Month: February 2015

SYSTEM OF A DOWN’S SHAVO ODADJIAN WOULD ‘TAKE BULLETS FOR ANY ONE OF’ HIS BANDMATES

BLABBERMOUTH.NET
Feb 10 2015
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SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Shavo Odadjian has confirmed that the band
is planning to release new material either later this year or in
2016. He told BackstageAxxess.com at last month’s NAMM show in Anaheim,
California: “We’re always working. [But] I don’t wanna give you a time
[frame for the release of new music], because I don’t wanna be false.

But when it’s ready, people will hear it.”

Shavo also spoke about SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s relative reluctance to take
part in any large-scale touring. He said: “I would love to play. [But]
the band is made of four members — our band — and we’re all artists,
and we all have lives. I got married, [and] I have two kids.”

He continued: “We’ve been around for 20 years, so you have to sometimes
go away and come back with all this new energy and all this new
influence and inspiration. So that’s what we did.

“Everyone thought we broke up, but we didn’t. All we did was gain oomph
and gain experience and love each other more and miss each other…”

Shavo added: “We’re brothers. I’ll take bullets for any one of
those guys.”

SYSTEM OF DOWN singer Serj Tankian said in a recent interview with
RollingStone.com that “there has been talk” of the band recording a
new album. Tankian explained, “We are going to play this (upcoming
U.S.) tour, come back and we’re going to see where we are… The
openness is there to work together, but we haven’t made any particular
plans that we can announce.”

Tankian added that a new record depends on whether he and guitarist
Daron Malakian have “songs that work for SYSTEM,” saying, “I have a
few that could apply, but I’m not sure until the time comes where I
can actually play them for the guys and see if it’s something that
vibes off them.”

Although the band has been vague for years about its status and
internal relationships, drummer John Dolmayan told The Pulse Of Radio
a while back that the members of SYSTEM have always been friends. “I
think a part of it is people like drama, you know,” he said. “They
look for it, and they want drama involved, they want SYSTEM to have
problems. There’s a lot of haters out there, let’s face it, and as
much as the fans really want the band to get together just so that
they can see and enjoy the music again, there’s also just as many
people that would like to see us not getting along and, you know,
no hope of reuniting.”

Nevertheless, Dolmayan did hint last year at personal problems within
the group. “You know, there’s still some drama from the past that
we’ve got to figure out, and the funny thing is that we get onstage,
we have a great time,” he said. “The last couple of tours have probably
been the most fun we’ve ever had, but I’m a very honest guy.

You know, there’s problems in this band. But they’re problems that
can be figured out and we’re in the process of doing that. We probably
would have been in the studio making an album already, but for personal
reasons, one of our members cant be in the studio right now.

It’s a positive thing, but that’s all I can say on that right now.”

Tankian, who released a number of solo albums and has been the most
musically active member of the band, said that at the moment he’s
working on a film score. He revealed, “It’s actually a really cool
score, and it’s for a film based on, again, the (Armenian) genocide.

That’s all I’m dealing with right now. It’s called ‘1915’… It deals
with denial and the psychological impacts of a genocide rather than
the physical aspects of it.”

SYSTEM OF A DOWN last released new music in 2005 with the “Mezmerize”
and “Hypnotize” albums, but started to tour again in 2011.

The band will play in Los Angeles on April 6 before launching a string
of European dates on April 10 in London.

The tour commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide
and will conclude on April 23 with SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s first-ever
performance in their homeland of Armenia, in the city of Yerevan.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER DUE IN IRAN SOON

Tasnim News Agency, Iran
Feb 10 2015

February 10, 2015 – 17:11

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia Galust Sahakyan plans to pay an official visit to Iran
later this month.

Heading a high-ranking parliamentary delegation, Sahakyan will visit
Tehran at the invitation of Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

During his visit to Iran, the Armenian speaker is scheduled to hold
talks with Larijani and a number of senior officials on a whole
host of issues, particularly ways to promote bilateral relations in
diverse areas.

Late in January, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had
paid an official visit to Yerevan to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Zarif noted that Armenia’s membership to the Eurasian Economic Union
(EEU) provides good opportunity for enhancement of cooperation between
Tehran and Yerevan.

On January 2, Armenia officially joined EEU, a Moscow-led union
including Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, seemingly formed to
counterbalance the European Union.

LETTRE OUVERTE A ANGELA MERKEL

EU Reporter
9 fev 2015

Reporter Correspondant UE

Cher Angela Merkel,

D’ 21st de Janvier vous avez rencontre l’Aliev barbare. Vous avez
ignore le fait que Aliev a cree un Etat totalitaire en Azerbaïdjan
où les droits de l’homme ainsi que les droits des nations sont violes.

Vous le savez très bien, mais vous continuez a maintenir de bonnes
relations avec l’Azerbaïdjan et ce est a cause du petrole et du gaz.

Je dois mentionner que, bientôt, l’huile en Azerbaïdjan se terminera
et la mine de gaz ne est pas l’Azerbaïdjan il sera bientôt transmis a
l’Etat auquel elle appartient. Avec les prix de nos jours l’Azerbaïdjan
vend de l’huile et du gaz de $25 milliards qui est une très petite
somme pour l’Allemagne que le PNB (la production brute) de l’Allemagne
est $3.5 billion. Le petrole et le gaz de l’Azerbaïdjan ne seront
jamais une alternative pour l’Europe.

Je dois mentionner que le petrole et le gaz de la Terre seront bientôt
a sa fin. Donc, vous avez a chercher d’autres sources d’energie;
y compris Biopetrol et le biogaz que l’Europe fournira pour lui-meme.

Vous dites que l’Armenie un instrument pour la Russie. Vous avez tort,
L’Armenie est l’allie pour l’Europe, Russie, Les pays chretiens et
defend la Russie et l’Europe du sud.

Les Armeniens ne ont pas oublie qu’un certain nombre de pays chretiens
europeens avec l’aide de la Russie ont ete libere de l’Empire ottoman.

Armeniens ne ont pas oublie comment dans le 12-15e siècles en raison de
desaccord des pays chretiens les Turcs occupees Armenie, Byzance, Les
pays des Balkans, les Turcs ont atteint jusqu’a l’Italie et l’Allemagne
et l’Allemagne avec beaucoup de difficulte pourrait arreter les Turcs.

Les Armeniens ne ont pas oublie comment, dans 1915 avec l’avis
et l’autorisation d’Allemagne, les Turcs organise le genocide des
Armeniens juste en face des yeux de l’Europe.

Vous dites; “Nous avons compare le problème du Karabakh avec celle
de la Crimee avec nos propres mains et de nos jours, nous nous
sentons insultes pourquoi ces deux questions sont mises sur la meme
plate-forme”.

Vous avez raison quand vous dites que les problèmes du Karabakh et
la Crimee devraient pas etre comparees que les Russes ont vecu en
Crimee depuis plus de 300 annee attendant les Armeniens ont vecu dans
Karabakh depuis plus de 7000 ans et a cette epoque les ancetres de
votre Aliev etaient dans les montagnes du nord de la Chine et ils ne
ont pas descendre de la montagne comme ils ne ont pas transforme en
un etre humain a partir des singes.

Outre, Crimee d’une manière tout a fait justifiee a ete reunie
avec la Russie quant a lui la plus grande partie du Karabakh a ete
laisse avec ce qu’on appelle l’Azerbaïdjan, qui Lenine etabli sur
les territoires armeniens.

L’Allemagne a aucune obligation envers la Crimee.

Quant a Karabakh allemande a une obligation en raison de la reunion de
l’Est et Allemagne de l’Ouest comme si elle ne etait pour le mouvement
Karabakh, ni la guerre de Berlin serait detruit ni le Pacte de Varsovie
dissoudre, ni l’URSS.

Vous avez eu a reconnaître Karabakh depuis longtemps lieu de
collaborer avec barbare, proprietaire d’esclaves, dictateur Aliev
qui a une richesse de 200 milliards de dollars et il est surprenant
de constater que jusqu’a present, aucune sanction ne est appliquee
vers l’Azerbaïdjan, où la vie d’un etre humain ne vaut pas un centime.

Estime Merkel, Je ne vois pas de difference entre les islamistes Irak
(qui le viol, tuer et faire des esclaves des milliers de non musulmans
et les chretiens) Aliev et qui garde dans les millions des prisons
Lezguians, Tats, Kurdes, Talishs, Yazidies et d’autres petites nations
qui sont prives des droits elementaires.

Je ne serai pas surpris si un jour le chef des islamistes apparaît
en Europe.

Estime Merkel, la justice ne peut pas etre allemand ou russe, Turque
ou armenienne, il devrait correspondre a l’essence et etre defendue
par tout le monde si vous voulez garder la paix sur la Terre.

Pourquoi l’Est et l’Allemagne de l’Ouest peut etre unie et de l’Ouest
Armenie (qui est plus de la moitie de Turquie) ne peut etre uni a
l’Est Armenie.

Mais ne oubliez pas que nation allemande a une origine armenienne dont
vous pouvez vous vanter comme la nation armenienne est le plus epris
de paix, la nation la plus aimante humaine qui, après le Christ veut
que tous les gens soient frères independamment de leur nationalite,
la religion et la couleur de la peau.

Je espère que dans l’avenir, vous aurez du mal pour la justice, la
paix dans le monde entier. Croyez-moi l’humanite n’a pas d’autre moyen
de sortir soit nous allons detruire la Terre ou faire une famille unie.

Cordialement,

KYUG

SECURITY BILL FULLY COMPLIES WITH EU NORMS, DAVUTOGLU PLEDGES, CHALLENGING OPPOSITION

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Feb 10 2015

10 February 2015

The Turkish government’s contentious new security bill is fully
in line with EU norms and universal values, Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu has stressed, vowing to pass the law despite delays and
criticizing the opposition for trying to “drag Turkey into chaos.”

“The three opposition parties – backed by the real opposition, the
parallel opposition in Pennsylvania – are opting to drag Turkey into
chaos,” Davutoglu told his parliamentary group on Feb. 10, referring
to the followers of Pennsylvania-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen.

Defending the security bill that has been submitted to parliament
but twice delayed until next week, he said the only way to guarantee
freedoms was to “reinforce security,” saying developments in Syria
and Iraq proved this point. He also recalled the street unrest on
Oct. 6-7 last year, when thousands protested in southeastern Turkey
over the government’s perceived inaction over the advance of the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on the Syrian Kurdish
town of Kobane across the border.

“I challenge once again from here. Show us just one article that
violates EU standards. Show just one clause that is against universal
democratic standards. They can’t. Because we have studied each and
every clause in detail. We have shown sensitivity in order not to
deviate from universal standards,” Davutoglu said.

The prime minister particularly singled out main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, who has called on
people to “resist” the security bill.

“You are a democratic party. You are the leader of the party. Why
don’t you call on the people to go to the polls, instead of calling
on them to resist? The polls are in three months. If you believe in
yourself, go and ask for votes from the people by promising to change
this security bill if you come to power,” he said.

Amid delays in the debating of the bill at parliament, as well as the
opposition’s vow to stall parliament for weeks in order to halt it,
Davutoglu said the break would be a good opportunity for the opposition
to reconsider its position. “We have not given up. This bill will be
passed. It will be passed,” he pledged.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag has also vowed that the bill would
be legislated before parliament goes to recess ahead of the June
7 elections.

New York Times article a ‘signal flare’

Meanwhile, Davutoglu also touched on the New York Times’ publishing
of an editorial penned by Fethullah Gulen last week that was full of
criticism against the government, including on the issue of minorities’
rights.

“Why is this? Because April 24 is looming. The lobbies in Washington
are moving. The Armenian lobby is moving, the Jewish lobby has already
been moving. They will stay mobilized for as long as the Palestine
issue is there. We will keep saying ‘We will continue to stand against
any kind of lobbying groups as long as Palestine is under occupation,'”
he said.

10 February 2015

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY SHOULD HAVE INVITED SWITZERLAND INSTEAD OF AZERBAIJAN TO G-20

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Feb 10 2015

BARCIN YÄ°NANC

Turkey and Switzerland have never been best pals in the years preceding
the 2000s. During the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) rule,
the relationship started having an inconsistent course with ups and
downs. The Swiss parliament’s decision in 2003 to recognize the World
War I Armenian tragedy as genocide despite government opposition was
not appreciated by Turkey.

The Armenian issue became an even bigger headache between the two
countries when Dogu Perincek, a Turkish political activist, who has
repeatedly said the 1915 tragedy was not genocide during his visits to
Switzerland, was found guilty by a Swiss court in 2007. The Turkish
government canceled the visits of Swiss ministers, including the
then-foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Yet interestingly the same year, 2007, Switzerland became a key actor
in the reconciliation effort between Turkey and Armenia. Under Swiss
mediation, Turkey and Armenia signed in 2009 the historic protocols
to normalize their relations. Unfortunately the protocols have not
yet been implemented, but this has not affected the good atmosphere
between Ankara and Bern. In fact in 2011 Micheline Calmy-Rey who by
then had become the president of the country, visited Turkey and as
a gesture, was asked to address the forth ambassadorial meeting held
in Ankara. By then Perincek’s case was already being discussed in
the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Fearing that the court case could turn into a ruling about whether
Armenian killings amounted to genocide or not, Ankara wasn’t
specifically happy initially about Perincek’s decision to apply to the
court in Strasbourg. Let’s also not forget that Perincek was (long
after he took the case to ECHR) sentenced as part of the Ergenekon
case which evolved around claims of plot to topple the government. He
was later released.

In 2013 ECHR decided in favor of Perincek and ruled Switzerland
violated his freedom of speech. This was a historic decision. First,
because it send a straight message to those countries who took steps
or plan to take steps to criminalize (Armenian) genocide denial.

Second, although it has not ruled whether Armenian massacres amounted
to genocide, it did underline the fact that this was an issue under
debate – that, of course, did not make Armenians happy at all.

I am sure at that stage, deep down, the Turkish state was indeed
grateful to Switzerland and Perincek for this outcome. Perhaps
Switzerland even expected to be awarded by Turkey for this unintended
consequence; like being invited to the G-20 meeting as a special guest,
as Ankara was to take over the presidency for 2015?

But Switzerland angered Ankara by objecting to the ruling and the
case was taken to the ECHR’s Grand Chamber for the final verdict.

Interestingly, despite Ankara’s reaction, I was told that Switzerland
was among many other countries that wished to be invited by Turkey
to the G-20 summit. According to G-20 procedures, the presidency can
invite (in addition to the permanent members) a country that it sees as
a very close friend and obviously in Turkey’s case it was Azerbaijan.

Still as a Turkish nation, we should be thankful to Switzerland for
reminding the Turkish state of the importance of freedom of speech.

Because ironically, while the AKP is heavily criticized for its poor
record on freedom of expression, the representative of Turkish state
underlined the importance of freedom of speech in his address to the
hearing at the Grand Chamber that took place last week.

Turkey’s envoy in Strasbourg recalled a previous decision of the
Court that ruled “the opinions expressed on these issues by one side
may sometime offend the other side but […] a democratic society
requires tolerance and broadmindedness in the face of controversial
expressions.”

I wish AKP’s ruling elites were in the court that day. But then again,
as far as AKP rulers are concerned, democratic values are recalled
only when they suit their interests.

February/10/2015

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH PM: OPPOSITION, GULEN ‘INSTRUCTED TO CREATE CHAOS’

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Feb 10 2015

10 February 2015 15:05 (Last updated 10 February 2015 15:36)

Davutoglu says main opposition leader and U.S.-based preacher both
aim at dragging Turkey into turmoil.

ANKARA

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Tuesday that Turkey’s
main opposition party and the U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen
“are receiving instructions from the same mastermind to drag Turkey
into chaos.”

“There is a hand behind this which gives the same instructions to
[main opposition Republican People’s Party chairman] Kemal Kilicdaroglu
and the Pennsylvania-based head of the parallel structure,” he told
a parliamentary group meeting of his Justice and Development, or
AK, Party.

Self-exiled U.S.-based Gulen and his so-called Hizmet movement are
accused of masterminding an illegal organization trying to topple
the Turkish government through what has been dubbed as the parallel
state — an alleged group of Turkish bureaucrats and senior officials
nestled within key institutions of the state, such as the police and
the judiciary.

The premier said the opposition and Pennsylvania-based preacher both
aimed at leading the country into a state of turmoil.

Davutoglu’s remarks were referring to Gulen’s Feb. 3 article in The New
York Times and the Turkish main opposition leader’s speech opposing
a new domestic security reform bill criminalizing participation in
protests with covered faces and making possession of Molotov cocktails
punishable with up to 5 years behind bars.

During his parliamentary address last week, Kilicdaroglu called on
the Turkish youth to take to the streets and promised that he will
be in the forefront of the protests.

The bill, which was first submitted to the parliamentary commission
in November 2014 in the wake of last October’s protests in the country
that resulted in the deaths of dozens of Turkish citizens, is expected
to be completed in the coming days, submitted for parliamentary
approval and pass into law before the summer break.

Davutoglu noted that the main opposition party regard chaos as the
only means of coming to power since “they have no hope of winning
the general election on June 7,” as he put it.

“Now that you are saying you are the leader of a democratic party, it
is better that you call people to the polls, rather than to resist,”
he said.

The Turkish premier said Kilicdaroglu will no longer be a politician
but become “a provocateur if he takes a Molotov cocktail in his hand
and leads people taking to the streets to protest.”

On Gulen’s New York Times article, Davutoglu said the
Pennsylvania-based preacher is signaling to the lobbies in the U.S by
“wrongfully accusing the Turkish government of oppressing minorities
and non-Muslim citizens.

“The article claims that minority rights are violated in Turkey as
April 24 (anniversary of the 1915 incidents) is approaching,” he said.

The premier also pledged that his government will continue to stand
against all such lobbying activities “while Palestine remains under
Israeli occupation.”

The 1915 incidents, which the Armenian diaspora and Armenia both
describe as “genocide,” took place during World War I when a portion
of the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with
the invading Russians and revolted against the empire.

The uprisings came about after a decision by the empire to relocate
Armenians in eastern Anatolia.

In April 2014, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was then
the prime minister, had offered his condolences to Armenians, who died
during the 1915 incidents. The move was considered the beginning of
a normalization process between Turkey and Armenia.

RUMEYSA – SARKIS TO TAKE AUDIENCE THROUGH MILLION PLUS YEARS AT VENICE BIENNALE

Today’s Zaman (Turkey)
February 9, 2015 Monday

Sarkis to take audience through million plus years at Venice
BiennaleTurkish-Armenian artist Sarkis, a globally prominent figure
in conceptual art, will be presenting a new installation that delves
into the genealogies of cultures, beliefs and histories at this year’s
Venice Biennale, the curator of the exhibition, Defne Ayas, announced
Tuesday.Titled Respiro, the installation will be the sole work at
the Pavilion of Turkey at the 56th International Art Exhibition,
la Biennale di Venezia, curated by Okwui Enwezor and scheduled for
May 9 through Nov.

22.Emphasizing the importance of 2015 at a news conference on Tuesday
in Istanbul, stated that it is a great pleasure to work with Sarkis.

He is designing the pavilion like a theater stage: objects, images,
ideas and codes are coming together We will be seeing how his
perfectionist talisman is taking us through the intuition, irrational,
supraliminal and post-logic in the architectural design as well,
Ayas, who is the director and curator at the Witte de With Center for
contemporary art in Rotterdam, said.Few artists have combined artistic
ingenuity with such a subtle critique of history as deftly as Sarkis.

This undertaking opens up a space in which the potential of art will
be reanimated. Against the current landscape of deep uncertainties,
it is our intention to unfurl a proposition that reveals Sarkis’s
profound concern for humanity.

With and through his intense and perfectionist oeuvre — especially
with his magnum opus in the making — and thanks to his rich arsenal
of visual, architectural, and musical apparatus, we will be able to
tune into hidden signals and frames encrypted in mediated images and
visions dig deeper into our contemporary lived experience most likely
hurt but also hopefully heal. The focus is the transformative power
of art, as well as timelessness and the timeliness of his oeuvre,
Ayas added.

The exhibition’s title means to breathe in Italian and the artist gave
a detailed account of his initial impulses to create it after his
visit to the historic building in which the pavilion is located. He
spoke about the installation of mirrors, stained glass panes, and two
rainbows made out of neon lights –which he describes as a moment of
insanityquot — the planets that will be created by seven children’s
fingerprints and the musical piece specifically composed by Jacopo
Baboni Schilingi with meticulous direction by Sarkis.

It is quite significant that the Istanbul Foundation for Culture
and Arts (IKSV) chose Sarkis to represent Turkey in Venice in 2015,
the 100th anniversary of the atrocities committed against Armenians
during the Ottoman Empire. While asking myself with whom I can swim
across the cultures, beliefs and histories best, I thought about Defne,
who also has a similar relationship with Turkey she lives abroad but
is very connected to here [Turkey].

I’m like that too. I never considered myself in diaspora [Slain
Armenian-Turkish journalist] Hrank Dink once said, diaspora is a big
town in Anatolia’ and I live in it too, Sarkis said.

Sarkis will also be joining artists at the Pavilion of Armenia at
the Biennale to commemorate the centennial. He insists that Respiro
is not about that topic, it is something beyond history.

The 56th Venice Biennale will take place between May 9-Nov. 22 and
two simultaneous installations by Sarkis will also take place both
in Istanbul and Genoa.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALIYEV: BAKU IS READY TO COOPERATE WITH ARMENIA ON CONDITION OF DE-OCCUPATION OF AZERBAIJANI LANDS

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
February 9, 2015 Monday

The site of the President of Azerbaijan has published a detailed
report on the speech of President Ilham Aliyev on February 7 at the
panel session “Besides Ukraine – unresolved conflicts in Europe”
in the 51st Munich Security Conference.

The head of state spoke and answered questions from the panel,
co-chaired by the President of Slovenia Borut Pahor.

President Borut Pahor: President Aliyev, how much are you optimistic
on the issue that acute crisis that we are facing in Ukraine may
give impetus to a good initiative to resolve the frozen conflicts,
which we sometimes forget? I would like to hear your comment on this.

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, the tragic situation in Ukraine
draws attention to another conflict ongoing for many years,
the solution of which is delayed. In our example, the conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan has more than 20-year history. This
conflict began before the collapse of the Soviet Union, and after its
collapse it was even more acute. The conflict led to the occupation
of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan. Under the
occupation are 20 percent of our territories and Nagorno-Karabakh –
the historic part of Azerbaijan is captured. All Azerbaijanis were
forcibly expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh. Occupied by Armenia are also
7 surrounding districts, with a population of 700 thousand people. In
the occupied territories all is destroyed, and we have more than 20
years of negotiating to no avail. OSCE deals with this question. The
OSCE has a special group dealing with the settlement of the conflict.

It’s called the Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs are three permanent
members of the UN Security Council – Russia, France and the United
States. This group has been operating for more than twenty-two years,
but no results have been achieved.

President Borut Pahor: Why? How can you explain this?

President Ilham Aliyev: I think that Armenia is not facing enough
international pressure. Sometimes we see that the UN Security Council
resolutions are carried out if not for a few hours, then within a
few days. As for us, there are four resolutions adopted by the UN
Security Council in the early 1990s, but none of them was executed. I
believe that the lack of political will of intermediaries to provide
adequate pressure on the aggressor has led to a real situation with
which we are facing today. Since Armenia is mainly a dependent country,
it cannot provide for itself. They cannot develop and in question is
even their statehood. Armenia will not be able to live without outside
support. Support is being provided by the main countries, co-chairs
of the Minsk Group. And it’s ironic. Here we see a double standard,
and it saddens us. I note that all conflicts in the post-Soviet
space should be shown the same attitude. Territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan has the same value as the territorial integrity of Ukraine,
which all now talk about.

President Borut Pahor: In your opinion, is the conflict in the shadow
of the Ukrainian conflict?

President Ilham Aliyev: In fact, this conflict has remained in the
shadow of other major international events. By the way, the Ukrainian
issue attracted some attention to this conflict. I believe that the
lessons learned from the Ukrainian question should be carefully
studied. If the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict was resolved, the
Ukraine, may not now be faced with this conflict, because here
we have the same scenario – the same violation of territorial
integrity, the same result, occupation, separatism. They are like
mirror images of each other. Therefore, we expect the same approach
from the international community and the leading countries. As for
us, unlike other conflicts in the post-Soviet space, in connection
with the conflict, there are four resolutions adopted by the UN
Security Council. The fact that these resolutions are not fulfilled,
demonstrates disrespect countries that have adopted these resolutions,
to their decisions.

President Borut Pahor: Mr. President, do you think whether the failure
creates opportunities for expanding the complexity of the European
Union in the region where there is a problem?

President Ilham Aliyev: As for us, that is the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict, I believe that it is – not the main issue, as our
perspectives associated with any integration into the European Union
are clear.

President Borut Pahor: And NATO?

President Ilham Aliyev: As for NATO, I think it would depend mainly
on the issues on the agenda of the organization. Initiative in the
relationship between a country like Azerbaijan and international
organizations always comes from international organizations. Until now,
the level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, the European
Union and Azerbaijan was satisfactory for both parties.

Neither NATO nor the European Union intends to intervene directly in
the negotiation process. Official representatives of both organizations
have repeatedly pointed out this fact. Therefore, we, in fact, rely on
their own resources. 21 years ago, when it was declared a ceasefire,
the main goal of Azerbaijan is to build a strong economy and the state,
relying on themselves. While we still had hope that the international
community has to do something to restore justice.

Initially, we had a lot of hope. As I mentioned, the resolutions
adopted by the UN Security Council, the European Parliament, the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other international
institutions have always supported our position. Over time, however,
we saw that these resolutions just remain on paper, and all that –
just statements, visits, activities, without any result.

Then we realized that the fate of our country is in our own hands.

President Borut Pahor: What first step should be taken to restore
confidence?

President Ilham Aliyev: I think that it’s very simple. The first
step – is the beginning of the return of the occupied territories by
Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent 7 regions occupied. Thus, given
that we will continue the process of negotiations, the beginning of
the return of the surrounding areas immediately change the picture,
immediately cease military operations, will be fully respected
ceasefire. We have already put forward a proposal to open all
communications between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Thus, Armenia will have
rail access to Russia through our territory. In addition, Turkey will
open and all communications with Armenia. Thus, we will eliminate any
potential risks associated with the beginning of military operations,
and begin to build trust.

However, Armenia ignores all of our proposals. Because Armenia does
not want peace. I think that it is – one of the most important issues
related to the cause of unresolved conflicts, as one side wants peace,
restoration of territorial integrity, and the other side does not want
peace. Armenia wants things to remain unchanged, because their land
is under occupation, they do not have such a big problem as millions
of refugees and internally displaced persons faced by us. During
negotiations, they simply take certain steps imitating nature. What
to do? How to achieve greater accountability from Armenia? We have
to work on these issues together with international organizations,
primarily with the mediators. Armenian leadership sent a very clear
message: end the occupation, begin to return the occupied territories.

Azerbaijan has put forward these proposals. We even put forward a
proposal that can be implemented in Nagorno-Karabakh certain social
programs, because the people there are living in a very difficult
situation. We can cooperate in the field of transport, energy. We
are open. We offer the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, a high
autonomy. However, none of our proposals are not accepted.

President Borut Pahor: Mr. President, does Russia pursue any targets
in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and the crisis in Georgia? What
are they? How would you answer this question?

President Ilham Aliyev: For us the most important thing is to find a
way to resolve this conflict. We hope that the OSCE Minsk Group will
do more to create the conditions to search for solutions. We believe
that if the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is settled and establish
peace, it would serve the interests of all parties. So, of course,
we do a lot of work to expand regional cooperation. For example, our
bilateral relations with Georgia are an excellent example of regional
cooperation and of how to achieve cooperation in the South Caucasus.

If the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict will permit, Armenia will
be able to join our projects such as energy, security, transport
security. We hope that similar interests are also at the government
of Russia, as each country should be interested in a climate of
peace and friendship beyond its borders. Therefore, I believe that
it is important to quickly find a solution to the conflict. I do not
think that the policy of artificially increasing tension can bring
any good neighbors. Neighbor should be interested in stability,
because stability around is stability in your country and in your area.

Caucasus partly belongs to Russia, and it occupies a large area. Here
are three countries. At the same time, in Russia there are many
autonomous republics, and between Azerbaijan and the Caucasus republics
of the Russian Federation there are strong cultural ties.

The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia:
I have a question for President Aliyev, and, of course, it is
connected with Nagorno-Karabakh. As rightly said President Aliyev,
US cooperation with Russia and France within the Minsk Group is
probably a unique case. These three mediating countries – the US,
Russia and France have indicated three basic principles of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. These three core principles include the
right of peoples to self-determination, non-use of force or threat
of use of force and territorial integrity. Mediators urged the sides
to the negotiating process to assume the obligations in connection
with these three basic principles. Armenia has repeatedly assumed
the obligation to fulfill these principles. I have a question for
Mr. President. Is Azerbaijan ready to make a commitment, associated
with the implementation of these three principles as the basis for
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, Azerbaijan is the most interested
party in the conflict, because we want to return to our lands. We want
our refugees and internally displaced persons have the right to return
to their homes. Although the houses they have all been destroyed. By
the way, the OSCE has twice sent a fact finding mission and evaluation
of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and distribute reports. The
report states that all buildings, cemeteries, mosques – all destroyed.

Thus, the occupied territories – it is absolutely empty land. After
returning our IDPs to these lands we will have to proceed on an
extensive renovation. Therefore, first of all, our people have the
right to return to their land, and we are a party interested in the
speedy settlement of the conflict.

The problem is why this conflict cannot find a solution. Because
Armenia does not want to settle it. There is no mechanism that
can force Armenia to accept the norms of international law. The
resolution of a conflict must be based on international law. These
rules of international law have found a clear reflection of the UN
Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. The Helsinki Final Act contains
quite clear definition associated with the principle of territorial
integrity and self-determination. We are not against the principle of
self-determination, but this principle must not violate the territorial
integrity of countries. Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh Armenian army
and expelled the Azeris of Nagorno-Karabakh to return to their native
lands will have the right to rebuild their lives.

However, this must not violate the territorial integrity of the
country. The territorial integrity of a country can not be changed
by force, as it tries to make Armenia. In addition, the territorial
integrity of any country can not be changed without an agreement
with the country. This – the basic principles. Once again I say, we
are not against the basic principles of international law. However,
Armenia should first of all to respect international law and comply
with the UN Security Council adopted four resolutions demanding the
immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from
the occupied lands.

Deputy Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina: I want to touch on one
question. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica
genocide. These genocides do not change the past, but what is their
role in terms of preventing such tragedies in the future and to
achieve peace?

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you for your question. You are absolutely
right. You must create an environment that was concluded from the
mistakes. The international community should not remain indifferent
to what is happening, that similar tragedies do not occur in other
parts of the world. Unfortunately, about the Khojaly tragedy is no
general information, in particular in the European public.

Despite the fact that more than 10 countries have recognized the
Khojaly tragedy as genocide. As a result of this genocide were killed
over 600 innocent people, including 106 women, 63 children, and the
only fault of these people was that they were Azerbaijanis.

Unfortunately, Armenia has not yet been admitted to the commission
of a war crime. They did not even apologize. They want to send
international public opinion in connection with the deed of Khojaly
in the wrong direction. As a result of the active Armenian lobby in
Europe and the United States they were able to divert international
attention from the tragedy. In connection with this tragedy did not
apply sufficient information, although documented, photographed. There
are testimonies of people who escaped from this genocide. There is
a video, embodying women and children killed with extreme cruelty.

Therefore, that such does not happen again, to those who committed
these people at the beginning, at least, should apologize and admit
to the crime. They must recognize that a war crime, that it does
not happen again. Only then may the reconciliation. In this case,
it will be easier to tolerate. I think it’s possible, because we
lived together. We lived together with the Armenians in peace. In the
center of Baku, and today there is a renovated Armenian church. And in
Shusha, Agdam Azerbaijani mosques completely destroyed. First of all,
they should not have to destroy these mosques. But now they have to
recognize the fallacy of the offense and apologize. After that, we,
of course, make it up, because sooner or later there will be peace,
and the two people will live together again.

Member of the German Bundestag: My question has to do with double
standards. We can say a whole day devoted to discussion of the Crimean
issue. If we talk about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, whether it
can be compared with the Crimean question?

Armenia’s representative: I have a question for Mr. Ilham Aliyev. A
few days ago the OSCE Minsk Group, referring to Azerbaijan urged
to respect its commitments on the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Addressing this appeal is not accidental,
because Azerbaijan constantly violates the ceasefire at the line of
contact with Nagorno-Karabakh and on the border with Armenia. Between
January and now the ceasefire has been violated, at least 3,000 times,
killing several people on both sides. My question is to Mr. Aliyev is,
not whether Azerbaijan conflict exacerbates such actions? Does this
not reduce the likelihood of a peaceful settlement of the conflict in
the near future? Only that the moderator asked the question that we
need to at least be done to resolve the conflict. I urge Azerbaijan
to cease fire.

President Ilham Aliyev: First, I want to reply to questions from
members of the German Parliament. Of course, one of the problems we
faced at the beginning of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict was the
policy of double standards. At the outset, I said that all conflicts
in the post-Soviet space should be approached with the same position.

Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has the same value as that of
the territorial integrity of Ukraine. If the territorial integrity of
Ukraine receives strong support, and strongly supports Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. The UN General Assembly we, unlike Armenia,
voted in favor of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Armenia has
voted against the territorial integrity of Ukraine. This – the answer
to the question is present here another representative of Armenia
related to how the country abides by the principle of territorial
integrity. They even voted against the territorial integrity of
Ukraine. And this – the result of their policies, because the country
is not independent. They can not make their own decisions, and always
follow the other. However, double standards – it is reality. In
particular, seeing the imposition of sanctions, we ask ourselves: why
not apply the sanctions against Armenia? After all, they do the same
thing. Why not put them against the sanctions? The answer, of course,
is that the world is a powerful Armenian Diaspora, protecting Armenia
from all potential and appropriate questions. Therefore, once the
policy of double standards will be excluded from the international
agenda, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will soon find its solution.

In response to a question from the representative of Armenia to open
fire, I note that, in fact, they always shift the blame on us – it
is a tactic of the Armenian side. They occupied our land violated
international law, committed genocide in Khojaly, destroyed our
historical and religious monuments and accuse us. The question is,
what do the Armenian soldiers do in the occupied territories? What
does the Armenian soldier do in Agdam? If he does not want to die,
let him not go to Agdam. Let him stay in his place, in Yerevan, Gyumri,
in their own country. In your country, there is plenty of room for you.

In Armenia, there are not too many people. What are you doing in
Agdam, Fizuli? Responding to a question about who injects tension,
can give an example from the past year. Last year was a landmark
in terms of activity of international mediators. In August last
year, President Putin organized a meeting between me and President
Sargsyan. In September, US Secretary of State Kerry held a meeting
with the three of us at the NATO summit. In late October, President
Hollande invited me and President Sargsyan in Paris. We had a very
good and constructive meeting. Both sides – both Azerbaijan and
Armenia declared public that the meeting went very smoothly, and that
they will try to reduce tension on the contact line. What happened
after that? Less than 10 days, as Armenia organized in the occupied
territories, particularly in Agdam, large-scale exercise. According
to their own reports, in the occupied territories were held exercises
involving 47,000th army. Were used aircraft and helicopters. Within
three days, our army suffered and did not react. Then they sent to our
positions military helicopters “Mi-24” and went on the offensive. Our
army was forced to open fire on the helicopters, and one of them was
shot down. They used this as a pretext to accuse Azerbaijan. They make
provocations, incite us, disrespect to the heads of state of France,
Russia and the United States has made great efforts to ensure that
we have made to ease tensions, ignore them. They think they can do
anything, and will not be punished for it. This is the main reason.

And now they blame us and say: do not shoot. My message to Armenia
lies in the fact that it should end the occupation. As soon as it
ends its occupation, we will establish peace and mutual contacts
and reconciliation. The reason that this does not happen is that the
Armenian soldier is in Agdam and Fizuli. -0–

From: Baghdasarian

MILITARY AND PEACEFUL VARIATIONS BY THE PRESIDENT ALIYEV ON THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
February 9, 2015 Monday

Saturday, 7 February has become an extraordinary working weekend on the
agenda of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. First the three co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict,
and then the OSCE leadership in the face of the OSCE Chairman Ivica
Dacic and the OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, made statements
calling Azerbaijan and Armenia to abandon the escalation of violence.

“We all agree that the military situation along the frontline and on
the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is deteriorating, posing a threat to
regional stability and endangers the lives of civilians. The Monitoring
Report of the Personal Representative of the Chairman Andrei Kasprzyk
for the first month of 2015 indicated 12 victims and 18 wounded. This
is the highest confirmation of the death tolls since the 1994 on the
ceasefire agreement. After 2014, when approximately 60 people died,
we are concerned that the alarming trend of violence continues,
” reads the joint statement.

Just on the same day, sometime later, President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev announced that the condition to promote the peace process is
de-occupation of Azerbaijani territories captured by Armenia. Speaking
on 7 February at the panel session “Besides Ukraine – unresolved
conflicts in Europe” in the frames of the 51th Munich Security
Conference Aliyev made it clear that the Armenian soldiers must leave
Adam, Fizuli, and generally seven districts of Azerbaijan.

However, the threat of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan against
Azerbaijan last month leaves no illusions about some calmness on
the line of contact. “Azerbaijan will pay dearly for the life of the
Armenian soldiers who died as a result of sabotage, Sargsyan said at
the board of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia on 26 January.

Over the last statistical year, mentioned by the OSCE, a lot of
mediation efforts have been made to bring peace to the parties at the
level of the presidents of France, Russia, the US secretary of state,
as well as calls for prudence EU, CoE, OSCE. The mediation of Russian
President in August 2014 which usually calmed the presidents of the
warring presidents, even for a small period of time, did not lead
cause the cessation of military escalation.

It is noteworthy that Aliyev, unlike to verbal statements about the
first years of the use of force as a political tool to address the
issue during the third term, is increasingly confirming his words by
concrete military actions – from large-scale military exercises to
individual local military skirmishes. These practical steps become
consistent under the increasingly economic isolation of Armenia
due to the deep economic crisis of suzerain in the face of Russia,
Ukrainian crisis, the growing opposition between the West and Russia,
and as a result, the isolation of the latter.

However, it should be noted that all these foreign conflicts to the
north of Azerbaijan, are temporary by nature, and cannot serve as a
platform for long-term military pressure on Armenia. From Aliyev’s
speech in Munich it becomes clear that he understands it. His second
promise: peace and cooperation in exchange for de-occupation becomes
relevant under a long-term Armenian crisis, mitigation of which
largely depends on constructive regional relations.

Azerbaijan has also entered a period of prolonged economic downturn
caused by the problems of institutional and unnecessarily protracted
labor diversification. Yet, even reduced oil and gas revenues, allow
holding the position, which may dictate the military and civilian
variations of the Karabakh settlement.

The Heritage Party
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.00.16
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:

10 February 2015

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN RECEIVES MARTEN EHNBERG

Yerevan–Raffi K. Hovannisian, Heritage Party chairman and founding
director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS), met today with Mr. Marten Ehnberg, Charge d’Affaires of the
Kingdom of Sweden in Armenia.

They discussed developments in Armenian domestic and foreign policy,
security in the region, and European approaches therein.

Heritage Party Press Service

The Heritage Party’s central office is located at 75 Yerznkian Street,
Yerevan 0033, Armenia, with telephone contact at (374-10) 271600; fax
at (374-10) 524846; and email at [email protected] or
[email protected] .The official website is .

From: Baghdasarian