Month: May 2013

AZERBAIJAN A ROLE MODEL FOR COEXISTENCE IN SYRIA

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 30 2013

Azerbaijan, a country in Turkey’s neighborhood where different cultures
and religions merge, is in a position to serve as a role model for
war-torn Syria as it is a state that is welcoming of “the other”
even though it is coping with a territorial conflict.

It has already been more than two decades since Azerbaijan cut
diplomatic relations with Armenia as the latter has continued its
aggression toward the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent
territories that are recognized as an integral part of Azerbaijan by
the international community.

“There are a lot of wars, hatred, religious extremism — and what is
happening in our dear and beloved country of Syria is threatening all
of us,” Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, director-general of the Islamic
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), said in
a press conference held late on Wednesday in Baku, where the second
World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is being held.

The forum, which has a theme of “Peaceful Coexistence in a
Multicultural World,” kicked off in Baku on May 28 and will continue
until June 1. The heads of international organizations, current and
former presidents of several nations and the ministers of more than
100 countries are attending the forum.

Altwaijri called Azerbaijan a real model of coexistence and peaceful
interaction in accepting “the other” and said that since 2005 he has
been traveling to the country and seeing changes in the mentality of
its people. “They want to be an example both in the nation’s region
as well as in other troublesome regions. They want to show that their
way is a path to progress and development — not dictatorship, and
not neglecting and isolating important components of the community,”
he said.

In his speech, Altwaijri wished for a very quick recovery for the
Syrian people and dignity and independence for Syria. He underlined
that ISESCO does not want anyone from the outside to intervene
in Syria.

“We want Syrians to solve their problems and to find what is best
for them,” he stated.

Speaking with regards to dialogue and tolerance, Altwaijri said that
unfortunately, nothing is encouraging these notions in the Middle
East. “The sectarian feelings that are mounting are threatening
the fabric of our society and the interests of its people, as well
as the safety of states’ independence. Wise people on all fronts
must work together to tear down these factors that break ties and
bonds that normally bring people together,” he said. He also urged
the international community not to introduce religion as a tool for
political and regional struggles. “Religion is sacred,” he stated,
“and when religion is used as an instrument to create hatred and
division, there is no more purity in our belief — because religion
is mercy, whether it is for Islam or other religions.”

The ISESCO director-general said that people in the world need
to get to know one another better and to better respect each
other to coexist as humans and to build a better future for coming
generations. He expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani government
for exemplifying this and hosting the forum, as well as for bringing
people from different backgrounds together to talk and work toward
saving humanity from all types of religious and racial phobias.

Katherine Stenou, a representative from the UN Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said in a speech at the forum that
the organization is trying to create synergy for global cooperation and
that Azerbaijan could be an asset to peaceful coexistence in the world.

“We are trying to create a new hub here, and we are more than happy …

that Baku could be the hub of this new way of thinking,” she said.

Commenting on Stenou’s wish to see Baku as a center for intercultural
dialogue, Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism Ebulfes Garayev
said that citizens and the state of Azerbaijan support Stenou’s
thoughts and views.

According to a decree issued by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
after the first World Forum, it will continue to be he held in
Azerbaijan every second year.

AZERBAIJAN-GEORGIA MILITARY COOPERATION AND TURKEY’s INFLUENCE (2)

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 30 2013

ZAUR SHIRIYEV
[email protected]

As discussed in my previous column, the political-military realities
of the post-2008 period saw changes in the military strategies of
Baku and Tbilisi, with each country redefining its priorities. These
changes have demonstrated some key differences between the policies
pursued by each government. The main difference is that Azerbaijan,
with its huge military budget, is better equipped to purchase military
equipment from foreign companies or countries. However, due to
restrictions on arms sales, Baku can only trade with a few partners,
mainly the former Soviet countries (Ukraine, Russia and Belarus),
though it also has a strong partnership with Israel in this field.

Unlike Baku, Georgia’s smaller military budget has restricted the
development of its defense industry, and it also has doubts about
cooperating with Israel; both of these factors have led Tbilisi to
look for new opportunities.

In this regard, both countries focused on the development of their
defense industries and bilateral cooperation in this sector for the
following key reasons:

>From a strategic perspective, both countries would like reduce their
dependency on foreign military suppliers and better provide for their
armies, both in terms of military readiness and modernization. The
development of their defense industries may allow them to sell their
own weapons to foreign countries; they may be able to start trading
with former Soviet Union (FSU) and Central Asian countries.

>From a military perspective, the short-term aim for both countries
in terms of the defense industry is to produce drones, tanks and
different kinds of artillery.

>From an intelligence perspective, Tbilisi, with its more modernized
military intelligence service, could provide military cadre training.

The two countries can also share military intelligence more frequently
and cooperate to combat common military/non-military threats; their
2002 mutual defense agreement stressed this point.

Therefore, since 2009, defense industry cooperation between Azerbaijan
and Georgia has been improving. The reason for this is that since 2008,
new opportunities have arisen. Prior to 2008, Baku had long demanded
that Tbilisi stop letting Armenia repair its battle tanks and other
armored techniques at a Russian munitions factory in Tbilisi.

Once Georgia cut ties with Moscow and agreed, high level ministry
of defense visits from Azerbaijan to Georgia commenced and both
sides reached a compromise. This stimulated the development of their
defense industry cooperation. The initial agreement was for Baku to
help modernize Georgia’s tanks and aircraft repair plants.

But defense cooperation between the two countries is likely to become
stronger, especially after Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania
took office and declared that one of the country’s priorities will
be enhancing and strengthening its defense cooperation with close
strategic allies, namely Azerbaijan and Turkey. On March 18, Alasania
visited Baku and signed a bilateral cooperation plan for 2013. The
details were not disclosed but cooperation is likely to include:

First of all, upgrading the military factories in both countries
and jointly producing equipment. Georgia plans to produce modernized
versions of the SU-25 aircraft at the Tbilisi Aerospace Manufacturing
Company (TAM) and Tbilisi has spoken to Azerbaijan about the financing
of the project and the establishment of joint production. Azerbaijan
purchased 13 attack aircraft from Georgia in 2002-2003, and it is
possible that Azerbaijan will buy Tbilisi Aerospace Manufacturing
Company (TAM) in the near future.

Secondly, it is in the interests of both sides to improve Azerbaijan’s
defense industry with the aim of jointly producing armored vehicles and
equipment. However in the last three years, Azerbaijan’s cooperation
with different foreign countries has opened up opportunities for
Georgia to acquire modern military technologies with the help of
Azerbaijan.

Thirdly, both countries will cooperate with Turkey, which is much
more accomplished in the defense industry. Turkey’s indigenous
defense programs encompass the full spectrum of military operations
and include major areas across land, air, sea and space. As stated
by Georgia’s defense minister, Tbilisi is interested in trilateral
format cooperation. Meanwhile, defense cooperation between Turkey and
Azerbaijan dates back further than Turkish-Georgian ties but for both,
cooperation with Turkey in the defense industry marks a new page in
their partnership.

According to military sources and Jane’s Defense Weekly’s reports,
Turkey is developing its defense industry in many areas. Its most
ambitious defense program is its indigenous fighter project F-X,
through which the country aims to eventually replace the single engine
Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft in the Turkish Air Force (TAF)
service with a nationally designed and built platform. Additionally,
In January, Turkey decided to abandon its plans to buy an off-the-shelf
system for its T-Loramids surface to-air missile (SAM) program and
is now seeking to co-develop a SAM system as part of the country’s
ambition to become self-sufficient in defense technologies.

Beyond the possible trilateral format cooperation in defense
industries, all sides agreed to jointly strengthen military exercises.

Since September 2006, under the framework of a NATO program,
trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey in
pipeline security has taken place annually. Moreover, under the
trilateral format, Azerbaijani, Georgian and Turkish special forces
conducted the Caucasus Eagle 2012 military exercises for the first
time and will conduct these every year. The next steps seem to be
Azerbaijan and Turkey’s attendance at a joint US-Georgian military
exercise in 2014, which Georgia’s defense minister suggested joining
during his visits to Baku and Ankara.

In this regard, the urgent need for an improvement in the trilateral
format of cooperation in the defense industry and military training
could be strengthened in the near future if the countries sign a
defense industry cooperation agreement at the trilateral level.

TRACES DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Le Monde, France
30 mai 2013

LE MONDE DES LIVRES | 30.05.2013 a 14h56
Par Jean-Louis Jeannelle

“L’humanite ne peut plus vivre avec, dans sa cave, le cadavre d’un
peuple assassine.” Cette phrase, par laquelle Jaurès denoncait le
massacre d’Armeniens dans l’Empire ottoman, fut prononcee en 1897,
soit dix-huit ans avant l’extermination de près d’un million et demi
d’Armeniens survenue entre avril 1915 et juillet 1916.

A l’heure actuelle, si ce genocide armenien a ete reconnu par la
France en 2001, la loi ne punit toujours pas sa negation (en depit
d’un projet de loi en 2011). Parce que nous manquons de preuves
? Non : a ceux qui s’interrogent sur les faits, Le Genocide des
Armeniens (Odile Jacob, 2006), de Raymond Kevorkian, ou Un acte
honteux. Le genocide armenien et la question de la responsabilite
turque (Denoël, 2008, reed. “Folio”, 2012) de Taner Akcam (l’un des
premiers universitaires turcs a reconnaître le genocide) apportent
toutes les reponses necessaires.

EN DECÀ OU AU-DELÀ

Les deux ouvrages qui paraissent aujourd’hui ne visent pas a prouver
quoi que ce soit ; ils se situent en deca ou au-dela des faits
survenus. La parole du temoin precède, en effet, toute recherche
historique. La publication de L’Agonie d’un peuple est exceptionnelle
a plus d’un egard : paru en 1917 dans un journal armenien, ce recit,
qui n’est autre que le premier long temoignage d’un rescape, n’avait
jamais ete traduit.

Qui en est l’auteur ? S’agit-il d’Hayg Toroyan, Armenien originaire
d’Alep qui parvint a survivre en se faisant passer pour un Arabe
chretien grâce a l’aide d’un officier allemand (alors que celui-ci
etait officiellement allie des Turcs) et qui fut le spectateur terrifie
d’innombrables massacres durant l’annee 1915 ? Ou de Zabel Essayan,
grande figure de la litterature armenienne, qui tira des souvenirs
de Toroyan un texte qu’elle signa de son nom ? Cette question est au
coeur de ce que le traducteur et auteur de la postface, Marc Nichanian,
nomme le “dilemme du temoin”, a savoir cet ecart entre le sujet de
l’experience et le sujet du recit.

Les paradoxes s’accumulent : L’Agonie d’un peuple visait a denoncer
le crime du gouvernement Jeunes-Turcs ; pourtant, il fut redige en
armenien – ecrire dans la langue du survivant ou s’adresser a la
conscience universelle, il lui fallut choisir.

Mais le plus etonnant tient peut-etre a l’ecart entre l’horreur
des scènes decrites et la reaction d’Hayg Toroyan : c’est lui qui
dut prendre soin de l’officier allemand, habite par la volonte de
“temoigner après la guerre de tous ces actes barbares”, mais peu a
peu gagne par la folie – cet officier finira d’ailleurs par se pendre
afin d’echapper au cauchemar !

POLITIQUE D’AMNESIE

Si le temoignage est une parole incarnee se deployant dans le
sillage immediat de l’extermination, bien avant qu’interviennent
les historiens, la passionnante enquete menee par Laure Marchand et
Guillaume Perrier (qui ecrivent sur la Turquie, la première pour
Le Figaro, le second pour Le Monde) porte sur les repercussions
contemporaines de l’evenement. La Turquie et le fantôme armenien
s’ouvre sur une rencontre avec la communaute d’exiles installes a
Marseille et s’achève par le portrait de quelques Justes turcs ayant
sauve la vie d’Armeniens.

Entre les deux se deploie un etonnant tableau de toutes les manières
dont traumatisme, negationnisme d’Etat, et lutte pour preserver
la memoire se melent aujourd’hui en Turquie. D’un côte, l’amnesie
collective longtemps imposee a la societe turque, où l’evocation du
genocide restait impensable, au point que certains des tortionnaires
ont ete eleves au rang de heros nationaux, que la plupart des citoyens
ignorent l’ampleur des spoliations, et que l’on n’a pas hesite a
elever le memorial d’Igdir pour commemorer “le genocide des Turcs
par les Armeniens”…

De l’autre, des figures aussi etonnantes qu’Armen Aroyan, ancien
ingenieur vivant en Californie qui a choisi de redecouvrir ses
racines en Turquie, et organise depuis une vingtaine d’annees des
circuits sur mesure pour les descendants de rescapes. Mais aussi
Hasan Cemal, journaliste très connu en Turquie, qui comprit assez
tard que son grand-père, Djemal Pacha (l’un des trois pachas du
triumvirat Jeunes-Turcs a la tete de l’Empire ottoman pendant la
première guerre mondiale) etait l’un des responsables du genocide,
et qui a publie un ouvrage sur 1915.

L’Etat turc voit arriver avec inquietude la celebration du centenaire
du genocide, en 2015. Mais l’espoir subsiste : la presence de 100
000 Turcs scandant : “Nous sommes tous des Armeniens”, le 23 janvier
2007, derrière le cercueil du journaliste Hrant Dink, assassine par un
nationaliste turc, etait un signe. Peut-etre la societe saura-t-elle
secouer cette politique d’amnesie sur laquelle continue a reposer sa
vie culturelle et politique.

AZERBAIJAN’S BEHAVIOR CAUSES BACKLASH

The aggressive behavior of Azerbaijan in the negotiations over Karabakh
causes a backlash, said the deputy foreign minister Shavarsh Kocharyan
at the parliament. He noted that recognition of NKR by a number of
American states is important as they are the first sprouts.

Such behavior of Azerbaijan will accelerate the process of recognition
of NKR.

“Azerbaijan makes bellicose statements, it threatens to resolve
the conflict by force, it would not withdraw snipers from the front
line, refuses to sign the agreement on non-resumption of hostilities,
rejects recommendations by the mediators aimed at the establishment
of confidence-building measures,” Kocharyan said. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group are the shield against Baku’s aggression, he said.

The purpose of mediators and our purpose is not to let the armistice
become a military action, he said.

17:57 30/05/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ANCA: NO NEW TRADE DEALS WHILE TURKEY BLOCKADES ARMENIA, OCCUPIES CYPRUS

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

ANCA’s Kate Nahapetian testifies

ANCA’s Nahapetian Calls for U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement and Double Tax Treaty during Testimony before U.S.

Trade Panel

WASHINGTON-During testimony earlier today before the U.S. Trade Policy
Staff Committee, Armenian National Committee of America Government
Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian called upon the U.S. government
to condition Turkey’s participation in any new Transatlantic trade
initiatives upon Ankara’s immediate lifting its blockade of Armenia
and ending its occupation of Cyprus.

Nahapetian offered the ANCA’s testimony during the first of two-days
of public hearings regarding the proposed Transatlantic Trade and
Investment Partnership (TTIP). The hearing was chaired by Doug Bell,
who heads the TPSC, and included the participation of representative
from a broad range of U.S. agencies including the Departments of
Treasury, State, Commerce, Transportation, and Health and Human
Services.

“Turkey’s blockade of Armenia, a landlocked nation, which has been in
force for more than two decades and prevents an important East-West
trade route, is among the longest-standing in modern history,”
explained Nahapetian. “This blockade is all the more objectionable,
since Turkey’s act of economic aggression is targeted against the very
Armenian people that Turkey’s predecessor state, the Ottoman Empire,
attempted to exterminate during the Armenian Genocide.”

Nahapetian went on to point out that, “We are particularly concerned
about Turkey’s unwillingness to comply with previous trade agreements.

Since its 2005 Customs Union Agreement with the European Union, Turkey
has refused to implement the requirements of beginning to normalize
relations with the Republic of Cyprus, a European Union member, and
opening its ports and airports to Cyprus. Turkey must demonstrate
that it no longer flagrantly violates trade obligations before being
granted any preferential treatment under the Transatlatic Trade and
Investment Partnership (TTIP).” The complete text of Nahapetian’s
testimony is provided below.

During a question and answer session with TPSC Chairman Doug Bell
and U.S. Assistant Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle
East Dan Mullaney, Nahapetian discussed the ANCA’s commitment to the
expansion of the U.S.-Armenia trade relationship, focusing specifically
on the benefits to bilateral commerce that could be realized through
the negotiation of a U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty and a Trade and
Investment Framework Agreement.

The Turkish government, has, in recent months, lobbied Washington
aggressively for inclusion in a proposed far-ranging Transatlantic
Trade and Investment Partnership between the U.S. and the European
Union, as well as for its own U.S.-Turkey bilateral free trade
agreement. The ANCA, along with the American Hellenic Institute (AHI)
and the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), has submitted a
joint written statement to the USTPSC encouraging the U.S. government
to require, as a pre-condition for any new trade deals involving
Turkey, that Ankara have fully withdrawn its military occupation
of Cyprus, unconditionally lifted its illegal economic blockade of
Armenia, and ended all obstacles to trade, investment, and other
forms of commerce it has imposed upon Cyprus and Armenia.

Also offering testimony will be a broad range of corporate, labor,
citizens, and trade associations, including U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
AFL-CIO, American Insurance Association, Securities Industry
and Financial Markets Association, Software Information Industry
Association, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Public Citizen,
U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Consumer Federation of America,
Underwriters Laboratories, Biotechnology Industry Organization,
Transatlantic Business Council, American Association of Exporters and
Importers, American Apparel and Footwear Association, and American
Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers.

Armenian National Committee of America Testimony at Hearing

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Public Hearing

Docket Number USTR-2013-0019 May 29, 2013 Washington, DC

Hello, my name is Kate Nahapetian and I am Government Affairs Director
for the Armenian National Committee of America, the largest Armenian
American advocacy group.

We welcome the opportunity to share our views regarding U.S.

negotiating priorities and the proposed Transatlantic Trade and
Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the European Union.

I will summarize the concerns we outlined in our joint statement with
the American Hellenic Institute and the Hellenic American Leadership
Council, leading organizations of the Greek American community.

Our concerns relate primarily to the Turkish government’s stated
interest in joining this agreement, although Turkey is not a European
Union member, as well as public comments by Turkish leaders and others
regarding a possible U.S.-Turkey Free Trade Agreement. Although the
President’s notice to Congress of his intention to negotiate this
agreement made it clear that the agreement would be between the United
States and the European Union and inclusion of Turkey in this process
would require additional notice to Congress, we wanted to share our
concerns nevertheless.

In the course of any talks or negotiations related to such agreements,
we call on the President to be guided by the Trade Act of 1974 which
affirms our nation’s commitment “to establish fairness and equity in
international trading relations,” a principle that the government of
Turkey regularly violates.

More specifically, we call upon to the Obama Administration to ensure
that the TTIP, related agreements, and any bilateral agreements that
may directly or indirectly involve the Republic of Turkey require, as a
statutory precondition, that the Turkish government 1) unconditionally
lift its illegal economic blockade of Armenia, 2) fully withdraw its
unlawful and brutal military occupation of Cyprus, an EU member, and 3)
immediately end all obstacles to trade, investment, and other forms
of commerce it currently imposes on Cyprus and Armenia. The blockade
of Armenia, a landlocked nation, which has been in force for more than
two decades and prevents an important East-West trade route, is among
the longest-standing in modern history. This blockade is all the more
objectionable, since Turkey’s act of economic aggression is targeted
against the very Armenian people that Turkey’s predecessor state, the
Ottoman Empire, attempted to exterminate during the Armenian Genocide.

Within days of signing an agreement in October 2009 to end its blockade
of Armenia regardless of any progress on the Nagorno Karabakh peace
process, Turkey reneged on the agreement and insisted that it would
not end its blockade until the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was resolved
in Azerbaijan’s favor.

The World Bank, U.S. State Department, and European Parliament reports
have all outlined the devastating impact of Turkey’s blockade against
Armenia, which has been in place for over a decade.

The traditional railroad linking Armenia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan
could be operational within days, but instead of allowing this rail
system to run, Turkey is financing the construction of an entirely
new railroad system that would circumvent Armenia and traverse Georgia
to reach Azerbaijan at a cost of over $600 million.

In yet another example of Turkey’s efforts to hamper rather than
promote free trade, Turkey invoked the rarely used Article XIII of
the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO, when Armenia joined the
WTO in 2002, meaning that it would not abide by any WTO obligations
as they apply to Armenia. Article XIII has been invoked only eight
times and only three are still maintained, one of them being Turkey’s
invocation against Armenia.

We are particularly concerned about Turkey’s unwillingness to
comply with previous trade agreements. Since its 2005 Customs Union
Agreement with the European Union, Turkey has refused to implement the
requirements of beginning to normalize relations with the Republic of
Cyprus, a European Union member, and opening its ports and airports to
Cyprus. Turkey must demonstrate that it no longer flagrantly violates
trade obligations before being granted any preferential treatment
under TTIP.

The implementation of any provision of such agreements related to
Turkey should be conditional upon official annual certification by the
President and subsequent confirmation by the Congress that Turkey has,
over the past twelve months, fully complied with these conditions.

These requirements, if enforced, will support and strengthen U.S.

leadership in promoting a multilateral rule-of-law based trading
system, and, more broadly, in encouraging compliance by Turkey and
other countries with international agreements to promote trade.

We welcome, as a general principle, the U.S. Trade Representative’s
commitment to the expansion of U.S. trade and investment based on
“fairness and equity in international trading relations” that require
respect for the rule of law. We hold, however, that, in the case
of Turkey, we would not advance our national interests, further our
economic prosperity, or promote our core values by rewarding a nation
that so egregiously and flagrantly undermines the integrity of the
global trading system by occupying a European Union member state and
refusing to end its two decade blockade of landlocked Armenia.

Moreover, any inclusion of Turkey in an already complex process
involving multiple European Union member states would create serious
complications and disruptions to the process.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet with the Trade Policy Staff
Committee to discuss our priorities and proposals on this matter in
greater detail.

BUSTS OF FOUNDERS OF FIRST AZERBAIJANI REPUBLIC ARE TAKEN DOWN IN AZERBAIJAN; INSTEAD, MONUMENTS FOR HEYDAR ALIYEV ARE INSTALLED

19:53 30/05/2013 ” SOCIETY

Azerbaijan commemorates 95th anniversary of the Democratic Republic.

On May 28, in 2013 Azerbaijan celebrated the Day of the Republic, the
95th anniversary of proclamation of Azerbaijani Democratic Republic.

However, the busts of the leaders of Azerbaijan ADRs are being
destroyed at the same time, the Azerbaijani newspaper “Zerkalo” states.

As stated in the article, Azerbaijan was declared a Democratic
Republic on May 28, in 1918, in Tbilisi after the collapse of the
trans-Caucasian Federation. It lasted until April 28, 1920, when
the Red Army troops entered Baku. On 27 May, in 2013 Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the monument erected in Baku
on the occasion of the Republic Day, in honor of ADR.

“Meanwhile, the representatives of the opposition periodically
accuse the authorities in refusing to perpetuate the memory of ADR
politicians. According to them, the authorities have a particularly
biased attitude towards Mahammad Rasulzadeh, the founder of the
Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan. As evidence they state that there is
no park, no square named after Rasulzade in Baku,” the article reads.

The officials say that there is a village in Baku that is named after
Rasulzade. The opposition, however, does not accept this argument,
noting that this village has been named after Rasulzade during the
reign of Popular Front of Azerbaijan. The current government, they
say, is doing everything to erase the name of Mammadamin Rasulzade
from the memory of the people.

“During the reign of Abulfaz Elchibey the busts of Mammadamin Rasulzade
were installed around the buildings of the executive authorities
of some regions of Azerbaijan. Subsequently, these busts have been
demolished under various pretexts.

In particular, Mammadamin Rasulzade’s bust, that was established in
1992 in front of the building of executive power of Aghjabadi district,
was taken down under the pretext of restoration in 2000. But instead
of restoring it was just buried (mediaforum.az). On 30 August 2012,
Rasulzade’s bust, installed in front of the executive power of
Sabirabad district in 1992, was demolished too,” the “Zerkalo” writes.

Jamil Hasanli, doctor of historical sciences, professor and member
of Forum of Intellectuals stated, “We should not forget that it was
thanks to them that the word “Azerbaijan”, which had a linguistic and
geographical significance until 1918, acquired political significance
as well. It was due to their efforts that Azerbaijan appeared on the
world map as a state.”

He described the destruction of Mammadamin Rasulzade’s busts in
Azerbaijan as disrespect towards their own statehood.

“Rasulzade is one of those who made history. Therefore, I find the
destruction of his busts unacceptable. I believe that the actions
of the destroyers of Rasulzade’s busts are appearance of disrespect
towards their own history,” J. Hasanli stated.

In all regions of Azerbaijan monuments are installed to the former head
of the republic, a former KGB General Heydar Aliyev. In addition,
about 60 museums in Azerbaijan are called after Heydar Aliyev,
the main pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, the international airport,
Avenue of Heydar Aliyev, modern education complex after Heydar Aliyev,
Heydar Aliyev Palace, the Deepwater plant, Baku Oil Refinery, Sports
Concert Complex, Heydar Aliyev Reservoir, the Academy of National
Security Ministry after Heydar Aliyev, Highest Military school after
Heydar Aliyev, the Lyceum after Heydar Aliyev and so on. The largest
state fund in the country is also named after Heydar Aliyev. In
addition, in Sadarak district of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic a
village called Heydarabad has been settled. Some particularly zealous
Azerbaijani officials and admirers of Heydar Aliyev, such as Mayor
of Baku Hajibala Abutalibov, suggested even to rename the people of
Azerbaijan into Heydarians. During the power of Heydar Aliyev’s son –
Ilham – who rules Azerbaijan since 2003, the process of “Heydarization”
of Azerbaijan received a special scope.

Source: Panorama.am

FIN DE LA VISITE DU PRINCE CHARLES EN ARMENIE

La visite privee de trois jours en Armenie du Prince Charles a pris
fin jeudi, avec une rencontre avec le Catholicos Karekin II au siège
d’Etchmiadzine de l’Eglise apostolique armenienne.

Durant cette entrevue, le Patriarche a presente l’Eglise armenienne
et sa mission historique au Prince Charles en insistant sur son rôle
fondateur dans la constitution de l’identite du peuple armenien. Le
Catholicos a aussi evoque les liens chaleureux et anciens qui lient
les Eglises d’Angleterre et d’Armenie ainsi que leur collaboration
fructueuse au service du dialogue entre les Eglises. Accompagne
par le Catholicos Karekine II, l’archeveque Nathan Hovhanissian,
responsable des editions du Catholicossat et ancien Primat des
Armeniens de Grande Bretagne ainsi que de Mgr. Vahan Hovhannissian,
l’actuel Primat, le Prince Charles a visite la cathedrale et le tresor
de saint Etchmiadzine ainsi que les divers sanctuaires et institutions
du Patriarcat supreme.

Durant son sejour en Armenie, le Prince a aussi visite les monastères
de Khor-Virap, de Keghart et de saint Hripsime.

L’ancien pontife anglican, l’archeveque de Canterbury Rowan Williams
avait visite Etchmiadzine en 2007. Il avait assiste avec Garegin II
a une reception qui etait organisee par l’ambassade britannique en
Armenie a l’occasion de l’anniversaire de la reine Elizabeth II.

Garegin II a guide la visitee de Charles dans dans la cathedrale qui se
situe a 20 kilomètres au sud d’Erevan,et l’a accompagne dans le musee
adjacent qui renferme les tresors de l’eglise. Un de ces bâtiments
abrite les manuscrits religieux. Il a ete construit l’annee dernière
avec l’aide financière de Vatche Manoukian, un homme d’affaires
britannique d’origine armenienne.

M. Vatche Manoukian est arrive a Etchmiadzine pour assister a une
reception qui a eu lieu en l’honneur de Charles. Armen Sarkissian,
un ancien premier ministre armenien base a Londres et qui a organise
la visite du prince, etait egalement present.

Selon Melikian, le Prince Charles ” a ecoute les informations qui lui
ont ete presente avec un grand interet”. “je pense qu’il vraiment
apprecie sa visite,” a declare le porte-parole de l’eglise dit au
service armenien de RFE / s ‘RL (Azatutyun.am).

vendredi 31 mai 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

CAMPAGNE DE SIGNATURE : SEVAN NISANYAN N’EST PAS SEUL !

Nous protestons contre la condamnation de Sevan Nisanyan a 13,5 mois
de prison, sous pretexte qu’il n’interprète pas la mythologie de
l’islam comme les musulmans.

Ce jugement a l’encontre de Sevan Nisanyan, ecrivain, linguiste et
chercheur, de meme, la condamnation de Fazil Say pour la citation
d’un poème de Omar Khayyâm (philosophe et savant persan ayant vecu
de 1048 a 1131) est la preuve, non seulement du developpement de
l’intolerance de l’islam sunnite mais son ancrage dans l’Etat.

La prise de position d’Egemen Bagis (le Ministre responsable de
l’UE dans le gouvernement turc) lors de la reunion en Suède, avec
les representants Assyro-syriaques, ayant qualifie de masturbation
la resolution du parlement suedois sur le genocide de 1915, cette
comparaison obscène doit etre mise dans ce contexte. En plus les
condamnations recentes a prison de Necati Abay, representant de la
plateforme de solidarite avec les journalistes emprisonnes (TGDP) a
11ans et 3 mois, ainsi que d’Ibrahim Guvenc qui est l’ex redacteur
en chef du journal Azadia Welat, a 10 ans 3 mois et 22 jours,
sont des signes qui vont dans le sens de restrictions des libertes
d’expressions.

Le chroniqueur Mehmet Y. Yilmaz rapporte dans le journal Hurriyet du
13 mai 2013, qu’en presence du Premier Ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
lors de la rencontre avec ” Les Sages ” (dans le cadre du processus
de paix en cours), le Ministre de la culture raconte une anecdote
” une personne prie en demandant , mon Dieu protège-moi contre les
calomnies, il entend un tonnerre et Dieu lui apparaît en disant ”
meme moi je ne peux rien contre les calomnies, on dit de moi que
je suis le père de Jesus “. Tout le monde aurait bien ri. Cette
manière de faire est insultante pour des milliards de chretiens et une
deformation grossière du concept de La Sainte Trinite. Cette attitude
irrespectueuse du Ministre de la culture avec l’approbation d’Erdogan
sans aucune intervention des participants est inacceptable. Compte
tenu des positions irrespectueuses d’Erdogan contre les Ezidis,
Alevi, Zoroastriens et d’autres croyances, et la lourde condamnation
de Nisanyan, qui dit simplement ne pas etre oblige d’accepter la
mythologie de l’islam, demontre la violence de l’intolerance de
l’islam dans la Republique de Turquie.

Nous les signataires demandons l’annulation immediate de cette decision
et de ne plus recidiver dans ces procès d’inquisition similaire.

Nous demandons la securite et protection de la vie de Sevan Nisanyan
et la garantie les libertes d’expression telles que prevues par
la Constitution.

La liberte d’expression, la liberte religieuse ainsi que le droit de
pouvoir les critiquer est un droit inalienable. Par ces temps où le
terrorisme islamiste se repand, nous soulignons que ces decisions sont
encourageantes pour les terroristes et menacent la paix dans le monde.

Nous invitons toutes les personnes censees, a lever leurs voix contre
cette decision ridicule.

Nous declarons etre solidaires de Sevan Nisanyan, Fazil Say, Necati
Abay, Ibrahim Guvenc et de tous les amis persecutes a cause de leurs
opinions car ce qui est en cause est notre dignite et notre avenir.

Cliquer “Signature formulaire” sur la page :

vendredi 31 mai 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

L’AUGMENTATION DU PRIX DE L’ENERGIE COMPROMET LE DEVELOPPEMENT

Les fortes hausses imminentes des prix du gaz naturel et de
l’electricite remettent en question la forte croissance economique
projetee par le gouvernement armenien, a averti jeudi la principale
association d’homme d’affaires de l’Armenie.

Arsen Ghazarian, le president de l’Union des industriels et des
entrepreneurs, a egalement declare que les autorites ne font toujours
pas assez pour mettre fin a au traitement privilegie dont jouissent
certains hommes d’affaires fortunes qui leurs sont proches.

Le gouvernement s’est engage a reduire significativement la pauvrete
et le chômage dans le pays grâce a un programme d’action quinquennal
approuve par le Parlement armenien la semaine dernière. Le programme
prevoit un taux de croissance economique annuelle de 5-7 pour cent
qui se traduira par plus de 100.000 nouveaux emplois d’ici 2018.

Selon Ghazarian, la hausse de 50 pour cent du prix de vente a l’Armenie
du gaz naturel russe, qui a ete annoncee plus tôt ce mois-ci, soulève
des questions au sujet de ces objectifs economiques.

Le direction de la reglementation des services publics armeniens a
declare la semaine dernière que les prix du gaz et de l’electricite
fournie aux menages vont probablement augmenter respectivement de 18
pour cent et 27 pour cent au debut de juillet.

“Naturellement, cela aura un impact negatif ,” a explique Ghazarian
au service armenien de RFE /RL (Azatutyun.am) dans une interview. ”
Notre syndicat va ecrire au gouvernement pour lui dire que le rythme
du developpement economique pourrait ralentir. Le programme economique
du gouvernement prevoyant une croissance de 7 pour cent ainsi que
notre strategie d’exportation pourrait subir des coups très graves. ”

Les hausses de prix pourraient etre encore plus nettes si le
gouvernement ne decide pas de subventions pour compenser le coût
du gaz importe de Russie. Le gouvernement a egalement promis des
subventions supplementaires pour les familles a faible revenu.

Selon Ghazarian, l’Union des industriels et des entrepreneurs estime
que le gouvernement devrait se reunir avec des representants de
la communaute des hommes d’affaires pour discuter des moyens de
recompenser les entreprises privees utilisant des technologies
alternatives. “Ou alors, notre competitivite et les realisations
en matière de politique industrielle seront en grave danger “,
a-t-il affirme.

L’environnement economique difficile de l’Armenie constitue un autre
defi serieux a une croissance soutenue. Deux hauts responsables du
Fonds monetaire international (FMI) ont averti plus tôt ce mois-ci
que le developpement economique rapide du pays exige des reformes
” profondes et rapides” pour mettre fin au traitement privilegie de
certains hommes d’affaires et ameliorer la collecte des impôts.

Le programme gouvernemental approuve par l’Assemblee nationale une
semaine plus tard, prevoit “des mesures concrètes separer le monde
de entreprise de celui de la politique” mais il jette peu de lumière
sur le programme de reforme du gouvernement en la matière.

Ghazarian semblait sceptique quant a l’impact positif du programme
sur l’environnement des affaires. ” Pourquoi on ne rencontre pas
d’enthousiasme du public, mais plutôt du scepticisme au sujet
du programme ?” s’est-il interroge. “Les gens veulent voir les
entreprises traitees sur un pied d’egalite… Or il y des abus de
positions dominantes, et des statuts privilegies qui genèrent des
profits disproportionnes et conduisent les concurrents a la ruine.”

Le chef d’entreprise, qui possède l’une des plus grandes entreprises
de fret de l’Armenie, a declare les efforts du gouvernement pour
ameliorer le climat d’investissement n’ont pas suffi jusqu’ici. ” Il
ya des resultats, mais ils ne sont pas satisfaisants “, a-t-il estime.

“Des efforts sont faits, mais nous ne voyons pas le type de resultats
que nous souhaitons. ”

vendredi 31 mai 2013, Ara ©armenews.com

LE HAUT KARABAGH SERA RECONNU UN JOUR OU L’AUTRE, DECLARE FRANCOIS ROCHEBLOINE EN VISITE A STEPANAKERT

L’Artsakh obtiendra un jour ou l’autre la reconnaissance international
qu’il merite, a declare mardi 28 mai le depute francais et president
du Groupe d’amitte France-Artsakh Francois Rochebloine, lors de la
visite de deux jours qu’il effectuait au Haut Karabagh en compagnie
de deux autres parlementaires francais. M. Rochebloine a salue la
creation recente a Paris d’un Groupe d’amitie France-Artsakh, qu’il
a designe comme un premier pas d’une importance pour le renforcement
de la cooperation entre la France et le Karabagh.

Il a rappele que la priorite restait de preserver la paix et de
veiller a ce que l’on preserve les acquis du processus de paix.

F.Rochebloine, membre du groupe IUMP de l’Assemblee nationale, etait
accompagne dans son voyage au Karabagh par les senateurs Henri de
Raincourt et Bernard Saugey. La delegation parlementaire francaise
a eu des entretiens avec le president du Karabagh Bako Sahakian et
son ministre des affaires etrangères Karen Mirzoyan. M. Rochebloine
a souligne que la non reconnaissance de l’Artsakh n’avait pas ete un
frein au developpement et au travail des institutions etatiques de
la RHK ; il a salue la jeunesse de l’Artsakh, qui promet un “avenir
brillant” au pays.

Au dernier jour de leur visite, les parlementaires francais etaient
accompagnes par le president du Parlement du Haut Karabagh, Ashot
Ghulian , avec qui ils se sont recueillis devant le Memorial de
Stepanakert où ils ont depose des gerbes de fleures sur les tombes
du premier president de l’Artsakh, Arthur Lazarian et de l’homme
politique francais Henri Sabi, qui repose en Artsakh. Après cette
visite au Memorial, la delegation francaise s’est rendue a Chouchi,
où elle a pu visiter le tout nouveau Musee des Beaux-Arts. Lors d’une
ceremonie en leur honneur, M.Ghulyan a remis aux visiteurs francais
une medaille dediee au 25e anniversaire du Mouvement de Liberation
du Karabagh.

Toujours a Choushi, les elus francais ont visite l’eglise St.

Ghazanchetsots ainsi que d’autres sites de la ville en pleine
reconstruction. De retour a Stepanakert, les membres du Groupe d’amitie
France-Artsakh ont rencontre les representants d’organisations
de jeunesse du Karabagh ainsi que des membres du Club francais de
Stepanakert.

vendredi 31 mai 2013, Gari ©armenews.com