commission for tolerance and freedom of conscience Alla Gerber and
member of the Russian Public Chamber’s commission on support for mass
media Andrey Dementyev also attended the meeting. Executive director
of the Humanitarian Cooperation Foundation of the CIS Armen Smbatyan
also attended the meeting.

Following this, the delegations continued the meeting at the editorial
office of the Rossiyskaya gazeta. Editor-in-chief of the newspaper
Vladislav Fronin, assistant editor Yadviga Yuferova and deputy director
general, head of the department for international projects Yevgeniy
Abov attended the meeting.

Editor-in-chief of the Rossiyskaya gazeta Vladislav Fronin made a
keynote speech at the meeting. The sides underlined the importance
of tolerance in Azerbaijani and Armenian societies, necessity of
increasing responsibility of media representatives.

The delegations continued the talks at the dinner organized by
Mikhail Shvidkoy, Special Representative of the Russian President
for International Cultural Cooperation.

The representatives from both sides gave various proposals.

Azerbaijani Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia
Polad Bulbuloglu said he wishes to put forward several initiatives
before the two countries.

“If these proposals are accepted, it is necessary to start their
realization,” he said.

The proposal was supported by the participants of the meeting.

MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS FINISHED IN MOSCOW

MilAz.info
Feb 22 2012
Azerbaijan

The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals has finished
in Moscow.

APA’s Moscow correspondent reports that the meeting was held at the
editorial office of the Rossiyskaya gazeta. No information was given
to media representatives about the issues discussed at the closed
meeting. The meeting of intellectuals of both countries will be
continued in Moscow’s Central House of Literature.

The news about the meeting was publicized by Mikhail Shvidkoy, Special
Representative of the Russian President for International Cultural
Cooperation, in his article published in the Rossiyskaya gazeta.

Though the composition of the Azerbaijani delegation, which will
participate in the meeting, was not announced, it was possible to learn
that rector of the Baku Musical Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli,
people’s artist Farhad Badalbayli will participate in the meeting.

It is the third meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROUEN : J’IRAI REVOIR MON ARMENIE

Paris Normandie

20 fevrier 2012
France

CULTURE. Maya Margaryan, a peine arrivee a Rouen, fait partager sa
culture au sein de France-Armenie-Russie.

Chez elle, a Erevan, Maya Margaryan est une star. Elle donne des
concerts, joue dans des series tele, au theâtre et dans des films.

Cette enfant de la balle, nee dans une famille d’acteurs, a tourne
en Belgique, en Hollande, en Australie et meme au Kamchatka.

Mais depuis son arrivee a Rouen a la fin de l’annee dernière, elle
a retrouve un anonymat qu’elle ne regrette pas. ” C’est vrai, c’est
un changement radical mais j’aime bien me lancer dans de nouveaux
defis et puis l’Armenie, c’est vraiment tout petit. J’ai l’impression
d’en avoir fait le tour “, precise cette diplômee en philologie de
l’universite d’Erevan.

Une opinion partagee par son mari, Tigran Davtyan, realisateur pour la
television armenienne qui a fait le voyage avec elle. ” Il travaille
actuellement sur un scenario tout en etudiant le système audiovisuel
francais. ”

Des projets de cooperation culturelle

Dès son arrivee, Maya s’est rapproche de l’association FAR
(France-Armenie-Russie), presidee par Marie Ghukasyan. Cette
association propose a ses adherents des cours de langues (armenien,
russe et francais) et de danses, anime des manifestations et prepare
des projets de cooperation culturelle entre la France et l’Armenie.

Maya anime pour la FAR des cours de danses en faisant decouvrir les
traditions folkloriques des pays de l’Est mais modernisees, comme
revisitees a la sauce pop-folk.

” Un proverbe armenien dit que chez nous, une personne sur deux est un
chanteur et c’est vrai, affirme l’artiste. Le jazz est très developpe
et rares sont les familles armeniennes dont les enfants ne font pas
de musique ou de la peinture. C’est un pays culturellement très riche
mais qui souffre d’un public trop restreint. ”

A Rouen, ville qu’elle adore, Maya n’espère pas devenir celèbre
mais elle espère bien pouvoir partager sa culture d’origine avec
les Normands.

Association FAR : 06.09.13.29.54, 06.18.44.96. 99 et 02.76.52.52.49