Author: Andres-Papazian

REVUE DE PRESSE N2 – 11/10/11 – COLLECTIF VAN

Collectif VAN

11-10-2011

Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance Arménienne contre le Négationnisme]
vous propose une revue de presse des informations parues dans
la presse francophone, sur les thèmes concernant la Turquie, le
génocide arménien, la Shoah, le génocide des Tutsi, le Darfour,
le négationnisme, l’Union européenne, Chypre, etc… Nous vous
suggérons également de prendre le temps de lire ou de relire
les informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre rubrique

Par ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc,
ne sont disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous générons
chaque jour. Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la Veille-Média :
c’est gratuit ! Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans
votre boîte email. Bonne lecture.

Erdogan : ” IsraÔl est une menace ” Info Collectif VAN –
– “Je considère aujourd’hui IsraÔl comme
une menace pour sa région, car il dispose de la bombe atomique”
a dit Erdogan lors d’un discours sur la politique étrangère
durant une visite officielle en Afrique du Sud. Il a également
accusé IsraÔl de “terrorisme d’état”. Erdogan avait dans le
passé accusé l’Occident d’avoir des “double standards”, puisqu’il
a essayé d’interdire a l’Iran de fabriquer des armes nucléaires,
sans prendre de mesures similaires a l’encontre IsraÔl. IsraÔl n’a
jamais admis officiellement détenir l’arme nucléaire. Le Collectif
VAN vous livre la traduction de cet article en anglais, paru dans le
journal turc Hurriyet le 5 octobre 2011.

Collectif VAN : l’éphéméride du 11 octobre 2011 Info Collectif VAN –
– La rubrique “Ephéméride” du Collectif VAN a
été lancée le 6 décembre 2010. Elle recense la liste d’événements
survenus a une date donnée, a différentes époques de l’Histoire, sur
les thématiques que l’association suit au quotidien. L’éphéméride
du Collectif VAN repose sur des informations en ligne sur de nombreux
sites (les sources sont spécifiées sous chaque entrée). “11 octobre
1941 — Ukraine : tous les enseignants juifs sont arrêtés par
les SS et incarcéré en prison où ils rejoignent beaucoup d’autres
juifs déja détenus. Les listes de noms et des adresses avaient été
établies par des informateurs ukrainiens et polonais. Dans la prison,
les Allemands demandent des volontaires pour le travail. Beaucoup
se portent volontaires pour échapper aux mauvais traitements dans
la prison”.

En Ã~Igypte, l’armée écrase les manifestants coptes Au moins 25
morts, dimanche soir, dans le centre du Caire. La tension reste vive
dans le pays, faisant craindre une escalade entre les musulmans et
la minorité chrétienne.

” Une épée de Damoclès pour la Turquie Lors d’un entretien
accordé a l’agence de presse iranienne Irdiplomacy News, l’ancien
ambassadeur iranien en Arménie, Mohamed Farhad Koleyni, a déclaré,
faisant référence aux déclarations du Président francais a Erevan
sur la question arménienne, que ” La Turquie est troublée. Si elle
reconnaît le génocide arménien, de nouveaux procédés d’exigences
seront lancés. Le génocide arménien est une ” épée de Damoclès”
qui pèse sur la Turquie”, a-t-il dit.

La Maison Blanche appelle a la modération en Egypte La Maison Blanche
a appelé lundi a la modération de toutes les parties égyptiennes
car les violents affrontements dans le pays ont fait au moins 24 morts,
déclarant que le président Barack Obama est “profondément inquiet”
des violences dans la nation arabe.

L’info vue par la TRT (2) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publié sur la TRT (Télévision & Radio de Turquie). Les articles
de ce site ne sont pas commentés de notre part. Ils peuvent
contenir des propos négationnistes envers le génocide arménien
ou d’autres informations a prendre sous toute réserve. “Les chefs
d’Etat azerbaïdjanais et russe devraient également prendre part au
forum qui durera deux jours et lors duquel Mevlut CavuÅ~_oglu fera
une intervention.”

Egypte: menaces sur les Coptes et inquiétude internationale Les
violences de dimanche, qui ont fait 25 morts au Caire, ont ravivé
les craintes de la communauté copte. Les affrontements entre les
chrétiens d’Egypte et les forces de l’ordre ont aussi relancé les
inquiétudes pour la transition politique du pays.

L’info vue par la TRT (1) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publié sur la TRT (Télévision & Radio de Turquie). Les articles
de ce site ne sont pas commentés de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir
des propos négationnistes envers le génocide arménien ou d’autres
informations a prendre sous toute réserve. “La déclaration faite
par la Maison Blanche fait savoir qu’un grand nombre de sujets serait
traité dans le cadre de la coopération turco-américaine.”

Syrie urgence: arrêter enfin le massacre!

Paris – Manifestation ” Non au G20 du SILENCE ” Place de la
République a 14h30 le 15 Octobre Appel a une manifestation le samedi
15 octobre 14h30 Place de la République a Paris pour interpeller les
chefs d’Etats du prochain G20 qui se réunissent les 3 et 4 novembre a
Cannes. Le peuple syrien, qui a soif de liberté, affronte depuis plus
de 8 mois une répression sanglante de la part du régime en place.

Egypte: L’armée montrée du doigt après la mort de Coptes Les
affrontements entre Coptes et forces de l’ordre ont fait au moins 25
morts, dimanche… Depuis le renversement d’Hosni Moubarak, l’Egypte
n’avait plus connu de violences si meutrières. Au moins 25 personnes
ont été tuées dimanche soir auâ~@¯Caire, lors d’une intervention
de l’armée contre des manifestants coptes. Le bilan initial de 24
morts et 272 blessés, selon le ministère égyptien de la Santé,
a été alourdi dans les médias publics a 25 morts, dont une grande
majorité de Coptes.

Dépêche de l’APA [ 10 oct 2011 17:58 ] – Agence de Presse
d’Azerbaïdjan

Le Collectif VAN vous propose un article de l’APA (Agence de presse
azérie) daté du 10 octobre 2011. Les articles de ce site (écrits
généralement dans un francais rudimentaire) ne sont pas commentés
de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir des propos négationnistes envers
le génocide arménien ou d’autres informations a prendre sous toute
réserve. “Le Président azerbaïdjanais Ilham Aliyev a recu le 10
octobre Suleyman Demirel, neuvième président de la République
de Turquie.”

Aznavour se rebiffe. Moi aussi… Depuis que l’Arménie existe,
la diaspora semble n’avoir d’autre voix pour se faire entendre que
celle de son chanteur patenté. Comme c’est une voix fameuse, chaude,
réussie donc, qui se produit tantôt sur scène, tantôt sur les
plateaux de la télévision ou sur les radios, grâce a elle cette
diaspora s’écouterait parler sur des tribunes où elle n’a pas
accès. Quand cette voix parle, la diaspora parle. Quand cette voix
se tait, elle se tait.

Canada: Gambari au Canada pour trouver du soutien aux efforts de
paix au Darfour En quête d’une assistance supplémentaire pour
la Mission conjointe de l’ONU et de l’Union africaine au Darfour
(MINUAD), le chef de cette mission, le professeur Ibrahim Gambari,
a eu une série d’entretiens avec de hauts responsables canadiens.

Retour a la rubrique

From: A. Papazian

BIRMINGHAM’S SOUTHERN RESEARCH INSTITUTE GETS $580,000 PACT FOR WORK IN ARMENIA

The Birmingham News, AL
Oct 11 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Birmingham’s Southern Research Institute
will perform work valued at $580,000 to help protect Armenia against
biological threats.

Southern Research is performing similar work under a sub-contract from
Black & Veatch in the Ukraine. There, a high-containment laboratory
and a biosafety level 3 training program have been put in place.

In Armenia, Southern Research will assist Black & Veath in designing
a program for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Threat Reduction Agency.

That agency works to safeguard allies against weapons of mass
destruction, including biological agents,

“Working with Black & Veatch allows Southern Research to use our
unique knowledge and expertise in helping to provide global safety
and advancing critical research,” CEO Jack Secrist said in a statement.

From: A. Papazian

IRELAND V ARMENIA MATCH HISTORY
by Ronan

GreenScene
Oct 11 2011

The Armenia national football team (or Õ~@Õ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ”
O~FÕ¸O~BÕ¿Õ¢Õ¸Õ¬Õ” Õ¡Õ¦Õ£Õ¡ÕµÕ”Õ¶ Õ°Õ¡Õ¾Õ¡O~DÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ in Armenian)
has been in existence less than twenty years, but 2010 was the first
time they played against the Republic of Ireland in a friendly or
competitive fixture.

3 September 2010 – Armenia 0-1 Republic of Ireland When the six teams
who made up Euro 2012 qualifying Group B couldn’t agree on fixtures,
UEFA was forced to intervene. As a result, Giovanni Trapattoni’s
Ireland would open and close the group with fixtures against Armenia,
who many saw as yet another Eastern European minnow.

Before the opening game in Yerevan, Trapattoni said he would be happy
with a one goal win, and that’s exactly what he got, as Ireland were
forced to work hard to get three points. The first half was fairly
uneventful, with neither goalkeeper being particularly troubled.

Robbie Keane had Ireland’s best chance from a Kevin Doyle flick-on in
the early stages, but his volley went wide. Sean St. Ledger forced
a save from Roman Berezovsky after Aiden McGeady’s free kick, but
aside from those two chances in the first 45, Ireland created little
of note. Robbie Keane did have the ball in the net after a pass from
Glenn Whelan, but it was correctly given offside. At the other end,
Shay Given had a quiet first period, but was called into action a
couple of times after the interval, with Armenia looking much more
threatening. Henrik Mkhitaryan and Yura Movsisyan linked up well in the
Armenian attack, with the latter almost causing Richard Dunne to add to
his tally of own goals. Instead the ball hit the top of the crossbar,
and Ireland’s blushes were saved. Mkhitaryan regularly had Paul Green
in his pocket, with the Derby County man having a nervy competitive
debut. After a nervy fifteen minutes, Ireland got back into the game,
and should have led through Robbie Keane, but he could only find the
post when one-on-one with the keeper. It seemed as if the match would
end scoreless, only for the intervention of Keith Fahey, coming off
the bench to make his fourth cap, and his competitive debut. Neat
play from Liam Lawrence, Keane, and Doyle found Fahey unmarked, and
he powered home for his first international goal, giving Giovanni
Trapattoni three points to open his Euro 2012 account.

Armenia: Berezovsky, Hovsepyan, Arzumanyan, Karlen Lazarian,
Arakelian, Grigorian, Artur Edigaryan, Malakyan, Pachajyan, Movsisyan,
Mkhitaryan. Subs: Kasparov, Hambardzumyan, Pizelli, Goharyan, Manoyan,
Manucharyan, Mkoyan.

Republic of Ireland: Given, O’Shea, St. Ledger, Dunne, Kilbane,
Lawrence, Whelan, Green, McGeady, Keane, Doyle. Subs: Westwood, Fahey,
Kelly, Gibson, Cunningham, Keogh, Sheridan.

Referee: Zsolt Szabo (Hungary)

From: A. Papazian

MINSK GROUP’S ‘DIVERGENT INTERESTS’ AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH

news.az, Azerbaijan
Oct 11 2011

News.Az reprints from Il Nodo di Gordio an article by Andrea
Marcigliano.

The substantive failure of the so called “Minsk Group” to find a
diplomatic solution to the continuing dispute between Azerbaijan and
Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh seems already proven. The failure is
attributable to the too divergent interests of the three countries,
the United States, Russia and France, that assume collectively the
chairmanship of the Minsk Group and that in fact determine, or at
least should determine, the guidelines.

Particularly ambiguous is the position of Washington, which has been
suspended for long years since the Clinton administration between
Congress where pro-Armenian positions prevail – so much so that the US
has repeatedly committed significant funds as “aid” to the Armenian
administration of Nagorno-Karabakh – and the White House, where
initially Clinton and later George W. Bush always tried to mediate
with Baku, above all, in order to maintain essential relationships
able to ensure US oil interests in the Caucasus.

The situation became further complicated with the election of Barack
Obama, whose uncertainties and ambiguity in foreign policy are now
dramatically clear. In the Caucasus, then, it seems that the current US
administration lacks any strategy, beyond the now rooted preferential
relationship with Georgia. In essence it seems increasingly clear that
Congress’s position in favour of Armenian demands will prevail, if
the current uncertainty from the present commander in chief continues.

No less ambiguous in many respects is the position of Moscow. Even
if it’s an ambiguity that does not originate from the indecision of
the Kremlin – it would be paradoxical to accuse Putin and Medvedev
of ambiguity – but from the complicated geopolitical web that Russia
is weaving. In fact, in the recent past Moscow has strongly supported
the secession of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan, helping Armenia in
every way, above all by putting it in a position to compete militarily
with the much better equipped Azeri army.

This policy contradicts or, better still, has displaced the policy
of the long Soviet era, when the Red Tsars of the Kremlin always
supported this restless province’s affiliation to the Azerbaijan
Republic. This also has the function of a geopolitical strategy
aimed at building bridges with Turkey, a bridge which consists of
Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan with its territorial integrity and includes
the critical juncture of Nagorno-Karabakh. The policy of the early
post-Soviet years has been abandoned, when the pro-Armenian option
seemed to prevail in Moscow (by virtue of religious ties, too – the
common sense of belonging to Orthodoxy) and when the containment
of Georgian influence was a factor. Anyway today, the Kremlin’s
Caucasian policy might be about to experience a new evolution. In
fact, the birth of the Eurasian Economic Community has of necessity
brought Moscow closer to the Turkic-speaking Central Asian countries –
notably Kazakhstan, which is the second pillar of this new reality –
and is opening it up to a closer dialogue with Ankara.

Turkey is, in fact, in turn interested in the new Eurasian Common
Market, for two reasons: first because it is irritated by the doors
repeatedly closed by the EU and, second, because entry into the
euro-zone now appears much less interesting. So Russian-Turkish
dialogue, or dialogue between the Eurasian Common Market and
Turkey, opens up new scenarios for the Caucasus and, in particular,
Nagorno-Karabakh. Constantly evolving scenarios mean that on the
one hand Moscow seems less committed to pro-Armenian positions and
more willing to have dialogue with Baku, while Ankara on the other
hand has tried to reopen channels of communication with Armenia by
softening its support for the Azeris. This has led to a stalemate,
which, in future, could be the harbinger of an attempt to resolve
the Azeri-Armenian crisis in the broader context of a common Eurasian
market. A fascinating prospect which is still a long way off.

Lastly, France, which should represent common European interests within
the Minsk Group, appears as usual to determine its position by its
own “special” interests as well as domestic issues – first of all,
electoral concerns, since Paris has always been very sensitive to the
pressure of the Armenian lobby in France. Therefore, the suspicion
with which Baku looks at the Minsk Group and its latest initiatives
is perfectly understandable; it is a suspicion that originates mainly
from the awareness of the underlying imbalance.

In fact, the positions of Armenia have always been much better
represented and defended, especially with the effective work of the
lobby in Moscow, Washington and Paris. The exercise of this kind of
“soft power” has so far overshadowed the historical and cultural
claims of the Azeris and, above all, downplayed an objective fact. The
continuation of Armenian control – or occupation, as the Azeris call
it – of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding provinces
has a negative impact on the economic development of not only that
region but of the Caucasus as a whole.

The impact is also felt on global geo-economic scenarios, and is
severe for Western Europe in particular, which should begin to
look at the issue more carefully and stop leaving it to Paris’
short-sighted policy.

Andrea Marcigliano writes on history and political philosophy for a
number of Italian newspapers.

This article was translated by Ermanno Visintainer of the Vox Populi
Study Centre and copy-edited by News.Az.

The article was published in Il Nodo di Gordio.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN RECEIVED VICE PRESIDENT OF MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE

Economic News (Information Agency Oreanda), Russia
October 10, 2011 Monday

Yerevan . OREANDA-NEWS . October 10, 2011. President Serzh Sargsyan
received Patrick Fine, Vice President for Compact Implementation for
the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

The parties stressed the importance of the works conducted in five
years in the framework of the MCC-Armenia program which has been aimed
at the improvement of life standards of the rural beneficiaries in
numerous rural communities, in particular, through the rehabilitation
and development of the irrigation systems in the rural areas of
Armenia and resolution of other vital problems. The President of
Armenia noted that earlier this year he had the opportunity to talk
about the program also at the meeting with the Executive Director
of the MCC Daniel Johaness when the parties jointly underscored the
efficiency of the program.

The Vice President for Compact Implementation for the Millennium
Challenge Corporation noted with satisfaction that among 25 countries
where the MCC is implementing its programs, the best results have been
achieved in Armenia. Mr. President, I am glad to meet with you at the
conclusion of the initiative which has brought good results. This is
my first visit to Armenia and I am greatly impressed with what I saw.

Ive had opportunities to visit many countries and can state that in
this case I see a country which is developing dynamically and steadily,
Patrick Fine said.

President Sargsyan said that Armenia intends to develop its relations
with the United States in all areas and carry on with efficient
cooperation.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, a considerable amount of work has been
accomplished in the framework of the MCC, however there is still much
to be done for the development of rural areas, and efforts on that
direction must be continued.

At the meeting, the parties discussed also reforms implemented
in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN DEMANDS SANCTIONS AGAINST LATSPESEKSPORTS FOR ARMS SALE TO ARMENIA

Azerbaijan Business Center
Oct 11 2011

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. International Conference “Building relationships
across borders” of the Parliamentary Assemblies of GUAM and the Baltic
states is taking place in Baku.

Addressing to the conference, second secretary of the Azerbaijani
Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Security Problems Department Elchin
Huseynli, has said that Latvian company Latspeceksports has been
involved in sales of weapons to Armenia.

“I call to investigate the fact of involvement of this Latvian company
to sales of weapons to Armenia. Weaponry acquired by Azerbaijan
is intended to protect energy infrastructure. Armenia groundlessly
accuses Azerbaijan of violation of the regional balance of weapons.

Analysis of public budgets of Azerbaijan and Armenia shows the
direction of military spending in this country. So, Armenia acquired
16,000 in 2010 and 78,000 Kalashnikov rifles in 2009. Why does Armenia
need so many weapons? This shows Armenia’s readiness not for peace
but for war,” Huseynli claimed.

As a result of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Garabagh conflict,
Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani territory.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY RECEIVES OFFICIAL SUPPORT
Vercihan Ziflioglu

Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 11 2011

Armenian community members in Istanbul came together in a cordial
meeting with Interior Minister Ä°dris Naim Å~^ahin and Bakırköy Mayor
AteÅ~_ Unal Erzen and gave messages of peace, fraternity and dialogue

Bakırköy Mayor AteÅ~_ Unal Erzen said that the municipality will
cover all expenses incurred by the YeÅ~_ilköy Armenian School
Graduates Association. DAILY NEWS photo.

Interior Minister Ä°dris Naim Å~^ahin is taking a close interest
in the problems of Turkey’s Armenians, community members have said
in the wake of a recent meeting with Cabinet minister in Istanbul’s
Bakırköy district.

“[Å~^ahin] has always showed close attention to every sort of problem
[that we have had.] He did not turn us down,” Arev Cebeci, an Armenian
community representative who had applied to run for the Republican
People’s Party (CHP) but was ultimately not selected as a candidate
for the opposition party, told the Hurriyet Daily News on Oct. 9.

“What we want to explain is very important. We [express] our problems
more clearly in this manner,” he said in relation to the recent contact
between minority communities and Ankara on the ministerial level.

Å~^ahin came together with members of the community on Oct. 9 for the
commencement ceremony of the YeÅ~_ilköy Armenian School Graduates
Association for the new season. CHP deputies Mevlut Aslanoglu and
Suleyman Celebi, as well as Bakırköy Mayor AteÅ~_ Unal Erzen
also attended the cordial meeting in the district’s YeÅ~_ilköy
neighborhood.

Municipality aids

Erzen said during the meeting that all expenses incurred by the
graduate association throughout the season would be covered by the
municipality. The municipality will meet over 40,000 Turkish Liras
in expenses, Erzen told the Daily News.

Å~^ahin, meanwhile, highlighted the dialogue between Turks and
Armenians, who have been living together for centuries, and issued
messages of fraternity and friendship.

During the meeting, Cebeci also highlighted Deputy Prime Minister
Bulent Arınc’s statement admitting that the state had seized property
from minorities but was now “giving it back” through a recent
decision. “When will our rights be restored? When will we assume
official posts and achieve the status of equal citizens? When will
we be able to become civil servants? I don’t want to tell stories to
my children anymore, [I want to tell] the truth,” Cebeci said.

“These are the truths and realities. Mr. Arınc has issued a very
courageous and appropriate statement,” Å~^ahin said but avoided
addressing Cebeci’s comments.

The selection of a new patriarch and the new draft constitution were
also brought up during the meeting.

Patriarch Mesrop II of Turkey’s Armenians has not been able to perform
his duties since 2007, as he has been afflicted with frontal dementia.

For that reason, the Interior Ministry appointed Archbishop Aram
AteÅ~_yan, the head of the Spiritual Council, as the deputy patriarch
in an unprecedented move. The entrepreneurial delegation, an Armenian
organization independent of church authorities, filed a lawsuit
against the ministry on the grounds that it intervened in the process.

The trial is still underway.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY’S PM REBUFFS SARKOZY OVER ARMENIA REMARKS

, Turkey
Oct 11 2011

Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also the chairman of the ruling Justice &
Development (AK) Party, delivered a speech at his party’s parliamentary
group meeting.

Turkey’s prime minister said on Tuesday that the aim of the remarks
French President Nicolas Sarkozy had made over 1915 incidents was to
gain votes in the presidential election (set to be held in 2012).

Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also the chairman of the ruling Justice &
Development (AK) Party, delivered a speech at his party’s parliamentary
group meeting.

Erdogan said, “the French president gave some advice to Turkey in a
move to invest in the elections. You (Sarkozy) should make such an
advice to yourself at first.”

“There cannot be a political leader with so many faces. Politics
requires honesty.” he said.

“There are nearly 600,000 Armenians and 500,000 Turks in France. The
two countries have relations,” he said.

A statesman must act by considering next generations not upcoming
elections, Erdogan said.

Sarkozy drew a strong negative reaction from Turkey when he said last
Thursday in a short trip to Armenia that Turkey should recognize the
1915 incidents as genocide, threatening to pass a law in France that
would make denying this a crime.

Turkey rejects the term and denies that up to 1.5 million Armenians
died. It says many Muslim Turks and Kurds, as well as Christian
Armenians, were killed in inter-communal violence as Russian forces
invaded eastern Anatolia during World War One.

From: A. Papazian

FRENCH PRESIDENT’S WHISTLE-STOP TOUR DRAWS ATTENTION TO LINGERING CONFLICTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan

Global Insight
October 10, 2011

French president Nicolas Sarkozy ended a three-day tour to Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia on 7 October 2011 during which he threw his
support behind stalling peace processes in the region, as well as
using the occasion to underline his government’s peacemaking foreign
policy agenda.

Boosting French Presence in South Caucasus

IHS Global Insight Perspective On 7 October 2011 Sarkozy wrapped up his
three-day, whistle-stop tour to the three former Soviet republics of
South Caucasus. The tour was to highlight Sarkozy and his centre-right
government’s keen interest in maintaining an active role as peacemaker,
as well as sustaining pressure on the regional governments, Russia
and Turkey to push ahead with peace processes.

Significance Sarkozy’s visit was useful in highlighting the existing
issues in region. His bold statements criticising Russia and Turkey
also revealed his government’s position on the factors that contributed
to stalling peace talks between Georgia and Russia on the one hand,
and Armenia and Turkey on the other.

Implications The positive response from all three South Caucasian
capitals to Sarkozy’s call to push ahead with painful talks
is positive for the French president, but unlikely to bring any
concrete results. The timing of the tour is most likely linked to the
election period in France in which Sarkozy is involved. Nevertheless,
while the French leader’s visit was meant to boost his international
credentials in front of the French electorate, it was also beneficial
for the three South Caucasian states to see the active involvement of
a leading EU state. French foreign policy commitment could be useful
if it is sustained for the long term.

Outlook On 7 October 2011 French president Nicolas Sarkozy finalised
his quick tour to the capitals of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia,
three former Soviet republics of South Caucasus. The visit came shortly
after the French president’s centre-right party suffered losses in the
25 September 2011 election for the upper house of parliament. This was
a blow for Sarkozy as it came seven months prior to the presidential
race. The victory in the Senate elections by the Socialist opposition
and left-wing parties for the first time in the history of the
53-year-old Fifth French Republic has further cast a shadow on Sarkozy
and his centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party’s ability
to win the upcoming election for the lower house and the crucial April
2012 presidential vote. Although Sarkozy has not officially stated
if he is going to run in the presidential race, many see his foreign
policy initiatives as designed to boost his image as a statesman on
a global level, a diplomat who was trusted to end the August 2008
war between Georgia and Russia, with an active role in international
efforts against Iran’s potential nuclear weaponisation programme and
who spearheaded the international support for the anti-government
uprising against former Libyan leader General Muammar al-Qadhafi.

When it comes to South Caucasus, France is certainly ahead of the
key European Union states, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom,
in terms of its influence on the geopolitics of the region. Since the
collapse of the Soviet Union, Paris has played an important role in
nearly all peacemaking initiatives. It is currently one of the three
co-chairing countries, along with Russia and the United States, in the
Minsk Group set up by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE). The Minsk Group brokered the armistice deal between
Armenia, Azerbaijan and its breakaway, mainly ethnic Armenian region
of Nagorno Karabakh back in 1994. France was continuously involved in
the Armenian/Azerbaijani peace negotiations over the final status of
Nagorno Karabakh. In 2009 it also became the international mediator in
Armenian/Turkish normalisation talks. French efforts are also important
for the continuing talks between Georgia and Russia over the former’s
breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Sarkozy’s whistle-stop
visit was an opportune moment to highlight his personal efforts to
bring peace to this conflict-riddled region for the past few years,
as well as reasserting the French position on a number of thorny
issues that have stalled all three peace processes in South Caucasus.

French-Armenian “Exceptional Ties”

Armenia was the first country where Sarkozy spent the longest time
highlighting traditionally strong ties between the two states. Armenia
is currently involved in two of these processes and Sarkozy’s two days
in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, were spent discussing the current
state of play. The French president called the ties between the two
countries “exceptional” and unveiled plans to deepen already strong
commercial ties.

However, the peace talks were the main focus of Sarkozy’s current
visit. After laying flowers at the Armenian Genocide Memorial,
he reiterated France’s stance on the issue of the Armenian state’s
pursuit of international recognition of the genocide of over 1.5
million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during 1915-18. Back in 1998
France had already recognised the massacres as genocide and Sarkozy
called on Turkey to do the same. According to Agence France-Presse
(AFP), he said, “Turkey, which is a great country, would be honorable
to revisit its history like the other great countries in the world
have done: Germany, France,” adding that “the genocide of Armenians
is a historic reality that was recognised by France. Collective denial
is even worse than individual denial.” Turkey continues to vehemently
deny that the massacres were centrally organised and puts the number
killed at much lower than 800,000.

This issue is at the heart of extremely poor relations between Armenia
and Turkey. Armenian president Serzhe Sargsyan’s 2009 initiative
to normalise ties with Turkey without any pre-conditions led to the
signing of two sets of peace protocols, mediated by the US, Russia,
the EU and Switzerland, and with active support from France. The deal
would see Turkey lift its blockade of Armenia, imposed in 1993 to
economically weaken Armenia, and express its support for Azerbaijan,
its ethnic kin. The countries were to seek ways to deal with the
existing animosity over the painful past, but the idea behind the
talks was to avoid making Armenia’s pursuit of recognition of genocide
a pre-condition rather than discuss it on a bilateral level. The
protocols failed as the Turkish parliament refused to ratify them.

Ankara maintained that it was Armenia’s fault, but judging by
the international mediators’ reaction, Yerevan emerged as the more
co-operative party. Armenia froze the process according to the prior
agreement, but recently the Turkish parliament scrapped the issue of
the ratification of the twin protocols from it agenda.

Sarkozy’s statement was to send a clear signal to Turkey as to where
France stands when it comes to the issue. He went as far as saying
that “from 1915 to 2011 it seems to be enough [time] for reflection”
for the Turkish government and called its refusal to recognise the
deaths as genocide as “unacceptable”. He said that he was not making
an ultimatum, but if Turkey fails to make this “gesture of peace”
and “step towards reconciliation”, he would consider suggesting that
French lawmakers adopt a law criminalising the denial of the killings
as genocide. The Turkish reaction came with no delay; the country’s
EU minister, Egemen Ba , stated that “it would be better… if Mr.

Sarkozy abandons the role of historian and looks for the ways to solve
the economic problems of the European Union.” This reaction was all
but unexpected for the French delegation and highlighted once again
the complexity of the Armenian-Turkish relations, which are unlikely
to improve any time soon.

Baku and Tbilisi Next

As a Minsk Group co-chair, France has been very closely involved in
the peace talks on finalising the status of Azerbaijan’s self-declared
independent republic of Nagorno Karabakh. The mainly Armenian region
has been de facto independent since a bloody war of 1988-94, which
claimed over 30,000 lives on both sides. The peace talks have not
brought any significant breakthrough despite numerous rounds of talks.

Sarkozy’s message to both Armenia and Azerbaijan was clear: the
parties cannot continue with the status quo and need to agree
to the Madrid Basic Principles developed through internationally
mediated talks. The response was positive from both sides in terms
of appreciating France’s efforts, although much more pressure will
be required to see the talks move forward from the current standstill.

Georgia was the last stop for Sarkozy where he did not shy away
from criticising Moscow for not following the terms of the August
2008 agreement with Georgia, brokered to end the five-day war between
Tbilisi and Moscow over the former’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia. Sarkozy threw his support behind Georgia’s aspirations
of independent foreign policy, including the pursuit of EU and NATO
membership, which should not be constrained by Moscow. The French
president was well received in Tbilisi, but given that since the 2008
agreement Russia has already recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia
as independent states, it is hard to see how France can reverse this
process in favour of Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Outlook and Implications

Sarkozy’s visit was undoubtedly driven by domestic as much as
foreign policy considerations. Given the stalemate in all three peace
processes in the South Caucasus, the French president’s efforts were
welcome but would hardly make much difference. The warm reception
in the region is also unlikely to translate into concrete domestic
electoral support, although some marginal improvement should not be
ruled out. Furthermore, the uncertain future of the current government
also weakens last week’s peacemaking initiative.

That said, the visit should not be discounted completely. It was
important to clarify France’s foreign policy stance on a number of
issues. This position is unlikely to see a dramatic change even if the
current French government does not survive the vote. Having a major
international player such as France showing consistent support for
peace processes is also important for the South Caucasian countries.

Thirdly, with Russia, which traditionally has a much stronger influence
in the region, becoming more inward-looking ahead of the crucial
March 2012 presidential election, France could step up its profile
in the region as a peacemaker if Sarkozy’s government can find the
time during the election period.

From: A. Papazian

U.S.’ POSITION ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH REMAINS UNCHANGED – AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN

Interfax, Russia
Oct 10 2011

Neither the U.S. nor any other country have recognized
Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew
Bryza said.

In commenting to journalists on Saturday on State Senator of
California Joseph Simitian’s recent visit to Nagorno-Karabakh, Bryza
stressed that the United States and even Armenia have not recognized
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent entity, and the U.S. policy in
relation to Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
has not changed.

State Senator Simitian’s trip to Nagorno-Karabakh was not planned as
part of his visit to Baku, Bryza said, adding that Simitian had not
asked his opinion of such a trip.

At the same time, the ambassador said it was his hope that Simitian’s
visit to the region would contribute to efforts the OSCE Minsk Group
is making toward settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Azeri Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that it had declared
Simitian persona non grata for traveling to Nagorno-Karabakh without
Baku’s consent.

From: A. Papazian