Author: admin

ARMENIA PUT TO TEST

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.10.2009 13:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish parliament will try to drag out ratification
of Turkey-Armenia Protocols till next year, according to Richard
Giragosian, director of Armenian Center for National and International
Studies (ACNIS).

"Protraction of the signing ceremony was a test Turkey invented for
Armenia and superpowers," he said, adding, however, that Turkey was
glad to split Armenia and Diaspora and weaken Armenia’s position.

"Protraction of the signing ceremony was the first ordeal for
Armenia. Turkey respects strength and we should be strong in this
struggle," Mr. Giragosian.

12:14 12/10/2009
Ara Hakobyan appointed as Ambassador of Armenia to India

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing Ara
Hakobyan as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Republic of Armenia to the Republic of India (residence New Delhi),
president’s press office reported.

Source: Panorama.am

Turkey, Armenia Prepare to Take Step Toward Reconciliation

Wall Street Journal
EUROPE NEWS OCTOBER 10, 2009

By MARC CHAMPION

Turkey and Armenia look set to sign an accord Saturday aimed at reopening
their shared border and establishing diplomatic relations, a move backed by
the U.S. and European Union with potentially sweeping consequences for the
region.

But Saturday’s agreement, though important, would be just a step toward
those goals. It would also do little to end a corrosive dispute between the
two nations over whether the World War I-era massacre of up to 1.5 million
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire was genocide.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to attend the signing ceremony in
Zurich Saturday, reflecting the Obama administration’s involvement in trying
to improve a broken relationship that has long complicated U.S. ties with
Turkey, an important U.S. ally in the Middle East and a North Atlantic
Treaty Organization member.

On Thursday and Friday, in an important piece of the accord’s choreography,
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in Moldova for talks aimed at
resolving their conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, a largely ethnic-Armenian
enclave within Azerbaijan that broke away with Armenian military aid in the
early 1990s.

A statement by the Minsk Group — France, Russia and the U.S. — which
mediates the negotiations, described the talks as constructive. But Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev, who has pushed Turkey not to sign the accord until
Armenia agrees to a resolution of the Karabakh dispute, told Azeri
television that the talks had made no progress, Russian news agency Interfax
reported.

Diplomats familiar with preparations said the signing in Zurich would go
ahead on Saturday, although debate was continuing over how the ceremony,
very sensitive on both sides of the border, would be presented.

Turkey wants to stress linkage between the border opening and resolution of
the Karabakh conflict by having the Minsk Group present, Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a recent interview with The Wall Street
Journal. Armenia doesn’t want the group there.

Mrs. Clinton’s planned attendance has some American Armenians up in arms. "I
don’t think Clinton should be there," said Ken Hachikian, chairman of the
Armenian National Committee of America. "The U.S. is twisting Armenia’s arm
very hard to accept this. … Why? Because they want Turkey to have a way
out of recognizing genocide, and to get into the EU."

Many Armenians object to clauses in the accord that recognize the current
border and set up a historical commission to examine disputes, likely to
include the 1915 massacres. Turkey, which demanded the commission, disputes
the killings amounted to genocide.

Some Armenians say they are willing to back the rapprochement with Turkey,
arguing that it will ease the country’s isolation. "This will test the
courage of Turkey and whether they are sincere about the process. … We
expect the border to open without any preconditions," said Anthony
Barsamian, an executive board member of the Armenian Assembly of America.
Mr. Barsamian said he hoped the deal would free President Barack Obama to
follow through with his campaign pledge to allow U.S. recognition of the
genocide.

It is the Karabakh issue, however, that is likely to hold up implementation
of the agreement, analysts and diplomats say. After the document is signed,
it will need to be ratified by both parliaments to take effect, a process
that could be drawn out by either side.

"It is a significant event, but there is a way to go," Thomas de Waal, who
wrote a book on the Karabakh conflict, said of the signing. Turkey closed
the border in 1993 to protest what it saw as Armenia’s occupation of 20% of
Azerbaijan’s territory. Mr. Erdogan, the Turkish leader, has said he won’t
open the border until the conflict is resolved.

Write to Marc Champion at [email protected]
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A10

The Journal of Turkish Weekly

Historical Protocols Signed by Turkey and Armenia

Sunday, 11 October 2009

ZURICH – Turkey and Armenia have agreed to establish diplomatic
relations.

The "Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the
Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia" was signed by Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Armenian counterpart Eduard
Nalbandian in Swiss city of Zurich on Saturday.

The protocol envisages mutual recognition of the existing border
between the two countries.

Under the protocol, Turkey and Armenia reconfirmed their commitment,
in their bilateral and international relations, to respect and ensure
respect for the principles of "equality, sovereignty, non-intervention
in internal affairs of other states, territorial integrity and
inviolability of frontiers".

Turkey and Armenia also condemned all forms of terrorism, violence and
extremism irrespective of their cause, pledging to refrain from
encouraging and tolerating such acts and to cooperate in combating
against them.

* TURKEY AND ARMENIA SIGN PROTOCOLS – PROTOCOL ON DEVELOPING RELATIONS
BETWEEN TURKEY & ARMENIA SIGNED

– Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Armenian
counterpart Eduard Nalbandian signed Saturday a protocol on developing
relations between their two countries.

The "Protocol on Developing Relations between the Republic of Turkey
and the Republic of Armenia" was signed by Davutoglu and Nalbandian in
Swiss city of Zurich.

The protocol aims to facilitate the development of relations between
Turkey and Armenia in all fields and took significant steps within
this frame.

One of the steps has to do with the opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border two months after the protocol goes into effect. The two
countries have decided to establish committees in various fields and
at various levels. An historical sub-committee will be established
with the participation of international experts.

-FULL TEXT OF PROTOCOL-

Full text of the Protocol is as follows:
The Republic of Turkey hment of Diplomatic Relations between the
Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia signed on the same day,
Considering the perspectives of developing their bilateral relations,
based on confidence and respect to their mutual interests, Determining
to develop and enhance their bilateral relations, in the political,
economic, energy, transport, scientific, technical, cultural issues
and other fields, based on common interests of both countries,
Supporting the promotion of the cooperation between the two countries
in the international and regional organisations, especially within the
framework of the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the BSEC, Taking into account
the common purpose of both States to cooperate for enhancing regional
stability and security for ensuring the democratic and sustainable
development of the region, Reiterating their commitment to the
peaceful settlement of regional and international disputes and
conflicts on the basis of the norms and principles of international
law, Reaffirming their readiness to actively support the actions of
the international community in addressing common security threats to
the region and world security and stability, such as terrorism,
transnational organised crimes, illicit trafficking of drugs and arms,
1. Agree to open the common border within 2 months after the entry
into force of this Protocol,
2. Agree to conduct regular political consultations between the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries;
implement a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim to
restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an
impartial scientific examination of the historical records and
archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations;
make the best possible use of existing transport, communications and
energy infrastructure and networks between the two countries, and to
undertake measures in this regard;
develop the bilateral legal framework in order to foster cooperation
between the the fields of science and education by encouraging
relations between the appropriate institutions as well as promoting
the exchange of specialists and students, and act with the aim of
preserving the cultural heritage of both sides and launching common
cultural projects;
establish consular cooperation in accordance with the Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 in order to provide necessary
assistance and protection to the citizens of the two countries;
take concrete measures in order to develop trade, tourism and economic
cooperation between the two countries;
engage in a dialogue and reinforce their cooperation on environmental
issues.
3. Agree on the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral
commission which shall comprise separate sub-commissions for the
prompt implementation of the commitments mentioned in operational
paragraph 2 above in this Protocol. To prepare the working modalities
of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions, a working
group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall be created
2 months after the day following the entry into force of this
Protocol. Within 3 months after the entry into force of this Protocol,
these modalities shall be approved at ministerial level. The
intergovernmental commission shall meet for the first time immediately
after the adoption of the said modalities. The sub-commissions shall
start their work at the latest 1 month thereafter and they shall work
continuously until the completion of their mandates.

Where appropriate, international experts shall take part in the
sub-commissions.

The timetable and elements agreed by both sides for the implementation
of this Protocol are mentioned in the annexed document, which is an
integral part of this Protocol.

This Protocol and the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic
Relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia
shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the first day of the
first month following the exchange of instruments of ratification.

–
OL-

Full text of the protocol is as follows:
"The Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia, Desiring to
establish good neighbourly relations and to develop bilateral
cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and other fields for
the benefit of their peoples, as envisaged in the Protocol on the
development of relations signed on the same day, Referring to their
obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki
Final Act, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, Reconfirming their
commitment, in their bilateral and international relations, to respect
and ensure respect for the principles of equality, sovereignty,
non-intervention in internal affairs of other states, territorial
integrity and inviolability of frontiers, Bearing in mind the
importance of the creation and maintenance of an atmosphere of trust
and confidence between the two countries that will contribute to the
strengthening of peace, security and stability of the whole region, as
well as being determined to refrain from the threat or the use of
force, to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to protect
human rights and fundamental freedoms, Confirming the mutual
recognition of the existing border between the two countries as
defined by the relevant treaties of international law, Emphasizing
their decision to open the common border, Reiterating their commitment
to refrain from pursuing any policy incompatible with the spirit of
good neighbourly relations, Condemning all forms of terrorism,
violence and extremism irrespective of their cause, pledging to
refrain from encouraging and tolerating such acts and to cooperate in
combating against them, Affirming their willingness to chart a new
pattern and course for their relations on the basis of common
interests, goodwill and in pursuit of peace, mutual understanding and
harmony, Agree to establish diplomatic relations as of the date of the
entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with the Vienna
Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and to exchange Diploma
tocol and the Protocol on the Development of Bilateral Relations
between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia shall enter
into force on the same day, i.e. on the first day of the first month
following the exchange of instruments of ratification."

* SIGNING OF TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOL IN ZURICH

A crisis erupted during signing of two protocols on the establishment
of diplomatic ties and development of relations between Turkey and
Armenia in Swiss city of Zurich on Saturday.

Turkish diplomatic sources said that a dispute over the final
statements which the parties would make at the end of the ceremony
escalated tension between the two parties.
Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey of Switzerland met Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu prior to the signing ceremony and
told him that the Armenian party could object to the text of
Davutoglu’s speech since there were some differences in texts of the
parties.
Armenian party felt uneasy about some parts of Davutoglu’s speech in
which he stressed that the Caucasus should become a region of peace
and tranquillity and the Upper Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and
Armenia should be resolved. Armenian party has been defending from the
very beginning that normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations and the
Upper Karabakh dispute were two separate issues.
Turkish party turned down Armenian party’s demand about exclusion of
those expressions from Davutoglu’s speech, and objected to the text of
Nalbandian’s speech in return. Turkish party said that Nalbandian
referred to historical events in his speech and demanded exclusion of
such expressions. The signing ceremony came to a deadlock after both
parties rejected to take a step back.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Swiss Foreign Minister
Calmy Rey played an active role and tried to persuade the parties.
When Turkish and Armenian delegations did not accept to revise texts
of the speeches, Turkish party proposed to cancel the scheduled
speeches altogether.
Armenian party insisted on delivering the sp
y Rey succeeded in putting an end to the uncertainty.
In the end, the signing took place about three hours later and there
were no spoken statements.
Sources said that Armenia could made a written or verbal statement in
an efort to retrieve.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French Foreign Minister
Bernard Kouchner who were also in Zurich to attend the signing
ceremony displayed an attitude in favor of Turkey.
Meanwhile, Davutoglu called on President Abdullah Gul and Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on phone and informed them about the
developments.

* SIGNING OF TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOLS IN ZURICH -TURKISH PREMIER SAYS
A STATEMENT WILL BE MADE ON SUNDAY

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they would make
a detailed statement on Sunday about the protocols signed between
Turkey and Armenia in Swiss city of Zurich.

Upon questions of journalists, Prime Minister Erdogan said that a
detailed statement would be made after a meeting of the Central
Executive Board of his ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party on
Sunday.

Sunday, 11 October 2009
Journal of Turkish Weekly

Clinton Helps Salvage Turkey-Armenia Pact

rld/main5376076.shtml
ZURICH, Oct. 10, 2009

Signing Ceremony for Accord Opposed by Hardliners Back on After Dispute
Over Statements; Clinton, Swiss Mediators Intervene

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton engaged in last-minute
diplomacy on Saturday aimed at salvaging an accord to establish
diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia after a century of
enmity.

The agreement was supposed to be signed by the Turkish and Armenian
foreign ministers at a reception in the Swiss city of Zurich, with
Clinton among the world dignitaries in attendance. But
a dispute over the statements the countries would make sparked a delay,
and forced her to intervene.

"She’s involved in working out an agreeable text," said a senior U.S.
State Department official. "She’s talking with the Armenian foreign
minister, and she had a long talk with the Turkish foreign minister."

Clinton and the Armenian delegation arrived at the signing ceremony
about 90 minutes after it was supposed to begin. Clinton had abruptly
returned to her hotel just before the scheduled start as problems
emerged.

Diplomats said the Armenians were concerned about wording in the
Turkish statement that was to be made after the signing ceremony.

The Turks and Armenians are to sign an accord establishing diplomatic
ties in hope of reopening their border and ending a century of acrimony
over their bloody past.

Their parliaments are expected to ratify it, but nationalists on both
sides are seeking to derail implementation of the agreement.

Major countries, however, expressed their support for the accord, with
the foreign ministers of the United States, Russia, France and the
European Union in the room to watch the signing.

The contentious issue of whether the deaths of Armenians during the
final days of the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide is only hinted at
in the agreement, which calls for diplomatic ties for the first time
and the opening of the border within two months.

The agreement calls for a panel to discuss "the historical dimension"
of the killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during World War
I. The discussion is to include "an impartial scientific examination of
the historical records and archives to define existing problems and
formulate recommendations."

That clause is viewed as a concession to Turkey, because Armenia has
said that genocide was confirmed by international historians and
further discussion could lead to deadlock.

Turkey denies genocide, contending the toll is inflated and that those
killed were victims of civil war.

"There is no alternative to the establishment of the relations with
Turkey without any precondition," said Sarkisian. "It is the dictate of
the time."

Clinton, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner were among the leaders who were on hand to
attend the signing, when it takes place.

Better ties between Turkey, a regional heavyweight, and poor,
landlocked Armenia are a priority for President Barack Obama. They
could help reduce tensions in the troubled Caucasus region and
facilitate its growing role as a corridor for energy supplies bound for
the West.

Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief, thanked Turkey, which is
a candidate for EU membership.

"This is an important cooperation, no doubt, of Turkey to solve one
issue that pertains to a region which is in our neighborhood," Solana
told AP Television News after arriving in Zurich.

Switzerland, which mediated six weeks of talks between Turkey and
Armenia to reach the accord, is hosting the signing.

(CBS)Another source of dispute is Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in
Azerbaijan that is occupied by Armenian troops. Turks have close
cultural and linguistic ties with Azerbaijan, which is pressing Turkey
for help in recovering its land. Turkey shut its border with Armenia to
protest the Armenian invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh in 1993.

Turkey wants Armenia to withdraw some troops from the enclave area to
show goodwill and speed the opening of their joint border, but Armenia
has yet to agree, said Omer Taspinar, Turkey project director at the
Brookings Institution in Washington.

"We may end up in a kind of awkward situation where there are
diplomatic relations, but the border is still closed," Taspinar said.

A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the
agreement doesn’t directly involve the United States, noted that
President Barack Obama spoke to Armenian President Serge Sarkisian to
reaffirm his support for the normalization process.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was taking
steps with "goodwill" to restore ties with Armenia but that it was keen
on seeing Armenian troops withdrawn from Nagorno-Karabakh.

"We are trying to boost our relations with Armenia in a way that will
cause no hard feelings for Azerbaijan," Erdogan told reporters in
Turkey.

Erdogan said Turkey’s relations with Armenia after the agreement is
signed Saturday will run parallel to the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

(AP/Tigran Tadevosyan, Photolure)Necati Cetinkaya, a deputy chairman of
Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party, defended the deal,
saying "sincere steps that are being taken will benefit Turkey." He
said Turkey is aiming to form friendly ties with all its neighbors and
could benefit from trade with Armenia.

(Left: Demonstrators holding placards reading "No concessions to Turks"
rally in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. About
10,000 protesters rallied against the planned signing of a deal to
normalize ties with neighboring Turkey.)

But Yilmaz Ates of the main opposition Republican People’s Party said
Turkey should avoid any concessions.

"If Armenia wants to repair relations … then it should end occupation
of Nagorno-Karabakh, that’s it," Ates said Saturday.

About 10,000 protesters rallied Friday in Armenia’s capital to oppose
the signing, and a tour of Armenian communities by Sarkisian sparked
protests in Lebanon and France, with demonstrators in Paris shouting
"Traitor!"

© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated
Press contributed to this report.

Edward Nalbandyan terminated meeting with Hillary Clinton?
10.10.2009 20:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ PanARMENIAN.Net agency has received unconfirmed
reports that FM Edward Nalbandyan terminated meeting with U.S. State
Secretary Hillary Clinton. Very probably, parties failed to agree
certain issues with Turkish side, a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent
reports from Zurich.

Edward Nalbandyan and Hillary Clinton first had a
tкte-а-tкte; later they were joined by Turkish FM
Ahmet Davutoglu.

Earlier, Swiss Foreign Ministry reported that Protocol signing had
been postponed. It is unknown whether documents will be signed at
all. The Protocols were to have been signed in presence Swiss Foreign
Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey since Switzerland is a mediator in
negotiation between Armenia and Turkey.

U.S. State Hillary Clinton, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier
Solana, Armenia’s Ambassador to Switzerland Charles Aznavour and
Turkey’s Ambassador to Switzerland Oguz Demiralp have arrived in
Switzerland to participate in the ceremony.

NOTICE: DPM THIRD QUARTER 2009 RESULTS

FOXBusiness
Thursday, October 08, 2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Oct 08, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) —-Dundee
Precious Metals Inc. (TSX: DPM: 25.64, 0, 0%)(TSX: DPM.WT)(TSX:
DPM.WT.A) (the "Company" or "DPM") will be holding an analyst call
to present its Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results on Thursday,
November 5, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (EST). The call will be hosted by
Jonathan Goodman, President and Chief Executive Officer, who will
be joined by Stephanie Anderson, Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer.

The call will be webcast live (audio only) at:
0509/index.php

The corresponding press release and financial statements will be
issued prior to the call and posted on the Company’s website at

Dundee Precious Metals Inc. is a Canadian based, international mining
company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and
mining of precious metals. DPM owns the Chelopech Mine, a producing
gold/copper mine, and the Krumovgrad Gold Project, a mining development
project, both located in Bulgaria, as well as a 95% interest in
the Kapan Mine in Armenia. In addition, it is engaged in mineral
exploration activities in Serbia.

Contacts: DUNDEE PRECIOUS METALS INC.

Jonathan Goodman President & Chief Executive Officer (416) 365-2408
[email protected]

DUNDEE PRECIOUS METALS INC.

Lori Beak Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Secretary
(416) 365-5165 [email protected]

OUTRAGE: FOOTAGE SHOWS PRO-ABORT STUDENTS SHOUTING DOWN PRO-LIFE PRESENTER
By Patrick B. Craine

Lifesite
Thursday October 8, 2009

The pro-abortion protesters, two of whom were arrested, now say they
"feel their right to assemble has been violated."

MONTREAL, Quebec, October 8, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A pro-life
presentation at McGill University erupted in chaos Tuesday after a
mob of pro-abortion students were allowed to silence the pro-life
message while university officials made meek attempts to intervene
until the designated time ran out.

Ironically, following the event the pro-abortion protesters complained
that their ‘right to assemble’ was violated.

The videotaped presentation, entitled ‘Echoes of the Holocaust,’
was given by the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform’s Jose Ruba
and hosted by McGill University’s Choose Life club. The talk aimed to
draw a parallel between past genocidal atrocities and abortion. The
entire ordeal is now available on YouTube.

As Ruba began to speak, a woman in the audience stood up and told
him that he was not welcome. A group then began banging on desks and
shouting, "Please go! Please go!"

After Ruba explained to the protesters that he would like to hear their
side of the debate, one of them shot back, "It’s not a debate!" Another
told Ruba to "f**k off!" and another said, "We don’t need hate speech
at our university."

Ruba began displaying images on the screen, prompting the mob to take
over the front of the room and block them. Smiling and laughing as they
prevented Ruba from speaking, they made noise in a variety of ways,
such as singing children’s songs and telling jokes. At one point,
they even sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to abortion, in English and French.

Security asked the protesters to be quiet or leave, but when the
protesters refused, security backed off. They intervened occasionally
as protesters stood on tables, grabbed at Ruba’s written materials,
or fiddled with equipment.

The police eventually arrived (see video 8 of 19), and after speaking
wit e students, the officer gave them five minutes to stand down or
leave. Two were arrested and the rest joined the audience, mostly
gathering to one side.

Ruba was able to deliver the first thirty minutes of his presentation,
but the mob stood and continued yelling at him as he made every point.

When the designated time ran out, Choose Life founder and president
Natalie Fohl ended the event. Ruba had been able to discuss past
genocides such as the Holocaust, and those in Armenia and Cambodia, but
had not had the opportunity yet to draw the connection with abortion.

Despite the two arrests, CTV reports that the two protesters were
released and no charges were laid. In fact, the protesters have
complained that their rights were infringed by police having been
called to break up the protest. According to Student Society of
McGill University’s (SSMU) Equity Commissioner Jonathan Hann, "They
feel their right to assemble has been violated, and they were treated
unjustly and unfairly because of it," reports the McGill Daily,

The SSMU passed a motion last week by a vote of 25-2-2 to censure the
event, seek its cancellation by the university, and refuse funding
to Choose Life should the group proceed despite the censure.

The SSMU executive issued an open letter yesterday in reaction to
Tuesday night’s presentation, condemning the university for allowing
the event to happen despite SSMU’s censure.

"Vulnerable students tried to communicate their concerns to the
University through the available channels: the SSMU executive, SSMU
Council, AUS [Arts Undergraduate Society] Council, the McGill Tribune,
and The McGill Daily," it reads. "There were no other avenues through
which to stop this event, which they deemed as victimizing, offensive,
and stifling of educated debate, from happening."

"Furthermore it is unfair to expect these student protesters
to calmly watch a presentation and engage with a speaker when
such a presentation would make them feel violated, demonized, and
silenced," they continued. "This event crea t and should not have
been permitted. It is possibly most disappointing that when students
peacefully engaged in a public response to this hostile environment,
they were removed through a police intervention."

Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson, who had
defended Choose Life’s right to have Ruba speak, stood his ground,
insisting that the university "want[s] to foster debate," reports
McGill Daily. "We do not want to restrict the expression of ideas,"
he said. "As I said to SSMU when I was asked to intervene and cancel
the event, I said ‘Look, debate free of constraint is important
as long as the discourse remains civil, does not violate a law,
or McGill’s code of conduct and disciplinary procedures’."

"[The event] was scheduled in a room that was not a public space
[and] not in an open public area," he continued. "The publicity of
the event advised individuals of the nature of the graphic imagery,
and the graphic imagery was confined to the room. So in that sense,
I felt the event was an appropriate event."

The SSMU is hosting a ‘Controversial Events Townhall’ meeting with
Mendelson this evening. It will be an open forum in which students
will discuss the question: "How should the SSMU and McGill decide
what events should and should not be allowed in the Shatner Building
and on campus?"

AZERI LEADER AT VARIANCE WITH OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS

News.am
22:06 / 10/09/2009

The Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting on the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ participation has
failed, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated in his interview
with the Azerbaijani National Television.

"I should note we have made some progress in certain issues. However,
the sides unfortunately failed to reach agreements on the fundamental
issues. The cause, I say once again, is Armenia’s non-constructive
position," Aliyev said.

We would remind the readers that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
have designated today’s meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
leaders as "constructive."

REFERRING TO ALIEV: THE OLD MAN IS DEFINITELY INSUFFERABLE

Aysor.am
Friday, October 09

Gagik Harutyunyan today performed an original way by commenting
on Armenian-Turkish protocols. In particular, he declared his
mid-position: "neither gloomy nor rosy comments."

"It’s necessary to focus on context around. Current phase is very
similar to period of unload of Cold-War-days. Everyone tries to
develop new game-rules."

Noravank Foundation’s head believes that most interested in
negotiations and relations developing is Turkey as it has a status of
"Wanted" and must do its best to take this tag off its hands.

"Through establishing relations with Armenia Turkey kills
tension. There a serious identity crisis exists, so Turkey should
try to show its ability to dialogue."

Referring to Azerbaijan, Mr. Harutyunyan pointed its trends to
expansion:

"Aliev makes military statements. Even he is not an old man I say:
the old man is definitely insufferable.

"Anyway, no matter how many statements he makes, our nation has its
own interests."

Gagik Harutyunyan mentioned tension between Turkey and Azerbaijan which
brings another focus of issue of Karabakh, – that is, Azerbaijan’s
military intentions stood on end without Turkey’s support, and Turkey
doesn’t support militancy of Azerbaijan any more.