Month: February 2012

ARMENIA AND ITS LEADERS HAVE ALWAYS USED CHRISTIAN FACTOR

Trend
Feb 21 2012
Azerbaijan

First blood in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was shed on
Feb 22, 1988. Two days earlier, on Feb 20, the Council of People’s
Deputies of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region decided to secede
from the Azerbaijan SSR and the join the Armenian SSR, head of the
Center of Political Innovations and Technologies, a political scientist
Mubariz Ahmedoglu reminded at a briefing on Tuesday.

As it’s known, the Azerbaijani population of Nagorno-Karabakh met with
dissatisfaction that decision. The population of the Aghdam region
joined peaceful protest, which was held on February 22 by locals of
the Askeran region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

But at a time when the parties actually reached an agreement
and began to loom the possibility of a peaceful return of the
Azerbaijani population, the Armenians opened fire and killed two
young Azerbaijanis, Mr Ahmedoglu recalled.

“Due to the fact that this crime has not received at the time a proper
assessment, four days after this, on Feb 26 Armenians organized the
murder of their own countrymen- Armenians in Sumgait. But apparently,
the blood shed during the Sumgayit events also didn’t satisfy them,
and they committed many other murders, including the Khojaly genocide,”
the political scientist said.

The theoretical and ideological foundations of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict was laid in late November 1987 in an interview, which
then-economic adviser to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, ethnic
Armenian academician Abel Aghanbekyan gave to the French newspaper
“L’Humanite”,” the political scientist noted.

“Proposal of academician economist Aghanbekyan on the exclusion of
Nagorny Karabakh from the Azerbaijan SSR and its inclusion in the
Armenian SSR was an event, which affected the economic situation in
the USSR as a whole,” Mr Ahmedoglu believes.

An article in “L’Humanite” was not the only support that the French
gave to the Armenians, and in 1987 the European Parliament, with the
active participation of the French socialists adopted a resolution
recognizing the “Armenian genocide”, he stressed.

Mr Ahmedoglu said Armenia and its leaders have always used the
Christian factor in their interests, they still continue to do so.

“Before getting into the presidential chair Serzh Sargsyan in the
United States called Armenia ‘last stronghold of Christianity in
the South’. And now the leaders of Armenia during their visits to
other countries under the brand name of “cultural cooperation” sign
various agreements. In fact, the cultural co-operation in the minds of
Armenians means Christian solidarity,” the political scientist noted.

The Armenians are forced to engage in massive fraud, as everything
connected with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is against their position,
said Mr Ahmedoglu. Therefore, the Armenians are trying to change the
name of the “Nagorno-Karabakh” by “Artsakh”. But their efforts have
not yielded significant results.

He said the turning point in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
can occur at any time. The processes occurring in the international
arena, including in Europe, provide the basis for this turn.

“Any change will be to the detriment of Armenia. Armenia, which
doesn’t take into consideration, or neutralize the initiatives put
forward by the president of Russia at a meeting in Sochi, may face
a persistent pressure from France,” – said Ahmedoglu.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CSTO HAS NO LEGAL RIGHT TO INTERVENE IN SITUATION AROUND NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Trend
Feb 21 2012
Azerbaijan

Speculation around the issue of unconditional protection of Armenia
by the Organization of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
in all possible scenarios of developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh
should cause at least surprise.

Armenia will receive all necessary assistance in case of aggravation
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Secretary General of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha said today.

“Armenia is a full CSTO member. It is obliged to present its
capabilities to ensure the collective security of another country
and has the right to receive the same support from its allies,”
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General
Nikolai Bordyuzha said today at a news conference in RIA Novosti.

However, the error, which is repeated from year to year by Mr
Bordyuzha, speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can hardly
account for his ignorance.

By law, according to the right to collective defense in accordance
with Article 51 of the UN Charter, the CSTO has the right to provide
the State party with the necessary assistance, including military,
in the case of an act of aggression against the state party itself,
in this case – Armenia. But what does the Nagorno-Karabakh have to
do with this?

Military scenario over Nagorno-Karabakh does not envisage and will
never envisage the attack of Azerbaijan on Armenia. Is there at least
one state in the world today, which doubts that Nagorno Karabakh is
not Armenia, but the territory, which de jure belongs to Azerbaijan?

They can not be interpret this fact to please their own interests,
since there is no country in the world that would recognize
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and cast doubt on the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.

If we look at the situation impartially, Yerevan should understand that
despite loud statements of the Secretary General of the CSTO, Armenia’s
membership in the Organization of Collective Security Treaty does not
guarantee that the members will come to the rescue of Yerevan in the
case of a military invasion of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh.

Legally, the CSTO has no right to do it, because the Nagorno-Karabakh
is a part of Azerbaijan and in no way relates to any of the CSTO member
states, and Baku is not going to declare the war to a member of the
CSTO – Armenia, for which the rest of the organization’s members
could stand up.

By the way, even commitments taken by Armenia to protect
Nagorno-Karabakh to the present day have no international recognition.

The CSTO has repeatedly rejected the assumption of its participation
in peacekeeping operation in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
stressing that the Nagorno-Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan.

“Azerbaijan is not a member to the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, and we can not without its consent to enter our units
on its territory. Our charter clearly says that without the consent
of the country that is not a member of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, our structure has no right to carry out any military
operations on its territory,” the CSTO press-service said in July,
2009. Nothing has changed since then, Nagorno-Karabakh is still part
of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TO RECEIVE NECESSARY AID IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT, CSTO

Trend
Feb 21 2012
Azerbaijan

21 February 2012, 15:13 (GMT+04:00) “Armenia is a full CSTO member. It
is obliged to present its capabilities to ensure the collective
security of another country and has the right to receive the same
support from its allies,” Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said today at a news
conference in RIA Novosti.

He said it is impossible to envisage a crisis situation in CSTO
member states.

“There are scenarios similar to those in Kyrgyzstan,” he said. “There
are scenarios for how a crisis could develop in Belarus, Russia or
Kazakhstan. Everything depends on the particular format of actiona
and in which country the situation arises.”

Bordyuzha said besides the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces, the
CSTO has the political and peacekeeping potential of influencing
the environment.

“We have potential associated with the use of operational units to
combat terrorism and the drug mafia, as well as criminal gangs in
the area of information security and migration,” Bordyuzha said.

“However, I reiterate that Armenia will receive all necessary
assistance as a full member,” he concluded.

The 20th anniversary of signing the Treaty on Collective Security
Treaty (CST) and the 10th anniversary of the CSTO establishment, which
includes such countries as Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are marked this year.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent 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 peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

AZERBAIJANI MPS SHARPLY PROTEST CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL’S STATEMENT

Trend
Feb 21 2012
Azerbaijan

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General
Nikolai Bordyuzha made statements today beyond his powers, Azerbaijani
MP Aydin Mirzazade told Trend today.

“There is the impression that Bordyuzha is not aware of the
organization’s charter,” he said. “The CSTO must ensure the security of
member countries. As everybody knows, Nagorno-Karabakh is not Armenian
territory. The whole world and Armenia do not recognize the so-called
‘Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.'”

He said the whole world recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Talks are not held between Azerbaijan and the occupied territory’s
so-called “leadership.” Negotiations are held between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, he said.

“So, many times, the leaders of CSTO member states point out that
the matter concerns Armenia’s security,” Mirzazade said.

Azerbaijan does not intend to retreat from its recognized borders,
Mirzazade said.

“I regret that a representative of such a vast country like Russia
makes statements that go beyond the charter of the organization he
heads,” he said.

He said Azerbaijan may restore its territorial integrity through
diplomatic negotiations or military means. Azerbaijan actively works
in both directions, he said.

“Bordyuzha must apologize to Azerbaijan for its statement,” he said.

“If the CSTO head supports the aggressive policy of CSTO member states,
it is necessary to express a strong protest.”

MP Fazil Mustafa said Azerbaijan will take action only after all
issues are considered.

“It has become clear for 20 years who will act on the side of Armenia,”
he said. “These statements have no meaning. We need to train at a
high level. In case of a war, we must hit a decisive blow.

Azerbaijan must try to find allies. Turkey is not enough.”

RED CROSS MEMBERS VISIT ARMENIANS KEPT IN AZERBAIJAN

Trend
Feb 21 2012
Azerbaijan

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
visited three Armenian POWs and five members of one family kept in
captivity in Azerbaijan, the ICRC Baku Office told Trend.

The ICRC representatives delivered 7 ‘Red Cross’ letters to captives
and received 3 ‘Red Cross’ letters from the family.

At present, there are three Armenian POWs and five members of one
family in captivity in Azerbaijan.

One Azerbaijani POW is in captivity in Armenia. Junior Sergeant
Mammadbagir Akhunzade was captivated in January.

BOYADJIAN LOOKS FOR SOLIDARITY, SOLACE AT GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL
by Tom Vartabedian

February 21, 2012

LEXINGTON, Mass.-Let the music ring. Let it ring loud and clear,
uniting Armenians across the universe.

Hayg Boyadjian envisions a pan-Armenian concert for genocide
centennial.

Hayg Boyadjian can’t think of a better way to commemorate the Armenian
Genocide centennial in 2015 than with music and an appreciation for
the arts. After all, he says, it’s the universal language.

The Lexington-based composer shared with me his thoughts on his
eminent career, which has resulted in 13 recordings over the past 4
decades. We sat him down following an Avak luncheon at St. Gregory
Church in North Andover after he addressed a large noonday crowd.

Since immigrating here in 1958 from Argentina, Boyadjian has carved
a prominent niche into the classical music world, from chamber to
symphonic. A number of his recordings are available through the
American Music Center and online through Sibelius Music.

The 73-year-old lives in Lexington with his wife Brigette and is
currently working on an “Armenian Suite.” The couple has a daughter
and two grandchildren. When Boyadjian isn’t at the piano composing,
he’s tuning the instruments professionally.

Q. When did your love for music begin?

A. As a 16-year-old growing up in Buenos Aires. My father was a
tailor. My mother handled the sewing. We were four brothers, none
of the others musicians. I began listening to classical music and
never stopped.

Q. How would you classify your music?

A. Modern classical works that cover this century.

Q. Is there a demand for this?

A. Limited. Even in Beethoven’s time, it was limited. More people enjoy
this music today than in Beethoven’s time due to mass communication
and the technology that’s available.

Q. Why has it taken so long for people to recognize your music?

A. If you’re talking about the Armenian community, people aren’t
open to modern classical. If I was writing like Gomidas Vartabed,
people would know me. Because I use a language that’s very modern and
difficult to appreciate, my music isn’t recognizable as an Armenian
suite. If you listen enough and give it time, you’ll appreciate it.

It’s challenging, yet stimulating.

Q. What inspired you to become a composer?

A. I bought a piano at age 18, left Argentina 2 years later, and had
already started harmony and counterpoint. I attended the New England
Conservatory in Boston, got a degree in economics from Northeastern
University, and returned to music at Brandeis University, studying
composition and orchestration. My music appears on 13 CDs, including
a solo on the Albany label.

Q. Your most provocative recording?

A. “Thirty-two Variations on Bach” for piano solo, a 40-minute piece
that took a year to compose in between two other works. I work on
multiple pieces most of the time, though deadlines and commissions
always take precedence. The Bach work will be performed this October
at the Gomidas Concert Hall in Yerevan. It’s a complex piece that
brings Bach to the present.

Q. Biggest highlight in your career?

A. An hour-long piece done in two sections called “Oratorio-Time of
Silence” for symphony orchestra, choir, soprano, and speaker. The
subject is genocide. It premiered at Sanders Theater in Cambridge with
60 musicians and a choir of 100. It was the last recording my father
heard from me before his death two days later. The piece found his
way to Yerevan and was broadcast annually for many years thereafter.

Q. Are you approached by Armenian groups to compose music?

A. Only twice over the past 40 years. One was for St. Vartan’s
Cathedral in New York City, dedicated to the martyrs, and again by St.

James Church when poet Hovhannes Shiraz died in the 1980’s, a piece
for trumpet and percussion, which was later performed in Yerevan. I’m
better received in the American community and this bothers me.

Q. Tell me about your newest work “Vientos,” which has received
critical acclaim.

A. In Spanish, “vientos” means “wind.” Spanish is one of my languages,
along with French, Armenian, German, and English. The piece is
original, incorporating my entire background, and employs a constant
shift in direction with French, Italian, and Armenian visages to create
harmony. The pieces are intermingled, much like a carpet being weaved,
and runs 11 minutes. I wrote it for the musicians performing it-a
commission for guitar, violin, and mandolin.

Q. You’re working on an Armenian suite?

A. It was originally written four years ago for piano and trombone
after a woman from California commissioned it for her son. I later
adapted it for the Rivers Music School in Weston, featuring two oboes
and piano, then adapted a third piece to include horn and piano, which
has yet to be performed. Now I’ve orchestrated it adding an additional
minute of music. The CD is in limbo waiting to be released. I was
told this could be my signature piece.

Q. Who do you respect as a modern Armenian composer?

A. One would be Yerevan’s Dikran Mansurian. He’s the most prominent
composer of this generation. Another would be Levon Chavoushian,
also from Yerevan.

Q. How many times have you been to Armenia?

A. Ten. I go there to visit my composer friends and honor a concert
commitment. I also enjoy hiking in Armenia. For me, it’s the beauty
of the hike, not the destination. Between my wife and me, we’ve done
the entire Presidential Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Q. Who might your favorite non-Armenian composer be?

A. This would be like deciding which of my fingers to have amputated
or which chocolate to choose from a box. Bach and Beethoven are my
pillars-the foundation of my music.

Q. What would society be like without music?

A. Dormant. No purpose to live. Music stimulates us. It is food for
the soul. When I listen to a Chopin waltz, it rejuvenates me. If I
don’t cry during the last scene of “La Traviata,” it’s time to give
up Verdi. You would have to be a piece of steel not to be affected.

Q. How do you feel about today’s music?

A. Some of it is real good with the likes of Madonna and Lady Gaga. I
also like Beyonce. Michael Jackson was an incredible musician.

Instrumentally, I lean toward violinist Gil Shaham and pianist Russell
Sherman, who lives in my city. Pianist/conductor Daniel Barenboim is
from Argentina. I heard him as a child and knew he’d make it.

Q. What are your impressions of Armenia?

A. Economically, the conditions are difficult due to the lack
of funding. If Armenia had an open border, this would work to its
advantage. We’ve made big progress in terms of lifestyle, compared to
the previous generation. The arts are suffering. People don’t have
the resources to attend concerts. Performers are underpaid. Good
musicians leave to play elsewhere. Tourism has been a lifesaver.

Q. Do you tune pianos?

A. Ever since 1960. On a busy day, I’ll tune four instruments.

Sometimes I’ll play bits of Mozart and Beethoven to test the sound. An
average piano should be tuned annually.

Q. Tell me something about yourself that might surprise others.

A. I’m into astronomy. Hayg in Armenian means “Orion” in the
constellation-three stars in a line portraying a hunter. I enjoy
studying the stars and find the entire universe amazing with its
vast setting.

Q. How should we commemorate the genocide centennial in 2015?

A. With a multi-cultural event that involves all Armenian churches
and organizations together that transcends our cause and exposes us
en masse to the greater American community. Let us turn our focus upon
the arts and music. Through these mediums, we can convey our feelings
in a way that others may embrace. They speak a universal language.

TAX SYSTEM TO IMPROVE IN ARMENIA

NEWS.AM
February 22, 2012 | 00:37

Increase of tax revenues will occur due to administration improvements
in Armenia. This is stated in the plan of Armenia~Rs tax administration
for 2012-2014 which was presented to the government.

The plan takes into account the forecasted growth of Armenia~Rs
economy and the proportional changes in the tax administration.

The State Revenue Committee which is in charge of the tax and customs
branches promises to be more transparent and objective and to create
an atmosphere of trust.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YOUNG COUNTRYMAN DATED CITY GIRL, PHOTOGRAPHED HER NAKED AND TRIED TO BLACKMAIL IN ARMENIA

news.am
February 22, 2012 | 00:09

YEREVAN. – Resident of Armenian Aragatsotn Region’s Gegharot village
Varujan Amirkhanyan,23, who had taken pictures of a naked girl and
blackmailed her demanding AMD 70,000, was sentenced a fine of AMD
500,000, the spokesperson of Armenia’s Attorney General Sona Truzyan
told the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Varujan got acquainted with the girl through social networks and dated
her. During one of their dates the young man photographed the girl
naked and demanded AMD 70 thousand for not publishing the photographs.

1.5-YEAR-OLD CHILD OF INSANE MURDERER DIES IN ORPHANAGE (VIDEO)

news.am
February 21, 2012 | 20:58

In Armenian Lori region’s Darpas village the 1.5-year-old baby of a
man, who had killed his father and his wife, died in the orphanage
24 days after the incident, the director of the Vanadzor Orphanage
informed.

The director of the orphanage added that the child had been taken to
the orphanage already sick.

“During all 1.5 years of his life the child has not been taken care
of properly. He would have died anywhere,” the director said.

The father of the child was recognized as insane and he is in a mental
hospital now.

To remind, the resident of Armenian Lori Region’s Darpas village
Martin Abrahamyan had killed his father, then his wife.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LAW ENFORCERS’ REPORT AGAINST MPS DISCUSSED IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT

news.am
February 21, 2012 | 18:26

YEREVAN. – During the Armenian parliament seating on Tuesday the
charges presented by Special Investigative Service (SIS) against the
MPs from ruling Republican Party of Armenia were discussed. The MPs
are charged for illegally voting on behalf of other MPs.

During the discussion, Armenia’s parliament Speaker Samvel Nikoyan
decided to apply to the parliament groups calling them to undertake
works towards preventing such incidents in the future.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the SIS had presented a
report in which Armenian MPs from Armenia’s Republican Party were
charged for voting on behalf of other MPs.